//------------------------------// // Prologue // Story: Battle Ready: Envy // by D101 Reviews //------------------------------// Battle Ready: Envy Prologue General Arson of the Warhorse army breathed fire into his cold hands and playfully rolled it through his fingers before he relit the camp flames that had been snuffed out by the cold, to grateful grunts from the rest of his team. They held their own hands up and rubbed them together to regain some feeling back into their fingertips. Arson smiled at them before turning his attention to where he was standing. It had been nearly seven months since he had last been here, believing he would never have to set foot in here again. Of course, fate had other plans. The Tomb of Wrath had been colder when it was still inhabited by the Sin, but still it was freezing, the only heat coming from the fires that they set. It didn't help that they had set up camp in the pit outside of Wrath's burial chamber. The room where he had died and lived for so long. It was a chilling thought. He didn't ask question though. He had already received all the answers that he needed when they had set off for the expedition. Arson tried not to let the answers worry him of course, but it was hard. If something concerned Battle Ready this much, then it was desperately serious. "Keeping cool Arson?" asked a voice from beside him. He turned and smiled at the familiar face. "You could say that," Arson shrugged. "How're you though Sky?" General Sky Blade shrugged, the dagger Vindicta strapped to her hip. "We think we may have something that the Commander may have an interest in," she said, keeping her voice low. She held up a beaten and leather bound book. "What is it?" Arson asked. "It's the notebook of one of the architect's," Sky explained. "It's written in the ancient tongue though. I can barely make heads or tails of it. I just hope the Commander can translate it." "You do realise the Commander speaks the ancient tongue so fluently he curses in it?" Arson reminded Sky. She laughed. "What does 'Mordetis meum latus tu limo' mean anyway?" she chuckled. "I have no idea but he's been saying that to his sister rather a lot recently," Arson smirked, recalling a recent incident where Battle and his younger sister were having a usual shouting match. Well not shouting match. Battle would taunt his sister and she would scream at him. "I'll go give this to the Commander," she said, walking through the camp site and reaching the door to the burial chamber itself. Battle had set up his command post at the very heart of Wrath's tomb. Battle seemed to have gone out of his way to disrespect the tomb of the Sin in anyway he could, ending up with his bed being set up over Wrath's black casket. Not that he had done much sleeping. From the very first day they had been in the tomb, the various finding's had been brought to Battle to examine. Most of them had been weapons and jewels of some variety, but there had been a fair few books. All of which were now being read by Battle, as he sat cross-legged on the casket, book in his lap, lips forming words Sky couldn't even begin to understand. Eventually however he tossed the book aside. "What is it with ancient civilisations and cursed artefacts?" he asked aloud. He glanced at his hands to make sure that they hadn't caught on fire or something. He looked up at Sky, smiling slightly. "Something for me General?" "Two things sir," Sky corrected, walking up to where Battle sat. "I think you'd be interested in this," Sky explained, handing over the leather bound book. "What's the other thing?" Battle asked, jumping to his feet and taking the book. "I think the book may hold more answers," Sky said, reaching into her pocket and withdrawing the second item, hiding it from her commanding officer. Battle shrugged and began reading. "Written in the ancient tongue," Battle observed. He took a sideways glance at Sky. "For future reference it means 'Bite my flank you slime'." Sky blushed slightly as Battle continued reading. As he continued to read the notes of the architect, his frown became more and more pronounced, until he was scowling at the book in his hands. "Problem sir?" Sky asked. Battle nodded. "According to this book the enchantments on each of the tombs of the sins are supposed to keep the Sins imprisoned even when they are at their most powerful," Battle explained. "Most powerful sir?" Sky said, confused. "The Sins work on an astrological calender in terms of strength," Battle explained. "The seven stars they were each born under grant them enhanced strength when they appear in the sky. The times in which they each appear are referred to as the Zenith's of the Sins. We've just moved from the Zenith of Wrath and are approaching the Zenith of Envy." "Well then what's the issue? If you don't mind my asking sir," Sky asked again. "The spells are supposed to hold the Sins even