“I honestly don’t see what your trying to do ‘Courier‘.” a mare’s voice sounded through the woods.

A unicorn stallion walked out, looking upon Ponyville. “All in due time Chrysalis. You’ll see. And I’m a stallion of my word. You’ll have your fair share in this. That I promise. Just keep your agents in place.”

“Chrysalis! You wont get away with this!” yelled a grey mane, sandstone colored Pegasus.

“Enough out of her.” Chrysalis growled. Within moments, a Changeling had appeared to put a gag in her mouth.

“Soon enough Daring Do, you’ll see how forgiving we can be to those who surrender. Those who oppose however… is a different matter.” she explained as she gently slid her hoof across Daring’s cheek who simply growled and gave out a muffled shout.

“Chrysalis, now is not the time for your games. You never told me why you wanted Equestria for yourself now. Why not explain?” ’Courier’ asked.

With a chuckle Chrysalis answered “Why it’s oh so simple. We changelings feed on the emotion, love. Equestria is chalk full of it. More so than the Griffon Empire. We’ve tried the Crystal Empire, But there was a spell to keep us out. Even disguised we are immediately expelled. Normally we just go somewhere, disguised, and feed off the love. But with how much there is here in Equestria, and it’s ally the Crystal Empire, its an absolute feast!”

“Honorable. Conquering nations for the better of your subjects. Seems we both have our agendas.” ‘Courier’ chided with a cruel grin. He walked over to Daring Do, and proceeded to levitate the gag out of her mouth. “So, Miss Do. Tell me, What were you doing in those ruins?”

“I already told you! I’m an Archeologist! I was studying! Research!” she shouted. Within moments though a sharp pain went through her wing. Looking over, she saw the stallion had plucked one of her primary feathers out of her right wing.

“I’d like the truth you sorry excuse for a bird. What do the princesses know of us!?”

The interrogation continued for hours. He plucked each feather until flight was almost impossible. Tears fell from Daring’s eyes, mostly from how much pain her wings were in. but also at the concept of being unable to fly. Once her wings were finished, he moved on to what seemed to be more sensitive areas. He took a thick sewing needle, and jammed it, three times, into the frogs of her hooves.

Daring Do was howling and crying in pain at the torture. Begging, and pleading for it to end.

“I can do so much worse Daring Do. Now talk! Before I have to get really nasty!” he sneered.

“I-I’ve already told you e-everything I c-can. I d-don’t know what you want to know!” she cried.

Giving an audible sigh, he then levitated a knife up. Its 5 inch curved blade glistened in the moonlight. “I’m sorry it had to be this way.” he whispered.

Daring found herself unable to tear her gaze away from the blade. “W-what are you going to do to me? Y-you’ve already taken my wings! Made it almost impossible to walk… what more are y-you going to d-do with me?!” She yelled. The fear and pain in her voice evident.

She watched as the blade began to carve into her thighs. He began to skin her alive! But not in the way a hunter would skin his kill. No. he was cutting small patches of flesh off the muscle.

After taking his sufficient time, making sure she felt the blade cut every millimeter. Once he got bored with that, he lodged the knife in her left thigh. She watched through blurry eyes as he levitated a large metal rod over from the fire. The tip glistened and glowed a bright gold. Her eyes widened in shock. Realizing he was about to defile her in one of the worst ways imaginable to a pony. The stallion, began to brand off Daring’s Cutie mark.

He laughed hearing her yell in pain. But once the screams of agony died down, he checked her pulse. Worried he went to far. No, she still had a pulse. He’d continue when her wounds healed somewhat.

Sitting by the campfire, he contemplated his plan.

‘First, the changeling invasion, again. Or so Chrysalis tells me. Once that happens, we over throw the sun and moon goddesses, enslave them, forcing them to continue raising their celestial bodies. Then, I steal Chrissie’s magic, followed by Cadence, goddess of love, if there is such a thing. Then Luna, and finally, Celestia! I shall become a god of this wretched world! Of course it wont be an overnight victory, and most likely a lot of these will have to change. Maybe I’ll be able to go back to earth and conquer them too. And hey, if my nephew Logan has found the portal, then I can finally take my revenge on him. Nobody murders my family and gets away with it.’

