Cyrodiil. A land full of mountain terrain and forests, woodland creatures, and several cities. The main city of Cyrodiil was Lepus Urbem, which sat on the top of Mount Oryctolagus. Lepus Urbem, was the home of the Imperial Family and the Cyrodiil Royal Guard and Military Force. A giant stone gate surrounded the city.
Pass the gate was a village full of houses and markets. Of course, the natives of these lands were called, the Lepus (Lepores, plural). Rather than Foxlike creatures, they were Rabbit/Bunny like creatures. They had fur, bushy tails, big feet, and long ears just like rabbits and bunnies.
They are also the most advanced race in their home world. The developed aircraft travel, motorized carriages called, Mobiles, and they also invented the most advance weaponry that no creature has ever seen. I think you know where I’m going with this. However, they weren’t the type of creatures who would, like to make friends. To be frank, they were called the Imperials for a reason. Imperialism.
The Lepus were known for spreading their power throughout Cyrodiil and the lands that bordered it. The lands of Cyrodiil were made up of 4 lands. The Island of Edo, The Lands of Ming which were to the west of Edo, Tropicana, which was the neighboring land of Cyrodiil, and of course, Cyrodiil itself. Cyrodiil had taken over Edo some years ago, and are currently at war with Ming and Tropicana.
Tropicana is a tropical forest land where its native inhabitants are Catlike creature known as, Neko (Nekos, plural). They are also the most primitive race out of all the others. They were a gang of hunters and gathers who hunt and search for food. The Nekos were allies with the Kitsunes and were helping some Kitsune war prisoners escape captivity from the Lepus prisons. A team of 3 had been sent to help break out 3 POWs who were being tormented in the Lepus Work Camps. This is where there story begins:
It was a dark rainy night. The wind was blowing loudly. As loud as a lion’s roar; the cold win rushed through as the blistering rain fell down, pouring like a bucket of water. The drops of rain felt like broken glass, piercing through their fur. The 3 Neko warriors were walking through the wet, squishy, muddy ground that lead to the prison. They were covered in hood so they would get cold or too wet.
They’re mission was to meet up with a Lepus guard who was secretly a member of their resistance. He was supposed to escort the prisoners to the extraction point, and provide them a means of escape. The young cat warriors treaded through the muddy terrain, trying hard not to slip. The young warriors who were risking their lives were Ikura, Maguro, and Tsubasa. Ikura was a tall blue cat with lots of muscle. He also had a half tail. Maguro was a white cat with a pink spot on her right eye and covered head-to-toe in battle tattoos. The last was Tsubasa. She was a brown cat who wore line wrapping on her arms, paws, and feet. She was the youngest of them.
As our trio of warriors made it to the extraction point, a Lepus soldier was waiting for them. He was wearing a hood and waving around a blue flag, as they were told he was going to be doing as a sign of trust. The young warrior cats walked over to him. He had a warm smile on his face, and extended his hand to shake with them. But the 3 warriors only trusted him so much. Ikura walked up to the guard and shook his head. The guard slowly frowned.
“Are you 3 alone?” asked the Ikura
“Yes” replied the guard, “And you 3?”
“Just us.”
“So where are they?” asked Maguro.
“They’re right here”
The guard moved aside and revealed 3 POWs that he was helping escape. A young Fox boy, a young Fox girl, and an elder Fox man. The cats smiled and nodded at the Lepus guard.
“Okay” continued the Lepus guard, “Now, over by those hills you’ll find a mobile. The elder fox behind you knows how to operate it. Take the east road. That will take you out of Cyrodiil.”
“Thank you” said Tsubasa. “You’re a nice person.”
“I never wanted this” replied the Lepus guard as he donned his hood and walked away.
