Chapter 1: Heartbreak and Rescue
"If there's anything I've learned during my life, it's that happiness never lasts forever. In this world, everything comes then goes. Life, Time, and Love are all but temporary matters. They never last and it always left a bitter taste in your mouth when they're gone. When life hands you a great deal of misfortune in this world and everything is taken from you, It leads to a great deal of desperation to cope with loss in some way. We've always looked for answers for why things happen and to understand the circumstances that made it possible. And I'm all too familiar with that notion.
I've lost everything I've held dear and I had no choice but to take part in this war I've relentlessly tried to avoid. With my back against the proverbial wall, I'm presented with an opportunity for retribution... to right a grievous wrong. I know that I won't be able to take on the full might of Tirek's Empire alone. But, whether it be before the nightmare ends or I draw my last breath, I promise this: I'll make Tirek and that vaunted empire of his bleed!"
Storm Breeze's War Journal - Entry #: 1
"Okay, that'll be 6 bits for the bagel's dozen." Storm said as he handed the customer a dozen freshly baked bagels to his delight.
"Thank you, sir." The customer sounded off after handing over the bits before walking out of the shop. Storm Breeze took pride in finding something to occupy him during Tirek's reign. Though he was born much later after the prisoner of tartarus had conquered the whole of Equus, he still had knowledge of the event and those that followed from stories his parents told him when he was a foal. Growing up in the city of Neo Canterlot mired by constant patrols of Tirek's enforcers, always making the citizens nervous as to when they'll decide to arrest them on bogus charges. It was the atmosphere that kept ponies like Storm Breeze obedient.
For five years, Storm Breeze had run his little bakery as a way to make ends meet. It was his passion... his dream to make baked goods to keep other ponies happy in the dark times. In a populous city like Neo Canterlot, Storm Breeze had no shortage of customers and a mostly consistent flow of bits. However, the recent increase of taxes by the imperial authorities had started to put a few good dents into his profits. He's worried that one day it'll cause him to close his business. As he cleaned the counters when all was quiet in his shop/home, the door opened as an imperial officer with an escort of two armed guards came in and approached the front counter. In a situation like this, Storm Breeze always played it cool in dealing with them while they played hardball with him.
"How can I help you three today?" Storm Breeze said in a calm tone, masking his slight nervousness. The officer then cleared his throat.
"I've come here under orders from the emperor himself to inform you that effective immediately, we're doubling the current tax rate." The officer explained. The news had hit Storm Breeze like a sack of bricks. He was able to endure the gradual increase of taxes so far, but the doubling of the current rate would be a noticeable blow to his business. While making enough money to pay the empire, he would always have enough for himself. Now, it looked like his finances will take a big hit.
"What?! I can deal with a gradual increase. But a doubling of the current rate? This is madness!" Storm Breeze protested to the annoyance of the officer.
"Well civilian, you don't have much of a choice in this matter." the officer retorted in a slightly more aggressive tone. "It has already come into effect and I trust that you'll find the increase to be... reasonable."
"Reasonable?! This is absurd! I pay enough for what the rate is and that is fair. But, to double the current rate will put me closer to going broke! This is completely unacceptable, an outrage!" As Storm Breeze's anger heightened and his fist slammed down on the counter top, he found himself staring down the barrels of two guns aimed at him. His heart rate elevated even higher at the danger of the possibility of dying in that moment. The tension was only dispersed by the officer placing his hands on their weapons and forcing them away from Storm Breeze.
"Now now, there's no need violence in this setting." the officer calmly said as their soldiers holstered their rifles. "We can't collect the taxes off a dead stallion. Now, I hope you'll accept the new rate, civilian." Over the risk of being arrested or something worse, Storm Breeze sucked up his pride and decided to accept the changes, albeit reluctantly.
"Alright, I'll pay the new rate tomorrow." Storm Breeze said as a wave of disgust filled his head. He had to restrain himself from lunging at the officer in anger.
"I'm glad we could come to an understanding. Your compliance has been noted." The officer concludes as he puts a set of bits on the counter, confusing Storm Breeze.
"What will it be?"
"Each of us want two pretzels, please." The officer's words had filled Storm Breeze with both a sense of relief and anger. It felt like an insult when they basically extorted from him. Nonetheless, for him, money is money and decided to comply with their order, fearing retribution.
"Well, you three are lucky. This is the last fresh batch I've made for today." Storm Breeze said as he put two pretzels each in three bags and handed them off to the three enforcers. He watched as they took bites of their treats and nodded in approval before heading to the door.
"Well, tootles. Thank you for these delicious pretzels." The officer said as he and his group exited the shop. "It'll be a shame if this place goes under. Hope you have a good day!"
"Same here." Storm Breeze said as they finally left, allowing him to mutter "Prick." as he breathed a sigh of relief. When he looked at the clock, he noticed that it was closing time. After he flipped the 'Open' to 'Closed', he sat on one of the nearby chairs, cupping his face in his hands in stress. He sighed as he feared for the future of his business and his capacity to make ends meet. As he worried, he heard the door opening and it's bells ringing.
"Sorry, but were closed. Come back tomorrow morning." Storm Breeze mumbled before he felt and smelled a familiar presence, one that brought him calm in times of stress.
"Oh, you were always open for me, honey." Storm Breeze then turned to that it was Rose Winterfrost, an earth mare he had been with for a few years. To Storm, she was the one pony who made him feel a sense of ease in times like that. She proceeded to wrap in a warm and soothing embrace as Storm Breeze leaned his head on her shoulder. He hummed and moaned in satisfaction as Rose's touch started to relax him. "Rough day today, love?"
