//------------------------------// // Chapter 6: Wind Beneath My Wings/Crystal Clear // Story: Mega Man X: Paradise Lost // by Captain L //------------------------------// Chapter 6: Wind Beneath My Wings/Clear as Crystal “So, is there anything else you need to know about Changelings?” Axl had spent the entire walk back down to Ponyville answering Zero’s questions about the Changeling race and various information regarding their species, military, and home. Zero was preparing to organize a full-scale invasion, take out the queen, and end this entire war for good. “What’s the Changeling home country called?” “It’s called Chrysalis. Yes, it’s also the queen’s name. It’s supposed to represent her divine right to rule or something. She’s full of herself, I imagine she just started calling herself Chrysalis to gain power. She needs to die, simple as that.” X had been keeping quiet. Not being a long standing part of the war, he hadn’t been overly curious or interested in the enemy. But there was still one thing he had been working with, and he needed to understand. “So, why do they make ponies go Maverick? How does that fit into their grand plan?” “First question from you, X. Changelings feed on love. We, or rather they, use their shape shifting powers to disguise as ponies that some other pony loves to feed. Once in an optimal position, they hypnotize the pony that loved them to keep in control. Now, they’re powerful enough to turn ponies into Mavericks, making them loyal and loving to the queen. Food for the hive and soldiers with abilities beyond their own.” Both X and Zero’s communicators came in. “X, are you there? We’ve got the readings of the last 4 Mavericks! You should split up and each take out two.” “Zero, just so you know, Twilight still isn’t considering the Changeling a part of the group. Last 4 Mavericks are out there, and it’s looking like you’ll need him, whether Twilight likes it or not. One of them is located in Cloudsdale, and he’s the best one to go for it. Relay the message to him.” “It’s really quite simple, X. You need to come back here, I can cast a walk on clouds spell, and then some pegasi around here can get you up to Cloudsdale. Easy!” X cut out the message and looked at Zero. “Let me guess, Twilight had some convoluted plan to get one of us up in Cloudsdale so we wouldn’t have to use Axl?” X nodded. “She does that. I think she’s shut out making new friends and trusting anyone new.” “So, what did HQ say? Why didn’t I get a communicator?” “It probably has something to do with none of the other Hunters trusting you, Axl. But one of the Mavericks is in Cloudsdale, and you’re the only one with wings. They’re all yours. I’d recommend finishing the job fast before Twilight goes and builds X wings to do it himself. The two of us will go find two other Mavericks. Once those three are done, we meet up and take out the last one. No killing this time. Understood?” X and Axl saluted. “Understood, Zero!” Axl flew up into the sky, leaving X and Zero on the ground. “X, you find the Maverick that’s on the lakeside. It’s probably one that can go underwater, so you won’t be affected. I’ll get the one in the mines.” X nodded and ran off. Zero quickly followed suit to the old jewel mines outside of Ponyville. A mess of clouds high in the sky. In a normal life, this would mean nothing beyond a lazy weather team. But these weren’t just ordinary clouds, they were the remnants of the once great pegasus city, Cloudsdale. The city of the sky, it was where rainclouds and rainbows were made. But since Changelings “shut down” production, weather had started to take a more natural course. While still functioning, it wasn’t nearly as efficient or convenient. In fact, most of the time, the weather was complete crap. It was unexpected for anything to be in the ruins. There was no reason to visit, it had no strategic advantage for a Changeling or Maverick, beyond requiring wings to reach it. “Who would even come up here in the first place?” “Clearly, I did,” a female voice said softly. Axl looked to the source of the sound, a cyan pegasus sitting on the edge of a cloud. Her rainbow mane was long and unkempt. “Should have figured you’d become a Maverick Hunter, drone. You ran away, killed Rosered, and delivered yourself directly to me. You should know what happens next.” “Spiral Pegasus. Should have figured I’d meet you out here. You were always eager to get out in the field and do the dirty work yourself. But why are you spending your time in this wreckage on the off chance we’d have somepony to meet you?” She turned to face Axl. “You know me, I like to spend my time high in the sky. It gives me a clear view of everything going on below. I see all.” “Then can’t you see that you’re on the wrong side of this war? Your friend is out there in the Maverick Hunters, and she wants to have you back. I won’t return without you!” Spiral Pegasus lowered herself and spread her wings. “You won’t take me back alive! The skies call for me, accept me! I was born in this city, these clouds are my allies! I fight to the death, you can never take me as a prisoner! Let’s fight! For Rosered!” Pegasus dove straight forward into Axl, sending him tumbling on the clouds. He fired blasts, but she was well known for her speed, dodging the attacks effortlessly. She stopped moving and delivered a strong flap of her wings, creating a gust of wind powerful enough to turn the cloudy