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Advent Chrysalis

by Chief Big Tree

Chapters

[1] Four Years Forgotten

Chapter One: Four Years Forgotten

Queen Chrysalis, the most powerful and the ruler of the changelings. With the stomp of a hoof and some careful planning, her power could crush entire kingdoms if executed just perfectly. But even one slip could result in the fall of an entire race of beings. A plan that had gone so perfectly for the changelings set a flame and thrown out the window because of one foolish mistake. However, this was not the end for the changelings. Though her army had been decimated and spread throughout the world, Chrysalis managed to survive in the outskirts of Equestria. Feeding on the love of the various animals that inhabited the dense forests, jungles, and large plains surrounding the kingdom of ponies, Chrysalis relied on her desperate lust for revenge to keep her alive. She would need a starting point, something that she could use in order to raise her army again and take her place as ruler of Equestria. No matter how big or how small, anything would aid in her goal to provide food and life for her subjects. Even if it were just two simple ponies.

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The dense forest slowly emerged from the darkness of night, the sun crawling its way over the towering mountains in the distance. The sound of birds chirping filled the air as they flew through the sky and in the canopy of the forest, gently awaking anything that was still resting in the woods. Small bears, squirrels, chipmunks, deer, all of the creatures that inhabited the forest slowly awoke, yawning and stretching as the daylight warmed them. A small river split the forest in two parts, schools of fish following the current and making their way to the lake at the end of the waterway. At the edge of the lake stood the animals of the forest, most of them bending their heads down to get a refreshing drink of water. The sky was clear over the peaceful forest, only a few clouds crawling across the blue heavens above. However, the blissful nature of the forest was soon broken.

Through the general quiet of the forest came the sound of hoofsteps, loud and heavy as they pounded against the dirt. The ears on the animals lining the lake pricked up at the sudden sound, most of them staring in the direction in which the hoofsteps were coming from. After a moment of waiting, the hoofsteps came clear as they emerged from the line of bushes around the lake. A black coated pony stepped out from the vegetation around the lake, the animals scattering at the sight of the ghastly figure. Holes were strewn about the ends of the ponies limbs, mane, tail, and wings. The creature’s horn was jagged and sharp at the edges, gleaming with a green aura as the pony used a telekinesis spell on the bushes to push them out of the way. Her mane and tail were littered with pine cones and leaves, the queen of the changelings beginning to care less about how she appeared. Queen Chrysalis stepped away from the bushes and walked over to the edge of the lake, the woodland creatures that had been there before long gone into the forest.

“Ah, here we are. At last I can finally get some sort of cleanliness feeling again.” Chrysalis said as she stepped into the lake. The queen of the changelings made her way further into the lake, sitting down and submerging her body in the cold water. Chrysalis let out a small sigh of pleasure as she sat in the lake, only her head sticking out of the body of water in the middle of the forest. Chrysalis slowly put her head down in the water, the debris of the forest that had been in her mane coming loose and floating in the clear water. After a moment, Chrysalis let her head back out of the water, letting out another sigh as she ran her hooves down her mane and tail. The changeling queen stood up and flapped her wings, the sap on the trees that had rubbed off on them soaring far from the mare in the water.

“Oh... this is nice.” Chrysalis said as she sat back down in the water. She lifted her hooves out of the lake and examined the holes in them, water droplets dripping out of them and falling back to their home. Chrysalis let her hooves fall limp in the water and she put her head back, closing her eyes and listening to the wind blow the trees lightly. She chuckled lightly to herself, moving her hooves back and forth through the lake around her.

“Why can’t I have this everyday? Those little ponies... I could have had everything. Food for my children, a land to conquer... all of it.” Chrysalis said quietly to herself, the smile on her face disappearing. The changeling sighed and she sat in silence again, fluttering her wings underwater. Chrysalis’s ears pricked up as she heard something over head. Her eyes snapped open and she stood up in the lake, looking up towards the sky at the origin of the noise. Chrysalis squinted to see against the sunlight, putting her hoof up to aid her further. A figure began to emerge from the sun’s light, a sort of balloon strapped to a basket beneath it. Inside of the basket were two ponies, a mare and a stallion looking over the side of the basket at the forest.

“Ponies? This far out of Equestria?” Chrysalis said quietly, putting her hoof down as the balloon moved out of the way of the sun. The changeling quickly ran out of the lake into a small bunch of bushes next to the water’s edge, peeking her head out to see the balloon. The two ponies slowly lowered the large balloon onto a clearing next to the lake, stepping out of the basket and walking to the shore. Chrysalis moved along the forest outline to get closer to the two ponies, settling back into another bush on the edge of the clearing next to the lake. The changeling stayed low in the bush, listening and watching the two ponies as they waded in the shallow part of the lake. The stallion was average size for his age, a light grey coat and red-orange eyes. His mane was black, medium length that parted down the middle and rested on each side of his face, laying flat in the back. The mare was a little smaller than him, lavender coat and a dark purple mane. She wore a head band to hold her mane back, her mane flowing down the back of her neck and the end of her mane resting at her body. Her dark cyan eyes gleamed in the sunlight as she looked up towards the sky, watching a cloud slowly make its way in front of the sun.

“This is a nice spot to settle down. The water isn’t all that bad.” The stallion said, hitting his hoof against the water to splash at the mare.

“Hey! I don’t want to get my mane wet yet! You know it gets all frizzy.” The mare said, splashing back at the stallion.

“Alright, alright! Come on, we can swim later. Let’s just get the picnic set up.”

The stallion and the mare stepped out of the lake and walked back to the balloon, Chrysalis keeping a close eye on them. The two ponies came out of the basket, the stallion levitating a picnic basket with him and the mare carrying a white and red plaid blanket in the air with a telekinesis spell.

“Is right here good?” The mare asked, pointing at a spot in the clearing.

“Yeah, that’s fine Tranquility. Hey, where are the cups?” The stallion asked as he looked inside of the picnic basket.

“Salvation! I told you to bring them!” Tranquility said, stomping her hoof on the ground as she straightened the picnic blanket.

“No you- Oh wait... I left them in the hotel. I knew I was forgetting something!” Salvation said, bringing his hoof up to his face.

“I told you not to forget them!”

“Sorry! They just slipped my mind, is all. We can go back to get them if we need to.”

“Oh it’s fine. I packed a few straws, we can just use those to drink out of the pitcher.”

Chrysalis gagged a little. “Salvation and Tranquility, huh? I wonder why they had to choose here to set down.” Chrysalis said, rolling her eyes at the two ponies’ bickering. She shook her head and continued to watch Salvation and Tranquility set up the picnic, both of them settling down on the blanket and unpacking the picnic basket.

“Cabbage, bread, tomatoes, looks like everything else is here. Shall we eat?” Salvation asked as he lifted all of the food out of the basket, setting it down on a small plate.

“Yeah. Hey, honey?” Tranquility asked, cutely tilting her head and crossing her hooves.

“Hmm?”

“Could you make mine for me?”

“Oh come on, you’re able to make a sandwich yourself. Just take the stuff you want in it and stack it on a piece of bread, then put another piece of bread on top. It’s simple!”

“But they don’t taste the same when I make them. Pllleeeaaasseee?”

“Okay, okay, I’ll make it. Just this once, next stop we make you’re making me one.”

“Yay!”

Chrysalis continued to watch the ponies, resting her head on her hoof as Salvation and Tranquility ate.

“Salvation?” Tranquility asked.

“What?”

“Do you ever think about going back?”

“Where? We’ve been practically all across Equestria.”

“You know what I mean.”

Salvation sighed. “We left Ponyville for a reason, remember? You were starting to lose the connection between the foals at school and I was sick of all the pressure at the hospital. It has been a month and I can still feel the heartbreaking feeling when I had to break the news to that one family before we left.”

“Yeah... I know, but I miss our friends. I miss the foals too. They treated me like I was Cherilee when I was substituting, it was cute.”

“Is that why you came home every afternoon complaining about how they wouldn’t do any of the activities in class?”

“Well... I guess you’re right. It is nice out here, isn’t it? The forest all to ourselves, the nice view, a good meal. But... when should we go back? We can’t keep traveling around forever.”

“I don’t know. We’ll head back when we get bored of going around sight seeing and traveling, I guess.”

“When do you think that will be?”

“I have no idea. But as long as I get to spend time with you, I’ll be as happy as I’ll ever be.” Salvation said, leaning forward and rubbing his nose against Tranquility’s.

Chrysalis put her hoof up to her face and let out a small sigh. “It’s just on and on with these ponies.” The changeling looked up from her hoof back at the two ponies. They were packing up the picnic and putting all the supplies back in the balloon basket, readying to leave. Chrysalis whispered a small ‘yes’ to herself and she started to stand up, but not without making any noise. As she rearranged her hooves around, Chrysalis stepped on a twig beneath her, making a loud snap. Salvation turned his head from the basket over to the bush Chrysalis was in, the changeling sinking down and hoping not to have been seen.

“What was that?” Salvation asked, stepping out of the balloon and beginning to walk over to the bush.

“What was what?” Tranquility asked as she began to step into the balloon basket. Salvation continued to walk towards the bush, Chrysalis starting to scurry out of it.

“Hey, wait a minute! Who are you? Are you lost?” Salvation shouted as he saw Chrysalis running out of the bush, not noticing her as a changeling. Chrysalis, not looking where she was going, rammed straight into a tree as she kicked off of the ground, making a loud ‘thunk’ as the impact of her head against the trunk shook the tree. Salvation walked around the trees Chrysalis had passed and came to a halt at the changeling on the ground.

“Are you alright? That was a pretty nasty hit you- What the-!?” Salvation asked as he began to reach out towards Chrysalis, but pulled his hoof back at the sight of her wings. At further inspection, Salvation noticed the holes in her and her fangs, Chrysalis dazed as she laid on the forest floor.

“What is it, Salvatio- Oh!” Tranquility said, sliding to a stop as she saw the changeling on the ground. Chrysalis shook her head and she lifted a hoof up to it, rocking back and forth slightly as she sat up.

“Is that... a changeling?” Tranquility asked, scooting closer to Salvation.

“It... looks like it. The pictures from Canterlot weren’t exactly the clearest, but that isn’t just a normal pony.” Salvation said. Chrysalis put her hoof down and stared up at the two ponies, her brow bent at an angry angle.

“What? Never seen a changeling before?” Chrysalis asked, putting her hoof up to show the holes in it.

“Yeah, you’re Queen Chrysalis, aren’t you? The changeling that tried to take over Equestria. I thought they got rid of you.” Salvation said, giving Chrysalis a stern look.

“Let’s get out of here, Salvation, she’s dangerous!” Tranquility whispered to her coltfriend, keeping her gaze on Chrysalis.

“She’s no harm to anypony now. Not after what happened in Canterlot. Why are you all the way out here? Looking for something to feed on?” Salvation asked the changeling sitting in front of him.

“Oh, just relaxing in this lake. That is, until you two showed up. Don’t you have something better to do than stick around here?” Chrysalis said, pointing her hoof at the balloon in the clearing.

“We don’t have anywhere else to be at the moment.” Salvation said.

“Come on, she isn’t anything we should be concerned about. Let’s go!” Tranquility said, tugging at Salvation’s tail as she started to walk away.

“Hang on a second. I want to learn more about this... changeling.” Salvation said, sitting down and staring at Chrysalis.

“Salvation!” Tranquility said frustratingly.

“She has no power, Tranquility. She’s nothing without her army or somepony’s love to feed on.” Salvation said. Tranquility stared at Chrysalis for a second, the changeling staring at her back. Tranquility sighed and she walked over to Salvation, sitting down next to him.

“So what are you doing all the way out here in the outskirts of Equestria? Even a being such as you must have somewhere to go.” Salvation said to Chrysalis.

“You’re really doing this?” Chrysalis asked, lifting an eyebrow. Salvation only sat and stared at her, Chrysalis letting out a sigh.

“Wandering. There has been nothing for me to do since the invasion in Canterlot. My army is gone and I’m left with only myself. Really nothing I can do with that.” Chrysalis said.

“Have you ever thought about asking for forgiveness?” Salvation asked.

“You’re kidding, right? Changelings are beings that feed on love, do you really think that anypony would want that as a friend or an ally?”

“There’s always a chance.”

“Yeah, good luck with that. For now, I’m good on just sitting out here and minding my own busine-” Chrysalis said as she examined her hoof, but cut herself off. The changeling looked past her hoof at the ground beneath her, a slight devious smile growing on her face.

“You know... I’ve been contemplating something for a while. I’m starting to get a little lonely out here, with my subjects gone and all. Maybe you would want to... stay?” Chrysalis said, giving the two ponies in front of her a malicious look. Her horn glowed with a green aura and Salvation suddenly felt a strange sensation come over him.

“Salvation? What’s wrong?” Tranquility asked, leaning forward to look at her coltfriend. Soon enough, Tranquility also started to feel drowsy along with Salvation, swaying back and forth slightly as she slowly slipped from consciousness. Salvation fought to keep his eyes open, but ultimately found himself giving and falling gently on his side next to Tranquility.

“I’m going to need an army. You two will make an excellent starting point.” Chrysalis said, laughing to herself quietly as both of the ponies on the ground laid helpless.

[2] Only The Beginning

Chapter Two: Only The Beginning

Vision blurry and disoriented, Salvation slowly opened his eyes. The stallion’s head pounded, lifting his hoof up to his forehead and wincing. However, something didn’t seem right. Salvation felt a tugging sensation on his leg as he moved around, the stallion’s vision starting to clear up. Salvation tilted his head to look at his legs, finding something that made his stomach lurch a little. A green goo was wrapped around his legs, and upon his vision clearing even more, he seemed to be in what looked like a cocoon. Salvation let his front legs go limp and they hung out above his head, the grey unicorn bouncing up and down slightly as the goo stretched a little.

“What... what is this?” Salvation thought to himself. He reached his hoof out to the wall of the cocoon, making a small echo within the hollow green shelter around him.

“What the... where am I?” Salvation said quietly, turning his head to his left. The cocoon had a clear side on it, the forest he and Tranquility had landed in viewable through the glass like side of the cocoon. Salvation squinted his eyes to see another cocoon hanging from a tree on the other side of the circular clearing in the forest. Tranquility hung from inside of the other green casket, her eyes closed as she swayed back and forth slightly in the cocoon.

“Tranquility? Tranquility! Hey, wake up! Damn it, help! Somepony help!” Salvation yelled as he came fully conscious, pressing his hooves against the sides of the cocoon and pushing.

“Nopony can hear you, dear. We’re a long ways away from your little pony friends.” Chrysalis said as she walked around the cocoon Salvation was in, stopping at the clear side and staring at the stallion dangling within her cage.

“Chrysalis! Let us go! We don’t have anything for you, just let us get on our way!” Salvation said as he continued to push against the sides of the cocoon in hopes of breaking it.

“Oh quite on the contrary. No pony just goes out to the outskirts of Equestria with some mare that he has no connection with. She is your marefriend, correct?” Chrysalis asked, lifting an eyebrow. Salvation stayed quiet, giving up on trying to break the cocoon as he turned his head to look at Chrysalis. The changeling laughed to herself a little and she put her hoof up to the cocoon, tapping on it lightly.

“With only two ponies, I’ll be able to bring my army back to life. Equestria will be mine. Now, if you don’t mind, let me start the process.” Chrysalis said. She lowered her head and pointed her horn at the cocoon, moving forward a little and inserting her jagged horn into the side of the green casket. Salvation flinched a little, expecting her to move forward further to the point where Chrysalis’s horn would come in contact with him. However, Chrysalis stayed where she was, a small smirk on her face. Salvation opened his eyes as he heard the sound of gas releasing from something, turning his head back towards the clear side of the cocoon to look at the changeling’s horn. A thick dark blue gas emitted from the tip of Chrysalis’s horn, filling the cocoon completely with Salvation still inside. The grey unicorn coughed and spit as the gas surrounded him, Chrysalis taking her horn out and watching the cocoon shake around as Salvation tried to break it.

“What is this? What are you doing!?” Salvation yelled, continuing to cough as he was forced to breath in the gas.

“Making my first changeling. You’ll be ready in a little more than a week. Until then, good night...” Chrysalis said, laughing manically as she walked away from Salvation’s assimilation chamber.

“Chrysalis! Let me... let me out... I... Tranquil... no...” Salvation trailed off, slowly dosing into a deep sleep. The grey unicorn hung limp, unconscious as he continued to breath the gas that had filled the cocoon. But soon enough, a unicorn he would no longer be, but the beginning of a new era. The era of changelings.

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The forest was quiet for its nature. No creatures of the night scurried through the bushes, flew in the night sky, or even snored to add ambience to the matter. The only sounds that filled the air were the leaves blowing peacefully in the trees and the sound of the stream flowing slowly to the lake at the end of it. The nocturnal heavens above gleamed with thousands upon thousands of stars, a full moon above dimly lighting the forest. On the floor of the dense forest laid an unconscious Salvation, the stallion laying still underneath the broken cocoon he had been in not only an hour ago. He stirred lightly in his sleep, adjusting to the changes that he had undergone from being in the green casket for more than a week. His eyes slowly opened and they met with the clearing in front of him, Salvation laying still for a second to fully awaken. The stallion shifted his eyes around to look at the forest surrounding him, lifting a hoof up to his head as a headache slowly edged it way unto him. Salvation rolled onto his stomach and lifted himself onto his hooves, swaying a little as he still tried to shake of the tiredness still lingering in his eyes.

“H... Hello? Is anypony there?” Salvation said quietly, lifting a hoof up to his eye and rubbing it. As he took his hoof away from his eye, he noticed that his coat seemed a little darker, but shrugged it off as his vision still adjusting to the darkness of the night. Salvation slowly began walking to the middle of the clearing, glancing from side to side to see if anypony was around. The quietness of the forest gave Salvation an eerie feeling as he stood in the middle of the clearing, his breathing heavy as he looked at his surroundings. The headache Salvation had spiked suddenly and he put his hoof up to his head, wincing again.

“Ah... damn it. Is anypony out there? Anyone?” Salvation said, putting his hoof back on the ground and looking at the edge of the clearing. His gaze met with the cocoon that he had seen when he was in his cocoon, but it seemed to have been broken open.

“Tranquility...” Salvation said quietly, running across the clearing and sliding to a stop at the broken cocoon. The stallion leaned forward and looked inside of the green casket, but was only met with an empty shell. Salvation sighed and he turned away from the cocoon, looking deeper into the forest around him. To his surprise, another cocoon was sitting off in the distance, Tranquility visible through the clear side of the cocoon.

“Tranquility!” Salvation said, his mouth curving into a smile as he dashed toward the cocoon further into the forest. However, he was not alone. A quiet laugh came from the forest and Salvation stopped in his tracks, a few yards away from the cocoon Tranquility was hanging in.

“Who’s there?” Salvation said, turning his head from left to right as he looked for where the laugh had come from. Another laugh pierced the quiet of night and Chrysalis walked out from behind the cocoon Tranquility was encased in, giving Salvation a sinister smile.

“Chrysalis, you monster! Let her go!” Salvation said, starting to walk towards the cocoon hanging from the tree in front of him.

“Ah ah ah, I wouldn’t so that if I were you.” Chrysalis said, pointing her horn at the cocoon next to her. Salvation came to a stop, staring at the changeling queen with hatred burning in his eyes.

“Or what?” Salvation asked.

“Or I do what I did to you to her.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“Oh, you haven’t seen yourself yet? I suggest you talk a look, it’s something that you might not want to miss.” Chrysalis said, casting a light spell and holding it out in front of the cocoon. Salvation’s stomach lurched as his gaze met with himself in the reflection of the cocoon, the stallion speechless at what had been done to him. The red-orange eyes that he had only a week ago were now a solid dark blue, the middle of his eyes a little lighter than the rest. Fangs hung partially out of Salvation's mouth, the stallion opening his mouth to look at the long and sharp teeth. His coat had been darkened to an almost black shade, barely lighter than Chrysalis’s. His horn had been smoothed, curved slightly, and pointed, Salvation putting a hoof to touch the surface of his horn. Salvation felt a tugging sensation on his sides and he turned his head to look at them, finding insect like wings tucked against him. His mane and tail had remained their normal appearance, but had been turned into a silky material, much like Chrysalis’s mane and tail. Salvation started to hyperventilate at the sight of himself in the reflection of the cocoon, taking his breath away as he stared at what he had become.

“What... what did you do me!? What am I!?” Salvation yelled angrily, feeling to urge to attack Chrysalis where she stood as he stomped his right fore hoof on the ground.

“Calm yourself, Salvation. I can explain everything to you. You are a changeling. That gas that I had put in the cocoon slowly took over your body, altering your appearance as you breathed it in and absorbed it.”

“Why!? You have nothing to benefit from this, why would you turn me into a monster such as yourself!?”

“That’s where you’re wrong. I’m going to need somepony to do my work for me. I can’t risk going out and preparing my army myself, I need somepony that can be made again. A changeling, like you.”

“Do you really think that I’m going to work for you!? Look what you have done to me! What makes you think that I’m going to follow your order!?”

“Why, for the sake of Tranquility, of course. You wouldn’t want her to become a ‘monster’ like you, would you?”

Salvation opened his mouth to speak, but slowly shut it as he turned his eyes toward Tranquility. She was still asleep, hanging peacefully within the cocoon next t Chrysalis. Salvation stared at Tranquility for a moment, his thoughts conflicting with himself. If he were to go again Chrysalis, Tranquility would be put to rest, or worse, be turned into what Salvation was turned into. However, if he were to cooperate with Chrysalis, Tranquility would remain the way she was. Salvation sighed and shifted his eyes back to Chrysalis, staring at her with anger for a short moment.

“You’ll spare her if I do your work?” Salvation asked quietly.

“Precisely.” Chrysalis replied.

“You won’t harm her?”

“Not at all.”

“She’ll remain the way she is? Nothing will happen to her?”

“Well... I wouldn’t say nothing, but basically, yes.”

“What do you mean?”

“You’re going to have to get your power from somewhere.”

Chrysalis extended her hoof out at the cocoon, Salvation staring at Tranquility within the green casket hanging from the tree.

“You... you want me to...”

“Use her love for you.”

Salvation bit down on his lip lightly and he closed his eyes, tilting his head downwards and exhaling slightly.

“I can’t. She and I have been close for so long... I can’t do this to her.”

“Oh, but what about her? She would be heartbroken is she found out that you were the one that caused her death... or her new changeling form. But, what can you do? Oh well, might as well start the process.” Chrysalis said, shrugging and leaning forward to pierce her horn through the cocoon.

“Wait, wait, no!” Salvation shouted, stretching out his hoof in front of him. Chrysalis turned her head to the changeling, a slight smile on her face as he look down at the ground again. “I’ll do it... I’ll do it, okay? Just... please, leave her alone. She has done nothing to deserve any of this. Let her be.”

Chrysalis chuckled slightly and she stood back up. “That’s what I thought. You have an hour to tap into her before I decide if you’re worthless or not. I’ll be over by the lake when you’re done.” Chrysalis said as she began to walk away from Tranquility’s cocoon. “And don’t think about breaking the cocoon open. It’s designed to crush inwards if anypony tries to break it. An hour, Salvation. Hop to it.” With that, Chrysalis walked out of sight, her hoofsteps growing faint as she headed for the lake. Salvation turned his head away from the direction Chrysalis had walked off in to Tranquility’s cocoon. The changeling slowly trotted his way toward the green casket hanging heavily from the tree it was attached to, Tranquility sleeping peacefully inside. Salvation lifted his hoof up to the cocoon, making a small ‘clunk’ noise against the hollow cell. Closing his eyes, Salvation slowly lowered himself to the ground, a few tears falling from his eyes as he sat down.

“I didn’t want any of this to happen. I didn’t know. I’m sorry... I should have listened. But everything’s going to be alright, I can feel it. We’ll get out of this and Chrysalis will be gone again. I promise. We’ll be back home and we can see our friends and the rest of the ponies again. I promise...” Salvation said quietly, letting his tears fall down his face as he held his hoof against the cocoon. A small ‘clunk’ noise came from the cocoon and Salvation felt pressure on his hoof, the changeling looking back up at the glass like side of the green casket. Tranquility had her hoof up against the cocoon’s curved side where the changeling’s hoof rested, staring at Salvation with tears welling in her eyes.

“Salvation... is that you?” Tranquility asked.

“Yeah... it’s me, Quil. I’m here.” Salvation said, smiling as his eye met with the mare in the cocoon’s.

“What... what happened to you?”

“Just an illusion through the cocoon, honey. I’m the same pony.”

“What’s going to happen to us?”

“I’m... not sure. But we’ll make it through, alright? We’ll be able to hold each other again. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

“Promise?”

“I promise. Just... go to sleep for now. I’ll get you out of there. It might take a while, I saw a branch that looked strong enough to break the side of the cocoon a while off into the forest.”

“What about Chrysalis? Where is she?”

“She’s not here. I haven’t seen her since I woke up, so I’m sure she’s gone. Go to sleep for now, I’ll be right back.”

“Okay, I’ll see you then. Be careful.”

“I will.” Salvation lifted his hoof off of the cocoon and he stood up, giving Tranquility a reassuring nod. She returned the gesture and Salvation walked to the side, going out of view from the clear side of the cocoon. Salvation made his way over to one of the trees next to Tranquility’s casket, waiting for her to fall asleep. Soon enough, light and gentle snores came from the cocoon, Salvation swallowing slightly and coming back out into the clearing. He stopped in front of the green cage, taking a moment to admire Tranquility one last time before she would go under Salvation’s control. The changeling walked forward to the cocoon and his horn glowed with a dark blue aura along with Tranquility, the mare twitching slightly in her sleep.

“I’m sorry.” Salvation said quietly and the spell cast. A smokey cloud of dark blue magic flowed out of the tip of Salvation’s horn, winding through the air and passing through the side of the cocoon. The smoke made its way to Tranquility and it absorbed into her, the mare’s breathing slowing down and becoming quiet. Salvation felt his tears begin to well up again, but held them back as best he could. The changeling soon felt a powerful force come over him, Salvation almost falling over from the sudden rush of energy. Salvation used a telekinesis spell to open Tranquility’s left eye lid. Her eye was staring off blankly into the forest past the changeling on the other side of the cocoon’s wall, her pupils shrunken and tinted dark blue. Salvation sighed and he closed her eye lid, putting his hoof up to the cocoon once more.

“I love you.” Salvation said and he turned away from the green casket, a tear slowly edging its way down the side of his face.

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Chrysalis sat at the edge of the calm lake, watching as a small group of fish swam through the shallow shore in front of her. The full moon reflected on the blissful body of water, Chrysalis tapping at the shore and admiring the ripples as they cascaded across the lake. The sound of hoofsteps slowly came into earshot and Chrysalis stood up, turning around to face the noise. Salvation walked through the trees and across the clearing, the balloon that he and Tranquility had used to get there still sitting in its place.

“I assume that you did it?” Chrysalis asked as Salvation came to a stop in front of her on the sand.

“If you lay a hoof on her when she’s in that cocoon, I am ridding this world of you personally.” Salvation said angrily.

Chrysalis chuckled. “Then you are almost ready to begin your work. Come, take a seat.” Chrysalis said, turning back to the lake and motioning her hoof to her side. Salvation stayed where he was, glaring at Chrysalis.

“I said take a seat.” Chrysalis said sternly, stomping her hoof on the ground in front of her. Salvation sighed and he hesitantly walked next to Chrysalis, he and the changeling queen sitting down and staring out at the lake.

“Just to think, all of this will be mine in a matter of time. And guess what? You’re going to make that all happen. With a few orders from me you’ll be on your way to causing the downfall of Equestria itself. It’ll be just perfect.” Chrysalis said, putting her hoof around the changeling next to her.

Salvation hit her hoof away. “Don’t touch me. I’m only following your orders to keep Tranquility the way she is. If it weren’t for her, I would be long gone by now.” Salvation said, keeping his gaze at the water.

“Ah that you would. Without her, none of this would be possible. She’s the spirit in all of this, providing your power so that you can do the unthinkable.”

“She’s not just some generator for magic! She’s a mare! Don’t you ever talk about her like she’s just an object!” Salvation yelled, standing up and raising his hoof to strike Chrysalis. The changeling queen smirked and turned her horn towards Salvation. A rounded bullet of magic released from the tip of her horn, colliding into Salvation and taking him with on its path. Salvation and the bullet soared backwards and entered the forest, Salvation snapping a number of trees in half before slamming to a stop against another as he lost momentum. The changeling fell to the ground hard, the wind knocked out of him as he gasped for air on the ground. Chrysalis appeared in front of him with a teleportation spell, quickly lifting her hoof up and stomping down on Salvation’s neck. Salvation lifted his hooves up to Chrysalis’s hoof, trying to lift it off of him.

“You will not disobey me! You will not harm me! And you will most certainly not fail your missions! If you do so, Tranquility is gone! Do you understand me!?” Chrysalis yelled, her voice echoing in the distance. Still struggling to get loose, Salvation managed to mutter a ‘yes’. Chrysalis lifted her hoof off of Salvation and he inhaled deeply, breathing heavily as he laid on the ground on his side.

Chrysalis stood straight, fixing her mane. “Your missions will begin tomorrow. Until then, get some rest.” Chrysalis said. Slowly regaining strength and breathing normally, Salvation stood back up on his hooves. He rubbed his hoof on his neck, coughing as he watched Chrysalis walk away from him.

“And forget about your name, Salvation. What you’re doing is anything but that. From now on, you’ll be known as Augury. Sleep well.” Chrysalis called from the edge of the forest. Salvation spat in her direction as she turned away, putting his hoof back on the ground and standing upright. The changeling sighed and walked through the forest, heading back to the clearing further into the woods away from the lake. Salvation slowly made his way into the clearing, walking across with his head down to Tranquility’s cocoon. He stood for a moment in silence, watching Tranquility hang upside down as she was under his control. Salvation sighed and laid down next to the cocoon.

“I’m sorry Tranquility... but for now, Salvation is gone. He’s been replaced... but I can assure you that this isn’t the end for him. We’ll be together again, Salvation and Tranquility. Good night...” Augury said quietly. He closed his eyes and slowly drifted off into sleep, resting for tomorrow. Chrysalis would have her plans for him ready bright and early.

[3] Bonds Of Magic

Chapter Three: Bonds Of Magic

“Salvation, where are you going? Come on, it’s over here!” A voice called out from the distant, Salvation lifting his head up from the ground and turning around. His mother smiled and waved to him, Salvation’s father motioning his hoof for the young colt to follow. Salvation, only three years old, nodded.

Mid-afternoon, outskirts of Ponyville. The brisk, fall air blew through the trees peacefully, the grass beside the path through Whitetail Woods littered with red, orange, and yellow leaves. The sound of hooves galloping echoed through the vast forest, Salvation and his parents rushing to the next viewing area where this year’s Running of the Leaves participants would be passing.

Salvation hurriedly ran over to his awaiting parents, slowing down and walking at his mother’s side. The three ponies made their way through the trail that twisted and turned through Whitetail, cutting across the large bend in the race track over to the next viewing area. Salvation’s ears lifted up and he smiled as he heard the sound of rushing water, the waterfall ahead slowly coming into view. Salvation and his parents emerged from the tree line at the end of the trail, coming into view of the bridge arcing over the stream flowing from the waterfall.

“Here we are! The racers should be here any second.” Salvation’s father said, adjusting his hat and looking down the race trail.

“Or... they were here just a second ago. Look.” Salvation’s mother said slowly, pointing her hoof out at the track. Hoof prints implanted themselves into the dirt, the small cloud of dust the racers kicked up still barely visible in the air.

“Well, shucks! Looks like we’re going to have to meet up at the end of the track. All of the other spectators have probably started walking.” Salvation’s father said, letting out a small sigh. Salvation’s ears dropped slightly, the colt tilting his head toward the ground.

Salvation’s mother lifted her wing up to her son, lightly pushing him, “Don’t worry, Salvation, we’ll make it there to see the award ceremony. Rumor has it that Princess Celestia herself will be there again this year. Don’t you want to see her?” Salvation’s mother asked.

Salvation sighed. “I guess.” Salvation muttered laconically.

The mare beside the colt smiled and turned to her husband. “We should probably get walking. The racers will be there soon.” Salvation’s mother said.

“Hang on, looks like there are some others that didn’t get here in time either. Hey there!” Salvation’s father shouted, waving a hoof in the direction of the trail they had walked along to get to the race track. Salvation’s ears pricked up and he turned around, eager to see who his father was waving at. Another couple of ponies slowly walked into eyesight from the forest, Salvation leaning to the side and brushing up against his mother to get a better view. As the two older ponies slowly walked into sight, another, smaller pony emerged from a pile of colorful leaves. She jumped around and the leaves sticking to her coat shook off with every leap, the red and orange slowly revealing a gentle lavender coat underneath. Her long, dark purple mane and tail flowed around as she came to a slow walk next to her parents, the wind picking up slightly and flinging the leaves next to the path up into the air. Her dark cyan eyes glistened in the sunlight, her pupils tilted and focused on a particular red-orange leaf falling from one of the trees. Despite his age and maturity, Salvation felt something inside of him click at the sight of the filly.

“Hello! We the first ones here?” The stallion asked as he came to a stop in front of Salvation’s parents with his wife. The mare waved gently as they came to a stop.

Salvation’s father cleared his throat. “Well, I think we might be the last ones here. Looks like the racers have already passed this area.” Salvation’s father said, motioning his head towards the track.

The stallion stomped at the ground lightly. “Dang. Well, might as well get heading over to finish line, they’re probably on the final stretch by now. Did you here that Princess Celestia was...”

The conversation between Salvation’s parents and the other couple trailed off as Salvation slowly walked away from them, his eyes and attention fixed on something else. The lavender filly stood away from her and Salvation’s parents, sitting down in front of a small caterpillar slowly inching its way across a leaf on the ground. Her eyes were staring intently at the tiny creature, fascination overpowering awareness as Salvation slowly walked over to her. Leaning to the side slightly as he came to a stop a few feet behind the filly, Salvation looked past her gently flowing mane, watching as a dark cyan glow surrounded the leaf, the red-orange flake lifting into the air in front of the filly’s eyes. The caterpillar halted on top of the floating leaf, picking up the front section of its body and staring off behind the filly, frozen.

Salvation, feeling as if the caterpillar was staring at him, cleared his throat and walked up beside the filly sitting on the ground. “Hi. What’cha doing?” Salvation asked, a slight smile finding its way onto his face.

The filly looked up from the leaf, her eyes connecting with Salvation’s, “Looking at this caterpillar! See?” The filly said happily, lifting the leaf through the air with her magic and holding it in front of Salvation’s face. Salvation stood still, watching as the caterpillar continued on its path around the leaf.

Salvation’s mouth curved into a small smile. “Cool! I’m Salvation, what’s your name?” Salvation asked as the filly brought the caterpillar back down to the ground.

The filly stood up and turned to Salvation. “My name is Tranquility. Are those you parent’s?” Tranquility asked, pointing her hoof at the two ponies in front of her parents.

“Yeah. Are you here to see the Running of the Leaves too?” Salvation replied.

“Mmhm. Dad told me that Princess Celestia will be there! Did you hear?”

“...Yeah, yeah, I did.”

“What’s wrong? Aren’t you excited?”

“Well-”

A sudden voice interrupted the colt. “Salvation! Come on, bring your friend, we’re heading to the finish line!” Salvation’s mother shouted, waving a hoof at the two young ponies.

“Maybe we can talk later. Let’s go!” Tranquility said cheerfully, running off in the direction of her parents. Salvation sighed and followed the filly.

______________________________________________________________________

“Wake up you cretin!”

The sudden shrill yell pierced directly through the dream of the changeling laying on the ground, the rude awakening followed by a swift kick to the stomach. Augury’s eyes suddenly snapped open and he curled into a ball, letting out a small grunt and holding onto his body. Chrysalis smiled and she backed away from Augury slightly, watching as the changeling on the ground rolled around for a second as the pain slowly eased its way down.

“Oh I didn’t hit you that hard. Can’t handle a little poke?” Chrysalis asked mockingly, her tongue slipping out of her mouth and making a snake-like hissing noise. Augury threw Chrysalis a frustrated look as he slowly stood up, wiping off his silky coat and mane.

Augury spat off to the side. “What do you want?” The changeling asked bitterly, turning his head to Chrysalis and tilting his brow downwards.

Chrysalis tilted her head. “Have you forgotten already? Such a small brain you must have if you forget that easily. You’re working for me, remember? Today is the day you begin. But first, I have to teach you the changeling basics... if your idiocy can subside.”

“Let’s just get this over with so I can get away from you as quickly as possible.”

“So quick to retaliate. I like that.” Chrysalis said, nodding her head and putting a hoof up to her chin. “Anyways, if you’re going to carry out these missions successfully, your going to have to learn how a changeling works. You’re not going to last a second in pony society looking like that, so lets get started.”

“What is there to learn? Change into another lifeform, feed off of love, no heart, useless, blah blah blah.”

“You’re forgetting that you’re a changeling as well, Augury. You might want to think about things before you even open your mouth.”

Augury sighed and leaned on his left legs. “Just tell me what I need to know, alright?”

Chrysalis smiled at his remark. “Then here we go. Come.” Chrysalis motioned her hoof as she turned around, beginning to walk to the center of the clearing within the forest. Augury stayed still for a second, gathering his thoughts and thinking to himself how hard this could be. The changeling turned his head to his left, a sour sadness falling over him as his gaze wandered across the cocoon that Tranquility rested in.

“Are you blind and deaf now, too? I said get over here!” Chrysalis yelled from the middle of the clearing, stomping her hoof on the ground. Augury averted his eyes from the cocoon and disappeared from the tree line, reappearing with a small flash of light in the middle of the clearing next to Chrysalis.

“Ah, so you can use magic better than I thought you could.” Chrysalis said as Augury came to a stop a few feet in front of her, Augury staring at her with a blank face.

Augury laughed lightly. “A teleportation spell is one of the basics of complex magic. You’d be surprised with what they can teach you in the Canterlot schools. Although, with the outcome of your little invasion, you probably haven’t heard anything about that.”

Chrysalis ignored Augury’s last sentence. “Complex magic, huh? What else does this... complex magic category involve?”

“Mainly just defensive and offensive attack maneuvers, along with a stack of other complex categories of magic. That shield that the captain of the royal guard had over Canterlot would be classified as complex, rather than fundamental. Considering you can use magic to convert ponies into changelings, I would think you would know more about magic than you do.”

“So you went to school in Canterlot?”

“If I wasn’t clear, yes. What significance does that have?”

“You and that little mare of yours were talking about returning to ‘Ponyville’. You haven’t stayed in Canterlot since school?”

“I studied in Canterlot until I was ten. My parents and I would take trips to Ponyville during those ten years to visit relatives and see some of the town’s events. It wasn’t until I turned ten that my family and I moved to Ponyville. I’ve been living there ever since.”

“What about Tranquility? When did you meet her?”

“When I was three. First time we met was during The Running of the Leaves one year in Whitetail Woods on the outskirts of Ponyville. We were friends ever since, sending letters from Ponyville to Canterlot and vice versa. It was only when I moved to Ponyville that we actually... started to fall for each other. It’s funny, really, I-” Augury stopped for a second, the smile on his face disappearing and his eyes opening wider slightly. His head had tilted toward the ground, Augury staring at the swaying green grass at his hooves with his head tilted to the side. Augury looked up from the ground, Chrysalis staring at him with an eyebrow raised.

Augury’s face returned to its resentful expression. “Why am I telling you this? Why do you want to know? You’re just a changeling, you wouldn’t know anything about true love.”

Chrysalis giggled lightly. “Just thought I would get to know my little associate better. You smile whenever you talk about Tranquility. You love her that much?”

“That doesn’t concern you.”

“Well, I guess we’ll just have to see how much Tranquility loves you back. Now, Augury, we’ll begin on our... ‘changeling tutorial’.”

______________________________________________________________________

Augury jumped high into the air in a green ball of flame-like magic, Chrysalis lifting a hoof up to her face and grunting frustratedly. The changeling flying through the air fell back to the ground with a dull thud on his stomach, Augury’s coat singed and the tip of his tail still glowing with the fiery green magic.

Chrysalis slowly walked over to Augury and stepped on his tail, the small green fire on its tip disappearing under her hoof. “Is it that hard to change form!? You’ve been trying for the past hour and yet you can’t even change into the skin of another pony!?” Chrysalis shouted angrily, taking her hoof off of Augury’s tail and kicking him onto his back. Augury laid still, panting heavily as he stared up into the sky. No clouds floated in the vast blue abyss above the forest, the heat of the sun beating down on Augury’s face.

Chrysalis moved closer to Augury, kneeling forward over the tired changeling, her head blocking the sun out of his eyes. “You have two more tries before I just call it quits and dispose of you! I don’t think Tranquility will be happy with knowing that you were the cause of your own death and her new changeling form! Two tries! Get to it!” Chrysalis pushed Augury onto his side, the changeling queen letting out a loud sigh and returning back to the center of the clearing. Augury stayed where he was for a moment, staring off at the forest, his eyes focused on a particular tree on the clearing’s edge. Tranquility still hung inside of her cocoon, her eyes gently shut, an ominous green glow barely escaping from her eyelids.

“Do you want me to get rid of you without giving you a chance!? Get your flank over here before I drag you over here!” Chrysalis yelled once more. Augury groaned lightly and he slowly stood up on his hooves, swaying a little as his strength still staggered. The changeling sauntered his way over to the changeling queen in the clearing, Chrysalis slowly tapping her hoof on the ground as Augury came to a stop out in front of her. Augury shifted his eyes from the ground up to Chrysalis, the changeling queen motioning her hoof for him to try again.

Augury sighed and looked back toward the ground. “I can’t let this happen. Come on, just concentrate. You’ll get the hang of it once you do it. Just once. Hopefully Chrysalis will buy it and let me go. Just once... just once.” Augury thought to himself. Trying his best to clear his mind, Augury closed his eyes and focused on the magic within him. Though he had been in some of the advanced classes in Canterlot for magic, changeling magic was different than the kind of magic that he had learned how to manipulate. A large barrier seemed to block him from using it, something in his mind fighting back against him as he focused harder on the formation spell. Augury tightened the force on his eyelids, a drop of sweat rolling down the side of his face. Chrysalis only watched, staring at the ground as a small ring of fiery green magic formed around the struggling changeling. However, the efforts seemed for naught. Feeling the ring of magic around him about to burst once more and send him into the air, Augury let the spell go. The small ring around him disappeared and Augury fell to the ground quickly, panting again and swearing to himself quietly. Augury looked up at the changeling queen in the clearing, Chrysalis leaning to the side slightly.

“One more try.” Chrysalis said softly, keeping a straight face. Augury sighed and he looked back toward the ground.

“No... no, no, no! Damn it, just focus on the stupid spell! It’s not that hard! Focus you idiot! Focus for the love of... of... Tranquility... Tranquility.” Augury’s thoughts slowly came to a stop at the thought of his marefriend dangling within her cocoon. Failure would bring an end to what she is, but success would only keep her there longer. Success, failure. One or the other. Augury made up his mind. The exhausted changeling took in a deep breath and stood up slowly, bringing his eyes from the ground to the grass in front of Chrysalis.

“Quil.”

Augury slowly closed his eyes, feeling a small tear drop form within his closed eyelids. Chrysalis put equal weight on all four of her legs, watching as the tear drop from Augury’s eye slowly make its way down his face. A ring of green flame-like magic began to form a ring around Augury again, but the changeling building the spell did not seem to be working at all. Augury stood calmly, his eyes closed and his mouth partially open. The tear drop came to a stop at the bottom of Augury’s chin, patiently waiting. As Augury closed his mouth completely, the tear drop let go of its grasp on the changeling, falling slowly to the ground. Expecting the ring around Augury to burst into a magical fire once more, Chrysalis sighed and closed her eyes. However, what came next gave a sudden surprise to the changeling queen.

An ominous noise came from the area in front of Chrysalis, the changeling queen opening her eyes with curiosity. The tear drop that had been on Augury floated in the air in front of him, glowing with a strange dark blue glow. A confused expression formed on Chrysalis’s face, her expectations with Augury’s final attempt seeming to become real. With a bright flash of light, the glowing tear drop burst outwards, sending a large wave of air almost knocking Chrysalis backwards. Augury stayed silent, calmly staring at the black abyss in front of his eyes. The flame-like magic ring around Augury turned from a light green hue to dark blue, Augury’s horn gaining an aura the same color as the fire surrounding him.

“What’s this?” Chrysalis said quietly. The ring of blue fire around Augury slowly grew around the focused changeling, engulfing him in a ball of dark blue flames that danced wildly. A small smile curved onto Chrysalis’s face, Augury finally making the bond between his magic and changeling magic. The dark blue ball of fire in the clearing suddenly disappeared, revealing a pony that had not been there before. Augury slowly opened his eyes, a wave of exhaustion suddenly taking over him, the changeling quickly sitting down and breathing heavily.

Chrysalis slowly walked over to Augury. “My my, and here I was expecting you to fail. An interesting choice on who to transform into, considering your situation, but it’ll do. At least I know that you’ve accepted changeling magic.” Chrysalis said, lifting a hoof up and patting Augury on his head. Augury sat still and looked down at his hooves, his eyes opening slightly wider. The dark grey, silky coat that had once sat upon Augury had transformed into a soft, lavender texture. Augury shifted his eyes to his mane, the long dark purple hair hanging over his right shoulder limply. Augury recognized the shape he had taken.

“Did I just...?” Augury said quietly, lifting his hooves up and looking at them.

“Transform yourself into Tranquility? Yes. Now that you’ve passed over the hill of getting to know changeling magic, this process should be a little easier for you now. Go ahead, try taking other forms.” Chrysalis said as she walked away from Augury.

“Other forms. Maybe...” Augury thought to himself as he stood up. Ideas raced through Augury’s mind, the power of being able to transform into anypony or anything he could think of overwhelming him. The changeling took in a deep breath and closed his eyes, focusing on the magic within him once more. The same blue ring of fire formed on the ground around Augury, the ring quickly spiking up and engulfing him. With the same speed it went to cover him, the fire disappeared, leaving Augury standing in the form of another pony. The changeling looked down towards his hooves, the pleasant sight of seeing his old coat and mane bringing a smile to Augury’s face.

“Enjoy it while you can. You’re going to be heading out on your first mission soon, so don’t get too comfortable.” Chrysalis spoke as she turned around to face her little creation. Augury smiled and he quickly changed forms again, Chrysalis sighing and rolling her eyes as the blue flames receded.

Augury laughed and he inspected himself, running his eyes over Chrysalis’s stature. “You really need to get some more exercise, Chrs-y. I feel like a twig in your form. Do you even know what weights are?” Augury asked in a taunting manner, looking at Chrysalis through the holes in his hooves.

“Ha ha, very funny. Now change back before I make you change back.”

“Alright, alright, ‘your majesty’.” Augury turned back to his normal changeling form from Chrysalis’s, fixing his mane and stretching. “So what are these... missions? Am I just running to the grocery store and buying some fruit or what?”

“Oh, you’re going to be doing something much, much more than that. You do remember how to get back to Ponyville from here, don’t you?”

“Uh... yeah, almost directly north from here. Why does it matter?”

Chrysalis laughed lightly to herself. “You’re going to do some business for me in that little town of ponies.”

“Like what?”

Chrysalis smiled and she walked over to Augury, lifting a hoof and placing it lightly on his cheek.

“Getting me more assimilation targets.”

[4] Starting Points

Chapter Four: Starting Points

“Wait wait wait wait wait, you want me to go back to Ponyville and foalnap other ponies so you can assimilate them too?” Augury asked, hitting Chrysalis’s hoof away from his face and backing up from her.

“No, I want you to go to Ponyville and cuddle with them. Of course I want you to take them and convert them into changelings! I can’t just start an army with one changeling! I need more forces, more assimilated changelings! Your pony magic is bonded with changeling magic, it’s almost like a natural magic amplifier! If I can get more changelings like that, I can create the most powerful army in the entire world!” Chrysalis exclaimed, throwing her front hooves into the air as she hovered above the ground, her wings fluttering.

Augury shook his head slightly. “You’re a lunatic. Ponyville will be on high alert even with the disappearance of one of its residents without warning. What makes you think that I’m going to be able to take multiple?”

“Oh, you’re not just going to be taking from Ponyville, but maybe even Canterlot as well. There are some high priority targets that I have in mind.”

“And those would be?”

“Something that shouldn’t concern you right now. What you should be concern about is readying to begin the journey back to Ponyville. I’m sure your friends will be glad to see your face again. So sad that Tranquility can’t come with.”

Augury kept silent for a second. He turned his head to look behind him, catching a glimpse of the cocoon that Tranquility slept in the corner of his eye. “And what if I say no?” Augury asked as he turned his head back to Chrysalis. To Augury’s surprise, she was already in front of him.

“If you say no?” Chrysalis asked, lifting an eyebrow as she began to walk closer to the changeling in front of her. Augury slowly backed away, trying his best to avert his eyes from the changeling queen. “If, you, say, no?” Chrysalis asked slower. Augury came to a stop at the lining of the clearing, feeling his flank brush up against the trunk of a tree. Chrysalis stopped in front of him and she knelt forward, coming face to face with Augury. The nervous changeling glanced to his left, staring at Tranquility’s cocoon for a moment.

“Well...” Augury started to say, shifting his eyes back to Chrysalis.

“If you say no, then you can say your chances of seeing Tranquility out of that cocoon as a pony, or even alive, goodbye. You will obey my orders and you will not fail my orders. You do either of these wrong...” Chrysalis smiled and she turned her head slightly to her right, giving Tranquility’s cocoon a sinister stare. “...and not only will Tranquility pay the consequences, you will get a special... ‘treatment’. Do I make myself clear?”

“I... uh-”

“Do I make myself clear!?”

“Ye- yes! I understand!”

“Good.” Chrysalis pushed off of Augury, the smaller changeling turning sideways and falling upright against the tree behind him. “Practice what you’ve learned for a little while and come see me when you’re ready. If I don’t hear from you in three hours, I’ll come find you. That’s not a threat, by the way, so don’t get all sissy on me. Until then, have fun.” Chrysalis said. With a small blink of magic, the changeling queen disappeared from the clearing. Augury let out a small sigh, closing his eyes and sitting down in front of the tree behind him.

“Might as well get some practice. No hurt in not.” Augury said quietly as he laid on his side. The changeling opened his eyes and shifted them to look at his side, the insect like wings resting on him laying limply. “I should probably get some practice flying as well. These still feel a little... weird.” Augury thought as he stood up on his hooves. Augury turned to his left slightly, just barely catching the cocoon hanging from the tree a few feet away from him in his gaze. Tranquility’s light breathing barely made its way out of the cocoon’s hard surface, Augury closing his watering eyes gently.

“I promise that you’re going to get out of there. I promise.” Augury said quietly.

______________________________________________________________________

Chrysalis made her way through the narrow pathways between the numerous trees of the forest. The sun strung down in columns through the small gaps in the canopy above, the golden columns moving vividly as a serene breeze blew over the outskirts of Equestria. The sound of the stream flowing into the lake in the middle of the forest slowly drifted away as Chrysalis walked away from the edge of the lake Salvation and Tranquility had landed by. Through the thick forest, Chrysalis could slowly begin to see the clearing she had left Augury in. Strange noises slowly edged their way into earshot as Chrysalis progressed towards the clearing. The sound of magic sparking and flying through the air echoed through the forest, followed by a small explosion and a the bark of a tree flying into the distance.

“What is he doing? I may have told him to practice, but I didn’t say anything about destroying the forest.” Chrysalis said to herself, keeping her eyes at the ground. One after another, the sound of more and more trees splintering into pieces shattered the silence of the forest. Chrysalis stepped onto the edge of the clearing, staying in the shadows as she looked up from the ground. Her eyes opened wider at the sight of what Augury had been doing, words escaping her mouth for a brief moment.

Multiple of the trees at the edge of the forest had been shattered into pieces, their remains scattered throughout the lining of the clearing. Some had been reduced to a small stump, the top of the broken tree trunks burnt. Other trees had all of their bark stripped away, and upon further inspection, the interior of the stripped trees had ‘Chrysalis’ carved into them. A small section of trees stood untouched at the other side of the clearing from Chrysalis, but soon enough would meet the same fate as the others. Each of the still standing trees had ‘Chrysalis’ carved deeply into them, a seemingly infuriated Augury standing in the middle of the clearing. His eyes seemed to radiate with a hatred Chrysalis had never seen before, a fiery dark blue aura surrounding Augury’s eyes. With a quick swing of his head upwards and a spark of dark blue fire, a spell erupted from Augury’s horn. The tree standing at the edge of the clearing Augury stared at was quickly surrounded in a dark blue fire, the sight of it bringing a smile to Augury’s face. The fires receded after a few seconds of being submerged in the destructive spell, revealing a burnt and twisted tree beaten beyond recovery. Branches snapped, bark peeled off, and leaves vanished, the spell had done its job. Augury tilted his head back down horizontally to the ground, what seemed like excited breathing coming from his mouth escaping through his closed teeth.

Chrysalis cleared her throat loudly. “Getting some extra practice, are we?” Chrysalis called out as she slowly stepped out into the clearing. The small smile on Augury’s face disappeared and the fiery aura around his eyes faded, the changeling coming back to his normal state as the queen of the changelings came into his view.

Augury laughed subtly. “I was just getting started. Did you know there was a spell that can make ponies see things? I can be useful sometimes. Watching all of those Chrysalises burn into a crisp was nice. It’s a little disappointing, though. It was more fun when they weren’t trees.” Augury spoke calmly, wiping the ashes clinging onto his coat away.

“You seem to be a little more experienced in magical combat than I have suspected. I doubt they would have taught that in the Canterlot schools. Where did you learn such a... disturbing spell?”

“Fundamental combat books printed by the Equestrian Military. They generally weren’t allowed to have been read by students my age, more or less be kept in the public libraries, but I have my ways.”

“So you stole them?”

“Not necessarily. I left the book rental fee on the counter when I returned them unsupervised. They were quite useful for the time I had them. Granted, I didn’t use the more...” Augury looked back at the trees lining the edge of the clearing. “...violent spells on the ponies that irked me, but the nonlethal ones seemed to come in handy if I ran into trouble.”

“You’re a little more darker than I had expected.”

“Don’t get me wrong. I didn’t go using the spells I had learned just for ‘fun’. I read the books for protection, a sort of comfort knowing that I had something that would give me an edge in a fight or something.”

“Did they have anything about tactics?”

“A few parts mentioned some tactics, yes.”

“Then they weren’t such a waste after all.”

“Hmm?”

“What? Did you expect to just go in magic blazing and ruthless? You’re going to need to use wits to carry out these missions, not just brute force.”

“I never said I was going to. I was just letting off some steam. Besides, with your performance in Canterlot, what would you know about wits?”

“I had everyone fooled that I was actually the bride, didn’t I? Everything was going perfect... if it weren’t for that little lavender unicorn.”

“Letting some unicorn get the best of you? She was one of the wielders of The Elements of Harmony, I believe. Twilight Sparkle, I’ve seen her around Ponyville before.”

“Yes, as have I. She will be one of the last.”

“The last of what?”

“The first group of your assimilation targets. If I’m going to have any success in this changeling civilization, I’m going to need some of the more powerful ponies. The six mares that possess The Elements of Harmony would prove a great loss to Equestria and a huge gain for my army. Yes... they’ll be that start of it.”

“You can’t be serious. I’m not going to be able to take six mares from Equestria without any sort of security taking notice. Within a few captures I could have the entire Canterlot Royal and Honor Guard on my flank. How do you expect me to do this?”

“You’re a changeling, remember? Deceive them. Make them think that you’re one of them, and when they don’t expect it, take them. Or just take them when they don’t expect it, your call. You have gotten practice with changing forms, haven’t you? You weren’t just destroying trees the whole time?”

“I’ve changed forms enough.”

“Prove it. Surprise me.”

Augury sighed and rolled his eyes. A small wave of fire emerged from the ground and engulfed Augury, disappearing into a small cloud of smoke above his head a second later. Augury stood still, staring at Chrysalis with light pink eyes. His mane flowed around elegantly, blue, green, and pink waving through the air slowly. A decorative necklace attached itself tightly against his neck and a crown rested on top of his head, both of them golden with a purple gem fitted into them. A simple sun, yet ornate sun stood out upon his flank, the pink-tinted white coat beyond it seeming to glimmer in the sun light. His horn stood tall from his head and a wing sprouted out from each of Augury’s sides, feathered and light.

Chrysalis smiled at the tall and thin alicorn form standing in front of him. “Good work. In all honesty, that disguise could possibly allow you to get away with all of the captures, but some suspicion would probably arise. Anyways, with that amount of detail, I think you’re ready to get the details of your missions.”

Augury let out a sigh of relief and changed back to his changeling form. “As much I like the feel of being the ruler of Equestria, Celestia’s form is a little slender for me.”

“Get used to being in your non-changeling form. You’ll be seen as an enemy the instant you’re identified as a changeling. Now, as before, your first targets will be the six mares of the elements. I have just two specifications for you with these six. One, do not take more than one at a time. Security will get too tight and you’ll end up getting noticed the moment you come into eyesight. One at a time. Two, whatever you do, do not go after Twilight Sparkle until you have captured the other five.”

“Why not?”

“If you haven’t noticed, she is Celestia’s star student. If anything happens to her, it’s almost a guarantee that Celestia herself will have some intervention, which may cause it to be harder to capture the other mares.”

“Seems fair enough. What should I do with the... targets once I have them?”

“Take them out of where they are without being seen. Also, do not present yourself as a changeling. However, if there is some bizarre reason that you do, make sure that you take them, no matter the consequences. I can’t have anypony knowing that changelings are still around.”

“Alright. I do want to ask you something, though.”

“What is it?”

“How do you know about Twilight being Celestia’s star pupil? Only a handful of the ponies in Ponyville know about that.”

“Are you that dense? I’m not just going to send somepony in to capture some targets without knowing what goes on. I did some research in Canterlot and its surrounding cities and towns as a ‘citizen’ before the attack on Canterlot. I know enough to be sure that this will work out perfectly.”

“You sure about that? It didn’t seem to work out very well during the wedd-”

Chrysalis quickly dashed to Augury and kicked his legs out from under him, stepping on his neck as he landed on the ground on his side. “You crack one more joke about the Canterlot incident and I will make sure that Tranquility suffers more than you will. Got it?”

“Yes...” Augury managed to force out. Chrysalis lifted her hoof off of Augury and turned away from him, slowly walking away.

Augury stood up and rubbed his throat. “What’s with you and my neck?”

“It shuts you up for a good while. You have three days to complete your first mission, which starts about... now. If I don’t hear from you in three days, Tranquility is as good as gone. Good luck.” Chrysalis disappeared into the forest with a teleportation spell. Augury gave the area where Chrysalis stood an angry look, putting his hoof back on the ground.

“Three days to take a mare. It would take... what, ten hours to get to Ponyville from here? Flying, of course. Maybe once I get the route down I can use teleportation.” Augury said quietly to himself, staring off in the direction of Ponyville. Over the canopy, the tips of the mountains in the distance barely showed themselves, the snow caps shining in the sunlight. Augury sighed and he turned his head to his left. The tree that Tranquility hung from still retained its natural look, a few trees around it still left untouched by Augury.

“I’ll do this as quick as I can. I’ll make sure to tell the ponies in Ponyville you said hi, alright Quil?” Augury said quietly. Silence. Augury looked down at his hooves. “...Right. I’ll be back, okay?” Silence. The changeling sighed and he slowly lifted off of the ground, his wings fluttering by his sides. With one last glimpse of the forest, Augury began the journey back to Ponyville.

______________________________________________________________________

Darkness slowly receded as light pushed its way gently into the black sky, returning warmth and comfort to Equestria for another day. Clouds slowly cleared their way out of the large abyss resting above the land of ponies, pegasi awaking from their slumber and beginning to clear the sky. In the large plains that rested between the mountains of Equestria, Ponyville slowly came to life. Yawning and rubbing their eyes, the ponies of Ponyville met the light of day in their homes, awaking for another joyful day in the peaceful town they resided in. Unbeknownst to them, however, a threat roamed within Equestria, his eyes set on the very town they rested in.

Augury panted slowly as he came to the near tip of one of the lower mountains on the outskirts of Ponyville, his wings aching and throbbing. The changeling let out a sigh of exhaustion and flopped onto his side, shifting his eyes from the ground up to the sky. The light of day radiated throughout the sky, the sun only just rising above the mountains past the town of ponies in the distance. Ponyville was not far away from Augury, the town just a mile or three away from the base of the mountain he laid on top of. Ponies already walked out of their houses, greeting each other and having small conversations as their foals ran outside to meet their friends.

Augury shifted his eyes back to the small flattened portion of the mountain he laid on, brushing his hooves against the soft and green grass. “Tomorrow already?” Augury thought to himself. “That took a little longer than expected. I’m going to want to find these mares fast.” Augury closed his eyes and let his hooves fall limp onto the grass, listening to the gentle wind blowing across the mountains.

“So close to home... yet so far away.”

______________________________________________________________________

Augury stared at the town out in front of him intently, making sure that nopony had their eyes focused towards him. The edge of Everfree provided enough cover for Augury not to be seen from Ponyville, the thick canopy next to the trail leading further into Everfree blocking almost any direct sunlight from reaching him. The ponies at the edge of Ponyville continued to play with a small yellow frisbee, tossing it back to each other in a triangle with a quick swing of their head. Augury grunted frustratedly, one of the ponies keeping their gaze at their friend, making it impossible for Augury to make any large movements without being spotted. Impatience growing, Augury began to move subtly, using the shadows to cover his movements as he slowly made his way further back into Everfree. The three fillies went out of sight as Augury backed further into the darkness of Everfree, the changeling letting out a small sigh of relief.

“Damn it.” Augury spoke quietly to himself, taking any precautions to not give himself away. “It doesn’t look like they’re going to be moving any time soon. Looks like I’ll just have to change here. Let’s just hope they don’t get suspicious of my coming out of Everfree. Well, here goes nothing.” Dar blue fires flashed around Augury and receded, revealing a completely different pony than the one that stood there only a second earlier. A pale pink mare occupied the patch of grass Augury used to be, her violet eyes opening slowly to see if she had done the right transformation. Her stature stood thin, measuring about the average mare’s height. A horn jutted out from her forehead, the mare shifting her eyes to her horn and poking it gently a few times. Her sides stayed clear of any appendages, Augury making sure that no suspicion arises, as it would be quite peculiar if another alicorn suddenly appeared in Equestria. The tips of her pitch black mane and tail hung far from their origin, the mare lifting her tail up in the air slightly to prevent it from dragging. She adjusted her mane gently, leaning up against a tree as she tied it into a ponytail and let it drop against her back. On her flank rested three red crosses, each one bigger than the other, Augury finding it easier to explain his cutie mark if he kept it close to his. The mare cleared her throat, a gentle, more feminine tone coming from the impostor mare’s mouth.

“There. This should be a fairly good disguise. I’ll name her... uh...” Augury trailed off of his sentence, drawing a blank in his mind. He lifted a hoof up to his head, a disgruntled expression slowly forming on Augury’s face. “...I’ll just come up with one on my way. It’s not like the ponies are going to notice me too much.” Augury took in a deep breath and exhaled slowly, still getting used to his new form and voice.

“Here goes nothing.” Augury said quietly and he began to walk towards the edge of Everfree. Ponyville revealed itself bit by bit as Augury passed the trees on the outline of the Everfree Forest, trying to act as natural possible as he walked into the daylight. The three fillies playing in the small field between Everfree and Ponyville halted where they were, turning their heads to look at Augury as if he were some sort of monster. Augury felt the three fillies’ eyes pierce directly through him like needles through water, an intense feeling of paranoia taking over him. Beginning to sweat slightly, Augury gave the three fillies a friendly smile. As if they had saw Queen Chrysalis herself, the fillies dashed off into Ponyville as fast as they could, the smile on Augury’s face wiping away as quick as the fillies ran.

“That can’t be good...” Augury said quietly, swallowing a small lump in his throat. Despite the sudden wave of feeling like he was being watched from every corner of Ponyville, Augury continued on into the town of ponies. The friendly atmosphere gave Augury a nice break from the hostile environment of the forest with Chrysalis, the hidden changeling feeling an actual smile come across his mouth. Ponies waved to him, some even nice enough to have a small conversation, but spending time in his home wasn’t what Augury had come to Ponyville for. He had a mission to take care of, no matter how much he didn’t want to.

“Alright... six mares. I’ve seen them around Ponyville before, I just need to find them. Now, where would they be?” Augury thought to himself as he strolled through Ponyville, scanning the town from side to side. Without a moment too soon, Augury found his answer. Not paying attention to what laid in front of him on the street, the changeling bumped into another pony. The two ponies stumbled from the small collision, a rather elegant accent gasping as she regained her composure. The white unicorn turned around with a slightly angry look upon her face, Augury moving his mane out of his face to see who he had ran into.

The unicorn, her eyes shut, gently swung her mane out of her face with a small motion of her head. “Do pay attention to where you are walking, would you? I would rather not have this new hat washed ag-” The unicorn cut her sentence off as she opened her eyes, Augury staring at her with a confused, yet surprised look.

“Well that didn’t take long...” Augury thought to himself. The unicorn continued to stare at Augury, the changeling beginning to think that he had come out of his new form.

Augury cleared his throat. “Hello.” Augury said quietly, waving meekly at the white unicorn standing in front of him.

The unicorn finally spoke up. “Uh, hello. I haven’t seen you around Ponyville before. Are you new here? Oh! Where are my manners? I am Rarity. What would your name be?”

“My name is...” Once more, Augury’s mind wiped clean. The changeling stood still for a second, staring at Rarity with partially wide eyes.

“Are... are you alright? Is something the matter?”

“Yes! I mean- my name is... Serenity. My name is Serenity.” The pale pink mare spoke, a small feeling of relief coming over her.

“Oh! Well, Serenity, are you new to Ponyville?”

“Yes. I just got here not too-”

Rarity suddenly blurted out, Serenity almost jumping out of her coat. “Oh my goodness!”

“What, what!? What’s wrong?”

“You simply cannot walk around with that mane style! Oh, how am I...”

Serenity watched as Rarity trailed of into thought, mumbling to herself as she stared blankly into the sky above Serenity. “Is she just gonna stand there?” The changeling thought to herself.

“Ah! That’s it!” Rarity exclaimed.

“What’s it?”

“You should come with me to the beauty spa with my friend Fluttershy! It will be just marvelous, oh you cannot miss the hooficures that Aloe gives. Come along!” Rarity, without waiting for an answer from Serenity, quickly grabbed her right foreleg with magic and began to walk away, Serenity dragging behind her.

“Wait, hang on. I don’t want to- I actually like me mane the way it... ugh...” Serenity began to argue, but realized it was useless as Rarity continued to babble on about the beauty spa. “This is going to be harder than I expected.”

______________________________________________________________________

“And we’ll do this. Ooh, maybe a emerald instead of a ruby. Wait, maybe...” Rarity’s rambling slowly tuned out of Serenity’s head, the changeling standing on the small pedestal in the middle of the Carousel Boutique. A glittery, elegant, pink and white dress wrapped itself onto Serenity, the changeling staring at the wall on the other side of the boutique with the look of boredom, hatred, and frustration flaring in her eyes. The time had turned to dawn already, Rarity taking Serenity throughout Ponyville and introducing her to the various ponies of Ponyville. While it may have partially familiarized the changeling with the other spirits of harmony, time began to run short on the deadline for Augury’s return with his target with one day left. Now or never.

“Ah, here we are! Emeralds, sapphires, maybe a diamond? No no no, too flashy.” Rarity continued, rustling through a small chest at the edge of the room. Serenity adverted her eyes from the wall over to Rarity, impatience beginning to find its way into Serenity’s heart. The changeling sighed and she levitated the dress off of her, setting it down gently on the first step of the pedestal.

“Uh, Rarity? Would you mind if I have a word with you?” Serenity called out, turning her head from the dress back to the white unicorn.

“What is it, dear?” Rarity called out. She lifted her head from the small chest and up to the wall in front of her, taking a quick glance at the clock resting on the wall. “That late already? I suppose I could take a break from designing, and I suppose you could take a break from modeling.” Rarity turned around to face Serenity, gasping slightly as her eyes met with Serenity’s not only three feet away.

“Listen. There’s something I need to do.” Serenity spoke. “I’m sorry, in advance. Thank you, though, for the nice time. I only wish we could to this more often.”

“Wha-?” Rarity began to say, but found a strange sensation coming over her. Serenity’s horn radiated with a dark blue aura and a small spark ignited on the tip of her horn, sending out a thin ray of dark blue magic into Rarity’s forehead. The white unicorn’s eyes rolled back into her head and she began to fall limp on the floor, Serenity just barely catching her with her head before Rarity smacked face first on the ground, unconscious. Serenity sighed and a dark blue aura took over her, receding back once again to reveal her true changeling form. Augury fluttered his wings lightly, adjusting back into his natural state.

“Again, I’m sorry. I’m not doing this because I want to. I’m doing this because I have to.” Augury said quietly as he lifted his head up, levitating Rarity onto his back and adjusting her snuggly. The changeling stood up straight and walked over to the window of the boutique. No ponies roamed the streets of Ponyville anymore, the sun’s light just barely visible over the towering mountains in the distance. Augury stayed quiet for a second, listening carefully for Sweetie Belle’s light breathing upstairs in her room.

“I’ll try to keep your sister safe. Don’t worry.” Augury said quietly. With a quick and silent motion, Augury lightly swung the door open and dashed out into Ponyville, lifting off of the ground with his wings flapping and heading further into the sky, carefully balancing Rarity on his back. One down, for now. Five more to go.

[5] Breaking The Grasp

Chapter Five: Breaking The Grasp

Chrysalis sat at the shore of the lake, the clearing where the two ponies had set down to her back and the body of water sprawled out in front of her. The water stayed still for the most part, the small breeze floating through the air pushing the surface around gently. Chrysalis stared at her self in the water, the night sky stretching on through the reflection of the clear mirror flowing ever so lightly in the wind. A half moon rested in the middle of the mirror, the thousands of stars surrounding the moon only visible as the water calmed, but quickly disappeared when the wind decided to blow once more. The leaves on the trees rustled quietly as the cool air winded through them, a few loose leaves losing their grip on their home and floating away peacefully to the grass below. Crickets droned constantly in the distance, their chirping just barely reaching the changeling queen’s ears. Chrysalis continued to stare tiredly at her reflection, feeling herself doze off for a second, but quickly rub her eyes as she remembered that she had to stay awake. Augury still had not returned from his first task in Ponyville, the afternoon of the third day only a turn of the sun and moon away. He had only left the day before, a day and a half already gone with the mission still uncompleted to Chrysalis’s knowledge.

Chrysalis yawned quietly, forcing her eyes shut and opening them again slowly to look at the waves in the water. “I need to get some sleep.” Chrysalis said quietly to herself, limply reaching out to the water and resting her front hooves in the lake, setting her head down on her outstretched legs. “I think I can trust that Augury will return in the next day and a half with one of the ponies. If he didn’t go and blow his cover already, that is.” Chrysalis let out a small sigh and stood up onto her hooves, stretching and yawning once more. She turned her head to the clearing behind her, the large balloon that Salvation and Tranquility had landed in still sitting where it had been ever since they left it. Chrysalis turned herself around and slowly made her way off of the lake’s shore and onto the grass of the clearing. The changeling queen trotted across the large field, coming to a stop at the basket in the middle of the clearing. The balloon had deflated not long after Chrysalis had put Salvation and Tranquility in their cocoons, the balloon resting limp and flat at the side of the basket attached to it. Curious as to what they had brought along, Chrysalis put her front hooves on the edge of the basket and peered inside, the changeling still having yet to inspect the couple’s transport. Miscellaneous items sprawled themselves out over the large base of the basket, Chrysalis using her magic to lift them up and take a look at them.

“Tooth brush, water bottle, camera, map...” Chrysalis listed the items as she picked them up, casually tossing them into a single corner of the basket as she identified them. “...picnic basket, blankets, journals- wait, journals? For what?” Chrysalis levitated the two journals that were set by each other back in front of her, setting on down in the middle of the basket and opening the other. The first twenty pages of the journal floating in front of Chrysalis were filled out, the rest of the pages from then on still having yet to be written on.

“Day One.” Chrysalis read the journal out loud. “Tranquility and I have set off on a little ‘escape’ as we like to call it. Ponyville got a little overwhelming, so we’re taking a vacation for a while. We said bye to our friends and took off about mid-day yesterday. They know out schedule on where we’re going, so if we get lost, I’m sure that they’ll be able to find out where we are. We don’t know exactly where we’re going first, but I’m keeping this little log in case we want to come back to any of the places we visit. Tranquility is a little afraid of heights, so I’m going to have to make this first entry quick. She’ll be alright.” Chrysalis yawned once more and rubbed her eyes. With a small sigh and groan, Chrysalis flipped forward to the last page of the journal that was written on.

“Day Twenty. Tranquility spotted a nice clearing in a forest when we were heading to Trottingham. Should only be about a two hour flight in the balloon over there from Trottingham, maybe we’ll check it out. Anyways, we got a letter from Frost back in Ponyville. He said that our friends miss us and the fillies and colts back at the school want to see Tranquility again. He also said that the hospital has seen better days. It would seem that my leaving may have affected the hospital a little. Maybe we should head back to Ponyville soon, I don’t know. It’s night and Tranquility is asleep beside me, maybe I should get some sleep too. I heard the hotel has good breakfast.”

Chrysalis traced back in the page to a certain point, raising an eyebrow as her gaze crossed with the name written within the entry. “Frost? I wonder who this could be. Friend? Family? ...Foal? No, Augury doesn’t have any foals, does he? I doubt he would leave Ponyville without his foal. Whatever, I’ll find out when Augury gets back.” Chrysalis clapped the journal shut and tossed it into the basket next to the pile of other things Tranquility and Salvation had brought along. Chrysalis sighed and laid down next to the basket, resting her head on the grass. With one last yawn and a few slow blinks, the changeling queen drifted off into sleep.

______________________________________________________________________

“Rise and shine, Chrys-y-poo!” A voice shouted in Chrysalis’s ear. The sleeping changeling’s eyes snapped open and her heart immediately pumped as fast as it could, Chrysalis gasping slightly and trying to stand up. Augury watched and laughed as the startled changeling tripped over herself and flung backwards into the basket of the large balloon behind her, various of the items within the basket flying out onto the clearing. Augury calmed his laughing and walked over to the basket, smiling widely as his eyes met with an obviously frustrated Chrysalis.

The changeling queen stared angrily at Augury. “Now what, may I ask, was that for?” Chrysalis growled.

“Revenge for when you kicked me. You said I couldn’t harm you, but you never said anything about self-inflicting harm. That was quite a show you put on there.” Augury said, tilting his head to the side partially.

“Well, do it again and you’ll find yourself with a broken wing and a branch shoved down your throat. What time is it, and why are you here? I don’t see a mare with you.”

“About mid day, second day of the mission. Not bad, huh? The teleportation spell saves a lot of time. Anyways, I set the mare down in the other clearing further into the forest. Now, what are we doing with her, exactly? I have an idea, but-”

“You’ll find out. Now help me out of this basket and we’ll get to it.”

“You’re the boss.” Augury’s horn glowed with a smooth dark blue aura and Chrysalis slowly lifted into the air, surrounded by the same aura on Augury’s horn. Expecting to be put down gently, Chrysalis put her hooves out straight under her, but found herself turning sideways and landing on the ground with a small thud. Chrysalis flashed Augury an angry look, Augury staring off into the mountains above the tree line in the distance with a smug smile on his face.

“You’re pushing it, Augury.” Chrysalis said flatly as she stood up on her hooves.

“What was that?” Augury asked, turning his head back to the changeling queen.

“Just show me where you put the pony that you brought back, okay?”

“This way, my liege.” Augury walked past Chrysalis and the changeling queen rolled her eyes, following Augury slowly as he walked to the forest.

“So, Augury. You don’t have any friends that you would mind telling me about in Ponyville, would you?” Chrysalis asked as she and Augury walked into the forest past the clearing.

Augury sniffled dryly. “None of any importance. Why would it matter to you?” Augury asked, keeping his glance out in front of him.

“I don’t think it would matter to me, but it might matter to you if Tranquility wants to stay the way she is.” Chrysalis sneered. Augury squinted slightly and came to a halt in the forest, turning around and staring at Chrysalis angrily. The changeling queen only exchanged the same glance with him, the two changelings standing in silence. Chrysalis raised her left eyebrow, tilting her head upwards as she waited for a reply from the changeling in front of her. The wind picked up slightly and the leaves on the trees shook loose, a few of the vibrant green leaves floating away from the branches they held onto.

Augury kept the same mask he wore as he opened his mouth to speak. “There may be one.”

“Their name would be?” Chrysalis asked, returning her head to its normal position.

The smaller changeling stayed quiet for a second, squinting his eyes a little further. “...Frost.”

A smile grew on Chrysalis’s face and she walked closer to Augury, leaning downward and placing a hoof on his cheek. Augury remained where he was, not moving as Chrysalis’s eyes came only a foot away from each other. “See, it doesn’t hurt to tell the truth, does it?”

Augury lifted his hoof to Chrysalis’s and slowly lowered it from his face, the smile on the changeling queen’s face dimming down to a smirk. “Don’t touch me.” Augury turned away from Chrysalis, his tail making a small ‘puff’ sound against Chrysalis’s face before he began to walk forward once more.

Chrysalis stood up straight and started to follow Augury again, her smile gone. “Is there a reason why you didn’t tell me in the first place?” Chrysalis asked.

“Is there a reason that you had to jam your nose into my travel journal?” Augury retorted.

“I can’t be curious? You were curious when you saw me, weren’t you? You wanted to know more, but look where that brought you to.”

“Do you want to know where curiosity will bring you if you don’t shut your bucking mouth?”

“Do you want to know where this will bring you if you continue?” Chrysalis asked. Augury stopped once more, Chrysalis halting where she was as well. The two changeling’s stood in silence another time, the wind brushing up slightly again. The air seemed to pulse between the two changelings this time, Augury’s breathing growing in intensity, but slowly dying back down to a calm pace.

“Let’s just get to the mare I brought back.” Augury said and he began to walk forward. Chrysalis watched Augury for a second before she started after him slowly, a sudden feeling of anger edging its way into her heart. The light of day made its way onto the two changelings as they arrived in the other clearing within the forest, Tranquility’s cocoon on the opposite side of the clearing Augury and Chrysalis walked out of. A pearl white mare laid on her side in the middle of the clearing, Chrysalis smiling with delight as she and Augury stopped with the mare at their hooves.

“Well done, Augury. I didn’t think you would have the heart to take a mare from her home.” Chrysalis said as she inspected Rarity. The white unicorn’s eyes were shut gently, the spell Augury had casted still fully in affect.

