It's been 2 days since we last saw our hero's start their journey to Thorngarde, and in that time, they have been attacked by bandits, it did not go well for the bandits. Magic Circle and Incantation learned to channel their spells through their magic items. Ivy had become friends with a pack of wolves that tried to attack the wagon, and Serrata learned that she was able to control five golems at once and she was able to instantly grow three dozen trees from nothing.

But their time on the road was coming to an end as the sight of a large stone wall came into view. Fancy announced to the group of their arrival. "Everyone we have arrived at Thorngarde, the center of trade in the region, home of many hot springs, and sister city of the capital city, Dawnhollow." Said, Fancy.

Flame looked at a large green banner with an insignia of a red rose hanging off the side of the wall. "This place looks impressive." Said Flame.

"It is, when I was still in the guard, I often visited Thorngarde to rest my tired muscles in one of the town's natural hot springs. It didn't hurt that this place was known for its inns with hot spring-centered spa's and their well-trained masseuse." Sighed Fancy Pants.

"Fancy do I have to fulfill Randolph's promise? I don't want to have to turn around and give your head to him for the fireplace so soon after we arrived." Asked Flame.

Fancy laughed. "No of course not. Before I met Fleur, I never indulged in what your thinking. I did enjoy a nice massage every once in a while, but I am still faithful".

"Good." Flame then turned to the bubbly Naga, "Confetti, I need to talk to you."

In an instant Confetti popped up hanging above Flame from the top of the wagon, "Reporting for duty sir." Saluted Confetti as she laughed.

"Confetti, we are nearing Thorngarde, but there is a problem, we don't know where to find the rebellion or who is in charge, so when we get into town, I need you to go around and gather information, head to the bars and inn's in the town and do what you do best. I want a Confetti party caves worth of info by tonight. Can you do that?"

Confetti laughed. "Flame, I had your entire file updated in the first three minutes of seeing you when you landed. A whole network of secretive rebels, who don't want their identities to be known by anyone, not in the fold, should only take me a few hours at most." Smiled Confetti as she disappeared.

Fancy watched the conversation and became nervous as he looked at Flame. "Is she serious? There is no way she can gather all that information in such a short time." Questioned Fancy.

Flame cocked an eyebrow. "Confetti can I see Fancy's file."

"Do you want the real world or this world?"

"This world."

Confetti pulled the file from her mane and handed it to Flame. "Here you go, but I need it back for the 'Yay we won party' I'm going to throw."

Flame opened the file and started to read it out loud.

"Full name: Lord Fancy Crown Pants of Ravengrove.
Likes: his wife, chocolate cake with strawberry frosting, fine wine, bubble baths, streamers.
Dislikes: balloons, mainly yellow, the color black, dancing because he can't, pompous nobles.
At his bachelor party, his at the time fiancé popped out of the cake and proceeded to give him a lap dance.
He fantasized about the Queen when he was in the guard.
Hates his older brother, loves his little sister.
When he was younger he saw his parents making said, little sister."

Said Flame. "Need I go on?" Asked Flame who was internally laughing at the sight of Fancy's shocked and embarrassed face.

"NO!" Yelled Fancy as he looked embarrassed. Fancy calmed down and looked at the naga sitting in the back of the wagon and shivered. "She scares me, is that normal?"

"It wouldn't be if you weren't, but you get used to it rather quickly." shrugged Flame. Flame looked at the city wall and smiled as he slowed the wagon and approached the city gate. Flame completely stopped the wagon as he pulled up to one of the city guards, who looked confused at the group of 'colorful' adventurers.

"Halt, welcome to Thorngarde. State your business." ordered the guard.

"My name is Sentinel Flame, this is Lord Fancy Pants of Ravengrove. He is here to discuss business with an old friend of his, I am his bodyguard along with my group of mercenaries in the back of the wagon. We will not be more than two days. So if you wouldn't mind letting us pass."