"That's putting it lightly. An imperial officer came by and told me that taxes were doubled. It felt like a shake down. I wanted to deck him in his smug face but you would've seen me dead when you walked in."
"Please don't give a mental image of that. I can't imagine us being apart for so long, having to bury you. I'm just glad you are safe."
"Yeah, same here. Both you and this shop helped me find some meaning in this dreary world." Storm Breeze casually said as he turned to face his lover and peck her on the lips, making her blush. "But mostly you, my dear." All was silent for the better part of a minute before the two love struck ponies engaged in a passionate makeout session, losing themselves in pure lust that was repressed by the daily drag of aggravation. It went on for three whole minutes before Rose broke the kiss abruptly.
"Why don't we take this to somewhere more cozy?" Rose moaned. As she stroked the face of Storm Breeze, he seductively gave her rump a playful squeeze, causing her to blush.
"Oh, you perverted devil."
"Well, what can I say?" Storm Breeze said as he stood up and scooped up Rose in his arms. "I'm always in the mood for some night time stress relief."
All throughout the night, Storm Breeze and Rose Winterfrost made sweet, passionate love in the comfort of their room. Every movement, every thrust, and every moan served to vent their collective stress as it fueled their night of lustful bliss. The noise they made from their moans and growls made up a symphony that sounded like a pack of wolves singing to the night sky. Half-past midnight, Storm Breeze and Rose were all resting on the bed, holding one another in their arms as they relaxed the night away.
"Oh, sometimes I wonder how I got so lucky enough to find such a sweet mare like you." Storm Breeze said as he nuzzled Rose's cheeks.
"I think you do remember." Rose said with a chuckle. "You do remember when we first met in that tavern, don't you?"
"Yeah, I remember that I was just sitting there, downing a tankard of honey mead until a certain Rose Winterfrost sat at my table. We just shot the casual breeze for the whole time."
"Do you know how the conversation went?"
"All too well. We were chatting about how sweet the mead was. I made some joke attempt at flirting but you seemed to go along with it, even while we were both drunk. But, as the moment went on, I felt something between us click but I couldn't find out why. It was like I knew you were the one."
"At this point, I really don't care. I'm just glad that I've found my special somepony."
"Likewise." As Storm Breeze looked into his marefriend's eyes, he felt a lingering feeling that was on the back of his mind for two months start to swarm his thoughts. It was a feeling... of longing, longing to be more with Rose. The moment he laid his eyes on her the first time they've met told him that she was the mare he wanted to spend the rest of his life with and he wanted to let her know. He wanted to see if she felt the same way.
"Rose?" Storm Breeze asked
"Yes?" Rose yawned.
"We've been together for a little more than three years so far and I can't be any happier for the both of us. I've loved your company and I know you feel the same. It's just that I sometimes feel as if that we could evolve the nature of our relationship beyond the 'Coltfriend/Marefriend' label."
"Honey, what are you saying?" As Rose tried to understand what Storm Breeze was saying, he grabbed her by the shoulders, looking her straight in the eyes.
"I want to be more with you, Rose. I want us to be more than just simple lovers. I... I want to spend the rest of my life with you by side in good and bad times." After hearing those words, Rose Winterfrost had finally understood what Storm Breeze meant. In a different wording, her coltfriend had popped the question to her. She was filled with all sorts of happy and joyful thoughts that it made her shed tears, not of sorrow but of joy.
"YES! YES! YES, I WILL!" Rose screamed in an overabundance of joy, embracing Storm Breeze in a hug so tight that it started to sap the air out of him. Sensing this, Rose relented as Storm Breeze looked her in the eyes.
"I'm glad I could make you this happy." Storm Breeze said as his mind drifted to one thought: he forgot to get a ring. "Oh shit! I didn't get a-"
"Forget that, we can deal with it later." Rose said as she nuzzled Storm Breeze's chest fur, taking delight in the soft fur as she drifted off to sleep. "More than anything, I'm just happy that we can be husband and wife." As Rose let out a tired yawn, Storm Breeze held her close to him as he too felt the hand of sleep reach out for him. He drifted off to dreamland with the thought that he'll be marrying his marefriend.
"Likewise, my dear..."
...
...
"Likewise."
Soon enough, after 3 months of preparation, Storm Breeze and Rose Winterfrost tied the knot, becoming husband and wife. For years, they've waited for either one of them to propose and now their wish had come true. For them, all seemed to be right in the world in spite of the conditions they lived under. As far as they were concerned, nothing else mattered to them. They were happy on magnitude that was alien to them, to anyone in the world around them. In the months that followed, they soon found out that families tend to grow once they're formed.
"Wwwwwaahhhhh! Wwwhhhaaahh!"
"It's a colt? A colt! We've got a son, Rose! A beautiful, healthy baby colt!"
"A colt! We did it, Storm! He has that face of yours!" Through the miracle of life, Rose Winterfrost bore Storm Breeze a son. He was a pegasus with a darker mane color and style akin to his father with a coat of light yellow like that of his mother. He was bundled up snugly in a blanket in his mother's loving arms. Both Storm and Rose couldn't help but shed tears at such a joyous moment of their lives.
"I think the little one would like to see his daddy." Rose said as she handed the bundled foal to Storm Breeze. As he took his son into his arms, he looked on in pride as the foal started grasping at the air, wanting to go for his father's nose. Storm Breeze sat down as he rocked his son back and forth to relax him. He couldn't suppress a teary chuckle as the foal started making a mixture of random noises and giggles.
