Gah! The last chapter was both mentally and emotionally straining. I can't wait for this one to get out on to internet. Wait. crap. If you're reading this then that means… My god… You're a cyber-psychic! Oh well enjoy everyone. Meh.
In the late hours of the night one of the guards was passing by Masks room. "Hey, You. I need your help," another guard said holding a spear and standing next to Masks door. "I'm hearing things from this room. I need back up." The roaming guard put his ear to the door and heard muffled noises coming from inside. "Alright, I got your back," The roaming guard said. The door guard opened the door quickly only to see Mask trying to crawl towards them holding his neck. "Oh, sweet Celestia! Go get some help!" The door guard said in an urgent tone. The roaming guard ran out yelling for a doctor.
THE NEXT MORNING
The princess had called in a professional earth pony in medicine and technical engineering. This ponys name is Doctor Prichard Van Hellhoof. Hellhoof was described by the princess to Merc as a miracle worker. "Are you sure we can trust our own teammate to this stallion, Princess?" Merc asked. Celestia nodded. The first impression Hellhoof gave as he trotted in was on the brink of insanity and keeping a cool head. "He is a fantastic doctor and physician. I have not yet seen a pony he has not saved through his medical expertise," The princess said. Merc looked at the single earth pony. He shoved every other doctor out so that he may work alone. A guard walked over and whispered to the princess. She looked at him. "Are you sure?" She asked. The guard nodded with a worried expression. "I see. Go get some guards to get ready for an infiltration," She said. The guard nodded and ran off. "Is there a problem?" Merc asked. Bug turned to look at them. "We've had an attack. In Manehatten. I'm sending soldiers in," She said. The princess looked at Merc.
"Are you offering your services to assist these soldiers?" She asked. Merc nodded. Bug looked at Merc worried. "But, sir. Without Mask our team isn't at full strength. How do you expect us to take part in a military grade mission?" Bug asked. Merc looked at him. "I expect you to trust me. These fights are more than just us. It's about other ponies now," Merc said. "But we kill other ponies." Merc nodded. "Changelings are not much different. Accept this, Bug. We were born to do great things, and that great thing may just be the turning point in all of this," Merc said. Bug looked down in thought. He nodded and looked up with a determined smile. "If Merc is in on it then I think I can trust him to lead me to battle and back out safely," Bug said.
The princess smiled at the determination these two warriors presented. Starting out as nothing more than killers that were turned against their employer. Now to her it seemed that they were trying to impress her. "Your majesty," A stallions voice said. The princess as well as Merc and Bug turned to look at Dr. Prichard Van Hellhoof standing just outside the door to surgery. "Ze patient has requested your presence," He said. The princess walked in to see Mask laying down in the medical bed stitched up. "Hello Your majesty. I would also like to volunteer for this mission," Mask said trying to sit up. He fell back on to the bed. "You are in no shape to be running around in any adventurous zeatrics," Hellhoof said. Mask pushed the doctor back. "I could use another live subject," Hellhoof threatened. "I'd like to join in at the earliest possible convenience then." Merc looked at him. "Mask you don't have to do this. You've been working at my side for years and I've never seen you take a break. You can back down from this for medical reasons," Merc said. Mask shook his head. "No. I don't care how bad of a condition I am. If I'm stable enough to fight then I'll die by the side of my crew instead of rot away in some bed when you guys are fighting." Mask looked over at his helmet and visor. "This Mask is not so easily forgotten, nor is it ever easily worn," Mask said.
The princess thought for a second as Mask turned his emerald green gaze to her. "I understand. Doctor. It is this pony's request is for a quick recovery. How long do you think we can get him to a stable state at least?" The princess asked. Hellhoof thought for a second. He sighed. "I can do so in more zan eight hours." Merc looked at him. "No earlier?" Mask asked. The group looked at Mask. "You are putting me on ze spot. I have arrived only to stabilize in a matter of days. I have ways of advancing healing process' but I didn't bring any of my supplies to make ze medicine to do so," Hellhoof said. The princess nodded. "All is fine. I will have someone go and retrieve any advanced materials from your lab. Do you have a list or can you make a list of these very materials?" Celestia asked. Hellhoof laughed a bit maniacally. "Madam Celestia please. A good scientist always keeps a spare list of ingredients to make a known concoction." Hellhoof went over and reached into his bag. He pulled out a small box and held it in front of Mask. "If you please use your magic to move this small latch?" Hellhoof asked. Mask levitated the latch off and the box expanded out to a science table with beakers and other objects. "Enchantments and science. Such a wonderful mixture this sort of alchemy is... Medicinal," Hellhoof said putting the objects and basic ingredients together. Hellhoof grabbed a single scroll and unrolled it. It wasn't a massive list but the ingredients on it were particularly uncommon but a good amount of them were available through Celestia's garden.
