The Accord

The two Earth ponies made their journey into the rim of the Northern Expansion, the looming city of Canterlot growing ever closer and ominous, if looked at from far away one can forget how dark and foreboding the once golden city can be. Broadsword would occasionally look skyward to the gray and moody atmosphere above them, though he doubted his companion has ever been to Cloudsdale due to his heritage, he more then likely knows of it's location better then Broadsword does. It was still something to ponder living up in the clouds away from most of the madness that looms over the earth below them, the ability to look down upon your foes like gods, or even the ability to be looking over them right now as they galloped to their destination. It was spine chilling...

"We've been on this trail for hours, not to sound whiney but do you know much further?"

Their current location hinges on an empty field and the expansion to the base of the Canterlot Mountains, even the sight of the roaring river that stems from Trottingham Lake flows in the distance. Broadsword found a lone flat boulder to sit upon, giving himself a breather from the road's travel.

"Not much longer," Storm said, observing his surroundings. "I'd say another half hour or so." He sat on the ground, glancing over at his companion who had been glancing at the sky.

"You won't find it," Storm said, a small smile on his face. "Few know it's location at any one time. But it's still a little overwhelming, the center of Stormwing power."

"Tell me something..." Broadsword pushed himself from his seated position staring into the clouds, his face less cheerful then before. "How truly honorable are your mares and colts Storm? I've been getting some really unsettling vibes sense we touched the expansion."

Before Storm would give his answer Broadsword clasped his teeth around the hilt of a blade and produced an honest to true broadsword, the blade just abit wider then his body, producing sparks as it escaped it's sheath. Some scrapes and scratches ran across the weapon, showing it's age and use, with end of the blade more jagged and serrated. For it to produce such sparks would mean that his sheath would be made of steal, and that it was. His other weapon the Dispel Blade remained inside the sheath. The sheath was large enough to hold two blades at once. His movements came off sluggish she he readied his weapon, it seems abit easier to dodge due to the size and weight of the weapon he wields, though it is safe to say to be caught on the receiving end of the weapon would have some catastrophic results. Broadsword's ears flicked about like radars, nearing Storm to keep a closer parameter to his companion, his gaze still afixed to the sky above.

Storm thought about the question for a moment, before Broadsword leaped to his feet.

Sadly holding a usually two handed weapon in your mouth impedes speech...

"Iph doph heer anptheing....UTT EYY SPHEE DOPHS!"

What the hell did he just say? Alittle too late to ponder upon it. Broadsword jammed his blade into the earth grabbing Storm by his tail and tucking him just behind the flat side of the blade. Broadsword held his weapon up, crouching behind it as well. Storm would hear multiple clangs of metal and feel the vibrations of the sword as something impacted upon it from the opposite side.

Peeking over the weapon Broadsword's expression grew stern and narrowed. "Maybe you want to tell these guys we're on their side..."

Stormwing soldiers littered the sky surrounding them armed with lances at the ready, standing upon grey clouds just above them. How long they have been following the two is unknown, but they have been using the blackened sky to their advantage to get the jump on them.

"STOP DENTING MY SWORD!" Broadsword screamed to their attackers, nullifying the idea that they were aiming for them and not their makeshift shield...

"STAND DOWN!" Storm shouted in his most official voice. A few hesitated, drilled by their superiors to heed such commands. Storm user the moment to dig out his ID.

"I'm First Lieutenant Storm Chaser, and I am ORDERING you to stand down!" He snarled, doing his best commanding voice.

"It's The Ghost!" One of them shouted. The rest halted their attack, but did not lower their weapons, obviously still weary of a trap.

"As you can see, I am a Soldier and Citizen of the House of Stormwing, on official business that YOU are currently disrupting! MOVE YOUR ASSES!"

They hesitated, obviously unsure what to do.

"How do we know you're the real Ghost?" One of them yelled.

"I don't know Sergeant," Storm barked. "How about next time I go raiding I'll take you with me, and let YOU clear the buildings with the Inquisitors yourself!" That possibility struck home, as the soldiers lowered their weapons, slowly.

"Sorry we doubted you sir," One said. "We didn't recognize you without your armor. And who's this?"

"My companion, he is assisting me on a mission into Moon and Star territory." Storm replied. "That should be sufficient. Now then, do you have updated scout reports along the border?"

Broadsword kept his mouth shut watching Storm take command and expertly on the Stormwings, showing signs of being colored impressed. Though that is quickly replaced with a smirk seeing how deshuffled and distraught Storm's men were as he screeched at them. Chuckling to himself once or twice.

"Sir, I'm actually not allowed to-"

"Allowed to what Sergeant? Give reports to your superior officers after you ATTACK them?! Who ordered you to attack us anyway?!"

"No one sir! I didn't- I didn't mean-"

"Good answer. 'I didn't mean too, I'm just INCOMPETENT!' Are you competent enough to get me those reports? Or do I need to alert your superiors about this blunder?!"

