The Rise of The Changelings

Chapters

The Settling
The Attack
Grand Discoveries
Hay Stable
The Land of Sugar and Weat
The War
Big Projects
Intergration?
Cleaning Up
Paying Off
Of Unicorns and Earth Ponies
The Rest
The City On The East Coast
A Very Different Night
Trot, The Tough One
The Encounter

The Settling

Changelings, oh how have they fallen. Expelled after the failed invasion of Canterlot, they wander aimlessly though these sand dunes, trying to find a new home. They have had little luck. Such a shame too. It's not like coexistence was impossible. Yes, it's an old mare's tale that the process of feeding off of love will leave the pony "host" an empty husk. It's more like putting your hoof near a hot object, you can feel the heat radiating off it and your hoof gets a little warmer. Unfortunately, ponies don't like the idea of being feed off of. Now it will impossible to peacefully exist after that event at Canterlot.

Chrysalis leads the band of some fifty thousand Changelings across the wastes. She only wishes the best for her changelings in much the same way Celestia with her ponies does. She just needs a lucky break. Fortunately, her changelings are patent with her. Changelings are strange in that way. It's not really a hivemind like most assume. Truly, they are somewhat independent, though they tend to allow their queen to guide them and they follow her with unmatched loyalty. Queens themselves are unique, they are able to live forever, so as long as she has enough love of course. If one dies, her powers are inherited to some other changeling female. Chrysalis still has lots of Shining Armor's love but, that may only mean she'll see her species destruction unless she can find some way to supply her followers.

It doesn't help that a strange phenomenon is occurring. One day the sun just sat still. They were all resting, getting ready to set off at noon and noon never happened. It's almost like Celestia is trying to fry them out of the wastes. Unlikely but, they must find a home soon. They finally find a river and rivers lead to the ocean. They follow the river downstream until they are lead out of the wastes and into lush grasslands and the ocean shore. They began to form their new home. Changelings are very fast and efficient builders and an adequate colony is built in a couple of days, relatively speaking of course. The buildings are made of a hard concrete like substance that is a combination of their saliva and sand. The material is black like the changeling's chitin. The buildings have sharp jagged angles, something that can be fixed at another time. Funny enough, if you look at the structure just right it will give the building a lime green outline. It's a little tricky right now with the angle of the sun is but, it's still cool.

Now to secure their food source. Much of the most starving population are given makeshift spears and casted out to hopefully find a village and find their food as find out what is happening with the sun. Relatively five five days later, about sixty miles out north from the colony, buildings are spotted on the horizon.

The Attack

Grasped in magic, the spears are held level at barrel height and with a mighty yell, the swarm of changelings charge into Sindhoof. Looking at the scene, it would give the illusion of black water sweeping over the land, pouring into the unprepared town. At a closer look at the blob of blackness, It looks more like a bunch of ants swarming a piece of food. The catapults fired both boulders and changelings. The changelings that were catapulted began to come to come down in green flames in much a similar fashion as in the assault on Canteriot.

The attacking changelings put on a frightful display. Their purpose was to urge the townsfolk into surrendering and for the most part, it worked. At the ungodly sight before them, the ponies scattered and fled into their houses. Sure some brave few tried to resist to the attacking swarm, but could they really do? What spears they had where either burned or snapped in half, courtesy of the changeling infiltrators. All in all, only a few ponies needed to be put down. Almost no changeling fatalities have bolstered their moral to the point that they felt invincible.

Truly it was massive great planning and luck that won them the day. They completely surrounded Sindhoof, leaving the sea to west of the town. The next concern is how to integrate the ponies and exploit their love. The ponies show nothing but contempt to their occupiers. However, they show strong love to their families understandably. As their foals are cowering in fear and their parents comforting them, they are unknowingly feeding the changelings more than they'll ever need. The changelings don't want to keep the ponies in a state of fear forever though. Sindhoof is a fantastic place for a new colony and they need the environment to less hostile if they ever to bring in changeling families.

In the meantime the changelings leave behind a sizeable garrison and sent a few to bring the love, and news, back to the main colony. They suit up and head northeast. They have much more work to do. Secure more love, scout the area, make use of what they can find, and pay a certain "empire" a visit.

Grand Discoveries

In time, the changeling messengers returned to the main hive full the brim with pony love. They are literally panting from the bulk of their load as well as their non stop journey home and the everstill sun. They needed to be escorted into hive by Chrysalis' personal guards as the other changelings desperately try to get to them. Poor things, if you read their eyes, well that's a little hard on account of their eyes being a solid sky blue, but if you could, you'd see nothing but the hunger that they have. They have fed on Chrysalis' love she had from Shining Armor for some time but, that is been quickly diminishing since day one. The rationing has favored no changeling. Of the some ten changelings that brought love back from Sindhoof, each one carried an equivalent ,or more, of that of Chrysalis when she defeated Celestia. So of course when the populous felt its presence, they rushed to get some of it. Even the guards had a hard time controlling themselves but, they are well disciplined and they didn't falter easily. Still, it was a test of their resolve.

Chrysalis was overjoyed by the love she now received. She kept two to herself, gave one to thirty other changelings whom she had a assignment for, and sent the other seven to distribute the love throughout the colony. The process of a changeling giving love to another changeling is slightly more complicated than a changeling getting love from a pony, but only slightly. It involves physical contact and the provider to will the love to the receiver. Different than simply gathering lingering love floating about.

Chrysalis then ordered the ten changelings and no more than a hundred volunteers to go back to Sindhoof to bring back more love and the status of how things are going. She then ordered the thirty from before to do long term scouting beyond what is seen. Finally, she used her massive amounts of fresh power to do a task that's long over due. She strained and grunted, her eyes tightly closed, one would even say her chitin throbbed under her blood pressure, and then she set the sun and raised the moon. Even though she had more than enough power, she had no practice in doing such a feat. Exhausted, she made her way to her bed chamber for the night and nights to come. She had just taken on a huge responsibility and there's so much for her to do. "Rest, rest for tonight for tomorrow will be one for the books. Literally and figuratively."

How right she is.

The scouting team trekked east. First they followed the coast until they no longer were shadowed by desert. They past by a few mountains as they headed more north. When they passed over a hill they saw a sight they never thought possible, a mountain that bared a godly presence. Numerous arguments spawned on what shall be its name. One wants to name it after changeling kind, one wishes to show his loyalty by naming after Chrysalis, another wants to name it after his mother.

After a while, they settle on the leader of the group to name it. Memory Clash decides on Mt. Kaisash, a combo of Kaiser Sheath (A changeling version of Daring' Do that the grubs love to hear) and his last name. With that settled, they continued east. From a distance they spot a camp. On closer inspection, the camp is settled by ponies and diamond dogs. The inhabitants seem to adopted banditry and show no intention of negotiation, so the scouts leave and finds, not too far away, a ruin. Inspecting the ruins finds that this was a griffon settlement, possibly Griffonstone. The team finds the secret to a strange technology, sailing. The griffons diet comprised of some fish. This is how they got their food and it can serve the changelings as well. Changelings can only fly so far, with this they can spread across the globe.

While the explorers make their discoveries, the army prepares for war.

Hay Stable

Author's Note

Just a little little background on an important OC, reading is advised but not mandatory.

Hay Stable

What is there to say on Hay Stable? Seriously, he grew up in Saddle Arabia and spent a lot of time with the zebras like the rest of his village. I suppose he was the son of governor and received private education. Okay, so he's rather important he's just not my favorite. He was also regent to the young ruler of Saddle Arabia and if unfortunate tightenings were to befall upon that ruler, Hay Stable would probably inherit all Saddle Arabia. Something bad did happen to that ruler but I'm getting ahead of myself. His rule would've been easy one at that. He had few enemies, political ones at least. Only some extremists reject him for his more progressive but balanced thinking. However, the disaster stuck, leaving little behind. He led many survivors to his private land. He calmed to reinvent the fallen nation. He called his band of survivors "Hayiopia". Hayiopia, really? Here I thought Mt. Kaisash was a stupid name (at least spellcheck dose). I wonder how that conversation went...

"Sir?"

"Yes?"

"Have you came up with a name for the group yet?"

"You know, I have, now that you mentioned it."

"Oh, what is it?"

"'Hayiopia' is perfect! It carries my legacy and says what it is, a utopia."

"Hayiopia?"

"Yes!"

"...Hayiopia?"

"HEY! That's what I'm calling it!"

"Sir I must-"

"Silence!"

"Sir-"

"Quite!"

Oh, that's how.
Laughs and giggles aside, Hay Stable's is a fairly tall earth pony who is a little dark green and has a charcoal black mane and tail. His mane, is kept short and flares out. He also has a full medium length beard. His eye irises are a light brown. He wears a military uniform which is a darker shade of green than his coat. He speaks with a firm, authoritative voice. His cutie mark is is of two scrolls on either side of a justice scale.

"So, we're not alone."

"No sir, the scouts say they were dissuaded to go west, whatever it is their hiding must be of some importance."

"Maybe so, but it would be unwise to take hostile action, we may only bolster our defences, that is all."

"Yes sir."

It won't be easy.

The Land of Sugar and Weat

The scouting team spotted another city state, as is what they're being called, "Trot" is what the inhabitants have named it. A rather simple name. The populace is composed of mostly earth ponies although, the unicorns are only one hundred ten from being the majority. Culture of the city of one and a half thousand is more aligned towards central Saddle Arabia rather than its outskirts. The Hayiopian scouts, from earlier, were more influenced by zebras, as outer Saddle Arabia usually is. The buildings of the city are made of well chiseled sandstone. Another notable thing is that the ocean is on the city's east side, meaning, they've reached the end of the continent. They head north to scout out the rest of continent.

A few days later, they break into wide open plains. What they see baffles them. As far as the eye can see, sugar. Fields upon fields of sugarcane. The magical green stalks sprouting freely along a river. The scouts began to frolic the fields like little fillies, taking a bite of the cane every now and than. Changelings may not need to eat food to survive, but they get energy for physical tasks. While love may be their life essence and magical energy, it doesn't give much physical energy. It also does provide taste, and since it's been awhile since they had physical substance, the scouts are a little excited. So the sugar would be a valuable asset to the changelings. However, in their joyous outburst, they almost failed to notice the silhouettes of buildings on the horizon. It was a good thing at least one scout was flying high and paying attention.

They disguise themselves and head towards the city they found. Once they got to spotting range they notice the buildings are made of sandstone like in Trot, but they're more rounded and chiseled at a much lower quality. The north part of the city was bordered by large fields of wheat. The inhabitants were also far less open to visitors. Though they still might have gotten in the city, it wasn't without struggle. Getting information was also less than easy. The city's name was "Foalis Foalba," which roughly translates to "Foal's paradise." What a paradise it is.
Fair amounts of sugar and flour is supplied to the bakeries, which in turn keeps the whole city fed. Not one pony is to starve. The city considers itself to be part of a nation, "Hayiopia." They also have a single leader. The city states from before had councils which managed the cities. The leader's name is "Hay Stable." At a view, the city is composed of almost entirely earth ponies. Now that they think about it, the scouts haven't seen any unicorns or pegasi since they came in. Looking around, they don't see any anywhere at all. Nervous, they head east.

The War

After about two weeks of marching through forests, hills, and mountains, the army finally makes its way into wide open pains. Hovering high off the ground, the squad's lookout, Watch Out (creative, I know), scans the area with his spy glass. Spy glasses are a rare commodity for the secret on how to replicate them died with Equestria. Watch's is old and dull. Some of the glass is worn, scratched, and smudged. He slowly pivots around and sees figures many miles out. Focusing on those objects, he sees that they are shaped like standard buildings. "I think I see it!" he called out. The other lookouts turn to where he's staring and confirmed that they all see it as well. "Five degrees south, about fifteen miles out!" they direct.

