The Half Changeling: Isabella's story

Chapters

Isabella, The Half Changeling
Near Death Experience
A Reason To Stay
Burrowing In
Work Begins
Discoveries, Good and Bad
Mistakes of the Past
The Climb
Parents
To Tidy Up A Cottage
Summon the Horde?
Catching Up
Battle Stratagem and the Call for Aid
The People vs. The Horde
Makeing An Ending

Isabella, The Half Changeling

Isabella sneered down from her perch at the streets below. At the ponies that milled about their pointless lives. They were food. Nothing more. Every couple she saw would feed her hunger. She did not need to become the direct target of a ponies love to steal it. She could snatch it right out of the air and drain it from them. It didn't even have a detrimental effect on the ponies. They walked on by, thinking life was perfect as she slowly ate what came from their hearts. She could easily survive here, where love was abundant and fools plentiful.

She was a changeling, but in all reality, she was only half changeling.

Queen Chrysalis made mistakes some times, and Isabella was the result of one such mistake. She was born... different. Her mother had always told her she was a mistake, that she should never have been conceived, but she knew. She knew her mother feared her. She feared her abilities and what she could do. Even as a foal, she was faster and more agile than any other changelings. She could slide through crowds, unnoticed, and rob every one of them blind.

"Changelings do not need such foolishness!" The queen would shout at her, after she would return with several wallets and wads of money, and would throw them aside. Isabella would just stand there and stare at her mother, a smug look stretching her muzzle.

It would always end the same. The queen would slap her and have her placed in solitude. There, she was expected to cry and try to become a better changeling, but she never cried. She never thought about the colony. She had plans. She knew what she wanted, and she would leave the hive to get it.

And when she had followed those plans, she had ended up here. In Canterlot.

It didn't take her long to build a reputation. She had the quickest hooves in all of Equestria and soon after her arrival, criminals came to her, offering her rewards for procuring certain items. Not only was she skilled at pickpocketing, she was an expert lock picker. If she found a locked door, it wouldn't be locked for long.

After two years in Canterlot, she reached the age of eight and became the leader of her own criminal organization. They stole, plundered, robbed, mugged, and basically took anything that wasn't theirs that had a value of more than ten bits.

She became aware of her actual need to feed at the age of ten. This didn't hamper her abilities in the slightest and made her even more eager to do the heists herself. She loved the thrill of hiding in shadows as guards walked past her, two inches away. She loved the feeling of picking a lock, and the sound of the tumblers as they slid into place.

She rose in social standing in her eighteenth year, by flaunting some of her ill begotten wealth. She purchased an expensive home and attended fancy social gatherings. These were perfect for feasting on love and picking new targets. After every party, some pony with high standing in society was robbed blind. They were surprisingly dim witted and could never seem to put the fact that Isabella never lost a penny to thieves together with the fact that outside of parties, she had no social life and was never seen out side her mansion. Those that ever did figured it out though would wind up having an untimely death, such as tripping and falling off a balcony, or chocking on their food or wine.

Now she stood in her tower and watched the little ponies live their lives. It was very dull. In fact. Her life was getting very dull.

She stepped away from the window and look at her self in one of her several mirrors. She was beautiful, and she took great pride in that. She could get anything she wanted from a stallion, before he died a mysterious death, of course. Her eyes, were a venomous green with narrow, but not slitted pupils. Her mane was long and flowing and gleamed a deep, velvety blue, and her tail followed suit. Her body color was that of a blisteringly bright white, that would catch the eyes of any pony.

Several stallions had tried to court her, and even a few mares, but she had no interest in them. She shot each and every one of them down, in some cases, literally. Once, a pegasus tried to fly by with a poster of her and the question 'Will you dine with me?" scrawled on it. A crossbow had put an end to that.

Now she stood in front of a mirror, looking at her self and she felt displeased. She had nothing to do. It had been too easy. She had the city almost under her control via the underground, had enough money to buy the city three times over again and was fed constantly by the ponies that lived here. What was the point of staying?

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of hooves coming up the stairs. She gingerly picked up he crossbow and readied it. They knew the rules, and she expected them to obey them.

The hoof steps got louder and louder until they were right outside her door. She heard her first in command say "Wait, you fool!" before the door opened. She turned and shot the crossbow. The bolt found it's target, in the forehead of some pony. He hit the ground with a loud 'thump' as Isabella loaded another bolt into the crossbow. Even though the door was opened, her first in command reached forward and knocked on the door.

"You may enter." she said, setting the crossbow down. Her first in command stepped over the corpse of the newly dead pony and bowed his head to her, saying "Ma'am."

"Give me the report Dungus." she said sitting down on her haunches and looking down at him.

"Ma'am. We have picked up intel that Sir Roderick has procured a large amount of jewelry, hoping to woo a young woman. If we move this evening, we may be able to save him from a disastrous wedding." said Dungus, hardly keeping the grin out of his voice. They cared nothing for Sir Roderick, or his numerous attempts to find love. They wanted the jewelry. Sir Roderick always bought the most expensive jewelry for his prospects, hoping to win them over this wealth rather than charm. It hadn't worked on Isabella, and he hated her for it.

"Indeed. Well, I have tried and failed many times to get him to understand that he is not going to be married. I think I shall see to this one... personally." she said, adding the last part as she turned around and looked out the window again, down at the street. Finally something to do. She had been itching to go on a good heist for so long now and this was the perfect opportunity.

Sir Roderick was a hopeless romantic, but he was wealthy. He was the only reason that Isabella didn't own the entire city guard. He already had most of them in his pocket, and that meant storming his 'fortress' would be all the more entertaining.

After Dungus had brought her the news, she had descended into the depths of her home with him in tow. Most ponies that entered her home would expect to see lavish decorations. Rugs, tapestries, vases, and fine furniture. There was only a few places where those things existed in her home. The welcoming hall and her own personal room. If any pony ventured out of the welcoming hall, they would be unpleasantly surprised.

The rest of the mansion was built like a barracks. Some rooms were stacked high with bunk beds and hammocks. Others had the walls lined with crossbows, daggers, and other implements of destruction, as well as full suits of bark leather armor. Here, she housed her minions. All those loyal to her, or her coin, would use these facilities. If one of her ponies compromised their position, she would pretend that she had never met them, and have them removed shortly after.

She stepped into the main hall, the social gathering place for her scum, and all of her ponies that saw her bowed their heads. She was partial royalty, but she demanded the respect of a full blooded princess. Any one of her ponies that rose against her was silenced by her blade. Dungus led her through the mass of ponies to her own personal armory, which was located in a hidden room, at the end of the hall.

She opened the doorway, let Dungus in and followed him in. They were surrounded by beautiful, but harsh looking weapons and armor. There were several sets of steel studded bark leather armor, crossbows by the dozens, daggers, each one sharpened to razor sharp perfection and curved upward for a thrust under the ribs, and a wall dedicated wholly to strange devices she had constructed herself.

There were odd claw contraptions, that would wrap firmly around the hoof. The claws were designed to sink into the stone of a wall, allowing the pony who wore them to climb up a wall with ease. There were lock picks, each one made perfectly, bent slightly at the end to knock the tumblers up into place. There were several small bottles filled with chloroform, each one with a rag wrapped around it, great for knocking out any pony quickly.

After Isabella pulled her hair back and tied it with a blue bandana, Dungus went to work. He slid her armor onto her, making sure not to touch her as he buckled it. He slid five of her curved daggers into her chest sheaths, and five more in her belt, along with her usual twelve bottles of chloroform. In the pouch she carried around her neck, she carried six of her climbing claws. Always two extra, in case she accidentally broke one or two.

He was just about finished when he brushed her side. Isabella's eyes flashed as she turned her head towards him. He fell to the floor and began to gibber, his eyes filled with fear. "Please, ma'am, it was an accident! I didn't mean to! Don't kill me!"

She glared down at him. She was never touched. That was one of her highest rules and those that broke it, were broken.

"Give me your hoof." she said calmly, but the rage in her voice was unmistakable.

"Ma'am?" he said, looking up into her face, then looking down again quickly.

"Your hoof, Dungus. Give it to me." she commanded, her voice dripping with malice.

Dungus raised a shaking hoof and Isabella grabbed it. She looked at his hoof for a moment, before she twisted it. There was a loud 'SNAP' and Dungus almost cried out, but he knew it would be his neck if he let a single sound escape his lips. He limped out, on three legs, holding his newly injured leg off the ground, and was followed out by Isabella. She saw her minions throw furtive glances at her and then look away. They knew what had happened, and they knew Dungus was lucky to be alive.

"You there!" yelled Isabella, pointing at a random stallion. He jumped and saluted her. She walked over to him and pushed his head down in a bow. She was not a general, she was royalty, and she would be addressed like royalty.

"Dungus has had an accident and I need a replacement for this evening's heist. You will act as my partner!" she said to the stallion she had forced into a bow.

"Y-yes ma'am. Will d-do ma'am." he stammered out.

"Well? What are you waiting for?!" she yelled as she force him away from her. He stumbled, then caught his feet and ran off to get prepared. "The rest of you!" she bellowed, turning around to see the rest of her minions staring at her, "I want no pony here tonight. Go out and cut a purse! It will act as your food ticket tonight. Now GO!"

The main hall became a tumult of noise, shoving, and movement. No pony wanted to be the last pony in the hall.

When the large room was empty, Isabella stepped out into the entrance hall and looked about. Nothing was out of place. Good, not only were they willing to steal, but they were more than just plodding foot soldiers.

Isabella heard hoof steps behind her. She turned to see the stallion she had randomly selected in full armor. She looked him over, nodded and began walking. He followed her out of the mansion and into the night.

That night, the guards were thick on the ground. Evey way Isabella turned, there seemed to be another guard. Luckily the stallion that she had brought with her was one of the less clunky ones and could keep himself in the shadows. They flitted in and out of the shadows, dodging around guards every few streets.

They finally reached the walls of Sir Roderick's estate. The stallion that was with her looked up at the walls, trepidation in his eyes. Isabella grabbed him by his armor and hissed "Now listen. If you run off on me, I will find you, and I will wear your hide as my new armor. Do you understand me?!"

He nodded quickly as she let him go and melted away into the shadows. She knew he wouldn't move. He was more afraid of her, than the jail time he would receive for being caught.

She pulled the climbing claws out of the pouch around her neck and fastened them to her hooves. Once she had them tight enough, she looked back and forth. No guards in sight. She ran at the wall and lept, flying into the air. When she began to fall, she reached out and sunk the claws into the wall. They skidded for a moment until they caught and she began the climb.

It only took her a minute or two before she was on the other side. Sir Roderick's guards were every where, but luckily for her, he was dumb enough to have a garden. Plenty of bushes, trees, and vines to hide in. Getting past the guards was a piece of cake and now she just had to find a door. She roved around the estate for a while, hiding in the shadows and eying the guards. Finally, she found a small door. It seemed to lead into the kitchens.

She picked the lock, reveling in the sound it made and shuddering with pleasure as the lock clicked. It had been too long since she had done this.

After she slid into the kitchen, she made her way through the winding corridors. They were meant to confuse thieves, but Isabella was not so easily tricked. She slid around guards and through different rooms, until finally, she found a set of large oak double doors. This had to be his room. There were two guards stationed in front of the door and a key hung around one of their necks. She looked around for a possible second entrance.

There it was. A small window just above the door. Why did architects make these things so easy?

Climbing up the walls like a large spider, Isabella moved up and over the guards. Once there, she attempted to open the window. It wouldn't budge. Damn. The thing was locked. That wasn't the problem though. On the other side, there were many hard steel bars, blocking the way. It looked like there was only one option.

Isabella pulled her claws out of the wall and landed right between the guards.

"Evening." she said as they looked down at her in shock.

Before they could even react, she reached up and slammed their heads together. They fell to the floor in pain, but these were elite guards. There was no way that would knock them out.

Isabella acted swiftly. She pulled out a bottle of chloroform and dosed two rags in the liquid, before she forced them over the guard's mouths and noses. They struggled for a moment before they passed out. Their heads fell back down on the floor with a light 'thump'.

She smiled down at the stallions and pulled out her lock picks. Yes, there was a key right in front of her, but what was the fun in that?

She played with the lock for a moment before it popped open. She was in.

Silently, Isabella stepped into the room. The only sound was that of Sir Roderick's breathing. She snuck up and looked down on him, triumph gleaming in her eyes. But then that triumph faded. The stallion, lying in the bed, was not Sir Roderick. It was Dungus.

Damn it. She never should have let him leave. Of course he was resentful. He had been shamed and replaced by a random pony. He must have come here right after being humiliated and told Sir Roderick every..... thing.

Isabella dashed out of the room and looked out of the window. The guards were massing behind a single form on the grounds. It must be Sir Roderick. She ground her teeth as she heard him shout out to the estate in his thick British accent.

"Isabella! We know you're in there! Come out now and I may allow you to live!"

Ha! That was unlikely. He continued as several guards dragged a form forward.

"Also! This is one of your thieves! He will be spared if you reveal yourself!"

Isabella ignored him. She didn't care about a simple thief. She had some unfinished business to attend to.

She trotted back into the bed chambers and looked down at Dungus sleeping. She drew one of her blades and tapped him on the shoulder with it. He stirred, but didn't wake. Isabella had no time for this. She sank her blade into his shoulder this time, making him wake up with a yelp. He looked up into her eyes and his face seemed to lose every once of blood in it. Even his eyes seemed to turn gray.

"M-m-m-ma'am." he said, his voice a whisper.

She glared at him, her eyes flashing. With a single thrust, she brought the blade up and buried it in his throat, just under his jaw. He gurgled and his eyes bulged as the life faded from his eyes. It was done. Now she had to get out of there.

No. She had to get out of Canterlot. And fast.

She pelted from the room and looked out the window. The guards were charging into the building. The thief she had brought with her was dead, and she was the only one left.

She dashed through the hallways. Guards began to appear and attempted to grab her, but she dodged from side to side. At one point, they blocked one of the entire corridors and she was forced to go down another.

Soon, she was boxed in. They were advancing on every side. She looked at her options. Die, or jump out a window. The latter seemed the best idea. She glanced out of the window closest to her. Yes! The gardens were directly below.

She feinted to the side and then threw herself out of the window. The guards watched her fall, expecting her to hit the ground and break, but she caught onto a tree. With a rush, they ran to get to the grounds as Isabella slid to the ground and ran for the wall. Her climbing claws were still fastened to her hooves so she ran up to the wall and began clambering up. She was half way up the wall, when the climbing claw on her back left leg slid and the claws broke off. She continued to pull her self up, but she was a little slower now.

Once she mounted the wall, she jumped and slid down the other side. The other climbing claw on her back hoof and the one on her right front hoof snapped off, making her free fall for the last fifteen feet. She landed and began running, but her hoofs stung from the fall. She had to keep running.

She ran and ran. She couldn't go back to her mansion. Sir Roderick knew Isabella was the thief and had probably already posted guards all around her mansion. Thank the goddess that she had told her minions to leave for the night. They wouldn't be able to link her to anything else. Dungus couldn't testify against her any more, and Sir Roderick no longer had any evidence against her, but the guards had seen her in action and she wouldn't be safe here any more.

She stopped for a moment at the gates and looked back at this place. It was more her home than the hive had ever been and now she had to leave. Damn it all.

She turned and ran out of Canterlot.

Near Death Experience

Isabella was weak. Very weak. She hadn't had somepony to feed on for the last two days, and her reserves were running so low she could hardly feel her body. Her hooves were numb, but that might have just been because she hadn't stopped moving since she had left. She was physically hungry too. Her stomach would growl every few steps and there wasn't much in the ways of food from what she could see. All around her was nothing but hills.

Finally, as she reached the bottom of one such hill, she let her legs bend and she dropped to the ground. Exhausted and in pain, she lay her head down. Would she die here? She had always known she would die alone, but she had expected to die by either an uprising in her minions, their numbers sweeping over her and consuming her. Or in the comfort of her lavish bed, losing her self to age.

That was right! She wouldn't die here. She was the daughter of a queen, and she deserved better than this.

She forced her self up and struggled to the top of the hill. Once there, she fell to the ground again. She could see, just out of her reach, what looked like an orchard. So close to food, but so far away. She couldn't even move. She tried to pick herself up, but her legs only quivered slightly. She lay there in despair as it began to rain. Shivers ran up and down her spine as the rain pounded down on her. Now she was in pain, alone, cold, and on the verge of death.

Just as she was losing consciousness, she could feel a presence nearby. He whimpered in an attempt to catch the pony's attention. She didn't know who it was, and she didn't care, just so long as it wasn't a guard. As the heavy hoof beats approached her, she faded into a semi conscious state. She could feel somepony tug on her tail, dragging her through the mud. She tried to protest. No pony touched her! But once again, her limbs simply quivered. She tried to open her eyes, but she couldn't. She passed out as she felt the constant pulling on her tail, the ground moving under her, and the rain beating on her.

When she regained consciousness, she found herself lying next to a fire and wrapped in a blanket. It felt good. She tried to get closer to the fire, but she still couldn't move. She felt safe, but at the exact same time, vulnerable. Where was she? Why wasn't she dead yet? Then she remembered the heavy hoof falls. Being dragged through the mud. Some pony had found her, and had brought her here. She tried to think some more, but the heavy mists of unconsciousness fell over her mind again.

The sound of heavy hoof steps echoed in the floor. Isabella tried to fall back asleep, but the hooves wouldn't stop moving. She opened her eyes to try and see what infernal pony was making that noise. She needed sleep and she couldn't get it with somepony tromping about.

She opened her eyes again. The fire was low and the cold dampness in her coat made her shiver. She wanted to look around, but to do so, she had to drag her head across the floor. As she did so, her eyes roved around the room as best they could. She appeared to be in some sort of hovel. The fire place dominated the wall she was next to and several pictures coated the wall opposite. She could see peasant ponies. Tons of them, but the four that recurred the most were a big red stallion with a yoke about his neck, an orange mare with a cowboy hat, a yellow filly with a large red bow, and a green, elderly mare.

Next to the door, there sat what Isabella thought was a bed. If you could even call it a bed. The mattress seemed to be made of old hay, and the pillow looked worn and old, stuffed with lumpy cotton. She cringed slightly, but she still saw no sign of the pony that had made so much noise. She dragged her head back to where it had been earlier, and shut her eyes. She was tired again. Just moving her head that small amount had sapped more energy from her than she had expected. She was just fading away when she heard the footsteps again. She wanted to see who this pony was, but too late. She slipped back into the warm embrace of slumber.

After what seemed an eternity in the black void of sleep, Isabella rose to that semi conscious state again. It was odd. Feeling herself, but not truly being there, with her body. She just seemed to float. She still couldn't fathom why she was still alive. She had been just about out of her reserves when she had passed out on the hill top. But now, she was a little more alive than she had been. She could feel a small chain of light connecting something to her. What was this restraint? Why was it here?

She reached out with her consuming powers and followed the trail. It seemed to just stop after a few feet. Where was this coming from? It wasn't like something she had ever felt before. Something that was warm, like a blanket, seemed to come from that small link of light.

She had to know what this was. Isabella forced herself to regain control of her body and slowly opened her eyes. Standing over her, was a colossal, red stallion, with shining green eyes, and dirty blonde hair. A long wheat stalk protruded from his mouth, which was turned up in a small smile. Isabella's heart nearly failed at the sight of him, but she felt he meant her no harm. How could that be? Every other pony she had ever met seemed to have some sort of ill motive toward her. Even at first sight.

She tried to scream, and make herself feel the danger of this situation, but it came out as a quiet rasp.

The red stallion's smile disappeared as her turn and grabbed something. She tried to scoot away from him, but trying to move only made her weaker. When the stallion turned back he had a small bowl on his hoof and he placed it to her lips. She tried once again to pull away, but she could not. She still did not open her mouth, blocking the liquid from entering. She was determined not to drink. It might be a poison.

Finally, the stallion spoke. His voice was deep and carried a heavy southern accent. "Ya can calm down. It's only water. Now drink. Yer in no shape to refuse." he said as she tried to move away again.

He wouldn't relent, and she knew she had to have something in her stomach or this pony would be burying her corpse. She slowly opened her lips and let the cool water flow into her mouth. It felt so good as it rushed down her throat. She began drinking fasted, trying to get as much water through her mouth as possible.

When the bowl was empty, the stallion lifted it and set it back on a shelf that Isabella hadn't seen before. She still couldn't move, and she was still thirsty. She let out a small whimper and looked at the bowl, trying to communicate what she wanted to the stallion. He looked at her and at the bowl, and nodded. Isabella sighed with relief. He wasn't as stupid as he looked.

After he had filled the bowl three more times, and poured the water into her mouth, Isabella was finally finished. She was just that much farther away from death.

The stallion pushed a few more logs onto the fire before he disappeared from the room. That was the first time that Isabella realized that this hovel had more than one room. A vague thought of what was kept in the other rooms passed though her mind before she fell asleep again.

When she woke again, it looked like it was early morning. She felt a strange hollowness that she couldn't explain until she looked around and listened. There was no one else in the house. That small chain of light that connected her and the red stallion was stretched thin. Where was he? He was the only food she had and she had no idea where he was.

She began to panic and tried to push herself up. She could move now, but physically she was still weak. She had only had some water in the last three days and her belly growled and clenched. She curled up and held her stomach. Her hunger was painful. It felt like she was being eaten from the inside out.

She lay there like that for several minutes, hugging herself and grimacing in pain, not noticing the chain of light getting lax and growing stronger.

When the door opened, she didn't look up. She just whimpered. That seemed to get her what she needed.

The heavy hooves steps approached her quickly and the red stallion stood over her. He seemed to understand what was happening and disappeared into that strange back room again for a moment, before he returned with several small rolls and he set them down in front of her. He hadn't tried to kill him with the water and she didn't see why he would with these, so she began eating ravenously.

The stallion just sat and watched as she ate all the rolls. It wasn't enough. She looked up at him, trying to plead with her eyes. It worked. This was going to be easier than she thought.

He trotted back into the back room and returned with a full loaf of bread, which he set in front of her, and she attacked it. She was half way through the loaf when she stopped and looked up at the stallion. He was just sitting there, staring at her. What was his problem? Did he have nothing better to do than to watch her eat?

She looked at him, her eyes narrowed. "Could you stop that?"

"Stop what?" he asked.

He was infuriatingly dim witted, or he was just messing with her. She refused to believe the latter. He was just a dim witted fool. Simple as that.

"I demand you stop watching me!" she said, her tone harsh.

The stallion arched an eyebrow at her. "Demand, huh? Who are ye, to be makin' demands of a simple pony like ma self?"

Isabella blinked. She hadn't thought about that. Where ever she was, she had no standing here. No minions. No money. Nothing. She pushed herself up and looked him in the face as she held her head high. She was still the child of a queen.

"I am Isabella. I..." she trailed off. What else was she going to say? Even in Canterlot she no longer had any standing. Over night, she had gone from one of the wealthiest and highest ranked ponies in Canterlot, to no one.

The big stallion merely blinked at her, that stupid smile still lingering on his face. She wanted to reach out and slap it off of him but she knew, even if she managed to raise her hoof, the blow she delivered would be weak and would be like the wing beat of a butterfly. She decided it best to simply stare daggers at him.

"Well," said the stallion, as he stood up, "from the way you're introducing yer self, I'd guess ya come from Canterlot. That high falutin' attitude ain't gonna get you very far round here." he said, rather smugly.

"Well, where is here?" she inquired, gritting at her teeth, wanting to slap him again. That smug face just made her blood boil.

"Sweet Apple Acres." replied the stallion.

Isabella ground her teeth and squeezed her eyes shut. Why was he so... so... ARG! She stamped her hoof on the floor and glared up at him.

"Are you trying to make me angry, or are you just stupid!?" she yelled at him.

He... he laughed at her! He just sat back down and laughed at her. She couldn't help but blush. She had never been laughed at. Never. She sat in shock as his deep voice bounced off the walls and pounded her eardrums.

Finally, her anger peaked and she launched herself at him. She flailed her hooves at him, beating on his chest. She wasn't doing anything to him, but it felt good to actually release her anger on somepony. He had stopped laughing and was looking down at her.

She had begun to cry as it all sunk in. She had nothing. She was no one. Not now. She had lost everything. Her status, her followers. Everything.

Finally, when she had worn herself out, she slumped down, tears still streaming from her eyes.

"Hey now." said the stallion, as he reached out to put his hoof on her shoulder. She slapped it away and turned her back on him. She just wanted to be alone.

"Leave me." she said, her voice quiet but demanding.

The stallion stood and as he was about to step out of the room, he said "As ya wish."

Isabella sat next to the fire, exhausted, pathetic, and feeling emptier than a she had ever felt in her entire life.

She had pulled the old blanket over herself and curled up as close to the fire as she could without getting burnt. After crying to herself for an hour, she fell asleep again. Once or twice, she would resurface from her sleep, hearing the stallion moving about the room, but she would fall asleep within moments of waking.

In her sleep, she saw nothing. It was an empty abyss, until she began to move. When she did so, that small chain of light, bigger now than it had been before, would appear and lead her through the darkness. Each time she found find herself face to face with the stallion. That stupid smile never leaving his face. Each time she would reach out to push him away, but her hoof would simply glide through him, as if he weren't there. Then she would wake, again only for a few moments, before falling into the same dream again, hoping to find a different ending. But it always ended the same way. That fool, staring down at her with that grin still there.

When she woke up finally, it was morning again. Next to her there was a small bowl of water as well as what smelled like soup. She pushed herself up into a sitting position and stretched. She was rather sore from sleeping on the floor. She looked at the horrible bed, and realized she longed to rest on it.

No! Not on that awful thing. On a real bed. Her bed. The one she had owned in Canterlot. But she would never be able to return to that bed. She drank the water and picked up the bowl of was seemed to be soup. It smelled strongly of garlic, but shone violet. She drank a little bit, expecting the worst. Her eyes widened in surprise. It was better than anything she had tasted. She lifted the bowl to her lips and drank again. She smiled to her self as she looked down into the empty bowl. She had never really wanted more when she didn't need it, but this soup, what ever if was called, was better than anything she had ever experienced.

She set the bowl down and pushed herself up. It was strange. To be able to walk again.

She moved to the far wall and took a closer look at the photographs. The red stallion that had been holding her here was in several of the photos. One depicted the main four ponies that appeared in the other pictures and was labeled "The Apple Family".

"So. Ye can finally move." said a deep voice behind her.

She spun to see the stallion standing in the door way. He was surprisingly quiet for such a large fellow.

"Yes. I have the strength to move myself." she said, raising her nose in the air slightly.

"Good. Come with me." he said, walking past her, into the back room.

She scoffed, but when he didn't come back out of the room, her curiosity got the best of her. She walked into the back room. The walls were lined with shelves, each of which was burdened with several jars, pots, and and various other containers, and in the center of the room, there sat a circular trough of water, which had a large bed of coals underneath it. The confused look on her face gave her away.

"It's a bath. Ah hear ya Canterlot ponies take one every mornin and night." he said, chuckling.

She frowned at him, but then looked at her self. Her normally beautiful white coat was a light brown, and her midnight blue mane was almost gray. She really did need a bath.

He reached out to help her, but she pushed his hoof away from her.

"I can do it myself." she said. He was such a pushy pony. Always trying to be helpful. It was annoying.

"As ya wish." he said as she stepped into the bath.

She sighed as the warm water enveloped her. She began to relax. Even if the large stallion was sitting there, watching her. She didn't care. She could at least take some pleasure in this.

After a moment or two she said "Would you kindly leave? A woman needs privacy when she bathes."

She heard him give a snort of amusement as he left. Once she was certain he had left, she opened one of her eyes. Yes, he had left. She looked about and found a small wash cloth and some soap, which she rubbed vigorously into her coat, mane, and tail.

She was in the tub for about an hour before she finally got out. A large towel hung nearby, which she took and rubbed her self down with. She finally finished drying herself and looked about for a mirror. She found a small one hiding on one of shelves. She looked into it and gasped.

Yes she was clean, but her mane was a terrible mess. She looked around in desperation for a brush. Something that she could pull through her hair, but there was nothing. She was still looking about when she heard the door open. She turned around in horror to see the stallion standing there, gaping at her. There was a sudden jolt from the small chain of light that connected them, but she didn't care about that.

She tried to cover her hair, but there was too much of it. "Don't look at me!" she yelled.

"But... why?" he asked, seemingly in shock.

"I'm hideous! My hair looks horrible!" she bellowed at him, her vanity overwhelming her. She continued to try to hide her hair.

"Yer beautiful."

She stopped and stared at him. "What did you say?"

"Yer beautiful." he repeated. She looked into his eyes. There was no lie there.

She had never, in her entire life, been called beautiful. Not truly, anyways. She continued to stare at him for a time, before she shook herself and trotted past him back into the main room.

He was a fool. Yes, she was beautiful. She knew that. But a small voice in the back of her head said to her "Then why are you making such a big deal about it? Why not just tell him he is a fool?"

She brushed the thought aside. Why didn't she tell him he was a fool? Because she needed him. He was merely a tool. She was not fully healed, but when she was, she would leave to find another ponies to feed off of. She didn't need to be the direct target of a pony's love.

She sat down with a "harrumph" in front of the fire. She heard the stallion turn about and enter the other room. He must be taking care of her bath water. Good. He needed to know his place.

She began to think to herself again. When would she have the strength to leave? How weak was she really? She had to refill her reserves of 'love', and this foolishly flattering stallion would be the perfect one to feed from. There was something strange about this pony's affection though. It wasn't like the love she took from other ponies. This was warmer, and seemed to wrap around her, like a blanket.

She smiled to her self as she closed her eyes. This, could be interesting.

A Reason To Stay

"So... why aren't ya still up in Canterlot?" asked the stallion as he reentered the main room.

Isabella had been expecting this question. She knew a small fib would work on him and she had thought of one. The chain of light that connected them was small, but strong. If that little light was a measurement of his affection for her, as she assumed it was, she could tell a story that would worm its way into his stupid heart.

She hesitated to make it sound like she didn't want to talk about it, just for a second, then told her 'story'.

"I fled." she said, telling him a half truth.

"Ye fled?" he asked, confusion deep in his voice.

"Yes. I came from a wealthy family and they believed I should marry some one I did not love." she said. There was silence from the stallion. Isabella could feel the small chain of light pulse with a wave of cold energy. She thought that was odd, but she continued.

"I was engaged to a man, against my will. And I was forced to live in the same house as him. He was... violent. When he drank." she smiled on the inside. This was just too perfect. She could feel the hatred rising off of the stallion without even looking at him.

She turned her head away and blinked her eyes several times, making sure her eyes teared up.
When her eyes were sufficiently moist, she turned her head back towards him.

He was trembling. His eyes burned with anger and the wheat stalk that usually hung from his mouth had been chewed in half from him grinding his teeth. He was waiting for her to continue. She could tell, he truly held loathing for this imaginary pony.

"One evening, he came back to the estate, having spent the entire day drinking and he was especially violent. He threw things at me and hit me. Slapping me and forcing me into a corner. I was... molested."

She turned her head away, letting her hair fall across her face, making fake sobs.

She smiled, this time on the outside. This was too easy. The small connection between them grew ever so slightly. If she had give it a size, it felt like it was about half an inch around. It was progress, but compared to the love she had seen other ponies exchange, this was so small it would be like comparing a mouse to an elephant.

She was about to say something else when a loud 'wham' sounded next to her. She jumped and turn to see the stallion had punched a wall, putting a sizable dent in the solid wood. He began to pace, snorting in rage. She watched him move back and forth until he spoke.

"Did ya kill him?" he snorted. "Before you ran. Did you kill that son of a whore?!"

She nodded.

"Good! Beating a mare is bad enough! But doing... that to somepony! He deserved no less!" he growled, his deep voice dropping even lower.

She had not seen this side of the gentle stallion. Granted, she had been here maybe five days. But this was so against everything she knew about him, that it unnerved her.

Finally, after what must have been ten minutes, the stallion stopped and sat down. Isabella noticed he was sitting closer to her than before. She didn't move but she didn't like how close he was to her.

He even reached out to her. She moved away and he blushed.

"Ah- Ah'm sorry. Ah forgot. Now Ah know why ya don't want to be touched." he drew his hoof back quickly, as if he had been burned.

Another wicked smile on the inside. She hadn't even meant to do that, but now she had an excuse to not want to be touched. Now he wouldn't try to help her with things she didn't need help with.

"Is that why ya try to act so strong?"

The question caught her off guard. What? Act? She wasn't acting! But he continued to speak.

"Ye whisper in yer sleep. Yer always talk about trying to get back to some thing. And when ya look me in the eyes, Ah can see that distant yearnin' fer somethin'. It's strange. Yer a strange mare, Ms. Isabella."

She was speechless. Partially because of what he had told her, but also because that was the first time he had actually said her name.

"I... I do not whisper in my sleep." she said. It was all she could think to say.

"Yeah ya do. Each night. Ah hear you movin' and you say things." He was looking directly at her face. She wouldn't look back at him. What kind of things had her mind revealed about her in the night?

"Like what?" she asked nervously.

"Ya talk about yer mother. Sometimes a father that wasn't there."

This was not possible. She hated her mother, the queen, and she had never even spared a thought for the father she didn't care for.

"What did I say I wanted to return to? " she asked, her voice skeptical, but curious in her heart.

The stallion looked down at her, pity in his eyes. Why should he pity her? She hated it, and was going to tell him to stop when he spoke.

"Yer family." he stated, almost whispering it.

No. no. He was obviously lying now. She didn't care about her family. She didn't want to be part of the hive. She was content with being alone.

"Alone"

The word echoed in her head. The little voice in the back of her head spoke.

"You're alone. You'll always be alone. You'll die alone."

She tried to shut the voice out, but it continued to beat against her mind. Why was this such a big deal to her subconscious all of a sudden? She had always been happy to be alone. Was it because of this stupid stallion? Or was her brain just addled?

"Let me make something abundantly clear." she spoke to the stallion, but mostly to herself. "I hate my family. I have always hated my family, and no matter what I may say in my sleep, that has not and will not change. Do we understand each other?"

There was surprise in the stallion's eyes at her change of tone. He looked at her blankly for a moment before he nodded his head.

"Good. Now. I require a meal." She said. She was eager to change the subject.

Just as she said that, the stallion's stomach rumbled.

"You and me both." he said laughing a little bit.

"Since yer well enough to walk, I want to show you something." he said motioning towards the door as he walked to it.

"What ever you wish to show me had better deal with some food, or I will not be very happy." she said, holding her nose in the air as she walked through the door he held open, out into the sunlight.

She gasped at what she saw before her. A beautiful orchard, ripe with apples, stretched out in front of them. Having lived in Canterlot almost her entire life, she had never seen such a sight. Maybe once or twice in a book, but never like this. It was breathtaking. She looked at the stallion as he walked up beside her.

"It's amazing." she said.

"Heh. This ain't even what Ah wanted to show ye. Come on." he said as he began to walk off to their left, along the side of the orchard. She followed him, having to trot to keep up with his huge strides.

As Isabella looked around at the trees and soaked in the sunlight, she felt something. Something she wasn't used to. She couldn't be sure, but it felt like contentment. Why was she feeling this here? In this place she didn't even know. She had never felt like this in Canterlot. She had felt powerful and invincible there, but never content.

Once she had her strength back and found some more ponies to feed from, maybe she would settle herself around here.

After several minutes of walking, Isabella could see what looked like a barn house rising over the trees. They came around the side of the orchard and the house came into full view. It wasn't Isabella's idea of a good house, but it looked inhabited, and there was the smell of pies in the air. The smell was amazing. There had been pies in Canterlot, but those had been mass produced and their quality was questionable. Isabella had never eaten one and had never thought about eating one. But this smell made Isabella's mouth water.

As they approached the front door of the house, the stallion motioned for her to stay back. She stopped. Why must she stay behind? Were the ponies that lived here violent to those they didn't know? That seemed unlikely, but she sat down on her haunches and waited as he approached the door. To her surprise, he opened the top of the door without even knocking and bellowed "Grannysmith! Applejack! Applebloom! I'm home!"

Home? But didn't he live in the shack on the far side of the orchard? Isabella shifted her weight and watched the stallion.

Soon, three voices greeted the stallion. Each one with that same southern drawl.

"Howdy Big Macintosh!"
"Hey Big Macintosh!"
"Hey there sonny!"

The stallion leaned inside and greeted each one in turn. Isabella still couldn't see the other three ponies, but she could feel it. There was so much love here. She could drain it all and be able to leave sooner than she thought.

A smile spread across her face as she began to pull at the lights that connected all these ponies together.

Her smiled vanished when nothing happened. She couldn't reach out and grab the links and draw on their energy. What the hay? This had never happened before. She could always just reach out and take what she needed, but now, she couldn't. No matter how hard she tried. All she could feel was the small link that stretched between her and the stallion.

A horrifying thought jumped into her head. If she continued to burn the 'love' she received from the stallion at the rate she was, she wouldn't be able to leave here for quite sometime. Also, she seemed unable to feed the way she was used to.

That's when it hit her. She almost a full adult. Had the changeling part of her matured further? Could she only collect love now by being the target of the pony's affection? But why? She was only half changeling.

As if that wasn't enough, one more thing popped into her head. She was not a unicorn like all the other changelings. She wouldn't ever be able to change her shape.

