Tops, Nightshade, and Reddling practically kicked down the door as they stormed into the barracks. Bruiser jumped up instantly, looking up at them with an unusual sadness. "T-Tops? Reddling, Nightshade..."

"Bruiser, where is Luna?" Reddling demanded hoarsely. A heat was rising in his chest- no, it was more akin to a bonfire. Twice now he had nearly been beaten to the punch by insects, and a fury overwhelmed all traces of tiredness.

"In her quarters. Web's taking care of her." Bruiser said, trying to force optimism into his voice. He was clearly unhappy and frustrated. Sitting in the barracks was probably not doing him any favors, but at least he had time to be at ease.

Then again, being alone with your own thoughts can be even worse.

Reddling let out a snort and trotted over to a bed, almost falling into it for a moment. Tops and Nightshade occupied a bed together, leaning on each other tiredly as Bruiser continued to speak.

"Well, there's some good news at least- they got the bitch who did it." Bruiser huffed.

"Who?" Reddling asked. Please don't say Cadance

"Princess Cadance." Bruiser said angrily. Reddling stood and let out an angry skee that echoed around the room. Leveling a kick at his bed frame, Reddling connected a hind hoof with the wood to vent his spleen. The bed post shattered to splinters, and the rain of wood bits scattered over the floor. Reddling fumed, turning and heading straight for the door. He wasn't sure exactly what he planned to do yet, but what he did not plan to do was sit in a barracks and wait. All the others had given very visible, noticeable shock at the outburst of sudden fury. Tops had even stood up and moved towards the door, stepping in Reddling's way.

"Reddling! What-" Tops started, but Reddling cut him off,

"That knaving whore! I can't believe she would do this! It can't be." Reddling rounded on Bruiser, glaring intently. "Where are Miss Twilight and Captain Shining Armor?"

"Twilight, dunno." Bruiser said, still a little surprised and distracted by the toothpick remains of what had formerly been part of a bed. "But Shining Armor and his wanna-be wife are in the dungeon."

"And what about Midnight?" Reddling said, motioning to the lack of Midnight Tales in the room.

"Luna." Bruiser rolled his eyes.

"I cannot believe this." Reddling shook his head, leaving the room behind.

"Reddling- hold on, wait!" Tops, Nightshade, and Bruiser all moved with Reddling, exiting the room and entering into the main hall of the barracks. Reddling had stopped, but not for them.

"Shut up- Seriously, shut up!" Reddling hissed, waving a hoof at them before standing completely still. He had heard some sort of movement nearby, but he couldn't tell exactly where it was. "Show yourself! I know you're there!"

A few moments of silence passed with everypony staring around. Then, from the shadows to the left of the hall emerged a very generic grey pegasus with pink eyes. Reddling and the pegasus locked eyes for a few moments, and then Reddling began to draw closer, feeling under his coat. One quick motion and he could draw his crossbow, however he knew it wasn't loaded. Reddling had considered drawing a throwing knife, but it wasn't likely that he could hit the changeling from this distance.

"That's you, isn't it?" Reddling asked. "Star Shine."

"You! Pony! You said you were different!" Star Shine sputtered, quickly trotting over to the bats in the hallway. Reddling removed his hoof from his coat as Star Shine drew closer. The Changeling had a pleading look on his face, not unlike a starved pony begging for food. "You said you wanted to help, that you weren't bad, that you were sorry!"

"Slow down-" Reddling was drowned out as the Changeling practically threw himself forward, pathetically gripping onto anything for support. Reddling caught the pegasus for a couple brief moments before the weight of the drone dragged them both to the floor.

"You have to help, please, Princess did not do this!" Star Shine pleaded.

"Reddling, who the hell is this?" Bruiser said, motioning to the sad pegasus still gripping onto the front of Reddling's coat.

Reddling growled at everyone, grabbing ahold of Star Shine's ear and jerking him backwards. Giving the bug a little push, Reddling motioned to the room wordlessly. Everypony exchanged glances as Reddling followed them back into the room. Catching the door with a wing-claw and shutting it, Reddling proceeded to push Star Shine onto a bed.

"I have had just about enough of all this horseshit." Reddling hissed, pulling out his crossbow. While Reddling knew it wasn't loaded, he didn't suspect that Star Shine knew this. Reddling aimed it just above Star Shine's head, making sure that even if there was a bolt in the crossbow, it would not hit him. Star Shine backed up a bit, his back knocking against the wall as he stared crosseyed at the bottom of the crossbow.