"My troops here will gather these ingredients for you, Hellhoof. In the meantime," Princess Celestia tried to say before she was cut off. "I vill keep him stable until the medicine is made and ready for his consumption," Hellhoof said continuing his work on the basic raw materials of the medicine. Celestia looked at Merc and Bug. "I will send Mask when he is ready. Until then you travel with the guards," She said. Merc nodded. "The guards are going to be transported through air chariotes. You will join them as well as a temporary addition to your team. Do you have anypony in particular in mind?" She asked. Merc shook his head. "Anyone who is disciplined to follow orders is just enough for me," Merc said. The princess nodded. "I know just the pony. Now. Go join the chariots. Your member will meet you in a moment." Merc and Bug looked at Mask who nodded and weakly waved them off. "Go. I'll be there when I can. It's not about the money. It's about innocent ponies lives now," Mask said breathing heavily in his rebreather Mask. Merc nodded and pat Mask. "We'll hold out until you get there," Merc said. Mask smiled and fell asleep. Merc and Bug left the Medical Emergency Room.
Bug and Merc reported to the chariots where many troops had gathered to get ready for the attack to reclaim Manehatten. A blindfolded Unicorn with black hair and dark blue coat trotted over to wore a karate gi with the tops sleeves ripped off over what looked to be battle armor with a katana on his back. "Hello. Are you two Merc and Bug?" He asked. "Yes. We are. Are you our substitute third member for the mission?" Merc asked. The unicorn nodded. "Yes. Lieutenant Blindfold. I am a master of sword arts in a fighting type called 'Way of the Sounds Break." He said Merc nodded. "Anything else you can tell us?" Merc asked. "Yes. I have trained for years under a strict code of discipline. Any order given is one that will be followed through no matter how dangerous." Merc was impressed. "Are you a ninja?" Bug asked. "Yes. I was raised by monks in Neighpan. Until the return of your third member I am under your command." Blindfold bowed. Merc nodded. "Thank you for coming to our aid in a time of need," Merc bowed respectfully. Bug looked over to see the other teams loading up in to the chariots and bigger carriers. "It looks like it's time to get ready." Bug got on and Merc followed with Blindfold getting in behind him. The chariot was brought into the air by two pegasi and started to fly away from the city.
"I've heard a story from the barracks yesterday about the work of three mercenaries. Saved a squad of troops and brought down an entire hive of changelings into nothing more than ash in the sandy winds. There names were Merc, Bug and Mask. I can only assume that's you two in that story?" Blindfold asked. Merc nodded. "Yes. That was us. More Mask than anyone but nonetheless that was us. We put down their entire hive in a matter of hours, and it wasn't easy," Merc said. Blindfold turned his head in Bug's direction. "But still a rather impressive feat. I hope to be able to perform such tasks that relate to that kind of greatness," Blindfold said in a serious expression. Merc looked at him. "You're very humble and modest," Merc said. "I was told by my old master that with humbility and modesty brings understanding of feelings amongst others," Blindfold said. Merc nodded. "But with too much you don't earn the respect you deserve." Bug looked at the two. "Yeah I'm not wise. I'm street and speed smart," Bug said shrugging. Merc chuckled. Merc and Bug looked around and saw the sky was turning from it's cyan blue shade to a deadly looking green. The clouds lost their fluffy looking nature and looked as if they were starting to decay. Blindfold clicked his tongue. He remained silent for a moment then his ear twitched. He jumped to the front. "Lean left!" He yelled the two guards leaned and and sure enough a blast of green changeling energy flew past the right of the chariot and dispersed when hitting a cloud. The green around that area of the sky seemed to grow to an even darker, scarier, and deadlier green.
