//------------------------------// // Episode 10: Free Agents // Story: EoH Evolution: Season 6 // by Bahamut0 //------------------------------// The Changeling Hive. Chrysalis glared at Edge in his healing pod. She hadn't ordered the praying mantis mutant changeling to attack, but the mutant couldn't resist the chance to try and end Burst Stream. However, Edge wasn't the only mutant changeling with an attitude problem. Stinger, the scorpion mutant changeling was a bit of a loose cannon. Needle, the wasp mutant changeling, was pretty much the only one of the mutants who was actually loyal to Chrysalis. Then again, he was based off of a hive-type insect. "About half of the mutant changelings defected after my defeat at the royal wedding." Chrysalis grumbled as she directed her gaze to a sealed door in the hive. "If I'm going to increase my number of high-level fighters, I'll have to release two more attitude problems. Those two were the only ones who put up any resistance to being mutated. Their time in stasis must have made them know their place in the hive by know." A smirk crept across Chrysalis's face. "How fitting it would be for them to once again enjoy movement by kneeling at my feet." Chrysalis mused to herself as her hands were cloaked in the slime-green aura of her magic, and she channeled it into the stasis cocoons. Though their structure was similar to the healing pods, the stasis cocoons were a dull grey and opaque in contrast to the clear, green of the healing pods. "Rise and shine, Drake and Kicker." Suddenly, the stasis cocoons began to crack and break open as their occupants began to stir. A moment later, the two remaining mutant changelings burst out of their prisons! The first to stand and bask in their freedom was a dragonfly mutant changeling that had segments of his chitin skin that were turquoise in color while his hair was sky-blue. The remaining mutant changeling was grasshopper-like with powerful legs, a pair of antennae on his head, and was light green in color with forest-green hair. These were Drake and Kicker, the remaining members of the mutant changelings. "So, you finally let us out, huh?" Drake asked lazily as he stretched his arms and buzzed his wings. "Either the others wised up and struck out on their own, or you need me and Kicker here to make your forces actually useful." "Do not take your newly regained freedom forgranted, Drake." Chrysalis hissed. "I had you put in stasis before, and I can easily do it again." "Funny." Kicker tilted his head in curiousity. "You don't feel all that strong. In fact, you feel weaker. A lot weaker." "Probably because her grand plans blew up in her face." Drake snickered. "Like mutating me and the others, for example." "Silence!" Chrysalis snapped! "I am your queen! Your leader! And you will follow my orders as subjects of my hive!" "Sorry. I'm through with you telling me what to do." Drake smirked. "Kicker? Care to hand her our resignation?" "Gladly!" Kicker grinned as he jumped, and executed a powerful kick to Chrysalis's face! Sending the changeling queen crashing into a nearby wall! "So, we gonna bounce or what?" "Definitely." Drake grinned. "Let's blow this joint Kicker!" The pair of mutant changelings buzzed their wings, and took off! Leaving the hive behind as they flew into Unity's territory! It wasn't long before the two of them landed in Unityville. "So. This is what a human town looks like." Drake remarked as he and Kicker landed and began to explore. "Sure is a lot more colorful than the hive." "Uh, maybe we haven't left home as much as we thought, Drake." Kicker added as he saw a few changelings buzzing about the town. However, he noticed that they were far from the single uniform color schemes of the changelings back in the hive. "Just what happened before we were let loose?" "Chrysalis probably screwed things up. Like I knew she would." Drake shrugged. He then noticed Rarity and Fluttershy, and smirked. "And I think I just found us some pretty, new sights." The pair of mutants slid up to the pair of element bearers. Drake flashing his most charming smile while Kicker just waved. "Hello there ladies. A nice day like this is much more pleasant company, wouldn't you say?" "Hi." Kicker waved at Fluttershy. "Wanna date?" "Yes. It is." Rarity replied with a polite smile. "I'll soon be enjoying it with my fiance, and my friend with her boyfriend. We have a double date. So as lovely as your offer of companionship sounds, I'm afraid we must decline." "You're not a completely claimed woman yet." Drake smirked. "Why not have one last fling of freedom before you tie the knot? I'm sure you-*sniff* Hey, what smells like something's burning?" "Babe?" Inferno asked as a literally flaming aura covered his entire being. "This guy's not giving you any trouble, is he?" "Fluttershy." Ty began. "These two weren't making you uncomfortable, were they?" "So, you must be the fiance." Drake said coolly as he turned to face Inferno. "Hey, can you blame me for trying to court her? Your lady's a literal goddess." "And I'm a god." Inferno said crossly. "Who will be marrying her incredibly soon. Considering what you just tried to pull, I've half a mind to incinerate you right here." "C'mon, big guy! N-No need to get hostile, right?" Kicker asked nervously as he trembled before Ty! "I wasn't gonna force her to go out with me, and she's pretty cute!" "You're lucky my Duelist Arm is undergoing its evolution." Ty said sternly as he towered over Kicker! "Because if it was still working, I'd use my cannon to blast you halfway to Castalot." "Please, can't we be civil about this?" Drake suggested. He then smirked. "Unless, of course, we could share these ladies for a day?" ". . . Okay, you know what?" Inferno said with a frown. "Just for saying that, I'm roasting you. This isn't gonna be a fight, it'll be a lesson." And Inferno shot out a powerful fireball point blank at Drake! "NEVER try to steal another person's loved one! It only cements that you're pathetic." "Uh. . . be gentle, please?" Kicker begged as Ty hoisted him into the air! "Don't worry about your friend." Ty grunted. "You'll be sent flying alongside him so you're not lonely." Ty picked up the winded Drake, and began to spin both him and Kicker before sending them flying off towards Castalot! As the pair were sent flying, Hax's surveillance drones followed suit! The drones had been observing the new mutant changelings arrival and activity. When the pair crashed into the city streets, they were soon met with Blitz Surge and the Lancers. "It seems the Elements of Heroism have given you two trouble as well." Blitz Surge said with a smug smile on his face. "However, you'll soon be receiving a chance to get back at them. All you need do is join the Lancers, and be under my command." "Sorry, but we've got no beef with those guys." Drake smirked. "Besides, we were kinda in the wrong hitting on spoken-for women. Besides, even if you've got one cutie on your team, we're not interested." "Yeah!" Kicker pumped his fist in emphasis! "So shove it!" "And why might that be?" Blitz frowned. "Me and Kicker here are sick of people trying to control and order us around." Drake explained with a glare. "It just doesn't sit well with the two of us." A sudden gust of wind blew through. "We're like the wind, masterless and free with no one but ourselves to tell us what to do." "You will regret this." Blitz scowled. "Or maybe you need to accept the fact that the Elements of Heroism are better than your group." Drake smirked. "Because you, sir, sure don't seem like a hero. Let's fly, Kicker!" "Right behind ya, Drake!" Kicker cheered. "So where to next?!" "Wherever we want." Drake shrugged. "The wind's got no set destination."