Chapter Seventeen

****Changeling Empire, Badlands****
Eight Weeks Later, Afternoon

‘Why in the hell did Cocoon think this was a good idea?’ Chase thought to himself as he looked at the sleeping changeling princess on the couch in front of him. She was now, since Leon thought it was a good idea too, part of Fireteam Ghost. The moment she had finished her three-thousand hours of community service she was put under the Spartans’ command.

That was a week ago and she hasn’t been out of the cave, or off that couch since. Chase stole a glance at the television behind him. It was happy day when he discovered that the deers had invented satellite television, but now it just made it easy for Chrysalis to never get bored and leave the room.

He had been fine with it the first few days as she had just gotten done with three hundred and twenty days straight of working with people that moderately hate her. One hundred and ten of which where she worked twelve hours instead of the normal eight. Today, that was going to change.

Turning off the crappy soap channel, Chase put one armored boot under the couch and smiled, “Chryssy, this is your wake up call. Please move your sorry ass.” he was answered with more snoring making him smile.

The next second the couch was flipped over onto it’s back and a disgruntled changeling was rolled onto the hard, stone floor. Over the course of the next few seconds a lot of cursing and laughing, from the changeling and Spartan respectively, filled the quiet cave. Once they both quieted down, and Chrysalis was only shooting Chase glares, the Spartan followed the changeling into the kitchen.

“Well today is going to be your first day on the job. How's it feel?” Chase asked with an overly happy tone to agitate her.

“Fantastic... we got any cereal?” Chrysalis lazily looked into the wooden cabinets affixed to the stone walls.

“You know it’s the middle of the afternoon right?” the Spartan asked as the changeling found her prize and got a bowl and spoon out of a different cabinet.

“Your point?” Chrysalis asked, opening the fridge.

“Touché, but after you’re done eating, I’m going to show you how to use the radio in the Warthog. You’ll be sitting in it on standby in case one of the teams needs to get a hold of us.” the Spartan smiled as Chrysalis grunted in acknowledgment before eating a spoonful of cereal.

“And just what will you be doing?” she asked.

“First, I’ll check on a project me and Leon have been working on. After that I’m going to see if I can’t find a spare radio in all our equipment so you won’t have to stay in the Warthog.”

“You can’t do that first?” Chrysalis asked before she levitated another spoonful of cereal into her mouth.

“I gotta get you out of this house somehow. Even if the Warthog is right out front and you could probably just turn the TV and watch it through the window.” Chase said suggestively before turning to the cabinets.

Chrysalis raised an eyebrow, but didn’t say anything as Chase continued, “Before all that though, I’m going to start putting up more strict screening rules for potential jobs. Had to talk to a crazy guy yesterday.” Chase shook his head and pulled a red bag out of the cabinet closest to him, “Guy said he needed our help to save a kingdom or something from his evil twin. Not how he said it, but it’s the gist.”

Chase opened the bag of chips and realized Chrysalis probably didn’t care before she asked, “You didn’t accept a job because you thought he was insane?”

“Hey now-” Chase said pointing one of the triangle chips at her, “-having a voice in your head is different from claiming to have an evil twin.” he shook his head and tried to eat the chip only to remember he had his helmet on.

The changeling princess laughed and continued to eat her cereal while Chase continued, “Besides my insanity has saved my ass a few times. This guy claimed that his took out a city... or banished it, something like that, I really stopped paying attention some time before that.”

“So his insane half took out a city while your insane half would probably do the same... yes I really see the differences.” Chrysalis took another bite.

“Hey, I still trust myself when I start to lose it. Leon does too since he kept me on the mission roster.” Chase said as he placed the bag down, “Besides it’s my insane half that keeps me sane.”

“That’s an oxymoron.” she stated before taking another bite.

“What’d you call me?”

With a roll of her eyes, Chrysalis swallowed the cereal before bringing her hoof to her chin, “That actually sounds a little familiar. Maybe I should ask mother about it.”

“Nope you’re not getting out of finally working. Besides, today is the easy day. All you gotta do is sit in the warthog and listen for either team to call in an emergency.” Chase said setting his helmet on the granite countertop, “And this is serious. Alfred and Ethan had reported that a few ponies in the nobility had hooves in really shady businesses and Leon got sick a while back in the jungle.” Chase popped a chip into his mouth, “He’s fine now, but Moony has noted he’s acting weirdly.”

