As I took Swift by his arms away from the Throne Room, I could see the hurt in his eyes as they stared at the passing stone flooring. He looked so lost and empty, as if he had the life sucked out of him. I closed my eyes, trying so hard to not stare, to not let the guilt seep in and hinder me. But here he was, the stallion that I have lied to, lost in my own hands.

"Why?" He asked in a somber tone. I dared not look at him as I could feel his eyes upon me, looking at me for an answer to his cry.

"Why didn't you tell me the truth Star? Wasn't I...wasn't I important enough, or was everything we had together just a lie?" His words stung like a venom spreading deep in my veins, burning me with increasing agony as my heart felt weak and heavy. I dared not look at him, I couldn't.

"I'm...sorry Swift. I wish I could have told you but..." I stopped, choking on my own words whilst containing this strange urge inside of me, so alien to me was this feeling welling up inside of me.

"But what Star? TELL ME!" He cried out, his tears streaming down his eyes as it soaked against the bangs draped against his increasingly reddened face. We came to the entrance of my chamber, a large dark-wood door standing in our way as I opened it without word, finding it more difficult to not break from his demanding eyes. I opened the door and stepped inside to a small room, a bed against the wall, a display stand where my armor and sword rest upon, a wardrobe with some clothing, and a tray with clear stones. As we crossed the threshold of my room, with Swift in my arms, I closed the door behind me as he turned to face me.

"Star! Please tell me!" He cried once more. I couldn't bare it no more, with tears streaming down my eyes as his voice pierced me once more like a dagger at my heart, I whipped around to face him and hollered.

"I WAS SCARED SWIFT!" He blinked a couple times, taken aback by my outburst as he was left speechless. I couldn't control the tears from streaming down from my eyes as I stared at him, slowly blinded by my own tears as I choked out.

"If I told you...wh-why I really came, why I was there when you met me, you would never look at me the same ever again. Your kind, you ponies, you've hurt my family and left us to starve, struggling to find a means to survive. You've taken from our kind and look at us with disgust and malice that we would at times come as disguise to try to survive. Until we've found these stones." I ran to my desk and grabbed a clear stone and raised it for him to see.

"We've been eating out of these things, barely able to cling on until this mountain became our home." I continued.

"Mountain?" He said. I nodded my head and replied.

"We took shelter where there were plenty of these stones and learned to grow them. They became our food stock. But we're running short of resources, our food supply is thinning out and we had no choice but to resort back to having love. But we were banished once more and our numbers are dwindling, all because of you ponies and your...your...YOUR SELFISHNESS." I threw the stone on the bed as it bounces, hits the wall with a CLANK before landing on the pillow. I was breathing heavily, seeing the fear in his eyes before my shoulders slumped.

"But then...I met you. A stallion coming to my aid. The absurdity of it, I was completely baffled to see such a thing, and...the way you treated me... you were so kind, so welcoming and it was so foreign to me, so different. I could feel my body welling up from just your kindness alone, your genuine taste eliciting my senses. Then you had to go and fall for me. You fell in love with Clear and then I began falling for you. You confused me, left me at a loss of what to do. Between my mission with my family, and finding something I felt...I would never have once again. But I thought it all being a farce, just you falling in love with an illusion. I thought you would leave me when you saw who I truly was. But you didn't. I curse you because you didn't because now...I'm suffering from doing this to you." My hand covered my face with quivering lips as I cried in my own palms. Knowing Swift was baring witness to my own weakness as I wiped the tears from my puffy eyes.

"I can't have you hurt now. I know you hate me Swift for what I've done and I'm so sorry. But you must stay here and be safe." I turned around and grabbed my armor and started fastening it onto my body, it's shell gleaming with a silver-black hue, with a tuft green elbow piece and neon blue trimmings and sheathing my Reverse Khopesh sword on my hip before making my way out with my helmet cradled in my arm. He only watched me with mouth slightly ajar and sadness enveloping his eyes as I looked at him mournfully.

"I love you Swift. Please... stay here where it's safe." I closed the door behind me and walked down the halls, slipping the helmet on my head as it covered my sadness and revealed the look of a terrifying creature, the Head Elite of the Queen's Changeling Army.

After walking for some time down into the dungeon halls, we came across a large wooden door. I looked beside me to face Rainbow Dash and Rarity respectively, their face adorned with hope that this may possibly be our way out of here. With a nod, we pressed forward as I rest my hands upon the wooden door, pushing it as it creaks eerily to find something none of us have ever expected as we gaze at marvel from the sight before us.

"Wh-what is this place?" I asked intrigued, as Rainbow Dash replied.

"I don't know but it looks so..."

"Beautiful." Rarity chimed as we gazed upon what appeared to be a town. It was more like a large village really, surrounded by a large black encasement with an opening revealing the sky at the very top, the village more stone based, yet not in a crude fashion, but rather with elegance or care as it's edges were smoothed to curves. The wooden doors have a mix of blue or purple glow to them, illuminate as even the fires that lit their lanterns around the town, glowing with a bright blue shine as it spreads around the containment.

Watching the inhabitants fluttering about, we noticed that changelings varying in different sizes were everywhere, coming out of their home dwellings, making trades as they exchanged strange purple crystals for resources or supplies, other changelings making more homes and expanding even what looked like little filly Changelings playing while their parents watched them. It actually looked just like a typical town, and it made me wonder so many questions, my mind being jumbled with confusion, curiosity, and understanding. It made me remember about the two changelings I fought off earlier, how they came and were looking for something in Rarity's own home.

"What could they have want to force them to take such actions?" I wondered to myself, making me question more and more the deeper I look into the town. But across the way, I noticed a large dwelling, a manor of some sort. Much like the houses around the town, it was very beautiful and compelling to the eyes of viewers.

