Consequences

Chapters

5 Folsom Prison Blues
6 Epilogue: Where's Rhu?
1 I guess somepony expected the Inquisition after all.
2 Tell it to my heart
3 The "Magnanimous and Benevolent" Trixie vs. Giant Robots
4 Old Friends still have to kick your ass.

5 Folsom Prison Blues

Yards woke up in a cell. He wasn't sure where exactly he was, but he suspected he was in one of the storage rooms back in his base. It had likely been cleared out quickly and re-purposed.

It wasn't all bad. Somepony's hooves were working over his screaming neck muscles. He moaned softly and adjusted his head slightly, bringing a painful spot under the massaging hooves.

“Do you like that?” Toffee asked.

Yards grunted in the affirmative. “Delta?” he whispered.

“Got away, thanks to you.” She continued her ministrations. Ah, it felt so good.

“Why are you still here?”

“I'm looking after you silly. Since I, well, you know. They trust me. So I can come and go.” He lay there like a lump at her hooves until the door opened. A bandaged Trixie was looking down at him.

“Hmmm,” she sneered. “It would seem that you are not as stupid as you first appeared. You took the olive branch offered by the Magnanimous and Benevolent Trixie.”

With a grunt, Yards rolled over simultaneously away from her and to allow Toffee to work on the still damaged side. The rubbing wouldn't fix all the damage, but it made most of the swelling go down. He'd be able to move his head sooner thanks to it.

Trixie snorted. “We see that your defeat has done nothing to increase your manners. Give us the changeling, and we may still yet absolve you of more of your crimes.”

“She's just one changeling.”

“She's more than that.”

“Why do you so desperately want her dead?”

“Princess Luna has demanded it.”

“Princess Luna knew she was alive all along. Why would she change her mind now?” The hooves were less movement and more force now. It still felt good, so Yards didn't care.

“You were a part of the Royal Guard. You should know better than any to not question the ways of the nobility.”

“I know them enough to know there's some political machinations at work here.”

“You know, historically speaking,” Toffee began, “not all changelings carried an automatic death sentence. What did this one do?”

“The Magnanimous and Benevolent Trixie does not care. What she does care about is finding this changeling,” She harrumphed. “Anything else is simply beneath her notice.”

“Sorry, I was busy fighting a living legend. I didn't notice where she ran off to.”

Scorn dripped heavily from the High Inquisitor's voice. “Yes, he gave me his report. Allowing the main target to escape was the only blemish in an otherwise perfect mission. Still, you know her. You know where she will feel safe. Where she will hide. You know how she is able to get around our detection charms. You will furnish this information.”

“You didn't say please.”

Trixie huffed. Something slammed into the back of Yard's head. He gritted his teeth against the pain to his already damaged neck. Toffee screamed in surprise then glared at Trixie.

“What?” The inquisitor matched her gaze definitely.

“You could have hit me.”

“Pffft! The Magnanimous and Benevolent Trixie is truly great and powerful. She wouldn't strike you accidentally.”

Heavy hooves cantered into the room. Yard's neck still wasn't able to turn so he had to whimper as he rolled over his whole body. Two stallions tackled Yards, shoving Toffee out of the way. She screamed while the other two held down his neck and head. A third came in with a huge poleaxe. He brought it down with a heavy swing.

Toffee swore to fornicate to death parts of their anatomy if they didn't let him go.

The axe made a crunching noise as it came down, through Yard's horn and into the ground.

Yards screamed as his eyes rolled back in shock and blood sprayed out like water from a fire hose.

Trixie picked up his horn amidst the gore with her magic and held it in front of her. She studied the severed appendage with detached curiosity.

“YOU BITCH!” Toffee yelled.

“Oh please,” Trixie mocked, “We are the Magnanimous and Benevolent Trixie. He still has his root. It will grow back in time. After all, it's just hair.” She turned and walked out, followed by the three stallions and the stump of his horn.

Toffee gently cradled Yard's head in her forehooves, trying to stem the flow of blood. Her tears cleaned his face. “I'm SO sorry. I'm so sorry. Yards. It wasn't supposed to happen like this. I'm sorry.” Her eyes literally glowed with unrestrained fury. He tried to swim in reality, but a dark undercurrent dragged him down under a wave of unconsciousness.

_____________________________________________________________________________
He awoke several times. Always it was a sharp hoof to the abdomen. It wasn't a hard hoof. It wasn't always the same hoof. But every 10 to 20 minutes somepony came in and changed the temperature of the room and kicked him once just enough to wake him back up. It didn't get to him at first. He'd slept well the night before and he'd been trained to resist this. But as the hours dragged on, as the tedium of it all set in, as the sleep deprivation began in earnest, Yards began to retreat back into his own mind.

He'd lost his horn. That had never happened to him before. He found it odd and disorientating. He wasn't going to be all melodramatic and say it was like going blind or deaf. But maybe one of the lesser senses. Touch? Yes, it was more like touch. He could still see things, still observe them, but he couldn't feel them. He couldn't grasp them. At least they had bandaged it, staunching the blood flow. They had also hobbled him, both front and back, then tied the two sets into a makeshift shackle.

After eight or ten different guards had kicked him and he'd grown sick from shivering hot and cold, somepony new opened the door. It was Trixie again.

“So, are you ready to have words with the Magnanimous and Benevolent Trixie?” Yards glared at her. “It doesn't matter. You will tell her everything she wants to know.” She lifted his horn in between them. “This will see to it.”

Yards knew what was coming. She'd use his own horn against him. Her magic would be able to slip past every defense he had. His body, his soul and, her ultimate target, his mind would be laid bare before her.

Trixie took her time. She had no reason not to. She let Yards watch. There was nothing he could do. Well, he could throw a kick and try to interrupt her spell, but the Inquisition had the girls. There was nowhere safe and he knew she would take out her anger on them. He didn't look away. He would meet this bravely. He didn't beg; he refused to give her the pleasure.

Yards swallowed. He could no longer see the magical auras clearly. It looked more like a spotlight shined on the relic from his body rather than seeing the play of magic dance before the spell. Then he felt her inside him.

She reached inside, laid him bare. She saw him. Every mistake, every secret, every hope, every shame. The former unicorn tried to fight back. He tried to focus on building a wall of emptiness for her to get lost in. She sent a light beam into the horizon of his brain and hopped in, moving faster than his brain could create the blank vista. He tried to create a noise to drown out her ears from things that must not be known. She turned down the volume with a wave. Her grasp on him was firm, controlled. This wasn't the first time she'd done this to somepony. Likely this wouldn't be the last. It almost bordered on the routine and that made it all the more terrifying.

Trixie saw him. She saw all of him and all that it meant to be him. He was a bare soul before her, and she casually rejected him. She knew him in ways nopony else ever would ever again and she dismissed him completely.Yards collapsed on the floor, shaking. Trixie turned, depositing his horn in a small pocket inside her cape.

“We are done with him,” She said to some guard in the hallway. “Contact Canterlot. Have them ready to receive him.”

“Does he know anything about the changeling?”

“Nothing useful. Tell everypony to remain vigilant. Though we may want to check at the spa. Apparently she enjoys being there.”

_____________________________________________________________________________
Again, Yards woke up to hooves working over his body. They weren't massaging him this time. The hooves were still gentle, lifting his right foreleg and wrapping something around it. Slowly it began to squeeze his arm. He tried to wake up and see who it was. The thing on his foreleg almost squeezed it completely off. With a grunt he woke up.

There was a white earth pony sitting next to him. She had a long mane and tail with an inverted curl that seemed to give it a jaggedness. There was a red streak in the black hair that fell over her right eye. Her eye was green with a small beauty mark just below and behind it. Her cutie mark was a torn heart. She was wearing a scrub with balloons and teddy bears on it. Yards recognized her from when they'd had taken Rhubarb Salad to the hospital. The former unicorn was thinking her name was Broken Heart.

