A Bug?...In The Resistance?

Chapters

First...Fight!
Explain...again
Night...186
Meet...Up
Night...Time
Break...Out: Part 1

First...Fight!

Author's Note

I know the whole 'forbidden love between two families that hate each other.' has been done to death over the past few centuries, but this was too good to pass up.
BTW, sorry for the last timeline fic I made.
This one's better.
I promise.

First...Fight!

“Why do you wear that stupid green rag, Doomie?”

Doomie snapped out of his daydreaming and turned to his brother as they continued walking through the forest. “U-Uh...y-ya know, to show how tough I am against those ponies.” He nervously adjusted the bandana around the top of his forehead, hoping it wouldn’t slip off on their walk through the forest.

“No one else wears them.” His brother looked at all the other changelings around them, about twenty five of them were out looking for the pony’s hideout. ”It kinda makes you look like an idiot, to be honest.”

Doomie just rolled his eyes. “Oh, what do you know about fashion?”

“I know enough to know that fashion is something that isn’t apart of being a changeling soldier.”

“We’re not all soldiers, Stan!” Doomie yelled.

“Are you saying that you’d rather be some boring caretaker than be out here?”

Doomie rapidly shook his head, not wanting to ever stop doing this...for reasons. “N-No...I-I do wanna be out here. Uh...h-hunting for the rest of the ponies...heh…”

Stan just looked away. “Doomie, how long has it been since we took over?”

Doomie shrugged. “Bout six or so months.”

“And have we captured every single pony during these six or so months?”

“Maybe.”

Stan groaned. “We know for a fact that there’s still some out there...and that the forest is the only place we haven’t checked yet.” He looked through the many trees that were scattered along the path. “To think we just need two more to finally win this!”

A sister named Sarah came up to their right. “Yeah! We already have more than half of the element bearers in our hooves! When we get the rest, we’ll have all of Equestria bowing down to us! It’ll be so cool!”

Another changeling came in between them. “Let’s just hope they aren’t prepared like the other times we’ve tried looking for them.”

Stan smiled. “Oh, don’t worry, Phil, I’m sure the eighth time will be the charm.”

Phil glared at him. “You said that the last time, that ‘this time’ will be the day that the changelings finally find their hideout instead of getting ambushed, it should be us doing that!”

Stan still thought it was this plan was foolproof. “Yeah, but this time we’re all attacking on the ground, they’ll never see it coming.”

Doomie nodded. “Yeah, I’m sure we’ll win this time.” He pointed at Phil. “You just need to be more optimistic about stuff.”

His brother turned away, still having doubts about this attack. “I just don’t get it. It’s like they always know we’re coming.” Phil said. “How can a bunch of stupid ponies know when and where we’ll be ?”

Doomie shrugged and tried to play it cool. “I dunno, m-maybe they’re always prepared for us and we show up at the wrong time.”

Phil shook his head. “Oh no, something is really wrong, either there’s a pony on the inside who watches us...or there’s a filthy, stickin’, low down, traitor that’s helping them!”

Doomie flinched at his harsh words while Stan and the others laughed. “Pffff...P-Phil,” Stan said. “what kinda idiot brother would help them? You’d have to be a fool to actually ‘like’ the ponies. They’re food. Nothing more, nothing less. Right Doomie?” Stan nudged Doomie, almost making him fall to the ground.

“U-Uh...Uh, y-yeah.” Doomie stuttered. “n-nothing but food for us...y-yup.”

Stan raised an eye at him. “You okay, Doomie?”

“U-Uh...yeah...I’m...uh…” Doomie looked ahead, finding the perfect distraction. “H-Hey, ain’t that a clearing?”

Stan noticed it and stopped. He raised his hoof to making everyone else do the same. “Hold.” He whispered, his eyes going wide “This might be it.”

Sarah tilted her head. “How can you be so sure?”

Stan turned to her. “This has to be where their base is! We haven’t even been this far before.” He pointed at Phile. “You, take the right with John, Al, Tyler, Markus, Jeff, Jess and Nick. Me, Carson, Sarah, Mike, Lary, and Steve will take the left, Doomie, I need you to-”

“ATTACK!”

“What? I don’t want you to-”

*SLAM*

The group of Changelings gasped as a yellow pegasus dived down and uppercutted their main leader, Stan, right out of the crowd and into the dirt. The assailant then screamed out at the top of her lungs, “For the resistance!” Several ponies then started coming out from behind trees and bushes, completely surrounding the changelings.

The bugs got into fighting stance while Phil faced hoofed. “Oh for chrysie’s sake...not again.”

