//------------------------------//
// Chapter 12 - Blood Tears 
// Story: Through the Fire and Flames 
// by Rhodesm96 
//------------------------------//


???, Dawn


Above the clouds, under the guise of a regular pegasus, Luke flew along, observing the ground below.

"So, I've been thinking." Luke said. "After we get this next power-up, what do we do?"

What do you mean? The Nightmare said.

"I mean, we're getting more and more powerful, so what do we do with the power once we have it?"

I was planning on world domination. Said The Nightmare. Once we reach this next power source, we will be strong enough to assault Canterlot.

"World domination? Awesome." Luke said. "Why don't we attack it now? I mean, we're pretty strong as it is. What's so bad about Canterlot?"

Canterlot is the seat of power of the Alicorn Princesses. Or rather, Princess. The Nightmare said. Powerful as we are, Celestia alone would prove more than a match for us, never mind the fact that Canterlot has the greatest Guard concentration of any city.

"Really? I've looked into what's left of Chrysalis' mind, seen her memories. She's fought her before and won, and now that we've absorbed her we should be stronger still."

Back then, Chrysalis had been feeding on the love of Shining Armour for a long time, growing stronger. Without it, she would be at a fraction of her then power. No, boy, we need to get stronger first.

"Fair enough. And you think that this next power source will be enough to make us stronger?"

Definitely.

"Then let's get to it." Luke said. "But in the meantime, I'm starving. Could we stop somewhere and, I dunno, get some food?"

We don't need to eat. The Nightmare responded. We subsist entirely on the life essence we drain.

"So we feed off the people we kill?" Luke said. "That's pretty fucking metal."

Indeed. There is a city close by which would require little deviation from our current route a few hours away. Shall we? Luke grinned.

"Oh, yes."






Canterlot, Noon


Jason stumbled out of the chariot as it touched down on the grounds of Canterlot Castle, followed by the two council members. Flashpoint unbuckled himself from the front of it, collapsing with exhaustion. A small group of guards rushed out of the castle toward them.

"Are you guys alright?" They said. Jason got to his feet and looked down at them.

"Get Flash here to a place he can rest, then summon the council to the meeting chamber. Shit is going down." He said, his voice was leaden with such seriousness that they didn't consider questioning him, even though he technically had no authority over them. One of them maneuvered Flashpoint onto his back, and then they both galloped into the castle. Jason turned to the two council members who accompanied him.

"We'd better get to the meeting chamber, too." One of them said. "Jason, I assume you'll be accompanying us?" Jason gave a terse nod in reply, before the trio followed the guards' path into the castle. As they passed, Flashpoint called out to them.

"Jason... Jason, listen. You can't blame yourself..." He said, between panting for breath. "You did... everything you could..."

"Easy, Flash." Jason said, crouching to his level. "I know. We were too late, we wouldn't have been able to get Chrysalis' help by then."

"Wasn't talking... about Chrysalis..." Flashpoint said, before his eyes rolled back into his head and he passed out, missing the darkening of Jason's expression. One of the councillors tapped him on the arm.

"Come on, we need to get going." They said. Jason nodded and followed them as they made their way through the castle to the meeting chamber, where they found some of the councillors already gathered. After waiting for the others to arrive, the head councillor stood up.

"From the fact that we've had to call this meeting together at such short notice, I gather the mission we sent you on didn't go as planned." He said, looking at Jason.

"Yeah. Luke got there ahead of us, and attacked the hive." Jason said. "He appeared to be able to control the changelings, and his appearance had changed significantly. I think it's safe to assume he managed to absorb Chrysalis."

"So, now it's even stronger." Said one of the councillors. "It was already powerful enough to destroy the changelings singlehandedly, and now it has their power added to its? Our soldiers don't sound a chance."

"If it's absorbed Chrysalis, this means it has control over the hive mind." Another councillor said, turning to Jason. "Correct?" Jason nodded.

"It certainly seems that way." He said. "He chose to send the changelings at us, rather than fight us himself. I'm guessing he didn't want us to be able to follow him, so he used the changelings as a distraction."

"It certainly worked." The head councillor said. "We no longer have any idea where it is."

"There's something else, too." Said one of the councillors that had accompanied Jason. "When we were fighting the changelings, a carnifex was sent after us. We barely won against it, though at the cost of the life of a brave guardsmare. However, even though before we began fighting it we were surrounded by multitudes of changelings, afterward there wasn't a single one to be seen. While we were distracted by the carnifex, the changelings fled. The Nightmare now has an army at its disposal."

Silence greeted her words as the councillors looked at each other worriedly. The Nightmare had been a grave threat by itself, but now it was much worse. The might of the changeling nation's army was second only to Equestria's, but with such a being as The Nightmare at its head, they now rivalled them in strength.

Jason broke the silence. "Well, its no good standing around here with our dicks in our hands. Do we have any indication of where he is?"

"No." Said the Head Councillor. "After we lost track of him at the changeling hive, we haven't been able to pick up a trail." At that moment, the doors to the council chamber were opened and a royal guard stepped through.

"Councillors," He said, "There is a messenger outside from Trottingham with urgent news. You should all hear this." With that, a pegasus colt trotted into the room, looking around nervously.

"Speak up, lad." Said one of the councillors. "What's this message?" The colt swallowed nervously.

"Trottingham is being attacked by changelings." He said, as an audible gasp went around the room. "We-" He was cut off from speaking further by the head councillor.

"Mobilise the guard!" He said. "Dispatch a legion to Trottingham at once! There is no time to lose." Jason leapt from his seat at the table.

"I'm going." He said. It was not a request, but a statement of fact. The determination in his voice allowed no argument.

"Before you do, Jason," The Head Councillor said, "Allow me to give you something." Walking around the table, he produced a badge from somewhere in the room.

"I hereby make you an honorary member of the council." He said. "You now have limited authority over the guards you are accompanying. Good luck, Jason."

He nodded, and turned to leave for Trottingham.