Chapters Trade Mistakes, Forgiveness for Love.
Trade Mistakes, Forgiveness for Love
by Alonelypegasus
In the deep dark depths of the Ever-free forest, in a large underground cavern only a few could ever find, lay the remnants of a race, a dying race, led by a queen who now lays in grief, not long ago, she had a hive, a successful and thriving hive, far away in the seclusion of the badlands of Equis.
Since the beginning of her rule, the Queen had kept her changeling's safe, fed...and alive, she birthed the vast majority of her swarm, with some others from lingering or long lost other hives, yet she treated them all as her own, everything was well.
Until, as of late their main source of sustenance had become harder and harder to collect. with each passing day.
With the large size of the hive it was great struggle to spread everything out equally to everypony, Chrysalis did everything in her power to make sure her swarm stayed strong and away from the brink of death without going into the extremes, eventually the swarm began to lose hope. and it in turn reflected on her.
Some eventually died, the unlucky few that simply couldn't fight the hunger any longer, although they never gave up on the Queen even after their last dying breath, but it couldn't stop her from almost losing herself. the thoughts of being the last of her race.
Eventually she did the unthinkable, she wanted her race to live on as any other would do, they would not simply die from some famine! to succumb to simple hunger! no! so she made many plans, many plans that sadly would never work, that is until she heard a rumour, a Royal Canterlot wedding kind of rumour, she gained any and all knowledge she could of the event to come, and if this new 'plan' she conjured up turned out to be successful, then her swarm, her hive....her family. would continue to live on as a no longer endangered species.
There was just few problem's although. one being that the changeling race was never a well known one for being the friendliest in the past, and if this all went sour, things would be colossal for not just her.
/-\
She almost had it, she almost had it, she almost had all the love she could have ever gained in her lifetime for her hive to live of off for the next few decades. yet. it had all gone wrong.
Her infiltration was a success, she had expertly managed to take her place as the Princess Mi amore Cadenza, fiancée to the great Captain of the royal Celestial guard, Shining Armour, from a simple spell she knew all of their relationship from inside the princesses mind to take on her role as she locked her away in the crystal mines under the capital city, and for many a month she played the act of a loving wife to be.
Smooth was the plan as its final stage grew close, that is until a certain relative of her 'fiancée' came along with her meddling friends.
Twilight Sparkle, that name will be forever burned and marked in her deepest depths of her mind. forever.
She alone sussed her out, ruined the whole thing, essentially in a way almost killed of the last of a dying species, but she have found it easy as the Queen had being playing it off as easy too.
"drunk on love" she kept saying to herself now, the captain love for his 'fiancée' was greater than what you're average pony couple that you would see. he was practically a living love storage tank. and with there being so much of it, she in turn became drunk on it, too long had so been gone unfilled with the succulent emotion, it almost tainted her mind for had she not reminded herself of the rest of the hive, yet still she had let down her guard a little.
With her intoxication of the emotion, it allowed the intellectual unicorn to see through the cracks of her façade. her friends seemed oblivious to her disguise but twilight persisted that she was not who she seemed to be.
Another obstacle in her plan was something that she had never encountered before, something not of this world that anypony had never really seen before, from what she gathered this creature was called. a 'Human'.
It stood like a Minotaur, on it's hind legs although they seemed to be a completely different shape and didn't end with a pair of hooves, it had no muzzle but instead a flatter face, it donned no fur except for what little hair it had on its body and that patch of hair atop its head. and its name from what she also heard. was Dwayne.
His story apparently lies with the princess Celestia, something to do with her doing, yet 'dwayne' and the princess had developed a relationship that grew along the line of the close friends in the many months he had been here, how he got here Chrysalis was unaware of yet she didn't really want to know, only that if he were a threat to her goal.
Surprisingly he didn't seem to be so, she only met him a couple of times in her disguised form and from the couple of times he walked around the castle at night as she left to deliver what love she could to her hive to keep them going and prepare them for the finale stage.
