//------------------------------// // Chapter 4: Revenge // Story: The Changeling's Attack On Cloudsdale // by captinalex1 //------------------------------// "So Alex, how do you plan on getting aboard their ship?" Budder questions. "Well Budder, I was thinking that we fight through the Changelings and find their teleporter, cause if you look closely, you can see a purple transparent light coming from the ship. I can also see the Changelings transporting troops and equipment from it." I explain. "Ok, we can try doing that." He agrees. So we continue trotting along a mountainous path. “Hey Alex look up ahead, a gate.” Budder spots. We trot up to it and its unguarded but, the gate is locked up tight. “Blast, what now?” I ask. “I mean we could set a destination” - I pull out explosives - “but the blast will be heard for miles.” “Budder, do you have an idea?” I ask. “Well maybe…” Budder begins, but is immediately interrupted by an unfamiliar voice. "Psst, hey guys, over here.” A fire pony motions. "Who's their?" I question. "It's just me, Skyfire Rain" The colt replies back. "Hello, but I've never seen you before." I tell him. "I just moved here. Didn't know you were at war with the Changelings. Mind if I help?" He asks. So I reply to him, "well, then, welcome to Ponyville and sorry about the Changelings, but they have been attacking for a while now. Also, sure you can help us.” "Thanks!" He replies happily. "Ok guys, move behind cover, I'm gonna blow this joint." The new member says. The fire pony charges up a fire ball and shoots it like he is a dragon. The fireball hits the gate. BOOM! The gate is breached. "Ok move, move!" I yell to them. With guns locked, loaded and ready to go, we march in and are ready to attack. We enter the mountain which then leads to the entrance of a base. Once in we look around but the Changelings notice us and begin to charge at us. "Guys here they come.” I take my assault rifle and give some fire, killing a few of them. I look at Budder and Skyfire only to find that they are sniping away at the Changelings that are on the bridge above us. After we think we fought all of them... WOOOSH! A green blur just misses me. BOOM! It explodes on impact at the wall behind us. I zoom my visor in to try to see what that was only to find that it's an Elite Changeling with a Fuel Rod Cannon. “Are you kidding me!” I yell as I look back at the Changeling Elite. “Alex what was that he shot at us?” Budder asks. “Well, the weapon is called a Fuel Rod Cannon and it fires uranium filled shells. If the shell hits you… you're dead on impact. If it explodes near or next to you, you’ll have major injury. Please watch out.” I tell him. As I explain to Budder, Skyfire is tired of waiting so he takes a shot at the enemy. The bullet hits but all we find is that a cyan color glow comes from him. My ears drop as I see that the Changeling has a shield around him. "Alex, anyway to disable it?" Skyfire asks. "Yes, we just have to keep shooting him. That way the shield will overheat and deactivate to cool down." I reply. So as Skyfire and I begin to give that Changeling lead, Budder has a slick plan. "Hehehe, that Changeling won't see shit.” He goes around the whole room and finally gets behind the enemy. Budder then pulls out a blade and just before he can strike, a Changeling with a Energy Sword appears from the shadows and strikes Budder. “Ahh!” Budder screams. “Budder!?” I question as I hear the scream. So I fly over and see another Changeling Elite. “Great there are two of them. This day can't get any worse now can it.” I speak to myself in sarcasm. I pull out a Magnum and shoot at the Changeling once and then he starts to come after me. Budder sees that I'm purposely distracting him, so he gets a hidden blade and - stab - he stabs the Changeling Elite in the back and he is down. The other changeling is still fighting Skyfire, so Budder crabs the energy sword from the dead one and lungs at the second one. The changeling notices Budder’s actions, so he turns ready to melee Budder, but just before he does, I pull out my sniper rifle and snipe the Changeling's hoof. The enemy moans at the pain and then Budder strikes him for the finish. "Well that was interesting, was it?" I ask. "Well it could have been worse." Skyfire replies. "Let's keep going." I reply back. So we continue to move through the base. We then trot up some stairs and they take us all the way to the top of the building. "That's a lot of Changelings and Elites." Skyfire says surprised. "Guys, I have an idea. See that snipers nest." As I point to it. "Well one of you guys go up there and give us cover fire." "I'll go." Skyfire agrees. “Cool. Budder and I will try to draw them out. Lets go Budder.” “Right!” Budder acknowledges. So, Skyfire has to fight a few Changelings along the way, but its nothing he can't handle. He climbs up the stairs and gets into the snipers den. When their, he finds a .50 cal sniper rifle and a few clips of ammo. He picks it up and positions himself. “Skyfire do you read me. Over.” I call on the communicator. “This is Skyfire, I read you Alex. Over.” Sky responds back. “Ok, Skyfire do you see us?” I ask. “Ah No, wait there you are. I see your light signal.” Skyfire answers me. “Ok good. Follow my and Budder’s path. Once you see enemies