The Silverfox Chronicles

Story Four- The New Pony Movement

Silverfox quickly grabbed her scrolls and papers and ran out the door of her room. She was writing a splendid story- it was about a courageous and strikingly beautiful unicorn who instantly ascended to princess-hood with the awesome power of her literature skills. She stopped in mid-run. Her Mary Sue senses were tingling. Silverfox groaned and walked back to her room, burning the manuscript. Well, she thought, time go to go back to the basics. Her Heartcraftian horror stories were always great.

Slightly disappointed, Silverfox continued her quest to the market place, writing as she walked.

"'And when I gazed upon the horrible beast, I felt my own sanity fading away like evanescent moonlight...'" Silverfox said, saying the words she was scribbling down.

"'Darkness enveloped my inner being-OUCH!" Silverfox shouted, interrupted when a pony ran into her. Silverfox quickly found she had run into a foal, followed by Toxic.

"Toxic!" Silverfox snapped. "What are you doing with that foal?!"

Toxic smiled and patted the frowning brown foal with his hoof.

"I was just showing Dusty around the palace. Isn't he adorable!" Toxic exclaimed happily.

Silverfox growled and picked up her papers and scrolls. "No! Not when they run into me and interrupt my creative spirit!"

"What do you do? Are you a noble?" Dusty asked, the little pegasus foal finally speaking.

Toxic urged her on. "Go on, answer him."

Silverfox frowned. I guess Toxic is right, she thought, Dusty is kinda cute. "No, I am not a noble. But I do work, I answer and read letters."

"But that's not work. So you just freeload?" Dusty remarked.

Silverfox's mouth gaped. That one spark of feeling she felt for the foal was lost. "Why you little-!" She snapped, walking off.

"Hey Silverfox! Come back! Please?" Toxic shouted, running after her. Dusty stayed in one place, not sure what had set the grey unicorn off.

Silverfox sighed. "I'm fine. I just want to go to the market place and get something sweet."

Toxic shrugged. "Alright...I'll see you later, okay?"

Silverfox nodded and smiled, walking to the palace door. She opened it and was about to walk through, when Silverfox heard Cupcake yelling for her.

"Silverfoooooox!" The chef shouted, running towards her.

Silverfox stood still, waiting for the creamy colored earth pony to reach her. Cupcake finally stopped in front of her, panting.

"Where....are....you...going?" She wheezed out.

Silverfox frowned. "Uh....The market?"

Cupcake brightened up. "Wonderful! I mean....sounds fun!"

"You want to come, that's what you're saying, right?"

The earth pony wildly shook her head. "Nononononono! I have to,uh, cook! Duh!" Leaving Silverfox confused on what just happened, Cupcake pranced off.

The grey unicorn shrugged and walked out the large front door, focusing on her writing.

Not breaking her eyes from the papers, Silverfox ordered a apple coated in some sort of sweet icing. Hey, at least it was half way healthy.

Finding a nice sunny place to sit, she rested and continued to write. The sun on her face felt nice as she munched on her apple.

About thirty minutes later, Silverfox decided it was best to take a walk and stretch her legs. Finishing her apple, Silverfox stretched her back and started her walk around her home town of Eclipse, the town that housed the palace. It was oddly quiet and empty.

Silverfox was deep in her thoughts and was barely paying attention when she heard the shrill cry of a hawk. Alert, she searched the skies above her, looking for the majestic bird.

However, before she could even react, a cloth was pressed over her mouth. It smelled disgustingly strong, and Silverfox's consciousness started to fade. The unicorn never saw her attacker and quickly collapsed to the ground.

~

"Scout! We need to hurry! He's gonna bleed out!" Twistedcloud cried, struggling to hold the wounded body of Radar.

Scout nodded, fluttering over Radar.

"Hang in there! We're taking you to the palace to get you fixed up!" He said, trying to rouse his leader.Radar barely opened his eyes.

Some of the Wingblasts had came with them, but the others had stayed at the battle ground.

After a few excruciating minutes, Scout, Twistedcloud, and the other Wingblasts arrived at the palace.

The pegasus laid Radar's body on the hard floor and cried out for Cross. A guard noticed the emergency and ran up to the doctor unicorn's room.

Cross made his way into the room with haste, calling out orders. "You," he pointed at Scout, "take him into my room! I can't treat him here."

