//------------------------------// // Chapter 4 The Rebellion // Story: Just Rumble // by Bronycommander //------------------------------// Chapter 4: The Rebellion Marco woke up early as he had to go to work. He looked after Rumble who was asleep with a smile. His buddy Luca waited outside. “Good morning.” Marco greeted the commando with a smile. “Morning. Ready for the day?” Of course.” They got into the SUV and drove to the outpost, unaware that they would take part in something bigger. Rumble yawned. It was a beautiful day outside. His leg and his wings were still hurting a bit. He could only limb but that didn’t stop him from getting into the kitchen. “Good morning, mommy!” He greeted happily. “Morning, sweetheart.” She already had prepared breakfast. Toast and a coffee for herself, a Croissant and a glass of juice for him. “That was delicious!” “Thanks. Would you help me clean the house?” “Nessun problema.” He got off the chair, only let out a grunt of pain as he landed on his leg. “You’re alright, my dear?” She asked with concern. “My leg and wings ache a little, and I limp but otherwise fine.” The doorbell ringed. Vittoria opened it. Francesco and his sister were outside with a basket of chocolate. “We want to wish Rumble a speedy recovery.” They said together. “Come in.” Rumble grinned as he saw them. “Guys!” They did a group hug. “We’re here to wish you a speedy recovery and we’re sorry for what happened yesterday.” They both said guilty, their heads lowered. “Don’t blame yourself, it was an accident. Its aches still a little and I can only limp, but I’m otherwise fine.” “In that case, Rumble, why you don’t play with your friends while I clean the house?” The woman suggested. “Yes, mommy.” They shared the chocolate and talked if he still wants to come with them to the beach. He didn’t refuse. At the beach, the kids built a sandcastle and splashed water at each other while the adults watched smiling in the shadow. “He’s such a cute boy. I enjoy every minute with him but I hope his brother isn’t too much worried.” His stepmother watched with a sad smile. “I’m sure he has faith in finding his little brother Vittoria. I just don’t want to imagine what happens to him if the D.R.M. or the Military takes him away.” Elisa said as she knew that he wouldn’t last the forced labor for long or could be executed. After a fun day at the beach, they enjoyed some ice cream. “It’s been a long time that I had so much fun,” Greta commented. “My brother also did a lot of fun activities with my but after he became a recruit for the Wonderbolts, he hasn’t so much time for as he had before that.” Rumble explained.” But I still have Flitter.” “And us!” Francesco added. “Oh, I forgot, I wanted to visit some friends at my old home,” Vittoria remembered, feeling bad about it. “Can I come with you, mommy?” Rumble asked, she smiled. “Of course, my dear.” They said goodbye and left in Vittoria’s car. On their way to Burgoletto, the car was stopped by a D.R.M. Militiaman and an army private shortly before they reached their destination. The Militiaman said to Vittoria, “Driver's license and vehicle papers please.” “Here.” She showed them to him. “Thanks. Now out of the car!” he opened the door and dragged her out. “Hey! Ow!” The woman cried as he was handcuffed. “I did nothing wrong!” “Get the boy!” the militiamen yelled, Rumble screamed in fear as the soldier dragged him out of the car, struggling to get free. “MOMMY!!!” He cried in tears before the soldier knocked him out cold with the butt of his rifle. He was also handcuffed and brought away in a Weimaraner. “NO! RUMBLE!!” Enraged, she managed to overpower the Militiamen and slammed him into the hood of his Stria Facocero. After getting free, she realized that she hadn’t seen where the SUV was going, so she collapsed crying as she failed to protect him. “I’m so sorry… Rumble, I’m so sorry…” Rumble’s vision slowly came. He was in a Weimaraner; an also restrained man was next to him. He was wearing a blue beret and sunglasses. He had brown hair and blue eye, Rumble assumed it was a rebel. “What the?” the driver said as he saw a flying man behind the car in the rear mirror. Suddenly there was a bump on the roof, the boy yelped as what seemed to be a hook rammed through the roof, the driver door got opened and the man grabbed the soldier by the arm, throwing him out and took over the wheel. “Rico! You came to my aid! Drive, drive!” the rebel was glad to see him. It wasn’t necessary, as the road the car took was deserted and the soldier died from the impact, so none was there to call for reinforcements. “This is dispatch, what’s going on? Report!” Rico stopped the car to let the rebel out. “Thanks, Rico! I owe you one!” “I'm going to tell you something. It's hard being this good.” Rico commented before both turned to Rumble. For some reason, the colt couldn’t help but be afraid of his savior. Getting a closer look at Rico, he saw that he had hazel eyes and brown hair and a beard. He was wearing a jacket, work boots, and jeans and had a crucifix around his neck and a Spanish accent. As weapons he had two pistols, the same pistol Marco used as well the same rifle and an RPG. “...Who are you guys?” “We won’t hurt you, we aren’t the bad guys. What should we do with him, Rico?” The rebel asked. “We should bring him to Costa Del Porto. It will be a lot safer for him.” “Why not Cava de Rebelles, Grotta Contrabandero or Refugio Umbra?” “I