"We need to land now. Find a place and put her down," Merc said to the guards. They nodded at each other and looked for a safe place to land as the streets seemed to be in chaos. Soldiers were already fighting off changeling forces. The only safest places seemed to be the roofs which even then they're taking a huge risk. "Look a roof to the left side. It's empty. Let's land there," Bug pointed out. He flew out and dropped himself over the roof. Bug looked around and nodded. "We're clear," Bug said. The chariot landed and Merc and Blindfold stepped off. "Good luck you three," One of the guards said. They floated and flew off dodging stray shots of magic that flew their way. Merc took a big breath in and sighed carefully. "Alright. It was at least a twenty minute flight here. No less. Let's get to the ground and show these changelings that we're not the type of race they want to toy with," Merc said. Bug saluted and Blindfold nodded. "Yes, sir," the two said. Merc led them down a stairwell and onto the streets. Shots of Magic could be heard in the distance but none were close enough to be called dangerous. "Let's move. Until we find Changelings we roam the city," Merc said. Blindfold and Bug nodded both following his lead.
The three wandered the streets of the city looking in any windows they passed. Dead bodies of both ponies and changelings lay everywhere. "A battle, rich in bloodshed. I feel sorry for these poor souls and hope they find warmth in the celestial mothers embrace," Blindfold said. Merc nodded and sighed. "So do I." Merc led the team to an area that was cleaner, but why? The rest of the street either had blood or bodies of the fallen from both sides. Why was this area clean? Merc wondered. Bug looked around and saw something dark escape into an open shop. "You can't hide from me," Bug said. He lifted his wings. "Bug what're you doing?" Merc asked. Bug didn't listen as he flapped them with a force sending him forward like one of Mask's rounds for his hoof made rifle. "Blindfold. Let's go. Bug's following something." Blindfold nodded and the two quickly galloped to try and see what he was chasing after. Bug was in a dark room with light shining down on only him. Merc walked into the darkness and looked around. Blindfold looked at Merc. "Sir. I'm hearing something but I can't tell what. One moment." Bug turned to look at them as Blindfold clicked his tongue. He stood there for a moment. "Hey guys. Sorry I guess I didn't see anything. My mind's too paranoid I guess," Bug said. Blindfolds ear twitched. "Ah. Don't worry about it Bug. We're all on edge right now. I don't blame you for chasing a shadow. Just stick with us next time," Merc said. Bug smiled. "Will do, sir." Blindfolds Magic made an aura around the handle of his sword he wore on his back. "Yes. Don't lose your head," Blindfold said. In one swift motion He sliced off Bug's head cracking through the cartilage keeping the spine connected to the rest of the body.
"What the hell was that for?" Merc asked. The body of Bug glew green for a moment before turning into a changeling. "I know you're here, Cowards," Blindfold said. Merc blinked at the changeling body. This tricked him again. He couldn't believe he could have made this mistake with his own teammate. Three changelings flew out. Their eyes different colors. "Well well well. If someone is more adept than you I have yet to see it. How did you know?" One asked in a evilly playful tone. "You didn't take Bug out of the building. He's in the shadows being quieted by simple spews of a web substance over his mouth and body, restricting him of movement." Blindfold said. Merc looked around and saw there were more lights in the room but only one was on.
Merc went to back to the door and turned on the lights five more changelings were standing over boxes and storage crates next to Bug who was tied up in a web of sorts. He struggled to get loose. "Blindfold. Focus on getting Bug down from there. I'll deal with these bastards," Merc said. Blindfold nodded. The changelings charged at Blindfold he stood in his single spot for a moment as they flew towards him. His body fell into ash. He reappeared on the web holding Bug using the sword to cut him down. Merc was fending off the changelings. They would make ariel swipes at him as they flew by and Merc would swing his knife in response. The web was strong and seemed unbreakable to the sword Blindfold was swinging at the strands. Merc looked at Blindfold who continued to try and fail at cutting Bug down. Merc looked at his knife. A saw edge was on the side opposite of the blade. "Blindfold!" Merc exclaimed. Blindfold turned to Merc. He tossed the knife to Blindfold who caught it in a magic aura. "Use the saw edge to break the strings!" Merc said. A Changeling flew down and took a swipe at Merc cutting his cheek. Merc looked at the changelings with anger. "Come on! I'm not afraid of you! Fight me like warriors!" Merc yelled. Another one tried to swipe behind Merc. Merc heard the air hitting the body of the changeling and turned just in time to hit him on the head, knocking the changeling into the floor.
