A gang of unreformed changelings find themselves fighting for the fate of Equestria
After the events of Blue Fang, the Fang Gang starts to settle into the new hive. All seems peaceful until a threat arises from the darkness. The Fangs, once a gang of outlaws are now tasked with stopping this threat, not only for the hive, but for all of Equestria.
Excellently done cover art by the talented Hippocratic Oath! Thanks a lot buddy!
The group of griffons and ponies grabbed their crossbows and got ready. They looked over to the Lieutenant who nodded and passed a stick of dynamite to another griffon, who’d been wearing a vest of dynamite. He took a breath and took the dynamite stick and a lighter.
The Lieutenant reached his hoof over and opened the wagon door, letting the soldiers out and onto the streets of Manehattan.
The griffon noticed a mother and her son walking right in front of him. They stopped and stared at the group in horror.
The crowd broke out in a panic as the griffon raised his lighter before...
The unreformed changeling of that name looked up to his friend. She looked back at him, her magenta eyes wearing a worried expression. “Come on, Night! Move!”
Nightbite looked up. “I ain’t gonna make it, Midnight. Go on. You can still make it.” He waved a hoof at her.
Midnight frowned and uncovered her face. “No, I ain’t leaving you, Night,” she said, her voice starting to break.
“Go on! I can hold the RG’s! You need to get outta here! If you don’t, they—”
She slapped the changeling across the face. “Pull yourself together, Night! We’re getting home! And now!”
He shook his head a bit, then looked at her. He opened his mouth to speak when he heard voices behind him, more than likely from the Royal Guards chasing them. He looked back, then sighed. “Alright, I’m coming,” he said, holding his head low.
Midnight smiled and led him out of the alleyway. They looked around, watching for any Royal Guards. “We’re clear, let’s go,” Midnight whispered, motioning her hoof.
They two changelings walked out onto the street, about to raise their disguises when…
“BUCK!”
Nightbite looked over to see that Midnight had almost taken a magic bolt to the leg. The two quickly took cover behind a wagon as the ponies around them broke into a panic.
Midnight looked over to see a few guards running after them. She looked at Nightbite. “Come on! Let’s go!”
“Where?!”
“Come on! Let’s run to those wagons!” she said, standing up and running. Nightbite sighed, and followed behind. The pair ran over to the wagons.
Midnight unslung her bag and pulled out a stick of dynamite. She turned around and threw it at the guards. They continued running, stopping at a wagon stocked with dynamite. Midnight smiled at the wagon's contents. She slid her bag in, lighting one of the sticks.
“Alright, dynamite set, now we have to— Clamp! —Ahh!” She winced, before looking at her hoof, which had been lodged by a heavy wooden door. She looked over to the latches that held the door, noticing both of them worn out and rusted. “Buck I think my hoof’s broke. Dang it hurts.” Nightbite grabbed onto her. She looked at him. “Okay! Pull!”
They tried pulling her free, but she didn’t move. Nightbite started having an enteral panick as the sound of the fuse sizzling continued.
“Ah crap...“ Nightbite muttered, now sweating.
“Don’t worry about that fuse! Try again! Pull!“ she said again, now yanking and tugging.
They tried again, but to no avail.
Midnight muttered a curse under her breath, then looked at Night, who continued to pull on her hoof in vain. “We’re outta time! You gotta go now!” Nightbite didn’t listen and continue trying to pull her out. “Nightbite! We’re outta time! You gotta move, now!”
“No! I can get you outta here. If I can just—”
She looked over to see the guards getting closer. She grabbed Nightbite. “It’s okay, Mitchell. I’ll see you on the other side.”
Nightbite’s eyes widened. “What?! No!”
She threw him down a nearby hill.
He rolled down the hill, grunting as he landed carapace first on the ground. He got up and looked up the hill, only being able to helplessly watch as the wagon exploded, sending shrapnel and stray dynamite everywhere. “No! Midni—” a stray dynamite blast sent Nightbite flying back. He tried to stand up only for a tree to fall onto his right leg. After the smoke, shrapnel cleared, he looked around the smoking area.
He tried pulling his leg out, only for pain to shoot through it. He felt just as trapped as…
He sighed, and took his knife. He winced and lowered the knife, beginning to amputate his leg, and he started dragging himself.
~~~
Mitchell woke up a sweat. He looked around the room, before looking over to his nightstand. There sat a picture of Midnight, her bright magenta eyes, wooden goggles, and her pink bandanna staring back at him. He kicked his wooden leg back and forth. He heard hoofsteps and he looked up to see an unreformed, blue-fanged changeling at his door. “What do you need, Blue Fang?”
“Uh, Sarge? We need you.”
The unreformed changeling got up. “Uh… okay.”
The two changelings walked through the hallways, finally stopping at the throne room. They walked in, greeting seven more unreformed changelings, Thorax, Pharynx…
And a few Royal Guards.
They walked over to the other changelings. “Hey Fangs,” Mitchell greeted others.
The one-winged changeling walked up. “Hey Blue, hey Mitchell.”
“Hey, Broken,” Blue greeted his older brother.
Brokenwing smiled.
The others walked over. “Hey, any idea why Shining and the RG’s are here?” Dagger, a short and cocky changeling, asked.
All eyes turned to the brothers.
Shining stepped up. “A few hours ago…”
~~~
Shining and a group of guards dawning gas masks trotted through a facility. “Anything?” Shining asked.
A guard pulled out a barrel. “Uh… we got chem’s here,” he said, noticing a chemical symbol on the barrel.
Shining raised his crossbow. “Alright, let’s go.”
They got onto the wagons. “Come on, let’s go,” Shining said. They started to drive when.
“INCOMING!”
Shining noticed a few arrows flying at them. The wagon in front of them was filled with arrows, one of which was tipped with dynamite. The wagon exploded in a fireball, killing the occupants. Another dynamite tipped arrow hit next to the wagon Shining was in, sending it tumbling away.
Shining felt a hoof wrap around him. “I got you Captain! I got you!”
Another guard was dragging him, while another fired at the approaching force, before both of the guards were struck by arrows. The one dragging Shining was instantly killed while the other was only injured. He looked up to the Captain, but couldn’t recognize him due to the mask.
“Who the buck are yo— ARGH!” An arrow struck the guard in the back, killing him.
An unreformed changeling ran up to the dead pony and examined him. “Hey! Over here!” Another changeling ran over. “Not Shadow Guards.”
The other changeling looked at him for a while. “Royal Guards.”
Shining stared at the changelings as they departed from the scene, taking the chemicals with them.
~~~
“Why should we care about your little chemical problem?” Hivehunter, a red schemed unreformed changeling with a chipped horn.
The others seemed to agree. Well, excluding two. Stinger, a changeling with chipped fangs, and Mantis, a changeling wearing goggles, stepped up. “Well, what kinda chemicals are they?” Stinger asked.
Mantis nodded. “Yeah, is it like chlorine, or pesticides?”
“Well, we know it’s poison,” Shining said.
Zenex, a nymph with heterochromia iridium, clung onto one of Hive’s hind legs. “P-Poison?”
Hive rubbed the nymphs head. “It’s alright, Zenex. The poison isn’t coming here.”
Shining looked over. “I wouldn’t be so sure.”
Kydra, female changeling with dark magenta eyes, looked over. “Why do you say that?”
Shining sighed. “As I said, they were unreformed changelings.”
The Fangs narrowed their eyes.
Shining gulped. “No offense, of course. But still, they may not be the same as you guys,” Shining pointed out. “What if they try and use it against—”
“Sir!”
They looked over to an approaching Manehattan guard. He looked panicked. “Sir… there've been detonations at Manehattan.”
Shining’s eyes widened. “Detonations?”
“Yes. We pushed’em out, but it didn’t have to happen.” The soldier gritted his teeth. “We’ve been tracking those buckers for hours, but you sent us in half-flanked. We don’t have a chance in Tartarus with the ERLW Treaty—”
“The ERLW Treaty is the very bucking reason you’re sorry flank is standing here!” Hivehunter snapped, violently.
The other Fangs nodded. Thorax looked over. “I’m with Hive. The ERLW Treaty is the reason we had no casualties during the Second Changeling-Pony War.”
The Fangs nodded more aggressively. Like it or not, they, including Zenex, fought in the War, and never forgot the experiences.
Thorax looked at them. “Oh, sorry.”
Hive rolled his eyes. “Whatever, Thorax,” he said, rubbing Zenex’s head, his green and blue eyes closing a bit.
Broken looked at them. “Well, I wish we could help, but we’re not soldiers anymore.”
Thorax and Pharynx looked at the Fangs. Thorax bit down on his lip. “Well… not yet,” Thorax said.
The Fangs looked at him. Mitchell spoke up. “With all due respect, we only just got out of that Tartarus hole. Even if we do accept, we can’t fight their weapons without some of our own.”
Pharynx nodded. “He’s right. Crossbow to hoof isn’t fair. They’ll need weapons.”
Mitchell put a hoof to his chin. There had to be someone who could make weapons. He looked at his wooden leg, then it hit him. “Thorax, can I borrow a quill and some paper?”
Thorax tilted his head. “Why?” he asked.
“Trust me.”
Thorax nodded, then levitated the items he requested over. Mitchell took the items and walked over to a nearby table. He dipped the quill into an ink jar and began writing.
Blue Fang looked at Mitchell, who looked at the reformed changeling who walked into the hive entrance. He walked over to the changeling. “Hello Borax.”
The grey schemed changeling bowed his head. “Hello, Mitchell.” They shook hooves.
The others exchanged glances. They stared at the reformed changeling. Hive scoffed. “This is the bucker who’s supposed to get us weapons?” he asked, unamused.
Broken shrugged. “I dunno. Although, he did give Mitchell his wooden leg,” he pointed out.
Zen nodded. “Yeah. I think he’s perfect for the job.” Zen climbed onto Hive’s carapace to try and get a better view.
“Hey! Watch where you put your hooves, Zen!” Hive said as Zen mounted just forehooves on his head.
“Sorry Hive,” Zen said, rubbing the red changeling’s head. He looked at the two changelings.
Mitchell nodded. “You really think you can do it?”
Borax nodded. “Of course I can. My company is happy to help,” he said with a smile.
Mitchell nodded, a smile of his own on his face. “Thanks Borax. This means a lot to us.”
The changeling nodded and walked over to the other Fangs. Mitchell smiled. “Borax, this is the Fang Gang. My sorta family.”
Broken stepped up. “Nice to meet you Borax. I’m Captain Brokenwing and we…” he waved a hoof at the changelings, “are the Fang Gang.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you all,” Borax said, shaking Broken’s hoof. “Mitchell has said a lot about your heroic deeds in his letter.”
Hive stepped up, “it’s nothing really, we just do the best we can.”
Another changeling walked up. “And a fine job you do, but these won’t be any ordinary missions okay?” she passed them a clipboard. “These will all violate ERLW Treaty.”
The Fangs looked at each other, a bit unsure. Hive looked at the two changelings. “But we’ve used the ERLW Treaty for the longest. W-We can’t just—”
“Maybe this’ll change your mind.” The female changeling pulled out a sheet of paper, which the Fangs examined…
~~~
Manehattan 10:30pm. Cpl. Star Strike EUP Guard
Star Strike looked at the four ponies in the wagon, two were in the front, he and the other were in the back. He looked at Rook, who was fiddling with his crossbow with Featherstep and Crosshair were watching the road.
“Anything yet?” Star asked.
Featherstep shook his head. “Nothin yet…”
Rook chuckled. “I didn’t know what this was what we signed up for, eh?” he said jokingly. Star merely rolled his eyes. “Aw, come on, that was good!”
“Shut up! I hear something!” Crosshair said.
Rook chuckled. “You hearin’ crap, Cross?” he asked, “that inching hoof of yours has infected your ear.”
“Buck you!”
“Shut up!” Feather snapped. “I hear it too!”
They looked at a wagon that passed by, a few griffons and ponies sitting down, holding weapons. “Weapons in view,” Feather said.
“That’s them,” Star said, reaching for his radio. “Stargazer to Vulture, got a wagon, multiple military aged creatures in view, moving to intercept.”
The four ponies slid out of the wagon. ‘Rogar Stargazer, unless an attack is imminent- do not engage,’ Vulture said over the radio.
The four ponies trotted down the street. “Wagon, right side,” Rook said, drawing a small hoof held crossbow.
Star bit his lip. “Go! Go!”
They walked up, watching as two griffons hopped off of a different wagon. “They’re here brothers! They’re here!” He called out before Rook threw him down.
“Come’ere!” he yelled, pinning him down.
A few griffons and ponies got off of the wagons. The two sides kept arguing as the wagon drove off. “They’re taking off!” Feather yelled.
Star grabbed his radio. “Vulture! Suspect wagon heading your way!” he said.
They watched as the wagon exploded in a massive fireball, sending the civilians into a panic and knocking the two forces to the ground.
‘Stargazer, missed your last, say again?’
“Bow! Bow!” Feather called out.
Star looked up to see the griffon that Rook pinned standing up with Rooks sidehoof crossbow before firing the weapon into Rook’s head.
“No!” Star cried as he watched Rook fall down dead in a pool of red, before drawing his own sidehoof and firing it at the griffon, taking him down.
The three guards took out a few more ponies and griffons. “Clear!” Star yelled.
“Buck!” Feather yelled.
Crosshair examined Rook’s body. “Rook’s gone! They bucking got him!”
Star’s radio started going off. ‘Stargazer! What the hay is going on down there?!”
“There’s been a detonation at Manehattan! Shots fired! Guards down!” Star yelled into his radio. He picked himself up. “We need medical down here!”
The three guards ran into the firestorm left after the explosion. They stared in horror and shock. “Bucking Tartarus, Star Striker- Look at what they did to our home!”
Star snarled. “And they’re not done yet! Come on, let’s move!” The three ponies moved up into the battlefield.
Star ducked behind a vacant wagon. I’m the distance, they heard screams and crossbows firing.
“That’s auto fire!” Cross yelled.
Feather looked over. “Yeah! And we got bucking sidehooves!”
Star raised up to see a griffon standing over a wagon, firing an automatic crossbow into the wagon, killing any occupants, as well as two more ponies walking with their automatic crossbows.
Star aimed for the one on the wagon first, trying to avoid the civilians running past. He sent about five crossbow bolts into the griffon before he collapsed. He ran up and grabbed the automatic crossbow and ran over to a nearby subway station. Feather ran over. “I’ll take this one, go get the other one with Cross!”
“Yes Sergeant!”
Star ran over to Crosshair, who looked over. “Come on Star!”
“Right behind you!”
The two ran up the subway. Cross ran a bit ahead. He turned back. “Come on! Keep up!” He looked up to see a few griffons firing. The two ponies took cover, then took out the griffons. “I’ll take point!” Cross yelled. He left cover then heard a battlecry. A griffon in a dynamite vest charged at him. “Oh shi—”
Star shut his eyes as an explosion rang out. A tear left his eye as he passed by the blast mark and his friend’s mutilated body. He ran into the subway station, where few civilians were being led away by a guard as a few rushed over. Star reached for his radio. “Vulture, Crosshair is K.I.A, it’s just me and Featherstep.”
