True Colors

Bad News from the White West

Twilight Sparkle grunted as she jumped to the side, narrowly avoiding the stomp of her opponents’ front hooves. Nightmare Moon did not miss a beat, however, as she snapped open her left wing in an attempt to hit the unicorn. Twilight ducked under the blow, and lit her horn as she took aim at the alicorn’s joint. The ball of magical energy she shot forth missed, however, when Nightmare rolled away from it. As the ruler of the night rose quickly rose to her hooves her horn sparked. The lavender mare quickly erected a bubble-like shield around herself in preparation. Nightmare smirked at this as the glow from her horn ceased, and she rushed over. The alicorn pulled back a hoof and slammed it against the shield. Twilight Sparkle stared in confusion as the thunking from the strong punch reverberated around her. Her master should’ve known that wouldn’t work. Even so, the alicorn’s smirk never ceased as she pulled her hoof off the shield after a second. Her horn then sparked with the familiar dark blue glow, but Twilight’s eyes widened as the glow began to grow in size. It tripled the length of Nightmare Moon’s horn, and became far more focused a light. The obsidian mare stepped back from the shield, and she thrust her horn forward. The glow penetrated Twilight’s shield like there was nothing there, and stopped just short of the unicorn’s neck. She could feel the sheer power radiating from what she now assumed to be some sort of energy blade, and it made the fur on her neck stand up. She did even dare to swallow for fear that the slight extension of her neck would bulge enough for the energy to cut into her. “You lose.” Nightmare Moon stated.

Twilight sighed with relief as the energy dissipated, and her master stepped back from the shield. She had felt certain the alicorn would kill her this time, even as irrational as she knew that was. Still, sparring with Nightmare was fierce, and the alicorn had them do it at least once a day, or night as it now was. The shield seemed to melt around the lavender mare as her master commented, “You’re improving. You’re far more nimble than you were a few days ago, and you think well on your hooves.”

“Th-thanks, master.” The unicorn mumbled in response before looking up at Nightmare. “Umm…How did you do that? My shield should have been tough enough to repel most magical energy, and I know you didn’t just overpower it. It would’ve shattered.”

Nightmare tilted her head for a second before answering, “There is more to magic than simply power, Twilight. While I will admit you have an extraordinary amount of talent you can’t simply brute-force everything, for lack of a better phrase. All things have a weakness. No matter the strength of your shield as a whole there were still weak points in it that could be exploited. Most ponies couldn’t find these weaknesses by anything other than luck, but they are there. You need to be prepared for them. Always have a back-up plan, and never rely purely on your strength.”

Good advice, and Twilight would ponder over it later. It wasn’t the answer she had wanted, though. “But how did you find the weak points, and what was that spell you used on your horn?” She asked.

“My punch was what clued me in to your shield’s weaknesses. I used two spells. They are both part of a fighting technique I made a few centuries back called arkanai.” Nightmare explained.

Twilight’s brow furrowed in contemplation. She had never heard of a spell being focused through another part of the body than one’s horn. How had her master done that? “Are you…going to teach me that?” She asked.

Nightmare hesitated before answering, “Perhaps when you are more experienced, and your training is less urgent. Arkanai is better suited for one on one combat than war, and many of the techniques require knowledge you don’t yet have.”

Twilight frowned. She didn’t like being unable to learn something, especially in relation to magic, but it hadn’t been an outright no. There was still a chance she might learn it one day. “Come. Let us call it a night.” Nightmare Moon stated and began to walk away.

Twilight Sparkle followed behind quickly with a, “Yes, master.”

As they were walking, however, a cold chilling howl cut through the night. The young unicorn halted with a shiver as she stared about. The rest of the republic soldiers seemed to be focused on the noise as well, but they appeared less confused. The sound came again, but this time there were several howls backing it. The unicorn could have sworn there was something demanding and powerful in the tone. “Master, what is that?” She asked as she looked up to the alicorn.

