//------------------------------// // Episode 12: Swarmed // Story: EoH Evolution: Season 2 // by Bahamut0 //------------------------------// The Elements of Heroism were training at the very edge of the Everfree Forest, and their newest members were striving to improve their fighting ability. Night Fang rolled out of the way as he dodged a thunder blast from Tyrannus Rex's cannon! "Glad to see you guys aren't making this easy on me!" Night Fang said with a smirk as he leapt at Ty! Only to get batted back to the ground by Shadow Thunder. "All this training's gonna pay off in no time." Fang narrowed his eyes at the memory of the first strike by the changelings. I wasn't ready last time. But now? Fang looked down to the clawed gauntlet on his left arm. Now I've got a set of sharper fangs to bare at my enemy. "Sorry Shadow. But I'm grounding you!" Fang pulled on a lever within his gauntlet, and the claws shot out on chains! The chained claws wrapped around Shadow's leg, and Fang yanked him to the ground! "WHOA!" Shadow yelped as he fell to the ground! "I didn't think your gauntlet had that ability Fang." Shadow dusted himself off, and got into a fighting stance. "I guess it helps that I've got a fellow newbie to train with now." Inferno chuckled at hearing this as he and Burst observed their newest members training. "Don't sell yourselves short. You're making good on your potential so far. The two of you are way better than either of you began." Inferno then noted the contemplative look on Burst's face. "Burst? Yo! Earth to Burst Stream! What's got you down?" "Huh?" Burst shook his head. "Oh. Sorry for spacing out there Inferno. But that last battle we had against the changelings has got me a bit worried. That commander said there was a greater plan at work." Burst Stream then crossed his arms as his gaze steeled. "But what's even more troubling is that he said that force was part of a larger hive. I've got a feeling deep in my gut that what we fought were just scouts for their hive. And that they're all too happy to inform that queen they mentioned about us." Burst Stream then looked to the sky. "Inferno? I think we just kicked the hornet's nest." The Changeling Hive Chrysalis gazed upon the footage of her soldiers' battle against the Elements of Heroism. "So. It appears that this new team of elements is more than a match for my standard soldiers and drones." Chrysalis smiled wickedly, revealing her fangs. "Well then. Perhaps I should prepare a special opponent for 'heroes' of their stature." Chrysalis then looked to one of her drone attendants. "Go. Bring Blade and his fellow mutants to me. I believe it's time they get some much needed exercise." Mere minutes later, Blade and the other mutant changelings were brought before Chrysalis. "So. What's this I hear about you finally letting us loose?" Blade asked as he loosened up his neck. "I could care less about why. But I guess we might as well know why you're finally letting us get some fresh air. This musty old hive can be stuffy." "Your insolent demeanor aside," Chrysalis said with a frown. "It has come to light that there is a new team of elements that has formed alongside the Elements of Harmony. They are known as the Elements of Heroism, and they pose a credible threat to my plans and future reign over this land. I had sent a small force out to retrieve a person of interest, but the Elements of Heroism intervened. Quickly dispatching them. Which is where all of you come in. I want you to engage this threat to my plan, and eliminate it. Any objections? Much like your two fellow mutants?" Blade smirked as his arm blade shot out from his forearms and he took hold of their handles. "I was wondering when I'd get my first chance to show-off my namesake." He then reached for his back, and a scythe unfolded. The acid-green blade glowing ominously. "Time to see if Harvester's still sharp." And with that, the mutant changelings departed the hive. Either by flying through the air, or burrowing through the ground. They soon sighted their target. Fang had just gotten to sparring with Arctic Ace when his ears picked up on the sound of wings buzzing. He stood in an alert position, and sniffed the air. Fang's eyes went wide when he picked up on a group of unfamiliar scents in the area. Some were coming from above. But others. . . "Guys! Get back!" Fang shouted as the earth beneath them exploded! Carapace and Constrictor shook the dirt from their bodies, and assumed fighting stances. Silk Snare and Stinger emerging soon afterwards. "You had to make that hornet's analogy, didn't you?" Inferno asked Burst. "Looks like we're about to get stung big