Chapter 29: Planning

A week later Firestorm arrived in Seaddle and galloped towards the HQ. The closer he came to the building the more wounded warriors he spotted. From the distance he had seen that the frontline had moved precariously close to the city.

"Thank goodness! You're back!" he heard Twilight's voice from behind.

"Oh… Hi Twilight." He answered after he had turned around, "What happened here?"

"A few days ago the changelings attacked our lines and pushed us back to the city."

"I have to talk to Shining Armor, immediately."

"My brother is in a meeting, but I think he will receive you."

"Can you bring me to him?"

"Sure, just follow me." Twilight said and walked towards the HQ followed by the blonde alicorn. They entered the building, but there were not quite as many ponies than he had in remembrance and those he saw were mostly too young or too old to fight. They walked along the corridors until the two ponies reached the conference room where Shining Armor organized the defense of the city together with the other commanders who had survived the last battle.

"Thank goodness, you're back!" the white unicorn said delighted as it saw the blonde stallion entering the room. "Where have you been the last few weeks?"

"That's a long story that I'll tell you when we've got time for it." Firestorm answered in a calm tone, "But first you have to report to me what happened while I was away."

"Three days ago the changelings started a blistering attack on our positions. Our troops were too exhausted to strike back and fell victim to those creatures. We lost too many warriors and had to fall back to the city." Shining reported a bit saddened, "I gave order to evacuate the city, but there are still some civilians who haven't left yet and in two days we'll leave the city. As sad as it is, but we have to realize that we've lost this war."

"We haven't lost yet."

"Maybe you're too stubborn to realize it!" the unicorn cut him off. "We don't have enough troops left to fight them anymore and we have no reinforcements left!"

"We have to attack a last time –"

"No! At best we've got about five thousand warriors left that aren't even enough to defend the city!" Shining Armor said almost shouting, "I'm not even sure if they want to fight for you anymore!"

"If you can't effect a miracle the troops won't follow you anymore." A brown Pegasus stallion with a blue mane and tail who was wearing a brown colored armor said while he stepped towards the exit, "I won't follow you."

"Listen to me!" He tried to sooth them, "An army will arrive tomorrow. With their help we'll be able to push them back."

"It's too late!" Flint Ryder said pointing threatening with his right front hoof at the blonde stallion, "We lost the war when you decided to dig in!"

"It's not too late."

"Too late for what?" Firebolt asked appearing next to Firestorm.

"You?!" the Pegasus shouted angry while it drew its sword, "What are you doing here?"

"Well, I'm finishing this war." The stallion answered in a calm tone.

"The war is already over!" Flint Ryder yelled and charged at him. Firebolt waited to the last moment before he dodged the attack by just stepping aside. "Stop it! You can't beat me." The stallion said and prepared for the next attack.

"You don't wear your armor. I have a chance against you."

"No you haven't." Firestorm tossed in and began to smile as he heard the answer, "I'm sure that I have one." With those words on his lips the stallion charged again at Firebolt with his sword held high. Flint charged at him, but the stallion didn't move he just raised his right front hoof and a moment before he would crash into him the stallion stepped aside again. Suddenly the Pegasus dropped its sword and went to the ground holding its burned hoof. "I told you that you can't beat me."

"You didn't fight fair, you bastard!" Flint Ryder called frustrated about his defeat.

"I didn't really fight and that's fair enough." The spirit answered and turned around to Shining Armor and Firestorm, "Have you told him the good news already?"

"I was about to do as you appeared, but he's still thinking that the war is over." Firestorm answered while Flint stood up and grabbed his sword before he sneaked behind Firebolt.

"Don't worry; as long as we live we won't lose this war." The stallion tried to calm the unicorn, "My brother is on his way and with him comes the army of a whole kingdom."

Just as he finished the sentence the Pegasus raised its sword and attacked the blank-faced spirit. Flint Ryder couldn't believe his eyes as he saw that his blade went through the body as if it was air; he tried it again, but he couldn't injure him. "What are you?!" he shouted in a slightly scared tone and retreated a few steps. Firebolt turned around and stepped slowly towards him; while he was approaching he put on an evil grin. Finally as he stood directly in front of the Pegasus he moved his head slowly towards its ears and said in a dryly tone, "I'm dead." The stallion's eyes went big as he heard that and dropped his sword. "So, now it's official, we've lost this war." He said in a sarcastic way after he calmed down a bit.

"No, we haven't. – And I am the reason why we'll win this war. I'll use a spell that I hoped never to use, but there's one problem – I have to get into the Hive."

"The what?" Shining asked astonished.

"Did no one of you care that I'm dead?" Firebolt said a bit confused about their reaction to his death.

"We are in a war with thousands of victims and you're one of them; another name on the memorial."

"That's all? I risked my life for Equestria day in, day out and all you'll do to keep the fallen in memory is a memorial with their names on it? You can't be serious!"

"We can't do more for them." The unicorn cut him off. "So, what is the Hive?"

"The Hive is their HQ and the home of Scarabus."

"You want to go there?!" he asked incredulously.

"Yes, that's what I planned." Firebolt answered while he lay down and began to hover in front of them.

"You're crazy! That's a suicide mission!" Shining Armor exclaimed and the spirit hovered towards the table with the maps upon it.

