//------------------------------// // Chapter 12: Modus Operandi // Story: New World, New Rules // by Zilver5664 //------------------------------// The Colonel and I circle each other. The both of us anticipating each other to make the first move. However, I was mainly circling to have the Colonel’s attention focused on me and away from Wolf so he wouldn’t get caught in the crossfire. My concentration was entirely focused on him, trying to discern his first move so I can act accordingly. It seems as if a black dome had crawled up on us, preventing our concentration from getting interrupted from any outsiders. However that doesn’t work on objects on the ground… My foot bumps into a pile of boxes and my concentration slips a tiny bit, which was all it needed for the colonel to attack. He charges forward, mace primed and ready, aiming at a horizontal sweep from the right. My mind does a combat assessment and decides to dodge instead of countering. I duck underneath the mace and spin around to keep the colonel in my sights. What happens next would have baffled me if it weren’t for me being in the fight. The colonel didn’t have enough force or reaction time to stop his mace, so it followed through the crates. Effectively shattering it to billions of pieces with everything inside it as well, looks like gems. Shattered gems start pelting me as a consequence of the Colonel’s miss. I back away while covering my mouth to protect it from any cuts or crystal dust. After I get a good distance away I use my scarf and put it over my mouth as an impromptu mask. I look forward again to find that my vision is blurry, the Colonel is now a green blob as what is potentially dust and debris cloud up the lens of my visor. My first reaction would be to open the visor up so I can see clearly. But there’s too much going on that doing so would increase the risk of losing an eye. As I try to determine the boxes from wires, I fail to notice the Colonel heading towards me; he must have notice that I was blind and begins charging up a punch. However the Colonel himself fails to realize how big of a racket he was making. I couldn’t see where he was, but I could hear his steps, and I could plainly hear that he was coming in from behind me. When I hear the closest step, I turn and dive to the right. And then pain envelopes my right side. As it seems, my armor takes the brunt of the force; I miss about 80% of the attack while the remaining was caught on my right arm. The resulting impact sends me barreling away and into some more boxes (so many boxes…). The crates collapse on my body, concealing my form. My right arm doesn’t feel like it’s broken, but I can’t use it to hold my pistol anymore, which was bad, because although I’m ambidextrous, my right hand is used for most things. I sheath my knife and move my pistol painfully from my right hand to my left hand. Turn off my visor, and rise. I see the colonel making his way towards me again from the other side of the room. I began firing the pistol. Each shot varying between horribly missing or glancing off his armor. My left hand flinging about somewhat wildly as I try to manage the recoil of the 1911. The colonel flinches and holds his shoulder in pain, dropping the mace. The .45 ACP round going straight through his muscle and rendering it unusable for an unknown amount of time. My small victory was short lived, as the colonel quickly adapts and starts charging me with his good shoulder out in front. Time seems to slow down as my body and mind start thinking about my next move. The booming steps as the Colonel charges growing ever so closer. His face contorted into a mixture of pain and anger as he bears down upon me. If I dive to the right, I can dodge him, but I would land on my right arm, hurting it worse. If I dive to the left, I run the risk of crashing into some more boxes and rendering my left hand unusable. Perhaps under the Colonel…? His legs are bladed in a manner where if I did so I’d be caught between them or blocked completely. Not a chance. Damn. It was too late, my mind failed to react properly and I paid the price. I hear and feel my chest cracking dozens of times as the wall behind me is left with my imprint. My breathing staggered as the armor is dented and pushed inwards. The wall loses its grip on me when the Colonel backs away, leaving me to fall. The ground unforgiving as the impact induces more pain. I stay there for who knows how long, my mind only focusing on recuperating what remaining strength I have. Unfortunately, I get interrupted. Multiple times. “Is this all you had to offer?!” The colonel taunts, kicking me in the ribs with immense strength. “Huh?! Is this all the “big, bad, kid,” has?!” Another kick, I was sent flying a couple feet away from the wall. I start coughing from the impact, a rough, gurgling sound, “D-Damn.” I spit up some blood and wipe