She wrote something down on a clipboard as the squeezing from the blood pressure cuff released.

“Oh, you're awake! Thank Celestia.” She pulled out a pin light with her mouth and opened his eyes. She tsk-tsked while writing down more.

“Do you remember your name?”

“Yards.”

She smiled her professional smile. “Good job.” She listened to his heart before pulling her stethoscope off and stuffing it into an oversized pocket. “Do you know what day it is?”

He only shook his head. This seemed to concern her and she took more notes.

Trixie showed up with two more guards. “Is he alright?”

“No. You've cut off his horn.”

“Will he live?”

“I told your guards. I'm a pediatric nurse. I'm not allowed to diagnose anypony.” She reached into her pocket and pulled out a sucker with a hole in the middle and a stick that looped back into itself. She opened it and put it in Yard's mouth. Mmmm. It was cherry.

“Never let it be said I didn't give you my cherry,” she whispered into his ear. He gave her a confused look.

“Will he make the trip to Canterlot?” Trixie was getting annoyed now.

“The only trip he needs to be making right now is to Ponyville Memorial. He needs to be monitored for a neurogenic insult dissociative shock.”

“This stallion is a liar and a traitor. He stole my work.”

“Your work was taken from Starswirl's.”

Trixie glared at her. “How do you know””

It was only a moment and Yards was wondering if he could have another sucker. Broken Heart returned her stare. “What? Yeah I know about magic. I have to for my job. Little unicorns get sick too. What? You think just because I'm an earth pony magic is beyond me?” She threw up her forehooves. “Oh, Celestia me! Oh please save me great and powerful uni-corn.” Trixie turned and stormed down the hallway with her guard. Broken Heart stuck her head out the doorway, watching her leave.

“Sucker?” asked Yards.

“Yeah, she really is.”

“Lime?”

“Lime? Oh! Ew, there must be something wrong with you.” She dug around her pocket to pull out a green sucker. She put the new one in his mouth then stood over him. “Can you stand? We've got to get you out of here.” There were hoofsteps coming down the hallway. “Hopefully that's Toffee.”

It was. She was holding a bag in her mouth. Of course, she was also flanked by a Wonderbolt and a Shadowbolt. The Wonderbolt looked like he had a grey mane. His wings were fashioned from electrium. Each feather was hoof crafted and connected through innumerable tiny wires into a set of mechanical wings as responsive as his original. Apparently that was the reward for being a living legend. The Shadowbolt was actually a dark red outside his Lunari armor. He had a brownish main and tail that swept into a pomp.

“How's he doing?” asked Rey.

“He's not really all there. I think we need to get him out of here.”

The pegasi stallions walked over to either side of him and helped him up. The girls looked at each other in confusion. Tears were streaming down Toffee's face and her lip quivered, making the bag shake.

“So this is the guy?” Messer asked his companion.

“Yeah. Cezz, the Boss is going to crap puppies when he sees him like this.”

“Your boss cut off his horn.” Grumbled the nurse.

The two stallions looked at each other. Finally Astro spoke: “We don't work for Trixie, we're just on loan because of the delicate nature of this operation. The Boss should be here on the next train from Canterlot with the rest of the crew.”

“Luna is coming here?” Yards asked him.

“Noooo. Not Princess Luna either. Shining Armor.”

“Shining Armor is going to have puppies?” Yards was struggling hard to put things together.

“Yeah, yeah he is, buddy.” Astro smiled softly.

“Well, he is a little bitch.” Yards began to hysterically laugh at his own bad joke. Everypony else in the room gave him a concerned look.

“Hospital or train?” asked Messer Wind.

Yards stared at his wings. Electrium? Really? That can't be right. Electrium was far too soft a metal to be able to support a stallion. He could feel his brain trying to restart. It kept focusing on the strangest things. With everything going on around him, why wouldn't his brain let go of tensile strength figures?

“I can't believe it. They really cut off his horn,” whimpered Toffee.

“Let's get him to the hospital. That pus coming out of the damaged area has me worried. If you're feeling brave we could probably skirt the edge of the Everfree.” The two stallions looked at each other. They sighed together.

“Alright,” they said almost in unison.

They marched him down the hallway to the elevator where they were brought up to the surface. They waited for the mares at the door.

Sweet Apple Acres was awash in red. Everywhere there were inquisitors. Apparently they had been hiding, slowly coming into town, then over the last day or so entire train loads had shown up.

Once the mares arrived on the surface they walked quietly across the farm, cutting through the zap apple orchard and beside the edge of the Everfree. It was a straight shot to the hospital this way. So long as they minded the timber wolves it would be safe.

“You mares know he's not in any serious trouble, right?” Astro started. “Well, yeah, there's going to be some trouble, but ultimately he was following orders. Well, most of the time. There's no need to do this.”

“Do what?” asked Toffee.

“Look, I appreciate that you want to protect your friend. Far be it from me or Messer to ever stand in somepony's way of helping a friend. But this was just a really bad plan. You should have just let him face his consequences and run away to protect your own life. You know, like he sacrificed himself to do.”

“We're just trying to get him to the hospital,” the nurse said.

“Yeah, I don't doubt he needs to go to the hospital. I bet you two even think he needs to go. That's why I'm really confused as to why you're going to try and overpower us and steal him away into the Everfree. Shouldn't the changeling there just flee like we tried to let you?” asked Astro

“Why would you let that changeling get away?” Broken Heart clearly wasn’t buying it.

“Well, I was privy to his reports on her. Princess Luna gave them to me. It seemed he was making interesting progress in reforming them.”

“Do you know why she was to be killed?” Toffee asked.

“No, those parts of her records were sealed.”

“Don’t you think that she should be killed for being a changeling?” asked Broken Heart.

“Neither Princess Celestia nor Princess Luna ever said they were to be killed on sight. That civilians attacked them has always been an unfortunate act of mass hysteria.”

“So you knew this incredibly powerful monster that killed six ponies was running amuck yet you let her escape?” Broken’s tone almost mocked Astro. It was one taunting him to try to attack.

“Yeah, I gave her a free one in light of Yards always questioning his orders to have her killed. That she wasted it trying to then save him does speak highly of her.”

“What did you do anyway?” Messer finally spoke.

Broken Heart looked around, unwilling to acknowledge the question.

“Oh, you don't have to pretend.” Astro took over the conversation again. “I fought alongside your kind for eight years. I can tell the differences. You're movements are never quite right. Granted your kind usually does a pretty good job of it, but it's not your body you're in. You don't know the full reach of your legs. Or in your case, how to compensate for your new form's bad eye. So you put someone you trust in your blind spot and hope they'll cover for you.”

“When did you switch?” Messer asked the nurse.

“I never left his side.” Delta's tone was even, controlled. She knew she was going to have to fight this time.

“It was my idea. After what they were going to do to her, I couldn't let that stand. I didn't know they'd hurt Yards like that.” Toffee interjected.

“Yeah, to be honest we were kind of surprised, too. That's why we had the Boss show up early and set up a counter-ambush here so we could deal with you.” The Shadowbolt stopped.

The bushes moved and there was a yellow explosion. Delta shrieked as she was forced back into her true form. The pegasi turned, dropping Yards.

A yellow unicorn in a blue wide brimmed hat stepped out from the bushes. She had a flame red mane that spilled down one side of her neck.

With a blood curdling yell a zebra came swooping down from the treetops swinging on a vine. The vine broke and she skidded to a halt on her rear the last fifteen feet to stop in front of Toffee.

“Oooh, I love your mane, who did the braiding?” The zebra had a wiry frame with almost dark chocolate stripes. Her animated umber eyes bore into Toffee.

“Uh...” she said intelligently.

“A Nancy, huh?” came a familiar voice behind Yards. Like a switch all the problems with higher functions in his brain stopped. Because all the higher functions stopped.

