Equestria Divided

Birds chirped as sunlight filtered through the branches of the Everfree Forest. This village, a mile or so north of the Everfree Grotto, was of a moderate size, covering a decent expanse of forest. Numbering near fifty ponies in total, this village was home to Zebra Tribals and Skirmishers, Wildlings, and the occasional Everfree Wriath that passes through.

A howling broke the serenity of the village, just barely starting to awaken for it’s daily routine. Skirmishers quickly took their post in towers, looking through the branches with their eyes, trained to catch even the slightest of movements.

After a few minutes of searching, one skirmisher called out, drawing attention to a Wildling Earth Pony, who had numerous scratches and cuts along her side and her rear legs. She sat down as she got within the village, leaning against a hut for support.

One Skirmisher hopped from their watchtower and rushed to her side. “Flashfire, where did you get these wounds? This day has hardly even bloomed!”

The Wildling, Flashfire, shifted as she heard the voice. “Always trying to suck up to Zecora by speaking in rhyme, eh Shaiya?” She asked, turning to face the skirmisher. “Ran with the Timberwolves again... They’re getting faster, or I’m getting slower.”

“Running with Wolves again? Be careful, or you could meet your end.” Shaiya said with a nod, helping Flashfire to her hooves.

“You don’t have to keep up the rhyming with me, Shaiya, you’ve slipped up more than once.” Flashfire said with a grin as Shaiya helped her along toward a nearby hut.

“Yes, that may be true, and that act I do rue.” Shaiya said, leading Flashfire into a building. “I must return to my Post. Nightshade shall be a gracious host.” Shaiya said as she turned and made her way back toward the watchtower.

Flashfire sighed and looked around the small building. “Back again, Flashfire?” A dark purple unicorn stallion entered looked toward his visitor with a slight grin. “You’re one of my most frequent patients.”

“I’m sure... I don’t really need you, but Shaiya thinks I do. So, just patch me up so I can get back out there.” Flashfire said as Nightshade started looking around the Mare.

“Timberwolves again? Ooh, they left a fang in you this time.” A quick yelp escaped Flashfire as the large splintery tooth was pulled from her flank. “Oh my, what’s this? It seems you’ve stumbled through some Atropa Belladonna on your run.”

“Is that a bad thing?” Flashfire asked, before thinking for a moment. “What’s Atropa Belladonna?”

“Oh, well my dear Flashfire. That would be the plant for which I was named. The Deadly Nightshade. It wouldn’t be bad, but it seems a few bits of the plant got pushed into you by claws.” He started, Flashfire turned and looked at him in worry. “Oh, I’ve got a tonic for it, but we will need to wash that nightshade from your wounds first.

Flashfire nodded, climbing onto a nearby table as directed. At this point, her vision started to blur a bit, and she felt sick to the pit of her stomach. “Nightshade... I think it just hit me...” She muttered.

“Oh, yes, probably. I’ll only be a few moments, and you’ll be good as new.” Nightshade said, starting to wash Flashfires wounds carefully. She winced from sharp pains from the washing of her wounds, as well as painful twisting in her stomach from the nightshade.

After three excruciating hours of wound cleaning and treatment administration, Flashfire walked out of Nightshades hut and shook her head. Her stomach still churned, and she was still a little dizzy. Shaiya had once again come down from her watchtower, and noticed Flashfire exiting the hut.

“Doing alright, Flashfire? I hope my care didn’t draw your Ire.” She said with a soft smile.

“Yeah, I’m fine...” Flashfire muttered, making her way deeper into the village. Shaiya followed along with her.

“Im on my way to get some food in my stomach, then...” Shaiya stopped, and cleared her throat, looking away from Flashfire.

“Hah. I knew you’d slip up.” Flashfire said, nudging Shaiyas side. “You should be more like Zeron.”

“My brother and I differ quite a lot. He’s a Warrior, I’m a Skirmisher.” Shaiya said, obviously dropping the rhyme-speech for the time being.

“I’m aware. I’ve fought with him a few times. He always wins, though.” Shaiya laughed. “What’s so funny?”

“Wildling ponies. Wild and Ferocious. All of them except you. You’re calm and collected, and keep training like a normal soldier.” Shaiya said, nudging Flashfires side. “It’s refreshing to see.”

Flashfire nodded as the two of them grabbed bowls and filled them with some lunch. “Stewed carrots and Alfalfa sprouts. Your favorite, right Flashfire?” Shaiya asked as we sat down on the edge of the city.

