Spike

The castle shook from the force that crashed through another of its walls like a wrecking ball. All I could do was stay crouched inside one of the few guest bedrooms we had left, barely breathing out of horrified tension. I clutched my trembling knife hand to keep it still, another claw clenched on the bed’s covers I used for both hiding and emotional support. I was never going to look at ‘hide and seek’ the same after this.

“Hey Thorax,” I whispered into my Dragon Whisper, “where is he?”

*North of your position, Spike. I’m guessing two guest rooms away, three at most.*

I mentally visualized the castle layout. The maze of intersections and crossing paths I knew like the back of my hand. “Three guest rooms and a janitor closet.”

Another wall collapsed, louder than the one before. I took a deep breath, preparing myself for the inevitable.

“...And there goes the closet. Are you in position?”

*Yes,* Thorax whispered. *This is insane, by the way.*

“You got any better ideas?”

*An unhealthy amount of ordinance.*

“...There’s a healthy amount?”

Another wall collapsed.

*Not good. I think he’s somehow tracking your general direction.*

“Any idea how?”

*Still trying to figure that out. Where are you exactly?*

“Hiding behind a bed.”

*...Bad idea.*

“Why?”

The warlord answered me in the form of rushing wind, metal screaming against crystalline material, and what I could only assume was exploding furniture.

I gulped, lowering my voice even more. “...He’s clearing every room he’s in, isn’t he?”

*Sorry.*

“Ugh, alright. Gonna prep for breach behind the entry door. Incoming gift.”

I sheathed the Niekinis dagger, unhooked the sheath and blew fire over it. It disappeared in a flash. Care package sent, I quickly went to work.

Quiet as a feather, I moved from behind the bed to the double door, slipping through and leaving open a crack just big enough for me to peek into the room. Drawing the second blade from my hip, I kept low and waited.

*Spike, the warlord’s coming into your room now. Brace!*

On cue, the warlord shoulder-charged into the bedroom, bringing with him a hurricane of blades. He chopped up the furniture like a blender. That’s when I sent my signal: a tiny ball of flame sent via dragon mail to Thorax.

The warlord paused, turned around, then stepped towards my door. My heart hammered against my chest, blade nearly falling loose in my clammy grip.

Crap, crap, cra—

Emerald light flooded the room just as the warlord turned his head down the destroyed path he had carved, lifting an arm in time to block a giant green fireball.

He took the bait! Get ‘em!

A purple blur slipped under the warlord’s legs amidst the exploding green fireball Thorax had hurled at him. The warlord dropped to one knee as a Niekinis blade tore through his thigh. He spun and faced Thorax—disguised as me—and rushed him, wound already healing.

The warlord’s sword fought the room more than Thorax. Thorax weaved under and around his legs, stabbing and slashing wherever he could. The warlord was forced to dance to avoid losing his legs, stomping and slashing, trying his hardest to catch the nimble changeling.

When his back was turned to me, that was my second cue.

“Thorax, switch...!”

Backflipping to dodge a blade swipe, Thorax spat a fireball at his face. Just as the warlord raised his arm to block, I pounced. My blade dug into his back.

In the middle of his pained howl, the warlord’s tail snaked around my arm. The warlord’s glare burned into my skull as he looked over his shoulder.

“Arrogant whelp!” With a whip, I was slammed into the wall hard. Then again. And again.

On the third slam, the grip on my blade loosened. Reflexed saved me, catching the falling blade with my free hand and slashing upward at the tail hard enough to force him to drop me. I fell to the ground in a stagger, reeling.

A silver glint caught my eye, followed by slicing wind and sharp cursing from the stumbling warlord. His blade had fallen from the lost grip of his severed wrist. On the wall opposite from the doorway was an embedded Niekinis dagger.

I sprinted around the warlord and down the warpath he created, just in time to avoid a cyclone of fury as he picked up his sword and spun wildly.

Thunderous footsteps followed behind me and were closing in fast.

*Switch! Smoke next left!*

Reminded of the wargear Elytra provided me earlier, I unhooked and squeezed a gray sphere twice. The rubbery item bubbled and expanded like a soda bottle ready to burst. Approaching the next room, I rolled it towards the door and dashed for it. Wind tickled the back of my neck from another blade swing.

A sharp hiss came from the smoke bomb. It instantly filled the space in chalky black smoke. Thorax rushed past me as I made a sharp left and nearly threw myself to the ground to keep low.

Then it hit me; he no longer had my blade!

I hurried my second blade into its sheath. “Incoming gift.” My flames washed over it, mailing the blade to Thorax. Despite the pain screaming all over my back and arm that had been squeezed by the warlord’s tail, I refused the temptation to lay down and recover while Thorax fought for his life. Fighting through the terrible ache, I followed—more like limped—behind the thrashing warlord from the otherside of the wall, trailing the sounds of combat.

Until Thorax was punched through the wall.

I barely stifled my scream and scampered back in time to avoid being spotted by the warlord. Thorax bounced to his feet and, after seeing where I was, ran the opposite direction just before the warlord could crush him with a jumping stomp.

“Running will only make you die tired, whelp!” He pursued Thorax, tiles crushing with each step of his heated pursuit.

Wait a minute… that hallway…!

“Thorax, that hallway leads to a dead end!” I warned through the whisper.

Thorax stumbled slightly in his run before placing a claw on his chest. “Gimme an exit. I’ll take anything.”

Exit... exit... what exit? How do I save him?

I quickly ran through some options. Catching up was not one of them, still winded from getting crunched into the wall. Had one dagger left. One smoke bomb. Two melter bombs and two phosphor bombs.

...Huh. I think it’s crazy enough to work.

Nothing else in mind, I grabbed one of each bomb and did some quick math. Then I opened the whisper to Thorax.

“Whatever you do, don’t touch whatever I’m about to send you. Just keep running.”

*Huff… puff… alright!*

Elytra’s tutorial on these bombs mentioned a combination of magic and alchemy that allowed one to “cook” these bombs after priming them for detonation. If this worked the way I think it did, it would give Thorax some breathing room. After double checking my calculations, I primed each bomb and dragon mailed them to Thorax.

The first one to reach Thorax was a smoke bomb, rolling under his feet and exploding right behind him. As the warlord charged headlong into the smoke, the second and third bomb appeared and exploded just a little further behind Thorax. I couldn’t see the initial explosion due to the smoke, the sharp hiss and acid splattering all over the floor and nearby walls were my only indication. Phosphorus bombs were a different story.

Smoke was dispersed from the force of the explosion, white hot flames enveloping everything just behind Thorax. The warlord stumbled back from the flames and onto the acid riddled floor.

“Hit him with your magic! Don’t let him move!” I shouted through the whisper.

Thorax grounded himself to a sliding halt and turned, spitting fireball after fireball.

“Foolish reptile!” Despite the white flames and burning acid coating his body, it still did little to hurt him as he blocked the fireballs with his sword. “You will need more than that to take me dow-AAARRRrrrggh~”

Lucky for us, he was not my target.

The floor gave way to the acid and fire, crumbling under the warlord like wet paper. Vicious cursing tore from the warlord’s lungs as he plummeted to the bottom floor with a loud thump.

Thorax wasted no time and dropped his disguise, fluttering over the demolished landscape and towards me. “Excellent thinking!”

“More like excellent luck. Now let’s make ourselves scarce before he comes back to return the favor.”

“You read my mind.”

We dashed as fast as our legs could carry us to the otherside of the castle, throwing ourselves into one of the other spare rooms to catch our breath. Suddenly, Thorax perked up.

“I got good news,” he spoke between pants, “Overlord Elytra sent us Ebony and Forte to help. I need you to coordinate with them though.”

“Got it,” I linked up to Sergeant Forte. “Just got the message. We’re on the upper floor. Ugly got sent to the lower floor, but he will be back up before long and not too happy, so watch yourself.”

*Understood. Stay away if you can until we arrive. I’ll convey your message to Sergeant Ebony.*

“Wilco. Keep me up to date on your location once you’re in the castle. I’ll do the same.”

*As you wish.*

Releasing the whisper, I slumped onto my back and took some deep breaths. That’s when my spine decided to remind me of the beating I took earlier. “Ugh, my back is killing me.”

“My everything is killing me,” Thorax groaned as he dropped his butt next to me. “I haven’t been punched that hard since Sergeant Shine’s ‘stress test’.”

“...What?”

“Don’t ask.”

“Fine.”

A pause.

“...How in Tartarus are we going to take that guy down?” I exasperated.

“A lethal hit with a Niekinis blade would do the trick. Otherwise, we would need to hit him really, really hard just like anything else.”

A lengthy pause followed. Thorax’s brow furrowed. “Spike, sit up.”

I sat up quickly, instantly regretting it as aches traveled up my spine. “What’s up?”

Thorax maneuvered behind me, stripping off the armor that had gotten severely cracked earlier. “I’m going to heal you.”

“I appreciate it, but take care of yourself first—”

“Quiet,” Thorax lowered his voice even more. “Something’s wrong. I need you at full strength just in case.”

The moment he brought it up, it hit me like a brick. “It’s too quiet.”

“Exactly. He’s changing his strategy.” Thorax made a sound with his mouth like he was gathering himself up for a huge spit. Something hot and wet was slapped on my back. I jumped.

“Dude, did you just slap a loogie on my back?!”

“Changeling alchemy. Don’t think too hard about it.”

“What are you talking abou—oooh…!” I shuddered as a soothing chill sunk into my scales and coursed throughout my back. All the pain from earlier was washed away in a blanket of cool, comforting goo.

Thorax’s labored breathing took me out of my relaxation. I glanced over my shoulder to catch him looking worn out.

“I’ll be fine,” Thorax said before I could say anything. “I know I don’t look like it, but I’m made of tougher stuff.”

I hated watching him look so miserable while he was taking care of me. Not knowing what the warlord was up to made things even more stressful. I may not have known him for long, but he’s saved my life just as much as I saved his at this point. I owed him something. “Is there anything I can do to help? Maybe give you some food?”

Thorax smiled weakly. “That is awfully nice of you to offer, but I don’t want to feed off you.”

“Just a little bit won’t hurt. Besides, I will also need your help. Or do you think I can solo that warlord?”

Thorax attempted to answer, only to hesitate. “I-I guess you got me there. Just relax and think about something that makes you happy. If it starts to hurt, tell me to stop, alright?”

A distant, muffled creak echoed down the hall. We both froze, wide eyed.

“J-Just hurry up. He’s here!” I whispered and closed my eyes. Trying to think happy thoughts when the train of doom was approaching at full speed was not the easiest feat in the world. My only solace was knowing I would be helping Thorax out like he did for me.

I didn’t know what to expect from him feasting on my emotions, but pleasant was not one of them. A lot of the tension and anger settled in me were pulled from my body and through my back as if literally sucking the cold out of me. Guess it doesn’t hurt as long as they’re not being forceful. Good to know.

As relaxation and mellowness hit me, my mind drifted to simpler times. Reading books with Twilight. Helping Rarity with her shop. Playing Ogres and Oubliettes with Discord and Big Mac—

Another, louder creak echoed down the hall.

Sweet Celestia he’s getting closer—no, focus. Quicker I help Thorax, sooner I can get both of us out of here alive and healthy.

I mentally scrambled for the next happiest memories. Among those, training with Flash and learning about changeling culture with Noble floated through my mind. The quality time I spent with them, especially last night.

And then that kiss from Noble.

“Just happy is fine,” Thorax said. “Arousal helps but I don’t want you distracted.”

I jumped, heat rushing through my face. “It… it was an accident! It just happened! I-It was her fault!”

“...What?”

“F-forget it! Just hurry up!”

Another door creak. Next door.

Thorax refitted my armor as quickly and quietly as possible and gave my shoulder two light taps. Looking over my shoulder, he made a motion to me with his hoof to stay quiet and follow him to the bed. Specifically under it. Considering the door knob was jiggling, I was in no position to argue options.