"Okay, so we're in a town...infested with Changelings... WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO NOW!?" Rainbow Dash belted before I turned to her and grasped her mouth close with my own hands to restrain her from drawing their attention. I looked at her as she had an agitated look on her face as my hand pressed against her muzzle as I replied.

"Same as before, we get out of here. We need to find out where the exit is so we can get out of here and warn the rest of what is coming." They nodded their heads in understanding, slowly removing my hand from Rainbows lips before she asked.

"So how are we going to get that information? This is going to take forever. I mean look at us, we stick out like a sore thumb, and we can't just walk up to them and ask them either. So..."

"We're going to have to either find the exit ourselves or interrogate somepony to tell us. So...we need to slip by and find somepony to tell us." I suggested, looking around for any response or other opinions as nopony stated otherwise, but instead nodded in agreement.

"So let's head in, and...Rainbow?" I turned as Rainbow looked down at me from mid-hover.

"Yea? Whatsup?" Rainbow Dash responded.

"You're going to have to touch down and not fly for a bit. We need to be as quiet as possible." I stated, earning the look a child would give when things don't go their way. She crossed her arms and pouted.

"What's the big deal? I can fly quietly." She argued.

"Maybe, but you'll be even more quiet on hoof. It shouldn't be so bad, right?" I enforced as Rainbow rolled her eyes up, sagging her arms down in defeat.

"Fiiine~." She sighed as she dropped down on her hooves and tucked her wings in. I smiled in appreciation before turning around and taking the lead as my foot stepped on the stoned road.

"Alright, let's go." I said quietly as we sneaked our way into the town, hiding off to the sides with our bodies against the stone walls. I looked around to see if we can find somepony to lead us out of here, until to the left, with an open alleyway ahead of us, I was hearing noises coming from within.

I looked at the girls to confirm that we all were hearing the same thing, as we slowly approached and peering our heads around to see a small Changeling child rummaging inside of a trash bin, with dirty garments for clothes, bug-like yellow eyes, and a small patch of burgundy mane sleek to one side and shining with grease. Though he was a Changeling, I couldn't help but feel my heart sink to see what looked like a homeless child, scrounging for food. "The poor kid. How long has it been since he has last eaten?"

A part of my mind was telling me to keep going and find out where the exit is, but my heart was telling me to help the poor filly. I stepped from around the corner and made my way towards the young filly as Rainbow poked out.

"Vincent, what are you doing?! Get back here." Rainbow quietly beckoned, trying to call me back as I was already within the alleyway, making my way towards the small child. The child turned around, flinched in panic as he dropped from the trash bin on his back against the floor, scurrying backwards with small hisses. I stopped my advances and looked at him in pity, feeling sorry for the little guy as he was trying so hard not to cry, his lips quivering as he quickly rolled on his feet and made a run for it.

"W-wait!" I threw my hands out, hoping he'd stop as he did so, his back still turned towards me but remained motionless.

"I'm not going to hurt you." I called out to him, hoping to calm him down as he choked.

"Y-Y-you're going to...t-take me in. To work, to go out there and hurt others. I don't wanna. YOU CAN'T MAKE ME!" He screamed out as he kept running. I tried to stop him as he had his head down, quickly running out of the alleyway until he bumped into what looked like another adult Changeling clad in armor, possibly a guard. The guard turned to face the child before reaching out and taking his arm.

"Where are your parents little one?" The guard asked with an assertive tone, scaring the child as he tried to free his arm from the guards grasp, but to no avail as he showed no signs of releasing. The child cried out in panic, pleading to be set free as the guard repeated himself, and once more, received nothing but cries.

I couldn't just stand there and just watch this child being taken in, but if we were spotted, it's back to square one. "Shit, what do I do? The child needs some help but...is what awaits him really serious? Perhaps...he'll become a recruit." I turned to face the girls as they were still at the corner, or rather Rarity was as Rainbow Dash looked like she was itching for some action as she was being held back by Rarity. I turned back to see the guard lifting the kid off of his feet and draped on his shoulder as he turned around.

"If you have no parents, then for the Changeling race, you must be put to some use as repayment for your meals we will provide you." The guard indicated as the child was banging on the back of his armor.

"NO NO NO, I DON'T WANT TO! YOU CAN'T MAKE ME! PLEASE, SOMEPONY, HELP!" The child wailed out, trying with all of his might to be set free. I couldn't stand by and let them take this child away to force him into something.

Without another thought, I ran after the guard as he was walking away, not minding what the girls had to say behind me as I summoned my Conductor to create tendrils to appear from the ground before the guard.

He looked down in alarm, finding it a handicap to draw his sword from it's sheath as the snake-like tendril lurched upon him, thrusting it's head to his chest while I used my magic I've learned to levitate the child, encompassing him in a dark purple aura and freeing him from the guards loosened grasp before said guard was slammed into the wall. The little colt looked down from midair at me, my arm raised to keep him suspended as he gave me a smile with his arms flailing to keep 'balance'.

"Thank you mister. You...saved me." The little colt thanked, filling me with such joy and satisfaction to see that I helped make a difference and being thanked for it. I looked up at him with a nod, letting him down nice and easy until he touched down on the ground. As I opened my mouth to speak, the little Changeling hustled his way to me and hugged me, nuzzling his head against my stomach with a firm grip.

"Thank you mister. You're my hero." My heart melted when he said those words, I was lost as they rung in my mind, but slowly coming back to my senses, I looked down at the little colt and pet his mane appreciatively.

"Y-You should hurry along now." I said before a loud whistle blared out repetitively, coming from the guard sitting against the wall before I was hearing a distant sound approaching our way. I looked back down at the little colt as he held me tighter in fear as I had him face me to have his attention.