"Hey Rose," Storm Breeze said, turning his gaze to his wife. "What should we call him?"
"I don't know." Rose Winterfrost responded. "Do you have any Ideas?" Storm Breeze looked at his son and thought of a name for his child. Noticing his coat is as bright yellow as the sun and his mane being nearly as green as grass, Storm Breeze knew then and there what to call him.
"Sunshine... Sunshine Tranquility, our little ray of hope." Storm Breeze said as he booped his son on the nose.
"Sunshine Tranquility, a beautiful name for our wonderful son." Rose said as she was given baby Sunshine back, cradling him in her arms once more. The family both embraced each other as they take delight in becoming parents. To them, it was the happiest moment in their entire lives, one that they'll cherish forevermore. As far as they were concerned nothing could break them apart.
"I love both of you very much."
[4 Years Later]
"Urgh! What's the meaning of this?! What did I do?!"
"Heh, they all cling to their feigned innocence at gunpoint. I've heard that many times, it's nothing new."
"Meanie, don't hurt my daddy!"
"Storm, what's happening?!"
It was a terrifying situation for both him and his family. Storm Breeze was on his knees, hands behind his back as several soldiers aimed their weapons down on him. He didn't know what they wanted or why but he always knew that imperial forces would arrest anyone at the drop of a hat and for any reason. His equine heart had beat at an unfathomable rate as he saw the terrified looks of his wife and son, forced to see him held at gunpoint. As the officer circled around, Storm Breeze recognized the look of that pony.
"You!" Storm Breeze gasped. It was the same officer from that tax shakedown four years ago: Crimson red unicorn with a shaven blonde mane hidden by his officer's cap. The way he circled around him was like a shark that had smelled blood, looking for its prey. It was menacing to say the least as Rose and Sunshine could do little to help him.
"I'm honestly surprised that you recognized me." The officer said as looked down at the angered and semi-frightened Storm Breeze with a neutral tone, betrayed only by a very slight smirk. "Come to think of it, I should've held my tongue about it 'being a shame' if your bakery ever closed down. Now, it very well might, considering the nature of your crimes."
"Crimes?! What crimes?! I've never done anything illegal!" Storm Breeze protested. With all of the laws and edicts that Tirek established during his rule, there was little room for any mistakes for all inhabitants of Equis, least they wind up arrested or worse. It was a state of constant paranoia and fear that kept his subjects in line.
"Oh my favored baker," the officer said in a condescending tone as he knelt down in front of Storm Breeze, squeezing his cheeks. "you did, whether you realize it or not."
"Daddy, what's going on? I'm scared!" The display nonetheless had upset Sunshine, causing Storm Breeze's fatherly instincts to kick in.
"Sunshine, go to your mother and hug her tight. Rose, shield his eyes!" His son complied with his orders as Rose and Sunshine huddled up in a fearful embrace, not wanting to bear the sight of Storm Breeze being hurt, also sensing danger to them as well. Storm Breeze then looked back at the officer with anger and outrage in his mind. "What am I accused of?"
"Sedition." The officer coldly answered. "Conspiring with rebel elements to carry out a terrorist plot." The charges he uttered shocked him senseless. Never in his life had he even entertained the thought of joining the rebellion or Tirek's forces, preferring to just live his own life in peace. He did a good job of it for a time but now it looked to be that it will be short lived.
"What?! I'm not a rebel!" Storm Breeze protested. "I just stayed out of your fight and now you're wanting to drag me into it? I'm innocent, I swear!"
"Liar!" The officer blurted out in a break of his calm demeanor. "I have records saying that you routinely consorted with numerous rebel groups to undermine Lord Tirek's rule! So, you will do well to confess your crimes, now!"
"I'm no fucking rebel! I'm just a simple baker, you pricks!" His response elicited a pained groan from the officer as he raised his hand.
*Snap*
With a snap of his fingers, two soldiers walked behind Rose and Sunshine, aiming their rifles down at them as they quaked in fear of their lives.
"Storm! Honey, please help us!"
The sight had weighed down heavily on his heart, seeing his family being threatened at gun point. He was afraid and powerless to rush to them to shield them from the soldiers. He could do nothing but watch as his wife and child cower and cry in fear. With a sigh, the officer looked Storm Breeze in the eyes with a deadpan expression.
"I know you don't like this. I can see it in your eyes that you're upset that I'm threatening your loved ones. You can save them. Just give me your confession, come with us, and I'll spare your family. Should you turn down this generous offer..." The officer then gave a chilling stare to the panicked Rose and Sunshine. "you'll have to watch as your wife and child over there... die one by one. Which will it be?" Seeing them in that level of fear made Storm Breeze's heart fill with dread and sadness. He vowed to make his family happy no matter what. What would the cost of it be? His freedom? The possibility of never seeing them again? As he looked on at them more, he couldn't take much more of the agony and decided to cooperate.
"Fine." Storm Breeze muttered as he teared up. "I'll go with you. Please, just don't hurt my family. Let them go, it's all I ask." The answer pleased the officer as he got back on his feet, gesturing for his entourage to restrain Storm Breeze.
"I'm glad you found the terms to be... acceptable." The officer said as the soldiers started to drag Storm Breeze towards their cruiser, only to be stopped by his out stretched palm. He then walked behind the sobbing mother and son as he stroked his short beard.
"But you should know..."
*Click*
*BANG*
"I never honor deals with terrorists." Storm Breeze couldn't believe the horror his eyes had beheld. The officer had shot Rose, his wife in the back of her head. Her body was left limp and lifeless as his heart was filled with a most painful sorrow.
