Out from the brush, came a group of four ebony ponies. They had holes through their bodies that riddled along their arms, and legs. They had insect like wings, and razor sharp teeth cowling their jawline. I knew, these had to be 'Changlings'. I could see the blood lust, lurking in the back of their dark, blue eyes.

Unsheathing my blade, I held the hilt in hand, but placed the tip of the sword resting on the ground. With Shadow, and I only outnumbered by two, I took the responsibility to give them a warning. "It would be wise to calm yourselves, I don't wish to harm you. We're simply traveling to try, and make a treaty with the changlings." I wanted to keep the situation in hand, but with my statement, their stubbornness was making negotiating a difficult process.

One of the changlings' stepped forward, and stared at me with a jagged snarl,"So, you claim. We know who you are, and why it is your traveling these roads. You wish to see our Queen, but you won't make the trip sadly..." The group of changlings started laughing in unison, while they pointed at the both of us.

I gave the lead changling a look of confusion,"And how do you know who I am? We only just arrived here to camp, but enough merit for a death threat?" I smirked, at the rude attitude he gives. Wolves had been a threat for a good bit, and now, the only thing he's got is some nice teeth.

The group of Changlings began circling Shadow, and I attempting to stalk us. Waiting for the right moment for themselves to attack their prey. "We know who you are...Everypony knows, by now, young blood. You are the one to replace the old, sad excuse for a Guardian, John, the 'Protector' of the Distant hills. You're the new Guardian, Darkmoon. Little Farmboy..." His eyes squinted at me, as he huffed in my direction.

The group's cackles had become very frustrating. The leader continued to speak,"You're here to try, and stop our Queen in her plans to expand. I think you're stupid, farmboy. Walking all this way, just to die by my hands in a few moments. Everypony needs food, and It's pathetic that someone such as yourself, was made to 'Protect Equestria'. They really have been scraping the bottom of the barrel now, aren't they? Are the ponies too fat to fight for themselves?" The group continued to chuckle to one another.

I looked to Shadow, and smiled. I turned back to the group of hyena's, and pushed my sword into the ground, to hold it upright. I took a step away from the sword, and made a stance, readying myself. "Al-righty, then. I wanted to just sign a treaty with your queen to make sure there was peace for everypony, but now I'm adding kicking your ass, to that list." I clenched my fists together, and stepped forward waiting for his first throw.

The leader of the group made his way over to me, and chuckled to himself. He put up his arms, and took his own stance puffed-up, wiping his finger on his lips scoffing,"So, we have a tough guy. We'll just have to see to that, then. Your little friend can have the 'fun' of dragging your dead sorry carcass, back to Ponyville." The sly bastard swiftly drew out a sword, and lunged at me.

He had a good shot, as he managed to stab into my left bicep, and it quickly sent my arm numb. In the sudden rush of being stabbed, I let out a heavy breath. Through the pain, and with the sword still in me, I grabbed the leader by the neck, and pulled him into a headbutt. He flew back, and crashed into his friends falling down. The leader brought his head back up, then stood back to his hooves.

The sword was still in my arm, so I grabbed the hilt, and started the painful process of removing it. Though the pain was excruciating, I managed to hold an angered expression. Once the sword was removed from the fresh wound, I took it as well, and stabbed its blade into the ground. I kept my attention held on them.

The changlings looked upon me in fright, as I took a step towards them. I looked to the leader who held his bloody snout, and warned,"I care not that you stabbed me, nor that you insulted my father..." The leader's eyes widened at the statement,"And I'm on a mission of peace. I don't want to kill you in the first place, or your group either, but should I see any of you at the hive when I arrive, I won't think twice about killing you. Now go, your time at my camp has been extended for far, too long. Run. Fly. Whatever means necessary." After the warning, they all took to the sky. I watched as they faded into the distance, and I finally returned to the campfire. Shadow approached the fire light, and looked me over with a baffled expression, as I sat down on the log to stead myself.