Yards roared in wrath and came up with a hay maker. Shining Armor dodged right. That pulled the attention of the pegasi to the two stallions.

“Not even a hello?” Shining asked him.

Yards answered with a roar and an attempted head butt. Had he still had his horn he would have pierced his enemy.

“Why do you hate me?”

“It's your hate from when you stabbed me. I'm just returning it.”

“Yards!” Toffee called. That's right, there's more important things than their grudge. He spun around and bowled over the two pegasi, leapt over the zebra, and grabbed the girls.

“Get moving!” he shouted, his forelegs full of female.

Together the trio took off, the other team hot on their trail. Messer twisted through the trees almost effortlessly. Astro was on their other flank, and behind them he could hear thundering hoof beats. There wasn't going to be an escape, not without consequences. The two pegasi worked as one. Weaving around them, herding them where they wanted. Yards tried to grab a rock and chuck it at them, but his magic instantly failed. As Messer made another pass, Yards picked up a heavy stick and swung it with both forehooves. It cracked under the inertia, but Messer had to make an abrupt stop to keep from losing control and hitting a tree.

The forest was getting thick; it was forcing Astro back on it's own. Yards pushed the girls into another burst of speed. A zebra head popped out from behind a tree. Crap on a cracker. Fine. He body checked her as the other two ran. Then took off behind them.

Soon the forest became darker. Though it was afternoon, inside it was a twilight, soon to be midnight.

“Yards, we can't keep running,” Toffee said.

“It's time. Delta,” he said.

The changeling turned to have Yards grab both sides of her face and pull her in. He pushed all the love he could muster through his lips and into her body. It was going to have to hold her for a while. Her fangs pricked his lips. As the other hooves closed in he pushed her away. “Go! Take care of yourself.”

“I don't want to.”

“We'll live. Make sure you do, too.”

“Bye...” she whispered.

“See you later,” corrected Toffee.

The changeling bolted into the darkness. The two ponies looked at each other and nodded. They linked hooves and faced the opposing squad together.

6 Epilogue: Where's Rhu?

Canterlot Form and Finish. It had a pristine and tastefully appointed grounds. There were just enough shade trees to provide comfort yet not to disrupt traffic. There were two dormitories full of young fillies, an academics building, and an administrative building. All were made out of marble. The entire area was fortified by a fence of wrought iron cherub pegasi.

It was referred to as Rarity's not because she ran it, but rather that she owned it. She lived nearby and occasionally came it to teach the girls about proper things like composition, color theory, and etiquette. The day to day business, however, she left to her administrators.

That is, unless something huge happened. Today was one of those days. Princess Luna was bringing in a special student that she was to admit at once. Ever eager to assist the nobility, Rarity was there. She was wearing one of her most elegant new designs. It was a red and white number, complete with red canvas boots and her fire ruby necklace. She bowed low before the Princess.

“Greetings, Rarity,” acknowledged Luna. Once she was done prostrating herself, Luna continued, holding her hoof. “We have brought with us today yet another special child. Do make sure she is introduced to the one my sister did bring forth.”

“Of course. We've not assigned her a roommate yet.” Rarity knelt down to look the foal in the eye. “How would you like a big sister?”

Rhubarb Salad looked around overwhelmed. Softly she squeaked. Rarity looked on, a knowing smile on her face. “It'll be okay. You'll like Cabochon. She's quiet and not from Canterlot, just like you. She's a bit older, but I think you two will get along smashingly.” She led the filly away, in a loose hug while warning her about the duties, responsibilities, and joys of being a sister.

Several foals were beginning to congregate around the gate to gawk at the Princess of the Night. She turned and began to walk down the fence. A young filly with a cinnamon mane and chartreuse body looked at her with emerald eyes.

“So,” she asked the Princess, “who's the new student?”

The Princess glared down at her. “She is not to be trifled with.”

“How goes our agreement?”

“Delta has fled into the Everfree.”

The filly rolled her eyes. “I should have known better than to leave this to a half-breed. Pooka must be eliminated.”

“She claimed her name was Chasme.”

The filly let loose with a dark, deep laugh. “Chasme was my mother. She pretends to great power. I still don't understand how she is still alive.”

“Yards did tell me she died.”

“Then I may have to have words with this Yards.”

“He is off limits.”

“Until Pooka is dead, no being is off limits. It's very important that she die.”

“Why?”

“I will not have my children being turned into pets.” She glared forward, looking back in time. “She has chosen the path that will lead to our destruction. To make her more dangerous, she's smart, charismatic, and idealistic. She could drag countless numbers of my children into damnation and I will not have that. You must find her and kill her.”

“But ‘tis her death truly necessary?”

The filly looked away as they came to the end of the fence. “I don't know where I went wrong with her.” Her voice was sad, almost wistful. “She's been like this ever since she was a grub. It's sad, really. She was so...so...special.” Her eyes cleared of reminiscence. “But I can't allow one changeling to threaten the rest of my people. I'm certain you and especially your sister understand, eh, Mare in the Moon?”

Luna turned away and sighed. “We will not allow harm to come to any of my people from your machinations.”

The changeling queen smiled. “I agree. The last thing I want is for her to drag us into another Griffon Kingdom affair. That's what I'm trying to stop here.”

Luna shuddered at the millenia old incident before hanging her head in sorrow. “Very well. Test Subject Delta will be terminated.”

“Excellent. Don't worry, you have another option. Both of our plans are not mutually exclusive, right?”

“No, no, they're not.” Luna took off into the sky, leaving the filly to smile up at her.

1 I guess somepony expected the Inquisition after all.

The stars were falling. It was a beautiful night for it. It was hay cutting season, so the skies had been dry and empty all week. This prohibited mold and spoilage of the bails, and also made for perfect stargazing weather. This shower was going to be a rare treat. One Yards suspected was designed by the Princess of the Night to help relieve the monotony of the hard work the farmers were currently enduring.

Toffee Chips rolled over in the grass besides Yards McCanter. The tan pegasus rested her head on the light green unicorn's shoulder. Starfall was working a late shift on a night train. She'd be home after the shower was over. The Rhubarbs and Delta the changeling were too tired from the labor of the day to stay up and watch the show the night was providing. That left the two alone, together. It just so happened that the best view could be found on Sweet Apple Acres, where there were few other ponies around.

Slowly the mare rolled closer. She was so excited that Yards could feel her heart beating through her neck. The moon had washed away the color, so he couldn't see her blush. It was handy that she couldn't see his either.

A red arrow streaked across the sky, followed by several wingponies. The couple sighed together.

“Sorry I couldn't make it during the day for your birthday, Toffee.” Yards closed his foreleg around her in a loose hug.

She swallowed. “That's okay. Others have been saying 'Happy Birthday' to me all day. Usually it's all I get. It's just part of having your birthday in the middle of the first harvest season.” She snuggled closer.

“Getting cold?”

“It's the lack of humidity. It lets heat just slip right through. It's kind of nice, considering how hot it was today.”

“Yeah. They say controlling the temperature is the hardest part of controlling the weather.”

“From what I understand, there's a lot of variables that take a lot of labor to control.”

“You could help them.”

She laughed. “I scored so low in weather controlling, I'm lucky they let me fly.”

“So that's why they didn't draft you for these things?”

“Pretty much.” Another small barrage of lights streaked by. “Ooohh! What does your princess make them out of?”

“Ice, carbon, iron, various minerals de- OOOOOHHhhh! Nice one! Depending on what color-” he looked down at his companion to find her muzzle only inches away. His heart thumped in his chest. All he had to do was kiss her and she'd be his. Every ounce of his body told him to do it. Yet, if he did, he'd jeopardize one of the most important experiments he'd ever been involved in, and thus all of Equestria.

But still, hadn't he kissed the other mare, too? Wouldn't this balance the equation? He'd just have to do this in an unromantic manner. He kissed her nose quickly. “Happy Birthday.”

