//------------------------------//
// 6-Stormfax 
// Story: Darkness Abound 
// by thefulkboy1 
//------------------------------//

	  Pinkie Pie would not shut up. Ever since they had found the Apple Farm burned to the ground and no pony inside, she had either been bawling, screaming obscenities, or just trying to get Stormfax to talk. He wouldn’t give in. All he did when Pinkie asked questions was nod, grin, or shake his head in frustration. The pink pony was annoying, to say the least.
Stormfax had sent Fluttershy off on a train with Rainbow Dash in tow. There hadn’t really been any good choice. If Pinkie Pie had gone, the train would have ended up exploding  or crashing into a mountain. If Fluttershy went, she would end up killing everyone and sending the train careening into some ditch. Stormfax decided to choose the latter, mainly because he didn’t want to be killed slowly and painfully by Fluttershy. He wasn’t quite sure he could trust her yet.
“HEY! ARE YOU EVEN LISTENING TO ME?!?!”
Okay, maybe death would have been the better route.
Stormfax stopped and sighed, pressing a hoof against his forehead. “Hey, Pinkie,” he said. “DO you want to play a game?”
“OOOHHHH!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed. “I love games! What is it? Tag? Or… Hide and Seek? Or-“
“It’s a different kind of game,” Stormfax jutted in, cutting the pony off. “It’s called Keep Quiet. Whoever can stay quiet the longest wins.”
“Oh! I’ve played that game with my friends! I almost always win!”
“Good,” Stormfax muttered under his breath. “The game starts… now!” He began walking again, with Pinkie Pie following silently. Finally, Stormfax could hear himself think.
Stormfax decided to wait to find Twilight and Rarity, who were in the illustrious Canterlot, until the other three got settled in and were training. After that, he would return to Canterlot and find Rarity first. Then, with her in tow, he would take his chances and enter the palace, where his father was currently residing. Wait, not his father. His father was dead to him, just like he was dead to his father. No, Equilarsous was no longer related to Stormfax, and he liked it that way. It made it easier to hate him. Not like he didn’t hate him before.
When they entered the mountains, Stormfax began to sort out what he was going to do. First, he would introduce the Rebellion to Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, and Pinkie Pie. Then, he would take them to Celestia and Luna. Then, he and Luna would talk about what had gone on. Then, they would eat together. Then-
Celestia dammit! Stormfax growled to himself. Stop thinking about Luna! You have to think about the Rebellion! There are still two more ponies left to find! Wait, make that three. Applejack was still missing.
Stormfax sighed. Applejack had been the only sane one of the group, and she just had to disappear when Stormfax needed her most. He hoped she hadn’t been too late to save Applebloom. He could tell she loved her very much. He already knew who burnt the building down. That had been Equilarsous.
After another hour of pure silence, the duo reached the Rebellion camp. About 120 ponies were busy either building living quarters or training with weapons. They wandered through the camp, Stormfax keeping his head low, and Pinkie staring at everything that caught her eye. She gasped, and pointed at a few things, but otherwise stayed silent.
They finally passed through the camp and entered the cave that was Celestia’s own palace. Since they had been the first to arrive, Celestia and Luna had claimed the spacious cave as their new home. Until Luna began training. Then she left the cave and began living with Stormfax and the others. But mainly Stormfax.
“Stormfax!” Celestia exclaimed upon seeing the two ponies. She seemed to have shrunken a little since Stormfax saw her last… or was it just him? Stormfax wasn’t sure.
“Princess,” Stormfax said, bowing. He heard Pinkie shuffle her feet, and Stormfax growled, “Bow, you stupid little-”
“Good, you’ve brought Pinkie Pie,” Celestia said. “Now, why don’t you take off that dirty old cloak?”
“I… I don’t think I should,” Stormfax said, standing. Celestia regarded him, then nodded, saying, “Right, let’s wait. But now, when will you be able to get the others?”
Stormfax shrugged. “I’m not sure, Princess,” he said, staring at the ground. “I was hoping I could have some time to relax.”
Pinkie suddenly gasped. “WAIT! You talked! I won! Hehehehehe!” Pinkie began to jump around the cave gleefully. 
‘I swear, Pinkie, If I am ever alone with you, I will strangle you.’ Stormfax threatened to himself. ‘Elements of Harmony be damned.’
There was a crash, and Luna stumbled into the cave, glaring at Stormfax. “You couldn’t have just saved her for last, could you?” she growled, pointed at the cheery Pinkie Pie. “I don’t think you know how obnoxious she will be while you are out getting the other three.”
Stormfax grinned. “Well, I didn’t really want to go to Canterlot first thing, so I decided to go through Ponyville. I’m more comfortable there, anyways.”
Luna snorted. “Right. You’re not comfortable anywhere.”
“I’m comfortable here,” Stormfax responded, touching his nose with hers. Luna gasped and took a step back. Stormfax turned back to Celestia. “If you’ll let me, I’d like to stay here for a couple of days. That couldn’t do any harm, could it?
