Hello ladies and gentlemen I've been on a hiatus for educational reasons. I can say though that as I return to you I return fully stocked with new ways to write and create better storytelling format and experience for all those who have even bothered to read after my while long disappearance. Life happens and I needed to catch up. Now that I am I'm going to continue the story as best I can. Thank You for reading and Have a nice day.

Disclaimer: It's obvious by now but I do not own my little pony or any characters associated with the canon of the TV series I do however own rights to the characters unrecognized by the series as a canon character. These characters include Merc, Mask, Bug etc. Any works in this story are purely works of fiction made mainly for the entertainment of the masses so if anything doesn't match up with the series such as Mask's hoof-made rifle and Merc's smoking and drinking habits then excuse this for again it is purely fiction. Thank you and enjoy.

Mask woke up with a slight headache that morning. The pulsing pain was the worst part of it though. Every time his brain made a pulse then it resulted in him having to bring a hoof up to support his head. Bug was still asleep. Headaches came often for unicorns who use their magic in exercise like manners. Mask used his horn every week at least once to stretch his powers and keep them fit and ready for when he needs them. He grabbed his rifle and put it over his back. Merc stepped into Mask's room and looked at him. "Mask, report to the conference room. Celestia has brief for us. I'm gonna go and wake up bug but this is gonna be big and it's best you get filled in on all the details." Merc left and went on to look for bug. Mask shook his head and proceeded to the room. "Ah, Mask. I am glad to see you. Your presence among your team may have just given you an advantage in this." Mask was confused. "I.E?" he asked. "What I mean, mask is that your dark suit matches the tone of the changeling body color. I have been talking with Merc and we think it best for someone who can react well under pressure is best suited for the stealth mission." Bug flew in and Merc trotted right behind him. "Please continue ma'am."

"One of my pegasus scouts in a base stationed in the badlands has spotted what he thinks to be a changeling base. It's large and combed like a insects hive. We need you three, but mainly Mask to infiltrate and see if you can get some new information in this base. I'll leave all detailed planning to you three once you get to the base. Soldiers will be waiting for you at an outpost. All I can do as of now is wish you good luck." The princess bowed her head and the three did so as well. "Thank you, your majesty." Merc said. He lifted his head and looked at his team. "Alright, boys let's get a move on," Merc said. He trotted out followed by Bug. Mask followed. "Good luck, Mask," The princess said as he left. Twilight stopped Mask at the doors to the palace and gave him a book. "H-hey, this book has studies on the changelings. I recommend you look through it to get a better idea of what you have to look like in order to blend in." Mask looked at and nodded. "YES," appeared on Mask's visor. Twilight smiled. "I hope you stay safe." She turned and trotted away. Mask's composure fell and he sighed with relief under his visor. "Good, I didn't make myself look like an idiot," He whispered to himself.

Mask was on the train to the badlands looking through the book and trying make replicants of the eyes in the books illustration of the changelings. Merc was asleep and laid back on his seat, while Bug seemed to be trying to keep himself seated. He stared up and down the walls as well as twiddled his hooves. "A stealth mission, and I'm needed. What do you think it'll be like?" He asked. Mask looked up at him. He nodded. "UL B FNE" appeared on his visor. "But I'm not stealth like you. I'm erratic attack from the air. What will you need me for?" Bug asked again. "BAK UP" Mask's visor said. "All's off that's getting off, we're in the badlands," The conductor yelled. Mask shook Merc gently to wake him up. "Hmm? Oh, we're back." Merc stood and the three trotted off the train. Merc got off just as the train started to move again.

"Once I retire I'm gonna lay back and relax for a whole day," Merc said. The three head out of the main badlands town of Dustbowl and went east. "What do you think this base will look like, sir?" Bug asked. "If I know the solar army it's gonna look well lit and most definitely disguised." Bug looked around and saw something off in the bending waves of the heated dusty badlands. "Hey, sir. Check that out?" there was tons of light orange and golden sand but something seemed coldly like steel in the distance. "Good eye, sonny. Good eye." The group walked in the direction of the bending metal looking object. Upon reaching it they saw it was just a pole with set of coordinates written on to it. "Sir, This latitude and longitude. Where do they point?" Bug asked. "Mask? You got any references?" Merc asked. Mask nodded and pulled up the coordinates on a maps picture. "That's… Right in front of us, Merc." Bug said. The two turned to look at the pole. Merc tried to get a closer look. Bug leaned and fell over by accident pushing Merc into the pole making it move in the sandy area. "Bug, watch your...self?" Merc felt the ground shake for a second and sand started falling from a nearby dune. A single door appeared in the sand.

