The show was over. Lahkranaz's stomach shivered in glee. Never before had he felt so alive. This energy would last him for a long time... but it would not be enough for his objective. He needed more. He absolutely needed more. On his way out of the auditorium, he spotted a poster advertising the tour of shows. According to it, there were three more shows he could reach.

Would that be enough? The changeling captain questioned as he tapped on the poster to memorize the locations. Trottingham, Chargerton, and Ponyville were the last towns on the list. Whether or not it would be enough didn't matter right now. He might as well get as much of this awesome energy as he can. That meant he needed to reach every show. That meant he needed bits to go to each show. He got the previous ten bits by taking advantage of the hospitality of a farmer. He had doubts such a twist of luck would happen again. Even if it did, the captain didn't want to rely on generosity. At the same time, he couldn't try for a job. That would anchor him to a spot in order to avoid suspicion.

Lahkranaz looked back to the auditorium, then scanned his surroundings for anypony watching. Eventually, he spotted a restroom- which he entered.

Once inside, he took a stall and pretended to do his business. There were two other stallions using the facilities.

Eventually, he heard two sets of hooves vanish out the door. Lahkranaz shape-shifted into a stagehand he spotted on his way into the theatre and pondered if this was a good idea. It was risky, shifting into an immediately familiar face. What if he came across the very one he copied? The Changeling captain breathed deeply to calm his nerves. He was about to leave the restroom stall when he heard a single set of hooves enter. Lahkranaz peeked carefully over the stall door, and thanked his lucky stars.

It was the very stagehand he copied. A strong-looking pegasus who appeared used to menial labour. What were the chances? Lahkranaz asked. At last, he would bring out his military training to dispose of this creature. The stagehand's aura was remarkably positive. The captain slowly and silently opened the stall door, and moved up close to the oblivious stagehand. As he neared, he noticed that the back of the pony's black shirt contained a schedule for Cornelius Foalington's tour.

After getting into a more proper striking position, Lahkranaz grabbed the pony by the mane and mouth. The pony tried to shout, but was muffled to near-perfect silence by the changeling's arm. Lahkranaz's blue pupilless eyes glowed as he began to sap the pony's energy. All of the positive energy he could possibly get. The poor pony cringed in agony as every inch of positive energy was being removed.

The pony eventually tried to resist, so Lahkranaz thrust the pony's head into the porcelain wall. The force of the blow scrambled the creature's senses, but it did not damage the wall in any way. Lahkranaz repeated until the pony went limp. He checked the entrance in case another civilian arrived, then hoisted the stagehand over his back.

After stealing the stagehand's clothing, Lahkranaz disposed of the body by stuffing it in the back of the bathroom closet- which would normally be used by the janitor. After hiding the body appropriately, he cleaned himself up, put on the clothes, and left the bathroom. As he walked down the hallway, he checked the khaki trousers for anything in the pockets. Amidst the dirt and lint, Lahkranaz was fortunate enough to find a pouch containing money.

"Just like Gryphos all over again," he muttered as he trekked down the theatre hall toward the backstage rooms. The corridors were ornate and expensive-looking, such is to be expected from an establishment in this giant, expensive tree. Eventually, he found a black industrial door that was labeled "BACKSTAGE".

"Grip, where were you?" Another stagehand asked as he popped out of the door Lahkranaz was about to enter.

"Oh, bathroom," Lahkranaz replied. He wasn't sure if he copied the pony's voice properly. "Sorry."

"Well let's go. Cor's piano needs to get moved to the carriage so we can make the next show."

"Got it," Lahkranaz replied as he followed the creature to the stage. Along the way, he spotted other stagehands in different uniform. Lahkranaz then realized he copied a personal stagehand. His nervousness spiked.

He wanted to ask questions, something to get him more information, but he couldn't figure out how to word such questions without sounding suspicious. The stagehand and disguised changeling arrived at the stage, where a third pony was waiting.

"I'll take this end," the first stagehand said as he trotted to the back of the piano, "You and Gaffer get those ends."

"Got it, C-Stand," Gaffer confirmed.

Lahkranaz reached down to get a good grip on his end. The other two stretched their wings, ready to flap. Following their cue, Lahkranaz stretched his own stolen wings- which easily disguised his rather powerful changeling wings.

Together, they lifted the piano into the air.