/-\
Pain, so much pain, all over, she couldn't move, open her eyes, not even speak. so she just lay there wherever she seemed to be, trying to remember what had happened.
She remembered. she remembered how she failed.
Her army had been successful in there task, she had been successful, partly, Celestia had been taken care of, Twilight too. until she escaped her prison with the original cadence in tow, whilst she watched her swarm overwhelm the city, she carelessly unnoticed cadence break the trance she had place upon the captain.
She broke the trance, and then the unexpected happened, there true love shone forth brighter than and star that shone previously. but its power was so strong, it blasted the Queen and her Army out of the city and far into the distance and beyond the horizon. her plan, her attempt to save her race, lies a failure.
/-\
And now here she lays, deep within an old cavern, one that was once used by long gone hive, she lay down in the previous Queens room, she never left the room for six months, the only ones that came into the room where the one or two changeling's to give her some there life giving emotion.
she spent the months locked away with her thoughts, to grief and morn the ones she lost, and to pity the few odd hundred she had left. six months with the same thoughts rattling around in her mind, but recently a new thought has come to mind.
"ask for forgiveness" this thought, this new thought. there was only one thing wrong with it.
"a Changeling has never asked for forgiveness"
Trade Mistakes, Forgiveness for Love.
Decisions and Conclusions
Trade Mistakes, Forgiveness for Love. Chapter two, Decisions
By Alonelypegasus
"Can a Changeling ask for forgiveness? and expect to receive it? but forgiveness is not the Changeling way, neither giving nor receiving it"
Queen Chrysalis asked herself this, for what she said was true, forgiveness wasn't something a Changeling would give to anypony, or receive it. there history being one of the causes of it. a creature that is known for stealing love. an emotion that is one of the most powerful, greatly treasured and one that is not always so easily given.
Chrysalis pondered this to a great extent, never had she thought about so clearly on the ways of the Changeling's race and how they've managed to stay they way they have for generations. always a race that hides in the shadows, one that takes on the form of another just to live. stealing emotions just to live. for now the hive that she tried to save had probably all died off now from the lack of love to feed of. she had failed those.
But through all this, she came up with something, something that her race hadn't done in many a year
"Maybe" she looked around the room, making sure nothing but herself was present
"Maybe...maybe it's time for a change, a new lifestyle, a new beginning for our race. my race, to wipe our history clean of our wrongs that we have committed"
And that's what she planned to do, she called outside of her room and in stepped one of her swarm, it chirped in acknowledgement, there development of their anatomy only aloud them the ability of proper speech for when they were impersonating an emotion host, but there own little language of chirps, click's, buzzes and hisses was good enough for them.
"My child, I have and important task for you, but you may not wish to take it if dare not, for I cannot guarantee that you will come in good health"
The Changeling, from what the Queen saw was a member of the remaining Changeling army, they were a slightly different breed from there worker brother and sister counterparts, yet all were considered equal in her hive.
The soldier that entered simply nodded his head, for his reason being that the Queen hadn't given up yet on them, so why would he give up on her, she looked after him, so he would repay his debt.
"Are you sure you are up to my task?" He nodded "then I have an important message to send, to somepony who may not be so willing to even receive it"
/-\ three days later, Canterlot castle /-\
Dwayne sat in the library of the castle, recently he had had some sort idea, a thought, a question. about Chrysalis, something about her bugged him to no end and it was getting on his nerves and had been for the past month.
In front of him were several books relating to anything that the library had on the Changeling race, from what he had learned they were a race that kept to the shadows. only infiltrated small villages and towns and never impersonated anypony for extended periods of time.
And that's what bugged him.
"Ugh this just isn't making any sense, they've been the same since Equestrian recorded history, and yet now they finally come out the dark and plan an all out invasion!....something just doesn't seem to be adding up? is it revenge for the hatred they've lived with argh I don't know!"
He slammed his hands onto the table and stood from his chair and walked over and burst through the double doors onto the balcony, he walked up to the railing and leant against it, the thoughts of the whole situation and the wedding clouded his confused mind.