“It wasn’t too hard.” Augury said. “I just had to get her alone. She really liked fashion, though. I ended up modeling for her for two straight hours in the form of a mare. That... did get a little difficult not to burst out into a frustrated fit ten minutes in. But, she was kind enough to take me around Ponyville and introduce me to her friends since she thought I was new in town.”

“Then it’ll be easier for you to find them and take them. Which one is this?”

“Rarity. The Element of Generosity, I think.”

“Perfect. Here, stay here for a little while and make sure she doesn’t wake up.”

“Where are you going?”

“Just stay here.” Chrysalis turned from Augury and began to walk over to the edge of the clearing, Augury watching as she stopped by one of the trees and inspected it. Augury turned his head from Chrysalis to the mare laying on the ground in front of him. A dark blue glow radiated gently from underneath her eyelids, the mare deep into sleep with Augury’s spell. The changeling beside Rarity moved her mane out of her face, the white unicorn’s ear twitching as Augury’s hoof brushed up against it.

“You have to understand.” Augury said quietly. “I don’t want to do this. If it would only be me that was affected should I leave Chrysalis’s side, I would gladly stop all of this. But I’m not, and I’m not going to let anything happen to the mare I love. I’ll make sure that Sweetie Belle is safe, and I promised her that I would keep you out of harms way. That... doesn’t exactly mean that you’ll be a little different, though. You’re going to be okay... just not a pony any longer.”

“Augury! It’s ready. Bring her over here.” Chrysalis called out from the edge of the clearing. Augury shifted his glance to Chrysalis, a large cocoon, roughly the same size as Tranquility’s, hanging from the tree beside the changeling queen.

“That was quick.” Augury said out loud as he lifted Rarity onto his back.

“I’ve had practice with my last army.” Chrysalis replied as Augury walked over to her, Rarity resting on Augury’s back and wings.

“What am I doing with her, now?”

“Put her in the cocoon upside down. Make sure her back hooves are secure within the goo at the top.” Chrysalis pointed to the inner top of the cocoon. Augury sighed and levitated Rarity into the air, flipping her upside down and slowly placing her within the hollow green casket. The green goo at the top of the cocoon wrapped around Rarity’s back hooves slowly, Augury letting go of his hold on her. Rarity hung within her cocoon peacefully, her slumber undisturbed from any of her surroundings as Augury’s spell continued to work through her.

“Not what?” Augury asked.

“Now, you assimilate her.” The cocoon quickly sealed itself shut, the side that used to be open now blocked off by a new, transparent wall of the cocoon.

“Wait, you never said anything about me doing any of this. I thought you were going to do all of the ‘assimilation’ stuff. I was just going out and getting your targets, I never said I would turn the ponies myself! I don’t even know how to!” Augury quickly said, backing up slightly from the newly made cocoon.

“There’s been a change of plans. If you’re going to be a changeling, you’re going to have to learn how a changeling works. Creating an assimilated changeling will give you control of her once the transformation is complete, if you decide to, that is.”

“Then why didn’t you take control over me?”

“I have better things to do than operate a puppet. Besides, I was getting lonely. Anyways, hop to it.”

“No.”

“Excuse me?”

“I said, no.”

“One more time. My hearing is a little off today.”

“No! I agreed to taking ponies and giving them to you, not taking ponies and doing this to them! I can’t do this myself!”

Chrysalis growled frustratedly and began to walk towards the changeling in front of her, Augury beginning to back up slowly. “Now listen here, Augury. You refuse to do this and everything you have done so far is over. It may not be much, but you’ll die with you knowing that it was your fault you caused the death of two mares. I’ll give you one last chance. Go and assimilate her. You’ve also just gained the privilege of assimilating the other mares as well.” Chrysalis threatened. Augury and Chrysalis came to a stop in the middle of the clearing, each of them staring at each other with hatred.

Augury quickly glanced at Tranquility’s cocoon to the right and back to Chrysalis, the changeling queen still staring at him. “...Alright. Just don’t hurt them.”

Chrysalis’s mouth curved into a smile. “Then go do it.” Chrysalis said, motioning her head toward Rarity’s cocoon. Augury sighed and walked past Chrysalis, whipping his tail lightly as he past her. Chrysalis turned herself around and watched as Augury as he made his way over to the cocoon. Augury came to a stop in front of Rarity’s casket, staring with anger, yet sorrow into his reflection of the clear side of the cocoon. Closing his eyes, Augury leaned forward and pierced his horn slightly into the cocoon. Augury closed his eyes tighter and he clenched his teeth together as he heard a small sparkling noise come from within the cocoon, Rarity’s breathing becoming coarse and heavy. Augury opened his eyes again and leaned backwards, looking up from the ground and staring into the green casket in front of him. The inside of the cocoon flowed around with a dark blue haze, the gas that filled the casket puffing in and out from Rarity’s mouth. The white unicorn’s breathing slowly steadied and she hung within the cocoon peacefully, the transformation slowly taking over her every second.

Chrysalis walked to Augury’s side and stared into the cocoon, smiling at her associate's work. “That wasn’t so hard, was it now, Augury? All it takes is a little-” Chrysalis started to say as she lifted her hoof to put it around Augury, but found herself cut off. Augury quickly lifted his right hoof and smacked Chrysalis’s hoof away from him, the changeling queen’s eyes opening in shock. Chrysalis moved her hoof back to her chest and held it off the ground, a sense of sudden fear coming over her. Augury turned towards the changeling next to him and stared at her angrily, his eyes surrounded by a dark blue fiery aura and his teeth clenched together menacingly.

Augury’s voice retained a frightening effect, two other voices seeming to occupy his own as he spoke. “You don’t deserve to speak to me, fiend. If you don’t want your head beaten into the side of a burning stone with your own hooves, I suggest you don’t show yourself to me in the next twenty four hours.” Augury turned away from Chrysalis as quick as he could, the aura around his eyes making a small trail in the air following his eyes. Chrysalis watched as Augury walked across the clearing and into the forest, the glow from the aura around his eyes disappearing from Chrysalis’s sight. The changeling queen looked down at her hoof, a bit of blood dripping from Augury’s strike. Chrysalis put her hoof against her chest and turned her head to where Augury had wandered off in, a shocked and partially guilty expression on the queen’s face.

“The little monster I have created...” Chrysalis whispered to herself, tilting her head downwards.

[6] One On One

Chapter Six: One On One

The water slowly rippled off of Augury’s hooves as he sat at the edge of the water, the changeling staring at his reflection with a blank stare. Night had taken over day, the cold air of night fending off the warm rays of the sun once more for another cycle of darkness and light. Augury tilted his head from the water and up to the sky, the thousands of stars surrounding the moon in the black abyss sparkling gently. Memories from Ponyville slowly filled Augury’s head, his first night out with Tranquility, spending time with his friends under the moon, even causing some trouble with Frost in his earlier years in the town. The nocturnal sky had always been a gateway for Augury to escape into, letting his mind wander off into a world where everything was perfect. Nothing, however, lasts forever. Augury sighed lightly and lowered his head to his legs, the small waves of the water just barely touching his chin as they pushed outwards and receded over and over. Augury’s eyelids felt heavy as he stared into the water, missing two days of sleep beginning to catch up with the changeling. The soothing sound of the wind and the movement of the water lulled the changeling laying at the edge of the lake into sleep slowly, Augury’s eyes twitching slightly as they came closer to shutting. However, even with his eyes closed and his body relaxed, Augury found himself laying tiredly awake, a certain force within his mind pushing against him gently to the point of mental unrest. The sight of Rarity exhaling and inhaling the dark blue assimilation gas that Augury had put in the cocoon with her replayed itself in the changeling’s head. Not only what he had done to Rarity kept Augury awake, the thought of having to do such a thing five more times also found itself implanted into Augury’s thoughts.

“Something keeping you awake, Augury?” Chrysalis spoke, her voice breaking the peaceful silence that had occupied Augury’s ears. The changeling laying at the edge of the lake opened his eyes slowly and sat up, breathing in deeply through his nose and forcing the air back out slowly.

“How long have you been standing there?” Augury asked, lifting his hooves to his eyes and rubbing them.

“Long enough to see that something has been keeping you from sleeping.”

“I thought I told you not to show yourself to me.”

“It would seem that your lack of sleep is keeping your focus off balance. Even if you tried, you wouldn’t have the energy or the concentration to cast even a telekinesis spell.”

Augury sighed and turned his head to look at Chrysalis, the changeling queen standing off to his side. “What do you want?” Augury asked tiredly, returning his gaze back to the water.

“I wanted to see how you were doing.” Chrysalis said as she slowly walked to Augury, sitting down next to him. Augury, too exhausted to do even stand up, stayed where he was, his tired eyes staring at the lake in front of him.

“You? Coming to check up on me? Did you eat something funny or what?”

“Does everything have to be so hostile with you? I came here to see if you were over your little ordeal with the mare back there. Tranquility really means that much to you, doesn’t she?”

“What?”

“Tranquility was the reason that you assimilated the mare you brought back, wasn’t she?”

“The reason I assimilated Rarity is because I didn’t want either her or Tranquility to get hurt. Since it seems like the only way you’re going to get anything out of me is through threats, I was going to have to do it eventually. That thing you said, about me going to have to assimilate the other mares that I capture, is that still happening?”

“Unfortunately for you, yes. As much as you don’t want it, if you’re going to get past any of the security that is going to be put up around Ponyville, knowledge of changeling magic and how changelings work is practically required.”

“How do you know that there will even be any protection put up?”

“By the way the two princesses of Canterlot acted when there was a threat declared during the wedding, I think the knowing of there being an actual threat will spark a lot more attention than just spoken words. Security is going to be tight around Ponyville, you’re going to need as much experience as possible with changeling magic if you’re going to make it through.”

“What does assimilating these mares into changelings by my own magic have to do with gaining knowledge of changelings? I’m just creating more abominations.”

“The usage of pure changeling magic will get you more comfortable with using the changeling side of your magic. Practice makes perfect. Once you’ve mastered your changeling abilities, then you should have no trouble in completing your missions.”

“What about Rarity? What’ll happen when the process of her transformation is complete?”

“Well, that actually might take a while. I have assimilated plenty of changelings in my time, yet it still takes about one to two weeks for the transformation to be complete. Since you are only just starting with changeling magic, it’s going to take even longer.”

“By how much?”

“‘I’m not sure. Could be a year, could be a month. Though, once the assimilation process is done, you’re going to have to make the choice of whether you want to take control of the ponies you assimilate, or let them act on their own. They won’t be happy about their new form, mind you. You only get one chance to take control of them once they come out of their cocoon, so the choice you make is going to have to stay.”

“What if I don’t take control of them and they decide to try and run away, what then? Am I just going to let them go, or what?”

“Oh, no, you’re not going to let them go. You’re going to stop them in their tracks and make sure they don’t try and escape again under any circumstances. I can’t afford to have a changeling on the outside.”

“What about the ponies that you assimilated before? Why did Equestria never see any of them? With all of those changelings, there had to have been as least one that slipped in between the cracks.”

“Well, most of the changelings I assimilated I took control of, but I couldn’t control all of them at the same time. There was a portion of the army that was uncontrolled assimilated changelings. While they were a little resentful during their first few weeks of adjusting to their changeling forms, that problem took care of itself.”

“What do you mean?”

“The changeling inside of them. Whether they liked it or not, the ponies that were assimilated had changeling blood. Eventually, that blood takes over them. Although it varies from pony to pony, there’s always that point where changeling overrules pony within the assimilated. It really depends on the pony’s willingness to give in and finally accept that they’re not what they used to be. It just takes time.” Chrysalis shifted her eyes to Augury. The smaller changeling had his head tilted down slightly, a seemingly worried expression on his face.

Chrysalis giggled to herself. “Don’t worry, Augury. With your attitude towards changelings, you should be good for the long run.” Chrysalis said, nudging Augury lightly.

“I wasn’t thinking about that, if you should know.” Augury quickly replied, pushing against Chrysalis’s side with his hoof lightly. “Just thinking about Ponyville again.”

“Missing home? You’ll be heading back there soon enough. You still have five more of your first section of missions.”

“Do you have any sense of compassion, or do you just have the constant need to trample me further into the pit I’m already in?”

“What? What did I do?”

“Just, please, keep quiet for a second. It’s the best that you can do right now.”

Augury and Chrysalis fell into a short silence, the two changelings staring at the gently waving water in front of them.

“Augury...” Chrysalis started to say.

“What did I just tell you?” Augury snapped.

“Can’t we just converse without any hostility? Forget that I’m who I am, just pretend like I’m Tranquility.”

Augury turned his head to Chrysalis, giving her an uncertain look.

Chrysalis’s eyes opened wide and she leaned backwards slightly. “No no no, not like that. What I meant is, lets just talk. Changeling to changeling.”

Augury turned his head back to the lake. “What is there to talk about? The week I was suspended in the cocoon? The past three days? Between you and me, there’s nothing we have to talk about.”

“I don’t mean let’s talk about what has been happening lately, I just want to talk. You know, just a normal conversation.”

“Well, what do you want to talk about?”

“You could tell me about Ponyville, what it’s like, your experiences.”

“Ponyville’s a fairly large town. Unicorns, pegasi, earth ponies. Residents are nice for the most part. Weather isn’t too bad a lot of the time. Nice view of Canterlot.”

Chrysalis gave Augury a frustrated look, Augury smiling as he saw her expression.

“Alright, alright.” Augury said and cleared his throat. “As I said before, I moved to Ponyville when I was ten. A few years in doing some work around Ponyville, I finally was able to afford my own house on the outskirts. I had always liked caring for others, whether it had been my parents when they were sick or my friends. Friends, they saw it as a little weird of me to tend to them when they were sick, but after they were all better, they seemed to have been thankful. My parents always enjoyed the company I gave them when they would get sick and I would stay with them. Sometimes I would think to myself that they were getting sick on purpose. But, anyways, caring for others has always been a thing for me to do, and I enjoy seeing them better than when they were injured or sick, knowing that I had helped them get through it.”

“And that’s when you got a job in the hospital?”

“Mmhm. It was only a week into my work at the hospital that I was a full fledged doctor. Ponies came in either injured, pregnant, sick, other, I checked them in, I helped them to health, and when they were ready, I let them go. Everyday, I either broke the news that somepony was dying or that someone would make a full recovery. Things started to get out of hoof. I couldn’t do it anymore. I started to lose the grip on what I once cherished. I started to hate my own cutie mark. My own existence, my own purpose, the reason that I live, I couldn’t stand it.”

“Tranquility, she needed to get away from it as well? That’s why you two came out here, an escape from your own lives?”

“Ponies think that this world is so happy, so friendly. While that may be true for the most part, what if you hate yourself? What can you do? That one small percent of the population, stuck with the one thing that they despise the most. What are they going to do?”

“But you enjoyed caring for others. You said yourself that you loved the feeling you got from knowing that you helped someone back to health.”

“And I did. The happiest feeling in my life was knowing that someone was gaining from my actions. I loved it, I wanted to help everyone in Equestria. That hospital changed everything. I still love to care for others... just not in that damn hospital.”

“Once again, your true nature surprises me. What about your friends? Did they see any of this? I wouldn’t suppose they wanted to interfere with your problems.”

“As much as I didn’t want them to, they did. Tranquility, my parents, even Frost wanted to know what was wrong. I just sat there and told them nothing was wrong, that I was fine the way I was. Frost, especially, surprised me. The first friend I had made in Ponyville and my best friend ever since, slapping my words out of the air and punching me straight in the face. Metaphorically speaking, of course, he didn’t actually punch me. He did argue, though. Frost wouldn’t let go until I told him that I needed a break from my job. The whole vacation thing was sparked in my mind because of him.”

“He cared that much, did he? What about Tranquility, what made her agree with the idea of going out on an escape?”

“Tranquility is a substitute teacher at the Ponyville school. She would stop in during class when Cheerilee was teaching, you know, say ‘hi’ to the foals and at least get some kind of feeling that she was actually working. On the days Cheerilee was out, Tranquility would take over and sometimes, if I had the day off in the hospital, I would stop in. There aren’t too many injuries around Ponyville too often, so the hospital was barely ever busy to the point where I was swamped in work.”

“But the times that there were patients, they were fairly severe, weren’t they?”

“Every other time a patient would come in, I would sit there and think to myself, ‘Am I going to have to do this again?’. I would sit there in my office, hoping that the patient coming in would only have a minor injury, something that could be treated easily. That’s when my job as a doctor began to go downhill. Anxiety took over and I started to get scared of even coming face to face with my patients. The time that Frost came in, I was scared almost to death. I wasn’t there when Frost broke his leg, so I had the worst thoughts in my head rushing through me when I heard the news that he was down in the lobby. Did he lose a limb? Did he get sick with a fatal disease? It was only after he recovered that Frost saw that I was starting to lose my grip on what I did best.”

“Frost really wanted you to get better. Is he still living in Ponyville?”

“To my knowledge, yeah. Unless he moved out in the past three weeks and three days, he’s still there.”

Augury yawned quietly and shook his head, lifting a hoof up to his face and rubbing his tired eyes.

“You should get some sleep, Augury.” Chrysalis said as she stood up. “Your next mission will begin tomorrow whenever you’re ready.”

“Will do.” Augury said, putting his hoof to the ground again.

Chrysalis began to walk away, but stopped a few feet from where she was standing and turned to the changeling by the lake. “...and Augury?”

Augury fixed his gaze on Chrysalis. “Yeah?”

“Thank you, for talking with me. I’ve... never had a conversation like that.” Chrysalis felt a small smile on her face, Augury smiling back and nodding. Chrysalis turned away and walked off into the forest, the changeling queen disappearing from Augury’s sight in the darkness of night. Augury turned his head back to the water and rolled onto his side, letting out a small sigh and closing his eyes. After two and a half days of being awake, Augury could finally get some rest.

[7] A New Threat

Chapter Seven: A New Threat

Augury’s eyes slowly opened as a small wave of water gently brushed against his head, carrying his medium-long mane outwards to the lake the as the small wave receded from the lake shore. Light spread across the outskirts of Equestria, the sun just barely hiding behind the mountains far in the distance. A few clouds scattered themselves throughout the blue sky, slowly floating in no particular direction with the wind. Augury yawned and rolled onto his back, lifting his hooves to his eyes and rubbing them gently. The changeling let his hooves fall flat by his sides, staring up at the sky as a single stray cloud passed over the lake.

“Morning already?” Augury thought to himself as he rolled onto his stomach. Augury stretched his hooves out in front of him, making two small streaks in the sand he laid on with his hooves. The changeling smacked his lips quietly and stood up onto his legs, fixing his mane as he came to an upright position. Squinting slightly, Augury turned his head to the mountains in distance, the snow capped tips and a portion of the rocky and steep bases visible over the forest canopy.

“Good morning, Augury. Sleep well?” Chrysalis’s voice said loudly.

Augury turned himself around to see Chrysalis walking across the clearing next to the lake, her eyes fixed on the changeling at the edge of the water. “Have you been waiting for me to get up?” Augury asked.

“No, I just happened to see you just waking up when I returned from my little stroll through the woods. Did you know there’s a water fall that pours into another lake not too far down there?” Chrysalis asked, pointing her hoof to the small river that flowed out of the lake Augury stood next to across from the stream that flowed into the lake. “Spectacular, really. There’s a quite large cave underneath it, as well. You have to see it. Well, maybe some other time. You still have another mission to do today.”

Augury sat down and brushed the sand off his coat as Chrysalis stopped a few feet away from him. “How long do I have for this one?”

“Same as last time, three days.”

“Let me guess, starting now?”

“Getting sharper every day. I’ll be awaiting your return with another of your targets. Good luck.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.” Augury said, and with a quick swoop of his wings downwards, launched off of the lake’s shore. Chrysalis kept her eyes on Augury as he soared through the air, heading in the direction of Ponyville on hoof for a second time.

______________________________________________________________________

A small magical poof broke the silence of the mountains on the outskirts of Ponyville, Augury stumbling from the exit of his teleportation spell and landing straight on his face. The changeling laid on the ground sprawled out on his stomach, his eyes wide open and panting heavily.

“I... didn’t think it would take that... much energy for a teleportation spell that far...” Augury wheezed. The tired changeling stayed where he was for a second, relaxing his eyes and staring out at Ponyville in the plains below. The sun still staggered behind the mountains on the horizon, this morning the same as the sunrise when Augury had left Chrysalis in the forest.

“That teleportation spell saved a lot of time, didn’t it?” Augury spoke to himself as he stood up, regaining his strength. “Looks like Ponyville is just waking up. Maybe I could slip in before anypony notices. Should I... yeah, I think Serenity would be a fine form for today. I don’t think the ponies would have any suspicion of her yet.” Augury closed his eyes and quickly changed forms, the pale pink mare that had taken Rarity standing before Ponyville once more.

“Alright, let’s hope this one doesn’t tire me out as much as the last one.” Serenity said. Her horn glowed with a dark blue aura and the mare disappeared from the mountain side, another magical poof down in Ponyville bringing Serenity into the town.

Serenity stumbled from the exit of her teleportation spell again, the pale pink mare only panting slightly. “Well, that wasn’t too bad.” Serenity spoke quietly, lifting her eyes from the ground up to the area in front of her. She had appeared somewhere in a smaller field within the town of ponies, a bench resting on the grass beside the disguised changeling. Serenity looked around the field for a second, taking a moment to see if anypony had noticed her entrance. Sure enough, somepony did.

“Serenity! Hey!” A voice called out from the edge of the field. The pale pink mare turned her head to the origin of the voice, finding a lavender unicorn standing in the open doorway of her home, motioning her hoof for the pony in the field to come to her.

“Twilight Sparkle? One of the six mares already? I wonder what she could want.” Serenity thought to herself as she began to walk towards the pony waving to her.

Twilight smiled as Serenity came to a stop in front of her. “Good morning!” The lavender unicorn spoke. “Nice to see you again. Enjoying Ponyville so far?”

“Uh... yeah, it’s okay. Hey, listen I have to-” Augury started to say as he remembered what Chrysalis had said about Twilight, but found himself cut off.

“Oh! I just remembered! Pinkie Pie had a little treat for you down in Sugar cube Corner yesterday, but she couldn’t find you. I told her you would be back today, and here you are! Pinkie’s probably waiting down at Sugar Cube Corner, you should go! I would come, but I have a lot of work stocked up right now.”

“Okay, that sounds nice. I’ll make sure to stop by Sugar Cube soon. Have... uh, good luck with your work.”

“Thanks. See you later!” Slam. Serenity stared at the closed doorway for a second, the fake smile on her face disappearing as fast as the door had closed in front of her.

“Damn it.” Serenity thought to herself as she walked away from the large tree and began walking further into Ponyville. “I was planning on taking a day or two off by myself since I can get here and back to Chrysalis faster now. Oh well, what can you do? I am fairly hungry, maybe that treat that Twilight was talking about will fill me up. I doubt Chrysalis gave me any food while I was in the cocoon. Would I even need food? I am a changeling after all... but not completely. Am I going to have to feed off of love? Well, I think that’s covered by Tranquility. Oh, that sounded bad. I mean... gah, screw it. The faster I get these mares the faster Tranquility and I can go home. I wonder who Chrysalis has for me after I get-” Serenity came to a halt as she rammed into the side of a building face first, her thoughts keeping her attention rather than her sight.

“Ow...” Serenity said quietly and she backed up from the building, looking up at the structure she had ran into. The building, its design similar to those of the other Ponyville houses, was decorated vibrantly, a mix of different shades of brown, pink, and yellow. On the edges of the roof, which seemed to be some sort of chocolate, was seemingly fluffy white icing, decoratively put into loops in various places. In the middle of the building stood a tower, a pink cupcake with three candles sticking out of the top making the tip of the tower.

“Here already?” Serenity thought to herself, gently rubbing her face. “There doesn’t seem to be any lights on inside. Are they even open?” Serenity shrugged slightly and walked to the front of the shop, standing on the pink platform in front of the door for a second. The pale pink mare pushed open the door, and a small ‘ching’ rung throughout Sugar Cube Corner as the door came fully open. The inside of the shop lingered with darkness, sheets over the windows and the lights off.

Serenity swallowed a small lump in her throat as she stepped through the doorway. “H- Hello?”

“Surprise!” A large group of voices shouted all at once. Serenity jumped in place and almost lost the grip on the spell keeping her form, a small spark of fiery dark blue magic falling weakly from her coat. Luckily, nopony had notices, as they were all coming completely out of their hiding spots.

“A... welcome party?” Serenity said quietly to herself.

“Well duh!” A voice chimed in Serenity’s ear. In an instant, Serenity knew who was standing next to her.

“Pinkie, this wasn’t necess-” Serenity start to say.

“Of course it was necessary! You’re new in town! Do you know how many new ponies we get in town lately!?” Pinkie cheered as she bounced around, coming to a stop in front of Serenity and staring at her with a grin that looked as if Pinkie had thrown her best party ever. The two pink ponies came to a small standstill, Serenity scanning her eyes around the room for a second.

Serenity sighed and rolled her eyes. “How ma-?”

Before Serenity could even finish her sentence, Pinkie interrupted as happily as ever. “None! You’re the first pony to stay in Ponyville since, like, ever! That’s why I threw this party for you! Do you like it? Huh?” Serenity had leaned backwards subconsciously, and at the same time, Pinkie had leaned forward to where Serenity’s head had been. Once more, Sugar Cube Corner fell into an eery silence, Serenity shifting her eyes around the room again. The ponies in the room seemed to peer directly into her soul with grins almost as large as Pinkie’s, Serenity beginning to wonder if this was the same town she had left as a pony.

Serenity swallowed another small lump in her throat. “I... I like it?” The partially feigned smile on Serenity’s face turned into teeth clenching out of pain. Loud cheers broke out through Sugar Cube Corner, Serenity’s ears folding down and her eyes opening slightly wider.

“Taking this one might be a little harder than I thought...” Serenity thought to herself.

______________________________________________________________________

Serenity nodded with a nervous smile at the group of ponies she had left and walked over to the table at the edge of the room, letting out a small sigh and letting her brow fall horizontally. The party had been going on for almost half an hour, Serenity already fed up with the attention and constant calls to her about being welcome to Ponyville. Despite Serenity’s hidden annoyance with the party, she continued to let it continue, as she feared if she left, Pinkie would be heartbroken. Serenity shook her head and looked down at the table in front of her. A small grumble broke her little concentration on the punch bowl resting on the table, Serenity beginning to feel hunger take over any other feeling in her.

“A little hungry, huh? Not to sound rude, but that was kinda loud.” A deep voice said from Serenity’s left.

“Well, thanks for making me feel selfconsc-” Serenity said as she turned her head to look at the owner of the voice, but stopped with surprise. The stallion standing next to her stood about the average size of a stallion, his stature a little under average, however. His dark blue mane hung a medium length from his head and pushed off to his right, his tail hanging about the same length as his mane. His bright orange eyes complemented his icy blue coat, the small and puffy strand of hair attached to his chin adding to his charm even further. A horn jutted out from his mane and into the air, just a little higher than his height. On his flank sat three crystals of ice, one standing vertical and two others angled so their sharp tips pointed to the center crystal. Serenity continued to stare at the stallion in surprise, speech seeming to escape her for a the moment.

The stallion cleared his throat and tilted his head downwards a little. “You alright? You’re... uh, staring at me.”

Serenity shook her head again and relaxed, laughing nervously. “Yeah... yeah, I’m fine. I’m Serenity if you haven’t gotten it yet.”

“Well, it’s always nice to see a fresh face in Ponyville. My name is Frost. May I ask where you moved to Ponyville from?”

“Uh... Trottingham.”

“Trottingham? I have a friend that was visiting there. What’s it like in Trottingham, if you don’t mind me asking?”

“No, it’s fine. Trottingham is a nice town. The ponies there are nice too, not as friendly as the ponies here, though.”

“Yeah, Ponyville tends to be a little overwhelming at some times.”

“Can I... can I ask who your friend is? The one who is visiting Trottingham?” Serenity asked, trying to be as innocent as possible.

“Salvation. Left about four weeks ago with his marefriend on a sort of ‘escape’.”

“Well, you don’t seem to mind my privacy, do you Frost?” Serenity mumbled.

“What was that?” Frost asked.

“Nothing, nothing. What is Salvation like? I think I might have heard his name come up before I left.”

“Stallion, average height, light grey coat, red-orange eyes, black mane, wouldn’t say he’s thin, but he’s... smaller.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Serenity asked sternly, a slightly angry expression forming on her face.

Frost’s eyes opened partially wider and he leaned backwards slightly. “Uh... nothing, nothing at all.”

Serenity squinted slightly and calmed herself down. “Anyways, continue?”

“Uh... s- sure. His cutie mark is three crosses, each one of them smaller than the other. Honestly, I would have thought it would have been something with magic or so, but I guess his caring for others fits too.”

“Magic? Why’s that?”

“He was always pretty good with magic. I can’t really give any examples, but his talent with magic seems to go quite a ways. But, let’s change the subject. I don’t want to go telling his personal life to anypony I see.”

“What? You don’t trust me?”

“Wait, no, I didn’t-”

“I’m just joking. I understand.”

Without any type of warning, Frost suddenly jolted off to the side as Pinkie hopped into the spot where he stood, another grin spread across her face.

“How’s the party coming along? Don’t you just love parties?” Pinkie asked.

Serenity watched as Frost got up, the icy blue stallion motioning his hoof to Pinkie as he walked away. “Yeah, the party is going along great.” Serenity said, turning her head to the pink pony in front of her. “You really didn’t have to do this for me. Honestly, I would have been fine, but thank you. I appreciate the act of kindness.”

“Oh, it’s no big deal. I throw parties almost every week! I just wish Rarity could have made it to this one. She was the one who introduced us you to, anyway.”

Serenity suddenly felt nervousness surge through her. “Oh, uh, why couldn’t she make it? Did something happen?”

The cheery tone in Pinkie’s voice faded as she continued. “Well, the day when you came to Ponyville, Rarity said that she was going out into the Everfree forest the next day to look for gems. When she didn’t come to brunch the next day, we all thought she had just left in the morning before anypony got up. Even Sweetie Belle didn’t know she left. Rarity hasn’t been seen by anypony since yesterday morning, we think something may have happened. We’re going out on a little search for her tonight, just in case.”

“Oh... I’m terribly sorry. I- I would come with you... but I have some things I need to work out with the hotel later.”

“Don’t worry, I’m sure she’s just fine. She probably just got lost. Maybe Zecora can help us!” With a sudden revitalization of her happiness, or what appeared to be, Pinkie Pie bounced off further into the Sugar Cube Corner. Serenity felt an overwhelming sensation come over her and she stumbled against the table beside her, a small splash of punch spilling onto the tablecloth.

“Oh dear sweet Celestia, I can’t do this. She looked heartbroken.” Serenity thought to herself as she regained her composure. “...but I’m gong to have to. Tonight, Everfree. It’s probably the easiest route to capturing the next target.” Serenity looked up from the table and turned to the crowd of ponies in the middle of Sugar Cube Corner. Pinkie was no where to be seen.

“I’m sorry, Pinkie.” Serenity said quietly.

______________________________________________________________________

“Rarity? Are you out here? Rarity?” The group of ponies called out as they wandered aimlessly through the dense and dark forest. A full moon hung in the star sprinkled sky above, letting enough light to allow the group of ponies searching for their friend to barely see beyond the light of their lanterns. Pinkie led in front of the small group along with Fluttershy, a mare and two stallions following behind them closely as they continued through the forest.

“P- Pinkie, do you think we should have stayed with the others? The forest is dangerous...” Fluttershy said quietly, her head slightly ducked down.

“Oh don’t worry. Rainbow, Twilight, and Applejack will be fine, silly!” Pinkie said cheerily.

“I... I kind of meant us...”

“We’ll be fine too. Whatever comes at us we’ll just fend off!” Pinkie laughed nervously from the end of her sentence, the smile on her face disappearing slowly. The five ponies continued on through the Everfree forest, the path they trotted along echoing quietly with their hoofsteps. Almost complete darkness occupied the dense forest on each side of the path, anything beyond the small sphere of light that radiated from the group of ponies’ lanterns barely visible. Despite the lingering feeling of slight paranoia, the five ponies continued slowly down the path, occasionally calling out Rarity’s name cautiously. To their knowledge, everything would turn out fine during their search. However, hopes aren’t something to rely on when there is something lurking in the darkness.

“Did you hear that?” One of the stallions asked out loud, coming to a stop and looking into the dark of the forest. The other ponies of the group stopped as well, Fluttershy letting out a small squeak.

“Hear what?” The other stallion asked.

“Movement. Zap-apples aren’t in season, are they?”

“I don’t think zap-apple season defines the timberwolve’s personalities. They’ll be just as hostile as they would during zap-apple season. Come on, it looks like it was just in your head. We still have a mare to find. If she is lost, that is.”

“No no, I definitely heard something.”

“Look, you’re just hearing things. Everfree can play tricks on-” In an instant, the stallion disappeared from the path, the other four ponies’ eyes opening wide and backing away from where the stallion stood.

“Where... where did he go?” The mare asked as she scooted her way over to Pinkie and Fluttershy.

“It looked like... something flew down and took him! Alright, everypony, keep your eyes out. That didn’t look like any sort of bird or-” With another sound of wind rushing from above, the stallion standing away from the mares quickly vanished from the group, the light of his lantern soaring off into the sky.

“What’s happening!?” The mare next to Pinkie and Fluttershy shouted. She received no answer from the two mares beside her, as Fluttershy had her head to the ground, her hooves covering her face, and Pinkie stared in awe at where the stallion had flown off into the sky. Soon enough, another quick rush of air blew past the group of ponies, and the mare beside Pinkie and Fluttershy was no where to be seen, her lantern rolling around on the dirt path. Pinkie and Fluttershy were left cowering in the middle of the path in Everfree, Fluttershy mumbling quietly and Pinkie looking around the area as fast as she could turn her head.

“Stuck out here alone with each other, now are we?” A voice spoke out behind the two mares. Pinkie whipped around as fast as she could, Fluttershy preoccupied with fear as she continued to cover her head.

“Who are you!? What did you do with the others!?” Pinkie Pie shouted, trying her best to sound as intimidating as possible.

“Don’t recognize me? That’s funny, it seemed only this morning that you were throwing me a surprise welcome party.” Pinkie froze as she recognized the voice, and even more confusion pierced into her head as the owner of the voice stepped into the light of her lantern.

“You... wha... huh!?” Pinkie yelled, lifting a hoof up to her head and scratching it vigorously.

Serenity stared at Pinkie with a small smirk on her face. “Something the matter?”

“But- how- were you- others-!” Pinkie Pie stuttered.

“Calm down. The other ponies that you were with are fine.” Serenity said. She shifted her eyes to Fluttershy, the pale yellow mare still mumbling into the dirt. “I wasn’t expecting to have two of you here. This might be hard to only take one of you...”

“Wait, what do you mean take one of you!?” Pinkie’s eyes opened wide and she gasped loudly. “You’re the one who took Rarity, aren’t you!?”

“A pony shows up in Ponyville one day and your friend disappears the next day, along with the pony that showed up. I was surprised you weren’t suspicious of me.”

“Well, we thought she had just left...”

“You should have thought about it harder. Now that you see it, it kind of makes sense, does it not?”

“It does, but I’m not going to let you take any more ponies!” Pinkie straightened her legs and stood in a heroic pose. “Where is Rarity!?”

“This is just wasting my time.” Serenity’s horn glowed with a dark blue aura and a small beam of magic shot from her horn, making a direct path to Pinkie. The dark blue beam of magic collided with Pinkie’s head and sunk into the pink pony, Pinkie Pie standing in slight surprise. She was unharmed, but felt massively tired a few seconds after the beam of magic had made contact with her. Pinkie felt her legs fall limp from under her and she toppled over gently on her side, her tongue hanging partially out of her mouth. Serenity walked over to Pinkie and inspected Pinkie, the pink pony already fast asleep.

“That was quick.” Serenity said quietly, turning her head to Fluttershy slowly. The pale yellow pony didn’t seem to notice the commotion that had taken place right next to her, Fluttershy still covering her ears and whispering quietly with her eyes closed.

“Poor thing.” Serenity thought to herself. “I can’t just leave her out here alone. Chrysalis might get upset... but it looks like I’m going to have to take them both.” Serenity sighed and walked over in front of Fluttershy, the mare on the ground opening her eyes slightly as the noise of Serenity’s hoof steps managed to make it through her ears.

“Seren... Serenity? What...?” Fluttershy said as she let her front hooves back onto the ground, lifting her head up.

“Don’t worry Fluttershy, everything’s going to be alright.” Serenity spoke softly, a reassuring smile on her face. “I was able to hold back whatever was taking the ponies away. Pinkie got knocked on the head, but she’s going to be fine. Here, let me help you up.” Fluttershy and Serenity’s horn glowed with a dark blue aura, Fluttershy lifting up and standing on her hooves.

Fluttershy turned her head to her right, Pinkie snoring quietly on the ground. “What happened? What attacked us? Where are the other ponies? Are they alright?” Fluttershy asked frantically, returning her gaze back to the mare in front of her.

Serenity giggled lightly. “It was just a teenage dragon prank. I managed to fend them off and they flew away. The other ponies are on their way back to Ponyville, don’t worry about them. Here, help me get Pinkie up.” Fluttershy nodded and walked over to Pinkie, flapping her wings to keep herself up as she reached out to grab the sleeping mare. Fluttershy felt a hoof touch her neck, and a sudden tingling sensation ran through her body.

“Sorry, Fluttershy, but you’re going with her.” Serenity said gently. Fluttershy’s eyes rolled back in her head and she fell forward onto Pinkie Pie, falling asleep along with the mare under her.

Serenity sighed and stared at Pinkie and Fluttershy. “You’ll have to excuse me, girls. I really wish this didn’t have to happen.” Serenity said as she changed back to her changeling form. Augury stepped forward and lifted Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie into the air with a levitation spell, floating the two mares over him and setting them down on his back. The dark blue aura around them stayed, Augury making sure that they didn’t fall off of him.

“Hey! What are you doing!?” A voice yelled from further down the path. Augury’s eyes snapped open wide and he turned his head to look where the voce had come from. A group of five ponies ran towards him intently, the lavender unicorn at the front charging a spell within her horn. As quick as he could, Augury cast a teleportation spell, the two mares on his back disappearing along with him. The group of ponies in the forest slid to a stop where Augury had been standing, Twilight Sparkle stomping on the ground with her hoof in frustration as the spell in her horn died down.

“What was that all about? Who was that?” Applejack asked, walking forward and looking at the hoofprints in the dirt.

“I don’t know, I didn’t get a clear picture of who that was, but whoever is was, he or she took Pinkie and Fluttershy.” Twilight said, staring at the area where Augury was.

“Took Pinkie and Fluttershy!? Whoever did this doesn’t know who they’re messing with! I’ll make sure they never forget my name once I’m done with them!” Rainbow Dash shouted, lifting into the air and pounding her hooves together.

“And with this situation, I don’t think Rarity is lost. Rarity was taken.” Twilight spoke.

“Well, what do we do? We don’t know who that was, and we sure as hay don’t know where they could’ve taken Rarity, Pinkie, and Fluttershy. Where’re the other ponies that were with ‘em?” Applejack asked.

“Over here!” One of other mares in the group called out from off the path. She stood next to two stallions and one mare, each of them sleeping heavily.

“That’s strange... you’d think whoever took Pinkie and Fluttershy would have taken them, too.” Twilight Sparkle muttered, rubbing her chin.

“What are you saying?” Rainbow Dash asked as she lowered herself back to the ground.

“I’m not saying anything, but I have a theory. There might be something deeper to this than what we think. We’ll have to put Ponyville on full alert and make sure that nopony goes into Everfree anymore. We’ve got a foalnapper on the loose. Get those other three ponies and bring them back to Ponyville. Maybe they know something about who took our friends.” Twilight Sparkle said.

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DOUBLE CHAPTER UPLOAD ALL ACROSS ADVENT CHRYSALIS!! YEAH, YE-E-A-A-H, SO INTENSE!!

Sorry about that, couldn't help it. Anyways, I had to split this chapter and the previous chapter (One On One) into two parts, since they were a little long as one full chapter combined. I usually don't like my chapters to be too long, but I will occasionally upload a longer chapter. Just a little heads-up so I don't blindside you with a ten thousand (not saying there will be one that lengthy, just a possibility) word long chapter.

[8] Requests

Chapter Eight: Requests

Chrysalis stared out at the calm lake in front of her for a second before lobbing another stone out into the water, the stone losing its bright green aura. One skip, two skip, three skip, stop, sink. The changeling queen sighed and looked at her hooves. The thin stones on the ground in front of Chrysalis piled around her hooves, one by one levitating from each other with a bright green aura and soaring through the air, only to sink into the lake as they lost momentum. Chrysalis lifted another stone out of the slowly dwindling pile and inspected the stone in front of her eyes. Giving a small nod, Chrysalis focused on the stone, drew it backwards, and let go of the magic hold on it. Another stone flew out into the lake once more, coming to a halt after five small skips and sinking to the bottom of the body of water. Night still hung in the air in Equestria, the full moon in the sky making small sparkles in the rippling lake. A confused expression formed on Chrysalis’s face as she heard hoofsteps on the grass in the clearing behind her, along with the sound of two ponies lightly snoring.

Chrysalis raised an eyebrow as her gaze met with the changeling in the clearing, Augury setting the two ponies on his back on the grass. “Back so soon, Augury? You only left this morning, what’s the rush with this mare?” Chrysalis asked as she began to walk toward the clearing.

Augury looked up from the two mares beside him, fixing his sight on Chrysalis. “Huh? Oh, I didn’t even notice you there.” Augury said, walking away from Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie a little. “I had a good chance at getting one of the mares about ten minutes after I even stepped hoof in Ponyville. I figured it was probably going to be the only chance that I got, so I took the opportunity.”

“Well, good work. You could have waited a day a or two before you captured them, you had three days. Oh well, the way you deal with these missions is your choice, I guess. Which mare did you grab this time?”

“That’s kind of the thing... I, uh, had to get two of them.” Augury muttered, scratching the back of his head. Chrysalis stopped in the clearing a few feet away from Augury, her eyes opening wide slightly as she leaned sideways to look at the two mares Augury had brought.

Chrysalis lowered her brow and turned her head to Augury. “I thought I told you not to get two of them at the same time. Was I not clear in my directions?”

“Look, if I would have taken only Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy would have been left out in the forest all alone. You want to get all of the mares, right? All six of them? Everfree is dangerous at night, she would have-”

Chrysalis interrupted Augury and slowly started advancing toward him, Augury backing away at the same pace. “I don’t care what she would have been, I told you not to get two mares in the same capture. Do you realize it’s going to be a lot harder to get the other mares now that you’ve so foolishly had pity on your targets?” Chrysalis asked.

“Did you expect me to leave her all alone out in the Everfree forest? Please, just hear me out.”

Chrysalis came to a stop as Augury backed into a tree at the edge of the clearing, the familiar situation making Chrysalis’s anger rise even more. “Oh, I would love to hear what made you ignore my orders.”

Augury swallowed lightly. “You wanted to get the six mares so Equestria wouldn’t have the use of The Elements of Harmony, right? If we get the six mares altogether, we can use the element’s power ourselves.” Augury said, trying to appeal to Chrysalis’s senses as best as he could.

“I doubt that is the reason why you went and took two mares at the same time. What was the situation?”

“The two mares over there were in a group of three other ponies. I got rid of the three other ponies as discretely as I could and as fast as I could. I-”

“You showed yourself to the ponies!?”

“No! I was in a different form, alright? They couldn’t possibly know that I was a changeling by how fast I was going, not to mention I wasn’t in my natural form.”

“You were just in the form of a pegasus, right?”

“Yes. I took care to not raise awareness because of another alicorn.”

“At least you did something right. Go on.”

“After I got rid of the three other ponies, I put a sleep spell on each of the two mares over there and started to get ready to go... but...”

“But what? What did you do?”

“I may have been seen by another group of ponies in my changeling form...”

“You what!?”

“I don’t know if they saw me clearly! It was dark! Please, just don’t hurt her!” Augury closed his eyes tightly, shivering lightly as he leaned against the tree behind him. Chrysalis sighed and stood upright, lifting a hoof to her face and inhaling and exhaling deeply. Augury opened his eyes slowly, yet still shivered with fear.

“Augury, stop shaking.” Chrysalis said briefly. Augury slowly calmed himself as he breathed deeply, his body coming to a halt in its place after a second.

Chrysalis lowered her hoof from her face and stared at Augury intently, the changeling against the tree staring at her with a sense of pleading. “How dark was it?”

“It- it was fairly dark. I doubt they could have gotten a clear image of me since I was out of the light of their lanterns. Just, please, don’t-” Augury stopped as Chrysalis raised a hoof to his face, Augury switching his line of sight from Chrysalis’s hoof and her face frantically.

“I’m not going to do anything to Tranquility or the mares that you’ve captured. I trust that you’re telling the truth and the ponies didn’t see that you were a changeling.” Chrysalis leaned forward and put her hoof on Augury’s chin, her face only an inch away from Augury’s. “Promise me you’ll stick to the guidelines that I gave you? No more gong outside my directions, okay?”

Augury returned the stare Chrysalis gave him as he looked into Chrysalis’s eyes, fear reflecting off partial anger in between the two changelings. “I... I understand.”

Chrysalis moved her hoof to Augury’s cheek and tapped him lightly. “Good.” The changeling queen lifted her head back up and Augury moved away from the tree as Chrysalis began to walk toward the two mares in the middle of the clearing.

Augury cleared his throat. “What is with your excessive need in touching me?” Augury asked as he rubbed his cheek.

“Augury, please. Just come with me and fill their cocoons.” Chrysalis pleaded, lifting the two mares on the ground onto her back. Augury let out a small sigh and followed after the changeling queen as she headed off deeper into the forest.

“Something wrong, Chrysalis? You don’t seem to be as eager to bicker with me tonight.” Augury said as he and Chrysalis walked through the forest.

“My thoughts are conflicting with themselves. I’m having a hard time thinking.” Chrysalis replied.

“What is it? Something happen?”

“It shouldn’t matter to you. Just leave it to me to decide.”

“Whatever you say.” Augury stayed quiet for a second, the light snoring of the two pegasi and the two changeling’s hoofsteps filling in the silence. “Uh, Chrysalis?”

“Hmm?”

“Do you think I could have an extra day for my next mission?”

“And why would I let you have that?”

“I just... I want to go back to Ponyville just for a day, without any distractions. I miss home. All I ask is a day, just for me, so I can put all of this aside for just one day and not have to worry about anything. I just ask for a single day, please. I’ll get back to the mission right after, I promise.” Augury said. Chrysalis walked in silence for a second and came to a stop at the edge of the clearing further into the forest, turning around to face Augury, who had stopped as well. The changeling queen and Augury stared at each other for a second, Chrysalis squinting slightly.

Chrysalis ran her eyes across Augury. “Under two conditions.” Chrysalis stated. “One, you do not go in contact with any of your friends or family. If you happen to run into them, keep the conversation as short as possible and continue on your way. Two, you stay in the form of a pony for the entire day once you get into Ponyville. Even if you go inside a secluded area, stay in your pony form that you choose. Am I clear?”

Augury nodded. “Yes.”

“...Then you can have another day. You will still have three days to get the next mare and bring her back, mind you. Just think of this as a little reward for your work so far.”

Augury lifted an eyebrow and smiled mischievously. “Are there going to be other rewards in the future?”

“Don’t push your luck.” Chrysalis said as she turned around and began to walk into the clearing behind her. Augury chuckled quietly and followed after Chrysalis. On the right of the clearing from Augury, six cocoons hung from six different trees along the tree line, the trees the cocoons hung from untouched by Augury’s previous actions. Rarity still hung in the cocoon on the far left, the gas inside of the cocoon seeming to have thinned a little. Tranquility’s cocoon remained in a tree on the other side of the other six green caskets, the lavender mare still staring unconsciously into her eyelids.

Augury and Chrysalis stood at the two cocoons beside Rarity’s, Augury gently lifting Pinkie and Fluttershy off of Chrysalis’ back and placing them in the two separate cocoons. Augury turned his head to Chrysalis, who only motioned her head toward the quickly sealing green caskets that the two unconscious mares hung upside down in. Sighing, Augury turned his head to the two cocoons in front of him, both of them finishing the process of sealing shut, the transparent side of the cocoon completing itself. Augury moved his head forward and gently pierced his horn into the pink mare’s casket, leaning backwards and taking his horn out as he heard the sparkling of the assimilation gas come to a standstill. Chrysalis moved away as Augury stepped to Fluttershy’s cocoon, repeating the process he had done with Pinkie.

Chrysalis smiled as Augury took his horn out of Fluttershy’s cocoon.. “Half of the targets already in their assimilation process. Well done Augury. First thing tomorrow, your next mission starts.”

Augury kept his glance at the ground. “I have that extra day, remember?”

“Of course. I expect to see another mare in one of these cocoons in the next four days, understood?”

“Sure.” Augury muttered. Chrysalis watched as Augury slowly turned away from the line of cocoons and made his way across the clearing, coming to a stop at the tree Tranquility’s cocoon hung from and laying down. Chrysalis shook her head slightly and started off into the darkness of the forest beyond the clearing.

______________________________________________________________________

The sun slowly came over the horizon in the distance of the mountains, the moon slowly fading away in the light of day. Stars erased and black faded blue, another beautiful day in Equestria emerged from the darkness of night. In the distance of the forest, birds chirped and other such woodland creatures awoke from their slumber. However, no sound radiated from the area a certain slender figure meandered through as she made her way through the forest. Her hoofsteps echoed alone in the shadows beaming down from the canopy above her, the silence becoming a regular occurrence at this time of day. Yet, the quietness does not bother the changeling queen, as she has her own mind and a resentful companion, or what she saw him as, to fill in the gaps of noise. Chrysalis stepped out into the sunlight of the clearing further into the forest, letting out a loud yawn and squinting as the light met her eyes. She scanned the area for a quick second, and the longer she looked, something seemed missing. Recalling to her memory, Augury had slept underneath Tranquility’s tree, but upon further inspection as Chrysalis walked over to the lavender mare’s tree, Augury was no where in sight. The grass around the tree only had one trail of barely noticeable hoofprints, and even then, they only stretched out into the middle of the clearing.

Chrysalis sighed and looked at the ground, digging gently at the grass and dirt beneath her with her right hoof. “Already left? I was hoping to have another conversation with Augury.” Chrysalis thought sadly to herself. “Oh well... maybe its for the best. I really should get started with them today anyways. The army isn’t going to wait forever.”

[9] Familiar Faces

Chapter Nine: Familiar Faces

“Yeah, see you around.” Serenity waved goodbye to the couple of ponies as they walked away from her, the pale pink mare letting out a small sigh of relief. She could finally have another chance to enjoy her day of rest.

Ponyville had awoke not too long ago, Serenity surprised at the number of ponies that get up so early. Always taking the back route running along the Everfree forest to the hospital for work, Serenity never realized the large number of ponies up and out of their houses in the early hours of the day. Despite the barely lingering tiredness in their eyes, the ponies of Ponyville seemed lively as ever. The fillies and colts ran through Ponyville as if they had nothing in the world to fear, chasing each other playfully as they made their way to the school house. The mares and stallions walked around aimlessly, enjoying Ponyville and the beautiful day that spread itself in front of them. However, Ponyville was not completely the best place to be in Equestria, at least, to everypony’s knowledge.

Throughout Ponyville, signs and posters were put up in store windows and on the sides of kiosks. On the posters revealed that Ponyville was under a slight watch for anypony suspicious in the next week. With the disappearance of three mares already, the thought of somepony else being taken away sat in the back of everypony’s mind. On the contrary, even with that lingering thought, the ponies continued out their day as casually as they would any other day, taking almost no note to the poster’s warnings. Another factor, however, kept the thought fresh. A small watch guard had been put up around Ponyville, a large group of stallions and mares wearing a thick black necklaces keeping a close lookout at the outskirts of Ponyville. Luckily, not all of them were the brightest stallions or mares around, as Augury had quite an effortless time sneaking into the town unnoticed, even able to switch to Serenity’s form in a small alley with no detection. Still, even if the watch guard ponies were not doing their job very well, Serenity kept her distance away from them for the time being.

Serenity walked slowly through the streets of Ponyville as she headed for the edge of Ponyville, a certain house kept in her mind as she ventured through the town of ponies. Occasionally, a pony would stop to say hello, or if they hadn’t already, welcome her to Ponyville, but despite the on and off conversations, Serenity kept to herself. She held on to Chrysalis’s guidelines and reminded herself about them constantly, even if Chrysalis would have no idea if Serenity broke them or not.

Serenity came to a stop at the edge of Ponyville, the field leading into the Everfree forest stretched out in front of her. “Almost there. Left, then it shouldn’t be too far. Hopefully Frost or anypony else hasn’t trashed it with a party or something.” Serenity thought to herself as she began to walk to her left along the edge of Ponyville. The Everfree forest seemed to be peaceful from where the pale pink mare walked, the creatures that occupied the dark and dense forest nowhere in sight. Although, even if Serenity would want to explore the forest, Everfree was off limits for the next week for the ponies in Ponyville. Zecora, who had a small opposition to it, was moved from her home in Everfree to a similar shelter in Ponyville for her safety. Little does Ponyville know, the extra safety protocols would be for naught. Though a certain lavender unicorn had an idea of the actual routine and future targets of the foalnappings, the other ponies could only guess who would be taken next, for now.

Serenity looked up from the small dirt road she walked along, a small smile forming on her face. “Ah, there it is. Looks it has been untouched since we left. At least, from out here.” Serenity thought to herself and she began to walk towards the structure in her sights. Salvation and Tranquility’s home rested on the less dense areas of Ponyville, considering nopony would want to live this close to the Everfree forest. Despite the occasional sounds of Everfree in the distance and the strike of the Ponyville tower at noon, Salvation and Tranquility never had a problem with their home.

The pale pink mare walking along the fields of Ponyville came to a stop at a narrow path, the curvy dirt cut through the grass of the front yard leading to a small house along the edge of the Everfree forest. The house seemed to be almost an exact replica of the other homes spread out through Ponyville, Serenity smiling at the sight of the uniquely familiar structure.

“Finally... home.” Serenity whispered to herself and walked across the front yard, the feeling of the dirt and grass on her hooves bringing a lost comfort to her heart. The pale pink mare lifted her hoof up to the front door, taking a second to recognize the feeling of the dark brown wood that made the entrance. Serenity smiled as she pushed her hoof forward, the sight of her home a picture she had longed for ever since she came out of her cocoon. Wiping her hooves off on the mat in the doorway, Serenity quietly stepped into her home and shut the door behind her. The main entrance room made up most of the small house that Serenity called home, casual furniture spread throughout the edges of the room, leaving a large space to walk through in the center, where a large ovular rug sprawled out across the wooden planks that made up the floor. Stairs in the far left corner of the entrance room led up to another level of the house, Serenity eager to return to her and Tranquility’s bed once more.

Serenity walked over to the couch resting on the right wall and laid down on her side, staring at the outline of the window that cast on the floor in front of her. “A little more than three weeks away from home and I’ve already missed it so much. If only Quil were here to be home with me...” Serenity spoke out loud, the tone in her voice becoming partially dejected with her last sentence. The pale pink mare sighed and lifted herself off of the couch, fixing her mane with magic as she trotted across the main room’s floor. Serenity came to a stop at the bottom of the stairs leading to the upper level of the house, a small smile forming on her face. With a click of a spell, Serenity flared into a fiery dark blue mass as she walked up the stairs, only to find herself in a different form as she arrived at the top of the stairs.

Salvation scanned his eyes around the room, taking a second to admire his natural pony form in a mirror on the wall across his and Tranquility’s bedroom. A large bed rested against the wall the stairs emerged from, the blankets neatly folded and tucked under the mattress from the morning Salvation and Tranquility had woken up before they left. Salvation chuckled quietly to himself as he walked over to the bed, placing a hoof on the dark green blanket tightly wrapped around the mattress.

“Always had to have the bed made perfectly, huh Quil?” Salvation said quietly, half expecting an answer. Salvation sighed as he looked up from the bed and over to the wall across from him, squinting slightly as his eyes met with the light of day. The glass doors gridded with thin wooden planks let through the soft rays of the morning sun into the room Salvation stood in, the sun just barely rising over the snowy mountain tips in the distance. The balcony on the other side of the glass doors looked out over the fields of Ponyville, a few ponies just leaving their homes. Salvation felt something gently edge into his mind as he stared at the balcony, bringing a smile onto his face as he remember the night before he and Tranquility had left Ponyville.

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“This was a really nice night to sit on the balcony, wasn’t it?” Salvation asked, turning his head to the lavender mare sitting next to him.

Tranquility nodded, her eyes staring into the stars above. “You always know when it’s going to be nice outside, don’t you?” Tranquility asked as she turned her gaze to Salvation. The two ponies chuckled quietly and Tranquility leaned her head on Salvation, each of them falling into a quiet happiness. The light radiating from the candle in Salvation and Tranquility’s room illuminated the balcony gently, the light flickering in the wind blowing through the open glass doors.

“When do you think we’re going to be leaving tomorrow?” Tranquility asked.

“Oh, fairly early. Wake up about seven, get ready, say goodbye to our friends and family, and hopefully leave around nine or so. That sound nice?” Salvation said.

“Yeah, sounds good.” Tranquility shifted her eyes from the mountains to Salvation. The light grey stallion stared out at the Ponyville landscape with a blank expression, his eyes seeming to be tired.

“Something wrong, honey?” Tranquility asked, gently rubbing her head against the stallion’s coat.

Salvation sighed and shifted his eyes to the floor of the balcony. “I’m still thinking about the family back in the hospital.”

“Salvation...”

“I know, I know... but why did it have to be me? There were plenty of other doctors in the complex, but none of them would have wanted to do it either. It all came down to me having to tell them.”

“It was really that hard?”

“It’s never easy breaking the news that one of your relatives aren’t going to make it. The pain in their eyes...”

“Here, let me show you something.” Tranquility put her hoof on Salvation’s chest and pushed him lightly.

“What are you doing?” Salvation asked.

“Just lay on your back. Trust me, it’ll help.”

Letting out a small sigh, Salvation lowered himself backwards, Tranquility laying down next to him. “Now what?” Salvation asked.

Tranquility grabbed onto Salvation’s hoof lightly. “My mother used to tell me this when I was just a filly. It has helped me get through a lot in my life, maybe it can help you. Just look up at the sky. Ready?”

“Yeah.”

“Okay.” Tranquility cleared her throat. “Happiness, time spent with the ones you love. Push aside the sadness, and stare into the sky above. Reflect on your past, hold on to the memories, and you’ll have nothing to fear. The present isn’t the best place to be, when within your eyes, are tears. Let the light of day guide your dreams. Let the dark of night cover your seams. When all looks lost, think of the past. The memories, that will forever last.”

“Something a little deep to be telling a filly.”

Tranquility smiled and pushed Salvation playfully. “Oh hush. Whenever I felt sad or like I was alone in the world, I followed my mother’s rhyme.”

“And it worked?”

“More than you think it would. My mom always had a way with cheering me up, but when she passed away, her rhyme would always get me through the worst. My father, being the idiot he was, never cared to pay any attention to me, so I had to manage on my own until I finally got sick of it. But, I’ve already gone over that story so many times. Sorry, Salvation, I didn’t mean to bring it up.”

“Hey, it’s alright. It was your past, it’s hard to let go of something like that. You sure you don’t want to talk about it some more?”

“It’s fine.” Tranquility giggled and rolled on her side, latching on to Salvation with all four of her legs. “As long as I’m with you, I’ll be the happiest I have ever been.”

Salvation turned his head to Tranquility and pressed his lips against hers, the lavender mare beaming with happiness. “I love you, Tranquility.”

Tranquility burrowed the side of her face into Salvation’s head. “And I love you, Salvation.”

______________________________________________________________________

“Is she still out?”

“Yeah, just give her a minute. She’ll wake up soon enough.”

“Should we get her off her side? She doesn’ look very comfy.”

“She’ll manage.”

“What about them? Are they goin' to be alright?”

“Don’t worry Applejack, they’ll be fine.”

“What about her?”

“She’ll be fine, too. Here, take these and go help Rainbow with the other two. Looks like they’re just waking up.”

“Why are they shiverin’? And what in the hay are these for?”

“Side effects from the spell on them, they’ll feel cold. The blankets are to help them feel warm. Go.”

The muffled voices slowly made their way from the mouths of the ponies to Daisy’s ears, the pink mare’s eyes slowly opening. Twilight Sparkle stood a few feet in front of her, two or three books coming down from the shelves of the library and setting down on the floor as Twilight made room on the shelves. Daisy’s vision and hearing seemed to be disrupted slightly, everything she heard muffled and everything she saw blurry. Through the haze in her eyes, Daisy was able to get an idea of where she was and who she was with. The two stallions she had been with in the Everfree forest sat on the other side of the library, Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash tending to them as they came to. Twilight Sparkle stood in front of Daisy with her back turned to the pink mare, taking books down off of the shelves and placing a few medical supplies on them.

Daisy groaned and stretched her legs, a sudden feeling of freezing rushing into her body. “Twi... light.” Daisy said weakly, bringing her legs closer to her.

Twilight quickly turned around and walked over to Daisy, grabbing a blanket and placing it on top of the mare laying on her side. “You’re going to be alright, Daisy. Just keep that blanket on you.” Twilight Sparkle said as she moved Daisy’s mane out of her face.

“What... happened?”

“You and the two stallions over there had a sleep spell cast on you in the Everfree forest. A pretty strong one, too.”

“Where are Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy?”

“They’ve... they’ve been taken by somepony. We don’t know where either of them are, or who took them, but we know that somepony foalnapped them.”

“Why didn’t they take us?”

“That’s what I’m trying to figure out. I have a theory, but it may be a little early to assume such a thing. Such lay your head down and take some time to wake up.”

“I am awake.” Daisy shook her head slightly and slowly sat up, quickly covering herself with the blanket. “Did we find Rarity?”

“I’m afraid not. We think she has been taken as well.”

“Oh...” Daisy and Twilight sat in silence for a second, the voices of the two stallions, Rainbow, and Applejack talking filling in the emptiness.

“Daisy. Do you think you’re awake enough to maybe answer some questions that I had for you?” Twilight Sparkle asked.

“Yeah... yeah, I can try.” Daisy yawned, rubbing her eyes.

“Do you remember what happened in Everfree? Did you see anything peculiar?”

Daisy stayed silent for a moment, scrunching her lips together and rubbing her chin as she dug into her memory. "I remember the sound of the air screeching and the two stallions were gone within seconds of each other.”

“Did you see who took them? Did you see what they looked like?”

“I... I don’t know. All I remember was a weird dark blue light coming from above my head after something came down and picked me up. The light from the aura flickered against my hooves like it was fire, but I couldn’t get a clear picture of who it was coming from.”

“Did you see the color of their coat on their hooves? Anything?”

“It was too dark, my lantern had gone out. I can’t remember anything else from that. I’m sorry if it didn’t help a lot, Twilight, but I hope it can be of some use.”

“It’s alright, Daisy. You aren’t to blame. Try and keep yourself awake. Sleep spells tend to linger around for a while.” Daisy nodded and leaned back against the wall of the library as Twilight Sparkle stood up and walked away from her. Twilight halted in the middle of the library and a puzzled expression formed on her face, the lavender unicorn digging into her mind.

“An aura flickering like fire?” Twilight thought to herself. “And after she can’t remember anything. That must have been the sleep spell. But flickering like fire? I’ve only seen that kind of aura... no, no no no no no, that can’t be possible... can it?”

“Twilight? Are you alright? Yer, uh, pacin’.” Applejack called out from the library wall, watching as Twilight slowly walked in a circle in the middle of the room. Twilight looked up from the ground at Applejack and Rainbow, the two mares staring at her with slight worry.

“Uh... yeah, I’m fine. Just thinking.” Twilight assured her friends. Applejack and Rainbow shrugged and turned back to the two stallions. Blushing slightly, Twilight walked to the shelves in the library and scanned the books within them intently.

“Chrysalis...?” Twilight muttered under her breath.

______________________________________________________________________

Another day had gone by in Ponyville, the cycle of night and day continuing in its path as the moon slowly revealed itself in the darkness. Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Twilight Sparkle had spent the day before tending to the three ponies that had sleep spells on them, the three friends getting as much information out of the three ponies as they could. Despite the amount of information described and recalled as best as it could, the knowledge of the three past captives didn’t stretch any further past Daisy’s description of the event. Even with a few recall spells casted by Twilight on the three ponies, something seemed to be blocking the spell from taking an affect on them. Although, if the spell did cast, the information uncovered would still be limited. Given up on the attempts to get the three ponies to remember anything else, Twilight, Rainbow, and Applejack continued on with their day, feeling as if they were defeated.

Three of their friends gone and the ‘foalnapper’ still on the loose, a feeling of helplessness spread across the three remaining target’s hearts. Not enough evidence on her theory, if the knowledge Twilight possessed could be called evidence, the lavender unicorn would be seen as a laughing stalk if she brought up the idea of changelings. Four years changelings have been defeated, the thought of changelings would be deemed ridiculous even in the eyes of the royal guard. However, away from her changeling theory, Twilight had another idea brewing in her head. Though it had been her first impression on the situation when she learned the Pinkie, Rarity, and Fluttershy had been taken, Twilight Sparkle tried to stray away from her other idea a much as she could. A plot to capture the six wielders of The Elements of Harmony stayed in Twilight’s mind, the lavender unicorn became worried about her friends, more than she was before. With an unknown predator stalking the streets of Ponyville in an innocent form, Ponyville seemed to be in more danger than it had ever been as a forgotten enemy emerged from the shadows.

Who knew Twilight’s perception would be correct?

______________________________________________________________________

Sweet Apple Acres rested in a deep slumber for the night, Applejack’s mind exhausted from thinking about what could have happened in the forest. It was only three hours earlier that Rainbow and Twilight were with the orange mare in Sugar Cube Corner, silently mourning over their friends’ disappearances. As the sun slowly set on Ponyville, the three mares said their goodbyes for the day and headed their separate ways for the night. For Applejack, an overwhelming feeling continued to surge through her, as zap-apples were coming in quick. Her mind stayed unknowing of her friends’ feelings, but Applejack figured that they didn’t want to show their colors. The disappearance of three friends in less than a week slowly ate away at the three remaining spirits of harmonys’ minds, each of them dwindling into a hidden, suppressed and somewhat unrealized depression. However, unbeknownst to Applejack, that depression would come to an end, as she would be reunited with her missing friends once more.

Applejack’s eyes opened tiredly as light hoofsteps ran across the roof of the house on Sweet Apple Acres, the orange mare rubbing her eyes and lifting her head off of the bed with her front legs. Applejack slowly scanned her eyes around her room, her eyelids barely open.

Thinking the hoofsteps had come from in the house, as tired as she was, Applejack quietly called out. “Applebloom? Is that you? What’re you doin’ up so late?” The orange mare stayed silent for a second, listening intently into the stillness of her home. Down the hall, Applebloom’s quiet snoring leaked out of her partially open door, Applejack forcing herself out of her bed and looking around confusedly. The moon in the  night sky illuminated Sweet Apple Acres enough for Applejack to see out into the fields surrounding her home, Applejack staring with tired eyes out of her window. However, something caught the orange mare’s eye as a figure seemed to dash from tree to tree, Applejack becoming even more confused as the figure slowly made its way away from the house.

“What in tarnation...?” Applejack whispered. As fast and as quietly as she could, Applejack weaved through the house she awoke in and dashed out the front door of her home, staring out into the apple tree fields as she halted a few feet away from the doorway. The figure had disappeared from Applejack’s sight for the time being, the orange mare lifting a hoof to her head and scratching it profusely.

“But... there was just... what?” Applejack muttered as she let her hoof back down to the ground. She stood in the quiet of night for a small moment, staring out into the apple orchards surrounding the house behind her.

As Applejack started to think it was just in her imagination, a stallion’s voice pierced the silence, Applejack almost jumping out of her coat. “Admiring the scenery? I never thought you would wake up.”

Applejack whipped around to face the voice, the orange mare not recognizing it as her brother’s. “Who are you? What’re you doin’ here?”

The voice leaked out of the darkness of a shadow extending from the house, the moonlight only a few inches away from revealing the origin of the voice. “Who I am is of no concern to you. What I’m here to do, well, you might be better off knowing for now.”

Applejack squinted menacingly and crouched down into a stance ready for hoof to hoof combat. “I think you best tell me who you are before I wake the whole town up and get you caught red handed. You’re that foalnapper fella, arent’cha?”

“So quick to catch on.” Augury calmly spoke. Within an instant, Applejack’s eyes opened widely as she caught a small glimpse of a structure on the owner of the voice, the orange mare backing up partially. Slightly confused at Applejack’s sudden reaction, Augury turned his head to his side, only to find that his wing had risen slightly, the insect like structure hanging out in the moonlight.

“I really should have learned to control these things more.” Augury groaned as he stepped out into the moonlight, sensing that Applejack knew what he was now.

Applejack’s eyes grew even wider as Augury was lit up by the moonlight, the creature standing in front of her house staring at her blankly. “You’re... you’re a changeling! But- but I thought Twilight’s brother got rid of y’all!”

“There’s been a change of events.”

“But, you don’t have any holes in yer hooves, and you have a mane and tail. Come to think of if, you’re not as thin as them things now, are you? Yer- yer a changeling, right?”

Augury began to walk towards the mare in front of him, Applejack backing up at the same pace. “I don’t like to call myself a monster such as those things.”

“Are you a changeling or not!?”

“Just listen to me.”

“What are you!?”

“You’re not listening.”

Out of frustration and slight fear, Applejack stopped in her tracks and swung her right front hoof as hard as she could at Augury. However, to her surprise, a hoof abruptly stopped her swing, Augury’s hoof holding back Applejack’s slightly shaking leg.

Augury shifted his eyes from Applejack’s hoof to the mare’s eyes. “Bad move on your part.” With a small click of a spell and a small magical poof, the changeling and the pony disappeared from the front yard of Applejack’ house, another magical poof bursting lightly in the orchards. Applejack stumbled from the exit of the teleportation spell, Augury landing on his hooves firmly and watching as Applejack regained her balance.

Applejack turned around to face Augury, the changeling waiting for her to stand still. “You’re not takin’ me! I’ll never let you take me!”

“As much as I don’t want to, you’re going to have to come with me. Now, just hold still-” Augury cut his sentence off as Applejack dashed forward and turned herself around, extending her legs outwards. Augury’s head jerked backwards as Applejack’s back hooves crashed violently into his head, the changeling stumbling backwards, almost losing his balance. As Augury came to a stop, he lifted a hoof up to his mouth and inspected it, a small smear of blood on his dark grey coat.

“If you want to do this the hard way, I’m more than happy to after that little stunt.” Augury spat, wiping his hoof off on the grass of the orchard.

Applejack turned to face Augury again, leaning into the same position she had been in before she charged at the changeling. “I said, I ain't goin' with you. Not without a fight, that is.”

Augury smirked slightly. “Well then. Shall we dance?”

“With pleasure!” With a kick of her back hooves, Applejack launched off of the ground towards Augury, her front hooves stretched outwards. Augury pushed off of the ground with his front legs and stood up on his back hooves, positioning himself with one of his hooves behind him. As Applejack collided with Augury, they slowly slid to a halt a few feet behind where Augury had been standing, the changeling standing on his back legs with Applejack’s face buried in his stomach. Taking the opportunity, Augury reached out and grabbed Applejack’s back legs, swinging his arms above his head as quick as he could afterwords. The orange mare quickly flew up into the air, her eyes bulging at the sudden sight of her orchard nearly fifty feet below her. Before she could react, Applejack felt two hooves grab onto her back and she quickly flew higher into the sky. As she quickly came to a halt in the air, Applejack adverted her eyes from the ground below, only to find the face of changeling staring at her sternly. Applejack stared into Augury’s dark blue eyes, the changeling returning the action with an angrier approach. The changeling and the pony came to a stand still in the air almost one hundred feet above the orchard below, Augury cradling Applejack within his grasp as he fluttered his wings.

“So we’ve come to a little situation here, haven’t we? I have wings, you don’t. I have magic to break my fall, and guess what? You don’t. Now, there are two options I have for you. One, you fall and die. Two, you quit attacking me and come with me peacefully with your legs intact. Which option would you like?”

Applejack lowered her brow angrily at Augury, almost regretting the words that escaped from her mouth. “Two.”

“Good choice. Now, you’re going to have to promise me that you won’t attack me, alright? You are The Spirit of Honesty, aren’t you?”

“I won’t make any promises.”

“... I’ll just take that as a yes.”

Augury and Applejack slowly lowered back to the orchard, Applejack pushing herself away from Augury as they touched the ground.

“Now, Applejack, I just want to say that-” Augury began to say, his gaze towards the mountains in the distance.

Applejack’s voice shattered Augury’s train of thought, Augury turning his head to the orange mare. “I never made a promise, mind you!”

Growling, Augury stepped off to the side as Applejack leaped at him backwards with her back hooves ready to buck with enough force to knock out a manticore. Not able to see behind her that far, Applejack extended her back legs as hard and as fast as she could, a feeling of accomplishment coming onto her as she felt her hooves connect with something. However, the sound following made her heart sink. An electric charged surged through the tree Applejack had bucked, the orange mare turning her head to look at Augury. The changeling had a fiery dark blue aura surrounding his eyes, a sinister smirk upon his face. Applejack began to take her back hooves off of the tree as she heard the electric surge begin to come back down, but found herself stuck to the tree with a dark blue aura around her legs.

“Now, where did you think you were going?” Augury asked, the smirk on his face extending into a full smile. With a sudden bolt of electricity surging through her body, Applejack felt her muscles tighten and she shook violently. Normally, the orange mare would have flung from the charge, but Augury’s magic held her in place. A few seconds passed and Applejack continued to have electricity course through her, a few spots on her coat turning black. Augury chuckled and let go of the magical hold on Applejack’ back legs, the orange mare soaring from the zap-apple tree she had accidentally fallen into. Augury walked over to the orange mare laying on the ground as the aura around his eyes faded. Aside from a few patches of her coat burnt and her mane spiked in random directions, Applejack’s appearance had not been affected. However, she seemed to have fallen unconscious. Augury leaned down and put his ear to her chest, nodding after a few seconds as he heard her heart beat normally. The changeling sighed and lifted Applejack onto his back, keeping the magic hold on her to keep her steady.

Augury turned his line of sight to the Apple family’s house in the distance, a feeling of sorrow sweep over him a third time. “Applejack is going to be alright. As worried as you’ll be about her, I’ll make sure that she isn’t harmed any further.” Augury said quietly. The changeling slowly lifted himself off of the ground and began to fly away from Ponyville, letting the darkness of the night cover his movements. Only two mares remained in Augury’s first group of targets. However, something would emerge within Augury that he had hoped would stay within him. Something that he may not be able to control.

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

Wow, would you look at that. Another double chapter upload! Huzzah! But seriously, I really need to learn when to stop and end a damn chapter. This (what used to be and was intended to be one) chapter was cut in half (again) due to length.

On another note, I just thought I would come in and say that the violence toward Applejack with the zap-apple tree was NOT (repeat) NOT unnecessary. It will be explained in the next chapter in further detail about why it was there.

So don’t come at me with ‘HUR DUR, YOU HURT APPLEJA-’

NO.

SHUT YOUR MOUTH.

I WOULD NEVER BRING HARM TO THE MANE (ha) SIX WITHOUT A CAUSE.

I JUST... I CAN’T- DHGOLDSFAHDTEAMLHKSDLRULESB

(user has lost his sanity)

[10] The Beast Within

Chapter Ten: The Beast Within

The night stayed young over the vast land of Equestria, the full moon in the sky continuing to radiate its gentle light. The outskirts of Equestria stayed silent for the most part, only a portion of the land’s creatures stirring through the darkness. A peculiar glow seemed to emerge from the black of night, radiating bright green under the trees of a large forest beginning to be inhabited by beings hated by everything else. The glow barely made it past the canopy, however, the green light only just beginning to take form in what it would become. New life would sprout from a changeling’s magic, and with it, the beginning of an unstoppable army.

Chrysalis walked along the edge of the clearing near the lake within the forest she saw as a home, her eyes averted to the ground as she walked around aimlessly. Augury had left only the morning earlier, Chrysalis left alone in the forest another time as Augury sought out his target. Loneliness crept around the corner and struck the changeling queen once more as she had watched the only other lifeform that could stand her fly away. Within time, however, Chrysalis knew that he would be back. If he didn’t want anything to happen to Tranquility, that is. Although, even with the assurance that Augury would be back sometime within the next three days, Chrysalis found herself falling back into her docile state of unrest that she thought had been pushed away when she first assimilated Salvation. The thought of having more changelings to talk to within the next few weeks comforted the changeling queen, but only temporarily. Their voices would be like a foal screaming for their mother, always needing to be by their mother every single moment, wishing that she would pay attention to them and them only. Their conversations wouldn’t be the same, their personalities wouldn’t be the same, nothing would be the same as Chrysalis’s first changeling in this new army. The loneliness and constant feeling of isolation would fade away as Chrysalis began to create her children once more, yet the feeling of meaning would almost be lost.

Chrysalis sighed lightly and stopped abruptly as she came to the edge of the clearing near the lake, her eyes staring at the border of grass and sand. “I wonder how long it’s going to take Augury for this one...” Chrysalis said quietly to herself.

“You really need to look at your surroundings once and a while.” A strained voice spoke, Chrysalis jumping slightly. The changeling queen looked up from the sand towards the lake, Augury sitting at the edge of the water. He had his hooves partially buried in the sand in front of him, not paying attention to the water brushing against him every other second.

Chrysalis felt her mouth curve into a small smile subconsciously. “Augury! I- I didn’t notice you there.”

Augury kept his eyes to the lake. “I can tell.”

Chrysalis slowly walked over to the changeling sitting at the edge of the water, the changeling queen lowering herself to the ground next to him. “What are you doing back so early? I thought you were going to take a day off.”

“I did.”

“Then why are you back the night of?”

“I thought it would be for the best.”

“What would be for the best?”

“Leaving Ponyville as soon as I could.”

“Why’s that?”

Augury swallowed nervously. “I... I needed to ask you something.”

“Something troubling you, Augury? You seem less talkative than usual.”

Augury stayed quiet for a second, staring down at the sand in front of him with his hooves partially dug into the shore. “My hooves. There’s... there’s something wrong. I... I don’t know what’s happening.”

“Well, what is it?”

“There are... dents in them. Small... dents on each side, each one opposite from the other. I’m worried. I don’t know what they are. I saw them before, when I was in my house, but they’ve grown since then and have gotten deeper.”

“Dents? Augury, I’m surprised. With your attitude towards changelings, I would’ve expected this later on down the road.”

“What’s happening to me? What’s wrong with me? How do you know what this is? What did you do to me!?” Augury’s voice grew with anger every sentence, pushing himself off of the ground slightly with his front hooves and turning his head to look at the changeling queen next to him. Chrysalis moved her glance to Augury’s hooves. As the troubled changeling had said, small dents dotted themselves on his hooves, another dent on the opposite side of each one.

