Chapter 12 pt. 3: Crush The White Hooves

Night had engulfed the landscape painting the park blue and purple revealing the numerous twinkling stars in the sky. Lightning bugs fluttered about the tall grass and small creatures scampered about to their dens. If those two mystery mares were honest then the Legion was marching to “assimilate” the White Hooves by brutally murdering them. Personally she could care less about the tribe that had attacked them and took her friends captive.

Verity flew off in a haste towards the White Hooves camp. Artemis could not say what his plan was. Maybe this was when he planned to make his move and betray them all? Maybe he- oh shit.

Artemis landed and hid behind a rock spire. On the ground she saw legionnaires and lots of them. They were marching to the encampment. There was at least two hundred ponies and griffons in the march. They were fully armored and armed to the teeth, truly a sight to fear. Artemis scanned the sky for other griffon legionnaires maybe even Verity but that was unlikely. This meant she would have to take the long route.

Artemis flew over Gnawshika Gorge around the river bend. The park was probably beautiful at night. Maybe she'll come back one day, but the urgency of her situation commandeered her thoughts. Hovering into a narrow canyon with a gentle river below Artemis slowed her flight to a craw. She drew her P08 and turned her EFS on. The pipbuck's direction compass did not register the marching army as hostile and it also registered the animals in her vicinity making SATS virtually useless. Reluctantly she turned it off.

Upon exiting the open cave Artemis could see the White Hooves camp. The camp was a ranger station, re purposed to be the White Hooves village for their stay here. Artemis peered down her binoculars examining the village. The White Hoof warriors ensemble desperately tried to emulate the Legion's look. They had leaf plumage above their leather helmets and small wicker barding. These tribals were going to be slaughtered by the Legion and they won't stand a chance.

“Dammit Verity where are you?” Artemis hissed to herself.

She scanned the camp finding no trace of him. But, Hans! Aroma! Artemis gasped. Through her binoculars she saw Aroma, Hans, and the two foals tied to a flag pole dangling over a vat of boiling oil!  

“Fuck.” Artemis hissed again.

“Artemis.” A voice said. She turned hoping to find Verity but instead she looked down in the still water and saw Skipper.

“Let's formulate a strategy.” He said in a icy tone. Like this was an unnecessary objective that was just wasting time.

Artemis was disgruntled by his apparently indifferent attitude about the peril her friends were in. She landed in the cold shallow water and look at him expecting a plan.

“If you want to save your friends you'll have to do exactly as I say.” Skipper began.

“Yes yes but let's not wait around to much. The Legion's coming.” Artemis replied.

“I know they are.” He told her. “I will teleport you inside the came. You sneak in and free your friends then you leave. You must leave, do not I repeat do not engage the Legion.” He hissed sounding irritated.

“Why can't we save the White Hooves?” Artemis queried. Not that they gave her the best impression but just to save them from the Legion. No one deserved the Legion's fires.

“Because the White Hooves have brought this upon themselves and after this the Legion will march on my tribe. I hid my people in the mountain to avoid the Legion, if you confront the legionnaires then they will turn this park upside down trying to find them. Do it as a favor to me Artemis, please.” Skipper finished.

“Okay, fine but how can I get out once I get them?” Artemis asked.

“No time the Legion is at their gates, sneak around while they greet them. Now go!” Skipper said tensely and teleported Artemis away.

~Somewhere in the White Hooves camp~

After a bright flash Artemis found herself a little dazed. She didn't know where she had arrived just that it was dark and enclosed. Her EFS showed no entities so Artemis took the gamble and turned the pipbuck light on. She was in a bathroom stall. The toilet was stained a sickly yellow and the walls of the stall were dented.

Artemis opened the door slowly and found the entire bathroom was dark and deserted. This put somewhat at ease. Skipper had teleported her to somewhere where she wouldn't be caught immediately. But still she felt like she wasn't alone.

Artemis turned quickly pointing her D08 at....nothing. Damn, this was getting weird. She turned and saw a face in the mirror above the sink!

“Shit!” Artemis exclaimed. She turned and saw no one. Hesitantly with her mind racing and fear in her she slowly turned back to the mirror and saw it was the two green mares again.

