"Hey, hey you there," Reflect called out, his hooves leaning over the grating.

The colt lifted his head from the pages of his book, a look of irritation painted over his neatly groomed face. This was the second time the changeling had called for him. Under normal circumstances, the colt would have simply gotten a club and smacked the creature silly. But alas, it would likely earn the guard a suspension and cut in his salary.

"What do you need," the guard uttered gruffly, his voice surprisingly under control.

Reflect grinned from under the bars, his fangs glinting in the feeble lamp set aside in the corner of the cramped lobby. "I'm starving here and I was wondering if you had any love nearby."

If Clyde was here, he would probably just swing the door open, beat the creature inside to a pulp, close the door, and resume doing...well...whatever it was Clyde did. However, Clyde was busy doing patrol in the Everfree with the local guards stationed from Canterlot. Celestia knows he's dying for some action the colt thought grimly. After heaving a sigh, he promised the prisoner he would see what he could do.

Mags was still reading her pamphlet as the guard trotted past, unaware of anything but the words staring her right in the eyes. She had been in this diminutive establishment the longest, even before Clyde arrived. Not much was known about her, other then the stitched name tag that displayed her name and the wooden sign at the top of the desk that read her occupation in faded, white letters.

"Going to get some food for our "guests" Mags," the colt called out. Sure enough, Mags, paid no heed to his comment.

You wonder what goes on in her head the colt thought with an equally irritated scowl. He walked out into the cold, brisk air of a bustling night. Here and there, ponies were pushing past each other to reach the refuge that their cozy homes provided. Warm fireplaces, steaming cups of coca, and the lemonade laying discarded on a painted counter. This was summer after all, but still, the air felt as frigid and lifeless as death itself.

The guard marched through the gusts of wind, the gingerbread house rising above like a lighthouse beacon, beckoning ships to come and dock. Opening the door, the guard felt the heat radiate over his body, melting the cold's grasp on his coat like butter. And there, buzzing over a counter, was no pony other then Pinkie Pie.

The frizzy mane was still as energetic as the rest of the demeanor that the pony displayed. Looking around him, he could see that, other then the few patrons that came everyday, the bakery was relatively peaceful at the moment. Apparently, few had dared to brace the wind in order to tantalize their taste buds with some nice, freshly-baked concotions.

"Hey there Miss Pie," the colt said in a surly voice.

The pink pony gave off a grin as wide as a barn and as shiny as a new sword. "Hi there, what brings a guard like you to Sugarcube Corner?"

"Just needed to pick up a few pastries and whatever you have that's under fifteen bits or less," the guard said, his mouth fighting the wave of saliva that threatened to spill at the sight of all those beautiful, scrumptious cakes, pies, and donuts.

"Sure," the pink pony picked a random assortment from the display and tossed the bag gingerly by the counter. "That should be ten bits and I'm sure you could feed everyone at the station with that amount!"

"Much appreciated Miss. Pie," the guard dropped ten bits on the counter, and put the other five into a jar brimming in gold. The mare smiled once more and waved a good night to the colt as he braced himself for the uncoming onslaught ahead.

The wind felt like billions of needles puncturing his skin, but eventually he made it to the yellow-bricked structure that was the jail. Clyde had always wanted to improve upon the design, hoping that one day the mayor would take notice that making the jail look so cozy gave off the wrong impression on adolescents.

Guess he'll have to deal with it until he finally decides to retire.

%%%%

The Commander laid in his cot, bored out of his mind as he stared at the ceiling,. Reflect was somewhere else, apparently using his pillow as a punching bag, before eventually plopping down on the mattress, his snores audible throughout the entire room. He couldn't help but wonder how there were changelings like him and Reflect. Most changelings would be devoting their loyalty to the queen, become experts at their trade, and work for the benefit of the hive. Yet, there were always those synthetic changelings that were rebellious at first, but then again they were once something else in the past. The Commander had always been a changeling, right from his initial birth, and yet there were some synthetic changelings that easily outdid him in everything.

What skills did he have? Athletics. Pfft. I would always hide from the ball. Language. Oh my gosh the best I can say is hello to Griffins, and that'll just get me killed. Problem solving. Why solve it when you can just flee. Combat. Swish Swish Stab Stab. Oh, what about intelligence. I'm pretty sure they took pity on my grade before giving it to me.

All his life, he had been a disgrace to his own people. His own swarm. His own queen. His only family. It was funny how he thought about all this while looking up at a ceiling in a jail cell. As if it held the answers to his problems. Well, it at least got him thinking.

The dull thud of the door stirred the sleeping Reflect awake, his eyes scanning the dungeon for the source of the noise.With a yawn, the changeling flew over to the grating at the door, where the stern face of the colt appeared, a brown paper bag tucked tightly in his mouth.

"What's this?" Reflect Fury called out groggily. His stomach made an involuntary growl as he stared at the guard, as if he was expecting some sort of delivery. The guard, however, merely shrugged and slid the bag in.

