Fractured Darkness

Fractured Darkness
Chapter 10: Information Gathering

By: Major Frostwing

"WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED!?" I demanded angrily as I stared down at Royal Blue. He was standing before me a crisp salute since he walked into my office. "I sent them to get a report from you about what was happening around Canterlot. Instead Mythril and her team return with you and Mythril herself is in critical condition. Her team is suffering from their own injuries from what I can gleam is explosives." I was furious at how everything went south so fast. "REPORT!" I demanded as Royal flinched.

"Sir. My cover was burned by my own head butler. Mythril and her team assisted me in my rescue. Right as we were about to retreat Canterlot Castle was attacked by terrorists. We followed you original standing orders that the Princess' safety is Priority One. We split the squad to protect the princess'. Mythril and Myself went to secure Princess Celestia but that was their main objective. We failed to stop them." I turned away from Royal thinking over the information that was given to me. "There is something else sir. The one who put Mythril in her current condition... He has a Dead Zone Sword." I quickly rounded on Royal seizing him by his chest plate before lifting him high into the air.

"For your sake Royal. You better not be lying to me." I threatened as he remained calm.

"Sir. I remember that blade cutting through not only Mythril's shields but also cutting through our armor like it was made of butter." I stared into his eyes before dropping him.

"Send the full recall. I want every one of my soldiers here. NOW!" I barked out as Royal saluted leaving my office. I continued to stand in my office before trowing the strongest shield I could conjure on the walls. "Moon. I am not to be disturbed until my army is all here." I said as Moon manifested nodding to me before teleporting out of the room to stand guard. I just stood in the center of the room before my rage finally got the best of me. I didn't stop it. I needed to just let it out or something worse would happen. I took a deep breath before letting it out slowly. The room began to darken all of it's light being devoured by my magic. I just let it go. The room continued to darken until all of the light vanished completely. I let out a roar of frustration as the room it self exploded being torn asunder by my raw magic. I just continued to yell out before I wrapped my arms around myself. "TIER THREE! BOOM!" I felt my magic detonate ballooning my shield to it's straining point. After I just expelled my magic I felt my body repair the damage. I stood in the crater taking deep breaths to calm the smoldering embers of my rage. Now I could just sit down and think.

"Celestia was their target... The other Princesses were attacked but were not kidnapped like she was." I closed my eyes trying to think of the reason why she specifically was targeted. The answer hit me like a train. "Day Breaker. But what could be the point in making Celestia become Day Breaker?" I asked myself trying to wrap my head around the point of it all. "So many unknowns."

"Jon. They are here." Moon told me. I could only sigh as I got to my feet. A single flick of the wrist and my shield vanished revealing me to my entire army.

"Scrying Team. I want you to begin construction on the circle. I want Celestia found now. The rest of you are going through a more rigorous training to combat this new threat." I ordered to receive a chorus of "Sir, yes Sir!".

My army moved quickly with the scrying teams moving off to a secluded section of the cave to begin their work while I began the new training to combat DZ weaponry.

After a few short weeks my entire army was outfitted with new armor and weaponry to counter the DZ weapons. Their guns were modified to no longer fire just Spell bullet but were now able to fire tungsten core bullets. With new solid rounds DZ weapons will be rendered useless. If their armor can nullify the effects of spell bullets let's see how it handles burning hot metal. Mythril has also awoken from her small coma and was adamant about getting revenge on the swordsman that beat her. I had to be careful with how I cultivated that rage. If done incorrectly she will fall to a nightmare all her own. If done right she will have full control.

"Are you ready Mythril?" I asked her as I stood in my surgery room. "This will be one hell of a surgery."

"Do it sir. I am ready." I saw that conviction in her eyes but that darkness remained as well. I could only sigh as I set the mask over her face.