“Oh sister, listen that vocabulary.”

“Colorful if anything teehee.”

“Who are you two?” Artemis asked slowly. She wanted to say “Who the hell are you?” But then they would just go on about her vocabulary.

“Think of us as your guardian angels, leading you to the number station.”

“A fitting if cliched metaphor sister.”

“It works dearest. It works.”

Artemis turned her head slowly back to see if they were visible now. No such luck, she could only see them in the mirror.

“Hmm didn't we have something for our dearest Artemis?”

“Oh yes indeed. But she already has it in her bag.”

“Ohohoho sister you are a delight.”

“Adieu Artemis. Oh and remember, the east path is rocky and has no sentries guarding it.”

“Adieu Artemis.”

“I already told her adieu.”

A blink later the two mare were gone. Dammit they scared Artemis to the bone. Not that they looked frightening but there was something about them. She knew better than to believe anything they told her. Guardian angels my tail. Wait, what the hell? Her pipbuck notified her she was had received an item in her inventory.

Artemis opened her bag and found a mass regeneration healing potion. A potion she did not have ten minutes ago. The more she thought about those sisters the less she like them. Next time if she saw them and she knew she would, Artemis planned to shoot them. See how immortal they really are.

Artemis stepped out of the bathroom cabin and closed the door silently. At the main entrance of the camp all the White Hooves, warriors, women and children congregated eagerly awaiting their heroes. Heroes that would soon butcher them.

Artemis silently hovered to the flag pole. They looked severely beaten and starved. Aroma awoke and didn't believe her eyes.

“Ar, Artemis?” She squeaked.

“Shh, you guys just be quiet and we'll get out of here.” Artemis began to cut their binds.

“Artemis.” A voice said. Artemis responded by pulling her pistol and aiming.

“Motherfu- Verity.” Artemis was happy to see him instead of the green mares. She lowered her pistol.

“We'll talk once we're out of here. Here hold Hans.” Artemis freed Hans and handed his limp form to Verity.  Artemis grabbed the foals and put them in her duffel bag. What? They fit. She slung Aroma over her shoulder. She was lighter than expected.

Then all hell broke loose! A load explosion boomed from the gates. Fire and legionnaires stormed in the camp. Everyone was screaming.

“Quickly!” Verity tapped her shoulder. Artemis nodded and they flew to cover.

Artemis watched in horror as legionnaires butchered the White Hooves. They were completely unprepared. Their teepees were being consumed in an inferno. A lone foal cried by two corpses. Artemis rose to rescue the foal but Verity grabbed her wrist.

“No Verity.” Artemis defied him. He simply pointed. She followed his gaze.

“Artemis look, that's your brother.” He said. Artemis watched in awe and horror.

A griffon. With jet black feathers and fiery orange eyes landed by the crying filly. He wore a suit of ornate red and black armor that seemed to be burn as it seemed to reflect the fires burning around him. He was physically imposing with merciless eyes. He spread his wings to terrify the filly.

“That's Valiance!” Artemis exclaimed. Verity only nodded, he seemed to be afraid.

Valiance laughed and drew his sword. A hellhound sword like Verity's only this was a zweihander. He held it with one hand, the sword was easily longer than Aroma. With one mighty swing he took the fillies head off in one quick swing.

“No!” Artemis cried. Verity tried to restrain her but failed. Artemis drew her pistol and opened fire.

-Tink, tink, bwoww!- The bullets barely made a scratch. Valiance looked around for his attacker and turned on his, his pipbuck! He had a pipbuck, that meant he had SATS!

“Who chipped my goddam armor!” He roared in heated anger. He scanned the area with his EFS. Verity grabbed her.

“We need to run!” He exclaimed. They ran but it was in vain.

“Ah! Sister it's high time we've met.” Valiance shouted and dashed to them. He was frightening up close. Artemis only now noticed his flowing red cape.

“You're a monster!” Artemis shouted angrily. Valiance only laughed.

“The child was of the dissolute and could only aspire to be dissolute. Besides, I don't answer to my bastard sister. Father should have tossed you from Citadel Spire when you hatched. But now I will remedy that.  Your head will decorate my bedpost!” He let out a warcry and charged the group.

