While Dawn and the others were on the way back to the frontier, Soul and Storm were away from it. Soul and Storm's destination was Shining Water, former Green Doe. They are going there hopefully to get some help for the war. They flew for two hours and then decided to walk for two hours. They were traveling light, they wanted to get there as quickly as possible.

"Who do you think we should speak to?" Storm asked. Even though he just recently recovered from his injuries he was acting as if they never happened.

"Well every town or village needs a leader, I would say talk to whoever the heck that is."

"Do you want to stop by Green Fawn?"

"I'm not sure, I want to but at the same time it would bring back memories."

"Mom where are you?"

"Ms. Athen!" Storm shouted.

When Shadow had left the two alone and Athen did not return, Soul and Storm went out to look for her. it was cold and dark. The only light came from the lamp inside their house.

"Mom where did you go?" Soul sniffled.

Three days later late afternoon, peacekeepers came to Green Fawn and saw the horrid sight. This was large armed group. They wanted to make sure they were ready to defend themselves from any stragglers.

"What happened here?" said an officer."Twenty of you look around for any survivors."

"Yes sir!" one shouted.

"Officer Mend, come check over here." a younger member of the peacekeepers called, she was looking at a body on the deck. "I don't know what happened to her but she's dead."

Officer Mend was a unicorn that had a blue-green coat and brown hair. He examined the body,"She has been trampled on."

"That's not all, look in the water."

Officer Mend looked over the edge,"What kind of sick monster would do this? Get them out. Twenty of you just get them out." Mend felt like he wanted to puke. The bodies of the drowned fillies were floating. They were beggining the process of decomposition. Scavengers like crows, wolves, seagulls, rats, and other small rodents ate the bodies. The land animals ate the ones in shallow waters and the birds ate the ones in deeper water.

The sun made the stench worse. It rotted the bodies and filled the surrounding air with a smell that stung their noses. Flies had already left their young inside the puncture wounds by made the beaked animals. When the bodies were pulled out the animals either ran or flew away then came back a few seconds later. The parts of the bodies submerged in the water were also being eaten by fish.

"What do you think happened?"

"I don't want to know but I need to. You two bring a body from the water here." Two carried over one,"Place him down gently. He's dead but that doesn't mean we can treat him like dirt." Mend looked around the neck, no bruises or marks. He looked at the front hooves, again no marks. He looked at the hind legs and saw marks. "They strung them onto that crane by their rear legs and drowned them. This is what we want to prevent White Blossom."

Another peacekeeper came to Mend,"Sir."

"What is it?"

"Green Fawn is littered with bodies of the gang. Somepony had to kill them. No survivors were found yet."

"How were they killed?"

"Some stabbed, some had broken necks, and some had decapitated heads. They had a guillotine, sir. The adults were decapitated."

"Anything else?"

"Yes sir. A body was found behind a thick bush sir. We have a positive ID on who it is."

"Who?"

"Knight Athen sir. The head of her friend was found as well, former Knight Oless."

"Oless left a while back. Why would he be here?"

"I don't know but his body was stockpiles along with the other decapitated bodies. Dead flowers were also found by Knight Athen, sir."

"Cause of death."

"Stab wound sir. And from my judgement she was killed before she was put in the bushes."

"Good work. Help those guys get the bodies out Delta."

"Yes sir."

"Wait Delta, any sign of her child, Soul."

"No sir."

"Go on then. Blossom help me search the port."

Officer Mend and Blossom looked at the bodies being brought out. They saw the body of Knight Athen. Mend looked at her wound."No way." Mend ran into Athen's house looked into the cabinet. He yelled and Blossom ran in.

"What's wrong?"

"She was killed with her own weapon. Athen. Her armor and spear are gone."

"They looted her house."

"And there is still no sign of Soul. She's probably in the fucking water with the other fillies."

"I know you two were friends but you can't lose your head right now."

"You'e right."Mend and Blossom stepped out. "Whoever did this is going to pay."

Another peacekeeper came up to Mend,"Sir the body of their gang leader, Thorn, was found in the process of being buried."

"Process?"

"Exactly we found a young colt burying him. Bring him here."

A pegasus of dark-gray and dark-red was being pulled over like he was the one responsible.

"That's Storm. Let him go." Mend ordered. He went to Storm and asked,"Where is she?"

"Why so you can kill her?" he replied."I won't let you touch her." Mend saw his eyes looking toward the house and Mend trotted over to it. Storm tried to attack him.

"Restrain him! Storm I am not here to hurt you." Two peacekeepers held his hooves.