Nightmare Moon seemed focused on the gates at the edge of the camp as she answered, “Wolf song.”

The black mare changed directions without a word, and she began heading towards the gates. Twilight followed behind trepidatiously. They arrived just as the large wooden doors were opening to welcome in the visitors. A group of twenty wolves, two of whom were pulling supply laden wagons, padded in staring about with a minor degree of interest. Twilight tensed slightly at the sight of them. This was her first time seeing another species. They were taller than her. They still only came up to just under her master’s chest, but they were taller than most ponies. Their fur was longer and wilder looking. Their eyes spoke of an odd mixture of savagery and intelligence, and their long sharp teeth and claws awoke an almost primal fear in the young mare. These creatures were completely alien to her. Even their weaponry was unfamiliar. Strapped to at least one forepaw on each of the wolves was a leather gauntlet, and blades extended from them over the wolves’ claws. The blades were longer than daggers, but not quite as long enough to considered any kind of sword. On a few gauntlets there weren’t any blades at all, though. Instead there were thick clubs for bludgeoning. Those were fewer though, and Twilight suspected it had something to do with their movement. Judging by their lithe build, which was not as impressive as her master’s, and the fact most of them were wearing light armors like leather or chainmail she supposed they relied on speed heavily. The clubs, of course, hindered movement and speed to a certain extent, so there were fewer wolves that used them. An older-looking, than his companions, grey wolf stopped in front of Nightmare Moon and stared up at her curiously. “What are you doing here, Nótt?” He asked.

The obsidian alicorn stared down at the wolf coolly as she replied, “My sister and I disagreed on how Equestria should be ruled. I am on the former rebellion’s council now because our goals are aligned. We are The Lunar Republic now, for various reasons.”

The wolf chuckled slightly, “You wish to bring Sól to justice do you?”

“Yes.” Nightmare answered simply. “And your kind has been delivering supplies to us.”

“Yes. Though, as you are no longer a rebellion, perhaps new negotiations should be made?” The wolf proposed with a smirk.

“My, how fox-like of you.” Nightmare mocked.

Twilight balked and took a step back as, as one, the wolves all began snarling, growling, and glaring at her master. The alicorn, however, was unmoved. “It. Is by. The Alpha’s. Orders!” The lead wolf growled.

“Then perhaps you need a new Alpha. It sounds as though Deceit is getting to them…and you.” Nightmare replied.

The wolves still appeared greatly upset, but they began to calm, an almost regretful look in their eyes. “We wish to speak with the rest of the council.” Their leader growled.

“Of course.” Nightmare agreed with uncharacteristic sweetness. “Just leave the supplies here for my ponies to unload.”

The lead wolf growled slightly more before turning his head to bark at his subordinates. Those who were hooked up to wagons unlatched themselves, and trotted away from the burdens. Nightmare nodded towards the nearby republic soldiers, and they hurriedly set to work. The soldiers had initially been hesitant to obey the alicorn following her addition to the council, but stories of what she did in the battle spread quick. After that, there had been no qualms about them obeying her.

Orders exchanged, Nightmare Moon turned around, and she began leading the wolves through the camp and into town. Twilight, having not been dismissed, tagged along close beside her master. The truth was that she disliked the wolves. They scared her, but she was more worried about Nightmare. She could not be certain the alicorn wouldn’t simply punish her for running off right now. “Probably not.” She thought to herself, especially considering the two had been heading for bed earlier, but experience had taught her that listening to herself was unwise.

Prefect Daunting Hooves sat in his messy office tapping a hoof in thought. He had been lucky. The soldier that delivered the news of Empress Nightmare Moon’s betrayal had not seen the praetorians the prefect knew to be stationed with the rebellion. Of course, he could deny any knowledge as to what they were up to, but praetorians turning traitor was nearly as big an issue as Empress Moon’s betrayal. It couldn’t simply have been brushed aside. The group was too close for it to be considered coincidence. There would have been investigations. Empress Celestia would’ve wanted to know why he hadn’t seen it coming and stopped it. Even as fortunate as he had been to avoid that situation he still needed to be careful with his next move.

