Force gripped the circular handle of his broadsword with his jaw, his muscles tightening, anticipating the attack. One that never came.

     The monster with black eyes simply stood, unmoving, challenging him. It stood with its right paw outstretched at the pegasus, clearly a signal telling him to halt. Like Tartarus, you bastard. Noble Force's muscles loosened and he took off a foot above the ground, pulling his sword free of its scabbard.

     With a mighty SHWING, the two foot blade was released, its silvery sheen daring all to stand against it. Force flew straight to the thing. It still hasn't moved! Is it stupid? He swung for all he was worth, and sliced straight through the palace's warm air.

     The black creature casually recovered from the dodge, leaning to the side and adjusting its legs. With a simple kick and a swing of its free arm, it righted itself immediately, not showing any signs of difficulty.

     "Damn you!" Swing. Swish. Swing. Fwoosh. Swing. Clack!

     With his blade stuck in the stone floor, Force snarled at the massive creature, its weapon still unused in its black furry paws. Those same voids for eyes stared at Noble, while shouts and screams rang in the background. The shadowy monster raised its head to observe, and Force lunged forward, rage in his yell.

     The thing's head snapped back down and it used the hatchet to swat the offending weapon aside, before bringing a gray leg to deliver a painful, gut-wrenching blow to the Lieutenant's midsection. Before he had a chance to react, the hatchet spun around and the blunt end sent Force's helmet careening down the hall and across the table.

     The veteran collapsed into unconsciousness.

     The beast backed away, peering through its shiny black eyes. The once-white pegasus was now a light brown, with a dirty blonde mane and blue eyes. His tail was still concealed beneath his armor, however.

     The monster stood there, watching its fallen foe with no emotion, stuck in its absent-minded state. Suddenly, a huge metal bolt slammed dead into its silver-sheened mane and took it off, leaving nothing but black covering over the top of its head.

     "A toupee! Seriously?" Shot frowned in disappointment, bits of bread still hanging from his mouth. The mares and Airlocks continued fighting behind him.

     Just then, the room was swarmed with hulking Dogs with two halves of a single shield attached to the backs of their massive arms. They surrounded the earth-locked ponies, the two halves coming together to form a single gargantuan shield for each of them, obscuring their bodies from view. The metal of their armor truly was stunning, polished to such a fine shine.

     Just as the airborne fliers had gone for help, a swarm of prismatic buzzing surrounded them and forced them into the ring, clinging to their wings as if for dear life. The pegasi hit the ground, and stared at their failed wings.

     Frowning little balls with insectoid wings stared back at them, clutching onto their primaries with no signs of letting go. Parasprites.

     Two of the hulking metal Dogs step aside, and the black creature thundered in, its silvery mane in its paw. Its other grasper reached up to its face, and tore its furry skin from its head, pulling it up and over quickly. Its inky eyes were caught up in it and torn out as well, and they clattered to the ground.

     What stared back at them was the peachy, naked face of a bewildered human, its eyes and mouth frozen in anger and surprise.

     "What the fuck?!"

     Trixie struggled to get the papers in order, her horn glowing blue and snatching the rebellious parchment. She put them into order and bound them with magic. Jacobs was back, and according to reports the Elements were early. Just then, the man of the hour, actually of the entire city, briskly walked past her.

     He popped back into her hallway. "Trixie, walk with me. We have problems."

     Trixie nodded and kept pace with the six foot two human, her hooves struggling to keep pace with the man's stride. He went on without noticing, and began to speak quickly. "Have all Praetorian guards at the holding cells. Get the changelings somewhere safe for now. Hail Chrysalis to the holding cells. Get me a coffee, black, with four teaspoons of sugar. ASAP." The human moved his head to ascertain a look of understanding.

     "Trixie?" He looked around. "Where are you?"