"What in the hell?" Merc tapped on it and a small metallic eye floated out. "Halt. Who are you? State your names and business," The eye said. Merc looked at it. "Uhh, I'm Merc. We're the group of three that's going to infiltrate a changeling hive. We thought we'd drop by, say hi and get some extra info on the place we're going to." The eye nodded and floated back in. The door opened all the way now. "You may enter," The voice from the eye stated. The three walked in. The door behind them closed and shut them into a pitch black metal room. Lights lit the room in two seconds and a single stallion walked in. "I'm commanding officer Flare. You three are Mask, Merc and Bug am I correct?" The stallion got Mask and Bug confused. "Actually I'm Bug." Bug said. "MASK" Masks visor lit. "Oh, my mistake. Now you three are very brave, very dumb or very desperate for money. Either way, let's just say it's gonna be tough getting into this compound," Flare said as he walked off and led them through the facility.

"How tough?" Merc asked. "Can't say for sure, just imagine a giant hive constantly guarded by worker bees who never sleep and almost never expire naturally," Flare said. "Yeah, that sounds tough," Bug said. They got to a war room and some stallions and a mare. One was sitting on the counters the other two were standing and chatting. "Commander on deck," The mare said. The rest stood and saluted. "At ease, team." They fell into ease and looked at the crew of three that had just entered their base. "Let me introduce you to the team. "The big guy is warrant officer big bulk. He's our heavy teammate. That's lieutenant Sarah Stone. She used to be an excavator, now she's our spec ops member, and finally sargent Pencil Lead. He plans all our routes and tactical formations." Flare pointed them out as he went down the line. Bulk was an earth pony, Stone was a pegasus and to top out this team pencil lead was a unicorn.

"These the new guys? One's kinda old for this don't you think?" The biggest stallion asked. Merc looked at him. "Watch your mouth, son. Experience can kick your ass back to last week," he said. The others laughed at the big guy and he just chuckled shaking his head. "No these are not the new soldiers. These are the group we were told about," Flare said. "Oh the insanity ward? You've got some balls of steel to even consider doing this mission," The mare said. "Is that a good thing?" Bug said looking at her with a smile. She rolled her eyes and sighed. "It is for a soldier, for a civilian it's just dumb." She looked to their side and froze. "Changeling!" She yelled Mask had loaded his perfected picture of a changelings eyes onto his visor. "Relax. It seems you're disguise is almost ready if you managed to fool her Mask." Merc chuckled. The mare blushed of embarrassment and growled at them. The picture derezzed from Masks visor and he nodded. "What about wings?" The big guy asked. "We've seen the changelings demonstrate the ability to fly so we need to give him wings," The young looking stallion said. "That's right. Mask, you got anything in those pockets o' yours?" Merc asked.

Mask pulled out a small box in one of his pockets and put it on the back straps of his suit with his magic. He pulled a small string on it and black wings came out. "EMRGNCY" his visor lit. "That's right, I forgot about those." Merc said. These were Mask's emergency evacuation wings in case anything goes wrong and he has to make a steep jump. They bought this while in ponyville from a scientist who lived there while on leave from the solar army. "Alright. You look the part. Now, we need to focus on getting you in without raising suspicion," Flare said looking at a horn made map of the hive. It seemed big to the drawing of the base on the side. "If any information exists in there than it most likely resides in the top of it right here." Flare placed his hoof at the top of the structure on the map. "Pencil Lead, You've been keeping an eye on their guard patterns right? Can you make a render to where they are?" Flare asked. The young looking soldier came up. He had a purple coat, thick black glasses and a brown and blue mane. "Sir, yes sir. I've noticed there's always four guards on the ground, no more, no less with routes that give them relatively no blind spots. We're thinking since they do this they can all call the hive at any point so be wary near them." Pencil Lead started drawing up the four guard routes on the ground.