Suddenly she heard her name. She blinked a few times and came back to the present.

"Ah want y'all to meet Ms. Isabella. She's a fancy pony from Canterlot."

Three ponies stepped out of the house. She immediately recognized them from the stallion's photos. The filly and young mare both stared at her, their mouths wide open while the old mare simply kept smiling while her old eyes seemed to be trying focus on Isabella.

"Wow. Big Macintosh, she's pretty." said the filly.

"Now now." said the young mare, setting her hoof on the filly's head, "Don't talk about her like she isn't here, Applebloom."

"Hm?" said the old mare. "Who's what now?"

"Granny Smith, Applejack, Applebloom. Meet Ms. Isabella. Ms. Isabella, meet ma family." said the stallion, pointing at each of the mares when he said their corresponding names.

Isabella didn't know what to say. She suddenly became aware of her mane and began to try to hide it again as she blushed furiously.

Applejack stepped forward and said "Howdy Ms. Isabella. It sure is nice to meet ya." and offered her hoof.

Isabella didn't have to refuse her hoof. 'Big Macintosh', as he was called, put out a hoof and lowered Applejack's, shaking his head slightly. Applejack got the message and dropped her hoof immediately, but continued to speak. "Are ya okay? Somethin' wrong with yer hair?"

Isabella looked at Applejack, then at her mane. She must have some sort of brush, because her mane was perfect. It swept across her forehead, ran down the back of her neck like water, and finished by being tied off with a rubber band.

"Yes. I've had it like this all morning. Could you help me?" said Isabella, hoping Applejack would oblige her.

"Come on." said Applejack, motioning for her to follow her.

Isabella sighed on the inside. Finally, she could get her mane and tail in better shape. Plus she could be away from 'Big Macintosh' for a while. He was caring, yes, but he was also smothering. Besides, she didn't need a guardian.

Then she remembered. She was probably stuck with him for at least a month. She might as well get used to him.

"Well," she thought to herself, "If I could get used to the scum that I hired to run my operations, I could get used to some big hearted, tiny brained stallion."

For some reason, when she insulted him this time, she felt a twinge of guilt. Why? He was a fool. Why not say he is what he is?

That small voice in the back of her head spoke up. "He saved your live. You could be a little more grateful, don't you think?"

Ugh! Fine. Now, it seemed, even her mind had turned against her. She would see if could be a little nicer to him, but she wasn't going to cozy up to him unless she needed to.

They were in what appeared to be a washroom now. Applejack grabbed a brush and said "Sit down." with a smile on her face.

Isabella shuddered on the inside. She didn't want to let Applejack touch her, but she would have to get used to that now. She was stuck here and if they were touchy ponies, she would have to deal with it.

She sat down and felt Applejack begin to pull the brush through her mane. After the first minute or two of being incredibly tense, she began to relax. This wasn't so bad. In fact. Having some one else do this for her felt wonderful. She smiled slightly as she closed her eyes. After her mane was finished, Applejack moved down to her tail. Isabella sighed as she felt her hair straighten out. It was so much better than having it all knotted.

Isabella felt a small twinge of regret once it was over. It had felt nice.

When Applejack led Isabella back towards the front of the house, they found the others gathered around the table in the kitchen.

The filly, Applebloom, gasped and Big Macintosh stared. He seemed to do that a lot.

"Ah said it once, and Ah'll say it again Ms. Isabella. Ya look beautiful."

Isabella rolled her eyes and sat down in between Big Macintosh and Applebloom as Applejack set down a plate infront of everypony before she sat down across from Isabella. 'Granny Smith' came over to the table from the counter carrying the pie that Isabella had smelt earlier. It still smelled absolutely wonderful, and the old pony couldn't have done a better job of putting it together.

The crust around the edges was golden brown, and the pieces that crisscrossed over the stuffing, glimmered with a cinnamon glaze. Isabella had only ever seen something like this in pictures.

"Now, don't go eatin' it too fast. Ye'll burn yer mouth." said Granny Smith, setting the pie on the table. It was already cut and there was a pie server stuck under a slice.

Big Macintosh pulled a slice up and set it on Isabella's plate before taking one himself and serving the others.

The sauce from the filling slowly oozed out the sides of the pie, small chunks of apple riding along with it. It steam slightly and the smell permeated the room. Isabella's mouth began to water again. She didn't know how to start though.

She watched as the others simply began to eat it. So she leaned forward and took a bite.

It tasted heavenly. She smiled in earnest for the first time since she had arrived.

"How could you let her get away!?"

Back in Canterlot, Shortly after Isabella's close escape, Sir Roderick was furious. What did he pay these idiots for if they couldn't catch a simple thief?

He pushed the guards out of the way and looked down at the corpse of Dungus. She had at least saved him the trouble of removing him. He would have been dead before the sun rose anyways.

He pushed the corpse onto the floor and groaned. These sheets had cost him at least a thousand bits. Now they were ruined.

"You!" he shouted at one of the guards, who stood to attention, "Get this filth out of here and hunt down as many of her scum as you can. They may provide us with some information as to where she went. Now get out!"

The guard grabbed the corpse and dragged it out by the tail, the other guards right behind him.

"That idiot." said Sir Roderick as he examined the streak of blood that the corpse had left on the ground from being dragged out. "I'll have him fired. My carpets will be ruined if he doesn't take more care."

He walked out of the room and looked out the window. The sun would rise soon. By then, who knew how far away she would be from here.

He slammed his hoof against the sill, making a small piece of glass fall from its frame. He had hardly believed she was the thief in the first place, but when Dungus had shown him her 'records', he was all ears. He had held some resentment for her since she had spurned his advances. How could any mare resist him? He was the wealthiest, most handsome, and most influential Stallion in Canterlot. She was lucky he had not taken offense, but that was merely because he had still desired her.

He ran his hoof over the sill and grinned to himself. She was now a know criminal in Canterlot, and if his men caught her before any real guards did, he would be free to punish her as he saw fit.

He felt himself heat up at the thoughts of the things he would do to her. He could imagine her tied down, no way of defending her self. Her beautiful body subject to his will.

A few minutes later, his personal captain came to him.

"My lord. What are your instructions?"

"I want you to send a group of two men into each city near by. I want Isabella found. She has yet to pay for her crimes. If any of them find her, they must report back here immediately to get more men to go back with them. I don't want her to disappear again." said Sir Roderick, scratching his chin with his hoof.

"As you say, my lord." responded his captain, bowing his head before he straighten up, saluted, and trotted away.

Sir Roderick smiled wickedly to himself as he looked out the window. The sun rose as he thought "Soon, Isabella. Very soon, you will be... punished."

Burrowing In

Isabella sat infront of the farm house with Applebloom and Big Macintosh, looking out over the orchard. The pie, which had not lasted long against the combined might of Isabella and the Apple family, was settling in her belly, warming her from the inside out as the sun warmed her from the outside in. It was about mid afternoon now, and the slight angle of the sun made the leaves and apples glimmer. It was another thing Isabella had only ever seen in pictures.

If she really was stuck here, it didn't look like it would be so bad. A protective fool, the best food she had ever eaten in her entire life, and a mare that understood that a girl's mane and tail needed to be well groomed. She could definitely get used to this.

Applejack walked out of the house from helping Granny Smith and sat down next to Applebloom, letting out a contented sigh.

"Granny Smith sure does know how to make a great pie." said Applejack, stretching a little and closing her eyes as she lay down.

"Eeyup." said Big Macintosh.

Isabella said nothing. She let her mind wonder. She hadn't felt content like this ever before. If she could worm her way into the hearts of these four ponies, she could live comfortably here for the rest of her days. Sure, it wasn't as luxurious as Canterlot, but the food was good, the view amazing, and the company... tolerable. She didn't need to steal to get by here since these ponies seemed to be willing to do everything for her.

Then she thought of something. When she had passed out the very first time, she had been in full armor, but when she had awakened, her armor was gone.

Isabella looked at Big Macintosh from the corner of her eye. Why had he not asked her about it? The armor had been covered in knifes and her belt had been full of lock picks. Was he really that dim witted? That he would take a pony into his house that was armed to the teeth and quite obviously a thief? Granted she had been knocked out, but for all he knew, if she had awakened while he was dragging her into his house, things could have gotten very messy.

Big Macintosh looked down at her and she swung her eyes away, hoping he hadn't noticed.

That was another thing. She barely knew him, but for some reason or another, Big Macintosh made her feel... safe. It was probably just the fact that he was huge and had that caring glint in his eyes. Isabella recognized it from seeing it in the eyes of all the ponies she had stolen love from, but this was different from that. This glint was for her.

She asked her self again. Why? Why did this stupid stallion care about her at all? She was just a random pony that he had never met and didn't know anything about.

Isabella was giving herself a head ache. She set her hoof to her forehead and grimaced.

"Whats wrong?" asked Big Macintosh immediately. Isabella bit back a retort. He was doing it again. Smothering her.

"Just a head ache. Nevermind." she said, trying to wave him off, but he wouldn't have it.

"Come on. Ah got something perfect for that." he said as he started heading back to his shack. Isabella looked desperately at Applejack, who simply smiled, shook her head, and gestured for Isabella to follow him.

Isabella huffed and trotted off to catch up with Big Macintosh. When she caught up with him, he was humming a tune to himself. Isabella thought she recognized it, but she couldn't place the name. She ignored it and asked "How do you propose to cure my headache? I've never heard of something that actually works to make them go away."

Big Macintosh chuckled. "Ah don't know a cure. Ah just wanted to talk to ya."

Isabella's heart began to pound. Did he want to talk about the armor? The weapons? How had he thought of that a the same time as her?

Isabella slowed her pace a little as the shack came into sight. What if he made her leave? She'd be a goner.

To her surprise, Big Macintosh did not enter the shack. He turned around and faced her at the door. Isabella was still expecting the worst.

"I want to know just how long ya need before yer fit to leave." he said, looking down at her.

Isabella's heart sank. She really was doomed. Fate was a cruel thing.

"How long before you need me gone?" she asked.

Big Macintosh's face became shocked. "No no. Ye misunderstood me. Ah was gonna say 'ya can stay for as long as ye need'. With what ya went through, Ah'd never think of turnin' ya out into the cold all by yer lonesome. That wouldn't be right." he explained.

Isabella stared at him. Another act of selflessness from the stallion she hardly knew. Why? Was it because she was beautiful? No. She could see no lust in his eyes, and after the story she had told him, he couldn't hope to gain a reward for being returned. What was it about her that intrigued this stallion so? Why did he care?

"You're offering to let me live with you?" she asked, still rather stunned.

"Fer as long as ya want." he said, nodding his head slightly.

She blinked again as she stared into Big Macintosh's eyes.

"...Whats the catch?" she asked hesitantly.

Again, Big Macintosh's face became shocked.

"Ma'am, that's just insultin'. I'd never charge a fee on some pony that had to run away from home. Especially after... what you had to go through." he finished, saying the last part hesitantly.

Isabella could hardly believe her luck. She could only feed from a pony that loved her now, and the only one that seemed to hold any real affection for her had just offered her a place in his home. This was a blessing from Celestia herself.

Isabella sat down and bowed her head slightly at Big Macintosh before saying "Thank you."

For the first time in her life, when she said 'Thank you', she had meant it.

Sir Roderick was waiting. The room he stood in was dark, except for a lone candle and the sun that slunk through the single window near the ceiling. It was time to begin interrogations.

Two guards dragged a mare into the room and threw her against the far wall, before chaining her hooves to the walls.

"Thank you men. Now get out. I'll be expecting you in here soon enough." said Sir Roderick, shooing them out with his hoof.

When the door closed behind them, Sir Roderick turned to the mare. She was grimacing up at him, her deep cyan eyes staring into his own. He could almost imagine how much she wanted to hurt him, but now was not the time for that. He had a criminal to find.

"So..." started Sir Roderick. He was interrupted almost immediately by the mare.

"Oh shut up and kill me already. None of us know where she went. She never even intended on leaving this dung hill of a city. So your guess is as good as mine." she said, rolling her eyes at him.

Sir Roderick contained his anger and smiled at her.

"Come now. You must some idea as to where she would have headed?" he asked, trying to pry her apart with his silver tongue.

"Look. She never talked to us unless it was a general announcement. The only one she ever talked to directly was the first in command, and from what I hear she did a good job of messing up one of your bed spreads with Dungus's blood." said the mare, obviously enjoying the idea of a nobleman losing something expensive.

Sir Roderick closed his eyes and took a deep breath. She truly was trying his patience.

"If you tell me where your employer has gone, I shall release you." he offered.

The mare laughed. "You expect me to believe that? That you'd actually let me go after I told you what you needed to know? You're just like the boss. Get the info, kill the informant. No loose ends. And besides, even if I knew where she was, I'd not tell the likes of you. I'm more afraid of the boss than some stuck up mamma's colt."

Sir Roderick slapped her. His patience was at an end.

"Come!" he yelled over his shoulder.

The guards strode inside and he barked instructions at them.

"Take her to my quarters and tie her down. She'll be of at least some use to me before she dies!"

As she struggled to get away from the guards who dragged her away, she shouted at Sir Roderick "You sick bastard! Some day you'll get whats coming to you!"

Sir Roderick sat down and composed himself. Then an awful smile spread across his face. He was going to have fun with her. She had a lot of spirit, and that made what he was going to do to her all the better.

Crank and Grunt, two of the junior guards Sir Roderick had sent on the hunt, stepped off the train into Ponyville, arguing.

"I still don't see why you gets to be in charge. I'm much better at my job and have been doing it longer than you have." growled Grunt, in his deep voice. Whenever he spoke, it sounded like he had been given a frontal lobotomy when he was born.

"You've been doing this job for about three days longer than I have. That hardly counts as 'longer'. And the reason that I'm in charge is because the last time you had a platoon of soldiers under your command, you were the only one that survived." replied Crank. His voice was reedy and high, even though he was just as big as Grunt.

"I already told you, that wasn't my fault! I was just... distracted." Grunt said, fading off at the end.

"Yes. She did a very good job of distracting you with her tail end, didn't she? Just follow my orders and we should be fine. Besides, this shouldn't be too difficult. We're just searching for one potentially dead mare. It should be relatively easy." said Crank as Grunt fumed behind him.

They had been stationed in Ponyville's region, Crank knew, to get them both out of the way. Crank had been told several times that he was a trouble maker and a good for nothing layabout. It was true that he liked to try to make the other guards enter a revolution, but his attempts always failed. He had nearly been decommission several times, and was always put where there was least duty.

Grunt, on the other hand, had a long history of violence. The only reason he was kept in the guard was because the authorities wanted to be able to keep an eye on him. If he was thrown out, he would reek havoc. He liked to rough other ponies up, but was very susceptible to anyone of higher authority. The reason he hated Crank being in charge was because Crank was the same rank as he was. It was an insult and a humiliation.

"Lets find a place to stay. We'll be here to a few days." said Crank, looking around at all the ponies.

"Relatively easy?" scoffed Grunt, "Look how many ponies are here, and this is just the train station. Do you even know what this mare looks like?"

"Sir Roderick described her to me in detail. She has a midnight blue mane and tail, white coat, and poisonous green eyes. Her pupils are oddly slitted, rather than round like a normal pony's." explained Crank, as he led Grunt through the crowd and toward the center of town.

They stepped into a small inn, called "Night's Caress" and Crank rang the bell.

A small mare appeared behind the counter and smiled up at them.

"What can I do for you good sirs? Need a few rooms?"

"Yes," said Crank pulling out several bits and setting them on the counter. "How long with this keep us here?"

The mare's eyes widened in surprise and she said "For about a month. We have some lovely rooms with a wonderful view just above us." she said, grabbing a set of keys and handing one to Crank and the other to Grunt.

"Thank you ma'am." said Crank as he headed for the stairs.

Grunt followed him and growled into his ear, "Yer far too soft with them. You should have demanded longer."

"You sir, are an imbecile. If we just start roughing ponies up left and right, we'll blow our cover. This operation is meant to be discrete. Why they sent you, I'll never understand." said Crank as he unlocked his room and stepped inside, slamming the door shut in his partner's face.

Grunt tromped over to his room and let himself inside. The room was meager, but livable. At least he would have some privacy now and then.

He sat on the bed and tried to image what the mare they were looking for looked like from what Crank had said.
"Green eyes, blue hair, white coat. Sounds easy enough." said Grunt to himself. Maybe this wouldn't be so hard. How many other ponies looked like that?

Isabella was sitting on the edge of the orchard. The sun was setting now, and the light shone through the trees. It was remarkable. Even having seen pictures of such a sight, it was not the same. She could feel the coolness of the air, the softness of the grass, and the slight warmth from the low set sun. It made a strange feeling arise in her. What that feeling was, she couldn't say. It was something like a warming in the area between her stomach and heart. Almost sickening, but completely wonderful at the same time.

She heard a small creak behind her and knew Big Macintosh was coming to join her. It was strange. Having only been here for a few days, and already she was getting used to this large stallion. She had never 'gotten used' to anypony, even those who had been in her employ and who had survived for more than a few years.

It must be the connection. That small chain of light that connected them. It gave them a sort of mental bond. Not like that of telepathy, where they could communicate in silent speech, but in a way that seemed to bring their thoughts closer together. He was becoming like a second part of her some how. This intrigued her greatly.

She saw him sit next to her with her peripheral vision, but did not look at him. He sat down next to her and sighed.

"Pretty, ain't it?" he asked, not looking at her.

"Mm hm." she muttered rather distracted, still thinking about the connection.

"Ye okay?"

Isabella shook her head slightly and blinked several times before she looked at Big Macintosh. He was looking down at her, his eyes curious.

"Oh, I was just thinking about... something." she said, smiling at him slightly, "What did you need?"

"Ah was gonna try and teach ya to maintain the shack. It's not hard work, but if there are two of us stayin' in there, it'll need work. Ah'd do it ma self, but Ah gotta get back to apple buckin' soon. Last time it was all left up to Applejack, she nearly killed herself trying to do it all alone." he said.

Isabella would have been resentful of him, asking her to clean for him, but he had that apologetic look in his eyes. He didn't ask her to do this because he was lazy. He asked her to do it because he required it of her. And for some reason, she was willing to do it.

"Ah'll also need to make ya a new bed. Ah know ya wouldn't want to share a bed with someone. Not after... that. N-not that Ah'm assuming ye'd want to share a bed with me in the first place." he said, laughing nervously.

Isabella grinned. "No, I dare say I wouldn't."

They both looked back out on the orchard. The sun was even lower in the sky now and the light was dwindling.

Big Macintosh stood up and shook his tail.

"Well, looks to be about bed time. Ya can stay out as long as ya wish, but if you don't get enough sleep then ye'll be dead tired in the mornin'." he said as he stretched a little.

Isabella sighed. She didn't want to get up, but she could feel the dampness of the evening beginning to settle. It didn't feel good on her coat, so, she stood and followed Big Macintosh inside.

Sir Roderick was sitting in his study, thinking about that mare and her deep cyan eyes.

He had seen so many expressions in those eyes. Hatred, fear, pain, ecstasy, the list goes on. Luckily, the gag had kept her quiet. He had enjoyed forcing himself into her, and her struggles had made it so much more arousing.

What he liked to call 'the after party', was still his favorite part. He enjoyed sexual satisfaction, but dissecting a broken mare, while she was still alive, was so much more pleasing.

He was going over the entire process of what he had done to her, when there was a knock on the door.

He slammed his hoof down on his desk. "What is it?!" he yelled as he marched to the door and slammed it open.

"You're not as discrete as you'd like to think, Roderick."

Sir Roderick looked up in shock at the form of Chrysalis, Queen of the Changelings. Why was she here?

"I.... I thought we agreed never to meet in public." he said, his eyes frozen on her in fear.

"Your private study is public now, hm?" she said as she strode past him and made her self comfortable.

"W-whats this regarding?" he asked her, shutting the door behind him after looking around outside of the room before doing so, "I thought that little escapade of ours with the dragon's treasure was to be our last encounter."

"You know full well. My daughter. The mistaken half changeling. She has reached or is very close to her nineteenth year, and has reached a new level of maturity as all changelings do. I have let this thing fester long enough. In another year, if she desires to, she will be able to challenge my right as queen, and I won't let that happen. I had heard of your... misfortunes with her and what you've been attempting to do. I endorse this, but your clumsy guards will not be able to keep up with even a half changeling. You will be requiring help from my children." she said, not pausing to let him think about it.

"She has insulted me, in more ways than one. I intend to take care of her as I see fit." he said, finally finding his courage again.

"I would have no qualms with that, knowing how you like to 'punish' mares, but the fact is this. She is still partially changeling. I refuse to subject any part of my race to such things." she said, raising an eyebrow at Sir Roderick.

She looked like she was joking, but he could hear the danger in her voice. Damn it. For such a long time, he had wanted to force himself onto Isabella's beautiful form.

"What do you propose then?" he asked.

"Simply kill her. If your men cannot, mine will. And if neither of them can, We will use these." she said as she produced two dark orbs from seemingly nowhere.

Sir Roderick recoiled. He knew what those were. Those simple orbs were known world wide as "Death's Embrace". There were only a few every known to have been made by a magician several thousand years ago. When one was used, it took a full hundred years to regain Its power.

"How in the name of Celestia did you find these?!" he almost shouted.

She shushed him, as she replied. "The first one I received from my mother as the life faded from her eyes and she passed the right of being queen onto me. The second, I found on a foolish adventurer who thought he was a match for my power. If our men fail, these will be enough to finish her off."

"That magic is darker than anything anyone who has lived in the last five hundred years has tried to fiddle with. What if something goes wrong?" he asked, pointing at the orbs.

"Nothing will go wrong. We will have her head soon enough. When our men find him, she will either be dead by their hand or ours." she said.

Her eyes glowed wickedly as she and Sir Roderick looked down on the small purple black orbs. Death's Embrace.

Work Begins

This was insane!

Isabella had been cleaning the shack since early that morning. And she was enjoying it!

Big Macintosh had made her wake up rather early so he would have time to tell her what all needed to be done. The list had seemed huge and she had simply gawked at the stallion. He had not been joking and left her to the cleaning while he left to buck apples.

For a while, she just looked around at the messy shack and thought to herself 'This is impossible.'

The bed was a disaster, the main chamber a catastrophe, and the two other rooms, the storage room and the closet, were abominable. How could anypony live like this?

She had begun with the bed. She had ripped the sheets out and set them to wash in the tub Big Macintosh had let her bathe in, then she had gathered the old worn hay and pitched it out behind the shack, where she was surprised to find a small garden, filled with beets, carrots, celery, and several varieties of flowers. Not dwelling on the garden, however, she had returned to the bed and began to take care of the pillow. It was in dire need of re-stuffing, which she had done with surprising ease. It had been at that point that she had realized she had quite a knack for cleaning. It had all come so naturally to her.

Soon after that was when she had realized she was beginning to like what she was doing. For once, she was doing something constructive. It was an odd sensation. The one she got from helping some other pony. Very much like that feeling she got from the connection between her and Big Macintosh. Soft, warm, and blanket like. If she had known doing stuff like this would make her feel so... fluffy, she would have spent her entire life doing this rather than being a thief.

After she had managed to re-stuff the pillow, making it soft and bouncy, she had begun to wash the sheets, making sure they were spotless before she dragged them out of the tub and hung them along the back wall. Now she had to find some hay.

She stepped out of the shack and had looked around for a little while before she found the hay out a ways past the garden. She made many trips, bringing as much as she could each time, and finally had managed to cover the bed with a new layer of hay. After making sure it was all even spaced out, she grabbed the dry sheets and made the bed, tucking it in, instead of just draping them over the hay.

After having tackled the bed, she turned and looked at the room. It was awful. The floor was filthy. She gagged slightly at the thought that she had been sleeping on that for the last few days. There were tools, books, utensils, and other miscellaneous items scattered about, and several old apple cores laying about as well. Anything that hung on the walls or had a stationary spot was covered in dust. Wiping her forehead with her foreleg, Isabella got to work.

She had finished sweeping and was halfway through picking up and organizing Big Macintosh's stuff when she heard some pony enter.

It was Big Macintosh himself. He was slightly sweaty and his hair was mussed, but he wasn't in bad condition.

"Well, ya certainly did a job on the bed. And the floor is lookin great. How many times have ya done this?" he asked her, with a smile on his face.

"This is my first time." she said, setting a book on a small table, and picking up a small hammer off the ground as she headed for the storage room.

When he didn't say anything, Isabella turned to look at him. He looked shocked, but then his face broke into a grin.

"Now I know yer just pullin my leg."

Isabella shook her head. "No. Remember, my large friend. I come from a wealthy family. I was not expected to do any cleaning. My being good at this is just as surprising to me as it is to you." she said as she finished organizing his stuff and began to throw apple cores past him, through the open door.

"Sure." he said with that infuriatingly smug grin he always used.

Isabella threw the pillow at him as she walked toward the storage room with her head in the air. A moment later, her head wash pushed forward as she felt the pillow hit her in the back of the head. She turned around and looked at him in shock while he simply laughed.

His laughter was cut short when she ran up to him and clobbered his face with the pillow. They began to beat each other with the pillow, running about attempting to escape each other, until they finally discarded the now deflated pillow and just began to wrestle. Isabella was positive she could beat Big Macintosh, but every time she thought she had him pinned down, he would simply move out from under her.

Finally, after almost an hour of rough housing, Big Macintosh managed to pin her down. He smirked down at her and said "Say uncle."

Isabella frowned up at him and shook her head.

Suddenly, Big Macintosh's eyes got huge and he launched himself off of her. She looked at him in surprise he began talking.

"Ah'm so so sorry! I completely forgot! Please forgive me!" he yelled, backing away from her.

Isabella was confused, until she remembered the story she had told him. He was worried that she thought he was about to rape her. She stepped toward him and raised a hoof. He flinched, dodged past her, and dashed outside. She let her hoof fall back to the floor.

For some reason, she felt terrible. Was it because she had lied to him? But she was accustomed to lying to ponies to get what she wanted. Even as she fixed the room up and re-stuffed the pillow, she was thinking. Was this telepathic connection making her emotionally close to Big Macintosh? Not as in love or something like that, but just emotionally connected. When he felt bad, she felt bad? Was that it? She couldn't get the thought out of her head.

Crank was putting all of his equipment into a satchel he would be carrying around with him as he and Grunt were hunting, when a knock came on the door.

"Come in Grunt." he said rolling his eyes, not bothering to turn around.

He heard the door open and the voice of a mare say "I am not Grunt."

He turned and looked at the mare with a brown coat, violet mane, and blue eyes. One of her eyebrows was arched and she was frowning.

"Who are you?" asked Crank. He had no patience for ponies that bothered him for no reason.

His eyes shot open as the mare kicked the door closed and her form shifted. He coat shifted to a shimmering black, her hair disappeared, she sprouted horns and long insectoid wings, and her eyes morphed. The pupils were gone and they became solid aqua.

"Sir Roderick sends his regards." she said, her voice sounding more like a hiss now.

"He's... he's working with your... your 'mother', then?" asked Crank, fear in his voice. He had never met a changeling, but he had heard about Sir Roderick's dealings with them.

"Yes. The one you seek is what some would call our 'sister'. We do not consider her this. She abandoned the hive. She will not be missed. We will kill her and take her head back to mother." said the changeling, smirking cruelly.

"Our mother?' There is more than one of you?" he asked, slightly apprehensive.

"Yes. There are two of us. My brother is waiting outside. We will move silently with you and we can spread out further when there are four of us, rather than just two." It said, bowing It's head slightly.

"Very well. We need to begin work today. I've figured we can start near the center of town and begin asking around this little town. What are your thoughts on the matter?" Crank asked the changeling.

"I think that plan is sound. We will begin as soon as you're able." It said as It changed back to It's old form and backed out of the room.

Crank smiled to himself. This would be much easier. With the changelings here, they would be able to identify the mare without a hitch.

Isabella had been in the middle of cleaning the storage room when Big Macintosh called for her from the main room.

"Ms. Isabella?!"

She walked into the room and saw him standing in the door. He looked like he needed to say something. "What do you need?" she asked.

"Ah... Ah wanted to apologize fer earlier. Ah had no right to do that. Ah..." he trailed off, looking down at his hooves.

Isabella sighed and walked up to him. When she stood infront of him, she placed her hoof under his chin and pulled his head up.

"It's fine. I know you weren't trying to do anything. We were... 'playing' i think the term is. You meant no harm, I understand that." she said, looking into his emerald green eyes. He stood like that for a moment, staring into her eyes.

When he began to move forward, Isabella was confused for a second, but when she felt the chain of light connecting them pulse strongly and realized what he was doing, she leaned back slightly and put her hoof to his lips.

"Calm down. I don't know you that well." she said, smirking and arching an eyebrow at him.

He looked into her eyes for a little while longer, before he closed his. Isabella felt a smile spread across his face under her hoof.

"Thank ya fer stoppin' me. Never kissed anypony before, and didn't want my first one to be a mistake." he said, chuckling a little as he opened his eyes.

"Then why did you attempt to do so?" she asked. In truth, she had never kissed anypony either, and had never had the desire to. That had not changed, but she was still rather curious as to why he thought he should kiss her.

"Ah dunno. Ah just felt this weird connection. Kinda like a... a... a tuggin on my mind. Ya know what Ah mean? Like somethin' told me Ah should. Ya ever get a feelin like that?" he asked her, straighten up and looking down at her, with a perplexed look on his face.

Yes. Yes she knew exactly what he meant. Ever since that little bond between them had appeared, she had been having feelings just like that. She thought that she was the only one who could feel it, but now it seemed, he was beginning to become aware of it as well.

It was obvious the connection had been formed by Big Macintosh's love for her, however small that love may be, but now it was something much more. She wished she knew, but she had never taken any real time to study magic when she was younger. She had no reason to. She was an earth pony after all. Even the fact that she was a changeling didn't make that any different.

"Yes. I know what you mean." she said, smiling again, "But now, I have work to do and so do you. Get back out there and help your sister. There's still some sunlight left."

Big Macintosh laughed and nodded at her before he turned and trotted back outside. Isabella smiled and shook her head. He was a silly stallion, but he was growing on her. He was the closest thing to a friend she had ever had, and she wasn't going to let his ridiculous notions of romance destroy it. She had no interest in romance anyways, but the fact that he had interest in her that way made her feel giddy for some reason.

After a few more hours, Isabella was nearly finished with the storage room. It had begun to rain, and when Big Macintosh returned, he was covered in mud and was dripping wet. Isabella came out of the storage room and gasped when she saw him.

"What?" he asked.

"No! I just cleaned that!" she yelled at he moved toward the fireplace. He stopped and looked at her in confusion.

"Come. You're going into the tub. No. Do not argue." she said raising a hoof to silence him as he opened his mouth to protest. She walked around him and began pushing him toward the storage room. Luckily, she had already filled the tub and heated the water. She had intended on washing a few more things.

"Alright! Alright! Ah'm going." he said, laughing as she continued to push him.

She finally managed to get him into the storage room and stood infront of the door with her front legs crossed looking at him as if to say 'Well go on.' He laughed again and clambered into the bath.

"Now," said Isabella, "you are to stay in there for at least a half an hour. Wash yourself and relax for once. But so help me, if you come out before a half hour, I will drag you by the hair and dunk you right back in there. Do you hear me?"

"Sheesh. Ah guess y'all Canterlot folk really do take baths seriously." he said, smiling to himself as Isabella turned her back and went back into the main chamber.

She had been sitting infront of the fire reading a book on the proper care of a growing apple trees, there wasn't anything better to read, when she heard Big Macintosh get out of the tub. She looked outside. The sky was dark and the moon was rising. It had been long enough.

After a minute or two of silence, the door opened and Big Macintosh stepped out, still drying his hair. He had removed the yolk that normally hung around his neck and hadn't put it back on. He looked slightly smaller without it, but he was still huge compared to her.

"Did you enjoy yourself?" she asked without looking up from the book.

"Actually, Ah did. It was rather relaxing." he said, sitting down next to her, "Learn anything new?"

"Not much. Just skimming through really. I had nothing better to do. But now," she said, as she closed the book, "I think it's times to get some rest."

"Yer right. Big day tomorrow. Ah wanted to go into town tomorrow. Care to join?" he asked as he rose and walked over to his freshly made bed.

Isabella looked at him. Going into town? The idea intrigued her. She was no longer looking for a food ticket, seeing as she could only consume the love of ponies that felt affection for her, but she still liked the idea of seeing the town. Maybe she could make more... friends. She smiled at the idea and nodded. "I'd like that." she said.

Big Macintosh grinned at her, but frowned as she rolled her shoulder.

"Whats wrong?" he asked.

"Oh, nothing. Just a little stiff." she said laying her head down on the floor.

She was about to close her eyes when Big Macintosh appeared next to her. She raised her head and looked up at him. He gestured towards the bed and held a blanket out to her.

She raised an eyebrow at him and asked "Are you suggesting I sleep with you?"

"Not at all." he said, chuckling, "Ah simply figured ya may want to sleep on a real bed. You were the one that fixed it up anyways. Besides, yer a lady. Should be you sleepin in the bed, not me."

She blinked at him, then smiled.

"Thank you, Macintosh." she said, as she took the blanket and lay down on the bed as Big Macintosh set himself down next to the fire.

Sir Roderick was getting more and more angry with each passing interrogation. None of the ponies that had been captured seemed willing to tell him anything about Isabella's whereabouts, even with Chrysalis's help. He had moved on to torture now, but even that wasn't working. Once or twice, he had genuinely believed they knew nothing of her location, but he would swiftly thrust the thought aside. They must know. They had to.

He had just finished torturing a pegasus. He and Chrysalis had taken it in turns to first break his wings, then each of his limbs, and finally began to skin the wings. It still hadn't worked. Sir Roderick had simply decided to kill the stallion and take a break.

Chrysalis had taken up residence in his household under the guise of a tall unicorn with a black coat, green hair, and violet eyes. The only time she changed her form back to normal was when they were in Sir Roderick's private study or when they were interrogating some pony.

They were standing on a balcony that over looked the city, trying to get some fresh air. Chrysalis was leaning on the banister while Sir Roderick was pacing.

"You know. They may all be telling the truth, Roderick. I know that mistaken child better than anyone else. She would never have told anyone her plans for this kind of thing. It would have been a risk of untold measure. She would have to trust someone very much, and she has never trusted anyone before." said Chrysalis, following Sir Roderick's progress with her head.

"I know!" he barked. He didn't not have any patience, even for such a dangerous pony as Chrysalis. He was not used to his strategies not working. It made him... upset.

"I don't see why you're so unhappy. Its not like she'll be able to avoid us for very long. With my children and your 'soldiers' hunting her, the likelihood of her remaining undetected is very low. Now calm down before I take it upon myself to sedate you." said Chrysalis, tossing her hair slightly.

Sir Roderick came up to the balcony and glowered over the edge. There were only a few ponies wondering the streets at the moment, but his mind was still parading around the idea of finding Isabella. The fact that there wasn't anything he could do to advance the speed of his search was very distressing. He hated waiting.

Chrysalis sidled over to him, looking down over the edge, too.

"What will you do once she is dead?" she asked him.

"I'll simply go on living the way I have been. It's quite simple. Kill her, dispose of the corpse, continue living the way I always have. What did you expect me to do?" he said, turning to look at Chrysalis.

Chrysalis laughed, "Well, normally, when some one plans something dastardly, they do it to change something, but I guess you're right. This is just vengeance for you. For me, it is the preservation of my people."

"You really think she would try to take the throne from you?" he asked, not looking up from the street.

"Yes. Even if she is a mistake, she carries my traits. She is power hungry, and a natural born leader. She will come to take the hive from me. I will not allow it." she said, tossing her hair again.

"What of her father? What if she takes after him?" asked Sir Roderick, finally looking up at her.

"Her father was a fool. If she takes after him, she will be much easier to find." said Chrysalis, brushing the topic off.

"Tell me about him." said Sir Roderick. He was interested now. Who had the Queen of the changelings lain with to make such a creature as Isabella?

Chrysalis eyed Sir Roderick for a moment before apparently figuring it would hurt nothing to tell him.

"He was a Unicorn. I was planning something big, so I found a couple that was madly in love with each other, took the place of the mare, and stayed there for maybe two weeks. I had to partake in certain... activities, whilst there, and after having left, I discovered I had conceived." said Chrysalis, obviously trying to get the story out of the way quickly.

Sir Roderick laughed. "Didn't enjoy 'pleasing' your partner too much, did you?"

"No. I daresay I didn't."

Chrysalis had convinced her self over time she had never cared for the stallion, but the bond of a child, however mistaken the child was, still made her wonder sometimes. Where was he now? Was he still alive? He couldn't know he had been a father until his real wife conceived a child for them. But if he knew about his child, would he protect it?

She mentally shook herself. The stallion didn't matter. He was just a pawn and she had made a mistake. Now, she was going to remedy that. She would remove that stain on the changeling name forever.

Discoveries, Good and Bad

Isabella opened her eyes to find her self standing in darkness. She recognized this feeling. She began to move and the small chain of light that connected her to Big Macintosh appeared. She followed it, but she was walking for several minutes before Big Macintosh appeared before her. She knew what would happen now. She reached out a hoof and pushed it through his chest, or rather, she tried to, but this time her hoof made contact with his chest. She looked up into his face to see him smiling, not smugly, but kindly, down at her.

