//------------------------------//
// Chapter II 
// Story: Linkin Pony Recharge: The Catalyst 
// by Kaciekk 
//------------------------------//

	The ponies circled around and got ready for the duel. They stood in a face-off between the apposing Hybrids. They were outnumbered by bodies, but their minds were stronger.
SpinningNote stepped forward and his horn lit up with magic. His aura lifted up an empty barrel. It slammed down and clanked over the head of one Hybrid. But the enemy still stood. It raised its right leg that had a large metal claw with a winding wire going up to the shoulder. It gave a low growl from its cord covered mouth. There were other Hybrids with the same cover design, but they varied slightly, and they were different types of ponies.
Spinning jumped back the Hybrid gave one swing of the claw. Just as it got back to position Spinning slammed his hoof down on the top of its head. He quickly stepped to the side ignoring the pain in his right forehoof. It still followed the Unicorn as he got cornered. He was ready to attack with magic. All of a sudden HyperBlitz fell from the sky and rammed his back hooves into the side of the enemy. He flipped his head up and gave Spinning a quick nod.
Hyper bounced over to see what BlazingFlair was doing. The Earth-pony was at a distance from a really slow Hybrid. He picked up a big, old branch with his forelegs and struggle to keep his balance on two. Blazing swung the branch to the creature and it hit across its face and chest.
"Hype, distract it!" Blazing commanded weakly. 
The Pegasus fluttered above the ground. "Hey, mother fucker!"
The Hybrid noticed him and ran towards him. Walked  towards him.Its round metal shoulders turned as it lifted its legs.
Blazing ripped off a piece of metal from some object, and placed it between his teeth. He stuck the sharp part forward and swiftly ran to the Hybrid. Blazing was able to jam the metal into the belly of the Hybrid. As it reared up in pain, Hyper used his forehoof to smack the creature under its chin.
Blazing then sought out EchoBeat. He noticed that other ponies were fighting too. A gray Unicorn stallion was using magic attacks on a clawed Hybrid while a magenta mare kept throwing chunks of rock at another. Blazing then found the red Earth-pony. He already had some bruises, but nothing critical.
Echo stood with defense as he felt beads of sweet roll down his face and cling to his shady beard. He saw a Hybrid come his way but it paid no attention to him. Its armor had a rusty tint to it and it had a gun attached to its foreleg. It raised its leg to the left and a burning laser flew out. It hit the side of the fence. Echo could see HeartFelt cowering away from the shot. 
Echo's ears twitched as he heard CharmingRhythm's voice. " HeartFelt, get out of here!"
The mare picked up GentleSketch with lime magic onto her back. HeartFelt galloped away behind the far side of the fence.
The gun Hybrid heard Rhythm, and then aimed him.  The blue-gray Unicorn kept steady until the Hybrid shot at him, and he dodged by jumping left to right.
EchoBeat saw his chance. He ran forward and grabbed the cord of the Hybrid that came from its neck to lower shoulder. The creature stopped going forward as it growled with confusion. 
"Stop!" It said in a raspy voice.
As Echo held it back Rhythm's blue magic surrounded the front of it. The Hybrid was almost paralyzed. Echo let go of his grip fast as the magic threw the enemy into the air and slammed on a stone wall. 
"Where's ElectricTone?" Rhythm asked anonymously.
The stallions scanned the area around them. The pale red-orange pony was standing about fifty yards from them. A dark blue Hybrid apposed him, about the same size. It took two swings at him. ElecticTone tried to dodge. Crimson dripped from his shoulder. He tried to get back but the distance was dangerously close. 
Suddenly a huge crate fell on top of the Hybrid. ElectricTone glanced up and saw FeatherTune who was exhausted from using his strength. FeatherTune then crashed his hooves on top of the foe's back that was covered with broken wood.
"I'm not sure that the crate would hurt it enough," He skipped off and stared at ElectricTone.
"We gotta help those guys!" CharmingRhythm called out. 
The ponies swirled their head and saw a whole group of Hybrids attacking the two other ponies. HyperBlitz was already wrestling a clawed Hybrid. Blazing and Rhythm galloped over to the scene. Rhythm pulled a strong Hybrid away from the gray stallion with magic. SpinningNote then threw a huge pipe with power on top of it.
Blazing tried to get to HyperBlitz to help him, but there was too much commotion. Blood ran down from the yellow pony's head around his muzzle. The Hybrid closed around from the back of Hyper. Its claw clapped on the base of Hyper's wing. He bared his teeth as the pain sunk in. He tried to rear up and kick the Hybrid away, but the grip was too strong.
Suddenly the Hybrid's claw pulled away. Blood fell like mad and HyperBlitz gave the harshest scream. Blazing pushed his ears back as it pierced his eardrums. He knew how Hyper could sing and scream in songs, but this was completely different. The most perfect voice became to most horrid.
