*Ronin POV*
It's been about four days since I arrived at the "safe haven" as Tak liked to call it. After the meeting with the queen, I was given a tour of the hive, ending at Tak's room.
I wont lie, the kid's got a good spread, considering his dilemma. He has this cocoon thing in the middle of his room, along with several strewn items around. Hell, the kid has toys in the far corner of the room, although it looks like they haven't been touched in years.
As we walked in, Tak walked up to the cocoon and looked at me.
"Would you like me to have a servant make you a cocoon to sleep in as well?" He asked me. I gave him a quick shake of my head.
"No No, thats fine. I think I'd rather sleep in a bed or something." I said quickly. I was NOT sleeping like a caterpiller.
He shrugged. "You and mother are sooooo weird! She doesn't sleep in a cocoon either! Well, while we get you a bed, why don't you go to the barracks below? If you want to become my personal bodyguard, you might want to meet the lieutenants first. They know EVERYTHING about protecting the queen and her heirs to the throne!" He empathized that last part with pride.
"Aight then, see you later, kiddo." I said as I walked out. As soon as the door closed behind me, I realized something.
I don't know where the hell the barracks are.
Thankfully, a guard was walking by. "Hey, could you lead me to the barracks?" I asked him. He looked me up and down before hissing softly, but he motioned me to follow him.
**********
After a couple of minutes, we arrived at a room full of soldiers, or at least I think they were. They had weapons and armour that looked attached to them, but they honestly didn't strike me as organized fighters. The place was like a mess hall, long tables spread out in rows, with one circular table in the middle. The guard led me to the center table.
"I brought the one who the queen said needed to be trained." The guard said to three slightly bigger changelings at the table. Unlike the other soldiers here, these guys actually seemed intimidating. I sat down at the table as they each took a good look at me.
"Well, if it ain't the newbie! looks like another lamb to be slaughtered if you ask me!" A big guy to my left sneered. He had orange eyes and orange hair to match. He wore armour that looked like a mix of dark red and black. Although the red could have nothing to do with the armour design. He leaned in and studied me carefully. "What the hell was the queen thinking, putting a half-pint like you in charge of the heirs defense unit?" I gave him a smirk of my own.
"Alright then, who was in charge of the last patrol?" I asked him. He grinned boastfully.
"Those soldiers were from my unit, and they were the best of the best!" He roared, and a table behind me followed suit. I rolled my eyes.
"Heh, no wonder they deserted him if they were trained by a jackass like you." I said as I stood up, he did the same and we were inches from each others face. "If you like," I began, gripping my sword by its handle. "I can show you exactly why I was chosen." He stared me down with a solid glare for a good minute as the whole room went silent.
He then caught me off guard me laughing. He pat me on the back hard, nearly sending me into the table. the table behind me cheered, apparently close with the big guy.
"HAHAHA, Where the heck did Tak find you, and where can we get more of ya, Cuz thats the first time any newcomer has had the balls to stand up to me!" He extended his hoof. "Names Tremor! lieutenant of the Rock-solid battalion!" He roared the last three words as the table behind me cheered again, this time even louder.
"If you two idiots are done comparing sizes, maybe we can get things done around here?" A female changeling to my right spoke up. Her eyes were silver, but her hair was an icy blue. Unlike the others, her wings looked stronger and had icicle tips.
She looked me dead in the eyes. "My name is Tundra, Lieutenant of the Cold North battalion." She pointed to a table behind her, and the mostly female group all eyed me down in return. "I am in charge of all aerial warfare, and making sure that idiot stays in line." She nodded towards Tremor, who grinned lewdly.
"Hehehe, you know you like keeping your eyes on me, doll" He said right as a icy blast hit him, freezing him solid. I looked at Tundra in shock.
She shrugged. "He'll be fine, its not the first time I've left him in the cold." She smirked as I visibly shuddered.Note: dont piss off Tundra.
The third changeling cleared his throat, causing me to finally look his way. He had green eyes, but had the basic hair color most changelings have. What made him stick out was that he had no legs. Instead, he floated at the table with a small cloud instead.
"Greetings, newcomer. My name is Monsoon. I lead the Low tide battalion, which is in charge of all conflict with magic weilders." He nods towards the table closest to us, and the changelings there either wave at me or don't notice me since they seemed far too invested in making clouds of rain assault the guys at the Rock-Solid table.
Monsoon looks back to me. "As you can tell, we are named after the element we've been blessed with. Tremor can weild magma and rocks, Tundra handles ice and wind, and I handle Water. There's also Volt, but he's not easy to... get through to." he said with a sigh. Then things got weird as the room suddenly got quiet, with everyone not moving.
I felt this odd feeling out of nowhere, it was like the static electricity in the room picked up by 100 volts. My hair was sticking up, and I looked around for the source. Monsoon sighed again and pointed up. I looked up and fell out of my chair in shock as "Volt" dropped from the ceiling.
Ok, I've seen a lot of weird crap since coming here. But this took the cake. He had fully black eyes and his teeth looked like they were covered in... blood. but that wasn't even the thing that got me. Although he was a changeling, the thing had a spider body, with each leg crackling with electrical charge going through them. His fangs also were grown out like a spiders, and those too were drenched red. Monsoon gulped a bit before continuing.
"Newcomer, meet Volt. He is in charge of griffon and dragon combat. He is the co-lieutenant of the Rock-solid battalion and handles the... executions we have to have every once in a while." Volt looked at me with a sick grin.
