The next town was a place called Chargerton. Lahkranaz wasn't familiar with the medium-sized city, so he asked Gaffer. "It's only home to the Chargerton Stampede- the biggest outdoor show in Equestria," Gaffer replied in excitement.

"Well, the past two years, they were moved to Canterlot due to renovations," C-Stand said.

"But now it's back!" Gaffer giggled. "Oh, there's no place like home."

"Canterlot was nice," Cornelius called as he hopped from the carriage he rode throughout the flight, "But the cleanliness and spires do no justice to the grime and dirt of the Stampede."

"Would it be possible to see the show?" Lahkranaz asked.

"Yeah, we can when it begins next month."

Damn, Lahkranaz thought, by then I'd have enough power to crush this place... Hm... maybe I could just hold off the revenge and check out this outdoor show.

Maybe...

---

They arrived at the theatre. It was the least ornate one yet, whereas Stalliongrad looked fresh, like a brand-new coat of paint, and Trottingham looked like old, preserved architecture.

This theatre in particular looked aged, but not preserved, though when Gaffer tried testing some of the seats, there was no squeak.

"Eh, I guess that's one thing this dump has going for it," Gaffer quipped as he stood up in the currently empty theatre.

"And the acoustics. That's still well-designed in this place," C-Stand added.

"Well what the hell's going to damage the padding on the walls?" Gaffer asked.

"Moths? Fire?" Lahkranaz suggested.

"Changelings?" C-Stand said, which almost made Lahkranaz flinch, "Nah, if there was a fire, I doubt there would've been enough care to rebuild the place at all. It's like they're doing the bare minimum for maintenance."

"It still works, and that's good enough for me," Cornelius commented as he rose his head from the inside of his piano. He was checking to make sure it still played like an instrument should, as flight and landing could potentially cause damage.

"Not much care for acoustics, Cor?" C-Stand asked.

"Eh, I do care about it, but any amount is good enough for me- especially compared to bare concrete walls," Cor replied, "It's like the difference between digital and vinyl records. I've heard ponies rave on about how old records are way way better, but I just don't get it."

"Yeah," Gaffer said, "Why care about the difference of music storage when you're the source of the music?"

"Yeah," Cor chuckled, "That's probably what makes me the most useless opinion on that sort of thing."

"Although speaking of Changelings," Gaffer continued, "I never really heard the story on that thing that happened in Canterlot."

Lahkranaz tried so hard to refrain any emotional reaction to it, aside from what might be understandable on pony terms. In this case, he couldn't think of anything.

"It was a Royal Wedding," Cornelius replied, "I was in town at the time. I was told I was considered for musical provision, but they brought in a DJ and this lovely mare from Ponyville."

"How lovely are we talking here?" C-Stand teased.

"That yellow coat, that flowing pink mane, dude," Cor explained, "I dunno, I've got a soft spot for long manes, I guess. 'Specially ones that are used to hide the eyes."

C-Stand and Gaffer looked at each other, then they both started laughing. Lahkranaz couldn't help but laugh as well.

"Oh come on!" Cor shouted as his face flushed red, "I'm being humble about this. She's a hell of a composer. She got birds to do the music! I don't know anypony who could do that."

"You do realise she's probably older than you, right?" C-Stand asked.

Lahkranaz suddenly thought about the flowing pink mane... could it have been that one pony he was about to capture before the Rainbow one kicked him in the face?

He remembered that aura. It was conflicted, tied back so not even he could see it easily. He wanted to tear that aura out just to see what it was like. The shyness piqued his curiosity something fierce at the time... but she was out of her element in that fight. He didn't want to see that mare again, neither on the battlefield, nor in peacetime.

"Cor and Pink-Mane, sitting in a tree," Gaffer cracked.

"Shut up, Gaffer," Cor chuckled before continuing his scanning on the piano.

"So what happened?" Lahkranaz asked. "At Canterlot, I mean."

"Well, there were a couple of Changelings that came along my place- my parents own a spire there, of course they do- and they took one long look at me... and then just moved on."

"Wait, they just moved on?" Lahkranaz asked, "I... I heard changelings were rather savage."

"Yeah, I've heard that too," C-Stand added, "They just tackled anypony they saw."

