“What?” my customer, who I had been dealing with, for the past thirty minuets asked me, with a weird, confused look on her muzzle. “You can’t just, I don’t know, use a magic spell to find what I want?” I worked in a retile, and really, this is the one job if you want to meet the dumbest ponies in the world! This mare was looking for a sweater, thing is, she wanted a size six. Now this moron thought we were like flee markets, you know, where they put all the sizes stuff together, not by style and other such stuff? Well as I said, this idiot here thought that there were none, and she didn’t know what type she wanted! And now, this earth pony thought I could just use magic to pull all the size six and bring them to her, so that she could look at them all?! I never heard of such a spell.

“No,” I simply said with my eyes half closed.

“Um, what?”

“No…that’s not what I can do ma’am.”

“Tsk, really? I can’t believe this place,” she then walked passed me still saying. “Can’t believe how this place doesn’t know how to keep it neat enough to find what you need!” the door slammed as I closed my eyes, and took a large sigh, before I heard my boss behind me as she laughed.

“Dumb pony?”

“Eeyup…” I muttered shaking my head. “How is it I get the crazy ones…and you get the somewhat sane ones?!”

“I think they are drawn to you, I mean, you being a Changeling and that,”

“Three forth,” I told her once more as she rolled her eyes.

“You know what I mean!” she joked with me, pushing me slightly.

She was a rather young mare, younger then my mother, but smart and full of wisdom like any old mare would have. At times, her Mother would come, and joke saying she was born not as a filly, but as a full grown mare. Her coat was that of an orange color, her mane, a blond yellow. She was a unicorn, and stood a bit higher then me, for I still had a few years of growing to do anyway. Her Cutie Mark was that of a simple cloth hanger, with cloth behind it, showing her skill of selling nearly anything of clothing. Her mane covered most of her face, as she would at times; flick her head to remove the strand of hair covering her eyes. She was kind to me, in fact, giving me this job when I couldn’t find other work at all. And I’ve been here for years now. Sure, I hated to fold and stock, but it was a job; and I was grateful. The relationship we had, been not of a simple, boss and worker type, no; she was like a good friend. She was always there to lean on when I needed a shoulder from more then my family. Thing was though…I never knew her real name, she never even told me a name! So I would just call her Boss. She could easily judge your character, and it took a while for her to forgive you, if you ever crossed her. “Anyway,” she spoke after she lightly pushed me as I went to clean up a bit of a mess on the folded vest area. “You seem a bit happier today then what you’ve been for a while.” I smiled softly as she said this, still beaming that me and Crystal were back together. “A mare back in your life?”

“You sure you can’t read minds?” I asked looking over my shoulder at her as she smiled. “But yes, I and Crystal are back together again.”

“Good for you two!” she proclaimed as she clapped her hooves together at once. “I always knew you two would be back together!”

“How so?”

“Well, you two seem so happy together,” she answered truthfully with a nod.”Something like that comes once in a while, and I’m glad that it was with you two.” She then added as she waved a hoof around. “Beside…it was sad to see you so down after you two broke up…why did she break it off with you anyway?”

“Long story,” I answered. “Well…not really long, but I rather not say.”

“Understandable,” she spoke as she went behind the counter. “Oh, one more thing,” she then pointed to the clock. “You can go on your hour lunch break, and when you’re on your way back,” she threw me a bag of bits; I caught it with my teeth. “Mind bringing me back that sub at that place I like?”

“Sure thing boss,” I nodded as I turned, placing the bag of bits in my vest pocket; before going out the door.

I was sitting down now, slowly eating a side of soup of tomatoes, and a side salad with ranch dressing on the side. I always liked it when I poured it on myself; weird to some I know. I brought the spoon up, the richness of the soup flowing on my tongue, causing me to let out a small ‘Mhm’ sound as I drank it. I brought a napkin up, dapping my lips of it, before; I heard the sound of commotion off to the side. The café where I was now eating, was pretty close to the edge of city, once you left, whatever was keeping the snow out; or what snow was not permitted to enter the city would be there. I thought nothing of it really; I mean what could really…be… I stopped when I was about to take a bite of my salad as I stood up and went to where a crowd of ponies were gathering. We were on a higher section of the city; a set of stairs would take you toward to the main streets. They were all looking ahead, far our in the sight of the snow filled world. “What is that?” I heard one pony say as I wormed my way through, to fully see what they were taking about. I narrowed my eyes, when I saw it. A large black…something, was coming toward the city, and rather quickly too. A black cloud maybe? Was there a thunderstorm I knew nothing of, heh; poor Mom she is gonna… Oh, no…no…no! It couldn’t be, that large?! But….if that was what I thought it was…then that means…?

