The Change of Heart(Cancelled)

It was early afternoon, Celestia’s symbol hanged high over in the clear blue skies, warming the gray streets of Canterlot.  A beautiful day for the average pony.  The elaborate and fancy architecture of the buildings shined off from the sunlight.  The sounds of conversations of ponies and hoofsteps filled the streets.  The birds tweeted and the majestic pony city stood in all of it’s glory.

Amidst the busy market streets, four unicorn guards, two black, one sky cyan and one light green, strolled through the crowds in an orderly fashion.  Two of them wore the basic, gold plated and white feathered armor.  The second from the first guard had, instead, dark orange armor that was dark enough to contrast with the gold armor from behind, with the same white feathers.  The one in the very front had brick red armor that too, contrasted from the rest, along with the typical white feathers.

But unlike the other three unicorn guards, the third pony had a distinctive, large scar by his right eye.

The four ponies navigated the city with a long series of turns.  Traversing through the massive city gave time for the grey guard in orange armor, Cobalt Charmer, to think about why he was a Corporal at home and here.

Somehow, while on doing basic exploration, got himself into West Hoof guard academy.  Instead of backing out as soon as he could, he decided to persevere the sudden, extra training.  For three whole months, he worked hard, especially with death biting his neck.  But eventually, after the 3 months training, he graduated from the academy, and most importantly as a first.

Becoming a Corporal at Canterlot was the unexpected, but acceptable, result of few years of duty.  After graduating and returning from home, Cobalt began serving in Canterlot.  The Guard recognized his thoroughness with the events he dealt with and quick thinking in dangerous situations.  He finally got promoted from Private to Corporal, a moment where he got used to the title he had.

Cobalt’s reminiscences of his past halted when he realized that the group he was in was right in front of Canterlot Castle gates.  The large, bright wooden gates blocked off ponies from entering the marble circleway.  The red-armored guard in front spoke with the guarding gold-armored ponies and the gates began to open.  The guarding pegasi gave the red-armored pony a salute as he and his group entered the royal gardens.

The four ponies followed the stone brick passageway that cut through the outside gardens.  Several sturdy, oak trees stood on the most open areas possible.  The sounds of birds chirping and frogs croaking filled the air with idle sounds that prevented those from going deaf.

High above, high-quality banners hung along the marble walls and towers of the Castle.  Some had the old-time symbol of the Sun while other bore the old symbol of the Moon.  These banners were continued to be seen inside the shiney castle throughout.  All along the luxurious halls, smaller banners hanged in between windows that prevented the need for torches.

The four pony guards still walked in a single file line, with no words being spoken between them, the typical behavior for the Royal Guard.  The four walked along the right side of the fancy hall which put them by the windows with good views of the outdoors.  Guard ponies that happened to pass by when the four ponies come give a salute towards the red-armored pony.

The three ponies behind continue to follow the red-armored pony’s lead.  After navigating what seemed like a maze of a city within a city, they begin the realize how close their are to their destination.  Without showing reaction at their goal, they continue to make the series of turns necessary.  Their trip around the castle seemed to go smoothly, but that was until he came.

An unusual-looking guard pony was approaching from the other side of the hall.  Instead of the standard gold armor, he wore indigo armor that had exquisite detail up close.  The white feathered part on his helmet were replaced with navy-indigo version.  He was a large, white stallion unicorn with a somewhat prideful but easy look.  Though he had a more muscular frame, his eyes were easily adaptable from being serious towards being relaxed.

When the two groups of ponies met, the purple armored pony stopped and looked towards the four guard ponies.  His serious eyes drooped down to a relieved state.  He spoke to the red-armored pony in front, whose eyes propped from a boredom to seriousness.  His voice was of a young, charming stallion with a easy, but fair sense of duty.

“Ah, hey! Sergeant Regal!  Good to see you!”

“Captain Shining Armor sir!”

The red-armored pony in front stammered as he gave a stiff salute towards the white unicorn.  The other three ponies behind lifted their hooves to give a salute as well.  The calm look in Shining Armor’s eyes remain the same as he gave the four ponies a more casual salute towards them.

“Was there anything you needed sir?”

Shining armor stopped and began to scratch the edge of his jaw.  “Well…” he said while turning his eyes to the right, making him seem like he was too unsure of himself.  “I have been thinking for a while, and since meeting you here, I decided that I may need some help.”

