It had been almost a week since my first changeling encounter, and with every passing day, the teachers grew more and more paranoid. So far, the only one within the loop of this information, out of the teacher's boundaries, was me. It had only been by chance that I was there to see it. Maybe you can say life has a plan for everypony... anyway, forgetting about that. So far since the first encounter, two things have happened. The teachers, as well as Shadow Mark, have informed me to keep this confidential, and Charge changed his Physics/Science class to something more... appropriate. Changeling study.

Any way you take it, no changeling has yet to be found.

These guys are pro at hide and seek, Kill said, pointing out the obvious. Stealth level: Changeling.

---

For the past two hours, and three days, Mr. Charge has taught nothing but changeling study and this topic was getting old, especially when he told us to read the entire section of changeling magic... and a test. THIS WAS GETTING REALLY OLD.

It was like every other day, as any other day of this week, in my same old seat besides Ditzy and Vinetion... everything was normal as it was quiet... a bit too quiet, even for Charge’s class. Giving us yet another chapter about changelings to read, the bat winged pony sat behind his desk, staring at the entire class mercilessly, with intent to spot any abnormalities among us. Even Charge was paranoid. As for me? Oh, I was restless, utterly detesting the fact that I had to sit still, doing nothing more than reading.

EVEN I ADMIT, THIS IS BORING! Joy ranted, pulling at his face. Five times, Graze. Five. Times. FIVE TIMES WE’VE READ THIS SECTION.

I need to go to the bathroom, just trot off all this restlessness and take a--

“Graze, this is so boring!” Vinetion whispered beneath her breath, interrupting Kill as she slammed her head against the desk. “Ugh, changelings this, changelings that, what’s up with all these changeling things, anyway?”

“I don’t know,” I lied with a heavy sigh. “I just want this torture to end!” SLAM! One of Charge’s infamous, colossal sized textbooks gently kissed my face, knocking it back as all breath and thought departed my body. “Please, kill me.”

“Be quiet, Graze, or the next time I will use much more force. This goes for everypony in the class as well,” Charge announced, as his eyes scanned the class for any sign of movement.

Seriously, Graze... bathroom, now, Kill demanded, standing on my snout and begging. Please, we need to go.

I can do with a nice walk, Joy agreed.

From sitting on my haunches, I slowly raised my hoof to notify the teacher. And when I mean slowly, I mean one centimetre per second. Mr. Charge was like a predator, when he’s watching you, you either, one, move extremely slow so that he doesn’t recognize a thing, or two, pull it off fast like a band-aid, and get over the pain as fast as possible... and I disliked pain.

“Yes, Graze?” Dammit, Charge noticed me... wait, he noticed me and didn’t kill me! Yay!

HUZZAH! Both Kill and Joy cheered, slamming their hooves together.

“Yeah, I would like to use the bathroom,” I announced for the entire class to hear. Charge curiously raised an eyebrow as if he was waiting for something.

Manners, Graze, Joy advised, poking at my face.

“Oh yeah!” I exclaimed, realizing what I had forgotten. “Please?” I asked, quivering my lip with the most cute face I imagined possible, the puppy dog pout.

“That’s very disturbing,” Vinetion whispered to Ditzy, behind my back as the two snickered, withholding their laughter.

“Kinda cute... disturbingly cute,” Ditzy replied, whispering with a chuckled.

“Alright, Graze. Get on up here for the pass,” Charge said, rummaging through the drawers of his wooden desk with a green pass hung by a cotton red lining. Victoriously trotting through the narrow passage the desks provided, I occasionally skipped out of glee, given the privilege to use the bathroom. This was an honor, a gift from heaven coming from Silent Charge. “Listen carefully, Graze. Classes are in session, you see any roamers around the block, notify a teacher. There can only be one of each student. Do your business, make the school’s rounds, and come back,” he ordered, whispering at a low enough volume behind his wings. “If you see any students following you, or without a pass, call them out.” Okay, so maybe it wasn’t a gift, more like a duty. “Understand?” I nodded. “Good. Remember, Graze, don’t mention this to anypony, not even your friends.”

