//-------------------------------------------------------//
              The Change of Heart(Cancelled)               
                       -by GammaG3-                        
//-------------------------------------------------------//
//-------------------------------------------------------//
        Chapter 1: "Alright then, what's the plan?"        
//-------------------------------------------------------//
Chapter 1: "Alright then, what's the plan?"
Claw could barely contain his excitement.
Even though he is slowly trotting down the gray, dimly-lit halls with Cilia, it was noticeable.  His legs moved twice as fast while he still maintained his slow pace. He looked like he was stomping on a floor of invisible ants or traversing through a gunk of tapioca pudding.  A memory that he does enjoy too fondly.
On his face was a grin that seemed to slowly get larger by the nano meter.  It revealed more and more of his white teeth that hid in his jet-black vessel of a mouth.  Even more so, his abnormally short fangs were at their greatest pride, which happened to be no bigger than his normal teeth.  Claw didn't seem to mind the stares of other changelings, he was too busy keeping himself from not jumping all over the walls.
Claw decided to break the short silence that seemed to stretch an eternity...again.
“Are we really gonna do this?  Cuz’ I think we’re going to do this!”  He asked with a slight rasp in his voice.
Claw was considered a very strange changeling, or for the more blunt term, unattractive.  His two eyes both had different colors.  One of being bright orange, while the other being dark cyan.  He could stick a fruit orange into his orange eye socket and it would look no different.
While his horn and wings were of average, his fangs were humiliatingly short.  Claw could even close his mouth and his fangs would be concealed, inhibiting the ability to display himself.  He wore some dark olive green armor, not much but, some.  Most of it was largely un-detailed and made for protection, except for the mark at the chest that matched the one on his bare chitin.
Cilia rolled her eyes and let out an exhausted groan.  Today, she felt like more of a mother taking care of her hyperactive filly than as a professional soldier.
“ Yes, we’re actually doing something.  I mean, we were ordered to anyway.  Calm your chitin down, we may not actually be doing some super important or something.”
“ Yeah but, we are actually going to be a central part of her highness’ plan!  We’re not going to be some grunts doing heavy work, otherwise they would've sent us to the maintenance team.  Do you know what we're gonna do?”
“Not a clue.”
Cilia spoke with the voice of a charismatic, young pony mare.  And like all changelings, her words would include the indistinguishable hiss that appeared as a natural trait.  But her hiss was less stronger than most females, her voice was strangely more clear.  She too, was considered abnormal among changelings.
Cilia is considered quite attractive among changelings.  She had bright, lime eyes along with spring green wings.  Her wings themselves were longer than most females.  Her horn was more wicked as well.  A female changeling’s attractiveness was determined by the color of her eyes, the length and wear of their horns, the size of their wings, holes in their hooves and size of her fangs.  She had the perfect mix of each trait, making her quite the idol in the Hive.
She also wore some armor, the same dark olive color as Claw’s.  Except her armor covered more of her body, and included a helmet as well.  But her helmet was less elaborate than higher ranks’ helmets.  She also had a mark where her chest would be, except her’s differed from Claws.
The pair of changelings continued through the elaborate turns of the sector 0 of the military hub in the Hive.  What allowed them safe passage, or prevented themselves from hitting the walls, were the small, dim, orbs that gave off a mint hue from the green liquid inside.
Large cracks decorated the lifeless corridors, representing proof of nature’s doing.  Rooms were carved out left and right of the halls, all with wooden-chocolate doors.  Each room had a gray panel, showing that it was either a sleeping quarters, or storage.
Then the two changelings heard a series of light hoofsteps clopping from behind them.  They turned to see their stalker.  Instead, a small crowd of familiar changelings were following Claw and Cilia.  Some had looks of humble curiosity on their eyes, while others had fierce, eager expressions.  The crowd halted their small talk when they noticed Claw and Cilia silently staring at them.  Seeing that no one was willing to speak, Claw volunteered himself.
“What are you guys doing here?”
The changeling crowd looked at each other individually, one-by-one, and left-to-right.
“Well, we’re following you guys to get briefed on our assignment.  Right?”
For the next moment, silence hanged between the two groups.  Cilia then held her holey hoof towards the crowd.  Cilia let out a sigh, knowing that they were all going to be disappointed.
“Sorry, ‘fraid you guys can’t come along.  Sorry, but direct orders state that only C.O.s and their second-in-commands may be briefed.  Just go back to the barracks, we’ll see you there and then explain things.”
The changelings’ faces drooped down to the news.  From no matter what feeling, from ambition to curiosity, each of the faces looked like the same, depressed state.  All of them slowly turned around and walked back through the halls.
Claw held his hoof beside his mouth, and took in a small gust of air.
“Sorry guys!  But don’t worry, we’ll be doing something awesome!”  He yelled out.
The changeling crowd went around the left corner, while Cilia and Claw continued to their destination.  Claw felt a little depressed additionally, but also relieved.  On one side, he wanted to share the joy of whatever assignment he had with his comrades.  On the other side however, he felt proud to be called individually for something this important.  The thoughts collided in Claw’s mind, when the questions of where and why came to him.
“Wait, where are we actually going to?  And who exactly called us?  You didn't explain very well, if at ALL, what was going on.”
“To answer your first question, we are going to the war room.  That is where the grand scheme of things will be explained.  If you couldn’t figure it out.”
“Yeah, uh, sure.  I knew that one!”
Claw began to laugh hesitantly, while scratching the back of his head.  Despite the odds against him, he still persevered to make himself look like he listened much earlier.  But nevertheless, Claw was still loyal to the army.
Slight doubt came across Cilia.  Cilia cleared her throat, for a speech that she was probably going to give to Claw.  But she as soon as she looked down the hall that they were going through, she needed to shorten her answer.  She took a moment to read the panel at the end of the hall that said ‘War Room’ before quickly trying to explain to Claw.
“And the one who gave the orders was Commander Thorax.  And before you ask, yes THE Commander Thorax.  Yes, it’s spelled T-H-O-R-A-X, not another changeling with a similar sounding name.”
“You mean Commander Thorax that everyone knows about?!  Are you sure that…”
Claw took the moment to think about what Cilia said after noticing her annoyed glare to him.  He decided to take the right course of action, and shut up.  But his mind did not shut up.  Images of the legendary Commander Thorax flashed to his mind.  His admiration for the Commander gradually shifted to nervousness.  He also heard that the Commander was very strict, and very pragmatic.
“Keep calm and play it cool,” he thought to himself.  But Claw only had that moment to think because they were already in front of the door.  The uneasy silence of the hall and faint mumbles emanating from the room only added to Claw’s nervousness.
Cilia approached the displaced door and began to open it.  The door opened slowly along with an eerie creek.  Light from the surprisingly bright room dashed out as soon as the opportunity came.  Claw had to hold his hoof in front of his strange eyes to adjust to the sudden brightness.  The light shadowed over his face while pockets of light escaped through the holes in his legs.  He slowly let his hoof back down after his eyes began to hurt less and less.  He glanced over to Cilia to see what she was doing, she was completely unfazed.
Claw beheld the first sight of the War room that was within the oak door.  The grey room was far more open that it seemed to be.  Many papers and maps were scattered across the mesh walls.  The whole was illuminated by silver light from the crystals on the strangely higher ceilings.  Marking the center of the room, a large stone table was plateaued from the earth, with a large paper covering most of it.   Changelings with different markings on their armored chests surrounded the table.  While Claw tried to sneak a quick look at the barely legible paper.  The changeling that directly faced them stood out the most.
The changeling of Claw’s interest had a more fierce horn and wings and had a bigger physique.  He wore a very detailed dark-navy blue helmet.  Unlike most helmets, this one had a very nice polish to it.  He wore beautiful armor that matched the helmet as well.  On his marked covered chest, was many colorful medals that definitely impressed all that seen them.
His aqua eyes took notice of the pair entering the room and began to move his lips to speak.  He spoke his words with a refined and yet rough tone, all combined with that subtle hiss that every changeling was born with.  He also took notice of the markings on the two’s armored chests.  Cilia’s triple layered triangle and square, and Claw’s double layered triangle, a mark he wore proudly.
“Ahh yes, the Commanding Officers from Platoon 15 have finally arrived, excellent!  And do not worry yourselves Lieutenant and Corporeal, you are not late here.  All that matters now is that everyone I have called for is here today.”
Claw’s heart practically skipped a beat.  He couldn't believe that this was the real Commander Thorax.  The war hero who is now regarded to be the second most powerful changeling in the Hive, right below the Queen herself.
Cilia and Claw both stepped into the bright room and puffed themselves up out of respect and consideration.  Both stiffened their forelegs and gave a robotic salute.  Claw then turned around and went to slowly close the door.  Both then went and took the two consecutive open spots around the large stone table.
Claw then turned his attention towards the large paper on the monolithic table.  Far away, it appeared to be a massive poster-maze for the little ones to make and solve.  But upon closer examination, he realized that it was a detailed map of Canterlot.  A detailed map that was put together by the long efforts of changelings gathering recon at the city over the years.  Claw included in that list.
The Commander abruptly cleared his throat and began to address all of the changelings present.
“I’d like to thank every Changeling for coming here today, for this is a matter that will change the history of Changeling-kind.  For centuries and even Millennia, Changelings have been pushed away and far away by Ponykind.  Our rightful homeland of Equestria has been taken from us from the ponies long ago.  And to this day, they shun and quarantine us like we are some of pest that must be eradicated.  But now is the the time to mark of Resurgence, and we shall take back our rightful home.  The Queen and I have been planning for this moment for years, and that moment is fast approaching.  And that is why I have called you all here to ensure that the whole operation is a success.”
Claw’s mind began to doze out as the Commander began to thoroughly explain Platoon 2’s plan, which involved something about loosening security as much as possible.  Claw’s strange eyes began to dash around the room, reading the maps and papers scattered around.  After being unable to read the faraway papers, he turned his attention to the massive Canterlot map he began to study.  Claw began to get bored of the map after trying to memorize “Pastel’s Pastries” for the fifth time.
Then fantasies of victory entered Claw’s mind.  Visions of Queen Chrysalis sitting on Canterlot’s luxury throne gave Claw feelings of happiness.  To see all the efforts of not just himself, but for every changeling, pay off in one day would be a dream come true.  To finally take back the lands changelings have lost over the course of forgotten history.  All of that was on every changeling’s mind, but only on Claw’s at the moment.
But Claw’s imaginations of him dancing on pony guards was hidden away as soon as he heard Commander Thorax say, “...And Platoon 15 shall have one of the most important roles of the operation.”
Claw’s attention was redirected towards the Commander who was casually explaining the operation while pointing at specific points on Canterlot map.  Commander’s holed hoof moved all the way towards Canterlot castle, which seemed more complex than blueprints of a photonic resignation chamber.  He pointed towards a circular room that was deep within.
