//------------------------------// // Chapter 9: Revelations // Story: The Gathering Storm II: Fires of Freedom // by WiskeyMikeOne //------------------------------// Chapter Nine Revelations I opened the side door to our maintenance hangar at the NLRAF airfield, the sound of Heavy metal music was deafening but that’s how I liked it. The music was coming from the back of the hangar, and was interrupted by the sound of spot welding. I flew over to the engineer, I called out but they didn’t hear. I turned the music down that was being played on an oil covered gray stereo on the work bench. “Hay I was listening to that! Whirlwind!” “Hi Tune Up.” She lifted up her welding mask with her free hoof and I was greeted by her big brown eyes, her oil covered yellow face and her brown mane. “What can I do for ya Whirl?” “Firstly you can tell me where you got this CD from?” “DJ Pon3 Records, opposite Octavia’s Music store on Stirrup Street.” “Thanks I’ll get it later.” “Is there anything else I can help you with?” “Yes, how’s Rainbow's artificial wing after the crash?” Tune up walked over to an oil covered sheet in the corner, she pulled the sheet off; underneath it was the twisted remains of Rainbow's artificial wing. I cringed and looked at Tune Up, she just shook her head. “Beyond hope?” I asked. “Totally.” “Buck.” I turned away in frustration, and then I saw what she had been working on. On her work bench was a skeleton of a wire made wing. I looked at her and she just smiled. “What ya think?” “It’s nice, really nice. How did you-“ She sat on the bench and pulled off her work gloves. “I studied the remains, and improved them. My model actually has feathers made of thin metal obviously, unlike the empire’s which was just thin sheet metal designed for the flyer to glide and not to flap their wings. This design will give RD more control and more speed then that imperial crap in the corner.” I flicked one of the feathers; it was metal but very thin and very delicate. I scoffed with delight and tapped Tune Up on the shoulder. “You’re a genius.” “I wouldn't go that far.” “No seriously, you’re brilliant.” Our eyes met and we both paused for a second. “You`ve got oil in your mane.” I said. “Ah don`t worry, it gets everywhere.” Tune Up jumped down from the beach and started to take off her oil covered blue overalls. Being a gentlecolt I looked away. “Have you told RD yet?” “No...” “Well you need to and soon, because if you don’t it's gonna snowball on you.” “Thanks for the advice. When will the wing be ready?” “Hopefully within the next three days. I’ll let you know as soon as its done.” “Thanks again.” I turned and headed towards back to the side door. When I opened it I looked back to see Tune Up leaning on the bench and looking at me. I gave a friendly wave goodbye but she gave me a seductive wave. I laughed and left the hangar. “Oh Tune Up,” I thought to myself “You always crack me up.” (Song: End) * “Wake up, Dashie.” “Oh...Whirlwind...w-what time is it?” “Eleven in the morning.” “It’s still too early, come back in two hours will ya?” “Nope.” I bit the covers of her bed and whipped it off. “C’mon we've got lots to do, places to see and ponies too meet.” “Whirlwind is right Rainbow Dash; you should get out and get some exercise, it’s good for you.” said Red Heart. “I wish it would do my busted up wing some good.” replied Dashie, with her head under her pillow trying to block out me and Red Heart talking and the sunlight coming through the window. Red Heart looked at me with concern. I just nodded. “Fine then, I'll just have to show Nurse Red Heart the airfield instead of you.” “Airfield?!” Rainbow's tail popped into the air. “Yeah, the NLRAF airfield that I mentioned yesterday, it’s just on the other side of Manechester and behind the mountain range. But if you want to stay here and get some more beauty sleep be my guest.” “Wait!” Dashie shot in front of Red Heart and I, blocking our way out of the ward. “I’ve have enough sleep for one night.” “Well I don’t know, Red Heart do you still want to come and see the jets at the airfield?” “Hmmm...” I could see Dashie's face light up with a smile in an attempt to persuade Red Heart to say no. “Err...no thank you, let Rainbow Dash go.” “Yes!” Dashie grabbed my hoof and dragged me out of the ward; I looked at Red Heart who shook her head but with a smile on her face. “This is gonna be so awesome. Do you guys have F-15s, MiG- 29s, F-18!” Dashie was like a foal on their birthday, she kept asking me questions as we made our way to the main doors of Night Castle. I placed a hoof on each door and pushed. “Dashie welcome to the New Luna Republic and the city of Manechester. Dashie...Dashie?” I turned around to see Rainbow Dash pulling faces at one of the knights guarding the doors. “Dashie for Faust's sake.” “Oh c’mon Whirl. Remember we use to do this to the Royal Guards in Canterlot when we were on leave.” “Yeah I do. Now c’mon I've got a city to show you.” We both made our way down the