The Waning Moon War Book 1

Chapter 2 A Dark Force

While they entered the camp Silver levitated her canteen over to Storm and says “Here drink some more you need it.”

Storm stops and sits down as he grabs the canteen with his right hoof then takes a long swig. Then exhales loudly with a satisfied sigh.

“Thank you again.” He says as he recaps it and offers it back to Silver.

She takes it with her magic and slips the canteens strap over his head. Then says “No, hold on to it for now until we are finished at medical tent.”

While they continue their way to the medical tent Razor asks “So what exactly happened at the Castle of the Two Sisters?”

Storm sighs then says “Everything was going well until we put that rope bridge up and crossed that damn gorge. When we all got across to the other side we heard this ungodly cry come from within the castle.”

******

Sparkle Tail said as we all were looking at the castle “What in the name of Nighdramar was that?”

Diamond Star draws her sword and says “Stay on your guard we need the Elements of Harmony that are just inside of there to save our land from the Changelings.”

As they entered the castle they saw the elements sitting on a unique pedestal in the middle of the room. Diamond Star says “Strong Wing and Storm Runner get the element orbs. The rest of us will take up defensive positions around them, if any of you see any movement alert us and get ready to take it out. I don’t want to take any chances while we’re here.”

Before I could set my hooves on one, I thought I saw something move in the shadows of a pillar from the corner of my eye. I looked in that direction for only a second then I heard Strong Wing say “What the buck!”

I turned around just in time to watch in horror as a shadow like pony with solid yellow eyes standing on the element he was grabbing. Then it just severed Strong’s right wing off with its left leg as it stretched out and cut it off with no effort. While he was falling he flapped his other wing furiously to slow his fall but luckily Diamond Star and Sparkle Tale slowed his fall with their magic.”

*****

They began to approach a red eyed, white coated stallion, with a short light blue mane and tail. He is sitting behind a desk shuffling through some papers next to the entrance of the tent. Razor says “Hold your story for a second as I get us a room.” Razor walks up to the white nightmare saying “Hello Tiatis, we need to see a doctor. So which rooms are free?”

Tiatis looks up and around Razor “For everypony here?”

Razor replies “No, just Storm, Louts, and Silver but we`ll all be in there.”

Tiatis looks down at a book then says “Okay, so all of you can go to room five and Dr. Zafmir will be with you in a bit sir.”

Razor repeats “Room five. Thank you Tiatis.” He turns to the group “Okay everypony follow me.” They follow Razor to room five which was a large examination room. Storm takes a seat on examination table as the others sit on the ground. Razor asks “So what happened next?”

Storm takes a deep breath then continues “As he was falling I watched the damn thing melt flat against the round object and it slipped back into the shadows. So I pulled back from the pedestal and went up to see if I could locate it. While Sparkle Tail was trying to reattach Strong’s wing it reappeared at the entrance.” Storm closed his eyes and heaves a heavy sigh “Then things got worse when Diamond Star gave us the order to take it out. So Sunny Stone charged it with his magically enchanted war hammer. He got a solid hit on the top of its head and dropped it to the ground as lightning arced from the hammer in to the things head. As the thing collapsed to the ground Sunny raised his hammer high into the air as he stood on his hind legs to get more striking power but the thing quickly took his right rear leg out from under him. He fell backwards to the ground and it quickly stood over him preventing him from moving. So I quickly drew my spear and was about to charge at it when Diamond fired a beam of blinding white light at it. The thing took the hit and was shot just outside the door. Sunny quickly as he could grabbed his hammer and hobbled his way back to us. The thing got up almost as if nothing happened to it.”

*****

Its eyes locked on Diamond as it re-entered the room. Then she yelled at me. “Runner get the hay out of here and report back to Razor and Starrl. Tell them not to send any other ponies and what happened here.”

So I quickly started to ascend but the shadow-like pony moved like lightning up the decaying walls to cut me off. Before I knew what happened even with Diamonds assistance by giving me cover with her attacks the shadow pony launched its self at me from the top of a wall. Its two yellow eyes were closing fast so I tried to dodge to the right but it still caught my left side. Then I crashed into a pillar knocking myself senseless.

