Special Intro:
BrownDog’s Comment
TheRutherford’s Comment
ErisedtheInkMoth’s Comment
Kersey’s Comment
ThePonySpartan’s Comment
After the three Changelings mock and claim how you all are going to be food for them,
Rutherford speaks up and asks,
“So what you’re saying is that you’ve all been bucking with us since the beginning? Was none of it real? Was Flag Burner a changeling too?"
"No, he was just an Earth Pony," the changeling guard responds.
"Although he did have the drive and rage to make a good officer," another comments.
"He was indeed the original founder of your little club by himself, but unlike you idiots, he had sharp and ruthless senses. We probably couldn’t have pulled this off if he were still alive.”
"Quite so, but after his fall at the hooves of the Hooded Offender, we were free to flood your pitiful little fan club with more “followers.”
"Especially when we got the order from the Queen herself through her... promoted super-officers."
“Of course that B!%$# did,” Erised growls, causing the other three to hiss. While they do, Rutherford continues asking questions.
"So, you Hydra'd our group, so that you could manipulate us to cause some trouble for the Equestrian government, organized a prison transfer so you could get all of us here and closer to your hive, and trapped every living thing in this train and adjacent town so you can assimilate us into your hive to bolster your forces?"
"Correct."
Rutherford turns to Solarkness and whispers
"Hey Sol, is our little project ready?"
"For you and Rebl yes," answers the Timberwolf.
"That will have to do…" he mutters while the Changelings continue to speak.
“You’re all pathetic you know that? We all let you play your little games, but at some point you have to wonder why any of you would be allowed such freedom. You all did work rather nicely together in the beginning though, so that’s why we had you all separated.”
“Separated? But we didn’t separate until after the Zeppelin Crash,” Snap Drake points out.
“Yeah, the one we thought Spartan died in,” Kichi adds.
“Exactly,” the Changelings say with a toothy smile.
Changer suddenly perks up at that,
“Did you all have something to do with that crash?”
They smugly smile and say,
“But of course little emo git You all were a little too chummy, we felt a little accident would make you all separate, and it did. It made you run off to your little sorcery with hatred in your heart.”
He growls at that, as do many of the other knights.
“So…you’re the reason we all thought our friend was dead?” Brown Dog asks with heat in his voice.
“Oh what does it matter? You’re all going to be assimilated either way, and there’s nothing you can do with those magic inhibiting shackles on.”
Rutherford then nods to Solar and Grey Rebl.
“Yeah, well here’s the thing,” Rutherford starts to say, but is interrupted by a metallic,
SNAP
The Brown Dog, snaps his wrist bonds and ensnares one of the changelings by the throat to the surprise of everyone.
“Some of us rely on brute strength FlankHole!” he growls with his teeth showing as he punches the Changeling right in the face, knocking him out.
Before the Changelings have a chance to recover from their surprised stupor, the shackles on Grey Rebl and Rutherford’s wrists are removed and they rush forth and get ahold of the other two.
Rutherford, since he can’t bite or slice yet with his mask and gloves, slams his changeling into the roof and ground multiple times, while growling,
“Noling Bucks with one of our own!”
Grey Rebl delights in breaking his Changeling’s wings,
“And I just hate your filthy face!” he yells before back kicking him in the jaw.
The three of them then turn to the rest of the surprised Knights.
There is a moment of silence, before Changer asks the million dollar question.
"Okay, What just happened?"
Rutherford then speaks up,
"A modified version of the escape plan Sol and I have been working on since the bounty hunter beat us."
As Rutherford says this, the Knights look to see that Grey and Rutherford’s wrist shackles have bits of wood in the key holes.
"Sure he couldn’t use magic, but all he needed was a few bits of wood to whittle into the right shape. Haven't any of you wondered why Solarkness was barely moving the entire ride?”
They then look to the Timberwolf who says,
“I only had time for the two though, and I don’t think now’s a good time to be making more.”
“Only two? Then how’d Brown Dog get out?” asks Snap Drake.
“I don’t know, he wasn’t even a part of the plan. How long could you have broken those shackles?” asks Solarkness to the Diamond Dog.
“I don’t know, I was just kind of hanging out. Didn’t know I could till those bugs starting mouthing off and pissed me off. You heard what they said about Spartan.” Brown Dog growls.
"While I'm happy that you care, you remind me that I was weak back then. Instead, let's remind ourselves to obliterate the hive!" Changer yells in anger and determination.
“Yeah, no spit. But seriously, why did you getting pissed make a difference?” asks Grey.
“Dude, you ever seen my freaking forearms? Diamond Dogs can dig through compacted earth and rock no problem. Just because I’m a lazy, alcoholic drug fiend doesn’t mean I can’t lift,” he declares as he bites Rutherford’s restraining mask off making the Wyvern happily rotate his jaw. Rutherford then proceeds to bite his soft gloves, freeing his claws.
“Well, nice improvisation I suppose,” Rutherford declares.
“Stupid bucking Changelings…no offense guys,” Brown says looking to Kichi, Candy, Silver and Erised.
“Eh, some taken,” Candy responds.
“Hey Brown, you gonna be Okay?” asks Snap Drake as he sees the angry glare behind his shades.
“I will be after I get a few dozen drinks in me, but that will have to wait. Right now, we gotta get through this bullspit!”
Brown Dog, Rutherford, and Solarkness then break the chains on the others, but the inhibitors still remain.
“Okay, since most of us are still shackled and we don’t have time to make new ones, we need to keys, or some tools to get them off so our magic friends can let loose. Rutherford, Grey, Solarkness and I are brute strength, so we’ll cover you until we can get them off you. Finding tools and keys is priority, but also we need a steady supply of wood so that Solarkness can go all out. Kichi, Candy and Silver, put something on to distinguish yourselves from the other changelings. Erised is pale enough to distinguish, but he’s still weak, so someone wheel him and cover him. I say we find a building or enclosure that we can defend after we can all fight. I’m personally heading to whatever taverns that might be in this town. If we stick together, we might survive this.”
They all look at Brown Dog in confusion after this rapid fire plan exposition.
“What?” he asks obliviously.
“Since when were you the guy that gives orders and gives a buck?” asks Kichi in surprise.
"Yeah, did Tartarus freeze over?" asks Solarkness.
“Hey, I'm at a very emotional crossroads here, so I’m just as confused as you guys. But some jaggoffs told me they nearly killed my friend and played us like fiddles all this time. I ain’t no one’s Bitch!” he answers which doesn’t even remotely explain anything, but they shrug at this not really having any other ideas.
As they all start readying themselves for the plan, Brown Dog notices Erised wriggling around on his bed.
"Yo Ink-Moth, you alright over there, edgelord?"
"How dare they?" Erised says through clenched fangs, "No one puppeteers the puppet master! I swear I'm going to end them slowly, that arrogant Queen and her whole wretched hive! I'm going to make their brains dribble out their eye-holes like snot!"
"Not that that doesn't sound really... you. But you're still weak as a wet noodle and strapped to a gurney," The diamond dog points out.
Erised lets out a strained sigh.
"You're right... Hey you," he calls over to Candy, "you're my legs now, Sugarlips."
"Excuse me?!" Candy says, looking indignant, "What did you just call-“
"You heard me, now get pushing. There's vermin to be crushed."
She gives an indignant look to the older changeling as she walks up to him and slaps him in the face.
“Ah! Why you insolent little-”
“Learn some manners you cantankerous old buck. I’ll push you, but you could have asked nicely!” she declares as she gets behind his head.
“Note to self, don’t piss off female changelings,” Snap Drake chuckles.
“Alright, so if that’s taken care of. What do we do now? How do we even get off this train car? They open from the outside?” asks the Wyvern to the Diamond Dog.
“And what about tubby?” Grey Rebl adds pointing to Kersey on his bed. “His bed got damaged in the emergency stop.
“I will answer both of your questions. He’s our main weapon,” Brown Dog says as he goes to his bed side and unshackles him.
“Main weapon?” asks Silver.
On the outside of the car, a few Changelings hear grunts of effort. Curious, they go to unlock the door, when all of a sudden they are all blasted back as the doors slam open into them as Kersey’s unconscious body is thrown through the door.