"Bruiser, lock the door," Reddling said quietly, still aiming at Star Shine. When Reddling heard a click from the door, he moved the crossbow to the side and blinked. "Star Shine, you have five minutes. Please, restore my willing suspension of disbelief in changeling lies."

Star Shine sat up straighter, showing remarkable bravery given the fact he was stuck in a barracks crawling with hostile ponies. "Princess met with Celestia and Luna, they talked and planned, then Luna fell ill! Giggle-bat said she found poison in the tea, but I know Princess did not! This is another poison! Changeling poison, but different! She- She wants to be a pony again, she would not..." Star Shine's voice died for a few moments before he managed to look back up, still obviously hurt, "She would not throw it away..."

Reddling sighed and discarded his crossbow onto the bed before sitting. The drone sounded surprisingly convincing, although Reddling was sure it would withhold any vital details it could in order to further the ends of it's two bug hive.

"Let's say I believe you," Reddling offered. Star Shine's eyes lit up with hope as Reddling looked up at the bug and continued, "Who did poison her?"

"I don't know..." Star Shine said quietly.

Reddling considered for a few moments, then tried again with another question. "Do you know where Miss Sparkle is?"

"Sent away to fetch things." The drone said automatically.

"Right, of course she has." Reddling said sprawling out over the bed's comforter. The bed really was comfortable, but compared to the sleeping situation of the last week or so, any bed would have felt acceptable at this point.

"Okay, so this is a fucking mess," Bruiser said, pointing at the changeling. "Who are you, again?"

Nopony gave Bruiser an answer. All of them were lost in their own tired thoughts, trying to piece together the madness of the last week. Indeed, just the last ten minutes the world had gone from being in run of the mill trouble to overly complicated.

We've been through so much... and my friends are still willing to follow me. How much more can I ask of them? Reddling drew a deep breath before looking up at the faces of his companions. "Guys, I know I've asked for a lot from you since we met, and even more in the last couple weeks. My nephew being terrible to you, the danger of being buggified, and cooking in the sun while listening to my screams from nightmares," Reddling sighed, looking down. "I can't ask any more of you. You've got every right to throw this changeling in jail and just let me be court marshaled or something like I should have been a long time ago."

The room was dead silent for a few minutes. Each occupant continued to look at each other, daring the other to break the delicate silence holding in the room.

"Do you wanna try and prove a princess innocent or just go to bed?" Reddling finally asked exhaustively.

"Oh shut the hell up." Bruiser said bluntly. "Let's figure out what's going on and go kick in the faces of whoever it was."

Reddling sighed again, but this time it was a sigh of relief. He had a personal score to settle with these bugs, and now he had Equestrians- no, he had his friends, his true friends to back him up.

"Tops, Nightshade, you had second and third watch. I want you to stay here with Bruiser and catch a quick nap. I'm going to go with the drone here and see Princess Luna. Me and Midnight will go talk to Cadance after that, and should be back soon." Tops and Nightshade gave grateful nods as Reddling went to his chest and produced a few syringes of evil black liquid.

"Black Agnosia, and enough to put anypony under for a few days. We can use a little of it to knock somepony out if we have too. I don't expect everyone to cooperate, they didn't last time." Reddling explained, tossing three syringes onto his bed for the others.

"Yeah, I got something like that." Bruiser said, rearing up and slamming his hind hooves into the wall. For just a second, the entire building shook from the force of the blow. "I call it a BUCK."

"Let's not kill anypony we don't have too, Bruiser.Only to protect ourselves." Bruiser let out an unamused snort as Reddling continued.

"We might need them for information, chances are whoever did this isn't acting alone, and who knows what these ponies might have seen." Reddling stood up, putting two syringes into little sterile sheathes and pointing to Star Shine with a wing. "You're coming with me."

Star Shine gave a quick nod, trotting closer to Reddling. Reddling gave the drone a look over, then scratched his chin. "I want you to take on my likingness, but as a small blue colt with pale hair, a unicorn. You're going to be my nephew, can you do that?"

"How small?" Star Shine asked nervously.

"Shorter than me, taller than a filly. How small can you go?" Reddling asked.

"I can't do that small." Star Shine said, looking down at his gnarled hoof and trying to measure how tall a filly was in comparison to him.

"Then you're going through growth spurts, but just be smaller than me. Can you do that? Even and inch or two would be enough." Reddling said.

"I can do that." Star Shine said, shimmering for a moment before he burst into flame. For a moment he was a changeling, different from how Reddling remembered him. His eyes were no longer red as they had once been, but were now totally pink.

Pink? So you've fully become one of Cadance's drones now.

