Fractured Darkness

Fractured Darkness
Chapter 12: The Sun Will Burn Out

By: Major Frostwing

-1 Year 6 Months After The Transfer-

The troops were trained to perfection. Jon would be proud of the army he had created with his own two hands. A simple motion and they would spring into action. They didn't even need to communicate verbally to understand each other. Entire days would go by without a single word being uttered between them. Damn near telepathic and possibly just that. Their magical training has been accelerated to the point that I could start teaching them about Dark Magic. But Jon stated quite clearly that no one was to learn the forbidden magic for any reason. The scrying squads had yet to find even a hair of Celestia's. It was frustrating how she just vanished off the face of the planet like that. What worries me the most is a little more close to home.

Not a single word from Jon since we transferred control. I can't even feel him in our mind but I know he is in there somewhere. The good thing is our magic is being supplemented with his relic of power. Without Jon being in full control there is no new magic being generated. I hope he finds who he is looking for but at the same time I wish he would give up. The "Thing" he is looking for is something he locked away so long ago and should stay there forever. "When will He finally let go of that dem-" As if a knife was driven through my heart something violent scraped against my magical senses. I turned completely around a shiver running up my spine. I knew that magic... I knew that magic all to well.

I was quick charging out of my office making my way straight for the scrying team. "REPORT! WHERE IS SHE!?" I demanded as they each looked to me with a horrified expression.

"Sir what was that just now?" Royal Blue asked as he ran up behind me.

"WHERE WAS THAT MAGICAL SIGNATURE!?" I demanded seizing one of the scrying team. They pointed at the map that was on the wall of their room. A single point was highlighted with a bright white light.

"Sir is that who I think it is?" Royal asked as I dropped the scryer turning towards Royal.

"Royal Blue. Gather a squad of Infiltrators. I want her picked up immediately and brought straight here. MOVE!" I ordered as he gave a crisp salute.

"LOOK ALIVE INFILTRATORS! WE GOT A SNATCH AND GRAB BE SILENT AND BE INVISIBLE! TELEPORT SPELLS ARE AUTHORIZED! KILL ANY RESISTANCE AND BRING THE TARGET STRAIGHT HERE! MOVE NOW!" Royal yelled out over the comms. "They will have her in a few hours sir. But I have to ask. Why here?"

"They had her for a year and six months. What were they doing for all that time? Jon would want answers and she has them." I moved past Royal making my way back to my office. "Put her in the infirmary when she gets here. Even if she is dead put her in there. Get me when she arrives."

I stood once again in my office pacing back and forth as I tried with all of my might to get Jon to answer me. I have sent several magical pings into our psyche and nothing. It's almost like he isn't there. It has been hours since The squad had been sent out to retrieve Celestia. I had all the faith in the world they would be successful in their endeavor but Jon's paranoia has rubbed off on me. I was losing it. Celestia's return and Jon's disappearance are not good signs. If Celestia was cast off then the enemy has got what they needed and she is of no more use. The fact they just threw her out shows that they have complete faith in being able to defeat all of the princesses and Jon. That is not good.

A knock comes to my door catching my attention. "Sir. The squad has returned." Blue said through the door as I quickly made my way to the exit.

"I want the squad that brought her in to meet me at the infirmary. I want their report." I ordered as I made a B line for the infirmary.

"At once sir." Blue said giving me a salute before running off.

I threw open the door to the infirmary to see a battered and bruised Celestia being tended to by the medical team. "How is she?" I asked as the squad never stopped working.

"She is stable but just barely. She has been run through the ringer sir. Not conscious just yet and her body seems to be struggling to heal her wounds." I looked down at Celestia and very old images flashed through my mind of our original fight. I shook my head slightly to dislodge those old memories.

"Her system needs a magical jump start. Feed her some magic and her body will begin the process." I told them as they scrambled to get everything prepared to do a magical transfer. I pulled up a chair to watch them work. I couldn't ask Celestia anything while she was unconscious. It only took a few minutes for my squad to arrive and give me a report.