The green pony in the orange armor finally spoke, allowing the ponies nearby to hear his rare voice.  He had the voice of a youthful, but friendly pony, that kind of voice of a pony who is easy to get along with.

“Help with what sir?  Is it for something in particular that you were thinking about?”

“With the upcoming wedding that you all know about.  I am talking about how and where we should assign The Guard, before and during the ceremony.  While I think I have a good idea of assigning where to where, I’d like the opinion and advice of another experienced pony.”

Then after Shining Armor let out his thought, Sergeant Regal Masquerade got an imaginary light bulb.  A sunrise of opportunity came to him, and ideas of benefit clouded his mind.  Immediately, the Sergeant stepped up towards Shining Armor, giving him another stiff salute.

“I volunteer myself to help you with the preparations sir.  I will offer my insight on your plans and provide feedback and suggestions in order to make the wedding a success sir.”

The mighty Shining Armor’s slight frown slowly morphed into small grin.

“Thank you Sergeant, I knew I could count on you.  Now I’m glad I decided to take an extra five minutes of lunch!  Otherwise, I wouldn’t have bumped into you!  Besides, it wouldn’t kill anypony if I went on a ‘break’ for a few minutes.”

The Sergeant nodded and turned back to Corporal Cobalt.  “Continue your patrol,” he ordered the green pony while giving him a salute for the upteenthbillionth time already.

“Yes sir!”  His affirmation also made him give a salute as well, for the upteenthbillionth time plus one.  When they both returned to their normal posture, a very tense-like atmosphere formed between the two.

Both stood and stared at each other with looks that could be easily mistaken as silent anger.  Regal broke that with a small message, a message that only took place as a small, subtle and dark nod.  Cobalt then returned Regal’s nod of receiving his message then confirming it back to him.

“Okay then!  Shall we get going then Sergeant?”  Shining Armor budging in while his grin became more of a smile.  He turned back down the halls, being more naive that he thinks he is.  Regal then proceeds to walk off with Shining Armor while they leave the three ponies to continue their patrol.

He walked with Sergeant Regal and while he was drafting questions to ask his advice for, he looked back briefly at the three ponies going the opposite way.  He took more notable interest in the green unicorn wearing that orange armor.  Then a question unrelated to his thoughts popped to mind.

“Hey, who was that back there?  The Corporal.  What was his name?”

“Corporal Cobalt Charmer sir?”

“Yeah!  Corporal Cobalt, that’s the name!”  He snapped with imaginary fingers.

“What about him sir?”

“Well, I don’t know why but I like him.  The kid definitely has potential.  Already shown it several times already.”  But quickly realizing that Sergeant Regal was looking at him with silent fury, he reassured himself.  “B-but not offence towards you Sergeant, you still are pretty good.”  The Sergeant’s frown turned back into a small smug, but then right into a neutral grin.

Shining Armor, smiling nervously, tried to break the awkwardness that he found himself stuck into.

“Well, I think that we should have most of our pony power here at the palace.  Positions from the outside gates to the inside halls.  That way, the wedding ceremony can be checked on frequently and the whole thing will go unharmed.  That way, we can ensure that we will not be infiltrated.”

Regal raised an eyebrow and looked at Shining Armor like there was something wrong with him.

“But that would leave the rest of Canterlot vulnerable.  Garrisoning all the guards by the castle will make places easy pickings.  So I suggest while we equally spread the guards throughout, we should use the pony power within the castle itself to reinforce places like the train station and downtown Canterlot, so that the citizens may feel safer and secure while making sure our enemy doesn’t enter Canterlot.”

“Speaking of enemy, who exactly are we fighting against?  I do know that you said an enemy might come to Canterlot during the wedding, but who exactly is it?”

Shining Armor looked away from Regal and stared down the halls with a distinct frown that mirrored that of a pony guard’s expression.

“Trust me.  You will see, you will see.”

The two ponies continued to express concerns, ideas and feedback to each other on the future posts of The Guard at the wedding.  That is, until Sergeant Regal mentions Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, which hops Shining Armor to the topic that the two didn’t even realize what happened.

Shining Armor went on to ramble about his bride-to-be and all the things they did together.  Regal rolled his eyes each time he went on about a different memory together.  Attempts to get the conversations back on track were shot down by his inability to stop talking about her.

