No Heart For An Assassin

Back in the comfort of his home, Myrmox sat down alone with his thoughts. Rainbow Dash was upstairs, showering herself after finishing up her work for the day. Just out the window, one could see the incoming clouds on their way to Ponyville. She said it would continue to rain for the next few days, but most of the hard work was done. He personally knew next to nothing about the process pegasi took to control the weather, nor did he feel it necessary to do so, but he never saw to bother Rainbow dash about his opinions about it. It was her job and she took it seriously, usually.

All this did not even begin to bother or distract Myrmox, his own demons were hovering over him. It had been almost a week now since he found Aten and chased him out of Ponyville. Myrmox had since been keeping his eyes out for any other signs, not single one.

Despite this though, Myrmox couldn’t help but wonder at times. Did he do the right thing? He was certain that he could have gotten away with making Aten disappear, but he doubted his resolve in such an act.Even then, he figured that there was already too much blood on his hooves to add to it.

In all honesty though, Myrmox had figured that his time in the Silencers couldn’t last forever. Since his friend, Gaunt, was executed, Myrmox had for a long time had his doubts that he was able to keep to himself. He never had anything against the queen prior to the invasion. Infact he sometimes heard good things about her. He even wondered if the Silencers were truly under her command or if she even knew. It didn’t change though that he still did terrible things in her name, and when the invasion happened and failed, things only got worse from there.

Three years ago
Myrmox was exhausted. He had barely slept the last two days, but he finally was able to get some time to himself. It had only been a few months since Chrysalis's failed coup against Equestria and already , the Silencers were beginning to hear whispers of dissent. Just this was enough to swamp them with work to find those spreading such talk, but it was spreading faster than they could find the sources. At this rate, it may lead from simple dissent to civil strife or worse.

He paced himself through his passage of the small village. It had been far too long since he had passed through this area. Not that he hated this place,it was once his home, but he was only able to visit so often. Still, it was good to try to see some old faces. Some of the older changelings, resting outside their homes, seemed to recognize him from their extended glances. A few nymphs came in close before being called away by their parents. Seemed that they knew who and what he was. Nevertheless, he had to do this.

The house he was approaching was nothing spectacular, but was well kept. In fact to call it a house would be something of a stretch. By pony standards, it was almost a large shed with only a few separate rooms.Hanging from the entrance was an assortments of religious charms. Barely audible was a few voices coming from within.

Taking a deep breath, walked himself in, pushing aside the covering of the entrance. He barely had enough time to register the interior before being approached by a changeling mare.

“Hey Hey! Who the hell are y-” The mare stopped her hostile advance toward him. He finally got a good look at her. She was only slightly shorter than him with a more slender build. Her eyes and carapace were similar to Myrmox’s, but a were a lighter shade of red, almost as if pink. She looked at him were an initially angry expression which began to fade into surprise. Behind her, Myrmox spotted two other changeling mares. Twins, to be exact. Both had the same shade of navy blue blues and carapace as well as the same height, build, features, everything.

“Some welcoming committee you still give, Chittri .” Myrmox spoke with sarcastic tone.

Chittri continued with her look of surprise. .”Myrmox? What are y-” She didn’t get time to finish as the mair behind barged past her. The first one threw her hooves around Myrmox in a happy embrace.

“Myr! You came to visit.!”

Myrmox returned the embrace with a smile. “It’s good to see you too, Ceymi.”

The other twin came up behind the pair and pushed her out of the way embracing Myrmox herself. ” I’m Ceymi, she’s Cocoon.”

Myrmox threw up his hooves in a mock defense. “Well excuse me, but I’ve been away for awhile and I've never been able to tell you apart.”

“That you have.” Chittri spoke softly with a stoic gaze. “What are you doing here?”

Myrmox noticed how Chittri wasn’t exactly bouncing with joy with his visit, but let it slide. “I came to see all of you.”

“Is that so? Then in that case, can you girls leave him alone for a few minutes. I want to speak with him alone.” She gestured him to follow her to the far end of their home.

Cocoon and Ceymi reluctantly let him pass through to follow her. Away from the twins, Myrmox and Chittri sat aside from one another.

“So I heard that you fought in canterlot?” Myrmox asked.

Chittri groaned and rolled her eyes at that. “Don’t remind me. I still can’t figure what was going through her head to make her do that. I’m not a soldier, most of us weren’t.”

