From The Shadows

TROUBLE

From The Shadows

by DeepThought

When Sole takes off, he is aware that over the city several changeling spies are circling, awaiting his friend and master to reveal himself by stepping into the broad, illuminated streets of Liberty, the city of wonders. A cold breeze is blowing through his new set of feathered wings.

They practiced this maneuver before, since this is their backup plan A. Sole simply isn't skilled and interested enough to run that monster of a town Liberty became and so they decided to make him his double, whenever a risk for Fire arised - A task he accepted without hesitation. He can relate to his position, a being as unique as himself, both raised in a different cultural environment, both struggling to fit in, and a great, loyal friend. Someone who helped Sole to become who he is.

As he ascends he notices blue-glowing blurs in his wide pony peripheral vision, smirking he accelerates leaving the sea of light the settling behind provides. He enters the area above the Everfree Forest, his haunters still near. He can hear the typical buzzing of changeling wings.

‘That’s strange... Aren't they supposed to be in disguise?’

He realizes too late that the sound’s source is not behind, but in front of him. Suddenly Sole is dodged to the right, losing his orientation for a moment. A strong grip holds to his right wing and with fear he realizes that this is no conventional changeling, but a hoof-picked member of Chrysalis’ personal guards, an apex. They are stronger and faster than their brothers and sisters, and also much taller, nearly 2 times the size of a normal changeling. Their fangs are sharper, their carapace is thicker. Unlike the other their eyes glow in a sick orange, a result of a special treatment of their queen.

‘I’m so bucked!’ he panics

.

Flapping like an injured bird he tries to escape. Then a claw hits him in his face, again and again, and he spits blood, struggling to break free. They are still falling to the quickly nearing ground. He has to come up with a plan! Quickly!

His magic illuminates the surrounding area and a bolt heads into the monster’s direction - and misses. The apex chuckles in a dark polyphonic voice, a cacophony of insectoid sounds and a direct broadcast of the laughing queen via the hive mind...

Which abruptly stops when the Everfree saves Sole. His magic turns a tree into some kind of jumping sheet, connecting the twigs to a saving net, while his chaser falls through, hitting the soil with a loud thump, but his claws leave a very deep gash in his wings.

Sole groans in pain, loosing focus, before he gets remembered of the situation's danger by a sound coming from the ground. He turns his head and adjusts his gaze to the just barely visible shape below him - the apex still moves, obviously hurt, yes, but clearly alive.

‘Fight or fly? His injuries are much worse...’ he bends his wings, testing their flexibility, showing a grimace of agony, ‘Probably flying isn't the best idea, but it is still a choice. A painful choice, though.’

But he doesn't get the chance. When he turns his head back and slowly gets to his hooves, shaking, Sole notices a huge number of pairs of blue lights, changeling eyes, closing the gap to his position.

‘Well, that escalated quickly. And I didn't even say that it couldn't get any worse. I have to get rid of them in order to change to something unsuspicious.’

“Come at me, bro!” he shouts, gliding down to the forest, waving to the crowd.

After landing he struggles not to fall. The rogue changeling picks up speed, taking several sharp turns, as a terrifying roar behind him, in the distance, disturbs the unnatural silence of the forest. Hurrying he passes several trees until he gets to a clearing. The buzzing still chases him, but is less loud. A figure stands in the pale moonlight.

“I've waited for you,” says a familiar voice, “You’re surrounded by my children. Surrender now and no harm will come to you. If not, face the consequences.”

In the corners of his eyes he sees a front of black chitin.

‘What now? Play along?’

“Well, you got me. I assume you are Queen Chrysalis?”

“You are right. Step nearer, Mr. Void,” she commands.

‘Careful, Sole...’ he obeys, the soft ground of the forest muffles the hoves’ usual clip clop. He’s just a few steps away from the queen, trying to hide his injured, green-bleeding wings.

Chrysalis’ facial expression turns from an arrogant smile to a sour frown. Her eyes widen, she stares angrily and disgusted at Sole’s damaged form.

“Capture the traitor!” she exclaims, stressing every word.

Instantly the whole group charges at him.

A buzzing laugh echoes through the dark tunnels accompanied by muffled screams of pain. Then the deep underground complex is lighten up by a neon green beam. It reveals the tied figure of Sole on a rack surrounded by several bug ponies and a pissed Queen.

“SPEAK!”

“I will...” he sobs, “I will never betray my friends.”

“YOU OWE NOLING BUT YOUR QUEEN LOYALTY, COMMONER!”

The magical pressure on the roots of his wings increases, resulting in mind-numbing pain. Nearly loosing conscious, he cries out again.

“YOU WON’T DISOBEY” she booms.

Again her horn glows in a sickly green and slowly parts of his black chitin exoskeleton are ripped of, like a sticker from a surface, and  blood oozes from his new wounds

“Please stop,” he begs, quietly sobbing. And finally at the sight of his maltreated body he passes out.

“YOU CAN’T ESCAPE ME.”

Another bolt of magic, sizzling electrically, shocks Sole and once again he is awake.

“Fire...” he whispers weakly, remembering a detail about one of that boring security meetings, his friend forced him to attend to.

‘I need your help.’

“We are going to introduce mind-probing spells to defend our homeland from the changeling threat,” explains the serious adviser pony.

The stallion, who was known as ‘Valentino’ what seems like an eternity ago to him now, nods slightly. He is not convinced about the new course of Equestrian security policy.

‘I hope this new desire for safety doesn’t turn into mania. Actions always have to be adequate.’

“...We have to do everything we are able to to ensure the safety of our...“

“This won’t happen in Liberty,” Fire disrupts him, calmly but determinedly, “We can’t invade the most personal spaces of our subjects, their own minds, just because a small number of enemies possibly hide between us. There have to be other means.”

“I don’t think it is your right to decide on this topic,” says Celestia coldly.

About to retort, a small sensation crawls up his spine. Instantly he knows something is wrong.

‘Sole is in danger. This might be a trap, but I have no choice. ’

“Probably the arrival of my friend was ‘delayed’, he stressed the last word, "Would you please lend# me a few squads of guards? Pegasi maybe? I’m sure this talk can wait for a few hours.”

She nods, blinking in surprise.

The tracking spell didn't work well, but it worked - several times Fire lost the signal, but as often he found it again. Flying about the nearby woods its strength increased, until he and the 12 guards strong group slowly descended in concentric circles.

'He wasn't supposed to be caught. The whole point about the operation was that we both survive a possible assassination attempt. Well, in my case not to be caught... His vital signs are weak.'

"Watch out, stallions, the Everfree is a very dangerous place, at least what's left of it," he chuckles when they finally set hoof on the ground. His companions seem reliable to him, but a bit inexperienced. Eyeing a rather big hole in the ground they give signs of understanding.

"Ok, once we enter we will form a group of eight and one of four ponies. One, the largest, will come with me. It's likely that this is a trap to capture me, therefore you have to be my ears and eyes, my sword and shield. Since we are dealing with changelings it is possible that they will try to infiltrate our group. That's why we’ll use a code word” he hesitates a moment, lost in thought, “...which is: 'sunbutt.'"

The soldiers who get the reference giggle lightly while the rest watch them dumbfounded.

“Anyway, the last squad will patrol the surface to report possible activity. I will cast a spell on those, so I can communicate with them, and give new orders depending on the situation.”