“Oh... Augury.” Chrysalis said, closing her eyes and laughing lightly. Augury looked down at his hooves and quickly lowered himself to the sand, covering his hooves once more.

Chrysalis opened her eyes and looked at the changeling next to her, Augury’s head turned to the water and his face slightly red. “I didn’t do anything to cause this, Augury, this is you finally adjusting to your changeling self. It was only a matter of time, really. Something happen on one of your missions?” Chrysalis asked.

Augury hesitated to speak. “I don’t... I don’t think so-” Augury cut himself off as something dug into his mind. Applejack’s burnt coat and her spiked mane flashed quickly in Augury’s vision, Augury feeling an overwhelming sensation wash over him. The sudden impulse of violence, the feeling of wanting to hurt Applejack... the pleasure he had gotten from it. This was not Augury, but another force within the conflicted changeling, slowly trying to break itself free from the grasp that Augury had on it. Augury recognized this sensation before, when Chrysalis had first made him put that assimilation gas into Rarity’s cocoon. Even if that was his initial feelings before the changeling within him took over, the outburst of hatred burning within his eyes was not who Augury wanted to be, let alone, be controlled by.

Augury stared across the lake with a partially horrified expression wiped across his face, his breathing becoming intense and coarse. “That... that wasn’t me. I would never do that... would I?”

“What?” Chrysalis asked, leaning forward to get herself in Augury’s line of sight.

“The orange mare, Applejack, Spirit of Honesty. Did I do that to her?”

“Augury, what!? What are you rambling on about!?”

Augury turned his head to Chrysalis, staring into her aggravated eyes blankly with the same horrified expression. The changeling queen only stared at him back as if she were scolding him, waiting for an answer to her question.

The expression on Augury’s face quickly turned form horror to anger, Chrysalis backing her head away slightly. “This is all your fault!” Augury shouted as he stood up. “I never would have been through this if it weren’t for YOU!” Chrysalis flew backwards as Augury kicked off of the ground, both of the changelings soaring from the edge of the lake onto the surface of the water.

Chrysalis kicked Augury away from her, Augury stumbling through the air and stabilizing to face Chrysalis as she regained her composure as well. “Augury, what are you doing!?” Chrysalis yelled. “Might I remind you about Tranquility? This isn’t-!” The changeling queen stopped short of her next sentence as she noticed the dark blue fiery aura around Augury’s eyes, the enrage changeling out in front of Chrysalis staring at her with wide and fierce eyes. The two changelings stayed silent for a second, the water beneath them rippling in conflicting circles as their wings fluttered.

Chrysalis positioned herself in the air into an offensive position, clenching her teeth together ferociously. “Augury, contain yourself. I don’t want to rid my army of you just yet, I still need you. Calm down and let’s talk about this.”

“There is nothing we need to talk about!” Augury snapped. “Your efforts to raise your army again were for naught. Your life ends here, Chrysalis!”

Chrysalis growled and charged forward at the changeling floating out in front of her, Augury doing the same. The two changelings clashed their horns as they came close, Chrysalis squinting her eyes as the fiery aura around Augury’s eyes came close. Chrysalis jerked her head off to the side, Augury losing his balance in the air as Chrysalis’s horn dragged his horn along with it. As he came to a stop with half of a turn in the air, Augury kicked his legs out behind him. Chrysalis lifted her hoof up to block the sudden attack, but only found her own hoof snap back into her face, the changeling queen floating backwards a few feet over the water before she came to a stop. Augury whipped himself around as fast as he could, but carried something in his hoof as a small surprise for the changeling queen as he turned around completely. With the curve of his turn, Augury brought his right hoof up like an uppercut, the dark blue fiery aura around his hoof arcing vertically and dashing ahead like a continuos slash of a sword. The bottom of the vertical arc of dark blue magic dug deep into the lake, the water within an inch of Augury’s attack parting and evaporating, the water around it quickly replacing the missing portion of the lake.

Chrysalis tilted her head forward and a smooth bright green shield appeared in front of her, the dark blue slash of magic colliding with the shield. The dark blue slash burst upon impact with Chrysalis’s attempt of a block, the bright green shield in front of the changeling queen bursting vibrantly along with Augury’s attack. Chrysalis floated backwards along the surface of the water even further, stabilizing herself as fast as she could. The changeling queen looked up from the water at Augury, her eyes widening immensely. Augury charged through the air as fast as he could, heading directly for Chrysalis. The same aura around his eyes surrounded the tips of his hooves, Augury holding his hooves behind him with his legs straight. Chrysalis quickly set a small spell on her hooves, the effect of Augury’s hooves lighting onto Chrysalis’s with a bright green hue. Chrysalis held her hooves up in front of her and braced for the collision between the two changeling’s magic. Augury let out a frustrated yell as he came close to Chrysalis, quickly putting his hooves up in front of him. Two large waves of bright green and dark blue magic pulsed from the sudden impact of two magic spells, Chrysalis tilting her head away from the burst of light. As the tow waves of magic disappeared from their proximity, Chrysalis and Augury continued to push against each other’s hooves forcefully, sparks of bright green and dark blue magic flinging randomly from their magic conflicting.

Augury leaned his head forward in between Chrysalis and his hooves, a large grin spread across his face. “Having trouble, my ‘liege’!?” Augury shouted, the two other voices coming back into Augury’s own voice.

Chrysalis winced slightly and pushed harder against Augury’s hooves. “Augury, contain yourself this instant!” Chrysalis yelled.

“What’s the matter? Not having enough fun!?”

Chrysalis yelled in anger and pushed against Augury’s hooves as hard as she could. The sparks flinging from each Chrysalis’s and Augury’s hooves quickly ignited into a bright green fireball around each hoof, bursting inward and engulfing Augury’s head for a split second. As the fires around Augury’s face cleared, Chrysalis took her chance at ending their fight. With a small maneuver of her wings, Chrysalis sent herself into a forceful front flip, stretching out her right hind leg. Chrysalis’s outstretched leg arced downwards into Augury’s head, Augury letting out a loud grunt as Chrysalis’s leg struck down on him. Augury flung down into the water of the lake as Chrysalis continued the swing of her leg, a large splash of water coming from Augury’s impact. The dark blue light of Augury’s fiery eyes disappeared into the depths of the lake, the changeling queen acting as fast as she could to bring him back up.

Chrysalis’s right hoof ignited with a bright green aura and she punched downwards toward the water, the aura around her hoof separating and bolting down into the lake. After waiting a few seconds, Chrysalis spiked her right hoof upwards, and the sound of a large and muffled explosion bursting crashed within the lowest point of the lake. Augury soon emerged out of the water, an immense fountain of the lake’s water following him upwards into the air above the forest. As Augury peaked in the air and began to fall, Chrysalis ignited her hoof with a green aura again and punched out in front of her. The timing just perfect, the quick fiery spike of magic coming off of Chrysalis’s hoof bursted into the falling Augury, sending him flying off to the clearing in which the two changelings had begun their quarrel from. Chrysalis watched as Augury skid across the water, smacked against the sand of the lake’s shore, and tumbled into the middle of the clearing next to the lake.

Chrysalis let out a small puff of air and made her away across the surface of the lake slowly, hoping to herself that she hadn’t have gone too far with her last few actions. The changeling queen set down on the edge of the clearing and quickly walked over to Augury, his back turned to her as he laid on his side. From what she could see, the aura around Augury’s eyes had disappeared, and from what she could hear, the two voices that had accompanied his disappeared from Augury’s breathing. Chrysalis sighed and turned Augury onto his back, the beaten changeling on the ground staring at her weakly.

Augury coughed lightly, a bit of blood seeping from his mouth. “Getting a little carried away, huh?” Augury joked weakly.

Chrysalis chuckled quietly. “Are you aware of your actions when that happens?”

“When what happens?”

“You know what I mean.”

“Oh. Yeah, I’m aware. Why?”

“Then you should know exactly why I did what I did. Do you think you’re going to be able to contain that little beast inside of you from now on?”

“I can try.”

Chrysalis lifted her hoof above Augury’s head. “I said-!”

“Yes, yes! Yes, I can. Not the neck, please.”

“Good.” Chrysalis tapped Augury on the cheek lightly. “You’re a good fighter, Augury. Just not good enough. You’re going to have to work on that.”

Augury laughed weakly as he rolled onto his stomach. “I’m sure I can manage myself in a fight.”

“Mhmm...”

Augury cleared his throat and he stood up onto his hooves, brushing off his coat. “So... I’m not going to have any punishments for that am I?”

“As long as you don’t go on any more violent impulses, then I can let this slide because you barely laid a scratch on me. I need you for the army, Augury, no matter how much you don’t want that to be.”

“Thank you. It was hard to control my actions.”

Chrysalis smirked and began to change the subject. “So, Augury, where is the mare that you brought back this time? Which one was it?”

“Applejack, Spirit of Honesty. I put her in her cocoon already.”

“Ah. Now, would you mind telling me what you did to her? You were rambling on about something before you decided to attack me.”

“Uh... back in Ponyville, I let my changeling instincts get ahold of me, and well, I went a little far with my capturing the mare.”

“What did you do? Is she alright?”

“Yeah, she’s fine. From what I can recall, I kept her held against a zap-apple tree for longer than it would have shocked her normally.”

“Zap-apple tree?”

“You don’t know what those are?”

“No, and why would it shock her?”

Augury sighed. “It was zap-apple season in Ponyville. The trees must have only just been blooming their zap-apples. Being the weird magic trees they are, if you try and buck the zap-apples before they're ready, well, they zap you.”

“Mhmm, I see. You are sure that what you did won’t have any long term effects on the her?”

“It shouldn’t.”

“And if it does?”

“It won’t, trust me. I may have held her there longer, but not long enough to hurt her seriously. She’ll be fine in her cocoon.”

“Good.”

“Oh, and Chrysalis?”

“Yes?”

“I don’t know if this is some sort of personal changeling thing, and don’t take this the wrong way if it is, but what in Equestria were those green glowing sacs of goo next to the clearing?”

Chrysalis giggled lightly and walked over to Augury, putting a hoof around him. “Let me show you.” The two changelings disappeared from the clearing they stood in, reappearing in the clearing further off into the forest. They stood at the edge of the clearing, facing off into the forest beyond it. Past the first line of trees that Augury had decimated, four small bubbles that radiated with a green light sat in the surface of the ground. Each of the four bubbles were filled with a seemingly slimy green substance, and inside of the green goo, floated a small speck shaped like a bean.

“These?” Chrysalis asked, taking her hoof off of Augury.

“Yeah. What are these?” Augury said as he walked over to one of the bubbles, poking it gently.

“Your brothers and sisters, Augury. Metaphorically, that is. Don’t you recognize them?”

Augury looked up from the green bubble over to Chrysalis confusedly. “What are you talking about? My ‘brothers and sisters’?”

“Changelings. Natural born changelings, born from my magic and my genes. They are the pure changelings, the changelings that made up almost all of my last army. They may be a little more... primitive than the changelings that are assimilated, but they still get the job done.”

Augury turned his head back down to the bubble in front of him. “This is how a changeling is born? Growing up inside of a small bubble filled with glowing green goo?”

“As weird as it may seem to you, this is how changelings are born. Well, one way.”

“One way?”

“Don’t make me go into this.”

“Alright, alright. When do you think these changelings will be at full maturity?”

“Depends on the conditions. In this forest, about one to two weeks.”

“Why would the conditions matter?”

“Security, growth, a bunch of factors that I don’t want to explain right now, okay?”

“What ever you say.” Augury lifted his hoof up to poke the bubble in front of him again, but quickly set his hoof out of the way as he saw the dents within it. “Chrysalis, did the other changelings that you assimilated have this problem? The dents?”

Chrysalis began to walk back out into the clearing, Augury quickly following after her. “All assimilated changelings have this happen eventually, Augury. Some sooner than others. Think about it as a... cutie mark, as you ponies would say. Just a more forceful and destructive one.”

Augury and Chrysalis came to a stop in front of the six cocoons in which the Spirits of Harmony would take their places. “That doesn’t exactly sound like an accomplishment with your life. More of a turning point that you can’t come back from.”

“You’ll have to learn to deal with them, Augury. If you’re stubborn enough, maybe they’ll begin to fill back in. Though, that may hurt a little.”

“How would you know?”

“You act like I didn’t pay attention to my previous children and subjects. I’ve learned enough from them to know what you’re going through. You’re just going to have to tough it out and fight as hard as you can, it looks like.”

Augury sighed and turned his head to the six cocoons hanging from the trees to his left. Four of them were already inhabited by the targets that Augury had taken, Applejack hanging in the third to last cocoon from the right, Augury already completed the process of setting the assimilation process. Throughout the four ponies, Rarity seemed to be showing the most progress out of all of them with the assimilation process. The white unicorn’s coat had been slightly darkened to a light grey, and behind her partially closed eyelids, a light blue shade appeared to leak onto her eyes. Rarity’s horn had been smoothed only slightly, a small curve beginning to take effect on her horn as well. Her purple mane had deviated from her once smooth mane almost completely, the dark purple mane that hung from her head beginning to take a silky texture. Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie only showed minors signs of the assimilation process, the color in their coats beginning to fade and small bumps on their foreheads starting to form horns.

“When do you think Rarity is going to be... ready?” Augury asked, lifting a hoof up to Rarity’s cocoon and tapping it lightly.

Chrysalis leaned to the side to peer inside of Rarity’s cocoon. “Seeing how much of the gas has gone, it would seem that she’s turning at a much faster rate than I expected. She looks to be almost half way done with the process.” Chrysalis said.

“Half way? I thought you said it could take from a year to a month. It's been three days!”

“I realize that, and that’s what intrigues me. The changeling side of your magic seems to be developing very quickly. Tell me, Augury, what form have you been taking during your missions in Ponyville?”

“The form of a pale pink mare. Black mane, violet eyes, cutie mark related to medicine and health. Why?”

“Is this form modeled after anyone that you knew before?”

“Uh... I guess I never realized it, but now that I think about it, the form I’ve been taking resembles my old foalsitter.”

“When did you last see your foalsitter?”

“Back in Canterlot, when I was around three or four. Why does this matter?”

“Because the amount of experience or knowledge of changeling magic would require a lot of energy to recall a form that has been in your memory for that long. Much more for you to handle. Your changeling magic experience seems to have been quite developed since I told you to practice. Either that, or Tranquility’s love for you is even stronger than I thought.”

Augury turned his head away from the six cocoons over to Tranquility’s across the clearing, a smirk curving on his face. “Well, we have been friends ever since we were only three years old...”

Chrysalis rubbed her chin. “I see. Maybe you have developed in your changeling abilities, or maybe you’re just getting your power from Tranquility. Either way, I like it. On another note, Augury, you only have two more targets to capture. I’d like to see another one of the mares in one of these cocoons within the next three days.”

Augury quickly snapped his eyes back to Chrysalis. “What? Starting now?”

“Seeing how you have gotten all of these four mares under the three day limit, I think you can handle a bit of a shorter time to capture the next mare if you want some sleep tonight.”

Augury followed Chrysalis with his eyes as she began to walk off into the forest. “Wha- but what about security? I’m going to have to get past security, you realize! There’s no doubt that Ponyville is going to be more on alert!”

Chrysalis’s voice was faint from within the forest she slowly walked off into. “Learn to get around security as best as you can! You’re going to have to learn how to get past guards better later, anyways!”

“But- I- Chrysalis!” Augury’s pleads were unheard from the changeling queen, Chrysalis completely out of sight in the darkness of the forest. Augury sighed and walked into the middle of the clearing.

“Damn it.” Augury cursed under his breath as he laid down on the grass. “Looks like I’m going to have to get up even earlier tomorrow. That’s gonna be a pain in the flank.” Augury rubbed his eyes as he felt the fatigue of tiredness slowly paint itself over his eyelids. The changeling in the middle of the clearing let his head rest limply on his folded forelegs, slowly lulling himself to sleep as he muttered to himself.

“Happiness, time spent with the ones you love. Push aside the sadness... and stare into... the sky above... reflect on your past... the memories... nothing... fear...”

[11] Protectors Of The Land

Chapter Eleven: Protectors Of The Land

The rolling hills on the outskirts of Ponyville slowly lit up with the light of the sun, and a peculiar grey figure slowly made its way across the tall swaying grass. The sun did not show itself over the mountains, even more, the horizon behind the mountains, the edge of the light of day just barely peaking onto Equestria’s landscape. Though the radiant glow of the sun only just appeared over the mountains, Ponyville seemed to shimmer in the light of the torches lit around the town. The town of ponies glistened with a sharp twinkle every now and then, the light rainfall that had come over Ponyville still having yet to dry. The clouds that had blocked out the nocturnal sky the night before slowly cleared out of the morning’s light, the pegasi in Ponyville awaking bright and early to clear the clouds they had set up the night before. However, Ponyville was not as peaceful as it seemed. In the darkest hours of the night before, a terrible discovery made Sweet Apple Acres sink into a depression.

Applebloom was the first to find that Applejack had gone missing from the house on Sweet Apple Acres, and soon enough, almost the whole guard system set around Ponyville knew. The next few hours were filled with bickering from an old cooky mare on the path to Sweet Apple Acres, the guard around Ponyville having to sit and listen to her. Yet, they felt as if they deserved it. Another mare had gone missing from Ponyville, and as the news spread throughout Ponyville through the night, Twilight Sparkle’s thoughts about her theory had been completed. She knew that whoever was taking the mares was going after the wielders of the Elements of Harmony, and she would rather give up her love for books than see the only remaining close friend she had disappear without a trace. With a few scolds from Twilight Sparkle herself and a lecture from Celestia, who had been called to Ponyville on the grounds of ponies being foalnapped, the guard around Ponyville was gone, only to be replaced by a more dedicated group: The Equestrian Military. Within a night, numerous small squads of Equestrian soldiers set up posts around the edges of Ponyville and a few posts within Ponyville, keeping a watchful eye out for any intruders. Armed with weaponry that had never been released to the citizens of Equestria due to possible hazards, the Equestrian Military roamed the streets in solid grey uniforms with a yellow and orange pendant shaped like the sun in their collars. Permission coming from Celestia herself, Shining Armor stayed in Ponyville for the time being, the responsibilities of rank of captain in the royal guard transferring to another high rank guard for the time being. With the capture of one single mare and the confirmation of a single idea, Ponyville was on full alert.

Augury crawled his way up the hills outside of Ponyville, coming to a stop on his stomach at the peak of one of the bigger hills. The changeling stared at Ponyville in the distance for a short amount of time, and his eyes became wide as he noticed the uniforms on the ponies staring at the outskirts o Ponyville.

“Equestrian Military? What in Equestria made them get involved with this!?” Augury questioned shockingly out loud. “I guess Chrysalis was right, for once. It looks like security has escalated more than I thought it would. But still, the military!? I know they think there’s a foalnapper on the loose, but I don’t think the military would get involved with that. Unless... the ponies figured out the pattern in the disappearances of the mares. If the military has gotten involved... I think they might have. Damn it, looks like I’m going to have to be more careful now. Well, here goes nothing. Wish me luck.” Augury scooted his way back down the side of the hill and changed his form as quickly as he could, a pale pink mare emerging from the dark blue flames. Serenity brushed her coat off and stood up from the hills, swallowed nervously, and began to walk towards Ponyville. Almost the instant Serenity had appeared, the Equestrian soldiers within Ponyville began to walk quickly along the outskirts of Ponyville, a large line of approximately twenty soldiers led by a white unicorn walking towards the pale pink mare walking over the hills. As Serenity came within yelling distance of Ponyville, the line of soldiers had made their way into the hills, the white unicorn at the head of the group of soldiers staring at Serenity angrily. Serenity continued to walk, however, the soldiers out in front of her standing almost twenty feet away from her.

“Halt!” The white unicorn shouted. Serenity jumped slightly and stopped in her tracks, feeling a small drop of sweat run down the side of her face. The white unicorn in front of the Equestrian soldiers slowly took off his helmet, letting his striped blue mane flow freely in the breeze rushing through the hills. Serenity looked past the soldier standing out in front of her, a large group of civilian ponies already gathered at the edge of Ponyville, watching the small situation in the hills visible from the town.

“You are trespassing on secured land of Equestria for the time being. Identify yourself.” Shining Armor said sternly. Serenity felt another drop of sweat run down her face as the unicorn soldiers behind Shining Armor withdrew swords slung around their bodies slightly, the blades just barely showing from their sheathes.

Serenity swallowed nervously. “My- my name is Serenity. I m-moved here to Ponyville a few days ago.” Serenity said slowly.

Shining Armor squinted his eyes suspiciously. “Where are you coming from right now?”

“Uh... Trottingham. My carriage dropped me off a while back in the hills.”

“Then you should know that Ponyville is locked down for the time being. The Equestrian Military sent out messages to the other towns that there is a threat on Ponyville, and the town is off limits to any outsiders for now.”

Serenity grew tense as the soldiers behind Shining Armor withdrew their swords even further. “I... uh... well-”

“Wait!” A familiar voice called out from Ponyville.

Shining Armor quickly turned his head to face the owner of the voice. “Twilight! Get back, you’re not safe out here!” Shining Armor demanded.

Twilight kept quiet as she ran across the hills outside of Ponyville, forcing her way between two of the soldiers in the line behind Shining Armor as she came close. “She’s not the foalnapper! I know who she is, she wouldn’t do this!” Twilight pleaded as she slid to a stop at her brother’s side.

Shining Armor quickly glanced at Serenity, the pale pink mare shaking slightly. “How do you know this? How can you be sure?”

“Have I ever lied to you? Trust me, Shining, I know she can’t be the foalnapper. Please, just let me handle her.”

Shining Armor recollected his thoughts for a second, letting out a small sigh as he made up his mind. “Alright. You are sure that this isn’t the foalnapper?”

Twilight turned her head to Serenity and smiled. “I know she isn’t.”

Shining Armor quickly put his helmet back on. “Then do what you will. Just, be careful, sis.”

Twilight quickly hugged her brother and walked over to Serenity, the pale pink mare sighing with relief as she heard the soldiers sheath their swords completely.

Twilight smiled as she came face to face with Serenity. “Are you alright? They didn’t hurt you or anything?” Twilight asked.

“No, I’m fine. They just asked me a few questions.”

“Yeah. Sorry about that. My brother can get a little protective of me when it comes to danger.”

Serenity looked past Twilight, watching as Shining Armor and the group of soldiers made their way back to Ponyville. “The white unicorn? He’s your brother?”

“Shining Armor, mhmm. He’s here helping out with the guard duty in Ponyville. Honestly, I think he’s just here to make sure I’m safe. But, anyways, come on back to Ponyville.” Twilight motioned her hoof for Serenity to follow as she began to walk back to Ponyville, the pale pink mare following beside her. The group that had gathered at the edge of Ponyville had dispersed abruptly as the group of soldiers entered back into the town’s boundaries, the ponies continuing their day.

“So, what happened while I was gone? Somepony else disappear?” Serenity asked.

“Yeah... Applejack. Just last night, too. I should have known that the foalnapper was going after us, but I didn’t have enough evidence. I was too late... and now Applejack is gone because of me.”

“Hey, come on, it’s not your fault. You were uncertain about something and there wasn’t enough to go off of, there’s no blame on you.”

“I guess... but I still feel awful. I just feel like this could have been stopped sooner.”

“Don’t worry Twilight, I’m sure the Equestrian military will put up a good watch around Ponyville.” Serenity, only trying to comfort Twilight, had a feeling that what she was saying would be true.

“I hope they do. I’m still angry at the old watch around Ponyville.”

“What happened to the ponies that were put around Ponyville before?”

“I don’t know, Celestia dealt with them. It’s amazing how in just one night Celestia can replace one guard watch with a larger and, probably, more efficient guard.”

Serenity and Twilight stopped walking at the edge of Ponyville, the sounds of the town of ponies barely making their way to Twilight and Serenity’s ears. “What made her do that?”

Twilight scratched the back of her head. “Well, right now, it’s more of large suspicion than a known fact, but with Applejack’s capture last night, I feel as if it’s what is actually happening.”

“What?”

“I think that whoever this foalnapper is, they’re going after the Elements of Harmony. More so, the wielders.”

Serenity suddenly felt her body go tense. “R- Really? What, uh, what would make you think that?”

“It’s not that hard to figure out. First Rarity, then Pinkie and Fluttershy, and now Applejack! My four friends and four of the Spirits of Harmony... gone. Celestia thinks I’m right, too, but the military seems to think of it as a joke. All they care about is being able to use their new weaponry, they don’t care about the ponies they’re going to protect.”

Serenity felt her legs shaking slightly, but quickly held them steady. “New... weaponry? What would that be?”

“I’m not sure, but from speculation around Ponyville lately, I think it might be some sort of ‘magic synthesizer’.”

“Magic synthesizer?”

“A catalyst of some sort, made from some sort of magic source. It holds the power to manipulate magic, even if you are not a unicorn. I spoke with one of the soldiers earlier, and he said that the military wasn’t issuing out to the public because of safety issues, with magic being accessible to everypony, and all.”

“Really? What would... these magic synthesizers look like?”

“The soldier I talked to showed me, but he didn’t demonstrate it. It’s on the tip of the handle of the swords they have. It looks like a unicorn horn, but I think that’s just for design or something.”

“Hmm, interesting.”

“Yeah, I just wish the military would act like there’s an actual issue going on. They’ve just been walking around Ponyville doing nothing. Celestia sent a group of soldiers to look after Rainbow Dash, but I think Rainbow just went to her house. There was supposed to be a group looking after me, but Shining Armor is going to be sticking with me at the library, so he just told the soldiers to go watch the rest of town.”

“He seems to be a bit protective.”

“Well, I don’t think its being protective, just making sure himself that I’m safe himself.”

“So... being protective.”

“Well- I-... I don’t know. He’s my brother, what would you expect?”

Serenity shook her head. “Nothing. But, it was nice talking to you, Twilight. I have to go deal with some things at the Ponyville hotel, so I got to run. See ya.”

“Okay. See you later, Serenity.” Twilight waved as the pale pink mare began to walk away, Serenity waving back to the lavender unicorn behind her.

Serenity let out a sigh as she got far enough from Twilight, coming to a stop and putting a hoof up to her face as she turned the corner around a building. “This might be a little harder than I thought. Security is even tighter than it looked like from the hills. Hopefully Twilight was right about Rainbow losing the group of soldiers, I’m going to need any help I can get in trying to capture her.” Serenity muttered to herself.

“Excuse me, miss, are you alright? You’ve been standing there holding your face for a little while.” A deep voice spoke.

Serenity slid her hoof off of her face and quickly turned around, her eyes becoming wide at who was standing behind her. “Oh! Uh, Frost! What are- what are you doing here?”

Frost smiled weakly. “I live here. You’re in front of my house.”

Serenity laughed nervously and rubbed the back of her neck. “Oh, uh, right. Sorry about that.”

“It’s fine. Are you doing okay? You seem to be a having a little dilemma right outside of my window.”

“Yeah, yeah, I’m good.” Serenity squinted at Frost for a small moment. “Wait a second, ‘for a while’? How long have you been watching me here?”

Frost quickly sunk his head down into his shoulders and his face became slightly red, the icy blue stallion adverting his eyes to the rest of Ponyville. “I- uh- well, you see- I was just... making sure that you were... okay! I didn’t want to budge into your thoughts or anything... so I just stood back in my... house for a little bit... yeah.”

Serenity stared at Frost with wide eyes. “Oh dear Celestia, no. Does... does he... like Serenity?” Serenity thought to herself.

Frost turned his eyes back to Serenity, the stallion becoming even more uncomfortable with the expression on the pale pink mare’s face. “I- I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to stare. I just didn’t want to get in the way of anything, you see.” Frost explained.

Serenity snapped back from her thoughts as Frost spoke. “Oh, right. Uh, thank you Frost, for worrying about me, but I have to deal with some things at the hotel and... do some shopping afterwords.”

Frost quickly perked up in his stature. “Would you... like some help with carrying your groceries? I’m free for the day, so I can help you with anything that you need.”

“Listen, Frost, I’m fine. Thank you for the offer though.” Serenity began to walk further into Ponyville.

“Serenity! Are- are you sure you don’t need help?” Frost called out, stretching a hoof out lightly towards the mare walking away from him

“I’m sure, Frost.” Serenity called out, turning her head to her side. “I’ll see you around!”

Frost’s ears fell limp against his head as Serenity quickly ran off into Ponyville, the small smile that he had on his face curving into a frown. “Dang. ‘Making sure you are okay?’ By staring at her from inside your house!? Frost, you idiot! I should...” Frost continued to mumble to himself as he walked slowly back to his house, slamming the door behind him gently as he walked into his home.

Serenity let out a sigh as she watched the door of Frost’s house close, the pale pink mare walking away from the building she peaked around. “Thank Celestia that’s over. Damn it! I might need a new form now. Frost isn’t going to be leaving Serenity alone for a while. Maybe I can stick with Serenity for a little longer. At least until Twilight is captured.” Serenity stopped in her tracks in the Ponyville town square and looked up towards the sky. A bolt of rainbow shot across the blue abyss above Equestria, the last of the clouds that had been above Ponyville clearing as Rainbow Dash finished up her work.

Serenity sighed lightly. “Right. I’m going to have to get Rainbow before I head for Twilight. Well, Rainbow Dash, looks like Twilight is going to be paying a short visit to your house later tonight. Hopefully the military doesn’t notice...” Serenity tilted her head back towards the ground, beginning her aimless journey through Ponyville as she waited for nightfall. Rainbow Dash would have to get some sleep at some point.

______________________________________________________________________

“But- Miss Dash! We were told to keep with you! Where are you going!?” A soldier shouted as she ran along the dusk roads of Ponyville, following a rainbow maned pegasus as she flew through the air slowly.

“Uh... take the night off! I’ll be fine!” Rainbow Dash yelled.

“Rainbow Dash! It’s not safe!” The soldier continued to shout, but her pleads were only followed by a whistle of air as Rainbow shot across the sky. Realizing it was useless as Rainbow flew out of sight, the soldier slowly came to a stop in the middle of the Ponyville streets. “Oh... what’s the use. She’s not going to stop.”

Rainbow let out a small sigh as she felt the relief of not being followed around constantly soak into her. Despite the danger that lurked around Ponyville with a foalnapper on the loose, Rainbow figured that whoever it was would be no match for the fastest pegasus in Equestria. That is, if they could even reach her home in the clouds. With the majority of the Equestrian military being unicorns and earth ponies, most of the pegasi units would have to be reserved in case of other emergencies around Equestria, so Rainbow Dash’s house was out of the question for protection from the inside. Even if the ten pegasi units stationed in Ponyville wanted to keep a safe eye on Rainbow Dash in her home, they would be abandoning their post in the sky above central Ponyville.

The rainbow maned pegasus flying above Ponyville smiled as she saw her home in the clouds enter her line of sight. The structure of clouds floating above the ground seemed safe from Rainbow’s perspective, no sign of anypony in or outside of her home. In the distance, Ponyville slowly illuminated with small and large spotlights along the roads, most of them originating from the library. Rainbow shook her head at the sight and slowly slowed herself down as she came close to her home. Returning to her house in the sky just before night wasn’t a foreign feeling to Rainbow Dash lately. The disappearance of her friends had taken its toll on the usually boastful pegasus, and the only things that seemed to bring her comfort were spending time with her friends, that weren’t gone, and flying aimlessly with nothing but her thoughts. Rainbow had felt herself lose part of what she used to be, and with Twilight always trying to coax the rainbow maned pegasus to try and set her mind off of what was happening, Rainbow Dash only felt more isolated.

Rainbow sneered at no one in particular and kicked open the cloud that made the door to her room. “What does she know?” Rainbow spat as she trotted over to her bed. “She doesn’t know what I feel...” The pale blue pegasus let out a frustrated sigh and rolled onto her bed, staring up at the ceiling of her bedroom.

“On the contrary, Rainbow Dash, I know what you’re going through.” A subtle mare’s voice spoke. Rainbow quickly sat up in her bed and snapped her gaze into a dark corner of her room.

Rainbow sighed with slight relief as she identified who the mare was, letting her wings rest at her sides again. “Twilight? What... uh, what are you doing up here, in my house?” Rainbow asked as the lavender unicorn stepped out of the darkness within the corner.

Twilight Sparkle stopped at the hoof of Rainbow’s bed, Rainbow Dash sitting upright. Twilight’s face had a remorseful tint to it. “I figured that it would be a nice change to spend some time with my friend, you know, before we’re gone.” Twilight spoke softly.

Rainbow lifted a hoof up to her head and scratched it lightly. “What are you talking about? Before we’re gone?”

“The foalnapper.”

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. “Come on, Twilight, you know the military has an eye on Ponyville. Besides, out of the all of the ponies, I would expect you to have a little faith in Shining Armor. He’s your brother after all. He came here to protect you, remember?”

Twilight adverted her eyes to the ground and rubbed her left leg with her hoof. “I know, but I can’t help thinking that something is going to happen soon. You know...” Twilight shyly turned her eyes to Rainbow Dash.

The pale blue pegasus smiled lightly and patted Twilight on the head. “Don’t worry, Twilight, they aren’t going to get me without a fight.”

Twilight Sparkle smiled weakly and pushed Rainbow’s hoof off of her head. “I guess you’re right. There’s really no one-” Twilight cut her sentence off short as she heard the sound of hoofsteps land on the clouds outside of Rainbow’s bedroom. Rainbow leaned her head outwards to see who had come to her home, but soon found her eye’s opening with shock as the pegasus that had landed on the clouds walked into her bedroom.

Rainbow Dash looked up from her coat as she walked through the doorway, running her hoof through her mane and whipping off the last tuft of clouds sticking to her. The rainbow maned pegasus smiled as she saw Twilight sitting in front of her bed. “Hey Twilight. What are you doing here? And who’s your friend-” Rainbow Dash came to a stop in mid-step as she recognized the pegasus sitting on her bed, a storm of confusion striking into her head. The Rainbow Dash on Twilight’s bed stared at her double silently, and the Rainbow Dash standing on the floor only returned the silent gaze.

The Rainbow Dash on Twilight’s bed quickly pointed her hoof out in front of Twilight and shouted. “Twilight, get her! It’s- it’s an impostor! That’s the foalnapper!”

Twilight growled suddenly and leapt up onto her hooves, charging a spell within her horn as she charged at the Rainbow Dash standing away from her.

The Rainbow Dash standing quickly lifted her front hooves up in the air and leaned backwards. “Wait, Twilight! I’m not-” Rainbow finished her sentence with a puff of air as Twilight tackled her, the lavender unicorn trapping Rainbow’s wings and legs under her hooves.

Twilight stared at her capture angrily. “You’re not taking either of us! Let’s get rid of that disguise!” Twilight yelled. The spell in Twilight’s horn burst out into a purple beam as wide as Rainbow Dash, running down the rainbow maned pegasus from head to hoof. Twilight smiled as she tilted her head up from Rainbow’s hooves, but got a different result than she had originally expected. The same Rainbow Dash stared up at Twilight with a weak frown, the lavender unicorn gasping as she realized what was happening.

“Fool!” A stallion’s voice rung from behind Twilight, followed by the sound of galloping shortly after. As quickly as she could, Twilight whipped herself around, but only found a dark grey leg intercept her neck. The grey stallion carried the lavender unicorn with him over to the wall of Rainbow Dash’s room and slammed Twilight into the wall, Twilight feeling the air in her lungs rush away almost instantly. The stallion let go of Twilight and she fell to the floor, gasping for air as she reached for Rainbow Dash, who was still dazed by the spell Twilight had used on her. Though her vision was blurry from the impact, Twilight could see a dark figure slowly walk over to Rainbow Dash, followed by a ray of dark blue light shooting from the figure’s head to Rainbow’s. The pegasus on the floor quickly fell limp and the dark figure turned his head towards Twilight. The dark figure reached down to Twilight and picked her up with his front hooves, pushing her against the wall upright with her legs trapped under his. To dazed to even see clearly, Twilight couldn’t cast a magic bullet if she wanted to.

The dark figure spoke in a relaxed voice, as if trying to comfort himself. “You don’t have to worry about Rainbow Dash, Twilight. She’s going to be fine. If all goes well, for me, you’ll be with her soon enough, along with your other friends. Please, just make this easy for yourself, don’t resist when I come for you.” The dark figure turned his head to his right, and through her muffled hearing, Twilight could hear the sound of multiple hoof steps running on the path below Rainbow’s house, along with multiple voices yelling hurriedly.

The dark figure turned his head back to Twilight and muttered to himself. “I’m not going to be able to get away quick enough with two mares. Looks like she’s going to have to stay here.”

Twilight’s vision slowly cleared and the dazed feeling in her was wiped away. The lavender unicorn fixed her eyes on the dark figure in front of her, and she froze with fear at the sight of what was holding her. “A... a... changeling?” Twilight whispered to herself.

Augury’s horn glowed with a dark blue aura. “Sh, don’t talk. Just go to sleep. It’s bad enough that I lost control on Rainbow’s form. Hopefully they won’t believe you, they’ll just think you’re delusional from the spell.” The spell in Augury’s horn released and rushed to Twilight’s head in a beam. The spell slowly faded and Twilight was left in Augury’s hooves, her eyes closed and her mind drifted off into sleep.

“There.” Augury said quietly, and walked quickly over to Rainbow Dash, who still remained in slumber. Augury picked Rainbow up and held her on his back with magic, the changeling quickly spreading his wings and dashing through the clouds that made the roof of Rainbow Dash’s house. Augury used the dark of the late dusk sky to cover his movements, the group of soldiers below Rainbow’s house none the wiser as they contemplated how to get into the house of clouds. The changeling in the sky stopped himself a few hundred feet above Ponyville, watching as the soldiers deeper into the town quickly ran to the outskirts of Ponyville where Rainbow’s home resided.

Augury sighed lightly and adjusted Rainbow Dash on his back. “One more to go. You’ll be free soon, Quil. Nothing is going to stop me from making sure you get out of that cocoon... nothing.”

[12] Thoughts Of Freedom

Chapter Twelve: Thoughts Of Freedom

The wall of the cocoon slowly sealed itself shut, and Augury was left in silence as he stared blankly at what he had brought back to the forest. Rainbow Dash hung upside down in the cocoon, her light snoring muffled behind the green tinted clear wall of her casket. The other four mares continued to undergo the process of assimilation within their seperate  cocoons, Augury trying his best to advert his eyes from his previous work. The changeling slowly leaned forward and released the assimilation gas from his horn into Rainbow Dash’s cocoon, and the rainbow maned pegasus’s place in the army was sealed. Augury had taken his time coming back to the forest on the outskirts of Equestria, shunning away teleportation for most of this return. Capturing Twilight Sparkle would be the least of his concerns for now, but the thought of finally being released from Chrysalis’s hold would keep on his mind. Tranquility would finally be out of her cocoon, and Augury would be able to hold her once more. That is, if Augury would be able to change back to Salvation.

Augury slowly lifted a hoof in front of his face. The dents seemed to be as deep as they were before, and if anything, they looked like they had gotten deeper. “Am I going to be like this forever?” Augury asked himself quietly.

“That’s up for you to decide, Augury. The choices you make are the ones you’re going to have to live with.” Chrysalis spoke out from the middle of the clearing. Augury set his hoof down on the ground and turned himself to look at Chrysalis, the changeling queen sitting upright examining her own hooves.

Augury chuckled and walked over to Chrysalis, sitting down across from her. “As long as I don’t get full-on swiss cheese hooves like yours, then I think I’m fine with the choices I make.” Augury said softly.

Chrysalis sneered at the changeling next to her and pushed him lightly. “Just because I’ve had these holes in my hooves ever since birth doesn’t mean I like them there.”

“What? They’re a part of your species, and frankly, they’re almost the only thing separating you from looking like a normal pony. You know, aside from the insect wings and the fangs... and the horn... and the-”

“That’s enough.”

Augury quickly raised his front hooves in the air and set them back down. “Okay, okay, calm down. I was just pointing out the obvious.”

Chrysalis’s voice held a stern tone in it. “Augury.”

“Alright! Geez.” Augury poked at the changeling queen’s leg, but quickly brought his hoof back to himself as Chrysalis shot him a menacing glare. “What’s up with you tonight? Can’t handle a little teasing?”

Chrysalis sighed and limply fell on her side, rolling onto her back and staring up at the night sky. The moonlight was barely lighting the clearing, but it was enough to give off a small glare against Chrysalis’s slightly blurred vision. “Thinking some more.” The changeling queen said briefly.

“About what?”

“A few issues going on right now. Nothing of importance.” Chrysalis turned her head towards Augury, only to find his face directly in front of her own. Augury made large puppy eyes and plastered his hooves against his face, his cheeks squishing up against his bottom eyelids.

“What kind of issues?” Augury asked cutely, yet in a teasing manner.

Chrysalis gave him a blank stare without moving. “You’re really asking for it right now.”

“For what?”

Chrysalis extended her tongue outwards and Augury flinched as it made contact with him.

Augury forced his right eyelid shut and looked at Chrysalis, appalled. “What in Equestria was that!?”

Chrysalis smiled and turned her head back up to the sky. “It got you out of my face, didn’t it?”

“Yeah, but you could’ve at least pushed my face out of the way! Why did you have to lick my eye!?” Augury lifted his hoof to his eye and rubbed it profusely.

Chrysalis giggled. “Oops.”

“Yeah, ‘oops’! Licking my eye... that didn’t feel nice, you know.”

“I didn’t plan for it to.”

“Then why did you do it!?”

“It made you feel weird.”

“Why, pray tell, would you want that?”

“Well, your reaction was pretty funny.”

“Yeah, I’m sure your reaction would be funny too if I straight out stuck my tongue into your eye.”

“Is that a challenge?”

“What’s wrong with you?”

“I’m a changeling, remember?” Her voice was sarcastic.

“You’re more than a changeling...” Augury mumbled angrily.

“What?”

“Hmm?”

“Augury.”

“Yeah?”

“Shut up.”

“You got it.”

Augury chuckled slightly and stood up onto his hooves, walking over to Chrysalis and staring down at her.

The changeling queen barely turned her eyes to Augury. “Can I help you?”

Augury’s mouth slowly turned into a large grin, almost too large. “You have beautiful eyes.”

“...Augury.”

“Plus you have something in your teeth. What is that, apple? How did that taste?”

Chrysalis’s face almost instantly flushed. “Augury!”

“Want me to stop?”

“Please!”

Augury gave Chrysalis a last quick smile and lowered himself to his hooves, rolling onto his back and resting beside Chrysalis. The two changelings stared up at the night sky, watching as a few lonesome clouds slowly floated across the stars. Around the forest lately, the sound of the crickets at night had dwindled into the further distance, leaving the two clearings and the lake a silent cauldron of changelings.

Chrysalis followed a star with her eyes as it shot across the sky, and soon after, more and more stars fell from the darkness, streaming almost directly over the forest the two changelings laid in. “Meteor shower. Never gets old.” Chrysalis said calmly, her mouth curving into a smile.

“They’re nice, aren’t they? I remember going out into the hills outside of Ponyville and watching them with Tranquility. She always thought they meant something.”

The smile on Chrysalis’s face faded slowly. “You know, this is one of the first meteor showers that I’ve actually enjoyed.”

“Really? Why’s that?”

“I don’t have a bunch of changelings making a commotion around me. I never got to enjoy the sight of a meteor shower because they never left me alone unless I gave them the order to do so.”

“Well, there’s always me.”

“Be quiet.”

Augury lifted a hoof to his head and saluted to the air above him. “Yes ma’am.”

Chrysalis rolled her eyes. “Anyways, the only other time that I’ve enjoyed a sight like this was about two years ago.”

“When you were out here alone?”

“Yes. The past four years were some of the most tranquil I ever had, despite the lingering thought that I failed to carry out my attack...”

“What did you see? Another meteor shower?”

“Fireworks.”

“Fireworks? Are you serious? That’s one of the more common things to see in the sky around Equestria. Where did you see fireworks?”

“I’m not exactly sure. It was around a small settlement further out of Equestria. I didn’t dare approach the town, I would only have been overwhelmed without something to feed off of. So, I stayed at the outer boundaries and watched the night sky for a while. Soon enough, the town’s ponies began to shoot off fireworks.”

“Out of all the things that I would assume you would think was as nice as a meteor shower, I never thought it would be fireworks. Have you never seen fireworks before?”

“Not without a horde of changelings poking at me constantly.”

“Hmm.”

The two changelings sat in silence for a moment, watching the numerous streaks of light fly across the sky.

Augury sighed and patted Chrysalis on her stomach. “Well, Chrysie-poo, I’m starting to get tired. Feel free to continue watching the meteor shower, I’m heading off to sleep.” Augury said as he got up onto his hooves.

“Augury.” Chrysalis called as the changeling beside her began to walk away.

“What?”

“Could you stay here?”

Augury lifted an eyebrow and turned himself toward Chrysalis. “Why, may I ask?”

Chrysalis rolled on her side and looked up at Augury. “I... just thought we could talk some more.”

“Talk. As in talk for the sake of it, or talk about my progress in the missions?”

“For the sake of it.”

Augury gave a quick glance into the depths of the forest around him, but quickly snapped his eyes back on Chrysalis. “Uh... sure. I can talk.” Augury slowly walked back over to Chrysalis and laid down next to her, the two changelings staring back up into the sky again. The meteor shower continued to light up the sky, the show in the sky never seeming to end. The two changelings in the forest clearing conversed quietly for as long as they could, but eventually, sleep got the best of them, and slumber welcomed them both into its gentle hold for the night.

______________________________________________________________________

Scratch scratch scratch. Scratch scratch scratch. Kick!

“Ow, what the-!?” Augury arched his back forward as he felt a hoof ram into his spine, the changeling snapping his eyes open as fast as he could. Augury lifted his head off of the ground and looked around the clearing, only to find himself quickly tugged backwards and squeezed against something warm. The trapped changeling wriggled around for a second, trying to get out of the grasp of what held him, but soon found himself face first into a sleeping Chrysalis’s chest. Augury sighed with frustration and partial relief as he realized what had grabbed him, just now noticing the feel of Chrysalis’s jagged hooves against his back. Through the corners of his eyes, Augury was able to see the blue sky above, the sun just barely peaking over the mountains in the distance. Augury pushed against the changeling queen lightly, trying his best to separate himself from the dark grey fur plastered against his face. Chrysalis only continued to hold onto Augury in her sleep, unconsciously tilting her head downwards and nuzzling the top of the changeling’s head within her nose.

Augury’s voice was muffled against the changeling queen’s coat. “Chrysalis...”

“Huuhhh... hmm...” Chrysalis sighed happily in her sleep.

“Chrysalis.” Augury said again, his voice growing with anger. He tried to push himself away from the sleep changeling holding onto him, but only ended up held tighter against Chrysalis’s coat.

“Chrysalis!” Augury shouted into his captor’s coat. Despite the volume of his shout, it was only muffled to a low hum, the changeling queen continuing on in her sleep.

Augury wiggled his head around and managed to point his mouth towards Chrysalis’s chin. “Chrysalis! Let go of me, damn it!”

The sleeping changeling’s eyes opened slowly and Augury sighed as Chrysalis let out a yawn, sniffling dryly as she tiredly looked around.

“...Augury? What?” Chrysalis mumbled, squinting her eyes as the light of day pierced through her parting mane.

“I’m not your teddy bear. Let go of me.” Augury spoke blandly, his face directed back into the dark grey coat pressed against his face.

Chrysalis opened her eyes widely and moved around slightly, the feeling of Augury still squirming around in her grasp becoming apparent. The changeling queen, with her face flushed, quickly released the changeling in her grasp, Augury rolling limply away from her.

Chrysalis coughed nervously and stood up, her face flushing. “Au-Augury! Uh, I didn’t- I didn’t know I was... doing that.” Chrysalis stuttered, wiping away a drop of sweat running down her face.

Augury stood up and brushed himself off, giving Chrysalis an uncertain look. “Yeah, I can tell. What in Equestria were you dreaming about?”

“Uh... nothing.”

“It sure didn’t look like nothing.”

“Don’t you have a mission to be getting on?”

“You never said when it started.”

“Oh.” Chrysalis cleared her throat. “Well, you have a mission to be doing now. The last of the spirits of harmony.”

Augury smirked and fixed his mane. “Sure thing, Commander Cuddles.”

Another brief blush formed on Chrysalis’s face. “Promise we never speak of this again?”

“It’s going to be hard for me to forget getting smothered by a sleeping changeling queen.”

“Please, Augury.”

Augury laughed quietly to himself and shook his head. “Alright, you won’t be hearing it from me. Not like I’ll be here any longer.”

“Thank you.”

“No problem.” Augury stretched his legs and cracked his neck a few times. “Well then, I guess I should get going on that mission. See you later, Sergeant Snuggles.”

Before Chrysalis could say anything, Augury was launching off of the ground as fast as he could, disappearing over the canopy of the forest. Excitement had found its way into his heart, and to Augury’s memory, he would be free as soon as he came back with his target.

______________________________________________________________________

“Princess, I know what I saw! You can’t just tell me that my memory is obscure because of the spell!” Twilight Sparkle yelled, but her pleas fell on doubtful ears.

“Twilight Sparkle, you know that the changelings were defeated in Canterlot.” Princess Celestia spoke sternly, turning around to face her student. “You were there yourself when you saw Shining Armor and Princess Cadence defeat the queen. I acted on your suspicion of the danger of the spirits of harmony, but I cannot act on the suspicion of changelings. Queen Chrysalis has been gone for four years, she has no motivation to capture ponies from Equestria.”

“Princess Celestia, I stared a changeling straight in the eyes! He took Rainbow Dash and the others, I know he did!”

“Enough.” Princess Celestia directed her attention towards the lavender unicorn’s brother, Shining Armor quickly standing up straight from the stairs. “Shining Armor, keep your eye on your sister. It still isn’t safe out there for her.”

Shining Armor saluted strongly. “Yes, your highness.”

With a nod, the princess of the sun turned towards the two pegasus royal guards standing at the door of the library, the guards and the princess herself walking out of the dimly lit tree. Twilight Sparkle only stood where she was, watching as the door shut behind her mentor with worried and longing eyes.

The entrance room of the library flickered with numerous candles spread throughout the room, dawn slowly draining the library of light. Twilight Sparkle’s day had not been the most exciting, though with the danger of being taken away with the blink of an eye, the constant feeling of paranoia made for a little interesting twist. She knew that it had been a changeling that had taken her friends, but her known fact only showed as a petty misunderstanding in her mind. Augury’s plan for the ponies Twilight told about him had worked perfectly, as the sleep spell always had a small side effect soon after the pony awakened. To everypony else, Twilight Sparkle was delusional, and after being shot down by Princess Celestia herself, Twilight was just a shadow in her own eyes. Until she provided any physical evidence, the lavender unicorn would be perceived as recalling her memory mistakenly.

Shining Armor walked over to his sister and patted her on the back lightly. “Twilight, the princess is right. The queen was dealt with in Canterlot, you know this.”

Twilight Sparkle let out a sigh and tilted her head to the floor. “I know what I saw, Shining. It was a changeling, I know it was.”

“Twilight...”

“Shining, please. Just leave me be for now.”

Shining Armor took his hoof off of Twilight’s back and stepped away from his little sister. “If that’s what you want.” The white unicorn slowly put his helmet on and walked over to the exit of the library, but took a quick glance back at his sister. “I’ll be outside, Twighly. Keep safe, okay?”

Twilight only nodded.

With a small sigh, Shining Armor stepped out into the dimming streets of Ponyville, shutting the door gently behind him. Twilight Sparkle lifted her head back up and slowly walked over to the bookshelves lining the library walls, taking a few books down from the top shelves and sitting down with her back against the wall. Though the comfort of books kept her from going into a mental break down, Twilight Sparkle didn’t see the situation as a time to ‘relax’. The words spoken by Augury stuck into her mind, replaying themselves over and over without seeming to stop.

Please, just make this easy for yourself, don’t resist when I come for you.

When would he come for me? Where would he be? Would he take an approach like he did with Rainbow Dash? How would I know who he is? Questions raced though Twilight’s distorted mind, only making her paranoia grow into a large snake coiled around her panicking body. Despite the discouraging words from the ponies around her, Twilight knew that she had saw a changeling, and she knew that he would be back for her. The question stood, however, would Twilight want to resist? She would be reunited with her friends, the five mares that she had known for so long, the five mares that were taken from her. Though, the lavender unicorn had the thought of what would happen to her stay in her mind. The changeling said nothing about what else would happen, only that Twilight would be with her friends again. For Twilight, though, that was the only thing that mattered any more.

Twilight Sparkle let her head rest upright again, the lavender mare shifting her eyes to the window beside the doorway out of the library. The royal guards that had come with Princess Celestia roamed the streets of Ponyville silently, keeping an eye out for anything suspicious. The Equestrian military still stayed at their posts, small squads of military personnel beginning to set up the spotlights for the night once more. Twilight pushed herself back onto her hooves and trotted over to the window, resting her head on the will sill and blowing her mane out of her face. The sun had just set behind the mountains outside of Ponyville, the twilight light radiating gently across the dying dawn sky. One by one, the spotlights set up by the military turned on, lighting the air above Ponyville and the outskirts of Everfree. A few pegasus royal guards flew around the area in front of Twilight Sparkle’s home, inspecting the spotlights carefully for any malfunctions. A lone unicorn royal guard followed quickly after them, casting some sort of spell with a dark blue spark on the spotlights. The royal guards slowly moved one by one to each spotlight and checked them off, and once the spotlights had been looked over, the unicorn royal guard separated from his group and began to set up torches along the streets of Ponyville. Shining Armor stood outside of the library, the tip of his muzzle just barely visible through the window. His eyesight followed the unicorn royal guard setting up the torches, and nodded once all of the torches had been lit.

Twilight sighed and let her head fall sideways on the window sill. “Rarity, Applejack, Rainbow, Pinkie, Fluttershy... I miss you.” Twilight spoke softly to herself, lifting a hoof up to the window and pushing against it lightly. The lavender unicorn let her hoof down and looked out into Ponyville.

Princess Celesta slowly made her way across the field in front of Twilight Sparkle’s home, Shining Armor quickly standing up straight and waiting for the princess to come near. One of the pegasus royal guards had been replaced by a unicorn royal guard beside Celestia, both of the guards keeping an eye on the library.

“Shining Armor, you don’t need to do that every time I come around.” Princess Celestia said with a small smirk on her face, coming to a stop in front of the armored unicorn as she came close to the library.

“Uh... right.” Shining Armor said and laughed nervously.

“I trust that Twilight Sparkle is still inside?”

“Yes, your highness.”

“Good. Come back inside, we have something to discuss with your sister.”

Shining Armor nodded and followed after Princess Celestia, the two royal guards quickly walking after Shining Armor and shutting the door behind themselves. Twilight Sparkle stood on the other side of the room, lifting a few books off of the floor and putting them back on the shelves lining the library’s entrance room.

“Twilight Sparkle.” Celestia said and Twilight slowly turned around to face her. “For your safety, Mayor Mare has suggested that you are to be moved to Canterlot for the time being.”

Twilight’s eyes opened wide. “What?”

Shining Armor quickly walked out from behind Celestia and stood at her side, turning his head to look at her. “You’re moving her to Canterlot? What for?”

“The protection available in Canterlot will be much greater and you will be much safer. Princess Luna has offered to take a direct action in protecting you, as she has brought a small group of her lunar guards to help with security. She is waiting in Canterlot as we speak.”

Twilight looked around quickly. “But- Can’t I just stay here? What about Spike?”

“Spike will be brought with as well.” Celestia said. “Where is he?”

“Up stairs, sleeping.”

“Then leave him be for now, the guards will take him to Canterlot later on. Are you willing to come with to Canterlot, Twilight?”

The lavender unicorn and bit her lip, sliding her gaze over to her brother. Shining Armor nodded slightly, giving Twilight a reassuring smile.

Twilight sighed lightly. “I... guess.”

“Good. Now if you’ll come with me, we will take you to Canterlot.” Princess Celestia said. The princess slowly turned around to face the door, only to find the unicorn royal guard that had followed her in standing in front of the door.

“That won’t be necessary, princess.” The royal guard spoke.

Princess Celestia lifted an eyebrow. “Why is that?”

The unicorn royal guard shifted his eyes to Twilight, and the lavender unicorn quickly realized what he was doing. “Because Twilight Sparkle is coming with me.”

With the spark of a dark blue spell within the guard’s horn, Ponyville descended into darkness. The spotlight’s light taken away and the torch’s flames blown out, Augury’s tempering with Ponyville’s light sources let the black of night take over the town of ponies. The candles within the library had been knocked out as well, the only remaining light within Twilight’s home radiating from the moon through the windows. Beyond the soft light of the moon, the library was pitch black, and the ponies within Twilight’s home had their minds conflicted to the point of not being able to cast a light spell. Books flew from their shelves and hoof steps rained across the floor of the library, the ponies inside of the library trying to figure out what was happening. Small grunts of pain managed to pierce through the confused commotion of yelling ponies, and a beaten white unicorn fell into the light sauntering through the window near the exit of Twilight’s home.

A booming voice halted the confusion abruptly. “Everypony, quiet!”

The thundering hoofsteps throughout the entrance room of the library came to a standstill and the shouts of confusion fell into silence. A light originated from the entrance of the library and a slender alicorn emerged from the darkness. The light radiating from her horn lit up the area around her, and one by one the ponies within the library edged their way into the sphere of light. Celestia scanned her eyes across the ponies around her and felt her mouth drop a little.

A beaten Shining Armor laid on the ground behind the princess of the sun, his eyes rolling in his head as he slowly recovered from the haze he laid in. The pegasus royal guard that had been along with Celestia stood in front of the alicorn he was sworn to protect, staring up at her with an uncertain look on his face. The unicorn royal guard that had been with Celestia was gone from the library, along with the lavender unicorn Celestia had taught for so long.

“Princess...” The pegasus royal guard started to speak. Princess Celestia only lifted a hoof up to the guard, biting her lip and tilting her head towards the floor beneath her. The princess of the sun slowly turned around and leaned her head forward, blowing on Shining Armor’s face with a small puff of air. The captain of the royal guard quickly awoke from his daze, stumbling onto his hooves and looking around the library as quick as he could.

Shining Armor turned to the darkness beyond Celestia’s light. “Twilight? Where are you!? Twilight!?” The white unicorn whipped around to face Celestia. “Where is Twilight!? Where is she!?”

Celestia only stared at him.

Shining Armor backed up slightly. “No... no... no! No no no no no! She isn’t gone! She’s not gone!” Shining Armor ran over to the bottom of the stairs leading to his sister’s room. “Twilight! Are you up there!? Twilight!?”

No answer.

The white unicorn dashed from the base of the stairs over to the doors of the library’s basement. “Twilight!? Please, just answer me! Twilight!”

No answer.

Shining Armor stood at the doorway to the basement for a moment, his heavy breathing occupying the silence he stood in. He felt a hoof on his back and he turned his head to his left, Princess Celestia staring at him with dismal eyes.

Princess Celestia lifted her hoof off of Shining Armor’s back slowly. “She’s gone, Shining Armor. I... she’s gone.” The princess spoke in grief.

The captain of the royal guard slowly let himself down to floor of the library, tilting his head downwards and letting out silent sobs into his hooves. Princess Celestia slowly sulked away from the quietly lamenting Shining Armor, trying as hard as she could to not break out into tears. The pegasus royal guard had laid down against the wall of the library, Celestia slowly walking over to him.

“You’re not hurt, are you?” Celestia asked. The pegasus royal guard looked up from his hooves and shook his head sorrowfully. Celestia nodded slightly and stood up straight, turning her head around the entrance of the library’s entrance room. The spell within Celestia’s horn quickly intensified, the room that the three ponies were in lighting up completely. The library had been littered with books from the shelves lining the walls, barely any room along the floor to walk across.

Princess Celestia walked along the walls of the library, scanning her eyes across the empty shelves. However, something caught the princess’s eye as she passed by a section of shelves, and the princess stopped in her tracks. Celestia backed up along the shelves and tilted her head downwards, squinting her eyes to inspect a small dark blue mass stuck to the back of the shelf. The princess reached her hoof forward and poked lightly at the dark blue smudge, but quickly retracted her hoof and opened her eyes wide.

The texture of the dark blue mass was familiar, and Celestia knew where it had come from. The feeling of the sticky blue mass was recognizable on her hooves, Celestia remembering it from when she had been stuck in a cocoon during the attack on Canterlot. No other magic or substance looked or felt like the dark blue goo clinging onto the shelf, and Celestia felt her heart break.

“Twilight...” Celestia said quietly, bowing her head and closing her eyes. “...I’m sorry. If I had known, I would have acted.” Celestia opened her eyes and stared at the dark blue goo with determination and hatred in her eyes.

“Changelings will not rise. Queen Chrysalis, you better be prepared for an army.”

[13] Destruction's Dawn

Chapter Thirteen: Destruction's Dawn

Augury slowly lowered himself into the clearing that Chrysalis had made her domain, carefully making sure that Twilight Sparkle stayed balanced on his back. Though his face did not show any emotion beyond disgust of the six cocoons next to him, Augury felt a happiness like no other boiling within him. Twilight Sparkle finally captured and brought to the clearing, Augury’s current missions had come to a close. Equestria’s most powerful weapon stripped from it’s hold, the land of ponies would have to put up a fight to protect itself from the approaching onslaught. As new changelings began to form in their home on the far outskirts of Equestria, Chrysalis finally had a feeling of power again, her army only just in its first stages. Changelings would rise from the defeat they had so foolishly brought upon themselves, and their power would be unknown to the target Chrysalis had in her mind. Despite Augury’s knowledge of the rise of changelings, nothing would distract him from releasing Tranquility from her cocoon and turning himself back into a pony.

Augury slowly lifted Twilight Sparkle off of his back and levitated her over to the sixth and final cocoon on the line of trees, a guilty smirk on his face. Twilight slept quietly under the spell Augury had cast on her shortly after his escape from the library, Augury picking away at the sticky binds around her mouth and hooves with his magic. The dark blue goo gone from Twilight’s hooves, Augury placed the lavender unicorn in her awaiting cocoon, securing her back hooves in the green goo at the top of the cocoon. The open area of the cocoon’s surface sealed together, Augury left outside in the clearing staring at the completion of his missions. Augury scanned his eyes across all six of the green caskets hanging from the trees lining the clearing.

“...I truly am sorry.” Augury spoke softly. “If it weren’t for Tranquility, I would have set this all aside. You six would be in your homes where you belong. But I have a mare to keep safe, and I’m not going to let anything happen to her as long as I’m alive. You have every reason to hate me, and I don’t hold anything against you. I’ll do my best to not let anything happen to you or your families. Again, I’m sorry.”

Augury knelt forward and poked his horn into the cocoon in front of him, releasing the assimilation gas that he assumed would be his last time to use it. For a sixth time, the breathing inside of the cocoon in front of Augury grew coarse, but gradually came to a calm and eased breathing pattern.

“Well, Augury, here we are.” Chrysalis spoke from off to Augury’s right, the changeling queen slowly emerging from the shadows of the clearing’s edge into the moonlight. “All six of the mares that you were told to bring back right here. I had my doubts with you, but you seemed to pull through and exceed my expectations. You’ve come far from being just a normal changeling.”

Augury kept his eyes ahead of him into Twilight’s cocoon. “I did what I was told to do. I captured your targets and I brought them back.”

“And a job well done, I must say. You have certainly proved yourself to be a perfect fit for the job.”

“Remind you that I didn’t apply for it. You took me and Tranquility away from Equestria, and I’m expecting you to put us back.” Augury turned to face Chrysalis. “I got all of your targets, now let Tranquility go, as well as me.”

Chrysalis stood still for a second, staring at Augury with surprise, but suddenly felt the large urge to burst into laughter. “You’re kidding, right? Do you think with just six mares I’m going to let you and Tranquility go?”

Augury stamped his hoof on the ground. “You said you would! When I got all of your targets, you said you would free Tranquility!”

“If you remember back, I never said such a thing. I told you that you had two groups of targets, one group in Ponyville and on the other in Canterlot. You are far from being let go, Augury, you can bet on that.”

“Who else do I have left!? You got the possessors of the Elements of Harmony, what more could you want!?”

“I will tell you later, just know now that you are not done with your work here. Tranquility will remain in her cocoon until I say she is to be let out. You have another group of targets to restrain and take back here, if I must refresh your memory.”

Augury opened his mouth to make a rebuttal, but found himself at a loss for words. Now that he dug back into his memory, Augury realized that Chrysalis had never said anything about letting Tranquility or him go, but only that Tranquility would stay in her pony form. With the sudden recollection of his thoughts, Augury bit his lip.

“What more do I have to do? More assimilation targets or what?” Augury asked, staring at Chrysalis angrily.

“Well, I’m going to have to do some planning first. I’ll tell you your targets later, but for now, take a little break for your work so far.” Chrysalis said, walking off towards the middle of the clearing.

Augury shook his head and slowly lowered himself to the ground, digging at the dirt beneath him. Something seemed off about the floor of the clearing, however, as Augury lifted his head from the spot that he laid upon. Small patches of grass in the clearing were completely gone, only leaving small circles of dry and brittle dirt that would take a jackhammer to make a chip in them. The barren circles of dirt seemed to have a green glow deep into the small cracks in them, Augury leaning to his right to examine a dead patch of the clearing next to him. Upon further inspection of the clearing around him, Augury noticed that some of the trees that he had not destroyed were missing their leaves, some of them even leaning limply off to the side with their roots showing. Even a feral timberwolf would notice that this was not natural, and more than that, the definite work of a changeling.

Augury focused his sight on Chrysalis, who carefully balanced a stick on her outstretched hoof. “Chrysalis? Do you want to explain to me why parts of the clearing are beginning to look like my attempts to make brownies?”

Chrysalis sighed frustratingly as the stick on her hoof lost balance and fell to the ground. “Is that a good thing or a bad thing?”

“What do you think?”

Chrysalis leaned her head to her side and peered at the ground, grimacing at the sight of the dead circle of dirt next to her. “What did you do to your brownies, put concrete in them? That’s disgusting if that’s what they look like.”

“Just tell me why the clearing looks like it’s dying.”

The changeling queen laughed quietly. “I decided this would be a good time to start making more natural changelings. They need nutrients to grow in their little bubbles and I’m not going to be able to give them any, so they take it from the landscape around them.”

“Did this happen with your last army?”

“Yes, it’s not abnormal in a changeling’s birth cycle. Soon enough, this entire forest will be as barren as these little spots on the ground.”

Chrysalis quickly turned her head toward Augury as the sound of a large release of air came from behind him, followed by a series of cracking and tired moans. Augury stood up and faced the origin of the noise as well, a concerned feeling washing over him at the sight of what had happened. The cocoon on the other end of the line of the six Augury stood in front of had been shattered open, a tired and dazed newly born, rather, assimilated changeling laying on the ground. The process complete, her white coat and blue eyes had gone from existence, only to gain insect-like wings and a new silky mane and coat, along with bright cyan eyes. The shade of her coat closely resembled Augury’s, though her mane retained the same color as before, only in a more lustrous and smooth fashion. Rarity had the basic look of a changeling, it would be up to Augury, however, if she would act like one.

Chrysalis shifted her eyes to Augury. “So it would seem that the first of your targets has completed the process already.”

“Five days. That’s significantly less than your assumptions of a month to a year period before they were fully changelings.” Augury’s voice remained calm, despite the thought that stayed in his head about the decision he would have to make.

“I said that your changeling magic was developing, it would have taken less time anyways. I... just didn’t anticipate them to complete the process of assimilation so quickly.”

“...I guess I should probably get to her before she fully comes to then. How exactly do I do this if I choose to?”

“It’ll come naturally, don’t worry. Just concentrate on your magic and be in physical contact of her. Simple as that.”

“Okay. Chrysalis, I think it’s best if you go hide somewhere. She might panic more if she sees a you and me more than if it’s just me.”

Chrysalis nodded abruptly and slowly waltzed her way into the shadows of the forest’s canopy. Augury stood silent in the clearing for a moment, gathering his thoughts as he stared at the dead patch of grass Chrysalis had been sitting next to. His mind made up about his decision, Augury slowly turned around to face Rarity, the newly ‘born’ changeling gaining her composure as she attempted to stand onto her hooves.

“Oh my... what happened? Where am I?” Rarity asked herself, rubbing her head as she stood upright and peered into the forest beyond the clearing. Seeing the ominous green glow not far from the clearing, the once white unicorn instantly knew that something wasn’t right about her current situation. Feeling a bit of paranoia come over her the long she stared into the forest, Rarity turned her head back to the clearing. The sight of the dead patches of grass and trees only made her mind race faster. However, nothing amounted to the sudden sight of the cocoons lined along the clearing to her left. Curious yet scared, Rarity weakly trotted herself over to the cocoon she had come out of, lifting her hoof up to the clear side of the cocoon and letting out a small whimper.

“Pink... ie Pie?” Rarity managed to mutter, letting her mouth drop partially at the sight of the familiar looking pony within the cocoon. A recognition of familiar, though, was a little far from the slowly assimilating pony that hung upside down in the green casket. The pony known as Pinkie only showed minor signs of her once pony form, her process nearly completed. Unknown to Rarity, she couldn’t be saved.

“What has happened here?” Rarity asked herself, quickly running down the line of cocoons. “Fluttershy, Applejack, Rainbow Dash... Twilight? I...”

Rarity suddenly found herself at a loss for words, but soon after, another voice took over.

“They’re fine. You don’t have to worry about them.” Augury spoke from the center of the clearing.

Rarity jolted strongly and whipped around to face the clearing’s center, freezing with fear at what stood in the middle of the decaying circle of changelings.

“Wha... you are...” Rarity mumbled.

“A changeling, yes. Is something the matter?”

“You... you’re a monster! It was you that took my friends, wasn’t it!? What are you doing to them!? I thought changelings were gone!”

“If you thought the queen was defeated with just a single spell, you’re wrong. While her subjects are gone, she still has power, and unfortunately, I was caught in its web. You’re not very different from me, Rarity.”

Rarity gasped and took on a shocked pose, lifting a hoof limply and turning sideways partially. “How do you know my name? Who are you?”

“My name is Augury, well, now it is. I would rather you not know my pony name.”

“Pony name...?”

“Like I said, we’re similar, me and you. I was a pony once, you were a pony once. I got myself into this mess, and I couldn’t help but drag you and your friends into it. As I said the night you were taken, I’m sorry. I really did have a nice time with you and your friends.”

Rarity stood still, staring at Augury with surprise sparking wildly in her eyes. Her memory was hazy, but Rarity could vaguely remember the words that had come out of Serenity’s mouth before everything went black.

“...Serenity? But she was a mare! How do you know about her?” Rarity shouted.

“If you didn’t get the hint from what I look like, I’m a changeling. I can take any form of anything and anyone, even the ponies that you think were your friends. Take a look at yourself, you’ll find that you can do the same.”

Rarity begun to open her mouth to speak as she pointed her hoof out in front of her, but found the words stuck in her throat as her eyes met with her hoof. It wasn’t the same pure white shade that had been there the last time she looked at her hooves, but only a darker shade that did not belong on her. Upon looking at the rest of herself in the reflection of Twilight’s cocoon, Rarity was almost unable to recognize herself at all.

The newly made changeling slowly backed further into the clearing away from her reflection. “Oh, I look horrid! How did this happen!? Am I... am I a-!?”

“Changeling?” Augury spoke as Rarity came within a few feet of him.

Rarity quickly turned herself around, making a small growl at Augury. “This is just a dream, right? I’m going to wake up! This is all just one silly dream! This can’t be happening, can it?”

Augury slowly stepped forward at Rarity, the changeling in front of him backing away at the same pace. “This isn’t a dream as much as I or you want it to be. Things are changing now and there’s nothing I can do to stop it unless I sacrifice more than I want to.”

Rarity came to a stop as she felt Twilight’s cocoon rub against her flank, watching as Augury stopped less than a foot in front of her. As much as she despised the brutality of fighting, Rarity couldn’t think of anything else that would get her out of the situation she was stuck in. As elegantly as she could, Rarity lifted a hoof into the air and brought it forward as fast as she could, turning her head away. Feeling her hoof stop hard on something, a smile formed on Rarity’s face and she turned her head back to Augury, only to have the smile shattered. Rarity’s hoof stayed in the air where it was, Augury’s own hoof holding onto hers.

“Why must you do this? What have I ever done to you?” Rarity asked.

“You haven’t done anything. I’m doing this because I have to, that’s all you need to know. I promised your sister that I would keep you out of harm’s way, and I intend to do so.”

Augury closed his eyes and held tighter onto Rarity’s hoof. Though she tried to pull away from the changeling holding onto her, Rarity was stuck where she was, staring at Augury with wide and pleading eyes. A dark blue aura slowly traveled down from Augury’s horn throughout his body, coming to a single pulse that coasted down his leg and into the hoof holding onto Rarity. Without a moment of hesitation, the ring of magic separated from Augury and quickly coursed into Rarity’s hoof, spreading out through her body and slowly dissipating into a mist in the air. Augury opened his eyes again and took his hoof off of Rarity, staring blankly at what he had done. Rarity stood still against Twilight Sparkle’s cocoon, staring off into the forest behind the changeling in front of her. A dark blue tint had taken over her cyan eyes, Augury’s cast to control the changeling a success.

Augury turned his head into the forest beyond the clearing. “It’s done, Chrysalis... you can come out.”

Hoofsteps slowly came forth from the shadows on the outline of the darkness, Chrysalis coming back into the moonlight with a smirk on the other side of the clearing. “It’s done? Did you take control of her, or what?” The changeling queen asked.

“She’s under my control. Now, what exactly do I do with her now?”

“Well, quite frankly, whatever you want. You could use her as a partner on your missions, a playmate for when you start to get bored around here, maybe even a substitute for Tranquility.”

Augury snapped Chrysalis an aggravated look.

Chrysalis laughed as she came to a stop next to Augury. “You get my point. All you have to do is give her a verbal command and she’ll be on her way. I really wish I would’ve taken control of you. So many possibilit-!”

“Rarity, stick by your cocoon. Don’t move a muscle unless I say so.”

Chrysalis lifted and eyebrow and faced Augury as Rarity trotted over to her cocoon, the small changeling looking up at her. “What? You’re just going to make her sit there?” Chrysalis asked.

“I promised Rarity’s sister that I would keep her safe. She isn’t going to be moving anywhere until I say she can.” Augury retorted.

The changeling queen sighed frustratedly and began to walk into the middle of the clearing. “She is going to have to get some sort of energy, you realize that. She may be in your control, but she doesn’t get energy from you. She’s going to have to have some sort of love to feed on.”

“I have that covered.” Augury said as he began to follow Chrysalis.

“Oh really? What genius plan do you have now?”

“Nothing that would matter to you. Can I know my next targets now, or are you just going to keep running your mouth?”

Chrysalis and Augury stood in the middle of the clearing, staring at each other intently.

“Now now, Augury, just because you’ve captured your targets doesn’t mean your good work is going to keep me from turning Tranquility, so I suggest you watch your tone.” Chrysalis hissed.

“My targets?” Augury persisted.

The changeling queen giggled to herself and patted Augury on the head, Augury pushing her hoof away from himself. “First off, I’m going to need to give you a rank.”

“A rank?”

“Need I remind you this is an army we are building. Now that there are other changelings in the mix, I’m going to need to give you a rank to separate my star changeling from the rest of the fodder.”

“There’s only one other changeling than me.”

“Not for long, General Augury.”

“General?”

“Yes. You have out-done my expectations tremendously, I figured that I could reward you somehow.”

“What am I going to be doing as a general of the changeling army once the other changelings are born? You said I have more targets, I can’t just sit around here and command the other changelings around, if a general in your army is the same in the Equestrian army.”

“Ah, you’ll be doing much more than that. As one of the generals, you’ll lead changelings into battle first hoof.”

“Into battle. As in all-out war battle?”

“This is only the beginning of the changeling rise, Augury, there is so much more to be done. With the capture of your next targets, Equestria will be screaming for mercy, and that’s when we will strike them.”

“Who exactly will I be taking that will make Equestria scream for mercy?”

Chrysalis giggled to herself, almost manically. The changeling queen leaned in closer to the changeling general in front of her, smiling with a wide grin.

“Why, the princesses themselves, of course.”

[14] A Bond That Cannot Be Undone

Chapter Fourteen: A Bond That Cannot Be Undone

Augury couldn’t help but let a small laugh out of his mouth, quickly covering his mouth with his hoof and turning away from Chrysalis. By the silence given back by the changeling queen, Augury quickly turned back to her, surprise spread across his face. Chrysalis only stared blankly back at him, the smile that she had wiped away at Augury’s reaction.

“Sweet Celestia, you’re serious.” Augury said in shock, turning fully back to the queen.

“Yes, yes I am.” Chrysalis replied, standing upright.

“Okay, getting six mares was lunacy enough, but capturing the princesses of Equestria!? Do really expect me to be able to get into Canterlot and take them? They are under constant super vision of the Royal and Honor Guard, there’s no way I’m going to be able to even get near them!”

“You’re going to have to get crafty then. Three targets, highly protected. Think of this as more of a test of your rank of general.”

“A test. A test!? How is this even remotely a test!? You’re asking me to capture the most powerful ponies in Equestria, and this is a test!?”

“I said think of it as a test, I didn’t say it was. However, unlike your previous targets, I’m not going to give you a time limit. I understand that it might be a little hard to get around the guard.”

“A little hard, right. Only a little.”

“Don’t get smart with me. I’m depending on you to complete these.”

“What? You’re not even going to give me any help?”

“You have the help at your hooves, you just need to use her.” Chrysalis motioned her head toward Rarity.

“I told you I’m keeping her out of harm’s way. She’s not moving farther than this clearing. What about the changelings over there? The ones in the ground?”

“Ah yes, the natural changelings. I supposed you could take some of them on your missions, but I warn you, they can be quite more of a burden than an assistance.”

Augury sighed and rubbed his head. “When will they be ready to travel out of the clearing?”

“Considering that they have a short growth span once they’re done developing in their little bubbles, they’ll probably be ready three days after their born. Though, they still have a few days until they are actually born.”

“Great. So unless I wait for a few days, I’ll be alone?”

“Yes, but I wouldn’t wait for too long. Though the six mares were taken, guard is still going to be up in Equestria. Did they find out what was happening with foalnappings?”

“If you mean that they found out that it was the wielders of the Elements of Harmony, yes they found out.”

“Hmm, I would have figured that much. They’ll probably suspect more ponies are going to be taken, however.”

“How so?”

“You just took six mares from Equestria. The princesses will more than likely keep on high alert. They don’t know about changelings yet, do they?”

“To my knowledge, no.”

“Then this may be a bit easier. If you don’t want to wait a few days, you’re going to have to go into Canterlot alone. Besides, you’ve proved that you can handle yourself around security, you should be able to do this. I’m expecting you to.”

“Is there anything I should know before I set off?”

“Ah, one more thing. I advise you to go after Princess Cadence first. As much as I would like to take her from Shining Armor myself, I have changelings here to attend to.”