His last act had been to eliminate the best soldiers in the Royal Guard at stealth. The ones who had the best chance at revealing The Praetorians for what they were, or, as was important at the time, locating the rebellion. It had also had the bonus of delivering two of his companions to the rebellion to aid them when the time came for their real offenses to start. He had, of course, forged a letter as a cover for himself, and even Empress Celestia had believed it.

Of course, no one in The Praetorians actually knew the flare delivery spell. So, the prefect had to make his next move with limited information on the rebellion’s status. It was best to stay away from directly helping the rebellion in this situation. Instead he should focus on something else. The rebellion needed more forces if it was going to overthrow the empire. The most obvious choice was The Grand Army, but he already knew of what Celestia was going to do in an attempt to counter defections. He could counter her quite simply too, though. The four legatus legionis of The Grand Army were gathering outside of the Everfree with most of their forces for a meeting about Nightmare’s betrayal with The Legate and Empress Celestia, and, of course, to talk strategy as well. All Daunting Hooves need do is have several praetorians go undercover in the army and spread good word about Nightmare Moon. It would help gain troops in the long run, hopefully, and in the short term it would further confuse the empire’s largest force. Yes. This was what he should do next.

A knock sounded on his door, and the gelding rose from his desk to approach it. He opened the door to see a unicorn mare standing out of armor before him. “Yes, Gull Wing?” He asked, recognizing the praetorian.

“It’s the new recruit, sir. He’s down in the ritual chamber. He’s made his selections, and he’s prepared to become one of us.” She said.

“Ah, good.” Daunting replied with a sad smile. “I’ll head down immediately. Thank you for informing me.”

The unicorn nodded in response, wearing a similarly sad smile, before heading away. The prefect proceeded out of his office. One never forgot their day of initiation into The Praetorians. There was a reason they were so fierce, and they all paid a heavy price for it. Maybe not in the long run if you were less judgmental than most ponies were, but they were still scarred by it.

Daunting Hooves trotted slowly down into the compound basement, and took in the scene before him. The basement was dark, and lit only by a forge at the back that had five wrought-iron rods stuck inside of it. The entire room was constructed of stone bricks, and several arches on either side separated the main open room from the sides where the tools for working the forget were kept. In front of the forge were seven different ponies. Six of them wore mythril armor, but one, a green earth stallion, stood stark naked staring at the prefect with determination. This was a scene Daunting Hooves knew well. He approached the stallion as he asked, “Are you ready to be flesh bound?”

The stallion took several deep breaths before answering, “Yes.”

The prefect smiled sadly once more as he replied, “No. You’re not.”

A pony to the side with a dagger in their mouth stepped forward, and sheathed blade into the earth stallion’s flesh on his side, beginning the ritual. The stallion grit his teeth and breathed sharply, but he stood strong. Even so, three other ponies moved forward to hold him still. Daunting Hooves began reciting the praetorian oath, “Long ago the spirit of chaos ruled Equis from his throne here in Equestria…”

The pony with the dagger began to carve a rune into the stallion’s side, never taking an inch of the blade out. The stallions groaned in pain, and his breaths became quicker. “But the glorious Celestia and graceful Nightmare Moon turned against him. They waged war on their master…”

The pony with the knife quickly jerked the blade out as he finished the first rune, causing the earth stallion to give a muffled yelp, but he quickly jammed the blade back in to start on a second. “In their war they had many followers, but none so faithful as the ponies. In the face of abominations, however, few of even them did not cower. Those who did not, became abominations themselves to fight for their land, their world, and their goddesses. These were the first praetorians…”

The second rune was finished, and the pony with the dagger withdrew the blade quickly to impale it back within the stallion a third time. The stallion himself was holding up admirably. He managed to keep his teeth ground, and was hardly straining against the ponies keeping him in place. However, his eyes were screwed shut. His muscles were tense, and he was constantly moaning in pain. “They served faithfully. They did not cower from Discord’s creations. There were none like them among any of the goddesses’ other forces, and they were rewarded for their service. They became the first of the Celestial Empire’s military upon the fall of Discord.”