“FOR THE RESISTANCE!” The ponies cried out as the began to charge at them. Spears erect and ready to stab the first bug they make contact with.

As the fight finally commenced, Doomie started walking out to the back lines, right where he saw a certain Pink pony of his that was charging at the others. “There you are...little pie.” He whispered before making his attack. Ready to take down that pony by any means necessary.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Pinkie yelled out a battle cry and sprang from the bushes, landing on top of a bug. She hopped off and spun around with her spear out, knocking any changeling that was unlucky enough to try and get her. After that she plunged the spear into the ground, pulled back the stick, and shot it right into a bug’s face as it went for her. “Take THAT! You overgrown cockroach!”

Pinkie took her spear out and prepared for another spin, but she got tackled from her side, landing back first into the ground with her spear just a few inches from her hoof. “L-Let me go!” She yelled out as she started to struggle. “G-Get your hooves off me, you dang, dirty cha..change…” Pinkie stopped struggling and looked up at the bug that was pinning her to the ground. The green rag tied around its head and a faint smile was a dead giveaway as to who this changeling was. D-Doomie?”

The changeling put his nose against her’s. “Who else?”

Pinkie squeaked and hugged him, giving him a very rough kiss while doing so. Doomie then sat up, pushed her away and stood on all fours. “Get back here! You pink little pony!”

Pinkie smirked and picked up her spear, knowing those acting lessons really paid off. “You’re gonna have to catch me first!” With that, she turned and fled. Doomie smirked and scraped the ground with his hoof like a bull, charged right at her seconds later.

The two of them dashed right through the battle, dodging hooves, sticks, heads. It was only when Pinkie stopped and turned around that they stopped. She grabbing Doomie and looked right in his eyes. “Okay,” She said. “I think they’re not noticing. Ready?” Pinkie grabbed both his hooves.

Doomie did the same. “Ready.”

With a smile on both their faces, they started spinning around together like a small pink and black tornado. After a quick flash of green appeared on one side of the constant spinning, they stopped and look at each other’s eyes again.

Doomie raised his eyebrows twice. “How do I look?”

Pinkie giggled at her now disguised lingfriend, who was a black, red haired pony with a blue cutie mark that trailed down to his legs. “As unoriginal as ever.”

Doomie flopped his fake, bat like ears. “I don’t see how this is still unoriginal.”

Pinkie put her hooves to her hips. “I think I know when something looks kinda silly, Doomie.”

Doomie rolled cat like eyes. “Oh please, that facepaint you're wearing looks even more ridiculous.”

Pinkie looked over her camouflaged body. “I think it looks cool, by the way, how are you brothers reacting to the rag?”

Doomie looked up at his forehead, seeing the green headband was still there. “They think it’s stupid, but at least they believe it’s for wear and not for helping you.”

Pinkie knew what he was talking about. “I’m sorry, Doomie, but it’s really hard to tell you guys apart.”

“You’ll figure it out, maybe then you’ll believe who’s a pony and who’s not.” Doomie pointed at his eye. “It’s all in the eye.”

Pinkie shook her head, knowing she would never understand Changeling eyes, they were far too similar to tell apart. “Maybe some day…”

Doomie was about to say something, but he felt a tap on his shoulders coming from behind him. As he turned around, he saw one of his brothers looking at him like he was the biggest idiot he had seen.

“Uh, bro,” He said. “you do know that disguising isn’t really-”

*SMACK*

The changeling got a hoof full of pain from Pinkie, landing right into a tree. Doomie nodded in astonishment. “Impressive.”

Pinkie smiled. “Thanks! Those training courses from Zecora really brought out our fighting sides.”

“I like it.” Doomie cracked his hoof. “But I think you’ll like this more.” Doomie reached his hoof out into the crowd, making one of his sisters run right into his arm, knocking the ling out. “Ha HA! Learned that from Carson, just let them run into the hoof.”

Pinkie had to ask. “Are you sure doing that is okay?”

Doomie sighed, getting tired of explaining this. “Pinkie, I’ve told you before, my siblings and I fight each other all the time, I see this more as payback for every time I get a zebrian rug burn from those jerks.”

Pinkie picked her spear back up. “If you say so...but, why do you still live with them? I’m sure no pony will-”

“Pinkie, you and I both know I can’t come with you...that stuff all over your body is really itchy...my brothers hate it.

Pinkie swung her spear right at another changeling, sending him into a puddle of mud. “I just wish there was another way of meeting each other instead of...like this.”