Myrmox nodded. Most changelings who fought in canterlot weren’t soldiers, but conscripts. Though very professional and well trained, the queen’s army lacked the size and resources to match Equestria’s. All changelings were required by law to fight incase of an emergency, but the actual army was only a fraction of the population. “You came close though.”

“Close isn’t good enough. Besides, I shouldn’t have gone either way. What would have happened to them if I had died?” She gestured to the twins.

“I’m not responsible for you having to go Chittri, or anyone else. If I had the choice, you or anypony else would never have gone.”

Chittri closed her eyes and calmed down .”I know,” She opened her eyes.”But you still stayed behind.”

“A Lot of us did, Chittri. I didn’t have any say in the matter. If I did, you wouldn’t have gone.”

“Still, what are you doing here?”

“I came to see all of you.”

“Oh, so now they let you off the leash now?” Her voice was laced with sarcasm.

Myrmox narrowed his eyes and leaned toward her. “ I took a big risk coming here Chittri, I have every single time.”

“I know.” Chittri sigh, in full knowledge that he was only allowed so much contact with his family via letters, and even that was kept on close watch. The few times they did see one another weren’t entirely allowed for him. “But still, why are you really here?”

Myrmox sighed to himself. Now was the time to tell her.” Ever since the invasion, things have been getting...hectic. Changelings are starting to speak against Chrysalis, more so than ever. I’m sure you know what that means for me.”

“I’ have a few ideas.” This time, her voice sounded of disdain.

Myrmox ignored her tone and continued. “But we can only do so much, it seems as if with every one we silence, another two take his or her place. If it keeps up though...We may start seeing riots or worse. In that case, I came to warn you about what may happen.”

Chittri did the unexpected she nodded.” I hope so.”

Myrmox found himself honestly shocked to hear that. Chittri had just said that? “Are you serious?”

“I am completely, I am sick of that green haired bitch running things around here. First she takes my brother away,” She pointed a hoof straight at him. “Then she kills off anyone who disagrees with her and then she throws us into Canterlot. I swear Myrmox, open your eyes! She is going to lead us all straight into hell! She needs to be off that throne!”

Myrmox was was dumbfounded. He knew that Chittri had always seemed, rebellious at times, but this was something else entirely. If she spilled this out to anyone…

“Chittri, please tell me that I am the first for you to speak about this.”

“You are, for now atleast.”

“Then please, you have to keep it that way.”

“And what would I do that?”

“Have you been listening!? If you start spewing this out in public, then I won’t be able to protect you!.”

“Have I been listening? Have you been listening?! I can’t just sit around anymore and watch her ruin all our lives!”

“Chittri please, you’d be putting your life at risk.”

“Well, what else do you expect me to do? Sit around and grumble to myself? Run to Equestria? I can't do either of those. We both know that I would be spitting on everything mother taught us if I did that!”

He looked over to the other side, to Ceymi and Cocoon. They were seemingly minding their own business just outside. He gestured in their direction “What about them? Where are they in this?”

Chittri scolded him.”Don’t bring them into this.”

He turned back to her. “What would happen to them if something happens to you? They wouldn’t be able to-”

“I am going to do this so that they would have adamn future! Ever since mother and father died, I have been taking care of them alone, while you were off doing our ancestors know what! I will not sit around and see them them come of age and then be sent off to die for some queen who doesn’t even care!”

Myrmox opened his mouth to retort, but found himself wordless. The look in her eye was enough to tell him how serious she was about this . He lowered his head and sighed to himself. “You really are going to keep this up aren’t you?”

“Yeah.” Myrmox lifted his head to see Chittri’s expression soften. “I know what you are trying to do Myrmox, but I can’t keep up this charade anymore.”

Myrmox could barely stand to look her in the eye. He felt his heart sink in his sense that he had failed what he had sought out to do. As if nothing would keep this course from happening. Sooner or later, they may end up on two different sides.

“Listen Myrmox,” She walked straight in front of him, looking into his red eyes.”You are my brother,and I will always love you like that, but something is going to change for all of us. I don’t know what or how, but we are going to need to pick a side, and I want a better life for all of us. And that includes you. “ She threw her hooves around him in a tight embrace. One that he slowed returned.

They said no words between each other for awhile. Myrmox himself had no more desire to argue with her. She was his sister and he still deemed it his duty to try to keep her safe even though he was actually the younger of the two, but he couldn’t choose her path for her. “Just promise me this.” He managed to choke out.

“And what’s that?”