“One of the key components in this operation is Princess Mi Amore Cadenza.  Our intelligence states that the wedding between Captain Shining Armor and the Princess shall take place in Canterlot within the next month.  She will be staying in this room for the next few weeks or so.”
“And so, Platoon 15’s role in this operation is to...remove the Princess.”
After the words that started at the Commander’s mouth, and ended into Claw’s ears, his eyes shot open.  ‘Remove the Princess?’  Claw had never heard such an outrageous, and not to mention, dangerous, mission assigned before.  All of this prompted Claw to jump back, blurting his thoughts out, being the new center of attention of the room.
“Woah woah woah!  Remove the Princess?  In the middle of her own castle?  How are we going to do such a thing without getting caught by any of the guards or ponies?”  He asked against the wall.
Cilia quickly turned herself to face the baffled Claw.  Claw saw her look, a mix of irritation and nervousness of being in charge of this changeling.  The same changeling that made himself look stupid in front of everyone here.
“Corporeal Claw!”  She scolded.
Commander Thorax raised his hoof towards Cilia, urging her to calm down.  “It is okay Lieutenant Cilia, calm yourself.”
Cilia, being obligated to follow Thorax’s word, turned back to the table.
“Sorry Commander.”  She said with her head down.
“Apology noted.”
The Commander then turned his attention to Claw, who was still having difficulty of taking such a task in.
“I understand your disorientated state of the moment.  Trying to remove a princess from her own castle without getting caught will be quite the challenge, even for our most skilled operatives.  But I have found a solution to your Platoon’s predicament, that shall make this role more easily accomplished.”
"Sooooo.....Alright then, what's the plan?" Claw butted in.
Commander Thorax looked down under the table and began to use his horn’s magic, which gave off an sickly green glow.  He levitated another, but smaller, paper onto the round table.  This new paper, some sort of scroll, looked to be just as confusing as the Canterlot map.
“Recently, our spies working for the pony’s mining companies have discovered cave systems beneath Canterlot Castle.  These cave systems were originally dug out by ancient ponies, but have long since been forgotten.  These confusing caves shall prove to be an adequate hiding spot of the Princess.  I shall give you a teleportation spell that will teleport you and the Princess beneath these caves.  The 5th cave system shall do.  I also shall give you a knockout spell scroll to study, it would be best to remove the Princess while she sleeps.  And be careful, she is a light sleeper.”
Claw seemed to calm himself at the Commander’s answer.  His admirations for the legend’s ability to plan perfectly was only reinforced.  But Claw had more concerns on his mind.
“But even after we remove the Princess, what shall we do?”
The Commander rolled up the scroll and set it aside of the Canterlot map.
“Then we shall replace her with our glorious Queen.  And from there, the balance of power shall then change in our favor, and we will be able to feed off of the love in Equestria and take back our homes.  But you must be quick.  The ponies shall be fine if their princess disappears for a short time, but any longer and suspicion shall occur.  I trust that Platoon 15 shall be able to do this role without much hindrance.”
Claw couldn’t think of any more questions to ask and nodded in agreement.  To him, this only goes to show the pragmatic and genius nature of the legendary Commander.  Cilia and Claw both sternly nodded to the Commander, while Claw gulped.
“And once you have done, you shall meet the Queen at a specified location to inform her of the Princess’s ‘departure’ and from there, your mission shall be complete.”
Commander Thorax went to summarize the whole operation that he called “Operation: Wedding Planners” or so what the Queen’s ego insisted.  Still, more thoughts came to Claw’s mind.  Would he really have the honor of meeting the glorious Queen herself?  Not many changelings have the opportunity to do a mission for her.  Would he also be the one to remove Princess Mi Amore Cadenza?  Images of achieving more honors popped in Claw's imagination.
But then he realized that Cilia would probably receive the commendations.  After all, she outranked Claw and she was much better than him in the Arcane classes; Claw barely managed to pass the Changeling and Pony arcane courses.  He sighed at the thoughts and listened to the Commander's explanations.
Finally, after an extra hour or so of additional briefing, the word that ended it all came.
“Dismissed!”
Almost all the changelings in the room gave an exhausted sigh.  Standing up and listening to a mission briefing for two hours already have taken their tolls on them.  Most were discussing that they were ready to call it a night, being ignorant towards afternoon training.  Cilia managed to give Claw a hard but innocent-looking thump on his shoulder before leaving the room.
“Ow!  What was that for?”
“What happened back there of course.”  She said while giving a sinister grin.
Despite Claw’s obviousness towards talking back to his commanding officer, it didn’t stop him from questioning her.  Then he began to speak in a childish tone.
“Hey, I was confused okay?  Why are you so mean to me?”  He whined.
Then before Cilia could continue their bickering, Commander Thorax’s voice caught their attention.
“Ahh yes.  Could I speak to you, Corporal Claw, before you leave?”  He asked.
Claw and Cilia both looked at each other with puzzled looks, but ended with Cilia shrugging and began to walk away with a mischievous smirk.
“I’ll see you at the cafeteria Claw!”  She called.
He gave a brief wave to the departing Cilia, seeing her large wings as she was shrank away down the halls.  He had found himself lost in awe as he saw his attractive Lieutenant walk away, according to changeling standards anyway.  Claw gulped as he turned around and began to approach Commander Thorax at the other side of the stone table.  When he stood face-to-face with him, he gave the Commander a stiff salute.
“You wanted to see me sir?”  He asked with a gulp.
Commander Thorax took a moment from looking at the table to turn to Claw with an expressionless, almost irritated look.
“You were dozing off, were you?”  He asked.
An awkward silence hanged between them, echoing through the empty room.  Claw looked right at the Commander with a red-hoofed look.  Claw hoped to just change into something small and crawl away while the Commander refused to change poise.  Claw wanted to switch to puppy-dog eyes, but that would probably only work with Cilia.
“Well...I...I...ah...N….We…”  Claw stammered.
Unamused by Claw’s studdering, Commander Thorax attempted to change the subject in order to get a legible answer.  And not to mention, distance himself from feeling like a teacher.
“Tell me Corporal Claw, do you know why I chose your platoon for this crucial part?  Of all changelings, your platoon, while I could have used my own operatives?”
Claw began to scratch the back of his head.  He really felt puzzled about this.  He had no clue why his platoon was chosen when more skilled operatives could have been selected, and he really didn’t seem to mind.  But now the question of ‘why?’ began to resurface, a question that Claw didn’t seem to answer.
The Commander gave a swift sigh.  “How about this?  Why are you where you are today?”
Suddenly that cracked light bulb above his head got fixed.  Finally, a question on the quiz that Claw could answer correctly.  His mind enlightened itself from the long and hard memories that led up to this day.
“Wouldn't that be my commendations?  You know, my overstay in the pony boot camp, West Hoof?”
Thorax gave a small nod along with a grunt.
“Yes.  Of all things, you have managed to get yourself into that camp by complete accident.  And while any other changeling would’ve left at the most early opportunity, you insisted yourself to stay.  And you persevered yourself until you were able to complete that training course.”
Commander Thorax continued to give Claw the same kind of stare that a parent would give to their foal while teaching important life lessons.
“My point is, you are one of few changelings who are able to adapt quickly.  And your time at West Hoof proved your capabilities.  While I trust my operatives to complete any task given, they are not so easily adaptable.  So I chose you and your Platoon due to some of your abilities to adapt.  Having your Platoon do your task, and according to my estimates, shall increase the chances of success, even if things do not go according to plan.  Do you understand?”
Claw gave a very commending nod, a nod that was enough for Thorax to gain a small grin.  The Commander slowly tapped his hoof onto Claw’s shoulder and looked at him with expectation.  The Commander then went to narrow his eyes and drop his smug, to the point where it was enough to make a normal changeling drone collapse.  His calm tone then changed to dark and intimidating whisper.
“But that is not an excuse to do anything else otherwise.  You can change you road, but not our destination.  Stick with the plan.  If it doesn’t go to plan, then you all know what to do.  And most importantly, do NOT fail this!”  He hissed.
Claw, with his insides destroying themselves by shaking inside out, shook his head quickly, while giving himself another gulp.  He then gave another loyal salute along with the most determined voice possible.
“Yes sir!  I...I mean We, will complete our mission!”
That upside down smile turned back in his small mug and his eyes opened up, resting them both from doing what they needed to do.
“Excellent.  Then we should all expect a wonderful future.”  He gleed.
Claw made his way around the table and exited back right into the hall.  His mind was now shaken from the talk he had.  Commander Thoax’s voice hollowed through his consciousness with echo.  “Do NOT fail this!”  And each time he heard it, he nodded out of instinct, knowing that failure would not be an option.
 * * *
“Awwhw’ whrhe eruughe hfsge. ghuffhr”
Coxa look at claw with a disgusted but friendly look.  He held a very mocking grin himself.
“Dude, swallow your food before you freaking talk.  I don’t want to see grinded fried grub worms every time you open your mouth.”
Claw quickly chewed his worms in his mouth loudly so Coxa could hear the grinding.  After intense seconds of chewing workout, and picking up a piece of grub he spit out in five seconds, he finally swallows his mouth load and lets out a long held-in breath.  Claw attempted to smile in his more apologetic way.
“Sorry dude, I’m just so hungry.  Commander kept us for about 2 hours, and I wasn’t able to get my midday snack!”
Coxa began to chuckle at Claw’s predicament while softly waving his hoof in front of him.
Coxa, by changeling society’s standards, was the most average changeling possible.  He had average test results, physical prowess, and even looks.  If any changeling saw one that was normal, it would be Coxa.  But the only thing different is that he was nice.  Too nice.  Several times the high command had him checked out for being a double agent working for ponies, but the investigations turn out empty-handed.  But no changeling seems to mind his helpfulness.
“Well I should be lucky I wasn’t you.  Standing around for two hours, I can’t imagine it.  I was taking my daily early nap while you were getting briefed.  If I was there, I’d probably fall asleep in the room and give the good ol’ Commander someone to thwack.”
Before Claw could make a comment of Coxa’s comment, Cilia, who was across from Claw, punched out her hoof, which would have resembled a fist if not for the no-fingers part.
“Yeah, if you were there, then I would have someone else to thwack other than Claw for once in awhile.”
Claw and Coxa both looked at Cilia and spoke in perfect unison, while she ate another spoonful of trout soup.
“Hey!”
“Hey!”
The changelings were enjoying their routine lunch in the cafeteria, a much larger room with a surprisingly high ceiling.  Changelings could easily have ariel races in the cafeteria, and some did before.  Hanging down low were chandeliers of green crystals the loomed the entire room in a gloomy, green light.  Several rows of long, grey stone tables and seats lined up in the cafeteria.
Claw turned his head around from the conversation to see the state of the cafeteria line.  Along the front wall was the tray line, with glass-less, stone displays of many foods of a changeling’s preference.  Using their horn’s magic to lift the tray, many other changelings lined up, picking their desired meal.  Behind it all, however, was the grouchy Chef Labium.