     Confused, he backtracked through the stone halls of his palace. After a few halls, he found Trixie, collapsed on the floor, panting. Her tongue lolled out of her mouth, and her rump hung into the air. The man smirked.

     "I thought we talked about these activities taking place in my halls and banned them. Or did you just pass that rule to abuse it yourself?" To his rather risque comment, she straightened herself up and adjusted her vest and the alabaster pin attached to it. It read: "Head Legislator".

     "N- no m'lord. Trixie was just, um… she was…" Trixie fumbled around nervously, her hooves twiddling. Her face was bright red and her ears were stuck to the sides of her head.

     The man burst out laughing, slapping his knees out of jest. Trixie scowled and gave him a small slap on the back of his head with the stack of papers. "You walk too fast. Slow down. I almost had a heart attack."

     The man's eyes looked up happily. "Trixie! Good job. You're making headway on your speech impediment!"

     Trixie held a hoof to her mouth. "Trixie did? I mean- I did?" She clapped her hooves. The man stood up with his fists on his hips, a smile on his face. Trixie looked up at him, his hazel eyes sparkling in the candle light. His combed brown hair absolutely flawless.

     "Maybe you won't be such a turn-off now." The human received a face-full of legal writing.

     "Screw you, Sevilin."

      Orion examined his claws. He had been left out of the fight, and he was quite put off by the fact. He was content, however, to lean against the wall and watch over the prisoners. The whines, shouts, and challenges did nothing to help his mood.

     "Come on, tiny, let me outta here so I can whoop your sorry flank."

     "We Alloy Dogs do not have flanks." Orion replied calmly. He jingled the keys playfully. "Hear that? It's freedom. Tantalizing, isn't it?"

     From the vicious sandpaper-against-stone sound he could hear, he knew his opponent was grinding her teeth in anger. Even he had to have some fun doing this.

     "Ooooh. Alloy Dogs? Spike, write that down!"

     "Sorry, Twi, the guards took all my tools."

     Orion's sensitive ears heard a sliding noise and then a sharp CLANG. Followed by another, and another.

     "Stop that. You won't be able to converse with Sevilin if you're unconscious." It stopped immediately.

     "Who's Sevilin?"

     Orion began tossing the key ring in the air, catching it each time with an outstretched claw. "The guy running this place. In fact, I believe you've already met him. You'll be speaking with him."

     "And fer what? To brainwash us an' feed us to Chrysalis?"

     Orion paused in his one man game of catch. "Excuse me?"

     "Ya heard me. He's gonna feed us ta them monsters, ain't he. He's got parasprites, so what else 'as he got hidden?"

     Orion spun around and marched to the gate. "Monsters?"

     The orange mare nodded once, hate in her eyes. "That's what Ah said."

     Orion was about to lash out, but reserved himself. "Says the one who attacked without so much as a second thought." He closed his eyes and then leaned closer, his snout inches away from hers. "Just as senseless 'monsters' do."

     "Hey, we're not monsters you meanie-weenie, tiny whiny, bossy-flossy, bully bottom!" Pinkie Pie scowled at the small Dog, his eyes searching her up and down. Then they relaxed and he backed away. The keys spun on his claws, then dropped on his tail, which then catapulted them back into his open paw.

     As he reached his post again, a wooden door opened down the hall, and two figures entered.

     "Ah. Terrace, Cane."

     The two changelings strut down the hall, smiles on their faces. "Orion!" Terrace called. "How are you?" Cane completed.

     Orion shook his head. "You two are so ridiculously cliché, you know that?" His shoulders heaved with humor as he shook his head to and fro. The changeling known as Terrace adorned himself with a ashen gray cloak patterned with wisps of silver smoke-like patterns. Cane preferred a cape that ran down his right fore hoof and wound around his neck, it resembled a waterfall with a solid blue background and shades of white and grey speckling it. Other than that, the changelings would be impossible to tell apart.

