The pile of books laid in a neat column of books, their covers vibrant with color and their pages straight and uniform. The Commander was fixated on the final story. Daring Do was trying to impersonate a wealthy aristocrat to gain access to the secret relic that would reveal the next clue to finding the sacred chamber.

He had to laugh at how similar his and Daring's predicaments were. Both had tried to disguise themselves, but the difference was that one actually knew what she was doing. The Commander would have loved to have had this copy, as he may have been able to gather some tips on how to act more self-esteemed as well as elegant. But alas, this was the latest edition, and he had missed out on a lot of reading. As he continued to turn each page, ever so slowly, hanging on to each word, the sound of a door thud made him jerk back.

%%%%

The colt looked up just in time to see what the commotion outside was earlier. His partner had brought back a changeling. The creature looked hazed out and motionless, small in comparison to the white stallion who held him in his magical grasp.

"Clyde," the colt said, putting his book down as he stared bewildered at the new prisoner, "where did you find that one?"

Clyde was a heavy-built white stallion. His eyes a piercing brown and his demeanor was about as sociable as you would expect from a warden who had spent the last two years mopping an empty jail cell. The smirk on his face indicated that he was happy to be finally doing something. The colt couldn't blame him. After all, Clyde had once served in the war and had seen numerous battles in his youth. He had been quite muscular and buff back then, but age began to wear that away, and despite his efforts, it was a losing battle. Unfit for combat, but still unable to give up his postion, the Princess sent him to Ponyville to run the prison. Though nopony ever mentioned it, he was sure Clyde had been sent in order to adjust to civilian life. And yet, here he was, a stubborn stump who refused to acknowledge the fact that he had to change.

"Some mare cried 'changeling' and pointed her hoof at a random blue stallion. Before I could get a hold of the situation, half the crowd-don't ask me why they were even there- made a dog pile over him and soon enough, he changed forms. Ross Feathers yanked him out of the crowd before anypony actually got hurt. But it was all for nothing. The sorry sod was out cold . When he comes across, maybe I'll give him a trial."

Maybe the colt thought wryly. Clyde was an antique from an era where justice was served by the ponies for the ponies. Trials were social gatherings and punishments were severe and humiliating. However, it was a past he knew the soldier of Celestia wanted to forget, to repress. Instead, it kept coming up more often then not whether he liked it or not. There were days the colt wished Clyde would be transferred to a region where his discipline was accepted. Maybe if he had been sent as a drill instructor, he may have at least felt like he was still serving for a purpose.

As he walked to the cell, the door swung open and slammed its wooden surface on the adjoining wall. Clyde tossed the unconscious detainee in the cell before he froze in half-trot. His eyes swiveled conspicuously from the cell to the colt, as if debating what he saw was real or not. His eyes locked and his voice was filled with a sense of incertitude. "You gave him reading material?"

"It was either that or he would nag me to death." He was now picking up his book and focusing on the story as the cell swiveled shut. Clyde walked by and leaned by the desk, where Mags just continued to read the pamphlet she had found in the mail. After about a minute, the stallion asked the colt what he was reading, to where he tried to explain the series he was following. After about another minute in, Clyde's eye lids shifted up and down like indecisive drapes and the stallion got up to leave, wishing that the colt enjoy his book and join him in a contest one day.

%%%%

She had watched the guard go. She was so sure that they had been safe, but it turned out that it just wasn't the case. It had been a mistake to tackle the colt. She was only following the crowd, but in her attempt to blend in, she had triggered a spell that knocked the changeling unconscious, revealing his form. There was nothing she could do but watch in dread as the guard dragged the comatose brother away. She didn't even know his name.

But if it meant anything, it was that there were more out there then she thought. Possibly, even, the entire battalion!

%%%%%

The Commander simply just stared, his mouth gaping as drool came in drips like a broken faucet. The other changeling just laid there, his body as lifeless as a cadaver. Obviously, whatever happened had hit the poor fellow hard. The Commander wasn't a professional on spells, but he sure knew one that always worked in waking one up. Gathering to his hooves, he snuck pass the new roommate, whose audible snore rang out throughout the cell.

