Fire and Ice

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The sound of gun shots echoed in my ears as I stood in my new room. Queen Chrysalis's Mansion was a large one and I picked the second best room for myself. The best one was reserved for the Queen herself should she ever decide to visit this place. I doubted she would ever come here out of choice, but it was better to be safe than sorry.

The room itself was almost the size of my old apartment. I didn't need to go back there anymore, but I still went back occasionally to train with Andreas. With each day I was slowly getting better, but after that reading from Serenity Glow. I was now wondering if I should even bother.

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Shaking my head I left my room and went outside. Chrysalis's mansion was easily three times the size of Andreas apartment complex. Once outside I saw Sunset standing next to Beth and Andrew. Claire was leaning over Sunset Shimmer's car engine with a box of tools laying next to her. As Changlings we had a lot of spare parts that just kept building since almost no Changling owned a car. From what I saw on T.V. last week it looked like they preferred motorcycles if anything.

Turning my gaze I saw the rest of my gang. All except Ben who was still recovering from his kick to the balls. I was pretty sure he was faking it at this point since it happened over a month ago, but he insisted that Twilight kicked him as hard as a horse could. The of them were new arrivals that would be joining CHS. Not that I minded, Claire said Changlings worked best in numbers.

It also helped that I knew these guys. The tallest was named Zeke, he stood at 6'3 and had ink black hair that came down to his shoulders. He was something of a Guru being wise well beyond any 18 year old. The next two were brothers David and Joshua. David was a little bit older and was almost as tall as me. Joshua was the younger brother and was a few inches shorter than David. Both had the same sea greenish black hair and artic blue eyes. In fact, we all had the artic blue eyes. From what I could tell, having green eyes was a rarity among the Changlings. Like Midnight, Alaric, that girl he had his arm around, and Queen Chrysalis herself. I didnt know enough of my own culture to know why, but my crew seemed to hold green eyes in high respect.

Then came the last three. Greg was a tall slant shouldered boy, Jack was a lanky guy around the same height as Greg, and Jade was a slender girl around Rainbow Dash's height. All three of them had the same dark gray hair with black highlights. They were all milling around Sunset Shimmer's car offering words of encouragement. Claire responded by flipping them off.

I failed to hide a smile. We were all so different, but part of the same system that went well beyond Equestria's legal system. The Changling's system. The matching scars on our arms reminded us of that. Sighing I remembered when I got my scars. It was at one of our subhives.

"What if t hurts?" I asked Midnight.
"If it doesn't hurt then that means the guy did something wrong." Midnight replied. That did little to calm me.
"Why do we have to do this again?" I asked while glancing at Midnight's scared arms. Three long gashes on each arm, but somehow they looked painted on him by an artist.
"We do this as part of our ritual in becoming a part of the swarm," An old man holding a ceremonial knife answered. He the turned to Midnight. "Will you leave or do you wish to stay?" He asked. Midnight shot me a glance.
"I'll stay," Midnight answered. The old man nodded and began to walk towards me. "What ever you do, don't scream, it only makes the pain feel worse," Midnight whispered into my ear just as the man began his word. I didn't scream, but only grunted in pain and squeezed the hell out of Midnight's hand
We were eleven and twelve years old.

"Anyone want a drink?" I asked the assembled Changlings. All of them started to say yes.

"Do you need any help?" Sunset asked.

"That would be great," I responded while Sunset followed me into the kitchen.

"Any ideas what to drink?" Sunset asked after we went to the rather large kitchen.

"Punch should do for now," I answered. There was currently no pop, or anything sugary at the moment. Together we made a tub full of punch and poured the amount of glasses we needed. Once finished we placed them on a tray and I carried them out after Sunset Shimmer. "Okay, drinks are here," I called to the rest of the changlings who began crowding around us.

"What is this?" David asked.

"Punch," Sunset answered cheerfully. What happened next was completely unexpected.

All the changlings excluding Claire, Beth, and Andrew dropped their punch and backpeddled so fast it looked like someone hit them. "Not the grape juice," one cried. "I don't want to fight anymore," another called in terror. "I thought she was with Forest," another shouted.