“Why haven’t they come back yet then? Sounds like a good excuse to call sixty-six on Leon.” Chrysalis asked as she started to get the last few bites out of her cereal.

“Hey, we don’t call a code sixty-six unless they are actively going against the betterment of the team... That and they’re almost done mapping out a safe route through the forest. We will make a fortune on selling that thing alone to any nation that wants to colonize the lands down there.” Chase ate a few more chips as Chrysalis drank the milk out of her cereal bowl.

“Do you only care about money?” Chrysalis asked.

“Well, I’ve already spent all the shares I’ve gotten from our past missions-”

“What!?”

“-so I guess you could say I need the money for my own personal project.” Chase said as he opened the fridge and grabbed a bottle of water.

Chrysalis stared at him in shock, “You’ve spent all of the bits that Leon gave you? All of them on one project?... You really are as big an idiot as Alfred says.”

“Yeah yeah yeah, the project is my retirement plan. Now, since you’re done let’s go.” he attached his helmet to his hip and grabbed the chips and water.

Chrysalis put her bowl and spoon into the sink and walked after the Spartan. As the two walked out of the house, Chase’s helmet began to beep, “Take these and go wait near the Warthog.” he said holding out the chips.

With a low sigh of annoyance, Chrysalis did as she was told. The Spartan watched her go before putting the helmet on his head, “Ghost Three here, go ahead.”

“Chase.” Cocoon’s voice came through the radio, “The project that you and Leon asked for is finished.”

“Seriously?” Chase asked a little taken back before a smile spread across his face, “I’ll be by in a little bit to check everything out and pick it up.”

“That is not the main reason I called you though Spartan.”

‘Oh shit, that doesn't sound good.’ “What else did you need to talk about?” Chase asked keeping his voice straight.

“I feel it would be better if we spoke in person. Can you meet me in the castle throne room as soon as you can?”

Chase was quiet for a few seconds as he glanced over at Chrysalis, “Yeah, I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

“Then I shall see you soon.” the line went dead as the Queen shut off the headset she had.

“Well shit.” Chase said as he took off the helmet and walked back to the warthog, “Chryssy, we’re going to have to do the short version cause, I might not be back for a while.”

“Mom find out what you and Pinkie were doing?” Chrysalis ate another chip while sitting in the passenger seat of the warthog.

“I don’t-wait, how do you know about that?” Chase asked as he grabbed the bag from the changeling.

“What else was I supposed to do after I finished work for the day? Mom wouldn’t let me have a TV in my room.” she used her magic to grab another chip out of the bag to the Spartan’s dismay.

“So you stalked me?” Chase rolled up the top of the bag and held it between his arm and his armor.

“Not just you, but I started to more after I saw you and Ethan-”

“Hey hey hey! No one is supposed to know that. Besides there were some special circumstances that made it obvious we had to.” Chase argued as he took off his helmet and attached it to his hip.

“That why Leon doesn’t know?” Chrysalis asked with a smirk on her face.

“Alright since I see where this is going, you don’t tell anyone about that and I won’t tell anyone about the liquor you stole during the party that pinkie through for the hive.”

“You wouldn’t dare.” Chrysalis stated as she narrowed her eyes at the Spartan.

“Cute, but I would dare, and I’ll show your mom where you have it hidden.” Chase said with a smile.

The resulting staring contest was won after a few seconds by Chase as Chrysalis looked away, “Fine, I’ll keep it a secret. You got to tell me what the circumstances were though.”

“Later, right now...” Chase said as he hopped into the driver seat of the warthog, “I’ve got to move this so you can see the TV.”

As the warthog started up Chrysalis looked at the vehicle suspiciously while levitating the chips that Chase had set down in the back of the warthog, “I could just move it with magic.”

“No, you couldn’t. Hank, Moony, and me all worked on getting this thing as magic proof as possible. Took a few of your mother’s magi to actually cast the spells, but even if you could pick it up I wouldn’t let you.” Chase said as he backed up the warthog and then pulled the jeep up next to the window.