‘Affirmative. I’m sorry…’
“I’m moving to the bookshop.”
‘Confirmed.’
The unicorn ran out of the subway station, taking one last look at his earth pony friend, and headed for the bookshop, passing by Feather. “Hey, where’s Cross?”
“...Dead.”
Feather gritted his teeth. “Let’s go.”
The two ran toward a lounge, running in. Star took out the griffons in the lounge and moved up stairs, taking out two more griffons on the second floor, one of which had a scoped crossbow. A guard came back on the radio.
‘There are civilians trapped by the large wagon! They have no weapons!’
Star peered through the scope, noticing five ponies hiding behind a wagon. He then saw one pony running from in front of said wagon. He was shot in the back by a crossbow. Another pony walked up and killed the injured pony.
‘Go! Get outta there!’
Star took a breath, then shot the pony before he killed the civilians. A guard came and escorted the civilians away.
Feather looked at him from the first floor. “Yeah! Proper bucking shooting sir!”
Star nodded and ran back down. He picked up his radio, which went off.
‘Sergeant Featherstep! There’s a possible hostage situation at the hotel!’
The two ponies nodded and ran towards the hotel. A few guards were fighting a few griffons and ponies. He pulled his radio out. “Vulture! We need assistance! Where’s the bucking army?!”
‘EUP assault teams are on the way! Hang tight!’
“Buck! Alright!” Star yelled. He ran behind a wagon, hiding behind it. He aimed it at a griffon. Feather ran up to the front of the hotel. Another battlecry rang out.
Feather looked up. “Dynamite vest! Shoot him! Shoo—” Another explosion rang out, killing most of the guards as well as Featherstep.
“Buck!” Star said, before running towards the hotel. A bit of debris covered the entrance. As he tried to move it, a griffon ran up from the hotel hallway and stabbed him in the chest. “Argh!”
The griffon towered over him, and raised his knife. Before he could stab him, a crossbow bolt ended up in the griffon's head. He looked over to see a pair of magenta hooves standing over him.
“Get him outta here,” a mare’s voice said.
“Yes ma’am.” A few guards ran over and picked Star up and carried him off. He got one last look at the magenta unicorn. Her sea-green eyes turned to the building, before she walked in.
~~~
“Fifty civilian casualties…” Hive said. “Fifty. Civilian. Casualties.” He clutched the paper in his hooves. The Fangs exchanged glances. Then, Broken looked up.
Mitchell stared at his new crossbow. He tilted his head at its design. It was magazine fed and was fixed with iron sights. His other weapon was a dynamite launcher he chuckled at the irony of the weapon. He also had a standard sidehoof crossbow.
Blue also had a semi-automatic crossbow, as well as a crossbow with a revolving arrow cylinder as well as a scope.
Broken had a similar setup, with his main crossbow dawning a new kind of sight with a glowing red dot in the middle and his revolving crossbow was fitted with iron sights.
Hive had a compacted automatic crossbow fixed with iron, thermal, and a scope built for assault, with a standard sidehoof crossbow.
Kydra has a semi-automatic crossbow with a magic laser, and a scope, with her standard sidehoof crossbow, also fixed with a magic laser.
Dagger had a bayoneted assault automatic crossbow as well as a larger, heavy one with a magic laser and a standard sidehoof.
Mantis had a bolt-action crossbow with an improved scope for more long range attacks as well as a smaller, much compact, fast firing, sub-assault automatic crossbow and a scoped sidehoof.
Stinger had a scattershot, pump-action crossbow with a much different red dot sight as well as a standard sidehoof.
Zenex had a small, very compact, very fast firing sub-assault crossbow, as well as two standard sidehooves fitted with red-dot sights, as well as a crowbar.
The nine changelings looked at Borax, who smiled at them. “Bravo! Bravo!” he clapped his hooves. The Fangs looked at their new body armor, which was black and grey camouflage as well as a few pads of armor.
Mitchell smiled and picked up his crossbows. “Well, you’ve given us the weapons and some of the training,” he said, turning to Borax, “so when do we ‘clean up’ Equestria?”
Borax chuckled. “Now, now. Settle down.” He walked over. “I have a job for you first.”
Broken stepped up. “Well, we’re ready for it.”
Borax nodded. “Okay, there’s a hostage situation in Ponyville.”
“Hold on, pause,” Dagger interrupted. “Why aren’t we doin’ anything about the bombings in Manehattan?” he asked. “Innocent creatures are dying out there! And we’re just gonna sit here and watch?!”
Dagger’s outburst made Zenex run behind Hivehunter. Hive rubbed the nymph’s head, then glared at Dagger, who sighed. “I’m sorry Zen. I just… I just don’t want any more innocent creatures to get hurt…”
Hive nodded, his expression going grey. “I know that feeling…” Zen rubbed the red changeling’s carapace.
“We all don’t want anymore civilian deaths,” Stinger said. “We need to be prepared.”
Borax nodded. “That’s why you’re doing this first,” he said. “This’ll be both good practice as well as a way to save a life.”
The Fangs nodded. Broken stepped up. “Give us the briefing.”
Borax nodded. “Yes sir.”
~~~
0730am 2nd Lt. Blue Fang Fang Gang: Special Operations Team Ponyville
Blue Fang looked at the wagon walls. He sighed and looked at Broken. “Captain?”
Broken nodded. “Yes Lieutenant?”
Blue sighed. “Are you sure about this?”
“What do you mean?”
Blue leaned over. “Y’know we’re trusting our lives to some broken horn unicorn right?” he whispered, nodding over to the magenta mare sitting by Hive and Mitchell. “How the heck are we supposed to be sure that she can even help us?”
“You know I can hear you right?” the mare said, her sea-green eyes glaring at the blue-fanged changeling.
Blue cleared his throat. “Sorry… Captain Shadow.”
The mare rolled her eyes. “Whatever Lieutenant. Don’t let it happen again.”
Blue nodded, looking at Pharynx, who shrugged. “What?”
“Nothing.”
Pharynx looked at his crossbow. It was a semi-auto crossbow with a three shot burst toggle as well as a red-dot scope. He then looked at Zenex. He blinked at the nymph, then looked at Hive and Broken. “So who in Tartarus decided to bring Private Zenex along?” he asked.
Hive snarled. “That’s Corporal Zenex, Sergeant,” he growled, glaring at Pharynx.
Pharynx narrowed his eyes. “Well I’m sorry, Lieutenant. But he’s a nymph.”
“So?”
Pharynx’s eyes widened as if he was offended. “He’s thirteen!”
“Okay? He fought in the War and noling had a problem with it.”
Pharynx bit his lip. While Zenex was underaged, and while it was illegal, Hive did have a point. The Changeling in the Trenches as Zenex was called, did have a heroic Devil Horn history. His first engagement was him running through a fog line and behind enemy lines as a runner, sent to get reinforcements. Pharynx looked away.
Hive rubbed the nymph’s head. Then turned to the mare. “So… Tempest, is it?”
The mare rolled her eyes and nodded. “Yes, Lieutenant Hivehunter.”
Hive chuckled. “You don’t have to be so formal Tempest, we’re all family here,” he said, chuckling. “Right fellas?”
“Aura!”
“See?”
Tempest chuckled. “Well, if you’re so sure Lieutenant.” She reached a hoof out. “Tempest Shadow.”
Hive reached his hoof out and shook her hoof. “Hivehunter. Welcome to the Fang Gang, Tempest Shadow.”
~~~
The wagon stopped at a small hill. “Well Corporal…” Dagger looked at Mantis. “This is your stop,” Dagger chuckled, “good luck. We’re counting on you. No pressure.”
“Ah, buck off,” Mantis said, nudging Dagger before grabbing his weapon and hopping out. “Primo Victoria, you sons of mares.”
“Right back at you,” Broken said, nodding as the wagon started moving again.
Mitchell looked at Stinger. “Make sure we don’t die, okay Specialist?”
Stinger nodded. “Yes Staff Sergeant,” the medic replied, smiling.
Dagger looked over to Kydra. “That goes for you too. Watch my flank out there.”
Ky smirked. “You just keep your weapon on the bad guys, Corporal Dagger,” the Specialist replied. Dagger rolled his eyes as Kydra looked over to Blue. “So, how do you like the new position, Second Lieutenant?”
Blue shrugged. “Eh. It’s okay, I guess.” He looked at his armor, and then the insignia on his shoulder, which was a changeling helmet with crossed arrows with the words ‘Fang Gang: Special Operations’ and ‘Primo Victoria’ on it. Blue smiled. “Y’know, who’da thought we’d be fighting for the fate of Equestria?”
“I sure didn’t,” Stinger said, loading his crossbow.
Blue chuckled. “Yeah. In all honesty, I thought Equestria would be protecting us. I mean, our military isn’t doing any good.”
“Hey buck you!” Pharynx snapped.
“Can it!” Hive said. “We’re here.”
They looked out of the wagon and at the house, which was yellow and had two stories. Broken took a breath. “Let’s move. Me and Tempest take point, Blue and Hive follow behind.”
“Aura!”
The changelings and Tempest grabbed their weapons and got out of the wagon. Tempest, Broken, Hive, and Blue got out first, followed by Pharynx, Ky and Zen. Dagger and Stinger jumped out; Mitchell throwing his dynamite launcher to Stinger and hopping out.
“Here Sarge,” Stinger said, passing the launcher back to Mitchell.
Mitchell nodded, slinging the launcher onto his carapace. “Thanks. Now let’s move.”
They pushed past the crowd of ponies and found a group of EUP guards. They walked up to the pony leading them.
Shining Armor looked over. “Who the buck are you guys?” he asked, examining the changelings and pony.
Broken stepped up. “I’m Captain Brokenwing, and we’re the Fang Gang. We’re here to assess the situation.”
Shining tilted his head. “The heck are you bugs doing here?”
Dagger growled. “We’re here to save these poor ponies’ flanks.”
Shining couldn’t help but laugh. “Yeah right. I’ll believe it when I see it.”
Blue nodded. “Well, you’ll see it now. Come on guys.”
They began walking towards the house, only to be stopped by Shining. He glared at them. “Now hold on, me and my guards are handling this. We don’t need a gang of outlaws to handle this.”
The Fangs gasped and glared at him. “Now hold up, we’re trying to help you buckers!” Pharynx snapped.
The two sides continued going back and forth, not noticing that a pony was taking position on a second floor balcony. He pulled out a sidehoof crossbow and fired at the guards and changelings.
Four guards were killed by the crossbow fire while the others ran behind wagons and over sources of cover.
Mitchell pulled out a radio. “MT, we need some support over here.”
~~~
Mantis nodded, picking up his crossbow. “I see him.” He peered through the scope, adjusting the sights and finding the pony. He took a breath. “Пусть смерть будет быстрой и безболезненной.” With that, he pulled the trigger…
~~~
The pony kept firing, then the arrows stopped flying. Blue looked over to see the pony falling backwards with an arrow in the side of his head.
‘Son of a mare’s K.I.A.’
Mitchell chuckled. “Heh, thanks for the assist, Mant.”
Broken grabbed his radio. “Hey Mant, you got a P.I.D on the target?”
‘Yeah. Second floor, I think the last room.”
Broken nodded. “Got it.” He looked at the Fangs. “They got our target. Let’s go.”
“Yes sir!” Dagger said. “What’s the plan?”
“Kydra, Zen, Dag, you three take the pool, Hive, Sting, and Pharynx, you’ll take the garden, Blue, Tempest, Mitchell, you’re with me, let’s go,” Broken ordered.
“Aura!”
The Fangs dispersed, moving towards their respective positions.
~~~
At the garden, a pony stepped up to the four changelings, holding a crossbow. “Drop your weapon and get on the ground!” Stinger yelled. The pony tried to raise the weapon, but Stinger shot him. “Buck!” he said, pumping his crossbow.
Hive jumped a fence and looked at the arrows sticking out of the dead pony and the nearby wall. He looked at Stinger. “I guess that thing really is scattershot.”
The medic rolled his eyes. “Ya think?”
A pony flew through a nearby bush, turning back to the bush as a knife flew into his chest followed by two arrows. Pharynx stepped out from the bush and grabbed his knife. “Stop bucking around you foals,” he said, walking towards the door. As soon as he grabbed the handle, the door flew open and sent him to the ground. Pharynx looked up at a pony, who aimed his crossbow at the changeling. Before he could fire at Pharynx, Hive squeezed his crossbow’s trigger, sending five arrows into the pony.
“Heh. Automatic. My style,” Hive said, helping Pharynx up. “Hey Phar, stop bucking around, you foal.”
Pharynx rolled his eyes. “Buck you,” he growled. “Just… Clear out the rest of the garden.”
“Yes Sergeant!” Stinger said.
“Aye, aye,” Hive followed up, walking off, Stinger close behind.
~~~
Kydra, Zenex, and Dagger moved towards the pool. Kydra looked over. “Got two by the pool, three by the lounge chairs,” she stated.
Zen bit his lip. “How do we do this?”
Dagger examined the area. “Hm… I have an idea.” He pointed to the three ponies on the lounge chairs. “Me and Ky can take those fellas.” He then pointed to the two by the pool. “Zen, you can take them.”
Zen’s eyes widened. “Why do I have to take them?”
Kydra smiled. “It’s okay. You can do it.”
Dagger nodded. “Yeah. If anything goes wrong, we’ll be there.”
Zen reluctantly nodded and shapeshifted into a water beetle as Ky and Dagger ran around to the other side of the fence the three ponies were behind. He walked over to the pool and hopped in. He watched as Ky and Dagger climbed over the fence and took out the ponies. He shapeshifted back and raised his sidehoof crossbow, firing it into one of their heads.
“What the—”
Zen swung his crowbar into the pony’s leg. He jumped out and grabbed the pony, pulling him into the pool.
Ky and Dagger walked over. “Zenny?” Kydra asked.
They waited for a bit. Then, Zen reemerged from the water, spitting some up. “I did it!”
Dagger and Ky chuckled, lifting him out. “Heh. Yes you did,” Dagger said.
Ky smiled and wrapped her hooves around him. She let him down. “Now, let’s go.”
“Hura!”
~~~
Blue, Mitch, Tempest, and Broken moved up. Blue looked at the porch, where a pony sat, reading a piece of paper. Blue raised his crossbow, but Tempest stopped him. “Allow me.” Her weapon was a burst-fire crossbow. Three bolts flew from the crossbow when she pulled the trigger. Those three bolts found themselves lodged in the pony’s body.
Broken smiled. “Great job, Tempest.” Mitchell nodded in approval.
Blue narrowed his eyes. “Yeah, good job. Let’s move up.” They walked you to the door. Blue peered in, only to be met with arrows through the glass part of the door. He recoiled back. “Buck!”