The same predicament that Regal was in landed as a thought in Cobalt’s mind.  His Guard-frown quickly turned into a smile of mischievousness.  He felt so lucky to not be listening to Shining Armor’s ramblings, and almost felt bad for Regal because he has to listen to the Captain for likely the next day or so.  He giggled at that thought as well.

“Sucks to be you, doesn’t it?” Cobalt muttered.

And with more turns through more decorated halls, the trio reach their long memorized destination.  They stood in front of the high-quality doors that seemed to loom above them and match the dark cyan walls.  Cobalt slowly opened the door, trying to inhibit the door’s squeaks as much as possible until the gap was large enough for himself.  Cobalt silently made his way into the room with the other two guard ponies following.

The three entered a considerably sized bedroom with ceilings higher than the actual halls.  The snow white carpet felt comfortable to the touch while smaller, light sky blue rugs were scattered across the floor.  Large windows aligned the opposite wall, showing a scenic view of Canterlot itself.  Fancy teak wardrobes and dressers were placed in the out-of-the-way places.  And the aqua-blue, massive bed, that was big enough for an entire family, took up the most space.  All coming with a circus -like, ghost -white canopy hanging high above.

On the bed laid a hot pink unicorn pony with the cutie mark of a blue crystal sculpture in the shape of a heart.  Her mane was of a mix between wool white, pink and magenta, a mix that looked that they wished to stay apart.  She slept above the covers, feeling that it was too hot for them.  The pony also had elaborate wings that were compacted down so she could lay properly.  She wore several garments of gold: shoes, necklace and a tiara.  The light sounds of the ponies entering the room caused her eyes to squint a little, and moan.

“Mmm...I’ll be up….just give me five more minutes..” she said half asleep.

Cobalt stiffly turned to the guard on his right.  “You, go and close the door quietly,” he whispered.  “I’ll need to cast the knockout spell in my true form, it will be easier for me to cast it.  We also cannot risk her knowing of the teleportation.  Also, change back as well, so you may conserve your energy.”

After the guard slowly closed the door, ending it with a click, Cobalt closed his eyes.  He took in a deep breath, then suddenly, a lime green aura formed around his hooves.  The ring quickly made it’s way up to the top of the helmet, showing Cobalt’s true form, a heterochromiac changeling wearing orange pony armor.  The two guards behind him reverted to two changeling drones.  He then let out a deep sigh after changing, “That can seriously get so annoying,” he darkly muttered.

“Stand back you two,” he then went on to add.

“Alright, you can do this,” he thought to himself.

He took in a deep breath and began to concentrate.  He concentrated on a spell he barely studied for, but relied on his memories of casting it the first time.  The end of his black, curved horn began to glow with the dirty green aura.  It gradually became bigger and bigger and…

*Poof*

The green aura suddenly vanished; the spell was not executed correctly.  A spell not done correctly did nothing, but give Claw a thump on his head that felt the same as Cilia’s velocity.  Struck with the sudden headache, he stumbled himself backwards.  Just as he thought that he could try it again,  it was too late.

Upon straggling backwards, he bumped into a vase, that was conveniently placed on the nightstand next to the bed.  Time stopped for Claw as the vase slowly fell to the floor.  His timeless reality was shattered as the glass of the vase shattered.  The room was filled with the high pitch noise of broken craftsmanship.

All three of the changelings flinched at the instant, their eyes all sprang right open.  Claw clenched his jaw, enough to see the opposing forces of his teeth.  While the changelings behind him quietly let their mouths open in awe, and guiltiness.  Claw damned himself for thinking how could he make such a simple mistake in a task that all of changelings entrusted him with.

By then, hiding was futile.  The pony sleeping was beginning to wake up.  Her eyes were struggling to pry themselves open while her mouth moved, but spoke only groans.

She raised her front half with her hooves and turned towards Claw.  She battered her eyes to clean out the dirt and squinted towards him.  After a second of observation, her eyes quickly darted open, revealing her dark magenta irises in oceans of white.  Her jaw began to come loose as she attempted to say something.

“Wha---”

*DONG!*

“Ah--”

*DONG!*

*DONG!*

*DONG!*

The echos of metal filled the room.

