Inbreed

                                                                                        IMBREED

       "why do we have to stand here; I mean its not like anypony is going to attack here, we might as well be here for just     melting in the sun." the young unicorn guard said

       "well ever since the attack on canterlot one year ago princess celestia wanted to make sure that all the towns in the area are well protected by the royal guard." spoke the aged unicorn guard who's voice had years of experiences

        "oh come on like anything here is going to attack the settlements here, before the whole bug invasion the-" the recruit was cut off by the age guards hoof

        "it was the changeling invasion and we were defeated in less than half an hour, yet we had the whole guard up there and captain Shinning armor, but we were easily defeated by them." the aged guard spoke with denial in his voice

        "well I mean, I didn't know that meant a lot to you I thought we won, didn't we." the young recruit spoke hearing for an answer for the veteran guard

         "yes, but we were easily defeated by their army and out number its something most guards there don't speak of." the veteran guard spoke with pain in his voice as he was tasked to protect canterlot from a unknown threat

         "I'm sorry, its just I barely got posted here and thought why are we protecting this place since there's no danger." the recruit spoke with a tone of empathy for disrespecting the veteran guards lack of protection

         "heh, well its just that I want to make sure this does not happen to any pony settlements, and make sure their is no threat of invasion to them." the age guard spoke with determination

         "ya, I was in manehatten when it happened, I'm guessing this position here, is to make up for what you could've  done at the siege of canterlot." the recruit spoke with fear that he might disrespect his superior again

          "sure why not" he stated

          as both guard were positioned in the hot dessert of appleloosa a small faint white dot could be spotted at the edge of the mountainous dessert

            "hey you see that sir." the guard spoke

            "see what all that's in this dustbowl is nothing, but rocks, boulders, and hot sand." he shrugged

            "that white dot all the way out there moving, it could be some thing should we check?" the recruit said

             "no, we are to be guarding this town and make sure its gates are protected, it could be some wild animal known to these park." the aged guard said annoyed to the question

              "oh, I guess you right there's no reason to attack here, since this town could've already been attacked ages ago and there's nothing to steal here except, apples hehe."

              "y'all doin okay there" the mysterious feminine voice said

               "yes, mam" the guards said together

               "tis just seeing you two there, out in celestia sun can make quite a feller hot, y'all two don't need anything." the mare spoke with concern to the guards health

               "we're fine mam, its just hot that's all, all this sand can really annoy you." the age guard spoke with slight force

               "well, just seeing you two out here protecting our small town id like to make sure you don't catch a stroke" the mare said

               "were fine we have water if needed" the recruit said with cheer

                "okay dan I'll be going, so lo- what in tarnation is cow doing up there?" the mare spoke                                                                                                                                                                                                           "cow?" the recruit said

                  "sure don know there a'int no grass here what is one doing out there there all supposed to be headed to ponyville to eat at them large open pastures."

                   "it looks like its heading this way, should we check sir it could be dangerous, if not investigated." the recruit said as if he was preparing to battle something out of the dessert with his spear ready

                    "should I come y'all could use some help."

                    "we'll go its not safe a citizen to leave, come on gold shield lets move." iron hoof said

                     "yes, sir"

                      the two guards continued to walk the hot dessert of appleloosa, gold shield kept looking back seeing as the town became smaller and smaller as they approached the unknown thing, unlike iron hoof he was staring forward ready to see what this white mystery is

                       "there it is sir"

                       "great, know we need to see WHAT this is." iron hoof said already knowing they would carry this thing all the way back to the town

                       they made their way down the small dune of sand onto were the thing collapsed at the proceeded slowly as they would fall and tumble on the loose sand that surrounded them as their faces were obscured by the hot blistering sand that would blow in their face from the summer breeze

                       "ugh....all...most...there" gold shield said as he struggled not to slide done the small dune as iron hoof had the same problem only that he had a hard time trying not close his eyes as the sand kept blowing into his face and burning his eyes

                        "erghgr stop, stop, stop, stop!" iron hoof said as his eyes were red due to the sand that kept on blowing in his face as he rubbed the sand out of them

                        "what's the matter sir, were still not there." gold shield said confused on why his superior told him to halt

                        "my eyes, uhgh this sand keeps getting in my eyes and I cant see a darn thing, how close are we gold shield." iron hoof said as he continued to rube his eyes

                        "close, but this small wind keeps me from seeing or the fact I don't want to fall on the ground and tumble hehe."