"And the air?" Merc asked. Pencil lead tapped on the front of the drawing which was the left side of the building. "One guard makes a constant circle formation in the air so that anyone who needs to get by has a way to get by, at least changelings can. Then again it's not hard to spot a flying object." Pencil lead finished marking all guard routes. He looked up and noticed Bugs clothing color. "You can blend into any cracks in the hive. We've noticed they seem to emit some sort of green light so it's a good way to stay hidden without needing to look like one of them? You can handle a single guard right?" Lead asked pointing at Bug. "Yeah. One's no problem," Bug said. Lead nodded. "Good. Then it seems you have all placements correct. knock out the aerial guard. Don't kill. It'll confuse it and make it think that it just passed out on the job." Merc looked at this young stallion. His planning skills seemed to be that of a professional. Why does he seem so young? "Lead. It's time we let them go. If any time is best it's now." Pencil lead looked at the clock. 3:25pm. "Ah I see. Yes sir." Lead finished and backed up. The teams started to leave the war room. "Why do we have to leave now?" Merc asked Flare. "Trading. The guard switch out and now is when the aerial guard switches out, always 3:30 on the nose," Flare said. The team of three was lead down a new hallway and to a door.

"I don't think the scariest part about the changelings it that it can be anyone of us but more or less," He opened the door. "Their hive is right in our backyard." The massive hive loomed over the small door in the sand dune like a colossal titan. "You'll have to deal with all of them coming after you when you get caught so try and save doing that for the evacuation. Just a suggestion." Lead said. Merc sighed. "Bug, get up there and take out that aerial guard. Take position in a vantage point on the top of the building. Mask, sneak in through the front but keep away from guards, they might alert the hive. Alright team. Let's go," Merc said. The team separated. Merc stayed with the team of soldiers while Bug made his way to the top of the building. Mask started to trot to the front entrance. "Lead, are you ok? You seem pale." lieutenant Stone said. Merc looked back at them. "Oh yeah, I'm fine. That building though. It's absolutely terrifying," Merc looked at the massive building and understood how this could scare civilians but these were soldiers. Aren't they supposed to be trained to deal with stuff like this?

Mask started slowly bee lining for the entrance of the hive. Upon making it in the place seemed eerily quiet. No soldiers seemed to have been there, no changelings, nothing. Just dead silence. Mask started to walk to an incline like pathway. He started stepping up it looking at empty pods as he passed. Or at least they seemed empty. One pod seemed to have noises resonating from it. It seemed like something was hitting the green glass like substance that loomed over the gas inside. Mask heard gargled yelling coming from inside as if something was trying constantly to be free. These pods during the last attack were used to hold citizens so if something was making noises in one then somepony had to be inside.

Mask pulled his knife out and started carving the glass out. A purple hoof bursted out through the glass' knife mark. It fled back in and the entire glass came down as the pony inside kicked it in. Pencil Lead fell out. "I'm gonna kill them, I'm gonna kill those son's of bitches. Those insects will bleed at my hooves," He said getting up. "?!" came up on Masks visor. "Who are you? You know what, it doesn't matter you saved me. Let's find the rest of my team and let's get out of here, I've been yelling for what felt like days in that pod," Lead said. "By the way, my name's sargent Pencil Lead."

Merc stood outside and with the rest of the soldiers, Merc keeping a close eye on Lead in particular. "Sir?" Bug said over the radio a bit urgently. "What is it Bug? Mask report in with the info?" Merc asked. "Not yet, sir. He did have some other things to relay. Where are you?" Bug asked. "War room. Does it matter where I am?" Merc asked. Flare looked away from his teammates and at Merc. "Kinda. Sir, the team is inside the the hive," Bug whispered. Merc's eyes widened as he turned them to the squad of solar guards. "Stay on your guard, sir. I'm not sure who's a changeling and who isn't, I just know it's more than one," Bug finished. Merc put down the radio and shook his head. Merc kept on edge as now not only was it Flare looking at him but Bulk as well.