"Well, maybe my lunch had garlic in it. I dunno," Cor said.

Lahkranaz deep-down knew why the changelings didn't go after the pianist. First off, they didn't experience this pony's music. Secondly, he wouldn't want to touch this pianist's aura with a stick.

The doors were opened by the working ushers. Everyone glanced at each new source of light and air being opened.

"Well, it's getting close to showtime. You guys go do what you do best," Cor commented."

"You too, sir," C-Stand replied, "Break a leg."

"I think that's only for actors," Cor said, "But thanks anyway."

Together, Lahkranaz, Gaffer, and C-Stand left through the backstage.

C-Stand and Gaffer stopped when they noticed Lahkranaz remained close to the stage, and they asked "There's this great bar two blocks away, aren't you coming?"

"Nah," Lahkranaz replied, "I can't take my salt well, remember?"

"Oh right, don't want to be joining any games of Sociables, eh?" C-Stand jabbed, much to Gaffer's amusement.

Lahkranaz sarcastically laughed in response. "Anyway, take care, eh?"

"Always do, man," Gaffer replied. At that, the two stagehands left the greenroom.

Lahkranaz walked to the greenroom to wait for the show to start proper. Once he began hearing the introduction, he gripped at a chair with his teeth and carried it to the backstage area behind the curtains.

From there, he sat down and watched... and listened... and relished the power.

---

If Lahkranaz could use one word to describe Ponyville, the word would be "Expensive." Nearly every building looked custom-designed and built by the most artistically inclined architects. Every one of them reminded the changeling of the overabundance of ponies who seemed to take everything for granted. They didn't seem to know what sacrifices were made to make their society what it is. They didn't even seem to care.

They lowered, and Gaffer was the first to pipe up.

"Wait, there's no theatre in Ponyville. Where are we supposed to set up shop?"

"An interesting interrogative!" Cornelius jokingly shouted as he left his carriage. Being an Earth pony, the pianist was not bestowed with the gift of flight like the three pegasi stagehands, "The answer is yes."

"Yes?" Lahkranaz asked.

"Yes," Cornelius almost broke down from there. "I'm sorry, you're right, Gaffer. There's no theatre like the others. However, there is a stage near the foal school- and I like the acoustics of an open field."

Gaffer and C-Stand exchanged glances. Lahkranaz could tell by the pianist's aura that there was something else about Ponyville.

He had to assume the brother had something to do with it.

They arrived early, as the hotels at Chargerton had no vacancies, and there was another show to perform soon after Cornelius and his crew. As a result, they left for Ponyville early. That left them with a full day to waste on whatever there was to do at Ponyville.

There appeared to be a lot to do, given the expensive-looking status of almost every building. It was like they were large-scale models of doll houses fillies would play with, except with working plumbing.

"Hey Grip," C-Stand said, "There's a video store over there. Let's see if that Exegesis movie is there."

"Actually, I met the writer of the screenplay about a month ago. He said Kurt had a hoof in its production.

"If you're volunteering to go, then go for it. Gaffer and I are eyeing some mares over there," C-Stand replied with a grin.

"Make sure they're single," Cor said, "I don't want to have to bail you out."

At that, the two teams of two went their separate ways. Cor and Lahkranaz entered the rather small video store and greeted the clerk at the desk- who appeared to be watching a movie.

"Do you have the Exegesis of Frozen Waters in stock?" Cornelius asked.

"It'd be under Documentaries over there," the clerk replied as he pointed a hoof toward one of the shelves so obviously labeled 'DOCUMENTARY'.

"Thank you kindly," Cor said as he and the disguised changeling headed for the section.

"I've been meaning to ask, actually," Lahkranaz said as he and Cor searched the shelves, "Why is he called C-Stand?"

"The C stands for Cob," Cornelius replied, "That's really it. You didn't know?"

Lahkranaz shook his head. After two beats, he tapped a hoof on one of the film cases. "Got it," he announced.

He pulled out the case. The front cover had what appeared to be a crystalized- or frozen- droplet of water. Aside from the title in an old-timey-looking font, there was nothing else to make of it.

"Interesting cover," Cornelius said.

"You know what your brother did for this film?"