time!" Inferno whipped out his blaster and drew his sword. Suddenly, a hail of stingers rained down upon the heroes! Upon making impact, the stingers exploded! Causing the Elements of Heroism to seek cover behind nearby trees! "I didn't think they'd take it that literally!" Needle soon landed alongside Blade. The Elements of Heroism had just come out from behind their cover with their weapons readied. "So. You're the Elements of Heroism that the queen wants eliminated." Blade then slung his scythe across his back. "I gotta say. I didn't expect you bunch to scare so easily." "I'm guessing you're not like the standard drones we swatted a few days back." Burst remarked. "Looks like you've got more bugs to your collection than the last batch of changelings let on." Blade sneered. "Then let me just show you how different we are!" Blade flew at Burst Stream with his scythe raised! Burst saw him coming, and ran forward! Sliding across the ground on his back to avoid the scythe's blade! But to Burst's surprise, Blade embedded the blade of his scythe into the ground! Suddenly, a new blade shot out from Blade's calves! "I've got more than one edge to me!" Blade thrust his leg right towards Burst's shoulder! "Ngh!" Burst grunted as he rolled out of the way! He whipped out one of his blasters, and fired right at Blade's chest! But the blast had little effect on the praying mantis changeling! "This isn't starting out so good. . ." At the same time, the other Elements of Heroism weren't faring much better! Ice raised his claymore to block each of the tail lashes that Stinger sent his way! "This guy is getting pretty annoying!" Ice complained as he tried to keep his position steady! The more he tried to advance towards the scorpion changeling, the more frequently Stinger would jab his tail at Ice! I really don't want to know how bad of a sting that tail's got! Tyrannus was engaging the beetle changeling called Carapace. A shot from his cannon managed to slightly wind Carapace, but not for long! Tyrannus tried to punch Carapace square in the chest, but a cracking sound came from the impact! "AGH!" Ty clutched his broken hand! "What are these guys made of?!" Carapace thumped his chest. "Our chitin is made of sterner stuff than the regular changelings. You hit me." Carapace's horn began to glow and crackle with yellow energy. "Now it's my turn." Carapace fired a blast of destructive energy that sent Tyrannus flying! "Now you're the ones being swatted around." Carapace rushed Tyrannus, and punched him in the gut! Winding the tank of the Elements of Heroism! Carapace then slung Tyrannus over his shoulder. "Sealing you in a cocoon back at the hive should more than qualify as neutralizing your threat." Meanwhile, Ace and Inferno tried to gain an aerial advantage. But their efforts were dashed as Needle fired a storm of explosive stingers at the ground! The stingers exploded upon impact, and knocked around Ace and Inferno! "Sorry! But you Skyborn are staying grounded!" Needle said with a sneer as he buzzed around the two! "Buzz off!" Inferno snapped a he fired his blaster! The shot of flame managing to singe Needle's wing and send him falling to the ground! "Now we're even!" Inferno fired a charged shot at Needle, and then charged right at the wasp changeling! Ace was about to join Inferno in his charge, but he felt something snare his wings! Ace looked out the corner of his eye, and saw a strand of webbing caught onto his wing! "What the-?!" He then felt himself being yanked away from the fight! Silk Snare then proceeded to web Ace! "Good. At least no one has to get hurt this way." Silk Snare mused to herself. However, that wasn't how her actions were seen by one of Ace's siblings. "ACE!" Shadow screamed as he broke off from facing Constrictor! "Get your claws off my brother!" However, Constrictor extended his body to block Shadow's path! "OUT OF MY WAY!" Shadow used his spear to strike at Constrictor's soft underbelly! Making the centipede changeling cringe in pain! Dark Ice noticed Shadow's intent, but couldn't join him with Stinger's barrage of tail jabs! However, Shadow was soon grounded by an energy blast from Carapace's horn! The beetle changeling hovering over to where Shadow was falling, and catching him before slinging him over his shoulder alongside Tyrannus. This tore it for Dark Ice as he broke away from his fight with Stinger! Screaming as he charged at Carapace! "RRRRAAUUUUGGHH!" Ice slashed Carapace hard across the chest! Leaving a visible wound with how much force he put into his swing! "LET! THEM GO!" Ice screamed as he continued to strike with as much force and fury he could muster! Carapace