Rhino enters the final floor, expecting some elaborate personalization similar to the last three. The reality though, is severely underwhelming. The room is actually quite plain, the black chitin of the tower makes up the vast majority of it. Grey clouds are swirling around near the ceiling, what appears to be a holding cell can be seen on one side of the room, and at the other end of the floor is a large throne-like structure with two figures near it.

Rhino approaches quickly, his necklace telling him Gel is in the direction of the two figures. As he closes in, they become more distinct. One figure is sitting on the throne. He, for it is definitely a drone, is red tinted and well-toned. His expression is one of a commander. The second figure is on the floor to the side and slightly in front of the throne. Rhino's eyes light up as he recognizes the downcast form of Gel, a red collar contrasting her otherwise blue form.

The stallion's approach quickens at the sight of his nymph, the vision of the collar fueling his anger and making him head straight towards the red drone, hoping to end this with one blow so he doesn't have to risk fighting what would probably be a grueling fight in his state. As he closes in though, a tug in his mind makes him reconsider. The necklace is pointing him straight to the drone on the throne.

Confused, Rhino slows down and regards the two figures carefully, but the necklace still stubbornly points him to the red changeling, saying that it is actually the one he came for.

As he hesitates, the blue changeling holds up a hoof and sends a bolt of red lightning into Rhino's chest.

The stallion almost instantly falls onto his front knees, a bit of smoke coming from the now charred spot on his chest. He groans as he looks back up at the two figures.

The one that attacked stands up and chuckles, shaking her head as a surprisingly masculine voice escapes her. "I'm surprised." She moves over to the drone and taps his head, his form immediately becoming enveloped in blue flames. They quickly disperse, revealing a familiar nymph wearing a red collar, just like the one next to the throne. "I was certain you'd attack the Colonel, here."

Rhino stands back up, glaring at the changeling. "How'd you know I was coming? All the rest were surprised."

"There was a roar of a dragon from below." Red fire trails over her form - or more accurately, his form, as he turns into the changeling that Gel was disguised as. "Unless one somehow found the entrance, it wasn't hard to guess someone came for her." He turns to Gel, his horn glowing.

She immediately gets off the throne so he can sit upon it and moves to his left side, her gaze falling blankly on the stallion. ...R...Rhino?

At the sounds of her voice in his head, the stallion's heart swells. I'm here love... I'll get you out of here, I promise. Just one last thing to deal with.

The drone glances between the two of them, confused for a moment. "Are you-" He throws back his head and laughs, shaking his head. "I don't believe it! The Colonel actually succeeded in making a psychic link with a pony! I didn't think that was possible!" He kicks her flank, his smile morphing into a frown. "Now stop thinking to him. I'm trying to monologue."

She jerkily nods, lowering her gaze. "Yes, master." Like Tartarus I will! Magic doesn't control thoughts, you poor excuse for an officer!

A feral growl eminates from Rhino as the red changeling hit Gel. Seriously rethinking my non-lethal rule. He takes a threatening step forward.

"Stop right there." The General smirks at him, eyes narrowed slightly. "If you attack me, you condemn the Colonel to death. You wouldn't want that, would you?"

"You already scheduled her execution in a little less than two hours." Despite his confident tone, the stallion doesn't make a move. He runs through the various techniques that seemed to have an effect on his previous opponents, trying to put together a winning strategy.

He looks affronted, eyes wide and a hoof to his chest. "What, you think I was going to kill her? Heavens, no!"

For the sake of Luna! Gel trembles slightly, the grip of the spell starting to wear off as close as she is to Rhino. Stop acting so innocent, Mimic! No one's buying it!

His chitin doesn't look as dense as Luster's... I could definitely get some use out of my spell here... As he continues buying time while he thinks of a plan, Rhino directs his thoughts to Gel. Are you okay, love? I'm sorry it took so long.

I'm fine. All he did was trap me inside my own body. She actually turns her eyes to him, her mouth twitching slightly. I'm glad you're h-

"No," he yanks on her collar with his magic, interrupting her thoughts and making her squeak, "I wanted her for my own. And if she'll stop thinking with you, I'll tell you why."

The fact that the drone had Gel is his grip at that moment was the sole reason Rhino didn't just try to squeeze his skull with all the magical power he had left until it imploded. His whole body visibly tenses and his fur stands on end as his eyes are glued to those of the General's.