She blinked as he reached out to take hold of her. She recoiled only slightly, but relaxed as his hooves wrapped around her. It was a strangely calm feeling, unlike anything she had ever felt before. He just held her close and she let herself be held like a child.

After what seemed only a few minutes but what could have been an hour or more, Big Macintosh set Isabella down. She reluctantly took her feet as she watched him stand and begin to walk away.

She tried to follow him, but she couldn't move for some reason.

"Wait! Don't leave me!" she yelled after him. She tried to lift her hooves, but they seemed to have become cemented to the ground.

He continued to walk, and soon, he disappeared. She gasped and felt her heart almost stop. The small cord of light connecting them had disappeared. She felt hollow. Completely empty.

She felt her eyes begin to sting and she shut them tight as she strained against the force holding her down. It was a moment before she realized the reason her eyes stung was because she was crying. The tears rolled down her face. She did not care. She had to get back to Big Macintosh!

Suddenly, her eyes snapped open. She saw Big Macintosh leaning over her, fear and concern on his face. Her heart was beating insanely and she could feel the tracks the tears had made down her face. Her throat was raw as if she had been screaming. She could feel the connection. It was still there and it was still the same size as it had been. Nothing had changed.

For a moment, she simply looked up at Big Macintosh before she sat up and hugged herself to him, sobbing into his chest. She felt his arms wrap around her as he began to rock back and forth, whispering quiet words of comfort to her.

They ate the breakfast of apples and velvets the Big Macintosh had prepared in silence. Isabella was still thinking. Why had she had such a horrible dream? It must be related to the connection she and Big Macintosh shared. But the link was made from Big Macintosh's love. Why would it create something so terrible in her mind? But if it was born of the connection, and she was correct about it linking her mind with Big Macintosh's, then he would have felt something similar.

"Macintosh?" said Isabella, breaking the silence.

"Hm?" Big Macintosh had been reading the book Isabella had been browsing through the other night.

"Did you have a dream last night? Or rather, a nightmare?"

Big Macintosh looked at her perplexed for a moment then arched his eyebrow and frowned up at the ceiling. He was obviously trying to remember it. After a moments silence, his eyes grew big and he blushed. He opened his mouth, then shut it, then opened it again, only to shut it once more.

"Uh... Nope." was all he said before quickly looking back down into the book.

Isabella narrowed her eyes. She wasn't an idiot. It was more than obvious he was lying, but she decided not to pursue it.

When they had finished breakfast, Big Macintosh grabbed a few things from the back room and reemerged with a satchel on his back. He walked up to Isabella and handed her a small bag filled with bits. She looked up at him, rather confused.

"Whats this?" she asked him.

"That's yer pay. Ya took care of most of the shack and ya deserve something fer it." he said, smiling down at her.

"I can't take this. You're already letting me live here." she protested, trying to give him the money back, but he refused.

"Ah'm letting ya stay cause Ah want to. Ye obliged me when you cleaned the shack and did a right good job of it. Ya deserve some payment." he said, walking to the door and holding it open for her.

Isabella rolled her eyes and smiled as she stepped outside into the sunlight. Big Macintosh closed the door and led her to the left, back towards the farm house. When they walked past the house, Granny Smith waved at them and Applebloom yelled 'Hey y'all'. Isabella and Big Macintosh waved as they walked past and began to follow the road that led from the farm house.

Several minutes later, Isabella could see a clock tower come into view, then houses and stores started to appear. They stepped over a small bridge and finally entered town. There were all sorts of ponies here. Unicorns, pegasi, earth ponies. Some were big, others small. Isabella saw a vivid pink pony with bouncing curly hair jumping around rather than walking, and she saw a orange filly with violet spiked hair zooming around on a scooter. The diversity was amazing. Even in Canterlot there hadn't been this much variety. Most ponies just wore what seemed to be 'in fashion' and therefore all managed to look about the same.

"Wow." she said, still looking around.

"This here is Ponyville. Ah know a lot of the folk around here." he said smiling and waving at the pink bouncing pony.

The pony waved back, did a double take, and seemed to teleport to them. Isabella's eyes went wide and she brought her head back as the pink pony brought her face within an inch of her own. It was a mare, and her light blue eyes seemed to gleam with a strange light. Moments later, the mare's face split into a huge grin as she said "Hi! I'm Pinkie Pie! What's your name?"

Isabella blinked. She was flummoxed. She had never been greeted by a pony like this before. She stepped back, but the pony followed, still beaming. Big Macintosh stepped in and said "Pinkie. Step back just a bit. She needs her space."

The mare obliged, the smile never slipping or fading in the slightest as she backed up and sat down.

"Uh, I'm Isabella. I take it your name is Pinkie Pie?" she said making sure she had the name correct.

It seemed impossible, but the mare's smile got even wider as she turned to Big Macintosh, "She's from Canterlot isn't she? She makes me think of Rarity and Twilight."

Big Macintosh was about to respond when Pinkie Pie gasped hugely, turned to Isabella again, and said "You just have to meet them! I know you don't know them because you're new here. I know you're new because I know every pony in Ponyville, and I don't know you yet, so that means you're new here. I'll go and tell them to expect you today! Big Mac! Make sure to take her by the library and the dress shop to meet them. See you guys later!", and with that, she turned and dashed away.

Isabella blinked, looked at Big Macintosh, blinked again and said "Uh.... wow?"

Big Macintosh simply shook his head and grinned. "That's Pinkie Pie for ya. If she doesn't throw ya a surprise party by the end of the day Ah'll be shocked."

"She's going to throw a surprise party for me?" asked Isabella, alarmed.

"Don't worry. It wont be too hectic. Sides, Ah'll be there ta keep an eye on ya, okay?" he said, reassuringly.

Isabella looked at him and smiled. As they continued walking, Isabella began to think. A party? For her? It would be the first time in her life she would have a party just for her. She felt giddy again. She was experiencing more things in a few days here than she had in thirteen years in Canterlot.

As they walked, Big Macintosh stopped at several stands, buying several different kinds of seeds, talking with other ponies, and introducing Isabella.

They were walking along when two pegasi landed in front of them.

"Hey Big Mac!" said the first one to land. It was a mare and she had a cyan coat and a rainbow striped mane and tail. The other landed next to her a little more delicately, but said nothing. She had a yellow coat and a pale pink mane and tail.

"Hello Rainbow Dash," said Big Macintosh to the cyan mare before turning to the yellow one, "Hi Fluttershy. How you doin'? "

'Fluttershy' didn't respond. She glanced at Isabella and Big Macintosh, then looked down at the ground, but 'Rainbow Dash' stepped forward and said "We're pretty good. I was just helping Fluttershy with something. Angel was sick today so we came into town to get some medicine. Who's your friend?". A small smirk crossed Rainbow Dash's face as she looked Isabella up and down.

"This is Ms. Isabella." said Big Macintosh, nudging Isabella forward slightly, before he turned to Fluttershy and said "Don't be rude. Say hello."

"Hey!" said Rainbow Dash, thrusting her hoof forward as Fluttershy mutter a quiet "Hello."

Once again, Big Macintosh brought a hoof out to lower Rainbow Dash's, but Isabella said "Please. I'm quite alright with greeting some one Macintosh. Thank you." she held out her hoof and shook Rainbow Dash's. "How do you do?" she said with a small smile.

Rainbow Dash smiled fully and said "This is Fluttershy. Her name already tells you what she's like. She doesn't take to new ponies very easily." She wrapped her foreleg around Fluttershy's neck and noogied her.

"Oh. Please don't Rainbow Dash." said Fluttershy, trying to pull away weakly.

Rainbow Dash let go of her friend and addressed Isabella. "So, are you living here now?"

She looked up at Big Macintosh , who nodded and spoke for her. "She's stayin with me. She had some family troubles back in Canterlot, so Ah've taken her in."

Rainbow Dash arched an eyebrow and said "Are you sure that's the only reason you took her in, Big Mac? She is rather pretty."

Rainbow Dash shrunk slightly under the look Big Macintosh gave her.

"Ah have no intentions of doing anything like ye where just thinking, Rainbow Dash, and frankly, Ah think you should feel ashamed for having such thoughts. She is my guest. Ah won't be makin' advances on an emotionally damaged mare." He said, his voice carrying a slight growl.

"I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean... I was just... sorry." said Rainbow Dash, hanging her head.

Isabella shook her head and said "Macintosh. She was merely make jest to the fact that a single stallion such as your self was taking a, and I quote, 'beautiful' mare into your home. It is rather suspect." She smirked up at Big Macintosh, who blushed. Isabella was shocked at herself. She was speaking in defense of this mare she had just met. Had she really changed this much since leaving Canterlot?

"Ah... guess, when ya put it that way, yer right. Sorry Rainbow Dash." said Big Macintosh, scratching the back of his head.

Rainbow Dash's head shot back up, a new smile back on her face. "It's alright Big Mac. I know you're a protective type. I should have thought before I spoke. I'd love to stay and chat some more with you guys, but me and Fluttershy need to get that medicine for angel ASAP. Come on Fluttershy!" said Rainbow Dash as she darted away.

Fluttershy bowed her head slightly to Isabella and whispered "Goodbye. It was nice meeting you." before she flew after Rainbow Dash.

Isabella smirked after the two pegasi. They were actually rather pleasant, even if Fluttershy hadn't said more than two or three sentences the entire time. It was strange. The ponies here were so much more different than the ones in Canterlot. She could just 'get along' with these ponies, but the ones in Canterlot had always had mixed motives. Always trying to get something from her. These ponies just seemed to like anyone they met.

Big Macintosh looked down at Isabella and said "Have ya ever heard of a sonic rainboom?"

"Isn't that just an old mare's tail?" she asked him as they began walking again.

Big Macintosh laughed. "That's what everypony thought. That is, until they met Rainbow Dash. She's the fasted pegasus any one of us has known. She has proved on two occasions that the sonic rainboom isn't a myth. It's quite a sight. Ah'd ask her to show ya, but it takes some effort on her part, and she seems a bit busy today. Maybe some other time."

Isabella rolled her eyes. Why did he bother bringing it up if he thought she wouldn't have time to show it to anypony?

They continued to walk, and finally came to a large building that seemed to be carved into a living tree. A small sign outside the door depicted an open book. This was obviously the library. Big Macintosh opened the door for her and let it close as he stepped in behind her.

At first glance, the library was empty, but a few moments later, Isabella spotted a small violet and green reptilian creature standing on top of a ladder, trying to reach a book on a high shelf.

"Spike." said Big Macintosh.

The reptilian creature turned Its head and smiled at them. It was obviously male.

"Oh! Hi Big Macintosh. Twilight asked me to get this one book down, but I can't... quite... reach!" he said as he stood on his tip toes and scrabbled at the edge of a book before overbalancing and crashing to the floor.

Big Macintosh and Isabella trotted over to him quickly. He sat up and shook his head before glowering up at the ladder.

"Twilight needs to get me a new ladder sometime. I'm not tall enough to reach a lot of these books." said the little reptile.

"Well, maybe ye'll develop wings soon. Yer still just a baby dragon after all." said Big Macintosh.

Isabella raised her eyebrows. A dragon? In a city? That was something she had never seen before. But as Spike pushed himself up and brushed himself off, she could see he has indeed, a dragon.

"So who's your friend?" said Spike, looking up at Isabella. He raised his 'eyebrows' and she could see his eyes scanning over her face.

"My name is Isabella. I'm new here. I take it your name is Spike? And you're a dragon?" she said offering her hoof, which the little dragon took.

"Oh, yeah. You're surprised to see a dragon here?"

"Well," Isabella hesitated for a moment. She hadn't actually ever met a dragon, but she had read about them and heard stories. She had never actually seen a dragon. "I've never heard of a dragon living in a city, with ponies before. I must admit, it comes as pretty strange to me."

Spike laughed. "I didn't come here really by choice. I don't dislike living here, but I didn't come from a dragon colony. I was hatched by Twilight. It was her opening task for entering magic school, so I was pretty much raised by her. I'm the only dragon I've ever met that lived with ponies, so I don't think you'll meet many other dragons like me." he said smiling up at her and releasing her hoof.

A dragon born into the custody of a pony and acting as an assistant? The idea was strange to her, but she didn't dwell on it.

A moment later, a violet unicorn came down from the upper levels of the library, saying "Spike? Are you okay? Who are you talking... Oh! Hi Big Macintosh!" she stopped for a moment when she saw Isabella, then she smiled as she walked up to them. "Is this Isabella? Pinkie Pie stopped by earlier and told me to expect you two." she said as she approached Isabella.

Isabella noticed a shift in Twilight's eyes as she got closer and looked her in the face. It wasn't a look of malice, but of confusion, just for a second. Isabella tried to push that look out of her head, but that expression stayed burnt into her mind, even after Twilight began talking to Big Macintosh about something.

"So. Did you stop by just because Pinkie told you to, or did you want to borrow a book or two. You can never know too much." she said beaming at them.

"The reason Pinkie Pie figured you should meet Ms. Isabella was because she also hails from Canterlot." said Big Macintosh, breaking Isabella out of her cloud of thought.

"Really?" asked Twilight, "I don't think I've ever seen you there. Where did you live? In one of the small homes or up in an estate?"

Big Macintosh looked at Isabella with concern and then said "Isabella left under some very... poor circumstances. Ah don't think we should talk about it. But, yes Twilight, Ah would like to get a few books."

Twilight looked at Big Macintosh, back at Isabella, then back at Big Macintosh before she smiled and said "Alright. tell me what you need."

Isabella walked over to the window and looked outside as Big Macintosh began talking to Twilight about a few different books. Isabella began to lose herself in thoughts of the nightmare again when Spike appeared next to her.

"So... how long have you been here?" he asked.

"Only about six days. From what I've seen, it's much more pleasant than Canterlot. The ponies here are a lot less like they were made from a giant cookie cutter." said Isabella.

Spike laughed. "I guess you could say that. Wait till you meet Derpy. She's definitely not a cookie cutter pony."

"Isabella."

Spike and Isabella turned to see Big Macintosh holding the door open. "It's time to go. Ya gotta meet Rarity before we head back home." he said tilting his head toward the door.

Isabella said her farewells to Spike and stepped out the door. She noticed Big Macintosh didn't follow right behind her. As she turned around to see where he was she saw Twilight reach up to kiss him on the cheek.

Isabella never felt anything like what she felt that moment. A huge jolt in her stomach, rushing of blood to her cheeks, and a twinge of hatred for the violet unicorn. She turned away quickly and waited rigidly outside the door. What on earth was that feeling? She had held dislike for other ponies before, but this was completely different. She had had no qualms with Twilight, until the moment she saw her kiss Big Macintosh on the cheek.

When Big Macintosh joined her outside after closing the door behind him, he looked down at Isabella and asked "Are you alright?"

"Fine." she said walking off swiftly. She had no idea what direction the dress shop was in, but she didn't care. "I'm fine. Lets go see Rarity. I'm feeling tired. The sooner we get this over with, the sooner I can have a rest." she said as she put her nose in the air.

She was obviously heading in the right direction, because Big Macintosh fell into stride with her. They walked in silence for the longest time.

"You sure yer alright?" he asked again, after a few minutes.

"I'm fine." she said, a little more insistently this time. She did not want to talk about this with him. As far as she was concerned, he had lied to her about not having kissed any other pony. What was that she had just seen?

She felt his hoof on her shoulder and she spun around and glared up at him. He recoiled slightly, but did not take his hoof from her shoulder.

"It's obvious yer upset. Now tell me, truthfully. What's wrong?" he said, raising his eyebrows at her.

She opened her mouth, closed it, opened it, and closed it again. She didn't know what was wrong. She finally found something to throw at him.

"You told me you've never kissed anypony! You liar!" she yelled at him and turned her back on him, folding her front legs across her chest.

"Ah did not lie. Twilight is merely a friend." said Big Macintosh, trying to turn Isabella around again.

She did not budge as she said "Yeah right. I've never seen 'friends' kissing before."

Big Macintosh was silent for a moment, then she heard him chuckle. "Yer jealous."

Isabella turned to look at him. "I'm what?"

She had heard the term, but she didn't understand what it meant exactly. Big Macintosh simply grinned down at her for a moment with one of his eyebrows arched.

"Yer jealous. You think Ah like Twilight, and you resent that. You want me to like you." he said, smiling even wider at her.

Isabella's eyes grew wide and she blushed vigorously. Now that she thought about it, that was exactly what she had felt. She had never had that felling before and he not been able to recognize it.

"N-No! Don't be stupid! I am not! I just don't like to be lied to!" she yelled at him. She was obviously in denial, she knew that, but she could not accept that she had such feelings for him. She may respect Big Macintosh, but she would never believe she liked him. She was a princess. And he was a farm boy.

"Sure. Come on. We're almost to Rarity's" he said, a big smile still spread across his face.

As he turned to walk away, Isabella's pride got the best of her. She ran past him, ignoring his yells for her to slow down. She ran until she came to the first building that didn't resemble a house. She dashed inside, slammed the door, and slumped against it. She sighed to herself and just looked down at her hooves. The connection between them had obviously made her soft. She didn't want this.

"Are you sure about that?"

The little voice in her head was back. Why must it always come at times like this?

"I'm absolutely sure that I don't want this. I can't."

"But why not? You have matured. You can no longer draw love from others as you once did. He still has love for you."

"But that's the problem! What if he loves somepony else? Why give my heart to someone that has given theirs to someone else?"

"You heard him. He said he was only friends with Twilight."

"And we have a guarantee of that?"

"Excuse me." came another voice."But who are you talking to?"

Isabella looked up to see a white unicorn with exquisitely curled violet hair standing before her, smiling kindly down at her.

Isabella rubbed her foreleg over her eyes. She realized she had been speaking out loud. She grimaced and said "No one. I'm just talking to myself."

"Darling. Come with me." said the mare, holding her hoof out to Isabella. She took it without a word and followed the unicorn. The store that she had come into was filled with dresses and beautiful jewelry and accessories. It was a dress shop.

Isabella looked at the mare that led her and realized that this must be Rarity.

Rarity led her up a flight of stairs and into a comfortable looking room with several couches, each of which had several soft pillows upon it. Isabella was set down on one such couch as Rarity pulled, as if from nowhere, a pot of tea and two cups, which she filled and handed one to Isabella.

"From what I heard, you are having trouble with love. Am I correct?" asked Rarity.

Isabella simply nodded as she sipped the tea. It was warm and soothed her spirit.

"How many times have you experienced love, my dear?" Rarity queried, looking at Isabella over her cup of tea as she sipped quietly at it.

Isabella shook her head. Rarity's look of confusion bade her elaborate.

"I've never felt like this before. For anyone." she said, as she set the cup down.

"Never? You've never been in love? My goodness. Why is that?" Rarity set her cup down now too, obviously surprised by what Isabella had told her.

Isabella told the truth. "I never needed to."

Rarity looked at her in confusion before picking her tea back up and saying "Oh come now dear. A girl likes to be crossed in love every now and then. How could you have never needed to love?"

Isabella tried to think of an excuse.She wasn't going to say 'Oh, I'm just a half changeling'. She figured she might give another half truth. She was good at those.

"Well, it wasn't exactly a lack of need, it was just more that I couldn't find anyone I could really love." she said, shrugging slightly. Actually saying the word love was strange to her tongue, but she rolled with it.

"You lived in Canterlot for how long?" asked Rarity.

"About thirteen years." said Isabella, taking another sip.

Rarity's eyebrows rose quickly as she said "You mean to tell me you were there for thirteen years, and you never fell in love with some one?"

Isabella shook her head and took another drink.

"My goodness! How is that possible? I met someone I liked very much the first time I visited there."

"I guess they weren't my type." said Isabella simply. That was all too true. She had never felt any attraction to any of the ponies in Canterlot. They were all so bland and... bleh.

"Well, each and everypony to her own. But, you are in love at this point in time, correct?" asked Rarity, leaning forward.

Isabella hesitated, but finally admitted to Rarity and herself "Yes."

It was strange. Actually admitting to herself that she 'loved' this stallion. She never had loved and had never intended to, but Big Macintosh made her feel different. He was quiet, caring, strong, wasn't lazy, and with the connection between them, she could tell he felt for her. Even without the connection, she would have been able to tell after he had tried to kiss her.

Rarity clapped her hooves together and giggled as her eyes shone brightly.

"Good! Girls always need somepony to love! Who is he? I know most of the ponies around here and I should be able to help you make the proper moves to woo your man." said Rarity with a large grin on her face.

Isabella opened her mouth to respond when there was a knock on the door on the level bellow.

"Rarity! Rarity! Ah need yer help!"

It was Big Macintosh.Isabella didn't want to have to be confronted by him right now. She was still trying to process her own feelings for him and his presence wouldn't make it any easier. She looked at Rarity, pleading with her eyes. A look of sudden realization crossed Rarity's face and she nodded.

Isabella watched Rarity leave the room and perked her ears up, listening intently.

"Hello Big Macintosh. What seems to be the problem?"

"Pinkie Pie stopped by earlier correct?" Isabella assumed Rarity nodded, because Big Macintosh continued. "Well then you know ah was supposed to arrive with some one. We were talking and she got upset and ran off. Have ya seen her?"

"Well, that depends. What did she look like?"

"She has a gorgeous white coat, a beautiful midnight blue, wavy mane and tail, and violently green eyes. She's a little taller than you, has a long, lean face and slender legs. You wouldn't be able to miss her."

Isabella blushed. She didn't think he had payed that much attention to how she looked.Her ears perked up again as she heard Rarity speak.

"Well, that's certainly quite the description, Big Macintosh. Do you like this mare, or is she just a good friend of yours?"

Silence. Isabella strained her ears. Her breath caught in her throat and even her ears grew hot.

"She... shes just a friend." came the reply.

Isabella sighed and let her ears drop as she looked down at her hooves. She was just a friend. Nothing more. That was the end of it.

A moment later, Rarity stepped back into the room.

"What's wrong dear?" she asked.

"He was the one." she said, not looking up.

"You mean, he is the one."

Isabella looked up at Rarity, who was smiling widely at her.

"But... you just heard him say.."

"My dear, when you've seen as many love struck mares and stallions as I have, you can tell. He's insane about you. And you heard the way he described you. He obviously has taken a great deal of time to look at you. I can see why he's so taken with you and I've only been talking with you for about ten minutes." Rarity sat down across from her and tossed her hair lightly before she continued. "Now we just have to find a way to make him admit it. He obviously hasn't admitted it to himself or he would have said it outright. Big Macintosh isn't the kind to tell what he thinks is a lie. And you will have to admit to him that you love him back."

Isabella's looked at Rarity in disbelief.

"You're kidding, right?" she asked hopefully.

"Darling, please. You can't hope to go anywhere with this if you have an attitude like that. He like you, you like him. You must both confess to that if you want to be one." said Rarity, shaking her head in exasperation.

Isabella blinked. That was it? Admit to Big Macintosh she like him? Was this mare insane?

Isabella opened her mouth to say something, but stopped. She felt something. Something she hadn't felt since she was a child.

Rarity's face changed as Isabella felt her eyes widen.

"Are you alright?" asked Rarity as Isabella stood up.

"No time to explain! Something's not right!" yelled Isabella as she ran out of the room and down the stairs.

She heard Rarity follow her. She didn't mind. If what she felt was right, she was going to need more than a little help.

She ran outside and looked around. There were ponies all around, but Isabella could feel it. She didn't have to see them. She followed that tugging. She knew the feeling well, even having been separated from it for thirteen years.

Isabella skidded to a halt and stared. Big Macintosh was speaking to what appeared to be a normal pegasus. Her eyes narrowed and she lowered her head.

At that moment, Big Macintosh looked in her direction. His eyes grew wide and his ears perked up.

He trotted towards her and said "Isabella! I was so worried! Where did... you... Isabella? Are you alright?"

Isabella had not taken her eyes off the pegasus that had been talking to Big Macintosh. The stallion was smirking back at her.

"How did you find me?" yelled Isabella.

"I'm glad to see your senses haven't dulled over time... sister." said the stallion, his eyes gleaming maliciously.

"Answer the question, scum!" Isabella growled.

All the ponies in the area had stopped talking and had cleared out a small circle around the stallion and Isabella. Rarity and Big Macintosh stood next to Isabella.

"Sister? Who is this stallion, Isabella?" asked Big Macintosh, confusion thick in his voice.

"He's only a half brother, I'll explain later." Isabella, before she yelled "How did you find me?" again.

"We didn't. We were just looking for you, and you revealed yourself." said the stallion. It smiled wickedly as Its form began to shift.

All the ponies around screamed and began to run away as the stallion's coat became black. Its wings became insectoid and a sharp horn appeared on his head as Its hooves became riddled with holes. The last thing to change were the eyes. The pupils shrank until they disappeared and the color of the eyes became a deep and dangerous aqua.

Big Macintosh's mouth fell open and Rarity gasped.

"It's a changeling! I have to get the girls!" screamed Rarity as she turned and ran towards the library.

"What's a change..." started Big Macintosh.

He was interrupted as Isabella bellowed what sounded like a war cry as she ran forward. The changeling mirrored her and ran forward at Isabella. They collided, head to head, and the changeling bounced back. Isabella jumped onto her and began punching her across the face.

"Isabella! Look out!" yelled Big Macintosh.

She looked up and jumped to the side as a long javelin sank into the chest of the changeling stallion, who let out a hissing gurgle and went limp.

She grabbed the javelin and looked over to see who threw it. Two burly looking stallions stood glaring at her with nasty grins on their faces. A pegasi was hovering over them, and then changed, just like the other one had.

One of the stallions spoke in a high reedy voice. "Isabella! Sir Roderick and your own mother want your head! We can remove it here and take it back to them, or you can come with us and give it to them yourself!"

"What are they talking about Isabella?"

"She's a wanted criminal, big fella. Grab her for us, will ya?" called the other stallion. He had a very deep, guttural voice that made him sound like some one had beat him over the head with a frying pan when he was a baby.

Isabella heard Big Macintosh step forward behind her. She turned and looked up at him, but he wasn't looking at her. He was glaring at the other ponies. He stepped up next to her and continued to glare at them. They stood in silence like that for almost a full minute.

Suddenly, Big Macintosh grabbed the javelin from Isabella and flung it, straight and true, into the deeper voiced stallion's throat. He let out a horrible gurgle and a growl and hit the floor like a sack of flower.

"Now it's an even fight!" he bellowed at them.

Isabella felt the chain of light between her and Big Macintosh strengthen. She smirked to herself and then narrowed her eyes at the other ponies.

All was silent for a moment, then, as if they were given a cue, all four of them moved at once.

Isabella ran forward, jumped off the nose of the stallion, who tried to grab her, and air tackled the changeling. Big Macintosh ran up and wrapped his arms around the stallion and flung him to the side, before straddling him and beating him across the face. The changeling had Isabella by the mane, but she let go with a scream as Isabella bit her back leg.

Big Macintosh was pushed off as Isabella and the changeling wrestled across the ground, slamming each other into the ground. The stallion tried to step on Big Macintosh's throat, but was stopped as Big Macintosh punched him in the gut. He fell over, gasping for air as Big Macintosh stomped on his face.

Isabella forced one of her hooves in between two of the changeling's ribs and pushing as hard as she could. The Changeling screamed as she felt the cartilage connecting the ribs split and tear. She rolled away and quivered in pain, but Isabella was back on her in a moment, biting her ear.

"Stop!" came a shout from nearby.

Isabella pinned the changeling down and looked up.

Rarity had returned with Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Applejack.

Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity ran over to stop Big Macintosh as Twilight sped over to Isabella.

Twilight summoned shackles and placed them around the changeling's wrists and ankles. Isabella was about to say 'thank you', when she was lifted in the air. He arms were held apart and he legs felt like they had huge weights attached to them. She couldn't move. She looked down in shock at Twilight, her horn glowing, and a partially frightened and partially stern look splayed across her face.

"What are you doing?!" Isabella screamed.

"You've got a lot of explaining to do, Isabella." responded Twilight.

Mistakes of the Past

"What do ya think yer doin'?!" yelled Big Macintosh, as he galloped up to Twilight.

Rainbow Dash appeared infront of him with her arms held out. He simply pushed her to the side and press his face up against Twilight's, glaring into her eyes. She took a step back and looked up at him. There was no fear in her expression.

"Rarity told me what happened. She also told me about how Isabella confessed that this changeling -" she jerked her head towards the confined changeling, "- is her half sister. If that's true, Isabella is not all she seems."

Big Macintosh's eyes flashed to Isabella for but a moment, before he glared back down at Twilight. "I don't care if she's Discord's great grand baby! Put her down or Ah'll...!" He raised a hoof as if to hit Twilight.

"Stop! Macintosh!" yelled Isabella as Twilight flinched.

He looked over at her, his hoof still high in the air.

"If you hit her, they'll tie you up too. Don't do it. Please." she said, shaking her head slightly.

Big Macintosh lowered his hoof slowly before turning again to Twilight and snarling "She protects ya and you still hold her prisoner."

"Big Macintosh! Do you even know what changelings can do? Twilight obviously knows more about these creatures than we do. Listen to her!" reprimanded Applejack.

"Dears! Lets talk this over civilly, in the house. Come now." said Rarity, striding towards her shop.

Twilight glanced at Big Macintosh, who gestured for her to move to the house. She narrowed her eyes and began walking to the house, Isabella floating behind her. Big Macintosh followed, walking next to Isabella. Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie dragged the unconscious stallion into the house as Applejack pulled the changeling in last, shutting the door behind her.

Once they were all assembled in the room that Rarity and Isabella had shared a pot of tea in, Twilight turned to Isabella and began.

"Were do you come from, really?" asked Twilight, pacing back and forth infront of her. Isabella was no longer hanging in the air, but she was heavily shackled and chained to one of the couches, her front legs stuck together by the cuffs.

"I told you already. I came from Canterlot." she said, rolling her eyes slightly.

"I'd believe that, but you are part changeling. How would the other ponies not notice you?" asked Twilight, stopping infront of her and looking her in the face.

"I kept my head down." said Isabella simply.

"You're lucky the Princess has been gone for the last twenty years. You would have been sniffed out immediately." said Twilight.

There was a mutual gasp from every pony in the room, except Isabella and Twilight.

"Wait! The Princess has been gone for twenty years?! I just thought she was ignoring us all this time! What's she been doing?" yelled Rainbow Dash.

"She's been working with powerful magic, in lands far away. She would not risk it going wrong here. I can't say anymore, or I'd tell you all the story. I don't know who she left in charge though, but they sure did a lousy job" said Twilight dismissively, before she turned back to Isabella, who snorted and added "You can say that again."

Twilight was not amused. "How did you get to Canterlot? You certainly weren't born there." Twilight said, jabbing Isabella in the chest. Big Macintosh took a step forward, but was stopped by Applejack's hoof on his shoulder.

Isabella glanced at him before looking back into Twilight's eyes. She would have to come out with the truth sooner or later. She took a deep breath and started.

"I arrived in Canterlot at the age of six. If you must know how I got there, I walked. And you're right. I wasn't born there. I was born in a far distant land, in the hive of the changelings. I am an outcast among them and do not wish to be part of them." she said, narrowing her eyes slightly.

The room went quiet as all the other ponies looked at Isabella, fear and curiosity abundant in their eyes. Twilight simply glared at her.

"That's just your word against your nature. We can't trust you Isabella." said Twilight, beginning to pace again. After another minute of silence, Twilight asked "What did you do for the thirteen years you were there?"

Isabella glanced at Big Macintosh, then closed her eyes. If she was going to confess, it would be for him, not for Twilight.

"Why do you want to know?" she asked.

"Because I need to know what you're capable of. You seem incapable of changing form, lest you would have vanished shortly after arriving here, but if you could remain undetected for so long, you must have some set of skills we don't know about." said Twilight, turning her back on Isabella.

"I was a thief. A better one then you'll ever meet. I ran half of Canterlot through the underworld." She turned her head to Big Macintosh. "I fled the city, not to flee a marriage of shame, but to flee the guards. I was caught during a heist and could no longer stay there."

She locked her eyes with his, and he stared back into hers. For several minutes they stared at each other, before Big Macintosh blinked, shook his head and looked away.

Isabella's heart broke. Her lies had been enough to drive the stallion she loved away, and the cord of light that had seemed so strong almost faded from existence. A single tear rolled down her cheek as she looked back at Twilight with a glare in her eyes. Twilight's eyes were hard.

"Fluttershy!" called Twilight without looking away from Isabella.

"Um... yes?" came the murmured response.

"Are those old caves beneath your house still functional?" asked Twilight.

"They're still fine. What do you need them for?" asked the timid mare.

"Isabella, the changeling, and the stallion will be placed there. I will make..."

"No!" interrupted Rarity.

Twilight looked at her, confusion evident on her face, her eyebrows raised.

"Put the other two ruffians there if you wish, but you will leave Isabella here, in my custody." she said, her words more of a commandment rather than a request.

Twilight looked at her for a long moment, but when Rarity's conviction did not falter, Twilight sighed.

"Very well, but she will remain locked here. I will keep the key to her restraints. We can't risk her... escaping." said Twilight, looking into Rarity's eyes before turning to the others and asking, "Any one have something else to add?"

None of the others said anything. Big Macintosh shuffled his hooves.

"Good." said Twilight as she turned to Isabella. "You are now officially under house arrest. You won't leave here until we deem it fit, or until the Princess returns and decides what to do with you. We're finished here. Rarity. Good evening." said Twilight as she trotted out of the room.

The others looked at Isabella, then at each other, and finally began to file out of the room slowly. Big Macintosh was one of the last ones to leave.

Before he left, he took one last look at Isabella, and she looked down at her hooves. She could feel his eyes on her, but she would not look at him. She knew he resented her for telling him a lie. She let out a sigh as she heard his heavy hoof steps leave the room. It was only her and Rarity left in the room now.

Isabella lowered her head and let the new tears that welled in her eyes roll down her face and off her nose. She heard Rarity walk up to her and put a hoof on her shoulder. She shrugged the hoof off and took a deep breath before saying "Please. Leave me."

She heard Rarity walk to the door, turn, and say "I'm so sorry dear." before she left the room.

Isabella buried her face into the couch, but she did not sob. She simply did not want to think. Her heart shattered, her freedom forfeit, and she knew, now that Chrysalis was involved, she would be dead soon.

Two days passed. Rarity brought food and drink up to the room every now and then. Several times she tried to start a conversation, but Isabella would not say anything. She hardly ate, and wouldn't drink anything. All Isabella did was sit on the couch she had been chained to and look down at her hooves. She had cried, but only for a short time before she fell into suppressed silence.Twilight would make occasion appearances but would never say anything to Isabella. She was merely checking to see she was still there.

On the third day, a small knock came on the door. Isabella knew it was Rarity, but she didn't respond. Rarity didn't wait for a response anyways. She pushed the door open with a small trolly that was laden down with sandwiches, two cups of an orange drink, and a pitcher of the same kind of drink. Isabella did not look up as Rarity pushed the trolly up next to her.

"I thought you may want something to eat." said Rarity. She had said that every time she had brought something up for Isabella. The result was always the same. Complete silence.

Rarity sat down across from Isabella on one of the other lush couches and said "It really is bleak in here. Maybe I should get a tapestry or two to hang about the walls. What do you think darling?" as she pushed one of the glasses toward Isabella. She didn't look at it.

Rarity looked her over. She was still beautiful, but it all seemed for not when she was so crest fallen. The light that Rarity had seen in her eyes the day previously was gone. They were dark and flat and there was no peace there. Her mane and tail seemed to have deflated and it almost looked like her coat had faded to gray.

Rarity pushed the trolly to the side, leaned forward, and placed a hoof on Isabella's shoulder. Isabella looked up at Rarity, her eyes seeming to stare through her.

"Dear? Please say something. You're scaring me." said Rarity, her eyes filled with concern.

Isabella blinked and looked back down. She had nothing to say, and even if she did, she would not be able to find her voice to say it. Her heart still beat, but its beating seemed pointless to her. Why should it keep going when she had lost the only connection of such magnitude she had ever had with a stallion? It was meaningless.

Isabella felt Rarity's hoof slip off her shoulder and heard her leave the room. A few minutes later, she heard the front door open and close. Rarity had obviously left somewhere. Isabella didn't care. She didn't even think about it. She lay her head down and let herself fall asleep.

Several hours later, after night had fallen, Isabella was still sleeping. She had been emotionally exhausted and didn't have anything better to do, but she woke when there was a knock on the door.

Isabella lifted her head and sighed without even looking at the door. She knew Rarity would let herself in. She was correct.

Rarity opened the door and stepped in quickly before shutting the door behind her. She had a small pouch in her mouth, which she dropped infront of Isabella.

Isabella looked up at Rarity. What was this? Rarity shook her head at Isabella's confused expression.

"No time to explain. Open it."

Isabella opened the pouch with her nose and looked into it. She was shocked. It was her lock picking tools. She knew where Rarity had gone now. How had she managed to get these from Big Macintosh?

She opened her mouth to say something, but Rarity said "No time! Get yourself out of those cuffs while I pack you something to take on the road. Quickly now!" she hissed as she rushed back out of the room.

Isabella stared after her in for a moment, completely flabbergasted, before she grabbed a lock pick with her mouth and began to break open the clasps around her wrists. The lock didn't last long and soon she was free. She stood and wrapped the pouch around her waist, then she trotted out of the door and down the stairs. Rarity was just finishing packing a large satchel as Isabella entered the kitchen.

