open The SkullCrown Rebellion

[Chaotix 10]

She could hardly say no to a good meal, especially after having nothing but ration bars for the last 2 days. Chewing on her food she wondered what Coppermane could show her? With an uplifting hope she hoped he would show her those wings he used before, they were a beautiful piece of craft.

[THE WILD HUNT 213]

"Good job Sketch, never knew you could rally soldiers up so fast," Orrin said as he saw pegasi emerge from the clouds.

"Allright, we'll need to report this to Coppermane. Some of the sky factions memeber's were ambushed and caught. Three vital members at that. We'll head to the Everfree forest and report this to him, we'll need all the help we can get if we're to get close to Canterlot."

Orrin and the team took off towards the forest

[TheOnlyBadgerChild 8]

"Anything for you, captain." Sketches joked. "Anything else?"

[THE WILD HUNT 213]

"No, not for now at least," Orrin said as he landed near Coppermane's hut.

"Coppermane! I need you here now!"

[HunterTSN 1,444]

Once they had all finished breakfast Copper stood, he looked at Inspired, "come wi-" he was cut off by Orrin's bellow, he poked his head out the door. "Ah, Orrin, what a pleasant surprise! Come inside, you'll never guess who I found injured out in the woods last night." he swung the door open, revealing a curious Inspired lying on the sofa and a shivering Ponitearious hiding under the table.

[THE WILD HUNT 213]

Orrin tilted his head in confusion at Inspired presence.

"What is SHE doing here?" he asked as he rubbed his talons together, producing small sparks.

[HunterTSN 1,444]

CopperMane laid back in one of the chairs, "well I didn't think leaving her out in the Everfree Forest would be very gentlemanly," he laughed a deep hearty laugh and then his face turned serious, "I was going to take her into 'town' today, you think you could give us a ride, we're both a little worn out from yesterday." he looked at Orrin with a meaningful gaze.

[THE WILD HUNT 213]

"Actually, I came to report something to you," he said as he dismissed Inspired's presence.

"There was an ambush on the Sky Faction's team. Three vital members were captured and I'm here to ask you for any help you can give in getting them back. Canterlot is... well protected with SkullCrown's forces..."

[HunterTSN 1,444]

Copper processed the information in his head, "this is not good, we aren't large enough to raid Canterlot, and the princess has probably already had the captives exterminated. We can't afford to raid yet, unless of course we had an inside source..." He paused as he realized something, he turned to face Inspired.

[Chaotix 10]

Inspired was shocked to see the griffon again, but she held back a panicked response, she felt that Coppermane wouldnt let her come to harm, at least for the time being. "You cant storm Canterlot, thats a suicide mission, it is covered in defenses and the princess has equipped her troops well" Inspired continued to blurt out "Trust me i know, ive had to keep half of it maintained by myself, but one tiny slip up and im assigned to convoy duty..." The least she could do is dissuade them from throwing their lives away, Coppermane and his assistant had done a lot for her.

[THE WILD HUNT 213]

Orrin whirred his chainsaws.

"Oh yeah..."

[HunterTSN 1,444]

CopperMane ignored the squabble, "But inspired, what if you returned and told the princess the rebels had retreated, that capturing three major ponies scared them off? She might listen to you."

Edited March 14, 2012 by thesteampunkninja

[Chaotix 10]

"She has full mechanical support, all those things will do is scratch their bodywork, please trust me you dont want to do anything rash" Inspired insisted. Onne griffon vs the Skullcrown fortress, thats madness.

She looked at Coppermane, "my loyalty is to the crown, if i betray her i betray those who need me, besides im not exactly her favourite subject." Thinking back on what she had been ordered to do by the princess, Inspired realised she couldnt do it, she couldnt harm somebody who had helped her.

Edited March 14, 2012 by Chaotix

[HunterTSN 1,444]

"WILL YOU TWO SHUT UP!" Copper yelled, "please, just listen!"

[Chaotix 10]

Inspired jumped at Coppermane's shout, then bowed her head and listened intently, she hardly wanted to anger a host who was the only thing stopping her from being ripped to shreds by a cybergriffon.

[HunterTSN 1,444]

"Thank you. Now Inspired, how would you like to help a bunch of rebels overthrow your princess?" he smiled wickedly.

