Author's Note

buckle up for a wild ride folks, because this is going to be a LONG trip in the frozen north.

Chapter 4: Fire Comes to the North - Pt.1

Three changeling Scouts trudged through the howling winds of northern Equestria, as the snow pelted there carapaces and armor, and shivering from the cold. Their wings were too stiff and cold to even try and fly, so there forced to walk through 5 inches of snow, chilling their legs to the core. Their armored covered hooves and sheens were so cold, the Scout’s couldn’t even feel them any more after walking for three hours, and hour-n-half of trudging through the snow. The only one who wasn’t affected by the cold was Pyre, as he was nice and comfy inside Scorch’s cockpit.

“You guys do know I can just carry all of you until we reach our destination, right.” Pyre said over the intercom of Scorch’s mic. “Because at this pace, you guys will be popsicles before we even get to this place.”

“We’ll m-manage.” The lead Scout, Erosa, said with chittering teeth. With arms clutched tightly to her body, and special cloak wrapped around her body, which was barely keeping the cold out.

Pyre sighed and started to grab each of the Scouts, one by one, and placing them on top of Scorch’s hatch and back. Despite what the changelings said or argued, they actually appreciated the gesture, and just accepted the ride. They even bundled up and tried to warm each other up. the group continued their march through blinding snow and wind, but as they marched through the snow, they all got this, sense, that something was, off. Like something was watching them, but they all collectively just shrugged it off as they figured it was just an animal.

Another thirty or so minutes of slowly walking through the snow, and eventually the group came upon the area where Erosa initially saw the castle-like structure. In fact, it was just over the snowbank in front of them. With their destination right in front of them, Pyre decided to seek shelter for his changeling passengers, otherwise they would probably freeze before they could even start their mission. Lucky for the group, there was a cave nearby where they could take shelter.

Entering the cave the changelings slid off Scorch’s back, and started to pull out crystals from their packs, and when the crystals were placed together they created a warm glow, but it wasn’t enough to fully warm the changelings up. But a quick blast of fire from Scorch’s right hand onto the crystals, created a pretty big fire that was now warm enough to push away the cold of the cave, and the wind that comes blowing in from the entrance. Thankfully Pyre placed Scorch in direction of the cave’s entrance, and acted as a shield from the wind.

“I can finally feel my hooves again.” The third changeling, a gruff looking stallion, said as he rubbed his hoof after removing his greaves.

“Agreed.” The second changeling, another mare, said as she sat really close to the fire, cloak still wrapped around herself. She then looked over to Scorch, who opened its hatch and Pyre could be seen stretching. “Thanks for the ride Pyre.”

“No problem.” Pyre simply said before kicking back in the cockpit.

“Let’s rest up, get some feeling back into you guys, then start the mission.” Pyre said as he looked around. “Luckily we have a place we can make as a temporary base, while you guys go exploring in that city.”

“True.” Erosa said as she huddled between the fire, and Scorch’s sitting position.

The group spent a good while around the fire, slowly warming up and getting feeling back into their bodies, while the changelings ate some special kind of green balls. As for Pyre, he ate some Chimera meat he got a few days after being hired as a mercenary, as well as something that was like a spicy cucumber sandwich. But as they all ate and relaxed, Erosa’s ears kept flicking about, and it wasn’t because her ears were picking up the blowing winds outside. Instead her ears were picking up something that sounded like, whispers. Ignoring the strange noises she’s hearing for now; the changeling went back to her eating.

“So guys, do you have a plan, or are you just going to waltz into the castle and have a look around?” Pyre asked as he finished his sandwich.

“First will merely skim across the edge of the castle grounds, or the city limits if it’s just not the tower by itself.” Erosa said. “From there we’ll simply observe the perimeter, and then we’ll figure out how to proceed.”

“Well at least it’s a plan.” Pyre said.

“Trust us Pyre, we’ll show you what we can do.” The stallion of the group said to the human.

“Just try not put yourselves in danger, kay.” Pyre said cheekily. “I may be here as back up, but don’t expect me to come rushing in to save your asses.” The three changelings chuckled at Pyre’s joke, while Pyre just snickered for a bit before eating his manticore meat.

But a moment later a strong gust of wind blows into cave, nearly putting out the fire and chilling the changelings & Pyre down to their bones. The changelings more so as their bodies weren’t meant to withstand the cold. And as the winds continued to blew through the cave’s entrance, the whole group heard this bizarre, menacing chuckle on the wind, which sent a chill down the groups spines. Climbing up onto the shoulder of the titan, Pyre looked out to the cave entrance and saw the snow was really coming down hard, but even so, Pyre could see some kind of black mass rush past the entrance.

Hopping into Scorch’s cockpit & closing the hatch, the titan then rose to its feet and lumbered its way to the entrance, Thermite Launcher in Scorch’s hands at the ready. As for the changelings they huddled closer to the fire, and kept a wary eye on the titan as it made its way to the cave’s mouth. Reaching the mouth of the cave the titan then scanned the area, looking for any trance of what the black mass was. And the source of the menacing chuckling. But as the titan scanned the surrounding area, even with the raging snow filled winds, the titan continues to scan the area for anything. And still nothing was coming up on scanners…but that’s when something big and heavy came crashing down on top of Scorch, causing the titan to crash into the snow bank.

