Ballad of the Assassin's gale

Prologue pt 2

Looking over his shoulder, Dark sees that his battalion once again were standing behind him, watching. He had been through a lot that day, losing his wife, and nearly his new born child. The skies were orange, which were showing signs that the fires were settling down. But the skies still filled with strife. “You can all stop staring at me now.” Dark states jokingly. “Y-yes sir!” the crowd of soldiers skittered off into their barracks. After the group left all that stayed was his pilot and staff sergeant, Silver Autumn and Paladin Amor.   “You to need anything?” he asks.

“Would you like your daughter back?” Paladin asked with a sarcastic tone

“What kind of question is that?” he asks, giving a slight smirk. At this, Dark walks over and picks up Mystic, cradling her gently. “And you Autumn?” He looks over to her with a now serious tone. “Radar’s tracked a small squadron of enemy fighters heading towards the Endless Torrent. It’s the same soldiers that attacked Ponyville earlier. What are your orders, Darky?” Twitching slightly, he looks over with his usual smirk.

“Now what did we say about calling me that?” He stated coldly.

“That you just enjoy it?” This brings a slight blush, due to that being a nickname that good friends had given him.

“Somewhat, but my orders it to wait until they act.” At this, she goes to give out Dark’s orders, preparing the fighters. Looking down, Dark notices that Mystic is holding tight to his chest, clearly awake now. Taking note of Autumn’s questions, Dark began to think.

I need to find Dusty, and fast.

She’s gone now, they would have been able to kill her by then.

No! I know that she’s okay… she has to be.

You don’t know that, Darkoneus, your only way of knowing is to get inside the system yourself.

Did you see what they had done? They could have killed me if they had wanted.

They had only gone in for the most mentally powerful, something tells me that you should feel ashamed.

SHUT UP.

Ending his thoughts, he looked around. Once again his battalion waited next to their fighters. The fighters had been a stinger class, slim, small, but were more effective than an axe to a tree. Dark turned to the soldiers, his eyes narrowing in excitement. “So I know Luna didn’t place you in my battalion for nothing, show these masked fools what you’re made of.” At this, the crowd cheered and went to their stations. Flash walked up next to him, wearing leather armor.

“Here, you dropped this.” He said as he gives Dark his sky oriented uniform. Sending Mystic to Amor once again, he stands at the end of the carrier, looking at the armada approaching. Dark then opened his wings and leaped into the sky, the enemies seeing this as engagement. The fighters hovered off of the deck and entered formation. With Flash next to him, Dark doubled downwards and threw Flash at one of the fighters. Who had drawn a rifle and shot him out of his fighter.

From one of front lines fighters, a missile hurled at Dark, cutting the air as if it were water. He holds out a small magnet and connects, taking control. Guns blazing, cannons sweeping, he dodged through a volley of artillery, sting fire, and fighters. “Hey Flash! These missiles are fun to ride on!” he shouted to his friend. “Dark, you’re insane.” He said as he took control of the fighter he was taking down. Turning on his communicator, Autumn instinctively began to yell at him.

Dark: So that’s how this thing works?

Autumn: Dammit Dark, you should have had your coms on!

Dark: What can I say? I’m not the person to follow orders.

Paladin: Dark, she and Mystic have began course towards Canterlot again. When we’re done here, we are headed to the flagship with her.

Dark: Everyone hear that? Head to base after we’re done here.

Flash: Dark, you’re riding a missile. How serious can this get?

All but Dark: Ahahaha!

Looking out at the burning enemy fighters, Dark had spotted one like gold amongst iron. A pilot had been standing on the nose of her ship, a teal and pale green tail sticking out to the side. She then leapt from the eagle unit fighter and slammed into him, ending his joyride on the missile. With a solid  jab to the mask, he cracked it revealing Dusty Tankard’s scowling, and somewhat adorable face.

“You can put up quite a fight, sweetheart.” He says, still in his fighting stance.

“You are still weak. You shall perish alongside everyone else when the Dark Lord is finished.” Knowing this completely threw him off guard, she tackles him and crashes into the forest below. Looking about, Dark had seen his battalion headed towards the Endless Torrent. And then a red haze came along.

In many flashes, the stallion had seen a light, sand colored mare with a dark brown mane running around. One of them being her finding you in a bush.

“Hello? Are you awake? Oh what am I saying, you fell from the sky with that mare.” The voice sounded calm and collected to him, though he couldn’t see her.

“W-who are you?” He asks.

“Someone who is going to help you, now just hold still, this might sting a bit.”

She says quietly. Feeling a sharp pain in his leg, Dark’s eyes fling wide open and quickly scan the room. He had been in a jungle like home with sandstone pillars. He then looked over his shoulder at the mare who was helping him. “Are you okay?” She asks calmly, slowly moving closer to Dark.

She was about up to your chin, carrying a longbow on her back. She seemed to have a tribal necklace and dress on, it being somewhat loose in the wind. And to Dark’s surprise, she was poking his face.

“I’m fine.” He says dryly. “Now could you please move your hoof out of my face?” He states with a seemingly growing anger.

Autumn: Dark, are you there?

“Excuse me for a moment,” he says. Stepping away to answer Autumn he places his hoof on his ear

Dark: I’m alive. Calm down everypony.

Autumn: What of that mare you were fighting with? Where is she?

He then notices that Dusty had been in another bed next to you. Sleeping soundly.

Dark: She’s asleep. But where is everpony now?

Paladin: Headed to Flagship

Flash: Waiting for them to return with Copper.

Autumn: Nearing Canterlot. Sending a two pony Stinger to your position.

Dark: Good, I appreciate it.

Ending the transmission, Dark looks over to the mare that helped him, slowly approaching.

“So who are you?” he asks with a more calmed down tone.

“I am Copper Crystal. And you are?” Crystal asks, giving a slight smile.

“Colonel Darkoneus Wave at your service.” He bows, going back to his original position.

“So what can you do?” he asks, sitting down next to Dusty.

“I’ve many talents. I’m a huntress, healer, and good with architecture.” Dark nods, and looks up.

“I’m an assassin, oddly one who is a commanding officer.” He states clearly. “If you would like, we can take you back to our flagship.” She gives a short nod and he goes to wake Dusty.