Still she smiled and snuggled closer, into a full cuddle. Watching the meteor shower from the corner of her eye she tried to formulate something delicate. “Are..are-so how's the harvest going?”

“Well, it's cut; now we just have to rake and bail. Then we're going to try to replow and reseed to get some red clover. By the time that's done, the sorghum will be finished, and the next batch of apples will be about ready, so it's going to be a busy month for us.”

She lay there quietly, listening to his racing heart. “Yards, if-if I did something bad, would you forgive me?”

“Yeah. Well, probably. It's nothing like foal touching bad, is it?”

She pulled away. “I don't think so! I-I mean I wouldn't think it's that bad.” She laid her head back down. “Why did you become a Lunari?”

Politics had always been a touchy subject between the two. Toffee's support of the clear legitimacy of Princess Celestia's reign was never in doubt. She never rejected a Lunari supporter out of hand, though she'd never really shown any interest in the competing philosophy.

“Well, kinda this,” he answered after a pause.

“Meteor showers?”

He laughed. “Well, kinda. I was born on a farm. Daylight always meant labor. Even with dad's and my magic, most of the day was spent working on the farm, working on repairs, or working on some family outing or project. It wasn't until the sun set that I was truly free to do the things I wanted to do. The night always represented freedom to me. When I went to college I couldn't afford it without financial aid. Military service was the best way I could find to fund it. Celestia asked me to be one of her sister's body guards and to...help her.”

Toffee thought on it for a minute. “So does that mean, when you followed her on her rebellion, then you were really following Celestia's orders?”

Yards chuckled. “I hadn't thought of it that way, but yeah.” He leaned in close to her ear, whispering softly. “I still get missives from her from time to time.”

“Celestia or Luna?”

“Celestia. She's interested in how the ponies are doing. Luna just shows up in my dreams some times to do much the same thing.”

Toffee scoffed. “Sure, the real princess you adore shows up in your dreams to talk.” She waved her hooves in the air.

“Sometimes.”

She lowered her eyelashes at him. “I've been over while you were asleep. I know what you talk about when you're unconscious. She is pretty, and at least if I'm going to lose you to somepony else, it's a princess.” Her body suddenly got very stiff. “I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like-”

“Well, it's okay. Here, the shower is almost over, why don't I walk you home?”

She nodded sadly as she got up. “I'm sorry, really.”

“It's okay. You're a great mare, I'm sure-well, you're smart and cute...” His face was ablaze in embarrassment. While they were on the grass her mane had come unbraided and she flipped the long, softly twisting black and white locks out of her face.

They trotted silently from Sweet Apple Acres back to her home at the Golden Oaks Library, each pondering the blunders they'd made talking to the other. Yards stopped at one of the improved displays of the history of the horrible Civil War that had nearly destroyed Equestria two years ago. Toffee had lobbied to get the full picture of Twilight Sparkle, Princess Cadance, and Princess Luna at the tolerance talk, where Twilight had introduced the Charms all ponies wore now. They protected a pony's mind from being influenced by beings like changelings, but allowed the changelings to still feed off of the willing. Toffee had finally gotten permission to use the full photo and not the one with Princess Luna cropped out.

“Well, thanks for walking me home. Uh, would you, um, like to come inside?”

“Sure, just give me a minute out here, okay?”

Toffee couldn't contain her ecstasy. With a huge grin she bolted to the door and threw it open.

“SURPRISE!” came a chorus of shouts as she flipped on the lights.

She fell back out of the doorway, and screamed slightly. Her rear rammed into Yard's chest. She turned to see him grinning at her.

“You knew?”

The pegasus was nudged into the room by the stallion as she looked around at all her friends. Apple Rhubarb with her daughter Rhubarb Salad, Scootaloo, Cheerilee, Twist, Pumpkin; there were even a few she didn't recognize. It seemed like most of Ponyville was here. A strange unicorn mare walked over to her. Toffee thought she recognized her from some movie a long time ago. The unicorn floated a party hat over and snapped it onto her head.

“Did we get you?”

“Oh, I was totally gotten!”

“I'm glad, I hope you have fun. You've been kinda standoffish since, well, the train and I hope this helps you.”

“Delta?”

The changeling posing as the unicorn arched her eyebrows. “Hmmm?”

“You, you did this?”

“Well, I had some help, but yeah, me and the Rhus and Yards,” she waved at the stallion already over at the snack table, ”we went around town and got everypony's cooperation.”

Toffee's lower lip started to quiver as tears began to build in her eyes.

“Oh hey, it's okay.” The infiltrator hugged her with incredibly long, graceful, white legs around her neck. “We love you, and Starfall should be here really soon.” Her pink and white mane crushed against Toffee's own black and white stripes.

“I'm sorry,” was all she could whisper.

Delta pulled away. “Why?”

Tears were running freely as Yards and the Rhubarbs walked over. He levitated a plate in front of him.

“Y'all want some horse do overs?” He thickened his accent trying to lighten the mood.

“Yards, leave funny things to people who are actually funny.” Delta looked down at Little Rhu, “You say it!” Little Rhu only grinned sleepily.

“Delta, you've got to go!” the librarian started pushing her out the door.

“What?” Annoyance rang in her voice.

“Go. Leave! Pick a more innocuous form. They'll catch you if you keep taking the forms of celebrities.”

Now the changeling was confused. “Who?”

“The Inquisition, they're here.”

Delta's eyes widened in terror. “How?”

“Just go; hide!”

Delta did her best to fake a calm walk to the door. By now other party goers had started to gather around the birthday mare to congratulate her.

Yards and Apple peeled off to a far corner to talk.

“Why did she do that?” The white earth pony mare was confused by her friend's actions.

“I don't know. They've never been close.”

“Yeah, that's why Delta threw her this party, to try and make up for that. You don't think?”

“That she called the Inquisition?”

“Why would she do that?”

“Let's wait until the party's over, then we'll all sit down at the barn and talk this over. I don't want to be stuck in some stupid sitcom mistake.”

The farmer mare nodded at her hired hoof. Yards swore to himself internally. This could jeopardize everything. He took a pull from a punch glass and then headed out to find the shapeshifter.

2 Tell it to my heart

Yards found Delta in her room. Her saddle bags were on the bed and she was sitting in the floor, crying. The room was a wreck. Clothing was strewn everywhere. There were books piled up around the bed, but the shelves were empty. Posters and pictures covered most of the walls.

“I can't take the books, they're too heavy.” She turned to look at Yards. “When did I get so much stuff? It's only been like, what? I've never had so much stuff in my life. I didn't realize, I thought I had a home...”

Yards walked over and put his hoof over her slim shoulders. Softly he nuzzled her while she pulled herself together. She sighed. “I've got to hurry, maybe they don't know I'm me yet.” Clothing and personal knick knacks began to float to her bags.

“I want to take you to the shop. We're going to meet with Toffee there after her party to find out what more she knows. If it's bad enough, then I'll fly you out of here before dawn. Okay?”

“I can fly myself.”

“But they're looking for you. I can fly faster than most pegasi that they'd have tracking us. I could drop you off somewhere safe. Lunari have other safe houses.”

“But, it wouldn't be with you. I would be with somepony else. Somepony that might not feed me like you do.”

“You don't need me, Delta.”

“I do.”

He arched his eyebrow. “Are you trying to tell me changelings really are that easy to domesticate?”

“Shut up.” She sighed, then hefted her bags over her back. “Alright, I've got the essentials.” They walked out of the house and over to his barn. He opened the door and ushered her in. Closing the door behind them he walked over by her old palette. Levitating the bookshelf he pressed his horn into a small hole in the wall. The floor opened up with a lift underneath.

“Get on. I”ll see you down there in a little while, kay?”

“What if they're waiting for me down there?”

“There's only four ponies that can get in here. Only one of them would have anything to do with the Inquisition, and if you've pissed off ol' Sun Butt herself then we've got bigger problems.” The floor began to sink down into the access way. “Don't worry,” Yards shouted, “I'll be down when everypony gets here. Just make yourself comfortable.”