Blindfold continued to cut the strands of webbing with the knives saw edge and it was actually working. Bug was cut loose in a matter of seconds. Blindfold cut off Bugs mouth webbing so that he could speak. "Come, Merc might not be able to last long without his knife or us," Blindfold said. Bug nodded and grabbed Mercs knife. Bug flew into the small swarm of changelings and dropped Mercs knife in front of him. Merc picked up the knife and got ready for when the changelings decided to swipe again. A flash of light swished between the head and body of one of the changelings. It's head fell off and Blindfold jumped over to Merc's side. "Head's up," They said. Merc slashed at the eyes of one of the changelings making it lose it's vision causing it to fly into metal bars in the storage shelves. Merc looked around and saw there were four more. Merc put the handle of the knife in his mouth being squeezed tighter between their teeth.
A green flash flew behind all of the changelings and knocked them to the floor. Merc smiled. "I can promise you pain without end," Merc said. The three charged the remaining four changelings. A cloud of dust appeared in the room from the falling ash of the ceiling starting to fly in the flurry of air flowing as hooves and blades flew around. The dust settled and Merc turned to see what was left. An art of green blood spattered on the ground. "Like squishing a bug," Bug said with a smile. Merc chuckled and Blindfold grinned. The three continued to walk throughout the city searching and finding about six different squads of changelings. As they watched the burning remains of the outer city fall or crumble into dust something was making the ground shake. Merc looked at his hooves. The army of soldiers were running in the opposite direction of the city center only some stopping to throw spears in the direction they were running from. "What the?" Merc turned to see a colossal beast changeling crawl towards them in a snake-ish slithering like manner. Merc was taken back by the sight of such a monster. "Uhh… Bug? How much longer do you think until Mask can join the party?" Merc asked. Blindfold drew his sword out at the monster. Bug looked at his watch. "thirty minutes if we're saying exact time sir," Bug said. Merc nodded. "Ok. Until then we find a way to kill this thing. Bug, don't let it leave the city. Blindfold you're with me. We gotta drop this thing and fast," Merc said.
Bug flew into the air and blindfold positioned his sword in a traditional way of ancient warrior style. Merc pulled his knife out. "When we get back to canterlot I'm getting an upgrade. This knife won't always cut it," Merc said. Blindfold turned his head toward Merc. "Do you intentionally make those puns?" Blindfold asked. Merc shook his head. "No but we have bigger things to worry about than a misplaced word." Merc looked over the massive creature. There seemed to be openings in its shell most likely to keep it mobile. These huge opening were perfect but the only downside is they closed when that appendage was in movement. Merc nudged Blindfold. "Hey. You picking up the crevices or openings in it's armor?" Merc asked. Blindfold nodded. "Yes, sir. Attack them?" He asked. Merc nodded. "Yeah. They're timed whenever the creature is in a natural position it's open. Don't attack when that appendage is in movement." Blindfold tipped his head forward to show he understood. The two bolted at the massive creatures legs hoping to knock it onto all four of it's knees. Blindfold would make a slash at the legs of the monster but every time it got blocked by the armor when the beast would step closer and closer to the outskirts of the city.
Bug flew by it's eyes and tried to think quickly. The monster saw Bug and tried to knock him out of the air with one of it's front legs. Bug saw this as a perfect way to distract the creature. It's big body made movement prediction easier than most normal ponies. Bug flew past it's massive hoof every time it swiped at him. Merc and blindfold could not get a clear shot. They followed the creature to it's stop where it was trying to deal with Bug. "We can't keep this up. The thing is in constant movement sir. Those weak points don't say open long enough. Even if we did manage to cut into it our blades would be caught in the armor when it comes around," Blindfold said. Merc couldn't come up with any plans. The constant movement of the creature made him focus on present instead of what he should be doing. "I can't think of anything," Merc said. A loud boom was heard from the behind them.