“Yeah...” Flashfire muttered, nudging at the bowl with her hoof.

“Something wrong?” Shaiya asked worriedly.

“My stomach is still off. Nightshade poisoning will do that to you...” Flashfire muttered, chancing a small mouthful of the mix.

Shaiya laughed again, causing Flashfire to glare. “My apologies. I remember when I was young, my father would get so worried when I would bring mouthfuls of nightshade home to mix in my brews. One day, Zeron had gathered my ingredients for me, and accidentally ate some of the nightshade... He was sick for a week.” Shaiya chuckled again, looking toward Flashfire. “Father was so angry at me.”

Flashfire sighed, eating another mouthful of her food. “Nightshade is bad news...” Flashfire said, shaking her head.

“I certainly hope you’re not talking about me, Flashfire.” The voice of Nightshade came into conversation.

“Sorry, Nighshade. I was talking about the plant, not the Unicorn.” Flashfire said, chancing a third mouthful of the food.

“I see. No harm done. I just came to see if my patient was getting a good lunch. It’ll help calm your stomach.” He said starting to walk away. “Oh, I almost forgot. I’m supposed to tell you that we’re having a couple Iron Bull visitors today.” Nightshade turned and looked at Flahsfire who wore a huge grin. “They’re not here to brawl, but if you should choose to challenge one, I’m sure they’d be more than willing to give you a shot.”

“I’ve got to! I can’t pass up this opportunity!” Flashfire said excitedly, scarfing down the last of her food.

“Are you sure that’s wise, Flashfire? You can’t beat the Tribal Warriors, what makes you think you stand a chance against the Iron Bulls?” Shaiya asked worriedly.

“I’ll get the medical hut ready to put you back together when you’re done, dear.” Nightshade said, walking off.

Flashfire hopped to her hooves and made her way back to the center of the village, Shaiya reluctantly following.

It wasn’t long before two Large Minotaurs made their way into the town, pausing for a moment and looking toward the village elder, who greeted them with a warm smile.

“Good afternoon, Iron Bulls. My name is Elder Yew Sap. What can our village do to make your welcome warm?” The elder asked with a sincere smile.

“Iron Will and Fluttershy have agreed on testing the strength of Villages near Everfrees borders.” One Bull said, his voice gruff. “And we are to report back with which camps need aid.”

“That would be most helpful. How would you like to test our strengths?” Yew asked, tilting her head slightly. One Tribal Warrior standing to the Elders left shifted, saying something to her quietly. “Oh, that could work quite well, Zeron. Thank you.” She turned back to the bulls with a smile. “The Tribal Warriors do have contests of strength in the form of friendly combat.”

The two Bulls looked at each other and nodded. “Very well. We shall take watch over one of these contests and judge your warriors accordingly.”

The elder nodded, letting out a loud whistle that called the village to her attention. All but the skirmishers on the lookout towers arrived, awaiting the elders word. “My children. These two wish to test our might.” She said, causing a slight shuffling. “Are we going to show them we are pushovers, or that we have the strength of the forest in our hearts?” Cheers echoed from the crowd. “They wish to oversee your nightly contests, to see if you are as capable as you can be.”

“What if we wish to challenge them directly?” Came one voice from the back. The two Bulls let out a laugh.

“Don’t bother, girl. You can’t stand against either of us.”

“I’ll take that challenge.” The voice said once again. Causing a few cheers to echo from various parts of the camp.

“Come forward, Flashfire, make yourself known to these two.” The elder said softly. Flashfire moved forward, standing between the two Bulls and bowing to the Elder. “You push your limits every day, child. Are you sure you wish to see how far your limits will push back?”

“I am, Elder.” Flashfire said with determination. “If one does not strive to grow as the forest does, then we wither and die.” She stood, looking between the two Bulls. “And It will be a test for these two to see if they can stand against the ferocity of the Wildlings.” More yips echoed through the camp. Other Wildlings cheering on their sister.

“Very well, Little Flashfire. It’s a fight you want, it’s a fight you shall have.” The Larger of the two Bulls said, cracking his knuckles.

The circle of villagers backed up, giving Flashfire and the Bull a wide area to fight in. “My name is, Jak Hammer. I thought you should know the name of the bull that’s about to break you in half, little girl.”

“We’ll see about that.” Flashfire said, crouching low and growling. Zeron pulled a horn from his side and blew it, signalling the beginning of the fight.

