"Traitor," Spitfire hissed through clenched teeth. Soarin' stood before her unflinching at her accusation. He arrived in Windsoar that morning.

"Spits this war has gone on long enough," Soarin' said, trying to convince her to join him.

"So now you want to throw in the towel is that it!" Spitfire took a step toward him," After everything we've accomplished your going to-"

"We haven't accomplished jack!" Soarin's yelled back," We've only sent more ponies to their deaths. This needs to end Spits. Please I don't want to have to fight you."

"I should have you clipped for those words."

"You would do that after all we've been through. What happened Spits. You used to abhor violence and now your one of the biggest warmongers in the north."

"I am fighting to end our suffering!" Spitfire screamed back, the air around her =began to warp as her body started to give off heat.

"And what about the suffering of the earth ponies and unicorns huh?" Soarin' shot back," They are slaughtered in droves or made slaves. Tell me is that the Equestria you envision being protected because if it is then your no better than Twilight Sparkle."

CRACK!

Soarin's head snapped to the side as Spitfire's hoof connected with his cheek. Her chest heaved as she glared at the light blue stallion. Soarin' met her gaze, his cheek stinging form the slap. Spitfire spat on the floor and turned her back to him," Leave now before I call the guards on you for your treasonous words."

Soarin' turned to leave. When he reached the door he looked over his shoulder at the golden mare," I had hoped my Captain was still in there somewhere but I guess she did die years ago." He walked out of the room, leaving Spitfire to her thoughts.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Flash Sentry did not expect to find Trottingham in this state. The streets of the once peaceful town were overrun with cultists. The orange pegasus ducked under a Euphorite's wingblades and snipped one of her wings off with a swipe of his short sword. She fell to her death still cackling madly. The second his army had landed in Trottingham they had been set upon by cultists. Ponies were rioting in the streets and the Stormwing pegasi that were present had been quickly routed and killed.

Flash had never seen the cult attack so brazenly before. They preferred guerrilla warfare, taking their enemies by utter surprise before vanishing. This was straight out war, the Cult wanted control of the city and they were going to get it. Flash didn't have the resources of the ponies to take them down in a fight. He turned to his soldiers," We need to fall back to the Stormwing garrison."

"But sir," one pegasus pointed out," Won't they attack us?"

"At this point," Flash said gesturing to the chaos below," They probably won't turn down help."

He took off toward the looming cloud structure above the center of the city, his troops following close behind. They flew between the many buildings, adding what ponies they could. It was obvious that the cult had been deep seeded into the city. When they neared the structure they saw the Stormwing hoplites having a hell of a time dealing with a gaggle of Euphorites. The psychotic mares were death with wings to be sure. Flash raised his blade and surged forward with a burst of speed. His blade tore through the barrel of one of the Euphorites. She tried to snap her crude hoofblade at him but a hoplite lopped her hoof off as Flash pulled his blade out. With a flick of his blade, Flash beheaded the mare.

"Thank you," he said nodding to the hoplite, who nodded back grimly before engaging another one of the psychotic mares.

Flash and his soldiers helped the hoplites fight off the Euphorites before they retreated into the cloud garrison. Flash's soldiers breathed a sigh of relief and tended the wounded. Flash walked up to the pony that was in charge, a stoic mare with bright green fur and a short brown mane.

She saluted him," I'm Colonel Branchout. Thank you for your assistance."

Flash returned the salute," Your welcome. When did this start?"

"Late last night," she admitted with clenched teeth," We've been trying to hold them back but well you've seen the city I'm sure."

"Yes I have," Flash looked to the wounded," Are there any other garrisons that need to be protected?"

"Only this one remains," she said," We tired to evauctate but the civilians were caught in the mix. It's a free for all down there."

"Then what say we try to help take the city back. Bristle!"

A dark red pegasus stallion walked up and saluted," Yes sir?"

"Fly to Las Pegasus and tell them what is happening."

"Yes sir," the stallion took off through a window at top speed.

Flash turned to Branchout," Shall we begin taking back the city?"

"Aye," she looked to her troops," Look alive we're headin' back out there. Its a good day to die ponies."

As one unit they left the garrison en forece the wounded were left with a few hoplites to guard them. Flash spotted a group of civilians that were trying to fight off some cultists. He angled down to engage them, the entire group following his lead. He slammed down onto a laughing dead's back, snapping it. He rushed forward and slid his blade across a reveler's throat before he could react. the other soldiers dispatched the other cultists with ease. He turned to the cicvilians when their work was done. It was a family of earth ponies with two small unicorn foals with them. A grey earth stallion used his body to shield his family.

"Get inside somewhere and bare any entrances," Flash told the stallion before taking tot the sky. He saw some hoplites fighting  asamll group of Euphorites. He raised his blade, a grim glint in his eye,' Goddesses I hate Euphorites.'  He effectively beheaded one of the mares causing the others to focus their attack on him. One of the hoplites saw their chance and ran one of the psychotic mares through with his spear.

Flash blocked a wingblade and parried another blow. He felt the sting of a blade as it grazed his side and slammed his blade into its owner. She giggled and pulled herself up his blade until the hilt pressed against her chest. She pushed off him with her backhooves and then rushed him, throwing her full weight into the stunned stallion sending them spiraling to the ground. Flash ripped himself from her death-grip and tried to right himself. He slowed his descent just enough to avoid becoming a smear on the street but crashed through window. when he connected with a hard wooden surface everything went black.