//------------------------------// // Episode 86: A Hopeless Endeavor (Season Finale Part 7) // Story: Life of a Wanted Changeling Season 3: Tyrants, Terrorists, and Tiaras, Oh My! // by Down with Chrysalis //------------------------------// Fireheart1945’s Comment Falx_of_Lume’s Comment In spite of the pain of your new wound you engage Mongo as you both land some distance away from the rest. He headbutts you off of him, and that really cleans your clock. “Wh-Whoah…” you groan dizzily as he gets up. “Mongo, I’ve never liked you but I won’t let you die here!” you say shaking your head and regaining your composure. To this the big changeling grits his teeth as his eyes blaze with anger as he points at his throat, which has a jagged scar running across it. “I…” you sputter before gaining your resolve. “I’ve made mistakes, but I’m gonna make up for them. It may sound strange, but I’m going to beat your flank down to save you!” you yell. 'Despite their new power, I now have to beat all of them faster than ever. You think to yourself. I can’t hold back! You use the boost from the Cloak to power jump and cover the distance between you and Mongo. He takes a swing at you with his right hoof and you bring up one tail to block. But his punch has much more force behind it than you thought and it sends you crashing into a building off to the side. 'Ghah... that was a lot stronger than I thought. "Bugze!!!" Selena warns in alarm. You open your eyes and see Mongo descending on you with green fire engulfing his right foreleg and a black, chitin-like heavy lance forming from the flames. You push yourself up and move out of the way of the lance slamming down into the ground, causing an explosion of dirt. Mongo continues the assault and repeatedly stabs and swings at you while you evade and block with the tails, but only just barely. While your enemy is stronger, there is more to battle than strength alone. You dodge one of his swings and slam your Boom Stick right into his lance, causing him to falter. You then merge your four tails into a concentrated mass and slam downward onto Mongo, who blocks the massive impact and counters with another thrust. You block and back flip away from a follow-up swing, four tails uppercutting at the same time, takes them to the chin with a snarl. You follow up with rapid, single tail strikes from a distance but Mongo's defense with his lance deflects the blows. Mongo moves in and slashes at you. You push back off the ground away from him with your tails, but his strike manages to not only cut through your cloak, but also cut into your already inured chest, causing a quick spurt of your blue blood. “GYAGH!” You grunt in pain but continue fighting. Deciding to return the favor, your two tails swing from the right which he blocks, two more from the left, which he also blocks, but you manage to stab all four downwards on him from above, and you manage to cut past his chitin, causing him to falter a moment in pain. You’ve hit nothing vital, but still, that should have taken him down to the ground. You lift your tails up and Mongo takes a moment to take a breath before glaring at you in anger. "HAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!" He roars a battle cry as he charges with his lance aimed right for you. "RAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!" You roar right back as all four tails lash straight out towards him. Lance and tails meet between you both, with the tips of your tails wrapping around the lance's tip. You both struggle to overpower the other, Mongo with his lance, and you with the combined might of your four tails. But it soon becomes apparent who has more strength. Whipping you around, he forcefully slams you into the ground, flat on your back. “Oomph!” you groan before he then tries to slam the lance downward, causing you to block it with your tails. He doesn’t relent, and the tip of it comes dangerously close to your body. “WOULD YOU KINDLY FREEZE?!!!” you shout, as you freeze the lance and shatter it with your tails, causing Mongo to shout in pain and annoyance. In retaliation, he grabs you by your tails and throws you into an Apple Tree which splinters. Wincing from the pain, you stand back up as you pant from the quick but intense bout, blood leaking from your wounds, but not enough to be too worried at this point. Mongo glares at you as he cracks his hooves together and his eyes glow brighter. 'Damn it! He's just drawing more power, and I haven’t even put a dent into him! "Bugze, please, you won’t be able to do this alone! You're hurt and I don't like how this is going. He managed to cut through the cloak!" NO! Selena, I can't. I can't let anyone else die. I have to finish this before it's too late. But... *sigh* a-alright. Mongo snarls and steps forward. Here he comes! I see it. Mongo takes a flying leap towards you and you do the same, both of you crying out as you wind up your punches, meeting each other in the middle. But he is still stronger as his tackle knocks you back and to the ground. Using his momentum, he flips over you and throws you down the road, and your face grinds into the dirt. “I didn’t see it…” you groan as you look up from the dirt and see the Grandbuggy, Aqua, Jack and the other Knights engaging with Sin, the Twins, and Vicky. Or rather desperately dodging and taking pot shots at them. You look to where the blasts are disrupting everything, and you see somelings that have been overlooked. PuzzlingFrost’s Comment "Knights, if you aren’t actively fighting, get those grunts to safety before they get caught in the crossfire!” you order as you stand up. "Are you CRAZY?!" Grey yells as he ducks under a blast of fire, "We just beat these idiots into submission and now you want us to save them?" "As much as I hate to say it CV these guys are a liability!” Aqua shouts as she shoots a blast of ice at Vicky, who catches it in her telekenisis . If they wake up they will just attack everyone!" ,cried Aqua "I AM NOT LETTING ANYLING DIE TODAY NO MATTER WHOSE SIDE THEIR ON!"  you shout as your eyes glow for good measure, "Just get them out of the line of fire befo-HRK!” you gasp as an arm wraps around your chest from behind. With you in a tight embrace, Mongo then delivers a Germane Suplex to you, burying your head into the dirt once