My train of thought was cut as I heard a loud alarming bell go off, at once, everypony around me started to panic as they ran away from where the black cloud, which I knew now was a hoard of Changelings, making their way here! I heard the shouts of guards down below as they ordered the ponies to get to the safety of the castle, both Crystal Guards, and Canterlot Guards. I was about to follow them, when I heard the blast of a cannon fire. Looking over, I saw many guards had pulled out moveable cannons and were firing at them. Made no difference, I watched the ‘could’ split. I smiled though when I saw the ball break apart, a magic of lighting bursting through, hitting many of them, as small black dots fell from the sky. But now, knowing this, they would move as far away from the balls as possible. “Shadow!” I looked down, as one Crystal Guard who I couldn’t remember her name waved me down. “Come on, you got to get to safety!” I only nodded, about to go down…when I remembered about my boss, I couldn’t just leave her, I had to at least make sure she made it out! Plus, I stored the hidden hoof-blade there!

Not listening to the shouts of the guard, I raced back as fast as I could, toward the place of my work, flying high to avoid the stampede of ponies on ground, but I still had to watch for the ponies in the air! At last, with quickness, I made it there, pushing my way through the door as I looked around quickly. “Boss?!” I called out in panic as I went into the back room. “Are you here?” I heard nothing, letting out a soft sigh of relief, good, she was gone. I then moved my head, and looked back at the shelf that stood before me now, as I went through it, pulling out my Dad’s blade he gave me. Strapping it to my forearm, I gave it a few flicks to see if it was working fine, before nodding to myself when it was.

I made my way back outside, before I yelped as I hit the ground, a stream of green magic shot close to me, and when I looked up…they were here!

High above the sky, many Changelings flew along, shooting green magic from their horns, in a form of blasts. One, nearly hit me, which was not nothing but a hole in the building. I watched as still, many ponies ran for their lives, the guards, doing all they could to also protect them. The buzzing of their wings, were all I could hear, followed by the shouts of fear, and some fighting. I was about to run myself, when one landed before me, far enough away that it would run at me to attack, but still close enough. This was my chance! My chance to show and tell my Dad that I could do it, I could fight! But…but I couldn’t move, why couldn’t I move?! I saw the Changeling, the type my Dad was, slowly move closer to me, I then could move, and I backed up. No! Move forward, just like you always thought, stab him, kick him; do something! But I couldn’t, I looked over, watching as one guard easily cut down one Changeling, watching its face hold a face of pain, before falling over, my gut…I felt the need to throw up. I heard a chuckle from the Changeling, before looking over. “So…you are the son of Lighting Knight, and Saki; am I right?” the voice was male, a sly grin crossing over his muzzle. “What’s the matter? Can’t run? Are you scared?”

“N…no!” I screamed out flicking the blade out, holding it out toward me. “You…you stay back! I swear…I’ll…I’ll cut you!” He only laughed coldly at me as my hoof shook. What…what was wrong with me? Before I could even think of an answer, he attacked.

A red blot was shot before me, as I jumped back, something inside me snapped as I let loose a burst of my own magic onto him, he dodged and weaved through them with ease, before he tackled me to the ground, holding my arms out as he pointed his horn at me. I gasped, eyes closing in fright, before shooting him off with a powerful magic spell. He flipped in the air a few times, before falling flat on his back; his body slightly smocking from my spell. I rolled back to my hooves, as he got up as well, before three more landed around him; all the same clan as he.

I heard his hiss of anger at me as the other three slowly stalked me like he was now. I looked at the four, I couldn’t move, save for my small knife blade, which was waving back and forth between the four. They all looked ready to attack, before a loud battle like cry was heard. I jumped as I looked over, seeing Quake himself rush over, hammer in hand. The Changeling hissed in their own surprised, as they left me, to fight the more, willing foe. He made short work of the first, smashing his hammer down on its skull, the deafing crunch of bone heard, as well as the squishy splat of brain and muscle. I cringed at the sight of what was left of the Changeling. Its wings buzzing slightly, before stopping at once. Lifting his hammer, he span on his hooves, as if a dance, now gripping the handle in his mouth, as he smashed the second and third Changeling on the side of their skulls; they died before they hit the ground. The last one left, saw his three other kin dead, looked rightfully scared, before taking off, Quake, watched him go, eyes narrowed before he looked to me.