[Nightfluff 15]

Astra had taken the news of Brash and his friends in silence just staring at the ground. It seem3d to her that chance had more than one hoof in Astra's fate. She got onto the sky faction by chance in the first place and now she was the leader of the entire faction. Moreover, she probably just lost the only ponies who ever cared for her. With a shaky deep breath and a single shed tear, Astra took notice of Coppermane and company's presence, but remained silent, calculating the situation.

 

"I don't care what you plan on doing," Astra said in a low voice, "but I think that I can speak for the entire sky faction when I say 'I'm in.'" Astra looked to Coppermane with a determined, almost fierce look in her eyes.

Edited March 14, 2012 by Nightfluff

[Chaotix 10]

If she couldve, Inspired would have flared her wings in shock. "I appreciate everything youve done, and i have to admit youve proven to me, that not all ive been taught is right, but why would i rebel against the princess?" Inspired took a deep breath, and in a monotone as if it had been hammered into her head, "Skullcrown took power from the tyrant Celestia, to save the ponies that laboured under her, she gave us all safety, protection and freedom. All she asks is that we all do our dues and work for the better of Equestria." A thought took her by surprise, where is our freedom? They didnt have any, she couldnt decieve herself of that. She had a confused look on her face as she suffered an inner conflict, ignoring her company as she thought hard and deeply.

[HunterTSN 1,444]

The princess looked up as a guard entered, "well?" she asked, "the captives have been exterminated," he replied. "Good, and it was in secret right?" "Yes ma'am." "Very well, get out of my sight." She laid back on her thrown and smiled evilly, 'come on silly rebels, come save your friends!'

 

Copper frowned, "I want to show you Princess SkullCrown's idea of safety, protection, and freedom." he pulled a small device out from nowhere and flicked a switch, a golds sphere engulfed the room and when it faded everyone was standing in the middle of what was once Ponyville, a few homeless ponies peeked out from alleyways and boarded up houses. "Here is your freedom" CopperMane said with remorse, "if this doesn't convince you to help, I don't know what will."

[Chaotix 10]

A single tear rolled down Inspired's face, she knew the pain the ponies being displayed felt. She spent so long trying to forget that time, she convinced herself it doesnt happen. But here was evidence that it was happening. If she could ever do anything about it, itd be here with the rebels. "Ill help you, ill help you bring down the princess."

[Nightfluff 15]

Astra looked around in awe. This was the life she could've had if SkullCrown had never come into power. Her awe subsided and she was momentarily filled with rage then sadness. A new determination was filled inside her. She looked to the royal turned rebel and nodded more out of appreciation the approvement.

 

"Just say the order cheif. I'll do whatever it takes," Astra said strongly.

Edited March 14, 2012 by Nightfluff

[HunterTSN 1,444]

CopperMane smiled and hit the switch again, they where back at his cottage. "Okay so I think I have a plan, but first I need you to tell me something, what did SkullCrown say when you delivered my message after the first ambush?" he questioned.

[Chaotix 10]

"She ordered me to kill you, or she will have me executed as a coward" she murmered, ashamed of the order.

[Nightfluff 15]

Astra looked grave at the thought of Coppermane being dead. Seeing as he was safe for the moment, Astra slowly and quietly made her way to a dark corner of the house. The others were busy planning and she was certain that she'd hear the finished product when she got back. Astra slipped silently into an empty room. Trying to be as silent as possible, she did what she thought no leader ever did: she cried her eyes out. Her back lifted up in little quakes and her head shook slightly as she fully comprehended her current situation. After a few minutes, Astra felt much better. She wiped a few stray tears away and snuck back to where Coppermane and company were.

[HunterTSN 1,444]

Copper thought for a moment then had an idea, he reached up and removed the dark welding goggles, revealing his scarred face, his right eye was bright yellow, like an owls, but where his left eye should be there was a black spherical object, in the very center of it was a small yellow light that glowed even in the daylight. Copper threw the goggles on the floor at Inspired's hooves. "Take those to her and tell her I'm dead, tell her that with my death and the capture of the other rebels that the rest of us have backed down, then scout out an unguarded entrance into the palace, when you find one send me or Orrin a message via this," he handed her a small earpiece, "it will also be a tracker so we can find you if your in trouble." he smiled, "best of luck."

Edited March 14, 2012 by thesteampunkninja