"So, You hail from a group of mercenaries who were supposed to be infiltrating this building and you came looking for information on who assigned the contract? I don't know. Sounds too big to be pulled off by some rogue grunt in the chain of command." Pencil lead kept his eyes on the empty pods, shifting his gaze from one to the next as they kept going up on the incline. "Come on the commander has to be here. He has too." Mask looked off to the side and saw a black figure in one of the pods. He tapped Leads shoulder. "Huh? Oh, I see." Lead walked over and patted his belt and armor down. "Dammit they took my knife," He said. Mask pulled out his and cut into the glass. He made a single line in it and Lead punched his hooves through. The glass fell and so did Bulk. He coughed up some of the green gas that has solidified into a liquid. "W-cough-what happened?" Bulk asked. "Bulk? Bulk it's me, are you ok man?" Lead asked. Bulk got up. "Yeah can't feel my toes though. Wait what?" He looked at his hooves. nothing new. "Where are my toes?" He asked. "You don't have any toes, block head. I guess that gas causes hallucinations, I don't remember feeling all too well when in one either." Lead thought to himself. Mask recorded this information in his visors saved files and sighed. "CNTU?" He asked. Lead nodded. "Right, we need to keep going. They took the commander but left lieutenant Stone. I guess they missed her." The team of now three continued through the massive hive.

"So, what seems to be the problem, Merc? You seem tense. Is your team in trouble," Flare asked. "Nah, they're fine. If they were in trouble that whole hive would be down already," Merc bragged. Flare's expression changed and he went to an aggravated looking form of happiness as if he was forcing this expression. "Well that's good listen I need to know something," Flare said. "Sure, what is it?" Merc asked. He felt a singe of pain ram into his back. "How long do you think before you bleed out, old man?" Flare asked stepping back. Commander Flare had stabbed Merc with his own knife. Sarah gasped. "Commander?! What the hell are you doing?" She asked. "He's a cold blooded killer, Sarah. He's only here for the money. The less of these bastards there are in the world, the better." Bulk laughed and the two turned their gaze to Sarah Stone. "You know, Sarah. I bet your eyes would look much better green," Commander Flare said. Bulk licked his teeth.

Bug sat on top of the building looking around the ground floor and noticed what seemed to be the ground guards getting unusually close to the hidden base's door. He heard a groan and turned to see the changeling guard waking up. He clocked him in the same spot he used to knock him out earlier making the welt on his head a bit more noticeable. Bug went back to standing guard. "I wonder what Merc is up to. I hope he doesn't need my help.

"Commander, You're scaring me." Sarah said stepping back into a corner. "Don't worry, Stone. You'll be at peace real soon," Bulk and Flare said synchronized. Bulk stopped and a small crunch could be heard. He fell over to reveal the knife was lodged into his spine. A green glow flew around him as he changed back into an uncamouflaged changeling. Merc was standing right behind. Flare looked at him, rage boiling in his eyes. "You son of a bitch!" He yelled. Flare pounced at Merc who slid behind the mess table. He stood on his back hooves as Flare pounced again. Merc pushed his hooves against the outer area of the table forcing the opposite end to pop up and shove itself right into Flare's stomach. Merc, while flare was in a daze pulled the table back up and bucked it at him. Flare took the hit then threw the table away, staring at Merc in a rage. " You've expired!" Flare yelled. "Not yet," Merc retorted. The two charged each other.

"How big is building?" Bulk asked in a heavy accent, different from the one at base had. "Very big, Bulk. Very, very big," Lead said. The two were following Mask as he lead them to what he hoped had the info he wanted as well as their commanding officer. "As big as princess castle?" Bulk asked. "Maybe even bigger, Bulk." Lead answered. Mask continued to wonder how much longer it would be before they would reach the very top where it was likely they kept any military or strategic information. Maybe even why they needed Merc and his team to make a hit on the princess'. "Hey, Stop… Do you guys hear that?" Lead asked. They could hear yelling coming from up ahead. It sounded like someone being tortured, screaming for mercy. Mask slowly walked over, Bulk crouched for fear of not being able to walk quietly. Lead muffled his steps by stopping air vibrations made from him.

