The changeling army has found a new pastime, betting if Sharp Fang's fang grows back before he rubs his gums raw with his tongue. Indeed, Sharp Fang really should stop rubbing his tongue against the missing fang's spot. But as luck would have it, he found out that almost impaling your tongue on a fang that is more sharp than it has any right to be, can still make you happy. Sharp Fang had some other injuries from that strike. His facial chitin cracked, bent a wing, and his neck ached for a while. Now his fang is growing back in, but it's still too short to use in combat.

The army got back to following the river south. The river then flowed east and later opens into the sea. At it's base, was a city state by the sea.
Sharp Fang wishes that the city was farther away. How would he make more stories to brag to his comrades? He should however, have greater concerns. Once the city is conquered, he would left in charge. The majors see his irresponsibly though. It's unlikely that they would give him governorship so easily. In fact, here comes Major Stag.

"...And he thought pulling me out was a good idea, forgetting that my fang is curbed."

"Yes, yes, that's good and all, but Captain, we would like to hear how you lost your fang."

"W-well, umm, I- Major, what you doing here?"

"Captain, a word in private, if you may."

"Yes, of course. Sorry fellas, another time."

The both of them trotted into the major's tent.

"So, Major, what do you need to talk about?"

"Captain, the city we're approaching, you're not governing it."

"Major, what do you mean? You always leave the captains to govern."

"You're too irresponsible. You're not staying there."

"But that didn't stop you from trying to make me stay in Foalis Foalba."

"I know. That was a mistake I won't make again. Remember I said not to make me think like that again."

"But you always leave a captain behind. Besides, how you would you relieve yourself of me?"

"The majors are leaving another major behind. That major will be me."

"Well, this is depressing and all, but why are you telling me this? You don't usually tell me the fine details of your ways to discipline me until you've already done the preparations for it."

"For only one reason. Do you want to govern?"

"Well, fighting is fun and all, but marching all over this continent is one of the most dull things I had to do. So yes, I should be able to govern. Why do you ask?"

"I ask because I think you can change my mind."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that if you can complete some assignments that I need done, I could convince the majors to leave you as governor."

"I'm going to ask again. What in the name of the queen are you on about?! I mean, you, give me, a chance to 'redeem' myself to you?"

"Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying."

"Okay, somepony wake me up. Am I in some sort of alternate dimension? Are you on something? I mean... Ah, I see. What's the catch?"

"Now I must ask for you to be more clear."

"You are somepony who always relies on first impressions. I never got on your good side. So why are you giving me this opportunity? There's something you're not telling me."

The Major put his hoof on his barrel, I think rolls his eyes (solid sky blue, can't tell), and makes a little gasp. "By whatever do you mean. It sounds like you're accusing me of giving you a couple tasks that you have no experience in that might get you killed. Tasks in which if you fail or refuse, I would take the governorship. Tasks in which if you succeed, I give you the position. Either way, getting rid of you from my sight for as long as I want." Stag looks right at Fang, "I think you're overthinking this much more than you have the right to." He said in a much more serious tone.

"W-well, you sure can be sinister. But I won't stand down and let you walk right on over me, what's it that you need me to do?"

"Oh, no. You see, I need you to understand that when I give you the assignment, you're committed to it. Going against it will be treason."

"Okay, you're acting strange. I knew you were never fond of me, but I never thought you would go so far. Why?"

"Not of importance. Do you make your vow to me or not?"

Sharp Fang wished his fang was grown back. Not so much that he wanted to hurt Stag, though he did. It was himself he wanted to hurt
because of what he did next.

"There's nothing you can give me that's too much for me. I vow on my name and honor that I'll do what you ask me to." He really hated himself for that.

"Very well, this first one is an easy one. The infiltration squad needs more changelings, you're heading out to the city later this afternoon. Your duty starts as of now, head down to Heart Breaker's tent, he is expecting you. Good luck."

Major Stag passed Fang and trotted out.

"Sir!" Fang called out.

The major paused "Yes captain?"

"What are you going to do to keep me from telling the other majors about your little scheme? Just out of curiosity."

Cute, he thinks he has the upper hoof.

"Humph, simple. This 'scheme' is not solely mine. It's a decision made by all of us."

Sharp Fang was baffled. He knew he wasn't an idol in the majors' eyes, but not every one of them thought so low of him, right?

"What! Why? Heart Breaker and Blissful Tears are actually not complete snobs like you!" he exclaimed.

"We had our own reasons. I have mine, and they have theirs." Stag begins to trot away, "And I'll forget about your little outburst there." he said before leaving.

