Nightmares. They were something that Night Fang didn't have often. At least, not up until something inside his Duelist Arm got loose. To this day, Fang was still troubled about just what exactly had gotten into him and made him run wild. The only other instance of such a phenomenon was during the Royal Wedding when Chrysalis had tried to suck the love out of Narico.
At that moment, one thing had been driving Fang: Anger. When Chrysalis was harming his adopted brother, someone who he'd come to call and love as a member of his own family, something inside Fang snapped. And it was just like the night that he'd run wild and tried to tear up Unityville. He wasn't the one in control of his body at that time, but Fang still felt a bit of guilt due to the fact that it was his body that had been rampaging. From that moment on, he'd swore that he wouldn't lose himself to that malevolent presence again. But when Narico was being harmed, the same presence easily crept in again. What made things worse the second time around was the fact it seemed to take hold easier due to Fang's anger. And while Night Fang had fought to maintain his will enough to scream his intentions towards Chrysalis, it was still the malevolent spirit that had piloted his body.
And right now, Fang could hear the same presence hounding him in his nightmares. In them, he saw a scarred humanoid finger. A frenzied mass of wild hair, and soulless white eyes with a violent red-violet aura seething around it! Growling angrily at Fang! But what frightened Fang the most was that he felt some form of connection to this entity. It wasn't as if Fang felt his thing was a part of him. Rather, it felt more like this malevolent spirit had ties to family.
"I'm not letting you take a hold of me again!" Fang screamed as he summoned his Duelist Arm! Glaring at the evil spirit before him! "You nearly tore up the town, and made me almost hurt my friends!"
"You still deny your alpha, cub?" The spirit growled. "You do have the determination of a wolf. It appears we share much more than the spirit of the wolf within us. But know that I refuse to leave, boy! You will be the vessel of my vengeance! The wrongs that I suffered in my life shall be repaid with blood! And you will be the teeth and claws that shed it!" The spirit crouched, and then pounced at Night Fang! It's fangs bared to take a bite out of him!
"AAAHH!" Fang woke from his nightmare in a cold sweat! Panting heavily as his lungs pumped as much oxygen into his lungs as possible! When his heartbeat finally became stable, Fang let out a sigh of relief.
"So much for sleeping well." Night Fang shook his head, and pulled back the covers of his bed. Fang opened his bedroom door, and made his way to the bathroom. Splashing his face with cold water to calm himself down. "It was just a dream, but I can't deny the fact I could feel whatever that was snarling at me. It's voice howling at me to submit to it."
"I guess you're having a rough night." Aria said as she stood in the doorway with her arms crossed clad in little more than a shirt. Her hair loose since it wasn't tied up in her signature twin-tails."So what's got you up? Planning to howl at the moon tonight?"
"Nah. Not a full one." Fang quipped as he dried his face. "Just been having a lot of bad dreams lately. Then again, I don't think you have many of those."
"Try me." Aria said in an understanding tone. "Look. I'll tell you mine, then you tell me yours. But if you so much as spill what I'm about to tell you, I swear that I'll pull your ears."
"Trust me. My lips are sealed." Fang gulped. While it was likely that Aria was merely exaggerating the punishment he'd face, Fang didn't want to take any chances. Be it his wolf ears or his human ones, getting them pulled was a painful sensation. "So. Where do you wanna talk?"
"Kitchen I guess." Aria said with a shrug as she led the way. Sitting herself on the kitchen counter. "I guess you could say, the worst dreams I've ever had is me being alone. For as crazy as my sisters drive me, I still love 'em. But there's so many times I've said that I wished I didn't have to be stuck with them. Of how much better off I'd be if I were on my own." Aria's expression saddened as she pulled her legs towards her chest. "But whenever I'd dream of being without them, all I felt was lonely. Plus, my attitude towards most people didn't exactly win me many friends. I guess the bottom line is, I hate being alone."
"So I guess it's my turn now, huh?" Fang asked. "Well, my nightmares were a bit more recent. You know how I said I adopted Narico, right?" Aria nodded, prompting Fang to continue. "A while back, there was a royal wedding being held at Castalot. But at the same time, there was the threat of an invasion taking place. Me and the other Elements of Heroism had just been engaging the changelings before the threat was delivered. We were brought in as extra security to help defend the city. It wasn't long before the changeling queen, Chrysalis, revealed herself and tried to take over the kingdom with her entire army waiting just outside the shield that had been raised around Castalot. Narico, in an attempt to defuse the situation, offered up the love he'd gained by being a part of my family. Narico's an oddity among the changelings because he doesn't need to feed on love. But what really made him a threat to Chrysalis was the fact he could grow into a royal changeling."