Mask got over to where the screaming was and saw that two changelings of a different kind seemed to be digging into Flare with sharp tools. "PLEASE! STOP!" he yelled. The two changelings stopped. "Are you gonna tell us what we want to know, Equestrian?" One of the two asked. Flare's head was down. He lifted it slightly to speak. "No, I was begging you to stop so you can hear me tell you to go suck a manticore's dick," He yelled at them. "Hey, Bulk. You know your bear hugs are deadly?" Lead said. Mask looked at him in question. What did this have to do with the situation at hoof "No. My hugs not deadly," Bulk said. Mask was in question, why now of all times to mention this. "Of course they are. Remember when you almost snapped Flare in half when you saw he was alive?" Lead asked. Bulk looked sad. "Bulk was just being good friend," He said a bit angrier. "Oh yeah? Go test it out on those two. They'll tell you the same thing." Lead smiled. "Fine. Bulk will!" He said in a huff. Bulk started to charge the two changelings. The vibrations of his heavy hooves hitting the ground prompted the two to search for the problem as they were digging into Flare. Bulk grabbed them and started squeezing them. "Answer, Bulk. Are Bulk hugs deadly?" He asked. He heard a snap and dropped the two changelings. They fell to the floor broken in half and bleeding out of their noses and mouths.

"Bulk… Hugs… Deadly?" He asked himself sadly. He started to cry. Lead walked over. "Hey, cheer up big guy. You got rid of our problem," Lead said patting bulk on the back. "But Bulk kill them!" He wept. "Yeah but they were gonna kill Flare. He's alive because Bulks deadly hugs." Bulk started to calm down. "Really?" Mask was surprised by Bulks intense hugs being so strong but that matter was for later. he helped Flare down. "Really. Thanks, Bulk. You did good," Flare said. Bulk was happier now. "When we get back to the base I'll let you choose from my candy storage too." Lead said. Bulk stood up again. "Bulk get candy! Bulk get candy!" He said hopping. "I'm glad you guys found me when you did. Still hurts though." Flare could barely walk from the tortures injuries. Lead put him on Bulks back. "Who's that?" Flare asked pointing to Mask. "We'll explain later boss for now we need to find what we're looking for and get out. I'm glad you're alive sir," Lead said. Mask looked at the table near the torture devices and saw there were burned looking files on what looked like skin. Mask looked at them and saw they were nothing more than pieces of the hive. Mask recorded the files by loading a picture on to his mask. The team with the injured commander on Bulks back.

The fake Flare was thrown into the wall of the mess area. As soon as he slammed into the wall Merc smashed him back into it holding the knife to the fake Flare's throat. "Hey, Flare. Before you die you best know know you were wrong. I'm not a cold blooded killer." Marc said. "I'm a Colt Blooded Killer." Merc slit Flare's throat. Before it fell the changeling turned back. His breath heavy he looked over at Stone who was a bit traumatized at seeing what she thought was her friends about to kill her or even worse. She saw that Merc was still bleeding from his wound. Stone quickly trotted over and helped him into a seat. "I swear, retirement looks better every day. I'm getting too old for this," Merc said. Stone went to grab something to help heal the wound. "Sir, we have a problem," Bug said. Merc reached for the radio and fell out of the chair. He couldn't reach it. Lieutenant Stone came back in and grabbed the radio. "Hello?" She asked not pressing the talk button. "You need to press the button on the side," Merc said. Sarah picked up Merc and put him back in the chair. She pressed the talk button on the radio. "Hello?" She asked again. "Hey, Stone. Listen, I don't know what you two are doing in there but you should get prepared real quick. multiple troops of what look like attack squads congregating outside near the entrance. I'm not sure exactly what's going on but it looks pretty bad." A screech was heard from the radio. "Dammit he's awake," Bug said. He grunted through the mic before it was tapped. wind was heard from the speaker before static. "I think he dropped it, but if he's right then we should be getting ready. What weapons are here?" Merc asked.

"What was noise?" Bulk asked. "Probably an alarm. Or an attack order, both are equally as scary right now. We've got no weapons," Lead said. He looked around in some chests hoping to find the equipment that was confiscated from them when they were taken. "Wrong chest," Flare said worn down. "Blood drips downs Bulks back. No bandages?" Bulk asked Lead. "Sorry, bud. I don't see any bandages. I guess they weren't planning on keeping you alive." Mask pat Flare's back. "STA DWN" his visor lit. "Mask boy here is right. As long as the commander stays pressed on you back bulk then pressure would be kept on the wound. That should give us some extra time. Just hold out until we get to the base. Lead had found the chest holding their weapons. Lead pulled his sword out with his magic and passed Bulk his iron jaw. A weapon which only those who are willing to jump head first into death use. Lead passed some back hoof boots with claws running all along the rims. These were most likely made for a back defense in case anything threatens Bulk from behind. Mask was intrigued by the design of these weapons. They seemed so tough and advanced. He wondered if they were homemade. Flare grunted. "They're… coming up. We've got to leave… now." He said feeling the vibrations from the erratic activity inside the hive. Mask nodded and started to lead the team outside. upon reaching the incline three squads of changeling soldiers stood at the ready. Bulk put Flare down and chuckled. "Bulk going to love this," He said. Lead smiled holding his sword. "Finally some action. Time for payback," He said. ask pulled out his rifle and loaded a round into the chamber.