     Orion, Terrace, and Cane were old friends, ever since the city had started as an idea from Sevilin. The very articles of cloth they wound around themselves were gifts from Orion's mother. Such a symbol in Alloy Dog clans meant an acceptance into the clan as one of their own. It was a recognition of sorts among all of the clan.

     Of course, that didn't matter now, as they were all united under the flag of the Sanctuary, and to a certain extent, Sevilin. As their unanimously-voted leader, he took up rule, a little begrudgingly at first, but he certainly had a knack for weighing decisions and picking correctly.

     They called him at first The Thing with the Silver Tongue, and Happy Giant. He accepted even the rather rude ones in jest, such as Big Hairless Monkey of Too Many Words. The guy was far too nice.

     But he was scary too. Some things he had seen the human do had left even Orion with his tail between his legs. You did not get on Sevilin's bad side. Ever. What he lacked in physical and magical prowess he made up for in cleverness.

     These thoughts, however, were not present in his mind, or else there would have been fancy italics. Instead the trio talked, while Rarity had an-

     "Ideeeaaaaa!" Rarity's face brightened immediately and she grinned at her friends and guards.

     "What? What's your grand plan to get us out of a dungeon surrounded by changelings, massive dogs, and parasprites? Not to mention that thing that whooped Lieutenant Force's sorry flank." Wind Shear was not in a good mood at all. None of the pegasi were really. The cell was far too small to even lift off of the ground.

     But Rarity had a method that was tried and true. Absolutely flawless in every way. She smiled mischievously as she threw her mane back.

     "Whining."

     Chrysalis was not in a fantastic mood. Nor was she in a sour one, either. She was just a small bit disappointed.

     Her food source had left hours ago, and only just returned, and it was dinner time. A lot of the changelings were suffering, actually. So upon hearing that Sevilin had returned, she was on her way to meet him. Until of course a Praetorian Guard, armed with his massive shield-halves, had requested that she report to Holding Area A-01.

     At first, she thought it impossible. The Elements. But… nothing ever goes wrong for them! To capture them would mean… OH! OH YES! BY THE HIVE, YES YES YES!

     She was now bolting to the cells, a spring in her steps and a smile on her face. Her dull indigo mane flowing behind her and her slitted eyes beaming with glee. The Elements! In a cage. Oh the taunting and the jeering! They will be humiliated-

     That was when she realized a huge hole in her plan. One that was several times larger than any holes in her hooves. Sevilin most likely wouldn't allow it. And to attempt to overthrow him would be dangerous. Without him, there would be no food. And she kinda-sorta liked him too.

     He was a nice guy. Funny, wise, and extremely persuasive. He wasn't physically comparable to many of Equestria's creatures, yet he always found ways around that with his mind and hands. He had made mistakes, but his successes had more than accounted for that. He was basically a man of peace and resolution, of quiet understanding and stoic fortitude. Never one to be too complacent. But always one to be far too trusting.

     That was how he had fallen under the Diamond Dogs. He had laid his trust in them far too easily, and paid the price with time and strength. Until he fought his way out with a good load of jewels in tow.

     Yet he had still chalked it up to fear of him on their part and still clung to the belief that Equestria was a good place. Through and through, he believed that this land could do no true evil. He spoke of evil like he knew what it was and how it lived and who it hung out with on weekends popping cool ones and smoking joints. It wasn't like he was evil…

     Right?

     Sevilin Jacobs threw open the wooden door to Holding Area A-01like the glorious king he was. He strode in confidently, yet a little exasperated. Trixie was gone from his side, off gathering officers to corral and hide the changelings and getting the Praetorians to the cells. The poor little changeling guys and gals were absolutely terrified of the Elements, most of them at least. Those who worked the Shroud Ops and waiting staff were mostly fine as long as they were incognito.

     Some even joked that the waiters were the Shroud Ops. Somebody found a bunch of loose springs in the middle of their bunk that night. And no, that's not an urban myth, that is some seriously funny stuff right there. Pranking gold, I tell you. Back to the story!

