Das Wiederaufleben

The young changeling blushed. “O-Oh comma- I mean.... Scootaloo. All I'd do is slow you down... N-Not that I'm not flattered by the offer....” He stammered.

“That's all well and good,” Scootaloo said with a devious grin. “Except it wasn't an offer. It was a command.”

Hermes gulped and saluted. “Y-yes ma’am.”

The young mare chuckled and turned around. “Follow me.” She told the cadet, who complied with nervous trepidation.

Once the two had left the building, Scootaloo flicked her wings outwards. “Alright, Hermes.” She began. “Let's put those slips of paper you call wings to work. You and I are gonna race to Ponyville proper.”

The changeling gulped. “Race?”

Scootaloo smirked and nodded. “Hopefully you'll put up more of a challenge than Fang. I love that mare, but between you and me, thestral wings aren't really built for speed.” She joked.

“W-Well... I'll try my best...” Hermes stammered nervously.

“My personal best time is five minutes and thirty four seconds.” The orange mare explained. “Okay! One two three, GO!”

With that, Scootaloo launched herself into the sky, leaving the stunned changeling in her dust, watching her afterimage blast off towards the town.

Not wanting to look bad in front of his new commanding officer, Hermes leapt upwards and set his buzzing wings on overdrive as desperately tried to catch up with Scootaloo. His lungs burned as he pushed himself to the limit chasing the mare. His wings felt like they were about to rip themselves off his shell with how fast they were vibrating. How is she so fast!? He asked himself.

“Come on kid, I'm going easy on ya over here.” Scootaloo called without a hint of fatigue. Hermes looked on in awe of the mare and how effortlessly she cut through the wind. It was like she was a hurricane, blasting away at near supersonic speeds.

Hermes could see the town coming up just on the horizon, and redoubled his efforts. He felt like his body was ready to implode, but he didn't care. His organs could have liquefied inside his chitinous carapace and he still would have kept flying. The only thing that mattered was keeping up with Scootaloo. The changeling screwed his eyes shut and poured all the strength he could muster into his buzzing wings.

The pain was excruciating, but Hermes powered through. I am a Tarantula Hawk... I can do this! He screamed to himself when suddenly, he felt something grab the ridge in his shell near his neck. Inertia carried his hind legs forward a meter or two, prompting the young changeling to open his eyes.

“Gotcha!” Scootaloo called as she hovered downwards. “A few more meters and you would have splatted against that building there.” She teased.

Hermes looked forward and saw the building in question. A large clock-tower.

“Rule number one of flying, kid: Always keep your eyes open.”

Hermes looked down in shame. “U-understood...”

With a chuckle and a grin, Scootaloo nudged the young changeling’s shoulder. “Hey, chin up, soldier. Ya did good.” She stated.

Hermes’ antennae twitched as he looked back up.”R-Really?”

She nodded. “Yep. I forgot my stopwatch, but I’m guessing that you finished around... Let's be generous and say around the seven minute mark.” Scootaloo tried to calculate her own time only to shake her head. “Ugh. I'm not good with numbers. That's Fang's department.”

“And what would your department be?” Hermes asked.

Scootaloo smirked. “Keeping my subordinates alive.”

Suddenly, the orange mare stepped forward and glared at Hermes. “On that topic, let's make one thing clear. If, on the field, you go against my orders and get Fang or Marks killed I will tear the wings off your exoskeleton and use them to wipe my ass.” She deadpanned with a murderous aura and a lack of any humor.

Hermes stood completely still, paralyzed by the sudden change in demeanor from his new CO. He pulled himself out of his stupor just enough to salute.

“U-understood, ma'am...”

Scootaloo's murderous glare instantly turned to a gentle and warm smile. “Good. Those two are family, even if they are always at each other's throats.”

Hermes chuckled. “They are quite the polar opposites, it seems.”

“Buddy, you don't know the half of it. Marks is pretty intelligent, it's just he prefers to let the business end of a gatling gun do his thinking.

“I can imagine. He does seem rather impulsive.”