visibly showing damage from each swing of Ice's claymore! Silk Snare was so shocked at the turn of Carapace's fight that she left Ace unattended long enough for Fang to cut him loose with his claw gauntlet. Fang was poised to strike at Silk Snare, but froze when he caught a familiar scent on him. "Why. . . why do you smell like him?!" "Smell like who? Who are you talking about?!" Silk Snare asked. Fang narrowed his eyes. "You have my little brother's scent on you! Why do you smell like Narico?!" "Narico?" Silk's eyes went wide at hearing Narico's name. "Tell me! Is he safe? Have you done anything to him?!" Fang tilted his head in confusion. "What does it matter to you that Narico's safe? Some of your people tried to take him back to your hive! I don't know what you want with him, but I'm not handing Narico over!" "He's in good hands then. . ." Silk Snare said breathlessly. Fang's mind was running through a particular bit of information Narico had told him. Wait. Is she the "big sis" that Narico mentioned? The one who told him to run away from the hive? But why did she tell him to run? "Something tells me you're not on board with eliminating us, are you?" But before Fang could get an answer, one of Needle's stray explosive stingers went off! As the smoke cleared, Fang saw Silk Snare skittering away on her extra spider legs. "So much for answers!" Back at Inferno and Needle's fight, Inferno had gotten in a few good hits on the wasp changeling. However, the barrage of explosive stingers had banged him up a bit. However, the barrage of projectiles gave Inferno an idea. "Let's see how he likes a taste of his own medicine." Inferno mumbled to himself as he held the trigger of his blaster down! Charging up the blast of fire that was to be unleashed! As soon as Needle fired a stinger, Inferno unleashed his charge shot! Upon striking the stinger, a big explosion went off! Knocking both Inferno and Needle to the ground! Meanwhile, Burst was crossing blades with Blade! The praying mantis changleing's arm blinds grinding against the blade of Burst's sword! Burst noticed the beat-up state of his friends, and knocked Blade backwards! "FALL BACK! EVERYONE FALL BACK!" Burst shouted as he motioned for them to leave the forest. The group had gathered together, and made their way out of the forest. But as they inched ever closer to escape, a massive web blocked their path! Burst saw Silk Snare sitting at the center of the web. Not long after, the other mutant changelings had surrounded them. The Elements of Heroism were completely swarmed. "Everyone! Behind me!" Burst's hands were covered in the blue aura of his magic as it flared to life! Burst cast a shield spell over himself and his friends, and fired a spell flare into the sky! Chances are slim that anyone's going to see it, but it's better than not trying at all! The mutant changelings then started to hammer away at Burst's shield! Blade slashing at it, Needle pelting it with explosive stingers, Carapace slammed at it with his fists, Constrictor tried to squeeze the shield, and Silk Snare and Stinger stabbed at the shield with their legs and tails respectively. Slowly, cracks began to form on the shield spell! Burst grit his teeth as he tried to pour more magic into maintaining the shield! "Everyone. . . I'm sorry. I don't know how much longer I can hold out!" Burst looked at his friends sadly. "I let you all down. . ." Then, just when it seemed like the shield was about to give out, a storm of summoned swords rained down on the mutant changelings! Sparks showering as each of the blades struck! The silver magic constructs soon faded, and a lone figure landed on top of Burst's shield. "Kept you guys waiting huh?" Steel Edge said with a cocky smile. "Hope the party's just getting started!" Steel then flared out his wings. "Ganging up on my friends without me to back them up? Not something you want to do when the Avatar of Honor's around!" Steel powered up his magic! Its silver aura covering his hands! "THOUSAND BLADES!" Steel fired out a barrage of construct daggers from his hand! The spread of daggers pelting the mutant changelings and driving them back! Steel jumped down from Burst's shield, and snapped his fingers. In an instant, the armor around his wings detached and hovered in the air with the silver aura of his magic! "Sword Satellites! Launch!" Each of the new blades was guided by Steel, and struck at the mutant changelings! Pushing them back further! Steel then raised his sword, and plunged it into the ground! "Edge Arts: Sword Birth!" A series of blade shot up from the ground! Making the mutant changelings keep their distance! However, Blade