                        "alright, but how come your eyes are not full of sand  I thought you benign first would receive it more." he said looking at gold shield as he had a concerned look on his face

                        "oh its just that Its, my magic I guess or maybe because your older and your eyes are not the same as they use to be." he said looking at the aged guard that had small wrinkles on him with a small smile

                         "these eyes are what help protect canterlot and to watch over its castle gates so my age has nothing to do with it alright." he said as the tension of his anger was building that he was ridiculed by a rookie as he was more experienced and called old, his brows furrowed to the comment

                         "sorry, should we go back or-" gold shield was cut off aging

                         "no, (he sighed) we continue, we moved to far to come back empty hoofed plus we been walking for an hour so lets move, even if we have to carry what ever that thing is." iron hoofed looked to the ground tired from the trek they just endeavored as he slumped  and continue to walk

                           "well, I mean your experienced and I bet you fought lots of battles or done some thing to be a guard they only pick the best." gold shield said trying to reinsure his commander with his kind words

                            "sure, but guard duty is all that all you do and there hasn't been any battles except canterlot and me there was a time to redeem my self, *sigh* lets move on." iron hoof said with the voice of regret and sadness

                            "oh o-kay?" gold shield said unsure why a veteran guard with years of protecting would be sad as he looked to his officer he noticed that he walking as if he knew what fate had in store for him

                            they kept walking into the direction were the unknown thing was, much to there luck they managed to finally reach their destination an there lying on the ground was a white creature covered in robes that we soiled, torn, and seen better days as the creature's breathing was steady and its body limp on the ground

                           "what is that?" gold shield said in a hushed tone to iron hoof ears

                           "It looks like... ahhhh... white changeling!" iron hoof said surprised to his own eyes, he questioned why would one be boing here or even be colored white

                           " that's a changeling! I thought they would look um.... scarier and more bug like." gold shield said

                           "it is, but the ones we seen were black not white and they usually in disguised; why would anypony do all the way out here, you have any ideas." iron hoof said never taking his eyes off the changeling

                            "maybe it was a scout sent to spy on us." gold shield stated

                            "maybe, we'll need to carry this change-"

                            "help" the changeling said with its voice full of pain

                            "its hurt should we take it back sir?" gold shield said with a concerned look over the changeling that was struggling to stay alive

                             "sure, we cant leave it here to die come on go ahead and put it on your back."

                             "m-mme, but why do I have to carry it can't you do it!" gold shield stammered as he would walk with a nearly dead changeling on his back back to the town of appleloosa

                              "no, your more coordinated and plus I'm old heheheh." iron hoof chuckled as the recruit would have to carry the changeling all the way back bring some joy into his suffering

                               "y-yes sir *gulp*" gold shield said as he know feared what might happen to him with a live thing on him that could possibly kill him

                               "having fun rookie hehehe." iron hoof continued to pester the timed guard as he carried a changeling on his back afraid

                               the two guards continue to walk back to appleloosa to return the mysterious white changeling gold shield carried on his back as the gold armor was covered from the sand due to the changelings robes making him look like five ft. tall monster with two heads and blue hair iron hoof looked at the spectacle and chuckled quietly

                                "are we close I can't see due to this robe that keeps getting in my face."

                                "were close just keep walking we'll get there trust me." iron hoof said still chuckling to him self

                               "huh huh thank you." the changeling said to gold shield he noted how the changelings voice is a female knowing this he did not only had a channeling but also changeling mare on him which made him sweat more than celestias sun; she kept letting out short breaths down gold shields neck which made him more nervous but each one were soothing which relaxed him and eventually calmed him down when they finally reached the gates of appleloosa

                               at the entrance of the town was col. steel sword who's face was in anger as to why two of his guards left their position, his face cold as steel and a stature that would make any recruit of the royal guard scared stiff, his eyes wandered to iron hoof who now put on his serious face

                                "sir" iron hoof and gold shied both said saluting which gold shield try but couldn't due to the female changeling on him