more. "Right! Yo runners, we’re weak, let’s do it before we get suplexed!” Snap Drake announces. And with that, Candy, Snap Drake and Kichi go about moving the unconscious enemy from harm’s way. As you get punted by Mongo and your fight resumes, Grandbuggy just shakes his head and says. “Gotta keep yer eyes open at all time boy!” as he goes help the runners move the drones. “Why are you helping us 117? Aren’t you supposed to be the greatest specialist ever?” asks Candy. “Yeah, and while I got a few tricks up my sleeve I’m also old and fat, so I’ll help where I can.” His statement is punctuated as Jack is struck by lightning and Solarkness is momentarily set on fire, causing Aqua to put him out. “Because I sure as heck ain’t suicidal chosen!” he declares as he uses his magic to pick up a large number of drones and toss them off into the apple orchard. While Snap Drake and Candy follow suit, Kichi grumbles. BrownDog’s Comment Kichi’s Comment “*Sigh* I always said the queen was crazy and noling believed me. What I didn’t realize was that there were others just as nuts as she,” he exposits as he watches Changer deflect a fire attack, only to be hit with an ice blast. “She’s not even in here and she’s deciding everyling’s dead and that they all need to be sacrificed, and they agree with her!” He then looks from the fight to Grandbuggy and the runners and back. “Maybe I’ll just slink off and hide, those five will be dead soon from that power up anyway.” They aren’t just gonna let you hide idiot! Erised’s voice chimes in his head. The Queen’s lost her damn mind, and noling’s gonna escape this unless they fight. “Oh please, it’s not like saving these drones is gonna matter, the Offender doesn’t get tha-HRK!” Kichi is suddenly lifted by his throat by Vicky who has decided to attack the Runners. “Going somewhere unbound?!” she seethes. “I, uh…” he chokes until. *SLAP* “HGH!” Vicky gasps out in surprise, anger, and embarrassment, letting Kichi fall to the ground. She quickly whips around and glares at Grandbuggy who has just slapped her flanks. “Nah, the question is are YOU going somewhere sweetheart? I could take you somewhere where you can learn from a mature gent,” he says wiggling his eyebrows. “YOU OLD PERVERT!!!” Vicky yells as she blasts Grandbuggy in the stomach, sending him off flying as she chases after him. “Wh-What just happened?” asks Kichi. “The old fart saved your life, not quit putsing around loli-con!” Candy chides, helping Kichi to his hooves. “I’m not a-GGGRRRR!!!!” he growls. While Kichi is dragged kicking and screaming to help the others, Erised surveys the battle with weary eyes. “They’re working too much in sync, and the Offender is barely holding his own. We gotta step up our game…” he mutters, which is heard by the rest of the Knights. GreyRebl’s Comment “Erised,” Grey calls as a bell sound effect chimes in his head. Hearing this, Erised echoes in irritation, What is it? “If you can see what we see, can it also go the other way around?” Yes…in theory, Erised confirms cautiously. But what is your plan? Grey sighs as Rutherford is struck on both sides by Lightning and Ice. “Let’s...give this ‘trust’ a shot.” Trust? The word leaves a sense of distaste in Erised’s mouth, even though he doesn’t physically say it. You know this isn’t how we operate. “Not like we have a choice anymore. Besides, it works for Nightmare Moon and the Hooded Offender,” Grey points out as he tosses a container of Orange Cleaner into Tannen’s flames, causing the noxious chemical to spill over him. Hmmph. Fine. But whatever mess you make, you’ll clean it up, janitor, Erised actually snarks. The grey-brown pony just grins sadistically. “Naturally.” He brings up a box of detergent, the biggest one yet, and calls out to Rutherford, “Hey, water lizard! You and the blue chick need to make a mist with this special ingredient! We’re gonna make this filthy bugs blind.” "What?” Rutherford frowns as he catches the box. “But how can we see?” “Erised’s got us covered,” he answers with a smirk. BrownDog’s Comment Away from the battle, while the Janitor and Wyvern begin to put their plan in motion, the giant Kersey still won’t let Brown Dog up. “Kersey for the love of Dogs, get off me, we got a lot more important crap to deal with, and my ribs are shot enough as it is.” “No! This is better! We’ll all go out together, Don’t you just love a happy ending?!” Kersey pants stubborn in his own ways. “Do you really hate me that much? Dude, they were pranks! It was all in good fun! I mean, I know you had an ant problem after putting mustard in your sheets but,” “It’s not about that!” Kersey interrupts, grinding his hoof a little more. “How?! How could you be named the leader?! I was always meant to lead. I followed the ideals of Flag Burner, I handled the budget, but no, they put all of you on my level who couldn’t be forced to stay on track. And YOU. You somehow became their leader?!” “Oh for Cripes Sakes man!” Brown Dog laments slamming is fists to the ground. “This whole thing is just spur of the moment, I just stood up and everyone followed suit, I didn’t plan it. And get your head out of your flanks dude, none of us were actually leaders!” “OH Bullspit!” the giant growls. “Just because you ran around drinking with that stupid horn head doesn’t mean that I wasn’t a true leader in-” “OH SHUT THE BUCK UP!!!” Brown Dog yells as he bites the soft frog of Kersey’s hoof, causing him to yelp and bring it off him. “Oh Motherbucker!” Kersey shakes his hoof. “You filthy disgusting mongrel! I’ll turn you into a real Crimson Knight by splattering the earth with your blood and then burning the rem-“ “There are no Crimson Knights you idiot!” Brown Dog calls out as he scrambles out of the way of the hoof. “We were all set up! All of us, even your fat ass, were put in charge by the Changelings!” “What?!” Kersey roars in surprise, before shaking his head. “That’s not true you lying sack of crap. Just accept your death already so that I can-“ “We were the lowest of the low, none of us had any business being leaders, and that’s why put us in charge!” Brown Dog growls as he throws a brick into Kersey’s eye, causing him to cry out and bring his hoof to it. “We were their front while they gathered power. They played us all like a two bit fiddle! We’re in this mess