//------------------------------//
// No More Hiding 
// Story: The Changeling King Part 2: Kings' Gambit 
// by th3l0stch1ld 
//------------------------------//

	After any surviving parties were found, they were all sent back to the chamber hours away.  Amor arrived after assuring himself that all the others who had survived were removed from the building, although he had hoped to see more.  Hornet was already back at the camp, being prepared to speak for his actions. Amor went to his newly placed tent that had been made for him while he was grieving for Chrysalis...the second time.  Amor was told that Hornet was ready, but he was waiting for something.  
Hours passed, and finally, he saw it.  The two changelings who were sent back to the hive with the corpse of Escara.  After a small argument in the sky, one flew off, while the other landed before Amor’s tent and entered.
“Sir.  Escara’s body has been delivered successfully.  It has been buried and a ceremony was given to him by the hive upon their return.  Sorry you could not make it.”
“It’s...fine.  How was his family?”
The changeling looked at Amor with a puzzled look on his face, as if Amor had just asked him to steal the moon from Luna.  “What?”
“His family.  Surely you brought them his remains.”
“Sir...Escara had no family.  He had no mate, no widow, no child, and most of us are fairly certain that he was orphaned as a young.  It was amazing he even made it to adulthood, and even more so that he became a leading officer.”
Amor groaned.  “Of course.  That explains his behavior during our last moments together.”
“Sir?”
“I told him he would survive and he would be able to go back to his family when this was over.  His attitude after that seemed darker.  You are dismissed.  Go get some rest.”
“Yes sir.”  The soldier left, and Amor began mumbling to a being which did not appear to be there.
“Escara...you may not be my blood, you may not be my kin, but you were like a brother to me, guiding me whenever I needed it.”  He chuckled.  “You know, I was orphaned, too.  Maybe we are brothers.”  His smile soon faded when he realized his next course of business: Hornet
Amor entered the room he had awoken in the day before, the room where he and Chrysalis were tortured to the extent of a false king’s power.  On the wall, in the same position Amor was in, was Hornet, somehow still smiling.  Amor approached as he slowly drew his sword.
“I should kill you right now and be done with it.”
“Aww, is that any way to greet an old friend?  What ever happened to hello?”
“You’ve killed my wife.  You’ve killed one of the few changelings I would deem a friend, and now you’re staring death in the eye.  How could you still be so childish?”
“Simple, really.  I know something that will stop you from killing me for the time being.”
Amor looked into Hornet’s pupilless eyes for a moment, expecting for him to crack, but he did not do so.  “I’ve had enough of this.”  Amor took his sword in his teeth and cocked his head back as far as it would go.  when he couldn’t turn his head any further, he swung with all his might, aiming for Hornet’s neck.  “For Chrysalis!”
“Your wife is still alive.” 
Amor stopped only centimeters away from the spot he was aiming for.  He looked Hornet in the eyes again.  “What did you say?
“I said, your wife is still alive.”
Amor re-sheathed his sword.  “Explain yourself.  Now!”
Hornet’s crooked smile was back on his face.  “It’s amazing what a paralysis spell can do, how closely it mimics death.”
“Why would you still keep her alive?”
“I told you.  I wanted to have some fun.”
Amor pushed closer.  “Tell me where she is.”
“I’m not scared of you.”
Amor backed a few steps away.  “There’s more than one way to torture a changeling, remember?” he said, mocking the words of Hornet.  He put his head down and charged, sticking his horn into his flank, breaking through the skin.  Hornet winced, but it was nowhere close to enough to break him.
“Is that it?”
“Hardly.”  A flame started at his hooves, and in seconds, Amor took the form of a massive griffon.
“What are you going to do?  Feather me to death?”  Hornet began laughing at his own horrid joke.  Amor held a talon before Hornet, showing the start of his plan.  He placed it upon the hole in his flank, sticking his middle claw into the bare spot, digging it deeper with every second.  Hornet began gritting his teeth as he felt the talon dig into the muscle of his leg.
“Well?  Ready to talk?”
“N-never.”
“Too bad, guess I’ll have to dig through the muscle.”  with one quick thrust, Amor clawed his way through the muscle of Hornet’s leg, which began spasming at the massive amount of pain.
“How about now?  I think I feel bone.”
He finally gave in.  “Alright you bastard!  Our camp in the badlands!  It’s the only place left!”
Amor half expected him to say that.  “Good boy.”  He then arched his talon and tore it out of Hornet’s flank.  His leg kicked forward in one last attempt, but with the lack of muscle it fell numb and motionless.  Hornet hissed at Amor and attempted to snap at him, but missed.
“You...bastard.”
“Stay put.  I’ll be back for you later.  In the meantime, admire your new cutie mark, while you’re still alive.”  Suddenly, there was a loud crash outside.  Not again.  “Don’t move.”  Amor turned to the door and quickly shot outside to see what he expected.  Soldiers wearing navy blue armor fighting with Amor’s soldiers.  Amor drew his sword yet again and charged into the battlefield.  He managed to save a soldier who had his back to the ground and a changeling on top of him.  He kicked the changeling off and quickly plunged his sword into it’s chest.  He helped his soldier to his feet.  “Keep moving!  If you fall, you die!”  
Amor continued through the fight, tearing through soldiers with a newfound hope and an old burning anger.  Amor was going to kill them all if he had to, but before he had the chance, they retreated.  Amor scanned the battlefield.  Dozens lied dead through the field, but thankfully very few were from Amor’s team.  They must have given up.  at least they have sense enough to leave before I destroy all of them.  Amor aided his remaining soldiers, checking on each and every one of them individually.  When finally satisfied with everyone’s current state, Amor headed back down to the chamber where he left Hornet.  “Alright, now where-”  Amor cut himself short.  The room was empty.  There was no fire, no cuffs, and no changeling.  “Damn it.  It was just a distraction.”  Amor quickly was back to the surface and was readily greeted by one of his soldiers.
“Sir, is something wrong?”
“The prisoner has escaped.”
“What?  But how?  And where?”
“Don’t worry, I know where.  Gather our troops.  Anyone ready to move, we leave for the badlands.”