Scout nodded and picked up Radar, following Cross, who was already running to his room.

Luckily, they made it just in time. Scout laid him on Cross's bed and the doctor immediately began his work. About ten minutes later, it was all over. Cross looked at Scout, head down. "You can go get that mare you were with and bring her in here. She might want to see her boss."

"Yes sir!" Scout said, zooming out the door.

Quickly, Twistedcloud was brought in.

"Is he going to be alright?!" Twistedcloud asked, gazing at her unconscious leader.

"He is going to make a full recovery. It was just a pretty large gash stretching down his torso." Cross informed her.

Twistedcloud smiled. Suddenly, as if she remembered something, she elbowed Scout.

"We gotta go check on the other troops!" She exclaimed.

"Oh yeah!" Scout shouted.

Like a whirlwind, the two pegasi were out of the window.

Cross groaned, trying to retrieve papers the wind stirred. Satisfied he caught all of them, he trotted over to Radar. Patting him on the shoulder softly, he muttered, "Just what did this to you?"

~

Silverfox groaned and opened one eye, taking in her surroundings. It was a plain concrete room lit by a single bulb. In the corner of the room, there was a mass of shadows, unlighted by the light bulb. Silverfox noticed that she was also chained to the wall, a restraint on each hoof and something on her horn.

"Have a good sleep, Silverfox?" A voice said.

Silverfox's head snapped to alert as an orange earth pony strutted out of the shadows. He was muscular, with striking eyes and a scar that stretched across his face. But what her eyes were drawn to was the weapon strapped to his back. It was a hammer, with a steel plate on the end to ensure massive hurt. Silverfox could have swore she saw blood flecked on it.

"How do you know my name?!" The unicorn growled struggling, causing the metal to clink.

The stallion placed a hoof on her mouth and smiled. "I know a lot of things, Silverfox. I know you live in the palace, sort through mail, and enjoy sweet things."

Silverfox glared and bit the stallion's hoof. "Who are you?!" She screamed.

The stallion's calm manner did not wave. "My name is Thunderbird, but please, I think you are much more interesting."

"Are you the one that knocked me out?" She asked, the angry edge still in her voice.

Thunderbird shook his head. "No, no. That was my brother's work. I simply requested that it be done. You will be a valuable addition to my group."

Silverfox paused. "Group?"

Thunderbird laughed, there was no malice or cruelness, just a honest happy laugh. "Yes. I call it The New Pony Movement."

"What...what is that?"

"It's a simply rebellion." Thunderbird said, walking towards her. "My friends and I overthrow the rulers and take over Eclipse for ourselves."

Silverfox's eyes widened. "What?! You're insane! I'll never join you!"

Thunderbird frowned and lowered his head. "Alright....Windbreaker, give me the whip."

A pegasus trotted out of the shadowy area. She was a sky blue with a white mane, and had a short pony whip in her mouth.

"Ohhh so she is resisting?" Windbreaker giggled wildly. "Can I do it?"

Thunderbird shrugged. "Go on, just keep her alive."

The pegasus fluttered over to Silverfox, eyes crazed. "Do you know what flogging means?"

The unicorn had a nervous look in her eyes as she spoke. "Flogging- verb, means to whip somepony as punishment or torture."

Windbreaker cackled. "Wonderful! You are smart, just like Cupcake said!"

Silverfox choked. "Cupcake?"

Thunderbird came up beside Windbreaker. "Yes," he said calmly. "You really think I would attempt to rebel against the royals if I didn't have an 'eye on the inside'"

Her breathing suddenly went slack. That's what that little wretch was so interested where I was going, Silverfox thought.

Windbreaker cracked the whip in the air, hitting dangerously near the unicorn's face. "Get ready to taste the lash, resister!" The pegasus yelled raising the whip in her mouth.

Silverfox screamed in pain as the thin leather cut across her fur, right on her chest. She barely had time to see the bleeding wound before Windbreaker lashed her again, this time right on the cheek. Tears sprang to her eyes and blurred her vision. Windbreaker was clearly having fun, she was laughing madly while lashing random parts of Silverfox's body. Blood dripped on the floor as the unicorn screamed and withered in pain, but Windbreaker didn't let up. She continued at lash Silverfox, this time in a short, fast burst.

