Everyone who was in the hideout was sitting at a large dining table, enjoying the diner that saffron and her father made for them. It had been quite sometime since most of them had a quality meal, and the curry was more than enough to satisfy.

"This food is amazing Saffron! You did a wonderful job."

"Thanks Princess." Replied Saffron. "We haven't gotten to cook properly after we had to leave Canterlot."

Dash then looked in Saffrons direction.

"Pinkie pie and Rarity told us that you used to own a restaurant there. What happened to it?"

Cumin frowned. "The tasty treat soon became one of the top 5 most visited restaurants in Canterlot. This made Zesty Gourmand furious. And once she became high inquisitor, she ordered to have the NEM shut the place down!"

Shining Armor wore a puzzled look on his face. "I understand that the Neighsays major allies hold alot of power, but shutting down a restaurant just because it's popular? That sounds very petty."

Saffron just grew even more sad. "There were protests against her actions, and they were all put down with excessive force and brutality."

Pharynx then spoke up. "Well that just goes to show how much of a bastard Zesty is. This food is way too good to replace whatever garbage she puts in her mouth."

Rainbow dash chuckled a little at Pharynxs statement, which prompted a smile from him.

"We are glad you are enjoying it." Cumin said.

"We are surprised that Changelings are even able to eat pony food."

Saffron jabbed her dad in the side.

"Father! That's no way to speak to our friend here!"

"It's fine, really." Pharynx said. "We get that from alot of creatures, ponies included."

Thorax was just looking down at his soup, stirring the spoon around the bowl.

"Hey... Are you not happy with your soup?" Cumin asked.

"No. It's good. Sorry if I don't look very appreciative. All of what's going on is taking a huge toll on me."

"Yeah. My brother isn't the toughest of Changelings, and when he found out about what Neighsay did to our hive, he was traumatized." Saffron was going to ask what happened, but figured that was a bad idea.

"So... This, Zesty Gourmand... The same bitch that tortured my brother and killed several of my subjects. She is now after you?" Thorax asked.

Saffron and Cumin both nodded.

"We didn't just come here to hide from her, we also have important information regarding her." At that moment, everycreature stopped eating thier dishes and looked at the two.

"What do you know about her? Does she know where my friends are?" Twilight asked.

"She might." Saffron stated. "We do know that she is attending a meeting at Wheatley estate, just north of here."

Shining armor had an idea where this was going. "So... You're suggesting that we infiltrate the estate, and try to get information from Zesty..."

Twilight jumped at the opportunity. "I say we do it! We might even be able to kidnap her for interrogation!" Pharynx smirked at the thought of that, giving Zesty a taste of her own medicine.

"We have a window of opportunity, lets take it!" He stated.

"But first," Dash said, "Lets finish our dinner."

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Shining Armor, Pharynx and Twilight were all walking up a hill. They had just hid the auto carriage behind some bushes, and they were going to a vantage point to get a good look at Wheatley estate. Once they reached the top, the manor was in view. It was a fairly large building, similar to filthy rich's manor back in ponyville. Only this one had a large plaque over it's main doors that showed a bushel of wheat. If they had to guess, the owners of this place were grain farmers.

"Do you ponies have a family for every kind of food you eat?" Pharynx asked.

"I mean you have an apple family, a pear family, and now there's a wheat family?"

Twilight looked at pharynx with confusion.

"How do you know about the pears?"

Pharynx then sighed. "Ocellus told us... She learned it from professor Applejack..."

The mood dampened a bit.

"We need to focus." Shining stated.

"Twilight will sneak inside and find the high inquisitor, once the time is right, she'll use these special darts to knock her out without killing her."

Shining Armor levitated some darts that contained a specialized serum, as well as a device used for firing them. Twilight took them and put them away.

"I'll head inside as well." Pharynx stated. "There isn't as likely to be that many inquisitors inside other than the ones guarding Zesty. So I can take on the form of a butler or another staff member."

Shining armor nodded and wished them luck.

"Whatever happens, be sure to return safely and with any useful assets you can bring."

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mrs. Wheatley was pacing back and forth across the room. Nervous about Zestys arrival.

"There are so many ways this can go wrong! What if we are accused of hiding non pony refugees!?"

Mr. Wheatley put his hoof over the shoulder of his wife.

"Calm yourself. The only ponies in here are us and the staff. There isn't a single...."

Just before he was able to finish his sentence, Mr Wheatley was interrupted by the door opening. In stepped Zesty gourmand, and two other inquisitors standing at both her sides. She wore a blood red robe with a badge that dawned the NEM insignia. Many interrogation tools could be seen under the cloak, and a stern look was on her face, indicating that she took her job very seriously. The look was enough to send fear into the hearts of any non pony. Mr and Mrs Wheatley turned to face thier guest.