No sir! I'll get them now!" The flustered Sergeant said, speeding off to carry out the instructions. The other soldiers stood frozen, unsure of what to do next.

“What in Tatarus are you all looking at?" Storm barked. "Pull your heads out of your flanks and get back to your patrol!" The soldiers complied, making time to get away from the obviously peeved officer.

Broadsword decided this little debacle would end in their favor after the little display he just witnessed. "All we needed was some, popcorn, slapstick, and someone getting hit in the face with a pie, and we would have had ourselves a show." Picking his blade form the earth and dusting it with his hoof, Broadsword slid the blade back into it's iron bedding. Making a motion of opening and closing his mouth, he adjusted his jaw, it's safe to assume that he's popped it out multiple times swinging something like that around. It's a wonder he's not missing teeth.

"Not gonna lie, that was pretty boss. So I'm in the company of someone called "The Ghost" huh? Wanna squeal on how that come about? That cats atta the bag anyway." Broadsword gave a jovial snarky smirk, to egg his commanding friend into explaining the story of his title.

"The Ghost of Ruin," Storm said, shaking his head. "At least that's what it is now. It was 'Ghost of the Ruins' first. It's what the Earthborn forces called me when I first joined Stormwing. It happened when Stormwing and Earthborn units clashed near an Archaeological sight I was exploring at the time. When I threw my lot in with the Pegusi, I waged a one-stallion guerilla war from that place. Raiding their supplies, attacking their patrols, rescuing wounded soldiers, and then vanishing right back into the ruins. I knew that place like the back of my hoof, so whenever the Earthborns tried to give chase, they could never find me. Hence the nickname 'Ghost of the Ruins'."

"Well I guess that is one of the neat things about being in the houses, you can get yerself one of them fancy little nicknames to flash around. Unless your infamous, or in the realm of black market deals and mercenaries alot, the only thing your name is going to impress is bandits." Broadsword watched the last of the pegusi fly off into the clouds, before whistling out loud. "Man they got the drop on us good, thats the one thing I can respect about you Stormwings, you know how to play to your advantages. Though you guys might be abit too....eh...let call it "ridged" for my taste."

"That and all the horror stories I hear from getting out of line with your orders puts a sour taste in your mouth...I like to think I'm alittle to ambitious to deal with that."

"You thinks it's bad looking in from the outside, imagine actually being IN the inside." Storm said, sighing. "I hate that stupid title, and I hate screaming at soldiers like I just did even more. I've done things during this damn war that make it hard to sleep at night."

"Sounds about as fun as having to eat a moving Laughing Dead...." One would think that was a joke, but by the tone of his voice that sounded genuine. "...I have no idea why I just told you that-...Let's just forget that little tidbit." Broadsword averted his gaze back to the sky wishing for the scout to return so Storm would not have the chance to pry.

Storm froze, turning to face his companion, a deadly serious look in his eye.

"You've encountered the Cult."

"...Encountered is putting it lightly."

It wasn't a question. Storm had several ugly encounters with the Hellish cult of laughter, and they made the Archmagister look like a Saint.

"What happened?"

"After afew jobs in Whitegold they asked me to clean up a district of some Laughing Dead, at the time I was training my little brother, so I figured carving into some dead ponies would beefen him up into learning how to strike at a moving target. The job was going good, we almost finished wrapping it up, but then we started hearing a song in the distance. I watched my little brother start dancing about like he was on a sugar rush, meanwhile I was starting to black out...When I came to I was surrounded by cult members."

"I can't explain why I'd feel this way, but something about seeing them face to face, it felt good. I was happy to be amongst them, but I also know how nuts that was to even consider that, they somehow brainwashed us into being apart of the cult with some kind of freaky musicbox. As a means to celebrate our joining the cult, they presented us with the last laughing dead we were about to cut down."

Broadsword's gaze to the sky lowered, his voice alittle broken up. "They told us to eat up...."

"I was first, I ate a pony, and I loved how it tasted, but was screaming on the inside. They then presented it to my little brother...before he took a bite, I felt myself snap. I broke free of their hold...."

Broadsword stomped a hoof down into the earth and dug it in. "...and left none alive."

"By Celestia..." Storm said, shaking his head. "They get even worse every time I hear of them. They're not even original, still using those magical music boxes to brainwash ponies to joining them. The same thing happened when I ran into them." A thought occurred to him.

"What about your brother? Was he alright?"

"I told him it was a bad dream...and he believed it. Thank Celestia for his innocence, all I did was take him back to the Hornless Minotaur, read him his favorite bedtime story, and all was forgiven and forgotten."

"But that doesn't help me....A part of me feels a kinship to the Cult, whenever see one of them, I can hold sympathy and understanding to them. Whatever they did to me, I can never sake off. I hate them for it, but I also thank them in the back of my head...and its absolutely batshit insane."