He pulled back from the embrace and looked her dead in the eye. ”That you’ll doing everything you can to be careful about this whatever you do, and if it truly goes south you will take them,” He gestured to the twins.” and run. I don’t know where, but somewhere. Equestria even, if you can. Hell, I will come and physically help you out if I can if possible.”

Chittri didn’t argue, but nodded instead. At least he was able to reach a consensus with her. With some reluctance, he let her her and stood on all fours. “I have to go it seems.”

“I understand….Good luck.”

“You too. I hope to see you again.”

With that, Myrmox took his leave. Giving Cocoon and Ceymi a farewell as well, He took his leave of his family and home. His real home, with the hopes to one day see them again.

He never say Chittri again after that. He never found out exactly what happened, but he had his suspicions of who was responsible. It took so little for that to begin to spiral into full scale rebellion. What exactly caused it all was unknown to him, but he wondered at times if it he had something to do with it. He found himself fighting against his own kind, those he tried so often to convince himself that he was trying to protect. Many of changeling he knew since childhood were killing each other on two different sides. He was only barely able to smuggle Ceymi and Cocoon out when the fighting started, but only just.

He still remembered their faces. Those that he killed, those he couldn’t save, and those he just stood and watched die. He wasn’t a hero or martyr, he was a murderer. A mad dog at the hooves of a power hungry tyrant.

He looked over to the nearby bookshelf, spotting himself a nearby picture. He levitated it over to himself, grabbing hold of it when it got within distance. It was of his family, his two proud parents, each holding one of the newly hatched twins, with Chittri between them. Behind them was the house that they were born and raised in. He wasn’t there when the picture was taken, off being trained for the Silencers. Before he left for Ponyville, he found the house to have been demolished. The picture being the only thing he was able to recover. It was all he had left of his family.

Myrmox didn’t realize it initially, but he found a strange wetness fall from his eyes. Wiping his face, he realized he had been crying. Setting the picture down on the table in front of him, he laid his muzzle in his hooves. For what seemed the longest time, he sat there alone with his pain. He left such a sense of failure, not being able to be there for his family when they needed him most. He didn’t even know where his little sisters were. They could be struggling to get by, in trouble or...

He felt a wing wrap around his midsection and pull him in close. He instantly knew who it was when her hooves wrapped around his neck. Rainbow dash rested her head on his shoulder and as he began to calm down.

“It’s alright.” She whispered to him .

Myrmox didn’t say anything as he began to melt into her embrace. He buried his muzzle into her mane. Wrapping his hooves around her midsection, he felt his tears begin to subside. No matter how bad he was feeling, just her embrace was enough to make the pain go away.

“Do you want to talk about it?”

Myrmox looked down at her maroon eyes as she stared into his. He looked over to the picture and picked it up .” I miss them, Dash.”

“Your family?” She looked into the picture.

“Yeah. but not just them Dash, everything… My country is in ruins, all those I grew up with are either dead or disappeared, and my family is just...broken.”

“You still have them out there, somewhere.” She pointed a hood to Ceymi and Cocoon. “ You told me about how you helped them escape.”

Myrmox shook his head. ”I don’t know where they are. I’m all they have left and I don’t know where to begin to find them.” He set the picture down, sighing to himself. “ I just… don’t know Dash. Maybe if I had left with them, at least I’d know where they are and would be able to watch over them. Some brother I ended up being.”

“Hey now,” Rainbow Dash looked back up at him sternly. “That’s not true. If it wasn’t for you, they might not have made it out at all. You may not have gone with them, but you did something at least.”

Myrmox looked back down at her, meeting her gaze.

“Not only that, but you have actually gone out of your way to be there for others. SHe doesn’t show it much, but you also mean also mean a lot to scootaloo as well.” Dash began to smile. “She talks about you sometimes of the things you have taught her and the times you stood up for her. I think she sometimes looks up to you.”

Myrmox began to recall what she was talking about, the time scootaloo was being talked down to as a “flightless brat” by some outside dignitary. He recalled overhearing it before walking over and giving that pompous bastard the vocal thrashing of a lifetime. Myrmox chuckled at the memory.

“And, I think you are the coolest stallion I have ever met. More than that, you never treated me like crap once. Ever since we started dating, I don’t think I have have ever been happier with anypony. I don’t care if you’re a changeling, I’d never pick any stallion over you.” With that, Rainbow Dash leaned up and gave him a light peck on the lips.