“Yes, sir.” I replied, but deep down in my mind, I knew I couldn’t lie to them... if they asked. If I told Ditzy, she would tell Carrot Top, who would tell Lyra and BonBon who would then tell Octavia, who would forward the information to Vinyl, who would obnoxiously, on a microphone, announce it to the entire school, being the only pony other than Shadow Mark who makes daily announcements over the intercom, and then once that’s done, utter chaos.

And the list goes on and on and on and on. Kill said, circling his hooves as they revolved around the other.

---

My walk throughout the school had been a fairly lonely one. No students, no teachers, no sound but the clopping of my hooves against the floor, and of course, my mind.

Well, isn’t this fun, being on patrol. Kill sarcastically said. There have been no changelings this entire week, no findings, no bugs. Can’t we just get some bug spray and terminate the bastards? Kill wondered, violently thinking of ways to kill them. Ugh, they are so creepy looking, just those eyes. Reminds of that fly we killed... or maybe it is! That sick thing must have reincarnated wanting its vengeance!

Do you ever stop talking? Joy asked the rambling pony. And it’s not a bug, it just looks like one. And we didn’t have to kill the fly, we could have just released the thing, or open a window, ya know?

Nopony, or bug, messes with our apple pie. He contaminated it, therefore death.

Having these two will never get old. They’re either like an old couple, always bickering with each other, or those pesky radio announcers that interrupt you during one of your favorite songs. Both annoying. Sadly, these two couldn’t die or be switched off. All I wanted to do was use the bucking bathroom.

Honestly, I’m sure I’m not the only pony who doesn’t ever use public toilets, it’s just one of those things about me. I use the bathroom as an excuse to get out of class, walk around, stretch my wings and wash my face, only to return to another session of boredom five minutes later.

Two classes down, and to my left were the glorious bathrooms, both mare and stallion aside the other. An ocean blue door for the mares, and a pink, frilly door... for the stallions. Someponies are just terrible at pranks.

Entering the bathroom, I leaned upon the pearlescent sink with the support of my hindlegs. Watching into the mirror, I basked in my moment of vanity, only to view behind me, a mare. Rarity to be exact.

Please don’t scream. Please please please, don’t scream! Joy begged, watching the mare’s eyes dilate as she hyperventilated, her mouth becoming wider and wider with deeper breaths. Shescreamed. Her voice echoed through the walls of the entire school as ponies every heard her blood curdling cry for help.

---

“Well, looks like Rarity found a pimple,” Twilight said, enticed within the contents of Mr. Charge’s books.

“Mhmm!” Pinkie happily replied with a nod.

---

To my avail, nopony answered to her banshee mating call. “I’m going to speak to the principal about this,” Rarity warned, with the intent to get me expelled.

Worried as ever, Joy looked at Kill for support, who at the time, was staring at Rarity. IS THIS REALLY THE TIME TO BE CHECKING OUT MARES?!

Shhh, shut the buck up... something’s not right here, Kill replied, inspecting the snow white unicorn.

Kill, now is not the time for you to be checking out mares! Joy exclaimed, scolding the other half.

Shhh, man! Be quiet! It’s not Rarity I’m looking at. Isn’t there supposed to be a hall pass around her neck? Kill asked.

“Hey, Rarity, before you take me to Shadow Mark, may I ask one question?” I asked, stalling for the moment.

“No,” she flatly replied.

“Good, then I hope you don’t ask for mercy,” I responded, pointing to the mirror, a view of myself and a bug-like pony through its reflected surface. “Changeling.”

“Shit.”

“Indeed,” I cracked my neck and hooves, preparing for the beatdown of a lifetime.

---

Having given the beatdown of a lifetime, I dragged the unconscious bodies of three changelings by their tails in my mouth, along the tiled floor of the school with a bloody tissue up my snout, and a limp. Apparently, changelings can call for backup by buzzing their wings, once out of disguise. You learn something new everyday, in a very painful way.

