The Town of Ash

Dust blows across the Doomscape as Nitebeat, Bandit, And Bolt trot through the ruins of another burned town. They had grabbed as many supplies as they could before leaving. Including a few weapons, food, and water. Snapshot was nowhere to be seen. Along with everypony else. As they trotted down a dirt path they had come across chariot tracks and began to follow them. Assuming that this was what the changelings had used to carry Charlotte in, they followed the tracks As they walked they had come across two towns, Both burned and were now crossing through a third burned down town.

Nitebeat spoke first, breaking the groups silence. "Man… Three towns. All burned… why?" Bolt retorted with a simple response, clearly trying to be vauge. "Rebellion. But Not all of them were burned. Some sided with Metasoma in order to live. They became his mercenaries…" Bolt shook his head, clearly disappointed by what some ponies chose to do. Bandit, hearing this, then spoke up herself. "Are you telling us that these burned down towns are from those who resisted?" Bolt nodded and replied with an affirmative "Yes." Before going silent again. Bandit sighed. "Great… that’s reassuring…"

Bolt aruptebtly stopped and held up a hoof to stop bandit and Nite. "Hold it." He said, ears twitching. Both Nitebeat and Bandit stopped, looking around confused.

Nitebeat looked at bolt in confusion, unsure of what had made the mysterious unicorn halt their progress. "Wut?" She asked. Bolt glanced back briefly and motioned ahead. "we’re about to enter Marauder territory. Be ready to run."

Bandit looked at the town in horror. "Marauder Territory?"
"Yes. I’ll explain later. Now, run!" Bolt responded.

Nitebeat and bandit broke into a gallop, Commander Bolt Levitating behind them.
Suddenly A spear pierces the ground behind them nearly nicking Bolt. Nitebeat, hearing it, curses and speeds up faster. "Buuuuuuuuck!"

Stopping and Turning towards where the spear had come from, Nitebeat spots an orange coated earth stallion with a green mane and tail wearing spiked leather armor. A respirator on his snout.

Nitebeat Thinking to herself on the fear the marauder wore, swore to herself Why didn’t I think of grabbing that? Calling forth magic she blasts the pony, knocking him down from his perch on a dilapidated roof, his spine cracking as he thudded to the ground- Dead.

Another spear pierced the ground in front of bandit. Bandit jumps and blasts a Marauder armored with a serrated sword who had turned around from a corner and started charging at her, knocking him on his back. Nitebeat levitates the thrown spear and shoves it into the Marauders skull. His body crumpling on the ground. Rage etched upon his face.
As they gallop across a bridge, two more Marauders lunge from the water, respirators and coats gleaming under the light of the blood red sky. As they approach the two Marauders, the Marauders pull out a pair of crossbows and launch the bolts at them. Nitebeat summons a glowing red shield as the bolts launch off of the shield and back at the two Marauders. Seeing the incoming projectiles they jump off the bridge and into the water. Seeing an opening, Bolt points to their right. "go right!" He commanded.

With little time to think, They turn and run to the right, a grove of trees rising before them. As they run, Nitebeat blasts the bridge as Marauders run after them throwing spears and bolts. Most stabbing into the grounds around them. As they approve the grove of trees, Bandit looks back.
"What. The. Buck?" She said, filled with disgust at what she saw.

Looking back, Nitebeat notices two of the Marauders changing into Changelings and flying off. The others standing at the edge shouting curses at them. Turning back to bolt Nitebeat asked "Those were Marauders?!?" Levitating towards them. Bolt spoke sadly "sadly, yes."
Bandit glared at him, clearly upset by his remark. "sadly? We nearly died!" Bolt shook his head and clarified. "those were the ones who rebelled. Most of them…"

Bandit was taken aback by his response. "What?!? How- how can something like that come from rebellion?"
"Warped minds… they were slaves at one point. Now… now they're just sick cannibals." Bolt said, sadness still in his voice.

Nitebeat looked back and responded. "Sure didn’t seem like it…"

Bolt then points back at the Marauders, who had gathered around a fire, a pony torso on a stick being cooked over it. Bandit looks at it and pukes.