"ROSE! NNNNOOOOOOOOO!!!" Storm Breeze cried as his wife laid dead before him, unable to rush to her side to mourn as the guards pacified him with a rifle butt to his gut. He could only watch as his son cried and hugged his dead mother.
"Take him away!" The officer said as his troops started to drag him off to the cruiser.
"Mommy! Mommy, please wake up! Please!" Storm Breeze's heart dropped as saw the sight of his son trying to help his mother to no avail. His mind was filled with high levels of anger and sorrow.
"Oh, do I tire of the crying from a mewling foal."
"Mommy! Mommy, please don't go-"
*BANG*
It was as if time had stopped for this instance. Storm Breeze felt like he was going to faint from an overload of sorrow as he saw what no one should. His son suffered the same fate as his mother, gunned down in cold blood and laid lifeless next to his mother's corpse. He cried and wept like mad as he was thrown into the cruiser to be taken to parts unknown. His last moment of freedom was spent looking on at the corpses of the most precious things he held dear as he was carted off, never being able to bury them.
He had lost everything and his life's meaning.
The moment where the very things you've sworn to protect no matter what lie dead before you is enough to fill one with a sense of failure and dread. I was powerless to prevent my wife and my son being slaughtered like they were animals to them. They had no part of whatever issue the empire had with me yet they died for no reason. I wish that my life was taken instead of theirs. I wish I would've just charged at them and maybe, just maybe they could've been spared. To this day, I still damn my self for not saving them when I could do so. I still carry the weight of my sin and I'll never erase that memory no matter how hard I try.
I sat in my cell in Greenvale Prison, looking through the energy barrier at the poor souls that languished there. Hundreds of ponies and other creatures were condemned to spend decades, eternity, or were doomed to execution. For those that were condemned to die, I shudder to imagine the hell they went through, only to be met with such a fate. I consider them the lucky ones because of how Equis has become such an unforgiving world, cold and dark. I knew that for what I was falsely accused of, I was going to be put to death. I chose not to resist my fate as I welcome the thought of being reunited with my family in the great paradise: Elysium. All I had to endure was a year of fear and suffering in exchange for eternal bliss, being able to hug my family tight once more.
Storm Breeze's War Journal - Entry #: 2
For the year since his interment at Greenvale Prison, Storm Breeze uttered not a single word. Not even so much as a sigh or a moan escaped his lips. After the tragedy that befell him, he was rendered as nothing more than a shell of his former self. He hardly ate, giving him a noticeably emaciated appearance and he never shaved his beard nor his mane. His heart became harder and colder as he saw the daily routines the prisoners had went through. Some prisoners never talked, some never even left their cells at all, others were dragged out of their cells and beaten within an inch of their lives to make them easy to cart around or for no reason at all. The sheer brutality exhibited by the guards and some imperial soldiers further ate away at Storm Breeze's will to live. Every night since the death of his family was wrought with nightmares of the incident, night after night of seeing and hearing his wife and son call to him in agony before being suddenly silenced. At that moment, he cared not if he lived or died. All that he desired was to see his family again... to be with them forever in peace, one way or another.
Just as Storm Breeze was brooding in his cold cell, he heard the sound of the cell's energy field deactivating, allowing two guards, clad in riot armor, to enter.
"Prisoner, " One guard, presumably the captain started. "Your judgment has concluded and your fate is decided. For the crimes of treason and sedition, you are condemned to execution, effective today." Storm Breeze knew that it would come to pass, to be put to death on a false accusation. Yet, he chose not to fight his impending fate. What would cause a stallion to think that way? Grief? Anger? There are many reasons one might develop such a mindset. For Storm Breeze, his loss and a year of witnessing the worst of ponykind made him a broken stallion, a stallion that welcomed his end.
"Prisoner! How do you plea?"
...
...
"What took you folks so long?"
The guards were shocked at his response: empty, deadpan, and without an ounce of emotion. They were also shocked to hear him speak for the first time since he arrived. The regarded him as the 'Mute One' or the 'Silent Bastard'. More odd was that they expected him to scream and protest but heard nothing along those lines from him.
"Really?" The captain sounded off in astonishment "So, you've just admitted your guilt then, eh rebel?"
"No. I'm no rebel and I still maintain my innocence." Storm Breeze deadpanned. "Still, none of that matters anymore. I accept my fate and welcome it."
"Hmmm, that was deep. I thought we were going to hear some screaming or protest like: *PLEASE NO! NO! NO, I'M INNOCENT! NOOOOOOO!!!* but yet you still maintain that attitude even as you're about to die. Man, you made this no fun at all. It's always fun to hear scum like you scream to high Tartarus."
"Sorry to disappoint you two."
"No matter. At least I get to see you die. Stand up and hold your arms out!" Obeying the guard's command, Storm breeze was cuffed at the wrists and walked out of his cell, being lightly dragged by the captain. As he followed the guards to his final destination, Storm Breeze gave one final look at all of the despairing ponies, griffons, and other creatures languishing in their cells. It made his already hollow heart heavy as such a sight would be the last thing he got to see. But, the comforting thought of being reunited with those he loved in elysium gave him the strength to face his end with courage.
"Rose, Sunshine, I'm sorry that I couldn't save any of you. Please, find it in your hearts to forgive me as I'll be joining you both soon. At least, we both can be together in heavenly bliss." Storm Breeze thought to himself as he was dragged through a hall to the cacophony of "Dead Pony Walking!" and laughter from some of the guards.