Within a few moments, Star Shine had become a blue unicorn that held a stunning likeness to Reddling, moreso than Rainy actually did. Star Shine had kept his eyes closed for a few more moments before looking back up. He had managed to make himself two inches shorter than Reddling, but it was clearly requiring decent effort to keep the guise up.

"That's going to have to do," Reddling said. "Alright, let's go." Reddling turned without another word, leaving the barracks and leading Star Shine along with him. Nightshade and Tops almost fell back in bed at the same pace, fatigue catching up with them.

"Good luck you two." Tops said, sitting next to Nightshade.

"Hopefully we won't need it." Reddling whispered, closing the door to the barracks. Taking the trot up to Luna's quarters, Reddling found himself feeling slightly lightheaded as he ascended the front stairs of Canterlot palace. Sure, he had caught his second wind, but that didn't mean he was at his best, especially with a changeling right on his tail. The sun was rising now, and the entire city had sprung to life with an edge in the air. A sense of worry, stress, and paranoia had overtaken everypony, and watchful eyes followed every other set of watchful eyes.

Is Equestria always like this? How do they manage to keep living this way? They always seem to be one step away from some horrible fate. At least in Silverfield we just hunted monsters for sport. In Equestria, it seems to be a full time occupation.

Inside of Luna's wing many bats were scurrying around, worry written on their faces. Calls filled the air as the bat ponies carried buckets of water around or carefully fetched medical supplies. A strong voiced mare in a suit pointed out orders to various ponies, her face lined with lack of sleep and stress that did not fit her young face. The tired stares made Reddling shudder every time he saw that wasted look on a poor bat pony's face. In the past he would not have spared it a second thought, but something was different about his fellow bats now. The shade under Princess Luna's dark, comfortable wing had become something to treasure alongside the other children of the night, be they the strong faced mare or the unfortunate pony who had just bumped into Reddling.

"Watch it!" Reddling hissed, moving quickly past a stumbling pony named Eclipse. Apparently he had been one of the newer members of the guard before the recent recruits and still not quite gotten the hang of the eccentric nature of everybat around him. Star Shine gave the bat a glare, bringing up Reddling's tail as they began to ascend the stairs to Luna's quarters.

It's kind of hard to believe that now I'm trying to protect a princess I spent my whole life training to kill. Even if the Changelings aren't a threat to Silverfield, I can't let them beat me... I have to protect my princess.

Luna's room was a complete mess. Reddling had barely reached the top of the stairs when a tired looking bat pony nodded past him, carrying a large pile of towels. Lunar, Cobalt, and Web were gathered around Luna, although Reddling couldn't make out much more. A large bat pony inserted himself in the doorway, looking straight down at Reddling. Reddling peeked up through his mane, taking a step back at the size of the pony.

"I need to see Web. Is she here?" Reddling asked, already knowing the answer. Even if he had not been able to see Web, the copious amounts of potions and other agents related to Web's work were telltale signs.

"Who's this?" The big bat said, pointing at Star Shine.

"This is my nephew, and due to situations with the Changelings has offered to work as my page." Reddling lied, trying to keep his voice controlled. "He will wait out here, may I enter?"

"You're one of the new recruits, aren't you?" The guard asked, still not budging. "Why do you need a page?"

"I have just flown for two nights straight from the front lines with information related to eliminating the Changeling threat. If you continue to hold up my report I will move you myself." Reddling said angrily, trying to keep his tired brain moving as fast as his mouth was.

"He's a friend, let them through." Came a tired voice. Reddling peeked around the big guard and looked into the room, making out the figure of a blue pony wearing his parade uniform.

"Midnight!' Reddling said, pushing the guard aside and moving over to the exhausted looking Midnight Tales. For a moment their eyes met, and they simply nodded knowingly. Midnight's eye was patched, leaving him with only one eye to meet Reddling's with, but the message remained the same as they turned towards Luna. Reddling's heart sank as he took in the scene.

Luna was laying under several sheets on her bed. Her normally vibrant and star-scattered mane was laying flat and ragged on the sheets, all of it's magic lost. Each shallow breath barely rose her chest before leaving through her mouth. Indeed, most of the motion from her came from vicious shivers.

Reddling blinked, leaning in closer and looking the scene over. He was very sharply reminded of another time where a pony had been poisoned and laid in a bed. The messiness of the scene had all the trademarks of Web's less than professional, if unarguably infallible, talent. Many salves had been strewn everywhere, and Web was currently rubbing one across Luna's chest.

"Why are their salves on her? I thought she was poisoned with tea." Reddling said, narrowing his eyes at Web.