The army marches over to where the city of Foalis Foalba ley. The plan is unchanged: infiltrate, learn, sabotage, attack, frighten, and take over. Things however, don't always according to plan. The city refused the spies and while setting up the catapults, guards on patrol found the army and warned the city. Alarmed, the city mobilised. Every able bodied citizen was armed with either a bow or spear. Archers surprised the army but, the catapults were ready.

The attack was fierce. the population didn't surrender easy like in Sindhoof. Though the changelings didn't have an ocean to block retreat, they had a river to the east that wrapped around the city. The army came in from one part of the river to the next, boxing in the city. The problem with fighting earth ponies is that they are very strong. Stronger than any changeling side from the queen. The ponies are also defending their homes and families, so they fight until they can't fight any more. The changelings three main advantages are that they are more experienced as all of them at least have been trained for Canterlot and did light skirmishing in Sindhoof. They also outnumber the ponies almost three to one. Changelings can also fly and do magic. Their magic may not be as complicated as a unicorns', but it's something.

Hay Stable is personally leading his guards into the battle. His very presence inspiring the ponies. The changelings had to fight for every inch of land. The battle lasted throughout the night. By daybreak, the fighting began to settle down. Both sides payed a hefty toll. The changelings lost nearly a third of their forces. The citizens lost half of their own. Out of around two-thousand and one hundred ponies. Among the dead was Hay Stable with a spear right through the barrel. One of his guards said his last words were, "A stallion may only know what he's wrought when he acts."

As in Sindhoof, the population unknowingly feeds the changelings love by sticking with with their families but, there's also a lot of sorrow and hate. These negative emotions make collecting love harder. The differing emotions takes over the love in the air and repelled it. The same was in Sindhoof, but there the love was strong. Here it's too faint. The changelings send for reinforcements and held down the fort, so to speak.

Big Projects

All the way back at the hive, Queen Chrysalis has begun to drive her swarm to either greatness or destruction. You see, no queen has ever tried to do what Chrysalis has been doing. Although, no queen has had such opportunity. Usually the changelings had a deficiency of love so working towards founding an empire was out of the question. The roles of changelings has always been find love, maintain the hive, protect the queen, make grubs, and on occasion, fight in battle. Now with such a surplus of love, changeling roles will change dramatically. Already, there are changelings who distribute love, build facilities, and mine silver from a large deposit found near the colony. The problem, can changelings handle such a shift in society?

Regardless, Chrysalis has plans to act upon. Changelings tend to keep objects to themselves after stealing them from infiltrations. They left much of their stuff behind, but not all of it. Among the items are books. These books can contain concepts of technology from old Equestria. Chrysalis had her subjects to relinquish their books to her. Some books show promise, but she must be sure. She doesn't have the time to read every single one, she has a colony to run. Her plan? Have her subjects do it for her. Let me elaborate.

You see, changelings have, for the first time ever, time for themselves. A changeling's free time is expanding and they're looking for stuff to do. Chrysalis wants to build a library that rivals that of Celestia's one in Canterlot. A great library that'll hold what little was saved from the old world. Her subjects will read there on their free time and reinvent the secrets on their own. The perfect way to make use of what's not being used.

Chrysalis is also aware that that's not all changelings' cup of tea so to speak. However, she has her hooves tied on that one. She just doesn't know what is there for them to do. She does however, have a short term solution: mine out a few nearby hills that will supply materials that will go towards the construction of the library as well as the construction of the library itself is a solution. It's not periment though.

In the meantime, she's trying to figure out what to do with the ponies of Sindhoof. The reports say the ponies have started coming out of their houses, albeit very reluctantly, and continue with their day to day activities, mostly farming. They're still giving some negative emotions, but still collecting love is still simple enough. Yet the love given off is sufficiently less than before. Not enough to concern her though, besides they have plenty of love left just in case. No need for drastic measures.

While changelings now have spare time on their hooves, Chrysalis has lost much of her own. Fortunately, she can cope with that. The only relationships she must maintain are with her subjects as a whole. She has no individual to care for, especially no lover. Ponies think all changelings come from the queen. The truth is actually the exact opposite. That's right, the queen is sterile. The queen's role is more political than that of a insect queen. She must be the one to bring order to the changelings and be their representative. Chrysalis still feels like she failed after Canterlot. She and her changelings were just desperate. They were starving and convenical methods weren't working. Nopony was helping. She almost doomed them all.

Breaking out of her thoughts, she took a breather and stepped away from her desk. She looked out upon the colony from her place. She looked at the half built library in the center of it all. Her changelings are hard at work.

'Don't worry my followers, I shall not fail you a second time,' She thought to herself.

Only time will tell.

Intergration?

The scouting team continued east. The team discovered that the rivers that flow through Hayiopia have caused the center of the wastes to turn into great plains. They followed north of the wastes until they spot what looks like more ruins some way into the desert. No doubt in their minds it's the ruins of Ranedh, the old Saddle Arabian capital. The ponies were right, little remained of the once teeming capital. The team entered the ruins and began their search for anything useful. About an hour later, Memory Clash was searching through some crates in one the few standing buildings when he caught something in the corner of his eye. He perked his head up to see and...

"Eep!"

The small figure darted away before he could get a good look at it. He called the others and followed it. It ran over to one of the unchecked buildings and went inside. The team followed the sound it was making. Three of looked round a corner to see. They couldn't believe their eyes. A little unicorn filly was pawing at a door. She was white with a brown mane and tail. Her eyes were clenched shut so they couldn't see what color they were. She was also a blank flank. Her dress that she was wearing was grand red and white silk and studded with gems, but it was worn, a little dirty, and the gems were dull as well was a little scratched.

"LET ME IN LET ME IN THERE'S MONSTERS LET ME IN MONSTERS MONSTERS!"

The three of them looked at each other. 'What do we do?' was the expression on their faces. Each of them shrugged. Changelings have deep voices, even on the mares, and have a echoing monotone in their natural form. That's good for intimidating, not so much here. It also doesn't help that they have long sharp fangs and a crooked horn. They turn to Smooth Talker, a mare who has the most pony like voice. She also handles most of their negotiations. They figure that changing form wouldn't be the most helpful. She'll be more scared but it's best to comfort her to their natural form so she can adjust.

The filly stopped screaming. She was laying on the floor, tears streaming on her cheeks and sobbing quietly. Smooth trotted up to about seven feet of the filly, then stopped.

"Hi there."

"Eek!"

The filly moved her hooves on top of her face and buried herself in them. Her breathing became deep and hollow between sobs. Smooth looked back at the corner. Memory was looking round it, he gestured to 'move on' with his hoof. Smooth turned back to face the filly, took a deep breath, took one or two steps closer to her, and got down to the floor.

"Hey."

"mhmm."

"W-what's your name?"

"..."

"If I tell you mine, will you tell me yours?"

The filly uncovers her face a little. She looks right at Smooth with her hazel eye. Smooth continues.

"Mine is Smooth Talker, yours?"

"M-m-mine i-is B-B-Berry B-Blossom."

"Oh, well that's a beautiful name if I do say so myself."

"D-do you think so?"

"A pretty name for a pretty little filly."

Berry pricked a little smile and sniffed.

"Do you really mean that?"

"Well of course she does." called Memory coming around the corner.

Berry's smile dissolved and she began to cower again.

"No no no, it's okay, he's a friend." Smooth reassured.

"Really?" asked Berry.

"Yes"

"Hi, my name is Memory Clash, it's nice to meet you Berry."

"N-nice to meet you too."

"Berry, where are your parents?" Memory braced for the worst.

Berry pointed her hoof at the door.

"In there." she said.

"Why are they in there?" Memory asked.

"Hiding."

"Why?"

"They're scared."

"Of what?"

"You."

"W-" Memory wondered if he needed to ask, "why?"

"They think your monsters."

'Thought so.'

"Monsters come by every now and again, they look like big plumb wolves." Berry stares down at the floor, "When they come, sometimes one of us disappears."

'Plumb wolves? Diamond dogs? Those-..., sometimes words can't express my feelings. This is one of those times.'

"One of US? There's more of you?"

"Mmm hmm." noded Berry.

"How many?"

"Lots, I don't know how many."

"That's okay Berry."

"You're not like those other monsters are you?"

"Of course not silly filly." interjected Smooth. "Do they look like monsters to you?"

Smooth pointed at some of the others who rounded the corner. Each one put on a sheepish smile and waved back with their hooves.

"Welllll..."

"You don't have to answer that Berry." said Memory.

Noises start coming from behind the door.

"Shh." sushed Memory.

He put his ear to the door. After some rumbling, he heard voices.

"But that's my daughter out there, and your niece Orange!"

"Brother, listen to what I'm saying, you WILL not get in the way of me and my daughter, not now or ever, DON'T even try me!"

"Apple, calm yourself, she's my niece as much as your daughter, I love her immensely, you know that, but what will it accomplish if you bring those dogs here?"

"I would rather die by their paws then rot away in here while my daughter is out there!"

"App-"

"Bagh, if he wants to go die then so be it."

"Gravel, this is not you time to speak."

"Go and die, see what we care. Just don't think we'll let you back in that easily."

"*sigh* Apple, Flower, I'm afraid he's right."

"Afraid, afraid, AFRAID that's all everypony is afraid, afraid of what? With our numbers-"

"There's too much to lose brother!"

"Lose what? Our fifty pounds of rotting food? We need to take stand and that's what I'm going to do!"

"Goodbye brother."

A loud slam followed by the sound of heavy hoof stomps.

"Quick, disguises up!" called Memory. When he turned to shout, thought he noticed not every changeling was present but had no time to confirm that. He threw up a unicorn disguise and backed away from the door. The door flew inwards to reveal two unicorns, a stallion and a mare. They both wore clothing of wealthy merchants, however their clothes are worn out like Berry's. The stallion's horn is poking out of his turban. His coat is a dark-grayish orange and his tail is jet-black, so is his short and well kept gotie. He staring right at Memory with his brown eyes. The message, fury. The mare bares a striking resemblance to Berry. The coat, the mane, the tail, and the eyes all look alike. Her look at Memory is no better. The mare has a dagger gripped in her magic. The stallion has a crescent sword in his. Berry had a face of confusion from the changelings' transformations but as soon as she saw the two ponies, her face lit up.

"Mommy, daddy!"

She leaped on the mare, embracing around her. The mare dropped the dagger and embraced Berry.

"Oh sweetie, we thought we lost you!"

The stallion wasn't as moved however. He slammed Memory against the wall opposite.

"Who are you? What have you done to my daughter? If you so as much as laid a hoof on her, I'll kill you right here, right now!"

The sword comes across Memory's neck.

"WELL!"

"That's Memory, daddy!" called Berry "He's nice!"

"Memory? That's a little odd name for a pony, don't ya think?" The stallion seems to ease up although, his brow is still low."He didn't hurt you did he?"

"I didn't- ekk"

"Let her speak."

"No, he didn't daddy."

Memory gasps as the sword begins to ease up on his neck.

"Ya, I was scared at first, I thought they were those monsters, but then Smooth talked to me and I felt alright." Berry is now pointing at Smooth who's tried to put on a smilie. Memory, for the first time, got to look around. He first checked himself, his unicorn is brown and he saw that his tail was jet black. He checked his cutie mark, it was a spy glass over a plain map with a red dotted line leading to a red 'X'.

'Humh, lucky guess.'

He looked at Smooth. She was also a unicorn, she was grassy green, her eyes were hazel, and her mane was red. Her cutie mark was that of a sextant. Memory glanced at others. They were a assortment of the three different kinds of ponies. Memory could swear the there should be mor-

"Well, I apologize, you can understand right, Memory?" The stallion is no longer pinning Memory against the wall.

"Hmm, oh yes of course, if I had a daughter as beautiful she is, I would be on edge as well."

"I'm glad. My name is Apple and that's my wife Flower. We're the Blossom family."

"Pleasure." Memory outstretched his hoof. Apple shook it firmly.

'He's used to this?'