     Before he knew what was happening, Orion ran screaming, right past him and out the door.

     Was his tail on fire?

     Intrigued and befuddled, Jacobs quickened his pace down the hall. Two changelings laid curled on the floor. Terrace! Cane! The human looked about in a panic, and saw a set of iron keys floating just a meter or so away from the bars.

     Wrapped in a purple glow, the keys simply hung there as the unicorn whom the aura belonged to gawked at him.

     "Twi! Hurry!" Pinkie Pie screamed shrilly, aiming directly at the man. The scream had him clutching his head as the keys zipped closer. Just as they were about to fly right into AJ's hooves, a single arm shot through the bars and grasped the jangling keys.

     With the other arm, he bopped Twilight on the horn, shutting down the magic flow and retracting his right arm in one swift motion. While Twilight rubbed her head, the others stared in fear at the giant before them. With a scowl on his face and a grip so tight that his knuckles were drained of blood, he bellowed in rage.

     "WHAT HAPPENED HERE?"

     Ten minutes earlier...

     Terrace and Cane chatted with Orion, oblivious of the dastardly plan being concocted by the sweet mares.

     "Everything's clear outside the wall, but still, I mean come on! Would it be too hard to just get some snack bars out there?" Terrace and Orion nodded while Cane went on with his frivolous plans for midnight snacking. In general, they both agreed. Food stands would be amazing along the wall, but what to put in them was a completely different matter.

     "Love!" Terrace and Cane bellowed.

     "Churros!" Orion shouted back with far more gusto.

     And then it struck. Right as Orion put Cane in a headlock and Terrace raised his black, hole-ridden hooves in a neck strike.

     "It's soooooo dark in here! And so stuffy! My mane will be destroyed if you don't do something!"

     The three froze, their ears twitched to and fro, and their faces looked utterly baffled.

     "There's no rooooooom! And these bars are rusty! My coat's getting dirty, too! I wanna go hooooooooome!"

     All three of the friends adopted pained looks, their faces contorting in absolute horror.

     "My hooves hurt, would it kill you to get some chairs in here?! And I'm hungryyyyyyy! What time is it! Somepony faaaaaarrrrrted!"

     They couldn't take it.

     The changelings curled up and fell like spiders, and Terrace's fangs sunk into Orion's right forearm on his way to kiss the floor. Orion screamed and ran in circles, throwing the comatose insect into the wall. By hitting the wall, Terrace dislodged a torch, which promptly fell on Orion's tail.

     The torch lit his tail, and Orion panicked. After running into the stone wall several times, he finally had the good sense to sprint out of the room. He ran right past Sevilin and out the holding area, off to cool his burning tail.

     Back to present…

     "You're kidding me…" Sevilin sat there with a dumbfounded look on his face, holding the keys in his left hand while his right hand gripped the chair in front of him. He sat on the wooden seat back wards, extremely casually.

     At first, the mares cringed at his look, but then stared at him in confusion much as he had looked at them.

     Sevilin laughed out loud, nearly in tears. "That's rich!" He laughed some more, until he fell out of his seat. They watched him ROFL, and LOL, and… I'm done. He clutched the keys against his stomach. His laughter was like a chorus of trumpets stuck on G sharp, and he actually started crying.

     When he was finished, he pulled himself back up and sat down, wiping tears away with his green sweater sleeve.

     Rarity eyed him up and down. Green fleece sweater, gray pants, and the same black boots from before. Not all that fashionable, but very functional.

     He smiled at the group now, especially Rarity. "That was pretty damned clever, I'll give you that." They all smiled. "But why did you attack us last night?" Twilight was the first to argue this time, taking both Rainbow Dash and Applejack off guard.

     "You have changelings in your palace! Do you have any idea how dangerous that is! They must have been spying on you this entire time!" Twilight huffed and puffed.

