Amor wanted to send a note back to Purity. He wanted to tell her it would be okay, that he would bring Chrysalis back, that he would be back, but even he felt as if he would die today. And if he didn’t, Chrysalis surely would, and he was not going to let that happen, and he surely wouldn’t let Hornet hurt her any more than he already has. If his life had to end for Chrysalis to live, so be it.
“Sir.” Amor shook his head, turning to see Escara standing behind him. “Everyone is ready. Ever since your speech, the only thing stopping them is you.”
“Don’t worry, we’ll leave soon. I just need a moment to think…to regather myself.” Amor took in a deep breath and slowly let it out. It was now or never, and he wasn’t about to wait. Entering the main hall again, Amor heard once again the chattering of thousands of changelings, a low murmur echoing through the room. A single changeling sat somewhere playing a calming tune on its instrument of choice. Amor stood before his army, who slowly fell silent when he was finally noticed. All soldiers watched every step of their leader, the one who lead them into famine two years ago. Even with his mistakes, they still would follow him into battle, even when knowing the odds of survival. He cleared his throat. “My soldiers, it is time. This day, we put aside what makes us who we are. Today, we fight for our survival, for our families’ survival. We leave now, so drop everything. Let’s go!” At the sound, every changeling spread their wings and charged for the exit, tackling and pummeling each other on the way out. “Perhaps this energy will help. It certainly won’t do them any harm…I hope.”
“They should be fine. But you better lead them. You never know what mistakes they will end up making.”
“Good point. Come on, double time, Escara!”
“Yes sir!” Both spread their wings and shot out the door like speeding bullets, quickly catching and pulling ahead of the rest of the hive.
……….
The hive stopped minutes away from the location where Hornet’s was supposedly located, in the first of the three clearings. “We walk from here. Follow me, make no noise. No wings, no heavy hoof steps. You are to walk slowly.” Amor set the pace, walking silently, sulking low, as if stalking his prey. No, he was stalking his prey. A prey that has evaded him too many times, a prey who stole more from him than anyone else, a prey who has become the predator. It would have been easy for Amor to slip into a disguise, but with thousands following him, no disguise would be useful. Amor halted the group, turning to face them. Pointing to the front most soldiers, Amor gave new orders. “You ten, with me. The rest of you, stay here until you hear anything.” All followed their orders, or at least the ones that heard him. The others just waited for the group to get moving again.
Amor’s small team, consisting of Escara and nine other soldiers, approached the edge of the second clearing, and it was quite obvious they were in the right place. Where they were could hardly be called a hive, Hornet simply found old stone ruins and moved his people inside. It was a tall, temple like building built of what looked to be either clay or tan stones. There was much activity towards the top, changelings flying circles as if guarding and patrolling at the same time. One of the four walls, the one Amor could see from where he was at, had a small doorway cut into it, two changelings standing outside it. Amor already had a simple plan to get in.
“Wait here. Maybe you’ll all learn something.” Amor pulled closer to the ground to hide himself. His eyes flickered to a solid blue, the same as any other changeling. The flame lit, and in moments, Amor was a simple soldier wearing a navy blue set of armor. He began beating his now smaller wings and appeared in the clearing above the temple, landing in front of the two guarding the door.
“What are you doing, drone? Do you have anything to report?”
“I thought I saw a pack of timberwolves south of here. Is that anything to be concerned about?”
“Hardly. If that is all, quit wasting my time.”
“Actually, there was one more thing.” Amor pointed towards his soldiers, who he could not see. “There is something right there, just outside the clearing.”
One soldier squinted and stretched his head, trying to see what this soldier was talking about. Amor saw his opening. “I don’t see-“ Amor drew his sword and in a flash struck the now vulnerable neck of the changeling.
“What the?” Amor heard the second behind him, and quickly kicked before he could defend himself. In one swift movement, Amor swung around and plunged his sword into the chest of the soldier.
“ATTACK!” Amor shouted at the top of his lungs, causing every airborne soldier to stop in mid-flight and look directly at him. The first to appear were the ten following Amor, who took to the air with swords drawn. Moments later, the whole hive appeared above the trees and joined them in battle. The blue-armored changelings in flight were shocked beyond belief. Thousands of enemies appeared from right under their noses, and there were only dozens of them on patrol. After only seconds, they were overthrown, easily defeated and overwhelmed. Everyone gathered at the doors, pushing and plowing to get them opened.
The stones grinded against each other as they slowly moved and the soldiers poured in. After the commotion outside, it was expected to see almost a hundred soldiers waiting for them inside. They fought hard, but with Amor’s drive and the large numbers behind them, they easily struck down every last soldier. “Spread out! Look for anything!” As ordered, the soldiers separated into groups of hundreds, charging down corridors left and right. Amor went straight ahead, where he knew he would find the throne room, and Hornet.
