//------------------------------// // Chapter 1: Home // Story: The Gathering Storm II: Fires of Freedom // by WiskeyMikeOne //------------------------------// Chapter 1 Home My hooves echoed in the corridors of Night Castle whilst I was making my way to the meeting. Looking out of the window to my left I could see Manechester, the capital city of the New Luna Republic. To think, five years ago it was just a small village and now it had grown into a city with tall skyscrapers and was full of activity. Five years had passed since I, the RoE and some innocent ponies were banished to this land. We all should have been banished to the Moon if it were not for Princess Luna. Her final thoughts before Celestia’s spell hit her spared us all from a horrible fate. We owed her our lives. I reached the large wooden doors to the Royal Hall; I placed my hoof on one but was interrupted by a familiar voice calling my name to my left. “Morning Whirlwind.” “Hi Caramel...” “What’s wrong? You look as though you’ve seen a ghost.” “Just a dream that’s all. Nothing to worry about.” I pushed open the doors; the members of parliament were standing around talking and waiting for Princess Luna to arrive. NLR insignia banners draped on the grey stone walls and stained glass windows covered the Hall. In the middle of the hall was a black half moon shaped table for the delegates and Luna’s throne towering above on top of some marble steps. All delegates within the NLR be it military or politician had to wear a black cloak with a hood, it was sometimes hard to see who was talking but that is why they all had reserved seats around the table. I walked up to General Molotov the commander of the Army. “Molotov, are you well?” “Fine Whirlwind, yourself?” “Fine.” “Are you sure? You look as if you've seen a ghost?” “That’s exactly what I said.” Caramel interrupted. “Ah! The impatient Caramel, how are you today?” “Fine thank you General.” The lit torches around the room faded, the curtains were drawn closed by a magical force; Princess Luna was arriving. Everypony made their way to the table put up their hoods and sat down. A dark blue smoke rose out of the throne and took the form of Luna. When the smoke cleared Luna was sat on her throne, her chrome armor shinning even in the darkest of places. Mayor Mare stood up. “Welcome, your highness.” “Thank you Mayor, Please proceed.” “Thank you your highness. Fillies and Gentlecolts, I have summoned you here today to discuss our future. Right now we are all missing our families and friends back in Equestria; it has been five years since we last saw them. They probably think that we are dead. We must let them know we are safe or better yet bring them here. Any thoughts on how we can achieve this?” The room fell silent, no pony had any ideas. We were so worried about ourselves that we failed to worry about our friends back in Equestria. I know that Caramel was missing his girlfriend and his twin brother. “We are in a predicament here, do we risk revealing ourselves to the Empire or do we stay as we are?” Filthy Rich’s comment only added to the situation. I stood up. “Mayor I have a thought.” “By all means Whirlwind, share with us.” “I’m all for rescuing our families and friends from Equestria. What if we were to do it covertly?” “Explain?” “We send to Equestria some agents who will then find the old, the sick and the young. We will then send covert teams to Equestria to extract them.” “Won’t the Empire realise that they are missing?” asked Bon Bon. “Not if we save a few at a time, besides the Empire has their hooves full in the Fillypines. The Empire will think that the rescued ponies have gone into hiding somewhere in Equestria.” The delegates were now looking at each other and nodding. “Good idea, but where will you find these agents?” asked Cheerilee. “We will have to select them from armed forces; the best of the best can only go. They will have new identities, a background story, and of course the best training we can offer.” “It sounds a bit risky Whirlwind, what if they are captured?” said the Mayor. “We will train them to resist interrogation.” “How?” “Have you all forgotten that I was in the Royal Guard? I can teach them.” “Very well then, all those in favour of Whirlwind's idea raise their hooves.” said Luna. A vast majority put there hooves in the air. “All against.” Only the Mayor and Filthy Rich put there hooves up but it wasn't over yet I still needed Luna’s approval, without it I could not precede. “Whirlwind.” “Yes your highness.” “I have faith in you, you may proceed.” “Thank you your highness. Mayor, can I take the Ministry of Defence away so we can begin preparations?” “Of course you can. Besides I think the rest of this meeting will be a little bit too boring for you.” I could tell the Mayor was annoyed with the final decision but that was politics, it’s never fair. I, and the rest of the MoD left the meeting and headed to the Ministry of Defence bunker just outside of Manechester. In the corridor outside of the meeting Admiral Bon Voyage spoke. “Très bon idea Whirlwind, tell me how did you come up with le plan so quickly?” “Bon Voyage, I came up with the idea years ago and with a little help from Molotov as well.”