Inside, Brown Dog and Rutherford are panting after having thrown Kersey.
“You guys could have helped,” Rutherford complains.
“Tartarus no, I ain’t touching his dirty flesh,” Grey gags as the rest of them shudder.
“Alright, let’s find a guard with keys and then let’s take the hurt to these Buckers,” Changer declares.
“That’s the spirit Spartan!” Brown and Snap Drake cheer.
“It’s no-You know what, buck it, I don't care. Let’s just kick some flank!”
They all then rush out…only to immediately take in the scenario of the giant dome around the town, how they’re in the middle of the desert, and a bunch of Ponies wearing cowboy hats are running around.
“This severely limits my wood intake,” Solarkness growls.
“There’s Apple Trees in the distance,” Kichi points out.
“Yes, but are there any guards with keys from the train around?” asks Erised.
They all then spot some guards running with some civilians in town.
“That way! Roll Tubby and keep behind him for safety!” Grey shouts as they all (except for he himself) start rolling Kersey while taking cover behind him.
Fireheart1945’s Comment
In town, there are a few guards from the train shouting orders as they try to defend the town ponies.
“Protect the Citizens!” shouts one of the unicorns.
“But sir, what about the priso-“
“These ARE our prisoners! We brought them here! Keep fighting!” the Guard leader declares.
He then sends out a blast that knocks a Changeling off of a mare and she runs off.
“Sir, there’s way too many. What are we going to…” the guard is cut off as he hears…singing.
Both the guards, and some changelings look to the source and pause in confusion by what they see.
Kersey’s Comment
Brown Dog and Snap Drake standing atop Kersey’s unconscious body, rolling him like a barrel as they run down any changeling in their way while the other knights huddle behind them.
As the little group of guards regain their wits, they blast their still confused changelings.
“Sir, were those our-”
“Yes, those are our other prisoners. And right now, they got a handle on things. Follow that barrel race!”
As the knights continue to roll themselves through the mayhem, Erised declares,
“This is bucking stupid.”
“Yeah, but it’s working surprisingly enough,” Rutherford answers as he side punches a Changeling that tries to divebomb him.
“But why are we singing and drawing attention to ourselves?” asks Solarkness.
“Because it will keep them off the innocent town ponies,” Changer declares.
“Do they really need our help? Some of them seem fine,” points out Silver.
DWC’s Comment
You all see that several of the towns ponies, and even a group of Buffalo are fighting off the Changelings…With Pies. The pies don’t exactly…hurt the changelings, but they slow them down enough for anyone not armed to make a run for it.
“Pies? Seriously? Where’s the boiling oil or corrosive acid?!” shouts Grey Rebl.
While the citizens…momentarily defend themselves, the Knights continue to make their journey, looking for a defendable position.
ThePonySpartan’s Comment
As the changelings continue to attack, the heavy hitters mostly swat them away, but then one sneaky Changeling tries to pounce on Candy from the back as she pushes Erised’s bed.
Before the blow lands, Changer’s right hoof and blocks the punch before punching the Changeling away.
“Heh, I thought we weren’t your “Friends” Erised insinuates.
"I may be brutal, but even I don't harm innocent mares when I don't need to."
“Didn’t you tell us that you tormented the Element of Kindness and some kids for like no reason?” points out Snap Drake. Changer freezes as he completely forgot about that innocent.
“Okay fine, but at least I didn’t sucker punch them!” he shouts back.
"Well, regardless, thanks for the save" Candy thanks while blushing.
"For both of our sake's forget about it and keep rolling the Moth."
"Oh don’t get all flustered over that traitor!" Kichi yells noticing Candy as he fends off another changeling.
“What?” asks Candy in surprise.
At this, Silver Strange gives Changer a dirty look for some reason.
“Spartan, stop trying to cause romantic drama, there’ll be time for that later!” Brown Dog shouts over his shoulder causing said pony to just roll his eyes.
“Um, guys, I think we picked up hitchhikers,” says Solarkness.
Looking back, they all see that several panicked towns ponies, and even a few Buffalo are trotting along with the group, trying to hide behind Kersey’s rolling path clearer.
“Hey it’s a free country,” Snap Drake chuckles.
Eventually, the group does come across what they seek.
SnapDrakeGames’s Comment
Kichi’s Comment
Kersey’s Comment
ThePonySpartan’s Comment
Rutherford glances around, and points to a mid-sized building, a wooden tavern with saloon-style doors.
"That might work as a defendable position," he suggests. Brown Dog nods, and they roll Kersey towards it.
The knights with their tag alongs burst through the door and find that the interior is already crawling with Changelings, but then again, everywhere in this city is crawling with Changelings.
These ones go out pretty quickly, as Brown and Snap Drake roll Kersey into a cluster of them, knocking them back like bowling pins. Solarkness and Grey both leap forwards and make short work of the rest, before they are thrown out the bar.
"Alright," Brown Dog speaks up. "Resources, people, let's gather them and get ready for a siege. Rutherford, help me push Kersey so we can block off the door. Sol, these tables are all wood. You can use that right? Grey, this is a tavern, they're bound to have some heavy duty cleaning equipment. You folks help my buddies board up the windows,”
As the Knights and citizens listen to the commands of the Diamond Dog, Snap Drake just stares at his friend in awe.
Here's my pal, loafer extraordinaire and number one drinking buddy, taking charge of the situation like a total boss…he thinks.
He'd never have imagined Brown Dog to be even capable of something like this, but watching it unfold before his eyes, he can't help but be impressed.
Where does that leave me though? Brown’s at an emotional crossroads. If we get out of this will he be a more moral person and everything? Will I just be left behind?
“Silver!” Brown speaks up. “Get me and Snap a bottle of something good! I ain’t had a drop in months!” The changeling then does as he’s commanded and Snap Drake smiles.
Okay, that’s a relief.
The relief is short lived as several other changelings begin trying to get in through the windows, attempting to break what few barricades have been set up.
"It's like Nazi Zomponies in here!" Kichi comments punching one changeling in the horn when he tries to get in.
"Except it's round one bucking hundred!" Changer yells, remembering his free time playing Call of Duty with Kichi when they were once friends.
"Candy, Kichi, Silver, can you make some of that slime stuff to block off the windows?" Rutherford asks.
"We could, but I don't think it could do much, it’s more like glue or jelly than something solid,” Kichi explains.
“Well use it to reinforce the boards we’re all nailing up,” Solarkness adds.
The trio nods and goes about doing that as the rescued citizens help board up the windows as they smack any changeling that tries to get in.
After awhile, all the windows and the doorway get boarded up.
"That won't hold forever," Brown Dog notes. "There are other ways in. The chimney, maybe a back door somewhere. We block those and they'll probably just start breaking through the walls."
"Maybe, then, this wasn't the best place to hole up," Rutherford says. "Though I don't know where else we could go..."
"Ooh!" Snap Drake pipes up, spotting an opportunity for personal growth. "What about, like, a well? We could hide at the bottom of a well. And since the entrance is so narrow, we could bottleneck the Changelings.
Rutherford looks at Brown Dog. Brown Dog looks at Rutherford.
"No," Rutherford says, "that's a bad idea."
"It's not bad," Brown Dog says, "It's just..."
"It's a bad idea."
"Yeah."
Snap Drake slumps into a remaining booth, disappointed. Brown Dog continues,
"We're doing pretty alright here. If we double down, hopefully we'll be totally fine and this whole thing will blow over."
"This is hardly an adequate place to hold a stand, especially when more than half of us are still handicapped" Rutherford argues. "We need to find a more practical way to defend it."
"I dunno," Silver Strange interjects, "it seems pretty nice. Lots of wine, real wood stove, probably a pantry full of real nice food somewhere."
"...Real wood stove..." Snap mutters. He gets a crazy idea.
"Bottles!" He leaps behind the bar and finds the recycling bin full of empty liquor bottles. He grabs a few and lays them on the table.
"Fuel!" he turns again towards the wood stove and grabs the bucket of lighter fluid lying next to it. He makes for the liquor bottles and starts filling them up with fuel.
"Uh, uh, tablecloths!" He leaps over the bar again and starts tearing tablecloths into thin strips, Brown Dog and Rutherford smirk, finally catching onto his train of thought.