"And I'm guessing the bitch pulled an underhanded move?" Aria asked. "Me and my sisters might've done bad things, but striking at a kid? That's just inexcusable."
"Tell me about it." Fang growled. "She tried to drain Narico dry of all the love he had in his heart. And when I saw him being hurt so badly, something just snapped inside." Fang summoned his gauntlet. "Not long after I got my Duelist Arm, something took over my body one night. I fought it as best I could, but it still won the struggle for control. It made me rampage, and the guys managed to subdue me long enough to beat whatever got into me. But when I saw Narico being drained gave it more than enough of a chance to break loose again. Fortunately, or unfortunately depending on how you look at it, Chrysalis took me down with a huge blast of magic and I was out for most of the fight."
"I'll take a wild guess and say that your troubles concerning this. . . thing have been keeping you from sleep." Aria said as she leaned forward. A slightly concerned look on her face. "You're worried about losing yourself, aren't you?"
"Yeah." Fang sighed. "I am. I'm scared that if something like that happens, or if I get too angry, I'll lose control of myself again. To just be completely drowned by all that rage. And if it happens again?" Fang clutched his arm tightly. "I don't know if I'll come back from that."
"You don't have to worry about that Fang." Aria declared with a determined gaze as she pushed off the counter and landed with her feet on the floor before striding over to Fang and putting her hands against the sides of his face. "Because from what you've said, whatever took over isn't you. All that rage and malice? That's not a part of you. Take it from someone who used to provoke strife. If I still had my gem, I'd have been able to pick up on it with no problem. And from what I've seen of you, you don't have a vengeful bone in your body. But there's two things above all else that convinces me."
"And what's that?" Fang asked.
"Your determination." Aria stated. "Each time whatever tried to overpower you got stirred up, you always fought back. Maybe you didn't win those struggles, but you refused to just roll over and accept it. Because you refused to let it hurt anyone else besides you."
"Thanks Aria." Fang said with a grateful smile. "But what's the other thing?"
"Oh that's easy." Aria smirked as she fondled Fang's ears. "You're a good boy, Fang."
"Ha ha." Fang said as he rolled his eyes. But despite his expression of annoyance, the Element of Determination still smiled. "I think I'll be able to sleep now."
"Y-Yeah. G'night." Aria stammered as she made a dash for her room. Her face fully covered by a blush as soon as she slammed the door shut! "Sweet Celestia his smile's adorable." And with that, Aria threw herself onto her bed and sunk back into slumber. Meanwhile, Fang also thought pleasantly about he middle siren sister.
The next morning however, was far from pleasant. Everyone had begun their day like normal, but trouble arrived in the form of Queen Chrysalis. Immediately, both teams of elements met the disgrace of a royal with weapons aimed! All of them were on-guard due to the changeling's queens deceptive nature, and the smile on Chrysalis's face wasn't putting them at ease any time soon.
"No need to point your toys at me." Chrysalis said with a dismissive wave. Still smiling as she did so. "I haven't come here for a fight. Then again, I could use the exercise."
"Didn't I almost barbecue you last time?" Inferno asked with a raised eyebrow. "And I'm pretty sure Arctic Ace is eager to turn you into an ice pop."
"It appears you've learned nothing since our last few encounters Chrysalis." Arctic Ace said in an icy tone. "A few of us have attacks that are elements you're weak against, and a good number of us are Avatars now."
"And I'm happy to announce that I'm one of those among the ascended." Twilight said as she glared at Chrysalis! "I was able to see through your disguise, and I've been learning a few combat spells with you in mind." Twilight's magic flared to life! "And yet you're still so arrogant to think you can take ALL of us when Celestia alone kicked your chitin on the streets of Castalot with EVERYONE watching?"
"Such pleasant memories you've all brought up." Chrysalis hissed! Her smile breaking for an instant before recovering when she noticed Narico approaching the teams of elements. "But as I've said, I haven't come her to fight. I am here to reclaim my kingdom."