"WOAH WHAT IN THE NAME OF PINEAPPLES ON PIZZA IS GOING ON!" I roared. All the changlings stopped instantly and checked themselves.

The first to recover was Zeke. "Sorry about that Mrs. Shimmer, but we just have a few bad experiences with fruit punch. That and a certain blue haired musician who makes the stuff. She tries her best, but the results ways ends up badly," Zeke explained.

"Oh thank goodness, I thought it was something I said," Sunset said which earned a laugh from me.

"Okay Shimmer, your car is up and running," Claire said while standing up.

"Thank you so much," Sunset Shimmer said excitedly.

"Don't mention it," Claire said.

"No really I really appreciate-" Sunset began.

"Ever," Claire said firmly causing an awkward silence.

"Okay, car is running, my crew is freaked out by fruit punch, and Claireis being Claire," I said while walking up next to Sunset Shimmer. "Just let me know if you need anything else," I told her. What Sunset did next completely suprised me.

"Thank you so much Phoenix," Sunset said while throwing her arms around me in a hug. I was completely caught off guard and only managed to return a awkward hug which Jade made a small giggle at. After the giggle Sunset immediately let go and took a few steps back. Then I wondered who was more suprised at her hug. Her or me.

"I should get going," She said with a blush.

"Yeah, um... see you at school," I replied trying my best to hide a blush of my own.

After that Sunset Shimmer got into her car and left. After she left I smiled in her direction and turned to see my entire crew including Ben who was leaning on the doorway grinning at me. "What?" I asked.

"Dude, why don't you ask her out yet?" Ben asked. The changlings looked at me.

"Why do you need to know?" I asked. The changlings looked at Ben.

"Don't tell me your scared?" Ben asked with a grin. The changlings looked at me.

"I'm not scared of that," I shot back.

"Your faking that," Ben said.

"Faking? As in your still whining about getting kicked in the balls over a month ago?" I asked. The changlings looked at Ben.

"Hey, She kicked me with the power of a horse, not my fault," Ben said.

"Yeah, excuses excuses," I replied with a grin.

Claire stood up grinning at us both. "How about this, you ask out Shimmer by the months end or your a p****," She said. The changlings looked at me.

"Alright," I said suddenly feeling light headed.

"And you ask out Rarity by the months end or your a p****," She shot at Ben. The changlings looked at Ben.

"Yeah, I can do that," Ben said growing as pale as I was.

"Good, now let's go inside, we have a mansion to enjoy and were all standing out in the cold air," Claire said leading the gang inside. After she left Ben and I shot each other worried glances.

"Were f***ed dude," Ben and I said in sync.

The two of us followed the others inside, but I split off down a deserted hall thinking how I should try tk ask her out if and if she would even say yes.

"Don't get too comfortable, you don't deserve that kind of happiness" Midnight said from behind me. I spun on my heels, but didn't see him. "What makes you think you would ever deserve peace of any kind of happiness?" Midnight asked. I was able to see him now. At the corner of my eye. Just out of sight. I snapped my head into his direction, but he was gone again.

"It wasn't my fault," I protested.

"That's debatable, if you listened to what I told you then that never would have happened." Midnight spat directly from my left. I didn't even try to look at him.

"Whats was I supposed to do? Those Umbrum weren't supposed to be there," I pleaded.

"You weren't supposed to be there! Did you even know her name?" Midnight snapped me to my left ear.

"No," I reluctantly admitted. Since that night I did my best to suppress all memory of it, but Midnight would never let me forget the cost of my actions.

You still don't know the magnitude of what happened do you? Start with her name," Midnight said calmly. Then he was gone.

The next morning I sat in the lunchroom at school at our usual table. After a sleepless night I kept on thinking on Midnight's words. Or maybe they were my own. I couldnt be sure since they sounded so much like something Midnight would say. And so much like the things that picked at the back of my mind for so long.

"Hey is this seat taken?" A voice asked behind me. I turned and was happy to see it was none other than Sunset Shimmer. I took a quick glance at the rest of the table and saw it empty.

"Sorry Shimmer, but it looks like were overflowing," I said.

