Author's Note

I'm keeping this chapter short cause I can. You can get introduced to Shadow and his friends. I guess in the next chapter I should introduce Illusion Night, Blitz Skylar, and Light Searcher.

Chapter II- The Twisted Sky

The cold wind mixed with the cold atmosphere, sending a shiver down Flurry's spine as she waited for Shining Armor to call a meeting. The battalion has been in the Winter Wastelands for two months and no action has occurred, Blue Belle got disappointed. Flurry gazed down at her hooves and closed her eyes tightly. Blue Belle stood only a few inches from her. Tail wrapped around her claws and head up, examining the terrains textures. In the distance, she saw a red, black, and pink sky with flecks of orange shades.

The scent of smoke, wood, and vegetable fresh soup filled her nostrils. Flurry's nose twitched as more cold air overlapped her coat. The light of the campfire made a light pool of light around the soldiers around it. She trotted towards them, feeling the heat of the fire warm her coat. "Everyone. Today's the day we all travel around the border of the rogues' territory."

Whisperers, cheers, and objections blurted from the crowd but Shining Armor ignored it. Ow hooted, "Is this gonna be safe?"

"No," Flash responded, coldly. His gaze carefully studied the soldiers, "This is going to be very treacherous. Now everyone, eat and get ready to leave." he ordered.

Flurry scanned the battalion, they all seemed ready to patrol; a few still needed to eat, including her. Her light teal blue eyes shone in the late moonlight. She sat down and adjusted the deep gray cloak that she wore that reached up to the back of her neck and down to her knees. She used a silver spoon and mixed the warm soup, letting it cool down a bit. After that, she picked it up and carefully sipped the warm liquid as the heat waves coming from the soup levitated upwards, blurring her vision a bit.

She placed it down and sighed. A tall male Griffin with a narrowed his eyes at the fire standing in front of her, he grabbed a bucket of water and poured it onto the campfire. And once again, the air was cold but not less whispy. "Princess, Its time to get all the supplies that you need," he said, his blue eyes staring at her coldly. His black and gray feathers showed no detail and it didn't shine in the moonlight as he spoke. "Go get everything, we will be waiting."

"Very well," Flurry replied, dipping her head respectfully and getting up. As she made her way towards the tent that she shared with Blue Belle, Bloom, and Sundown, she watched every brave soul pad in and out if the tents. They loaded all the food, weapons, and medic supplies into a small cart that Big Mac was gonna carry. Flurry Heart studied every silver and gold wepons that she had stored away in her wooden carved chest. One caught her attention, a nice slick bow, and arrow that stood out from the rest.

"Furry! Come on!" she heard Blue Belle's raspy voice call her name. She fixed up the strap of the quiver and attached it on her back. The princess cantered outside and she fixed herself up next to Blue Belle.

Blue Belle did not move a muscle, only her tail flicked side to side carefully making sure that she doesn't hit anyone with it. A hippogriff abled next to Flurry Heart, her eyes were overflowed with pride. The snow melted underneath her hooves as strong dejection struck her bones and muscles almost making her collapse. The anxious feeling overtook Flurry once Shining Amor lead the battalion through the deep snow.

The sky seemed to be ambushed by many dark clouds, the dark crimson rays of the scarlet sun pierced through the clouds then shone down at the snow that seemed to fade into gray with every step that the Battalion made. They suddenly stopped when they saw a large gorge blocking their path, Flurry gazed to the other side to see that it was completely dark.

Blue Belle took a step forward, her eyes scanning for any danger. "Blue Belle, do you see anything?" Shining Armor asked.

She shook her head. "Nothing here." she rasped, kicking a small stone angrily with her foreclaw. "Now let's go."

The Battalion made their way around the gorge carefully and hoping no rouges would come and tear their skin off.

"No! Sombra you must stop this now!" a light brown mare demanded, her muzzle twitched when she saw her leader's eyes grow dark .

Sombra glared at her as he sat up straight in his throne. "Ari! My only wish is to take back my empire and let my three children rule by my side. Not only that, all of you rouges will get what you always wanted."