“You’re not welcome here!” a voice from inside said.
Blue growled. “Okay. Here’s the plan, I’ll raised a shield for us, then you guys can—”
“Here’s an idea,” Tempest blurted. “Mitchell, fire your launcher in there. That should take them all out.”
Mitchell smiled. “Yes ma’am.” He walked up, passing by Blue, who had a shocked expression. Mitchell mounted his launcher on the doorframe. “Fire in the hole,” he said, smirking. The launcher made a ‘pop!’ noise as a small, compacted stick of dynamite flew into the room. The creatures inside screamed as the dynamite went off. He peeked in. “Clear.”
Tempest smirked as Broken patted her on the shoulder. “Good call Captain Shadow.”
Blue looked at them. “But… But I thought…”
Broken opened the door. “Come on! Let’s go!” Tempest and Mitchell followed close behind Broken.
Blue looked down and followed behind.
Inside, they passed by the living room, where five charred bodies littered the floor. Mitchell chuckled, looking over to the kitchen entrance, where a pony with a knife was charging them. With one trigger pull, Mitchell fired his launcher into the pony’s chest, sending him flying back inside the room.
Blue looked at another doorway. He peered in, looking down the sights of his weapon. A pony fired at him. “Shoot!” He was about to fire back when three arrows flew down the hall.
“Argh!” A body hit the ground.
Blue looked over to Tempest, who walked down the hall. “He’s K.I.A fellas.”
The other smiled and condemned her actions. All except Blue. He sighed and wondered how the others were doing.
~~~
Dagger looked at the glass doors. He smiled at Zen and Ky. He pulled out his bigger crossbow and fired through the doors. After a while, Zen and Ky breached, looking around. Two ponies lay limp at a table while another was on the floor near the counter. Dagger and Kydra walked over to the dining room, while Zen explored another part of the kitchen. As he approached the doorway, a pony swung his hoof from around the corner.
“Oof!” Zen quickly grabbed his two sidehoof crossbows and pointed them at the doorway. As soon as the pony stepped from around the corner.
“Argh!”
Dagger and Kydra’s heads snapped over. “Zenex?” Dagger asked. They two quickly ran out to see…
Zen laying on the ground, panting heavily as he looked at the roof. Two arrow mags laid on the floor by his two sidehoof crossbows, and a pony lay limp in the nearby doorway. They ran over to the nymph. “You okay?” Ky asked.
“...How about I stick with you guys from now on?”
They chuckled as they helped him up. “C'mon. Let’s move.” They continued moving, meeting up with Hive, Stinger, and Pharynx. “Hey fellas.”
Pharynx nodded. “Hey guys, how’s it going?”
Kydra smiled. “Pretty good. Kitchen and dining rooms are clear.” Zen and Dagger nodded in agreement.
Stinger also nodded. “Garden’s clear.”
“Alright, let’s move to the stairs,” Pharynx said. The group walked towards the stairs and in turn, the entrance room. There, Blue, Broken, Mitchell, and Tempest were waiting.
Broken looked over. “Okay. Blue, Tempest. You two head up stairs. The rest of us will clear the other room.”
Tempest nodded while Blue didn’t give much of an expression. He simply walked up stairs, and to the last room. He cracked the door. Two ponies stood guard. He grabbed his revolver crossbow and burst through the door, putting two arrows into each pony.
Tempest walked in and was tackled by a third pony. The two wrestled for a bit until Blue hit the pony, who tackled him. Blue drew his sidehoof and fired one arrow into the pony’s chest, and one into the bottom of his head.
“Th...Thank you…”
Blue smiled and pushed the pony off of him. “Of course. We’re happy to—”
“Anytime.”
Blue’s heart dropped. He looked over to see Tempest helping the pony up. He watched the two ponies walk out of the room, not even acknowledging his existence. He sighed and laid down, simply staring at the ceiling. Why was he being ignored. Did he do something? It seemed like whenever I had an idea, Tempest would outrank him. Was he even Fang at this point? He had a lot of questions, and not a lot of answers.
He sighed and picked himself up and walked out, taking one last look at the room before closing the door.
Blue’s eyes opened. He looked around the environment. It was pitch black. He gritted his teeth. The Void. He looked around, trying to find where the voice was coming from. “Hello?”
He jumped as he heard a cackle. He immediately recognized it. Chrysalis.
She stepped out of the endless darkness. “Heh. That’s what the old Queen called me. Until I proved her wrong, by taking the throne.”
“Why are you here?”
She walked over to him. “Because I’m disappointed in you,” she said, staring at the Lieutenant. “This 'Tempest' thinks she can walk into your gang and take your glory.”
Blue shook his head. “It’s not like that. She’s just doing her job.”
Chrysalis shook her head. “Oh, Blue Fang... sweet naive Blue Fang, is that what she said?” She examined him. “You could’ve saved the day, you could’ve been a hero. But no, that broken horn unicorn thinks it’s fine to take it all from you.”
Blue narrowed his eyes. “Is this why you’re here. To try and convince me that Tempest is trying to replace me?”
She chuckled. “To put it bluntly, yes.”
Blue growled. “It ain’t gonna work.”
“But you saved her life. Did she even say 'thank you'?”
“Well I.... She... No...”
Chrysalis nodded. “Well, when the time comes...“ She held out his revolver crossbow. “You’ll know what to do.”
Blue’s eyes opened again. This time, he was in his bed. He sighed and looked over to his nightstand, where 'Dead Eye', his revolver crossbow, sat. “You’ll know what to do.” He sighed.
“Blue? Is everything alright?”
He turned to Kydra, who’d woken up. He smiled. “It’s nothing Ky,” he said, before kissing her on the cheek. “Just a dream.”
She smiled back. “Okay then. Night Bluey.” She smiled at the plush on Blue’s side. “And goodnight Snuggle Fang.”
Blue woke up. He looked around the room. Kydra was laying on her side, still snoring. He smiled and stood up, walking off. He walked down towards the lounge, which was by the hive combat simulator. From what Pharynx said, it was a Hearth’s Warming gift from Thorax.
He entered the lounge, which looked like a small coffee shop. There sat Mantis, Stinger, and Mitchell. It was usually used by changelings who used the simulator. So… not a lot of changelings.
He rested on the couch, watching as Mantis and Stinger played an early game of chess, while Mitchell was walking over to the combat simulator.
Mitchell walked over to a pedestal and placed his hoof on it. Blue watched the arena transform into a small market place in Saddle Arabia. Mitchell chuckled and walked in.
Blue walked over to one of the vending machines in the lounge. He slid a bit in and took out a soda. He chuckled and sat back. They sat there for a while, then Thorax walked in, looking at them.
“What are you guys doing in here?”
They looked over. “Just relaxing,” Blue said.
Thorax shook his head. “Well, you guys can’t take up all of the space,” he said, looking around. “I was planning to add some renovations to this place. Maybe let other changelings use it,” said Thorax, happily. “But that does mean you guys won’t be able to hang around here much longer.”
Mantis blinked. “Well, where do you want us to go?” he asked.
Thorax shrugged and sat next to Blue. “I dunno. But I want you guys to have somewhere to relax. Somewhere private where you can store your weapons and have your own personal combat simulator.” He laid his head on Blue’s shoulder. He gently nuzzled the blue-fanged changeling’s neck.
Blue giggled a bit. “H-Hey! That tickles!”
Thorax’s ears perked up and a grin forming on his face. “Really?”
Blue’s eyes widened and a blush formed on his face as he realized what he’d just said. “N-Nothing Thorax! Just… speaking without thinking…”
Thorax smirked. “Really? Because I’m pretty sure I heard you say that it tickles.”
Blue shook his head. “No it doesn’t!” he pouted.
Thorax smirked and grazed a hoof across Blue’s stomach, looking at the unreformed changeling’s expression.
Blue’s face twinged. “St-Stop that! Or else I’ll—”
Thorax chuckled. “You know you won’t hurt me, Blue,” the changeling King said smugly. He smiled, noticing how surprisingly soft Blue’s stomach was. “Heh, now I see why Ky likes resting her head on your belly,” Thorax said, nuzzling Blue’s stomach. “Your pillow skills are remarkable.”
Blue blushed, still holding back giggles. “Sh-Shut up!”
Thorax grinned playfully. “Heh, disrespect much?” he said, tracing a circle on Blue’s stomach, causing him to let out a very soft, but still audible giggle. Thorax’s grin only widened. “There it is!” he chirped before going all out on Blue’s belly.
Blue’s eyes widened and he started laughing. “Ahahaha! Nohohoho fahahahair!” the blue-fanged changeling squealed. Thorax only continued tickling.
“Tickle tickle tickle! Ah tickle tickle!”
“Hahahaha! Thorax! I’m sohohohorry!” Blue laughted, in incoherently falling onto Thorax’s lap, exposing his belly even more.
Stinger chuckled. “Heh, I thought you didn’t like being respected as king,” he said, a smug grin forming on his face.
Thorax looked over at him, still attacking the changeling’s belly. “Eh, it works sometimes. This is one of those times.” He smirked as he looked at the changeling under his hooves.
Blue squirmed. “Hahahahaha! Okay! Okahahahay! I’m sohohohorry!”
Thorax smiled and let him up. The Lieutenant sat up, only just to lay back down on Thorax’s lap. Thorax chuckled and rubbed his head. “Tired much?”
“Whatever…” Blue yawned. “I will bury you in those old underground military barracks.”
“Oh yeah, now you’re gonna get it.” Before Thorax attacked Blue’s stomach again, he paused. “Wait, old military barracks? Blue you’re a genius!”
Blue looked up at Thorax. “I am?”
Thorax nodded. “We can turn those old barracks into the Fang Gang’s personal headquarters!”
Mantis smiled. “Huh, that’s actually a good idea.”
Stinger nodded. “Yeah. Maybe Borax can help with that.”
Thorax smiled. “Great thinking Bluey!” he said, grazing his hoof across Blue’s belly again.
“Hehehe! Hey! Only Kydra can call me ‘Bluey’!” He paused. “And Broken. And Zenex…” he admitted, still laying on Thorax’s lap.
Thorax chuckled, watching a pink cloud take up Blue’s face. “Better add my name to that list Bluey. ‘Cause I’m gonna be calling you that for a while.”
“Aww!” Mantis and Stinger cooed at the same time.
“Sh-Shaddup you two…”
~~~
Blue sat at a table with the other Fangs. He chuckled, looking at them. Broken smiled. “So, how are you fellas liking the renovations?”
The others nodded.
“I mean, it’s less cramped than the lounge,” Dagger remarked.
“True,” Mitchell replied.
Broken nodded. “Now, I know you wanna get all settled in, but we still have work to do.” He walked over to a white board. “As you can see, there’s a building up here. This is where a group of terrorists called the Fallen Blade. A group of ponies, griffons, and maybe a few others.”
Broken continued going on, but Blue wasn’t paying attention. He was looking at Tempest. He sighed and looked up to Broken, but then…
‘You’ll know what to do.’
Blue’s head snapped over to Tempest and his vision started going distorted as his hoof reached for his crossbow. He struggled to keep his hoof still as he pointed it at Tempest...
“Blue!”
The Lieutenant’s head raises up. He saw Broken staring at him. “Huh? What happened?”
“You fell asleep and missed the entire briefing.”
Blue shook his head. “What are we doing?”
Broken smiled. “We’re going after one of the Blade’s leaders. He’s holding zebra prime minister Zanzibar hostage.” The Captain smirked and held one of his forehooves up. Blue watched as a blade appeared from Broken’s armor. “Whadda say? You in?”
Blue stared at Broken’s hoof, then grabbed it. “Yeah. All in.”
0450 pm. Lt. Blue Fang Fang Gang: Special Operations Team Fillydelphia
Well, despite me sleeping through the darn briefing, my brother thankfully informed me that we’re going to save a zebra prime minister named ‘Zanzibar’. We’re sending Zen to scout ahead. Hopefully nothing bad happens.
And I keep having those dreams. The ones where I kill Tempest. I really need to see Sting for some meds.
—Lt. Blue Fang
~~~
0630 pm. Cpl. Zenex Fang Gang Target Building Vents
Zen squirmed his way inside of the vents, closing the cover behind him. He pulled out his sidehoof and crawled through the vents, feeling like a tunnel rat of sorts. The only thing he could hear was his breathing. He chuckled. “You alright there, Hivey?” He looked down to a mug.
A pair of ruby eyes opened from the mug. Judging by the heavy breathing coming from the mug, Hive was hyperventilating. Zen chuckled as Hive looked over. “No,” he said, shaking a bit. “Y-You guys know I’m claustrophobic…”
Zen smiled. “Just a little further. Hang in there.”
“Easy for you to say. You love small spaces.”
Zen chuckled and looked down one of the vents. He examined the table below him. He grinned, noticing a filled coffee mug. “This is your stop, Hivey,” he said, using his crowbar to open the vent and using his aura to levitate Hive and his knife and sidehoof down, while also levitating the original coffee mug away. He chuckled and crawled away, leaving the Lieutenant to his own devices.
Hive watched his target and two other ponies walk around. He held back the urge to chuckle, watching said target to walk over. He picked Hive up.
“Uh… Is this my coffee?” he asked the other two. He looked back. “I could’ve sworn it was—”
Hive sprung up and grabbed his knife and began shanking him with it.
“Argh! Shoot him! Shoo—”
Hive grabbed his sidehoof and fired four shots, two at each of them. He watched as they dropped to ground, dead.
Now, he chuckled. “Poor buckers.” He reaches for his radio. “He’s down,” he spoke, examining the body.
‘Good,’ Broken said. ‘There should be a key on his body. Grab that and get to the meeting point.’
Hive chuckled and reached for the key. “It’ll be hard without my primary crossbow.”
‘Heheh. Since when do you need a crossbow?’
Hive smiled and walked towards the door. “Touché, Cap. I’m on my way.” He opened the door and walked out.
~~~
Hive peered through the halls, pointing his sidehoof around each corner he turned. Despite his training in trigger discipline, his hoof rested on the trigger the entire time. He looked around, trying to find the entry point to let the others in. He entered another room and looked up towards a sunroof, where the others looked down at him. They opened the glass roof, hopping inside.
“Hey Hive,” Dagger said, looking around the building.
“Hey Dag,” Hive greeted back.
They looked at one of the vents, where Zen poked his head out. He crawled out and landed beside them. “He’s on the other side of this wall,” Zen said, tapping the wall.
They nodded, cracking the door. Blue chuckled, his eyes flashing blue. “Ready… Rage?”
Heh, born
Blue chuckled, stepping back.
Tempest blinked. “Blue?! What are you—”
‘Blue’ rushed through the door and shut it behind him. Tempest blinked. “What is he—”
“Argh! What is that thing?!”
“Ah crap! Shoot it! Shoot it— Gaaah!”
