Rehab with Bright Colors

The trouble with being extremely pissed off was it tended to carry on for quite a while, and people liked to continuously poke at you trying to figure out what was wrong. Said poking came in the form of Shiny and Durge harassment, along with a very perturbed Sparky that was convinced he was about to go outside and start shooting randomly into the crowds. The rest of the day proceeded with random ponies and people coming out of the woodwork to ask what was wrong to his annoyance.

Why could the girls be pissed off and he couldn't? Come to think of it a certain, currently hated mare was responsible and after going over the short conversation they had she was supposed to be at the Gala tonight.

"Can I shoot a mare in the face tonight and splatter her brain matter across the pavement? I think she's a threat."

He didn't ask anyone in particular, but given that Luna walked into a wall as she was passing by and Celestia stopped mid sentence. Turning the corner into a room, closing the door softly behind him, and promptly jumping out of the window when he heard urgent knocking at the door saved him from being grilled by either of them. Evading Celestia and Luna added an adventurous side to the otherwise ruined day, and while both Princesses were busy with preparations, he knew they might have caught him by now if they weren't so preoccupied.

It wasn't long before he was standing in a high up, secluded series of rooms where his men were preparing for their introduction to the world. Looking down out of a window Hex could still make out a lot of the ponies wandering about in grand fashion with quite a number of other creatures as well. There were foreign ponies in what looked like tribal garb, and strangely enough reminded him of Zebra's from the old stories of earth... along with huge gryphons who seemed like a bunch himself and Durge would get along with.

Besides the obvious ones who stood out he also saw quite a number of ponies dressed in silks, feeling his face contort with anger as he tried to pick out the one that had blonde hair.

"Hex get outta that window. I'm startin ta think you're developing an unhealthy relationship with them seein as you keep jumping out."

"I'm not going to jump out of the window Durge, and a window is perfectly acceptable as a means of escape."

"You still look like a brooding turd with yer face scrunched up like that. I bet someone in this damn city knows what got your panties in a bunch earlier."

"I'll bet you fifty bits its over something retarded Durge."

"I'll take that bet Shiny. I'm thinkin somethin else has him all rustled."

He could only grunt in irritation as he watched some of the guards flying about and frantically look for someone. Hex, Durge, and Shiny had all recieved instruction to be announced offically and presented down the giant carpet before the princesses. Problem was they were no where to be found, and it didn't take a genius to figure out that the sudden vacancy on he carpet meant something was up.

"Shows on boys."

The usher was sweating profusely as the line of delegates and officials suddenly went dry. There were other parties behind Hex's group, and ponies started to murmur and chuckle at the lateness. Celestia and Luna were still on the dias waiting to greet the other groups when Celestia nodded towards the usher to continue regardless.

The stallion took a few deep breaths and looked at his list, calling out to the Gala.

"Death's Knell Company. Captain Shining Armor, Sergent Hexus Murdoc, Sergent Durger Hacks."

Soft giggling could be heard as the usher announced people who weren't there, until a mare who crossed the carpet to speak with another group of females screamed in terror when she turned around. She was staring into the grizzly smile of a zergling skull, and with practiced ease the entire company of men moved down the line in step, and in utter silence.

One of the boys had reworked the standard teleportation spell into something more suited or their purposes. It caused the spell to move them without the common snap that followed and also removed the flash of magic. For those who were watching the area where they came in they did so without any warning.

As the proceeded down the line, Hex smiled behind his mirrored helmet. His men had modified their armor to match the matte black of himself and Durge, giving them an inky black/blue color that reflected no light. Along with changing the zerg skulls to a dull shade of grey, it would make any of them extremely difficult if not impossible to see in pitch black night.

Behind the three rows, with Durge and Hex leading the two outer lines and Shiny in the middle there were two standard carriers in the back of the formation. One carried the emblem of Equestria with its mixed colors of both sisters, the other carried a blown up portrait of the Hydralisk skull Shiny had drawn wreathed in flames with their motto written in curving cursive beneath the picture.

When they reached the dias, each man slid a combat knife from identical sheaths with Hex and Durge raising their left arms across their chests. The heavy hiss and thunk of their punch daggers locking in place completed the salute.

"Till last man standing, till last breath taken, by our blood, by our lives, till death do we part, we will serve."

They all spoke the words softly, their voices easily carrying over those watching in silence, and with a nod from Celestia the men sheathed their weapons. Hex turned to look at his men, and with a single nod they vanished from sight, most appearing near the various food tables set up for the guests while a few mingled about and a few even visiting friends and relatives. The standard bearers set their colors beside the princesses dias, and with one final bow from the three of them they also departed.

The Gala was buzzing with noise once more, ponies jabbering away at how it was supposed to be only the leaders of Death's Knell Company attending and not the entire unit. Others still were making straight lines towards some of his men and slowing down significantly when they got close. For the most part the boys simply flirted with the pretty mares and were eating the free high end food. None of them took wine, all of them refused alcohol that was offered.

It wasn't likely that they were needed in any sense, but for the time being they were barred from booze until the Gala after party later on in the evening. More guests were still milling down the carpets, but the ponies and other creatures gathered were far more interested in the unicorns wearing black armor, and especially the skulls mounted on their shoulders.

The three leaders had barely gotten away from dias before a small group of gryphons landed in front of them. A particularly large one held out a clawed hand to shake, which Hex took up with a smile as his helmet's visor slid open. What surprised him though was the simple fact that this gryphon was female.

"A fine entrance for a death squad if I do say so myself. I was worried that your company would look like the same pansy ass guards all over Equestria. I wasn't expecting them to have scars and wearing skulls. You look good by the way Shining. You don't look like a mare anymore with your mane cut down and that sexy scar down your face."