"They're to FIX HER. If you've got some better idea then YOU do it!" Web hissed angrily over her shoulder.

"Try checking tea before she drinks it." Reddling said quietly, turning back to look at Midnight, who's eye had gone wide as he ducked.

Web had moved like a flash. With a little snap of her head she had sent her knife whooshing through the air, the blade embedding itself into the wall. Reddling gulped as he looked down at Web's small, glistening ornate knife. The whole world seemed to stop for a moment as Web locked eyes with him, a pure anger and bitterness overtaking her face.

"If that's how you're going to contribute, Reddling, you're going to get carried out of here." Web hissed lowly.

Reddling felt his mouth twitch before he gave her a curt nod, his left eye threatening a tear. "Nice to see you too, nightlight." Reddling quickly turned from her, stepping past the knife and facing Midnight. "Midnight, Tops and Nightshade are here, you should go see them quickly with me at the barracks."

"Reddling, perhaps this is not the best time or place for-" Midnight started.

"If you haven't noticed, we've more important things to worry about than your shit-faced friends." Web yelled at Reddling, turning back to her work.

"Let' talk elsewhere." Reddling said with a gulp, moving towards the door and beckoning with his wing for Midnight to follow.

"Hold, Reddling." Lunar said, finally looking up from Princess Luna's face and standing by the door. Reddling stopped as he looked into the darkness of Lunar's helmet, two colourless eyes staring out of the shadows.

"I wish to inform you, we received your message. Since Luna is incapacitated, we have entrusted Celestia with this business. With luck- and the continuing resolve of her loyal servants," Lunar stopped, giving Web a subtle glance before continuing, "she will hopefully recover soon. Do you have further reporting for me?"

Reddling crossed one of his hooves, thinking. Everything here seemed so off, but he still couldn't quite put his hoof on what wasn't right. There was something so subtle, too subtle for him to notice until it would be too late. "Queen Chrysalis is moving at a slow pace, they're two or two and a half days out from here. My group returned when I sensed a trap, and it seems something bad did indeed happen while we were out. I... I don't know, sir. If the Changelings moved with a purpose, then they could be here by this evening. Nothing feels right here."

Under his helmet, Lunar's eyes narrowed. Reddling could tell that a stern and unhappy look was marring the captain's face as he replied, "I agree, but cannot put my hoof on it. My duties lie with Luna. Your intuition has served you well in the past. Do what you must."

"Right now I must talk to the assassin. Where are they being kept?" Reddling asked.

"In the dungeon, under lock and key and constant guard." Lunar replied.

"What I wouldn't give for a night with her." Web interjected with a beastlike hiss. "An hour." Her jaw clenched as a terrible grin spread across her face.

Ick... Reddling gave his head a little shake, trying to ignore Web. Tears were on the edge of his eyes, but he had many other things to focus on. "Midnight, would you accompany me? I think we both have an unkind word we'd like to share with the one who breached out trusting souls."

Midnight glanced at Luna, biting his lip worriedly. "But I..."

"You can't help her, let Web handle it." Reddling said, putting a wing on his friend's shoulder. "If anypony can help her, it's Web."

"Alright, Let's go." Midnight said, biting his lip again.

"Let's go then." Reddling agreed, moving for the door. Star Shine, still disguised as Rainy, trotted next to Midnight naturally, both of them locking eyes for a moment. Reddling could see nervousness on the drone's face at being around so many bat ponies that were giving him stares, but that wasn't a bad thing. The real Rainy would never have allowed himself to be this close to Equestrians, and this proximity to Luna would have incited more than just a few nerves.

"Is everything alright, Uncle Reddling? Is she going to be okay?" The fake Rainy asked.

"Rainy, shush. Let's go." Reddling said to the drone, leading the trio off at a brisk canter and continuing, "Midnight, something is wrong. Very wrong, and I don't mean the poison."

"What do you mean?" Midnight asked, raising his brow.

"The Changelings marching at such a slow pace, and the fact they surrendered unconditionally to us without a single bit of fear." Reddling griped, kicking a stair as he continued down.

'Unconditionally." Midnight repeated. "Then maybe they'll let us throw them into a pit and smash them like the bugs they are!"

"Midnight!" Reddling balked, looking over at Midnight's now fervent face.

"How dare they attack my princess! Threaten her life with such a dishonorable, despicable deception!" Midnight ranted.

"You will never," Reddling said, stopping and wrapping a hoof on Midnight's shoulder, "Ever, say such a thing to me again. We're better than that. We do not kill innocents, and we do not kill unarmed prisoners, never again."