***

Sharp Fang is trying to process what happened to him while he headed towards the infiltrators' part of the camp. He never thought Heart Breaker, the major in charge of the infiltrators, would have such audacity to take his turn to stamp on his honor and pride, as well as take away what is his by right. To vote in favor of the plan shows Heart's distrust in Fang. Fang always thought he was on good terms with the major. The major would usually be the easiest on him. Many times, he wished Heart was his commanding officer rather than Stag, but now he wished he was a major himself.

Sharp Fang entered Heart Breaker's tent. The major was sitting at his desk writing out a number of papers. Fang stepped in and made himself known.

"Ahem, Major Heart Breaker, I'm reporting for duty."

The major looked up from his work at him, "Ah, Captain, I see you accepted our offer."

"And I see the true colors of another major."

"Oh don't be like that. Trust me, it was for your own good."

"How? Enlighten me on how breaking my right to govern was for my own good."

"Because Fang, you are a changeling who acts on impulse rather than reason. You're a good military leader, not so much a political one."

"And how is this a good solution?"

"Well, it allows you to expand what you're limited to. Working with me will teach you my favorite virtue, patience."

"Patience? How will you teach me patience?"

"We're infiltrators, it's a requirement. Now, every changeling had done some infiltrator work in one way or another. What we do is much more than simply replacing a pony to collect love for a month or two. We create completely new identities, forage bonds, even collect intelligence. Did you know I was the first changeling to meet Princess Cadance? I was the one who collected her background information and helped in her capture. Now there are those who say I didn't collect enough of details on her background and that's how Twilight saw through the queen's disguise. They tend to forget that we already won. Celestia was defeated, we subdued the entire royal guard, Shining Armor was under our control, the city was ours. It just took that event that nopony saw coming. I mean come on, what was I-"

"Umm, Major. I think you're get off track." Sharp Fang interrupted.

"Oh, yes of course. My apologies, it's something you have to get used to with me. My point is that you must refine your patience and this assignment is the best way for you to do so."

"And why would you make me do this if you think I lack patience for this important assignment?"

"It's not so much I think you can't do this, it's that you need to prove to the other majors that you can. See, I wouldn't make you do this if I think you couldn't. The majors think otherwise of you. They think you're gonna get yourself killed. Major Stag will go on for hours on end on how you're an embarrassment to him and the army. He just won't stop going on and on that you're the problem for every mistake and you're expendable. Me and Blissful Tears try to assure the other majors that it's just not the case, but they're now listening to him. I proposed that you perform the assignment to prove that you have the patience and Blissful Tears wants you to work with him later to build your decision making skills. It was difficult to convince them to allow it, but they settled on that if you blow your cover, we kill you."

"So assuring."

"Don't worry about it, just look at these papers and choose an identity. Then discuss it with the others, acquaint yourself with their identities. The details are already made, just familiarize yourself with it."

Sharp Fang looked through the many papers on the "desk." Like most of the "furniture" in the camp, it was makeshift. It was a light plank of wood and held up by two pairs of sticks. Cloth covered up the "desk's" entirety, hiding the simplicity of the design. The stacks of papers seem to threaten the integrity of the "desk." The papers each detail a fake pony identity. Fang shifted through them until he found one which seemed easy for him to assume himself as. The premade gide stated it was a pegasus with a blue coat and sky blue mane and tail. The cutie mark was to be a rainy cloud representing its skill of being a weather pony. The paper also gives a brief history. It was born in Fillydelphia and was on vacation in a isolated cabin when the disaster occurred. Sharp Fang thought on its name. He came up with Light Mist.

Sometime later, Sharp Fang introduced himself to the five others. After sometime, they headed out towards the city. They reached it by the morning. The group was confronted by a few guards. The guards' armor was wood braced with iron studded with simple but beautiful materials. Their weapons were well crafted stone. One with a helmet, possibly the captain, stepped forward.

"What's your business here?" He demanded.

Heart Breaker, or Dashing Wind as his identity is, answered, "We're travelers and we're looking for a place to stay."

"And what do you have to offer in return?"

"Well, the earth ponies here can help you farm and me and Light Mist here can help tame the weather."

"Do you think we need more mouths to feed? Come up with something better if you want in."

Heart Breaker was taken a little bit back by that, but quickly recovered, "On our travels, the weather is out of whack. It must be tiring for your pegasi to tame it, and we have a pegasus that has his cutie mark dedicated to the task. Besides, the earth ponies can farm more than their fare share."

One of the pegasi guards whispers something into the captain's ear. The captain looks back at the others and back at the disguised changelings.

"Very well, welcome to Trot."