The knife was withdrawn, and replaced a fourth time. “Over time other military departments were added. The Grand Army was formed for those who were normal, but wished to fight for empire and goddesses. They are numerous. They are skilled, and they love the moon. For Empress Nightmare Moon has continuously aided them…”

The dagger was withdrawn. “BUT THEY DO NOT COMPARE!”

The dagger was shoved back in a fifth time. “The Royal Guard was formed for those with talent for military. They are not small. They are the envy of other soldiers. They are renowned, and they are not to be underestimated…”

The dagger was removed, and shoved back in. This time, however, it was not make a new rune, but to finish the fifth. When it was removed for the sixth time Daunting Hooves shouted once more, “BUT THEY DO NOT COMPARE!”

He settled into silence as the dagger bearer stepped back. The earth stallion was panting heavily now that the carving had stopped. His side burned like he had never felt before. Each breath stung as it expanded the area his scars were now in. After a few seconds of silence the stallion’s blood had well overrun the runes, and a unicorn stepped forward. He touched his horn to the first rune, causing the stallion to hiss, and it glowed gold as he began to channel in magic and meaning into the scar. Daunting Hooves resumed speaking, “We are The Praetorians. We are few. We are strong. We are skilled. We are brave.”

At each we the unicorn empowering the runes would move to a different one. With all of them charged he stepped back, and the five iron rods in the forge were pulled out to reveal themselves as brands. Each one appeared exactly as the runes carved into the earth stallion’s side. The first was lowered, and the earth stallion braced himself. He grit his teeth, and his muscles grew taught. He could feel the heat alone from the brand was starting to bother the scars. “We are scarred.”

The first brand was pressed into his side, and the stallion screamed and attempted to lash out. However, the three ponies restraining him kept him in place. The feel of the raw flesh being seared shut was beyond words. It was several seconds before the brand was pulled off and cast aside, but it felt like hours to the stallion. The second brand was lowered. “We are wounded.”

The second brand was pressed in, and the stallion screamed louder than before. It was pulled away after only a few seconds. “We are monsters.”

The third brand was pressed, eliciting another howl of pain. “We are abominations.”

The third brand was removed, and the fourth was pressed in. The stallion struggled more, but his restrainers kept him in place, with some effort. “And you…”

The fourth brand was removed. “Are one of us.”

The fifth, and final, one was pressed in.

“You can’t be serious!” Thunder Cracker shouted, and for once Nightmare Moon was in agreement with him.

“It’s not our war.” The wolf leader stated simply.

“Then why were you helping us in the first place?!” The earth stallion asked.

“Because it was the Alpha’s orders, but we did not wish to do it then either. All of The Pack is quite glad that our aid to you will be ended soon. Including me. Helping your kind in any way is repulsive, and an insult to Fenrisúlfr.” The wolf leader replied.

“Would you stop going on about your damn god!?” Thunder Cracker exclaimed.

“He’s not a god. Gods don’t die.” Nightmare stated as she glared at the wolf, trying to insult him.

She was not happy. Not at all. The Alpha had apparently decided to go back on whatever deal had been struck between them and the republic beforehoof. They would not be delivering anymore supplies soon. They, apparently, couldn’t risk being exposed now that the republic was making itself a real threat. Nightmare Moon wondered, like Thunder Cracker, why they had decided to help in the first place if that was the case. It was unlike The Pack at all. They didn’t want to risk exposure? That was practically against their code of honor. To sneak and manipulate were fox traits, and no wolf wanted anything to do with that behavior. So why had they done so now? It all came back to the Alpha, she knew, and from them likely to their trophy. Either way, it would not be long before the wolves stopped coming, and they had chosen the worst time too. Stalliongrad still had one major problem that the republic couldn’t solve. No food could grow here, and now that it was under republic control it couldn’t simply trade for food. This was worse given the addition of the mouths of the republic soldiers to feed. They wouldn’t be able to last more than a few weeks like this. “Watch your tongue, Nótt! Sleipner may not be your ancestor, but you are still based on his kind. I will not tolerate you insulting our father!” The wolf leader threatened.

