A/N: hello readers, i just want to say hello and apologize for the short chapter, but there was not much i wanted to do with it. this is more of a filler until i get the next chapter out. that chapter will feature the building of the army and how the changelings were brought together. i hope you enjoy this for now though.

Outskirts of Canterlot, mid-night

Shining Armor was standing with his back to the city, wind blowing around him. The past three days had been some of the most dangerous he has had so far, and he wasn’t done yet. He knew where he had to go, but getting there was not going to be easy. Luckily, he wasn’t doing it alone.

Behind him was also the Task Force, which had elected to call themselves The Banished, who had all chosen to follow him. All twelve of the unicorns stood at attention, waiting for Shining to give the final order to move out. The white unicorn turned around to face his squad and smiled. Each one of them were wearing their armor and carried only what was needed. Shining Armor turned around and eye the ponies in front of him, knowing that they were his to command.

“We all know why we’re out here, and I hope none of you are having second thoughts. We are too far gone to change now, and we have to leave behind what we know to save it. We have a destination that is far and you may not enjoy the occupants, but it is the only true safe haven for us. Now let’s go,” Shining said, his squad all nodding and remaining as quiet as possible.

Shining Armor nodded in reply and the group left the sight of the castle, none of them looking back. The moon was dark, so as to cover their escape. Luna had done this on purpose, and Shining silently thanked her.

Shining led the group to the forest as quickly as possible and away from any eyes that just might be following them. As the trees took the group in, Shining and two others ignited their horns so as to see through the pitch darkness. They knew the travel would be days, but it wasn’t something that they couldn’t do. Shining Armor took out a map from his bag and looked at the distance they would be traversing, and even on the map it looked long and dangerous.

They would have to pass through the Everfree Forest, which in itself was dangerous, and then cover miles of uncharted woods. And finally get to a destination that might not even be friendly at that time. He sighed and put the map away, knowing it would only make the journey harder if he kept looking at it. He just faced forward and took it a step at a time.

After five miles of walking through the root tangled ground, the squad found a clearing. They choose this to set up camp for the night, and broke into groups to find wood and food. The work was done quickly and effectively, none of them wanting to be lost in the woods so early in the journey. The wood was quickly made into a shape and lit, providing heat and light to the dark, cold forest. In just two months, snow would cover the ground and the weather was growing closer to the necessary temperatures.

As camp was made, Shining took the time to remember what Luna had told him.

Flashback

“Shining, I know what you are planning, and I know where you can go,” Luna said to Shining Armor. Cadance had left the room to allow the two some privacy.

“Where? Where could I possibly go where we won’t be hunted?”

“With Anthony. He has made it to the changeling kingdom and is allied with them. It will be a safe haven there, and then when Blackwing comes, an army will be ready to face him,” Luna said, her voice clear and crisp.

“Okay, but I hope your right about this, I don’t want to walk into the changeling home and find a trap waiting for us,” Shining voiced his concern.

“Don’t worry, Anthony won’t let that happen.”

End Flashback

Shining hoped that Luna was right, but he trusted her so he would press forward. That night everypony in the group slept and nothing disturbed them. They awoke ready to face the new day.

The walking through the Everfree Forest is not as easy as most Twilight made it out to be. The tree were thick with vines and roots, slowing the group down. They didn’t want to leave a trail to be followed, so they had to maneuver around much of the forest.

Trees got in the way constantly, and vines threatened to ensnare the group. The ground was littered in roots jutting out to trip any unlucky soul not watching their step. The wall of trees broke with what appeared to be a hunting trail. The group didn’t have time to find a new path, so they took the path.

The sun was up high in the sky when Shining Armor had his team stop for a break. Everypony in the group took drinks from their water skins. As they listened to the forest, the air was still and provided a thick layer of humidity to fill the cooling weather. Shining looked at his team and sighed, knowing this was not going to be easy on them.

He pulled out a picture of Cadance and smiled, knowing he was doing it for her. As the group finished their water break, a roar was heard out in the distance. Everypony froze as they waited to find the source of the noise. It sound from a north-eastern direction, the direction the trail led. Everypony looked at each other before shrugging, they all knew that there was no other way to their destination.

They walked on the path, hoping not to run into whatever made the noise. An hour pasted by as the group made slow progress, no sound passed between the group. As they made the progress, the sound was heard again, this time closer and louder. A clearing was seen ahead and Shining Armor had Lieutenant Graphite sneak up to see what was in there.

The group watched the path in anticipation for anything. Time seemed to slow down for the group, waiting the jungle. Lieutenant Graphite returned after ten minutes of being away. He looked calm, but they all knew he had seen something.

“Captain, there is a Manticore nest up there. I saw a way around, and I recommend we move now as the nest only has a few sleeping females,” the LT. reported in a whisper. Shining Armor thought it over for a second before agreeing and the squad moved out.

They approached the nest quietly and finally saw the opening to the nest. The area was mostly clear except for a few scarce trees spread around. Three manticores were sleeping in a group, all snoring loudly. The unicorns decided not to stay, and kept going down the path out of the range of the manticores.