Then the princess who was about to get up collapsed back onto the bed, fast asleep.  The two changelings went from fearful to shock.  While their eyes were sprung more open, their mouths shifted from “foal-super-sad-syndrome” to “What-just-happened?-syndrome.”  Their mouths closed the gap a bit as they two looked at each other, and without a word, shrugged.  Then they both turned to Claw, with the exact same idea in mind.

Claw simply stood there completely unfazed.  His dual-colored eyes were still very attentive but were staring into deep space.  His lips now covered his teeth, hiding his white teeth behind casual lips.  His black horn was glowing with a small green aura, showing that magic is currently being used.

“Sir?”  One of the changelings behind him squeaked.

“Huh?!”  Claw shook his head, snapping himself out of the trance he put himself in.  After Claw regained his consciousness, he looked at the princess and took a moment to think about what happened.  He then remembered that he was using telekinesis with his horn after seeing a frying pan float in view.

He turned his head towards the two surprised changelings, who only blinked at Claw’s eventual realization.

“What?  I panicked!”

He glanced back at the floating frying pan, then back at the knocked out pony.  Then he repeated his secondary glances again for several times.

“What?  Okay okay this is... improvising, alright!  Hey, it still worked, didn’t it?”  He said while waving the pan in front of the two changelings who seemed to linger away from it.

“Let’s just call it plan B, Why magic is unreliable at the most serious situations.  Besides, knocking out Princess Mi Amore Cadenza was pretty satisfying, and probably more for Cilia.”

One of the drones looked and pointed towards the sleeping princess.  “Shouldn’t we continue on with the plan now, with all due respect sir?  With haste before any of the guards try to investigate?”  He asked awkwardly.

Claw gave a sigh and gestured the two to come closer to him.  “You guys can’t have a little bit of fun on the job, can you?” he muttered under his breath.

He regained focus on the job and prepared his mind for the next spell.  “Alright you guys, we’re now going to teleport down to the caves below the city.  Get ready.”  The changelings nodded and readied themselves while Claw, however, was not.

Claw remembered how much time he has spent trying to study the teleportation spells that he was given by Commander Thorax.  He also remembered that because of that, he neglected the spell practice for the deep-sleep spell.  Even though he has studied the teleportation extensively, he had his own doubts about missing key concepts.  Especially one on how to control which cave system to teleport to.

Claw decided to take the gamble and began to cast the spell, letting his magical aura charge up in his horn.  He prayed that when the spell was casted, they would land in the correct cave system.  A very fade, magical green sphere surrounded the four and Claw’s horn was about to reach it’s peak.  His horn then released the spell, causing the green sphere to flash brightly then disappear, taking some people with it.

A green sphere appeared and disappeared in the dark caves that awaited.  Claw and the other changelings regain their balance while the princess was plopped onto the hard rocky floor.  Claw lit up a small green light with his horn, enough to see the layout of the caves.

The cave walls were of a very dark cyan while the floors were very dark shade of white.  The walls were carved in the most irregular patterns, with large and flat surfaces reflecting the dim light like mirrors.  Very shallow, indigo crystals sprouted from the floor, walls and ceilings or wherever it wanted to be.

“So, these are the caves then, right sir?” One of the changelings said.

“Yes, these caves will be where the princess will be detained at,” Claw affirmed while his voice quietly echoed through the caves.  “The Commander has ordered that we place her in the 5th cave system.  I think we are in the 4th cave system, so it’s not too far from here,” he lied.  Claw realized that he just studied the spell itself, not the actual details.  “Maybe if we just go on long enough, she will be far away,” he suggested in his mind.

Claw began to lead down into one of the passageways when he noticed the grunting from behind.  He turned to see his two subordinates were struggling to pick up Princess Cadence.

“What are you guys doing?  C’mon, we should hurry it up,” he balked to them.

The two changelings huffed as they slowly put her down.  “It’s just that...she’s too heavy,” one of them wheezed.

Claw was beginning to see things from Cilia’s perspective, because this was just too ridiculous of an excuse.  “Too heavy?” he thought.  “We are soldiers!  We should be able to pick up ONE pony for crying out loud!”

Claw approached the sleeping Cadence and began to scoop her up with his hooves.

“See guys?  She isn’t that----Okay she’s heavy!  Too heavy!” He said lifting her midway, gasping for air.

Claw began to struggle at the immense weight that he was suddenly dealing with.  He plops down onto the cold floor with Cadence following gravity as well.