They had to move fast. The POWs were in their care now. Ikura lead the way up the mountain to the hills over by the south river. As they lead the way, Tsubasa carried the little fox girl in her arms, while Maguro held the fox boys hand and helped him walk down the slippery trail. The elder fox man followed behind them. As they made their march up the river, the lightning struck loudly. The winds rustled through the trees, and the rain got worse.
Meanwhile, the Lepus guard was returning back to his barracks. He was tired after all that walking, and wanted to rest. But when he opened the door and arrived at the barrack, he found himself smacked in the back of his head with the butt of a rifle. The young guard slowly got up and found an army of angry soldiers waiting for him. As he was brutally picked up and struck multiple times in the gut, the Lepus army general arrived behind him. The young Lepus soldier was pushed to the ground. The general went to picked him up. The soldier was shocked to see him. “N-No!” he cried, “G-G-General Bonnie!”
Back in the forest, the Neko warriors and the 3 Kitsune POWs were trudging up the mountains as the hard rain poured down on them sideways. The fox girl was crying in Tsubasa’s arms as she tried to lull the child, making soft shushing noises. “It’s okay, you’re alright” she assured. Ikura was starting to get blind from the cold blistering wind that was passing by his face. He squinted his eyes trying to walk through. The weather was getting worse, but they were not ready to give up just yet.
Back with the Lepus guard, his entire platoon had brought him outside and tied his hands down. He was forcefully kneeled to the ground and blindfolded. His forehead and mouth were bleeding from being smacked and pummeled. The general slowly walked up to him, holding a small handgun. He looked at the guard and spit at his face.
“Any last words, Privet James?” asked the General.
The guard grunted his teeth. Clenching his fists tightly. “You are a coward and monster Bonnie!” he shouted, “I regret ever serving you!”
The general slowly let out a sly smirk and pointed his gun at the guard’s forehead. “I’ll be sure to engrave that on your tombstone” said the general as he pulled down the trigger. As the gun rang out, lighting roared, and the poor Lepus guard fell to the ground, pouring out in his blood. Execution. That was his reward for helping the innocent. Executed in cold blood.
The other Lepus guards, kicked his body over to a ditch they had dug, and began to bury his body. Meanwhile, the Neko warriors had finally made up the road to the top of the hill. They were wet, tired, and out of breath, not to mention covered in blisters. When they made it to the top, they found the little mobile the Lepus guard said he would provide. It was standard motorized carriage with a roof. The interior had 6 passenger seats, 1 driver’s seat. That was seven seats total.
“Perfect!” exclaimed Maguro.
“Let’s get moving before the Imperials find us” said Ikura.
Tsubasa, Maguro, and the two fox children piled inside the carriage, while Ikura accompanied the old man on the driver’s side. The elderly fox man sat on the driving seat and opened a compartment box next to him. There he found a key and a map. The man placed the key in the ignition and turned. He motor couched and hacked, but it wasn’t starting. He turned the ignition again. Again and again the motor was coughing: VRRR-CH-CH-CH…VRRR-CH-CH-CHRRRR-CLUNK. “Come on, come on you worthless piece of junk” shouted the elder fox man.
“What’s going on?” asked Ikura.
“The motor must be wet” said the elder fox man, “It won’t start!”
“Well what can we do?” he asked.
“Maybe the engine box is wet. Can you go under the carriage and dry off the engine box? It might work.” replied the elder fox man.
Ikura got out of the passenger seat and went to take a look under carriage. “Hmm” he thought. “Hey fox man!” he shouted, “Is it the big blocky thing?” The elder fox man rolled his eyes and nodded. Ikura slowly pulled out a piece of cloth from his belt pouch and reached down into the carriage and dried off the engine box.
As he slowly got up, he gave the elder fox man a thumbs up. The fox man nodded and once again turned on the ignition. VRR-VRR-CH…VRRRR-CH-CH-CH-VROOOOOOM! The fox man slowly smiled. “It worked!” he exclaimed! As Ikura slowly made his way back to the passenger’s side, a loud bang was heard. The gang of heroes slowly looked back and found that and army of Lepus guards had found them, and were heading there way. They were outnumbered 3 warriors and 3 civilians against an army of almost 13 highly skilled gunmen.