"This way," C-Stand called over the sound of the rapidly flapping wings. The trio of stagehands carried the piano off the stage and toward what appeared to be a hanger. A large carriage lay in wait with all doors opened and ready to take the piano. Loading the carriage was rather simple. After the moving was all said and done, Lahkranaz was not sure what was going to happen next.

"Come on, newbie," Gaffer beckoned Lahkranaz to follow. The two stagehands in the black shirts with the cream and navy blue logos took flight out of the hangar, followed closely by the carriage.

Lahkranaz panicked and shot off after them. He couldn't count his lucky stars enough. He didn't plan to take the lucky streak for granted, however. He knew he still needed to be careful. Still, what were the chances? he thought, The great changeling goal seemed ever closer now.

He was quite fit to fly. He had been practicing for the invasion of Equestria for a good few months, and he spent the majority of the mission flying and waiting for the barrier to fall.

"You se... ener... usual," C-Stand called.

In the sound of clouds whizzing past, the disguised changeling didn't hear much at all. "What's that?" Lahkranaz asked.

"I said," C-Stand flew in closer, "You seem more energetic than usual."

"Oh!" Lahkranaz replied, "I guess it was the music!"

"Yeah, Cor's a hell of a talent, isn't he? You know, his sister works in the Canterlot Garden."

"Oh really?" Lahkranaz asked.

"Yeah, I've never seen her, but she must look fine if she's working at the Palace. Know what I mean?"

Lahkranaz forced laughter, but it sounded believable, even alongside C-Stand's laughter.

Gaffer came close to join in the conversation.

C-Stand continued. "I know he's got a brother, but I never heard much about him."

"You ever try asking Cor about it?" Lahkranaz asked.

"No way, dude," Gaffer replied.

"Why not?" Lahkrnaz asked. There was no immediate response, so he asked again, "Seriously, why not?"

"The Guard's not keen about the brother. That's all I know," Gaffer replied.

"So a fugitive," Lahkranaz said, wondering if the stallion who wouldn't shut up was actually right.

"I don't know, dude. It just seems weird. I'm not sure if we should mention it around Cor."

"Then we shouldn't," Lahkranaz replied, "I mean, there's that option, right?"

"Well, I'm a curious stallion, I am," Gaffer said.

"How about we just concentrate on flying?" Lahkranaz said.

"Yeah, Grip's right," C-Stand said with an air of disappointment, "Let's just not bother the guy about it. We've got a tour to pull through."

The conversation went silent from there. Lahkranaz was rather surprised that he was managing such a cover. He wondered when the body of the real Grip would be found, or what would happen from there.

"What was his brother's name, anyway?" C-stand asked. "I'm not going to ask Cor about it, but I'm just wondering."

Gaffer didn't reply, neither did Lahkranaz. C-stand physically displayed disappointment."He sounds like a guy I'd like to meet," he said.

"What makes you so sure of that?" Lahkranaz asked.

"Well, Cor's a hell of a talented musician- especially at his age," C-Stand replied, "His big sister's a gardener at Canterlot Palace. I can only imagine what his big brother's good at."

Lahkranaz kept his nervousness to the back of his mind. This older brother character was currently a wild card. At least, it would be safe to assume as such. Such little information was available about this one. Heck, even the older sister was a greater public figure that intel on her seemed more readily available.

He pondered how he was going to get this Cornelius to play for more than just the next three shows. By his crude estimations, he would need more than twice as many shows-worth of this wonderful power in order to do anything substantial by himself.

Suddenly, he and everything around him seemed to shudder from some unseen force. The clouds suddenly rushed past faster than before. Lahkranaz identified this as the westerly wind stream- which seemed to be curved sharply south- a semi-rare occurrence. He had studied the map of Equestria long before the first invasion. He knew that the wind stream would take them straight to their next destination. There was only one town that would logically hold such a prestigious show: Trottingham.

It was big enough and it had the population. The only other town anywhere within the area that could try to rival its size was one of the larger settlements in Buffalo Territory.

Buffalos. Lahkranaz refrained contorting his features. The ponies continued to move in and settle on Buffalo land. He despised the displayed greed. He remembered many of the briefings from scouts that were sent into Equestria, how ponies seemed to live in such a utopia that it generated such positive auras the mere mention made his mouth water.

And yet... these ponies, with their perfect little society, felt they don't have enough. Lahkranaz's stomach turned in disgust. He felt for those buffalo; they were nomads like his hive. The Changelings moved all over the world, searching for little pockets- pockets laden with an overabundance of positive energy. As Equilibrium commanded, this was for balance.