The infamous Chef scooped up globs of food and put them on the changelings’ trays.  Somehow, he remains unfazed if some accidently splash onto him.  He always keeps this, well, grouchy look, with his lower lip always pouting downwards.  The camouflaged wrinkles on him have shown those that have the keen eye that he has been around for a while.
He is known informally as the third most powerful changeling in the Hive.  Mainly due to the fact that he has claimed the large, grey kitchen as his own kingdom.  And the fact that no changeling was able to breach it’s borders to receive extras, not even Queen Chrysalis or Commander Thorax were able to order or strategize their way past.
But what Claw looked at the most was the large, snot-green pods that were easily seen.  The pods were visible from behind the tray line and in the kitchen, they were big enough to fit full grown stallions in.  Inside were silhouettes of ponies, upside down, being living and still like owls in the night.  On the bottom of these large pods, were faucets, that the Chef frequently used to squeeze out a pinkish essence.
Claw made a series of small movements, all little pieces in the grand puzzle that was his plan of getting off the stone seat.  Before he could initiate the entire plan, Cilia and Coxa noticed his attempts and spun their heads towards him like robots.  They, too, spoke in a surprising unison.
“Don’t even think about it.”
“Don’t even think about it.”
Claw whipped himself back towards the two and jawed his mouth open.  Claw gained a surprised look while he pointed his hoof to Cilia then Coxa, then back, and repeated.  Claw sat back down and began to complain while shaking his small, bone-dry cup upside down.
“Oh come on guys, let me do it.  I got a good feeling that it will work this time!  Not like last time though, but this time!  I am 200% certain that it shall happen.  I need more love!  My body craves it!  It is in a state of emergency!”
Cilia began to snicker before going out completely laughing and banging her holed hoof on the mesh table.
“Oh come on, you know Chef Labium.  He NEVER gives out seconds.  Ever.  Especially love.  In fact, I am pretty sure that no changeling in recorded history was successful with such a heist.”
“Oh for crying out loud, I need love!”
“Don’t we all?” Coxa shrugged.
“Stupid Chef Labium is so cheap with it!”
At that moment, a stone that came flying from the tray line, hit Claw in the back of his head, with such velocity that it send it head smacking right into his fried worm grubs.  The back of his head tinged with the pain of a Unidentified Flying Stone Object. Claw turned around, with grubs stuck to his face, with a quickly wit anger popping up.
“Who did-!?”
But his volcano of anger froze up into ice when he saw Chef Labium giving him the glare of death.  After seeing this, Claw quickly turned back to his food.  “Maybe if I stared at his eyes long enough, he would melt me into goop,” Claw commented to his two comrades.
It also was rumor that Chef Labium used to be a teacher, but such reasonable claim is urban legend, since no changeling remembers such a stone age.
The #1 most normal changeling gave another shrug.
“Hey, at least we are getting love.”
“Yeah, but it’s not enough.  I’m tired of rationing a necessity.  Here we have to carefully calculate each changeling’s portion while all those ponies are swimming in surplus food!"
"Oh yeah, that I can agree with you a bit there on.  They get all the good stuff, and we are left with the crumbs.  Survival of the fittest.  Part of life I guess."
"But they can't be at the top forever now."
The trio continue to pick off their changeling food with small talk, until they hear thumps and loud grunts.  The three see several changeling helpers pulling the big, green pods that were recently in the kitchen.  The hypnotized ponies inside had their eyes closed, looking weak and frail, indicating that time again.  Meanwhile, Chef Labium was yelling at them, screaming something while the assistants showed struggle in pulling the heavy loads.
All three knew what that meant.  It was the weekly event of love source replacement.  The time when the current providers of love run out.  The food sources no longer have willpower, and so they are released back into the wild, while the hunters find more ponies so that changelings may consume more love.  Coxa gave a deep sigh at the sight.
“I do hope that we will find a more solid source of love soon.  We are now having to get more and more ponies in order to meet the population’s needs.  If we don’t get more love, the Hive could probably see a collapse in a short time.”
Confident Claw gave a pat on his worried friend’s shoulder.
“Don’t worry.  We will soon.”

//-------------------------------------------------------//
Chapter 2: "Note to self, The Princess weighs like a thousand tons!"
//-------------------------------------------------------//
Chapter 2: "Note to self, The Princess weighs like a thousand tons!"
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…”

//-------------------------------------------------------//
          Chapter 3: "Okay then, best 2/3 then?"           
//-------------------------------------------------------//
Chapter 3: "Okay then, best 2/3 then?"
“Woohoo!  Awesome!”
“I feel so happy for them.”
“Go Equestria!  Go Equestria!  Go Equestria!”
These were a few of many, if not, hundreds upon thousands of cheers that shouted in the streets of towns and cities.  It finally happened in Canterlot: Captain of the Royal Guard, Shining Armor, and Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, were now husband and wife.  Cheers and hoofstomps flooded the quiet air with rowdy celebration at the balcony of Canterlot.
Ponies everywhere were rejoicing.  From Canterlot to Ponyville, ponies filled the streets.  Many laughed, sang, or simply held a drink in cheers.  A joyous day indeed, with the rich sunshine, perfect day, and warm temperatures.  The rich and elite made the use of a royal wedding as small talk, little foals doodled pictures of the newlywed couple, and many more gave their regards for a new future.  Celebration confetti flew lightly above the ponies’ heads, at Canterlot Castle and beyond.
Celebrations went on for days and nights.  Many discussed the fortunate events that took place at the wedding, while some got the ability to move and discuss how this will affect their futures.  Eventually through word of mouth and couriers, ponies spread out, and too far to see Canterlot, heard of the wedding.  In the end, many called this wedding a triumphant victory for the future.
While changelings called this a colossal defeat.
Far from the grassy, celebrating lands of Equestria, and from the horizons of the ceremonial Canterlot laid the grey, lifeless, mesh mountains.  The concept of color seemed to be unknown to these parts.  Fluffy white snow caps never formed, and lush green grasses never formed at the base.
The grey mountains almost were pitch black.  Cloud covers shielded the dull mountains from the open blue sky.  Pegasi were too busy celebrating and took the opportunity to take the day off, so they simple clustered the clouds over the distant mountains.  The mountains shadowed darkness to the point where one could mistake it for night, if it were not for the clear Equestria ahead, which changelings looked so enviously at.
Hidden deep within the dead mountains there laid a large series of underground labyrinths.  Hundreds of feet beneath rock, were tunnels filled with dim lights.  The tunnels were rushed through the mountains like veins in a body.  Several sections made up some joints of the tunnel systems.  Here, was the changeling training sections where day after day, night after night, changelings would routinely return here to initiate basic exercises.
Even farther down inside the mountains were one of many barrack chambers.  A very large room mimicked one of many like it.  The grey walls held no decoration, which was enough for a pony to go insane.  Along the walls were jutted out stone slabs that stuck out from the grey rock.  Each had something that resembled a small pillow and blanket.  On many of these primitive beds were changelings, while many had bright white casts on them.  Some slept, while others moaned and the rest simply conversed.  The whole room was filled with crevices of different sizes, all lit by gooey, slimy green and yellow crystals.
In that same room, a changeling was preening himself in front of a green crystal that grew flatly out of the walls.  The changeling appeared to be touching his face, making different expressions with it like a puppet.  He turned his face that he could only see one cyan eye, then turned so that he could only see his orange eye.  He opened his mouth wide and guided his tongue towards his fangs.  The tip of his tongue danced on the ridges of teeth that were chipped.
“Aww man,” Claw moaned with his mouth open.  “I can’t believe this.  This is horrible.  My little pride is all gone.”  He rubbed both of his chipped teeth, which seemed to look like an identical pair of broken teeth.  “Fangs….They are...they are all gone,” he cried quietly.
His depressed state suddenly made himself remember what had happened before hand.
It was midday in what seemed to be a normal afternoon at Canterlot.  But the strange, purple sphere that surrounded the city suddenly bursts.  The operation was not going to as planned.  The Queen’s identity was compromised as Princess Cadence was suddenly found.  The Queen progressed to improvise, which was to have a direct assault on Canterlot.
Corporal Claw was one of many fire team leaders that were ordered to attack Canterlot.  The pony’s defenses proved to be more weaker than anticipated.  One by one, the fire teams were able to defeat squads of guards.  He felt joyous of beating the guard ponies that he had to disguise himself as for so long.  That was until he received new orders from Colonel Mantis.
To hold off this group called The Mane 6.
Claw thought that this would be easy.  Facing off against 6 ponies using an army against them?  Claw felt confident about his combat prowess and encounters in the past.  But he was not prepared for them.
Entire swarms, even in numbers enough to be platoons, attempted to stop them.  But they proved to be stronger than they all thought.
But from there, Claw would never forget one of those ponies.  A light purple coat with a straight mane of dark and light magenta stripes.  With several stars and magical-looking symbols as her cutie mark.
He would never forget her for what she did.  It would be hard to forget the pony that slammed one’s face into concrete.  And to add insult to injury, he was hit hard enough to render him unconscious.  Claw felt humiliated enough from this revelation, but to get his little fangs smashed out was a blow to his pride.
He also couldn’t forget this bright, pink pony there as well.  For an earth pony, she fought pretty hard, and indiscriminately.  Somehow, she managed to bring out a party cannon in the middle of nowhere, something that definitely perplexed many, but packed a heavy punch.
He continued to mope around by the crystal mirror about the loss of his pride.  How easily defeated he was in one of the pivotal moments of all changeling kind.  Then suddenly, rushing feelings of vengeance would engulf him.  Visions of getting slammed into the ground repeated in his head, like a punishment he was given.  Back and forth, these two emotions came and went in shifts.
Now no matter how hard he tried to close or open his mouth, the fangs will not show.  He now longer had his little slice of pride.  He went on to warp from anger to despair in a matter of seconds, which seemed to freak out the changeling behind him.
“Hey, Claw?  Corporal Claw?  That you?”  A voice said behind him.
He turned to see the changeling bothering him while wiping away the tiny tears he accumulated in his eyes.  All there stood an average changeling.
“Coxa?”
Coxa gave a small nod.  “Yup, that’s me dude.  Listen, all of Platoon 15 has been called.  We are to report to the war room.”
Claw noted the large frown he had on his face.  A time when something really bad is happening.  A rare occasion and all this was he needed to know about the dire situation.
“This is bad isn’t it?” Claw affirmed his worries.  “So, who called us?”” He sniffled.
Coxa gave a small nod towards Claw’s first question, then his frown went to arc down even further.  “Commander Thorax.”
The moment of hearing the Commander’s name, his eyes shot open.  His whole body froze.  He knew that this call was going to be more than a scolding.  Something else is really going to happen.  Commander Thorax was not a changeling to disappoint.  Claw gave a large sigh, fully aware of the danger that he was in.
