//------------------------------// // King Kabobs // Story: Subject 27 // by Phyrexian //------------------------------// Chapter 71 - King Kabobs         A few hours had past into my marathon. Cloud and Belle kept in front as they chit-chat with each other; I’m glad to see she made new friends. Everyone else is occupied playing a game of cards on my back. “Hmmm... three!” Pinkie Shots.         “Go fish, sorry Pinks.” Colt replies.         “Aww phooey.” As Pinkie Pie draws a card from the pile, Belle flies up next to Colt and taps him on the shoulder.         “So, you always keep cards with you?” It’s not a bad idea, a game of cards is always a good distraction.         “Yeah, they come in handy when you need to kill time, or earn some quick cash.” Music continues to pour out from my PDA’s speaker. Cake - The Distance starts up as we near a river.         “Hold on everyone, here comes a river!” I yelled as blue flames vent from my arms and legs.         “Ha, dude, you’re like Frosty the Snowman after a nuclear holocaust.” I silently chuckle to his amusing remark. I can’t jump the width of this river, it’s too large. I hope that my frozen path can bear our combined weight.         “Try to keep up, Cloud!” I yelled again, pouring on the heat, going from a steady jog to a full on charge, easily passing her.         “27, don’t you see the ri-.” Her words fall short as she witnessed the water freezing under me.         Cloud kicks it into high gear, catching back up with the group in seconds. “That was sooo cool 27! Where did you learn to do that?!”         “A trick I figured out while I was in Cloudsdale. Walking on two legs made my stomach knot up, so I just abused my powers and turned the clouds into ice; allowing me to crawl around on all fours.” Thank you Fade, I noted.         Thinking of Fade, she’s doing an incredible job on numbing the pain in my left knee. I actually feel pretty good right now, this running cleared my mind of a lot of things; allowing me to just focus on running and nothing else. “Come on body, show me what you’re made of.” I thought to myself. The flames churned into a black-blue, each rotation they pumped even harder than the last. I shouldn’t be pushing myself so hard, but I want to; I just want to run as hard and as fast as I can. - - -         “Horror, explain to me your train of thought, would you? I’d advise against unnecessary exercise, but you’ll never listen to me.”         “Running makes me feel good; the harder I push, the better I feel afterwards.”         “Let me clarify: Is exhaustion just a form of pleasure for you?”         “Yeah, you can put it that way.”         “I see.” PRHL says flatly, sounding unamused.         “Haven’t you heard that exercise is good for the body?”         “For one that’s healthy, yes. All you’re doing is prolonging your recovery.”         “I feel great right now!”         “Until adrenaline rush wears off. You’re not going to be feeling so great after.” Yeah, he’s got me there, our little conversation dies here and I just concentrate on running. - - -         Colt and the girls continue playing their card games while Belle and Cloud stayed up front with each other; occasionally looking at either Colt or I and giggling to themselves. “Not a fan of the cold I take it?” Trixie nods, shivering in Colt’s lap. He adjusts himself so her back is against his chest and his arms are around her. Trixie shows her appreciation by giving him a small peck on the cheek. Five minutes later the girls are startled by a loud rumbling sound. “I’m hungry. Transformers, roll out!” He shouts as he curls into a ball with Trixie in the center and rolls off from my back.         Taken by surprise by Colt’s antics, thinking he fell off, I promptly throw on the breaks by shooting my pylons into the ground. I slide for several yards, scaring the earth that I skid across. I come to a jerking stop, Tail recoils around to my side, whiplashing both Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy. “G-Good, I need to r-rest anyways.” Fatigue sets in on me quickly. I collapse to the ground, panting heavily, face covered in sweat. My body aches, muscles burn in places that haven't burned in ages, but its a good kind of hurt.         “W-Where did Colt go?” Fluttershy asks in concern amid her frantic searching of the immediate area.         Cloud lands next to me, slumping down on her haunches; her chest heaving heavily as she breaths, wings hung low. “N-Now, that’s what I call a workout!” She says with a sly smile.         “Not really, I could keep going for a bit.” Belle brags, flaunting her ‘superior’ flying stamina.         “Your wings are made for speed, mine are made for power; plus I’ve been carrying about fifty pounds of weight this entire time!” She argues back.         “That, and you’re quite a bit heavier than I am!” Belle teases.         “I’m not obsessed with my weight like some ponies I know. I’m not insecure about the pony I am.” Cloud sticks her tongue out at Belle.         “It’s okay, I’m sure 27 likes bigger mares anyways.” This is escalating pretty quickly, if I could get up I would intervene.         “Why are you being so cruel Belle? I thought you were better than that.” Cloud barks back, hurt by Belle’s comment.         “Sorry, just mad cause I couldn’t join in on the card game...” Belle pouts.         “Y-You could’ve joined in if you wanted too, I was d-doing fine with the current payload; adding o-one more wouldn’t have affected me that much.” God, my sides feel like they are splitting open, it burns so good though.         “That isn’t the problem, I can alter my weight magically, the real problems are these!” She points to a hole in her hoof.         “Why are your holes a problem Belle? They just add character, like 27’s scars. I think they look mighty sexy on you, if I might add.” A question comes to mind; Cloud told me about some of the friends that she made during my absence; but never went into any detail about any ‘girlfriends’.         “Don’t you understand, the air flying through these holes just adds more wind resistance to the card, they would fly out of my hooves.”         “W-Why didn’t you just levitate the cards? Y-You performed an advanced unicorn spell, l-levitation would’ve been c-cake for you.” I add in, which earns me a facehoof from Cloud.         “Ictdolevtspls...” Belle mutters.         “Come again Belle?” Cloud’s ears perk up, leaning her head closer to Belle.         “I can’t do levitation spells anymore...” She admits, lowering her head in shame.         “How can you nearly obliterate something with a ball of raw magical energy, yet fail at levitation and telekinesis?” Trixie asks walking out from a bush, tree sap sticking to her coat.         