Master

Night would soon be blanketing the world, which would likely spell out the end for the malnourished and ill-prepped Twilight. Her, alongside her willing guard, Imperial Guard, trekked the now darkened sand towards the nearing town of Appallaanoi. An hour or so ago, she collapsed and the cadet was forced to carry her laid out on his back. If Twilight hadn't fallen unconscious long ago, and Imperial hadn't forced her to drink the remains of his water ration, the carrying pony was confident the alarmingly thin mare would be protesting the needed assist.

The foreboding squawks of the garnered vultures above came alongside the excited and almost mocking yelps of the coyotes following no more than a few yards behind. It wasn't the most warming of situations, it could even be perceived as a life-threatening position. However, Imperial sent the message they would be coming discreetly to the faithful Appallaanoi riders. He, alongside those without a warm home, actually are of The Faithful and carry out their sermons in the dark. Securing a standpoint for The Faithful in the Dying Star. Awaiting the command.

When word traveled to the Dying Star about the judgmental but fair Prophet, The Will of Their Lord. Nearly all of the poorly-treated ponies would have rushed to join The Faithful. However, the Dying Star wasn't exactly a conventional prison, it technically didn't even exist by regular standards. It drifts lamely in a plane unknown. So, excavation en mass was never an option. They were fortunately forced in by the crowds. They communicate with their brothers and sisters all throughout Fallen Equestria via their Lord. However, it could take months for any individual message to cross over completely.

The dust now clouding the horizon broke the guard's thoughts. Within moments, the thudding of hooves reached Imperial's ears and he understood that reinforcements would arrive shortly. Taking the moment to lay Twilight down carefully on the cool sand, he swiftly took off the chain-mail he wore. It was uncomfortable, and Imperial likes to be comfortable. A sleek green glow suddenly consumed his body, but was quickly blown off his body by the breeze. Revealing the sleek, black carapace any other Changeling had since birth. Imperial, like any other faithful guard, was a Changeling spy. He shook himself, finally being out of a false form.

Despite the despicable status they attained, the Changeling race was easily least effected in comparison to others. Due to their queen, Chrysalis, becoming well-acquainted with The Prophet early during Val, she single-hoofly insured the survival and charming wealth of the Changeling race. Last Imperial heard, Carvae-Mother Chrysalis was currently overseeing operations outside of Fallen Equestria entirely. Likely spreading the word about the current situation and The Faithful, or beginning trade. The Pasture however remained close allies with Magic-Eater Celestia. The grassy land was dominated purely by the stronger horses.

After another moment of hooves slamming down on the sand towards them, the dust form surrounded both Imperial and the downed Twilight. The moderately uneducated Appallanoi ponies did enjoy to display themselves with the traditional cloud as their introduction. Imperial shielded Twilight's face from the offending dust.

The cloud dissipated and the riders stood exposed in a loose circle around them. They wore the causal worker garments from pre-Val era, but all had symbols scratched deep into their leather, with some even bearing Klythes. One with abnormal amounts of symbols upon her clothing and face took command and spoke with the common South accent. Her coat was mostly covered by the tough leather they all wore, but the short light orange mane Avixel had couldn't be concealed by her signature head-wear.

"You Imperial, right?" She spat on the ground before continuing "Ah' can barely tell you Changlins' apart"

Imperial respectfully bowed "Yes, I am that agent. I am escorting a messenger to The Prophet directly, as you already know from the message I sent." He nodded over to Twilight. Suddenly, the mare glared at Twilight for a moment but ended her stare quickly and shifted her head back to the Changeling. The yelping and calls of the scavengers ceased.

"Good, ya already off'ed 'er" Avixel snorted "Thought y'all Changlins' were jus' pussy-footers." One of the riders threw Imperial a leather pouch containing water. The Changeling race also had a undeniable need for the liquid. He took a swift swig then tilted Twilight's head and filled her mouth with the life-preserving water, which was swallowed without any neck massaging. He offered it back, but the rider urged him to keep it.

The Changeling finally answered. "Lady Twilight hasn't crossed the threshold into the house of death yet, Left Hand of The Prophet." Many leading forces of The Faithful had such titles. The Prophet himself securing the most prestigious alias in the Covenant.

The sturdy mare grumbled. "Ya don't need ta carry that tramp to 'em, Changlin." Avixel gestured towards the Frozen North. "Haven't ya'll heard of the divine news?" Imperial shook his head to either side. This caused the mare to chuckle "We've jus' located Heretic Queen, Sooth' Sayah' Luna. We'r waitin' on The Prophet's Blessin'.

"Which is why I need to get this messenger to the Prophet directly." Imperial replied "I believe Magic-Eater Celestia wishes to do good on her crimes against all of us."

The collected stallions and mares began shifting on the sand. Night was nearly here. Avixel snorted "Fine, ya can carry that appleseed horse. Mah boys dun't like Heretics." The Changeling nodded and put the pouch around his neck and hoisted Twilight back onto his back. He swiftly attached the chain-mail around his head. It was a required piece to complete the transformation back into the guard Twilight knew. The Appallaanoi riders began galloping back and Imperial took the rear.