Nitebeat, shocked, but unaffected by the gory scene pipes up. "What the buck? Well that proves your claim. But What are they gonna do? Wait us out?"
Bolt nodded. "Yes. But we won’t be coming back this way." Nitebeat sighed in relief. "Thank the goddesses!"

Bandit wipes her mouth and trots up to them. Her mane a mess after the run of death they just faced. "So where to now?" She asked.

Bolt pointed behind them, grinning. "That way." Nitebeat looks at the forest behind them in horror. "Into everfree?!? Are you mad?!? Even I won't go there! And I’m pretty crazy as is!"

Bolt then took on a strict tone as he responded to Nites claim. "Do you want to rescue your friend or not?" Nitebeat gave in and sighed. "Sigh… Fine."

The three ponies then trot into the forest, the shouts of Marauders silencing as they went deeper into the twisted death jungle.
After a few minutes of trotting through ferns and other more unpleasant things, Nitebeat opens his muzzle. "So, This Zerina. Who is she?" Bolt responded. "A zebra. And a friend."
"Ok. So ummm… why do we need to go there?"
"Resources." Bolt said curtly.
Sound Bandit rolls their eyes at the curt response. "WOW… so helpful…" Nite grumbled.

After a few minutes of walking Nitebeat stops in her tracks, sniffing the air.

Bandit looked at her friend curiosly. "What is it?" She asked. "I smell fire." Nitebeat responded. "Not surprising. Zerinas hut is close by. She’s probably cooking at this time. But we should still proceed with caution. Just Incase." Bolt retorted.

Bandit And Nitebeat nod. The three ponies creeping forward cautious I'll y towards the smell. As they got closer, they found themselves in a clearing with a small cottage resting in the center. smoke rising from its chimney.

Nitebeat studied the structure, wary. "Not much of a home is it Bandit?"

Bandit nodded in agreement, answering her friend's question. "Yes. But it does look cozy."

"Agreed."
Bolt levitates himself towards the door and knocks. Nitebeat and Bandit step up behind him.
Clattering could be heard as a pony trots to the door. Opening the door, a zebra who’s mane and tail was styled in a sort of dreadlock with gold rings in them, stares back at them with magenta eyes.
"Yes?" She said quizzically in a very Australian accent.

Bolt smiled at her. "Hello Zerina. We have a problem."
Zerina snorted in irritation. "Indeed you do. You're hurt." She pointed out Bolt's clearly crushed spine. She then glanced behind them, worried. "Were you followed?" She asked.

"Not as far as I know." Bolt responded.
"And your friends?" She asked.
"Acquaintances. And they’re the ones I found for… that thing. Their-"

Zerina cut him off with a swipe of her hoof across her neck. "Shhh! Not out here. Inside."

Stepping aside she lets the three ponies inside, bolt Levitating to a cot nearby. Zerina, after checking to make sure they were safe, shuts the door and locks it. grabbing ingredients for a potion that would help bolt heal, she heads over to a cauldron, humming a familiar tune to herself.
Looking up from the brew, she continued to ask bolt "Now, What were you saying?"

Dropping the contents she had grabbed into the pot in the center of the room, she turned towards him.

Bolt continued what he was going to say. "She was captured."

Zerina gave bolt a concerned look before questioning him on their guests. "Hmmm… and them?" Holding out a hood, She gestured towards the two ponies. "warriors of that… thing."

Nitebeat spoke up, once again confused. "The what? Warriors? I don’t get it…" she inquired.

Bolt Sighed and decided to clarify what he meant." I saw you both fighting. You had an unique style. Similar to the original warriors. That’s how I knew you two were meant to help me."

Bandit sat there pondering as Nite stood there, still confused. "I still don’t get it." Nitebeat responded.
"You showed your virtues during the fight. That’s how I knew. I recognized their virtues inside you two."