Well, that was fun, Kill laughed.

Yeah, besides the whole, “Getting your face bucked into a wall and what not,” Joy admitted, revealing not one of my very best moments. Yeah, fun is the right word.

Hey, we wouldn’t have made it out alive if we just slammed their heads on the sink, in the first place, like I told you to, hmph! Kill retorted, folding his hooves, acting like a Rarity with his snout to the general direction of the ceiling. But ‘no,’ don’t listen to Kill, only listen to Joy and talk it out.

Listen, I’m sorry, okay? I didn’t think they would be that violent! Joy apologized. Also, we were ambushed by the other two, you can’t really blame me if we didn’t see them coming, can you?

Without any free hooves, or mouth to grip the damned door by its handle, I had but only one option left. Headbutt it open.

Buck Mr. Charge. Buck the changelings. Buck the class. Buck the system. I found three changelings, and the school needed to know. Upon entering the class, each student gasped at my physical status: beaten, worn out and tired.

“GRAZE!” Ditzy and Vine shouted, seeing the condition I was in.

Ignoring them, my attention was fully on Mr. Silent Charge. “I got your bucking changelings, sir,” I exhaustively said, releasing the grip of their tails from my mouth, dropping their unconscious bodies to the floor.

Charge smiled in approval. “Excellent, Mr. Graze. Now that I know we have changelings within the vicinity, I can finally take action.” Some students in the class worried as to what he was saying. “Would you kindly turn off the lights?” Mr. Charge’s request only added suspicion to the class. “Oh, and don’t forget to put them back on in five seconds.”

Eyeing the switch upon the left wall, I flickered them off with a tail, and back on after the five second interval. Charge was beside me with approximately ten more unconscious changelings added to the pile of three.

What in the honest hoof just happened?

“Excellent, now we have thirteen,” Charge said, smiling beside the astounding pile of changelings.  “Class is dismissed, please meet in the auditorium within the next five minutes, there shall be an announcement for those who are confused,” Silent Charge announced to the class of ten lesser ponies. “And when I mean five minutes, I mean now.”

Immediately, the class simultaneously stood up with the sound of dragging tables, following Charge’s instructions to the tee, and left.

Three. Two. One. The three of me counted respectively, as we knew what was coming.

“Graze.” Ditzy growled my name.

“Hey, Ditzy, don’t be mad with him, he had a very legit reason to fight this time.” Vinetion popped out of nowhere, protecting me, as she sensed of what was to come.

“Oh, and what would that be?” Ditzy countered the mare’s response.

“He was standing up for his school, I really hope you do know that. Even though I disagree with him from keeping secrets from us with Charge, he had his reasons. Could you have stopped them?” Vinetion queried, raising an eyebrow.

The blonde mare contemplated on Vinetion’s words, know she couldn’t lie among the three of us, friends. “No,” she answered, flicking her tail.

And then, Celestia herself brought down our savior, Vinetion, Kill over exaggeratingly said.

“Anyways!” I pathed to the two mares. “Thank you for your concern, Ditzy and Vinetion,” I glanced at them respectively. “But, we really do need to get to the auditorium, shall we?”

With a sigh, Ditzy replied, “Fine,” trotting at her own pace in front Vinetion and myself.

“One day, I know that mare and I are going to fight,” Vinetion pointed out, watching as Ditzy trailed the lone path. “But, not today!” she exclaimed, accelerating with her slow trot to meet the grey mare.

“And, I pray that day never comes,” I muttered to myself, watching as the two mares trailed off to the auditorium.

---

The auditorium’s tiled floors were completely flooded, each tile fitting approximately two average sized ponies for the most, as the pegasi of the school occupied higher altitudes as they continuously hovered on the spot. Ponies everywhere polluted the air with questions of the same matter: What’s going on? Why are we here? Did you hear that scream? Why is there blood in the mare’s bathroom?

Honestly, I’d rather leave the last one unanswered, because it was that freaking hilarious knowing it was the blood from my snout.