"Silver- the writer, that is- said he was a source and a bodyguard."

"Really?"

"Well, I guess it's all Kurt's ultimately good at," Cor muttered.

Lahkranaz's eyebrows perked up at the comment, "What's that supposed to mean?"

"He got his cutie mark from fighting bullies," Cornelius confessed, "The Royal Guard made an exception with him and trained him almost immediately after that. They planned to give him a career on a silver platter, in a way."

"What happened?"

"Well, he just vanished one day, and I never saw him for a few months until he was called back to take care of a problem for the Princesses."

"Kurgan Indrik?"

Cor nodded, "It was then that I wanted to feel ashamed, actually. I mean... a killer for a brother, you know?"

"Why isn't he in jail if he's a killer?" Lahkranaz asked, "No offense intended, but..."

"The guards never explained it properly. Frankly, they always wanted to avoid the subject. First they're trying to arrest him, next they're avoiding all contact, then they want to take him down for good. Nothing ever happens."

Lahkranaz didn't know what to say. These ponies, he found, weren't that terrible.

"Can Changelings see our souls?" Cor asked, "I mean, I doubt any pony would know, but I just wonder."

Lahkranaz nodded, urging the pianist to continue.

"We know changelings take the form of friends and loved ones and absorb that love, right? Kurt's the greatest brother a guy could ask for, really. Why didn't those changelings attack at the time?"

Lahkranaz knew the answer even before he officially met the pianist, but he couldn't say. Some insane part of his mind wanted him to say.

"I'm not sure if I'm the best pony around to play 'therapist', mind you," Lahkranaz commented.

Reluctantly, Cornelius smiled, "No, but thanks for taking the rant. I mean, I know I just hired you before the Stalliongrad show, but you taking the heat means a lot."

"Hey, what are friends for?" Lahkranaz asked as he raised the movie case. Somehow, he meant it. "Come on, let's get the others and watch this movie.

---

Lahkranaz woke up early in the morning. He had fallen asleep almost immediately after the film was over. He knew everything that was shown there already- except for the whole situation with the Wendigos, and the madness of the old Queen of Equestria.

He wanted to meet this Frozen Waters someday. A real immortal, with real memories of times long past. What kind of aura would this creature have?

He rose silently from the sofa in the Bed & Breakfast in Ponyville, only to find that he was the only one who dozed off on the sofa. Every pony had retired to their rooms instead.

It would be an hour or so before anyone would reasonably wake up, so the disguised changeling left the building.

The smell of morning dew reached his snout. He figured the water came from the nearby mountains.

With a deep breath, Lahkranaz took to the skies. He then silently and lazily soared around the clouds.

It was good to fly. At the moment, Lahkranaz realized that he had taken such a gift for granted. Pegasus ponies comprise a measly third of the entire Equestrian population. Few changelings also seemed to survive the blast from that humiliating defeat.

He had taken his continued ability to live for granted. As far as he knew, his proud, beautiful Queen was dead. All of this humiliation and loss were caused by ponies, he thought, so why am I having second thoughts?

The actions of few shouldn't penalize many. Only the Queen seemed to do any real damage. It's all the ponies that had their unnaturally positive auras. They had those auras because of ignorance. They didn't know that everything in the film was true. Hell, some don't even want to believe it's true.

Lahkranaz suddenly wondered who the real Grip was- what his ambitions were. He wondered if they had found the unconscious body yet- or even if the body was unconscious.

He felt regret. At the time, he enjoyed snuffing that pony's positive aura, but now... now, he felt like he should've tried things differently. Maybe disguise himself as another potential stagehand that Cornelius could've hired. No... he, C-Stand, and Gaffer were plenty enough... but there had to be another way...

The changeling's thought process ceased when a blur shot past his field of vision. His head twisted as he flew to try to spot whatever flew like a bullet.

He spotted the source... and he couldn't believe his terrible luck.

It was that rainbow-maned pegasus who kicked him in the face.

"Hey," the pegasus said as she almost instantly shot to the disguised changeling's side, "Early fly, huh?" She asked.

"Yeah," Lahkranaz replied as he tried not to try to strangle the mare where she flew.

"Name's Rainbow Dash, You look like you're not from around here."