because they planned it so!” “I’m Not Lowest of the Low! I am the smartest in this organization of-“ “WE’RE NOT AN ORGANIZATION! We never were!” he shouts. “We were just a bunch of idiots stuck together by fate.” He then starts walking towards the rest of the Knights who are engaged with the Officers. “Listen, you may be the biggest jackass I’ve ever had the displeasure of knowing. You’re an annoying, hateful, speciestic, sad excuse of a living being…But like it or not, we’re all in this together. If we just stand together, we might make it out of this. So help if you want, but if not, then SHUT YER BUCKING PIE HOLE!” He then jogs off to the rest of the knights, leaving behind the growling Kersey. “You can’t talk to me like that you stupid drunk! You can’t!!!” “Brown Dog!” Snap Drake, who secures one of the drones, calls out as he sees the beaten up dog come his way. “Are you up for another fight good buddy?” “I’ll be honest Snap, I’ve been better. Never thought the day would come where I had to get serious and tell that jerk off,” he says holding his ribs lamenting the remains of his awesome shades.  Looking at the officers and You in the distance fighting Mongo he asks his buddy “Let me guess, last stand type situation?” “Eyup. We’re trying everything now, but now that we’ve gotten the drones out of the way the runners can help somewhat. Luckily, I brought the party favors,” Snap smiles and brings out his molotovs. “Oh sweet!” Brown Dog calls out, takes the rag out of one and starts gulping the alcohol. “Dude!” Snap calls in alarm. “I’m injured, I need medicine!” the diamond dog exposits. “Plus, I drunk better when I'm fight!” “Ehhh, good point,” Snap relents and starts drinking his own supply. Cut it out you drunks and get ready! Erised chides. “How do we know when we’re ready?” asks Snap Drake. Watch the Bloodbender! The two of them then watch as Aqua engages with Sin. GreyRebl’s Comment “So, you know Bugze too huh?.” Aqua approaches Sin from the side. Battered and matted with tufts of tangled fur, the water bender has seen better days. However, nothing has yet to dim the brimming resolve in her eyes. “Honestly, my partner seems to have it with all the ladies.” Sin narrows her eyes in recognition. “You’re that mercenary during Crimson Hearth's Warming.” “Oh, so you do know me. Not my best moment, but yeah…” Aqua briefly chuckles before turning serious, her horn glowing slightly. Sin widens her stance in turn. “But enough of the chit chat. My friend is hurt, leaking blood, and I’m pissed. Sorry sweetie, but I won’t be holding back anymore.” “I don’t intend to either. But no worries.” Sin’s eyes go cold. No anger and hesitation: A drone soldier to the end. “It’ll be quick.” A spark of Sin’s jagged horn is the only warning Aqua gets before she erects a water barrier as electricity rushes to meet her. Sin closes her eyes. “It’s no good.” Booom! The electricity enters the barrier and pierces right through, leaving an explosion of hot sparks in its wake! “Oh, I forgot to mention: I’m the worst match up for you.” Sin’s eyes snap open in shock. Surrounded by water sparking from the left over electricity, Aqua is still fine, untouched with a smug grin on her face. And a demolished building continues to collapse behind her, the wood burnt from the immense impact of Sin's attack. But that’s not where Sin aimed. Chrysalis’s Chosen tenses. “How?” “All I have to do is conduct the electricity into going towards the easiest path. Water just happens to be the best path to go.” The waterbender’s sudden glare takes Sin aback. “I don’t know much about your history with Bugze, but if you’re going to find redemption, you’ll have to pay in pain. Just like how I did.” “Redemption?” Sin’s eyes break her cold visage and cast down, conflicted, before returning to the proud soldier she is. “No. I’ve gone too far to stop now.” "So you acknowledge you're doing something wrong but refuse to make amends." Aqua shrugs and says, “Your choice,” before sighing sadly. “If only you weren't so loyal. We might've been on the same side. Well, let’s do this.” “Yes. Let’s.” And so, an aura of their respective elements emerges, Sin with her coat of lightning and Aqua with her swirling rose of water. They both dive forward. “NOW!!!” Aqua yells as a jet of soapy water slams between the two courtesy of Rutherford. She bends the water into a wall, and with her momentum already in overdrive, Sin reflexively lashes out with her lightning, creating a thick, noxious mist which overtakes The Twins who are engaged with Changer and Silver, and Vicky who has been trying like tartarus to pound Grandbuggy into the ground. “What the-*CRACK*" Sin is sucker punched by Aqua and goes flying. “Shell Marshall! What’s going- *WHACK* *ZAP*” Biff and Tannen are struck by Silver and Changer. “What is going on here?!” Vicky yells. “I-“ “HEYAA!!!” Grandbuggy dropkicks her in the face, sending her to the ground. “Ouch, you son of a-“ she looks up only to be blinded by the smoke. “Don’t hate me for our bad romance sweetheart,” comes his trolling tones. As Sin sits up, her blazing eyes blind, a blast of water comes from above, striking her to the ground. “I told you you’d pay in pain lady,” Aqua’s voice comes from the mist. “V-Vicky! Biff, Tannen! Try to link up!” “We are trying-*CRASH*!” calls out Biff before he is struck by a bottle. “We are tr-*CRASH*!” calls out Tannen before he suffers the same fate. “WOOHOO!” cry out two inebriated voices. “We can’t see, but they can!” “How?! How can they?” asks Sin, before Candy uppercuts and Solarkness slashes her to the ground, before both dart back into the mist. “Third Person Viewing Rocks!” shouts out Brown Dog. “It’s more nauseating than anything!” comes Kichi’s voice. “The Ink Moth!” Vicky screams, before she is struck by Jack and tail whipped by Rutherford. “He’s giving them his sight!” she declares as she sees that they are not covered from above. “Then Fix that!” Sin calls out. Vicky then uses her Telekenisis to spread the mist so that it blankets everything. Rebl! Your stupid plan just got it’s flank kicked. I can’t see them anymore! Comes Erised’s voice in the knight’s heads. “Well that was over quite quick-*BZZT*” Candy is cut off as she is struck by Electricity. “Crap, now none of us can see!” Grey Rebl grinds his