"What's your business here anyways?"

"We're on a scouting mission for our... settlement, on account of the cutie mark."

"Well I'm merchant, on account of my cutie mark." Memory looked Apple's mark. It was that of chest with gold bits in it. The chest was in front of several bags. "Pardon, but didn't you say you're part of a group?"

"Yes we are."

"Oh, sweet Celestia! Do you have room for more?"

"Uhh, nnn."

"Please, we're desperate, our food won't last long and our water is rancid!"

"Ehh."

"We'll do anything! We're tired of those diamond dogs raiding this place! We need a real place to stay!"

"Well... we'll need to speak to the rest of you."

Apple's face went placed.

"Oh, ya, they're not going to be easy."

"Well, try."

Apple went back into the door and Memory followed. Inside, Memory saw that the door was more like a back way in. The main way in was boarded up. In the center of the room on the floor, was two doors that seem to lead to a cellar. Light was coming in through the missing ceiling. Apple pounded on the doors.

"Brother, open up!"

Silence.

"Brother!"

"Why should we let you back in?" called a voice.

"Gravel, let Orange let us back in!"

"Why? So you can let those dogs in too?"

"GRAVEL!"

"Apple, brother, I want to believe in you, but how can I? With so much to lose, I got my hooves tied."

"I hear you need food, we have some." Memory called.

"Who's that!" called what can be named Gravel.

"A friend." Memory answered.

"Why should I believe that?"

"Because he hasn't killed us yet." Apple answered.

"That's believable Gravel, and we do need food." added what can be named Orange.

"If they do have food, it'll just be poisoned."

"Don't you have a way to tell with your magic?" asked Memory

"What if is magical?"

"Then surely you'd be able to tell, yo-... us unicorns seem to have a spell for everything."

Silence

The quiet was broken by hoof steps and a click. Then the door were enveloped by two different auras and opened. Two unicorn stallions emerged. One was a bright orange and had a brown tail. He had green eyes. Memory could tell by his clothing, that he was also a merchant.
His face was clean shaven. The other stallion was grey and his tail was a greyish white. He had teal eyes. He was dressed like a minor noble pony rather than like a merchant. He also had a medium length beard. Both had weapons in grasped in their magic. The orange one had a crescent sword and the gray one had a short spear.

"You say you have food, well let's see it." said the grey one in Gravel's voice.

The changeling picked up lots of goods from Foalis Foalba with some gold that they collected from Griffonstone's ruins. It was hard bargaining with them but they got what they wanted. The team were carrying the stuff in their saddlebags. Memory motioned for the team to hoof it over. They trotted forward, laid their saddlebags of the floor, and removed the contents. Inside was a assortment of baked goods, fruits, and vegetables. The baked goods had begun to stale and the greens were no longer fresh. Gravel put down his spear and scanned the food, and again, and again, needless to say, he was at it for awhile. Then Orange had enough.

"Oh for goodness sake! Here, I'll try!" He swiped a cookie and took a bite. Then he ate the whole thing. "Oh, it's been forever since I had anything decent!"

"That's not all brother, they say there's a place we can go to." said Apple.

"Well umm..." Memory tried to add something but...

"Now hold on brother, they might have brought us food in our time of need, but that doesn't mean that we're just going to pack everything up to go Celestia knows where just on their word."

"Thank you Orange." said Gravel.

"Orange, what choice do we have?"

"My husband is right we can't stay here." added Flower.

"I know Flower, but there has to be something else, this is just too perfect."

"Come on Orange, you can't be considering this can you?" said Gravel.

"*sigh* Apple, if we agree and something is wrong with this, you must understand that you will be the one taking the responsibly for this."

"I wouldn't have it any other way."

"You, what's your name?" Orange asked Memory.

"It's, Memory Clash."

Orange cocked his brow. "That's an unusual name, for a pony at least."

"It's just from where we come from."

"Hmm, where is this place you say we can go to?"

Memory is aware that Foalis Foalba fell because, the team had set up camp east of the city and saw it fall. "W-well you, see
t-there's s-something you should kn-know-..."
"Memory, there you are! You guys just disappeared on us and we've been looking all over for yo-, what's going on here?"

Apparently, they were short on a few changelings as Black Shadow and a few others are standing in the doorway.
Memory looks around. Flower is shielding Berry, Orange and Apple are frozen, and Gravel... is reaching for his SPEAR!
Memory casts a changeling spell, daze. Gravel loses focus and Memory leaps for the spear. He takes the butt of the spear and bashes it into Gravel's temple. Gravel loses consciousness and collapses. Orange draws his sword and charges at Smooth. Memory uses the spear to block the sword and the spear snapped in half. Orange goes to swing at Memory but, Smooth casts daze and, without his focus, Orange loses his sword and it flies into some empty crates by the wall. Memory takes the butt's half of the spear and bashes it into Orange's right inner shoulder, his foreleg gives out and he collapses hollering in pain. Memory looks at Apple. Apple is just staring at him. Memory drops the end of the spear. The others look around confused by the sudden change of events, but they take no further action.

"What are you?" Apple asked.

Memory let out a sigh. "I was hoping to do this more subtly, everypony undisguise." and so they did.

Apple's eyes are wide open and he bares a deep scowl. "What do you want?"

"Well, we'd like to help."

"HELP! How would any of you help?"

"We meant it when we-"

"You." Smooth interrupted.

"I meant it when I said that there's a place for you to go."

"And why in the name of Celestia would we go to where you say to go."

"Th-there's... not a... s-snowb-b,ball's ch-chance in... tar,tious." Orange added, grunting between his clenched teeth.

"We'd sooner rot here, than go to your place." Apple went on.

"Well I'm sorry, but the closest pony held settlement is two hundred and fifty miles south, though the wastes!"

"Well I guess we'd better get started then!"

"Why do you hate us so?"

"WHY? Well let's see, you drain us of love until we're husks-"

"That's just a myth!"

"Oh so you don't feed off love!"

"We do but we don't leave you as empty husks!"

"Why should I believe that!"

"Because we didn't do such a thing to Berry-"

"Don't ever use her name again love suckker!"

"Well I'm sorry for my anatomy!"

"Apology declined!"

"Why? We didn't choose to be this way!"

"You invaded Canterlot to make slaves!"

"We wouldn't do that! Besides, we were starving and nopony was helping!"

"And what good have you ever done?"

"Well for starters, we gave you food!"

"And what did you do to it!"

"Gravel scanned the stuff for like fifteen minutes and he didn't find anything!"

"So what, you all should have died in the wastes!"

"BUCK YOU!"

"You're all nothing but monsters!"

"But their not daddy!" called out Berry.

"Sweetie, just stay out of it." said Flower.

"But mommy, daddy is wrong, they're not monsters!"

"Princess, how can you look at them and say that?" Apple asked.

"Daddy those bird things scare me but you see them all the time when you work!"

"Berry, griffins don't feed off ponies."

"But the bird things eat meat."

"Ber-"

"She's right you know." Memory said. "Think about it, we're full on love right now, we don't need you. So why did I not knock you down when I had chance? It's because we care for your lives, humbly."

"I-I-I..."

"I s-say they make a solid case." Orange intervened, "Memory, if we g-go to this place of yours, what awaits us?"

"You'd be under our queen's protection."

"W-well, brother, I th-think it's set-settled. Let's inform the o-others."

A bright flash suddenly happened.

"Mommy, Daddy look, I got my cutie mark!"

"Sweetie, that's great, let me see!" said Flower.

Berry's new cutie mark is a white dove with a olive branch in its beak. It's the universal symbol for peace and diplomacy. After celebrating, Apple helps Orange to his hooves and helps him down the stairs. They tell Memory to stay behind while they break the fact that he's a changeling to the others.

"How could you be so sure of these changelings?"

"Ya, I don't trust them."

"Now listen, what are we all?"

"We're merchants."

"Right, and we meet all sorts of creatures and what do we do?"

"We... do business."

"And, we do our business civilly."

"Right."

"So, we're gonna bring him in now and I want us to be civil about it."

"Fine."

"Okay, I guess we can civil."

Apparently, the building is a large, no strike that, huge underground bazaar and there's around six hundred unicorn merchants and minor nobles, as well as some pegasi workers, who were in here when whatever happened, happened. None of them know what the disaster was exactly although, some of the nobles say there was souring relations the world over. Something about some nations knew things they weren't supposed to and Celesia intervened, threats were made and then everything went quiet. Everything was a top secret that they weren't told about. Also a pegasus mail pony said he was outside when it happened.

"Well I was out and about when all of a suddenly everypony froze and was looking behind me. I turn around and I saw what looked like a second sun. I ran in here then the ground shaked like a ursa major picked up the whole building and shook it, what happened next was a colossal boom blew everything away."

After hours of talking, the majority of them agreed to leave south west to Foalis Foalba and the rest followed. The scouts headed east. They were also given spears in case of bandits. Night fell, so they set up camp. They all sat around the fire eating the little food they kept.

"Smooth, you did a excellent job back there with Berry." Memory started.

"Memory, thank you and all that but, you're the hero here. The way you handled Apple back there was far more than what I could do."

"Nah, besides that was Berry who really handled that. Which, couldn't have been done without you."

"Ya, but you saved me from Orange."

"Only for you to save me right back."

"Hmm, well then I guess we're even then."

"I guess we are."

"I don't know, but it sounds like you both deserve praise for fixing my blunder." said Black Shadow.

"Ya, you both were awesome." added another named Lay Low.

"Black, don't put yourself down like that, I should have known you weren't there." Memory said "If you keep thinking like that, you'll end up hating yourself. The same thing happened to my brother I swear."

"Memory it's just th-"

A whirling sound followed by a loud cracking one interrupted Black. His eyes went wide and he dropped his stalk of asparagus he was nibbling on. He then keeled over the log he was sitting on revealing a stone axe in the back of his head. A howling was heard in the forest north of them.

"Bandits!"

They rushed for their spears. Axes were flying at them. The team grab their spears and charged into the bushes. The quite night was now filled with howls and hisses. Memory was with Lay, he saw a diamond dog ready to throw his axe. Memory sends his spear right through its chest. He yanked it out.

"Behind you!" yelled Lay.

Memory turned to see another one about to slash him with an axe. Memory borght round his spear and parried the swing with it. The dog then slammed its body into Memory, off guard he lost his spear. On the ground now, he saw the dog about to bring its axe down on him. He goes to cast daze but it's too late, the axe is coming down upon him. Then Lay got between him and the axe. The cracking sound of Lay's chitin shattering was deafening. Lay screamed but with his magic, he sent his own spear into the dog's own chest. It let out a long howl and then collapsed on top of both of them. Memory was now pinned under Lay and the dog's corpse, unable to move.

"Lay, speak to me!"

Lay was heavily wheezing. Changelings are unbelievably good healers. They're able to regrow entire limbs in about a week. This does not mean much on the battlefield since they will still have that injury for a while and not every wound can be recovered.

"Lay! Come on, say something!"

"M-memory, I-I don't think I-I'm going to m-make it."

"Don't say that! You're gonna pull through and we're gonna go and have more adventures together!"

"N-no, t-his w-wou-nd i-is too d-deep. B-but hey, I w-went like a-any c-change-l-ling sh-should, f-for the h-h-hive."

"Come on stay with me and next time we'll name a mountain after your mom like you wanted."

"Th-that's o-okay, i-it's not th-that im-import-ant, w-wh-what i-is th-that wh-wher-ever you g-go and wh-what-ever you f-find, just remem-bore wh-what's it f-for." Lay draws in a deep breath. "FOR THE QUEEN!"

Lay went limp after that. Memory has tears down his head. He kept shaking Lay with his forehooves, begging for him to keep going. A burst of love filled the air. He's gone. Memory went numb. He didn't know Lay all that well but still, he was a fellow changeling. A fellow changeling who just saved his life.

Memory didn't know long he had laid there. It felt like hours. Smooth then found him.

