//------------------------------// // In War, There is Death // Story: Take my Heart: Travail's of Tamera // by Pathious //------------------------------// The griffin’s denial on the deal led them into battle. Sapphire wasn't sure whether or not she regretted the decision yet. Miasma’s close to dead body lay on the hard forest ground. Her dark black blood pouring out of her shoulder wound. The bolt that had been shot into her had struck her right behind the shoulder. Thus hitting her thumping and darkened heart, Her eyes franticlly looking around as her mind was shrouded in fear. She looked up to see her changeling's flying into battle as life was draining from her wound. As her eyes went clouded her life was stripped away.Peacock had always been a good shot, then again he was taught how to shoot by Sapphire herself. She was the best with a crossbow. The crossbow was an invention first made by Griffins. It revolutionized the way bows were shot. The second species to make them were the equines. Unicorns were the only ones qualified to use the weapon. Sapphire hoped to protect its design from the clutches of the Changeling army. A Species in which every being can use magic and fly would be hectic if they had the crossbow. The changeling began to swarm the griffin city within a matter of minutes. “Peacock, duck down, you’re going to have your head taken off by one of these bustards if you stand there like that.” Sapphire said as she pulled him into cover. Her wing getting hit by a stray arrow from one of her own men, the bolt went through her wing and then into the changeling it was intended for. “You need to stop saving my ass in front of the guys; you’re going to make me look bad.” Peacock sad as a sword went through his chest, the guise of the changeling was revealed to be not peacock. The one who had stabbed the changeling was peacock. “I hate changelings. Quit disguising as my sexy body you ugly bustards~!” Peacock said cockily as he then ducked down by Sapphire. Peacock knew it was probably best to be by her so she wouldn’t be killed by a changeling pretending to be someone she knew. “One of our scouts told me he think Ambrosia has caught wind of Miasmas death hormone.” Peacock said as he reloaded his crossbow before shooting another changeling out of the sky. Ambrosia was an orange and black changeling queen. One of Chrysalis’s sisters, Ambrosia was the best at temptation and her guises. She replaced Tamera upon disappearance. “If she is on her way, there is no doubt she is bringing her army with.” Peacock said as three changelings appeared behind them. Sapphire let out a yelp and she out of instinct shot a bolt into one of the faces of the changelings. One pounced on her while she was in the midst of reloading. Peacock used his brute strength to pull the thing off his leader. The other changeling the jumped on him to help over power Peacock, he was almost down and out when Sapphire shot the bolt through on of their heads, through peacocks shoulder and into the other ones head. “Sorry, sorry I had to shoot you to kill them both~!” Sapphire said as she went to tend to her friends injury. Peacock nodded as he cringed holding his now wounded shoulder. “Completely understandable dear, Just please try not to kill me.” Peacock said as he saw one of his men getting overwhelmed by ten changelings who were biting him ruthlessly to death. This small city of theirs was quickly turning into a feasting fest. The smell of blood was thickening the air. Peacock knew that this was going to be a losing battle for the griffins. Falling back might be the better option. “We have to hurry, they are tearing us a nice new behind out there. You need to blow the fall back horn on the west tower.” Sapphire said as she intercepts a changeling with her fist. The changeling was coming from behind her when she sideswiped its cheek with her fist. Its needle teeth fall out of its mouth as it squirms and clicks in pain. “We need to hurry before they turn us into lunch.” Sapphire said as she spread he massive bird wings. Peacock was with her all the way. He wasn’t about to let her down. “Alright I’m with you; just try not to die when we get out there.” He said as he looked out the window at the carnage outside. He cringed at the site of flesh being torn off by the hideous creatures. “I really don’t want to be like that guy.” Peacock stated as he spread his wings. He limped towards the door and was almost immediately attacked by a changeling. The difference was this changeling was orange and black instead of purple and black. That could mean only one thing. Ambrosia had arrived. Peacock did dispatch of the orange changeling with a mighty kick off the balcony. “Peacock, we need to hurry Ambrosia is here. I don’t think we can get an easy shot at two queens in one day~!” Sapphire said in a voice of distress. The large tank of gas near the hut was making a screeching sound as they were getting ready to fly off. “Oh god is that the gas we use to power the city?” HE said as he pointed to Ambrosia who was levitating an explosive that was lit. She stood on the large tank as she gazed in the griffin’s direction. “Oh god she looked right at me. I am so screwed.” Peacocks eyes were starting to turn orange as he stared back into her eyes. The master of seduction was getting to him and she wasn’t even wearing a guise. Sapphire slapped him across the face as hard as she could. “Move dammit you’re going to get yourself killed.” Saph said as she grabbed him