"High... High inquisitor..!" Mr Wheatley said, clearly showing signs of nervousness.

"Hope the trip here was alright." Zesty looked around the room.

"Going to a rural area like this is appalling to me. But business is business..."

The high inquisitor made her way to a table in the middle of the room and took a seat, with her two guards taking the seats next to her. Mr. and Mrs Wheatley sat in front of the three.

"Now. I understand that you want to sell your bread and other grain based goods in Canterlot. Only the food that has my approval can be sold there, so I assume you prepared a sample for me?"

Ms. Wheatley nodded, and a waiter came into the room with a loaf of bread on a platter. He placed it in front of Zesty, and quickly ran off. The high inquisitor cut herself a piece of bread, spread some butter on it, and took a bite. Mr Wheatley and his wife watched nervously. After a few moments of chewing, Zesty felt quite pleased with her food.

"I am rather surprised." She stated. This bread is rather exquisite, although...."

Zesty was going to finish her sentence, but begun to feel light headed. She put her hoof to her forehead, showing signs of dizziness. Five seconds had passed before she passed out, which led to her two inquisitors drawing their guns and pointing them at the Wheatleys.

"You two plotted this! What are you up to!?"

"Please!! We didn't do anything! Honest!"

"I don't believe them!" Claimed one of the inquisitors. "I bet they are working with the Changelings! Or maybe the dragons! You two will have alot to answer for!"

Before the inquisitors could arrest the Wheatleys, the waiter came back into the room, and swiftly knocked out the two of them with a platter.

"What are you doing? Do you have any idea how much trouble we are in?" Mrs Wheatley asked the waiter.

"Don't worry about it. I'll take care of these three." The waiter then was engulfed in magic before becoming Pharynx.

"Just remember, it was a changeling that saved you two."

Before the Wheatleys could speak, each of them was hit in the back with a dart, knocking them out instantly.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Shining Armor was standing outside a room when Twilight came to see what they had prepared.

"Glad to see the mission went well. Shame about what happened to the Wheatleys, but at least we didn't have to kill them."

Twilight was glad about that. She wasn't sure if she could live with killing any creature that was innocent. The two walked into the room to see Pharynx shackling Zestys forehooves upright. She had just regained consciousness, and saw both Shining and Twilight in front of her.

"You..! You're the ones behind the incidents at the changeling hive and kludgetown, aren't you!"

"Lucky guess." Pharynx stated as he walked in front of zesty.

"You have committed horrible atrocities against our kind Zesty, my brother is suffering from severe mental issues because of you!"

Zesty only continued to glare.

"Your kind nearly destroyed Equestria! Turning all of us into feeding vessels!"

Pharynx continued to hold in his anger.

"You helped Neighsay kidnap my friends! So where are they!?" Twilight demanded.

Zesty only spit in Twilights face.

"When Lord Neighsay finds out about this you will all be publicly executed!"

Unfortunately for Zesty, Rainbow dash was walking past the room when she saw Zesty spit in Twilights face. She lunged at her in rage and started punching her face.

"Where's Pinkie Pie!? Tell me right now you bitch!!"

Shining forcefully pulled Dash away from Zesty with his magic, and held her back. Dash tried to break free and continue to assault Zesty, but eventually she stopped trying.

"Are all your friends as barbaric as she is? I know that Pinkie Pie was nothing more than an uncivilized animal."

Dash attempted to attack Zesty upon hearing that, only for shining to take her out of the room. Even though Dash had already given Zesty a black bruise on her face, she wasn't satisfied with it.

"Uncivilized?" Pharynx said.

"As far as I'm concerned, you tortured, killed, and broken several of my kind! As well as kept them in the most unsanitary of conditions! You are in no position to claim that anycreature is uncivilized!"

Zesty only scoffed.

"I'm the high inquisitor! I'll make any judgments I want! Nothing you can do will break me!"

Shining armor came back into the room smirking.

"I thought you might say that. So I bought somepony you might recognize."

Out from behind a divider stepped Saffron Marsala, who did not look happy one bit.

"Zesty. You not only shut down my restaurant by force, but now you commit horrific crimes against not only equestria, but against several other kingdoms. Many of which would have loved to try my food."

Saffron then bought over a tray covered by a cloth. She removed the cloth, revealing a bowl of her Fathers cooking. Zestys eyes widened, as she knew what was about to happen.

"No...! You wouldn't dare!"

