I sat back in the carriage as me and my two companions headed for the changeling hive. Nightstar had explained everything with his floating head colleague and though the plan was risky I had a hunch it was the only way. That was not what was on my mind, it was the second pony sitting across from me that I was currently scowling at.

“Don't ya look at me like that mister! Ah said ah'm coming along and that's final!”

“I don't know how this will pan out Applejack, that's why I didn't want you coming along.” I reply, I wasn't hiding my disappointment. “If something goes wrong I can't guarantee your safety.”

I had to return to Twilight's house after Nightstar's explaining so I could tell the others I might been gone for a while. I explained who Nightstar was and he gave a brief introduction, I was just leaving when Applejack demanded she goes along. I of course denied at first until she brought out the big guns...

“If ya don't bring me along there won't be any of this when ya get back!” Applejack had said, shaking her flank at me.

I then had to weigh the options, no kinky stuff or putting Applejack at risk. There was no hesitation. So now I have Applejack to look after. For the record I said no, but a swift kick to the knee changed my mind. It still hurt.

I came back to reality as I felt a hoof touch my leg, I shook my head and looked down.

“John? Are ya ok? Ya spaced out for a second.” Applejack says, her right fore hoof resting on my left thigh.

“I'm fine Applejack, I was just thinking.”

“About what?”

“You.”

“Oh, was it good or bad?”

“Both, I was thinking that maybe you should wait in the carriage until I get back, from what ever I was going to do down there.” I sigh and lower my head. “I just don't want you to be hurt because of me, I would never live with myself if you got hurt.”

“Ah can handle myself, ah ain't no filly ya know.” Applejack says, her hoof started to stroke my thigh.

“Our nights together certainly have proved that!” I reply, laughing. “Ok, just when we get down there just stay by me, and no foalishness.” I add, wiggling my finger at Applejack.

“Ah promise.” Applejack does the pinkie promise motions.

“I'll hold you to that.” I say.

Applejack steps up and we both hug, enjoying each others company and warmth.

“Commander?” I turn my head to Nightstar. “We are approaching the mission area.”

I nod. “Well let's see what the changelings have in store for us them shall we.” I drop Applejack to her hooves and stand up, I look out the window and spot a structure in a clearing outside the forest below. “I thought you said it was hidden?” I ask, Nightstar.

“It was commander, I don't understand they must have cleared acres of forest in just a few days.” Nightstar replies leaning out the window. “This will change things.”

“How so?” I question.

“They must be gearing up for something, which means the bulk of the changeling force must be inside the hive.” I feel the carriage start to descend as Nightstar continues. “You should be on high alert commander, the hive may be ready for war.”

I flex my shoulders and stretch my neck. “Then at least it will be enjoyable, I can safely say that killing changelings isn't going to hard. They have attacked Equestria twice and both times my family have been attacked, I say no more.” I turn my gaze to Nightstar. “Just get me as close as you can, I'll do the rest.”

Nightstar ordered the two ponies pulling the carriage to land in a clearing half a mile from the hive structure. I checked my armour one last time before I left the carriage.

Applejack and I made our way through the Everfree Forest keeping low as we approached the edge of the forest.

“Ah have a bad feeling about this.”

I turn my head to look at Applejack. I was surprised at how good Applejack kept up with me, her movement was just as good as mine. Half of the time I even forgot she was even there.

“What's wrong?” I ask, kneeling low to be eye level with Applejack.

“Ah have a feeling ya know, like ya know something is going ta go bad.”

I smile. “I have that feeling every time I make a decision that might take me away from you.”

“Ya do?”

“Yup, it's the feeling that screams when I return you'll kick my ass.”

Applejack chuckles before planting a kiss on my lips.

“Ah know what ya do is ta protect me and everypony else and ah respect that, but as Celestia is my witness ah will still kick your flank if ya don't come back in one piece.”

I scratch behind Applejack's ears and gesture behind me to the large clearing.

“Let's go whoop some changeling ass.”