With a grin, the young mare looked up at the sun peaking over the horizon. “Yeah. He's a dick. But he's our dick. A gun toting, profanity spewing, afraid-of-insects dick.” She let a tiny giggle pass through her lips.

“The lieutenant is scared of insects?” Hermes asked with a tilted head.

“Terrified. It's the stinging ones especially. Wasps, bees, hornets. That's probably the main reason he's been a cunt to ya.” She teased. “But you didn't hear it from me.”

“Yes, Ma'am.”

Scootaloo turned around and began to hover. She looked over her shoulder and smiled. “Let's head back to HQ. Fang and Marks are probably awake by now and cooking breakfast. I swear to god, you have not lived until you try Marks’ cooking.” A blush formed on her face and a shiver made its way up her spine.

Hermes joined his CO in the air. “Sounds like knows what he's doing. Can he cook meat?”

“Fang certainly seems to think so.” The mare smiled.

Almost on cue, a high pitched, heavily accented voice called out. “Frau Scootaloo!”

“Fang?” Scootaloo thought aloud before remembering the encounter earlier. “FANG!”

She turned to face the voice and sure enough, there was Fang, short of breath and hovering down towards her. “F-Frau... Phew... Frau Scootaloo...”

“Uh... Hey... Sergeant... Uh” Scootaloo quickly stepped between the thestral and the changeling. “Gee... Can you believe this heat, Fang?”

Fang tilted her head before her eyes widened and her cheeks grew red.

“It's hot to you, Scootaloo? “ Hermes interjected. “It's borderline freezing compared to the changeling deserts.”

Scootaloo breathed a sigh of relief in her mind knowing that Hermes had not caught on to her euphemism.

“Sergeant, what can I do for you?” Hermes asked.

“Um... Vell... I... It's really ze commander I need but suppose you should come as vell, Herr Hermes.”

Scootaloo tilted her head. “What do ya need, Fang?”

The cobalt mare nervously shifted on her hooves. “Vell... C-could I get you to follow me, Scootaloo? Zere’s... Something I vant to talk about viz you...”

“Um... Sure?” The commander said. “Lead the way.”

“Danke.”

The three took flight. Scootaloo and Hermes followed behind Fang in an awkward silence. After about nine minutes of flight, the three were directly over the outpost. Fang stayed in the air for a brief moment as she scanned the ground for something before setting down behind the barracks, leading the others as well.

“Hey, boss.” A masculine voice called, prompting Scootaloo to turn her head.

“Marks?”

The stallion trotted over to the thestral and whispered something in her ear that she blushed and nodded at.

Fang opened her mouth to speak. “Commander... I... I z-zought... Zought you... I...um...”

Marks sighed. “Oh for the love of...” Quickly, he wrapped his hooves around Fang and pulled her close before planting his lips on hers in a sensual and very intimate kiss.

Fang squeaked in surprise, but returned the embrace and kiss with equal measure, sliding her forked, thestral tongue into her lover's mouth.

“YOU BUCKING IDIOT!”

Suddenly, Scootaloo grabbed Marks by the throat and slammed him into the wall. Fang gasped in surprise and fear. “WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING!? FANG'S IN HEAT, YOU SHITHEAD!”

Marks gasped. “What!? No she's not!”

“She told me this morning!” Scootaloo retorted.

“That's impossible! Fang and I had sex last night. I would have known if she was in-”

“YOU WHAT!?” Scootaloo screamed. “I swear to God, if Fang becomes pregnant because of you, I will personally make sure you never make that mistake with her, or any other mare, ever again!’

“Scootaloo! Please! Let him go!” Fang pleaded.

“This asshole took advantage of you! While you're in HEAT! I'll have him court-martialed!”

Tears rode down Fang's cheek. “I’m not really in heat! I vas sneaking back from his room! He didn't take advantage of me!”

“She's right.” Hermes said, causing every pony present to go silent. “Last night, in conjunction with hearing equine mating calls, I felt a large surge of love-making.”

