Guardian Wings

Chapter 5: Burning Frost

Frostlight drifted into a black void, everything seemed black and lifeless. An eternal nothingness, filled only with empty. A black white, a filled empty, a lived death. It was like space, just floating endlessly, in an ocean of black nothing. The void in which Frostlight found himself was in fact to his imagination, oblivion itself. The nothing around him simmered slightly, then swirled amazingly to his imagination. Then it contracted, then squirmed and writhed, and it continued to do so, and Frostlight felt sick. He wanted it to stop, his world of nothing spun around him, continuing its confusing pattern of contracting and writhing and shifting. Frostlight stopped floating, and started to fall, into the abyss of nothing, and into the light.
Frostlight woke up screaming, his voice raspy, and cracked. The nurses and doctors around held him down. His body went into shock, as he continued to scream. “Secure him!” one of the nurses said rushing into the room with a syringe. The doctors with a bigger physical build held first his limbs, then Frostlight’s torso. The nurse made the injection and Frostlight settled into the medical bed. Breathing with increasing exasperation, he lay on the bed. The nurses checked his vital signs; they were high, but just barely stable. “Frostlight, Frostlight can you hear me?” The nurse asked. Frostlight kept gasping; in his own eyes everything was a pure white brilliance that was so white it blinded him. He struggled for breath, and could only gasp. The nurse checked his eyes, then inside his mouth. His mouth was fine, but his eyes were very dilated. She checked his lungs with a stethoscope. His lungs were at its peak, and Frostlight would soon become unstable again. “We need something to slow his breathing, he’ll go into shock again if we don’t.” The nurse said. Bloodguard walked in, “Don’t worry, he’ll be fine, give him a shot of anesthesia, then let him rest.” Bloodguard said. And as the nurse gave the injection, Frostlight’s breathing rate slowly decreased, and he went into a deep sleep.

Frostlight was calm on the outside, but his mind raced faster than ever. He felt dizzy, hot, and most of all, confused. He felt as if he was young and old at the same time, which only added to the confusion. He couldn’t stop racing through his thought, memories, and nightmares. It all seemed to mesh together at the same time and Frostlight was at the edge of insanity, and defeat. He couldn’t bear it all, but something held him back from accepting defeat quite so easily. Frostlight fell out of his mind and into reality and rose up in his bed to a state of shock. He was back to reality. He peered around the room, it was dark, and had white walls and floors. He was back in the Cloudsdale hospital once again. A series of steps came from outside the door and a series of nurses burst through the doors holding syringes and straps most likely to hold him down with. Frostlight jumped in his bed, being startled at this, but nurses froze. “Oh, you’re…okay?” One of the nurses said. “Yeah…I am, so what happened?” Frostlight asked. “You were under and we noticed your vital signs sparked up, and we ran in to see what happened…” Another nurse said. “Okay…But what was happening to my body itself?” Frostlight asked again. “We aren’t sure; we only were focused on what we could do to keep you alive.” A nurse said hesitantly. Frostlight shifted the covers, and cautiously got out of the medical bed. The nurses looked as if they were ready to pounce at him, just to catch him if he fell over.

Frostlight stood steady, but he was still weak. He walked forward timidly; still aware that he had went through a major ordeal. “I think that I’m okay for now.” Frostlight said. “Really? After all that work?” A voice said that came from behind the nurses. It was Bloodguard, he looked unchanged, but tired. “Hey, how are you?” Frostlight said happily but weakly. “I’m fine, but I’m concerned about you actually.” Bloodguard said still confused. “How exactly are you fine? You went into severe shock this morning and we’ve been on high alert just for you to get up out of bed, nearly okay and ready to check out?” Bloodguard said. “I guess so, but I’m not worried about that, but what had that creature done to me?” Frostlight said aloud. “What creature?” Bloodguard said. Then Frostlight remembered about the fog creature, and that it still was confidential information. “Nothing, I was dreaming I guess…” Frostlight trailed off. Bloodguard looked confused, and gave him a look of suspicion. “Can I report to the Princess now?” Frostlight asked, trying to change the subject. “Why?” Bloodguard asked. “Because I have information to report, and I can’t talk about it, and I NEED to tell the Princess now.” Frostlight said, standing his ground. “Fine, we’ll contact her.” Bloodguard said, then strode out of the room.