Hehehehe, they shall never know, Kill maniacally laughed.

“Alright, alright students, calmarsi,” Shadow Mark announced upon the wooden stage. Beside him were the teachers and workers of staff, Omnius, Chaser, Mr. Charge and a few others I’ve never seen in my life. “Before I begin, has anypony seen Ms. Anarchy?”

“Nope,” Chaser replied as the teachers followed up with a respectful shaking of their heads. “Haven’t seen her all day.”

“Agh, this is her first year here! She needs to know the drill!”

Who is this Ms. Anarchy? We keep on hearing her name, but never see her, Kill wondered, upon his usual spot, my mane.

Maybe because she teaches seniors? Joy answered with a hint of doubt, flying to the other conscience as he too, rested upon my mane. Yeah, the view here is perfect, he said to himself.

You have a plaster for every sore, don’t you? Kill asked without a single glimpse at his brother.

Yup.

“Just forget it, sir. We can always inform her when she does show up,” Charge suggested. Shadow Mark replied with a nod.

“Good day, students of Equestria University! You ponies must be wondering why we are all here, no? Well, it has been brought to my attention that a few weeks ago, Cloud Chaser, and a student who shall be unnamed, discovered a changeling within the skies of Equestria University. Now, one little changeling is nothing much, but, it is the sign of an upcoming threat.” The final word of the principal caused chatter and constant mumble amongst the crowd of ponies in the auditorium.

“Settle down, settle down. There is a certain procedure to everything, as this is not our first time of dealing with changelings, but it will surely be our last. Throughout the week, I’ve ordered the staff to stuff your throats with information about changelings, but that is just actually the least of my concerns. I’m just preparing you is all,” he continued as all students surely paid attention to his speech. “I doubt any of you actually paid attention, being taught nothing new but that... yes, I know how this works, I’ve been through it as well... actually, I forced myself. Oh, the horror, it was like--”

“Get back on topic, sir,” Chaser reminded the principal.

“Ah, yes. As I was saying, from that one changeling we had found, this week, on this very day, thirteen more. Of course, any one of us could be a changeling, yet, I simply do not care. It is inevitable that Chrysalis, ruler of the changelings would attack either way. They need love to survive, and feed off of, and as their queen, she would do nothing more but aid her subjects, for what is a queen without her ponies?” The crowd, nor did any teacher provide an answer. “Nothing,” Shadow Mark said, replying for them. “The same goes for his principal and his school, he is nothing without his students, and as teachers, we will do anything to protect you all.”

 ANYTHING? A question bellowed thunderously through the auditorium. Oh Shadow Mark, you old timer you. Of course this will surely be the last, because once I am done feeding off your little students, I shall make this school a colony for all my little changelings to learn, as your teachers are forced under my will to teach.

“Well, that’s not so different from our jobs right now anyways!” Charge countered, revealing the realistic side of the situation.

Without any pay, the voice said once more.

“NOOOOO!” Omnius shouted at the top of his lungs. “YOU CRUEL, HEARTLESS MONSTER!”

“Show yourself at once, Chrysalis!” Shadow Mark demanded, with his calm voice.

A flare of bright green fire erupted barely a few metres due east from the staff,  casting a crazed shadow onto the walls of the auditorium, the owner of the voice appearing before the crowd... Queen Chrysalis in the flesh.“Oh, if you must see your future queen, absolutely!” the alicorn queen of the changelings announced, and as her subjects, as Cloud Chaser perfectly described one, she had holes... like a cheese grater. The queen and her subjects matched, for only her eyes differed from their hexagonal irises, as her horn was much larger than in comparison.

“Ohoho! I highly doubt that... just like last year, or the year before,” Shadow Mark challenged the queen.

“Ah, yes... those years,” Chrysalis was reminded of her past failures. “But it is fair to warn you though, this year would assuredly be different, for this time, I have an army.”