“Oh yeah... I forgot you changelings use that stuff to charge up your magic...” Scootaloo deadpanned with Marks still in her grip.

“Commander, please! Marks and I have been in a relationship for a year and a half! Ve love each other!”

Scootaloo dropped Marks. “Bullshit. You two are always at each other's throats.”

Marks got back to his hooves and rubbed his neck. “Fang was scared to tell you, so we hid it. We agreed to come clean with you after we consummated.”

“So, let me get this straight... You two have been dating under my nose for a year and a half, and are just now telling me the good news because you fucked?”

“...Zat’s... One vay to put it...” Fang stammered. “Vait... Good news?”

“Duh!” Scootaloo cried. “I love you guys! Why wouldn't I be happy about it?”

“But... Fraternization...” The thestral whimpered.

“You think I give a rat's ass about fraternization? As long as you two are combat ready, you can do whatever you want. If anything, I'm more upset that you didn't trust me enough to tell me.”

Marks chuckled. “Told ya, Fang.”

The thestral rushed to her lover's side and began frantically kissing his face. “Ich liebe dich...”

“Ick leeba dick.”

Fang couldn't help but burst out laughing at Marks’ butchering of her native language. “Never change, Marks.”

The stallion ran a hoof through her mane. “I won't if you don't.”

“Deal.”

Marks pulled away from his lover and glared daggers at Hermes. “And you better not even think about feeding on us.”

Hermes gulped. “I had no intention, sir.”

Marks grumbled something under his breath then went back to snuggling with Fang.

“Ugh. I need something to eat.” Scootaloo groaned. “What's the plan for breakfast, Marks.”

“I made some hash browns.” Marks explained. “There should be enough for you and the gnat.”

Fang bit Marks’ hoof, careful not to break the skin, causing him to yelp, more in surprise than pain. “Be nice, Dummkopf.” She commanded. “Just because you're scared of bugs doesn't mean you can be rude!”

A gasp escaped from the stallion as a blush appeared on his face.

“F-Fang!”

“Uh... It's okay lieutenant. The commander already told me that.” Hermes explained.

“Un-bucking-believable!”

The stallion stormed off, leaving the three behind. Fang merely giggled and rolled her eyes.

“Zat big baby.” She chuckled. “Oh! Commander, Private, could I ask you two to come to my room after you eat?”

Scootaloo smirked. “I didn’t know you and Marks were into polygamy.” She teased.

The thestral squeaked and blushed. “C-Could ve not... talk about my sex life?”

“I’m just teasing, Fang.” The orange mare explained. “Sure, we’ll meet up with you right after breakfast.”

“Danke schön, mein kommandant.” The cobalt mare turned and flew up and over the building, leaving Hermes and Scootaloo alone.

“Follow me, kid.” Scootaloo said over her shoulder.

“Yes, Ma’am.”

The two walked around the building and headed towards the private kitchen near their barracks. “So, Hermes, probably should have asked you sooner, but what’s the typical changeling diet?”

“Oh, we’re omnivores by nature, with just a slight preference towards meat, especially fresh carrion.” The changeling sighed and looked up to the sky dreamily, his mouth watering slightly, making his CO chuckle softly.

“Good to know. If I ever go carnivore, you’ll be the first to know.” She joked. “Fang’s more a ‘grilled burger’ kinda mare herself.”

“Oh. So you can cater towards carnivores?” Hermes asked.

Scootaloo nodded. “It’s not real meat, but you can’t tell the difference from what Fang tells us. We call it synth-meat.”

“Sounds delicious.”

“Heh. Good luck getting Fang to share any with ya.”

The two opened the door to the kitchen and saw the plate of leftover hash browns that Marks had left. Scootaloo smiled and took a big whiff.

“Oh yeah. If there is a god, then Marks’ cooking is what he smells like.” She joked, prompting a slight chuckle from the changeling as she filled two plates. “Here’s your grub. Oh! No pun intended!”

“Sure there wasn’t.” Hermes said with a grin as he took the plate with his telekinesis.