was undeterred from Steel's display of magic and flew at him! The only thing he made contact with was a shield bashing him in the face! The sight of their leader falling made all the mutant changelings gather to Blade's side. Steel noted them being all in one place, and charged up the blade of his sword with his magic! "Blade Beam!" Steel cried out as a laser fired out from a swing of his sword! Striking all the mutant changelings at once! The damage forcing their emergency teleport spell to activate and return them to the hive. Steel Edge looked back to his friends, and smiled as he saw Burst Stream lower the shield spell. Steel then noticed the two new addition to the team. "So. You two find replacements for me already?" Steel joked. Burst chuckled weakly. "You're kidding, right? You're the one who helped keep our skills sharp." "True enough." Steel said with a shrug. "Plus, thanks to your dad training me in magic, I've sharpened my edge a bit." He then noticed the battered condition of the others. "But we'll have to catch up later. First comes patching you guys up. C'mon. Let's get you guys to the hospital." A few minutes later, the Elements of Heroism were treated for their wounds and were released from Unityville General. All while his friends chatted with Steel about their adventures and Steel's training, Burst sighed as he watched them. He then decided to leave the group. However, Fang and Shadow had caught sight of Burst's departure. Inferno also noticed his best friend's poor mood, and decided to follow along too. And it wasn't long before Burst noticed them following him. "Guys? Would you mind just leaving me to mope a bit?" "No can do Burst." Inferno shook his head. "I know something's got you down Burst. And chances are that it was today's battle. Sure. We got our butts handed to us. But Steel showed up to save us just in time." Burst just looked at the ground as his fists trembled. "Yeah. He did. But Inferno, we got DESTROYED out there. These new enemies are tougher than any of the Nightmare Warriors. I was our team's only magic support, and even that wasn't enough to save us in the end!" Burst's eyes began to tear up. "I'm your leader. That means I'm responsible for what happens to all of you. We nearly lost Steel the last time a big battle like this happened." Burst Stream's voice began to crack. "What gets me more upset than anything else was the fact I was so powerless to do anything back there. . . " "Hey." Shadow said as he put a hand on Burst's shoulder. "You didn't fail us out there. Because of you, we were able to hold on for just a it longer. And in the end, that made all the difference! Burst, you were more than willing to put your own life on the line for our sakes back there! Because you care about us all that much! You really wanna know what would've made you a failure? Never trying to protect us in the first place." Fang nodded in agreement. "Shadow's right man. And the only way you could've failed even harder was if you just decided to give up. But you kept on fighting! When things looked bad, you kept on pushing forward! You never gave up for an instant back there! I earned my spot on this team by showing you my determination, but you've earned my respect by showing yours out there today!" "Yup!" Shadow said with a nod. "Plus, you putting up that shield to guard us shows you've got a lot of compassion for us too. I can't think of a better person to call my friend!" Burst Stream stood completely still. "You. . . think we're friends?" "Sure I do!" Shadow said with a smile. "We talk a lot about our hobbies, grab a bite to eat together, and we charge into battle together watching each other's backs! How does that NOT make us friends?" "Heh. Heh hehe! Ha ha ha!" Burst laughed as he turned to face his friends as he wiped away his tears. "I guess it's true. There's no better way to make friends than by almost dying together!" Steel chuckled as he and the rest of the Elements of Heroism approached their leader. "That explains why we're all a bunch of bros. But I got the feeling we'd all like to be friends while we're still alive. Which brings me to something of interest. Your dad taught me all those new moves you saw today. So, how'd you like to learn them?" "Only if we all get to sharpen our skills together." Burst said with a smile. "We've come this far because we're a team. And that's the same way we'll keep winning!" And as good as offensive strength is, something tells me it couldn't hurt to up my defense as well. Burst whipped out his phone, and dialed Celestia's number. "Hey, Celestia? Think you've got time for a sparring session next week?"