//------------------------------// // The Cult of the Lightning Fang // Story: The Descent into Madness // by FenrisianBrony //------------------------------// Rainbow Dash Rainbow experimentally moved her back leg, something she did a lot of when she was under pressure or nervous, which she certainly was as she looked over the ragged map she had drawn up from all the scouting reports they had been bringing for the past few days. So far they had been lucky and not drawn much attention to themselves, those who had come sniffing around had been poorly armed and desperate, and had quickly been dealt with, but Rainbow did not want to bank on their chances holding forever. So far they had found three very small kabals based nearby, but Rainbow still had her doubts that the team would be able to find what they sought in a simple Kabal, nor did she believe the others were ready for what she had heard about the homes of the mainline Dark Eldar warriors. The Wych Cults and the Reaver clans seemed like a much smarter option to her, but only if there was one willing to even consider taking non-dark Eldar, something she feared many would not. There was a sudden banging on the door, and Rainbow whirled around, her rifle at the ready as Gilda powered up her own weapons, both of them aiming at the door. They had reinforced the structure since they had first arrived, and had come up with a code to let them know that friendlies were approaching. Two taps with a ten second gap between them, followed by three quick ones. That had been one. Ten second later, a second one echoed through the room, and Rainbow allowed herself to untense slightly, signalling for Gilda to get ready to unlock the door. “Identify,” she called out as Gilda placed a talon on the lock. “Spitfire, Lightning Dust and Scootaloo,” Spitfire called, and Rainbow nodded to Gilda to open the door, still keeping her rifle trained on it, just in case. She needn’t have bothered, as the three members of the Swooping Pegasi were alone as they said they were, and Gilda quickly relocked the doors as Spitfire headed over to the table. “What news?” Rainbow asked, looking at the others. “So far nobody has any knowledge that we killed those Scourges, but there have been a few warriors down here, most of them looked like they were from the Black Heart Kabal,” Spitfire reported quickly. “We’re still safe then,” Rainbow nodded slowly. “I think safe is a strong word, Rainbow, we are still in the Dark City,” Wavechill muttered from underneath his jetbike. “Regardless, did you find anything useful?” “Possibly,” Scootaloo moved forward. “If I may, Spitfire?” “You saw them first, you did most of the leg work, you can give the report,” Spitfire nodded, moving aside. “Thank you. There is a new Wych Cult just starting up, an offshoot of a much larger cult that was broken up in a recent war. They’ve got an arena and quite a few Wyches, but they want riders in their daily spectacles. They don’t have any bikes of their own or enough men and women to ride them and to fill their ranks, so they’ve opened themselves up for trials. All they need is for those with bikes to apply, other than that they don’t care about race.” “Good job,” Rainbow nodded, a smile playing across her muzzle. “There’s more,” Lightning cut in with a smile. “There was talk of something called the Torn Scar open, a massive race event hosted by the Torn Scar Kabal. This thing sounds huge, multiple cults from all over the city type huge, and as far as we can tell, anyone can enter it as long as they have a big enough reputation to draw in the crowd.” “So it’s a big race, so what?” Gilda scoffed. “Because of the first place prize,” Lightning smirked. “An audience with the Archon of the All-Seeing Eye Kabal.” “You’re sure?” Rainbow looked between Spitfire, Scootaloo and Lightning Dust. “We are Rainbow,” Spitfire nodded. “A hundred percent.” “Then saddle up, we move out at first cycle tomorrow,” Rainbow grinned, turning to face Wavechill. “How are the bikes doing? It sounds like they’re going to get quite a bit of use tomorrow.” “They’re doing well, some of the technology we managed to scavenge was easy enough to be installed, but I don’t know enough about most of it to install the rest. Mostly I’ve just installed newer and sharper blades on the bikes and tuned up the engines and installed newer parts.” “And these upgrades are safe?” Rainbow checked, looking over the other bikes, her own set apart and unmodified by any hoof save her own. “As safe as I can make them,” Wavechill nodded. “They’re faster than they were in Equestria, and should be able to take just