"And just how are you going to do that?" Fang asked as he noticed the nervous looks of the converted changelings who'd defected from Chrysalis. "Most of you hive ditched you when you tried to drain my brother dry. And hardly any of them followed you by choice. Look around you! None of them are happy to see you! None of them want you here! So how that Tartarus are you going to get them back?!"
"Oh? You didn't hear?" Chrysalis asked in mock surprise. "There's a new royal changeling on the market. Young. Single." As Chrysalis spoke, she strutted her way over to Narico. A sway in her hips and a seductive smile on her face. "And staring me right in the face. So what do you say, Narico? Every queen needs her king. Don't you want the changelings to be a whole people?"
"No." Narico said firmly as his gaze hardened. "I'm not going to marry you Chrysalis. Because I don't need, or want, to take up the crown again. I did my job as king: I led my people, and ensured their welfare. They're happy here. They have their own lives. I've done my job as a leader, and they don't need me anymore. They are in Princess Celestia's care now. The care of a REAL leader. As far as I'm concerned, they're in good hands. And they don't need me, OR you. And we most certainly don't want you either."
"Is that so?" Chrysalis asked as she feigned being hurt by Narico's refusal. "What about the changelings in my care who are now separated from the rest of their kind? Can you really be so cruel as to keep them separated!"
"Don't give me that crap!" Narico snapped as he took a step towards Chrysalis! "You're just trying to play the sympathy card so you can get back what you lost! MY people have made their choice! But not because of me enforcing my decision as the only one to follow! They followed of their own free will because I gave them the option to return to you! None of them made that choice! I did what you failed to do! Give them a choice! Like a TRUE leader!"
"INSOLENT CHILD!" Chrysalis screamed as she powered up her magic, and prepared to lunge towards Narico! But before any of the group could react! A grey blur rammed into Chrysalis and knocked her back! When Chrysalis recovered, her eyes narrowed as she looked at the figure who'd rammed into her! "You. The same mutt that tried to take a bite out of me back at the wedding. I thought I had put you down."
"I guess I don't know when to die." Fang shot back before rushing Chrysalis with a flurry of swings from his gauntlet! With his enhanced speed, Fang was able to close the distance between himself and Chrysalis fairly fast! "None of you get into this! I have a score to settle with this parasite!"
The remaining elements were uneasy about leaving their friend to his battle, but they respected his wishes since Fang had unfinished business with the changeling queen. Getting frustrated at having no breathing room between herself and her opponent, Chrysalis fired off a blast of magic to try and put some distance between herself and Fang! But fortunately, Fang's instincts were in overdrive right now! He easily dodged the blast, and kicked Chrysalis in the side! Following up his initial attack with another swipe from his gauntlet and a punch right to the changeling queen's face!
"Bothersome mongrel!" Chrysalis hissed as she used her magic to summon her double scythe! Rubbing her face where Fang had struck her! "You're not the only one who has a bite to them!" And Chrysalis flew at Fang! Her wings buzzing furiously as she slashed at him! Fang blocking each of her strikes with his gauntlet, or rolling his body out of the way of Chrysalis's swings! The defiant and determined glare he was giving her only added to her frustration! "PLAY DEAD LIKE A GOOD MUTT ALREADY!"
"You first!" Fang spat as he kicked Chrysalis in the stomach, and slashed at her chest with his claw gauntlet! Chrysalis tried to get away, but Fang shot out the claws of his gauntlet, and wrapped them around her leg! Yanking the changeling queen to the ground and using the chains his claws were attached to in order to drag her over to him! "You're not flying away from this fight! This time, I'm not going down in one shot!"
"Last time?" Chrysalis raised her scythe to block Fang's incoming slash! Sparks raining forth as their weapons clashed! Chrysalis then got an evil smile as she recalled the last time Night Fang had tried to fight her. "Ah yes. I remember that day quite well. How did it feel? Seeing that grub you adopted as your brother writhing in pain? And I was able to swat you away so easily! Why are the Elements of Heroism even keeping you around when you couldn't even protect your dear adoptive brother?"
"SHUT UP!" Fang screamed as he broke off their clash, and pounced at Chrysalis! However, the changeling queen had a nasty surprise for Fang as she struck him in the side! "Ngh!" Fang was on his knees shortly after, but his pain was far from being ended when Chrysalis shot towards him, and bit into his neck! "ARGH!"