Verity met Valiance's charge with his own. Valiance easily sidestepped him with lightning fast reflexes, kicked him and cut Verity down the side of his torso. Verity let out a pained cry, Valiance pushed him aside and continued his charge with blood lust in his eyes. His jagged teeth formed a malicious grin.

-click click click- Her pistol was empty!

“Artemis!” In a flash Skipper appeared.

“Wha?!” Valiance gasped.

“Run Artemis! I will take us away from here! This is where my path ends. Find the number station!”

“Enough. I will kill you both!” Valiance declared agitated by the distractions.

Valiance charged Skipper with all his might. With a great swing he brought his sword to bare on Skipper. Skipper's horn flashed just as the blade struck his skull the spell activated. Artemis saw Skipper's body crumple before the weight of Valiance's blow but in a flash they disappeared. Gone. Vanished into thin air.

Everything felt ethereal, like a dream. A nightmare. So many dead, Skipper's sacrifice Artemis had never experienced anything like this. She felt weak and her hands shook. Verity limped over to her. He said nothing. He only collapsed into her limply. Artemis held him, tears began to stream down her cheeks. So many were dead and now her friends were dying. Artemis wanted stay and die she couldn't move. Her soul felt weak. She had never seen a massacre like this. Artemis held Verity close to her.

“Verity I'm so sorry.” She spoke wearily. With tears in her eyes. Verity could only give a weak smile. He was bleeding profusely. He would not survive the night. What she wouldn't do for a, for a healing potion.

“Oh my god.” Artemis realized.

She wiped her tears and shuffled through her bag. The mare's potion! They had known. Artemis broke the seal and administered it to Verity in a haste. Immediately the potion began to close his wound before her very eyes. Slowly life returned to Verity's eyes. Artemis released him as he stumbled to his feet. He was disorientated but alive.

“Artemis.” He said. “We have to go....” He was dizzy but he still knew what danger they were in.

“Verity. I, I don't know if I can.” She replied weakly. He picked her up off the ground.

“No Artemis, you're stronger than this. Don't let this break you.” He spoke calmly even as the world around them seemed to burn.

Artemis whimpered, she felt so powerless. All she could muster was a weak “O.. Okay.”

“Get them!” Shouted the legionnaires. They had killed everyone in the village. Now they were after Artemis. Hordes of legionnaires stormed at them. Gun shots rang out.

“Verity we need to take the east path.” Artemis instructed. If those mares were right about the potion then why not the path?

“Lead the way.” Verity picked up Hans.

POW POW POW! More shots buzzed by them as they ran. Artemis yelped in pain as a rifle round exited her right wing. But she had to keep moving, they just had to! Stopping now meant death.

“There it is!” Artemis shouted. Over a hill was a collection of rocky passages that the twins spoke of. Just as they foretold.

It was a good three story drop. Spiky stalagmites rose from the bottom. They would have to time their flight just right or be impaled on the spines below. Artemis carried Aroma like a baby and Verity had Hans slung over his back. Verity dove and opened his wings riding the wind stream. Artemis leaped off the cliff. Her wing burned from the slightest usage. Her vision blurred from the pain. Artemis strained with all of her strength to stay in air just barely stayed airborne.

“Verity.” Artemis said. Verity turned his head. “I can't make it that long, I've been shot. We need to land.”

“How about we go to Skipper's camp?” Verity suggested.

“I don't know where that's-” Artemis looked at her pipbuck. “map marker added” it said. To the east of  the White Tail Park map was a icon that said “Skipper's hidden camp” Artemis was to tired to question how or why but the pipbuck knew and that was enough.

“I know where to go.” Artemis claimed.

~Later at Skipper's hidden camp~

Utter desolation. The tribe had been wiped out completely. The camp was stained with blood and gore, severed limbs and corpses. Tents and fixtures were uprooted. Several fires crackled about. Artemis and Verity looked upon the camp with horror. The Legion had found the camp and murdered everyone. None were spared. Then an awful realization hit Artemis. Hayseed, Lady and Grandpa were unconscious the last time she saw them. Artemis imagined legionnaires murdering them in their sleep. The foals that were in her duffel bag were now orphans as well.