that extra bit of punishment before failing.” “Good, they are going to be put through the ringer tomorrow,” Rainbow sighed. “So will we for that matter, so get some rest and food in you, we need everything we have tomorrow.” “Do you think that we’ll actually manage to pull this off?” Wavechill asked, his voice taking on a hushed tone. Rainbow always got an odd feeling when she spoke to Wavechill, one she still couldn’t quite sum up. It seemed to be something in between calmness and wariness. All she knew was she could be frank with Wavechill, even more than with Spitfire or the rest of the team. The stallion was a realist, he never dressed up the truth to make it seem nicer, or shied away from doing what needed to be done. She knew she could rely on any member of the team to follow her orders and would put her lives in any of their hooves, but when she needed to voice any doubts she had, it was always to Wavechill. “You know my thoughts, we’re just six ponies in one of the most dangerous places in the universe, surrounded by killers who have centuries of experience on us. If we make one mistake, slip up on even the tiniest of details for more than a fraction of a second, someone will die. I don’t want to lose any of you, but truth be told I don’t know if I’ll be able to keep that promise here.” “You’ll do your best Rainbow, you always do,” Wavechill comforted her. “And if the worst does happen…well, then we’ll face that like we face everything else. Together.” “Thanks,” Rainbow smiled weakly. “Now come on, we should get some rest.” “You want me to take first watch?” “Nah, I’ve got it,” Rainbow holstered her rifle as she spoke, walking back towards the door. “See you in two hours.” *** Rainbow was awoken from her sleep by an almighty crash, followed by a roar of pain and the familiar sounds of weapons discharging. Ina an instant she was alert and on her hooves, her rifle left by her bed in favour of Ravenous, the massive sword flaring into life as she lunged at one of the attackers, getting her first look at them. The one she had just plunged her sword through was an Ork, its skin marked with countless scars to the point where its original green colouration was almost completely obscured. Its cry lasted for a fraction of a second before Rainbow pulled the sword free, nearly cutting the creature in half. “How many are there?” Rainbow roared as she ducked beneath the crude home-made weapon of a human, still wearing some chains from his days serving, before she twisted and bucked the man hard, sending him staggering him back into Gilda’s talons to be quickly torn apart. “Can’t be more than ten or so,” Lightning grunted as she was rushed by a pair of humans, before pushing them off and firing two shots. “Just a work party then,” Spitfire called out, cycling her rifle and chambering a new shot. Rainbow nodded as she dived at the last attacker, placing a hoof on top of what looked to be a severely deformed Eldar. “Kill me,” the thing muttered softly, not looking up as it let its weapon drop to the floor. “Rainbow, you can’t just kill an unarmed slave,” Spitfire hissed. “And we can’t leave them alive either,” Wavechill countered. “If word got out to anyone we may have slighted…” “I’m sorry,” Rainbow sighed, placing her rifle against the Eldars head. “I wish there had been another way.” The shot rang out, before Rainbow got off the dead body, heading towards her jetbike. “We move out now. Killing escaped slaves is sure to bring whoever their masters were down on us. Erase any trace of our presence here and take all your gear. One way or another we’re not coming back here.” “That was…unpleasant,” Spitfire muttered as she prepared her Jetbike. “You really think there wasn’t another way?” “We could have knocked it out, left it here,” Rainbow shrugged. “Then it would have probably been killed in a much more painful way or been put back to work. It was a kindness. A brutal one, but it was the best option.” “I suppose you’re right,” Spitfire nodded, before Scootaloo pulled alongside the pair. “You all set, Scoots?” “Yep, I’ll take point, Rainbow.” “Form up on Scootaloo, stay in tight formation and stay fast. When we get to the arena reform on me. If anything happens you scatter and move to rally point Saddle. Acknowledge?” “Moving when you’re ready,” Gilda nodded, the others forming up around Scootaloo. “Let’s go then,” Rainbow nodded, before shooting out after Scootaloo. *** Rainbow stiffened slightly as she landed on the raised platform, casting a quick glance back down at the undercity they had just come from, barely visible through the smoke and fires that