"It's dinner, made with the finest love you'll ever find in Ponyville."

It might as well have been prison food as the changeling's eyes retorted to a scowl. Reflect knew very well what food was, and he was expecting it the moment that guard walked up to him. The fact that he had the nerve to just bring simple, petty pastries made his blood boil. "Are you an idiot or are you making a special effort today? Because I don't know about you, but I am pretty furious right about now." The guard merely shrugged and continued to walk on.

"You carrot-loving-filly-of-a-Kangarrrrrooooooo!" he howled.

The guard merely closed the grating and trotted off, leaving the changeling to spit and utter a volley of swears in every language he knew, including some taught to him by a rabbit. Eventually, Reflect saw that his words were having little to no effect on the colt. He slumped to the floor, his eyes looking dismal as the wind howled over the roof, scraping it with each passing blow.

"Hey Commander," he said as he nudged his leader, "Did you like, develop a pony stomach or something?"

"No," the Commander muttered irritably, his book now on his chest as he eyed his fellow roommate, "I just feel too bored to do anything of substantial value."

"Well great, because we're all going to starve pretty soon and before we do, I am going to bash your head against the wall until I manage to knock some sense in that skull of yours"

The Commander merely went back to reading his book, the cover covering his face. He was re-reading the key moment where Daring Do was being chased by a group of bandits on the Pony Express. And just at the pinnacle moment, Reflect had to find a way to make small talk.

"Say," he mused thoughtfully, "Why don't you tell me about the high caste system eh?"

The Commander gulped, for he knew next to nothing about this. It was a truth he didn't like to admit, for he had technically been to an orientation party after his sudden promotion. In fact, there was one changeling that he remembered crystal clear...

The General was in deep discussion with him, the green chandelier above giving off an eerie mist that clung to the ground and slithered in and out of the holes of their hooves. The newly-appointed Commander was standing stiff, his eyes wandering to and fro as another changeling adorning identical armor came up to him.

"Enjoying yourself...Commander," the other changeling uttered, his voice hanging onto the last word as if it was inconceivable.

"Ahhh yes,...General, was it Iron?" The Commander had been introduced to so many chiefs he had nearly forgotten all their names. The General merely seemed to raise an eye, his mouth holding in whatever sentence he was going to say next.

"It's General Carbon," he replied, a hint of malice in his voice, "Not like I told you the last twenty times."

"Oh come off it General, I think your name is rather...interesting." The Commander was trying hard to stifle the giggle threatening to erupt from his larynx. The truth was that he found the idea of a General named Carbon to be so utterly ridiculous that it was almost amusing.

"One of these days, Commander, one of these days..." General Carbon muttered under his breath as he stomped off towards another group, leaving the changeling to laugh his bottom off.

As the "party" continued, a changeling wearing emerald shades hopped onto a pedestal and with a green poof of the odd mist, there was a column of gargantuan speakers, fashioned to resemble the stalactites commonly found in the hive. Although, this was quite...well...oversized.

There was a chorus of cheers as changelings took off with their wings fluttering like moths on a pleasant warm evening. They twisted and turned, performing aerobatic maneuvers in split-second intervals, their hearts pumping in sync with the fast-paced rhythm of the music.

The Commander merely watched from his position, his eyes lingering on each twirl and spin. That was when he felt a hoof on his shoulder. Swiveling his head, he saw before him a relatively minute changeling, her head barely reaching his chest. Her eyes were large, yet mysterious, as if the icy complexion was a blanket, with every secret snuggled in-between. Her expression was curious, as if not quite sure of what to make of this character before her.

"Hello there, I am the newly-appointed...Commander?" The Commander felt as if the words he was about to say were somehow, yet, unquestionably, lost in the depths of his subconscious. Her gaze was calming, with a hint of lethality that could be set off at any moment.

"I've heard of you before, Commander," the changeling chirped, though her stare spoke of suspicion, "you seem...well...different."

After what seemed like an hour, the changeling sighed inwardly as she lifted her hoof to take his in. "How about a dance? It seems like all the joint-chiefs here are taking a break from their duties."

The Commander managed to croak an 'ok' before he was entrapped in her hooves, their wings fluttering up to the green chandelier. To say she didn't know dance was to say the Commander could memorize every changeling's names well before they actually talked to him. She was extravagant, her hooves moving with no thought of stopping to rest. The Commander could only grasp feebly to her shell as they twisted into the air, each delicate move setting off a nerve in his body.

"You haven't danced before, have you Commander?" she said as they spun in a 360 degree twirl.

He was at a lost of words as his whole body became entranced by her stare. "I...I don't pay much attention to those sort of things. Was never really...ummmm...good at it."

Apparently these words set off a muscle contraction on the changeling's lips, forming a gentle smile. She grabbed onto his fore hooves, the flow of movement now halted abruptly as she began to slowly move her hooves to the base of the music. "Simply, follow this and move your hooves in accordance Commander." She gestured with her own. The Commander attempted, but his limbs merely tied themselves together. The changeling merely laughed and asked him to try it again. In the end, he still didn't get it, his hooves tripping other leaders or even his own partner. But after a while, he began to experiment and create his own moves, much to the amusement of the changeling.