“Jeez, what does she eat?  Lead?”  With willpower and lots and lots of calories from the fried worms, he began to make it one foot of the ground with her on his back, then eventually he lifts her onto his back.

“Okay guys, don’t say it,” he darkly said while gasping for air.  The two changelings only blink towards him.  “Now, let’s get moving,” he commanded the two while he tried to adjust his sleeping pony on his back, which began to hurt it.

After many minutes of random turns, traversing inclines and elevated ledges, as well as near close calls to ask for a break from carrying Cadence, Claw felt that he went far enough.  They arrived in a somewhat open room that was similar to the room they teleported to.  But this cave only had one entrance, and it was well hidden.

Claw finds an open spot and (optimistically) places (heavy) Cadence on the floor.  After doing so, he notices what she looks like after all this.  From the bed hair, to the frying pan and traversing a long series of caves, her hair looked very messed up than what it would’ve looked like from before.  Along her body, she had several scratches, and a big bump on the back of her head.  He stretched his sore back, trying to give it some comfort after giving it a workout of his life.

Claw gave the pretty pony princess a last look before teleporting himself and the other two changelings away.

They arrived back at Cadence’s bedroom and make their way out.  They finally arrive back outside, with the Sun letting out less life, a sign of late afternoon.  The buildings and stone roads gave a more orange tint from the evening sun.  They make it to the market district, where many ponies still banter and trade with each other on the streets.

The disguised Claw signaled the two changelings to follow up next to him.  Feeling confident that the noise of the marketplace will cloak what he is going to say.

“Our original orders were to complete the mission together, if possible.  In the case of separation, we would continue our assignment; Lieutenant Cilia stated that if she became busy, she would meet us back at the Hive.  This will also extend to us as well in the case of separation.  Now, the next st--”

“Help!  Help!  Somepony help!”

A cries of a small filly stood out from the idle chatter, which promptly silenced for some moments after hearing her.  The two guard changelings looked at Claw, trying to get some response on what to do.  Claw thought for what to do, but did not make a decision when a small mint-green filly with a silver mane was dashing across the crowds.  She caught a glance at Claw and his two guards and whipped her direction in a 90 degree angle and headed straight towards them.

“Mr. Guards!  Mr. Guards!  Can you help?”  She asked while huffing a small bit of air.  She was frightened and looked more towards the dark green pony, whose appearance seemed to calm her more than the other two guards.  Claw let out a tiny frown, showing a hint of emotion behind his orange armor, unlike the two guards behind him, who refused to change their lifeless expression.

Claw tilted his head towards her and leaned in slightly.  “It’s okay, it’s okay little one.  Now, what seems to trouble you?”  He asked in his most appropriate, gentle tone.

The little filly looked up to him and began to take deeper breaths.  “Well Mr. Guard, somepony broke into our house and took some of our stuff.  We need help!”

“Speak of the Celestia,” Claw darkly thought to himself.  This is not what he wanted.  He knew he couldn’t delay much longer, and this situation was not helping.  On one hoof, he should help in order to maintain his public image.  But on the other, the true mission he was here for would be put in jeopardy (if not already) because of him.

“Okay then.  We’ll help you ok?  Where are your parents?”

“Mamas home right now.  Daddy is out working.”

“Ok then,” he said as he raised his head to make sure it wasn’t facing the floor anymore.  He looked at the two guards beside him.   “Ok, you two will go with this filly and help out as much as possible.  Follow her to her home and do what you can.”  Claw remembered that the filly was still there, waiting and watching them.

“I’ll proceed with the final step.  Do what all you can.  And when you do, return home at the earliest given moment,” he then quietly added.

He looked back down to the filly.  “Don’t worry, these two guards will help you.  Just show them where you house is, and they will make sure things are okay.”  Claw faced back up and tried to take a step away.

“N-no.  W-wait,” the filly frightenly mumbled out.  Claw turned back to her, with a slight annoyance building up in his mind.  He gave the filly his usual casual look, with concern.

“Don’t….go.  I...want you to to help me.”

Claw gave a sigh and bended one of his front hooves so that his eye level would closely match hers.  He spoke to her softly with his gentle voice spiced with compassion.

“Look, I’m really really sorry, but I need to be elsewhere right now.  It’s very important.  I just can’t help you right now, but these two guards will.  I know these two look scary, but they will help you.  Each and every guard will help you.  So now show these two where this happened, and they will make it better.  Okay?”  He finished off with a friendly grin.