He took a seat on the stone bench and gradually began to calm his nerves so he could think clearly. he took a deep breath and looked up towards the evening sky, the twilight picture above his head could be considered a work of art, courtesy of the princesses.
With his thoughts now clear, he went back into his memories of the wedding and some events prior.
"So Queen Chrysalis was Cadence for the few months before the wedding that we all know now. and from what i've read they don't just go out all invasion on anypony. but what they would normally do is if they have one scout already impersonating somepony, whenever nopony was looking or for example at night, they would sneak out and return to the hive with whatever love they had collected then they would return and the process repeats for about a week or two then they will move on"
He scratched his chin and started pacing around the balcony
"So if I'm right this is what the Queen did, except for a longer period than normal, so she sneaked out at night supposedly and fed her hive for the upcoming invasion. but why would she invade anyway, we could see that when she was Cadence that there 'supposed' love was massive, especially from Shining's end, that could have been enough to feed the ones we saw....unless....maybe...maybe there was more than that, maybe the few hundred Changeling's we saw were the only ones that were fit enough to go through with the plan. so this could mean that there could have been some sort of....love famine...that has to be it"
He was so into his stupor that if he kept pacing in circles he would cut though the stone floor.
"This could be why she invaded, her hive may have been bigger than we anticipated. she infiltrated, gave love to the ones that could partake in the invasion, then bring the rest back to the hive. its wasn't just a simple invasion but a aid mission albeit a crude one. but the search parties that Celestia sent out haven't spotted any sign of her since she was blasted away. so she's either dead or alive, which can also mean the remainder of her hive could have perished too....I need to talk to Celestia, Cadence and Shining...now"
He turned to the door but took one last look at the horizon, and remembered one last thing before leaving.
"I remembered she looked at me at one point, and I swore I could she the desperation in her eyes"
And with that he made a brisk walk towards the throne room.
Trade Mistakes, Forgiveness for Love.
The Messenger
Trade Mistakes, Forgiveness for Love, Chapter 3, Playing Messenger
By A lonelypegasus
The lone Changeling stood on the edge of the small cliff edge above the Canterlot castle, he looked down upon the age old structure and remembered vividly back to the wedding day, he was among one of the groups that were sweeping through the city districts after he helped secure the elements, he remembered the pain he felt as the Captain and the Bride's spell blasted them out of the city like they were pebbles.
But now here he was, above the city once again, but this time with an important message for the one pony that could simply end his life and possibly his hive's, but would she? closing his sky blue eyes he took a step back and in a green swirling flash he was in the form of a pegasi guard.
And if he remembered correctly, he could fly around using the patrol patterns he once used prior to the attack. he also should be able to get to the throne room if he acted like he was in a hurry, after all Changeling's are the best when it comes to acting and the art of disguise.
When he was sure that he wouldn't be routed out by his disguise, he flapped his wings a few times then abruptly leaped of the cliff and into the darkening sky, he wasn't about to return back to his Queen without fulfilling his task as he already spent three days taking the safest possible routes to the capital city without getting himself caught.
He flew around following the mental flight path he scarcely remembered, as he neared the main entrance he started to hype himself up to look like he was exhausted and panting like a dog in a sense. he landed and luckily the guards at the main door noticed his arrival and in their suspecting minds he was just another messenger in a hurry and opened the door's for him.
He mentally thanked the queen for this little slice of luck and carried in running down the fairly familiar halls and continued to make his way to the throne room.
/-\ meanwhile in the throne room /-\
"I'm sorry everypony that i've called you all here at this hour, but I wish to share something with you all"
"And what is this piece of information that you wish to share with us?" questioned the night princess whilst her sister yawned a tired yawn as Cadence leant sleepily against her husband.
"And why would you require us to hear this as well? we were just about to head of to bed" inquired Shining with a yawn.
"I'll gladly tell you all, but first I ask you all one question first. do you guys all trust me?"