in front of us, kill-em all.” I tell him. So Skyfire follows our path as we move across the base floor. “Budder see anything?” I ask. “No, nothing yet.” He responds. Then when Budder and I are about to move near a building, Skyfire calls. “Alex, come in, there are two patrols coming your way. Hold up, I've got them.” Skyfire warns. “Alright, take them out.” I acknowledge. Skyfire takes aim, adjusts his sight and fires. It drops the first Changeling. Now they are alert. “Skyfire this is Alex. There is way too many for you to take out alone. We have to go loud.” “Ok. I'll make the signal shot. Once I drop that Golden Changeling, 1 click to your right, you guys go loud.” Skyfire orders. “Copy Skyfire, waiting for your shot. Over and out.” I answer back. So Skyfire checks our position first, then he looks for the Golden Changeling. He finds him. Sky then follows the Goldie's walking pattern. The elite stops. “Hehe, you're done!” Skyfire scopes in, takes aim and... “Um, Alex. What's taking Skyfire so long?” Budder whispers. “Odd. Good question. Let me check.” I whisper back. “Skyfire, Skyfire you their?” I call. “What in blazes, where they come from. Alex, you and Budder get cover. My covers is blown. They found me!” Skyfire yells. “Ok. You heard him Budder. Lets move.” “Right.” Budder replies. So Budder and I do our best to try and get into the building that conveniently right next to us. As we try to open the door to the building that we found, Skyfire is now fighting for his life. What he does is goes into a prone position and starts sniping at the Changelings that are coming up the stairs to the sniper’s nest. “Where the hell did you guys come from?” He asks himself. As SkyFire is focused on the targets in front of him, behind him is another Changeling that’s just hovering and watching what Sky is doing. “You need any help?” The mysterious Changelings asks. “Yes, please! I don’t know if I can take all of them myself!” Skyfire replies. Sky then turns around to look who it is and is shocked to see a Changeling. “Ahhh!” Skyfire pulls out his Magnum and just before he fires the Changeling identifies himself. “Don't shoot, don't shoot! My name is Changeling Applewing. I’m neither a friend or foe. I don’t like the things that Crystalis is doing so I left. However I’m not on your team either.” Applewing explains. “So what are you doing here?” Skyfire asks. “Well I saw Cloudsdale be blown up by Crystalis's tanks and I said to myself that this has gone far enough. So I've started fighting off some of the Changeling resistance until I saw that.” Applewing points up to show Skyfire the Changeling ship hovering over them. “Yeah, Alex told me about that and is it true that there is a Mac-Cannon around here?” Skyfire asks. “Yeah the Mac-Cannon is over there, but there is a lot of Changelings to fight through.” Applewing points. “You want to give it a shot?” Skyfire asks with confidence. So Skyfire and the new teammate fight through all the Changelings and make it to the Cannon. Sky then gets in and begins to learn the controls. “Ok, Applewing I think I know how to use this. Also, Mind guarding my back as I operate the the cannon?” Skyfire asks. “Sure I can cover you.” Apple replies. Skyfire then grabs the controls and starts to takes aim. “Hey Skyfire, you better hurry." Applewing reminds. "Right, taking the shot… Now!” Skyfire yells. He then pulls the trigger. BOOM! A huge laser is fired from the barrel of the gun. The recoil was so great that the whole ground shakes. The laser then hits and you can see the penetration if you look close enough. "Firing another!" Skyfire warns as he pulls the trigger again. The barrel charges. BOOM! It fires again. And again the ground shakes. “What the?! They are sending drop ships, Apple.” Skyfire says surprised. “Shoot them down!” Applewing tells Skyfire. “Right!” Sky acknowledges. As Skyfire and Applewing take down landing ships. Budder and I finally get inside the building. The first thing we do is look behind us to make sure nopony saw what we are up to. “Well that was close.” I whisper. “Yeah. Wait, hold up. Be very quite, and get down. We don't know who is in here.” Budder says cautiously. So I listen and get down. We then slowly move through the building looking around and inspecting the hideout. “Shh. Alex, stay here I’ll take care of him.” “Alright” I quietly answer. I then hold my position and all I do is watch Budder’s back carefully, just to make sure nopony sneaks up behind him. Budder slowly approaches the Changeling, pulls his knife out and stabs the guard in the back, killing him. “Goodnight.” Budder says. Then he hand signals me to move up, so I do. We continue moving carefully. Then we run into another door and what I want to do is open it. So I get to work. After a few minutes pass the door is open. Before we do anything else, we scan the area. “Hm, I think we went completely around them.” Budder tells me. “Yeah, we did. So how do you want to take care of this situation?” I ask him. “I don't know? You have any ideas?” Budder asks. “Well what I’m thinking is throwing this 9-banger and blinding them. That way they won't see us coming. What do you say Budder?” “I like that idea. Alright lets go with it.” Budder agrees. So after Budder agrees, I throw the 9-banger and it explodes