"Oh good. You're ready. I've just finished packing your gear. It's not safe here for you dear." said Rarity as she brought the pack over and set it on Isabella's back.

"I don't understand. Why are you doing this?" asked Isabella as Rarity tied the satchel onto her.

"My dear. You're not a bad mare. You may have made some crumby choices in the past, but that doesn't matter. You're a good pony now. I don't care what the others say." said Rarity, patting her back as she finished tying the satchel. "Now come, He's waiting for you."

"He?" Isabella asked.

Rarity said nothing, but opened the door for her and smiled. Isabella stepped out and felt her heart stop.

Big Macintosh stood before her with a smile on his face.

The connection that had nearly dwindled between them swelled and pulsated as their eyes met. Isabella ran forward and threw her arms around Big Macintosh's neck. She felt him raise a hoof and pat her back. She pulled back and looked up at him.

"I thought you..." she started. Big Macintosh but a hoof to her lips.

"Ah knew you were more than a noble pony when Ah found you. Covered in that armor and all those knives, and Ah could understand ya lyin about that. Ah thought Ah hated you when you told us what ye were though. The way Twilight described it, you were a monster, and you had lied to me, but ah couldn't just leave you like this. Yer the closest friend ah ever had."

Isabella heard Rarity slap her face with her hoof. She knew why. Big Macintosh still had not admitted to himself that he loved Isabella back, but Isabella did not care. He did not hate her. That was all that matter to her.

"You two must leave, quickly. Twilight said she would visit to check on Isabella at midnight. Go, now!" said Rarity.

"You're coming with me?" asked Isabella, turning back to Big Macintosh, her eyes wide and her eyebrows raised. She had figured he had just come to see her off and forgive her. She never thought he would be coming with her.

Big Macintosh merely smiled and nodded.

"We gotta go." he said.

He turned and began to stride into night. Isabella waved to Rarity over her shoulder as she trotted along side Big Macintosh. Soon, they were lost to night.

Crank lifted his head off of the ground and shook it. He felt like some one had taken a large mallet to the back of his skull. He blinked several times and looked around. He seemed to be in a dimly lit cave.

"Good. You're finally awake. Now, we need to find a way out of here."

Crank turned himself over to see the changeling that had survived with him after the fight. She seemed to be in a great deal of pain, but was still capable of movement. It lifted Itself up as Crank pushed himself into a siting position.

"Where are we?" asked Crank, rubbing the sore part on the back of his head.

"Some caves under some pony's house. All I really know is that we need to get out of here." said the changeling.

Crank stood up and walked around. Soon he found the door out. He placed a hoof on it. It didn't budge, but it did vibrate slightly. He leaned against it and pushed. He felt the hinges flex. One good pound should do the trick.

"Hang on a second." said the changeling.

Crank looked over at her.

"What?" he asked impatiently.

"You really wanna barge out into another fight? We'd be out numbered for sure. And besides. From what I can tell, that door has a spell on it. What the spell does, I don't know, but I'm sure it isn't something good" said the changeling, taking a step away from the door.

"I don't care. I'm getting out of here. I have to tell Sir Roderick that we found her. We'll be rewarded for sure." he said, getting ready to charge. He didn't care if the changeling came with him. He wanted that reward. He threw himself at the door.

"Wait!" screamed the changeling.

Too late. Crank slammed into the door, sending it flying open. Moments later, he was consumed in fire. He screamed and pelted out of the caves, burning. His pleas for help and wails of pain mingled with the snap and crackle of burning flesh and fur.

The changeling stared at where the stallion had disappeared from sight for a moment, then dashed out after him. This was her only chance to escape. She could not save the stallion but he had been right. She needed to tell the queen.

It was midday after Big Macintosh and Isabella had left and they were almost to the mountains now. They had been walking all night and Isabella's feet were killing her. Isabella glanced at Big Macintosh every now and then. He had forgiven her but they hadn't spoken since leaving Rarity's, so Isabella decided to be the first to break the silence.

"Where exactly are we heading?" asked Isabella as she stumbled slightly over a larger rock.

Big Macintosh smiled as he spoke. "We need to get you to a place far from Ponyville and hidden from the eyes of this 'Sir Roderick' bloke. Ah have a private dwelling place here high up in the mountains. Ah figgered we could go there and stay fer a while. Ah think only myself and Granny Smith know about it."

Isabella looked up at the mountain and gave a small sound of discomfort. The walk would be hell, and when she thought about the prospect of literally living completely and entirely alone with a stallion she liked and she knew liked her back, even if he wouldn't admit it, made her squirm a little on the inside.

They began the climb, Isabella stumbling every now and then on a larger rock. It wasn't incredibly difficult, but after having been walking all night, Isabella was having trouble keeping up with Big Macintosh. He was taking huge strides and hardly ever stumbled. His large hooves giving him more support than Isabella's smaller ones did for her.

"So, you were a thief huh?" asked Big Macintosh. He sounded like he was just trying to start a conversation but Isabella knew he just wanted her to confirm it. To tell him it was really true.

She sighed. "Yes. I was a thief." she said, putting as much emphasis on the 'was' as possible. "I am not longer and have no interest in going back to that life."

Big Macintosh was quiet for a while. Finally, he spoke again. "What do changelings do, exactly?"

Isabella thought for a moment. She knew a lot about herself, but she was only half changeling. She hadn't spent much time learning about the pure blood changelings. She hadn't cared enough to find out.

"To tell the truth, I don't know very much about my kin. All I know is that my kind feeds off the love of other ponies. I used to be able to collect love from other pony's relationships, but now, I have to be the recipient of a pony's affection to feed off of it." she explained, trying to make if more understandable for Big Macintosh. She did not consider him a complete idiot anymore, but he still wasn't the sharpest knife in the drawer.

"So, Ah'm nothing but food to you?" he asked her. He did not turn around to look at her, or even stop, but she could hear his voice grow hard.

"No." said Isabella, her tone harsh as well.

"What am Ah to ya then?" he asked, stopping this time and looking back at her.

Isabella stopped for a moment and looked up at him. She thought of telling him, just for a moment, how she really felt, but they she pushed the thought away and walked up to, and then past him, responding with her own question.

"Why do you wanna know? Interested?" ,She flicked her tail, tickling his nose slightly, and continued to walk.

Big Macintosh frowned after her for a second before following. "...Yer my friend. Maybe my best friend, but that's where it stops." he said.

Isabella smiled to herself. Rarity was right. He was pining after her and she knew it. She could hear it in his voice.

They had managed to get about a quarter of the way up the mountain and Big Macintosh was back in the lead. He was trying to maneuver over some loose rocks when Isabella saw it happen.

Big Macintosh's hoof landed on an un-sturdy rock and it slid out from under him. His ankle twisted, a howl of pain escaped his lips, and he fell to the ground with a heavy 'thump'. Isabella ran up to him as quickly as she could. He kept trying to push himself up, but would fall back down each time. Isabella ducked under his bad leg and lifted, acting as his fourth leg as she looked around for some place to for him to rest.

She spotted a small caver not far away and began to drag him towards it. When he realized what she was doing, he walked with her. With her supporting him, they limped into the cave.

After Isabella set Big Macintosh down, she pulled her satchel off and began digging through it. Big Macintosh winced every time he moved, but he did not cry out anymore. He held his hoof close to his body and made sure it didn't touch the ground.

Isabella finally found the bandages and brought them over to Big Macintosh. She had not idea what to do, but she had a general idea. She reached out to take his hoof, but he recoiled slightly as she touched him. She frowned and reached out again, this time taking hold of his hoof as she said "Don't be such a baby. I can't help you if you start acting up." a mild tone of irritation in her voice.

Big Macintosh winced as she took his hoof, but did not pull away as she began to wrap his wrist. They were both silent as she worked on his wrist. Isabella moved slowly and wrapped carefully. She would glance up at him every now and then, and each time he was looking at her.

Rarity had definitely been right.

He seemed to lean toward her, and his eyes held nothing but a strange warmth, just like that of which she got from the link of light that connected them. That too had grown stronger. It was almost as big as her torso now, and she could feel, not only was she draining love from him, but she was feeding him her own. He did not feed off of it as she did, but she could still feel her own light streaming to him.

She finished wrapping his wrist and set it down gingerly before she looked him in the eyes. Their eyes connected and she felt her face flush slightly.

"There's something you want to tell me, isn't there?" she asked, smiling at him.

"Huh?" His face crossed with confusion.

She bumped his nose with her own slightly before she said, "You know full well what I mean."

He blushed too and pursed his lips slightly, now avoiding eye contact with her.

Isabella rolled her eyes impatiently and said "If you don't say it voluntarily, I'll force it out of you."

He turned his face back towards her and arched an eyebrow. "Oh really? Gonna twist my wrist and make me squeal, are ya?" he asked sceptically.

"I have another way to make you tell me what I want to know." she said.

And without another word, Isabella lifted his face and kissed him.

The Climb

"When do we plan to move out?" asked Chrysalis. She was becoming impatient. She hated waiting and in this case, time was of the essence.

"When we have a report. None of the teams have returned yet, but I believe we will receive news very soon." said Sir Roderick.

They were in his study once again and Chrysalis had forsaken her disguise. She was sitting next to the window glaring out of it while Sir Roderick sat in his large chintz chair.

Sir Roderick had become even more cock sure after Chrysalis had sent her "children" to assist his men. From what She had told him, changeling could sense each other, so if she was in any of the places they were patrolling, she would definitely be found. In this, he had faith.

Chrysalis was about to speak when there was a heavy beating on the door. Her form shifted and twisted quickly before Sir Roderick yelled "Who is it?"

The doors flew open and slammed against the walls, making several books fall from their places and making the windows shudder. It was one of the changelings. She was breathing heavily and trying to speak, but Sir Roderick cut her off.

"There were three others with you when you left. Where are they now?"

The changeling took several deep breaths before replying "Dead! They're all dead. I'm the only one that got away."

"Dead?! Where were you posted?! Who killed them?! Why didn't you stand and fight?!" yelled Sir Roderick, rising from his chair and advancing on the changeling.

She shrank before him.

"W-we were ambushed. The attack was not expected. It was her. Isabella. We found her. She's in Ponyville." replied the exhausted changeling.

The room went quiet. Chrysalis walked forward, closed the door and changed back to her normal form before she approached the changeling.

"Tell me. Did you or did you not remember that the mission was supposed to be discreet? And did you did you not remember that you were to come straight back here when you discovered her?!" asked Chrysalis, her voice building in a crescendo and reaching a bellow.

"I.... I.... We tried to..."

Chrysalis slapped the changeling before she could continue.

"If you can not follow simple orders, then you have no place here. You are banished, like your sister Isabella. Now get out." said Chrysalis as she turned away from the changeling.

She sat there in shock for several seconds before she turned and threw the doors open, dashing out of the room.

"Do you really think it wise? Letting her leave?" said Sir Roderick, looking at the opened doors, which Chrysalis shut quickly.

"I see no problem. There is nothing else she can do. Even if she attempts to warn Isabella, it is folly. Isabella has no doubt left Ponyville by now and if she couldn't find her in Ponyville, she won't be able to find her in the wilderness." said Chrysalis, approaching Sir Roderick, and placing a hoof on his cheek. "We must hunt her now. They have failed us and now it is time to take matters into our own hooves."

He pulled his face away from her hoof and nodded.

"Yes. I agree. But now that she knows we're coming, we'll have to travel in the shadows. She can not know we are coming or she'll simply flee again." he said, turning to the door.

Chrysalis morphed again and followed him, smiling. Finally, she would get to participate in the hunt for her mistaken heir.

Isabella finally opened her eyes to see Big Macintosh eyes wide open, staring at her. Now instead of feeling romantic, she just felt awkward. She pulled away and arched an eyebrow at him.

"What?" she asked, looking into his emerald green eyes.

He said nothing and they just sat there for several seconds, gazing into each others eyes. He opened his mouth to say something but seemed to think better of it, as he shut his mouth. Isabella was just about to turn away when Big Macintosh leaned forward and kissed her back.

She was startled and tensed for a moment, but relaxed almost immediately and leaned into the kiss.

"It''s about time." thought Isabella as she felt him wrap his good hoof around her, pulling her closer.

This embrace last much longer than the last. Isabella sat down so she was at a better angle. Their lips seemed to meld together as they moved in synchronization. Isabella wrapped both of her hooves around Big Macintosh's neck and she twisted her hooves into his mane, holding him as close as she could.

After what seemed several hours, but was mere minutes, they separated. Isabella was out of breath and they were both blushing deeply. She leaned up and kissed him again, just a simple peck this time and hugged him, her head leaning against his neck.

"Th...that was incredible." said Big Macintosh. He too was breathless and Isabella could feel his heart racing. Her own was fluttering madly, but it wasn't a bad feeling. It was good. Better than good. It was something she had never known she could feel.

"Yes. Yes it was." she agreed, smiling as she rubbed her head against his neck.

They sat in the cave, silence rolling over them as they caught their breath. Isabella would have been content to sit there, holding Big Macintosh, but he shifted and she looked up at him.

"We gotta get up the mountain before night fall." he said, pushing himself up slightly.

Isabella helped push him up and ducked under his wounded leg.

"What's the rush?" she asked, her mind still on their kiss.

"Well, the cottage needs some work, but also, if your mum is really looking to find you, we don't want to be caught on the side of a mountain in the middle of the night. Very dangerous." stated Big Macintosh, the smile that had been in his voice disappearing as he spoke.

Isabella nodded and said "Good point.", as she and Big Macintosh limped together, out of the cave.

Tentra sat by herself in the clouds. She was sulking deeply. She had no where to go and no one to go to. She was alone now that the Queen had banished her. She was a changeling out on her own and would parish soon unless she ventured forth and found a target.

She lay her head down on the cloud and sighed. Why was it her fault if she was had been detected and attacked by the target? It's not like she had expected to run into her there. They had just started looking so she hadn't figured they would find even a slight trace of Isabella, if any, until several days had passed.

Tentra's thoughts wondered onto her sister in banishment. She was now in the same boat as Isabella, but she was normal changeling. She wouldn't be considered a threat to the queen's position on the thrown like Isabella was. All changelings could challenge the queen for the right to the thrown at the proper age, but most, including Tentra preferred following. It made things easier for them. But Isabella was rebellious. She had never liked taking orders.

Tentra's mind swam into the deep memories of her earliest years in the hive.

She could remember once being out with Isabella. They had been told to scout out a city that had been recently discovered by the changelings.

"Why do we even have to do this? Why doesn't the Mighty Queen do this herself?" asked Isabella, saying the words 'Mighty Queen' with as much sarcasm as she could muster.

"You do realize that if you keep acting like this, you're going to get put back in solitary again when we get back, right?" asked Trenta, walking along in the form of a white pegasus with violet eyes and a jet black mane and tail.

"Like I care. I'm just here to have some fun. The only reason I leave the hive when I'm told to is so I can do something enjoyable. Haven't you ever noticed how there isn't anything to do there?" asked Isabella as she trotted in time with Tentra, looking over at her. Tentra did not look back at her.

"I do not have the strange cravings you do, Isabella. You and I may be sisters, but we are two very different beings. You are only half changeling and therefore do not understand the needs and movements of the Hive. You have a small connection with us, and you can feel when we are nearby but you are not a member of the Hive mind. You shall never feel us like we feel each other." said Tentra holding her nose in the air.

Isabella snorted as she continued to trot along. Tentra felt a sneer rise on her muzzle. She didn't hate Isabella, but her lack of respect for the ways of the Hive irritated her. She could be so brash at times and it made Tentra flush with anger and she knew she was, but would never admit to being, jealous. Why? Because she was bound to the Hive, where as Isabella was not. Tentra didn't mind being part of the Hive, but she knew Isabella had a freedom she would never posses.

Isabella spoke suddenly, snapping Tentra out of her thoughts.

"Looks like we're here. You can do your scouting. I'll go and have a bit of fun." she stated as she darted off to the right and disappeared from sight. Tentra closed her eyes and sighed heavily.

Tentra brought herself back to reality and sighed as she hung her head over the side of the cloud. She relished the idea of reliving those memories. It was odd. She was still jealous of her sister, but it was..... what was that?

Tentra leaned over the edge of the cloud and peered down at the mountain she had drifted over and saw two figures clambering over a large patch of... gravel? sand?

She squinted hard. There was a large red pony with a dirty blonde mane and tail and a pure white pony with a midnight blue mane and tail. It couldn't be. No way. But it was. It was Isabella and that stallion that had helped her out.

Tentra stood up and was about to take off when she remembered. She was an outcast now. The Queen wouldn't listen to her even if she knew where Isabella was. She sat down again on the cloud and scratched her head. What would she do? She felt the urge to return, but the prospect of being killed by the Queen, knowing what she would do, made returning a very bad idea. Then again, she didn't hate Isabella. If she had been banished, why should she tell the hive? It wasn't her mission anymore, and she was free to do as she wished.

But what did she wish? Certainly she had ill feelings for Isabella, but those were only born from Isabella abandoning the Hive. Other than that, she really felt no need to do Isabella harm.

Several minutes creeped past and finally, Tentra made up her mind. She straightened up and bolted into the sky, ripping the cloud she had rested on to pieces.

When Chrysalis and Sir Roderick arrived on the Ponyville train station landing, it was packed with ponies. The air was filled with chatter and steam from the locomotive. Both Sir Roderick and Chrysalis were attempting not to be touched by anypony, but the task proved to be impossible. If they shifted to get away from one pony, they bumped into some other pony.

After bumping into three different ponies in the last few seconds, Chrysalis, who had taken on the persona of a deep violet unicorn with a nighttime blue mane and tail, growled and muttered "If I'd known there would be this many ponies here, I would have morphed into a pegasus so I could fly over them all."

"At least you -oof- can morph. I'm stuck like this. I can't believe these peasants -ouch- can live like this." murmured Sir Roderick as he bumped into several other ponies.

Once they managed to dissect themselves from the large crowd and to get off the platform, they trotted toward what looked like the center of town. There was a huge gazebo in the center of a cleared area the look almost like a park, but there was no grass, plus there were produce stalls all around. It was more of a social gathering place, which was made abundantly clear by the large amount of ponies that were milling about.

Some were shopping, others were lounging under the shade of the gazebo, and others merely stood about as they talked. Chrysalis and Sir Roderick glanced at each other and sighed. This would probably be the best place to start their search.

With a short look about, they decided to begin their questions with a young stallion with a dark brown spiked mane and tail, a light brown coat of fur, light blue eyes, and the cutie mark of an hour glass.

"Excuse me. We need to ask you something." stated Sir Roderick as he strode up to the young stallion.

The stallion took several steps back, startled, but ran into a cart and couldn't get away. His eyes darted around nervously as Sir Roderick loomed over him.

Sir Roderick looked down his nose at the stallion and arched an eyebrow. He knew he was a sight to behold, being a creature of breeding, but was he truly so intimidating? This was quite interesting.

"We're looking for somepony. We were wondering if you could help us." he said, barely hiding a sneer.

The stallion's forehead was beaded with sweat now, and his eyes flashed from Sir Roderick and Chrysalis, who had just walked up, and he put on a fake smile as he stammered "S-s-s-sure. A-anything you want."

Chrysalis glanced at Sir Roderick with a look that said "Seriously?"

Sir Roderick cleared his throat. "We're looking for a mare, know as 'Isabella'. She has a white coat, a blue mane and tail, and green eyes. Have you seen her?"

The stallion thought for a second, then shook his head before saying "Uh, nope. Sorry I couldn't help you. Bye!", and with that, he bolted away.

"If all the ponies in this town are as timid as that one, we're never going to find her." said Chrysalis, a scowl on her face, as they watched the stallion disappear over a nearby bridge.

Not all the ponies were as easily frightened as the first stallion, but none of them knew any more than he had. It had been several hours now, and Chrysalis was becoming angry. If they didn't find someone that knew anything soon, she would simply wreak havoc on the town until some one told her where Isabella was.

After yet another failed attempt to get the information they required, Chrysalis huffed and sat down hard.
`
"This is ridiculous! Can I please just scare it out of them?" she hissed.

"No! You want to ruin my image..... I mean blow our cover? Just because you're from a different land doesn't mean you just go acting how you like. We have to find her without drawing too much attention to me.....I mean us." correct Sir Roderick, as Chrysalis narrowed her eyes.

Chrysalis was about to say something else when she was run into from behind. Chrysalis craned her neck around and Sir Roderick looked down at three little fillies. Each one was from a different race of ponies. The earth filly was yellow with a red mane and tail plus a large pink bow adorning the top of her head. The pegasus was orange with tiny wings and spiky purple mane and tail. And the unicorn was white with a curly violet mane and tail.

"Ow.....Um, sorry." said the little earth pony in a thick southern accent as Chrysalis and Sir Roderick glared down at the three.

"Can we help you?!" asked Chrysalis, aggressively.

The three fillies looked at each other and backed away a little, blushing.

"Uh. No thanks. We're really sorry about that." said the unicorn as she grinned guiltily up at the two ponies.

"Yeah. We got stuff do to." said the pegasus, sticking her chest out. "We're helping Twilight keep an eye and ear out for Isabella if she returns."

Chrysalis blinked then snapped her head back around to look at Sir Roderick. He was speechless as well, him mouth hanging open. Had they heard the filly properly?

"Excuse us." started Sir Roderick as the three fillies were about to run off, "This 'Isabella'... she didn't by chance have... a blue mane and tail, with a white coat, and green eyes.... did she?"

The three fillies looked at each other, their eyes wide with surprise.

"How did you know?" asked the earth filly.

Sir Roderick glanced quickly at Chrysalis again. She narrowed her eyes ever so slightly and he snapped his eyes back to the fillies.

"We're her..... relatives." Sir Roderick responded, rather lamely.

The little pegasus and the little unicorn looked at each other with their eyebrows arched, but the young earth pony had a thoughtful look on her face.

"Ah don't remember Isabella sayin anythin' about havin' family....." said the earth filly as she scratched her chin.

Chrysalis put on a facade of sadness and said "She..... ran away from home."

Sir Roderick caught on quickly and put his arm around Chrysalis's shoulders. He knew she would punish him for this later, but he needed to be convincing.

The fillies seemed to fall for it, and the unicorn asked "Why? Why would she run away?"

"We had a heavy disagreement." said Sir Roderick, trying his hardest to make his voice heavy with regret.

"And we've been trying to find her. If you know anything about her whereabouts, please tell us."

Chrysalis successfully made herself seem to be on the edge of tears and she buried her face in Sir Roderick's chest.

"Hey! We might be able to you!" said the young pegasus.

"Well, more accurately, ma Granny Smith should be able to help. Isabella disappeared with ma big brother, Big Macintosh, and Granny Smith knows more about him then he does. So if anypony knows where to find em, it'd be her." said the little earth filly.

"Can you take us to her? Your Granny, I mean." inquired Sir Roderick, as Chrysalis was busy faking tears.

"Sure thang. We live out this way, outta town. Come on." said the little earth pony as she gestured for them to follow her as she and the other two fillies turned to head out of town.

Chrysalis pushed away from Sir Roderick and smiled as she whispered "Touch me again, and I'll break your arm."

"At least they bought it, right? Soon, we'll know where Isabella is and she'll be ours for the taking." gloated Sir Roderick quietly as he and Chrysalis followed the three fillies.

It was very slow going for Isabella and Big Macintosh, and now that they were out of the gravel and onto more fertile ground, there were burs and thistles growing in abundance, which stuck in their fur and and poked their flesh. Isabella was sweating profusely, as was Big Macintosh. Every few steps they would stop for a moment and catch their breath.

On one such an occasion, Isabella wiped the sweat from her eyes and said "Come on Macintosh. We're almost to the next crest. Just a little more......."

She stopped dead.

"Isabella? What's wrong?" asked Big Macintosh.

Her eyes were locked on something, and he followed her gaze. When he saw what she was looking at, he too was stunned.

Before them, stood a changeling.

Isabella blinked a few times before, then her eyes narrowed.

"If you're hear for trouble, you'll get more than you bargained for!" she growled up at the changeling.

To her surprise, the changeling actually looked.......hurt? Surprised? What ever it was, it wasn't a violent emotion.

"You.....don't you recognize me?" asked the changeling, confusion on Its face.

"Should I?" asked Isabella as she raised an eyebrow.

"I.. I am Tentra." stated the changeling.

Isabella blinked. Something about the name seemed familiar, but Isabella was having a hard time placing it.

"I was the changeling..."

"...That survived our fight in Ponyville." interrupted Isabella. She could feel the hive connection between herself and the changeling. It was the same as the one she had felt the day before. She did recognize this changeling

It was true, but that was not what Tentra was going to say. She was hoping to jog Isabella's memory. To make her half sister remember her. To have someone remember her in a somewhat positive light, rather than as nothing but a monster.

"Y-yes, but..." started Tentra, but Isabella cut her off.

"Why are you here?"

Tentra was doing her best to suppress her frustration. She was remembering why Isabella and her had never gotten along.

"I am here because I'm in the same situation as you." said Tentra, taking a step forward.

"How so?" asked Isabella, her eyes narrowing again, but her voice curious.

"Since I was the only one to return with the bad news that you knew about the hunt for you, I was lucky enough not to be killed, but I was banished. Now we are sisters, not only in blood, but in banishment." stated Tentra, taking a few more steps forward.

Isabella was filled with curiosity now.

"Well then. Why did you come? You know that if you return to Chrysalis she'll kill you, so you must be here for some other reason." observed Isabella.

Tentra smiled and said "You always were decisive, Isabella."

Isabella's eyebrows shot up. She had not expected this changeling to be peaceful, and the fact that she knew her name? That was definitely unexpected. Isabella opened her mouth to speak, but Tentra continued.

"I know why the queen hunts you, and I know you're more powerful than her. That's why she wants you dead. She doesn't want you to replace her." said Tentra, smiling at Isabella.

"Wait a minute."

Isabella and Tentra looked up to see a confused look on Big Macintosh's face.

"Yer the daughter of a queen?" he asked, his eyes wide.

"Yes. Yes, she is. This mare, my half sister, is the next heir to the changeling throne." said Tentra, her voice growing louder with excitement, "That's why I'm here. I need a leader to follow, and you're the only one I could think to come to."

"Why didn't ya tell me about that?" asked Big Macintosh.

"It was news to me too. I never wanted the throne, and I don't see why I'm so special, besides, with the fact that I'm only half changeling I'd think that that would make me less likely to be the heir to the throne." rebutted Isabella.

"But you see," began Tentra, "you're the only one that was truly born to her. All of the others and myself were spawned, not born. You were the only one that was conceived within her. You are her true flesh and blood." she explained.

It took Isabella and Big Macintosh a few seconds to really comprehend what she meant, but when it clicked, they both said "Oh~."

Isabella shrugged slightly to get Big Macintosh into a more comfortable position as she thought.

"That still does not answer my question. Why did you come here? I honestly doubt you just came here to tell me why Chrysalis wanted me dead." she observed.

"I'm here to join you." stated Tentra bluntly.

Big Macintosh and Isabella looked at each other and sniggered, but when they looked back up at Tentra, her expression was dead serious.

"Why would you wanna come with us? We tried to kill you." asked Big Macintosh.

"I'm better off with you two than with the queen and the hive. Besides. If you were going to kill me, you would have done so already." replied Tentra confidently.

Isabella smirked. "True. Alright, you can come with us, but we will keep an eye on you for a the time being." she said, her eyes scanning her half sister over.

They stood in slightly awkward silence for several minutes. Finally, Big Macintosh cleared his throat and said "Ah know you guys are kinda havin an awkward family moment, but we need to get to the cottage. It might be dangerous to be out here after dark."

Isabella and Tentra nodded, more to each other than to Big Macintosh. Tentra approached cautiously, and with Isabella's permission, took Big Macintosh's other leg, the three of them continuing up the mountain towards their destination.

Parents

Now that the duo had become a trio, the trek up the mountainside was much easier. It was still slightly awkward though. No one said anything and the only sounds were those of hooves on rock and their grunts and sighs of exertion.

After nearly half an hour, they pulled themselves up onto a semi summit. Big Macintosh managed to untangle himself from the others, stating "I can carry myself the rest of the way." as he held his injured hoof off the ground several inches.

The semi summit was almost completely covered in a large amount of trees, except for the small patch of open grass the three companions stood on.

Big Macintosh limped to the edge of the trees before turning to the two mares, still standing on the edge of the semi summit, before saying "This way." and disappearing into the trees. Isabella and Tentra glanced at each other, then walked up to the tree line and pushed themselves into it.

The trees where not forgiving and tugged and pulled on Isabella's mane and tail. Tentra, not really having any hair, was busy try to keep he wings from being torn. Several times, the two mares had to help untangle the other from a particularly stubborn bit of tree. This began to happen so often, that the two started to walk pressed against each other in an attempt to keep as far from the branches as possible.

After what seemed like eons, they broke out of the trees in unison, covered in sap, twigs, and leaves. They had no time to think about this though, because when they came out of the trees, what they saw shocked them so thoroughly that their jaws fell open.

Standing in front of them, was a two story cottage. The siding was made of maple wood, each piece sanded and coated with a light golden finish, making them glisten wonderfully in the afternoon sunlight. The roof was made of hard wood shingles, everyone of them settling together neatly, making certain not a single drop of rain would ever be able to squeeze through. A tall brick chimney stood up from the left side, tapering gently near the top. It had obviously been put together with painstakingly good care, for none of the bricks were out of place. The windows had been put together fabulously with iron wiring, making wonderful patterns that swirled and streaked across the glass.

But the most eye grabbing thing about the cottage, was the door.

It was made from a heavy, but gorgeous, piece of cherry wood and was almost the same color as Big Macintosh. There was a scene hoof carved on the front. The artist had clearly been a master carpenter and the design was impeccable. The carving depicted two ponies standing together on a hill, both of them earth ponies. All around them were trees and bushes and even some woodland creatures, forming the shape of a heart, and directly above them was the sun, Its rays shining down around the two.

The door's handle was also very intricate. It was made of brass, and seemed to be shaped like a dragon. Each scale shone out individually and the tail stood out as the main piece to the handle.

Isabella and Tentra would have stood there in shock forever if Big Macintosh hadn't appeared next to them and said with a chuckle "Y'all wanna step inside?"

The mares nodded in agreement, still too dumbstruck to speak.

Big Macintosh limped ahead of them and opened the door for them. Both of the mares stepped in and looked around. The first room seemed to be a lounging room. There were velvet cushions and two different couches. The fireplace was right next to one of the couches, but it looked like there had not been a fire in it for several months. To the right of the door stood the stairwell that led to the second floor and straight forward, through the lounging room, was what looked like a kitchen.

Big Macintosh limped past them and sat down on the couch closest to the fireplace and sighed.

Isabella and Tentra stood there for a moment before Big Macintosh laughed and said "Sit down and relax. We're here. Ain't no one gonna find us no how."

Isabella closed the door with one of her back legs as Tentra took the couch opposite Big Macintosh, leaving Isabella to use the cushions, which she spread over the ground next to Big Macintosh's couch, creating a makeshift seat for herself.

Tentra was still gazing around the cottage in awe when Isabella asked "Macintosh? Who built this place?"

"This place was built up by ma folks bout thirty years ago. Just after they was married and when Granny Smith didn't have a bad hip. Ma and Pa always wanted a place far away from everypony for special occasions. Me and Applejack were born up here." said Big Macintosh, a smile on his face.

Isabella thought for a second then, as she looked back at Big Macintosh and posed another question.

"Where are your parents, Macintosh?"

Big Macintosh's smile slid off his face and he looked down.

"Oh...I... I'm sorry Macintosh. I didn't....." Isabella trailed off, blushing furiously and feeling like a complete idiot. Tentra blinked a few times, obviously not understanding the situation.

After several moments silence, Big Macintosh sighed heavily and said "Ah might as well tell y'all how it happened."

"How what happened?" asked Tentra, still not catching onto the the mood of the room. Isabella shook her head at Tentra, but Big Macintosh spoke up.

"Isabella, Don't you remember what yer sister said? She was more a spawn than a child. She doesn't understand what it's like to have parents."

"Oh." sighed Isabella as she face hoofed herself. Once again, she felt like an idiot.

"Anyways. Tentra, Ah'm gonna tell y'all why me and my sisters live with our granny, rather than our parents." stated Big Macintosh as he got into a more comfortable position.

"Big Mac! Are you ready yet ya rascal?!" Called Albermarle.

Albermarle was a huge stallion with a bright red coat, a long green mane and tail, and his eyes were a mix of red and yellow, just like his mother's. He also had a bushy mustache and a small pointed beard, both of which matched his mane and tail.

He was standing next to a carriage that he intended on using to carry his pregnant wife, Almata, to the hospital with. He was still looking about when Almata walked up to him, helped by Granny Smith and a tiny bouncing Applejack.

Almata had a lovely yellow coat and a long straight mane and tail that shone a wonderful red. Her eyes glittered with a violent emerald green, just like her daughter Applejack. Despite all this, she still managed to look sickly, but happy.

"Can't find him?" she asked, her Canterlotian accent very different from that of the rest of her family's.

"Ah'll be derned if Ah can ever find that boy when Ah need him. Ah told him Ah wanted him to come with us when it was time for the baby to come." growled Albermarle, looking under the carriage again.

"Don't worry dear. He'll....mph... turn up." said Almata, flinching slightly as the child inside her kicked.

Albermarle put his foreleg around his wife's shoulders.

"Weather he does or not , we have to go soon. The baby won't wait much longer." he said, throwing another desperate glance about.

"Oh for cryin' out loud!" bellowed Granny Smith before she bit down on her bottom lip and let out a sharp whistle that echoed through the entire orchard.

Almost instantaneously, Big Macintosh appeared next to the small group, leaves and twigs stuck in his mane and tail and his hooves covered in dust and a sheepish grin spread across his face.

"Where in Equestria have you been young man?!" scolded Albermarle, "Yer mother is almost due and we have to...!"

Albermarle trailed off as Almata put a hoof on his shoulder.

"It's fine dear. Big Macintosh," she said as she turned, smiling, at her eldest child, "Let go bring your new baby sister into this world."

Big Macintosh grinned and bounded into the back of the cart. He was still pretty small but big enough to help his mother up.

As Albermarle hitched himself up and Granny Smith and Big Macintosh helped Almata into the carriage, little Applejack sat nearby and whined "It just ain't fair. Ah wanna go with y'all and help bring little sis into the world."

"Now now, half pint. You gotta stick around so that Ah don't fall over or get stuck or nothing like that, ya hear?" said Granny Smith, giving a quick wink to Big Macintosh.

Applejack sighed and nodded as Granny Smith walked over to her and began to wave goodbye to the now retreating carriage.

Several minutes later found Big Macintosh sitting next to his mother spouting questions while Albermarle continued to march along the road into Ponyville.

"What's her name gonna be?" Big Macintosh asked, his head resting against his mother's belly as if he was listening for his soon to be sister.

Albermarle chuckled said "We already went over this Big Macintosh. Her name will be Applebloom."

"Do ya think she'll have green eyes like mamma, or yellow 'n red like yers pa?"

Both the adults laughed.

"Hush now, Big Macintosh. We don't know anymore about your new sister than you do. We'll just have to wait and....ah!"

Almata stopped mid sentence and gasp in pain.

Albermarle's head whipped around so fast, he cricked his neck.

"Are you okay dear?"

"It's nothing. I'm fi- Oh!"

"Mamma? Why are you all wet?"

"Her water broke! We gotta get her to the hospital now!" bellow Albermarle. He slammed his hooves into the ground and set off at a heavy gallop.

Big Macintosh clung to his mother, and looking up at her, smiled as he said "It's okay mamma. Pa'll get us there in no time."

Almata spared her eldest child a smile before she began concentrating on breathing.

The moment they arrived at the hospital, orderlies rushed out, lifted her down from the carriage, and rushed her inside. Big Macintosh jumped out of the carriage and helped his father unhitch himself. Together they dashed inside after Almata. When they entered the birthing ward, orderlies swarmed them, spraying them down, covering them with gowns, booties on their hooves, and mane nets, before hustling them into the room where Almata was.

Big Macintosh was rather confused as to why they had his mother is such an odd position. Her legs were help up and apart in large stirrups and a blanket covered her belly.

Big Macintosh followed his father to his mothers side. She was breathing in and out heavily, pushing when she was prompted to by the nurses. Big Macintosh put his hooves up on the side of the bed and asked "You'll be alright, won't ya mama?" as Albermarle took her hoof and encouraged her breathing.

Hours passed, but not much was happening. Albermarle continued to urge his wife on, the nurses kept giving Almata the cue, and the doctor simply sat down at the far end of the bed, waiting for the baby.

Big Macintosh was incredibly bored. He had taken to pawing at the floor and was making mental pictures on the ground when it started.

"I can see the head Mrs. Apple! Keep pushing!" shouted the doctor, bringing his hooves up to help bring the child into the world. Almata gasped and groaned in pain, but continued to push.

She looked awful. He mane was plastered to her body with sweat, and her eyes were red and tired. She clung to her husband's hoof as if her life depended on it.

She began to scream in pain as she continued to push, and the doctor said "That's good! She's almost......Here!"