According to them it was a simple snatch and dash. No resistance and no hide nor hair of enemy forces. These guys are either really confident or are insulting us. So much to go through and not a whole lot of time.

It took Nineteen hours before Celestia finally recovered enough magic to wake up. Every second counts now and she was spending it sleeping. I tore into the medical building making straight for Celestia's room. All of my medical personnel moved out of my way with purpose. The door to Celestia's room was thrown open by my magic before I even got there and when I finally entered my soldiers were quick to move out of the room. "Celestia. I would greet you properly but I have questions that need answered as fast as possible." Celestia let out a small sigh.

"Of course. But first I have to ask Moon. Where is Jon?" Celestia asked as I let out my own sigh grabbing a chair to sit down in.

"In a sense he is in our head. In another sense I do not know. I know he is in there somewhere but I can't feel him. Even worse the magic is running out. Me being in control is burning more magic than the Relic can produce." I told her honestly. No point in lying to allies.

"I see." Celestia said quietly looking down at her hands.

"What did they do to you Celestia?" I saw Celestia flinch slightly at my question but I can't be sympathetic. Not right now.

"They removed her. And put her in someone else. So many bodies." Celestia said with pain written all along her face. "So many attempts to just make her bond to a body. They succeeded. Daybreaker is no longer under my complete control. They want to attack all of Equestria and their numbers... Dear god their numbers. I thought it was just a small insurgent group but we were wrong oh so wrong. There are thousands of them." Celestia looked right at me and I could see that panic in her eyes. "Moon if you are running out of magic and Jon is MIA how is Equestria supposed to survive this attack? What could we possibly do?"

The thought mulled about in my mind before I came to the only solution. "We do what we have done for as long as Jon has been in our world. We Crush our enemy so thoroughly that they won't dare rise back up. And Jon has taken precautions to do just that." I said as I held my hand out to her. "Are you able to walk?" Celestia looked down at my hand before seizing it. She got to her feet a little wobbly but righted herself rather quickly.

"What precautions has Jon taken to fight this enemy? A super weapon?" Celestia asked as I walked with her towards the front doors.

"In a way. Remember The Burning Anvil?" I asked her as I stepped out of the building to each of the battalions standing at attention outside the building in full battle dress. "Allow me to introduce Jon's greatest weapon. The seven battalions simply known as 'Forge.'" The army as one saluted us.

"He actually did it..." Celestia whispered out as she looked at the army that stood before her. "But I only see a force of maybe three-hundred strong. Is this the entire army?" Celestia asked where I only scoffed.

"Three-hundred and fifty strong. And need I remind you that fifty of these soldiers took down two-hundred and fifty of your strongest. not to mention I have a majority of the races here under my flag. The biggest threat is what they are. View their magical signatures Celestia. See what truly makes them strong." Celestia looked to me before closing her eyes to look at my army's magic before she let out a gasp.

"What in god's name did you do?" She asked as she stared at them in horror.

"Jon did what was necessary to make them as deadly as possible. He evened the playing field." I stated calmly. "They want this fight. They have been trained in every form of combat. Mental training to make them incorruptible. Physical training to make them living weapons. Magical training to make them arch mages. They are the most trained and best honed soldiers on the planet. They will win even if the odds are against them." I gave a small motion of my hand and as one they all removed their helmets. "'115th The Burning Anvil.' '116th The Iron Wall.' '117th The Thunder Spear.' '118th The Obscuring Shroud.' '119th The Winding Scalpel.' '120th The Buried Shovel.' '121st The Unyielding Billows.' These are the battalions that make up 'Forge'. Normal creatures that come from every form of life. From farmers to criminals. Their resolve to protect and defend is as great as Jon's. Have faith Celestia. A war is inevitable but it is not lost."

"Do you think they can win?" Celestia asked as he looked at the faces of each of the soldiers.

"They will win or die trying. Now let's talk strategy. CAPTAINS! TO ME!" I bellowed as seven people walked out of the crowd to kneel before me. "We have much to discuss. Follow me." I turned on my heel making my way towards my office. "THE REST OF YOU CAN RELAX FOR THE DAY!" I yelled out as I began hearing light chatter start up behind me.