"Alright, Winderbreaker. That's enough. She is already pretty hurt." Thunderbird said, pushing the mad torturer out of the way.

The stallion looked into Silverfox's eyes. The mare did not return his gaze, her eyes were blurred with pain and was gasping for breath.

"Icebird, please come in here." Thunderbird said simply.

A dark blue unicorn walked out of the shadows, followed by an earth pony.

The unicorn stallion, Icebird, held a potion with his magic.

"Well, Silverfox, meet my brother." Thunderbird said, nodding his head at the stallion.

Silverfox glared through the pain. "So you're the one that knocked me out." She snarled, trying to look fearsome despite bleeding from various wounds.

Icebird shrugged. "It wasn't hard, I just used a rag with a combination of herds and made you breath in the scent. It knocked you out cleanly and safely."

The earth pony mare behind Icebird spoke. "Can't we just lock her up again? We have work to do."

Thunderbird looked at her. "Calm down, Elven. We have the potion with us now. Icebird, go on and feed it to our guest."

Silverfox yelled and struggled in the restraints as the blue unicorn came towards her. Windbreaker came to his side and pried open her mouth. As Icebird started to pour the concoction in Silverfox's mouth, she spit it out and choked on it, refusing to swallow.

Icebird stopped pouring and looked at Windbreaker. The pegasus smiled madly and suddenly punched Silverfox in the gut, causing her to suck in air and gasp for breath.

Icebird quickly drained the rest of the potion down Silverfox's throat while she fighting for air.

Immediately, she felt the effects. A cool sensation spread through her body and Silverfox's eyes dropped. She desperately tried to stay awake, but to no avail. The world blurred as she finally gave up the fight and fell asleep.

~

"Hey Silverfox! Silverfox!" Catfight said, calling for her friend.

Diamondshine shrugged. "I don't think she's here."

Behind them, Toxic searched relentlessly. He scoured every edge of the market, but he couldn't find her.

Catfight looked at the worried alicorn and smiled. "I'll look for her in the skies. That will do, right?"

Toxic nodded.

Catfight took flight, scanning the ground. When the search was clearly obsolete, she landed in front of her friends.

"I couldn't see her. Maybe we should ask around?" Catfight said, trying to give Toxic some hope.

The three friends trotted around the market, listing Silverfox's description to every pony they could get a hold of.

"You're talking about a grey unicorn mare, right?" A voice called behind them.

Toxic spun on his heels to see a brown stallion with an apron tied around him.

"Um...yes?" Toxic said.

"She came to my store earlier today." He said simply.

The three brightened up. "Really?!" Catfight said, jumping in.

"Yup. Ordered a frosted apple. She went and sat down around here, in a sunny spot."

Toxic looked excited. "Where did she go after that?"

The stallion shrugged. "The empty part of town. I didn't see her come back after she walked away." The stallion looked behind him. "I better be going. Gotta earn a living. I hope I helped." He walked away.

"Thank you!" Toxic, Diamondshine, and Catfight called to him.

Catfight looked at her group, excited. "Well, I guess now we know where to look next."

The trio ventured to the spoken of place. However, Silverfox was not there.

Toxic slumped his head down. "Aw crap."

Diamondshine trotted in front of the discouraged alicorn.

"Don't worry, Toxic. We can still look for clues, right Catfight?" He said, nodding at his friend.

Catfight stuck a smile on her face.

"Right. It's not like she dropped off the face of the planet."

~

Radar slowly opened his eyes and glanced around the room. Why was he in Cross's bed? Stretching and moving his legs, Radar quickly realized why as pain shot up his body. There was a large wound going up his torso, covered in bandages.

Hoping to settle down the pain, Radar gritted his teeth and stopped moving.

Radar's ears twitched and he was on alert. Some pony was coming! As the wooden door creaked open, he prepared to fight, despite the injury.

To his relief, it was only Cross. The white unicorn trotted to Radar's side and sat down.

"I see you have awoken." Cross said cooly.

"Yeah." Radar said, angling his head so he could look at Cross.

"How are you feeling?" The unicorn asked.

Radar groaned. "Pretty bad. If I even my move body, it hurts."

Cross shrugged. "It's to be expected." Cross now looked more serious than ever. He leaned in on Radar, inches away from his muzzle. "What were you attacked by?" He asked.