"Memory, what happened, we chased them off and we've been looking for half an hour."

"..."

"What's wrong?"

"L-Lay" he was taken back by how hoarse his voice was.

"O-oh, I see... well, come on hero, let's get you out from under here."

"No, Lay is the real hero."

The team buried the dead, even the dogs, and went east until they reached the ocean. There was a unicorn city state called Wineyburg. After that the team headed back to the colony to report their findings.

Cleaning Up

The army had big choices to make. When reinforcements come to Foalis Foalba do they, leave a garrison and march for more cities or, remain here until the area stabilizes. The ponies still resent the changelings and grieving over the lost. The army took this time to bury the dead. The ponies despised that changeling hooves were burying their loved ones, but they took little action for they feared the army. The changelings found this strange, if these were their loved ones, they would demand for them to be able to be the ones to bury them, army or not. The ponies probably think that the changelings would also harm their families if they "disobeyed." A ridiculous sentiment. The changelings would actually be happy if the ponies did so. They really want some helping hooves with the work, there weren't many shovels and digging deep enough holes with your bare hooves is a pain in the flank, literally as well as figuratively. But no, the ponies were as unhelpful as they could possibly be. They even refused to help identify the dead. It's rather painful to bury the dead without identifying them so they can be properly marked so they can be visited by their family and be buried next to their loved ones when their time comes in many, many, many years. (Ponies tend to live long lives). Actually, while we're on the topic, let's talk about death. Without age spells, ponies can go centuries without showing signs of aging. The lifespan of changelings is unknown due to no changeling has ever lived a full life. They always die of something before one can truly age. The ponies all have all sorts of theories on what happens after death, the most popular is that they go to the sun where they live an eternally in bliss. Another one is they go to the moon as foals and play in Luna's playground to their heart's content. There was a movement saying nothing happens but was very unpopular. A few ponies think that they are reborn into another life, changelings have similar beliefs to this one. They believe that when a changeling dies, the changeling died for hive and queen and that they will serve again.

The unidentified are are put in a low cobblestone walled area and marked by sticks. It's big, too big. The ones who were identified were given a stone plaque with their name on it that is placed on top of the grave. Out of respect, Hay Stable was put in his palace/government house's wine cellar. Sand from the river, mixed with changeling silvia, was used to make a sort of sarcophagus. Hay Stable's corpse was put in and sealed. The cellar was locked. Hay Stable was now left in his final resting place all alone.

The palace was now a full time government house and lodging for officials. After a few weeks, the reinforcements arrived. The majors began to vote on whether or not to move on to another city and, if they do, who would be in charge. I might want to take this time to mention that there's five majors and that they're picking a captain (a lower rink). The issue, there's only two captains to pick from. Yes the changeling command is a little screwed up. You see, before Canterlot, there was no chain of command. Chrysalis was new at this whole organized warfare thing and she thought the higher ranks were more important, so now there's too many high ranking officers. They did have three captains but they left one in Sindhoof, Captain Ease Glider. The two captains to pick from were Captain Sharp Fang and Captain Hard Chitin.
After a while of debating, the vote was cast and they decided to head out and leave Hard Chitin in charge four to one in favor of Hard. The army set out south, following the river. After a week the army sights something east of their position. Watch Out reports seeing campfires.
It was determined that its a bandit camp. The army decided that daybreak tomorrow will be the bandits last. They set up camp. Now let's jump in shall we? Hmm, but who should it be? Ha, him...

"...Aye, and he had the gall to draw his dagger on me!"

Sharp Fang was carousing with his changelings over a fire and the wine they cleared out Hay Stable's cellar when making room.

"And what did ya do then?"

"Well aye told him if he loved her so much, 'then why ya out for so long? Aye've been ya for two weeks and nopony noticed.'"
Sharp took a gulp of his wine while his changelings howled with delight.

"Keep going, he pulled his dagger on ya, then what?"

"What else, aye dazed him and sunk my fang in his neck."

"Mother of the queen."

"Yep, that's why they call me Sharp Fang." he tapped his fang with his hoof. Sharp Fang has this birth defect where he has only one fang and it's half an inch longer than it should be.

"Aye almost feel sorry for the mare. She lost her husband and all."

"Ah, don't be, aye felt love from him but it wasn't her he was loving."

"OHHH!" the other changelings pounded their hooves on the ground, fore hooves to their muzzles.

"Alright that's enough of that!" yelled Major High Stag. "We're heading to battle tomorrow and the last thing I need is a bunch of drunk changelings passed out on the battlefield. Speaking of, it's time to hit the sack."

Every changeling groaned at that. "Come on Major, just a few more minutes." Sharp pleaded.

"Appsolutely not Captain, if we're take another city, we're gonna need every changeling we have. Good night Sharp." he turned and began to trot off. "Aye aye, Major High Stuff."

Every changeling tried to suppress their laughs. The Major turned right back to him and got muzzle to muzzle to him.

"I want you to remember that I voted for you to stay behind, don't make me think that way again."

"Aye sir." he waited until the Major to leave earshot. "Major antlers." he emptied his bottle and smashed it on the ground then went to his tent.

The next day was tartarus for him. Sharp felt like had an axe in his head and cotton in his ears. Nothing stood still either. Still, he'd been bar fights in worse conditions. After about five minutes of focusing, he finally grabbed hold of his spear with his magic and put on his saddlebag. The bags had of bottles of grease, to burn the encampment to the ground. He then trotted his way to his spot in formation. He looked at his changelings. They were in disarray, swaying side to side, and wobbling knees. Major High took one look at this display and than his fore hoof became glued to his forehead.

"Sharp, give me one good reason to let you battle like this."

"*hic* Well,*hic* ya'e ganna ned evey *hic* eery channnlig ya can get."

High's hoof presses harder on his forehead. "*sigh* Don't make me regret this."

"Don't ya woorey 'bout us Major, I fleel myself geeting sober *hic* already. Right evvery changeling?"

A jumble of moans , groans, and "ya"'s came as a response, "Not so loudly please!" called out one.

Fang gave a crooked salute and gave a sheepish smile.
High trailed his hoof down his face while he let out a loud groan. He then trotted off to the next division.

The army marched toward the encampment though the high grass, spears by their sides. Lookouts report the encampment shows little activity. The bandits must've not woken up yet. Prefect. As the army closed in, they noticed lookouts on the wooden palisade. They quickly flew up to take them out. Sharp Fang was just sobered up enough to fly, he took off and headed at a earth pony with a club. The pony saw him and pulled his club round but not before getting a spear in the barrel. Sharp was now inside the encampment, he pulled out the spear and scanned for his next target. He hazaly saw a diamond dog with what looked a bow, about ready to fire. Sharp was able to cast daze on it. It missed and Sharp leaped on to it and drove his fang in its neck. It howled and grabbed him. It tugged him out but the fang pulled out much of its neck with it. The dog threw Sharp and grasped its neck. It then fell to its knees before collapsing. Sharp stood up regained his spear.

"*hic* COME ON, WHO'S NEXT?"

He spotted a dog charging at him with a stone hammer. Sharp flew at it. He focused to cast daze and then, WHAM! The hammer made contact with his face. He flew about twenty five feet before landing with a thud. Sharp regained his senses and spear. He saw the dog coming at him again. He waited, then jabbed it in the shoulder and catapulted it over him. It went a distance before slamming into the ground. Sharp tasted blood, he felt around with his tongue and... HIS FANG! It's gone! The dog started to get back up.

"YOU LOUSY PIECE OF-"

He went full fury on it. Stabbing it in the chest over and over again until he calmed down. He turned his attention to the huts. Sharp grabbed an unbroken bottle of grease from his saddlebag. He cast 'spark' on the cork and tossed it. It shattered on the hut and burst into flames. It was wash, rinse, repeat until nothing was left.

Author's Note

My idea on aging in ponies:There was this nice chap I was talking to in a youtube comment section and we discussed this. He/she noted that since Twilight once said in winter wrap-up that Ponyville was around for centuries and since the the Apples practically founded it and that was when Granny Smith was filly, ponies seem to have long lifespans. It's also worth noting age spells. I might do other stories based on this idea.

ALSO, The religious LIKE material is in no way a representation of my personal beliefs. It's just a story. It's pretend. Don't bother me about it!
I'm sure most of you won't, but as for the rest of you, I'd prefer it if you keep your beliefs to yourselfs please. You can believe whatever you wish, just be considerate of other's own please and thank you.

Paying Off

Chrysalis, back at the colony, has been getting some good news. The library is completed. It's the most unique structure in the world, The mines supplied slate and limestone, when mixed with changeling sivila, it becomes a marble and granite like rock. The rocks were pressed into blocks and these blocks were pasted together with the normal sand and sivila mixture. The structure is a dark grey unlike the black buildings around it. It's huge as well, bigger than Chrysalis' pseudopalace, which is really her longing and work place. The library is five floors high plus a basement. The whole building is divided into rooms which are also divided into sections. There are fifty rooms on each floor and every room has nine sections. Each room is as big a standard house in ponyville. All the books collected by the changelings hardly filled six sections. The changelings seem to have taken a liking to coming to the library to read and, Chrysalis hopes, write their own. As for unlocking the secrets of Equestrian technology, a changeling named Figure Out says he has, wait for it, figured out something. (See what he did there? Ah, the creativity of a fanfic writer.) He requests an audience with the queen.

"Let him in!" Chrysalis called. Figure steps in, his saddlebag filled with scrolls. He bows, "Rise." Chrysalis said.

"Your majesty, I have a proposal for the new library, as well as something for the army." he started. "I've been reading through some books and I found something of great interest." He pulled out two books with his magic. One of them is titled, 'The understanding of optics' and the other seems to be a journal. "With the textbook here, I been able to successfully reinvent the spyglass." He put the books down and showed her a scroll with a design of a spyglass on it. "The lenses will work better if made from crystal and I understand that many were found near Sindhoof, so I propose that mining to begin there so production of these new spyglasses for the scouting team so they able to see up to double their normal spotting distance."

"Very good, I will put a work order in immediately, but what does this have to do with your proposal for the library?" Chrysalis asked.

Figure picked up the journal again, "This journal contains some interesting secrets, you see my queen, I not sure where did the changeling who had this got it from, but it seems to talk about the stars. It states that there are more worlds out there and many are unclaimed, ripe for the taking. However, I need to check for myself, so I propose that three new floors to be added to the current structure, the first two are to become private study for me and my soon to be colleagues and apprentices. The top floor will be a number of guilds for the fine arts such as writing and painting. Also I want a observatory on that floor as well." Figure then pulled out and showed Chrysalis a design of a large telescope. "I'll need a fair amount of crystals for the lenses so it'll take awhile, besides we have no practical way to make use of this without further study."

Chrysalis was split, she didn't know if she should be confused with this or be proud that one her changelings was able to plan all this out. "Well yes, Figure I'll put that into consideration, but I won't be able to get around to it for at least five months, but I want you to start to make those spyglasses for the scouting team, I'm expecting them to return within the week."

"Of course my queen. I beg your leave."

"You may."

Figure packed up his things and left.

Chrysalis was already focusing other projects. The one the colony is underway on is a sort of love bank. A building that will house changelings that will carry love and distribute it to where it's needed to prevent a love famine in the changeling population. A road system will also need to be in place to bring maximum efficiency of this project. The changelings who carry love from Sindhoof to the colony have already forged a road between the two, but Chrysalis needs a road to Foalis Foalba as well. The building will be three stories high and will house changelings who will store the love and will despatch when a shortage is reported. Hopefully, one day, it will also house ponies who will provide the love directly. The building is to be referred as 'The Temple of Love.' The Temple is half constructed as of now and is expected to be finished in a month.

After a few days, Chrysalis was going through some documents when...

"Your Majesty, the scouts have returned!" a guard came in calling. "The leader is ready to give his report."

"Let him in."

"At once."

Memory Clash trotted in and gave his bow.