While Fang tried to claw at Chrysalis, the changeling queen began to suck the love Fang held in his heart! Further increasing her own strength! It wasn't long before Fang could no longer keep up his resistance. And when it seemed like she'd drained him dry, Chrysalis tossed Fang's limp body to the ground like a discarded piece of trash.
"I suppose I should thank you for taking care of that grub." Chrysalis sneered as her body was covered in a green aura. A result of her tapping into her boosted strength. "The time you spent with him gave you both such a strong bond. This love tastes almost as good as his. Hmm. Perhaps I'll get a taste of him next. Love is so much more delicious once it's matured."
Chrysalis was about to walk away, but froze in her tracks when she felt a massive aura flare to life! And little by little, Chrysalis felt whatever power she'd gained ebbing away. There was only one other combatant here, and it irritated Chrysalis that somehow Fang was still managing to regain what she'd stolen from him. With an annoyed huff, Chrysalis turned to face Fang! But when she looked upon Night Fang's form, her body started to tremble in fear. A violent red-violet aura cloaked Fang's entire body! His eyes had become devoid of any irises or pupils, and his hair had become more unkempt and wild! All of his teeth had sharpened into fangs, and his facial features had become more wolf-like! And his terrifying transformation was completed when he let out a wild howl! One that chilled Chrysalis to her blood as she felt the sheer amount of rage and bloodlust directed solely at her! Whatever advantage Chrysalis thought she had was shattered by that lone howl.
But the transformed Fang's howl wasn't felt by Chrysalis alone. Aria was outside when she felt Fang's savage howl, and it made the siren gasp. But this alone wasn't what solely prompted Aria to run towards Fang's location. She'd felt Fang being overtaken by a wave of negative emotions, and remembered the conversation they'd had last night quite well. Running as fast as she could, Aria arrived on the scene just in time to see the Elements of Heroism staring in horror at their friend's transformed state.
Chrysalis turned tail and tried to fly away, but the transformed Fang slashed her viciously across her back! Damaging her hole-filled wings!
"YOU ARE NOT LEAVING HERE INSECT!" Fang growled in a voice not his own as he stalked over to the grounded changeling queen! "NOT UNSCATHED!" Chrysalis fired off a volley of magic blasts, but Fang in his possessed state dodged them effortlessly! His speed and strength had been boosted by the possession, and he pounced on Chrysalis! Fully intent on taking a bite out of her! In mere seconds, the possessed Fang had pinned Chrysalis to the ground! The changeling queen desperately trying to fend off his jaws! Only to get her left hand bitten in the process!
"AAH!" Chrysalis screamed in pain before fearfully looking Fang in his eyes! "Please! Mercy!"
"You beg for mercy, yet give none." The possessed Fang snarled. "I believe the phrase is: what comes around goes around! And here comes what you deserve!" Fang was about to bite down, but stopped as his head jerked back! "Impossible! You were out cold! How?! How are you fighting me now?!"
"I. . . won't. . . kill her!" Fang cried out as one of his eyes shut tightly! "This. . . isn't. . . me! I want her to be punished. . . but I won't be her executioner!"
"FOOLISH CUB!" The spirit that had possessed Fang roared! "I would be doing you a favor in squashing this bug like the parasite she is!"
"We'll deal with her. . . when the time comes!" Fang protested as he held back one of his arms from slashing at Chrysalis! "I know she'll go back to her old tricks after this. . . but we know her game!" Fang opened his left eye, and it was revealed that it had returned to normal! Chrysalis had teleported away while Fang was struggling with himself, so that just left the other Elements of Heroism to try and contain their conflicted friend! "Guys. . . I don't know how much longer I can keep this thing held back!"
"NO!" Aria screamed! "You're still talking! That means you're still fighting! Don't you DARE give up Fang! You hear me?!"
"Aria. . . " Fang groaned as he fought against his own body! "I can't. . . "
"Don't say that!" Aria snapped! Tears forming in her eyes! "All my life, no one's bothered to try and reach me. They didn't try to get to know me because the way I acted always made them keep your distance. But not you! You always kept trying! You never gave up! You were always determined to see how I really was!" She clenched her fists. "I LOVE YOU FANG! AND I'M NOT GOING TO GIVE UP ON YOU!"