The town of Appallaanoi, which was formally named Appleloosa, wasn't much in means of luxury. Imperial had made journeys here in the past.  Once the riders got back, most lumbered into the fortified saloon, while others retreated to their beds on the other side of the road. Avixel made a gesture to the remaining riders and turned from the leading spot in the smaller herd.

"That heretic gonna' be sleeping yonder" She pointed to a heavily dilapidated, small shack. Avixel spat on the ground and took off her worn hat and cleansed it of the sand. "You's welcum to locate other sleepin' arrangements, brother. The bitch ain't." Imperial, although Faithful, was a bit more refined and didn't resort to such vocal attacks. The Changeling nodded.

"Howeva'," Avixel continued speaking "Train ain't back 'ere yet, so the bitch gonna' have to wait. Ah' imagine them nice fellahs' up at the saloon will house ya for the night".

"I'll be escorting Lady Twilight, Chieftain Avixel. I'll sleep at her side as well." Imperial righted Twilight on his back. "However, I must ask for some feed, Left Hand of The Prophet."

A stank liquid suddenly splashed on her face, rudely awaking Twilight and causing her to yelp in surprise. Before she could even open her eyes, she was clocked directly in the snout. Shaking her already impaired mind inside her skull.

"Now, ya'll lucky I don't gut ya, Heretic!." A familiar Southern accented voice rang out above the pain. Twilight tried to nurse her injury, but both of her hooves failed to obey the command. She managed to open one eye. Wherever she was wasn't well lit. Both of her hooves were tied to the ceiling. With some effort, Twilight recovered from the hit and turned her head back in place.

The emerald green eyes of Applejack met her with the intensity as ever before. The Stetson still firmly resting on her head. Behind the former farmer was a table, with a dozen odd items on it. A pony's skull was probably the most eye-catching. With a loud huff, Applejack turned her attention to the table.

"Applejack.." Twilight coughed and scratched on "..I'm sorry for killing Applebloom!" The words fell on deaf ears as Applejack took the skull and eyed it. She removed her hat and swiftly slid the skull around her own head. The ravaged back part of it made it to be most likely Applebloom's small skull. Applejack turned, exposing the front. Several symbols were painted around the eyes with a deep red paint that sent out the concept of rage.

Applejack clopped her hooves together once in response. She then proceeded to get abnormally close to Twilight's face. The eye-sockets were occupied, but not by the familiar homely emerald green, but by a hateful shade of orange. Moments passed in pure silence, until Applejack suddenly reared her head back and headbutted Twilight, causing to yelp in pain and her vision to blur. The disgruntled mare then began beating Twilight with a series of hits and blows, not pausing in the pummel. Leaving Twilight in a state of near unconsciousness and bruises all alongside her snout and exposed body. Huffing angrily with each blow.

Just as it seemed it would never cease, it stopped and a comforting hoof landed on her shoulder. "All done, Twilight." A friendly voice said as Twilight felt her hooves being untied and scooped up. "Let's get you washed and fed, Lady Twilight".

Imperial wetted the rag and applied it to the deeply bruised face of Twilight. After Vicious Juake was finished, the now disguised guard carried Twilight back to their less then significant abode with two small bowls of stew and bread. The guard cooed Twilight awake long enough to eat for a moment. Her jaw wasn't in good condition, but she manged taking small sips of the admittedly finely-cooked stew and scarce bites. The room didn't have anything inside, so they both laid down on the sand. Vicious Juake was obviously ready to garner some vengeance.

Vicious Juake was. as he was led to believe, someone dear to Chieftain Avixel. Early during Val and when Alt was beginning to form, Magic-Eater Celestia suspected Avixel would fuel The Faithful later and attempted to consume the farming family without resistance. When they refused, she sent Lady Twilight to overseer the burning of their home and fields. Vicious Juake was in the barn and apparently suffocated from the flames. In her rage and desperation, Avixel brought the body to Lord's High Champion. In exchange for her services, The Prophet transferred the soul of Vicious Juake entirely into the skull Avixel has. Since then, Avixel and Juake remained close, almost to a sisterly extent.

The shack bore little in means of protection from the cold or sand. Large gaps between each of the aged wood planks allowed the cold air in. Twilight's thread-bare robe offered her some defense. He put her stew down and proceeded to feast upon his as Imperial scooted a bit closer, intent on sharing their collective warmth. Despite being quite impaired, the changeling admitted to himself that Lady Twilight remained attractive throughout the benefiting years. Imperial's face grew a tad red as she flopped onto her back and nested deeper into the sand beneath them, becoming comfortable.

Looking for an excuse to move, Imperial swiftly relocated outside on the worn down porch. The town's population was asleep and only a few guarding buffalo roamed the street. Their massive, hair-coated body easily intimidated trespassers yet, the few pones still traversing the road, likely from the local watering-hole, stumbled causally. The cracked moon hanging on the stars themselves lit the way.

Imperial, lacking of anything to do, decided to inform the Frozen North that they were gradually coming. The changeling reached down and scooped up sand in his cupped hooves, and with a small prayer containing the message, blew it away. it was instantly taken by the light wind and flew high until Imperial couldn't even see it. Moving roughly in the direction of the far-away kingdom of crystal.

Imperial went back in and fell asleep.