The guard cocked an eyebrow and began to search the wagon. Once the wagon was deemed safe, the guard moved to the side and allowed the group to pass.

Once the wagon was inside of the wall Fancy looked to Flame. "Flame why did you lie to the guard?"

"Simple, I didn't want to just state 'Hey we're looking for the rebel group bent on overthrowing Sekto.', two things would have happened, we would scare off the rebels if they thought we were looking for them to end the rebellion, or we would be public enemy number one with Sekto's troops breathing down our necks."

Fancy thought about what Flame said and nodded in agreement. "Your right, it would be best for us to find the rebels, instead of them finding us."

"Exactly." Flame nodded, then looked at Confetti who was hopping in excitement, he nodded to the Naga telling her it went time. Confetti then slithered off in a cloud of dust, Flame looked at the group of confused adventurers. "I asked her to gather information on the rebel group we are looking for, and who better than the mare with a party cave full of our darkest secrets." The all Ohed at hearing the logic of the plan. Even though using the words logic and Confetti in the same sentence goes against everything logical.

"Gather round," ordered Flame. The group of adventurers minus the Naga gathered around Flame to discuss the plan. "Ok here's what I got, since Confetti is doing her thing, and we are stocked up on supplies, we should head to an inn and wait for her to get back, tomorrow we find the rebels HQ and join up any objections?" Asked Flame.

Everyone shook their heads.

"Good." Said Flame as the group broke the huddle.

Flame and the group were walking down one of the many roads of Thorngarde, they arrived at an inn called 'The Boneless Inn' that had a sign designed to look like a chicken, and they decided to make this the meeting point. The group walked into the inn and were greeted by the huge smile of a brown curly mane yellow stallion. "Greetings and welcome to The Boneless Inn, named after my good friend Boneless." Said the innkeeper moving to the side to reveal a framed picture of a rubber chicken. "He was a great guy, sadly he was lost to the wind after I lost him years ago." Said the innkeeper who wiped away a tear in remembrance of his friend. "But anywho, my name is Cheese Sandwich, I am the owner and operator of the Boneless inn along with side my wife, Cherry Jubilee." Just then a mare walked into the room and smiled at her husband.

Cherry Jubilee, a cream-colored mare with pistachio eyes and a beauty mark on her cheek. Her mane is two tones of cherry red that have been done up into a puff, she had a pink ascot tied in the front of her chest and in her mane had a hairband with cherries on it. She smiled at the stallion, walked over to him, and kissed him on the cheek. "Hey dear, do we got some customers?"

"That we do my little cherry pie, I was just introducing my self to this lovely group of adventurers."

"Oh." Said Cherry who looked sheepish for interrupting the group. "Sorry, but if you need me I will be in the kitchen getting the dinners ready for our guest." Said Cherry as she walked away from the group.

Flame smiled and leaned to Cheese. "She seems nice."

Cheese smiled back. "She is my life." Cheese then blushed at his comment and started to cough in embarrassment. "So are you and your party looking for a place to stay?"

"We are, we need a few rooms, do you have any available, we will need them for two nights."

"We do, we have three rooms available, each room has four beds, so you will need all three rooms, two for the mares and one for the stallions. Three rooms for two nights will be 64 marks, will you need any meals?" Asked the innkeeper.

"No we're good, we have plenty of food for us to eat." Said Flame as he handed the stallion a small bag full of marks.

"Very well, Is there going to be anyone else joining you later on?"

"There is a Naga named Confetti, she is pink with a pink mane. She will be joining us later on."

"Very good, the room for the stallions is the first door on the right on the second floor, and the two rooms for the mares are the two doors on the left wall on the second floor." Said Cheese Sandwich as he handed Flame the key for the stallions room, and handing Serrata and Magic circle the two keys for their rooms.

"Thank you." Said Flame as the group walked up to their rooms and waited for Confetti to return.

Unbeknownst to the group Cherry Jubilee returned to the main room and looked to cheese. "God never says that to me again, I almost gagged and if you ever call me your cherry pie again I will break your leg." Said Cheery annoyed.