"Oh shut up," Sunset said with a laugh while sitting down directly across from me. I did my best to ignore the glares the other students shot at her. And from the way she was acting, I could tell Sunset was doing the same thing.

Only after a minute of both of us staring at our food did I remember Claire's ultimatum. Ask her out by December or lose face in my crew. "Hey Sunset, can I ask you something?" I asked Sunset.

"Yeah of course," she said now giving me her full attention.

'This was a bad idea,' I thought. I should have picked someplace better, better time, a better outfit, doves should be flying, the sun should be shining, h*** a choir should be singing. "I was wondering if you would like-" I began before being interrupted by sinister laughing.

Spinning my head I groaned in annoyance at Alex, Sebastian, and James who were standing ten feet away from us. "I don't have the time to deal with this today, so do yourself a favor and leave," I threatened.

"And what if we don't?" Alex asked. I stood up and shot them a death glare, but all three of them begam squaring up. "Come on Phoenix, it's three against one, give us Shimmer and well let you go," Sebastian said.

Behind them I saw the doors open and the rest of my gang walked in. They looked suprised at what was going on, but quickly and quietly began fanning out in a semi circle around the three hosiles. "Your not getting her," I growled.

"Three against one, you don't have to do this," James said.

"Actually it's more like nine, ten, eleven, twelve. Twelve against three," Zeke said making Alex and his lackeys jump. Zeke then turned his gaze to Sunset Shimmer. "Thirteen against three," he said correcting himself.

The three bullies turned to my gang and opened their eyes in surprise. At the same time I sensed Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie stand next to me glaring at Alex and his lackeys. "Why this is outrageous, three large boys trying to physically harm a near defenceless lady," Rarity said angrily.

"Eighteen to three," Zeke said again.

"Y'all know that that's not right?" Applejack asked. James turned and shot a glare at them.

"Shut your pie holes you hillbilly and you should go back to your makeup like a good little girl." James said. I felt Rarity and Applejack seeth.

"I wouldn't talk that way to Rarity if I were you," Andrew advised. James turned to him.

"And whay are you gonna do about it?" James asked.

"Nothing," Andrew said simply.

"That's what I thought, now this b**** better get a muzzle or else I'm gonna-" James started, but never got to finish. Instead he let out a sickly sounding grunt as Ben sucker punched him. James stumbled a few steps as Alex and Sebastian moved in on Ben, but stopped almost immediately when Beth, David, and Zeke began closing in.

James regained his balance and then charged at Ben in a fury. Ben charged back, but both Sebastian and Alex held James back while Zeke and Rainbow Dash held Ben.

"Try taking me on straight up you piece of s***!" James roared while struggling to get free of his friends grasp.

"I'm down, let's do this f***er!" Ben roared back while trying to break free of Zeke and Dashes hold.

After a few minutes of the rest of my gang including me waiting for the two boys to break free. Alex stopped holding James while turning to me. "I have a better idea, me and you right now," he said making James and Ben stop.

Every single changling looked at me expectantly. So I cracked my nuckles and got into my fighting stance. The one Andreas taught me. "S'go den," I said. By now the cafeteria went silent and began watching.

"You don't have to do this partner," Applejack said.

"Fighting is so not fun," Pinkie said.

"This doesn't have to be this way, you don't have to do this," Sunset pleaded.

"Yes.... I do," I replied while Alex and I slowly began circling each other.

"It's the changling way," Claire said as if that explained everything, which it kinda did.

The rest of the people around crowded around in a spacious circle.

"Come on Alex, kick that thugs a**!" A student shouted.
"Teach thay changling a lesson," another screamed.
"Show them they can't walk all over us," another added. I was glad to know we were loved at this school.

"Come on Phoenix, don't show that f***er any mercy," Greg roared.
"Beat his a**," Beth yelled.
"Kick his teeth in!" Rainbow Dash added.

"Dash!" Rarity exclaimed.

"What, I'm just giving moral support," Rainbow Dash said innocently.

I lelt at Alex who threw a punch at me. Easily dodging I returned with a punch to his gut. Alex gunted and keeled forward into my uppercut. After he threw a punch at me which I was too slow to avoid. Grunting I back peddled a few steps before someone grabbed me and steadied me.