"Hellllloooooo Neeeeewcooooommmer" He drew out his words, savoring each one like a dessert at a fine dining restaurant. "Hehehehehehehe, Sooooorry iiif I'm a tad messsssssy, I juuuuust finished plllllaaaaaying wiiiith thoooose 'deserters' yooooou mentioned earlier." He cackled loudly and hopped over me, scurrying out of the room. I got up and looked at Monsoon in fright.
"What the heck just happened!?" I whispered. He simply shrugged as Tremor finally thawed and turned to me.
"Alright, Newbie! lets get you to the training room!" He said as Monsoon's horn lit up teleported us to a large dirt room with weapons strewn about. He stepped out and turned to me. "I hope you weren't kidding about showing me what you got, boy. But before we start, why don't you introduce me and the others to the soon-to-be pile of bones on the floor." He grinned maliciously. I rolled my eyes.
"Names Ronin. Was a mercenary for 5 years after I lost someone important to me, now I'm protecting the queens kid." He snorted at this.
"Hell, we're all her children! Tak's special, is all." He said as he eyed my sword. "Hehe, cut anyone up with that stick?"
I narrowed my eyes and averted my gaze from his for a second. "A few too many" I got out. Monsoon spoke up.
"Hey, don't ever feel regret for doing your job. We can feel those things, as you know. You had to do what you needed to survive, nothing you you can do to change that. For now, focus on your current opponent." I looked back at Tremor, who was nearly shaking with excitement.
"HAHAHA! Lets gooooo!" He roared as he rushed me at a blinding speed, slamming into me and sending me flying across the room. I landed on the ground hard and looked up as Tremor was rushing again.
Ain't doing that twice. I thought as I sprang up and sidestepped the rushing behemoth. He turned quickly around to face me just to be met with a kick to the face from the left. He spun in the air a bit before landing with a loud OOOF. I smiled at that, but the grin left my face as he got back up fast.
"Hehe, nice one newbie. But lets see how you handle that sword." His horn lit up and a longsword appeared in the air. He grabbed it with bis hoof and rushed me, Swinging the blade hard to his right.
I drew my sword and parried the blow as I got knocked back an inch or two from the intensity of the blow. He smiled and started swinging away like a madman. I deflected hit after hit but was slowly being pressed against a wall.
*In the viewing stands by the fight*
"KICK HIS ASS, TREMOR!" Tundra screeched as Monsoon floated over to her.
"Well, your attitude changed fast." He stated as Tundra simply glared at him.
"Tremor knows not to call me out in public. When its just us though...." She grinned deeply at that while Monsoon simply coughed uncomfortably at the sentence just said.
"Yoooooou twooooo have always beeeen soooo cloose, huuuh?" Volt said as he landed behind them from above. Causing Tundra to jump a mile high and Monsoon to let out an thunder like sound in fright.
"DONT DO THAT, YOU MULTI LEGGED ASSHOLE!!" Tundra yelled as Volt just giggled like a madman. Monsoon had decided to just tune out the two ad he watched the fight progress.
*Fighting ground*
I was finally pushed against the wall by the last sword strike. Tremor laughed loudly.
"Time to break that silly stick of yours!" he roared as he swung is blade from above. In a desperate effort. I swung my blade up to meet it at top speed.
When the blades met, a loud clang burat from the room as Tremors sword shattered. Tremor, in the chaos of it all, was sent flying into a wall. Tundra quickly flew over to him as Monsoon floated over, with Volt scurrying close behind.
"How did you do that? Nothing has broken his sword before!" Monsoon asked while inspecting my blade. He showed it to Volt who gasped and took several steps back with a loud hiss.
"Keeeeeep thaaat awaaay from meeeee!" He screeched. "Thaaaaat isssss maaade from Adamantine!" Monsoon looked shocked.
"Where did you get this sword?" He asked. I gave him a confused look.
"My grandad gave it to me before he passed. Why?" He pondered this, then spoke up.
"Adamantine is a rare ore here in equestria and its surrounding countries. It hasn't been found in a mine in centuries! its also the only metal that can kill Volt here, so do be careful with it." Monsoon said as Volt scurried away from the room.
Tremor walked over and gave me another back-breaking pat. "HAHAHA, your tough as nails!" he stated as I looked at him, confused by his reaction.
"I didn't beat you though." I said as Tundra walked up to me, visibly angry.
"Honey, it takes an army to beat Tremor in hand to hand combat. Be lucky he switched to swordfighting to give you a chance." With that, she took flight and left the room. Tremor rolled his eyes.
"Don't let her get to you. She's upset you put me in a wall. But she'll get over it when I see her later tonight." He said with a wiggle of his eyebrows as I rolled my eyes and playfully punched his shoulder.
"Dude, your downright disgusting" I said with a laugh as a changeling flew into the room.
"The queen needs to see Ronin, Immediately!" It screeched and it sent a spell at me. Among contact with me, it teleported me to the throne room. I looked up and saw Chrysalis. I kneeled as she spoke up.
"I have decided to test you in order to see if your worthy of assisting us in our plans." She said all the while glaring daggers at me. "A changeling spy we sent to obtain a magical artifact has been captured by royal authority. I need you to break into Canterlot castle and retrieve the spy before they obtain highly confidential information from him."
I stood up and smiled. "Easy enough, though how much force is allowed to be used if discovered." I asked as her face contorted into a wicked grin.
"Why, the only force Necessary, LETHAL." She growled. "You will be assigned to this task with Monsoon. Under NO circumstances are you to fail me, or else!" She yelled loudly as she stood up from her throne.
I gave a quick salute and a "YES MA'AM" as I walked out the room towards the barracks.
So, I finally get to meet these pony scum. I thought, relishing in the idea of meting out some well-deserved bloodshed if need be.