The little mint filly slowly bobbed her head.  “Okay.”

“Good,” he said as he raised himself back onto all fours.  “I’ll have to be going now.  You two, you know what to do.”  Both of the guards gave a small nod to him as he began to depart.

“It’s this way,” the little filly said to the guards.  She then looked back to Claw.  “Thank you...Mr. Cobalt.”  Hearing his voice in a sentence of gratitude, he waved back to her as he went further down in Canterlot.

“Wait!  How did you know-”

It was too late however, the three disappeared into the crowds.  Claw gave himself a groan.

Claw navigated his way through the busy districts alone.  He held a fraction of a grin on his face, thinking that he should get a medal for that performance.  He took a small air hoof as he made that thought, while gaining a large smile for the second.

Realizing that he was sweating more than last time, he took off his orange helmet, a stove heated by the Sun.  Removing his helmet revealed his aquamarine mane that puffed itself down.  It was long enough to surround his horn, but not long enough to drape his eyebrows completely behind a hairy curtain.  He levitated it into the air as he wiped the body water from his forehead.

“Alright.  All that is not in the way anymore, no one would mind me disappearing for one afternoon.  All I now need to do is--”

His self briefing was cut short as he noticed a smiling mare in the crowd ahead waving towards him.  When she finally noticed she got his attention, she tried to make her way to him.  “Great, more delays…”  Claw hung his head over at the exhaustion of dealing with everything.

“Hey hey!  Look who it is!”  She said cheerfully, giving a tap on Claw’s chest.  Her cheerful voice reminded Claw of Cilia’s, except less hissified and more ponified.  And not to mention, she wasn’t giving him a knock on his noggin, which he prompted to flinch back a little before looking up.

She was a dirty gold unicorn with a cutie mark of two, crossed checkered flags over a hoofball and book, and strange one in Claw’s mind.  Her vibrant red and blue mane drooped down long enough on her head so she may try to eat it with little effort.  She gave an upbeat smile, and didn’t seem to mind Claw’s head hanging low.  Her eyes were glittering emeralds and her mane was neither fancy nor sloppy, but charming in a tomboyish sort of way.

“Can I help you ma'am?”  Claw asked politely.

“Help?  Heh, you already helped me Cobalt!”

Claw blinked at the stranger.  “Wait, how do you know my name?”

“Because you saved my hide in the Roundup Restaurant fire?  Remember?”  She said giving a slight grin.

“Oh yeah.  That,” Claw said remembering that day.

“Yeah, thanks a bunch for that!  You saved my life in case you forgot you goof,” she chuckled with an open smile.  “Stupid colt friend didn’t help.  Me and him are long gone now,” she muttered.

“Harsh.  Anyways, what is your name since you already know mine?”

“Really?  You don’t remember?”  She said in surprise.  “You did say before that you were forgetful of ponies you didn't see often," She trailed off while her tone dropped.  "Well, the name is Sunshine Storm.  Normally I would smack you in the face for forgetting, but since this is you Cobalt, I’ll let it slide...For now.”  She finished while raising her tone and sticking her tongue out.

“Duly noted.  And sorry for forgetting.  Now, was there something you needed other than discussing memories?”

Both went silent for a moment as Claw waited Sunshine to give an answer.  She looked to the side briefly before turning back and inhaling a little more than usual.  Then her cheery smile dropped down to a nervous neutrality.

“Well, I was thinking when I saw you,” she said more quietly than usual.  “Well, you are off-duty right now, right?”

“Actually…” Claw paused himself as he was going to say no.  He then remembered his telekinetic grip in his helmet he was floating next to him.  He could still say no, but that didn’t look like it was going to work.  Taking off one’s uniform, especially a guard’s, was unprofessional, and usually a sign to be taken as off-duty.  But Claw got a bad feeling if he just said ‘no’ to the questioning mare.  He needed to maintain cover.

“Yes, yes I am.”

Sunshine’s face then lit up.  “Really?  You aren’t?  Awesome, dude!”  She gleed while giving a little hop.

“Hey listen, I feel like I owe you more than just a thanks.  So how about we just grab some coffee together?  On me?”