Nite, realizing what bolt meant, sighed in relief. "ok. That makes a bit more sense…"

Zerina then commented on bolts explanation, finally understanding why these two ponies were with bolt. "If this is true… then you two must awaken the warriors within you."

Bolt then turned towards zerina. "But first, we need to get to the rebellion. Think you could send out a message to them?"

Zerina pondered for a moment before replying. "Yes. But you need to stay here and heal."

Bolt looked at her, offended. Raising his voice, he responded, clearly upset by her comment. "WHAT?!? NO! They won’t even last a day in that waist without me!"

Zerina shook her head and handed him the potion she had made, speaking to him in a soft tone. "I think they can manage. Besides, I have stuff that could aid them. Or did you forget?"
Bolt Face Hoofed. "Of course you do…" Zerina rolled her eyes.
Walking to a shelf, she grabbed a book. Its cover is etched with zebra glyphs. She then trots over to bandit, holding it out to her. Bandit looks skeptically at the book. "this won’t turn me into a frog will it?" She asked the stripped mare. Nitebeat laughs at the response AndZerina grins.
"Ha! No! No! Silly filly. This book is a guide." She responded. "oh! Thanks?"

Bandit levitates the book and places it into her satchel. Zerina then grabs a bag from another shelf and hands it to Nitebeat "This bag will help ward off threats."

Nitebeat studied it curiously, her mind trying to comprehend the mysterious fruits. "how?"
"invisibility." Zerina answered. "Eat one and you won’t be seen by anyone. But it doesn’t last long. So, use them well."

Nitebeat, still confused, put it into her saddle bags. Smiling at the strange pony. "ok then. Umm… thanks?"

Zerina nodded. "You are welcome little pony. Now we should get goi-"

Suddenly the door to Zerinas hut busts open as a group of changelings charge in.

Hornet stepped forward, grinning achieviantly. "well well well. Helping traitors now Zerina? General Fang will definitely enjoy hearing this!" Zerinas Face pails as Hornet mentions his name. Shaking off her shock, she recomposed herself and answered hornet. "Hornet. Where’s your manners? It’s not polite to barge into Somepony’s home."

Poison, spotting nitebeat and bandit, points at them and directs to hornet. "Hey! Isn’t that the two ponies who were at that bunker?"

The three Changelings turn their attention to the two ponies.

Nitebeat grinned devilishly at them. "Yes, we are." She responded, clearly enjoying what was to come.

Bandit looked at her in worry. "Nite, What are you doing?"

Trotting closer to the three bug ponies, Nitebeat lights up her horn and grins even wider. "Perhaps you also remember what I did to those changelings?"

Poison goes pale as he recalls what Nitebeat did to a good handful of their brethren. Hornet just stands there unfazed. Stepping forward, hornet responded. "We do. But this time… it’s different."

Zerina, realization dawning I upon her, rushes to a bookshelf and pulls on a book, causing a hatch to open below the two ponies, dropping them down and shooting them out of the hut. Nitebeat rushes towards the hut. Stopping just as the hut blows up in flames. The three Changelings flying out of the burning building, tails ablaze.

Nitebeat jumping up, attempts to run towards the now ablaze building. Bandit grabs her friend's tail and pulls her back. "No! Why- why’d she…"

Bandit then approaches Nite and hugs her. "I know. But we can’t morn right now. We need to go and get to the rebellion. We need to save Charlotte." Nitebeat nods, wiping her tears away. "Sigh… lets go. Where do we start?"

Bandit pulls out the book and opens it to the first page. A map falls from it. Grabbing the map they unfold it and notice that the rebellion base was marked on it. Jabbing at it, Bandit traces a path from where they were to where they need to go. "That way it seems. Come. Let’s go save our friend!"

Nitebeat nods and trots after her. She glances back briefly to the fire behind them. "I will avenge you…" she swore under her breath. "I promise!"

Turning back she rushes to catch up to Bandit.

Author's Note

This chapter veered away from the Ninjago idea and was made specifically for plot point clarifying. Since there's A LOT of lore put into this, I needed to clarify the basis for it in some way. This was what I came up with.