We narrowly slid under the bed when the door slowly opened. Yet, I saw nothing. Whatever Thorax saw on the other hand left him petrified. I was lost until I caught the sound of armored boots landing gently on tile, followed by a sniff.

“Their pathos is even weaker now. No doubt changeling interference. Clever little runts.”

I paled. He can turn himself invisible? How is that fair?! Wait, what was that about our pathos? I had pathos?

My musings stopped when Thorax tapped on my hand and motioned me to follow him again. Quietly. Thank the stars changeling armor was made for stealth operations.

The window was punched open, shattered glass spilling out of and into the room.

“I know they’re here some—what!?”

The bottom frame of the window was crushed under the invisible warlord’s grip. “By the blood, what is the emperor doing? Has he...no, that’s impossible!”

While the warlord was busy stressing over… something,Thorax made his move. Quiet as a mouse, he slid out from under the bed and hurried towards the door. I did the same.

Until cracked glass crunched under my foot.

Shit…!

Metal plates shifted, followed by an angry huff coming from near the window. I jumped for the door. The floor where I stood a moment ago split apart from the force of a heavy broadsword. Time to go.

Idea in mind, I tapped Thorax’s shoulder and pointed in the opposite direction before running. The wall exploded into splinters and crystal, heavy steps hot behind my heels. As expected, he was dead set on ‘settling our score’.

Approaching the nearest corner, I primed a phosphor bomb and let it drop behind me. The moment it detonated I darted down the eastern hall and dove into the nearest room, closing the door behind me. His footsteps vanished.

Hugging the wall, I took a huge gulp of air.

*I lost visual! He just phased through the eastern wall. Where did you go?*

“For the love of…”

Forcing back tears of frustration, I shoulder tackled out of the room.

The wall crumbled under the weight of the warlord’s invisible attack as it narrowly missed me, followed by him muttering “For the love of…!”

Never had I been more thankful for all of those endurance runs I went through with Flash.

The warlord was relentless in his chase, always trying to outmaneuver my every move. Disappear in a room? He would just phase through a wall. Try to bait him into going the wrong way? Not when he would try to jump ahead to cut me off. Had Thorax not been providing critical intel from wherever he was hiding, I would’ve been one dead dragon.

I was just about at wits end when a magical voice reached me.

*We’re in the castle. Where are you?*

Sergeant Forte…!

“Second floor! The warlord is invisible! Only Thorax can see him!”

*Got it.*

I switched channels to Thorax. “Thorax, rendezvous with the team in the castle and regroup on me!”

*I can’t leave you! You’ll die if you can’t see him!*

“I sure as Tartarus ain’t living if this continues much longer! Just do it!”

*A-alright. Don’t take any chances!*

A little too late for that buddy…

Drawing my last knife from the tail, I clutched the remaining melter bomb in the other hand and rolled into a one-eighty turn to face him. “A-alright, enough running! Let’s do th-ACK!”

A force hit my stomach hard enough to lift me into the air, knocking out whatever oxygen was left in me. Another hit to the gut sent me skidding across the floor.

“I was wondering when you would finally listen to your true nature,” ghostly blue returned to the warlord’s features as he walked towards me.

I gasped for breath, swearing a rib or two was broken. “You—gasp—know nothing about me!”

The warlord stopped and crouched in front of me. “Changeling Intelligence is quite impressive, Spike the Brave and Glorious.”

A swift kick to the stomach sent me rolling further down the hall. I couldn’t even scream, curled on the floor clutching my definitely broken ribs. At least I left him a parting gift.

Acid splattered all over the hallway, white liquid eating away the castle interior like no tomorrow. It didn’t seem to do anything to the towering dragon knight except cover him in gunk. “If I had weak, malleable flesh like yours, that might’ve actually worked.” He continued walking towards me, unimpeded by the bomb.

Buy time. I just need to buy a little more time. No matter what it takes.

Clutching my stomach, I slowly rose onto my feet, fighting back tears and the urge to cry out. I didn’t dare ask myself what other bones were worth breaking in me. Judging from the look he gave me, he was eager to answer that unsavory question.

No matter what it takes...

“Despite our differences, you have my respect,” the warlord lugged his sword over his shoulder as he approached me. “I fully expected to flay the enemy commander and cut you down in one fell swoop. But you bought them time and cured my boredom.” His head tilted at me. “You seem confused.”

I didn’t say anything, not that I could without screaming in agony.

After a beat, the warlord chuckled. “Ah, perhaps you expected me to simply kill you and be done with it. At this moment, you’re worth more to me alive. Perhaps you can become my very own champion if you survive a little longer.”

Worth more alive? Why would he—

It dawned on me.

I activated the Dragon Whisper. “Thor—”

A ghostly fist cracked my jaw, blinding me with stars and pain. “Ah, ah, ah, I can’t have you spoiling my fun.”

Metal sabatons crashed down on my knife hand, pulling a cry out of me.

“As the changelings say: a bird in the hoof is worth two in the bush. A truly inspired approach to catching prey. That changeling will come for you, hopefully with a vengeful prince and reinforcements for me to play with. Perhaps he too will gain the courage to face his doom as you have.”

Hurried clopping echoed in the distance.

“Right on cue. Do me a favor and look helpless, won’t you? Allow me to help you along.” He brought up his foot and dropped it hard.

A thin purple barrier appeared between his foot and my arm.

A growl slipped from the warlord as he glanced at the adjacent room, door ajar. I used the opportunity to get my hand and blade out of stomping range and roll away. With a quick look, I found the savior of my arm.

“That dragon is under the protection of the Crystal Empire!” Coming out of what I realized had been my room was Shining Armor, flashing the fiercest glare I’ve ever seen from him. “Anyone who messes with him has to answer to us.”

“Us…? Ah, the changeling who is com—” The sentence died on the warlord’s tongue as he glanced at the pony rushing around the corner and galloping—more like screaming—towards him.

Sergeant Thorn charged for the warlord with the fury of a thousand angry ponies. The warlord rolled his shoulders as he faced him. “Hmph. Fool!” He flung his sword at him. My heart skipped a beat as it connected… with an illusion? “What?!”

As the illusion faded, Sergeant Forte emerged from invisibility on the left side of the hall, horn blazing with silver magic. The real Sergeant Thorn was also pulled out of Forte’s invisibility spell, coming at him from the other side.

“Your parlor tricks won’t save you!” The warlord conjured a second blade and prepared to throw it, only to be stopped by the wrath of a gorilla who dropped from the ceiling and delivered the most satisfying of haymakers to his armored face.

A pained howl left him as he was knocked off his feet and sent flying down the hallway. The moment he recovered, landing on the ground in a sliding crouch, he was instantly assaulted by Sergeant Thorn and Shining Armor bearing down on him. With a battle cry that shook the castle, the warlord clashed at them.

My attention went from the fight to the friendly faces approaching me. “That was too close for comfort.” Thorax said, voice deep from the gorilla form.

I gave him a weak thumbs up. “Heroes always come in at the last minute, right?”

Forte put my hand down. “Relax yourself while I patch you up. Thorax, please assist against the warlord.”

“Alright. Take care of him for me.” Thorax transformed into his default form and charged at the dueling warlord while Forte went to work.

Silver light radiated from her horn and scanned my body. Her brow scrunched. “You got worked over pretty hard. I can get you moving, but you won’t be in any shape to do more fighting.”

Something crashed through a wall where the fighting was. I tried to look, but Forte grabbed my snout and forced it back on her. “Don’t. Stay focused on what’s important. You have a very important job to do, remember?”

A job more important than saving my friends? What could be more than—

That’s when I realized what she meant. There was still a huge war out there, and I needed to help everypony stay connected. But I couldn’t bring myself to let any of my comrades die fighting the warlord if I could help it. Seeing that Forte wasn’t going to give me a choice, I slowly nodded and forced myself to only look at her.

Her magic levitated a bunch of medical items from her satchel and began mending me. For the internal wounds, a combination of healing magic and syringes filled with colorless goop did wonders to keep my screaming pains under control.

An explosion shook the building, followed by Sergeant Thrown flying overhead.

Without looking, Forte caught him with her magic and placed him on the ground.

“Thanks!” And back into the foray he went. Forte hadn’t even bat so much as an eyelash.

“Um…”

“Just relax.”

“It’s kinda hard after seeing that—ow!” I winced from the sudden pressure Forte put in her bandage tightening around my stomach.

“I said relax.” Her glare gave me the opposite sensation, but I gulped and nodded nonetheless.

After a few more moments of mending and trying my damndest to not look at what was going out, Forte stood up and packed up her equipment. “Done. Stay safe and keep us connected.”

“Yes, ma’am!” I saluted.

Forte flashed me a smile before diving into the fight with the warlord. I took this time to finally get myself on my feet and assess the damage.

Thorn led the charge against the warlord, swinging his huge sword with the skill and ferocity of a masterful berserker. Thorax, who still had my Niekinis dagger, attacked the warlord’s flank with swift cuts, occasionally transforming to either a big creature like a bear or gorilla to deliver a stunning blow, or a smaller, slippery creature like a snake to dodge a deadly cut. Shining Armor and Forte shined in their support roles of, Shining Armor shielding his teammates while Forte attacked with magic bolts.

Even still, the battle was not nearly one-sided.

Ebony and Thorax could only land glancing blows as the warlord pivoted and danced around their attacks, countering lightning quick strikes that were barely held back by Shining Armor’s shielding. Forte’s spells did little damage, only serving to annoy him or blind him just before he could land a lethal blow that Shining needed time to deflect. He was clearly faster and stronger than everyone else.

As much as I wanted to dive in and help, it was clear I would only slow us down.

First thing’s first, I need to reach out to the artillery team and—

*Spike, I need your help!*

...Or start with Elytra. That works too.

“Talk to me, Elytra.”

*My mother has a plan to save the frontline, but we need you ready to coordinate. Are you available to do so?*

“Wish I could. This warlord just won’t let up.”

*I have something in mind for that bastard. I can’t distract Thorax, so it’s all on you. I’ll only have one shot to catch him off guard.*

“What are you planning?”

*Shoot him with a Typhoon.*

I blinked. “As in, we bring him outside?”

*Can’t imagine it will be that simple. But I’m a good enough shot to get him inside as long as I know where he is. He’s easier to sense when pissed off.*

“That’s insane!”

*Says the dragon who snuck up on one last night.*

“That’s completely different!”

*Believe me, it’s not that I don’t trust you all to be able to fight him, but I’d rather remove any chance he has of killing any of you or getting away. The sooner he dies, the sooner we can focus on the rest of the fight. If you are absolutely certain you don’t need me, let me know now. I will only have one shot at this and not a lot of time to make a call.*

I looked up again at the fight against the warlord. While they were giving him a hard time, the warlord was clearly just getting started while everypony else was battling exhaustion as much as the warlord himself. Firing a Typhoon of all things inside the castle was insane. Yet, even with the reinforcements I knew this fight would only end with some—or most—of us dead before the warlord was taken down. I wanted to ask the others for their thoughts, but I couldn’t risk distracting them.

Get a grip! This is what Noble trained me for! We can’t afford to wait for a miracle. I need to make a call that saves as many ponies as possible. Even if I don’t like it, it’s all we got until something comes along.

“Alright, Elytra. Let’s do it your way.”

*Just trust me and have everyone ready to keep that warlord still and stay out of the way when I tell you. Trying to get into position.*

“Alright. I trust you, Elytra.”

*You better.* I swore I caught a hint of amusement in her tone.

Crazy as her idea was, all that mattered was getting ready to execute it. Just in case, I decided against getting comms going so I could have full focus. Instead, I followed the fight closely and activated my dragon whisper to Shining Armor.

“Elytra has something planned for the warlord. She’s going to fire a typhoon at him. Depending on how fast this needs to happen, I will probably need your magic to keep us safe.”