“We're still in danger. Let's get you patched up and get out of here.” Verity said. He shuffled through the remains of several huts looking for supplies.

“I think Skipper had some stuff in his cave.” Artemis told Verity. She also wanted to check and see if the others were really dead. Artemis felt bad for only worrying about the ponies she knew. Artemis decided to looked the camp over for survivors.

Artemis examined body after body but no one seemed to be alive. Just as Verity made his way into Skipper's sanctum a zebra spoke. His coughs attracted Artemis and Verity's attention.

“Are you okay? What happened?” Artemis asked worriedly.

The zebra coughed and spat out blood. He was in a bad shape, barely alive. “He-Who-Sees-Everything-and-Nothing-” He coughed violently. “He returned to us, but-” The zebra had another fit of coughs. “A demon followed him. Our chief was killed, the demon looked like your people, a Cielo Cazador.

That had to be Valiance. Skipper had teleported him here! Valiance slaughtered this entire tribe alone. If Valiance was still here then they would be hard pressed to escape him twice.

“The demon cut us down one by one, none were spared, none could stand against him. After his genocide was complete he flew into the night. Back to the Broken Skull tribe.”

Broken Skull tribe? He meant to the Legion didn't he. The Legion's symbol was a cracked pony skull flanked by two olive branches.

“I tried to save my kin but-” The life in his eyes began to disappear. “The demon was to strong.- I go now to my ancestors and the sun god. You..” His life finally faded and he laid his head down on the ground. Artemis closed his eyes.

“Valiance did this, all by himself.” Verity noted with a sense of dread.

“Damn. I've got a bad feeling in my stomach this.” Artemis said worried. Something in her gut told her she'd meet Valiance again before this was all over.

“Let's get those supplies for your wing.” Verity jumped back to their pressing matters. Artemis looked at her wing. The small bloody hole made by the bullet had begun to crust. It still hurt and when she went to move it in her injured state would cause the crusted blood to break and resume bleeding. \Artemis winced as they walked into the grotto.

It was dark. The fire that lit the inside had been extinguished drowning the room in a blanket of darkness. Artemis spam clicked her SATS button repeatedly while they were in the dark. What? If it keeps them alive then why not?

Artemis reloaded her D08 and Verity readied his sword. Slowly they walked into the dark of the cave. A friendly entity was picked up by her EFS. Artemis nodded to Verity and pointed her gun in the darkness.

“Come out slowly. Drop your weapons and put your hands in the air.” Artemis commanded.

“Ar, Artemis?” The darkness replied. She turned on the pipbuck's light.

Artemis found Hayseed and Lady peeking out from behind a rock wall. They looked haggard and beaten. Lowering her pistol they ran over to the couple.

“You're alive! Are you okay?” Artemis exclaimed kneeling down to them.

Hayseed and Lady looked like they had been attacked. Hayseed had several bruises and scrapes on him and Lady wore a bandanna over her right eye. But there was no sign of Grandpa.

“We're, we're fine. We'll be fine.” Hayseed said hollowly.

“They took our babies.” Lady said crying from her good eye and a bloody tear ran down the other bandaged one. We lost our babies Artemis.” She repeated sorrowfully.

A warm smile crossed crossed Artemis's face. She reached into her duffel bag.

“You mean these babies?” She pulled the two foals from her bag and handed them to their parents.

Hayseed and Lady's faces lit up like the sun. They grabbed their children and wrapped them in caring embraces.

“You're an angel Artemis. Our guardian angel thank you.” Lady said kissing her baby colt several times. Artemis remembered the twins comments about guardian angels.

“We'll never be able to repay you.” Hayseed informed her holding his daughter.

“I wasn't alone.” Artemis said nodding to Verity. Then the thought of how the twin mares helped as well.

“What happened here? Where's your father?” Verity asked.

Lady whimpered and lowered her gaze to her son. “The gray unicorn teleported here and accidentally brought a griffon with him. The griffon killed the stallion immediately and struck my father down in his coma. We tried to stop him but nearly killed us as well.”

Then Hayseed gave his story. “That griffon thought we were dead and went outside. All we heard then was carnage after that, then everything became silent. We thought he was going to come back and finish us but then you guys came.” Hayseed gave his part and hugged his daughter.