"Fuck you! How do you know my name?"

"I knew your mother. Ayla was a friend of mine." Storm calmed down,"Let me prove myself to you. Let him go." Storm didn't attack,"Now, where is she son?"

"Chimney. She's sick."

"Get Storm some nutrition. Blossom come help me with Soul."

They cleared the table away from the chimney and saw Soul curled up in a ball. Asleep with no covers.

"Oh my gosh." Blossom went in a softly pulled her out. She was carrying Soul with one of her hooves,"We need to get her help." She felt her forehead,"Her fever is really high Officer Mend."

"Take her back to camp. I'll finish up here."

Mend came back out and said to Storm who was waiting with peacekeepers at his side,"Thank you for taking care of her but its my turn to take care of you two. Take him back to camp."

One of the peacekeepers said,"No other survivors, sir. What do we do?"

"Help the rest get the bodies out of the water. After burn all the bodies."

"What of Knight Athen and Knight Oless?"

"They wouldn't want to be treated like they were special." Mend sighed,"Burn them as well."

"Yes sir."

"When Holt hears of this it will break his heart."

After a few hours gray clouds were coming up ahead,"It's going to rain." Soul exclaimed.

"We need to find shelter soon."

"Look in front of us. A whole convoy."

"A big one."

"Let's fly to them."

They met up with the leading colt headed toward the frontier,"You, how many of you are there?" Knight Black Soul scolded.

"Well hello to you too Soul." He looked up.

"Delta!" Soul hugged him.

"We got word of your desperation and came."

"Was her name Dali?"

"The nervous mailmare, yeah. I took the pleasure of gathering ponies from different villages to help you. They feel your pain, all 217 of them."

"How are Mend and Blossom?"

"Well. I got these ponies from the peacekeepers. They say they will help you however they can."

"Fantasic Storm and I are on the way to Green Doe right now."

"Do you have your armor? Mist won't trust you unless you have it." Storm said.

"Yes I do. Do I have permission to command these recruits as I please, Knight Black Soul and Knight Storm?"

"As long as you don't kill them." Soul answered."Go, we have to get to Shining Water."

"Be careful a storm is brewing up."

"We will."

Soul and Storm flew off and headed to the storm.

After the bodies have turned to ashes Soul and Storm were in separate tents being interrogated. Blossom was questioning Soul. Her nice voice made it not feel like an interrogation. "Soul do you know what happened?" Blossom asked.

"I don't know but I do know who stopped all the bad things."

"What is it dear?"

"Six wings."

In another tent Delta was questioning Storm.

"What were you doing with Thorn's body, Storm?"

"Putting it away from my sight. He doesn't deserve to be with the rest of the world."

"Were you the one who killed him?"

"No."

"Did you see what happened to the rest of the village?"

"No Ms. Athen and a pegasus hid us behind the table Soul was found behind."

"And who was this pegasus?"

"Ms. Athen thought he was bad at first but he turned good."

"Where did he go to, do you know?"

"No. Where did Ms. Athen go?"

Delta thought,"Thank you Celestia he didn't see her body." He looked at Storm and answered,"We don't know."

At the command tent, where Mend was staying, an earth pony marched inside,"Where is my son?" This earth pony was brown and had short bark colored hair.

"I will not let him go into your custody. He will not beaten to death like Ayla was."

"HE is my son I do with him as I please." this earth pony raised his voice.

"Quake the day he goes into your care is the day I die. What makes you think he wants to see you anyway? You and Tornado neglected him the night Ayla died. You didn't care for her or for Storm. Just your pathetic excuse for a son went with you."

"Watch your tongue."

"Or else what? You're going to beat me until I die? Like you did Ayla?"

"Stop saying that wretch's name!"

"That 'wretch' was the mother of your sons and treated her like shit! Did you not care for her well-being at all? The only damn reason she put up with your crap was because of her children. One you took from her. You never cared for Storm but now that he's under my care you suddenly become a father. Did you make any attempt to contact him after she died?"

"No." he mumbled.

"Say that again."

"No!"

"I can't believe this. I feel so bad for you that I will let you say your farewells to Storm, then you will leave and not return to him. You caused him enough grief. Is that clear?"

"Yes Mend."

Quake slowly trotted over to Storm's tent, on the way he was being cursed at by the peacekeepers who knew Ayla.

Delta came out from the tent and approached Quake,"If I go back in there and he's hurt you will regret it."

"I understand your concern but I just want to see my son." Quake replied almost crying. He entered the tent."Hey kid. Storm its your father."