He chuckles, shaking his head. "Surely you've noticed how bright she is, right?" He taps a hoof on the floor, stroking the stationary nymph's mane with a forehoof. "That kind of genius comes only a hoofful of times a changeling generation." He grins, gesturing to himself. "I'm another example of that. Try and guess my age. Really, try."

"Thirty-six." Rhino mutters a guess off the top of his head, his voice low.

"Nope. Nineteen." He laughs jovially, as if that were the punchline of a joke. "Can you imagine? Someone my age becoming the General of the Queen's army! And this changeling next to me was in the same grade as me!" His hoof trails down to the center of Gel's back, rubbing tiny circles on the chitin. "As a matter of fact, I had a crush on the Colonel, here. I confessed, once, but she turned me down, for some reason."

It was because you reeked with lust, you pig.

"But that's in the past, and now I'm ready to make her mine...by any means necessary." He leans down and nibbles her, ear, causing her to shudder. "You like that, don't you, pet?"

"Y-yes." No! Please, Rhino, do something!

Fueled by his rage, Rhino produces a giant fire circle and prepares to completely incinerate the drone, leaving not even a pile of ashes. The spell charges up as he is about to release it.

He waves a hoof dismissively. "Colonel, intercept the attack."

She hesitates momentarily before leaping up right as the blast is released. She inhales the flame, taking every single ember that comes at her as if it was just air. As soon as she's done, she falls onto her flank, giving a small burp.

Mimic chuckles, patting the nymph on her back. "Wonderful, isn't she? She no longer has those mental barriers that kept her from her full potential." He points at the stallion, glaring darkly. "Why don't you give him a first-hoof experience with them?"

Rhino growls. "Bastard! What are you-"

"Kill him."

The nymph nods, if shakily, and rushes forward, her hooves covered in blue flames. No! Dear Luna, I don't want to do this! She punches, but her aim is off, sending a pillar of fire to her stallion's right. At this distance, he can see the tears forming in her eyes.

His heart aches at her distress, and he will definitely never raise a hoof against her. The stallion Blinks behind her, heading straight for her puppet master.

The drone doesn't bat an eye, his glance going to the side just as Gel flies in from that direction, tackling Rhino to the ground. They roll for a few seconds before she comes out on top, sitting on his stomach. She's freely crying now, the tears falling onto his chest and soaking his fur. I-I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry. She closes her eyes and holds up a hoof, blue flames quickly surrounding it. Even like this, she still hesitates, her mind fighting for control of her body.

Rhino thinks desperately at her. Gel, please! You're better than this! You can fight him! He covers himself in Res and neatly slips out from under her, the flaming hoof impacting the floor with a 'crunch' a moment later. The stallion switches to just fully pinning her with magic, her body unable to move. Come on, love! You're still you!

I-I'm trying! She continues to struggle, her body starting to light up with her fire. I-I'm not strong enough! She looks up at him, desperation in her eyes. P-please, you have to knock me out! I-I don't want to hurt you!

You know I would never do that! Not even now! He switches the hold on her from ful-body to just her hooves so that he can apply more force. Changelings get strength from love right? Just use mine to get yourself to full! Take it!

She nods, focusing on trying to take what he's giving. Almost immediately her body collapses from the sheer volume, making her knees buckle from the overdose.

Yet it's still not enough. Without her actively trying to hold back, her body bursts into flames, and what appears to be a phoenix spreads its firey wings, ready to launch itself at Rhino. Through it all, the nymph tries to absorb even more love, gritting her teeth in her intense focus.

The stallion backs away a few steps, if only to give himself a little more time to try and dodge the possible shot. The entire time though, he hopes against all odds that she'll break free. Come one, love... you can do it! Just... break free. Break free and we can go home!

Home... Her eyes slowly close, her body trembling as it's being told two different things. ...our family... She growls, her eyes snapping open, shining with determination. I will not give that up! Her flames turn up even hotter, burning the collar off her neck. She turns to the drone, scowling angrily. "General Mimic. I have half a mind to report you to the Queen. Using magic like that against your own kind is the highest crime one can commit!" The phoenix rises up, about to crash down on top of the officer.

