The three stallions, changeling, and dragon stood at the edge of Ponyville, ahead of them lay a vast expanse of green hills and the occasional bush or tree in the distance.

"Alright," Shining said. "Changeling, are you sure you know where you're going?"

The changeling, staring off into space for a second, nodded his head briefly before blinking and looking at the guard captain. Nodding, he licked his lips and started a quick spell.

"So, how do we know we can trust him?" Shining asked Big Mac.

"We don't have any other options. Sides' he seems to care for her." The red stallion replied. "He says that another changeling took her, he tried to defend her but he got shot and then ah found him in the closet later. Do ya think he would try and attack another changeling?"

"No. I guess not." Shining said. "But I still don't trust him."

"Are ya still sore from the wedding?"

Shining snorted and nodded, eyebrows knitted together in slight anger recalling the memory.

"Yeah, I am." He admitted. "But for all we know, we could be walking into a trap. He's taking us to the hive. Were going to be going into a hive full of hundreds of changelings, with nothing to protect ourselves with. This is the worst-"

"And only plan we got." Big Mac finished. "Sides' ah don't think havin' ya go along with us is such a good idea. No offense."

"Why would me going be bad?" Shining snapped.

"Your too emotionally distraught." Spike said. "You're too connected to Twilight, and were going after her, where, she is being held by most hated enemy. Twilight, plus Chrysalis, equals a disgruntled Shining Armor. And when there's a disgruntled Shining Armor, things tend to get stomped into the ground. Face it, when we get there, we can't take you in with us."

"You listen here," he said drawing in a breath. "She is my sister! And I will not stand by while she's being held captive! She helped save my life once, and I think It's time I return the favor. Are you done yet?" Shining said turning to the changeling.

The changeling, stopping briefly, nodded before he began walking.

"Well, just don't stand there like tree's, get moving!" Camo said walking past the others and to the changeling.

Letting out a trio of exhales, the two stallions and dragon gave one last glance at Ponyville before following.

The changeling took to the air, just moving along a few inches off the ground. Camo had an odd gait going on, his prosthetic leg dragging slightly, much to his annoyance. Spike was riding on Big Macintosh's back, leaning against the stallions neck for support. Shining Armor was standing as tall as he would have if he was on guard duty.

The sun provided its usual comfort, a warm breeze flew by. As they walked, as Ponyville grew smaller and smaller in the distance, Camo began humming. Minutes passed before he sighed and lit his horn; holding his own saddle bag in front of him, he opened the flap and pulled out a small ukelele. Playing it, he closed his eyes in concentration and a feeling of relaxation.

"Camo...?" Shining said. "Camo stop!" He yelled making the stallion jump.

"My skill is very good, and you have no right to criticize me." Camo said. "What's up with him?" He asked pointing at the changeling as it lay still on the ground. "He's not dead, is he? Spike, give him mouth to mouth, or chest compressions. Or both. We can't lose him... Or can we?"

"Your playing did something to him." Spike said. "As soon as you started playing, he just stopped and started twitching before this. I think you made him pass out."

"Oh. My bad." He said chuckling guiltily as he stuffed the instrument back in his saddle bag. "You sure he's not dead? I heard changeling meat is selling for five hundred bits in the... I'll shut up now."

Shining Armor, glaring at the pony, tore his attention away and kneeled down to the changeling. Tilting the changeling's head, he took his hoof away and looked curiously as the changeling's head didn't fall back down. The changeling blinked, his horn giving off a faint flicker.

The changeling, using what magic he could in his state, lifted a twig from the ground and began writing in the dirt.

"Can't... Move." Camo read. "I bucked up, didn't I?"

"Yes." Spike read as the changeling's magic flashed red for a second. "Well, great, we've just started and you paralyzed our guide. Do any of you have any other way of reaching Twilight?"

"We could use my map."

