Seven years after the battle for Ponyville

A young stallion stood atop a sand dune, looking outwards onto the horizon. Sweat pored down his tan face, but that didn't faze him. This was his home and he knew it well. The tattered remains of a cloak spoke of a very weary traveler who needed a break. The fire in his bright red eyes spoke differently. His mane was cut short so it would keep out of his eyes. The blue and silver streaks that ran down it were extremely dirty. An image of his father to those who knew him. The main difference was his cutie mark, twin swords that were ablaze.

He looked to the rising sun, the heat already uncomfortable.

Damn the queen. Why does it always have to be this hot out?

He took a moment to look back at the hive that he called home for the past seven years. The stallion sighed.

"You don't have to leave just yet." a voice said to him.

He turned to his right and looked at his companions. Two changelings. One an adolescent grub born to be a promising leader in the changeling horde someday. The other, an old grizzled veteran of countless fights. During one such fight, he lost his wings. He was the captain of the Queen's royal guard and a mentor to the young stallion. But he was more than just that, he was a friend. Not just to the stallion, but to his father as well.

"I know Xero, but if I am to understand the world I was born to save, then I must walk it." The pony said.

The old changeling sighed. "I told you not to call me that Sunburst. Your father knew me since I was a grub and always helped me out in a jam. The least I can do for him is to let you call me by my real name."

"Yeah, but it would be weird to let the only pony to walk out of the hive in one piece call you by your name." Sunburst retorted.

"So? Anyway, what are the other two signs of the prophecy?" The changeling asked.

"That's forbidden knowledge Pseudo. You know that." Xero said sternly.

"But, I thought I was supposed to lead to victory some day." Pseudo complained.

"And you will, but for now, you are just a grub. I don't care if you are royalty or not, you are still a grub until you complete the pilgrimage that potential queens must go through. And don't get me started if you succeed on becoming a queen. Even if you do, you must either challenge Chrysalis to a fight to the death or start a new hive. Either way, your life is going to suck for a while."

The changeling was starting to pout.

"NO, if you start doing that then I'm going to make you drop everything you have with you and make you walk into that desert without any help. Your lucky that it's time for Sunburst to leave, something I'm almost sorry about-"

"Wow, I didn't think you cared so much Xero." Sunburst said with fake surprise.

"Its not that I care about you, its just that I've put the past eight years of my life into teaching you how to survive. The Queen be damned if it was for nothing." Xero snapped back. "Now go, you'll want to start early. Pseudo, stick close to Sunburst. He's been through every nook and cranny in this part of the badlands."

"That's not fair. He's a pony. They have to eat stuff." Pseudo complained.

"And that means he has an advantage over you. You know he has been enchanted by the Queen herself so we can't feed off of him." Xero lectured. "We have to survive off of love. Do you really think that your going to find any in the badlands?"

"Well..."

"Well nothing. There aren't towns for miles outside of the badlands. The ponies that venture into these parts in search of fortune are dangerous. I know that you didn't go through with the standard training that every soldier receives so that's another reason to stay close to Sunburst."

"But training is for soldiers. Not princesses." Pseudo said it like it was common knowledge.

"AND as princess, it is your duty to know all of the duties in the hive. From gathering love to fighting. If you think that your special just because you don't have a link to the hive mind then here's a news flash. Neither does Sunburst or me. I broke it by accident and Sunburst is a pony."

Psuedo was about to complain some more but Xero interupted. "This conversation is over. If you don't want to go on the pilgrimage, then I can kill you and then we wait for the next candidate."

Sunburst sighed. "Finally."

Scootaloo dashed past the final barrier and towards the finish line. A crowd of two ponies watched as she passed the finish line.

"Well done, a new personal best." said a yellow pegasus mare in a flight suit. "Might have beaten Soarin's to time too."

Soarin glared at the mare. "Hey, she's like ten years younger than me. If she's so good, then why don't you race her?"

"I would, but I ripped a tendon. The doctor's orders are that I can't do anything strenuous."

"Whatever, that sounds like excuses Spitfire. Whenever I get hurt, I don't get a break. You just make me train even harder."

Spitfire chuckled. "If you have time to complain, then you have time to train."

Scootaloo approached the Wonderbolts. "So, how'd I do?"

"Amazing. If you keep that up, then I'm going to have to make you captain." Spitfire said.

"That's not good enough then. Run it again." Scootaloo snapped.

"Are you sure? You've been at this for three hours now. The rest of the team left ages ago." Soarin warned.

"I'm fine." Scootaloo said angrily.

I was too slow before. I have to make sure it will never happen again.

She took off again for the fiftieth time that day. Next Chapter: Dancing With The Devil Estimated time remaining: 20 Minutes