off any remaining on my mouth. I can’t come up with anything, no discernible weaknesses, no effective ace up my sleeve. No smoke grenades to cover any escape, no flash grenades to stun him. Why the hell did I fight him as I was?! I bang a fist on the ground in self-depreciation. “Oh? Do you still have some fight left in you? Well! Let me fix that!” The Colonel remarks as he kicks me once more, making me land a distance away from Wolf. Near some electronics. My blood mixing with all the devices causes some to become gummed up and stop working, actuating by short-circuiting when the gears in some could no longer move. When I take notice of that, I can’t help but notice the enormous pool of blood around me and the lack of a monster of a humanoid around me. I dip a palm in the puddle. Lifting it and seeing the dark red painting the gauntlet. This amount of blood is unbelievable, I should be unconscious or dead. Blearily moving around, mind addled by pain. I manage to get my body facing upwards. The tunnel-vision no longer in effect. Moving my sight to the left of me, I notice the cacophony of broken wires, gears, and screws lying about in a mess. A testament to the Colonel’s strength. It was foolish to think I could take him on a force-on-force situation. What I should be doing is changing tactics. Looking around the room, mind eerily calm potentially due to the blood loss, I look at the havoc wrought on by the Colonel against me. Crates and boxes lay scattered and broken, wires and screws dotted dangerously about the area. Wolf is still tethered to the ceiling. Hanging limp. The Colonel, distracted towards Wolf, slowly and smugly makes his way towards the magical construct with barely concealed intent. Wolf, rather than give the Colonel the mental gratitude of fear, hangs in what might be called a lifeless state. His form laying limply as only the head watches as the Colonel meanders towards him. The Colonel says something in what might be a declaration of victory, but my mind tunes him out unconsciously. Too focused on achieving victory from a different angle, my sight focuses on the contents of the crates that were smashed. Tools, basic bobs and bits of perhaps maintenance pieces, and lastly, crystals. Dozens and dozens of crystals. A younger me probably would have made a Crash Bandicoot reference, hell, I probably would do it now if it wasn’t for the fact that I’m incapacitated potentially from internal bleeding. But that won’t stop me from what could be my last chance of victory. Twisting my body slowly, so as to not make any noise and get the attention of the Colonel, I begin moving my body back and forth. Wiggling slowly, but quietly towards the crystals not far from me. As I slowly make progress, I take glances back to where the Colonel is giving his smug speech to Wolf about the futility of taking him out, how he’ll avenge his comrades by torching the both of us in a fiery pit of gasoline, and how he’ll be at the gates of Tartarus to personally welcome us with “presents.” Thank this universe for villainous monologues. As I near the silver-lined, teal crystals, a sense of giddiness makes its presence known inside me. My body, notably my chest and thighs, begin shaking in what I can most likely describe as anticipation. On one of my glances back towards the Colonel, I take note of how the affected body parts have formed that blue lightning effect I’ve seen from time to time. I reach the crystals and the Colonel is still monologuing about his greatest achievements and what of the sort. Not even utilizing his own common sense and looking back at my location to make sure I am dead. I only smile for the outcome of it biting him in the ass. Weakly reaching for one of the crystals, the lightning spreads towards the hand heading towards the pile of crystals. Connecting itself to it as I take one and hold it. As I watch the lightning move almost systematically back and forth from my hand to the crystal, I begin to feel a rejuvenating and anxious feeling spreading throughout my body. Almost akin to a feeling of adrenaline being shot repeatedly into my heart. The only difference is that except for hiding the fact that my body is in intense physical pain, what was in the crystals seems to be healing me. If only minor. Wishing to speed up the process, my mind rumbles through potential theories and possibilities to achieve the wanted goal. When a memory sparks in my mind from two nights ago. “-You could crush it like normal power crystals.” Morality sparked from the memory, my hand clamps shut on the crystal. The rough edges poking themselves on the gauntlet and making it known. My arm flexes from the force I’m putting onto the crystal, I try with all my remaining strength to crush this bloody crystal and get what’s inside. Just as I’m about to give up, I feel a break in the crystal’s shell as a part of its