"So, how will I be dying today?" Storm Breeze mumbled.
"You'll be put up against a wall and killed by firing squad." The captain said with a hint of a chuckle. "It's a rather fitting end for traitorous swine like you."
"Well, at least you get to have fun."
"I plan on it." As the captain continued his march, his radio went off with a somewhat frantic voice sounding forth.
"Captain! Captain, do you hear me? Over!" The captain picked up his radio, curious about why one of his guards sound panicked.
"Yes, I read you." answered The Captain in a frustrated tone. “What's the situation?”
“We have a Code 174 in Cellblock 3, a break in, a break in! It's insurgents from the looks of it!”
“Well, Hold your position and wait for reinforcements!”
“Negative! Negative! Most of our checkpoints have been overrun! We have t- *RATATATATA* AAAAARRRGGGHHHH!!!”
“Sergeant?! SERGEANT!!! Damn it all!” Frustration and anger were all that coursed through the captain’s mind. Not only did he have to oversee the execution of a prisoner but deal with a break-in. His usual days were spent in relative calm with the occasional executions and beatings. He never experienced a situation where a break-in occurred.
“Okay, wise ass! You’re still going up against the wall!” The captain snarled in frustration as he grabbed Storm Breeze by his shackles, dragging him roughly towards his fate. As they got closer and closer to their destination, the louder and more hectic the sounds of a firefight got. Form the sound of it, It was advancing faster than anticipated. Whoever was causing the disturbance must’ve been planning on it for quite some time. As the group reached an intersection leading to Cellblock 1 & 4, a group of guards were running backwards, firing their rifles in hysteria.
“Holy shit, they just keep coming! Fall Back! Fall Back! We have to keep them from the contr-”
*BOOOOOOOOMM*
A large explosion had ripped through the hall, spilling its wave of destruction into the intersection. All but one guard were knocked down as Storm Breeze was dazed and disoriented by the blast. He could barely hear anything but his vision was still somewhat lucid. As he watched on, he noticed a group of rebels, clad in cloaks, storming the room while shooting any guard that sought to bar their path. Out of the group came an orange earth stallion with a white mane. From the way the way he was giving orders, he looked to be their leader. He took a quick glance at Storm Breeze before running toward him with concern.
“Hey you, are you alright?” asked the stallion. He took a closer look at Storm Breeze’s and grew concerned over his gaunt and ragged appearance. “Wow, it looks like you’ve been through all sorts of hell. Don’t worry, we’re here to get you out of here. Just follow our lead and we’ll ma-”
The stallion’s instructions were interrupted by one of the downed guards tackling him to the ground. Pulling his knife out, he struggled to fend off the assault while the guard was trying to control the blade. As Storm Breeze looked on, he was reminded of seeing a fellow inmate, a gryphon that was beaten to death about three weeks ago for defending younger inmate from an angry guard. That incident caused his mood to worsen afterward as he never saw the teenaged prisoner again. Seeing both the scene before him and the memory was enough to make something in him snap… some caged entity that was repressed for months. He couldn’t take it anymore and his pent up rage toward Tirek had bubbled past the surface.
Letting his rage pilot him, Storm Breeze grabbed the guard before he could stab the stallion and slammed him against the wall. Caught off guard by the attack, the guard had no room to retaliate as he looked on at the face of Storm Breeze. He still looked to be emotionless but something was being hidden. Rage, pure rage was hidden behind a neutral expression as Storm Breeze laid out a savage beating upon the guard, gut punches, an arm break and several knees to the groin. It was almost unfathomable to behold such a display of hatred. Eventually, the guard was sprawled out on the floor, bleeding, bruised and writhing in pain from Storm Breeze’s assault. Looking around, Storm Breeze picked up the guard’s rifle and aimed it at the terrified prison staffer. He knew that his death was imminent but still tried to beg for mercy with his unbroken arm held out an a shielding gesture. Storm Breeze wasn’t going to have any of that.
*RATATATATA*
*RATATATATA*
*RATATATATA*
Storm Breeze let out a barrage of plasma fire from the weapon, shredding the guard’s already bruised head. Shot after shot, impact after impact, the barrage of plasma fire was sustained only by Storm Breeze’s vengeful wrath. As he fired, his facial expression slowly changed from neutral and empty to fiery hot anger. There was nothing stopping him now as eventually the rifle had pulpified the head and began hitting nothing but the floor under the mess. Then, the weapon had overheat and in a burst of fury, Storm Breeze charged the corpse to brutalize it some more, only to be stopped by the firm hand of the stallion he saved.
“Hey, he’s already dead!” The stallion alerted Storm Breeze. “Snap out of it and come to your senses!”
Still reeling from his burst of rage, Storm Breeze calmed down enough to see reason. Turning to the stallion, he wiped the blood from his face and brandished his rifle.
“Thank you, whoever you are.” Storm Breeze slightly deadpanned. “They would've put me against the wall if it wasn't for your timing.”
“The name’s Arbor Shield and I’m glad we’re able to save you.” Arbor Shield introduces himself.
“What are you in here for anyway?” Arbor’s question had triggered another flashback to that day where Storm Breeze’s life took a turn for the worse, the incident that landed him where he is to begin with. Seeing the terrorized faces of his family made him shudder and gasp in pain, making Arbor Shield give a quizzed look.
“Framed... for a crime I didn’t commit.”
“Oh dear Celestia, another innocent imprisoned for Tirek’s amusement.”
“So, what are you and your friends doing here?”