Hyper's right wing was completely ripped from the base, blood covering his shoulders. He became week and couldn't stand strait. Blazing saw an opening and tackled the Hybrid. The other unknown stallion used magic and twisted the Hybrid.
EchoBeat quickly ran to Hyper to to assist him away from the fight. The red pony let his friend rest after they were at a good distance.
"Fuck," Hyper cursed with agony caught in his throat. He still had a determined look in his eyes. "I gotta get them!"
"HyperBlitz, you're hurt," Echo said.
"I don't fucking care! They gotta pay!"
"Hype-"
"NO!"
CharmingRhythm took a break and went towards them. "HyperBlitz, he's right."
"But I have-"
"HyperBlitz," Rhythm lowered his head and his eyes gave a dark look of irritation.
"Fine..." Hyper mumbled.
"Why does he listen to you?" Asked Echo.
Rhythm didn't reply, he only turned away. EchoBeat stayed with the injured Pegasus. All of the others went back to the fight. The other gray stallion held a Hybrid still with his magic while draining its energy. The magenta mare kept throwing whatever objects she could find at it. 
SpinningNote tried to think of a plan while he ran. There was still a good amount of Hybrids left. He skidded across the dusty ground as he spotted something. A small round tank was hidden behind the quarrel.I was probably used for some sort of fuel. It was opened, possibly used, but there still had to be something inside. The Hybrids ran with some sort of fuel, electricity even, but they had some sort of power. 
"Feather! Get that big gun guy over there!" Spinning called out.
FeatherTune fluttered above the ground and saw the huge Hybrid. It was yellow, but with an ugly tint. FeatherTune was drawing it over by shouting at it, but he spoke in a different language. 
A whirlwind of magic picked up dirt into a crate, on top of the load inside. Then Spinning's indigo aura picked up the container and threw it at the large Hybrid. The enemy fell back on to the tack. The dust flew everywhere and smoke from the Hybrid and combustion filled the air.
All of the ponies started to scatter. There was a chance to get away with all of the smoke to blind the Hybrids. Rhythm came over to the fence. He could see the silhouette of his wife. HeartFelt's brown eyes were filled with fear.
"HeartFelt, you can't let these hybrids hurt you! 'Cause I'm not gonna let that happen!" Rhythm told her.
He twirled around when he heard a pony call his name, but it was hard to tell who it was. He cantered to the path that they originally wanted to go. All of the ponies' coats felt dry with itchy eyes from all of the dust.
The ponies tried to get away from all of the commotion. ElectricTone still followed them
Rhythm glanced to the pale red-orange pony. He started to speak but he changed his mind as he did. "Hey, ElectricTone-- I... nevermind."
"What?"
"I was going to have you check on HeartFelt and the other ponies but I don't want to bother you. Anyway I know that you wanted to follow us-"
"No, that's fine. We are almost half-way anyways. And I don't think I have I have enough effort in me to move on. I don't want you to be held back. It's fine if I check. I'll let her know," the DJ bowed his head. 
"Lets hope that the next time we meet isn't too long from now," Blazing said and placed his golden hoof out. ElecticTone put his right forehoof to his and gave a rightful hoof-shake.
"Be careful," EchoBeat told him.
"Crate work good on Hybrids," Feather gave an awkward wink. "Adiós."
The Linkin Ponies kept traveling north while ElectricTone went back. 
They traveled slow across the dry terrain. It was probably after noon, but they had no idea the exact time. Non of them spoke for a while. They were beaten up and exhausted. CharmingRhythm still took lead. He glanced at his team, they all walked with their heads low. They haven't been in a Hybrid attack like this. 
HyperBlitz was trotting to the left of Rhythm. His eyes weren't exactly placed forward or down, but out of focus. He was thinking deeply, and somewhat looking at something past reality. Rhythm glanced at Hyper's right wing, which was only a bloody stub now. It made Rhythm sick to look at it. He saw his friend's face again. The yellow pony seemed very upset.
"H-HyperBlitz," Rhythm stuttered as he spoke quietly. "Y-ya know we could... make you another wing."
The Pegasus suddenly flipped his head over and his eyes burned. "And not become a Hybrid?!"
Rhythm sighed, "I'm sure there's a way we could figure out..."
"No matter what we do, using metal or whatever would turn me, or anypony in general, into a Hybrid!"
"Hyper," BlazingFlair tried to calm him down, but Hyper gave him a dirty look and Blazing didn't say anything else.
There was another moment of silence. There was only the sound of hooves clopping.
Hyper took a breath, and spoke without turning his head. "CharmingRhythm, It's not the wing I'm upset about. Its those damn Hybrids! The fact that they-- They do this! Those fucking Hybrids have been doing it! Attacking ponies, killing them, making them slaves! It just makes me so fucking pissed... I..."  He bared his teeth and didn't finish.
"It's gonna be okay..." Rhythm said.
"We just gotta keep pushing forward. But for right now, lets get to the base," Echo said with releif.