//------------------------------// // Chapter 1: Wampa Attack // Story: Equestria Wars Episode XI: Attack of the Vines // by sonicdash123 //------------------------------// As the snow fell from the cloud obscured sky, a tiny figure made its way across the blinding abyss of ice. The bundled pony was wrapped in a thick fur coat and gloves as he rode across the windswept slope on his raptor. Plumes of snow rose as it galloped. Pulling on the reins, Charming Thunder pulled his mount to stop on a icy slope. He then took off his protective goggles and looked through his binoculars to scan the area for any whereabouts of his brother. He then puts away his binoculars and took out his comlink. "Charming Thunder to Rainbow Dash, do you read me?" he said. "Loud and clear, your highness," Rainbow replied. "What's up?" "I finished my spot and there is still no sign of Danny." "There isn't enough life on this ice cube to fill a space cruiser. I'm done for now. I'm going back." "Right behind you, Rainbow. Cadence will be expecting me there. Probably something important." When Charming Thunder turned off his comlink, his raptor sniffed around and began to shake. It wasn't the cold that caused it to shake. "Hey, steady girl." He nuzzled its head with his hoof trying to calm it down. "What's the matter? You smell something?" A large shadow extended over him as he turned quickly coming face-to-face with a monstrous, eleven foot tall Wampa. The Yeti-like creature let out a howl as it swung at the tiny pony with its massive claw. Charming Thunder tried to reach for his pistol but was knocked off of his mount and landed on the ice below him. He was unconscious as the monster snapped the raptors neck. It then grabbed the corpse on one hand and Charming Thunder with the other as it dragged him across the frozen plain. --------------------- Rainbow Dash rode her raptor into the hangar and got off being glad to be out of the cold. She then trotted towards her prized ship, the Millennium Phoenix parked among a group of other fighters. Droids and mechanics scurried about as she made her way to the ship where she sees Applejack wearing her welders goggles making installing a new sensor dish to the ship. She noticed Rainbow approaching and took off her welding goggles. "Hey, Rainbow," Applejack shouted. "How's my ship?" Rainbow asked. "Just finishing up with the sensor dish and its off to the engine to make repairs. I probably could use some help." "Alright. Once I inform Princess Cadence about my report, I'll come back and give you a hoof." Applejack then lowered her goggles and continued to welding as Rainbow Dash made her way to the castle. --------------------- In the castle, Cadence was going over a letter from Ponyville. It states that it is an invitation to the wedding of Cranky Doodle and Matilda. Rainbow Dash entered the room and bowed to her presence. "Rainbow," she said as she continued to look at the letter. "No sign of Danny, Cadence," Rainbow reported. "Has my brother reported in yet?" "Not yet, but he will soon. As soon my ship is ready, I'm heading back to Ponyville. Twilight needs me over there for some reason." "I have to be there too for a wedding. I'll see you there." Rainbow Dash nodded and left the throne room to head back to her ship. Cadence then got up from her throne and gazed out of her castle window. Suddenly, the doors burst open and Flash Sentry entered the room like he had something really urgent to report. "Your highness," Flash said. "Charming hasn't reported back yet. It's been a couple minutes since Rainbow returned." "That's not a good sign. Are the TIE Scouts ready?" "Not yet. We're having some trouble adapting them to the cold." "Then I'll have to go on my raptor." Cadence then walked with Flash to the raptor pen. "But your highness, the temperature is dropping rapidly in the north. It might be dangerous to go alone." "That's right and my brother is out in it." Flash and Cadence arrived at the pen and the princess puts on her fur coat and goggles then mounts her ride. "Your mount will freeze before you reach the first marker!" "Then I'll see you in Tartarus!" Cadence then maneuvered out of the pen leaving the kingdom. --------------------- Deep inside the icy cave, Charming Thunder is hung upside down, suspended from the ceiling by his legs. His face was covered with scars from the wampa that attacked him earlier. He slowly cracked open his eyes as consciousness reentered his body. A chilling moan resonated around the room, echoing around the gorge walls. He pulled up to his hind legs trying to grab them, but his body gave out. He then scanned the room for any of his belongings and sees his lightsaber near his discarded gear lying on the ground just a few feet from his reach. He attempted to reach for it with his hoof but gave up. He then tried to use his magic to get it out of the snow as he herd footsteps slowly approaching. His magic pulled the lightsaber out and he grabbed it then cuts off his bonds. As he fell to the snowy floor, he sees the wampa standing over him. He got up on his hooves not wanting to feel the force of another blow from the creature, and as it raised its paw to attack, Charming Thunder swung his lightsaber chopping off its paw. He then ran out of the cave as it roared in pain. He tripped and fell face first to the ground. He was relieved that it was snow that broke his fall. He slowly got up and staggered through the icy wilderness. He stumbled in the snow as the wind began to pick up. He struggled to stay upright, but a blast of freezing snow knocked him off his hooves. Charming Thunder then began to slowly drag his body across the snow before he collapsed. He is now laying semi-conscious on the snowy floor. A voice was then heard in his head. It sounded like Twilight's but something different. He then looked up to a shadow figure of Twilight and tried to reach out to her. "Twilight," he groaned as he tried to crawl. The silhouette faded as a lone figure riding a raptor approached. He closed his eyes and lowered his head to the snowy ground as Cadence rushed over to him and cradled him. "Charming!!" Cadence shouted. "Don't do this, brother. Come on, give me a sign here." She began to softly slap him trying to wake him up. She then heard her raptor and turned to see it stagger and fall over into the snow. Cadence then carried Charming Thunder to the collapsed raptor and placed her ear to its chest. Its breathing had stopped thanks to the storm. "Not much time." She pressed her brother to the the belly of the dead dinosaur. "Hang on!!" Cadence then grabbed her lightsaber and after a quick examination, she ignited the blade and sliced the raptor's body open. She quickly began to toss its steaming innards into the snow, then lifted Charming Thunder's body and stuffed him inside. "You're going to hate me for this. This might smell bad, Charming. It will keep you warm until I get a shelter up." She then rested her head on the scales of the raptor and sighed. "And I thought they smell bad on the outside." She then puts on her goggles and began to make a shelter with her magic as she called for help. --------------------- Four TIE Scouts raced across the vast white landscape as the storm faded. One of the pilots glanced down at his softly beeping monitor. "Captain Shining, I've got something," he reported. "Not much, but could be a life form." He piloted his fighter and made an arc then raced in a different direction. The pilot switched over to a new transmitter. "Charming Thunder, do you copy? This is Black Two. Princess Cadence, do you copy." After a sharp crackle of static, Cadence's voice resounded from his helmet. "Nice of you boys to drop by," Cadence said. The pilot quickly switched back to his first transmitter. "Shining Armor, this is Black Two. I found them. Repeat, I found them!" The TIE Scout flew over Princess Cadence as she waved to it. It is time that Charming Thunder gets to the med center back to the Crystal Empire.