Chapter 5

                                                                                       And It Begins

    "A mountain doesn't topple over at the blasting of the wind but it will crumble when a drop of water worms its way through the crevices."

                                                                                                                                                                 Discord

The sun was beginning its descent into the horizon as Spike and his companions made their way into Whitetail wood. The forest was quiet save for the chirping of the crickets. The overall peacefulness of the forest made Flash Sentry remember a happier time, a more peaceful time.

“This forest seems largely untouched by the war it’s so peaceful.”

“Yes it’s refreshing.” Spike sighed wistfully. He enjoyed the calm the forest radiated. “We’ve been able to secure the forest as our own territory. Though we are being watched.”

Flash Sentry bristled at that feeling suddenly exposed as he felt he was being watched.

Moondancer chuckled,” Relax it’s just the wyverns. They’re able to camouflage themselves don’t worry they’re very docile. Unless you provoke them as House Earthborn found out the hard way.”

Flash Sentry then remembered how a battalion of troops had mysteriously disappeared several years ago in an attempt to gain footing in Moon and Stars territory.

“How could they take down an entire battalion of Earthborn?” He asked, “That’s well over eight hundred heavily armed ponies.”

“Wyverns are small, quick and prefer to attack from the shadows. They are pack hunters in which ambush is an instinct.” Puzzle Box cut in walking up beside the orange pegasus.

The other cloaked pony, Bladestrafe nodded,“ It is actually from these creatures the Shade core found its inspiration hence our grey cloaks. Besides in recent years they have become fiercely territorial.”

“Then why the hell are we just prancing into they’re so called territory?” Flash asked drolly.

Spike spoke up. “Because of me and the blood my friends here possess. We have an understanding of sorts. Moondancer here actually has found a way to communicate with them. Moondancer if you please”

The fuchsia mare nodded and tilled her head back and a loud chirp of sorts similar to that of a bird escaped her throat. Within moments a wyvern burst onto the road they occupied causing Flash Sentry to extend his wing blades and take on a battle stance. Puzzle Box saw this and quickly motioned for the orange stallion to stay perfectly still. Flash watched in disbelief as the unicorn mare walked toward the large beast.  The wyvern was covered in a grey pebbly skin, easily twice the size of a pony. It balanced itself on a strong pair of hind legs, its forelimbs were its wings, which were webbed like a bats. Like a dragon its muzzle was angular and its eyes were yellow. It kneeled before Moondancer a purr vibrating form its throat as it stared into her own silver eyes. Moondancer then began to make a barrage of clicks and purrs of her own. The orange pegasus was lost at how her throat was able to perform this range of sound. The wyverns head shot up and locked its eyes on Flash Sentry and rushed forward only to stop and tower over him. It took all of flashes control not to lose control of his bladder then and there as age old instincts made themselves known. The instinct of prey to run form predator. The wyvern cocked its head to the side and lowered its muzzle toward the pegasus and began sniffing his mane.

PuzzleBox mouthed ‘Don’t move’ as Flash looked his way. The wyvern then jerked its head up and opening its fanged maw and hissing at Spike. A growl rumbled from Spike’s throat in response. Then in a flash the pseudo-dragon took flight and disappeared into the trees not making a sound as it did so.

Flash was silent for a while unable to move his brain attempting to process what just happened.

“What the hell was that about?!” He yelled finally finding his voice.

“I allowed it to familiarize itself with your scent so it and its flock wouldn’t attack you or your ponies as they enter the woods,” Moondancer said matter-of-factly as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Spike walked beside the pegasus and placed a claw on his shoulder, “It’s alright it wouldn’t have attacked you. If it had you wouldn’t have seen it coming.”

With that the purple dragon continued down the path followed shortly by Moondancer, Bladestrafe, and Puzzle Box. The orange stallion just stood there for a moment a very cross expression gracing his face. “Dear gods what have I gotten myself into,” he grumbled as he followed after them.