and jumped off the building. The tank exploded soon after with the queen ambrosia nowhere near it. The blast sent the griffins that were in midflight, flying for the west wall. Saph was holding tight to Peacock as she and he were flying through the air. The explosion was huge and bellowing. Peacock and Sapphire both hit the retreat horn directly. Sapphire was seeing double as she stood up. She was met with the face Ambrosia. Sapphires eyes immediately started to change a shade of orange as Ambrosia was feeding off her emotions. Several Changelings were flying in her direction. Peacock saw that Saph couldn’t fight back against the wicked Orange queen. “Get away from her~!” He shouted as he bull rushed the queen. Ambrosia who was completely oblivious to Peacock was struck full force, both her and Peacock fell to the ground. Sapphires eyes returned to normal as Ambrosias hold was released on her. She looked down to see Peacock being levitated by Ambrosia. Peacocks veins were turning black as the deadly queen stared into his eyes. Several changelings were climbing the wall to get to sapphire. Peacock was trying to scream for help but the darker his veins got the weaker he became. Her stare was killing him. He was trying to muster the strength within to fight her. He just couldn’t find it, soon his body went limp and Ambrosia let his limp body fall to the ground. “That will teach you to shoot at a queen. Thou have killed my sister. The rest of you will feel suffering.” Ambrosia said out loud as she then looked at Sapphire on top of the wall. Ambrosia smiled as she fluttered her wings to get up the wall. All changelings made way for her and went to fight elsewhere in this griffin territory. “Ambrosia, This battle started because of your sister, I am willing to die for my people.” Sapphire said as she stood proud before Ambro. “So much courage, so much love for your species,.” Ambrosia said as her Orange eyes looked into Sapphire eyes. Sapphire immediately became immobilized as the stare hit her. Saphs veins turning the same color as what had happened to Peacock, She was going to die. That’s when the griffin’s allies had finally arrived. The only equine subspecies that fought against the base equines, A hooded and hooved being jumped from a tree not far away. He swiped a large cane at Ambrosia. A large green wave of energy shot from the staff knocking Ambrosia back and away from Sapphire. The hooded being landed between Ambros and saph, He slowly removed his hood to reveal his zebra nature. The zebra nation had sided with the Griffins many years ago. This zebra fancied the griffin princess he was willing to defend the one he had feelings for. The rest of the Zebra army came to join the fight not long after him. “Yazz, You showed up~!” Sapphire said in a soft yet excited voice. “We couldn’t leave our allies to be slaughtered by the changelings.” Yazz said as he growled at Ambrosia. “Sooo the zebras you are in cahoots with decided to join the fight. No matter they will fall as easily as you~!” Ambrosia said in a very angered voice. She stared at Yazz in hopes to take over his mind. Unfortunately for her Yazz was wearing his lapis necklace. This kind of necklace had been found to prevent a changeling from entering your mind. She noticed this and growled. "Or..not as easily as i thought." she cooed. “Not today Ambros, now, back away from the princess.” Yazz said as he twirled his staff that had a green crystal at the tip. Zebras were mysterious and their magic unknown by average unicorns and equines. The crystal on the end of the staff had the power of his ancestors. Ambrosia was not fazed by his magic, though she wished his mind was enterable. She had the decision to back off and retreat or stay and fight. Yazz was bound and determined to keep every changeling away from Saph. He would use every ounce of magic he had in order to protect her. Ambros was thinking about staying and fighting. That was until Zecora herself landed directly next to Yazz. She twirled another staff ten times as powerful as yazz’s. Ambrosia opened her mouth letting out an ear piercing screech. This noise caused everything in the area that was not changeling to cover their ears. Ambrosia and her changelings took flight to retreat from the battle. “Zacora you scared her once again.” Saph said knowing Zacora could not speak due to the wound she had received to her throat when she had been captured by the changelings six years ago. Zacora nodded and look to Yazz. She had a slight disappointed look on her face. “Sorry Zacora, I should be less ruthless with this staff.” Yazz said as he bowed to Zacora. The Zebras were a force to be messed with in these woods. They could free run like no one’s business. They could climb and jump so fast they were hard to track. One with the woods and the spirit world allowed them to do some nifty things. “Don’t be too harsh to each other now; we just got Ambrosia to run off. Be proud.” Sapphire said in a happy tone as she sighed looking down at her deceased friend Peacock. Peacock was so close to her. His death would ache in her heart for some time after today. “Your base will need to move before she decides to return. We may have caused her to run. Be warned she will return and when she does… I’m afraid there will be nothing the Zebra nation and the griffins will be able to do to hold her back. The only thing we could do is kill her thus killing her orange army. The trick with Ambro is that her army is completely connected