have my reasons. Name’s Rodriguez. Rico Rodriguez.” “R-rumble.” He replied still scared. “We’re not the bad guys, kid. Let me remove your cuffs.” The rebel lock picked his cuffs. “Thank you, Sir. ”The foal now was calmer and grateful. “Please, Giovanni is just fine.” Rico used a beacon to call in an airdrop. “Heads up!” A plane dropped a large container which exploded to Rumble’s surprise. In it was a blue Eubus Eagle. “Get in.” Rumble trusted both men after they helped him. “Thanks for saving me but can you send my parents a message that I’m safe and sound?” “I’d do but we can’t risk anything at the moment. But I promise you we will inform them somehow.” Rico replied. As the trip was long, Rumble decided to take a nap. Giovanni noticed his wings. “A Pegasus? Interesting.” Giovanni was fascinated “Maybe but if the military knows about him, we can’t let them hurt him,” Rico said to him. At Costa Del Porto, Giovanni gently woke Rumble. “We’re here.” Rumble was impressed at the town. It was a coastal town, composed of white stone houses with orange stone tile roofs. The town had many statues of women and a large fountain in the center. A river goes through the town and there is a bridge across it. “Looks nice,” Rumble said as he saw the town. “Right. ‚Costa Del Porto’ translates roughly into ‘coastal port’ - a name that eloquently captures the town's quaint, no-frills history. Many make their living here fishing and selling their catch, though some are content to simply laze about cliffside and soak up the sun as waves crash against the rocks below. It's a town that's never done wrong by anyone and if you lived there, you'd be content to do no wrong yourself.” Giovanni told him. He and the child enjoyed the music played by a street band. “Rico!” A man called out and hugged his best friend. He was wearing a blue shirt with sunglasses in one of his pockets and had a light beard. He had black hair and brown eyes. “How’s it going, Fratre?” “Good, I just freed a rebel and a child,” Rico said as a woman was next to his friend, having brown hair and eyes with a dark skin, looking rather interested at the young pony. “Interesting, a Pegasus, also known as Pegasos.” She examined Rumble’s wings much to his discomfort. Rico cleared his throat. “I know it’s fascinating for you Dimah, but what about give him some space?” “Dimah stopped. “Why we don’t go to my house away from public?” Giovanni suggested and they agreed. He made some pasta for Rumble and he told his story. They all were touched. “Sorry to hear that. Name’s Mario Frigo but you can call me Mario.” The man introduced himself. “I’m Dimah. Sorry for that but I’m a scientist and seeing a Mythological species is just fascinating for me.” The woman apologized. “You can stay with me here.” Giovanni offered. “Thanks for the offer.” Rumble smiled, being grateful. “We need to leave as we still have things to do. But first, let me take a selfie!” Rico’s best friend took a photo of him and Rumble who smiled lightly. “Wow! We look amazing!” Mario said before they left. The rebel showed him the town. Every citizen and rebel greeted and smiled at the young colt. “After Rico liberated the Town, we are guarding it instead of the military. Many rebels worship Rico and see him as the real general.” Giovanni explained, sounding proud. “I saw it when he got out of the helicopter.” Rumble couldn’t help but listening to the street band as he liked the music. He heard a conversation between Giovanni and a rebel woman. “My brother is in the General's army. He says power and order are the true tenets of freedom. We don't talk anymore.” “When I ambushed a convoy, I recognized the soldier I killed. We grew up together.” The woman replied. Could it be? Rumble thought. “Giovanni, has your brother the name Marco?” “Yes. Why?” The young man asked confused. “Because he found and took care of me. You also said to me that he still loves you. And he also dislikes the general.” This surprised the rebel. “He does? When we talked the last time, he disagreed with me. But bedtime for you. It’s getting late.” The sun went down, Rumble yawned. Giovanni tucked him in. “Goodnight.” Before the young rebel went himself to bed, he talked to himself, “Brother, I still love you too. And I miss you.” But he also knew that every rebel would fight for Rumble should it be necessary. Marco had heard what happened and raced home. His wife was lying on the couch, head lowered, sobbing. “It’s my fault! I should have reacted faster.” She blamed herself for what happened to Rumble. “Honey, it wasn’t your fault. It happened too fast. And don’t worry. Rumble appears to be safe and sound.” Marco tried to cheer his wife up. “Why you’re so sure?” She looked up with tear filled eyes. “We found the car abandoned and the soldier dead, so someone, maybe a rebel or Rico saved him.” This gave her hope. “You’re right, we have to be faith!” She exclaimed raised her fist in the air. Luca joined them. “Sorry to bother you, but we have order to attack Costa Del Porto as retaliation for Vis Electra.” Marco nodded; both men didn’t like this order. The trip was silent. They all knew what was about to happen, what they were about to do. Did they have any doubts? Any private, traitorous thoughts? Perhaps, but no one said a word. Not Marco, Luca, or any other soldier. Not on the trip to Costa Del Porto, not when the order came to burn it, and not when they reached the town. Not a word.