Radar sucked in a breath. "I was flying with my team, doing routine exercises and such. When we landed to take a breather, we were met with like twenty ponies, all armed. I told my team to get ready to fight, and the mysterious ponies attacked. We were doing pretty good, mind you, but then I saw a pegasus about to cleave Twistedcloud open with a hatchet. I couldn't let it happen, so I jumped in front of her, taking the brunt of the attack." Radar lowered his eyes. "I guess I didn't think about the consequences. Before I knew it, I was lying in a puddle of the own blood. I managed to tell Scout, my right hoof stallion, not to retreat before everything went blurry. I felt a slight sensation of being carried, but that's about it."

Cross nodded his head, taking in the information.

"You are going to have to stay here for a few days, I hope you are aware of." Cross said, standing up and starting to sort through herbs and medicines. "I didn't want to frighten Scout and Twistedcloud, so I told them that your wound wasn't that serious."

Radar sighed. "It's for the best." The pegasus yawned a bit. "I think I'm gonna take a little nap for a while."

Cross nodded. "I will check on you every few minutes or so."

~

Silverfox slowly opened her eyes, eventually coming to. She was in a hard stone cell, with iron bars working as a door. Silverfox found she couldn't get up, whatever potion they had fed her was still coursing through her body.

The sharp sound of hoof steps coming down the stone hallway in front of her cell made Silverfox come to alert. When the stranger came into view, Silverfox groaned.

It was Thunderbird.

The stallion stopped in front of her cell, an odd necklace hanging from his muscular neck.

"Greetings Silverfox. How are you doing?" He said cooly.

"About as well as the last time knocked me out." She said snarkily, flicking her tail when she saw Thunderbird's eyes on the various scabs and wounds on her body.

"Ah, yes. Sorry about that." The stallion said, bowing his head a bit. "I'm afraid it was necessary. Windbreaker can be a bit....cruel when it comes to events like those, but we needed you to be in fear of us." He paused when Silverfox growled. "But I now realize that will not work. So, Silverfox, hear me out now. Will you listen to my proposition?"

Silverfox shrugged. "I haven't got anything else to do."

Thunderbird began: "When I said I wanted to overthrow our rulers, I wanted to bring fairness to all of Equestria." He leaned in, the odd green necklace's stone seemingly swirling. Silverfox shook, trying to clear her head. "Is it really fair to every other pony that only alicorns rule? Where is the justice in that? Silverfox, it simply divides us. Would you think it was crazy if an earth pony came to rule?"

Silverfox shook her head dumbly, her eyes locked on Thunderbird's necklace.

"See?!" Thunderbird said passionately, a quiver going up his body. "Of all the species, earth ponies are looked down on the most! We have no special powers, not magic nor flight. Earth ponies are simply 'there' for the rest of Equestria!"

Managing to break her eyes off his mysterious trinket, Silverfox asked: "What does that have to do with the way our leadership is going?"

"Everything." Thunderbird said. "I plan to have a council, multiple leaders of all species, all with the same amount of power. When trouble arrives, we can hold meetings to decide on what to do, and take votes! It will be wonderful! And fair! Silverfox, if you take my offer and join the New Pony Movement, I will make you representative of the unicorns, right next to my brother."

Silverfox allowed a small smile to her lips. She couldn't believe she was thinking this, but Thunderbird was right. Why did Equestria need one or two supreme rulers of only one species? She had always though ruling Equestria would be amazing, and with every other kind of pony, it would be awesome! Staring into Thunderbird's necklace only made her more giddy to tell him her answer.

"I'll join you, Thunderbird. The New Pony Movement will be great." Silverfox said.

~

Still grinning from his meeting with Silverfox, Thunderbird trotted down the great hallways of his underground lair. It was built under a store in the market, belonging to one of his generals.

"Everypony get ready! When you have gathered your weapons, march towards the exit!" Thunderbird commanded, the smile dissolving into his usual stoic mask.

Icebird trotted to his brother's side, his staff attracted to his flank.

"Everything is going great, brother. Once we take the castle, Equestria will be ours." The unicorn said coolly.

"Yes," Thunderbird murmured. "I even managed to...'convince' the unicorn we captured to join us."

Icebird laughed darkly. "I thought that necklace would work."

An earth pony approached Thunderbird, bowing deeply.

"Sir, the troops have assembled. Shall we begin?"