"Deep breaths Mythril. This will be hell for both of us. Moon, Prepare the prosthetic." Moon nodded as she presented me the new arm. It was a piece of Eclipsium that I had the boys in R&D help me create. A combination of Lunar Steel and Solar Titanium. The metal was perfect for what was needed here. The metal could absorb magic to make it's self stronger and more deadly according to the wielder's will. It also had the added benefit of not requiring magic to be as strong as it is. I will have to forge Umbra with this metal to give him an upgrade. But I had this made specifically for Mythril.

I looked to Mythril to see she had passed out and was in a deep sleep. I went to work quickly to prepare her stump. This was dangerous since Eclipsium could reject her body or worse her magic will be dragged right into the metal. But she wanted revenge. If I denied her she would only hate me but I will give her that chance. If she falls... It will be by my hand if she gets up or stays down.

The entire surgery went smoothly enough but I was still worried about the entire situation. Everything was fucked. Celestia was kidnapped and the populace was scared of some unknown threat that now loomed at their very doorstep. I couldn't return to Equestria without a damn good reason. This was grounds for my return but the council will have my soldiers put to death and I would be back at square one. I couldn't help but run a hand through my hair sighing in frustration. Everything was fucked beyond repair.

"Sir we have received a letter from Princess Luna." Royal said as he walked into the waiting room. I held out my hand as the message was transferred to me.

"You may leave Royal. Run everyone through the drills again." I ordered as I opened the letter. Royal gave a crisp salute as he left.

"Dear Jon,

No news yet about the ones who attacked Canterlot. Celestia is still MIA and we are trying to tell the populace that she was injured in the attack and is simply recovering. The story will not last long. I know you are looking for her. Please find my sister.

Signed,

Princess Luna.

P.S. Send my thanks to your soldiers who aided in the counter attack against the filth."

I crushed the letter in my hand resting my forehead on my fists. I couldn't just scour the entirety of the planet. I could only wait for the scrying squad to find her. My hands were tied on this. "Fuck." I muttered getting to my feet. The most I could do was assist the squad with their scrying. I will not rest until she is found. And it starts with breaking a traitor down. "ECHO!" I yelled as the Pegasus flew before me giving me a salute.

"Sir." She said in her standard quiet voice.

"We are going to be interrogating Royal's head butler. I want every dirty little secret and plan that is in his head. I care not for the method." Echo cracked a smile before nodding her head.

"With pleasure sir." Echo followed behind me as we made our way to the prison cells.

"Go in first Echo. Scare him but don't kill him." I ordered as Echo drew her knife making her way into the brightly lit cell.

"DO YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE FUCKING WITH!? WE WILL FIND YOU AND BURN YOUR ENTIRE ARMY TO ASH!" I stood outside the door listening to the traitor waste his breath with a smile on my face. If there was one person who understood interrogation tactics and getting a sick kick out of it. It was Echo. "I WILL TELL YOU NOTHING YOU BITCH NO-" I heard the tell tale sound of Echo engaging her armor. I heard the ringing of metal through the room and a body impacting the ground.

"You will tell us everything we want to know." I heard a scream and the sound of something scraping against something rather painful sounding. "At least make it fun for me." I continued to wait as the screams continued before I calmly entered the room to a neat pile of extracted teeth.

"So you are White Glove... More of a red glove now if you ask me." I pointed out as Echo pulled her knife away from his bleeding mouth. "You willing to talk or shall I put your teeth back. Heal you. And let Echo here do it again in a different fashion?" I asked as White Glove glared at me before spitting a spattering of blood at me. I calmly took a deep breath before moving his teeth back into his mouth and healing his injuries. I then calmly wound my foot back before introducing my armored boot to his teeth. He flew across the room impacting the wall. "Start removing his fingers. Keep going until you think he can't continue. We will put him back together as many times as it takes. He will talk. Or I will rip the thoughts from his mind. But we might as well have some fun before he breaks." I ordered Echo as she gave me a large smile.

"Of course sir. I always wanted to test a new method I discovered. Maybe you could give me some pointers on my technique." I smiled patting Echo on the head.

"Of course my little interrogator. Now let us begin." We casually walked over to White Glove's downed form as the screaming began once again.