“We’re here to set prisoners free and raid their armory for much needed supplies. We need to keep the spark of hope alive in times like this and this is how we’ll go about that. Seeing as how you took down that guard, we could use some extra muscle. Interested?”
It took Storm Breeze minutes to think about Arbor’s offer. Years ago, he lived an honest life running a bakery to provide for his wife and child. He did everything to avoid being dragged into the conflict. He then had another flashback of that incident, but the creaming wouldn’t stop, it just wouldn’t stop. Knowing that an opportunity for revenge is presented for him, Storm decided to agree to the offer with amused rage. They killed the ones he loved and jailed him under a false judgement. Now, they’ve created the very thing they accused him of; a monster wrought from their own hubris.
“I’m in.” Agreed Storm Breeze “But, I have one favor.”
“What will that be?” asked Arbor.
“We’ll discuss it when we get away from this place.”
“Agreed, we need to get to the control center and turn the security systems against them, free the prisoners and grab the weapons. It’s not that far from here. Just blast any guard you see."
‘Just blast any guard you see.’, vengeful yearning coursed through Storm Breeze’s mind from those words. All he did was let out a slight huff in satisfaction.
“Now… you have my attention.”
They started their way towards the prison’s control center, mowing down any guard that stood in their way. For brief moments, Storm Breeze felt his grieving wrath calming down, only to be refueled shortly after. Yet as he watched his liberators fight alongside him, a feeling… no, a sensation that he haven’t felt in a long time had come to return. He couldn’t put his finger on it yet he knew what it meant. Still, he remained the same emotionless shell of a stallion he was, tormented by his dreams and memories. Then, they arrived at the control center, mowing down the guards present in a storm of plasma.
“I want most of you on guard for any hostiles!” Arbor ordered as a majority of his entourage took up defensive positions. “Crosswire, Break into the security systems and be quick!”
“You got it, boss.” Said Crosswire, a teal unicorn mare.
“Why so hasty?” Storm Breeze inquired about his liberators urgency.
“We have 25 minutes to get as many prisoners and supplies out of here as we can before the imperial army comes and shut us down. We need to be out of here before then.”
“Damn, you ponies must’ve really been pissing off the empire.”
“Yeah, well that’s an understatement.” Just as soon as he uttered those words, he heard a faint gasp coming from the interrogation room. Thinking it was another guard waiting in ambush, Arbor Shield drew his pistol and with a few deep breaths, gave the door a swift hoof, kicking it open. To his shock, he didn’t find a guard with hostile intentions but something else… something that filled his heart with appall and horror.
“Celestia forgive us!” gasped Arbor as he looked on at a sight that was familiar to Storm Breeze. It was a teenaged lime-green pegasus, the same one Storm Breeze saw being taken away three weeks ago. He was strapped to a chair by all his limbs, brutally tortured. One of his wings looked to have been cut off and all the feathers from the other were absent. Missing fingers, bruises and burns, he must’ve been slowly tortured until recently. He writhed about in his binds as he gasped and let out a pained moan.
“Help m-me! Th-Th-The pain… please… make it stop!” the stallion moaned as he looked to the two ponies before him. Arbor Shield covered his muzzle with his hand in unease while Storm Breeze, though not visibly, felt outrage and a modicum of sorrow.
“Please…. K-K-Kill me! Kill me, please! The pain… it hurts so much! Urrrrgghh!”
The coherent words from the pegasus visibly shocked Arbor Shield, seeing a pony being left that close at the brink of death. Such a display pained him during his time as the HRF’s leader. Many times, he saw ponies and others suffering at the hands of the empire. He thought he saw the worst of what they were capable of but what he saw before him was another level of cruelty, one he shuddered to imagine was possible. Feeling empathy, Arbor Shield closed his eyes as he trained his gun’s sights on the suffering colt, only to be stopped by Storm Breeze’s grip on his arm.
“No.” mumbled Storm Breeze. “You can’t do this.” Those words dumbfounded Arbor Shield as he tried to comprehend his new comrade’s statement.
“What?!” Arbor gasped. “Can’t you see that this stallion is suffering?! This is not what one should endure! His mind is too far gone for us to do any good. The best we could do for him is to put him out of his misery!” Stepping in front of his liberator, Storm Breeze lowered Arbor’s gun, taking its sights off the suffering prisoner.
“I’ll do it.”
“No. You’ve been through enough. But, why do you want to?” With a deep breath, Storm Breeze put his hand on Arbor’s shoulder and looks him in the eye with a serious expression.
“Arbor, you have heart. I saw how you looked when you found him. You already feel bad enough finding him in this state. If you kill him, it’ll be stuck to your conscious until your end and you’ll never be able to live with yourself. As for me, my heart was torn from me a long time ago in Neo Canterlot. I feel nothing about that pony yet I still feel sorry for him as well. Please, let me bear this burden for you. It’s the least I can do for your sake.”
Shaken by Storm Breeze’s monologue, Arbor Shield reluctantly considers his ally’s words and relents with a deep sigh. Taking a knife from a nearby dead guard, Storm Breeze approached the suffering colt, frightened as he reached out his hand to his face, as if he saw him before.
“There There, calm down. Ssshhhhh!” Storm Breeze quietly said as he relaxed the colt’s arm down, looking into his eyes. “I know that you know me. I saw you passing my cell several times before. I wonder what you did to wind up in a hell like this but what you went through… I’m so sorry.”
As he looked into his eyes, Storm Breeze noticed tears running down the colt’s face. He was frightened, in pain, and mentally suffering. It made Storm’s heart grow colder as he would be the last thing the poor pegasus would see before he met his end. He’d seen enough suffering and death to last a lifetime, more than what he could stomach. He gingerly put his hand on his cheek to calm him down.
