Fractured Darkness

Fractured Darkness
Chapter 18: Add The Gas

By: Major Frostwing

Jon stood before his map Celestia standing on his right and with Flare on his left. He glared at the dots of places that were hit along with the times placed next to each dot. "All of them were hit at sun up. One of the two times you are at your absolute strongest Tia. The second being at mid day." He pointed out before pointing at the most recent attack at Van Hoover. "This was the last attack and when our squads finally arrived It was already mid morning." Jon tapped his chin as the gears began to turn. "Why were they still attacking the city when they can just burn it. What value is there in Van Hoover?" He asked before it hit him. "Tia? Is there still the guard training station in Van Hoover?" He asked as Celestia thought it over.

"Yes there is along with th-" Celestia didn't get to finish when Jon clapped his hands together.

"The Armory of The Stalwart Unicorn." Jon let out a whistle. "The biggest armory next to the Canterlot R&D Armory. They just needed to shove the guard back enough to just sneak in and steal everything." Jon's eyes flicked to Flare as she nodded pulling up a stone whispering into it. "But there is something else. Again why didn't they just torch the entire city except for the armory and just waltz right in?" Jon glared at the map before it hit him like a freight train. "Tia how many ponies did they try to force Daybreaker in?"

"There were so many Jon I didn't count them... I didn't want to count them." Celestia answered and Jon cracked a smile.

"They were desperate. They took the first pony that could merge and stopped trying afterwards. It's not a perfect match. It's not you. Daybreaker has a strong connection to the sun but they only attack at sun rise. That's the only time Daybreaker has enough strength to launch such destructive magic. After that window closes She doesn't have enough power to keep up the assault. If they tried to attack at mid day they would have enough time to see their army and also see their weakness. Attack at morning as an opening salvo and the towns are to scared to retaliate with any force for fear of getting scorched." Jon looked to Celestia as she just stared at him in shock before she looked at the map and all the pieces clicked into place.

"Oh my god." Celestia breathed out. "Jon how did you get all of that just by looking at the map?" She asked as Jon shrugged.

"Simple. The evidence all points to that outcome. and now my soldiers know that they can relax at night and be the most alert at sun up. That will give them information they can use to their best effect and that's what I need them to be. Effective." Jon turned away from the map making his way to his office. "I need to focus. Celestia would you like to train with me magically? I need a little more control over all this raw magic and you are the best bet for helping control all the heat." Celestia was quick to follow Jon knowing Jon would not ask for help unless it was absolutely necessary.

When Luna finally arrived to Jon's secret training facility the temperature of the base was scorching as both Jon and Celestia sat in the training grounds meditating silently. Fire surrounded both of them rising and falling with their breathing. It was mesmerizing to see the flames dancing gently in the still air of the underground base. Luna had cast a simple cooling spell so she could handle the heat so far. "You feel the core of your magic?" Celestia asked in a near whisper.

"I do." Jon whispered back his eyes still shut.

"Do not grab it with force just cradle it like you would a new born." The fire surrounding Jon flickered briefly before it began to rise. "Feed it slowly and allow it to grow." Jon took a deep breath before letting it out the flames rose steadily higher until he was obscured. "Do not let your emotion touch it. Just embrace it." The flames flickered again this time more violently before it settled shifting colors from a vibrant arrangement of reds, yellows, and oranges to a bright white. The temperature continued to rise beginning to overpower Luna's cooling spell. "Now give it direction." Jon did just that as the flames began to converge at their tips and a deafening roar began to emit around Jon as the flames began to take on the appearance of a giant torch of pure white flames. The ceiling above them began to glow orange from the heat. "Now bring it back." Celestia whispered and slowly the flames returned to normal and slowly revert to the original form.

"And that is just the beginning of control over your Standard magic." Celestia said as they both opened their eyes to see a sweating and rather annoyed Luna. "Oh hello sister." Celestia said as Luna let out a growl of annoyance.

"And what in the name of the Gods are you two doing?" Luna demanded as Jon only raised an eyebrow.

"Magical control training." Jon answered rather bluntly. "With Flare's element being fire I needed Celestia to help me get control over the pure heat."

"Well we have grave news Jon." Luna said as I got to my feet magicking a towel over to Celestia and myself. I wiped my face of the sweat that had accumulated there.

"It can't be as bad as you think if my army has yet to report it." I said making my way towards my office.

"Princess Star Gazer has been kidnapped." Luna said and in that instant my blood turned into ice as I stopped mid step. I slowly turned around looking at Luna my face completely masked of the shock running through my psyche. "Your daughter was kidnapped earlier today." I could feel my blood heat back up before it began to boil as my magic began to pour off of me as several images of Bright's death flash in my mind.

"Who did it?" I asked the room heating up as I ignited in my corrupted state. "Who dares to attack my family?" I asked walking toward Luna. "Who would dare stoke my wrath?" The ground around me began to melt as I stepped closer.

"We have grounds to think that the ones who have been attacking us would do this." Luna said not flinching away from me but I could see her sweating.

"Luna the next words I say better be followed." I stopped nose to muzzle with her glaring into her eyes. "Find her kidnappers. When you do tell me. I want them alive." I could see the shock in her eyes at me wanting them alive but I had questions and they would have answers. "Go." I ordered as Luna face shifted into a scowl.

"I am not one of your soldiers Jon. I am a crowned princess and your frie-" My hand seized her face.

"At this moment Luna I would not care if you were God. My daughter has been kidnapped by the same people that are trying to destroy Equestria. I already lost a Son because of my negligence. I will not lose another child. So when I tell you to do something. I EXPECT IT TO BE UNDERSTOOD AND FOLLOWED! AM I FUCKING CLEAR PRINCESS!?" I roared in her face as my magic flared bright. I shoved Luna back making my way towards the map in my office. "I will be in my office." With a wave of my hand my magic exploded incinerating the buildings around me. I was made and consumed with the hate for the ones who dared touch my daughter.