But that wasn’t all. Ikura was shot. He gripped his arm tightly as he slowly kneeled to the ground. His arm bleed out and stained his hand in red. The Imperial Army Officer ordered his team to advance. He slowly grunted, picking himself, trying to get to the mobile. He slowly gripped onto the door handle and picked himself up to the window. But he instead of opening the door, he told the elder fox man to leave him and run.
“RUN! GET OUT OF HERE!” Ikura shouted
“What!?” exclaimed the fox man.
Maguro heard what Ikura said and turned to peek out the window. Ikura was injured and he was telling them to leave him behind. This was something she did not want to do. Maguro screamed out to Ikura, “What! NO! IKURA, GET IN!”
Ikura shook his head. “Go NOW! I’ll hold them off! HURRY!” The elder fox man looked behind and saw the army advancing closer. There was no other way. The elder fox stepped on the paddle to accelerate and ran off leaving Ikura behind. Maguro banged on the window and scream out to Ikura. Ikura waved back to Maguro as the carriage disappeared into the night mist.
Turning back, Ikura realized the Imperial Lepus Army was still on the move. He quickly pulled out his bow and arrow and took aim. The Imperials were about to open fire. Ikura took 4 arrows from his arrow pack and placed them on his bow. As he pulled back on his bow and released, his arm began to spew out in blood, as his injured hand was the one he used to draw. As his arrows flew into the air, the Imperial officer, noticed and commanded his troops to fallback.
As the arrows descended, 1 arrow hit the ground, 2 struck a soldier on his chest and left eye, and the other hit the officer’s leg. As he screamed out in pain, he slowly got up, gripping his leg. He shouted to retaliate, “RETURN FIRE!!!”
As the army took aim, Ikura ran off to take cover behind a nearby rock. As the army opened fire, he waited until it was safe. The bullets fired off at him. Hitting nothings but the rock. Ikura crouched down trying not be hit as the bullets continued. Then he heard the window of opportunity. “RELOADING!” Ikura immediately jumped out from the rock and took out his bow again. He took another 4 arrows and launched them at the army. This time 3 soldiers went down. One arrow struck a soldier in the face, the other 2 struck another soldier in his upper and lower chest. The last one struck another soldier right through his throat.
Ikura landed on the ground, grunting and panting as he gripped his injured arm, which had just worsened. Just then, he felt himself being shot 2 times in the back. Ikura shrieked in pain. As he slowly got up, he took another 3 shots to his leg. Ikura knelt to the ground and dropped his weapons. The officer looked at Ikura and saw an ordered the final attack.
Ikura slowly tried to pick himself up from the ground, but was brought back down to the floor. His wounds oozed out in blood as his fur was painted in red. He grinded his teeth, howling in pain. The gang of soldiers approached Ikura. The general told his team to wait here and hold fire. He slowly walked up to Ikura and pointed a handgun at him.
“Alright, where the other heading?” asked the officer.
“…P-Piss off, y-you stupid Rabbit!” replied Ikura.
“Charming” said the officer as he put a bullet to Ikura’s leg.
“AAHH!” scream Ikura.
“Anything you want to tell me know?” asked the officer with a laugh.
“DANM YOU!! I’M NOT SAYING ANYTHING!!”
The officer shook his head. He walked away and turned to his soldiers. He raised his arm twirled his first two fingers. The soldiers immediately took position and lined up side by side of each other in front of Ikura. The officer stood next to them. He slowly picked up his arm with his hands extended and his thumb tucked into the palm.
“READY!”
“MAGURO!”
“AIM!!”
“MAGURO!!! I’M SORRY!!!”
“FIIIIRE!!!!”
…8 shots rang out from the soldiers guns. And the only thing left that was heard, was lightning.