"Hey you there," he whispered to the guard. The white colt trotted up to the grating, his eyes giving off an amused look at how cautious the changeling was of his partner. He decided to go with the act, whispering silently.

"What? You planning on escaping?"

The Commander slanted his eyes and gave the colt a grimace that nearly made him snort out loud. He had to wonder how such a swarm member ever...ever...got second-in-command.

"If I was, would I be telling you?"

"It depends," the colt said thoughtfully, "how much would you bribe a guard?"

"About as much as I would bribe that receptionist."

Both creatures had to giggle at that. Mags was about as animate as a powered rag. At least they moved on their own.

"Anyway, I need a bucket of water, extremely hot if you will."

Now the colt was perplexed. A bucket of hot water was a peculiar request, especially since he saw no use to it, unless the Commander wanted to become a maid, which would probably come after the Commander decided to he would burn his collection. But the prison guard gave a slight nod and went to fetch a bucket. After balancing the steaming pot over his head, he opened the door and slipped the pot in. With a broad grin, the Commander gently lifted the bucket and placed it parallel to the changeling's side. Lifting the sickly hoof, he slipped it into the water and crept back to this books on the other side of the room.

Then it hit the guard the intentions of the Commander a split-second before there was the sound of liquid and of a changeling hollering at the top of his lungs. Now he was sure that the Queen must have been drinking too much cider when she chose this changeling to take care of her children.

%%%%

The changeling literally shot up like a high-speed rocket to the roof, where he thankfully had enough sense to stop and dash straight for a pillow, his blue eyes scanning the room for the perpetrator that taken away what little dignity he had left. And there was the enemy. A changeling sitting by an impressive array of books, where a navy blue helmet and chest plate adorned his body as if it was apart of him. Without thinking for another second, he ran right up to his target and tackled him to the rough stone floor.

"YOU SLY LITTLE MANIAC!" he roared, "HOW DARE YOU PRANK ME YOU LITTLE PIECE OF RESIN-SECRETED TRASH!"

"Ease down mate!" the changeling threw up his hooves in the air as if in mock surrender, "I'm the Commander of the Changelings, take a simple prank will you."

After some debatable thought, the insect-like colt eased off his grasp that had pinned the Commander like a rag doll. Taking in a few deep breaths, he eyed the Commander, his brain still working out whether or not to trust this so-called leader.

"Your'e the Commander?" he said slowly, sounding out each word.

"Yes sir, and as you may have noticed, we're both in prison!" The Commander shot his hooves up, his lips beaming as if this was good news.

"You're a queer." he said, an edge of finality hinting in his vocal cords. As his thoughts reassembled themselves, memories flooded of his birth right to the point where he had been assigned to a battalion and...

"Wait one second!" he proclaimed before seemingly teleporting himself face to face with the Commander. "I know you, Mr. Role Model. You were the commanding officer during the invasion in Canterlot! You're the noob that got us all pinned up in the courtyard where I got my flank kicked by a bunch of ponies!"

"You...you were under my leadership?" he stuttered. It didn't matter that the changeling had insulted him for a second time, but the fact that his initial mission had been to be the instrument of salvation for his battalion. Here he was, imprisoned with a member of his swarm, arguing over past blunders. It was...disgraceful almost, not like he cared though.

The changeling simply shrugged. "I was, me and a few other mates to be exact. But I don't know what happened to them."

"I'm sorry," the Commander began to feel tipsy, his body swaying as if bracing a gust of wind," I wish I could have led...better..." He fell to his knees, his eyes beginning to fill with a film of liquid. He knew it was foolish and likely very mortifying for the changeling to be staring at him, a leader who cannot even control himself.

Despite this however, the changeling's distorted and darkened features melted into a disconcerted look. He sluggishly raised a hoof and patted the shaking equine. "Hey man," he tried to sound as calm as possible, but his words still came out resentful, "I don't care. Okay well, I actually do care a lot but right now you look like you're on the verge of bawling your head out. So I'll just give you the benefit of the doubt and comfort you now. Which will begin right when I say you shouldn't beat yourself up about it."