Myrmox pulled her in close to him. He genuinely began to smile for her words. It was times like this, when he saw how she really was, that reminded him why he loved her the way he did. He looked back down at the picture, no longer in sorrow. As he levitated the picture back to its original place, he began to speak again. “One day though Rainbow, I’ll have to try to find them though. It’s the least I can do.”

“I know, and I’ll be there for you if you ever need me.”

“Yeah, I’d think they'd love you.” He looked back down to his lover.” Not as much as I do.” with that he leaned down and kissed her on the lips.

The pair embraced each other for several minutes, neither wanting to separate from the other. It was times like this, just him and Dash, that he found his troubles to just melt away. With her at his side, he felt both happy as well as wanted to be there. Rainbow dash, of all ponies, had accepted him into her life not just as a friend, but as a lover, and he couldn’t be anymore thankful for that. Most of those he grew up around would revile him for being in such a relationship with a pony, but it didn't matter anymore. This was his life now.

Pulling away from the embrace, dash hopped herself off the couch and passed by Myrmox on her way back towards their room, but not before brushing her tail across Myrmox’s chin. She passed a not so subtle come hither look his way she made her way out. Taking the hint, Myrmox gave in and followed her up.

Reaching their room, Dash turned to face him at the edge of the bed, her face beginning to show a tint of red to it. Myrmox waited no time in joining his lips with hers as he crawled with his until he laid atop of her. She wrapped her hooves around his neck, pulling him into their little game as his hooves laid on either side of her head.

When they withdrew for breath, Myrmox reconnected with her, this time biting slightly on the trip of her ear before moving to the side of her neck, gaining a sigh of pleasure from his mate.

“Somepony’s feeling romantic.” She chuckled.

Myrmox gave no answer, only continued his massage of Dash’s body. Daring to move forward, Myrmox began to move his body downward, to her chest, her belly and below. He stopped at her teats, giving a delicate kiss to one. He heard Rainbow intake air sharply as he peaked up a her to see dash biting her bottom lip as they made eye contact. She gently pushed down on his head with her hoof, gesturing him to go further down.

He found himself above her mound. He took the time to the top off it before diving his muzzle in. He heard Dash gasp as he made contact. He took in her scent as it overflowed him. As he continued his assault, Dash began to push her hips upwards, driving his licking motions further into her. Sparing a glance up, Myrmox saw Dash’s eye’s were closed, her breath was speeding up. Her front hooves were bearing down the back of his head, pushing him down into her as her hind legs splayed to the sides, twitching every now and then.

Without warning, Dash’s muscles convulsed. Her climax shot her fluids to Myrmox’s maw as she let out a cry of pleasure. Looking back up, he saw her breathing heavily, but already beginning to recover from her climax.

As he climbed his way back up to her, they made eye contact. She quickly shot her hooves down and pulled him back up to her. Another make out session began between the two. Myrmox began to push his hips against hers, again and again. Dash’s back hooves placed themselves behind Myrmox’s legs, locking her into place but still giving him enough room to move.

Myrmox climbed himself up onto his front hooves, keeping his lower body adjacent to Dash’s. Dash leaned her head up just enough to keep her lips entwined with his. He took one of his hooves, leaning on the other for support, and moved it down to his heated memer. He guided it to Rainbow Dash's entrance. Now as he pushed his hips against hers, he felt himself slowly push his way inside of Rainbow. That caused Rainbow and him to break the kiss as they both let out a pleasured moan. Dash leaned her body back down as Myrmox began to his motion. Myrmox kept his eyes on his lover as he thrusted inside of her. Her hooves were folded against her chest and her eyes were barely lid open, looking upwards. Her back legs synchronized with his thrusting, pulling him into her.

His motions began to pick up in speed and force as the sense of pleasure grew between his legs. Rainbow Dash had began to moan louder and more frequently. She reached up with her front hooves and pulled his upper body in close to hers. Myrmox remained solely focused on pushing deeper inside her, but managed to give Dash a quick peck on the lips or neck as she pulled him in. With everything happening , it wasn’t long before Dash climaxed for a second time beneath him. Her back arched up sharply and her body convulsed as she led out a cry of ecstasy. The conclusions around his member gave Myrmox all he needed to finish. With one last push, he felt himself climax inside of Dash, his seed filling up inside her.

