//------------------------------// // Chapter 17: Reunion and Retaliation // Story: Blue Fang // by MlpHero //------------------------------// The four Changelings walked back to camp, very satisfied with how things turned out. When they got to camp, they asked about the gems. “Um...” Brokenwing said. “Please tell me you have them,” Kydra said worried. “Well... Of course I have’em!” The gang cheered as they heard the news. Mitchell came out of the shrubbery. “Look who I found,” He said. Three Changelings, non of them reformed, walked out of the bushes. “Who are they?” Hivehunter asked. The smallest one, a female wearing a pendant, stepped up. “My name is Ocellus.” The gang looked at each other, “bull crap,” Dagger said. “No, she’s not lying,” Zenex said pointing at the pendant she had around her neck, “I remember that pendant.” She looked at him, looking confused like she’d just seen a ghost. “Ocellus, it’s me, Zenex.” “Zen?” She asked. “Yeah, it’s me.” The two went over to each other and hugged. Somehow, this didn’t surprise Blue Fang. As a matter of fact, he was pretty happy. He looked at the other two Changelings. “Oh sorry,” Blue Fang said, “and you two are?” The bigger one stepped up, “my name is Arthrax, and my little brothers name is Hex.” The gang stared at each other like how a deer would stare at an oncoming train. It was like a war had ended with a deafening silence. Arthrax, no way. Not that Son of a Mare. It couldn’t be, right? Blue Fang couldn’t believe it. It was like telling him Celestia couldn’t use magic. “Look you two,” Hivehunter said, “we don’t need any trouble.” “What’s wrong Hive?” Hex asked, “you too embarrassed about your lose to Blue Tooth over there.” Blue Tooth. Of all the names Blue Fang has been called, Blue Tooth, to him, was like calling Luna, Lulu, or Celestia, Sunny. He wanted to hit Hex, but stopped knowing the others, especially Arthrax, would probably intervene in the conflict. He walked over to the CSA box and opened it. The Bits they’d stolen were starting to stack up. Brokenwing came over to the box. He picked it up and went to one of the high rocks. “Everyone,” he said, “each weekend, I will give a certain number of Bits to you depending on how well you did over the week. Also, during the week, if you rob a bank or store or wagon, make sure the gang gets its slice.” Everyone nodded. Eventually, everyone gathered around the campfire and ate the canned food Blue Fang “borrowed” from the store. “Grubber could do better,” Blue Fang commented. “You’re right,” Stinger said, “and Flint and Bugbite were waaay better jokers than I’ll ever be. I miss those two.” “Don’t forget about Clover, Cobshot, Mothray, and Webbiter,” Mitchell said. The memories of their time during the war made them want to cry. The war, albeit terrifying, it gave them family, siblinghood. From the drones that worked in the columns, to the Elite Guards of the Queen, to them on the front making sure the hive was safe, all of them, a family, and nothing could change that. Blue Fang just stared at the empty can. Sure, it was better than the MREs they ate, but it didn’t feel right, like they’d prefer the MREs. That was one of many things Changelings needed to now, how to adapt and improvise. Another was will power. If you were able to stay calms around large bodies of love or you were in a bad situation, you’d be good. The sound of a bush rustle made them turn their heads. Out of the bushes stepped Webbiter, Cobshot, Mothray, Flint, Bugbite, Clover and Grubber, not reformed and okay. “G-Guys? What are you doing here?” Blue Fang asked. “What do you think?” Grubber asked, “you need food, and I can cook it.” “And I think you’ll need an extra set of hooves in you gang,” Cobshot added. The gang exchanged looks, than turned back to face them. Brokenwing stepped up, “welcome home, brothers.” The gang celebrated the return of their family members. Grubber’s cooking, combined with campfire tales made the night great. Blue Fang pulled out his journal. He’d had this journal every since... Every since he couldn’t help Brokenwing in the Everfree. He went to his tent and laid in bed. He closed his eyes. Blue! Blue! Take the shot! “Broken! No!” “Blue Fang! Calm down, you’re dreaming!” Kydra shook Blue Fang out of his sleep. He was breathing so heavily you would think he was about to suffocate. He looked at Kydra. He remembered how she fell down the tower, how he could’ve used magic, but didn’t. He broke down into tears. For the first time, he cried, all his emotions gone. Kydra hugged him, “it’s okay Blue,” she said, “it’s okay.” “No... sniff no it’s not. I couldn’t save you, or Broken or anyone! I had a chance to save you all, but I didn’t take it... I... didn’t... take it,” he pulled away from Kydra’s embrace and laid in bed face away from her. “Blue Fang, I know I can’t help you, but just know, you have saved Changelings before. You saved me during Trident, you also saved Pharynx during Trident, and that Changeling you dragged to safety,” she stopped to stroke his wings, “but most importantly, you saved yourself from the Crystal Empire.” He turned back around and faced her. Maybe she was