The Commander sniffled and stood back up, his mouth still in a frown, but his outlook confident. "Thank you there sir. Sorry. I don't get emotional that often."

The changeling threw an imaginary punch in the air. "It's all good man. Now how about you cut the cry-baby stuff and tell me what the situation is?"

"Well..." the Commander began and recounted the events leading up to his current status as prisoner. The changeling listened fairly well, although he kept interrupting with harsh comments and laughter at the Commander's obvious attempts to remain hidden. The Commander himself was sure that the changeling must have considered him below a beginner, because the fact was that even a hatchling could pull a better deception off. By the time he was finished, the changeling was on the floor laughing his dagger-like horn off.

"You sir," he choked in between gasps of breath and guffawing, " are the worst noob to ever become a changeling. Seriously, were you like put into a chrysalis or something? Cause you sure weren't born naturally son!"

Huffing to himself, the Commander replied back. "Well you didn't fare any better wise one. Obviously you couldn't handle a few fan fillies tackling your sorry behind.."

"First off," the changeling managed to exhale and scramble up to the air, so that he was a few feet above ground, " there were also stallions in that crowd. Second off, I could have taken them on if that spell didn't knock the wind out of me. Anyway, at least I lasted longer in the Canterlot campaign."

"Really now," if the Commander had eye brows, they would have been raised, " tell me all about it."

"Well," the changeling recounted, "I actually captured the elements when the fly-by squad came in- thank Chrysalis- and we brought them to her royal highness. After a while, we kicked back in lawn chairs while those noobs were getting chased by our team. There was even this funny blue stallion who kept running in circles, as if he thought that would confuse or cause his pursuers to become dizzy. And then, like out of nowhere, this purple forcefield slams into me and my mates and the next thing I know...I am falling through the air like a bird with no care in the world."

"Amazing that you survived," the Commander mused.

"Yeah well that's cause of my amazing skills you uncanny sardine," the changeling sneered, "and you're lucky I didn't go cockatrice on your behind earlier. Anyway, I wake up and realize that I'm in this whole new world right? So I disguise myself as this striking blue stallion, the one that was getting chased when I was sitting in my lawn chair. I sneak into the town and for a while, everything goes alright. I get love by being all fancy and stuff, you know, showing the ladies I'm a professional lumberjack or something. Next thing I know, everypony is congregating for this 'Daring Do' and I'm just going with the flow when I actually see her. I was never a fan of the series, too much drama, but this mare was either inspiration for the books or just a really obsessed fan. Either way the crowd goes and chases her and I just decide to go on a stroll. I come up to this retarded treehouse when a crowd blocks me. I look and see the mare again and this weird pink one shoots a hoof at me, screaming that I'm a changeling or something."

The Commander's eyes raise themselves in confusion. "How did she know?"

"Don't ask me," the changeling chided, "I just stood there dumbfounded and managed to say 'what' before all these fan-fillies double team and jump me. I get squashed and then I feel this jolt, like a boulder slamming into you as it's going 100 miles per second, except I feel no pain and just go out cold. Then I wake up screaming at you because you decided to play the old hot water prank on me."

The Commander had to chuckle at that and after a few seconds, the changeling joined him. After they were sure they would start developing stomach aches, the snickering subsided. "Why," the Commander said as he stared at the ceiling his body stretched over the floor, " I was too shocked at the pink one pointing you out that I forgot to ask you your name."

The changeling came to join him in watching the artwork of multiple splashes of rusty paint.

"Reflect Fury."

The Commander had to rise up to inspect the changeling once again. He seemed like a natural born, like the Commander, but the name was completely, if not utterly, out of place. A changeling had names like Shade, or Reflection, or even Mirror, but Reflect Fury was something that sounded alien, even to ponies.

"Where did you acquire such an unusual title Fury," he asked casually.

"The name-giver was drunk on love or something and so he thought it would be funny to give a ridiculous name to a changeling. So he named me Reflect Fury to reflect his own frustration at his job. I guess that's the best one can come up with under the circumstances."