The dance continued for another hour or so before it subsided in a soft hum. The joint-chiefs hissed approvingly at the musician, complementing him on his melodies and radical upbeats. The Commander merely settled down on the floor, his partner landing with a soft thud.

"Dancing isn't for anyone, but I wouldn't say you did too terrible," she chirped. It was amazing how she could do that.

The Commander still felt his hooves shaking, as if he couldn't quite control it yet. The truth was that he didn't know what to expect. He had never gotten to meet other changelings, due to him being an outcast and all. I wasn't that he was physically, or notably, different. He had been born with good health, but somehow, his behavior was just...abnormal in sorts. His inability to learn new skills and his terrible puns usually got him stuck with the outcasts, who either ended up in special care or just vanished. The fact that any changeling would try to sound nice to him was enough to make him believe he had been kidnapped and transferred to a different dimension. "I can't thank you enough for the lesson."

"I'm glad I could help," she said warmly, "well I guess I should let you meet the rest of the staff. You will of course, need to talk to the joint chiefs and so forth with the other ranks."

"Ummmm right." The Commander still couldn't fit the changeling before him to all the burly, muscular specimens around him.

"May I ask how a changeling like yourself ended up in a party for the high command?" he asked timidly.

She merely chuckled, her wings folding protectively against her carapace. "That's quite simple Commander, I'm the High-General, glad you enjoyed the party." And with his mouth gaping, he watched as the High General trotted off down a chamber.

From then on, however, he rarely saw her during the pre-invasion set-up. Whenever he asked as to the whereabouts of the said changeling, they would only murmur something about "being busy on another mission." He could only gaze up from the little hole in his new chamber to gaze at the stars dreamily, picturing heroic moments yet to come and the glory that he would receive towards the end of this invasion.

The Commander had been day-dreaming, or just dreaming since it was night, when Reflect slapped the bag in front of his face. Swearing under his breath, the Commander glared at him with a look of pure malice. The changeling simply repeated his question.

"What do you know about the higher caste system?"

"About as much as you do." he admitted, shielding his reddened face from the gaping roommate before him.

"HOW CAN YOU BE A COMMANDER AND NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE MILITARY!" Reflect shouted," YOU'RE BASICALLY SECOND IN COMMAND YOU IDIOT!"

"Well the Queen didn't exactly teach me strategy when I was promoted you know," the Commander argued, "I didn't even get to meet the other chiefs and what-not."

"And she..." Reflect trailed off as he pondered what this meant. "Does this mean she hated everyone under your command too?"

"No," the Commander assured, " I think she wanted just one changeling to die in that invasion and that was me."

"Why would she do that?"

"Cause I am as much a mutant as those hatchlings you see disappear at night. I'm just a....just a...." He couldn't find the words for what he was. How could any changeling or pony find the words to describe him. "...I'm just...different."

Reflect's mouth to drooped over, as if it was unsure of what would be the proper answer or reply to this. The truth was that he had seen a mutant before, some with no wings and some with no horn and some with no legs. They were imperfect by changeling standards, but out of all those, he only saw a few ever actually make it to adulthood. Where the other changelings are...it was up to each changeling's imagination.

Upon seeing Fury's blank stare, the Commander went back to reading his book. At least in books, the good guys always won. Well, was he a good guy? The Commander would like to think so, but in reality...was it really a conquest to be proud of? He liked to think so, but sometimes he wondered whether or not the hive was becoming desperate. Maybe it was better that he was in a cell instead of out there, having to live his life with a disguise.

That was when he heard the burp. Arching his head, he turned to see Reflect Fury leaning on a wall, the crumbs of a devoured cream-filled pastry occupying his lips.

"Why, what in the name of all that is good are you doing Reflect?" the Commander called out, is eyes wide at the changeling's turn of behavior.

"Just eating Commander," the changeling burped, "dear Chrysalis, this stuff is good, why hadn't I tried this before? It's...filling."

"Give me that," the Commander snatched one of the cream-filled treats from the bag and chewed. Instantly, he was filled with the warm filling of love, mixed with the exotic taste of the pastry. To say it was like eating a bite of paradise was clearly an understatement. The Commander could only plop on his stomach. the pastry had sent a rush of energy into his body, and he was sure he would fall into a coma if he ate anymore.

For about an hour, the two roommates simply sat in their respective postions, taking in the aroma still wafting from the bag. The Commander slowly rose out of his trance, nudging his partner.

"What?" Reflect called out dreamily.

"I think I'm in love with food." The Commander began to giggle, and soon the two of them cackled madly, to the point where they began to cough. All the colt could do is sigh from his stool as he continued with his book. I get them food and this is how they repay me? Who knew that the saying "baked with lots of love" would actually have a literal meaning to it!

"You know, Commander," Reflect said, "I think I like you."

