Oh dang an update! Best get these out before the turn goes by then!
@Questor Got another tale to add to the pile, hope it helps get the creative juices flowing my dude!
Travels of a Knight-To-Be...[Pt2/3]
Your armor has been stashed away for ease of travel, well you've kept the breastplate on along with the padding as well as you travel the southern climates, the rest is upon your back while you fly. After the endeavor with Arctic and Visionary you've an idea on how the other mages would react to your presence. At least that was what Visionary had told you when you parted last.
For now you're following the hint Visionary had gifted you as well as rumors that had been coming along with the few ponies stubborn enough to stay near the borders between all three factions. Credit was due where credit was due ponies could be the most stubborn of the races you've met at the citadel to stay in this war torn border. Thus far you've heard of a terrible storm that has wracked the border holdings of House Star appearing as an avatar of vengeance for those poor souls lost during the Storm, punishment for abusing the charge the gods had gifted to all pegasi.
Whether that was true or not you've not a clue, but you've a suspicion that the vengeful storm might be more secular than divine, as you land at a smoldering campsite, the broken standard nearby fluttering in the wind revealing it to belong to House Storm. At first glance the site would give the impression of a wrathful god, wagons tossed like children's toys, scorch marks that had left outlines of ponies in the ground where they stood, and a great trail of ash that lead out of the camp.
As you searched the ransacked camp you found something interesting, you recalled the great cannons and explosions brought about by the now famous Kaptain KA-BOOM, some of these scorch marks reminded you of his handy work if only far more focused. Plucking up parts of the ground that had melted into slag you feel the faintest tingle around your neck, glancing down you retrieve the lodestone that your Emperor's spymaster had gifted to you. The medallion of metal was carved in the likeness of the great panthar your citadel is so famously named after, and it was vibrating ever so slightly. Magic and great amounts of it was used here, you were on the right track then. Following after the ash trail you found it soon dwindled into the surrounding wilds about you. Your medallion still thrummed under your vest and with it you took flight once more.
It had been a few hours as you flew the steady shaking of your lodestone keeping your flight centered, just as you felt your stomach growl in hunger. You'd need to resupply your rations with some light hunting you thought to yourself only to pause in flight as you caught the faintest whiff of ozone, a storm? That pause saved your life as a bolt of lightning flew right in front of you!
Squawking in surprise you rear back only to be buffeted by gale force winds that even your greatest of strength exercises back home paled in comparison. You do the only thing you can do, wings tucked close to your side, your legs go loose and you hit the ground. Only to roll with the momentum as the wind makes you be its plaything. Tumbling to a stop you keep your wits about springing back upright with sword in talon, your other talon primed to gouge any would be foe, only to freeze when you see a thunderhead cloud before you. Not just any thunderhead cloud, but one shaped as an exceedingly large pony that towered over your own form!
"Great spirit, how have I offended you so? To smite me from the sky as you have?" You asked, wary, the few magic lessons that the Emperor's court had sent to the citadel warned extensively of elemental creatures, powerful in the extreme and quite volatile. Only one with a steady will and a steelier constitution could withstand the full attention of such a being, their power was only offset by their tumultuous squabbles with other elements and favors, a favor done for an elemental is a favored owed. Or in simpler terms, be polite, be courteous and do not offend, if need be swallow your pride.
You had expected the spirit to whisper or even howl at you, instead to your amazement the cloud trembled and you could see now small flickers of flame in its eyes before it erupted into a cloud of fog. Tense as you were you could be forgiven for gawking as you see two naked mares stride out from the fog; one with a speckled grey and white coat with yellow mane that billowed as a thundercloud. Piercing ice blue eyes take in your form then glanced to the other who bore a coat of lilac with spiky locks the color of rose quartz. Fiery orange eyes and an equally fiery horn are focused upon you.
"For the past week you have been following our trail dog of the emperor, that is our grief with you." The one with her magic ready to cast answered you, "What is your business with us?! Speak!"
"The dogs of my homeland are noble beings who brought great pros-" You had started only to be cut off by frigid winds accompanied with an even colder voice, "Answer the question panther, we both have little time for pleasantries."
"Fine, the Emperor wished to bring you into the fold for vengeance on House Storm." You bit out, "Will you join in this cause?"
The duo are silent before you, then the winds begin to whip in a frenzy while small flickers of embers are carried about in the gale. "The sheer arrogance of your Emperor to call upon us for service after what your misbegotten kind had done to our home?!" You shift your stance ready to leap as you see sparks spit out from the flame using mare, "We were there defending the city from that winged rat! Where were you?!"
"You wished to know my purpose here pony, you have it." You answered then added, "Losing comrades is a burden, I-"
"It is no burden Panther," You can't help the shiver from the frosty tone, "Our Captain ordered us to flee the Senate Halls, to bear our legions last stand is a charge we both shall follow through on."
"You were in Roam during the battle?"
"We both were, if you must know," The hot headed mare interjected snidely, "We stood ready to give our lives for Roam, to stand with our sisters and brothers in the legion to the last. Only to be denied as we are ordered to flee from the battle," Shaking the mare continued, "So now we ride together, to seek our vengeance on House Storm, in this life or the next it will be done."
Eyes widening you see your chance and take it, "As mighty as you two are, you are but only two, join us to the north as we gather our forces! Together let us bring justice to Pegicles then!"
"I know what you are doing Panther," The wind mage replied with narrowed eyes, "but if you are finally willing to do your own dirty work for once. There is a convey we have intelligence on, a supply train from the front laden with ill gotten goods and slowed all the more for it."
"Boreal! Are you sure we can trust him?"
"We will have to take that chance, without him you know we can't do it."
Cast scowled, then shot you a scorching look as her horn sputtered out, "You lie to us and we'll be having roast chicken for dinner, got it?"
"Understood, when do we start?" You asked only to feel a strange sense of dejavu at Boreal's smile.
"Why now of course, fly well Panther!"
You let out an oath as the two mares merge once more and you are swept up in a gale flying across the country side as the storm flies!