The respected ponies all looked at each other with expressions of slight confusion, but they each nodded at each other then to the human.
"Of course we do Dwayne" answered Celestia who was desperately holding back her yawning.
"Alright then, about a week ago I had a thought, a slightly mad but possibly reasonable one, and it's concerning Queen Chrysalis"
This got there attention now, there eyes widened a little at the mention of the name, then Celestia spoke forth.
"After the wedding we sent out search parties to look for her and we all know that they came back with nothing."
"Yes I know that princess but at the moment im talking about prior to her plan failing"
Yet again they looked at each other.
"Go on" Celestia said again.
"Ok this is my theory, we know from what small knowledge we have on there race is that they feed of emotions specifically love correct?" they nodded "So we understand the reasoning for there invasion of Canterlot"
"To take over Equestria and claim all the love for themselves" Shining piped in.
"Yes she did say that, but I think there's actually more to what she had planned or what was happening, something different to what she did say on the day"
"What more could there have been?" asked Cadence.
"I'll get there in one second. but first let me ask, Shining could you remember what the guards said about how many changeling's were part of the city during the invasion?"
"Erm I think the number was around a couple hundred, maybe a little bit more than that but we were unsure?"
"Right, also i need to ask and i know this is sort of a private matter, but when the queen was posing as Cadence, did you ever see her out at nights or away for certain periods of time?"
He took a look at his wife then held a hoof to his muzzle.
"Hmm I remember seeing her once fly out at night when we were in the castle a week prior to the wedding, but i just played it of as stress, she said that flying around at night sometimes helps her calm herself"
"Now that confirms my suspicions"
Again the stared at him confused.
"So this is what im thinking and it's a bit of a long shot so trust me on this. Queen Chrysalis had a hive right. but maybe it was bigger than what we may have estimated before, Changeling's are known for only targeting small towns and villages in small infiltrations, so what if this hive, her hive was getting to big for simple small raids"
"Shining you may know the answer to this, if you had a city to feed, and supplies were low, way would be simplist way to feed everyone? small deliveries that could get cut out and they eventually die out. or one big one that could feed them all in one go?"
"The second?"
"Exactly, in my theory, her hive is that big, that small infiltrations weren't enough to sustain them. so they may have been going through a love famine or something like that. so what does the Queen do for her hive?"
The look of realisation on there faces told him.
"We know for months she posed as cadence and took whatever love she could and at night flew back to the hive and fed to ones that were able to partake in the invasion, you know the rest"
"You worked out all of this?"
"I saw her look at me at one point Luna, I saw her look at me with a pleading face that screamed of desperation, in that brief moment I saw her I could see past that tough outer shell and I could see a mother who cared so much for her children that she had no other option but turn to the extremities to save her children"
The four royals pondered everything there fellow human has said, never had they looked at the whole situation in a different light before, not like this.
"But there was no sighting of any of the remaining Changeling's or the Queen after the Wedding, i'm sorry to say that there's nothing we can really do any more on this subject"
"That may be true Celestia, but there could be two outcomes, either she died and her remains are still to be left discovered, or by a real slim chance that those who still remained are still alive"
"I can understand you're theories and concerns, and tonight i shall sleep on them and maybe we can discuss this further tomorrow, there's no denying that were all tired"
"Of course princess"
But before any of them could turn to head back to there beds the throne room doors burst open and one lone guard ran through panting and heaving like he just had just run the running of the leaves non-stop.
"Gasp...I have....gasp....a message...cough...for the princess" he barely said his sentence before promptly falling on his side with the human rushing to his side.
Trade Mistakes, Forgiveness for Love.
wow, you guys are really liking this stuff, despite the few who don't which still wont tell me why they didn't like it?
anyways onto the next chapters.
Trade Mistakes, Forgiveness for Love, Chapter 4, The Message
As the 'guard' fell to the floor, the human instantly sprinted and knelt to his side and propped him up in his arms.