*****

“After that things get really fuzzy.” He says with a sigh as he hangs his head and closes his eyes. “I recall somepony helping me up and escorting me to the door. Then I think I heard Sunny say “That thing has Sparkle and Storm almost cornered.” Then there was a flash of white light from somewhere far away. Then...” He stops for a second as a few tears start running down his muzzle and the sound of him chocking on his next word fills the room. “The...Then I heard Sunny say “Sparkles is down! Get Wing out of there before it gets him too.”

“Then another blast of bright light filled the room from Diamonds horn as she yelled “EVERYPONY FULL RETREAT BACK ACROSS THE BRIDGE!” By then I started to get most of my senses back as I heard her say “Move it Sunny you’re coming to.” But he replied “No, you switched my hammers enchantment and plus I’ll just slow you down. I’ll slow it down so you all can escape.” Then she fired another beam of blinding light and pulled me up with her magic as she yelled “Move your flank Strong Wing!” Then the sound of a sword hitting the stone floor could be heard in the distance as Diamond said to Sunny “Thank you and it’s been an honor to serve with you.”

“As she helped me down the stairs I started to regain the rest of my senses by then. So I broke free from her and started moving for the bridge on my own. By the time we got there I looked back to see a flash of white light coming from Sunny`s hammer and Strong just clearing the last step. I shouted to Strong “You can make it!” Then there was a burst of a black light cutting Sunny in half across his chest.”

He pauses for a moment as he begins to shake and more tears flowing from his eyes “Th...Then like a black lightning bolt it ripped across to Str... Strong and attacked from under him. It only left his legs and a few pieces of his chest on the ground as it devoured him. His legs were...”He pauses to take a drink of water then continues “His legs were still moving on the ground. That’s when Diamond yelled at me to “Move now!” I started across the bridge as the rope and wood began to glow a light green.” His breathing becoming more erratic “When I got to the other side I quickly looked back to see Diamond levitating the last part of the bridge she was on. When she cleared the bridge we looked back as the bridge clattered against the cliff and saw the shadow creature was at the edge of the cliff watching us. We turned to start heading back to here then she shoved me forwards and tumbled across the ground. I looked back to see the thing standing almost on top of us. Then Diamond teleported us a few meters away putting herself between me and the monster. Then she said “You have your final order. I’ll keep it busy while you run for it.”

“So I got up and took a few steps deeper in to the forest and it looked right at me.” Tears now streaming down his muzzle and gasping for air as he tries not to cry. “I...I was frozen in place and Diamond yelled at it “HEY! OVER HERE YOU YELLOW EYED CREEP!” When it looked back at her she said “Now go!”

“So I ran.” He says as he begins to cry “I... I ran like a coward. The last thing I heard was her battle cry and then a few flashes of bright light lit the forest up like day time. Then I heard that...” He pauses to try and catch his breath “that bone chilling cry come from behind me and a scream...”Gagging on his last few words.

Razor Wing sighs as he gets up and walks over to Storm. Then wraps his wings around Storms whole body and hugs him tight with his front legs. While resting Storms head on his right shoulder he says “It`s okay son you did well especially against something like that. So to me you’re a hero.”

Still crying a little he mutters “Some hero I am. I lost my whole squad to that thing along with my sister.”

Razor pushes his son back and looks him in the eyes. A few tears run down his face as he says in a tone that sounds like he’s trying not to cry also “This may sound cold but Sparkle Tail joined your team willingly to replace your teams lost medic but I’m glad one of you came back. It will be hard for me and your mother to accept her fate. On the other hoof you getting here has saved the six other nightmares in this room from looking for your team and possibly meeting the same fate as your team. So, yes in my eyes you’re a hero.” He says as he wipes away some of Storms tears with his left wing. Then grabs a tissue box from nearby and sets it by his son. He turns to the others and says “Soon as were done here I need you all to drop your bags off at your tents and report back here to prep half the camp for departure tonight.”

Melody asks “So what’s the plan now? Sir.”

Razor replies “From the orders I’ve received last night when Captain Starrl got his message. We’re going to be massing at Nightofia for a final attack against the Changelings. They have been there for the last three months readying the place for battle.”