“Alright.  No use in making him wait then.”
***
***
“This is Unacceptable!!  Horrendous!!”  Thorax yelled throughout the uneasy room.
He paced back and forth in the war room, breathing quickly through his nostrils.  All the changelings present in the room were fenced by the wall, being forced to take every word heard.  All they could do was stare straight ahead.  Not at any other changeling, or paper, or map, but just straight ahead.
No changeling had ever seen the commander this upset before.  And every changeling was afraid to see him upset.  The hero with a cold heart.
“We had planned this moment for years!  Years!!  I predicted every outcome that was possible!  I have simulated plans for hundreds of times!  I carefully chose each changeling in that plan that would perform their job correctly!  All that!  Several years worth!  And for what?!  Nothing!  But absolute failure!!”
The furious Commander Thorax slammed his front hoof onto the large, square, stone table.  Instead of a thud, a crash was heard.  The spontaneousness of the smash was enough to send each changeling flinching back.  A small puff of dust emerged from the zone.  The Commander, still breathing quickly, but this time through his gated teeth, slowly lifted his hoof away from the hit zone, revealing a rather indented hole in the table.
Commander Thorax slowly drooped his eyelids over and rested a hoof on his face.  “I had given you all strict instructions.  Instructions that were foolproof.  Instructions that would have guaranteed us all success.  Instructions that even our larvae could do.  Instructions that all you had to do was follow them!!”  He picked up his screaming attitude from his momentary calmness.
At that moment, Cilia stepped forward from her spot.  She kept her stiffness and tried to stare forward as much as possible.
“I don’t know what went wrong commander, but everything did go according to plan.  I have checked on every fireteam.  I have read and reread every report they have given.  I have directly reported to you.  Every changeling of Platoon 15 did according to plan.”  She reported as calmly as possible, being prepared to shield herself from the commander.
“Perhaps is was just bad luck in the smallest of odds?” She went to add, trying to ease tensions in the war room.
Thorax turned towards the out-of-place Cilia.  He began to walk towards her with eyes of fury.  But halfway through, he stopped in his tracks and took in a deep breath.
“Yes Lieutenant, I am aware of the reports.  But each fire team had to file in their OWN report.  I have read each one, including yours Lieutenant.  And by much, I was impressed by the fact that you were able to alter the ponies’ defensive plan in our favour.”  He said trying to suppress the anger in his speech.
“But all of that, ALL of that would have been just fine, if it weren’t for one thing.”
Every changeling’s eyes in the room switched from left to right.  Eyes were shifted but no words were said about what caused the plan to fail.
“And that is because Princess Cadence was found,” he angrily muttered.  A sudden, small shiver conducted throughout Claw’s spine.
“One of the main goals here is to keep Shining Armor and Cadence apart!  How hard is it to keep two stupid love birds apart?!  We have planned this so that the two would never find each other again!  But soooomehoooow, Cadence suddenly pops into the wedding ceremony!  How she was found, I don’t have a solid idea, but the point is that she was found!!”
Seconds after Thorax’s scold, Claw slowly stepped forward, focusing the attention of every changeling in the room.  He tried to stand proudly as he could, not noting the fangs he no longer had.  He also tried to resist the urge to collapse at the Commander’s fury.
“Perhaps it was just tough luck?”  Claw squeaked, barely making an echo in the room.
The whole room once again hanged in awkward silence.  Commander Thorax looked towards Claw in absolute dumbstruck, with his teeth grinding in anger at the same time.  The two stared at each other in mystery.  The commander breached those stares by dashing towards Claw.  And giving him a punch in the face.
The blow was sudden and painful towards the unexpected Claw, which the force of the punch sent the back of his head smashing the wall behind him.  His body dropped onto the floor, and curled up in a fetal position, covering his head.  He gave cries and moans of pain and suffering.
Claw shook painfully while the commander looked down at him darkly.
“I have wondered why your report was so vague,” he hissed to Claw.  “And now I know why.”
“Your report was only a few sentences long.  I have thought that it was short because you were being lazy, exhausted from your job.  But now I see the true reason.  You knew that you didn’t do your job correctly!  You didn’t put her into the 5th cave system.”
“What does it matter?!”  Claw wheezed back.  “All the cave systems look the same, so it’s easy to-”
“Of course it matters!!”  The commander screamed back.  “Queen Chrysalis would teleport any pony that got suspicious of her down into the cave systems.  More specifically, the 1st cave system!  I wanted the Princess to be in the 5th cave system, not the 2nd!!”
“Hence the reason the truth was discovered.  Hence the reason why the Queen’s identity was revealed!  Hence the reason why the two ponies were reunited!  Hence the reason why the whole plan failed!!”  He remarked loudly.
“You didn’t listen to the reason WHY?  Did you?”  The commander looked at the curling Claw expectantly.
“I...ah….” Claw could only stammer.  He tried to formulate an answer in his mind that would be acceptable.  But it seemed like every answer he would give seemed to make the commander angrier and angrier.
“Of course you didn’t.  Of COURSE you DIDN’T!”  The commander yelled before Claw could give a legible answer.  “And now because of your incompetence and stupidity, our goal was taken from us!  From within our grasp, it was now pulled away two times farther now.”
“Sir I...I swore that we dropped her off into the 5th cave system!” He hopelessly tried to defend himself.
“Well apologizing and thinking you did so isn’t enough,” the commander bounced back Claw’s defense.  “Because you know very well that this is your fault!”
The changeling in the fetal position quickly opened his eyes.  “All...my fault?” He thought surprisingly.  He had never had such a burden onto himself.  He now knew that he was the burden here.  The commander was right, his laziness finally caught up to him.
“Oh.  Ooooooh, now I see it now,” the commander said in realization while looking up to the brighter, crystal lamps on the ceiling.  “Now I see what you are doing here.”
The commander looks back to the moaning changeling who was looking right back now.
“You already knew that this was all your fault.  You already knew that your platoon would be scolded.  You already knew that the platoon would be punished.”  The commander said accusingly.  “So now you’re trying to focus all the blame on yourself?  Make it so that your platoon goes off scot-free?”
All the eyes of the changelings turned towards Claw, curiously awaited his response to this.
“P-punished?  The platoon?  Wait, me?  My fault?”  Claw said while trying to piece the bits he was thinking of.  “Wh-”
“Well it’s not going to work.  I admire your sacrifice, but examples must be set.”
Claw could not believe what he was hearing.  Stepping forward to take the blame?  The was never intended in his plans for this scolding.  Claw took some small comfort in the sacrifice of himself for his comrades.  But now he knew that this won’t be the case.
Commander Thorax stuck his head away from Claw’s and turned around to face the entire room.
“Attention!  I have now declared that Platoon 15 is the fault in the failure of the Equestria takeover!”  He announced to every changeling present.
No reaction was seen any of the changelings.  This announcement was towards and will directly affect them.  And yet they only stood as emotionless as they could.  But on the inside of every changeling, they were shaking violently.
“And due to the price of failure of duty, all of Platoon 15 shall be subjected to martial punishment!”
Claw’s fetal shaking suddenly stopped.  The words reached his brain and could not believe it.  His whole platoon was going to be subject to martial punishment.  And it was all his fault?  That he truly could not believe, but he is still shaken internally from suspense of the actual punishments.
“Examples must be set and remembered for every changeling in this Hive!  I don’t care if the blame is pointed towards one or more, because many more will face the consequences!  Punishments for your platoon may and will include demotion, imprisonment, exile, and execution!”
The silently angry commander went back towards Claw who was just about to get up.  He stuck his face so close to Claw’s that they could feel each other's breaths.
“ ...Starting with you.”  He threatful whispered.  “I told you, do NOT fail me.”
Claw’s eyes slowly opened in the realization that this was reality he was in right now, not some nightmare or weird dream which would be waken up by a party cannon.  Reality in all of it’s pain.
The commander’s eyes suddenly narrowed.  His horn began to glow vigorously, and a large beam of green magical energy shot out from his horn. The energy beam was hitting Claw’s horn, which prompted him to moan in agony.  For several long seconds, he had to endure a pain that was just as bad, maybe even worse, than the commander’s punch.  After several seconds of the rest of the changelings being forced to watch, the commander finally stopped, seizing the beam and Claw’s moans.
Cilia could only watch, for she did not wish to include herself and other of her troops into the Commander’s brutality.  As much as she wanted to help Claw, she forced to restrain herself.
Claw took deep breaths to alleviate the pain of his head.  He had an extremely painful and concentrated headache by his horn.  He went to do a body check of himself, everything seemed to work fine.  Then he tried to used his magic.  Nothing.  My magic….it’s….gone!  He thought loudly to himself.  But words could not escape his mouth because the process left him heavily fatigued.
“And another thing…” The commander added.
The commander concentrated once again, and shot another magical beam towards Claw.  This time, towards his chest.  Another set of seconds of Claw enduring the pain, he ceased his spell.  Claw stiffly looked towards his chest.  This can’t be!  The double layered triangle that he wore proudly was now ruined.  Across it, a large, gray scar ripped across it, disfiguring the left half of it.
“Corporal Claw.  For Dereliction of Duty, I am now charging you with the crimes of treason.  As of now, I am stripping you of your magical abilities.  Tomorrow you shall await your summative execution at 1200 hours exact!”  He announced more loudly to the entire room.  “Say your final words and eat your final meals.  Because tomorrow will be your last!”
Claw then dropped back down onto the floor.  Not out of anxiety, but out of lifelessness.  He was too drained of emotion he already endured.  He held no reaction to it, he was already too tired to say or do something.  Claw only gave a neutral frown and blinked slowly.
Commander Thorax went to address the rest of Platoon 15.
“Know this everyone else,” he darkly announced.  “He will be only a martyr for your platoon.  He won’t be the only and last changeling of this platoon to be executed.  He is just going to be the first example of failure.  Expect more of you to be gone.”
Commander Thorax stared back at Claw while he stared into deep space lifelessly.  “Prepare for your final day in the life of the changeling army, Claw.  So you can take this time to finish up whatever you started.”  He said through his teeth.
“As for the rest of you, you can now report back to your barracks.  So expect punishment to be brought upon all of you in a few days tops.  You will all receive your sentences by me or Colonel Venom.”
“So for now, Dismissed!”  He finished with his hiss.
One by one, the changelings of Platoon 15 shifted their way towards the door.  Filled with anxiety, they exchange their concerns and thoughts of the current situation with each other.
Cilia tried to approach the still, curled up Claw.
“It’s all over,” Claw murmured emotionlessly.
Upon hearing that, Cilia slowly backed away.  She knew that it was the inevitable truth, and yet she tried to give Claw comfort of it.  Nothing is comfortable about being executed and being called a martyr at that.  Feeling that Claw needed to settle in with this alone, she goes to leave the war room while Commander Thorax retreated through the other door in the war room.