"I actually like it," the Commander motioned, "it serves its purpose. You truly do have a hot temper for a changeling."

This causes a scowl to spread over Fury's face, his cheeks blushing a light violet-red.

"And you're one to have a weird title for a changeling who can't even get into character for at least two minutes let alone command an army!" Reflect Fury spat back.

"Fine, you got me there."

Reflect Fury got up and hovered over the lackadaisical officer, pondering exactly what he should do with him. Sure he could probably throw a couple of punches and watch as his newest neighbor cowered into a corner. But then he would get bored and talking to a guard was going to be as engrossing as talking to a tomato. At least the tomato may actually listen to him. Guess it's time to be friendly Reflect Fury considered. "You have a name besides Commander?"

"Yep," the Commander replied back, "I did have a name, but I was always referred to as "Late Bloomer" because of my inability to be a proper changeling. When I got promoted, I decided that 'Commander' was all I needed for a name."

"Well Commander," Fury pronounced sarcastically, "why don't you tell me what was going on in that tiny noggin when you thought you could save us all?"

The Commander had to glare at Fury for this comment, before he proclaimed, "Because I am the Commander and it's my job. And you can be rest assured Reflect-hot-temper- Fury, that I will not hesitate until every single one of your brothers and sisters are saved from this tyranny of an empire!"

"Bravo." Reflect Fury leisurely clapped his hands, more like slamming them against each other every half-minute. If the Commander had anything better to do, he would be reading a book, but there was no more Daring Doo to be released until next month, in which hopefully he would be back at the nest, sleeping soundly in his chambers, praised as a hero.

The changeling was still hovering when he observed the pile of books and floated towards a nearby stack to examine one of the colorful publications. He seemed slightly perturbed as his eyes moved from the cover to the Commander and back and forth, for about a good twenty-five seconds before hovering over him accusingly.

"I don't believe it, this book proves that you sir are one of those fans of Daring Doo. No offense, but I had to say that I was laughing my bottom off at those fans when they chased the poor mare across town. I mean really, its just hilarious how fed up ponies can get over such a childish story with a painted cover!"

"Excuuuuuse me," the Commander got up, "but Daring Do is one of the best ,if not the most epic, series ever written in the history of Equestria." Reflect Fury simply stood, or hovered, there, his facial expression revealing only a smirk on his lips as he gave his sarcastic remark. "Really now, because I'm pretty sure reading about a mare who goes exploring in caves all day is really worth the attention mate."

The Commander just stared at him, his face contorting into a glare as his head swelled from the increase in heat radiating from his body, his limb moving towards his forehead to facehoof himself. It was as clear as day that Fury had no clue what true literary art was, even if it slapped him square across the face. Apparently, the changeling had mind-reading abilities as his smirk disappeared.

"Oh come off it now," Reflect Fury shrugged, "I just thought it was humorous."

The Commander wanted to end his existence right there. Of all the changelings he could get stuck with, he had been bunked with the most bitter, most insensible, most hot-tempered changeling that the nest had to offer. He couldn't believe he was related to him.

Hopefully it's a distant relative the Commander silently wished.

%%%%

Thresh stood there, his hat blocking out the moonlight and dissolving his features, save for the glowing blue eyes. His three posse members were huddled by a campfire, fast assleep in the insulating wool blankets, their bowler hats in a corner and their spears all piled up in a neat stack near the middle.

If I wanted to, I could easily use my magic to pick up each of those weapons and spear them before those eyes of them flickered open. Thresh knew he would never do that, but still it was a thought that often surfaced from time to time. It was so easy to kill something, that he was surprised few ever did it. Maybe it was because the fear of getting caught and suffering the consequences kept most murderers and butchers at bay.

Not me. Thresh was one of the few who defied the law. He didn't mind getting his hooves dirty. At first, it was the risk that kept his adrenaline pumping. Then, his new-found talent became just became another monotonous task enforced upon him. But how long ago was that? A few weeks maybe. It had happened before the invasion, when the word "changeling" could only be heard of in the remote settlements that bordered the Equestrian Mountains.