The flames engulfing my limbs finally die out, Tail finds amusement in poking at my head. “S-Sucks to s-suck I guess.” Tail grabs me by the horns, dragging my face across the dirt so I can look at Belle and Cloud.         “Oh can it you!” Belle says before slamming me to the ground with a magical burst of energy.         Cloud rockets over to Belle, grabbing her by the shoulders. “Belle!” She screams, shaking her furiously.         Yeah, I’m in some pain now. “See! I can’t even shut your colt-friend up without overdoing it, with all this power I get from Colt its hard to tone it down. Why do you think I threw bottles at you? If I were to try and levitate them they would become lethal projectiles!” Belle picks up a rock in her hoof, envelopes it in a green energy slowly levitating it; but soon she loses concentration and the rock shoots off and imbeds itself in a tree. “See?”         “Y-Yeah, no, it’s not like I’m hurt or anything.” I say, weakling waving my hand in the air like nothing just happened.         “See what you did? He was already in bad shape, now you made it worse!” Cloud shakes Belle even harder, causing her head to violently jerk back and forth.         “D-Don’t worry about me C-Cloud, my scales absorbed the brunt of the b-blow.”         As Cloud tries to shake some sense into Belle they hear something from above and look to see what it is, only to hear Colt yell “Incoming!” Before landing next to them. “Cloud, why are you shaking Belle like a ragdoll?” He asks, picking her up along with the sad looking changeling.         “Because she’s being mean to 27!” Cloud pushes away from him, leaving him holding Belle while Cloud hovers in front of Colt.         “How could anypony this cute be mean?” That word, ‘anypony’ irks me when someone who isn’t a pony says it. Granted, if you’re from Equis, then I can understand.         I stagger to get to my feet, my arms and legs visibly shaking. “S-She couldn’t control her m-magic, f-forcing me deeper into the g-ground.” I take a step forward, almost stumbling forward as my clawed foot catches the lip of the indent.         “I’m sure it can’t be that bad. Belle, levitate these playing cards.” Belle closes her eyes, and concentrates on the deck of cards while everyone else, besides Colt, Belle, and myself run for cover.         Moments later the deck is floating in mid air. “See, I told you she can handle herse-.” Just before he finishes praising her, the deck explodes, sending ordinary playing cards flying at high velocity in all directions; most ending up embedding themselves a few inches in surrounding trees, and a few ending up in Colt and I.         “Ow...” Is all he says before curling up into a fetal position from the pain of severe papercuts. I on the other hand am not so lucky, the impact of the cards force me back into my hole; a couple of them stick straight up out of my chest like spines and one found a new home in the base of my left horn.         “Y-You n-need to find an outlet to d-discharge your abundant amount of e-energy, Belle.” I simply state from my hole.         “That’s the problem, changelings get their power from absorbing the love around them, and between the love Colt feels for me and the others and vice-versa it’s an overflow that I can’t stop.” - - -         “If I may borrow your previous statement? It sucks to suck.” PRHL states, laughing to himself. - - -         “N-Not including the l-love from my g-group...” I groan in pain, I try to stand back up, but only in vain as I fall back into my hole.         “See, I can’t handle all this love!” Belle shouted in frustration. - - -         “For a changeling princess, she’s awful at filtering energy.”         “How are you fairing? Being around so much love that is.”         “Quite fine, unlike her, I can handle my love.”         “What about your liquor? Can you handle that?”         “No.” Oh. - - -         “Is everypony alright?” Cloud calls out.         “Y-Y-Yes.” Fluttershy stammers from behind a rock.         “No, you cut my mane with one of those cards.” Trixie states.         “Hey, you’re slowly breaking your habit.” Colt says, trying to bring up something positive.         Trixie gasps loudly at the realization. I don’t know what the whole hubbub is about.         “Tri-er, I did...” Trixie says catching herself.         “I-I have an idea Belle, for an o-outlet.” Tail grabs me by the horns again, helping me sit up.         “What kind of outlet?” Belle asks.         “A l-large magical d-discharge could d-do the trick.” Tail grabs my hand, helping me to my feet. Now that I think about it, the things that Tail does to help me are physically impossible; like helping me to my feet. But I do appreciate the kind gesture.         “Unlikely, it would just build up again in a few days, and the spell that would be able to use that much energy would be harmful for anything in it’s line of fire.” A theory does come to mind, did her grumpy attitude this morning have an affect on her spell?         “J-Just direct the s-spell at something you d-dislike. Then i-increase the amount of p-power behind it.” Let’s see if my theory has any weight to it.         “I couldn’t do that, I might hurt somepony.”         “Y-Yeah, some ‘p-pony’. b-.”         “Hey Belle! I’m in love with your mother! You can’t even hold a flame up to her glory!” Cloud yells from afar.         “What did you just say...” Belle asks in a tone that sends shivers down everyone’s spines.         “D-D-D-D-Did I s-stutter?! I said I would let your mom ride me all day and night you deaf bitch!” Just after saying this, a blast of raw green energy flies just left left of her; annihilating everything behind Cloud for twenty feet.         Cloud easily dodging the first attack. “Wow, your mom was right! You’re a disgrace!” Cloud says, flying around in circles, mocking Belle.         Without saying another word, Belle starts firing round after round of raw magical energy in Cloud’s direction. Destroying various trees, rocks, or anything else in it’s path. After ten minutes of mindless destruction and a few close calls, Belle barely has enough energy to keep herself hovering above the ground.         Watching this nail-biting scene, I’m floored by Cloud’s nimbleness in the air. “A-And that my friends, is called a-aggro.” I chuckle to myself.         “Sorry Belle for saying those thing about your mother. I didn’t want you to use 27 for target practice.” Belle fires another shot of magic at Cloud, only hitting the end of her mane.         “Just don’t say them ever again.” She says almost breathlessly.         Cloud flips her mane around, inspecting the singed hairs. “You know that I love you Belle, and that all those words were meaningless; I do like the new mane though.”Belle’s last attack burnt away only a few inches, making Cloud’s mane look even more scruffy and uneven.         “Ok, just... don’t s-.” Belle slowly lowers herself to the ground before passing out.         