"Someone get him some water!" he shouted as he held the collapsed guard whilst a nearby maid fetched him a drink.
"Hey man it's alright, just take a breather and rest a minute, are you hurt at all? are you in any pain" the 'guard' gave a simple sideways nod signalling he's fine.
"You always seem to surprise me Dwayne, you care for others like they were you're close friends, even the guards" voiced the sun goddess.
"Come on Celestia, I'm surprised you seem to know me at all talking like that" he chuckled as the maid came back with a glass of water, Dwayne took the glass in his hand and helped the guard to drink it. as he finished the drink a floor cushion was placed next to them for the tired pegasus to sit upon so he could give his message.
"You must have been travelling far and fast for this to be of any importance" inquired Celestia as she sat upright on her throne with the others on her sides whilst the human sat at the messengers side.
"Indeed I did princess, but now I worry that this certain message may shock you or possibly frighten you all"
Everypony's eyes widened in another fit of confusion as Dwayne got to his legs and slightly moved back.
"And pray tell us why this message would do so?" asked the night princess
"Because it is from my Queen, Queen Chrysalis" With a green flash, he dropped the disguise and he was in his Changeling form again, everyone gasped and instantaneously the two guards at the throne rushed forward with there spears, but there target was blocked by the bipolar being. there spears mere millimetres away from piercing his chest.
"Get. the hell. away. from him"
"Mister Dwayne, im going to have to ask you to please. step away" one guard spoke.
"And why should I do that"
"Because it's a Changeling sir"
"Like I didn't bloody know that already, and I don't know if you heard but 'he' said he had a message, so I don't think he came all this way here to get himself killed!"
Silence, that's all there was. just plain silence at the humans words. and in a sense he was right.
"Guards, lower you're weapons" Celestia said in her softest voice.
They gave her a questioning look before finally listening to her orders. Dwayne laid of his guard as they let down there's. he was surprised though, Shining hadn't made a move and from he could see, he saw a clear expression of understanding, probably from what he had said.
The lone changeling let out a silent sigh of relief, he then moved his muzzle into the nook of his insect like wings to pull out the scroll he had kept there. as he brought it out the human leant down on one knee and held out his hand, palm open to receive the message.
As the scroll dropped into his hand, he gave a 'thank you' and stood to his full height. he turned to the princess with the scroll in hand.
"Celestia, would you like to read it now, or would you rather wait for tomorrow?"
"I think it would be best we all headed for bed, were all clearly fatigued enough as it is"
"That's ok princess, I'll hold onto this myself, may I please if you may have a look at it as well." he asked
"I don't see no problem with you having a look my dear friend, after all, you're theories tonight have most likely been truthful, plus it could probably help you develop them more, but please just don't stay up late for the rest of us shall read it for ourselves and discuss it tomorrow"
"But what of the changeling auntie?" asked Shining
"May I suggest we keep him in a cell you're highness?" inquired a guard.
There was a small silence until Dwayne broke it.
"He can stay with me in my room" he inquired
"You cant be serious sir?" asked the guard form before.
"Of course, and sure I can have guards outside my room as a precaution, but I assure you I'll be fine, call it the first public relations with a possible new friendship between nations"
Celestia, even in her tired state, looked on at him in wonderment, how he could be so willing to stick his own self out for anypony who needed help, no matter who they were. the guards, palace maids and butlers. even the few ponies he saw on the streets of the city.
She simply nodded her head to his request, hearing this the human thanked her and took his leave with the Changeling messenger accompanied by a few guards behind him.
'He really is good person, despite what he told me about his people from before, he still is a good person...and he always will be' she thought to herself as they all began walking to the respective rooms.
/-\
After making his way through the winding corridors of the palace, Dwayne finally reached his castle suite with the Changeling and guards at his back.
"Alright gents, as much as I don't think I would be needing you tonight. I would agree that in the circumstances from previous events I will understand the implications of having you two. but you needn't worry to much tonight so you'll need barely remain aware. but if I do need you I will simply yell. goodnight gentleman" said Dwayne in his most polite way
"Goodnight sir" they both answered and took there basic positions outside his room.