"Dont let him have half a chance," Midnight whispered into my ear before shoving me forward.

"Get out of my head, I can do this myself!" I yelled.

"Are you crazy or something?" Alex asked.

I leaped at Alex who immediately began to throw punches. I dodged most of them and landed quite a few good hits before he right hooked me making me stumble back.

"Are you sure? Need me to step in or something?" Midnight asked from somewhere to my right.

"Just shut up!" I roared while leaping at Alex.

"I'm not saying anything," Alex said. The two of us once again exchanged blows. It was obvious I was winning, but not enough to end it quickly.

"I don't think you do, here maybe this should help. Just remember this was your fault," Midnight said as my vision flooded with black.

There was several women vocalizing a sweet and beautiful sound. Despite it's calming tune I couldn't help but feel riled up by the sound.

I sat underneath a tree next to Claire and another girl. She was petite and had sea greenish black hair with artic blue eyes. "Come on, heard there's a good waterfall around here," Claire said standing up. Around us our drifting party rose and began following her.

The vocalizing dramatically increased which threw me into a frenzy as I boiled up on the inside.

It was dark. I had my blade ready to strike. Around us my changling party was fighting a losing battle against a swarm of Umbrum. 'Save her, save her,' Every instinct cried. The petite girl was on the ground clutching her chest as two Umbrum closed in. I moved to kill the Umbrum, but stopped. I just couldn't do it. The Umbrum brought his blade down.

The vocalizing stopped and my feeling of anger left with it.

I stood over Alex who was looking at me in horror. The cafeteria was eerily silent. Looking around I saw EVERYONE staring at me in silence. Looking down at Alex I could tell someone did a number on him. His face was bloody and his shirt was torn. Along his arms and legs were fresh bruises.

Looking at my own hand was when I realized Bulk Biceps and Big Mac were holding me back. I shrugged them off and looked at my own fists that were coated in blood. 'Alex's blood' And it wasn't just my fists, but my elbows, knees, feet, and even my forehead had a little blood on it. Everyone including most of my gang were looking at me in horror.

"Atta boy," Midnight said before disappearing.

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It was one long day at the principal's office. And say what you want about the students of CHS. They always tell the truth. Even though it was obvious most of the school hated me and my changlings, they still told the truth about Alex and his lackeys instigating the fight.

Me and my crew wouldn't say anything to Principal Celestia, Vice Principal Luna got more out of us, but all we really told her was that they instigated the fight. Eventually they told Ben and I we were free to go.

The rest of our crew left hours ago since none of them were involved in the fight. "Funny how they left us behind," I said jokingly.

"Yeah, changling loyalty," Ben replied with a chuckle.

"Hey Phoenix, can we talk to you for a minute?" Applejack asked. I turned and saw the rainbow squad in the hallway.

"Go on, I'll catch up," I told Ben. Ben nodded and kept walking while I turned to face the rainbooms. "What's up?" I asked.

"Follow us," Rarity said while leading me into a deserted classroom. Once inside I heard the door close and I realized this was a trap.

Turning I expected them to start criticizing me or start shouting at me for what I did. Instead I was suprised to see they looked concerned. "Whats going on?" I asked confused.

"What happened out there?" Rarity asked.

"What are you talking about?" I asked.

"You going all ale s*** out there," Rainbow Dash said.

"It isn't the first time I've fought before," I said.

"Maybe not, but this is the first time you went into a beserk mode like that," Applejack said.

"I could just like fighting," I said in a half hearted attempt to avoid explaining why I did, but Applejack was relentless.

"Naw, I've seen you when you liked fighting, but this was different. I know you and a few others in your crew may be Futa changlings, but this was-" Applejack started.

"Were not Futa changlings," I said quickly cutting her off.

"What?" Applejack asked.

"Futa changlings are on a whole different level than us. They would have killed Alex and his guys and then probably ate waffles afterwards," I explained. The girls all looked like like someone slapped them.

"I, I didnt know there was different levels of changlings," Fluttershy said.

"Yeah, there's the Queen, the high ranked ones, Futa's, and then the rest of us. We're called drones since there is so many of us." I said.

