The events of the Winterhayven War

A large bang was heard. A battle was already underway in the once great city of Winterhayven. Troops rushed out to meet the enemy army, and leading a large battalion was a young pegasus colt known as Pheonix Blackfire.

"CHARGE!" Pheonix said. His entire life he had been around this war, and he for one, was tired of fighting, but followed his orders anyway. His battalion, the 101st elite, were the best of the best, and he did not want to let his colts down. The armies clash and a large white light is seen. The view suddenly changes to Pheonix as a young foal.

3 young colts are seen running through a small camp: Blackshuck Blackfire, the oldest and a genius from his performances. He is a grey pegasus colt with a black and yellow mane, a calm look always on his face, his dream to become a sage of nature. Kushina Blackfire, a light orange unicorn mare with a long, flowing black mane. She is regarded as a talented healer, and has never had any problems in her medical experiences. Finally, Pheonix Blackfire, an orange-red pegasus colt with a black mane, aspiring to be a great hero one day, and is a very energetic and upbeat pony. The siblings run to their mother.

Blackshuck - "Mom what's going on?"

Kushina - "yea mommy whats wrong?"

Mother - "This place isnt safe anymore, we have to leave before your father's enemies arrive!"

It was at that moment when everything went downhill. As Pheonix entered their small tent, the entire camp was swarmed with large ponies wearing dark colored armor, and evil looking eyes bead down on them. The small family lets out a scream, and suddenly a squad of ponies comes to their rescue: the city elders.

Elder 1 - "Get the little one's out of here! they are the army's last hope! we can't let them be captured!"

The fight breaks out, and a single elder gets them back to a large compound known as base camp. For the next 10 years, the Blackfire siblings would be trained in the ways of combat, as well as learn the old ways of using their energy to attack, similar to unicorn magic, but can be used by anypony.

Time passed, and the siblings would together lead a battalion, and alongside them would be Pheonix's rival and lifelong friend when they were brought to the compound: Alupon Darkmane, a brown earth-pony colt with a slicked back black mane. He was a scientific prodigy at HQ, and was assigned to the squad to learn more about the enemy, and document them.

Many battles would be fought before the one they would fight in now, and as the battle comes to a close, the team of Pheonix, Blackshuck, Kushina, and Alupon would stand victorious with the 101st, returning as heroes.

Pheonix - "man when will this all end...." he throws his suit of light combat armor onto a stand in his chambers "i mean i realize that dad isnt around to help now...but when he was around, we were closer to ending this war than ever"

Alupon - "Pheo it's not like we can help it. This all started before we were even born!"

Pheonix - "still, we have been slowly gaining and losing ground in the city for years!! The elders NEED to give us the orders to take back the stadium! If the enemy loses that, then we gain a lot of ground!

Blackshuck - "while that is true, it's also risky brother. If one thing would go wrong, we would lose everything."

Kushina - *she looks to Blackshuck* "brother...we already have nothing but each other...as long as we stick together, nothing could possibly go wrong"

What Kushina didn't know was the plans that the Elders were planning to give the 4 of them the very next day, and it would be a day that would change young Pheonix's life forever.

The next day came far too fast for Pheonix's liking. He had been up to majority of the night, thinking hard on his sister's words. They echoed in his head, until he finally fell asleep. The following morning, The 4 ponies donned their armor, holstered their weapons, and set off to see the Elders, having received a note asking for their presence. Pheonix kept one hoof on the only keepsake he had of his father: his sword, a katana with the saying "life is what you make of it" etched into the side of the blade. He was nervous, and had an uneasy feeling in his gut.

Soon after, the 4 were in the chambers of the Elders, bowing respectively, until finally the main Elder, Danzo Starflame, spoke.

Danzo - "Do you know why i summoned you all here?"

Pheonix - "With all due respect, i would assume you are going to assign us a mission."

Danzo - "actually Pheonix, the correct term is Missions."

Alupon - "What? what do you mean my lord?"

Danzo - "As you know by now, the western end of the city has been under siege for quite some time now, and we must take it back."