The Changeling stepped inside and shut the door behind him. as he looked around the room he saw the human taking a couple of pillows of the king size bed and place them on the nearby sofa with a spare duvet from a nearby cupboard. he tilted his head at this weird motion just as the human noticed his gaze.
"What? you think I would let you sleep on the sofa? you're taking the bed tonight so don't worry, i've slept on worse things.
Still the Changeling looked at him as he prepared his temporary bed for later.
"You don't talk much do you?" the Changeling although he understood, couldn't answer back, so he simply tapped his throat with a hoof.
"You cant speak my language? or you cant talk at all?" The Changeling nodded at the quickly at the first statement.
"So you cant speak my language but yet you understand me? curious. is there anyway we can communicate with each at all?"
The Changeling lay a hoof to his chin in thought. then in small smile, he flashed his horn and in a swirl of green, he took upon the image of the guard again, albeit without the armour this time.
"Unless I'm impersonating a being then and only then could I properly speak to you, our own language to you're ears would be nothing more than simple clicks and chirps, like the insects and bugs of this world" said the Changeling as his voice started of croaky then cleared.
"I see, never said that in the books i've read. but they've been right so far about everything else at least."
"Pardon my curiosity but what are you exactly, Me and our kind haven't seen anything of the likes of you?"
"Me? well you wouldn't have would you. as you can plainly see in not really from around here, or in extensive terms, from this planet, I'm what you call a human where we are the only sentient beings on our world. also my names Dwayne." he stuck his hand out for the Changeling to shake, reluctantly he did so.
"Er well, we Changeling's don't have names really. we just go by 'brother' and 'sister' among the hive as have the rest of our race throughout our history, all except for our queens. them being royalty"
"Really? that sucks kinda. to be born without a name to call you're own, I say I cant blame you though when the vast majority if not all of you look identical to each other, and there being so many of you as well"
"I.....I can see where you are coming from there"
"Yeah.....well...I suggest you hit the hay, I'm gonna look at this letter a few times over then I'll go to bed later. maybe I could think of a name for you as well if you would like."
"...I think I may like that, thank you. so I'll see you in the morning then"
"You too...you know....you're pretty polite for Changeling"
"I'm trying to set a new example and also follow what you said earlier about our new relations, and helping my Queen in and way I can to repay her for everything she's given for us." the Changeling finally said as he dove under the bed. funny thing was though he acted like he had never slept in a bed in a really long time or even at all.
Dwayne smiled a little at his guests slightly playful squirming around the king size bed as sat down at his desk, he pulled out his letter opener and slit the top carefully, he gently pulled out the letter in side. the paper smelled a little damp and looked it as well.
He unfolded the paper and brought out his Equestrian alphabet sheet. despite the fact the inhabitants of this world spoke his worlds languages, there writing though, a completely different story. it took him roughly half and hour to properly decipher the message for his eyes to see its contents.
An hour later and over twenty read through's of the fatigued written deciphered words. he became to tired to carry on. but just as he was about to stand to head for his makeshift bed for the night, a soft cawing sound fell upon his ears and a light weight in his knee.
Sleepily, he looked down at his blockade and saw an all too familiar bird. the bright vibrant red, orange and yellow coloured feathers of Philomina, Celestia's pet Phoenix was boldly sitting on his leg barring him from his much needed sleep.
"What do you want at this hour?"
"Caw?"
"Don't you get snippy with me pecker face. I know you. you would only come to me at this hour when im tired, is if you've either done something to somepony, or you want a treat."
"Caw, caw"
"Ugh, here take this and go, as much as I would like to preen you're bloody feathers, im tired." he spoke as he reached for a special jar on the corner of the desk filled with nibbles for the pesky bird. although Phoenixes had there own diet of things that he would never be able to get on a normal basis.
he found that black-powder cubes, a strange things yes, were a delightful treat, to her eyes anyways. he wondered how celestia even found this?