Dodging a blade throw, Shining stepped back to message me. *You can’t be serious.*

“Elytra says she can get him. I’m willing to trust her.”

*If she misses by even a little bit, we’re not walking away in one piece.*

“I’m not seeing a lot of options. I just… I don’t want any of you to die, and I don’t know any other way to take him down for sure. Even together we can barely touch him.”

Shining grunted with exertion as he threw out a few more shields to cover Ebony and Thorax. From the way Shining grunted after blocking a sword strike, even his amazing barriers were meeting their match. “Alright, Spike. I’ll trust you on this one.”

As the fight dragged on, shifting from hall to hall, room to room, I lagged behind just far enough to keep an eye on the action without getting involved. Minutes passed like hours as I waited for Elytra to give me the green light. Exhaustion was clear on everyone’s faces while the warlord didn’t show any signs of slowing down. Couldn’t help but wonder how in the world I got away with killing the first warlord.

*I’m in position. I cannot stress enough that I will only have one shot at this, so your direction will be vital. Are you still near the warlord?*

“Yeah. We’re in the hall leading to the council room. About four rooms away from Twilight’s bedroom.”

A pause. *Okay. I have an idea of where to target. Think you can get that warlord into the center of the council room and keep him still?*

“We can barely keep ourselves alive. How can we keep him still?”

*I only need him to stay still for a few seconds. Preferably with nopony else too close to him.*

“Only a few seconds, huh? I might be able to keep him focused on… oh find me in the alley!” I groaned. Can’t I catch a break? “This better work. The moment I give you the word, do your thing.”

*Of course. I won’t miss.*

“Hope not for everypony’s sake.” I switched the channel to Shining Armor. “We need to keep him still at the center of the council room. I’m gonna do something to draw his attention. Have everyone ready to back me up and follow my lead.”

“Alright. Just be careful, Spike,” Shining Armor grunted.

I sucked in a deep breath. Alright Spike, you can do this! No fear, yes I can…!

Lowering myself, I took on a sprinting position.

“No fear…”

A deep, long breath. Everyone was counting on me. This could not fail.

I. Cannot. Fail.

“Yes I CAN!”

I burst towards the warlord. Dancing between Forte and Shining, weaving past Ebony, I slashed at his thigh and kept running. I didn’t have to look, only hear his hefty sabatons stomping to know I caught his attention.

Looking back, my teammates followed closely, exchanging words with Shining while the warlord was closing the distance fast. Despite my freshly mended wounds beginning to reopen and shoot pain through my ribs, I continued pushing forward with everything I had.

I bashed through the large double doors with my shoulder, narrowly missing a claw swipe that cleaved part of the door and nearly my head. With a leap, I hopped atop the cutie map and turned to face the warlord, who jumped on top with me. He wasted no time coming at me.

He’ll know what’s up if I hesitate. I can’t run away from this.

I rolled forward to dodge the overhead slash.

I refuse to run! Everyone’s counting on me!

I roared into a slash into his thigh and bounced to the side to avoid a kick. As Death stared down on me, daring me to run, I glared back. An unearthly scream tore out of my lungs as I lunged, pushing out soul crushing fear in favor of courageous stupidity.

I rushed him with a flurry of swipes, cutting into his sword, hands, legs, whatever I could get. Shining Armor’s shield blocked one of his kicks long enough I could dive to the side and slice at the back of his foot. That was finally enough to drop him to his knee.

With a hop, I kicked off his knee and went for his face. Catching his left hook, I braced my shoulder to withstand the brunt of his bunch. Silver magic caught me in mid air and hurled me back at him. He tried to raise his sword, but Ebony slammed down on his blade hard enough to keep it pinned. He tilted his body to the side just enough to avoid losing an eye, though my blade pierced through his cheek.

The warlord’s swings got wilder and faster. Spinning slashes and kicks, crushing hooks and sweeping backhands. Silver and purple magic blocked the lethal strikes, but couldn’t completely save me.

Exhaustion reared its ugly head, slowing me down and forcing everyone else to work that much harder to keep me alive. Narrowly evaded cuts left gashes all over my body. A surge of pain from my early wounds that were still healing paralyzed my spine a second too long left arm limp from an unlucky haymaker that cracked it. That punch threw me to the top of the map long enough for the warlord to pin down my chest with this claw.

Silver and purple magic wrapped around him. Sergeant Thorn managed to plunge his blade through the bastard’s side. Even Thorax, in his giant red dragon transformation, tried to peel him off me. He refused to budge, eyes were still on me as his claws dug through my chest and shoulder scales like swords. Seemed like nothing in the world could tear him off me.

Luckily, my broken arm was pinned to my chest.

Only one chance to take him down. If we miss this shot...

*Spike, I need that call sooner rather than later!*

One chance…

Reaffirming the trust in my teammates, I activated the dragon whisper.

“Center! Cutie Map! Now!”

The reaction wasn’t instant. Instead, there was a second-long gap where all my focus was on the warlord. His expression was filled with hatred as he fought against his magical shackles. He reared up with all his might like a wild animal.

A purple barrier fell over my comrades and I while silver magic pulled everypony except myself away from the warlord. Any attempt for the silver magic to grab me was stopped by the grip of the warlord.

Without warning, the world exploded into light. There was no sound to accompany it, and for the fraction of a moment I saw crystal shatter at the edge of my vision. A bright white line cut diagonally across the room—and right through his spectral body.

It was the last thing I remembered before my shield shattered. Pain exploded in my every limb and my vision went dark.

Noble Heart

With details and approval squared away, phase one of “Operation: Ghostbuster” was well underway.

Since Elytra was in charge of making sure the artillery guns and communications were up and running, I was left to handle the grunt work, including hauling a wagon full of spare explosives alongside the remaining Prism Guard and three Crystal Guard squads. I’d hoped for more, but Max was already stretched thin and needed everypony else to hold the fragile frontline until we were ready.

Once we got to the forward base, we evacuated it and crammed it full of whatever explosives we had, save for a couple of explosive shards to hold the barricade. I didn’t dare to leave our soldiers completely dry of bombs. Everything was proceeding smoothly until the distant sound of an explosion stole my attention. Cadenaz, our resident eye in the sky, burst into the building.

“Love, the castle’s been hit!”

I’d nearly let the crate of bombs on my back slip, stacking one heart attack atop the other. “Say again?” I asked, wide eyed.

“One of our Typhoons just hit the castle! Shot right bloody through it! I can’t raise Spike to confirm his status!”

I reached out to Thorax for some sort of confirmation. I couldn’t feel him through the network. Then I placed a hoof on my chest. “Spike, come in! Spike, respond! ...S-Spike?”

Nothing.

I fought to keep my heart from jumping out of my throat and sought out Elytra through the hive network. *Elly, status report!*

*Still trying to regain control of our guns. I only got the Typhoon I’m using under control. Awaiting word from inside if I caught that warlord between the eyes—*

*Have you lost your fucking mind?! What in All-Mother’s name made you think that was a remotely good idea?*

*It was the most efficient plan I could think of to quickly deal with the Warlord before it could kill anypony! I know it’s a little… unorthodox—*

*”Unorthodox” is infiltrating ponies to save them! Shooting heavy ordinance at the castle with our most important allies inside is ludicrous!*

*Please calm down, Mum! I took every precaution I could work with into account! Still awaiting word from Spike and Thorax if I got a clean hit. Considering I’m no longer sensing the warlord’s presence, either his power is greatly diminished or erased. Just wait for Thorax to call in before you consider throwing me off a cliff, okay?*

I paused to force myself to calm down with a few long breaths. Elly was a great shot. A damn good shot. I tried a few more attempts to raise Thorax or Spike with no success. Every failed attempt sapped strength from my trembling legs.

I needed some assurance Spike and the others would be alright.

Something.

Anything!

*...Probability of them getting caught up in the blast, Elly?*

A small burst of panic filtered the network. *Mum, I… Spike knew to stay clear of the warlord before clearing me to fire. He wouldn’t have made that call if they weren’t safe. I think.*

Elly’s hesitation shot straight into my chest, stealing my breath. If Spike was forced to make the call while in danger close…!

The world around me faded and crumbled under my hooves. An invisible icy grip clenched at my throat.

Spike...

*Mother… I—*

*Overlord, my Shadow, the warlord is down! We’re all alive!* Thorax’s voice cut into the thick silence.

“YOU DAMN WELL BETTER BE!”

Everypony within earshot stopped to gawk at me. I froze, realizing that was also spoken verbally. I retreated before anypony could ask and planted myself in the nearest corner. *Thorax, what’s Spi—everyone’s status?*

*Shining Armor conjured a shield just in time to cover us while Sergeant Forte pulled most of us away from the blast. However…* A chill of worry and fear seeped into the network from Thorax. *The warlord had Spike pinned when the shot was made. Shining Armor tried to shield him, but the barrier broke from the shockwave. He… he’s in critical condition.*

*I... I just…* Elytra’s shock flowed through the network like lightning. *why would he tell me to fire when he couldn’t break free? That idiot!*

*Calm yourself, both of you.* I took a deep breath. *I trained Spike to make the tough calls when it counted. He wouldn’t have made the call carelessly.* Another pause to shake the dread constricting my heart. *Thorax, make sure Spike gets through this alive and assist with communications. Elly, I need you ready to make the shot at the forward base when I call it. Timing and precision are your top priority above all else.*

*By your will, my Shadow.*

*Yes, Mother.*

I hadn’t even noticed my sergeants crowding me until I tore my attention from the hive mind. “What?”

“You look like somepony kicked your puppy. Talk to us,” Shine Spark said.

I frowned. “When the Typhoon was used to kill the warlord, Spike was within danger close. He’s in critical condition.”

Shock rippled through my sergeants, including a sharp curse from Shine Spark. “I swear, if he doesn’t make it—”

“He will,” I cut her off. “The more pressing matter is losing our dragon comms for the rest of this fight. I’ll need to rely on Max’s backup plan to keep our timing on point. In the meantime, we need to hurry and finish loading up the explosives and take position. We don’t have all day, so let’s move!”

A brief, worrying glance was exchanged between the sergeants before they saluted me. “Aye, ma’am!” They went to work, not hiding the extra weight of worry I dropped on their shoulders. I caught Vivi’s gaze lingering briefly towards the direction of the castle. Cadenaz’s attention was on me for a moment before refocusing on his task. As I levitated the crate off my back and onto the floor, I couldn’t help but glance out the window and towards the castle myself.

You better make it out of this. I’m not finished with you.

*Mum, the enemy is losing coordination. Killing that warlord must’ve done the trick to make them lose their focus.

*Not quite, Elly. Maybe for a moment, but their warmaster would quickly retake control. However, if something happened to the warmaster as well, that would no doubt cripple their coordination. Any sign of them getting desperate?*

*Outside every Roc and monster in the world coming after me?*

*...I suppose that was a foolish question. Do your duty and be ready for my call.*

*Yes, Mum.*

Turning my attention back to my own tasks, I doubled my pace to get everything moving. Though I had no proof, I just knew Flash was doing something to be a pain in the ass to the warmaster. The monsters were still a major threat by all means, but the loss of direction would likely make them more single-minded and direct. This was perfect timing to start corralling the creatures before Malice regained control of his hateful horde.

With a building stuffed with enough explosives to incinerate anything remotely near the impact zone, we shifted to phase two. This was a little easier, as all we had to do was set up the barricade and give the word to Max to let the dogs loose.

Of course—since no plan truly survives contact with the enemy—a hitch reared its ugly head when a red flare launched into the air, bursting like a firework display.

“That… came from the front, didn’t it?” Shine Spark gulped.

I nodded. No doubt the frenzied beasts got more aggressive than we were ready for. “The front is crumbling. Got no choice but to start early. Sergeants, on me!”

My sergeants, plus the three loaned to me, regrouped on my position. I paused to measure everypony present with a glance, assessing their readiness before giving them the boost they needed.