He wasn't one to study his own specie's culture, but he knew enough to tell exactly who was where. The Chrysalis nest was somewhere in the badlands near Canterlot. The Seven Tribes of Morgorath in the upper region of the mountainous gorges. The Cavernous Labyrinth near the zebra territory. And many more, scattered and in hiding, throughout the kingdom. It had been Queen Chrysalis, however, who had angered the Matriarch.

He still remembered the encounter, right after he had captured the escapee in Appleloosa.

She sat on a bed of secreted resin, that bended light into oblong and odd-looking shapes. Her eyes were sapphires that stared deep into one's soul, examining its strengths, weaknesses, and of course...loyalty. She wasn't like a queen, no, for instead of a horn she had an imposing crest and her face mimicked that of a typical drone, with the exception of the elongated snout that gave a more draconic appearance.

"Queen Chrysalis has attempted to break the barrier we set up between our world and their world."

"Pardon," Thresh had said, his hooves shaking at the mere sight of her enormous frame.

"The Council has said that she has broken Rule 34..."

The changeling couldn't help but snicker for just a moment, before she arched her snake-like head, whose vibrations sent sound waves to silence his nerve cells.

"Rule 34, if you did not know," she said, her eyes showing clear annoyance at being interrupted, "is the rule that no changeling shall interfere or publicly declare an offensive course of action against the Equestrian Kingdom. Doing so will entail immediate expulsion from the Council as well as a punishment to be inflicted on the leader of said changeling."

Thresh still had a bewildered look on his face. It was more than enough for the Matriarch to see he was having trouble understanding his purpose for this meeting, which was far out in the middle of nowhere.

"Because the Queen has vanished from the face of this world, another changeling, one of high or royal status, shall act as tribute and suffer the consequences originally devised for their leader. Now the Queen had several favorites, as well as a couple who were high in status. Two Commanders appointed in times of conflict, as well as a private division educated by the Queen herself. Bring me any of these groups and you will be promoted as well as generously rewarded for your efforts."

It was a lot to take in, but it was clear on the face of everyone present that it wasn't a choice. Thresh figured it was kind enough that they had at least tried to make it sound like he had a say in this. The consequences would be brutal and unthinkable if he failed. But it wasn't him who he cared about, for Thresh was ready to die if he had to. It was his own loved ones, back at the small nest in the canyons of Appleloosa. Council members kept tabs on every nest and hive in the kingdom, and they could easily destroy it in the flash of a transformation.

"You have my word that I will find them."

After taking the oath, he was given a net, several bottles of love, and a pouch of bits as well as a dozen spears dipped in sleeping poison, enough to knock an opponent out, but not enough to give the pleasure of dying before they were tortured by the Council.

Thresh wasn't one to go on a hunt like this, but it was a hunt nonetheless. His quarry was somewhere, out there, hiding in a form or behind a rock.

The tap of a hoof let the renegade know that he could take a rest for now.

The bowler hat gave off an eerie silhouette that was lined with white. The flaming tongues licked up the bottom half of this contour outline, partially distorting the image. Thresh wondered if his fellow brother ever had the same thoughts he had. Would he kill all of them tonight? Could he not trust his own brother?

Thresh went to sleep with an iron plate tucked beneath the blanket.

%%%%

She stood across from the jail house, her hooves shaking as she forced them to move front and back, left and right, side to side. It was an uneven walk to say the least, but after a bit of controlled breathing, she managed to walk past the ruby-coated door into the reception desk.

An earth pony was busily looking over a magazine, while an armored guard, who look no older then a university student, sat on a stool, engrossed in his book.

"Excuse me," she managed to squeak. The colt darted his eyes toward her, looking around as if to make sure he was still in the right place.

"Ummm how can I help you," he said in a surly tone that indicated that wherever he had come from, he at least had been raised with some manners.

"I heard you...you had captured a couple of changelings?"

"Why of course," the guard said, though his voice stuttered for a split-second, as if he was unsure about releasing this information, "But ummm, they are kind of, you know, changelings." He was obviously at a loss of words for the moment.