Out of all the ponies…the one that he saved, was the one he didn’t want dating his daughter at all; so why? He came up before me, his right hoof out, before cracking it across my muzzle, I yelled in pain, holding my now sore muzzle before yelling. “What the buck was that for?!”

“For being an idiot!” he yelled back, looking at his hammer, now covered in blood. “You want to be a guard? HA! You froze up like a bunny caught in a carrot field! If I didn’t see you, and come when I did, you be dead right now!” I didn’t say anything, because he was right. I froze up, like a scared colt, I was frozen in place, and confused…I couldn’t do it. I then yelped when he grabbed me, pulling me back into the shop, before shutting the door, and blocking it with a large shelf of clothing, before looking back at me. “Not safe out in the open, ugh…” he looked away and muttered. “I could’ve just left him,” he spoke to himself. “Could’ve just left with the others to the castle, but Noooo…had to save the plot of the stallion my daughter loves!” he then turned to look at me, before shoving me up to the wall with his forearm around my neck. “Listen here you!” he yelled, holding me, and pointing with his other foot. “I know Lighting taught you how to fight, so you better well use them; because let me tell you. It’s killed, or be killed you understand? You don’t fight out there, you freeze up again, and that’s it! And I will not be the one to tell my daughter, that you died, because you froze up!” he released me as I fell back on all fours, coughing slightly as he then went on to saying. “So stallions up, grows some, and follow me!”

“Wait!” I cried out as he looked back. “My…my mom, and sister…did you see them go toward the castle?” he said nothing for a bit, before looking away. “Well?”

“No,” he answered. “But…” he looked back at me. “I…saw a group of Changelings fly off away from the main group, if I had to guess…it would be toward your place.”

“Then I have to go back!” I yelled turning to leave out the back before he stopped me.

“Oh no you don’t!” he yelled. “You couldn’t handle one, and you want to fight off a few dozen to save your mom and sister who might be already dead?!”

“Shut up!” I yelled. “They are not dead, and I’m not going anywhere safe, until they are safe as well!”

We glared at each other for the longest time, or what felt like a long time, outside; I could hear the sounds of fighting. I watched as he then looked away and grumbled. “Fine,” Fine…that’s all he had to say? If I remembered right, dad told me that Quake was one of those ponies who fought for what he thought was right. Hours would go by to even get close for him to think of changing his mind…and yet; he did it so quickly; why? I noticed the way he then looked at me, I couldn’t quite but my hoof on it…but something was; off. “The main bulks seem to be going off toward the castle anyway,” he answered looking outside as he brought his hammer in its sheath. “We go, we go now.”

“Right,” I answered as I tightened the grip of my hoof-blade. He looked back to me and then answered.

“Can you wield a sword?” he asked me as I looked and nodded my head slightly. “Alright…I hate to say it, but I saw a few bodies of guards around. If you find a suitable weapon, I suggest you use it; the dead won’t have any use to it.” I only nodded once more and was about to leave, when he stopped me. “Once more thing…if…” he looked away. “If your mother and sister are truly gone, do not fight for revenge. You will feel rage, sadness…all emotions will boil inside you like a bottle; and then, release. But, do not let that happen!” he then gave me a firm glare. “If this happens, we turn and flee to safety, understand?”

“You know I can’t keep that promise,” I answered matter-of-factly.

“Then say it…as if Crystal asked you,”

“That is a low blow,” I hissed softly under my breath.

“You’ve done the same.” He was right…I would’ve.

“Fine,” I agreed as he nodded, leading the way outside.

Here…now, it was ghostly still. Though, were the castle was, and I could see from here, the Changelings were firing magic attacks on the large shield dome, a soft ‘ping’ was heard as the magic was deflected. And also, as I looked around, I gulped at the sight. Many bodies were in fact lying around. Mostly all Changelings, but a few, I counted maybe five from what I could see, were guard ponies. One of them…was the guard that ordered me to run. I went over to her, seeing how she was the closet, and also saw, that she in fact, held a normal looking blade. It was laying beside her hoof her eyes, transfixed at something. Five Changelings, lay dead around her. I brought my hoof out, and closed her eyes slowly, bowing my head for a moment. Before unclipping the sheath, and placing the blade inside; then around my back. “I’m sorry…” I whispered before turning to leave, following Quake. All around, was death, many of the buildings had crumbled roofs, and smelt of magic fire.