surface cracks. Spurred on, I place what I think is a greater amount of force necessary to break the crystal. And much to my delight, the feeling of the crystal moving about in my hand as it breaks serves as a huge morality boost. The lightning surrounding the hand grows slightly intense as it soaks up the contents of the crystal and repairs my physical state. My body fractionally repaired, I quickly get to work on crushing another crystal. This time using both of my hands. By the time I crushed that one and the lightning begins soaking it up, I’m already crushing another one. And another one. And another one. And-- you get the idea. Within a short amount of time, I’m already back up on my feet. Body sparking with both anticipation and lightning, I silently make my way to the still monologuing Colonel. He doesn’t even notice as I get real close to his back, too busy shouting about his nationalism and why Changelings are the superior race. I debate for a short time within my mind on how I should handle this. I could either; A. Stab him in the back right now. B. Stab him in the back right now. Or C. STAB HIM IN THE BACK RIGHT NOW. There was also D, which was all of the above. But. Being the rebellious kid I am. And the notable lack of something stabby that wouldn’t break when it touches his skin. I went with E. I raise my right fist behind him and extend my pointer finger upward, slowly reaching for the right shoulder of the Colonel. “We will triumph over all! Because we are the righteous rulers of this world! All will bow beneath- huh?” Just as the Colonel pivots his head over his shoulder, I jump to his left side and cock my right fist back. And then unleash a haymaker worthy of making even Mike Tyson flinch as soon as the Colonel glanced at his other side. The sound of a tournament bell signaling that a round was over makes itself prominent in your mind. A witty phrase already sounding off from your lips. “…Cool story, mate.” The colonel’s body falls down in a tremendous heap of limbs and bones. Green blood and spittle flying out of his mouth as his mind slowly realizes he was just knocked the fuck out. Shaking my hand both from pain and to get the blood flowing back into it. I step over the Colonel’s body and over to Wolf, who remained silent through the whole ordeal. “Sorry for keeping you waiting.” “…” Piqued at his lack of response, I lean over and check on him. “Hey, you alright?” “…Sensors indicate that structural integrity is adequate. However, I am questioning the possibility that the enemy might still be operational.” “Operational…Huh?-Oh.” Looking back over to the Colonel’s limp body, I can see the barest hint of him breathing. “I should fix that then.” Walking over to the wall where my body is indented at, I pick up the relatively scratched but still functional M1911 and load it with a fresh magazine and aim It at the back of the Colonel’s skull. Just as I pull the trigger, lightning shoots out from my arms and into the pistol for a bit before exiting out through the barrel. Hitting the back of the Colonel’s head and knocking it forward from kinetic force. Meanwhile, I, confused at what happened, was checking the pistol to make sure everything was fine and nothing broke. When I eject the magazine, I see that the sapphire bullets were no longer a dull blue that I normally see, and was in fact, glowing slightly. Making a face at this revelation, I decide that I’ll worry about it later and place the magazine back into the pistol before re-holstering it. Moving my way to Wolf I finish taking off the remaining cables suspending him from the ceiling. As Wolf’s frame comes down to familiar ground, I’m already surveying the surrounding area. Mentally compiling a damage report for reflective use. Enemy Status: Knocked out…Probably. Companion Status: Recovering. My own status: Fucked up, but good. Area of Operation’s status: FUBAR. Yeah. That should do it. I’m too tired to write it all down so instead I just take photos of everything that look remotely interesting to look again. The sound of metal clacking against concrete forces me to look back and see Wolf up and at it again. His metal frame shrouded with debris prompts him to connect to his inner canine and shake his body much like a dog. An odd noise of gears smoothly and jerkily grinding against each other emanates from him. I feel my face contort in concern. Making a mental note to have Wolf checked out when we get back. After I finish taking photos of the area, I signal to Wolf to follow me. The sound of his metal paws as he falls in line the only confirmation that he’s obeyed as I exit the room, leaving the Colonel’s body behind. As I exit out of the hallway, my mind and body decide it’s the perfect time to come off of its adrenaline high and make known every bump, scratch, and cut on my body. The feeling of fire and itchiness not enough to