He rolls his eyes and points a hoof at her. "How disappointing." He shoots out a blast of red lightning, striking her in the chest and stopping her cold. "You would've made a wonderful lover." He turns away, ignoring Gel as she falls to the floor. "Though I suppose making sure this pony doesn't have you will have to do."

Rhino's heart skips more than a few beats as he lets loose an unearthly scream while he rushes to the changeling's side. He breathes rapidly as he supports her head in a foreleg while he puts his ear above her mouth. After a moment he sighs in relief, feeling the small wisps of her breath.

He gets up from her side, gently picking her up and placing her to the side of the room, out of harm's way. He narrows his eyes at the red drone. His horn lights up and a circle appears on the ground below his foe, sticking him in place as he charges, eyes blazing.

Mimic stares at him, bemused. "Seriously?" He flares his wings out and sends a wave of electricity through the chitin of the floor, zapping Rhino as he passes over it, leaping from the floor to his body. "You'll have to try better than that."

Rhino Blinks a distance away before summoning a group of fire circles to surround Mimic. The writings glow an eerie orange just before they unleash their payloads.

At the same time, he disappears in a burst of red flame.

Rhino cuts off the flames quickly after he fails to hear anything coming from within them. He narrows his eyes to try and see anything.

A voice comes from next to him. "Tell me, does the term 'combat chameleon' mean anything to you?" Before the stallion can reply, he gets an electric-charged hoof across the face.

Rhino goes flying a short distance before coming to a halt with a new hoof-shaped pattern of burnt fur on his cheek. He growls as runes begin to cover his body as he starts emitting light in the same way he did in the previous fight against Port. His eyes scan the newly lit room, looking for the slightest distortion.

"No, not invisibility. Good guess, though." A large weight lands on the unicorn's back, forcing him to the floor. "No, I can copy something after seeing it once. Within reason."

Rhino cranes his neck backward, his body starting to voice its protests at the stream of abuse it's taking. His eyes widen as he sees... himself. A fresh version of himself, free of the mementoes of this trip, and with a cocky smile that is almost never seen on his face. Rhino's horn light up as he tries to get a quick magical hit in on his doppelganger's jaw.

The stallion on top of him scoffs and kicks Rhino's horn down, making the tip smack against the ground. A circle immediately lights up underneath the arcane bone, pinning it there. "You should be flattered. Nopony has ever witnessed this...technique of mine." He kicks the stallion's gut, frowning deeply. "And lived, that is. You see, I actually have to turn into the being I'm copying the technique of." He laughs, shaking his head. "You should have seen this one unicorn I saw fighting, once. She looked a lot like your precious love's pony form, but with a different mane. And shades. Can't forget those shades." He sits down on Rhino's back, acting as if the stallion wasn't a threat to him.

His horn aching, Rhino forces another spell through it, ignoring his copy's voice. Runes start forming on his body, but this is a strange combination of runes. On the fly, Rhino combines the runes for Res and for his fire spell. Similar to how Gel did not too long ago, flames erupt from around Rhino's body. The addition of Res makes it to where he isn't on fire himself, but he can definitely feel the heat, and thus can't keep it up long.

The copy yelps, immediately leaping off his body. He rolls around on the floor, trying to extinguish the flames on his flanks.

Rhino, meanwhile, groans as he quickly turns off the impromtu spell, a minor throb going through his form from the heat, but the brief exposure doing little. He wrenches his horn from the floor as his copy id distracted and works his way back onto his hooves. His horn lights up and a circle appears below the rolling stallion, sticking him on his back as Rhino approaches, rearing up to stomp on the offender's head.

He blinks before Blinking out of the way. "As I was saying." He kicks him in the back of the head before shapeshifting once more, turning into a gray earth pony. "She had a friend who looked just like this." The apparent-mare flips her black mane with a hoof. "Now she was a force to be reckoned with. Didn't even need a weapon." She punches him, sending him sprawling across the floor. "Just used her strength. Took ten changelings to simply pin her down."

Rhino once again works his way to his hooves, noticeably slower this time. He pants as his horn lights up once more, his aura wrapping around one of Mimic's forelegs and trying to wrench it until it breaks.

"You seem to be losing your grip, there." She giggles and marches forward, smacking his horn with a hoof. "All of the fights starting to get to you?"