She pecked away at the odd cube of a treat he placed on the table, finally allowing him to stand .
"You're a deceitful little bugger you know that" he received a fiery wing to the face as she continued nibbling.
Dwayne quietly plucked his nightwear from the sofa bed and made his way to the on suite bathroom to do his nightly routines. teeth done and one cloths change later, he looked around his room to see his guest now happily sleeping and Philomina as well asleep on her perch that he had for in case she felt like coming in his room.
Finally now being able to retire for the night. he not so elegantly fell onto his bed and threw his covers over him. and just as his eyes closed, again he felt a weight upon him.
"You know what Philomina? tonight I'm dealing with it. but next time I will pluck you like a turkey"
And yet he received another wing to the face before they both settles down in a hopefully blissful slumber.
At least one of them would...
Trade Mistakes, Forgiveness for Love.
Trade Mistakes, Forgiveness for love. Chapter 5, The Memory
"RUN!"
And I ran, I moved faster than I had ever done before. as fast as my legs could carry me.
"You two follow me!" I shouted to the two nearest guards on there patrol, both unicorns.
Upon seeing me and hearing my words, they hesitated for a few seconds be realised the serious in my voice, so they then pulled out there swords with there magic and followed on behind me, we sprinted down the corridors, sliding around corners till we reached my bed chambers not bothering with the locks as I barged down the door and stumbling slightly from the impact.
"Keep watch on the door!" I shouted as I slid to the the side of the bed and pulled out from underneath a chest, I grabbed the bed side lamp and smashed the padlock with it allowing me access to the chest's contents.
And here was where I stopped. My eyes locked on the objects that lay within.
'And to think, to think I would've never had to use these again'
I picked up the black and green metal object, tilting it around in my hands before pulling out the curved metal container at the back before inspecting its own contents, I re-inserted it back into the slot and pulled the lever on the side, it slid back then forward again, making a click very recognisable to my ears.
I quickly placed it on the bed and removed my tuxedo coat before pulling out a brown and tan jacket, tactical vest, body armour, helmet and a backpack with a red Velcro cross on the back. putting them all on in rapid practised succession. An last but not least. I grabbed the remaining six other curved metal objects and dumped them on the bed too.
The weight was welcoming almost, I felt like I knew that I would have to don it all again, and here I was wearing it.
picking up the six objects and put them into there respective pouches and picking up the metal device by its handle then gripping it with both hands. I took a deep breath before letting it go.
'Once more into the fray I go' I thought before finally looking to the two guards.
"Lets go!" we ran again, down the twist and turning corridors, we came to the main entrance and barge through the door, only to be greeted with scene of horror. guards, and civilians were being assaulted from every direction by black insect like ponies.
As I looked on in utter shock, one lone guard was pushed to his back by one of those 'things'. it reared it head back for what looked like the killing blow, but before it had its chance, half its skull was rendered missing following the bright flash and loud bang milliseconds prior.
I dropped to a knee and picked another target *CRACK-BOOM* fell before his fangs could, I pulled around to pick my next target but I barely enough time to brace as a black blur collided with my body. sending me unconscious.
I opened my eyes, only to be greeted with violent sunlight thus making my shut them again, I felt around with my hands feeling what felt like....sand? and not soft grass.
Pulling my hands up to my helmet I pulled down the tinted goggles resting upon it and onto my face hoping to at least be able to see where I was. Pulling myself to my knees I saw my my weapon laying in front of my so I grabbed it and pulled back the slide.
And then, and then I finally got to see where I was, sand, sand sand and more fucking sand.
"The fu-"
*KRABOOM!*
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"KEEP MOVING FORWARD"-"2-2 MOVE UP WITH THE FUCKING TANKS NOW! WE NEED TO REINFORCE 2-9 AT THE DEPOT!"