"I know." He answered in a calm tone, "But I have got nothing left to lose."

"A bit funny, huh?" Flint Ryder smirked and stepped slowly towards the table where the other ponies gathered around.

"The Hive should be anywhere in this area." Firebolt said pointing at the map, "Far beyond their lines."

"So what is your plan?" Firestorm asked curiously while Shining Armor marked the area. "You have a plan, don't you?" he added after a while as the stallion didn't reply.

"Sure!" he answered a bit absently, "During the night Firestorm and I will sneak behind their lines."

"Wait!" The blonde stallion cut him off, "Why both of us? Isn't it enough when only you go?"

"No, I need you to get into the Hive."

"But why?"

"Because Scarabus gave me the order to kill you and I think she'll be pleased that I'll bring you to her as my captive." He said with a slight smile on his face.

"What?! – Good that I get to know that!" Firestorm burst out.

"Hey, calm down! You're not really my captive." Firebolt said in a soothing tone, "But may I finish first before you criticize my plan?"

"Go on." Shining Armor and Firestorm said simultaneously. Both looked at Flint Ryder. "What? I haven't said anything." He answered finally.

"As I said, we'll sneak behind their lines and hide until the dawn breaks." The spirit began, "When the troops are ready my brother will lead an assault on the enemy lines which should catch Scarabus' whole attention. Then Firestorm and I have to search for a body for me so that we can enter the Hive where we'll kill her."

"There're several problems with your plan. First, we haven't enough troops for another attack and there are no reinforcements left which is the second problem." The white unicorn said doubting, "And why should your brother lead the attack?"

"Thunderwing is their leader and they won't listen to anypony else; I'm not even sure if they would listen to me."

"Wait!" Shining cut him off, "Do you want to tell me that those thousand warriors from Nordheim come back? – I don't think that they'll make a big difference."

"Those hunters aren't even anywhere near that what will arrive tomorrow." Firebolt said with a chuckle as he realized that the pony thought that the two hunter battalions were the whole army of Nordheim. "Not only thousand warriors will come. There are more than fifteen-thousand warriors on their way."

"Fifteen-?!" Flint Ryder and Shining Armor called out, but Firestorm cut them off, "Yes, fifteen thousand. I hadn't believed my eyes as I saw them, but I'm sure that they'll be our last hope."

"That could make a difference." The Pegasus said after a short while.

"Now that the reinforcements are clarified I can mention that this is the shittiest plan I've ever heard." Firestorm said in sincere, "And it's not only the fact that you're planning to turn me in."

"I can understand you and I know that it is a bad plan, but we haven't got another one." The spirit answered.

"I don't trust him, neither should you!" the brown pony called out.

"We have to talk later." Firebolt said with an angry expression on his face while he looked at Flint Ryder.

"I agree with Firestorm. Your plan is totally shit." The white unicorn said, "But I don't have a better one."

"Maybe she's still thinking that I'm under her control. That's our only way in." he answered, "And if she won't let us in you can go und support the others while I find another way into the Hive."

"And why don't you go alone?"

"Because I need your help to find a body for me."

"What if something goes wrong?" Firestorm asked.

"I promise you that you will return home." The spirit answered smiling, "I hope you trust me."

"I'm not sure if it's safe to trust you. I still don't know what she has done with you." The stallion said doubting, "How can I be sure if you are really yourself and not a creation of Scarabus?"

"You can't. – You have to trust me." Firebolt answered, "I know that I gave you enough reasons not to trust me, but please, do it a last time."

"Don't you dare to betray me!" he said in a doubting tone, "One sign that you're betray me and I'll kill you."

"I would never betray my friends." The golden stallion answered chuckling and without looking at his friend; his gaze went to the brown Pegasus instead. "I thought we made it clear that nopony can kill me."

"I'll help you, but I won't lay down my weapons."

"You don't have to if you hide them well enough."

"Deal." Firestorm answered.

"Good. – Shining, my brother will brief you about the attack. Firestorm, we'll start in the evening." Firebolt said and as the two ponies nodded he added, "Would you now leave me alone with that nasty pegasus, please?"

"Hey!" Flint called out while the others left the room, "You were the problem not I!"

The spirit hovered dangerously close to the stallion and began to smile. "I'm sorry." He said, his tone nothing but sincere, "I'm sorry that I challenged you to a duel and I know that it was wrong to do that. Can you forgive me?"

"I should forgive you that you've attacked me?!" Flint Ryder called provoked. "Why should I forgive you? Huh?"

"I know that we had a bad start and you've caught me on the wrong hoof. – Please forgive me." The stallion begged, "We don't need to be friends, but please let us not be foes."

"You don't really deserve this, but –" He answered hesitantly, "I forgive you if you tell me why you want me to."

"During my time in hell I saw how many enemies Firestorm has and I don't want to end like him."

"That's not really all, is it?"

"No, I won't return from this mission. That's the main reason why I want to make peace with you."

"But you said-"

"I said that he'll return home and he will return home." Firebolt cut him off, "I said nothing about my destiny."

"Why won't you return?"

"I can't tell you that." He answered and hovered towards the door, "But I hope that we won't see us again. Enjoy your life as long as you live. – Good-By!" The stallion vanished and left the brown Pegasus alone in the conference room.