"Rise."

"Your majesty, I have much to report."

Memory went on to report on the team's findings, from Mt. Kaisash to Trot and Wineyburg. He went to go in detail in how they managed with the merchant survivors from Ranedh and how they were able to get them to migrate. Chrysalis was pleased but she knew it was only a matter of time for ponies to get along with changelings, but what really caught her ear was...

"From Griffonstone's ruins, we found these designs for ships." Memory was showing scrolls of the designs for griffon ships. "As I understand it, there's a number crab rich waters off the coast of the colony. I distinctly remember that us changelings don't shy away from meat."

He's right. Chrysalis also enjoyed the idea. The thought of crab legs with a side of melted butter sounds absolutely divine to her. But she was thinking of more long term benefits of sailing. She was already thinking of a massive changeling navy, bringing them go where their wings can't. It also got her thinking of how the other continents were doing and if they were struck by disaster as well. Chrysalis also wonders how hard it would be to establish a new colony there. Memory went on to then give her bad news.

"My queen, we have taken loses. We were ambushed by bandits a week ago. We lost a few good changelings that day."

"Hmm, unfortunate, but nothing to ponder over. What's important is that you survived to bring this information to me."

"That's something I would like to discuss, my queen. You see, I shouldn't be here."

"Oh, and whatever do you mean by that?"

"One of my changelings saved me."

"Well that's to be expected isn't it? If a changeling can save another, then he'll do that."

"Well yes but, he did more than save my life, he sacrificed himself to save me."

This carries more weight than it seems. You see, changelings are expected to give their lives to the hive and queen, but not other individual changelings. Therefore, a changeling taking the hero's sacrifice to save a normal single changeling is a very rare occurrence.

"You can't be serious."

"I swear in your name I am. Because of him, I'm able to be here and give my report."

"I must know, what was his name."

"Lay Low."

Chrysalis was thinking over what should be done. Now the swarm has settled and become a nation in its own right, it needs to be a nation, and what does a nation need? A culture. Some sort of national holiday would be a great start. There's already the founding date and of course Hearts and Hooves day, but they need something more changeling related. Why not mark the date of a changeling's sacrifice to save his comrade. The idea is perfect, and who knows, changelings might start to look upon each other more highly. The holiday can also be a day to honor the army and it's veterans for their own sacrifices for the greater good, a sort of veteran/memorial day. A day to appreciate the sacrifices made by changelings for the others on an individual scale and higher. Chrysalis got the actual date out of Memory and kept it on record for next year. "Lay Day", well it rhymes.

"That concludes my report my queen, I beg your leave."

"Before you do, I must inform you that you must be able to leave in two weeks, I have another assignment for you."

Memory disappointed, he wanted to finally stay home, but if his queen demands it, he will go. "What is the assignment my queen?"

"Well, you're aware of the peninsula southwest from here? I have reason to expect that it's not what it seems to be, so I-"

*SLAM* "Your majesty, your majesty, I bring dire news!"

A changeling with the royal messenger banner on, probably why the guards let him in at all, came running in. He goes to bow but trips over his momentum.

"Can't this wait? I'm in the middle of an audience!"

"But your majesty, I bring news from Foalis Foalba!"

"What is so important that you must interrupt me!"

"The situation there has gone critical!"

Of Unicorns and Earth Ponies

"You know what's the only annoying thing about fighting is?"

"Don't know, what is it?"

"Getting the gore off your weapon."

"Very true Captain."

Captain Hard Chitin leads his changelings back to Foalis Foalba after repelling a bandit swarm. Hard Chitin was at first disappointed that he was voted to stay behind, but the bandits provide him with plenty of sport. Hard Chitin is a fairly big changeling, he has a birth defect (I wonder if you see a pattern) in which he has thicker chitin. A normal changeling's chitin is half an inch thick, Hard Chitin's, one and three quarters of an inch. He practically has a suit of armor. It also is a little too thick round the joints so he struggles a little moving, but he's gotten used to it. He also can't fly very far or high. Things in Foalis Foalba have been quite for some time, so the occasional bandits who get too close makes it tolerable for him.

"I must say that I can't wait until they come back, to be honest, I ju-"

"Captain, what is that?" said one changeling.

"What, where?"

"That, over to the east."

"Wher-, I-I don't know." There was a large blob heading towards the city. "You, with the spyglass, what is that?"

The changeling flew up and took his out spyglass, "It looks like a bunch of ponies sir!" he called out.

"Bandits?" As much as he would love to fight again, the blob looks like it's a thousand ponies strong. The bandits are usually only forty strong.

"I don't think I see diamond dogs, but we're too far away for me to see!"

"Well, let's go on over and see then! Take off everypony!" Every changeling sputtered their wings and flew towards the blob.

Hard Chitin had developed a tactic to keep up with them. He'll fly until his wings get tired, then he'll gallop on the ground until his joints start to ache and repeats the process. After rushing over to the mass of ponies, he takes front and center. He's ready for whatever they throw at him. He wasn't ready for what happened though. It wasn't that they weren't bandits or they were coming to meet them, it was who they sent to meet them. Hard Chitin never saw ponies as stupid but, he wonders why they sent somepony sooo, well...

"And to whom is it to my misfortune to have to speak to?" said the grey unicorn.

"That misfortune would mine, your regalness. I'm Hard Chitin and I'm in charge here."

"I'm Gravel Stone and is that your actual name or is it some half-flanked attempted at a nick name?"

"Try to throw a punch at me and find out."

"You're not worth the effort."

"WHAT IN THE NAME OF CELESTIA DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING!!!" Yelled a galloping orange unicorn. "We turn our backs for one minute and you take off to be the irritating, miserable, old crank that you are! I'm so so so so very sorry that you had to deal with him, my name is Orange Blossom and I'll be the one to introduce us."

"Not required Orange, I will be the one to handle this."

"YA, when tartrus freezes over!" yelled another unicorn stallion. "Get away from here, shoo shoo!"

"Apple, I'm not going anywhere. I'll be the one to handle this bug."

"Oh no you're not, now get back to the group and stay there."

"Oh please no, me and, what was it, Gravel was just becoming the best of friends. In fact, we just were going to do a friendly hustling."
Hard Chitin interjected.

"Gravel, leave, now." Orange demanded.

"Fine, but when you're an emotionless husk, don't come crying to me, begging to make it all better by risking myself for all of our safety."

Gravel then heads back to the mass of ponies to the east with Apple.

"I'm sorry for that. He was unconscious when we made the decision to come here." Orange said to Hard Chitin.

"Him, I'm used to. You, not so much. What do you want?" Hard responded.

"We're survivors and we were told that you have a home for us."

"Who told you that?"

"A changeling scouting team told us."

"A scouting team? Oh, yes. We've heard of the team. But why did you trust them?"

"To be frank, I sometimes ask myself that same question. I suppose that we were desperate and the changelings hadn't turned us to husks, so we listened."

"Hmm, fair enough. So you want a home? Well if you and your friends are able to follow our queen's laws, then I say welcome to the swarm."

"I'm glad."

Hard Chitin leads the newfound queen's citizens to their new home. The mass had almost comprised itself of unicorns with a handful of pegasi. While heading towards Foalis Foalba, some of the earth pony farmers took off towards the city. When the mass got to the city, they were met by a wall of earth ponies.

"What's the meaning of this!" Hard Chitin demanded.

One of the ponies up front answered, "First you changelings come kill our ruler and you take over! But we draw the line here when you try to bring unicorns to live in our loved one's houses! So now when you want to come back into our city, then it'll be over our dead bodies!"

"YA!!!" called out the wall of ponies.

"This is treason, part the way at once or you'll punished to the highest extent of the law!" Hard called.
The crowd was unwavered.

Orange stepped up, "Now listen, we want no trouble, we just want a place to call home! We're all ponies here an-"

"No, your not gonna have a home here! You unicorns have had too good a life to live in our paradise!" interrupted the same pony.

Apple and his family came forward as well, "Come on, this is pitiful, we should be able to have a home! We have lost families and are still trying to hold on to what's left!"

"We all lost much, we all now must band together to rebuild!" Added his wife.

"No, we had earned our place here! You have had your life of luxury, now it's our turn!"

A pegasi mail pony came up, "We all have had our struggles! I sometimes had to work to where I only got to see my family once a year and only for a week! But that wa-"

"You didn't serve under them! Why don't you fly on back where you came from!"

Berry Blossom tried to speak up, "Why must we all fight each other! Can't we al-"

"Shut up you stupid brat!"

Apple trotted forward and drew his sword, "DON'T YOU EVER SPEAK TO HER LIKE THAT EVER AGAIN!!!" he shouted.

"Or what?"

"There's only one thing worse than changelings and that's a bunch self-entitled ponies who think that's any way to talk to a little filly!" yelled Gravel as he trotted up with some other members of lower nobility with their weapons ready.

"I'm not asking again! Move out of the way, or your 'over our dead body' request will be granted!" Hard Chitin demanded.

The wall of ponies looked at the mass as more unicorns came up with their weapons drawn. Unicorn magic is a scary thing to go up against. They also have proper swords. The changelings draw their own weapons. The wall slowly parts.

Later that evening, Hard Chitin was going through Hay Stable's old things to find answers. He finally stumbled upon Hay's journal. The journal states that the earth ponies here were once slaves that he helped free. He sent the unicorn and pegasi survivors to the east and lead the earth ponies here to his estate.

Hard Chitin decided to handle the situation tomorrow. He went to his bed. It was Hay Stable's and is the best Hard ever had the opportunity to sleep in. He snuggled into the soft blankets and pillows and shut his eyes. The night was blissful, except for one thing. He felt pressure on his neck. Then a crack made him snap his eyes open to see, in the darkness, a earth pony top of him. The pony has a metal rod and is pressing it into his neck. Hard goes to scream but the crack was the sound of the powerful earth pony having broken the thinner chitin around his neck and is now blocking his airway. Changelings need oxygen to process love like we with food do for our energy. Hard struggles. He tries to pull head out from under the rod, he tries to push his head into the mattress, he tries kicking with his rear hoofs, but each to no avail. Hard casts daze but the pony is still pressing on the rod. The darkness is creeping deeper into vision and his head is going lighter. He searches his mind for a spell, any spell. One comes to mind, sleep. It's a love costly spell but he needs it and needs it now. Hard's horn glowed its green and in a flash, the pony slumps over and goes into a deep sleep. The love lost in the casting the spell goes right to Hard's head, he struggles to stay conscious. He takes a deep breath and screams, "HELP!!!" Then he passes out.

The Rest

Memory Clash stood there as the messenger went on and on about how that in Foalis Foalba the earth ponies are resisting the introduction of unicorns to the city. They not only defied the captain's orders as well as the queen's law but tried to assassinate him while he slept. When they failed that, they started to break out with rioting. Now the captain is requesting her to send the royal guard to restore order. Memory had only seen the queen in her current condition only once before, when she had to make the decision to assault Canterlot. Chrysalis had her head down flat on the desk under her forehooves, she is completely still.

When the messenger finally finished, she stayed like that for a few more minutes. She finally lifted her head and dismissed the messenger. After he left, she looked at the map Memory's team made. She scanned it before pointing at a place by Mt. Kaisash.

"What's this here?" she asked.

"That? That's something we couldn't get close enough due to bandits. We suspect that it's a deposit of iron."

"It's only forty five miles out from Trot. If the reports are correct..." she traced her hoof down from Foalis Foalba, along the river, to Trot.

"The army should end up here." She then levitated her ink soaked quill and began to write down a note. "You may go now Memory."

"Thank you my queen." Memory bowed and left.

He informed the team. They each gave their own reactions, mostly of excitement for the probable upcoming adventure. Some weren't so keen, but they didn't object. After that, everypony went home.