"And now, they all come together," Snap grins as he soaks a tablecloth strip in fuel, sticks it in a bottle, and plunges the cork in.
"Someone give me a light? No, wait, matches by the stove!" He snags a few matches and strikes them against the counter top. He lights the tablecloth of one bottle, turns towards the front door, and lobs the bottle over the fat pony blocking the entrance.
"Molotov Cocktail!" Snap cheers as the bottle bursts against the ground outside and a ball of fire bursts into the air, scattering Changelings buzzing around too closely, some who’s heads get set ablaze.
“Alright. When all else fails, set things ablaze with cleansing fire, it’s the best kind of medicine” Grey Rebl smirks.
“Somepony say medicine?” comes a drunken idiotic voice as both Erised and Grey do a double take, “Hi everypony, Crazy dream we’re having right now huh?”
“How in Tartarus did you get here?” asks Erised from his gurney to the Drunken Dr. Quacksalver who comes out of the bathroom.
“I have no clue dream bug. My last job exploded with craziitus, and I decided I needed another drink.”
“That was months ago!”
“Nah, that can’t be dream janitor. Though the whole dream world appears to be suffering from Aggressivus-Buggus. This one has it worst of all. Let’s get a closer look at you.” He then drunkenly stumbles towards Erised with a broken bottle.
"Grey, get this Quack off me!" Erised calls.
"I ain't your puppet, you deal with him!" Grey responds as he whacks a pair of changelings attempting to come in through the window across their faces with a broom,
"UNCLEAN!"
“Don’t worry dream bug pony, I will only- “whatever he was only is cut off as Candy bashes him over the head with an empty bottle, knocking him out.
Erised looks to Candy who taps her hoof.
“You’re welcome.”
“I don’t need to thank you. You saved your superior.”
She just rolls her eyes and rolls Quacksalver and places him next to Kersey.
With the door even more reinforced, they go about fending off attackers.
“Keep holding on, we’re doing great,” cheers Snap Drake.
“We still need to get these magic inhibitors off though,” Silver pipes up.
“If I had my books I’d be able to help more,” Changer adds.
GreyRebl’s Comment
Hearing this, Grey Rebl goes up to one of the guards from the train and slams him into the floor, shocking several ponies.
“Start talking: Where’s the keys to the anti-magic restraints?!” Grey yells at the guard, pinning him down, a foreleg to his throat.
“Like I’ll tell you criminal scu---hrmf!” The grey-brown pony just chokes him hard.
Growling threateningly, he says,
“You’re surrounded, you’re entire force is in shambles, and you’re in no position to have the luxury to waste our time. Now where’s the bucking keys?!”
When he loosens the hold, the guard breathes out heavily,
“W-why should we release you?”
“Because you will need our help if you want to live through this mess,” Erised says coldly from the side. “Either you stand against us AND the changelings, or we stay out of your way. Take your pick.”
“But you’re a changeling too!” the guard blurts out.
Suddenly, the snapping of wood and a snarl sounds from the entrance. Immediately after that, Kichi cries,
“DOES IT LOOK LIKE WE ARE WITH THESE GUYS?!” before cracking a block wood into the intruding changeling’s face.
Slowly, Grey tightens his hold around the guard’s throat.
“We don’t have all day…”
“Grrff!” The guards grunts, quickly scanning the spacious tavern and then those who are amazingly defending against the invasion like practiced veterans of war, and what few civilians that are taking refuge. He makes his decision.
“Only if you help the citizens get to safety in this tavern. The one with the key will follow.” Even when threatened, this particular guard still has the wits to think about the citizens first.
Grey narrows his eyes at him before looking towards his fellow inmates. The reactions are mixed, but it is made very clear what they’ll have to do next.
“Might as well,” Brown Dog shrugs, “We need all the help we can get anyways. We’re all stuck together in this dome anyways until this is over.”
The silver-brown unicorn turns back to the guard, pausing for a moment before letting him go, who greedily gasps for breath. He then trots away, grabbing a nearby broom before saying,
“Keep barricading and consider it done.” With a sigh, he idly mutters, “Great. More babysitting.”
He then shouts over Kersey’s body.
“Attention MeatBags! If you don’t want to die, then get the buck inside this Tavern NOW!!!”
And surprisingly, this is effective. Several townsfolk start rushing off the streets and towards the tavern. Grey Rebl, Brown Dog, Solarkness and Rutherford stand guard out front as the citizens bring with them uninvited guests.
Grey does a flying leap kick and knocks a changeling into the dirt, as Rutherford whips his tail and sends two into a trough, while a more bulky Solarkness body slams two, and Brown Dog throws one into the Tavern Overhang.
“Get in, Hurry!” they usher the fleeing towns folk. With the majority of them inside, they leap over Kersey’s body and seal up the entrance again.
The guard looks to the Knights and mutters,
“Thank you,” as he starts organizing the increased civilian presence in the bar.
Now with more numbers, defending the windows, the Knights have a moment to breathe and collect their thoughts as a group.
“Alright, so all we have to do is wait for the key guy to come right?” asks Candy.
“It’s all we got. But I’d be ten times more effective with MY mop,” Grey bemoans.
“And my books,” Changer grumbles.
“Not to mention our sick cloaks,” Snap Drake adds.
“Yeah, but even then, we’re better than we were like ten minutes ago. What are we looking at long term Erised?” Rutherford asks.
“A swarm tactic, just like back in the Wedding Invasion,” Erised sneers, recalling the plan the Hive came up with previously, “but only at a smaller scale. Sabotaging the inside, and then overwhelming it in its weakness: That’s nothing new, but it works. I believe the dome is operated on the outside. No escape.”
All the former Crimson Knights frown.
“So we have no choice but to last against all those changelings out there, huh?” Kichi grumbles, “Judging by their plan, they’re desperate for love. They won’t go down without risking their lives.”
“Yeah…” Candy winces in thought, “To fight while starved…”
"What I don't get is how do they think they’re going to get away with this?” Kichi continues, "Sooner or later the Alicorn Princess will show up with the Elements right?”
“And who’s going to tell them? This is a remote location. By the time anyone else comes along, this town will be assimilated and impersonated by the Hive.”
Silver winces at that.
“I knew I left the Hive for the better, but to fight my own like this?” Quickly, he says, “I’m trained to fight, not figure out who the enemy is. Even then, I can’t shake this feeling.”
Erised snorts from his bed.
“It’s simple: we are enemies now. The Hive gives no mercy to deserters even if you feel too ill to fight back. It doesn’t matter if we are of the same species. That’s how the Hive is.”
“Erised is right, guys,” Rutherford pipes in, “It doesn’t matter what race we are now. Pony, changeling, dragon or timberwolf---we are all in the same page.”
“And so here we are, a band of misfits of mixed races, “ Grey Rebl dryly says, “but it’s not like there’s any choice.”
“But it’s because we ARE a band of misfits of mixed races that we DO have a choice.”
Everyone looks at the speaker, Brown Dog.
“...Brown Dog?” Changer asks quizzically.
Cheerfully, the diamond dog goes on.
“Ever since that incident with Spartan, we went our separate ways and things changed. But now that we know all of that was orchestrated by wannabe Hydra Agents, then that means everything that we’ve been doing for the Crimson Knights was all a lie. Fun for someone else, and not our own. But look at us now! We’re all together, exactly what they didn’t want! So you guys know what this means?”
They all look at each other, eyeing for understanding.
“We have a battle royal?” Grey Rebl guesses. Judging by the amused look he receives, he’s close.
“No, that’s just a benefit,” the diamond dog laughs, “What it means is that, at this moment, the choice is really ours. No strings attached. So I say buck their plans for us to Tartarus! We are sticking together whether they like it or not, and we will have OUR fun.” He puts a paw in front him. “So, who wants in?”
Nobody fails to see the social que. It is something cheesy, something that teams do in hoof ball to inspire morale. Once they put a hoof or claw in, though, it means they will recognize that they are...more than just acquaintances who just so happen to be in the same club. They’ll be a party in a bizarre adventure.
“Heck yeah, man! I’m in!” Snap Drake, of course, enthusiastically put his vote in, looking at everyone else excitedly, expecting an answer as well.