“I can release you from this pain for good. I know you’re afraid but you have to relax, otherwise your last moments will be agonizing. Just relax and it’ll all be over. Focus on my eyes and not what I’m doing. Try not to think about it.”
After taking a long sigh, Storm Breeze tightened his grip on his knife and quickly thrusted the blade into the colt’s equine heart. The pony’s eyes shot wide open as he felt the sudden pain of steel cutting through his rapidly beating heart. He struggled and panicked for a bit before feeling weakness beginning to overtake him. After several more seconds of breathing, his eyelids closed halfway as his body became limp, lifeless, and cold. Death had come for a pony that was deprived of a chance at a future by soulless tyrants torturing him for fun.
After taking the knife out of the pegasus’s body, Storm Breeze took his fingers and gently closed the colt’s eyes before doing a finger sign in the form of the omega symbol.
“May the fairest winds guide you to elysium’s light, poor soul.” he said in a solemn tone.
For his whole life, Storm Breeze had held onto the faith his family practiced back in the days before the darkening of Equus. Even the most dire of circumstances, he held on to his faith in the elysian light, believing that Celestia watches over him from paradise. For the year that he lived in Greenvale Prison, his belief could only ease his mind by a bit before despair eventually won. His contemplation was soon interrupted by the shouting from one of Arbor’s ponies from the other room.
“We’ve got company!”
In a flash, Arbor Shield and Storm Breeze came back into the control room and saw a most troubling sight through the windows. A large detachment of guards had poured into the area, rifles ready and itching kill anypony that left the room they’re surrounding.
“Holy shit!” Arbor Shield mumbled as he ordered his troops to get ready to fight. At the corner of his vision, Storm Breeze noticed a guard setting his sights on an unaware Crosswire. Thinking fast, he pounced on Crosswire, saving her from an untimely death as a massive firefight erupts.
“While I do appreciate the gesture, I must focus on my work!” Crosswire said as she leaned her back against the bottom of the console, continuing to crunch code.
“Well, Don’t stop now! Ya hear?!” Storm Breeze peeked from cover and gunned down two encroaching guards. “How much longer until you get access?!”
“Three minutes tops! Just have to get past a few layers of encryption!”
The shootout went on with both sides swapping plasma fire, progressively causing damage to the nearby walls and windows. It was like a dance of bluish-green lights as bolts of high-powered energy flew at a rapid pace. Many of the guards were dropping dead at the impact of the heated plasma against their being. The only noticeable casualty on the HRF’s side was Fleethoof, an earth stallion that got too carried away when he was clipped in the head while in full battle fury.
“Almost there! Another thirty seconds and the turrets are mine!” Crosswire yelled out. She furiously typed away at her portable terminal like she was on an astronomical amount of coffee and hardly an hour of sleep. Storm Breeze looked on at her in amazement as she was in total focus, jabbing finger after finger upon the keyboard.
“Aaaaannndd, We have access!”
With the last keystroke, Crosswire had full access to the prison’s security system and the defense turrets were at her every whim. With a ceremonial push of a button, the turrets immediately started firing upon the guards, cutting most of them down while the rest fled with only a few wounds. The group had hit paydirt and they were about to complete the last bit of their plan. Crosswire had then deactivated the all cell doors throughout the prison as well as unlocking the armory. All throughout the halls, there was screaming and fighting between the prisoners and the remaining regular guards as all kinds of hell had broke loose. Prisoners of all creatures from across Equus ran through the halls, yelling in celebration of their long sought freedom.
“Okay, we need to get to the armory ASAP and take as much as we can possibly transport! Double time it, ponies!” Arbor Shield barked as he took Fleethoof’s tag and led the group to the armory, open and stocked full of weapons that would make anypony stare in awe. Immediately as they got there, Arbor Shield called in another group with his headset.
“Group Two, I need those buggies down near the armory ASAP. Start loading as many prisoners on them as you can.”
“Roger copy, Arbor. We'll swing by in just a few. Over.”
“What about the other prisoners, Arbor?” Storm Breeze asked in a worried tone.
“We can't get them all, but our commotion will allow them an opening to make a run for it. It's the least we could do for them.”
"Then, to the best of luck to them. They'll need tons of that."
"Quite the pessimist aren't ya, Storm Breeze."
"You don't know the half of it." The buggies had arrived at the gates near the armory, bringing boxes of weapons and other munitions into their cargo trays. Then, the vehicle crews started directing prisoners to the transport buggies, loading as many escapees before speeding off.
"We've got five minutes! Hurry and load whatever you can and let's book it!" With those commanding words, the HRF troopers started loading the last of what their cargo buggies could carry and boarded their vehicles. Noises echoed through the halls, angry voices from the guards were getting closer and closer. Storm Breeze boarded a buggy with Arbor and with the ready up signal, sped off into the plains of dead grass, slowly wilting away from the darkening of Equestria. As Storm Breeze kicked back and kept himself from his rescuers, he and their driver noticed a faint buzzing noise on approach, like an engine from a gunship.
"Shit! We've got retention drones on our flanks!" The drones came from the direction of the prison they just left behind. They aimed to prevent any rebels from escaping by any means, even lethal force. Those that were still alive were to be captured by them and brought back for questioning or execution, depending on how the prison staff felt.
"Arbor, does this ride have a turret?" Storm Breeze said to a worrying Arbor Shield.
"Yes?"