Ari stood there silently before responding, "But please stop sending soldiers to kill and kidnap ponies. It's wrong. I beg you to-"

A loud snarl cut her off from behind. Midnight glared at the medic with full rage, " Shut it Ari!" she screamed at her, "You are just a dumb medic. All you do is heal us. That's all you do! Why don't you scurry down to your small cabin of yours and leave us alone!" she challenged her.

Ari did not respond, she only flicked her tail walked towards her cabin. She watched the small newborns play with each other happily by the nursery by her cabin. A small white and black wolf pup with one missing leg leaped towards her, her tail swishing back and forth. "Ari, do you know why many soldiers are going to the Crystal Empire?"

"Little one, I'd rather not say." she said, not wanting to tell her the truth. "Now go on with your mother. I'll escort you." she began to gently nudge the small scrap towards the nursery towards a battle-scarred she-wolf. Her pair of dark yellow eyes glared at the wolf. "Black Ice, here is daughter."

"Daughter? That helpless scarp of fur is not mine anymore. She keeps wailing at night and she wont stop kicking my stomach!" she complained as she bared her teeth at the tiny wolf. Ari looked at her in horror, "It is time for her to move out of the nursery! I don't need her here anymore!" she finished, turning away from her daughter and muttering to herself.

The pup looked shocked, she tried to press herself against her but the large wolf snarled. "Mama" she whimpered as she tried to catch up to her.

"Scram!"

"As medic of Horex, she has to live here." Ari stood over the cold cub and yelled at the she-wolf, "She is not old enough. You cant just leave your only daughter."

Her nose cricked as the air grew cold. "I can do what I desire, Ari." she retorted as she disappeared into the shadows. With one last lick of her lips, she finished, "She no longer belongs to me."

Her yellow eyes were visible for a few seconds before they just faded into the darkness of the cave. The medic sighed, she knew she could not reason with Black Ice or she'll report her to Sombra. She needs a home. The small cave was silent only the fearful cries of the pup was all Ari could hear. "Don't worry." Ari reassured her, she took a step pack and hugged the wailing scrap. "Shh, you'll be fine."

The wolf pup hicced between wails, "I have no mom. What know? No one loves me!" she cried into Air's thick coat.

"That's not true. I love you like family, little one. Everyone I keep care of is like family." she told her as she nudged her out of the nursery and towards her cabin. Ari watched the pup limp around the room amazed, the warm air of the office made her happily sigh.

"Wow, this is where you live?" She exclaimed as she clumsily fell down. "Its neat."

Ari nodded, she sat down and watched the cub admire the medic supplies around her. The colorful bottles of healing dust, herbs, spices, and liquids hung from the thick selling. The tabletop was invaded by many leaves, roots, and bandages, the small she-pup could not take her eyes off of them. "You never told me your name yet, young one."

"Oh I wasn't named yet, but I like the name Oreo." she responded.

The mare smiled, "Then, Oreo it is then." Ari pressed her cheek against Oreo's. "Do you like the medic supplies" she asked.

"Love them! Gee, I want to become a medic like you one day!" Oreo howled happily as she placed a soft paw on a dry leaf. "I want to learn how all of these stuff work."

The small scrap of fur wandered around the medic room curiously and carefully looking at all of the unfamiliar treatments. She traced one of her tiny claws around the words on the wall. Ari sat by her side and dipped her head to speak to her, "I will be more than honored to teach you everything I know."

Oreo's jaw fell open and her ears pricked up, her tail began to quickly against the floor . "Really? You mean it Ari!" she yipped.

"Of course!"

"Yay! I'm gonna be a medic one day!!" the small wolf jumped around the young medic, howling happily. "Thank you Ari for this opportunity."

Before Ari could reply, she heard the loud meeting bell echo across the air. Ari and Oreo exchanged looks and sighed. The she-pup raced put of the door and stopped when she saw Sombra with a large group of soldiers. Ari watched the tallest soldiers stretch their mussels and warm up for whatever their doing.

"Shadow!" Ari called out for her friend. A tall stallion cantered towards her and bowed his head. "What's going on here?" she asked.

"Dark Heather was around the boarder and she saw the new Battalion around the boarder. She quickly reported it to Sombra and now my father is leading our army to attack them" he whispered.

Oreo's bushy tail stood up, "They are gonna attack them!" she spat. The sky grew paler and the mist above

"No, they can't!" Ari demanded, "I keep telling Sombra that its wrong to keep attacking those innocent ponies and I know for a fact that the Battalion is not going to attack us. They just want to protect their land."