The Commander had his tongue out, his mouth panting like a dog out of water. The colors on the ceiling were forming rainbows, even a triple rainbow, over his head, as cats with the bodies of pastries, farted those said rainbows. To say it was disturbing was a complement.

"What?" the Commander finally called out, his eyes still glued onto the ceiling.

"I said I like you Commando Annoying.You may be a queer, but hey, your'e not half bad. You got something that I don't have. What's it called...nerve....no.....I don't know but whatever it is, it makes you stand out." Reflect went back to staring at the same, rainbow-covered, ceiling ahead, not much willing to do anything else at the moment. The rainbows were now forming long bands, and soon those bands divided into multiple bands.

"Double rainbow..." Reflect called out, his eyes widening as the rainbows continued to multiply.

"All the way..." the Commander replied. He could see felines shoot across the sky like rockets, their bodies composed of the sweet pastry and their exhausts shooting out more rainbows. Soon he saw other creatures, and...random sayings popped up into his mind. He saw the Princess who had convicted him a day earlier, except that her face was contorted, giving off a sly grin that made his brain sizzle in hatred.

"You Trollestia..." he tried to yell, but it came out as a whisper. The face, however, morphed back into the Princess's normally regal stature, although the apparent difference was that she was eyeing him like a cup of irresistible tea. Then she bended down so that they were eye to eye, before giving off a grin. "Gotcha."

"Nooooooooooo..." he wailed as he, and apparently Reflect too, latched onto each other.

The horrors didn't end there. Both changeling watched in horror as odd shapes and pictures appeared before them, showing ponies turning into trees, and weird, two legged monsters landing in fields and homes, with knowledge about...well...everything there is to know about Equestria.

There were romances playing before them, showing mares with mares, and as much as they wanted it to stop, both the Commander and Reflect Fury were forced to watch all of it. It was...torturous to say the least.

Then they got to the part where the word "Cupcakes" was repeated over and over again. And a pink pony in an odd costume walked in, a chisel in one hoof and a saw in another, her hair straight as she chanted the words again and again. All the two changelings could do was hold tightly onto each other, their eyes shut.

"Make it stop! Make it stop!" Reflect was on the verge of tears.

"She's gonna eat you!" the Commander cried, "and then she's gonna to eat me! OH MY SWAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRMMMMM!!!"

The pink pony continued her trot to their position when there was a flash of light and everything, including the dungeon, were replaced by a landscape of towering columns of steel. A little brown box stood discarded on a large, grey sidewalk. One of the two legged creatures came over, opened the box, and pulled out a rainbow-maned filly that the Commander instantly recognized as the Element of Loyalty.

They watched all 15 years pass by, and towards the end, they were on the verge of bawling their heads off. They saw stories of change and of redemption. There was even one with Queen Chrysalis herself.

And then, the light flashed them back to the dungeon, where even now, the rainbows were fading. Eventually, both changelings felt there eyes grow heavy, and soon, the sounds of snoring kept the repulsive spiders at bay.

%%%%

Thresh stood at the edge of a cliff, his fedora tucked gently to his side. A breeze was blowing against the tide, its soft, gentle movements animating the stiff, rigid grass and tea-leaf trees. His eyes wandered among the hills below, the tiny town ahead twinkling like a fallen star. The rustle of the leaves was enough to alert him of her presence.

"A bit early for a changeling who wants to suffer for the hive..." he warned the intruder.

"I figured she would send you Thresh, you were always the best at this type of job," a soft voice said casually.

Thresh raised a brow, "Why'd you come here?"

"My associate found your little gang hiding here in the bushes."

Thresh merely chuckled, knowing exactly how these changelings worked. "Then I suppose a changeling whose up there like yourself should know the price on all your little heads."

This seemed to follow with a long pause that stretched until the sky above was tinted with a violet-red, the pink clouds floating like cotton candy in the distance. It was soothing, relaxing almost to say the least. Already, the town below was as illuminated as a fallen stone.

"Maybe you would rather keep your slander to yourself."

"And maybe you would rather mind your own business."

"You know what I can offer you." Her voice was just so calm, it was now causing Thresh's ears to twitch.

"Alright then High General," Thresh began in his own casual tone, "whose the lucky guy?"

%%%%

With a yawn, the colt woke up to find both changelings fast asleep, their snores bouncing off the walls. It was amusing to watch after a while. From here, they seemed almost...like two best friends after a party. Once again the colt wondered if it was really that bad. He didn't like to think so, but the more and more he thought about it, the less and less he despised his prisoners.

The Commander awoke with a yawn, finding the hallucinations of the past to be long gone. With a sigh of relief, he nudged his partner awake. This was clearly the worst move he could do as Reflect Fury awoke with a stare, leaping into the air and nearly karate-chopping the Commander. After about a second of realization that he was back in reality, the changeling breathed a sigh of relief.

"Well I feel completely rejuvenated," Reflect said as he leaned over a wall, taking in the beam of sunlight.