make myself keel over, but enough to make me warrant a re-evaluation of what to do next. Originally, I was going to search and clear all the rooms in the outpost and rig the remaining TNT while I was at it. But due to the current circumstances I feel that I should skip that and just get right to the rigging and leaving. Which is exactly what I’m going to do. As I slowly and somewhat carefully make my way back through the facility, I take note of the building’s layout and plan accordingly to what and where might be the better places to rig the TNT for maximum destruction. Wouldn’t want to waste any, that’s a no-no. By the time I make it back to the sky-bridge, I look forward at the building and decide whether to head back inside and plant any TNT in the areas I thought about. But then I remember that there was the weapons cache in that warehouse connected to the other end of the facility where I planted some, and decided against planting anymore over there. As I walk across the bridge, I drop a stick of TNT at the middle for detonation with the rest later. Wolf, still silently following me enters behind me as we head back into the main building. It’s been a while now, and I’ve gone up and down the center building almost twice looking for anything flammable, combustible, or both. It’s starting to grate on my mind, and the after-effects of the fight and this infiltration is starting to make itself known on my body once more. Souring your mood as I start kicking open doors. When I make it back down to the first floor, I realize that I have never even checked out the third building of the facility. It even crossed my mind about the fact that I never even neutralized the outside patrols. And when it did, I was not happy. “Oh, god damn it…” I plant my head on the nearest wall. Mentally berating myself for my screw-up. “Files and previous testimony shows repeated use of this phrase, even though its actual meaning is physically impossible. Why do you creatures always say it?” I hear Wolf analyze behind me. “Now is not the time for jokes, Wolf. “ I deadpan, and cut him off when he tries to apologize, “Belay that, are your programs back up and running?” “Internal software capabilities show that they are not exceptionally operational, but I can utilize them if needed.” “Good enough, do you have anything that can detect organisms outside? Heartbeat detector, sonar, x-ray, anything?” “I am equipped with a vibration detector similar to sonar. However I doubt its practicality in these circumstances when you’ve proved that you have better hardware.” “What do you mean-? Oh. Ohhhh…I’m stupid.” When Wolf pointed it out, I felt like as if I just now realized I had an arm my whole life and just now decided to use it. Activating my visor after cleaning the dust off of it. I activate the HUD and bring back the marks that were previously placed on the changelings outside. Or, I try to. No marks were outside, no marks were around me. I look up, and I see them. Or one of them at least. At the same area where I wiped out the squadron of changelings in the room where the Colonel is. A red outline of something resembling humanoid shows itself through the walls. It doesn’t take a detective to figure out that one of the changelings outside had known what was going on and came inside as reinforcements. Which means that those outside, or were for that matter, know about the battle as well. “Shit...” I hiss. Possible scenarios making itself apparent. One of them being that either the changelings ran off and back up to the surface, which is bad, but it’s the more optimistic view of how I want things to turn out. As Celestia probably has a clean-up crew on standby ready to mop up any stragglers that I missed. The other scenario is that the remaining changelings ran into the caves and are setting up an ambush for me. Which I do not want one bit. Auuugh. Frankly, I’m getting tired of this. I just want to go back, find a nice comfy bed, and sleep until next week. But if I don’t do something about the remaining changelings now, then this facility will become my death-bed. And it will not be comfy. “You know what? Screw this.” I say as I reload all my weapons, “Wolf, let’s go. We’re gonna set this place up in flames, then we’re getting’ the hell outta here.” “Have you come up with a suitable plan?” “Hell no. I’m just gonna find anything that looks important, flammable, or combustible. Plant the remaining TNT, and deal with the stragglers on the way out.” In the time during our short conversation. I fast-walk with Wolf behind me over to the remaining unexplored building of the facility. We walk through the doorway and my chest gets lighter with a small relief. “And I think we have a contender that fits all three.” Another warehouse similar to the one on the other side greets us. However instead of weapon caches, gems, and the like; this side