Following the loud boom was a flash of purple light flying right into one of the open spots in the giants armor. The object penetrated it's skin and caused blood to spill. The beast shrieked and turned to face Merc and Blindfold. Merc turned to see Mask wearing his visor and helmet, a block or two down from them holding his rifle. Purple lights seemed to be glowing from the inside of the rifles parts. Mask had enchanted the rifle making any rounds he put in more powerful by comparison to when it's disenchanted. Merc smiled and looked at Blindfold. "Mask's got a good spot. Just distract that thing so Mask can take it down. Make sure and take every hit you can get. We need a ton of muscle power if we're gonna take 'er down," Merc said. Blindfold nodded and charged the beast's hooves. Blindfold slashed at the armor as he ran by. The giant displayed a single track mind as it now focused it's aggravation on Blindfold. Merc looked back at Mask and put his hoof up. "Ready…" Merc whispered to himself. "Aim…" Merc said. Merc threw his hoof down at the sight of an unweakened leg. "FIRE!" Merc yelled. Mask took the shot and a purple light left the gun in a manner similar to that of a comet and flew into the massive beasts leg. It's leg spurted green blood again and it turned to Merc. Merc pulled his knife and got ready to jolt at the beast. Bug flew by and drew his feathers along it's eyes making it focus on Bug now. Merc smiled and nodded. He had another opportunity to make another called shot.
Mask loaded in a new round and got ready to fire again. Merc put his hoof up. He saw an opening immediately and threw his hoof down, not bothering to count. Mask took the shot. The third of four legs was knocked down. The giant finally realised what was going on and shielded its final leg with the other weakened ones. Merc looked back at Mask. On his visor Mask said "NITE NITE" He shot at the leg. This round seemed brighter and faster than the other ones Mask shot off. It busted through the armor and skin of the great monster and into the last leg. The beast fell to it's knees and looked at the group. Merc looked at it' eyes. He turned his head to Mask. "Hey buddy. Good to see you. You missed most of the party. You wanna take the honors?" Merc said. Mask stepped up and and held his rifle back. Another round loaded in he aimed at the eye of the beast. Mask hesitated and dropped his gun. "BTTR IDEA" His visor said. Mask looked at the monster. Its eyes nearly tearing in agony and pain. It had closed its eyes so that it wouldn't have to witness it's own death.
Mask had rounded up nearly all the heavy pegasus warriors and told them to bring the beast to a secure area until the princess can see it. "Mask, are you sure this is a good idea. It took a lot to get that thing on it's knees and if we have to do it again then it will know what it's up against," Merc said. Bug nodded. "Yeah. I don't know if you know but it's not fun being the little guy in a big dudes game," Bug said. Blindfold looked at Mask. "Although I think I understand I question your reasons to think why. Nonetheless I trust your judgment," Blindfold said. Mask nodded at Blindfold and looked at Merc and Bug. "TRST ME" Mask's visor lit. The beast was being flown off and Merc decided to have him and his team do some quick sweeps before they even think about leaving. Blindfold had left to go join his team and Merc, Mask and Bug had spent the rest of their day and night performing one final sweep to make sure all the rest of the changelings were gone. After all the painstaking work and danger they've been put in the last two days Merc hoped when they got back to the castle they could find time to rest.
Bug had gotten a chariot on it's way back to canterlot to pick the team up and take them as well. The soldiers they were returning were Pencil Lead and Blindfold. "Hey. Looks like you guys had fun." Pencil lead said looking at the state of the cities outer core. Merc sat back. "I guess you could say that. Where were you when we were dealing with colossus back there?" Merc asked. "I was at the eastern part of the city and it looks like you guys were patrolling the west. I was on the complete opposite side of the city," Lead said. The teams chatted amongst each other and came to find out Pencil Lead had been promoted to captain and is now leading Blindfold, his first and currently only soldier. The two teams were returned to canterlot and Lead and Blindfold went off to the barracks to get some rest. Lead was stationed at Manehatten about the minute he woke up in the morning and arrived only twenty minutes before the attack. It was obvious Lead was no ordinary soldier. He was something else but it definitely wasn't changeling. He seemed fantastic for this job despite being an artist like his old team called him. Merc stepped into the throne room. Princess Celestia did not seem pleased.