The sounds of glass shattering and arrows firing, and screams of pain and panic came from the room, muffled.
“Clear!”
The others, except Tempest, chuckled. Broken looked around. “Alright fellas, we can come in and not lose our lunch.”
They stepped in, the glass panes broken, arrows sticking out of ponies and griffons alike. Some hadn’t even been killed by arrows, but by hooves or beatings.
Blue smirked, holding his head high, looking at Tempest. “Well?”
“It’s… a fine job I guess…”
The others chuckled and freed the prisoners. The zebra stood up. Broken walked over. “Zanzibar?”
“Yes.”
Broken nodded and grabbed his shoulder. “You’re okay now.”
Zanzibar nodded. “There was a group of soldiers…” he pointed at the door.
Blue nodded and led some of the Fangs out. As they left the room, Tempest grabbed him. “Listen here bugboy: I’m not playing with you.”
“Neither am I. I’m just following orders.”
Tempest growled. “Look, I don’t know what game you’re playing, but you better get in lane.”
“Buck you. I don’t take orders from you.”
“Well you better start,” she growled, placing a hoof on his shoulder.
He narrowed his eyes and pushed her off. “Shut up hornhead. If you had one.” He growled and walked off to the other Fangs. “Come on, Primo?”
“Victoria!”
The other Fangs ran behind Blue, Tempest slowly trudging behind.
~~~
“Run Zenex! Run!”
Blue, Dagger, Mitchell, Hive, Zenex, Tempest, and Kydra had been running from a local militia force. They ran down an alleyway, Hive turning to fire at the attackers.
They stopped to rest, crossbows in hoof.
“Well, any bright ideas?” Mitchell asked, pulling out his dynamite launcher. The Fangs and Tempest exchanged glances, before shaking their heads. “Oh great…” he muttered, loading a dynamite stick into the launcher. “Fire in the hole!”
Pop!
BOOM!
Mitchell loaded another stick into his dynamite launcher. “Come on, I don’t have all the sticks in the world!”
Blue’s radio started going off. “Mant?”
‘Yep. I have an idea for your situation.’
Blue looked at the others, who nodded back. “What is it Mant?”
‘I uh… sent a “gift”.’
They looked up to see a package with a parachute floating down. They trotted over as it landed. On top was a button, which Dagger didn’t hesitate to push.
The box fell off, revealing a suit of armor as well as a heavy automatic crossbow with multiple barrels. Dagger smirked and grazed his hoof across the armor.
“Heh… nice,” he said, smiling. Dagger opened the armor and stepped in. The armor encased him like a titanium exoskeleton. He chuckled and picked up the automatic crossbow.
“Ain’t that thing heavy?” Tempest asked.
“Mm-mm,” Dagger said, shaking his head and pressing down on the trigger, which caused the four barrels to spin. He smiled and loaded the arrow belts into the automatic crossbow. “Heheh, let’s deliver some kick flank!”
The ponies and griffons ran around the corner, and were greeted by the armor wearing Dagger.
“Oh shoot! What the?!”
Dagger lit the group up. The others watched as the ‘crossbow’ rapidly fired arrows into the Blade soldiers. The ponies and griffons dropped dead.
“Heh… nice,” Hive complimented the armor and weapon.
The others chuckled, watching Dagger take them down. The changeling smiled through his helmet and looked over.
“I’m gonna marry this thing,” he said, chuckling. The others smiled and trotted over to him.
“Man, that thing must pack some serious firepower,” Blue said, examining the titanium armor. Then, Mantis came onto the radio.
‘It does. And might I say, Dagger looks hot in that…’
“Wait, what?” Dagger looked at his radio.
‘N-Nothing! Anyway… there’s uh… a few hostiles coming from behind.’
“I got’em.” Dagger turned around. Then, he noticed a wall facing them. He blinked in confusion. “Dude, how am I supposed to shoot through a wall?”
‘You’re wearing a suit of titanium power armor. Just break it.’
“Fair enough.” Dagger looked at his armored hoof, before punching a hole through the wall, surprising those on the other side. They fired at Dagger, but the arrows merely bounced off his armor. Dagger smirked before raising his crossbow and killing them too.
The group chuckled and marched out, a job well done.
Mantis looked over, noticing Dagger sheepishly standing in the doorway, holding his crossbow, which was broken. “Again? Dude…”
“I’m sorry Mant! I just… tripped… a lot…” Dagger set the broken crossbow down on Mantis’ table.
Mantis sighed, grabbing his tools and getting to work on Dagger’s crossbow. He had been coming in almost weekly with his broken crossbow. This was practically a routine.
Dagger sat on Mantis’ bed, watching as he fixed the weapon. He smiled at the changeling. Mantis had been helping him get back into dating. His first attempt was… awful. It involved a lot of thorn plucking from Dagger’s body.
“Done.” Mantis said, placing Dagger’s crossbow to the side.
Dagger sighed and looked at Mantis, who was busy fixing a new attachment to his own crossbow.
“Something wrong?” Mantis asked.
“I dunno... I’ve tried my luck with girls, but it always goes wrong...” Dagger said.
Mantis looked over. “Aren’t you bi?” he asked, referring to the coming our Dagger had done a few days earlier. “Why haven’t you tried boys?”
“I... uh...” Dagger blushed. “I hadn’t thought of that...”
Mantis facehoofed. “Really?”
“S-Shut up man...”
“Dude, I’m pretty sure if you tried using the other side of your sexuality, you’ll have better results.”
Dagger chuckled a bit. “Heheh, thanks Mant. You’re the best.”
“Yeah, I know I am,” he said, holding his head high. “It helps to have common sense.”
Dagger pouted. “Hmph. Whatever...”
A Few Days Later
Soon, Dagger found a boy, a griffon, he thought he could settle down with. The griffon’s name was Bronze, and he and Dagger were quite similar in personality. Soon, about after a week, Bronze invited Dagger over to his house.
“Woah. Nice place,” Dagger said walking in.
“Heh, thanks,” Bronze said, showing him around.
Dagger chuckled, grabbing an apple from a fruit bowl. “Heh, I gotta say, I seriously thought you’d be one of those ‘mating is the most important thing in a relationship’ griffons. I guess I was— Hey?! What the heck?!”
Dagger kicked out his hind hoof, kicking Bronze back. He glared at the griffon. “What’s wrong with you?!”
“What?”
“Don’t act all oblivious, you had your claws around my flank!” Dagger snapped.
“That’s why you came here!”
The changeling tilted his head. “What do you mean?”
“My letter.”
Dagger pulled out the letter and reread it. “Dude, the metaphors are so bleak, you may as well have sent it to a five year old. Like, ‘let’s have fun’? That could mean literally anything.”
“Whatever. I wanted to get laid, and that’s what I’m gonna get!” Bronze then tackled and pinned Dagger to the ground.
“Ack! Hey! Get off of me!”
“Nope! I’m claiming what’s mi—”
CRACK!
Dagger blinked, watching as Bronze fell off of him. There stood Mantis holding a pool cue. He kicked Bronze into what appeared to be a closet or another room.
“What are you doing with that pool cue?” Bronze asked.
Mantis flipped his goggles down. “Don’t worry about it.”
Dagger then heard Bronze scream:
“Ahh! You told me not to worry about it! I should’ve been worried the whole time!”
Mantis stepped out and locked the door. He chuckled and trotted over to Dagger. “Come on buddy, let’s get you outta here.” Dagger nodded and grabbed onto Mantis, who helped him up. Together, the two friends left.
After that fiasco, Mantis began noticing a slight pattern with this. Dagger was either abused, turned down, or something detrimental to his physical and mental health. And it sure didn’t help that Dagger had a morphine addiction.
Mantis stared at Dagger’s door. “Um... Dag? You okay? You’ve been crying for half an hour now.”
“Go away, Mant!”
Mantis sighed and picked the lock, walking in to see Dagger curled up in his blanket, sobbing. Mantis sighed and walked over. “Dagger? Are you... crying?”
“Yes!”
“Probably a stupid question, but why?”
“I just want someone to love! I’ve always been the shipper, but I’ve never been shipped!” He started wailing, burying his head in the pillow.
Mantis blinked a bit, before blushing and looking away.
Dagger looked up with tear filled eyes. “I-I’m gonna die alo—”
Mantis pressed his lips against Dagger’s. The changeling’s eyes widened as he watched his friend kiss him. Mantis pulled away and smiled, before laying on top of Dagger.
“Heheh, you are so my boyfriend, shortstack...”
Dagger blushed. “M-Mantis…”
Mantis put a hoof over Dagger’s mouth. “Shh... don’t ruin this moment...”
Dagger smiled, rubbing Mantis’ head, pulling him close. Soon, the two were fast asleep.
Now, a few days later, they had to come out to the gang. It was no secret that Dagger was Bisexual. However, Mantis was Gay, and hadn’t came out. So, he had his worries.
“Don’t worry Mant. They were fine with me, so I don’t see any reason they wouldn’t accept you,” Dagger reassured.
Mantis smiled a bit. “Okay…”
The two walked towards the gang. Mantis stayed back a bit. Dagger smiled and grabbed his hoof.
“C’mon Manty.”
Mantis nodded. “Heheh… okay Dagger.”
The two continued walking, heading towards the Fangs. “Hey fellas,” Dagger greeted.
They smiled and looked over. “Hey Dag, hey Mant,” Broken waved.
Dagger trotted over. “Hey… so uh… me and Mant have something to say…”
The Fangs listened closer. “Hm?”
Mantis blushed, stepping back. Dagger pushed him up. “Go on, Mant.”
“O-Okay…” Mantis stepped up. “I uh…” he blushed harder. Dagger rubbed his back.
“I’m here buddy.”
Mantis smiled and nodded. “Heh… uh… I’m… I’m Gay…” he looked away, blushing furiously.
The Fangs exchanged glances. “Okay, and that’s wrong because…?” Kydra asked.
Mantis looked over. “Y-You guys don’t hate me?”
“Of course not!” Zenex chirped, buzzing his wings and smiling.
“Yeah! You’re a Fang and forever will be!” Stinger replied.
Mantis smiled and nodded. “Heh… thanks guys.”
They smiled and nodded as well. Dagger chuckled. “There’s more news.”
“Oooh.” The Fangs listened eagerly.
They nodded. The two blushed, then said, “we’re in a relationship!” in unison.
Silence…
...then cheers.
The Fangs smiled. Then, Zenex called out, “Snuggle Fangs!”
The gang piled up on top of the two, nuzzling them. Mantis and Dagger smiled, finally feeling free, and no longer scared to express themselves.
A griffon walked through the sands of the marketplace. He murmured a curse under his breath, hating the Saddle Arabian desert and pulled out a radio. “I’m here.”
‘Heh, good job Bleach. Now, there should be someone there in all black.’
“Yes, Hades.” The dark grey griffon looked around, before noticing a horse in all black pulling crates into a house. He nodded and walked over. “Excuse me?”
The stallion looked over. “Ah, yes. The buyer?”
“Mhm.” Bleach walked over, pulling out a few bits. He looked into the crate. “These are all Arabian made?”
“The best we have.” The horse pushed the crate over. “And Equestrian bits?”
“Here. Make sure your family doesn’t find out.”
The stallion smiled, which soon disappeared into a face of horror as a filly ran down the stairs.
“Daddy!”
Bleach looked over, watching as the Arabian picked the filly up. He sweated nervously and looked at Bleach.
He shook his head. “Please, sir! S-She is only five!”
Bleach bit his lip. He didn’t like this part of his job, but work was work. “I’m sorry sir. But you know how the Blade works.” He pulled out his revolver crossbow and aimed it at the two.
A few minutes later, Bleach stepped out, holding the weapons cache. He soon heard the terrified scream of a mare inside the building. As quickly as it came, the house exploded into an orange fireball.
He sighed and pulled out his radio. “I’ve got the weapons, Hades.”
‘Great job, Bleach. Now get out of there.’
“Yes sir.” The griffon slipped on his bandanna and ran off with the weapons cache. However, in his escape, he left behind a single black feather...
Blue looked at the newsletter. He bit his lip, examining the paper. A family in Saddle Arabia murdered. He looked at Mitchell, who was screwing his wooden leg on. “So, we’re just gonna do nothing?” Blue asked.
“About what? That Arabian family?” Mitchell replied, looking up.
“Yes! A family murdered by the Blade!” Blue snapped, scrunching the paper and growling. “I thought we were supposed to protect the innocent! Not let them die!”
Mitchell nodded. “I know Lieutenant, but how could we know that the Blade was gonna do this?”
Blue shrugged. “I just… I dunno…” he sighed and looked down. Then, he looked up. “What about the Shadow Guard?”
“That Blade division?”
“Yeah. Why don’t we take them out?” Blue asked.
“Because they’re elite,” Tempest’s voice cut in as she and the others Fangs trotted in.
Blue rolled his eyes. “What do you want, hornhead?”
She narrowed her eyes. “What’s your problem hole-hooves?” she spat in retaliation.
Blue growled. “What your tongue stormfreak.”
“Blue Tooth.”
The two snarled and Tempest lunged. The two begin fighting each other. Blue Fang grabbed a hardcover book and whacked Tempest across the face. Tempest retaliated with a kick to the groin. Blue howled and lunged. The two continued punching each other.
“Cut it out!” Broken yelled. The others immediately jumped and pulled the two scufflers away from each other. Broken growled. “Enough!” he snapped, looking at the two. “Since you two can’t stop arguing, how about we send you on a mission together?!” Broken grabbed the two and dragged them towards the mission board. He ripped a bounty poster off the wall and dragged them out. He threw them out, giving them their gear and the bounty poster, then shut the door.
Blue and Tempest picked themselves up. Blue glared at Tempest. “Well great, that’s what I bucking need.” He sighed. “Gimme the dang poster.”
Tempest narrowed her eyes. “Heck no. I’m a higher rank. You obey my orders,” she snarled, holding the poster up.
“Higher rank my flank, gimme that darn poster,” Blue snapped, snatching it away from her. He looked at it, then read it. “Target: Griffax aka ‘Bleach’. Wanted for several counts of murder. He is the main bounty hunter/debt collector of the Blade. One of his crimes include blowing up a house in… Saddle Arabia?!”
Blue growled and ran off towards the train station. Tempest blinked and followed behind.
~~~
Bleach was still in Saddle Arabia. He was going to ‘collect’ another debt. He felt disgusted in himself. He despised every part of his job. Whether it was killing innocents to basically robbing them of their belongings, it always felt wrong. And he knew it all too well. But it was his only source of income. Everyone knew his face and wouldn’t accept him for any form of job.
He sighed, looking around. He soon found the dealer. He walked up to him, making sure no one was behind him. “Code word?”
“Nightchild.”
Bleach nodded and gave him the bits, taking the weapons cache. He sighed with relief. No casualties today, unlike last night. He looked around, before noticing a few Royal Guards patrolling the town. He bit his lip and tried to hide his face. Keyword: tried.