“Look,” he pointed up ahead, before hiding behind a building, pulling me along. I did, and in fact, did see some Changelings fly by, toward my home, what was worst; was two of them, were Changeling Queens. “Damit…now we got Changeling Queens coming…you sure about this foal?”

“I’m…sure,” I took a deep breath. “When dad’s away…I have to protect my family!”

“Got guts,” he pointed out. “Maybe my daughter did choose right, ether way; gets ready for a fight!” I nodded slightly before he ran off, and as I followed, the sound of fighting grew loud. The guards there was fighting I knew that for sure.

By the time we at last got there, I watched as Lance was thrown away, landing just outside the yard of my home. I jerked over, seeing that the one, who threw him, was a large red Changeling Queen. She held her head high, as she glared at the pony she just deposed of as if he was nothing more then a fly to her. This…was Cocoon; she looked just the way dad told me. Standing on the side, watching with an amused look on her face Chrysalis. But what fueled my rage the most when seeing her was the face, which she was holding my sister as she tried to get away! “Release her Chrysalis!” I turned my head, seeing mom slowly get up. Sweet Celestia…she was bleeding badly. Her right eye, even from here, I could see was closed shut. Her mane, messed and her muzzle was bleeding. I watched as Cocoon turned, snorting as she ready an attack.

“Stop!” I screamed running forward, drawing the blade, and pointing it at her. “Don’t you dare!”

“Shadow!” I heard my mom gasp as I just glared at Cocoon.

“Big brother!” I watched as Cocoon slowly turned to me, her red eyes causing me to slightly back away as I gulped softly. Her eyes narrowing at me as I gripped the sword.

“So,” she spoke looking at me, she knew mom couldn’t do anything, seeing how she was now back on the ground; her body weak from, whatever she or her ‘mother’ did to her. “You, are the eldest of their children; Shadow Knight, am I right?” she took a step forward; as I backed away slightly, before feeling Quake beside me, hammer at the ready. This seemed to make her stop as she only smiled. “I must say…you do look much like your father, yet; a mane style of…what his name?”

“Shining Armor,” I heard Chrysalis answered as she held Nina down with a single hoof.

“Yes him, why is that?” I said nothing, before she spoke once more. “Come now, this is just a simple chat, is it not?”

“Your attacking the Crystal Empire!” I cried out as Cocoon nearly snorting waving her hoof.

“Details, details,” she spoke as if it did not truly matter. “All that matters…is that you are all here,”

“What do you mean?”

“I met your father on the battle field out there,” she answered looking away with a smile. “And I made him a promise…one I intend,” she then turned to me. “To keep.” I then watched as her eyes seemed to flash, wait, a love spell? HA! Did she think she could control me? Impossible, I am part Changeling…waits…she wasn’t looking at me she was…

I yelped and jumped away as Quake dropped his hammer down where I use to stand. That’s when I saw it; his eyes, and face, that of a zombie blank like look; his eyes, glowing red. Impossible, how could she have gotten to him like that, that fast? Unless…unless he was prolonged to her spell for a longer base of time?! “We needed somepony on the inside,” I heard Cocoon speak as I looked over at her quickly and then back to Quake as he just stood there. “And when, we threatened to kill his daughter, well…he was more then willing to accept my offer. And what more, I made him my most loyal love giver.” She chuckled softly. “Oh how grand this will be, he knew that his daughter will hate him for the rest of his life, when I make him kill you,” I gulp again at hearing this. “But he doesn’t care, for as long as we leave his daughter alone, he’ll be happy with that; isn’t that right?”

“Yes…” he answered softly. The way he was…the way he was acting, it was as if he was a sleeper agent pony!

“Now what to do…what to do,” I watched as Cocoon tapped her chin. “You kill him, and Crystal hates you for the rest of your life, or he kills you, and she does the same to her father. So many choices aren’t that right?”

“You…bitch!”

“Eh, been called worst, now; Quake, kill him.”