“It’s all over…”
***
***
“It’s all over...It’s all over,” Claw repeated to himself.
He stared motionlessly up to the grey meshy ceiling that seemed pretty far away.  Hey laid on his stone bunk bed that was jutted out from the walls.  He really could not do much, only think and say his goodbyes.  Knowing that he was going to be executed the next day was something very difficult for a better-than-average changeling drone to take in, let alone hours ago.
Then something flew up behind him, hovering by the high, stone bunk.
“Hey.  I was just checking on ya,” a changeling’s voice seeped behind Claw.   He turned to see his perpetrator for conversation that he has not had in hours.  Hey saw a normal drone from his platoon.
“Hey Coxa,” Claw said while looking back towards the ceiling.  “Here to say your goodbyes as well?”
The floating changeling only brought his forelegs and shoulders up.  “Well, kinda.  I already did say goodbye to you.  Like 15 minutes ago?”
Claw only stretched out, cracking his bones and stretching his chitin.  “Well I don’t know then dude.  Not gonna matter much if you say it twice.  Because pretty soon, there won’t be a chance given twice for me.”
“So was there something else you wanted?”
“I just wanted to say that I was snooping around for a bit and found something interesting.  I’ll probably tell you about it later, not like it’s going to help anyway.”
Coxa then slowly showed his deck of cards to Claw.  “And well I was hoping that we could just play a game of cards.  But seeing you now, it doesn’t look like it.”  He said while placing the cards onto Claw’s bed.
“Speaking of you, why aren’t you doing...you know….stuff?”
The horizontal Claw gazed towards Coxa.  “What do you mean ‘stuff?’”
“You know, like saying your final goodbyes.  Writing out your confessions?  Kiss Cilia?”  Coxa’s last suggestion instigated a surprised and impressed look from Claw.
“Okkaaay, maybe not that last one.  Heh, you would have a better chance of meeting Princess Celestia as a changeling than that happening,” Coxa chuckled slightly.
“Whatever dude, whatever,” Claw stated while facing his head back upwards.  “I guess it’s just from what the Commander did to me.  He cast some spell on me, it hurt a lot, felt drained, and now I can’t use magic.  I guess it’s just the thought of adding more insult to injury,” he finished off with a shrug.
“Hmm, yeah.  Being punished and having your magic being taken away.  That sucks,” Coxa hummed.
For the next minute, the two were silent together, until Coxa summons up the courage to ask a question that would seem hopeless for Claw.
“So, what are you gonna do?”
Claw stood up onto his haunches.  “Huh?”
“You know, what are you going to do about all this?  Your execution being tomorrow?  You just seem to want to sleep it off?”
Claw scratched his head while looking down the barracks to the bottom floor.  “I...really don’t know,” he answered honestly.
“I don’t know for sure, I’m just hoping this is all one big nightmare.  I guess I am just accepting it already.  I half-expected some miracle to save me, but it hasn’t happened.  What more can I do?  I am already being charged with treason.  And my final day is less than 24 hours.  What else is there?”  He shrugged.
Coxa then tilted his head while raising one of his eyes.  “Did you really consider all of the options?”
Claw looked back at the questioning Coxa.  “What are you talking about?”
“Well there are more choices available than simply just accepting it, you know.  You don’t have to stay for it.”
He pondered about the meaning of Coxa’s quote for a few moments.  Then Claw’s eyes sprang open.  “Wait.  Are you suggestion that I just...leave?”  He gave his interpretation of Coxa’s advice.  “Like, abandon the Hive and every changeling in it?”
“Can’t be worse that what you are about to be facing, and dying as a martyr,” Coxa reinforced his idea.
“I guess, yeah…” Claw went on.  “No no, that’s a stupid idea.  I’ll just be killed,” he then shook his head.
“Is it?”  Coxa retorted back Claw’s first refusal.  “Trying to live in Equestria with ponies can’t be worse that staying here, awaiting your death for tomorrow.  I mean, sure, there are high chances of death out there.  But a little chance of survival is always better than a certain chance of death.”
Claw took a moment to think about Coxa’s suggestion.  Leave the Hive?  “No changeling dares to do that.  The only thing outside of it are ponies that persecute and vilify changelings.  Not a safe place at all.”  He thought to himself.  But then again, he could stand a decent chance in the world, but it could only delay his demise.  Claw took all of these factors into consideration.
“Well, what about you guys?”  Claw asked.
“We’ll be fine I guess,” Coxa answered while pursing his lips.  “Cilia probably will be imprisoned or demoted; shes that too much of a high rank to simply remove.  I can probably just slip into another platoon unnoticed, or dodge punishment altogether.  You know me,” he said while giving Claw a light thump.
“As for the rest of the platoon, well,” he said while giving his trademark shrug.  “Every changeling will be punished.  So by execution, imprisonment, or if you’re lucky, transfer.”
Coxa stopped himself after noticing Claw’s deep mental state.  Claw was being torn apart for what to do.  “I….need to think,” Claw mumbled.
Coxa nodded at Claw’s request.  “Alright then dude, seeya.”  Coxa began to fly away before stopping mid air and zipped back to Claw’s bed.  He swooped up his deck of cards.  “Sooooo….now do you wanna play cards?”  He asked trying to brighten the mood.
Claw gave a small smile at his comrade’s comforts.  “Alright dude,” he said while sitting himself upright.  “So I guess it’s best 71 out of 140?”
“Screw that!  Best 149 out of 296!”
***
***
“So, this Claw, when will he be executed?”  Queen Chrysalis asked looking towards Commander Thorax.
“In approximately 30 minutes my Queen,” He reported while he still remained looking forward.  “The apostate and his platoon will get what is coming to them.  Martial law may be brutal, but is essential for ensuring loyalty.”
The tall, changeling raised an eyebrow.  “Oh?  Claw the Apostate?  Under what reasons for these charges?”
The Commander pursed his lips before saying his answer.
“The fool got lazy and stupid!  He did not follow the plan to the word,” he greatly hissed so that some saliva left through his sharp teeth.  “The fool put Cadence onto the 2nd cave system, not the 5th.  Which is the reason why she turned up anyway,” he finished off while giving a heavy stomp with his hoof.
The Queen showed no response as they made their way through the long halls.  Changelings passing by gave deep bow as the pair passed.  Chrysalis looked at Thorax with a slightly concerned look.
“But is the punishment of an entire platoon necessary Thorax?”  The Queen questioned the firm Commander.  “I could understand why Claw would be punished.  He allowed his dreams to shatter our near-realities.  But why the changelings in the same group as him?”
“Even though Claw is at fault, his whole platoon must take blame.  They were all taught they in order to succeed, they must play their parts.  Should one of them fail, they all would.  We need to reinforce those teachings.  We also need to set examples for the punishments of failing.  And..”
The Commander’s stiffness suddenly dropped down loosely and let out a sigh.  “I guess I wanted us to succeed.  I know how much this whole plan meant for you and all of us,” he said quietly while dropping his head down lower.  “It’s just hard to believe that all of that planning suddenly went down the drain.  I just want to make sure that next time, we will succeed.  But sacrifices must be made,” he said with a sigh.
Chrysalis still remained muchly unchanged, but shown a hint of pity.  “Do not worry Commander.  All we need is time Commander.  All we need is time,” she said while a sinister smile grew on her face.
“Time?”  The Commander looked back at Chrysalis with shock.  “We spent years gathering data and information.  We spent years predicting outcomes.  We spent years plan-”
Before Thorax could finish himself, the Queen held out a holey hoof, ordering him to be silenced.  “Time is something we have plenty of, if you keep forgetting that,” she reminded Thorax.  “Now, about this Claw…”
“Your highness!  Commander Thorax!”  A larger-than-average changeling raced down the halls towards the two.  Both of their attentions shifted towards the soldier fast approaching them.
Commander Thorax looked expectantly at the Changeling as she gave a bow.  “Lieutenant Cilia.  What are you doing here?”  He asked dully.
Cilia gave a respective salute, despite circumstances directly affecting her.  “I have some urgent news!  It is about Corporal Claw sir!”
The Queen began to curve her lips slightly upwards and allowing her fangs to be shown outside of her mouth.  Her eyes slowly shifted towards Thorax who still looked on seriously.
“Ahh yes, Corporal Claw.  He is due to be publicly executed in a short while.  Has he been prepared for the execution?”
“No sir, it’s actually about that,” Cilia said while beginning to feel nervous about the Commander’s reaction.
“Corporal Claw, he’s….he’s gone!”
The Commander’s face sprouted right open.  Every facial feature seemed to expand that that announcement.  Suddenly, the surprise’s effect wore off, and left the after effects of the outrage that would arrive soon.
His eyes narrowed, his nostrils tightened and his teeth began to grind.  “What do you mean….gone?”
“He is nowhere to be found!  I’ve had all my changelings in Platoon 15 search for him and asked Platoon 2 to help out as well.  Not a sign of him anywhere!  Nowhere in the Hive is he to be found!”
“Damnit!”  The Commander stomped the ground hard as he grinded his fangs.
The Queen, on the other hand, still held her amusement on her face.  Her eyes lazily faced the two soldiers while her smile seemed to heighten more and more.
“So, what are you going to do now?”  The Queen asked manipulatively to Thorax as she threw her head close to his and pulling it away.
“I’m gonna...I’m gonna…” Thorax hissed while furiously shaking his black hoof.  Then that internal tension stopped as he began to calm his internal anger.  “I’m going to do nothing then,” he said while a grin slowly grew on his face.
The Queen raised an eyebrow while keeping his amused smile.  “Nothing then?  Why then?”
“Because Claw is going to meet his own demise out there.  The only place safe in Equestria for a changeling is here.  All the ponies out there wish to see us destroyed.  He will be persecuted and hunted by ponies wherever he tries to seek shelter at.  He will die out there if he doesn’t die in here.  In any case, he will also be charged with desertion, the first case I might add.”
“Well then,” the Queen curiously replied.  “This should be interesting then.”
***
***
Claw stared back towards the mountain range in the distance.  He hovered above the lush, green forests with trees that shielded the roots and creatures below.  Going through it was a mesmerizing river that seeped through it all the way from the mountainside of Canterlot.  He was far away enough that he could call the grey-dirt mountains the horizon.
He could only look back at what was his home and memories.  In those mountains is where he was born.  In those mountains is where he grew up at.  In those mountains was where he trained at, believed at, and most importantly, lived at.
Claw has devoted his entire life, swore his loyalty, and loved the Hive that he lived in.  “Finally, home”  he would think everyday he returned.  Now that lifelong reality and service was shattered.  His home is where he would’ve died at.  He had hoped that he would die in battle for his home, or die a ripe, old age of a lifelong term of service.  But he would’ve died as a martyr and a failure.
He sadly took in the scenery that he has seen so many times.  After all this, being failure, now deserting the Hive, he no longer could call the Hive his home.  He reached into a small sack he brought along and brought out a beautiful medal that he has had for a long time.