“Pyre, Scorch!” all three changeling Scouts shouted as they rushed to the cave’s entrance, and seeing a big yeti grappling Scorch and is trying to peel away the titans armor. But the metal giants armor was too strong for the big bipedal snow ape.

“Sorry buddy, but I’m not into being mounted from behind.”

Pyre joked over his titans mic, and elbowed the yeti in the side of its chest, audibly cracking a few of its ribs. When the yeti winced in pain, Scorch took the opportunity and managed to shoulder check the yeti so now it was fully off the titan, allowing Scorch to grab the snow ape by its wrist. And with one swift motion, the titan spun around and tossed the ape over twelve feet, skidding across the snow bank.

“Pyre are you alright!?” the second changeling mare shouted over the wind, while still trying to keep warm with her cloak.

“Yeah I’m fine, but damn that guy scared the crap out of me when he jumped me.” Pyre said as he picked up his weapon that he dropped from the initial tackle. “Alright big guy, time for you to scoot.”

Pyre said as he fired a shot from his Thermite Launcher, nearly striking the snow ape in the chest. But it just barely skimmed by an inch, before diving into the snow and melting the white snow. The big yeti only roared at Scorch and its piolet, before running forward with one arm raised high ready to strike the titan, but the metal giant just gripped its weapon in both hands, and swung it to the side and when the yeti was a foot from the titan. Scorch slammed the butt of the launcher into the snow apes head, dropping the beast in an instant! The yeti was still alive, but it was knocked out cold as the snow slowly starts covering its body.

“That should take care of that problem.” Pyre said as he made his way to the cave, and going back to the fire, and re-ignite it. The changelings took one last look at the downed yeti, before following behind the titan and returning to circle the flame, as the titan unleashes fire from its right palm again. “You guys stay put, I’m gonna dispose of our friend outside. And make sure he doesn’t come back around.”

Pyre said as he headed back outside, grabbed the yeti and hauled it or Scorch’s shoulder. The titan then started to walk off into the raging snow storm, only for about a couple of yards, and upon reaching the side of a large ditch the titan dropped the still knocked out yeti. After dumping the yeti into the ditch the titan turned to walk back to the cave, but its march stopped when something caught the piolets eyes. The same black mass. With curiosity peaked, the titan pulled out the Thermite Launcher, and went off into the direction where the black mass was.

Marching through the snow the titan continued to make its way over to where the black mass was seen, and that’s when the titan saw it. The mass was large in size, nearly as big as the Ursa Minor, and it was continuing to pound into an invisible force surrounding the castles boarders. The titan simply watched as the, thing, continues its relentless pounding, but nothing it does seems to allow it to pass the boundary line of whatever invisible wall it was striking. Eventually the black mass ceased it’s pounding, made a guttural roar of some kind, and strolled off into the blizzard. When the thing left Scorch then made its way down to the castles boundary, and as the titan closed in Pyre saw building and other structures, and some grassy fields. Reaching the now clarified city the titan reached out a hand, but it touched nothing. The hand didn’t come in contact with anything, so the titan took a step forward and was able to step onto grassy field.

“Well…this little mission just got more interesting.” Pyre said to himself, before turning around and going back to the cave to inform what he has learned to Erosa, and the others.

“Interesting.” Erosa said as she tapped her chin, before looking up at human. “And this black mass you saw, it couldn’t enter the cities boarders?” she asked, to which Pyre shook his head.

“Not an inch, it was like it was bashing against a brick wall. Damn thing gave up a minute later, and gave off a horrible howl, like a dog that was drunk and was kicked in the nuts afterwards.” Pyre said which got the changelings to chuckle & laugh. “So is the plan still the same, or are you changing anything?” the other two changelings looked to Erosa, who was thinking of said plan.

“…for the time being, let us see if we can even enter the city, and if we do we’ll stick the original plan. However…” Ersoa looked back up to Pyre. “If that thing show’s up, and somehow makes it into the city—”

“That’s where I come in.” Pyre said with a smirk.

“Yes.” Erosa said. “But for now we should rest up, and wait until daybreak to start our mission tomorrow.” The others nodded as they bundled up more into their cloaks, while Scorch began moving.

“Oi where you going?” the second mare asked.

“Standing guard, just in case of another yeti attack, or that thing comes strolling by.”

Pyre said as Scorch’s heavy footsteps reverberated through the cave. Reaching the mouth of the cave, Scorch closed its hatch, and brought out its weapon and sat down. Blocking the majority of the biting wind that would enter the cave behind him. inside the cockpit Pyre sat comfortably, where he sat and was looking at a black smart phone in hand…a picture of a tan girl in a bikini on the phones screen.

A small, yet sad smile took over the human’s face, as a small stream of tears rolls down from his right eye. More tears started to flow, this time from both eyes as Pyre slides through more pictures, of the same girl and him on the beach. At the mall with friends. In a living room during Christmas, both wearing large sweaters, covered in a blanket with a cup of coco in hand and watching old Christmas movies. Turning the phone off Pyre leaned back into his piolet seat, and just stared out to the bleak world outside the cave’s mouth.

“Really starting to miss you Amber.” Pyre mumbled to himself. “The only thing that drags this whole experience down, is not being with you.”