"Listen," the mare elicitated in as soothing a voice as she could manage, "my friend was in that dog-pile and she thinks her sticker was left on that changeling so I just came by to..."

"Sorry," the guard interrupted abruptly," nothing was found on the prisoner. Tell your friend that whatever she is looking for is probably still out there somewhere, or with another pony."

She could feel her body temperature increase as her cheeks blushed. "Thank you, sor-sorry to waste your time."

The guard got up and the door opened by itself. "Anytime miss, and don't worry. They aren't that bad. Just a little..." He raised a hoof and made swirls near the side of his head to indicate what he thought of his newest criminals. She managed to let out a timid smile before exiting.

After some thoughtful examination, she began to wonder why she had made that smile. It wasn't like she needed it in order to act out her part. Maybe she was relieved that the Commander wasn't being tortured. Or maybe, just maybe, it was because somepony had actually thought of the changeling as being less evil then the Princesses were advertising. It was a comment that few would pay attention to. But for her, it was a big step into something she would never expect to be possible.

%%%%

"You know Commander," Reflect Fury said as he read another book, "I don't mind reading all day and stuff, but seriously, do you do anything else with your life?"

The question caught him off guard. Sure there was the occasional food fest or flinging one's arms in merry pirouette. But in all seriousness, reading was about as much of a hobby as the Commander had. The Queen may have despised his endeavors to procure more books, but she didn't mind him reading. Probably because that meant that he wasn't out in the hive, causing some mess. To promote further reading, she even gave him a boulder for a shelf to store his books, the kindest gesture he had ever seen her display for him so far. When he was in the field, he would attend plays or just sit in the local bakery, sipping an alien beverage from the jungles that was known as coffee. Then, he would go to the book store, purchase the latest edition of Daring Do, and sometimes the Adventure's of The Mysterious Mare Do Well-some comic apparently written by a fan club of the masked super hero- and spend the rest of his day strolling around, boredom leaking out from him like some broken faucet.

"Well," he began, "I mean it isn't like I have a lot of things to do nowadays..."

Reflect Fury simply fell on his bunk with a groan. He was thinking about how the Commander had nothing better to do with his life other then read...read...and well...read. When he had been raised, he was just as reckless as the Commander too. But in a different way. He actually did it on purpose. He was sure Discord had to be his father because he loved to laugh at chaos. Not the crazy, psychopathic kind mind you, but the more hilariously stupid kind.

Whenever he entered the field on a mission to bring back love, it was always about gossiping and going into competitions. He remembered one of these missions that was as clear as daylight.

He had been selected to join in a paint shootout. At the time, the disguise he bore was that of an orange pegasus. Apparently, this drove others to call him a chicken. As he would later on learned, this was just another way to call out an orange pegasus, though why was a complete mystery to him. There were two teams, whose cutie marks were covered by a red or blue blush of paint, in order to signify the colors of their flag.

Reflect Fury knew this game from years of practice when he had to act out a champion player in a mission two months ago. Of course, his natural talent greatly benefited him on top of that. As he entered through the log-pillared gates into the damp forest ahead, he felt the surge of excitement rise in him whenever he got pumped up for a match. His squad consisted fo two other ponies, a blue earth pony and a green pegasus. The two looked just as confident as he did, likely indicating that at the very least, they weren't chickens.

"You guys ready for some action?" he said as the trio headed towards red base, where they would be given sling-shots and paintballs.

"You betcha chicken," the green pegasus said, his eyes darting up in anticipation for the future events. But again with the chicken. If Reflect Fury heard someone call him a chicken again he would bash their heads together or simply taunt them for the remainder of this match.

"And what about you," he gestured to the blue earth pony, who was examining the trees. His yellow eyes seemed to be searching for something, as if at any moment an enemy could come out and snipe them. "Just paranoid." was all that came through his lips.

As the three pulled up to the base, the red-team leader began handing out the necessary equipment, stressing how crucial this victory was and that it could guarantee them a place on the championships. After the quick lecture, the thunderous roar of a cannon was all it took to get the red-marked stallions and colts dashing into the dark, forbidding woods.