“We don’t have long, so I’m going to make this short. Not a single monster gets through you. We are the line in the sand between victory and defeat! Go to your post and fight for not just for your life, but the lives of every damn pony in Ponyville! Soldiers, are you ready?”

Respective weapons rose to the fair with a mighty cheer and simultaneous shout. “Yes, ma’am!”

“Good, now move out! Go, go, go!”

As my soldiers scrambled to their positions, Vivi lingered for a moment, throwing a hard stare.

“We lost a lot of good soldiers today.”

Sensing the spicy scent of heat in her emotions, a sour taste was left in my mouth. “Every second you waste my time is another second given to the enemy. Whatever you got to say better be worth it.”

Vivi’s glare tightened, sucking in air through her nose.

“Kick their ass, ma’am,” despite the anger and resistance she forced her words through, recognized the ingenuity in her gesture.

We exchanged a nod. A silent oath and understanding of who we were and who the real enemy was. Vivi darted off after the others, leaving me alone with a building ready to blow the enemy to kingdom come. Gathering magic in my horn, I fired a flare into the sky myself, giving Max the green light to part the waves and let them through.

Facing the changeling nightmare of overwhelming force while exposed and cornered, I expected some level of panic or dread that needed squashing. Instead I found a calm I’ve rarely experienced. A primal understanding of what needed to be done. Of what I was capable of versus the tide of fangs and claws rushing toward me.

Not only did I have to face countless numbers alone, the fate of many ponies rested on me not just surviving, but capturing their attention long enough to line up the perfect shot. I was in a changeling’s worst case scenario… and completely fine with it. What’s more, I knew this was exactly what I needed: a clear objective with nothing holding me back.

I was ready to meet Death head on and punch it in the damn face.

Tremors rippled through the earth. A collection of cries and howls in the distance.

...How long has it been since I could really cut loose?

Shadow games are fine, but a refined lady like myself needs to blow off some steam once in a while. Hadn’t really been able to do that since… well, Malice I guess.

The earth seemed to tremble as they got closer. In the distance, beyond the fog of pathos and kicked up dirt I could see the horde of beast storm towards my direction.

Suppose we shall get started then.

“I am the guile mind. Knowledge is my weapon.”

Magic surged through my horn, a beacon of power amidst the empty battleground. Telekinetic forces unsheathed all of my daggers, carefully holding them by the handle. Green flames wrapped around my frame as I transformed.

“I am the strong body. Health is my core...”

An extra layer of chitin shaped itself to become form-fitting plated armor. Ridges sharp enough to cut flesh emerged along my legs, horn and barrel.

“I am the brave soul. Courage is my shield...”

Small vents opened in the center of my back and just below my wings.

“I am the noble heart. Love is my life...”

My translucent green mane flared out through the back of the V-shaped plating on my head, not too different in design from a unicorn helmet.

“We are legion…

My gaze burned with magic through the slit of the helm as I hovered into the air.

“We are victory…!”

Two of the levitating daggers found their way into my forehooves. I could feel as the pathos inside me, dormant and contained for who knows how long, spread and empowered every muscle in my body, transforming my chitin snow white.

“We are shadow!”

With a burst of magic through my jet vents, I propelled myself towards the pile of poor saps who thought they had a chance in Tartarus against me.

I tackled into the grizzly bear leading the charge, shoving into it and plunging deep into the charging beasts with it in tow. Claws and fangs scraped against my tough plating, little more than itches as they tried to grab me. Sufficiently deep into the pack, I flew upwards and dove at them, performing strafing runs with my daggers slipping in and out of their spines and skulls.

One very brave tiger managed to leap onto me during one of my dives, hanging onto my limbs by the teeth. Even a timberwolf managed to latch onto my hind leg. With the help of my jets, I propelled myself upward and, after gaining enough height, plummeted down in a high speed aerial spin. The persistent tiger hung on until it was flattened against another beast below me as I landed atop a rather unlucky timberwolf.

I spun and slashed at who knows how many creatures. Blood and bite marks riddled my chitin as I cut down and sliced open anything that got remotely close. Several reaper vassals leapt out of their hosts to attack me. The daggers I had kept close now zipped through the air and nailed everything that threatened to get close. My blades often found themselves embedded into other roaming creatures, making it easier to retrieve them by the handle with my magic while the remaining creatures caught these hooves of mine. It was a whirlwind of bloodshed, and I was the eye of the storm.

A silver glint caught the corner of my eye. I pivoted underneath the blade just in time and raised my dagger to stab whatever it was in the eye. My blade stopped just in time from gouging out the bloodshot eyes of the Crystal Guard. I had no time to figure out what was going on as he swung his sword wildly, screaming bloody vengeance.

Timberwolves bit at my back and hind legs from behind while I had to duel with the pony trying to kill me. While the wolves couldn’t really bite through my armor, it greatly impaired my movements against the berserker drunk on pathos. I refused to accept killing him as an option to keep my promise to Flash, but that promise got a lot harder to keep as another rogue Crystal Guard pony squeezed his way through the monsters, the aura of pathos burning off him like a bonfire.

Celestia damned hunters!

As the hunter-possessed guard charged at me with a spear, a mass of grizzly bears dogpiled me to keep me immobile. My floating daggers were able to kill the bears on me, yet I was still vulnerable to the two ponies coming at me.

Until the flying corpse of a bear crashed into both of them.

“Noble!”

The bears atop of me were hurled off by the absurd strength of the earth pony who freed me while my floating daggers bought us time. Grateful as I was, I couldn’t help but throw a glare at the redheaded sergeant. “Shine, I told you to leave this to me! That’s an order!”

With a leap, Shine landed next to me, cleaving her sword down a timberwolf’s head. “My boys and girls got it under control. Give them some credit!” With another swing, she sliced open two leaping tigers coming at my flank. “And you’re welcome, by the way!”

Because we didn’t already have a hard enough time, several berserking pegasi guards dove at us from above. I had to duck to avoid getting my head clipped off by their spears. One of those who got dangerously close took a telekinetic blast to the head, knocking him out of the sky and into the monstrous pack.

Spinning around to cut down at the flanking creatures, I noticed a certain sergeant launching magical blasts from the rooftop adjacent to the barricade I designated her to guard. To accurately snipe a target from that distance was a feat that would even impress Elly. This was also when I caught Cadenaz fighting the pegasi above us, dueling several at once with his cutlass.

“You are all idiots!” I screamed into a back kick that caved in a bear’s face.

“And you’re a bigger idiot thinking you had to do everything by yourself!” Shine pivoted around me, slashing upward at a timberwolf so hard it’s splinters rained into the eyes of nearby monsters, making them vulnerable to my blade strikes.

“Not saying I’m ungrateful!” I darted through another group of monsters streaming in, drawing their attention to me rather than the barricade of guards ahead. “I just can’t risk a single one of those monsters breaking through!”

“And they won’t! Hiyaap!” Cadenaz slammed his hooves atop another possessed guard that slipped into the group of monsters, knocking him out. “You’re one of us now, Love, and a Prism never leaves a friend behind!” Another sniper shot zapped some of the bears charging for me, holes smoking in their heads. “See? Even Vivi agrees with us.”

I rolled my eyes, unable to keep myself from grinning. “Fine! We need to get these guards to safety after getting the vassals out of them!”

“We’ll try!” Shine yelled over the roar of the creatures.

Through a combination of my magic, Shine’s strength and Cadenaz’s swiftness, we were able to haul some of the unconscious guards out of the fray and to the barricade for shelter, Cadenaz flying them to safety and zipping back. Any vassals that tried to flee or attack from those soldiers fell to my telekinetic blades. Same could not be said for all the berserking guards.

Cadenaz was mere inches away from one of the fallen guards when the rogue guard was crushed underfoot by the influx of stampeding monstrosities. The world slowed to a crawl.

What are they… no, no, no! Those bastards!

Seeing another pathos-possessed guard, I rushed for him. A swarm of leaping tigers stopped me just long enough to watch him get trampled alongside smaller creatures unable to keep up with the horde. Just like with my changelings, Malice treated ponies and beasts under his command as expendable pawns to further his bloodlust.

Fury burned in my veins. My blood boiled, heart screaming in my ears to stop this madness. With an ear-shattering cry I flung the tigers off me and redoubled my efforts to kill the monsters and rescue whoever we could. I let loose magical blasts more liberally, carving my way through like a buzzsaw to reach the guards and help my sergeants get them out. Even so, there were just too many of them flooding in to make heads or tails where the soldiers were before they ended up killed by the rampaging monsters.

Doubt I could keep my promise to Flash threatened to slip into my thoughts when green light suddenly flooded the combat zone from the flare launched at the frontline. Max’s signal that we’ve hit critical mass.

“Shine, let’s wrap up rescuing who we can and bug out!”

“Alri—”

The ground rumbled.

...You have got to be kidding me…!

Behind the northern barricade, the hydra crashed its way through, ignoring the crystal guard who wisely got out of the way. It’s heated gaze was dead set on me.

“Damn, you really do get Malice’s attention, don’t you?” Shine said, cutting her way through to put distance between her and the approaching hydra.

“Double time on those guards! Get them out before the hydra arrives!”

“On it! Cover me!” While Shine charged her way through the ranks, scooping up whoever she could find that was still breathing, I gave my all to keep the path clear, a storm of blades and magic shredding anything that so much looked at her funny.

*Elly, phase two is done. Are you ready yet?*

*Need more time. Blasted Rocs are swarming us. They’re getting desperate!*

*Make time! We got a hydra breathing down our necks!*

*Understood. I’ll let you know when I get a chance!*

I cursed under my breath.

Didn’t want to do this now, but we may not get a second shot.

I surged magic through my horn, digging deep through my pool of magic.

Don’t know how long my reserves will last doing this, but it’ll have to do. Go hard or die trying.

I flew into the air a few meters ahead of Shine Spark and transformed. And grew.

I landed with a ground-rupturing crash. My roar boomed across the battlefield, giving even the hydra paused as it stared at my equally massive armored black dragon form.

My tail swiped at the approaching waves, scattering them like marbles. Anything that tried to get near Shine Spark was crushed under my hardy talons. I thrashed wildly, flinging monsters left and right. I spewed acidity spray at dozens of creatures attempting to surround us, melting them down to bone in seconds. Every attack I made needed to count, the transformation eating through my magic reserves like a ravenous diamond dog.

A scorching blast struck me on the side, nearly knocking me over. The hydra rushed forward, shooting red beams from its mouth.

“Go, now!” I shouted at my sergeants. Shine Spark had luckily picked up the last soldier we could find in this chaotic battlefield and hauled ass out of there, carrying an impressive number of unconscious guards on her back. Cadenaz helped her keep them balanced as they attempted to escort them. Unfortunately there were just too many creatures between them and the extraction point that was the barricade.

...Unless…

“Vivi!” My deep voice carried through the combat zone as I scooped the unsuspecting Sergeants and guards gently in my large claws. “Catch!”

I trusted my gut and hurled them over the monsters and towards the barricade. I couldn’t quite tell what Shine was yelling at me, though I knew it couldn’t have been anything flattering judging the mix of terror and rage on her face. The timing couldn’t have been better, as I caught a series of magical beams to my side from the hydra that arrived, knocking me over. My only relief came from seeing Shine Spark and the others caught in a bubble of magic from Sergeant Meadows and the other unicorns guarding the path between buildings.

I’d barely recovered, shaking off all the monsters clamouring for me when the Hydra’s heads fell upon me, snapping at anything in their path with mad ferocity. I grabbed some of their necks with claws and teeth and yanked downwards, forcing the both of us to the ground.

We rolled and wrestled, crushing several helpless creatures under our massive bodies. My acidic jaws melted whatever I bit, and the acid began its own fight against the hydra’s impressive regeneration speed. Empowered by several hunters, this beast was no slouch either. Hot teeth suddenly bit through my chitinous armor, and a piercing pain accompanied the crack.