"Looks like we can get back to..." but the Commander's voice trailed off. What was there to do? He had finished the Daring Doo books that he missed, and re-reading all the old ones wouldn't be the same. He supposed he could try making small talk with Reflect Fury, but that would likely end in disaster rather then success.

That was when he heard the sound of the door creaking, and the sing-song voice of a pony vibrating around the room. Another voice also permeated from the room, one that was soft and gentle. Both were barely audible through the door, but somehow, they sounded familiar.

That was when the realization hit him as his eyes widened in fear. Celestia was about to unleash her punishment.

%%%%

"Ummm excuse me, but if it's ok to ask, is-is he awake?" Fluttershy asked timidly, her eyes darting from Pinkie's smile to the grimace on the guard's face. It was only for a second though, as the solemn posture was morphed into a playful grin. Fluttershy felt relief pour through her as the guard she recognized from Sugarcube Corner led them to the cell.

"Of course, I think I heard them yawning so they should be ready for the day."

She and Pinkie had been assigned to try and teach the strange changeling some manners and well...friendship. Already, the thoughts of the changeling sleeping in her cottage, a wanted fugitive, created a minor headache over her head. She knew that changeling was nice, but she wasn't so sure about this one. He had seemed rather rude, but not too evil. She was glad Pinkie was here to do most of the talking.

"Can we have some alone time with Mr. Grumpypants?" Pinkie asked the guard in her sing-song voice.

"Certainly Ms. Pie." the guard replied with a courteous nod before he stepped out through the red doors outside. Mags rose out of her seat, the dust that had collected over the centuries landing on the floor. There was the sound of the bathroom door closing and now...the two mares had the entire dungeon to themselves. But before they even managed to make a second step, the colt's head slipped in through the front door.

"Be careful though," he warned, "I think they got some sort of animal overdoes off those treats I bought last night."

"Oki Doki Loki," Pinkie chimed in her sing-song tone.

"Ummmm...do we just...ummm...go in?" Fluttershy looked at the door and felt a rush reach her heart. This was getting unbearable.

"Yeah, just right in, I will make sure that they don't try any funny business." and with that the guard slipped back out the door.

With a deep breath, both she and Pinkie made their way to the wooden door. Anticipation flooded Fluttershy's mind. What if the changeling wasn't like Mirror? What if he was one of the meaner types. He had seemed pretty awful during the short trial. Come to think of it, he was technically the first changeling to ever be captured and imprisoned. Maybe Mirror may have even know him. She would ask her later. With a heave of her chest, she and Pinkie opened the door.

%%%%

For a moment, the two parties just stared at each other. Reflect was the first to speak. This would evidently be a big mistake, as Reflect Fury was about the last changeling you would ever want to have as an opening speaker.

"I know you two," he said suspiciously, "your'e the..." and his eyes widened in bewilderment. "You two were part of that gang that beat us to a pulp back in Canterlot!"

With a flurry of speed, the changeling raced towards the group, his hooves set into attack position. However, a blue flash of light appeared the moment the changeling was within a few inches. And in the next instant, the changeling was flying backwards, into a wall.

"Reflect!" the Commander shouted as he ran to the aid of his fellow roommate. With a groan, Reflect rose back up on all fours, ready to pounce when the Commander stood in front of him. With a grunt, he tried the other way, but the Commander simply moved in front of him once more.

"What's your problem?" he growled at the armored brother before him.

"They're here because of my punishment," the Commander clarified, "and on top of that, we have no right to start causing a fight. They surely haven't raised any hooves at us have they?"

This gets Reflect to think about it for a while, before just giving a hiss of disapproval, mumbling something about the Commander being weird and brainwashed. With a sigh, the Commander turned to face the pair with an apologetic smile. "Terribly sorry about that, Reflect and I....have had some difficulty adjusting to our present conditions. He was ,after all, hiding from..."

"You!" Reflect Fury pointed a hoof towards the pink pony with the frizzy mane, " You're the one who pointed me out back at the library!" However, his scowl soon turned to bewilderment. "How...How did you know?"

The pink pony merely giggled before explaining. "I didn't know, I am really-super-uber-sorry about that by the way. You did a good job disguising yourself, but...well...I needed a distraction and I just happened to point my pinkie hoof at you Mr. Grumpypants."

"Figures..." Reflect muttered under his breath.

With a sigh, he managed to squeak his own apology for the events that took place earlier, although the Commander wondered if that was in all essence true. He knew Reflect too well to know that this changeling rarely apologized for anything.

"Sooooooo..." the Commander mused, "I'm guessing your'e all here to teach me a lesson on friendship or something like that?"

"Yep," the pink pony pronounced, "and by the way, my name's Pinkie Pie and this is my good quiet-never-hurt-a-fly friend Fluttershy!"

"Nice to meet you," the Commander extended his hoof. Surprisingly, both ponies didn't hesitate. Their eyes were warm and welcoming, a major difference from the night when he had to face them during his trial. And how long ago was that? The Commander couldn't recall. For all he knew, it was a week ago.