“Hey! You!”
Bleach wasted no time, drawing his revolver sidehoof and firing at the two guards, killing them. The crowd began screaming and broke out in panic as a firefight began.
Bleach ran off with the cache, firing at the guards. He ran through the market.
“Hey! Stop him!” a pony shouted. “Get him!”
Bleach ducked behind a counter, reloading his revolver crossbow. “Bucking heck… need a new crossbow…” He looked at the charging guards. One of them had a scattershot crossbow. Pump-action. His favorite. Well, apart from lever-action.
Bleach pulled out a chlorine gas grenade and threw it, pulling out his gas mask.
“Ah shoot! Chlorine!”
“Get back! Get ba—”
The grenade exploded, green gas filling the area. Many guards collapsed immediately, coughing and spitting up blood. Bleach ran over and picked up the scattershot crossbow. He ran into a building, looking at the family inside. He sighed.
“'Akhraj min huna. 'Abhath ean al'aman,” Bleach said, giving them gas masks.
The family nodded and grabbed the masks, running out. Bleach sighed. Hades would have his head if he found out, but he couldn’t care less. He loaded his crossbows and dug in, flipping a couch over and using a bookshelf to barricade the door. He reached for his radio.
“Scabre. I need extraction. I’m surrounded.”
‘Copy. We’re sending an extract team to your location.’
“Copy.” Bleach aimed just crossbow at the door, waiting.
~~~
0350 pm. 2Lt. Blue Fang & Cpt. Tempest Shadow Fang Gang: Special Operations Team Saddle Arabia
Paired with Tempest. Never thought I’d see the day. Buck me. We’re hunting some griffon; goes by Bleach. His real name is Griffax. Stupid name if you ask me. Anyway, me and Stormfreak Tempest have a bird to bag.
—2Lt. Blue Fang
0350 pm. Cpt. Tempest Shadow & 2Lt. Blue Fang Fang Gang: Special Operations Team Saddle Arabia
Buddies with Blue Fang. Great. Big win for me. Just when I thought this day couldn’t get any worse, we get sent to the hottest country in the world. Saddle Arabia. We’re hunting a griffon named ‘Bleach’ Griffax. I like his name. Very unique. We arrive in a few minutes. Let’s see how Blue Tooth Blue Fang gets himself shot today.
—Cpt. Shadow
The train stopped at a station. Tempest grabbed her equipment and stood up. Her burst crossbow and very powerful sidehoof were both loaded. She had a few lightning grenades, courtesy of Borax. These sent out an electric discharge that shocked any nearby enemies. There were two settings. Lethal, and nonlethal. She chuckled and scooped them up.
Blue was fishing through his bag, grabbing his revolver crossbow scope. He smiled and slid it on. He chuckled and grabbed his primary crossbow, sliding a magazine into it. He grabbed a few more magazines and a few pin triggered dynamite sticks, which Borax called ‘grenades’. He chuckled and stood up.
He walked towards his door, but bumped into Tempest by accident. They dropped their lethal throwables.
“Ack! Tempest, you idiot!”
“Blue Fang, you dumb motherbucker!”
The two dived for cover, praying that the grenades wouldn’t go off. Thankfully, they didn’t. Blue and Tempest scowled at each other, scooping up the grenades. Blue stood up and walked out of the train car. He put his hoof over his eyes to shield them from the Arabian sun.
“Ugh… what the buck…”
Tempest rolled her eyes. “Get a tougher chitin, Blue Tooth,” she chastised, drinking from her canteen.
Blue narrowed his eyes. “Shut up Stormfreak.” He walked out and looked around. The horses looked very confused and concerned about the unreformed changeling and broken horned unicorn stepping off the train with weapons. But it was mostly Blue they were eyeing.
He growled and looked around. “Ugh… dumb horses…”
“Ahem.”
He rolled his eyes, but gulped slightly. “Shut up. Now where are those idiot guards?”
Tempest sighed. “I hope they’re up your—
Boom!
The two flinched, looking over. There was a green cloud of gas surrounding the market.
“Is that… chlorine?!” Blue asked.
Tempest punched him in the shoulder. “Of course it is Blue Tooth! Come on!” She ran off.
“Gah! Son of a— Stormfreak!” He followed behind.
~~~
The two ran into the market, looking around for the chlorine. They soon began coughing and covered their mouths. Tempest had the worst of it, however.
“Why aren’t you—” she coughed and wheezed. “C-Cough-ugh-ughing?!”
“Well, it's an evolution thing. We aren’t too susceptible to chlorine or phosphorus.” He coughed again. “But we aren’t immune to it.” He looked around. “We need masks!”
They looked around, before noticing a family escaping the chlorine with masks. They ran over.
“Excuse us!” Blue called. “We need your masks! It’s urgent!”
The family spoke in Arabian. Blue shook his head.
“No no, masks. We need need your—”
“Nahn bihajat li'aqnaeatik.”
The family nodded and the adults took their masks off and gave them to the officers.
Blue blinked and took his gas mask. “What the hay? You speak Arabian?”
“What? You don’t?” Tempest teased, slipping hers on.
Blue rolled his eyes and slipped his on. “Whatever. Can you ask them where Bleach is?”
Tempest nodded. “Min 'ayn hasalt ealaa hwla'?” she asked. They replied back. “What?!”
“What is it?” Blue asked.
“Bleach gave them the masks!”
Blue blinked. The family spoke again, pointing at a house. The two nodded and ran into the gas. The masks were very effective. Blue looked around, noticing a few dead or dying guards.
“Crap…” he said, examining one of the bodies. “Poor ponies never stood a chance…”
“No, really?” Tempest sighed.
The two continued moving, finding the house. Blue tried to open it, but it was barricaded. He snarled and stepped back.
Tempest blinked. “What are you gonna do? One punch it dow—”
Crash!
Tempest flinched, then noticed the door was gone. She looked at Blue, who’s eyes were glowing a sharp blue, before returning to normal. He chuckled and nodded at her.
“Well?”
She groaned and trotted over. She aimed her crossbow in, looking around. “Bleach! We’re here for your arrest! Come out!”
She stepped in, aiming her weapon around. “Come out! There’s nowhere to ru—”
A pony tackled her, throwing her crossbow away. Tempest pulled out her knife, aiming it at the Blade pony’s chest. The pony punched her in the face, drawing their own knife and trying to stab her.
“Hey! Motherbucker!”
The pony looked over, before being killed by Blue. The changeling chuckled and walked over. “Hey stormfreak, stop playing arou—”
A griffon whacked Blue in the back of the head with a hardcover book. Tempest rolled her eyes and grabbed her sidehoof, sending two arrows into the pony’s chest. Blue groaned and stood up.
“Heheh, you were saying, Blue Tooth?”
Blue narrowed his eyes. “Shut it Stormfreak…” he looked at the two Blade soldiers. “I thought Bleach was the only one here?”
“Must’ve called in reinforcements or something…” Tempest replied, searching the bodies.
“The heck are you doing?” Blue asked, rubbing his head.
Tempest rolled her eyes. “Checking through bodies. They might have some lethals or ammo.”
“Whatever you say…” Blue looked around. There was a kitchen. Maybe thar bucker’s in there. He trotted over. “Fang Gang Special Operations! Come out with your hooves—” he shook his head. “Claws up!”
Tempest facehoofed, causing Blue to whip around.
“Jeez, you’d think a Lieutenant would know something about his op,” she chastised, walking towards another dead Blade soldier.
Blue rolled his eyes. “Oh shut it, Stormfre—”
A flashbang went off, blinding and deafening Blue, whilst merely deafening Tempest. The pony in question whipped around to see a griffon tackling Blue, raising a knife up. Acting quickly, Tempest raised her sidehoof and shot the griffon in the claw. The griffon howled as the arrow pierced his claw, before running back into the kitchen.
Tempest ran over to Blue. “Hey, you good?”
Blue was rubbing his eyes. “Y-Yeah, just get after him!”
Tempest nodded and ran into the kitchen, where she saw a ladder that led to an open hatch in the room. She growled and climbed up as well. On the roofs, she saw the griffon on a separate roof.
“S-Stop her, brothers!” he called, turning to run. A few ponies ran out, firing automatic crossbows at Tempest. The mare jumped to their roof, dropping one of her ‘lightning’ grenades. She rolled out of the way before the grenade went off, knocking her off balance slightly. She looked over to see the grenade had exploded. She quickly checked her bag and sighed.
“Blue Tooth…” she muttered, realizing she’d taken Blue’s grenades instead of hers. Ugh… too late to turn back now… She stood up and grabbed her burstfire crossbow, running. The griffon turned to fire his sidehoof at her. Tempest dove behind a small stone railing that covered the roofs. A few ponies tried climbing up a ladder connected to the building she was on. She smirked and dropped a grenade on the climbing soldier’s head, sending him falling off with the others.
The soldier picked up the grenade, but realized all too late what it was. “Oh bu—”
By time it exploded, Tempest was on the next roof. She fired her burstfire crossbow into a griffon, who fell off the roof and alerted some of the guards.
“Hey! Stop that griffon!” Tempest called out. The guards nodded and picked up their weapons, giving chase and fighting off other Blade soldiers. Tempest nodded, watching as a unicorn guard teleported towards the griffon, tackling him. The griffon and guard wrestled, until the griffon ripped the arrow out of his claw to try and stab the guard.
Tempest’s eyes widened when she saw the pony. “Star Striker?!”
The guard looked over. “Captain Shad— Argh!”
The griffon rammed the arrow into Star’s back. The unicorn howled, stabbing the griffon in the back with an arrow of his own. The griffon sneered, throwing Star off the roof. Tempest’s jaw dropped. “No!”
Star hit the sandy grounds with a thud. Tempest yelled and threw a grenade at the griffon, then jumped to his building. The griffon swatted the grenade away, before drawing his sidehoof and shooting Tempest in the shoulder. The unicorn howled and collapsed to the ground, growling at him.
“I don’t think you should worry about me, and worry about that bomb.”
Tempest looked off the roof to see the grenade had landed in a crowd of Arabians. She felt her heart plummet.
Then, the grenade flew away from the crowd, exploding in the air. Tempest’s eyes widened and she saw a certain blue-fanged changeling running towards her with a certain object in his hoof.
“Hey birdbrain!” he called out, throwing the item. “Catch!”
The item hit the griffon in the chest, electrocuting him. He howled and stumbled. “Gah! You son of a— woah, ahh!” The griffon fell backwards, landing on his back and sending the arrow straight through his side.
Tempest breathed and looked at Blue, who smiled and saluted. She chuckled and saluted back.
~~~
Tempest looked at the unicorn, who was sitting against a wall, drinking from a canteen. He smiled at her.
“Heheh… Captain Shadow… I don't think we've had a proper introduction…” Star said jokingly.
She smiled. “Well, nothing happens by accident.”
Star nodded. “Yes ma’am.”
Tempest looked over at Blue, who was tending to the Blade griffon. She smiled a bit, then looked at Star Striker. “Say, I…” she looked back at Blue. “We, could use a soldier like you.”
Star raised a brow. “What do you mean?”
She chuckled. “Meet me at the Manehattan café. We can discuss opportunities there,” she said, smiling. Star nodded, standing up. Tempest nodded and walked over to Blue. “Well?”
Blue sighed. “He ain’t Griffax. That buck left a few hours ago…”
“Buck…” Tempest muttered.
Blue nodded. “Mhm… but…” he pulled out a feather. “We have this.”
Tempest tilted her head. “What… what even is that?”
Blue smirked. “One of Griffax’s feathers. Found it in that house. We can use it to track him as well as any other family.”
Tempest’s eyes widened. “Blue, you’re a bucking genius.”
Blue chuckled and patted her on the shoulder. “Heh, couldn’t do it without ya, Temp.”
She smiled and nodded, shaking his hoof. “Friends?”
Borax examined the feather. He blinked slightly, looking at Tempest and Blue. “So, this is Griffax’s feather?” he asked, tilting his head.
Blue nodded. “Yeah. I found it back at a house back in Arabia.”
Borax nodded, walking over to a pink reformed changeling. “Genesis, we need this analyzed,” he informed her, passing the feather over.
She nodded, taking the feather. “Yes sir.” She moved over to a machine and placed the feather inside. She pressed a few buttons and a screen showed the analysis. Griffax’s picture was easy to recognize, but there were two other pictures as well. The group blinked, quite confused and surprised. “It appears he has two family members we don’t have on record,” Genesis explained.
“But, how is it that possible?” Blue asked. “I’d understand his mother and father, but… who in their right mind would date a terrorist?”
Tempest shook her head. “Dunno. But if we can find out who they are, then maybe we can find this bucker.”
Genesis nodded. “Understood. But, it will take a while to unravel who they are.”
Blue sighed. “Buck…” He looked around. “Hey Borax, where are the others?”
Borax smiled. “They’re doing something near Luna Bay. They’re assaulting a factory there.”
Blue sighed. “Lucky buckers…”
Tempest chuckled. “I’ll be back soon. I have a meeting with Star Striker.”
Borax nodded. “Okay. Good luck.”
She nodded and left.
~~~
0850 Corporal Zenex Fang Gang: Special Operations Team Blade Weapons Factory at Luna Bay
We’ve discovered a weapons factory in Luna Bay, which seems to double as a port as well. The seaside port is freezing. Makes sense though. Luna Bay is in the Frozen North. I hope we can get this over with fast…
—Cpl. Zenex
Zenex looked up from his journal. The Fangs were traveling by boat to get to the port. Dagger was the most on edge, as he hated swimming. Mantis smiled at him. Dagger smiled back.
“Don’t worry Daggy,” Mantis said. “We have special suits to help us with this.”
Dagger blushed. “Okay Manty…”
Mantis smiled and steered the boat, before bringing it to a stop. “Alright fellas. This is our stop.”
The Fangs nodded and reached for a box. Inside were their suits, as well as some harpoon guns. Zenex picked up a harpoon gun, confused.
“What are these? Where’re our crossbows?”
Hive chuckled. “Our crossbows don’t work that great underwater,” he stated. “We’ll have to use these to clear out the underwater forces.”
“Oh. Well, what about when we surface?”
Broken smiled. “Kydra flew ahead to hide our weapons somewhere,” he said, pointing to the port. “For now, let’s get up there.”
Zenex nodded and slipped into his diving suit. The others followed suit, grabbing their weapons. The Fangs nodded and lowered into the water.
~~~
Tempest walked through Manehattan, looking around. She smiled upon seeing Star Striker sitting at the café. She walked over.
“Star Striker,” she said, trotting over to him.
“Captain Shadow,” he greeted back.
She chuckled. “No need to be so formal. We’re all ponies here,” she replied, sitting down.
He smiled and nodded, looking around to make sure that no one was listening. He then looked back at Tempest. “So, why’d you want me here again?”
“Well you see, we could use more soldiers like you,” she said. “And you’re one tough unicorn.”