Storm looked up,"Hey dad." Quake went in for a hug,"Stop right there father. Why did you leave us?"

"I...I don't....know. Look I messed up, I shouldn't have left you or your mother but-"

"But what?"

"Please son don't do this to me."

"Don't do what? Treat you badly? I am no longer your son. To me mom was both my mother and father." Quake stood silent with a frown."I think you should go. Goodbye father." Storm turned to the side of the tent. Even at his young age Storm seemed to do what his actions were doing to his father.

"Storm I can change. You can be my father!" Quake was pleading for his son to return to him. Tears emerged from his eyes."Please! I need you Storm."

Storm replied softly,"Get out."

Quake cried and exited the tent. The same who cursed at him earlier said farewell to him.

"We will take care of him."

Quake stopped his tears and replied,"Please raise him strong, like his mother did. Don't let him become me."

Blossom appeared,"We won't." When Quake left the campsite Blossom entered the tent and saw Storm sobbing. She let him be.

The rained poured down on Soul and Storm. It was a relentless rain. They found shelter under a tree. They huddled together because it was getting cold.

"When do you think this rain is going to let up Soul?"

"I hope soon. We need to get ready."

They took a nap in each other's wings. When they awoke the storm had passed over, then they pushed on. They flew for a long time, a few days straight at least. The work payed off, they reached Green Fawn. They were close. They landed in what used to the town square.

"Look at this place Storm."

"Peaceful. Look the ocean is calm."

"It is. Looks like nopony made no attempt to live here. Everything is rotted."

Trees took the place of posts, bushes replaced benches, and animals took the place of ponies. They went to their old house and reminisced about their childhood. They went to the outskirts of town where there were tombstones. One read

"Her killer, I can't believe it was Shadow."

"The next time you see him, you should kill him."

"Dawn will kill him."

"Do you think she'll have the stomach to kill her own father?"

"I would. If she doesn't I will gladly do it. Let's get to Green Doe already, I'm getting depressed."

A few minutes of more flying and they saw it. The lively port Shining Water. They saw a familiar face and descended to it.

"Blossom!" Soul Shouted.

"OH! Soul! It's good to see you." They hugged,"Don't make me Storm." Storm joined in on the hug but let go early. Blossom was only 10 years older than Soul and Storm. "It's been so long you two. How are you?"

"Not well." Soul replied.

"What happened?"'

"'l'll tell you. Where can we go?"

Soul and Storm were led to Blossom's house. They told her everything."Dragons huh?"

"Yeah, dragons." Storm exclaimed.

"How many do you need?"

"Well we have 298 now I think. Maybe another 102."

"400? To fight dragons and who knows what else. I suppose we can get the old gang back together and help lead. That makes...let's see, myself, Mend, Delta, H-. 403."

"Nevermind scratch that. 427. I am not sure if the other dragons are going to fight with us. Who is the leader here? Maybe they can help us?"

"I'm not sure about that Soul. You see I am not here on vacation."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm here keeping an eye on the mayor here."

"Who is it?"

"Tornado. Your brother Storm. I suggest you leave him alone. He has done no wrong ever since your father died."

"When did he pass?" asked Storm.

"Only two days ago. They buried him yesterday. Look Storm, just leave your brother be."

"I will after I tell him I am alive. Where is he Blossom?"

"Well I messed up , shouldn't have told you. Anyways now that you know there will be no stopping you. House farthest from the port, fence in the front. You shouldn't miss it."

"Soul stay here, this I need to take care of myself."

"Come back soon, we still have business to conduct."

"Alright." Storm left the house and flew inland. He spotted the house and saw that it was nicely tended to by a mare gardener. She was busy with the roses so Storm flew to the back unnoticed. The backyard he saw his older brother playing with three children. Possibly his own. Storm touched down and the kids were nervous around the stranger.

"Is that you Storm?" his brother asked.

"Send them inside."

"Kids inside." he watched as his children kept on looking back walking inside."Not even a 'hello' huh? How are you doing brother?"

"How did father die?"

"He grew old. He help rebuild this port after Green Fawn was attacked. He help rid this place of the gangsters."

"So he took care of others rather than his own son."

"You sent him away. It was your fault Storm! It tore him apart when he came back to me."

"Didn't seem to tear him up when mom died."

"Look Storm, he made a mistake."

"A big one in that matter. So your wife tends to the house and kids?"

"Her name is Aroma. The kids are triplets. Get really annoying sometimes." he chuckled."Rose, Flora, and Carnate. Carnate is the only boy among two sisters who are just bullies to him. 8 years since they were born and I can't have free-time. Carnate was the pegasus, the two unicorns were Rose and Flora."