leaving the enemy blind. “NOW!” I shout. So Budder and I run at them and we are right on top of them. The enemy begins to fall back and run away. However that was a huge mistake on us because we completely forgot that Skyfire never killed the Golden Changeling. But we continue fighting anyway. “Hey Alex, I have a bad feeling that we forgot something.” Budder gets second thoughts. “What did we forget?” I try asking, but its too late for Budder to answer because the Golden Changeling pins him down. So I begin to charge at the Goldie. I pull my knife out and stab the him right on the back of the head. But he doesn't die their because their armor is thick. The Changeling gets up and strikes me with the gun. I then fall and am paralyzed from the pain. Budder then gets up and pulls out his shotgun. “Hey asshole eat this!” he pulls the trigger. BOOM! Its a direct hit, but the Changeling is still up. He groans then charges at Budder. Budder's reaction is to quickly pick up the Energy Sword next to him. So he does and and turns the blade on. He swings and strikes the Golden Changeling in the chest. The Changeling walks backwards a few steps then gets his swords. He pulls out not one but two of them. Budder looks intimidated but starts to sword fight anyway. As Budder fights the Changeling, I lay on the ground watching in pain. I then begin to contact Skyfire. “Grr, Skyfire come in this is Alex, do you read. Over.” But I get no reply. “Skyfire! I cry, Come in we need you!” But still nothing, all I hear is static. “Dammit Sky, when we really need you, you don't reply. Well looks like this is it. If Budder fails this fight its all over.” But when all hope is lost... Whoosh! I see a sniper bullet fly over me and it hits the Goldie. Its a head-shot on the him. The Changeling collapses, but is still alive. Budder walks up to him, “Heh, looks like you're finished. You had no chance, you know that, right? Its time for me to make the final strike.” Budder then takes the Energy Sword and stabs the Changeling through the abdomen. Budder then takes the sword back out, turns it off and throws it away from him. He then trots over to me to help me up. “Alex you ok? Here give me your hoof, I’ll help you up.” “Alright.” I moan. I give him my hoof and he lifts me up. I’m standing, but their is pain all over my body. “Alex will you be able to continue moving?” Budder asks. I moan a yes to him, but really I shouldn't be putting this much stress to my body. I then look up at the Mac-Cannon, because I did notice the weapon being used. So I pull my visor down and scope in to find that a Changeling is up their. “Alex come in, this is Changeling Applewing. I see you, don't shoot I’m a friend and that was me that took down that Goldie by the way.” “Really?! Well nice work. Hey, is it clear up their?” I respond back. Apple takes a look around then replies, “Yeah, its clear.” But then we hear an explosion. “Whoa, what was that? Is Skyfire still shooting that thing?” I jump. “No, I’m not even in it.” Skyfire radios me. Then we all look up at the Changeling ship and see that parts of it are exploding off. All of a sudden, a huge laser is fired from it. I try and shout to Apple and Skyfire to get off of the platform, but its too late and its hit. The cannon gets blown off and part of the ground is ripped off as well. “Skyfire. Apple. Can you hear me? Are you guys ok?” I shout in shock. The two ponies get back up a few minutes later, but injured. Then the next thing we see is drop ships, and not one, but hundreds coming to raid us. Budder and I then quickly spring up and gallop over to save the two injured ponies. “You guys alright?” Budder asks. I hear coughing. “Skyfire is that you?” I call out. But he doesn't respond. Then all we see is Sky float up into the air, and begin to glow. “Skyfire whatever you are about to do, well don't. Its suicide. SKY!” I cry. However he ignores me and releases his energy exploding like nothing we have seen before. The shock-wave is so intense that it even sends the drop ships off course. That shock-wave also wakes Apple up. After the explosion we don't know what happens to Skyfire. I do know he is alive, because my heart beat sensor that my armor has is equipped with is telling me. But, that still hurts us because now, there's only three of us left. My idea is to get away from the area and try to create some kind of defense. But that’s not an option. So all we do is get off the structure and regroup in a field with fixed turrets and other weaponry. We arm up and take our positions. “Well guys its been nice knowing you.” I start. “Its been a wild ride Alex.” Budder picks up. “Same to you Budder.” I tell him back. “Oh, and Applewing. If we make it out of here alive, i'll never forget that you came in to help us against such difficult odds.” “Alex, I didn't really agree with the Queen when she said, lets go take and destroy Cloudsdale for good. In my mind that was unacceptable.” Applewing shortly explains. Hundreds of drop-ships land near our position and the enemy begin to prepare for their final assault. “Well guys, this is it. Guns ready and eyes on the target.” I remind them. “Once the ship gates open, give em hell.” Apple strategies. “Right!” We all agree. “In 3… 2...1...Open fire!” We all yell. Changelings and Golden