Under Fire, A Nymph That Roams The Battlefield
Scarab examined his new soldiers, looking at each and everyone of them. He wanted to see who he was sending into battle.
“I’ve seen grubs better than you maggots!” he said, insulting his newest batch of soldiers.
He continued to examine the soldiers, then stopped on one in particular. He looked at an empty space, then looked down, noticing the green and blue-eyed soldier staring at him.
He sighed. “Shorter than most,” he said with a sigh. With that, he walked off.
Zenex sighed, watching the General depart. The nymph was in the clear, and could be deployed.
A Changeling in The Trenches
By MlpHero
Zenex looked in the mirror of his ship's cabin, his green and blue eyes staring at him. He sighed, trying not to feel sick due to the rocking waves.
He sighed, looking at his reflection. He then heard his door open.
“Private Zenex?”
The nymph looked over. “Hey Captain.”
Brokenwing trotted up to the nymph. “How’s it feel to be here? Exciting?”
Zenex shook his head. “Uh… a bit nervous, sir,” Zen admitted. He sighed, sitting next to Broken. “I miss my friends.”
Broken smiled. “You have us. Love it or not, as we serve, we’re brothers.” Broken rubbed the nymph’s head.
Zen chuckled and nodded. “Yes sir.” They sat for a while. Then Zenex asked, “do they know yet?”
Broken shook his head. “Just me, Blue, Ky, Dag, Sting, Mantis.”
Zen sighed with relief. “What about Hive?” he asked.
“I’ve already sent a letter to the Wasps positioned in White Tail Woods. He’ll know soon enough. Don’t worry,” Brokenwing reassures him.
Zen sighed again. “Okay. How long till we land?”
Broken looked at the clock. “Just a few more hours.”
Zen nodded and laid in bed. Just a few more hours...
~~~
Zen’s eyes flew open. He looked around, feeling cloth on his carapace. He looked up to see a few unreformed changelings staring down at him, one dawning blue fangs.
“B… Blue?” Zenex asked, coughing a bit.
Blue Fang crouched down to him. “Zenex? You okay?” he asked, concerned.
The nymph sat up. He looked around, noticing Stinger staring at him. “What happened?”
Stinger sighed. “Your landing craft took an ES hit. Pharynx dragged you halfway across the beach head.”
Zen looked at Pharynx, who was also laying on a stretcher. He waved a hoof at the nymph. Zen smiled and waved back.
“Happened to you?” Zenex asked, smiling a bit.
Pharynx chuckled. “Just a magic burn, nothing much.”
Dagger, a changeling just as tall as Zenex, but older than him, laughed. “Yeah, poor bucker got blasted and Blue had to drag his flank through a trench line.”
“Hey, buck you!” Pharynx snapped.
Mantis looked over. “It’s alright Phar. It’s better than being sent flying out of Canterlot.”
The others laughed. Then Mitchell, the platoon Sergeant, stepped up. “Alright, enough playing. We move out tomorrow!”
Second Platoon, otherwise known as the Fangs, let out a battle cry. Zenex smiled at them. The nymph sighed, and laid back.
~~~
Dear Zenex,
Hey buddy, I heard you volunteered for the Devil Horns. Too bad you weren’t born on the elites, then you could’ve joined me in the Wasp Division. Oh well. I know you haven’t seen me in a long time, so I’ve sent a picture of me along with this letter. I hope I’ll see you again.
From, Hivehunter
Dear Zenex,
Hey, it’s me, Flutters. I’m writing this letter to you to wish you the best of luck. I know how much you must be worried, trust me, I am too, but I know you’ll do the right thing. I can’t wait to see you again, Zenny.
Love, Flutterwings
~~~
Zen stared at the photo of the red schemed changeling with a chipped horn, then at the letter from the purple pigtailed-nymph. He smiled at both of them. He sighed and laid back. Soon, he noticed someone peek into his tent. He looked over to see Kydra, a female changeling with dark magenta eyes.
“Ky?”
She smiled a bit. “Scarab’s talking. Come on.” She waved a hoof.
Zen nodded. “I’m up,” he said, pulling himself up.
He followed her outside, meeting with the other Fangs. There stood a changeling General. Zenex recognized him easily.
Scarab walked around the soldiers of 2nd Platoon. He looked at them. Brokenwing passed a clipboard over to the General. Scarab nodded and looked at them. “Alright, now, an RG force is approaching our position. We’re strong, but we’ll need reinforcements.”
Broken pulled out a map. It showed a map over their trench line, and the enemy’s. “We have a Wasp unit moving up. Only problem is, they don’t know exactly where our line is,” Broken said. “We need a runner to inform them where we are. We need someone small and fast.”
All eyes fell on both Dagger and Zenex, as they were the smallest. A smile grew on Dagger’s face. “I’ll gladly do it,” he volunteered, raising his hoof up.