Frostlight got back into his bed and lay down quietly, he was in such a mess, and now things would only get worse. The creature wasn’t contained only to the Everfree Forest, and it was spreading from each forest to the next. The memories of whenever the creature had attacked him returned. Frostlight wasn’t sure how long he had been out, if it was just a night, or a week. Then he remembered, the bright light that had surrounded him when the creature was about to kill him. It was stealing his life force, and Frostlight got away before it did, and it almost cost him his sanity. Frostlight looked at the ceiling blankly, he was lost in thought, not knowing what he could do just yet. The doors opened and the Princess walked in. “Hello Frostlight how was the fight?” Celestia asked happily. “Was that you? That saved me?” Frostlight asked. “No, it wasn’t, that was your unit member Solar Ray. We got contacted from your friends and immediately pulled out your team to rescue you. Solar Ray used his light, Quickscorch and Cherry Slash helped bring you in for medical attention.” Celestia said calmly. “The creature…was killed in the light; I think I know its weakness.” Frostlight said. “And that is?” Extreme light and cold…” Frostlight said weakly. “So it seems, but are you sure you didn’t kill it, only weaken it?” Celestia asked. “I’m not sure, but have you found out what they are?” Frostlight asked. “Yes I have, it dates back to the founding of Equestria itself. They are Miasma Beasts; they prey upon the weak, and corrupt the powerful. I’m not sure what they came from, but legends date back to then, but actual sightings haven’t been recorded.” Celestia said. “So that would explain a lot in the recent events…” Frostlight said. “When you are ready, we will return you your bracelet that Twilight enchanted, its over in Sky Wind, at the local security Bit Bank. We are going to run some tests on your weakness theory on the Miasma Beasts, and see what we can use.” Celestia said. “Thank you” Frostlight said, and the Princess went out of the room.

Several hours later Frostlight got a huge surprise. He was visited by his Unit members, trainer from Initiation, and most of all, his friends. They all gathered around him in his dorm room. “Hey we all came to see how you were holding up kid.” Scar said. “Yeah, Fizzy Smiled wanted to come, but he had too many duties to attend to, and you’d be amazed at all he really does.” Starluck said. “We all wanted to make sure you were okay anyways, so how’ve you been doing Frost?” Nightwind said. “I could ask you guys the same!” Frostlight said happily. “I’m fine, but we’re worried, you potentially saved every pony in Sky Wind, because that thing could have attacked town!” Cross Sticks said. “Yeah, we would have been in some serious trouble!” Static Sound exclaimed. “No problem, but there are more of those things out there.” Frostlight said. “How do you know?” Starluck asked. “Well you see, that thing could break off a part of it, and morph into anything it wanted to, so wouldn’t do that to repopulate?” Frostlight said. Scar’s expression went dark, “This is bad, really bad.” He said. “And it’ll only get worse if we don’t do something big.” Frostlight said. “That thing will eventually attack a town, and the ponies inside will die if we don’t stop it.” Frostlight continued. “You’re right, it’s time we go in and get rid of it.” Static Sound said. “It’s not that simple, as it seems right now that only cold and light to an extreme degree can kill it.” Frostlight said. “Well lucky us we’ve got both of those.” Solar Ray said. “Yeah, but I think it’s time we sent in teams to destroy that thing.” Quickscorch said. “I agree with Scorch.” Cherry Slash said. “Well let’s ask Celestia, I’m sure we’ll think of a plan.” Starluck said.

The next morning Frostlight was deemed healthy by the Cloudsdale Hospital, and was released that morning. A carriage greeted Frostlight outside. Apparently she wanted an audience with Frostlight and Solar Ray. Frostlight boarded the carriage to see Solar Ray already inside. “The Princess wants to form a plan of extermination with us considering my smarts and our destroying powers.” Solar Ray said. “What about the team we we’re going to save?” Frostlight asked. “Celestia switch us out and put a different Unit in for the recovery, they are on the way to recover the team now.” Solar Ray said. And then the doors closed and the carriage took off. “What do you have in mind for the plan?” Frostlight asked. “Well we could surround entire forests and enclose on them in search of the Miasma Beasts, then destroy them as quickly as possible.” Solar Ray said. “Sounds good, but shouldn’t we send recon teams out to find contaminated forest, then enclose the infected ones to save fighting forces and use our time efficiently?” Frostlight asked. “Sounds good as well, let’s take that to Princess Celestia.” Solar Ray said.

