//------------------------------// // The Shadows Disperse(On Occasion.) // Story: Phantasm // by Debonair //------------------------------// Another somewhat dark presence is felt in the fog, but this time in Canterlot. The guards felt unnerved and tightened security at the gate and all other known entrances. "These foolish guards, while they cover all known entrances, they forgot the secret entrance." A large brown dog crept through the fog sniffing at the ground. "Where is it." The dog circled the outer wall every so often hiding from a guard in a tree. A small flash in the corner of his eye caught his attention, He clawed his way up a tall tree and jumped onto a tower roof. "These guards are pure of heart, or at least the ones clad in gold." He saw a familiar muzzle in the castle window. The white unicorn stood staring at the stars. "Blueblood." The dog's eyes narrowed as he furrowed his brow. He sprang from the tower and through the window onto Blueblood pinning him to the ground, snarling and fangs dripping. "Guards Help!" Blueblood screamed, but no one came. "They can't hear you," "Who are you?" "It's a shame," "What is?" "You are," "You've scared the boy enough," A white Allicorn stood in the doorway. "Blueblood go now." "Uh huh." The dog reared back and let the unicorn scramble to safety. "Still,a buzzkill." He smiled and in a flash of light he stood. "What are you doing here Anubis?" "Something of mine was stolen, and I've tracked it back here." "And you expect my nephew took it?" "Of course not, he's not smart enough to find where I hid him, or smart enough to solve the puzzles," "Hid Him?" Celestia asked with an upward affliction. "It's a long story, and I just want to find out who found the tomb, and solved the puzzles." "You were always fascinated by puzzles, I still haven't solved the one you left me." "Really, here's an easy one. If one has two halves of two what does one have?" "Two." "No three. If one has two halves of two, then one has two, one plus two is three." "The god of judgement, has his ways." "I need ways to test whoever sees me, and Blueblood has failed on many occasions, I'm afraid even Ammit, couldn't hold him down." "How is Nepthys?" "Mother has been uneasy of late." "That's too bad, send her my condolences." "You'll probably see her first." Anubis muttered to himself as he returned to his previous facade. "What was that?" "Nothing, smell you later," Anubis dived out the window and landed on top of Blueblood once again. "Boo," Blueblood screamed like a girl and ran out from under him and slammed a door behind him. "Hehehah, Wimp," ========== "This stuff is delicious, I can see why it's the Nectar of the Gods." I said between mouth fulls of the stuff that made ach of my taste buds orgasm. "I'm glad you like it, now how about we go on a little field trip?" "Road trip!" Manny flashed the rock on devil horns and his tongue hung out longer than Gene Simmons at a KISS concert. "Whoo!" "Where are we going?" "Who cares it's a, ROAD TRIP!!!" "Outside, you can't change into something you've never seen before, and you can't make a convincing argument with just pictures." Convincing Argument, that's what Jerry said. "The Frozen Forest is full of creatures, most deadly some harmless. You four will be working together from this day forth, so I need you to fill your arsenals with as many creatures as possible. and adjust accordingly." Chrys got up from her seat and motioned for us to follow. Mari, Manny, and Nina had grown four heads high. "Wait, it just occurred to me, why don't you three try humans?" "Won't they end up looking like me?" "Not if I become a female," She reared back and green fire slowly crept up her legs and body, Her hoof things turned to dainty women's feet and long slender fingers. Her black fur became baby soft tanned skin, and her mane became long black hair, she easily had DD cup breasts. "Now, Mari, and Nina, copy this but make a few adjustments." Her bedroom tone fit more with this body, but I was still attracted to the other. Cuáles son yo pensando? Ella es un Caballo! "Is it bad that I think she's hot?" "No Manny, it's fine, now copy this but make it your own style," "A'ight, Stand back," He shut his eyes, and his face flattened, his black fur turned to a light shade of brown, and his spikey hair was set in cornrows. "Damn, that was awesome, but why don't I have threads like your's?" "I can fix that," Mari looked around for something. "Ah ha," She found a large web and spun it into a spool. "I'll be right back," She ran off to do something, I had my suspicions that. "Looks like we have a Fashionista on our hands." My thought were interrupted by my thoughts from Chrys' mouth. "You read my mind," "I'm reading it right now." She wrapped her arms around me and pressed her lips to mine. After a few seconds of tongue tying she leaned back. "And you are very twisted, what was it Cuáles son yo pensando? Ella es un Caballo." She traced a circle on my chest. "Yet you still want me all to yourself." "What can I say, tiene un cierto encanto." "I'm glad you see it my way, dear." "I'm back, and I hope this'll do for now." Mari held out a pair of camouflage cargo pants to Manny. "I didn't have much notice." "Thanks Mari," Manny look them and slipped into them. "Perfect fit," Mari had a satchel like mine, she reached inside and pulled out a bikini top and bottom, and handed it to Nina who slipped it on with some help from Mari. I was surrounded by hermosas mujeres. It took all my power not to dive into the estrogen ocean that lied before me. Then it occurred to me. How did Mari know what women wear? "They are learning from your pent up emotions." "They're in my head?" "Of course not, only I can do that. They just filter the radiation from the chemical reactions in your brain." These changelings are quite the espionage agents, maybe