Quake moved slowly at first, but then ran toward me; hammer up as he slammed it down, just after I jumped out of the way. I held the sword up in my right hoof, holding it before me. I knew it couldn’t do much with a hammer like his. It was common sense, his type of weapon was used only for raw power, for mine, was pretty much for quick attacks, or as quick as one could wield it. When I would spar with dad, when we use to do it daily at a time when I was younger, and he teaching me. We always used the wooden swords, never real metal ones, for fear of one of us being harmed greatly. So the weight of this sword, though I knew it was a simple blade, of normal length and width…it still felt heavy in my grip. His eyes…looked dead to me, transfixed on me, as they glowed an eerier red. It sent shivers down my spine. I heard my mom call out, telling me to just run, but I wouldn’t, and I couldn’t! My sister, Nina, was crying still, as her ‘grand-mother’ held her down. My arm shook a bit, as I slowly backed away, as Quake moved forward, holding his hammer to the side, as behind him, Cocoon grinned widely as she watched the show before her unfold. It’s killed, or be killed you understand? You don’t fight out there, you freeze up again, and that’s it! Those words echoed in my mind, remembering the words Quake told me when he saved me from those Changelings. If my guess was right, there must have been a small part of him…trying to warm me. He must’ve known, or knew when he saved me; how I didn’t try to fight them off at all. He knew all of this was going to happen, but he couldn’t say anything, ether he was ordered by Cocoon with her magic, or threatened of his daughter’s life. So he must’ve been ordered to bring me before Cocoon; that’s why he gave up so easily!

Killed…or be killed, those were the words he spoke to me…he knew this was going to happen, Cocoon was going to place me, into fighting him. He…he must want me more to end this control over him, then Crystal hating him for the rest of his life! “Quake, snap out of it!” I yelled out as he stopped for a mere second. “Listen to me…I…I can’t fight you, I can’t kill you! I could never look at Crystal in the eye again, knowing that I killed you!”

“Trying to break him free won’t work!” I heard Cocoon call to me. “He had been under my spell for a long time now! You can try to counter my love with your own. But even if you do, he will not make it easy! And once he is free; I’ll just put him back under!” I heard her laugh out loudly at this as I grunted. She was right.

“Keep…her…safe,” I turned to look back at Quake, his body was shuddering, and I saw it…tears, he was crying as he spoke in a drone like voice. The tears, unknown to Cocoon, streaming down his face as he spoke, much louder now. “Keep…her…safe!”

“That’s right, keep me safe my little pony,” I heard Cocoon chuckle once more. I looked to Quake, as he walked forward again. No…not Cocoon, Crystal.” I bowed my head for a moment, taking a deep breath as I pointed my blade toward him. I had to do it, I had no other choice.

“I will Quake,” I muttered, low enough that he could hear when he was closer. “I will…please, forgive me,” I rushed him then, holding the sword to my side as I brought it up in a sideway slash, he blocked it by the handle of his hammer, as he went to hit me with his free hoof. I ducked, before shooting him with my magic. He was sent skidding backwards as I fired a few more shots at him, hitting him in his chest as he fell forward slightly. I held my ground, before brining the sword up with my magic, and unsheathing the hoof-blade.

I moved, slowly, in a counter clock-wise stance, as he mirrored what I did. Holding his hammer up. It was ghastly still in the air, I swear, if we did this long enough, we would’ve made a noticeable circle by now. Once more he rushed me, as I moved to the side, sidestepping him, and, with a deep breath, slashed before myself. I could feel the edge cutting into the flesh of the pony before me; hear the cutting of small flush, as blood spattered onto the ground. It made me want to vomit, but I held it in, as Quake backed away, but he didn’t look in pain.

Blood trickled down his side, a long gash, but it looked hollowed from the slow bleeding of the wound. As I said, he didn’t even look like he was in any sort of pain whatsoever. He just stood there, watching me, with his blank look. I was surprised when he threw his hammer at me, spinning in the air, as it came closer to me; I dropped to the ground quickly as I could, as it flew over my head. When I got back up, I was thrown to the ground by the large pony, which started to hit my face over and over again. I saw red; blue…every color as he pounded me with his hooves. I tried to block some, I did in fact, but he still went. Dear Celestia…I was going to die here, I was going to die! I watched as he rose his right hoof, ready to slam it down on me once more, I closed my eyes; ready for the worst.

The echoing crack of a hoof colliding with thing was heard, but I felt no pain, was the pain so great…I just couldn’t feel it? I opened my eyes slowly, and looked up, my eyes widen slightly, Quake was hit hard enough, to send him tumbling to the ground away from me, and the one who did it… “D…dad!” I called out, as he, stood in front of me, his sword in its sheath, and his hoof, covered in blood from the hit.

“Light!” I heard mom call out.

“Daddy!” Nina tried as I stood up fully, before falling back down. I watched as Cocoon glared, her flaming eyes, seeming to ablaze in more anger. I looked over my dad; he still wore a bit of his armor, mostly his chest place. His helm was missing, his mane, for the first time I saw him, was down, messing.

“About time you showed up Bright Star,” I heard the red Changeling Queen call out. “You were missing out on all the fun!”