Midnight glared for a few moments, opening his mouth and then closing it. Finally, Midnight gave a nod, and Reddling returned it as he motioned to Star Shine.

"This is Rainy, by the way. He's my nephew. Rainy, play nice." Reddling said, continuing to lead the way down the stairs as a couple bats passed them, large buckets of indescribably wriggling things practically overflowing at the rims.

"Rainy... I am just sorry that we were forced to meet under such trying circumstances." Midnight said. 'Rainy' just gave a little shrug, nodding his head. The three remained quiet as they left Luna's wing and went straight into the dungeon. A stern, burly looking royal guard had been posted near the entrance, and blocked the way as Reddling approached.

"Lunar's given me leave to speak to the poisoner. I require a few words with the Princess." Reddling said to the royal guard, not missing a step as he tried to walk around the guard. To his surprise however, the guard moved to block the doorway, holding out a hoof.

"Nopony may enter. She's already seduced Shining Armor with her charms, we're not risking anypony else near her." The guard said. Reddling and Midnight exchanged glances.

"I have the leave of the Captain of the Night Guard." Reddling said heatedly, looking straight up into the ugly daypony's eyes. "Unless you have a higher authority than that stamped to your chest, then move aside."

"It's a shame I don't report to your Night Guard, and the acting Captain of the Royal Guard says nopony enters. Now get, before I remove you." The guard said with a smirk, giving Reddling a slight push. A couple heated moments passed as the two stared at each other, sizing the other up.

"Reddling..." Midnight said carefully, putting a hoof on his shoulder.

"It's nothing." Reddling stated, turning around and nodding to assure his friend. "Come, we have better things to do than waste our time with this trivial matter." Reddling gave a quick glance back to the guard as he led Midnight and Star Shine around a corner, bringing them back to a spiraling staircase that led back up to the main castle floors. As soon as the three of them were out of sight, Reddling threw his wings around the other two, hugging them close.

"Midnight, do you think you and Rainy can hold down that pony for a moment?" Reddling whispered his question quickly, locking eyes with Midnight.

"It does not seem worth the trouble just to speak with that traitor." Midnight said blandly.

"Midnight, if you don't do this, I'm going to run that guy through with my sword. Please trust me?" Reddling pleaded. "I was right about the food in camp, I was right about the wedding, please trust I'm right now. Trust in Lunar who trusts in me."

Midnight bit his lip, thinking for a few moments before his expression softened. "Do you truly believe you learn answers to- to some plot you suspect from Cadance?"

"The real truth is always somewhere between two stories, Midnight." It was Reddling's turn to bite his lip. "I have a suspicion, but I'm just not sure. Do you trust me?"

Midnight gave a nod of his head, waiting to hear more. With a sigh, Reddling continued, "Unless you were the who poisoned the tea, then it was Web or Celestia. I don't believe Cadance did this, and she's the only who can tell me who did. I need to know if Celestia drank the tea."

"What the hell are you talking about?" Midnight asked. "Drank the tea?"

"It'll make sense in a moment!" Reddling said, pushing himself away from the two ponies.

"...Web, or Celestia." Midnight said with a grimace. "If you are wrong about this, both of us could face expulsion from the Night Guard for this assault."

"It wouldn't be the first time, we did beat up Celestia's throne room of guard ponies. Kind of odd that we haven't been thrown in jail for that yet, you know?" Reddling put a hoof to his own chin. He'd spoken the thought as it had occurred to him, another inconsistency and oddity registering in the back of his mind.

"I suppose so..." Midnight said slowly, glancing down. "Very well. Are you ready?"

"Let's do it. Just hold him down." Reddling said, reaching inside his jacket and pulling out a syringe of Black Angosia. Even half of a shot of the syringe into the pony would be enough to leave them out cold for some time.

Midnight turned wordlessly as soon as Reddling gave the order, charging out from behind the cover, Star Shine following right behind him as the two rocketed towards the guard pony. The guard had a couple moments to cry out in surprise, holding up a hoof and crying "Halt!" before Midnight plowed into him with Star Shine, the combined weight of both stallions enough to slam the guard into the ground. Reddling approached quickly from behind, the syringe ready. The guard was thrashing against the ground, making it quite difficult to get the syringe anywhere near his body or mouth. Despite the best attempts of Midnight and Star Shine, they simply could not hold the guard still.

Insolent Equestrian! Reddling brought a hoof down into the face of the guard pony, smashing it into his forehead. The guard let out a cry of pain, leaving his mouth wide open for Reddling to jab the syringe into his throat. The guard had a few moments for his eyes to go wide before Reddling pushed the plunger down, holding a hoof to the guard's mouth to ensure he swallowed.