Star blushed. “Well, that’s flattering, ma’am. But, I’m not even sure what you guys do.”
She smiled. “Look for yourself.” She slid a folder over to him. He reached over to see it. He opened the folder, examining the contents.
~~~
The Fangs swam through the icy water, their warm blood beginning to kick it. They looked around, noticing a few Blade soldiers swimming around the seafloor, most of them had diving suits enchanted by magic, and hippogriffs were wearing necklaces that protected them from the cold by heating them up.
‘There’re some of those buckers…’ Pharynx growled and raised his harpoon gun.
‘I see…’ Hive replied. ‘How good do these harpoon guns work?’
Mitchell swam over. ‘Let’s see, shall we?’ he said, firing the harpoon into a hippogriff’s chest. The hippogriff jerked, before Mitchell’s harpoon began retracting. Soon, Mitchell was able to kill the soldier with his knife. The others swam over, doing the same to a few other soldiers. Hive swam over, before noticing a Blade soldier looking at him. He fired his harpoon into the soldier’s chest, then, when the harpoon retracted, ripped the soldier’s breathing apparatus off. The pony drowned shortly after.
‘Good show,’ Stinger said. ‘Now move along, lads. We got a job to finish.’
They nodded and swam towards the surface.
~~~
“Special Operations?” Star asked. He looked up at Tempest. “Like, Luna’s Shadow Unit?”
Star raised a brow. “Less legally? How do you mean?”
Tempest grinned.
~~~
The Fangs, now equipped with their crossbows, crept through the hallways. Zenex had went further up ahead. They trotted towards a door that led to an outdoor catwalk. Broken took point. Kydra looked over the railing.
“Chrysalis’ mercy, that’s a long way down…”
“No kiddin’...” Mantis replied.
They continued walking until they saw two soldiers walking down the opposite side of the catwalk. They froze as the soldier on the right raised the crossbow.
“Hey! Freeze! You can’t be he—”
The soldier to the left swung a crowbar into the other’s leg. The soldier howled as the other soldiers tackled him and hoisted him over the rail.
“No! Ahhhhhh!”
The Fangs watched as the Blade soldier fell over the edge, and all the way to the ground. They looked up to see the other soldiers engulf himself in green flames and soon Zenex stood before them.
“Watch your step. It’s a long way down,” Zenex said.
They blinked, but nodded and began walking.
~~~
Meanwhile, Blue, Borax, and Genesis were still analyzing the feather. It wasn’t long until they discovered something about Griffax. He was a descendant of griffon king Hades. The three stared in surprise.
“You mean…” Blue paused, then looked at Genesis. “Griffax is the descendant of a griffon king?”
“It would appear so,” she replied, looking at the screen. Unlike the leader of the Falling Blade, this Hades was a griffon king from thousands of years ago. Back when Griffonstone wasn’t a desolate wasteland.
Blue looked at the feather. “I wonder what else is going to happen…”
“It would also seem he has a wife and son,” Genesis said.
Blue nodded, then sat back. He was impressed by the technology Borax’s company possessed.
~~~
Tempest drank from her coffee, watching as Star Striker read the file. His eyes widened at most of their operations. Heck, some of their operations were blacked out with permanent marker.
“Well?” Tempest asked, leaning forward.
He looked up at her. “I… these are illegal operations… wouldn’t I be betraying my country…?”
Tempest chuckled. “Wouldn’t be the first time.” She reached into her satchel and pulled out a file, sliding it over, as well as a pen. “You want the gloves off, they can come off.”
Star Strike nodded and picked up the pen and began writing.
Tempest nodded and stood up. “When you’re done, meet me at the building addressed.
Star nodded. “Thank you…”
She smiled and walked off.
~~~
The Fangs had finished planting charges around the weapons factory. They only had to sweep through the control room and sneak off to a boat.
But first, they looked around for any form of intel. Heck, a coffee cup with someone’s name on it could be useful.
At first, they found nothing. But just as they were about to leave…
“Guys! I found something!”
The Fangs looked over to see Zenex holding a piece of paper.
They walked over. “What is it?” Pharynx asked as Zen passed it over. Pharynx examined it. “The buck…? Is this… Pony Latin?”
Zenex took it back and looked at it. “I think so.”
“Can you translate it?” Hive asked.
“I can try…” the nymph replied. “When this many be gone astray, the plagues that are an attack on the domain. Friendship is shared in a letter…?”
“The buck does that mean?” Hive asked.
The Fangs thought for a bit. Then, Dagger looked up.
“Wouldn’t that be the SoF?”
“School of Friendship?” Broken asked. “What would they want with that place?”
They thought for a bit. Then, realization set in.
“Y-You dont think they’d…”
“Oh crap! Come on!”
The Fangs wasted no time, racing towards the boats, detonating the charges as they ran.
~~~
Back at the lab, Tempest had a returned to the others. “How’s it going so far?” she asked.
Blue nodded to the screen. “Apparently, Griffax is a descendant of a griffon king named Hades.”
Tempest’s eyes widened. “Oh?”
Blue nodded.
“Last scan coming in,” Genesis said.
They looked to see a blue griffon fill up the screen. Tempest’s eyes widened.
The Fangs and Star Striker looked at each other. They sat in silence for a while, only noises being the wagons wheels, and the occasional grunt when they went over a bump.
Zenex was sat across from the pony, giving him a shy glance every so often. Star smiled at him, passing him a chocolate bar. “Here. This’ll calm your nerves.”
Zenex’s eyes quickly locked to the chocolate and he grabbed it, nibbling on it. Star smiled.
As Zenex nibbled on the chocolate bar, he peeked outside, noticing several other wagons trailing them. Zenex blinked. “What the…” he turned to the others. “I thought this was supposed to be a private operation? Why are there RGs trailing us?”
Mitchell looked over. “We need the extra help. I mean, a group of ten changelings and two ponies isn’t doing much for us.”
“I guess…” Zenex sighed, looking around. He felt cold, as if he knew something bad was gonna happen. Before he could open his mouth, an explosion rang out.
The Fangs jumped, looking outside. One of the wagons was destroyed in a ball of flames.
“Ah crap!” Tempest cursed, gritting her teeth.
Brokenwing looked at the driver. “Faster! We can’t let those Blade soldiers get a lock on us!”
The driver looked over. “We’re only a couple klicks out! We can— argh!”
The Fangs and Star looked over to see the guard duck down beneath the wagon.
Mitchell’s eyes widened. “Hang on!!”
The wagon tipped forward, rolling down the hill and throwing the group around like rag dolls.
Mitchell almost flew out, barely managing to grab onto Broken’s hoof.
“Mitchell!”
“Ahh! Pull me in! Pull me in!”
Broken felt his grip loosen. “I’m trying! I got you Sargeant!”
Mitchell tried to hold on, but another slam into the ground sent Broken flying into the wall, causing him to let go of Mitchell’s hoof. Mitchell flew out of the wagon.
The last thing he heard before hitting the ground was someone calling out for him.
~~~
Nighty…
Nighty!
Mitchell opened his eyes, looking around. The grass tickled his face and sides, making him itch.
Nighty!
Mitchell looked around, noticing three figures moving towards him. They were dressed in Blade armor. He reached for his sidehoof, but the leading member kicked the weapon away.
Mitchell groaned, watching the soldiers surround him.
“Sir, we got on—”
He was cut off by a rock to the back of his head. Mitchell looked up to see the other two leaning down to him, removing their balaclavas to reveal changeling faces.
Mitchell’s eyes widened. “M-Midnight…? Fortuna…?” He groaned, before going unconscious.
~~~
Mitchell awoke several minutes later. He looked around, noticing his sidehoof a few feet off. He crawled over, grabbing it and limping off. The changeling felt his legs stagger. He felt off balance, like at any moment, he was gonna collapse with every step he took.
Mitchell looked around, before collapsing. He groaned, looking up. He noticed more Blade soldiers charging him. He growled and raised his weapon, firing at them. The terrorists dropped dead.
Mitchell chuckled, a small smile appearing on his muzzle. He stood then noticed a figure running towards him. Was that… Brokenwing?
“Mitchell! Mitchell!”
The changeling reached a hoof out. “Broken! Broken, I’m—”
Mitchell was suddenly knocked off his hooves by force. He did one-eighty and landed his side. He groaned and looked up to see another Blade soldier standing over him, hold something. But he couldn’t get a good look at it before Broken shot him dead.
“Mitchell! Mitchell!” Broken called, running over to him. He grabbed the changeling and began dragging him away. It was at this point that Mitchell noticed his wooden leg was detached.
“Nngh… Broken… my leg…”
“I know Mitchell! Let me get you to safety!” Broken called out.
Mitchell grasped his sidehoof tightly, feeling the grass itch his back. He looked up, noticing the other Fangs sat up in the wagon.
“Stinger! Mitchell’s hurt! And badly!” Broken called out.
Stinger looked over, then ran over. “Mitchell?! Where’s your leg?!”
“Long story Sting…” he groaned, feeling Broken sitting him against the overturned wagon.
Stinger ran over, digging through his medical bag. “Crap… don’t have any way to fix your leg.”
Zenex looked over. “I can fix it, but I need duct tape and some wood.”
Stinger blinked. “How—”
“Don’t ask.”
Mantis reached into his bags, pulling out a roll of duct tape. “Here.” He tossed it over.
Zenex caught the tape. “Thanks.”
Broken looked at Tempest and Pharynx. “You two got any ideas?”
Tempest shrugged. “I mean, we could call in an artillery strike.”
“No, no… Ponyville will be torn by the shrapnel…” Broken replied.
Blue chuckled. “May we?”
Broken and Pharynx smiled.
“Well… okay.”
“Buck yeah!” Blue’s eyes turned sharp blue, several tendrils extending from his back.
Star looked over. “What the—”
“You get used to it.” Tempest shrugged.
“We’ll clear a path to the school,”Blue Rage said.
“Alright, we’ll hold up here,” Pharynx replied.
Rage smiled widely, leaping off.
~~~
Stinger wrapped Mitchell’s head in a few bandages. “There. You’re bleeding should stop soon.”
“Thanks… got a drink?”
Stinger sighed, grabbing a canteen. “Here. For the pain, okay?”
“Yeah, yeah. I just need to… think for a bit… I saw something back there. Probably from the concussion, but…” Mitchell fidgeted slightly. “It might have been a hallucination… but I just… need to think.”
“Okay Mitchell.” Stinger gave the canteen to him.
Mitchell began drinking, feeling the effects kick in. He closed his eyes and lit his horn.
“Middy…”
~~~
Mitchell opened his eyes. The world was dark and still. Mitchell stood, his wooden leg reattached. He chuckled, looking around. The Fangs were still behind the wagon, their weapons grasped close.
Mitchell began walking, stepping past the frozen statues that were the RGs and Blade soldiers. He’d been here. It was a subsection of the Void, called the Abyss. It was a dark space, where natural lights had no effect on the surrounding area, and only a few feet of ground were visible. The surrounding area and creatures were frozen. The one upside to entering the Abyss was that it used Physic magic, so Mitchell could see and hear everything.
Mitchell began walking through the grassy plains, stripping his armor off. He wouldn’t need it here.
He trotted back to the spot he encountered “Fortuna” and “Midnight”. He soon noticed a figure approaching. He pulled to a halt.
Midnight’s face soon became visible. Mitchell stared at her. “Middy?”
She smiled slightly. “Hey Nightbite.”
Mitchell chuckled. “No one’s called me that in years…” He trotted over to her. “So… you’re alive…?”
She shrugged. “I may be, I may be not.”
Mitchell shook his head. As much as he loved cared for Midnight, he never understood her snarky tone.
“Sooo… that’s a no?”
Midnight chuckled. “Sure, why not?”
Mitchell rolled his eyes. “So… Fortuna’s dead too?” he asked. She raised a brow. Mitchell sighed. “Damnit…”
She looked around. “Why are you…?”
“Fighting a bunch of terrorists? Long story.”
Midnight’s eyes widened. “Oh… I thought you were…”
“What?”
She shook her head. “Nothing. You okay?”
He shrugged. “I ain't dead. That’s something.”
She smiled. “True. Hehehe, I should let you go. You seem busy.”
Mitchell looked over to where he was originally sitting. “Heh… you have no—” ge turned back to her, but she was gone. “Heheh… see ya around.”
He began his walk back.
~~~
Mitchell’s eye opened, back on the battlefield. Where were they? The outskirts of Ponyville?
Mitchell stood, using his crossbow as a cane, noticing a changeling tank, a Scorpion, roll past. He chuckled and limped behind them. The Fangs and a few RGs were taking cover behind the large metal beast.
“Hey Mitch, you good?” Broken asked.
Mitchell nodded. “Yeah. I-I should be good…” He looked over to Stinger, who was holding the wooden leg. “Can you reattach it?”
“Mm-mm…” he sighed sadly. “We can build you a makeshift leg, but… I can’t reattach it till we get back…”
“It’s okay Sting…” Mitchell looked at the tank. Mantis was driving. That gave Mitch an idea.
~~~
“Woohoohoo!!”
The Fangs held onto the tank as it sped past the advancing force. Mitchell chuckled, then looked at Star, who was not having a good time.
“Hey Star! You good back there?” Mantis asked.
“Y-Yeah… I just… ugh…” He groaned, holding onto the tank hard.
“You’ll get used to it!” Hive said.
“Easy for you to say!”
The others chuckled as the tank plowed through the Blade defenses. Literally. The small wall of wooden spikes was demolished by the metal machine.
Mantis chuckled. “Driver, drop us off by Twilight’s castle!”
The tank shifted slightly, moving towards the castle. The Fangs groaned at the sight of the large crystal tree.
“Heh Mant! You sure we can’t ram that thing too?!”
Mantis looked at Dagger. “You wanna pay for Bessie’s damages?”
“Well… no, but—”
“Exactly!”
Dagger pouted.
Soon pulled to a stop, and the Fangs dismounted. They turned to the school, watching as Broken stepped up. He turned to them. “Alright Fangs, this is our stop.”
They nodded, looking at the school.
Hive sighed. “Are there… civilians?”
Broken gave him a sympathetic look. “I… Yes…”
Hive sighed, then growled. “Then let’s kick the Blade back to the hole they crawled out of.”
The Fangs nodded and marched into the school, a roar of thunder following them inside.
Chapter 11B: The School of Friendship, Part One-Point-Five
The Fangs burst through the doors, aiming their crossbows inside the school, before hearing an audible smack from Tempest. She’d facehoofed, stepping in along with Kydra. “Now boys, play nice,” she said
Dagger groaned. “Aw, but it’s less fun that way!”
“Hey, we’re killing terrorists, not students,” Tempest bit back.
Mitchell blinked. “I really don’t see a difference.”
Tempest rolled her eyes, stepping past them. She held her hoof up, looking at the shocked students. “It’s okay everyone, no one’s getting hurt. I just need to know where Gallus is.”
The students pointed towards his room.
“Huh… that was fast,” Blue said.