“Why Cadence first?”

“Shining Armor will be heart broken. Not only is his sister gone, but his dearly beloved wife will be gone as well. If this works, he’ll be too distraught to focus on the Royal Guard, so defenses may be weakened a bit. Though, this is only if I am right. In any case, take Cadence first.”

“I’ll... do my best.”

“And I hope you do. That is all I have for you, Augury. Get some rest, you’ve earned it.”

Chrysalis quickly turned away from Augury and flew off further into the forest, disappearing into the night sky. The changeling general left in the clearing turned his head back to the decaying ground, digging at the dirt in front of him slightly. Freedom would have to wait for Augury and Tranquility. For now, more missions were the new changeling general’s priority, whether he wanted it or not.

Augury sighed and tilted his head up from the ground, turning it to look at Rarity. The mare still stood by her cocoon, staring blankly into the dark forest with unmoving eyes. Her energy source would have to wait until the other mares completed their process of becoming changelings as well, Augury figuring that they had at least some level of love for each other, even if it was just love between friends. It would have to do for their time as changelings, though doubts started to form in Augury’s mind.

The changeling general shook the issue out of his head and turned his gaze out in front of him. Tranquility’s cocoon remained untouched, the tree that her cocoon hung from one of the few of the trees left that had all of their leaves on the outline of the clearing. Augury trotted over to Tranquility, stopping slowly in front of the green casket. Augury bit his lip lightly, contemplating on whether the idea stuck in his head would be a good one. Releasing the hold on Tranquility would only let her see Augury again, though her reaction to the truth about what was happening staggered Augury’s decision. Would she still love him, even knowing what Augury has done? The changeling general lifted his hoof up to the cocoon, pushing on it as weakly as he could. Tranquility would have to wake up one day, and Augury would have to tell her what he was doing to save her.

Augury let his hoof back onto the ground. “I... I’ll get you out. I don’t know when, or how, but you’ll be out of that cocoon and... with me. I don’t know how it will be, whether Augury or Salvation, but I know that we’ll get through this. At least, I hope we do.” Augury spoke softly.

The changeling general lowered himself to the ground and laid on his side. He hadn’t realized how tired he was, as Augury soon felt his eyes turn heavy and close within an instant. Augury drifted off into sleep, letting his worries slip away for another night.

______________________________________________________________________

The sun hung high over the city of Canterlot, the clear skies letting down the full force of the afternoon light. Canterlot, as usual, crawled with fancy ponies out to enjoy the nice weather, walking along with their heads up high. However, another type of class was mixed in with the normal population, a class that usually stayed on their own districts. With all the foalnappings occurring in Equestria, not only has Ponyville been on high alert since the last of the mares’ captures, but almost all of Equestria itself. However, Canterlot remained the only city to have the Royal Guards roaming through the streets, looking out for any signs of suspicion. The news of changelings, though, still had yet to come out to the public, but when it did, Equestria would not be the same.

Another group of guards accompanied the Royals in Canterlot since the discovery of changelings, the Honor Guard. Trained highly in lethal magic and equipped with the most advanced magical technology that still has yet to be known to the general public, the Honor Guards have utmost respect. The color of their armor was different than that of the Royal Guard, the white and crimson metal that their armor was made of still in the shape of the Royal Guard’s style, though. Their mobilization in Equestria, however, was rare. Only the highest level of threats deserved the presence of their symbol, and with the performance of changelings during the royal wedding, changelings were enough to even strike fear into the Honor Guard’s hearts. With Royal and Honor Guards walking around Canterlot, Canterlot was safe to the normal pony’s eyes. Though, the art of deceiving would play a effective role against that safety.

A pegasus royal guard walked along the path leading to the Canterlot draw bridge, keeping his eyes calm as he trotted towards the protected city. His armor was slightly beaten and burnt from magic, a previous encounter with a certain creature taking a small toll on the golden armor. Another royal guard within Canterlot lowered the draw bridge to Canterlot from one of the towers, a group of three other royal guards waiting on the other side of the draw bridge as it lowered. As the draw bridge came to a stop at the path leading into Canterlot, the group of three royal guards walked onto the wooden bridge, the royal guard on his way into Canterlot stopping on the other side of the bridge and staring at them blankly.

The unicorn royal guard in the group of three was the first to speak. “Audacity, you’re back. How are things looking in Ponyville? Is everything alright with the military?” He spoke.

“Everything is fine, sir. The military hasn’t seen any activity of the foalnapper.” Audacity reported.

“What of the royal guards? Any news from them?”

“Uh... nothing of importance.”

“It doesn’t matter if it’s not important, we need to know what’s going on, even if it’s just a subtle ‘hello’. What did they say?”

Audacity felt a small drop of sweat run down the side of his head. “They... said that they were doing fine and nothing was acting up.”

The unicorn royal guard squinted slightly. “I thought they were having problems with the magic signal receiver.”

“Uh, no! They got it fixed... I think.”

The unicorn royal guard concentrated on his magic and a small spark limply drifted through the air and disappeared. “Ponyville, can you hear me? Audacity just returned, he said you got the signal receiver fixed.”

A small moment of silence passed before a voice seemed to speak out of no where. “Yup, we got it fixed. Sorry, forgot to send a signal back to the captain to tell you.”

“That’s fine.” The unicorn royal guard focused his attention back on Audacity. “Well I guess they did get it fixed. Audacity, why don’t you come with us. The princess is calling a meeting of all the royal and honor guards in Canterlot. Looks like you got back just in time. Come on.”

Audacity sighed with relief quietly and followed the group of three royal guards into Canterlot, the draw bridge slowly raising back up behind them. A small tingling sensation ran through Audacity’s horn as he stepped hoof into Canterlot, but shook it off as quickly as it had come. Canterlot appeared to be the same as it had been before any of the recent foalnappings, though a few squads of three or four royal guards walked around from time to time. During this time of day, however, the royal and honor guards trotted through the city in the same path, passing all of the ponies watching them as they marched in a formation through the streets. Audacity found himself in the middle of the large march of royal and honor guards, trying his best to keep his building anxiety to a low boil. The ponies in Canterlot came to a stop as the small army of guards passed them, stepping out of the way to let them pass through the main streets of Canterlot. Audacity lifted his gaze up from the back of the guards head in front of him to the large building that the guards were heading to, an overwhelming feelings rushing over him.

Hundreds of royal guards poured into the Canterlot Royal Palace in which the royal wedding had taken place in, all of them centering into a single file line and walking through the large doors in between the curved staircases. Audacity followed the flow and filed into a single line, looking around as he walked through the palace doors. The formation of guards had become less organized in the palace, the guards dispersing and walking as close as they could to the end of the palace hall. On the elevated portion at the end of the hall stood five ponies: Princesses Celestia, Luna, and Cadence themselves, Shining Armor, and the Captain of the Honor Guard. Shining Armor wore his full suit of armor aside from his helmet, the Captain of the Honor Guard dressed the same in her black and blue armor. Audacity fixed his eyes on Cadence, watching as she and the other four ponies beside her walked to the edge of the elevated portion of the hall. As discretely as he could, Audacity worked his way forward into the center of the large mass of guards as they calmed down into a silence, waiting for one of the princesses to speak.

“I have called you all in here to address a very important and very serious situation.” Celestia spoke. “As you know, the wielders of the Elements of Harmony have been taken away from Equestria. Unfortunately, no one knows where they have been taken to. Though the six mares have been taken already, Equestria is staying on alert in case anything more happens, and with the rediscovery of changelings, there is certainly going to be more happening.”

The palace hall rumbled with a worried commotion, but halted as the Captain of the Honor Guard stomped her hoof on the floor.

“We don’t know where they are, but changelings have survived the counter attack four years ago. Captain Thunder Rend, if you will.” Celestia finished and nodded towards the Captain of the Honor Guard, who nodded back and stepped forward.

“As always, have no mercy for your targets.” Thunder Rend directed. “You see a changeling, you terminate it. They have tried to destroy and consume Equestria before, they’ll do it again if they have the chance. I have set up a plan to send some of the honor guards here in Canterlot to the other towns and cities in Equestria, you will be informed if you are leaving or if you are staying later today. You are also probably questioning the ring that you were given earlier, I will explain what that is.”

Audacity lifted an eyebrow and shifted his glance sideways at the honor guard next to him. Like the military, the honor guard was equipped with a magical synthesizer sword, though it seemed to have a small addition. Attached to the sword’s handle where the handle and blade met was a chain, a ring that seemed large enough to fit around a unicorn’s horn hanging limply at the end of the golden chain.

“Changelings have the ability to use magic as well as fly, though they may not be as skilled as the pegasi here in Equestria.” Thunder Rend continued. “Their magic, however, can prove quite a problem. Their magic is different than ours, and at any rate, it can be more lethal than some our best spells. That doesn’t mean it can be stopped. The ring attached to your magic synthesizer blades is a device to stop that magic. It uses a type of counter-magic to block their flow of magic, ultimately halting their use of magic altogether. Restrain the changeling, put the ring on their horn, and they’re pretty much helpless. Though it was designed for changelings, the ring still works on normal pony magic. If anything happens with any of the unicorns in your area and they become a threat, you are permitted to use the ring. Captain Shining Armor, they’re all yours.”

Shining Armor quickly stepped forward as Thunder Rend stepped back, giving Cadence a small smile before he turned his head to the honor and royal guards in front of him.

“As with the honor guards, groups of royal guards will be leaving Canterlot as well to protect the other cities and towns.” Shining Armor said. “Meet with me later today in the courtyard along with Captain Thunder Rend to know if you are leaving or staying here. Thunder Rend and I will be remaining in Canterlot, therefore I have assigned officers to lead the groups of royal guards in your designated city.”

Shining Armor backed up and Princess Luna came forth, clearing her throat.

“With changelings, there is always the factor of deceiving.” Luna spoke. “The officers that Shining Armor have assigned are to set up spells around the cities they are deployed to. If you have noticed, the royal guards at the draw bridge of Canterlot have been taking note of who leaves and come back in. The spell that the officers are to cast are transparent identification spells, as the one that has been put around Canterlot earlier this morning by myself.”

Audacity suddenly felt tense at the sound of identification spell, furrowing his brow as Luna scanned her eyes across the guards and stopped at Audacity.

“The spell is to identify the individual that is entering the city, effectively revealing any impostors. Rather, changelings.” Luna said.

Almost at the same exact time, the royal and honor guards around Audacity slowly stepped away from him. Audacity calmly looked around himself, realizing that his little plan had ripped apart as soon as he had walked across the draw bridge. The five ponies at the end of the hall stepped forward as the royal and honor guards created a wide path to Audacity, the lone royal guard in the center of the palace smirking slightly.

“Clever. How long have you known?” Augury asked as he changed into his changeling form.

“The moment you stepped into Canterlot. I should have trusted Twilight, I knew I should have.” Celestia said.

“Where is she? What did you do with her?” Shining Armor demanded, stepping forward slightly.

“That’s something I can’t tell you, Shining.” Augury replied.

“You’re going to be explaining a lot more than where you took the wielders of the elements, anyways. Queen Chrysalis, she’s alive, isn’t she?” Celestia asked.

“And kicking. Fortunately for you right now, she only has me.”

“Who would you be?”

“You can call me Augury.”

“Tell me, Augury, what made you come here without any support?” Thunder Rend asked.

“Impatience. I came here to retrieve yet another pony, if that wasn’t clear enough. You might as well know my objective now that I’m out in the open.” Augury said.

“And who would that be?” Cadence asked.

Augury chuckled quietly. “How ironic that the target finds out for herself.”

Shining Armor growled and stomped his hoof on the floor. “You’re not getting any where near her. Guards, arrest him.”

A few royal guards stepped out from their places and walked over to Augury, who only accepted that he was outnumbered. An honor guard walked forward and placed a ring on Augury’s horn, Augury feeling a small portion of his energy fading from him. The  changeling stood where he was, staring at the three princesses intently as the royal guards tied a rope around his body to restrain his wings.

“I only have one question to ask right now, Augury. You somehow managed to manipulate the spell around Canterlot to show that you have partial pony magic in you. All I want to know is, how?” Luna asked.

Augury stood silent for a moment. “Because I was one of you once. A pony, not a changeling. Assimilation has weird effects, the wielders of the Elements of Harmony will soon find that out as well.”

Shining Armor’s eyes grew wide and he began to run towards Augury, but was held back by Cadence as she rushed to his side. “What are you doing with my sister!? What do you mean assimilation!? Augury!” Shining Armor yelled.

His questions were left unanswered as Augury was escorted out of the palace with a few royal guards, Augury heading to a cage deep beneath Canterlot.

______________________________________________________________________

The caves under Canterlot were void from almost any light, a few torches placed around the entrance providing enough light to see. The large platform that the entrance opened to looked out over the rest of the caves, a large drop leading to a field of crystals sharp enough to cut through the toughest armor in Canterlot. On the platform’s floor were openings leading further down into the caves, spiral staircases revealing secluded rooms from the rest of the caves. In one of the rooms rested a beaten changeling, letting his head lean forward limply to save his strength. A day had passed since Augury first arrived in Canterlot, the time after he was discovered spent down in the caves beneath Canterlot. His cell retained the appearance of the rest of the caves, small and large crystals jutting from the walls and ceiling. A small candle was rested on the ground near the door to Augury’s cell, the candle light barely enough to see within the room the changeling was trapped in. Augury’s front hooves were secured loosely on the wall he rested against, the chains attached to the cuffs around his hooves swaying slightly as Augury breathed. The ring around Augury’s horn had been removed for now, the guards that had interrogated him giving him some time to heal his wounds.

Sunlight briefly poured in through the caves above, enough to reach down through the staircase leading to Augury’s room. Hoofsteps quickly rushed down the spiral staircase, gentle and hurried breathing muffled on the other side of the door. Augury lifted his head up as the doors to his cell clanked open, a certain pink alicorn stepping into the gloomy cell. She slowly looked around the room, making sure that the guards had left and that Augury was the only other pony in his cell.

Augury sneered at Cadence as she walked in front of him. “I’ve told your guards everything that I’m willing to tell. There’s nothing else that I have to say to you ponies. Leave me be.” Augury spat, staring Cadence with anger in his eyes.

“I know you have.” Cadence replied.

“Why are you here then? I have nothing to present to you.”

“There’s something I need to know.”

“I would rather not waste my breath.”

Cadence sighed and shook her head. “Please, just answer my questions. I’ll order the guards to call off the interrogations, just listen to me.”

Augury only stared at her.

“I’m not your enemy.” Cadence started.

“You’re a fool to think anything like that. I was sent here to capture you, I have every intention to sacrifice you in order to save another.”

Cadence smiled slightly and lifted an eyebrow, Augury quickly realizing what he had just said and rolling his eyes.

“What is it that you want to know?” Augury asked, focusing his attention back on Cadence.

“I want to know why you are doing this. Shining Armor can barely focus on anything ever since you have taken Twilight Sparkle... and neither can I. Equestria is on its highest alert ever, I want to know why you intend on making it so.”

“There are things in this world that I would rather keep anonymous, and unfortunately for you, that is one of them. My intentions are my own concerns, there’s nothing you would gain from knowing why I do what I do.”

“You’re wrong. I could help you.”

“I doubt that.”

“I can help you! We can, Canterlot! You were once a pony, you said you were, what is making you go against your own species? You’re a pony on the inside, you know you are! You said that you were taking me to save another, who is this other?”

Augury sank his head down partially. “Somepony I’m afraid to lose.”

“A sibling? A marefriend? A wife?”

“...I’ve told you enough.”

“No, you haven’t.”

Augury clenched his teeth together and force himself off of the wall, rushing forward and reaching the limit the clamps on his hooves let him go. Cadence stood where she was, flinching slightly at the sudden movement.

“What do you want from me!?” Augury shouted. “A life story!? There is nothing I have to say to you! Nothing! Why are you even down here!? You had up close experiences with changelings, I would think you would be a little afraid of them! I am the changeling that was sent to take you, yet you come down here! More than that, alone! Why!?”

Cadence settled herself facing Augury again as the changeling let himself fall back against the wall, hanging limply as he glared at Cadence.

“Because I know you are not what you appear to be.” Cadence spoke.

“You don’t know what I am...” Augury tilted his head toward the floor of his cell. “...even I don’t know what I am anymore.”

“A changeling is not what you are, Augury. You are a pony, not a changeling. In your heart, deep inside, there’s still a pony in there. All you have to do is let it back out.”

“...My name is Salvation, not Augury.” Augury relinquished.

Cadence smiled and walked closer to the trapped changeling. “Salvation. What are you doing this for? Six mares and me, in exchange for one that you care for?”

“Not quite. In exchange is far from Queen Chrysalis’s plans with her. If I keep up Chrysalis’s work, Tranquility is to be left alone. She’s all I ever cared for, I just want her to be safe.”

“Who is Tranquility?”

“My marefriend. She’s in the queen’s grasp, but all I can do is use her love for me to continue Chrysalis’s work.”

“You’re using your marefriend’s love to give you strength?”

“As much as I don’t want to, yes.”

“But why?”

“She’s the reason I keep fighting. The only way I’m going to keep fighting, however, is through her love for me.”

“You sound like you’re more of a pony than a changeling, Salvation. Let me help you. I can provide a portion of the Royal Guard to help you get Tranquility back. You don’t have to take any more ponies from Equestria.”

“Yet I do. Chrysalis has Tranquility trapped, ready to be disposed of in case I ever show any signs of going against the queen. If I came back with a group of Royal Guards, I would lose Tranquility for good. I have to keep doing this. I know you don’t understand, but I can’t afford to lose her.”

“I understand completely. You’re afraid to lose the mare you love. I have to know, Salvation, why do you choose now to tell me this? The guards could have easily taken it easier on you if you had just told them all of this.”

Augury shifted his eyes to the doors of his cell, the light from the sun dimly shining into the spiral staircase as the door leading out of the caves opened. Hoofsteps slowly approaching the cell within the caves, Augury turned his head back to Cadence.

“Because you’re not going back.” Augury said briefly.

With a quick glance at the ceiling above him, Augury shot a magical burst into a crystal hanging over the door to his cell. The dark blue magic burst divided into two smaller and sharper magical bullets as it hit the crystal’s edge, ricocheting off of the other crystals in the cell. Augury held his hooves outwards and the two bullets collided with the metal binds around his hooves, disintegrating them into a dust. The changeling rushed forward and grabbed onto the confused and slightly frightened alicorn in front of him, turning her around and standing her up on her back hooves, Augury holding her front legs behind her back as he stood on his back hooves as well. Augury leaned his head forward and touched his horn against the back of Cadence’s neck, the princess soon finding herself not able to use her magic for the time being.

“Salvation, what are you doing!?” Cadence cried.

“I’m doing what I was told to do. I’m sorry, Cadence, but you’re going to have to come with me.” Augury said.

The hoofsteps coming down the stairwell quickly reached the door to Augury’s cell, Princesses Luna and Celestia walking into the cell, followed by Shining Armor. At the sight of Augury and Cadence, the three ponies quickly readied their magic, but ultimately stopped as Augury levitated a sharp shard of a crystal that had broken to Cadence’s neck.

“If I were you three, I wouldn’t think about casting even a levitation spell.” Augury threatened.

“You let go of her right now!” Shining Armor yelled as he begun to run towards Cadence, but stopped as Celestia held her hoof out in front of him.

“Augury, there are other means of carrying this out. Let go of Princess Cadence and put down the shard.” Celestia demanded.

“I wish I could, but there is no other way. I need to take Cadence, whether you and I like it or not.” Augury turned his head to Shining Armor. “I’m sorry. I never wanted this happen.”

“No!” Shining Armor shouted.

As the white unicorn raced forward to save his wife, Augury and Cadence disappeared in an instant with a teleportation spell. Shining Armor slowly came to a stop as he reached the spot where Cadence had been, his legs weakening from under him and Shining Armor falling to the floor. It wasn’t long before it dawned on him about what had happened, tears in his eyes falling as not only his sister was taken from him, but his wife.

“Cadence... no... please, no...” Shining Armor whispered to himself, tilting his head to the floor and closing his eyes tightly.

Luna turned her head sorrowfully to Celestia. “What now, sister? The changeling was able to get away with Cadence, no doubt that he will be back for more.” Luna spoke fearfully, though her tone covered her emotions.

Celestia watched Shining Armor for a second in silence. “Have the Captain of the Honor Guard come to the palace, I need to speak with her. Shining Armor is in no condition to be fighting.” Celestia said.

“No.” Shining Armor spoke, wiping away the tears still falling down his face. “I can fight. He took my Twilight and Cadence, I’m not going to sit back and watch him take more ponies from Equestria.”

“Shining Armor, there is great risk in this task. Are you sure you-” Luna said.

The white unicorn interrupted without hesitation as he stood up and turned to the two princesses. “I don’t care about the danger. If that changeling is idiotic enough to show his face around Canterlot again, he’s mine.”

Shining Armor walked past Luna and Celestia, anger and hate seeming to radiate off of him. He slowly made his way up the stairs back into Canterlot, slamming the door shut behind him as he walked back into the city.

“The changeling, Augury, he is coming back for us, isn’t he?” Luna asked her sister.

Celestia began to walk up the stairs, Luna following after her. “No doubt that Augury will be back. Next time, though, we will be prepared. Have the Equestrian military station some of their soldiers in Canterlot. This isn’t over.”

[15] For The Best

Chapter Fifteen: For The Best

“Well well well, looks who’s back already. I see a pony on your back, I would have to assume that is Cadence?” Chrysalis asked as the changeling above the clearing lowered himself from the sky.

“What do you think?” Augury snapped back, landing on the ground.

Chrysalis giggled lightly. “A little angry, are we?”

“I was beaten and interrogated for a full day, I’m not exactly having the best time of my life. I got Cadence for you, now shut up.”

More of the clearing had been deprived of its grass, almost the entire clearing and its outline of trees barren from the green that used to flow vividly in the wind. More of the trees that had their leaves stripped away were limping off to the side, some of them even reduced to a small shrub hugging the solid and dry dirt beneath. The bubbles that the changelings had been growing in grew rapidly over the time that Augury had been gone, most of them looking ready to let loose a changeling at any moment. Through the small radiation of light the bubbles gave off, a solid figure could be inside each of them, the bubbles created earlier appearing to have the silhouette of almost a completely developed changeling inside. Despite the late afternoon sunlight coming down in columns deeper in the forest, the shadows were lit up with the glow of a light green hue, stretching on for quite a while into the forest in each direction of the clearing. The changeling wasteland was rapidly forming into what it had once been, and The Hive would soon be completed.

“Interrogated? Wait, do they know about-?” Chrysalis began to ask.

“If you’re wondering how they caught me, its because they already knew about changelings. Princess Luna made a good move and set up a field around Canterlot. Well, good on her part.” Augury replied as he set Cadence down on the ground, who was fast asleep with a sleeping spell cast on her.

“They already knew!? Since when?”

“You got me on that one. All I know is that they were expecting some company in Canterlot, and they sure as sugar got it.”

“Then it would seem that you managed to leave behind something that hinted them about changelings. You didn’t show your changeling form to anyone on your missions with the wielders of the Elements of Harmony, did you?”

“Not that I know of.”

“What about any type of changeling magic?”

“Uh... I did use that gooey stuff to restrain Twilight Sparkle when I went after her.”

“Hmm, you probably left a trace of it behind. Ah, it’s all the same.”

“What? You’re not going to lash out at me for making it apparent that changelings were still alive? I mean, they interrogated me for a day straight in my changeling form.”

“They would have found out sooner or later, and now that we already have the six mares of the elements, that’s not really an issue. The only important thing to focus on now is building the army. For me, at least, you have two more targets left. Tell me, what did you say during your... interrogations?”

“Is this one punishable?”

“It depends on what you said.”

“Well, mostly to shut her up, I told Cadence about Tranquility and all that, but I figured that would be lost anyways since she’s here now. I told the royal guards that changelings are still alive and there are more coming, but nothing too far beyond that.”

“You didn’t tell them the location of where we are, did you?”

“I got a few kicks to the stomach for not telling them.”

Chrysalis smiled and rustled Augury’s mane. “Good. Taking some for the team.”

“Not for the team, for Tranquility. None of this is for you or your changelings.” Augury retaliated, fixing his mane as Chrysalis took her hoof off of him.

“While that may be, you’re keeping your word about doing my work, which is quite an accomplishment. There’s a cocoon on the other side of the clearing from Tranquility. It’s empty, so why don’t you go ahead and put Cadence in it.”

“I still have to do this?” Augury asked, lifting Cadence onto his back and steading her with his wings.

“Hmm? Did you think that just because you’re a changeling general you wouldn’t have to discontinue your duties with assimilation?” Chrysalis asked.

“No, I thought I would be done with ‘assimilation duty’ once I assimilated all of the six mares over there.”

“Well, think again. Just because you got your previous targets doesn’t mean that some things from that group carries on to this one.”

“But I-”

“Do you want the privilege of assimilating Tranquility as well?”

Augury sunk his head down and let out a frustrated sigh. “...Alright. I’ll put her in the damn cocoon.”

“That’s what I like to here. She’s waiting.”

Chrysalis briefly motioned her hoof to the empty cocoon, Augury shaking his head and sulking over to the waiting chamber. Augury lifted Cadence off of his back with a levitation spell and held her out in front of him for a second, watching Cadence’s breathing. The changeling general nodded his head gently and Cadence floated into her awaiting cocoon, her back hooves sinking into the goo at the top of the casket. Augury let his hold on Cadence go and the open wall of the cocoon sealed shut, Cadence’s breathing becoming muffled from inside.

Augury cleared his throat and put his head forward, only touching the cocoon with his horn. “I’m... sorry. I wish I could let you out of there, but as I told you, I have somepony to save. I only hope that Shining Armor can understand.” Augury whispered.

The changeling general pushed his head forward and his horn pierced into the cocoon, assimilation magic releasing into the cocoon shortly after. Augury took his horn out and watched as the gas settled into a small pattern as Cadence inhaled and exhaled, the princess’s breathing already steadied.

“One princess, two to go.” Chrysalis spoke from the other group of cocoons.

“Same deal with the next princess?” Augury asked as he turned around to face the changeling queen.

“No time limit, yes. Try not to get yourself captured this time, Augury.”

“Duly noted. I’m assuming that the natural changelings aren’t ready yet to come along on a mission with me?”

“Actually, they’ve been looking quite promising lately.” Chrysalis spoke as she turned to face the large area of changeling bubbles. “Some of them look as if they’re ready to come out.”

“When?”

“Today.”

Chrysalis and Augury jumped slightly as a pair of large releases of air interrupted the quiet conversion, the sound of shattering glass coming soon afterward. Augury made his way over to Chrysalis as two of the cocoons next to her had been cracked open, two more of the ponies Augury had brought back finishing the process of assimilation. Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy laid on the ground in front of their cocoons, their eyes rolling in their heads as they began to recover from the long slumber.

“It looks like you won’t be needing natural changelings.” Chrysalis said quietly. “You could actually put them to use and take them with you on a mission.”

“I’m not putting them in harms way. Quick, get out of here. I can handle this.” Augury directed, motioning his hoof into the forest.

Chrysalis shrugged and waltzed off into the green shadows surrounding the clearing, patiently waiting behind a tree as Augury took care of the two newly assimilated changelings. A repeating cycle of confused yelling and calm talking barely made its way to Chrysalis’s ears as Augury confronted Pinkie and Fluttershy. A few series of squeaks and squeals made their way out of Fluttershy’s mouth, and from what Chrysalis could hear, Pinkie Pie had gone quiet.

“J-just... leave me a-alone...” Fluttershy whispered, covering her head with her hooves as she curled into a ball on the ground. Augury sighed and turned his gaze to the changeling in his control, motioning his head over to Rarity’s cocoon. Pinkie Pie nodded and walked over to Rarity slowly, her emotionless eyes staring off into the distance as she came to a stop next to her changeling friend.

“Fluttershy, look at me.” Augury said as he looked back at the cowering changeling in front of him.

Fluttershy only flinched, letting out a barely audible squeak.

Augury stamped his hoof on the ground, which instead of making a soft puff against the grass, made a large bang that echoed from the mountains. “Look at me!”

Startled, Fluttershy uncovered her head as slowly as she could, lifting her eyes from the ground up to the changeling general.

Augury let his brow straighten and relaxed his stature, giving Fluttershy a slightly reassuring look. “Listen.” Augury said. “I know this is hard. Seeing your friends in a state like that must be something you would never want to see. I understand that. You just have to understand that I don’t want to see any of the ones I love be like that either.”

Fluttershy sniffled lightly. “Then w-why are you doing this... to us?” The changeling questioned quietly.

“I don’t mean it to sound like this... but you and your friends are nothing to me.” Augury said coldly. “I barely even talked to any of you before, I just don’t have any kind of bond with either of you six. There’s somepony else that I care for, you six are just an obstacle for me to keep her safe.”

Fluttershy only stared at Augury with fear, continuing to cower on the ground.

Augury sighed and shook his head. “I don’t want to deal with this. Not right now...” The changeling general held out his hoof to Fluttershy, who only cowered even more at the sudden movement. “Grab my hoof.”

Fluttershy mumbled inaudibly.

“Please, all I ask of you is to grab my hoof. I’m not going to hurt you, I don’t have a reason to. Just... grab my hoof.” Augury pleaded.

Fluttershy let the tenseness in her body die down slightly as her eyes met with Augury’s, the look in the changeling general’s eyes almost speaking for itself. Despite the sudden feelings of sympathy, Fluttershy stayed where she was.

Augury reached his hoof out further. “It’s not going to hurt. You’ll be with your friends again, I promise. Trust me. I may be a changeling, but I can assure you that I’m not like the ones you saw in Canterlot. Take my hoof. Please.” Augury requested gently.

Fluttershy leaned forward slowly, standing back on all four of her hooves. “I’ll... be with my friends? They’re not hurt... are they?” Fluttershy asked.

“They’re just as healthy as you are right now. Unless you take my hoof, you’ll be alone without them. The only other one you could trust would be me, and from your view, that probably isn’t the best option. Take my hoof, you’ll be with them again.”

Fluttershy stood in place for a second, feeling a tear run down her face as she ran her eyes over Augury. The changeling general stood where he was, staring at Fluttershy with a blank yet pleading face as she stepped forward carefully. Augury nodded as Fluttershy came within a few feet of him, reaching his hoof out further and lifting the corners of his mouth only just. Hesitantly, Fluttershy lifted her hoof off of the hard ground of the clearing, reaching forward and floating her hoof over Augury’s. Fluttershy let her hoof down onto the changeling general’s as lightly as she could, letting another tear fall from her eyes as she felt Augury tighten his grip on her hoof.

“You made the right choice.” Augury said quietly.

Augury closed his eyes and he concentrated on his magic, closing his eyes and tilting his head downward. The changeling general opened his eyes as he heard the sound of the process completing, the mist around Fluttershy dissipating into the air. Like Pinkie Pie before her, Fluttershy stared blankly into Augury’s eyes, the cyan shade that had been her eyes darkened into a blue hue.

Augury shook his head and let Fluttershy’s hoof back onto the ground. “Go stand next to Pinkie and Rarity. Don’t move until I say you can.” Augury murmured.

With a nod, Fluttershy trotted over to her two friends and turned to face the clearing, all three of them staring blankly into the shadows beyond the dead trees. Augury walked over to the three changelings and scanned his eyes over them. Smiling slightly, Augury concentrated on his magic again. The three newly assimilated changelings shifted around in the area they stood in, making a triangle as they turned to face into the center of the formation. As another manipulation coursed form Augury’s horn, the three changelings tilted their heads down and closed their eyes, a slight feeling of strength falling onto them. Though they were under Augury’s control, their love for each other would continue in a cycle to provide a food source, keeping them together even in their darkest times.

Augury let his concentration go and stared at the three friends for a moment, watching them breath calmly.

“What a waste. They could give so much more than what they’re doing right now.” Chrysalis complained from Cadence’s cocoon, peering angrily at the alicorn through the dark blue haze.

The changeling general chuckled lightly and walked into the center of the clearing. “They’re fine where they are. Besides, it would take quiet a while for them to learn how to manipulate changeling magic.” Augury proposed.

“Why can’t they start now?”

“It’s nonnegotiable. They stay where they are, no matter what. The Elements of Harmony can’t be utilized by Equestria if they’re stuck here, anyway. It’s a win-lose situation no matter what the mares do.”

“Hmm, I suppose you’re right.” Chrysalis agreed as she turned from Cadence’s cocoon. “At any rate, we have the upper hoof in this war.”

“Okay, because it’s not like they out number us ten thousand to one.”

“Don’t smart mouth me. What I meant was once we get more changelings in the mix.” Chrysalis lifted an eyebrow and stared off into the shadows of the clearing. “Which looks like it shouldn’t be long. Take a look.”

Augury turned his head to where Chrysalis pointed her hoof. A while off into the clearing behind Tranquility’s cocoon, one of the bubbles that the natural changelings grew in seemed to be glowing brighter than the others. Through the slight haze that surrounded the bubble, a shadow could be seen against the canopy of the trees above, wriggling slowly in place.

“More changelings, huh?” Augury asked.

“Looks like it. Come with me, I want you to meet your new playmate.” Chrysalis offered, walking towards the bright green glow. Augury shrugged and trotted after the changeling queen, fluttering his wings along with Chrysalis as he reached the border of the field of changelings, taking care to not trample the bubbles. The two changelings set back down on the ground as they reached the active bubble, exchanging a glance before giving their attention to the bubble in front of them. The changeling within the bubble continued to wriggle around, a sickening squishing and sloshing sound coming from the inside of the bubble’s thin surface. With a quick push on the lining of the spherical pouch from the changeling inside, the bubble quickly bursted into a puddle of glowing green liquid, Augury just about letting his stomach empty at the sight of it. Chrysalis smirked at the changeling general’s reaction, for she had seen this process thousands of times before, finding a sense of beauty in the mess.

The changeling in the green puddle twitched in place, lifting its head above the surface and breathing in deeply. Augury recovered from the nausea that had rudely smacked into him, pulling his hoof from his mouth and standing up straight. He focused his gaze back on the newly born changeling, staring at the creature with a sense of curiosity as it shifted its eyes to him. The changeling within the puddle appeared to be just as mature as the changelings that had attacked Canterlot, however, its mind was only that of a new born foal. Though it was a changeling, it had a dash of innocence in its eyes, but it would not last for long. Chrysalis reached her hoof forward and placed it on top of the newly born changeling’s horn, and without a moment of hesitation, released a strange pulse of bright green magic from her hoof.

Like Augury’s process of taking control, the pulse of magic coursed through the changeling’s body as it exited from Chrysalis’s hoof, though it did not set off into a mist. The pulse slowly dwindled away as it finished the course through the new changeling’s body, Chrysalis smiling and taking her hoof off of her subject. The changeling in the puddle blinked quickly and looked around its surroundings, fixing its eyes once more on Augury.

“What did you do to it?” Augury asked, turning his head to Chrysalis yet keeping his eyes on the newly born changeling.

“Changelings aren’t born with the knowledge of what they are and what they are capable of, like every other creature.” Chrysalis explained. “However, unlike every other creature, they are born at full physical maturity. That little pulse that I put into him is everything he needs to know about his magic and his form. Observe.” Chrysalis shifted her eyes to the changeling in the puddle. “Change your form to Augury here, subject.”

The changeling in the puddle spoke in a snake-like and distorted voice, “As you wish, my queen.”

As the words escaped from his mouth, the changeling Chrysalis commanded stepped out of the puddle it laid in. He quickly snapped his vision to the general next to him, running his eyes over Augury with careful precision. Augury only squinted at the changeling scanning his stature, watching him carefully to make sure he wouldn’t try anything. Suspicions disappeared from Augury’s mind as the changeling engulfed into green flames, Augury smirking slightly as the flames died down into nothing.

“Impressive.” Augury admitted. “Only a few minutes old and he can already make himself an almost perfect replica. Granted, it’s just another version of himself.”

“Almost?” Chrysalis asked.

“Missing one little detail.”

Augury lifted his hoof up to the other version of himself and fixed its mane, the false Augury staring at his model with a frustrated look.

“There, now he’s good.” Augury said.

“Cute.” Chrysalis said and turned to the new changeling. “You can change back, subject, you’re perfect. Alert me of when any other of the changelings are born. I’ll be somewhere near this clearing or the lake a little while off. Go.”

“Yes, my queen.” The changeling replied, quickly scurrying into the further distance of the forest.

Augury watched as the newly born changeling disappeared behind the dying trees, returning his attention back to Chrysalis. “Natural changelings. They’re a little... creepier than I thought they would be.” Augury said.

“While that may be the case for you, they are just fine. Get used to it, there’s going to be a lot more in the next few days.”

“Oh joy. What should we do with the trees lining the clearing? They aren’t going to be able to support the cocoons if they keep decaying like this.”

“I’ve put a spell on the trees so they are untouched by the changeling’s nutrients absorption. Once the cocoon shatters, the tree will go with it. Don’t worry about anything out of your targets, I have it covered. Two more princesses, Augury. I’m counting on you.”

With a quick smile, Chrysalis turned away from Augury and began to walk further into the forest. Augury sighed and stared down at the puddle the natural changeling had left behind. The green liquid inside of the hole in the ground slowly turned into a bright green mist, carrying off into the slight breeze that was able to get through the forest. Augury closed his eyes and sunk his head down. He had made up his mind about Tranquility on his way back to the clearing, and considering this could be the last time he sees her, a question popped into his head:

“Why not?”

______________________________________________________________________

Day had fallen from the sky on the outskirts of Equestria. The weather had picked up slightly over the afternoon before, the skies just clearing from a light rainfall earlier that day. A full moon illuminated the vast and dark mountains, plains, and forests only slightly through the dissipating clouds, though a particular forest seemed to be creating its own bright, green light. More changelings had joined the growing population of hungry fiends, the decaying forest seeming to crawl as changelings wandered through the withering land. Trees dying and grass disappearing, the plant life in the large forest continued to reach extremely low levels, most of the trees completely gone. The lake and the rivers attached to it that had been full with clear and clean water had lost more than half of the water within them, the natural changelings in their bubbles relentlessly taking any nutrients that they need to grow. The once beautiful forest began to turn into a barren wasteland, The Hive coming ever closer to completion.

Augury sulked through the familiar clearing within the forest, keeping his eyes at the ground with his ears folded down. The glow around the clearing that held the assimilation targets had moved further away, most of the changelings that had been developing near the clearing born already. The bright green glow in the forest spread out through the forming wasteland, more patches of changeling development fields being created throughout the forest in the mountain’s shadows. Many of the trees in the clearing Augury walked through had been completely absorbed, the clearing almost three times as big as it had used to be. Despite the outline of the clearing inching along every hour, the trees that held cocoons remained where they were. Augury made sure of that.

The changeling general scanned his surroundings for a second, making sure that there were no other changelings within the clearing. Though the natural changelings were subject to his orders, Augury still had doubts in his head about how well the changelings could follow them. By the lack of changelings within the clearing, they seemed to have followed their superior’s orders with care. Augury continued his way across the clearing, heading towards the center of the growing circle that used to be the clearing he had woken up to as a monster. The three of the six mares Augury had captured remained in the triangle he put them in, a dark blue spherical barrier around them making sure that they were left untouched. Augury walked to the edge of the spell he had put around the three friends, taking a moment to push against the barrier to test if it was holding up. The barrier seemed to be a little weaker than when Augury had first put it up, but considering the situation he was about to put himself into, Augury couldn’t help but let his focus deviate away from the barrier.

Nodding as he felt the spell reject even his own entry, Augury turned his gaze from the three changelings to his intention in the clearing. Tranquility’s cocoon hung from the still lively, unaffected tree that it had been attached to ever since the beginning of Augury’s duty as a changeling, a dark blue barrier around her area as well. Augury came to a stop at the edge of the barrier around the last of the few living trees in the forest, taking a moment to clear his thoughts. His head clear of any doubts, the changeling general inhaled and exhaled deeply, trying his best to keep calm. A spark of a spell from Augury’s horn snapping in the air, the barrier around Tranquility’s tree degraded into nothing. Augury walked forward to his marefriend’s cocoon, stopping only a foot away from the cocoon’s wall as he stared at the mare inside.

Augury stood still for a moment in silence before he dared to speak. “I hope you can understand what I’ve been doing. It... has all been for you.” Augury said quietly.

Augury’s horn glowed with a dark blue aura, and at the same time, Tranquility began to open her eyes. Trying his best to ignore the reaction he expected from Tranquility, Augury forced a small smile onto his face. The changeling and the mare sat in silence for what seemed like hours, each of them staring into each other’s eyes.

Tranquility slowly ran her eyes over Augury. “It’s not an illusion, is it?” She asked tiredly, trying her best not to let her tears out.

The smile on Augury’s face faded away and his ears sunk down, the mask that he wore disintegrating. “No... no, it’s not. I only wanted you to feel like everything was going to be okay. I didn’t know it would end up like this...” Augury spoke.

Though her approach was direct, Tranquility’s voice stayed relaxed. “You lied to me.”

“I know I did, and I’m sorry. I didn’t want you to know about what happened, about what I had become. I was scared.”

“About what?”

“About your reaction.”

Tranquility lifted her hoof up and pushed against the wall of the cocoon, feeling a tear fall from her eye. “Nothing can take you away from me, Salvation. You should know that.”

Augury smiled and pushed his hoof against the cocoon where Tranquility’s hoof rested. “I do. I do know that. I just... thought something would go wrong.”

“Like what?”

“...Like you would hate me.”

“I could never hate you. We’ve been together for so long, we’ve seen so many things, those memories will stick forever.”

“I know. You have been seeing everything I’ve been doing, haven’t you?”

“Yes... I have. Salvation...”

“Don’t, please. I’m doing this for you. I’m not going to let you go no matter what. We’re going to get out of this, everything is going to be the way it was before any of this. I promise.”

“Salvation, that’s not going to happen if you continue with what you’re doing. You’re taking mares from their homes. You have to stop.”

“I can’t stop! If I do, Chrysalis will kill you. I’m not letting you go if I know it was my fault.”

“You have to. Please.”

Augury took his hoof off of the cocoon and stomped it on the ground. “I can’t! I don’t care if I have to bring down all of Equestria, just as long as you’re safe! It’s not going to end here, it can’t.”

“Salvation, you’re only making things worse down this path. You loved to care for others, you got your cutie mark from it. What you’re doing is opposite of what you love the most. I’m not trying to sound harsh, but you’re causing heartbreak throughout Equestria. The families of those six mares, what about them? Did you stop to think about them?”

“I did. I promised them that I would keep the mares out of harms way. Nothing is going to happen to them or their families.”

“Nothing physical, but what about mentally?”

“Tranquility, there’s nothing you can say that’s going to make me stop. I’m doing this for you, that’s all there is to it.”

Tranquility sighed and closed her eyes, opening them again to stare into Augury’s eyes as tears streaked lightly out of her own. “Salvation, come closer.”

“Quil-”

“Please, just do it.”

Augury opened his mouth to speak, but only shook his head and leaned forward, putting his hoof on the cocoon where his marefriend’s was pushed on.

“I want you to go.” Tranquility said. “I want you to leave without me.”

“What? No! I’m not leaving you behi-!”

“This isn’t you, you know it isn’t. I want you to leave me behind and carry on. What happens to me isn’t important anymore, I just want you to be happy.”

“I can’t be happy unless you’re there. Quil, this isn’t what I want.”

“But it’s what I want. As long as you’re here, Equestria is going to continue to be tormented. Leave this place, forget about me. One life isn’t worth a thousand.”

Augury hesitated to let out a rebuttal, but found himself at a loss for words as he let his mouth hang open slightly. The changeling general only stared at the mare within her cocoon, watching her tears fall from her eyes onto the pointed bottom of the green casket. No matter how much Augury wanted her to be, Tranquility was not joking. The look in her eyes, the frown on her face, the lavender mare had never been more serious about a decision in her life. Knowing that this was all for her, Tranquility only wanted it to end and for Salvation to be free. The only option in the current situation to make that happen for Augury, however, was to abandon the mare he loved.

Augury tilted his head to the ground and bit his lip, feeling tears of his own sliding down his distraught stricken face. “Tranquility... Quil, I’m not going to leave you here. I’ll do everything in my power to get you out of there, but I’m not going to leave you behind. We got into this together, we’ll get out of it together. I’m sorry, but that’s the way it has to be.”

Tranquility sighed and let her hoof dangle limply again. “If that’s the way you’re going to take, then I’m going with it. I don’t have any power to change what you’re doing, but I’ll stick with you no matter what. Just know that... that I think it’s wrong.”

Augury sniffled and lifted his head up, returning his damp eyes to Tranquility’s. “I’m sorry. I love you, Quil.”

“I love you, too. Goodnight sweetie...”

“Goodnight...”

Another click of a spell from Augury horn snapped into the air, and Tranquility was gone in an instant. Returned to her state of slumber within Augury’s control, Tranquility hung limply in her cocoon again, only able to watch as Augury continued with his missions. The changeling general in front of the lavender mare’s cocoon gave up his fight against his tears, letting them fall relentlessly from his eyes. Augury slowly let himself down onto his side in the clearing, continuing to soak his face with tears of anguish. Slowly, sleep took over the lone and distressed changeling, his dreams able to comfort him for one more night.

Chrysalis stared tiredly at the changeling sleeping across the clearing, watching his calm breathing move his chest up and down. The scene he had put on before only made the changeling queen feel even more guilty about her decision to take the two ponies, though her guilt was only just showing. Something clicked within Chrysalis for a small second, a feeling of sympathy or a need to comfort Augury in his sleep. Though this feeling only lasted for an instant, Chrysalis almost wanted to ram her head into one of the trees behind her for thinking about it. At the same time, however, the changeling queen found comfort in her thoughts, but it was wiped away the moment it had been brought up.

Chrysalis rolled her eyes and started walking off into the shadows of the forest beyond the clearing. “I really need to find a way to stop these conflicting thoughts. Bugging me for so long...”

[16] Divided Downfall

Chapter Sixteen: Divided Downfall

Augury walked slowly along the tip of the mountain that he stood upon, keeping his head low as he peaked over the snow capped mountain top. Canterlot wasn’t too far away from his position along the mountain range, the road leading into Canterlot only a ten minute walk away. Groups of Equestrian military ponies had joined the defenses within Equestria’s central city, though their numbers were significantly less than that of the royal and honor guards. With the number of guards, however, the amount of military ponies was still quite large. High security or not, the outer boundaries of Canterlot were only supervised from the borders of the city, leaving anything out in the further mountains almost unnoticeable.

A snake-like voice broke the silence on the mountain top. “What is the purpose of being up here, general? The ponies are over there. Shall we attack now?” One of the changelings with Augury asked, rubbing his front legs together as puffs of air billowed from his mouth in the cold.

“I agree. Why do we hold haste when we can be feeding on their love?” The other changeling concurred, catching up to Augury and the changeling with him.

Augury reached his hooves behind him and forced the two changelings beside him to the ground, shoving their faces into the snow. “Shut up and sit still. I’m not freezing my flank off up here just to be spotted this early on. We’re scouting out the area, hold on for a few more minutes. Changeling, get your head out of the snow and help me figure out where the watch groups are.” Augury directed.

Both of the changelings lifted their heads up and stared at Canterlot. “Yes sir, general.”

Augury sighed and rolled his eyes. “I only need one of you to help me. The other just look out for any of the guards or military ponies walking around, in case they see us.”

The two natural changelings exchanged an uncertain glance. “General, which of us is helping you?” Both of them asked.

“Do you changelings have names?”

“Not normally, no.”

“Them I’ll give you two names.” Augury turned his head to face the changeling to his right. “Your name can be Shape Shifter.” Augury put his attention at the changeling to his left. “Your name is... I don’t know, Carrot.”

“Might I ask why I received the name Carrot, general?” Carrot asked.

“Because I don’t like you. Just watch for any ponies walking around, alright?”

“If I must.”

Augury shook his head lightly and stared back at Canterlot. “Shifter, look for the ponies that are keeping surveillance on Canterlot. We’ll need to know where they are if we’re going to sneak past them.”

“I thought my name was Shape Shifter.” Shifter spoke, scratching his head.

“I’m going to kill you both...” Augury grumbled as he planted his face into the snow in front of him.

“Isn’t that cold, general?” Carrot asked.

“Okay! Enough!” Augury shouted as he lifted his head out of the snow, but quickly shut his mouth and ducked his head back down again. “Shape Shifter, have you spotted any of the surveillance groups yet?”

“You have only given me a few seconds to look, general.” Shifter said.

Augury forced himself to keep his mouth closed, making a fairly humorous face as he tried his best to not yell in anger.

“Are you alright, general?” Carrot asked.

Augury let his frustration out in a large exhale. “I’m... fine. Both of you, if you would be so kind as to shut your mouths and do as I say, I’ll think about letting you live. Does that sound like a fair trade to you?” Augury asked.

“I would suppose so, yes, general.” The two changelings reconciled.

“Good, and stop calling me general every time you speak to me. Besides, I think I found all of the groups I could. Did you two get a good look over the royal guards walking around?”

“We have gotten an idea of what their general appearance is, yes.” Carrot said.

“Alright, we’re heading in then. Follow my lead, and whatever you do, don’t talk unless you are spoken to. It’d be best if you change now. Come on, let’s go.”

______________________________________________________________________

“Isn’t this a bit dangerous, general?” Carrot asked, calmly looking around the area from the path to Canterlot they walked along.

“Yes it is, but it’s the only way in. You perfected your royal guard form, right?” Augury asked.

“Yes. Shape Shifter has also gotten quite a detailed form as well.”

“Then if you two don’t mess up, this should go perfect.”

Augury and the two changelings he had brought with him slowly made their way onto the main road to Canterlot. The field in front of the city had numerous towers set not too far from Canterlot’s borders, the military ponies inside making sure nothing unauthorized approached Canterlot. The procedure of making that nothing got inside of the city, however, was handled by something more elaborate. A force field hung over the entire city of Canterlot, much like the spherical shield that had been over the city during the royal wedding. Though it appeared to be the same as his spell, Shining Armor was not the pony maintaining the shield, but his superior in another division, Thunder Rend. Augury observed as the royal and honor guards walked through the bubble, the shield’s border becoming grainy and structurally transparent to let the guards in and out of the city. Although Canterlot was protected with a barrier, royal guards within Canterlot still stood to the side of the entrance, observing whoever left or came into the city.

“Look’s like we’re going to have to sneak in while one of the authorized guards steps through. I’m gonna have to find a way to distract the guards from noticing I’m not one of them, though...” Augury thought to himself.

“Are you sure this is going to work, general?” Shape Shifter asked quietly as the three disguised changelings came close to Canterlot’s border, beginning to pass by the military watch towers.

“It’s going to work. We’ll be fine.” Augury reassured.

Unknown to the other two changelings, however, Augury would be the only changeling walking out of his untold plan. Augury swallowed lightly as he and the two changelings beside him continued closer to the shield around Canterlot, the changeling general carefully looking around him. Seeing a place for opportunity, Augury increased his pace to catch up with a group of royal guards heading into Canterlot, Carrot and Shape Shifter mimicking Augury discreetly. Like snakes in tall grass, the three changelings weaved through the royal and honor guards walking in and out of Canterlot, trying their best to keep up with the group of royal guards they followed. The shield around Canterlot came ever closer, almost close enough to touch, and Augury knew that it was time to take action. A few quick maneuvers of his hooves lashing out unnoticed, no pony was the wiser of what was happening.

Carrot and Shape Shifter quickly launched forward from Augury’s cloaked maneuvers, knocking into a large group of the royal guards in front of them. The authorized royal guards stepped into the shield’s border from the sudden movements, creating a fairly large gateway into Canterlot through the blue barrier as they stopped to examine what had happened.. As the attention of the guards leaned heavily on the two royal guards recovering their composure on the ground, Augury slipped his way through the silent commotion and through the transparent part of the barrier. Acting as fast as he could, the changeling general whipped himself around to face the two supposed royal guards he had used as a distraction, blending in without a trace of him ever being in the mess. Carrot and Shape Shifter, still laying on the ground, stared up at the royal guards around them. Their cover was blown, and their chances of survival weren’t much better.

Augury shifted his eyes to the royal guards near the edges of the draw bridge’s sides. Holding their clip boards with magic, they scanned their gaze across the plethora of honor and royal guards in one area, searching for the unauthorized guard that had slipped past. It was too late for them, however, as the uninvited visitor had already made himself a part of the city’s normals. Augury jumped slightly as he heard two large cracks come from the center of the group of guards, turning his attention back towards Carrot and Shape Shifter. Both of the changelings had been forced out of their disguises, though they wouldn’t need the cover in their position. Their heads seemed to be turned at an awkward angle, but the view only lasted a few seconds before a large blanket was spread over the limp changelings on the ground.

One of the royal guards near the blanket sparked a spell and stared down at the two changelings under their cover. “Two changelings, neither of them Augury. He’s here somewhere, keep a look out, and remember, he’s not a normal changeling. Look for dark blue magic, that’ll be our only lead on him.”

As quickly as the royal guard’s orders had ended, the group of guards near Canterlot’s entrance dispersed. Augury stayed still for a second, watching as some of the guards grabbed the blanket on the ground and slowly dragged it out of the city. His plan had worked, the only matter remaining was the capture of another of the princesses. That, and staying hidden.

The display at the entrance of Canterlot over with, Augury turned to walk further into the highly protected city. Blending in didn’t take much time, as Augury quickly found himself falling into a group of royal guards walking through the streets of Canterlot. The security within the city seemed to be at the same level it had been the previous mission Augury had been on, the only difference being the posts of Equestrian military examining the ponies walking by. Surprisingly enough, the residents of Canterlot seemed to be unbothered by the security walking around, and somehow looked as if they enjoyed having the presence of the guards of the princesses themselves in front of them. The Equestrian military, however, had mixed reactions to their existence. Their new weaponry made up for their harsh appearances, as the power to grant non-unicorns the gift of magic manipulation piqued the interest of the pegasi and earth ponies in Canterlot. Despite the civilian’s pleas to let this technology into the public, they were only met with blank stares.

Augury continued to walk in the group of guards he had joined earlier. The route they took through the Canterlot streets seemed to never end, as the royal guard at the head of the group got new destinations to scout around almost every second. With every spark in the group leader’s horn, a new area was to searched, though as they continued to walk along, Augury got a daunting feeling sink into his heart. He hadn’t made sure he was completely lost track of at the entrance, and by the route that he was suddenly trotting through, Augury knew that something was wrong. The area in front of the palace courtyard was void of any other royal guards, though a few honor guards watched from the edges of the field. Before he could even react, the changeling general found himself in the shadows of the palace hall’s entrance.

The large doors of the palace swung open slowly, Augury smiling slightly at the sight of what awaited him halfway down the hall. A line of honor guards stood strongly with spears ready at their sides, staring at Augury with determination like they never had before. The clink of a sword being drawn rung from Augury’s right, the changeling general coming to a stop as he felt the cold steel of a sword touch against his throat. The royal guards that had escorted Augury continued forward to the honor guards standing in a line, turning around and facing the impostor.

“If you don’t want this sword to run across your neck, I suggest you stand still.” Shining Armor threatened as he walked into Augury’s eyesight, glaring at the changeling general with hatred steaming from his eyes.

“Ah, the royal guard and their beloved traps. I’m surprised you were able to-” Augury was cut off by the handle of a sword ramming into the side of his face.

“I didn’t tell you to speak.” Shining Armor said sternly, positioning the sword in the air with magic so it pointed directly at Augury’s chest.

Augury chuckled lightly as he turned his face back to Shining Armor, a large bruise marked on his cheek. “A little violent, now, are we?”

The changeling’s remark was only met with another brutal swipe of the handle of Shining Armor’s sword across his head.

“You’re asking for a much harder treatment than I was planning on giving you, Augury.” Shining Armor admonished.

Augury let out another laugh as he recovered from the blow. “You’re going to end up giving me a concussion before you can even get any more answers out of-”

Once more, Augury was met face-to-handle with Shining Armor’s sword. Augury’s head spiked backwards as the handle swung upwards from the ground, making a loud knock as it connected with the changeling’s chin. The attack was enough to make Augury change out of his royal guard form as he fell backwards onto the floor, Augury landing quite harshly on his side.

“Okay... I gotta admit, that one was good...” Augury managed to wheeze out.

Shining Armor stayed as cold as he was, walking over to Augury and pointing the sword at the changeling laying on the ground. “Get up.”

“I’d rather not.”

Shining Armor growled and threw the sword’s blade down at Augury, the tip of the sword implanting into the ground next to his head. “I said get up!”

“Alright, alright, have it your way.” Augury said calmly.

Augury spat out a small bit of blood that had accumulated in his mouth as he stood on to his hooves, wiping his mouth briefly and setting his eyes on the unicorn pointing the sword in his grasp at him again.

“I’m not going to kill you now since we could use some more information, changeling, but I will make these next minutes a struggle for your life.” Shining Armor said, drawing the sword between him and Augury back to his side. “Lucky for you, I am not like Thunder Rend. We royal guards believe in fair fights. You better hope you’re good with a sword. Platinum, give the changeling a weapon.”

One of the royal guards that had escorted Augury to the palace opened his eyes wide, standing silent for a second before he spoke. “Sir?” Platinum asked.

“Give him your sword. That’s an order.” Shining Armor asserted.

“Uh... yes sir.”

The royal guard hesitantly drew his sword from its sheath, throwing it lightly handle first into the air towards the changeling out in front of Shining Armor. Augury latched onto the sword with a levitation spell before it hit him, the changeling general looking over the strong blade floating in front of him. The battle, however, started sooner than he had expected. The sound of rushing air ran past Augury’s ears and he looked up from the sword he had been given. Reacting as quick as he could, Augury lifted the sword in his grasp up in front of him, a loud clank bursting from the collision of Augury and Shining Armor’s swords. Augury focused his attention back to Shining Armor, who stood not only a few feet away from the changeling general with his mind set on forcing the blade into Augury’s head.

Augury smirked as he stared back at Shining Armor, both of them pushing as hard as they could against the other’s blade. “A fair fight, huh? That move was a little dirty, don’t you think?” Augury asked.

“You blocked it, didn’t you?” Shining Armor confuted.

“Well, if we’re going to be playing that game, then how about this!?” Augury shouted.

The changeling general quickly kicked his back hooves off to the side, keeping his front hooves in place. Augury’s back legs swung out from behind him with great speed, his back hooves connecting with large force against the side Shining Armor’s front legs. Shining Armor’s legs swept out from under him, but found himself flying backwards instead of sideways as Augury brought his back hooves around for another strike, this time taking a direct route to the falling unicorn. Shining Armor stumbled back from the forceful kick, brining his sword along with him as he regained his composure back on all four of his hooves.

“A swift kick. You’re more capable in hoof-to-hoof combat than I expected.” Shining Armor admitted as Augury turned himself to face his opponent.

A voice spoke out from behind Shining Armor. “Do you want us to help, captain?” One of the royal guards asked.

“I can handle this one. Stand off to the side, we’re going to need all the space we can get.” Shining Armor directed.

“Yes sir.”

Shining Armor and Augury stood still as the honor and royal guards stepped to the sides of the hall, keeping their eyes on Augury just in case.

“I see you’re true to your word.” Augury spoke, twirling his sword around at his side. “Let’s just see if you deserve the rank of captain of the royal guard.”

“I think you’ll find that I’m capable of my rank as captain.” Shining Armor retorted.

“Then let’s get this over with.”

Augury and Shining Armor kicked their legs from where they stood, each of them charging straight toward the other with their swords stationary at their sides. As Augury came close enough, Shining Armor drew his sword from his side, curving it from its position to a full horizontal swing. Augury ducked down as the sword advanced towards him at immense speeds, the changeling stopping his legs and sliding along the floor of the hall past Shining Armor. Both duelists swung around to face the other, running forward from their stationary positions and sliding to a stop not only a few meters away from each other. Swords flinging through the air, metal clashing with each swing, Augury and Shining Armor lashed out their attacks as hard as they could, sparks flying from each collision of their swords. Their dancing blades left a trail of their magic aura in the air as they swung from every direction, creating a blue and purple haze with every maneuver of their magic.

Shining Armor lifted his sword high into the air as Augury’s blade was knocked back from the rising motion, the white unicorn jumping into the air and bringing his sword down with him. Augury brought his sword back in front of him as fast as he could, standing up on his hind legs and latching onto the handle with both of his front hooves. Not only a second later, Shining Armor landed back on the ground with his sword in his hooves as well, landing on his hind legs and slamming his sword against Augury’s. The momentum of Shining Armor’s falling only added onto the force of his attack, Augury ducking down slightly after the initial wave of power.

Shining Armor smirked as he stared at Augury through the struggling metal cross between them. “You’re stronger than I thought. Surprising, for a changeling such as yourself.” Shining Armor taunted.

“You damn well know that I’m not one of them.” Augury grunted. “Your royal guards beat the hay out of me just to find out what they meant when I said I wasn’t always like this.”

“And a job well done. An assimilated changeling, huh? I can see why you have such a good grip on what goes on in Equestria. The only thing I want to find out is who you were to know all of this.”

“You’re going to have to put up a bigger fight if you want that information.”

Shining Armor chuckled lightly and leaned forward, Augury tilting himself backwards a bit. “I guess I’ll have to stop holding back.”

Augury smiled and leaned his head inwards, his face coming barely more than an inch away from Shining Armor’s. “Try me.”

With a quick chuckle and a malicious look, Shining Armor cast a spell in between him and the changeling fighting against him. A large purple burst of magic separated Shining Armor and Augury, forcing both of them backwards quite a way. They both slid to a stop facing each other, Augury partially winded by the flare of magic against his stomach. Despite the slight loss of energy, the general and captain continued on with their duel, this time with a more mystical approach.

Augury and Shining Armor jumped back into a barrage of sword strikes against each other, but their endeavors seemed to be slightly more heated. Instead of bright sparks jumping from each clash of the two duelist’s blades, large spikes of magic shot out in the direction of their slashes, some of the spikes directed toward the floor leaving a burnt mark. With every strike towards the other, both Shining Armor and Augury’s attacks grew more and more furious. Slashes becoming wider and spikes of magic flaring farther, the battle between changeling and pony slowly became a light show of blue and purple. Most of the honor and royal guards pressed themselves up against the walls of the hall to get out of the way of the hatred fueled sword fight.

Fed up with the continuous cycle of slashing at each other, Augury decided that he would have to step his performance up a notch if he were to end it. As Shining Armor got the same idea in his head, the changeling general took his opportunity to gain the upper hoof. Shining Armor drew his sword back behind him and gritted his teeth as he brought it in an arc over his head, slamming it down at Augury as hard as he could. The impact between the steel, magic build up, and floor of the hall sent a large portion of the floor into the air after a powerful release of purple magic, a cloud of debris and dust hanging in the air around the point of impact. Shining Armor breathed heavily with his head toward the ground, keeping his determined eyes fixed on the cloud of dust that covered half of the rest of the hall from the palace’s entrance. As the haze faded away from the hall’s presence, a dark blue glow radiated from within the core of the clearing cloud.

Augury stood still with his sword angled upwards in front of him, his eyes closed as he concentrated on the hemisphere of dark blue magic surrounding him. Though the strike from Shining Armor’s sword had decimated the area in front of Augury, the changeling general remained untouched within his protective barrier. A large crack had formed on the dark blue shield from Shining Armor’s devastating attack, but the barrier had done its job in keeping the changeling inside unscathed from any further damage. As the rubble still flinging through the air landed back on the ground, Augury opened his eyes to peer at his surroundings. The hemisphere of protective magic around Augury disappeared as the changeling began to walk forward, levitating his sword over to Shining Armor’s, which had been lodged in the destroyed floor quite deep.

“Was that your best, or are you just getting desperate?” Augury asked bitterly, stopping in front of the sword in the ground.

“I would be lying if I said I didn’t get carried away for a second. My best, though? You haven’t seen anything yet.” Shining Armor barked as he stood up straight.

Augury smirked and brought his sword to Shining Armor’s, placing his blade on the handle. The changeling general flicked the tip of his sword upwards, Shining Armor’s sword flying out of the ground and arcing to the white unicorn. The falling sword quickly lit up with a purple aura, Shining Armor settling the blade back in front of him pointing at Augury.

“Why don’t you show me, then?” Augury insisted.

“I would love to, Augury, but this has to end before either of the princesses show up after that minor explosion.” Shining Armor said.

As soon as his sentence had ended, the white unicorn staring at Augury disappeared with a flare of magic. The changeling general stood still for a second, pricking his ears up as the sound of hoofsteps clopped on the ground behind him. Augury turned himself around and held his sword out in front of him, just fast enough for Shining Armor’s sword to land viciously onto Augury’s sword. Shining Armor and Augury stood in another stalemate, their swords glowing with each of their magical auras as they pushed the blades against each other.

“Persistent, eh?” Augury spat.

“I’m not letting you out of here until I get some answers out of you.” Shining Armor threatened.

The struggling changeling chuckled lightly, yet set his determination on keeping Shining Armor’s sword from slashing into him. “My name was Salvation. We’ve seen each other around Canterlot before, back a while.”

“Salvation? I think I remember you.”

Augury pushed harder against Shining Armor’s sword. “Really now?”

Shining Armor forced Augury back. “Yeah, you were the little reject from the School for Gifted Unicorns. I recognize your whiny voice now.”

The changeling general growled and leaned into his side of the duel further, Shining Armor stepping back slightly. “I wasn’t rejected, I was personally held out. If it wasn’t for that damn princess, you would be getting crushed under my hooves right now. Not that I would be in this situation, anyway.”

Shining Armor smiled as he had found a weak point. “Heh, but look where you are now, fighting against your own species. Didn’t get enough experience reading those military books? They’re a real help, aren’t they?”

A spark flew from the colliding blades, Augury slipping slightly as he lost his hoofing for a second. “You’re heading into territory that you would rather stay out of.”

“Territory I should have stayed out of? You would know more of that than I would. You never should have been allowed to even worked with magic in the first place. I’m surprised Celestia didn’t throw you out of magic school entirely. And because of what, you thought it would be a good idea to read up on a magic class far beyond your level of comprehension?”

“Shining Armor!”

“I remember your face at the entrance of the school. Running like a waterfall! You were there when Twilight was enrolled and officially put as Celestia’s protege!”

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“What!? But I have studied for so long! You can’t do this!” A young Salvation yelled, tears welling up in his eyes as he stared up at the princess and two royal guards in front of him.

Princess Celestia stayed as still as stone. “I have made it clear why you are not aloud in this school. You can still study in Canterlot, but you are not fit for this academy.”

“Wait! I... I want to study here! Please!”

Salvation turned his head to look at his surroundings, the tears in his eyes beginning to fall. A group of ponies had gathered around the front of the School for Gifted Unicorns, watching the ordeal in surprise. Pleading for their help would have been useless for Salvation, as most of the ponies were loyal to the princess’s word. Ready to let his tears go at full force, Salvation stopped his eyes at the only other pony his age in front of the school. A lavender filly and her older brother watched as Salvation sat down and hung his head, the distressed colt already making a puddle of tears in front of him.

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Pushed beyond his limits, Augury couldn’t help but let his inner instincts take over him. A familiar dark blue fiery glow surrounded Augury’s eyes and two other voices occupied his own, making even the honor guards standing off to the side open their eyes slightly wider in shock.

A large grin grew on Augury’s face. “What’s the matter, Shining Armor!? Resorting to petty insults about my past to compensate for your own problems!?” Augury yelled.

The smile on Shining Armor’s face quickly diminished, the white unicorn strengthening his stance. At a loss for words, Shining Armor could only push back against Augury’s increasingly powerful assault.

“Missing your sister!? What about Cadence!? Having trouble concentrating with them back on your mind, huh!?” Augury taunted.

Shining Armor felt his hooves slide backwards, the force of Augury’s attack becoming slightly overwhelming. “Leave them out of this! This fight is between you and me!”

“Hitting a little too close to home!? I enjoyed the sight of watching Twilight begin the process of turning into a changeling! It’s only a matter of time before Cadence starts to show signs of turning as well! Don’t worry, Shining, they’re in good hooves!”

“Don’t you dare lay a hoof on them!”

“Scared of them getting hurt!? You won’t have to worry about that. The only thing you have to worry about is them not recognizing you when they’re changelings!”

Fed up with Augury’s taunts, Shining Armor couldn’t hold against the duel out of sheer anger and daunting thoughts. With a quick strike from the blade of the changeling general, a large snap erupted from the struggle between the two enemies. Shining Armor stepped backwards as his sword shattered into pieces, the immense pressure from Augury’s blade shredding the metal straight from the handle. The white unicorn was only left with a magic synthesizer handle in the grasp of his levitation spell, standing with shaking legs from the energy used to hold back against Augury’s persistence. The changeling general, however, had plenty of energy still in him.

Seeing an opportunity to end the fight, Augury seized it happily. His eyes still glowing and his grin still sinister, Augury charged magical energy into the sword within his hold, the blade of the sword glowing with an intense dark blue aura. Though the spell would make the sword dull to the point it wouldn’t even cut a piece of paper, the force that would be exerted from it could crack a concrete wall in two with one blow. Augury drew the sword back as far as he could without losing concentration on it, keeping his eyes on the white unicorn in his sight. As fast as he could, the changeling general whipped the sword out from behind him. A large rush of wind burst from the release of energy against Shining Armor as the blade curved upwards into him, Shining Armor’s helmet flying from the collision. Augury followed Shining Armor with his eyes as the white unicorn flew through the air and tumbled along the floor, eventually sliding to a stop at the doors to the next portion of the hall. Though his helmet had taken most of the force, a lot of the energy had rushed through in the wind, knocking Shining Armor unconscious before he even hit the ground.

The final strike landed in the duel between general and captain, Augury stood beaten, bruised, and partially cut, yet victorious. The glow around the changeling general’s eyes and the grin spread across his face died down into nonexistence, Augury returning back to sanity as he stood unaffected by what he had done. Though Augury’s intentions were to win the fight, letting the changeling within himself take control was a little much out of what he wanted. Augury let the chipped and withered sword in his grasp drop to the floor, the changeling turning around to face the honor and royal guards within the hall. Neither group of guards had moved from the sides of the halls, either because they were good at following orders, or they knew something else would come to console the situation. One option or the other, now that the fight was over, Augury was only just a changeling stuck in a land of ponies once more.

“Glad that’s over with...” Augury exhaled as he turned his head to the unconscious captain lying down on the floor.

“Your little duel with Shining Armor may be over, but you wouldn’t have enough energy to face against me, now would you?” Thunder Rend asked from the entrance of the hall, jokingly hiding a bit of seduction in her voice as she twirled her long crimson mane.

Augury sighed loudly and slowly brought his gaze to Thunder Rend, the captain of the honor guard staring at him with an eyebrow raised. “It must take some talent to put some emotion into those dead blue eyes of yours.” Augury said calmly. “Spare me the games and get what you came here to do over with.”

“Oh you’re no fun at all. Besides, I’m only here because I was requested here. The princesses knew about Shining Armor’s little trap for you, but we decided to let him wear you down. With the amount of information you could still give us about changelings, you’re quite valuable.”

Thunder Rend smirked and stepped off to the side as she heard hoofsteps behind her. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna slowly walked through the entrance doors of the hall, both of them glaring at Augury as they halted next to Thunder Rend.

“Celestia and Luna. We meet again.” Augury said.

“It was inevitable.” Celestia spoke. “We know what you are doing and who you are going after. It’s not going to happen. Guards, restrain him.”

Augury furrowed his brow and prepared a spell, setting himself in a defensive position. “I’m afraid I’m not going to allow that.”

“Then other means will be used. Thunder Rend, if you will.” Luna said, nodding towards the captain of the honor guard.

Thunder Rend chuckled to herself and walked in front of Celestia and Luna, taking off her helmet and setting it on the floor next to her. “With pleasure.”

As hard as she could, Thunder Rend kicked her front legs off of the ground and slammed them back down, partially cracking the floor beneath her. However, her action was not to intimidate, but to create an environment fit for her magic. Her horn glowing with a blue aura, a large burst of magic launched down into the crack Thunder Rend had made. The captain of the honor guard knelt her head downward and brought it up in a quick arcing motion, making a loud boom as the magic within the floor changed its own properties. The floor of the palace hall let out periodic bursts of electricity as the stream of magic within it coursed down the hall, Thunder Rend directing the buildup of magic towards Augury. In a slight state of confusion, Augury only watched as the bursts of electricity followed a path heading straight for him. Augury felt his muscles tense up and pain suddenly shot through his entire body, Thunder Rend’s attack going directly as planned.

After a few seconds of watching Augury entrapped in a cage of electricity sprouting form underneath him, Celestia cut in. “Thunder Rend, that’s enough. He’s not going anywhere.”

Thunder Rend smirked and let go of her hold on the spell shocking Augury, the electricity holding the changeling in place disappearing. Augury stood still for a second, trying his best not to fall over, but soon gave up after what felt like all the energy within him evaporated. The changeling general fell limply onto his side, just glad to be out of Thunder Rend’s lethal magic field. A few of the honor guards standing at the sides of the hall trotted over to the defeated changeling, picking him up onto his hooves and placing a stasis ring onto his horn. Through his slowly clearing hazy vision, Augury could see the blurry figures of the princesses and Thunder Rend walk forward to him.

“Captain, should we go get Shining Armor?” One of the honor guards holding up Augury asked.

“He’ll be fine. Leave him where he is.” Thunder Rend replied bitterly.

“Unconscious with a probable concussion. Yeah, he’ll be fine.” Augury implied.

Thunder Rend stepped forward to ram her hoof into Augury’s face, but was held back as Celestia lifted her wing in front of the captain’s face, Thunder Rend shaking her head and settling back beside the two princesses.

“Now, Augury.” Celestia said as she tucked her wing snuggly against her side. “You will be taken to the caves below Canterlot again for questioning. This time, you will not escape. I expect to hear where you and Chrysalis are hiding.” Celestia turned her head to the walls of the palace hall. “Honor guards, you may leave to the caves beneath Canterlot. Royal guards, return to your posts back out in Canterlot.”

“It’ll take a little bit of convincing to get anything out of me.” Augury spoke, watching the honor and royal guards walk out of the palace’s entrance.

“Then more force than last time will have to be used.” Luna jutted in.

“And... maybe some extra help from a certain captain?” Thunder Rend asked innocently, puppy-eyeing Celestia.

“He is yours to deal with once he exits this building, Thunder Rend. Do not kill him, he may be hiding something before you...” Celestia trailed off from her last sentence, shifting her eyes from Augury as hoofsteps quickly rained within the hall.

“I’m not through with you yet!” Shining Armor shouted at the top of his lungs as he charged from the other end of the hall, blind with rage.

“Shining Armor, wait!” Thunder Rend yelled as she held her hoof out in front of her.

Trying to stop Shining Armor, however, would prove useless. Catching the two guards holding Augury off guard as they began to turn their heads to look at him, Shining Armor tackled the changeling out of the hold of the guards. Augury and Shining Armor tumbled away from Celestia, Luna, and Thunder Rend, almost knocking Luna off of her hooves as they rolled along the hall. As they came to a stop, Augury got a full grasp of what was happening, Shining Armor coming to a stop on top of him.

“You’ll pay for what you did to Twilight and Cadence! You’re mine!” Shining Armor screamed.

The captain of the royal guard lashed out into a fury as he pinned Augury against the ground, repeatedly ramming his hooves down on Augury’s face with all his might.

“Shining Armor, no! You’ll destroy the-!” Celestia began, but found her words fulfilled by the sound of a metal clink.

A few punches into the rage Shining Armor unleashed onto Augury, his anger had covered his senses. The stasis ring that had been put around Augury’s horn shattered within a matter of seconds, the magic conductive metal the ring was had been made of turning into a fine dust. Feeling the energy of magic course back into him, Augury knew it was about time to get his objective over with.

Augury lifted his hooves up as Shining Armor brought one of his hooves back down for another strike, Shining Armor’s hoof stopping abruptly against Augury’s. The changeling pinned on the floor quickly fired a large bullet of magic from his horn into Shining Armor, the white unicorn finding himself flying backwards and slamming against the wall of the palace hall. As Augury rolled onto his stomach and pushed himself back onto his hooves, he felt the floor of the hall shake violently, and the sound of electricity snapping quickly pulsed towards the changeling. Augury quickly cast a small barrier around himself, only just in time for Thunder Rend’s magic electricity to stop against the dark blue shield. After a few seconds of holding his barrier strong against Thunder Rend, Augury was able to see partially out of the blue electricity surrounding him. Through the unorganized mesh of sparks and bolts of lightning, Augury could spot Luna and Celestia building up some sort of spell between them, Thunder Rend on the other side of the bright light forming between the two princesses. Knowing he couldn’t last forever on his own energy, the changeling general knew he had to end the situation he was stuck in fast.

Augury focused harder on the barrier around him, charging a magic bullet in the barrier itself. As the bullet formed larger and stronger in the shield, Augury directed the bullet along the outline of the dark blue hemisphere protecting him, directing it straight at Thunder Rend, and firing it. The magic bullet let off a large pulse of air as it shot from the dark blue barrier, accelerating through the air towards Celestia and Luna’s spell. Although it was only a magic bullet, Celestia and Luna knew that it would interrupt their spell. Despite the spell only being at half capacity, the two princesses fired the beam of magic towards the changeling. The white beam of magic disassembled the dark blue magic bullet on impact, continuing down its path towards the changeling within the hall. Celestia and Luna, however, didn’t expect what was to come.

Augury smirked as he saw that the two princesses cast their spell before it was fully developed. The barrier protecting Augury quickly separated at the highest point of the hemisphere, splitting into sections. The sectional barrier fell flat on the floor of the hall and crushed the source of the electricity flowing from the floor, Augury’s focus turning from Thunder Rend’s extinguished spell towards the beam of magic heading straight for him. Augury brought the sectioned barrier back into a hemisphere, though he didn’t put the barrier around him. Rather, Augury set the barrier in front of him. The beam of magic sent by Celestia and Luna slammed into the dark blue barrier, creating a large crack that almost shattered the shield. As soon as all of the magic from the beam had collected in the hemisphere, Augury closed the barrier completely, creating a ball of pure magical energy trapped within a slowly degrading casing.

“I’ve waited a long time to do this, Princess Celestia.” Augury called out over the hum of the magic within its shell, smirking as he felt the barrier restraining the ball of magic crack even further.

Celestia and Luna could only gasp as their plan, which appeared seamless at the beginning, backfired tremendously. Augury hurled the dark blue bomb in his grasp towards Celestia, Luna, and Thunder Rend with a levitation spell. Before the three ponies could create a completed shield to protect themselves from the ball of magic, the dark blue casing had already shattered. The attack that Celestia and Luna had cast burst out of its shelter as it came into contact with Thunder Rend’s unfinished barrier, releasing a large explosion of bright white magic into the air. A cloud of dust was left floating in the palace hall as the explosion was done, revealing the destruction that had been left behind. The two honor guards that had not set up shields to protect themselves laid unconscious on the floor of the palace, the blast from the explosion large enough to even hit them fully. Augury let the barrier he had created disappear from around himself, taking a look at his surroundings for a second.