Jak charged forward, lowering his horns toward Flashfire, who jumped, landing on Jak’s back, and pushing forcefully as she jumped back off. Jak caught himself and turned in time to get a buck to the face. He stood upright, shaking his head slightly. “Huh...” He muttered, looking down at Flashfire. “I thought you’d hurt more than that.” He said, grabbing Flashfire around the waist and tossing her across the ring. Flashfire rolled, correcting herself as she glared at Jak. He charged forward once again, and she met his charge, ducking low and bucking the side of his head, causing him to fall to the side as he lost his balance.

“You should stay down.” Flashfire growled, lunging at the bull and kicking at him with the throny vines around her forehooves. As Jak stood, Flashfire wrapped her hooves around his thick neck, and took hold of his horn with her teeth. She squeezed his neck with all her might, and thrashed wildly with her rear hooves, hoping to land a few decent strikes.

A large hand reached over, grabbing Flashfires mane, causing her to yip as she was lifted off of him and held in front of his face. “Sorry, Little Flashfire. This may hurt.” Jak reared back for a headbutt, and Flashfire shifted, bringing the vines across Jak’s arm, causing him to drop her. Flashfire kicked outward with both rear hooves, kicking Jak’s legs out from under him.

Jak fell forward, landing with a hard thud. Flashfire avoided the falling mass of muscle with barely any room to spare, one of Jak’s horns tearing into her flank. She lept up, driving all four hooves into the back of his head as he started to get back up, causing his head to bounce off the ground once again. Jak reared his head back forcefully, tossing Flashfire into the air.

As Flashfire fell, Jak caught her and slammed her into the ground. “ARE YOU DONE YET?” Jak shouted at her. When she didn’t answer, he let her go, standing up. “Like I thought. I’d come out on top.” Jak turned around, looking toward the Elder with a grin. “Thank you for this opport-” He was cut short as Flashfire lept up, and grabbed him around the neck with her forehooves once again. She kicked with her rear hooves wildly, and bit at Jak’s hands as he reached for her. After a few minutes, Jak stopped struggling and teetered, falling backward.

Flashfire awoke in Nightshades hut, looking around. A horn sounded outside, signalling the start of a fight. She stood and made her way out of the hut, and looked around.

“You’re awake.” Zeron said, walking up to Flashfire. “Woulda thought being crushed by a Bull would have stopped you for longer than that.”

“Wait... I lost the fight?” Flashfire asked with a sad expression.

“Oh, right... When Wildlings fight, they lose all thought, and fight on instinct alone.” He said, standing a little taller. “The Elder wishes to speak with you.”

Flashfire nodded, making her way to the Elders hut. Yew was sitting, watching the fights while talking with the two Bulls. “You requested me, Elder?” Flashfire asked. Yew gestured to have Flashfire sit next to her.

“How are you feeling, Flashfire? Still hurting?” The Elder asked softly

“No, Elder. I’m alright.” Flashfire said, looking toward the Bull she had just fought with. Cuts along his neck and arms were visible, but clean. They’d stopped bleeding. “How long was I out?”

“A few hours.” The Elder said, gesturing toward Jak. “Longer than he was.” She shrugged. “You did well, Flashfire.”

“Yes. It’s been a long time since I was bested. I didn’t think it’d be by a Pony this time around.” Jak said, reaching out a hand toward Flashfire, taking her hoof and shaking it. “I’m happy to be fighting on the same side as such a ferocious fighter.”

“Wait... I beat him?” Flashfire asked, surprised.

“Yeah. Choked him out pretty good. Didn’t think Ponies were that strong.” The other Bull said with a chuckle. “He even planted you like a tree, and you stood back up.”

Flashfire looked over to the circle where they had fought, and saw a pretty deep indent in the ground. “Huh... So... What’s next?”

The Elder shrugged, looking toward the Bulls. “I’m convinced that if the Wildlings follow Flashfires lead, they will be a force that the Liege himself would be happy to have. Your skirmishers are quick and precise, and your warriors are disciplined and resolute.” Jak said, the two bulls standing up. “I’m sure that should any house try to take this piece of the forest, they will easily fall.”

The Elder nodded as the two Bulls stepped down, and made their way west out of the town.

“Do you think you can teach the other Wildlings a thing or two?” The Elder asked, smiling at Flashfire.

“Yes, I can... I can start tomorrow morning, with a Running with TimberWolves.” Flashfire grinned, turning back toward the fights and watching them happily...