Ark: Friendship is Survival

by Pomp-Neigh

Chapter 80 - Argent Legion

-Sanctuary-

The reinforced wooden doors of Sanctuary’s eastern gateway parts with a resounding creek as Spike pries them open while flying. Rainbow Dash and HLN-A approached from the dragon’s rear, magenta eyes and cyclopean visor resting upon a particular white and gray direwolf, who sat patiently on the trail, ears pointing out to the sides.

“Good morning, Astrid!” The dragon greets, waving a claw while landing on the paved pathway that cuts through the vegetation. And if one were to traverse it, they’d eventually reach a vacation-inducing beachfront that’s adjacent to the distant yet fear-instilling Dead Island.

“I’m so glad you could make it.”

Astrid’s tail began to wag slowly, accompanied by a chuckle. “Hey there, Spike.” Her ears immediately shoot upward as she spots HLN-A and Rainbow Dash’s approach.

“Top of the mornin’ to ya!” The AI greets, depicting a friendly gesture upon their visor. “I’m HLN-A. Spike’s told us all about you, and considering you’re not freaking out because of my appearance, he must’ve also told you about us. I must say, it’s been quite some time since I've seen a proper direwolf that wasn’t a projection. I especially love your fur—a truly mesmerizing specimen, if I do say so myself.”

Astrid blinks, tilting her head with uncertainty plastered on her features. “Uhm…thanks?”

-What in the Dead Isle is a ‘projection’…? By the pack, it’s going to take me a while to get used to this one.-

“No problem, mate!” HLN-A beamed.

Spike faceclaws as Rainbow rolls her eyes at the AI’s antics. “Egghead.” She mocked, gazing at Astrid as HLN-A shot the pegasus with a deadpan expression.

“Sup!” Rainbow salutes boisterously. “Name’s Rainbow Dash, the fastest flyer on this island and the most awesome member of our tribe.” She grinned.

“Also known as our resident impulsive ego,” HLN-A quipped with a giggle.

“Hey!”

“Thanks for nailing the first impressions, girls. Truly.” Spike sighs while turning to Astrid. “Heh. Sorry about that. My friends and family are good-natured, it’s just that some of them have certain…traits. But you’ll get used to it, I promise.”

“What?!”
“Oi!”

Spike shrugged as he dismissed the voices crying out behind him. “Again, sorry.”

“Hmhmm. Well, they’re certainly out of the ordinary, I’ll give them that,” Astrid said. Her expression then became much more serious. “Now then, about what we spoke about yesterday, Spike. Would it be alright if I came in? I swear on the pack’s honor that I won’t cause any issues.”

A moment of hesitation overcame the draconian. Granted, it wasn’t because he doubted Astrid’s intentions, especially since she willingly put herself at a disadvantage by coming here alone, as was requested by Spike. No, it was primarily due to him not feeling comfortable with-

“You’re the tribe leader now, Spike,” Rainbow states as she pulls up to Spike’s right side, HLN-A floating at his left. It was as if the duo had read his body language and knew exactly what was troubling him. “So if you think you can trust her, I’ve got your back.”

“Why else would Twilight have chosen you, love?” HLN-A added. “I’ve noticed it from the moment you all arrived here, not to mention the info I gained from my sister unit on Equus, but you’ve got the traits needed for an exemplary leader.”

“Wow…really?” Spike inquired. “Leading’s never really been my thing, you know? I’ve always been an assistant to a leader, but…to be one?”

“You kidd’n?” Rainbow laughed. “Spike, out of all of us, you’re hooves down the best option for leading us with Twilight being, well, ‘away.’ Hay, you two grew up together.”

“Under Princess Celestia’s tutelage, might I add,” HLN-A adds.

Rainbow grins. “Exactly! That makes you an awesome blend of an egghead and a badass, Spike!”

“Can’t argue with that!” HLN-A cheered. “The smarts of Twilight with the strength and durability of a brave and glorious dragon with ties to royalty? Sounds like a good idea to me.”

Spike stares at the duo with wide eyes, disbelief breaching his thoughts as a patch of crimson grows on his cheeks. “Thanks, girls.” He chuckled. “Really. That means a lot to me.”

With affirmative nods from the duo, and a patiently awaiting Astrid, Spike–now encouraged by the trust of his tribe members–turns to the direwolf with a grin.