Memory trotted down a street. He can't but help to look upon the library as it's certainly a place of changeling pride. He then looked around at the colony. All around, he sees changeling families. All of the sights he has seen, they were nothing like this. Changeling families were once such a rare sight, now they're everywhere. Changeling grubs wrapped in carriers by their mother's sides. Some of the older ones walked with their parents. Nopony seemed to really be going anywhere, they just seemed to be going for walks. Looking at this, Memory feels a little more depressed that he must be off in two weeks. He wanted to finally rest and settle down to start his own family. He'll just have to rest and hope the travel won't be too long. Memory had his brother, Sight Clash, to look over his house while he was gone. Memory was a little surprised to find that he was now a uncle to two twin colts and a filly. He comes into his empty home and sits on a wooden chair that his brother must have put in. Something Memory noticed when he returned was the changeling craftsmanship, things that they never had before. The holes in the wall that was for looking out was now covered with glass to make a proper window. The edges of the window was also smoothed to make it properly rounded. A lot of things are smoothed like the floor, the walls, and the ceiling. Memory looks at the smooth wall and he fills with a desire to decorate it. Perhaps he will bring some things back from his adventures. He then begins to settle into the dark wood chair and shut his eyes. A knocking then came at his door. He gets up and answers the door to find Smooth Talker.

"Smooth, what are you doing here?"

"Well, I heard that you live here alone and I would still be at my parents. So I thought that I'd keep you company. Mind if I come in?"

"Um, I guess not. Come on in."

Smooth trotted in and looked around, "I see you haven't have decorated yet."

"What a observation Smooth."

"Ya, I was just making small talk."

Smooth pulled a chair up to a window and sat in it, Memory did the same. They looked out towards the library and the still unbuilt temple.

"It's astounding, isn't it?" Smooth started.

"Indeed. Have you been to the library yet?"

"No, not yet."

"Do you want to go tomorrow?"

"You know, that would be wonderful."

"So it's a date then, isn't it?"

"Ya, I gess it is. But anyways, on another topic, how has your family been?"

"Well, brother made me an uncle and so did sister. Mother is happy as buck to see me again. Father is still in the silver mines, he won't be back in time to see us off."

"My, it seems that you have a more standard family than I do. My folks are all over the place. Mom is going into maintenance and all across the colony. My dad and brother are both going into the royal guard. My two sisters are now wanting to be the first wave of migrants to go to Sindhoof for whatever reason."

"Your joking, who in their right mind would want to distance themselves from the colony?"

"Strange I know, but they want to do so and there's no stopping them."

"I guess you do have a rather strange family."

"Oh Memory, you don't know the half of it. Let me tell you the time when my aunt and uncle were living with us, and they decided to use their shapeshifting to roleplay..."

They sat and talked for a few hours. The sun set and the moon began to rise.

"It's getting kinda late, but brother only put one bed in. You can sleep on the couch just fine right?"

"Oh, well, ya, I guess." Smooth started to stare down at the floor.

"Is there something wrong?"

"N-no, it's just that it's... a break in tradition."

"Excuse me?"

"It's just, uh, strange to send the mare to the couch."

"What in Equestria are you on about?"

"Oh, you know, the ponies have their way of sending their stallions to the couch. I sometimes found enjoyment in abusing that."

"Well, I can say that I never experienced that. I just guess I was just a good stallion."

"I can believe that."

"Well, tradition or not, it's time to sleep and it's my house. I'm sure you can mange."

Memory then trotted up stairs and went in the door that he supposed to be the room his brother said he set up. It was the correct room. It was mildly furnished, it was ten by twelve feet and had a night stand, a bed stand, and the bed was simply stuffed with straw. He rested on the mattress, got the cloth blanket over him, and began to drift off to sleep. However, one thought stood in his mind. He only knew Smooth for as long as the scouting mission was, and he never took her to be like what she acted back there in the living room. She seemed disappointed by something and for her being on the couch was a little strange. He tried to think about earlier, what is it that she really wants?
Smooth was intent on saying he saved her back at Ranedh, but what does that mean? Hero, that's what she called him. Why did she come over? Better question, why did he enjoy all of it? Was it that she wasn't upset about not being in this bed, but rather, she was upset she wasn't in this bed with him?

'No, no Memory, you're thinking too deep about this.' he thought to himself.
Memory lost the thought and drifted off to sleep.

The next day, Memory got out of bed. He headed to where he thought the bathroom was. He used a brush that was made of boar hair to clean off his teeth and fangs. With a towel, he wiped off the morning crust off his face. Memory then headed downstairs, Smooth was still asleep on the couch. He nudged her head with his hoof.

"Smooth, wake up."

"Mhmm, Memory, you want to go again?"

"SMOOTH!!!"

"Wh-what, Memory, sorry. I was just dreaming."

"You want to freshen up? We'll go to the library afterwards."

"Oh, ya right um, you didn't hear anything, did you?"

"What should have I heard?"

"Oh, nothing."

After that, they left and went to the library. On the way, they past by many changeling families. Memory noted that Smooth looked at them in much the same way he did yesterday.

"Smooth."

"Hmm?"

"Is there something on your mind?"

"Umm, no Memory, not really."

"Smooth, don't lie to me. I can tell something is up."

"Trust me, it's nothing."

"Smooth, you can tell me anything, we're friends after all."

Friends, she winced at that, "I know Memory. Thanks for looking out for me, but I'm fine."

Memory didn't buy that, but he dropped it and moved on.

The library was more impressive on the inside. The rooms were grouped in fours. These groups are made like columns and go right up to the ceiling. Between the groups are empty spaces and stairs. The stairs seem to be for the possibility of non-fliers to make their way around. Suspended walkways allow them to move to another group. The open spaces are for flying. The stairs show the eventual plan to integrate ponies into the colony. Memory and Smooth go into the only room that has any books. The room is packed with changelings and few books were available. Memory scanned the shelves for something to read. One caught his eye, "To see, what can't be seen". At closer inspection, it's a mystery novel written by A.K. Yearling. It's apparently a side project from her popular Darring Do series, for between publications.
Memory took the book and went to find a place to sit. The tables make a circle around the column like sections. The nine sections act like shelfs and the support beams to the room, they're made of the same material as the rest of the building. The tables are made of the same wood as the chairs in his house.

Memory looked for a empty seat. He finally found one and saw another across from it. He settled in it and Smooth went to the other with her book. Memory only had a glance at her book. It was titled "The Fiery Passion." He didn't know at all what it meant, but he began to read his book. It was a interesting read, it's about an art theft that somehow can not be seen by anypony. After what felt like hours, Memory and Smooth put their books up and left the library.

"So what was your book about Smooth?" Memory asked.

"Oh well, it was just a romance novel."

"So can you say anything about it?"

"There's not to much to say, but you say yours was a mystery right?"

"Yes, why?"

"Can you figure it out before you finish? You're so good at figuring out things, I bet you have."

"Well that's kind and all, but it's a little too flattering."

"Oh come on, don't shoot a complement down."

"I just saying that you seem to be trying too hard."

"Maybe I am, I think you would be smart enough to know."

"Okay, what's up with you? You have been acting strange since we got back. Why did you come over to my house?"

"Just wanted to get to know you better."

"You are gonna be with me for who knows how long in a few weeks. Why aren't you with your family?"

"I just wanted to know you out of our work environment. Besides, my family is all over the colony."

"Why not divide your time amongst them? They are your family after all. I'm going to spend more time with mine tomorrow."

"I just can't Memory. It's a little more complicated than that. Besides, I've enjoyed our time together."

"What's so complicated? What aren't you telling me?"

"I-it's nothing."

"It doesn't feel like it Smooth."

"I just feel, happier, with you. I can't enjoy my family while they are all over. My dad and brother are never home because they're in the royal guard. My sisters are always with their husbands, planning their move to Sindhoof. I never know where mom is, so I just thought I could be with you. You say you're seeing your family tomorrow?"

"Yes, but I don't think you should come."

"Why ever not?"

"Come on. Me, bringing a girl over. They would get the wrong idea."

"And what's so wrong with that."

"Mother would just freak out over it. She would go on and on about how her baby has grown up and now she has no one to care for anymore, et cetera, et cetera. Trust me, brother and sister got the same speech."

"Well, we are colleges, so since I'm gonna be exploring with you, I feel that I should be able to meet your family."

"Only if I get to meet yours too."

Smooth's eyes went wide and she froze in place. Memory stopped trotting and turned to face her.

"Smooth?" he said, waving his hoof in front of her face. "Smooth, what's wrong?"

She blinked, shook her head, and said, "Uh, Memory. I think it would be better if I could get you to see them all at once."

"I could see them one at a time."

"No, I think seeing them at once is better. It's gonna be a while before dad and my brother go on leave." She began to trot to Memory's place.

Memory didn't get it. Why is she acting like this? Why does she want to be with him so much? Sure he enjoyed her company and all, but she should be with her family. She wants to meet his family, but not let him see hers, why? It almost seems that she is trying to flatter him. Maybe he is reading too much into it. Ya, that's it... right?

The City On The East Coast

The changeling army has found a new pastime, betting if Sharp Fang's fang grows back before he rubs his gums raw with his tongue. Indeed, Sharp Fang really should stop rubbing his tongue against the missing fang's spot. But as luck would have it, he found out that almost impaling your tongue on a fang that is more sharp than it has any right to be, can still make you happy. Sharp Fang had some other injuries from that strike. His facial chitin cracked, bent a wing, and his neck ached for a while. Now his fang is growing back in, but it's still too short to use in combat.

The army got back to following the river south. The river then flowed east and later opens into the sea. At it's base, was a city state by the sea.
Sharp Fang wishes that the city was farther away. How would he make more stories to brag to his comrades? He should however, have greater concerns. Once the city is conquered, he would left in charge. The majors see his irresponsibly though. It's unlikely that they would give him governorship so easily. In fact, here comes Major Stag.

"...And he thought pulling me out was a good idea, forgetting that my fang is curbed."

"Yes, yes, that's good and all, but Captain, we would like to hear how you lost your fang."

"W-well, umm, I- Major, what you doing here?"

"Captain, a word in private, if you may."

"Yes, of course. Sorry fellas, another time."

The both of them trotted into the major's tent.

"So, Major, what do you need to talk about?"

"Captain, the city we're approaching, you're not governing it."

"Major, what do you mean? You always leave the captains to govern."

"You're too irresponsible. You're not staying there."

"But that didn't stop you from trying to make me stay in Foalis Foalba."

"I know. That was a mistake I won't make again. Remember I said not to make me think like that again."

"But you always leave a captain behind. Besides, how you would you relieve yourself of me?"

"The majors are leaving another major behind. That major will be me."

"Well, this is depressing and all, but why are you telling me this? You don't usually tell me the fine details of your ways to discipline me until you've already done the preparations for it."

"For only one reason. Do you want to govern?"

"Well, fighting is fun and all, but marching all over this continent is one of the most dull things I had to do. So yes, I should be able to govern. Why do you ask?"

"I ask because I think you can change my mind."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that if you can complete some assignments that I need done, I could convince the majors to leave you as governor."

"I'm going to ask again. What in the name of the queen are you on about?! I mean, you, give me, a chance to 'redeem' myself to you?"

"Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying."

"Okay, somepony wake me up. Am I in some sort of alternate dimension? Are you on something? I mean... Ah, I see. What's the catch?"

"Now I must ask for you to be more clear."

"You are somepony who always relies on first impressions. I never got on your good side. So why are you giving me this opportunity? There's something you're not telling me."

The Major put his hoof on his barrel, I think rolls his eyes (solid sky blue, can't tell), and makes a little gasp. "By whatever do you mean. It sounds like you're accusing me of giving you a couple tasks that you have no experience in that might get you killed. Tasks in which if you fail or refuse, I would take the governorship. Tasks in which if you succeed, I give you the position. Either way, getting rid of you from my sight for as long as I want." Stag looks right at Fang, "I think you're overthinking this much more than you have the right to." He said in a much more serious tone.