teeth, before he is suddenly hit by ice. “No, but we can still hear Knight!” Biff taunts. And the clusterbuck in the mist continues, with Knights and Officers trading blind blows without rhyme or reason. ThePonySpartan’s Comment Eventually, Silver, Candy, and Kichi run across Sin in the mist and are all chain lightninged together, causing them each to spasm and fall. “Oh…I hate my bucking life,” Kichi groans. Sin then stands over them in the detergent mist as her eyes flash. "I shall give you one last chance you three. Give to the Hive, and avenge us our deaths,” comes the voice of Chrysallis. Changer hears this exchange through the mist and grits his teeth. Erised who is still linked picks up on this. Her words are striking close to home, aren’t they Spartan? Changer doesn’t answer as he dives through the mist, only to be struck by lightning himself. Groaning, he falls to the floor, still out of sight from the others. She can still take from you, even if you’re only a halfbreed dummy! “What?!” Changer growls in shock, his eyes flashing an all too familiar green quickly. Our blood is linked, I can see your secret. And we share in the same hatred, but play smart! Ahead of them, Kichi squares up and declares, “How about NO? You Crazy Sack of Crazy!” “Yeah!” Silver agrees, “We aren’t gonna be apart of your suicide pact!” “You screwed up with the invasion and YOU brought this upon us, but we’re not going to die for you!” Candy snarls. Chrysalis growls. " Very well. Enough of your nonsense! Traitors and murderer’s of your own kind, you will be-“ She is cut off as Changer sends a blast of wind at her which knocks her into the mist, right into Rutherford who gets a nasty zap. The others turn to him and he says, "She is not fit to be a leader…at all..." “Been saying that for years!” Kichi throws his arms in the air in exasperation. “I think it’s time we got out of this smoke,” Silver declares as the group runs out, leaving the rest inside duking it out. GreyRebl’s Comment Having flown away after his shocking encounter, Rutherford flies through the mist, looking for the rest and sees Biff and Tannen outpouring a chaotic amount of fire and ice, which starts to eat away at the smoke. And in their immense outpour, one of the knights gets caught. “Aaargh!” A direct hit of ice leaves Solarkness immobile, his joints freezing in place and turning him into a sitting duck. “Solar! Noooo!” Rutherford yells at the sight of his vulnerable best friend. “H-hehe!” the timberwolf grins morbidly as the Twins approach with killing intent. “N-no prob. Not as cold as a windigo…!” The twins fires as one, Fire and ice, supercharged by the link given by the Queen. Their magical energy has been been condensed in union into this killing blow. Little is capable of stopping their magic before, and now, boosted, nothing can stop it. Nothing can block it. Nothing can stop the timberwolf’s untimely fate. Without a doubt, Solarkness is going to die--- But someone else takes the blow in his stead. The flame and ice disperses. And then silence. The Twins, Rutherford and Solarkness stare at the sight before them. In front of Solarkness the smoking body of Captain Jack falls to the ground. “Holy Crap,” Solarkness says in sympathy for the fallen pony who saved his life. Before the Twins can recuperate, Rutherford dives down, shatters the ice, and then flies his friend to safety. “I-I can’t believe it. I didn’t even know the guy and he sacrificed himself for me,” Solarkness says in wonder. “Well don’t let it go to waste. Go towards Vicky, she won’t be able to-“ “GGGGUUUUHHHH!!!” comes the loud gasp of Jack as his body spasms and he sits up, causing those around him to stare slackjawed. “What in the actual buck?” asks Rutherford. “Now boys, I’m all for being double teamed by twins, but at least take me to dinner first,” the resurrected stallion smirks at Biff and Tannen. “W-Wasn’t he just dead brother?” asks Biff “I thought he was brother,” answers Tannen. “That isn’t possible…” “Bring it on, freaks! Let’s get dangerous!” Jack declares as he dives onto Biff who starts struggling. Jack gets killed a few times, but since he can’t die he keeps getting back up, much to the confusion of everyone. “That’aboy Jacky! Get mad at them bugs!” Grandbuggy cat calls. Rutherford looks to the still confused Solarkness. “Well…” “Yeah…” They then enter the fray with the other knights and fight to the best of their dwindling abilities. In the distance, they all hear the roar as the Hooded Offender growls to the heavens in pain, and they more often than not follow suit. BrownDog’s Comment With things not looking too hot, Brown Dog looks to Changer. “Buddy, do you still have that spooky scary last option ready?” Changer looks to him and says, “Yes, but at this point it will only slow them do-“ “Good enough!”  “What are you doing?” Changer flails as the Diamond Dog picks him up in one arm and picks up Snap Drake in the other. Aqua, Grandbuggy, Jack and the changelings are just as confused by what they are doing. “Everyone bring it in for a group hug! Now! Looking at eachother and shrugging all of the knights heed his words, everyone out of ideas as they all group together. “So how exactly are we gonna beat them? The power of kumbaya?” snarks Kichi. “Nope, the power of stupidity and videogames, our calling cards,” Brown Dog answers before yelling.  “Erised, give us your eyes. Bone Guys! Make us real bucking Nito!” Having played videogames together, they know exactly what this means. And while Changer activates his ultimate move, and the shadowy skeleton arms fade in, Silver builds a body of bone armor around all of them, with Candy, Kichi, and Snap Drake adding to the magic. Like some strange boney voltron, the Knights transform. One arm has a dragon head at the end, the other has a wolf’s. Spikes shaped like changeling horns jut out the back, Even Grey Rebl’s mop become’s encased in bone magic, making a third limb. When it’s all said and done, they become a terrifying looking abomination. Deciding that they’ve seen enough, the Five rush forth, just in time for all of the nights to declare in unison. “SKELETON WARRIORS!!!” And start to fight the four as one. The Changeling’s elemental powers aren’t as effective when everyone shares the same hide. They strike and lash out at the Five who start taking the fight seriously as they dodge and attempt to coordinate their attacks. With Erised’s third person vision, they know where the Five stand. Striking out with skeletal hands and bone projections, they are able to strike Sin into the twins and grab Vicky out of the air and slam her into the ground. While this happens, Grandbuggy, Jack, and Aqua all stare in amazement. “OK…I’ve seen some pretty incredible things in my short life…but this is bucking ridiculous,” Aqua deadpans. Eventually, the fun comes to an end though, when Vicky levitates Kersey’s flailing body, “OI! Let me go you little-“ And tosses him like a bowling ball into the Skeleton Warrior, scattering all the knights. “DAMNIT KERSEY!!!” all the Knights yell. “Oh Buck Off!” he groans as his head wobbles…and he begins to shrink as smoke comes off his body. "Noooo, my fledgling power!" he flails on his back. “Oh great, now we’re all gonna get our butts handed to us!” Solarkness grunts. At The TARDIS POV Change: Nightshade You watch the battle unfold on the monitor with bated breath. Daddy…Mommy…Even with the cloak you’re not winning. Please don’t lose yourself You then see all the other knights attempting to hold off the others, but they aren’t winning either. “Oh…Mia! Mia can’t you do something? I can stay behind and put up the barrier while you can-“ “N-NO!” Mia stammers, causing you to look to her. Her eyes are frightened as she shakes slightly as she watches your dad battling the big guy. “Mia?” you ask. “S-Sorry. I just…I just don’t want to go out there,” she admits looking away from the screen. You look from her to the monitor and back. Oh right…the Nightmare… You remember what Daddy told you. She may not have any memory of the other world, but fear is universal. “I do want to help Nightshade but…I’d heard of your father’s powers before, but even just seeing them on screen they…they frighten me. They frighten me so much, and I can’t explain why,” she shakes as she goes pale. You walk over to her and place a hoof on her leg in comfort. “It’s Okay. I’m afraid of his cloak too,” you admit as you see your dad go into Phase 3. “I’ve seen it at its absolute worst…I hope that he and mom can keep it in control,” you admit, dreading an appearance by Phase 4. “Please don’t come to that…” Then over the intercom comes the Doctor’s panting voice. “Quick Fix! I’ve almost finished! I only have one more to go! Hold on for just a bit longer!” Master of Shadows’ Comment GreyRebl’s Comment POV Change: Bugze (You) Phase 3 whips around you, your tusks jut as do your claws. You’ve been giving it your all, but Mongo is a juggernaut. For every blow you give, he gives back twice as much. And as he does so, you see the glow around him growing more and more. Pushing him closer and closer to his demise. Gritting your teeth you yell,  “Determined, the winds of change in my left!” Your bare hoof bursts into immense, cycling winds. It is airbending, reaching new heights by your sixth tail. “And would you kindly, fires of destruction in my right?!” Your Power Glove lights up as hot as the desert sun. Your blood curdles with life, brimming with warmth. You slam both together, and a roar of unrelenting flame emerge as it gluttonously eats the air fed to it. The unnatural heat can be felt by even the Knights and others in the distance. To change is to burn down the old you to reforge a new one, tempered and guided by the flow of the wind. And this... “This is my answer!” you roar, and a catalyst of air tunnels between your hooves and a flame thrower erupts out, massive and undaunting. The Crimson Knights and the other Changeling Chosen shy away as it spans a great portion of the wide Appaloosan street. Mongo, however, doesn’t run. He charges straightforward, the flames themselves not at all flinching him and instead splitting from his bulk and leaving a wide open space untouched by flame behind him. Swiftly, his entire mass reaches the hose of the attack and stomps where you are. But you’re already gone. Mongo only feels a shadow hovering over him before you slam all six tails over his head. He grunts as his legs buckle, but he pushes off the tails as though it's no big deal. With little remorse, he lunges to your airborne self. “Tch!” You hold fast with your tails, and swing around to avoid it with a fit of airbending. When you hop to keep away, suddenly, a tug is felt by the tails as Mongo jerks them and you back to the ground. As Mongo lifts an enormous hoof to squash you for the bug you are, you instantly whip out your Power Glove. And point it at the ground beneath him. “Would you kindly burn?!” A pillar of flame erupts out, throwing Mongo off balance and his hoof lands right beside you, and sinks into the ground before exploding in dust. You follow it up by lifting with a flaming hoof of your own. “Falcon!” And throwing it. “Punch!” At this moment, Mongo flinches and his face tilts under the force. Without hesitation you plow right on through! “Flaming Psycho Crusher!” “Graaah!” Finally, you hear a cry of pain from his voiceless mouth. If you don’t finish him, he’ll be voiceless forever. You bounce out of your Psycho Crusher right before you get bear-hugged out of rage, only to leap back in with a sling launch of your tails once you hit ground, wrapping your hooves in them. Mongo gladly meets your charge. You swing left, he swings right. Contact. A shock waves so immense that dust flies in all directions! “GGGRRRAAAGGGHHH!!!” you cry out in immense pain, as blood gushes forth from your chest. Mongo knew exactly where to punch. Even upon your cloak, the wound is visible, not too far from the red jagged scar that stands against the blackness of the cloak. Stay with me Bugze, don’t black out! Selena cries out as your vision swims. You land with a thud between the other four officers and the Knights. TheRutherford’s Comment “Bugze! “ Aqua calls out as she wraps a whip around you and pulls you towards her and the Knights. Seeing you on your back, Grandbuggy, Jack, and the rest of them all gather around you in a defensive manner. "Well. This could be going better. How are you holding up?" you ask everyone. "Not too good. We kind of failed on the whole, ‘Bringing Down The Other Four’ plan,” Snap Drake points out. “How about you?” “Ugh,” you groan, “Even