I arched in pain and roared. I rammed my elbow into its chest again and again, but it refused to let go, grinding its teeth through my flesh. Faced with no alternative, I spun around, yanking myself free. I tried to rise up but stumbled back onto all four as the pain took my breath away for a second. Hot wetness ran down my back as my magic struggled to seal the no doubt massive wound.

Spurred by pain and boiling, absolute fury, I jumped forward, grabbed the next head that tried to bite me, and punched claws-first into its throat. Gripping whatever I could, I suddenly ripped tendons and windpipe out alike. The head released a choked squeak, before collapsing.

As I dropped the warm lump of tissue onto the ground and shook the blood off my claws, I found myself yelling at the creature with the deep, voluminous voice of my dragon form. “Go to Tartarus you piece of shit!”

The hydra stumbled back as it tried to rid itself of the dead head that was now only attached to the rest of the body by the remnants of a shattered spine and its thick skin. Its other heads snapped at the dead weight, and I got a feeling that the head could only regrow when fully separated from the body.

I rose up, arms close to my torso, prepared to strike out after the next head that came for me. My attention fell on the trickle of blood running down my hip and trembling legs, and the darkish puddle it had already formed. Breathing was ragged, magical reserves running on fumes. My plan to just stall them had worked out just great.

There was no doubt my strength was superior; as long as my magic managed to both maintain this form and stop me from bleeding out. But I was pretty sure the hydra wouldn’t give me the chance to fight my way through this one head at a time. Not that I had the time left since I had to consume a ton of magic to keep myself from bleeding out.

Inhaling deep, I focused magic through my stomach and towards my throat. One of the heads fired a devastating beam out of its mouth. I countered with a thick fog of acid to obscure it’s vision.

From the mist opposite of the hydra I emerged in my Shadow form, struggling to catch my breath. The mist would keep them busy for at least a few precious seconds. The smaller creatures unlucky enough to get caught in my mist were stripped of their skin and flesh, melting into a puddle within seconds. Unfortunately, this did not stop the onslaught of blind fire lasers ripping through the green mist towards me.

Just as the mist began to clear from the detonating barrage of magical blasts, a familiar tingle fought its way through my war-focused mind. *Ready, Mum! Now or never!*

Using my telekinetic daggers, I hurled them all into all the necks of the approaching beast the instant I got a visual. It got distracted long enough for me to fly away as hard as my wings could carry me.

*Elly, fire! Fire now!*

Pain pierced through my back and left wing as I pushed myself towards the direction of my sergeants. There was a short delay, and for a moment I thought the hydra might be able to catch up with me. Then the telltale boom of a typhoon snapped across the town like a whiplash.

I didn’t turn around as the whistling sound came closer and closer. Only when I had reached allied lines did I allow myself a single glance back. I couldn’t see the shell, though; it pulled no trail, and was incredibly tiny compared to the wide open skies.

What did catch my eyes however was the hydra, which had turned towards the direction of the castle by now. One of its heads was focused on some unknown point in the distance, another suddenly snapped towards the direction of the forward base.

You gotta be… it figured me out?!

With a speed that betrayed its enormous mass, it leapt through the air, throwing itself behind a large building to the east.

As for the shell itself, I knew we wouldn’t get a second warning. Expecting the worst, I ordered my sergeants to duck, kept my own head low as well, and cast a shield spell. I poured as much magic into it as I had left available, and not a second too early.

In the blink of an eye, the air around us turned hot. Not warm like on a summer day, but rather hot like the center of an oven. Straw roofs, stray carts, and wooden facades ignited instantly as if the sun itself had descended upon us. Radiating heat fried everything outside of our shield bubble. As anything that could burn rapidly began to do so, I could only imagine what it did to the unshielded predators.

A shockwave of dust and noise snapped past us faster than the speed of sound; taking away any view we might’ve had and shaking our eardrums to their cores. The wave did its best to push us across the street, but our barricade as well as my shield resisted. For now.

Windows shattered, just before a hailstorm of rubble and other debris erased buildings everywhere around us from the face of the planet. Wooden boards and stone foundations the size of boulders were turned into fatal projectiles. I gasped as one such boulder came blasting through our cover and struck my shield. The force of the impact sent us and our shield bubble skipping across the street like tumbleweed.

A literal wall of fire followed as blazing magic extended from the epicenter like a curtain of annihilation. I felt the heat even through the shield as it washed over us, and an ozone-like reek crept into the bubble, making it hard to breathe.

The earthquakes came last. Whatever buildings had managed to withstand the previous punishments now gave in to tremors stronger than any I had ever experienced. The ground disappeared beneath my hooves; only to return a moment later with a vengeance. We were tossed around inside our bubble, and I completely lost track of where we were within the town.

For all I could tell, the explosion might’ve catapulted us all the way into the forest. There was no way of telling, not as long as those hellish furies raged outside.

It took a while, but slowly yet steadily my magic gained the upper hoof over the everything that was trying to kill us. The tempest outside calmed down, the air became cooler and breathable again, and the mighty tremors became mild aftershocks.

Only when the last piece of debris had fallen down, and only when the last molten boulder had ended its journey of devastation, did I dare to lower my shield and raise my head.

Warmth not unlike a summer dawn greeted my face. Dust and dirt were still floating through the air in waves, but when I opened my eyes I was met with a view that was almost unbelievable.

A huge mushroom cloud, at least thrice as tall as Twilight’s castle, had risen into the skies. Within it, magical fires still raged, lunging out at the clouds now. I could hear the roaring of the flames even through my still ringing ears.

And not just the skies were ablaze. As I looked around, I realized everything else was, too. The heat of the explosion had ignited the buildings, their wooden walls and timber beams, just like the wooden furniture and just about the rest of southern Ponyville that was obliterated.

Everyone in the squad was quiet. Their breaths were rapid, their thoughts spiralled, but their voices were absent. We stood in quiet witness for who-knows-how-long, watching the timbers slowly turn to ash.

By the mother, what have I done?

Before I could ponder over the cost of this victory, a hissing nearby prepared to deny us that very victory itself.

Everyone froze. My sergeants had been quiet before, but now they became dead silent as their breaths stopped and everyone turned their heads towards the source of the hiss.

*Mother, please confirm status and hit.*

We watched in muted horror as a tall figure rose up from the ruins. Grey ash fell off its back like snow, followed by stone and the other debris that had buried it.

*It’s not dead,* I whispered back.

*What?!*

The hydra reached its heads up and roared a battlecry. The head I had maimed was missing now, and another was but a scorched stub, but the three remaining ones were alive and well.

A distant part of me realized that, if it wasn’t using it’s magic to regenerate, it was most likely keeping it at bay for the actual fight.

*It’s! Still! ALIVE!* I yelled through the mind link as we began running.

*How?!*

I dodged half a roof that was thrown at me. *Is that really important now? The motherfucker outsmarted me! I need another volley of AP rounds ASAP!*

*Getting hounded by bloody Timberwolves! I’ll raise you when ready!*

Mid-dodge I looked to my sergeants. Relief of having survived the blast had long since given way to horror once more. Behind us, the hydra was drawing closer, bursting through the burned-out foundations of stores and former homes. Now that our ammo storage was gone and our guns were tied up again, realization slammed down upon me.

They’re about to die.

It was such an obvious conclusion, and at the same time it felt so unreal. We had survived all this, the battle with the wild beasts, the fight against our own possessed allies… These sergeants had faced and overcome terrible horrors, bloodshed, and even the fires of total annihilation, only to succumb to a hoofful of slightly-above-average hunters now?

It felt so wrong, and at the same time I knew it was going to happen anyway.

Unless...

I summoned whatever strength I had left and took off into the air and at the hydra, ignoring the shouts of my distressed sergeants.

The hydra’s loathing gaze refused to leave my troops — until I swiped past its snout, dagger in hoof. The blade ripped deep through the tissue, and the hydra hollered out in pain. I dove down fast and low in order to avoid the vengeance of its teeth, then turned back to charge it again.

It was furious by now, it’s fiery magic breath and tail strikes taking turns in their attempt to ground me. But having its attention now wouldn’t save my team in the long run. A mere gash across its nose would never be enough to keep its focus firmly on me - but something else just might.

I dove down once more, flying circles around the beast’s torso and trunk. On occasion I strafed it with magic bolts, but they were merely there to distract from my actual goal: locating the hunters.

While pathos itself was spread all throughout the hydra’s body, there were significant focal points of it as well. At first I had expected one per head, but perhaps after I had taken two of those from the beast they had changed their strategy. A great deal of pathos was now located around the heart of the hydra; a natural place to root themselves into. But in order to empower every muscle of a creature this large they had to spread, at least as far as I understood them.

I made my find during the second circle around its lower back: a strong pathos signature was located in the tail of the beast. No wonder it was suddenly able to weaponize the giant chunk of otherwise saggy meat with such power and precision.

Coming from the side, I suddenly spun around mid-flight, used all my wingpower to decelerate, and gripped the scales left and right of the tail’s pathos core as I passed by. Instantly it tried to shake me off, but even as I was yanked up and down I gathered all my magic for a single, hyper-focused beam.

It burned through the scales like a drill, and the reek of scorched flesh quickly assaulted my nostrils. The hunter tried to close the wound up, too, but having reacted just a second too late, it wasn’t able to stop me before my spell had fully breached the scales and exposed the much softer tissue below.

I levitated a dagger above the wound and focused all my telekinetic power into the hilt. As the magics gathered, barely clinging onto the tiny fraction of the weapon they were able to touch without dissolving, I felt an impulse of fear coming from the inside of the tail.

The hunter had figured me out once more - but this time, far too late.

“Sayonara, motherfucker.”

I released the spell spell that had held the dagger in place, and the magic that clung to the hilt was unleashed. With a snap like a whiplash the dagger accelerated forward instantly.

I let go of the scales I had been holding on to, gaining distance just in time to witness the dagger breaking through the other end of the tail, dragging a ghostly appearance along with it. Flesh and blood splattered across the ground just as the hunter was nailed to the pavement by the hyperfast blade.

I was so fascinated by the image of the hunter slowly dissolving that I didn’t see the head whipping around like a flail. It got me like a wrecking ball, and I was hurled through the air and towards the forest.

Suits me just fine, I figured through the booming headache and strained wings. A look at my sergeants confirmed that they were already rushing to my help, but I quickly signalled them to stay back.

“You will pay in blood!” One of the heads screamed at me, and I couldn’t help but grin. I had evaporated the majority of Malice’s forces, braced its mightiest monster in direct melee, and now impaled one of their own into the street. I had been worried that the trick of luring them wouldn’t work twice, but it did. The wild chase the hydra now gave me was proof of Malice’s greatest flaw. Just like mother had once been blinded by anger and her thirst for revenge, Malice’s own agents had now succumbed to the very same flaws.

I am the Guile Mind. Knowledge is my weapon. And know that I’ll wreck you for what you did today, Malice!

Still flying over the blast zone, I was slowed down by the lead weight that formed in my stomach. Those places that weren’t covered in smoke revealed ghastly charred corpses and the embers of dozens of destroyed homes. I was glad when I left the edge of the town and approached the forest. Even here, trees had been bent over like toothpicks from the might of the explosion.

The hydra was annoyingly fast, slithering over the world’s biggest pet cemetery and hunting me down with a vengeance. Looking towards the distant frontline where Max’ troops had hopefully avoided the brunt of the explosion, I launched a yellow flare towards my destination. Hopefully they got the message to stay the hay away from this thing.

A fiery red beam launched from the hydra, nearly clipping my wing. I cursed myself for being this distracted during such a crucial moment, but I couldn’t help it. I had a promise to keep.

*Elly, gonna need those guns up and running sooner rather than later. I’m dragging it out into Everfree.*

*Yes, mum. We almost got all the guns ready. We finally got those sons of bitches running scared!*

I poured magic into my jets, darting left and right to avoid getting blasted once more. Speed and agility played into my hooves as the hydra seemed unable to both chase me with its bulky body, and properly aim.