After testing my theory... Results are as expected... I feel dreadful for unintentionally involving Cloud’s safety. “That is enough for today sweetie.” Colt says to Belle, before picking her up.         “H-Hey Colt, i-is there a card s-stuck in my left horn?” I can feel it, like having a corn husk stuck in my gums.         “Yeah, it looks wedged in there pretty good, how did paper manage to get halfway in your horns anyways?” He asks, shaking off the cards that stuck to him.         “S-Son of a bitch, I knew it, I bloody knew it!” I try to yank the card out, giving it a few good tugs before it rips; leaving a piece of the card wedged in my horn.         “Smooth dude. Hey Fluttershy, mind removing the cards from me and cleaning out these cuts?” She hovers over with medical kit in hoof, and begins inspecting the two cuts on his torso.         “Oh my, these are really deep, this might hurt for juuuuust a sec-.” She quickly pulls them out. “Oh I’m sorry.”         “Just wrap me up nurse Fluttershy, hate to have these get infected.” She nods before going to work.         “Hey, we’re pretty close to the Eastern Great Nimbusgait Lake, why don’t we just set up camp there?” Cloud flies over to me, pulling out the ace of spades from my shoulder.         “Sure why not? I wouldn’t mind camping for one night, anymore than that and I’ll just go eat a pine cone...” Colt shrugs.         With that said, Cloud takes the lead. Colt is left carrying Belle in his arms, I hobble besides him and the girls follow behind us. I look up to see the sun just past midday position, making it almost dinner time. Roughly half an hour later, we reach the shore, I walk over to a small patch of trees.         Upon inspection, these trees look suitable enough to make camp at. “Hey Cloud, mind fishing out the tarp and rope? I’ll begin setting up camp.” I shimmy up the tree trunk, Cloud lazily flies over into the tree with the tarp in her mouth.         “Oh, let me help. That is if you don’t mind.” Fluttershy whispers as she hovers over to Cloud.         “Sure, the sooner we get this set up, the sooner we can eat. Here, take this rope and tie it off on that branch over there on that tree.” I point, and she follows.         “Dude, how we gonna get that card outta your head? Also, how the fuck did paper get that deep in your horn man?”         I use Tail to hang myself upside down to tie a rope on the lower branch. “Your guess is as good as mine mate. Only thing I can tell you is that magic has it out for me.” I reply, still hanging upside down.         “Maybe if you stay in the water long enough, the water will turn the card to mush and will wash out.” I hand him a end of the rope and a metal stake.         “Yeah, I was thinking that too. Here, take this stake and drive it deep over there.”         “I will, but not until I found a spot to put sleeping beauty here.” He says, looking down at an exhausted Belle.         “Put her down against the base of the tree, in between the roots; ground there looks soft enough.” I pull myself back up into the tree, Tail sways back and forth in front of Colt’s face as I walk across the branch.         “Alright.”         I finish setting up the rope, all that’s left is the tarp. “Okay, the ropes are anchored, time for the tarp. Cloud, if you don’t mind?” Cloud flies out from the tree, she stretches the tarp out across the rope. “Okay, now secure the tarp to the lines. With it at an angle like this it will shield us from the wind at night; plus at night the heat from the fire will be trapped in our makeshift tent, keeping everyone warm and toasty.” With that said, Fluttershy and Cloud secure the tarp; thus, completing the setting up of the tent. “Hey Colt, how do you feel about fish?” I ask as I stretch out Tail.         “Dude, I lived off Chinese take out, what do you think?”         “That you ate a lot of rice?” I simply shrug.         “That, and I love anything seafood related, except lobster.”         “Too rich for yehs?” I jests.         “In both ways my comrade, now how we gonna get some fish? If Rage was electricity instead of fire, I would be more than happy to fry us up some fish.” I facepalm, hard.         “I’ll let that one go... But I was thinking of using my best friend, ol’ buddy ol’ pal here Tail as a fishing line/bait,” Tail smacks me with the tip, in return I just smile at him.         “That could work, but it would suck with him being so short; since he is only seven feet. We would have to go to the middle of the lake and stick your ass in the water.”         Tail jerks his tip over to Colt, then looks at himself before hanging his tip in shame. “Hey now, Tail’s not short, he’s just proportional.” Tail pathetically slumps down to the ground.         “He is still short when you compare him to a fishing line; hell you’re small in every way when compared to an african elephant. It’s all about perspective Tail; get a hold of yourself man!” Tail drags himself against the ground, disagreeing with Colt.         “Come on now buddy, he’s just jealous that he doesn’t have a tail. Isn’t that right, Colt?” I nudge him with my elbow, hoping he gets the clue.         “I’m just pissed that humans evolved to the point that we don’t have a tail! WHAT THE FUCK! Why would I NOT need a tail! Also even if I had a tail, it would still suck for a fishing rod but you’re all we got so lets just get it over with.” Tail wags furiously at Colt’s appraisal.         “I can make that happen, you know?”         “I know, but that would just be too convenient.” He says, turning to his head to stare at nothing.         “Pinkie... Mind explaining to me what Colt is doing?”         “I’m sorry, but your widdle brain couldn’t comprehend the fourth wall!” She says, poking her head out from under a rock before retreating.         I merely stay silent, befuddled by whatever Colt is trying to do. Tail on the other hand seems rather intrigued by the rock, he goes over to it and takes a look for himself; he finds nothing but dirt underneath. “Hey, whatcha looking for!?” Pinkie Pie asks as she bounces up behind him. Tail points at Pinkie, then the dirt under the rock. Then he lays the rock back down before burrowing himself under it, mimicking Pinkie Pie.         “I don’t get it.” She says before cocking her head.         “Great, now I have to clean you, again. Thanks Pinkie Pie...”         “No problem!” She shouts, bouncing away happily.         “So, how are we going to get your ass, Tail included, to the middle of the lake?”         “I literally can walk on water, if you haven’t noticed; the question is how am I going to lug your ass out to the middle of the lake? The answer, ice raft.” If I can create frozen armor out of water, a simple raft should be easy to craft.         “Ok, just no one lick it, I haven’t learned FULL control over my fire yet, we don’t need anyone getting injured besides us.” He states, pointing at the both of us.         “I was planning on making it large enough for us two anyways.” I say, already getting started on the bottom of the raft; making sure it will be sturdy enough to bear our combined weight.         “Dude, I just didn’t want anyone li- AH GODDAMNIT!” Colt shouts... Right into my ear when he sees Rage somehow stuck to the side of the raft.         I carve him out of the raft with my jagged claws and place him next to Colt. “Easy now little guy, don’t want to get a brain freeze, now do we?”         “Dude, this doesn’t seem physically possible.”         “There’s not enough time in my lifespan for to to even begin to comprehend this world’s physics.” Construction is coming along nicely; just need to cover up the hole Rage made and we’re golden.         “Yeah, lets go before both of us die from exploding heads...” Colt states before hopping into the raft.         “Agreed, let us embark on our voyage before we die of old age.” I climb into the raft, with one powerful push from Tail, we shove off.         Colt stands on the bow of the makeshift raft, I’m sitting back in the stern, Tail is in the water; acting like a propeller, pushing the raft forward across the lake’s surface. “How come Tail is more useful then you are?”         “I beg your pardon?” I asked as the both of us glide across the lake.         “So far; he can weigh ponies, be a fishing line, act as a boat propeller on top of all the random stuff you normally have him do, and now you’re having him be a motel ice machine.”         “Let’s get one thing straight, Tail does what he pleases. I have very little to no control over him. I can’t tell you how we’ve managed to get along until now, but Tail is a pretty cool guy.”         “Still, what can you do?” Colt asks as he starts poking me with a stick.         “Many things, I’m a walking, talking laser sponge.. Which I really don’t like being.” Really don’t. “I can parkour like a fiend.” Hardcore parkour, try saying that ten times fast. “Spit bile; which hurts like hell. I’m great with children... In all honesty, I think I would scare them because the way I look.” Still clueless on that one. “I can do many different things with water, I can even manipulate moisture in the air.”         “But can you break laws of time and space.” He asks, now poking me with two sticks.         “...” Tail pulls himself out of the water, holding a branch made out of ice. “Mine’s bigger.” I bat away the sticks that are in my face.         “Doesn’t matter, I have pony physics on my side.” Colt says, looking over to Pinkie Pie who’s setting up a large pink tent.         “Right-o then... Changing topics. This seems as good as any place to start fishing.” Tail throws the ice branch, making a big splash. I strip down to my boxers. “Don’t allow my pants to fall into the water; I don’t want to try to repair my PDA anytime soon.” With that said, I lower myself into the cold lake water and use my jagged claws as anchors.         “I’m sure with our luck, if your PDA broke, another would magically fall from the sky. Either embedding itself in my head or chest or slamming you into the ground.” Eventually he stops talking and lays down in the raft.         The sun starts to near the horizon, bringing with it the night sky slowly creeping it’s way in. “It’s getting dark, I don’t th-.” Something bites Tail, and hard, causing the raft to jerk. Colt looks over to me and the raft jerks even harder the second time.         “The hell did you catch, man?” Whatever it is, it really wants Tail.         “Colt, I want you to grab my pants and hold on...” I calmy state. The raft jerks again, dragging it a couple feet across the lake.         The both of us sit there, waiting for whatever it was biting Tail to go for him again. After several minutes of waiting, I’m nearly pulled under the surface as the raft begins to fly across the lake at high speeds. “Colt! Hold on!” I shouted.         “Oh really, thanks for the tip!” Colt shots as he holds on with Daimon’s claw like hands.         Cracks form in the raft, whatever is on the end of Tail really wants me for a snack. We’re wildly flung across the lake; I try to hold onto the raft, but fail as I’m ripped from it. I take my last breath of air before I’m dragged under, into the cold, watery depths. - - -         “Why would you go-.”         “Not a good time, PRHL!” I slam into the scaly side of this monstrous fish that has me by the tail.         “This time is good as any, no ponies go fishing in this lake because of the King.” He smirks.         “Why wouldn’t you warn me?!” I struggle to flip around to my stomach so I can kabob this fish with a few pylons; but the force is too great.         “Because you didn’t ask.” He states.         “Goddamn it PRHL! Warn me next time!”         “If there is a next time.” The King begins his descent into the darker depths, what little light the sun provided quickly fades into pure darkness. “It’s becoming rather cramped in here, water pressure is nearing dangerous levels; I’ll do what I can to counteract the effects; but it will deplete our oxygen levels.” He emphasizes on ‘our’, which never bodes well for me. “I’d suggest you’d make this quick since both of our lives are in your claws.” Nah, I thought I would take my sweat damn time on this!         My horns illuminate the immediate area in a soft green glow, shortly after the scales on my body rise up and emit the same soft glow. The crushing force of pressure softens up, enough to allow me to flip over on my stomach. I lay my flat palm on the King’s side and my pylons shot into with ease. Blood pours out from the puncture wounds and the King releases me from his grip. “How do you like me now?!” I thought to myself.         “You’re alright.” PRHL replies.         I push myself off of the King’s side, the light radiating from my body grants me a few feet of sight. I focus Fade’s power into my pylons, enlarging them with ice before firing one off at the King. It soars through the water like a torpedo, but only grazes his side. The King disappears into the darkness. I frantically search for him, only to see more darkness. “Below us!” PRHL calls out. Tail quickly responds and fires his jet-like flames and I narrowly dodge the King’s razor sharp teeth. “You focus on firing, I’ll focus on spotting him.” PRHL commands.         I slowly make my way to the surface, waiting for the next sighting of the King. “Behind us!” I swivel around to see only teeth. “Dodge!” Tail jets’ fire up again, barely dodging a nasty death. “I can empower Tail, but we’ll lose the barrier.”         “Do it, being crushed is better than being eaten!” The glow dissipates, leaving me blind again.         “Tail’s reaction speed is increased, oxygen level is at seventy-five percent, pressure levels are within tolerances.” I keep my head down as I frog-swim my way to the surface. “Four thirty o’clock!” What?!         “Keep it simple!” I fire off another pylon at what I assume is four thirty o’clock.         “Dodge!” Tail fires me backwards and the King rockets past me, I fire off the last two shots on my right arm at his general location. “Four shots remain, two power shots remain. Number of hits, unknown.” I switch over to my left arm, coat the pylons with ice as before. “Directly in front of us!” Tail repositions himself right in front of me and propels us away from the King; giving me a better shot. “Fire now!” PRHL orders.         The King is gaining on us, I fire off a pylon, but it’s a glancing blow. “Aim you idiot!” Tail pours on the heat, his jets roar as the flames grow.         “Name calling isn’t helping!” I fire off two more shots, one of them strikes true and hits him on the upper lip; the other he dodges. I lead him with my last normal shot and fire it off into the darkness; hoping it hit.         As I pull out one of my power pylons, PRHL screams. “Six o’clock!” I look down to see his teeth right below me. “No time to dodge!” I grasp my power pylon with both hands shove it in the King’s jaw; preventing him from chomping down on me. “Do something!”         “What does it look like I’m doing?!” He’s swimming us towards the surface again, I can finally see again. My power veins haven’t fully recovered from their rupture; something as basic as running isn’t a strenuous task as, say, fighting off the King of fish after all. “PRHL! How high is the risk of rupturing again?!”         “Moderate...” He says with a grim tone.                  “It could be worse!” Slowly, the mixture of Fade’s and Friend’s power begins to flow through the war torn body. Each pulse of power brought with it an unnerving fear. I ignore the sharp pains in my arms, I begin to gain a foothold in this power struggle of ours.         “Horror. Whatever you’re going to do, do it now.” In one fluid motion, I manage to push myself out far enough from the King, as he rockets pass me, I gore his underbelly; ripping a gash in him. Before he has a chance to react, I load up my last powershot and fire it, piercing cleanly through the bottom of his skull and the King floats dead in the water. “Good work.” Without a second thought, I quickly swim to the surface; the first breath of fresh air has never felt so good before.  “Now, how are you going to cook him?” PRHL says a bit curious.         “Can’t cook until we clean, which we can do quickly right here.” It doesn’t take me long to clean out the insides while out in the middle of the lake. Tail freezes a large fish hook-shape on his tip and tows the King behind me as I swim back to shore. - - -         After I was pulled under, the ice raft was sent flying towards shore, it shatters on impact; sending Colt flying face first into the nearest tree.         “Colt, are you alright?!” Trixie asks.         “Colt! Where’s 27?! And why are his pants in the tree?!” Cloud asks, peeling his face off the side of the tree.         “In the lake. Now excuse me, I have to get back to being in pain.” He says before falling off the side of the tree.         “W-What happened?! All I saw were you guys flying across the lake before you came crashing into the shore.”         “Big thing pulled 27 under, sent me into a tree, gave me a migraine and is probably having sexy times with 27 as we speak.”         “That’s an awful thing to say Colt. Why aren’t you in there trying to find him? Can’t you swim?” Cloud hastily replies.         “I can swim just fine, but I don’t seem to be able to move my legs...” Colt says, turning his gaze back over to the lake, he sees patches of ice forming over it’s surface before large ice spires erupt from the lake. They jut out several feet above the water, sticking straight up into the air. More and more come bursting out of the lake as everyone sits there, or in Colt’s case, lay there in a broken heap, mesmerized by the icy ballet that’s being played out before them.         “Never mind, he seems fine. Anyways, Cloud could you poke my legs with a stick?”         “Why?” She asks, still casting her gaze over at the lake.         “I want to figure out which leg the tree broke, and nurse Fluttershy is hiding behind a rock at the moment.” Colt states, pointing to the quivering pink tail sticking out from behind another large rock.         “Fine.” She breaks off a stick from a nearby tree and jabs it into his leg.         “Okay, not that one, try the other now.” She stabs him in the other leg, and hard.         “Yup, it’s my left leg, after 27 is done playing can someone make me a splint, or at least move me?” After saying this, Trixie sighs before trotting over to him and drags him away from the lake by his arms. “Where exactly did you get a tent?”         “Trixie used to live on the road, she is always prepared.”         “Sweet.” Cloud watches as Trixie drags him into her tent, slowly she sighs before watching the lake again.         “Heh, at least things are never dull around these two...” Cloud mutters to herself. “I hope he’s alright.” Cloud patiently sits there, keeping a watchful eye over the lake.         Colt hobbles out of the tent with help from Trixie and a new splint. She helps him over to a tree and as he sits down next to Belle, a large bloody spike erupts from the lake. “Is it just me, or is that spike a different color?” Cloud asks, landing next to Colt.         “It’s not you, looks like he finally hit the freakin’ thing.” He replies, stroking Trixie’s mane.         “I-Is it over?” Fluttershy asks timidly.         “What happened?” Pinkie Pie asks, appearing by Colt’s side.         Cloud inches towards the edge of the lake, a few minutes pass before she sees me walking out of the lake; armored up and the King towed behind me. “You wanted to know what I could do?! THIS is what I can do!” I shout triumphantly. “Well while you were doing that, I got flung at a tree.” Colt jokes, pointing to his leg. “27, what happened?! What’s with all the spires?” Cloud asks, flying over to me, going in for a hug but stops right as she’s about to make contact. I look down to my armor and chuckle to myself. “Those were failed attempts on trying to shiskabob this fucker. Kinda hard to aim while you’re inside a fish’s mouth.” Tail unhooks himself from the King’s lip and strips himself of his plating. “You know we don’t eat meat, 27.” Cloud laughs. “Hmmm, didn’t think this through. So what would you girls like to eat?” Colt asks. “I wouldn’t mind a salad, I mean, if it’s not too much trouble.” Fluttershy quietly replies. “I already have cupcakes!” Pinkie Pie beams as she reveals a box of six cupcakes. “Tri- I would like a salad as well, Belle would probably want one too.” Trixie says, curled up on Colt’s