windy cobbled road, passed the original stone houses that Luna made on our first day on the island then into the city itself. Telling Dashie about all the shops, landmarks and history of Manechester and our banishment made me feel like a tour guide. We approached the security gate to the NLRAF airfield, Dash was jumping up and down with excitement. I showed my pass to the guard in the bunker, he nodded then used his magic to open the steel doors. “Err what’s with the buggies?” asked Dashie. “Oh we use them to get around, the airfield is pretty big. Plus this is a no-fly zone except for aircraft obviously. Flying Pegasi show up on radar, hop in I’ve got a surprise for you.” “More surprises! Let me guess is Spitfire is here?” “Sadly, no.” “Damn, oh well I’m sure what you've got planned is gonna be awesome.” Dashie sat next to me, I turned the key and the buggy hummed into life. I decided to take the long route to Tune Up’s hangar so Dashie could see the airfield. Early in the morning there was a training exercise, the jets were now landing on the airstrip. Dashie couldn’t take her eyes off them. “Mig-29, MiG-29, F-15, F-16, F-18!” She was like a foal in a candy shop. We arrived at Tune Up’s hangar as usual her music was blaring; I flew over and turned off the radio. “You need to get some headphones.” I said to her. “Hay Whirl nice to see ya again. Is that her?” “It sure is. Rainbow Dash this is Tune Up, Tune Up this is Rainbow Dash. Dashie?” I turned around to see Dashie still in the door way, she was staring at my plane. “Cooooooool.” “I know right.” “What is it?” she asked. “It’s a plane,” said Tune Up. “Well I can see that but what I mean is what jet is it. I've never seen one like this before.” “Protect Typhoon?” Dashie asked me as she started walking around my plane. “That’s right.” “But how did it end up here?” “The Imperial Air Force scrapped the project and sold the blueprints to Russhire.” “And I also improved it,” said Tune Up. “How?” “Auto pilot.” “Ha! Auto pilot is standard on all jets. Wait let me guess is it new technology for Russhire,” Rainbow started laughing; I looked at Tune Up who just rolled her eyes. “Actually Dashie Tune Up is from Manehattan and when she means auto pilot she means auto pilot.” Dashie smile soon despaired. I think she now got the message. Tune up explained to Dashie. “Just enter the coordinates into the GPS, speed and altitude and whether or not you want to land or fly, sit back and relax.” “That’s kinda cool.” I heard the tarpaulin sheet being pulled off the artificial wings. Rainbow looked over my shoulder, her eyes lit up. I turned around, the wings were on top of Tune Ups work bench they looked sleek and razor sharp. Dashie walked up to them, her reflection in the feathers stared back at her. “That’s for me?” “Yep, your other wings were heavy and slowed you down but this weighs the same as a normal Pegasus wing. Go ahead try it on,” said Tune Up. I hovered up and held the wings so Rainbow could try them on, the metal was so thin for the feathers it swayed in the light breeze that was coming in from the open door. Dashie faced away from me, I lowered my height and placed the wings over Dashie’s bandaged up real wings. It was a good fit; Tune Up had done an amazing job. Rainbow stood there puzzled. “Now what?” she asked. “Flap your wings,” said Tune Up. Dashie took a deep breath, the wings twitched and spread to their full span, she flew up. Dashie hit her head on the ceiling of the hangar and fell into the cockpit of my jet. Tune Up tapped me on the shoulder. “We should have done the test outside.” “Yeah that would have been more sensible. And safer.” I flew up to the cockpit and looked in; Dashie was in a pile on my seat her eyes spinning . I chuckled. “Are you okay?” “A little dizzy but I’m fine.” I pulled Dashie out and hovered with her for a moment to inspect the wings. “Wow they almost look and act real.” “I know right they're so cool.” Dashie span around to get a better view of them. A green light flashed on the hangars wall. “What’s that?” she asked. “Well this is unexpected. Dashie are you ready to meet another old friend?” “Who?” “You’ll see.” I led Dashie to the tar mark of the main airstrip and pointed to the horizon. In the distance and in the air were four objects flying towards us, it was Hawk Eye squadron returning for a well deserved brake. They flew in low nearly knocking me and Dashie off balance with their awesome wing power, they flew in formation around the airfield. Ponies ran out of the hangars and building to watch the air show. All four landed on the tar mark in front of me and Dashie with a thud. “Gilda, how are you and your team?” “Tired, one week in the air 24/7 takes it toll.” “Maybe you’re getting too old.” “Old!” Gilda took her goggles off and stood there with a shocked expression on her face. “Rainbow Dash?” “Gilda?” I was in the middle of the two, both of their mouths could have hit the floor, they were both gob-smacked. “Earth to Gilda