“Unlike you guys, we have standards,” Kydra teased.
The boys rolled their eyes and followed the girls. The students stepped back, watching as Tempest led them through the hallways.
Dagger chuckled. “What a way to start Pride month, eh fellas?”
The Fangs agreed.
The students looked at the group, very confused and seemingly terrified. The Fangs gulped, lowering their weapons.
Zenex whimpered, hiding underneath Hive. The red changeling rubbed his head, continuing to walk.
Soon, they approached the dorms. The changelings looked at Mantis. He nodded, pulling out his heartbeat sensor. They noticed three dots appear on the sensor. One blue, and two red. The sensor led them to one of the dorms. Broken put his ear to the door, listening.
There seemed to be a scuffle going on. “We got movement! Stinger, breach!”
Stinger pumped his scattershot and broke down the door. There, two Blade terrorists were trying to hold down a blue griffon.
“Hey!” Stinger called out, aiming at them. The two Blade terrorists jumped back, noticing him. One grabbed a lamp off a nearby drawer and tried to rush Stinger, who shot him with the crossbow. The terrorist flew back against the wall, slumping down. The other terrorist raised a knife. Stinger responded by sending him out the window.
Mantis winced. “Ooh… that’s gotta hurt…”
“Just be glad I didn’t shove the barrel up his—”
“Guys! Mission at hoof here!” Tempest cut in.
Stinger and Mantis pouted. “You’re not my mom,” Stinger mumbled.
Tempest rolled her eyes, stepping past the two. Gallus stood up. “What… what was…”
Tempest placed a hoof on his shoulder. “Listen Gallus, you’re not safe here. We need to get you somewhere safe.”
“What do you mean?! What’s going on?!”
Before Tempest could explain, the wall facing the outside was blown away, sending the group to the ground. Zenex scrambled over to his crossbow, picking it up. He aimed it up towards the dust and debris, firing into it. The sounds of yells came as soon as the bodies, as several terrorists fell into the room, dead.
“Great eye, Zenny.”
The nymph stood, dusting himself off. “We gotta get outta here… somewhere safer.”
“Yeah, no kidding,” Pharynx replied, picking up his crossbow.
“You still haven’t explained to me what the hell is going on!” Gallus snapped, looking at them.
“I can.”
The group flinched, turning towards a figure, raising the crossbows up. Out from the fog, stepped a dark grey griffon. With the tattered rags he was wearing, the revolver crossbow with several notches in it, and the two accompanying Blade terrorists.
“Bleach!” Blue Fang snapped, now focusing his eyes on the griffon. “Or do you prefer Griffax?!”
Bleach chuckled, raising his crossbow.
The group was ready to fire, but instead of the shootout they expected, Bleach immediately pointed his crossbow at one of the terrorists’ heads, killing them with little to no remorse. The other didn’t have time to react, before Bleach broke their leg, then killed them with a brutal neck snap. The group watched as the body fell limply to the ground, Bleach stepping up.
“Now… I believe we can come to some… arrangements.”
The Fangs watched as several Royal Guards trotted into the school, locking the door behind them, and locking several other guards outside to fight off the other Blade terrorists. Shining stepped toward the Fangs, looking around.
“So, this is the legendary Fang Gang’s secret base now?”
“Shining, I am going to key your name into your wife’s crown,” Tempest threatened through her teeth, her horn lighting up slightly.
Shining cleared his throat. “A-Anyway… what are we going to do?”
Bleach stepped up, revealing the height difference between him and the others. Shining stared at him. “Who are you?”
“Griffax. You know me as Bleach.”
The Royal Guards immediately turned their crossbows onto him. Bleach sighed, turning to Gallus, who was standing a few feet away.
“See Gallus? This is how they treat us griffons. We change and change, and they just wanna watch us burn.”
“What do you mean?” Gallus asked, before blinking. “Wait, how do you know my name?”
The Fangs immediately felt their hearts sink into their stomach. They hadn’t told Gallus that Bleach was his father.
Bleach sighed. “The Blade knows a lot. But that’s not the point. Ponies shouldn’t be trusted. They’re the reason your mother died.”
“Wait… What?!”
Now, the Fangs were even more confused.
Bleach sighed. “Yeah…”
~~~
Fifteen years ago…
Griffax stepped down a stone path, a bag of groceries in his claws. He looked around, noticing several ponies going on with their lives. But amongst the crowds were a few ponies staring at him. He hadn’t paid his “associates” a visit yet. But he didn’t have time to! He had a wife and kid to worry about! Couldn’t his boss let him off once?
He sighed and continued walking. His family mattered more than some silly business. He was approached by one of the ponies.
“Hey!” they said, grabbing Griffax on the shoulder. “Where’s our money, Bleach?”
Griffax growled, pushing the pony off. “Can you wait? I have get home and—”
“He’s waited long enough. You better have the money.”
Griffax grit his teeth, trying not to break the pony’s neck. “I don’t have it. Let me get back to my family.”
The pony’s serious glare soon turned to an insidious smile. “Well. Let’s make sure you pay your debts in full.
Griffax set his grocery bags down, expecting the pony to attack, but instead, they walked off. Griffax let his muscles relax, picking up his bags. As he began walking, he heard a loud explosion. He looked around as several ponies ran from (or towards) the explosion. Griffax looked up, noticing a cloud of smoke. He ran over to it, wondering what was going on. He turned a corner and noticed a house on fire. His house.
He immediately dropped the bags, the groceries spilling onto the ground, and ran towards his home, the fire cackling louder with each step he took. Amidst the roaring blaze, he heard his wife screaming. He charged into the burning building, trying to fend off the flames and smoke. He first rushed into a baby blue room, a crib nearly engulfed in the flames. He grit his teeth, hearing the child within wail. He flew over the crib, grabbing the baby griffon out. He then ran from the room, the crib being crushed into dust by a falling beam.
He then ran into the adult bedroom. The bedsheets were burning to ash, and their belongings were gone to fire. But his wife wasn’t there.
“Gael! Gael, speak to me!” Griffax yelled out. No reply. He ran out, then turned to the kitchen. He finally found her.
She was crushed underneath a flaming beam, as still as a rock. “Gael!” He cried out, but to no reply.
“GAEL!!”
~~~
“I lost everything in the blink of an eye… and they all just bucking watched…”
Gallus looked at his father, a tear going down his face. His tear soon became many, as he broke like a glass vase, crying harder than ever. Bleach felt his heart sink into his stomach.
“I… I couldn’t let them hurt you too…” he managed, trying to hold his own tears in. “If I worked for them… they wouldn’t hurt you…”
Gallus glared at him. “You left me!” he snapped, tears still pouring down his face. “You left me to die!”
“I didn’t leave you, kid! I did what I had to do to save you! I couldn’t let them kill you!” he barked back. “And I didn’t leave you to die! I left you with Gilda and Gruff! And they took good care of you!”
“How is Gruff giving me lashes almost every day taking care of me?!”
“At least he fed you!”
“Yeah, “feeding me”! Is that what he told you?!”
Bleach paused. “What?”
“He hardly ever fed me, you prick!” Gallus barked. “I usually had to dig through the garbage just to get by!”
Bleach expression saddened. “Gideon… I’m sorry…”
Gallus scowled. “Don’t be. And don’t call me Gideon. It’s Gallus.” With that, he stormed off.
A door slammed. A tear rolled down Bleach’s face. “Gideon…”
~~~
Borax stepped into the school, meeting up with the Fangs. Mitchell stepped up. “What’s the mission sir?”
Borax held up a clipboard. “Evacuation. Star Striker, I have a job for you.”
“Sir?”
“There’s an outpost near White Tail Woods. I need you and Griffax to take Genesis out there. There are files she needs to decrypt.”
Bleach nodded slightly. He picked up his crossbow and followed Star and Borax out.
The Fangs looked at each other. “Well… let’s go,” Broken ordered.
The others nodded, picking up their crossbows and corralling the students out.
They walked out, watching as Star, Bleach, Genesis, and Borax left with several guards. Blue Fang sighed. “Alright. Everyone, get into the wagons! Ten per wagon! Let’s go! Let’s go!”
The students and staff began sorting into wagons, the ones that were full being pulled away. The Fangs and Royal Guards were soon the only ones left.
Broken looked at Shining. “Alright. Shining, you accompany them to Canterlot. Borax has a private army moving in to help us defend Ponyville.
“Are you sure? I mean—”
“Shining. You need to accompany them. We’ll hold down here.”
Shining nodded. “Okay… okay.” He hopped onto the last wagon as it was tugged away.
The Fangs turned to Ponyville. It was time for liberation.
Bleach felt the wagon bump as they rode towards the property. His radio buzzed to life. He picked it up. “Borax?”
‘Griffax. Where’s Star?”
“Beside me. Here.” He passed the radio over to Star.
“Star Striker here.”
‘Okay, good. Genesis can decrypt the files once you find them. They should be in the basement. I’ll have an evac waiting for you.”
“Yes sir. Star out.”
The wagon came to a stop, allowing the three to get out. They were parked on a ridge, just outside of the property. The two soldiers grabbed their weapons, and Genesis a smaller sidehoof crossbow. They watched as the wagon drove off. Star stood, grabbing his binoculars. He peered through them, surveying the property. “Hm… few grunts, no one special.”
“You never know,” Bleach replied. “These guys take this stuff seriously.”
“Eh. I’ve seen worse. I was at Manehattan during the bombings.”
“Really now?”
“Yep.” He sighed. “Lost my best friends that day…”
“Oh… I uh… sorry…”
“It ain’t your fault.” Star took a breath. “We avenge them when we take down the Blade.”
Bleach nodded, drinking from his canteen. The group began their trek towards the property. They snuck through the foliage, drawing their knives. They slit the throats of two terrorists, hiding them in the bushes. They then shot two more of them, the ones guarding the front entrance. Bleach grabbed a dynamite stick, lit it, and tossed it in. When the explosion went off, it reminded Bleach of his wife. And how he couldn’t help her.
This was his moment. He wouldn’t let Gallus suffer for his mistakes. With his blood boiling, he fired his crossbow into the few guards who were still alive. Bleach stared at the bodies, the blood coagulating onto the floor. He panted, looking behind to the others. They stepped in, looking around. The house was small, not really a rich looking place. More like a small getaway cabin. They made their way down stairs, entering what seemed to be a mini armory.
“Woah… it’s like an apocalypse bunker…” Star commented.
They stepped past the weapons and towards a desk. There sat the files they were looking for. Genesis stepped over with a piece of paper and lit up her horn, beginning to print out the encrypted files.
Bleach and Star stepped outside and onto the porch. Bleach pulled out a pack of cigarettes, lighting one. Star looked over.
“You know those things knock a year off your lifespan right?”
Bleach chuckled. “That’s why I want it all in here,” he replied, pointing at his chest, before coughing.
Star rolled his eyes, but couldn’t help but smile a bit. “So… what’s your story?”
Bleach shrugged. “I don’t know. All I used to do was sell, kill, pay, repeat.” He looked at the sky. “I’ve been to so many places, met so many creatures, and yet… I’ve never had a friend…”
Star looked at him with sympathy. “Tell you what, after this, drinks are on me. You like wine?”
Bleach smiled. “Heh, yeah… yeah I like wine.”
~~~
Genesis finished printing the words, taking a breath. She took out a folder and began to slip them into it, when her curiosity got the better of her. She wasn’t supposed to look.
Well… there’s no crime if you don’t get caught…
With that, she took a peek into the documents, reading the contents. It all seemed like normal intel. “Enemy positions… drug and weapons transport… hm… what’s this?” Her interest peaked as she noticed something labeled ‘finances’. “Hm… funding… what the…”
~~~
The two soldiers looked around, surveying the area. Bleach to a breath. “Hm… I’ve been thinking…” he took a drink from his canteen. “I might fix up my old house so Gallus has a place to call home… I shouldn’t have left him with Gruff…” he threw the used cigarette away, stomping it out. “I just hope he forgives me…”
“I’m sure he will,” Star replied sympathetically. “Besides, once we save the world, you’ll be a hero. His hero.”
Bleach nodded. “Okay…”
Star smiled, before quickly leaning over and kissing the griffon. Bleach’s wings immediately shot out. Star blushed and looked away.
Before they could speak, they heard Genesis step out, walking over. They straightened themselves up and looked towards her. “W-Well? We got our intel?”
She nodded. “Yes.”
Bleach picked up his weapon. “Good, let’s go.”
“Wait, Griffax. You need to see this.”
Bleach looked over. “What is it?”
Genesis was about to open the folder when a crossbow bolt struck her in the neck, splattering blood on the walls.
“Holy shit!”
The two ducked behind the side of the house as more bolts began flying. Bleach looked over to Genesis’ body, her hooves still grasping the now crumpled folder.
“Crap… I’ll get it,” Star muttered. He pulled out a smoke grenade, tossing it over. As soon as it went off, he ran over and began to pry the folder from the changeling’s dead hooves. As he was doing that, Bleach reached for his radio. “Borax! Shite… Genesis is down! We’re trying to get the files back!”
There was silence, before Borax spoke.
‘…Get the files.’
Bleach blinked. “I… Yes sir.”
As soon as Star got back around the wall, Bleach tossed several grenades into the bushes. Mixed in with the explosions were several screams and yells.
They stepped out, looking over to see the carnage they’d created. It was best to just head towards the field, where they hoped Borax was waiting.
They began moving as they heard more yells from behind, followed by several cross bolts.
“Oh crap!”
They began running. As they ran, however, Bleach was shot in the leg. He yelled out, falling down. Star turned back around, running over. “Griffax! You good?”
“Argh… I’m hit! Get outta here!”
Star shook his head and ran over, quickly wrapping up the wound, before beginning to drag Bleach across the ground. The two soon emerged from the bushes and into the field, where Star helped Bleach up, helping him walk. Several armored wagons pulled up, Borax’s private army emerging and moving past the two. One wagon opened, allowing more soldiers to get out, as well as Borax, who stepped out to greet the two.
“Did you get the files?”
“We got’em, sir!” Star said, letting Borax help support the injured griffon.
“Good,” Borax said. “That’s one less loose end.”
As soon as he said that, he drew a sidehoof and shot Bleach in the stomach, sending the griffon to the ground.
“No!” Star yelled, trying to raise his crossbow. Borax simply raised his sidehoof, shooting Star in the chest, killing him instantly. Bleach could only watch helplessly, before Borax leaned down to him, picking up the folder. Bleach grabbed his hoof, as to ask, “why…?”
Borax ripped his hoof away, allowing the other soldiers walked over, picking up Star’s corpse, as well as Bleach’s body. The griffon’s vision faded to black.
By time he opened his eyes again, he was being thrown into a ditch, soon followed by Star’s body. Star’s radio soon buzzed to life.
‘Star! Come in, this is Broken! We’re under attack by Borax’s soldiers at Ponyville! Mitch, cover our right flank! Do not trust Borax! I say again, do not trust Borax! Zen, get down!”