Only the guard was hardly a guard by the time Reddling had a hoof on the guard's mouth. Now the pony's eyes had changed to a solid angry red, and sharpened fangs bit into Reddling's glove, shredding a bit off the end. Reddling grabbed at his hoof, looking down to make sure that it wasn't injured before turning back to the monster before them. In a flash of red fire, the guard had taken his true form- Black, gnarled, and beastly, with large plates covered his body, and the bulky shape of a powerful Changeling soldier covered with small, twisting spikes.

Drawing Ausfall, Reddling jumped onto the soldier, hacking into the armor. It was rather easy to get a clean cut into the beast with Midnight holding the creature down, but Reddling couldn't get enough force behind his knife to cut into the thick natural armor on the Changeling's body. The blue and green changelings that had predominately fought in the battle of Canterlot were different- they had been strongly armored, yes, but their armor had not been this thick. The sad soldiers of Hive Balefly and Chrysalis paled next to this barbarian of a changeling. The nooks and holes in the Changeling's arms were sharper and hooked, allowing for him to easy grab and hang onto enemies. Each leg looked as though it ended in barbed wire rather than an actual hoof.

Reddling again bashed a hoof into the creatures head, looking around at the situation. Star Shine had cowered into a corner at the sight of the soldier, and was standing next to the empty, discarded syringe of Black Agnosia had been kicked away in the struggle. Pony poisons had no effect on Changelings...

"Star Shine, kill it!" Reddling cried.

"No- he!" Star Shine said balking and backing further away.

"Damn you." Reddling said, sheathing his knife before running towards a half open door that lead deeper into the dungeon. Quicking pushing his way down, Reddling drew his blade as the sounds of Midnight struggling with the Changeling soldier became more distant. It was quite dark and empty down here, which bothered Reddling. While it was perfectly fine for it to be dark- indeed, he quite enjoyed that part- the lack of any life being present was odd. Canterlot did not seem to have a large amount of crime based on the population of their castle dungeon, which amounted to a whole two ponies laying down together in a cell at the very back. Shining Armor and pony Princess Cadance were holding each other's hooves, their eyes closed. Their once proud expressions were now marred by unhappiness and defeat.

"Get off the floor, you sorry ass Equestrians!" Reddling fumed as he drew closer. He'd been glancing around for a key in the darkness, but had yet to find one.

"Who's there?" Shining Armor said, opening his eyes and lighting his horn. Reddling blinked at the light, offering a small hiss. Cadance had opened her eyes now, and looked very surprised.

"You, the red bat- Reddling?!" She asked.

"Unfortunately." Reddling replied, smoothing out his voice and still glaring into the darkness. "Where are the keys?"

"The keys- are you-!" Cadance stood up, approaching the bars on her cell. "I don't know where the keys are. What's going on? Is Luna alright?"

"Dammit. Not really time to fully explain." Reddling said, looking around for a crowbar or a set of keys. "When did you and Princess Luna drink the tea, and who drank it?"

"We had tea a few hours after you left, Just Celestia, Luna, and I." Cadance said, "The guards said I poisoned it, but that's impossible! We all drank it!"

Reddling froze mid-search, turning slowly to the pink princess. He suddenly felt very claustrophobic, the entire world beating to the pace of his hammering heart. Swallowing slowly, Reddling opened his mouth weakly and said, "All of you, including Celestia?"

"Yes!" Cadance nodded her head.

Reddling shuddered, backing against a wall and holding it for support quite suddenly. The world swooned for a moment as a memory fell into place, completing the puzzle.

"Hah, Your pony poisons won't do anything against me." Balefly laughed

"Perhaps all this will be resolved with our meeting with your Princess?" Chrysalis asked.

Pony poisons. No matter what kind of poison it was, that doesn't matter. A changeling poison would have affected all of them, and a pony poison wouldn't affect-

Reddling slumped against the wall, staring in horror up at the two ponies in the cell. Cadance looked horrified, her last hope, albeit a small and rather annoying one, had fallen to the ground right in front of her.

"What's wrong?" Cadance demanded, looking around frantically.

"They planned this, the entire thing was a setup from the start." Reddling mumbled, struggling up to his hooves as Star Shine rushed onto the scene, looking at the bars and then looking at Reddling.

"Star Shine, find the key and meet us back at the barracks." Reddling ordered, taking out one of his throwing knives and sliding it to Cadance and Shining Armor.