     Sevilin's eyebrow rose speculatively. "That's racist."

     Twilight did a double take, as did her other friends.

     "Racist? It's true!"

     "Then they'd be absolutely terrible spies. Furthermore, they haven't attacked me. In fact…" He leaned in close to the bars. "I've been letting them feed off of me."

     The group let their jaws drop collectively.

     "But… How could you… How are you still moving?!" Twilight was the only pony in the cage who had read all about changeling biology after the attack, thus she was the most educated in the field.

     "From what I've come to understand, you Equestrians (and races outside of Equestria), rely heavily on positive emotions to function properly. Is this correct?"

     Twilight nodded.

     "Well. Humans don't need positive emotions to run at maximum efficiency. We are false-neutral beings. We can achieve feats of strength through hate, rage, love, and happiness. A true neutral human is far more dangerous." Sevilin took a breath in order to continue his explanation. "I also love this city. And everyone inside of it. I was elected their leader. They kept me here. Practically begged me. I love them for who they are, not what they were. Actions speak louder than words, but when they perform them is what counts."

     They all peered at him.

     "This guy's lost his friggin' mind."

     "Shot!" Twilight screeched at the Private.

     Shot quite literally shot into the corner. "Please don't talk! Anything but that! Please!"

     Jacobs chuckled. "It's quite alright. I'll be letting you out of the cage by tonight. I understand you were just frightened by my company. Completely understandable."

     "W- what? That's it? You put us in prison for what, an hour?" Wind Shear gazed at the human, absolutely dumbfounded.

     "Yeah. You were just so used to fighting them off I suppose. I guess I would have been taken by surprise too."

     Rainbow Dash flew to the bars. "We weren't scared! We coulda taken you all on!" The human merely grinned deviously.

     "Sure. Whatever you say."

     Spike burped into the air, releasing a swirl of paper dust. The dust culminated into a parchment within seconds. Sevilin stared at the spectacle in wonder, then muttered: "You've got mail."

     Twilight snatched the letter out of the air, and read it out loud on reflex.

     "Dear Twilight Sparkle. Have you found any evidence as to the whereabouts of the Everfree's creatures? I eagerly await your response. May your trips bring you and your friends safety and fortune. Your Benevolent Ruler, Cherished Protector, Omnipotent Goddess, Daybringer, Mentor, and Owner of Sexiest Flank one thousand and fifty eight years running, Princess Celestia."

     "Does she sign all of her letters like that?" Shot whispered from his solitary corner.

     Even Twilight was blushing at this point, and she fanned herself with the letter before looking straight at Sevilin. "I think we found evidence alright. You're responsible, aren't you?"

     Sevilin shrugged. "Guilty as charged. Now. Let's right us a letter, shall we?"

A/N: What a waste of words. IT'S ALL BASICALLY FILLER. The fight scene was kinda flat in my opinion too. I am so damned sorry. No really, hit me. Through the internet.

     I hate this chapter. I really do. But it's like a necessary evil to progress the story. I haven't been feeling the funny either. That's a big uh-oh in my book. No funnies mean bad business. I feel like being crazy serious, but I'm erring on the side of ridiculousness for as long as I can.

     This story will become SRZ BZNS eventually, but right now it's just character building.

     I also don't like grand entrances, which is why characters are introduced so suddenly. Because they don't require fireworks and trumpets. They've already been set up, we know who they are, but not what they've done since. Which is where Sevilin Jacobs comes in.

     He will be supporting the characters and providing filler for their 'in-between' stories. He will describe via mouth and writing how he met them and how he spent his time with them. And yes, he's very tall, but as always there's a legitimate reason behind this.

     Oh, and bonus points if you figure out why the chapter's called 'Beloved'. :D

     I still need an editor to sort through my disorganized crap.

Next Chapter: Chapter 5- Out on the Town Estimated time remaining: 2 Hours, 41 Minutes