during their respective Zeniths and yet Wrath escaped at the peak of his power," Battle explained. "You know what this tells me General?" "What sir?" "Someone let Wrath out. Someone wanted him to be free." Sky's mouth opened. "Who could or frankly, who would release a Sin?" "No one outside of Warhorse that's for sure," Battle reasoned. "I mean, nopony outside of the empire knows the Sins exist." Sky scuffed her feet. "Not strictly true sir," she reminded casually. Battle's eyes narrowed on Sky. "If you are implying that our allies from Equestria had something to do with this General..." Battle said ominously. "I was merely listing the probabilities sir," Sky said quickly. "I fought and trained Rainbow Dash myself. I know for a fact she would never lift a finger to harm the empire, nor any of her friends." Battle smiled. "I was just messing Sky," Battle said. "I know you didn't mean it. Thought that still leaves us with who released Wrath?" He looked back to Sky. "You said you had something else Sky?" Sky held up the ring to the light before passing it to Battle. "It's not much. I found it by the entrance on guard duty. Too recent to be part of Wrath's collection." Battle took the ring and held it to the light as Sky had. He began to turn it over in his grasp and lifted it to his eye. His scowl darkened his face one more. The silver band of metal was shaped like an open phoenix head, the eye of the great bird set with a glistening purple gemstone. "You're right," Battle said. "This is too recent to be in Wrath's collection." "Then what is it?" Sky asked. "A calling card," Battle muttered. "Of the people who unleashed Wrath for us." "Which are?" "The Cultoribus de Peccatis," Battle growled. "An underground society that worship's the Sins as their gods. It's like a cult. The thing is, they're extremely underground. We don't know the individual members and their movements are secretive." "They unleashed Wrath?" "It would appear so," Battle replied. "My grandfather never took them seriously. They were just a pack of jokers and hecklers who caused trouble for the empire back when he was King. But now? If they're actually attempting to release the Sins from their prisons... We have to find them and stop them." Sky's eyes suddenly opened. "Sir?" "Yes General?" "Didn't you say we were entering the Zenith of Envy?" Battle looked up sharply. "Victoriam nos adjuvet," Battle whispered. "We have to find Envy's tomb." "Who's to say though sir that they even know where Envy's tomb is sir?" "They knew where Wrath was buried did they not?" Battle said, opening up the architect's notebook once more and scanning some of the later pages. He flicked through page after page, barely glancing at the words on it. "Anything?" Sky asked. Battle remained silent. He remained still as he continued to read. "I recognise this," he said quietly. "Sir?" Battle looked up, a glint of fear in his eyes. "I know this tale." "Tale sir?" Sky asked. "The notebook says that when Wrath appeared in these lands the three tribes began to feel ill-content and mistrust for one another. They didn't work together see? So the unicorns and pegasi demanded food from the earth ponies, and they in turn changed day to night, night to day, and altered the weather to better suit the earth ponies." "And then the windigo's came?" Sky asked. To prove her point, a strange, ethereal cry came from outside. Battle nodded. "According to this, a group from each tribe, led by their respective ambassadors left these lands to search for a new home." "And who were these ambassadors?" Sky asked. "The daughter of the unicorn king, Princess Platinum. The pegasus military leader Commander Hurricane. And the earth pony leader, Chancellor Pudding-head." "Pudding-head? Really?" "The point is I've heard these names before!" Battle exclaimed. "These were three of the six founders of Equestria!" Sky raised an eyebrow. "Why would an architect be so concerned with the migration of another nation?" she asked. Battle flicked through the pages. His eyes widened. "You had to ask," he muttered. "Sir?" "Quod ignari et ambulavit in ulnis amplexus unum peccatum alterius. Oro invidia quam ira sit mitior illis erat," Battle recited, closing the book. "In modern day terms sire?" Sky sighed. "Little do they know that they have walked from the embrace of one tomb and into the arms of another. I pray Envy will be kinder to them than Wrath," Battle translated. Sky's eyes widened. "You said that the people who he spoke of were the founders of Equestria?" "Yes I did." Sky looked at him for a long moment. "We have gathered all we can learn from here," Battle said swiftly. "Tell the troops we move out in exactly one hour and that they're to get the lead out. I want to reach Legion within one week." "Yes sir!" Sky said, snapping to attention. Battle looked to the book in his hand. "Victoriam mea custodiant Twilight tutum."