The radio soon cut to static, as they began to pour gasoline on Star and Bleach. Bleach looked up, noticing Borax had his lighter. The changeling ignited the lighter, tossing it into the ditch. Star’s body immediately caught fire, bursting into flame. Bleach watched as Borax and his soldiers walked away, before closing his eyes. He knew it was only a matter of time before the fire would engulf him too.
Mitchell ducked behind cover alongside Pharynx. Borax’s private army was closing in around them, threatening to squeeze them out. Thankfully, the Fangs were able to push them back. With that, the Fangs regrouped.
Broken looked at them. “Any word from Griffax and Star?”
There was a moment of silence. They exchanged glances, no one knowing how to break the building tension. They turned to Broken and Tempest. The mare felt a sting in her heart. She’d been there since Star’s induction. She personally saved him. She personally inducted him. She personally trained him. And she promised to watch over him.
That promise now tore at her heart like a flesh eating disease. Her stomach began to cramp in sadness, her breathing increased. She felt the foundation beneath her break. For the first time in a long while, she cried. She had so much anger and sadness bottled up, and now it was spilling from her face, like a storm cloud raining down. She didn’t know what to feel. Sadness for losing her personal inductee? Guilt for not being there? Anger for the ones who’d killed her friend? What did it matter? He was dead.
Tempest’s watered eyes soon spread to Zenex. He too broke down, clutching a half eaten chocolate bar. He’d been keeping it, hoping to return it to Star after the mission. But… he can’t return the assets to a dead colt. It felt as if.. it was his fault. Star was a friend. A member of the Fangs. He was treated the same. Given the same pay. Given his own quarters. Provided the same food.
It could’ve happened to anyone. But it was Star. Star met his death. And it seemed that Death was just down the road, just waiting to knock on their door.
With their fate seemingly sealed, they prepared to make their last stand. But they noticed a problem.
No one had any ammunition left. Or at least… the adults didn’t.
Zenex had eleven arrows in his crossbow. That created a bit of tension in the group.
Eleven shots… Eleven Fangs…
“Well…” Pharynx started, “We got eleven shots…”
“And there are eleven of us…” Brokenwing said.
Hive took the crossbow from Zenex. He loaded the magazine into it, sighing. He looked at the group. “Well… it’s been a pleasure working with you guys…”
They nodded, turning away and closing their eyes. Hive hesitated, trying to choose which Fang to mercy kill. Or… should he off himself?
He looked around, before deciding on Zenex. He was too young to be tortured… too innocent. Hive pointed the crossbow at him.
“I’m sorry… my little one…”
Zenex’s ear twitched, a tear falling down his face.
Before Hive could squeeze the trigger, a crossbow bolt flew past the group, hitting an approaching terrorist in the stomach. They watched as a second bolt sent the terrorist to the ground, dead. They turned, noticing a certain white unicorn staring at them, followed by several Royal Guards.
“The hell are y’all doing down there?” Shining called.
“Having an orgy,” Dagger called back. “The buck it look like we’re doing?!”
“Fair enough…” Shining rolled his eyes. “Listen! The Blade is moving towards the hive! We need to get there before they take over the hive!”
The Fangs immediately sprung up, running towards the convoy. They climbed into a new wagon, letting Shining in.
“We’ve got some guards moving towards there. But we’re not if they can make it.”
“Well, we’re gonna back’em up!” Mitchell said. “We owe Star and Griffax.”
The group nodded as the wagon began moving.
~~~
Thorax trotted through the hallways, looking around. The residents were cleaning out their dens and other rooms, looking for things to donate to a charity Thorax was organizing. He was hoping to help his new allies settle in, and hoping even more for some form of trade route.
He soon stopped by the nursery, stepping in. The nymphs were laying together in a small pile. He smiled, stepping over to them. He reached down, grabbing a certain nymph.
“Apex? You up?”
The green and red nymph yawned, opening his eyes. He looked up at Thorax, who smiled. “Papa Thorax…?”
“Hey there sweetie. You okay?” Thorax whispered, cradling the nymph.
Apex nodded, nuzzling into his chest. Thorax giggled.
Just then, the ground shook. Apex’s ears twitched. “Wha’ was tha’?” he asked.
“Um… I don’t know.” Thorax stood, carrying Apex with on hoof. He stepped outside, as the ground shook again, this time, followed by a loud bang. Apex squealed, clutching Thorax. Thorax himself had to shield his eyes from a blinding light. A flare of some sort, followed by several explosions. Several changelings began fleeing, being chased and attacked by several Blade terrorists, who appeared from just about every nook and cranny they could find.
“Get inside Apex!” Thorax said, pulling the nymph back into the nursery.
The other nymphs were now wide awake, and immediately ran towards Thorax, cowering under him. He tried his best to quiet them.
“Hey, hey! It’s okay! We’re gonna be okay!”
Thorax tried to move past them, but they tripped him. Thorax fell to the ground, looking at them. From the entrance, two figures walked in. Borax, and a griffon.
“B-Borax…? Where are the others…?”
“Dead.”
Thorax felt a heartstring cut. But didn’t have time to feel anything before Borax continued.
“May I introduce Hades.” He nodded towards the griffon. “He’s the bringer of this hell. And I’m the harbinger.”
“W-What…?”
“Face the facts Thorax. I funded this attack,” Borax said. “I’ve funded the Blade ever since I gained power in my company. Designing technology some could only dream of.”
“But… but why?!”
“Because, what’s power if not for sharing.” Borax smiled. “Don’t worry. Your deaths may be… quick.”
By this point, the nymphs began crying. Thorax held them close. The two left, leaving them in the presence of a terrorist. He chuckled. “Alright, which one of you will die first?” He stepped closer, pressing the barrel against Thorax’s chin. “Maybe you?”
Thorax whimpered. “N-No…”
“And what makes you say that?”
Thorax’s whimper soon became a growl, and he grabbed the crossbow, using his elbow to whack the terrorist away. The terrorist looked up to see Thorax pointing the crossbow at him
“It’s gonna be you.”
~~~
The wagons finally pulled up, and the Fangs rushed out, along with the Royal Guards. They quickly shot their way through the first lines of Blade defense, passing by several changeling bodies. The Fangs felt their blood boil with anger and hate. Hate for the ones who’ve destroyed their homes. They’d pillaged their lands and killed their friends. And they were going to pay.
The group moved up, firing at several Blade terrorists. Mitchell looked at Broken. “Broken!”
“Yeah?” Broken looked over.
“We should split up. We can cover more ground that way.”
Broken thought for a bit. “Okay… just, be careful.”
The Fangs nodded, breaking away.
~~~
Mitchell ran towards the Veteran’s Hall. Pulling out his dynamite launcher, he sent an explosive into the entrance hall, blowing two terrorists out of the way. He quickly moved in, shooting two more dead. He made his way towards the gravesite. There, several Blade terrorists were defacing the graves. He yelled out and began firing at them. Blood splattered onto the graves, and bodies dropped. Mitchell immediately ran over to the graves, scanning through them. Thankfully, they hadn’t reached Midnight’s grave. He sighed with relief. He stood up just in time to see a griffon pointing a crossbow at him. Hades.
“Hey there Mitchell.”
“Hades.”
The griffon chuckled, stepping over. “This your gal?”
“Why’s it matter? She’s dead anyway.”
Hades smiled. “Well, you’ll be joining her soon enough.” He cocked the crossbow. “Here’s your golden ticket out of here.”
Mitchell glared at him. Hades was just about to pull the trigger when a bang rung out, followed by him letting out a yell. Hades fell to his knees, before looking up. There, standing before him was…
“B-Bleach?!”
The griffon raised one of the flintlocks to Hades’ head. “It’s just been revoked.”
With that, he pulled the trigger, and Hades’ brain was splattered onto another grave. The Blade leader fell back, lifeless. Mitchell stared at the smoking hole in his head.
“Holy…”
Griffax helped the changeling up. “You alright?”
“Y-Yeah… but I don’t understand…” Mitchell looked at him. “Where’s Star…?”
Griffax’s eyes were filled with grey. “I… I couldn’t save him… I’m sorry…”
Mitchell nodded, before looking at Hades. “He’s dead… that’s it. We’ve won.”
“Not yet.” Griffax handed Mitchell a flintlock. “We’re gonna make Borax pay.”
Mitchell nodded. “Primo Victoria…”
~~~
Pharynx ran towards the nursery, praying that his brother was still alive. “Thorax! Where are you?!”
“In here!” Thorax called back.
Pharynx sighed with relief, opening the door. Thorax laid there with the nymphs at his side. On the ground was a dead Blade terrorist, whose blood was coagulating across the floor. Pharynx sighed, stepping towards the group. However, as he approached them, he heard several hoofsteps behind him. Before he could turn, he was hit across the head with a crossbow, sending him to the ground. Thorax yelled, trying to lift his crossbow. The unseen assailant was quicker, and shot Thorax in the leg. Thorax let out a scream, angering Pharynx. He tried to stand, but the assailant shot him in the leg as well.
The two watched as the assailant stepped up. Borax.
Pharynx growled. “You!”
“Me.”
Borax kicked Pharynx in the face, knocking him into next week. He laid there limply. Thorax stared at Borax, whimpering. Borax chuckled. “He’ll be fine. I’ll take good care of him.”
Borax grabbed Pharynx by the leg, beginning to drag him away. Thorax fell over, reaching for his brother, who reached a hoof back.
“Pharynx…”
Pharynx tried to grab his brother’s hoof.
“Pharynx!”
Pharynx’s eyes felt heavy. Before his eyes shut, he heard his brother scream one last time.
The Fangs looked around the ruined hive. Their home was destroyed, and many of their friends dead. They looked around, as the injured changelings were wheeled away, loaded onto the wagons and carried away.
Thorax was last to be carried away, per his request. But he looked at the Fangs, silently begging for them to bring his brother back. They nodded, turning to Griffax. They stared at him.
“What?”
“Where are they taking him?” Blue asked.
Griffax thought. “Probably the base in Saddle Arabia. But they’ll have to take a train there.”
“Not another train…” Hive mumbled.
Griffax nodded. “Yep. That, or they’re taking him to Borax’s estate.”
“It would make sense…”
Mitchell thought for a bit. “Hm… I’ll take the train. You guys can take the estate.”
“You sure man?”
“Yeah. I can take a train myself.” He grabbed his sidehoof. “I’ll see y’all on the other side.”
They nodded and left for the estate. Mitchell sighed, looking at the flintlock. He then stepped away, heading for a train station.
~~~
Mitchell stepped onto the train. He had noticed the conductor being escorted away from the train by some goons, who boarded soon after. He sat down, the flintlock tucked away in his jacket, as well as a single dynamite stick. He sighed, looking around.
“What do you mean?!”
Mitchell and the other passengers looked over. A wealthy looking pony was being denied entrance to the private cabin.
“I’m sorry sir. All the private cabins have been rented out.”
“By who?!”
“Mister Borax.” The guard grabbed the pony’s hoof.
The pony yanked his hoof away. “Don’t touch me.” He walked off, growling. The train began moving.
Mitchell grabbed his radio. “Guys, Borax is here. Did you find Pharynx?”
‘Yeah. Borax isn’t here though. One of his guards said he’s on a train.”
Mitchell nodded. “Checks out.” He stood. “I’ll see y’all on the other side.”
‘Wait, wha—’
Mitchell switched off his radio and walked towards the guarded door. He sighed.
You only live once…
With that, he yanked out the flintlock and shot the guard in the chest. The other passengers screamed and backed away as the guard slumped over. Mitchell kicked down the door, pulling out his sidehoof and firing at two other terrorists. He moved through the cabins, firing at the terrorists. He didn’t bother counting.
Just fire, kill, reload, repeat…
And that’s what he did. His own dance of death. He expected one, just one, piece of shrapnel to slice his stomach and spill his guts out. But that never happened. He looked around. Everything that wasn’t him was dead. He panted, clutching the crossbow in one hoof and flintlock in the other. He sighed, walking towards the door. He opened it, noticing Borax talking to the terrorist who was driving the train. Borax didn’t expect for the terrorist to get shot. Borax immediately turned around.
“N-Nightbite!”
Mitchell narrowed his eyes, raising the flintlock. “It’s over. You’re dead.”
Before Mitchell could kill the traitorous bug, another terrorist stepped out and tackled Mitchell. The two wrestled as Borax made his way to the flintlock and, picking it up. The terrorist kicked Mitchell towards the train engine.
The changeling groaned as his opponents stood over him. He looked up, growling.
Borax shook his head. “I thought you were better, Nightbite. But I guess I was wrong. You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” He pointed the flintlock at Mitchell.
Mitchell glared. But he soon remembered…
The dynamite.
“Goodbye Nightbite.”
Mitchell grinned. “It’s Mitchell.”
With that, he tossed the dynamite into the engine’s furnace, causing it to explode and send half the car fallingbelow. The explosion also took out the bridge they’d been riding on. The car began to lean, and the two terrorists lost their balance. Whilst Borax was able to grab onto Mitchell’s wooden leg, the other terrorist was not so lucky.
He begged for help before he fell to his certain doom, another explosion engulfing him.
Now, it was just Mitchell holding onto a seat and Borax hanging from his wooden leg.
“Night! Pull me up!”
Mitchell looked down. “And why should I do that?!”
“You know you’re gonna die either way! Midnight would want you to save someone!”
“Not your traitorous ass!”
“Nightbite, come on! Pull me up! It’s the only thing you can do!”
Mitchell looked over. The flintlock was too far to reach. He looked around, before noticing a fire axe a few inches away. He reached up for it, grasping it.
“Ah, you grabbed something of use, I assume?”
“Yes. I have.” He looked down at Borax, grasping the axe. Borax’s eyes widened as Mitchell raised the axe. “Say hi to Hades for me.”
With that, Mitchell brought the axe down onto his wooden leg, hacking it off. Borax held onto the leg as he fell to his death.
“Nightbiiiiiiite!!”
Mitchell watched as Borax was engulfed in the flames. He panted as the axe fell from his hoof. He found himself being lifted up by the other Fangs. He looked at them.
Mitchell laid in bed. He expected to have the same nightmare he always had, the one about Midnight’s death. But this time, he didn’t. He awoke, looking around. Something had stirred him awake. He looked up at the doorway. There, a figure stood. Mitchell switched on the lights, and that revealed the figure.
“M-Middy…?”
He couldn’t believe it. Midnight stepped over, smiling. “Hello Mitchell.”
“Midnight!” He sprung up. “You stay right the buck there.” He lit up his horn and cast a spell that would lower a changeling's disguise. However, when the spell washed over her, Midnight still stood there. “Oh my gosh… M-Midnight…”
She walked over. “Heh, your leg doing fine?”
“My arse. Where the buck have you been for the past six years?”
Midnight smiled, letting a golden changeling step beside her. Mitchell’s eyes widened.
