Disclaimer: "Happy Tree Friends" is a copyright of Mondo Media

Happy Tree Friends: Blood & Fire (2)

Chapter 12 – Friendly Rivalry

"Let's play…" Flipqy and Eclipse growled together. Splendid looked at Flaky, who gave a confident nod. "But your arm –" the concerned blue squirrel began. "I already told you," the red porcupine insisted, "It's not that bad. I can handle it." The electric sparks crackling from the twins' collars seemed to reflect in her scared-yet-determined eyes.

"Suit yourself…" he muttered as they landed back on the ground a few meters away from the insane twins. "I'll take Flipqy," he added, whispering, "Think you can handle his sister?" Eclipse smirked as she trained her golden orbs onto Flaky, flexing her claws and licking her lips hungrily. The porcupine shook off her fear and glared at the wolf as she got into a fighting stance.

Flipqy snickered as he and Splendid began to circle each other. "I've waited so long for this…" the golden-eyed bear growled. "Then what are you waiting for?" the blue squirrel taunted. Flipqy roared and began charging forward, claws outstretched as he attempted to grab Splendid. Said squirrel dodged to the air in time, returning just as quick to tackle his opponent.

Flipqy reacted quickly and threw the startled squirrel off him; began to run and scale a wall as his opponent gave chase. He then jumped, landed and grabbed Splendid from behind in a tight chokehold. "Give up – you're no match for me!" the insane bear declared. "Wanna bet?" the 'hero' yelled back and elbowed Flipqy in the ribs. The war veteran yelped in surprise and let go, stumbling backwards…but instantly regained control and charged head-first into the blue squirrel's torso. "ARGH!" Splendid yelped as he was bashed against a wall.

Almost immediately, the wall began to crumble and crack from the impact; suddenly collapsed behind him but – unfortunately for Flipqy – failed to bury the blue flying squirrel. "What the?" shouted one of the surprised tiger soldiers who was just on the other side of the wall. "Look out!" yelled another as Flipqy suddenly carried Splendid over his head and threw him like a missile, laughing manically as he plowed over some soldiers like bowling pins.

Meanwhile, Flaky and Eclipse were engaged in hand-to-hand combat. "Ah!" the red porcupine screamed as she earned another graze on her left cheek. She retaliated by grabbing hold of the crazed wolf's white mane, tugging it to the point of pulling out some hair by the roots. "Whoa!" the golden-eyed wolf yelped as she was hurled across the room and slammed against the wall. Growling, she sprung back and pounced onto her. "You little bitch –!" she snarled as one of her claws dove straight for her heart.

Flaky blocked her with one arm, screaming agonizingly as the claws dug into the bone. She then curled her free hand into a fist and slammed it against Eclipse's chest. Sudden shortness of breath forced Eclipse backwards and onto the floor, gasping heavily as she tried to get some air into her. Flaky used the opportunity to scramble as far away as she could; found some rags lying in a corner and began binding the wound on her arm.

Back to Flipqy and Splendid – the blue flying squirrel let out choked gasps and pants as the green bear strangled him with one bloody hand. Around them were mutilated bodies of the tiger soldiers that had tried to restrain him seconds ago. Splendid then eyed the wall behind Flipqy and used his laser vision; the confused-then-shocked bear then jumped away as concrete began to collapse right on the spot he was standing on earlier, unintentionally releasing the squirrel.

As the dust cleared, both Flipqy and Splendid seemed to have forgotten what they were doing as they stared wide-eyed at the room that was behind that wall. "Uh…don't mind me. I'm just leaving anyway," said the tiger solider as he ran from the destroyed bathroom, soaking-wet and wearing only a towel. The bear and the squirrel were then at each other's throats once more – punching, kicking, flipping over and blocking each hit successfully. Flipqy was then hurled against a mirror, broken glass shards showering around him. He then picked up the biggest piece and held it like a dagger while Splendid zoomed towards him.

"Whoa!" the blue squirrel half-screamed as he barely dodged the makeshift weapon. He then grabbed a shard himself, quietly wincing as he received fresh cuts on his hand. As the two had some 'glass dagger' swordplay, the girls were having a little trouble themselves.

By now, Flaky had received more than a fair share of cuts, scratches and bruises on every part of her body; Eclipse was the same, panting and wincing from the injuries she earned (not to mention a painful burning sensation that's encircled her neck). "Where did you learn to fight like that?" the wolf demanded. "Your brother – who else?" the porcupine replied, "And if you ask me, he fights way better that you!"

Those words acted as a taunt, for it enraged Eclipse that she suddenly charged and tackled a surprised Flaky to the floor. "No!" she yelled as the wolf once again tried to reach for her heart. "Nobody compares me to my own brother, you fucking bitch!" she yelled, laughing evilly as her claws scraped the skin under the red fur. Flaky then summoned her strength and successfully shoved the clawed hand away; at the same time pulled Eclipse close and bit hard on her right shoulder (even though she was inches away from the still-sparking shock collar).

The resulting blood-curdling shriek was enough to draw away Flipqy's attention, leaving him wide open to Splendid's attacks. But the blue flying squirrel miscalculated his jab and his fist landed on the shock collar, electrocuting himself before stumbling backwards into a shower stall. "Heh, loser…" Flipqy muttered as he glanced at the unconscious squirrel. As he tossed away his 'glass dagger' and began to run to his sister's aid, Splendid groaned and slowly began to stir as cold water pelted softly onto him.