Blackshuck - "So you are sending us to the western front? or is there more?"

Kushina - "There is always more when it comes to Elder Danzo..."

Danzo - "You are correct Kushina..and You as well Blackshuck. I need intel on the enemy. Leaders, supply routes, anything. so i am sending Pheonix and Alupon behind enemy lines on a stealth mission to retrieve any intel possible, while Blackshuck and Kushina will aid the battle on the western front."

Pheonix grew uneasy. Why would he and Alupon be sent on a stealth mission? Blackshuck was better at stealth missions and always had been. Kushina however was a healer, so to him it made sense why she was needed elsewhere. Even so, the uneasy feeling didn't go away, like he KNEW something would go wrong soon.

Pheonix - "...when do we leave?..."

Danzo - "10 minutes ago. You have your orders, now lets see if you can live up to not only the Blackfire name, but also your fathers."

These words hit Pheonix like nothing ever had. As a blackfire, he had always had extreme potential, but because of his physical and mental limits, was regarded as the weakest Blackfire to ever exist, and as a result, was always under his older brother and sister's shadows. His father was regarded as a legend, and even more pressure was put onto not only Pheonix, but the other 2 siblings as well, all pressured into either matching or surpassing their father's limits. Pheonix felt his teeth grit inside his mouth, and without a word, the 4 left the chambers.

Kushina - "I can't believe this..they are splitting us up.."

Blackshuck - "Orders are orders..no matter how badly we don't like them"

The squad of 4 had been in every mission together, and was refered to as the "dream team" of their army. where ever they went, a victory came shortly after.

Alupon - "I think they are testing us...why else would they split us up? to test our limits!"

Pheonix - "Either way, we need to get things done. This war isnt going to end itself, and that intel could end it even quicker."

Kushina - "Pheonix?..is something wrong?...you aren't being the normal you..it's worrying me."

Pheonix - "i know sister...i am just tired of all this fighting...we were dragged into this since birth. I never wanted this...and i intend to end it."

It was then Pheonix felt something inside of him, a spark of sorts, and it was progressively building up.

Pheonix - "Enough talk, we have missions to attend to."

The 4 say their farewells and head out, Pheonix and Alupon head in the direction of the Arena, where the enemy base is, their objective: retrieve intel on the enemy, and if possible, retrieve an artifact known as the Blackfire Tablet, which is said that only a Blackfire who has unlocked their special power can read. The last known person to read it was Pheonix's father, captured in combat long before Pheonix even turned a month old.

The morning sun rose slowly, and in the darkness, Pheonix and Alupon trek forward in the shadows, ready to carry out their mission.

Darkness slowly left the camps, and with the rising of the sun, Pheonix would rise this day. He and Alupon had infiltrated the enemy camp, and were slowly working their way to the officer's barracks. In hushed voices, they plans their moves, being sure not to draw attention to themselves.

Alupon - "2 guards, patrolling inside the next room"

Pheonix - "We can take them out or let them pass. your call"

Alupon - "let them pass. and unconscious or dead guards will only draw attention, and give away that we are here"

Pheonix - "agreed. wait for my go" They wait until the guards have passed, being out of earshot. "now" They move quickly and quietly into the next room.

Alupon - "the intel should be right....there!" Alupon points to a desk in the back of the room, with important documents on it

Pheonix - "Nice work. bag as much as you can up and lets go before we are spotted"

Alupon begins to do as ordered, but neither of them notice that a security feed has gotten them busted, and hundreds of enemy troops are flooding to their current position. Pheonix feels something coming towards them, but dismisses it as his imagination, not even knowing he can sense natural energy signatures, including other ponies

Pheonix - "Hurry up Al..we can't stay long"

Alupon - "getting the last few now" He bags up a few more papers, and then a warning siren starts to sound off

Pheonix - "oh buck we were discovered! come on we gotta go!"

They start to flee, but once they get outside they are surrounded by enemies.