right, maybe he did more than he thought. “Thank you, Kydra.” “Anytime Blue. Anytime.” Blue Fang sat up in bed and picked up his journal. The brown, ragged cover of the journal reminded him of the past, his family. The war was lost, but the battle still continued. He flipped through the journal to a familiar entry. Blues Log Current Rank: Private Cpt. Brokewing: Alive Sgt. Mitchell: Alive Pfc. Pharynx: Alive Pvt. Thorax: K.I.A (Assumed but more than likely) Spc. Kydra: Alive Pvt. Dagger: Alive I know the log says K.I.A, but my journal says otherwise, but in all honesty, I’m not sure how I feel about Thorax hiding in the cold. I hope, if he can form relations with the Ponies, they’ll give him enough food. —Pvt. Blue Fang Kydra looked at the entry, then rubbed her eyes and read it again. “You... you knew?” “Yeah,” he replied with guilt in his voice. “Why’d you say anything?” “Cause I did, they’d kill’im!” He snapped. Kydra looked at Blue Fang, taken a back by his tone. Blue Fang felt a surge of regret, “look Ky, I’m... I’m sorry, it’s just that, I betrayed the hive, I had a chance to save it,” he turned to her, “you don’t have to forgive me, you really don’t, just know I doing what had to be done.” She put her hoof around Blue Fangs neck, “Blue, I ain’t mad, but you should’a told me, I could’a helped you.” She got up, “I’ll head back to my tent, I’ll check with you tomorrow.” He waved goodbye as she left the tent. He flipped back through the journal, all the way to the one of the first entries he’d ever wrote. Today, didn’t go so well with training, and it’s all my fault. Brokenwing is in the Infirmary with Timberwolf bit marks on his left fore hoof. I’m still waiting on a report from the nurse. He closed the journal and laid it down. He reflected on the past, the war, his death, how he was given an honorable funeral. Brokenwing still has the medal. He reached for the lamp when he heard a loud thump, he got up to see what it was. Then Hivehunter flew back first into his tent. He got up and looked at Blue Fang, “come on Blue!” “What’s goin’ on?!” “They’re attacking!” The two ran out of the tent, only to see Royal Guards, being lead by Twilight and her friends, raiding the campsite. The two ran and took cover behind a table. “Where’s everyone at?!” Blue Fang asked. “I told’em to run! I’ll hold them off!” An ES landed beside them. Blue Fang grabbed Hivehunter, “come on Hive, we gotta move!” The two ran into the thickets, avoiding magic blast. While running, Blue Fangs leg hit a tree stump, causing him to fall. “Blue!” Hivehunter ran back, “crap.” “Hive, go, I’ll hold’em off.” “I ain’t leaving you!” “Just go!” Hivehunter pulled out the medal, “Brokenwing wanted you to have it.” Blue Fang took the medal, “thank you, now go!” Hivehunter nodded and ran, “oh! And Hive,” Hivehunter turned around, “if I don’t make it back, please watch over’em,” Hivehunter nodded and ran. Blue Fang got up and flew to one of the trees as the Guards and the Seven friends walked through the forest. He watched Twilight and two Guards move off from the rest of the group. He followed them, jumping from tree to tree until they stopped walking at a nearby cliff. He climbed down the tree and took aim. He used CF to get two good shots to the Guards heads. Twilight did something between a shriek and gasp as Blue Fang tackled her onto the ground. He looked at her, anger burning straight through her. He looked at the two Guards, them back to her. “Is that the best you got? Them your best won’t do. You’re amongst wolves now, and these are our woods.” He charged his horn and prepared for the thing he’s been waiting for, until someone yelled from the bushed. “Release her now!” About twenty to thirty Guards, including Twilights friends, stepped out of the bushes. He smirked as he looked around. “Well well well,” he started clapping his hooves, “you finally caught me.” Shining Armor, who Blue Fang didn’t even realize was there, stepped between some of the Guards. “It’s over, let her go!” “Whatever you say Captain, whatever you say,” he stepped off of Twilight and backed up. He looked behind hisself, only to see the cliff. The sound of water caught his attention, lake. He backed up even more. “Give up!” Shining said, “there’s no where to run!” “You know Captain, there’s one thing we can’t fight,” he continued to back up, “and that thing, is gravity.” He turned and bolted for the edge of the cliff, avoiding the magic blast Shining had ordered, then he jumped off. The fall was over in seconds as he crashed into the water. He swam to the lakes shoreline and crawled onto the beach. He turned over and laid in the sand like he was trying to get a tan. The sound of magic caught his attention. He turned to see Starlight and Twilight standing behind him. “The Princess and her Protégé returns.” “It’s over, Blue Fang,” Twilight said, “it’s over.” Starlight teleported away, then teleported back with their friends and two Guards. Blue Fang just laid there, and waited. He saw Hivehunter in a tree, using code language, he said, “don’t worry, we’re safe, and we’re coming for you.” Blue Fang smiled, he wasn’t going to be here for long.