Mitchell ducked behind cover alongside Pharynx. Borax’s private army was closing in around them, threatening to squeeze them out. Thankfully, the Fangs were able to push them back. With that, the Fangs regrouped.
Broken looked at them. “Any word from Griffax and Star?”
“Negative sir…” Zenex mumbled. “I think they’re dead…”
There was a moment of silence. They exchanged glances, no one knowing how to break the building tension. They turned to Broken and Tempest. The mare felt a sting in her heart. She’d been there since Star’s induction. She personally saved him. She personally inducted him. She personally trained him. And she promised to watch over him.
That promise now tore at her heart like a flesh eating disease. Her stomach began to cramp in sadness, her breathing increased. She felt the foundation beneath her break. For the first time in a long while, she cried. She had so much anger and sadness bottled up, and now it was spilling from her face, like a storm cloud raining down. She didn’t know what to feel. Sadness for losing her personal inductee? Guilt for not being there? Anger for the ones who’d killed her friend? What did it matter? He was dead.
Tempest’s watered eyes soon spread to Zenex. He too broke down, clutching a half eaten chocolate bar. He’d been keeping it, hoping to return it to Star after the mission. But… he can’t return the assets to a dead colt. It felt as if.. it was his fault. Star was a friend. A member of the Fangs. He was treated the same. Given the same pay. Given his own quarters. Provided the same food.
It could’ve happened to anyone. But it was Star. Star met his death. And it seemed that Death was just down the road, just waiting to knock on their door.
With their fate seemingly sealed, they prepared to make their last stand. But they noticed a problem.
No one had any ammunition left. Or at least… the adults didn’t.
Zenex had eleven arrows in his crossbow. That created a bit of tension in the group.
Eleven shots… Eleven Fangs…
“Well…” Pharynx started, “We got eleven shots…”
“And there are eleven of us…” Brokenwing said.
Hive took the crossbow from Zenex. He loaded the magazine into it, sighing. He looked at the group. “Well… it’s been a pleasure working with you guys…”
They nodded, turning away and closing their eyes. Hive hesitated, trying to choose which Fang to mercy kill. Or… should he off himself?
He looked around, before deciding on Zenex. He was too young to be tortured… too innocent. Hive pointed the crossbow at him.
“I’m sorry… my little one…”
Zenex’s ear twitched, a tear falling down his face.
Before Hive could squeeze the trigger, a crossbow bolt flew past the group, hitting an approaching terrorist in the stomach. They watched as a second bolt sent the terrorist to the ground, dead. They turned, noticing a certain white unicorn staring at them, followed by several Royal Guards.
“The hell are y’all doing down there?” Shining called.
“Having an orgy,” Dagger called back. “The buck it look like we’re doing?!”
“Fair enough…” Shining rolled his eyes. “Listen! The Blade is moving towards the hive! We need to get there before they take over the hive!”
The Fangs immediately sprung up, running towards the convoy. They climbed into a new wagon, letting Shining in.
“We’ve got some guards moving towards there. But we’re not if they can make it.”
“Well, we’re gonna back’em up!” Mitchell said. “We owe Star and Griffax.”
The group nodded as the wagon began moving.
~~~
Thorax trotted through the hallways, looking around. The residents were cleaning out their dens and other rooms, looking for things to donate to a charity Thorax was organizing. He was hoping to help his new allies settle in, and hoping even more for some form of trade route.
He soon stopped by the nursery, stepping in. The nymphs were laying together in a small pile. He smiled, stepping over to them. He reached down, grabbing a certain nymph.
“Apex? You up?”
The green and red nymph yawned, opening his eyes. He looked up at Thorax, who smiled. “Papa Thorax…?”
“Hey there sweetie. You okay?” Thorax whispered, cradling the nymph.
Apex nodded, nuzzling into his chest. Thorax giggled.
Just then, the ground shook. Apex’s ears twitched. “Wha’ was tha’?” he asked.
“Um… I don’t know.” Thorax stood, carrying Apex with on hoof. He stepped outside, as the ground shook again, this time, followed by a loud bang. Apex squealed, clutching Thorax. Thorax himself had to shield his eyes from a blinding light. A flare of some sort, followed by several explosions. Several changelings began fleeing, being chased and attacked by several Blade terrorists, who appeared from just about every nook and cranny they could find.
“Get inside Apex!” Thorax said, pulling the nymph back into the nursery.
The other nymphs were now wide awake, and immediately ran towards Thorax, cowering under him. He tried his best to quiet them.
“Hey, hey! It’s okay! We’re gonna be okay!”
Thorax tried to move past them, but they tripped him. Thorax fell to the ground, looking at them. From the entrance, two figures walked in. Borax, and a griffon.
“B-Borax…? Where are the others…?”