"Ari. . . a. . . " Fang strained before the force manipulating his body pushed back against his consciousness! "AAAAAGHH!"
Aria's heart was pierced the instant she heard Fang screaming in pain. It hurt her to see him like this, and it hurt even worse when she knew that Fang was going to ask his friends to put him down. Aria took a breath as if to sing, but stopped before she could exhale. Her singing voice was gone, and she now sounded horrible. But all the same, something compelled her to belt out a melody. If only to try and soothe Fang's spirit. And she followed this impulse without any hesitation. The result, which surprised Aria greatly, was a beautiful song that seemed to make Fang's entire body relax. Only for whatever was trying to possess him to howl in anguish before being ripped from Fang's body in an explosion of red-violet energy!
"FANG!" Aria cried as she stopped her song! Running to Fang's side as he collapsed on the ground. A small gasp escaped Aria's lips when she saw that Fang had lost his wolf ears and tail, but she was far more relieved that he was breathing. "You all can leave this to me." Aria picked up Fang,and rested his head against her shoulder. "Let's go home, Fang."
It wasn't long before Aria reached Fang's house, and laid him on the couch with his head resting on her lap. His breathing became softer when Aria stroked his hair to comfort him. All the while, Aria couldn't help but smile at how peaceful Fang looked like this.
"Maybe you're short a pair of ears and a tail." Aria said as she smiled down at Fang. "But you're still a good boy, Fang." Aria soon fell asleep herself. The next morning, the pair were woken up. Aria was about to head for the door when a leg bust the door down, and a dark grey blur zipped up to Fang. Followed by a woman with purple skin and blue hair wearing a white dress. "What the-?!"
"FANG!" A man with dark grey skin and purple hair clad in grey jeans and a dark blue jacket cried out as he clamped his hands onto Fang's shoulders! He was also sporting a pair of wolf ears and a tail. "ARE YOU ALRIGHT?! I FELT SOMETHING HAPPEN! WHERE DID YOUR EARS AND TAIL GO?!"
"Dad, calm down!" Fang shouted as his father shook him! "I'm fine! And I lost my ears and tail when whatever tried to possess me got expelled from my body!"
"If you're done shaking Fang, would you kindly explain just who you people are?" Aria asked as she crossed her arms.
"Well you've already met my husband, Midnight Howl." The woman answered with a serene smile. "And I am Night Fang's mother, Moonlight. We just came because we felt that something happened to our little pup." Moonlight had a slightly sad look on her face when she noticed that Fang's ears and tail were gone, but her smile returned when she returned her attention to Aria. "But it seems like Fang has gained more than he lost."
"So how'd the two of you get here so fast?" Aria asked with a raised eyebrow. "I know Fang was pretty fast when he had his wolf abilities. Did your husband carry you while bolting at his top speed?"
"Actually, my wife is the one who carried me all the way here at inhuman speeds." Midnight Howl answered. "Well, it's more like she dragged me by my tail and I was screaming all the way over here. But, at least we know our son's okay." He then sniffed Aria. "So, when's the wedding?"
"WHAT?!" Fang and Aria screamed at the top of their lungs!
"C'mon Fang!" Midnight Howl said with a grin. "I can smell the fact she wants to be with you!"
"He's not wrong. . . " Aria said as her face was flushed red with embarrassment! "I did scream that I loved him."
"Great! I knew Fang inherited his old man's wolfish charms!" Midnight Howl chuckled! "So when can-GAH!" Midnight Howl yipped in pain when he felt his wife grabbing him by his ear! "Ow, ow, ow! Moonlight! What did I do wrong?"
"Please excuse my husband." Moonlight said with a polite smile. "He thinks that just because we had love at first sight under a beautiful night that you'd become Fang's girlfriend the second he gave you the puppy eyes. I think we've troubled Fang and. . . I'm sorry dear, could you please give us your name?"
"Aria Blaze." Aria said with a smile. "So. How tight of a leash do you have your husband on?"
"It's been a pleasure meeting you." Moonlight said as she was still dragging Midnight Howl by his ears. "You weren't wrong about that girl."
"Then why are you still pulling me by my ear?" Midnight Howl asked.
"Simple. I take any chance I get to feel them." Moonlight said with a cute smile.