It went well for a time, until it didn’t anymore. The horizon suddenly spiralled in my view as I started to tumble and roll through the air, unable to correct. I gasped when I noticed the treeline drawing closer and closer. I made a second attempt to pull up, but nothing happened. I rose my legs up to protect me from the inevitable landing.

Crashing through the crown of the first tree, countless branches struck out against me. The smaller ones were like whips, gashing into my chitin like needles. The larger ones meanwhile battered down upon me like a bag of cudgels. I barely missed the massive trunk of the tree itself, only to graze the side of a second just behind it. The impact sent me spinning towards the ground, unable to catch my weight.

I slammed into the thicket like a boulder dropped from the heavens. Air was forced out of my lungs as even my reinforced chitin shattered under the force of the impact. I was left speechless, thoughts spiralling. Mouth opened wide, I tried to force breath back into my lungs. Reluctantly, they obeyed.

W-what happened?

My right fetlock exploded with pain as I attempted to put some weight onto it. Forced to stay on the ground until my magic started doing it’s fucking job, I dug my left hoof and right elbow into the mushy ground. Fighting against the pain in every part of my body I managed to drag myself behind the next tree for cover.

What the fuck had just happened?

“G-Aahhhhh!”

I rolled to the side after having just touched my wings. Or rather… the spot where my wings were supposed to be!

The tip of my trembling hoof was covered with black, moist soot. Blood, and the remains of my wings, I realized in horror.

The ground began to tremble one more. I suppressed a scream as I pressed myself closer against my cover. My breath went rampant, my body still fighting the pain that was spreading rather than being contained by my magic.

Reaching for another dagger, I belatedly realized that the same blast which got me must’ve also burned the sheaths’ strips off. Then again, who was I kidding? I wasn’t in a fighting condition anyway.

A last morbid thought came to mind. I reached out through the mind link.

*Elly? Elly, can you hear me?*

Adrenaline and fatigue blazed through the link equally strong as she replied. *Yes! Still working on those timberwolves!*

For a moment I was tempted to let her know what had happened, but I decided against it. There was no reason to burden her mind. *Can you locate my position?*

A pause. *You went far into Everfree, but yes, I can sense your direction and distance.*

I gulped. *I… I need you to align the guns with my position as soon as they’re freed. I’ve lured the hydra away from the team. It should be the biggest pathos signature out here. Lock onto it and take it down as soon as you can!*

Her response came without wasting a beat. *What about you?! You’re much too close; I can’t just fire onto the both of you!*

*I- I’m in cover. You’re free to wreck the bastard!*

She stayed silent for a long moment. *Mother?*

In the not so far distance, a random tree was torn from the ground. Its ancient roots cracked in protest right before tearing. Its mighty trunk was slammed into the ground, just before the hydra continued its search with the next.

*You have your orders! There’s no time to debate; just do it!*

*Understood. Stand by.*

I felt our minds disconnect. As the hydra dismembered yet another tree even closer, I decided that there was one more changeling I needed to talk to.

*Thorax.*

*Yes, My Shadow?*

I took a deep breath. *Elytra… She’s strong, but in the days to come, she will also need someling strong by her side. Someling she can trust, and who has her back. You have to be that changeling for me, do you understand?*

A long pause. *N-no, not quite, my shadow. What do you mean?*

I figured the shock the network would experience any moment now would be evidence enough. *Just keep my words in mind. And… and tell Spike—*

My words were lost to the tree behind me being ripped from its foundation. Its trunk scratched across my back. I screamed as I tumbled forward.

*My Shadow? My Shadow, what’s wrong?!*

I cut the link and forced myself to turn around.

The hydra met me with a dirty, confident, utterly satisfied smile. When it opened its mouth, its voice was loud and reverberating. A chorus of the remaining hunters speaking in unison. “We told you you’d pay for this, Noble Heart.”

Forcing my limbs to obey me, I got back up on my legs. My vision went blurry as hot tears ran down my cheeks. And yet, as I let my bleary eyes wander across the creature a dozen times my size, I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Look at yourself,” I huffed, wiping the wetness off my face with a trembling hoof. “Your army’s almost gone. Your boss is getting his ass kicked. And the civilians have long since reached their shelters. You lost, you fool, but you’re too blinded by your glorified temper tantrum to notice.”

To my surprise, the hydra didn’t snap back at me. Instead, it lowered one of its heads until it was almost touching the ground. It’s cold blue eyes stared back at me. “You’re mistaken, Shadow. These primitive creatures have long since served their purpose. We have won this battle; and before long, our Emperor will have won the war, too. All that happened today paved the way for his ultimate victory; even if your pathetic little perspective on the world suggests otherwise.”

The head rose back up just as all the other heads opened their mouths wide. I could sense the power of another, final blast all the way from down here. “But you won’t be around to see this glorious future. You were but a pawn; and in a second, you’ll be—”

It stopped. I kept staring upwards, prepared to join all my brethren who were already on the other side.

Nothing happened. Then, the ground shook once more.

The hydra snapped its heads around and fired off. Not at me, but at something far beyond the treetops. The tremors came closer and closer, until—

A huge bipedal thing broke through the trees and through the hydra’s energy beams, only to bury the mother of all haymakers into the hydra’s middle face.

“...What?”

More of these grotesque creatures—stone golems? Was that what they were?— burning with a golden aura tore through the trees and charged for the golem. I couldn’t believe my eyes. Am I dreaming right now, or did that fall hit my head harder than I thought?

*Uh, Thorax? Am I alright?*

*Um, I’m afraid I don’t know how to answer that question, my Shadow. Outside stress and confusion coming from the network, I don’t sense any other abnormalities. Is everything alright?*

I looked at the golden golems again. There was something familiar about their signature. It felt like pathos, yet lacked the malevolent quality that always sent shivers down my spine. It was almost warm. The taste of the magic signature was familiar, too. Kinda like…

...I don’t know what Buttermilk did, but I ain’t complaining!

*Nevermind.* I used this chance to gather my strength and bring some distance between myself and the fight. More stumbling forward than actually running, I looked over my shoulder several times, afraid the hydra might come after me. But even though it was still moving, it was now completely occupied with the bunch of golems grabbing and pounding away.

*Artillery ready, Mum! What pattern?*

I didn’t hesitate. *Fire! Whatever goddamn pattern you like, as long as you fire already!*

*Understood. Firing time-to-target. Fifteen guns. Thirty seconds till hit. Make sure you’re nowhere near it!*

Working on it, I grunted as I dragged my injured self through the undergrowth. Behind me, the clash of titans was still going strong, but I wasn’t about to bet my money on those strange golems just yet.

As the by now dreadfully familiar whistling of shells approached us, the hydra noticeable started to panic. It doubled its efforts to free itself from the golems’ hold; going as far as decapitating one of the golems with its magic blast. Yet despite its best efforts, the golems remained adamant.

When the whistling was almost upon us, I took cover behind the biggest tree I could find and covered my ears. Having already forgotten what Elly had said, I half expected the shells to strike one after the other. Instead, they all descended upon hydra and golems alike simultaneously, like a unified torrent of wrath hurled down from the heavens.

In a single mighty beat, wood and stone shattered as they obliterated everything in their path before continuing deep into the ground. Wooden splinters the size of my legs were hurled through the air; some impacting so close to me I could smell the warm resin and burned bark.

Earth was ejected from the ground into the air, only to rain down behind me seconds later. The pattering receded quickly, and as a last beat to the orchestra of destruction, a tree somewhere in the distance slowly collapsed with the cracking sound of old wood.

A part of me wanted to stay hunkered down in case there were any more shots incoming; but I knew Elly, there would be no strays when she was in control. Carefully I crawled around the tree; my joints and muscles still burning from the hasty retreat just a moment earlier.

I gasped when the hydra was still moving. However, my heartbeat calmed down a second later when I noticed how little was left of it. Elly hadn’t exactly hit it dead center; instead, the united volley had strafed the hydra’s side and leg. Chunks of flesh the size of carts were spread across the scene like a meat puzzle, and belatedly I realized that I was staring at the remnants of its tail.

Still, two of its heads were still moving, still fighting the golems that looked no bit better. That won’t do it.

*You got the bastard; but it’s still moving. Fire for effect, I say again, fire for effect!*

*Wilco. Standby.*

As one of the golems, reduced to just his chest and one arm, continued to mingle with the hydra, I dared to move closer. Another golem was wrestling with one of the heads, but having just one arm and no head left made things difficult.

When the whistling approached once more, I raised my shield. These AP shells weren’t as dangerous as their explosive counterparts, and even with my magic involved in other things, I couldn’t help but enjoy the view from close-up as more and more shells rained down onto the beast.

They came more random now; each gun crew firing as fast as they could, with less focus on coordination than speed now. I cheered when one lucky shot blasted through the second-to-last head; killing the one-armed golem in the process and forcing the hydra to lastly, finally collapse.

“Die, asshole!” I shout across the newly created clearing. “Die and go to Tartarus already!”

The last remaining head lay limbly on the ground. It didn’t make any more effort to fight back, and I was pretty sure no pathos empowerment in the world could bring this wreckage of a body back to life.

Still, debris and hot blood kept pouring over my shield like a summer rain, as more and more shells kept pounding the cadaver further into the ground. Gravel and smithereens crunched under my hooves as I slowly walked closer to the massacre.

*Mother, beware! You’re too close to the engagement zone!*

*It’s dead,* I sent back. *Cease fire. I say again, Cease fire. We got the—*

A ghostly something suddenly jumped forth from the dead body. It was nearly smitten by a belated artillery shell, but dodging sideways, it managed to leave the AoE unharmed.

“Nooo!” I yelled as I poured the remnants of my magic into my horn. Green bolts of energy zipped across the clearing in rapid succession. The hunter dodged each and every one. Grass and mud exploded upwards as they impacted in the distance.

Frozen in place, I didn’t manage to think of any other spell before it had reached me. My hoof once more reached out for a Niekinis dagger, but they were just as missing now as they had been minutes before.

I couldn’t fly. I couldn’t run. And worst of all, I couldn’t kill it.

A last powerful magic bolt left my horn and dashed just past the hunter’s arrogant smile, before it leapt forward and into my chest.

Oh no, no, no, no…!

In a panic I channeled my magic to cut off my hive network. This would no doubt shock Elly and Thorax, but I couldn’t risk the hunter hurting them. His presence spread through me like ice in my veins.

“Get out!” I screamed. “I won’t end up like my sisters!”

I channeled my magic into my body, trying to purge the bastard before he could root himself in. It was akin to ridding a flower garden of weeds with a phosphor bomb. My magic surged through my body, burning up fresh pathos wherever it manifested.

However, it was unable to get a hold of the hunter itself; granted I was trying to conduct a surgery with a sledgehammer here. Still, I refused to roll over and surrender myself. When another chill went through my spine, I blasted away with a literal lightning spell.

Electricity surged through my every muscle. It burned like fire, and before long I had collapsed onto the ground.

“Hope that hurt you... as much as me!” I shout across the clearing in between gasps.

A piercing chill inside my head was the response. It began like a brain freeze and increased, until I was certain someone had just rammed an icicle into my skull. I grabbed the back of my head in agony, but my hooves couldn’t reach the source of it.

“Get… out..” I huffed, before pouring the last of my magic into another lightning spell.

This time, I barely felt a thing. My breath went slower and slower, and long before the hunter could retort, my vision went dark.

When I opened my eyes, I was wrapped in total darkness. I jerked up and instinctively lashed out at my surrounding, but my hooves struck nothing but air. I sucked a deep breath of air in, but coughed immediately after. The air was freezingly cold, piercing in my lungs like needles.