Myrmox opened his eyes to meet with Rainbow’s own magenta eyes. The amount of love in her eyes was enough to melt his heart, to say nothing of the love he felt coming off of her, all directed to him. He leaned down and gave her one last kiss on the lips, one she eagerly accepted.

The lust between them spent for the night, Myrmox pulled himself out of her and laid by her side. Dash countered by climbing her upper body onto his, causing him to lie on his back. She rested her head atop his chest, keeping eye contact with him. He wrapped his hooved underneath her, pulling her midsection close to him as she rested atop him.

“I love you.” He whispered into her ear.

“I love you too Myrmox, and thank you.” She let out a yawn as she began to slip into slumber. Myrmox remained awake a little while longer, watching her breathing become steady, rhythmic.

‘No, thank you, my dear Dash, for everything.”

***

Myrmox found himself strangely awoken suddenly. Immediately he saw nothing but darkness before his eyes began to adjust. Dash was still asleep, lying her head atop his chest. He realized that it was still night out. He couldn’t say he was exactly pleased to be up so early, tonight was the first time that he had himself a good sleep for awhile. For the first time in his life, he felt actually free to do what he wanted.Looking over, he saw the exact time.

2:30? What woke me up just now? Myrmox thought about sitting up, but that would mean getting out of the current position he was currently in. He looked at Dash, she was still sleeping like a foal. Not surprising, seeing that she was able to sleep through almost anything. Myrmox passed up his strange awakening as a fluke and nothing more. Setting as side, he laid his head back on the pillow , closing his eyes for sleep a second time.

That was his plan at least when he heard a strange knocking sound, coming from downstairs. He realized that somepony must be at the door. He groaned to himself as he slowly pulled himself out of bed, careful not to awaken Dash.

Myrmox tiptoed his his way down the stairs and to the front door. Grumbling to himself he slid the door open and took a look outside. He was immediately met with a familiar yellow pegasus.

“Fluttershy?” He whispered. “What are you doing here?”

“I’m sorry, but I need your help with something.”

“At 2 in the morning? Can it wait until later? I just want to-” FLuttershy cut him off before he could finish.

“Please Myrmox, it’s important and you are the only one who can help, and we have to go now.” Fluttershy insisted with some rise in the vice.

Myrmox was confused and beginning to become agitated as to why he had to get up so early. Nevertheless though, he opted to follow her regardless. Had he not, he knew that he would be hearing about it in the morning. Besides, he figured he owed her this. He nodded to her.

“Follow me.” Without another word, she turned around flew off with him in tow.

Fluttershy and him flew in silent for a few moments before nearing her home. What came to Myrmox as strange was the the direction she was taking him was more towards the everfree and away from her cottage. Somewhere though, myrmox had the sneaking feeling that they weren’t alone. He took a quick look behind him, nothing was there.

“Fluttershy.” SHe turned to face him, still flying forward. ”What is going on?’

“You’ll see.”
“That doesn’t tell me what I need to know.”

“Don’t worry, we’re almost there.” Fluttershy actually sounded a little agitated there.

Myrmox couldn’t help but narrow his eyes a bit. By now they were beginning to descend towards the everfree. HEr cottage was no longer visible when Myrmox had had enough of this.

“That's far enough, Fluttershy.” He stopped in midflight.

“What? What are you talking about?”

“You are leading off in the middle of the night for some vague errand without giving me information. You’re being rather rude, and now I know you’re taking me for a fool.”

“What!?” Sweat began to pour down her face.

“ Now how about you tell who you a-” Myrmox was cut off as he felt a shape bolt into his side, sending him tumbling into the forest below.

Myrmox could do nothing to halt his fall into the thick canopy below. He felt branches break under him before landing painfully on his side. He grunted in pain as he smacked the ground hard.

He began to pull himself up as he took a look around. He recognized the attacker. An adult changeling, blue eyes and carapace, but unfamiliar to him. Myrmox spared a quick look above him. By now his too late suspicions were proven true. Where fluttershy had once flown was another changeling. In that instant, Myrmox knew. THey weren’t done with him yet, and he was going to have to fight his way out of this.

Thinking quickly, Myrmox shot a bolt of magic at the changeling who blocked it with a magical shield. Immediately following that, Myrmox charged himself at the attacker. It didn’t have the desired effect as the changeling was ready to to meet him head on.

The two met head on as their horns locked with one another. A pushing match ensued as Myrmox and the other changeling snarled at each other, their faces just inches away from each other.