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I barely even had the chance to take in where I was before all hell broke loose. I now stood in a street in a scene I knew all too well, a quartet of tanks, challenger 2's and Abram's? from what I recalled, rolled on past either side of me and following behind them squads of soldiers, sporting the stars and stripes and the union jack flags on there shoulders.
"INCOMING MORTARS! GET TO COVER!"
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"GAHH I'M HIT! I GOT FUCKING HIT!"-"MEDIC! WE NEED A MEDIC OVER HERE NOW!"
Chaos, so much Chaos. Bullets flew in all directions even as they pinged of the tanks armour, and in return the tanks fired there own bigger guns back.
"THERE ALL FUCKING AROUND US!"-"RIGHT THERE RIGHT THERE!"-"I GOT HIM!"
Bodies lay everywhere, in the middle of the streets, the pavements, most armed with empty weapons, others with nothing, caught in the crossfire, or shot back at.
I turned on my heel to see a combat medic soldier rush to injured who where using the tanks as cover, thankfully the mortars had stopped falling.....for now.
"HOLD STILL I GOT YOU! YOU'RE GONNA BE JUST FINE, YOU TAKE HIS LEG!"
So much noise, and I was just standing there in the middle of it all.
*RUMMMMMBBBLE-SMASH*
"HOLY ENEMY TANK TO OUR SIX!"
They never stood a chance.......
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/---------(stop all soundtracks/music or let it carry on till it end before next song below)---------/-\
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Dwayne shot from his makeshift bed on the sofa, body covered in sweat, heart pounding and breathing heavily. with a hand over his heart desperately trying to calm his breathing, he slowly stood from his sofa and slowly but hastily made his way to the his rooms balcony doors and all but burst through them and stumbled to grab the stone rail of the balcony itself.
As his breathing started to slow to it's normal rate, he steadily took a seat on the wooden bench next to him and gazed over the night cityscape sky.
'As beautiful as this all is, why was I dreaming of all that again? why does it choose to all come back now?'
He thought to himself as he gazed on, then feeling he was being watched turned his head the other way to see into the room, and from what he could see, his guest was still sleeping and Philomena was on her perch now....so who was?..
"Even though I am the embodiment of the night itself, you always seem to sense me master Dwayne" came an ever too regal silky voice.
"And a hello to you too Princess" he answered as politely as could say it as she dropped from her spot on the roof above.
"You know you need not call me by my title any more Dwayne" she said as she draped a wing across his back and sat beside him.
"I bet I can guess why you came Luna"
"You would be right in you're assumptions as you always seem to be *giggle* but im just as curious as you are too Dwayne, I have no clear definition on why the memories are returning but only that I was able to halt the worst coming before it did get worse"
"Thank you Luna, I owe you one"
"I know you still grieve for the loss of you're camaraderie, you're platoon and you're old life, I can imagine it but not experience it, but you know we are all behind you Dwayne and i know you did you're hardest at the wedding, you saved many lives that day"
"but at the cost of some,I still don't know if any of my section or platoon are still alive, if things have gotten any better, or more up shit creek...."
............................
"Perhaps.........perhaps you could full fill you're debt this time"
"How so?"
"Tonight...I will admit I have been feeling a bit more lonesome more than usual, perhaps you would rest in thou chambers with thou?, like you did not so long a moon ago, just for comfort? just this night?" she asked, a little red in the cheeks.
"Of course I wouldn't mind princess, plus I would be there if you know 'those' were to come back again, he-he it'll be just like last time"
"Tis settled then, follow on, I believe our guest will be fine"
As Luna made her way through the room Dwayne took one last look over the city before following the naval blue deity some hopefully stressful sleep.
'That past is behind me now....isn't it?'
Trade Mistakes, Forgiveness for Love.
A new day, Another Decision
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Trade Mistakes, Forgiveness for Love.
The Road, The Prologue, The Beginning To Something New.
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Trade Mistakes, Forgiveness for Love.
I Fooled Around & Fell, In?..............Well It Bloody Wasn't Love.
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A New Player Enters The Game.
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