"So, let's teach you how to live with ponies!" Pinkie Pie bounced up and down in genuine excitement.

"And how are you going to do that?" the Commander asked.

"By taking you out to Ponyville of course! You and that Grumpypants right there can help me bake in Sugarcube Corner! Oh it's going to be so much fun! I'm going to have a party all set up later on and I want to make sure its the best-super-most-scrumptious party ever!"

Reflect's jaw dropped open and the Commander was sure he had nearly fainted. These two were taking him out of prison! Literally! Why, the thought of being away from all these nasty spiders was enough to get him in a jubilant dance, that was rather terrible in the eyes of Reflect Fury, who didn't hesitate to call him out.

"Well," the Commander said, his voice filled with the fervor of freedom, "let's get started shall we?"

%%%%

The colt flanking their side, the two changelings trotted to the bakery in broad daylight, drawing heads and causing a few outcries to surface. But other then the occasional dirty look given to them, the day was splendid and both changelings just took in the sun. It was warm as the breeze blew through their shells, massaging their outer surfaces and taking away whatever ailments plagued them.

Since he was in a good mood, the Commander decided to make small talk with the yellow pegasus who had been quiet for the duration of the trip.

"What's your talent?" the Commander asked, "if, of course, you don't mind my asking."

Fluttershy gave the tiniest of smiles. The Commander wasn't that bad of a changeling. Sure, he seemed mean at first, but he did defend her and Pinkie Pie. Maybe he just had good and bad moments. A lot of the animals in her cottage did.

"Oh no Mr. Commander, I don't mind at all. I just ummmm, take care of the creatures in Everfree forest."

"Well that's nice, maybe we could visit your cottage, I've always wanted to see the other indigenous life forms in this region. The Queen never let me though."

"Oh ummmm, actually, it's kinda of crowded..." Fluttershy dropped her head. What was she thinking?

"Oh okay, well can't ask for too much with this colt around..." he gestured his head to the guard escorting them.

She didn't know why, but the tone of his voice and the way he said it caused her to give off a tiny chuckle. Maybe, sometime in the future, she would let him visit her cottage. But she would need to clear it with Mirror first. After all, it could end in disaster if the leader of the invasion found out that she was hiding one of his own from him.

The sun was high over the sky, its beams dancing off buildings and trees. The cottages reflected these beams with their vibrant patterns and shades of blue, green, orange, and red. A chestnut-colored gingerbread house loomed over the corner and the party trudged right in.

"Okay," Pinkie began, her voice taking on a more serious tone when they got inside, "I need Commander and Reflect to go and take care of the cupcakes. Fluttershy and me will handle the cake. And..." she gestured to the colt.

"And I will stand in front of the entrance, making sure no one enters or disturbs the recreational baking period for Prisoner 1 and Prisoner -1," the guard replied in a stern voice, though he couldn't manage to keep a straight face all the way through.

"Alrighty, let's get baking!"

Before the two changelings, was a counter organized with silver pots, trays, bags of flour, and a cook book laid neatly on a shelf, the page already opened to a mouth-watering cupcake recipe. Shedding off his armor, the Commander tied an apron behind his back.

"Your'e seriously going to wear an apron?" Reflect asked.

"Yes, and you should too," the Commander stated as he donned a white chef's hat.

Reflect merely shrugged, declared that he wasn't a sissy, and grabbed a pot and spoon to begin stirring the batter. The Commander grabbed a bucket of water and pulled out a bag of sugar from the cupboard. As the two prepared, they could already see Pinkie Pie bouncing around her side of the kitchen, singing something that had to deal with a recipe as she stirred there and mixed two eggs here.

"Well," the Commander said, his hooves rubbing against each other in anticipation, "let the baking...commence!"

%%%%

Changelings were never bakers in the hive, for they had no need of the skill other then for a cover. So, when Reflect and the Commander were forced to work together, the results turned...rather disastrous.

"What do you mean I don't put salt here," Reflect shouted, "it says it right here under the cook book!"

"That's the recipe for salted peanuts you dimwit!" the Commander spat back.

In a few seconds, pots, pans, and batter covered the surface of every cabinet and counter, the cook book now lost in the mess. The Commander's clothing was becoming stained

"I'm pretty sure it said to stir until the batter is smooth," Reflect said, his hooves tapping as he tried to remember what the book had instructed.

"Smooth? Have you seen the bowl?" the Commander gestured to the bubbling, blob of dough now resting in the once spotless pot.

-----------

Reflect was punching the eggs to cinders, much to the dismay of the chocolate covered Commander.

"You're suppose to beat the eggs with an eggbeater, "the Commander howled, "not actually beat it with your buckin' hooves!"

"Well I'm sorry," Fury hissed sarcastically, "but the book didn't exactly divulge that information in the FIRST PLACE!"

--------

The batter finally looking fairly normal, the changelings filled the tray and placed it in the oven.

"What was the time they said again?" the Commander inquired.