Reflect Fury was going to fly up and see if he could snipe a couple of strays when a hoof hooked him into place. The green pegasus was still with the blue colt, although his hoof was stretched outward to indicate that Fury wasn't going anywhere anytime soon.

"What's the matter with you," his voice was almost at a shout," just let me go and I'll stay out of your way, deal?"

"Nope," the green pegasus said, locking his purple eyes with Fury's blue ones, "let's team up."

Fury couldn't believe this. He wanted to win and here were these two colts telling him they wanted to team up. He could already foresee these two calling out the enemy as they got shot down in a torrent of blue paint. However, he couldn't argue. Maybe they could watch his back or something like that.

"Stay behind me," Fury motioned as the three trekked over a dismal hill, hidden by the larger and more imposing trees. So far, they had heard sounds of paint colliding on rough and soft surfaces alike, but had seen no enemies. The green pegasus had wanted to fly up earlier, but his blue companion stressed that it wasn't worth it and that he would be an easy target from up top.

"Well, genius," Fury darted his eyes to the blue colt, "any ideas?"

The colt froze in place, as if the words had gotten him off guard when he thrusted his hoof over Fury's body and dragged all three into a pair of bushes. After a few seconds, a pair of enemy scouts trotted past them, sling shots at the ready.

"On the count of three." Fury hissed.

The three paint balls each found their mark and in two seconds, red paint stained the sides of each colt's coat, causing them to swear as they walked to the exit of the arena.

"Nice shooting," Fury looked at his two companions differently. They weren't as bad as he had thought. For a second, he had been sure they would be like his last team, who had, when the enemy shot back, trampled him and left him to get shot in places that no stallion should get shot in. "What's your names anyway?"

"Green Dasher and my blue friend here is Pristine Creek," the green pegasus said under his breath.

"Mine's Scott," Fury uttered back, as he tentatively crawled out of the bushes, "the coast looks clear, let's go and get that flag."

___________________

The sky was filled with an oddly placed rainbow, whose arches seemingly connected the two bases. The game had been going on for two hours and in that time, Fury's squad had shot down two more patrols and were less then a mile from the blue base. From the tranquility the forest was giving off now, the group assumed that the game had come to a halt.

"Okay," Fury began, taking a stick and drawing in the soft, dry dirt, "we can move up across this here creek and just take the flag. Green Dasher, your'e the fastest out of all of us and would be the most capable in getting the flag. Once you reach the clearing, Creek here will cover you with the long-distance slingshot. I will be your wingman as we make it to the meeting point. Any questions?"

"Yeah," Pristine rose a hoof, "the enemy could be here and here, since the probability is likely that they'll be near water to wade out the storm. I say that the course of action should involve all three of us moving up the hill and going around the stream to get the flag, going behind them instead of a full-out offensive play."

Both Dasher and Fury nodded in agreement. "It's settled then."

The two pegasi made their way behind the concrete box with blue stripes, the flag waving flowing gently in the breeze. With a deep breath, and a spurt of his wings, Green Dasher swept the flag up in his hooves, the sound barely audible with the breeze. As the two headed back, the could see Pristine Creek already hiking up the clearing, sling-shot cocked back incase any adversary decided to stumble upon them.

As the trio met in the hollowed-out oak tree that was the meeting place, there was a loud crash and a roar of voices as the blue team realized that their flag was missing. The trio carefully stuck to the side of the arena, sliding in the opposite direction of snapping of twigs and hiding over a hill whenever patrols rushed by. After twenty excruciating minutes, the flag of red base stood majestically up on her pole. Ten stallions stood in a ten-yard radius around her, their eyes scanning for any sign of blue activity.

"Friendlies," Fury shouted as the trio dashed out fo the woods and through the field. There was a chorus of cheers as the blue flag was placed side by side with their own. The gong sounded to indicate the game was finally over.

"You guys did awesome," Fury high-hoofed both of his comrades as they drank cider under a beautiful sunset.