“We have a draconequus,” Shadow Mark was quick to respond. Abruptly, a dazzling spark of magic brightened the stage, the smoke clearing to reveal a long, sleek creature. Her body was mix-matched with those of different creatures: dragon’s and pony’s wing, griffin’s and chimera’s paw, draconic tail as well as the horns of two beasts. Her white hair magically floated, bound and restrained by the likes of a band. “Glad you could make it, Ms. Anarchy.”

“Sorry I was late,” the draconequus apologized, snapping her talons, adding dozens more to the changeling pile. “Just had to get some business done, that’s all. Sweet Celestia! Is that you, Crystal? It’s been millennia!” Anarchy exclaimed in awe upon sight of the changeling queen.

“I told you, do not call me by my real name!” The queen snapped at the draconequus.

Did this thing just turn into a reunion? Joy asked, watching from within the crowd.

I don’t know, but that draconequus is kinda... well, hot! Kill said, gazing at the hybrid creature.

“Awww, is somepony still holding a grudge against me?” the draconequus asked. “That’s cute.”

Wanting to interrupt, Shadow Mark was held back within the restraints of Omnius and Chaser as they advised, “Never interrupt a catfight, if you get caught in the middle, you’re screwed.” The principal nodded, allowing the two to release him.

“Say what you may, draconequus, but soon I shall be taking over you and this school,” Chrysalis foretold.

Anarchy yawned at this, scratching her scales. “Oh, I’m sorry, I cannot allow you to do that. You see, I’ve moved on from petty high school arguments with you, and now, I am both a teacher of philosophy and literature,” Anarchy boasted of her acquired skills, with a warning. “But, you touch a strand of fur on any of these students, I will not hold back on you like I did with your faithful subjects.”

“Hmph, I remember the days when you were vain, filled with pride and cotton candy... I see you’ve finally slimmed down,” the queen of the colony then stooped down to the standards of mere, demeaning words.

“Ah yes, I remember those days, you know what was my favorite? Cheese, lots of cheese,” Anarchy snapped her fingers, coating her nemesis in a bight cheese-yellow. “Mmmm, cheddar to be exact,” she eyed down at Chrysalis’ legs, adorned with holes. “Do those things whistle when you fly?” the draconequus walked up to the alicorn changeling, poking her fingers through the holes with a chuckle. “Reminds you of anything?”

Chrysalis gritted her fangs, annoyed at the draconequus’ tricks of illusions and magic. “Still with the immature games, I see. Don’t worry, when you’re my personal slave, I shall wipe all of that clean from your system.”

“You’re still too serious, Crystal. What you just said hardly makes sense, and I applaud you on that,” Anarchy chuckled as she clapped her paw and claw against the other. “For you see, you have holes in your brain too, my dear. All the information just leaks out as if you poke a water balloon.” Clasping her hands, she widened them revealing a small, rubber ball filled with water, poking at it as the liquid slowly leaked out upon the stage. “Nothing sinks in.”

“We’ll see about that when tomorrow comes,” Chrysalis ignored one of Anarchy’s many taunts, this being a lowly attempt of a pun.

“Oh, you used to laugh at my puns so much! What? Are they too cheesy for you?” I, Kill and Joy, Vinetion, the teachers and other students facehoof’d. “Hmph, tough crowd.”

The queen herself took her spot front and centre upon the stage, gathering everypony’s attention. “Expect a few... changes from tomorrow,” she then glanced at the teachers, slowly trotting towards the group, or  to be more specific, Charge. “Especially you, my dear. I cannot wait to have you as my personal equine slave,” her hoof lightly brushed his chin.

Stoic as ever, Charge glared at the Queen a few centimetres below him, “Not even in my grave. Now leave,” he demanded. “And take your ‘royal subjects’ with you.”

With a frightening hiss, the queen of the changelings teleported herself from the school with her unconscious subjects at her side. Seeing the flames of green magic take its natural course, soon extinguished, Shadow Mark glanced at Mr. Charge, signaling him with a nod, as he too replied in the same fashion.