"W-well, you sure can be sinister. But I won't stand down and let you walk right on over me, what's it that you need me to do?"

"Oh, no. You see, I need you to understand that when I give you the assignment, you're committed to it. Going against it will be treason."

"Okay, you're acting strange. I knew you were never fond of me, but I never thought you would go so far. Why?"

"Not of importance. Do you make your vow to me or not?"

Sharp Fang wished his fang was grown back. Not so much that he wanted to hurt Stag, though he did. It was himself he wanted to hurt
because of what he did next.

"There's nothing you can give me that's too much for me. I vow on my name and honor that I'll do what you ask me to." He really hated himself for that.

"Very well, this first one is an easy one. The infiltration squad needs more changelings, you're heading out to the city later this afternoon. Your duty starts as of now, head down to Heart Breaker's tent, he is expecting you. Good luck."

Major Stag passed Fang and trotted out.

"Sir!" Fang called out.

The major paused "Yes captain?"

"What are you going to do to keep me from telling the other majors about your little scheme? Just out of curiosity."

Cute, he thinks he has the upper hoof.

"Humph, simple. This 'scheme' is not solely mine. It's a decision made by all of us."

Sharp Fang was baffled. He knew he wasn't an idol in the majors' eyes, but not every one of them thought so low of him, right?

"What! Why? Heart Breaker and Blissful Tears are actually not complete snobs like you!" he exclaimed.

"We had our own reasons. I have mine, and they have theirs." Stag begins to trot away, "And I'll forget about your little outburst there." he said before leaving.

***

Sharp Fang is trying to process what happened to him while he headed towards the infiltrators' part of the camp. He never thought Heart Breaker, the major in charge of the infiltrators, would have such audacity to take his turn to stamp on his honor and pride, as well as take away what is his by right. To vote in favor of the plan shows Heart's distrust in Fang. Fang always thought he was on good terms with the major. The major would usually be the easiest on him. Many times, he wished Heart was his commanding officer rather than Stag, but now he wished he was a major himself.

Sharp Fang entered Heart Breaker's tent. The major was sitting at his desk writing out a number of papers. Fang stepped in and made himself known.

"Ahem, Major Heart Breaker, I'm reporting for duty."

The major looked up from his work at him, "Ah, Captain, I see you accepted our offer."

"And I see the true colors of another major."

"Oh don't be like that. Trust me, it was for your own good."

"How? Enlighten me on how breaking my right to govern was for my own good."

"Because Fang, you are a changeling who acts on impulse rather than reason. You're a good military leader, not so much a political one."

"And how is this a good solution?"

"Well, it allows you to expand what you're limited to. Working with me will teach you my favorite virtue, patience."

"Patience? How will you teach me patience?"

"We're infiltrators, it's a requirement. Now, every changeling had done some infiltrator work in one way or another. What we do is much more than simply replacing a pony to collect love for a month or two. We create completely new identities, forage bonds, even collect intelligence. Did you know I was the first changeling to meet Princess Cadance? I was the one who collected her background information and helped in her capture. Now there are those who say I didn't collect enough of details on her background and that's how Twilight saw through the queen's disguise. They tend to forget that we already won. Celestia was defeated, we subdued the entire royal guard, Shining Armor was under our control, the city was ours. It just took that event that nopony saw coming. I mean come on, what was I-"

"Umm, Major. I think you're get off track." Sharp Fang interrupted.

"Oh, yes of course. My apologies, it's something you have to get used to with me. My point is that you must refine your patience and this assignment is the best way for you to do so."

"And why would you make me do this if you think I lack patience for this important assignment?"

"It's not so much I think you can't do this, it's that you need to prove to the other majors that you can. See, I wouldn't make you do this if I think you couldn't. The majors think otherwise of you. They think you're gonna get yourself killed. Major Stag will go on for hours on end on how you're an embarrassment to him and the army. He just won't stop going on and on that you're the problem for every mistake and you're expendable. Me and Blissful Tears try to assure the other majors that it's just not the case, but they're now listening to him. I proposed that you perform the assignment to prove that you have the patience and Blissful Tears wants you to work with him later to build your decision making skills. It was difficult to convince them to allow it, but they settled on that if you blow your cover, we kill you."

"So assuring."

"Don't worry about it, just look at these papers and choose an identity. Then discuss it with the others, acquaint yourself with their identities. The details are already made, just familiarize yourself with it."

Sharp Fang looked through the many papers on the "desk." Like most of the "furniture" in the camp, it was makeshift. It was a light plank of wood and held up by two pairs of sticks. Cloth covered up the "desk's" entirety, hiding the simplicity of the design. The stacks of papers seem to threaten the integrity of the "desk." The papers each detail a fake pony identity. Fang shifted through them until he found one which seemed easy for him to assume himself as. The premade gide stated it was a pegasus with a blue coat and sky blue mane and tail. The cutie mark was to be a rainy cloud representing its skill of being a weather pony. The paper also gives a brief history. It was born in Fillydelphia and was on vacation in a isolated cabin when the disaster occurred. Sharp Fang thought on its name. He came up with Light Mist.

Sometime later, Sharp Fang introduced himself to the five others. After sometime, they headed out towards the city. They reached it by the morning. The group was confronted by a few guards. The guards' armor was wood braced with iron studded with simple but beautiful materials. Their weapons were well crafted stone. One with a helmet, possibly the captain, stepped forward.

"What's your business here?" He demanded.

Heart Breaker, or Dashing Wind as his identity is, answered, "We're travelers and we're looking for a place to stay."

"And what do you have to offer in return?"

"Well, the earth ponies here can help you farm and me and Light Mist here can help tame the weather."

"Do you think we need more mouths to feed? Come up with something better if you want in."

Heart Breaker was taken a little bit back by that, but quickly recovered, "On our travels, the weather is out of whack. It must be tiring for your pegasi to tame it, and we have a pegasus that has his cutie mark dedicated to the task. Besides, the earth ponies can farm more than their fare share."

One of the pegasi guards whispers something into the captain's ear. The captain looks back at the others and back at the disguised changelings.

"Very well, welcome to Trot."

A Very Different Night

Memory Clash can't deny Smooth Talker's strange behavior anymore. He has just had the most uncomfortable time with his family. His mother said everything he thought she would. "Oh sweetie, I have missed you so much!" even though she saw him when he returned two days ago. "Who's this? Don't tell me you're still growing up so fast!" followed by, "I'll be all alone soon. Your father is away in those mines, your brother is going to move out in a few days, and your sister is going to have her second grub. What will I ever do!" He may as well wort a script. His brother is his usual depressed self. Yes, Memory was serious when he said that his brother loathes himself. That changeling can really make a beautifully decorated room, but seems to make everything near him turn grey. But the straw that broke the camel's back was Smooth seemly trying to make his mother think they're in some sort of relationship. She kept putting that sort of mindset in his mother's head. Memory has had it. He will get to the bottom of this. If she won't tell him, then maybe her book will.

He leaves her at his place under the claim of restocking his love and heads to the library. At this time, the library only has a few changelings. At first, he couldn't find it, but he then saw it in a pile of books next to a changeling trying to fit what Memory can only assume to be a monocle. He approached the changeling.

"Excuse me." he started.

"What?" the changeling said while still working on his craft.

"I see you have a novel I been reading, if you don't mind, may I have it back?"

"I don't have any novels."

"You're sure?"

"I'm only reading textbooks."

"Then what is this?" Memory pointed at 'The Fiery Passion.'

The changeling looked up at it, "That is very well a textbook. I'm done with it so if you want it, go ahead."

Memory used his magic to gently pull it out without toppling the pile. "Thank you..."

"Figure Out."

"Ah, I'm Memory Clash."

"You're Memory Clash?" Figure Out said looking up at him.

"Yes."

"The queen wants me to make your team a set of spyglasses. You'll need to see me..." He wrote on a piece of paper, "here in a week or so."

The paper showed a address. Memory took the paper, "Thanks, I'll see you then."

"Take care." Figure Out said back.

Memory took a seat and opened the book. It quickly became obvious why a changeling kept this. The first chapter was titled, "Finding That Special Somepony." It detailed precise instructions on how to find the perfect mate. This wasn't a romance novel, it's some sort of self-help book. In the next chapter, "Impressing Them," subchapter, "Wooing Stallions," it read a exact copy of what Smooth had been doing to him. She's trying to gain his attention, but why? She didn't seem to be like that on their journeys. He must get to the bottom of this. He puts the book up and heads home.

On the way, he thinks of possible answers. She was looking at changeling families with a sort of interest, does she want to start one herself? If so, why him? Does she have some sort of interest in him? She did show more interest in him after Ranedh's ruins, but it was never serious, right? He'll just have to ask her when he gets home.

He trots up to the door and enters. Smooth was lying on the couch.

"Hey there handsome." she said.

"Smooth. Hey, can you tell me something?"

"What's that?"

"That romance novel you read yesterday at the library, can you tell me a little bit about it?"

"Oh, you know, you read one, you've read them all."

"Hmm, that's interesting. You see, I went down to the library and read the book and I can say that it's not like any romance novel I've ever read in my life."

Smooth's eyes go wide and her ears fall down. "You know, the book said that playing games are a good thing. So let's play a game."

"What kind of game?" Smooth asked nervously.

"Your choice, tell me why you are trying to woo me or get out of my house." Smooth bit her bottom lip. "Smooth, I don't care what it is. Why won't you tell me what's going on? You can tell me anything."

"I... just had to."

"Why? Smooth, I do like you, but if you want to make it something more, you need to go slower. Why did you feel you needed to go so fast?"

She bowed her head in shame "My parents."

"Parden?"

"When we got back to the colony, my parents didn't want me in house. My sisters have moved out with their husbands and my brother stays at the barracks. My parents cast me out to 'keep from spoiling me.' The only way to get a home in the colony is for either your parents to pay or your job supplies it for free. Because our assignment doesn't provide housing, I was out on the streets. For me to take a job, I would need to leave the team." Memory pondered on this. Currency is starting to be implemented into society. Because his father works right where the money comes from, his family is wealthy compared to most others. He was lucky his mother paid for his house. Her brother and father works in the royal guard, that gives housing to the entire immediate family. That means her family completely disowned her. "So I thought I would hang out with a team member and you seemed like the perfect choice." she continued, "I also thought if we came closer, you would let me stay longer. Maybe even move in. When we talked the first day, I felt comfortable with you. Seemed like somepony I can truly love."

"Why didn't you tell me before? I would have let you stay regardless."

"I didn't want it to feel like I was taking advantage of your charity. If you loved me back, it would feel like we decided on it."

"Well, I don't see why you can't still stay, but if you want things to grow from there, we have to take it slower."

Smooth takes in a deep breath, "Fair enough. But Memory, can you just do one more thing for me?"

"What?"

Smooth pulled something out from under the couch with her mouth and sets it in her lap. "Well you see, the one thing I got from my parents are these." The box was labeled, Super Hard Cider. "It would be a shame to let them go to waste." She open the box and pulled out a glass bottle. Inside was a clear liquid that looked more like vodka rather than cider.

"What is it?" Memory asked.

"Well, you know that hard cider is apple cider with alcohol right? Well this is more like pure alcohol mixed with apple cider."

She pulled out a second one with her magic and pushed it toward him. He hesitated, but took the bottle and opened it with one of the holes in his hooves, Smooth does likewise. He got next to her on the couch, then he gulped down a swallow. It was very strong; the taste of alcohol hit before the cider. It went straight to his head. The world gave out all around him. Things just seemed to haze and fizzle out. He almost blacked out right then and there. He looked at Smooth. She was in a similar state. For some reason, he laughed at the site of her swaying around. She began to laugh in return and he laughed harder because of it. It just was the most hilarious thing to him. After a few minutes, they gained better control. Now looking at Smooth, he thought she was the most beautiful living thing in the world. A thought popped into his mind, how much of her that he is seeing is really just the alcohol? He passed the thought when he saw her looking at him in the same way. He found himself leaning forwards, he thought of stopping, but she leaned towards him as well. They made contact, the kiss buzzed in both of their heads. Memory wanted nothing to stop this magical moment. Smooth however, broke the kiss and said, "Want to go up stairs?" His answer was him getting up to rush to the bedroom.