The other Fangs shook their heads. “Nah, you ain’t serious enough,” Mitchell pointed out.
Dagger rolled his eyes. “Whatever.”
Then, all eyes fell on Zenex. He hid behind Kydra. Broken and Scarab exchanged glances. “Come on Zenex. You’re small and pretty fast,” Broken said.
He peeked out from behind Ky. “B-But I’ve never even experienced combat!” he said. “I passed out on the beach!”
Scarab chuckled. “Well, there’s a heavy fog rolling in. Chances are, you won’t have to fight anyone. Just clear through the trenches, and find the Wasps.”
Zen reluctantly took the map. He looked at Broken. “But why me? Why not anyone else?”
Broken smiled. “It’s what Hive wanted.” Zen’s eyes widened. Broken nodded. “He’s waiting on ya.”
Zenex nodded, now more determined to do this. “I won’t let him down.”
Scarab nodded. “Okay. We’ll wait until the fog rolls in. Come on Devil Horns, let’s set up defense, let’s move!”
“Hura!”
~~~
“RG’s! In the fog!”
Zenex looked over the trench. Much to his horror, they saw a large group of Royal Guards charged at them from the fog. Zenex looked at Blue Fang and Pharynx, who looked back.
“What are you waiting for?!” Scarab asked. “Fire! Fire!”
Mitchell charged his horn. “Engage!”
Zen watched as the Devil Horns fired their horns at the enemy guards. It was like watching a fireworks display up close. Bolts of green magic flew through the air, striking the charging guards.
Zenex looked at Broken. “When do I run sir?!”
Broken ducked down. “We have to push these guys back!” he said, raising up to fire again.
Zen looked at the Captain, then at the charging RG’s. He sighed. There were too many guards charging them. They needed reinforcements soon, otherwise, they’d be screwed.
He watched as the fog started getting thicker. He gritted his teeth. He looked at the others. He then jumped out of the trench and began running into the fog.
“Zenex!” Broken called out, watching the nymph charge into the fog. “Wait! Come back!”
Blue put his hoof on his brother’s shoulder. “It’s alright. He’s completing his mission. We need to hold out here until the Wasps arrive.”
Broken sighed. “Alright.”
Blue smiled. “Come on. He’ll be back.”
Broken nodded and followed Blue.
~~~
Zenex ran through the fog, looking around the battlefield. He looked behind him, noticing that the trench was far away. Too far to turn back now.
He sighed and pressed on. He looked up to face the enemy trench, bouncing in a zigzag motion almost like a deer.
He watched as guards either stared at him in disbelief, or were scared as he jumped passed.
Zen felt free, as if the spirit of wind itself was carrying him through the fog. He smiled, watching as the guards tried and failed to hit him. He kept running, finally jumping over the trench and pushing on deep into the forest.
~~~
Lieutenant Hivehunter
Wasp Division
Hive marched through the woods, closely followed by the other Wasp soldiers. Another changelings, Corporal Iris, looked at him.
“Lieutenant?”
Hive looked over to his friend. “Yeah?”
The Corporal looked around. “Are you sure we’re going the right way?” Iris asked, trying to peek through the trees of White Tail Woods.
Hive shrugged. “I dunno. This map is as useless as a brick.” He crumbled the map up.
They continued walking until…
“Hey! Hey! Over here!”
The Wasps looked over to the voice. A small, blue and green eyed changeling running towards them. Hive’s eyes widened. “Zenex!”
The tiny soldier happily tackled Hive and began nuzzling his belly. Hive chuckled. “Heheh. Okay, okay, I’m happy to see you too,” he said, trying to hold back his giggles.
Zenex let Hive back up. “Heheh, sorry, I just missed you.”
Hive chuckled. “I missed you too, Zenny.”
The other Wasps looked at each other. Iris walked over. “Hey Hive, who is this?”
Hive looked to him, while Zenex shrunk behind him. He gently rubbed the nymphs head. “This is Zenex. He’s with the Devil Horns.”
Another Wasp looked over. “He don’t look like an actual soldier.”
Hive shrugged. “Between you guys and me, he’s actually a nymph.”
The others looked at Zenex, who was still hidden behind Hive. Then they looked at Hive, who nodded.
Zen closed his eyes, expecting for them to start scolding him when Iris reached a hoof out. Zen looked at him.
“Добро пожаловать на войну, Zenex,” he greeted, speaking an old changeling tongue.
Zen smiled and took his hoof. “Рад быть здесь.”
~~~
Zen led the Wasps through the fog, his horn glowing a bright green aura. They continued walking, looking around the forest. At one point, Zenex got scared of a tree that had a “face” in it. It was just a bit of weirdly formed bark.
They continued to walk through the woods, after a while finally finding the RG trench.
“There it is,” Zenex said.
The Wasps smiled. “That’s it?” Iris asked. He chuckled. “It’s like taking candy from a foal.”
