//------------------------------// // Bad Blood and Infiltration // Story: Psycho // by Bishibosh the Shaman //------------------------------// Psycho Chapter Twenty Krieg sighed as he covered his mask with his palm. The unicorn stallion stared him down as he stood in the way. The psycho had enough of the nuisance and just continued forward, passing the unicorn. Blueblood fumed in his anger as he watched the human pass him by, charging his horn for a lethal blast. The burst of magic flew through the air and hit the psycho in the back, exploding into smoke. The unicorn smiled as he waited for the smoke cleared, but his smile quickly diminished at a shadowed threat looming behind him. Krieg's shield generator hummed as it recharged his shields and he was trying his very best to maintain his calm. The psycho inside was screaming for release but Krieg remained calm as best as he could. He stood there in silence, waiting for this heart rate to slow. Once he felt calm enough to face the unicorn, he turned around. To his surprise... "Take that you brute! Royal blood always prevails!" The unicorn shouted in victory as the smoke cleared, rearing up in a victory pose. "A brute you say? Thas not very nice of you!" The gruff voice shouted from behind him. "Maybe I should teach you how to be nice!" Salvador watched over his shoulder, smiling once he saw Fluttershy nodding in approval. He laughed gruffly as he slowly stepped towards the unicorn. Blueblood turned around to face the new threat but was met with Salvador's massive hand clenched around his horn. "Unhand me you wretch! I'll have you know I am Royalty!" "Too bad for you! I've broken better than you..." Salvador grinned as he forced his fist. SNAP! "MY HORN! YOU DASTARD! YOU BROKE MY HORN! HOW DARE YOU DEFILE MY..." "Be silent Buffoon, Less your death approach quickly. He is not patient." Blueblood felt his own blood run cold as the echoed voice rang in his ears. The long slender blade stretched across his neck and his body was frozen. He kept still despite the need to quiver in fear. The silence went on until... *Plop* *plop* *plop* "Oh my god... did he just!?" Brick shouted. "Dude... Ew..." Lil let out a grotesque frown. "BAHAHAHAHAHA!" Salvador fell on the ground laughing, horn still in hand. "Do all royal princes have difficulties holding in their... pride?" Rarity smirked. "He totally shit himself! Way to go Zer0!" Gaige screamed as she rolled on the ground in laughter. Blueblood felt his face turn red as the streets filled with ponies from around town, all of them snickering at the obvious pile of horse apples on the ground beneath his flank. A mix of anger and embarrassment filled his soul as he turned to see Krieg staring him in the face. Oh no... not again... The unicorn thought, but instead of his expected toss through the streets nothing happened. Krieg nodded at the unicorn and waved at his friends. The whole group passed the royal pain in the streets and let him wallow in his shame. Every pony still giggling as the cleared they ally way. Carapace stalked the outer walls of the city, waiting for a single guard to patrol by. He had planned it out so well, the only thing he was worried about was dispatching the guard. One slip up and he was caught, and if he failed... He didn't want to think of the consequences for his people. After an hour of waiting, the changelings patience was rewarded. A lone guard stepped around the corner. The guard was a tall one, his white coat lay gently under the golden armor. The helmet revealed a blonde mane. His eyes a deep blue. Carapace watched the guard pony for a moment, then in a flash of green assumed the same form. He was just about to pounce the guard when... A swift spitting sound rang through the changelings ears, the shock of the feeling left Carapace silenced. He looked back towards were Caine had come from, then back to the guard who lay on the ground in a thin puddle of red. Carapace stared at the dead guard, in a despaired awe at the act of violence before him. He pulled out the device and spoke into it. "The Queen and Patriarch!" The device hummed and dinged in response. "Why did you kill him!? I was going to jump him!" "Listen kid, it's great you want to be the hero and spare lives but this is business. Lives are lost, get over it." "You never said anything about killing!" "I never said anything about sparing either, unless you are inside the walls you shouldn't be talking to me. Unless you really want to be the last of your kind..." Carapace froze at the thought. His anger raged inside him still, but for the sake of his people... The changeling continued towards the front gates. After reaching the first checkpoint for guards, he was stopped by other regal looking guards. Inside his mind, he worried about being caught here, on the outside he carried himself with the presence expected of a guard. The guard at the gate nodded and let Carapace in. After stepping out of sight, the changeling sighed in relief. Carapace found an ally way that was empty save for a few trash cans. Once again he pulled the device out and spoke. "The Queen and Patriarch... Caine I'm in, what now?" Carapace listened in silence for several moments before the device rang out in static, then in the cold voice of his partner. "Had a patrol go by, had to silence you. Listen carefully because I will only say this once. Talk to the city folk, ask about this 'Crystal Heart' and find out where it is. I understand everyone their thinks it as some kind of power source, kicked some evil king out not long ago but not before he broke through a shield created by the princess. You need to find the heart and place this device next to it, then hit the black switch under the door on the bottom of the device. After that, I suggest you high tail it out of there. Understood?" "I-I... Yes, understood." "You have about two days to find it, then the real party happens. Going silent, remember. The Crystal Heart. Caine out" Carapace sighed a mix sigh of relief and worry. He was relieved that he didn't have to hear Caine's cold voice, but worried about what he said. High tail it out of there? What was going to happen? Were more ponies going to die? The changeling was torn, he had to obey for his people's salvation. But if he obeyed, then he would usher the deaths of how many more? He sighed in despair as he stripped his armor into a more casual look. Before leaving the ally, he decided it best to change his cutie mark. He would rather not be discovered by the family of the guard... With a quick flash, the cutie mark was changed into a golden H. It was the first thing that came to mind. Everypony took notice of the new pony in town, his coat gleaming white with deep blue eyes and a long blonde mane. The new pony seemed to carry a strong presence about him, almost regal. To a certain red maned mare, he seemed so familiar however. She had thought her brother had been released early from his patrol, but upon seeing the stallion's strange cutie mark she knew it wasn't him. Still he seemed so magnificent, as she stepped out to greet him a guard tapped her shoulder. She turned to face the guard who's face screamed concern, it spread to her face as well. "Miss Quartz, I... I don't really know how to start..." The guard started, his voice sank as he spoke. "What is it?" Her answer was the guards silence. "What happened?" "You're brother... he was found outside the gates..." "Oh gods no..." "I'm afraid he is..." "NO!" Quartz shouted in her grief. "Why!? How!? I thought you were the best!? What could have killed him!?" The mourning mare broke down in front of the guard, who tried to comfort her. He knew her brother, a good guard and a good provider. Always cared about Quartz above all else. The guard pony stayed with Quartz to comfort her until she finally managed to pull herself together. "I need to see him... Where is he..." "I'm sorry Quartz, but due to how he... passed... The captain ordered his body to be studied." "Studied? Why? How did he die? Was he poisoned? Answer me!" The mare began to fume with anger, the guard felt horrible for dodging her question. "It may lead to a threat to the Empire, please Quartz. Once they are done with him... You can see him..." The guard pony turned and left as the crystal mare slumped onto the ground. She buried her face in her forelegs and wept bitterly, loud enough to catch the ear of a nearby pony. The white stallion with the golden H for a cutie mark stood above her and without saying a word, comforted her in this time of sorrow.