Hex's admiration and affection towards gryphons significantly increased at that moment before he replied.

"I told you the ladies would like the scar Shiny."

"No one asked you Hex... And thank you Surra, as always it's a pleasure to see you again."

"Likewise. I like that pet name little Shiny... Maybe if Cadence doesn't still have a tree up her ass she'll let me borrow you. Even if you do look manlier you're still one pretty stallion."

"I really like Gryphon birds. The only thing that would makem better is if they actually brought meat."

"I'm glad you like us Durge, and we did bring meat if you'd like to join us."

Both Durge and Hex agreed simultaneously much to Shiny's dismay. The princesses had finished greeting the royal guests, and both were making their way towards them as their group stopped to wait. As Celestia drew closer a mare crossed between the princesses and the groups wrapped in silks, catching Hex's eyes for just a moment.

She had a dark brown coat with long jet black hair, and she was smiling at him in a strangely familiar way before the royal sisters were close enough to talk politely. Things seemed to break down and slow to a crawl as the machine kicked in, and just beside Celestia there was a glimmer of something in midair. It was like an object moving and vanishing but before Hex could even speak the cutter was roaring into life and tearing through the area the aberration had appeared in.

Sparks flew as metal met metal, and a single step forward brought Hex close enough to impale the now visible man standing in front of him. The other mans rifle came to a rest as his cutter came dangerously close to ripping the other mans throat out.

"Where in the nine hells do I get a sword like that?!"

If he didn't currently have a rifle pressed against his head Hex might have answered, but from his right side out of the corner of his eyes another small group approached. He wasn't going anywhere, and neither was the man across from him, but he did hear Celestia's gratingly angry voice."

"Salamack. What is the meaning of this?!"

"Princess Celestia, it's good too see you out and about. As much as I'd like to ruffle your feathers, it was my son in laws idea. Said he had to greet family in the right kind of way."

A cold was settling over Hex, it was something so deep that it made the cutter quiver in his grip and still spinning dangerously close to the mans neck it nicked him slightly, causing blood to seep down his chest. The rifle was lifted from his head, and a deep chuckle issued as the man spoke through the heavy metallic filters used by terran ghosts.

"Its been a very long time Hex. Mother's doing well, but she misses you something fierce. Still believed you were alive even when I gave up on the thought. Imagine my surprise when I read a letter with your name on it."

The man stowed his rifle and took off his helmet, Hex slowly pulling the cutter away and stowing it once more to see a face he hadn't thought was still in this world. They looked enough alike to tell they were related, but his brother's face still held the boyish look of youth, and had a sharper nose than Hex.

"How are you a ghost with mom still alive?"

"There's more ways than one to skin a cat Hex, same for ghosts it seems. The same who harbored us had ghosts of their own, and they taught me everything I needed to know in order to survive if anyone ever came knocking. Turns out they don't appreciate being taken in the dark and used as lab rats."

Turning towards Celestia he held out a hand and smiled disarmingly.

"I do apologize for the scare Princess Celestia. I had to figure out a few things before coming into the open. My name is Markeith Murdoc, Hex's younger brother."

As awkward as the handshake between Celestia and Mark was, Hex was having a damn hard time coping. The chances of his family hiding on their home world was miniscule, escaping after the zerg invaded even smaller. The fact that he was even alive after the zerg came was enough to stamp him dead by anyone's standard, but here he was today. Standing in front of him in a world that he nearly died in to prove true.

Two taps against his chest snapped him out of his withdraw, and the same mare that had passed in front of him moments before was staring up at him intently with her hooves resting against his chest, standing on her hind legs to get a better look at his face.

"He's not as handsome as you... But he has a nice rugged look to make up for it. I can see why Lumia is interested."

Pushing off of him lightly the mare trotted over towards Mark and nuzzled her cheek against his stomach and his hand came down to caress her other cheek and down her neck. The pony Salamack broke the silence and shattered what was left of Hex's quivering sanity.

"Now that everyone has been introduced to my wayward son in law I can give the good news. Markeith and my Daughter are to be wed within the next moon, and invitations will be given all around."

The sound of mechanical servos whining in protest issued from Hex's gauntlets, casing everyone to look at him nervously. Durge stepped up beside him and applied a Stimpac to his right arm which raised eyebrows all around when the long exposed needle was visible after being removed from Hex. Luna looked at the thing with fear and back at Durge before speaking.

"You did that before Durge, when you first talked to Hex. What in the hay is that thing?!"

"Stimpacs Luna. Its a drug used by Terran infantry to help soldiers focus, stave off panic, and keep them from going insane."

"Why did you shove it into Hex's arm then? He hasn't said anything."

As the drug washed over his mind in a cold soothing way Hex's right fist snapped out and caught his brother full in the chest, sending him tumbling back and choking for breath. If he didn't have armor on he was sure it would have killed him, but he was equally sure that while it might not have been enough to break anything it would hurt. A lot. And hopefully bruised the ribs and made it hard to breath for a long time.

"I am overwhelmed."

Those three words prompted Durge to pat him on the back.

"It's ok buddy. Just let out and everything will be alright.

Salamack only chuckled an ushered the bewildered ponies and gryphons to follow, leaving poor Celestia and Luna to deal with the mess of ponies gathered around wondering what was going on. For the first time he noticed that his entire unit was surrounding them, but with a simple nod and an order they dispersed once more.

"Ah family. These two remind me of my own brothers in Saddle Arabia. Always fighting and bickering but we love each other."

"At.... Least.... Hex.. isn't angry..... He might have killed me.... if I stole his candy."

"I will end you brother if you continue that line of thought."

The odd stallion only laughed as he led them along, and finally into a gigantic tent that took up a huge part of an adjacent courtyard.