Its was a golden metal of a fancy shield with two swords crossed behind it.  Surrounding it was a wreath that was detailed to each and every leaf.  On the shield was an insignia of a funky “C” with short, vertical lines at both points and with a sword passing through it.  On the top of the shield stuck out wings that would most closely resemble the wings of the Queen.  Extremely Fine details covered each feature of the gold medal that would require the finest artisan available to Changeling kind.  It was attached to a very luxurious, velvet red neck ribbon.
He slowly and carefully turned the medal over and examined the tiny inscription, that he memorized so many times, on the back.
For the opportunity and endurance of staying behind enemy lines while suffering extreme internal conditions.  Private Claw of Platoon 15 accidently infiltrated WestHoof military camp.  Instead of reporting back to his Commanding Officer, he insisted to himself that he shall and endure the semesters.  Despite enduring 3 months without love, causing him extreme malnourishment and even brinks of death, he still persevered intense physical training in his condition.  He successfully graduated from WestHoof as the first disguised changeling.  Doing so, he has carried information to the Hive that will be instrumental for future operations.  And so, he is to be honored with the Award of Valour, for serving more than the boundaries of his oath.
Claw remembered the day he was given that.  It was presented to him by Queen Chrysalis herself, and said those exact words on the back.  Changelings of much higher ranks, from Captain to Colonel, shown up at the ceremony to offer their congratulations for being honored with the highest award given to any changeling.
Claw tightly held the medal close to his chest then slowly loosened his grip.  In his mind, he was trying to concentrate all of his service memories into this medal.  After gazing at it sentimentally, he finally dropped it.  He watched his prized possession slowly turn in the air as it became farther and farther from his grip.  It rapidly lost size until finally it hit the leaves below.
The gravity of the medal caused the leaves to swish at the medal’s way.  Only at a detail elevation could the details be noticed while Claw only see the reflections of light change where the leaves were hit.  The sudden dropping of metal from the sky caused an owl to fly away, being surprising it.  Claw watched the spooked owl fly away, until I no longer saw point in watching.
Claw nostalgically took a last look at the mountains that he once called home.
“Well, this is it.  Good-bye home,” he said to himself quietly.  All those memories of serving and growing were now right below him.  He was no longer welcome at the Hive.  He would only be called a traitor, a martyr, and a failure.  All this he knew very well, but he didn’t have the slightest clue on what to do next.
He was already many miles from the Hive, and he wa being charged with treason, with a death penalty.  When he did this, the only thing he thought of was being alive.  Now that he was out, he mind was blank.  He subconsciously thought that he could find another changeling chapter to join.  But there weren’t any, and he knew very well why.
He turned himself around in the air.  In his sights were the majestic city of Canterlot, hitchhiked on the side of a mountain.  A thin, blue stream casted way down to the forest from the faraway city.  Not too far from his position, the cloud covers stopped, creating a fine boundary of light and darkness in the forest.
He looked onto the Canterlot city that he was thrown from, and began to drift towards it’s general direction.  Realizing that Canterlot was still recovering, and possibly paranoid with changeling imposters, he directioned himself towards the right, hoping to not be spotted and hoping that he would find a nice, little nook for himself.
Before beginning his journey, he took one last view of the bright lands of Equestria.
“So, Equestria.  You’re filled with ponies that hate every inch of me, right?  So will you be my home?....Or my grave?”

//-------------------------------------------------------//
         Chapter 4: "These ponies have no clue..."         
//-------------------------------------------------------//
Chapter 4: "These ponies have no clue..."
Claw was satisfyingly munching through some tender venison.  He found a small but nice, open grassy spot in the woods by a crystal clear lake.  He managed to start a fire up and was able to hunt down a deer earlier.
Being a soldier, he already had prior knowledge of survival.  He sat on his haunches, ripped and chomped the tender meat, and swallowed chunks of all sizes.  It may have not been love, but it will do for Claw, for now.
Still, his need of love was present.  He could feel an occasional rumble of the stomach and the feelings of weakness.  Food satisfied half of his bodily needs, but love makes up the other half.
Currently, he could feel himself beginning malnourishment.  He shrugged off these feelings of need for the time being, remembering that he has once gone three whole months without love, eating only food and water.
After finishing off the last bit of meat on the bone, he threw it towards a small pile of what used to be a healthy deer.  He gave a loud burp that messaged the environment around him that the daily tribute to him was fulfilled.
Feeling a little groggy, he let his stance fall over, allowing his back hit the hard earth, haired with grass.  He put his forelegs behind the fins of his head and took a deep breath through his nostrils, and exhaled through his mouth.
He simply laid there, staring up at the beautiful, blue sky.  The weather was crystal clear, the skies were an ocean of water floating above them all.  A few, small, puffy cotton clouds occasionally disrupted the ocean-sky view.
Claw held a face that was neither relaxation nor misery.  He only held a neutral face of acceptance.  He already was aware of his punishment of death.  He already did fail changeling kind.  He already did go AWOL from home, adding desertion to his list of crimes.  Now he accepted the facts with a grumble that there is possibly no way of returning home.
He took his lazy-day-blues and tried to think about his future.  Could he live the rest of his days like this, but was this really something to spend the rest of his life as?
He could survive, he could live off of nature, but this was not a future, it was a way of life.  He swept off visions of joining some outcast group of changelings.  He laughed off an idea of ponies taking him in.
Home no longer seemed to matter much to him; only empty dreams of returning were his only thoughts of it.
After all, it has already been 45 days since he left.
***
***
A group of five white, gold-armored pegasus guards aggresively surrounded one pony at the outskirts of a small town.
“Surrender now peacefully, and I will promise that you will not die,” one of the unicorn guards firmly stated while holding out his spear.
“You will have the ri-Ooof!”  He was pummeled on the bottom of his jaw, causing him to be knocked back.
“Yeah yeah, I know.  I heard that stupid crap like a million times already,” said an annoyed voice.
The four hovering guards looked angrily at a changeling that stood on the ground below with a cyan eye, while for some reason he closed his other eye.  His posture was combat-ready, but was calmed instead of tense.  The four guards floating held their spears towards him, preparing to charge.
“Come at me, Bronco!”  Claw taunted while puffing out his thick chest, thumping it with his hoof.
All of the guards growled at the changeling, but one of the guards reached his limit with Claw’s comment and zipped towards him.  Aiming his spear to him, he picked up speed and maintained his target aim.
“Really?” Claw sighed while rolling his eyes.  “This is just too easy…”
Before nearly piercing Claw, the blue-eyed changeling takes a quick side-step to his right, allowing the spear to pass right in front of him.  But at the same time, the changeling uses his hooves to grab hold of the flying spear and ripped it from the guard’s grip.  With quick reactions, the changeling held it and spun around, making the spear be an iron baseball bat and the guard to be the ball of flesh.
With a loud clang, the guard was launched back with his helmet flying off, showing his deep, blue mane.  He landed on the dry ground with a hard thump and urged more moans from him.
“Raaahh!!”
Claw quickly turned his attention above his head to see a guard kamikaze right on him.  Claw dropped his spear and tried to maneuver himself away, but he realized it was too late.  Even then. he still jumped backwards at the nick of time, to the point he was able to feel the sides of the gray spear as it planted itself into the ground.
He stood for a moment to look up to the butt of the spear to see the guard trying to recover from the sudden stop.  Claw seized the moment and climbed up the long spear.  He reached the top of it and viciously grabbed the guard’s collar.
“Woah!-”
Claw dragged him off the butt of the spear, causing them to see the world spin before forcing the guard’s face into the dirt below.  The guard let out a yelp of pain as soon as he made contact with the pointy floor.
Claw looked towards the three guards on the dirt, crawling and moaning pain.
“Seriously?  And you guys call yourselves-”  Before he could continue with his snide comment, he felt the delivery of a thrusting hoof on his nuzzle, sending him tumbling before his back snapped against a solid oak.
“Yes, we ARE serious!”  A guard answered.
Claw steadied himself up quickly and jabbed the ground.  He didn’t bother checking his mouth.  He dashed to the standing unicorn guard and threw his hoof out, but missed as the guard side-stepped.
The two engaged close combat, constantly throwing punches to each other, missing and hitting.  Finally, Claw managed to catch the guard while he was charging towards Claw. The changeling grasped the pony's head in his hooves and catapulted him towards the oak-rich, ribs first.  Claw watched the guard moan in pain and try to stumble his way back up.
Claw then heard the final, missing guard's war cry, this time from behind his head.  With instinct, Claw reached for the spear that rested underneath him and held it up stiffly.  He trusted it towards the guard just before the guard's spear could pop his personal bubble..  Claw’s spear penetrated the guard’s white skin through the armor's blind spot by the neck, making the pegasus feel the whiplash from being stopped by puncturing iron..  The spear refused to move into the guard further, to which Claw loosened his grip.
“Well my friend, I hoped that you learned something new,” Claw said to the pony who was losing consciousness.  “If you wanna be a guard, you gotta know what exactly you are serving for.”
He watched the guard stumble backwards, trying to adjust to the fatal situation.  Blood began to seep out of the wound, staining the snow-white coat around it and up the stainless iron spear.  With some weak breaths, he  collapsed onto his side, struggling to keep his eyes open until he gave up..
Claw stared at the still body with red liquid leaking out from the tip of the spear, staining the guard's armor and flesh with a velvet red.  The blood clumped and shallowly puddled on the same dry soil they stood on.  Claw had to take a moment to stop what he was doing just to see what was really going to happen next.
“Oh…”
Before he could confirm the kill, he scanned up in the blue sky.  In the far distance, he saw several grady specks, gradually growing more and more in size and detail.  Squinting his eyes, he saw that it was an entire swarm of pony guards, at least more than a dozen.
“...Crud.”
Claw flexed his wings and dashed low into the forest.  He glided near the grasses, hoping he could lose the guards in the darkness the thick trees gave.  Meanwhile, several guards and a medical team arrived at the scene of combat, seeing to the needs of the wounded, and taking the impaled pony on a stretcher while one of the guards yelled frantically towards the medical ponies then the woods.
***
***
Claw was taking considerable breaths.  He was hiding behind a cloud of leaves, clutching himself onto the thick, brown branch.  He waited out for a few minutes before poking his head above to check the roof of the forest canopy.  He peeked around, getting every view possible using utmost caution.  No ponies were present.
Seeing this, he emerged from the top of the one of many trees and lands himself on the forest floor.  He began to go towards a point of interest that he saw earlier, but was too far to see what it really was.
His stomach roared violently, to which he cringed from its desire.
He attempted to get love one of many moments, but failed all the time.  He has found dozens of different pony settlements, seeing the opportunity of love in each town.  Every time he would try to stroll into town, he couldn't.  Every time he would be reminded that his magic was already taken away.