with the cloak, I'm not sure how long I can keep going. That said, I doubt the Chosen are going to last much longer either. *Grunts* The piece I cut out of me isn't really helping matters either." "Alright don't move,” Rutherford says as he leans over your chest. What?" The wyvern then takes a deep breath before covering you in a purple flame. Where you were expecting intense heat, you realize it feels warm and a bit relaxing. When the flames die down, you feel revitalized, like you are full of energy. Your chest, while tender, is no longer bleeding and shows a slight scar. “Whoah seriously? Since when could you do that?” you ask. “Since always,” the Wyvern pants. “What the buck dude! I got broken ribs here!” Brown Dog growls. “It’s not as easy as it looks! *huff huff* Man. You were seriously hurt weren't you? *huff huff* he pants looking like he’s about to pass out. "Are you going to be ok?" you ask in alarm. "I'll be fine. I just need a few minutes to *huff* catch my breath. By the way,” he says looking to the others, “I don't think I'll be able to do another heal and recharge like that any time soon.” “Well that’s just freaking inconvenient!” Kichi grumbles. “Agreed, because here they come!” Changer points. Mongo and the rest have grouped back up and the five of them advance together in a line towards your group. Grunting, you get up and stand in front of your group, your tails spread out. “This isn’t going to last much longer, so just give up already!” you command them as your eyes flash a fierce orange. To this, each one of them stops as their voices come in unison. Puzzling Frost’s Comment "YOU CANNOT STOP US TRAITOR. WE ARE THE STRONGEST. WE ARE THE SMARTEST. WE ARE THE QUEEN'S CHOSEN. WE ARE-" "A pain in our rumps!!!",yells Brown Dog with a huff. “A bunch of nutjobs!” Kichi cat calls. “A gaggle of dumbasses,” Solarkness adds. “A bunch of OP hacks!” Changer growls. To these cat calls, the glow around their bodies grows much brighter.  You then plead with them, "Yes, Yes, you're the chosen" ,this gets The Five to tilt their heads in confusion, "The QUEEN's chosen not the hive’s. You follow her orders even if it goes against the Hive!” "THE QUEEN KNOWS WHAT'S BEST FOR THE HIVE!!! They roar, only for you too rebuttal in the RCV with greater force, "NO SHE DOESN'T!! IF SHE DID NONE OF THIS WOULD HAVE EVER HAPPENED!!!” you rant as you get some long overdue grievances off your chest, “The Wedding was a disaster! She tried to replace an ALICORN! An Alicorn! Plus she acted nothing like the pony she replaced and got found out! Even when she had all of Canterlot in her grasp, she allowed the PRINCESS OF LOVE to get close to her husband and recharge him with enough love magic to blast us all away! AND LOOK WHAT HAPPENED!!! WE WERE ALL SCATTERED ACROSS EQUESTRIA MOST NOT EVEN ABLE TO CONTACT ONE ANOTHER IN INJURED STATES!!!” Tears come to your eyes, the anger and hurt overwhelming as you yell at them. “And even when the majority of the force regrouped, WHAT DID SHE DO??!! HUH?! SHE MADE AN EVEN LESS WELL THOUGHT OUT PLAN TO JUST GET REVENGE ON THE ELEMENTS OF HARMONY! When she should have been looking for the remaining stragglers and give them time to heal our wounds! BUT NOPE she couldn't let it go could she! COULD SHE?!!” Kichi, Silver, and Candy all give you approving looks for your assessment, while the Five continue to grit their teeth. “And now, she’s asking you to die for nothing. NOTHING!!! All BECAUSE SHE COULDN’T ADMIT THAT WE NEEDED HELP!!! I KNOW YOU CAN HEAR ME CHRYSALIS! IS YOUR BUCKING PRIDE MORE IMPORTANT THAN THEIR LIVES?!!! The look of doubt crosses their faces again. “I’ve made mistakes, we’ve all made mistakes, but we can do better! We can stop this senseless fighting and think of a better way to free you! Please don't let this be the end,” you cry out tears falling down your face, not noticing the surprised looks on the knights’ faces. You wait for an answer. You wait...and wait...and wait. You're about to snap again when you hear laughing. Not a funny haha laugh, not child laughing, nor a fake laugh, but the sound of someling who has lost their mind. The kind of laugh that sends shivers down even the most evil of monsters and strongest of heroes. The laugh of someone who didn't care who died nor who got in their way. The laugh of a mad mare, "Heheheheh...HAHAHHAHAHAHAHA HA HA!!!!" You look up to see only Sin laughing. Even her other cohorts are looking at her in terror. From her mouth comes Chrysallis’s voice again. "You think I don't care? Heheh... THEN YOU TRULY KNOW NOTHING OF THE CHANGELINGS OR OF WHAT IT TAKES TO BE THEIR QUEEN!!!” she roars. “Ponies and other creatures alike have hated our kind for centuries!! They have locked us away in this prison to die! Deep down inside, this is what they’ve always wanted. Ponies care for one thing, and one thing only. THEMSELVES! There is no love, not anymore. You made sure of that! You are no better you HYBRID!!! Now each and every one you cherish shall suffer as we do!” You grit your teeth as she won’t listen to reason. You look back at the knights. Each and every one of them looks like they’ve been through Tartarus and back. Each one of them has fought for their lives against insurmountable odds. And they are all at their last limits. And then something glorious happens. There is a shimmer within the air and all across the town, the dome turns a shade of blue. “Wh-What is this?” asks Chrysallis in surprise. “It’s about Dang Time!” you yell, before turning to the rest and ordering, BrownDog’s Comment DWC’s Comment “All of you get out of here, there’s nothing more you can do. GO! Get to the TARDIS!!!” “What about you?!” asks Grandbuggy. “I’ll buy you some time, just go!” you yell as the Five charge forth. “Would You Kindly Bucking Bronco?!” you yell, levitating them as the others decide to run, with Rutherford flying up to pick up Erised, and Brown Dog, still going back and carrying off Kersey. "Come on Bugze. Come with u-" "No. Leave now!" you interrupt Aqua. "B-Bugze?" "If I can't save these guys, then I'm sure as Tartarus saving you all. Go, I'll keep them distracted,” you declare as you bring out your Boomstick and Second Law. "No, dammit!” Grandbuggy interjects.  “I just got you back boy, I'm not going to let you kill yourself just to-“ "Grandbuggy…please…” you plead causing your Grandfather and Aqua to take pause. Jack then places a hoof on both their shoulders. “I love you old bug… if I don’t come back, take care of Nightshade for me…" You then look to the knights running for their lives. "Tell those chucklebucks...tell them change is always an option, even for them." “You better come back to us boyo!” Grandbuggy says reluctantly as he and the other two start following the Knights as Vicky releases herself and the others from the Bucking Bronco. You then say to the air, where you know the TARDIS can hear you. “Nightshade…” you say, and inside the TARDIS, she jumps. “Your mommy and daddy are proud of you. You’re the greatest little ball of joy we’ve ever had. Don’t make the same mistakes we did. We love you honey… "Bugze...please,” Aqua tries one last time to get you to go. "Go...and see ya on the other side Aqua," you smile as you rush forth striking your weapons against your former Hive Mates, trying desperately to knock them out. Aqua stiffens, before shaking her head and running with the rest. Bugze? Asks Selena in concern. Even if I fail, at least those lot will survive…But I can’t give up on these guys! “Vicky! Mongo! Biff! Tannen! Sin! Please, you have to cut the connection to the Hive! You’ll die if you don’t!” you plead as you shove the Air Shotgun into Vicky’s face and pull the trigger. “We will die anyway, thanks to you,” the twins accuse as both of your weapons are made too cold or too hot to hold. “Don’t pretend like you care otherwise,” Vicky accuses as she encases you in a bubble and launches you at Mongo who strikes you in the chest again. “This is what you wanted!” Vicky roars. “All of us dead…all of us broken…” Sin says sadly as she shocks you in the chest. “NO! I’m sorry! Please! I don’t want you to die! I know you can never forgive me for leaving you in that cave, but please believe me!” you cry out as you sweep your tails across them, tripping them up. “How can we?! We know you hate us!” Vicky growls. “After all we did to you, your vengeance has come,” Sin punctuates. “I…I FORGIVE YOU!!!” you yell as you slam yourself to your knees making them take a step back. Even your tails have gone limp to the ground. “I forgive the bullying, the teasing, even the fights. I forgive you all,” you shout. “I forgive you…please, please forgive me and live!” As you look upon them, you see their resolve weaken again. “Y-You forgive us?” asks Sin. “How?” asks Vicky as Mongo tilts his head. “Why?” asks the twins. Their looks of confliction suddenly become immobile as Sin stands up straighter. “Please…Chrysalis. Please let them go…” you beg before the five. “It’s too late for that #$%@&. You’ve sealed all of our fates. The least we changelings can do is die together as a species!” she growls. “Why?! Why do they have to die?! You never wanted deaths!” you yell. “You went out of your way to change things from the way your mother did them! You told me when you were little that no one would have to die!” “AND I WAS A FOOL TO THINK SO!” she yells as Sin shoots out an arc of lightening directly into your injured chest. “Mother was right. This is a cruel cruel world, and weaker emotions make you soft. My mercy upon you has killed the hive. Our last hope for freedom has been exterminated. We will starve to death thanks to the hypocritical ponies. As Queen, I will at least avenge our race before I perish!” ThePonySpartan’s Comment Looking down, you come to a horrifying realization. “We have no choice then…” Selena, release everything…Go to Phase 4… Bugze, you cannot! Even with me here, the strain to your body- Will be just like the strain they’re suffering. It’s the only way I can be strong enough. But without control you might… she trails off. Yeah…but if I do nothing, they’re dead anyway. Please, Selena… …Don’t lose who you are… *EXPLOSION* In the last place you were seen, all the debris and rocks around you are knocked far away from an explosion the color of midnight, which knocks even the changelings back. And in the middle of it, you levitate. “GGGRRRRRAAAAAGGGGGHHHHH!!!!” you roar as you and the mare in your head fight to stay in control. You feel your fangs grow as they jut out into massive tusks. Your body contorts and you increase in mass and height. Your claws become sharper and deadlier. The bat wings breaking through the chitin on your back unfurl, ready for flight. You feel the horns forming on the top of your head painfully, as the Five begin to bombard you mid-transformation. BBBBUUUUGGGZZZEEE!!! Selena cries out in strain, and you hear her from a great distance. Control was never an option you realize. Phase 4 Has Returned… AT THE TARDIS “NOOOOOO!!!!” you scream as you see Daddy transforming into the monster from the Crystal Empire. As Grandbuggy and the rest all make it into the TARDIS, all you can do is stare in horror at what Daddy is becoming. “No, NO! This can’t be happening! It can’t!” “There’s nothing we can do Nightshade,” Mia tries to console you. “He can’t become that again! He’ll never forgive himself!” you plead. “It’s all he can do. Even two souls like your parents aren’t enough to bring such power under control…” Jack laments.  “But…but there’s got to be someone…anyone…” you look around to all the beat up Knights, the frightened towns folk, and everyone in between. “There’s no one left Nightshade…” the Doctor’s voice comes over the intercom. They’ve all given up…Mommy…Daddy… But then Grandbuggy places both hooves on your shoulder and declares. “You and I both know that ain’t true kid. There is someone left. Someone only you can get through to,” he says with forcefulness. For a moment you have no clue what he means, but then… “Mia!” you turn to the Alicorn. “KNOCK ME OUT!” “Wh-What?!” she asks in alarm. “JUST DO IT!!!” you yell. She looks to Grandbuggy who nods and she reluctantly lights her horn up, causing all to go to black. IN THE DREAMSCAPE You open your spectral eyes in darkest of dark places. A distance roar of strained voices vibrates your surroundings. You ignore it as you light up your horn, and illuminate the one person who can help your parents. “Sombra! Sombra Wake Up!” you yell to the fallen king as he sits within his jail cell, shackled. “Sombra! Please Wake Up!” “I am awake, I have not slept for