The stallion staggers, going cross-eyed at the blow to his horn. Damn it... come on... think... I don't think I have enough energy left for my last spell... Rhino stops thinking for a moment to concentrate on regaining his balance. He focuses back on his opponent, his horn lighting up as a low Res circle appears beneath him/her.

She yelps in surprise and falls flat on her face. She groans, quickly getting up and rubbing her muzzle. "...okay, that was new..." She narrows her eyes and punches him across the face, smirking pridefully. "But you're on your last leg. There's nothing you can do to really harm me, so why d-" Her ear twitches, causing her to tilt her head in confusion. "...what's that noise?"

As Rhino falls to the ground from the latest hit, he can only hope that whatever the sound it, it is something that will help him out.

Faintly, yet steadily growing louder, there is the sound of a violin playing. Out from the shadows steps a certain indigo changeling, frowning at the mare even as her hooves continue to move. Following behind her are two large metal boxes, floating briefly before landing on the chitin floor with a thud.

The earth pony growls at the nymph, eyes narrowing dangerously. "General Luster, what are you doing up here? If this stallion beat you, then you'd best be at least unconscious!" When she ignores her and walks over to the fallen stallion, Mimic stomps her hoof, fur bristling. "What's that supposed to mean!?" The nymph simply turns and glares at her. "Well excuse me, princess!"

Luster rolls her eyes and helps the stallion up, pulling her staff off her back and pressing it against his chest with a hoof, taking one of his in her magic and pressing it against the glowing gem.

The energy stored in the gem, normally used to power the staff's runes, instead now flows into the stallion. A bit at a time, it restores his energy. His wounds don't heal, but he gains the energy to work past them. He definitely isn't back up to full strength, but far closer than he has been for a while. Keeping one hoof on the gem to take its last remaining dregs of energy, he looks up at Luster with emotion in his eyes. "Thank you..."

She smiles softly, nodding kindly to him. She glances at the drone in front of them, having dropped his guise in annoyance, before opting to try something out. She reaches her mind out to the stallion next to him, a gentle hoof on his.

Rhino feels the small pressure on his mind coming from the direction of the nymph. In curiosity, he pushes back and the pressure disappears. I wonder what that was...

A melodic voice fills his head. I'm glad you accepted the link. There's a sound like a giggle, though all the nymph next to him does is smile a little more.

He looks at her curiously. Well, I didn't expect that... you do have a lovely voice... He shakes his head as he tries to get his thoughts back on the task at hand.

Thank you. I'm glad to hear that. She glares at the drone. He's the reason I lost it, in the first place. But that story can wait. She looks at him, tilting her head to one side. You know he copies abilities by seeing them, correct?

He.. informed me... of that. I tried the light trick I learned when I fought Port but he just went above me... He glares at the red changeling as well. Do you think what I used on you might work? I've got maybe a spell or two left but I definitely do not want him getting a hold of the last one.

I think the secret... She finally notices Gel off to one side of the room. ...is to not let him see it coming...is she alright?

Breathing, that's all I know right now, I'll take whatever small graces I can get... she went through a lot. He cracks his neck as his horn lights up, a single large rune appearing on his forehead. I am past ready to be done with all this. He offers a final thought as his hooves light up with Res on their bottom. Can you make sure she stays safe through all this? No telling what he might try to pull.

Luster nods, a determined look on her face. I'll do my best. She quickly stands up and rushes over to the unconscious nymph, one of the metal boxes following her.

Rhino begins to skate toward the drone in a serpentine pattern much like he did with Port. The rune on his forehead still glows but has no noticeable effect at the moment.

Noticing the stallion approaching, the drone grins, readying himself. "Finally! I was getting bored for a moment, there!" He holds up a hoof and starts to shoot lightning at him, no longer caring for accuracy as long as the fight was going. In fact, it seems as though the prospect of a tougher fight was making him more excited.

Rhino barely dodges two bolts of the lightning before Blinking to dodge a third. He reappears literally with his face inches from Mimic's. His eyes close as all the magic he had been pumping into the light rune on his head is used at once in a point blank flare directly into the drone's eyes.

He yelps in pain, covering his now-burning eyes, reflexively punching the stallion in the face with a lightning-charged hoof. "Fuck!" He starts to charge up a hoof, pointing it in the direction he assumes the stallion landed in. "You're going to pay for that!"