A small cry came from the doctor's hoofs and he cut the umbilical cord. He handed the child to the nurses as Almata screamed again.

"Get the baby and the young colt out of here!" ordered the doctor

Before he knew it, Big Macintosh was being ushered out of the room against his will. He tried desperately to get back to his mother and father, but the nurse was stronger than he was. The last thing he saw before the doors closed was his father trying to wake his mother up and the doctor was injecting her with something.

Big Macintosh had been in the waiting room for nearly an hour now and was pacing furiously. He didn't know what had happened or what was taking so long. A runner pony had been been dispatched only minutes after Big Macintosh had been taken from the operating room, and about half an hour later, Granny Smith and Applejack arrived at the hospital, worried looks on their faces. Big Macintosh asked them, but the messenger hadn't told them anything, he just told them they were needed at the hospital.

"Why don't you sit down, young'un? You'll wear a groove in the floor from pacing like that." said Granny Smith, pointing to the the already indented floor.

"How can y'all just sit there?! Mama's in pain! Ah wanna help!" yelled Big Macintosh.

Granny Smith looked down at the floor but Applejack spoke up "But they told us that they have experts helping her. She'll be fine....won't she?"

She turned to Granny Smith as she said the last part. Granny Smith merely sighed and shook her head.

"Ah don't know little ones. Ah just hope she's okay."

Another half hour later, a nurse appeared and said "Mrs. Apple?"

Granny Smith picked herself up and waddled over to the nurse who whispered something to her and led her into a nearby room, leaving Big Macintosh and Applejack alone in the waiting room.

Several more minutes passed, when Granny Smith reappeared, carrying a small bundle. Big Macintosh and Applejack watched her as she came back and sat down next to Applejack. Big Macintosh came over to investigate the bundle as Granny Smith crooned to it.

In the blanket was a tiny filly, with a beautiful coat and mane, just like Big Macintosh's mother's and eyes just like his father's. Big Macintosh stared at his new baby sister for a moment, then looked back up Granny Smith and asked "Where's mama and pa?"

Granny Smith sighed, tears swimming in her eyes, but her expression was unreadable.

"Lil ones. Yer ma and pa have........passed on."

Big Macintosh said nothing but slumped slightly, his face expressionless. Applejack blinked several times, then asked "W-what do ya mean, passed on? How's that possible?"

A single tear rolled down her withered old cheek as Granny Smith took a deep breath and continued.

"When yer lil sister was born, something went wrong inside your ma. The doctors and yer pa tried to save her, but......." she trailed off and shook her head.

"..............What about pa?" asked Big Macintosh, his face still the same.

"When yer ma passed, the doctors said he seemed to become deathly ill. His heart seemed to have broken. They tried to help him, but no matter what they did......he didn't recover."

Once again, the three were completely silent. Applejack was crying quietly, tears pouring down her face. Granny Smith had her eyes closed, but tears were still seeping out from under her eye lids.

Big Macintosh sat, completely motionless, but finally said "Can I hold her? Can I hold.....Applebloom?"

Granny Smith opened her eyes and smiled at him, before handing Applebloom to him.

Big Macintosh took the small bundle from Granny Smith and held her close.

Little baby Applebloom blinked and looked up at Big Macintosh. She looked just like his ma, except for her eyes. They were his pa's eyes.

Big Macintosh held Applebloom close to his chest and wept.

Isabella and Tentra were speechless. Both had tears in their eyes, even if Tetra didn't know what it was like to have a family, she still understood the pain Big Macintosh had felt so long ago.

Big Macintosh sighed, sniffed and then smiled at the two mares.

"That's my story." he finished, with a slight air of never having told that story to any pony.

It was quiet. The only sound was the sound of birds outside and the occasional sniff from one of the three ponies. It felt like breaking the silence would be a sin after hearing such a story.

Finally, Isabella stood up and wrapped her hooves around Big Macintosh's neck. She held him for several minutes before whispering "I'm sorry."

She felt him embrace her back then let her go. She let go as well and stepped back. Big Macintosh smiled at her before he spoke.

"Well, let's stop dwellin' on the past and get to work. This house ain't gonna clean it's self up."

To Tidy Up A Cottage

The trio didn't get much done. They tried to clean some of the rooms, but they were all so deathly tired from the hike that day, that before long, they had all returned to the living room and collapsed on their respective "beds", passing out the moment their heads hit their pillows.

Isabella's dreams were strange that night. Shapes swam about her in a misty haze as she walked through was seemed to be an old abandoned city. The buildings seemed to tower over her and the darkness of the alleys almost seemed to try to consume her very being. This place gave her chills, but it wasn't the appearance of the place that sent rivulets of fear through her spine. It was the fact that she was starting to recognize where she was. She was walking through the empty streets of Canterlot.

Everything was the way she remembered it. Shops, apartment complexes, cafes, and even old market carts were all in their proper places, but no pony was around to occupy them, plus the entire place was a dull and lifeless gray. It wasn't right, and something else frightened her more. She could feel eyes on her. From where, she did not know, but she was constantly looking around herself, hoping to catch a glimpse of what was watching her.

After walking for what felt like hours, Isabella harrumphed and dropped her flank heavily on the ground. It was hopeless. The entire city was lifeless and gray and the feeling she was being watched was steadily getting worse. This must be what hell was like.

Once more Isabella sighed. Then she turned, and screamed.

"And when I turned around, There was this dark blue mare with a mane like the night sky standing inches away from me, staring dead into my eyes." finished Isabella, as she, Big Macintosh, and Tentra were fixing up the kitchen.

"Dark blue mare with the night in her mane?" asked Big Macintosh as he put the now clean dishes they used for breakfast away.

"Well, that's one way to put it, but yes. Her mane was long, flowing, a deep shade of blue and looked like there were stars twinkling in it." said Isabella as she and Tentra wiped down the table.

"Sounds like you ran into Princess Luna." said Big Macintosh as he shut the cupboards quietly.

Isabella stopped wiping the table and looked over at Big Macintosh.

"Who?" she asked. She had only ever heard of Princess Celestia, the supposed ruler of Equestria.

"Princess Luna. She's Princess Celestia's younger sister. She rules the night while Celestia rules the day. Though why she would appear in yer dreams if you don't even know who she is, is beyond me." explained Big Macintosh, shrugging with the last words he spoke.

"Isn't that physically impossible?"

Isabella and Big Macintosh looked at Tentra, surprised by her sudden input, as she hadn't said hardly anything all morning.

"Isn't what impossible?" asked Big Macintosh.

"Well, the mind isn't able to build the mental image of someone if they've never seen them. For example, If I had never met you, Big Macintosh, my mind wouldn't be able to construct the image of you in my dreams." explained Tentra.

Isabella and Big Macintosh both nodded slowly as they comprehended what she meant.

"So, how in the name of Chrysalis can you imagine a princess you've never seen or even heard of?" finished Tentra, directing the question at Isabella.

Isabella shrugged. "How should I know? I was never interested in Dream Reading. It was just some weird nightmare I had."

"Alright ladies, it's time to get to work. No pony has been up here for quite some time, so we better get to cleaning. Come on." said Big Macintosh as he clapped his hooves together and led them out of the kitchen.

"We've got more than enough information from this lot. Lets just go and kill her already." whispered Roderick to Chrysalis.

The two were huddled in a corner of the local Ponyville tavern, speaking in hushed tones far from the rest of the occupants.

"It may have eluded your tiny brain, but we don't know where they are yet! All we have is a general idea!" hissed Chrysalis, sticking her nose in his face, causing some of her spittle to spatter his face.

Roderick wiped his face and rolled his eyes.

"Okay. Fine. Then how do you propose we find out? The old apple mare isn't much use. She always wanders off on some different tangent, like how her trees are or something else just as ridiculous."

"We'll have to ask around the town. She was bound to have been seen at least once. And if three foals can remember her that well, I'm sure any pony can."

"Then who do we start with?" asked Roderick, glancing about.

"The males of course. Your kind are always so eager to notice some new juicy flank, I'm sure she caught somepony's eye. She is my daughter after all."

Roderick snickered and received a back hoof to the side of the face as Chrysalis stalked out of the small, noisy tavern.

Several minutes later found the two wondering about the town, their search reinstated.

"You there! Stallion!" called Chrysalis to a random passerby.

He stopped and looked at the pair of ponies approaching him, his expression queer.

"We're looking for some pony. Can you help us?"

"Oh, well that depends of who you're looking for?" said the pony, tossing his mane slightly.

Chrysalis and Roderick looked at each other. Something seemed slightly off about this stallion.

"Well, The pony we're looking for is purest white, with deep blue mane and tail, and violent green eyes. Do you recognize this description?"

"Hm, that sounds like it could be the herb seller, but he has blue eyes. Maybe the latte boy? No, his coat is light grey. Maybe...."

Chrysalis cut the stallion off.

"We're looking for a mare, not a stallion. Do you know any by that description that is a mare?"

"Huh?" the stallion tossed his mane again. This time both Roderick and Chrysalis could tell what was different about this stallion. He walked with his hips, tossed his mane and flicked his tail constantly, and it looked like he had had a hoofacure recently. Not to mention it seemed like he was wearing slight traces of makeup.

He was homosexual.

"Oh no. I don't pay much attention to the mares around here, except Applejack. She's the most alluring one I've ever seen. (mane toss) But, no. I'm sorry, I don't know where your friend is. Bye now."

The stallion finished by flicking his tail slightly and then flouncing off, his hips swaying with each step.

Roderick and Chrysalis watched him walk away, their mouths agape and their faces masks of confusion.

"Well, I guess there's a first for everything, but now that we have that out of the way, maybe we can find a stallion that has interests in mares instead." scoffed Roderick as he shook himself back to reality.

Chrysalis followed suit, shaking her head and trotting after Roderick as he began to walk towards another small group of what looked like construction ponies.

"Greetings my fine fellows!" called Roderick as he got closer.

"Howdy." Called one of the construction workers, giving him a wave.

A few of the others did the same, but most of them were spell bound by the sight of Chrysalis, as she sauntered up to them, standing next to Roderick.

"Are you gentlemen from here?" asked Roderick looking at them all in turn.

Some of the stallions nodded as others shook their heads, their eyes still on Chrysalis.

Roderick nudged Chrysalis. The stallions weren't paying attention to him at all, so it would be best if she continued ask the questions.

"We need to know if any of you have seen a mare of certain description." said Chrysalis, looking at each of the stallions in turn. "Her coat was white as snow and her mane and tail are a long, dark deep blue, like that of the night sky. Her eyes are violently green and seem to burn. Do any of you remember a mare like this?"

Each stallion seemed to lose themselves in their thoughts, scratching their chins and their heads. It was several minutes before anypony actually spoke up.

"Few days ago."

Chrysalis and Roderick looked around. The stallion that had spoken up was standing near the back.

"A few days ago what?" asked Chrysalis, her eyebrows raising quickly.

"Well, I think just the other day, there was this really big ruckus in the middle of town. What I remember was this. It was a normal day here, nothing much going on, when what looked like a fight between two local ponies and four foreigners broke out."

"What did the locals look like?" asked Chrysalis.

"Well, one of them was definitely Old Granny Smith's gran son, Big Macintosh; Big guy, but really quiet. Now I really didn't recognize the mare. But I guessed she was local. She looked like you said but yeah. So there was this big ole fight, two of the foreigners ended up dead, then those six famous ponies, the ones that made that crazy dragon guy back into stone, showed up and chained up the lady. Last I saw, Miss Rarity was taking care of her."

Roderick and Chrysalis glanced at each other.

"Where does this 'Rarity' woman live." asked Roderick

Ever single stallion pointed off to the south in unison.

"Either this 'Rarity' is very well known or she's my kind of woman." said Roderick with a chuckle as he and Chrysalis made their way.

"Could you think with your brain rather than your penis? I don't need you making unsubtle advances and making her clam up. I'd rather not have to find another source of information. I've spent enough time in this pathetic town to last me an eternity." growled Chrysalis.

Roderick laughed, but Chrysalis stayed stony as they approached the Carousel Boutique.

Chrysalis pushed the door open and a small bell chimed overhead.

"Coming!" came a bright, high landish voice from down the stair case.

Roderick and Chrysalis looked around the room, and try as they might, they could not help but to be awed.

The colors were slightly girly, but it wasn't poorly designed. There were curtains cutting off different work areas and probably hiding unfinished or unreleased projects. There were more mannequins scattered about the store than either of them could count, and almost every one of them had an article of clothing on it. Even the wood work and the walls could not escape the fabulousness that struck the entire store.

"Welcome to Carousel Boutique, where everything is chic, unique, and manifique!"

Both Chrysalis and Roderick snapped back to themselves to find a young mare with a gorgeous violet mane and tail, shimmering blue eyes, and a shining white coat standing in front of them, beaming at them.

Roderick cleared his throat, but Chrysalis cut across him before he could utter a syllable.

"Hello. We're looking for some one." she said, pushing Roderick back a few feet with one of her back legs.

"Oh." said the now crestfallen mare. "Well, I'll see if I can help. Who is it?"

"Her name is Isabella. We've been told you had her here."

The unicorn some how managed to get even whiter and her eyes got wide as she took several steps back.

"It... it's you." she stammered.

"Yes, it is me." confirmed Chrysalis, letting herself shift back to her normal form, a wicked grin spreading across her face.

"You know this mare?" asked Roderick as they both advanced on her.

"Yes. She was at the wedding." said Chrysalis.

"Oh yes, I remember now. One of the bride's maids." smirked Roderick as they backed the unicorn into a corner.

"Now, my dear. You're going to tell us what we need to know." growled Chrysalis.

Isabella, Big Macintosh, and Tentra had been working nearly all day long and the cottage was almost completely clean. The living room was comfortable rather than stuffy. It was possible to cook in the kitchen, and the bed rooms were now available for use.

"Whew. Glad that's over." said Tentra as she slumped on one of the couches.

"We're actually only about half way through." corrected Big Macintosh as he and Isabella settled on the other couch.

"What?!" Tentra spouted in surprise.

"Sure the inside looks nice, but we gotta fix the outside and take care of the area surrounding it." said Big Macintosh rolling his hoof about in the air.

"Well, we sure aren't going to do that tonight. We're all too tired, and you need to rest your ankle." said Isabella, poking Big Macintosh on the nose as she said the last part.

Mimicking a child's voice, Big Macintosh said "But ah don't wanna."

Isabella, un-amused glared into his eyes.

Big Macintosh huffed and said "Alright. Ah won't do anything for the rest of the day."

"Good. Now Tentra. I'm not much of a cook. I'll need your help."

"You have no idea what you're doing, do you?" asked Isabella.

Both she and Tentra were standing in the once clean kitchen. There were ingredients all over the place and they were looking into a bowl of something they had thrown together. What ever it was, it looked appalling but didn't smell too bad.

"I think neither of us has a clue as to what we just made." said Tentra looking back at Isabella.

"Well, we might as well try it." sighed Isabella as she grabbed a spoon.

"Can't do anything for the rest of the day." mutter Big Macintosh, crossing his hooves. He winced as he accidentally squeezed his bad ankle to much, sending a searing pain up his arm.

It had been nearly half an hour since the girls had gone into the kitchen, and the smell of whatever they were making was getting Big Macintosh hungrier and hungrier.

Finally, Isabella and Tentra stepped out, pushing a large tray into the room.

"We figured if you're not supposed to use your ankle, we'd all eat in here tonight." said Tentra as she helped Isabella put the strange looking food onto three different plates.

Big Macintosh looked at what they gave him, then looked back up at them.

"This is what ya'll were making?" he asked.

"Yeah. To be honest, we have no idea how we made it." said Isabella shrugging.

"Is it.... safe?" asked Big Macintosh, poking it with his hoof slightly.

Both Isabella burst out laughing, falling to the ground and rolling about until they had tears in their eyes.

After the strange, but hearty meal, the three sat in a half sleep, letting their minds wander.

Soon, Isabella was dozing again.

It was unnerving how quickly she recognized Canterlot this time. It was empty and lifeless again, but this time it was worse. Several of the buildings looked like they had taken battle damage and some were all together destroyed. What had happened here?

The feeling of eyes watching her started growing again, but this time, she didn't panic. She sat down and wait as the sensation grew stronger and stronger, until finally, it stopped.

Isabella took a deep breath and let it out slowly, then turned around.

It was still kind of creepy to turn around and see the midnight blue mare right behind her, but knowing who she was made it a little less so.

Princess Luna said nothing, but stood as if waiting. So Isabella spoke.

"Greetings, Princess Luna."

Princess Luna appeared shocked for a moment.

"How dost thou know my name? You are not one of my people." stated Princess Luna.

"A friend told me who you were after I described you to them. Remember last time? When you scared the living daylights out of me?"

"We do apologize. The realm of dreams is a difficult place to approach somepony." said Princess Luna, blushing sheepishly.

"How have you managed to time your sleep schedule to the same as mine?" asked Isabella, rather puzzled.

"We don't sleep now. We are truly in the dream realm." said Princess Luna as she gestured all around them.

"So, when you say that, do you mean to say your entire being is here? Like, you're physically in the dream world?"

"Yes. My sister sent me here to help her with her magic."

Isabella's eyebrows raised. "What magic?"

Luna blushed for a moment. "We were not supposed to tell anyone. We do not even know thy name."

"Oh, I'm Isabella."

She didn't find it necessary or prudent to tell Luna what she was. Not just yet.

"Greetings Isabella. We are Princess Luna. Ruler of the night."

Isabella nodded and bowed slightly.

"So what magic are you helping your sister with? It sounds important."

Luna looked at Isabella for a moment, unsure of her, but the fact that she had been alone in the dream realm for so long must have been getting to her.

"We are attempting to heal our world."

"Heal? What damaged it?"

Again, Luna blushed.

"My violent return began the process. But when Discord returned, it made it even worse, but what finally drove My sister and I to leave Canterlot and work on healing our world was when Chrysalis attacked. Her violence and the massive amount of love that Princess Cadence and Shining Armor produced caused horrible damage to our world."

"Wait. How can something so good as love cause damage to our world?"

"Have thou never heard the term 'To much of a good thing'?"

"Uh, yeah I guess." Isabella shrugged.

"With our world in such a weakened state as it was, the incredible amount of violence that Chrysalis created, plus the force of the love those two made was too much and something in our world snapped and it has slowly started to decay."

"But that doesn't make sense." Isabella interjected. "We've seen no decay and things haven't been going wrong. Not really any way."

"It was not the physical world that was being effected. Just look around you." Luna gestured around at the ruined city they stood in. "This is what will happen to all the dream realm. And the physical world will be effected by this sooner rather than later."

"Why's that?"

"The dream world is a reflection of the physical world, and when one is effected...."

"They're both effected." Isabella finished for her.

Fluttershy was sitting in her living room tending to a mouse that had hurt it's tail.

"Know remember; be careful around other mice with that tail and don't let any one play with it. It needs time to heal."

Suddenly, there was a loud knocking on her door, scaring her half to death and making her jump almost through her ceiling into the next floor.

The knocking was still going when she got enough courage to try and open it, though the time between each knock had grown considerably.

As she opened it, she looked down and scream in horror.

There was Rarity, bloody, bruised and looking like a complete mess (which, for Rarity, was highly unusual) on her front porch, beating on her door.

"Oh my goodness! Angel Bunny! Please watch over Rarity! I have to get the girls!"

Fluttershy dragged Rarity inside and then disappeared out the door, leaving Angel standing over Rarity, a disgruntled look on his face.

"...and she was just lying there. Someone hurt her really bad."

Rarity's eyes fluttered slightly as she regained consciousness. She was laying in Fluttershy's bed, surrounded by her friends. Applejack was dabbing her forehead with a cold rag and Angel was seemed to be trying to spoon feed her some kind of soup.

She sat up, accidentally knocking the spoon out of Angle's hand and pushing Applejack's rag away.

"We Have to find them!" she said, her eyes wide with panic.

"We know Rarity. The mayor has people searching for any suspicious ponies in town." Twilight said, putting a hoof on her shoulder and attempting to push her down gently, but Rarity rolled her eyes.

"You don't understand! The ones that did this to me are the ones searching for Isabella!"

Fluttershy, Pinkie, and Rainbow Dash looked at each other with concern. Twilight and Applejack glanced at each other then back at Rarity.

"You're sure?"

"Of course I'm sure! They told me and one of them was Chrysalis! She changed right before my eyes!" Rarity huffed as she slumped back in the bed.

"Well, do you know where Big Macintosh and Isabella are?" asked Twilight. They all knew Rarity had let her go, it wasn't something she even denied.

Rarity hung her head. "Yes. Big Macintosh told we just before they left."

"And you told Chrysalis where they are." Concluded Twilight with a sigh.

"Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii~" said Pinkie, her face deflating into a frown.

"Well girls. Looks like we got some old fashioned plot kickin' to do." said Applejack standing up and knocking her hooves together.

"What about Rarity? We can't just leave her like this?" said Fluttershy.

"I'm fine. I'm ready to pay those two back what they gave me, in full!" Rarity said as she pushed herself out of the bed and tossed her mane.

"Then it's settled. Lets go girls!" Yelled Rainbow Dash as she shot out of the door, followed closely by the other five.

"So all the things causing disharmony in Equestria have been tearing the fabric of our universe apart, and Princess Celestia and Princess Luna are trying to stop it." Finished Isabella.

It was early morning, and the three sat around the table, a small cup of lavender tea sat in front of each of them.

Big Macintosh looked confused but Tentra was thinking.

"But if our world really is tearing itself apart, how come we haven't seen it yet?" Tentra asked fluttering her wings slightly.

"Luna says that she and Celestia have managed to keep most of the rending in the dream realm, but it's falling apart quickly. I'm afraid they'll have some serious problems if they can't find a solution soon." Isabella slumped in her seat.

"Kinda explains the nightmares." muttered Big Macintosh.

"Nightmares?" the girls asked, perplexed.

"Yeah. Every night, I have at least one nightmare. Usually of Ponyville. It's destroyed."

"Me too. But not of Ponyville. I see the hive burning." said Tentra sitting on the edge of her seat now.

"I have the same thing. Me and Luna always meet in the remains of Canterlot."

"Sounds like what ever this is spreading a lot faster than we would have hoped, if it's reached all the way to the hive." said Isabella.

The implication of their world being destroyed made them all very quiet.

After several long moments, there was a heavy knock on the door.

Isabella looked at Big Macintosh in alarm. Could Chrysalis and Roderick some how found them?

Big Macintosh motioned for them to hide as he stepped quietly toward the door. He peeked through the curtains covering a window closest to the door as Tentra and Isabella hid behind the couch.

They sat silently behind the couch for several long seconds.

Suddenly,Big Macintosh popped back over the back of the couch, making them both scream like little fillies.

"Come on out you two. You'll not believe who just showed up." He said, a huge smile on his face.

Isabella stepped out from behind the couch but lost vision to a voluminous amount of shining violet mane, and felt her ribs creak under the stress of the hug that Rarity was giving her.

"Oh my darling, I'm so glad you two are safe. I was so worried. Of course I never doubted you but you can understand a girl's worry. How have you two been? Is everything alright?"

Rarity probably would have kept going but Applejack put a hoof on her shoulder and said "Rarity, let her go. She's turning blue."

Isabella sucked in a huge breath of air as Rarity let her go.

As Isabella caught her breath as the others looked around at the house.

"Wow." Twilight said in surprise. "You two really did a nice job."

"We didn't do it alone." Isabella said, rubbing her ribs as she and Big Macintosh stepped over to the couch.

Tentra slowly stood up and stepped out from behind the couch, making all the others, besides Rarity (who's hair stood on end, but in an eternal attempt to be polite stayed still), back a away quickly.

"You're on their side?" Applejack asked her brother, shock and hurt on apparent on her face.

Isabella and Big Macintosh glanced at each other in alarm.

"No, no! She's my half sister. She was banished from the swarm so it's more of her being on our side." said Isabella as she put a hoof around Tentra.

"Okay, you know, a half changeling is something, but a full breed one is a completely different story." said Twilight, stepping forward, a frown upon her lips. "What if Chrysalis takes control of her or something?"

Isabella and Tentra looked at each other, both with looks of exasperation on their faces. Finally Isabella sighed.

"Tentra, could you please give my uneducated friends a run down of the swarm basics?"

"With pleasure." She said as she stepped up on the couch.

After several minutes and a full out lecture which left Twilight in awe (She was used to being the one giving the lectures), Tentra finished and stepped down from the couch. The room was quiet for a minute or two, then Pinkie Pie spoke up.

"If she makes you guys from eggs, how did she make Isabella?"

"Irrelevant!" shouted every one in the room, other than Pinkie Pie herself.

Pinkie frowned deeply as Isabella approached Twilight.

"I know what my people did, and I can understand your miss trust of me and my sister, but we don't have any interest in Chrysalis'es ideas of conquest."

"Still kinda hard to believe you when you were a 'professional thief' and basically ran Canterlot from the underground." Twilight said, still very skeptical.

Isabella face-hoofed and sighed.

"Look, If I wanted any of that now, do you really think I'd still be here? The only place I belong is here. It's the only place I've ever been happy. The only place I could be free." she looked at Big Macintosh as she finished.

Twilight thought about that for a minute, then shrugged.

"Okay, maybe you are on our team but I don't trust to you not run off on us if this get bad."

Isabella was about to offer a rebuttal when there was a sharp knock on the door.

"Speaking of which." Said Applejack as they all locked their eyes on the door, the only thing separating them from whom ever was outside.

Summon the Horde?

Everyone stood frozen, staring at the door, not even daring to breath. A second loud knocking sounded at the door, making everyone jump.

"Um. Hello?" came a slightly husky mare's voice.

"Is that....?" murmured Fluttershy.

"I think it is." said Rainbow Dash, a smile spreading over her lips.

"It's who?" Asked Isabella as Rainbow Dash trotted over to the door.

As she opened it, a gray mare with light blonde hair and golden eyes that seemed to be crossed permanently, stuck her head in.

"Hi guys!" She said beaming at them all.

"Hey Derpy. Come on in." said Rainbow Dash, holding the door open.

Derpy stepped inside and promptly tripped on the threshold, face-planting hard on the carpet.
Everyone rushed forward to see if she needed help. She simply grinned up at them with her now semi flat face.

"I'm okay, that kinda thing happens to me all the time." said Derpy, after Rainbow Dash and Rarity had helped her up and sat her down in one of the chairs.

"So Derpy, why are you here?" Twilight asked, smiling at the gray mare, who's eyes were looking all around the cabin, literally.

"I came cause somepony showed up in Ponyville from Canterlot. Said he had a message for Isabella. Naturally I had no idea who she was, so I asked around and everypony guessed she was the mare in that big fight a few days ago cause we don't know anypony in Ponyville with that name. So after finding out that she had been with Big Macintosh, I went to Granny Smith who told me Applejack had gone on a trip with you guys into the mountains, so I flew way up and around the mountain a few times till I found the cabin. Then I showed up here."

The room was quiet. Not from Derpy's story but from how she had told it. She had not taken a single breath through the entire thing and gasped deeply after having finished.
After another minute of silence, Derpy blushed a little and held up her mail bag.

"I got it right here if you wanna see it."

Isabella stepped forward and Derpy smiled crossed eye at her, handing her a letter.

"Uh, this is addressed to a 'Sir Fancy Pants'." Isabella said showing Derpy the letter.

"Oh! That's nothing!" yelled Rarity as she snatched it out of Isabella's hoof before Derpy could take it, and stuffed it into her mane. "Just uh, Sweetie Belle's idea of a joke."

She had a guilty smile on her face as everypony looked at her suspiciously, then turned back to Derpy as she spoke.

"I know I had it in here someplace. Hm? What's this?"

There seemed to be a heavy something in her mail bag and with a heave, she turned her mail bag upside down, and out fell...

"Spike! What in Celestia's name are you doing here?" shouted Twilight, at the small purple and green dragon that now lay in a pile of letters on the rug.

He sat up and began talking so fast, it was hard for them to keep up.

"I'm sorry Twilight, but you were in such a hurry when Fluttershy showed up that you forgot me and just ran out. The moment I heard that Rarity got hurt though, I set out after you, but my legs are too small, so I lost you guys. Then I saw Derpy talking to people, asking about Isabella and I figured you had gone to see them since you guys weren't around anymore, so when she stopped at Granny Smith's place, I snuck into her bag."

Again the room was quiet. Spike hadn't taken a breath either, but was looking up at Twilight nervously, pushing his index fingers together.

Finally Twilight sighed.

"It fine Spike. Next time just ask her if she can give you a lift." She said.

"N-next time?" Spike stammered as Derpy and Twilight began tossing letters hither and thither.

After a minute or two, a little after Spike had begun to help out, Twilight held up a letter.

"Got it!" she breathed, wiping her brow.

Isabella took it from her and slid it open, pulling the letter out gingerly.

Nopony said anything as she read, which took a very long time, as the letter was three pages long and written very sloppily.
As she read, her face got harder and harder and her eyes seemed to glow.

"What's up?" asked Applejack, who had taken a seat with the others.

"Roderick has basically started a war on my men."

"Your men?" asked Rainbow Dash.

"We went over this, I used to be a master thief. I had a lot of cronies. But the problem is, Roderick had most of the city guard in his pocket, and now he wants to capture and kill them all." said Isabella, grinding her teeth at the thought of Roderick's pleasure at giving the order.

"And you care?" asked Twilight, who seemed genuinely surprised.

Isabella shot her a venomous look and was about to retort when Big Macintosh cut across her.

"We all know the past, lets focus on the present. If we can get Isabella to be different, these other thieves can change. Ah highly doubt this Roderick fellow will be up to change, so lets think about how to help Isabella's boys."

Everyone lapsed into silence. There was hmings and umings, plus hoof tapping for the longest time till somepony spoke up.

"Contact the Princess."

Everyone was surprised to see that Derpy was the one to have spoken.

"She's busy." said Twilight, immediately.

"Yes, but the problem in Canterlot ties in with her work." stated Isabella.

"How would you know?" asked Twilight suspiciously.

"She's met Luna in her sleep. They've talked about it." explained Tentra.

The others looked at each other in shock and whispered among themselves as Twilight scanned Isabella's face, perhaps looking for deception.

"All the big problems that have occurred in the past, they've been eating away at the fabric of the world, and things have begun to unravel." Isabella said, looking at each of the girls in turn. "Nightmare Moon, Discord, my mother, even your exploits in the crystal kingdom, have been tugging on the threads of our universe, but Princess Celestia and Princess Luna have been trying to fix it."

"That's where they've been." said Rainbow Dash, looking down at the floor her face a mask of awe, her eyes full of wonder.

"Yes, Luna has put herself in the dream realm permanently, well at least till they get this thing figured out." said Isabella, nodding at Rainbow Dash.

"Wait!" Shouted Pinkie Pie, "If the world is falling apart, then why haven't we seen anything strange lately?"

"Have y'all been having nightmares recently?" asked Big Macintosh.

There was silence for a minute, then Applejack, Rarity, and Fluttershy raised their hooves.

"Ah had one where the orchard was destroyed, and from what Ah could see so was Ponyville."

"Me too, but it was the Boutique that had been destroyed in mine, as well as Ponyville and Twilight's Library."

There was silence again until Twilight sighed.

"I had a similar one, but nothing was destroyed. I was studying when the book I was reading burst into flames. I grabbed another book and opened it and the pages were empty. I went through every single book in the library. It was all the same." She said, her head hung and her voice quiet.

"I think the only way to stop this mess and save our world is to get the Princess'es help, just like Derpy said. I don't think we can do this on our own." said Isabella, holding her head up.

"Yeah!" Rainbow Dash said, coming out of her revelry, "Spike!"

Spike stood at attention, A quill and paper already in his hand.

"Dear Princess Celestia, we know about your work, but we are in dire need of assistance. Chrysalis has come back and is hunting us, plus Canterlot is being controlled by a devious nobleman. We are afraid to take action as it may further damage the fabric of our world. We need help, signed, The six." Rainbow Dash finished.

Spike dotted the period, rolled the scroll and tossed it in the air, catching it with his green flames expertly, sending it away.

"And Derpy, I have a message for my men. Spike, if you'd please." said Isabella, as she nodded at Spike.

Again, he already had a piece of paper in his hand, the quill poised and ready.

"Men, I know these last few days have been a living hell for you, and I know how dangerous it is for all of you there now, but if you can, get back into the mansion. The tree's shadow will show you the way. Once, inside, use anything to barricade the entrances without drawing attention to yourselves. Use my personal stores of food, water, and weapons if you need to. Stay safe and keep your heads down. Isabella."

Spike folded this one and handed it to Derpy, who tucked it into an envelope, then saluting them, she opened the door and bolted out, the door closing slowly behind her.

Not a moment later, Spike's eyes grew wide and he belched loudly, a scroll of parchment appearing from the flames that his burp expelled, which he caught deftly and began reading.

"My Little Ponies, head to the top of the mountain, make sure to be there at sunset, and be careful. If Chrysalis is hunting you, she won't be far behind. We'll take care of Canterlot once our real work is over, but right now it's only a second priority. Now go. I'll see you all soon."

"Lets get going." Said Big Macintosh, standing up.

"Right now?" asked Spike, his face a mask of nervousness.

"Don't worry Spike, if we come across any gaps, it's just a hop skip and jump." said Pinkie, saying the last part in a sing song voice. Fluttershy shuddered at those words.

"Plus it's only about a ten minute walk to the top. We're pretty high up." Applejack reassured him.

"Then lets go." said Isabella.

The rest of them stood up and began to gather a few things, and when they finally had every thing they needed, they headed out and up the mountain.

Hawkeye was sitting in the shadows of an alley, his back pressed against the wall as two Guards walked past in a heated discussion. Things had gotten out of hand since the boss had left, and Roderick's guards had taken over. It was almost impossible to move around during the day, and even at night it was hard to get around. Thankfully, Roderick had only managed to catch about one 25th of the men. The rest were too well trained to be caught, thanks to Isabella's teachings and strict discipline.

He stuck his head out to see if the coast was clear, then darted out and ran up a set of stairs that wound around the house they belonged to, finally stopping on the roof and looking down, the afternoon sun playing on his black mane and coat, glinting in his violet eyes, and making his wings, which were spread, seem bigger. He scanned the surrounding buildings and the lower streets, hawk like, his eyes narrowed and his body tense.

He was still for the longest time, the sun creeping lower in the sky every second, but it's light still shining bright across the rooftops, leaving the streets in shadow.

His eyes flickered for a moment, then he dashed forward, ripping some of the roofing tiles off in his haste, and jumped out into open space. His wings folded and he began to free fall. He picked up more and more speed, and was mere feet from the ground when he opened his wings. He skimmed the ground and turned so quickly, a tiny dust devil was formed as he flew off towards the lower city, dodging buildings, trash bins, late night strolling ponies, and even flying high over several guards.

Finally, as he flew over the lower city, he began his decent, tilting his wings ever so slightly, and circling over a dark alley. No pony seemed to notice him but the silence of the evening made Hawkeye tense, almost as if he expected the guards to set upon him at any moment.

When he entered the alley, he lowered his hooves and landed at a run and slowly decelerating, to a gallop, then a trot and finally stopping near the entrance to another street.

Judging by the sun, it was nearly seven o'clock, and the mail pony he had sent Travis to find was scheduled to arrive any minute, but there was time to have a rest and stretch his legs. He had been cooped up in an old abandoned house for the past three days, which, for a pegasus, is nearly an eternity.

As he shook himself and let his wings flap pointlessly, he began to think about the last few days.

Things had really been weird. First the boss'es heist going wrong because that idiot Dungus went and snitched. Then her sudden disappearance, which had been the only thing people had been talking about. And why wouldn't they be talking about it? The boss was one of the most well known ponies in the entire city, so when she stopped responding to invites and threatening the few suitors that still came calling, people wondered.

But getting the information from the fence in Ponyville that their boss was still alive, that was amazing. Some of Hawkeye's thieving brethren wouldn't like to see her come back, but he knew the truth of it. None of them had the skill, discipline, or smarts to run their operation. Hell, if she decided to stop being a thief and become a war lord, he would gladly learn to be a soldier.

But yes, she was alive and getting her back was essential. The only problem was that getting her back and getting rid of Roderick would mean a full on war between Roderick's pocket guard and the thieves and that would cause a lot of damage, for Canterlot and both sides.

Hawkeye huffed to himself and blew a strand of hair out of his face.

A moment later he jumped and looked around as a heavy 'thud' sounded just outside the alley. He peeked out and saw a gray mare pegasus with pale blonde mane and tail, and goofy, mismatched, golden eyes. Her wings and hair were terribly mussed and it looked like she had flown through a storm. She also had a heavy looking mail bag.

He looked up and down the street. It was clear, and it seemed that no one had notice the loud sound. He acted quickly and dragged her into the shadows of the alley.

"Lady. You okay?"

Hawkeye waved a hoof in front of the mail mare's face, and her eyes, still cockeyed, seemed to focus on him and she smiled.

"Hi! Are you the one I'm supposed to meet?" she asked.

Hawkeye shushed her and put a hoof to her lips.

"I'm not even supposed to exist, but yes. I'm Hawkeye. Did you get a letter or anything from the boss?"

"Yep. Got it right here."

She held up a neat and tidy envelope that looked like it had been sealed only a few hours ago.

He snatched it and tore it open, reading it once, twice, and three times over. As he did so, the gray mare pushed herself up and dusted herself off.

Hawkeye looked at her, his face a picture of shock.

"What in oblivion has made her change so drastically?" he murmured, turning to the mail mare, who giggled.

The mail mare shrugged and grinned at him. Apparently her eyes were always mismatched.

"Well, if this is the bosses orders, then I'd better round every one up and head back to base. And you'd better head back to Ponyville miss. If the guards suspect you're involved with us, they'll kill you without a second thought." said Hawkeye, turning to leave.

"Nope. I'm coming with you."

Hawkeye turned and looked at her. She just grinned at him.

A slow smile spread across his face and he chuckled, but when the mare simply smiled back at him, he realized she was serious.

"What? Why?"

"Cause I want to." she said, following it up quickly with "and cause I'm a great cook."

Hawkeye opened his mouth to say something, but he could form no rebuttal. It had been a while since they had someone in the kitchen who could cook. Plus, she was coming willingly and didn't need threatening or persuasion.

He shrugged and said "Sure, why not."

The mail mare beamed and followed him as he headed to the far end of the alley, from where he had entered.

"Now, we gotta get every one together and then we can head back to the manor, alright?" he said, smirking at her.

"Yes sir!" she half shouted, putting up a sloppy salute.

"Alright. Here we go!"

And with that, they both shot into the sky, leaving a black streak and a gray zigzag in the air.

Isabella, Big Macintosh, Twilight, and all the girls were nearly to the peak when Pinkie Pie asked for a rest.

"What's wrong? Didn't you walk up here in an evening?" asked Isabella, turning around and looking down.

"Actually, we got a ride from the mayor, using the air balloon." replied Rarity, who dabbed at her forehead with a small white cloth.

"Well, we are almost at the top, I guess a break wont hurt. But we can't stay too long, the Sun is nearly ready to set." Isabella finished by looking at the horizon, the sun nearly touching it.

Isabella sat a little higher than the others, letting Big Macintosh sit next to Applejack, and keeping an eye on the horizon.

"Mind if I join you?"

She looked around to see Twilight standing next to her.

"Sure." Isabella nodded to the patch of grass next to her, and Twilight sat next to her.

They were silent for a little while as they watched the others. Pinkie Pie was trying to teach Tentra how to play patty cake, and Rarity was brushing her hair next to them. Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Applejack and Big Macintosh were eating apples and chatting animatedly to each other.

"I don't know if anyone has asked you this yet," Twilight said, breaking the silence between them, "But do you know who your father is?"

Isabella sighed and shook her head. "No idea. The only thing Chrysalis ever said about him was that he was a Unicorn, and she regretted I looked more like him then her."

She chuckled grimly at that, but lapsed back into silence.

Twilight was deep in thought for a moment.

"You were born around nineteen years ago?"

Isabella looked at Twilight quizzically, who was looking at her earnestly.

"Yeah. Why?"

"............How long was Chrysalis pregnant with you?"

Isabella thought about that for a while. Chrysalis had never said much about Isabella's father, and she had never actually bothered to think about it much. But she did have one other memory.

"One time, while she was raging at me, she held something about 'I carried you in my body for a year and a half', so I guess a half changeling takes longer to develop then a Changeling or a Pony. Weird thought, huh?"

Twilight and Isabella were both silent again for a while, until Isabella looked at the horizon and pushed herself up.

"We gotta move, the sun is about.."

Isabella was cut off by a cackle that seemed to come from all around them, which made Fluttershy scream and made Rarity drop her brush.
Isabella looked in every direction but could see no one as Twilight called the others over to them.

"Did you honestly think you could escape us?!" came Chrysalis'es cruel voice again, swimming around them through the air.

"She's trying to confuse us! Keep your eyes open!" Yelled Tentra, hoisting Fluttershy back up, who had dropped her head to the ground and had covered her eyes with her forelegs.

The group stood in a tight circle, looking in every direction, waiting for Chrysalis to show her face.

"Ah! I see you have taken the traitor into your ranks! You will die with her then! You will all die!"

There was a loud whooshing sound, and the clouds began to clump together above them. The sun, being off to their side, still shone, making the mountain peak seem unreal.

"Run!" shouted Isabella.

As they all turned tail and began sprinting to the very peak of the mountain, Chrysalis, her mane flying in the wind, her eyes burning with hatred, appeared from the cloud, Roderick just below her, galloping towards them.

They reached the very top of the mountain in minutes, leaving Chrysalis and Roderick behind.

"What do we do? They'll be here in seconds, and the sun is still a little ways from actually setting!" screamed Fluttershy, almost tearing up out of fright.

"We'll fight!" said Twilight, turning back toward the direction they had come, "The Princess said to come. We just have to trust she has a plan."

"Eeyup."

"Then that's it. We'll stand our ground till the sun sets. Lets pray that Celestia isn't late." said Isabella as she turned to look at their soon to be arena.

The peak was fairly flat, but there were large rocks scattered around the place, some bare and other covered in green and violet mosses. There were a few trees there as well, mostly pine and a single birch, and lots of ferns. It looked like their best bet would be to use the rocks and trees as cover and throwing things at their assailants.

"Alright every one!" yelled Twilight, catching eveypony's attention, "If we have to fight, we need a plan. Rainbow Dash you hide in the tree tops and attack when you can. Tentra, you go with her. Rarity, you and me will hide behind the birch tree and throw stones and other heavy objects at them. Applejack, Big Macintosh, Isabella, I want you to take the fight directly to them. Spike and Fluttershy, I want you two to stay back here and Wait for the princess."

Spike opened his mouth to protest, but Fluttershy clapped her hooves over his mouth.

"We'll do that, Twilight." she said as fast she could, dragging Spike back behind a large clump of pine trees, as Tentra and Rainbow Dash flew up to the top of the trees and Twilight and Rarity trotted towards the large birch tree.

Isabella stood between Big Macintosh and Applejack, all three of them turned towards the way they came up, and it wasn't long before they heard them approaching.

A large, black cloud began swirling over the peak, very much like what had happened down at their resting spot.

"Fools!"

The voice echoed all around them, but everypony's eyes were glued to the two figures that slowly came into few over the side of the mountain.

Roderick was obviously winded, but was holding himself together pretty well. Chrysalis, on the other hand, seemed to be teeming with energy. Her mane billowed around her head, her eyes glowed malevolently, and her horn was emitting angry green sparks as her wings beat furiously, making them almost invisible as she hovered above the ground. Both had their eyes glued to Isabella, Roderick with that sickening hunger and Chrysalis with pure hatred.

"Do you really believe you can defeat us?" hissed Chrysalis, a sneer appearing on her face.

"Who was my father?"

Everyone became silent. The question had been completely unexpected and everyone's eyes moved to look at Isabella, who's eyes hadn't left Chrysalis.

Chrysalis shook herself and regained her composure, landing lightly next to Roderick.

"Well, I guess one answer for the soon to be deceased isn't too much to ask."

Roderick look at her as if she was crazy, but she ignored him, blinking slowly.

Chrysalis kept her eyes on Isabella's as she took a few steps forward. She was not smiling. Truth be told, She had the look of someone reliving a particularly horrible memory. It was a few moments before she began speaking.

"Your father was one of the many stallions I have deceived to feed off of. Though this one in particular was resistant to my magic for the longest time. I had to truly play the part of his fair mare more than once."

She grimaced at this and Pinkie Pie and Twilight both shifted uncomfortably. Isabella was unamused.

"That doesn't tell me who he was."

Chrysalis scowled hard, the blaze of anger returning to her eyes.

"Impatient as always. You never did learn how to stay silent when being addressed. Fine. You sadly inherited his features. His name I believe was Shining Armor. He was a pitiful unicorn that headed the Guard Legion in Canterlot."

There was a collective gasp behind and beside Isabella. She looked around at Applejack, who was looking behind herself. Isabella followed her gaze and her eyes found Twilight, who's mouth hung open as her eyes bulged. She looked at the others, all of whom were looking at Twilight. Isabella looked around at Big Macintosh, who looked as lost as she was.

"Who's Shining Armor?"

"No idea." Mumbled Big Macintosh

"That's Twilight's brother y'all."

There was a stunned silence as Isabella and Big Macintosh looked at Applejack, shock etched on all their faces. Chrysalis let out a bark of humorless laughter as the last few rays of sunlight glanced off her wings.

"Yes, the boy and his wife weren't exactly pure in their actions before they were married. So I had to play along, and so you were created. I had hoped you might have been a worthy heir to the throne, but you're just a disappointment that's become a major thorn in my side. Now you will all die."

Chrysalis's horn let off a low acid green shimmer as a a dark orb was drawn from the inside of Roderick's coat. Everyone's eyes followed it as it come to rest half way between Isabella and Chrysalis. The orbs shimmered slightly as their poisons purple color seemed to suck in the light around them.

Before any other action could be made, a sound like the the crack of a whip mixed with a thunderclap boomed through the air, shaking the mountain and staggering everyone. Chrysalis fell to her knees and Roderick fell backwards. Isabella, Big Macintosh, and Applejack turned and ran back to the others, who had all come into a small group. Isabella saw why as she and the others arrived to the group.

High above them, the clouds began to swirl again, but these cloud were white and no lightning forked out of them. The wind began to pick up around them and everypony's mane began to be wiped around them. Isabella threw a glance over her shoulder. Chrysalis had regained her composure and looked livid, as Roderick continued to try and push himself up.

As Chrysalis began to charge forward, her horn burning green now, Twilight let out a shout.

"Princess!"

A blinding beam of light came down and engulfed the small group of friends, forcing Chrysalis to shut her eyes. Isabella felt a strange sensation of weightlessness and saw that she and all the other had been lifted a few inches into the air. She looked again back at Chrysalis. The black orb was hovering between them again, but this time it looked as though it was consuming the air and light around it, glowing brighter and brighter. Isabella shut her eyes and for the first time in her life, prayed that she'd see the light of day again.

Then, in a final world brightening flash, the beam of light vanished, taking with it Isabella and the others.

The only sound on the mountain top after this was the sound of a gun shot, follow by the deafening roar of rage that ripped from Chrysalis's lungs as the small black orb fell to the ground, empty and lifeless, not to be used for the next hundred years.

Catching Up

Isabella shook her head and blinked hard a few times. Everything was purest white and nothing seemed to have shape at the moment. She blinked several more times, before things started to come back into focus. It came to her attention that she was laying down, in a bed of extreme softness and warm. Had she passed out? What had happened after the flash of light.
She pushed herself up and took a look around. She was in a medium sized room, but it was strange. Edges seemed blurred and corners softer, like everything was only partially there. She looked down at herself, but she stood out perfectly. All of her form was the same as usual. The effect of her standing out against the fuzzy outlines of the room made things swim and spin around her.
She shut her eyes and took a few deep breathes before opening her eyes again. She jumped to find an incredibly tall, pure white Alicorn with a flowing rainbow mane and tail standing by her bedside. The Alicorn was looking down at her, not with an expression of anger or judgement, but more one of curiosity.

"I take it you're Isabella?"

Her voice seemed motherly, understanding, sweet. Something similar to how Granny Smith had sounded when speaking to Applebloom, just younger.
Isabella nodded slowly. It took her a moment to realize that this Alicorn wasn't blurred like the rest of the room. Her outline was sharp, just like her own.

"Twilight and Big Macintosh have told me a lot about you. Your sister as well."

"Where are they? What is this place? How did you..?"

The Alicorn cut her off by raising a hoof, smiling gently.

"I'll explain everything. Just come with me. I'd rather address you all at once. repeating old news has never been a favorite pass time of mine."

She waited for Isabella to pick herself up and get out of bed before she moved to the door way. Isabella followed her through a few empty hall ways, all of which had the same fuzzy look as the room had had. It was a few minutes before they appeared into a seemingly giant room. Isabella let out a sigh of relief. Big Macintosh was sitting among the others, each of which was talking quietly to one another. Not that is made much difference. Isabella had noticed the sound here was a little muffled, like when you stand outside and it's snowing.
Big Macintosh looked up and smiled, drawing everyone's attention to her and the Alicorn.

"Morning sleepin' beauty." Called Applejack.

Isabella took her place next to Big Macintosh, who leaned against her gently as the others babbled loudly to each other, discussing the events of the last few days. This continued for a short period until the Alicorn cleared her throat, causing the others to fall silent.

"It's good to see you all safe and well rested. For those few of you who don't know who I am, I am Princess Celestia. Princess Luna would be here but she is busy at the moment. This place, as each of you have asked, is an in between world. A place between life and death. A "safe haven" if you will. Twilight, I've show you this place before."

Everyone glanced at her at this before Celestia continued.

"I've spoken with Twilight, and I already know what's been happening in Canterlot. It pains my heart, and once Luna and myself are finished, we shall return and restore order. Now, as for the current situation," she turned to look at Isabella and Tentra, who had joined her sister whilst Celestia spoke, "You two seem to have stirred things up a little. I know of your past exploits Isabella. You were misguided, but I see you have changed for the better. I can only hope that continues, as well as the changes your sister has undergone."

She smiled as she finished, looking around at all of them. There was silence as the others glanced around at each other.
Rainbow Dash finally broke that silence.

"Sooooo.... what are we supposed to do here?"

Celestia looked at her, still smiling. "I was hoping you could help me and Luna in our work to finish repairing our world's fabric. The Elements of Harmony will greatly help us in our work."

"What about us?" asked Tentra, gesturing as herself, Isabella, Spike and Big Macintosh.

Celestia turned to them again. "I would suggest to Isabella and Spike that they communicate with her men that are still in Canterlot, and get them ready. Sir Roderick has allied himself with Chrysalis, and though her goal is to kill Isabella at the moment, I'm sure she'll be looking to occupy Canterlot. Her forces will be ready for combat, and we will need to be as well. Big Macintosh, Tentra. You should stay with her. You are the ones closest to her and she'll need you before this is all over."

The three of them exchanged ominous glances, but said nothing. Celestia chuckled a little as her horn let off a golden magic glow, bringing a scroll of parchment forth from seemingly nowhere. Isabella caught it and unraveled it as Celestia spoke.

"This map will guide you around this realm. I'd suggest staying in this building for the time being though."

Isabella, Big Macintosh and Tentra all looked down at the map. It was a huge area, covered in small writings and notes. Up in the top right corner, a strange white light flashed. Tentra reached out and touched it.
All three of them jumped as the small light flashed extra bright, causing Isabella to nearly drop the scroll. That was when they all noticed that the map had changed. Upon closer inspection, it had actually zoomed in on the position of the flashing light. Isabella looked up at Celestia, who simply smiled and nodded, then turned and began to lead the others away.

Big Macintosh watched them walk away, and when they disappeared around a corner he spoke up.

"What in the name of blue blazes was that?"

"Well, if you look here," Isabella traced a circle around the light that continued to flash gently, "the room the light is in is shaped the same as this room," she gestured around them, "so my guess would be that the flashing light would be the location of the scroll, so in other words, where we are."

Tentra blinked. "That's some interesting magic. I've never seen someone do that before."

"Lets be honest, Tentra. You never did get out much."

Isabella and Tentra looked at each other for a second then burst out laughing. After a moment or two they both regained their posture and took a look at the scroll. Big Macintosh let out a small noise of discomfort as Spike clambered up onto his back and then to the top of his head so he could look down on the map as well.

"So we seem to be in the main chamber, or great hall if you're feeling dramatic. The Princess and the others went off in this direction. If I recall, I woke in a room over.... here." she jabbed a small room down a corridor from the main chamber, "So that looks like the rooms, in that area. But from here, we could find a way out to the grounds, that way." she gestured behind her without looking away from the map, "There's also a huge library or study off in this direction. Most of the rest of this place seems to be just facility. I think we can assume from the map that Celestia might have actually considered bringing people here if things got too out of hand in the real world. Like a temporary home kind of thing."

When she looked up, all three of the others were looking at her in surprise.

"What?"

"You got all that from just a map?" mumbled Big Macintosh, his eye wide.

Isabella rolled her eyes and pursed her lips. "You guys seem to forget I used to be a master thief that commanded a small army of lower thieves. Strategy and tactics were something I learned on my ascension to that position. So don't be so surprise at all the little things, alright?"

Tentra made a face that clearly said "True", before she looked at the others.

"So what should we do?"

"I'd say we should go to the study. It would seem to be the best place to give written orders from in the stronghold. There will be plenty of paper, quills, and ink there. I take it, Spike, that you're somewhat gifted with a quill?"

Spike nodded. Isabella returned the gesture and gestured they all follow her, the map floating in front of her as she guided them towards the Library.

Hawkeye had taken up office in Isabella's old quarters. The door was always open now and a good thing too. It would have been knocked off it's hinges by now with how often ponies came dashing in with updates and news of the guard's movements. Hawkeye didn't like this job. Being in charge of a good one hundred and fifty men (and women) was wearing and he hadn't slept for nearly forty eight hours. No wonder the boss had run the place so tight when she had been here.
Things had actually gone unexpectedly well. Most of the current guards had replaced the old city guards and the new ones, well... you could say they were a few apples short of a bunch. This made rallying the troops that hadn't left Canterlot much easier.

There was a knock on the door. Hawkeye turned in bewilderment. The door was open, why knock?

He understood when he saw who was there.

Derpy's shock of pale blonde mane stood out incredibly among all the others that had taken up residence in the mansion, making it that much easier to find her.

"Dinner is ready. I took the liberty of bringing you some. I know you're really busy."

Hawkeye cringed. Last time she'd done this, she'd dropped the tray and it was a miracle they got the stains out of the rug. Wouldn't want Isabella any cause to snap his neck when she returned.

"Uh, I'm f.... oh."

Derpy had brought it in on a trolly this time, rather than a tray. She gave a nervous sort of smile.

"I know I made an awful mess last time, so I thought about it, and I found this in the kitchens. Looked like it hadn't been used in years, but it moves just fine and only needed some dusting."

Hawkeye let out an exasperated yet relived sigh. She was clumsier than most of the new guards patrolling the city, but her cooking was superb. The nearly bottomed out moral of the men had been raised substantially after a few of her meals.

"I..Derpy, thanks. You're a life saver. I'll have someone bring the trolly back down to the kitchens when I done."

She beamed, cross eyed at him, then turned, ran smack into the door frame, and made it out of the room on her second try. Hawkeye found himself half smiling to himself, before sitting down to eat. As usual, when he took the dome lid from over his food, a plume of steam and smell lifted into the room. Steamed carrots, fresh celery, a thick, sweet smelling stew of sorts, a fresh bread, which looked like it had come out of the oven only minutes ago, and as always, a large blueberry Muffin. Occasionally Derpy made a jello, or some foreign looking desert, but most nights it was a muffin. Hawkeye chuckled and rolled his eyes as he began eating.

As Hawkeye finished his meal he stretched and blinked quickly, fighting the sleep from his eyes. He needed some sleep and then to go out and actually do something. He'd get fat sitting behind this desk and Hawkeye wasn't going to let that happen.

These thoughts running through his head, Hawkeye sat forward and was just about to start writing out a new recon schedule when Nextis, a dull crimson Unicorn with dark brown mane and tail, trotted into the room.

"Sir, almost all entrances to the building have been sealed. The secret ways in and out are still hidden and the guards are still docile. The men are all fed and all scouts are on time."

Nextis had an incredibly deep voice that almost seemed to the shake the room, even though he was speaking slowly and quietly. He was also one of the most loyal men. Not only to Isabella, but to Hawkeye himself. They had been best friends since they'd met on the streets as colts. Hawkeye nodded.

"Brilliant. Nextis. Could I ask a favor of you?"

"Anything sir."

"Great, and stop calling me that. We're both the same rank, and I'm not trying to take over here. Could you act as my wing man and take over. I need a rest, or I'm going to go mad."

Nextis, smiled and shook his head. "I'll keep things ticking while you get your head back on straight. Glad to see command hasn't gone to your head, old friend."

"We both know neither of us ever wanted Isabella's job. We didn't know why, but now I do, and soon you will too." Hawkeye laughed a little, knocked hoofs with Nextis and left the room. A moment later he reappeared.

"I thought you were going to get some rest." said Nextis. "Don't think I can handle it?"

Hawkeye let out a tired laugh at Nextis's wry smile as he pushed the trolly towards the door. "I told Derpy I'd bring this back down to the kitchens when I could. I'll drop it off and head to bed."

Nextis laughed again. "She's a funny one, that girl. She talks in circles and almost makes sense once in a while. One time I tried to ask her about a dish she'd made and it kept coming back around to either her old job as a mail mare or muffins."

Hawkeye left the room and was followed down the hallway by Nextis's laughter.

After traversing the large building, taking the trolly down a few flights of stairs which made him wonder how Derpy got it up to him without spilling the entire thing, and past the main hall, which was almost empty, he came to the kitchen door. He put his ear to the door. He could hear running water and strangely enough, splashing. He pushed the door open with the trolly to a most peculiar sight.
Derpy was in one of the huge pots used for cooking. It was filled with water and soap bubbles and a low fire was burning underneath. It looked like she was... swimming, but it was somehow different. Her wings were beating relentlessly and occasionally she would dive down for periods of about five to ten seconds.
Hawkeye realized what he had taken for swimming was in fact, washing. She was washing the giant pot, using herself as a scrubber.

"That can't be sanitary." was the only thing that managed to make it out of his mouth.

Derpy turned and seeing him, smiled. She waved and pulled herself out of the pot. She had a small dab of that night's dinner on her nose. He blinked a few times. It was strange. Her mane looked nice sleeked down from the water, even if it had small bits of food in it here and there.

"Hey Hawkeye. Not busy anymore?"

"Uh.. no. I'm going to bed. Get some rest, you know."

"Ooh. Sleeping has always been one of my favorite pass times." she trotted off to the side until she was standing on a large drain with a rope hanging next to it. She reached out and yanked rope. "Hey, watch thi-!"

She didn't get to finish what she was going to say before a huge amount of water came crashing down on her. Hawkeye looked up in confusion, to see a huge barrel that had been turned over to dump it's contents on her. He looked back down at her. She was still completely soaked, but the bits of food and such had been wiped from her. She gave a toothy smile as Hawkeye merely stared.

"Don't worry, I take a proper bath before and after I actually wash the pots." she gestured at the pots as she trotted over to them, turning the gas valve one way, which caused the flames to grow huge. she muttered a quick "Oops" before turning the valve the other way, putting the fire out, then turned another valve and the pots began to drain. "

I'll hose them down and everything in just a bit. Oh, hey! You brought the trolly back down. Thanks!"

She grabbed the trolly and in passing kissed Hawkeye on the cheek as she made her way to the large sink on the other side of the room.

Hawkeye stood there stunned, as he felt his face grow hot. He blinked once, twice, three times before he he came back to himself and found his wings fully extended. He folded them quickly and turned to leave the room. Once outside, followed once again by a voice, Derpy's this time, singing a nameless and wordless tune, he made his way to the chambers in a stunned silence.

She was whimsical, that was for sure. Did she do that to everyone? Hawkeye hadn't noticed anypony else walking around like they'd been sucker punched. Was he just being weird? It was just a kiss on the cheek. Maybe she was just a little more liberal in her showing of appreciation.
These thoughts paraded around in his head, until an unbidden image surfaced in his mind. He and Derpy, wrapped in a passionate kiss. Hawkeye shook his head rapidly and blinked, folding his wings yet again.
He needed rest, that was all. He wouldn't be getting these weird ideas if he'd had enough sleep lately.

But as Hawkeye lay in bed, he couldn't get that picture out of his head, no matter how hard he tried.

Nextis had only been in the "office" for a few hours and now understood just like Hawkeye did why they had never wanted Isabella's job. Ponies coming in and out of the room every few minutes or so, some with news, some with reports like the one he had given to Hawkeye. Once Hawkeye had rested, he and Nextis would need to switch in and out of this position regularly.

As Nextis finished giving a patrol leader instructions, a faint pop sounded through the room, and was followed by the appearance of a scroll. Nextis gave it a confused look. His horn glowed a deep red and the scroll float up and opened before his eyes.

"Men. My return is to be delayed further. I know not how long, but I do know this. War is coming. The guards, they're just the beginning. Soon, changelings will be appearing in your skies. My orders are to remain hidden, bolster our numbers, and begin constructing weapons. The chambers below the base should act as a perfect area to make the weapons and armor you'll need to defend yourself. Use my personal materials and design some of your weapons after my own. This is a matter not only of survival, but of preserving our way of life. I look forward to seeing you all again, and we I return, we shall stand victorious."

Nextis rerolled the scroll, a grim look upon his face. He stood and stepped from the room. He began telling those that he saw to gather the others in the great hall. This would be quite the under taking.

Isabella, Tentra, Big Macintosh found themselves, admittedly, bored. The Princess had managed to magic the Elements of Harmony out of thin air, or at least Isabella and the others guessed as much since no one had left to their knowledge, and the large palace was filled with bright flashes of color now and again.
Something that caught Isabella's attention was the fact that they'd all been awake for several hours now, and the light had not changed. It was as if time didn't pass here. An eternal day. This was going to make sleeping a lot more difficult.
Spike had taken to pacing back and forth, and it almost seemed he had worn a groove in the ground before Tentra said what they all had on their minds.

"Are we all so useless we can't help? Are we really expected to simply sit around and wait for them to finish fixing the world?"

"No. In fact, we'd like for you to join us for dinner so that we may discuss that."

All four looked around quickly. Princess Celestia was standing in the door way. Tentra blushed, but Celestia simply smiled at her and then looked around at the others.

"Please. If you'll follow me, we'll eat. Luna has returned and soon night will fall here."

Isabella smiled teasingly at Tentra, who murmured 'shut up' as they all headed out of the room, Spike getting a lift from Big Macintosh.

It was true, the sun had begun to set outside in the strange world as the group of five made their way towards the great hall. When they came into the great hall, they saw that a large table had been set up in the middle of the room. The table was laden with many different dishes, though from this distance they couldn't really see what any of it really was. All six of the others were already seated and chattering, and at one end of the table sat the dark blue Luna. She wasn't speaking but she was smiling, simply happy to have company.
Celestia seated each one of them. Spike was seated between Twilight and Rarity, Tentra between Luna and Rainbow Dash, and Isabella was seated next to Twilight. Big Macintosh was put on her left side, between herself and Luna.

The meal began simply enough. Everyone talked, laughed, ate, and in general had a good time. It wasn't until about halfway through the meal that Isabella really noticed that Twilight was making a point of not talking to her, or even looking at her for that matter. It took a second for what happen on the mountain peak to return to her mind. She lapsed into silence as she began turning the things she had learned over in her mind.
If what Chrysalis had said was true, then that means she knew how her father was. She didn't personally know him, but she now had a connection to him. Her Aunt.
She cast a glance at Twilight and found that she was looking at her. Their eyes locked for a fraction of a second, before they both looked away from each other rapidly, almost as if they were embarrassed of having looked at one another.
Several long uncomfortable seconds passed as the other around them spoke to each other, Spike talking to Rarity and some of the others, and Big Macintosh deep in conversation with Luna.
It was Twilight who spoke first.

"So......I, ahem, I guess...We're related."

"Yeah. Heh.... so it would seem."

Neither of them looked up, but kept their eyes on their mostly empty plates.

"I did kind of always want a sister." mumbled Twilight, "So I guess a... niece is as close as I can get really.."

"Mm."

Isabella didn't really know what to say. Things hadn't exactly been great between the two of them, and now they were awkward as well. Isabella suddenly wanted to know more about her father, but felt that discussing him would make things a little more strange between herself and Twilight.
Before she could say anything else, Celestia spoke.

"Our work has been slipping by with the help of the Elements, and for that, we thank you, and Equestria will soon come to thank you, but our work is not yet done."

"Figures." murmured Rainbow Dash, who received a swift and unexpected kick from Fluttershy, who made the 'shush' sign at her before Celestia continued.

"Therefore, we will need the six bearers of the elements to stay here for a few more days, but Isabella. The situation in Canterlot will soon become dire. I wish to send you, your sister, Big Macintosh, and Spike.."

"What!?" exclaimed Twilight and Spike, but the Princess continued as if she hadn't heard them.

"... to Canterlot tomorrow, to help prep your men. You may even be able to get help from those living in Ponyville, as it's the closest settlement to Canterlot, and the people there are a hard working and loyal people. Big Macintosh." She looked him dead in the eye as she spoke, "If you do call upon the people of Ponyville for assistance, I do not want to see those three fillies running around the battle field. There are things the young do not need to see."

"What about me? I'm young." said Spike hopefully.

Princess Celestia smiled at him. "Spike, you will act as a communicator for Twilight and myself to Isabella. It is an incredibly important job, and I don't doubt you'll excel at it."

The flattery worked well, as Spike swelled up his chest to show his determination, his earlier trepidation gone. "I won't let you down Princess."

Twilight looked exasperated, but mostly concerned. No one else spoke, not even Pinkie Pie. There was a minute of silence before Isabella spoke.

"Will you not be joining us in the fight? It is your city and people after all."

The words had not been meant to be an accusation, but sounded one anyways. Everypony looked at Princess Celestia. She was not smiling, but she did not look angry. She seemed weary. She spoke with a sigh.

"Yes, I will be joining the battle, as will Luna and the bearers of the Elements, but the beginning of the fight will be just you and your men, and those that you can gather to fight at your side. I do not deny the savagery that has claimed Canterlot pains my heart, but I have never taken joy from fighting. One thing that concerns me greatly however is that Discord may be released in the chaos of the battle."

"But Princess." interjected Fluttershy, who had become increasingly bold in the last few hours. "He wasn't able to escape during the first fight with Chrysalis, the power of the Elements was too strong. And when you sealed him away the first time, it was thousands of years ago. The spell may had weakened with time. It hasn't been so long since we sealed him away...."

Everyone looked at her in mild surprise. Interrupting the Princess was something many of them would expect from Pinkie, but not her. Her logic, however, was very sound. The bonds holding Discord in place were still very strong and the likely hood of him becoming a problem in the up coming battle were very slim.

The Princess smiled gently at Fluttershy, who quelled under her gaze even though it wasn't harsh. She was back to her normal self.

"Well, that is a load off my mind. Thank you Fluttershy. Now, my little ponies, the hour grows late and I think many of us should retire. I predict tomorrow will be a long one, for all of us."

Isabella was surrounded by that thick abyss of darkness again, but she could feel she wasn't alone.

"Hello?"

"It is merely I, little one."

Luna appeared next to her in the darkness.

"Is...is this a dream?"

"Yes. You've been resting for a while now, but I sensed something maybe troubling you."

They began to walk, and the light that she had seen in her dreams that connected her and Big Macintosh appeared. She slowed her pace. She didn't want to see the end of this dream. The thoughts of how they had ended the last few times she had had them made her heart ache.
Luna paused and looked back at her.

"What is wrong child?"

"I've had this dream before, it never ends well."

"Ah, but things change. Why not give it a try?"

Isabella hesitated, but Luna was right. She herself was living proof that things do change, and sometimes for the better. She followed Luna for a long time, the light getting stronger and stronger as they went, until finally, they found Big Macintosh. He smiled at Isabella, who glanced at Luna, who nodded.
Isabella walked forward and embraced Big Macintosh, as she had the night he had disappeared in her dream. He held her for a few minutes or an eternity, before he let her go and turned and walked away.

"NO!" Isabella cried out as she tried and failed to run after him.

"Calm, little one. Watch."

As he had so long ago, Big Macintosh kept walking until he disappeared, but this time it was different. Isabella looked down to see the thread of golden light still connecting them. Still strong as ever. She found she could walk again, and began to follow the little link of gold light, faintly aware of Luna following her. She was walking for so long that she felt the sun must rise and wake her, but the abyss of darkness still surrounded them.
Soon, she could feel something else. She looked down again, and what she saw surprised her. There was no longer one chain of light, but many.
She looked up and stopped. Big Macintosh stood before herself and Luna, but he was not alone. Applejack stood by his side, as well as Apple Bloom, and Granny Smith, a chain of light coming from each one of them.
She became aware of others standing around her and she turned, finding Rarity and even Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy.
When she had nearly turned all the way around, she saw Tentra, and in a wave of surprise, Twilight. Each of them had a chain of the light coming from them, coming to rest upon her.
Isabella felt the stinging in her eyes again, as well as a lump rising in her throat. She tried so hard to hold the tears back, but they came, rolling down her cheeks. She covered her eyes with her foreleg and began to sob as she sank to her haunches. When Luna put an arm around her, she did not shrug her off, but let her embrace her.

And in that moment, she could feel a link of light come even from Luna. She was loved, and now she knew it.

Battle Stratagem and the Call for Aid

Roderick's study was a mess. Books had been ripped from their shelves, tables and chairs had been flung about, some even out the windows, which now had large holes in it, the drapes had been shredded, and the know blank, dark orb was embedded in the one of the walls, a spider web of cracks running across said wall, away from the orb.
Roderick himself had taken refuge under his desk as Chrysalis's temper was exuded from her upon the room. She was standing in the middle of the room, she chest still heaving, her eyes blazing as he horn's acid green light slowly faded. Her wings twitched in nonrhythmic motions, spasming up and down and back and forth, making her seem a little more insectoid than usual.
After several long seconds, Roderick dared to pull himself out from under his desk and observe the damage Chrysalis had caused. It was a nightmare, and had he not been a spineless coward, he'd have said something, but Chrysalis was obviously not in the mood to take any whining from him. She began pacing, murder in both her eyes and heart.

Roderick slowly began picking up his valuables and books, putting them back where they belonged as quietly as possible, thinking as he did so.
Chrysalis had used one of the orbs and had failed to kill her target, but there was still one left. But when he thought about it, Chrysalis was more of a threat to him than Isabella herself. If he could somehow get a hold of the other orb, finish off Chrysalis, and then capture and kill Isabella, all his problems would be solved. He'd have control of the city and he wouldn't have to worry about being associated with his former partner in crime.
As he turned these thoughts over in his mind, Chrysalis slowly stopped pacing before stepping out onto the balcony, her eyes on the sky. Roderick hadn't noticed the dull sound of buzzing that was growing stronger and louder from outside, his mind still on his plot to betray and destroy Chrysalis.

A wide, malicious grin spread across Chrysalis's face as the sky grew darker, the buzzing still growing louder, the sun only coming through in short bursts between the members of the massive horde that was filling the sky. Her children had made it, and with their might, well over several thousand fold, she would finally crush her mistaken heir and keep her birth rite. There was only one more thing to do.

Roderick was finally putting the last bits of his ruined study to order when he turned around. He let out a gasp but that was all there was from his lips before a blinding flash of light followed by the sound of a gun shot filled and shook the room. He was hit with pain not even his most brutal tortures could bestow upon a person.

His eyes, ears, and nose began to bleed, blood trickling out from the corners of his mouth as well. He let out a howling gurgle and coughed, spraying the carpet with the dark crimson fluid that he'd thought was blue. His skin began to blister and warp as his hair started falling out. His eye slowly became swollen and finally popped, a quick gush of fluids joining the blood on the carpet. He began retching uncontrollably, vomiting several times, and continuing when his stomach had nothing left to spray forth until, with one final heave, his stomach and most of his small intestine shot from his mouth. The last thing he heard as his heart beat for the last time was Chrysalis's laughter ringing through his study.

The new Captain of the guard stood before Roderick's study door, beating on the wood.

"Sir! I heard an explosion and a scream! Are you alright in there?! Sir!"

The door was abruptly opened, but just a crack. A sliver of Roderick's face appeared in the crack of the door, his eye glaring at the Captain.

"What is it?!" He growled, menace deep in his voice.

The Captain took a step back in shock before regaining his composure quickly.

"I heard a disturbance in here. Is everything alright?"

"How many times have I told you that what I do in my private study is private? If I want to throw something and make a racket in my home I am entitled to. I've had enough questions from you, you're fired."

The door snapped closed in the bewildered face of the now ex-Captain of the guard. He stood there for a moment before slowly turning around and heading towards the barracks, still trying to wrap his head around what had just happened.
On the other side of the door to the study, Chrysalis melted out of her guise of Roderick, turning around to look at her lieutenants, of which there were six. She smirked at them.

"Here we are again. Back in the capital of the foolish ponies, and this time we will take it."

Princess Celestia had gathered everyone in the great hall again. Isabella, Big Macintosh, Tentra, and Spike were all suited up and ready to leave, Spike having been over prepared by Twilight, who'd fussed over him almost like a mother. She stood behind the Princesses with the other ponies of harmony, watching as Princess Celestia addressed the four in front of them.

"My little ones, I pray that we may see each other soon. May you be safe in your trials and may wisdom and love guide you. Isabella." She turned her full attention on Isabella, who stepped forward. "Your sister made me aware of the changeling's ability to detect you, and you them. I will place a spell on you that can hide you from them in this sense. You will still be able to feel them, but they will not be able to feel your presence."

Isabella, nodded and closed her eyes as Princess Celestia's horn glowed gold. A cloud of the same shimmering light surrounded Isabella, lifting her off the floor a few inches, the others watching in awe. After several seconds, the cloud began to swirl about her and slowly thinned as it looked to seep into Isabella. She lighted gently back onto her feet and opened her eyes.

"It is done. I will let you all speak to one another before I send the four of you back to Canterlot."

As she stepped out of the way, Applejack ran forward and embraced Big Macintosh. Twilight, Rarity and Fluttershy doing the same to Spike, who was swept up into the air by them.