The other changeluign began to charge a spell, but was cut off as Myrmox risked being pushed over by quickly lifting his hoof and punching the changeling in the face. It worked, stunning the attacker as Myrmox retook the offensive and tackled the changeling.

A flurry of blows ensued between the two as they attempted to gain the advantage over the other. This new one was skilled to be sure, but Myrmox found himself finally gaining the advantage.

Just then, another changeling toppled Myrmox, who now found himself on the defensive. He protected himself from both the changeling now to the best of his ability, keeping both in front of him so to not be outflanked. Myrmox realized that if he could get away, they would risk awakening the whole town should they continue this, but first he had to get that chance first.

He charged up his magic, only for it all to end when he felt a sharp pain in his shoulder. Stunned he found himself at their mercy as he was knocked to the ground and held down. Myrmox was able to look over to see what had happened. A large dart had pierced his chitin.

That was not shocked him, it was effet he was now feeling. Myrmox felt his magic began to slip away from him. He was trying his damndest to activate a spell, any spell, but realized the futility in it as he recognized the effect. The dart must have been coated with a special poison . Nonlethal, but very useful against magic users. Myrmox himself had both used and had it used on him during his training to recognize it, but this was a much stronger concoction than he had ever experienced.

Myrmox was kept held down as more changeling began to come out. He counted about 4 of them so far. One of them he recognized at Aten, looking rather smug with himself. Out of the shadows, another one came into view. A much older changeling, white eyes and carapace. Upon recognizing this changeling, Myrmox’s blood ran cold.

Vesp. the commander of the Silencers himself.

“It’s been a long time, Myrmox.” Vesp walked himself over and sat down. “I’m pleased to see you better, but I’ve heard some troubling things about you. A little birdie told me you don’t won’t obey your orders.”

Myrmox glanced over at Aten, knowing full well who was responsible. The youngster seemed to falter under his gaze.”

“I don’t like these rumors one bit. Care to explain yourself?”

Myrmox returned his murderous thoughts away from aten back to Vesp, who gestured the changelings holding Myrmox down to pull him up, but still keeping him restrained.

“Well?”

Myrmox finally spoke.”I’m not doing this anymore.”

“You are not done with anything until I say you are done. You are a silencer and so have a duty to your queen and country.”

Myrmox spat at the ground. “A duty to murder in her name?”

“A duty to do what necessary to keep order, regardless of what you want.”

“I’m not committing another murder in the name of a green haired bitch.”

Myrmox had no choice but to take the hit.

“She is still your queen and you show respect,and not to these damned pony princesses!”

Myrmox recovered from the hit.” They don’t rule through fear and murder at least.”

“They aren’t changelings surrounded by danger or threatened with hunger and poverty.” Vesp pulled the knife out of Myrmox’s shoulder, ignoring the latter’s slight grimace in pain. “Once again, I am ordering you to execute rainbow dash.”

“Go to hell.”

Another hit, this time right in his injury. He cried out in pain. After a few moments, he look up back Vesp, his eyes full of malice.

“You think we can’t make you break?” Vesp leaned down closely to Myrmox.” And you know what, I believe you. You love that mare, and would die to protect her. You think you would do anything to protect her, but you are wrong. I know you better than she ever will. I know how to make you break.”

“I doubt that.” Myrmox choked out.

“I know that you care too much about children.”

Myrmox paused at that, unnerved at what the potential meaning of that was. “What are you saying?”

“I’m saying that I didn't send Aten,” He gestured to said changeling to his right.” for you to simply hunt down. If your death doesn't scare you, then those filly’s will.”

Myrmox’s heart stopped right there. He found himself speechless.

“If you won’t do as I say. Then It will be more than just Dash who will pay the price.”

“They’re innocent!” He managed to finally find his voice. “They haven’t done anything wrong!”

“No...they haven’t, but you have.” Vesp narrowed his eyes at Myrmox. “DOn’t think for a second I don’t know what you did after the invasion. You helped rebels out of our borders. Not just your sisters, but dozens of those who would have wished our queen harm. I may not be able to find them, but at least I have the one responsible.”

Myrmox remained speechless. He was truly frightened of this revelation. He had for so long had hoped that nopony would find out, but it turned out they knew the whole time. Things were just starting to head in the right direction for him, and now it was all falling apart.

“Why?” Why does it have to be like this.”

Vesp let out out a sigh and gestured for the other changelings to leave, leaving the pair alone. Myrmox entertained the idea of trying to kill Vesp, but shoved the idea off. THey were still surrounded. Even if he succeeded, Myrmox had no doubt what they would do next.