Shining Armor sat unmoving against the wall next to the palace entrance doors, still knocked out from Augury’s magic bullet. The massive explosion had shattered the windows lining the hall, and from the lack of Thunder Rend’s presence, she appeared to have been pushed out one of them. Augury made his way over to the two princesses laying on the floor, both of them dazed and on the verge of passing out from the power of their own magic. The changeling general too felt as if he would fall to the ground any second, the energy he had used to contain that much power within his shields almost enough to make him slip into a coma.

Augury stumbled his way over to Luna, poking at her as he stopped by her side. The princess of the night only flinched from Augury, too weak to move any more than a few inches from her place on the floor. Celestia wasn’t in much better shape either, as she could barely even move her legs without feeling like she would pass out. The changeling general pricked his ears up as he heard a distant commotion outside of the palace, the explosion from Celestia and Luna’s spell attracting quite the amount of attention from the military.

“Damn it... I’m not going to have the energy to take both of them with me...” Augury whispered to himself.

Acting on impulse, Augury knelt down and scooped Luna up onto his back, almost falling over at the use of strength to hold Luna steady.

“Alright... here goes nothing...” Augury said quietly.

The changeling general bit his lip as he built a teleportation spell in his horn, beginning to panic as he heard the voices of the military grow closer to the palace’s entrance. Augury breathed heavily as the teleportation spell died down into nothing, his heart pounding within him.

“Come on... come on!” Augury whispered.

Augury attempted to cast another teleportation spell, but only found his magic receding once more.

“Damn it, come on!” Augury yelled.

“Hey you! Drop the princess and turn around!” A voice yelled from the palace hall’s entrance.

Before the military ponies could even fire a magic bullet at the changeling holding Luna, Augury and the princess disappeared from the hall. Augury had succeeded in his objective, though there was no promise of him making it out of the teleportation spell conscious.

“Buck! He’s gone. Search the mountains and Canterlot’s perimeter, he’s around here somewhere.” The military pony at the head of the group ordered to the rest of the soldiers.

The military ponies following the sergeant nodded quickly and ran out of the palace hall, yelling to the other soldiers that had followed along to search for Augury and the princess. The sergeant turned back to the palace’s interior, scanning his eyes across the annihilated hall set in front of him. Shaking his head, the sergeant made his way over to Princess Celestia who had partially recovered from the blast.

“Are you alright, princess? You aren’t hurt, are you?” The sergeant asked, reaching out his hoof to Celestia.

“I’m fine. Thank you.” Celestia said calmly as she grabbed the sergeant’s hoof, standing back wearily onto her hooves.

“Uh... Princess Luna... she-”

“I know. I... I know.”

“We’re sending out groups to search for her and the changeling. They’re going to-”

“Have them come back.”

“Ma’am?”

“Augury and my sister are gone. You won’t be able to find them even if you tried. Go tell your troops to come back, we need the defense in Canterlot.”

“Princess, I don’t think-”

“As your princess, I order you to call you soldiers back to Canterlot and return to their posts. Am I clear?”

“Uh... yes, your highness. I’ll call them back.”

With a salute to Celestia, the sergeant turned around and ran out the entrance of the palace. The princess of the sun sighed lightly and shifted her eyes to the unconscious white unicorn across the hall. Shining Armor hadn’t moved an inch since he was knocked off of Augury, the area on the wall where Shining Armor had slammed against partially cracked. Celestia turned her head to the window behind her, staring off into the mountains beyond Canterlot. Augury and Luna were out there, and Celestia knew that, but trying to find them would be for naught.

“Luna... I’m sorry.” Celestia whispered to herself, shutting her dampening eyes as tight as she could.

Only one princess remained. Augury had to be brought to a stop.

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Phew, action scenes put out a lot of words. The length is, unfortunately, going to have to stay where it is. I would split this chapter up into two parts, but considering this whole thing takes place in the same time frame and setting, there really wasn't any good place for me to split it up.

Anyways, if you're wondering about Augury's hostility towards Celestia and the little flashback to the School for Gifted Unicorns, that will be dug into and gutted out quite a bit later on.

[17] Suspending The Darkness

Chapter Seventeen: Suspending The Darkness

A small chatter of hoofsteps and hisses rung throughout what used to be a forest in the shadow of the mountains. Though with the occurrence of changelings and their queen, that forest had changed from a beautiful green landscape to a horrid sight for anything’s eyes. In the course of only a day and a half from the first changeling born, more than one hundred had followed afterwards, the number increasing with every hour. As the number of changelings increased, however, the quantity of plants and other such organisms and resources dwindled away. The vast forest that had been thriving with all sorts of life had been stripped of its pulchritude, replaced by a barren and dry wasteland slowly distorting its own shape. Flat land forming into hills in some parts and craters in others, the rocklike substance that made the floor of the wasteland slowly shaped itself into what used to be known as The Hive, the home of the changelings. The only thing that was missing from The Hive’s completion now, though, was order.

Chrysalis lowered herself down to the floor of the clearing that seemed so familiar, despite the alterations that made the forest seem like a desert. Though the green light from the developing changelings in their bubbles off in the distance provided enough light to see, the moon radiated peacefully from the night sky, allowing The Hive’s inhabitants to see even in the latest hours of night as if it were twilight. The trees that Tranquility and the mares that Augury had taken still stood as lively as ever, even the three that Rarity, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie had come out of. Two other trees also stood tall and healthy, awaiting the arrival of the last of Augury’s targets. The standing trees were the only thing for quite a while that was naturally green, the slowly building land of changelings beginning to fill the lost greenery with its own hue. The area Chrysalis stood in used to be a clearing surrounded by trees, but was now only a large flat portion of the land on top of a hill, though the contents that were held within the clearing still remained. Chrysalis didn’t mind that changes under her hooves, considering that it was forming into a replica of what was once her home.

The changeling queen scanned the raised clearing, seeing no other changelings in the area besides a certain general standing in front of a newly inhabited cocoon.

Chrysalis cleared her throat and tapped her hoof on the ground. “Augury. I assume that’s Luna in that cocoon.” Chrysalis said as she slowly walked forward to the changeling general.

Augury didn’t move an inch from where he was, his mouth barely even moving as he spoke. “...Yeah. Yeah, it’s her.” Augury mumbled.

Chrysalis lifted an eyebrow at Augury as she stopped at his side, taking a glance into the cocoon Augury stood in front of. “Ah, your princess of the night that indeed is. Fantastic work, Augury. I never would have dreamed of one of the natural changelings completing a task such as this. Speaking of natural changelings, I don’t see the two that you brought with you to Canterlot. They didn’t make it?”

“No... they didn’t.”

“What happened?”

“Killed. Both of them...”

“Considering you don’t even like changelings, your tone seems a bit sad. I would think that you would be happy that you got them off your back.”

“I could care less about them. It’s just... Luna.”

“What about her?”

Augury paused for a second, recollecting his thoughts as he tilted his head up from the ground. “On the way back from Canterlot, I had to walk for a little while. Celestia, Luna, Shining Armor, and the captain of the honor guard put up a fight before I was able to take Luna. Given their strengths, I was on the verge of passing out by the end of the fighting. I was lucky to even counter Celestia and Luna’s attack back into them.”

“You’re sad that you got out alive?”

“I’m not sad that I got out alive, I’m a little upset because of what Luna did on the way here.”

“Go on.”

“Since I didn’t have the energy to fly or cast a teleportation spell, I had to walk quite a way in between Canterlot and here. It was kind of nice, actually. Though that changed fairly easily. The sleep spell that I put on Luna once I got out of Canterlot was weak, barely enough to keep her down. She was talking in her sleep.”

“And?”

“She was... crying. For her sister. The princess of the night... partial leader of Equestria... crying for her sister.”

“You can’t be serious. This is what you’re complaining about?”

Augury stomped his hoof on the ground and turned to Chrysalis with an enraged look across his face. “Don’t you see!? I did this. A pony that not only a week ago was perfectly fine with his marefriend is now causing pain and suffering in his own home. Do you know why this is happening?”

“Augury-”

The changeling general interrupted Chrysalis before she could even speak another word. “This is happening because of you! All of this! All I wanted was to have time away from the heartbreak, the pain, the mental suffering I had to go through in that hospital. But you just had to bring it back!”

“Augury, I order you to calm down.”

Augury only grew angrier as he continued on. “You just had to take away the happiness that I had left in me and destroy it because you failed to do all of this yourself! Why did you have to bring me into this!?”

“As your queen, you are subject to my orders! Now calm down!”

“You could’ve chosen any other pony! Why me!? Why the one pony that was on the verge of breaking down!?”

“Augury!”

“Why!?”

Chrysalis bit down on her lip to try and hold back her voice, but only found her rage boiling over as she separated her teeth. “Enough!”

The booming release of frustration echoed throughout the entire area that The Hive covered, the changelings not even near the heated argument stopping what they were doing in surprise. Augury and Chrysalis stared at each other angrily in a sudden silence, both of them breathing a bit heavier than before. The chattering and hissing of the changelings spread across what used to be a forest had dimmed down slightly, Augury able to see a few cyan eyes off in the distance staring at him and the queen.

“Upset as you may be, you are still under my rule.” Chrysalis started. “Therefore, you are to do as I say when I say or else you know what will happen.”

Augury only stared at the changeling queen standing in front of him, his breathing calming down ever so slightly. “You could at least pretend like you have some sympathy.” Augury said quietly.

“If I pretended, it wouldn’t really mean anything, now would it?”

“To you it may not, but it sure would make a difference to me.”

With his last statement, Augury slowly turned away from Chrysalis, the changeling general walking off to the center of the raised flat land.

“Augury, I’m-” Chrysalis began.

“Forget it.” Augury said quickly as he scratched at the solid ground beneath him. “I don’t care what you have to say, just forget it.”

Chrysalis closed her mouth and bowed her head down slightly, yet kept an agitated glare on the changeling facing away from her. “Can we put this behind us, now? I’d rather not start another argument in the first minutes that you return.”

“Sure.”

“Then I’ll take my leave as for now. We’ll discuss the matter of Celestia later. I’ll be near the-”

“Can we just get it over with right now?”

Chrysalis stood silent for a second before she sighed and walked over to Augury, staring at him gently from his side. “Why is that?” Chrysalis asked.

“I’d rather not have to see your face another time tonight. I also want to talk about something else before Celestia, if it’s alright.” Augury said.

Chrysalis sat down as Augury lowered himself to the ground as well. “Spit it out, then.”

“The landscape. I’m assuming this is what the last changeling settlement was like before. Am I wrong?”

“No, no you’re not. What about it?”

“I just want to know if it’s going to change any further. The forest... well, the wasteland that the forest is now is starting to look like a miniature version of the mountains. Well, a more disturbing and chaotic version of the mountains. How much more is it going to change?”

Chrysalis giggled partially. “Much more than you can imagine. What you’re seeing right now is only the beginning of what is to come. Soon enough there will be over passes and walkways and all sorts of changeling structures that stretch on for the entire Hive.”

“Hive?”

“The home of the changelings. This is what this all is, Augury. A resurrection of what I lost.”

“Uh huh. What about Tranquility? Will she be in a safe place when ‘The Hive’ is done forming into shape?”

“She and the mares you have brought back will be fine. This little platform that that clearing has been turned into will soon grow into a larger area, which will in time become my spire. They’ll stay in the bottom floors of the spire and never move until you give them the word.”

Augury smiled a bit and let out a small sigh of relief. “Good. The changelings can’t get into your... uh, spire, can they?”

“Not without my permission, no. Is that what you’re worried about?”

“Well...”

“You’re going to have to learn to trust changelings, Augury, whether you like them or not. You’re a changeling yourself, if I must remind you.”

“I’m not a changeling. I never will be.”

“Keep telling yourself that, see how much it does for you.”

Augury shook his head slowly. “Whatever. As long as Tranquility and the other mares are out of sight of the changelings, I fine with them being in the spire. So, how tall is this ‘spire’ going to be, exactly? And what is it for?”

“The spire will be tall enough to see across the entire Hive, so it’s going to be fairly tall. Not only is it for watching for any potential threats coming to the spire, it is also my home within the Hive.”

“I see. Where do the changelings stay then?”

“Anywhere they want that’s not in the spire. They’re loyal to me and they always will be, so I don’t have to worry about them wandering off.” Chrysalis lightly nudged Augury on the side. “I only wish I could say the same about you.”

“Wish all you want. You know that’s never going to happen.”

Chrysalis sighed frustratedly and followed Augury as the changeling general stood up and walked over to the edge of the platform, staring out at the changelings that had returned to the their work after Chrysalis’s outburst. Formations of spikes were slowly being built one by one in random areas throughout The Hive, the changelings constructing the spikes trying their best to break the solid ground and reshape it. The changelings that weren’t working on the menacing spikes were either wandering around The Hive, flying around on patrol, or making the best of their time by practicing changing forms. In less than a week, The Hive had grown to half of the capacity that the original Hive once was. The development was more than anything Chrysalis could have dreamed of, but it was only a growing nightmare for Augury.

“I don’t understand how you can live with this.” Augury muttered as he stared out at the network of changelings.

“You’re forgetting that this was once my homeland. At least, what it looked like. This is one of the most magnificent things I have seen in a while.” Chrysalis said.

“I don’t care what it used to be, I just want to get it out of my sight as soon as possible.” Augury cleared his throat turned his head to Chrysalis. “Celestia, the last of the princesses. I’m going to need more than just two changelings to get to her through the amount of security that’s building up in Canterlot.”

“Ah yes, Celestia. Capturing her might be more of an issue than the other two. I suppose you wouldn’t be able to handle it by yourself, would you? I need all the natural changelings here to keep up the work on the landscape and spire.”

Augury returned his gaze back to The Hive as Chrysalis met her eyes with Augury’s for a small second. “Considering I barely got out of Canterlot alive with the assistance of two changelings, I think you know the answer.”

Chrysalis sighed and poked at the edge of the platform in front of her. “Well then I guess we’re going to have to take the long route.”

“The long route?”

“The changelings here in The Hive are ready to go out into battle, no doubt, but The Hive itself isn’t ready for a full scale attack. A lot of the defenses aren’t set up and the spire isn’t even started yet. When Celestia is taken from Equestria; the military, royal guard, and honor guard aren’t going to be happy about it. They’ll start searching for her, and they will find her. They’ve probably started searching a while ago for the six mares, Luna, Cadence, but not as much of a search if all three of the princesses are gone.”

“You’re saying that you don’t want me to capture Celestia?”

“Yes. The Hive needs to be fortified before any actual battles form.”

“How long will that be?”

“Two to three days, maybe more. With the number of changelings already born, a lot of work can be done. Just to think, Augury, you’ll be leading them into battle yourself. Such numbers of changelings at your hooves.”

“They don’t even know my name except for a small group of them. They’re not going to follow any of my orders if they don’t know who I am.”

“Augury, you’re a changeling general by my word. They’re going to have to follow your orders even if they don’t want to. Besides, you shouldn’t have any problems with them in battle. Once they get opportunities to capture a target with your permission, they’ll be all over the pony they’re after.”

“Wait, what?” Augury gave Chrysalis a confused look. “What are you talking about?”

Chrysalis smiled as she saw the expression on Augury’s face. “When I say you’ll be leading them into battle, I mean that you’ll be leading raids on the cities in Equestria. Your objective, along with the changelings you bring with, is to capture ponies throughout Equestria and bring them back here for assimilation and feeding. You will meet resistance, but your primary focus is not to eliminate the resistance you find. Defend yourself, of course, but do not make it your purpose during the raid.”

“So you want me to lead an army of changelings into the cities of Equestria... and take innocent ponies back here for food and assimilation?”

“It’s what you have been doing before, isn’t it?”

Augury shook his head and backed away from Chrysalis. “No! This is not what I was doing before! I was taking ponies out of Equestria for a purpose, to make Equestria have less power! This... this is just sheer terror!”

Chrysalis stayed where she was at the edge of the platform. “It’s life as a changeling. We need love to feed off of, and Equestria has the most in I have ever seen before. If we succeed in taking over Equestria, changelings will last forever!” The changeling queen curved her mouth into a smile and turned her gaze to Augury. “And it’s all thanks to you, Augury.”

“Chrysalis! I... I don’t...”

Augury’s quiet cries were shut out of Chrysalis’s ears as the changeling queen flew away from the platform, heading off towards the rest of The Hive to inspect the progress the changelings were making with their fortifications. Augury growled lightly and kicked at the ground beneath him, glaring off into the wasteland that had become The Hive. A quick thought raced through Augury’s mind, a thought of leaving, taking Tranquility’s suggestion and making it a reality. Tranquility would be left behind, deserted and surely in harm’s way should Chrysalis find out that Augury was gone. Though the thought was only a split second, Augury shook his head and slapped himself in the face, shaking his head violently afterwords and breathing heavily.

“No! Don’t even think about that!” Augury thought to himself. “She’s the reason you’re doing all of this. You’re doing this for her! You can’t let her go... you...” Augury swallowed lightly and turned his head to the platform, stopping his gaze at the tree holding up Tranquility’s cocoon. “...can’t.”

Augury sighed and adjusted himself to face towards the wasteland again, staring off sorrowfully into the bland and horrid landscape that, unfortunately, was his home.

For now.

______________________________________________________________________

Celestia shifted her eyes to the entrance of the hall connected to Canterlot Tower as the doors opened slowly, hoofsteps echoing in the large building. With a few motions of his hooves and a salute to the stallions following him, Shining Armor continued into the hall alone as the guards that had escorted him to the building exited through the closing doors of the hall. The princess of the sun and Shining Armor met each other in the middle of the hall, nodding to each other briefly.

“I hope you know why I called you here.” Celestia started.

“The issue of Augury.” Shining Armor stated.

Celestia nodded her head and walked over to one of the windows along the hall, Shining Armor standing where he was and watching her. “As you may have heard, Luna was taken yesterday.”

“Yes. I’m... sorry, princess. I tried my hardest to-”

Celestia coldly cut Shining Armor off. “You started sending groups of royal guards out of Canterlot to look for your sister and Cadence a while ago, correct?”

“Uh... yes. I did.”

“You know that we need all of the defense we can get in Canterlot and out in the cities of Equestria.”

“I know, but I just thought that I could-”

“Enough. I am permitting you to keep sending out those groups, however. We can’t just sit in Canterlot and hope that we can capture another changeling for interrogation. Am I clear?”

“Yes ma’am.”

“Good. Now, about Thunder Rend. I assume that her honor guards have found her?”

“Beaten badly at the midway of the mountain. She’s in the hospital near the palace recovering.”

“When will she recover?”

“She... fell down about half of a mountain, princess. She won’t be able to walk for a day or so.”

“I see. When she is released from the hospital, make sure she sees me immediately. I have something for her.”

“I’ll make sure of it.”

Celestia sighed as she stared out at the morning landscape of Equestria she had started earlier, watching the edge of the sun’s light move slowly across the hills and mountains in the distance. The princess of the sun turned herself to face Shining Armor, who patiently waited in silence until Celestia said something.

“I know that you got some more information out of Augury yesterday.” Celestia said firmly.

“I did, yes.” Shining Armor nodded.

“Tell me what you know.”

Shining Armor bit his lip and adverted his eyes from Celestia, but quickly adjusted his position and centered his eyes on the princess. “An assimilated changeling. He was a stallion before he was what he is now. His true identity is... Salvation. I think you remember him.”

Celestia gasped slightly, but not enough for Shining Armor to notice the sudden hint of surprise. “Salvation? The colt that...” The princess trailed off as she dug into her memory.

Sure enough, the picture of a crying light-grey colt on the ground in front of her popped into Celestia’s head. Though it had been so long ago, even the oldest of minds remember such resentment from one single colt grown up. Celestia remembered the other times that she and Salvation had crossed paths in Canterlot, the glares that Salvation ever so clearly portrayed in disrespect, the rude remarks that he made when coming face to face with the sun princess. For what Celestia had done to the light grey colt, nothing could have repaired Salvation’s opinion of the ruler of Equestria. Even if his life depended on saving the princess, Salvation would have made an exception of his cutie mark just for her.

Celestia stood quiet for a moment as she absorbed the information. “Shining Armor, you are sure that this is the name Augury told you?” Celestia asked as she recovered from her slightly catatonic state.

“I’m certain. Even I remember him.” Shining Armor confirmed.

“I... see.”

“Salvation, er- Augury, he’s not going to be quite the happiest or merciful when he... you know.”

“Then we’ll just have to find the changelings before they come back. Until Thunder Rend is recovered, I am putting you in charge of the honor guards.”

“Princess?”

“Have a few groups of royal and honor guards head to the outskirts of Equestria and search for any landmarks or landscapes that have hints of changeling activity on them. If the queen is coward enough to send her changelings in to wither away at Equestria’s population, we’ll have to find her.”

“Princess Celestia... I don’t think I’m capable of being in charge of-”

“I just need you to do this until Thunder Rend is healthy again. When she recovers, you may return the command of the honor guards back to her.”

“I...” Shining Armor shook his head and looked at the floor beneath him. “...I’ll take command of the honor guards. The search groups along with the groups that had been going out of Canterlot before will take duty of finding the changelings sight.”

“Thank you, Shining Armor. You may leave now.”

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

Not too much action in this chapter, though there will be quite a bit of battling coming up very soon.

(I wonder if lightning made of fire can exist?)

[18] Inferno Of Sparks

Chapter Eighteen: Inferno Of Sparks

The Hive sat in an eerie silence for the time of day, though almost no light could be seen through the dark and thick clouds flowing gently across the dusk sky. The floor of the land of changelings stirred only slightly as the inhabitants waited for what seemed to take forever, restlessness growing within each changeling every second. Despite the slow and agonizing patience that the changelings had to sit through, a feeling of excitement also filled their hearts, knowing that they would finally be able to do what they have wanted to do for so long. Three days The Hive had gone without love to feed on, and the changelings within The Hive began to grow weak, but they retained enough energy to remember what they would be doing, and how to master the cruelty inside of themselves. With the guidance of a spectacular leader from speculation around The Hive, the changelings could only wait in the large plain that used to be a forest until the leader they heard of would arrive.

Queen Chrysalis stood at the small replica of a balcony on the side of the mountain that overlooked the field of changelings, scanning her eyes over the vast area that had become The Hive. The landscape of mountains and forests had been depleted of almost all of its life, but that did not halt the expansion of the relentless onslaught of changelings. Digging further out of the original point where The Hive began, Chrysalis slowly took over the section of the outskirts of Equestria she had made her home. Mountains turned into mounds drilled with tunnels and the flatlands turned into complicated paths and bridges, the changelings under Queen Chrysalis’s rule began to see why Chrysalis had been working them so hard. Their most prized accomplishment, however, was kept to the queen herself.

The spire that the changelings had worked so hard on was finally completed after three days of nonstop construction, and Chrysalis could never have been happier without it. Staring over the entire Hive and beyond, the spire proved to be the most menacing landmark within The Hive. Built with over ten floors for various different uses, the spire stood almost as high as the clouds that swirled around in the sky. As promised by Chrysalis, Tranquility and the other mares that Augury had brought to The Hive remained in the base of the spire, safe from any harm the changelings dared to inflict on them, though they were subject to Chrysalis running her eyes over them profusely in disgust. The majority of the ponies had finished the process of assimilation, though the two princesses still awaited the force of changelings to take over them. Despite her staying in the spire for almost the entire three days that had gone by from her last talk with Augury, Chrysalis longed to go back to her private quarters at the top of the spire, the queen staring at the tower overseeing The Hive in the distance from the balcony she waited on.

A small commotion of hissing and stomping of hooves rumbled in the vast field of changelings in the valley below Chrysalis’s balcony, the changeling queen adverting her eyes from her spire to the balcony beside her. In her state of mesmerization, Augury had managed to walk right next to her without warning her of his presence, Chrysalis slightly jumping at the sudden sight of the changeling general.

“I assume they’re ready.” Augury spoke, glaring out at the field of changelings that seemed ever so disgusting to him.

“For about thirty minutes, yes. What took you so long?” Chrysalis snapped.

“I was taking care of something. Nothing you should worry about.”

Chrysalis briefly motioned her head to the changelings awaiting Augury to begin. “Then get on with it. My hooves are getting tired.”

Augury nodded and stepped forward to the edge of the balcony, clearing his throat quickly before sparking an amplifying spell in front of him, a transparent dark blue shield floating out in front of him. “If I had a choice, I wouldn’t even be here.” Augury started, his voice instantly growing in volume as the sound reached the blue shield. “I don’t like any of you, lets get that straight. But, since I’m not a fiend like all of you are, I’m not going to leave my loved ones behind.”

A chatter of disgruntled hisses grew within the field of changelings, but died down as Chrysalis stomped her hoof on the balcony, sending a loud crack echoing through The Hive that silenced the changelings that began to let their anger take over them.

“I told you to come here to give them orders, not insult them. This is your first impression on most of them, don’t blow it.” Chrysalis warned.

Augury paid no attention to Chrysalis’s remark. “That said, you are to follow my orders when we are out of The Hive. If you don’t like it, deal with it. Have complaints? Keep them to yourself. I don’t want to hear a word from any of you unless you’re telling me something important, and by important, I mean it better be something about the mission. Your lives are meaningless to me.”

Chrysalis hit Augury on the side lightly, but the changeling general only continued on coldly. “We will be leaving for Cloudsdale tomorrow morning. If you don’t know where that is, you’re more idiotic than I thought, but I will be leading the way their, so try not to get lost. Each and every one of you sorry souls are to capture and cocoon as many ponies as you can and bring them back here. Your queen has set up a designated area near the mountains for feeding grounds, so bring the cocoons there. Remember that your targets are pegasi that have been flying for their entire life, so don’t underestimate their abilities in flight. Not only should you be wary of the pegasi themselves, but keep caution of the royal and honor guards that are in Cloudsdale. They are dangerous, they are ruthless, and they will kill you without hesitation. Try to take them out at a range. When that first magic bullet is fired from us, you better be ready to haul flank into Cloudsdale and take out as many of the guards before reinforcements arrive, which isn’t going to be long. I have assigned designated groups to keep a safe trail back to The Hive. Your job is to eliminate any ponies that decide it’s a good idea to follow us back. If you can, capture them. That’s it for now. Go back to your work.”

A rumble of stomping hooves roared quietly in the field of changelings below, and despite the applause coming from changelings, Augury felt a feeling of worth in the mix of changelings. However, not only a second later were the changelings dispersing from the large field extending from the base of the mountain, the stomping of hooves replaced by the fluttering of wings. Augury let go of the amplification spell he had cast and sighed tiredly, leaning forward and resting his forelegs on the railing around the balcony’s edge.

Chrysalis walked to Augury’s side and rustled his mane, though Augury only stood still and stared out at the emptying sheet of changelings. “Though you may have been a bit rough on some edges, you got the message to them.” Chrysalis said. “You’re their leader out of their home, I expect you to take care of them.”

“No promises.” Augury poked at Chrysalis.

“No promises as in ‘I’ll make sure they turn out just fine’?” Chrysalis warned.

“Whatever floats your boat.”

“Augury.”

“I’ll try my best, alright? I’m not a military commander.”

“Well now you are. Think back to those books you read from the Equestrian military, maybe they’ll help you.”

Augury stuck his tongue out partially as Chrysalis floated away from the balcony, heading of quite hastily towards her spire. The changeling general was left alone on the balcony in the darkening mountain range, though a few changelings from the crowd still hung in the area as they returned to where they had made their homes. Augury perked his ears up as he heard a set of hooves set down on the balcony behind him, but the general stayed firmly where he was. A moment of silence passed as Augury stared out at the clearing skies above The Hive, not taking any notice to the presence he felt behind him.

A strangely familiar voice spoke out from behind Augury. “Do you have a moment, general?”

Augury formed a confused mold on his face and he slowly turned around to see who was talking to him, and sure enough, his suspicions were right. Despite the voice having a snake-like accent to it, Augury quickly noticed where the voice had come from, a voice that he had been longing for so long. The body that the voice came from, however, was not the body Augury had hoped for. Hooves drilled with holes, horn curved and pointed, mane and coat similar to that of Tranquility’s silky and grey, eyes bright cyan, and fangs hanging from her upper lips, a changeling assimilated Tranquility stood firmly in front of the shocked, confused, and almost terrified changeling general staring at her in disbelief.

“Tran... quility? What... what... no, this can’t be right. This can’t be right! What did I do!? What happened!?” Augury shouted, backing away fearfully from the changeling standing in front of him.

“Wait! General, don’t be alarmed, I’m not who you think I am.” The Tranquility look alike began, holding her hoof out to Augury. Her voice was almost emotionless.

Augury stopped in mid step as he heard the phrase come out of the changeling’s mouth. “...What do you mean? Who- who are you then?” Augury asked slowly, trying his best not to break down into a ball of hopelessness.

“Queen Chrysalis has made a changeling similar to the one you know as Tranquility. I am that changeling. She told me to come see you after your speech.”

Augury ran his eyes over what seemed to be Tranquility. “Chrysalis did this? What in Equestria for?”

“She said something about keeping your mind healthy. Also for me to see what you think of h-”

Augury quickly lifted his hoof to the changeling’s mouth, beginning to accept that the changeling wasn’t Tranquility. “Hang on. You’re a changeling fitted with the appearance of my marefriend, I get that. There’s just one thing I need to know. Answer my question and nothing else, alright?”

Tranquility nodded as Augury lowered his hoof away from her.

“When... uh, when were you hatched?” Augury began. “If you can’t remember clearly, that’s fine, I just need a rough estimate. Can you tell me that?”

“Around a week ago.” Tranquility recalled. “I remember seeing you from the edge of the clearing that used to be the queen’s spire. I was told not to approach you.”

“I assume that it was Chrysalis that told you that.”

“Yes.”

“I see. You’re a... copy of Tranquility with the appearance of a changeling, then.” Augury let out an exasperated sigh and sat down quickly, lifting a hoof to his face and shaking his head.

“Is something the matter, general?” Tranquility asked.

“No. Nothing’s wrong. It’s just... I don’t know. I’m confused.” Augury said as he took his hoof of his face.

“I could explain again if you want.”

“I understand, there’s no need for that. There’s something else I want to know, though. Do you have any of Tranquility’s... memories?”

Tranquility tilted her head as she thought intently, but eventually found something. “I have a faint recollection of some past events with a grey stallion by the name of Salvation. Is that useful, general?”

Augury chuckled to himself. “Actually... yes, that is. You wouldn’t mind coming over here, would you?”

Tranquility shook her head lightly and walked forward to Augury, the two changelings falling into a small silence. Augury rested his hoof on Tranquility’s cheek, amazed, yet disgusted at the creation in front of him. Chrysalis had been able to create an almost perfect copy of Tranquility with the appearance of a changeling, even taking the time to put some of Tranquility’s memories into the changeling, though Augury felt a little enraged that Chrysalis had tapped into the original Tranquility’s mind for the memories. With the process of making the copy out of the way, however, Augury was only staring at an almost complete Tranquility.

“You’re... just like her.” Augury muttered.

“I was made that way, yes.” Tranquility replied, smiling only just.

“Uh... right. Here, just... take a seat for a second next to me. You’re probably tired from standing up while you were waiting for me in the crowd.”

Tranquility nodded her head and walked to Augury’s side as the changeling general faced to the balcony’s edge, both of them sitting quietly as they stared out at The Hive.

“What is the purpose of this, general? Are we waiting for something?” Tranquility asked, looking around with a confused expression on her face as if she were looking for something.

“No, we’re not waiting for anything. And, it’d be nice if you wouldn’t call me general. Just call me by my name, okay?" Augury said, setting his eyes on Tranquility.

The confused changeling met her gaze with Augury’s. “Then what would you like me to call you?”

“I... call me Salvation.”

“Salvation? The stallion from my memories? Does he have significance to you?”

“I am Salvation... well, barely.”

“You do not look like him, and from your speech you do not sound like him.”

Augury almost let his voice unleash its anger on Tranquility, but he quickly repressed the desire to shout back into himself. “...Yeah. I guess so. Things have changed. Unfortunately... I may have as well.”

“But you are a changeling. You have always been like this, have you not?”

“It would seem that way to you, but I have known myself longer than you have. Tell me, what memories do you have that are Tranquility’s?”

Tranquility put a hoof on her chin for a second. “I remember a night sky with a full moon. Salvation was there, holding me.” Tranquility felt a pressure on her hoof, but paid no attention to it. “We were talking about something. A sort of-”

“Saying that you used to go by. Your mother’s.”

Tranquility continued. “Salvation and I laid back and we stared up at the sky. We started to recite a...” She quickly paused and thought for a second. “... a saying that my mother had said to me. I only remember a few lines, but I think I can start it. I think it goes... um...”

“Happiness, time spent with the ones you love. Push aside the sadness, and stare into the sky above. Reflect on your past, hold on to the memories, and you’ll have nothing to fear. The present isn’t the best place to be, when within your eyes, are tears.” Augury recited.

Tranquility quickly turned to look at Augury, a sense that she had felt had been missing slowly rising within her. A feeling that she had been made to feel.

“I think that’s what you’re trying to remember.” Augury said, staring into Tranquility’s eyes.

“You... you are Salvation.” Tranquility said quietly. She slowly lowered her eyes form Augury’s calm stare, noticing Augury’s hoof resting on hers.

“I don’t know what Chrysalis was planning when she made you... but whatever it was, I think it worked.”

Tranquility returned her eyes to Augury’s. “What do you mean?”

Augury laughed gently. “Nothing.” The changeling general focused his sight on the landscape off of the balcony. “Nothing at all.”

______________________________________________________________________

The morning had risen not too long ago, and with the rise of the sun, The Hive also vitalized with its inhabitants. Chrysalis slowly awakened in her bed that was held in the very top room of the spire, stretching her legs out and yawning loudly. Despite the rest of The Hive and the spire having a more ‘changeling’ feel to them, Chrysalis’s quarters had somewhat of an elegant touch, though it was not far from the style of the rest of The Hive. Bland from almost any color than green and black, Chrysalis’s room blended in with the rest of the spire and The Hive, though its height was quite the sight. Having not been raised around ponies, Chrysalis’s taste in decoration was a bit different than what a normal pony would think looked good, as the only furnishings within her room were a bed, a large mirror on the opposite wall from her bed, a cabinet for not even Chrysalis knew what to do with, an assortment of unneeded tables lining the room’s walls, and a quite comfortable circular rug that matched the room’s shape. A disaster of a home to others, a sanctuary to Chrysalis and her subjects.

Queen Chrysalis smacked her lips a few times, stretched a bit more, and rubbed her eyes before she rolled in her bed and opened her eyes to meet the sun raising in the large window off to the side of her room. What met her eyes was not what she had expected, however.

“Explain.” Augury said directly, his unemotional face not an inch away from Chrysalis’s.

The changeling queen just about fell off of her bed as she saw Augury, but quickly caught herself with a flutter of her wings before her back hit the ground.

“Augury!? What are you doing in here!?” Chrysalis shouted as she set herself down on the floor of her room.

“I should be asking the questions, but hang on a second. These blankets are nice...” Augury rolled around cutely in Chrysalis’s bed with a large grin, trying his best to shed off some of his mane and coat on the large mattress stuffed with a squishy material.

“Stop it! Right now! Get out!” Chrysalis pointed to the window.

“Right after you explain to me why I was confronted by a changeling copy of Tranquility yesterday night.” Augury said with a smile as he came to a stop upside down on the bed, his head hanging off of the side nearest to Chrysalis.

“I made that changeling to try and see if I could recreate ponies with certain memories. I guess it was a kind of success with the report she gave back to me later that night after you fell asleep.”

“What? You two are collaborating with each other?”

“Not collaborating, experimenting. Well, I’m experimenting, she’s the experiment. I heard you got quite the night’s sleep last night.”

“I take no meaning out of my actions with that little replica you made. I miss Tranquility, alright? The little copy you made was the closest thing I had to holding her again. Naturally, I took the chance.”

“So you embraced a changeling?”

“Don’t think anything of this. The only reason I took her in was because she was like Tranquility, nothing else. So, how did you get some of Tranquility’s memories? You got a rather precious one, I must say. I’m also not too happy about it. You owe me something.”

“For borrowing some memories? You should be thanking me. If not for those memories, the changeling I designed would have just thought of you as another changeling. The only reason she felt something with you was because of those memories of Salvation.”

“I really hope you’re not planning on doing this again. You’re creating beings that are just copies of another being. That’s a bit harsh, considering the changeling that you design from a pony is pretty much just a clone worth nothing.”

“Worth nothing? You had fun with your Tranquility replica, don’t deny that.”

“She’s not mine, she’s yours. I only...” Augury closed his eyes and shook his head. “Lets just drop it. I’m sick of talking about this.”

“That’s probably for the best. You still have yet to lead the changelings to Cloudsdale today. They’re probably getting ready right now.”

Augury sighed and rolled onto his stomach. “Yeah, yeah, go to Cloudsdale with the changelings and carry out the mission, I get it.”

“Well then I expect to see this operation as a success with minimal casualties.”

Augury hopped off of the bed and onto the floor of the room. “You’re asking a lot for my first mission as a commanding general.”

“You’ve handled two princesses.”

“Barely.”

“That doesn’t change the face that you were able to capture them. Now go.”

“Whatever.”

Augury trotted over to the window overlooking The Hive, stopping for a second to hatefully admire the view of the landscape. Sure enough, the changelings had built the spire quite a ways upward, Augury able to see the edge of The Hive where the vegetation began.

“Before I go, Chrysalis, I want to know one more thing.” Augury said, turning his head back to Chrysalis, who was staring at herself in her mirror.

“What is it?” Chrysalis asked as she played with her mane.

“You said that you made the replica of Tranquility to see if you could create ponies with certain memories.” Augury paused for a second. “Why?”

Chrysalis fixed her eyes on herself as the question came from Augury’s mouth, the changeling queen finding a small red tint on her face. “...No reason. I was just... testing it out, seeing if I could. You should go now.” Chrysalis said quietly.

“If you say so.”

Chrysalis watched Augury fly away from the spire out of the corner of her eye, making sure that Augury was long gone before she even moved an inch. The changeling queen sighed and stared at herself back in the mirror, noticing that the red tint in her face had faded as the sound of Augury’s wings flapping disappeared.

______________________________________________________________________

“Platinum, get over here.” Valor called out from a cloud floating on the outskirts of Cloudsdale, the pegasus royal guard staring off at the cloudy sky.

Another pegasus royal guard set himself down on the cloud next to Valor, taking off his helmet. “What? See something?” Platinum asked.

“I don’t know. Cloudsdale isn’t scheduled for a bit of a drizzle, is it?”

“A slight rainfall, yeah. Why?”

“Those clouds out there.” Valor lifted his hoof and pointed it at a rather large group of dark clouds drifting slowly towards the city in the sky. “Those don’t look like ordinary storm clouds, more or less the ones that Cloudsdale had sent out earlier. Should we send out a group to check them out?”

Platinum examined the storm clouds for a second. “Nah. I’m sure they’re fine. Come on, Cloudsdale isn’t protecting itself. We have to keep a watch out.”

“Unless the other hundred royal guards are busy admiring the scenery as well, I think Cloudsdale can deal with a few royal guards off.”

“We have a job, we stick with it. Besides, I heard the captain of the honor guard was told to make a stop here to check up on us.”

“What about Shining Armor? Why isn’t he checking on us?”

“Something about needing him in Canterlot. There are honor guards here, too, you know, and they don’t take orders from Shining Armor. Now let’s go, I don’t want to get caught off duty when the captain comes around.”

“Hey, maybe if she does catch us off guard we’ll be able to admire that fine-”

“Stop right there, Valor. I’d rather not have this conversation again.”

“You know you want some of that, don’t deny it.”

Platinum sighed frustratedly and began to fly back towards Cloudsdale. “Shut up and get back on duty.”

The city of pegasi was not too much different than Canterlot and the other main cities of Equestria by now, considering that royal and honor guards roamed the outskirts and major landmarks within Cloudsdale. Citizens, royal guards, and honor guards alike, they stood wary of the air around them, watching and waiting for something to happen. Military reserved for the ground cities, Cloudsdale was at a slight disadvantage in defense, though the guards posted in the city in the sky kept true to their word when they swore to protect Equestria, no matter the consequences. Despite their loyal, brave, and powerful nature, the royal and honor guards of Equestria were still susceptible to paranoia and fear. With the threat of being attacked radiating from everypony that passed by, the ponies of Equestria began to question their safety. Their fear of being attacked was justified, as Cloudsdale would be the first to experience the full wrath of changelings.

The storm clouds that Valor had spotted earlier were right to be suspicious of, all of Cloudsdale soon finding out that they were hiding much more than just rain. As the ominous clouds grew closer to the city of pegasi, a buzzing sound resonated in the air around Cloudsdale, the royal and honor guards turning away from their work to the strange noise. The pegasi flying around Cloudsdale came to a halt in their day as well, fluttering their wings to float as they focused on the large storm clouds heading toward their home. Cloudsdale had become silent, the buzzing originating from the dark clouds sweeping slowly over the city replacing the day to day ambience that Cloudsdale provided. The clouds came to a stop in one place over the city of pegasi, blotting out the sun in the afternoon sky. The drizzle that the storm clouds carried within them slowly began to fall on Cloudsdale, and with it, came the shattering sound of shrill howls bolting through the air.

One by one, hundreds of changelings plummeted from the aphotic sky letting loose the full fury of its storm now, lightning following the changelings falling like missiles. Panic did not take long to strike as the first few changelings showed themselves. All pegasi alike, they scattered the air as the changelings recovered from their decent to the city, aware of the danger that the grey fiends came with. The royal and honor guards soon snapped out of their shocked and almost horrified phases, quickly remembering their duties in Equestria. As the pegasi ran in pandemonium and the changelings wreaked havoc on the helpless citizens, the guards posted in Cloudsdale acted as quick as they could to stop the madness. Their efforts, however, were soon blocked by a force they had not expected. Along with the rain and lightning came large sweeps of dark blue flames from the clouds above, their precision enough to smack the royal and honor guards racing around straight out of the sky. Though the rain was able to put the guards out before they received too much burns, the force of the powerful waves of fire dazed them severely.

Augury stared down from the caliginous clouds as he finished his initial swarms of fire produced from magic, panting lightly because of the energy he had used. The raid on Cloudsdale started out as perfect as he had planned, already almost half of the royal and honor guards either confused out of their minds, struck by the lightning within the storm clouds, or shot down by Augury’s fire. Cloudsdale faced a threat that it was not quite ready for, and the outcome of the attack proved this even further. Quite a few of the changelings that Augury led to Cloudsdale had already captured and cocooned a number of ponies, starting off towards the direction of The Hive. Civilians helpless and the royal and honor guard dwindling in number from the wind or the changelings themselves, Cloudsdale seemed to be defeated.

The changeling general overseeing the wreckage that Cloudsdale had become slowly lowered himself to the clouds that made the city, letting his wings rest by his sides as his hooves touched down on the cloud tuft below him. Pegasi raced through the air with changelings close on their tail, a brief display of a changeling striking a civilian out of the air showing itself to Augury every once and a while. Hungry as they were, the changelings weren’t holding anything back against the city in the sky, unleashing their full potential of power as the royal and honor guards challenged them daringly. The peaceful aura that hung around Cloudsdale had quickly transformed into a horrifying display of devastation, taking everything it could with no intent of stopping.

Augury felt a strike of guilt seep into him, his hooves starting to tingle with a strange sensation that seemed almost familiar. Quickly, however, the feeling in his hooves emerged to be something else other than an emotional side effect. The lone changeling watching the raid on Cloudsdale tilted his head to the cloud beneath him, instantly recognizing the aura that emitted from the cloud he stood on. Augury kicked himself off of the cloud and flapped his wings to catch himself in the air as he begun to fall, spinning himself around just in time to watch a large pillar of electricity erupt from the cloud he was on not only a second earlier. Taking note that the lightning strike that merely missed him was not natural, Augury took caution as he set himself down on another cloud, turning his head to the sky as he came to a complete halt. A silhouette stayed still in the dim light of the sun making it through the storm clouds, a voice chuckling from the mare flapping her wings as she starred down at Augury.

“Always surprising me more and more. Your reflexes are fast for a changeling.” Thunder Rend said as she lowered herself to the cloud Augury had evacuated, Augury recognizing her voice and her stature as she came closer.

“Thunder Rend. You survived the the fall out of the window in the palace, I see. I don’t remember you having wings.” Augury growled, squinting slightly at the winged and horned mare.

“A temporary modification in order to walk on clouds given to me by Celestia. It didn’t take long for the news of your little attack on Cloudsdale to reach me as I was on my way here already. I almost exploded with joy when my orders were to exterminate the notorious changeling ‘Augury’ himself. Much more exciting than just a check up.”

Augury smirked. “Try not to let your guard down this time. You wouldn’t want to take another fall of that height.”

“A precaution that I won’t need to take with these wings. I would like to thank you in advance, however. You set up the perfect environment for me.”

Thunder Rend grinned maniacally as her horn glowed with a blue electrical aura, tilting her head towards the sky as she let out a collection of wicked laughter. The sky above Augury and Thunder Rend quickly lightened with copious amounts of magical energy, the rumble of a deadly barrage of lightning seeping into the air of Cloudsdale. His coat prickling with the energy building within the clouds above the city of pegasi, Augury didn’t have to think twice about escaping the area he stood in. Not a moment after Augury dived from the cloud he previously stood upon, a massive array of lightning pierced through the dark clouds surrounding Cloudsdale. The lightning strikes soared in a jagged tube pattern through the cloud Augury flew away from, continuing on its path towards the ground below, leaving behind a booming roar of thunder. Using the cover of the stray clouds whirling through Cloudsdale as Thunder Rend provoked the storm, Augury dodged the thunder strikes directed from Thunder Rend one after the other only barely, a few of them nicking his tail as they bolted past him. The effects of the growing storm were not only affecting Augury and Thunder Rend, as the changelings and pegasi still within Cloudsdale began to get caught within the howling winds forming in a funnel.

Augury soon found himself overwhelmed by the whirlwind that the petty storm had been manipulated into, his fragile wings snapping backwards as the wind carried him away from the convoluted path he tried to lose Thunder Rend in. The changeling general grew helpless as the tornado Thunder Rend had created took him in its path, whipping Augury in a circle around the center of the funnel, where Thunder Rend continuously shot bolts of lightning at Augury as she stabled herself with her wings. Augury reached out randomly as he passed by one of the heavier buildings within Cloudsdale, latching on luckily to a pillar that seemed to hold its ground on the front of the building it attached itself to. Bolts of lightning still barely missing him, Augury planted his back against the pillar and held onto the cloudy structure with all that he could, trying his best to keep his mane out of his face as the violent wind whipped his hair around.

“Come on, Augury! This isn’t any fun!” Thunder Rend shouted from the middle of the tornado, relentlessly unleashing blue pulses of electricity towards the building Augury had taken hopeless refuge in.

“Having myself twirling around in this funnel you created while being shot at is not even remotely close to fun! Do you even realize what you’re doing to Cloudsdale!?” Augury yelled, though he could barely even hear himself over the wind blowing around him. Augury flinched as a machine that looked as if it came from the cloud factory knocked out the top portion of the pillar he held onto.

“Cloudsdale can be rebuilt! What matters is that you don’t make it out of this with your life!”

“There are plenty of other changelings, why don’t you focus on them!?”

“They didn’t send me out of a window looking over a mountain side!”

“Yes, but they are also-!”

Augury felt his muscles tense as a flash of blue, electrical light surrounded him, the changeling general trying his best to keep his grip on the pillar. His efforts to hold on were slashed away, however, as his muscles returned to their normal state, Augury losing the grip on the pillar and soaring along the building’s entrance. Augury reached out and grappled onto another pillar before he was carried away from the building completely, setting himself back on the floor of the cloud the building rested on.

“Almost got you with that one! Let’s see how much longer you can last! I can do this all day!” Thunder Rend shouted, continuing to fire pulses of blue electricity, this time with more confidence, as she now knew that she could hit the helpless changeling.

Augury looked around frantically for a way out of the situation he was trapped in, trying his best to keep out of the way of Thunder Rend’s attacks. If he stayed any longer, Thunder Rend would without a doubt get the best of him, but if he left, Augury would be open to Thunder Rend far more than he would if he stayed in cover. The changeling general cursed out loud as he became frustrated, slamming his head backwards against the pillar behind him. An idea suddenly popped into Augury’s mind as a cloud passed by the entrance of the building Augury held onto, the cloud quickly being shredded to pieces and joining the large funnel that surrounded the area Thunder Rend and Augury were in. If Augury couldn’t show himself to Thunder Rend to attack her, he would have to use the force of the wind to aid him.

Augury closed his eyes and focused on his magic, slowly making small manipulations to the energy as the spell built in his horn. His horn glowed with a dark blue aura, and soon after the aura completed, an inferno of dark blue flames erupted from Augury’s horn. The fires were quickly swept away with the twirling winds and clouds, Augury continuing the stream of fire for as long as he could. The dark blue fire spread along the funnel that Thunder Rend had provoked from the storm clouds, creating a large twister of flames, blocking anything from coming in or out of the tornado. Thunder Rend watched as the fires encircled the entire tornado, turning the whirlwind of electricity into a raging inferno capable of tearing down a small city. Not even the rain that pelted Cloudsdale could put out the rampant fires.

As the fires completely formed around the tornado behind the building that Augury held onto, Augury detached himself from the pillar he had a death grip on, taking the only chance that he would have to end his plight. Thunder Rend, beginning to worry slightly, still had a few tricks within herself. Watching Augury manipulate his trajectory to the top of the fiery funnel, Thunder Rend had no way of escaping the trap Augury had put her in. Her only option was to fight fire, with fire.

{ Optional music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvOteu42isc }

Coming to a stop at the top of the tornado, Augury stabled himself in the air, taking a moment to look around. The storm had gotten to the point where not even Thunder Rend could control it back to what it started out as, lightning bolting through the sky in every direction at Cloudsdale. Knowing he didn’t have much time to act, Augury began the final step of his plan, but to his surprise, so had Thunder Rend. Both captain and general started to withdraw the fire that made the violently swirling tornado, a line forming in the middle of the whirlwind where the fires separated in two ways. The fire that Thunder Rend drew to herself with her magic turned from dark blue to light blue, adjusting to her magical aura as it collected behind her in a compressed ball of destruction. The fire that engulfed the tornado depleted and the two rivals staring at each other in a vertical line, the test of endurance began.

Two forces of directed fire raced toward each other at the motion of a hoof, light blue racing upwards, dark blue racing downwards. The collision between the columns of fire sent a large initial wave of flames from the impact, forcing a ring of wind and flames outwards that sliced through the tornado with ease, cutting the funnel into two sections, which each slowly dwindled into nothing. Augury and Thunder Rend remained determined to overpower the other, both of them glaring intently at each other through the fires that danced and fought in between them.

Starting to feel her strength weaken already due to her previous attempts to hit Augury with bolts of electricity, Thunder Rend resorted to her initial idea, though her remaining energy would be dried up if she continued with her course. A ball of light blue electricity slowly formed underneath Thunder Rend as she built up a spell, trying her best to focus on the duel of fire at the same time. Smiling as she smelt victory close in on her, Thunder Rend began to bring the ball of electricity in front of herself to fire at Augury, but something quickly interrupted the what looked like a flawless plan.

Thunder Rend slowly turned her head to the changelings that had finished their objective in taking as many ponies as they could, the fight in the middle of the city catching their attention. Seeing their leader in distress, they took the only action they could as they gathered in a formation that resembled the tornado that had been seized. Thunder Rend let out a shrill cry as numerous, practically hundreds of bullets of bright green magic rammed into the ball of electricity, directly at her side.

A blinding light erupted from the early destruction of Thunder Rend’s potentially fatal ball of electricity, followed by a spherical burst of air and a sound of thunder. Augury, not realizing what had happened, continued to throw fire down towards the area Thunder Rend had been in, though he quickly ceased as the wave of air pushed him up further into the sky. The conflicting blue fires had come to a standstill with both Augury and Thunder Rend losing control on their respective attacks, the light and dark blue generators of fire dissipating into smoke and blowing away into the calming wind. With Thunder Rend’s out of control weather spell dying down, the clouds that had torn apart the city in the sky began to merge away and separate into small tufts of floating white cotton, carrying along with the withering wind further into Equestria. Cloudsdale showed itself from the darkness of the storm, the quietness almost eery with the thunder and rainfall gone from the ears of the changelings in Cloudsdale. The clouds that had made up the city were scattered around in various places throughout the sky, Cloudsdale looking more like a casual cloud cover than a city, though some of the buildings stood on weak platforms with minimal damage.

Augury took a moment to himself high above Cloudsdale, staring around for a brief moment to admire the peaceful air space. He lifted his right foreleg up in front of him to examine it. The dark grey coat along the outer side of his foreleg had been singed along his entire leg, some parts actually quite burnt from either lightning or fire. Figuring it would take care of itself, Augury let his leg drop to his side, sighing lightly in relief as the strife between him and Thunder Rend had ended. Augury began to realize the energy it had taken to withhold his own against the captain of the honor guard, a wave of exhaustion quickly washing over him. Panting slightly, Augury lowered himself to the level in the sky that the decimated Cloudsdale floated in, the remaining changelings he had brought along on the mission patiently waiting in a large group of about fifty in one of the weather factories. Augury set his hooves down on the fluffy surface of the clouds the weather factory stood on, still panting quite heavy as he scanned his eyes over the changelings in front of him.

“Where are the rest of you?” Augury asked calmly, trying his best to stay up on all four of his hooves.

A changeling wearing dark blue armor and a dark blue helmet stepped out in front of the group, carrying a familiar pony on his back. The pony’s blank white coat and crimson mane had been severely burnt, along with two blank spots of skin on each of her sides where the bases wings used to rest. Her armor had been destroyed, only leaving her with what used to be a new helmet barely holding onto her horn.

“The other changelings have returned to The Hive with cocooned ponies or have fallen in combat. We were able to take care of the royal and honor guards while you distracted their captain. I have her on my back, as you can tell, if you want her.” The changeling spoke. His voice seemed to be more sophisticated and almost lacking a snake-like tone.

“And what makes you so special to be wearing a helmet and armor?” Augury asked bitterly.

“A changeling officer, general.”

“Do you have a name?”

“No natural changelings have names, sir.”

“I see.” Augury stood up straight as he slowly regained his strength, though his legs quivered just barely. “Thunder Rend, the pony on your back, is she alive?”

“Out cold, but alive, yes. Not even she was protected from her own magic once we intercepted the spell she was building.”

“Good, good. I... uh, thank you. For helping me.”

“We are sworn to protect those who lead us and follow his or her word. We only acted on instinct. It is nothing to be thanking us for.”

“Sure. What’s the situation on the ponies? How many were you able to get?”

“A large portion of the city’s population. The rest were able to escape.”

“What about the guards?”

“The guards we were able to restrain and cocoon are on their way back to The Hive. The others were disposed of. Your attack plan proved to be a success for The Hive, General Augury. Your guidance is appreciated greatly.”

Augury levitated Thunder Rend off the changeling’s back and over to his own, gently resting her down and stabilizing her with his wings. “Spare me the theatrics. Get back to The Hive, I’ll be following shortly after.”

“Yes sir.”

The group of changelings within Cloudsdale lifted off of the cloud and started flying off back to The Hive, some of them nodding towards Augury before they began the journey back to their home. Augury was quickly left alone within the weather factory with Thunder Rend on his back, her light breathing the only other sound than the wind serenely coursing through Cloudsdale. The afternoon sun had peaked through the clouds that blocked it out earlier, sending down columns of light to the once city of pegasi. The lone changeling in the sabotaged city in the sky trotted along the soft cloud that made the floor of the weather factory, coming to a slow halt at the large doors that made the entrance of the building. The entrance provided a clear view of Cloudsdale, though it may have not been the prettiest. Cloudsdale would need to be rebuilt again, as not only Thunder Rend’s storm had damaged the city. The changelings had mutilated the city’s buildings and structures, torn apart every aspect of the city they could see to find any pony that they could restrain and cocoon.

Augury tilted his head downward and flopped his ears against his head, biting his lip as hard as could in anger. He stood on the verge of almost letting his stomach empty as his eyes blurred with an almost red tint, the full impact of what he had lead to Cloudsdale taking its tole with utmost effect. Not only had had he made Cloudsdale a floating wasteland of clouds, he had made the ponies that inhabited the city become involved with the changelings. The thought of innocent ponies being used to a food source and assimilating into changelings filled Augury mind, the changeling general just about ready to let loose his anger on the nearest object.

A metallic taste slowly seeped into Augury’s mouth as he continued with his thoughts, though he quickly realized he had forgotten to take lip out of between his teeth. Augury released the grip his teeth had on his lip, feeling a warm liquid run down his chin and drip from his face. The changeling general only stood in silence as he stared at Cloudsdale from the entrance of the weather factory, reminding himself that he was doing this for the one he loved.

He would need all the convincing he could get from himself to keep with Tranquility.

[19] Fire And Ice

Chapter Nineteen: Fire And Ice

The doors of the spire slowly creeped open as Augury pushed them inwards, the echoes of his hoofsteps against the hard floor of the spire’s base traveling through the multiple levels of the tower. Carrying the same theme throughout the entire structure, the base of the spire was not that different than Chrysalis’s quarters at the very top, retaining most of the same color scheme and decorations, without the furniture. The light of the full moon above The Hive barely made it into the spire, as the spire lacked any sort of windows on the lower floors. The eight trees that Augury had put the mares into were empty of their inhabitants, all eight of the mares finished with the assimilation process and standing in a circle, their eyes closed as they kept each other alive. In the middle of the spire’s ground floor, Tranquility’s cocoon hung from the first natural structure that had been manipulated by changelings, the tree still standing tall and healthy as it always had been. Stairs spiraled from the side of the curved walls of the spire, leading higher and higher into the tower until the very top, where Chrysalis slowly descended as Augury waited by the six trees lined in a row off to the side of the spire’s ground floor. Another set of hoofsteps seemed to occupy Chrysalis’s as she walked down the stairs of the spire, Augury’s heart pumping slightly faster as he waited to see if he had made a mistake.

Augury turned his head to the top of the stairs as the hoofsteps became clear, his eyes meeting with an excited Chrysalis’s and another pair of eyes he almost felt he knew. An assimilated changeling walked along side the changeling queen with a partial smile on her face, watching Augury out of the corner of her eye as she walked down the stairs. Though her appearance was that of a changeling, her characteristics were of an attractive and fairly young mare, her crimson, silky mane and tail swaying with every step she took. Eyes bright red and fangs hanging in front of her lower lip, she had a devious look to her, which could have been no more of a fit for what she had used to be.

Taking a deep breath, Augury met the two changelings at the bottom of the stairs. “Two days, huh?” Augury asked. “Want to explain to me why it took me a week to finish my process?”

“You were the first in four years, Augury.” Chrysalis replied. “I was a little rusty at assimilating at the time, but with those ponies you brought back from Cloudsdale, I’ve got the hang of it again. So, what do you think?” Chrysalis extended her hoof to the changeling next to her.

“She seems to be fine. I’m holding your word that she’s going to help me. You kept some of her old memories with her duty as captain in, right?”

“Made sure of it. She’d be useless if I hadn’t.”

Augury nodded and turned his head to the newly assimilated changeling, who only gave him a smile. “...Good.”

______________________________________________________________________

[Two days earlier]

“Augury, back in one piece.” Chrysalis greeted as Augury lowered himself from the air above The Hive, setting his hooves down on the stairs that led up to the base of the spire. “I assume by the amount of cocoons that I saw flying, the mission went well?”

Augury let out a small sigh and fluttered his wings, twisting his neck to stretch it out. “Cloudsdale is a wreck, but the raid went as planned. Have the changelings brought the ponies to the feeding grounds?” Augury asked.

Chrysalis pointed her hoof out to The Hive, Augury turning his head to see what she was looking at. A large structure off in the distance swarmed with changelings bringing in cocooned ponies, the area glowing with a bright green aura. The structure resembled a tidal wave of some sort, an over hang holding all of the cocoons that the changelings brought in. The sun slowly set behind the tall, curved behemoth, the sky an eerie orange through the dark clouds that hung over The Hive.

“The changelings carved it out of one of the mountains.” Chrysalis explained. “With their numbers, we were able to finish it while you were gone. The assimilation grounds are just on the other side of it. For now, the big overhang is the feeding ground.”

Augury examined the feeding grounds for a moment, observing the numerous changelings already using their magic on the ponies inside of the cocoons. “That doesn’t look like it’s going to hold all of the ponies they brought back.”

“Maybe, we’ll have to see. The changelings can always make another one.” Chrysalis turned her eyes to Augury and pointed at the pony on his back. “Who’s this? Why isn’t she with the other ponies?”

Augury nudged the pony on his back with his wing lightly. “Thunder Rend, the captain of the honor guard in Canterlot. The changelings were able to finish her off after I wore her down quite a way. I don’t exactly know how to make a cocoon, so I just carried her on my back.”

Chrysalis scanned her eyes over Thunder Rend. “Captain of the honor guard, huh? Maybe she’s better off not being in the feeding portion of the ponies.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean she could be an excellent addition to the army.”

Augury snickered to himself. “Because she wasn’t just trying to kill me this afternoon. Do you really think that’s going to work?”

Chrysalis shook her head and turned away from Augury, staring out at The Hive. “The changeling with Tranquility’s memories. She was like Tranquility, am I correct?”

“She had a hint of Tranquility in her, yes. Why would that matter?”

“That means I was able to put memories into a changeling. Foreign memories that never had anything to do with her, right in her mind.”

“And you’re suggesting what?”

“That you let me deal with Thunder Rend.” Chrysalis faced back to Augury. “I could forge memories and fill them over her hate for changelings. She would be on our side, another leader that could help you on your missions. She was captain of the honor guard, wasn’t she? She has to have some experience with commanding an army.”

“You’re forgetting that she destroyed part of Cloudsdale in an attempt to kill one single changeling. What’s stopping her from doing the same with The Hive?”

“A considerable thought, yes, but you have to remember that you are the only changeling general right now. And if changelings fail...” Chrysalis shifted her eyes to the spire, but quickly snapped them back to Augury. “...you know the consequences. With another general by your side, you can ensure that changelings will make it through this, and with that, you can ensure that Tranquility does as well.”

Augury lowered his eyes and shyly peaked at the spire. Chrysalis had a point. The only thing discerning Augury from the idea of assimilating Thunder Rend was the variable of memories. Until Augury said anything that related to Salvation, the replica of Tranquility had thought nothing of him. Thunder Rend’s memories could be the same, in which something would need to happen for them to take effect, but with forged memories formed from nothing, they could never activate at all. The only thing that Thunder Rend would become would be a pony with a changeling’s guise, waiting for the perfect moment to act on her true nature and take what was hers.

“So? What’ll it be, Augury?” Chrysalis asked.

Augury lifted his head up and stared the queen in the eyes. “She ends up as a hindrance, I execute her. She ends up as support, I let her live. I don’t like her and she doesn’t like me. You better do a good job in patching up her memories.”

Chrysalis chuckled and levitated Thunder Rend onto her back, Augury keeping his eyes on the unconscious pony. “You know I can’t afford to let you start killing my subjects. Try and take her life, I will not punish you, but you will meet resistance by the changelings if you even think about it. Should you succeed, then that is your loss. She’ll be ready when she is, so don’t count the hours.”

With that, Chrysalis made her way up the stairs to the base of the spire.

______________________________________________________________________

“Her name, Thunder Rend, is no longer.” Chrysalis stated. “From now on, she’s known as Ruin, a changeling general.”

“General Ruin, ready to stand by your side... Augury.” Ruin spoke at last.

“You kept her memories on how to talk. A flaw in my eyes.” Augury said coldly, squinting slightly as Ruin batted her eyelashes at him.

“Unless you wanted her to stand there and talk through hoof-signals, you’re going to have to deal with her voice.” Chrysalis said. “She’ll be accompanying you on your missions, Augury, so I hope you two get along. I’m going to go check on the feeding grounds, why don’t you two get warmed up in the meantime. I’ll tell you the next town to raid later. Until then, try not to tear each other apart.”

Augury and Ruin kept their eyes on each other as Chrysalis walked out of the spire, not moving a muscle until they heard the large doors of the spire shut completely.

“Ruin. The name fits after you destroyed three fourths of Cloudsdale. Strange how you did more damage to ponies than changelings.” Augury taunted.

“A changeling with the name Salvation. Your name couldn’t be any more ironic.” Ruin retorted with a smile.

“So you know who I actually am.”

“Chrysalis may have implanted memories in my head, but no one ever said I would abide by what they tell me. No one ever said that she could get rid of my memories, either. My true memories are only overlapped by pathetic excuses of caps on my mind. You were a fool to even think for a second that this would play out well. The changelings have my trust, they’ll follow my order as a general.”

“What are you going to do, order them to kill themselves?”

Ruin let out a maniacal howl of laughter. “Oh Augury, you obviously don’t know anything about me.” She stood up straight began to walk around the room. “I had quite the record in Canterlot for... ‘misbehavior’. You see, I never cared for my guards, nor the royals. I loved the sound of battles raging on, the sound of my lightning striking pegasi out of the sky and hearing their bodies crack against the ground, the sound of earth ponies and unicorn struggle as they had electricity coursed through their bodies. Honor guards, royal guards, enemies, they were all the same.”

Augury watched Ruin carefully. “So you were a traitor, in essence.”

“A traitor, a loyalist, I was both. The only reason I was kept was because, well I don’t want to brag, but I was the best there was. Equestria was protected against plenty of threats under my order, whether the enemy be an Ursa Major or a lost dragon. The honor guards knew that I could order them into victory, and they stayed by my side out of fear for their lives.”

“But what side are you going to be on this time? A changeling? A pony? Or neither?”

“Changelings bigger in number, I would naturally side with ponies. More targets to electrocute.” Ruin stopped and tilted her head, smiling. “But the chance to stick by the side of the changeling that humiliated me, stripped me of the title of captain of the honor guard, and turned me into this?” She chuckled and slowly turned her head to Augury, who gave her a blank, yet furious glare. “How could I resist?”

“By forgetting what I did and letting go of the grudge you have on me. Holding onto your anger only agitates it from a candle into an inferno.”

“Oh but why would I let that chance go? The more hatred, anger, fury inside of me, the more fuel I have when I want to unleash it.”

“And when you unleash it, that little puppy that it used to be turns into a feral timberwolf starved for a week. You lose control of what you barely had a grip on, only leading you to harm yourself rather than your targets.”

Ruin sighed and slowly walked over to Augury. “Such a killjoy. Even out of battle you’re a bore.”

“War isn’t a game, and yet you toy with me like it is. I hope you can take full scale battles seriously without making any casualties on our side.”

“I guess we’ll have to wait and see where we’re going to find that out.” Ruin gave Augury one last smile and walked past him. “I’m looking forward to it.”

Augury shook his head as the doors of the spire opened and slammed shut, the lone changeling moving from where he stood during the conversation to the tree in the middle of the room. He stopped at the clear side of the green casket hanging from the beautiful tree within the horrid landscape, staring through the glass-like wall at the mare inside. Tranquility remained as untouched as when she had been placed in the cocoon so long ago, her hooves still crossed in front her chest. Her peaceful sleep was on a timeline now that a new leader had come into The Hive, and that timeline was short on Ruin’s account.

______________________________________________________________________

The streets of the Ponyville scurried with ponies running in a disorganized fashion, groans and displeased grunts echoing through out Ponyville. Frost examined the subtle chaos from inside of his home, watching as ponies were quickly drenched by the scheduled rainfall. Despite the rain being scheduled, nopony seemed to have even remembered the news. Chuckling quietly, Frost turned himself away from the window next to the entrance of his home, returning back to his studies in the middle of his living room. The house that Frost called home wasn’t the best sight in Ponyville, though it provided two bedrooms, a kitchen, bathroom, and basement. According to anypony’s standards, the interior of Frost’s home was normal. However, normal was a bit of a stretch, because even in the middle of summer, Frost kept a small collection of icicles that never seemed to melt in numerous cases throughout his home. Ice being his specialty in magic ever since he figured out that he could manipulate the properties of magic with the magic itself, Frost grew an attachment to everything cold.

The rain pouring down on Ponyville didn’t take long to grow into a large downpour. Thunder rumbled, yet not too loudly, through the air every once and a while, providing a nice atmosphere for the icy blue stallion as he sat down on the floor of his home. Frost ran his eyes across the book on the floor in front of him, absorbing a bit of knowledge with every word that crossed his vision. Pictures, spell instructions, and a few comments of the spells littered the book, making for a quality study section for the blue stallion digging into the tome. The rain pattered on the window of Frost’s home, making a sort of crystal formation as the icicles on the windows chilled the raindrops running down the glass.

A sort of buzzing noise slowly edged its way into earshot of Ponyville, creating a strange and eerie feeling in the ponies that heard it. The buzzing grew louder with every passing second, though it seemed to be quite far away from the town of ponies. Despite the distance between Ponyville and the noise, the ponies seeking shelter in their homes trotted over to the windows lining their walls and peered out into the stormy sky, questioning if the storm that had rolled in was a normal storm. From the perspective of the ponies in their homes, nothing seemed to be wrong, though the buzzing continued to strike a sense of weak fear into their minds as it crept closer. With every passing second, the pouring down on Ponyville appeared to lighten up, though the rain drops fell heavier and more collected. The light that had been getting through the clouds dimmed slightly as the buzzing noise came to its loudest point, some ponies stepping outside to see what was causing the strange phenomena. The royal and honor guards kept light on their hooves, ready to take action if what they thought would happen actually happened. They squinted into the haze that the clouds formed. Figures and silhouettes showed themselves in the grey clouds above the town of ponies, stretching themselves across the storm sky, and in a certain pattern, unleashed a fury of devastation.

Blotches of bright green rocketed their way towards the muddy ground of Ponyville, gasps and screams flinging into the air as the ponies in the streets met eyes with the wrath bestowed violently onto them. Group by group, changelings rammed into the muddy ground of Ponyville, their magic splashing along with the mud that flew from the impact they made with the ground. Panic didn’t take long to strike within Ponyville, for within a few seconds of the first appearance of the changelings, the ponies of the town were already running for their lives. News of Cloudsdale had reached all across Equestria, and soon enough, news of Ponyville would follow.

Two changelings slowly made their way across the hills on the outskirts of the panicking town. One excited, the other sickened, they watched as the assault on Ponyville grew into an all out battle between military, royal guards, honor guards, and changelings. Magic bullets flew through the air of Ponyville, streaks of bright green exchanging paths with multicolored bolts of magic.

Ruin squealed with joy as a terrified scream rung from Ponyville. “Isn’t this great!? Oh, I missed this so much! How are you holding up? Having fun?” Ruin asked smugly.

Augury closed his eyes and shook his head. “You’re twisted, I can give you that. I think I would feel right in calling you a psychopath.” Augury commented.

“Lighten up, this is exhilarating! Should we head in now? Should we wait for the changelings to soften them up? Oh, the possibilities! What tactic are we going to use!?”

“The one where you shut your mouth. You’re a changeling general too, Ruin, don’t forget that. Your word is just as big as mine. Try not to make the changelings think they can do whatever during this.”

“But isn’t that just what this is? Go in, grab some ponies, fight off some guards and soldiers, that’s it! Simple. Easier than what I did with the honor guards.”

“No, it’s not that simple and you’re and idiot for thinking so.” Augury pointed out toward Ponyville. “That is an hour of my contemplating of how to start of this damned thing. The storm in Cloudsdale was enough cover for us to roll in secretly and the ponies don’t seem to have to picked up the approach yet. Heading in uncovered and with brute force is no way to do this.” Augury set his hoof down back on the ground. “That said, I’m leaving this to you.”

Ruin turned herself to face Augury as he began to walk away from Ponyville. “Wait, hang on a second. Where are you going?”

“The Hive. You’re a changeling general, you command them. I’ve set up the plan, carry it out. Think back to the honor guards. I’d... rather not stick around to see my home crumble.”

“But... you’ll miss everything! You can’t just leave me here!”

“I can, and I am. Try not to disappoint Chrysalis.”

“...Augury.”

Grumbling slightly, Augury turned sideways to face Ruin. “What?”

“You’re not leaving until I’ve established something.”

Seeming to come out of no where, Augury felt his head lighten. His vision quickly reduced to a blur as he tried to focus on the changeling general slowly walking towards him, her giggles muffled as Augury’s hearing faded. Darkness edged its way from the corners of Augury’s eyes as his head continued to drift away, Augury finding himself swaying to keep himself on his hooves. Efforts proving useless, Augury’s legs lost all feeling and he fell over onto the wet grass of the hills, his vision just about filled with nothing.

Muffled, Ruin spoke one last time before Augury slipped into sleep. “I always get my way. Sleep tight.”

______________________________________________________________________

“Hey Salvation, check it out.” Frost said, extending a hoof out to the ice sculpture at his side. “Made it just for you!”

Salvation took a quick glance from the book levitating in front of him at the sculpture Frost presented. An awkwardly posed mare stood about Frost’s height with her head leaned towards the ground, the ice she was made out of already melting in the hot summer air, which only added more provocativeness to the already obscene statue. Her tail was lifted out of the way, her eyes looking back at Salvation suggesting something he would rather not think about with the cold of ice.

“You’re disgusting.” Salvation muttered as he leaned back into the book he was reading.

Frost chuckled lightly and walked up to the sculpture, planting a hoof on the mare’s back. “Come on! Tranquility doesn’t have to know.”

In an instant, the ice sculpture turned from a solid figure into a puddle on the ground beside the icy blue stallion, the fires that Salvation sent out with his magic extinguishing in the water.

Frost frowned and kicked at the puddle spreading at his hooves. “Do you have any idea how long that took me to make?”

“Is that seriously what you were doing for the past twenty minutes? I was wondering why you had that stupid look on your face.” Salvation asked.

A little bit of laughter escaped Frost’s mouth. Despite the abnormally hot conditions that the summer brought with it this time of year, Ponyville continued to be as lively as it always had been. With a clear sky and the sun beating down from directly above, the town had become a temporary water park for the day, most of the ponies out in the pools or running through sprinklers to cool themselves off. For Frost and Salvation, their only way of taking away the heat of day was Frost’s ice, which slowly melted in a large circular formation around them in front of Sugar Cube Corner. As a new group of doctors had arrived in the hospital, Salvation found himself with a bit of free time for the afternoon, and with Frost so eager to see his friend, Salvation couldn’t resist but spend some time with him.

“Hey, I’m just trying to have some fun while I wait for your slow flank. How’s the spell coming along?” Frost asked as he walked to Salvation’s side.

“It’s a bit complicated, but I think I have the gist of it. Now, what is this supposed to accomplish?” Salvation questioned, setting the spell book down on the ground.

“Well, I have to say, it’s not exactly good for anything, but it’s a nice trick. Stay here for a second, I’ll be back.”

Salvation sat quietly as Frost jumped over the low walls of ice around them, watching a group of colts and fillies play around in sprinklers they had set up in the street. The laughter from the ponies was a nice break from the atmosphere that the hospital gave off, Salvation finding himself leaning back against the wall of ice around him with a smile on his face. Salvation lifted his head off of the ice as the door of Sugar Cube Corner rung open again as Frost walked out, followed by a cheery ‘goodbye’ from a pink pony inside.

“See ya!” Frost called out before the door shut completely.

“What are those for?” Salvation asked, pointing limply at the two cupcakes levitating in the air as Frost jumped back over the wall of ice.

“Stimulation.”

“What?”

“You know, you put the icing on your-!”

Salvation quickly lifted his hooves out in front of him. “Whoa whoa whoa, hey there buddy.”

Frost chuckled loudly and moved one of the cupcakes in front of Salvation’s face. “They’re for the spell. Take it, I got one for each of us.”

Still a bit cautious about Frost’s joke, Salvation set a levitation spell on the floating cupcake. “Alright. So what exactly does a cupcake have to do with a freezing spell?”

The icy blue stallion bowed down to the cupcake levitating in front of him and showcased the pastry with a limp hoof. “Observe.”

With a spark of a spell and a twirl of Frost’s hoof, the cupcake floating in front of him gleamed for a second, but quickly transformed into a completely different object that it had been before. A solid ice representation of a cupcake now floated in Frost’s magical grip, Frost tilting his head back up and grinning at Salvation, who only stared at the cupcake made of ice with partially wide eyes.

“Ta da! What do you think? Cool or what?” Frost edged on.

“Do Mr. and Mrs. Cake know that you’re using their food for magic tricks?” Salvation asked, lifting an eyebrow.

Frost waved his hoof through the air. “Pinkie Pie’s taking over while they make a delivery to Canterlot. Some of her friends are in there with her. I don’t think she would mind if I manipulated a cupcake into a little ice sculpture.”

“And what does this spell have to do with anything?”

“I don’t know. Stop asking me things! It’s just a cool spell I picked up on a few months back. I thought it would be cool to teach you a thing or two in ice manipulations, with you being all sophisticated with your fire thing-a-ma-jigs.”

Salvation poked at the icing on the cupcake in front of him and licked his hoof. “They’re not ‘thing-a-ma-jigs’ , they’re spells and basically the same things you do with ice. So, how do I start of this thing? Do I just concentrate on the spell, or what?”

Frost set the cupcake he had turned to ice on top of his head, which almost instantly started to melt. “Set your mind on something chilly. Ice, winter, snow, that sort of thing. Manipulations in magic are the same way with each form, just on a different subject, such as ice, fire, or other another substance. When you feel ready, let go of the spell and the magic will do the rest. Remember the steps to perform the spell?”

“Yeah... yeah, I think I got it.”

“Coolio. Start whenever you’re ready.”

Salvation breathed deeply and adjusted his stance, staring down the cupcake he held with his magic. “Something cold... right.”

Closing his eyes, Salvation begun the process of performing the spell Frost seemed to have mastered. His mind filled with everything he could think of that had a cold sense to it, a chill jittering within Salvation’s spine. A few seconds passed before any signs of the spell showed, which perked up Frost a little as a small gleam formed on the cupcake. Through the laughter of the fillies and colts playing in the street, a cracking noise trickled through the commotion, coming from the cupcake Salvation concentrated on so dearly. Slowly, a strange effect began to take over the cupcake. The pastry slowly developed from the inside, Frost noticing that little crystals of ice formed on the bottom of the cupcake, and within a second, a brief flash of light bursted from the spell.

Frost’s smile grew bigger from the grin it had already been. “Wow! First try and you got it on the spot!” Frost exclaimed, walking forward and poking at the transformed cupcake.

Salvation opened his eyes and winced slightly, figuring that Frost was being nice, but upon closer inspection, it seemed that his friend wasn’t putting sugar on top of his words. The cupcake had been completely turned to ice from the inside, Frost’s distorted face through the clear ice making Salvation laugh slightly.

“Don’t forget that we put ten bits on this.” Salvation said, lifting his ice cupcake to his head and setting it down on top of him.