The unicorn looked around at his work station and began to clean it of anything that wasn't directly related to the farm. Anything that was even remotely a special project was purged. Then he began a series of mana cleansing spells to block any psychometry in the area. While he was sweeping the area with a few auguries, trying to make sure he'd gotten the last few fragments, the mares arrived.

“Yards, what's going on?” Apple looked around concernedly.

“I'm making sure you and Rhu are safe.” Happy with the readings he received, he ushered the mares over to the lift. “Alright, let's get to safety.” He signaled the lift once more and it again carried them all down to the underground complex. “Where's Rhu?”

“I put her to bed. She was tired and something tells me this is going to be a conversation not fit for filly ears.” The white earth pony looked back at her friend. Toffee pawed guiltily at the floor.

“So did you enjoy your party?” Yards asked the birthday girl.

“Yes, it was lovely. Thank you.”

Yards was about to continue, but they reached the bottom of the shaft. Delta was waiting for them. She had transformed into her natural form. It had been a while since Yards had seen it. She was almost as tall as he was now, but her legs and neck were disproportionate, giving a gangliness about her. Her mane had grown out. The bangs still poofed out, but the back and sides were longer than they'd been. Her horn seemed to be slightly longer too. She was wearing one of his lab aprons.

“Good evening, Honey, I hope your day went well.” She gave him an exaggerated smile, her eyes closed. The tiny fangs were poking out of her lips.

“Goober.” He took the mares down the corridor. The first couple rooms along the way were storage. Personal stuff, books, dried food, water, seeds, and tools that he used both upstairs and here. There was a T intersection. To the right were the enchantment and chemistry areas, including the library. To the left were the stables and mechanical area, as well as one of the areas he'd converted into a den, for him to relax, eat, and unwind when he needed away from all the estrogen in his life.

This was where he took them. There were two chairs and a sofa in the room. Yards took one of the chairs. Starfall chose to remain standing by the door. Toffee took the other chair. Apple and Delta took the couch.

“Sure you don't want to sit?” asked Apple.

“No, I'm still getting used to a still floor. It helps me to stand. May I start?”

This caught everypony's attention.

“I'm not sure what's all going on, and I'm still kinda new here. So, can I ask a few questions?”

This meant that they didn't have to deal in the horrible truth of the moment. Any of them would have given anything to not have to have the conversation they needed. They were desperate for any diversion. Almost in unison they nodded.

“Okay, so Apple, you own this place, right?”

She nodded her red and pink mane.

“So, Yards works for you?” He nodded as well. “But this place,” she waved her hoof around. “This is SO not a normal farm thing. Are you two working for some crime syndicate or something?”

“No,” answered Yards quickly. “I work for Princess Luna. Amongst other things I'm working to solve problems in Equestria. I work with Apple to design devices that allow for farms to be more productive.”

“So, what else? What does a changeling have to do with farming?”

“Test Subject Delta was an earlier project. I was working on expanding our knowledge of changelings.”

“So,” interrupted Toffee, “Do you call her Delta because it's the symbol for change? I never understood that.”

“Well, that's a happy coincidence.” He looked away. “She's the fourth changeling I've had in my possession. Calling them by designations, helped.”

Toffee looked mortified. “Fourth, where are the other three?”

“Dead. For real dead. Alpha and Bravo starved to death. It took us a while to figure out a feeding schedule for keeping them in captivity. Charlie was eaten by a hydra that got loose in a lab I was working at before.” Delta blanched at the horrors she'd barely averted.

“Okay, so...are you dating any of them?” the dark violet pegasus asked bluntly.

Yards froze. Maybe it would be better to discuss Toffee's problem at this point.

“No,” answered Apple for him. She then looked over at Delta.

“He feeds me, but he's stopped himself from anything else. There was a time when I was wondering if he even liked mares, but I can tell you he's even less interested in stallions.”

“Well, if it's not going to hurt anypony else's feelings, then I'd like to throw my hat in.” Her right wing reached out and pushed her hat forward, causing her silver locks to spill out. Yards swallowed hard. “You see,” she reached into her bag and pulled out a notice. “Cloudsdale has put a bounty out on foals. 5,000 bits a year, 10,000 if it's a pegasus.”

“What?” asked Toffee.

“Yeah, since somepony decided to crash a whole pegasus city and kill everypony, not to mention all the deaths from the war, and natural fatality rates, and they're not going to be able to manufacture weather in about ten to fifteen years. So they're asking pegasi mares everywhere to try and find somepony to have foals with.”

Yards slipped out of the room while his future was plotted without his consent. He grabbed up his armor and a polishing rag before heading back to the room.

“I'm sorry.” Starfall said as he returned, “I didn't think a stallion would complain about getting to sire.” She held her head low in supplication.

“There are things going on you don't quite understand.” He did his best to keep his tone even.

“Such as?”

“Old business before new business.” Absently he began to don under layers to protect himself from wearing the plates. He had a feeling that things were going to be very bad soon and he was going to have to take Delta to safety. He was certain that it was an overwhelming sensation of imposing dread and not fear of what they were discussing that was the cause of his trepidation.

“Yeah, Toffee, thanks for warning me about the Inquisition being in town. I don't know how you knew, but thanks for the warning.”

Toffee's lower lip quivered and she looked down. She mumbled something into her chest.

“What was that?” asked Apple.

“I-I called them.” There was no sound underground.

Yards redoubled his polishing. “That was sooner than I figured.”

“YOU!” Delta was buzzing up in Toffee's face. “WHY would you do that?”

“Because you're dangerous.” Steel was creeping into her voice. “You killed six ponies!”

“To save us!”

“Six highly trained ponies.” Toffee wasn't going to back down, her anger had been riled. “Six heavily armed and armored ponies.”

“But, you and Apple, and, and, Star, you were all in trouble. I had to do something-”

“So you killed SIX ponies. I was doing something too, you know. I had them willing to not kill us. I'd almost disarmed he situation without anypony dying.”

“Like the unicorns? Do you know what they did to the unicorns on the train?” The confusion on Toffee's face told Delta all she needed to know. “They tortured them to death. They didn't just kill them. They made them suffer.”

“Like how you set two of them on fire to burn to death?”

Delta's face softened, before becoming a mask of anger. “I thought we were friends, Toffee. I thought you moved past this.”

“I did.” Her eyes softened. “We are friends. That's why I didn't turn you in there at the train. That's why I warned you tonight. Delta, you're dangerous. You killed six soldiers who were fully equipped and all it did to you was put you on pain killers for two weeks. Tell me if somepony had been able to kill six changelings that easily you wouldn't do something to protect your species.”

“They did.”

“I know. And you have the way to protect them around your hoof.” She pointed at Delta's repurposed Martyr's Charm. The charm Yards had modified to protect changelings from Equestria's abilities to find them. “I expect changelings have artisans. I imagine it wouldn't take them long to start handing them out to all the changeling forces. Then how would we protect ourselves?”

“But...but...don't you trust me?” The pain carved deep lines of woe on her face.

“I love you. You know that.” Toffee answered. Delta closed her eyes and nodded. “We've been through a lot together. You've really helped me grow and learn as a person, and I'll always appreciate that. But when it comes to the safety of others...I, well, I guess it's a matter of 'if you can do this with what Yard's has given you, I don't know what other changelings could possibly do too.' I'm sorry. I really am. Oh, Celestia, I'm so sorry, Delta.” She reached out for her friend, but Delta pulled away.

“How could you?” asked Apple.

“Because it's who she is.” Yards came into the argument. The mares turned to look at the unicorn. Toffee smiled at him.

“A pig headed xenophobe?” asked Delta.

“No, the Element of Honesty.” The second bomb was dropped for the night. Everything was quiet again.