"Y'all come back now, ya hear?" Applejack mumbled into Big Macintosh's mane, her voice thick with tears. Big Macintosh hugged her, long and hard, not letting go until Applejack pulled back. She then approached Isabella. They smiled at one another, both sets of green eyes sparkling with the tears they held back. They exchanged a brief hug before Applejack returned to stand with Rainbow Dash and Pinkie, Rarity and Fluttershy joining them soon after.
Then Twilight approached Isabella.

"Good luck. I hope your four will be safe."

Twilight smiled, and Isabella returned with one of her own. Then, as Twilight turned to walk away, Isabella called out.

"Twilight!"

"Yes?"

Isabella looked down as she spoke. "When this is all over, could you... introduce me to my father?"

Twilight's shocked expression turned into a gentle smile as she returned to Isabella, placing a hoof on her shoulder.

"I promise."

After a long paused, Twilight dropped her hoof and returned to stand by the others. Princess Celestia stepped forward and cleared her throat.

"We will see you soon. May fortune favor you."

The quartet nodded, Spike climbing onto Big Macintosh's back as Princess Celestia closed her eyes. Her horn shimmered a bright gold and in a flash of blinding light, they were gone.

Hawkeye was roused by the sound of someone pounding on his door. His eye opened slowly and a strong desire to club the person knocking on his door over the head swept into his mind. He had most definitely not gotten enough sleep. He let out a long and low groan before moving to the door and opening it bleary eyed. It took him a moment to focus on the face of the person standing. He squinted up at the mare for a moment, before bolting backwards. Isabella stood in the door, looking down at him.

"It's been a while, I'm sorry for having to leave like that." said Isabella as she, Hawkeye, and Big Macintosh walked through the bustling home. Nextis had already started everyone working on the new weapons and armor in the lower chambers of the house while others ran about gathering supplies throughout the house. "I'm glad to see you and Nextis kept a handle on everything."

"Uh... yes ma'am." murmured Hawkeye.

They stopped outside her old study, the one Hawkeye and Nextis had used for a command station, before she turned to look at him.

"I need you to tell everyone to meet me in the dinning hall in an hour. They are to continue working until then, preparing. I want you to find anyone comfortable with Canterlot and Ponyville, then come back here. I have some plans I need to go over with them."

Hawkeye saluted and ran off as Isabella stepped into her study, Big Macintosh behind her.

"You, uh, are pretty good at giving orders."

Isabella turned around once she stood behind her desk and looked at Big Macintosh. He looked worried as he looked her over. She sighed and smiled.

"I'm not relapsing. We have a war to fight, and I need these men to be in top condition. They need to know I've not lost my sense of battle, or they may become softer too. I don't want to be the way I was before, but I want to make sure we will win."

"So you're going to become their leader again?" Big Macintosh sat down opposite her, on the other side of the desk.

Isabella moved back around the desk and pressed herself against him, rubbing her neck against his.

"Once this is over, the war has been won, and Princess Celestia and Luna are back on their thrones, I'm disbanding the thieves. They are all good ponies, they just have to see it. I don't want to live here in Canterlot. I don't want to be a princess of anything. I want to be with you."

She looked up to his face and smiled as she saw the relief sweep across his face. She kissed him on the cheek and stepped back behind the desk as a knock came upon the door.

"Come in."

Big Macintosh stepped to the side as Hawkeye and Nextis stepped in, followed closly by Tentra, and to Isabella's and Big Macintosh's surprise, Derpy.

"Hi guys!" she cheered, waving at the both of them.

"Ma'am. These two have volunteered to help recruit help from Ponyville." Nextis gestured at the two mares, "and I would like to accompany then."

Hawkeye threw a quick glance at his dark friend, but said nothing as Isabella raised her eyebrows, looking them over, her eyes lingering on Tentra, who met her gaze. There was a moment of quiet as the two sent silent communication through that gaze. Isabella blew out a sigh before casting her eyes over the other two again.

"Very well. Nextis, you'll be leading the group, but that doesn't mean the other's can't offer opinions on the best way to begin recruiting. Derpy, You know the town and the townsfolk the best. You'll know how to get their attention better than the others. Tentra..." she paused, then pressed on, "..I personally don't think it's a good idea for you to go. The ponies of Ponyville have had quite a fright from our kind, and the others may be able to feel you go. What are you thoughts on this?"

"If I go, I would go disguised as one of the ponies of harmony. A figure head to lead the people to protect their land. I don't think my brood would be able to detect me so far away, and they would probably just think I'm part of a scout party if they could detect me. I would be honored to help bring these ponies to defend their people."

"I'll go."

Everyone turned at the sudden interjection to look at Big Macintosh. He was looking at each of the others in turn.

"I'll go. But I don't think Tentra should pretend to be somepony she ain't. She should go as herself. If the people see that we have one of the enemy on our side, they may find our chances of victory are better."

"Or they could think we have a spy in our midst and would think we'll lose." interrupted Nextis.

Isabella closed her eyes for a moment, before letting them open again, a long slow breath escaping her nostrils.

"I can condone Big Macintosh going, but I'm afraid I'd be more comfortable with you staying here Tentra." Tentra's face fell a little, but she didn't say anything. Isabella continued. "Now, I'm not entirely sure how you'll get down there. Is the train still running?"

"Yes, actually." said Hawkeye, "I think Roderick's forces are trying to make everything appear as normal as possible."

"Good. You three can go on the train. Big Mac and Derpy, you wont really need to conceal yourselves, but Nextis, you will."

"They know what Big Macintosh will look like. Both Roderick and Chrysalis saw him on the peak." Tentra commented.

"Oh yeah. Damn. He'll have to conceal his identity too, then." Isabella grumbled. "Alright. We can do that simply enough. We have mixes that will color your coat a different color or shade for a short time, long enough to get on the train and be half way to Ponyville before it begins to fade, so we can do that."

A murmur of agreement went through the room.

"Then it's settled. You three will be on the next train to Ponyville, while those of us here will continue preparing, seeing if anyone in town will be able to help as well."

"Aye aye, ma'am." Nextis saluted then turned about, heading for the door. "Big Macintosh, Derpy, follow me. We need to get ready."

Big Macintosh glanced at Isabella, who nodded, then followed Derpy and Nextis out of the room. Isabella put her hooves together and looked at Hawkeye and Tentra.

"You two are my commanders now. My orders will go through you to everyone below you. Can I count on you?"

Hawkeye threw up a salute and Tentra nodded.

"Good. Now, our hour is almost up, so we'll be meeting the others in the dinning hall soon. Lets get down there."

The murmuring filled the hall making it buzz like a bee hive as the large group of ponies filled the room. Once they were all there, Isabella stood up upon the dais and looked out among them, eyes scanning over faces, as the buzz fell into a hushed silence.

"Comrades. I am please to see so many of you safe and sound in our home once again, and so glad to know you are ready to fight for this great city and it's people. Though we used to be the oppressors and cut purses of the streets of Canterlot, in these next for days we will be the liberators. The bastion of freedom and salvation from the oncoming swarm. So be strong, make your armor hard, your swords and spears sharp, and pray you'll see the other side, for soon... We Rise!"

A huge eruption of shouts and cheers filled the hall as Isabella stood before them, smiling down at her men and women, who were bucking and jumping up and down. She stepped away from the edge of the dais and back to the others.

"They're motivated, and they're ready. Now we just need to get you three to the train. I can't accompany you, unfortunately. We'll eagerly await your return." she smiled at Big Macintosh, who tried to smile but only managed a grimace.

"It'll be alright. I'll see you in a few days." She whispered into his ear before kissing him gently and looking into his eyes. "I promise."

Hawkeye stepped up to Derpy, who smiled at him, her eyes still pointing in different directions. He spoke a few words to her under his breath to which she blushed unexpectedly. A moment later, he kissed her full on the mouth just for a moment. Both blushed hard, and even harder when they saw Big Macintosh and Isabella watching them, smiling. Hawkeye stepped up to Isabella's side and sat, not looking at the others, still a little red.
Nextis smirked and lead Big Macintosh and a slightly punch drunk looking Derpy to the entrance of the one of the secret exits, and with just a few steps, they were all lost from sight.

Nextis stopped just before a door that was slanted, giving the impression they would be coming out of the ground, and hung his lantern on a hook, before lighting several others around them, then turning to the others.

"Alright, we need to powder down. Derpy, we're going to do you too, just in case, alright?"

She nodded, as Nextis began digging through his saddle bag. Big Macintosh saw a small flash of metal as Nextis pulled out the jars of a few different shades of dark powder, A knife most likely. Much more discrete than a sword.
Nextis opened a jar of deep brown powder and looked up at Big Macintosh.

"This is the shade we'll be giving you"

Big Macintosh looked at the small jar, doubt etched in his face.

"Uh.. Ah don't think that little jar has enough powder to cover my entire body."

Nextis smirked and chuckled a little before scooping a small amount of the powder out.

"Oh ye of little faith."

And with that, he blew the powder into Big Macintosh's face.

Big Macintosh began coughing as he shut his eye. He raised his foreleg up to cough into it as a sharp tingle shot through his body. A gasp and another chuckle told him something had happened before his eyes even opened. His lids shot up and he looked around at Derpy as he blinked several times. She was staring at him with her criss crossed eyes, her mouth agape.
He looked down, and to his surprise and shock, his hair had gone from the deep red he was born with to the dark chocolate brown color of the powder Nextis had opened.

"How in the name of Celestia...?"

"Magic, my friend. It makes so many different things possible. Now, mane and tail are the same color, but that's not such a problem, it's not so uncommon to see this mixture of color. Now Derpy, it's your turn."

Once they all had new colored hair, they stepped from the secret door surreptitious, their eyes constantly looking about. They crossed the immense yard that, once well tended, looked a little over grown. Nextis stopped next to an unassuming patch of wall before glancing around and touching a small spot near the very base of the wall. It gave way and depressed a few inches. A small section of the wall slid to the side as Nextis waved them through. He gave one more glace around the abandoned yard before following the other's through, the wall sliding back closed behind him.
They began to move through the streets, not cutting across ally ways or crossing streets to avoid guards, as that would attract far too much attention. Many a time Big Macintosh held his breath as a sloping fore headed guard stumped past them, their dull eyes only just skimming over their faces.

Finally, they managed to get to the train station. Big Macintosh was astounded that they hadn't been stopped once. He tried to convey this to Nextis, but he couldn't catch his eye.
Nextis brought forth several bits and pushed them to the ticket master, who gave them a brief smile before pushing them their tickets, each one a thick, blue died piece of manila, Ponyville having been stamped on it. Many different colors covered the wall behind the ticket master, purple being absent. Purple was the color used for Canterlot.

"You three are lucky you got these tickets when you did. The train is just about to leave. Though I don't really blame you folks leaving. Things have been getting.... darker or late. Something just doesn't feel right. Ya' know what I mean?"

"Aye, figured we'd get out of dodge before something bad happened." Nextis smiled to the ticket master, who looked shocked.

"You really think something bad is gonna happen?"

"Might. As you said, it's been getting darker, and it's not because the sun is going down. Have a nice day."

Nextis scooped the tickets up and walked off, Big Macintosh and Derpy trailing behind him, the ticket master looking after absolutely stricken.

The mid afternoon found the Cutie Mark Crusaders snorkeling in the river that ran through Ponyville. Each one's head was currently under the water. Their snorkels and tufts of their manes were the only thing bobbing above the surface as they moved about.
After several minutes of gentle splashes and the sound of breath being pushed from and pulled into the small tubes, Scootaloo's head broke the surface first, followed only moments later by the other two.

"Ah hon't hink ee ill hind any hing in here" spouted Applebloom, forcing the small amounts of water out of her snorkel.

"Huh?" Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo mumbled in chorus.

Applebloom spat her snorkel mouth piece out before repeating herself.

"Ah don't think we'll find anything in here. So far all we've found was a few skittish fish and mud."

"She has a point." grumbled Scootaloo. "I don't think we'll get marine biology cutie marks in the Ponyville river."

"Well, we could always try and get Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and Applejack to take us to the beach some time." Sweetie Belle suggested brightly.

"Ah don't know." said Applebloom, as she pulled herself from the river, helping the other two out and shaking herself off. "Apple season will be starting soon. Ah don't think Applejack would be willing to leave all the work to Big Macintosh."

"Yeah, I guess you're right." Sweetie Belle sighed as they began walking away from the river, their snorkels and goggles hanging off of their heads.

Their ears perked up as they heard the whistle of the Ponyville express, though none of them bothered to look around. Things had been a little dull since Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Twilight, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie had left.
Since they were heading toward the Apple Farm, they didn't see the dark crimson pony step off the train after it stopped, accompanied by the deep red and light gray ponies.

Mayor Mare stood before the large window in her office, looking out at the beautiful day that had graced itself upon Ponyville. It was hard to believe there had been two murders on the same day only a few day before. She shuddered at the memory. It was the first time in her memory there had been a murder in Ponyville. She shook her head to clear the thoughts out of her head, looking down at the square outside.
She narrowed her eyes and leaned forward as she adjusted her spectacles. There were three ponies who seemed to heading straight for the town hall. She recognized two of them, but the third, a large, dark stallion, was not from Ponyville. Big Macintosh and Derpy however had been absent from town life for the last few days.
It was then that she realized they must be coming to talk to her. What other reason would they have for coming to the town hall?
She turned to look at her desk, which was mired in scattered papers. With one more glance out the window at the approaching trio, Mayor Mare quickly began moving the papers about and putting some of them away.

Big Macintosh opened the door to find Mayor Mare sitting at her neat and tidy desk, a sheaf of papers in front of her that she had apparently been reading through. She peered over her spectacles at the trio entered her office. She set the papers down and looked up expectantly at them as Derpy closed the door behind them.

"Afternoon, Ma'am." Big Macintosh said, nodding his head slightly at the mayor.

She returned the gesture as she placed her hooves together, resting her elbows on the desk. "It's good to see you two again, and with a new friend I see. May I have the honor?"

"I'm Nextis, Ma'am. A pleasure to meet you. I wish we could be meeting under better circumstances."

Mayor Mare's eyebrows raised swiftly. She'd had a tough week with the murders that had only minutes previously plagued her mind. Now there was apparently more trouble.

"Something's else horrible has happened?"

"No yet Ma'am," Big Macintosh stated grimly. "but without intervention, something awful is going to happen to Canterlot, and from there, all of Equestria and beyond."

Mayor Mare's face blanched. She was just a simple mayor. Dropping stuff like this on her conscious might very well kill her. She swallowed hard, her eyes darting from Big Macintosh, Nextis, and Derpy, who was smiling blandly at her, before she licked her lips and opened her suddenly dry mouth.

"W-w..." She cleared her throat and tried again, her voice still small. "What do you want me to do?"

"Call a town meeting. We need to gather as many fighting ponies as we can get." Nextis said as he glanced at Big Macintosh.

Mayor Mare straightened up, doing her best to quell her fear. This was why she was the Mayor. She was the one to make decisions. She looked outside the window at the beautiful day. A fine day for Mayoring.

"When?" she queried.

The response came from both Nextis and Big Macintosh "Immediately!"

The Cutie Mark Crusaders had reached their club house by the time the bells rang in town. Sweetie Belle stuck her head out the window to look towards town.

"Do you think it's something important?" Applebloom asked, as she flipped one of the cards she and Scootaloo were playing with.

"There wasn't an announcement or anything like that. No posters and it's not a holiday. I bet it is something important." Scootaloo added, slowly flipping a card herself.

"I can hear something else. Sound like someone shouting into a megaphone, but I can't understand them." muttered Sweetie Belle as she strained her ears.

Applebloom and Scootaloo joined her at the window, ears a prick. After a moment, Scootaloo spoke.

"I can't understand it either. We should go into town and see what's up."

"Lets go get Granny Smith. She shouldn't be left out. Ah hear the Mayor sometimes asks her for her opinion on official things." Added Applebloom.

There was a long moment of silence as the other two raised an eyebrow at her, skepticism written all over their faces.

"What? Just because she's old fashioned and has some funny ideas doesn't mean she's useless y'know."

"Alright. I'll get my scooter, lets go get Granny Smith and get into town."

The Cutie Mark Crusaders found Granny Smith sitting on her rocking chair, a benign look on her face as her chair creaked.

"Granny Smith! Granny Smith!" the three fillies cried as they ran up to her.

One of Granny Smith's eyes opened slowly and she looked at them, still smiling.

"Y'all need something?"

Applebloom skidded to a halt in front of her and began talking quickly.

"We were in the club house when we heard the town bells ringing, and we thought it was weird cause there wasn't anything planed for the day. So we were gonna go and see what was up, but we thought we should come back and get you, so we did. It sounded like something urgent."

There was a long silence. Jim the cricket thought this was a perfect chance to practice his chirping and was just about to start, when Tim the cricket slapped him.

"You idiot. Just because it's a silence doesn't mean you should chirp. You have to wait for an awkward silence. That one was just contemplative."

This exchange was lost on the ponies as they couldn't hear or even understand cricket.

Granny Smith blinked her open eye, her smile having slipped away. Her other eye opened and she blinked again.

"Alright fillies. Lets go."

She rocked back and forth a few times until she gave a mighty push and slide off the rocker, leaving it to rock back and forth.

"I'll go get the wagon." said Applebloom, about to head off around the side of the house.

"No need little'un. This ol' mare is gonna walk to town."

And with that, she began to walk toward town, at a pace slower than most. The Cutie Mark Crusaders looked at one another and shrugged, then followed after Granny Smith.

Every pony in Ponyville stood around the podium that had been set up in front of the door to the town hall. Quiet murmurs and queries were sifting through the crowd, causing a buzzing around the square. As Mayor Mare stepped up to the podium with Big Macintosh, Nextis and Derpy a little behind her, the crowd slowly quieted, all their eyes upon the four ponies on the podium, expectant.

"Ponies of Ponyville. We have called you here on the reception of news most dire. War has come to Equestria."

The shocked silence last only moments before a bustle of conversation burst forth, everypony turning to their neighbors and, not just muttering now, but either chattering noisily or even down right yelling to one another. It took several attempts to quiet them, and even then, the buzz of whispered conversation didn't die down, even though the majority of the eyes were still on the Mayor.

"The changeling queen and her horde of changelings intend to attack Canterlot first and..."

"That should give us enough time to board up our homes and take cover!" Interrupted a light yellow stallion in the middle of the crowd. There was a mumble of agreement at these words as the eyes of the crowd moved back to the Mayor, who was gently pushed to the side by Nextis.

"Once they consume all the love from Canterlot, they'll move here, the closest relative to Canterlot. Do you really think your barricades will hold against a legion of hungry and savage creatures, ready to take what they want, without a second thought to you or your families?"

The light yellow stallion had become a little more pale and didn't speak up again. Big Macintosh took over from here.

"Ah know almost everyone in this town. Ah know you're peaceful ponies, but yer fiercely loyal. How many of you have family in Canterlot?"

Less than the majority raised their hooves, but one would have been enough.

"Will we barricade ourselves in our homes as our friends and family are consumed by the darkness of a tyrant?"

Bonbon called from near the back of the crowd.

"Can't the Princesses sort this out?"

"The Princesses have been busy for many years, fixing a problem that has been caused by the chaos of darkness. The darkness that will befall Canterlot will make their job that much harder. We depend on the Princesses too much. We have let them carry our weight for us for too long. Have we grown so weak that we can not help them in a time of need?"

Lyra spoke from next to Bonbon, inseparable as always.

"By what about the Ponies of Harmony? Why can't they push the queen away as they did before?"

"The Princesses have enlisted their help. Their work has been helped and quickened by the efforts of the Elements of Harmony, but they are just as unavailable as the Princesses. Come on everpony! Do we all have to rely on others to save the ones we love? Some of you have thought of the day when something bad comes and you wont have the Princesses or any bearers of the Elements of Harmony around to save you. Well that day has come!"

The crowd was beginning to look a little uneasy. Many looked around at the others for guidance, but everyone else was looking for guidance of their own.

"We don't know how to fight." said a brown stallion near the back.

"YOU'RE ALL A BUNCH OF NINNIES!"

The crowd parted in shock to look back and see who had bellowed the insult at them all.

Granny Smith stood there with the Cutie Mark Crusaders behind her. She looked incredibly cross and began speaking out to the crowd as she walked toward the podium.

"In the name of Celestia, I've never seen such a pack of cowards. Do none of you remember how we handled our problems before my grand daughter and her friends found the elements? Did we right a letter and whine to the Princess? No! We stood our ground, and we took care of the problem. YOU! MR. CAKE!" She jabbed at him with her hoof. "Are you going to just sit by and wait as those monsters destroy families and ponies, ponies that have children? What are you going to do once they have finished with Canterlot and come here, after your little ones!?"

There was a collective gasp from the crowd. Mr. Cake looked positively shocked, but then a dark shadow fell over his eyes. Her turned toward the crowd.

"She's right! How can we sit here and let those thing consume the families of Canterlot?! Many of you have children of your own! How would we feel if Canterlot sat by and watched as we were destroyed, and our children with us? Our friends and our families!"

Loud shouts of agreement began ringing through the air, the unsureness on the faces of the others ponies slowly slipping away, become replaced with looks of outrage and determination. Granny Smith pulled herself up onto the dais where the podium stood, brushing Big Machintosh's hoof away, before standing behind the podium itself.

"Are we going to let those families be destroyed?!" she yelled out.

"NO!" came the collective bellow of the crowd.

"Are we going to let those monster sweep across this great country?!"

"NO!" came the shouts of the crowd again.

"Then all of those ready and willing to fight, hug your families, kiss your children, or someone else's if you don't have any, and let us go to war!"

The resounding cry that rent the air was almost deafening as the ponies of Ponyville scattered, each one running to their homes to gather what the thought they would need. Granny Smith turned to seven ponies standing there with her, all with the same shocked expression on her face. She smiled as her eye narrowed and she spoke to Big Macintosh.

"We're ready, sonny."

The People vs. The Horde

Isabella sat, pouring over a list of men they had and positions being filled. The plea for help they had sent out here in Canterlot, even though it was discrete, had gathered quite a force. Several of the old palace guards, good strong stallions that had served under Princess Celestia or her substitute had joined them. For once in her life, she was glad there were ponies who were so determined to bring justice to the land. Who'd have thought she'd have guards on her side.
What truly surprised her was how their ranks had swelled so easily. They were still impossibly outnumbered, but changelings aren't exactly expert fighters. The ponies from Ponyville might have some trouble, but the guards and Isabella's thieves should have almost no problem thrashing many times their own number before they're overwhelmed.

Isabella frowned. She'd have to make sure Chrysalis was dead before then. The sound of approaching hoof beats made her look up.

Nighthawk appeared in the door and Isabella waved him in.

"Ma'am, The train is on it's way here. It's about a third of the way up the mountain and will arrive in the next few hours."

Isabella nodded. "Good. Gather some men, a mixture of the guards and your best men and be sure to meet it at the train station. We need to try and get those ponies here as discretely as possible. We don't want the battle to start on their terms, but on ours."

Nighthawk bowed his head and bolted from the room, only to be replaced by a former guardsman and a thief. The thief stopped in the door way, but the guard walked straight in.
Isabella waved the thief in quickly so they could both make their reports. She remember these two. They were the ones she'd set to the area near the palace, to see what Chrysalis was up to.

"Bad news milady." muttered the thief.

"We've spotted changeling movements in the upper district of the city. They're moving among those closer to palace, draining them." The guard sounded like he'd made thousands of reports in the past, most of which had probably been that things were alright in the city, but now his face was set, and he eyes were steely.

Isabella looked from the thief to the guardsman for a moment then closed her eyes in thought.

"Are they spreading?"

"Yes milady." said the thief.

"How fast?"

"From what we've observed, their pace is slow, but still noteworthy. We should take the fight to them in the next two or three days."

Isabella's eyes opened and she looked at the guard again. His face had not changed. Isabella turned her attention to the thief again.

"How ready are our forces?"

"Milady, your men and our new allies, the old guard, are sufficiently ready to fight, but the civilians coming from Ponyville will most likely be very unprepared."

"How long?"

"I'd suggest three to four days... at the very least milady."

Isabella let out a sigh. Three days seemed to be their best bet, but did she really want to wait that long? Chrysalis' power would increase each day, and unless the bearers of the elements stood by her side, she wasn't even all that sure she could defeat Chrysalis anyways.

"We'll have to wait and see. The fight might actually break out within the next twelve hours. I just want everyone as ready as possible."

"Yes, milady." the thief bowed and moved to leave as the guard saluted and followed after him.

Isabella turned and looked out of the large window that stood behind her. The sun was no longer high in the sky, but grew closer to the horizon. She rubbed the side of her face with a hoof gently but dropped it a moment later. She'd heard the patter of small, light feet coming toward her study. She turned to look at the door, but by the time she had, the foot steps were in the room, and she couldn't find the source, until Spike came around the desk.
He looked haggard, panting as he ran up to her. The mansion must've seem huge to the small baby dragon. He had a medium sized scroll clutched in his hand, which, when he held up, was seen to have the royal seal holding it shut.

"From... the.... Princess!" gasped Spike as Isabella reached out and took the parchment, opening it on the desk.

"Dear Isabella, We're almost finished here. The Elements of Harmony really did make a huge difference on the time it took to fix the damage done to this realm. I regret to inform you that we will be delayed for a little while. We intend to gather some more reinforcements and join you in about a day. Be safe and keep the others safe as well. Sincerely, Twilight Sparkle."

As the train pulled into the Canterlot station, the hubbub aboard was quite extensive, but only the ponies who had come somewhere other than Ponyville got off the train. Nextis had sent word through the crowd that they all needed to stay on board for a little while he made sure things were alright outside. The conductor had been instructed to not leave till the Ponyville ponies had disembarked.
Nextis stepped off the train, his eyes locking with Nighthawk's almost instantly. Nighthawk and his small troupe of men joined Nextis. They all stepped back on the train.

"As far as we know, there aren't any changelings this far out yet, so that's not a problem. The guards are patrolling around the area, but they probably wont suspect the group is they break off into smaller groups. I've got about ten men here with me, plus you and me, so we can divide the group up into twelve groups and have each of our men lead a group. That shouldn't draw too much attention."

Nextis smiled at Hawkeye and nodded.

"Brilliant idea. Alright. Lets tell everyone and have them all leave the train about the same time, heading off in different directions. We should be able to get to the base without being detected."

A moment later found the Canterlot platform crowded with ponies all looking around, chatting and smiling. At a glance, nothing but a huge number of tourists, but to the wise, a well disguised group of raw numbers, ready to protect one another and their homes.
It wasn't until a minute or two later that the huge group began to thin as groups scattered here and there, heading away from the station in small groups. A guard watched, blinking on occasion, grumbling "Damnable tourists" under his breath a few times.

Nextis smiled as his own group wound it's way through the city, "sightseeing" as they went along. This kind of thing was exactly why Hawkeye was a commander.
A few ponies would lag behind for a little bit now and then, but would catch up to their respective groups quickly enough. The sun had nearly set by the time Nextis and his group made it to the base, and the streets and alleyways of Canterlot were dark, except where the occasional streetlamp cast bright light. Not one guard had tried to stop them and no one saw as the rather large group seemed to slip out of sight.
Almost all the groups had made it back already and Hawkeye approached Nextis.

"The others will be here shortly. Had any trouble?"

"Nah. The guards didn't seem to think much of a large group of "Out-of-towners" looking around and staying in a group. I don't think we got much more than a few glances, even from the city populous."

Hawkeye smiled briefly.

"We weren't so lucky. One of the less dim guards found us suspicious and tried to detain us. So naturally, I had to knock him out and throw him in a cell down stairs. After blind folding and gagging him of course. We didn't have any trouble after that however."

Both of them looked around to watch another group return to the base. Big Macintosh had already left the group, presumably to see Isbella. Nextis sat down and sighed. It was quiet between them as they watched the new hustle and bustle as the guards and thieves began outfitting the ponies from Ponyville and leading them away to other areas of the building. They sat quietly as the noise around them hummed through the air, until Nextis spoke.

"So......Derpy, huh?"

"Oh. Uh. Yeah."

"Never really took you for the dating type." He smirked, casting a glance at his friend.

"Oh don't get me started. I like her and she seems to like me, so I figure I may as well go for it. Plus she's an amazing cook."

"You think more with your stomach than with your brain sometimes." Nextis chortled.

"I can't wait until you start to like some one, then I can take the mickey out of you."

They both laughed a little, before Hawkeye nudged Nextis, gesturing toward the approaching Tentra.

"Yes?" queried Hawkeye.

"They need some help down in the armory. Some of the men aren't very good at outfitting others with well fitting armor."

Both Nextis and Hawkeye sighed. They couldn't very well blame the men. None of them were master smiths so the fact that they had made armor that would work well enough in battle was impressive. Nextis pushed himself up and followed Tentra, Hawkeye following behind them shortly afterwards.

When they arrived downstairs they found, not the unsorted throng of ponies that they had expected, but a semi well ordered line system being lorded over by Granny Smith, who had perched herself atop a small stack of boxes. She directed those that weren't in lines yet to the shorter lines and pointed to a large area off to the side for those already outfitted with armor and weapons, where they were being helped to put their armor on properly.
The chatter was immense. The elements of excitement, anger, and fear buzzed about the room like a swarm of wasps, but the voice of Granny Smith was never drowned out.
Tentra took flight and alighted next to Granny Smith. Nextis glanced around before turning back to Hawkeye.

"I think it'd be best if we helped them into their armor and such, maybe help others find armor that fits them better than the previous owner."

Hawkeye, looking like he'd much rather find something else to do, nodded and moved towards the mass of ponies off to the side, Nextis right behind him.

Although the palace looked the same as it usually did from the outside, the inside was now almost unrecognizable. A black, web like substance covered almost all the walls and floors, even the ceiling. In the thrown room there were nearly fifty large green sacks, each one with the appearance of a chrysalis, holding a mare or stallion. Most of these were unconscious, but some of them were awake. Having given up screaming a long time ago, they simply watched in horor as the swarms of changelings moved around their new nest.
Chrysalis had made Roderick's old study her new chambers. She loved her children, but she had no desire to rest and rule among them. She was a queen after all.
She stood at the window, looking out at Canterlot, her eyes narrowing slightly. Something was amiss. She didn't like it when plans didn't go the way she liked. She could feel it. Someone was building against her, but she couldn't scout properly, not without drawing some attention. Was her bastard child here again? Trying to assemble her pathetic forces to fight the horde?
She chuckled a little to herself. That would be rich. Her "daughter" would be arrogant to think she could defeat her with such a feeble number.
She stepped away from the window and looked around at the large room, which had been altered only a little. The black web was present here, but not nearly as prevalent as the rest of the palace. She had wanted to look at some of the books in this place, see if she could find any of the histories these ponies had written on her people. She'd been angry when she'd found so little. It was good that they didn't know much of her people, but the fact that they almost never mentioned them, made her feel they weren't properly terrified of her and her people.
She took a seat and closed her eyes. Oh how glorious it would be once she held Canterlot under her hoof. She would have a base of operations in the heart of Equestria and taking the entirety of the land would be so simple after that.

One of her eyes opened in middle irritation as a knock came at the door.

"Enter!"

A changeling stepped inside and closed the door behind, bowing low to Chrysalis.

"My queen. More civilians have been replaced, widening our grip on the city. A large group of tourist looking ponies arrived earlier today, but have not left yet. The fool guards you've hired keep to the streets and don't bother coming into the palace. They simply use the barracks, which has been left untouched by us, by your orders. The citizens.."

"Tourist looking ponies? When? How many?" Chrysalis had sat bolt upright.

"Uh... I'd say near two hours ago, numbering at about one hundred fifty, maybe more."

Chrysalis stood and stalked past the changeling who stood in shock and confusion.

Tourist looking ponies. Damn it. That was most definitely Isabella. She knew, it had to be her, because it's something she would have done. Smuggle forces into a battle ready situation under the guise of travelers or "tourists" in this case. She growled to herself. It was time to get this ball rolling. The best time to stamp out a rebellion was before it had any time to really form.

It was several hours later when Granny Smith, along with Big Macintosh, Nextis, Tentra, and Hawkeye, entered Isabella's study again. Derpy was absent due to the fact that she had be reinstated as head cook and was working on supper.

"We're as ready as we're gonna get." said Granny Smith, pushing her military helmet up and out of her eyes.

"With all due respect Ms. Smith. Your people have only been outfitted; They haven't had any combat training." interjected Hawkeye. "We'd hate to send all of you into combat without some idea of how to protect yourselves or others."

"Each moment we stay here, preparing, is a moment the witch has time to ensnare more and more ponies. We need to act soon. The people of Ponyville are a strong and hearty people. We can hold our own. The whole point of this war isn't to kill off the Changelings, but to get rid of Chrysalis." stated Big Macintosh, stepping forward.

"That maybe so, but if the main force isn't held off for sometime, Isabella may not get a chance to finish Chrysalis off. She'd be overwhelmed and likely killed herself. I can't see Chrysalis as a forgiving creature, nor do I think she ever had any intentions of letting Isabella live." said Nextis. "We have to give those that are not particularly talented in fighting at least a little training. I hate to admit it, but several of the ladies from Ponyville seem to be just that. Ladies. I don't think they've done anything but gardening for their entire lives."

Big Macintosh grimaced a little but didn't speak, knowing it to be true. Some of the citizens of Ponyville had been terrified and even traumatized by an infestation of parasprites that had eaten all the vegetation.
When no further objection was raised, Nextis nodded to Hawkeye, who turned and left the room.

"I have a feeling that a brief training bout is all they'll have a chance for. Something doesn't feel right." Murmured Isabella, who had looked down at her desk as the others spoke, and hadn't looked up.

The others looked around at one another in confusion before looking back to Isabella for an explanation.

"Nextis, have you scouts seen or heard of any activity near or around the Palace?"

"No ma'am. Things have become quite. The city itself seems hushed according to our scouts. Almost as..."

"-The city is holding it's breath?" finished Isabella, looking up at them.

"Yes." murmured Nextis, his voice barely over a whisper.

Isabella turned and looked out of the large window that gave her a view of the city.

"I remember once hearing a wise man say 'It is the deep breath before the plunge'. A breath each of us must take, for whether we're ready or not, the battle will soon be joined, and we've no choice other than to fight. We fight, or we die." She turned to looked at the others. "Soon, the horde will be truly unleashed, and we will be there to take the brunt of the assault. I can only pray that Celestia and the others arrive sooner, rather than later."

The room fell silent, and a somberness stole over all of them. Granny Smith took off her helmet and held it to her chest, bowing her head slightly.

"I knew I was gonna die soon, but I never thought I'd go out in a battle."

Big Macintosh and Tentra looked at Granny Smith in surprise.

"You don't intend to actually take part in the fight?!" Big Macintosh spoke quietly but the shock and alarm in his voice were plain enough.

"And why not? I've lived a good life, taking care of the orchard, yer parents, and you and yer sisters. I'm not gonna let a bunch of vicious creatures destroy this land and it's people. I'm going to war along side y'all and that's final."

As she finished speaking she put her helmet back on firmly, turned, and stepped out of the room. Big Macintosh looked back at Tentra and then at Isabella. Isabella blinked slowly, then set her hooves on the desk.

"Big Macintosh. What I've learned from my short time with you and the ponies of Ponyville, besides how to care, love, and work, is that you and your people are strong and will not be mown down by their enemies. They will fight, and the horde will not be ready for their strength. I am not worried for them, and you shouldn't be either, and I can think of no better leader for the forces of Ponyville than your Grandmother."

Big Macintosh dropped his gaze to the floor and shook his head slowly.

"Alright. But Ah only hope that when this is over, our people will be safe." He turned his head and looked at Nextis and Tentra, who both nodded at him, before they all looked back to Isabella. "Is there a plan on how we get into the Palace and fight Chrysalis?"

Isabella looked each of them in the eyes, then a slow smile spread across her face.

"Yes."

She beckoned them to gather round her desk as she moved several of the papers on her desk away to reveal a simple floor plan with markings here and there, giving details about what was known about that spot.
The moon rose, slowly reaching for the heights of the sky as the night moved on.

Several hours had passed and the Moon sunk low in the sky, nearly setting as Isabella, Big Macintosh, Tentra, Hawkeye, Nextis, and Granny Smith were outfitted in a private room. The soldiers and thieves had left the best sets of armor, heavy and light, just in case Isabella decided to choose to whom they were assigned. It was well that they did, As she had herself and the other five outfitted in these. The few remaining sets were distributed to the "generals" so they would be easier to pick out by any confused on who to take orders from.
Big Macintosh had been outfitted in a bulky, black iron suit that made him look even bigger and more fearsome. He was given no weapon. He'd told the armorers that his kick would be enough to kill or at least injure a changeling.
Tentra's armor was a light black leather that had been made for a pegasus, so her wings were able to come out and she wouldn't be burdened by the weight of the material. It gave her the extreme appearance of a huge beetle, as the leather was highly polished and gleamed in the light. She'd been given a Winged spear on a long shaft to give her excessive reach to stab and slash her opponents.
Hawkeye's armor was nearly the same as Tentra's, but didn't gleam. In fact, it seem to almost suck the light into it, like the void. Instead of a helm, it was equipt with a cowl that concealed most of his face. Knives were hidden all over the armor and could be gripped and thrown easily. The hoof coverings were padded sufficiently enough to make those that wore them almost silent.
Nextis's armor was the most vicious. It was a mottled crimson, black, gray, and brown, and covered him from head to hoof. Almost every inch of the armor was covered in wicked, jagged spikes that would make running into him dangerous to say the least. Nextis was not equipt with a weapon either, preferring to use his body as the weapon.
Granny Smith's armor was simple, for she had asked to not be put in anything fancy. Her military helmet stayed atop her head but she'd been given strong, shiny leg guards and her back and rump were covered in a white leather that would stand out among all the gray, black, gold, and brown. She'd been given a hefty mace which she couldn't swing well, but could bring down with such force she'd broken a large stone tile in the mess hall.

Isabella's armor, a gift her loyal men had put together swiftly but beautifully upon her return, would be spotted with more ease even than Granny Smith's white leather. The chest piece was a little loose to allow swift movement as she was used to wearing leather that gave easily for her. It was embossed with a symbol of the Sun and of the Moon, an amber glistening in center of the sun and a glossy Lapis Lazuli glittered in the center of the moon. Her legs were covered in a light weight metal that had been made to curl and twist around them much like flame. The back and rump guard both held lightly to her, only restricting some movement, but nothing so vital that she would not be able to move, but it was made to look almost like a dragons head, with the snout ending just before her tail.
Upon her head they placed a semi decorative covering. It was made of a bright metal that wrapped around either side of her face, covering her cheeks, and the bridge of her nose. It came up almost like a crown on the top of her head, with three large prongs, or spikes rather, that tapered down to points after only an inch and a half. Every piece of armor she wore was a dark orange and black, giving her even more of the appearance that she was ablaze.
She was equipt with two short blades, several throwing knives, and her crossbow, along with twenty seven bolts in her sealed quiver.

When they stepped out of the room, they found themselves on the dais, standing over the absolutely packed mess hall. A cheer rose through the ranks, but it was swiftly silenced by Isabella, who raised her hoof.

"I do not have a speech for you. Only a few words. We fight this night, for the freedom and safety of all those in the lands." a cheer of agreement went up, but quieted again as Isabella spoke. "When you fight, your enemies will show no mercy. Show them none in return. Take as many as you can, and if you die, take one of them with you. Your soul will pass under the eyes of Celestia, and your name will be honored. The bearers of Harmony are not here, but they will be soon, and in the company of the Princesses. So take heart. We may be out numbered, and we may be small, but we will show them that we are the strength of the land!"

The yell that followed shook the building.

"Go! Fight for your people. Generals! We move now!"

The streets that had been quiet moments before were now filled with the sound of marching hooves, clanking weapons and armor, and the sounds of heavy breathing.
The moon was nearly out of the sky now, making the streets dark except for the lamps that lit large patches of the streets. On occasion, the race of a pony could be seen peeking out of their windows, but they would soon vanish, the lights in their building shutting off.
Isabella sent word out through the forces to be ready from attack from above, below, behind, or from the sides. Changelings thrived in the darkness and they had a distinct advantage here.
Hawkeye had done as he was bid and had slipped away into the darkness, scouting out shadows, looking for hidden forces waiting to attack from behind. He'd reported back several times with no signs of the enemy. It seemed Chrysalis wasn't going to use stealth to win this battle.
Isabella guessed she'd massed all of her forces at the palace and would try and crush them with number in the beginning of the fight. This made Isabella grin. Regular changelings were able to use magic, but the only kind they excelled at was shape shifting. Isabella had a sizable force of pegasi, unicorns, and earth ponies. Diversity was on her side and her force would be able to fight far more effectively than any changeling group.
As they approached the Palace, they saw the line of bulky guards upon the top of the stair way. They were expected. She called for a halt and the night became still as death.

Isabella stepped forward to the front of the throng that had spread out to surround the palace, and shouted up towards the palace, not at the guards.

"Chrysalis! We know you're in there and we know you're ready for us! Come out with your horde and fight us! Let battle be joined and we will see who is the victor!"

The night stayed quiet, and for several minutes it seemed Isabella's cry had not been heard. She was taking a deep breath to repeat herself when Nextis spoke.

"Wait. Do you hear that?"

Were the night had been silent as a tomb not seconds before, a quiet hum could be heard now. As the seconds moved slowly forward, the humming grew louder and louder till is became a steady buzzing that assaulted the ears like the buzzing of a hornets nest, disturbed by an unlucky person.

"I was right." whispered Isabella as the faint light of the sky slowly began to darken. The sky was being filled with changelings. "Shields up! Their above us! Watch the enemy guards!"

The gasps could be heard as her orders ran through the host of her troops, causing them to look up. Even through their astonishment, the shields were raised and not a second to late.
The changelings had begun dive bombing them, smashing into the ground, ramming into unprotected ponies. The fight had finally begun.

Hawkeye appeared next to the others.

"No sign of foul play, they intend to throw everything they've got at us right here!"

Any further talk was canceled out by the war cry that the enemy guards bellowed as they charged, weapons raised.

The clash of metal on metal rang out loud around them all as battle was joined and soon, Isabella, Big Macintosh, Tentra, Nextis, Hawkeye, and Granny Smith were all engaged in battle.
Isabella found herself face to face with two brutish thugs, each with a rather gormless expression plastered on their face, who were bearing down on her. She quickly jumped back, back found herself ringed in by others in conflict. The changeling she'd slammed into had been sent hurtling forward, skewering itself on Dolphin Dream's sword.
Isabella pulled one of her short blades out just in time to stop the oncoming slash that one of the guards had swung at her. She knocked his blade away and would have jumped forward to thrust if she hadn't had to jump to the side to avoid the heavy hammer swing the second guard brought crashing down where she'd been just moments before.
The first guard swung his blade again, and again, Isabella blocking the attack each time. when the hammer came down next, she swung herself forward, ducking under the swing of the sword wielding guard and ramming her short sword deep into the neck of the hammer swinging guard.
As he toppled over, chocking on his own blood, Isabella dropped down as she pulled her sword free and spun, striking the legs of the sword wielder. The strike made her blade ring and shake as she struck his armor, and the pain that shot through her bones almost stopped her from blocking his next attack.
As his sword struck her's, it flew out of her hand. She sword as she ducked past him and reached for it, only to look up see him preparing to bring his blade down on her.
A flash of gleaming steal and the glimmer of black, followed by the gurgled of a throat with a blade in it told Isabella Tentra had just saved her. As the guard fell to the ground, Isabella grabbed her blade, taking the hoof Tentra held out to her, pulling her up. They nodded to one another and turned away from one another, assaulting the other enemy guards nearby.

Big Macintosh had disarmed his single opponent only moments after they had become locked in combat. The spear wielder had tried to attack him from behind and he had managed to grab the spear, snapping it in two and throwing the metal end far off into the crowd somewhere. The guard had bellowed and slammed into as he had turned to look at him. They rolled several feet, tripping several people in the process, and stopped with Big Macintosh on top. He began pummeling the guard's face brutally with his hoof, causing a nose bleed, before he looked up at a shriek, only to be hit in the chest by a diving changeling.
He was knocked off the guard and flew through several groups of fighters knocking over changeling and pony alike. He pushed himself and ran at the guard he'd been fighting, who was running at him.
They met with a huge crash of armor on armor as they grappled, their front legs off the ground, holding onto and trying to hit each other as their back legs pushed and strained, trying to push the other over so they could gain the top.
Big Macintosh bit the guard's nose hard, the taste of blood rushing his tongue, but a moment later he lost his footing. He toppled backward as the guard pushed him down and began beating his face much as he had done to him. It was several seconds before Big Macintosh managed to grab the guard's wrists and yank the guard down, bringing his head up, smashing his forehead into the guard's nose.
A loud crunch came from the guards mouth and nose. The pain caused him to lose focus and bring his hooves to his bloody mouth. Big Macintosh brought his hooves together and pounded them into the ribcage of the guard, throwing him off of himself. Big Macintosh then stood and struck the guard several times in the side of the head.
Dazed, in pain, and completely lost, the guard stood rather lamely, until Big Macintosh turned and slammed his back legs into the guard's face. His face caved in partially and his neck snapped. His body was thrown back and landed in a heap next to a hopefully unconscious Ponyville citizen.
Big Macintosh sniffed and looked around at the battles near him, before diving into the fray again, helping some more Ponyville citizens.

Tentra had taken flight again, shortly after saving Isabella, and was now being pursued by several of her kin. There were maybe five or six from the amount of blasts they were firing at her. She'd killed several of them already but they kept coming. She was thankful for the nearby buildings that had given her cover as she flew, avoiding the blasts of magic.
As she turned a corner She stopped abruptly and pressed herself against the building. The pursuing squad rounded the corner and flew on, Tentra hot on their heels. She came down on one of them from above, burring her spear deep between their withers. The immediate scream made the others turn and round on her as she let the body fall off her spear.
The six changelings surrounded her now. She'd apparently been a bit off. There had apparently been seven of them. She looked around as they hissed and their horns glowed. Moments before they fired, she feinted down and the the left, their bolts fired as she turned and flew straight at one of the changelings, slashing it's throat with her spear and speeding off, the five remaining Changelings pursuing her as their comrade fell from the sky.
She ducked around the buildings and then looked forward. An exceptionally large building was looming ahead of her. She put on a burst of speed and gained some space on the others. As she slammed hooves first into the building, she launched herself away from it, back toward the others. They had no time to register what she was doing and she came, spear flailing around her.
The spear sliced through the throat of one of the Changelings, and both wings of one of the others causing it to fall to it's death before finally sticking deep into the chest of another. The last two changelings turned and vanished, flying away and presumably back towards the fight as Tentra tried to get her spear loose.
She slowly descended to a low building top and finally managed to pull the spear loose, letting the changeling body flop lifelessly to roof. She let out a sigh of relieve before something rammed into her back, sending her flying off the roof top and into unconsciousness.

Hours had passed, and Isabella was weary. The numbers were staggering, and most of the fight was changelings now. Almost all the enemy guards were dead. The chaos the changelings were causing with their shape shifting was staggering but the people were managing well. She was quite surprised by how few casualties had taken place on her side, though she knew that there were plenty dead, out of the True Guards, Thieves, and Ponyville citizens. All had fatalities, and there were still huge amounts of changelings.

Isabella looked to the sky and could see the dawn was just a few minutes away. Fighting in the night had been terrible. Several times she'd almost killed one of her people or visa versa. The light would help a lot.
Nextis and Hawkeye had joined her. Hawkeye had spent most of the night assassinating flying changelings by coming from behind and slitting their throats as they flew.
Nextis was, quite literally, a bloody mess. The guards that had fought him in the beginning of the battle hadn't been able to see the spines covering his armor. He'd simply knocked their weapons aside as he rushed them, slamming into them and gouging them upon his spikes. The fear and pain this caused gave him the time he needed to kill them quickly.
Big Macintosh was still yet to be seen and Isabella hadn't seen Tentra since she'd saved her in the beginning of the battle. Granny Smith was leading a small group of warriors around the battle field, swarming any enemy they came across, tearing them asunder and smashing them to bits.
Isabella was missing one of her leg covers and she had a long but shallow cut that ran the length of her neck, staining her white fur red in small patches.

The fight was going well, but the tide could turn at any time. Where were the Princesses? What was taking them so long?

"Ma'am! We need to take cover and collaborate what we know."

Following his suggestion, Hawkeye, Isabella, and Nextis himself, broke into a house near the battle front. It was apparently empty as no screaming occupants were heard. Isabella sat wearily near a table as the others joined her.

"We planned not to try and get into the palace until the Princesses and the bearers of the Elements showed up. That should be very soon, at least I'm hoping it will be, because we can't keep going like this. We don't have many casualties but we're all getting worn out and people who are worn out don't fight very well. What should we do?" Nextis looked at Isabella, who shut her eyes to think for a moment.

"We can't retreat, we've got nowhere to retreat to, and we can't spare anyone to let them rest since we need what little numbers we have. I think our best and only bet is to wait for the others to show up. Fight while we can and do our best alone for the time being."

She opened her eyes to see the others nod at her.

As Isabella stepped out of the house and Hawkeye took off into the sky while Nextis ran back into the fray, Isabella looked up at the palace. Her heart leapt with anger and shock as she saw Chrysalis standing on a high balcony, looking down at battle. She was simply sitting there, watching. She wouldn't even assist her own children. Isabella spat on the ground and could swear she saw Chrysalis smirk at this gesture.
But the smirk was gone in a flash as Chrysalis looked up from the battle field. She saw something over the city roof tops that Isabella couldn't. She turned to look, just as the sun came over the building tops, blinding everyone. Isabella put a hoof up to shade her eyes.

From out of the sun light came a huge host of pegasi, lead by Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy. Their battle cry rent the air as the sun glinted off their shining armor, and soon the descending pegasi blotted out the sun as they came down, diving into the fight. Princess Celestia, Princess Luna and the other four bearers of the elements, all being carried on chariot pulled by to of Luna's guards, appeared behind the swarm of pegasi, landing next to Isabella.

She felt a wave of relief wash over her as she gasped out, "You came!"

"We said we would. Sorry we're so late." said Twilight.

"Where did you get...?"

"We stopped at Cloudsdale to get more help. It was Fluttershy's idea and Rainbow Dash supported it, so we went and they agree pretty quickly." explained Princess Celestia.

Her expression was one of pain as she looked over the battle field, littered with bodies and blood.

"We must stop this as swiftly as possible. Isabella, do you have a plan?" Luna queried.

"In fact, I do, but we need to find Big Macintosh, Nextis, and Hawkeye."

"You lost track of Big Macintosh?" Applejack sounded very surprised by this bit of news.

"We got separated in the beginning of the fight."

"But he's just there." said Rarity, pointing off in the distance, towards the foot of the stairs.

Big Macintosh was engaged in combat with a changeling that had taken some liberties with it's shape shifting. It was in the form of a huge white lion, a large venomous barb poised over it's head, coming from where it's tail was meant to be.
He was dodging it's attacks perfectly, but he couldn't really counter any of it's attacks as he didn't have a weapon.
Just then, Nextis sprang from seemingly nowhere and landed on the beast, causing a yowl that they could hear over the din of the battle.

"Lets get over there!" shouted Twilight.

All seven of them bolted towards the fight, watching the scene unfold ahead of them.

The beast began to buck savagely, trying to get the barbed enemy off it's back. Blood ran thickly down it's sides as the bucking caused the spikes to shred it's hide, but this also made it increasingly difficult for Nextis to hold on.
They were almost there when Nextis was thrown off the mighty beast. He hit the ground with a hard thud but had no time to recover. The beast was on him before he could move. It racked at him with it's huge claws, hooking into parts of his armor and ripping them off.
Big Macintosh ran up behind it, but with a sweep of it's tail, he was thrown off to the side as well. Applejack and Isabella both screamed his name and headed towards him, but before anyone could take more than a few steps, the beast brought it's tail around and rammed the stinger deep into Nextis's chest.
The world seemed to slow down as Isabella looked back, realized what had happened and screamed.

"NO!"

The beam of light that shot from Princess Celestia's horn and slashed through the tail, severing it from the beasts body hardly registered in Isabella's head. A red hot anger burned up and fogged her vision as she charged the beast, a yell of anguished fury ripping out of her throat.
Just before she reached the yowling beast, she drew her swords and leaped off her back legs, landing on the creature, sinking her blades into it. It yowled again and again, as she began to climb it's body using the blades as hand holds. She finally reached it's head and with another scream of purest rage, plunged them deep into the beast's skull. It slumped to the ground and Isabella was thrown from the body, rolling several times.
She looked up to see Nextis only a few feet away from herself. She dragged herself towards him.

"Nextis. Nextis! Can you hear me?"

He stirred slightly and opened his eyes, looking up at her.

"Hey boss. I think this might.... this might be me done."

Nextis coughed hard, a trickle of blood making it's way out of his mouth as he gasped for breath. Isabella looked up at Celestia, who stood next to her in silence.

"Do something!"

"I can't. I don't have power over life and death. I can't reverse what's been done."

Isabella turned back bitterly to Nextis, trying to smile at him.

"You're going to be okay, alright? You've pulled through worse."

Nextis tried to laugh, but coughed up another gob of blood.

"No....I haven't. I'd like to think I have, but I.........haven't. I want to tell you something before I can't talk any more. The poison's numbing everything up..... so I have to talk fast. It's been an honor ma'am. Even where you were cold and cruel....it was still an honor."

Isabella nodded, tears chocking any words she could try and say, so she didn't say any. She was vaguely aware of the sounds of battle near them and of the heavy hoof Big Macintosh, who was apparently alright, had laid on her shoulder.
Nextis grinned up at him and coughed hard a few more times.

"Big Mac.....I got a favor....to ask."

"Sure thing, Nextis."

"You take care of my boss now....ya hear? Don't let anyone hurt her."

"Ah swear."

Nextis grinned, gulped and gasped.

"I'll hold ya to that....urk....sweet Celestia, I thought it would hurt more. I guess the venom is to thank for......"

His voice faded into a sigh, and Isabella turned to bury her face into Big Macintosh's neck.
Princess Celestia's magic slowly pulled the barbed tail from Nextis's no longer heaving chest and set it to the side. The silence among the circle lasted only a minute or two before Isabella pulled away from Big Macintosh and moved to the changeling that had once been the beast and pulled her blades from it's head.

"Where are you going?" asked Twilight as Isabella sheathed her blades and began ascending the stairs.

"To Kill my mother."

Makeing An Ending

With the forces Isabella and the bearers of the Elements had amassed, the Changeling horde was evenly matched. This presented Isabella, Big Macintosh, the Princesses, and the bearers of the Elements a perfect opportunity to get into the palace.
Hawkeye had been right. Chrysalis had thrown everything she had at them, leaving not a single changeling, or even a proper guard, to bar the way, should anyone get through the enemy lines. A fool hardy strategy that may have worked had the Princesses arrived with the others. Twilight and the others all wore the Elements round their necks traveling in an uneven "V" behind Isabella. Big Macintosh was walking along side Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, watching Isabella.
Isabella was now a splotchy gray green, the Changeling's blood having soaked her when she climbed It's hide and slew it. Though the others couldn't see it, her eyes burned a vivid acid green and her pupils had narrowed to angry slits. There was murder in those eyes, plain and clear.

The doors were opened quickly by Celestia and Luna's magic as they approached, opening in the main hall. They all stepped in and stopped half way through the hall. The only sound now was the distant ringing of the battle outside. Everyone but Isabella looked around. Luna and Celestia wore expressions of disgust and disappointment. Big Macintosh and the others all looked shocked, and Rarity said something along the lines of "Oh goodness, I think I stepped in something.". Isabella's eyes were locked on the top of the stairs, which she began walking toward with purpose.
Chrysalis was nowhere to be seen. She was either hiding, which was unlikely, or she was waiting for them. Isabella had a hunch as to where she would be waiting.

Isabella knew the interior of the palace quite well, having cased the building several times on her multiple visits to the parties and balls that had taken place here, during the absence of the Princesses. She'd have never actually been stupid enough to break into the palace, but it had been something enjoyable and interesting to do during the otherwise dull evenings. This evening would find her moving to the throne room, two floors above them and through an antechamber.

The black webbing created a few new walls, but it didn't halt their progress. The magic of Celestia, Luna, Twilight, and Rarity cut through the material like a butter knife through cream cheese. Minutes later found the ten ponies standing before the huge double doors that belonged to the throne room. The four unicorns approached the door, which had been almost completely covered in the black web. With an unsaid agreement, they lowered their horns. Four beams, one of gold, one of silver, one of violet, and one of pale blue, hit the door, blasting it open, almost off of it's hinges.
Isabella stepped through the doors and stared up at the defiled thrones, both of which were covered in so much webbing, they could no longer be seen. Chrysalis sat upon Celestia's throne, Prince Blueblood in the other, with that punch drunk expression that ponies with a bewitched mind normally wear spread across his face.
Chrysalis met Isabella's gaze as the others stepped into the room behind her, forming a semi circle around her.

"So, you've finally arrived, and you brought help with you." sneered Chrysalis, as she let her wings flick out behind her, "You don't have the confidence to fight me on your own?"

"No. I'm here to kill you on my own."

The others looked at Isabella with surprise, but she kept talking, this time addressing those behind her.

"Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, Twilight, Rarity. I need you to seal this room. Completely. I don't want anything getting in....or out, of here."

Big Macintosh and Applejack appeared next to Isabella, each looking at her.

"Are ya sure about this sugar cube? She's strong, and dangerous." mumbled Applejack, into Isabella's ear.

"I know. I need to do this. I want you all to stay out of the way. Stay safe."

She turned her head a little when Big Macintosh placed a hoof on her shoulder.

"I'll be fine, Big Macintosh. She's powerful, but I'm skilled."

He didn't drop his hoof for several seconds, but then moved it away slowly. She heard them both step back to the small group that stood behind her
2
Isabella stepped forward, as Luna and Rarity stood half way up the room on the left and Celestia and Twilight stood half way up the room on the right, their horns glowing. The magical barriers were up, covering the windows and doors with a platinum sheen. Chrysalis stood, her wings standing up as her eyes flicked toward the two duos that stood to either side of her before locking her eyes on Isabella again.

"One of us is going to die today, mother, and It's not going to be me." growled Isabella, her venomous green eyes locking on Chrysalis's own poison green eyes.

A twitch, the sound of blades moving through a sheath, the crackle of magic and the flutter of insectoid wings buzzing, and then they were pelting toward one another. Isabella moved from side to side as jets of green light shot toward her. Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Fluttershy, and Big Macintosh scattered as the blasts of green smashed against the walls and doors, scoring them with a black soot.
Isabella raised a blade as they drew closer, and swung moments before they collided. The blade was flung from her hoof as they tumbled over the floor, grappling savagely. Chrysalis sank her teeth into Isabella's neck as Isabella beat her hooves upon Chrysalis's ears, neck and back, biting one of her wings.
Chrysalis relinquished her teeth and lifted her back legs, kicking Isabella off of her. She fluttered back several feet, but found that her wing would not carry her properly. The bite Isabella had given the wing had bent and broken the delicate chitin, and now Chrysalis could hardly fly.
She glared daggers at where she'd last seen Isabella, to find she'd moved to grab her fallen blade. Chrysalis shot a blast of magic as the fallen blade, causing it to spin away as she dashed after Isabella.

"Is that the best you can do?" shouted Isabella over her shoulder as she chased the spinning blade across the floor, ducking to dodge the on coming jet of green magic that crackled with electricity.

Isabella jumped and rolled, catching the blade up and turning just in time to take a swipe at Chrysalis, who halted just soon enough that the blade only caused a small slit to appear on her cheek. She let out a bellow of anger and slapped the blade to the side before jumping onto Isabella, blasting her in the face with a jet of green.
Isabella yelled and shot a hoof out, hitting Chrysalis squarely in the chin, knocking her back. Isabella lifted her legs and pushed Chrysalis off her, before jumping back at her. Chrysalis extended her back legs at the the right moment, sending Isabella flying over her, crashing to the floor, dropping the blade once again.

Isabella got up and turned to find Chrysalis holding her blade, pointing it at her. Isabella quickly drew her second blade, waiting.
The stillness broke as they moved at the same time. Chrysalis lunged downward, aiming for Isabella's legs, which she blocked with a vicious slash that forced Chrysalis's blade to the side, giving Isabella the opportunity to charge forward, thrusting her blade towards Chrysalis's chest.
A small blast of magic hit Isabella's sword, knocking it off course. It missed by inches, going between her arm and body. Both mares let out a bellow as they swung the blades high. The clash of metal on metal rang through the room, and they stood, blade pressed against blade, glaring at one another as they both applied pressure, trying to knock the other off balance.

Chrysalis sneer, whispering. "You think you can still win this, you foal? I'm going to kill you, and when I do, I'm going to skin your handsome friend."

Her gaze snapped to Big Macintosh for a moment before returning to Isabella. Isabella growled, her eyes narrowing.

"I know I can win, because you're not expecting this."

She spat into Chrysalis's eye. Chrysalis yowled and stumbled backward, before Isabella kicked her hard in the chest, forcing her to fall backwards. The sword in her hand was flung to the side. Isabella jumped into the air, ready to bring the blade down on Chrysalis.
Moments before the blade touched Chrysalis, Isabella was blasted away. She flew through the air, slamming against the far wall, her own blade going through her right back leg. She heard Big Macintosh call out, and looked up, dazed. Chrysalis had retrieved the other sword and was rushing toward Isabella. Isabella shifted slightly, just before Chrysalis rammed into her.

The room went silent. No one dared breath as they watched the two, now completely still mares pressed against the wall. Seconds ticked past, and there was still no movement, until Chrysalis slumped gently and fell backwards, revealing Isabella. A small gash has appeared in her side, a small rivulet of blood streaming from the wound. Her right leg had been lifted slightly and the others now saw the dark blood that stained the end of the sword.
Chrysalis had skewered herself on the blade protruding through Isabella's leg. Isabella had used the wall to hold the sword in place, and the blade pierced Chrysalis's chest.

There was no cheering, or whooping, but the others gathered round Isabella quickly, pushing Chrysalis's body out of the way. Big Macintosh hugged Isabella hard as Twilight summoned several bandages, gauze and even a stitching needle and thread. As Twilight and Princess Celestia gently stitched Isabella's side, Rarity and Luna used their magic to remove the sword from her leg. Big Macintosh and Applejack held Isabella, who simply flinched every now and then, only groaning once.

As the sword was pulled from Isabella's leg, Princess Celestia spoke to the bearers of the Elements.

"You should head outside and help drive off what little of the swarm is left. They won't be very organized now and the Elements of Harmony will make it a much simpler task."

They complied, with out complaint, leaving the Princesses and Big Macintosh alone with Isabella. Luna spoke this time, as she wrapped the stitched wound, while Celestia ran a length of gauze through the hole in her leg.

"That was foolish. Your pride could have had you killed Isabella."

"It wasn't, oof, pride. I didn't want anyone else getting hurt. This was my fight, and I didn't want another Nextis." She locked eyes with Big Macintosh. He kissed her forehead as Luna finished the wrapping and Celestia began to wrap her leg.

A few moments later, they helped her to her feet, and they all looked across the room Prince Blueblood began coming back to his senses. Princess Celestia smiled slightly as they left the room, leaving Prince Blueblood gibbering with shock, confusion, and terror when he spotted the dead body of Chrysalis.
The trip down form the throne room was long and arduous, as Isabella had to put much of her weight on Big Macintosh when they descended the sixty plus stairs between the throne room and the entrance hall.
As they approached the main doors, the sound of a massive crowd talking could be heard, the sounds of battle completely eradicated. Princess Celestia looked at Isabella and Big Macintosh, smiling.

"Brace yourself, you two. I have the feeling the cheers from everyone out on the field may blow us all back inside the building."

The door opened and the four of them stepped through. The sunlight momentarily blinded them as a cheer rent the air. Not only were the fighters standing at the foot of the palace, but the citizens of Canterlot had joined them, making the mass of ponies enormous in scale. As they cheered, Twilight stepped up next to Isabella, whispering into her ear.

"Wave. That cheer is for you."

The cheer doubled in volume as Isabella raised a hoof into the air, waving back and forth to the crowd. A smile slowly slid across her face. They had done it. It was finally over.

A week had passed since the victory over Chrysalis and the horde. Tentra had been found shortly after the battle and had been taken to the hospital tents they had just outside the palace, tending the wounded. Isabella had been forced to take time to rest and heal, the medicines and potions closing her wounds much faster. Big Macintosh had spent most of his time with her while the bearers of the Elements were helping Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, and the returned guard clear out the palace.
Isabella's men and the citizens had begun going through the dead, separating the changeling bodies from the others. The number of ponies that had fallen in battle was much fewer than the number of Changelings and they were buried the day after the fight. Princess Celestia had insisted the changeling be given funeral pyres, and the citizens had grudgingly agreed. The bodies were loaded onto carts and taken out of the city where over a hundred pyre spots had been set up. The pyres were still going after the week had passed.
Hawkeye and Derpy were both uninjured and had found one another a day after the fight was over. They spent most of their time together, even when moving the dead. Derpy began teaching Hawkeye how to cook and Hawkeye did his best to show Derpy some flying tricks when they had spare time.

The morning of the seventh day after the battle found Isabella sitting up in bed, petting Big Macintosh's mane. He'd fallen asleep with his head in her lap and still hadn't waken up. She was considering shaking him gently to wake him up, when Princess Celestia and Twilight stepped into the tent. Big Macintosh woke quickly and sat up, looking at them. Princess Celestia spoke first.

"How are you doing, Isabella?"

"I'm fine now, thanks to you two and Luna. The doctors here have just been making sure my wounds heal properly and they've done pretty well. I think I'll be ready to walk today. If they'll let me out of here."

Twilight giggled a little and Celestia smiled.

"Doctors can be a little over zealous sometimes, but I think I can have a word with them. In fact, that partially why I came here. I want to have a ceremony to honor you and those that fought beside you. Your men, my old guard, the ponies of Ponyville, and the pegasi from Cloudsdale that help fight to protect the city and It's people."

Isabella raised her eyebrows a little and looked at Big Macintosh. He shrugged a little. He knew just as much as she did about her condition so he was leaving it up to her.

"Yes, I would like that. When did you want to do this?"

"We wanted to do it today, around mid day." said Twilight, looking up at Princess Celestia, who nodded in confirmation.

Isabella smiled and held her hooves out. "Get me out of this bed. Lets go get ready."

The armor that Isabella, Big Macintosh, Tentra, Hawkeye, and Granny Smith had worn had been taken and repaired. They had all been re-outfitted in their armor and now stood before the thrones, upon whom sat the Princesses, the bearers of the Elements in a line just in front of them, facing Isabella and the throng of ponies behind her. Everyone bowed as Princess Celestia and Princess Luna stood, stepping forward, past Twilight and the others, approaching Isabella's line, a small velvet cushion, hovering next to Luna as she walked.

"Isabella, thanks to your efforts, Equestria is safe. What may have begun as selfish motivation has turned to selflessness, friendship, and even love. Your actions and the loyalty you inspired in the last week has kept most of the citizens of Canterlot safe. Your own sacrifice had brought you great pain, and we will make sure to give Nextis a place of honor in both our history, and in our hearts. For your bravery and determination, we wish to grant you The Moon and Star, the highest honor we can bestow upon a pony."

A medallion, in the shape of a crescent moon with a shining star in the center of it was lifted from the velvet cushion and was hung around around Isabella's neck, glinting sliver between the amber and lapis lazuli on Isabella's chest.
Isabella smiled at the Princesses, who smiled and inclined their heads, before moving down the line.

"Big Macintosh. You stood beside Isabella even in the darkest times. No truer friend ship or love could have been shown by your willingness to fight by her side and help save the people you loved and cared about. For your bravery and loyalty, we award you The Platinum Heart."

This medallion gleamed in the light of the hall, a brilliant, pure silver colored heart. It was lowered over his head and rest upon his chest, still gleaming as it lay against his black armor. Big Macintosh bowed as the Princesses moved down the line.

"Granny Smith, without your help, the strength of Ponyvill may never have come to help Canterlot. You're leadership helped bring victory in the Battle for Canterlot, and for that we award you The General's Heart."

Granny Smith took off her helmet and bowed her head. A medallion in the shape of a hoof, a horn, and a wing crossing over one another was hung around her neck. She lifted her head, placed her helmet back on, and saluted the Princesses. They inclined their heads once again and moved down the line once again.

As the Princesses gave the Medallions to Tentra and Hawkeye, Isabella leaned closer to Big Macintosh.

"You know, I was thinking. Your shack is nice when it's cleaned up, but a proper house would suit you much better."

He smiled a little. "Oh yeah?"

"Yeah, and besides. It would very difficult to raise children in such a small house."

Big Macintosh was about to respond when Princess Celestia stepped out in front of the line again, opening her wings, addressing the entire room.

"The names of all of those that fought in the Battle for Canterlot with be taken down in history, and Ponyville and Cloudsdale will never be forgotten for the role they played in driving out the Changeling horde. Let us feast now, for this evening we honor and mourn the fallen."

A cheer rose through the hall as the guards directed the mass of ponies out to the gardens. While everyone else moved towards the doors, Isabella reached up and kissed Big Macintosh. He grinned and raised his mouth to whisper in her ear.

Her ears perked up, and she listened. A smiled slowly spread across her face as he spoke to her. When he finished, he looked into her eyes and a playful smile played over her face.

"Yes! Yes, I will marry you!"

Epilogue

As the snow fell around the statuary in the Canterlot Palace, Isabella stopped at one of the largest statues. She dusted the snow away from the plaque that stood just below the actual statue, which read "Nextis, the thorned stallion". She looked up at the statue and was thankful that they had carved him without his armor. A small smiled tugged at the corner of her mouth as something tugged on the tip of her tail.

"Mommy, who's that?"

Isabella looked down at the small pink unicorn that stood next to her, looking up at the same statue as she had been.

"That, Apple Butter, is a stallion named Nextis. He was a great warrior and a fiercely loyal friend. He would protect anyone he could from harm and was one of the strongest ponies I know of."

"Hey, what about me?"

Isabella looked up and smiled as Big Macintosh walked up, a small white pegasus bouncing along next to him, Pinkie Pies influence no doubt.

"Excepting your father, of course."

They kissed once and looked up at the statue for a moment before Isabella looked down at the small bundle wrapped to Big Macintosh's chest. She nosed the blankets away to reveal the small forrest green baby earth pony sleeping in the harness. Belle's nose twitched slightly and she huddled closer to Big Macintosh as the cold touched her face. Isabella kissed Belle on the forehead before placing the blankets around her face again.

"Mom, Dad! Look! I'm doing it!"

Apple Butter, Big Macintosh, and Isabella all turned to watch as Wing Nut fluttered a few inches off the ground, pumping his wings hard. He finally dropped back down and looked up at them, beaming.

"I did it! I can fly!"

Isabella smiled. "You sure did. Have you been spending time with Rainbow Dash?"

Wing Nut shook his head. "Rainbow Dash is always really busy with work and stuff. Scootaloo has been showing me how to fly. She's really good at it."

"She has gotten a lot better at it than she used to be."

Isabella and Big Macintosh turned again, to see Princess Luna and Twilight standing there, smiling at them.

"Great Auntie Twili!"

Apple Butter and Wing Nut ran up to Twilight, jabbering excitedly to her. Big Macintosh chuckled as Twilight tried to pay attention to both foals at the same time.

"Alright you two, Twilight and Princess Luna probably came to talk to mommy, so lets go look at some of the other statues."

Both foals grinned up at Princess Luna before waving to Twilight as they pursued their father. Twilight and Luna joined Isabella in front of the statue on either side of her, looking up at the imposing figure.

"You miss him." murmured Twilight.

Isabella sighed and nodded. "Yes. Yes I do miss him. He was one of my closest men."

They stood in silence for a long time, the snow melting in their manes, gathering on the statue and the plaque again.

"Have you ever wanted to go back to it all? Just you and your men?" asked Twilight quietly.

"I might have, if Nextis had survived, but I can't imagine anyone else dieing for me now. Plus..." She trailed off, looking over her shoulder at the three figures walking around in the snow, looking at statues, stopping now and then. "No. I don't think I would ever go back to that. I'm happy now. For the first time in my life, I'm truly happy."

"You've come a long way, Isabella. We're all proud of you as a pony, as a mother." smiled Luna, following Isabella's gaze. "They're so happy. I have seen many families come and go, and this one is a good one. I would be surprised if they did not do something important in the future. The ponies of Ponyville seem to destined for greatness."

Isabella smiled as Twilight laughed a little.

"You know. I wouldn't mind if they just had simple lives. Something with some excitement, but not as much as I've had. It wears on a pony." She ran a hoof over the long scar that was only partially covered by her fur on her side.

They lapsed into silence again and didn't break it until Isabella stood up, shaking the snow off of ears and tail. "I think me and my family had better get going. The last couple trains out of Canterlot will be leaving soon, and we need to get back home. Twilight, we'll see you in a few days. Don't forget Pinkie Pie has a Birthday Party set up for Wing Nut in a few days. Princess Luna," she bowed her head respectively, "We'll see you again at the Hearths Warming Eve pageant. I'm glad I got to see you. Could you tell Princess Celestia I said Hi?"

"Of course. She's been a little busy of late, but you'll also see her at the Hearth Warming Eve pageant. It was good to see you again." Luna inclined her head in respect.

Isabella and Twilight exchanged a quick hug, before Isabella walked away from them both, joining the small group near a statue that was in honor of Ponyville and Cloudsdale, before they all moved off towards the gate, disappearing into the snow.

Author's Note

Hello, this is Rene Furan. I've enjoyed writing this story and I'm so glad I was able to finish it. Any of you who had been waiting for the story to continue during the two year hiatus I had taken can thank Crystal Static (a writer and reader here on this site, found here ---> http://www.fimfiction.net/user/Crystal+Static) for that. After some prompting from him I dived back into writing this story and I loved every minute of it. I have to admit I'm rather sad it's over, but I'm so glad so many of you liked it. This experience has shown me that I don't really care how many people dislike something I write. If I can tell a story one person likes enough, then I'll do my best to tell that story. You've all inspired me in my writing and I hope I can give you more great stories in the future. This journey truly has been magical. Thank you for reading "The Half Changeling: Isabella's Story".