Feeling the top of his head, Frost tucked in the corners of his mouth. “Then ten bits you shall receive. Not right now, at least. They’ll probably melt in the sunlight.”

Salvation laughed and split the cupcake on top of his head in two, setting one half on Frost’s head. “Alright, later. Come on, Tranquility’s probably on her way home from the school house at this time. She’ll be surprised when I show her this.”

“Well let’s go! I don’t want to be out here when these ice cupcakes melt.”

Nodding his head, Salvation ignited the short walls of ice surrounding him and Frost. Making small talk as they went along, Frost and Salvation made their way through the scorching summer streets of Ponyville. Their friendship seemed as if it would last forever. Fire and ice.

______________________________________________________________________

A crack of thunder resonated through Augury’s muffled hearing, the changeling general slowly coming back into consciousness. Though his vision was as blurry as it had been before he fell asleep, Augury could just barely picture his surroundings. A candle flickered weakly on a dark wooden table in front of the waking changeling, flaring every once and a while as the wind picked up from outside. Though the windows were uncovered and cracked open partially, the light that came through the storm clouds still over Ponyville blocked out the sunlight, making the inside of the house Augury stood in dreary and dark. The roof of the house had been mangled from the changelings wreaking havoc outside, letting in rain water into the upper floors of the house, which leaked into the living room Augury examined tiredly. Drops of water pattered on the floor of the living rom the ceiling above, the rain falling as hard as it had been at the start of the storm. Beyond the light of the candle, the room was almost pitch black, only the outlines of a few pieces of overturned furniture visible.

Augury slowly felt his strength ease back into his body, the changeling lifting his head and scanning the room through his blurry vision. Two other figures stood on the other side of the table Augury was set at, one of them seeming to have a cover over his head. Their talking was inaudible through Augury’s distorted reception of sound, so only muffled phrases made it past Augury’s ears. As Augury began to move, something tugged at his hooves, the changeling muttering to himself and weakly tilting his head to the floor. A bright red goo wrapped around Augury’s hooves and attached to the floor, resembling that of a changeling’s magic as it stretched when the changeling it held captive attempted to move. Starting to panic slightly, Augury’s senses recovered at the pace of his growing heartbeat, his breathing becoming tense. As he tried to use magic to escape from the binds, a feeling of emptiness coursed through Augury, a stasis ring place around his horn.

“Augury! So you finally decided to wake up.” A voice spoke from the other side of the table. “So good to see you again.”

The pony with a cover over his head looked around frantically. “What!? Him!? Let me out of here, you bastards!”

The voice coming from the stallion was familiar.

Augury squinted as his vision completely restored, the light of the candle a little bright. “Thunder Rend? What are you doing? Who is that?” Augury asked, lightly tugging at the goo around his hooves.

The stallion beside Ruin stopped moving around for a second. “Wait, that voice.”

Ruin chuckled to herself. “You’re not the only one with the memories of Ponyville, Augury. Not any more at least.”

Augury felt a trickle of anger seep into him, his voice coming out louder. “What is this? Where are we?”

“We’re in Ponyville, Augury.” Ruin said. “Don’t you remember? You fell asleep suddenly out in the hills, so I brought you in here so you wouldn’t get wet! Are you still that sleepy?”

Furiously, Augury pulled at his binds and fluttered his wings. “You bastard, you put me sleep! Whatever you’re doing, stop it this instant! Let me out of here so I can ram your head into a wall!”

“Now now now, Augury, you wouldn’t want to see him go without even getting a chance to say goodbye, would you?”

“What are you talking about?”

Ruin smiled and leisurely paced around the table. “While you were off sleeping the night before we were sent here, I took the liberty of paying Queen Chrysalis a visit. A good leader, she is, but a fool either way. She taught me how to tap into pony’s minds and make copies of the memories. At first it just seemed like a waste of time, but after I realized what could be done with this, I couldn’t help but try it out.” Ruin came to a stop beside the stallion with the cover of his head, locking her eyes with Augury. “You have some interesting memories, Augury, did you know that?”

Augury kept silent, glaring at Ruin.

“Of course you do.” Ruin continued on. “Ponyville, Canterlot, your foalhood, all of it in that little head of yours. It wasn’t easy getting your memories out, but once I did, I saw that I had hit the jackpot.” Laughing, Ruin lifted her hoof to the cover over the stallion next to her. “I think you two know each other quite well.”

With one motion of Ruin’s hoof and the reveal of a unicorn’s face, Augury had never felt as nauseated as he did at the very moment he recognized that stallion across the table from him. Scared, furious, and trapped, Frost’s eyes met with Augury’s. He was no more powerful in the state that Augury was in, a stasis ring hugging his horn.

“Fr... Frost?” Augury muttered, the name barely escaping his mouth.

Frost’s eyes opened wide and he tried to back away, but only snapped back into place as the same substance that held Augury steadied Frost as well. “Let me out of here, damn it! I don’t have anything that you want! Please!” Frost yelled.

Ruin lifted her hoof to Frost’s head and patted his mane, Frost moving his head away from her. “It was hard finding him in the commotion that the changelings were making. Running out of his house to help a mare being attacked by a changeling. Sad, really, all he wanted was to be like you, Augury, but in his defeat, he was only just another pony waiting to be taken.”

Augury clenched his teeth together and tugged as hard as he could at the goo around his hooves. “You let him go, you bitch! I’ll rip to to pieces if you do anything to him!” Augury shouted at the top of his lungs.

“So feisty. Just the reaction I was hoping for.” Ruin taunted. She turned to Frost. “Amazing how in two ponies had such a strong connection, one can’t even recognize the other.”

“Shut up!” Frost spat in Ruin’s face. “How does he know my name!? How do you know who I am!? Answer me!”

Ruin’s smile faded and she wiped the spit off of her face. “I hope you realize that I can do much more to you than you can to me. But, as for answers...” Ruin set her eyes on Augury. “...Why doesn’t the notorious Augury explain?”

Quickly, Frost turned his head to Augury, waiting for him to say something. However, no matter how hard Augury tried, nothing came from the changeling’s mouth. Even if he tried to yell as loud as he could, the presence of his best friend, who didn’t even recognize him, kept Augury frozen in a state of disbelief. Becoming a changeling had taken Augury’s past away from him, everything that he once knew now turned against him. With his best friend staring at him with hatred and impatience, Augury could only let his tears begin to glisten in his eyes. Would he want his best friend to hate him for what he had become by telling Frost who he was? Would Frost even believe him?

“Well? Are you going to say something or what?” Frost asked angrily, staring down Augury.

Slowly, Augury opened his mouth to talk, but only a puff of air wheezed from his throat.

Ruin rolled her eyes and walked over to Frost. “This is just getting to be a waste of my time.” Ruin sighed. “Last chance, Augury.”

Silence.

With a tilt of her head, Ruin adjusted her position next to Frost. “Then so be it.”

Frost moved his head away from Ruin as her horn started to glow with a red aura. “What are you doing? Can I go now?” Frost asked.

A smirk on her face, the changeling next to the trapped unicorn nodded. “Oh you’ll be going alright. Far away.”

A spark ignited from Ruin’s horn. Augury watched as Frost slowly gave Ruin a confused look, Frost beginning to sway side to side ever so slightly. Ruin chuckled to herself and stepped away from the weakening stallion she had cast a spell on, keeping her eyes on Augury as she stepped out of the candle light.

“What... what did you do to me? Why do I feel...” Frost started to say, but trailed from his sentence as a rush of air escaped from his lungs.

“...A lethal spell. It... it’s shutting down your body.” Augury finally spoke, his eyes pointed toward the floor.

“Lethal... spell...?” Frost asked weakly. His legs were starting to tremble, and by the looks of it, his barely audible breathing was slowing down with every second.

“Frost... there’s something I need you to know...” Augury said.

Slightly delusional, Frost could only interpret the question as if it weren’t coming form a changeling. “Yeah? What... what?”

Closing his eyes, Augury was engulfed with a dark blue fiery aura, and as the fires disappeared into the air, a familiar pony stood in his place. Frost’s eyes opened as wide as they could as he recognized the pony across the table from him, Frost trying to speak, but only inhaled repeatedly.

“...I’m sorry. Don’t... hate me.” Serenity said as she looked up from the floor, trying her best to not let her tears loose.

It seemed that Frost was incapable of even reacting properly anymore, as his eyelids slowly closed and twitched. As the binds around his hooves disappeared, Frost slowly let himself down onto the ground, his legs becoming limp as he laid completely still. His breathing had become coarse and shortened, though it was barely audible over the rainfall outside of the house anymore. Suddenly, an ominous silence took over the inside of the house for a second, a certain pattern disappearing from Ruin and Serenity’s ears. Quickly, however, it was replaced by a new pattern; a louder, heavier, and grief stricken song taking over from Serenity.

Ruin walked into the candle light once more, staring at Frost on the ground. “I told you I always get my way.” Ruin said. “Defeat was never an option for me, but when it was, I never took it nicely.” Ruin smirked and turned her head to Serenity. “So? How does it feel?”

Serenity quickly changed back to her changeling form. “How does what feel?” Augury asked quietly, resting his chin on his chest.

“You know, having your friend killed right in front of you. It can’t be easy, I know that, but I want a first hoof answer. So?”

“Take this damn ring off of my horn and gets these binds off of my hooves...”

“That doesn’t sound like a-”

“I said... that this bucking ring and these binds off of me...”

Ruin sighed and used her magic to undo the goo around Augury’s hooves, the ring around Augury’s horn disappearing as well. “I’ll get an answer from you later then, I guess. But, for now, why don’t we get back to Ponyville, huh? I can’t wait to capture my first pony! We’re going to have so much fun! Right, Augury?”

Her question was only met with a table striking across her entire body. Wood splintering as the table shattered into pieces against her, Ruin was knocked straight out of the house she stood in and out into the streets of Ponyville through the wall of the house, even more wood flying into the air as the wall shot outwards along with her. Ruin slid through the mud that streets of Ponyville had become for a moment before she came to a halt against another home, her head slamming into the exterior of the building. Rubbing her head as she sat up, Ruin fixed her eyes on the house she had been sent out of. Augury slowly emerged from the darkness of the house into the grey atmosphere of Ponyville, the rainfall almost instantly soaking him completely. As Ruin began to stand up as she laughed maniacally, Augury threw the pieces of the table he still had in his levitation spell at her, which struck her straight in the stomach and head.

“What did you think would come out of this!?” Augury yelled as he came close to Ruin. Enraged, Augury lifted his hoof up and slammed it down onto Ruin’s neck, the trapped changeling gagging for a moment before she tried to push Augury off of her.

Augury continued on. “What were you trying to accomplish!? Tell me you bucking bitch! Tell me before I bucking suffocate you!”

Just barely, Ruin lifted the hoof pressing down on her up for a second. “What’s the matter!? He was going to be taken along with the rest of the ponies anyways! He was as good as dead!”

Augury forced his hoof back down. “Why him!? Out of everypony, why him!?” Along with the heavy rain that fell from the sky, tears streaked down Augury’s face.

Unable to help it, Ruin’s mouth grew into a grin. “It feels nice, doesn’t it!? Having all that hate come out all at once! Let your inner instincts loose! Hate me!”

Augury grabbed Ruin with both of his hooves and lifted her up by her neck, only to slam her head back into the ground. “I’ve hated you since I first laid eyes on you! Now I’m just acting on what my first thoughts were! I’ll rip your damn throat out!”

Before Augury could do anything, however, his actions were put to a halt. A sudden force pushed Augury off to the side and tackled him to the ground in a hurry, Augury and the changeling that had stopped him tumbling in the mud for a moment. Coming to a stop, the changeling that had blind sided Augury came to a halt standing over Augury, who looked up at the changeling captain with a look of confusion.

“General Augury, I can’t allow you to kill General Ruin.” The familiar captain spoke, glaring at Augury through his helmet. “She’s our superior, we are sworn to protect-”

Augury began to get up, but was pushed back down with a forceful hoof to his chest. “I know what you’re sworn to do! Get off of me! I order you to let me go!” Augury yelled.

“If your will is to execute General Ruin, I’m afraid I cannot do that, sir. Should you persist, you will be taken back to The Hive.”

In a burst of anger, Augury lifted a loose plank of wood that had flown from one of the houses in the raid and drew it toward himself as hard as he could. The plank of wood struck the captain standing over him with immense power, and though most of the blow was absorbed by his helmet, the changeling captain stumbled away from Augury with a minor concussion. Augury stood up as quickly as he could and began to run over to Ruin, who held her neck with her hooves and stared at Augury with a wide smile. A large group of changelings that had been following the changeling captain quickly landed on the ground in front of Augury, each of them staring at the standing changeling general with determination. Despite the group of changelings preventing him from reaching Ruin, Augury rushed forward with all that he could. A fury of magic and strikes of hooves flew out into the group of changelings, several changelings flying from the one-on-fifteen battle in the middle of Ponyville. Augury’s resistance proved to be useless, as even with his hatred for Ruin fueling him to continue, he found himself outnumbered by changelings coming to assist their brethren. Ruin laughed quietly to herself as she watched Augury struggle with the changelings holding him down, the captain Augury had thrown the wooden plank into wrapping a bright green goo around Augury’s hooves.

“Get your hooves off of me! Let me bucking kill her!” Augury continuously shouted as the changeling around him finished restraining him.

Ruin trotted over to the incapacitated changeling general laying on his side in the mud. “I’m sorry, Augury, but you’re just too dangerous to stay in the mission. You should know better than to attack your own allies.” Ruin said as if she were babying him.

Augury reached his head out and snapped his teeth at Ruin, catching a bit of her mane and yanking it out of her head.

Laughing even more, Ruin patted the back of her head in the spot Augury had taken the chunk of hair out. “Take him back to The Hive. Tell the queen he’s been a naughty boy. She’ll figure out what to do with him.” Ruin ordered to a changeling standing next to her.

With a nod, a few changelings quickly grabbed the binds holding Augury and lifted him off of the ground. Augury’s yells were soon out of earshot as the changelings holding him flew further away from Ponyville, returning to The Hive as Ruin had directed. The slight mishap with Augury now over, the changelings that had accumulated in the area quickly resumed their work around Ponyville, the battle between changelings and ponies restoring back to its full heat.

The changeling captain that had stopped Augury walked over to Ruin’s side, the changeling general examining her hoof as she brought it out from the back of her head. “Are you alright, general?” The captain asked.

“As dandy as I’ve always been!” Ruin said as she set her hoof down on the ground. “How are things going with the raid? I assume that we’ve gotten quite a few ponies, correct?”

“Yes, ma’am. The royal guards, honor guards, and military have put up quite a fight, but their forces are no match to our numbers.”

“Good, good.”

The captain hesitated to look at the house Ruin had been hit out of. “If I may ask, ma’am, what inspired General Augury to act as he did?”

Smirking, Ruin shook her head. “He just overreacted to something. Nothing big.” The changeling general sighed and wrung out her mane. “Enough standing around here. Ponyville isn’t going to capture itself.”

[20] Sleep

Chapter Twenty: Sleep

Augury watched the ground rushing quickly below him, the grass and trees of the large forest passing by in a slight blur. The changelings carrying him stayed silent to each other as they held tight onto the gooey sling supporting Augury, the changeling general’s hooves still bunched within the binds placed on him earlier. Wind rushing by Augury’s ears accompanied the quiet symphony of fluttering insect wings along the flight over Equestria’s outskirts, muffling any other noise that soared through the air. The green landscape was a nice sight for Augury after spending a while in The Hive, though the changelings carrying him could say just about the opposite. The setting sun across the horizon gave the forest a slightly eerie orange glow, though the scenery was the last thing on Augury’s mind.

“Well? Are you going to say something or what?” A voice echoed.

“Like it would have made a difference...” Augury whispered.

“Can I go now?”

Wincing slightly, Augury rested his head on the sling supporting him. “Just... go.”

“Hey, Salvation?”

“...What?”

“Take care of her.”

Augury stayed silent for a moment, shifting his eyes to watch the forest below. “I couldn’t even save you... what makes you think I’ll be able to save her?”

“You can always try.”

“Trying something only got me into this mess, and look where you ended up.”

“All that fire and yet you have such a cold heart.”

“Speak for yourself.”

“And you think for others. It’s who you are, right?”

“I... I don’t know. Is it?”

“That’s for you to decide.”

Augury shook his head slowly and closed his eyes. “I don’t think my decisions even matter anymore.”

Silence.

Sighing, Augury tilted his head down and burrowed it into the bottom of the gooey sling holding him. “She’ll pay, don’t worry. I’ll make sure she does. Now... get out of my head. I don’t need this right now.”

Augury opened his eyes and looked over the side of the sling. The edge of The Hive had come into view, the sickly brown landscape of The Hive bringing a feeling of dread into Augury’s heart. Spire raising high into the sky, Augury felt the eyes of his condemnation watch him. No doubt that Chrysalis had already heard of Augury’s actions from the changelings that had gone ahead, and the consequences that raced through Augury’s head only made him on edge even further. The factor of what Ruin had done could provide a bit of cushion to Augury’s punishment, though as he had assaulted another changeling, Chrysalis wouldn’t let that slip past unnoticed.

The dry air of The Hive quickly fell into place on the changelings flying into their home, the changelings whispering amongst themselves. Their work on Ponyville had brought back plenty of ponies to provide a source of food, and by the looks of it, the changelings that stayed in The Hive had begun to carve another feeding grounds into one of the other mountains. Smiling slightly as they saw the abundance of cocoons hanging from the overhang that the primary feeding ground provided, the changelings carrying Augury quickened their pace through The Hive. As the spire came close, Augury cleared his mind and adjusted his position within the bright green sling. Chrysalis didn’t delay in showing herself as the changelings set down Augury on the large doorstep of the spire’s entrance, the changeling queen emerging from the tower and walking over to the general laying on the ground.

“Care to explain?” Chrysalis asked as the changelings beside Augury unraveled the binds around his hooves.

“You wouldn’t understand. You’re a changeling.” Augury muttered, averting his eyes to The Hive.

“I don’t care if I’ll understand, I want to know why you decided to assault the only other general that’s helping you. You’re lucky you were stopped, or else I would be facing Tranquility herself instead of you right now.”

Though the changelings had taken the binds off of his hooves, Augury remained laying on his side as he watched the two changelings fly away from the spire. “So many threats and yet none of them fulfilled.”

Chrysalis shook her head and stood over Augury. “Tell me what happened.”

“Why don’t you just ask Ruin when she gets back?”

“Because I need to hear it from you.”

“Would it matter who it comes-?”

Growling, Chrysalis lifted her hoof up and slammed it back down on the ground, just barely missing Augury’s head. The changeling general only stared at the hoof obstructing his view of the disgraceful landscape, trying his best to find a hole in the queen’s hoof to peer through clearly.

“It matters who it comes from because I need to hear both sides. Tell me.” Chrysalis demanded.

Augury slowly stood up onto his hooves and gave Chrysalis a brief glance, though he turned away and slowly started to sulk away from the changeling queen. “I don’t want to talk about it.” Augury stated.

Chrysalis, growing even more enraged, grabbed onto Augury’s back hoof with her magic, the general coming to a stop a few feet away from her. “Augury, I’m ordering you to give me the information of what happened.”

The changeling general tugged at his leg. “I said I don’t want to talk about it.”

“You’re only making this hard on yourself! Tell me what happened!”

Irritated himself, Augury turned his head to Chrysalis. “What don’t you get!? I don’t want to-!”

“Tell me what happened!”

“There is nothing to say!”

“Tell me!”

Anger taking over, Augury pulled as hard as he could at Chrysalis’s hold on his leg, and to Chrysalis’s surprise, he managed to slip out of it. Stumbling from the release slightly, Augury stabled himself and glared at Chrysalis, his eyes partially glowing and his voice coming out distorted.

“She bucking killed Frost, alright!?” Augury screamed. “The coldhearted bitch murdered him right in front of my eyes! I wasn’t going to let her get away with killing my best friend! Is that what you need to know!?”

Chrysalis, in partial shock, only stared at Augury with wide eyes. A loss for words had taken over the changeling queen, her mouth open but no sound coming out. The chatter of the changelings off in the distance had come to a standstill, The Hive sitting in a stillness that almost shattered the ears of its inhabitants. Augury clenched his teeth and closed his eyes as he lowered his head, the distortion in his voice and breathing disappearing as he forced himself to settle down. The tension in his body released and Augury just barely caught himself from falling onto the ground. Given by the silence, he knew he had let himself get a little out of hoof.

“Augury.” Chrysalis began. “I didn’t think-”

Sticking his hoof up in the air, Augury intervened. “Just... just shut up. I don’t know how much more I can take without losing control. Let me be... please.”

Chrysalis kept her eyes on the changeling general as he lowered his hoof and trotted further into The Hive, his head tilted toward the ground. It didn’t take much to see that Augury was on the verge of giving up, and considering the amount of anger he had expressed to Chrysalis, he was also close to shattering everything around him. Despite knowing that he would have to go through thick and thin, Augury never anticipated the thick to be lined with sharp edges. Running on the will he had left in him, the distraught changeling general could only rest.

______________________________________________________________________

The green glow of The Hive sent an ominous shade of light into the starry night sky above. A waning moon helped light the darkest areas of the landscape of changelings, but the changelings themselves were too tired to admire the sky. A day of fighting guards and military had lead to another successful raid on Equestria, the changelings that made it out of Ponyville with their lives bringing back plenty of ponies with plenty of love to feed on. Ponyville was left with about a quarter of its population remaining in the town, the ponies happy to have survived, yet terrified and paranoid. Families torn from each other and friends lost in the panic, Ponyville got a first hoof experience of what Cloudsdale had gone through, no matter if they would have been better without. Numbers over power, the royal guards and honor guards were of little help along with the military next to them. Devastated, Ponyville was nothing but another town to be rebuilt.

Augury stared out at The Hive from the tip of a still standing mountain near the edge of the wasteland, trying his best to not roll onto his side and let his emotions get the best of him. Even if he wanted to curl up and cry himself to sleep, the image of Frost slowly losing his life branded itself into the general’s mind. He never got to say goodbye to his lost friend, and knowing that Frost never knew that he was the changeling held against his will to watch his friend die, was probably for the best. Hatred or not within Frost’s heart, the knowledge of Frost thinking that Salvation was just fine was the only thing that consoled the changeling general wishing he could have done something. All that was left of the icy blue stallion were memories in Augury’s mind, but with the help of a certain mare, that was all that mattered.

Sighing, Augury tilted his head up to the nocturnal abyss. Barely any clouds blotted out the twinkling stars floating in the vast blackness, a clean view of another beautiful night sky. Compared to the barren and complicated structures that were strewn throughout The Hive, the sky was a nice escape for Augury’s eyes. Losing himself in his mind was a state that Augury would rather not have fallen into at the moment, so the stars and the moon occupied his thoughts. Night seemed to be even more graceful out in the land of changelings, such a serene sight blended in with such an abhorrent place.

“General. Is something troubling you?” A voice spoke out from behind the lone changeling staring into the sky.

Augury tilted his head back down to look at The Hive, taking a deep breath in before releasing it through his nose. “No. Nothing’s wrong. I thought I told you to stop calling me general.” Augury said, turning to look at the Tranquility replica behind him.

Smiling at the general, Tranquility walked over to Augury’s side and sat down. “Sorry. It just slips my mind, is all.” She said.

“I noticed.”

Tranquility lowered her eyes slightly and looked out at The Hive. “I see that the raid on Ponyville went well. The number of ponies they brought back is quite the amount. Did the other general help with the mission? I forgot her name.”

Augury bit down on his tongue for a second. “Ruin. Ruin is her name. She... she made an effort to help.”

“So why did you try to kill her?”

“I don’t need this from you either. Please, can this just go away?”

“No, it can’t. I don’t know what it is, but I can’t help but keep thinking about you, Salvation. These memories that were put in me are making me feel as if you’re the only pony I have left. I worry about you, and I don’t even know why. It’s just all so confusing to me.”

“You’re a changeling by nature. From what I’ve seen, you all are just worried about getting love to feed off of. Emotions like this aren’t probably natural in you.”

“Couldn’t be a bit more subtle, huh?”

“I see Tranquility’s attitude has caught onto you.”

Tranquility turned her head to Augury, who stared at his hooves. “Are you sure nothing’s wrong? You seem troubled.”

Augury furrowed his brow slightly and looked up from his hooves, but quickly relaxed himself and sighed quietly. “I don’t suppose you have any memories of Frost, do you?” Augury asked.

Tranquility squinted an eye and looked off to the side for a moment. “I have a slight image of him. The unicorn that was obsessed with ice, right? Your friend.”

Augury chuckled to himself. “Yeah, that’s him alright. Always wanting to learn more and more about ice and its properties. He never really did take my advice and lay off on the ice in his house.”

“What importance does he have?”

“I... saw him at the raid. He looked angry and terrified at the same time. Ruin didn’t care, all she wanted was...” Augury let his mouth hang open for a second. “...I don’t know what she wanted.”

“Did something happen with them?”

“Frost is gone. His body shut down after Ruin cast a spell on him.” Augury smirked slightly. “Even in death he wanted to know what was going on.”

Tranquility’s eyes opened wide. “Frost? Ruin... killed him?”

“Right in front of my damn eyes. You don’t happen to know where she set up her home in The Hive, do you?”

“I don’t think it would be a good idea to say where.”

“Worth a shot, I guess.”

Tranquility smiled weakly and looked back out at The Hive. A small thunderstorm had collected far off in the distance, the flashes of lightning visible only barely. Eyes growing heavy, Tranquility looked to Augury. The changeling general himself looked slightly tired, though it was hard to tell if he seemed that way because he was actually tired or his mind was set on something else. Feeling almost as if she had to, Tranquility slowly pushed herself along the ground, stopping as she felt her side fit snuggly against Augury’s. Motionless, Augury took no notice of the pressure on his side, keeping his relaxed dark blue eyes staring out at the landscape.

Sighing, Tranquility leaned her head against Augury’s. “Salvation?”

“What?” Augury asked bitterly.

“Why do you go so much to keep Tranquility alive?”

“What kind of question is...?” Augury blinked quickly and gave The Hive a troubled look. The question seemed strange coming from a changeling, even more so as it came from a replica of Tranquility herself. Though, Augury found himself at a loss for words for a second, his throat keeping him from saying anything. He loved Tranquility, no doubt, but everything he had gone through ever since he was assimilated was for one cause: Tranquility.

Augury shifted his head and looked at Tranquility from the corners of his eyes. Her mane stood in the way of her face, but Augury could slightly feel the replica staring at him patiently, waiting for an answer.

Swallowing lightly, Augury discretely looked back out at The Hive. “Tranquility and I have been through so much. I wouldn’t feel right if I just left her here to die or become a changeling. We’ve known each other since we were kids. I... I can’t leave her. She’s just about the only thing that I have left.”

Tranquility rubbed her head against the changeling beside her. “Does that mean you love me?”

Augury felt his muscles tense up and his eyes open wide. The question was real, and the sincerity even more so, but Augury didn’t know what to think. Could the question be raising from the memories that the replica had within her? A possibility, though it only made the matter worse. His love for Tranquility was sure, but love for a changeling with her appearance was something else.

Biting his lip, Augury slowly turned his head to look at Tranquility from the side of his vision. As before, her mane covered her face, only the tip of her nose visible from the little flip of her hair. A feeling of sympathy ran through Augury’s mind. The replica had been created by Chrysalis to be someone she wasn’t, and with the application of Tranquility’s memories, she seemed to believe that she actually was the original. To Augury’s knowledge, the replica’s sole purpose was to give him company in the distant land of The Hive by acting as Tranquility. But inside, she was only another changeling.

Augury let go of the grip his teeth had on his lip and sighed quietly. “Of... of course I do. No matter what form, Tranquility is who she is.”

“Then why don’t you just leave and take me?” Tranquility asked, turning her head to face Augury.

Eyes met with Tranquility’s, Augury winced slightly. “I... uh...”

Tranquility’s eyes didn’t make the situation any better, and the growing pressure that Augury felt in his throat only made him start to sweat.

“Salvation?” Tranquility asked.

Augury exhaled deeply and closed his eyes. “This isn’t right.” Augury thought to himself. “She’s not Tranquility, she’ll never be. But...” The changeling general opened his eyes again, Tranquility still staring at him. “...maybe I’m better off.”

“Are you okay?” Tranquility asked as she tilted her head.

“Yeah, I’m fine.” Augury gave Tranquility a smile before he stood up, the replica stabilizing herself as Augury left her side. “Here, let me show you something.”

“What is it?”

“You’ll... you’ll see. Come here.”

Tranquility lifted onto her hooves as Augury reached his hoof out toward her, the changeling general holding her hoof for a bit after she stood up. The two changelings stared at each other for a small moment, Tranquility’s smile growing bigger the longer she stared into Augury’s eyes.

Augury motioned his head away from The Hive. “Look out at the mountains. Trust me.”

Nodding, Tranquility let go of Augury’s hooves and turned away from Augury, resting her eyes on the landscape. She scanned the mountains tops with curiosity in her heart, wondering what Augury wanted her to looked at.

“What am I doing?” Tranquility questioned, rotating her head to look at Augury.

“I want you to look at the mountains. Observe them, get to know them.” Augury said calmly as he walked to Tranquility’s side.

“Get to know them?”

“Just look at them.”

Tranquility looked back out at the mountains. The snowy tips of the rock giants gleamed only slightly with the moonlight, seeming to send a lullaby into Tranquility’s eyes as she stared at them. Her eyes slowly grew tired the longer she looked out at the mountains, Tranquility suddenly feeling a weakening sensation flow throughout her body. With time, the changeling barely had enough energy to stay up on her hooves, and found herself falling to the side. Her break was fallen by a pair of hooves, however, just barely stopping her head from hitting the ground. Tranquility weakly moved her head around as she was lowered to the ground and let down delicately, her eyes crossing paths with Augury’s once again.

[Optional music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9b__8OoNbk]

“Salvation... why do I feel... so sleepy?” Tranquility asked quietly, her eyes just barely open.

The changeling general slipped his hooves out from under Tranquility and sat down next to her, gently placing a hoof on her cheek. “You’re just tired. Don’t worry. It’ll all be fine once you get some rest.” Augury spoke softly.

“But... I wasn’t tired before...”

Augury rubbed Tranquility’s cheek with his hoof, the changeling in front of him leaning her head into his hoof. “It’s okay. Just fall asleep. I’ll be right here.”

Tranquility’s breathing had become significantly quieter, and her eyes had completely closed. “...Promise?”

“I promise.” Augury placed his hoof on Tranquility’s forehead “I’ll be right here the whole night. I won’t leave your side. Goodnight, sweetheart.”

“G... Good... night...”

Not a second later, Tranquility slipped into her eternal sleep. Breathing halted, eye shut, and muscles still, the changeling laying on the ground slept a sleep she would never return from. Augury sighed and lifted Tranquility’s hooves onto her chest, putting one on top of the other. The spell had casted just right, and even though it whispered Frost in Augury’s ear, the changeling general did what he needed to do.

Augury leaned down and gave Tranquility a light kiss on her cheek, sitting upright again and staring down at her with wistful eyes. “I’m sorry, but I couldn’t let you carry on like this.” Augury whispered. “You were something that you weren’t, but you believed that you were. When I said that I loved you... it was true, but true for Tranquility. I just couldn’t do this to her.” The changeling general reached out and moved Tranquility’s mane out of her face. “Sleep tight.”

[21] Overcome

Chapter Twenty One: Overcome

“General, are you feeling alright?” The changeling captain asked as he and Augury flew slowly up the side of the mountain.

Augury replied with silence, staring blankly in front of him.

“General?” The captain edged further.

“What?” Augury snapped, giving the captain a stern look from the corner of his eyes.

“You shouldn’t be leading the battle like this.”

“Like what?”

“I heard what made you attack Ruin, and it has obviously taken quite an effect on you. It isn’t wise for someone so troubled as you to be leading the attack.”

“You don’t know if I’m troubled or not. I suggest you keep your mouth shut unless its something important next time.”

“It’s not that hard to tell that you’re-”

“I said keep it shut. Besides, we’re here. Keep talking to a whisper.”

Augury and the captain flew closer to the side of the mountain as they reached the snowy tip, trotting along the curve to the very top with their wings still flapping. The cold air rushing through the mountain range quickly blew against the two changelings peaking over the summit of the mountain, both of them trying their best to stay on their hooves. Their eyes squinting against the wind, Augury and the captain stared off through the snow picking up around them. Despite the obstructions in the view, Canterlot was no single drop in the ocean. Large, spherical, purple force field surrounding the entire city, royal and honor guards roaming the outskirts of Canterlot, and barricades set up by the military, the royal city stood out more than it ever had in the afternoon sun from the mountains near the trail leaving Canterlot.

The captain lifted his hoof up in front of his face as the wind picked up again. “It doesn’t look like they’re taking any chances of letting changelings in. How are we going to take this one, general?” The captain asked.

Augury took a moment to further survey the area, stopping his eyes on one of the towers overlooking Canterlot. “There’s no way we’re going to be able to sneak our way in and we sure aren’t going to be able to take any other tactical way in. It’s not like it would matter, anyways.” Augury said.

“Why is that?”

“They’re looking at us.”

The captain lowered his hoof from his face and peered at the force field around Canterlot. Sure enough, a few of the royal guards out of the city’s boundaries had their eyes fixed on the mountain the two changelings stood upon. The presence of the changeling didn’t just attract the attention of the royal guards, honor guards, and military, however. Upon further inspection into the higher places in Canterlot, Celestia herself glared at Augury and the captain along with Shining Armor at her side. The captain shuttered slightly as he felt the entire city of Canterlot stare at him and Augury, barely managing to take his eyes off of Celestia.

“It seems that they were expecting us.” The captain said.

“They always have been. It’s just now that they’re really pissed.” Augury replied.

“Why aren’t they attacking?”

“They would be at a strategic disadvantage. We have more pairs of wings than they do, which allow more maneuverability through the mountains. Looks like they’re just going to wait until we make a move. Are the others close?”

The captain tilted his head sideways and took a quick glance into the mountains. “They’re just about here. Closing in on the last marked mountain.”

“You told them to wait once they got here, right?”

“Yes, general.”

“Good. We don’t have time for motivational speeches, so once they get here and get ready, we’re heading in.”

“Just out in the open?”

“It would seem that we don’t have any other choice. Captain, I’m expecting you to lead a portion of the army over Canterlot and break away the force field. I’ll stay up here and move in once the field is taken down. If this works out right, once the force field is gone, it should be a breeze. Chrysalis is expecting this one to go good.”

“Do you think it was a good idea to make Ruin stay behind in The Hive?”

“She’s done enough for one raid. If anything, she would just mess up the plan somehow. She’s better of back at The Hive for now.”

“If you say so, general.”

A loud hum of buzzing wings quickly approached Augury and the captain along with a small chatter, the two changelings standing atop the mountain turning to see the rest of the party. Stretching on for quite a ways into the mountains, the army of changelings came to a stop in the mountain range and stared at Augury. Almost each and every one of them held a look of eagerness and determination in their eyes, almost piercing Augury’s head with the thousands of eyes on him.

“At least they know how to follow markers right.” Augury muttered to himself.

“General, come here.” The captain spoke from further onto the mountain’s tip.

Turning to the changeling standing with him, Augury trotted over to his side. “Something happen?” He asked.

“I think they’ve noticed the buzzing. Look.”

The captain extended his hoof out to the field in front of Canterlot. Large groups of military ponies ran through the field to the barricades they had set up, lifting their swords out of their sheaths and aiming the magic synthesizers on the handles toward the mountains. The royal and honor guards stayed back further back near Canterlot, their spears and swords ready at their sides. Prepared for the attack at any moment, Canterlot only waited for the signal to fire.

“They seem a bit hyped up.” Augury noted, staring at a particularly shaky military pony near the front of the barricades.

“Against almost two and a half thousand changelings, fear should be in their hearts.” The captain added. “We’re waiting for your order, General Augury. We’re not going to hold anything back.”

Augury shifted his gaze from the brigades at Canterlot’s gates back to the tower Celestia stood at. Shining Armor gone to join the royal guards, Celestia was left alone at the very tip of Canterlot, locking her eyes with the changeling she had been anticipating to show up. Almost feeling the anger burning in her eyes and vice versa, Augury smirked as he stared at the princess.

“And neither will I.” Augury whispered. He turned his head to the changelings awaiting to attack and raised his voice. “Prepare to head in. We’re not going to have cover, so do your best on trying not to die. Our numbers are greater than theirs, this should be a trot in the park. On my mark, rush in as far as you can. The objective is the same as before.”

Slowly, Augury looked back at the royal city. Aside from the buzzing of the changeling army’s wings, silence took over any other sound that would normally inhabit Canterlot. Each side staring at each other with nervousness pounding in their chests, the battle was imminent.

“Go.” Augury ordered.

The wind that kicked the snowy mountain top was quickly overrun with the rush of air that the changelings created, each and every one of them dashing forward as fast as they could. Augury stood still as the changelings maneuvered themselves around each other, the changeling general’s mane waving back and forth with every passing changeling. The captain that had accompanied Augury at the head of the pack, the two thousand and a half strong army began the raid. It didn’t take long for the military and the royal guards to act in defense, the sky over the field in front of Canterlot becoming a multicolored mess. Timed explosions of magic shots erupted in the air around the changelings as they raced toward the royal city, a few changelings being caught off guard and falling out of the sky. Slowly but surely, the ground the intruding changelings covered grew slowly as groups separated from the crowd, taking a curve around the central tunnel their allies flew in and diving toward the ground. Close quarters quickly closing in on the military ponies, royal guards, and honor guards, the battle almost instantly took a drastic turn.

Augury could almost feel the rumble of the fighting under his hooves through the cold of the snow. The explosions in the air had been minimized greatly, though they were only directed closer to the ground now. Stray shots of magic streamed through the sky above Canterlot as the military ponies were overrun one by one by the advancing changelings, the royal and honor guards doing their best to help with the fight. The large group that the changeling captain had taken were already chipping away at the force field around Canterlot, and quite surprisingly, the shield looked as if it were almost going to break already. Though the changelings had made a lot of progress, the battle between them and the ponies stayed neutral, waiting for the change in power.

A loud bang echoed through the mountains, causing Augury to jump slightly. A large crack had chipped into the force field surrounding Canterlot, the changelings slamming their bodies against the force field letting out a howl of laughter that sent chills down Augury’s spine.

“Already, huh?” Augury thought to himself. “They’re more productive than I thought. A crack that big in the shield should be enough for a few more big hits for it to break. Now would probably be the best time to head in.” Sighing, Augury stepped forward and spread his wings out. “Sorry. I’ll try to get us out before we do too much damage to the city. Besides... I only have one target in mind.”

With a large kick off of the snow and the fluttering of his wings, Augury headed toward the peak of the force field. Preoccupied with the changelings at their level, the military ponies and guards paid no attention to the changeling making his way across the sky, though they wouldn’t be able to even if they tried. The changelings at ground level let nothing get in their way as they plowed through the barriers and towers that the ponies inhabited, a few cocoons already made with ponies inside of them. Canterlot seemed to be at a losing battle with the changelings, and with the soon loss of the force field around the city, Canterlot would lose all hope.

Augury stopped in the air above the force field, staring down at the damaged and on the verge of breaking dome of magic. The changelings hovering above the protective cap on Canterlot continued to ram themselves into the surface repeatedly, increasing the size of the cracks already in the shield even further. The captain accompanying the group tearing away at the shield focused on the changeling general flying high above Canterlot. Against the light of the sun, the captain could see a slight movement of Augury’s head, a motion of warning.

The captain turned back to the changelings around him. “Get out of the way; General Augury is going to finish the shield. Once the shield breaks, rush in and take as many ponies as you can. Canterlot is ours.” The captain commanded.

Augury took a deep breath in as the changelings above the force field scuttled away from the very top of the shield, tilting their heads upwards to watch the general after they got a safe distance away. A dark blue dot slowly emerged from the shine that the sun pelted down on Equestria, strands of stray flames waving from the center of the ball of fire. As Augury leaned forward and began to dive towards the force field, the ball of fire collected at the tip of his horn was slowly pushed into that shape of a cone, the sides of the drill of fire spinning rapidly. Shield already weakened to the point where a small tap would break it, the force field covering Canterlot shattered violently as the fiery drill descending on it made contact. The changelings standing atop the gradually breaking shield quickly maneuvered their wings in the air as they let gravity take them over, each of them forming a cone of their own magic similar to the approach Augury had taken.

The royal guards racing through the streets of Canterlot stopped in their tracks as their eyes focused on the hoard of changelings falling from above, their mouths partially opening in awe. A tremendous eruption of dark blue flames bursted from the collision of Augury and the streets of Canterlot, the blast sending debris and the royal guards standing near the impact point off in various directions. Numerous other craters were formed as the other changelings rammed into the city’s roads, sending the ponies that had been trying to suppress their panic into madness. The center of Canterlot was left with a cloud of dust hanging in the air, the ponies outside of the shops lining the streets running blindly through the haze.

Using a small air burst spell to clear the area around him, Augury opened his eyes and stood up straight. The crater he had made had the radius of the intersection he landed in, though a few other craters made from the changelings behind him added to the destruction. The terror of Canterlot rung in Augury’s ears as he shook his head to get the dust out of his mane, the general already missing the silence that the city used to be in. Recovering from his assault, Augury fluttered his wings and lifted himself out of the deep crater he stood in, coming back to street level with Canterlot. The solitude in the war zone didn’t last long for the changeling general, however, a familiar and furious face meeting Augury’s as he set his hooves down at the edge of the crater behind him.

“You should have realized that this would be the end of your petty changeling reign, ‘Augury’. You never should have thought about attacking your own home.” Shining Armor threatened as Augury came into his sight.

“Waiting for me, huh? You’re so inclined to get revenge on me that you left your royal guards to handle the changelings by themselves?” Augury retorted.

“They can hold their own.” Shining Armor quickly drew a sword from its sheath at his side, pointing it directly at the changeling general in his sight. “What matters is that you don’t get out of this city alive. You’ve taken so many lives from Equestria already, I think it’s time you returned the favor by giving yours.”

Augury furrowed his brow and slowly levitated a few chunks of debris laying on the ground into the air, casting spells on them so each individual rock flowed with dark blue flames. “You should realize now that I’m not so willing to give up. If you want my head, come and get it.”

Growling quietly, Shining Armor slowly took a step forward, but quickly stopped as a voice called out from above.

“Shining Armor. That’s enough.”

Both Augury and Shining Armor adverted their attention to the origin of the voice, Augury smiling partially as he recognized the tall figure lowering herself to the ground.

“Princess Celestia herself. Have I become that much of an issue that you need direct interference?” Augury asked as Celestia settled next to Shining Armor, her wings still fully spread.

“You have destroyed two cities and stripped them of their citizens. You have taken those dear to me and others. This needs to end.” Celestia spoke boldly. “Shining Armor, stay back. He is of no importance to you anymore.”

Shining Armor stepped forward and stared at Celestia. “But... that fiend took Twilight! And Cadence! I can’t just stand back and watch!”

“You will do as I say.”

“What about Luna!?”

Celestia sighed quietly. “As triumphant as you have been in combat before, Augury is not your target any longer. Leave him to me.”

“Princess!”

“You’ve done enough. Stand back.”

Biting his lip, Shining Armor slowly walked back to Celestia’s side, sheathing the sword he had taken out.

“Listen to the princess, Shining Armor.” Augury taunted. He shifted his eyes to the princess. “After all, she always knows best. Isn’t that right, Celestia?”

“Salvation, either you give up now or this ca carry on longer than it should. You know how this will end.” Celestia said.

“So he told you who I am? I figured it would come out after a while. Remember me? The little colt, so helpless, broken down, and pleading at your hooves? Remember him?”

Celestia squinted her eyes. “I remember, but I never thought you would have come out like this. I suppose it was for the better, seeing your true nature as one of them.”

Augury dug his hoof into the ground. “I’m not one of them, and I never will be. Do you see this form? Do you see what happened with Equestria? What happened with the mares that I took? It’s all because of you. I could have been fine as a magical expert, but you just had to get in the way and hold me out.”

“I knew where you would take magic and how you would use it. I wasn’t going to let a psychopath through into one of my schools. Those military books taught you things that no pony should know.”

“You knew, huh? That would explain why you held a poor, defenseless, young colt out of the thing he had dreamed of for so long.”

“Stealth wasn’t your area of expertise. If you wanted to be accepted, you never would have set eyes on those books. Stealing property from military grounds was where your chances of getting in were cut.”

Augury gritted his teeth and stepped forward. “I always had the means to get into the school. It was just you who saw otherwise, and because of that, changelings have risen again. Unfortunately for you, Chrysalis picked a stallion that knew how to handle himself in combat.”

The tip of her horn radiating with a bright light, Celestia slowly lifted herself a few feet off of the ground with her wings flapping. “We have yet to see that.”

A large beam of magic quickly shot out of the tip of Celestia’s horn, heading directly for the changeling standing out in front of her. Acting as fact as he could, Augury kicked off to the side to avoid the attack, just barely moving out of the way before the beam made contact with where he stood. Dirt flew from the pin point spot where the beam of magic crashed into the ground, leaving a small burnt hole in the street. Another quick beam soared through the air toward Augury, the changeling general jumping off of the ground and hovering over the area in which Celestia’s attack implanted into the dirt.

“Damn, she’s fast.” Augury thought to himself. “I’m not going to last out in the open. I’ll need some cover, if it’ll do anything.”

Augury maneuvered his way through the air above the street as Celestia continued to fire prolonged beams of magic at him, though each one just barely missed the changeling frantically flying around. Seeing an opportunity to take cover as Celestia lost track of him for a second, Augury threw his wings down and launched into a second story window in one of the buildings lining the street, the glass shattering inwards. Not too long after the cover of the building concealed him, a beam of magic shot through the broken window of the empty hotel. The collision of the beam against the ceiling of the hotel room created a small explosion of magic, tearing apart the floor of the room above the changeling taking cover. The destroyed contents of the hotel room quickly fell down into the room Augury stood in, a large part of a bed crashing down the disoriented changeling. Augury straightened out his back and threw the debris on his back off of himself, coughing profusely.

“This isn’t going to last. Give up.” Celestia called out to the changeling in the hotel.

Breathing heavily, Augury stumbled along the floor of the hotel room aimlessly. “Damn it... that didn’t feel too nice...” Augury whispered. “She is a princess, after all. Maybe I can fla-”

Before Augury could even finish his sentence, a large beam of magic interrupted his train of thought. The pain of a beam of lethal magic struck straight into Augury’s stomach as it pierced through the wall of the building, destroying the outer shell of he hotel room completely. Force greater than that of a charging buffalo, the beam of magic exploded as it made contact with the changeling caught of guard, jolting his body to the wall off behind him. Augury felt all of the air in his lungs rush out of his mouth as his back hit the wall of the hotel room. The changeling general lightly bounced off of the abrupt stop to his travel through the air, falling back to the floor of the hotel room. Decimated and torn apart, the floor of the room barely held the almost unconscious changeling laying on the carpet. Slowly, Augury slid along the edge of the slanted and exposed floor he laid on, eventually coming close enough to the edge to fall from the height of the room.

Celestia and Shining Armor kept their eyes on Augury as he fell back into the streets of Canterlot, letting out a small grunt of pain as his side planted against the street. A small drop of blood ran out of Augury’s mouth onto the ground, the changeling making no effort whatsoever to mend his wounds, though even if he tried, he wouldn’t have the strength.

Shining Armor quickly walked to the edge of the hotel and stopped by Augury, lifting his hoof up and pressing it down gently on the helpless changeling’s neck. “In your condition, I suggest that you stay on the ground. You should have known you wouldn’t win against a princess.” The white unicorn warned.

“Be careful, a direct hit from such an attack is enough to put him on the verge of losing his life. Leave him be for now.” Celestia suggested as she walked from the middle of the street to Shining Armor’s side.

“Nice one... managed to catch me off guard...” Augury managed to wheeze out as Shining Armor took his hoof off of his neck.

“You’re going to answer some questions right here and right now. Where are Twilight and Cadence!?” Shining Armor yelled.

“You would like to know that, wouldn’t you?”

“Answer me!”

“I’m assuming ‘no’ isn’t a viable answer in this.”

Shining Armor slammed his hoof down on the ground in front of Augury’s face. “Where are they!?”

Augury focused his eyes on Shining Armor’s hoof. “You know, every time someone has slammed their hoof at my head they always miss.”

As the captain of the royal guard lifted his hoof up in the air and moved it forward slightly, Celestia gently tapped him with her wing, the white unicorn stopping his hoof in the air.

“Enough. He’s not going to cooperate.” Celestia said, retracting her wing back to her side. “We’ll need to-”

A thin streak of bright green magic soaring past Celestia’s head distracted the princess from her speech. Augury weakly lifted his head to see what had happened, coughing a small bit of blood up as he turned his head. More and more bright green magic bullets soared past Celestia and Shining Armor, both of them bringing up large shields to protect them from the bullets that raced straight for them. A large group of one hundred changelings slowly advanced from the end of the street Augury had made a crater in, each and every one of them firing relentlessly at the princess and the stallion at her side. Realizing they were outnumbered even for Celestia’s power, Shining Armor and the princess slowly backed down the street as the changelings walked forward at the same pace.

A changeling separated from the pack as they got close to the middle of the street where Augury rested, the captain taking off his damaged helmet and setting it by Augury’s side. “General Augury, we have to leave.” The captain spoke.

Augury stared at the large gash across the captain’s closed left eye and the numerous slash marks on his legs. “What happened? Why... why are we are leaving?” The general asked confusedly.

The captain’s voice seemed a little too calm given the situation. “Reinforcements. They were hiding in the buildings and surprised us. There were to many of them, they overran our offensive groups and slaughtered them. We lost the majority of the army, we have to go.”

Adrenaline pupping into his veins, Augury managed to lift himself to his hooves with the help of the captain. “Where are the rest of the changelings?”

“This is all that’s left. We came to find you. Come on, general.”

Nodding only slightly as Augury did the same, the captain called back to the changelings continuing to fire at Celestia and Shining Armor. Barely hearing the call to retreat by the captain over the sound of the magic bullets they fired, the changelings quickly began to fly up into the air above Canterlot as soon as they seized their fire. As the changelings raised higher into the sky, their cover within the city streets disappeared completely, and with all of Canterlot’s eyes on them, escape appeared hopeless. Magic bullets flying past them and some of the bullets striking them, the changelings flew across the sky as fast as they could, trying their best to return fire. One after the other, changelings fell from the group from exhaustion or defeat, the group of changelings thinning slowly. Eventually, however, the changelings grew out of range of the attacking ponies below in Canterlot, the magic bullets that had been firing at them halting all together.

Augury looked back at the city as he and the small group of changelings with him passed over one of the mountain peaks near Canterlot’s outskirts. Though visible damage was inflicted on the city, the changelings had barely captured any of the ponies successfully, some of the royal guards already breaking open the cocoons that their fellow guards were trapped in. Canterlot had proved triumphant.

“General, we can’t stay here any longer.” The captain spoke as he floated over to Augury’s side. “They’ll kill the rest of us without hesitation. Let’s go.”

Panting, Augury only shook his head as he turned away from the royal city. Approximately two and a half thousand changelings during the beginning of the assault, only forty remaining alive and out of Canterlot. Defeated and exhausted, Augury could only accept his loss, but the question that stuck in his mind was far more daunting than dealing with the outcome of the mission.

Could Chrysalis cope the failure as well as Augury could?

[22] Agonizing Departure

Chapter Twenty Two: Agonizing Departure

“How’s your eye?” Augury asked, breaking the silence that the group of changelings walked in along the grassy field.

“It still hurts, general. I don’t think I’ll be keeping this one.” The captain murmured, trying his best to keep his injured eye closed.

“Once we get back to The Hive we’ll have it fixed up. How are those cuts on your legs? They hurt as well?”

“Not as much as before, general. The pain has subsided and I can walk a little easier. Is something the matter?”

“No, it’s alright. Just checking.”

The quietness the changelings had been sulking in slowly crept back into the area around them, only periodic grunts of pain from injuries interrupting the silence.

The Hive stood off in the distance from the healthy green field that the changelings trotted along at a steady pace, the spire the only visible and notable structure in the wasteland. The night sky was blotted out by numerous passing clouds that let down a small sprinkle onto the outskirts of Equestria, though the rain wasn’t enough to be noticed by even a wondering flock of birds. However, no animals would even dare to settle near The Hive’s path of deterioration of the landscape. No crickets to chirp and no owls to hoot, the outer boundaries of The Hive were as quiet as death in the dark of night as the changelings in the wasteland slept. Having their hooves brushing against the blades of grass as they continued closer to the edge of The Hive, the changelings making their way back from Canterlot sighed with relief as they heard the clop of their hooves on the hard and barren ground of their home. All of the changelings except Augury, that is.

“Captain, I’d like to have a word with you for a moment. In private.” Augury stated and turned to the other changelings with him. “Keep heading to The Hive. Inform Chrysalis of the defeat. She’ll save the licking for me, so don’t worry.”

Nodding, the changelings continued on their path towards the spire as Augury and the captain slowly stopped in their tracks.

“Is something the matter, general?” The captain asked, keeping his eyes on Augury as the general walked to the edge of The Hive’s ground.

Exhaling deeply, Augury leaned backwards and rested on his flank, folding in the left corner of his mouth. He stared at the ground in front of him in silence for a second, watching as The Hive expanded ever so slightly as it drained single blades of grass one by one.

“Take a seat, captain.” Augury said, patting at the ground beside him.

“If I must.” The captain replied, walking over next to the general’s side and lowering his flank to the ground.

Augury took a moment to admire the grassy field away from The Hive’s reach, though the small smile on his face faded as he remembered that it would all look like The Hive itself in due time. “I want to know something.”

The captain flicked a bit of dirt next to his hoof. “What is it, general?”

“You’re different than the others. The changelings, that is. You don’t seem to be as savage as the rest of them, and your actions have made it show even more so.”

“What actions, if I may ask?”

“Wondering about how I am, not going crazy and all mouth-watery every time you see a source for food, showing compassion for the other changelings, those actions.”

“What about them?”

“They’re not that of a changeling. The others are just so focused on getting food and protecting the queen, nothing else. I just want to know... why?”

“I’m not sure I understand the question.”

“You’re a natural changeling, you share the same nature with the others, yet you almost appear to suppress who you are. Your accent isn’t like theirs and your attitude isn’t even near similar to the common changeling’s around here. What makes you act that way? What makes you... you?”

The captain sighed loudly and tilted his head to the side. Habitually, he reached up to grab his helmet to take it off, but only grabbed the air around his head, remembering he had left the severely damaged piece of armor in Canterlot. The captain shook his head and looked at his hoof as he lowered it to his face. The holes in them provided a little tunnel to see through to the greenery that the field outside of The Hive was blanketed with, the grass swaying back and forth in the slightly breeze.

“I never really did like The Hive. It’s too dry.” The captain shrugged and put his hoof back on the ground. “The changelings just have a different view on what goes on, I guess. I don’t see myself as different from them as beings, I just have a separate set of values.”

“That’s what I’m trying to determine. You’re a changeling, yes, but at the same time, you’re not.”

“My mind, maybe. The changelings are feral, creatures that focus on surviving and nothing else, no matter the consequences. I saw the missions, I knew what to do, and I did as I was told. The changelings, they took a whole new meaning to ‘go in, capture, and get out’. They tore the place apart, they terrorized the ponies, and they just made it a nightmare in general.”

“So you see yourself as better than them?”

“I don’t see myself as better, just more developed. Mentally, at least. If anything, that puts me at a disadvantage.”

“How so?”

“I took time to admire the life outside of The Hive. The changelings didn’t. I take time to think about things before I do the. The changelings don’t. I discourage myself in the face of doubt. The changelings? They tear doubt apart. Ever since I saw the beauty of life outside of The Hive, I felt like I wanted to be a part of it.” The captain looked at Augury from the corners of his eyes. “It sounds stupid, yes, but there’s something more to life than just caring about yourself. You need someone to be there for you. That’s why I wanted to make sure that you were alright before we charged Canterlot. You were troubled, I could tell, and I’m not saying that it caused us to lose the battle, but it inflicted on the outcome in some way.”

Augury chuckled to himself. “A changeling that actually cares for the others around him? I’m surprised, captain. I never thought a changeling was capable of it.”

“New things pop up everyday. Here in The Hive, maybe not as much, but I can bet the raids were a bit of a surprise to Equestria. Their society looked nice.”

“So why you didn’t let me kill Ruin? She decimated Cloudsdale almost all by herself. She wasn’t even a changeling at the time, yet she took no care in making sure Cloudsdale wasn’t harmed.”

“Changeling mind or not, we are sworn to protect those who lead us with our lives and follow their orders. Both of you generals, and myself only a captain, I had to defend one of my superiors, and you were on the offense. It was nothing personal, and after hearing about what she had did, I wanted to gut her as much as you did, but I couldn’t let my leader die.”

“You’re that loyal, huh?”

“Respect for those above me is not loyalty in my eyes. Just following orders.”

“No one ever gave you the order to protect us.”

The captain shrugged. “That’s just a given to me.”

Smiling, Augury slowly stood up onto his hooves, the captain turning his head to look at the general. “Not quite the talk I was expecting to have, but nonetheless, I have a gist of why you act the way you do. Come on, we’ll have to face Chrysalis soon or later.” The slight cheer in Augury’s voice died down. “Let’s just hope she can take it as well as we could.”

The captain quickly stood up as he heard the clop of Augury’s hooves against the ground of The Hive, turning to look at his superior. “General?”

Augury rotated himself to face the captain. “Yeah?”

“I... want to ask a favor from you. It’s nothing big, just something I feel like I would be better off with.”

Augury briefly tilted his head upward. “Shoot.”

“Could you... give me a name?”

Shock, though he didn’t show it, Augury scanned his eyes over the captain, and after a small moment, the general motioned his head toward The Hive. “Let’s go, Devotion. Better not keep her waiting.”

The captain stood still for a moment, pondering to himself how the name would fit him. Though, after realizing how far Augury had gotten into The Hive while he was lost in thought, Devotion raced after the changeling general.

______________________________________________________________________

Augury stared up at the spire doors in front of him, starting to regret sending Devotion off of the medical area to leave himself alone with Chrysalis. Her punishment was still unknown to the changeling general, and the mystery of what could happen haunted Augury’s mind as he lifted his hoof up to the large doors. Two voices resonated from within the spire’s base, one of them sending a rush of anger into Augury’s veins as he listened to the muffled conversation for a second. Even after leaning his head up against the wood separating him from the inside of the tower, however, the conversation was barely audible through the thick doors of the spire, Augury shaking his head and hesitantly pushing his hoof against the spire’s doors. The loud creaks that croaked from the slow opening of the decorative slabs of blackened wood silenced the speech between the voices within the spire, putting Augury more on edge as he felt the attention focus on him. The doors open enough to see who was inside, Augury stepped forward into the spire’s base, greeted with the bright green eyes of Queen Chrysalis and the bright red eyes of General Ruin.

“Augury! Oh sweetie, it’s good to see you back okay! Did the big bad Canterlot ponies beat you up?” Ruin exclaimed in an exaggerated tone used for foals, the changeling general rushing towards Augury and hugging him.

“If Chrysalis wasn’t here my hoof would be shoved down your throat right now.” Augury asserted as he pushed Ruin off of him, the changeling that had her hooves latched around him tumbling backwards.

Ruin gave Augury a smug look as she stabled herself on her hooves. “What’s the matter? Is someone a little grumpy because they lost?”

Augury turned his head to Chrysalis. “You wouldn’t mind if I impaled her, would you?”

“Unfortunately for both of us, I do.” Chrysalis said. She shifted her eyes to Ruin. “General Ruin, quit it with the babying, you’re giving me a headache.” Shifted her eyes to Augury. “And you. I would like some answers.”

“For what? We got our flanks handed to us, that’s all there is.”

“Yes, you may have been defeated, but I want to know how you managed to lose over two thousand of my changelings!”

“Listen, I-”

A frantic voice had no patience to wait for Augury’s sentence to finish, a terrified and out of breath changeling tumbling into the spire’s base.

“My queen! They’re here!” The changeling shouted, quickly panting after he finished talking as he propped himself against the frame of the spire’s doors.

Chrysalis gave the changeling a puzzled look. “What? Who’s here?”

“The ponies! They found The Hive! You have to come, hurry!”

Chrysalis, feeling her blood start to boil, turned her head to Augury, who only stared back at Chrysalis with worried eyes. Quickly, the changelings within the spire’s base rushed out into The Hive and slid to a stop just outside of the doors, turning their heads to the sky as an explosion burst into the air. Just as the changeling had said, pegasus royal guards flew throughout the sky over The Hive, finally taking the battle grounds to the changeling’s own territory.

“What!? How did they find us!?” Chrysalis yelled in disbelief.

“We don’t know, they just appeared out of no where!” The frantic changeling replied.

“Well it doesn’t matter right now, defend The Hive with all that we can! General Ruin, I’m expecting you to handle the situation.” Chrysalis tilted her head downwards to look at the other changeling general, her voice becoming stern. “Augury, I want to have a word with you in the spire.”

“Woohoo! It’s about time I get back into action!” Ruin howled as she kicked off of the ground, fluttering her wings as hard as she could as she followed the changeling that had warned them.

“No... no, I told them to clear the markers... how did they find us?” Augury whispered to himself, watching the carnage in the sky seep toward the ground as military ponies charged across the field where Augury had talked with the captain.

“Augury, now!” Chrysalis yelled suddenly from the spire’s entrance, ducking down slightly as another magical explosion erupted over The Hive.

Clenching his teeth, Augury ran from outside to the spire’s base, the doors slamming shut behind him as Chrysalis used her magic to close them.

“What happened!? What did you do!?” Chrysalis yelled angrily as she progressed toward panicking the changeling general, Augury looking around frantically.

“The changelings, I told them to clear the markers after each one they found! I told them to, why didn’t they listen!?” Augury yelled, pacing randomly.

“What are you talking about!?”

Augury came to a stop and stared at Chrysalis. “I set markers up in the mountains so the changelings could find their own way to Canterlot so one of the captains and I could go ahead! I told them to get rid of the markers! They must have forgot, and now the ponies know where The Hive is! Chrysalis, you have to believe me, this isn’t my fault!”

Breathing heavily and angrily, Chrysalis tried her best not to lash out at the changeling pleading for her mercy. “Which captain did you take with you?”

Though he had calmed down slightly, his voice still retained a frantic speed. “He was one of the earlier ones that were created, before Cloudsdale. I sent him to the medical bay. He didn’t cause any of this, I promise you.”

“Then it looks like I’ll have to get the information from him.” Chrysalis took in a deep breath and stood up straight. “Augury, I’m counting on you to help the changelings defend back against the ponies. I don’t care if you have to tear them in two, just get them out of The Hive. We’ll discuss what your punishment will be later, once the ponies are gone.”

Augury sighed lightly. “Thank you, Chrysalis.”

“Enough talk, go. They aren’t going to back out of The Hive if they don’t meet any forces against them. When they are gone, meet me back at the spire.”

Nodding, Augury hurriedly ran towards the open doors of the spire, kicking off of the ground and fluttering his wings as he met the weak moonlight. He quickly darted up into the air above The Hive, stopping himself at a long distance above the wasteland to survey the damage the ponies had done so far. The changelings had put up a moderate defense against the attacking ponies, though the inner line of protecting changelings seemed to be backing away at the same slow pace that the ponies advanced. Despite the dark of the night, Augury could pick out a few of the changelings that seemed to be doing quite a bit of work, his brow furrowing as he noticed a peculiar changeling. Her bright red eyes stood out from the rest of the dark landscape, Ruin’s electrical attacks flashing with each spell she cast at her enemies. As she cleared the area around her of changelings and ponies, Ruin snapped her eyes on the changeling general watching her from a distance, her mouth curving into a smile as she noticed him. She seemed to know something that Augury didn’t, her smug smirk only provoking Augury to take the thought even more into consideration.

Augury’s attention on Ruin dwindled away as the changeling down at the front lines began to run toward the spire, Chrysalis emerging from the tower’s doors. Taking a quick look back further into The Hive, Augury let his mind slip back into the heat of the fight as more changelings swarmed out of the areas they had been sleeping in. Though Augury just wanted to lay back and watch the fight from afar, he quickly rushed forward as the changelings that had awoken joined his side in the fight.

______________________________________________________________________

Streams of fire flew in strands of dark blue, the ribbons of destruction flowing like strings in the wind as they weaved through the participants of the battle. The field on the outskirts of The Hive remained to be the center of battle for the assault on the changeling home, though smaller battles further within The Hive raged on along with the main confrontation. Bright green flashes of magic contrasted with the multi-colored magic pushing against them, along with the brief waves of dark blue that stood out from the rest of the area around them as they pushed through the attacking ponies. The darkness of night had been lit up with the sudden and unanticipated attack on the home of the changelings, the moonlight barely needed anymore due to the constant blasts of bright magic.

Augury breathed heavily and closed his eyes as he came to a stand still in the middle of the field, raising a violent ring of dark blue fire around him on the ground. The military ponies that had been surrounding him flew away from the eruption of fire, their coats partially burnt from the flames. The fires dying down, Augury slowly opened his eyes once more to look at the battlefield. Numerous changelings had fallen in combat and were laying in the middle of the field, some of the other changelings rushing to their sides and trying to drag them away. Though the changelings themselves had taken heavy losses, the ponies were no different in their casualties. Some of them being carried away in cocoons, the others trying to crawl away from the magic fight, the ponies still pressed on no matter the consequences, fires burning within their eyes flickering with the lust for retribution against their assailants.

“Having fun yet?” Ruin shouted over the rampage as she landed on the ground next to her fellow general.

“I never was, and with your appearance, you just made this possibly the worst moment in my life.” Augury replied, sending a wave of fire towards a group of ponies charging at him.

Ruin shot a large bolt of electricity at one of the ponies that was sent flying from Augury’s attack. “That still has yet to happen.”

Augury ducked under a slash from a sword, kicking the honor guard that had teleported beside him away and throwing the sword in a random direction. “What?”

Chuckling to herself, Ruin slammed her back hooves into a passing royal guard’s helmet, the royal guard flipping backwards and landing on his side. “Oh nothing.”

Fed up enough with the ponies attacking him already, Augury slid to Ruin’s side and picked her up by her shoulders, both of the changelings propped up on their two hind legs as they stared at each other. “Listen, this is not the time to talk, alright? I don’t know what you were doing with Chrysalis back in the spire, but it better have been important. As much I hate to leave you in charge of anything, I feeling like I’m going to pass out soon.”

Ruin lifted an eyebrow and smiled as she fanned her face with a hoof. “Are you giving me your trust for once? Augury, I think I might be getting a little hot.”

“Keep your damn comments to yourself. I’m not trusting you. I’m only letting you take over for a little bit. Try not to be the main cause of the changeling’s casualties.”

“No promises.”

Before Augury could make a remark, Ruin slipped out of his grasp and flew off into the air above the field, slamming down into the ground a second later and letting of a blast of electricity into a group of military ponies. Setting his hooves back down for a brief moment, Augury shook his head and lifted off of the ground, casting a protective shield around himself as numerous royal and honor guards fired magic bullets at him. The concentration of changelings and ponies grew weaker as Augury progressed toward the inner parts of The Hive, though the less heated battles between the smaller groups of ponies still continued. Flying through large arcs and small towers placed randomly throughout The Hive’s interior landscape, the sounds of the war slowly dwindled to a slight disturbance in Augury’s ears, despite the occasional blast of a battle further into the wasteland.

Finding a suitable spot to set down on, Augury slowly lowered himself to the bottom of a drop off from a cliff that looked as if a waterfall used to cascade from the top of the wall, a large indent placed in the center of the slight overhang. Tired from fighting for quite a while, Augury sighed deeply and set down on his stomach, propping himself up with bent front legs. The edge of the large platform that he rested on dropped off as another cliff near the edge of the flat surface, providing an overlook of The Hive from his position. Most of the battles themselves were absent from Augury’s sight, only the distant and brief flashes of magic visible behind the structures of The Hive. The brief silences that the inner parts of The Hive provided augury with a chance to relax, the changeling general slowly regaining his strength. The relaxation, however, did not last for long.

Augury pricked his ears up as a small poof of magic interrupted the silence behind him. The sound of rushing air whistling behind him, Augury himself off to the left as quickly as he could. A sword planted itself in the ground where Augury had moved his head out of the way, the steel sparking as it grinded against the solid rock. Instinctively, Augury pushed himself up to his hooves and kicked his back hooves into the pony behind him as hard as he could. The pony was quickly propelled backwards and slid along the ground, coming to a stop at the cliff wall with a large thud. Recovering, the pony looked up from the ground toward the changeling he had attempted to assassinate, only to quickly have himself duck down as Augury’s right hoof slammed into the cliff behind him. The pony kicked himself away from the cliff and ran over to the sword that still stuck up from the ground, rotating around swiftly to face the changeling as he held onto the sword with a levitation spell.

“You might want to work on your stealth. You’re not going to survive long against a changeling if you don’t know how to conceal your movements and attempt to make the first move.” Augury said as he took his hoof of the jagged wall of the cliff, positioning into a defensive stance and glaring at the stallion.

Though his face was covered by a cloth mask, Augury could feel the anger seep from the stallion’s mouth as he breathed heavily.

“I didn’t come here to practice my stealth. I came here to make sure you and that other fiend that tried to kill me don’t forget my name.”

Augury squinted slightly. “You must have me mistaken for another changeling. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Growling, the stallion lifted a hoof to his face and tossed aside the mask concealing his identity, and as the cloth disappeared from the stallion’s head, Augury felt as if he were going to throw up.

“You damn well know who I am and you should know why I followed you. I’m not letting you bastards get the last of me. You tried to kill me once and failed, you impersonated a mare that I thought was my friend, and most of all, you destroyed my home. I’m here to take your life, that’s final.” Frost declared, bringing the sword in his grasp out in front of him and pointing it towards Augury.

Shocked beyond belief, Augury only stared at the icy blue stallion with wide eyes, suddenly wondering if he were dreaming.

“Are you going to say something or what? This is your chance to say your final words, use them sparingly.” Frost threatened.

“Frost, I... how... how did you... how did you survive?” Augury asked in disbelief, his voice barely audible.

“That spell that the other changeling cast on me wasn’t lethal, it was only a overly-concentrated sleep spell. I don’t know what in Equestria she was doing, but she made the wrong choice in letting me live. Luckily for me, the Equestrian military was looking for recruits to help with the changelings.”

Augury backed up slightly. “No, Frost, listen to me. I’m not the one you want to kill. Ruin, the other changeling, she’s the one who tried to kill you!”

Frost’s horn began to glow with a bright orange aura. “And I’ll deal with her after I’m done with you.”

After his horn sparked with a small magical flash, a large pillar of ice seemed to come out of no where in front of the icy blue stallion. With a large diagonal swing of the sword after he drew it back behind him, the pillar of ice shattered as Frost swung his sword into the cold structure in front of him. The pieces of ice the pillar had crushed into flew in a random formation towards the changeling general pressed up against the cliff, Augury acting as quick as he could and raising a weak magic shield on front of him. The shards of ice that headed straight for Augury implanted themselves into the shield, the others rushing past the changeling and sticking in the cliff.

“Frost! Listen to me! I-!” Augury shouted, but was cut off as Frost charged straight toward him.

The icy blue stallion leapt into the air and drew the sword behind his back, glaring down at Augury as the changeling lifted the shield above his head. The clash of metal and magic caused a large crack to split down the middle of the dark blue protective barrier, though the shield maintained together as Augury forced it against Frost’s continuously pressing attack.

“I have no reason to listen to you! Just give up and die!” Frost shouted, locking eyes with the changeling in front of him.

Clenching his teeth, Augury forced the shield upwards with all that he could, the sword in Frost’s levitation spell bouncing backwards and spinning through the air, landing flat at the edge of the cliff. Frost, after taking a quick glance back at his sword, stood up onto his hind legs and kicked at Augury with his forelegs, the changeling general falling backwards and sticking to the cliff behind him, just barely missing a large shard of ice next to his head. As Frost ran back toward the sword he had lost, Augury pushed himself off of the wall and came to a stop a few feet away from the cliff, preparing another shield to bring up. Sliding to a stop at the drop off of the platform, Frost picked up the sword on the ground with a levitation spell, turning around in time to see Augury with another curved plate of dark blue magic at his side.

“I don’t want to hurt you, Frost. Just give me some time to explain.” Augury offered, bringing the shield at his side out in front of him slightly.

“Explain what? You and that other changeling tried to kill me. What more is there to know?” Frost asked.

“Put down the sword and let me tell you.”

Frost straightened the sword out in the air and held it out in front of himself. “That’s not going to happen.”

Shaking his head, Augury ran forward as Frost did the same. Each clash of steel and magic sent a net of sparks off of the transparent dark blue plate that Augury maneuvered around himself, the sword leaving slash marks on the shield with every swing. Trying his best to hold back his urge to lash out at Frost, Augury elegantly dodged and parried Frost’s vicious slashes, his swift movements just barely moving him out of the way of each attack. Small lines of ice began to form on the ground where Frost missed the changeling he desperately tried to kill, the sword beginning to gleam with an icy layer on the blade. Every slash and hack against Augury’s shield left a small trace of ice on the dark blue plate, the ice absorbing into the already implanted slash marks and expanding. As more and more ice converged within Augury’s shield, the plate began to grow brittle, the changeling general starting to notice pieces of his shield fall off as Frost swung at it. His worry about his shield taking over his concentration of evading, Augury came to a stand still as Frost relentlessly thrashed the degrading blue barrier. Inevitably, Frost made his way through the shield.

With a powerful upward swing of the sword, the dark blue barrier protecting Augury broke apart into triangular shards, the bits of the shield evaporating as they landed upon the platform. The force of the magical bonds breaking sent Augury backwards further onto the platform, landing on his back and sliding to the center of the top of the cliff. No hesitation in mind, Frost ran forward and forced the changeling general onto his back as Augury began to get up, Frost’s hoof holding the now helpless changeling down.

Frost, breathing heavily, brought the sword up into the air above his head. “Your life ends here!”

With the sword coming down quickly, Augury crossed his hooves in front of his face, shut his eyes, and did the only thing he could think of. “Frost, it’s me, Salvation!”

A sudden silence came between the stallion and the changeling. His face turned away from his hooves, Augury slowly opened his eyes one after the other. Carefully, the changeling general moved his head to his hooves, uncrossing them and setting his eyes on the tip of the sword just above where his hooves used to be. The icy blue stallion past the sword only stared at Augury with a confused and slightly shocked expression, his mouth partially open.

“You... what did you just say?” Frost muttered.

Augury swallowed a small clump in his throat. “It’s me, Frost. Salvation. I... didn’t want you to know.”

Feeling a sudden spike of anger within him, Frost clenched his teeth and moved the sword closer to Augury’s head. “You’re not Salvation, I know you aren’t! Salvation is my friend, a pony like me, not some damned fiend like you.”

“Frost, listen, I can prove that I’m who I say I am. Just give me a chance.”

After taking a quick glance out at The Hive, the icy blue stallion leaned his head closer to Augury’s face. “You have one chance. If I find out you’re lying, you’re dead.”

Nodding, Augury cleared his throat. “My name is Salvation. We met in Ponyville and we have been friends almost ever since. Tranquility, she’s my marefriend. We went on a trip around Equestria a while back. You told me to take care of her. Please, Frost, just put down the sword.

Frost moved the sword closer, just inches away from Augury’s eye. “That’s not good enough.”

Starting to sweat slightly, Augury took a deep breath in and calmed himself down. “Frost... remember the time I set up a separate surprise birthday party for you two years ago back at your house?”

The irritated look on Frost’s face calmed slightly. “...Salvation had waited at my house to celebrate my birthday with just the two of us after my actual party at Sugar Cube Corner.”

“We played board games, we practiced spells, we even had a little duel with fire and ice to see who was stronger. I accidentally set the cake on fire, remember?”

From agitated to confused, Frost began to lift the sword from Augury’s head. “The fire almost spread to the rest of the table before I put it out...”

“And we both got drunk off our flanks and ended up in the spa in the morning.”

The sword in Frost’s grasp dropped the ground limply by his side. “And when Tranquility walked into the back room after she heard we were at the spa she got pissed because Lotus was laying on top of you with a hangover.”

“Tranquility almost hammered my face into the floor for getting both of us and Lotus and Aloe drunk.” Augury smirked slightly. “It took me twenty minutes to convince her that I didn’t cheat on her.”

“I vouched for you and...” Frost’s eyes suddenly opened wide. “Oh my...” He backed up and stood away from Augury. “Salvation... what happened?”

His smirk fading, Augury stood up onto his hooves and stared at Frost sorrowfully. “I never wanted this to happen, Frost. I never should have stayed and talked to Chrysalis.”

Overwhelmed, Frost sat down and held his head with a hoof. “But... why are you a changeling?”

“Assimilation. Queen Chrysalis made this all happen. She forced me to do her work with threats. Chrysalis has Tranquility. That’s the reason why I’ve been doing this, Frost. For her.”

Frost stared at Augury with pleading eyes. “Those six mares, Princess Cadence and Luna... they were taken by you. Serenity... it was you, all along. My best friend... why didn’t you tell me?”

“I was afraid. I didn’t know what you would think. If I told you at Pinkie’s party, you never would have believed me. I wanted to tell you in that house in Ponyville before Ruin cast that spell on you, but I was scared that you would’ve hated be because I was one of them. You have to believe me, Frost, I never wanted this. It just... happened.”

Frost looked around aimlessly, taking in light breaths. “This... this can’t be happening. Salvation, I don’t... I don’t know what to think.”

Augury slowly walked forward to the icy blue stallion, both his and Frost’s eyes locked with each other. “I know it’s hard to understand, and even I have a hard time coping with it, but I can’t change it.”

Feeling his eyes start to water, Frost planted a hoof on his face. “This is all my fault... I never should have suggested the vacation. Now you’re a damn changeling because of it... and Tranquility...”

“Frost, none of this is your fault.” Augury guilty looked past Frost at the spire in the distance. “I should have listen to Tranquility when she said not to talk to Chrysalis.” Shifted his eyes back to Frost. “My choices were what spawned this, Frost, not yours.”

The icy blue stallion looked back up at the changeling general. “But Salvation-”

Augury lifted his hoof into front of Frost’s face. “Frost, just...” He laughed weakly. “Just shut up, okay? You never had anything to do with this. This... this was me.”

Wiping a tear from his face, the stallion sitting on the ground chuckled quietly. “You always did have to take responsibility for everything, didn’t you?”

Augury shared the small laughter. “Someone had to cover for your flank.”

“So... it really is you, isn’t it? Salvation The Pyromaniac, as Cheerilee used to call you.”

“She never did forgive me for the haywire spell that caught her desk on fire.”

