The ancient masonry danced with amber torchlight upon the fall of night. With considerable strain, Phoenix telekinetically dragged a large wooden chest rattling with various Blades Guild supplies. He ascended a series of worn, granite steps, approaching a smooth bridge of rock connecting two chunks of Site Beta's upper ruins.
He didn't have to trot far until a deep voice muttered from directly behind him. "Is that really all of it?"
"Gaah!" Phoenix leapt. He dropped the chest on his tail hairs with a thud, so that he nearly faceplanted when he tried to swivel around from the unwitting anchor. His mace was only halfway unsheathed when he stared into the deadpan face of Zenith. "Nnnngh... Don't friggin' do that!"
"Just because you're not the pony on watch doesn't mean you get to let your guard down." Zenith motioned towards the chest. "You didn't answer my question."
"Yeah, this is all the crap," Phoenix said. "I had to combine two chests into one."
"Is that what took you so long to bring it up here?" Zenith asked. "It's past sundown."
"It's this stupid torch," Phoenix muttered with a scowl. "Almost all the kerosene is dried up from when we were here last. I mean, it's not like we all had planned to come back to this dump. All the good stuff we had saved up was at the main camp."
"Which is in Ledomaritan hooves now, no doubt," Zenith spoke aloud as he leaned on his polearm. "Funny how much crap you can lose in a day."
"Have we been off our game or something?!" Phoenix's face hung in a pained expression. "If we've had this much bad luck months ago, we'd never have made it out of the Northern Xonan Highlands!"
"The only reason we've had bad luck is that we've had bad luck," Zenith grumbled. He telekinetically opened the chest and rummaged through the rattling supplies while talking. "And all of it in the form of a blue-feathered hothead with a raspy voice and a death wish."
"So I'm not the only one thinking the same way?"
"Who are you—of all stallions—to presume you think the same way as me?"
"Zenith—"
"You can't even put on your horseshoes without getting your eyes crossed."
"Oh come on!" Phoenix grumbled. "I was just trying to—"
"Is this seriously all of our rations?" Zenith remarked with a raised eyebrow.
Phoenix blew out the corner his mouth and replied, "Meh. Yeah. Though, we've only ever stored stuff for four ponies, much less seven."
"Don't you mean 'six?'" Zenith remarked.
Phoenix blinked at him. "You really don't think she can make it?"
"She's up against an entire squadron of the Queen's best fliers."
"But she took us all out so easily!" Phoenix exclaimed. "And then that Timberwolf—"
"Phoenix, WE took out the timberwolf. As for her owning us, that's because a winged pony naturally has the element of surprise." Zenith rummaged deeper and deeper into the trunk. "Believe me, if she's down for the count, it'll be a load off our shoulders. Don't pretend to me that the last twenty-four hours haven't taught you otherwise."
"Yes, well... erm..." Phoenix suddenly squinted at Zenith's wandering hooves. "Just what are you fishing around for, dude?"
"I'll know it when I see it," Zenith said. "And then I think it'll be time to have a talk with Crimson."
"About what?"
Zenith gazed up with bored eyes. "Do you really, truly think that the ponies of the Steel Wing will let us all go free—even if they totally knock Rainbow Dash's brains all over Foxtaur?"
"So what are we gonna do about it?!" Phoenix shrugged wildly. "We're friggin' wanted ponies!"
"Does it always have to be that way?"
Phoenix blinked at that. "Zenith...?" He leaned forward. "Just what are you thinking—"
Just then, a series of hoofsteps ricocheted up the worn walls of the place. Another source of torchlight bled into the chamber, bollowed by the bounding figure of Eagle Eye. At first sight of the three, he gasped happily and dashed towards the trunks. "Is this the supplies?"
"No. A bunch of caribou ghosts sold them to us."
"Hardy har. Lemme get a hoof in there quick..." Eagle Eye telekinetically dug into the materials.
Phoenix smirked at him. "What's the matter, princess? Left your girdle in there?"
"No. Did you leave your brain in there?"
"You call that a comeback?!" Phoenix barked.
"He is right, though," Zenith droned.
Phoenix flashed him a crooked look. "What, that I take my brain out?"
"No, that you're an idiot."
"Hey!"
"Ah-HA!" Eagle Eye beamed as he lifted a gold-embossed brush out from the contents. "There it is!"
"Pffft..." Phoenix rolled his eyes. "Why am I not surprised?"
"I don't care if you're geen with envy. This isn't for any of us." Eagle Eye slid the brush into his vest and practically skipped away, his sword and shield rattling merrily. "This is a mane emergency!"
"Unngh... why didn't he die in the first wave in Xona?" Phoenix grumbled once the two were alone again.
"That's something you'd better ask Crimson," Zenith said. He reached into the trunk yet again. "Generally speaking, there are several questions that are worth asking him."
"Why don't you go to him and ask?"
"Figured I shouldn't be alone in this."
"Alone in what?"
"Alas..." Zenith bore a neutral expression as he finally grabbed what he was looking for, a round, blue crystal. A faint aura shimmered off its enchanted surfaces. "Communication."
Phoenix paled at the sight of the shard. He gulped and spoke in a dry voice, "Is that what I think it is?"
"What's the matter, Phoenix?" Zenith's return glance had a dagger's edge. "Don't you want to get home?"