Rhino smiles as he watches from where he had moved, knowing Mimic would follow up his attack. His horn glows as he concentrates on his last spell. Two complex circles appear on either side of him, parallel to the floor. From these circles, two shapes quickly grow, forming into two identical crystalline daggers. Formed from his magic, Rhino doesn't need to hold the daggers as they float around him, connected to him by what they are made of. He watches Mimic fire and one dagger, knowing his thoughts, slashes the outstretched hoof.

He yelps, his hoof raised off the ground to keep himself from injuring it. He grits his teeth, knowing he's as blind as a bat. Steeling his resolve, he reaches towards the storm clouds, concentrating his magic. "Thunder!" He summons a bolt of electricity from the cloud, striking the spot to the right of the stallion. Mimic tsks, shaking his head. "My attack missed. Maybe I should've used a summon..."

The daggers floating around Rhino point at the changeling as images flash through their owner's mind. His teeth are bared as he remembers every single terrible thing of the last 24 hours, but now he has something to take it out on. He straightens up as he sends one dagger to crack its hilt harshly against Mimic's horn.

Through the pain, Mimic manages to smash an electrified hoof against the crystal weapon, shattering it on impact. This still doesn't help him figure out where the stallion is, so he sends a pulse through the floor, still attempting to look around. "Where are you, little pig."

Rhino watches as the magic he used to form the dagger returns to him upon its destruction. The other dagger floats over to the changeling opposite side and suddenly plunges into the top of his hindleg.

The drone cries out in pain and smashes that knife, too. He turns to the stallion, barely able to make out his shape. "Enough of this!" He zaps the unicorn, not enough to kill but enough to paralyze.

Rhino twitches as his muscles lock up. His face doesn't appear too concerned though whether this is from the muscles in it not working or from his genuine thoughts isn't known.

Mimic grins, holding up his forelegs to the clouds above them. "Thundaga!" All at once, there is a charge building up in the clouds, centered above the immobile stallion. Static electricity builds in the air, making everyone's hair stand on end, and it is clear he's building up to something big.

Rhino’s horn lights up, magic not requiring muscles, and a low Res circle appears underneath Mimic, causing his bipedal stance to collapse when his hooves slip from under him. As he tries to get his muscles to move, Rhino also grabs the changeling's injured limbs in his magic, squeezing and yanking them with as much force as he can muster.

The drone grits his teeth, ignoring the pain and looking up at the clouds, noticing how they were glowing. With one last flare of his magic, he unleashes his attack, the whole room being lit up by the lightning bolts it summons.

Rhino's eyes widen as the bolts shoot all around the rooms, most of them fizzling harmlessly against the ground but a few coming way too close for comfort. Eventually, one looks like it's going to fire straight at him. He quickly relights his horn and Blinks Mimic above him and holds him there with magic, intercepting the bolt.

He grins down at him, eyes narrowed. "You think this is going to stop it?" He places a hoof on Rhino's head, channelling the electricity into him. "WRONG!"

The stallion can literally see the electricity in his eyes and taste it in his mouth as it courses through him. His muscles unlock and scream at him as he falls to the floor, but at least might be able to move them now. Deciding to gamble on a desperate ploy, Rhino lights up his horn and casts a quick unseen spell, but makes sure to have the light from his horn flicker and taper out once this is done. He puts on a distressed face as he rolls his eyes toward his horn.

Mimic narrows his eyes at this, leaping back and landing on the wall. He flaps his wings to stay in place, charging up his electricity in a hoof once more. "You're out of spells and out of time." He laughs, getting ready to rush towards the stallion.

Rhino chuckles as he looks at the drone's two limp legs. "Don't look so hot, yourself."

He rolls his eyes and runs down the wall, leaping off it at an angle and racing directly towards him. "You won't be talking so big when you're cut in half!" As he says this, the electricity from his hoof stretches out, forming a sword of pure lightning.

Rhino calmly waits on the ground as the changeling gets closer and closer. As Mimic raises the blade above his head and Rhino can see it's light reflected in his opponent's eyes, he leans ever so slightly. A blur of green zips out from under the stallion, revealed to be another crystal dagger he had hidden, and buries itself up to the hilt in the drone's neck.