On the bed, they laid on their sides making out. Again, Memory wanted to keep on going, but Smooth had a better idea. "I want to try something." She stood up on the bed on all fours and turned around to face away from him. At first, Memory was confused, but then she bent down her forelegs and all became clear when her tail moved to the side, exposing a certain feature. Memory looked right at it. He thought of saying 'no thanks, we should take this slowly," but another side of him said otherwise. His brain was officially in a state of civil war. "Well?" Smooth asked. Being offered to do with what he pleases to the chunk of heaven before him, it did it in for him. Under the alcohol, all his inhibitions melted away. He got up and leaped on top of her. The rest was utter bliss bliss.

***

Memory's eyes slowly crept open. His head was throbbing and the light assaulted his eyes, but otherwise, it wasn't a terrible hangover. He waited for his eyes to adjust before looking around. Last night was a bit of hase. The only thing his mind will tell him was that whatever it was, it was a night to remember. He remembers Smooth pulling out the cider and him taking a gulp and, oh that's where he's out of luck. He tries to pick up the fragments and piece together a image of the series of events. First thing that came to mind, the kiss. At first, Memory was taken back by that he kissed his friend, but then the magic of the moment seeped in. Her stunning beauty filled his mind. His whole perception of her quickly started to change, perhaps they can be more than friends. He then recalls being in bed, making out. He wanted to rush to find Smooth, just to do it some more. Something else brushed up against his mind though. Something much more wonderful. He stained to find out what it was. Whatever it was, he must know. Slowly, but surely, it hit him. He was frozen in place. He mated with Smooth last night. Every wonderful detail started to trickle in. He began to remember every feeling of it. Forget making out, that's where the real magic is at. He laid a little longer, basking in the memory's experience.

He finally started to take in his surroundings. He found Smooth, still asleep, cuddling up next to him. Her head rested upon his neck and her forelegs are warped around him like he is a large teddy bear. She also bares a happy grin on her face. He has one of his forelegs hooked around her as well. He kept looking at her. To him, the alcohol did nothing to improve her appearance. She's already perfect. He thought it would be a crime on the queen to disturb her slumber. So he waited for her to wake on her own. When she did, she seemed to be as confused as he was. Soon, she also began to remember the close connection they had last night. She looked up at him. She gave a shy simile. "I hope you didn't mind all tha-" Memory's kiss cut her off. She didn't expect that, but she quickly returned it.The absence of alcohol made it no less magical. After a bit, they broke the kiss.

"So do you still want to take things slowly?" Smooth asked.

"Do we have anywhere else to go from here?" Memory responded.

"I suppose not."

"I think so too."

"Do you want to give it a break?"

"What, the mating or the whole relationship?"

"The former."

"Well, I suppose that I can stick to the making out for awhile."

"I agree."

"Well then, what would you like to do today?"

"I'm not sure. Do you want to finish the rest of the cider?"

"Sure, lets just freshen up first and head down stairs."

Author's Note

If you really want to know what happened in detail that night, the 'M' version is here: MemoryxSmooth

Trot, The Tough One

The eastern city of Trot is filled with refugees from southern Saddle Arabia. They mostly are comprised of earth ponies with fair numbers of unicorns. The weather is controlled by only a handful of pegasi. Sharp Fang made note that the city guard is well trained as they are the surviving members of Saddle Arabia's army, but they're poorly equipped. The most treating thing about the force is their unicorn magic. The ponies were mostly part of Saddle Arabia's upper class. They aren't accustomed to the hard work. This makes things complicated because unlike northern Saddle Arabia, southern Saddle Arabia has earth ponies as members of the upper class. The upper class earth ponies have no experience in farming and related hard work. The buildings are beautifully designed, but are not being built fast enough. Many utility buildings remain unfinished. The city council meets in a shared house. Farms are in too few numbers and the land around is heavily forested. So much work needs to be done.

Sharp Fang was trotting down the streets. He couldn't help to notice that a lot of unicorns were sitting off to the side of the streets that seem to be working on something. They all were lined up sitting at the streets' sides huddled in small groups of two or three. He approached one. As he did, he looked over the unicorn stallion. The stallion was working on some sort of white material he wasn't familiar with. The unicorn was casting some sort of heat spell on the material as he chipped at it with a special kind of chisel that is clamped on his hoof and handled it with his other hoof that had been wrapped in old, worn rubber to protect it from the heat. As Sharp stared at the material, the unicorn startled him.

"What do you want!" The stallion snapped.

"Oh, what nothing, what gave you that idea?" Sharp stuttered.

"I can see your reflection staring at me though the porcelain."

"Porcelain? What's that?"

"You dense or something?"

"I must be. What's porcelain?"

"It's for fine pottery."

"This city has so much work to be done and you're working on simple pottery?"

"Hey!" the unicorn pointed at him with the chisel, "This is not just simple pottery! It's the most valued pottery in the world! It's the only thing we were ever good at." He went back to his work.

"You find working this pottery more valuable than building your own home. You do know that nopony is interested in your pottery for the time being right? For goodness sake, you don't even have a shop. Here you are working on it out in the streets."

"And who are you to make such judgments? Seriously, what's your name?"

"Light Mist and I'm apparently somepony much more sensible than you."

The unicorn continued his craft in silence.

"You got nothing to say to that?"

"He doesn't have to say anything." said his partner whom was working on her own piece.

"Just trying to figure out your stange line of reasoning. Society has collapsed and we must rebuild, but you all are here working on arts and crafts."

"We made a living of this! I like to see you try to-"

"Honey, don't argue with him. He's not worth the time." the stallion interrupted.

"Yes daddy." she responded.

They ignored everything else Sharp had to say and continued their work. He left with more questions than answers.

Later that night, the changeling infiltrators met in the cover of night on the outskirts of the city in an alleyway of two unfinished buildings. The Changelings remained in disguise in case of discovery, they will have a better time covering up the meeting.

"Okay, we are all here and the coast is clear. Let combine our gathered Intel and make a plan for the army." Major Heart Breaker began.

"Yes Major," one said, "I discovered that the guard keeps their equipment in a single building in the city's center. If an accident were to suddenly occur there, it would be very hard to recover."

"Good." Heart Breaker pointed to another, "You, what did you find?"

"Sir, I've heard that the guard are on edge over a group of bandits down south. The slightest provocation will have them leaving to fight them whether they're there or not. A rumor or two that they're intruding will leave the city defenceless."

"Great," Heart Breaker pointed to Sharp Fang, "What about you?"

"The ponies show a lack of interest in hard work. It's unlikely they'll put up a fight."

"Good, now I found out that the city's defences are also at a minimum at best, I mean, they don't even have a defencive wall. So the plan is simple. We'll lure the guards away with false reports of bandits. If any guards are left, we will sabotage their equipment. The ponies shouldn't fight back, but if they do, it won't be of a major concern. The lack of any other defences so this should be easy."

"Yes, but the unicorns are dangerous. The plan is simple, but if something goes wrong, we'll have severe consequences." said one.

"It was hard enough with Foalis Foalba and the earth ponies. Changeling magic doesn't compare to a unicorn's." another added.

"I understand, so we'll just not slip up" said the major.

"Easier said than done."

"The only true threat are the guards. The rest of them don't have the spine to try and fight. So as long we can get the guards out, we can frighten the populace into surrendering like in Sindhoof."

"A simple plan, tricky execution, and high stakes."

"Moving on, you," he pointed at Sharp Fang, "go to the army before dawn and relay the plan to the other majors."

"Yes sir."

"Good, now everypony else, work to execute the plan in the morning."

The meeting ended and the changelings went off. Sharp Fang left the city. He trotted through the surrounding forest towards the army's camp. After he made sure he wasn't followed, he undisguised himself.

He trotted into the busy camp while the moon was still up. The army was quickly constructing the catapults. He found Major Blissful Tears.

"Major!" He called out.

"Yes?"

"Captain Sharp Fang here to report on the infiltration status, sir."

"You can drop the formalities with me Captain."

"Apologies. I just figured you must not have any trust in me, Major."

"You're still mad about that?"

"Oh, that complete display of betrayal? Of course not. Whatever gave you the idea?"

"You don't get it do you? Major Stag has a serious problem and it stems from you."

"Mind clarifying?"

"He heard somepony make a sly remark on his name about your drunken charge. He was outraged. He was yelling on the top of his lungs that you, and I quote, 'have bucking humiliated him and you should pay for your recklessness and insolence.' He was in such a rage that I swear that his chitin started to turn red. He raged on with the fury of a thousand suns for nearly two hours. Finally Major Deep Scars made the deal with him so he would calm down. We all voted in its favor just so he would shut up."

"So you guys can't stand him either?"

"Well, that varies on your definition of tolerance."

"I see. Anyways, I'm here to give my report..."

Sharp Fang gave the report and plan of attack.

"I see. I will relay this to the other majors. In the meantime, I need you to get to training."

"Training? For what?"

"Well you see, I'm in charge of your other task."
Sharp's stomach dropped. Blissful Tears is in charge of the assaulters. They are the ones who are catapulted into the cities in the fire balls. A very dangerous task. Not just for the landing, but that he will be in the center of action.

"Yes, now you see why Stag allowed the deal. Talk with one of the assaulters and be prepared. I wish you luck."

Sharp spent the night trying to learn how to do the task. It's something that he needs a lot of practice, but has one night of discussion and a few hours of sleep. The sun shone high on the noon hour. The scouts confirmed that the guard took the bait. The attack is set in motion. Sharp Fang was set in the catapult. That five minutes was the longest and most tense five minutes he ever experienced.

"You ready?"

He nodded.

"Alright, FIRE!"

The Encounter

A small town is sighted. A number of changelings go to infiltrate while the force gets into position. The spies are welcomed into the town with open hooves. The town calls itself "Sindhoof" and is comprised of hardly a thousand ponies, mostly earth ponies. The buildings are similar to places like that of Ponyville. It's also very undeveloped and they have little of the technology they should have.

The question of what's wrong the sun came up and was given a less than helpful answer. All the ponies know little of what the problem is. All that the spies could gather was that some unworldly power shook the world, that it was as if the sun itself smashed the world. The most knowledgeable said that cities were turned into fattened wastelands, forests were uprooted, and metal burned than melted. So much was lost with great bright explosions. The ponies theorised that the sisters themselves perished and now the sun is stuck in its current position and there's not enough unicorns cooperating to move it. They say that they're a group of survivors who only wish to live independently. That is however, not what the changelings have in mind, no they have their own to worry about.

In a few hours the spies leave with as much gathered love they could and brought it back to the army. The army also ran into a little discovery of its own. The army stumbled upon a group of earth ponies. The army sent a few delegates, disguised of course, to not bring attention upon itself. The ponies resemble zebras in culture and accent. The ponies say that they are scouts looking for new land. They are part of a civilization that they formed to recreate the now dead Equestria. They also gave nothing new on what happened to the princesses or the rest of Equestria.

What concerned the changelings was the ponies said that they planned to expand and forge a empire. The hardest part was to divert their eyes from Sindhoof but, they eventually left in a southwesterly direction. Albeit a little suspicious. The army also took note that they came from the northeast. They may find a new food source.

In the mean time, the army positions itself north, east, and south of Sindhoof. From the spies, they know that the town has little defenses if any however, it's unlikely the population will just back down and by subjugated by the changelings easily. So they constructed catapults to hopefully they demoralize the ponies to keep casualties low, especially to Sindhoof. What would be the point to come all this way for nothing, they're looking for food after all. So spears are then holstered, catapults are primed, and spies are sent to sabotage what little defences Sindhoof might have. Attack is intimate.