The eastern city of Trot is filled with refugees from southern Saddle Arabia. They mostly are comprised of earth ponies with fair numbers of unicorns. The weather is controlled by only a handful of pegasi. Sharp Fang made note that the city guard is well trained as they are the surviving members of Saddle Arabia's army, but they're poorly equipped. The most treating thing about the force is their unicorn magic. The ponies were mostly part of Saddle Arabia's upper class. They aren't accustomed to the hard work. This makes things complicated because unlike northern Saddle Arabia, southern Saddle Arabia has earth ponies as members of the upper class. The upper class earth ponies have no experience in farming and related hard work. The buildings are beautifully designed, but are not being built fast enough. Many utility buildings remain unfinished. The city council meets in a shared house. Farms are in too few numbers and the land around is heavily forested. So much work needs to be done.

Sharp Fang was trotting down the streets. He couldn't help to notice that a lot of unicorns were sitting off to the side of the streets that seem to be working on something. They all were lined up sitting at the streets' sides huddled in small groups of two or three. He approached one. As he did, he looked over the unicorn stallion. The stallion was working on some sort of white material he wasn't familiar with. The unicorn was casting some sort of heat spell on the material as he chipped at it with a special kind of chisel that is clamped on his hoof and handled it with his other hoof that had been wrapped in old, worn rubber to protect it from the heat. As Sharp stared at the material, the unicorn startled him.

"What do you want!" The stallion snapped.

"Oh, what nothing, what gave you that idea?" Sharp stuttered.

"I can see your reflection staring at me though the porcelain."

"Porcelain? What's that?"

"You dense or something?"

"I must be. What's porcelain?"

"It's for fine pottery."

"This city has so much work to be done and you're working on simple pottery?"

"Hey!" the unicorn pointed at him with the chisel, "This is not just simple pottery! It's the most valued pottery in the world! It's the only thing we were ever good at." He went back to his work.

"You find working this pottery more valuable than building your own home. You do know that nopony is interested in your pottery for the time being right? For goodness sake, you don't even have a shop. Here you are working on it out in the streets."

"And who are you to make such judgments? Seriously, what's your name?"

"Light Mist and I'm apparently somepony much more sensible than you."

The unicorn continued his craft in silence.

"You got nothing to say to that?"

"He doesn't have to say anything." said his partner whom was working on her own piece.

"Just trying to figure out your stange line of reasoning. Society has collapsed and we must rebuild, but you all are here working on arts and crafts."

"We made a living of this! I like to see you try to-"

"Honey, don't argue with him. He's not worth the time." the stallion interrupted.

"Yes daddy." she responded.

They ignored everything else Sharp had to say and continued their work. He left with more questions than answers.

Later that night, the changeling infiltrators met in the cover of night on the outskirts of the city in an alleyway of two unfinished buildings. The Changelings remained in disguise in case of discovery, they will have a better time covering up the meeting.

"Okay, we are all here and the coast is clear. Let combine our gathered Intel and make a plan for the army." Major Heart Breaker began.

"Yes Major," one said, "I discovered that the guard keeps their equipment in a single building in the city's center. If an accident were to suddenly occur there, it would be very hard to recover."

"Good." Heart Breaker pointed to another, "You, what did you find?"

"Sir, I've heard that the guard are on edge over a group of bandits down south. The slightest provocation will have them leaving to fight them whether they're there or not. A rumor or two that they're intruding will leave the city defenceless."

"Great," Heart Breaker pointed to Sharp Fang, "What about you?"

"The ponies show a lack of interest in hard work. It's unlikely they'll put up a fight."

"Good, now I found out that the city's defences are also at a minimum at best, I mean, they don't even have a defencive wall. So the plan is simple. We'll lure the guards away with false reports of bandits. If any guards are left, we will sabotage their equipment. The ponies shouldn't fight back, but if they do, it won't be of a major concern. The lack of any other defences so this should be easy."

"Yes, but the unicorns are dangerous. The plan is simple, but if something goes wrong, we'll have severe consequences." said one.

"It was hard enough with Foalis Foalba and the earth ponies. Changeling magic doesn't compare to a unicorn's." another added.

"I understand, so we'll just not slip up" said the major.

"Easier said than done."

"The only true threat are the guards. The rest of them don't have the spine to try and fight. So as long we can get the guards out, we can frighten the populace into surrendering like in Sindhoof."

"A simple plan, tricky execution, and high stakes."

"Moving on, you," he pointed at Sharp Fang, "go to the army before dawn and relay the plan to the other majors."

"Yes sir."

"Good, now everypony else, work to execute the plan in the morning."

The meeting ended and the changelings went off. Sharp Fang left the city. He trotted through the surrounding forest towards the army's camp. After he made sure he wasn't followed, he undisguised himself.

He trotted into the busy camp while the moon was still up. The army was quickly constructing the catapults. He found Major Blissful Tears.

"Major!" He called out.

"Yes?"

"Captain Sharp Fang here to report on the infiltration status, sir."

"You can drop the formalities with me Captain."

"Apologies. I just figured you must not have any trust in me, Major."

"You're still mad about that?"

"Oh, that complete display of betrayal? Of course not. Whatever gave you the idea?"

"You don't get it do you? Major Stag has a serious problem and it stems from you."

"Mind clarifying?"

"He heard somepony make a sly remark on his name about your drunken charge. He was outraged. He was yelling on the top of his lungs that you, and I quote, 'have bucking humiliated him and you should pay for your recklessness and insolence.' He was in such a rage that I swear that his chitin started to turn red. He raged on with the fury of a thousand suns for nearly two hours. Finally Major Deep Scars made the deal with him so he would calm down. We all voted in its favor just so he would shut up."

"So you guys can't stand him either?"

"Well, that varies on your definition of tolerance."

"I see. Anyways, I'm here to give my report..."

Sharp Fang gave the report and plan of attack.

"I see. I will relay this to the other majors. In the meantime, I need you to get to training."

"Training? For what?"

"Well you see, I'm in charge of your other task."
Sharp's stomach dropped. Blissful Tears is in charge of the assaulters. They are the ones who are catapulted into the cities in the fire balls. A very dangerous task. Not just for the landing, but that he will be in the center of action.

"Yes, now you see why Stag allowed the deal. Talk with one of the assaulters and be prepared. I wish you luck."

Sharp spent the night trying to learn how to do the task. It's something that he needs a lot of practice, but has one night of discussion and a few hours of sleep. The sun shone high on the noon hour. The scouts confirmed that the guard took the bait. The attack is set in motion. Sharp Fang was set in the catapult. That five minutes was the longest and most tense five minutes he ever experienced.

"You ready?"

He nodded.

"Alright, FIRE!"