"Listen, go to the two mares behind me. They'll keep you safe. Go!" I urged and moved him along the way as he looked hesitantly towards Rarity and Rainbow Dash before I urged him onward. Watching to ensure the colt was safely with the girls, I heard the sound of clanking armor and galloping hooves reaching the end of the alleyway from behind me as I turned to see a squad of armored Changeling guards blocking the way.

I reached up and grasp the handle of Salvation as it unlocked immediately, unsheathing the large black blade and stabbed it into the ground. I stood between the guards and my friends and I wasn't going to let these guards have their way to take us or an innocent little child.

"Wait a minute...YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE IN THE DUNGEON." One of the guards declared, pointing a finger towards me. As he unsheathed his weapon, so did the other guards behind him, directing their blades towards me in a threatening manner.

"You will come with us now. Along with your cronies." Said the leading guard, gripping his blade with both hands as they slowly approached me. Casting aside any distracting thoughts, only keen to ridding my enemies before me, I lifted my Conductor as it hummed with an eerie dark glow, pulsating from my arm before the back of the plate began expanding as the sound of bending metal was heard, stretching out and thickening to become like my own buckler.

"Then what are you waiting for." I gripped my blade before dashing out to them, pulling it out of the ground along the way as it swings overhead and comes crashing down to them. They scattered away except for one, who lifted his shield up to protect himself as Salvation splits into the black metal, cracking the shield nearly in half and slamming my opponent into the ground as green blood leaked out from under the shield, either from the impact or my blade cutting into the shield and in his arm. I ripped Salvation out from the shield as a few Changeling men dash towards me, swinging their blades as I swung mine even faster, despite the immense size of my blade, all my training and discovered potential has led down to this point, where three guards aren't able to fend off against my attacks, and how easily I could fend their mustered blows.

From behind, the little colt was nuzzled into Rainbow as she rolled her eyes, patting his shoulder awkwardly as Rarity swooped him up and held him close.

"It's alright dear, Vincent's got everything under control." Rarity comforted to the little colt in her arms, as he looked up with a smile and nuzzled into her. Rarity caressed the little guys mane as she looked up, watching as Vincent was slashing down one guard after another, using what arsenal of magic he had at his disposal before the colt gained her attention.

"Excuse me, miss? Do you...have some Lovulites by chance?" He asked in such in adorable manner, with those big, buggy yellow eyes that just pleaded, yet I was oblivious to what he was referring to as I asked.

"What is a Lovulite darling?" the colt bounced about as he started in his explanation.

"Well, a Lovulite is a shiny, purple rock we eat. It's super yummy, although doesn't come in big sizes, but we learned to live off of them in place of love...kinda sorta." I listened and recalled me gathering something that matched that description as I reached down in my satchel I was carrying back when we gathered Vincent's sword and pulled out a purple crystal before presenting it to the little colt as he stared at it with a hungry gaze, licking his lips with a gulp.

"Do you mean this darling?" I asked as he nodded his head vigorously in response as I looked from the crystal to the colt and back before smiling at the little one and handing him the crystal piece.

"Here you go. If this is a means for you to eat, then you need what strength you can get." I offered as the colt looked up at me with adoring eyes before taking the crystal and biting into it as he suckled, the crystal's purple glow began to fluctuate before dimming down, it's brilliance lessening as it was losing it's color until it was but only a clear crystal. He had purple juice leaking from his lips as he gave a satisfied sigh, wiping his mouth from the substance and looked up at me with the sweetest smile he could ever have mustered.

"Thank you so much miss." He thanked genuinely as I tilted my head in adoration as I reached in my satchel and gave him the rest of the crystals I have found.

"Here. This is better used for your own well being then what I intended for. We ponies do not need to live off of these, but you do. So here, you should have them." I offered, seeing the look of sheer surprise from the little Changeling colt as he gawked at me.

"Miss, I...I don't know what to say. Th-thank you. Thank you very much. W-who are you guys?" He asked, looking at Rainbow at I as we introduced.

"I'm Rainbow Dash kid." Rainbow stated with confidence, keeping a watch on Vincent as I followed.

"And I'm Rarity. Now, what is your name little one?" I asked kindly as he smiled in response.

"My name is Trent." I brushed his mane to the side as I knelt down on my knees so we met eye to eye.

"That's a lovely name Trent. It's a pleasure to meet you darling." I complimented as Rainbow looked alarmed before quickly turning to face us.

"We got company. More guards." Rainbow alerted as I looked down to where she was pointing to confirm that more guards were indeed on there way as I faced Trent and grasped his shoulders to gain his full attention.

"Trent, you have to get out of here and get to somewhere safe." He looked at me with concern, his eyes skimming up and down, finding the right words to say before he asked.

"But...what about you Miss Rarity?" I smiled comfortingly to him as he lowered his chin before I picked it back up to face me.

"Don't worry Trent, we'll be fine. But you need to get out of here and find a safe place to hide. Now please, go. We'll hold them off." I urged him gently, pushing him along before he set off on his own, looking back our way and carrying the satchel of Lovulites along with him. I only watched to see him make his way, hoping he'd find someplace safe before Rainbow called for my attention.

"Hey Rarity, you're going to just watch or help me out here?" I raised an eyebrow, turning around to see the guards drawing nearer as my horn glowed.

"You know I am always here to help." I stated while bracing ourselves for the oncoming combat.

Blocking another attack while holding a guards arm in a locked position, I parried the attacking blade aside and slashed at his face before using the butt of my handle to break the guards arm backwards and kicking him down.

When I looked up, more guards were coming in. It was as if for every one I take out, another would take it's place. "Just how many infantrymen do these Changelings have at their disposal? This is simply ridiculous, I'm not sure how much longer I can continue with this." As I continued to drop the numbers one at a time, I then heard somepony from behind call out for my attention.