Saffron picked up a spoon, scooped up some curry, and bought it to Zestys mouth. She then forcefully shoved the spoon into her mouth and used both her forehooves to stop Zesty from spitting out the food. Zesty's head squirmed as the food filled her mouth. Eventually she has no choice but to swallow. When Saffron removed the spoon, Zesty gagged and coughed.

"Ready to talk now?" Twilight asked.

"Go to Tartrus!" Zesty shouted.

Saffron shoved another spoonful into her mouth upon hearing that, repeating the process. After being forced to swallow yet again, Zesty felt greater levels of disgust.

"How pathetic.." Pharynx taunted.

"You used all sorts of knives, saws, and needles to torture my subjects, yet you can't even handle some simple food?"

Zesty wanted to curse him out. But she couldn't muster the strength to do so. Pharynx decided to make the next round a bit interesting. He formed some saliva in his mouth, and spit into the bowl, prompting Saffron to take a spoonful right where it landed. Zesty's eyes began to tear up.

"Open up! Time for the main course!"

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The room was full of boxes and barrels that contained supplies for those who resided in the bunker. Thorax was lounging inside an empty box like it was an empty bathtub. His legs were sticking out over one end, and his head over the other. If sadness and stress didn't cloud his mind, then boredom sure did. He fiddled with an odd looking gem that he found stashed away. It made him think of ember, more particularly the time when she was eating the walls of Twilights castle. Funny enough, he was actually there in the castle when that was happening. Only thing was, Spike was trying to keep the two apart due to fear of differing personalities. Ironically, it was those personalities that bought them together. That thought made Thorax both happy, and sad.

"I'm sorry Ember.... You probably think I'm a failure for letting the hive fall... If only if I was more like you...."

He held the Gem close to him and felt more sad. Only for those feelings to be replaced by fear when he heard a crash come from the hall. Thorax got out of the box and grabbed a plank that he hopefully could use as a weapon.

"Who's there...?" Thorax asked. No response. He walked over to the doorway slowly.

"He.. Hello..?" He asked again.

Much more nervously than before. No response. Once he got to the door, he quickly jumped out into the hall with the plank raised ready to strike, but there was nothing there. But rather than breathe a sigh of relief, he began to feel more nervous.

"Am I.... Going insane..?" Thorax asked himself.

He walked back into the room and put the plank on a shelf.

WHAM!!

Thorax was suddenly pushed to the floor against his will. He turned over and forcefully kicked whatever hit him. To his horror, it was Zesty. How did she break free? She charged at Thorax and pinned him to the floor. Zesty held a knife which Thorax tried to keep away from him. He managed to knock Zesty away, but not without getting slashed across the face by the knife.

Thorax grabbed the plank from the shelf and swung at Zesty, only for him to miss and throw it across the room. Zesty then grabbed Thorax by surprise and was able to slash off a portion of his antlers. Thorax screamed in pain, and the two fell to the ground. Thorax grabbed the plank from the side, and hit Zesty on her back, causing her to get staggered. Thorax grabbed the knife while she was distracted. He looked at Zesty, and the knife.

"What do I do?" Thorax thought to himself.

Zesty soon recovered and Thorax held the knife pointed at her.

"Stand... Stand back..!" Thorax warned. He backed up slowly, still holding the knife. Zesty could see the fear and hesitation in his eyes.

"Ha! You think you can scare me? Look at you! You're clearly trembling in fear! You don't have the guts to kill me!"

Zesty moved closer to Thorax.

"I've been waiting for the day I finally get to break the changeling leader. But given the circumstances. I might just kill you instead!"

Zesty raised the plank, ready to strike Thorax down. Out of desperation. Thorax tackled Zesty and stabbed her shoulder. Zesty was shocked at how quickly Thorax responded. A voice began to speak inside the mind of Thorax.

"What are you waiting for Thorax? Kill her!"

Thorax hesitated, he had never killed another creature before.

"She killed Ocellus along with several other innocent creatures! Kill her before she kills you next!"

The voices in Thoraxes head only got louder. Fearing for his life, Thorax stabbed Zesty again. But that wasn't enough.

"Kill her you fool! Make her pay!"

Thorax stabbed again, and continued to stab. Zesty went from a look of anger and disgust, to one of fear.

"Stop..! Please! I surrender!" Zesty pleaded.

Thorax didn't stop. He continued to stab, his heart pounding as he did so. Zesty eventually stopped screaming, and fighting, and moving...