Lotus asks in confusion “Why there? We’ve been there before and found nothing of battle worth there.”

“Well the Generals say they found a way to defeat the Changelings there before they can destroy another country like ours but only from there they didn’t say much else.” He explains

Lotus asks “Okay, so when do the rest of us have to depart by?”

“Midnight tomorrow.” Replies Razor “We are waiting for a group that went far north in to the Crystal Mountains to get back. As for your stuff I’ll lead you all to the outpost tomorrow morning as I seal the portal up.”

Then a couple of voices come from behind the room’s entrance. “Have Dr. Apris deal with rooms six and nine. When I’m done here I’ll go to room twelve. Okay Tiatis?”

“Yes Doctor.” Replies Tiatis

As the sound of hooves start walking away the door flap opens revealing a unicorn wearing a White lab coat and glasses. The stallion has bright yellow eyes, a red coat, a short black mane and tail. He says while looking at a clipboard “Hello I’m Dr. Zafmir.” He lowers his clipboard “Not like you all don’t know that already right.”

“Hello Dr. Z.” Replies everypony but Razor.

“So let’s see what we got here.” He says as he starts looking Storm over.

After a few minutes they exit the room as Dr. Zafmir says as he looks back at Lotus and Silver “Now you two take it easy with the magic for today and you should be fine.” Then he looks over at Storm “As for you follow me we may have a way to fix your wing with an experimental procedure. We acquired from Canterlots experimental medical procedures. We’ll need to probably transport you back to Nighdramar to do it though.”

Storm replies excitedly “Really that sounds great I’ll be able to fly again.”

Razor says as he exits the room “Well this works in your favor then. We need you to get half of your teams together for departure tonight for Nightofia in Nighdramar. So make sure all of your patients are ready for departure tonight.”

Dr. Zafmir replies “I’ll let the others know right away. So how much time do we have?”

“I’m hoping to have half the camp departed by early this evening.” Replied Razor “Is that possible?”

“I’ll see what I can get started.” Says Dr. Zafmir then turns to Storm and motions for him to follow him.

The rest starts towards the tents entrance. As they exited the tent a group of six nightmares starts to approach them being led by a lime green coated stallion Pegasus with purple eyes, a short dull yellow mane and tail. He stops in front of Razor then says “Security team three reporting back from southwest barrier patrol.”

Razor replies “Hello Tracer, what do you have to report?”

As Lotus leads her team past them they over hear Tracer say “We meet up with the camps resupply wagons last night but they were under attack by bandits. We tried to save them but by the time they retreated they made off with most of are supply’s and most of the caravan guards were injured.”

Silver quickly looks back to see a black coated stallion unicorn, with emerald green eyes, along with his short messy red mane and tail. She could also see he was bleeding in a few spots and had some burns. As she walked around the tent still looking at the new arrivals she collided into Tairis and collapses to the ground. “Are you okay Silver?” he asks as he helps her up from the ground.

Blushing from the accident as she looks to the ground sheepishly she says “Uh...Ya I’m fine. Sorry about that it’s just that the black stallion with them looks familiar somehow.” As she tilts her head to the left to look behind her.

He looks behind her and says “He kind of looks like me a little.”

As they make their way through the rows of tents Silver thinks to herself. “Maybe I should talk to him now.” As she approaches her cohort’s tent she says “Tairis can I talk to you for a second please?”

“Sure I can for a bit.” He replies as the others go inside their tent. “So what do you want to talk about?”

“Well I was wondering if...” She says as she rubs her left rear leg nervously against her right rear leg. “If you would like to watch the moon rise with me tonight?” Soon as she finishes asking she feels herself blushing. She looks away nervously as she waits for his answer.

“Well I guess I could since after we...” He stops mid-sentence as Silver gives him a hug with her left front leg and nuzzling his right side of his head.

Before he could say another word Silver says “Thank you.” Her voice filling with excitement. She lets go quickly and starts prancing away as she says “See you in a bit.”