"What about Josh? If Nightmare was there then wouldn't he of been there to help?" Chrysalis asked before she shoved a few chips in her mouth.

Chase put the warthog in park and looked to the changeling still eating his chips, "Josh isn't allowed to drive this Warthog, or any vehicle, ever. I only allow him near it when it is absolutely necessary."

Chrysalis munched happily on her chips as she asked, "Why? What did he do?"

The Spartan said nothing as he gripped the wheel of the warthog tightly earning a concerned look from it's changeling passenger. Leaning forward a little bit, Chrysalis was able to see Chase breathing deeply through his nose and appeared to be, almost, grinding his teeth. The bag of chips was then neatly folded to keep the freshness and put back into the warthog's troop carrier section.

“I’ll have a cramp in my neck if I watch TV like this.” Chrysalis stated with slight annoyance, deciding that a tactical change of topic was needed, “Why can’t I just watch TV on the little screens on in here?”

“Those are to show that all the systems in this thing are going smoothly.” Chase said, gesturing to the middle screen, his previous mood seemed to of disappear entirely, “I have the three of them linked up to show whatever the locked on Spartan’s HUD shows. The two on the sides shows the same picture in night vision and thermal respectively.” Chase stated pointing to the screens which now just showed the UNSC emblem slowly rotating.

“What about this one?” Chrysalis asked looking up to the screen where a rearview mirror would be.

“That’s the motion tracker.” Chase said as he looked at the small screen.

“So there’s no way of watching TV? This Warthog of yours sucks.”

‘Oh I am going to make your life hell when we're training tomorrow.’ Chase thought with a smile before addressing the changeling’s concerns, “Get over it.”

Chrysalis growled, “Just tell me what I’m supposed to do.”

Chase looked at the console and the nine buttons that adorned it from ‘A’ to ‘I’, “Alright, now if either team were to call in an emergency all you have to do is press this button and it will open a comm channel to me and you can tell me to get what’s going on.” Chase pointed to a button labeled with the letter ‘C’.

“Is that really what that’s for?” Chrysalis wondered out loud.

The Spartan shook his head, “No, but I rewired it to do that.” Chase smiled at his own handy work, “Now the moment you press that button press this one.” Chase pointed to the button labeled ‘G’, “It will put you on an open channel with whatever team called in the emergency. Try and get them to talk and remember everything that they say.”

“What if you can’t make it?” Chrysalis asked as she was using her magic to turn the tv and the entertainment center towards the window.

“Then press this button.” Chase said gesturing towards the 'H' button, “It will open a channel to Queen Cocoon’s headset. Tell her what’s happening and she should act accordingly, Leon’s filled her in on most of our contingencies and codes.”

The Changeling nodded as she lifted a bunch of pillows off of the overturned couch and towards the warthog, “And if she-”

“Then you press the last button.” Chase said cutting her off. He pointed to the ‘I’ button, “Once you hit that button a warning will pop up on the middle screen. If you select to send the signal it will alert all the Spartans that there is an emergency and it will send out the Warthog’s position. You are to only press that if you can’t get a hold of anyone on your headset.”

“I have a headset?” Chrysalis asked as she turned to look at the Spartan.

“I got to find the parts and make it still, we just talked about this in the kitchen.” Chase stated, looking at the changeling with confusion.

“I’m still waking up, so I tend to drown out a few things if someling is talking.”

Shaking his head Chase continued, “It’s easy to use and you can switch between the Spartan you’re talking to with a button on the side. Like I said easy, I’ll teach you when I get back and put one together.” Chase said as he pressed a few things next to the steering wheel. The engine died, but all the screens and systems stayed on.

“When will you be telling me about those special circumstances? The reasons you and Ethan are training that insufferable pink mare?” the changeling asked as she rearranged the pillows to try and get comfortable.

“Later, business first.” Chase stated as he got out of the warthog, “Just make sure not to hit the buttons on accident... and you can eat some chips, but don’t eat all of them.”

“Just go already, it’ll be fine.” she stated with a casual wave of her hoof.

As chase walked out of the cave he turned back to see Chrysalis levitating a remote and looking at the tv with a bored expression, ‘...She'll be fine. What's the worst that-' Chase froze and shook his head, “Glad I caught that before I thought it.” he continued towards the tunnel to the main chamber of the Hive.