I stumbled back on my hooves, shaking my head in a hope to restore my vision. I could barely see my own legs at first, but slowly, light returned. I tried to recall what had just happened, but my memories were blurry and my brain was absolute mush. Thoughts tried to fight their way into my mind like arrows through a wall of jelly, but when they struck, the realization almost threw me off my hooves.

I have a hunter inside me!

I gasped again, lungs still burning from the cold sensation.

I… I need to get back to the base! I need support, I—

“If I were you, I’d reconsider that approach.”

I skidded to a halt, snapping my attention to the bulky changeling sitting at the base of an oak tree. She was much taller than myself, with far broader shoulders and the overall more muscular build, too. Covered head to hooves in the heaviest carapace gear possible, she still moved with ease as she lifted herself up.

The hardened resin cover of her armor shimmered ever so faintly in the afternoon sun as she approached me without any sound at all. Her armor’s silken undergarment swallowed up any noise, and even though her armor weighed a ton, she moved with such care that not a single twig dared to break under her hooves.

“S-Strong Body…! You… you’re…. No!” I shout out. “This can’t be. You’re not real!”

A delicate smile formed on her lips. “Of course I’m not real.”

I stumbled a step back. “W-what?”

Her smile turned serious as she stepped closer. I twitched back when her hoof moved towards my head, but it was obviously not her intention to hurt me. Instead, she gently tapped against my temple. “I only exist in here.”

I jumped back as realization struck me. How could I have been this dense?

“You are an illusion from that fucking hunter!”

My horn ached as I tried to summon a spell. Pulling on my near-depleted reserves was no pleasant sensation, but I had to kill this thing somehow.

“Wrong,” she said with a shrug and a scolding undertone. “He’s still fighting his way through your defenses. Trust me, if I actually was him, I would’ve knocked you over by now.”

I took breath to protest, but soon released it. She was probably right. But…

“Then what are you?”

She began circling me. I spun around to keep track of her; I was not at all comfortable with whatever she was.

“I am the last mental barrier you have,” she said. “A last attempt of your subconsciousness trying to protect you.”

“From the hunter?” Obviously, I thought in hindsight.

To my surprise, she shook her head. “From yourself. You’ve made some seriously bad decisions in the past, and now you’re afraid to make another.”

“I have a hunter inside me!” I snapped. “Not sure what sort of wrong decision could make this any worse.”

She finished her circle around me, just to begin anew. I was getting weary of following her movements; it was exactly the sort of distraction Strong would pull on her targets. “Isn’t it obvious?” she asked in a patronizing tone. “Going to the ponies in your state.”

“W-what?”

“Don’t try to hide your intentions from me… I literally am you. You planned to run to them for help without even thinking it fully through.”

“W-what’s there to think through? I can’t fight him on my own. I… I need them to pull me out of this.”

She raised an eyebrow. “They barely accepted you when you were yourself. Shining was close to locking you away for good the day he met you; and just again today when he heard what you had done to his squad. And back then you were you, without a fragment of The Emperor inside you. Shining’s fear of our species is already that strong; what were you thinking, going to him for help now?”

“H-he’ll help!” I sputtered. “I… I saved the town. We’re allies!”

She huffed. “You were useful to him back then. Now you’re a burden; a dangerous one at that. Just imagine: if the hunter were to take over you before Shining could extract him, you’d wreck the general and every living thing in his proximity. This joke of a new guard unit certainly wouldn’t be able to stop you. Thus, upon coming to this very conclusion, Shining will be forced to make the only sane call available to him: to end you while he’s still in control of the situation.”

My heart skipped a beat. I needed no illusion to see the image just in front of my eyes. To feel the shackles around my legs once more. To have my magic suppressed by yet another inhibitor ring, or slave collar, or worse.

“Don’t disgrace yourself or the hive any further. End this madness and come back to us.”

“W-what? Are you crazy?”

She took a deep breath, before putting one of her hooves on my shoulder. Again, I twitched back at first, but not as far this time. “Listen, sister. I might be the only part of sanity you have left in you. You have built your castle of friendship”—she essentially spat the word out—”on nothing but lies, and it’s beginning to collapse all around you. I’d hate to see you being buried by it, because no matter how stupid you were, you were also brave and strong in what you did. You’re one of us and you belong back with us at our sides.”

I shoved her hoof off my shoulder and stumbled back. “No! Lies, you’re nothing but lies trying to deceive me!” Realization dug into me with cold claws. “You are the hunter!”

She slowly moved backwards, almost floating away from me. “You’re afraid of the wrong things, sister. And I can prove it.”

With those words, she vanished into darkness. I rushed forward trying to break through the shadows that had embraced the edges of the clearing, but by the time I reached the thicket, she was gone.

I remained in place, bedazzled about what had just transpired. Eventually, I couldn’t hold it in anymore. “Are you FUCKING kidding me?!” I yelled at the thicket. I dropped to my knees, exhausted by the whole experience.

“W-what was that all about?” I whispered at the scorched, soggy foliage below my hooves.

“She’s just trying to help,” an indifferent voice threw in from the side.

I recognized Guile Mind’s voice in an instant. I snapped my head around to find her leaning against a nearby tree. My hoof dug into the ground, clenched around the first rock I could find, and threw it at her together with a fair load of dirt.

“Go to Tartarus!” I screamed.

The projectile passed through her unaffected. She closed her book—of course she was holding a book. I swear she wouldn’t be caught dead without holding one—and slowly shook her head, adjusting the spectacles on her nose. “Not sure what you expected,” she said with a shrug. “I know you were never meant to be the smart one of us, but even you should’ve caught up to the whole ‘immaterial illusion’ thing by now.”

I took a deep breath. Of all the things I could be hallucinating, it just had to be her. “Even in my imaginations you are a condescending bitch, Guile…” I grumbled.

She didn’t retort right away. Instead, she spread her wings and fluttered over to me. Only when she stood above me and glared down on my prostrated self did she answer. “Look at you. Your great escape, mother’s great plan, and where did it all lead you? You look like a miserable little grub that fell out of her comb.”

“At least I didn’t land on my head,” I half-grunted, half-chuckled. The entire situation was ridiculous. I dragged myself back up on my feet and pushed past Guile.

“When will you learn to accept reality?” she shouted behind me. I didn’t react as I shoved branches and bushes aside to return to the rough direction of the town.

“You were always good at running away,” she continued. I was pretty sure she was following me, but I refused to turn around.

“You’re like an insecure little grub. First the Cold One’s gifts frightened you, then your whole messed-up situation frightened you, and now you’re even frightened by yourself. You would rather die alongside your worthless imaginary ideals than turn around and face reality just once.”

Another large fern blocked my way. I shoved it aside and myself through it; only to find rows upon rows of burial mounds ahead of me. Suddenly I choked on my own breath. I coughed and moved another branch aside with a trembling hoof.

“How many lives must you throw away until you realize what you’ve done?” Guile inquired. “In your foalish faith in the good of ponykind you refused to choose the lesser of two evils. You told yourself that there was a third option. A damn pot of love at the end of the rainbow. Now reality is finally catching up to you, up to us, and it’s costing us dearly. Look around you and ask yourself: was it worth it?”

“No! I didn’t kill them!” I shouted back. “Malice killed them! Malice and his agents!”

“Because of whose actions?!” Guile retorted, raising her usually impassive voice for the first time.

My hooves refused to move, frozen along with my chest. I couldn’t turn my eyes away from the sight, and my vision quickly blurred as tears ran down my face.

“You ran from the one who saved our lives and into the hooves of those who will doom us.” Guile shook her head. “No wonder Mother never trusted us to have our own hives. She has you as an example.”

I finally tore my eyes away from the mounds. “No, you did this! You blindly steered us into a dead end! You and Strong and even Brave were so drunk on this newfound power, you didn’t once question Malice’s intentions.”

Without a warning, Guile dashed forward. She grabbed one of my forelegs and my neck and choke-slammed me into a tree. “Are you BLIND?!” she shouted. “If the choice is between death and resurgence, the answer is obvious! We’d all be dead without him. Now we live to fight another day and stronger than ever! Stop living an illusion and wake up already!”

I grabbed her leg and levered myself free. “Look who’s talking!” I yelled back at her face and shoved her half a step back. “What’s your big plan, smartass? How will all your brains get us out of Malice’s hold when he has toppled Equestria? When he’s become unstoppable? Did your math account for the fact that we can’t defeat him if all possible allies are dead?”

As suddenly as she had exploded into violence, Guile calmed down. She let go of me and retreated. “If we don’t fight him, we live. If we fight him, no matter at what point, many of us will die. But if we join forces with the ponies, there can never be a victory for us, and eventually we’ll all die. Either as cannon fodder, or as their prisoners. What, you think after the war’s over, if it ever were to end, they’d happily let us feast on them?”

I shook my head. “You don’t know that. You don’t know them.”

She hesitated for a long time before answering. “Neither do you. All you know is that there’s no way forward for you. None. Your only salvation lies in the past you’re so stubbornly rejecting.”

With those words, she too vanished into the shadows.

“Wait!” I shouted, but too late. Guile was gone before I could reach the edge of the shadows.

As I shoved a branch aside, I noticed in horror the white spots that had formed on my leg like a rash. I didn’t have much time left, and I had wasted too much already on these… mind games!

That’s what they were! Nothing but stupid little mindgames!

Of course I could trust the ponies!

Images of Shining and his personal guards appeared before my eyes. The night they had caught me. The hastily designed collar that suppressed my abilities and made me their hostage.

No! They’ve changed!

Another image appeared, this time of Flash’s baleful stare. The urge to kill me when we first met.

Flash has changed!

I stopped. Why was I even having this conversation? I knew better than this! I just had to get back to the others and ask for help! No more distractions!

Then it dawned on me. Someling was missing.

“Let’s get this over with, you mischievous little bastard!” I yelled into the thicket. “I know what you’re up to, and I have places to be, so stop being a drama queen and just show yourself!”

Fulfilling the obvious step, the last sister faded into reality before me from the encroaching darkness. Knowing who was next, I wasn’t sure what my fucked up imagination and the hunter’s influence would do with the eldest sister.

“They’re coming for you.” Brave Soul’s black and gold kimono fluttered in the breeze as she walked towards me. The lone emerald eye not hidden behind her crimson mane pierced through me. “I would hate to see you and my niece slain by ponies, little sister. If you wish to escape your fate, come with me.”

Something violent clicked within me right then and there. Something beyond the agitation of fighting against the hunter. Mimicking Brave was a level of disrespect I refused to tolerate. “To tartarus with this pathos illusion bullshit!” I hollered. “I know you’re not real! None of this is real! I know you’re just trying to get into my head, so stop with the bullshit and fight me like the warrior your punk-ass master created you to be!”

Brave tilted her head and stared for a moment in total confusion. Eventually, she scoffed. “I see. I expected more from my little sister. Nevertheless, calm yourself and think this through. To ponies, our very nature, our existence, is a threat. Creatures who thrive and cultivate love cannot abide by those who feast upon such a thing. Preys and predators can never coexist in peace. Even now, you are faltering to a lowly hunter vassal. What makes you think they will overlook such a vulnerability and let you live, or do you suppose every soldier you fought with consciously agree to be friends with a changeling? The same changeling who took part in the sacking of Canterlot?”

To hear such logic coming from Brave, even if it was an illusion, gave me pause. Strong Body and Guile Mind had their biases for sure—especially Guile—but Brave was always the mature one of us, always helping us focus on what was important and being a voice of reason in even the darkest of times.

Despite Flash being one of the few ponies I felt like I could trust, Shining Armor was ready to haul me off to who-knows-where until Flurry intervened. I knew he was even more of an unknown factor, and if he found out a hunter was trying to take me over…

“You must be swift with your decision, sister. The prey approaches soon. Should you go to them, don’t forget you’re not the only one at risk. Your daughter will also suffer for your failures. If you were to fall, what would the ponies think of someling of a lesser station than you?”

“I… no. No, that won’t happen. I’ve fought alongside the ponies. They trust me.”