Tairis enters the tent to see the whole squad looking at him and smiling at him as he continued to his bed. Melody says as he approaches Tairis “Ohhh looks like Silver has her eyes on a special somepony.” As Melody gives Tairis a little bump by bumping there flanks together.

Tairis looks over at Melody with a slightly concerned look and says “No. Well I ...” as he begins to blush.

Violetta interrupts Tairis while putting her bag away on her bed “We all heard what she said and it sounded pretty clear to me.”

He looks over at Violetta “Were on the same team we can’t have a relationship.” He looks over at Louts for help. “Right?”

Lotus chuckles for a second then says “Well It’s advised that there are no relationships on a team.”

“I knew it.” He says at the others.

Then she continued “But our squad never did listen to most of the rules even when Celia was in charge of this group. So I’m fine if you two become a thing. As long as it doesn’t ever become a problem on our missions I’m cool with it and who knows it may help her little nightmare problem out. Anyways let’s move it.”

As the day pressed on Melody’s colours slowly returned to normal. By the time they finished packing up half of the camp the sun was starting to set as the first convoy started to set out. Silver started hurrying to her little encampment to prepare for Tairis’s arrival.

As Silver was preparing some hot water for tea when she heard a sound come from outside. Silver quickly draws a dagger from one of her holsters she was wearing and yelled “Who’s there!?”

“It’s just me.” Replies Tairis as he opens the tents flap and enters.

Silver resheaths her weapon then says “Sorry, old habit can’t be to careful when out here by myself.” she then sees that his spear was missing “Uh... where is your spear?” she asks as she turns her attention to the tea she was preparing.

“I left it behind tonight I didn’t think I would need it tonight.” He replies as he looks around the tent.

Silver turns her head to watch him as she thinks “That’s strange he always has his spear on hoof.” She looks back as the kettle starts to whistling. Then says as she turns around with two levitating cups of tea then says “The tea’s ready. Here’s your cup so let’s...”

Before she could finish he interrupts “Never did like tea so no thank you.”

Silver lowers the cups next to the kettle and says “Okay.” Soon as she lets the cups go she quickly pulls both of her daggers with her magic and threatens Tairis with them as she says “Where is Tairis you Changeling bastard?”

“Whoa easy Silver I’m right here.” He says as he takes a step forward.

Silver takes a step back bumping the table over and extinguishing the fire with the tea. Leaving the tent lit by only a lantern. She takes a swing with one of her daggers and as he stops advancing she says “Stay the buck back you can’t be the real one. He would never leave his weapon behind and he always drinks tea at least most of the time. So once again where is he you monster?” She readies to charge him.

He sighs and starts to chuckle “Well buck me. I should’ve captured him before coming here or at least gathered some info.” He takes a deep breath “Oh well.” says a female voice as she changes back to normal in a flash of green light.

Now standing before Silver was a Changeling with a helmet, neck armor, and what looked like light body armor. She quickly fires a green bolt from her horn at Silver. She quickly rises her daggers to deflect the bolt away to the ground. As Silvers eyes lock onto her opponent again she saw her in mid swing with a yellow glowing sword. As it struck her right front leg she lost all feeling to it. “Shit!” She thinks “This isn’t good.”

As the Changeling makes another swing at her Silver quickly raises a dagger to block it. Silver goes for the opening to kill the enemy but gets blocked by another sword her opponent pulls.

Then the tent lights up with green streaks above. The Changeling smiles evilly and says slyly “It’s over this camp is ours now.”

Silver uses the moment to slam the nearby lantern up side her head with magic. The Changeling stumbles back from the hot lantern. Silver charges her and slams both blades into the changeling. One dagger digs deep into the neck as the other one pierces her body armour both filling the tent with the sound of cracking shell. She rips the daggers out throwing green blood everywhere. As she cleaned her blades off a horn could be heard in the distance.

“Damn it I got to move it now.” She mutters as she hobbles around the tent getting her holster and saddlebag on. “I wonder how bad it is out there?”

Then the sound of buzzing wings starts closing in all around the tent as a male voice calls out. “Divana did you neutralize your target!?”

Silver sees four figures approach from above her tent thanks to the light show above. As she looks for a way out as they started to surround the tent. Then another female voice asks “What do we do now?”