Blood was everywhere, painting the room in a crimson red. Thorax stopped to look at what he just committed, still holding the knife. He was still shaking tremendously, which caused him to drop the knife. As it hit with a clang on the floor, he looked at his blood soaked hooves.

"What.... What have I done...?!" He asked himself.

Here right in front of him, a dead pony. Killed by his own actions. Never before had he commuted such a deed. Even though it was in self defense, the shock was still too real for Thorax. He backed away from Zestys corpse, with tears forming in his eyes, and sat against the wall. Eventually, the waterworks began to flow, and Thorax started sobbing uncontrollably.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Water was hitting the shower floor, making a wet rain sound as it did. Thorax was seated in the middle of it, letting the water hit his back. He was able to wash off most of the blood, but the scar that Zesty gave him remained. There was no way Thorax could wash away all the evidence of the attack, or the guilt he felt from it. He shut off the water, dried himself off with a towel, and headed to his room. There he sat down on his bed, not knowing if he would be able to sleep knowing what had just happened. His train of thought was interrupted when he heard Shining Armor call from the doorway.

"Thorax? Are you ok?" Thorax didn't respond.

"I heard you and just wanted to...." Shining Armor stopped when he opened the door and saw that part of Thoraxes left antler was missing. Upon seeing that. He ran to him.

"Thorax! What happened to you?" Shining Armor tried to get a better look at Thorax, but he tried to hide his face once he came over.

"I.. Don't want to discuss it.." Thorax claimed.

"You're hurt Thorax! Let me see what happened."

Reluctantly, Thorax turned to face Shining, revealing his scar.

"Thorax... How did this happen?"

Thorax felt himself turn slightly pale, what would Shining Armor think of him now that he killed a pony?

"It.. I... Well..." He hesitated. A sense of fear and sadness building up in him.

"Did something attack you? You're clearly trembling from what ever happened, so what was it?"

The terror continued to build in him. Thorax was getting more and more fearful of how Shining would respond.

"You're scared Thorax, it's ok, you can tell me."

At that moment, Thorax couldn't hold it in anymore. He burst into tears.

"It.... It was Zesty.." Thorax sobbed.

"I was in some storage room until... She attacked me."

Shining Armor was shocked.

"Did she get away? Oh no... She will tell Neighsay where we are hiding!"

"No..!" Thorax claimed, tears still in his eyes.

"She didn't escape the hideout... Because...I...I...."

Thorax hesitated to say what had happened. The action was still fresh in his mind.

"I....killed her..."

Thorax let put even more sobs.

"She..she was going to kill me shining! I had to defend myself... I didn't want to do it, but my thoughts kept saying..."

Shining Armor interrupted Thorax with a hug, and positioned himself so that Thorax could hug back, which he did.

"It's ok Thorax. I'm not mad at you."

Thorax was confused at Shining's claim.

"How are you not mad? I killed one of your kind! I'm... I'm a monster!"

"No you're not. Zesty would've done something disastrous to our cause if she got away. Plus none of us want to lose you."

Thorax didn't seem to be getting any better. He was still sobbing, and the looks of fear and sadness were visible just by looking into his eyes.

"But.. What have I done here besides feel sorry for myself? I'm just a burden to you.. Pharynx is much more useful than I am..."

At that point, Shining began to see things much differently. Thorax didn't exactly have the best upbringing. He was likely abused by several of his peers as a child, especially by Chrysalis. Now that he ended up in a life or death situation. He was forced to do something that he never wanted to do, and that something traumatized him to a point where it would take alot of time to recover from.

"Thorax, I'm deeply sorry that you had to go through all this. You're more important to us than you think you are."

Thorax looked at Shining, his face still full of misery.

"You are the one who bought all the changelings together. Think of how devastated we would all be if you were to be taken from us."

Shining and Thorax let go of one another, in an attempt to have a more face to face conversation.

"Listen. We have tried to offer our help, and you kept turning us down. It's ok to ask for help Thorax, especially now that you are suffering physically and mentally. I want you to come to me, or any of us for that matter, whenever you are hurt. Will you do that for us?"

Thorax looked down at the bed. Desperate for some comfort.

"O.. Ok shining...."

Another hug was exchanged between the two. Afterwards, thorax lied down on his bed, facing the wall. Using his magic, Shining Armor pulled the covers over Thorax, and ensured that he was comfortable.

"I'm going to stay here until you get better. I'll also be sure to tell everyone about what happened. They will understand Thorax, trust me on this."

Thorax didn't object. He just wanted the pain to stop.

"Shining?" Thorax said. "Thank you.."

As Thorax drifted to sleep, Shinning put his hoof on Thoraxes shoulder.

"You're welcome."