                               "GUARDS! why did you leave your post you two have no authority to leave your position. sgt. iron hoof why did you and private gold shield leave your position and I want an answer now." his out burst caused iron hoof and gold shield to be startled by his anger as now he was waiting for an answer

                               "gold shield and me spotted a mysterious thing and we went to investigate sir, one of the locals also spotted; it was headed here so went scouting to check the sighting." iron hoof said

                               "and what WAS so important that you two left your post!" steel sword shouted gaining the attention of nearby pedestrians

                              "this uh white changeling s-sir." gold shield said trembling in his gold armor fear of what he might say

                              steel sword observed the white changeling on top of gold shield's back and looked him in his eyes seeing if this were true, gold shield was sweating and try to look away but couldn't his gaze was focused on the colonel and his faced furrowed

                               "this is the reason why you left, *sigh* very well I'll put it in the cell at the sheriffs stat-." the colonel was interrupted

                               "sir, um the changeling is a she and well she's badly injured and she needs medical attention." gold shield said

                               "you found her like this?" sword said

                               "yes, sir" gold shield said

                               "fine put her in one of the tents I'll have to inform canterlot about this and have one of the doctors look at her."

                               "thank you sir." sword left flanked by his two guards, while gold shield and iron hoof stood their watching him leave

                                "so, your going to take the changeling to the tents." iron hoof said

                                 "ya, I'll even make sure she needs help with any thing when she wakes up, are you going to come also." gold shield spoke as he was struggling to keep his strength

                                  "no, I'm going to patrol the town maybe get a glass of cold cider heh, good luck private." with that iron hoof tuned and left while gold shield waved good bye as he started to make his way to the medical tent

                                  "thank you for helping me" the changeling said to gold shield her voice weak and trembling as he put her In one of the beds they had for the guards he watched her sleep due to exhaustion he removed his helmet and took a sip of water from his cantina

                                   "could I pleas have some w-water *coughing*" she said to gold shield as her solid blue eyes looked at him begging for nourishment of thirst he stared back and offered her some he lifted the cantina with the magic from his horn and passed it to her as she started to gulp down the entire thing

                                   " your welcome um um...um miss." he said with a faint smile

                                 " sage, my name is sage." her name clear and soothing which brought gold shield smile at her as she sat up on her bed

                                   "so, um miss sage why were you out there?" he stated

                                   " just call me sage, I was looking for food for my people and the wind picked up and blinded me and I sort of got lost." her smile faded and she looked to the ground as her ears drooped to gold shield he saw her become sad due to the elements and decided to comfort her by holding her hole filed hoof

                                    "its okay, look I help you get some food for your people I promise." he said a she looked at him with a small smile as he gave her one as well

                                     "eh hem" both gold shield and sage turned and looked to the unicorn stallion in front of the tent flap

                                     "um yes I'm here to check on the uhum changeling." the older stallion said as he wore a brown coat a bow tie and a pair of glasses with him and had a white beard and white fluffy white hair with the voice of a teacher giving instruction to his students giving off that he might have been a professor

                                       "yes, well my name is Dr. Bones and I'm hear to examine the changeling, if you could sir pleas step aside as I will take out my tools." he said as he started to rummage through his doctor bag as he finally pulled out his stethoscope and placed it over sages hart

                                        "mmmhhhm that sounds good okay." the doctor continued to examine her seeing if there were any problems the only cause was dehydration and fatigue which were easily found out

                                        "you are one healthy changeling uhhum so then I best be going good day." the doctor left quickly as well as he came leaving the changeling and the guard alone in silence as soon until sages stomach rumbled as she started to blush beneath her white cheeks and look away

                                         "so um what do changelings eat." gold shield said looking at the blushing changeling before him

                                         "love, but I can't since my birth problems, but I can eat meat or a few fruits." she said

                                          "I don't know about love, meats out the question, but we have fruits if you want any, we have apples; your not allergic to apples right." gold shield shrugged about the changelings diet which put a little uneasy around her

                                           "no, but its okay I can manage." gold shield tossed her an apple to sage which she started to munch on

                                            "well, I'll be out side don't think of leaving alright the royal guard is to found of changelings, but if there's any problems just call okay. I'll be right outside if you need anything."

                                              "okay" sage said as gold shield went outside the tent and while sage started to drift asleep