Spartan does so as well, but with less excitement compared to Snap.
“Don’t misunderstand. I still have issues with you guys, but someone has to watch out for Snap and Brown.”
“Aww, we love ya too, man,” Snap says tearfully.
“Shut up.” Changer looks away.
Smirking, Solar and Rutherford look at each other.
“Can you believe these guys?” Solar says.
Rutherford just shrugs, smiling as well. Obviously, it is a mocking gesture, yet they both put their respective paw and claw in.
"I guess everyone has to have a hobby."
"Yeah? And look at what making a movie for fun did!"
A reluctant chitin hoof joins in as well.
“Crazy,” Kichi shakes his head, muttering, “This is crazy. The odds are against us and I can’t believe I’m placing my life on you guys. Gosh, I really am desperate.”
Silver and Candy at once put their hooves in unison. Throughout the months with their cells adjacent to each other, they’ve been relatively close.
“I might not have known you guys in the past, but you guys aren’t all that bad. Crazy, but not bad,” Silver simply says, “Sure, I’ll take my chances. Just no funny business, alright?”
“Mhmm.” Candy just smiles bashfully and nods affirmatively. “If it means I have a place to belong.”
Grey just stood for a moment, glaring a hole into the floor as if in deep thought before softening his expression. He begins to trot toward the circle but Erised called him.
“Grey.”
“What?” he tersely says, temper flaring.
“...get me closer so that I can reach in.” Erised then utters a near incomprehensible, “please.”
Grey blinks, and then he shrugs uncaring.
“Fine. Just this once, alright?” He pulls the bed near the circle.
Now Erised and Grey’s hooves are in, the former’s weakly hanging over the edge.
“Hmmph. So this is what it feels to be driven into a corner,” Erised grumbles broodingly.
Grey instantly retorts,
“Suck it up and deal with it you pansy.”
“Well, I guess that just leaves Kersey,” Solar says, eyeing said pony in front of the door.
“Eh, he’s in with us by default anyways,” Brown Dog declares as he picks up a limp hoof and places it in the pile, “Besides, there’s no way in Tartarus we’re not including the whole gang.”
At that, Kersey subconsciously shudders from where he lays comatose.
ThePonySpartan’s Comment
"Ready?" Brown Dog whispered to Snap, looking eager.
"I've waited so long for this!" Snap whispered back.
"Three... two... one..."
"WE ARE THE CRIMSON KNIGHTS! DON'T TAKE US LIGHTLY!"
They all declare in unison, the strength of their words echoing within the tavern and inspiring the guards and citizens inside.
Kersey’s Comment
After the huddle is broken, the guard from before walks up to them.
“I heard you all earlier talking about equipment. Well, when the invasion first started, some of my crew took a wagon with your confiscated belongings away from the train. We didn’t know it was the changelings escaping and not you.”
Changer raises an eyebrow at that.
“And where did they head with it?”
“I don’t know. We lost contact,” the guard admits, "They were heading from the station towards,”
“Oh there it is,” Snap Drake declares while looking through a crack in the door with two whiskey bottles acting as binoculars.
Surprised, the rest of the group begin to peak out and see that down the road at a distance, is a group of changelings sliming up some guards, with a wagon full of random stuff beside them.
"Along with about 3 squads of changelings!" Solark observes.
"We're gonna need a distraction to get past them! Something big!" Snap Drake says.
"Something cinematic!" Rutherford says
"Something graceful!" Brown Dog adds in.
"Something stupid." Changer snarks.
*Multi-DING*
"Spartan, can you spare a few seconds?!” asks Brown Dog.
“If it means getting my books back, then yes. What do you have in mind?”
“I’ll explain on the way,” he declares before looking to Snap Drake. “Snap, you’re coming too. We’ll be back in no time with our gear, maybe we’ll see the key guy on the way, who knows.”
The three of them then peel back the barrier and step over Kersey silently as they all begin to make their way up the road.
Once the three are out of sight, more ponies rush up and beg to be let in. As if that’s the cue, the buzzing of changeling wings seems to become louder.
GreyRebl’s Comment
“Gorrammit!” Erised curses, eyes scrunching at the implications. “They are noticing that ponies are gathering here. They will combine forces and come in droves at this rate!”
“Ugh!” Grey groans, as he leaps over Kersey and defends the ponies entering as he mercilessly jabs a worn broom into the throat of an invader, before slamming a chair in front him, kicking it to launch it towards an incoming group. The satisfying sound of snapping wood couldn’t ease his indignation. “And now we’re down three guys. Was the one with the keys part of that newest group?
“No, but hopefully the others will come back with our stuff soon!” Candy says, eyeing through an open window when, suddenly, a changeling reaches through it and snarls. She yelps causing Silver to rage and punt the bugger out.
“Well I hope they’re stupid plan works!” Kichi cries out from the other end of the tavern, defending against the windows along with a few other brave townspeople. “I still can’t believe we are working with these ponies!”
“Coming through! Coming through!” a voice from outside suddenly yells. “I’ve got wounded!”
Frowning, Grey lightens his assault to let the approaching through.
“Erised,” he calls.
“On it,” Erised nods tersely.
Another royal guard, but one who has a more empowering appearance than the rest and brimming with charisma, stumbles in hurriedly with an unconscious pony in a cowboy hat and wild west vest beholding a shining, starry badge. They both collapse within safety, exhausted from what is likely a dead sprint.
The charismatic guard gives out a relieved sigh.
“Thanks. It’s good to find a safe haven in this mess...” He stops dead cold when he looks up, Erised’s hoof to his forehead as they both stare at one another. Then, the coldness washes away and the guard lets out a gasp.
“Good. Not a changeling in disguise. Would’ve been problematic,” the pale changeling muses.
The charismatic guard grits his jaw, wearily looking at him.
“And what if I was?”
“Oh, I would’ve forced you to stop breathing with what little mind magic I have. But since I can’t at the moment,” he gestures towards his anti-magic restraints, “I would’ve left your fate to him over there.”
Following what Erised is looking at, the charismatic guard is gifted the sight of a Grey breaking the leg of changeling with a cringing snap. He then proceeds to gag the poor thing with the cleaning end of his broom, pauses, and then wipes away the resulting spittle with changeling's wings. The guard gulps.
“Well? Do you have the keys to unlock these restraints?” Erised pointedly asks. “We are being overrun. We need all the firepower we can get.”
The charismatic guards opens his mouth to retort, but he notices his fellow guards gesturing him to answer honestly.
“They’re here to help us. They can be trusted. For now,” the choked guard from early says.
Before the guard can ponder anymore, a yell sounds out from one the volunteers at the far side of the tavern.
“A lot more comin’ in! The bigguns!”
Running out of patience, Grey blares,
“Keys: do you have it or not?!”
Clicking his tongue, the guard nods. With a slight of telekinesis, he tosses them to the other unicorn.
“Quick!” Kichi suddenly shouts, “Get Silver first! Trust me!”
Grimacing, Grey rushes towards Silver and swiftly unlocks his restraints, just in time for a Mongo-sized changeling to burst through the back entrance, the defenders flinching at the brute force.
Happily, Silver steps forward towards the danger.
“Yo! You all came in just in time...” A blue flame suddenly bursts from his flashing killer eye. “...for a bad time.” With deft wave of a hoof, forces unknown quaked. Like water, the furniture moved. Like static, the hairs of everyone present moved. And like a whirlwind, the big changelings are flung back towards where they came from, smashing into the smaller ones behind them.
At this, sudden display of raw power, Erised chuckles darkly.
“The Hive never has been one about high quality and nurturing talents. Serves them right for trying to toss us away.” Then, he frowns, eyeing the sweat running through Silver’s brow, obviously exhausted from the magical exertion and being low on love. “But we still need to be conservative about this.”
The others then begin to uncuff themselves as their magic returns to them.
Kichi’s Comment
“Yeah, no crap we need to conserve!” Kichi speaks up. “It seems like these guys got more love in the joint than we di-“
In the middle of his rant, a changeling bursts their upper torso through some boards and grabs him from behind and tries to drag him out.
"Give up deserter! Unlike you, we are fed properly!” it hisses.
“OH COME ON! Can we talk about this?!” Kichi shouts.