“We need to leave. The park's not safe anymore.” Artemis said.

“Wait, can we bury my father first?” Lady asked nicely. What else could you answer her with?

“Okay we'll bury him somewhere nice.” Artemis assured Lady.

“I reckon we can repair the wagon while you two find a spot.” Hayseed suggested.

Lady couldn't look at her father. Valiance had gutted him. Grandpa was carved into several piece. Valiance was a monster, and her brother. Artemis wrapped him in several blankets. She felt guilty, like she had let him fall through the cracks. He probably had so many stories to tell, such a life and he was just a background-pony to her. Artemis felt like she let him down and now he was gone. Grandpa we hardly knew thee. Was his name even Grandpa? Then there was Skipper as well, god. This wasn't right.

“Artemis. They're going to walk down the mountain and meet us at the wagon. We'll get their early and find a final resting place for her father.” Verity said over by Lady and Hayseed.

Artemis could only nod in agreement. She had to if she did she may have started crying. They remembered to give Artemis the treatment she needed before leaving.

Hayseed and Lady proceed down the mountain trail, mourning the deaths of the tribals but happy to be reunited with their children. Artemis carried Grandpa's remains and Verity held Aroma and Hans. They flew down the mountain.

Artemis had seen to much death in the past few hours. She wanted to break down and cry, cry until she could cry no more. But why couldn't she? She wanted to go back, back before the number station, the twin mares and Valiance. The simple life. She wanted someone to hold her and tell her everything would be okay.

A little way off the wagon wreckage the duo found a suitable spot for Grandpa to be laid to rest. The sun was rising soon and the park was beginning to be bath in golden sunlight. The hill where he would be buried perfectly aligned with the rising sun and the colors it brought.

“Here.” Artemis said. She slowly put Grandpa's remains on the ground.

“Artemis, are you okay?” Verity asked worriedly. Artemis turned around to him.

“No, I'm not.” Artemis replied shakily. Verity gently put an arm on her shoulder.

“Do you want to talk about it? You've been through a lot these past few hours.” Verity asked.

“It's just, so many are dead and we were almost killed. I just feel tired. I'm to tired to cry Verity.”

“Shh. Don't worry.” Verity said. They sat down and now they had Artemis had the peace and quiet she needed.

“Verity, how do you handle it? All the death.” Artemis asked. Verity was quiet for a second and hummed.

“I've killed a lot of people Artemis. The Legion makes it into a chore to be done, but you just learn to live with it.” He answered calmly.

“But, on such a scale. So many were dead. I mean I've killed people as well but there were just so many Verity. How do you cope with that?” Artemis rephrased her question.

Verity was quiet for a little while longer. He was formulating his response. Or he did not have an answer. Then, just as Artemis was sure he couldn't answer he spoke.

“You don't let it break you, it may seem impossible but you'll come back. You're too strong not to. There will be worse battle than this, this was a skirmish.” Verity concluded ominously.

“But what if I can't?” Artemis rebuttaled.

“You have your answer already Artemis.” Verity said. Artemis glanced at him curiously. “If you're wondering if you can then you already are.” He added.

“Huh? What do you mean?” Artemis asked confused by his wording. A slight drizzle began from the dark clouds above.

“I've seen men after battles that became burned out husk of themselves. They never even wondered if they would ever come back they just never did. There is more than one way to die on a battlefield Artemis.” Verity told her.

Artemis needed a second to take his words in. “So you mean that..”

“Yes. You're already back. Was there any ever doubt?” Verity finished her sentence.

When Verity concluded his sentence Artemis felt...different. She didn't feel like crying anymore. She felt weird, she couldn't explain it. But she felt better. Her heart was still heavy for Grandpa, Skipper, and that foal.

“Verity..” Artemis began. He only gently put a finger to her beak.

“Shh. Just be silent, you need this silence.” Verity said and simply held her.

They sat in silence. They were the only two people in the entire world and there was peaceful quiet to everything, besides the occasional roll of thunder. Artemis gave Verity a kiss on his beak.

Next Chapter: Chapter 13 - No Going Back Estimated time remaining: 6 Hours, 36 Minutes