raged in its war torn streets. Other than the very first time they had come to Commoragh, this was the highest they had been in the city, and yet the city still stretched upwards, further than the eye could see. There was no rational way to describe it, the city’s very design threatening to drive Rainbow mad. Instead she looked back at the massive walls of the arena arrayed before her, and the scores of Dark Eldar watching her and her team, each one clad in a form fitting suit that accentuated their form and carrying vicious looking weapons, from swords to knives to bladed nets, and every other sort of sharp implement Rainbow could think of, and more than a few that she couldn’t. “Rainbow,” Spitfire hissed softly. “Just, stick to the plan and follow my lead,” Rainbow hissed back as one of the Wyches stepped forward, her red hair flowing behind her as the large spear she carried scraped along the floor, carving a tiny gouge as she walked, before stopping in front of Rainbow. “So, more…volunteer racers,” her voice was as smooth as ice, and about as comforting as she slowly stalked around Rainbow, before looking at the others. “And not my kind, how interesting. What are you?” “Ygal and Kar, our race is not what makes us, our skill in the saddle is,” Rainbow replied. “Skill?” the Wych scoffed. “We will see. Do I assume you speak for your group?” “I do,” Rainbow nodded. “You are leader of…” “Succubus,” she corrected. “Leader of the Lightning Fang Cult. I do not care for your name, and you shall not be favoured with mine, unless you prove your worth. Your worth is your speed and your ability to incite the crowd. Beyond that, you are nothing.” “Then let us prove our worth,” Rainbow adopted a cocky grin. “Because when it comes down to speed, I can beat anyone you put me up against with my own wings, the bike just helps.” “Arrogance is only desirable when backed up by skill,” the Succubus smirked, before looking at the other Wyches and nodding so slightly that if Rainbow hadn’t lived on a craftworld for two years she would have missed it. In an instant the Wyches had sprung to life, leaping across the gap between them and the rest of the Swooping Pegasi. Blades were pressed against throats as the Succubus raised her spear to point directly at Rainbow. “You’re making a mistake,” Rainbow growled. “I am securing your service,” the Succubus replied matter-of-factly. “You lead these Ygal and Kar, that makes you the only one who can save them. Five groups came to the Lightning Fang, you make six. There will be a race. Win, I will grant you a place in the Lightning Fang, and a place for your associates. Loose, and they will thrill the crowd by dying to my blade.” “Done,” Rainbow smirked, leaning forward so the spear was right in front of her. “If you wanted me to race, all you had to do was ask.” “Take them,” the Succubus looked at the Wyches holding the rest of the Swooping Pegasi, who quickly dragged the team from their bikes and into the arena. A few of them, especially Gilda and Scootaloo, were struggling against their captors, but for the most part they were complying. Rainbow silently prayed that they would hold to good reason and not do anything to jeopardise the next stage of the plan. “Come then, the race is to be held tomorrow, you must make ready,” the Succubus turned on her heels as a pair of Wyches moved towards Rainbow. Slowly dismounting her bike, Rainbow began to push it forward, following behind the Succubus into the arena. *** Gilda growled as she slammed a talon on the black metal gate that was keeping them penned in, before letting out a hiss of pain, recoiling back and clasping her talon. “Bloody hell,” she cursed. “How many times are you going to do that?” Spitfire asked from where she was sitting. “What was it this time? Burning sensation? Electricity?” “Argh, it just hurts,” Gilda snapped, clenching her talon tight. “What’s Rainbow playing at? Leaving us here?” “We’ve gone over this, a lot of times,” Scootaloo snapped. “Do you really think she just ‘left us’? She was left without a choice.” “She didn’t even put up a fight,” Gilda retorted. “Be quiet,” Spitfire muttered. “Of course she didn’t put up a fight, she would have got us all killed, or worse. She asked us to trust her, we have to give her this chance.” “Thank you, Spitfire, and you, Scootaloo,” Rainbow smiled, approaching the gate and standing a few feet away from the ominous spikes. “Thanks for the vote of confidence Gilda.” “Sorry, Rainbow,” Gilda sighed, before cocking her head to the side. “What are you wearing?” Rainbow had shed her armour and her sword, instead wearing a tight