Chapter 15

                                                               To Lick One's Wounds

                                          " We fought, bled, and died for this country and in the end we began to wonder if it was for naught."          

                                                                                                                                           Unknown

Applejack awoke with a start and instantly regretted the action as her body screamed in pain at the sudden movement. The orange mare had been stripped of her armor and was covered in bandages, as well her right leg was held straight by a metal splint.

"I see your awake," a red unicorn said grimly as he approached the earth mare," surprising to see you awake after the damage you sustained."

Applejack looked at the unicorn with a hard glare and noticed that his horn didn't match the rest of his body. It was steel grey as Snails had been and looked to be made of a strange metal.

"Like it," the stallion said his tone scathing as he noticed her staring at his horn," I got it a while ago. Its nice to be able to use magic again after what your soldiers did to me. Why the hell our Lord wants you alive is beyond me a lot of ponies would enjoy seeing you beheaded in the streets."

The stallion glared at Applejack his eyes full of hate and anger," But not my place to decide. Oh and do try not to be difficult I would hate for you to stay in that bed any longer than necessary."

With that he turned to see to another patient. Applejack watched him go a sneer across her muzzle looking to her right she finally noticed a guard clad in a grey cloak standing stoically beside the bed his eyes forward and his jaw set. The orange mare looked down to see that her lower half was strapped to the cot. With a defeated sigh she settled back onto her back and began pondering how she would get out of this mess.

Spike walked into the room that Snails occupied and found the massive unicorn already awake and bickering with the nurse, a green pegasus mare by the name of Crisp Bandage.

"I'm telling you I'm fine."

"And I say your not. You've got two crushed ribs while the others are broken," the nurse a green pegasus mare huffed," and don't even get me started on the other injuries you've sustained."

Despite the mare's protests Snails tried to get up but was rewarded with a sharp pain in his chest causing him to grimace.

"You see I told you," the nurse yelled," Now lay back down before I fucking sedate you!"

Spike cleared is throat alerting the pair to his presence upon seeing the dragon Bandage bowed," My lord can you please convince this knuckle head to stay in bed."

"I will," the dragon said with nod," Now please leave us I wish to have words with Harbinger Snails,"

With another bow the pegasus left the room and shut the door behind her. "Damned mare, Sometimes I think she is out to get me," Snails rumbled watching her go before looking to Spike. Snails noticed the grim expression the dragon held. Something was eating at him.

Spike took a seat beside the bed," She cares for you and wishes to see you recover quickly do not blame her."

"Are you alright my lord?"

The dragon sighed," I will be alright Harbinger. I am glad to see you are recovering. That battle with Applejack must not have been easy."

"Aye," Snails rumbled," T'was a good fight though one I do not regret."

"Good," the dragon said getting up," get some sleep my friend you will need it."

With that Spike left the room.

Moondancer trotted through the market place of Fillydelpia it had been two days since the battle and already the citizens had begun to go back to their daily lives. It still astounded the mare how most of the citizens had taken up arms against the Earthborn and many had already officially signed up to become part of the Brightflame military. As well Whooves' tinkerers had begun to set up shop to begin replacing the horns of any that wished to go through the process.

"Would you like a flower miss?"

Looking down Moondancer noticed a small earth filly looking up at her with a small basket of flowers on her back.

Why thank you young one," the fuchsia unicorn said with a chuckle," how much?

"Two bits."

Levitating a pair of bits out from under her cloak Moondancer placed them inside the basket and pulled a daisy out.

"Thank you miss," the filly said before bounding back to a flower stand a pegasus stallion was tending.

"Daddy, Daddy look I sold a flower!"

"Good job honey," the stallion said chuckling as he nuzzled the filly.

Moondancer smiled fondly at the scene forgetting for a moment that they were at war. Shaking her head the fuchsia  mare popped the flower in her mouth and started back down the street. Eyeing the stands of produce, trinkets, and such. Just then her comcrystal sparked to life," Moondancer come to my office in the underground facility."

"Yes sir."

Inside the ancient military facility that resided under Fillydelphia the halls were abuzz with activity. Ponies running to and fro on errands or cleaning the halls. Spike had seen to it the underground fortress would become a Brightflame base and had also taken up residence inside the commanding officer's office. Moondancer trotted down the now cleaned and sparkling halls and received salutes or bows the the ponies she passed to which she gave a nod. Outside the dragon's office a pair of high ranking Brood had been posted they both nodded to her as she went inside. At the far end of the office sat Spike behind a desk his brow furrowed as he stared at the tome he had found that was wrapped in ursa major leather. As well he rolled a navy blue feather in his claws.

"You wished to see me my Lord."

"Yes," the dragon said without looking up," I want you to start interrogating Applejack. Get as much information from her as you can. Military bases, army movement, everything."

"Yes my lord and if she doesn't talk."

Spike looked up at her his gaze cold," Get creative."

This surprised the unicorn she knew Spike was against torture," My Lord are yo-"

The dragon cut her off," You have your orders Spymaster."

"Yes my lord," Moondancer said with a bow. Without another word she left. Once the door closed the dragon let out a sigh as he put the feather down. He had scoured this small library and hadn't found any other information on the Lens other than what he had found earlier. As well he had tried and failed to open the tome before him but it had refused to divulge its secrets to him. Spike knew this tome would show him what had happened to the Royal Sisters. He could feel it in his bones and it vexed him sore that he couldn't open it.  

'All the answers to my questions lie in this cursed tome," Spike thought darkly as a growl escaped his throat,' but do I even want to know the answers?'

Flash Sentry secured his saddle bag as Dustwind trotted up to him," Are you sure you don't want me to come with you sir?"

The orange pegasus smiled fondly at his second-in-command.

"I need you here my friend. Someone needs to keep the Harmony Core in check."

Just that night they had received word from New Ponyville that a small army of Stormwing hoplites were making their way toward the city. Spike had instructed Flash to take as many as he needed to defended the city. The orange pegasus accepted with gusto not because he liked battle but because New Ponyville had been his home when he was in the Earthborn and he had friends there.

"I'll be alright Dusty," he said with a chuckle.

"I hate that nickname," the tan mare grumbled then sighed," be careful sir."

"I will. Fair winds'" Flash said as he took to the air.

"And strong wings," Dustwind whispered as she watched him and the small army following him disappear into the horizon.

Outside Fillydelphia stood Braeburn, his green eyes holding sorrow and fury at the defeat they had suffered. When the second assault began he saw that his ponies would lose so he sounded a retreat. He knew the act would be considered cowardess but he wouldn't sacrifise the lives of his ponies like that. A group of pegasi flew out of the city and were bound north to which the yellow stallion narrowed his eyes.

"Sir what do we do now?" one of his corporals, a light green mare named Fresh Soil, said    

Braeburn's glare lowed to the city of Fillydelphia," We look to our wounds and then we find a way ta save Applejack. She's our top priority."

The yellow earth pony didn't know who this new enemy was and he didn't care. He made an oath to keep his fellow Apples from harm even if it meant his death. They would find a way into the city and take back their captured leader. One way or another.