"That's enough Human. Stand down now, or we will execute your friends here if you fail to cooperate." I stopped my assault, turning around and to my horror, finding Rarity and Rainbow Dash apprehended by a swarm of guards with weapons placed on both of their throats. I gripped Salvation, wanting to dash out there and cut them all up but...I couldn't risk hurting them.

I was at their mercy and there was nothing I can do to stop them, so the best thing I could do was sheath my weapon and surrender myself to them. With my hands behind my head, I knelt down onto the floor as the guards kicked me down, my face impacting the floor with my hands wrenched to the side before I felt the cold metal gripping my wrist, locking my arms behind my back and forced up on my feet as they walked me down the street with my friends soon in tow as they looked at me.

"Do you think we're going back to the dungeon?" Rarity asked me. I looked down, believing that to be the case.

"I don't know." I simply said. Rainbow had an annoyed expression on her face as we were all being lead away as the eyes of different Changelings were staring at us, a mixture of awe, fear, and concern. I looked towards where we came from as I assumed that's where we were being lead to, until we turned off away from the dungeon doors as I gained a look of confusion. I looked over at a guard beside me as I quickly inquired.

"Where are you taking us?" I demanded as he huffed in his reply.

"To the Queen herself. She demanded if you were to escape and cause trouble, then you were to be summoned in her presence." I blinked a couple times in wonder, curious as to why this 'Queen' would demand to see us, even after...making our escape. What does she have in store for us?

As we made our way down the halls of this grand and sculpted entrance, with towering jet black archways greeting us down, purple carpeting unrolled all the way down to the small flight of stairs, and blue tapestries on the walls with markings of different sorts with gray statues of what I assumed was the Queen, some other changelings, another in a uniquely intimidating armor and curved sword, and then one of another male unicorn who wasn't a changeling, but a pony with a slightly long mane but was adorned in what looked like a cape and armor plates.

I was reading some of them before being pushed onward by the guard behind me until we climbed the small set of stairs as the guards opened the large double-doors to reveal what looked like a throne room, except the throne was on the upper level of the large square room and was occupied by a slender changeling woman, with a black coat, slender features, even skinnier then Rarity, but was quite elegant in her own nature.

She stared down at us with glowing green eyes, not bug-like compared to her underlings, but more natural eyes. She was truly a sight to behold as she took a stand, seeing the holes decorating her body similar to the Changelings around here.

"Welcome my human, and two of the Elements of Harmony as well. It's so nice to see you both once again." She laughed with wicked intent, her voice echoed with a possessed chord in her dialect. It was fascinating to say the least, despite the situation we are all in at the moment until I realized what she just said, blinking a couple times as I looked at her questioningly.

"Your human? I am not a pet nor am I some item to be owned. What do you want with us?" She gives a sultry smirk with her chin resting on the back of her delicate hands as she replies.

"I want what is right for my hive. Ponies have denied us the means to survive, casting us aside as if we were insignificant or bloodthirsty creatures. They think we are the ones who are evil, but they are wrong. It is the ponies who are the evil ones, for treating us with such malice and contempt while they bask in their greed and bottomless desire of 'equality', when what they really want is power. The power to do as they please, when they please, and how so. Well no more, and I personally will put myself on the front to put this tyranny to an end." Her voice boomed with power and charisma as she stood adamant with confidence in her declaration. Such a display is further convincing and chilling to be suitable for that belonging to a queen.

"I cannot say what has happened in the past, or as the history between the two sides have dictated towards, but I have heard that you Changelings aren't as innocent as well, crashing a wedding and attempting to invade a major populace. But what really sets me off and won't excuse this is you kidnapping two ponies I hold dearly as well as myself." I stated, earning a smirk to rise from her delicate features, baring sharps fangs that distorts her marvelous appeal.

"You have nopony to blame but yourselves for getting involved in such dangerous matters." A feminine voice boomed as I looked off to the side, seeing a figure clad in very exquisite and intimidating armor approaching the Queen.

The figures eyes glowed in a neon blue shine, her armor gleamed with a dark-steel polish, with a tuft embroidered under blue elbow padding with designs swirling like that of a liquid encased in stone, and with a slight bust on the chest piece as well as the figures thin frame, assuming that it was a she.

She came to a stop beside the Queen and turned to face us, looking down and examining the scene before her as her eyes narrowed towards me.

"You're so quick to push the blame on others and to judge us in accusation, just like these ponies. You don't know our struggles and what we have endured and yet here you stand thinking it's okay to look down on us?!" She took a step forward, edging closer to the railing of the ledge as her gauntlet scraped against it's stoned surface, gazing down at us with what felt like a venomous anger.

"I only state what I see. We all have struggles that we must endure, and we have our ways of confronting such struggles. You chose to confront it and forcing us to get involved yourselves. There could have been another way, but you chose to take this course of action." I replied back, seeing her gripping the railing before the Queen chuckles.

"My dear human, it is unwise to antagonize my dear Commander here. She does not take too kindly to defiance involving her family and our cause. If you value your safety as well as your friends, I suggest you mind what you say." The Queen warned, as I looked up towards her, feeling mixed in her claim but sense a hint of belittlement as I retort.

"With all due respect, but I see the fault isn't mine if she cannot handle what opinion I speak, whether I speak in respect or aggression. But I will warn you..." I turned my attention to the Queen's "Commander" and continued, "If you intend to seek harm to my friends, then you will be given no mercy from me, and I will do whatever is in my power to force your submission." The Commander only stared, her gaze narrowing before she gave a bellowed laugh, gripping her gut as she was howling in laughter as she forced out.