Mimic stops moving, eyes wide in shock. Gritting his teeth, he shifts into the blue nymph, the electricity dispersing in place of heat. He quickly removes the knife and cauterizes the wound, breathing softly in relief. "...that was...too close..." He looks up and blinks, glancing around in confusion. "...where did he go?"

Much like Mimic himself did before, Rhino lands on the changeling's back, forcing him to the ground. He stomps on the drone's head, causing it to crack painfully against the ground, and even then he doesn't stop. The stallion stomps repeatedly on the horn of his opponent until he hears the tell-tale sound of the appendage cracking and sees the web of cracks expanding with every stomp.

The changeling cries out in pain, using his forelegs to protect his damaged horn. "Enough! Please, I give!"

Rhino places one hoof on the back of the drone's head and another on the back of his neck. He presses down lightly as he speaks with a growl. "Get out of her form." It was not a request.

"I can't." He whimpers softly. "T-that requires magic."

Rhino releases the hoof on his head, but not the one on his neck. "You can still put magic through that horn, even if it causes excruciating pain. Do it. NOW!"

He trembles, but does as he's told, changing back into his own form despite the white-hot pain in his horn. "T-there. It is done." He groans and passes out from the agony.

Rhino snorts. The discarded dagger, still covered in a bit of Mimic's blood, floats over and rests the blade on the back of the drone's neck. Rhino looks over to Luster. "I'm torn... what do you think I should do?"

She glances at the fallen officer and shakes her head. Leave him alive. Everyone here knows of the crime he committed, so he'll be exiled. She walks over to him, Gel draped over her back, and puts a hoof on his shoulder. You'll never have to worry about him again.

Rhino sighs as he steps off the drone, his legs almost buckling underneath him. "Good... good..." His eyes fall on the blue nymph as his stripe returns to it’s usual blue. He walks over to her and gently nuzzles her, enjoying the feeling of her chitin and mane as he expresses his relief.

Luster watches this, feeling a pang of envy. Still, she smiles, motioning towards the doors. We should get you two home. I'm fairly certain my brother would like to join you...and... She falters momentarily. ...I was hoping I could, too. Is that alright?

Rhino smiles as he decides to just let himself go for the moment and hug the purple nymph around her neck. I extended the invitation, and you've done more than enough to earn it.

She smiles softly, leaning into the embrace. ...thank you. You have no idea how much this means to me. She reaches down and picks up her staff in her mouth, not wanting to upset the changeling on her back.

He chuckles as he lets go and they start heading down the stairs. I'm sure we'll have plenty of time for you to try and express that while I just sit there saying that it was nothing. For now though, let's go pick up Flick and get a decent distance away from here before I pass out... and trust me... I really want to pass out.

I'm sure one of us could carry you if you do pass out. You'd have about eighteen hours to rest after that, too. They pass by the form of Port, but she pauses to write him a note. Need to let him know just what the honorable General did. He'd step up after Mimic's banished, anyways.

Rhino nods. He's a good soldier... He rubs the large bite marks on his side. Accepted his defeat with grace and humility.

That certainly sounds like him. She finishes the letter and places it on the now-dry desk on the side of the room. With that done, I believe we're good to go. She moves back to Rhino's side, glancing at the wounds and grimacing slightly. I think Flick has some medicine in his room. I'm sure he'd let you use some of it on those.

They proceed downward as they speak. That'd be nice... though unless it's magic I think I'm going to be in bandages a while... He brushes the burnt fur on his face. At least I can always just trim this off and have it grow back in like a week.

She gives him a curious look. A week? Doesn't that usually take longer for ponies?

Rhino responds simply. It didn't burn all the way to the skin, so it's not like I'm shaving it all off. I can grow a full beard in about two weeks. Plus, in case you hadn't noticed... I'm fluffy.

No, I didn't notice that. She glances at his back. I was a little more concerned with...other stuff, at the moment. She grimaces slightly, ashamed at her actions. Sorry about that. If I'd have known you were such a nice pony...

He pats her side as they arrive at the door to her floor. Hey, things happened, we talked, now we're friends. He stops for a moment as they enter the room. Umm... where did all the metal go?

Those boxes on the top floor. She glances over her shoulder, where said metal cubes were floating. Or maybe I should say behind us?

Oh... convenient. He looks at Gel again as they start down the stairs to Flick's room. When do you think she'll wake up?