“And I will not tolerate you abandoning my ponies to starve.” Nightmare snarled.

“Then I suggest you act quickly.” The wolf leader stated menacingly before turning to leave.

“Do us all a favor, and let the door hit you on the way out!” Thunder Cracker yelled after the wolf.

Quiet settled on the group as the door to the outside slammed shut. Nightmare glanced to her side to see Twilight still sitting as quietly and rigidly as she had done the whole meeting, though she had visibly relaxed some now that the wolf was gone. “So what are we going to do now?” Masque Raid asked.

“Simple. We take another town. The closest territory is the Silver-seas’. We don’t need to attack North Bay. They keep all their towns well supplied. We can just grab a small village near the border with Stalliongrad territory.” Thunder Cracker explained.

“Won’t work.” Hail Bolt stated. “It would take several days for a sizeable force to march down there. By then the empire is likely to have launched a counter-attack, and we can’t afford to be down any ponies if we want to stand our ground.”

“That’s another issue with it. We just don’t have the forces to spare making supply runs between towns right now. I reaffirm that our best bet is to wait until the empire brings the fight to us, and then convince their soldiers to join us before the battle really begins.” Masque suggested.

“But how many of them would really be willing to switch sides, and how many of them can we trust?” Thunder Cracker rebutted. “And what are we supposed to do until then? They know we have a limited supply of food. They might just try to starve us out.”

The group settled into silence once more, but it was broken a few minutes later when Hail Bolt asked, “Nightmare, what do you think?”

The alicorn sighed, and closed her eyes before speaking her thoughts, “The biggest issues right now are food and numbers. We’re too few to topple my sister at the moment, and without a steady supply of food we’ll starve…I suggest that we send a messenger up to one of the gryphon kingdoms asking to open trade. Gildaris is a good choice since it’s close by. There’s a good chance nothing will come of it, but it’s the best immediate option we can take. We should, however, stay bunkered down here, and wait for my sister’s retaliation. Neither her nor any of her officers know our food is limited. They’ve been suspecting the wolves’ aid for months, but they could never prove it. Celestia will attack for certain, and it seems likely to me that, even considering their reverence of me, she will send mostly grand army forces. If we can not convert them out right we can throw their forces into confusion easily with a quick speech from myself before they begin their attack in earnest. If we’re lucky we’ll gain a hoard of new soldiers. Enough to begin acting without fear of losing what we have gained. If not, we’ll deal a heavy-enough blow to cause Celestia to take pause before acting again. During which time we can recover, and formulate a new plan.”

“I don’t like it. It’s too desperate, and I hate the idea of relying on former empire soldiers.” Thunder Cracker stated.

“We do what we must.” Masque said. “Without a plan of action we are desperate.”

“And I was a Praefectus Auxilii, remember? There are plenty of good trustworthy ponies in The Grand Army.” Hail Bolt argued.

Nightmare looked at the pegasus with surprise. She had expected that the blue mare had combat experience, but a high ranking in The Grand Army itself? That wasn’t something she would ever have thought. “Fine.” Thunder Cracker grumbled. “We’ll go with Ms. Traitor here’s plan.”

Author's Note: Sorry this is a day late guys, but here you go. There's not too much Twilight centric this chapter, but there's a little. Also, some very big reveals. In particular, I showed the truth about The Praetorians. The secret to their powers, one of which you've seen before, and just who really was behind the letter. Now the question is, is Daunting Hooves legit in his want to help the republic? And how will this next battle go?

On another note, for those who are unaware, I recently made a group for the universe of this story. It can be found here.

Lastly, the weaponry of the wolves were an idea belonging to Rebelfire.