Merc finished putting spear tips into a wall formation to keep the changelings from attacking on the floor. Merc grabbed some bandages and patched up his wound. Blood seeped through and showed up on the patch but never went through completely as Merc continued to do strenuous activities in order to keep Stone and him safe. Loud bursts of sound started to come from outside. The alarm sounded for forced entry and multiple grunts from being stabbed by the spears could be heard down the hall. Merc took out his knife and Stone put some bladed armor on her wings. "We're as ready as we're gonna be," Merc said. A small group of changelings lead by the fake Pencil Lead, about four or five flew down the hall. Merc slashed his knife across one's face. The fake Lead fell to the floor holding it's eyes. Stone flew around and any changeling that came near her could not get close enough to grab her as she slashed them through with her wings.

"How long can we hold in here?" Lieutenant Stone asked. "As long as we have to," Merc said slashing down another changeling. "So pray to celestia that's soon," Merc said as he kicked one that charged him back.

Bursts of sound came from the hive as Masks rifle shot, round after round each time the sound either got louder or the bullets inside got stronger. Bulk was charging the enemies and tearing through his enemies with his iron jaw and clawed hooves. Lead was keeping the changelings going for Flare away. Mask looked around during a slight moment of pause from his rounds and saw there were luminescent lights on the ceiling going down the incline. He shot one in the black thread keeping it held up. The massive ball of green light fell and burst into flames as it broke on the incline. The changelings screamed in searing agony. Mask stopped and froze for a second before switching the volume of his helmet off. Lead looked over and saw the fire. He smiled seeing an opportunity to leave. "Bulk!" Lead yelled. Bulk noticing the stopping of the ground forces looked back. "Yes?" He asked. "Grab Flare. This a chance to get out of here. Bulk nodded and trotted over quickly. The massive stallion loaded his commanding officer onto his back. The fire started to spread. "Let's go," Lead yelled. He sprinted through the fire which barely singed his mane leading Bulk. Mask was hesitant to follow but eventually did so. He ran through the fire and patted his suit down. No burn throughs. He saw another fire light and got ready as Lead was already holding off the forces of the incoming changelings. Mask shot down the light. It fell and burned the troops who had yet to make it to them. Lead jumped through followed by Bulk. Mask shook his head seeing he had no choice. His wings would not help since the changelings could fly as well. He ran through to continue this process. Once through he sent a code to Bug's ear in morse calling for back up.

As if they were piling bodies in the hall, Merc and Stone seemed to slash through no problem. The thick stench of the blood started to make the two dizzy though. Sarah fell next to Merc who kept standing his ground despite his conditions. He looked at her. "Terra? You ok?" Merc asked. He shook his head. "I mean Sarah, are you ok?" He asked again correcting himself. She nodded a bit weak. She fell into the small pool of green blood. Merc started seeing things. The changelings didn't look like changelings anymore, and Stone wasn't the lieutenant. A small filly with brown hair and a drill as a cutie mark replaced her. Merc looked back at the changelings who had turned into colts and fillies laughing and pointing at the young filly. Rage boiled in Merc's eyes. He looked down at himself. He was smaller but still wore his vest and T-shirt. His beard was gone but he still had his knife. Merc growled and charged the squad of bullies stabbing each one to death in a slow and brutal way. He showed no mercy and no remorse. Every move was swift and fluent like a dance of impending death.