“You wish to know why? Why we do things the way we do?”

Myrmox remained silent.

“Because alternative for us is chaos. Kill one, terrify a thousand. THat had always been the philosophy of the silencers. It is a cruel philosophy, but the world has never been anything but cruel to us as well.” Vesp began to pace around. “I’ve been doing this type of work since even before the queen was born. I never enjoyed it, but I always killed the one. The one that would turn a trickle into a flood so that the terrified thousand would be safe.” He turned back to Myrmox. “I order the deaths of others to keep society, our society from killing itself or to keep outside threat from taking vengeance.”

Vesp looked down, a rare look of uncertainty and sorrow began to show. “I told her not to invade, almost pleaded with her, but she wouldn’t hear of it, and she failed. Our country tore itself apart in her mad desire for conquest, and I have to be able to keep it together and also keep others from causing it harm. Even if the means are horrifying.” He looked back up. “Now this is your last chance. If you do this, then you may pursue your own course, as long you don’t take action against the Silencers. Stay here, run away or take your life, it matters not, but you will do this task.”

Tears began to form in Myrmox’s eyes. For several moments, he couldn’t or wouldn’t move, coming to terms with was going to happen. He had to right now, make a choice, to either follow his command or watch those he cared about suffer the consequences. Every second that passed only crushed him further.

HE doubted his resolve to end Dash’s life, but to see aj innocent child die like that was… inconceivable. A sin that shouldn’t ever cross one’s mind. He already blamed himself for Gaunt’s death, as well as Chittri’s and he doubted he could handle another. If even he was able to keep Dash alive, how would he ever be able to look at her in the eye, knowing he put the lives of children at risk.

For what seemed like hours, Myrmox couldn’t speak any words. The only thing he could do was lower in his head, full of shame and grief.

“So, you have finally broken.” Vesp made a waving signal to the changeling surrounding them still. They all dispersed into the dark with the exception of a select few. The two changelings that held Myrmox down stayed by his side as another one step forward leaning down to Myrmox as who he now assumed to be a healer of sorts began to work his magic . Myrmox barely paid attention as he felt his wound began to be healed into yet another scar. As the Vesp pulled out a small vial and syringe and tossed them front of Myrmox.

“We will be watching. You have until the sun rises.” Vesp muttered before backing away into the darkness.

Myrmox said nothing. Even as the changelings let him go and disappeared into the night, he kept silent. Not as he picked up the vial, aware of what was inside and as he began to cry to himself in defeat.
***

The flight back was slow. Painfully slow until Myrmox returned home. Even now, as he entered the front door walked in silently, he knew he was being surrounded. He looked upwards to the stairs, knowing what was ahead of him. With as a little emotion as he could have in his head, he began to silent ascent into the bedroom, where Dash still laid.

He tried everything he could to not feel anything. He wanted so badly that if he was to commit this terrible act, that he could feel nothing one more time. He couldn’t. In the back of his mind, he knew that he failed. Failed to protect Dash, failed his sister, his old friend Gaunt. All of them, and now he was going to pay the price.

Finally he found himself back upstairs in the room, looking inward. He saw her, still asleep in the bed. Just her sight was enough to make his blood freeze in hi veins. If it meant selling his soul to not have to do this, he would, but he knew there was no help from anything for him.

Myrmox tip toed his over until he saw her, right in front of him. She’s so beautiful. He wished he he was still in bed, sleeping beside. All he wanted was to simply have her at his side, but he knew that it was all about to end. He glanced upwards at the window. He was barely able to see a black shape in a nearby cloud. He saw no need to go out and investigate, he knew who and what it was.

He sat himself down on the edge of the bed, facing his body towards her. He began to find himself strained to even look at her, but he managed to gently rub the back of his hoof across her cheek. She didn’t move an inch despite her shallow breathing.

He wished for nothing more than to be back in bed with her, to wake up from this as if it was nothing more than a terrible dream. He’d give anything for that to happen, but he knew better. Even as his heart began to pound, he knew he was trapped.

“I love you, Dash.” He whispered as he leaned down to her, giving her a light kiss on the cheek. She moved only slightly before settling down. He felt a tear began to trickle down his eye. “ I always will.” He looked back towards that vile syringe he was holding, and back to her, his face beginning to crack in grief.

“And I am so sorry.”