"I think they said we need to turn the heat up by 20% and let it run for 300 minutes." Reflect responded.

Setting the dial, the changelings waited for 300 minutes, only for the oven to explode in a gooey mess of rainbow colored batter. However, the cook book was revealed under a set of dishes and after re-reading the recipe, the two found out that it was actually 30 minutes and that the dial had to be set to 20% cooler.

"Well that's just great!" Reflect thrashed his limbs in the air. After about a minute of swearing, the changeling fell to the floor, his hope drained out from his body. "This is pointless." he hissed under his breath.

"Oh get up you pitiful sack of flower-encrusted cocoon," the Commander spat.

Reflect instant jumped back in shock. In all his time with the changeling, he had never heard the Commander swear before. Well, if the Commander wasn't willing to give up, then he wouldn't either. His eyes now set on the goal of making the best cupcakes this side of Equestria, he gestured to his leader.

"Where's that extra apron, Commander?"

-------

Pinkie squealed in delight at the steaming trays of chocolate-covered cupcakes. Their symmetry was spot on and their surface was smooth, to the point where it almost looked like you could see yourself in them. However, the same couldn't be said about the changelings.

The Commander was covered horn to hoof in chocolate, and Reflect Fury had burnt singes on his side, his chef's hat sizzling at the top. However, despite their rather disheveled appearance, the two changeling's wore a look of pride on their faces. To her, the smiles on their faces was enough to say that her job here with them was done.

"These cupcakes look marvelous!' she said.

"And they tase marvelous too," Reflect added. He had been doubtful to tasting any of Pinkie's treats, but it turned out that cupcakes, along with a few other goodies, were actually unable to produce hallucinogens that could have profound effects on changelings. The guard had walked in during all this to sniff the aroma, his mouth beginning to drool uncontrollably.

"Mind if I take some samples?" he asked.

"Why certainly!" the pink pony held out a tray as the colt collected a bag to store his treasure.Staring inside, it was as if his face was alighted by the sun.

(Click here and read with background)%%%%(For the moment...)

Both changelings left Sugarcube with newfound energy. The cupcakes were just as major an energy booster as the pastries. As they trotted back to the prison, Reflect gave the Commander a high-hoof.

"That's for teaching them how to bake changeling style," Reflect said, "You may just have it in you to be a captain. Maybe...just maybe though."

The Commander laughed and gave his fellow brother a nudge in the side. They went with this antics as the sun settled over the horizon. It was, for once, a good day to say the least. A day where there was fewer arguments and where they had found something to do. The brown dirt rising with each step. The majestic mountains casting off their shadows on distant plains. The sound of fillies playing and of music ringing in the air. It was a time of peace, a time of hope.

As they got to the yellow-bricked building that was to be their home, the Commander noted that a large brown prison cart was stationed out front. It bore the Equestrian flag on its side, and two unfamiliar guards were leaning over its edge, making small talk.

"Looks like we got another roommate?" the Commander hissed to his partner.

"Maybe..." Reflect agreed.

Both changelings continued their pace, passing the guards who gave them unfriendly stares. As the double doors opened, Clyde and another, larger stallion were leaning over the desk, where Mags had apparently wandered off to find another book to last the next millenium.

"What's going on here Clyde," the colt asked as he looked around the room, "did we get a new prisoner?"

Clyde gave a grunt and motioned for the colt to come towards him. With a sigh, he left the two changelings outside, a brown aura covering the doors as they folded shut. Now, with only Mags and the other guard as company, the colt gave the warden a confused look. "What's going on Clyde?"

"The message came today," Clyde began, "it appears Celestia wants to have the trial in Canterlot."

For a moment, the colt felt a shiver up his body. He knew that Clyde would give the changeling a trial, but it was expected that he would have the trial here, just like the Commander. The fact that Celestia was showing considerable interest in a minor drone made him suspect that there was something much deeper in the meaning of this simple request.

"The wagon's set up, we're taking him tonight." Clyde sighed inwardly. "I don't know what's going on but I swear when I get there I'm going to find out."

The colt raised a brow, "You're going with them?"

Clyde merely nodded. "Sure am, I ain't letting nopony take my prisoner from me."

But as Clyde made his way to the door, the pegasus colt lifted a wing to stop him. "Wait, at least let them say goodbye."

Clyde eyed his subordinate suspiciously, as if waiting for him to flash green. However, he finally shrugged and said the colt could break the news, but that they have only a minute before the moon rose. Opening the door, he found the two changelings standing side by side, commander and drone, like two soldiers saluting the flag.

"Come in." he gestured to the cell.

They followed without question, entering the large wooden door that had been their barrier from civilization. The dungeon was as gloomy as ever, the unkept walls cold and grey. The scuttling of spiders from corner to corner, and the feeble moonlight now beginning to enter the window. After taking in a deep breath, the colt began.

"You know how Clyde promised that he would give your changeling friend a trial once he came to consciousness?"

The Commander nodded his head. Reflect merely shrugged in agreement. "What about it?"