He tried many different scenarios of being stealthy as he can.  Even after sneaking around towns successfully, a pony would spot him and scream.  Every time it happened, ponies panicked, raced inside houses and called for the Guard.  Even in late night when everypony was asleep, someone would somehow see him quickly flying rooftop to rooftop, hoping he would find some late night lovers to leech off of.
But so far, no love was given to him.  He was driven out each time.  And everypony he has met, whether on the roads or towns, would do one, if not more, of three options: Run, Scream, or Hurl insults.  And usually the first two were done consecutively.
But that didn’t stop ponies from choosing option “C.”  That still doesn't stop Claw from landing a hard hoof on a face and watching ponies scramble away.  Even though it doesn't reward him with love, he still felt immensely satisfied.
He was beginning to see why no changeling dared to desert the Hive.
Claw then turned around to the sounds of a roar coming from behind him.  He watched as a manticore leapt from behind the trees that growled at him.  This manticore's hair was sticking up in different directions, it's black skin encompassed it's right eye, and a closer look on the skin has shown wear and tear..  The manticore was stumbling considerably over it's left leg.
“Oh.  So you’re back now for round two huh?”  Claw asked, drawing him in with his hoof.
The manticore narrowed it's eyes, roared, and charged towards Claw with claws and fangs ready.
“Alright then, round two then!  Bring it on!”
***
***
Claw was peering through the bushes and trees that hid him from those on the opposite side.  His eyes shifted left to right, pony to pony, making mental notes and memorizing locations.  He had traveled miles from his last rematch with that manticore.  He appeared to have taken little damage.  Messy fins and scratched chitin was only present.
However, his stomach churned and rumbled.  Claw was consistently rested his hoof on his head, which went hand-in-hand with his gut.  His grew less responsive and his overall was sapped.  He constantly drooled at the sights of ponies and food.
He finally discovered a rather large town.  Making his way around the town, he finds out the name of it.  “Ponyville.”  The streets were much wider than the ones he was so used to in Canterlot.
Ponyville houses were much larger than normal.  Mainly composed of timber, each one had at least a second floor overlooking the streets below.  They had a color scheme of hay yellow, birch white and cake pink.  Like most pony settlements, large amounts of these houses clustered more towards the center while they dispersed more and more on the outskirts.
Claw took mental notes of places that stood out or held importance.  The cylindrical town center, a clothing store in the shape of a tall carousel, a large tree with windows and lanterns that were built in, and a large building with roofs and walls of gingerbread.
“Alright, this time, I am NOT going to screw up,” he muttered to himself with narrowed eyes.
***
***
Claw waited very patiently for the symbol of the long-time enemy to finally fall out of sight.  The mysterious princess’s emblem loomed up in the night sky in all of it’s fullness, dimly lighting the world under with a faint glow.  The air grew cool as crickets and owls began their days.
Ok, all I need to do is...Oh, right.  Can’t use magic anymore.  Claw thought time and time again.
Changelings relied heavily on magic to extract their love and perform their assignments.  It was a natural ability.  Now Claw’s natural magic was taken away, which is what the Commander anticipated for him; Challenge and difficulty in extracting a necessity.
Giving his wings a little time to flutter out, and he then dashed all the way to the roof of the closest house from him.  He stopped and listened quietly for any words that would be said or whispered.  He then peeked his head over the sides, scanning the roads, windows and doors.  He picked his next house to scope over and repeated the same idea.
Claw evnetually discovered a large, carousel-shaped, building with a color scheme and architecture design that reminded him of Canterlot buildings.  On top of the carousel was a tent-like addition with windows.  A building that really stood out from the rest, but Claw halted his investigation to perform more recon.
He also looked at the strange tree he saw earlier.  Unlike the trees surrounding the town, this tree was much, much thicket.  Porches and windows were carved and integrated into the tree in such a way that the tree itself didn’t seem to mind.  A quick glance inside showed Claw that many books were stacked in shelves.  But for the moment, he had to hold off his investigations to search around more.
Way out of place he noticed a big, red and white barn whose color seemed to sap away from the dim moonlight.  To the sides were smaller, brick red houses that seemed to use the same design as the barn.  Several glassless windows showed the darkness of the unknown, with flower beds at the end of each windowsill.
Speaking of land, the land around the barn had many trees planted around.  Countless apple trees grew and stood on every available spot on the plains, hills and mucky areas as much as possible.  The land itself was surrounded by bright, white picket fences which some grape vines had come attached to.
Claw flew to one of these many apple trees.  He picked one of the shiny apples off of a tree and examined it closely.  He twisted, turned and looked closely at it’s surface.  He sniffed it curiously and bit a juicy chunk out of it.
What am I doing?  It’s just an apple, it’s not like any other...this is really good.  He thought while his taste buds sifted through the chewed fruit.
He allowed the chunks of juicy, sweet apple to swirl around in his mouth and drop down his throat.  Realizing that these apples were very tasty, he went and picked many more apples off of the trees.  He chomped and swallowed apples one by one until his stomach was on the verge of hitting the wall.
*Burrrrrrpp!*
Claw let out a great, big, and relaxed on the side of the hard tree.  With his stomach beginning to ache, his mind turned to where he would stay for the night, since sleeping in the woods was no longer a viable option.  He remembered the barn he saw earlier, seeing the potential of stowing away in a large building
While his hunger for food was satisfied, his hunger for love was in great need.  His stomach growled at the need for pony emotion and rubbed his stomach in hopes of easing the pain.  When the pain wore down to the point when it was bearable, he stood onto his hooves.  His head began to spin, taking the world with it until he snapped out of his trance.
He silently buzzed his way to the barn until he found himself opening up the large, dirty, rose doors.  He peeked inside the dark, empty interior.  Several piles of hay were scattered around the floor in large amounts, more than enough to fill at least a dozen mattresses.  Pitchforks, wagon wheels and other farming objects were even more scattered than the piles of hay.
Feeling drained from the sudden influx of food into his stomach, he plopped onto the nearest hay pile without any regard.  He let his eyelids drop as well as his consciousness.
***
***
In the long, dark halls that were the barracks, one unicorn stallion had trouble sleeping.  The stallion had a light green coat with an aqua mane, and he had the cutie mark of a bright, golden scale that was tipping to the right.
On the bottom bunk, the stallion twisted and turned, grunting and moaning from the pains that emitted from his stomach.  The sounds of crickets, and water splashing against the rockslides filled the sleeping ears with idle nature.
All the other stallions around him slept heavily, as did all of WestHoof, a fortified stone camp that sat on a small rockslide that bordered a gulf.  A large metal gate that faced the mainland was the only point of exit or entry for anypony who dared to attend the training.
Late at night, only the occasional, nightly official patrolled through the paths that were lowly lit by lanterns that hung near.  Curfew was strictly enforced, as violation could lead to being expelled.
The troubled pony, who was beginning to drool in his mouth, stumbled off of his cheap bunk and made his way down.  He sometimes lost his balance and leaned most of his weight on either the wall to the right or the bunk bed frame to the left.
He hid behind boulders and columns when he arrived at the open campus.  He snuck along the paths and entered a branch opposite of the barracks.
Wobbling through the dark halls, he made his way to the cafeteria without tripping over more than five chairs.
He pushed through the double doors in the end and entered a large, hollow and dark room.  He frantically searched the wall beside the doors until he felt a small switch.  He flicked it on and the whole room beheld itself in a parade of light.
The floors, sinks and counters all had a shiny, silver coating that shined and reflected all light that it came in contact with.  The cabinets above and below the counters had a bright, oak scheme that looked like it was fresh wood straight from a tree.
Claw dashed towards the fridge and opened it, allowing the light from inside to peer down to Claw, who was frantically picking up everything within.
After scooping up almost everything within his forelegs, he slammed the door shut, set the food onto the counter, and then searched the counters, taking everything else that came close to food.
After his food pile grew to a substantial rate, he concentrated his magic, allowing his horn to glow.  A few moments, a sudden surge of green aura brushed across him, causing the pony named Cobalt to disappear, and then reappear as a changeling that had dual-colored eyes.
After the transformation, Claw began to devour the food pile in front of him.  Bits of food flew out of his mouth, sticking to the floor and tables.  The room echoed with the sounds of violent chewing and swallowing.
Claw then turned around and ran to the sink, cranking the faucet up to maximum.  After swallowing his large mouth load, he stuck his mouth underneath the sink and gulps the water enthusiastically.
When he ran out of breath, he turned away from the sink, took in deep gusts of air, then took another mouthful of water.
He switched back and forth from eating and drinking in heavy amounts.  While he was drinking, however, he then remembers the mirror that was on the cabinet next to the sink.  While he took deep breaths, he swung his head in front of the reflective glass to see the full extent of malnourishment of a changeling.
He stared at the face of a changeling who has suffered so much.  His eyes were beginning to lose their individual colors and were fading to white.  His flesh loss mass, making him look skinnier and frail.  His chitin were already wrinkled up.  His wings became more thin and looked more malleable.
“Two months….” he hissed with a painful cough.  “...One more….to go.”
He clutched to his growling stomach, indicating him to eat and drink more to satisfy a hunger that neither option will satisfy.  He bent over in pain, but he slowly stood tall, enduring the pain that won’t go away.
Claw’s skeleton and exoskeleton froze to the sounds of the soft creak.  The double doors to the kitchen slowly opened, and inside, a snow-white stallion with a fanfare cutie mark entered.  “Hello?  Is somepony in h-”  The stallion unicorn stopped and froze at the back of a changeling.
Claw then stiffly, almost robotically, turned himself to face the stallion whose jaw had dropped and his eyes shot open.
They stared into each other’s eyes while the door swiftly swung behind the pony.  Realizing that his identity is in jeopardy, the changeling, using all of his remaining strength, lunged towards the pony.
The stallion saw Claw’s sudden approach and he tried to run back through the doors.  Just before he could leave, he felt a hoof wrap around his neck and tug back forcefully.  He struggled to slide his hooves between the changeling’s grip, but efforts proved to be futile as he choked and lost precious air every second.
“P...P-Please!....Don’t...k-kill..” The pony desperately gasped for air.
“Sorry there pal.  You don’t have love and serve no purpose, and now you saw me,” Claw said blankly.  “So I have to make sure that dead ponies tell no tales,” he grimly trailed off.
“I-I-’lll do..a..a..anything!  Pl-Pl-Pleas..”
“You’re not the first pony I had to silence,” Claw darkly whispered.  “But I’m going to make sure that you will be the last.”
The pony gulped and shivered heavily.  He shook like there was no tomorrow and no warm weather.
“W-Wait!  I h-have a wife a…and two fillies!  J-Just...Just let me live!”  He stallion squeaked while liquid began to trickle from his eye sockets.
Claw stared emotionlessly at the breaking stallion, whose memories and choices were flashing through his very eyes.  He then closes his eyes, giving out a unsatisfied and disappointed grunt.  Claw’s mind suddenly became a battlefield for the two choices available.