"That monster. I want an explanation. Why is it being held captive instead of dead like you were supposed to do?" The princess asked. Mask stepped forward. "IT WS ME," His visor lit. Merc put his head down. "We're sorry your majesty. It was Mask's call," Merc said. The princess looked at Mask. "Mask, I had someone heal you and put you back in the field at your request. What reason do you have to keep that monster alive?" Celestia asked. "ADVNTG," Masks visor lit. "What advantage?" Celestia asked. Her tone calmed down a bit but you can still sense the anger in her stare. Hellhoof trotted in. "Princess as a good friend if I may. Ze scientific benefits behind zis creature are astounding. If you give me some time to study the beast while it's alive we may be able to discover more zings about it." Hellhoof smiled widely. Bug thought then jumped forward. "And if we can reform it we can have it fight on our side," Merc was sketchy on this idea but it made sense. He spoke up, "And something tells me that isn't the only one they have. If they have more and we have nothing it will cause a major pain in the ass for our soldiers. The least we could do is try your highness," Merc said. The princess looked at all of them and sighed. "Fine. We will chance this. If it reacts in a negative way then we will have no other choice than to put it down," The princess said. Merc sighed with relief. He looked at Mask who was smiling on his visors image processor.
Mask was thinking and hoping to find a way to get the giant to see their side and join them. It was at this point Mask bumped into Twilight. "Oh, Mask I'm terribly sorry. I was looking over something," She said. She was reading a book on diseases and Mask nodded. "MY BAD," His visor lit. Mask picked up the book she was carrying and gave it back to her. Mask looked at Twilight and got an idea. "TWILITE," Masks visor said. Twilight looked at Mask. "Yes?" She asked. "I NEED HLP." Twilight was confused by the weird way his visor seemed to light up the words in broken order making it look like a different thing. "You need help?" Twilight asked. Mask nodded. "What do you need help with?" She asked. Mask pulled up a picture of the colossal beast on his visor and a stamp like font appeared over it that said "REFORM?" Twilight was a bit skeptical. She looked at Mask. "I have a friend named Fluttershy who may be able to help. She can speak to creatures both big and small," Twilight said. Mask nodded. He picked her up in a hug. "THNK U," His visor lit. Twilight could hear Masks muffled words, saying "Thank you, thank you, thank you." Mask put her down " :) " appearing on his visor. Twilight blushed and nodded. "It's no problem. Anyways I must get back to my studies," She said. Mask nodded and let her trot off. Mask went to his room to get some sleep. As if the last two days weren't big enough, tomorrow was a whole new ball game. Reform therapy.
Merc looked out the balcony in his room and saw the place he so hatingly remembered. The edge of the city. It was there he lost someone close to him. Merc went and laid down dozing off into sleep.
"Come on, terra," Merc said. "You shouldn't listen to them," He continued. His friend Terra a filly no older than him sat next to him as they were on the train heading to canterlot. The two were children in middle school heading out to learn about the canterlot gardens. "Yeah. Yeah you're right. Thanks Merc." She hugged him. Merc smiled with blushing red cheeks and hugged her back. The train got to the city and Merc wouldn't get off without Terra so he waited for her. Merc was a scared young colt. although he stood up for Terra he was always so afraid because he now took the brunt of the bullying instead of Terra but nonetheless she got harassed as well. Merc was keeping with the class getting no farther than five feet away from Terra. The two ventured off away from the class. Merc was confused when they made it to the edge of the city. "I heard this is a very romantic place, Merc. A great place to share our first kiss," Terra said. Merc blushed as his ears dropped. "Uhh. O-ok," Merc said. The two slowly leaned in to kiss each other. Merc's lips met Terra's and almost as soon as he did he felt fantastic. Merc sighed when they finished and opened his eyes. Merc took a few steps back, smiling. Merc closed his eyes for a second. He heard wind fly as if something fell. He opened his eyes and looked around. Terra was gone. He looked over the edge of the city to see a small pool of blood started to form. "no… no… NONONONO!" Merc started to yell. Something started dragging him away from the edge. Merc turned to see it was the other students getting him away from the edge. "NOOOOOO!" Merc woke up. He looked around in a cold sweat and put his hoof on his head. He heard a knock on the door to his room. "Are you ok in there?" The guard by the door asked. Merc sighed. "Yeah, yeah. Just had a bad dream," Merc said. He laid back down. Merc sighed and fell asleep disappointed in himself.