"You will be assimilated" is all the response he gets.
“Well, I tried,” he declares as he elbows the Changeling in the nose and drags him into the bar, while others start replacing the boards.
Kichi then places his hoof on the changeling’s chest.
“Don’t take this personally, but you’re right. I’m bucking hungry!”
He then places his horn against the other changeling’s and it glows.
"What are you doing? No! Stop!" he shouts as his voice tapers off, before he passes out.
“Ah, that hit the spot,” Kichi declares as his magic glows brighter and he starts gooping up more windows.
"Did you just do what I think you did?" asks Candy in shock.
"Eyup, and no I don’t feel guilty,” Kichi answers with a smile.
"Care for an explanation for those aren’t changeling?" asks Rutherford as he finally is able to blast a Changeling with water.
"He just sucked the love out of that Changeling through his horn,” Silver says, his blue eye flashing.
“What? He was going to do the same thing to me. It was either him or me, and I was starving,” Kichi defends.
“Are you justifying cannibalism?” asks Solarkness.
“No…Yes? Maybe? Look, the point is, I will not apologize for it,” the now not starving changeling decrees as he turns away from the group.
“Oh all of you quit your whining. Taboo or not, you’ve given me a tin soldier,” Erised says jovially as Rutherford takes off his shackles.
TheMechanic’s Comment
ErisedtheInkMoth’s Comment
Erised takes in a deep, satisfied breath as he feels his magic literally surging through his veins. Not enough blood to make even one clone, but he's notorious for being able to work with what's on hoof.
"Solar, bring me Kichi’s meal would you kindly?" he asks with a chilling calmness.
The Timberwolf looks unsure, but decides not to question it as he picks the drained changeling up and brings him to the pale one.
“Good boy,” he patronizes before he suddenly lunges for the neck of the Changeling and bites down.
Beads of green blood seep out, of the wound. Erised then bites his own hoof, drawing out his Ink Blood as he drips some drops into the injured Changeling.
Slowly, the blood coming from its neck turns a sickly, viscous black. Thick tendrils of Erised's blood start surging through the drone, converting its own changeling blood to Erised's ink, giving him full control over him.
The Changeling’s eyes snap open and he looks up in panic.
"Resist and the pain shall grow worse. Now spread my blight. All shall drown in my darkness!"
With spastic movements flinging black splotches everywhere, the drone towards where another Changeling attempts to get in through the Chimney and bites it, causing it to cry out in pain.
To the shock of all the citizens and guards, the screaming Changeling then stops and becomes an automaton like the other.
"That's new," Grey comments, nearly stepping in the black substance left behind. "And messy."
"Actually it's an older method: slow suffering and betrayal, specially cooked up for members of my own kind." Erised says almost wistfully, before wincing. “Though it seems I can only control a limited number as weak as I am,” he groans as he makes his way behind the shelter of the bar counter. "Now do your jobs and cover me, I need to concentrate."
All friendly changelings present share a shiver among themselves before turning back to the fight.
Behind the bar, Erised then concentrates on the two Thralls.
“Defend this bar with your lives,” he mutters within their minds, and they obey.
With two more “allies” added to the fight, and magic restored, the Knights and towns folks and guards have a new step, but they still feel a bit short handed.
“Ugh, where are Brown, Snap and Spartan already?” groans Rutherford as he sends another jet of water through a crack in a window, where it sparkles in the sunglight.
Kersey’s Comment
Down the Road, the group of Changelings continue to cocoon up and drain the energy from the captured guards. A mongo-sized Changeling then gets curious and begins to lift the tarp on the wagon they were pulling, when all of a sudden.
"PUT ME DOWN YOU IDIOT!"
“And for my next impression. Jesse Ponens,” he shouts before jumping over the Changelings and running down the street.
While the changelings are distracted, Snap Drake jumps into the cart causing it to start rolling towards the tavern.
"I got it! Back to the tavern!" Snap Drake declares as he rides the kart like a skateboard.
"Little busy!" Brown Dog yells while being chased by changelings.
"WHY THE BUCK DO I KEEP HANGING OUT WITH YOU MORONS!?" Changer yells.
“Because you love us!” Brown Dog shouts as he throws Changer onto the out of control cart before jumping onto it himself, with all the changelings chasing after them.
GreyRebl’s Comment
Inside the Tavern, the Knights and allies all become aware of one deafening noise. Silence.
Then, a voice breaks that sweet sound,
”Hey guys! Open up! Clear the doorway!”
Silver, with his superior telekinesis, moves aside Kersey’s big bod and the Quack doctor out to reveal the members of the expedition barreling down the street towards them in an out of control wagon.
“Hit the deck!” he yells as everyone dives out of the way. The cart goes right through the door, before crashing into the bar.
“Quit trying to smash my safety zone!” Erised shouts.
As Silver and Rutherford place Kersey and Quacksalver and all the other pieces of debris back in front of the door. Brown Dog, Snap Drake and Changer all sit up.
“Alright, we got our stuff back. Who wants prizes?!” Brown Dog declares.
“We got our cloaks back!” Snap cheers. While the others cheer and begin to swarm over the wreckage to get their stuff, Kichi huffs.
“You’re late to the party! We got keys just time to NOT get overwhelm-OW! Buck off!” Kichi flinches away from the splintered wood when another changeling is lucky enough to break through. The invader in turn receives the full might of several applebucking farmers. As he watches the ponies pummel his own kind, he mutters, “I know they’re high up in my Pyramid of Respect, but I’m starting to think I should put them down a level lower.”
“You think that NOW after they readily admitted to tossing us away?” Spartan snarks, as he starts looking through the equipment in the broken cart.
“...Good point,” Kichi concedes.
“There you are! Can I get the keys?” Spartan inquires, holding up his spellbooks. “I’m tired of carrying things by hoof.”
“Here,” Grey tosses the item of interest over to Spartan. “Now gimme my mop. I know it’s there.”
“Yeah, sure,” Spartan inclines, tossing the mop while catching the keys simultaneously, “but what makes a mop of all things be confiscated?’”
“I clean up a lot of blood with it. Erised’s sometimes.”
“...figures.”
Grey doesn’t here the snark, because he is cataloging his resources. Specifically, stuff that consists of cleaning supplies.
Airspray, a bottle of hoof soap, dishwashing soap, some towels, several brooms and mops, and finally his own personal mop gathered as “evidence” by the guard. But not just any mop.
Grey stares at the polished wood of his sturdy mop, admiring its shine as he sees his own reflection on it. Caressing a hoof over the cleaning utility, he mutters,
“My most faithful companion. You’ve returned,” and then he jabs the handle through a window gap knocking into 3 snarling changelings, a psychotic grin on his face.
“Now that I have my mop, I can clean this entire town ALL BUCKING DAY!” Everyone can hear his mad laughter and the rhythmic thwacks of his mop with great clarity. They all shy away from his damage zone. Never before has janitor work look so sinister.
“Ugh.” Erised face hoofs with a look that says ‘this shit again?’” “He has relapsed.”
“Relapsing has such a negative stigma,” Brown Dog points out as he takes a shot of Jack Spaniels.
After everyone gathers their cloaks/weapons, the Crimson Knights are now for the first time in a long time fully prepped and ready as a unit. But this time, they don’t have anything to hide. All of their hoods are down.
“Alright everyone, let’s get buck wild!” Brown Dog declares triumphantly, straightening his shades.
“Hit the music.”
ThePonySpartan’s Comment
As if that’s the cue, many changelings come in a wave at the bar, attacking all entrances and the Knights get to work.
Changer blasts some away from his nearest window with cutting winds by using his yellow enchanted book.
"Ah, that’s much better. I am noling’s pawn!" He yells at them.
“Woohoo! Magic Books for the win!” Snap Drake cheers as he throws a molotov out a window.
"Way to go, Spartan…you filthy traitor,” Kichi whispers as he blasts a changeling in the face.
"Yeah, very impressive." Erised adds as he shoots out an ice projectile.
"Hmph!" Changer glares. “Just because I stopped going after you doesn't mean I like you."
"Great to know." Solar says sarcastically as he claws one of the Changeling’s trying to get over Kersey.
"Whatever. If there’s betrayal afoot, I will show no mercy.”