“N..” Claw found himself with great difficulty trying to say ‘no.’  As soon as Sunshine asked him, something happened.  His nostrils traced a sweet, delicious scent.  His good eye managed to see a very, pink, faded, mist emanating from Sunshine.  The sweet nectar of changelings, Love.

Claw tried to remember how long ago it has been since he had a big portion of love.  Months, perhaps years he predicted.  The inside of his mouth began to drool.  His body parts hidden under the armor began to sweat.  He was so tempted to say yes and accept her invitation, just so he could have some Love.  Even here he was so tempted to take some of it now.

But then he remembered the greater goal that would promise an abundance of it.  “Love...can wait,” he thought to himself.

“N-no thank you Sunshine.  I appreciate the offer, but I must politely decline.  I have to be somewhere else right now.  Maybe next time.  Good bye!”  He said quickly, stammering, as he speed walked around Sunshine and went down the roads, trying to escape the temptation.

“How does everypony know my name?  Magazines and Tabloids?”

With disappointment, Sunshine held her hoof out towards Claw as he saw him walk away.  After losing sight of him, she turned around and pouted her hoof on the ground.  “Well shoot!  I guess that didn’t work.”

“He did say next time though,” she said determined.  “Right!  So next time, try ‘eating at the diner.’  So let’s cross of ‘coffee’ from my list.  Until then!  We’ll meet again, we’ll meet again…”

She then held a hoof behind her, holding off the stallion with a cheap smile who was about open his mouth.

“No.”

“But..”

“Nope, sorry.”

She then looked towards her right.

“You too as well.”

“Aww…”

Claw finally arrived where he wanted to be.  “No more distractions,” he thought.  He entered the alleyway between two buildings that overshadowed the alley from the sun.  Down the dark and dirty way, he went then made a left, which the end of it was unseeable.  Claw keeled down towards the darkness.

“My Queen, your faithful messenger has arrived with news.”

Out of the darkness stepped out an unusual looking changeling.  Her large, oval  eyes had green pupils like a snake.  The changeling had light sea green hair that drooped far down her head and neck.  Her horn and wings were significantly larger than any other changeling’s.  Her fangs were long and exposed.  And she wore a pale green wrap around her waist.  She spoke without a hiss, but rather with an eerie echo that seemed to follow her every word.

“Well then,” she said expectantly looking at the bowing Claw.  “Is the Princess gone?”

“Yes my Queen.  She is now trapped in the caves below.  You may now assume her identity.”

The Queen smiled and giggled mischievously, revealing her crooked teeth doing so.

“Hahaha!  Yes!  I love it when parts of a plan fall in perfectly!”  She then casts a spell, similar to what Claw did before.  The dark alleyway was suddenly illuminated with a sickly green light, as Claw still groveling in front of the changing queen.  After the transformation, Claw looks up to see a familiar looking pony.  A certain pink alicorn princess.

“Heheh.  First, Canterlot will be mine.  And then, all of Equestria will be next!” The Queen exclaimed in her new pony form.

“I look forward to the bright future for all of us my Queen.”

“Yes.  It shall.”  Queen Chrysalis walked past Claw with her bent dark shadow beginning to disappear to the light.  “It’ll be a dream come true,” she evilly muttered.  “In time, everything shall pull in our favor.  And the Wedding is when we shall turn the tables!”

“Was there anything else you needed help with my Queen?”

The disguised Queen raised a hoof.  “Nothing else will be needed.  I will be able to take care of things from here.  You know when it all shall happen, and you know where at all shall unfold  Be ready for it trooper.”  Then just as that, she vanished into the busy crowds of Canterlot.

Claw stood looking at the grey brick wall, trying to think about what was going to happen.  He successfully infiltrated the Canterlot Castle, detained Princess Cadence to the caves below, and was able to inform the Queen in person.  And now, there will be a future for all of changelings.

Claw was not able to contain it any longer, and he let out all of his excitement.  “Yes!!  Yes!”  He shouted in the air, raising his hoof and pumping to it as well.

Just as he was smiling to his fullest, a plant pot lands on his head.  The blow pained Claw dearly as the glass dispersed across his cranium.  The blow came suddenly, and sent him stumbling on the dirty floor.

“Keep it down you idiot!  I’m trying to sleep!” came a grouchy voice from above.

“Sorry!”  He shouted up, continuing with his grin on his face.

“Life will be good…”