Yards took in a breath, held it, exhaled then breathed in again before addressing his boss. “You remember your second cousin, what she was like? How she couldn't lie. How even withholding information was difficult for her? Toffee has the potential of replacing her as the Element of Honesty.”

“Me, an Elemental?” Toffee's voice was low. “But, I'm not...”

“It's not official. But part of my duties was to be on the look out for possible new Elementals. With us being able to summon the Fires of Friendship, I suspected that the powers of friendship for you two were possibly deeper. Her turning you in was the cinch I was waiting for.”

“Two?” asked Apple.

Yards nodded. “You're on the short list too.”

“What about me?” Delta piqued up. “Am I- oh. Oh. Sweet Sarlock, I'm Spike.” Her ears lowered and her crest fell as she looked over at Apple. “I clean your house. I'm even wearing an apron.” She pulled at the cloth with her hoof.

“So, that's why the Princess said it was so important that I make friends with Starfall?”

“What?” Yards and Starfall both exclaimed at Apple Rhubarb.

“The night after the train trip. Princess Luna came to me in a dream and told me it was important that I make friends with Starfall.”

“So what do we do?” asked Toffee.

“I guess I should go bake something, or maybe make some tea? Anypony need a book?” sighed Delta.

“Well, if we've got the replacement Elementals, I guess we could either go to Canterlot and meet up with Rarity and Pinkie or go to the Everfree to try and find Fluttershy. Make friends with them, then save the world from something.”

“Something like a rogue changeling?” A new voice came from the hall.

3 The "Magnanimous and Benevolent" Trixie vs. Giant Robots

All attention turned to the doorway. A soft blue unicorn with a flowing silver mane and tail walked into the room. She was flanked by two beefy earth pony stallions. They both had long pole arms with nooses on the end. These ponycatchers were for subduing a struggling victim, rather than killing them outright. That way they could be put on trial, staged though it would be. Their red armor spoke of the blood and fire to come. “Don't worry, The Magnanimous and Benevolent High Inquisitor Trixie is here to help you with your problem.”

Delta looked to Yards.

“Trixie, you are in violation of the Treaty of Verneighs, Article 4, Paragraph 3. You will leave these premises immediately.”

The other unicorn scoffed. “You would claim embassy privilege here? This place is in violation of the Treaty of Trottingham. Article 7.”

Yards snarled in anger. A scroll levitated in front of his face. It was his penmanship.

“Princess Celestia,

Never mind how I found out about the loss of the Smooze bomb data. The simple fact that I found out about it before you did shows the level of breach in your security. I would beg you to share with your sister the knowledge of this weapon. It's only by working together that we will be able to stop this atrocity from destroying Equestria. Without data on the weapon, there's little I can do to create a counter.

P.S. Remind Dullard that he's a Nancy.

Thy faithful vassal,

Yards McCanter.” He looked over at the inquisitor. “So?”

“So, we know you're developing a counter. By your own admission to make a counter you must have some of the weapon involved.”

She trotted over to Delta. “Who do we have here? Surely it's not the changeling test subject you were issued. You know, the one that you reported as lost.”

“Chasme,” she held up her hoof in mock politeness. “Charmed.”

Trixie glared at her. “The Magnanimous and Benevolent Trixie is not amused.”

“I don't know why Celestia gave you access here-”

“You are truly dense, Yards. Haven't you figured it out yet?” She sashayed back to her verbal sparing partner. “Celestia isn't the one that sent me. In the spirit of detente you yourself pleaded for, Princess Luna has betrayed you. She saw the error of your wicked ways and sold you out for the greater good.” She walked back to her bodyguards. “Take her away.”

“Trixie! You have refused to vacate, as such I am authorized to use force. This is your last chance to leave peacefully!”

There was a clatter in the hallway, two more guards walked into the room. These had lethal spears, ready to do harm. Trixie laughed. “The Magnanimous and Benevolent Trixie certainly lives up to her name. She was attempting to give you a chance to surrender without bloodshed, but She sees that you are a stupid, selfish, and petty pony. Truly you bring shame to being a unicorn. To think that one of you can stop Me and all of my guards, of which I have twice as many in the hallway.”

This was it. This was the beginning of a new war. He would be firing first. But he couldn't let her hurt his friends.

“You can't arrest us, we've not done anything, and I need him for the harvest.” Rhubarb burst out.

“The Magnanimous and Benevolent Trixie is aware of the importance of Sweet Apple Acres to feeding Equestria. She has sent for farmers in the area to take over it's running. However, all of it's assets have now been seized. The land, the crops, the out buildings, the homes, and everything in them, are now safely in our custody.”

Rhu's ears laid down as she bared her teeth. “You WILL give me back my daughter.”

“She's safe. Far safer now than what she'd be with you.”

Rhu made to charge the High Inquisitor but was met with spear points. Yard reacted.

Rearing up on his hind legs he sent out a burst of magic, radiating out and down the tunnels. “ARISE!” He held up a forehoof, “ARISE AND AWAKEN MY CREATIONS!” The others stopped and looked at him while he laughed maniacally. Coming to his senses he blushed softly. “I always wanted to do that. Sorry.”

There was a deep rumble. Trixie turned on him, her horn glowing with full menace. “What did you do? What did you just do?”

“I'd run if I were you.” The ground vibrations turned from a rhythmic vibration to a deep WOOB. “Too late.”

A sonic wall shot down the hallway, slamming into the soldiers outside. Their ear drums were immediately shattered; the sound wall shoved the air at them so hard that it broke bone, then shoved it away, creating a vacuum that ruptured lungs. They began to flail as they drowned in their own blood.

All but Yards were aghast. “I see they work as intended.”

A guard lunged at him. He side stepped, lifted him up psychokineticly into the air. Without his footing he was an easy victim to physics as Yards grabbed the spear in his mouth as a fulcrum and flung him against to the wall. The unicorn spit out the spear, grabbed it in a Psychokinetic field, and smacked the other lethally armed soldier across the eyes with the haft of his new weapon. This blinded him temporarily, giving Yardsr time to deal with the other guards. There was a wave of heat behind him, followed by the stench of burnt hair.

“Delta, please, not again!” It wasn't Toffee. It was Starfall. The heat disappeared and the original two guards backed away with burnt poles.

Trixie attempted to rip the spear from Yard's mental grip with her own. The two began to wrest for control of the polearm. “You know how screwed you are, right?” Yards grunted. “You leave this room and the bass cannons will liquify your bones. Stay in here, and we have superior numbers. You're in a killing ground.”

She snarled at him, pushing back with all her magical might. Yards tried to hold on, but slowly he was being pushed back. There was a white blur that knocked Trixie to the corner.

“YOU!” A hoof crunched into her face. “WILL!” Another hoof. “GIVE” Yards started to hear snapping sounds. “GIVE! ME! BACK! MY! FOAL!” Apple Rhubarb pinned Trixie to the ground with all her earth pony weight on top of the the frail unicorn, and worked her over with her strong forehooves.

There was a small explosion and suddenly Apple was sitting on the floor; the inquisitor and her entourage had disappeared.

Yards walked to the door way. “TURN IT DOWN!” The sonic attack stopped. He floated his helmet over on top of his head to complete his armor suit up, closing his eyes as it settled into position. As he opened his eyes again he found most of the color washed out as the enchantment enhanced his low lite vision.

“What was that?” Toffee asked Yards.

“Something terrible.” He left the room and headed down the hall way. Mercifully the blood stains were minimal. There at the far entrance was a great metal figure. It was twice the size of a large stallion. On it's shoulders were twin bass cannons. There were things that looked almost like saddle bags across it's back. On it's flanks were quad barreled flack cannons who's barrels were almost as long as it's body. It had a horn that looked to be made of green glass with a rotating light inside. It's tail swished back and forth.

“What is it?” Toffee asked again.

“It's the W4R-P0NY. It's designed to be a squad level fire support system.”