to her. Kill her and the whole orange army dies with her.” Yazz said as he was now floating slightly as he held his staff in a certain pose. “Killing her would not be easy, unlike her sister Miasma, she has two hearts. The second one is in an unknown position.” “How do you know she has two hearts?” Sapphire said as she spread her wings, she was ready to get off this wall. “That my dear is a story to save for eating around a fire. Maybe over some grilled corn on the cob, till then I will keep my story to myself.” Yazz said as he looked at the crippled town below. “If it wasn’t for that explosion we probably wouldn’t have been able to show up so quickly.” He snorted angrily as he saw the carnage below. “Your people did not deserve such ruthless slaughter. My heart aches for them.” Yazz said as he quickly vaulted off the wall and onto the ground. He rolled to prevent injury. Sapphire flew down after him. Yazz was young but he was quite mature despite being a young teen. His green eyes always stuck out. The zebra never told Sapphire about his feelings for her. He thought it was best to not love. Especially one of a different species, he felt love could only end up hurting him in the end. His short tail swayed as he walked and glanced at the ones who had fallen. Many Zebra bowed to Sapphire as she walked by. “Sorry for your loss” many said despite this battle being a victory. Ambrosia was going to come back and she was going to kill everyone if they were here. Sapphire knew she had to trust yazz and relocate. That made here question on where they could even go. “I think your army should join us at our home.” Yazz said as if he could read her mind. “Not even the changelings know where we are located; we have remained hidden this long. I think our home is best for you to stay.” He looked to Zecora for reassurance. She nodded which meant she approved of his decicion. Yazz was leader but Zecora was the big boss. The one who gave him the shake of the head or the gesture of a nod, in the end a decision he made relied on her approval. “Do you think the minitors will be on their way to pick up Miasma slack?” Sapphire asked. “They were the only ones stupid enough to side with those creatures. “Those uneducated brutes hardly fight as it is. I doubt we will be seeing from them today.” Yazz said in a voice of certainty. “They are brutal but they are not incredibly smart. They yell a lot and we would be sure to hear them before they were close enough to be considered a threat. They aren’t exactly long ranged attackers.” Yazz twirled his staff and the tapped it on the ground causing a hologram like map to appear before them. “We should start hiking soon though. We have no idea when Ambros will have her army ready.” Ambrosia flew into the hive with the stench of loss on her carapace. She needed to speak with her sisters that remained. “Chrysalis, I need to speak to you.” She said as she landed before Chrysalis. Chrysalis was sitting upon a throne that did not belong to her. The throne once owned by the lost Tamera. Ambrosia was always disgusted by how Chrysalis looked sitting in it. Of course she never said anything, she would have hated to be attacked and killed by her own sister. “Why do I feel your news to me will be disappointing? Don’t tell me those feathered lion bird beat you?” Chrysalis said as she fluttered her wings in an angered way. “Technically those striped free runners beat us. I don’t wish to be killed like Miasma so I retreated. I wish for you to relieve my part of the hive so they may help me destroy every last griffin and zebra.” Ambrosia said as she bowed to her sister. “Those Zebras are smart knowing them they have already evacuated the whole town and is hiding them. Sincerely I do not wish to take the risk of sending so many changelings to fight nothing. Waste their energy and time. They should be here making this hive bigger and harder to penetrate.” Chrysalis responded in the kindest way she could. “Any other stupid ideas Sister or have I made my point clear?” “Chrysalis, they can’t move a whole city in a matter of hours can they? They are smart but they are not brutes. They can’t get the approval of a griffin to leave where they live without all their gold. The greediness could be our upperhoof.” Ambros said as she desperately hoped her sister would cave. “We could have the upper hoof but we have bigger plans. I need all of our army for the attack on Canterlot tonight. We let them think they live a life of no front door war. They were wrong and I want those equines scared again. Do you realize the courage they have built over these years of war?” Chrysalis said as she sighed resting her head on the arm of the throne. “So my final answer is no, you may not request men for something as useless as killing those birds.” Ambros was disappointed in her sister’s weak choice of words. “I don’t think you understand that we could make this a war of two species instead of three. We could stunt the length of this war by half if we kill them all~!” Ambrosia said trying to stand her ground on the topic. “Amby if you disagree with me one more time I will lock you up myself. My decision is final. We need all of our men for the battle with Canterlot. I will not waste our men on something as insignificant as revenge for Miasma. She is dead, she will be missed. That is no reason to waste our men on her one life. Miasma would agree with me and you know it. No please leave my throne room. I have a battle plan to write up”