"Yeah, I almost lost my shit when you kissed my cheek, I'm surprised it didn't burn a hole in my face." Commented Cheese.

Cherry sighed. "Why did commander Spitfire task us to play a happily married couple that runs an inn?"

"She wants us to keep an eye on any newcomers to town, and see if they are good candidates for the cause, or if we should eliminate them before they become a problem." Stated Cheese.

"It was a rhetorical question, Cheese. But didn't that dragon say his name was Sentinel Flame?"

"Yeah he did, you think it is the same Sentinel Flame who just saved the town of Ravengrove a few days ago, and didn't that stallion next to him look an awful lot like Lord Fancy Pants?"

"Yeah, it did, but why would he come to Thorngarde?"

"No idea, but let's inform Spitfire of this development." Said Cheese

Cherry nodded as Cheese lifted a hidden trap door that was hidden behind the counter, when he opened the door there was a stairwell that led into a dark cave, the two walked down the stairs, closing the door behind them.

A few hours later Confetti slithered into the Boneless Inn and was greeted by the back in character Cheese and Cherry. "Hello and welcome to the Boneless Inn, my name is Cheese Sandwich, and this lovely mare next to me is my wife Cherry Jubilee, by any chance are you Miss Confetti?"

Confetti giggled. "That's me, so I'm guessing that my friends are here."

"That they are, the rest of the mares are in the two rooms on the left and the stallions are in the first room on the right. They have been expecting you."

"Thank you." Said Confetti as she slithered up the stairs to report back to Flame.

Confetti opened the door to Flames's room and noticed that everyone was in the room talking to each other.

The room fell silent as the giggly Naga entered the room. Flame looked at the Naga. "Confetti let's hear what you found." Said Flame.

Confetti giggled. "Well, I'm positive that the rebellion is here in Thorngarde, their leader is named Spitfire and her location is unknown. The rebels are teamed in pairs and they normally consist of one mare and one stallion, who use the cover of a business to find potential candidates to join the cause or potential threats to eliminate them. I have a few locations of their operations but I was unable to get a hoof in the door, but one phrase kept popping up, 'Red, Bread, Chicken', which I believe to be the code names for a local part of the rebel teams. Do those words mean anything to you guys?" Asked Confetti.

Flame sighed and got up from his seat, confusing the rest of the group in the room. "Follow me, we need to have a word with our cheesy innkeeper and his cherry red wife, in front of their picture of the chicken." Said Flame as he figured out the true identity of their host. Half of the group figured it out and followed Flame out the door, but the less intelligent members stayed in the room still trying to figure out the answer. But they were lifted by Magic and Incantations magic and pulled along with the group.

Flame and company walked down the stairs and were greeted by the 'Loving couple' in a kind manner. "Greeting Master Flame, and company, what can we do for you?" Asked the 'loving wife' of the two.

Flame and company walked in silence until they were all in front of the two. Flame was the first to speak. "Cheese, Cherry, I have some sad news to tell you."

Faking shock Cheese and Cherry looked at each other. "Whatever is the problem?" asked Cheese.

"Red, Bread, Chicken." Said Flame as he pointed to Cherry, Cheese, and the photo of Boneless in order. "We want to see Spitfire."

The jig was up and they knew it, but Cherry and cheese were still unsure of whether the dragon in front of them was a spy for Sekto, but not taking the chance, Cherry pulled a dagger from the inside of her hair and Cheese pressed a button hidden behind the clerk counter, once it was pushed a hidden compartment opened up on the counter and out popped a small version of a party cannon.

Flame seeing the weapons sighed. "I'm guessing that's a no then?"

"No offense but, Sekto has tried to get spies into our group and that was a mistake that only happened once. If it's any consolation, Commander Spitfire was interested in meeting you and your friends, but it's our policy to kill anyone who finds out our identities." Said Cherry.