I don't know. She taps her chin, thinking on this a bit. Mimic did the same thing to Flick, once...it took him about a day to recover.

Rhino sends a bit more love her way as they open the door to Flick's room. Well, here's hoping she wakes up as soon as possible... I might have to explain you and Flick being with us depending on her mood.

I guess you might. She looks down at the staff in her mouth, then up at him. Do you know where I can find a soul gem?

The drone inside looks up at them, surprised. "Hey! I take it you beat Mimic?" He grins widely, his wings fluttering slightly in excitement.

A soul gem? No. But I can probably recharge that gem you have there with a bit of magic, you know, when I don't need it myself. Or, alternatively, I could actually make you a custom gem for it. He turns to Flick. "Yes... though it wasn't easy. Enjoy your nap?"

I'm going to ask you about that later. Luster smiles at Flick, waving kindly.

"Yes, I did." The yellow changeling glances at her, then at Rhino, confused. "How did...why isn't she..."

He smiles. "Well... she and I had a battle, then a discussion, then she saved my flank, so... she's coming along, too."

Flick laughs jovially, shaking his head. "I did not expect that! So, before we go," he gestures to his wounds, smiling genially, "would you like me to help you with that?"

Rhino nods rapidly. "That would be fantastic. Do you have stuff for..." he looks to his sides, "scratches , both shallow and deep, puncture wounds, deep," he looks down at his chest, "burns, and of course I still think I have a few bits on paint on me somewhere, but I'm not too worried about those."

"I have some gentle disinfectants for the puncture wounds and scratches." He uses his magic to pull a medical kit out from behind his paint cans. "I think I also have some aloe vera for the burns."

Luster taps the stallion's shoulder, giving him a curious look. Rhino? Do you know you have paint on your flank?

Hmm? He looks back further and sees he indeed had a yellow smear on his backside. He gives Flick a small dirty look before his horn lights up and he quickly peels off the substance. Thank you, it would have been awkward finding out that was there later.

You're welcome.

Flick ignores Rhino's expression as he tends to the wounds, making sure they're sterile before wrapping the gauze around him. "You'll need to change it every so often, but you're good to go."

Rhino regards his now wrapped barrel and chest, the coolness of the medicine already working wonders. "Ah... working already. We do need to get moving though, the pain was half of what was keeping me going. You're coming with us, right Flick?"

"Of course!" He laughs, shaking his head. "Wouldn't miss this chance for the world!" He turns to the metal boxes, then to the purple nymph, smiling kindly. "You wouldn't mind carrying my art supplies in there, would you?"

She rolls her eyes but nods, a bemused look on her face. Why not. You'd probably want to stop to paint if I didn't, anyways. She grabs them in her magic and puts the items in her containers, much to her brother's glee.

The group of four start heading down the final set of stairs, Rhino nuzzling Gel once more before a thought occurs to him. "Umm... what do you guys think we should do about those three here on the bottom level? I was pretty rough on them..."

"They should be fine." As they get to the bottom floor, they notice the Sergeant Major in the middle of the floor. "...mostly...did you do that?"

Rhino rubs the back of his head with a hoof. "Well... they aren't exactly as durable as you guys... I'm fairly certain he's alive at least..."

"Well, they were probably just trying to do their job." He taps his chin, thinking a bit. "They'll definitely heal, but what they'll do after all is said and done...that's something I can't say for sure."

Rhino nods as they head out the opening into the sunlight. He angles towards some particular rocks and digs out his saddlebags of supplies. Reflexively he sticks them on himself, but immediately winces and hisses as they rest right on his injuries. Despite this, he still heads towards the vague direction of Ponyville. "Let's... at least get to the cover of the trees... I don't... have much left..."

Flick grabs the saddlebags and puts them on. "You're not going to injure yourself on my watch, Doc." He grabs Rhino and puts him on his back. "There. Now, let us know where your house is, and we'll take both of you there. Okay?"

Rhino's legs try to continue the motion of walking a moment before he realizes that he's being carried. "Just... go to the outskirts of Ponyville... Whitetail Woods... Wake me... at... that... point..." With a 'thump', the stallion's head falls to the drone's back, his whole body out of it.

The two changelings nod and, wings flaring, take to the skies. They make a beeline for Ponyville, careful to not jostle or drop their passengers.