“Welcome, Astrid,” The dragon spins in place and stretches his arms apart in presentation, “to our humble abode called Sanctuary.” He looks over his shoulder with a motivational gesture, “Come on, let’s head over to the watering hole. Once you’re ready, we can fill them in on what we discussed yesterday.”

Astrid barked merrily and increased the pace of her wagging tail as if someone had just given the ancient species of canine a treat. Having been granted access, she proceeds into Sanctuary.

“Perfect!” She matched Spike’s walking speed as they trekked side-by-side. “Thank you so much for this, Spike. With your help, I know we can save the Howling Wolves from the Argent Legion.”

Those words caused HLN-A to stop dead in their tracks. “I’m sorry - the what legion?”

Astrid’s ears twitched upon picking up those words, turning around furiously as if she were about to engage in combat. “The Argent Legion!” She barked and growled. “Those damned overgrown dodos rule the skies with an iron talon!”

“Yeah,” Spike adds. “Apparently, they’re a flock of antagonistic argentavis. But these guys are insanely smart, unlike the one that attacked Rainbow Dash and me. Astrid even told me that they wiped out several tribes!”

Astrid nods while Rainbow and HLN-A absorb this new information, although the AI has long since begun to piece together a suspicion it harbored.

“Great,” Rainbow snorts, admittedly still bitter about her first encounter with the roc-like flyer. “There’s a whole flock of 'em, huh? Perfect.” Then, a thought caused her features to flick like a switch. “But, hey, we’ve got Spike! He’ll roast those things for you just like he did for me. You’re in good claws, let me tell ya.”

“Except for one tiny detail, Rainbow,” HLN-A chimes in. “Spike’s a dragon.”

“Gee, I totally never realized that until now,” Rainbow snarked. “What a grand discovery we’ve made—I’ll go make an explorer note about it.” She half-lids her eyes, unamused.

“Hmph. Rude.” The AI deadpanned. “Then I assume you would also know that Spike doesn’t do too well in the cold, right?”

Rainbow’s eyes shot wide open in realization, recollecting having made a similar mistake with her precious turtle, Tank. “O-oh…” She nervously looks toward Astrid. “Uh, I’m gonna go out on a limb here and assume-”

“Yes,” The wolf answered. “Their ‘empire’ rests within, you guessed it, the Snow Biome.”

Rainbow clicks her tongue as she brings a hoof to her chin in thought. “Hmm. In that case, can’t we just-”

“Already ahead of you!” Spike declares proudly. “Astrid’s agreed to harvest some fur for us once she talks it over with her pack. If everything goes according to plan, they’ll bring the fur back here, and we can have Rarity work her magic!”

“Hah!” Rainbow cheered. “And you were doubtful about being tribe leader, Spike. You’ve got this, no problem.”

The dragon responds with a ‘thumbs-up’ gesture while Astrid takes him up on his offer of water, stepping away and reaching the water’s edge before lowering her head to take a drink. Spike joins the canine, bringing out some cooked fish meat from his inventory while approaching the direwolf.

He had to admit, it was incredibly delicious. And he enjoyed it far more than any gem he’s ever had.

“So, HLN-A,” Rainbow began, garnering the AI’s attention as they were left to their lonesome. “What exactly do we need for those cryopods? I can definitely get them from the merchants while picking up Vanellope.”

“Excellent!” HLN-A gleed. “Should you feel the need to double-check the recipe, just refer to your implant’s engrams. That being said, we’ll need some polymer, oil, metal, and crystal. Hide and fiber are also required, but we can easily get that ourselves.”

The rainbow-maned equine salutes the AI. “Gotcha! I’ll get those materials before you can say,” In one swift motion, she turns around, spreads her wings, flaps them, and hovers in place with flapping wings, “cryopod!”

Thus, the pegasus swiftly departs from Sanctuary, disappearing over the treeline that lingers beyond the cliffs of the tribe’s territory.

Having seen the pegasus off, HLN-A sighed contentedly, despite their artificial form. The AI was about to float toward the direction of the ever-still debating duo, Rarity and Rudey, in the distance.

But something ushered from Astrid’s mouth suddenly struck the AI, halting their movement. It was a name, one that immediately appealed to HLN-A’s memories. Or, more accurately yet simultaneously, Helena Walker’s:

Nerva.

Comments

[Frostgear]

Rainbow might need to get some resources to cover for the lost delivery.

[Legioner8]

The successors of the New Legion? Nice.