Thunderbird nodded. "Yes, Iron. I will stay here, though." The earth pony turned. "Elven! Stay in the base with me!" He turned his attention to his brother. "Icebird, lead the army. You know what to do."

Icebird's eyes narrowed and he nodded.

~

"Oh, did you say you were looking for a mare called Silverfox?"

Toxic, Catfight, and Diamondshine all turned their heads toward the direction of the speaker.

A limber earth pony mare strutted to them.

Toxic nodded rapidly. "Yes ma'am! Have you seen her?!"

The mare smiled, her leaf-green mane falling around her shoulder blades. "Of course. I know where she is, too. Come with me."

Toxic jerked his head in her direction, instructing his friends to follow him.

The mare trotted off slowly, allowing the other ponies the follow her.

She led them to a run down shop made of tin, with a flimsy door that said "KEEP OUT".

"Silverfox is....here?" Catfight questioned, frowning at the sorry shop. "If I know her, she wouldn't even spit at this thing."

"Catfight!" Toxic reprimanded, "This nice mare is showing us where our missing friend is! Give her and her store some respect!"

The mare laughed. "No, no. This isn't my store. An acquaintance of mine owns it, though." She opened the "KEEP OUT" door with her hoof. "Come with me." She purred.

Looking slightly confused, Toxic walked in, followed by Diamondshine and Catfight.

The door led to a long set of concrete stairs, sparsely lit. As they ventured down, Toxic found the stairs led to a deep, basement. The mare continued to trot farther into the basement, not noticing that Catfight was visibly uncomfortable.

"Toxic!" Catfight whispered, her wings shuddering. "Can I wait outside? I'm getting a bit claustrophobic."

"There will be no need for that." The mare said a bit testily. "You all need to be down here."

Catfight groaned and spaced herself from the other as she walked.

After what seemed like twenty minutes, the mare stopped at a simple wooden door.

"We are here." The earth pony said mysteriously, opening the door.

The room inside was was simple- concrete, like the rest of the place, with a small set of table and chairs. In those chairs, sat Thunderbird.

"Ah, Elven. You brought our guests." The orange earth pony murmured.

Toxic's eyes narrowed. "Where's Silverfox?"

Elven snickered. "Your friend is...unable to see you right now."

Thunderbird smiled too, as if it was some kind of inside joke.

Toxic suddenly exploded, attempting to lunged at the muscular earth pony, only to be roughly held back by Catfight and Diamondshine.

"What have you done to her?! I'll kill you!" Toxic's screamed, his voice echoing around the small room.

"Elven, please take off angry guest's cloak off. I want to see what he is hiding." Thunderbird said quietly.

Elven grinned, tackling Toxic, managing to rip his cloak off, revealing his wings.

"Ah. A royal pony. Bow, Elven, we are clearly in the presence of royalty." Thunderbird said mockingly, leaping from his chair.

"Who are you?!" Catfight suddenly snarled, approaching him.

"Wouldn't be so rash, dear." Thunderbird murmured. "You need to show more respect to us. We are stronger than you think."

The earth pony nodded to Elven, and the mare trotted to the dark side of the room and jerked on the lights. There sat two frightened pegasi, blinking to get used to the sudden change in lighting- Scout and Twistedcloud. The Wingblasts were bound, with restraints around there snouts, legs, and wings.

"Those are some Wingblasts!" Catfight exclaimed. "I have seen them around before!"

"These rebels decided to fight against us, trying to stop our advances. The New Pony Movement can't be stopped. Your little unicorn friend learned this. But don't look so worried. She is safe, we have tended to her wounds. Silverfox has simply gotten some sense knocked into her." Thunderbird said, stroking Twistedcloud's tattered mane with his hoof.

Elven smirked. "Should we teach these prisoners a lesson? How strong we truly are?! I want to see the fear in their eyes."

Thunderbird steadied his cold gaze on Twistedcloud. With a swift movement, he reached for the hammer strapped to his back and effortlessly smashed the pegasus's head open. Blood and other disgusting things splattered all over the floor and coating Scout, who silently screamed through his bounds.

Toxic gaped when bits of gore touched his face, horrified by the brutal murder he had just witnessed. Catfight stumbled back into Diamondshine, stomach churning.

"W-Why did you do that?" Toxic whispered, unable to avert his eyes from the grisly scene.