At least... that's what his old history books said when he was learning how to be a changeling. Lahkranaz read every book the Changelings ever created, all ninety-three, and he never forgot a word. The books were the foundation for their society. They contained their objective, their purpose, their entire reason to exist. Eighty of them were detailed instructions from their God. The other thirteen contained hymns, songs, and stories of Changeling legends past. Lahkranaz loved the legends more than anything.

"Grip, you okay?" Gaffer asked.

"Huh?" Lahkranaz said.

"You look like you spaced out."

"Oh, I was just thinking."

"About what?" Gaffer asked.

"The Buffalo," The captain replied.

"Yeah, a lot of us think about the Buffalo," the pony said.

"Really?" Lahkranaz asked, "I always thought I was the only one. Never figured out why we started building settlements."

"Me neither. I mean, it was very clearly their land."

The captain blinked. He wasn't expecting such a response from a pony of all creatures. He wasn't expecting remorse, but Lahkranaz could see Gaffer's aura. There was remorse... real remorse.

"I feel... what's the word, ashamed?"

"Ashamed?" Lahkranaz repeated.

"Ashamed," Gaffer confirmed.

There was a pause. Lahkranaz was expecting a continuation, but it never came. He wasn't sure what to say. He wasn't sure if there was supposed to be anything to say. This pony just up and contradicted everything he received from any of his briefings, or from any of the reports the Queen's scouts divulged.

Too much positive energy on account of ignorance? The reports lied. Lahkranaz was shocked he had come across as many waves of negative energy at all as he did. It couldn't have been another changeling at-work either. He was the only one who went North toward Stalliongrad. He assigned himself to the musician, and everyone else around all corners of Equestria.

Maybe there were other survivors, who made their own rag-tag squad and decided on the same plan of action. That would be damn coincidental. Lahkranaz felt conflicted on that manner, as he would have all his plans ruined if another changeling got into the mix.

Who'd have thought? The Captain thought, the worst wild card in the bunch is my kin.

The flight continued with no more conversation. The Captain took the time to enjoy the wind in his synthetic mane, between the ears he technically didn't have. His insect wings were shielded by the false pegasus feathers he copied. Trottingham materialized into view beyond the clouds. They seemed a lot fluffier than the ones the convoy zipped passed along the way. The pegasi in the area seemed to take pride in their clouds.

Those abominable, perfect-looking clouds... Lahkranaz hated them. They weren't natural. They weren't beautiful. He hated everything ponies did to their surroundings. Looking at the obviously artificial clouds reminded the captain of why he almost immediately returned for another round with Equestria. He wanted to get back at that rainbow-maned one who humiliated him, and the insult to nature these ponies posed.

No, he told himself, Now wasn't the time to be angry or resentful. Such emotions slowly drain my energy. Such emotions are costly, and therefore useless in this assignment. I must be collected.

The carriage lowered through the clouds and found a landing zone outside of the theatre. The streets were empty of other carriages. As Lahkranaz landed with the two other dedicated stagehands, C-stand said, "After we unpack everything, why don't we hit that salt bar?" The stagehand pointed a hoof at a pub across the street from the theatre. "I heard Trottingham's got some classy stuff."

"Classy stuff, more like the source of some Trottingham wine," Gaffer added.

Lahkranaz simply shrugged in acknowledgement. Pubs are places to go and be merry. Positive auras would be plentiful there. He wasn't sure what salt or wine were.

The team unpacked the gear and piano and quickly set up shop in the theatre's greenroom. Lahkranaz didn't care to admire the massive amounts of custom platforms and costumes that remained in storage for future performances. Lahkranaz never familiarized himself with popular pony culture, so he didn't recognize anything.

"Gaffer, C-Stand," Cornelius called as he entered the greenroom, "Grip."

"Yeah Cor?" C-stand asked.

"Heard you guys were hitting the salt bar," the pianist replied, "Got space for one more?"

"Tell that to the Pub, sir," Gaffer said.

Cornelius smirked. "You dabble in salts often, Gaffer?"

"Why? Think you can outlast me?" the stagehand challenged.

Cornelius didn't reply. Instead, he asked, "When are you going?"

"Right now," Gaffer said as the trio gently placed the piano on the secure concrete floor.