"It's a side effect to the control," Storm explained. "You broke their hold, but you'll still feel attached to them. It may even be so far that you'll hear the Laughing Mare whispering to you in your head." Storm's time among the Cult had not been for nothing. He'd been given an opportunity to study the effects of the Cult's indoctrination methods first hand, and gained much valuable knowledge. "And if your brother was exposed to the same indoctrination..."

"Oh awesome, so we're ticking timebombs. Just with a very, very long fuse. But I've never heard voices in my head, I know I still would never go near their townships and that danger looms. I still have the mental capacity to know that anything that has to do with them is hazardous. I still have the knowledge and willpower to slice them down if they get out of hand with me or my brother...I just always thought that if I laughed genuinely and find the bright side of life, I can just keep it locked away."

"Hold on, I didn't say that." Storm said, trying to reassure his friend. "Your mind is still your own, but you'll just feel a sort of... kinship with The Crazies. You may hear the Laughing Mare's instructions, but that doesn't mean you have to follow them. I'm not saying it would be easy, but I would avoid the Cult at all costs, just to be safe." Even as he spoke the words, Storm wasn't completely sure he believed them himself, but it was the only chance.

'Except for the Idol...' He thought. 'If I can find it again, maybe it will fix everything....'

"What Ido-...no forget it, we're not here to worry about the cult. The main focus is getting those gemstones and taking down that inquisitor..." Broadsword turned his head to Storm with a playful smirk. "And ransacking the crap out of the joint that Rarity herself would be jealous!"

"Oh yes," Storm said, another dark smile coming to his face. "I've been looking for a way to rebuild my fortune, and I'm sure my good old pal Fact Finder would be more than happy to help me out in that category. After all, he won't be needing it anymore..."

And there was the ray of sunshine, as macabre as it was, back into Broadsword's demeanor. A thunk was heard to the side of them, as the Stormwing from before landed to the ground trotting his way to the two. "Nice of you too show up, you could have dropped in alittle bit sooner." A stupid laugh escaped his mouth, obviously a joke now only known between himself and Storm Chaser. Broadsword was actually happy with the idea of a potential comrade with the Stormwing officer.

The Stallion, obviously oblivious to the joke, trotted toward them

"You wished to have the Scout reports sir?" He asked.

"Yes. We'll be infiltrating enemy territory and we need an entrance point. What have you got?" The stallion pulled a map from his saddlebag

"It's pretty quiet along the border right now," The soldier reported. "But if you want to get in without being noticed, I would say you'd want to get in right....here."

"...How much do they pay you buddy?" Broadsword was given a sharp look at by the solider, most likely not willing to speak about that infront of his commanding officer. "What I mean is, I know of someone who can shadow in non Moon and Star ponies into the city's restricted areas. However he will only accept a hefty sum, and he's only friendly with ponies not affiliated with the houses. I know how we can find him, but we'll need to pool some cash together..."

"That and he may...or may not be...a cha-..g..ng" Broadsword's ears fell to the side of his head as he communicated that last bit giving a nervous grin looking back and forth between the two.

Storm closed his eyes, already feeling a Migraine coming on at the mere mention of the infiltration species.

"Uh... should I go now sir?" The soldier asks. "Before I hear something I might be held liable for?"

"That would probably be a good idea."

"Understood. Good luck sir," The soldier said, saluting before he departed.

"Please tell me you didn't just say Changeling..." Storm muttered

"Well...if you think about it, Pitch can be anything you want him to be...Uh heh heh...maybe it would have been a good idea if I brought this up sooner?...To be fair I didn't say the C word...in that....last...sentence. On the bright side...maybe Pitch can help us get some better equipment to blend inside the city while he's at it?"

"Oh Celestia.... why do I have a feeling I'm going to be spending much of what remains of my quickly dwindling fortune...."

"Because this wouldn't be the first time I've delt with Pitch before, so maybe since we're kinda buddies, maybe he'll give us a discount? Hell sometimes Pitch doesn't want money....which doesn't help out my arguments of Pitch being a good guy does it?"

"A good CHANGELING. A species that survives off the love of others, an emotion that is in low supply in Canterlot. Which begs the question, where does he get his food? You know what, never mind, I don't want to know." Storm shook his head. "Doesn't matter anyway, I'll pay whatever his price is to get a shot at Fact Finder."

"....Would it be bad to tell you I also know a dragon? Well whatever that’s neither here nor there, you get us to the easy sneaking checkpoint and I'll worry about getting Pitch to help us. Fair enough? So go on lead the way 'Commander'."

"Lieutenant..." Storm grumbled, leading the way. "Alright, this way. There's a broken part of the fence on the border, past that is a secret tunnel that will lead us to the side of a small lake. From there, we're going to contact my friend Desert Sun, one of my few contacts that can get us in to Canterlot."