Rising to his hooves, he shouted “LOGAN MASON! IF YOUR OUT THERE, I’M COMING FOR YOU! YOU WILL DIE AT MY HOOVES!”

The following morning felt colder than usual to Daring as she slowly, and groggily opened her eyes. Her interrogator was off in his tent, and asleep. She clearly heard his snoring. Looking around she tested her bonds. Hoping to be able to get away like usual. She even flapped her wings in a vain hope to lift herself up even a little.

She stayed at it for a short period of time until she heard the snap of a twig and a gentle noise of someone trying to get her attention. Looking back the direction her body was pointing, a changeling stood. However in it’s eyes, she saw pity, and sincerity.

“I may loose my life for doing this. But that stallion has dark intentions for all of us.” he whispered.

“Why tell me?” Daring whispered back harshly.

Using his magic, the small Changeling then cut her bonds with what seemed to be a hematite blade no longer than an inch. As she fell, she felt herself be caught by the small changelings magic.

“You are lucky you didn’t contract hypothermia. Last night was a cold night to say the least. Seems you pegasi have a big winter coming.” it said trying to make small talk.

“What are you going to do to me?” again, the harshness in Daring’s voice betrayed her trust.

Suddenly, the changeling then produced a small vial. “This will heal the damage done to your hooves but nothing more. I can do nothing about your flesh or feathers. Consider it proof that I’m only going to help you.” he said as he gently poured some of the green liquid(liquid. Not goo or slime. A simple Newtonian fluid.) onto her hooves.

“You will still feel some pain. Like a pebble caught in your horseshoe. But in a few hours your hooves will be fine. Now, I’ll take you to the outskirts of the nearest town. Ponyville I believe it’s called.”

“Okay. Lets go.” she growled as they walked, or limped in Daring’s case. Her blood encrusted coat felt tight on her rump, and she winced with every step she took. She didn’t make it a hundred yards before she collapsed in pain. Tears flowing freely from her eyes once more.

“If you’d like, I can carry you.” the changeling offered, as he shifted into a unicorn stallion with a map for a cutie mark.

“Please? I-I cant walk on my own…” she asked hesitantly. “I’ve been through many death traps but… that was… I was actually hoping to die at some point”

The changeling turned stallion sighed. “I myself have wished such negativities upon myself. It’ll do neither of us good.” he said as he lifted Daring onto his back and proceed to carry her to the forest’s edge.

“Why? Because my love is food?” Daring spat.

“That’s partly the reason. But mostly because of what you saw at the temple. That stallion, my queen, and the beast Ahuizohtl, planning hostilities against Equestria. Your home. I have been Chrysalis’ advisor for some time. I suggested peace talks during the royal wedding fiasco, but my brother was insistent on a hostile take over, and she was growing desperate.” he explained.

“Ya know, I never got your name.”

“Crystal Clear. If you wish to laugh do so.”

“It actually makes sense. Having such a name, to see things others don’t.” Daring praised. She noted they weren’t far from town. The trees started to get smaller, and thin out. Sunlight started to shine through the canopy, and they even passed what seemed to be a small hut with Zebrican motifs decorating it.

“If you see the hut, I already tried going there to ask for help. But the Zebra residing there refused.” he said, sensing her thoughts.

By high noon, the changeling requested a stop for a rest. His left flank coated in Daring’s blood, which thankfully over the night had slowed to the point of as if it were a pin prick or paper cut, but throughout the warmth of the day had begun to bleed freely.

Fear suddenly gripped the changeling as he sensed his queen’s rage. Their prisoner gone and so her advisor, he knew that she’d come for him.

“On second thought, lets keep going.” he said urgently as he began to run as fast as his hooves could carry him with Daring on his back.