What am I waiting for?  I have him in the perfect spot.  All I need to do is twist his head until I hear a crack.  He saw me in my true form, so why am I having such difficulty securing my identity?
But is it really in danger?
This stallion only saw me as a changeling, not as a pony.  He only caught me eating, and not transforming.  Then that really isn’t a reason to silence him.  But that did not rule out the fact that a changeling has already infiltrated WestHoof.
The two decisions of sparing and silencing morphed and clashed in his consciousness.
The midst of thinking of these two choices, he takes a peek at his shaking hostage.  The stallion’s eyes were clenched shut, and his face below was covered in sticky water that reflected the lights from above.
Claw once again shut his eyes, clenching his jaw shut.  He took in a deep breath through his teeth, making the stallion gulp once more.
“Alright, I’ll let you go,” he growled regretfully.  “But know this!”
He drags the pony around to the center counter-island and slams him into it.  The pony forgot that he no longer had a choking grip, and rubbed his head where it hurt instead.  Then Claw twisted the pony around, making the stallion and changeling look at each other face-to-face.
“Listen closely and listen very well.  You are not going to say a single word about this.  You are not going to peep, and you’re not going to THINK of me.  If you do that, then perhaps I might leave you and your family alone,” Claw explained harshly with a hiss.
The shaking stallion only looked at him with beady eyes, waiting for him to finish while he began to breath deeply.
“You’re not going to say anything here, Canterlot, or anywhere else in Equestria.  If I see the security here tightened, then I am going to look at you as the cause, and eliminate it.  Do as I said before, and you and your family will live.  But a single peep anywhere, and this will be the last life you shall live.  Do we have an understanding?”  Claw hissed to the point when the stallion could practically feel his threat.
The nervous stallion nodded quickly, filled with the hope that he and his family shall make it out alive.  “Y-Y-Yes yes yes!  I understand,” he quickly quipped while his sweat stuck to his coat.
A grin did not emerge from the changeling’s mouth, but the snarl instead appeared, showing his white teeth and his tiny fangs.  “Now remember, not a single peep.”
Claw then picked the pony back up, so he was managing on all fours, barely touching the ground.  He dragged the stallion to the double doors and threw his body in the general direction.  The stallion stumbled through and finally regained balance on his hooves.  Seeing that the door did not open again, he took the chance to flee with his life.
Claw only stared angrily at the double doors.  He was grinding his teeth, thinking of what he has just done.
Dammit!  What the hell did I just do?!  Letting a witness get away like that?!  Maybe I could….Dammit, I already made my decision.  He stomped the ground with his hoof.  I hope I made the a right decision, or at least an acceptable one.
*Creeeeeek!*
“What the hell?”  He frantically looked around, but saw nothing.  Slowly, the world around him began to morph and melt itself away.
***
***
Claw sprung himself upwards at the sudden sound.  He switched his head around his neck, looking at every spot he can.
“Ugghh, what did I remember this time?”  He mumbled to himself while rubbing his head.
For a moment, his groggy eyes could not pick up anything significant.  He began to relax his muscles until his ears got wide awake
*Creeeeeeeek!*
Claw muscles stiffened at the realization of that he sound he heard was here too.  His eyes began to focus as he sat on his haunches, with his whole body trying to adjust at spontaneously acting up.
He frantically looked around again, but then stopped to look to his right again after catching a hint of something interesting.
To his right, he noticed that the very near barn door has opened up, giving him a good view of the sparkling stars and the glowing moon.  A little bit inside the barn however, was a tall, hardy, crimson stallion with a dirty, wheat mane.  He wore a large, brown work collar and had the cutie mark of a large, cut-open, green apple.
The stallion stared very hard at Claw who stared back without realization towards the strong stallion.  Long seconds of silence passed between the two to the point where even the sounds of faint breathing passed to each other.
“So, can I stay here?”  Claw asked tilting his head while his eyes remained in the tired, droopy state.
The red stallion only glared at Claw with eyes of suppression.
“I guess that’s a ‘no’ then?”
“Eeyup,” the stallion simply stated with a firm voice.
“I guess we will have to settle this OUR way, as males.”
“Eeyup.”
***
***
“Soooooo….got any fours?”  Claw asked boredly while scanning his cards.
“Nnnnope,” the stallion simply answered while holding up his cards.  Claw only groaned and picked up another card.  The awkward game of “Go Fish” has been going on for about 20 minutes since the two began to play.
“Twos?”  The stallion asked blankly.
“Nope.  Go fish,” Claw said to him.  The stallion left a groan and picked up a card from the pile.
The two continued to play quietly with each other until Claw’s nerve snapped and he threw his hand down, confusing the stallion across from him.
“Alright, this is boring.  Let’s just settle this my kind of way,” he proposed while standing up.
“Eeyup.”  The stallion answered while getting onto his hooves.
The red, buff stallion stood tall and strong in front of Claw, to the point where he literally looked down at the changeling.  Claw continued to look fiercely at the stallion, despite differences in size.
***
***
“Alright….he was tough,” Claw wheezed as he limped in the air, floating away from the barn that he lost at.
It was bad enough for Claw to lose in combat, but he underestimated his opponent’s strength as well as his own current state.  He buzzed above the buildings in Ponyville, showing no regard for his stealthiness from the day before.  He turned his attention again towards the carousel-shaped building he noted from earlier.
A closer looked showed Claw that it was called the “Carousel Boutique,” and a look inside the windows showed him that this was a tailor.
Claw knew that he simply couldn’t stomp into public as he is, so this opens up a new solution.  Seeing that this is his only opportunity and being broke, he had to take drastic steps.
*Ksssshh!*
The window smashed inwards, causing glass shards to float towards the interior.  He quickly jumped inside and hid in the nearby shadows, listening for any sounds from the ponies living upstairs.  Hearing only faint groans and snores from above, he declared that he was safe.
The large, main room had many mirrors and mannequins set up, each paired with each other and being works in progress.  Set up around were many racks that held outfits of different sizes, colors and styles.
Claw began to sift through possible outfits that would be good for a disguise.
“No...No...Nope….Maybe...Oh goodness no..”  He mumbled while quickly examining each outfit.
Claw searched through rack after rack until he found something that he was satisfied with.
He posed in front of one of the mirrors in various (if not idiotic) ways.  He wore a burly wood trench coat that covered his bug wings and spines.  On his head was a fedora of the same color that covered his horn that was hidden under.  Thus beginning one of the few moments when he dropped his martial discipline and simply had a laugh.
“Detective Claw is on the case,” he talked to the mirror while holding a hoof close to his mouth.  His eyes sprouted open as he saw something that piqued his interest.  He dashed away and returned to the mirror with thick shades.
“Agent Detective Claw is reporting for duty,” he said to the mirror while adjusting his glasses in another childish pose.  He continued to make more ridiculous poses with his glasses until he dashed away and returned again, this time with a new accessory.
He took off his glasses to show the eyepatch that covered his orange eye.
“Yarr, Pirate Agent Detective Claw shall steal ye’ plunder and secrets,” he smiled while putting the glasses over his shades.  He took a second to see what he was doing and what he looked like.
He then broke into a casual laugher for a few seconds, then slapped his holey hoof over his mouth when he remembered that was still breaking in.
Still no sounds of ponies awake.  Jeez, these ponies are heavy sleepers.
Snapping out of his childish stage, he looks through more of the clothing racks when bright colors and odd designs stood out.
“Too frilly, too contrasting, too sharp, too much material…” Claw stated whenever he was looking at a piece of apparel.
“Ugh, these clothes are so ugly.  Who wears this stuff anyway?”  Claw said disgusted.
“Who DARES critique my work?!” A pompous, voice echoed from above.
Claw instantly froze at the sudden shouting.  But upon hearing hoofsteps, he darts out the window and runs behind the building.  You have got to be kidding me.
“...Honestly, I use the finests cloths and gems are used in my outfits.  And all my styles are up to date, how could you...”  A bright, white unicorn mare wearing a fuzzy robe stopped pondering to herself as soon as she saw the broken window.
“Oh my goodness!”  She screeched at the sight of a break in.  “Thief!  Thief!”  She shouted outside the window, prompting some ponies sleeping to wake up.
A little, silver filly comes down the stairs rubbing her eyes.  “Rarity?”  She murmured.
The deep, purple haired mare turns back to the groggy filly.  “Sweetie Belle, a thief broke in!  And... wait…”  She paused herself, while the gears in her mind began turning.
“It wasn’t just a thief!  He called my designs ‘ugly!’”  She exclaimed.
“I cannot believe that he not only broke in, but insulted my work! ”  She pouted while angrily raising a hoof.  “If you can hear me, then you have no taste for fashion!”
The silver filly rolled her eyes as ponies outside began to swoop around the Boutique.
Claw was already almost at the outskirts of Ponyville, feeling proud of the success of obtaining a disguise.  But now the matter was where he would find a place to sleep.
Way outside of town, he discovers a cottage that was unlike any other he seen before.  Here, many different bird houses, feeders and other little creature homes were clustered together on the tree itself and on poles elsewhere.
Stepping across the miniature bridge and scoping around, he finds that this tree in center was a house.  And in the back, there was a large pen with chicken houses, bird baths and etc.
Deciding he should go the way of the bird, he flies up to the cloud of leaves of the cottage tree after taking off his disguise.
He seeped through the clustered leaves until he found a large, thick branch that was big enough for him to lay on top of.  He sat on top of the branch and globbed the disguise together, using it as a pillow.
But several birdhouses hanged from the branch above, which wouldn’t allow him to get comfortable.  So Claw decided to unhook these birdhouses and throw them one by one out of the tree.  Claw heard several thuds and cracks as the birdhouses became damaged or broken.
Just was he was getting comfortable, birds of different colors fly and float in front of Claw, giving him an angry look.
“What?” Claw asked blankly while giving a small shrug.
The birds then proceeded to peck him, giving him welts and bits of hurt all over his body.
“Shoo!  Sho- Ow!  Ow!  Ouuugh!  Owch!”
“Oooof!  Ah!  My eyes!  Oh don’t you dare go over there!  Stupid birds!”
Finally, he manages to swat, throw or slap the horde of birds away, making them retreat to wherever else they could sleep.
Claw rested his forelegs behind his head and allowed his head to settle down on top of the disguise-pillow.  He deeply stared at the night sky through the gaps of the leaves.
He calmly breathed the cool air while his stomach slowly pained him.  He played reel in his mind on the recent events.
“What the heck did I just do back there?  I’m a soldier for goodness sake!”  He asked himself.
Then he gained a small smile and let out a small laugh.  ”Well, was a soldier,” he lightly chucked but toned down as he ran his hoof over his scar.  “I guess deserting doesn't mean I can’t have a little bit of fun."  A small snort and grin came from the changeling.  "Pirate Agent Detective Claw.”