Merc stopped and noticed everything except the young filly was dead. He sighed of relief. He walked back over to the filly who laid there unconscious. Merc picked her up and took her to a table out in the pastures near them. He put her down. He looked at her gulping in a nervous anxiousness. Merc started to lean in to kiss her as his vision started returning to normal. The filly grew back into stone. Merc stopped and jumped back. He shook his head and looked at himself. He was back to normal. Merc looked where he was. The sleeping area. He shook himself and went to the hall again. The terrible stench erupted from it. The scenery changed to his house with his parents, when Merc was small again. "So their blood induces hallucinations in large doses. I need to find a place to wait for my team in that'll keep me safe." He spoke to himself. He left the room and closed the door. Merc walked through the halls to look for the safest looking room. The one that he loved to stay in as a child. The living room

Bug was knocking any troops that he flew past into the fires Mask was making. The hive started to and continued to shake from the burning support. Mask blew the head off of one changeling troop that got too close to Bulk who carried Flare. Bug looked around. "You're almost there, one floor lower then your on the floor. I'll fly ahead and weaken any forces that are outside," Bug said. Mask nodded at him. Bug flew off and outside the entrance. Mask got to the bottom floor through one last fire wall on the incline. He looked for the last luminescent bulb to put the icing on the burning birthday cake. He looked up the center and saw it was at the top of the tower and this shot had to be perfect in order to knock it down. Mask pulled back the rifles loader and put a new round into the chamber. He pulled back the trigger launching the bullet into the air. It nipped the edge of the thick strand holding the massive light up. The strand started to tear and fell off. Mask made a pulse and pushed the team past the entrance. The fire knocked Mask back and onto the floor. His suit melted off a bit to show his back hooves. There were holes in his flesh where muscle seemed to be showing. Lead was somewhat terrified. Lead grabbed Mask and put him on his back. Bug came by and flew next to them as the team walked past the cataclysmic aftermath. The hive fell into flames behind them as they headed towards the base door.

HOURS LATER…

Merc dragged the changeling bodies out of the base and into the dust where they would continue to rot or at least that's what Merc wanted. Bug cleaned up the blood with his green mask on so that he didn't start hallucinating. Mask lay in the emergency treatment room of the base with commander Flare who stayed awake while his team patched him up with bandages and disinfecting alcohol. Mask's helmet and visor was taken off to put a breathing mask on him. Mask had short black hair. His skin seemed burned and leathery as if this had happened before. there were holes going from his bottom jaw down that showed muscle but seemed to have fitted to keep his skin tight again. Merc sat down in the commons with Lead who was reading a book. "That was an intense mission. I don't think I've ever done anything like that," Merc said. Lead looked at him and nodded. "Yeah. There's a first for everything but that was just… wicked if that word works for describing it." He closed and put the book down. The book was "Through a soldier's eyes," written by Pencil Lead himself. Merc raised a brow. "You wrote that?" Merc asked. Lead looked at it. "Oh, yeah. I'm an artist and story writer. I wrote that book while in high school," He said. Lead chuckled. "It was made for a character named Brave Heart who wanted to be a soldier and suffered through bullying and everything just to do so," Lead said smiling. Merc chuckled. "You think I can get a copy?" He asked. Lead nodded and passed the book to Merc. "Sure. Just don't tell Bulk. I read this to him at night." Lead chuckled. Merc looked at the book. The cover showed a line up of students. One stood in front of the equestrian flag in full uniform in a salute.

Bug waited by Masks E-bed and twiddled his hooves as he sat next to him. "I could've been faster. Maybe if I had flown in there none of this could've happened," He whispered to himself. Mask's eyes started to open up. He had blue eyes, the complete and total opposite of his visors word colors. Mask looked around and saw Bug sitting with his head down. He seemed as if he was going to cry. "B-bug?" Mask said. Bug's head popped up and he turned to look at Mask. "Oh my celestia you're alive. Thanks the sun," Bug said crying. Mask saw his helmet on the table next to him. He was too weak to have jerked up to grab his mask but he knew that if he could, he would. He didn't like to show his face. He was surprised Bug stayed where he was, just happy to Mask alive. "Where are we?" Mask asked. His voice seemed normal but weak. "We're in the emergency medical wing of the base. We're waiting for your recovery before we leave for the castle again. This base is done. It's being abandoned and we're just waiting until you and Flare are healthy enough to walk," Bug said wiping his tears. Mask looked at his little breather mask. "How do I look?" Mask asked. "Like shit," Bug said. He paused then came to realize. "Oh crap you meant your vitals. Well you're stable and your body seems intact or at least from what Pencil Lead could gather so you should get your strength back within the day," Bug said. Mask chuckled then sighed and laid his head back. "Right. I'm glad to know that," He said. Mask started to close his eyes to get some rest. He soon fell asleep and Bug laid his head back to get some rest as well. Merc kept looking at his stab wound which had to be stitched up then bandaged but he managed to stay awake. He was reading through the book when Stone came up to him. "Uhm. Merc. May I ask you something?" She asked. Merc nodded. "Sure what's up?" He asked. "Bug even though wasn't in the brunt of all the action like you and Mask but is he ok?" Stone asked. Merc nodded. "Bug took some rough hits. granted none as rough as Mask and I but he's young and strong, when he breaks he mends. He'll be fine." Stone sighed and smiled. "Thank you."