“The return of the Revenge Fetish, With a Vengeance!” Brown Dog chuckles as he uppercuts a changeling trying to get in through the back.
The guards help at the windows and entrances as well, while the towns folk who aren’t fighting are being guarded by the two Buffalo that were taken in.
GreyRebl’s Comment
“Hey, Snap!” Grey trots over to Snap while still facing the front, levitating a can of air spray. “Can I borrow a light?”
With a knowing grin, Snap nods and levitates over the flame of a molotov cocktail. In the direction of one of the windows that’s been breached. Grey sprays and the contents bursts into flame. The duo waves it side to side to spread the cleansing fire. Now that that ground outside that window is burning, the changelings are discouraged from taking that route.
“Y’know, I thought you’d be an aquamaniac or something,” Snap comments.
“If it cleans the mess away, I’ll use whatever method it takes.”
“Ah. Gotcha.”
Suddenly, a crash occurs on the other side of the establishment, the ponies screaming to get away from a dead charge of three changelings of hulking size who carren down the stairs.
“Crud! Upper levels breached!” Kichi yells.
“Mess in the East aisle!” Solar roars, rushing to meet them head on.
Grey returns the call.
“On it!”
Using his abnormal speed, Grey is able sprint parallel along with the timberwolf. In fact, taking advantage of it, he rushes ahead with splintered brooms and mops in his telekinetic grip and flings them at the attackers. They didn’t even flinch and ignore them as though they are twigs. Solar follows the trail of broken cleaning utilities, assimilating them into his body. However, they are only distractions for Grey’s real mop as he swiftly goes to the side and slams the lead changeling in the leg with unexpected strength. Giving no time, he smoothly does the same to the second, and then the third!
With them unbalanced and with his strengthened maw, Solar lifts the first over himself as he passes it along and slams it into the second and swings it again into the third. He ends the motion by mightily flinging it back up the stairs.
The other two downed, Grey quickly closes in so that the almighty mop shall be their end. Thwack! Solar grabs the second and throws yet again. Thwack! The same things happens once more! The timberwolf and pony stare at their handy work. The three unconscious changelings are then kicked out of the upstairs window they came in from.
“Wooo! Go team!” Snap appears right between and gestures for a brohoof from each of his front hooves. The two look across him and towards each other, roll their eyes, and then return the gesture with a smile.
Behind the bar, the charismatic guard asks Erised.
“Is there a doctor here per chance? This stallion needs medical attention,” the charismatic guard says, looking worryingly at the unconscious Sheriff by his side.
Quacksalver momentarily hops upon hearing the word ‘doctor,’
“Somepony call a-,” but he is shut down as one of Erised’s proxies punch him out.
“I suppose I can do something,” Erised quickly says opening his eyes. “Let’s make this quick. What’s the issue---Is that apple pie I smell?”
Taking a whiff towards the Sheriff, there is indeed apple pie.
“Uh, yeah.”
“Explain.”
“While throwing pie at the enemy changelings, one of our own accidently shot a piece at the good Sheriff. He tripped and bumped his head.”
A brow twitches.
“I see.” With a touch on the Sheriff’s forehead, he uses his mind-control with as little ink as possible to forcibly awake the mustached stallion, whose eyes suddenly shoot wide open like an energy drink junkie. He then bounces to all fours instantly, spazzing like a cartoon.
“Wooooweeee!” the Sheriff hollers, “Ah feelin’ so alive Ah feel like can tussle with ‘em buffalo a thousands times over!”
“Actually, that is all fake,” Erised interrupts, “I only stimulated the emotion to make you inclined to go out and fight.”
Suddenly, the Sheriff is right up in his face,
“So you the boy who healed me?”
Growling, Erised says,
“Don’t call me a ‘boy,’ you---urk!” before he is suddenly pulled into a hearty hug!
“Thank you, sonny! Ah appreciate the pick-me-up!” Letting go, the Sheriff then turns and goes straight into the fray, meshing with the chaos as he shouts, “Howdy-ho!”
Rather than putting up a response, Erised wheezes for breath, nursing his chest due to his injuries.
“Thanks? When is the last time that was said to me?”
“With your attitude, probably never,” Candy calls out as she punches a Changeling in the nose.
As the Knights continue to defend their turf, from outside comes a loud cry of.
“In the name of the Masked Stallion, feel our Vengeance!!!” in several voices that sound the same.
“Say, do changelings tend to disguise as the same pony in en masse?” Brown Dog suddenly asks.
“To confuse the enemy during swarms, yes,” Erised answers. “Why?”
“Might explain all the pink all the way over there.”
“...what?” The pale changeling closes eyes to reconnect to his personal hivemind, using the senses of his puppets to see what’s up. Indeed, there are dozens of pink mares of the same exact face, facing the invasion head on. “That is just…”
Kersey’s Comment
Falx_of_Lume’s Comment
AllenNoir’s Comment
"Pinkies! Form of: PARTY CANNON!" the lead Pinkie with a black spot on her side declares causing the other Pinkie clones to cartwheel together into the shape of a cannon and start blasting Pinkies at the changelings, providing covering fir-er Pinkies for other civilians to try to get away.
Erised behind the bar drops his jaw.
“What in the actual Buck?”
“Oh, what is this ah hear?!” The Sheriff suddenly enters the conversation, snapping him out of his battle of pie and chitin. In fact, his face is filled with genuine concern. And hope. “Could it be the Pink Sisters? Ah thought the changelings has about had them all!”
Eyes still scrunched, Erised mutters,
“No it seems they’re holding them back all well and good. In fact, they’re all defying the laws of reality by-?” His eyes snaps open. “Everyone away from the front! Pink mare incoming!”
Suddenly, a pink cannon ball breaks through one of the barricades with so much force those near the place of impact flew! A collection of beaten changelings (including one of his proxies), wood, and dust alike bursts into the tavern. The destruction might’ve gone further if Grey hadn’t valiantly caught the pink ball of calamity with his face.
Violently tumbling across the tavern and crashing into and breaking the bar section into splinters, the pink mass finally stops with a grey-brown mass under it.
“WHY THE BUCK IS THERE SO MUCH PINK?!” Grey shouts, muffled by a poofy mane.
A few of the Changelings wearily begin to stand before Brown Dog and Snap Drake pick them up with their arms and telekenisis alike and throw them out into the road.
“Alright, I’m convinced, we need those mares,” Brown Dog declares as he calls out.
“OI! Pink ladies! Get over here and help us!”
The lead Pinkie looks to the tavern, and she orders the others to bound towards it.
By the time they get to the bar though, all but six of them have been captured by the Changelings.
With the six identical pink mares’ help, the hole in the wall is barricaded.
“Thanks for the shelter, many of my sisters didn’t make it,” the leader says.
“No problem. We got seven out of dozen, I think we broke even,” Snap Drake encourages.
“I have 34 other sisters,” she responds sadly as she looks down.
“Oh…dang…” Brown Dog mutters.
“By the way, have you seen Nines? We accidentally misfired her?”
“Yeah, she’s behind the bar,” Solarkness points out. “Now do you mind telling us why you all look like the Element of Laughter?
GreyRebl’s Comment
While the lead Pinkie briefly gives her tale, the misfired “Nines” is being looked over by Erised.
“Tell me mister, will I die?”
A sigh escapes the pale changeling one of frustration and painful resignation.
“No. It is literally just a scrape,” Erised deadpans, “I’m surprised the crash didn’t do much worse. Honestly, if only Rutherford was capable of actual healing rather than energy rejuvenation, I wouldn’t be doing this.”
The pale killer changeling stares bemused at the pink mare before him. She is a total flower, eyes filled with sky-like innocence and a cheerfully poofy mane, acting as blissfully ignorant as child. And, with baby-faced worry, she thinks she’s dying over a small scrape on her foreleg. Unbelievable.
“But why does it hurt? Things don’t hurt unless it is really, really bad!”
“Oh for the love of, were you born yesterday?!” he growls
“About a month ago, actually,” she says with a straight face.
With an even straighter face, Erised simply says,
“Nevermind.” He has no patience to deal with stupid. He taps her head and then her expression lightens.
“Oooh! The hurt is gone!” she says giddily, like a kid witnessing magic.