“They used these things in the war?” Apple was aghast.

“Eh, this was an old Zero model. It used the original standard eso-engine, so it's use was limited to squads with unicorns that could power it.” He nodded to the tail. “I've retrofitted it to have an early version of one of my attempts at my corps drive. Oh.”

He walked into the small, arena like area. There were small stables much like the ones reserved for livestock all along the round room. Inside the area were presses, tables, tools, cutters, welders, and parts. Yards spun around, ignoring the clutter of creation and instead looking for one stable with a particular number.

“Forty-two. There we are.” He sent an invisible beam of magic into the stable, awakening another of his creations. “Probably gonna need Seven and Twenty-one too.” He activated two more. The three were all roughly stallion sized. Forty-two and Seven had a pair of wings. They were all blued, but not painted. These three also didn't appear to be armed.

Yards sighed as he began to open compartments inside one of the pegabots. Several objects began to float off the tables and nestle inside. While Yards was disassembling a couple of components so they'd fit, Toffee approached.

“What are you doing?”

“I've got to destroy this facility. But several of my experiments are too important. So I'm taking them away.”

Apple almost began to panic. “But this place runs under most of Sweet Apple Acres. If you destroy it, then most of the farm will be lost.”

“I can't let this fall into Solari control.”

“You promised me it would,” said Toffee. Yards turned to her. “My price for helping you find Spike was that you would share the knowledge you gained. You gave me your word.”

Yards hung his head. “Alright.” He pulled parts out of his device and sat them on the table. “Come on, we've got other things to save.”

He took them back down the hallway, walking past the dead guards. There were thin lines of blood from the soft tissues in their ears and eyes, and pink foam dripped from their mouths. Otherwise, they looked like they were sleeping. The girls were repulsed, though Yards just pushed them aside. He led them up the first passage and immediately turned into the first room. Inside were crates and lockers.

“In the lockers are FCL packs. Grab one, put any extra stuff you want into Twenty-one. I'd suggest blankets and food.” He turned and left with the other three contraptions.

“Where are you going now?” nagged Toffee.

“Relax, I said I wasn't going to destroy the place, but there are things here other than my Corps Drive that need to remain secret,” He called over his shoulder. Then he muttered under his breath. “I'm never going to get to use P0NY's flame thrower.”

He went into the library and began to load the two robo-pegasi with paperwork, notes and small devices. Once filled, he gave them coordinates to their new homes and sent them out the secret passage, where they jetted out into the night.

He walked back to the intersection where the girls were waiting. “Didn't that alert the Inquisition where we're coming out at?”

“We're not going out that way. But it does give them another way in. We need to leave now. Is everypony ready?” He swept his eyes around the group, making sure they all nodded in the affirmative.

Slowly he began to pull energy. Carefully he wove the spell around all of his friends and the two contraptions. Then he visualized their target. There was a *bamp* as the air was moved out of the way as five ponies and two equiroids landed outside of a clubhouse.

The clubhouse was old, but in the process of repair. The old picnic table under it, however, showed the years of exposure to the elements. It's worn wood would be unlikely to support anypony's weight.

“Where are we?” asked Apple.

“The back forty.” Yards gasped, exhausted from the spell, “Rhu and I found out about this old clubhouse from Scoots. We've been repairing it so she has some place to go be a foal. You know, out from under hoof. P0NY, guard mode,” he called over his shoulder. “Ladies,” he motioned up the ramp. Inside it was a little cramped, between all the bodies and the pile of construction materials, but it was dry, warm an safe. “Get some shut eye. I'm going to the roof to watch. Somepony come relieve me in two hours, kay?”
The girls began to mill about as he walked up the second ramp. Settling down, he buried his muzzle in his hooves and released all the emotions he'd bottled up for the night and cried silently.

4 Old Friends still have to kick your ass.

“Yards?” Starfall called out. It was the first time he'd seen her without her uniform. Her bangs were flat and hung halfway across her eyes. The rest of her mane reached to her jawline, where it curled inwardly. There was some sort of swirl like effect in the mane, but Yards didn't have enough color vision with his helmet on to be able to see it. With that voluptuous tail that just reached the ground and those amazingly large wings Yards wondered how she had trouble finding a stallion.

“Yeah?” he whispered back.

“Uh, I'm sorry I put you on the spot, there, again.”

He nodded, getting up on his hooves. “It's okay.”

“So, you knew they were elements?”

“Not at first. I think the Princess suspected that another Apple would become one. The geomantic principles of Ponyville is actually pretty incredible when you look at the ley maps. It's almost like Celestia purposefully built this town to absorb trouble for the rest of the Empire.”

“So, after you found out...you put your relationships on hold?” She was purposefully avoiding his attempt at dodging the conversation.

“They're very important ponies. It's important that they, well, you all work well together. I'd rather not have the Elements of Harmony fail because they're fighting over something stupid like a stallion. What they represent is too important.”

“So you're going to sacrifice everypony's happiness for the mission?”

“The mission makes sure everypony's happiness can happen. Somepony has to bring Harmony back to Equestria, otherwise we're all going to keep killing each other.”

“But without happiness, what are they-we fighting for?”

“Aren't you motivated by the money?”

She glared at him. “No. Wow, that made me sound bad, huh? The money just...well...It'd let me live.”

“Why not one of the factories?”

She shuddered. “I used to work there. Do you know how many snowflakes are in a blizzard? They've all got to be hoof made. Do you know how long that takes? Know what happens when you try to do both? You've got about ninety seconds to come up with a new flake. All year long. I made it about 6 months before it crushed my soul and I was fired. I'm much happier in a job like the one now where I get to help ponies, but, well, it's really hard to have close friends when you're not around, you know?”

He nodded, not really knowing, but allowing her to continue her story.

“If I had a couple of foals, then they'd pay me enough that I wouldn't have to work there, either. I could do something local that would be more for good than profit. Understand?”

That he did. “They say before the war it wasn't uncommon for that sort of thing to go on.”

She smiled at him. “And, I think I'd like a family. I watch Apple when I'm around. She's busy, yeah, but she has a home and a family. It's really nice coming in from a long shift to a home. I'd really like to be able to share that with somepony else. I guess I'm just tired of always running around and want to put roots down.”

“So, then I'm-why me?”

“Oh, you and your modesty,” came a reverberating voice. The couple looked over as a green flash revealed another Starfall. “You need somepony.”

Yards scoffed. “Everypony needs somepony.”

“Not like you do. You'd be miserable living the life of a hermit. Where you'd just grow your food, come in, do housework, then go to bed. You have to have somepony to make it all worth your while.” She sauntered over to him, pressing a hoof against his armored chest. “Look at this. If I asked you why you still have this, somewhere in your answer would be the real reason. It's a symbol of protection. What use is a protector without someone to protect?”

“So you mares want somepony that's protective?”

Delta snorted and walked away. “You stallions don't understand anything. You two go on, I'll take the next watch. I can change into something with night vision, or better.” She turned her head to look over at her double. “Go ahead and take him for a spin if you want, but remember, he comes home with me.”

Yards headed over to the ramp and waited at the foot for Starfall. “And that is why I don't want to pursue anything with any of you mares.” He lifted his flight pack off his back and set it on top of the construction supplies. Slowly he stripped off his armor while Apple Rhubarb sleepily raised her head. Starfall walked past him and lay down in the middle of the floor, which was technically beside the supplies. Apple moved over next to the wall while Toffee slept along the far wall. The girls had made a “U” shaped outline with their bodies where he could sleep inside, next to all of them. Oh great. Quietly he walked in and lay down, resting his head on Toffee's side. Starfall extended those magnificent wings of hers over him. Apple snuggled into him. Well, if they were going to be caught and killed while he slept, he could think of worse places to die.