Changelings all start pouring out of their ships like no tomorrow. My team and I just unload our guns like nothing. Once our guns go empty we get on the mounted turrets and go back to unloading shells, but their are just way too many that the enemy begin to surround us and attack our position. “Alex! Guard the entrance!” Budder yells to me. “Hard copy!” I acknowledge. Changelings then try rushing the entrance but I’m their pushing them back. “Apple look out!” Budder shouts. But Applewing gets shot right in the left hoof and goes down. “Ahh! Alex, I’m down! I’m down!” Apple screams. “Don’t worry I got ya.” As I trot over to help him. Then he points a gun at me. “Alex gun!” Apple shouts, so I duck and he fires at the Goldie that was about to strike me down. “Thanks, now let me help you.” I tell him concerned. “Right!” Apple allows me. “Grrr! I can't kill them all!” Budder shouts. Then Budder gets shot in the chest and falls. “Alex, you're the only one left. Forget about us, save yourself!” Budder yells. “NO! I’m not leaving you guys! I know what I must do.” I deny him grinning. “Alex don't! Whatever you plan on doing. Well forget it. Its suicide.” Apple joins in. “Alex!” They shout, but I deny them and carry out my plan. “Changelings!” I yell at the enemy. “Try to take me out! Just try! You aren't winning no matter WHAT you do! This is my fight and will be my victory!” I yell readying myself for the worst. Then all at once they all open fire at me. Luckily for my armor it has a shield, so i'm kept safe. They continue to fire at me, but no matter what they did, I was unaffected. I draw out my weapons and just open fire and start to spraying bullets like crazy. My weapons then go empty and I grab the last two weapons i have on me. My Energy Sword and Magnum. I jump over the fence and go at them, trying to keep them off my two injured friends. I slice one of them, head shot another. I can swear I'm doing more damage to them then they are to me. But then the worst happens. They have an artillery in the back that I don't even notice. BOOM! The plasma explodes next to me. I get up only to find that my energy shield has been EMP'd. Then out of nowhere, seven Elite Changelings come after me. They have their eyes only on me. I get my Energy Sword ready for a duel. At the corner of my eye, I notice my team slowly getting their communicators ready to call for back up. I just hope they can reach somepony in time. I focus back and watch the Changelings keenly in the eyes. I make my first move. I take the Energy Sword and stab one of them, twist my body to the left and slice another. Two of them charge at me, but I pull out a knife and stab one of them in the neck while blocking the other. I then push him back and charge, but that was a mistake. He punches me in the chest and I go down. The final four Elites watch me waiting for my move. Then the leader of that group trots over to me, takes his Sword and goes for the blow. With all the energy I have left, I roll to the right, get up and punch him square in the face. He gets thrown back. The other three surround me. I pull out my hidden blade take aim and fire. The blade that's fired penetrates right through one of them and he falls. Then the other two come at me, and I pull out my knife and throw it at the closest one. It stabs him right in the chest and he collapses, bleeding to death. But the last one is able to punch my back, which he does. I fall to the ground, then quickly look up and just before he strikes me with his Energy Sword, I catch it. It burns in my hooves but I keep holding. I move it slowly to the side then roll to the left, get up and punch him in the face. I then go for a gun that's on the ground, pick it up, aim and fire. He deflects it using the sword and he runs at me slicing the gun in half but shows me his back. In those few seconds I tackle him and steal his knife and finally stabbing him. I get up and leave the knife wedged in his neck letting him bleed to death. But the leader catches me by surprise, turns me around and tries to punch me, but I catch his fist and begin to twist his hoof. I then quickly turn his hoof the other way and the force drops him to the ground. As he lays their, I raise my hoof and two electrocuted blades appear. I'm just about to strike him but he rolls to the left and punches me in the side. I regain my balance but the moment I face him, he charges and swings his blade and it strikes me in the chest. I collapse and he trots over and picks me up by my head and aims the sword at me. But before killing me, he first begins to speak. "Hehehe, you have fought hard and have held your ground against us and truly I wish I could spare you and make you one of the Changelings, but the Queen would not be ok with that. So without further ado, I'll do what I must, which is kill you.” As he pulls his hoof back and readies himself, I take the time to look at his face and I could swear that I saw a tear in his eye. I glance at his hoof and its shaking. He takes a deep breath then exhales stopping the shaking and stopping the tears. I put my head up and close my eyes. I then swallow and and stay frozen. Before he does anything, the last thing I hear from him is, “I'm sorry, it had to come to this.” then he moves with his plan and thrusts the sword forward.