and Rainbow Dash!” I said to them both. “What’s wrong with you?” I asked them. “Sorry I gotta go.” Gilda took off into the air I called out to her but she just kept on flying. “What’s up with her,” I asked Dashie. “I’ll tell you later Whirl, it’s a long story.” * Dashie loved her new wings she had already flown to the castle and back and nearly beat me in a race. It was now 7 o’clock and the sun was starting to set, we were both hungry so we went to my favorite restaurant in Manechester. I invited Tune Up but she said no. We were outside the restaurant with our bellies full. I thought now would be a good time for me and Dashie to talk. “So what do ya think of Manechester?” “It’s awesome but it feels familiar.” “That’s because the architects design Manechester with ideas from the cities in Equestria.” Dashie stopped slurping her milkshake to listen. “The large concrete towers in the middle of the city are from Manehattan, the inner city is from Fillydelphia, Moscolt, Pareins and the suburbs are copies from Boltamare, Ponyville and other towns and cities.” “Cool and what about Cloudsdale?” Dashie looked up hoping to find a city in the clouds but all above our heads was a golden sun set sky. “We wanted to make sure that in our society were not all separate from each other unlike Equestria now, so a city where only Pegasus can live was out of the question, sorry.” “Don`t worry about it.” Dashie started to slurp her strawberry milkshake again; I could hear the disappointment in her voice. Dashie looked over my right shoulder. “Who`s that?” “What?” I turned around to see Caramel in the distance running towards us and calling out my name. He eventually made it to my and Dashie’s table. “Whirl...wind...” “Yeah what is it?” “...I...I...” “Catch your breath, then talk.” “Okay.” Caramel had one hoof on the table and the other on his chest; he must have ran all the way from the castle. Caramel grabbed Dashie’s unguarded milkshake and downed it in one gulp. “Hay I hadn't finished that yet!” “Sorry. Whirlwind you've gotta come back to the castle right away.” “Why, what’s wrong.” I replied. “It`s...humm...” “ You've forgotten the message haven’t you?” “No...Sorry...brain freeze.” “Was that before you stole my milkshake or after?” I laughed at Dashie’s joke. “This is no laughing matter!” said Caramel. “What`s going on?” I asked. “It’s a message. A message from Equestria." I stood up from the table nearly knocking it over “Shadow Company or the Empire?” “Empire.” “Has parliament been informed?” “We're doing it now.” “Good, I want the MoD to meet me in the command center imminently.” “Okay but can you two give me a lift.” “Oh brother!” said Rainbow Dash slamming her head on the table. The screen in the middle of the command centre was buzzing and full of static, there was a flash in the middle of the room, Bon Voyage and Molotov teleported in thanks to some Bon’s magic. “What’s going on?” “A message form Equestria.” “What, to us directly?” said Molotov. “No, were picking it up via Hawk eye, it’s a satellite transmission, it seems its only being broadcasted in Equestria.” said the chief technician. The steel doors behind me opened, it was the members of parliament and Princess Luna. “Whirlwind what’s going on?” asked Mayor Mare. “We’ve intercepted a message being broadcast to the whole of Equestria.” The screen hissed and cracked, an image was coming through but it was hard to see what it was. “Clear up the signal!” I ordered an IT worker at her station. “Yes, sir." The screen now had color and it was defiantly a pony in the video looking at the camera. “Who is that?” said Cheerilee. “Is it Celestia?” said Rarity. “No...It can’t be.” “Can’t be what your highness?” said Rarity. The image was now clear, the pony was an Alicorn but it was not Celestia. “By loyal citizens, two nights go an Imperial outpost holing a captured terrorist was attack by an unknown force. Frontally no pony was hurt, but seventeen of our soldiers were stunned and Captain Rainbow Dash, one of the Guardians of Equestria and wielder of the element of loyalty was captured. More attacks will properly follow so heed my warning and know this. These terrorist will pay for what they have done to the Empire and our country. This is the will of your queen.” I was speechless and so was every other pony in the room. Mayor Mare broke the silence. “I told you this would happen.” “What?” I replied. “You have exposed us.” The room fell silent; I could feel eyes on me from all directions. The Mayor and the delegates looked angry but Bon Voyage and Molotov were waiting for my reply. “Whoever that was on the screen referred to us as terrorists, not the NLR. The empire will be looking for us in Equestria and not here.” “But what of our spies in Equestria?” said Filthy Rich. “They've had training, they can cope.” “And what if another one gets captured?” said the Mayor. “Then we will do the same as we did the other night. Rescue them.” Molotov and Bon Voyage nodded at me in