“Just made your mind ignore the injury. Now-No hugs!” Erised hastily says when the mare gets too close with a familiar sense of happiness in her eyes.
“Awww,” the pink mare whines sadly, “But how else I’m going to thank you?”
Erised’s eyes widen, his jaw dropping slightly.
"That...that is the second time…!" He shakes his head, getting the thought out.
“Just scram already! I’m busy, and I’d rather not waste ink shutting you up permanently,” he grumbles, irritated. “In fact? Grey! Get this mare away from me!”
Still bitter about being a cushion for her fall, Grey growls,
“Buck off! Unless she has grade-A cleaning supplies as a peace offering, I won’t do jack spit for her!” To emphasize his point, he slams a soapy towel onto a head peeking through a window, it’s owner screaming bloody murder as the detergent seeps into its buggy eyes.
“Oh, is that all?” The pink mare says simply. With a swipe of her hoof, cleaning supplies of notoriously popular brands magically appears by his hooves. Well, actually, she just pulls a plank out of the floor and pulls the stuff out from underneath.
This gives Grey pause and his jaw drops. What he is seeing are miracles. Clorox wipes, All-Purpose cleaners, and Tide detergent. Especially Tide detergent. Legends say that their cleaning ability can even turn the Tide of battle!
“I do cleaning work around the tavern. I keep emergency supplies hidden all around. Pretty cool, huh? Oh, and you can have these, too.” She then slips a stack of coupons along the pile. Tide Laundry detergent, 80% off. “Appaloosan policy,” she boasts cheerfully.
Grey just gapes at the coupons and the wonders of the household cleaning world. It’s the sweetest bucking deal in the world to him! With a finality of the fates, he looks up and stare deep into the abyss of the mare’s eyes.
“I love you.”
“Dude! That’s cheating on Erised!” a voice sounds.
“Shut the buck up, Snap!”
As Brown Dog watches all of this whilst smashing a few skulls, he hums in thought. He looks at Kichi, Silver, Spartan, and Candy. They are looking tired, exhausted even judging by the wilting of the eyes. He then looks back at Erised and Grey with the pink mare, to her 6 other sisters, and then back at his allied changelings.
An idea comes to him, but before he can voice it, everyone inside the tavern notices that there is a distinct lack of changeling wings and hissing. The windows stop being attacked entirely. Looking through the window, Kichi says,
“It looks like they’ve stopped. They’re keeping their distance.”
The others notice that a group of changelings are surrounding the tavern from the air and ground, but none of them are moving.
“So what, did we beat them?” asks an optimistic Sheriff.
“No. They’ve no doubt realized we’re a hassle and are regrouping,” Erised says sullenly.
They all look to him.
“Regrouping?” asks Solarkness.
He nods and says, “Just listen. There’s much less screaming and buzzing of wings outside." Kichi, Candy and Silver all grit their teeth in worry at that.
“What’s that mean then Erised?” asks Rutherford.
“It means they bulk of them have gone on to easier pickings. They’re gathering their love from everypony that isn’t tucked away in this bar.”
“Oh crud,” Snap Drake moans.
“Well hey, if they’re catching their second wind, we can do the same,” Brown Dog says as he looks to the Pinkies.
“Backward town hicks, give us your pies and other apples, and if any of you can cook, start making some grub for us in the kitchen, we need the strength. Native Buffaloneans, keep reinforcing Kersey and make sure he’s not too injured, fat can only protect so much, and Clones of the most Attractive Element of Harmony, give Erised, Silver, Candy and Kichi as much affection as you can muster,” he orders.
The Pinkie’s salute and get to hugging the Changeling Knights, as some of the sullen towns ponies start to make fresh food.
“No wait I don’t- Hrk!” Erised cries out as Nines hugs him. “Damn it Dog…”
“Seriously, where’s all this leadership coming from?” Solarkness asks the Diamond Dog.
“I don’t know really. It confuses and scares me truthfully. Months of sobriety have corrupted me,” Brown Dog shudders as he takes another shot of whiskey.
“Well don’t fall off the wagon yet, we still have to get through this, no matter how long we’ve held them off,” Rutherford advises.
“Yeah…speaking of how long has it been?” asks Changer, and one of the Pinkies answers.
“Oh, it’s been 20 Minutes since all those bug pony things came shooting out of the train.”
Everyone’s eyes pale at that.
“20 Minutes?! That’s it?!” shouts Snap.
“Uh-huh, I know because it was almost second breakfast time,” another Pinkie declares.
The Knights then collectively shudder.
“Wave 2 is definitely going to be a B!#$%,” Kichi mutters.
While the bar is left alone for now, The rest of the town is assimilated and the love harvested from the captured ponies, a Changeling Grunt trots up to four scarred Changelings as they direct other grunts.
“How goes the Eastern Sector?” asks the Female.
“For the most part taken ma’am, but there have been some…complications.”
The big one silently raises an eyebrow at that.
“What do you mean Private?” asks the female with the yellow mane again.
“There is a gathering of civilians barricading themselves inside the tavern. And…and they have repealed our initial attacks. That’s why we’ve come to gather enough love energy.
“Are your numbers so weak?”
“Are your numbers so incompetent?”
“That you can’t break down a simple tavern?” the two near identical changelings say together.
“No sirs. It’s just…they are being led by the Crimson Knight leaders. They’re working together.”
The four Officer Changelings then all share a glance.
“Very well Private, you and your forces gather your strength,” the yellow haired female orders.
“Ma’am!” the private salutes and buzzes off.
“Well, that is some troubling news,” Vicky says aloud.
“Should we call for the Shell Marshall?” asks Biff.
“Shall we call for Sin?” asks Tannen.
Vicky looks from them to Mongo who just scowls.
“I don’t know. This was supposed to be simple while she goes to recruit…” she trails off as her frown deepens and Mongo clenches his jaw.
“To recruit 9001.”
“To recruit Bugze.”
“To recruit The Hooded Offender,” they say in unison.
Vicky sighs at that.
“Yes, Him,” Vicky declares with venom.
“Why does the Queen even think we need that traitorous little…” she stops ranting as Mongo puts a hoof on her wingless back.
Biff then speaks up,
“It as the Queen demands.”
“Yeah, I know. Doesn’t mean I have to like it.”
Tannen then speaks up.
“We’re more than capable of handling the situation, though we should give her a sit rep.”
“Yeah alright,” Vicky gives in. “I’ll let her know we’ve captured the town, and are in the process of mop up duty.”
Biff and Tannen nod at this.
“Very well. We shall gather the forces when they’ve gotten their strength up.”
“And Biff and I will ensure the puppets and their quarry are taken down.”
“You two carry on with the rest of the town.”
Mongo and Vicky nod as Biff and Tannen buzz their wings and fly off.
Vicky then looks to Mongo, as they both nod and touch their horns together, creating a bright green light.
POV CHANGE: Bugze
You take Sin by the Shoulder’s and Shake her,
“No, this can’t be it! There still might be time to stop this!” you yell. She resolutely looks you in the eye.
“No there’s not. I’ve already received word, the town is all but assimilated.”
You think back on all your friends. Of Braeburn, Little Strongheart, and many many more. All of them in green pods being fed upon.
SNAP
“THE DEAL’S OFF!” you yell as you push her hard, causing her to hit the sofa, before yelling.
“Would you Kindly Freeze?!” freezing her to the seat.
“I’m not going to let this stand!”
“But this was necessary! We needed the power to-“
“Quit with your excuses! You kept this from me because you knew I wouldn’t agree to it! Well Buck your technicalities!” you yell at her. You then start stomping towards the Bunker Door.
“Where are you going?!” Sin calls out in shock.
“Appleloosa! I don’t care if I have to run the whole way there, I am going to undo what you’ve done!”
“NOOO!!!” she yells as all of a sudden you are pelted by ice that explodes off of her.
You turn around and see Electricity pulsing up her arms.
“You can’t throw this away! We can still work this out! It’s just a tool to,”
“THOSE WERE MY FRIENDS IN THAT TOWN!!!” you yell as your eyes glow causing Sin to recoil.
“I may be wanted, I may be a monster, but Appleloosa was always a safe place for me, and you’ve bucked it up!” you yell as wisps of your cloak start to form. “So now I’m going to buck up your plans!”
