//------------------------------// // A Call Of Battle // Story: Help Me! My Parents Are Bronies! // by Enfield //------------------------------// "Aw fecking 'ell," Douglas said as he rolled over in his bed. He sat up and covered his eyes from the sudden burst of light that hit him in the face. He manged to walk over to the sink and rub water in his eyes. Looking up at himself in the mirror Douglas noticed that his hair was a mess, he matted it down and went to dry his hands off when a Changeling burst through the door. "The queen needs to see you now, it's urgent." "Tell her I'll be right there," Douglas said as he retrieved his jacket and rifle. Douglas didn't want to help out Chrysalis right away, he needed food but he still had to report for duty. After all, he wanted to prove that he was the best of all the Changelings. He ran down the stairs and into the main room of the town hall, the ponies were all still hanging from the ceiling inside of cocoons, they had become quieter but there was an occasional sob. Douglas ran up to Chrysalis who was pacing back and to in front of her throne. "I cannot believe this," she said over and over again. "What?" Douglas asked, Chrysalis stopped and looked down at him with worry and disappointment. "Xinkz has failed us, because he didn't locate Twilight she managed to get to Canterlot and tell Celestia what has happened and now some of our scouts are reporting that there are over a thousand soldiers coming to Ponyville." "We can fight them," Douglas said, "Can't we?" "If only we had the numbers," Chrysalis said, "We have to run again." "But what are we going to do in the meantime?" "All we can do is get ready." Chrysalis sighed and walked away. Douglas, feeling slightly irritated, went outside to see if he could think of some way of helping Chrysalis and fight off the incoming army. He sat down on a bench and held his rifle close to his chest. He could see the army even from here and the reports were not lies, the army was huge. Douglas knew that they outnumbered the Changelings but he had gotten them this far, if only they could find a smaller town to take over and then move onto a bigger town to annex. If they kept this up they might be able to take over Equestria. He stood up and ran back inside, he wandered around for a few minutes until he found Chrysalis with Xinkz, she was currently talking to him and she didn't sound too happy. "You've failed me, Xinkz. Now because of you we are doomed." "I am sorry my queen," Xinkz said, "I should have searched longer." "I am disappointed in you Xinkz, now I have to find a way to get us all out of here safely." Douglas walked over, wanting to tell his plan. "Queen Chrysalis, I've got an idea." The two look at him. "Go on," Chrysalis said. "I've been thinking and I've come to this conclusion, we've been to ambitious. Ponyville is too big a town to start with if we're going to take this place over we need to take over a smaller secluded town then move onto bigger towns once we have the strength. Now it may sound like a long shot but if we can take over enough towns then we could eventually take over, not just Equestria, but the entire planet." "You're mad," Xinkz said. "Thank God for that because if I wasn't, it might never work," Douglas retorted. "We have no other choice," Chrysalis said, "Douglas, I want you to lead the scout team and clear the way through the forest for us. Once you do that we can escape." "What about our prisoners?" Douglas asked. "We shall leave them here. Go and pick your team, you leave once you have enough to work with." Douglas nodded and left to hand pick his team, but as he was leaving the town hall Xinkz cut him off. "I don't think so human. If you want a position of command then you must prove it." "And how would I do that?" Douglas asked. "All Changelings in the Swarm who want to be the Swarm master must prove in in combat." "You're kidding aren't you?" "No," Xinkz said, "And I hereby challenge you to a showdown, no one is allowed to decline a Call of Challenge." "Xinkz, we don't have the time," Douglas said, "We need to get out of here first then we can decide who the better Changeling is." "I knew that you were nothing but a coward." Xinkz said. Douglas tossed his rifle aside and stood ready. "You've pushed it too far matey, let's get this over with." Xinkz was already in an attack stance and he was ready to fight, Douglas on the other hand didn't want to get into a scrap but he didn't want to humiliate himself. The two stood there for what seemed like an eternity then without warning, Xinkz lunged at Douglas. Douglas was ready and he sidestepped, making Xinkz zoom past him but Xinkz was already next to him before he could react, he landed a few strikes on Douglas but Douglas countered and kicked Xinkz in the face. Xinkz was sent sprawling to the ground and he hopped up, a small trickle of blood seeping down his lip. This time Douglas charged and managed to tackle Xinkz and he punched him twice before he was kicked off, Xinkz flew up and landed on Douglas' back knocking the wind out of him but Douglas managed to hit Xinkz with his elbow. This time Xinkz had Douglas pinned and was clearly trying to beat him to death, Douglas tried to squirm loose but Xinkz had him pinned underneath all his weight. Douglas managed to get a hold of Xinkz's arms and was preventing the enraged Changeling from hitting him. But then Xinkz tried to bite Douglas' face, he head butted Xinkz and tried to reach for his only possible escape; his shank. Douglas pulled the blade out of his pocket, the two struggled as Douglas tried to slash Xinkz with the blade. "You're going to die, human!" Xinkz said. "Not likely," Douglas said. He shoved Xinkz's arm out of the way and plunged the shank deep into the Changeling's neck.