Within the hour they arrived in their destination Whiteroad village. It was more a small city than a village really as its streets were jam packed with all manner of ponies. Many ponies though bore the signs of the travesties the war had caused. Such as pegasi with clipped wings and unicorns baring a stub where their horn had been. Even earth ponies that had the tell-tell marks of a slave collar having been around their necks dotted the crowd. But the thing that astonished the orange stallion was that they all seemed to carry a passion in their eyes and a purpose to their movement as they went about their tasks. But that did not mean they passed the group by without recognition. They seemed to regard the dragon and the gray cloaked unicorns in a sort of reverence and respect and allowed them to pass, opening a sort of path in the crowd. The meaning of this was lost to Flash Sentry but to Moondancer and Spike this was a long awaited homecoming and House Brightflame’s emergence from the shadows.

They made their way to the center of town to a small building. Inside they were quickly saluted by the ponies inside. Flash Sentry then noticed with wide eyes these ponies, unicorns all, were of a sleeker build than most unicorns did, moving in a way similar to Spike. The most startling attribute of these unicorns showed were the draconic quality of their eyes and the fangs that showed just barely.

Moondancer smirked at Flash’s reaction,” They call themselves the Brood. They are infused with a large amount of our lord’s blood.”

The draconic unicorns’ chest seemed to swell with pride, their armor threating to buckle under the action at Moondancer using the name they had given themselves.

Flash couldn’t help but notice the amount of presence these ponies seemed to command similar to the wyverns.

“At ease,” Spike said motioning to the one of the Brood, a cyan mare,” where’s Dr. Whooves?”

“Down below in the labs my lord,” she said crisply.

“Thank you.”

The dragon then made his way down the hall to a caged elevator with Moondancer and Flash Sentry following close behind. When they were all inside Moondancer closed the gate and pushed the button to go down. The mechanical steel trap made Flash feel queasy from motion sickness as it lowered down to the labs bellow.

When they reached their destination Flash couldn’t have gotten off faster as he tried desperately to keep his lunch where it belonged. Moondancer outright laughed at the poor pegasus as he leaned other the railing on the platform they occupied that overlooked the vast laboratory.

“Aww does the big bad soldier a a widdle tummy ache,” she said as she devolved into a mess of giigles.

“Fuck you,” the Pegasus grunted as he attempted to get his bearings.

Spike rolled his bright emerald eyes at the two unamused by their antics and he made his way down the iron stairwell the labs bellow. A still giggling Moondancer and a grumbling Flash Sentry followed him. Ponies were rushing to and fro busy with unloading the many crates that contained lab equipment and various in progress designs. It was sure and utter chaos and at its center was a frantic Dr. Whooves.

“No that goes over there with ‘in progress’ section not with the almost done group. And you recalibrate that analyzer and do be careful,” the brown stallion turned form his barrating of the ponies unloading the various crates to see Spike and his companions and he smiled brightly, “Cheerio mates, Flash lod boy how’ve you been?”

Before Flash could answer there was a crash behind them. Dr. Whooves rushed between them to the source of the noise.

“Oy be careful you git that equipment is worth more than your sorry hide.”

“Sorry Doc,” a black pegasus chirped.

The Doctor turned to Spike, sighing heavily,” I swear these ponies wouldn’t know a sonic screwdriver from a Tardis if it came up an’ bit em in the gonads. I say we fire em all.”

Spike chuckled and placed a claw on the disgruntled time lord’s shoulder. “Don’t fret my friend they’re just not used to having to move so much equipment in such a short period of time.”

The Doctor simply rolled his eyes at the dragon and glanced Flash Sentry’s way,” So my boy before we were so rudely interrupted,” he said shooting a glare at a certain featherbrain,” How have you and your fellow rebels been?”

“It’s been rough but we’ve pulled through thanks. And you?”

Oh quite fine old chap quite fine. So should we get down to brass tacks then?”

Spike nodded,” Lets. Is Snails here yet?”

“Aye he’s in the war room c’mon.”

With that they made their way to the back of the labs to a pair of large steel doors that opened to them to reveal a large round table that bore a map of Equestria. As well there was a massive unicorn stallion; as large as some of the bigger earth stallions; in steel grey armor similar to the Brood ponies Flash had met topside. His coat was orange a few shades darker than Flash’s and his light green mane was cut short and sharp in a no nonsense  fashion. The thing that stood out on the unicorn though was the strange color of his horn it was black and looked as though it was made of metal. The dark orange stallion’s crimson eyes were sorely focused on the map before him. Flash Sentry s suspected the unicorn hadn’t heard them come in until the dark orange unicorn spoke up.