Meanwhile, back in the mobile, the elder fox man drove down the road as rain poured down louder and faster. Tsubasa tapped the elder fox man on his shoulder. “Are you sure you know where you’re heading?” asked Tsubasa. The elder fox man replied with a nod. As the mobile pounced along the rocky, slippery road, Tsubasa turned to Mauro who was staring off at a daze. In her hand she was gripping tightly to her necklace. A necklace that Ikura gave to her. The two wore matching ones with fractions on them, that when they were united, the formed a heart shape.
A tear slowly fell off of her face. Tsubasa then heard her friend crying. Her sad little sniffles accompanied by the sound of misery. Tsubasa held her friend tightly, hugging her in her arms. The little fox boy watch them as he held his younger sister next to him. The little fox looked at the neko girl and asked her why she was crying. Maguro replied that Ikura was left behind, and might be dead.
“You don’t know that for sure, Maguro” assured Tsubasa, “He could still be alive. Besides if it wasn’t for him, the Imperials would have captured us.”
“I…I feel so alone.”
“You’re not alone.”
Maguro slowly wiped the tears from her face as Tsubasa gently stroked her head, and scratched the back of ear. Maguro smiled slowly. She was feeling a little better knowing she still had a friend like Tsubasa. As the elder fox man was driving, he slowly turned back to see if Maguro was okay.
“I am truly sorry about your friend, young warrior” said the fox man, “He was a good man. I’d applaud him if he was here.”
“Th-Thank you very much” said Maguro with a sniffle.
“Do you have a name sir?” asked Tsubasa.
“…Toshi” replied the fox man. “I am Master Toshi, and these two children are my students Hiroshi and Misake.”
Hiroshi was the older fox boy. He was a very quiet boy and didn’t talk much. Misake was the younger fox girl. She’s the current princess of the Sachiko tribe. She was sound sleep, resting her head on the young boys lap. “Hi” he said, “I’m Hiroshi.”
“Nice to meet you Hiroshi” said Tsubasa.
“I guess that means were all in this together now” said Master Toshi, “Now then, let’s see where this map will lead us.”
Meanwhile back in Cyrodiil, the General Bonnie was walking down the hallways of the castle and entered the throne room of the Royal Family. He slowly walked up to the King, Queen, and Princess and bowed.
“What is your bidding General?” asked the King.
“I’m sorry sir, but we were only able to eliminate one. The rest escaped.”
“In other words, you have nothing but excuses?”
“I’m sorry sir. But do not worry. My men and I will follow those tracks and stop them.”
“No!” shouted the King. “I have another in mind for that task.”
“What? Sir you don’t mean…”
“SILENCE!” demanded the King. The king turned to his wife and daughter. “Amata, take Sapphire up to her room. Guards! Bring HIM in.”
The guards immediately left the throne room to bring HIM in. Whoever HE was. A few moments past. And the guards finally returned. Behind him followed a man wearing a black coat and hood covering his face. He was accompanied by a dog. The dog had razor sharp teeth, black fur, and green eyes. The man slowly removed his hood and revealed himself to be a Kitsune. He had darkish red fur and yellow with a scar on his left eye.
“Ah, General Jiro. We meet again” said the King.
“What is my mission at hand, sir?” said Jiro with a bow.
“These Neko warriors broke-out a group of POWs. Capture them and bring them back. I don’t even care if they’re alive or dead.”
“Yes, my master!”
“You bring great honor to me and my militia, Lord Jiro. I shall have my men supply you with any necessities you’ll need. How soon will you be prepared to leave?”
The fox man named Jiro said not a word, for he paused for a brief moment. As he slowly got back up from his bow, he looked at the king straight into eyes. With a sly smirk on his face, Jiro replied.
“Immediately.”
…The Real Journey Saga, is about to begin. Next time on My Little Pony: Secrets of the Kitsune tribes.