//------------------------------// // Chapter 2: I think I woke it up... // Story: Halo Derpy Grunts of Equestria // by Grazy Polomare //------------------------------// It was the sound of a thud that woke Fipyap from his unconscious state. He saw his brother lying a few feet and motioned for him to wake up. The grunt woke with a startle. His eyes were beady but in a way, revealing as to his emotions. Right now it was a mix of relief and worry. “Nice driving there.” Yapflip remarked to his younger brother. Yapyap Jr., or Yapyap as his nickname was called, was in a corner. Being the nephew of a noble, heroic grunt, with the same name, who died on the halo ring, Yapyap Jr. was expected to rise to his uncle’s potential. Sadly, that was not the case and he ended up being a minor among the grunt population. Yapflip threw a plasma battery to where the grunt woke with a snap. He looked around and scowled, “There are easier ways to wake one up.” The major looked around and saw that the whole ship had gone dark. He began to push to one side to see if the wall would budge. The ship suddenly gave a groan and the grunts felt themselves fall to the edge as the ship tumbled down. When they got back up, Yapyap pushed with all his might at the door. It flipped open. Cautiously, they stepped out. The phantom was a wreck. Flipyap looked around to see his other two comrades nearby, their shiny orange armor glinting in the moonlight. The trees were a fresh, bright green. They went forward. Going back into the phantom, Yapflip found two plasma pistols and a needler. Yapyap was more experienced in needle weaponry, so he grabbed the gun. Yapflip was fine using his plasma pistol. They nervously crept back out into the moonlit forest. Tiny specks of bright orange littered the landscapes like frozen fireflies, remains of the once mighty vessel they were a part of. The grunts started to wobble forward, still suffering from the effects of their less-then-comfy landing. As they walked, they noticed that the forest was a bit odd and mysterious, with a mist clutching onto the forest floor. Yapyap Jr. watched their flank and could have sworn he saw something move. Then he heard a snap and that was about all he needed to observe to know that they were being watched. “Hey Flipyap,” hissed Yapyap Jr., “I think someone is watching us.” “What makes you think that?” the grunt asked in a tone that indicated that he was already on edge as it was. “Well I just heard a snap and I thought I saw a shadow move.” Flipyap only gave a shrug and said that it may have been a bird. Flipyap, although younger then his brother Yapflip, had excelled to the rank of grunt major while his fellow brother stayed as a minor. However, it was rather by choice as Yapflip felt he could get away with mistakes as a minor. No one really cared for the lesser grunts and rather ignored them, considering them a nuisance anyway. Yapflip used this to his advantage, skipping guard duty and climbing a tree, watching the stars at night. He was caught every now and then but since most Covenant soldiers were worried about the next bombing then punishment, he was always let off with a stern warning. Not that he cared anyway, for he couldn’t return home. For a grunt, Yapflip was surprisingly proud of his race and believed in another Grunt Rebellion, one that would free his people and allow them to return home. The last Grunt Rebellion had been a disaster in terms of casualties. However, the grunts themselves were no longer treated as cannon fodder. That alone gave them hope in a better future. Yapyap Jr. was scanning the forest again. He was sure he saw that flash of black again. That was when he saw a gray and orange blur in the distance. The grunt was tempted to fire but thought better of it and decided to follow. “Where are you going Yapyap?” Flipyap called out. “I thought I saw something.” Flipyap gave a grunt of frustration. Sometimes, he wondered what caused that grunt to be so foolhardy. They followed their orange comrade to the site where he saw the figure. The area looked devoid of any life-form passing through it. “You’re eyes are seeing things,” Yapflip said, “Seriously I think we should just find someone who’s alive and-“ There was a crunch and all three froze in place. Yapyap was the first to turn around, a pair of white fangs staring down at his head. A red mane surrounded a golden-rod, hairy face. Two dark, gray eyes stared at him. A dark-red scorpion tail appeared over the trees. The manticore eyed the three strange gnomes with a burning rage. He had already been struck by a hot piece of metal from the sky. And then these intruders had waltzed into his home with their loud, annoying voices. Well he was hungry and they would make a great midnight snack. Flipyap felt a warm, slimy substance clump on his head. He didn’t need to know that there was a beast behind him. He made a scream and ran, twisting his torso halfway to shoot his plasma pistol at the monster. Yapyap was screaming as well. In fact all of them were exercising their vocal cords. Fluttershy was pacing through the forest, her wings flying at full capacity. After she had checked up on the pets in her house, she was checking the Everfree Forest for any animals that may have been hit by the unexpected meteor shower when a roar made her stop in her hoofsteps. It was the manticore, but along with some other high-pitched squeals. They fired everything they had at the manticore, but with only a few wounds inflicted. Yapyap Jr., in a last ditch effort, lunged his gun at the beast’s head. The commotion stopped for a second, the gun hitting him square in the eye. The beast bellowed with a large scream of pain and lunged his claws at the three grunts. Yapflip flew in the air at the shockwave, landing on a branch. Flipyap crawled under a log, only to have it be picked up by the beast. Its one good eye stared him, a malicious look of pure anger. Flipyap closed his beady eyes. Yapyap Jr. was flying in the air. The feeling of weightlessness made him want to vomit when a he felt a swift and hard surface latch onto him. He fainted. Flipyap tried to throw his gun at the beast, but it flew aimlessly into the air. Yapflip cried out, “Hey come at me you big bloke!” The manticore was surprised at this little grunt’s bravery. Flipyap felt himself levitate in the air as the monster dropped the log. A sharp pain came to his head as it rebounded on the wood. Then darkness surrounded him. Yapflip gave a yelp as he was caught in between the creature’s clutches. He gave one last yelp before the creature opened its mouth, saliva dripping like a gooey monster of sorts. A flash of yellow appeared and it was all black.