Chapter 1
It was a dark, muggy night. The guards standing outside were covered in sweat, but neither moved a muscle to wipe their brows. They knew that if anything happened to the prisoner, their heads would be on a pick.
A lone figure stood, hunched over in the trees. He raised the shaft to his mouth, and blew, sending the deadly dart flying towards the guards. It hit its mark and the guard fell over, dead before he had hit the ground. The other guard was suddenly alert but only for a brief second as another passed through the opening in his helmet and straight into his eye.
The assassin jumped down from the tree and quietly ran over their dead bodies. He slowly made his way through the corridors, not daring to even breathe, as he might alert the other guards. Where is he? Where is his cell? Linus thought. His mission was to rescue a top priority member of the Aureolian Army. He was the top ranking demolitions expert who had changed the tides in battle and his knowledge of explosives and hoof to hoof combat made him the biggest asset to their cause.
About 20 years ago, Queen Chrysalis returned to Canterlot after she was defeated by Shining Armor and Princess Cadence. When she returned, she brought the entire changeling army, the Leasath. They were ruthless, killing everypony who didn’t join them to overthrow Princess Celestia and Princess Luna.
When the Leasath had reached the castle, Queen Chrysalis killed everypony, guard and civilian, without prejudice. Celestia and Luna fought bravely but after Luna got badly wounded, Celestia used all of her magic to save Luna. She sent her to the moon for 10 years. Celestia knew that they could not defeat both Crysalis and her army. She hoped there would be those who would still fight against Chrysalis. But they would need a leader. Somepony who knew how to fight the Leasath and their queen.
After her magic was spent, Chrysalis killed Celestia and hung her head on a pick outside of Canterlot Castle. She gained the throne and ruled Equestria ever since, crushing all rebellions. But then, Luna returned. She went to the leader of the rebellion, and showed him that she wanted to help. Ever since, the Aureolian army has been gaining ground, and had finally made it to Canterlot itself. But since they lost their highest-ranking member, they have been pushed back away from Canterlot.
Now, it was Linus’ top priority to get him back. He checked every cell, every floor, but was unable to find him. The Aureolian’s had a call, a bird call. They would use it to deliver short messages. He whistled a six note tune. He heard the reply, a quick two note whistle coming from the end of the corridor. He quietly moved down the hall.
When he arrived at the cell, he found him, battered, bloody, and unbathed. “Blaze! Thank Celestia you are all right!” Linus whispered. They had been friends since they were foals, and joined the Aureolian army after Crysalis killed their parents.
“Yea, I’m alright. But my leg, it’s broken. So is my wing. They snapped them while trying to get information. I’m unable to walk on it.” Blaze explained. They knew how hard it would be to get out quietly with Blaze’s leg broken.
Linus looked for any openings in the cell. A window, a vent, but he found nothing. “God it’s like they want you to suffocate on your own waste.” Linus said disgusted.
“That may have worked, if I hadn’t made an opening with a mini explosive.” Blaze said with a smile. “It’s easy. Most of these rocks contain bits of alkali metals. They react vigorously with water. It took forever, but I finally collected enough water and alkali metals to make a small explosive. It was barley noticeable. I covered it with a few rocks to hide it.” Blaze said, wincing as he put his broken leg on the ground.
“Is there anyway you could make it bigger?” Linus asked, hopeful.
“Yea. If you want to wake up the whole dungeon.” Blaze replied.
“Looks like we may have to. You can’t walk well on that leg and escape quietly.” Linus groaned.
“I’m already on it.” Blaze said with a grin. “I’d put your head down if I were you.” Linus ducked his head down on the ground. Blaze grabbed a pouch of water from behind a rock and poured it on top of it.
There was a deafening explosion. The walls shuddered and rocks fell from the ceiling. “God you surprise me sometimes Blaze!” Linus yelled as he picked Blaze up and ran for the blown up exit. Linus was well out of there before the guards arrived.
“Hey Linus.” Blaze asked quietly. “I need to know…where do the Aureolians stand in this war.” He started to drift into unconsciousness.
“Hey Blaze stay with me now! The army is fine. We’ve been pushed back out from Ponyville. We have a camp in the Everfree Forest. Blaze, Stay with me buddy!” Linus said, trying to get Blaze to stay awake.
“Luna…I have to see Luna. I have…information……” Blaze stammered off. His head was bleeding. A rock must’ve fallen on him.
“C’mon man. I’m gonna patch you up.” Linus said. He knew how to make a small bandage. But this wound needed a lot more than what he could give him. “I’m gonna get you to Luna. She’ll know what to do.” Linus said after he patched up his friends head. Blaze was unresponsive. “Blaze stay with me now! We’re going to get you there in one piece.” Linus said frantically. He picked up his unconscious friend and ran staright towards the camp.