"He's going to keep that promise," the colt began slowly, before finally admitting the news. "and that means you have to go to Canterlot."

It took a while for the words to sink in. The walls curved inwards, as if entrapping the trio in a wicked embrace. At first the Commander thought it was a joke, but then again, the guard wasn't stern nor cheerful. He was...sad. The fact that he saw this on a pegasus who was to show no emotion made his outer shell shiver. This guard wasn't fabricating another tall tale.

Reflect seemed to understand a second after. For a moment, he wobbled to the left, but then managed to straighten himself back up with his wings. His eyes showed no anger or no joy. The happiness that had been in them was replaced with something else. Could it be...fear?

"I'll leave you two some time to say goodbye," and with that the pegasus flew out the door, leaving them to regard each other's presence for the final time.

"I'm sure I can get an acquittal," Reflect assured his new-friend, "no prison can hold me sir."

But the assurance was more for himself then for the Commander. He knew that his fellow changeling would be convicted. Then, he would be sent to the Canterlot Dungeon, where they kept all the other, larger, war prisoners. What if they refused to let him have the casserole they served on Wednesdays? Or what if he was banished to Tartarus? Surely, even that was too harsh a punishment to bestow on a simple drone.

"Reflect..." the Commander said, his voice shaking, "do...do take care fo yourself."

The changeling gave a small smile and laid his hoof over the shoulder of the Commander.

"You may be a queer," he elicited, his vocal cords choking,",but hey, your'e family."

The changeling sighed before continuing, "I lost some good mates in that invasion. Ones that I hope to see again. You may be insane to go on this quest of yours, saving the battalion and what not, but regardless of what, I hope you actually do it. You were, after all, the best prisoner a mate could ask..." but he never finished before he was interrupted by a half-sob, half-laugh.

"Come here you resin-secreted blowhole," and the Commander raised his hooves to latch onto the changeling. For a good ten seconds, they just stood there, in an embrace not made of love or sadness, but of friendship. The knock on the door indicated that it was time for Reflect to part.

"They're waiting for you," the colt said nervously.

Taking in a deep breath, Reflect gave one last confident, reassuring, glance at his commander and trotted off. The colt folded a wing protectively around his body, as if shielding the tears that would surely follow. But as the door closed, the Commander did not shed a single tear. Even as the groans and creaks of the cart faded into nothingness, the changeling just sat there, in his corner.

The moon was still shining down, looking as cheerful and radiant as ever. It made the Commander think of the princess at his trial. At how she was going to be there in Canterlot. Oh how he hated her so.

"It's your fault he's going there!" he howled at the beam of white light, tears streaming out of his eyes. "You are the reason Reflect is never going to see the light of day again."

He fell to his knees, his mouth gagging as he tried to cry, but no sound came out. Only the tears came, and they began to create tiny puddles on the grime-covered interior that was his prison. His thoughts drifted off to all the countless creatures that had been converted into changelings. Ponies, griffins, zebras, diamond dogs, and who knows what else. All of them, trapped in a cocoon as they began to change inside. Well, this prison was his cocoon. And they were changing him into what they wanted him to be. Broken.

After what felt like an eternity, the changeling drew enough courage to look back up at the moon, who seemed to shining down on him, caressing him in its warm glow. Maybe it wasn't her fault. Maybe...Reflect would end up in a better place. Maybe he would meet his friends and they would all live happily ever after.

He would like to think of it like that, but a changeling knew better. The words of Reflect echoed in his mind. You may be insane to go on this quest of yours, saving the battalion and what not, but regardless of what, I hope you actually do it. But he already knew he would never be able to do it. Never, would he be able to save the swarm.

"Looks like your right Reflect," he said in a disconcerted voice, "I am just a queer. A queer for thinking I could try and amount to anything. Maybe this is how it will end."

%%%%

"I better go and meet up with the wagon," Clyde said, " Celestia knows those foals will get lost in the dark."

The colt simply waved the warden a goodbye before attending to his own duties. Cleaning the bathroom, watering the plants, and reading a book. It was the same routine he had always done before and would continue to do. As he scrubbed the toilet, he thought of how he had first come to meet the Commander. He had been so self-confident, pompous, and a pain in the donkey. He still was, but now, he was a pitiful pain in the donkey and no guard wanted to deal with that. So, as he finished his chores, the colt pulled out a new book, one from an old child-hood favorite, and began to read.

No more noise came out of the cell. Whenever he checked, he saw the Commander sitting on his bed, his hoof leafing through the pages of a book he had re-read a dozen times. He had offered to get some other material, but the changeling insisted that few books ever got his attention. And so, for the remainder of the night and early morning, the changeling simply stared at his book, the ceiling, or even the moon.

As the colt sat on his stool, he looked out into the town ahead. So peaceful and cheerful as it was before, but still different in some way. The ponies more cautious, the guards more alert, the searches extending far into the night. Ever since the Royal Wedding ended, the town had been metamorphosing into something, and he had no idea of whether this change was for the better...or for the worst.