Both stallions, Spike and as best as he could, the changeling, all looked at Camo as the stallion rummaged through his saddle bag again. Pulling out a long, straight object wrapped in a white cloth, a stone slab, rope, glue, a snowglobe, his ukelele and the head of a pickaxe, and finally a small box.

It was a small black box, gold trimmings lined the sides and top, and resting in the middle was a silver latch. He opened it quickly, pulling the paper out in a second before screwing up his face until it was red as he tried to keep the two parts from splitting. The others stared in shock, fear, and surprise as multiple screeches came out from the box.

"Help! Me...!" Camo said, the strain in his voice clear.

Big Mack put his fore-hooves on the top and bottom before pushing. Whatever it was inside, was even proving a challenge for him. As he pushed, the veins in his neck began to bulge out; as Shining Armor went to help, a click was heard before it all stopped.

Panting, Camo sat on his flank before unfolding the paper and stuffing his items back in his saddle bag.

"What in the hay was that!?" Big mac asked staring at the small box.

"Hm? Oh, yeah, did I mention it's cursed? No? Oh, well I hope you two don't mind." Camo said idly looking over the map. "So... We take a left here, and then keep going straight through the gorge..."

"Cursed!" Shining said incredulously. "I mind that very much! What's in that thing?"

"Um..." The stallion said glancing at the box. "Did I ever tell you how I had a one night stand with a mare, and then found her preparing to cut me into little bits in the morning?"

"What. Is. In. The. Box?" Shining asked.

"Well, after a few drinks, and a short walk to her cave in the woods, we got into bed and rutted. In the morning, I found that she had grown claws, razor sharp teeth, and black eyes. So, I push her off and run to the other side of the room after letting out a... Less than stallion-like scream. Yeah, I saw a box on a shelf, grabbed it, threw it, and she is now trapped in there."

"What is she?" Big Mac asked.

"A Banshee." He said. "In hindsight, I should have stopped wen she told me she lived in a cave." He said looking at the map. "In the middle of the woods." He shrugged. "Where... So that's why she said where nopony could hear me scream. I thought she was just kinky."

"Should I be listening?" Spike said drawing their attention. "So, she's a Banshee...? And you carry her around because...?"

"She keeps my stuff safe." He said. "And she just seemed lonely. I couldn't just leave... Well I could, but I didn't." He shrugged. "Poor Soul Song, she was a good mare at heart, I'm sure. But she was a horrible monster everywhere else!" He yelled at the box.

"S-She can't get out, can she?" Spike asked glancing at the box.

"Not unless it stays open." He said. "I was planning on giving it as a gift. That stupid sailor stole my two bits." He said darkly scrunching the paper slightly. "Nopony double crosses me and get's away with it. And certainly not after stealing from me." He chuckled coldly before having a coughing fit. "Wish I brought some cough drops."

"Do you have any other cursed items in there?" Shining asked nodding towards his saddle bag.

"Of course not!" He said. "Atleast, none that I can't handle."

"What are they, and what do they do?" He asked. "Or, I let your marefriend out of the box."

"Well, the snow globe causes a small, arctic like storm until the user stops rapidly shaking it. And the glue... I'm not sure what that does. But I'm guessing it's used to stick construction paper to cardboard. Or, to create a small pit filled with glue. I actually forgot." He said smiling. "So, who's going to carry the changeling? Because I'm now the guide for this little trip."

"Ah'm carrin' Spike as it is." Big Mac said. "Ah guess it's up to ya, Armor." He said watching the stallion's face twist into a grimace.

"Fine. But the second he even twitches, I'm dropping him." He said staring down at the changeling. "Where to, Camo?"

"Well," He said tucking it in his saddle bag. "Who's ready to run a marathon through Ghastly Gorge?"

Both stallions, Spike and the changeling just stared at him, he smiled back. His smile faded as they just kept staring.

"I'll lead hm to a cliff," Shining whispered to Big Mac. "You push him off."

"Eeyup."

"I'll tell Twilight he slipped." Spike whispered.