Sin’s eyes are full of panic, until they glow green, and her voice comes out with an echo.
“I can’t allow that…please…will you not reconsider?” comes her combined voice with Chrysalis.
You just glare back at her.
She then lets out a sigh.
“So be it…”
Sin then shocks you in the horn, causing you to cry out.
“AAAHHH!!!” before she runs up to you and slaps a black stone disk to your chest, and suddenly, you feel drained and weak.
BUGZE! Selena yells out in panic.
“Hrk,” you declare as your heart gives a weird thump and you fall backward onto the ground, your cloak dissipating.
You stare confusedly up at the ceiling on your back as Sin walks into your view with her glowing green eyes, a look of disappointment on her face.
“What did you do to me?” you ask as you try to take the disk off of you.
“It’s my insurance. I wasn’t taking any chances when facing you again, not after last time,” Sin admits. “That right there is a piece of the old throne, maybe the last actual magical piece until the Queen can build a new one.”
Your eyes widen at that. The throne was a powerful deterrent that would cancel out all magic besides changeling magic for miles to come. With the invasion and imprisonment of the Queen, it would have fallen into dust. Well, save for this piece you guess.
Bugze, all channels to my power have been blocked! We can’t access the cloak.
Frowning, you immediately try to pry the stone off of you, but it won’t budge.
Sin/Chrysalis just sighs and shakes her head.
“Only I can take it off. It is bound to me, and through the Queen’s blood.”
“Take it off Sin! Please! You don’t have to do this!”
“Yes I do! I told you, I will do anything to save our kind. And…” she hesitates a moment, “And we can’t have you interfering if you won’t help.”
“I was going to help! I was!” you yell, tugging uselessly at the disk. “But you two lied to me, even if it was by omission. I’ll still help, I swear it, just please, let Appleloosa go.”
“It’s too late for that. It’s already done. We can’t go back now,” she says in determination.
Gritting your teeth, you yell,
“Would you kindl-“
She shocks your horn again midsentence causing you to spasm. She then rapidly goops your limbs and lower half to the floor.
“Ew, Ew Ew!” you gag as you try and fail to move your limbs. You then glare at Sin. “Let me out! I won’t let you get away with this!”
“Please! Just help us! We need only this town’s love to succeed,” she pleads.
“At the cost of their health, magic and freedom!” you growl.
Sin gives you yet another weary look.
“Why? Why can’t you do what is necessary to save our kind?” both Chrysalis and Sin ask.
“Because I’ve been doing what’s “necessary” for so long, the justifications become less and less convincing…” you say in melancholy.
Sin closes her eyes for a moment and breathes, before saying,
“Yes Ma’am.”
When she opens them again, they are their normal blue.
“I…I wish you would have seen the light. I’m going now. The Queen has decreed your fate,” she says as lightning crackles up her arms. You begin to panic and start squirming, but she then turns around and shoots out her lightening towards the Bunker door, as she welds it shut. When she is done, she looks back to you with a weary look.
“You aren’t going to stop us, but that doesn’t mean you must die. We will carry out our plan while you will be trapped here powerless. With you, our success would have been guaranteed,” she bemoans. She then walks up to your trapped form and looks you right in the eye.
“If we succeed…If we are able to lead our forces and rescue them, then perhaps the Queen will come back for you…”
“But what if you fail? Are you going to just leave me here? I can’t teleport on Changeling Magic and I’m trapped!”
She clenches her eyes and turns away from you.
“You’ll…You’ll have a better chance than what we had in that cave…” she trails off before looking back to you.
“Sin, please…” you beg.
“I forgive you,” she declares as her hoof collides with your face, and all goes black.
Later
“Daddy? Daddy can you hear me?” Nightshade’s voice comes from a mile away as you feel like you’re floating.
“Mommy? Are you there? Anyling?”
You had best wake up, I don’t know how much time has passed, comes the voice of Selena.
Selly? What’s going on? You ask to the black surroundings.
You were punched out by that Changeling after she placed that stone upon you. I still can’t manifest our power.
Oh right. Sin was linked with Chrysalis, I was going to help them but then…
Your eyes shoot open in the outside world as you sit up in bed.
“Appleloosa!!!” you declare in panic.
“Oh thank Goodness you’re awake!” Nightshade yells as she hugs you around your chest.
“Yes I’m awake. Now hurry Nightshade, we have to get to Ap…What the?” you declare as you look at your surroundings. You are not in your bunker, you’re in....
“The TARDIS?” you yelp as you look around. You are in the same bed you were in nearly one year ago after your injury from the Otherworld.
“Yeah Dad. We got picked up after that Changeling lady left. I couldn’t get out of the Inventory because it was gooped up, and you were passed out,” Nightshade explains hugging you tighter. “And I couldn’t reach mom either.”
You look back down at your chest and see the Stone Disk still stuck there.
“She’s fine honey, I’m just glad you’re safe.” You say as you hug her. After awhile you scowl and say,
“Now, where’s the Doctor?! I have to give that bum a piece of my mind. We don’t hear from him in Months, he dumps Derpy, and he decides to show up NOW?!”
“Well actually,” Nightshade starts, but you cut her off.
“Well he’d better get us to Appleloosa, and if he so much as says he can’t I’ll-“
“The Doctor didn’t pick us up Daddy,” Nightshade interrupts causing you to do a double take.
“Say what now?”
“Yeah, someling else did, and there’s all these other ponies on board too. There’s this Stallion named Jack, some mare that looks like a re-colored Cousin Cadence without wings, and Ms. Aqua,” she explains.
Your eyes widen.
“Aqua’s here?” you ask in surprise.
The Water Bender? Selena asks in her own surprise.
“Mmhmm,” she nods. “They all cut that green stuff off of you and brought you in here, but none of them could get that rock off of your chest.”
You look around but see no signs of them.
“They’re in the other room, going over plans or something. But the Jack guy told me it was OK to watch over you.”
“Jack? As in Captain Jack? Torchwood is here?” you ask flabbergasted.
She nods and you run your hoof through your hair.
“OK, wow. Well I’ll geek later. Maybe with their help we can get to Appleloosa on time. Where’s the Doctor?”
To this, Nightshade shrugs.
“I don’t know Dad. He’s not here,” she says with a shrug.
“What? What happened to him?”
A new voice then interrupts the two of you.
“What happened? I kicked his secret keeping thousand year old arse out the door and jacked this beautiful blue box months ago.”
Or rather, an old voice. A voice that you would know anywhere. It shocks you to be hearing it again.
“Although I guess technically by the time we pick him up, it will only have been minutes for him, but who’s counting am I right?” the voice punctuates with a chuckle.
You slowly turn your head to the speaker and your breath is taken from your lungs.
Impossible…You said he…Selena trails off.
“I always told you boyo, hanging around with Prissy Chryssy was never going to work out for you. Though it’s not too late to fix things.”
“Who is he Daddy? He’s the one who drove the TARDIS to rescue you, and he told me you knew him,” Nightshade asks.
And you do know him. You know him very well. The wrinkled cheeks, the unlit cigar in his teeth, and the ever present bowler hat sit upon the Changeling who raised you.
“G-Gr-Grandbuggy?” you gasp out as your whole body suddenly feels lighter than air and Nightshade’s jaw drops.
The old bug gives you a toothy grin.
“That’s right boyo. In the chitin.”
“I-I-I…” you try to speak, but words escape you.
He holds up his hoof.
“Now $#%^&, I know you have a million questions, and I’ll answer them. We literally have all the time in the world to help your town. But before all of that, I just have to say one thing aloud I’ve been holding onto for months.”
He then takes a deep breath, before his hooves come up to his cheeks and he squees.
“Oh My Gosh, My Great Granddaughter is so adorable and kickflank. Great job on nailing the Mare in the Moon before I could boy! I’m so proud of you!!!”
The old bug who you thought died years ago continues to gush to you two as you try to get your wits about you.
OK, Grandbuggy is alive and well, we’re in the stolen TARDIS with Torchwood on our way to pick up The Doctor, I’m still powerless, and it sounds like we’re going to save Appleloosa.
WHAT DO YOU DO?
Special Outro:
