The Usual Life of an Unusual Pony

by JustABatPony

Rating: teen
Tags: Romance, Slice of Life
Length: 13262

The new ponies are usually nice, with no interest of disruption. This one's the same old new one, but all ponies have a past.

Knight Shade is a new pony sent from Canterlot by the princess. He hopes to live an average life… But, his past won't allow. Nor can he escape from his job.

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2014-05-27 19:00:06 UTC

Ch. 1: The Wings of a Bat

        The train slowly came to a halt at Ponyville station as all the ponies came forward. A purple unicorn and a purple dragon with green spikes stood in front of it both waiting to catch an eye of a particular pony. The two stood for for a couple of minutes until the dragon spoke.

        "Twilight," The dragon said whining to the unicorn, "we've been here for awhile do you even know what this pony looks like?"

        "Well spike, the letter I got from the princess said he'll be on this train." Twilight said. "As to what he looks like I don't know. The princess only said that it's a stallion, and we'll know when we see him. The only feature a got was his cutie mark is a red cross." The ponies were still funneling out of the train.

        "Well, he sure does take his time doesn't he?" Spike said getting more impatient.

        "Spike I'm sure he has no control over how fast he gets out. Just pay attention to everypony and we'll find him." The dragon stood at full attention.

        "Is that him?" He pointed to a near by pegasus.

        "No, I don't think he sticks out." Twilight said making sure that his cutie mark was wrong.

        "That him?" He pointed to an earth pony. She shook her head. "Is that?" Now pointing to a unicorn.

        "Spike!" She yelled getting annoyed, the ponies nearby looked at her.

        "Well, jeez I'm just trying to help. Why did you even bring me here? It's impossible to even see anypony." Which was true he couldn't see over any of the ponies in front of him.

        "Wait, I think that's him." She said pointing to a pony.

        "Where? How can you tell?" Spike said trying to see over everypony.

        "Over there. See for yourself." Twilight said walking toward him, while lifting Spike up with her magic and putting him on her back

        "Wha- what is that?" Stunned by what he was seeing.

        "I don't know it's interesting though. Just look at those wings! And those eyes!" She was pointing out his most prompt features his strange bat like wings and red cat like eyes.

        "I bet Rainbow is gunna get a kick outta those wings." Spike said with a smile.

        "Ok ok shh, we're getting close don't bluntly point out his features." As soon as she got close he began to smile.

        "Twilight Sparkle I presume?" She nodded. "And this is?" He looked at Spike.

        "This is Spike, my baby dragon." Twilight introduced Spike to him.

        "Pleasure to meet you, Spike." He put out his hoof.

        "Likewise, Mister...?" Spike said shaking his hoof.

        "Oh! He talks! I've never seen a talking dragon!" He said surprised but quickly calmed. "Sorry, where are my manners? I'm Knight, Knight Shade." He said, then shook Twilight's hoof.

        "Well I suppose we should get you settled here in Ponyville." Twilight said starting to trot out of the station.

        "Lead the way." Knight followed. They got somewhat into town, and Spike whispered to Twilight.

        "Psst, Twilight," Spike whispered still on her back, "did you see those vampiric teeth? I'm surprised no pony has mistook him as a threat." Twilight gave him a look.

        "Now Spike, don't judge a book by its cover. By the way he introduced himself back there I'm positive he's nice." She looked back to see him looking around in awe, taking in his new surroundings. They came to a stop in front of a large tree. "This is my house, also where you'll be staying for now." She said stepping in.

        "How is this tree hollowed out, but still alive?" He asked standing outside looking up.

        "Well using a powerful magic you could sustain its life a long time." She took a stab at the dark she wasn't quite sure actually but, he took the answer and stepped inside.

        "Wow..." He stopped in awe. "That's a lot of books. The only time I've seen more than this is at the castle's library." That made Twilight super excited.

        "You've been to the castle's library? I thought only certain ponies were allowed in there." She raised an eyebrow.

        "Well I've never been in it but, I've seen the outside quite a lot after patrolling around there." Knight said.

        "Patrolling? Like a guard? You were in the royal guard?" Spike asked surprised.

        "Yes but, we called it the night guard as we only patrolled mostly at night for Luna." Knight said.

        "So why are you here then? No offense but why did Luna send you here?" She questioned him.

        "Well I've been her most loyal guard. That when I left she made sure I was put with the best pony to show me some more of Equestria." Knight said the best he could.

        "Twilight, you never told me Princess Luna wrote that letter it would of made more sense to see him then." Spike said which made Twilight slightly kick him. "Hey! What's that for?"

        "Spike, why don't you sort those shelves like you told me you would awhile ago while I give Knight an actual tour." Twilight said.

        "Ugh, fine." Spike said walking over to one of the shelves and taking some books off of it.

        "Come on, I promise you'll like it." She said with him following right by her side. "Are you hungry? If so we should stop at sugar cube corner first."

        "Well I suppose I could-" He was cut short by a sudden yell.

        "Look out!" A cyan coated, rainbow maned pony flew right into him knocking him and the pony a few feet. Twilight was however unharmed. She quickly ran over to the two.

        "Knight! Are You ok?!" Twilight said.

        "Knight? Who's Knight?" Rainbow asked getting up.

        "Maybe you should ask the pony you just flew into." Twilight said standing over him.

        "Hey, you ok? Sorry 'bout that." Rainbow said extending her hoof to help him up. He rubbed his head with one hoof.

        "Yeah, I'm ok. I can remember doing that thousands of times, not into anypony though mostly walls." He took her hoof and got up. Rainbow of course got her name from her rainbow colored mane not much her cyan colored coat.

        "Ah, a fellow pegas-" Rainbow stopped noticing his wings. "Your wings... They're... They're... Awesome!" She said in a high pitched voice.

        "Thanks, I don't get that a lot from other pegasi so thanks." He said quite surprised she liked them.

        "So Twilight, are you going to introduce us?" Rainbow said looking to her.

        "Well Rainbow, this is Knight Shade. And Knight this is Rainbow Dash." Twilight said to both of them.

        "Perhaps you've heard of me?" Rainbow said standing straighter.

        "Actually, yeah you’re that pony that saved the Wonder Bolts from doom with that rainbow explosion, right?" He said remembering only what Spit Fire told him.

        "Yeah, were you there? I think I recall your face." She had no idea if he was or not.

        "Well no, you see I couldn't go cause I told Spit Fire I would cover for her while she was gone but, she told me about it later." He wanted to go but unfortunately he needed to make up the hours because he overslept on couple of days.

         "Wait, you know Spit Fire? Oh my gosh, I think I just met the coolest pony ever. Besides me of course." Rainbow said, he blushed.

         "Well, I suppose we should get going." Twilight butted in before they talked for hours.

         "Well ok, see you around Knight. We should hang sometime." Rainbow said then she flew off.

         "She really needs to be more careful. You sure you're ok?" Twilight said with a worried look.

         "Yeah, I'm good. Like I said I've had worse." Knight said.

         "As long as you’re ok. You said you're hungry?" Twilight said recalling what happened before he got smashed into.

         "Yeah I could use a bite, I was so nervous I barely ate before coming." A couple seconds later his stomach growled.

         "I can see," she smiled, "well follow me." They headed in the direction of a dessert looking building.

         "Are all the buildings in this town shaped weirdly?" Knight said hoping she wouldn't take offense.

         "Mostly the attractions are. Probably to well... Attract ponies." She giggled. "How long are you thinking of staying?" She wondered how long he needed shelter.

         "It depends really I might get a home and stay, or leave sooner or later." He was unsure. They walked a couple more feet until they reached the building.

         "Oh, I have to warn you once we get inside you may get bombarded by 1,000 questions." She was talking about her friend Pinkie Pie of course.

         "Nothing I haven't dealt with before." He said thinking nothing of it.

         "Oh, it isn't like anything." She told him making him confused. They walked in side almost instantly they were confronted by a pink pony with a crazy pink mane.

         "Hey Twilight, who's your friend? What's up with those eyes and wings? What's his name? Has Rainbow seen him?" Twilight put her hoof in her mouth to make her stop talking a mile a minute.

         "This is what I was talking about." Twilight said giving him a serious look. "Ok Pinkie, this is Knight he's new he's staying here 'till further notice. Ok?" Twilight said with her hoof still in her mouth.

         "Humph." Pinkie said or tried to say. Twilight removed her hoof. "Hi! I'm Pinkie Pie, and I haven't seen you around here before, your name's Knight how cool I wish I was named like that although maybe not I kind of like my name Pinkie Pie it's just fun to say Pinkie Pie..." It kind of went on like this for a couple of minutes until she came to the question. "So, did Rainbow see you yet?"

        "It was kind of hard to miss her." He said and Twilight laughed.

        "What? Was she doing amazing tricks or something?" Pinkie said confused.

        "No, she kinda flew right into Knight." Twilight said.

        "Oh that Dashie, she almost never does that though you should really see her in action she's pretty graceful in the air I remember this one time-" She was cut off by Twilight.

        "Pinkie, I really have a lot to show Knight. Isn't there something you have to do?" She winked at Pinkie.

        "Twilight, I think you have something in your eye. I do have to help Mrs. Cake with something though. Bye Twilight, bye Knight." She hopped off behind the counter. They turned to leave. "Oh, wait!" She stopped them. "Here!" She held out two cupcakes. "Here's one for both of you. On the house!" She smiled.

        "Thanks, Pinkie!" Twilight and Knight said in unison. Pinkie smiled and hopped off once again as they exited.

        "Here," Twilight said giving him her cupcake, "I think you need it more." She smiled.

        "Thanks." He ate them both in one bite. "So, where we off to next?" He asked her.

        "Let's go shopping!" She trotted off in a direction smiling to herself. "I thought I'd never say that to a stallion." She said still smiling. He was about to say something before he could however he was overwhelmed by a brightly colored building.

         "Whoa." He said quietly

         "Beautiful?" She asked him.

         "No, bright too bright." This surprised Twilight.

         "I suppose it is a little with the sun this way." The sun was starting to set just behind the building making it more dark than bright.

         "Hey! Guys wait for me!" Came a voice behind them. The voice was Spike's.

         "Spike! Did you happen to know that we were going here?" Twilight questioned him doubtful he didn't know.

         "What?! Thinking I knew you guys were going here? No, I just finished organizing and thought I'd come along." Spike said trying to justify himself. He walked on the other side of Twilight.

         "Twilight." Knight said quietly so Spike couldn't hear.

        "Yes?" She answered him.

        "What's so bad if Spikes with us?" He asked her.

        "Well don't tell Pinkie I told you but, he's in love with the pony that lives here." She said very quiet.

        "Aw, that's cute." He said in high pitched tone.

        "It would be if he didn't talk about her 24/7." She sounded annoyed. He looked over at Spike who smiled at him. They walked into the building. A bell rung that was set to ring if somepony opened the door.

        "Welcome to the Carousel Boutique we're closing soon, but I'll be with you in one second!" A voice came from a doorway near back then a high pitched voice came from below.

       "Hi, Twilight! Who's your friend?" He looked down to see a white unicorn filly with a purple and pink mane.

       "Hello," He said, "I'm Knight." Introducing himself.

        "Cool, you look amazing. Not sure what my sister will think though." She sounded unsure. "I'm Sweetie Belle." He stepped forward to shake her hoof hiding Twilight and Spike. Just then an elegant white pony with a curled purple mane came out of the door the voice came from earlier. The mare took one look at Knight and got stiff.

        "Sweetie Belle who's this?" She said nervously.

        "This is Knight he came with Twilight." The mention of Twilight's name made her loosen. Twilight and Spike emerged from behind Knight.

        "Hi Rarity." Spike said in a trance.

        "Hello Spike, Twilight." She spoke to both of them. "This is Knight?" She said looking at the bat pony, everypony nodded. "Hello I'm Rarity." She said staying as far as possible.

        "Hello Rarity nice to meet you." He said not sure if he should approach her.

        "Come on sis he's nice." Sweetie Belle said to convey her to get close. She eventually did and shook his hoof. She observed him trying to pick out things she liked about him.

        "Your mane is nice how'd you do it?" Rarity asked him.

        "Well it naturally grows out this way then I just dye the ends red." His mane and tail were dark brown with red tips the only difference on his tail was a wide red lightning bolt going from flank to almost touching the ground.

        "I see, it seems to fit you. Is there any reason you're here? Not that I don't want you here I'm just busy." Rarity said.

        "I was just giving him a tour of town." Twilight said.

        "Where did you come from Knight?" Rarity asked him taking note of his features.

        "Canterlot, I was a royal guard there, for Luna." He answered her.

        "Oh! A Canterlot guard did you know the princess?"

        "Well I knew Luna. Me and Celestia never quite got along too well." Twilight looked at him and wondered how Celestia, her mentor and the most understanding pony, never 'quite' got along.

        "Maybe you could pass along a message to Princess Luna?" She got excited.

        "Sure, what is it?" He said

        "Well I've redesigned the guards outfit, not that I thought they were bad or anything. I just thought they could be updated." She thought he would see her way.

        "Well, I suppose it might take a little bit though she does get busy." As soon as he finished a clock rung.

        "Oh look at the time it's closing time. I do have a lot of work to do so if you excuse me. And thank you for passing along my message." She said as she went back through the door she came out of.

       "Goodbye Knight! Maybe you could meet my friends sometime." Sweetie Belle said. Knight smiled and said goodbye. Twilight lifted the still in trance Spike and put him on her back. Outside was completely pitched black.

       "Great, what happened to the street lights?" Twilight asked.

       "You need help? Here stick close." Knight said. His eyes seemed to reflect the light of the moon.

       "What's going on with your eyes?" Twilight asked.

       "What? Oh, I forget you don't know. It's how I see in the dark." He took Twilight's hoof and led her. She knew she could just use a light spell, but this intrigued her.

       "Ooh, Twilight's got a boyfriend." Spike Giggled has he whispered to Twilight.

       "Did you set up a place for Knight to stay?" Twilight whispered to Spike.

       "Wha? You never said!" Spike told her.

       "Ha! You’re joking about me when you'd rather see Rarity than help the new pony?" Twilight retorted.

       "Well... Well at least I'm not holding hooves with a stallion." Spike said looking clever.

       "What's that Spike? You don't want gems for a month? Ok." Twilight said and Spike was quiet.

       "Ok, here we are." Knight said letting her hoof go.

       "You go first." Twilight told him as expecting something inside. He went inside. Twilight flicked on the light. There was nothing no ponies hiding, no punch, no Pinkie or her friends, it was just how everything should be. "What?" Twilight said looking under everything and in between books.

      "Everything ok?" Knight asked her.

       "Yeah just fine." She looked nervous that Pinkie forgot about Knight. Did she not like him? No, that was unlike Pinkie to just dislike a pony. A knock came from the door. Twilight walked over and opened it.

       "Hello, Twilight." It was Pinkie looking sad.

       "Pinkie, What's wrong?" Twilight asked now worried about Pinkie.

       "Well Dash and I were going to set up a party, but I was short on party supplies. So... So now we can't do it." She started to cry.

       "Shh, Pinkie calm down it doesn't have to be tonight." She perked up a bit. "I didn't tell him so do it tomorrow." She tried to calm her more.

       "But you don't understand! I've never been late on a party my whole life!" Twilight could see tears forming again.

       "Pinkie I'm sure no pony will know you threw it late only Rainbow, you, and Rarity know he's here." Twilight said.

       "Ok Twilight!" She instantly cheered up. "Tomorrow it is!" She then ran off.

       "Be careful!" Twilight yelled then closed the door.

       "Uhh, Twilight." Spike said. "We don't have anywhere for Knight to stay.”

        "It's ok." Knight said across the room "I probably won't sleep tonight anyway. Still getting used to the whole sleep at night thing." He laughed.

        "You sure? I'd hate to make you sleep on the floor or pass out." She said seriously.

        "It's fine you guys can go to sleep I'll be fine." He took a book off the shelf called 'Advanced Aerodynamics for Pegasi'.

        "Ok, just let me get you a chair at least." She used her magic to take a padded chair from upstairs and Knight blushed. "What?" She asked.

        "So you could do that but you couldn't provide light on the way back?" He said.

        "I could have I just wanted to know if you could see in the dark." She justified.

        "You two can figure your love out I'm going to bed." Spike said which made Twilight blush then he went upstairs.

        "He's kidding, he's just mad I'm not letting him have gems for making snarky comments." She then went awkwardly up the stairs. He began to read in the chair for an hour then heard something outside. He got up and went outside. He glared both ways then flew upward reaching a window he peered in seeing Spike and Twilight sleeping.

        "Hm, wind maybe?" He said to himself. He saw dark movement out the corner of his eye he flew toward it. He flew around the tree a couple times. Nothing? He swore he saw something. Just then something flew past him spinning him off balance. He regained balance and flew after it, but it was too fast. He returned inside. "Definitely not sleeping tonight." He grabbed his book and went outside to the top of the tree he sat reading but kept a keen lookout.

Ch. 2: Rat Race?

        Knight watched the sun arise from the trees. It got up fully then he heard Twilight. "Knight!" She called out.

        "Ah!" He tripped on a branch getting up. "Here! Up here!" She was at the door she looked up.

        "I didn't know it was that bad in here!" She joked. He flew down ungracefully, lost balance fell a couple of feet in the air and hit the ground, hard. All he heard twilight gasp.

        "Is he dead?" He heard a voice.

        "He's not dead, he only looks that way." Came another.

        "Good job Twilight, killing the new pony." Came the same voice.

        "I sure hope he's not dead that would be terrifying." Came a soft voice.

        "Looks better dead." Came a stern voice.

        "Rarity!" All the voices shouted.

        "I'm darn right confused who is this pony if he even is one?" Came a country accented voice. Remembering where he was his head and body flung upward.

        "AHH!" All the ponies surrounding him yelled.

        "Ugh, I'm fine guys thanks for asking." Where the first words he spoke in a while. He recognized them all except two, there was Rainbow, Twilight, Rarity and the two. One had a light yellow coat with a light pink mane that had curls at the end. The other was an orange coat with white freckles and a light yellow mane. The only thing that stuck out was her brown hat.

        "Girls, this is knight, he's from Canterlot." Twilight said then Rainbow butted in.

        "Not just that he knows the Wonder Bolts!" Rainbow flew up excited then back down.

        "How ya doing? I'm Applejack." Said the orange pony. He waited for the yellow one to speak, she didn't. "This is Fluttershy, the kindest pony around. I think you’d win an award if you find a nicer pony." Applejack looked at her, then at Knight for her to speak. She still didn't, she just tried to hide behind her mane.

        "C'mon Flutters, he doesn't bite." Rainbow said.

        "Even though he looks like he would." Rarity added. Rainbow got behind Fluttershy and pushed her forward. Fluttershy made a distressed noise as she got shoved forward.

        "H-Hi." She said then quickly went to hide behind Applejack’s flank.

        "Hello, the both of you." He spoke smiling toward Fluttershy she ducked down behind Applejack. "So, what did I miss?" He rubbed his head with his hoof and sat up.

        "Well..." Twilight began. "I had Applejack and Fluttershy over to introduce them to you." They smiled at him. He barely saw Fluttershy’s smile behind her mane. "Then Rainbow came to ask you something." Rainbow smiled, excited. "And Rarity... Why are you here, Rarity?" She asked Rarity.

        "I was wondering if you any fabric for one of my designs I'm working on?" Rarity said.

        "I might it's a very limited collection. If you could call it a collection." Twilight said leaving the room with Rarity.

        "So Rainbow, what's up?" Knight asked Rainbow who was watching him.

        "Well, you’re the new 'pegasus' and I was wondering if you'd like to race?" She smiled at him.

        "You do this with all the new pegasi?" He asked her.

        "No, I'm just interested in your ability that's all." She told him.

        "Sure, I'll do it. A warning though, I can't slow down, I won't be waiting for you." He laughed as he got up fully.

        "Ooh, I like the look on a cocky pony's face when I beat them." She retorted. "You guys wanna come watch?" She asked Applejack and Fluttershy.

        "I would love too, but I need to get back to the farm. It was nice meeting ya." Applejack said and turned to leave exposing Fluttershy.

        "What about you Flutters?" She asked Fluttershy who had fearful look on her face.

        "Uh... I... I'd like to it's just that Angel has been sick and I'd like to be with him." Fluttershy swallowed heavily.

        "Fluttershy." Rainbow said to her catching her lie. "I was just at your house Angel is  fine. You won't watch me, or uh, us?" She asked.

        "Well..." Fluttershy said feeling remorse. "I suppose I could."

        "Good it's always fun with spectators. Come on Knight, I've found the best place." She, Fluttershy, and Knight flew out a nearby window and onto a nearby cloud. "We go to the town hall." She pointed to a building in the center of the town. "Ok, Futters you count, on three we go." Rainbow said.

       "Ok, ready Knight?" He nodded to her. "Dash?" Rainbow did the same. "1..." They bent down ready. "2..." They unfolded their wings. Rainbow’s feathers and Knight’s thin skin.  "3." Instantly Fluttershy felt the wind of them starting. Knight took lead at first.

       "Sure you don't want to quit now?!" He yelled to her.

       "Acceleration means nothing!" She said flying close then passing him.

       "I was just going slow for you!" He said taking the lead. He got pretty far in front of her "how's it look back there?!" He yelled to her. She mumbled something to herself smirked then, she flew next to him.

       "Could ask you the same!" She then got a substantial lead and crossed the finish, he crossed a couple seconds later. They slowly came to a stop and flew down to the ground. "Nice try there." She extended her hoof he said nothing and shook it. "You're not half bad. Perhaps I could show you a thing or two?" She said.

        "Take me under your wing?" He said. She laughed taking her wing and putting it around him which in turn made him laugh. Just then Fluttershy flew over to them.

        "Wow!" She said quietly. "Great job Dash!" She said but quickly added. "Not that you were bad Knight. I should be getting back to my animals now." She trotted away they waved to her as she left.

        "So, got any plans now?" She asked him.

        "Unless you count going back to Twilight's napping, and reading a plan then no." He smiled.

        "You want to get something to eat?" She asked him.

        "Sure, I didn't get any breakfast, or lunch." He said remembering what happened this morning and by now it was Dinner time. "I haven't really seen anywhere to eat yet."

        "Well, what do you feel like?" She asked.

        "Anything really." He said.

        "Easily satisfied? Well there is that café near by want to go?" She asked him.

        "Sure that'll work." He said she turned and began walking toward it.

        Back at Twilight's house Rarity and Twilight looked through a closet to find some fabric. "I've noticed you don't seem to like Knight very much." Twilight confronted Rarity about him.

        "I don't know what it is! By the way Rainbow talks about him he seems like a nice stallion and all but I tell myself he's not!" She told Twilight.

        "Rainbow talks about him?" Twilight asked interested.

        "Yeah, she told me about his looks and how he didn't scold her for hitting into him." Rarity answered.

        "His looks? Like what?" Twilight asked.

        "Like how 'cool' his wings, and eyes are. She said I would like his mane and tail. She just kept going on and on about him, I really didn't pay attention half the time. I had to focus on my designs." Rarity said.

        "Uh, you know what this means, right?" Twilight said.

        "Uhm, No not really." Rarity said confused why she'd care.

        "I think Rainbow might be in love." Twilight said.

        "With Knight?" Twilight shook her head and Rarity looked disgusted. Twilight was about to comment on her prejudice when she heard spike.

        "What?! Rainbow... In love... With Knight?!" He exclaimed.

        "Spike, shh we don't want the whole town knowing." Twilight said to him. "I suppose I know what Rainbow wanted to ask him now." Twilight told them her thoughts.

        "No," all of a sudden Fluttershy was behind Spike. "Rainbow just wanted to ask if he wanted to race."

        "How long have you been there?" Twilight asked she didn't say. "Well where are they now?" Twilight asked.

        "Going to eat at that café close by. Uh... Not that I was eavesdropping, I just needed to get some food for Angel on the way back." She nervously smiled. Twilight started to walk out.

        "Where are you going?" Spike asked.

        "To check up on them." She said strangely.

        "You mean to spy on them?" Spike said denying her.

        "What harm is it going to do?" Twilight said everyone shrugged.

        "Well, I'll come." Spike said. "Anything to get outta here."

        "Me too..." Rarity paused. "For the food not the make fun of Rainbow for liking a bat."

        "Now Rarity, we're not to mention this to her on any circumstances understand?" Twilight said. "We don't want to embarrass her."

        "Yes, yes of course." Rarity smiling deviously.

        "Fluttershy, coming?" Twilight asked her.

        "That would be rude though." Fluttershy said.

        "What's rude about asking a friend to lunch?" Rarity said.

        "Well, you put it that way I'll go." Fluttershy said. They arrived at the café Rainbow and Knight were sitting outside at a table close to the door there were two other tables near by.

        "Ok so Spike and I will take the table on the right you two take the left one." Twilight said.

        "How 'bout Rarity and I take the one on the left you and Fluttershy take the right." Spike said.

        "Ok fine just go." Twilight said and they inconspicuously walked to their tables.

         "So... What happened this morning? I came over and you’re lying unconscious in Twilight's bed." Rainbow asked Knight not noticing Twilight and Fluttershy at a table near them.

         "I have gotten used to being nocturnal. And staying awake for a little over a day is not fun." He said.

        "So you passed out?" She asked him.

        "In mid-air." He added

        "Why were you flying?" She asked.

        "I don't exactly remember last thing I remember is watching the sun arise on Twilight's roof." He said looking at the sun.

        "Twilight," The sound of her name made her look at Dash, "Made you sleep on her roof?" Twilight made an looked angry at her.

        "Really? She thinks I would make him sleep on the roof?!" Twilight said to Fluttershy.

        "I think she's trying to make him feel like she pities him." Flutters tried to explain.

        "And making me look bad? That's not like dash." Twilight said.

        "Love makes ponies do things, Twilight." Fluttershy said.

        "Funny, sounds like something Cadence would say." Twilight said to her. "I wonder what they're talking about." Twilight said looking at spike and Rarity." Fluttershy shrugged and a waiter came to take their order.

        "Twilight made him sleep on the roof?!" Rarity said to spike.

        "Not that I remember, he sat in a chair and read I'm not sure why he was on the roof." Spike said.

        "He didn't have anywhere to sleep?" Rarity asked.

        "We didn't have any for him to, I offered my bed but he didn't want it." Spike said.

        "That's nice of you Spike." Rarity said and he smiled. They then looked back at Rainbow and Knight.

        "She didn't make me sleep on her roof I chose to." He said to Rainbow.

        "You chose to? What made to sleep on the hardwood in the cold?" She asked.

        "Well," He paused, "I saw something last night." He was interrupted by Rainbow.

        "What?" She said playfully. "Read a scary story?" She joked.

        "Unless flying is scary I don't think so." He recalled the book he read. "No, I saw something... Somepony. I tried to go after it but it was too fast." He said as a waiter laid down two sandwiches in front of them.

        "Well you do fly like a snail." He glared at her. "I'm only kidding. Like I said back there you are good perhaps with practice you'd beat me." She said which made him stop and take a bite of his food.

        "If I do fly like a snail then you'd be only a couple paces ahead." They laughed and ate.

        "What?! Something was around my house?!" Twilight wondered what it could've been.

        "Calm Twilight, he could've been seeing things." Fluttershy said.

        "Did you get a glimpse of any of its features?" Rainbow asked. Twilight's ears went up.

        "Of what i saw only a short tail and dark coat." Knight said.

        "Well I don't know many ponies like that. The ones I do aren’t in town." Rainbow said putting her hoof to her chin thinking.

        "I thought I put this all behind me." He said semi-angrily. "Staying up all night, watching, waiting, being bored in the guard." He said remembering what he did.

        "Why are you so angry? At least you kept ponies safe." She said to cheer him up.

        "Yeah and by ponies you mean the princesses. One going stir crazed, the other with me being its least favorite pony now. Then, I think sane family come to mind." He said both joking and serious.

        "The one didn't like you too much? I'm going to assume that was Celestia." He nodded. "Why? She is like the most understanding pony, I think Twilight would agree with me here." She said and Twilight turned to Fluttershy.

        "Rainbow's right." Twilight said quick and Fluttershy nodded in response.

        "That sure is unusual Celestia disliking somepony." Spike said to Rarity.

        "Yeah, the princess just disliking a pony for no reason that's unheard of!" Rarity said.

        "Well... Well..." He stuttered to get words out of his mouth. "She's never been a fan of our kind. It also doesn't help things when her sister takes a liking to one." He hoped she would take it. She did in fact everypony's jaw dropped leaving them speechless. Rainbow was the only one to speak.

        "What? That's why you’re here? No offense you're a good pony and friend." She said.

        "That's not exactly what Celestia said but I could tell she knew." He said.

        "So are you and Luna...?" She felt something leave her as she said it. He laughed.

        "Like gossip do you? To answer, no, not at all. Celestia got me out before she could say anything." He said.

        "So you were sent away. What about your family?" She asked.

        "I don't really have one." He said holding back his true feelings.

        "No, parents or anything?" She asked.

        "Well, my father is a pegasus he was a traveling merchant so he was never really around." He started. "My mother was like me, a batpony in the night guard." They finished their meal and a waiter handed him a bill.

        "I never asked this of a mare before but, I don't have any bits on me." He said.

        "I don't see why you don't have a special somepony." Rainbow said sarcastically she paid and they trotted along together. The others did the same moving from shop to shop. "So you spent lots of time at the castle?"

        "Yeah I suppose that's why I became a good candidate for captain. Spent my whole life there." He said.

        "I take it you didn't get it?" She remembered Twilight's brother Shining.

        "Yeah," He sighed, "What ya gunna do? But, I suppose Shining was the best fit." He made Twilight smile. "What about you?" He asked.

        "What about me?" She said as they got to a hill and sat.

        "Well what's your family like?" He rephrased his question.

        "My father was supportive of me to do what I found interesting. He helped me along through troubles. I suppose flying was what I was best at. He actually helped me get a job as a weather pegasus. As for my mother..." She started to tear up. "I never knew her she... She died when I was a filly." A tear fell down her cheek, he hugged her.

        "It's ok don't cry. I'm sure she'd be proud of you." He tried to cheer her up.

        "Wow. I didn't know that about Rainbow." Rarity said everypony else nodded, their heads down. "Perhaps we should go?" Rarity asked them.

        "Yeah, I think we've heard some things today." Twilight agreed they all walked away toward Applejack's farm.

       "Shhh." He said softly trying to calm her. "It's not like it was your fault." She put her head on his shoulder and started to collect herself.

        "You're right." She wiped tears from her face with her hoof. "Ugh, sorry for making your coat wet." She said calmed.

        "It's ok." He felt ashamed for making her think about it. "I'm sorry, I didn't know about that." He put his head down.

        "No, you didn't." She lifted his head up. "I've never told that to anypony there's just something about you." She stopped the sun started to set next to them. "Wow... We spent the whole day together." She said surprised.

        "Well, I wouldn't trade it for anything." They watched the sun lower and she put her head on his shoulder and he leaned his head on hers. They sat there for a little before he spoke. "I suppose I should get going." He said getting up to leave.

        "Wait!" He turned around to see Rainbow in his face. She leaned in and kissed his nose, he blushed.

        "Well... Maybe I can stay for a little." He said.

        "Here, follow." Rainbow said. She took him to Applejack's barn.

        "Rainbow, what are we doing here?" He asked. She kissed him again and lead him inside and closed the door and continued to kiss him.

        "Rainbow... I think you should stop." She didn't listen to him.

        "No, really, I can see in the dark, stop." She still didn't back off.

        "Why? Scared?" She whispered.

        "Yeah," She kissed him one last time, "Of all the ponies in here." Her eyes widened with her lips still attached to his the lights went on.

        "Suppri-!" All the ponies started to shout but stopped when they saw them. She quickly let go of him.

        "Uh..." They both blushed. "You see she took me in here and tripped and that happened." He smiled showing all his teeth.

        "Yeah..." She tried to convey them. "I was lucky he was there." She smiled as well.

        "But I never told you or Knight about the party. What are you doing here?" Twilight said.

        "Hi everypony! I couldn't find them so I figured they were here already." Pinkie began, but Rainbow took Knight's hoof and they Flew fast out of there. "What? Did they not like it?" Pinkie said saddened.

        "Fluttershy, you’re a pegasus maybe you should go talk to them." Twilight suggested and she flew off.

        "Wha? That new pony confuses me I met him today and Rainbow has already taken a likein' to him." Applejack said, confused.

Ch. 3: A Little Change of Heart

        Knight and Rainbow landed on a cloud. "Oh my gosh! OH MY GOSH!" Rainbow panicked. "They weren't suppose to find out! Not yet at least." She worried.

        "Rain, calm down." He said. "So what if they know? What are they going to do? Deny you the right to see anypony you want?" He reasoned.

        "No, I suppose not. But still! They all know now! Instead of being like, 'Hey guys I'm seeing Knight.' They all watched us!" She said.

        "I suppose it could be my fault. I could've done something besides tell you to stop." He blamed himself.

        "Don't blame yourself. I should've listened." She wrapped herself around him to cheer him up. "Ugh, still not the best way for everypony to find out. Lots of better ways..." She kept rambling on about better ways to do it. "And right when we confess to each other too!" He kissed her to stop her from going farther. "Ok, you like that don't lie."

        "Yeah," He continued to. "Just stop talking about it." She took her lips away nodded and continued. A few seconds past and they drew away. Rainbows eyes enlarged. "What? What I do?" She didn't say anything and pointed to a cloud. "Woah, what's going on there?" He saw a cloud illuminating a green light.

        "I don't know, I've seen some weird clouds but none like that." Rainbow said.

        "Stay here." Knight said, and flew toward it.

        "I'm not letting you go by yourself!" She flew after him and stopped a couple feet away when he got there. He peered slowly over. She saw a black pony shaped figure dart away.

        "Oh, not today." Knight said and quickly rushed after it, and Rainbow went after him.

        "Wow that pony is fast when he's protecting somepony." She saw him slowly inch away. He chased it into the Everfree Forest. He didn't slow and just continued, she did the same. She dodged tree after tree until WHACK! She hit one, fell, then quickly recovered and flew until just outside a clearing. She saw Knight standing over a changeling.

        "WHAT WERE YOU DOING?!" She heard him the loudest he has been.

        "Just... Just having a snack." He giggled nervously.

        "On who?! I HOPE WE DIDN'T PAY FOR YOUR FOOD!" He showed his sharp teeth. She saw bushes close to him move.

        "KNIGHT!" She shouted. "Look out!" As soon as she said that another changeling came out. He looked at it and the one below him sunk his sharp teeth into his leg. She saw his blood rushing down to his hoof and almost passed out. The changeling then proceeded to kick him off he went across the clearing and passed out.

        "Ha!" One of the changelings laughed. "Good thing for our poison! That was a guard pony? He lasted five seconds!" They laughed.

        "What about that shouting? Is there another pony?" The other said.

        "It's probably long gone by now forget about it." They both levitated a leg of his and dragged him away.

        "Hey, wake up!" He heard Rainbow he instantly arose.

        "Rainbow? They got you too?" He saw her staring at him in a trance like state she was smirking. "What's with you why are you doing that?" She started to rub against him.

        "Well, it's just me and you here... Alone." Rainbow said. She kissed him over and over. Then, pushed him down.

        "Rainbow, what are you doing?" Knight said nervously.

        "Just lie back and relax." She said, he closed his eyes. He felt a sharpness at his neck he opened his eyes and saw all her teeth were sharp.

        "Rainbow..." He said slowly, she whispered in his ear.

        "I'm... Not... Rainbow." His eyes widened and he felt her bite down on his neck. He let out a bloodcurdling scream as he saw his blood pour from his neck. He awoke and flew up breathing heavy.

        "Hey! You! Prisoner shut it!" He heard a changeling yelling at him through his cell's bars. "Oh... I see you have a special guest." The changeling said before opening his cell and two guards carried a dark green coated mare with a short lighter green mane.

        "Get of me! You... You cheese legged freaks!" The mare yelled and they threw her in the cell. "You touch me again and I'll rip you apart!" She threatened them. The changelings just laughed and walked away. Not even acknowledging Knight she walked up to the bars and pulled at them until Knight finally spoke.

        "It wouldn't be much a prison if they left them unlocked." Knight joked.

        "Uh?" The mare questioned then saw Knight. "Oh, at least they gave me one with another pony." He said. Knight began to look around examining everything from the sinks to the beds that he wasn't on.

        "What's your name?" Knight asked getting down to look under the beds.

        "My names Olive Evergreen." She said to him looking at him wondering what he was doing. "What's yours?" She asked.

        "Knight Shade." He said. "I'm not insane by the way." She raised an eyebrow.

        "Why would I think that?" She asked.

        "I saw a look that said 'what's he doing?', I'm looking for a way out by the way." He said.

        "Why are you here?" She said shrugging off his statement.

        "I protected somepony I care about. You?" He asked.

        "The same..." She stopped. Her eyes got wide she ran and started pulling at the bars again.

        "I told you that's not going to work." He said.

        "I've got to get out of here!" She began to weep. "Oh Celestia what they do to him?!" She yelled.

        "I'm sure nothing they have no point to kill us." He pointed out. "There would be no food for them otherwise." That only made her cry more. He shut his mouth after that letting her calm herself. He looked all over with no signs of rot or rust. "Gah! Must be a new cell." He said to himself, he laid on bed staring at a ceiling. Then it hit him, water. "Water? Water!" He said in joy. She finally calmed to get out a sentence.

        "Oh great water now we'll never go thirsty." She said sarcastically.

        "No, we know that there's something above us like a pipe system or dirt." He took some and wiped the dry blood off his hoof.

        "You ok? That looks pretty bad." She noticed two holes in his leg.

        "It's fine." He said unsure if it was. "May I ask who you're crying about?" He asked wondering who 'he' was.

        "My boyfriend, Lucky Clover." She said looking saddened.

        "Hey," He put his hoof on her shoulder, "I'm sure he's fine." He thought about how ironic that was and almost smiled at her misfortune.

        "I hope, if anything happened to him I'll rip all these thing's hearts out." She said in anger.

        "Come now," He smiled, "I bet they don't have one." She laughed. "Ok now to see what it is." He flew up to examine the damp ceiling. "Good." He touched it with his hoof. "Not so much for them but, for us." He said.

        "What? How is it?" She asked curious.

        "Good enough to get out." He sighed. "But not soft enough to break it by hoof." He flew down.

        "Great how are we going to get out?" She said giving up hope.

        "I don't know. Ask?" He heard a guard coming he stopped at their cell and turned to him.

        "Come." He said. "Queen wants to see you... Both." He opened the cell and they both stepped out. Three other guards were there to stop them from running away.

        "Move." The guard said closing the cell. They began walking. Olive leaned in to whisper to him.

        "Got a plan?" She asked. "If so please let it wait until we find Lucky." She asked him.

        "No good ones. Only ones that involve getting you or me killed." He said. "Try and look around to see if you see him, or the way out." He told her.

        "Quiet." The guard said, they walked past quite a few cells with no ponies in them. He wondered why they put her in the same cell with so much free space about. They exited to a narrow passage why built for only one pony at a time.

        "Great." He said behind her.

        "I know, built like this to make it hard to escape." She said turning her head so he could hear.

        "Quiet!" The guard said with a fierceness in his voice. They exited the tunnel to come into a room with more tunnel entrances around and a large one built for two ponies at a time. They walked next to each other with two guards in front and back.

        "I hope those tunnels don't lead to other cells or it will take forever to find him." Knight said as they walked. They came to a large door which the guards opened and they were met with a large room. They guards went straight and they followed onto a carpet. They walked up some steps and came to the throne room which had several large fires on either side leading to where a rather large changeling with long holed hair and giant bent horn sat.

        "You may leave." It said in a very synthetic voice and motioned for the guards to leave and they did. "You know who I am?" It asked he nodded, Olive had no clue. "Why don't you clue your friend in." It said to Knight.

        "Olive this is Chrysalis." Chrysalis interrupted already.

        "Queen Chrysalis." She scolded him. He continued.

        "She leads the changelings and is probably the last one you'd want to meet." He explained to her.

        "You know what you do for a queen?" She asked. "Bow." Her horn lit up and sent them into the floor.

        "I hate magic." He whispered to Olive and she tried to nod still held down.

        "What's that?" Chrysalis asked. "It's my favorite part." She said picking Knight up and throwing him down.

        "You ok?" Olive picked him up with her hoof. He nodded holding his head.

       "Now you're probably wondering why you're here." They stood there waiting her reasoning. "Well you..." She pointed toward Olive. "I need you and your lover for food." She laughed. "But it seems here that he escaped my guards and life's grasp." Olive began to have tears in her eyes.

        "You... You liar he's not dead!" She shouted.

        "Oh but he is, he screamed like a weak pony." She giggled and Olive collapsed.

        "You! Knight is it?" Chrysalis looked toward him. "You're going to give information to me." She said.

        "After what you just told us?!" He felt anger arise he began to walk toward her out of hate.

        "Oh I'm so scared! Save me from this abomination of a pegasus!" She grabbed him with her magic and drew him close to her. "I know what you've done don't act like I'm the bad one." She said and put him back. "So why don't you just tell me everything about Celestia's defenses, or you can stay here forever. I also know there's a special pony outside for you." She said.

        "What you did was not comparable." He said.

        "Really? How many ponies did you hurt with your little stunt? The blood on your hooves." Her face went solemn. "Quite a few if I recall." She said.

        "Well only because Celestia-" She stopped him.

        "Exactly, which is why you should give me the castles secrets." She said.

        "I may be angry with her but not enough to give away that." He told her nervous on what she would do.

        "Fine have it your way." Chrysalis said. "Guards! Take them away!" She yelled and the same four guards came forward. Knight picked up Olive who was still dazed from the news.

        "I think you're right." He said to Olive. "She's a liar, a cheater, and a fool if she thinks that's I'll give her information about Celestia." He said.

        "You think? I sure hope you're right." The first thing Olive said in a long time.

        "If I'm wrong we'll make her pay one way or another." He told her.

        "Yeah, a powerful changeling like that? I doubt it." She said as the guards took their position around them. They walked through the doors into the room with many doors.

        "Many ways to go which one." He then noticed numbers scratched into the tops of them. They walked through number two. "We have 2 cell blocks to see if he's in here. Not counting ours." He said, and they walked back through the tiny tunnel to their cell.

Ch. 4: One Mare Army

        Rainbow bolted out of the forest right into Fluttershy. "Fluttershy! Where's everypony else?!" Rainbow questioned Fluttershy who was too petrified to speak. "Look," Rainbow collected herself to speak, "It's not about you it's about Knight. Now please tell me to where everypony is." Rainbow asked once more.

        "Back at Applejack's barn trying to console Pinkie I think." Fluttershy said and she quickly flew back to the barn. "What happened?" Fluttershy said to herself and flew after her. Rainbow arrived first of course, and opened the doors to see only her friends in side and a crying Pinkie on the floor.

        "Pinkie, please," Twilight began, "It wasn't your party that drove them away. You just weren't here prior to what happened." Twilight said. Rarity saw Rainbow enter and began to speak.

        "Oh Dash, look what you guys did to Pinkie!" Rarity said but Rainbow simply ignored her.

        "Guys! Iknowthatwemadequiteanexit! ButIneedtoaskforforgivenessandyourhelp!" Rainbow spoke faster than Pinkie.

        "Woah, slow down their sugar. What's wrong?" Applejack said and she calmed and started again. Fluttershy then flew down into the barn.

        "Guys I'm sorry about what happened. I just didn't know that anypony was in here now Knight is gone." Rainbow said.

        "He leave you already? Just like a stallion to do that." Rarity told her.

        "No, he's been taken." Rainbow said.

        "TAKEN?!" They almost all screamed.

        "By who?" Twilight asked.

        "The... The changelings!" Rainbow said.

        "You’re kidding, right? Not the same ones as in Canterlot I hope." Twilight recalled the situation a few months ago.

        "I can't be sure. But he's somewhere in the forest now." Rainbow explained.

        "Well then how are we supposed to find him?" Twilight asked.

        "The forest is a big place." Spike said drinking some left over punch. Rainbow looked to Fluttershy and she smiled.

        "Fluttershy, have you seen anything unusual in the forest lately?" She asked.

        "Nothing that I can tell." Fluttershy said. "I barely go in there." She sat down to think.

        "Well great, we have no location or area to go on." Twilight said. "We'd have to split up and cover the whole forest." She said.

        "Well, what are we waiting for?" Rainbow said and flew toward the forest.

        "I would have suggested partners." Twilight sighed and they all ran after her. Rainbow came to a halt before entering the forest.

        "Ok Dash," She said to herself, "You can do this for Knight. For Knight." She repeated and entered. A few seconds later the rest came to the forest they looked for Rainbow.

        "Y'all think she went in?" Applejack said.

        "Bet she did. Ok, everyone get a partner and go." Twilight suggested, but no pony heard her and they all went inside. "It's hard to save a pony when no pony listens." She said and entered after them.

        "No... Not here... No..." Rainbow continued looking under everything from rocks to leaves. "Gah! Why now? Stupid changelings and their... Venom? I'm gunna rip there teeth out if I find them." She came to a cave. "Uh..." She contemplated going inside. "Oh come on! Why couldn't they've got me? Atleast Knight can see in the dark! Oh whatever." She said and slowly went into the cave.

        "Uh, Pinkie," Twilight watched Pinkie look under every rock, "I don't think they'd be under pebbles." She said.

        "You never know Twilight. Never." Pinkie said and Twilight just rolled her eyes and continued.

        "I wonder where Rainbow is." Rarity said avoiding some mud.

        "I hope nothing happened to her." Fluttershy said.

        "I'm sure she can handle herself that mare's strong and not afraid of anything." Applejack said.

        "I don't like this... Not one bit." Spike said. "Good thing Knight is nice and has pony's that care about him." He pushed a branch out of his way and almost hit Twilight in the face.

        "Hey! Watch it there are others here!" She yelled at Spike.

        "Hold it together Dash. You got this." Rainbow said trembling she felt her way around with her hoof. "Ah!" She felt her hoove submerge in something cold. "Ugh, just mud or at least I hope it is." She continued like that for a bit. "Ow!" She hit something sharp. "What the...?" She saw two blue eyes open.

        "Hello..." She heard a scythed voice.

        "Uh oh." She said. It threw her up against a wall.

        "Thanks for waking me up. She'd be mad if I let a pony get through." It said. "Not that I mind getting a snack..." It leaned in. "Although It’s more of a dinner." It said right next to her ear

        "Get away!" She shoved it away.

        "A little work for a meal?" It laughed, pouncing at her pushing and holding her forearms down. "Oh, you’re more of a meals combined." She felt it's sharp teeth at her neck.

        "One thing though.” She said.

        "What's that?" It asked kissing at her neck.

        "You should probably hold all the legs down." The changeling had no time to question, she pulled her back legs in and kicked throwing it up. She heard a thud above her.

        "Ugh," She heard it a few feet away. "You..." She swung a hoof at it. She went to do an other but it ducked and she felt it's sharp teeth pierced her skin.

        "AHH!" She screamed.

        "Your not gunna kick now." It laughed and she fell over and what she heard began to fade.

        "Hey... Hey wake up. Come on, please." She heard a soft pony’s voice.

        "Ugh, what happened?" She asked rubbing her head.

        "Well a couple of them threw you in here. They mumbled something about saving you from something..." The pony said.

        "Then, what happened?" She said looking around the room then to the pony. He had a grey coat with a black pulled back mane and short black tail. His mark was of three four leaf clovers.

        "I don't know, they kind of just threw you here." He said to her.

        "And who are you?" She asked sitting on the floor.

        "I could ask you the same." He said.

        "I'm Rainbow Dash. I'm here to find somepony." She said extending her hoof.

        "I'm Lucky Clover, did Olive send you?" He asked shaking her hoof.

        "Who? No, I'm here for a stallion named Knight. Have you seen him?" She asked in hope.

        "No I haven't, are you two together?" He asked.

        "Yeah," She wispered the rest of her sentence to herself, "Why didn't I wait for my friends?" She asked herself.

        "He must be lucky to have a pony like you by his side." She smiled. "I don't even know what my mare did." He laid down on a bed. " She could've left and found another stallion for all I know!" He stared at the ceiling.

        "She would've never loved you if she did." Rainbow said.

        "Yeah, but I did love her I would've went and tried to get her back." He said. She looked around the cell. "Looking for a way

out? I already tried this place is like a prison on an island. You get out you'd have to swim or in this case fight though an army." He said to her.

        "Well, then we'd build a raft out of coats. There's always a way around any situation." She said raising hope.

        "Yeah, I'm gunna get some sleep I've been awake Luna knows how long." He said closing his eyes.

        A spark came from Twilight's horn. "There." She said giving light. "Now it's easier to see. I wonder how Rainbow can do this without light." She said.

        "I don't know, but I'm doubting she's having a good time." Applejack said.

        "Through her nervousness and tears." Rarity laughed to herself.

        "I'm sure Rainbow’s not crying." Twilight said.

        "Not until she gives up which in that case we'd be here forever." Spike said.

        "True, since she's loyal to her friends, I don't know how she would be to her lover." Rarity said.

        "Immensely." Twilight said. "I just hope she's ok." She said looking around a tree.

Ch. 5: A Liar

        "She said you did something awful." Olive said to Knight. "What was it?" She asked to get her mind.

        "That was one of my low points in life. I was angry, to the point of hurting anypony. A mental instability, I'm not proud." He said scratching at the watermarked ceiling.

        "What made you do such things?" She asked.

        "Well," He began to speak slowly, "Not getting a promotion I've worked for my whole life. That, and being blamed for an incident I never did that nearly cost me my job." He said.

        "What did they excuse you of?" She asked.

        "They said I helped aid the changelings take Canterlot." He said furiously scrapping at the ceiling then flew down and examined the beds.

        "How?" She asked.

        "By not noticing that Cadence was really Chrysalis in disguise." He said.

        "How's that your fault?" Her questions numbered.

        "My job was to make sure nothing was out of place from equipment to the ponies. But, I didn't know Cadence!" He raised his voice and slowly walked closer to her. "I've never met her! Nor has she been at the castle! I never had time to get used to her, to know her!" He realized he was almost in her face and went back up.

        "Ok, I get it you didn't actually do anything wrong. Why blame you?" She asked him.

        "So, I wouldn't be a good candidate for captain. Celestia wanted it so after Shining left she wanted somepony who was more 'normal' instead of a vampire bat." He said.

        "Why? You seem to care about the safety of ponies a lot." She said.

        "You'd have to ask Celestia. I know I do like to see everypony safe. But, I now know that can be turned around." He kept thinking of why Celestia didn't like him. This made him punch the dark mark in the ceiling. His hoof went up with such force it broke through. "Oh, that works. Don't think I can feel my hoof though." He said to lighten his mood.

        "Woah, remind me to not make you angry." Olive said looking at the hole and his hoof. He pulled it out and looked through.

        "I see why it was still hard, there's a pipe a couple feet up there, and It's barely dripping." He began to devise a plan. "Maybe I could chip away at the sides. A hole big enough for a pony would surely be noticed in a second. Any ideas?" He asked her and she looked at it for a second.

        "How are you going to hide it now?" She asked. He flew back to take a look.

        "Oh, you're right it is quite noticeable." It was a couple inches wide. He sat for a minute before speaking. "Can you see if you can rip open a bed?" She raised an eyebrow but tried to open the side of it. "No, do the top easier to hide." She moved to the top and did it successfully. "Great, thanks. See this?" He took tore a huge piece of padding from it. She nodded, he threw it on the ground and jumped on it.

        "I see I just helped your anger." She said.

        "No, wait for it." He took the dirty piece off the floor and shoved it up the hole to cover it. It worked pretty well you would need to be close to make out what Happened.

        "Oh. Where did you learn all of this?" She wondered.

        "From being in the guard mostly. You have to know these things. Although punching through walls is not one." He said looking at the rusted metal mount for the bed. "Hmm, perhaps, that would work." He pulled back on the frame until a hollow pipe came out and almost dropped it. "Wish we had some magic now." She nodded in agreement. He went up and chiseled out a tiny piece of the ceiling. "If you're ever building a jail make sure everything's new." He said making a hole big enough for him and taking more padding to cover it and he flew through the hole.

        "Hey! What about me?" She asked nervous he would leave.

        "Hold on I'm going to see where this goes I'll be back!" He told her. It was tiny up there that he had to lay down and crawl. He pushed himself along until heard guards.

        "Did you see the new prisoner?" The one asked.

        "No, why?" The other said.

        "The mane on that one wasn't like one I've seen! It was eight different colors!" One said.

        "Oh, I heard about that, is it like a rainbow?" When he said that Knight felt a sickness.

        "No, they have Rainbow!" He said loudly the guards didn't notice though. "She must've been looking for me, this is all my fault." He said continuing along. He came to a vent he looked in it and saw the room with seven doors. He managed to push the vent off, got out, and put the vent back on. "Ok..." He paused. "Which one? Not that one though." He faced the one to Chrysalis's chamber with a one above it. "So two is us... So three." He went through it and the narrow passage. Until he heard more guards.

        "It's been a long time since we had a prisoner!" The guard was a few feet away.

        "Because they all got used up." The other said.

        "When can we use them? The rainbow one seems to have the most." One asked the other.

        "I don't know when the queen allows." The one said.

        "But what if she never knows?" One said deviously.

        "True want to... Have a taste?" One said.

        "That's right you idiots lead me to her." Knight said to himself. The two changelings walked along laughing until they came to a cell.

        "I'll go first you make sure nothing goes wrong." It said to the other.

        "Why do you get first?" The other asked.

        "Because, it was my suggestion." It said.

        "Ok, fine." The one said annoyed. Knight hid in the shadow in front of the cell.

        "You there!" Knight saw two ponies one being Rainbow the other he wasn't quite sure. "Rainbow maned one come with me." The changeling demanded.

        "Where are we going?" Rainbow asked.

        "To eat." The changeling smiled and pushed her along. The other stood in front of the cell making sure the stallion inside didn't do anything. Slowly, Knight Walked along with them making sure to stay unnoticed. Rainbow stopped she swore she saw red eyes. "Keep going." The changeling shoved her. She stumbled and kept walking. "Here." They stopped in the middle and he put her in a cell.

        "What?" She asked.

        "We can feed anywhere." It said and it's horn light up in a green glow. Rainbow felt something leave her like she did while talking to Knight.

        "S-stop!" She screamed, the changeling just laughed. Rainbows eyes widened as she saw a pony  tap on his shoulder.

        "I told you to keep watch!" He turned to see knight who smiled and slammed his head into the bars, the changeling passed out.

        "Is it dead?" Rainbow asked as he opened the cell.

        "I hope so, to make sure though." He put the changeling into the cell as Rainbow came out. She leapt forward and hugged him.

        "I missed you." She said nubbing her nuzzle with his.

        "I see you went looking for me." He said and she nodded. "Did the others come?" He asked.

        "Yeah, but they are probably in the forest still." She said.

        "Ok, now I need you to distract that guard back there." He said.

        "What?! How?!" She asked nervously.

        "I don't know think, just keep him away from the cell so I can get that pony out." He said taking some keys off the unconscious changeling, then stepping back into the shadows. "Whenever you're ready." She walked along and could see him follow.

        "Hey!" The changeling turned his head toward her in surprise.

        "How?" It questioned and flew after Rainbow. She in turn also flew away, fast.

        "Well, that was quick. Of course this is Rainbow." Knight said. He could see the pony look out at what just happened. He came out and startled the stallion. "What? Think that was pointless?" Knight said.

        "No, just you scared me." The stallion said.

        "I do have that effect." Knight laughed using the keys to unlock the cell. "Do you have a name?" He asked.

        "Lucky." The stallion said.

        "Ah, good no more looking." Knight said which made Lucky raise an eyebrow.

        "No more looking?" Lucky asked.

        "Yeah, Olives going to be excited." Knight said.

        "You found her too?!" He said excited. "Where is she?" He looked around.

        "We'll have to get her. Where did Rainbow go?" He looked in the direction she went. "Come on." They ran in that direction until they got out of the cell room. "I hope she didn't go out." Knight said and they went back to his cell. "She must've been this way the guards are gone." He looked around to see.

        "Yeah, no guards in sight." Lucky confirmed. Knight lead the way again, until he came to his cell. Olive smiled when she saw him. Then, she saw Lucky and she ran up to the cell door.

        "Look who I found. What did I say?" Knight said with a smile and opened the cell. She quickly ran out and hugged him.

        "I missed you." She began to cry. "I thought you were dead!" She said bawling.

        "Well," Lucky began, "I'm not, I'm here and much alive." He said holding her close.

        "I hate to interrupt." Knight said. "But, Olive, did you see another pony fly past?" He asked.

        "Yeah, she said you'd come and flew off before the guards came." She answered.

        "Come on we've got to find her." Knight said running as they followed along. He came to a corner and turned he saw Rainbow being cornered by three changelings. They stopped behind him. "Great, you guys think you could take on a changeling?" He asked.

Ch. 6: A Cheater

        "Take on a changeling?! Are you insane?!" Lucky said surprised. "Last time we did that we ended up here." He said.

        "That's last time, just stay away from the teeth and besides we outnumber them." Knight said watching one of them. Lucky was about to say something as Knight jumped and shoved a changeling. The other changelings went to attack him and Rainbow kicked one.

        "I think we should help." Olive said. Lucky was about to protest but she ran over and knocked the last one down.

        "Ok guys, I'll be here in case you need me!" Lucky told them. They didn't even notice, they were too busy with the changelings. Olive slammed the changeling against the wall it bucked her away. Rainbow flew up and kicked it with her hind legs knocking it out. The other changeling took a swing at Knight he caught it and came back with his other hoof knocking it away and out. Lucky just sat and watched.

        "Grab some popcorn." Knight told him. Lucky pointed behind him to the last changeling about to bite him. Rainbow came down and hit it away before it did anything. "Woah, thanks." He said not knowing what would’ve happened to them if he got bit.  Rainbow was about to knock it out also but, Knight stopped her. "Wait! We need this one!" She stopped and held it down. "Now," He questioned the changeling, "How do we get out?" He questioned angrily.

        "I'll never tell you!" The changeling said, Knight motioned for Rainbow to move a hoof, she did.

        "There's a reason we have these." He showed his vampire like teeth. Rainbow was about to protest against what he thought but she was too late he bit down and the changeling screamed. She could see blooded coming up out of its leg.

        "Knight! Stop!" Rainbow yelled and he drew away there was blood running down his chin as if he'd been actually drinking it like a vampire.

        "Yeah?" He asked as if it were normal. Lucky, and Olive looked in horror.

        "What are you doing?!" She screamed.

        "Trying to get out!" He said, the changeling was breathing heavily in pain.

        "By putting it pain?!" She was still yelling.

        "Hasn't it put us through a lot?" He asked her.

        "This one hasn't! He was just doing what it was told, even if it did we wouldn't be better than it by torturing it!" She said, the changeling spoke.

        "Y-Yeah, wh-what she said." It barely spoke.

        "Shut it." Knight said getting close showing his teeth and the blood. The changeling tried to duck away. "What do you suppose we do?" Knight asked.

        "Talk to it." She said and looked at the changeling. "You know the way out of here?" She asked and it nodded looking its blood on Knight's chin. "Would you mind showing us?" She asked getting off it. It stood on three legs keeping pressure off its blood stained one.

        "Yeah, just keep him away from me!" It looked frightened by Knight.

        "I don't trust this." Knight whispered to Rainbow.

        "If he betrays us then I'm at fault." She whispered back. "I'll keep him back. You promise to show us?" She asked.

        "Like I said just keep him away." The changeling stumbled leading the way. Rainbow followed so did Lucky, and Olive leaving Knight in the back to think to himself.

        "Why did she do that? That 'thing' just tried to bite me as well. I just turned the tables." He thought. "If it leads us into something I'll bite its head off." He looked frustrated and Olive noticed. Lucky shook his head telling her not to talk to him. But, she ignored him.

        "Hey, I know you don't trust it. But, just know that it's showing us where to go." She said as they came to the single hallway.

        "How do you know where it's going?" He asked leaning forward.

        "You just need to trust it. It's our only hope." She said as they exited coming the the doorways.

        "Uh, we have a problem." The changeling stopped turning to Rainbow.

        "Yes?" Rainbow asked.

        "You need to go through Chrysalis's chamber." It said. "I might be able to distract her." It suggested.

        "And how'll we get out?" Knight asked.

        "I could make her look away from the door long enough for you get out." It said.

        "How?" He questioned.

        "You gave me a reason for her to look away." It showed his wound. "I'll go first." It said walking through. "Now, as soon as you hear her going to check it, go." It put on a worried look and started to try to run toward Chrysalis.

        "Why do you interrupt me?!" She yelled at it.

        "My queen," It tried to bow, "One of those awful prisoners bit me!" He showed his wound.

        "Was it the bat like one?" She asked and it nodded. "Here let me see it." The changeling walked over to her, Rainbow motioned for them to head out. "It looks deep it stopped bleeding that fast?" Chrysalis asked.

        "Yeah, I guess I was in so much pain I didn't realize." It said noticing it too. Rainbow managed to open the door it noticed.

        "As long as it isn't poisoned you'll be fine." She said and motioned for him to leave. The changeling realized that they needed a little more time and panicked as it saw the blood on Knights chin as he left.

        "Are you sure? What about my blood loss? Perhaps I should see a doctor." It suggested.

        "You're right no reason to keep a wounded changeling on guard." She motioned for him to leave as the door closed.

        "Yes, I'll be on my way." It said almost backing into the fire turned around and left. "Wow, I thought that'd be harder." It said then stopped. There were guards outside they took a look at him then at Knights face.

        "You were trying to help these ponies escape!" One questioned, they all looked at him.

        "Well... I... I..." It tried to think of an accuse.

        "Well I think we could all have a nice chat." Knight said imitating Rainbow.

        "Not when you're dead! Alert the rest of the guard and Chrysalis!" The one told the other.

        "I suggest we run!" The changeling said. They hurried down some steps and stopped at a platform for what the saw amazed them. A huge cavern lit up by thousands of green crystals aligning a dome overhead. The ground below was like a little town with everything from houses to stores made of graphite colored rock. "Guys we need to go!" The changeling yelled half way down the second set of steps. They ran down the steps. "This way." The changeling lead them down a thin dark strip outlining the tiny city. "Best to stay away from all the other changelings." It said.

        "You think they went around?" They could hear the guards.

        "You and you check the streets we'll look around behind." Another said.

        "Better hurry up." Their changeling said picking up speed. They came to a building that stopped their path. "Looks like we're going to have to go through the town. Just stick close and don't look suspicious." It said.

        "Yeah because four ponies walking around in a group of changelings is not suspicious." Knight said forgetting about the blood on his face.

        "Just don't act like anything is out of place." It said. Knight just snickered and Rainbow glared at him which made him straighten up. "Ok, go." The changeling said and they walked out. A few changelings turned toward them noticing that they were actually ponies. "Make a left here." It whispered, and they turned back into the small pathway, right into a couple of guards. They hesitated before running back onto the street into a crowd of changelings. "Shortcut!" The changeling said and they ran out with the guards yelling behind them. The changeling lead them to a doorway with a staircase leading up. "Go!" The changeling said looking behind at the now six guards following close behind them. They all hurried up the steps except the changeling who stayed behind. "They're up there get them! They did this!" The changeling held up his wound.

        "I'm gunna kill that thing!" Knight shouted as they ran up the steps. They got to the top and Chrysalis was there.

        "You thought you could escape? Me?!" She questioned. "I thought better of you Knight. We got to know each other well didn't we?" She asked lifting him up. "What? You didn't like me? So you take it out on my children?" She looked to the wounded changeling. "Do you know how it feels?" He shook his head. "Well there's a first time for everything!" She motioned for the guards to hold Rainbow and the others while she held Knight down herself. He managed to get a hoof free and hit her. All the changelings gasped. "I see you don't want it," She said now holding him by her magic, "You'll never know if you don't try!" She took his hoof out. "Just so you know, we can use our venom at will." She opened her mouth and he saw teeth that looked almost like his. She then bit down on his leg. He screamed, both Lucky and Olive watch again as they saw blood come out. Rainbow managed to break free and shove Chrysalis off of Knight.

        "Stay off of him!" She screamed.

        "Oh! You want some too?" Chrysalis held her down.

        "Ah, Rainbow!" Knight yelled weakly realizing what happened. Before she could bite her he quickly through his other leg over hers. He screamed again and fainted. Chrysalis let her fangs go from his now limp leg.

        "What a 'Knight' in shining armor." Chrysalis laughed. Just then a bolt of magic struck her, and she flew back into a wall. All the changelings looked around at to what happened.