“Good to see you sir,” he spoke slowly almost lazily as he glanced up at Spike.

Spike inclined his head respectfully, “And you as well.”

The unicorn then turned to Flash and extended his hoof toward the pegasus. “You must be Flash Sentry glad you decided to join us. I’m Snails Harbinger of the Brood.”

Flash knew he had heard this stallion’s name somewhere before but for the life of him he couldn’t recall where.

Flash took the unicorns hoof and gave it a firm shake earning him a smile from the stoic stallion, “Nice to meet you. Though I think I’ve heard of your name before.”

“If you’ve ever served with House Earthborn near Fillydelphia I’m not surprised. I was once a commander in the Inquisition and quite a successful one too.”

Then Flash remembered where he’d heard the name Snails before. “Snails the Brute,” the pegasus grunted through gritted teeth not bothering to hide his anger. He had heard of this unicorn exploits he was one of the few inquisitors that waded head first into battle and crushed any that came before him literally. He quickly gained quite the reputation earning the name the Brute. Oddly enough most that had witnessed the unicorn in action had an odd sense of respect for him but that didn’t stop them from dehorning the unicorn when he had been captured and tortured for information but the unicorn refused to speak. One night the unicorn had escaped and had killed several soldiers to do so. And now here that same stallion stood with a new horn no less.

Snails let out a barking laugh as he was reminded of his old name, “We both seem to have pasts we’d want forgotten then.”

“Only have one question how the hell do you have a horn? I heard it was cut off.”

“That would be my doing. It’s called synth-horn.” Dr. Whooves stated proudly,” The one Snails has is a prototype and if I do say so myself it is working splendidly so we’ll be able to start mass production very soon. Even started on the design on synth-wings for clipped pegasi.”

“So you’re telling me anypony can get a horn through this,” Flash said pointing to Snails’ horn.

Dr. Whooves chuckled lightly as if Flash had made a joke,” Oh no my dear boy it only works for unicorns since they’ve the nerves available to attach the synth-horn to so no artificial alicorns my boy. Artificial alicorns indeed I’ve seen that played out and it didn’t end well let me tell you.”

“Whooves you’re rambling again.”Moondancer grumbled a bored look crossing here face.

“Right sorry on to business then,” Dr. Whooves chuckled nervously.

Spike shoot his head at the four ponies a smirk gracing his snout, ‘Well this war certainly wont be boring that’s for sure.’

The purple dragon made his way to the map and began laying out his plans, his voice took on a commanding tone completely different from his usual snarky way of speech,” All right then our first target is going to be New Ponyville, it’s our best target at the moment considering the massive foothold it will grant us.”

Moondancer then took the floor,” We’ve already began massing our forces in Redheart’s Refuge so they’ll be ready to go at a moment’s notice. Flash when your ponies arrive tomorrow they’ll begin training with the weapons Whooves has been kind enough to design for us.”

You’ll quite like what I’ve got lined up lad.” The Doctor said with a dark grin.

Spike nodded,” No doubt. In a months’ time we’ll began moving to Redheart’s Refuge to meet our main force. Snails go ahead and gather your ponies and head to Whitetail Peak. Once there wait for word from Moondancer’s Shades.”

“Yes sir,” the massive stallion rumbled.

“Moondancer are the wyverns ready?”

“Yes my lord. They’re eager for the hunt,” Moondancer hissed a dark grin crossing her muzzle.

“Good,” the purple dragon nodded,” Well that it then you have your assignments. I bid you all good night.” With that the dragon made his way out the door toward the elevator as the ponies present gave him each a respectful nod except Moondancer who bowed deeply.

Dr. Whooves then turned to Flash Sentry his hazel eyes alight with an eccentric glee, “Well my boy you want to see all the glorious toys I’ve got lined up for you.”

Next Chapter: The Doctor's Toys Estimated time remaining: 1 Hour