Shadow looked to me worried, and started to nag,'Are you trying to get yourself killed? You just let them get away, and they might just come back, with more backup! In your injured state, we should just turn around, and go back!' The little fox shook his head, in disappointment. I reached down to my armor, and grabbed my right gauntlet. I tried to place it on the ground to strap it to my arm, but couldn't manage to with my paralyzed one, as it rolled with an attempt.

Shadow looked to me, and saw that I was struggling,'What are you doing? Here, let me lend a paw. Once we get your armor on, we're turning back, and getting you medical attention.' Shadow strode over to me and placed himself at my feet, turning away. I began using the grooves of his back to hold the gauntlet in place, and then used the useful hand to hold the gauntlet between his shoulder blades. Using my teeth, I managed to tie my strappings, and clipped them. Once I got the gauntlet on, I started warming up a newly learned spell taught to me. I didn't want to have to use it this much that quickly, but I'd rather know it, than need it. Shadow looked to me and asked,"What in the name of Celestia are you doing now?"

"Well, as the Guardian, I can't just go, and risk my life without knowing how to patch myself up." I cast the spell and was covered from head to toe in a mystical bright ivory glow. I looked to the wound, and seen that it was gradually healing, and the skin seemed to piece together. The only thing different about the stabbing wound spot, now was the scar. The spell can heal me, but won't get rid of the mark entirely. "Twilight taught it to me, during my second magic lesson. It's proven helpful to me, and a rather clumsy grey pegasi." I told the worried fox.

His thoughts barraged my mind again. 'Ok, well at least the trip wasn't for nothing. There's still the problem with them returning, if they do.' Shadow continued to nag on,'Are you just going to keep getting your arm stabbed, until they leave out of boredom?'

I shook my head to disable his insults, and his wordiness,"Don't worry Shadow, I don't see them coming back for another go. If they were smart, then they'd just simply warn the hive, and beef up security. Waiting for us to come over." I dropped the spell, and worked my left hand around. I switched between clenching my fist, and stretching my arm to check its sensitivity. It folded quite nicely,"As long as your sly like the form you choose, then we shouldn't have any problems getting inside the base."

It was the middle of the afternoon; by the time we made it to the outside rim of the Hive headquarters. I could see changlings posted at every entrance; guards circling the base through the air, and soldiers were patrolling the nearby grounds. Shadow, and I were just out of sight on a ledge of Mystic mountain facing the Hive. "Ready to get that treaty signed?" I asked the cautious fox.

'As long as you keep that spell up, and don't let your reserves empty before we get to Chrysalis, then yes.' He scoffed through thought. I then motioned for him to follow towards the hive, and Shadow kept beside me.

Casting the spell, and trying to maintain it; I began to feel strange. Taken back; I let out a loud cough, in the sensation. A nearby guard heard me, and came towards the noise,"What's going on over here!" The guard stopped in his tracks, and relaxed looking our direction. "Soldier, what's wrong? Fox-hair allergies?"

I felt strange, being disguised as a changling. I could see that Shadow felt the same looking at me. We both looked to the patrolling guard, and I pleaded,"Man, that's my pet. It's just that my stomach feels like shit. I need to go to the infirmary." I took a few believable gasps of air, as I held my stomach belching. "My friend's been hurt too. We were attacked by this guy named 'Darkmoon'. Bastard used magic, and now my stomachs fucked. My buddy came to help, and he got kicked." Shadow, and I continued to hold our painful expressions.

The changling looked at us with hesitation, then spoke,"Another group? What the hell does this guy want? Some 'peace' treaty, from the looks of it. Ok, follow me. The Queen's going to want to hear about what happened. After you let her know, you can go to the sickbay for the evening." The guard started to lead us into the Hive.

I could hear Shadow's voice echo inside my head,'I honestly didn't think this would work. Nice idea.' All I could do is look down, and smirk.

(Version 1.3(2022))
Minor errors and misspellings fixed.

I hope you've been enjoying the read, or the text-to-speech option. It helps a lot. And I shall continue to entertain, as the show continues. I'll see you in the next chapter.
Keep it cool, xXCondemnedSoulXx.