Fallout: Equestria - The Spark of Life

Interlude 3: Looming Threats

Deliver the punchline, Tempest, because this has gotta be a joke!

“Explain something to me, Breeze. How does one lose an airship?” The shrewd and discerning eyes of the Storm King glared down at the pegasus commander.

“I apologize, Master,” Breeze said. “By all accounts, it must have been the alicorn. It seems she survived at Mount Aris.”

The Storm King glanced down at a pile of notes, notes that had been scavenged in the tower on Mount Aris, and scowled. “Of course she survived, you idiot. If what I believe happened in that tower, the pearl’s magic courses through Tempest Shadow’s veins. She is responsible for their survival. I need her and that magic if I’m ever to become fully whole again.”

Breeze nodded. The half-formed creature before him was something out of pure nightmare. It took everything Breeze had to keep a straight face looking at it. “I hope then, Master, you will appreciate the fact that we can easily track where they are going. All of our airships were outfitted with Enclave Nimbus-class communications arrays. We can trace their exact destination.”

The Storm King paused for a moment, considering the information before him. In all practicality, he should have been focusing on the war at hand, but with the NCR having fortified a number of the primary settlements and the looming potential threat that was Celestia One still needing to be taken care of, pulling back to the shadows was an appropriate military strategy. Keeping the enemy wondering when they would get hit again would eventually wear them out. No… the focus needed to be on finding Radiant Star and Tempest Shadow.

“Yes, excellent. Do what you can to find them,” he said. “I will be awaiting an update soon.”

“Of course, Master,” Breeze said as he turned to exit the room.

The pegasus scowled as he left, heading down towards the bridge. When he arrived, he found the rest of the crew waiting for his orders. His first in command saluted with a wing.

“Sir, what is our course?” he asked.

“Track the alicorn and the stolen airship. Find out where they are going,” Breeze replied. “Report to me once you have a heading.”

“Of course, Sir,” the other pegasus said. “It won’t take long.”

Breezed nodded as the first officer left him at the helm. He grimaced. He wished that they could have pursued the war against Junction R-7. The presence of the NCR hardly bothered him, given what they had accomplished already at Fort Knowledge. There had been alicorns there, but they had been unprepared for a real fight, choosing instead to run. Still, the Storm Guards and the airships had managed to destroy a number of them.

The Storm King was frightened of the alicorn known as Radiant Star, but moreso the one he called Tempest Shadow. There was history there between the two that Breeze could not guess at, and magic at work that frankly scared the ancient creature. Breeze knew not to question the King, however. Even at a fraction of his power, the thing was incredibly powerful and willing to do what it took to get what it wanted. If he was being cautious, there was likely a good reason.

Several long and tense moments passed before the first officer reappeared, handing Breeze a map. “We’ve identified their current course, Sir. They’re back in Equestria proper and headed for the ruins of Canterlot.”

Breeze’s eyes narrowed at the map. “Canterlot, you say? What could they be doing there? Set a course for interception. I shall inform the Master,” he said. “And good work. There will be a commendation for your service, I am sure.”

“Of course, Sir, thank you, Sir,” the first officer replied before scooting off to other duties.

Breeze scowled yet again. What was the Ministry Mare and her friends doing heading towards Canterlot, when all of the action had been centered around Fort Knowledge and Junction R-7? What was in Canterlot that was so important? It was a ruin.

Breeze grabbed the map and headed back up away from the bridge. It was time to inform the Master.

Author's Note

I know I know this is not a proper chapter, but I did say we have to check in on our bad guys, right?

I'll be updating again soon, I promise! This one deserves to be finished for sure. It has been an interesting ride, but it's taking me a while because I want to make sure I stick the landing right when we get there, so building up towards that is important.