Frost laughed to himself. “I’ve missed you, buddy. It’s felt like too long since you-”

The smile on Augury’s face switched to a worried frown as Frost lurched onto his back, a yell of pain erupting from the stallion’s mouth. Confused and slightly scared, Augury reached out to help Frost, only to have his hoof hit away by the flailing stallion as Frost continued to shout unintelligibly. Starting to panic, the changeling general looked around frantically, his eyes stopping on a certain figure standing off to the right of the platform. Chrysalis stood strongly as she watched Frost squirm around, her horn glowing with a bright green aura as she focused on the icy blue stallion.

“Chrysalis? What are you doing!? Are you doing that to him!?” Augury asked hurriedly, switching his glance from Frost to Chrysalis repeatedly.

“He’s a pony, Augury. You know my orders. Get rid of them.” Chrysalis said bitterly.

Augury began to step forward to Chrysalis, but stopped as the changeling queen gave him a stern look. “Chrysalis, stop! I can take care of him myself, you don’t have to do this! Whatever you’re doing, please, let him be!”

Chrysalis continued to manipulate Frost with her magic. “Once this is over, he’s not going to be happy with you. I suggest you make another shield.”

Realizing his pleads were useless, Augury looked back at Frost. The struggling stallion slowly calmed down as Chrysalis loosened her hold on him, Frost coming to a stop on his side, breathing heavily. Augury hurriedly ran over to the recovering stallion, turning Frost onto his back and looking into his eyes. The eyes he expected, however, were replaced, bright green circles with the appearance of a pony’s eyes resting where Frost’s pupils used to be.

Augury slightly shuttered at the sight. “Frost, are you alright? What happened?” Augury asked, shaking the stallion gently.

His senses fully coming back to him, Frost blinked rapidly a few times before he focused his eyes on Augury. Almost instantly, the icy blue stallion clenched his teeth and furrowed his brow, the changeling standing over him backing his head away. With a quick movement, Frost growled and forced his hooves upwards into Augury’s chest with all that he could, sending the changeling general tumbling backwards confused and frightened.

“Don’t you even dare touch me again!” Frost yelled as he pushed himself onto his hooves, grabbing the sword on the ground and pulling it over to him with magic as fast as he could.

Augury kept his eyes on the awakened stallion as he stabled himself. “Chrysalis, what did you do to him? Why is he acting like that?” The changeling general asked.

“A memory altering spell, Augury. He thinks you took the assimilation process and put Tranquility where she is on purpose. The spell, no matter, how hard you try, can’t be broken without my actions. There’s only one thing you can do to get him back to his real self, Augury.” Chrysalis smirked slightly. “You know what it is.”

“Chrysalis, you-!” Augury began to yell, but focused his attention back on Frost as the stallion took a swipe at the changeling general.

Just barely missing his horn, the sword continued horizontally as Augury ducked down, the changeling coming back up and putting himself into a stable stance as Frost drew his sword out in front of him again.

“Frost, listen to me, I didn’t do this on purpose! Do you not remember what we just talked about!?” Augury yelled as he shifted off to the side, the sword planting into the ground where he previously stood.

“Why should I listen to you!? You caused all of this, now you’re going to die for it!” Frost shouted, bringing the sword up out of the ground and slashing at Augury again.

The blade arced upwards unsuccessful in its objective as Augury kicked himself backward. “I would never do anything like this! Snap out of it!”

Frost brought the sword down back at Augury, the changeling just barely moving off to the side before the blade slammed against the ground, the sword causing a small hole to form in the platform as it sent chunks of the ground into the air. “Shut up, you bastard! I’m going to rip your damn head off for doing this to her! I never should have even spoken to you if I knew this was who you truly are!”

Augury levitated a piece of the platform that had been loosened with Frost’s last attack and brought it up above his head, the sword sending a spark off of the collision as Frost threw it down on Augury for another swing. “I’m not like this, damn it! Chrysalis, stop this right now!”

Chrysalis only watched in silence.

Unexpectedly, Frost ran forward and swung his right fore hoof into Augury’s head as he got close, the changeling general’s head jerking sideways as Frost’s hoof slammed into the side of his face. The force of the swing was enough to send Augury into a daze, the rest of his body following his head as he stumbled off to the side. Recovering ever so slightly, Augury turned his head back to the icy blue stallion behind him.

“You’re mine!” Frost yelled, charging forward with the sword pointed straight toward’s Augury in a levitation spell.

Reaction times still fresh, Augury lifted his front hooves up and clamped them on the blade as the sword came close, the guard of the sword enough reinforcement to keep the tip of the steel from impaling him. Frost still running forward, Augury walked backwards on his hind legs with very little balance, though the cliff wall stabled him upright as it planted against his back. Frost and Augury both pushed against the sword with all that they could, Augury trying his best to keep the blade between his hooves while still maintaining the force to keep if from his chest. Growing impatient, Frost stood up onto his hind legs and put his hooves on the handle of the sword, adverting to his physical strength to force the blade further toward Augury.

“Damn it, Frost, just listen to me! I’m not what you think I am! I didn’t want this, why would I ever want this!?” Augury yelled, feeling a drop of sweat run down his face.

Frost continued to push against the sword, his eyes filled with hatred as he stared at Augury with a bright green bloodlust. “You’re not the stallion that I used to know! You’re a monster, an abomination!”

Augury turned his head to his right, Chrysalis watching with a cold stare. “Take the hold off of him! Take the bucking hold off of him! Please! I beg you, just take the hold off of him!”

Chrysalis turned away from Augury and looked out at The Hive. “You know I’m not going to do that.”

“Chrysalis! You bastard, damn it!” Augury turned back to Frost. “Listen, you idiot! I’m not a bucking changeling! I’m Salvation! Salvation, your friend!”

“You’re not my friend! You never were! You’re just another one of them!”

“Stop this! Frost, we have been friends ever since I moved to Ponyville! Is this the way you want it to end!? Is this what you want!?”

“Just die, you fiend!”

“Frost! I am not your enemy! I’m your friend! It’s me, Salvation!”

“You’ll never be my friend!”

“Frost!”

“Die!”

“Fine! If I can’t break the hold... then I’m sorry.”

Augury’s eyes suddenly gained a fiery dark blue aura, the expression on Frost’s face turning from anger to gentle fear. A small beam of dark blue magic swept down from above the two stallions, the sword in between them snapping in half. The front half of the sword fell to the ground at Augury and Frost’s hind hooves, giving Augury enough room to move. The changeling ducked down and rolled to the side, Frost dashing forward and plunging the dull end of the sword into the wall in front of him. Augury levitated the half of the sword on of the ground over to him as he ran out towards the center of the platform, floating it in the air and straightening it out to point at the stallion leaning against the wall. Frost ripped the half-sword in his hooves out of the wall and whipped around to face Augury, but only found what Chrysalis had intended to happen.

Forcefully, Augury spoke. “Goodbye... Frost.”

The half of the sword Augury held in the air shot forward with a magic burst, Frost’s eyes opening wide. Within an instant, Frost flew back into the cliff behind him, the sound of a small ‘clink’ of metal colliding with a hard surface ringing into his ears. Frost leaned against the wall for a second, but slowly slid down the wall of the cliff, a small trail of blood following him down. Augury sighed and walked forward to Frost, the injured stallion falling onto his side with his back against the cliff. Augury sat down in front of Frost and stared at him for a second. The green haze in Frost’s eyes slowly faded away, Chrysalis’s hold on Frost broken, but not without a cost.

Optional music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7os8ZN-NWSM

“All that surgical training... you know how to pinpoint someone’s heart, don’t you?” Frost spoke weakly with what seemed like a smile on his face.

“Frost... I’m-” Augury started to say.

“There’s no need... the pain in your eyes back there... explained enough...”

“I’ll make sure Chrysalis pays for this. I won’t let her get away from any of this.”

“I’m sure she won’t... look, Salvation... what I said back there... none of that was true. We’re still friends... right?”

Augury sniffled slightly, a tear running down his face. “Yeah, we’re still friends. We always will be, nothing can change that.”

“Good...” Frost swallowed something in his throat, giving a slightly disgusted look at the sky above. “Hey, Salvation... remember that one time... when we accidentally caught your mom’s dress on fire...?”

Augury couldn’t help but raise a corner of his mouth. “Yeah, Frost, I remember. That was her favorite one.”

“Did she ever... find out it was me that... caused that?”

“She had a suspicion. Just because your specialty in magic is ice, doesn’t mean you can’t be blamed for things dealing with fire.”

“Yeah... did you get in... trouble for that?”

“...You did destroy her favorite dress.”

“Damn... sorry about that... once this is all over... tell her I’m sorry...”

Augury sat in silence for a second, feeling another tear slowly streak down his face. “I’ll... try to tell her.”

“Thanks... buddy... I can always count on you...”

Augury stayed quiet again, realizing that he would get no answer this time if he replied. The changeling leaned forward slightly, fixating his eyes on his friend’s face. Frost stared tiredly into the black sky above, motionless. Augury sighed and reached his hoof out, closing Frost’s eyes and mouth slowly.

“Are you two done?” Chrysalis asked as she walked toward the changeling and the pony. Augury felt a spike of anger rise within him and he stood up slowly, turning around to face the changeling queen. Chrysalis stopped abruptly as she saw the fiery dark blue aura around Augury’s eyes, the queen smiling with the sight of Frost laying still behind Augury.

“Why... just explain to me why, and maybe I’ll think about making your death less painful than I’m imagining it right now.” Augury spoke.

Chrysalis took a glance back out at The Hive. Most of the battles had grown quiet and the fights were no longer visible, only a few changelings roaming around aimlessly above The Hive.

“It would seem that we were able to fend off the ponies.” Chrysalis said as she turned her head back to Augury. “We’ll talk later, in the spire.”

Augury stood up and flared his nostrils as he exhaled forcefully. “No, we’ll talk right now! Tell me why!”

“The spire, later tonight. I’ll be waiting.”

With Chrysalis lifting off of the platform without waiting for a reply, Augury sighed quietly to himself and tilted his head toward the ground. The aura around his eyes faded and Augury felt another tear drop run down his cheek, the changeling letting it fall to the ground. Hesitantly, Augury returned his sorrow gaze back to Frost. The icy blue stallion remained still, a small part of the sword in his chest peaking out of the wound. Keeping back his tears from falling too hard, Augury walked over to the stallion and carefully pulled the sword out with a levitation spell, gently setting it down on the ground.

“Ruin, Chrysalis... they’ll both regret that they ever set eyes on you, Frost.” Augury whispered.

______________________________________________________________________

Chrysalis stared at herself in the mirror upon the wall of her room, examining her mane and tail as she brushed both of them carelessly. The later hours of the night had proven themselves again to be a quiet and boring time for the changeling queen. Though the victory was for the changelings, The Hive received a share of the damages in their army along with the ponies. With the fighting over and the ponies pushed out of The Hive, the changelings that had helped in the defense were either tired, dead, or recovering in the medical bay, most of them exhausted and waiting for their health to fully restore. The Hive had taken a few hits to the structures that lined the barren landscape, some of the more tactical groups of ponies even able to take a few of the cocoons from the feeding grounds and bring them bake to Equestria. Despite the ponies having to accept the repercussions pressed back on them, the changelings had a few obstacles to fix if they were to survive another attack, and with the ponies having the knowledge of the location of The Hive, retaliation was inevitable.

The clop of two pairs of hooves on the floor of her room interrupting the silence, Chrysalis stopped abruptly mid-brush of her mane, staring at her own eyes in the mirror. A small moment of quietness passed between the queen and her visitor, both of them feeling a strong tension between themselves.

“There better be a good reason as to why you pulled off that little act.” Augury said sternly as he walked into the reflection of the mirror, glaring into Chrysalis’s eyes.

Sighing, the changeling queen set down the brush on a desk next to the mirror and closed her eyes. “I don’t understand how you ponies can brush your manes with such a rough tool. It only tugs.” Chrysalis muttered.

Augury stepped forward slightly. “Well? Do you want to start explaining why I had to bury my best friend?”

Chrysalis opened her eyes and inspected her hooves in the mirror. “Then again, fashion and such aren’t worries for ‘fiends’ like us, are they?”

Anger rising, Augury shot a small magic bullet past Chrysalis, shattering the reflective surface in front of her. “Stop avoiding the bucking question! Answer me!” He yelled at the top of his lungs.

The changeling queen took a deep breath before she turned to face the irritated general behind her, her gaze stopping on Augury’s inflamed eyes. “I did what was necessary.”

Feeling the need to lash out at Chrysalis again, Augury consoled the urge by casting a levitation spell on the desk Chrysalis had put her brush on and flipping it over. “Necessary my bucking flank! Frost would still be alive if it weren’t for your bucking actions! You don’t know what if feels like to have anyone there for you! Your cold heart murdered him!”

Chrysalis put a hoof to her chest and lifted and eyebrow. “I murdered him? Who is the one who stuck the sword in his heart?”

Fighting his instincts again, the changeling general clenched his teeth and slammed his hoof down, the floor cracking slightly under his hoof. “I should have your wings ripped off and your horn shoved down your own throat! Tell me why you bucking intervened between me and Frost! Why!?”

Starting to feel a little heated herself, Chrysalis furrowed her brow and set her hooves stable on the ground. “I followed a suggestion from another changeling, one that knows how to lead rather than worry. You can ask Ruin why your friend is gone.”

Shock adding on to anger and his blood turned to a boil, Augury growled angrily and repeatedly kicked at the ground, the crack he had previously made growing with every blow. “Ruin!? Bucking Ruin!?” Augury stared at Chrysalis with viciously crazed eyes. “What is wrong with you, you idiot!? Why would you listen to her!? All she wants is for me to suffer!”

Chrysalis bared her fangs further. “I went with my judgement! Besides, your friend would have been killed either way with the changelings about!”

Augury turned away from Chrysalis and began to walk towards the window. “That’s it! I’m bucking mutilating her!”

The queen quickly stepped forward. “Augury! I’m not letting you do that!”

Augury turned back to Chrysalis. “Why not!? Why don’t you just appoint Ruin as your damn changeling general!? What purpose do you have for me anymore!? Why do you continue to keep me around!?”

“Because you’re the only one I ever felt like this for!” Chrysalis shouted, her face turning a bright red as the words slipped out of her mouth.

“I-... wha...” Augury began to retaliate against the remark he had expected, but found himself leaning forward in previous anger with his mouth partially hanging open. The irritated expression on Chrysalis’s face slowly faded away as she realized what she had said, the changeling queen quickly standing up straight and putting a hoof over her mouth.

Augury adjusted his posture upright. “Did you just...?” Augury muttered quietly, not able to finish his sentence through pure shock.

Chrysalis shyly moved her hoof covering her mouth off to the side, revealing her bright red face again. “Augury... I didn’t mean to- I mean, I- I can explain.” Chrysalis stuttered, the red tint on her face growing even more so.

Stepping back slightly, Augury lifted a limp hoof in front of him. “Chrysalis, please, don’t let that mean what I think it means. Don’t do this.”

“Augury... I need you, for the army. You’ve been the most cooperative changeling that I’ve ever had beside me. You’ve showed me tolerance beyond anything that has ever been around me. There’s just...” Chrysalis meekly adverted her eyes to the ground. “... something else, too. Something else I need you for... rather, want you for.”

The changeling general backed up even further, quickly finding himself trapped against the wall of the spire. “Chrysalis, just stop there. Please, you know I can’t do this. Tranquility, she... she needs me.”

The changeling queen ignored Augury’s pleads, Chrysalis slowly walking towards Augury with longing eyes. “Ever since that one night... that night by the lake. You told me about Ponyville, about your life, about your problems... and you showed me that someone could care. For me.”

Augury’s breathing slowly became heavy and quick, the changeling beginning to panic. However, no matter how much he tried to teleport away to the stairs leading down into the spire, concentration on the spell seemed to be miles away. Chrysalis holding down Augury’s back hooves with a spell, Augury could only watch in fear as the changeling queen slowly advanced towards him.

“You showed me that not everyone hated me, that there was someone out there that had enough tolerance to oversee my nature. With that conversation, I knew you weren’t like the other changelings. Ever since then, I knew you would be someone I could depend on. Someone that could be more than just a subject of my rule.”

Augury pulled at his back hooves as hard as he could, but the spell around them held him tight in place. “Chrysalis! This isn’t going to work! Just let me go, damn it!”

As Chrysalis continued on, her expression turned from worrying to admiring, a gentle smile forming on her face. “I thought about it for so long. I knew you had Tranquility, but something inside of me told me to ignore her. The way I suddenly felt, the way I found myself looking at you, I couldn’t hold it off any longer, Augury.”

Augury pressed himself against the wall of the spire as much as he could as Chrysalis stopped in front of him. “Chrysalis... I can’t do this. I can’t do this to Tranquility. You and I both know I can’t. Please, don’t do this.”

Chrysalis lowered her gaze forward to Augury’s level, lifting a hoof up to his face and resting it on his cheek. Her face had changed from embarrassment, to acceptance, to a sense of passion, her face still retaining its red tint. Her true emotions finally revealed after being repressed for so long, Chrysalis had never felt like the way she did before. She had someone with her, someone she saw as more than just a subject following her orders because she said so. After going through her foalhood, her adolescent years, her years as a queen, Chrysalis had never felt anything like the feeling she got from Augury. Relying on only her one-sided subjects to ever show her compassion before, Augury had been the first changeling within Chrysalis’s life to show Chrysalis that she wasn’t just a tyrant. Augury had treated her like she was just another pony, just another being to relate to. What only seemed like normal conversations to Augury, seemed like something completely different to Queen Chrysalis.

Chrysalis leaned her head closer to Augury’s, the changeling in her grasp staring at her with terror. The changeling queen’s face was that of a young mare approaching her crush, her cheeks tinted a bright red as she stared deeply into Augury’s eyes. “I knew there was something special about you the moment that conversation ended. You weren’t like the rest. You were something else. You meant something. It’s only now that I realize that... that I care for you.”

“Chrysalis! You don’t know what you’re say-!”

Augury was cut off abruptly from his sentence by another pair of lips, the changeling queen leaning forward into him. Augury stood still for a second and stared off into the spire behind Chrysalis, trying his best to determine what was happening, and if it was actually happening. Sure enough, it was. Chrysalis stared at Augury through her closed eyes as she leaned her head to the side slightly, following along with Augury’s head as he tried his best to pry Chrysalis’s lips off of his. Augury lifted his front hooves from the ground and pushed against the changeling queen, but only made the situation worse in his case. Feeling Augury’s pushing as a sign of compassion, Chrysalis leaned in even further, wrapping her hooves around Augury passionately. The two changelings stood in a conflicting silence, the changeling queen holding onto Augury with all that she could, while the changeling general tried to get away from Chrysalis’s grasp. However, as Chrysalis focused more on Augury, her concentration shattered and the spell around the panicking changeling’s hooves disappeared. As quickly as he felt Chrysalis’s hold let go of him, Augury forced the changeling queen away from him with a powerful push, Chrysalis separating from Augury and stumbling backwards.

Augury quickly shook his head and stared angrily at Chrysalis, who only felt the need to race back towards Augury and feel him in her grasp once more. “Look, I don’t know what your problem is, but this isn’t going to work!” Augury shouted, wiping his mouth. “I love Tranquility, that’s all there is to it! There is nothing between you and me! I only agreed to do your work so I could get Tranquility back, not to become a... a bucking love interest!”

Chrysalis felt her eyes water slightly. “Augury, I only wanted to-”

Augury held his right fore leg out in the air stiffly. “No! Just- just shut your mouth! I’m done! I... I can’t do this anymore.” Augury felt the energy in him suddenly rush out and he fell slightly, quickly catching himself on bent legs. “Tranquility... I’m sorry. Even if it was what you wanted... I’m sorry. I have to go.”

Augury quickly stood up straight and ran as quickly as he could down the stairs of the palace, the changeling queen watching him as he dashed out of sight.

Push over the edge, the changeling general finally met his end. With hidden feelings revealed and a friend lost, Augury could only let go.

[23] Separate Paths

Chapter Twenty Three: Separate Paths

Devotion shifted his eye quickly left to right as he reached a small drop off on the landscape of The Hive, making sure that no one had seen him. The groups of changelings flying through the sky had a difficult time seeing through the darkness of night anyways as they searched for two certain changelings, the clouds in the sky continuing to block out the moon’s light, leaving only The Hive’s natural bright green radiance to aid the search parties. The changeling captain roaming around on the ground himself had a hard time finding his way around the vast wasteland The Hive stretched out as, squinting his eye down at the drop off he had arrived at, trying his best to keep his eyepatch only on his injured eye. Despite the dim light and his inability to use a light spell out of fear that one of the searching changelings would see him, Devotion managed to pick out a small image drawn into the hard surface of The Hive, a small ball with fires surrounding it staring up at the changeling looking down at the symbol.

Feeling a small shift of weight in his legs, Devotion quickly adjusted his wings and stood upright, just barely catching the large bag balancing on his back. The muzzle of a sleeping changeling stuck out of the cloth sack that Devotion carried along with him, her snores blowing out of her partially open mouth onto Devotion’s side. Having to sneak around at the orders of his superior friend, the changeling captain kept his promise and followed the will of the changeling general’s command. Though the maneuvering around The Hive’s structures after taking his designated target from her place proved to be quite nerve racking, the success in taking the changeling let Devotion know that making his way through The Hive undetected could be done. With the changeling general that had told him to carry out his orders waiting somewhere in the vicinity, Devotion finally felt a sense of safety.

“A-Augury?” Devotion called out, scanning the area for any signs of the general.

He was only met with the small howling of the wind.

Devotion swallowed lightly, his brow tilting worriedly. “Augury? Are you here?”

The snoring of the changeling on Devotion’s back instead answered his call for a moment, pushing Devotion into a small state of paranoia.

“You’re late.” Augury stated blandly, looking up from the symbol below the drop off that Devotion stood at the edge of.

The changeling captain sighed with relief as his eye met with Augury’s line of sight. “I thought you weren’t here. You had me worried.”

“Well, you probably still should be. They’re still searching for me. I imagine that they’re searching for you as well.”

Devotion scratched his head. “Chrysalis and the general population of changelings know that I have some acquaintance with you. Not only that, but I did get in a bit of a hairy situation when I was retrieving her.” The captain nudged the changeling on his back with one of his wings.

Augury set his eyes on the resting changeling. “She’s okay, right?”

Carefully, Devotion stepped over the edge of the drop off and landed heavily on his hooves next to Augury, losing balance for a second before Augury stabled him. “Yeah, she’s alright. Maybe a few bumps from my running about, but she’s still breathing. Uh, what exactly do you want with her?”

Motioning his head behind Devotion, Augury walked passed his fellow changeling towards the entrance of a narrow cave. “Follow me.”

Still a little confused, Devotion shrugged slightly and followed the changeling general walking ahead of him. The two changelings slowly entered the black abyss that inhabited the long tunnel, the bright green glow of The Hive and the dim light of the moon disappearing from their coats. Devotion and Augury’s hoofsteps echoed through the dry and cold cave that seemed to stretch on for miles, each clop of their hooves on the ground making Devotion tense up slightly. As they reached the furthest innards of the darkness underneath the home of the changelings, Devotion started to notice a strange glow emerging from the tunnel ahead of himself and Augury. A dark blue light began to cast upon Augury and Devotion’s faces from around the bend that the tunnel took, bringing the changelings out of the blind trot they progressed in.

As the two changelings came in the full radiant light of the dark blue glow, Devotion stopped for a second and looked around, his mouth hanging open in partial awe. A large spherical cavern was placed at the end of the long tunnel, the roof of the cave almost four stories high from the flat and leveled floor. Numerous dark blue fires were strewn about the curving walls of the isolated cavern, the fires flickering in the gentle wind that moved through the cave, air entering the room from holes that reached out to the surface of The Hive. Though the area that the cavern cleared out could easily fit a new born Ursa Minor within its space, no large objects such as furniture or other decorative pieces of housing occupied the spherical emptiness, only the changeling that stood in the middle of the floor staring at Devotion with a smirk.

“It’s not much, I know, but it’s something to call home in this wasteland.” Augury noted.

Devotion set his eye on Augury after looking at the walls of the cavern. “This... is your home in The Hive?” The captain asked.

Augury sighed and sat down. “Any place where I can get out of the sight of the changelings is home to me.”

Nodding in agreement, Devotion stepped forward into the cavern and sat down out in front of Augury, sliding the cloth sack on his back onto the floor as gently as he could. “How did you find this place?”

“A while back when The Hive was still a forest, I remembered Chrysalis telling me about some sort of cave underneath a waterfall at the end of the river that used to run through the trees. Of course, the water has dried up now, but the river’s path was still carved into the forest floor. Through all the changes that The Hive has gone through, I managed to find the lake that used to be here and I followed the river’s path until I found the drop off that the little waterfall used to fall down. I’ve been using this as an escape from The Hive ever since I brought back Ruin when she was a pony.” Augury flicked a pebble by his hoof. “Only now is it actually being useful.”

Devotion followed the pebble with his eye until it came to a stop. “And the changelings don’t know about it?”

“And neither does Chrysalis. Well, she knows of the cave, but she doesn’t know that I’m in here.”

“Oh.” Devotion cleared his throat quietly. “So... exactly why are you hiding from the changelings? I know they’re looking for you, but I never got the details on why.”

Augury shook his head and focused on one of the fires attached to the wall behind Devotion. “I’m leaving The Hive. I’ve had enough of what goes on here. I can’t stay any longer, and if I do, I’ll just be trapped. Chrysalis... she has a bit of a problem understanding that I’m already in love with Tranquility.” Augury scraped his tongue on his fangs. “I can tell she doesn’t brush her teeth.”

Devotion lifted an eyebrow. “She-?”

“I’d rather not talk about it.” Augury set his eyes back on the changeling sitting in front of him. “They’re searching for me because Chrysalis knows that I’m not going to be here any longer. Given that, she wants me brought to her.” Augury looked towards the changeling sleeping in the cloth sack. “I managed to slip away to the medical bay to give you the instructions to retrieve her. I hope she didn’t give you too much trouble.”

The captain shrugged. “She wasn’t all that willing to leave her little circle, but once I covered her eyes she didn’t really do anything. The sleep spell was just for extra precautions. If you don’t mind me asking... why her?”

Shifting his eyes to the ground by his hooves, Augury took a deep breath in and released it. “She... reminds me of Tranquility. If I’m going to get out of The Hive, I might as well take somepony back with me. There also might be some, you know, trust issues if a changeling just shows up in Equestria. I’m going to need some sort of article of convincing so I don’t get killed right away.”

“What are you going to do once you get out?”

Augury looked back at the changeling captain, his eyes determined. “I’m going to bring an end to all of this. The changelings, the horror, the losses, all of it’s going to disappear. I’ll take the side of the ponies like I always should have. I’ll make the changelings realize that what they have done is a mistake. I’ll... I’ll show myself that all of this was a mistake. I’m not going to let this continue on any longer.”

“That’s a bold statement for a someone who hasn’t even left The Hive yet.”

“That’s... another thing I wanted to talk about.” Augury levitated a smooth rock away from the wall of the cavern, the curved piece of stone revealing a small hidden compartment sealed away in the wall. “You said that you wanted to get away from The Hive. You said that the pony’s society looked nice. Here. You’ll need it.”

Devotion watched a rolled up piece of paper levitate through the air over to the ground in front of him, the dark blue aura disappearing around the paper. Curious as Augury pushed it further towards him, the captain reached out and lifted the piece of paper into his hooves. Unrolling the paper, pictures of a large area of land stretched out across the large sheet, a few words in the top left corner of the map causing Devotion to open his eye widely.

“Map of Equestria...” Devotion read.

“It’s a big place. You don’t want to get lost, do you?” Augury asked.

Devotion looked up from the map and at Augury. “You want me to...?”

“Go out into Equestria, find a city or town, and stay there. Start a new life, one that doesn’t involve war and hatred. You said yourself that you were different from the others, that you wanted to live in a place like Equestria. This is your chance.”

The captain took a quick glance back at the map before returning his gaze to the general. “But... what about you? Aren’t you going back?”

Augury chuckled to himself. “I’m going back, yes, but there are things that I need to take care of. If you stay with me, they’ll know you’re a changeling. Pick an appearance that you want and live among the ponies like one of them. It’s what changelings are designed to do, right?”

“Well, I mean- yeah, kind of, but... where do I go? What do I do?”

“You live. Simple as that. There’s nothing holding you back. The only thing that we have to do is get out of The Hive successfully, and we’re home free once we manage that.”

Furrowing his brow as he thought, Devotion let the map in his hooves roll up on its own as he set it on the ground. “I... I don’t know. What if they find out? What if they know that I’m a changeling?”

Augury reached out and patted Devotion on his shoulder. “They won’t. Trust me.”

The captain smiled as he felt Augury’s hoof push on him. “I’ll go. But, I want to help you escape. You’ve shown me the world outside of The Hive and its beauty, I want to help you regain that same land. It’s only right.”

“Just try to remember to keep in your pony form.”

Devotion bit his lip and turned his head to the changeling within the cloth sack, her light snoring continuing on as it had been ever since Devotion took her. “What about her? She’s a changeling, isn’t she?”

“Assimilated, yes, but there is still hope for her.”

“How so?”

Augury curved his mouth into a small smile, untying the rope around the cloth and moving the cloth out of the way of the changeling’s face, Twilight Sparkle twitching slightly as she felt the rope brush against her cheek. “You’ll see.”

______________________________________________________________________

“Augury! Wake up!”

“Mmf... ugh...”

“Augury!”

Clop!

“Ow! What the buck was that for!?”

“Oh good, you’re okay. You were gone for a second...”

“What... what happened?”

“You did it, general. She’s back.”

“What?”

“Twilight. She’s back. You managed to get the changelings off our tails, as well. I never thought I would see a single spell do that much.”

“It wasn’t a spell... I think. Help me up.”

“That wasn’t a spell?”

“It's nothing. Come on.”

Twilight Sparkle watched the blurry blotches of grey move around as one brought the other onto its hooves, her eyes just barely staying open. The shadows of the large arch spanning over her and the two changelings only blotted out her vision to the point of almost complete blindness, Twilight trying her best to figure out what was happening. The dark of night and the bright green glow against the overcast sky indicated that she was still in the land of her entrapment, but the confusion of having herself laying on the ground out in the open and out of the spire strayed Twilight from identifying the situation. Her muscles seemed to be useless as she tried to lift just a hoof, but the pounding of her fast heartbeat pushed to make her attempt to move. A peculiar feeling slowly dawned on Twilight as she realized that her movements felt as if they weren’t being constrained or controlled, and the strange light hue of her coat piqued her mind after being used to the dark grey shade that it used to be.

Two large bright green circles appeared through the haze that Twilight’s sight stood in. “She’s awake. Should we constrain her?” Devotion asked, slowly advancing towards the pony lying on her side, staring at him.

Another pair of blurry circles entered Twilight’s vision, these two barely visible until they got close, their dark blue color strenuous to see in the black of night. “I have the issue covered. She’s not going anywhere.” Augury noted.

The sudden second and familiar, though muffled, voice almost instantly brought Twilight’s heart to the fastest it had ever pumped, her vision quickly returning and the emotion of fear striking her with all of its force. Twilight Sparkle immediately began to squirm around in place, her muscles still slightly limp from not using them for such a long time, causing her legs to flail only slightly. The two changelings watched as Twilight regained the feeling throughout her body, both of them staring at her calmly, knowing that she wasn’t going to be able to act against them. Her voice trapped in her throat, Twilight Sparkle stayed silent as she stood up onto all four of her hooves, her wide eyes and clenched teeth displaying her fear even further. Twilight quickly backed up against the overhang that the immensely large arch provided, her head leaning forward as the rest of her body lined up further back against the surface of the structure. Confusion soon found itself working into Twilight’s mind as well, the numerous holes in the ground and the pieces of destroyed structures scattered around the arch bewildering her even further.

“I’m not completely sure, but I think she’s frightened.” Augury said, limply pointing a hoof out at Twilight.

“I wonder what could have tipped you off on that one.” Devotion added, nudging the general on his side.

Through the clot that blocked her speech, Twilight let out a few small squeaks before she spoke. “Wh- what do you w- want?” Twilight asked, trying her best to keep herself as calm as she could.

Augury stepped forward a few feet, but stopped quickly as Twilight winced. “Listen, I’m not going to hurt you; I don’t have a reason to. I just need you to trust me.”

“Y- you’re the one that took my friends. Why should I trust you?” Twilight asked, her voice beginning to retain a more stable and stern manner.

“Because in the land of the changelings, the ones that aren’t attacking you or wrapping you in a cocoon are your best chances of making it out of here alive. Do I make myself clear?”

Twilight Sparkle furrowed her brow. “You were the one that put me in a cocoon in the first place. Why should I believe that you’re going to help me? Not only did you take my friends and I from our homes, but you also turned us into changelings.”

“And I’m also the one that returned you back to your original species. If you haven’t noticed yet, take a look at yourself.”

Curious as to what the changeling meant, Twilight tilted her eyes downward to inspect her coat, and almost felt her lungs exploded from the large intake of air she took in. Her coat had returned to its furry and soft texture, the silky dark grey coat that had laid itself across her stature before now gone with no traces left behind. Mouth forming into a smile, Twilight began to walk out forward and look at herself even more. The lack of fangs in her mouth allowed the lavender unicorn to smile properly, having the feel of teeth finally off of her lower lip making her beam with glee. Her happiness could not have been expressed in words more than a few syllables, the surprise of having her old self back almost making Twilight jump up and down with joy. Twilight, quickly realizing that she was still in front of two changelings, turned towards Augury and Devotion, forming her mouth back into a small frown and straightening her brow.

“I’ll take that as a thank you.” Augury said, smirking.

“Where are my friends?” Twilight demanded.

“That’s an issue that will need to be sorted out later.”

The lavender unicorn squinted at the general. “Where are they?”

Augury took a quick glance at Devotion, who nodded slightly. “They’re still in the spire where you were with them.” Augury admitted as he looked back at Twilight.

“I’m not leaving...” Twilight looked around at the sky passed the arch over her. “...whatever this place is without them.”

“Well, the ‘whatever this place is’ will recapture you within three seconds of even coming in a three hundred meter radius of them. If you want your friends back, you better be good at fighting against more than seven thousand changelings.” The changeling general motioned his hoof out to his side. “That is, if you could leave a certain distance around the two of us.”

Twilight shifted her eyes to the area around herself and the two changelings. “What are you talking about?”

“Spell two hundred and sixty four, Containment Radius.” Despite the memories of his foalhood days vague in his mind, Augury still retained a large portion of his studies in his head, particularly the military books. “Should an enemy or force need to be captured or put under surveillance, this spell will contain them in a set perimeter around the caster. Within the circle of containment, the being under the cast of the spell will be put out of commission in the field of magic, should they be a unicorn or any other being with the capabilities of manipulating magic. At the same time, the spell will prevent the being from leaving within the set perimeter.” Augury smirked as he saw Twilight stare at him with a blank expression. “Military spells and the knowledge they give can prove to be useful in times of their need. Try and leave, it’s useless.”

Shaking her head, Twilight focused back on the situation. “I’ve never heard of such a spell. You’re lying.”

“Just because you’re the princess’s star student and the spirit of magic doesn’t mean you know everything about your own talent. Some things are kept away from the general population. Unfortunately for you, I was a little more discrete than the regular students in the schools of Canterlot.”

Twilight furrowed her brow in confusion. “The schools of Canterlot? You’re a changeling, how could you have studied in the Canterlot schools?”

“You’ve missed a lot while you were a changeling yourself, Miss Sparkle.”

The lavender unicorn slowly relaxed, though she kept her defensive stance against the arch. “I’m still having a hard time believing that you’re going to help me.”

Augury sighed and motioned for Devotion to come to him, the changeling captain scooting his way to the general’s side. “We are not the ones that are trying to hurt you.” Augury directed. “Anymore, at least. Things have changed since I’ve first taken part in this society, and I’ve had enough of it. I have had my flank beaten inwards, my closest ones taken away from me, and my mind bent to the point where I don’t know if anything is right anymore.” The general changed his aggravated glare at Twilight to a soft gaze. “Trust me, whatever I put you through, it is nothing compared to what I have been through. Whatever I did, I can make it up, I know I can. All I need is your cooperation.”

Twilight switched her concentration from Augury to Devotion. The changeling captain, too, stared at Twilight as if he were pleading. The tone of Augury’s voice was not that of deceit, and the more thought Twilight put into Augury’s word, the more she felt as if he were telling the truth. Even if she decided to try and run, the effort would be hopeless due to the spell centered around Augury. With the realization that no matter what she tried she would have to go with the changelings anyways, Twilight exhaled a sigh of acceptance and stared back at the dark blue eyes focused on her.

“Where are we going?” Twilight asked.

The question brought a smile to Augury’s face. “Canterlot. I have something I need to establish with the princess. The only thing is that, well, it’s not going to be an easy task of making it out of The Hive.”

“The Hive?”

“The landscape we are in. Home of the changelings, for now.” Devotion added in.

“Devotion and I aren’t quite the most cherished changelings in The Hive at the moment.” Augury said. “The only reason we haven’t made it out of here already is because of the resistance of the changelings, and since we can’t hide amongst them like we could with ponies, the obstacle of having to sneak around has made it a difficult task to reach the outskirts of The Hive. Once we reach the outer layers, however, escaping should be a breeze.”

Feeling a little more secure knowing that Augury and Devotion wouldn’t attack her, Twilight walked forward from the arch, though she maintained her distance from the two changelings. “And what about when we’re out of... The Hive? What happens then?”

“We take the trek back to Canterlot and you return to your home.”

“And my friends?”

“They will need to... wait until I’m confident that I can save them. I’m not as cold hearted as you think I am, Twilight Sparkle. I wouldn’t just leave the mares that have saved Equestria two times with the beasts that have tried to overtake it. We’ll get them back, there are just a few things to take care of before we can. I promise.”

Twilight Sparkle only watched the two changelings for a second, running her eyes over them intently. “Why are you doing this?”

Augury and Devotion exchanged a glance and a small smile. “Because we’re not too much different from you, Twilight. I hope you’ll come to realize that.”

______________________________________________________________________

“Do you see them?” Augury whispered, trying his best to keep still as he hid behind the large spike protruding from the ground.

Devotion, also hiding behind a spike next to Twilight, slowly peaked his head around the rounded edge of the pointy structure. He stared off into the sky for a second before he leaned back into the cover of the spike, focusing his eye back on Augury.

“I don’t see them. I think they lost track of us.” Devotion whispered back.

Augury himself took a quick peak around the spike he took cover behind, a little hazy on trusting Devotion’s perception due to his eye. However, just as Devotion had said, the large group of changelings that had been chasing them were no where in sight, moving in the opposite direction in which Augury, Devotion, and Twilight were hiding.

The cloudy night sky continued to provide cover for the three fugitives, the ground of The Hive only visible around the more vibrantly glowing green areas. The constant sound of fluttering wings in the distance seemed to just barely overrule the sound of quiet hoofsteps on the firm ground of The Hive, the hiding changelings and pony making the best of the sound to cover their movements. Swiftly, the three made their way across the open field that stretched out from the forest of spikes they had made their way through, darting as fast as they could to the next area of cover. The outskirts of The Hive were not far from the mountain that blocked the path to escape, only another stretch of flat land left behind the worn down mountain until the homestretch to Equestria would be within running distance.

Augury slid to a stop as he reached the very edge of the sharp incline that the mountain took upwards, turning his head as Devotion and Twilight drew close. The general motioned his hoof upwards to Devotion as the captain came to a stop at his side, Devotion nodding and flying up the side of the mountain. Augury stretched his hoof out to Twilight for her to grab onto him, the lavender unicorn giving him a look of uncertainty before Augury shook his hoof impatiently. With hesitance, Twilight latched her hoof onto Augury’s outstretched leg, and before she could get a firm grip on his with both hooves, Augury clamped his other hoof on Twilight’s and launched off of the ground. Her muscles tense, Twilight held on as tight as she could as she and Augury flew straight up along the rocky edge of the behemoth blocking their way. The ascent upwards didn’t take long before the tip of the mountain came into sight, Devotion waiting at the top as he stared out at The Hive.

“Did any of them see us?” Augury asked, setting Twilight and himself back on the ground.

Devotion watched Twilight out of the corner of his eye as she trotted poutingly away from him and Augury, the lavender unicorn sitting down and staring in the opposite direction of the two changelings. “I think we should be in the clear from here on out. I can see the border of the plains and The Hive in the distance, so I think we made it.”

Augury nodded. “The Hive is behind us now. You can finally live your dream.” The general lifted his right foreleg up and brought out a folded piece of paper that had been barely protruding from his coat, levitating it over to the changeling in front of him. “I’m going to trust you that you don’t get lost on your way to the nearest town.”

Quietly laughing, Devotion took over the hold on the folded up map and tucked it in the band of his eye patch. “I’ll do my best, Augury. Take care.”

The changeling general reached out and patted Devotion on his shoulder. “You too, Devotion. Try not to get discovered. Your changeling form might be a little bit of a shock to the ponies.”

Devotion smiled weakly as Augury turned away from him. The captain sighed and turned his head to the landscape away from The Hive. Clouds beginning to clear in the skies, the just barely orange hue of the sun began to peak through the grey puffs separating ever so slowly.

The captain quickly looked back at the general. “Augury?” Devotion spoke.

Half way between Devotion and Twilight, Augury focused back on the changeling calling his name. “What?” The general asked as he walked back towards Devotion.

“What... what is it like out there? You know, without the war.” Devotion hesitated to asked.

Augury smiled and laughed silently to himself. “It’s great. The ponies are friendly, I’m sure you’ll fit right in when you get to where you’re going. With you being a changeling and all, I think you might want to get to know a mare as soon as you can before you start to grow weak. Her love will be enough to make you last.”

Devotion timidly tilted his head downwards and his ears fell flat on his head. “Are you sure I can do this? I... I never had an actual conversation with a pony. You’re the closest thing I have to a friend, what if I-?”

Augury raised a hoof in front of Devotion’s face, settling it back down on the ground as the captain halted his speech. “Listen, Devotion. You’re going to be fine. Don’t worry about anything and nothing will happen. Settle down and start a new life. It’s your only option now that The Hive wants us both dead. You might as well take it.”

Feeling a small raise of confidence, Devotion raised his head back up and gave Augury a nod. “Thank you, Augury. I won’t forget you.”

“And I won’t forget you. Goodbye.”

Devotion lifted a hoof to his head and saluted, Augury nodding and doing the same. “It’s been an honor, Augury.”

The changeling general stood in silence as Devotion lifted off the ground and slowly began to fly off towards the plains outside of The Hive. The early dawn sky pushed the captain to fly faster as he noticed how bright it was getting, and soon enough, Augury could barely see the escaped changeling against the light of the sun. Smile faded, Augury turned back around and walked slowly over to Twilight, the lavender unicorn still staring out at the mountains that hadn’t yet been taken over by The Hive.

“Come on, Twilight. Let’s get heading to Canterlot.” Augury said as he stopped at Twilight’s side.

“Where’s the other changeling?” Twilight asked.

“He’s heading off on his own. Don’t worry, he isn’t going to cause trouble.” Augury shifted his eyes up to the untouched landscape beyond The Hive’s control, watching the few trees just beside the mountains sway in the wind. “All he wants is to be free from this war.”

[24] Bitter Return

Chapter Twenty Four: Bitter Return

The flow of the small river that floated down the steady decline of the plain dripped and bubbled gently with no rush. The water, crisp and clean, offered a clear view of the blue early morning sky above the land of Equestria, reflecting the rising sun’s rays with utmost elegancy and tranquility. Peaceful and serene as the river was, Augury couldn’t help notice how miserable he looked in his own reflection. The dark blue circles that made his eyes hung drearily and tired, his mind starting to wear away at itself with thinking too much. The decision to leave The Hive was that of the highest desire in Augury’s heart, and with Chrysalis’s sudden affection, leaving was the best possible choice Augury had, but at what cost? Losing the one you love? Letting go of the only other being that doesn’t treat you like a monster? Executing the pony that has been with you for so long because he couldn’t control himself?

Augury tilted his head down to the bank of the river as he felt his eyes contribute to the water flow. So many sacrifices in just a short amount of time made, and for the hope of retrieving the mare he loved most to be withered away with time and realization, the journey of Augury’s heart felt as if it were all a waste of time. The former general could only guess what Chrysalis had done with Tranquility, and guesses he figured they should remain. Her sorrowful, pain stricken dark cyan eyes when she muttered what she wanted Salvation to do, they made Augury wonder if leaving her behind was what she really hoped for.

A small shuffle of the leaves in a tree switched Augury’s attention from the soothing ripples of the river to the sudden noise, the changeling lifting and turning his head to see what Twilight was doing. Her hooves stretched upwards and her body leaned against the trunk of a tall tree, the lavender mare stared up at an apple on the lowest branch of a tree near the edge of the river, trying her best to grab onto the fruit with her hooves. Still under Augury’s containment spell, Twilight Sparkle’s use of magic remained incapacitated for the time being, Augury making sure that she wouldn’t try anything. Twilight didn’t seem to noticed the changeling staring at her, her purple eyes too focused on the bright red apple hanging from the branch she tried desperately to reach. The long walk all across Equestria built up an appetite in the petulant mare’s stomach, her hunger growling for satisfaction even as she reached up in desperation for the what seemed to be the most delicious apple ever in her eyes at the moment. Augury smiled partially as he watched Twilight struggle with her hooves constantly twisting along the apple’s surface. Her determination was almost that of Tranquility’s stubborn attitude, and the similarities of both of the mare’s coat and mane colors only drove Augury to admire the lavender unicorn.

Twilight gasped slightly as she saw the bright red apple her hunger cried out for engulf in a dark blue haze. Before she could say anything, the stem of the apple severed gently from the branch that it had been attached to, the lavender mare watching the apple levitate past her head and settle in the air. Her eyes still focused on the apple, Twilight almost didn’t notice Augury staring at her with a subtle smile on his face, his horn glowing with the same aura around the apple. For a brief moment, Augury and Twilight’s eyes locked and remained unmoved. The brief stare quickly faded as Twilight snapped her head forward and bit down on the apple floating in front of her, the lavender unicorn turning her head away from Augury as fast as she could and sitting down.

Augury chuckled to himself and looked back down at the river. “Getting a bit hungry, now are we?” Augury asked, poking one of his hooves forward and dipping it in the flowing water.

Her mouth occupied with an apple, Twilight remained silent as she chewed, keeping her line of sight away from the changeling.

“You know, a simple ‘thank you’ isn’t much to ask for.”

Twilight swallowed the bit of apple in her mouth. “Thank you for what? Taking me and my friends? Turning us into changelings?”

Augury sighed quietly. “For the apple.”

The lavender mare only grumbled slightly as she took another bite of the apple in her hooves.

“I’m getting the hint that you don’t want to talk right now.” Augury assumed as he lifted his hoof out of the water, tilting his hoof sideways to empty the water out of the shallow dents in it.

Twilight looked up from the apple she held at the trunk of the tree she sat next to. The chirp of a bird chimed in as Twilight thought to herself in silence, almost bringing a smile to her face after going for so long without the sounds she had been so used to. Breeze blowing the leaves on the apple tree beside the river, Twilight almost lost her own train of thought in the atmosphere of Equestria.

“So that’s a-?” Augury began.

“When you said you weren’t much different from me, back in The Hive, what did you mean?” Twilight asked, setting her half eaten apple on the ground and rotating her head to look at Augury.

The changeling continued to look at his hoof, only small drops of water remaining in the dents strewn throughout it. “I meant what I said. We’re more alike than you think, Twilight, even if I have the appearance of a changeling.”

“Appearance?”

Augury set his hoof back on the ground. “A while back, I made a horrible mistake. It cost me so much, and only gave me despair in return. You see, I’m not a changeling. Naturally, at least. The process that I put you through, the cocoon, the assimilation magic, the control over your friends, I went through the process as well.”

“So... you’re not a changeling?”

“Technically, yes, I am, but when you look past my outer shell, you’ll see that I’ve kept more of my pony personality rather than my changeling one.” Augury laughed quietly. “At least, I think.”

“But, why didn’t you just leave? It’s what you did in the end, isn’t it?”

Lowering his eyes, Augury felt his lip quiver slightly. “There were some things that I didn’t know when I first became a changeling. There still are, but they’re all gone. I can’t go back to change them, I’ve made my choice, but I can at least try and make up for them. That’s why I’m trying to come back to Equestria, to fight against the changelings, to stop this. This war never should have happened, and it was my own idiotic self that was too foolish to realize that some things are better left alone.”

“And you took me with why?”

“You act as if that’s a bad thing. You’re out of The Hive, you should be happy. I needed something to convince the ponies back home that I’m not an enemy, and even with you as proof, I still don’t feel as if it’s going to be enough.”

“Why’s that?”

“One life doesn’t exactly make up for a million others, now does it?”

Twilight bit her lip lightly and returned her gaze back to the apple on the ground. He was right in the matter of one life against so many more. The lavender unicorn wondered to herself if she would even make a difference back in Equestria, considering her friends remained in The Hive, unmoving without Augury’s control. The Elements of Harmony would be useless without them, but the happiness that Celestia and Shining Armor would have might just bring them to keep on fighting.

Her appetite suddenly gone, Twilight focused back on Augury. He remained staring into the water of the river, and with his fangs just about digging into his lower lip, Augury seemed to be trying to hold something back. The changelings at the attack on Canterlot during the royal wedding were so cold and bitter in their personalities, and seeing a changeling that had feelings other than hunger almost made Twilight sorry for Augury, despite what he had done. The things that had been taken away from him, the events that he had seen, they both pushed on Augury to keep his old self intact. After going through so much and just barely making through it all without losing too many parts of his mind, Augury still managed to keep a hold on what was important, though he may not have realized it just yet.

Taking a deep breath in, Twilight Sparkle slowly stood up and trotted quietly over to Augury’s side. She looked down at his reflection, the dark blue circles shifting from looking at themselves to the lighter figure standing beside them. Whether the running water distorted Twilight’s figure enough to resemble Tranquility or seeing Twilight actually come near him, Augury couldn’t tell which one of the two made him smile, but he knew that he had at least gotten through to Twilight to make her see that he wasn’t her enemy.

“You’re not going to finish your apple?” Augury asked.

“I’m not so hungry anymore,” Twilight replied. She looked further up the river, leaning her head to see around the apple tree she had been sitting by. “Besides, we’re close to Canterlot. I guess I can wait until then.”

“Well then, let’s get going, shall we?”

Rested and ready to return home, Augury and Twilight Sparkle begun the walk back to Canterlot once more. The river that flowed through the plain the changeling and pony walked along curved around a large mountain in the distance, the familiar mountain ranges causing Augury and Twilight to pick up their pace slightly. Canterlot awaited them both. The only thing that worried Augury was what the reception of a changeling would be.

______________________________________________________________________

Sunlight projected the stained glass paintings in the hall attached to Canterlot Tower onto the floor, displaying their elegance even further with the crystalline patterns of the glass. Six mares stood upon a circle of green in one particular painting, six separate beams of magic streaming from each of the mares towards a peculiar creature centered near the top of the painting. The creature, shocked, only stood in fright, his fate sealed in stone. About five years had passed since Discord’s entrapment, the works of art in the hall of Canterlot Tower keeping the memories tight and making sure they would last forever. Everlasting, however, they lately were questioned to be so, and with changelings letting loose destruction throughout Equestria, the conditions of the present threatened such relics with the downfall of Equestria itself.

Two ponies stood in the painting’s colorful splendor, one princess and one captain, but both heavy with heartache. Standing side by side, Princess Celestia and Shining Armor stared up at the pieced together artwork, their eyes slightly dampened. With the troubles of repairing the homes of ponies across Equestria, stress found its way into the princess of the sun’s heart, eating away at her mind with so much to take care of, so much to tend to. His sister and wife taken away from him, Shining Armor felt as if he had nothing to fight for anymore, and the royal guards that he commanded were not much different from their captain. The Equestrian military, though powerful, had taken heavy losses throughout the battles in the cities and towns the changelings attacked so far, and the looming thought of another raid wore away at the military, pushing the ponies that protected Equestria itself to start to question whether they were ready for what was ahead of them. All of Equestria trembled in paranoia, shaking in their homes while they waited for what would happened next.

“Do you think things will ever go back to the way they used to be?” Shining Armor asked quietly, focusing his eyes on the lavender unicorn on the stained glass painting.

Princess Celestia lowered her eyes to the bottom of the colorful glass. “It’s hard to be sure of the outcome of this war.” Celestia said. “The changelings have already attacked Equestria three times, and two of the attacks were successful. Canterlot may not have come to the fall that Ponyville and Cloudsdale had, but there were losses that have yet to be fixed. While we may have found the changeling home, their numbers are greater than ours, and I’m not certain that we may be able to stand up against them.”

“We defeated them before, haven’t we? Surely... surely we can do it again.”

“Yes, we have, but they didn’t have the organization that they have now. Their attacks have been planned out, they know what happens in Equestria.” Celestia tilted her head toward the floor. “Augury, he isn’t like them. He leads them with the knowledge of Equestria. As long as whatever is restraining him from coming back to Equestria persists, the changelings will have an advantage.”

Shining Armor clenched his teeth at the sound of Augury’s name. “It’s not only him, princess. There is another.”

“Who?”

“Thunder Rend, the captain of the honor guards. The royal guards that came back from the attack on the changeling home reported that they saw a changeling similar to Thunder Rend, and the electrical magic that she was using was the exact type that Thunder Rend used to use. The changelings... they were following her orders. She’s with them now.”

Shaking her head, Celestia slowly turned away from the stained glass painting and walked into the middle of the hall. “Then it would appear that the changelings are stronger than before. Thunder Rend was no ordinary commander, and her ways were not that of mercy. If the changelings were able to take her, I’m not sure of what more they are capable of.”

Shining Armor sighed and faced Celestia, who had her head sunken close to the floor. “Princess... what’s going to happen to Equestria?”

Celestia closed her eyes and took a deep breath in, sniffling slightly afterwards. “I don’t know.”

The slam of the pair of large doors at the other end of the hall echoed as two royal guards rushed through the doorway, Shining Armor and Celestia quickly standing up straight and looking at the two guards.

“Princess, captain, there is something that needs your attention!” One of the royal guards said as the two slowed to a stop in front of Shining Armor and Celestia, both of the royal guards panting slightly.

The captain and princess exchanged a quick glance before focusing on the two guards. “What is it?” Celestia asked.

“It would seem that Twilight Sparkle has arrived at the Canterlot draw bridge. She passed through the identification barrier and the force field, we think it’s actually her.”

Shining Armor’s eyes quickly lit up and a smile formed on his face, the white unicorn leaning forward slightly. “My sister? Twilight? Where is she?” Shining Armor asked frantically.

“She’s waiting at the closest military tower outside.” The royal guard rubbed the back of his neck. “There’s just one other thing that you need to know, as well.”

“What? Is something wrong?” Celestia asked, her voice worried.

“Well... she was lead here by a changeling, and not just any changeling. Augury is with her. He says he wants to speak with you... princess.”

A sudden feeling of suspicion rising in her, Celestia squinted slightly and looked passed the two guards in front of her. “Augury, is he restrained?”

“Yes, ma’am. He didn’t put up much of a fight, either. He and Twilight just walked right on up to the drawbridge and stood there until we came out to restrain them.”

Celestia focused on Shining Armor in the corner of her eyes, the white unicorn staring at her with an anxious, yet concerned expression. “Valor, Platinum, have Twilight Sparkle and Augury brought to me. To be safe, put stasis rings on both of their horns.” The princess quickly turned her head towards Shining Armor and furrowed her brow as the captain’s mouth opened. “Just to be safe.”

Shining Armor gradually let his lips come back together, his ears falling flat on his head as he looked back at the two royal guards.

“We’ll have them here right away, princess.” Platinum affirmed and quickly whipped himself and the pegasus royal guard along with him around, heading back out of the hall and into Canterlot.

“Princess, do you think its a good idea to let him in here?” Shining Armor asked, staring out at the open doors of the hall.

“It’s a risk... but Platinum said Augury didn’t put up much of a fight against the guards,” Celestia noted. “If he’s not here to fight, he’s here for something else. He’s not a fool, though he may make decisions as if he were. Augury is here for a reason, and with his actions of bringing back Twilight, he may be up to something. I only hope he leaves our past issues out of the matter.”

“Are you sure? He’s not exactly the... safest thing to bring into Canterlot right now.”

“We’ll just have to wait and see.”

Princess Celestia and Shining Armor set their eyes on the open doors of the hall as a group of six honor guards walked through the doorway, followed by the two royal guards that had arrived earlier. Behind the two royal guards trotted Augury and Twilight Sparkle, both of them held with stasis rings placed on their horns. Before she could even think of anything to say, Twilight Sparkle formed an immense grin on her face as her eyes fell upon Shining Armor and Celestia, the lavender unicorn just about squealing with happiness. Shining Armor shared the emotion of his sister, but the cold look that Celestia gave her supposed student quickly eased the captain’s excitement into a dull jitter.

“Not taking any chances, huh?” Augury asked as he and the ponies around him came close to the princess and captain, the changeling promptly receiving a jab at his side with the dull end of a spear from one of the honor guards next to him.

“You have some explaining to do.” Princess Celestia asserted.

“Princess! Brother! Oh, it’s so great to see you!” Twilight Sparkle bursted out, not able to hold back her eagerness any longer.

The lavender mare hurriedly started running toward the princess and her brother, but was abruptly stopped as two honor guards crossed their spears in front of her, Twilight sliding to a halt just behind the two spears. Shining Armor reached out his hoof slightly, clenching his teeth at the sound of the spears coming together. Twilight Sparkle gave the two guards a confusing look before setting her eyes on Celestia, the princess partially glaring at her with a small frown.

“Princess...?” Twilight whispered.

“Twilight Sparkle... if that is you, I’m sorry. It’s not that I don’t trust you, it’s that I don’t trust him.” Celestia said, shifting her eyes toward the changeling giving her a blank stare.

“But... princess, it’s me! I’m not a changeling!” Twilight pleaded, trying her best to get around the spears blocking her way.

Celestia felt a slight pressure on herself as Shining Armor stared at her as well, the princess bit her lip just barely. “Twilight... I need to ask something of you.” Celestia requested.

“What? Please, anything, princess. Please.”

The princess opened her mouth partially, but quickly closed it as she felt a sudden pressure on her chest. The lavender mare on the other side of the crossed spears stared at Celestia with hurt eyes, Twilight’s lip starting to quiver.

Bringing herself to at least put a smirk on her face, Celestia shook her head. “Don’t ever leave again.”

A grin across her face, Twilight Sparkle pushed through the two spears in front of her and rushed towards her brother and the princess, running straight into Celestia and hugging her. Celestia laughed quietly and brushed Twilight’s mane with her wing, looking down at the lavender mare tightly attached to her. Twilight let go of Celestia and quickly switched her focus to her brother, the white unicorn happily wrapping a hoof around Twilight as she hugged him as well. The happiness on Shining Armor and Celestia’s face almost put a smile on the honor guards and royal guards around Augury, though the thought of the changeling in the same room as them quickly put them back into their focused states.

“A reunion that I could only wish for. Make it last.” Augury spoke aloud, watching Twilight as she let go of her brother.

Celestia and Shining Armor’s smiles snapped away at the sound of Augury’s voice, both of them quickly shifting their eyes to the changeling staring at them.

“That’ll be kind of hard with you around.” Shining Armor said.

“Oh should I just leave and wander around Canterlot then?”

“I suggest you-”

Celestia nudged Shining Armor on his side with her wing. “Enough. I don’t think the changeling that is wanted disposed of by all of Equestria came here to argue. You told my guards that you wanted to speak with me. It had better be worth while, Salvation.”

Augury chuckled quietly. “Even as the changeling that has done so much to Equestria, you still address me as a citizen of Equestria.”

“I address you as a pony, not a changeling. Despite your actions, your homeland is here. Whatever has made you defy your home, I hope it’s over. What is it you want to discuss with me?”

The changeling cleared his throat. “I want to help you.”

“Help?” Shining Armor asked. “You’ve taken my sister, my wife, the princess’s sister, and you want to help? What could you possibly give to us?”

Augury tilted his head to the captain of the royal guard. “I’m a changeling, remember? I have the knowledge of The Hive, of Queen Chrysalis, and of the ponies that I had taken from Equestria. That was what the attack on The Hive was for, wasn’t it? To retrieve the Elements back?”

Shining Armor growled quietly. “That’s nothing of your concern.”

“Concerned to me or not, The Elements of Harmony are Equestria’s greatest weapons. The point of taking your sister and her friends was to disable the weapons, make them unusable. It worked, obviously. The war is tilting towards the changelings during this time. You’re going to need all you can get to overcome their numbers.”

“We’ve defeated them before, we can do it again. Equestria doesn’t need a traitor like you on its side.”

“No, Shining Armor. We... do.” Celestia interrupted.

The captain of the honor guard turned his head to the princess of the sun, Celestia giving him a slightly stern look. “What!? Princess, you can’t do this! How do we know he’s telling the truth? For all we know, he could be making all of this up!”

“He’s not, brother.” Twilight said. “What would be the point of bringing me back if he wasn’t trying to help Equestria?”

“But- but he’s not-!”

“Shining Armor.” Celestia asserted, quickly halting the captain’s speech. “Equestria is in dire need of assistance. We have lost thousands of our own ponies, many of them taken by the changelings. Queen Chrysalis cannot rise again, and we’ll have to take every advantage that we can to make sure of that. A risk it might be letting a changeling into Equestria, Salvation knows more about what goes on in the changeling’s home than anypony.” The princess centered her eyes on Augury. “I only want to know why you’re doing this.”

Augury sunk his head down slightly. “Passed having to kill my best friend, my marefriend being taken, and my growing want to see Chrysalis’s head roll... I just want this all to end. Suffering, destruction, losses, all of it. I want things to be the way they were before any of this. I... I just want to go home.”

“You are home.” Twilight Sparkle said, giving Augury a reassuring smile. She turned her head to Celestia. “And now that we have the knowledge of a changeling, we can end this. Right, princess?”

Celestia continued to stare at Augury, the changeling just barely hanging onto a tear gathering in his eye. “I hope so, Twilight.” Celestia said.

______________________________________________________________________

Augury opened his eyes as a gust of wind rushed through his mane. His chin resting on the raised ledge of the overlook of Equestria, the changeling stared out at the large valley in view from the city of Canterlot. Grass and trees replaced with the sight of a wasteland and the structures within it, the lone changeling admired his home once again knowing that he was away from The Hive. The sound of the wind rather than the constant chattering and fluttering of changelings and wings lulled Augury slowly, bringing him into exhaustion after he realized he had not slept in quite a while. With the complications of coming into Equestria and escaping The Hive, Augury knew he didn’t have time to relax, and the impending battles he would have to partake in wouldn’t give him any more rest. For now, the city of Canterlot was a haven for the former changeling general, despite the constant feeling that he was being watched every second of the day.

Subtly, Augury shifted his eyes to the side, focusing on two pegasus royal guards looking out at the valley further down the ledge Augury stood at. Though they constantly bantered with each other rather than keeping an eye on the changeling they were told to look after, Augury felt as if he were being treated like he was going to set all of Equestria on fire. The concerned looks of the ponies of Canterlot that walked by Augury, the persistent work of the guards to make sure he wasn’t up to anything, and the slight mistrust of Celestia herself, all of it pushed the changeling to feel alone. Though the announcement to Canterlot earlier in the day informed the ponies within the city that Augury wasn’t here to cause terror, the attitudes of the inhabitants of the royal city stayed static towards Augury. The changeling couldn’t even get close to one of the ponies without being ran away from, and the fear of changelings wouldn’t be washing away any time soon.

Hoofsteps drawing close, Augury lifted his head up and turned his head to the pony walking towards him. A lavender unicorn slowly made her way to the ledge in front of Augury, her face lighting up from the dark of night in the light flickering from a torch on the ledge. She nodded at Augury as she stopped at his side, the changeling only giving her a blank stare. Twilight Sparkle and Augury kept silent for a moment, both of them setting their gaze on the river flowing through the valley outside of Canterlot.

“It’s nice being back home, isn’t it?” Twilight asked.

“If you feel as if you’re being treated like a knife in a small room around a group of paranoid hemophiliacs, sure.” Augury commented, shaking his head and resting his chin back on the ledge.

“What?”

“Don’t worry about it. I didn’t think Equestria was going to be completely the same, considering my being a changeling and the war between us and them. I’m just surprised I’m being let free around Canterlot under the watch of only two royal guards.”

Twilight took a glance over at the two royal guards standing further down the ledge, one of them giving the other a quite stern look. “At least she didn’t make the whole royal guard watch you.” She looked back at Augury. “You aren’t actually going to do anything... are you?”

Augury glared at Twilight from the corners of his eyes. “I would’ve done it by now if I was going to. Those two royal guards don’t know how to watch over anything. Besides, I would be out numbered if I even tried to do something. The only thing good coming out of this is not having my head smashed into the ground by the citizens. They’ve just been avoiding me after Celestia’s announcement. It’s all the same to me, I never liked the Canterlot ponies anyways.”

The lavender unicorn shoved Augury’s side lightly. “I’m from Canterlot, too.”

“I know.”

Twilight rolled her eyes and looked out at the valley. A waning moon peaked out from a dark cloud floating through the sky, though the light didn’t last long as another cloud moved quickly in the moonlight’s way. The stars over Equestria seemed to shine brighter than they had before, twinkling elegantly with luster and radiance.

“Augury.” Twilight spoke, setting her eyes back on the changeling next to her.

“Hmm?” Augury replied quietly, though he kept staring out at the valley.

“What was keeping you from coming back to Equestria?”

Augury closed his eyes slowly. “Tranquility. My marefriend. The one that only ever truly understood me. She was taken by Chrysalis and used as a threat against me to help Chrysalis start the changeling army back up.”

“And you followed Chrysalis’s orders?”

“Of course I did. I loved Tranquility, I still do, and I wanted to do anything to save her, even if it meant taking others away from their loved ones. I couldn’t stand seeing her in that cocoon... I wanted to hold her again. She was the entire reason I did what I did to Equestria. I was so desperate to get her back I didn’t realize what I was actually doing. I caused so much pain, so much suffering, and all just for one mare. I didn’t expect others to understand, so I didn’t tell them. There was no point, they were just going to become changelings themselves. Princess Cadence, as I’m sure you saw her, was the only one I told what was happening. I couldn’t keep it in any longer. I needed to at least tell someone about her. I... I turned down the only chance I had to defeat the changelings just to get Tranquility back. I should’ve listened to Cadence, I was just too much of an idiot to realize... that Tranquility isn’t worth Equestria. No matter how strong one’s love is, it’s not right to save one pony and sacrifice thousands of others in the process.”

Twilight looked at the ground and gently kicked a small stone by her hoof, frowning and her ears dropped at the sides of her head. “Where... is Tranquility now?”

Augury shook his head and pushed himself away from the ledge, giving Twilight a partially upset stare before he turned away from her. “Gone.”

The lavender unicorn followed Augury with her eyes as the changeling walked towards the inner parts of Canterlot. His head sunk low and his ears flat, Augury sulked out of the light of the torch and engulfed in the darkness of night. Twilight shifted her eyes to the ground where Augury had been walking, noticing small glints of moonlight reflect off of dots on the ground.

[25] Self Judgement

Chapter Twenty Five: Self Judgement

The clank of a cup and the splat of a jelly doughnut on the table in front of Augury caused the changeling to sigh yet again, his frustration with the two royal guards sitting across from him beginning to boil over. Platinum and Valor, though both part of the royal guard, did not seem to have the manners expected at tables, though Pony Joe seemed to be enjoying the company quite much. The doughnut shop was almost a prison for Augury as he glared at Platinum and Valor on the other side of the circular table, the changeling just about ready to flip the wooden surface and find two other royal guards to watch over him. The conversation he had with Twilight earlier in the night made Augury long to go back outside and admire the view of Equestria, but the two royal guards refusing to leave kept him plastered to the ground, constantly being pelted with random bits of pastries. Sprinkles and jelly spread across the entire table, Augury tried his best to not plant his face into the dirty, yet somewhat appetizing, doughnut coated circle of wood.

“Valor, will you stop it!?” Platinum shouted, giving the royal guard by his side a forceful push as he stared at the decimated jelly doughnut that had exploded on the table.

“I can’t help it. The patterns these doughnuts make when they explode are so neat.” Valor said with a grin on his face, closing one eye and leaning lower to level out his eyesight with the mess of doughnuts.

“Hey, as long as you keep buying, I’m all for whatever you do with these.” Pony Joe noted from behind the counter across the room. “Business is hard to come by when Canterlot is scared of something.”

Augury growled and looked down at the colorful array of sprinkles and jelly. “And to think I wanted to come back and help guards like these...” The changeling mumbled to himself.

Bringing his head back up, Valor gave Augury a smug look. “Hey, you’re the one that wanted to come back to Equestria. You’re the only one to blame for getting yourself stuck with me and Platinum here.”

The pegasus royal guard beside Valor took a sip of his coffee and set the cup back down at a clean spot on the table. “I think he’s talking about you more than me.” Platinum added, grimacing at his helmet as he quickly realized that he had left it on the table.

“Don’t pin this all on me, jelly helmet.” Valor snapped back while he poked at Platinum’s jelly and sprinkle encased headset of armor. “You’re the one that thought it was a good idea to bring me, Emperor of Small Pastries back in our school days, to a doughnut shop.” Valor shifted his eyes to Augury, who stared at him with a disgusted look on his face. “I was a weird colt, alright?”

“And you still are.” Platinum took another sip of his coffee. “But back then you weren’t a complete psychopath on the inhabitants of Bagelopolis.” He lifted one of his eyebrows at one of the rather more mutilated sweets on the table. “I don’t think poor old Lady Lemon Bar over there is going to see her son anytime soon.”

“Ah, she was dying anyways.” Valor noted casually, but quickly winced as Platinum furrowed his brow. “What? You bit the lower half of her body off, I just put her out of the misery you drowned her in.”

“With a hoof to the everywhere?”

“It was quick...”

“I can’t take it anymore!” Augury screamed in agony, smashing his hooves down on the table. “What is wrong with you two!? How did you even get into the royal guard with such idiocy for wits!?”

“Believe it or not, Valor has quite the warrior inside of himself, as you might have saw with the little game of ‘Impale the Flying Doughnut Hole’ earlier.” Platinum said.

Valor smiled and lifted his magic synthesizer sword into the air, the decorative horn on the handle glowing with a blue aura. “I had some practice in the royal guard barracks. Give me a target and I’ll launch this thing dead center into whatever you want. I was also in the military before I was a guard, so yeah, I guess. I don’t know, it was even a surprise to me when I was accepted.”

Platinum laughed subtly. “I was fairly normal until I met Valor back in school when I was about six, so what you see in me now is more than likely due to Emperor of Small Pastries over here.”

Sheathing his sword, Valor chuckled. “Guilty as charged.”

Augury shook his head as Valor reached onto the table and picked up a intact chocolate frosted doughnut. “Amazing how Celestia decided to put me beside two of the stupidest royal guards she had.” Augury said.

“I prefer the word ‘special’ rather than stupid.” Valor said, trying to balance a doughnut on his nose. “Most of the other guards are stoic and just don’t know how to have fun. Platinum and I have even been complimented by Celestia herself for our shenanigans sometimes. Well, lately at least. Right Platinum?”

“I guess Celestia likes to have fun once and a while, sure.” Platinum added.

Valor focused his eyes through the hole on the doughnut on his nose as a sparkle formed in the air in front of him, Platinum and Augury focusing on the twinkle of light as well. Not only a second later, a scroll popped up in the air above the messy table, dropping limply onto the sprinkles and jelly spread across the wooden surface. The scroll had a small red circle on the paper, marking something that made Valor and Platinum start to worry as their eyes grew wide.

“That can’t be good.” Valor said quietly as he set the doughnut on his nose down onto the table.

“What can’t be good?” Augury asked, eyeing the scroll with curiosity.

Platinum withdrew his sword and picked up the scroll with a levitation spell from the synthesizer. “The little red circle. It’s only used for urgent matters when the princess is sending out letters. Whatever’s in here, it’s important.” Platinum explained.

“Well open it up. The circle doesn’t mean nothing.” Valor insisted.

Platinum shook off some of the sprinkles and jelly that were still stuck to the paper, trying his best to get the paper as clean as possible. Most of the pastry contents off of it, Platinum unrolled the scroll and plastered his eyes onto the words within the letter. Valor leaned sideways to read along with his partner, leaving Augury to only guess as to what they were reading on the apparently urgent scroll.

“What does it say?” Augury asked, tilting his head upwards to try and get a look at the two royal guard’s faces.

“Looks like the princess wants your attention, Augury. And quick.” Platinum said as he moved the paper away from himself and faced it toward the changeling.

Augury leaned closer to the scroll. “Dear Platinum and Valor, it is required of you two to bring Salvation to Canterlot Tower’s hall as soon as possible. Escort him to the entrance, where he will be taken inside. There is no time to waste, bring him to the hall immediately.” Augury read aloud. He looked up from the scroll as the paper dropped to the table. “I suppose we should get going then.”

“No kidding.” Platinum agreed as he backed away from the table. “Last time we got a letter with a red circle on it was when Canterlot was under attack by changelings. I guess something must really be wrong. Valor, let’s go.”

“Right. Pony Joe... uh, do you want us to...?” Valor asked, limply pointing a hoof at the table as he timidly turned to look at the shop keeper.

“Ah, it’s fine.” Pony Joe dismissed as he waved a hoof to the door. “Take care of whatever you’re doing. I’ll clean it up later.”

“Thanks Joe. We owe you one.” Platinum called out as he, Valor, and Augury walked out of the shop, all three of them picking up their pace as soon as the moonlight hit their faces.

______________________________________________________________________

“Oh for- Valor! Hurry your flank up! We’re almost there. It’s only about three blocks from here. Come on!” Platinum shouted as he and Augury slid to a stop in the middle of the empty Canterlot road, both of them turning around to look at the royal guard far behind.

Valor almost collapsed as he looked up from his hooves, trying his best not to empty his stomach onto the ground. “I’m... trying. Oh Celestia... I shouldn’t have eaten so many doughnuts. Just go! I’ll be... I’ll be fine by a gutter somewhere.” The royal guard replied, motioning his hoof for Augury and Platinum to continue forward.

“He’ll just slow us down, Platinum. Celestia isn’t going to wait all night for us. He’ll be fine.” Augury said.

Platinum growled quietly. “Alright.” He raised his voice for Valor to hear. “Just stick around here somewhere! I’ll be back to get you once Augury’s done with whatever the princess wants with him!”

Gagging slightly, Valor nodded. “You got it, brotato. Try and bring back something for me to drink. This isn’t going to taste good...”

Platinum and Augury winced as they heard a loud splat in Valor’s direction, both of them turning away as quickly as they could and starting off towards Canterlot Tower. Against the snores of the sleeping ponies within the city, the changeling and royal guard’s hoofsteps through the streets were the only other sound in the night. The chirping of crickets and occasional hooting of an owl seemed to be void from Canterlot this particular night, causing slight unease to settle in Augury’s heart as he and Platinum continued through Canterlot’s empty roads. Something didn’t seem right about the cold air hanging in the city, and the absence of the royal guards, honor guards, and military ponies in the streets further pushed a feeling of dread onto the changeling running alongside Platinum.

Augury almost tripped over his own hooves as he and Platinum came around the corner of a store in Canterlot’s shopping section, the royal quarters of the city coming into view. The royal guard beside the changeling just about let his suddenly wobbly legs get the best of himself as well before Augury and Platinum slid their way to a stop, both of them opening their eyes wide with surprise. Considering he was in the royal guard, Platinum should have been calm about the situation given Augury’s knowledge, though both the changeling and guard stood in silence at the sight in front of Canterlot Tower.

What seemed like the entire royal and honor guard stood in front of Canterlot Tower’s hall entrance, all of them standing in formations to make a clear path to the doorway. Their swords partially unsheathed and their eyes fixed straight forward, they knew something that Augury and Platinum did not. Military ponies were strewn about the cleared out fields behind the royal and honor guards, all of them either examining their magic synthesizer swords or focusing their attention on Canterlot Tower. Even the arrival of the changeling that was summoned himself didn’t distract a single one of the ponies in front of the entrance to the building. Determination and hidden fright keeping their eyesight sharp and their hearing honed to make sure nothing wen’t wrong with what was going on inside, Augury and Platinum exchanged a glance of worry as they slowly advanced down the path leading towards the decorative doors.

A peculiar royal guard turned his head towards the changeling and royal guard advancing down the path. He stepped out from the line near the door and walked out onto the stone path, his eyes fixating intently and sternly on the changeling walking beside Platinum.

“It’s about time you two got here. Where’s Valor?” Shining Armor asked, taking off his helmet and setting it beside himself as Augury and Platinum stopped just before the entrance.

“He... had to stay behind for a little while. He’s alright, captain. Don’t worry about him.” Platinum admitted.

Shining Armor squinted uncertainly at Platinum. “Well, whatever he’s doing, You might as well get back to him. Augury, come with me. Platinum, you’re going to have to stay outside with the rest of the royal guards. I’ll handle the changeling from now on.”

“The changeling?” Augury asked, lifting an eyebrow.

“A name is a luxury for you right now.” Shining Armor barked. “Don’t expect to hear me call you by yours too often. Now come with me. They’re waiting.”

Augury took a brief look at Platinum for a second, who only motioned his hoof towards Shining Armor as the captain pushed open the doors to the hall of Canterlot Tower. The previous royal guard that had been watching over him already walking away to find Valor, Augury sighed and followed Shining Armor into the heavily guarded building. Nothing seemed to be wrong with the interior of the hall as Augury examined the banners and pillars lining the walls, though the lack of any sources of light also obscured his vision slightly. Quickening his pace to walk beside Shining Armor, a strange sight came into Augury’s view that had been blocked by the captain of the royal guard. A large white dome emitting a soft glow of golden light rested towards the other side of the hall. The edges of the dome touching the ground flowed around with a slightly liquid behavior, the golden light seeming to radiate from flowing ribbon-like strips of magic coursing along the edges of the dome.

Three silhouettes stood against the light projecting from within the bright shelter. Two tall and slender and the other shorter than its fellow figures, the silhouettes waited impatiently for the approaching changeling out of the dome. The shorter figure stood beside one of the taller and thinner shadows, both of them standing across what looked like a round table from the other slender silhouette. Their silence forged a small bit of worry in Shining Armor and Augury’s minds, though the captain was sure that Princess Celestia could handle herself in a fight.

Shining Armor turned to look at Augury as he stopped just outside of the dome, motioning his head towards the large white shelter. With a quick nod, Augury cleared his throat and slowly stepped forward towards the dome. The magic that the white hemisphere was crafted from separated following Augury’s stature, opening just only an inch thicker than Augury’s actual size. The changeling entering the dome more focused on the entrance to the bubble closing behind him, he barely even noticed who was waiting for him.

“Ah, so the changeling of the hour has finally arrived. Having fun back in Equestria... Augury?” A slithery voice asked, a seductive hint to the question.