****

Chase looked around at the surrounding paintings as he walked through the halls of the Changeling castle. Most depicted fighting between Changelings and Minotaurs, a few with other races, even a few that didn’t have fighting at all. Just like all the other corridors in the castle, there was always at least one painting that showed Changelings fighting some enemy. They truly were a race of survivors.

‘Just like humanity.' Chase though as he came to the door to the throne room, ‘Why couldn't Leon stay here and deal with this political shit. Lucky bastard, getting to go to the edge of the known world'

The Spartan opened the door and saw Queen Cocoon levitating a glass of water down to her side, “Ah Chase, it is good that you were able to make it so quick.”

“Alright, I would like to state that the prank in the guard barracks was not me.” Chase said as he stopped halfway to the throne.

Cocoon smiled, “I’ll make a note of that, but this is about a more serious matter.” the smile dropped, “We’ve lost contact with a mining operation in the San Palomino Desert. It’s two days travel to the west on hoof, passed the pony town of Appleloosa.”

A folder was levitated in front of the Spartan, “This is the exact location and a copy of all the information on the mine. I wanted you to look over it and go see why they’ve gone quiet.”

“It says that the mine is connected to the Deep Caverns?” Chase asked as he looked through the file, “That why you want me to look into it?”

“No, I’ve lost contact with the changelings I sent to investigate why everything was quiet. I’m reluctant to just throw more of my changelings at the problem till one survives to tell me what’s going on. I was hoping you could investigate and report back to me over my comm channel.” Cocoon finished as she took a drink of her water.

“I won’t have to go through the Deep Caverns to get their, right?” the Spartan questioned as he looked up from the file.

“No, you’ll take the Western Valley exit. It should fit your Warthog.”

“Thank god, I’d rather not get lost down there.” Chase looked over the file in thought, “It’s close enough that I could still act as the go between for Leon and Ally, but if it’s a mining operation then I’d need someone else to stay with the Warthog.” flipping a page and looking at another, Chase continued, “I’ll have to put the cave security on lethal as no Spartan would be here to look after our equipment.”

“I’ll increase the security to the entrances of your cavern. Your equipment will be safe.”

“So you’re letting me take your daughter out into the field?” Chase asked looking up from the folder, “This might be nothing, but I need her to stay with the Warthog while I go under ground.” ‘It'll also make sure she doesn't set up camp on the couch again.'

Queen Cocoon let out a sigh, “I knew what I was doing when I put her on your team. My little Chryssy can take care of herself.”

“Alright then.” Chase said as he shut the folder, “I’ll take your word that the project is done and I’ll leave as soon as I inform Leon and Ally what’s going on.”

“Thank you for this Chase.”

“If that’s all you needed then I’ll take my leave.” Chase said, giving a mock salute.

“Good luck Spartan.” Cocoon said as Chase took his leave through the doors.

“Yeah yeah, I’ll see ya when I get back.” Chase called back as the doors shut. He looked over the papers again before shutting them and continuing down the hallway.

Soon Chase opened up a comm channel to Leon, “Ghost Three to Ghost One, can you hear me.”

There was a moment of silence before Leon’s voice came in over the radio, “Ghost One receiving, go ahead Ghost Three.”

“I was just made aware of reports of an entire changeling mining operation going missing in a nearby location. Me and Ghost Eight are going to investigate. Standard protocols apply.” Chase stated as he walked to the castle exit looking over the file.

“Roger that Ghost Three. When’s your check in time?”

“Six. I’ll be on the move soon enough. Headquarters will be on code orange lockdown.”

“Roger that Ghost Three. Confirm with Ghost Two and you have green light to go. Ghost One out.”

The line went dead and Chase had to stop in confusion, “Yeah by to you too.” Chase shook his head as he continued back towards the cave, ‘He must be in a rush, I didn't even get to ask how things were going down south... and he didn't ask anything about the mission...' Chase thought to himself as he walked across the drawbridge to the castle.

Quite a few changelings waved as he went by. He, of course, waved back and turned down a few who wanted to start a conversation, he had work to do, ‘I’ll worry about Leon when I get back.' Chase decided as he moved to the cavern and opened Alfred's comm channel.