Blades collided, blood was spilled. Amor was in a fury, slashing at anything that posed a threat. As they traveled farther down the stone hallways, more doors appeared, and the teams began to dwindle in size, whether from injury, losses, or separation. Amor was leading his team that now numbered twenty straight ahead, beams of energy blasting away, tearing down dozens who appeared as threats. Escara was still at his side, his sword gripped tight in his teeth, panting hard as he swung. They finally reached a large gold door, weathered from the years of decay. Amor turned to his soldiers, bloodied and tired. Amor could clearly see the looks on their faces, they were overused, they were tired, some were in pain. Ten remained, hopefully enough to get the job done. He gripped the door in his magical aura, and pushed with all his might until it started moving. Amor could see on the far side of the giant chamber a throne. Sitting atop this throne was a single drone, teeth marks in his front leg. Amor’s remaining soldiers flooded into the room, he was quick to follow.
“So you’ve finally made it.” Suddenly, the grinding sound was behind them again. Amor turned to see the small gap in the door he opened being shut by four black and blue changelings. “I’ll make sure you don’t get back out.” They were trapped.
While many of the soldiers began to panic, Amor held his ground, biting deep into the hilt of his sword. Thoughts flashed through mind, thoughts of actually doing all those things he said he was going to do. He pictured the one-eyed severed head of the changeling before him. Then, he heard something. He scanned the room, and saw what he hoped he wouldn’t, yet wanted to see. Chrysalis laid next to Hornet’s throne, bloodied and beaten, and ever so closer to the verge of death. All the anger, all the hatred he had pent up inside, it subsided at the sight of his queen. He looked up at Hornet.
“Let. Her. Go.”
Hornet paid no attention to the order. “You came all this way just to kill me, but you fell right into my trap yet again. You are so gullible, giving your life for this worthless piece of trash you called a queen.”
“Last chance. Let her go now, and I won’t kill you here.”
Hornet smiled his sick and twisted smile. “I have a much better idea.” His horn began to glow a sickly green as he looked at Chrysalis. Amor’s heart sank as he began to process what he was about to do.
“No…” The large concentration of energy was released, engulfing Chrysalis in a green flame. Amor starred on in horror. The flame finally seized, and Chrysalis’s limp body was left lying on the cold ground.
Hornet began gloating. “Kill them, starting with him. And you two, grab the corpse. It will be my trophy.” Following orders, two drones grabbed the corpse of the once great queen and began flying to the doorway that slowly began to open, Hornet close behind. Three others began concentrating a large mass of energy aimed directly at Amor, who was paralyzed by the sight he had just witnessed. He had just seen the death of the one he held close, the one dearest to him. He had given up. He was ready to die, to meet Chrysalis on the other side. He wasn’t going to fight back. As the mass of energy of three changelings reached it’s limit, it was released at Amor.
“NO!” Amor’s eyes went wide as the shadow of a small figure dived in front of him intercepting the blast. The other’s didn’t wait. Using the opening granted to them by their fallen ally, the remaining soldiers attacked the three in the room. One approached Amor.
“Sir? Sir snap out of it! We need you back!” He lightly kicked Amor’s hoof, right in the sore spot where the chain cuff had broken the skin. Amor came back to attention.
“I...I need to go. Where’s Escara?” The sound of a soldier coughing up blood echoed through the room. “No…” Amor turned to see the armored changeling lying on the ground. It’s backplate was black like any other soldier’s of Amor’s army, along with the breastplate, but the helm was navy blue, from an older time. “Escara...not you too.”
Escara laid on the ground, bleeding from various wounds torn through his flesh. most of his body was charred, and his breath was ragged and faint. “S-sir…” Amor was quickly at his side. “It’s been an honor...serving at your side.”
Amor quickly looked around the room. “Someone! We need medical attention!”
No...it’s too late for me. Please...I have one thing to ask of you…” He murmured something quietly under his breath.
Amor leaned in closer. “What was that?”
“Kill me.”
Amor took a step back. “I...I can’t kill you! I’ve lost too much. I can’t lose any more.”
“Please sir...don’t give them the pleasure of ending my life. Please…”
Amor didn’t want to hear it. “No! I can’t. I won’t!”
“AMOR! DO IT YOU COWARD!”
A small amount of rage burst forth. There was a flash of steel. Amor stood, a bloodied sword levitating above his head with a trail of blood still following it before falling to the ground. Amor’s eyes went wide as he saw what he had done. Escara laid on the ground, a deep gash across his throat spurting blood. But...Escara was smiling. He seemed to mouth the words “thank you”, unable to actually say them, but smiling as he slowly faded into darkness.
“I’m sorry, Escara. I’m sorry. I’ve lost two of the people closest to me, and for what? simple vengeance? I truly am worthless.” Amor closed his eyes as he sheathed the now bloodied sword. “Two soldiers, deliver the body to the hive for burial. He deserves better than this.” He bent down, wrapping his hoof around the small pendant barely hanging off of Escara’s neck before pulling it off, holding it tightly in his grip. “I shall continue for you, my love.”
Soldiers began gathering outside of the temple. Small groups were sent in to see if any lost in the temple could be found. Suddenly, a soldier ran to Amor as he was exiting. “Sir! We have captured some hostages.”
Amor walked by the soldier and continued to the door. “Kill them.”
“Sir...one of them is Hornet.” Amor stopped. He might actually get the revenge he wanted.
“Kill the rest. Bring Hornet to the current camp location, bound his magic, and chain him to the wall. Leave him to me.”