Merc sighed. "Right. Hey, you remind me of someone I once knew. A special friend of mine so, I want you to stay safe," Merc said to Stone. She was surprised but she nodded with a smile. "I'll try," She said. Merc smiled. "Good. I think Bug's in the E-wing waiting for mask to wake up. You can go talk to him if you want." Sarah nodded. "Maybe later. While Flare is asleep i need to pack his personals for him so we can head out and find a different base," Sarah said. She left. Bulk was licking a lollipop that Lead gave him. "Lollipop is cherry," He said to Merc. Merc chuckled. "You think Lead will give me one?" Merc asked. Bulk shook his head. "Bulk special. Only Bulk get candy from Lead." he said. Bulk trotted off. After an hour of waiting Mask finally had the strength to stand. Flare's vitals were stable so they decided if any time was best to move it was now. Merc lead the group to the train where they boarded and the entire team fell asleep. Bug woke up and saw they were close to canterlot. He shook Merc who was slow to wake and Mask who put tried to put his mask back on. Flare stopped him. "Don't. You need to keep the breather on. It's best," He said. Mask sighed and nodded. He grabbed the handle of the wheeler that held his oxygen canisters. The teams both got to the castle. "Well, guess if any time there needed to be any sort of explanation it's now," Merc said. "That would be appreciated," A smooth goddess voice behind them said. The teams turned and saw princess Celestia behind them. "You are all horribly injured. What happened?" She asked. Mask shook his head. "May I ask for a day or two of rest?" Mask asked. The princess looked at him. "Who are you?" She asked. "Princess, that's Mask, without his mask," Merc said. The princess' eyes became sympathetic towards Mask. "Well. I think you all deserve a rest. Flare I request you and your team report to the throne room for a quick word. Merc you and your team report your rooms for rest. I think you've all earned what you're getting," The princess said.

Merc went to his room and laid down in the bed. The thought of those hallucinations, the fact that those were the ones he was given. He felt terrible. Mask was brought his equipment into his room by Bug. Mask waited outside for a second before even entering the castle. "I hope you rest well tonight, bud. I'm sure you'll be able to use your mask tomorrow," Bug said. "I hope so. I can't let Twilight see me like this. I look horrible," Mask said dropping his head a bit. "Two things. I think women like guys with scars. With every scar comes a story. And uhh… The other one," Bug stopped for a second. "Bug? You're back, where's Mask? Who's this?" Twilight asked trotting down the hallway. Mask froze for half a second then covered his face with his gloved hoof. "Oh, Twilight. Good to see you. This is Mask. He's not wearing it right now. He just needed to get some fresh… canistered O2," Bug said. "Oh is he hurt? I can help," Twilight said. She took a step towards him. "NO!" He said. He shook his head. "No, it's fine. I'm fine. I don't need help but thank you for your offer Twilight. I just need to get some rest," Mask said. "Oh, I see. Right well it's best you get to your room. I'm glad you're ok at least," She said. Mask nodded. "I'm glad to have made it back," Mask said. He passed her keeping his hoof up and went into his room. "Is he ignoring me?" Twilight asked Bug. "Nah, He's just self-conscious about his appearance. Why do you think he's always wearing a mask? Anyways. I better get some rest too. It was a BIG day," Bug said. He flew off to his room. Mask sat in his room saddened by how he couldn't even represent himself in front of Twilight. He felt ashamed. Mask laid down and kept the Oxygen canisters close so that he could sleep.

Night fell and in the sleep of night Mask rolled over on to the oxygen breathers cord. Mask twitched in his sleep gasping for breathe.