Silent Charge stomped his hoof, bringing the attention of everypony in the room. “Listen up, everypony! You have already heard she has an army, and you can rest assured that every teacher here will take out everyone of her grunts! All that we ask of you is that when they do arrive, you listen to our orders. To ensure everypony is safe, you must follow each and every word to the very last full stop. Our first order is, stay inside the school. There are no changelings to worry about, Ms. Anarchy has taken care of that. Our second order, no students interfere. We cannot risk your lives, as well as our own! And our third and final order, we need five unicorns to... volunteer. Do not worry, if things get a bit too hectic, you can always teleport yourselves back to this spot. So, any volunteers?” Charge asked the entire crowd.

“Ooo, extra credit!” Rarity glamorously raised her left hoof. “C’mon, Twilight, don’t you want higher grades?”

“Rarity, I don’t think this is for-- HEY! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!” Twilight retorted surprisingly as to why Rarity raised her hoof for her.

“WE VOLUNTEER!” Rarity exclaimed through the crowds.

“Excellent, excellent, three more,” Charge announced. “Anypony else?”

“I would,” a shallow voice was heard even through the silent crowds, a grey hoof pointing towards the ceiling. It was... GRIM?!

You mean he isn’t a selfish bastard? Kill asked.

I don’t think so--

It was rhetorical, Joy.

Quickly being pulled aside, I was unable to hear of the other two volunteering ponies. Forcefully dragged by my white collar, and out the hall, it was Chaser who had pulled me away for this little conversation. “Listen here, Graze. I know this is a lot to ask of you, but since we both know the cloudwork of the school, would you like to be my wingpony?” Cloud Chaser asked a bit rushed, worryingly.

“What do you mean by that?” I asked.

“Okay, I know Charge said not to get any students involved, but I’ve talked to him about this before. Last year, this same incident occurred with Chrysalis wanting to make the school her colony and all that crap. Of course, we fought back, but since it was my first year here, I underestimated the changelings by a tiny bit,” he explained.

“Oh, and what happened?”

“This.” Chaser unzipped his jacket, revealing a criss crossed scar upon his chest.

“You call that a tiny bit?!” I exclaimed, observing the massive healed skin tissue. “I didn’t even know changelings could do that!”

“That’s the thing, me neither. And, they sort of can’t... it wasn’t a regular changeling, it was a Behemoth. One magical blast from that tank, and this,” he pointed to his scar. “Thank Celestia, Shadow Mark was able to take it down... but, he lost his wing in the battle. Seriously, he may have two wings, but that pegasus cannot fly. He can glide with it still, but that wing is sort of... dead. He seems okay, but everyday, we know it pains him... that pony has lost a lot, yet he somehow still has the will to fight for this school.”

I feel sorta bad for the both of them, Joy said, sympathizing for the two injured ponies. We can’t allow the school to lose Shadow Mark, it’s the least we can do if even he is still fighting handicapped.

HAVE YOU NOT SEEN THE SIZE OF CHASER’S SCAR?! AND THE DUDE LOST A WING! NUH-UH, NO WAY I’M GETTING INTO THAT!

“Yes,” I answered to Cloud’s calling.

WHAT?! Kill shouted.

“Wait, wha’?” Chaser asked, unsure if he had misheard my answer.

“I said yes,” replying to the weather pony, and to him unknowingly, Kill. “I can’t allow my teachers to fight... as well as to fight handicapped, might I add.” I then smirked, with one eye open. “You know, you guys may break some bones at this age,” I laughed, waving it off as it seemed to be nothing.

“Ha, I’m only twenty three, might I add,” Chaser smiled, lending out his hoof, to which I smacked with my own. “Just keep an eye on my back, okay?” I nodded. “Oh yeah, and a word of advice, when you see bubbles, do not poke them,” he said with worry and horror in his voice.

It was impossible not to depict fear from his tone.

“Don’t worry, Graze. As you got my back, I got yours, I won’t let anything harm ya.”

Next Chapter: Chapter Seven: As Teachers, We Fight! Estimated time remaining: 60 Minutes