some time…” comes his melancholic voice. You rush up to the bars. “OK, good. Sombra, Mom and Dad are about to lose control!” “I can hear that. Even the dead could hear that,” he says as he looks to the shaking mindscape around him. “You’ve got to help them!” you declare in desperation. To that, the dictator smirks, yet he still doesn’t look at you. “And why would I do that?” “Because if you don’t, more people will die!” “And what do I care if he takes more lives? I care nothing for him or that shadow.” “But, they…” “They will do as they do, it matters not to me. It won’t change the outcome of all our oblivion,” he says in a defeated manner. Gritting your teeth you call out, “Sombra, Look At Me!” When he doesn’t meet your gaze, you shout more forcefully. “LOOK AT ME!!!” Finally, he looks up with dead, half hearted eyes. In the distance, you hear Daddy roar out that terrible inenquine scream. “I know that you don’t like Mommy and Daddy. I know that you hate what you’ve been put through, and I know that you’re not a good guy by a long shot!” you declare with tears in your eyes to which he just stares. “And…And I know that somewhere in that black icy heart of yours, you care about Me!” He seems taken aback by your response. “Child, I don’t-“ “Don’t Bullspit me! After Trixie, you holed yourself up in here and you pouted. You stayed quiet and didn’t bother my parents for a long time. And it was because you felt guilty! Not for your motives, but because how they turned out. You felt guilty that you hurt me!” “I…” he tries to start, but you don’t let him. “You can make up excuses all you want, but you even admitted it to me! I know how you truly feel!” you yell as you use your magic to pry open the cage bars and walk inside. “I know that there’s good deep inside you. It didn’t die with Hope Sombra, you’re not completely gone!” you declare as you break the chains surrounding him, but still he will not get out of the chair. His mouth is agape at what you’ve said and done, as if he can’t truly understand you. “How?...How could you trust me with something like this after what I did to you?” “BECAUSE THAT’S WHAT FRIENDS DO! THEY FORGIVE EACH OTHER!!!” you yell in his face as the tears flow down your cheeks. He blinks in awe at your words as the ground around you shakes and cracks. He looks from your face up to the crumbling room, and back to you. Apprehension upon his face. “If there’s any part of you that called me friend, then you will help them…please…” Your Dad’s roar echoes across the room and you can feel your Dad and Mom’s control crumbling. He looks up once more, before a stoic look comes across his face as he stands up he looks into your eyes. “Run along Nightshade. It’s time to wake up…” and with that smoke billows around his body and shoots up into the air as an intense look comes to his eyes. “Thank you…” you say with a smile as you will yourself back into the world of sleep. In The TARDIS As you sit up, you see Grandbuggy’s expectant face, and a few worried looks. “Well? How’d it go?” “Holy Mother of…” Mia says in awe and exasperation as she and the rest of the civilians and knights look to the monitor with slack jaws. You and Grandbuggy turn to look yourselves, and when you do, you smile at what you see. POV Change: Bugze (You) PuzzlingFrost’s Comment Phase 4 Has Come…But it hasn’t… Bugze! Bugze can you hear me?! Selena calls out. I…I can. We’re lucid? Yes! I don't know how, but we are. Control just easily came back to us she says in relief. You look upon the Five in front of you, each one giving you confused and weary looks. You look down at yourself. Huh? You and Selena think in unison. Your Nightmare Cloak is no longer Midnight Black, but a Dark Grey. The claws upon your hooves are coated in Red Crystal, as are the horns upon your head and the ends of your tails. And the wings upon your back are no longer bat wings, they are now metallic and segmented looking, with a crystalline sheen of Red, Black, Green, and Dark Blue. Along your chest scars, smooth blue crystals cover them. Your eyes are different looking as well. The Scarred one is still Red, and the other is still orange, but you now have serpentine pupils, one of light blue, and the other of Midnight blue, and purple smoke wisps around the edges. Interesting, comes a dark voice as you take in the changes. To think that you would change so much… Sombra?! You ask. What are you doing? Selena accuses. I give you my power of my own volition rather than have you steal it, he relays. But… Why are you-? I’m not doing this for you! Now vanquish thy foes before I rescind my gift! He growls. You look to The Five and their looks of apprehension. We are lucid, and we are in control, I suppose we can worry about him later, Selena theorizes. You nod as you float to the ground with a heavy thud. As you flex your new form, Mongo breaks from his stupor and rushes you, throwing a punch, which your 6 tails catch easily. He looks from his caught hoof to you in confusion as you thrust your hoof up into his chin, knocking him back into the twins. As he gets up and shakes his head, you see green blood leaking from his nose. Hurt them…I can finally hurt them… The twins then blast you with a concentrated blast of Fire and Ice. "RRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!" You roar to the heavens as your tails take the blasts before batting them away as chanting and music comes out of nowhere. As Vicky throws a large chunk of debris at you, you rush forth and punch through it easily. You then look to the Five and give dark chuckle. “Control…I finally have control…” You set hoof on the ground and begin to slowly walk toward the Five. Each step causing cracks in the ground. Sin sends out her electricity, and you block it with one of your new wings which seems to absorb it. “Now…Now I can save you. I will beat you all down to save your lives!” you declare as you bring up your clawed hooves and crack them as your tails whip about freely. In the prison, in her physical body, Chrysallis can only stare in horror at what stands before her through the eyes of Sin. "What has happened to you my bug? How far have you come in power as this demon? How are you this strong! I can feel your power from here! What are you!?" She screams aloud. “I…I Am…Awakened.” WHAT DO YOU DO?