"Remember when that blue guy thought Creek here was on his team, until he showed him the red paint and shot him square in the chest," Green Dasher was howling with laughter. In fact, all three of them were cackling in joy at their well-deserved victory.

"Well, I gotta go now guys," Fury said as he got up.

"Same here," Green Dasher and Creek got up to shake the hoof of their newest ally. "It was nice meeting you Scott."

____________

The examination room in the nest was a temporary addition in order to make sure that each changeling that went through was actually a changeling. It seemed odd to doubt that anypony who came here wasn't a changeling in disguise, but in the past, poachers had used this false sense of trust to sneak into the hive and cause all sorts of damage. Now changelings could just turn forms, but a new spell had been discovered to make ponies morph into changelings, allowing them to plant themselves inside, sending out information on future missions and battles.

Reflect stood there in line, his orange form shivering as a gust of wind rolled down a cliff. The chill sent a bunch of changelings chattering in their adopted voices about protocol. That was when he heard it. The familiar pair of sounds that had elaborated a master assault just a few hours ago.

"Green Dasher!, Pristine Creek!" Fury shot his hooves up so that the two huddling equines could see them. The look on their faces were just as bewildered as his was when he heard their accents.

"Scott, your'e a changeling?" Green looked at the orange pegasus from the hooves to the mane.

"And you two!" Fury gestured his arms out, "You two are changelings as well? This...this is too much for me to take in."

"Touche." Pristine Creek replied calmly.

"So," Reflect Fury looked around, "since this line ain't going to get faster, mind telling me your real names?"

"Zeth," Green Dasher proclaimed, "and Pristine's real name is Vapor Torrent."

"Reflect Fury, and might I add that your names are just as weird as mine."

This caused all three to once again cackle madly. But not like they did before, in the cider pub. This laughter was real and truthful. It was a laughter to be shared for many great months to come. It turned out that Vapor and Zeth had met in class and had become friends ever since. As time progressed, Fury, Vapor, and Zeth made it their duty to help each other out. They shared adventures and mishaps, and paint shootouts whenever they could. But then came the invasion.

Reflect and his mates had captured the six mares who had tried to take the Elements of Harmony. Taking the rest of the day off, they relaxed under a beautiful sun.

"You know what?" Zeth said as the trio basked in the glory of the conquest, "let's make an oath to never separate, no matter what."

"Already there good sir," Vapor called out as he looked over a magazine detailing high tech gizmos in Equestria.

"Well do it tomorrow Zeth," Reflect Fury sipped on a cup of lemonade. And that was when it happened.

A blast of light.

A purple forcefield.

And Fury flailing his hooves, trying to grab onto his friends as they soared farther and farther from his reach, towards Chrysalis knows where

Reflect Fury sighed inwardly as he laid on his cot, his mind tired from reliving that one terrible moment of separation. If he could, he would have made that oath right then and there. But you can't change the past. Wherever those two weirdos were, they weren't here. Reflect Fury didn't want to think of what could be happening to them right now.

It would only make him cry, and he couldn't do that, not even if his leader bawled his eyes out.

%%%%

The Commander sat in his bunk, re-reading the series he had so often come to know and love. He wondered what was going on out there, in the wilderness. Were there changelings trying to find their way home. Changelings who didn't have the pleasure of just being accepted. Changelings fighting for their lives. Changelings getting tossed into dungeons. Changelings disguising themselves in order to stay hidden, having to make up stories on the spot. Changelings who were unsure who was who, unable to trust a fellow member to have their back. Did Reflect Fury have someone to watch his back. And what of his friends?

The Commander didn't need to imagine that right now, his battalion was slowly tearing itself apart. And he couldn't do a thing about it.

Another reference to an amazing fan-fic out there. I'm sure by now all of you know which one it is. A bit rushed, but this may be the last chapter for now as the next week is considerably busy. Take care for now though :) and comment at the bottom when you reach this message!

Edit: http://www.fimfiction.net/story/23224/Smoke-and-Mirrors

For the answer as to the story this chapter is dedicated to, it is Smoke and Mirrors by TeaPartyCannon.

A really great read that I would recommend.