AN: I'm super sorry for the long update time and for this crap chapter. I did my best, though I'm probably going to edit this later. I couldn't figure out a better way to transition this to what I want the story to turn into. I hope you guys enjoy it anyways.

I owe a major thanks to:

ZipUnZipIt

King9085

Fax and Percabeth

Ayush

There-You-Have-Been-Warned

KimaAmmos13

raxthel

They have all reviewed, followed, and/or favorited this story, and I really can't tell how much that means to me, I truly and very much appreciate it, it absolutely makes my day! Okay, done with the heart-to-heart. ON WITH THE STORY!

Wait, one more thing...

To King9085: Thank you so freakin' much for reviewing on all the chapters, it warms my heart, and don't worry, I will utilize your ingenious idea in the next chapter, I promise!

Disclaimer: I don't own any part of the Max Ride franchise, all cred goes to JP, I thought we went over this...

Fang's POV

I can't remember the last time I had this much fun. I was chasing Gazzy and Iggy, they were chasing Nudge, as judging from the light footsteps I heard from behind me, Angel was picking up the rear. My heart raced nearly as fast as the rate my legs were going.

Seeing Gazzy and Iggy run left, I realized where Nudge was leading us; we called it the War Room. It was a huge alcove with high ceilings we found a couple months ago. It had old fashioned weapons strapped into its metal walls, such as daggers, swords, even a few bayonets. The flock mostly liked it because it was an open area.

We skidded in, our worn shoes squeaking against the smooth chrome floors. Ang stopped herself in the nick of time from running into me. Nudge was nowhere to be seen.

She must be hiding somewhere, just waiting to hit us with something...

The hair on my neck stood up. Whirling around, I gave the sign that meant to "circle up" behind my back; pinky and thumb sticking up. We didn't really care that we could've been as loud as we wanted, but it was fun to pretend like we were sneaking around.

A couple seconds passed by, but they felt like hours. Finally, as I suspected, Nudge flew up, holding a large mallet and grinning a grin that was horribly reminiscent of Gazzy when he somehow filled up my gumball with glue(I was seriously convinced that I'd never be able to talk again). I shuddered at the comparison.

In a matter of seconds, Nudge swooped down, and suddenly we were all sparring, like we used to. Gazzy and Angel were locked in battle, and it looked like Angel was playing fair, for once in her life, and not using her mind control and prophet-future-seeing-thingy.

Nudge, Iggy, and I were going at it, the guys against the girl. Seems fair.

Narrowly avoiding a roundhouse, Ig launched his own series of punches. Unfortunately, he forgot about the whopping mallet. As soon as he managed to get a hold of Nudge, she just hit his hand. His mouth opened slightly, in shock and cradling his hand. Iggy's knees were bent slightly like he was about to fall, and it was hilarious. I burst laughing, because that was the only time I'd ever seen Iggy do that, besides the time he peed his bed and it was his… you know, that he was holding on to.

We were all laughing and were to the point of collapsing on the floor the moment we saw Iggy like that, because we were all remembering the time he wet his tighty-whities, and I felt free for the first time in months, years even. I don't think we were really laughing about The Mallet Incident, as we dubbed it a couple weeks after. We were just laughing. Slowly letting go of all the pain. All the suffering. The lies, the ruin, the destruction. I wished Max were there.

I succumbed and lay down on the floor near Nudge, and put my arm under my head as a makeshift pillow, still chuckling.

Max's POV

I couldn't sleep, not with all the racket outside. I sighed, and jogged slowly to the War Room to get a bit of training done. The baby was making it slightly hard to touch my toes.

Imagine my surprise when I saw the rest of the flock already there and just laughing. They were all doubled over, Fang going as far as to lying down on the floor. I smiled. It had been a long time since I've seen the flock like that. I giggled for a second, remembering the time we were in Florida, and the damn M-Bots gave us freaking birdseed.

I decided to make my presence and thoughts known by screaming. It's very fun, you should try it. "Hey guys!". Five heads turned my way. "Do you remember the birdseed?". They looked confused, but after a moment, I saw comprehension light up their faces, and they all started laughing even more hysterically.

The fun and games slid from my head as I saw Nudge's hand go slack, and she dropped the mallet. The metal mallet. Fang was right under her.