"I'm Grip," Lahkranaz replied, "I'm a stagehand for Cornelius."

"Oh, the pianist?"

"Yeah, him."

"I heard he's good," she said.

"Oh," Lahkranaz replied. "The best."

"Eh, piano music isn't my kind of thing," Rainbow-mane said.

There was a pause as they flew over what appeared to be a pond. Lahkranaz really really wanted to strangle the rainbow-maned one.

"... But," she continued, "I did knock on something I hadn't tried before. Maybe I'll check it out."

"It's an outdoor show," Lahkranaz said.

"Really?" Dash asked, "I thought it was a ticket show."

"I guess the Mayor or someone paid for it."

Lahkranaz really really really wanted to strangle the rainbow-maned one.

Shockingly, he managed to resist any signs of resentfulness by the time Dash said "Well, here's my stop," and flew down to a large hollowed-out tree. By the time she was out of sight, Lahkranaz sighed in relief.

"Damn, that was close," Lahkranaz muttered.

He slowed flight and reared to land in the middle of a park. The golden hour was in effect, with the sun above the horizon, but hidden primarily by the mountains to the East. The effect made a sharp, but beautiful contrast between the sky and the earth.

"Asylum," he whispered as he watched the marvel.

"What is Asylum?" A voice asked.

"Gah!" Lahkranaz flinched and spun around to see who asked that. There was a white mare with a curly purple mane. At least, that's what he could catch in the relative darkness. She appeared to be geared with a clear-canopy umbrella.

"Oh, I apologize," she said, "I didn't mean to startle."

"No, it's alright," Lahkranaz replied.

"What is Asylum, though, if you don't mind my asking?"

"Oh, uhm," Lahkranaz wanted to come up with a good enough lie, "It's this place I... came up with."

"Oh?" The mare asked, obviously curious to know more.

"Yeah, I'm uh... writing a story. It's ah... about a pony who's looking for a land beyond anything- and he's calling it Asylum."

"Why mention it now then?" The mare asked.

"Because I'm starting to believe that Asylum does exist," Lahkranaz replied. Wow, he thought, I managed to come up with that much trite?

"I'd like to read this story when it's done," the mare commented, "Oh where are my manners? I'm Rarity."

"La-" Crap, almost spilled my name, he thought. "Sorry, My name's Grip."

Rarity gave a confused expression that even Lahkranaz could see in the darkness, who shrugged in response.

"What brings you here, anyway?" Rarity asked.

"I'm a stagehand for Cor."

"Oh, Cornelius Foalington?" Rarity asked, "I've met his brother, but not him."

"Ah," Lahkranaz said, "Yeah, I know of Kurt."

"A brutish stallion to be sure," she gossiped, "But he really cared about his brother when he went missing."

"I never heard about this," Lahkranaz commented, "The 'gone missing' factoid."

"Well, I shouldn't be one to judge. I don't know Kurt well enough beyond what I have seen of him. Anyway, when is the show?"

"This afternoon," Lahkranaz replied, "Seven, to be exact."

Wait a second, he thought as the golden hour began to end and sunlight began to pour on the town. This Rarity mare was among the six that he had tried to fight.

Do they all live in Ponyville? Oh Chrysalis, I think I need to get out of here... No, I can't abandon this power... I can't abandon Cor.

"Howdy, Miss Rarity," came another voice, "I hear you two talkin' about one Cornelius Foalington."

It was a dark red pony with a graying mane and beard, and a burgundy fedora. On his back, an old- yet well-preserved guitar was slung.

"How do you do?" Rarity asked.

"And to you," the old grizzled stallion replied with a gentlemanly tip of his hat. He then noticed the disguised changeling, "Ah, a stagehand. The most valuable of ponies in my books." The elder held a hoof out. "I'm Floyd Gilmare, pleasure to meetcha."

Lahkranaz reluctantly accepted the hoof and shook it. In the back of his mind, he wondered why this pony arrived at that point in time. It seemed to be a damn miracle- let alone a coincidence. "Grip... I've heard of you, actually, from my coworkers."

"Oh really? Nothing bad, I hope," the guitarist laughed.

"Actually," Lahkranaz said, "They were suggesting a joint concert with you and Cor."