is designed to hold anything magical or technological related it seems. Structures composing of metal alloys are lined up against the walls, running, completing an unknown purpose that you do not have the patience, time, or drive to learn about. Most seem to be driven by power crystals. In the middle of the warehouse however, sits a larger machine, reaching about halfway to the ceiling of the building. A pipe extends out from above it, twisting and turning out and through the hole in the building that probably funnels the exhaust of whatever is burning in there. I quickly analyze the machine, spotting some large canisters off to the side connected to it. A look through of the label with the help of the visor details that it’s a certain chemical that you aren’t familiar with. But the large icon that translates, “WARNING: KEEP AWAY FROM OPEN FLAMES,” is good enough information to plant the TNT on it. I survey the surrounding area once again, only giving a glance to most things and a photo shot of some others that look important. Before making my way to the exit. Business done with in here. I pause halfway through the skybridge when the visor picks up a signature hiding itself around a corner facing the doorway that I was about to pass through. Seems that my location has been guessed. Potential solutions run through my mind. I could jump out and rappel down the window after breaking it, but that’d make too much noise and I don’t know if there are any hostiles outside still. I wanted to capture the changeling nonlethally so that I could interrogate it and learn about the positions of the others that vanished. But it seems that might not be possible. ...Or could it? I stare at the window again, tapping the knuckle of my finger against it to test its integrity. I’m met with a hard response, with no give at all. I stare back at the changeling again and note that whatever it is on their heads just twitched in response to my taps. I smile, albeit with cautiousness, as I give my orders. “Wolf. Break the window.” “Roger.” As I position myself next to the doorway’s threshold. The sound of metal glinting before a snap is heard is the only warning I get before the glass is shattered by a knife thrown by Wolf’s tail. And. Just like clockwork, what’s on the changeling’s head goes haywire with information processing. My smile grows slightly when I see that instead of rushing out the front door to intercept me like a trained person would, he makes his way to the door to confirm if I’ve actually jumped out the window or not. And right into my ambush. The metal doors slide open as the changeling pushes the button to enter. Crossbow in front of him prepped and ready to fire. He makes his way through it, doesn’t notice until it was too late as I spring forward and wrap an arm around his and and one around his firing arm and twirl him around, slamming him against the wall face first. Kicking the crossbow away, I check to see if he’s still conscious before questioning him. “Where are the others?” “W-what?!” Was his reply. Wrong answer. “You heard me. What happened to the other changelings stationed?” “Wh-What changelinngggah!” I twist his arm further into the chicken wing hold. A sound that’s not supposed to be made by bones greets the both of you. “The changelings that were outside. I know they were there. Either comply or die.” “Ah-ah-All right! All right! As soon as we realized that the Colonel was in a fight we sent them to the caves to report to the chain of command and to destroy the caves if none of us responded after a set amount of time!” He blutters. “What set amount of time?” “Th-thirty minutes!” Thirty minutes. Judging by the time it took for me to finish fighting the Colonel and now, that could be anywhere between twenty and too late. “Who is authorized to call in the report?!” I push on him. Eliciting another gasp of pain. “I-I-I am!” “Good.” I spin him off the wall and kick his legs out from under him into a kneel. “Call it in.” “Wh-what?!” He turns around, mouth open with a rebuttal, before it dies out when he sees the knife at his throat and the gun to his face. “Call. It. In.” I state. The changeling doesn’t even bother to dignify it with a response, opting to just squeak in fear before pulling out a crystal and holding it up to his mouth. “And before you try to pull any funny tricks on me, I have a magical construct here that can sense any abnormal wavelengths being sent out. So if you try to contact anyone else. Your head is going to paint the wall.” I bluff. Figuring that it’d be easier to use Wolf as an example rather than try to quickly explain what my visor can do. The changeling only nods quickly before activating the crystal. “This is Beetle 3-2, gimme a SITREP on the AO.” I hear come out of the crystal. The changeling opens his mouth, and pauses to gulp a fearful lump in his throat when I remind