“Keep the tent surrounded and I’ll see if there is anypony in there.” Ordered the male voice.

Silver thinks “Shit, what am I going to do.” She looks around and smiles to herself. “This may hurt but better than a four on one fight.” She thinks, as she quickly grabs the corpse to hide behind. Then uses her magic to produce a small black sphere in the middle of the tent. “Hope it’s not too strong.” she mutters “Just in case.” She casts a shield around her body and hunkers down.

As he opens the tent flap slowly to peer in the tent and sees the black orb pulses white he yells as he dives for the ground. “Hit the...” The black orb explodes with a deafening sound, a bright light, and with enough force to obliterate the tent to shreds and sending all the Changelings sprawling to the ground.

Silver disbands the shield and feels the remains of Divanas chest fall on her. She looks up at the mangled remains in disgust and then quickly runs up the small hill towards the encampment. When she reaches the top she is greeted with a dreadful site of almost the whole camp on fire and as the last of the changelings coming down stop.

She was about to charge in to the fray when a raspy female voice whispers. “Run, run before it’s too late.” Silver turns around in shock of the voice. Then she sees the changelings recovering from the blast.

“Shit, no time.” She thinks. “I’ll head for the hidden base in Everfree Forest. Hopefully my teammates can make it there.” She starts galloping towards the forests edge.

In moments she hears buzzing wings from behind her. As one yells. “Remember the Queen wants as many of them alive as possible.”

Silver watches as a few bolts of green energy explodes around her and the buzzing of their wings gradually getting louder. “Shit, I’ve got to move it.” She says in a panicked tone as she looks further ahead and smiles. She quickly charges her magic and releases two spells. As a cloud of smoke engulfs her body and expels in a large radius as she uses a teleporting spell to get near the forests edge. As she enters the thick brush another bolt strikes a tree near her head.

Once out of sight she stopped near a poisonous berry bush to rest for a bit. Then the voices of the changelings ring out. “Damn it hold on Therm I need you to go back to the encampment and get another few squads here to track this mare down.”

“Right away Quile.” Therm replies who sounded like a female.

As she flies away Quile says to the others. “As for the rest of you. I need you in the air to watch for any movement around us. The rest of us will go in by hoof and find that bucking nightmare.” As the air fills with more buzzing from the distance. “Ahh, good Therms is back now let’s find this mare.”

As the buzzing stops she hears Quile say. “I need you seven in the air now. The rest of you spread out and stay alert we can’t let any of them escape.”

As the buzzing grows louder around Silver as she thinks. “Shit, I can’t take the chance to move and get seen now. I’ll just have to blend in with the surroundings.” As she uses her magic to look like the bush she was hiding beside multiple Changelings fly over her.

The air continues to hum with their wings, snapping of twigs, and rustling of bushes. Silver remains motionless as the sounds get closer. As a green glow starts to light up her area. Then only a few feet away stops a very large and muscular Changeling wearing heavy armor. As it looks in her direction she slows her breathing and watches its glowing whites of its eyes looking around as if cutting through the darkness. When it turns away and starts walking towards the others. Silver sighs in relief and thinks “Thank Mara it didn’t see me.”

As she slowly turns her head to look behind her she catches a whiff of a bad odor. As a wooden paw comes crashing down inches from her head. Silver holds her breath and her eyes widen as fear overwhelms her body. Then the wolf`s green glowing eyes and head comes into view. The stench from its breathing starts to make Silvers eyes begin to burn and water. She thinks “If that wolf doesn’t leave soon. I’ll be his next meal.”

Then like lightning it took off towards the Changelings. As Silver gasps for air, she losses focus on her illusion and the illusion explodes in to a shimmering cloud of dust. Not wanting to stay there any longer she quickly starts heading for the hideout as a voice cries out from above. “TIMBER WOLVES!” Followed by multiple green explosions of light and multiple other howls from the woods.

Silver quickly looks back to see a Changeling in the jaws of a Timber wolf and fighting for its very life. She looks back forward thinking “Better them than me.” As she sneaks away from the battle zone she mutters “I can only hope my teammates make it out of that hell storm.”