As night started to fall, the group found a place to sleep that was not far from the trail. They set up their sleep mats, but chose to go without fire to not alert the manticores. Instead, they used a night vision spell and ate dinner in quiet. All of them turned in with nothing new.

The next morning was the same as before, the group woke and walked out to the trail. They walked all day, only taking breaks to relieve themselves. The group eventual left the Everfree Forest, and finally entered the Outlands. Trees as thick as pillars and taller than most buildings. The tree thankfully were wider apart and easier to move around, no roots to entangle the unicorns and no vines to snare the group.

The air was also clearer. Instead of stagnant and humid, it was flowing and cool. Sunlight was able to pierce the canopy with more ease and the shadows held less secrets. The squad stopped to appreciate the comfort of this new forest, making them think why this was not occupied by Equestrians. The time though was getting late and they all camped out, fire and everything.

The group woke with ease the next morning with renewed vigor. They walked through the morning hours with no care in the world, this though was to be their downfall. They stopped for a lunch break and Corporal Green Horn left the group to you the facilities. Everypony was enjoying himself when they heard a scream.

The scream was unlike anything they had ever heard. The voice was filled with true pain and agony. It lingered in the quiet air for a few seconds too long, lowering the temperature in the forest. Dread filled everyponies heart as three Timberwolves rushed from the trees.

The two on the outside were large and mean, but the middle one was larger and had blood on its teeth. Fresh blood. The middle one pounced on the group, hopping that they would not fight back. It didn’t happen that smoothly for the Timberwolf.

Shining Armor instantly rasied a shield to stop the beasts attack, sending it back into a tree. The other two jumped at the shield as it fell, but they were both met with a blast of magic that set them both on fire. The creatures howled in pain and started to fall apart. The middle wolf looked at its comrades and charged at the unicorns. It was met with a swift kick to the side of the head and a blast of magic to destroy the creature into nothing.

The team was breathing heavy from the shock and set out to find Green Horn. They didn’t have to look far to find him, or really what was left of him. They hung their heads in shame and proceeded to bury their friend. No words were said and the only thing to tell others that somepony had died there was a simple stone with Corporal Green Horn written on it.

The squad proceeded as scheduled and in silence. They made camp that night and everypony went to sleep sad and tired.

With the new day, they set out at a brisk pace. Shining knew they were getting close and knew that the next day would place them at The Hive. Again, disaster struck.

The group had been walking for a few hours when a voice behind them spoke up.

“Well, well. What do we have here? A group of unicorns lost in the woods?” the voice said. Everypony turned and saw it to be a Diamond Dog, and a big one at that. The Diamond Dog had five others with him, all carrying different types of melee combat weapons.

“Hey, boss. What should we do with them?” a burly one said to the leader.

“What you boys think? We’re going to eat them,” the leader said, pulling out his sword and charging. The rest of the Diamond Dogs followed suit, and were about to collide with the unicorns a blast of magic sent the Diamond Dogs crashing into the forest. But the blast didn’t come from the group.

They all looked over and saw a unicorn with a midnight blue coat and black hair standing a few yards away. The new unicorn walked toward the down Diamond Dogs and spoke to it with much authority.

“Now I want you to leave, or it will be your head,” the unicorn said, his voice stern.

“I don’t think so,” the leader said, swiping with its blade at the unicorn. He missed and was stunned to see the unicorn ten feet away from him. “Urgh, get over here.” The leader dog tried to stand up, but didn’t get the chance.

“Yol Toor Shul!” the unicorn said, his horn glowing with magic. Fire spewed out of the horn, cooking the Diamond Dog to a burnt crisp. The other Diamond Dogs looked at the new unicorn and ran for their lives, bot wanting to become bar-b-que.

The squad of unicorns looked at the new arrival with some level of awe, but Shining Armor just walked over and stuck his hoof out. The unicorn looked at him and smiled, shaking Shining’s hoof.

“Good to see the Outlands haven’t killed you,” Shining said, placing his hoof back down.

“I should say the same to you, considering the fact that none of you had raised a shield in defense from the Diamond Dogs attack. Shining must have taught you better than that,” the unicorn said.

“Still busting my balls, aren’t you? Good to see, Anthony,” Shining Armor said, shocking the entire group. They had all thought that Anthony wasn’t actually as powerful as the stories, but they had seen the proof right in front of their faces.

“Now come on, we have to get you back to The Hive, god only knows what might come after us out here,” Anthony said, turning and leading the group down the path Anthony had come from.

The walk to The Hive was uneventful, and the squad all enjoyed that. They finally climbed over a hill and saw it. The Hive, buzzing with activity as changelings flew around the object. The unicorns looked at it in awe at the size and organization it had just from the distance they were at.

“I would like to welcome you all to, The Hive. Your new home away from home,” Anthony said, waving a hoof at the giant hive in front of them. Shining knew this was going to be a challenge.

thanks for reading, and please review. i love reading what people have to say