him of the knife at his throat and the gun at the back of his head. “Th-this is Beetle 3-1, The AO is clear. The Colonel dealt with the intruder. Return to base.” Good. I might just let this one live. I ease up slightly on the knife and raise the pistol to prep it for a knockout. “THEBASEISCOMPROMISEDIREPEATTHEBAS-” You fucker… Whatever he said next was cut off as I quickly slit the throat of the changeling and fire the pistol at the back of his head. Green blood painting the walls of the skybridge as the body drops quickly. Losing all sign of life. The crystal loses its glow as the last thing is heard from it is the panicked yelling of whoever is on the other side trying to get more information. All in all, back to square one. I stare somewhat blankly at the corpse’s general area. Mind trying to keep up with what just happened. When it finally caught up. I slowly chuckle in amusement. “And to think; I was gonna let him live.” I holster the weapons, “can’t believe the bugger had the balls to stand up to me like that.” I step over the body and through the doorway. Wolf following behind me as my quiet laughter echoes throughout the halls of the facility. I don’t bother to check anything else, I’m done here. I don’t even bother to crouch or hide beneath the windows. Not much of a point. I eventually calm down by the time we exit the main facility. When I do. I break out into a run in an attempt to try and gain as much ground as possible before I intercept the changelings returning or before they begin the detonation process. When I reach the tunnel, I just barely manage to stop in time to avoid triggering a detonation crystal. A quick drain of its energy prevents it from setting off the chain of explosives that would’ve encased Wolf and I in a rock tomb. Sobered from the close call, we begin the trek back to the surface at a more sedate pace. Knife and pistol at the ready in case of any hostiles. Not much was encountered on the tunnel floor of the facility, potentially due to the unlikelihood of any changelings having maken it back here already. It was when we reached the first hole leading to the floor above did we encounter our first problem. “I hope to God you aren’t heavy, Wolf.” I say as I ready the rope to climb. “Last measurements indicated that my gross weight was around forty-eight kilograms” “Convert it into pounds?” “About one hundred and six.” “Great…” I mutter sarcastically. The climb was hard, but less than I thought since Wolf could stabilize himself when I felt like I was tipping. This would go on for eight more floors.... The tunnels were quiet most of the way through. Any inhabitants normally prowling in here were most likely scared off by the changelings when they bumbled through. It wasn’t until we reach the second to last floor before the surface did we encounter the first engagement. I moved along the wall at a relatively quick pace, light becoming more and more apparent as we came closer to the surface. I round a corner as we reach a T-junction and immediately round back just in time to dodge crossbow bolts from impaling me. Adrenaline coursing, I pie my body around the corner, pistol in front as I search for where the fire came from. Visor helping with the low light. I put my finger on the trigger as I move some more around the corner, when the first changeling’s head popped up on the visor, I fire. The gun’s response deafens me again somewhat, especially with the narrow build of the tunnels. I don’t let it hinder me however, as I used the shock of the sound to make my move. I dart to the other side of the T-junction firing a couple more shots in their general direction before repeating the process with the other side until none were left. Similar engagements occurred as we grew closer to the surface. Wolf pitching in a couple times with the blades he picked up from the changelings’ bodies. I notice late that the gun didn’t fire another one of those charged rounds, but decide to dwell on it later. After a while, we finally make it to the hole leading to the surface. I check the surrounding area for any traps or hostiles. Then breathe a sigh of cautious relief. I feel tired, my body aches from cuts, bruises, and other wounds. But at least I’m alive. I want to sit down and catch myself before making this climb. But I know that if I sit here, I might not get back up. “Hahh...Wolf. You ready?” I ask as I ready the rope tethered to the surface from before. I feel the weight on my back increase as I hear Wolf give his reply, “Affirmative.” “Right then. Here. We. Go.” I grunt heavily as I begin the tedious climb. Expletives thrown this and there, cursing at a certain god and princess for this, the usual. As I reach the edge of the hole. I look up and am greeted with the barrel of a cannon peering at me. Business end pointed directly at my face. “For Christ’s sake.” I mutter darkly. Sweat