****Canterlot Castle, Equestria****

Alfred looked over the chess table in front of him and with a happy smile on his face. Across from him was a large batpony with the Lunar guard armor on his chest and an aggravated look on his face. With an unsure hoof, the grey pony grabbed a knight on the board only to glance at Alfred’s smiling face and move his hoof away again.

The two of them were concealed in the shadows of a secret room near Princess Luna’s bedchambers. Even through the walls, Alfred was able to monitor the Princesses vital signs and confirm that she was sleeping. It was a little secret that, once they had gotten enough base data, the Spartans were able to keep track of both the Princesses’ vitals from up to twenty-five meters away. It will be kept a secret as well to keep any embarrassing talks from being had about a few... incidents.

As it was most evenings though, Alfred and Captain Echo sat in a small, secret room, no bigger than a closet, as close to the Princesses’ bedchamber as they could without the guards seeing, “Why did I agree to play this with you again?” Echo asked as he looked over the board at all the pieces Alfred had and the few he had left.

“Because Spear said he has a better chance taking on Ethan in checkers than chess when Celestia is asleep.” Alfred said as he waited for Echo to make a move.

“I really wish we had something else to play.” Echo said sadly as he moved a bishop across the board.

“Yes, beating you at chess lost it’s splendor after the third time tonight.” Alfred said as he looked over the board.

“This is our third time and you-”

“Checkmate.” Alfred interrupted as he took one of Echo’s rooks with his knight. The Lunar Guard Captain looked over the board in shock before letting out a groan of aggravation. This was scene was interrupted however as Alfred’s helmet comm came to life.

“Ghost Three to Ghost Two, can you read me?”

Alfred held up a finger to Echo signalling for the guard to be quiet, “Ghost Two receiving, go a head Ghost Three.”

“Ghost Eight and I are going to be checking out a mine that’s gone dark. We will still be able to act as a go between, headquarters will be on code orange lockdown, and our check in time will be six. Did you get all that Ghost Two?”

“Affirmative Ghost Three. Can you send a data packet?” Alfred asked as he noted that Echo was tensed up and ready to fight.

“Secure data packet comin at ya.” Chase said as Alfred got a small notification in the corner of his vision, “Please confirm you got the packet.”

“Confirmed. Anything else Ghost Three?”

The line was silent for a few seconds before Chase’s voice came back, “I say this with caution, but... Ghost One might be code sixty-six.”

Alfred seemed taken back by this, “Ghost Three, please confirm. Did you say that Ghost One might be code sixty-six.”

“Yes, or affirmative. Ghost’s Four, Five, and Seven have noted weird behavior from him since he recovered from being sick a few weeks ago. I forgot about the data packet and he never asked for it when I spoke to him, but he did sounded like he was in a rush. Spread word to Ghost Six just to be safe.”

“Affirmative... Good luck on your mission Ghost Three.”

“Good luck to all of us. Ghost Three out.”

Alfred looked over at Echo who had his muscles still tensed and ready to fight, but showed no sign of it on his face, “What was that all about?”

“One of my team members are about to go out on another mission, he was confirming his check in time with me.” Alfred answered before looking down at the board, “If you can find us another game please do, I’ve got to update Ethan on what’s going on.”

Echo nodded and began to put the chess pieces back into the box as Alfred opened up a comm channel to Ethan, “Ethan, can you hear me?”

****

The office of Princess Celestia was not one that most would think of, it wasn’t basic and plain either. She had a sturdy grand ornate desk, a comfortable swivel chair with wheels on the bottom, a proud looking pegasus guard standing in constant vigilance at the left side of her desk, and an armored bipedal alien sat in a chair to the right. Though the last one is more than just decoration.

Celestia had the curtains to the windows behind her closed and in front of her was a nice respectable lunch. A large rose petal and lilly sandwich with a little bit of cheese for added flavor. To her left her solar guard hadn’t ordered anything, despite her assurances that it was fine to do so. On the right side of her was a helmetless Ethan, eating a large salad.

It had taken eight weeks to get the Spartan to trust her and today she was hoping to get more about his past, “So Ethan, yesterday you showed me with that chip thing what happened in the Gryphon Kingdom. Do you have any videos of before that? Ones you’re aloud to show me?”