floor into wisps of white fluff. With nothing left to stand on, Axl now had to rely solely on his flight skills. Against the famous Spiral Pegasus, he stood no chance. She, of course, knew the extent of her abilities and the mediocrity that Changeling bodies provided. “And now you realize why it was a bad idea to defy my side. These skies shall be your grave!” Does she not remember my copy abilities? Axl engulfed himself in green flames, and emerged a bright fire orange pegasus mare, body clad in tight blue spandex. “You may be a famous flier, but can you compete with captain of the Wonderbolts?” Both of them backed up and flew forward at the fastest speeds they could manage, front hoof extended out. The punches collided, a boom echoing out for miles. The two pegasi recovering from the sheer force, they flew back and repeated. And again. It became nothing more than two blue streaks clashing across the sky, meeting to form a blast of power and energy. The grass and ashes scattered away from the struggle, fleeing with the wind their blows carried. Axl could tell this was a battle of attrition, so he was thankful Spiral Pegasus was too stubborn to realize it as well. With Pegasus flying back, he transformed into the form of Princess Twilight, creating a magical bubble shield around her body. Too much momentum to stop, Pegasus slammed into the shield, and a loud shattering sound was heard. Axl opened his eyes to see pieces of the shield falling like broken glass, along with the body of his opponent, eyes closed. He reached out with magic and grabbed her, slowly floating back down with her. He placed her on the ground and checked for the heart, still beating inside her body. “You’re not dying on me, Pegasus. The last thing you saw was Twilight as the victor, and the next thing you’ll see is her as a friend.” Zero wished he were a unicorn. The caverns he was spelunking were dark, and a horn for light would be very useful. He also didn’t have night vision like X probably did. All he had to light the way was the dim green glow of his Z-Saber. It didn’t help much. Ever since the Changelings invaded and ponies needed some source of hope or power, legends and stories starting spreading about many topics. Quite a number involved the fairly unknown nature of gems, and their supposed mystical properties. The tales told of some emeralds granting unlimited power, and crystals that could grow and shrink things. It would be nice if some of those were true. The caverns winded in every direction, no indication on which way would be the correct one. It didn’t help that his communications weren’t working this deep underground. It was all just a guessing game at this point. Zero jumped down another tunnel and hit the ground, quickly surveying the area, not expecting to find anything. Which is why he was caught off guard by a sudden purple-blue flash flying towards him, hitting him and binding him in a transparent crystalline structure. A bright yellow flash ignited on the opposite side of the room, illuminating the entire area. A thin, unshaven gold colored unicorn with an eyepatch walked towards him, clearly hardened with many years worth of battle scars. “Well, would you look at that? I managed to snag the ever-so-powerful Zero in my trap. I thought you would be better than this, Maverick Hunter. You’ll be a fine trophy for the queen.” His voice was deep and rumbling. “No prison can hold me, Maverick. You’ll see soon enough what kind of a dangerous bite you’ve reeled in.” Zero looked at his prison guard’s cutie mark, a snail. “Your special talent is being slow, eh?” “You won’t mock me like this! I am Crystal Snail! These caverns shall be your grave!” Zero shattered the prison binding him and readied his saber. “Then show me what you’ve got!” Crystal Snail charged at Zero, his head held in front of him to use his horn as a lance. Zero jumped into the air, his legs curving behind him to deliver a roundhouse kick. But Crystal Snail fired out his Crystal Hunter, materializing a platform below Zero’s hooves, throwing him off balance. Snail took the chance, jumping and performing a flying kick into Zero’s chest. Zero recoiled, pulling his saber for a swing. Once again, Crystal Snail countered it with another Crystal Hunter, encasing the saber in the crystal. “Face it, Zero, my crystals are simply just too much for you!” Zero, not up for listening to taunts, picked up the saber, struggling with the extra weight of the crystal block, and swung it at Snail’s face. The force of the swing shattered it, cutting his face and sending him tumbling to the ground. “DAMN IT! Forget the queen, your head is going to be on my wall!” He fired a Crystal Hunter at Zero’s hooves to trap him for a finishing blow. Crystal Snail may have been familiar with Zero and his legacy, but not with his fighting abilities. Zero was famous for learning fast and not falling for the same move twice. He swiftly jumped behind the crystal block as it materialized, turned around, and kicked it hard with his hind legs straight into the still dizzy and immobilized Crystal Snail. He didn’t see the collision, but he heard the shatter. Crystal Snail groaned and fell unconscious. Zero walked over to his limp body and pushed it with his hoof to confirm it was safe. “Are Mavericks enhanced by Changeling magic or something? He took just a little too much crystal to the face. Well, maybe he’s just got a thick skull.”