Eclipse stumbled backwards, growling as she placed a hand over a bleeding bite mark on her shoulder. Flipqy noticed Flaky's blood-marked lips and understood what had occurred. "Suck it up! It's just a bite!" he scolded his twin sister as he inspected it; tore off a strip of his prison jumpsuit and bandaged the wound. The porcupine hated the familiar taste of blood in her mouth, but for some reason, she didn't mind it this time.

"You've got a lot of nerve hurting her that way…" he growled, "And now we're both gonna teach you a lesson!" A sudden WHOOSH stopped the twins from advancing any further as Splendid appeared, landing next to Flaky. "Two against one? That wouldn't be fair then, would it?" he said while inspecting the red porcupine's injuries at the same time.

For a few minutes, only the steady electric crackle pierced the heavy silence that settled around them. The almost-distinctive odour of burning flesh reached Splendid's nostrils; he noticed neither Flipqy nor Eclipse seemed happy about it either, but they made no move to remove their collars. 'They seem weakened as well – but I guess their little shock treatment is keeping them on their feet,' the blue squirrel mentally added.

"Are we just gonna stand here and have a stare contest?" Eclipse demanded, twitching her eyes as sparks flew from her collar. Flaky clenched her fists and assumed a Judo stance. "So…" Flipqy mumbled as he copied her stance, "Let's see if my training lessons had finally paid off." And with that, all four moved swiftly towards each other; the boys somehow got separated by the girls as they resumed their battles.

Meanwhile – Sneaky and Mouse Ka-Boom had managed to escape a swift execution; around them were murdered tiger soldiers. "We could go home and get backup, but we can't just leave our comrades in there," said the dark-green chameleon, "And we can't barge in unarmed either. Got any other ideas?" The yellow mouse thought for a while, and then hurriedly salvaged the dead soldiers for guns and ammo – all he obtained were a few half-empty cartridges and some hand grenades. Figuring it's more than enough, the two re-entered the Tiger Base via an open window.

Back to the fight – Splendid yelped as he was shoved clean across the room, smashing his entire body against the concrete wall while Flipqy (angrier than ever) charged towards him. Flaky was on the floor one again, this time trying to keep Eclipse pinned while said wolf struggled wildly beneath her. The blue squirrel shook off the dizziness and flew away just as the green bear was about to land a sucker punch to his face; the gray-black-and-white wolf feigned a punch and shoved off a distracted porcupine, but failed to pin her as she rolled away.

"I don't think we can hold back much longer!" Flaky half-screamed, "We'll have to get those collars off before their brains get fried!" Splendid mentally agreed as he dodged Flipqy for the umpteenth time. The porcupine then yelped as the wolf pounced and pinned her, growling rabidly and dripping her drool all over her red fur.

Just as Flaky thought she was done for, a loud THUNK was heard; she turned her head and smiled at Sneaky who stood over her, holding a crowbar. "Guys!" Splendid shouted as he struggled to keep Flipqy's claws off him. The dark-green chameleon immediately rushed over and WHACKED the bear on the head; helped up the panting blue squirrel.

It was then they heard the pained groans. "Uh oh…" Sneaky muttered as they watched the green bear and his gray-black-and white wolf sister twitch involuntarily on the floor, their collars seemingly-endless sparking dying as seconds passed. The twins doubled over, still groaning as they finally felt the pain they had endured during their shock treatment. And then…SNAP!

'The shock collars…' Splendid thought as they continued to watch. 'They're…falling apart?' Flaky mentally noted, figuring the electricity had fried its silicon chips due to intense heat. Flipqy and Eclipse were curled in fetal positions on the concrete floor, coughing as air rushed into their lungs; finally able to breathe easier as their tight shock collars lay in charred pieces near their red-and-almost blackened necks.

Golden eyes shifted to blues and greens as they blinked. "G-Guys…" Flippy rasped as he and his sister slowly sat up. Flaky bit back a sob and rushed over to her boyfriend; hugged him close as she shed a few tears. "Flaky, could you move over a bit?" Sneaky asked as he took out a portable First Aid kit; began dabbing some burn ointment on Flippy's half-burned neck.

Moonlight was sobbing into Splendid's chest, repeatedly apologizing and claiming she had no control over her actions. Sneaky tossed the ointment to the blue flying squirrel and he began nursing his girlfriend, suppressing a chuckle everytime she whimpered painfully. "We'll get you all patched up when we get home," Sneaky explained, "Right now, let's –"

BANG!

They flinched at the gunshot; turned their shocked eyes onto an enraged Tiger General. Held in one of his claws was a pistol; the other held Mouse Ka-Boom, the yellow mouse struggling feebly at the metal encircled around his neck. He thought he could ambush the Tiger General, but the tables were turned as their adversary caught him first.

"You may have escaped my shock treatment," the blue tiger growled, "But none of you will leave my base alive…" And with that, he pressed a button.

Beep…beep…beep…

"Sacre bleu…" Mouse Ka-Boom whimpered. He didn't need to tell them what the beeping was about because their answer is in plain sight – the Tiger General had turned him into a living bomb.