"Let me have at it." As Storm Breeze climbed into the gunner's seat, he saw the gun's light flicker on, ready for battle and the drones closing in at great speed. One he had control, Storm Breeze let loose a volley of plasma from the gun, swatting drone upon drone from the sky. One drone got close to a buggy, intending on disabling it with an EMP to make for an easier take down. Noticing this, Storm Breeze fly swatted the drone away with rounds from the gun.
"Thank you, Ursa One! You just saved my crew!"
Storm Breeze continued to shoot down more and more drones, keeping them away from the convoy. As he continued defending the convoy, he found himself becoming progressively lightheaded. To his knowledge, he didn't sustain any wounds of any kind. It was the year of horrible sleep and grief-induced hunger catching up to him. For as long as he could, he kept the drones at bay until they eventually retreat, giving his newfound friends and himself a sense of relief. While his friends talked and cheered, Storm Breeze rested his back against the wall of the vehicle, starting to grow weak, dizzy, and unconscious. As Arbor turned to him, he noticed something was wrong with Storm Breeze as the latter's vision faded to black.
"Hey Storm Breeze, you alright? You don't look good.
...
...
"Storm Breeze? Storm Breeze!"
...
...
...
"Well, how is he?"
"Apart from some noticeable starvation, he's severely exhausted. All he needs is a good amount of rest and he'll be alright."
"And get him some food. I much rather not have him keel over and starve."
"Okay, I'll have the chef make a meal for him when wakes."
"Good, and get him a comfortable bed and out of those prison rags."
"Yessir."
Storm Breeze woke up to a rocky room, still clad in his prison garb. The he laid upon was much more comfortable than the one he was accustomed to for the past year. The room looked to have been carved as part of a cave network. From what he could gather, it was probably the HRF's hideout. Looking towards the sink in his room, Storm Breeze slowly walked over looking himself in the mirror.
"Damn, I look messed up." Noting his dirty, thin face and scraggly beard, he splashed some water, washing the dirt off his gaunt visage. He took another look in the mirror with gunky water dripping down his mane and beard. After taking a deep sigh, his eyes suddenly grew wide as he saw a familiar sight... one that he was most familiar with.
"No... It can't be." Storm Breeze muttered as he turned to see his departed wife Rose staring at him with a neutral expression. "Rose?!" The sight of her caused him to tear up after thinking her dead for a year. He was filled with joy and heartbreak as he reached to hug her, only to be stopped by ]her outstretched palm.
"Traitor." What he heard had shocked him senseless. Storm Breeze's heart beat at the speed of the wonderbolts from ages past.
"What?!" gasped Storm Breeze as he retracted his arms.
"You let them kill me." With menacing growl, Rose slowly pointed her finger at her husband with her expression growing increasingly hostile. "You just sat there and watched us die!" Storm Breeze began to quake in fear, fear that the spirit of his dead wife had come back to haunt him.
"No! It isn't true! I tried but I couldn't! I-I-I mean... please understand, I tried my best, damn it!"
"Liar! You betrayed me, your loving wife!"
As he backed further and further towards the wall in response to his wife creeping towards him, Storm Breeze felt a presence behind him. As he turned to face it, he wasn't mentally nor emotionally prepared for what he saw.
"No!" What Storm Breeze saw froze him momentarily, his son, Sunshine, standing before him with a similar facial expression.
"Daddy! You let the bad ponies hurt me! Why did you let them kill me?!" Highly concentrated terror had fill every fiber of his being. Rendered speechless at the situation, all he could do was hastily retreat to an opposite corner of the room. Still, Rose and Sunshine lumbered towards him. As they approached, holes had developed on their heads, the same places that their fatal injuries had been. From those holes oozed the reddish-crimson liquid that is blood, dripping and flowing down their faces. They then reached their hands out to him as if they were to grab him while cursing his name and blaming him for their deaths.
"No! Please, NO! I tried everything! It's not my fault, I swear! No! NO! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Then, the room rapidly faded to black and Storm Breeze fell through with was and endless black void before roughly landing on an invisible flat ground. Getting his bearings, he got on his knees as his eyes beheld a sight that was always part of his memories. It was Rose and Sunshine in the same position from that fateful day a year ago. They screamed and called out for Storm Breeze but he was unable to move as if some force kept him tethered to the ground. One by one, Storm Breeze watched helplessly as they both were fell dead from loud banging noises, similar to what happened that day. He cried and cried in anguish as he was forced to relive the source of his mental trauma. As he stared down at the void below him, he looked up to see a familiar face, one that lit a blaze of anger, fear, and sadness with in him. It was the same officer responsible for murdering his wife and son standing in front of him with a neutral expression.
"You should've know that I never honor deals with terrorist scum like you. If you hadn't tried to strike a deal with me, they might've lived. But no, that mouth and weak will proved to be their undoing. You couldn't even save them yourself. Now look at you, you spend everyday wallowing in that memory and never knowing peace from your grief and torment. Utterly pathetic."
The officer pointed his gun at Storm Breeze's forehead and pulled back the hammer.
"Now... *Click* die like the animal you are."
"NOOOOOOOOOOO-"
*BANG*
"-AAAAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGHHH!" *Huff* *Huff* *Huff* *Huff*
Storm Breeze was woken from his nightmare by the sheer shock of what he saw. He looked around to see that the room was still the same one from his dream. As he took a quick breather, he felt his emotional barriers being torn asunder by sadness. Wanting to forget about his experience, he rested his head back on his pillow, sobbing into it as he drifted off to sleep, assaulted by grief.