black bodysuit. Her wings stuck out from two holes on the back, but even then the leading edge of them was covered in the same black material that was stretched across the rest of her body. “it’s my old bodysuit from…” she began, before looking around and sighing, “from before. If this is a race then I need to keep weight down, even if it’s only by tiny proportions. My armour was far too heavy, as is my sword and rifle.” “Why would you be taking weapons to a race?” Lightning asked. “This isn’t a Wonderbolt derby, this is an arena for gladiatorial fights,” Rainbow rolled her eyes. “I don’t know what the plan is but there will be violence as well as speed.” “All the more reason for you to carry weapons and wear armour then surely?” Wavechill pointed out. “Going out there unarmed and unarmoured seems like an invitation to be killed.” “I’ve got weapons on my jetbike, and my jetbike itself is covered in blades,” Rainbow pointed out, before sighing. “I’ve been researching a lot of things. Old Reaver champions, common practice between the cults. It’s not just the other racers I have to watch out for, it’s the arena, and the crowd. This is a race, and there are only two positions, winner or loser, no second places, no runners up. If you aren’t first, you get nothing save scorn. I have got to go fast for that, and the fact that if I don’t, the traps on the arena floor will get me.” “There’s also the matter of my opponents,” Rainbow continued. “There’s five of them. Two are young and brash by Eldar standards, which means they won’t have fear or good sense, which makes them dangerous. The other three have been doing this for centuries in other clans and now want to lead here, they know what they’re doing and they are good at it, and I’ve got to beat them in front of a crowd of thousands.” “You can do it,” Spitfire reassured her. “Flying is in our blood, all of us. We have wings, they had to make theirs. That gives us an advantage that they can never have.” “Yeah, I know,” Rainbow nodded, sounding half-hearted as she spoke. “What’s the matter?” Spitfire asked, going to slip her hoof through the bars before remembering Gilda and pulling it back. “I haven’t been in front of a crowd for a long time,” Rainbow admitted. “Sure I’ve stood in front of military parades or battle lines or whatever, but the last time I was in an arena in front of a crowd was at the Wonderbolts tryouts.” “Don’t tell me that you of all p...Ygal, have stage fright,” Lightning smirked. “That would be too rich.” “Shut up,” Rainbow gave her a deadpan stare as she spoke, before relenting. “Ok, so maybe there’s some truth in that. The last time I was in front of a crowd was before any of this happened, and it directly caused this. I don’t know if I’m ready for this.” “Well you better use the next few hours carefully then, hadn’t you,” Gilda sauntered over. Rainbow, your whole life you wanted to be in front of a crowd of thousands calling your name, every dream you had at flight school was about it, every waking thought you had was dominated by it. You’re going to do fine. No, scratch that, you’re going to do better than fine, you’re going to do great. You’re going to win the race, then we are all going to make this cult big enough to enter the Torn Scar Open, then we are going to see the Archon of the All-Seeing Eye, and then, then we will find Applejack, we will go home, and we will never have to return here again. Do you understand me?” “Yeah, I hear you,” Rainbow chuckled nervously, before looking around. “Look, I’m sorry but I’ve got to go. I don’t think they really wanted me to talk to you guys, and I don’t want to push my luck any further. I just needed to talk to you all, I’ll get you out of here, promise.” “Promise shomise, just go win the race,” Scootaloo laughed. “Sure thing, Scoots,” Rainbow smiled, before turning and trotting away. “Good speech,” Wavechill remarked as Gilda sat back down. “I always forget you two got way back.” “Yeah, well, if I can’t convince her to go out in front of a crowd of thousands all screaming for blood in an attempt to find a single pony in a huge galaxy, then what sort of friend would I be?” Gilda asked, before laughing. “Really, that’s like rule one of friendship.” It was an odd situation to suddenly find themselves in, laughing as hard as they did. They may have been prisoners, their lives hanging in the balance and depending on the outcome of a race more violent than any they had ever borne witness too, but they were also together. Together they would see themselves through the dark, and they would all overcome, as comrades in arms, and as friends.