Instantly recognizing who’s mouth the question slipped through, Augury felt his muscles tense up slightly. Princess Celestia stood strongly on the left side of the rounded table in between her and the two visitors, keeping her eyes intently set on Queen Chrysalis and Ruin as the two changelings watched Augury approach slowly towards Princess Celestia’s side.

“Oh, Augury, it’s so good to see you again! Did you miss me? Oh, don’t bother. I can tell what you’re missing already. I can see it in those eyes of yours.” Ruin taunted, swinging her tail back and forth. The red eyed changeling appeared to have a slightly altered appearance to her changeling form. Her eyes glowing partially and her hooves strewn with deep indents, some of the indents already holes, Ruin hadn’t taken long to forget the pony side of herself. “I can sure tell you who missed you, though!”

“Ruin, that’s enough.” Chrysalis said.

“Listen to your queen, Ruin. It’ll save you from getting your head torn off one of these days.” Augury said, glaring at the smaller changeling across the table.

Ruin only bit her lip and waved her mane to the side, closing her eyes.

“Maybe you should take your own advice, Augury. You made a mistake leaving The Hive, and now the consequences are catching up to you.” Chrysalis said sternly.

“My choice to leave was because of you two. I wasn’t going to stick around any longer just to take in more suffering. As long as the consequences allow me to crush both of your skulls, I’m willing to take anything you throw at me.” Augury threatened.

“The entire changeling army would say otherwise.”

“And the entire Equestrian army would say otherwise against them.” Celestia interrupted. “I didn’t call Salvation here for you two to argue. You wanted him to come here so I brought him here. If all you came to Canterlot to do is talk with Salvation, then I suggest you leave.”

“Salvation, huh?” Ruin asked. “So Augury isn’t your real name?”

“I’m surprised Chrysalis hasn’t spilled out all of my details into her new general yet.” Augury stated, giving Chrysalis a blank stare.

Celestia slammed her hoof down on the table, Ruin almost jumping out of her own coat at the loud crack.

“A warning next time, will you?” Ruin said angrily, fixing her mane.

“As I said before: if you have business to discuss, discuss it.” Celestia warned, resting her hoof back down on the ground.

“I suppose Celestia is right.” Chrysalis agreed. “I didn’t come to Equestria for no reason, and I didn’t call Augury here for no reason either.”

“Spill it out then.” Augury demanded.

The changeling queen sneered at Augury for a second, though she quickly collected herself and cleared her throat. “I came here to give you a choice. The Hive needs your leadership, Augury. I’m offering you to come back with no consequences. Should you take the opportunity, you’ll be right back where you were with no drawbacks.”

“And if I refuse?”

“Well then you can kiss your little sweetie Tranquility goodbye.” Ruin added, giving Augury a sinister smile.

Augury quickly glanced at the changeling general before he glared back at Chrysalis. “What is she talking about?” He asked.

“If you choose to come back, you will be able to see Tranquility once again.” The changeling queen offered. “She’s still there. Waiting.”

A mixture of anger and happiness swept over Augury in one brief wave, the changeling just barely catching himself from collapsing on weak legs. With all of the threats Chrysalis had thrown at him and Tranquility’s willingness to sacrifice herself, the thought of Tranquility still herself and alive in the changeling wasteland drew Augury to feel sick to his stomach. Left thinking that she would be gone, Augury leaned forward onto the table and held his head with his hooves, now worried with what Chrysalis could have done with Tranquility other than her previous threats. The nature of changelings stuck in Augury’s mind as he thought about what Tranquility had been done with, and though he tried his best to keep the thoughts out of his head, Augury felt as if he would burst out in panicking tears. Having faced that he needed to let go of Tranquility to save Equestria, the troubled changeling’s decision to defy Chrysalis suddenly seemed like the were for nothing.

Augury looked up from the decorated table at the two changelings. What if they were lying? What if they were just telling him that Tranquility was still there to get him to come back? What would happen if he did go back? What would be the point? Already out of The Hive and his mind seemingly made up to himself, Augury started to wonder if leaving the changelings, Tranquility, and all of the captured ponies was his only choice. Tranquility was back in The Hive, alone, and nothing was holding harm away from her now that Augury escaped. With the thought of his marefriend meeting a fate possibly worse than death, Augury had to question his own judgement.

“I... I...” Augury muttered, slowly letting his eyes fall back to the table.

“She’ll be yours again, but you will also be mine. The right choice is in front of you. She misses you.” Chrysalis said.

Feeling Celestia’s stare on him, Augury didn’t dare look to the princess. “I... don’t know. I can’t...” Augury mumbled quietly.

“She’s alone. All alone! With me! Come on, buddy. Changelings are fun!” Ruin exclaimed, a sinister grin forming on her face.

Slowly, Augury let his horn prop his head up on the table, closing his eyes. “Celestia, I’m sorry...”

“That’s right.” Chrysalis said, nodding. “Now, come-”

“...but you’re going to have to deal with my flank around Canterlot for a while longer.” Augury interrupted, bringing his head back up to look at the two changelings across the table from him as he set his hooves on the floor.

Her mouth quickly turning into a frown, Chrysalis nudged Ruin on her side as the changeling general snickered to herself lightly.

“Oh well. I guess we’re just going to have to fight against him.” Ruin said. “Can we go now? This is boring.”

Chrysalis put a hoof on the table and leaned forward slightly. “Augury. I will-”

“I’ve made my choice.” Augury asserted. “I’m not going with you, no matter what you offer me. Equestria is my home. If I have to make some sacrifices to try and restore what I had taken from it, then so be it.”

Judging by the silence from Chrysalis, Celestia figured the queen wasn’t expecting Augury’s answer. Even the princess hadn’t anticipated Augury’s decision once she heard the offer. “I assume that this is done.” Celestia said. “You have the permission to leave now, Queen Chrysalis. The guards will give you no harm.”

Hesitantly, Chrysalis slowly walked with Ruin towards the side of the containment barrier, keeping her eyes on Augury until she moved out of sight of her former subject.

Augury turned to Celestia as he heard the hoofsteps of the changelings grow distant in the hall, the princess letting go of the magical dome hovering over herself and Augury. “What did they come here in the first place for? I don’t reckon that was all Chrysalis wanted.”

Illuminating the hall with a light spell, Celestia lowered her eyes to the changeling remaining next to her after giving a quick glance towards Chrysalis and Ruin down the hall. “They came here for you. Only you. Now, come with me. There are some things that I need to discuss about the changelings.” Celestia said, motioning a wing for Augury to follow as she walked towards the doors that held The Elements of Harmony.

Before heading with Celestia, Augury glanced towards the entrance of the hall. Chrysalis and Ruin stood by the doorway, Ruin just barely opening the large doors, but the queen stayed motionless, staring with longing eyes at Augury. The two changelings locked glares for a brief moment, and for a split second, Augury could just barely see Chrysalis’s bright green eyes glint in the moonlight coming through the open doors. With Ruin pulling her legs and the royal guard outside beginning to suspect Chrysalis of something, the queen slowly turned away from Augury and walked out of the hall and into the night. Doors closed and Celestia waiting to talk with him, Augury rubbed his tired eyes and trotted over to the princess of the sun.

[Final] Salvation

Final Chapter: Salvation

“Are you sure it’s safe to be out in the open like this? They’re going to see us coming.” Shining Armor said, scanning the field around himself with a hoof above his head to protect his eyes from the rain.

“We’ll be fine. This side of The Hive was never protected very well. Don’t worry.” Augury replied.

Shining Armor focused his sight in front of him. “It’s kind of hard not to worry when I’m being lead by a changeling that I don’t even trust. But if Celestia thinks it’s a good idea, I suppose I don’t really have a say in the matter.”

“Trust me or not, I’m the only source that you have for information on changelings. I may have done some things before that weren’t exactly the greatest, but just put those aside now that I’m trying to help undo them, alright? Now come on, call the guards and soldiers. The Hive is just around this mountain’s base.”

Rolling his eyes partially, Shining Armor turned towards the mountain ranges behind him and Augury. His horn glowing with a purple aura, Shining Armor cast a small spell, a loud click echoing into the mountains as the spell released. A moment of silence hung in the mountains as Shining Armor waited for a response, but quickly snapped away as another click from within the mountains responded. Following their captain’s call, a large army of pegasus royal and honor guards flew through the air as they made their way to the field Augury and Shining Armor stood in, just outside of the mountains. Not long after the pegasi came into view from the snowy caps of the stone behemoths came the ground forces of the army. More than one thousand honor guards, royal guards, and military ponies marched out from the bases of the mountains, all of them converging into rows as they walked into the field neighboring the heaps of earth. Their hoofsteps against the grass of the field shook the ground only slightly, and the wings of the pegasi above the ground forces created a small gust blowing downwards onto the grass.

The previously empty field between the mountains and The Hive was soon filled with an entire small army of Equestrian soldiers, each and everyone of them staring intently at the barren and dead landscape of The Hive across the plain. A heavy downpour fell upon the outskirts of Equestria with no stop in sight, rain relentlessly pelting the soldiers marching along the field. With the sun setting in the distance behind The Hive, the sky took on a red tint as darkness began to take over. As the Equestrian soldiers came to a halt behind Shining Armor and Augury in organized sections, the only sounds within the field were breathing and the clink of rain against metal. The silence of the army stayed patient as two pegasus royal guards flew in from further off in the mountains, Augury and Shining Armor watching them as they made their way through the sky.

Shining Armor saluted the two royal guards as they both set down on the ground in front of their captain, each of them saluting back. “It’s good to see that you didn’t alert The Hive early. I hope you made sure that there wouldn’t be any surprises for us when we got here.” Shining Armor said as he lowered his hoof back to the ground.

“We checked above the clouds and the surface of the mountains.” Platinum reported. “I don’t think the changelings know that we’re coming. I think we have the jump on them this time.”

“Good.” Shining Armor looked past Valor and Platinum at The Hive. “You scouted out their home like you were told, correct?”

“Yes, captain.” Valor said.

“What did you see?”

“Well... that’s the thing.” Platinum said slowly, scratching his neck. “We didn’t really see anything. From where we were, at least.”

Shining Armor focused his eyes back on Platinum. “What do you mean you didn’t see anything?”

“Well, we saw The Hive, of course, but there weren’t any changelings.” Valor said. “Either they’re all asleep already or they’re playing chess out of sight somewhere. There weren’t any changelings visible from where we were scouting. Think something might be up?”

Augury turned his head to Shining Armor as the captain looked to him. “There aren’t any type of ceremonies or anything that would require them all to go out of sight like that. I think there might be something wrong here. Should we rethink the plan?” Augury asked.

Rubbing his chin, Shining Armor shook his head as he eyed the ground. “It doesn’t matter where they are, as long as they don’t know we’re here until we get closer to The Hive. The plan stays the same, but I guess we’re just going to have to find out where they are first.”

“Should we get the pegasi up above the clouds now, then?” Platinum asked.

“Not yet.” Shining Armor said. “Let everypony get ready before we make any major movement towards The Hive. We’ll need all the preparation we can get before this battle goes all out. Join back with the other guards for now. I’ll give the signal to start moving later.”

With a nod and a salute, Valor and Platinum lifted off of the ground and flew towards the immense army, joining with their fellow pegasi within one of the sections.

“This doesn’t feel right. They can’t just not be there.” Augury said, squinting his eyes as he stared out at The Hive. No matter how hard he looked, however, no sign of changeling life showed itself from The Hive’s surface.

“Out in the open or not, they’re going to get a surprise once the pegasi come down from the clouds as the unicorns and earth ponies start the attack.” Shining Armor said. “I’m not going to let us be pushed back again.” The captain shifted his eyes to Augury. “As much as I hate to compliment you in any way, I think we might have a chance at this with you on our side now.”

“The rain is going to make fire spells a bit hard, but I can do my best to support as much as I can.” Augury said. “What are we going for first? Suppressing the changelings or getting back your sister’s friends?”

“We’re going to have to focus on both at the same time. The pegasi and a number of unicorns can head into The Hive and make their way towards the...” Shining Armor paused for a second. “Where are they being held?”

Augury pointed towards the tallest structure within The Hive. “Unless Chrysalis has moved them somewhere else, Cadence, Luna, and the other five mares are in the spire near the center of The Hive.” He lowered his hoof back to the ground. “It’s not hard to miss, as you can see.”

“Mmhm. What about the security around this spire?”

“It’s just as normal as any other part of The Hive. Though, once they realize what we’re trying to do, they’ll more than likely try and defend the spire. If we move in quick enough, however, we’ll be able to get there. The main feeding grounds should be the main point of worry in defenses, but we’re not trying to retrieve any of them, are we?”

“If we don’t suffer too many loses and we get my sister’s friends, my wife, and Luna back, then we’ll head for the main feeding grounds. We’re at too much of a disadvantage in numbers; we can’t risk heading into highly defended areas until we thin their numbers out as well.”

“We’re in the changeling homeland, Shining Armor. There will be reinforcements and they won’t hold back. I think you would’ve realized this after what happened with the last attack that you tried to launch on The Hive.”

“We didn’t have a changeling back then.” Shining Armor suddenly grew quiet and adverted his eyes to the ground. The Hive’s perimeter had grown substantially ever since Augury had left the wasteland, the corrosion effect of the plant life almost stretching out to the mountains. Shining Armor poked at a dying piece of grass at his hoof, swallowing a small lump in his throat. “Augury?”

Almost making a rude comeback about Shining Armor using his name, Augury closed his mouth abruptly as he saw the captain’s saddened expression. “What?” Augury asked.

“They’re safe, right? Cadence and all of them. They aren’t... they aren’t hurt, are they?”

Augury thought to himself for a moment in silence. “I don’t think I have the right to say if they are or aren’t anymore. I haven’t been in The Hive for about three days now. I’m sorry, Shining Armor, but I don’t know.”

The white unicorn sunk his head down slightly. “Oh...”

“We’ll get them back.” Augury said quickly. “I know we will. We just have to stay focused and...”

Shining Armor looked up from the ground towards Augury as the changeling suddenly grew deathly silent. His eyes fixated on nowhere in particular and his ears pricked up as far as they could go, Augury listened carefully over the clink of the rain against the royal and honor guard’s metal armor. A slight buzzing noise slowly emerged from the raindrops distorting any sort of hearing capabilities, even Shining Armor beginning to hear the commotion of fluttering insect wings. The sky, despite the clouds and rain, was clear over the army waiting for their orders, no sign of any changelings in sight. The buzzing seemingly getting louder, a small panic grew into the soldiers standing in the rain, almost all of them perusing the dreary clouds for any changeling activity. However, no matter how hard they looked, there seemed to be no changelings visible within the field or anywhere around it.

“What the...” Shining Armor whispered to himself. He quickly turned himself around and looked up above the army, Platinum and Valor centering in his sight. “I thought you checked the area!” The captain called out.

Platinum shrugged in the distance. “We did! Where is that coming from!?” The royal guard yelled back.

Before Shining Armor could even open his mouth to give a response, the answer to Platinum’s question revealed itself. Beyond any hope of escaping, all the soldiers of the Equestrian army soon found themselves giving the ground below them a horrified look. Decaying faster than anything seen before by pony eyes, the field that the army stood in dried up and turned brittle within a few seconds, the previously healthy and green field now pale brown, tough, and coarse. Previously cut into sections, the field cracked loudly into pieces one by one, and with the weight of the army, fell apart. Useless as it was to run away, the ground soldiers of the Equestrian army found themselves falling into a deep pit below the field they had been standing on. Reacting as quick as they could, the pegasi above the falling army dove downwards to save their allies, but instead quickly found out where the buzzing noise had been coming from.

Out of the darkness of the pit flew changelings upon changelings, each and every one of them pouring out of the hole they had been flying in and countering the pegasi above the crater in the ground. Barely catching themselves before they hit the ground, a small portion of the soldiers falling in the pit levitated themselves in the air, though quite a few of their allies weren’t as lucky. However, as they set back down on solid ground within the crater, their sealed fates closed in on them as more and more changelings appeared on the battlefield, set on their targets with the intent of no mercy.

Barely holding onto Shining Armor, Augury flew above the crater with the captain, holding onto the white unicorn’s hoof with all that he could. Augury struggling to keep a hold on the captain, Shining Armor pulled himself up further onto Augury’s leg and cast a levitation spell on himself, lifting a part of the weight pulling on the changeling keeping him from falling. The battle raging on and the noise of screams and armor being beaten inwards too loud to speak over, Augury motioned his head towards the area over the crater. Getting enough of Augury’s point, Shining Armor redirected himself to look out at the massacre, prepared to start firing into the crowd, but fell still as his sight peered over what was happening to his army. Half of the Equestrian forces in the crater, half of them in the air, none of them knew what to do as the constant onslaught of changelings grew with every second.

“Shining Armor! Shoot! What are you doing!?” Augury shouted as loud as he could, clenching his teeth as Shining Armor’s concentration on his levitation spell left the captain.

“They... no... this can’t be...” Shining Armor muttered to himself. “We had it all planned out... we we’re going to get them back. How... could this happen?”

“Damn it, shoot! They aren’t going to-!”

Augury cut himself off as a small army of changelings separated from the battle and begun to fly towards him and Shining Armor. The captain’s weight holding him in place and the changelings closing in faster than he thought, Augury braced himself for the impact. The force of three changelings ramming into Augury seemingly enough to break down Canterlot’s walls, Shining Armor’s hoof slipped out of Augury’s grip before the entire group of changelings even passed over him. Shocked beyond comprehension by the sudden attack, the captain of the royal guard only stared at the rain falling beside him as he plummeted into the pit.

A splash of water lifted off of the ground as Augury and the group of changelings holding him slammed into the very edge of the crater, Augury sliding along the ground before coming to a stop with his hooves being held down. As the captured changeling begun to build up a spell in his horn, he soon found himself void of any magical abilities as one of the changelings that had forced him to the ground slipped a stasis ring onto his horn. Magical means of escaping taken away and his hooves restrained, the only thing Augury could do was pull as hard as he could at the changelings around him, hoping that maybe at least one of his hooves slipped out of their grasps. Almost all of Augury’s will to continue trying to escape left him as a peculiar changeling walked out of the group. Her familiar bright red eyes stared down at Augury as she came to a stop at his hind legs. She slammed a hoof onto Augury’s chest and the incapacitated changeling fell flat on his back, the changeling general standing over him leaning forward and setting her eyes not only a foot away from his own.

Ruin tilted her head sideways and rubbed the tip of her nose against Augury’s, the trapped changeling jerking his head away and growling. “It’s good to see you again, Augury.” Ruin said. “I’m sure The Hive will be thrilled to have you back.”

As Augury opened his mouth to retaliate, a powerful strike to the side of his head plunged him into unconsciousness, Augury falling limp and his struggle to escape halting to nothing. Smiling at her work, Ruin stood up straight and motioned her head to the changelings around her. A nod from each of them, the changelings lifted the out-cold Augury off the ground and slowly started off towards The Hive. Ruin smirked at the sight of Augury’s limp body being carried off into the distance, and she turned her head back to the battle over the crater. The majority of the Equestrian forces had either been cocooned or were in the process of being cocooned, the changelings around the ponies laughing to themselves quietly. The defeat couldn’t have been stopped. Nothing stood in the path of the changelings once the plan was set up, and now one of Equestria’s final hopes was gone.

______________________________________________________________________

The inside of the spire dimly stayed lit with the glow from the last remaining tree in The Hive’s borders, the cocoon hanging from the tree radiating a shallow green light. Within the cocoon still slept the lavender mare that had been put into captivity so long ago, Tranquility resting in silence as she awaited every second to be released from her prison. Her awareness of her surroundings only spread so far in her mind, the spell cast on her by Augury suppressing most of her inner thoughts into a dull hum. Despite the subtle cap on her process of thinking to herself, the lavender mare didn’t stop it from calming herself with thoughts of the past with Salvation. Though hazy, Tranquility dug deep into her memory, trying her best to find something that would console her the most. Searching, her mind only seemed to be a mass of dark blue magic.

However, something started to clear her pictures. Slowly, Tranquility could start to hear herself think and see pictures in her mind that weren’t entirely incomprehensible. Memories of Ponyville melted back into her head, along with clearer pictures of the stallion she had been longing for her entire entrapment. His light grey coat, his red-orange eyes, even his gentle smile that always said that everything would be all right in the end came into view. Even if it only was a depiction of Salvation in her head, at least seeing the face of her coltfriend made a subconscious note that she would be with him again.

Tranquility slowly opened her eyes. “...What? Am I... awake?” The lavender mare asked herself.

Though slightly limp, Tranquility pushed her hooves up against the clear side of the cocoon facing her, the numbed feeling in her hooves barely detecting the surface. The lavender mare jumped partially as she felt a pressure on one of her hooves as she pushed against the cocoon’s wall. Hesitantly, she moved her hooves away from the tinted green window, only to gasp at the sight of what was on the other side.

“...Hey baby.” Augury whispered, one of his hooves outstretched and pushing up against the side of the green casket.

Tranquility rubbed her eyes quickly, making sure that what she was seeing was actually there. “S- Salvation? Is... that you?”

A quiet jingling noise rung through the spire as Augury scooted his way closer to the cocoon. “Yeah, Quil. It’s me again.” Augury smiled. “I’ve missed you.”

The lavender mare looked around the part of the spire she could see out of the cocoon. “But... I thought you left. Why did you come back? I told you to-”

Augury tapped at the cocoon. “Tranquility, I did leave. I couldn’t take it here anymore; I had to leave. I don’t care if you wanted me to go or not... I never should have. I’m sorry, even if it was what you wanted.”

“Then... why are you here?”

The changeling on the other side of the wall sighed quietly. “It wasn’t my choice.” Augury pointed at a small bandage on the side of his head. “The Equestrian military and a lot of the royal and honor guards tried to come back to get some of the ponies that were taken from Equestria. The changelings... they knew we were coming. They knew where we would be. They ambushed us and demolished the entire army. We couldn’t do anything. So... now I’m here. Stuck.” Augury pulled at the chain around his leg, the metal links attached to the tree.

“They didn’t hurt you any more, did they?”

Augury chuckled to himself and lowered his eyes. “Aside from the harsh landing when they put me down in here, I wouldn’t say so.” He looked back up at the mare in the cocoon, Tranquility giving him a worried look. “At least they put me near you.”

Tranquility’s partial frown quickly turned into a small grin, the mare putting one of her hooves back on the clear wall. “I’m glad they did, too.”

The changeling and pony stared into each other’s eyes for a moment, each of them longing to hold each other at least one more time.

“Salvation?” Tranquility said.

“Hmm?”

“Are we... ever going to get out of this?

Augury sighed quietly and tilted his head downwards, taking a second or two to gather his thoughts. “It’s hard to say, Quil. So much has happened, and most of it is benefiting the changelings. Equestria is being worn down with every appearance of them. Even the princess is starting to lose it herself. She may not be expressing it openly... but she’s suffering. Even if she has her star student back, it’s not going to win the war.” Augury looked back up at Tranquility, the lavender mare’s eyes starting to glisten slightly. “I know I’ve said this before, and I know I haven’t yet... but I’m going to get you through this. You’ll be out of the cocoon, The Hive, and away from changelings. You’ll be back in Ponyville. Everything will be fine... I hope it will.”

Tranquility sniffled lightly. “You don’t sound very confident.”

The changeling smirked. “I’m not. But I can at least try, right? It can’t hurt anymore than it’s going to already.”

The lavender mare leaned forward, her face just barely away from the side of the cocoon. “Be careful, okay? I don’t want you to get hurt. Promise me you won’t get hurt?”

Augury shook his head slowly. “I... can’t promise you that.”

“Please Salvation. Promise me that you won’t get hurt anymore. Please.”

“I’ll...” The changeling paused to take a quick glance at his hoof. “...try.”

Tranquility shifted her eyes to the winding stairs out behind Augury, echoes of hoofsteps slowly stepping down them. “Okay.”

Nodding, Augury took his hoof down from the cocoon. “I’m gonna have to put you back to sleep, alright? The next time you wake up, you’ll be safe. I love you, sweetie.”

“I love you too. Goodnight.”

Augury shut his eyes tight at the sound of Tranquility’s words, though he quickly opened them and smiled at the mare in the cocoon. “Goodnight.”

Not long after the phrase left his mouth, Augury let the spell that had been on Tranquility seep back into her, the lavender mare slowly drifting back into her uncontrollable sleep. Augury let out a loud sigh as the hoofsteps that had been coming down the stairs grew clear within the spire, and the sound of fluttering wings made Augury’s heart pump slightly faster. Almost hating to do so, the changeling chained to the tree in the middle of the spire’s base turned around to face Queen Chrysalis as she set down behind him.

Remaining seated, Augury glared up at the queen standing over him. “What do you want?” Augury asked coldly.

Chrysalis lowered herself to the ground in front of Augury, coming eye level with her little captive. “I want to talk.” The queen said, her mouth a barely noticeable smile.

Augury turned his head away from the queen. “We’ve talked enough in the past. Unless you want to tell me something important, I’m not saying anything else to you.”

Slowly, Chrysalis extended her hoof outwards and lightly touched Augury’s chin, but was quickly dejected as Augury hit her hoof away from himself. “Now now, you don’t want the stasis ring to be put back on you, do you?”

“What difference would it make? I’ll only be stuck here.”

“You’d be a lot more helpless as well.” Chrysalis smiled as Augury hesitantly rotated back towards the queen, though his eyes stared off to the side. “It’s nice to know that you can still listen to reason.”

Augury shifted his eyes to the queen. “Reason? Or threats? Choose one.”

“Threats, if you continue on like this. I came here to talk to you about what is going to happen soon. You’ll be having a big role, I can assure you.”

“What? The big changeling parade? I’d rather not be in it.”

“No, and it’s nothing of the sort.” Chrysalis giggled to herself. “The final battle, Augury. The last chance that Equestria will have to protect itself.” The queen chuckled yet again, this time slightly more maniacal. “The downfall of ponies themselves.”

“Equestria isn’t defeated yet. There will be resistance. You can’t end this in one final battle. It’s useless.”

“Really? Almost two times the amount of changelings than the population of Equestria itself isn’t enough to bring the remaining forces that are left in Equestria down? The changelings have grown in numbers far beyond what you can ever imagine, and all of them converging on the biggest city in Equestria wouldn’t end this once and for all? They won’t stand a chance. With you back on our side, they’ll be hopeless. They know not of what we will do. They will be blind.”

“I’m not fighting for you anymore. I hope you realize that by now.”

Chrysalis took a deep breath inward and put a hoof on Augury’s cheek, the changeling sitting in front of her jerking his head away slightly. “Oh Augury. Back to your old defiant ways? I miss the old Augury. The one that would talk to me. The one that would carry out my orders.” The queen leaned closer to her captive. “The one that accepted me.”

Fed up, Augury grimaced and shoved Chrysalis away from himself. “The old Augury is only a fantasy left alone and helpless in your imagination. I’m not yours, I never will be.”

“A simple stasis ring can change that.”

Augury turned away from Chrysalis as quickly as he could. “Just go already. I don’t have anything else to say to you.”

Silently laughing to herself, Chrysalis pushed herself up onto her hooves and looked down at Augury. “The final stand for Equestria will take place tomorrow afternoon outside of Canterlot. I’m expecting you to be by my side during the fight. After tomorrow, Canterlot will be the home of the changelings, and after that, all of Equestria will be running with my subjects. Get some rest for now. You’ll need all the energy you can get to help bring Equestria to its inevitable defeat.”

Head sunk low, Augury stayed still as Chrysalis flew up to her room at the tip of the spire. As the fluttering of her wings disappeared into the higher levels of the tower and her hoofsteps grew out of earshot, the trapped changeling in the base of the spire pushed himself along the floor towards Tranquility’s cocoon. Though given the suggestion by the queen, Augury felt the sudden urge to close his eyes and fall asleep. The deprivation of rest wasn’t an all too rare occurrence to Augury as he laid down on his side, quickly feeling his eyes take control of their own actions. At least with the comfort knowing that Tranquility hadn’t been hurt as he was gone from The Hive, Augury could finally get some sort of comfort as he drifted away into a deep slumber.

______________________________________________________________________

Augury and Chrysalis squinted up at the blazing sun over Equestria’s plains, the bright blue sky clear of any sign of clouds or pegasi. The wind blowing ever so softly through his mane, Augury admired the mid-afternoon sky as he stood in the fields of Equestria alongside the creatures he hated the most. The constant chatter of changelings behind him itched at Augury’s nerves as he tried his best not to yell at all of them to shut up. His patience was already being tried enough as he had been waiting for what seemed like forever with Chrysalis for the rest of the changeling army to assemble, and now the noise that they had brought with them started to scratch away at Augury’s self-control. As a loud burst of laughter seeped through the quieter commotion in the army, Augury whipped his head around to face the crowd of changelings, almost all of the ones that could see him closing their mouths and standing up straight. Despite the loss of Augury’s position as one of their leaders, the changelings knew what he was capable of, and would rather not have his built up fury unleashed on them before the fight even began.

“Letting your temper get a little out of control, hmm?” Ruin asked, winking at Augury and nudging him on his side as she walked out from the army of changelings.

“I’ll remind you that I won’t hesitate to rip those ears of yours off in a split second.” Augury mentioned, turning his head away from the changelings and glaring at Ruin.

Ruin bit her lip and ran her eyes over Augury’s flank. “I’d like to see you try.”

“That’s enough out of both of you.” Chrysalis chimed in, raising an eyebrow at Ruin.

“He started it.” Ruin pouted, hitting her tail up against Augury.

“I don’t want to hear it.” Chrysalis said. “Now isn’t the time to be messing around. Go back and get all the changelings ready. We’ll be heading in soon.”

“Can’t we just go in now? I can’t wait any longer.”

Chrysalis growled and pointed her hoof to the changelings. “Now.”

Hanging her head slightly, Ruin sulked back into the massive crowd of changelings, though she didn’t leave without smacking her tail into Augury’s face.

Augury furrowed his brow and sighed angrily, staring at the ground beneath his hooves. “How you put up with her, I haven’t the slightest clue.”

“Practice, Augury.” Chrysalis said, smirking. She moved her hoof over and patted Augury on the back, the changeling next to her leaning away slightly. “I’m glad you finally got some sense in you this battle. Those five mares, Cadence, and Luna will provide good support against the ponies. What compelled you to bring them with this time?”

“My better judgement. I figured they could be of some use in the battle.”

“Guide them well. The ponies won’t dare lay a hoof on their princess, even if she is a changeling. They’ll be the perfect weapons.”

“...Right.” Augury paused for a second and looked up at Canterlot. The valley that lead to Canterlot from the fields where the changelings stood seemed to move slightly, and the distant sound of hooves marching made Augury’s stomach lurch slightly. “Uh... Chrysalis?”

“Yes, Augury?”

“What’s going to happen... if the changelings win?”

Queen Chrysalis chuckled to herself almost uncontrollably, though she gathered herself and sighed dreamily. “My subjects and I will thrive, that is what’s going to happen. Equestria, as I have seen it before, has so much love in it, so much food for me and my subjects to feed off of. Changelings will take Canterlot this time, and nothing will stop us from taking Equestria once this city is ours.” Chrysalis grinned and brought Augury closer to her. “And if you choose, you can be the second-hoof ruler of the new changeling driven Equestria.”

“We’ll see about that when Equestria isn’t as weak as you think it is.” Augury said, pushing himself away from the changeling queen.

“I am not underestimating them. I know what they are capable of. The only thing is that we are capable of more than what they are. Our numbers are greater, our tactics are stronger, and our ambitions won’t be hushed so easily this time. Canterlot is ours, Princess Celestia is mine, and all of Equestria will be taken by changelings. We will never starve when we take over this land. The era of changelings is at hoof.” Chrysalis giggled maliciously. “Nothing is going to stand in our way.”

Augury lowered his head down as Chrysalis let out a storm of laughter. “The outcome of this battle will decide that...” Augury whispered to himself.

The sound of a trumpet caught Augury’s attention over Chrysalis’s laughing, and the sight that slowly marched over the hills and along the river flowing from Canterlot brought Augury to a speechless and scared quietness. Thousands of Equestrian soldiers marched through the valley leading to Canterlot, each of them fully equipped with everything that they would need to prevent changelings from even coming close to Canterlot. Honor guards, royal guards, Equestrian military, they all stared out at the vast and abundant army of changelings watching their arrival. Spears ready at their sides, swords prepared to be unsheathed, wings stretched, minds straight, and fears pushed off to the side to the most possible extent, the soldiers wwere prepared to use any means necessary to stop the changelings, even if it meant to fight to the last breath. The news of the ambush on the army that was sent to retrieve the five spirits of harmony remaining in The Hive reached Equestria already, a furious fire burned in the Equestrian forces’ hearts. The sun over the ground units of the Equestrian army was reduced to a shadow with the number of pegasi flying in the sky, a dim darkness slowly engulfing the valley overlooked by Canterlot.

Against the numbers of Equestrian soldiers advancing, a familiar alicorn and unicorn both lead the front of the immense assault. Twilight Sparkle, silver armor on her hooves and body, walked steadily beside the princess of the sun, a magic synthesizer sword resting on her side. Fully equipped in elegant golden armor lining her legs, wings, and body, Princess Celestia eyed the changelings with confidence and anger as her military continued forward further onto the fields. Though she didn’t carry any sort of weapon, the determination in Celestia’s eyes was enough to send a shiver down Augury’s spine, and was enough to make Chrysalis chuckle mockingly. As the Equestrian army came halfway down the valley between the changelings and Canterlot, Celestia raised her wings at her sides, and all at once, the marching came to a halt. The sound of hooves gone from the air, Equestria’s final stand stood in an eerie and lasting silence.

Taking a moment to breathe deeply and collect his thoughts, Augury slowly extended his hooves outward, trotting quietly toward the Equestrian army across the valley.

Chrysalis eyed Augury as he came into her line of sight, raising an eyebrow. “And where do you think you’re going, Augury?” Queen Chrysalis asked, stepping forward slightly.

Augury stopped as the question reached his ears. He turned himself around to face Chrysalis. “I’m not betraying my home any longer. If I’m going to fight in this battle, it’s not going to be on your side. I’ll do anything that I need to do to protect Equestria. I’ve had enough of this. This is where it ends, and where I stand as one of them.”

Giggling to herself, Chrysalis motioned a hoof back to the changelings, and the sound of a cart being pulled made Augury’s heart jump slightly. “I was afraid you might do such a thing before we started. I’ve brought along a certain guest just in case. I think you’ll be pleased to see her again. She’ll enjoy watching you while she suffers.”

As the changelings standing at the front row of the army separated and Chrysalis’s surprise came into sight, Augury felt his legs go weak. In a stand within a harshly made and unstable cart rested Tranquility’s cocoon, the lavender mare inside still asleep and waiting to be woken up.

“Are you sure you want to do this, Augury?” Chrysalis asked, displaying Tranquility’s cocoon with a hoof. “She isn’t much of an incentive to keep around any longer now that Equestria is going to be ours. I don’t need her to have as bait for you to come back to The Hive. Join that army, and once the changelings have won, you can have the pleasure of watching her die in her cocoon. The choice is yours, Augury. Do you want to stick with my rule and conquer Equestria, or watch your precious little marefriend be disposed of right in front of your eyes before I take you by force?”

Not hesitating, Augury walked forward and stood in front of Chrysalis, his eyes slightly glowing with a dark blue aura. “There isn’t a damn thing in the world that would make me join your bucking army anymore. I’m not a changeling. I never will be.”

No need for her voice, Chrysalis smiled at Augury and pointed out towards the Equestrian army across the field. His mind made up and his intentions set, Augury gave Chrysalis one last glare before he whipped himself around and quickly trotted towards the assembly of ponies. Fluttering his wings, the false changeling lifted himself off the ground and flew across the valley as quickly as he could. The feeling of so many eyes on him, changeling and pony, slowly began to make Augury shake a little, though he knew that he had made the right decision. The sound of feathers flapping up and down tensed the lone changeling’s muscles slightly, and Princess Celestia’s bitter pink eyes sent another cold shiver through his spine.

Augury looked back at the changeling army as he landed on the ground in front of the Equestrian army. “If we lose... forgive me, Tranquility.” Augury whispered.

As the changeling approached the front row of the army, Celestia raised her wings in response to the sound of a few swords being drawn further back in the crowd, the ring of the armor plating on her wings hushing any commotion within the ponies.

Celestia focused her eyes on Augury and lowered her wings, nudging them against a saddle pack she was carrying on her back. “You made the right decision coming to us.” Celestia affirmed. “Equestria will need all the help it can get to stand up against the queen. I hope you’re ready for the fight.”

Augury nodded strongly. “Fight for our home until the end.” Augury smiled. “The Equestrian military books taught me that one.”

“And fight we shall.” Celestia motioned her head to the ground between her and Twilight, the lavender unicorn smiling at the changeling. “We aren’t giving up so easily. This is our home; we’re not going to let it go.”

Determined and honed for battle, Augury walked to Celestia’s side and turned to face the changeling army, Twilight softly rubbing her left foreleg on the changeling. For what seemed like hours, the two armies stared at each other, tension building within each of the two legions every second. Chrysalis and Celestia locked eyes from across the battlefield, the two leaders watching each other’s movements as closely as they could. Augury beamed at Ruin with his eyes unmoving, the changeling next to Chrysalis grinning at him widely.

And with one simple phrase from their leaders, the two armies, changeling and pony, ravaged the gates keeping them still.

“Holding nothing back.”

______________________________________________________________________

The battlefield between changelings and ponies rumbled with conflicts scattered throughout the valley. Changelings suppressing ponies, ponies attacking changelings, the fight was leaning in one direction one second, but soon leaned another direction the next. An excellent defense by the ponies kept the changelings at bay within the valley, any changelings that attempted to make a run for Canterlot stopped in their tracks and brought down. However, many of the Equestrian forces had been defeated themselves, and with their numbers dwindling exponentially, the soldiers of Equestria had been veering in the direction of the losing grip on the battle. Explosions of magic booming across the ground and sky, magic bullets streaming through the heated air of war, stolen swords used by the changelings clashing against armor, the fight of Equestria’s fate raged with utmost intensity. The changelings pushed harder than they had ever before, making sure no mercy was felt for their weakening victims. The fighting Equestrian soldiers still able and fit, they tried their best to retrieve their fallen comrades as the changelings took the beaten and battered units and put them in cocoons, but there was no use in trying to take the captured ponies back. The changelings too powerful of an enemy, Equestria appeared to be losing.

Augury, a small streak of blood flowing down the side of his head, shoved a changeling off of his stomach as it was smashed in the side with the blunt end of a royal guard’s spear, the changeling flying away from Augury unconscious. Recovering as quickly as he could, Augury pushed himself up onto his hooves with no hesitation. The battle already extended into early dusk, it had worn him down to the point of having to take a break for a quick moment every once and a while. His breath running dry and his head throbbing from the numerous hooves to the face he had taken, Augury surveyed the area around him for a second. Almost no where could there be a sight of the ponies winning, practically every smaller battle between changelings and ponies being taken by the changelings. Helmets flew randomly across the field as royal guards, honor guards, and military ponies were forced to the ground, their armor beaten inwards and barely holding onto the pony the metal plating was attached to.

“Son of a bitch...” Augury whispered to himself, groaning as he felt a sharp pain go up his leg when he set it on the ground.

“Augury!” A voice called out over the cries of agony in the battlefield.

The changeling catching his breath turned his head to the voice, in which two figures stood back to back.

“Keep fighting! This isn’t over yet!” Princess Celestia shouted, firing a large beam of golden magic into a group of changelings, who were quickly blasted into the air.

“Don’t give up!” Twilight added, turning around and aiding the princess as Celestia spotted another large group of changelings heading for them.

Breathing and swallowing harshly, Augury nodded subtly and rushed off into battle once more, quickly finding a few separated changelings and engaging them with all that he could.

----------

“Princess?” Twilight asked over the sound of her magic firing at numerous changelings.

“Now isn’t the time to talk, Twilight Sparkle.” Celestia quickly said, lifting her wing up as a changeling leaped at her from the side, the changeling slamming to the ground as Celestia brought her wing down.

The lavender mare stopped her magic for a quick moment and looked around herself and Princess Celestia. No area within the valley seemed to be safe to take a break in, changelings running here and there as they chased barely resisting Equestrian soldiers trying to fend them off. Dirt kicked up from every inch of the valley, and the water of the river flowing through the battlefield raged wildly from the ponies and changelings galloping through it.

“Princess... we’re not going to win this... are we?” Twilight asked sorrowfully, calmly staring up at the alicorn continuing to fight beside her.

Celestia stopped her assault and looked down at Twilight. The lavender unicorn had small tears in her eyes, and her mouth curved into a frown.

Sighing, the princess knelt down to her student, and soon found herself with glistening eyes. “We’re losing, Twilight Sparkle, but we haven’t lost. We must keep fighting until the end. And if we do lose... at least you’ll be at my side.”

A short sense of comfort found its way into Twilight Sparkle’s heart, and the lavender unicorn nodded quickly. Both her and Celestia stood side by side and cast complex spells in front of them, two large and bulky swords forming in the air, one purple, and the other golden.

----------

Augury rammed head first into a changeling standing in his way as he rushed around with a spear, sending the changeling he had trampled off to the side and into the river. His eyes watering from the dust and dirt being kicked into his eyes every second, Augury pushed through determinedly as he swung the spear in his levitation spell at every changeling that crossed his path. The head of the weapon Augury carried flowed with a dark blue and fiery magic, any hit that Augury landed on his targets with the fire making a large explosion of magic that sent the changelings into the air in a ball of dark blue flames. Numerous spots across the valley had been burnt and dried up from Augury’s rampage, but the force was necessary to push back against the advancing changelings.

A shadow casting over him caught Augury’s attention as he ran along the side of the river, and a loud burst of recognizable laughter growing ever closer made Augury cringe. Before he could look up and stop her, Augury was forced the ground on his stomach as Ruin crashed into him from above, using all of herself to bring Augury to a slide against the dirt. The spear in Augury’s levitation spell broke and the weapon soared into the river. Still progressing forward as he slid along the damp grass, Augury rotated himself onto his back to face the changeling on top of him, though he was only met with a hoof to the face and a sinister, crazed, and bloodied grin.

“I hope you didn’t think that you wouldn’t see me during this!” Ruin shouted as she and Augury came to a stop, pinning him with her hind legs on each side of his body, repeatedly throwing her front hooves down at the trapped changeling’s head.

Trying his best, Augury blocked the strong and forceful kicks one by one. “I was wondering when your flank would show!” Augury yelled. “I was staring to think you were taken down before I got a chance to rip your heart out!”

Ruin, excitement pumping in her, bounced rhythmically on top of Augury, bringing both of her front hooves down at a time as hard as she could. “Oh this is so much fun! Look at your face! You’re so scared! Come on, play with me! Make this battle the one that I will remember the most!”

Augury clenched his teeth harder with each blow of Ruin’s hooves against his own, the kicks slowly bringing his hooves closer to his face with each hit. “I’ll make this battle your last! You’re not going to leave until I’ve burnt your eyes out!”

A small coo escaped Ruin’s mouth and she blushed slightly as she continued to kick at Augury. “Yes, Augury, yes! Embrace your inner changeling! Let your anger get the best of you! Unleash all of that hate! Hate me, hate me, hate me!”

His hooves pushed up against the side of his face, Augury’s head slowly made a dent in the ground as Ruin pounded her kicks into Augury’s crossed hooves. “Ruin!” Augury shouted at the top of his lungs, his voice coming out distorted and rasp as his temper began to overflow and cut loose.

Ruin opened her mouth wide and stopped hitting her hooves on Augury, her back legs twitching inwards. “Ah your voice! Your voice! I can hear it! Let him out, Augury! Let the changeling within you take over!”

The changeling on top of him stopping her assault as she planted her hooves on her face and let her tongue hang out, Augury took the chance to get her off of himself. As hard as he could, Augury lifted up his hind legs and kicked at Ruin’s back. Caught off guard and preoccupied with her thrill, Ruin flew forward from the kick and plastered her body against Augury’s, grunting slightly as her muzzle knocked into the ground beside her captive’s head. No time to spare as Ruin laid on top of him, Augury lifted his head off the ground and opened his mouth. No intent of holding back, he quickly clamped his teeth down on Ruin’s ear with full force, and the metallic taste of blood instantly filled his mouth. Before Ruin could even react, Augury jerked his head sideways, bringing the part of Ruin’s ear in his mouth with him.

A piercing scream filled Augury’s left ear and he spit out the chunk of flesh. Ruin, still letting her voice rush wild, arched her back forward and lifted her hooves up to her wounded ear, though trying her best not to rip her vocal chords as well. His plan worked better than he had anticipated, Augury shot a magic bullet into Ruin’s chest, the changeling on top of him carrying along with the bullet and flying backwards further down the river. Augury’s left ear ringing, he hastily rolled onto his stomach and arose to his hooves. Despite his quick recovery, Augury soon found himself back in Ruin’s grasp. A burning sensation coursed through Augury’s body and he jerked around in place, bright red cracks of light filling his vision. Slowly and beyond his control, Augury was lifted into the air and turned around, two bright red eyes focused on him as electricity pulsed through his body.

Ruin laughed maniacally as she walked forward, her horn crackling with the same electrocution effect that encased Augury in pain. “I’ve never felt so alive! This is what I have always wanted! Look at you! Does it hurt!? Does it!?” Ruin laughed wildly again as she stared at Augury in his cage of volts.

His muscles tense, Augury couldn’t open his mouth to say anything in response. All he could do was watch Ruin stare at him with joy, the red-eyed changeling laughing every second Augury was trapped within her spell.

Though, a sudden relief shot into Augury’s body as the spell abruptly cut off from Ruin’s attention, an honor guard interrupting Ruin’s concentration with the blade of a sword across her face. Her focus on Augury at the time, Ruin grunted quickly as a large cut lashed onto her cheek, a line of blood dripping onto the grass. Though his vision was slightly blurry and his muscles felt like they were on fire, Augury managed to catch himself on his hooves as he was put back on the ground, smoke coming off of him on various places throughout his coat. Through the glaze over Augury’s eyes, he could managed to pick out the blob of grey mass that was Ruin and the black and blue mass that was the honor guard. As his vision sharpened and Ruin was distracted with the honor guard, Augury shook his head clear and focused back on the battle. With Ruin’s eyes on the honor guard as she kicked him sideways into the river, Augury’s quick restoration allowed him to charge forward and hopefully get the jump on Ruin.

His plan quickly changed, however, a sharp pain piercing into Augury’s chest as Ruin whipped herself around to face him. Augury quickly came to a halt a few feet away from Ruin, his eyes wide and his mouth partially open in surprise. Slowly, he tilted his head downwards to meet what had stopped him in his tracks, and the sight of the handle of a magic synthesizer sword sticking out of his chest brought Augury to silence. A smirk on her face, Ruin let go of the levitation spell she had on the sword. Feeling the resistance of the spell leave the blade, Augury’s legs fell weak and he sat down, only able to let a few grunts out of his mouth as he stared at the end of the sword impaled into his chest.

Ruin casually trotted her way forward to the shocked and horrified changeling she had wounded, lifting a hoof up and tilting Augury’s head upwards so he could look at her. “You knew this was coming when you came to this battle, Augury.” Ruin said quietly. Despite the low volume of her voice, Augury could hear her clearly over any other sound within the valley. “Whether you were on The Hive’s side or Equestria’s side, you knew that I would be your end. Does it feel nice, knowing that you can finally let go? Tranquility won’t be a worry to you any longer. You don’t have to be afraid for her. She’ll be helpless and you won’t have to worry about saving her any more. You can fall asleep forever, and she won’t be your burden.”

Augury tried to speak again, but as before, a weak and hushed grunt left his mouth.

Ruin placed her hoof on Augury’s mouth. “Sh sh sh, don’t talk. You’ll die faster that way. I just want you to stare me in the eyes as your final seconds arrive. Remember me now and forever. Never, ever forget.”

Closing his eyes tightly, Augury felt a warm liquid build up in his throat, but he quickly pressed it down and managed to speak. “I’m not leaving this battlefield just yet... Ruin. Not without sending you out with me.” A dark blue aura surrounded Augury’s horn and he clenched his teeth tightly. In what seemed like an instant, the spell only let off a small spark of dark blue magic, and Augury let out an exasperated sigh.

Ruin shook her head gently and giggled to herself. “You don’t have the strength to do anything drastic, Augury. You’re a goner. Accept your fate.”

“No...” Augury whispered. He looked back up at Ruin. “You just don’t realize that some ponies don’t die.” Augury laughed to himself as Ruin put a puzzled look on her face. “Tell Frost I said hello. He’ll be excited to hear how you found out that he was the cause of your demise.”

“What are you talking abou...” Ruin trailed off from her sentence as she suddenly felt a cold sensation run through her entire body. Confused at what Augury had done, Ruin backed away from the changeling sitting in front of her. “What did you do to me?”

Augury only responded with a single mutter of laughter.

Horror taking over her smug expression, Ruin frantically looked herself over as her hooves began to form into ice. Speech lost, the freezing changeling danced around for as long as she could, trying to get the spell to stop, but only found her attempts to convert the spell useless.

Calming herself down and her eyes suddenly relaxing, Ruin smiled at Augury as the ice reached up to her chest. “Congratulations, Augury.” Ruin spoke calmly. “You managed to kill me. I’m proud of you, really.” She sighed one last time and tilted her head towards the ground. “Too bad I won’t be able to bug Chrysalis anymore. Goodbye, Augury. I’ll be seeing you.”

Whether they were tears or the ice already melting, Augury couldn’t tell, but he peacefully watched as Ruin already began to drip. Her entire body formed into ice, she stood up straight in her new ice sculpture form, staring down calmly at the ground beneath her.

“I’m sure you will be...” Augury whispered to himself as he stood up onto his hooves.

Augury focused a levitation spell on the sword in his chest and breathed inward quickly. With one swift movement, the sword slid out from the wound and flew away from Augury as the pain cut his concentration of the spell. He lifted his hoof to his chest and pressed it up against the wound, trying his best not to pass out. Augury stood still for a second, staring at the ground in front of him as he felt his hoof dampen with blood. He looked at the valley as he noticed the battlefield had grown quiet, and soon realized that the quietness wasn’t just him taking in what had happened. Changelings, thousands of them, stood alone, staring at Augury as he held onto his chest. The valley had come to a standstill as the Equestrian forces had been defeated, most if not all the soldiers in the process of being cocooned. Augury slowly scanned his eyes around the battlefield entirely. For as far as he could see through the settling dust and dirt in the air, no ponies stood or fought any longer. The battle had ended. The only ones standing, however, were the changelings.

A taller changeling slowly made her way across the field as Augury watched her with weak eyes. Queen Chrysalis, along with the assimilated five spirits of harmony, Luna, and Cadence made their way towards Augury, the queen smiling partially. The changelings around Augury slowly backed away from him as Chrysalis and the others drew closer, each of the subjects keeping their eyes on their queen. Chrysalis came to a stop a few meters in front of Augury, his back to the river. She and the wounded changeling holding his chest stared at each other for a moment, the wound on Augury’s chest explaining enough.

Chrysalis was the first to talk. “I’m sorry it had to end this way, Augury. I told her to keep you alive, but I suppose things happen that even I can’t control. I really was looking forward to having you at my side as king.”

Augury looked off behind Chrysalis as four other changelings slowly approached Chrysalis and her company. They were dragging Princess Celestia and Twilight Sparkle, both the princess and the lavender unicorn breathing weakly. The changelings dragging them set the unicorn and alicorn next to Chrysalis’s side, and the queen chuckled to herself.

“It seems that the changelings have won.” Chrysalis said softly. “Despite Equestria’s efforts, it couldn’t stand up against The Hive’s numbers. Everything that you have done has lead up to this moment, Augury. Thanks to you, changelings have overcome the forces that kept us out of this land. I can’t be any more grateful than I am for your help, but I’m afraid that I won’t be able to help you. This is it, Augury. The end.”

Shifting his eyes to Celestia as the princess lifted a wing off of her side to show him the saddle pack she had, Augury sighed quietly and nodded. “No, it’s not.” Augury stated, looking back towards Chrysalis.

“It’s over, Augury. You’re too injured to do anything else. You don’t have the strength to cast any spells. I wanted you to live so you could be mine, but it’s not going to happen. Please, Augury, make this easy.”

Closing his eyes and concentrating on his magic, Augury took a deep breath in. “Magical property number one hundred and forty two: conservation of magical energy.” Augury began.

Chrysalis squinted at the wounded changeling. “What-?”

“When magical energy is transferred to another object or living organism, that magical energy stays as it is, but only in a different state.” Augury continued. “If the spell that the energy has been converted into can be broken, the energy can be utilized again should the energy be conserved and contained in a unicorn’s horn within the unicorn’s capabilities. When entered back into the horn, that magical energy can be converted to other means if the unicorn can do so. No magical energy is lost during this process.” Augury opened his eyes and glared at Chrysalis. “And should it be necessary, this tactic can be used in combat when dealing with certain beings and objects, such as: assimilated changelings, charged magic crystals or weapons, and other situations in which magic is stored in a specified area.”

Blinking a few times in confusion, Chrysalis shook her head and stepped forward. “What ever you’re rambling about, I’ve heard enough of it.”

Augury centered his eyes on Celestia, who leaned her head towards him and subtly nodded. “Equestria isn’t lost yet...” Augury said quietly. “Last resorts are always an option.”

Chrysalis opened her mouth to say something, but ultimately stopped as she heard a strange sparkling noise come from behind her. As she turned around, she was met with seven glowing figures in place of where the five spirits of harmony, Luna, and Cadence had been standing, each of the figures radiating with a dark blue aura. Her confusion growing even more intense, Chrysalis could only watch as ribbons of dark blue magic streamed from each of the glowing figures, the ribbons flowing into the air above the queen and continuing through the air. Augury smirked weakly as Chrysalis turned around to stare at him. The magical energy coming off of the assimilated mares quickly snapped from their origins and flailed around, though they instantly straightened out and darted towards Augury. What had been a sparkling noise turned into a low hum of a large spell being built up, Augury’s smirk turning into a smile as the magical energy collected in his horn.

“The process of altering a being’s physical form can use quite a lot of magic.” Augury said, his horn glowing brightly to the point where Chrysalis had to shield her eyes. “Multiply that amount of magical energy by seven and you have potential for a spell that rivals that of The Elements of Harmony themselves.” He took a glance at the wound on his chest for a split second. “But unfortunately for you, Chrysalis, I’m not driven by my own wants. Equestria isn’t going to fall to a leader like you. Changelings haven’t won the war, they only won the battle.”

Within a heartbeat, the glow around Augury’s horn disappeared from sight, but another light emerged in place of it. The ground of the valley and some parts of the fields beyond the valley began to glow brightly, the center of the light sprouting out from under Augury’s hooves. Chrysalis, beginning to get what Augury was doing, started to walk towards the changeling to stop him, but soon found out what the spell Augury had casted was for. Her hooves remained on the ground, stuck without any hope of being let go. The changelings throughout the valley too found that they were trapped on the ground as well, a small panic beginning to arise in all of them.

“Augury, stop this!” Chrysalis shouted. As the queen tried to use her magic, she only produced a minor spark that fell from the tip of her horn, and a feeling of helplessness struck into her head.

“A containment spell, Chrysalis. You can’t do anything.” Augury sighed with relief as he noticed Celestia opening the saddle pack strapped around her, catching a glimpse of the five golden necklaces and golden crown within the pack. “You never could have done anything to stop this. Granted, I wasn’t expecting Ruin to do what she did, but if I need to sacrifice myself in order to save my home... I’m all for it.”

Chrysalis pulled at her hooves frantically as Princess Celestia stood up onto her hooves. The queen wasn’t the only changeling trying to break free from her containment, and quiet cries and pleas of help started to peep throughout the valley. Beginning to look for other means of escape, Chrysalis turned her head around to look at the changelings she had brought with her, but instead was met with the disoriented eyes of seven mares that had been turned back to their pony forms.

Realization dawning on her, Chrysalis looked back at Augury, her eyes starting to water. “You... planned this. All of this.”

“A letter can do so much if it’s sent before anything happens. We didn’t plan the loss of the battle, but the last resort, yes.” Augury confirmed. “The Elements of Harmony know no defeat, Chrysalis. Even you should know this.”

Chrysalis froze in shock as six mares walked out in front of her, each of them taking a place beside Augury. Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Applejack, Fluttershy, Twilight, all six of them stood in front of Augury with The Elements of Harmony fastened to themselves. Soon after them, the princesses of the sun, moon, and love walked out in front of Chrysalis. The final assault of Equestria wasn’t over just yet, and despite the slight confusion in the seven mares that had been returned to their normal selves, they knew what was going on and what had to be done.

“No... no...” The queen whispered to herself.

Augury closed his eyes as he felt himself grow a little weaker, but calmed himself and softly stared at Chrysalis. “This is it. The end.”

All at once, what had seemed like the victory for the changelings, turned to a loss that they would never recover from. The hum of Augury’s spell was soon taken over by the piercing activation of The Elements of Harmony, the six mares in control of The Elements banding together and ending the fight, once and for all.

The Elements of Harmony let off a large expansion of pure white magic from the center of The Elements themselves, an immense sphere of magic engulfing the entire valley with its elegance. As the sphere reached its limits near Canterlot, the effects of The Elements didn’t take long to show. Within the first seconds of being encircled within the radiant white magic, the changelings throughout the valley began to try to fly away as hard as they could, but were stopped in their efforts as each of them slowly turned to a fine, grey powder. The wind coming off of The Elements of Harmony blew away the mounds of dust as the changelings, one by one, disintegrated into nothing. One changeling, however, remained unharmed, and only watched as her subjects were destroyed.

Augury began to sway slightly in the place where he stood, the loss of blood beginning to get to himself. “Chrysalis...” Augury said.

The queen stopped looking around and focused her worried eyes on Augury.

“Remember the clone of Tranquility you made? The one that you were trying out memories on.”

Chrysalis, slightly shaken by the question, nodded. “Y- yes... Augury, I remember.”

“She... talked in her sleep. I don’t think you knew this, but I think some of your memories were transferred to the clone in the process.” Augury paused for a second. “In her sleep, she said something about me, something that I know Tranquility would never have a memory of, or ever would have thought of during our relationship. Do you know what it was?”

“...What?”

“She said she only wanted someone to be there for her. She said that she couldn’t stop these feelings for Augury, and that she only wanted to try to please him. She said that she wanted to stop everything and just talk with him.” Augury laughed quietly to himself. “She said she wasn’t sure if she loved him.”

Chrysalis lowered her eyes.

Augury gave the queen one last nod, and he smiled. “I’ll let you think about it.”

The glow on the ground of the valley suddenly reverted inwards back to Augury, and the bright light on his horn returned. Quickly as he closed his eyes, Augury released another spell, which headed directly for Queen Chrysalis. Too fast to react to, the spell absorbed into the changeling queen, and slowly, Chrysalis felt herself become stiff. She set her eyes on Augury as she felt herself lose feeling in her hooves and legs, trying her best not to let her tears fall from her eyes. But within a few seconds, she didn’t need to hold them back anymore, as the stone that she had become did the job for her.

And with the final changeling gone from the field, The Elements of Harmony knew they had done their job. The white sphere engulfing the field gradually disappeared from the air, and the wind that The Elements threw wildly died into the natural gust that had been in Equestria before. Along with the changelings disintegrated, the cocoons that were in the valley had been shattered, and the royal guards, honor guards, and Equestrian military ponies almost immediately rejoiced at the victory of the ponies. Cheering spread throughout the entire valley as the ponies stood up in place. The war was won, Equestria was saved, but with a cost.

Augury weakly stepped away from the river as he felt his strength degrade into a dull and shaky presence. With the magical energy he had been using from the seven mares he converted back into their pony forms gone, the source of life in Augury had left along with the changelings. However, a sense of comfort swept over Augury as he fell onto his side out of exhaustion, as for a split second, he had gotten a glimpse of his coat. The light grey stallion laying on the grass weakly looked over himself as he let go of the wound on his chest, and the sights of the insect-like wings gone from his sides, the dents in his hooves smoothed, his mane and tail no longer silky, filled his heart with joy. Augury was finally gone with his fellow changelings, resting eternally.

“Salvation!” Twilight Sparkle called out from behind the light grey stallion. The lavender unicorn ran over to Salvation’s side and sat down in front of him, jumping at the sight of the wound on his chest.

“It’s only a scratch...” Salvation joked, though he winced as a spike of pain went through the wound.

The other mares stood back by the river where they had been, staring almost in shock at the sight of the stallion that had been a changeling not only ten minutes earlier. The natural instinct of the Equestrian soldiers to return back to their princesses after the battle drew them towards the river where the princesses stood, but they quickly stopped as they saw the stallion laying on the grass, bleeding. A small circle slowly formed around Salvation as Twilight Sparkle stood up and backed away to the edge of the crowd, even the princesses themselves standing back and accepting that Salvation was beyond any sort of help. So much blood lost from his system already, the light grey stallion knew as well that he was at an end.

A frantic fury of hoofsteps broke the silence of the circle around Salvation, the ponies surrounding the wounded stallion turning their heads towards the origin of the hoofsteps. No regard to the ponies around her, a lavender mare shoved her way through the crowd as quickly as she could. Realizing who the mare was, the ponies standing around Salvation made way for the hurrying mare, each of them almost scared as to what she would do once she made it to the edge of the group. Her pathway clear, the mare raced forward without hesitation. However, once she reached the point where she could finally see the stallion in the field, her pace subtly dulled down to a worried trot. Her eyes coming across the red glaze over the grass around Salvation, Tranquility felt her heart sink, trying her best not to immediately let her emotions get the best of her.

Optional Music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-cWIucsmOc

Salvation opened his eyes weakly as he lifted his head up, and upon coming across the shocked mare staring at him from the edge of the ponies around him, he couldn’t help but form his mouth into a smile. “I told you that I would try.” Salvation said quietly. “I never promised anything...”

Only able to let a small gust of air out of her mouth, Tranquility raced forward and quickly sat down beside Salvation. “No... no! Salvation... no...” Tranquility muttered slowly, tears already beginning to fall from her eyes.

The light grey stallion chuckled lightly. “I got you out of the cocoon... didn’t I? I said I would.” Salvation rested his head back on the ground. “It probably feels nice to feel the wind against you again, doesn’t it?”

Tranquility reached outwards and grabbed onto Salvation’s hoof. “You didn’t have to do this. You could have been safe. You wouldn’t be like this...”

“I couldn’t let you go, Quil. You didn’t deserve anything that happened to you. Everything was my fault. I could’ve avoided this all if I would’ve just listened to you.” Salvation coughed quietly. “Heh... but when have I ever listened to myself?”

Tranquility tightened her grip on Salvation’s hoof, the stallion laying in front of her returning the gesture as best as he could. “You said you would leave me...” Tranquility whispered. “You said would forget about me. I told you to. I wanted you to live... I didn’t want it to end like this. I... I...”

Salvation lifted his hoof to Tranquility’s mouth, the lavender mare trying her best to stop her sobs. “Happiness, time spent with the ones you love...” Salvation spoke softly. Almost immediately, Tranquility began to let her tears go. “Push aside the sadness... and stare into the sky above. Reflect on the past, keep the memories... and you’ll have nothing to fear. The present isn’t the best place to be... when within your eyes...”

Tranquility felt her tears fall harder as Salvation grew silent for a second, the lavender mare trying her best to speak clearly. “...are tears.”

Salvation’s mouth curved into a small smile, the corners of his mouth quivering only slightly. “Let the light of day... guide your dreams...”

Tranquility closed her eyes and leaned forward, resting her head on Salvation’s chest, listening to his heartbeat slowly dwindle. “Let the dark of night... cover your seams...”

Suddenly feeling a wave of exhaustion come over him, Salvation’s eyes started to feel heavy as they slowly closed. “When all looks lost... think of the past...”

Her tears falling forcefully as Salvation’s heartbeat grew even weaker, Tranquility squeezed harder onto her coltfriend’s hoof. “...the memories... that will forever last.”

The light grey stallion stayed quiet for a second, opening his eyes again to look up at the sky. He lifted his hoof off of the ground and placed it gently on Tranquility’s head, slowly running his hoof down her mane. “I love you... Tranquility...”

Tranquility lifted her head up to Salvation’s head, leaning forward and pressing her lips against Salvation’s. “I love you, Salvation...”

With one last small breath, Salvation slowly let his hoof back down on the ground, his head limply rolling to the side. True to his word, Salvation had kept Tranquility safe, far from harm, no matter the consequences. Chrysalis defeated and Tranquility freed from her cocoon, Augury’s task was done.

The lavender mare resting on Salvation eased herself into a ball, letting her back push up against Salvation’s side with every sob. Her cries filled the silence that the valley had found itself in, the ponies around her watching with tears beginning to fall from their eyes as well. Despite his actions as a changeling, his sacrifice to stop the onslaught across Equestria was not an action of a changeling, but a pony. The same pony that he had been before any of the events with him and the changelings. The same pony he had been before the loss of Frost. The same pony he had been before being forced to commit atrocities against his home.

The same pony he had always been.

Salvation.

The End

[Epilogue] Reconstruction

Epilogue

Tranquility sighed as she stared out at the wrecked battlefield of the valley that had been Equestria’s grounds of triumph a little over one week earlier. A lot of the grass that had been on the field had been kicked up and killed with so many ponies and changelings fighting about it, most of the valley left dead and stripped of its green hue. The pegasi and earth ponies down in the previous battlefield, still, were walking through the destroyed, but recovering, fields. Planting grass, picking up weapons and armor the soldiers had misplaced before, and overall trying to bring the life back into the valley, their progress was beginning to show, though it was very little. The river cutting the valley in half had already been put up to its optimal cleanness, the water falling from the mountains above Canterlot constantly providing fresh and clear water. With the changelings finally defeated and the war over, Equestria began to rebuild what had been damaged and recover what had been lost, but one heart wouldn’t seem to be healing anytime soon.

Her vision coming across the headstone down by the river in the valley, Tranquility closed her eyes and rested her chin on the edge of an overlook in Canterlot. Salvation’s funeral didn’t take long to be set up and attended by half of Canterlot and what seemed like the entire Equestrian defense forces. The other lives lost during the war weren’t ignored, however, as headstones were placed throughout the valley in respect of those who had fallen to the changelings. Civilians, royal guards, honor guards, military ponies, none of them had been forgotten.

The lavender mare standing at the edge of one of Canterlot’s outside overlooks of the valley slowly lifted a hoof up to her face and covered her eyes, trying her best not to let the tears gathering in them out again. The memories of Salvation, of Ponyville, of Frost, of everything that she hoped would never leave filled her dreams ever since she was taken out of her cocoon. Tranquility was grateful that Salvation had gone through so much to save her, but she never stopped thinking about what could have been if he didn’t. Equestria would be run by changelings, Ponyville would be lost, and Tranquility’s home would be gone forever, but at least Salvation would still be alive. The thoughts never seemed to stop running through her head, and images of Salvation didn’t end, and didn’t have an end in sight. Tranquility’s love would never die for Salvation, even if he wasn’t there with her anymore. She knew that.

Tranquility quickly wiped her eyes as she heard hoofsteps approach from behind, the lavender mare backing away from the edge and turning around to look at who was walking by. At the sight of Tranquility’s eyes glistening and a frown on her face, Twilight Sparkle stopped abruptly and lifted a hoof up limply.

“Oh, uh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were...” Twilight began to apologize.

“No no... it’s alright. You don’t have to go.” Tranquility replied calmly as she wiped one last tear from her eyes, sniffling before she gave Twilight a smile. “Is there something I can do for you?”

Twilight Sparkle slowly trotted over to Tranquility’s side and they both looked out at the valley. “No, nothing. I saw you standing here just thought I would come over and have a little talk. If that’s okay. I don’t want to-”

Tranquility giggled lightly. “It’s fine, Twilight. You’re not interrupting much. How did the talk with the princess go?”

“It went as her congratulations usually do. Bringing Equestria back to its full potential must be a lot of work for the princess right now, so I suppose she couldn’t have talked with me for too long.”

“What did she say about Cloudsdale and Ponyville? Are they bouncing back?”

“A lot of the ponies that were put out of their homes are being filed back into Ponyville and are getting their homes back. Cloudsdale still has some reconstruction and cloud gatherings to rebuild what was damaged, but progress is coming out of the whole cause.”

“I see. How is your brother?”

“He’s recovering back in the hospital right now. After the physically able royal and honor guards went out to retrieve the ponies that were still trapped in The Hive, they found him down in a crater near the mountains on their way, along with some of the other soldiers that were harmed during the ambush. His hind legs are hurt pretty badly, but he’s resilient. I’m sure he’ll be back up in no time. Things seem to be looking up now that the war is over.”

Tranquility let her ears flatten against her head and she rested her chin back on the raised edge of the overlook. “Yeah... they seem to be.”

Twilight looked at Tranquility out of the corner of her eye for a second, biting her lip as she conjured up a question she hesitated to ask. “So... how are you holding up since... the end of the war?”

Her eyes closing, Tranquility took a deep breath in before she responded. “I’ve been better. The only thing that has been bringing me down is that... that Salvation’s not there to bring me back up. He used to take me into his hooves and say everything would be alright, and remind me of my mother’s words. He made everything seem like it would be okay, even if he knew it wouldn’t.” Tranquility squeezed her eyes tight, stopping a few tears building up. “And even in the end, he told me that everything would be okay.”

Twilight slowly put a hoof on Tranquility’s back. “Was he right?”

Opening her eyes again, the lavender mare holding back her tears looked back out into the valley. “In a way, yes. Equestria is coming back from the repercussions of the war and things are actually looking good for once. But... it’s just that he’s not here to reassure me that anymore. I miss him... and I don’t think I ever won’t, but I know I’m going to have to let go some day.” Tranquility stood up straight and smiled at Twilight. “We all will. Not just about our loved ones, but about what happened. Thank you, for asking. You didn’t cause any harm, I assure you.”

Twilight Sparkle nodded. “I was hoping I didn’t.” She looked back further into Canterlot and came across a post holding a lamp in one of Canterlot’s streets. “The train for Ponyville is leaving in a little bit.” Twilight said as she turned back to Tranquility. “Would you want to come with me? Pinkie Pie is throwing a reunion and celebration party back in Ponyville for whoever wants to come.”

Tranquility laughed quietly. “I would love to come with.”

“Great. Come on, the train isn’t going to wait for us.”

The two lavender mares quickly trotted away from the overlook of the valley from the edge of Canterlot and started off for the Canterlot train station. New beginnings were starting open up in the land of ponies, and for now, all Equestria could do was move forward.

______________________________________________________________________

“Valor, come on, just because the war is over doesn’t mean that you can just do whatever you want.” Platinum called out after his friend as he ran after the pegasus royal guard rushing through the Canterlot sculpture garden.

“Oh lighten up, Platinum! We can celebrate now! Aren’t you happy?” Valor asked as he slid to a stop on the gravel pathway, raising his front legs into the air and flailing them around.

Platinum weakly swayed back and forth. “Yay, woohoo, yipee. See? I’m happy. Now quit running around; we’re still royal guards, if I must remind you.”

Sighing and rolling his eyes, Valor walked back towards Platinum. “Fine, fine. You’re getting me ice cream later for ruining my fun, though.”

“Yeah, sure.” Platinum said as he and Valor started slowly down the path. “Now come on, the royal guards by the Chrysalis statue said the ponies around it were getting a little rowdy. You like yelling, don’t you?”

“One of my favorite things in the world. It’s useful when you want to potentially make somepony go deaf.”

“You’re acting like I’ve never seen you do it before.”

“Well you’re always acting like I’m not even there when I do things like that.” Valor leaned his head closer to the royal guard beside him. “How do I know when you’re listening to me or not?”

“Yeah, I like the sculpture garden, too.”

Valor chuckled and shoved Platinum. “Now you’re just being an ass.”

Platinum smiled. “I try my best. Keep it together, I can see the crowd around the statue.”

Valor and Platinum quickly shut their mouths as the tall stone figure came into sight over the unicorns and royal guards around it. The changeling queen remained still in her stone encasement, her eyes focused on the platform she stood upon. The new item in the sculpture garden was the main point of interest ever since Discord’s re-addition, even some of the nobles taking an interest in the statue that was formerly the changeling queen.

A unicorn royal guard separated from the crowd as Platinum and Valor grew close, the guard panting slightly. “I’m glad you two got here. Just in time, too.” The guard said.

“Why? What’s wrong?” Platinum asked.

“Some of the visitors from outside of Canterlot were trying to destroy the statue out of anger because they lost their homes in the raids. We’ve been trying to hold them back but they won’t leave and we’re not allowed to use force against them. I just need you two to watch over the statue as the three of us escort the ponies out of the garden. Can you handle that?”

“Yeah, we’ll take care of it. Go do your thing.” Valor said.

“Good. Thanks you guys.”

As the unicorn royal guard raced back to the crowd and began to move the ponies by the statue away and out of the garden, Platinum and Valor inched their way towards the stone figure. The ponies that had been standing in front of the statue gone from the area, the two royal guards looking up at Chrysalis took a moment to examine the item.

“I wonder what her last thoughts were before she completely went under.” Valor said, tilting forward to look past Chrysalis’s mane.

“I don’t know. I’d rather not even be here, honestly, but we have a job to do.” Platinum said, turning away from the statue and looking out at the rest of the garden.

“Why not?” Valor asked. “This place is pretty much an outdoor history museum. You like going to those boring things, right?”

“They’re not boring, they’re informative and interesting. Besides, I don’t have a problem with the garden. It’s just Chrysalis, is all.”

Valor walked to Platinum’s side as he was done looking over the statue. “What’s wrong with her?”

Platinum turned towards Valor and his face lit up. “Oh hi! Are you knew to Equestria? Here let me show you around!” He extended his hoof out to Chrysalis. “First of all, this is the statue of the creature that tried to take us over not only two weeks ago! Amazing isn’t it!?”

Laughing slightly, Valor pushed Platinum’s hoof back to the ground. “Alright, alright. I get it.”

Shaking his head, Platinum laughed along with Valor. “Sorry. I couldn’t help it.”

______________________________________________________________________

“Hey, you.” A deep and rough voice called out from across the sky.

A dark grey pegasus carrying a large box towards Cloudsdale stopped in his flight path as the voice directed towards him, the pegasus turning around and shaking slightly. “Uh... yes, sir? Is there something you want?” The stallion asked as he flew back towards the box cart suspended by two pegasi the voice had called him from.

A large and tough looking light brown stallion looked at the pegasus as he stopped near the back of the box cart. “Don’t you think you’ve worked enough for today? For Celestia’s sake, you’ve been rushing back between Los Pegasus and Cloudsdale non-stop with these supplies! Why don’t you let somepony else take Cloudsdale’s shift and you take a little break? You could use some rest.” The light brown stallion took his hat off of his head and shook it upside down, a pile of bits stacking onto his hoof. “Here, Zeal, take your pay for today and a little something extra and head back to the mail station in Los Pegasus so you can get some rest. You’ve earned it, kid.”

The dark grey pegasus eyed the bits in his hooves as his boss shoved the payment into him. “Th- thank you, sir. I’ll head back to Los Pegasus.” Zeal said quietly, slowly emptying his hooves of the bits into a pouch strapped around his left back leg.

“Don’t mention it. And you can stop calling me sir; that’s not needed in this type of business. Now head on back. You’ve done some good work today.”

Zeal nodded and began to fly from the outskirts of Cloudsdale to Los Pegasus, waving goodbye to the light grey mare with tilted yellow eyes as he passed the front of the box cart. He looked back at Cloudsdale for a short second before he took off as fast as he could. A small number of the buildings that had been destroyed because of the war were in the process of being reconstructed, and the supplies that Zeal had been bringing to the city provided enough materials to get the weather systems back up and running. Slowly but surely, Cloudsdale was being rebuilt into what it had used to be.

Growing out of sight from the city of pegasi, Zeal calmed his pace to a brisk speed as he began to fly over a mountainous region. Seeing a small clearing atop one of the snowy mountain caps as he scanned his eyes over the mountain range, the dark grey pegasus dived down towards the flatten area. Zeal moved his dark blue mane out of his cyan eyes as the wind blowing over the mountains picked up, the dark grey pegasus lifting a hoof to his eyes to shield from the snow and ice blowing through the air. Despite the cold, Zeal toughed through the slightly numbness in his hooves. With the spark of a bright green spell in his eyes, the dark grey pegasus sighed with relief as he returned to his normal form, the light and elegance of his insect wings lifting the burden of the heavy and feathered pegasus wings.

“Much better...” Devotion whispered to himself as he stared through one of the holes in his hooves. He quickly looked up from his hoof to look around the area. Nopony had seen him go into the mountains, and he hoped that nopony had followed him. As he made sure he was safe, Devotion took a moment to stare up at the clear sky as he sat down.

“You were right, Augury.” The changeling said out loud. “Equestria is one of the nicest places I’ve seen. Granted... I’m not very old, but this is a huge break from The Hive.” The small smile on his face faded. “I... heard what happened in the valley outside of Canterlot. I wish I could have been there to help if I knew what was going on. You wouldn’t have been the only changeling on Equestria’s side. Then again, I probably would’ve gone as well with all of the others.

“I’ve gotten a steady job in Los Pegasus with Equestrian Mail. The pay is good and the work is a little hard, but everything seems to be working out. It has been a little hard to not use my magic in my pegasus form, but I’ve managed to go on with my life as a pony so far without magic. It’s not that hard, honestly. I just find it a little weird that, when I do use my magic in private, it glows in my eyes instead of a horn now. I was frightened at first, but I’ve gotten used to it.” Devotion tilted his head back to the ground. “I wish you could still be here to guide me. I haven’t made any friends so far. I didn’t think it would be that hard, but some of the ponies are a bit more bitter than I had anticipated. I’m managing myself, though, so don’t worry about me too much... wherever you are.”

Devotion put a hoof up against his left eye. “The wound on my eye has healed, and I found it useful that I don’t have to wear my eyepatch when I change into my pony form. Even then, though, I can’t see out of it. I just tell the ponies that ask about it that it’s a birth defect. Safest route, I suppose.” The changeling chuckled to himself and shook his head. “I don’t think I’ll have any troubles being found out that I’m a changeling. It scares me a little whenever ponies approach me. I just feel that they already know, but they’re too scared to do anything. That’s just my mind playing around with itself, I’m sure, but I can’t get the thought out of my head that...” Devotion paused for a second. “Well, I’m the only changeling left.”

Devotion shook his head and looked back up to the sky. “I think I’m already losing my mind. This life is different from the one I had in The Hive... and I’m taking my time to talk to my deceased friend.” The changeling laughed to himself. “If you heard that, don’t take any offense. I didn’t mean any. What I want to say is, thank you, Augury. Thank you for giving me the chance to be one of the ponies. I’ll make the best of it.”

Taking a deep breath in, the changeling stood back up onto his hooves and tucked a corner of his mouth inwards. “For as long as I can keep my identity hidden, at least.”

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