"You hehe...make ME submit? Hahaha, oh you are...heh, so adorable." She came to a calm, regaining her composure as before jumping off the ledge, landing on the ground as it cracks beneath her feet, slowly standing up and approaching me as she continued, "You cannot even begin to comprehend what you are facing, let alone hope to challenge me. You are like an insect, scurrying about and trying to survive until something unknown to you comes and crushes your insignificant life away. But..." She comes to a stop in front of me, her piercing blue eyes burning into me.

"If you believe you can stand and defend yourself and your...'friends', then I will allow you to amuse me. GUARDS! Release his bindings and take the prisoners away so they may watch as their 'hero' falls in futility, right before their own eyes." The guards beside me nodded as the reached behind me and unlocked the restraints holding me as my arms were now free. Rubbing my wrists, I looked up at the Commander before turning back, hearing the shuffling of hooves as they pushed the girls away to a side entrance as I called out to them.

"STOP! BRING THEM BACK HERE!" As I hollered out, ready to run after them as I turned on my heel, I felt a heavy thrust against my sides as my eyes bulged from the sharp pain before being launched off my feet and sliding along the hard flooring.

"You should be focusing more on yourself instead of them. What good are you if you're just going to die willingly?" She sneered with me coughing on the floor before forcing my body back up, rubbing my side from which took the impact as I retorted.

"I won't die, not today and not by you, Changeling." I shot back at her. She reached beside her and grasped her weapon strapped on her hip before pulling out a crescent bladed weapon and said.

"Then fight me you fool." She challenged, with a twist of her wrist, the blade shined with a ringing sound before she leaped towards me, accelerating rapidly as I reached up quickly to draw Salvation in a moments time.

~CLANK~

Our weapons collided against one another, but she began pushing her blade in more, surprising me with how incredibly strong she was as I had to actually push back to keep her at bay. "She's not no ordinary Changeling. She's got power in her that her looks deceive to disbelieve. I can't afford to underestimate her." Feeling more determined, I summoned my Conductor, increasing the size of my claws before raking her sides as she gasped out. But at that moment, as I cut into her armor, I felt a slight pain on my sides, like my body was graced by a set of daggers as we both hobbled backwards. I looked down at my side to see no shreds in my clothes or any signs of damage, confusing me even more as the damage is apparent, feeling a stinging sensation on my side.

Seeing my attack haven't made contact with her flesh, she disregards her concerns before crouching down low, her body nearly parallel with the ground with her sword in a backhand position before bolting towards me with incredible speed. She zigzagged from side to side before swiping my way as I flicked my weapon upwards, deflecting her attack as she twirled in motion, spun around me and attempted to slash at my back, but I slipped Salvation down between us and intercepted her attack to stop the blow in it's track.

My Conductor raised, it glowed with a black, misty aura in front of me while holding off the Commander behind me as something began shifting in the ground. As the Commander tried pressing forward, she was then launched back as a large black tendril smashed against her chest, sending her skidding across the ground as she quickly regained her footing, sliding on her hooves with her sword cutting into the tiled floor.

She was ready to stand up as three tendrils reeled their heads high up before diving down to attack her. She quickly sidestepped as it grazed past her chest piece as another roared down upon her, it's jaws splitting open as black strands stretched apart to reveal an open void within it's stretched maw.

Her eyes narrowed as she gripped her blade, twisting her body around whilst raising her weapon in hand, the cold steel nearing her approaching enemy as it's jaws stretched as wide as her whole body before she was consumed inside of the black serpentine beast.

Though her body remained whole and unharmed, the beast itself was split into two, it's face opening and spreading apart off the sides before colliding into the ground, scattering into particles of black dust, leaving the Commander standing with her weapon pointing up to the ceiling.

The third tendril came gliding across the ground, bearing it's fangs and twisting it's head to puncture her at her sides, but was halted in place as it's head was pinned to the floor with the Commander stabbing it down with her crescent blade, hearing the crushing impact as the cold steel breaks into the tiled flooring.

Staring down at the beast, she barely heard or sensed another approaching, as she slowly turned to see a dim light glowing with intensity until she was met with my Conductor creating an orb and pressing it into her gut. She howled out in pain as it digs into the sturdy metal, bending it into her flesh before launching her away, sliding down the large room and stopping against an obelisk, coughing out in a sputter as she kept her blade in her grasp during the surprise assault. I stood up straight as one of the tendrils stood beside me, awaiting my command as I watched her slowly standing up and reaching down to feel the armor slightly caved inward.

"Tch, I never thought a creature like you would even scratch me, let alone put a dent in my armor. But, that won't happen again." She stated in slight agitation, getting low to the ground as her middle horn began to glow, engulfing the weapon in a blue aura before she kicked off towards me. With a mental command, the giant serpent beside me hissed out and darted towards her, ready to take her down before she dove into it's mouth, and in what barely seemed like a second, the serpents body began splitting apart from the inside and scattered, leaving her in midair before she threw something my way.

I reacted quickly and grabbed it with my Conductor, realizing it being her blade attached to a chain. Focusing back to her, I didn't notice the blade contort in shape as it folded inwards, clamping me down by the wrist and digging into me with it's sharpened edge. I winced in pain until she tugged on the other end of the chain, reeling me off my feet as the 'cuff' dug in deeper, drizzling blood from the slits of the plated piece as I was pulled her way.

She cocked her fist back, clenching tightly as the metal of her gauntlets scraped against each plating before delivering a powerful thrust into the side of my face, pushing my head off to the side and craning my neck forcefully as I swerved to the side of her in a spiral and crashed down in a roll.

Hearing an ear-splitting ring as I was in a tumble, my body whipped back to a halt as I cried out from my wrist being pulled by her weapons grip. She was on her two feet as she pulled me once more, sliding me towards her along the floor as I cracked my eyes open to see her as she kicked me in the chest, coughing out saliva from the immense impact as it lifted me off the ground and away from her once more.