Floyd blinked as if he heard one of the most outlandish ideas in the history of existence. A second blink, and he began to move again. "Two completely different styles, two completely different instruments, and two completely different musicians. I'm not sure if that would get a good audience."

Rarity took the stagehand's side on this one. "Well, that is what cooperation is about, right?"

Floyd nodded, "Yeah. It's not like I'm going to join in the show I was plannin' to watch anyway. Maybe I can meet with the guy and see if he and I can build a song list to play for an audience without sounding... off-key... or schizophrenic."

"Well, good day to you, gentlemen. I must see Fluttershy about something urgent," With that, Rarity left the two to their own devices. Floyd with the guitar, and Lahkranaz with whatever the hell he was still wearing.

"She's a real flirt," Floyd said, "Way out of my league, though."

"What kind of mare would be?" Lahkranaz asked.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Floyd looked almost insulted.

"Uh... Exactly what the words say?" Lahkranaz replied after a nervous pause.

Floyd's grin returned as quick as lightning. "I'm jus' messin' with you, buddy. See, my kind of lady would be one around my age. Princess Celestia, maybe. I remember seeing photos of that Changeling Queen from the invasion," Floyd nodded slowly as if he was digging the hell out of what he was imagining.

Lahkranaz smiled. He didn't feel insulted that this old codger pony even saw the beauty of Her Majesty, Queen Chrysalis. Every Changeling at least once in their lives thought about how beautiful the Queen was.

"Oh, You saw the pictures too?" Floyd asked with a knowing grin.

Lahkranaz simply nodded. This was responded by Floyd lightly punching the disguised changeling in the shoulder.

"Don't be tellin' any Royal Guards or Canterlotians I said that, though," he replied, "In fact, best not mention it around the Elements of Harmony wielders either."

The Elements of Harmony? Lahkranaz thought. He was unaware that he was making a confused expression.

"Elements of Harmony, as in the six elements?" Floyd asked.

Lahkranaz remembered the claim- sorry, truth about how the Elements of Harmony came to being. He didn't remember anything about wielders, however.

"Rarity over there, she's the mistress of Generosity," Floyd explained, "Hell, all six of the users live here in Ponyville. Common knowledge across Equestria, you know?"

"Well, I guess I've been living under a rock."

"Or under Cor's piano. Anyway, I'll be staying at the Bed & Breakfast if you want to talk about other things. I need to go buy a room from Patty and Stell."

Lahkranaz nodded and gave a casual salute as the old stallion trotted off. The salute was returned in-full by the geezer. Now, Lahkranaz officially had nothing to do until the late afternoon... except maybe explore the town.

He spent that time exploring. He met a good-hearted pink mare who bounced around the place like she was made of rubber. A good kid, to be sure, but Lahkranaz didn't like her. There was a fine line between ignorance and trying too hard. There was also this small purple dragon who seemed to have a lot to say about Cornelius's brother.

"Didja know he fought a Manticore?" The baby dragon asked.

Lahkranaz blinked in disbelief, "A Manticore?" he asked. It would take an entire platoon of changelings to bring one down- which happened more often than not. Manticores are attracted to the scent of the food Changelings process.

"What, by himself?"

The dragon nodded. Lahkranaz pondered how it was possible.

"I don't believe you," the stagehand plainly said. This resulted in the dragon giggling like a maniac.

"Well, ask him about the scars if you ever meet him," the dragon replied with a grin. "Scared Fluttershy pretty badly the first time she saw him, though."

Amidst the conversations he was dragged into, he made a stunning realization: These ponies were a people- just like gryphons, zebras, sea ponies, rhinos, and changelings.

He felt nervous about his plan to destroy the land the more contact he had with the Equestrian citizens. He instead tried to avoid unneeded conversations until the show.

He did manage to meet this Fluttershy the baby dragon mentioned. It was that same pink-maned mare Cornelius talked about, and the changeling almost attacked before the rainbow one knocked him out.

Instead of finishing what he started, he dropped a line that Cornelius was interested in meeting her. The reaction was... well, it didn't contradict what he had already seen back in Canterlot.

"Yeah, I think I just blew Cor's chances," Lahkranaz muttered as he crossed the stream to head back to town. While he laughed to himself, he also felt kind of bad for potentially ruining an interesting match-up.