"But you and Claire seem like your higher ranked than the others," Rarity said.

"This is true, the drone class has its own ranks, some that are even higher than a lot of Futa's, but a Futa are our warriors. They're the killers and assassins of us. Like if a squad of Umbrum came and started killing me and my branch and we couldn't stop them. All we would have to do is call for help and a squad of Futa changlings will come. They don't always win, but then another squad of Futa and a few more regular changlings would come. If they don't win then the hive would send more and more until changlings are coming in the hundreds. Eventually they'll send a high ranked changling and those guys never lose," I explained.

"Thanks for explaining that, but you still never gave us an answer," Rainbow Dash said. 'S***,' I thought. The whole reason I explained that because I was hoping it would divert the question.

I gazed at each one of them. Rarity, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, and Pinkie Pie. None of them had judging looks on their faces, only concern. Which even my siblings never showed... Epically Midnight.

And that's when it hit me. These girls loved me. I knew i loved them. Not in the romantic way, but like hey were my sisters. I spend only a few months among them, but I never shied away even when Sunset Shimmer brought her wrath down on me when I would stand up for them. Even when Claire did her best to convince me to leave them behind, I would say no. Each time they needed with something I would be there. It never once occurred to me that they would do the same.

'Yes I can trust them.' I thought.

"Don't you f***ing dare!" Midnight's voice snapped in my head.

"Okay, get ready for the saddest tale your gonna hear," I advised.

"Its not your story to tell," Midnight said calmly.

"It all started almost six years ago when I turned twelve and went on my first changling drifting trip," I started.

I was right about trusting them. Instead of treating me like some kind of burden Midnight and the others who were there excluding Claire did. They wrapped their arms around me in a hug. "That really was sad." Pinkie Pie said.

"How can anyone do something so horrible? Even if he was angry it didn't give him a right to to that," Fluttershy said.

"And it wasn't even your fault darling, that could have happened to anyone," Rarity said.

"I just never saw why he had to make me do it," I said through a sob.

"Don't cry, you didn't have a choice. Except the one he gave you," Applejack said.

"I don't think I like your brother," Fluttershy said.

"I don't blame you. It's just that he and most almost all of the changlings there blamed me for what happened. Except Claire." I said.

"Wait, I thought you said you and Claire were the only survivors of your party," Rainbow Dash asked.

"We were," I said.

"But you just said all the other changlings that were there," She said again.

"The other Futa's, Midnight was only a Futa back then, but for some reason when he came to the rescue. I didn't feel like he was trying to save me," I said.

"You what, all this deep talk is making us depressed. Why don't we just go grab something to eat?" Rarity offered.

"Taco's?" I asked hopefully.

"Tacos are fun," Pinkie Pie said. With that we began walking out of the school.

CLAIRE'S POV
I layed in the shadows on top of the lockers invisible. The only reason I was here was to watch Phoenix's back in case Alex and his lackeys tried anything. While waiting for Celestia to give her judgment I looked at my corn knife that I traded Big Mac weeks ago. Back then it was new and shiny. Now it was crusted with dried blood, but was even sharper due me sharpening it every chance I got.

The doors opened letting Ben and Phoenix out. I was about to step out of the shadows, but those Rainbooms came. Keeping still I watched as Ben leave while Phoenix followed them into a classroom.

It took me a short while to find a hidden spot to listen in without being seen. But when I did Phoenix's next words made me run cold.

"It all started almost six years ago when I turned twelve and went on my first changling drifting trip," Phoenix started.

By the time Phoenix finished my blood was boiling. I did my best at helping Phoenix lead our branch, and he was doing a good job. This however was something he could get away with. It wasn't his secret to tell. It was OUR secret to tell. His, mine, Midnight's, Alaric's, Forest's, and Raven's.

We had to get even. An eye for an eye. And not just a good beat down or a few scars. We had to make him feel the betrayal. Pulling out my phone I punched in a number as Phoenix and his Rainbooms left. It rang a few times before being picked up.

"Yeah, what is it Claire?" A deep voice asked.

"Alaric, get Midnight and the others, Phoenix is a problem." I said angrily.