“Yes, preferences?” he stated as he grabbed his helmet.

Before Celestia could answer though a voice came in through the helmet, “Ethan, can you hear me?”

The Spartan was quick to pick up his helmet and put it on his head. The resulting conversation was lost on Celestia though as the Spartan muted the conversation. As the two Spartans continued in there silent conversation Celestia relented and continued to eat he sandwich.

“Princess Celestia, permission to speak?” Lieutenant Spear asked, not moving a muscle or breaking his thousand yard stare to look at her.

“Granted, if you relax for just a few seconds that is.” she stated with a smile as she sipped her tea. No whisky today since she hadn’t had to go to any meetings and the court cases are starting to slow down.

“It’s been eight weeks your highness, have you given any thought to who your new guards will be?”

“I have thought about it and I’ve made my decisions. The offer still stands if you want to come back.” Celestia said, already knowing his answer.

“No thank you Ma’am, my wife is going crazy as is with me back for this little bit.” he stated as a smile broke across his face.

Celestia chuckled as she took another small bite of her sandwich. A few seconds later Ethan beside her took off his helmet once more and resumed eating. Celestia took note that the usually neutral and analyzing look on his face was now more forced, “Is something wrong Ethan?”

Ethan was quiet as he swallowed his food, “Nothing pertaining to you or your sister’s safety.”

‘Something bad must of happened.' “If something is wrong feel free to say it and I’ll help if I can.”

Ethan was quiet for a moment before he grabbed his helmet again, “One moment.”

Celestia waited as the Spartan seemed to be asking permission from Alfred or maybe consulting him on the subject. Celestia noticed the small look that Ethan got from Spear before the stallion continued his thousand yard stare. Another bite of her sandwich disappeared before Ethan removed his helmet once more.

“I’ve been told to wait for dinner and Alfred will explain.” Ethan said before returning to his salad.

“What will Alfred be explaining to my sister and I?”

“He’ll tell you what the code sixty-six contingency is.” Ethan said before he finished his food. The plate was put back on the service trolley that had been left in the room.

‘This just had to happen two days before the meeting with the Duke and Duchess of Maretonia in the Crystal Empire.' Celesia thought as she drank the last of her tea, ‘I knew I should've spiked this. I'll not make that mistake twice'

****Changeling Empire, Badlands****

Chrysalis sat on the edge of the warthog’s passenger seat as she watched the TV. On the television screen were two identical looking stallions who were talking to each other and seemed to be about to fight. She levitated another chip out of the bag in her hooves and watched on in complete concentration as the two yelled at each other and the situation began to escalate quickly.

That is, till the TV was suddenly turned off, “Hey!” she turned to see Chase holding the remote, “What’s the big idea!? Those two were long lost twin brothers and they just found out they were dating the same gryphon!” she was absolutely pissed.

Chase held up a ‘U’ shaped device that had a microphone coming off the left side, “Made you a headset.” he hopped in the warthog and started the engine, “Now I’ll have to tell you how to use it on the way there, but it shouldn’t be that hard.”

Chrysalis was now looking at the Spartan with her full attention, “Way there? Are we going somewhere?”

“Yes actually. Your mother wants us to go check out a mine in the San Palomino Dessert. Apparently the entire operation has gone dark and the first team she sent to investigate hasn’t reported back.” Chase said as he started tossing pillows through the open window of the stone house.

Chrysalis looked at the Spartan as if he was insane, “I don’t have any combat magic training. I guess I’ll have to stay here and hold down the fort.” she stated as she started to get out of the warthog.

“Oh no you don’t.” Chase grabbed her by the shoulder and sat her back down into the seat, “I have just the weapon for you in the back. No one else is using one, so the ammo will be yours to use and I used to use it so I can tell show you how.”

Now Chrysalis was torn. On one hoof she really wanted to stay and find out if one of the brothers kills the other on TV or if the gryphon comes out says she's actually in love with their evil bastard of a father. On the other hoof though, she would finally get out of the Hive and get to learn how to use and alien weapon. She gave it a few moments of thought before she relented, “Fine, I’ll come with you on your mission.”

“Ah, it’s cute you thought you had a choice.” Chase reached over Chrysalis, grabbed her seat belt and secured it, “Really though, you need to get out more. If I didn’t have air filters in this thing I know I would be complaining about your need for a shower.”