permeating my brow from exertion and tiredness. “Stop right there, evildoer!” A bouncy, yet somewhat serious voice greets from behind the cannon. “Pinkie... “ Is now really the time? “Weee’ve got another one, girls!” I feel the air grow tense as the direction of the others’ purpose and gazes are directed towards Wolf and I, Meanwhile, I’m too busy cursing in my mind while staring at the belly of the cannon. It’s when I hear the whistling sound of something diving towards me do I grab the hook and hop slightly to the left. A rainbow and a gust of wind the only telltale sign that Dash just tried to dive bomb me back into the hole. I climb and roll onto the ground just in time to dodge her recovery. Her doing so would be a testament to her aerial skills and the depth of the hole I just climbed out of. Needless to say, I climbed a lot. I’m tired as hell, and my patience is wearing very thin. Wolf gets off of me and forms a barrier between the girls directly behind Pinkie and in front of me. Meanwhile said Pie has reoriented her cannon and is staring me down with a gaze that should be taken as serious, but without the heart in it. Rainbow Dash positions herself on the side currently vulnerable and for a moment, I thought I would have to counter her once again. But it seems she’s cautious enough to stand a fair distance away for an easy melee. I glance around for the others, and see Twilight supervising the main shenanigan, arms crossed. Rarity and Fluttershy are off in the distance doing who knows what, and Applejack is currently holding down a hogtied duplicate of me nearby. Immediately, I understand the situation. I’m too tired to do a negotiation, and we all know it’s pointless to argue with women anyways. I turn my head towards where Applejack is located, which is unfortunately behind Pinkie and her cannon. I could kill the duplicate from right here, but that might scare the others and possibly hurt my standing with the girls as it is. Plus It might be better for the Princess to take this one in for questioning. I could attempt to close the distance. Push Pinkie out of the way and have Wolf subdue Applejack while I take care of the imposter. But then there’s the problem of Rainbow Dash being able to catch up to me relatively quickly and Twilight being capable of immobilizing me easily. I brush my hand against the holster holding the pistol. Perhaps I might have to kill this one. Fortunately, before the situation could devolve further, Twilight speaks up. “Girls, I don’t think this one is a changeling. I’m not detecting their usual aura.” “Yeah? Well I’m not letting my guard down, especially with what the previous one did.” I raise an eyebrow in interest, what’d the imposter do? “Besides, if he’s the real one; why hasn’t he said anything?” She leans in towards me, leering. An excellent question, one that’d I answer if I wasn’t so tired to the point I can only watch and react. Pinkie pipes in with her two cents as well. “I bet he doesn’t even know what happened yesterday afternoon at 12:32 P.M in the Canterlot hall-” “Pie in the face.” I interrupt. “Huh?” Rainbow asks. Before spluttering as a cream pie is planted on her face that I took from the inside of Pinkie’s party cannon. “He’s clean!” Pinkie yells, an arm raised in the air in glee. I sigh with visible tiredness. Energy expended from that one spontaneous action. I hope it’s enough to prove my identity, because if it isn’t, I don’t know what happens now. “We done yet?” I ask to nobody in particular. “I have to get Wolf patched up and I want to sleep.” Twilight, having come closer now that the tension is over. Replies. “Anything else you need to do?” “No…” “Everything is done and ready to be sent to the princess?” “Yes…” “All right then.” She nods to herself, as if she’s done something important. For a moment, I’m almost irritated, but then Twilight’s expression changes to that of empathy. “Come on. Let’s head back.” “Thank you.” I say with relief and follow her. And with that, the operation ended with a success. Wolf would need to be patched up again at the smith, and I needed to get my wounds treated. But all in all… Job well done. … … … … Oh. “I almost forgot.” I pipe up. Twilight stops in her tracks, then turns with a gaze that screams, ‘I asked you!’ With all the grace she can muster, and the maliciousness behind it, she asks, “What?” “This.” I hold up the detonator crystal, and activate it. A loud thump is heard, and the ground shakes as the explosives do their work. I look back, and see the beginnings of a smoke stack forming before large fireballs puff out from some of the holes. I walk past Twilight, who is staring at the fireballs with a somewhat mesmerized expression. Crushing the crystal in my hand. I continue,“there. Now that’s everything. Let’s go.” A distance away, I hear the voice of Rainbow shouting in amazement at the spectacle.