The Twisted Music Box

How did it all go so wrong?

A simple scouting mission. One to gauge and if needed to assault what was thought to be a Moon and Star outpost nearby Redheart's Refuge. We had received Intel that some of the mages from Moon and Star were planning to set up an advance camp there, and that they even had one of those monstrous Ursa Minors with them. That, is what the Buffalo Raiders were sent to scope out.

The Buffalo Raiders aren't known for their power. What they are known for is their speed, stealth, and tenacity. They could be in and out without any the wiser, and if needed, they could strike hard with hit-and-run tactics. That is whay they were chosen. No one could have seen how this battle turned out..

Running Stream was an exceptional Buffalo Raider, known for her extreme stamina and speed even to rival that of an airborne pegasus. She knew she was fast, and learned early on how to control her speed. With her slightly careful nature, combined with her easy to coax temper, made Running Stream learn early on about her physical limits. That, and how to keep her own in a quick fight. She knew that she could dodge a hundred attacks, provided she get the first hit. Those who looked at the river south of Ponyville would have seen a single brown figure, fighting the stream and practically racing through the water.

If Running Stream do anything better then running, it was swimming. She took the lead, swimming quickly across the water to see if anyone was keeping an eye on the river. She knew that if she was spotted, they couldn't hope to catch her on the river. After the brisk swim, she arrived on the other side of the river. Shaking her coat free of the cool water, she stayed low and sniffed the air. So far, no one had sighted her or made her known. It seemed like no one was around. Smiling, she turned back to the river, whistling on the wind. Quickly, the rest of her troop made it's way along the river, swimming past it. She and a few Buffalo Raiders made their way through the river, heading for Redheart's Refuge.

As they raced their way along the bank, a telescope glinted in the distance, a smirk appearing on the face of the pony who was gazing at these troops.

" Say, do we have any buffalo in the games?" this gruff, black maned pegasi asked the blue coated unicorn mare beside him.

" Some warriors and two juggernauts. Why?" she replied, looking over the shoulder of her comrade, the both of them hidden inside of their Airship, carefully cloaked to blend in with the air.

" Because I just spotted some Raiders." replied the Pegasi, fluffing his wings." Captain said to catch a multitude of different types, so why not some raiders?" The unicorn tapping his shoulder surprised him, pulling his gaze from the Buffalo Raiders to look at his comrade. The unicorn pointed out, in the direction they were running. A soft glint captured the pegasi's gaze, focusing his lens.

" Some Marksmages, Legionnaires, and some Slave Warriors. A Moon and Star outpost?" questioned the Pegasi, focusing his telescope." And they brought an Ursa Minor? Jeez.."

" Let us see how this turns out first.. If a fight breaks out, we might be able to get some scrabblers and runners. Those Marksmages might be fooled by our camo-spell, but they are still a threat." The unicorn replied, leaning in her seat. Shrugging, the Pegasi kept his eyes on the scene, a smirk returning to his face.

" If all goes well, we will have plenty of recruits."

Running Stream and her group pulled close to the camp, sneaking in the shade of the trees that were close by. It seemed that their info was right. Those stuck up religious zealots really did set up a forward camp. Granted it wasn't in Redheart Refuge, but it was close. Making sure they were a reasonable distance from the soldiers, Running Stream and her companion's began to regroup.

" Ok, from the looks of things they don't really have much in the way of offense." started Stream, looking over the bush." But they have plenty of numbers. That Ursa is going to be trouble too."

" Assuming they can catch us.." spoke one of the five Buffalo Raiders that accompanied Running Stream.

" The Marksmages will be trouble too.. We might have enough space between us to make it back to the river. We need to alert Applejack the Ever Vigilant." Said another, nervously looking at the Ursa that was currently asleep, being tended to by its mentors.

" Agreed.. Let us return post-haste." agreed Running Stream, making sure that the enemies were preoccupied. As the group turned tail and retreated, Running Stream looked down, sighing as they ran. They were silent and quick, making their way towards the river. Still, Running Stream could not shake this feeling of unease. Something made her fur stand up.

" What troubles you sister?" asked one of her brethren, tilting his head curiously. Running Stream did not answer immediately, seeming to gather her thoughts.

" I was, hoping to see if I could find my father.." she spoke slowly." He was said to have been lost near here." Running Stream glanced around, her sense of unease coming back even stronger. Something was wrong.

" Something isn't right." Running Stream spoke, stopping her group. The grass, the soil. It looked like something had changed. Digging her hoof into the soil, she looked around uneasily. Something had come through here, something had changed with the land. But what?

" Come on, we need to get back before the Moon and Star fanatics find us." spoke one of her group, moving forward in a dash.

" Wait!" Running Stream spoke, recognizing some of the grass was replaced. She spoke to late as her teammate stepped onto the new grass, falling into a pit that was recently dug. Rushing to the edge, Stream saw that her teammate was alright. The hole was dug to trap, not to kill.

" Ambush!" yelled another of the Buffalo Raiders, hearing what sounded like blow pipes. A dart embedding in the side of one of her fellow Raider's proved her feelings. Hidden in the nearby trees, a few Zebra Skirmishers were firing on the Buffalo Raiders. Running Stream guided the last four of her group towards the lake, but was hesitant on leaving her our brethren.

" Our mission is to alert Applejack!" yelled Running Stream." Make sure she knows at any cost!" Running Stream lifted her paralyzed companion on her back, running as well as she could with her group. The Zebra Skirmishers, only two of them thanks to a previous fight, continued to fire their darts. Running Stream dodged as fast as she could with the buffalo on her back, worried about the buffalo in the pit.

Her thoughts were cut short as she felt a dart pierce her flank, making her jump. Already she could feel the drowsiness and paralysis freeze her muscles and body, but she still tried to fight it. Thankfully the rest of her team were now rushing across the river. Her arms felt like jelly, her vision becoming hazy. Everything was going darker, and she couldn't hold onto her consciousness any longer. At least Applejack would know.

Running Stream fell, her companion and her both paralyzed. Sensing no more trouble, the two Zebra Skirmishers made their way towards her, one checking the pit.

" For a buffalo of plains and thatch, you certainly were easy to catch." Spoke one zebra, looking into the pit where the last buffalo was trapped. The Buffalo Raider merely looked up defiantly.

" Three Raiders have now fallen to thee, let us return to the Everfree. But do we kill or do we bring, these buffalo as our trophies?" The other zebra asked, poking Running Stream's unconscious form.

" How about, all of you can come with us?" spoke a voice, several Arquebi readying. The two Zebras looked up to see several Ponys of Fortune aimed at them, some of them close by.

" Goodnight, new contestants." spoke the black maned Unicorn, casting a Sleep Spell.