As Chase slowly pulled the warthog away from the house and lined it up with the smooth slope of the pelican tunnel Chrysalis began to get a worried look in her eyes, “Then maybe I shou-”

“Too late!” Chase shouted as he put the gas pedal to the floor board. The warthog took off towards the slope in front of them, leaving skid marks on the floor as Chrysalis screamed in terror. The vehicle easily climbed the slope easily and Chase never let off the gas petal.

The warthog’s engine was roaring with power as they ascended up the large, sloped tunnel. Chrysalis had her eyes shut as she pushed both of her hooves against the dashboard. With her teeth almost chattering out of her head, Chrysalis opened one of her eyes to see a solid wall far ahead of them in the tunnel.

“We’re about to hit a wall!” she screamed in obvious terror.

“I know!” Chase then began to laugh as Chrysalis tried to move from her restraints.

Before the changeling princess could think about what her last thoughts would be, she watched in horror as the warthog... passed through the wall. So dumbstruck by the fact she wasn’t dead, Chrysalis almost didn't notice they were in the air in time to scream... almost.

Seconds after the scream left her mouth the warthog connected with the ground and took off into the Badlands. Looking around then back at the solid wall that was left behind them, Chrysalis opened and closed her mouth trying to think of a question. She didn’t have to though as Chase already thought to answer.

“Did you really think we would just leave a huge hole in the wall to practically scream ‘secret base over here’? It was just a hologram that Ethan set up using some spare pieces of equipment we had.” Chase stated as he used his helmet to remotely activate the cave's Code Orange defense system.

As she listened to him, Chrysalis boiled with anger, “You did that to scare me!”

“Thank you Captain Obvious, would you like to use your powers of hindsight to tell me which part was funnier? When I got the video of you screaming in terror in the cave, or the video of you screaming with landscape open behind you?” Chase laughed as he slowly turned the warthog.

With a frown still present on her face, the changeling couldn’t help but take a deep breath of the air that was around her. Chase noticed this and spoke up, “The air of freedom. That must feel like paradise with how long you’ve been cooped up in the caves. Given a few more months and a lot more Changelings will be able to know exactly how you feel.”

The smallest of smiles graced Chrysalis’ muzzle as she thought of her people finally being allowed to go out into the world and experience the same sensation she was feeling. Feel the freedom that came with watching the sun set. They’d be able to fly with the winds far above the land-

“Now, do you want to see how to do a donut in one of these things?” Chase asked, making her small smile disappear entirely.

“No! I don’t know what that is, but I’d rather not find out.” Chrysalis stated as she looked out across the barren landscape.

“What’s got you all riled up? The road trips just getting started.” Chase said with his usual happy tone, “We’ll have to go sightseeing on the way back and not the way there of course, but I still call this a road trip.”

“... Can we at least rob something on the way back?” Chrysalis asked with a sour tone.

“Now Chryssy that's not how we do things.” the changeling gave a sigh of disappointment, “Unless, of course, you can use your magic to make me look like a gryphon. I could totally see us robbing someplace like that.” Chase finished.

“As long as we do something to make this trip memorable, I don’t care.” she said before resigning to looking out across the expanse of the land.

Author's Note

What? What's this? Another chapter so soon? Yes, yes it is. I never thought I would reach this day, but I have ran out of stuff to read on this site. Well, stuff that's updated within the past two to three months and has a word count over 85000.

Anyways, guys, please comment. I don't care if it's as little as saying if the chapter was good or not or quoting your favorite line. Seriously, I was randomly inspired to do this on a whim and if I get at least fifteen comments from fifteen different people, I'll work on the next chapter as hard as I worked on this one. Meaning it should be out with in five to fifteen days after we hit that mark.

Also, just to sate my curiosity, is there a 'sweet time' to post a new chapter? I've just always been curious if there was that special time of day that gave you more of a shot to hit the bottom three slots on the featured list when you update. Just food for thought though, on to the:

Community question: Are you a World of Warcraft player?

My answer: Yes, I am a WoW player and I'm not ashamed to admit my favorite class is the Blood DK (Death Knight). I am ashamed though that I do more Battlegrounds than raiding.