“Dead.”
Thorax felt a heartstring cut. But didn’t have time to feel anything before Borax continued.
“May I introduce Hades.” He nodded towards the griffon. “He’s the bringer of this hell. And I’m the harbinger.”
“W-What…?”
“Face the facts Thorax. I funded this attack,” Borax said. “I’ve funded the Blade ever since I gained power in my company. Designing technology some could only dream of.”
“But… but why?!”
“Because, what’s power if not for sharing.” Borax smiled. “Don’t worry. Your deaths may be… quick.”
By this point, the nymphs began crying. Thorax held them close. The two left, leaving them in the presence of a terrorist. He chuckled. “Alright, which one of you will die first?” He stepped closer, pressing the barrel against Thorax’s chin. “Maybe you?”
Thorax whimpered. “N-No…”
“And what makes you say that?”
Thorax’s whimper soon became a growl, and he grabbed the crossbow, using his elbow to whack the terrorist away. The terrorist looked up to see Thorax pointing the crossbow at him
“It’s gonna be you.”
~~~
The wagons finally pulled up, and the Fangs rushed out, along with the Royal Guards. They quickly shot their way through the first lines of Blade defense, passing by several changeling bodies. The Fangs felt their blood boil with anger and hate. Hate for the ones who’ve destroyed their homes. They’d pillaged their lands and killed their friends. And they were going to pay.
The group moved up, firing at several Blade terrorists. Mitchell looked at Broken. “Broken!”
“Yeah?” Broken looked over.
“We should split up. We can cover more ground that way.”
Broken thought for a bit. “Okay… just, be careful.”
The Fangs nodded, breaking away.
~~~
Mitchell ran towards the Veteran’s Hall. Pulling out his dynamite launcher, he sent an explosive into the entrance hall, blowing two terrorists out of the way. He quickly moved in, shooting two more dead. He made his way towards the gravesite. There, several Blade terrorists were defacing the graves. He yelled out and began firing at them. Blood splattered onto the graves, and bodies dropped. Mitchell immediately ran over to the graves, scanning through them. Thankfully, they hadn’t reached Midnight’s grave. He sighed with relief. He stood up just in time to see a griffon pointing a crossbow at him. Hades.
“Hey there Mitchell.”
“Hades.”
The griffon chuckled, stepping over. “This your gal?”
“Why’s it matter? She’s dead anyway.”
Hades smiled. “Well, you’ll be joining her soon enough.” He cocked the crossbow. “Here’s your golden ticket out of here.”
Mitchell glared at him. Hades was just about to pull the trigger when a bang rung out, followed by him letting out a yell. Hades fell to his knees, before looking up. There, standing before him was…
“B-Bleach?!”
The griffon raised one of the flintlocks to Hades’ head. “It’s just been revoked.”
With that, he pulled the trigger, and Hades’ brain was splattered onto another grave. The Blade leader fell back, lifeless. Mitchell stared at the smoking hole in his head.
“Holy…”
Griffax helped the changeling up. “You alright?”
“Y-Yeah… but I don’t understand…” Mitchell looked at him. “Where’s Star…?”
Griffax’s eyes were filled with grey. “I… I couldn’t save him… I’m sorry…”
Mitchell nodded, before looking at Hades. “He’s dead… that’s it. We’ve won.”
“Not yet.” Griffax handed Mitchell a flintlock. “We’re gonna make Borax pay.”
Mitchell nodded. “Primo Victoria…”
~~~
Pharynx ran towards the nursery, praying that his brother was still alive. “Thorax! Where are you?!”
“In here!” Thorax called back.
Pharynx sighed with relief, opening the door. Thorax laid there with the nymphs at his side. On the ground was a dead Blade terrorist, whose blood was coagulating across the floor. Pharynx sighed, stepping towards the group. However, as he approached them, he heard several hoofsteps behind him. Before he could turn, he was hit across the head with a crossbow, sending him to the ground. Thorax yelled, trying to lift his crossbow. The unseen assailant was quicker, and shot Thorax in the leg. Thorax let out a scream, angering Pharynx. He tried to stand, but the assailant shot him in the leg as well.
The two watched as the assailant stepped up. Borax.
Pharynx growled. “You!”
“Me.”
Borax kicked Pharynx in the face, knocking him into next week. He laid there limply. Thorax stared at Borax, whimpering. Borax chuckled. “He’ll be fine. I’ll take good care of him.”
Borax grabbed Pharynx by the leg, beginning to drag him away. Thorax fell over, reaching for his brother, who reached a hoof back.
“Pharynx…”
Pharynx tried to grab his brother’s hoof.
“Pharynx!”
Pharynx’s eyes felt heavy. Before his eyes shut, he heard his brother scream one last time.
“PHARYNX!”
…