Flame sighed again covering up the fact that he equipped Char and her swarm into his crossbow. "Well sorry to break company policy, but I'm not taking no for an answer. We know she is in the town, we know a few other shops the rebellion is using as a front, and we know how to make an entrance. I'm telling you two this from the bottom of my heart, it would be safer to just show us where your HQ is, or the rebels will be down two agents." Said Flame pointing his crossbow at the couple and launched two bolamites at the pair, tying them up.

After the less than civil conversation was over Flame was looking at the two tied-up ponies and bent down to their level. "Listen, if your thinking were going to kill you, your wrong. If your thinking we are spies for Sekto, your wrong. And if you think I'm slightly pissed off, then your right. All we want to do is join the rebels and beat Sekto. So I'm going to give you two options, you two could either show us to Spitfire, nice and peaceful like, or I give Confetti free rein to get the information out of you, and I don't want to piss off Gummy, he terrifies me." Said Flame shivering in fear. "So what's it going to be?"

"DO YOUR WORST, WE WILL NEVER TELL." Yelled the two tied up ponies.

Flame sighed. "I warned you." Said Flame as he looked at Confetti, "Don't kill them, I don't want to start a new relationship on a bad note."

"On it, it shouldn't take me too long." Said Streamers as she looked evilly at the two.

The fear of what was to come was too strong for the cheesy stallion to bear, "Behind the counter is a trap door, there is a tunnel that will lead you to the HQ." Cried Cheese.

Cherry was shocked as she looked at the rat. "ARE YOU SERIOUS?" Yelled the mare in anger.

Flame sighed and ignored the two ponies arguing with each other, he walked to the back of the counter and opened the trap door.

Flame returned to the two arguing ponies and wrapped them up in his tail and started to carry them. Flame looked at his companions and pointed to the hole in the ground. "Come on let's get this over with."

They all nodded and walked down the stairs.

As Flame and company were walking through the tunnel, the only sound coming from the group were the two ponies wrapped up in Flame's tail arguing about how one spilled the beans. But the party just tuned them out as the tunnel started to widen and the sound of mare shouting orders started to overpower the sound of the two captives.

Flame and company walked into a large cavern, when they did Flame noticed that there were a couple of dozen ponies running around, some were carrying crates marked 'supplies', others were writing reports, and a few were sharpening their weapons, as a mare with yellow and orange colored mane was shouting orders. "... And make sure to bring them to me by tonight, having not only Sentinel Flame and his companions, but Lord Fancy Pants of Ravengrove would be a great asset to the cause. I want Agent Red, and Agent bread, to spike their food and bring them to me," yelled Spitfire.

Flame and Fancy cleared their throats to get the fiery mare's attention. It worked. "I hear you're looking for us." Said Flame as he moved the tied up ponies in front of his group. "Also I think these two belong to you." Said Flame as he dropped the two ponies on the ground.

The mare was shocked, to say the least as she looked at the captured ponies in the possession of the dragon and his companions. Spitfire sighed in annoyance and looked at the two captives. "Why are you two tied up, why are they here, and how did they find out?" Asked the mare.

"Allow me to answer, first off I was the one who tied them up, second, Confetti was able to get them to spill on the location of this place, and third, from what Confetti told us, your rebels are very chatty when they think nobody is listening." Said Flame.

Spitfire groaned as she looked at Flame. "Well, since you here, and apparently know what we are doing, are you interested in joining us?"

"That was the plan from the start." shrugged Flame.

"But first would you be so kind as to release my two agents?"

"Can I get my marks back now that we're part of the rebellion?"

"Sure." Shrugged Spitfire as Flame cut the two ponies free. Cheese then reached into his mane and pulled out the same bag of marks, handing it back to Flame who smiled.

"Thank you." Thanked Flame. He then looked at the head mare and gave her a questioning look. "What's the plan?"

Author's Note

Ok, next chapter I will be introducing some OC's, a big charater that has been a huge part of Spike's life and a very shocking reveal.