Ah well, he thought, I'm a soldier.

After a fair number of hours, it began. The show was- as always- fantastic. Surprisingly enough, the lack of walls on the outskirts of town really served in Cor's favour. The soft echo of the sound escaping into the distance seemed to add to the flavour of the music. It was a kind of salt for the changeling; a taste additive, in a way.

Once the show ended, Cornelius rose and bowed to the audience. Poor Lahkranaz couldn't stop bobbing his head to the music that had only stopped playing a minute ago. Eventually, he forced himself to stop, and planned to rendezvous with the team at the Bed & Breakfast after putting the equipment away.

Floyd was there, talking with Cornelius. "Good news," Cor said, "Floyd and I are thinking of doing a charity show at Stalliongrad."

---

The next day was spent waiting at the Bed & Breakfast. The one called Rainbow Dash darted off to deliver a message to Stallios of Stalliongrad, informing the big cheese of the charity idea.

While waiting, everyone gathered to talk with Floyd. Apparently, the geezer's mind was one that seemed worth tapping into. Lahkranaz could understand why. Elders are valued for their stories of experience and attained wisdom.

The discussion very quickly turned to the invasion. It was the only thing still worth talking about, apparently. Lahkranaz was used to it at this point, so he didn't feel as nervous as he did before. However, he wasn't expecting the conversation that came from when C-Stand asked if the guitarist ever saw a Changeling prior to the invasion.

"I've met a changeling before," Floyd said, "A long time ago, when I was visiting a hospital in Gryphos on an international tour."

Lahkranaz's heart stopped at the mention of 'changeling'. Part of him was scared to death that he had been found out.

"The changeling was in the hospital among other patients. The characters there never seemed keen on turning anyone away. Great place, truly." Floyd twisted open his water bottle and drank a few gulps. "I volunteered there until it was time for my show. Great time to practice, and I see music as a medicine for the soul."

Lahkranaz nodded. He saw everyone else seemed intent on listening.

"So during recreation, the doctors let me put on a private guitar show for the patients. As I played, I noticed the changeling began to look healthier and healthier."

Lahkranaz's heart stopped again. This might blow his cover.

"I learned that there are creatures who physically react to music," Floyd said, "I've met ponies, gryphons, even a rhino who seemed to have a deeper reaction to the music than most others. It was like they were being healed by the tunes I played.

Good, non-changeling examples. Lahkranaz felt a stress get pulled off of his mind. He also couldn't help but notice that the auras of his companions changed only to awe.

"So what you're saying is you're so good with that guitar that you can heal creatures with it," Gaffer said.

"Is that the only thing you took from that? The hell's wrong with you?" Floyd laughed. C-Stand and Lahkranaz laughed, while Cornelius lightly punched Gaffer's shoulder.

"What I meant to say is my sister's got the flu," Gaffer replied in a pseudo-annoyance, "I was thinking you could do your witch doctor business."

C-Stand continued laughing. Lahkranaz seemed confused at the mention of "Witch doctor." He wasn't sure what the specific title meant.

"A gift of the listener, I guess," Floyd replied. He didn't seem to care for the retort now. "But this thing's a double-edged sword. The music energizes you, but that stuff's got to go somewhere... Most creatures I met were able to jog for an hour, but the changeling weren't able to expel that excess... energy properly."

"What happened?" Gaffer asked with a dopey half-smile on his face. Floyd didn't respond. Gaffer's smile slowly vanished. "Oh."

Lahkranaz looked at the other three, and noticed C-Stand was the only one staring back.

"Grip, is it?" Floyd asked, "You also have this gift?"

"I guess," Lahkranaz replied, "I felt like a million bits when I heard Cor play in Stalliongrad. That's where it started, actually."

"Yeah," C-Stand said, "You also seemed to push through a salt hangover in record time during Cor's practice in Trottingham."

Floyd slowly nodded, and leaned closer to Lahkranaz. The grizzled one planted a hoof on the disguised changeling's shoulder. "You'll want to be careful, Grip. I'd prefer to see that poor changeling be an example of the worst-case scenario."

Lahkranaz nodded, "I'm not hospitalized. I should be fine."