“Do you know how close we were to starting a war with the goddamned One?!” I frustratedly asked the three witches before me, none of them really paying attention to me.

Darcy was the only one who actually acknowledged me, by letting out a sigh.

“Do you really want Jet Set spilling all of his beans? Wouldn’t that tip the scales in their favor?” She asked.

I almost shouted, but I stopped, knowing that it was pointless.

“If I have to hear from Kyle that y’all were tryin’ to push him into conflict—I will make sure it won’t happen again, am I clear?”

Icy scoffed at me, and I made my rage known.

“It’s not like they can do anything—all Kyle knows how to do is move the dead around, and Jason’s harmless, he wouldn’t hurt a fly if it was trying to kill him.”

Rage enveloped me as I let out a scream and slammed my mace into the floor, cracking it as the witches quickly stood in place, showing fear...

“Do I need to remind you what he did to Gaverial’s little cult? Do you want that at our door?”

The three witches took a moment to react, but it the looks on their faces were filled of anxiety at the thought of what he did up there...

“No... I guess he can be dangerous when he wants to be...” Icy mumbled before forming a smirk, “We still had our fun, though...”

I glanced at the floor and smirked as well...

“Yes, we did—even if he doesn’t remember a second of it...”

After a small chuckle over good times, I dismissed them, letting out a sigh as I rested my hand on the handle of my mace, with the spike embedded into the rocky floor. This weapon... the special handle, the 16 inch shaft out of steel pipe, the trailer hitch I cut up and welded to earlier-mentioned pipe, and to top it all off, the 4 inch spike drilled and welded into the face of the mace. This Wand kept me alive during my initiation trials against other Dog gladiators... if it weren’t for this beautifully crafted weapon, I’d be long-dead.

I don’t like to brag, but I made it myself with what little materials and equipment the Dogs had back then... the Trix weren’t quite good to them before I showed up—so much untapped potential... they were just a bunch of brutes until they found someone who could properly tame them.

I noticed an uneaten apple sitting on a table and reached out with my hand, pulling it over to me as I took a bite and decided to take a walk around the Caverns to clear my head over the Trix’s endangerment. As I did, I noticed Darcy talking to a newcomer we took in not too long ago, the boy was filled with so much rage and fueled by power I’ve never seen before. He apparently ruled over his Earth for 5 years and had the armor to match... forged out of the only metal that could hurt him. it didn’t help that he was genuinely cute under the ratty old red mask he wore with multiple stitch jobs on it...

As I continued walking, seeing the two of them, not noticing someone bump into me. I took a moment to see a newer Dog initiate stop and turn to me, fear in his eyes as he knelt and hung his head low.

“F-forgive me! I should have seen where I was going!” He cowered before me...

I smiled for a moment before helping him to his feet.

“What’s your given name, initiate?” I softly asked him.

This tone didn’t help calm him as he nervously gulped before answering.

“C-C-Cobalt, Ma’am...” He said.

I took a moment before breaking the gap between us.

“Cobalt... I like it...” I whispered to him as I gently hooked my finger on his collar and led him along to my chambers, resting the Wand on the sheath I have strapped on my back.

So much for that walk...

“We’ve had enough. They came to our gates, demanding to give us a prisoner they practically threw at us and threatened to kill us if we didn’t... We need to take a stand.” Sonata said to the council as she took her seat again.

The rest of the council glanced at each other with mixed reactions, some of them ready to vote and others still uncertain. I turned over to Twilight, who stood up to have her say.

“I want to say you’re right—I’ve seen what people like them do when they go unchecked—but I think it’s best if we take our time, strategize this whole thing out before we charge instead of headfirst.” She said as she took her seat.

I then took a stand, ready to add my say.

“On one hand, Sonata, you’re right—this treaty is hanging by a thread and it’s clear that something needs to be done. On the other hand, Twilight is right—we don’t even know what we’re up against, yet. What if Apple Bloom has powers herself? What if the New World Order is larger than we think it is? We know next to nothing about them yet and they already outnumber and outgun us... besides, not many of us have powers like they have...” I said as I slowly glanced at Blossom and Dexter’s empty seats...

When they said they were done fighting, they were serious—I haven’t heard from them in a while.

Sonata then glanced at me, ready to once again add her input, only for Kat to cut her off.

“Kyle, you saw what she did, how she brutalized three of our own--”

“Kyle’s right. You guys didn’t walk their caverns, I did. They’re armed to the teeth and they have strategy on their side. We have to think this through, take our time, and build up our forces just to be safe.” Jason said.

As Kat clenched her fists at Jason, Buttercup scoffed.

“People die. We need to get over it and move on.” She said from her seat.

Rage filled glances were exchanged with her, including my own, as Kat started walking over to her.

“Well, then, I guess you easily got over Bubbles after--”

“Enough!” I heard Sam shout from her chair as the two of them turned to face her.

We glanced to her as she stood up, closing her eyes and taking a breath.

“In the beginning, I saw my best friend die. One minute she was there, the next she wasn’t... we found the raiders who did it and we didn’t hesitate to wipe them out. That was where we found Tim and found out about the Caribou. I won’t let it happen again, not to anyone. I vote we go to war against the New World Order.” She said as she slowly sat back down.

After a moment, I leaned in, adding to what everyone had been saying.

“I was there. Kat, you were too. Twilight, Rainbow, my father... most of us were there and saw what they did. But we need to be careful and think this through. Because if we don’t... we charge straight into fighting against a threat we don’t fully understand... we could die.” I said as everyone slowly took my words in.

No-one said anything else for a few moments, but then I spotted something that caught my full attention. I spotted the scar that Twilight had on others—Celestia, Jason, and Luna...

“That scar... you all have it. I know it’s none of my business, but... where did it come from, if you don’t mind me asking...?” Kyle asked.

Nothing. Not a word as everyone glanced at each other before turning to me.

“Town meeting, right now. The newcomers and everyone who came with Kyle... it’s time you knew about the Caribou.” Celestia said as hate and trauma spewed in her words...

In about an hour, what was meant to be a vote on going to war turned into a revelation as my people, the other newcomers we found along the way, and Jason’s people were all brought to our little town hall as Celestia, Luna, Jason, and Twilight were on the podium, speaking with us.

“A forewarning before we continue... this story you are about to hear is one of pure savagery and brutality unlike anything I doubt you’ve seen before. If, at any point, you feel uncomfortable listening... you are free to leave.” Celestia whispered.

With that, she retreated back and Jason stepped forward, his face heavy with guilt as he cleared his throat.

“To truly understand the story... I have to go back to when my mother first told me about my father.”

Author's Note

A design for Apple Bloom's Wand. Will it be updated? Maybe, but this is the basic design of it. Also brace yourselves for next chapter, it will dive VERY slightly into the lore of Fall of Equestria so just keep that in mind when going in. (and if you don't know what that is, heed my advice and don't look it up.)