"You got it together then. Have you taught him how to fly yet or is he going to be grounded?"

"I tried but he won't fly."

"Have you heard about the battles going on brother?"

"What battles?"

"These small battles will eventually turn into a war. I have allies at home, they include some of my old friends from the peacekeepers. Some I have just recently made."

"So Soul is in as well I am guessing."

"Yes she is. But there are three who stand out the most in our army. Well two now since one betrayed us."

"Who are they, have I met them?"

"Doubt that. One is a very young unicorn, Dawn. Her father, Shadow is a pegasus. Like us. The last is a dragon, he is the few remaining of his kind, a gravity dragon. Excaelum."

"Please tell me the dragon isn't the one who betrayed you."

"No he isn't, it was Shadow. They have a power known as Lumen Fulsi. Heard of it?"

"No."

"I haven't either. So many questions needed to be answered on that power. That is not all. There are three opposing Lumen Fulsi holders. Garren, again a pegasus. Lacoden, an evil unicorn who killed most of my squad. And Excaelum's brother, Orcusin."

"Do you possibly think you can fight them?"

"Yes I do."

"Storm why have you come here? To tell me that a war will erect?"

"No, that is not it. I am here to tell you I am not sorry for rejecting Quake."

"It's 'father' to us." Tornado scolded.

"Rejecting him was the best and first choice in my life. If only mother was still alive back then, I would have forgiven him. But how could I accept the one who abandoned me when I needed him the most?"

"Hey mommy's boy, your mother is in there calling for you." said the drunk, abusive father.Storm got up and threw a plate at his dad, it struck him on his head,"C'mere boy!" Quake grabbed hold of Storm and threw him to a wall."Do that again and I will kill you."

Storm got up and wobbled his way to his mother,"Oh Storm," she sniffled,"I'm sorry I can' so anything to protect you. When you grow up we can leave."

"Can we leave now?"

"No son. Even if it doesn't look like it your brother needs me too." she gently ran her hooves across Storm's cheek and held his head up to meet her watery eyes."Just a little longer, my strong son. Your name is Storm but to me you're an angel."

"I hope you have been a good father Tornado."

"I have. I send them to school and I feed them, love them. Looks like you aren't a father yet. Can she not bare a child?"

"No she can't. She's sterile. I may not be a father but I know what he did was wrong."

"Leave her. If she can't have a child then what is the point of staying with her?"

Storm got a little angry with his brother,"You're starting to sound like him." Storm opened his wings.

Tornado opened his as well."I do not want to fight you."

"Because you know I would win?"

A week later Quake beat the living soul out of Ayla. He walked away laughing like it was fun. Ayla lied on the floor bleeding and crying. Storm was frightened of his own father. He went in and tucked his mom in bed."Mom its okay." He took care of her external bleeding and cleaned up her bruises with the cleanest rag he could find.

Ayla was weak, she barely had the strength to pull the covers on her,"Storm you need to find someone else who will care for you. I may know of someone she is very strong, not like me*cough*" She coughed up blood on her hoof.

Storm threw himself on his mother and buried himself in her chest,"No mom. You're the strongest one I know."

"Oh my dear little angel. You are stronger than I am, you just have to believe you are. You don't need me. You can be your own stallion." she sobbed. Ayla ran her hoof on her child's head, calming him down. Eventually she put him to sleep by singing a song she made. She sings this song for whenever Storm was down and needed a lift, tonight she was singing it for herself as well.

It was night and the winds howled through the cracked windows. Ayla wanted to sing this song one last time. She hopes that Storm will remember the song to remember his mother.

When she saw that her son had fallen asleep. "Storm, I'm so sorry I can't see you grow up. I will be with you forever, my sweet child." She leaned over and gave her last gift to him. A kiss. She kissed Storm's head, leaned back, and fell into an endless slumber.

A little sprinkle went overhead but had passed. Storm opened his eyes. He felt his mother's hoof on his back, he turned to look at her.

"Good morning mom." she did not respond,"Mom? Mom?!" Storm shook her, to try and wake her."Mommy!" He patted her cheeks and broke into tears."Please.......wake up........just open....open your......OPEN YOUR EYES!" It was in that moment where Storm realized his mother had passed away. He drained his eyes of every tear he had left. He stayed with her for a whole day before leaving he bed.

Author's Notes:

The entire chapter next is going to be a flashback so italics won't be used. Just to let you know.