agreement as the delegates turned to leave. “Hold on a moment. Where is the princess?” said Rarity. I, and eveypony else in the ops room looked around, she was gone. “Now no pony panic,” I said to clam the delegates down. “This is the perfect time to panic!” said Rarity. “Celestia knows about us, the princess is missing and to top it all off I missed my weekly hoof-a-cure.” “Relax, Rarity. I know where she is,” I replied. “You do?” “Yes. Molotov, make sure Shadow company knows of the message from Celestia and tell them to prepare for Imperial patrols and activity in their sectors.” “Da.” “Bon Voyage, prepare the evac team in case we get an emergency extract signal from Shadow Company.” “Oui.” “And what about you Whirlwind, going to see the princess are we? Well not without me you're not!” “No mayor I’m not.” “Oh, what then?” I walked up to her; my face was inches away from hers. “I’ve got work to do.” * The next morning a meeting was held in the throne room and all of the delegates were gathered in one corner talking with each other. I spotted the MoD gathered by the stairs leading up to Luna`s throne. “Eveypony this is Rainbow Dash. Dashie this is General Molotov, Admiral Bon Voyage, Staff officer Boxy and Intelligence officer Intel.” “Ah so this is the famous Rainbow Dash” said Molotov shaking Dashie’s hoof. “Yep that’s me.” “Whirlwind never stops talking about you.” “Oh really, good things I hope.” “Oui, he speaks of you really highly.” “Well yeah of course I would.” I replied. The light from the setting sun disappeared, the meeting was about to begin. We all made our way to the half moon shaped table in the middle. The lit torches on the wall faded and everything beyond the table fell into darkness. Blue smoke surrounded the throne and Luna appeared. We all bowed our heads before we sat down. “Mares and Gentlecolts I have gathered you here today to tell you some grave news. The pony in the broadcast that we intercepted yesterday was my sister but she is not known as Celestia. She is known as Solar Flare: Celestia’s 'Nightmare Moon', her dark side.” We all gasped and looked at each other, Celestia was now evil, this couldn't be possible. “Your highness it took you one thousand years of jealousy and spite to turn evil and it’s taken Celestia five years, how can it be possible?” “I don’t know Cheerilee but it might have to do with her greed and lust for power that has changed her in such a short time.” “That could be possible.” said Intel. “The Solar Empire now controls a third of the world, and it properly won’t stop until the whole world is theirs.” “What are we gonna do!” said Bon Bon. The room erupted in chatter, everypony was speaking at once. I looked up at Dashie, who was standing to my left, our eyes met. Then it hit me. I jumped on top of the table. “Quiet!” The room fell silent and all eyes were on me. “I may have another idea.” “Oh what is it this time Whirlwind, another game of spies or an attempt to kidnap Celestia!” said Mayor Mare. “The Elements of Harmony!” The room went quiet again. “We have two of them now. Rainbow Dash represents Loyalty and Rarity represents Generosity.” Rarity looked shocked; it was as if she had forgotten. “That’s all well and good Whirlwind but where are the rest?” said Filthy Rich. “I know Applejack is at Sweet Apple Acres in Ponyville but the rest I’m not sure about.” Dashie whispered behind me. “ You've seen Applejack?” I turned my head and nodded at Dashie. “Twilight Sparkle.” said the Mayor. My heart sank when the Mayor said those two words. I had a brief flashback to when Alicorn Twilight had me pinned down with her hoof on the floor of the High Court of Canterlot. I’ll never forget that moment; I honestly thought she was going to kill me there and then. “What’s wrong with Twilight?” said Dashie. “She nearly killed Whirlwind for what he did to you,” said the Mayor Mare. I glared at the Mayor who had a smirk on her face; I started to shake with anger. “What’s she talking about Whirl?” “Enough!” Luna got up from her throne and made her way down the stairs to the table. But my gaze was fixed solely on the Mayor the whole time. “Whirlwind speaks sense, it looks like the elements for harmony are the only way to restore my sister back to her former self and hopefully end this war before it starts. I want all military, intelligence and political organisations to make this their top priority, and I want leaders of the organisations to come up with plans for rescuing the other wielders of the elements from Equestria.” “Yes your highness.” said everypony. Luna teleported out of the room, the torches lit up and the moon light lit up the table. All of the delegates started to leave but I remained on the table, I was I such a rage I couldn't move. “Whirlwind?” I could see Dashie along with Caramel, Molotov and Bon Voyage in the door way looking back at me, I didn't reply. Eventually they all left leaving me alone. I knew the Mayor disliked me but what she did was unacceptable.