"Don't need key!" Star Shine said, throwing himself down at the base of the bars and spitting something acid green at them. Reddling hesitated for only a moment, and then turned, dashing out of the dungeon to go check on Midnight. Midnight Tales was no longer restraining the soldier, but instead had drawn his sword and shield. Both Midnight and the soldier were snarling at each other ferociously, red coals and violent violet eyes locked in the battle.

Reddling paused in the stairs, pulling out the vial that Web had given him. It was a small vial, but it would be enough to get the job done. Reddling uncorked the vial and quickly drew his blade, wetting the tip with some Widow's Kiss before throwing himself to the top of the stairs. The Changeling soldier turned as he heard Reddling reach the top of the stairs, giving Reddling a clear shot at the Changeling's side. Thrusting his blade forward, Reddling grinned to himself as he impaled the monster. No sooner had the widow's kiss touched the Changeling than it's body began to smoulder, as if it was on fire. Pus erupted from the Changeling's body as a horrible stench not unlike that of old meat kept too long in an icebox.

The soldier let out a horrifying scream as it half collapsed onto the floor. Midnight ran forward to embed his blade into the Changeling's back, but the blade slid off the armor as he lost his balance. Reddling tore his blade out of the Changeling and spun, spreading out his wings to balance himself as he swung the blade as hard as he could into the Changeling's neck. The bastard sword did not go all the way through the Changeling's neck, but it did enough to stop the angry hissing before the bug crumpled. Reddling pulled the blade free and took another two hacks into the Changeling's neck, severing it's head.

Both bat ponies stood back and sighed, staring at the carcass before them for a few moments. Midnight covered his nose, trying to block out the smell.

"Okay"' Midnight said to Reddling, his voice sounding like he had a headcold when his nostrils were plugged, "So I believe you may be correct, something is not right."

"You okay?" Reddling asked Midnight, looking over at his bruised friend.

"I am alright." Midnight said, shooting the dead bug a dirty look. "The beast fought valiantly but was disadvantaged from the start."

"Poisoned blades help too." Reddling said, glancing back down at the dungeon. "Midnight, the assassin..."

"Was this him?" Midnight asked, giving the bug a kick in the gut.

"Princess Celestia, or at least, somepony that looks like Princess Celestia. The wedding, our victory, the hive surrendering, it was all planned from the start." Reddling sighed, gripping onto the wall and taking in some breath. His head ached with tiredness, and his second wind had almost totally faded by now.

"The traitorous cur!" Midnight screamed, his voice echoing down the halls. "I'll see justice done!"

"No!" Reddling said, grabbing Midnight's shoulder quickly. "No, we must protect Luna first. Let's get Cadance and Shining Armor out."

Midnight did not take the time to say anything, but just turned and charged into the dungeon. Reddling paused for a moment, grabbing what looked like a very standard issue royal guard sword off of the dead Changeling before following Midnight.

When Reddling and Midnight arrived at Cadance's and Shining Armor's cell, Star Shine was still hard at work near the base of one of the iron bars. The acid the drone had spat out was eating away at the stone, and one of the bars was beginning to come loose.

"Stand back!" Shining Armor said, backing up and preparing to charge the bar. Star Shine barely had time to get out of the way before Shining ran at the bars, turning and leveling a strong buck into the iron. The iron bars wiggled and then fell free, thudding to the floor with a loud crash.

"Where are Miss Twilight and her friends?" Reddling asked.

"Her friends have been in Ponyville for quite some time, and Twilight has been off collecting ingredients for my cure." Cadance said. Star Shine looked down, disheartened at the mention of the cure.

"You may find you don't desire a cure soon, Princess Cadance." Reddling smirked fangily as he looked up at the stairs, then turned back to Midnight. "Equestria and the Badlands might need some new rulers by the time the sun sets today."

Cadance narrowed her eyes skeptically, taking a step back at the enthusiasm reeking from Reddling's voice. "We'll see, but we have to stop this madness now!"

What do we do? Defend Luna? Kill Celestia? What do I value more is the question, and each choice matters...

"Our first priority is to protect Princess Luna." Reddling affirmed to himself aloud, looking at his friends. Shining Armor leveled another kick, freeing a third bar from the floor. Cadance squeezed through the gap, closely followed by Shining Armor.

"Drone, Cadance, can you shapeshift to something nondescript and take the head of the dead soldier to the bat pony coven?" Reddling asked, nodding to Midnight. "Tell them we're under attack, we need every Night Guard at arms now. We've been set-up." The three gave nods, agreeing and heading for the exit of the dungeon.

