Fresh

Captain didn’t look back as he trotted out of the Hive deep within Everfree Forest. He didn’t regard any of his associates and subordinates. He kept his blue colored eyes fixed forward, not once glancing at the others.

He wasn’t your standard Changeling, as he had slitted pupils and his fangs were much more subtle. He was better looking that all the others, as well. He still had the pure black body, crooked horn on his head, and insectoid wings. He even had a lengthy, aqua colored mane and tail much like his Quee-

...What was once his Queen.

Soon after he lost sight of the Hive, he recalled what had caused him to set out in the first place.

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“Care to repeat that, Captain?” Chrysalis asked from her throne, hissing the question out between her fangs.

“I’m sorry, Chrysalis.” Captain replied in his smooth tenor voice. “But you’ve obviously lost it. These ponies have done nothing to us, and you’ve done all but declared war on them.”

Chrysalis growled. “How dare you stand there and say that in a calm voice! You will remember your place, Captain! You may be Captain by title as well, but you are still my subordinate!”

Captain shook his head. “Not anymore. Again, I do apologize. I wish you well in your future endeavors.” And with that, he turned on his hoof and walked out of the throne room, ready to leave everything behind.

He could hear her rage from clear down the hall, reverberating off the walls. “YOU ARE NOT WELCOME HERE ANYMORE, CAPTAIN!! YOU ARE NOW AN OFFICIAL TRAITOR TO CHANGELING KIND! IF YOU SHOW UP HERE AGAIN, I WILL KILL YOU PERSONALLY!! DO YOU HEAR ME?! YOU ARE BANISHED!!!”

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Captain gave a sigh at the memory. He did the right thing. She was obviously mad with power.

“She would have declared war on all of Equestria...be the better creature, Captain.” He mumbled to himself. He looked around at his surroundings, not realizing he had traveled so far from the Hive. Where in the world was he, exactly?

“...Well, horseapples.” He cursed. “Great. Just great. I should’ve taken a map from my chambers...ah, c’est la vie, no?”

He picked a random direction and set off, not knowing what lay ahead.

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Vinyl Scratch took in a deep of fresh air, loving the natural scent of pine. She may live a lifestyle of parties and such, but she loved taking walks through the Everfree Forest every day. It was a hobby, if you will. It helped clear her mind.

Today was more of a leisure walk rather than a ‘clear head’ walk, so she set off at a lazy trot along her usual path. It would take her through one of the many ‘safe’ trails, before deviating to a small clearing we she would sit and think of new beats.

“Hm...maybe something with a little less treble and more bass...? Or maybe less bass, more treble...hm...” She muttered to herself as she moved along. She got so lost in her musings that she arrived in the clearing sooner than she expected.

Vinyl moved to the center of it, where a grouping of flowers was sprouting amongst the grass, and she curled up right beside them, letting the fragrant smells wash over and soothe her. “Ah...this is just what I needed...” She sighed, closing her eyes and smiling.

Her ears twitched at a noise from the hedges along the tree line.

She quickly snapped her eyes open and jumped up, looking around. Her horn lit up with a standard defensive tazing spell she had learned from Twilight Sparkle. “Who’s there?! Show yourself!” She called out.

She didn’t expect the perpetrator to step out immediately. And she certainly didn’t expect to see one of those...things...from the wedding! Although, granted, this one was decidedly different the others, but that was besides the point!

“Don’t move another muscle!” She said, glaring at him with her sharp red eyes.

He instantly stopped, giving her an emotionless look. “Take it easy, unicorn. I mean you no harm.” He said in his calm, even tone.

She was slightly surprised by the fact that he had a normal voice, unlike that Queen of theirs. But she didn’t show it, keeping her glare leveled at him. “Yeah, right!” She scoffed. “Just like you meant no harm when you attacked Canterlot?! Nice try, bub!”

The Changeling sighed. “What do you want me to do to prove that I really won’t hurt you?”

She thought for a moment. What could she have him do...? She was just a DJ. It wasn’t like she could perform some kind of magic to make him tell the truth!

...But she knew somepony who could. At least she hoped.

“Alright. You want to prove that you mean no harm?” Vinyl asked, to which Captain nodded. “Tell you what. Follow me. We’re going to go visit someone.” She said.

“Very well.” Captain said, walking up beside her. “Lead the way, please.”

Vinyl scoffed. “I was getting to that! Jeez, you are so impatient!” She said before walking off, the Changeling walking right beside her.