A large black and dark gray snow cat leaped to Shadow side, "Sombra said we are not allowed to go." he snarled. "But I do want to see what happens.

"Of course you want to see. To be honest, I do too." Nightmist admitted, lifting a paw and smiling at his brother as his two other sister scurried by his side. "Not that I want to watch the Crystal Empire Battalion get hurt.

Morningfern nodded, "When our Battalion leaves, we can sneak out."

"I'm not sure about this." Oreo whimpered. "What if we get caught!"

Everyone ignored the snow pup expect Ari, "So, whom wants to go with me. Trust me it will be great. I know I hate the fact that my dad is attacking the Crystal Empire but I really want to see what happens."

Blackout and his siblings lifted their heads and quickly nodded. Oreo limped in and wiggled her tail excitingly. Ari was the only one left, she was the medic and she was the one who had to make good decisions. But she had to accept just because her friends might be in danger if they get caught. Her heart collapsed "Fine, I'll go."

"That's the spirt!" Morningfern mewed as she ambled by her side. Her pair of bright green eyes watched the Horex battalion exit the town square. "They're gone now! Lets go."

"Carefully." Nightmist added with a hiss. "I know a short cut to the large gorge. We can enter from there and watch everything from above."

Shadow grinned, "Alright." he crouched down and looked left and right to make sure no one was watching. "coast is clear. Quick lets go."

The land grew cold once more as the mist reached out from glen to glen. "There's nothing here!" one of the soldiers snarled from the crowd.

Owl groaned, "Can we leave!" she begged as Fauna leaned against her and nodded.

"No. I hear something." Blue Belle whispered, crouching low until her belly touched the snow, tail lifting. Her right ear twitched.

Shining Armor gave her a look, "Do you mind investigating, Blue Belle."

The dragon nodded as bright colors and memories flashed in her head, she prepared her last thoughts and prayers. Her claws gripped the cold snow and her muzzle trailed along the ice as she searched for the scent she smelled earlier. the grayish white flakes fluttered down and settled on her arched back. The black pieces of crystals stung her claws and pads. Her icy eyes grew wide once the smell grew strong.

Flurry Heart felt the fur on her neck bristle with fear once she spotted a white paw peer out of the shadows, claws unsheathed and digging into the snow. "Belle, watch out!" Flurry cried.

A large figure leaped from the other side of the gorge and tackled the dragon before she could dodge the attack. Blue Belle hissed angrily as the attacker dug his claws deep into her shoulder and his sharp jaws bit down on Blue Belle's ear. Dark crimson blood flew into the mild breeze, staining the snow red. Flurry didn't hesitate, she charged after the rouge and threw him off her friend. The attacker quickly stumbled to his paws and growled. The Battalion took a step forward and stared at the snow cat with a ice cold stare. "Back off!" Flurry shouted.

The snow cat tom didn't move, his dark amber eyes blazed like a wild fire, quenching the snow. The thick His back was arched and his sharp claws unsheathed, ready to attack. Flurry ignited her horn with a bright yellow aura ready to swat at the rouge. A howl shook the land, dismay hit Flurry once she heard battle cries echo by the gorge. Large shadows appeared from the opposite side of the gorge with their eyes glowing like mad. The battalion took a step back once more rouges came jumping to the other side of the gorge and facing the battalion.

Spits, cackles, growls and howls escaped from their bloodthirsty mouths as they prowled towards the soldiers. Flurry's eyes were wide with horror, this was the first time she had ever saw the rouges in a large pack. She was dumbfounded when she saw that the rouges had thick bones, their weak ribs pressed against their sore bellies, roaring for food. Despite the fact that their bones were feeble, their jaws and claws seemed to threatened Flurry the most. "Well, well, well. Trespassers in my land?" a voice stormed, making the earth rumble.

A transparent black and red mist crawled out of the gorge and settled by the drooling rouges who quickly bowed once he appeared. The dark vapor dragged itself across the snow before it stopped, standing two feet away from Shining Armor. Flurry gasped once she saw dark red and green evil eyes peer out of the mist and large sharp jaws grin wickedly. King Sombra!