back in time for dinner

CHAPTER TWO

War and it’s Spoils

Written by Thunder_Bird

Edited by Equis Ferus Callabus

Several days later, Thunder was a part of a scouting party. It was a very boring one. With no new information of the enemy and, as a side effect, no up to date information on their main army, the fire kingdom’s vanguard was left open. Brave was lucky to avoid arousing suspicion of who he was; despite having many late night meetings with the high command. Allowing him to more pro-actively serve his kingdom without risking the chance of being found out by any enemy spies, making sure he wasn’t going to be assassinated. Finally, Zina was keeping the kingdom working, proving to be the strong and wise leader the kingdom needed in times of great pain and suffering. But this was just the beginning; the true challenge was still to come.

Thunder’s scouts were on their way back when the group got surrounded by hostiles, soon a battle started. During the conflict Thunder was separated from the group, but the hostiles were defeated due to they weren’t expecting a strong resistance. As Thunder walked over the battlefield he saw a friend and a foe laying next to each other, this was not the first time he saw the dead but deep down it felt wrong. He spent the next few hours laying the dead to rest, and looking if his allies had prepared any letters to give to friends and family if they were to fall.

He found some, most of them were the same as his but one stood out.

If you are reading this Velvet, then I am dead. Know that the last thing I would’ve thought of was our unborn child and you. Kiss him for me, tell him about me and whatever you get told, I died a hero. Or at least I hope I did. Your ever loving husband, Low Breeze. Keep me in your dreams and prayers.

Once Thunder had stopped reading the note he packed it away into his saddlebag. Collecting his belongings and those of his fallen comrades he began to make his way down the road to where he hoped he would find his allies; he found something much worse.

Brave Soul was in the camp talking to the soldiers when the scouting party came back from scouting. they were battered and lacking much of their equipment, it was obvious that they were attacked. When he looked closer he saw that many of the original soldiers that went out where missing, and likely dead.

“Hey, Hard Knocks. What happened?”

The leader of the group approached Brave,“They jumped on us, most of us died before we knew what happened.”

“Did you get a look at the attackers?.”

“No, I was too busy fighting for my life.”

“You will be.”

And with that Hard Knocks was gone into the commander's tent to give his report. Another stallion approached Brave, “his brother fell in the battle, his name was Low Breeze. He had a wife who was pregnant with his first son”.Before Brave could respond the stallion was gone.

A few hours later Brave entered the commander's tent, where he saw that the vanguard was bound to march into a cavern. Upon seeing this Brave felt it was necessary to give his opinion.

“Why are we going to make the stallions march out into ambush lands? we have no idea where the enemy’s armies are. all we know we are marching into a death trap!”

All the commander’s looked at him and then a pony named Grave Walker slowly said “Sir, we are to hold the fort north of the pass. it will prove to be a strategic point in the coming battles”

“And if we get ambushed? With the supply train cut off? What then, Grave?”

“We fight?”

“You’re not too sure about that, are you? We should go around the cavern.”

Now it was the turn of the second highest ranking officer to interrupt.

“But, Sir! That would take too lo-”

“SILENCE!” He roared, silencing the officer. “We go AROUND or OVER the cavern. Not through. DO YOU UNDERSTAND!?

The officer took a step backwards, then nodded.

Brave then took his leave before any of the commanders  could say anything to him and before any passing ears could hear his voice or name.

Thunder was looking at something he hoped he would never see - A prisoner train. But this was no normal “prisoner of war” prisoner train, no, it was one that was full of soon to be slaves. Slaves that would have to do whatever their master wanted them to do, no matter how perverse. Upon investigation he found that his wife was there. What is she doing here? the war has only been going on for a week, this was racing through his mind.

Soon he found himself flying down to talk to her, he had no idea how or why he was doing this; it was very likely he would die if he was found. Luckily he was not caught, he approached her transport cage, for some reason she was alone.

“Shh. It’s me.” She looked at me, pain evident in her eyes. “What happened? How did you get here?”

She managed to talk but the pain she was in was shown in her voice “T-they came in the night-” she said inbetween sobs, “-they b-burnt the village to the ground and, t-they they...” She broke into tears. Thunder could only stare as he watched his wife cry. He bent down to comfort her, but was stopped by a few quiet footsteps. Thunder turned around lightning fast, and looked at the guard standing behind him in surprise.

“We hard our way with them.” The guard said with a vicious smile. For Thunder, the world stopped. The guard’s words echoed through his head.

“YOU SON OF A BITCH!” He roared. “I”LL KILL YOU!”

“Is she your wife?” The guard continued. “Let me tell you-” He leaned in close, that smile never leaving his face. “She moans like a who-”

He never finished his sentence, as Thunder smashed his back against the wall.

“Listen to me you monster.” Thunder hissed, holding his dagger against the guards throat. “You will pay for your crimes, in the most painful way i can think of. UNDERSTAND?” Thunder roared.

“P-please don't!” The guard whimpered.

“And why shouldn’t I?”

No response.

“Exactly, now than off with your ball-”

Thunder freed his wife, and then went to kill the rest of the attackers in a similar way, but he left one to go to his master to tell him of how merciful the Fire Kingdom is.

Zina was on her balcony looking over to fireflair village, her maid was at the door with a letter from her husband, Low Breeze, knock knock.

“come in”

Her maid entered with a smile upon her face, “Princess Zina, I have received news from my husband. He says all is well and that he has been attached to a scouting force”

“You see Velvet? He is well like i said he would be.”

“It seems my worry was misplaced.”

“Hopefully he will be home in time for our son being born.”

“Yes, he will be. you have my word.”