lap. “Alright, what will you have Cloud?” Colt asks. “I’m really fine for anything. No meat, 27.” She says, emphasizing the no. I’ve already begin to filet the King, cutting him down into more sizable portions. “Hey Colt, grilled or blackened?” “Raw...” Daimon speaks up. “Really? I have a possibly broken leg so you want to add possible food poisoning to the mix?” Quick note, fresh fish such as I have here is safe to eat raw, as long as you thoroughly cleaned it first. Now, that ‘sushi’ you can get from a trucker’s gas station would most likely give you food poisoning. “Just trust me on this, after all, if I remember correctly you like your steaks pretty rare.” Second quick note. Beef is also safe to eat, rare, burnt, raw. Unlikely that you’d get sick or contract some kind of parasite or bug from undercooked beef products; granted still possible, but unlikely. “Fine, but if I get sick you owe me.” I literally walk into the chest cavity of the King, standing perfectly straight, this monster is huge to say the least. “You’ve never had sushi before Colt? It’s an aquired taste. I was just going to feast upon the carcass after you’ve had your fill.” Sushi can go either way with me, somedays I enjoy it, others I don’t. This is one of those days that I like it, mainly because I’m hungry and don’t feel like waiting for fire to cook it. “Whatever you say Bear Grylls, just don’t start drinking your own brew as long as I’m around, okay?” “That too is an acquired taste, it’s sterile and replaces lost nutrients and minerals; good in a pinch.” I highly recommend not doing this unless it’s dire. “Who’s Bear Grylls?” Belle asks sleepily, rubbing her eyes. “A crazy survivalist expert in our world who would do the weirdest things to survive, and then eventually everyone figured out the show was fake.” “Survivalist expert?” Cloud asks. “Just think of me Cloud, minus the tail, horns, and claws.” Cutting up bite size pieces for Colt. “Or me without all the injuries, power, and sense of humor.” Colt adds without a second thought. “In all honesty Colt, just knowing the basics of how to survive off the land will save your life one day.” “Yeah, and drinking soda and pop rocks is gonna make my stomach blow up.” I silently shake my head in denial, don’t even want to tackle that one. “Here Colt, try a few pieces, if you don’t like it; I’ll just cook you some.” Tail hands him a flat rock with raw fish on it. “You, cook? Have you forgotten who here is a living match?” Colt asks, igniting his fingertip before taking the plate of fish. “Hey, I’m a damn fine cook, I got flint and tinder in Cloud’s bags.” Or I hope so at least. “Eh.” Colt replies, inhaling the raw fish. “Daimon, what did you do?” I wash my claws before I start on the salad for the girls, doubt they would enjoy a fish salad. “Just made you a lot less picky when it comes to food is all.” “Fine, just don’t do anything weird, no wings, horns, or new appendages of any sort, ever.” “Fine...” I fish through Cloud’s saddle bags, they’re surprisingly deeper than the seem. I find the herbs Nyuel stashed in here for us to use. “I feel like that’s more directed at me.” I say, preparing to make a big bowl of salad for the girls. “Kinda, and where the hell did you get herbs to make a salad? At the bottom of the lake?” “I didn’t, Cloud stocked up on supplies back in Talonpolis before we came.” “Ah, so why did you leave there? Got a bounty on your head, or too many mares with your kid? He ask jokingly. The question leaves an awkward silence in it’s wake, it nearly knocks me flat on my ass. Slowly my head begins to hang low and I stop everything I’m doing; even thinking about Talonpolis makes me think of... her. “That, I do not wish to speak of right now, maybe later.” Hopefully never. I proceed to scoop out the salad into five smaller bowls and Tail dishes them out to the girls. “Fair enough man, it seems we can’t ever leave a place normally now can we?” “Normal? There’s nothing normal about this world. But, this world that we’ve managed to come to is my home now, I don’t wish to return to Earth, you?” My life is here now, whatever happened back on Earth, I don’t care. All the memories I’ve made, people I’ve met, all that is gone, and all that matters are the memories I make before I take my leave. “If I returned, it would be to a stain on the concrete, literally.” Colt says, taking an unneeded dark turn. “Jumper aye? Had a hunch that you’ve went section eight and took the easy route; would’ve expected a bullet to the head, but gravity gets the job done.” I solemnly state. “Actually that was my backup plan, still have it hidden away in town. NO ONE knows about it.” He whispers to me. “9mm Beretta pistol, I’m assuming? A common civilian weapon, cheap but reliable.” It was during my timeline, don’t know about his. “Yeah, lets hope I never need to use it...” He whispers. “What are you two talking about?” Cloud asks in between bites. “Oh nothing special, just how Colt got here.” I hastily reply, hiding our private conversation in plane sight. “How did you get to Equestria, Colt?” Cloud asks with another full mouth. Just as Cloud asks, the girls look to her and shake their head with a deadpan expression on their faces. “What?” She asks once more. I quietly observe the girls’ expression and I look over to Colt to see a foul expression masking his face. “Not the best topic for Colt, Cloud.” I mutter, and Cloud goes back to eating her salad. “So, boy or girl?” Colt asks, getting payback at Cloud. “Excuse me?” She retorts. “Who’re you asking Colt? Cloud or myself?” I walk back into the fish cavity, prepare to dine on an all I can eat sushi buffet. “Well, unless you had a sex change recently, I am referring to Cloud; last time she flew in through the window, she wasn’t as fluffy.” “Jeez, what’s with everypony calling me fat today?” She says, looking down at her flanks. “If it makes you feel better, I never called you fat; nor do I ever plan on it.” My voice echos out from the gaping maw of the King. “I never said fat, I said fluffy.” Colt restates, poking her stomach. Cloud smacks away Colt’s hand away before he can poke her again. “It’s because in Talonpolis, all they had was gryphon shampoo, so my coat isn’t as it normally is.” “Sure, why not, plus being a lil’ fluffy isn’t so bad. After all, Pinkie Pie is fluffy and I wouldn’t have her any other way.” He says, smiling at Pinkie Pie, whose face was covered in icing. Cloud goes back to eating her salad, the moon dominates the sky now; the sun has already retreated back into hiding. “Colt might as well get a fire started, mind doing that? I’m still eating away at this fish.” It’s what I’d expect of sushi, slightly odd texture to it, almost slimy, extremely clean tasting though.         