“Their backs were to a corner. When the only other option is oblivion, any fool would take the other choice. But now?”

“Noble! Where are you?!”

“Noble Heart, are you alright?”

Voices. Friendly. Brave was right; they were coming for me.

“...Go on then,” Brave nodded behind herself and walked past me. “If you truly trust them, and believe they trust you completely, go to them. Prove centuries of evidence false.”

...I couldn’t move.

My hooves were glued to the ground. I knew I should go to them. I should warn them what was happening.

And yet, I had betrayed their trust before. Lied to them. Everypony knew that.

What have I really done to earn their trust? Was a single skirmish really enough to swing the odds in my favor? What if they changed their minds after seeing me?

“What’s wrong?” Brave’s voice lowered, emanating from the shadows behind me. “You were so confident in your decision moments ago. I only hope our prey is just as indecisive.”

“Stop it…!”

“Even now you hesitate when you believe me to be an illusion. We both know why you’re hesitating, and I hope you make the smart choice quickly. I do not wish to see my sister and niece die a fool’s death.”

“Shut up!” I hissed.

“I think I heard something over there!”

Hoofsteps. They were closing in.

I… I do trust them!

...All of them? A new voice entered my thoughts: my own. Not everypony is going to welcome me with open hooves. For every friendly soul like Spike, you got scarred ones like Flash. Which ones are they?

My legs trembled.

N-no, I can’t think like that. I can’t keep running away like this. It will only get worse.

It’s already gotten worse. Shining Armor was ready to lock you up forever, and that was just for lying. What would he think to see me as a liability—or even a direct danger to his team?

The hoofsteps were just around the corner.

I can trust them. I can… trust them.

I can…

I...

I scrambled away, lunging for the thickest bush that wasn’t blown away from the shelling. The tears wouldn’t stop running.

A gentle hoof touched my shoulder. I looked over to find Brave next to me. She didn’t have to say a word. The sad smile said it all, and I agreed.

I’m pathetic.

Two ponies entered the clearing. I recognized them instantly.

“I swore I heard something over here,” said Shine Spark.

Vivi moved next to her, face full of concern. “You think she got caught up in—”

“Stall that thinking. Just focus on finding her.”

Another voice came from above the trees. “Any luck, ladies?”

“Not yet, Cadenaz! Keep looking!” Shine called out.

“Aye, Love!”

They commenced their search, checking behind trees and large debris. Yet I was hiding in a bush, shaking like a terrified foal.

“...I can help you slip away,” Brave whispered in my ear. “Nopony needs to know you’re still alive. We can recover little Elly later.”

Escape… of course! For all they knew, I could’ve been blasted to smithereens. Just like I fooled my hive into thinking I was dead, the same could apply here. It was so obvious when I stopped to think about it. The basics for most changeling survival tactics.

I could run, couldn’t I? Brave would help deal with the hunter. Then I could sleep it off, gather my thoughts, and pick up Elly when the dust settles. Hay, if I change my mind, I’m sure I could just come back later and…

...And go where?

I almost allowed my respect for Brave to overshadow the reason for my crusade. There’s only one place Brave would take me: back home.

Back to Malice.

That sobering nugget of knowledge slapped me back to reality real damn quick. I went through Tartarus and back to escape his maniacal grasp. Then I risked my life again—and that of Spike, too—for the sole purpose of freeing my daughter. Returning to him would mean subjecting her to his control once more. Not to mention myself as well.

It was a level of foolishness beyond suicide. It simply wasn’t an option. Thus, the question reared its head once again; where would I go?

Wait a minute…

Something was wrong with this. Forget the hunter, forget Brave, forget everything else. The real problem was not where I should go. That I’m even thinking of leaving is sacrilege to everything I fought for. Everything we fought for.

“...I’m a coward,” utter disgust and anger filled my hissed whisper. “I’m a Celestia-damned coward…!”

“You are confused. Frightened.” Brave whispered into my ear. I argued back with my fierce glare. She clashed back unflinchingly. “I won’t let anyone harm you as long as you go back with me. We will make it work.”

I shook my head. We would make it worse.

I’ve been through Tartarus and back with these ponies. Betraying them would be my final, fatal mistake. They would rightfully never trust me again, and my daughter would more than likely pay for such selfishness.

Flash’s words came to me from the depths of my muddled mind: “Let’s both start learning to trust our teammates a little more.”

Hot liquid piercing through the hunter’s chill and stung my eyes.

Have I learned nothing during my time with them? With Flash? With Spike?

Even now, the squad I fought with, who spent so little time with me and had all the reason in the world to hate my guts wanted to save me. No, it’s not my sisters who need to save me. It’s I who needs to save them from the dark path. To save all of my brethren.

And I won’t have to do it alone, because I am not alone anymore.

“...Brave,” I whispered.

“Hm?”

“I’m not going to run away anymore. I just can’t.”

Brave gave me her patented ‘soul piercing’ stare. I knew her too well to miss the hint of surprise as she stiffened. “You will die and doom your daughter. You know that, right?”

“I won’t, and she will be fine.”

“How do you know this? What evidence do you have that you will live through this?”

I forced a smirk. “All I got is one colt scout who never gave up on me as evidence. Trust goes both ways, and it’s about time I started working on that bridge. And when I get through this, next time you see me I will be the one saving you.”

Brave’s stony facade dropped, staring as if seeing me for the first time. After a lengthy stretch of awed silence, she sighed. “So this is the path you’ve decided. Hmph, a stubborn fool until the end.”

Her hoof moved to squeeze mine, disappointment in full display.

“Walk with your head held high, little sister. No matter what consequences follow in the wake of your choice, never forget that we will always love you.”

….What?

I started at this ‘illusion’, mouth ajar.

“May the shadows grant you and little Elly refuge.” Brave closed my jaw with a hoof and smiled. “...and dignity.” Just like that, she slinked away and disappeared into the foliage.

What was that? Did I really imagine that or… I shook my head. No time to worry about that. Got a trust exercise to finish!

With a huff, I shoved my hooves out and pulled myself out of the bush. When Shine and Vivi spotted me, I froze up.

Just trust them. Everything will be okay.

The two sergeants rushed over to me, taking each hoof to pull me out.

“Damn girl, you look like crap,” despite saying this, Shine’s grin radiated.

I wanted to joke back or say something witty, but all I could think about was the chill deepening in my bones. “Shine, Vivi, there’s…” I gulped, forcing out the words, “t-there’s a hunter inside me. I can’t fight it.”

A dark look fell over Shine and Vivi’s faces.

“I’m doing what I can to slow it down, but it’s getting stronger by the second, and I don’t have my changelings to help drain it. If worse comes to worse, you’ll have to k-kill—”

Vivi gripped my horn and forced my head to face her.

“Don’t come at me with that BS!” Vivi barked. “I’m not letting you die no matter what you think!”

Was this the same Sergeant who was giving me the evil eye earlier? The same one who probably trusted me the least? Why would she—

“Thorax went through the same thing you did,” Shine added with a hint of somber. “He didn’t think he could fight the pathos hunger, or the vassal that spawned from the resulting anger he kept buried, but damn it, he did it. He’s probably one of the wimpiest creature’s I’ve ever met, yet even he found the strength to beat it. Wanna know how?”

Shine Spark started taking off her gem-encrusted armor. Without a word Vivi released me and started taking off her own helmet as well.

“He didn’t do it alone.”

With a smile, Shine placed the armor around me. Vivi meanwhile started fastening her enchanted helmet on my head.

A numbing sensation echoed from the equipment and through me. As the armor pieces were clamped onto me, the chilling sensation wormed away from the gem-embedded equipment. As more and more pieces were equipped onto me, the overflow of pathos washed off me like cold in a hot shower.

Suddenly, an icy grip tightened around my head and chest and threw me to the floor, writhing in pure agony.

He’s trying to kill me! At this rate…!

“Don’t let that sonuva bitch beat you!” Vivi snarled.

“Kick his ass!” Shine roared.

My heart quickened, pounding in sync with the throbbing headache. My surroundings lost all of its color, throwing me into the pit of darkness again. The gems could only do so much. I had to ride through it until the hunter lost its strength.

I can do this! I can’t stop here. Everyone’s counting on me…!

I forced my thoughts somewhere else. Anywhere else. Celebrating Elly’s first birthday with my mother and sisters. Flurry’s words when she defended me. Flash when he unlocked my collar. Spike’s growth as my student. Spike’s warm embrace when I was at my worst…

That’s right. They’re my friends. My family away from home.

Warmth bubbled through the icy touch of pathos. Combined with the equipment, my strength started overcoming the hunter inside me.

“This is far from over. I know you realize this,” A deep voice gasped, diminished of strength and volume. “Your kind has chosen its path. Your sisters are an extension of our will and rage to pay a bottomless debt. Without us, your misbegotten kind would be extinct!”

...Perhaps, I admitted, Malice did save us from a cruel fate in the north. He did empower us to be stronger than we could imagine. But sacrificing our freedom is too high a price. Maybe this decision will kill me one day. Kill all of my brethren. But that’s the difference between you and I: At least I won’t die alone.

I was prepared for an explosive retort, whether physical or verbal. What I got was a disquieting mumble too inaudible to catch, as if being strangled out of existence. Light and color flooded my vision, restoring everything as it should be. The hunter was gone, his exit quiet as death.

“The hunter’s gone. I… we got him,” I gasped for breath.

“See? You worried about nothing. Told you we got your back.” Vivi beamed.

Shine extended her hoof. “Can you stand?”

I nodded and accepted her hoof, helping myself up. “Well enough for now. How did things look on the way here?”

“A lot better than before,” Shine answered. “Any creatures we passed by seemed normal or started retreating back into the forest. If I had to guess, we took out enough vassals in the blast to break the creatures out of their hold. Forest is gonna be a whole lot quieter though.”

Catharsis rolled out of me in waves at the news. It took a moment to catch my breath.

We didn’t just survive. We won.

“That’s good. The hunter we took down must’ve been the last—”

I cut myself off. The fight here was over. But there was a certain orange colt scout who was still fighting for his life. “Any word from Flash?”

“Not yet. You read my mind, though. Hey Cadenaz! Bug’s in the net! Get the word out that we’re going to get Flash’s lazy ass out of Tartarus!”

“Glad to hear it! On my way to give the good word! Glad to have you back in one piece, Noble!”

“I can escort you back to get treated. No telling what predators are still hostile,” Vivi offered.

I shook my head. “Appreciate it, but I owe Buttermilk a friendly visit. Maybe I’ll throw a dagger or two into the warmaster if I see him.”

“Heh, now that’s what I’m talking about! Let’s go!” Shine led the charge towards the tree of harmony, throwing me on her back as she galloped. Finally able to rest somewhat, I picked up several of my daggers with my restored telekinesis on the way. Even if I was hanging on by a thread, I couldn’t sit by while my friend was fighting for all of us.

Hang in there, Buttermilk. We’re comin’!

Author's Notes:

What's up, my fellow paladins?

An explosive finish for an explosive war. How quick the tides turn when the winning side let it's guard down. Never underestimate the power of cunning changelings with an unhealthy amount of ordinance on hoof.

So, one of the reasons I wanted to wait for this chapter before explaining some things is because of one important point: this and the previous chapter used to be one chapter. Turns out Spike's segment was a little too fun to write, and Noble's last stand needed the badassery it deserved. We still got one final fight to resolve: Captain Flash vs Emperor Malice.

Look forward to seeing you next chapter for the big fight!

More importantly, those who are still sticking around to see this epic of mine finish deserve all the praise in the world. It's a crazy time with all sorts of madness plaguing the world. It's also a time to be infinitely thankful for things that are actually going well in your life, and I am thankful to all of you lovely readers who decided to stand by me. I swear that this story WILL be finished. Hopefully soon, as I am working on editing/proofing the next chapter as we speak.

Until next time, stay classy my fellow paladins. A thank you from the bottom of my heart.