Phoenix looked at Zenith, at the crystal, then at the mercenary again. After chewing on his lip, he exhaled with "We should really go talk to Crimson..."
"For once, buddy..." Zenith slapped the chest's lid shut. "You're not an idiot."
Dash is not going to be happy when she sees this kind of treachery.
I never realized how much I hate Zenith. Gosh.
The Enforcers do not strike me as ones who would cut such a clean deal. The council might, but I somehow still doubt it.
There are no deals.
Anyone who sacrifices their freedom for the sake of a little security, deserves neither freedom nor security.
Mysterious crystal is mysterious.
And Eagle Eye is hilariously lovable.
He, just now, became my most favorite character of the story.
2085411
It's similar to the crystal Shell used to talk to his superiors.
There's always a betrayer.
Dash, come back soon!
I don't think the deal will go too well either...
2085290
2086052
So mean to Dash. Killing her, and now leaving her for dead. Seriously.
2086065
Yeah, yeah. Ain't I a stinker?
2086069
Depends on your sense of smell, I guess.
there's a Judas in our midst
I smell mutiny
Hoo boy. Betrayal in the midst of loyalty. There will be blood for this, most definitely.
so there's 6 without dash there, sooooooooo, seeing the personalities of some of them it seems like, dash could reform the mane 6, and have another friend that is still somewhat useful beside the group!
Eagle Eye is Vimbert the Unimpressive's OC, right?
If they try to betray our main characters, here's what will happen:
Shell will alter the deal and Zenith will pray that he doesn't alter it any further.
I'm having funny feelings for Eagle Eye.
But I like GIRLS.
I'm so confused.
2085441
Ah, guess I overlooked that bit. Still, this raises questions. The other communicant of that crystal could be anyone. This may either be a call to the cavalry, betrayal (should the one on the other end be Shell or the Enforcers), or something else.
There's more?
So now I don't have to cry anymore?
...
No.
I don't think I can stop.
Not from the last ending.
when will they realize that their home free?
2086952
2087644 EE likes girls too, honest.
2086377
Except for the fact that several of the six are planning to sell her out.
... Is it just me or did Zenith turn into a monumental dick over the span of a dozen paragraphs?
Pffff Buck you Zenith.
They better not do that. I swear, if this happens....
Argh.
Onwards!
(I need to work on this. Just chucking 'Onwards' at the end of a comment doesn't seem to always work. Any ideas guys?)
Oh, not cool. Mutiny is not the way to handle things.
Eagle Eye's reading more like a stereotype than he did in his own stories. The hairbrush is a little bit excessive, even for him.
Aside from that, of course, the plot thickens...
IIIIIt's Dashie's evaluation time!
So it appears there is some diversity in the Foxtaur group's opinions of Rainbow Dash. I think that's good. It shows that, even though they're a team, they can have different opinions. Although I can't say I approve of this treachery...what's going on here? Is Zenith going to contact Steel Wing using that gem like Cold Canter did? Perhaps he'll make a bargain for Belle and Pilate...These are my thoughts so far.
-MASH
Treachery!
Zenith better watch his flank, because once Dash gets back there's gonna be a hoof print on it so clear you can see it from the moon. Being the bad guy and attacking her friends is one thing, but pretending to be on their side and then selling them out? Not much room for forgiveness there.
Also, its time for Belle to get a *singsong voice* makeover! EE is adorable. And now I'm lamenting the fact that I don't have a friend like him - C'est la vie.
Hey.
Hey Zenith.
I have something I would like you to go shove up your plot:
photo-dictionary.com/photofiles/list/149/1637cactus.jpg
I don't believe that there's a special circle of hell dedicated for people like these ponies, but I sure wouldn't be surprised if there turned out to be one.
grace and anger,
-Psyco Josho
Ah man I relly liked Zenith, he reminded me of my older brother until now
2119658 how do you remember all these names ? And spell them correctly for that matter
>I don't care if you're geen with envy
Dost thou intend this to read "green"?
Oh my gosh. Did I just read what I think I read? Bloody betrayers...
Rainbow won't like this. Not one bit.
I want to say I'm surprised by this, but really...
they're mercenaries. They don't know Dashie's importance. She beat their shit.
They just don't have an emotional attachment to her yet, is all.
It's a sound stone.
Zenith has a point. Right now, they're stuck between a sound stone and a hard place.
Here's hoping that Crimson will put his foot down hard on this brilliant little plan. There is no trust or safety for traitors, because you've permanently demonstrated the worth of your character to everyone around you.
6354864
Well for Zenith at least. Crimson and Eagle Eye at least I know left the Ledo Army because they were saving lives of innocent civvies. and were branded as traitors for not being evil. Zenith from what I can see is a monkey anus. And Phoenix is a total coward.
Oh shit. Zenith is tired and ready to negotiate to the enemy.
Talk about dark times.
So who's gonna die by the end of this series? The answers are hinted here in this very chapter.
*gasp* betrayal!
the forest will run red from dashies rage when she discovers their plan
I’m starting to really, really hate Zenith. I’m so glad I didn’t get her confused with Xenith, who is an infinitely better character.
On the other hand 2E is just as good as he always is. Rainbow Dash is missing and he wants to fix his mane first, because apparently it is more important. I think that would be horrible if 2E wasn’t comedically portrayed as doing that.
However, I have mixed feelings about this chapter. It’s good, but Zenith is staring to make me angry.