One major drawback, the King has a lot of small bones, and it’s requiring a lot of effort not to swallow one. “Any reason for the violent disassembly of the giant fish?” Colt asks as I toss out a fairly large bone.         “Bones are in the way, can’t get to the meat without removing a few things.”         “Fair enough, hey Pinkie Pie, got enough to eat or you want some salad?” He asks, only to see an empty box that held a six pack of cupcakes setting next to her.         “No, I’m okay!”         “Um Colt, do we have any blankets?” Colt looks over to see Belle, she’s shivering as she curls up into a ball to try to keep warm.         “No, but I have an idea, can someone go get some firewood?”         “I can.” Fluttershy whispers after eating only one third of her salad.         “So Cloud, what exactly went down in Talonpolis?”         “As soon as I got there, I had a sit-down with the Don himself, he was a biggun’ too. His sheer size scared the hay out of me. But he kept me and my crew busy with missions so I didn’t even meet 27 until the duel.”         “Huh, I guess I don’t gotta worry about them coming to Ponyville anytime soon, you just saved me some time man, by the way, how’s Silver?” I missed a bone during the pick, and I inhale it as soon as I hear her name.         “D-Didn’t mean to worry anyone, just had a piece of bone stuck in my throat.” I cough a few times for good measure. “Like I said early at the house Colt, that wound is still too fresh; another time maybe.” Maybe means never ever, hopefully.         “I will pick at that one later then, but this one you should no problem answering; why exactly is there a changeling INSIDE of you. I mean I’ve been inside Belle, bu-.” Oh. The next thing I hear is girlish giggles from Colt, sounds like someone shared a little too much.         Tail sticks his tip out from the King’s belly, he tilts his head to the side and so does Cloud; both shooting confused looks at Colt. “Long, or short version?”         “Well Belle took the long version s-.” This time she grabs his head and shoves it into the ground, effectively silencing him. - - - “I’ll answer their needless questions.” PRHL states before taking control. “Go for it, Hey PRHL.” “What is it?” “Thank you, for everything, you’ve been a great help.” “Don’t mention it. No, really, don’t.” - - -        I finally step out of the King, and give my full stomach a good pat. “I can answer that question.” My voice becomes more gravely as PRHL speaks through me. “I’ve been... Reconstructing his body for some time now. First his eyesight, then some work on his heart, also had to replace a rib that I broke.” I’m pretty sure that he never did replace that rib... “He nearly killed me when he slipped into a coma after the duel; both power arteries ruptured in both arms and legs. Internally his body encased itself in ice; freezing him so he wouldn’t bleed out. He ended up freezing me too, until the Doctor cut through his chest and I slipped out unnoticed. If it wasn’t for the Horror virus that he transmitted to me, I would’ve been snuffed out by the cold.” “Very interesting, very interesting indeed.” Colt says, his voice muffled by the fact that Belle is now using his head as a pedestal as he continues to eat dirt. “There you are, why were you in Talonpolis, what is she planning!?” Belle shouts at me. “I was in Cloudsdale, then Talonpolis because of Horror, to your second question; I don’t know.” He simply states. “How can you not know? Did she banish you, did you run away, or are you one of the ones she deems ‘unfit’ for her hive?” PRHL seems rather amused by her question, because he’s cracking a smile right now, or at least I think that is what he’s doing. “None of the above.”  “Then how did you leave? No drone can leave the hive.” Yeah, he’s enjoying himself right now, I can hear him laughing on the inside right now. “I’m no mere drone, nor do I plan on ever taking orders from anypony ever again; I’m retired.” He says with a smug look, and we both mentally bump fist to swissed-hoof. “Yet you still are and will always be one, nothing can ever change that... I’m watching you.” Belle says before hopping off Colt’s head. “Same applies to you. But I’m willing to tell you what happened during the battle of Canterlot; for a price.” - - -         “I wouldn’t mind knowing what happened.” I say in the back seat. - - -         “The Queen is no longer a concern of mine; whatever happens to her or this land is meant to happen. And no, I know I’m not the first changeling, nor probably the last you’ll ever see; there’s at least a few dozen of our brethren still locked away; starving in the Canterlot dungeons.”         “Care to repeat that?” Colt asks, literally seething with anger.         “Which part? The part of whatever happens to this land is meant to be? Or my brethren starving in the bowels of Canterlot? Withering away to nothing while they’re being tortured to death?”         “That one... Looks like Celestia is going to get a visit sometime soon, don’t you agree Belle?” - - -         “All yours, seems that I’ve ‘accidentally’ poked the fleshy one too hard, whoops.” PRHL hums to himself, the sarcasm is thick on that last part.         “Gee, thanks.”         “Yep.” - - -         “If you wish to start a war, by all means do so at your own cost.” My voice returns to it’s former self.         “It isn’t a war if we have already won, now is it?”         “How do you plan on doing that? March in? Kill anything that moves? You’re ignorance will be your undoing. You shouldn’t get involved with this world’s affairs, it’s not your battle to be fought. You’re still just a kid, you have no idea how to fight a war.” Yep, someone’s britches got a little too big for them.         “Who said anything about a war, just some batshit crazy person freeing all the imprisoned changelings from the inhumane torture brought upon by their queen’s foolish actions and the ignorance of a certain princess.” Jesus, he has no idea what he’s getting himself into if he decides to proceed with this.         “They’re prisoners of war, their fates have already been deci-.”         “Nothing in this world is absolute, everything can change, one second your life is fine, the next everything is ripped to shreds before your eyes...”         “Listen you naive child, you wish to protect the ones you love? Then don’t go through with this. What do you think will happen once all of those prisoners are free? They’ll go report Belle’s location to their queen; it’s obvious that she’s here hiding from her.”         “Belle won’t be a part of this, but I would rather set them free then have them die for their failure of a queen.”         “You’re not listening, you mindless moron. If Celestia is half as intelligent as I think she is, then the first person she’ll come for is the alien that’s no longer working for her. She’ll come down on you with the full force of an entire army; I doubt you can defeat an entire army by yourself, no matter how powerful you think you are.”         “Last time only one of us fought and we nearly won. Without you to interfere and all four of us on this, it shouldn’t be a problem.”         “She has wings, you don’t. All she needs to do is fly out of your reach and idly watch while her army swarms you.” How does he not see this? Is he so blinded by rage that he can only see red?         “No she won’t, just like last time she won’t just stand by while we fight, she will feel the need to protect her sheep.”         “The Elements of Harmony, do you know what that does Colt? Because I know exactly what that will do to you.” Banishing, and something I still can’t wrap my head around, sending him to the moon? Like what the hell?         “I doubt even she can convince all six of them to seal us while all we want is to free prisoners she’s been torturing for months now.”         “If she labels you as a threat to Equestria, I’m sure that she’ll have no problem turning them on you.”         “Who needs Equestria? There are other places to live.”         “Then go live somewhere else then! Don’t waste what little time you have left on the affairs of a world that you yourself are a literal alien to.” I desperately pleaded.         “It won’t be a waste to us even if we don’t make the slightest difference, plus who are you to talk, you have done more to this world than us!”         “That’s just it, IF; what if you fail and they take Belle? Then what? They’ll do to her what their already doing to the others; do you want that? You don’t understand, you’re just a child trying to play hero!” I retort back, shaking my claws at him. “What I’ve done to this world... it was to survive, not to be the hero.”         “No shit, you joined the mob, and if it was all to survive then why not just get a regular job?!”         “He joined to find me Colt!” Cloud screams.         “And I’m doing this to help Belle’s kind and stop them from being treated like shit!”         “You have no idea what kind of trouble awaits you if you decide to stir up this hornets nest. I won’t be there to pull your charred body from the flames again.” He’s a damn fool.         “Ha! Last time she only used you to stop me, without you around it will be so much easier...”         There’s no convincing him from this path. I let out a sigh of defeat as my shoulders slump down. “I guess I can say I told you so when I see your soul wandering the Abyss; go ahead, go play with fire, kid; go learn how war really works, the hard way. It’s your life, not mine.”         “Yes, yes it is.” Colt states before limping off into his tent, the girls soon to follow.         “What was that all about? I get it, the changelings were ordered to attack Canterlot and they failed. But if-.”         “Please, just drop it. At least you understand how futile the idea of freeing them is.”         “Fine... Jeez, 27 you smell awful! Go take a bath in the lake before you even think of coming into the tent!” Cloud orders, I do a quick look over of myself, and see fish giblets covering me.         “Yeah, I do smell a bit...fishy.” That was a terrible pun.         “That... No, just no...” Cloud face-hooves.         “That bad?” She only nods. “Fine, I’ll be right back then; better not fall asleep before I get back.”         “Oh trust me, I won’t.” With that said, I remove my PDA and put that into my chest-cache, and wash both my pants and boxers in the laker first before jumping in for a quick late night skinny dipping. I do my usual routine, wash Tail, double wash Tail, and then if Tail is satisfied, I wash myself. When I emerge from the lake, I see Cloud quietly sitting by the fire. “Jeez, you took forever in there, I started to think something caught you again.” She laughs.         “Nah, Tail likes to be thoroughly cleaned.” Tail happily wags that he’s now sparkly clean. “Cloud?”         “Hmm?” She turns her head away from the fire to face me.         “Is everything alright?”         “What do you mean?”         “Well, that stunt you pulled early with Belle discharge was nail-biting to watch.”         “Oh, that. Yeah I’m fine.” She dismisses it with a wave of her wing.         “You sure?”         “27, can we just go to bed? I’m tired.” Cloud let’s out a fake yawn.         “Sure.” It’s obviously that she doesn’t want to talk about it. We’ve both had a long day, and an even longer one ahead of us tomorrow. “Let me just dry off real quick and I’ll be right there.” Cloud nods before trotting off into the tent. I shortly follow after drying off and re-stoking the fire. I find Cloud still awake when I get into the tent, she’s laying on top of the covers.         “Cloud I have som-.”         “27 I have som-.” We say in unison, both of us stop mid-sentence and a awkward silence fills the void between us.         “You go.”         “You go.” And we do it again. “Cloud you first.”         “Can you put away your scales? Just for tonight? I like the old you, the you before you went off to Unyasi.” I try, but on the first attempt my scales don’t retract. I hide my worried look and on the second attempt they slowly retract back into my skin.         “Better?”         “Much, thank you.” She gives me another warm smile and pats the next to her, motioning for me to lay down. “Come on, lay down. I don’t bite, much.” Cloud bursts into laughter, I’m happy to hear her laugh again.         “Oh.” I crawl behind her, she flips around in my arms to face me.         “Soooo, what’cha going to say?” Cloud asks, her face just a few inches away from mine.         “I was going to say how happy I am that we’re back together again.”         “Good, just as you should be!” I give her a surprised look, not expecting that outcome. “I’m kidding! I’m kidding!” She playfully punches my chest with her hoof. “Ha! You’re blushing, that’s adorable!” And so I am. “You’re so easy to make you blush. Ever since the first time you and I shared in the bed, Celestia, I never seen anypony blush so hard before!” My cheeks turn even redder at this though. “This is why I like the old you, you’re a completely different pony when you’re not all black and scaly.”         “I guess I am. How about that.” Cloud scoots in a little closer, her lips just a couple inches away from mine. “Clou-?” She kisses me, and as I get into it she pulls away.         “Not tonight, that’s just a little taste on what I got planned for you when we get to the house.” She rolls over in my arms again and presses her back against my chest. “Night 27.”         “Good night, Cloud.” I stay awake a little bit longer than Cloud, she falls asleep quickly in my arms. But eventually I fall asleep as I watch the fire slowly turn to embers. Credits Editors frieD195 - Tsujin Rilauco Co-Author Some Guy Who Writes aka Itsmyfuneral (Author of The Darkness Within Us All).