Scootaloo poured herself a glass of water and took a mighty swig. “Ahhh.” She sighed. “I needed that.”

The changeling chuckled and took a bite of the hash browns, his eyes widening at the taste. “Mmm! This is amazing!”

“Told ya.” Scootaloo snickered as she rolled her eyes. As soon as she looked back, however, his plate was completely clean. “Jeeze! You don’t mess around when it comes to food, do you?”

“Absolutely not.” He declared with a proud grin.

With a chuckle, Scootaloo sat down and began eating her own meal, stopping at about halfway to fill another glass.

“You want some water, kid?” She called from the sink.

“Yes, please, ma’am.”

She grabbed another glass and filled it up with ice before filling it up with water. When she turned around, however, she found Hermes leaning over the table and stuffing his face with what was left of Scootaloo’s hash browns. The young changeling’s eyes widened like a puppy who had knocked over a trash can before he gulped down the food in his mouth. He stood perfectly still as he awaited the inevitable reprimanding that would surely come.

What he didn’t expect was for his new commanding officer to drop to the floor, laughing uncontrollably and with tears pooling in her eyes.

“HAHAHA!” She guffawed. “O-Ohoh! Oh! T-Thats! T-thats just too much!”

Hermes didn’t know how to react, here he was, stealing food from his commander, right in front of her, and she was rolling on the floor laughing uncontrollably.

“Oho. H-Hermes!” She wailed. “I... I... PFFFTTTT! HAHAHA!”

She tried to steady herself, rising onto her wobbly hooves and sitting down as she tried to regain her composure. “Ohhhh...” She sighed. “Just couldn’t control yourself, huh?”

Hermes sat back and smiled bashfully as a glowing green blush made it’s way across his face.

“Phew... O-Okay... I’m done now...” Scootaloo gasped as she tried to bring herself back under control. “Jeeze... I was getting full anyways, bud. I probably was just gonna give ‘em to ya.” She teased.

“F-Forgive me, commander!” Hermes begged, earning another giggle from the mare.

“Forget it, kid. Finish up and we’ll go see Fang.”

The changeling nodded and shyly finished up the last of the hash browns before standing up and holding the kitchen door open. “After you, ma’am.” He gestured outward.

“How chivalrous.” the pegasus teased.

The two walked down the hall a ways and entered Fang’s room. The thestral was sitting in a chair in front of a strange machine. “Ah! Willkommen!”

“Hey, Fang.” Scootaloo responded.

“Sergeant!” Hermes greeted with a salute.

Fang chuckled a bit. “Ze formalities aren’t necessary, private. Just ‘Fang’ vill suffice, ja?”

“Of course.” Hermes nodded as he mouthed the word ‘Fang’, to himself.

“Now, onto business.” Fang declared. “Your custom dog tags!’

Hermes blinked. “What are dog tags?”

“Essentially little necklaces viz names and other information etched into zem.” Fang explained. “Ze Equestrian military uses zem to identify zeir soldiers.”

Scootaloo chuckled. “Fang here rigged up a machine that she uses to make custom dog tags. Some of the troops pay her to make them as little gifts for friends or family.” She said as she flicked her own tags out from underneath her training shirt, revealing a metal beaded necklace with two tiny plates on it, one reading ‘Scootaloo T Dash. DOB: 6/6/92’. The other showing an engraved image of a shield with an assault rifle magazine emboldened in the center. “Marks has one too, with his cutie mark.”

The changeling nodded. “I see.”

“Welcome to ze team, Hermes!” Fang squealed as she eagerly put the tags around her new teammate’s neck.

“Since you don’t have a cutie mark, I just designed a-”

“Tarantula hawk wasp!” The young changeling interrupted, examining the plate. “The insignia of my old battalion! Thank you so much, Fang!”

The thestral giggled. “It vas my pleasure.”

Just then, Marks entered the room, still clearly irate. “I bumped past the General.” He explained grouchily. “He wants us all in uniform and to meet him at the train station in an hour. We’re shipping out to Canterlot.”