Nightstar walks through the forest, his steps full of purpose. Nightstar stops as he notices movement to his left.

“So? Is he doing it?” A pony walks out from behind a tree.

“Oh yes.” Nightstar says with a grin, “He is going in now.”

“This could back fire you know.” Nightstar snaps his head to the right as a changeling walks out of the brush. “The empress won't be happy if that happens.”

“It won't back fire, all he has to do is attack them, his nature won't allow anything else.” Nightstar replies, his gaze turning sour. “By tonight those changelings won't be alive to stand in the empress' way.”

“Just be sure that they won't or don't even think of coming back!” The changeling backs away and vanishes in the foliage.

“I never trusted him.”

“Just watch your back, we may not like Vigil but he has great influence with the empress.” Nightstar says. “I will watch mine. I must get back but I want to enact our backup plan.”

“Seriously?” The other pony asks, a look of shock coming to his face.

“Yes, get the others ready and be prepared for any betrayal.” Nightstar turns around and heads back into the forest. “I will not let this plan fail.” Nightstar mutters to himself.

“I have no words for what I'm seeing.”

“Ya have no words, what about me.”

I was kneeling at the tree line with Applejack beside me, we had reached the end of the forest and were about to head out when two large doors open on the front of the hive and several changelings walked out. That however wasn't what was shocking us both, it was the fact all the changelings were female. And for the record I've seen enough up close to notice the difference.

“Ah didn't think changelings had mares.”

“They look like mini versions of the queen I killed in the crystal empire, yet they look like they have fur instead of their hard shell.”

“What do we do now?” Applejack says.

I go to reply but I notice two of the changelings heading for our hiding spot. I lower myself down further and Applejack follows suit, I pull Moonbeam off my belt but I don't activate it. I instead place it on the ground in front of me and gesture for Applejack to move to a nearby tree. The changelings were close now and I noticed they were carrying axes as for some reason I couldn't work out they had no horns. They both looked a lot like earth ponies.

One of the changelings splits off towards another area of the tree line as her companion heads directly to my spot. The changeling was completely oblivious to my presence until the last second. She goes to cry out but I lunge at her and pull her in to my hiding spot, I clamp her muzzle down with one hand as I hold her by the throat with my other. I stare into her eyes but all I see back Is terror, pure unbridled terror.

“Where is your queen?” I ask, a slight tone of anger in my voice.

The changeling mumbles and I release my grip on her muzzle.

“P-Please don't kill me! I will tell you anything just don't kill me!”

“Answer my question!” I say, tightening my grip on her throat.

“We don't have one!”

“Bullshit! Every hive has a queen, were is she!?”

“I'm not lying! We have no queen, we're not changelings!”

“What and this colour scheme is a life choice? Try again!”

“I'm telling the truth! We are not changelings! We have no queen!”

I feel a hoof on my leg and turn to see Applejack by my side.

“She's not lying John, ah can tell.”

I look to the mare in my grip and I slowly let her go, the mare drops to the floor and coughs as she gets her breath back.

“If your not changelings then what are you?” I ask.

“We are a hive of changelings that have no allegiance to anypony except one.” The mare coughs again.

“And that is?”

“Princess Luna, she is our patron.”

I try to make sense of what the mare is telling me.

“Come again?”

“Yes, Princess Luna found us three years ago after she had come back from her exile. She took pity on us and helped us build our hive, I think the princess even used some of her own magic in it's construction.”

“So y'all ain't part of the changeling race?” Applejack asks.

The mare smiles. “The day we rejoin the changeling race is the day I tear out my own heart.” The mare turns and starts to walk towards the clearing. “I guess you want to meet our leader, then you better follow me.”

“You're not afraid I will hurt your fellow hivers?” I ask, quite wary that she would just lead me into her home.

“Oh no, now I know who you are...Commander Core.” The mare trots out into the open and I turn my head to Applejack.

“Still have that feeling?” I ask.

“Yup, but it ain't from her. It's something else, something my gut tells me is going to hurt more than just us.” Applejack replies as we both move to follow the black and green mare.