The carriage arrived promptly at the gates of the Canterlot Palace. Frostlight and Solar Ray were once again escorted to the Briefing Room, where they would present their plan to the Princess. “Princess Celestia, we’ve come up with ideas for exterminating the Miasma Beasts.” Frostlight said. “Go on…” Celestia said. “We’ve concluded that we send recon teams to each forest in Equestria, and search and mark for the Miasma Beasts, and with each infected forest, we send in teams to destroy them by surrounding the forest, and enclosing on the center of the forest to ensure the extermination of the Beasts.” Solar Ray explained. “It sounds viable, but we’ll have to resort to using much of the Guard for this, even recruits.” Celestia said. “We could ration out the higher ranking Units to each forest to ensure some pony of experience and rank is helping the recruits.” Frostlight suggested. “Sounds like a plan, I guess I’ll send recons teams out, but there are many forests throughout Equestria, we’ll have to send in Special operation squads, including you.” Celestia said. “Just tell us where to start searching.” Frostlight began. “Well we know that the Everfree Forest and possibly the Sky Breeze Forest near Sky Wind is possibly contaminated. I’ll send you there first and check to see how much of the forest is infected, and how many Miasma Beasts you can find.” Celestia said. “We’ll do our best, I’ll assemble the team, just give us the means of transport.” Solar Ray said. “Of course, but I can’t tell you my back-up plan, but if it comes to it, you’ll be in charge of warning every pony.” Celestia said expressionless. “Good luck.”

Solar Ray and Frostlight once again boarded a carriage and took off to go pick up the other two members. “What did she mean about her back up plan?” Frostlight asked timidly. “I don’t know what it is, but it probably involves a mass strike against the Beasts of some sort, considering the fact she said we’ll be in charge of warning every pony.” Solar Ray inquired. “Sounds horrible, let’s make sure it doesn’t come to that.” Frostlight said. “Yeah, let’s just focus on the present and how we can help build it for tomorrow.” Solar Ray said, and they stayed silent for the rest of the ride as they picked up Cherry Slash.
The four members landed at the edge of the Sky Breeze Forest. “So what is the plan?” Quickscorch said. “Well, we’re here to scout out the forest, so our best bet is to stay quiet and make sure we don’t disturb any of the Miasma Beast that is possibly in the area.” Solar Ray said. “Got it.” Quickscorch and Cherry Slash said in unison. The four entered the forest, slowly at first, but picked up the pace after Frostlight remembered they were on the clock for this. They scoured around the forest, searching around each tree carefully, but nothing seemed out of place, just like a normal forest. The four members regrouped back together from the original groups of two. “Nothing that I can find so far.” Frostlight said disappointingly. “Yeah, it seems that was the only Miasma Beast in the forest, we might as well report that the forest is clear.” Cherry Slash said. The four continued their trek out of the forest when Frostlight noticed something. “Hey, have you guys noticed that each tree has a dark spiral slash on it?” Frostlight said nervously. The four looked around and noticed it too. It seemed a dark spiral slash about 10 centimeters wide and long was on the occasional tree. “How did we not notice this earlier?” Solar Ray said. “I don’t know, but something’s up.” Quickscorch said.

The four trotted from tree to tree, finding more often than not, that the tree had the same mark. It was confused for the four ponies, and eventually they found a cluster of rock set in a formation that formed the same symbol that was on the tree. “Hey guys, doesn’t this place look familiar?” Solar Ray said nervously. It hit Frostlight like a brick wall, “Guys, this is the place I fought the Miasma Beast earlier this week!” Frostlight shouted. Just as he finished the sentence, the ground shuddered. “I think we’d better leave, now!” Cherry Slash said getting anxious. The ground started to form cracks and fissures in it, around the rock formations. The four members ran out of the vicinity as fast as they could, “I think the forest is at its peak for infection to create more of those beasts!” Quickscorch said as they sprinted through the forest. The path was rugged and with all the vines and overgrown roots sticking out of the ground, it was hard to maintain momentum. “I think you’re right on that one Scorch!” Frostlight shouted as they continued to run. The tree behind them started to crack and creak with noise of a thousand gunshots. Frostlight looked behind them and saw the clearing of rocks from whence they came was covered in a black fog, with tentacle like protrusions coming out of it.

“We need to warn the town!” Frostlight shouted. “No disagreement with you there Frost!” Cherry Slash said, with his voice starting to rise in pitch. They finally burst out of the forest and into the clearing. “Cherry Slash and Quickscorch, I need you guys to go warn the Guard, me and Frostlight will warn the town and help defend it if needed. “Right!” Quickscorch and Cherry Slash said in unison and took off on their wings. “We’d better go!” Solar Ray said. “But Ray, I don’t have my bracelet, I can’t fly or fight without it!” Frostlight said. “We’ll get it after we warn the town!” Solar Ray shouted. “You know what? I’m not arguing, let’s just go!” Frostlight said, and sprinted toward the town.