Chapter Fifty Three: The Hounds of War.
Last chapter, things were despicable, to say the least.
Here is the next chapter in the War arc. Here we go.
Ivypool POV
"-And then he took Poppyfrost and ran. I followed the tracks as best I could, but I passed out along the road," Ivypool explained, as Hollyleaf wrapped bandages around her chest.
When the found her, she was close to death. The bullet barely missed her heart and lungs, going straight through flesh. She was laid out neatly in the bed of the truck.
"I think they're heading to the mountain. That's where this road leads," Ivypool explained.
Hawkfrost nodded "There is an old base in the quarry. Scourge took me there for...reconditioning. There is a lab on the mountain that overlooks the city. They might be there."
"Then that's our heading," Jack responded, pulling his gun out.
Ivypool winced, as Hollyleaf applied the bandages "Where is Foxleap? And Lionblaze?"
Jayfeather lowered his head "We are all that's left. Everyone else is dead."
Ivypool let out a sigh, closing her eyes "Dammit. Just dammit. Well we can't avenge them by pissing and moaning about it."
Breezepelt scoffed "I'm surprised you're so professional about this. You're boyfriend and sister are dead."
"And crying won't bring them back," Ivypool rebutted "All we can do now is kill Brokenstar, and try to use the Moonstone to stop this madness from happening."
"We can't," Jayfeather moaned "Foxleap told me before he died that this was inevitable. He told me at the bell tower too. He tried to use the Moonstone and save us all from this fate before. He failed, because time corrected itself."
"Why can't we just try again?" Breezepelt pointed out.
Jayfeather sighed "Because Foxleap was alive in the original timeline and I was dead. If we continue, we will just make things worse!"
Icecloud growled "Why can't we just go back in time and kill Brokenstar as a baby?"
"Do you know what year he was born?" Jayfeather glared in sarcasm "Cause I sure don't!"
Ivypool chuckled.
"What's so funny?" Jack asked.
Ivypool smirked "I'm not as smart as Foxleap, but he did teach me somethings about time. Maybe because he was trying to warn me, or he was just being Foxleap. But the way I see it, Foxleap had the Moonstone in the original timeline. Brokenstar has the one from our timeline now."
"What are you saying?" Jayfeather asked, curiosity growing.
Ivypool nodded in understanding of her own words "Foxleap would have had the Moonstone with him as he traveled through time. So at this point in time, there are two Moonstones."
"But if Brokenstar took the Moonstone now, wouldn't that render Foxleap's timeline obsolete?" Breezepelt asked "Foxleap's Moonstone would cease to exist."
"No it wouldn't," Hollyleaf widened her eyes "Because if Brokenstar has it now, then an alternate universe in which Foxleap had it exists! It's the Multiverse theory!
"Well we can't universe jump now can we?" Icecloud spat "And if you're theory is real, wouldn't there be two Foxleaps?!"
"No, because if Foxleap traveled through time now, then their consciousness would combine to keep the fabric of space and time going! They can't exist together, so Time corrected itself by combing Foxleaps!"
"Then shouldn't the Moonstones have combined like Foxleap?" Hawkfrost asked, before widening his eyes "Wait! Hawk says that since the Moonstone is the heart of a star and infused with dark magic, that it operates on it's own laws!"
"That's a good guess but it's quite the opposite," Hollyleaf corrected "The Moonstone was brought over by Foxleap, who combined with his other self-"
Jack groaned, rolling his eyes"What do you mean combined?!"
Ivypool chuckled "OUR Foxleap would hold the memories and consciousness from the OTHER Foxleap's timeline! Haven't you seen X-Men Days of Future Past? His consciousness was the only thing that transferred, not his physical body."
"Then the Moonstone wouldn't exist because it has no MEMORIES!" Breezepelt argued.
Jayfeather shrugged "This makes no sense. There has to be more information."
"Foxleap brought over his Moonstone, which he must've found and kept to return to his timeline. It must've gone with him by itself. That's only explanation I got," Hollyleaf finished.
Breezepelt scoffed "Then the question is where is Foxleap's Moonstone?"
"Back at the house, I would guess," Icecloud remarked.
Jayfeather growled "Doesn't matter, we aren't using it."
"WHAT?!" Breezepelt roared "We can us-"
"NO!"
Everyone stood in silent terror. No one moved a muscle as they stared at Jayfeather.
"USING IT IS EXACTLY WHAT CAUSED THIS WHOLE FUCKED UP LUNACY! IT'S DARK MAGIC!"
Jayfeather panted heavily. After several breaths, he calmed down repeating himself "We will not use it! Hawkfrost! Where is the lab?!"
"On the mountain. It has tunnels that go in the mountain too," Hawkfrost answered, pointing to the large mountain beside them.
Jayfeather's eyes burned with determination "We go there now."
Brokenstar POV
"Thistleclaw! How long before it's ready?!"
Brokenstar barged into the large dome like room. It's roof had skylights, allowing one a good view of the stars. The observatory was huge, running off of the lab.
Thistleclaw moaned "The Moonstone is powering up. It will be fully powered in two hours."
"Good," Brokenstar grabbed him by the shoulder "This is the end. I'm going home."
"I know," the younger man grabbed his arm.
Brokenstar smirked "How's our prisoners?"
"Scourge is treating them, so I feel bad for the girl," Thistleclaw lowered his head.