I had to break free from her hold somehow, looking down at the chain the dangled during my ascension as I lifted Salvation and with a quick swipe, I've severed the connection of the chain, freeing myself before my back slams into the wall and dropping to the floor with a heavy thud.

The chain slithered it's way back to the handle in her grasp before like a liquid, the coiled metal began melting and reforming itself back to the original state of her crescent blade. She took casual steps towards me as I was trying to regain my composure, groaning in pain from the abuse my body took before I stood up on my own two feet.

"We are far from over, human." The Commander said in a threatening manner.

Staring out the window, only to be met with the outside of what seemed like a solid cage of black stone, stretching high up as I stuck my head out of the window, barely fitting through to look up and see the sky brimming outside through a large opening.

"I...guess this is some sort of mountain. It's obvious we're not bordering around Canterlot so...Dragon's Keep? Maybe, that seems like a good possibility, but now to find some way out of here." I searched around the room, in her dresser to find some clothing as I looked down to find my jacket I wore the first night we met.

I looked down and picking it up, remembering I gave it to her so whenever I wasn't home, she has a way to remember me until I came back. My eyes looked down to the ground before noticing off to the corner of my gaze, raising them to see something shining on a nightstand by her bed. I approached it before grabbing it, seeing that it's a picture of me holding the real her.

Star is smiling in my arms, blushing and trying to keep it in and trying to be serious with my muzzle pressed against her soft gray cheeks. I felt a sinking feeling in my heart, feeling hurt, confused, wondering why she did this to begin with.

"~sigh~ Star...you could have just told me. You could tell me anything, I would have tried to understand if you just explained it to me. But..." I heard a crashing sound outside the door, turning my attention to my only exit as I was deciding whether to take my leave, facing whatever lies beyond the door, or staying put and taking her word for my own well-being.

"If I just stay here, then...wouldn't that be me submitting myself in defeat? For them to use me as they please? But then, if I step out there, then...No, I need answers. She OWES me that much. If she really cares, full-heartedly, then I need to get out there and face her." With that in mind, I stepped forward, gripping the cold handle and opening the door slowly, poking my head out to see nopony in sight as I took off in a sprint, trotting down the hall as I heard a sound, immediately stopping and hugging the wall.

Trying to contain my heavy breathing, I sucked in deeply and holding the air in my lungs as I saw two guards pass by, conversing about something which meant little to me until I heard Star's name, gaining my interest as my ears flicked to better hear their conversation.

"...Apparently Commander Star is fighting that one human we caught earlier. Can you believe the balls on that guy?" Says the guard on the left.

"Hehe, the guy is sooo bucked. He has no idea what he's gotten himself into." replied the one on the right. I couldn't help but smile at the thought that she's strong to handle herself, let alone...a Commander?! Didn't think she was such a big shot.

"Yea, but the guy she's fighting is actually pretty tough. What if he actually wins?" Hearing that, I felt myself becoming worried now, the thought that some...wait a minute, Vincent? Are they talking about Vincent?! I couldn't stay here, I have to hurry out. I waited for them to slip away down the hall before I took off the other way, running down the same way that Star brought me until I noticed I was coming close.

"Don't worry Star, everything is going to be fine. Please Vincent...don't do anything to harm her."

As the Commander and I dashed to one another, with our blades crashing against one another, locked in place as we glared at each other. Sparks flying as our weapons pressed further into one another, a whistling sound screeching out as one of my tendrils swooped between us, coming from below and biting her in the arm as she cried out, flicking Salvation upward and relieving her grip on her crescent sword, twisting around and cutting across her chest as she cries out, blood drizzling out of her upper abdomen before I felt a sharp slice against my gut.

My legs buckled as I dropped on my knees, my weapon at my side as I looked down, seeing a large bleeding gash on my upper abs, but yet no tears or marks on my clothing whatsoever so...how did she hit me?

In pain, drawn in confusion, I watched her closely as my tendril was distracting her as I thought back, remembering I felt something similar, the same weird event happening when I struck her with my weapon, but my tendrils hit her too and I wasn't effected so...what could it be?

I had a theory formulating in mind as I stood up, trying to sustain the damage I have taken as I ran to her, gaining her attention as the tendril took advantage of the distraction and clamped down on her other arm, seeing it not effecting me so it wasn't some visual link. I drew my Conductor back, spreading the claws open before slashing at her arm, digging into her armor as I struck her body with a drizzle of blood seeping out, and the same effect took place on me as well, wincing in pain as I stopped and hopped away, gaining distance between us.

"So...it's not just with my sword, but with my own physical attacks as well. But still leaves question as to why my tendrils aren't effecting me as well. So...maybe I can use that to my advantage, or..." I straighten out, having a reckless idea in mind but was willing to give it a try as I sheathed my weapon behind me, hearing a click as my sheath locked into the center of Salvation. The Commander perked up in interest with this new gesture, standing up as blue blood dripped down from her armor.

"So...I wonder if you've figured it out yet." I looked at her suspiciously, thinking if she knew what I was trying to figure out as she continued, "Why you're being cut open like that. It disturbs you, doesn't it? Not knowing how or why you are being cut down, wondering if I'm just too fast for you to comprehend or if this is all just your own doing." I looked down, shifting my eyes left and right before giving her my attention once more.

"I think...I understand at list the gist of what is going on." I stated, her head tilting to the side.

"Oh? Is that so? Well then, show me what you understand then Human." She challenged. I inhaled deeply, composing myself and releasing as I concentrated, my back shimmering the familiar black aura from my Nether magic before a black flame licks out from my shoulder blades, fanning out and spreading in a great wingspan as the Commander stared in interest.