Thunderbird smiled, obviously unfazed. "As I said before, that pegasus was a rebel. We have no use for rebels." He ear twitched, aware of the sound of Scout loudly sobbing. "Will you shut up?! Just get over it! Do you want me to kill you too?!" He said savagely, holding the blood-soaked hammer to the pegasus's neck,who sobbed something incoherent.

Thunderbird groaned. "I have better things to do. Elven, leave the prisoners here. I'll send a little guest here." He murmured, placing the hammer back on the strap between his shoulder blades.

The two earth ponies left the room.

"What...was...that?" Diamondshine panted, looking rather queasy.

Toxic backed away to the other end of the room, nudging his friends along with him. With one fleeting glance, he saw Scout, still blood covered and hysterical, shivering in the corner.

"Scout?" He whispered. "Do you want to come over here with us?"

The pegasus nodded, his black mane falling into his eyes. He shakily stood up, hoofs trotting in blood, and collapsed next to Toxic. Toxic gently wrapped his wing around his and started cutting the bounds on him.

"What did he mean by 'little guest'?" Catfight said, also shuddering with fear.

They were soon answered. Toxic heard the sound of hoofs on concrete and the door opened. It was Silverfox!

"Silverfox!" Toxic exclaimed, suddenly hugging the unicorn.

Silverfox's oddly stoic face turned into one of disgust. She shoved him off, sending the alicorn slamming into te ground.

"Wha-" Toxic said.

"What are you doing?! Who are you?" She snarled, raising a hoof and stepping back.

"Silly Silver!" Catfight said jokingly. "Toxic's like your brother!"

Silverfox glared at Catfight. "Who do you think you are? How do you guys know my name?!"

Diamondshine stepped in. "Silverfox? What are you talking about? We are your best friends."

"I don't know any of you."

Toxic stepped back in shock, wings folding right against his body. "But-But-"

Magic flared at the unicorn's horn. "Thunderbird said I needed to take care of some prisoners. Are you the ponies?" She glanced at the back of the room. "I guess he took care of at least one of you." She sighed. "Isn't he amazing?" Silverfox shook her head. "Right, gotta kill you."

With a suddenly flash of grey fur, Silverfox and Toxic locked horns.

"You guys stay back! This is my fight. I will snap her out of whatever that earth pony did to her!" Toxic exclaimed, gritting his teeth.

Toxic dodged a beam of black-colored magic and kick out with his back legs.

Silverfox growled and slugged the alicorn with hoof, sending him flying back. Toxic quickly found his footing and send a powerful spell slamming into the unicorn. Silverfox hit the door and slid back. She didn't stir.

Toxic trotted to the limp mare, putting his horn to her throat.

"Silverfox. Speak to me." He murmured.

Silverfox let out a groan and her eyes half opened. "T-Toxic....?"

All the ponies in the room- with the exception of Scout, who wasn't sure what was happening- sighed with relief.

Silverfox's eyes widened. "Thunderbird! He-he-he...." She cried.

Toxic helped her onto her hoofs. "Silverfox, calm down."

"Thunderbird is launching an attack on the castle!" She screamed. In a frenzied manner, Silverfox sent a beam of magic into the door, shattering it. "Do you remember how you got in here?!" She said.

Catfight nodded. "Let me lead the way."

Silverfox, Toxic, Scout, and Diamondshine ran out of the bloodied room after Catfight- who was eager to leave.

After running up the many, hard steps, the group had escaped.

"We were lucky Thunderbird employed the rest of his soldiers to attack." Silverfox said darkly.

"It doesn't matter! We have to reach the castle before its too late!" Toxic exclaimed.

They ran across the market- which was empty and completely abandoned an into the courtyard of the castle. It showed clear sighs of having a battle fought on it, blood stained the bright green grass and a couple bodies lay strewn about.

Toxic's eyes narrowed. "Get ready to fight, guys. We may be the only hope for the kingdom." Green magic stormed at his horn and the door blew into splinters. The rest of the group flooded into the castle's throne room in offensive positions.

The ponies gasped as they were met with a horrifying sight: Thunderbird lay lazily in Embane's throne, Icebird bird crouched in Goldenbell's. Elven and Windbreaker were laying at his feet. Behind them, the royals and nobles were in shackles.

They were too late.