Celestia sighed, then nodded. “Alright, Stormfax. You can rest for two days. Then you must return to Canterlot and find the last three.”
Stormfax bowed. “Thank you, Princess.” He turned and exited the cave, Luna following him. When they were far from the cave, Luna rushed up to him and said, “Why did you do that?! Someone could have seen!”
Stormfax chuckled. “That was my greeting to you. And you worry too much.”
“No, I don’t. I worry like a princess should.”
“Right.” They trotted down the mountain side and to the colony below, where the train that was carrying Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash was just pulling in. “You think Rainbow Dash is awake yet?” Luna looked at him in bewilderment, as if it was a surprised that a royal guard had attacked him. The doors opened, and Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash stepped out. Fluttershy regarded the place with no reaction whatsoever, and Rainbow Dash looked frightened. Luna was about to go over and greet them, but Stormfax pushed her back, saying. “I don’t need you getting torn apart. I don’t think these ponies are the same as they were ten years ago.”
Luna sighed. “None of us are, are we?” She walked away, saying, “Same time, same place, right?”
Stormfax nodded. “Yeah, see you later.” He watched Luna disappear into the crowd and trotted over to the two newcomers. “Hey, Fluttershy, how was the ride?”
“Let me die in peace,” she growled, not even bothering to look at him. Ignoring Fluttershy’s reaction to his greeting, Stormfax turned to Rainbow Dash. 
“How are you feeling?”
Rainbow Dash stared at him, then started when she realized who it was. “You!” She charged at Stormfax and tackled him to the ground. The ponies around them stopped to watch. “What the hell is going on here?!?! Who are you? Where are we?”
“I’ll let Celestia explain that to you.”
Rainbow Dash grinned. “No, you won’t.” Her right wing twitched. She waited for a few moments, then glanced behind her. “What the…” She let out a screech.
“Sorry, I should have told you we confiscated your weapons when Applejack knocked you out. For safety purposes, you understand.”
“No, I don’t understand!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed. “I want answers NOW!”
Stormfax grinned. “And you’ll get them. Later. Now, get off of me.” Dash shook her head and there was the sound of metal sliding against metal.
Uh-oh.
Stormfax threw the Pegasus off of him, but Dash still managed to slice his chest. Stormfax stumbled in pain, and Rainbow Dash ran at him, brandishing the small blade. She sliced at him, but Stormfax managed to jump out of the way and push her with a hoof. He had been a fool to leave his weapons in the cave.
Rainbow Dash galloped at him again, getting in another cut on his left foreleg. Stormfax tripped over his hooves and fell, watching his blood drip on the ground. Why was nopony helping him?
Rainbow Dash stood above him and twirled the blade. “I’m not going to lose again.” She said, holding the blade up.
“No.”
Rainbow Dash was suddenly thrown to the side by magic. Stormfax looked to the side and saw Luna running towards him.
Dammit, not here!
“Stormfax, are you okay?!” she exclaimed, bending over him.
“Oh yeah, I’m great. Can I go get cleaned up now?”
Luna glared at Rainbow Dash. She pulled the knife out of her grasp and pointed at two onlooking ponies. “You two take her to Celestia. We don’t need anypony dying today.” She helped Stormfax up, and he heard Rainbow Dash say, “Princess… Luna?”
Luna turned to face her. “That’s right, Rainbow Dash. We are still here.” She and Stormfax began toward the nearly empty infirmary, with Rainbow Dash staring at them.
“Good job, Stormfax,” Luna growled. “Way to show her who’s boss.” 
“You princesses are the bosses here, not me,” Stormfax said through gritted teeth. “Now, can you stop harassing me? I’m kind of bleeding out here.” They trotted into the infirmary and one of the nurses rushed to meet them.
"He needs stitched up. Badly.” No shit, Sherlock, Stormfax growled to himself.
The nurse guided them to a bed, and Stormfax sat. To sum it up, it was painful for him, and probably joyous for Luna. Wait, scratch that. Luna looked terrified.
When the nurse was finished, she said, “He’s going to have to stay here for the night.” Luna glared at Stormfax, and he laughed sheepishly. “But he should be out tomorrow morning.”
“Oh, joyous news,” Luna said, sarcasm dripping from her voice. 
“You’re welcome to stay with him, if you would like.” Luna shook her head.
“No, I have a job to do. Princess of the night, and all.” The nurse nodded and trotted away. Luna glared at him and growled, “I don’t want you to die, not yet, at least.”
“You never want me to die,” Stormfax said, closing his eyes. “Let me sleep.”
“We were supposed to be out tonight.”
“Then go out and talk to Rainbow Dash about that,” Stormfax sighed. “It’s not my fault she’s a big bitch.”
“That’s not very nice.” Luna said. Stormfax decided to ignore her, and he soon heard her hoofsteps fade away. Stormfax fell asleep with her name on his mind.