Red emerged from the portal, sighing. He snapped his fingers, and the portal behind him closed. As soon as it did, a blast of magic hit Red square in the chest, knocking him back four feet. Dammit! Red got recovered, and snapped his fingers. Black smoke seeped from his left eye, which had turned pitch black. The smoke formed a sword, and in an instant, the smoke turned to steel. Another blast came whirling toward Red, but he simply stepped out of the way. Red closed his eyes. He could feel the energy being gathered for another blast. Snapping open his eyes, Red turned, and threw the sword he had. A moment later, he heard the sword hit it's mark. Walking to retrieve the sword, Red's left eye twitched. Looking up, he saw a changeling drop down from the trees. Red stepped back, letting the changeling hit the ground head first, knocking it out.

"That's just pathetic..." Red shook head. He grabbed the changeling, and sighed. "I should just kill the bastard..." He began walking, hoping the changeling wouldn't wake up until he had it restrained. As he walked to the camp, Red felt something watching him. Red looked back, but saw nothing. When he turned his head forward, Red's face was half a foot away from a faceless pony, it's skin as white as snow. Red stopped immediately, and took a step back. "Don't do that! You nearly gave me a heart attack!"

"Well, I'm sorry, but I think that you should know something about your new friend."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, she's been deceiving you, using you. The changelings that were keeping her were rebels, and you're carrying one right now. Chrysalis is a tyrant. And she's using you to wipe out the rebels, to ensure that her place on the throne is safe."

"How do I know that you're not lying?"

"You don't."

Red blinked. Shit. "If this insect wakes up, what then?"

"Simple. Tell it: Revolt."

"Revolt? Why the hell for?"

"Revolt is the code word that indicates rebels among the changelings. As long as you know the code word, the changeling should answer whatever questions you have. That's all the time I have to chat." Red blinked, and the pony was gone. Red sighed, and began walking again. Turning, he walked through a bush. Setting the changeling down, Red smacked it across the face. It woke with a yelp, but Red shut it's mouth. The changeling squirmed, trying to get out of Red's grasp.

"Revolt." The changeling ceased all movement, and it's eyes widened. Red removed his hand, and the changeling stared at him.

"H-how did you-"

"Don't ask. I want answers. Is it true that Chrysalis is a tyrant?"

The changeling nodded. "Anypony who opposes her is executed publicly."

"Why is there a rebellion?"

"Some of us changelings want free will, but with a queen, we have no say in anything. We want to be heard."

"How many rebels are there?"

"Only two hives."

Well shit. Looks like it's down to one. "How many allies do you have?"

"None."

"Can you think of anyone who would be willing to join forces with you?"

"No. After the failed invasion on Canterlot, nopony would be willing to join us."

"Hm, what can you tell me about changelings in general?"

"We feed off of love. We can change our appearance to anypony. We reproduce by-"

"Okay, that's enough." Red sighed. "So, you have a name?"

"Not really. We rebels do go by code names though. Mine is Final Hour."

"Hm, well Hour, I'm heading to Chrysalis. You'll need to pretend to be unconscious. So, if you don't mind, I'll be carrying you the rest of the way." Red didn't wait for Final Hour to respond. He just picked the changeling up, and hefted him over his shoulder.

"Hey!"

"Shut it. Just because I let you live doesn't mean that I'm going to treat you like royalty." Red resumed walking. After five minutes, Red could see the tents he had set up. Red could sense Chrysalis in one of the tents. Well, this is going to be interesting.

Red walked to the tent that Chrysalis wasn't in. He opened it, and set Final Hour down inside. "Stay here. I'm going to ask Chrysalis a few questions." Red closed the tent and walked over to the tent that Chrysalis was in. He opened it, and saw Chrysalis looking at something. "Uh, Chrysalis? What're you looking at?" Chrysalis looked looked back at him, then her horn began to glow with magic. Two swords floated over to Red. "Huh? Where'd you find these?"

"They were still here. The changelings that took us must have left them here."

Red took the swords, and adjusted them on his back. "Huh, not very smart of them." Red sighed. "So, I have a question. What kind of ruler were you before the invasion on Canterlot?"

"Well, I made sure that all of my subjects were happy, and that they were treated fairly. But, anyone who opposed my rule, I had them silenced."

Red raised a brow and asked, "Wait, so you had them killed?" Chrysalis nodded. "Has there been anyone who's tried to take the throne from you? By force?"

"There has been one. But he is not a changeling. I don't know what he is, all I know is that he wants power over the changelings."

"Hm, has there been any rebellions?"

"Well, there is one, but it should be wiped out by the time I leave you."

Using me to wipe out the rebellion. Bastard was right. "So, all the changelings that have been going after you, they were all rebels?" Chrysalis nodded. "Well, in that case..." Faster than Chrysalis could blink, Red had pulled out the black sword, and decapitated her. Chrysalis's body slumped to the floor. Red sheathed the sword, and snapped his fingers, the queen's body bursting in flames. Soon, the body and head was just a pile of ash. "I don't like being used for someone else's dirty work."

"If that's true, then you're going to hate what I'm about to tell you." Red turned around, Slendermane standing a few feet away from him. "Now that she's dead, I can take the changeling throne for myself. And after that, the throne to all of Equestria." Then, Slendermane disappeared.

"Shit. I just made one of the biggest fuck ups of my entire life." Next Chapter: Preparations Estimated time remaining: 21 Minutes