_____________________________________________________________________________

It was an hour or so before dawn. Yards had walked to a clearing near the Everfree. He didn't want to take off from the clubhouse or otherwise give away the girl's position. Just time for one quick fly over to try and see what was happening at the farm. With a short gallop he kicked on the engines. Quickly he pulled up his legs and took to the air. Higher and higher he climbed, trying to get out of auditory range. Toffee or Starfall could have done it quieter and closer, be he wasn't willing to risk a civilian unless he had too. He flew high and through the clouds to make it as difficult as possible to be seen.

Taking notes of guards, movements, zones of control, and hoping for sight of a little lost foal he began to circle. He watched for a good half hour until the sun started to rise. He had to leave now. Soon Celestia would be watching. As the first rays of sunlight broke, an odd shine caught his attention. Quickly looping around for a closer look he saw a pegasus in a sky blue uniform with metal wings. Oh no. He didn't need to see a cutie mark to know who that was. Those weren't a flight pack. Those were actual wings, made of metal. Kicking in the scramjets, he flew as fast as he could back to the clearing.

Back at the clubhouse he found the mares waiting for him, chewing on some alfalfa bars. Delta was in her unicorn form.

“Did you see Rhu?” Apple was beside herself with worry.

Yards could only shake his head. “We've got even bigger problems. Messer is here.” The mares gave him a puzzled look.

“Messer!” Yards yelped. “You know, he's kinda famous. Hero of the Solari.”

“The one who flew without wings?” Toffee asked.

“Yeah. I've got no idea why he's here.”

“Probably because you killed those inquisitors.” Toffee answered.

“I don't know what we're going to do now.”

“We could talk to them,” offered Starfall.

Yards dismissed the idea. “We tried that yesterday.”

“No, you fought the High Inquisitor with words, you never tried to just sit down and talk.”

“It's a worthwhile plan,” came a baritone voice behind them. They turned to the stallion behind them. He was a dark grey pegasus in Lunari armor. His large yellow eyes were slitted and looking at them. His frame was lithe, but had a solid musculature. They all ratcheted up their fear levels several notches.

“Luna sent you to help us?” Yards tentatively hoped this was a good sign.

“Well, not really...” He looked at him. “You don't recognize me? Sure, recognize half the legend, but when it comes to me-”

“Shadowmaker? But...”

He grinned at his former comrade in arms. “What's up Shady Mark?” Yards glared back.

Toffee looked at the two confusedly. “I thought the Lunari pegasus that saved Messer was Astro Rey?”

The strange pony bowed to her. “It is, but somepony wants to get cute with call signs.”

“So what are you doing here?” Yards pressed.

“I'm here to try and talk you into shutting down that P0NY you've got lining up a shot on me, come in peaceably, and try and resolve this without anypony else getting hurt.”

“Where's my daughter?” Apple Rhubarb planted herself in front of him, forehead to forehead.

He met her gaze, but returned it with a soft look. “She's safe. They've put her on the train for Canterlot.”

Apple's glare only intensified. “Yards, we've got to get to the train.”

Yards nodded.

“Yards, you are directly ordered from Princess Luna herself to allow Rhubarb Salad to go to Canterlot.”

“Why would the Princess command that?”

“Because she's going to be safe at Canterlot Form and Finish.”

“Why is the Princess doing this in this way?” Yards couldn't understand. A simple letter would have sufficed.

Astro sighed, blinking. “There's so many things going on. I don't even know them all.”

“Yards, where's my baby going?”

“To Rarity's school. He's right; she should be safe there.”

“So, what's going to happen to us?” Starfall asked.

Astro inhaled, going into a well rehearsed speech. “Toffee Chips, for providing information and not lifting a hoof against Inquisition forces, shall be paid the sum of 4,000 bits. Starfall will be charged with one count willful evasion of the law, one count knowingly harboring a changeling. These charges will be dropped in lieu of your assistance in saving the life of the High Inquisitor Trixie Lunamoon. For Apple Rhubarb, for one count willful evasion of the law, one count knowingly harboring a changeling, and one count assault on High Inquisitor Trixie Lunamoon, we are prepared to dismiss the first two charges, and accept a plea bargain of temporary insanity punished by one year imprisonment and damages. For you, a private court martial, the details I can't discuss with you in front of them.”

“And for Delta?” Yards was stone faced, slipping into his thousand yard stare.

“Test subject Delta's original execution order stands, no debate.” He turned and looked at the unicorn. “For what it's worth, I am sorry.”

Apple snorted. “No deal!”

Astro looked over with a grin. “Messer would say the same thing. It's not a package deal. It stands for each pony individually. So...if anypony wants to, not all of you have to.”

“He's right. Toffee, Starfall, you two should definitely go with him. Apple, you probably should, too.”

Delta walked over behind Yards. Apple moved in between those two. The pegasi looked at each other, torn on what to do.

“Momma Rhu, this isn't your fight. Don't throw away Little Rhu's life for me.” Yards could hear the tears in Delta's voice.

She snorted. “You keep saying things like that and I'm only going to stand here more.”

“I-I-I,” stammered Toffee.

“I surrender,” finished Yards.

“I'm sorry, Delta, I'm so sorry, I didn't know-” Toffee started again, then heard what Yards had said. She stopped and looked at Yards. They all did.

“You know first I'm going to have to fight you though, right?” Yards looked square at his opponent.

“Probably in the air?” The pegasi offered. “Give your pet plenty of time for a good head start?”

Yards charged, jumping over Apple and taking to the air. “She's not a pet, she's my friend!” His turbines spun to speed and he took off into the air. The former Shadowbolt took off after him. Astro wasn't as fast, bur Yards knew the legendary hero had endurance on him. That didn't matter. He didn't have to win, only keep him busy long enough to cover Delta's flank. Yards pulled into a steep climb, his pack letting slip a thick smoke, intended to blind his pursuer. Astro had trained against this, though, and flew in a corkscrew around the smoke. It slowed him down but he never lost sight of his opponent. Yards rolled into a whifferdill.

The sunlight was playing havoc on both of their eyes, adapted for the night as they were. Yards blinked as his rotations quickly gave him an eyeful of sun. It was the mistake Asto needed. His hoof connected solidly with Yard's leg. It was only a glancing blow, but it still hurt. Yards fired off a burst of energy from his pack's weapon towards where he thought he saw Astro fly to. It didn't contact, but it bought him time to level his flight plane.

Yards may have had speed, but Astro had maneuverability and experience. The unicorn began to juke in an effort to pull his pursuer in front of him. There was a quick sighting of a streak in his twelve and he took his shot.

Astro's bat wings temporally faltered, but he flew into a nearby cloud. Excellent. Yards refused the bait, however, and didn't follow him in.

Slowly the unicorn twisted in a series of holding loops. Waiting for the pegasus to strike. He didn't have to wait long. His opponent came in as Yards completed a loop, passing closest to the cloud with his back turned. Yards knew that would be his time, so he swerved. Still, Yards wasn't quite quick enough and Astro did a flying tackle into his back.

Astro moved to release the five point safety harness on Yard's chest that secured the pack to the unicorn. Yards was having none of that and triggered the electrical deterrent, shocking the pegasus into letting go.

Yards did a barrel roll to get around behind him and shot another beam. It was textbook. Unfortunately for the unicorn, textbook is very predictable and the pegasus's muscles knew the counter. Astro corkscrewed around the attack and slammed into the unicorn again. The impact tore Yard's helmet off his head. His neck was yanked viciously back and whipped immediately foreword. The unicorn blacked out, his magic stopped feeding the flight systems, triggering emergency controls. The engines shut off and the levitation field began to softly bring him down, using the stored magic in the system.

Yards landed in a heap with Astro Rey close behind. Delta was nowhere to be seen.

The pegasus gathered up his comrade and tossed him over his back. “Are you mares willing to surrender too?” Slowly the three remaining members nodded.

Astro smiled. “Good, there's been enough violence today.” The hero ushered the mares back to Sweet Apple Acres.