"When I'm done, she will not feel or remember any pain from her previous life," Brokenstar said, staring at the stars.
Thistleclaw frowned "Are we talking about the prisoner? Or her?"
Brokenstar closed his lies, flicking his wrist "Leave me."
Thistleclaw sighed and obeyed, walking out of the observatory.
Brokenstar was alone now. He pulled out a ring too small to fit on his finger out of his pocket.
"I know. The World is in shambles. But how else could I have got the Moonstone without using Bloodclan and the Black Roots? All of this is temporary. When I come back to you, all of this will just be memories and dust," Brokenstar spoke to the ring "I didn't know how much I needed you until I lost you. When it's powered up, no one, not Rock, not Jayfeather, not the big man in the sky, no one will stop me from coming home to you."
"Chasing Clouds told me you'd be ashamed at me...He is wrong...you'd be proud of me after all I've done for you...I left you...when you needed me the most...I've made up for it now."
"I will kill, everyone of those dammed children if I have to, it it means you...I will purge and burn this world, just to see your face...I'd would wait another 500 years..." He promised once again.
"I would wait forever."
Icecloud POV
There they stood, looking down at the lab.
Infiltrating from above was Jack's idea. Since they could clearly see everything, except from behind. They had to go around, but it was worth it.
The tree blocked them from their view, keeping the kids well hidden.
Jack stood beside her "It's really happening, isn't it...?"
Icecloud nodded "Yep. It really is."
"Other peoples lives are depending on us. Depending on me. *You're* depending on me to..."
Icecloud turned to face him, watching the puzzled look on Jack's face "What if something happens to you Icecloud? What if...what if i can't...I don't know I can't carry that the rest of my life!"
"You have to try, Jack," The white haired woman said "No matter what happens, you can't fall apart right now."
"Hehe, I wish I could help it," Jack smiled but got serious upon noticing his girlfriends face "Okay, I'll try. But what if I-"
He was interrupted by Icecloud firmly placing her lips on his. Jack's tensed shoulders dropped in relaxation.
When she pulled away, Jack's face said it all "I...I don't know whether to be more focused or less..."
"OI! How about your focus on the task at hand!" Jayfeather hushed over at them.
Hawkfrost stared down at the lab "There is a powerful fusion reactor that charges up the Moonstone. The more energy it has stored, the more powerful it's magic can be used."
"Poppyfrost was taken by Scourge," Ivypool reminded "We have to find her first. The more of us the better."
"I'll look for her," Jayfeather offered, to which Hollyleaf shook her head "No. You're the only one of the three still alive. Which means you have the greatest chance to defeat Brokenstar. I'll go look for her."
"Alright," Jayfeather smirked, eyes glowing blue.
"How will we find her? Poor Poppyfrost is probably getting the torture of her life in there!" Breezepelt asked.
Jayfeather smirked.
"If I know Poppyfrost, which I do, she is three steps ahead."
Scourge POV
Scourge whistled to himself, walking along the corridors.
It had been two days, since the world went to shit. And Scourge was enjoying every savoring minute of it.
The mad Australian kicked the door down to Poppyfrost's cell.
"ALRIGHT PUMPKIN! READY ROUND FIFTEE-" Scourge fell silent in an instant.
The girl was no where to be seen. Her chains were empty.
"Oh...fuck..." Scourge whispered "Just when you're having the time of your li-"
Two arms grabbed him by the throat. Scourge gasped in surprised, as he choked.
"You're probably wondering how I got out," Poppyfrost grinned "While you were raping the dogshit out of me, I was able to steal the keys in your pockets just as you came."
Scourge threw his head back, knocking her away. He spun around to get a good look at Poppyfrost, still naked. Scourge licked his lips "Naughty girl! I guess I'll have to beat you down some more!"
The madman raced forward, only for Poppyfrost to jump onto the wall and push off, knocking Scourge to the floor. As Scourge looked at Poppyfrost, she spat in his face, literally. She pulled him up "Come here, come here, you little fuck!"
She placed her hands around Scourge's throat, choking him.
Scourge tried to pull the arms off of him, but Poppyfrost's grip was incredibly strong. As Scourge slipped into unconsciousness, Poppyfrost loosened her grip.
"Oh no, you didn't think I was gonna let you off the hook that easy, did you?"
She pushed him to the ground and slammed her fist to the side of his head knocking him out.
She growled, grabbing her clothes in the corner of the room, and fastening them on.
Poppyfrost dragged Scourge to the chains, and firmly clasped his wrists to the chains and pulled them tight, outstretching his arms like he was about to receive a hug.
A deadly, painful hug.
She propped Scourge onto his knees, tying his ankles to the back wall, rendering him unmovable.
"Stay 'ere, pumpkin," Poppyfrost mocked his accent, opening the door "I'm about to get some tools. I wanna savor every damn moment like you savored every moment with me."
Poppyfrost kicked Scourge in the head hard.
"So stay here, finish your homework and be in bed by nine," Poppyfrost sweetly taunted "If you're not in bed when I get back and your homework isn't done, then your gonna get a spanking!"
She cracked her knuckles "Oh, I can hardly wait."
Poppyfrost opened the door, looking back at Scourge, smirking "Au revoir, enfoiré!"
Poppyfrost slammed the door shut.
I know you want to see his torture now, but patience is a virtue!
We have about two or three chapters until the war arc is done. Enjoy it while it lasts!
Au Revoir.