Straining my mind even more, I coiled and solidified the energy, compressing it into a solid form as it's form slimmed down to a pair of thick, spear-tipped legs, almost like spider legs. She chuckled with interest, still on guard as she was about to speak out before one leg hooked towards her, cutting her off as she guarded with her blade, holding it in place as I smirked, the tip flared like fire engulfing her weapon and burning into her torso as she howls out in pain, launching her midair as I stretched the other leg above her and swat her back down to the ground, crashing down into the ground as she cries out in pain. I looked down at my body, seeing no difference made, no pain, no additional wounds, and I can finally come to the conclusion of how whatever she was doing has been working as I approached her.

"It's physical combat, isn't it? When I strike you with my own bare hands or my weapons I wield, it effects me too. But yet, my tendrils, my wings, they are of magical essence, they don't effect me in the same manner." She coughed out with a blue steam escaping from her mouth piece as she scoffs.

"Tch. So you're on to something, it makes no difference to me. Your overconfidence will be your downfall human."

"My name is Vincent, and you will remember my name from here on out as the man who has bested the Commander of Changelings." I spoke before raising the legs on my back over my head and crashing it down towards the Commander. She rolled out of the way and dashed towards me with a feral impulse, her gauntlet spread open like menacing claws as she drew closer. The leggings on my back split apart into many tendrils as they all dove like spears, penetrating into the ground as the Commander weaved and swerved around the assaults with such fluid speed.

Her claws cocked back before thrusting out with a roar, aiming her sharpened fingers to thrust into my chest, but I raised my Conductor and intercepted her attack. She struck me across the face with her free hand, slashing at my cheek as I felt a burning sting seer into my flesh from her attack and whipping my head off to the side. The warm blood dripping down my cheek and dropping from my chin as I turned my head to face her and with the tendrils on my left side, I pulled them out of the ground and smashed them into her sides, hearing a slight pop as she buckled down on her sides, limping to a falter.

The tension in our grasps was relieved as I pulled my clenched fist back and smashed my metallic arm into her face, hearing the metal creak before her helmet slides off of her head to reveal a gray changeling pony bleeding out of her nose and lips, spun about and falling down on the floor to her hands and knees. I looked down to see she was a young mare, golden mane that was cut short and draped off to the side. She was slowly getting back up with shaking arms until she managed to push herself back to her hooves, straightening her body out with a heavy sigh as her hand reaches up to grasp her jaw, followed by a distinct pop with a sigh of relief. She turned around to face me with a bruised cheek, a small stream of blue blood drizzling from her lips and nostril and with a fiery blue eyes, gleaming with what seemed like fury, yet her smile contorted to that with devious intent.

"I think...I've had just about enough of this childish game of charades." She looked up to the Queen, sitting upon her throne above us, spectating our match as if she was waiting for a sign, and just then, the Queen smiles as she declares.

"You have my permission my child. It's been too long since you've been allowed the chance to...cut loose." The Commander smiled broadly, her wicked intent growing ever more as I felt uneasy with the possibility that she may have just been holding back, or perhaps restraint for some reason. Turning to face me and a blue puff of steam spouting from her lips, her smile lessened to a more gentle nature as her lips parted open as she sings.

"Oh Mother of Changelings, Keeper of our Land. Will of our very being, Strong in Command." As she sings out in a soothing lullaby, the guards surrounding the room began to sing in tune, like a choir voicing their heart and loyalty as in an union to a single focus, a sole but resounding being. Though the battle between the Commander and I ensued, hearing their enchanting tune was pleasant and hypnotic.

"Oh Mother of Changelings, Keeper of our Land. Lead us to victory as our great race shall stand." Among the rejoice of the guards singing, the Commander twisted her head in a frightening manner, almost as if she was in pain or being forcefully contorted. She dropped down on her hands and knees, heaving heavily before clenching her jaws, groaning out as her body began to expand, her armor bulging and spreading apart before snapping off her frame.

Bare and exposed, her fur coat began to shrivel from her flesh, only to be replaced by scales growing out of her body, leaving patches of her purple fur on portions of her limbs, her muzzle becoming more rigid, feral, and growing in size in suit with her body. Her ears slimming down to a sleek form, her golden horn growing and curving to the back of her head as the center remained jousted in place. Her eyes losing it's large, glowing blue brilliance with her pupils slimming down to slits as she focused on her surroundings, taking shape and form as a large gray dragon. My eyes bulged open, taking hesitant steps backwards as I gawked towards the large behemoth before me, growing worried in the position I was in before my enemy.

"STAR!" A male voice ranged out from above as I looked around, noticing a red pegasus on the upper levels as I squint my eyes, realizing that it was Swift. "The HELL?! What is he doing here?!"

"Swift, how did you get here? N-Never mind that, you need to get out of hHHUMPH..!" I was cut short as the Commander bashed her large tail into me, knocking the wind out of me as I soared away and crashed into the wall on the other side of the large room, even crushing one or two guards behind me as we were wedged into the crevice of the wall.

"Star, please stop this. We don't have to do any of this. What will this fighting bring to both sides? Only more conflict with little hope of resolution." Swift yelled forth, addressing to the dragon as she turned her head to him, staring at him before snorting steam from her nose and releasing a bellowing roar that shook the room around us.

I managed to pry myself from the wall, staring up at the beast as I drew Salvation from my back as the lock clicked it free and now brandished before me. The Commander, or as I assumed it being this 'Star', narrowed her gaze at me before stomping her way towards me in a heated gait, ready to resume our battle as I gripped my blade and charged at her. She lunged her head forward to bite my body whole where as I slipped between her jaws, leaping up and coming down to slam my weapon into her neck. Though my attack dug into her flesh, it wasn't saying much as it was comparable to that of a splinter. I flipped over and pulled my weapon out from her scales and landing on her back before being swiped off by her tail and rolling on the floor, yet quickly recovering myself back and sliding onto my feet.