Zen nodded. “Yeah, but the Devil Horns are outnumbered by a long shot.”
Hive examined the battlefield. He smiled at the field. Iris noticed and nodded. “I know that smile like broad daylight,” he said, smirking. “What is it, Hive?”
The red changeling looked at Zenex. “Hey Zenny Boy, can you run back to your line and tell them to charge out. We’ll charge from this side. Together, we can close’em in.”
Zen nodded. “Okay. It’s still foggy. I can make it to the other line.” He stood up and got ready to run.
Hive patted his shoulder. “Be careful, Zenny.”
He smiled and nodded. “I will be.” Zen took a breath, then ran into the fog.
Hive looked at the Wasps. “Alright! Everyone know what they’re doing? Everyone know where we’re going?”
“Aura!”
“Everyone ready?”
“Aura!”
Hive smiled. “Alright! Let’s do this!” He looked at Iris and another soldier. “Iris, Chronicle! You’re both with me! Let’s move!”
The Wasps let out a battlecry before charging.
~~~
Brokenwing looked through his binoculars. “RG’s are still charging!”
Blue looked at him. “Where the buck is our reinforcements?!”
“Dunno!” Broken looked at Pharynx and Dagger. “Hey! You think you can shoot an explosive spell barrage at the RG’s?”
Pharynx and Dagger nodded. “ES bombardment!” Pharynx called out. The message repeated all the way down the trench. The changelings charged the explosive spells, not knowing that a certain nymph was gonna be caught in the storm.
~~~
Zenex continued his run, blasting down a few RG’s who scared him. He continued running. He looked around, a smile growing on his face. It was almost over! His run was almost over! He could finally rest up and—
“INCOMING!”
Zen looked up to see green magic beams raining from the sky. He gasped. No, no, no, no, no, no, NO! he thought frantically. He gritted his teeth. He began to run. Come on Zen! You need to get home! Ocellus and Flutterwi—
BOOM!
He felt his body lift off of the ground, with pain shooting through his back half like a rocket. He landed in a crater. He coughed due to the dust, and started to cry. What were you thinking, Zenex?! You weren’t built for this! Hive was! He put his head in his hooves and began sobbing. I won’t see any of my friends again! Not Blue! Not Broken! Not Hive or Flutters or Ocellus or—
“Zenex.”
The nymph looked up, still in tears. “H-Hello?” He looked around the crater. He then noticed a silhouette forming in the fog. “W-What?”
“Zenex. Get up.”
He squinted. “O… Ocellus?”
The silhouette stepped closer. “Get up, Zenex.”
He sniffled. “I’m… I’m sorry Ocellus… but I won’t make it… I let you down…”
“No you didn’t. You’re brave. You’ll see me again, but in order to do so, I need you to get up.”
He smiled, wiping the tears away. “I… I will. For you.”
“I know you will.” The silhouette began to walk away. “I have faith in you, Zenny.”
He watched as the silhouette of Ocellus disappeared into the fog. He nodded and picked himself up. He winced as he put pressure on his hind hooves.
Come on, Zen! You gotta do this! For Ocellus and Flutters!
He pushed on, climbing out of the crater. He looked up, watching as the ES fell from the sky. He began limping back to the trench. He nodded around, blasting down any RG’s charging at him. He looked up, finally finding the trench. “Hey! Hey!”
A changeling poked his head up. “Hey! It’s one of ours!” they called out.
Zen continued limping, finally falling into the trench. Broken walked over to him. “Hey Zen. What did Hive say?”
Zen breathed heavily. “He said… he said…”
Broken caressed his face. “Yeah?”
Zen swallowed. He gritted his teeth. “He said charge!”
Broken nodded. “You heard him! Charge!”
The Devil Horns let out their own battlecry and charged into the fray. Zen watched as they charged, before laying back and closing his eyes.
~~~
“Zenex?”
The nymph opened his eyes, spotting a red schemed changeling staring at him. He smiled. “Hey Hive,” he said, looking around the tent.
Hive playfully rubbed his head. “How’s it going?”
Zen shook his head a bit. “Eh, a bit of leg pain, but that’s it,” Zen said chuckling.
Hive reached for his saddlebags and pulled out a canteen. “Here, drink up.” He put the canteen to Zen’s mouth.
Zen took a few swigs from the canteen. “Thanks.”
Hive sat next to the nymph. He smiled at Zenex, gently rubbing his carapace. “You gonna be alright.”
Zenex nodded. “Yeah. You wanna know why?”
Hive nodded.
Zen smiled and rested his head on Hive’s shoulder. “I have you.”
Hive felt his heart beat faster. He smiled as Zenex slowly shut his eyes, soon falling asleep. Hive gently rubbed the nymph’s head and laid next to his friend. “Heh, no matter where you go, no matter what you do, you’ll always be my little changeling in the trenches.” Hive wrapped the nymph in a gentle embrace before falling asleep next to him.