learning their ways will get me closer to those who know more about my father. "Well if we're ready I think it's time for a," "ROAD TRIP!!!" "Yes Manuel, a road trip." Chrys rolled her eyes, and smiled. "Come on. and stay in your human forms, you'll need the extra advantage." She led us back through the cavern and shut the wall behind us. It was only now that I saw the scars over her left eye. They were like a cat's scratch. "Where did you get those?" "You gave them to me, it was wild last night," She leaned in and whispered. "And I like it wild." "So do I," I put my arm around her shoulder. She laughed that laugh that said 'I'll be waiting, for tonight.' ============== As we exit the complex I could hear the many different calls of birds, most noticeable was the Kookaburra, which made me wonder was this lush tropical paradise really in the north pole? "Let me show you something," Chrys interrupted my thoughts with my thoughts again. "I find that very annoying." "I know, that's why I do it," She smiled wide and made the creepiest sound I've ever heard. It made me shudder. "Come on," She led us through the brush hacking the branches with her nifty little sword hand. A cold gust of wind and snow, crashed into my face. As I cleared my eyes it was like the eye of a storm. A lush tropical oasis in the middle of a blizzard. "Nopony knows where we are, either that or they're too scared to even try." Nina just sat on the ground in a flower patch and sniffed at the beautiful plants. I slowly knelt down beside her and put my arm around her shoulders. "¿Qué hay de malo?" "It's just, these flowers they're so pretty, and I'm so," "What, Beauty is only skin deep Nina, it's what we do that makes us beautiful. We can fix the outside no problema, but it's hard to fix our souls, El hombre que es cursi," "Cheesy is just what I wanted to hear." Nina wrapped her arms around me and squeezed tight. I would be lying if I said I didn't feel awkward. I soon made that creepy weird-ass sound. What am I,a squeaky toy? Why the hell not? I turn my head slightly to find Chrys, stifling laughter. "Sorry, Anton," Nina backed off and we stood up. I could hear snow crunching in the distance. "Did you hear that?" "What?" "I heard it, and it don't sound friendly." "Get to cover," Chrys yelled. "We'll handle this, you aren't ready." "I ain't going without a fight," Manny took the same Muay Thai stance, like that Bassboost kid did. "Me neither," Mari took the same Taekwondo that that Trance girl took. The ground shook beneath our feet as a large silhouette appeared over the horizon. It looks like a human but, I put on the shades, this thing isn't human, it's soul is pitch black. The Ankh around my neck started to glow a faint blue. "Fantasma," "Muerto," It uttered in a gravelly deadpan. "¿cuál es su intención aquí?" "no es bienvenida." The creature stepped out of the glare, "Chupacabra," "Si, and eating you will cure me." "Just try me, Perro." The creature's fur was bleached white from years in the snow and sun, and each of his spines were razor sharp, and colored black as were his claws. Round One Fight! Chupacabra battle theme The dog fell onto all fours and lunged for me, I did the only thing that came to mind, bracing myself for impact I shifted my left leg and waited half a second and twirled out of the war path. "Ole!" He skidded around, kicking up dirt, and came around for another pass. "Nina throw me," Chupa leaped into the air, I fell on my back as my feet connect with his stomach and he was sent into the air. "Your Ribbon," "Here." She untied her hair and threw me the two foot long ribbon. I heard the cracking of branches and something hits me hard from the side. Chupa used me as a surfboard until I slammed into a boulder, I coughed up about a pint of blood, and felt Chupa's claws rip out of my side, I felt the life ebb and flow out of me, but I wouldn't die. The Ankh's faint glow turned blue, and I could feel my flesh restitching itself. "No, it can't be possible, Muerto." "I don't want to kill you Chupa, but if I have to." I spring into a handstand. "I can't really change that." I could feel a new power welling up inside me. I sprang to my feet and raised my fists. Round Two Fight! Chupacabra battle theme 2 This time I was the one to charge, he reared back and swiped. but I easily read his movements and parried by twisting in and slammed his gut with my palm, sending him skidding back. "That the best you got Perro!" He sprang up to his hind legs, and sprang forward. I could read him like a book each broad swipe was parried and gracefully slid past me. I felt one swift jab to my gut and was sent back a few feet. "You got smart," I couldn't help but laugh, but this laugh wasn't mine, it was my father's. The Phantasm Bangles started to glow the same blue as the Ankh, I could feel my muscles burning, and that sadistic grin crack my face. "Burn in Hell, Satan's Blast!" I jabbed with my right arm forward and a ball of blue flame shot from my fist, but for some reason I fired at the ground before his feet and fell to my knees. "I couldn't kill him." The familiar feeling of tears falling down my face, gripped me. "I can't kill anymore, I've hurt to many," Chupa just stood in awe that I could have survived the evisceration, as I was surrounded by Chrys and the kids. "Are you okay Anton?" Chrys laid me on my back, and looked over my ripped shirt and jacket. She ran her fingers around the scarred flesh which was a little tender, the same sharp pain shot through me when she touched it. In the corner of my eye I saw Chupa walking back into the snowstorm. "Wait Perro," His ears perked up. "I'm sorry I couldn't help." "No problema, I'm not sure what I'd do even if I was human again. All you need is whistle and I will come to your aid." With that Chupa walked off into the blizzard and my eyes felt very heavy.