She cast a venomous gaze upon me before rearing her head back and thrusting it forward, her mouth gaping open as a billow of flame erupts forth from her open maw and spreading in a massive wave towards me.

With determination, I raised my blade upright beside me, gripping it firmly as the roaring blue flames bellowed towards me. I inhaled deeply, feeling the immense warmth growing more intense as the taste of ash hits my nostrils before swinging my sword horizontally with a piercing swipe, cutting into the air with a forceful thrust and slicing the flames apart as they extinguished before me.

My sword began to hum in my grip as I cast my eyes to it, seeing the gem in its center illuminate from purple to a burning red color. With a smirk, coming to understand it's meaning of change, I swung the weapon to my side and dashed towards the dragon, and with it roaring once more, she spouts another rapture of flames towards me.

Going by instinct, remember like the last time Salvation experience it's change, I flipped the sword in front of me, blocking my body as a defensive 'shield' and giving trust to concentrate the intensity roaring inside, pushing to bring such a sensation to surface before the blackened blade releases steam from it's surface, gleaming to a red shine as it catches in flame within my grasp. It's roaring flame, though fiercely whips the air around it, leaves me unharmed but instead offers it's comforting warmth, telling me that I am safe within it's presence as I marched with the flaming weapon towards the wave of blue flames. As we make contact, the blue fire engulfs around me, but outside the protective dormant of a red flame encasing me as I continued dashing forward until I burst from the other side, gaining a shocked expression from all around me.

The dragon taken aback from what she sees, she raises a mighty talon and swings towards me, leaving me to twist my body clockwise, crouching down low as I began to glide in the motion, rotating at an accelerated speed as her claws soars overhead, singing her scales as it shimmers in passing.

In my rotation, taking a stand as I was engulfed in a ball of twisting flame, I leaped up towards her and struck her arm, slashing out with a trail of blaze following my blade and cutting deeper into her flesh as she howls in pain, singing into her scales and flesh as I land off to the side of her, turning around to seeing the mighty gray dragon gripping her arm, covering the gash that I left behind.

After a moment with the flames whipping about from Salvation, Star twists her head towards me, opening it's massive maw with strings of saliva stretching from top to bottom before swinging her tail to me, jumping over her assault as the tip of her tail flicks, knocking me towards her as she catches me with her outstretched claw, clenching me tightly in her grasp as I could feel my bones gripping tighter, closer and nearly puncturing my innards as I howl out in pain.

"ENOUGH! Please Star, no more." Swift calls from above, but she merely ignores him as she raises her talons with me in her grip before bringing me down and smashing into the ground with a sickening crunch. Feeling my body beginning to break, she raises me off the ground once more and again, slams me down into the ground. This repeated for a few times as my bones were already breaking from the inside, coughing out and drooling blood while heaving for air, slowly losing consciousness as she slams me down once more into the ground.

If this keeps up, I am sure to die. My body was too weak to use any form of magic and barely having the strength to move my arms, whether if I could or not. As I felt my body lift from the ground, seeing the distance grow apart from me, it stopped. I was relieved by this as I remained suspended as my body drooped, slowly hearing flapping wings followed by what sounded like Swift talking to Star before I began losing consciousness.

Seeing Vincent being smashed into the ground repeatedly, I unfurled my wings and quickly flapped my way over to Star. I called out to her, hoping to stop her as Vincent was being lifted off the ground once more.

"STAR, THAT'S ENOUGH! PLEASE, YOU NEED TO STO..." She pulled her fist back, colliding into me and knocking me away as I landed back on the ground, groaning from the crash as Star turned her attention to me and releasing Vincent before making her way towards me. She was hesitant to touch me, her eyes shifting about before she sighed heavily and her form began to shift, decreasing in size until she retained her original Changeling form, wearing a black tube top and skirt, she hurried my way as she knelt down, lifting my head and examining me before asking in a worried tone.

"Swift...Swift you're not hurt are you?" I groaned in her grasp as she shook me. "Come on Swift, answer me." She asked more urgently as I cracked an eye open.

"Y-yea, I'm fine. Just...got sucker punched." I stuck out my tongue before she pulled me into her embrace, resting my chin on her shoulder. Catching me off guard, but I welcomed the action as I returned with a hug of my own. We held this tender moment before I opened my eyes looking to her and whispered in her ear teasing.

"So, are we gonna stay on the ground, or can I get up?" She rolled her eyes as we separated and she helps me back up to my hooves. Now standing face to face, I looked over to Vincent to see him in bad shape, giving a sigh as I look to her.

"Star, please tell me that this is all over now. We don't have to keep battling like this between each other. If this is about your home, or your race, I'm sure we can do something to compromise." She looked away as she had a cold gaze for a moment as she replied.

"There is no compromise, there is no negotiating. We tried many years ago, and look where it led us. It's either we fall or we fight to make a difference." I looked at her with sympathy, seeing that she isn't meaning to bring the worst in matters, but perhaps this being her only choice. After all, if she really meant to harm all ponies, then why not add me to the pile? Why show sympathy and mercy for one considered an enemy? I reached down and took her hand, feeling her warmth in my grasp as she gasped from the touch.

"We can make a difference Star, and I don't mind standing by your side to make that difference happen." I stated, as she was about to open her mouth to respond, I pressed my lips against hers, catching her by surprise as she made a muffled sound between our pressed lips. She soon gave way and relaxed in the moment, nuzzling her body against mine as her hand slips my grasp before her arms found their way around my frame.

After a moment, I heard a shuffle, parting our lips and looking behind her to seeing Vincent rising up to his feet, glaring at Star as he uses his sword to hold himself up. I immediately moved Star behind me, standing between her and Vincent with intention to end this once and for all.