Pheonix says something into a communicator, hoping to get some help before they are overwhelmed

Pheonix - "HQ this is sergeant Blackfire. We have encountered heavy resistance and require EVAC ASAP"

HQ - "understood sergeant. sending reinfor-" The sound cuts off suddenly, then returns and sounds of battle are heard.

Pheonix - "oh no! Al we gotta get back to HQ now!"

Alupon - "We kinda have a problem right now Pheo!"

They stand back to back, facing the enemy. The enemies charge them, and the duo draw their blades and begin to fight for their lives, cutting their way past the enemies and making an opening to flee. They fight off what seems like millions of enemies, watching each others backs as only rivals and friends know how.

Alupon - "so whats going on at HQ??"

Pheonix - "they are under attack!"

Alupon - "WHAT?? LUCIA!!" Lucia is Alupon's love, the only person he has ever cared for, besides Pheonix and his siblings. The 2 rush back even faster, hoping they can make it before the civilian barracks are overrun.

Everything is happening too fast for Pheonix, and the spark in his body he felt the previous night returns, growing stronger and stronger.

They return to HQ to find that it is nearly burned down, and flowing with enemy troops. They run in and start to cut down any enemy in their paths, searching for Lucia and if possible, Blackshuck and Kushina.

Pheonix - "Brother, sister, can you read me?" He talks into the communicator in hopes of a response.

A large explosion is seen in the distance, glowing blue from Blackshucks energy from his signature move: a spiraling orb of energy, compressed as much as possible for power, doing massive damage.

Pheonix - "i guess they are ok then" He returns to his search for Lucia, hoping to make it out alive.

Alupon - "Pheo take the intel! get it to the Elders!" He throws him the saddle pack of enemy intel, and Pheonix nods, but sticks by Alupon's side, not leaving him until Lucia is found.

An hour passes, the 2 searching every burning building and empty barracks, both nearly giving up hope before a loud scream is heard nearby, which they rush to. They find Lucia surrounded by enemies, more coming every passing second. They jump in to defend her.

Pheonix - "Alupon, i am going to provide cover. Get her out of here, i'll follow shortly"

Alupon - "You are not fighting them by yourself!* He turns to Lucia "Get back sweetie, hide behind something and dont come out until it's safe ok?"

Lucia - "ok..." She hides behind some nearby rubble, awaiting the end of the fight.

Once more, the duo goes in for a fight, taking down many enemies before finally getting overwhelmed. They fight as best the can, hoping Lucia hasn't been spotted, and suddenly Alupon is disarmed, and is started to become a prisoner of the enemy.

Pheonix - "ALUPON!! NO!!"

Alupon - "GET LUCIA OUT OF HE-" he cuts himself off, seeing that Lucia is being taken away

Pheonix rushes in to save his best friend's only love, not wanting to fail Alupon, but doesn't make it in time, and she is struck down in front of them both, leaving Pheonix speechless, and giving Alupon a look of hate towards Pheonix, in his rage believing that Pheonix let her die, and growing to hate him. This hate would later resurface, more than a decade later, when he would be discovered by Pheonix and his daughter, Sapphire.

Alupon stops resisting and goes quietly, leaving Pheonix to fight for his life.

Pheonix - "I have been letting everyone down..Father would be so disappointed in me.." Something in him snaps, and his eyes turn from a brilliant golden color to red with a black pattern. "NO MORE!" Time seems to slow down to him, and he bobs and weaves in between enemies, pushing himself to his absolute limit.

The spark is felt once more, and in a moment where he would have been struck by many troops, a massive burst of lightning seems to erupt from Pheonix. He has learned to control his natural energy, and is a natural master of lightning energy. His cutie mark appears on his flank: a Pheonix, symbolizing that he is one of the first in a long time to master energy, aside from his brother.

He uses his newfound lightning energy control to combat the enemy, using a lightning burst every so often with his sword mastery skills, until finally he takes down the last enemy, and exhausted he falls over, unconscious, his eyes returning to their natural golden color.

These events would shape Pheonix forever, preparing him for the days to come..

END OF CHAPTER 1