"Captain?" Reddling said, turning and quickly saluting Shining Armor before offering the sword that had previously belonged to the bug. "I need to gather my companions. Will you come with me?"

"Of course." Shining Armor said.

"Then let's do it." Reddling said as Shining lit up his horn brighter, wrapping the sword in magic. "Midnight! Get a guard set up around Luna and see if Lunar can join us in Celestia's throne room. We're bagging ourselves a Princess!" Midnight merely gave a snort over his shoulder as the group turned a corner together, heading up the stairs and back into other main part of the castle. Star Shine quickly disguised himself as a pegasus, grasping the head of the Changeling by the horn. Although Star Shine looked totally disgusted, it was better than allowing his princess to carry the head.

"We'll meet you outside Luna's quarters. Good luck, Reddling." Cadance said, shapeshifting into a pegasus. Reddling and Shining Armor nodded to each other, turning and heading up the stairs into the main castle. Tired looking ponies were coming to life here and there, staring around worriedly. The tension in the air was thick enough to suffocate somepony with, and everyone could feel that things were coming to some kind of confrontation. Something, anything had to break this unrest.

Reddling glared at the guards as he ran past them, some of them giving a start at Shining Armor.

"We're under attack! Get your weapons! The palace is infiltrated!" Reddling screamed at some guards. Instantly, weapons were drawn as everypony turned on each other, alarmed and confused at the announcement.

"Get to your posts!" Shining called out to the ponies, matching Reddling stride for stride as they exited the castle's main hall and headed for the barracks. Paranoia had quickly taken over the castle, and now panicked ponies were drawing weapons on each other, crying out in panic and confusion.

Shining Armor and Reddling had little time to take stock of the situation however, and proceeded quickly to the barracks. Reddling nearly kicked the door in as he stumbled tiredly inside. Tops, Nightshade, and Bruiser instantly jumped up, all of them still in full armor.

"What's up?" Bruiser asked hungrily, leaning forward. Reddling could see that his maul was freshly polished on the bed next to him.

"Celestia. We're bagging ourselves a traitor, a real one." Reddling huffed, sighing and looking up at his friends.

"Celestia? Sunburned bitch, let's get her!" Bruiser cried, grabbing his maul.

"We have to protect Luna first!" Reddling cried, holding up a hoof and coughing.

"Enough talking and more fighting!" Bruiser yelled, charging out of the barracks and stopping awkwardly in the hall. "Luna, right?"

"Protect Luna, kill Celestia. If some daypony tries to stop you, they're a Changeling, so smash them." Reddling coughed again, desperate for a few moments of rest. Bruiser quickly slipped out of the barracks, taking off into the sky and flying straight for Luna's quarters.

"We need to make sure that Celestia doesn't get a chance to run." Reddling said, clearing his throat.

"Lunar and the others will meet us there, let's go!" Shining Armor ordered. Nightshade and Tops both nodded, and Reddling straightened up, heading for the door and taking the lead. Reddling drew his blade as he approached the doors to Celestia's throne room, where two tired looking guards were standing.

"Out of the way Changelings!" Reddling cried, swinging his blade at one of the guards.

"We aren't- hey, halt!" The guards moved to draw weapons, but it was already too late. Reddling hooked his blade into the guard's chest, throwing him onto the ground and leaving a large red hole that blood began to well up in, leaking out onto the stone floor. The second guard made a lunge for Reddling, but was cut short as Tops' claws found their mark, ripping the guard's side open and decorating the wall with a monarch butterfly.

"What are you doing!?" Shining Armor cried in horror, staring at the guards. "These aren't Changelings!"

"And maybe Celestia isn't either..." Reddling said darkly, turning to look at the doors. Nightshade had moved past the dead guards and thrown open the doors, filling the world with bright light. Tops, Reddling, and Shining Armor rushed in, moving to center stage and staring up at Celestia. Celestia, for her part, had remained seated on her throne, not the least bit moved by having Night Guard storm her throne room with a prisoner.

"What is the meaning of this?" Celestia demanded, still remaining seated.

Reddling felt a grin cut across his face. Finally, after all his life, he had reached this moment. This was the day that he had dreamed of since he was small. Waving the lunar blade in triumph, Reddling gleefully opened his wings, flying up a little and hovering as he clasped the sword in both his hooves and pointed it at Celestia's face. This time, he was going to make sure he engaged in all the melodrama and excitement. It wasn't everyday he got to kill somepony who had made his life destined to be hell.

I should really put out something late for the new yea- I mean, Nightmare Night. Hmm, maybe something batty.