Doomie grabbed her and pulled her in as a changeling missed her by a few inches, landing right into another pony close by. “Pinkie, I know you will win, you guys have to win, and when you do…” He held her hooves. “We can really be together again.”

“Doomie…” Pinkie looked around, seeing no one else was paying attention. “T-They’re starting to get suspicious.”

Doomie found that hard to believe. “Pinkie, I’d think it’s the other way around, because my siblings are getting a little bit paranoid too.”

“It’s not that, it’s finding out about us meeting up like this.” Pinkie remembered the last time she told them an attack heading their way. All of them believed her, but knew there was more to it than her ‘sense’ “I-I don’t think they’re falling for my ‘Pinkie Sense’ anymore. T-They’re really concerned about me telling them what you tell me.”

Doomie frowned. “B-But how else am I supposed to help you? Giving you battle info, showing you plans, and telling you all our flaws is the only thing that’s keeping you guys winning right now...Don’t tell me I’m wrong.”

Pinkie knew she couldn’t. With every piece of information she was getting from Doomie, they’ve managed to win every battle and keep them away from finding out their base, but she knew this couldn’t keep up forever. “There has to be a way to end this, Doomie.”

“Soon, Pinkie, I promise.” Doomie decided to tell her something else to lightin up the mood. “You’re friends are doing okay, by the way.”

Pinkie smiled. “Nice rhyme, but define ‘okay’”

Doomie shrugged. “Well, your rainbow friend told me to tell you the cell she’s in sticks and that she’s still trying to find a way to break out.”

“Heh...Classic Dashie...How’s Rarity taking it?”

Doomie couldn’t hold a straight face. “Heh...well, she’s still pretty mad about being chained up twenty four, seven.”

Pinkie turned around and socked another changeling that was about to attack her right in his gut before facing Doomie again. “Did you guys really need to do that to her?”

Doomie crossed his arms. “She’s almost escaped three times already and every single time they always got to her, she even punched me in the eye when I tried to tell her the way out...Snotty little-”

Pinkie pushed him. “Doo-Mie!”

Doomie coughed. “S-Sorry, sorry...s-she’s just...really high tempered, your apple friend is just as bad, but at least she appreciates the food we bring to them.”

Pinkie almost gagged. “Is it still the same rations?”

Doomie sadly nodded. “Yup, a full serving of our finest green gunk along with a bowl of water, which is really hard to find, you know.”

Pinkie swung her spear at another changeling, this time sending him into a thorn bush. “But they’re still doing okay after eating it, right?”

“The stuff's nasty, but it’s nutritious.” Doomie could remember the complains they gave them, word for word. “I keep telling them that, but they just won’t listen.”

“And Twilight and Spike, how are they?”

Doomie fidgeted. “Well, their cocoon cell is doing okay...a-and their weekly interrogations are...fun…” He gulped, not even wanting to know what Chrysalis did to her in that room.

Pinkie flopped her ears. “I just wish they were back already.”

Doomie brought her in for a hug and backed up. dodging a brother as it flew into another sibling, knocking the two of them out. “They’ll be back soon, I just gotta get the job of guarding them during the night alone...then I can get them out...but until then...it’s books for this changeling.”

“At least you’re starting to pass those classes of yours again.”

Doomie smiled smugly. “Eh, I manage...anyways, I think that’s about everything...when do you do night patrol?”

Pinkie could already see them meeting again during this next night. “Three days from now.”

Doomie frowned. “Eh...mines four days away...and the journey from Canterlot to here is pretty tough...but I guess I can survive another round of yelling from Shawn for being back late..”

Pinkie was still a little peeved at how mean his brothers treated him. “Does he have to be so mean to you?”

“General Shawn is mean to everyling, so stop worrying and-.”

Pinkie put a hoof to his lips while the other held her spear out to closeline a bug in the throat. “Just let me ask for an extra day off, I promise Zecora is more lenient than him.”

Doomie couldn’t argue with that. He heard all about that zebra being pretty nice to them. “Alright.” He said, brushing the hoof away. “You go ahead and ask, as for me, I’ll be waiting for ya.”

Pinkie giggled. “Same place? By the waterfall?”

Doomie nodded. “I’ll be there, don’t you worry...now, how long do you think this fight will-”

“Retreat! Reah...RETREAT!”

Doomie got out of his disguess once he heard that word come out of the leading changeling, Stan. it was like music to his ears. “Wow, already?”

“Well,” Pinkie said. “better luck next time, changeling.”

Doomie had to laugh at that, knowing it would take more than luck for them to stop the ponies. “Yup, looks like we lost this time...so~” Doomie leaned on her. “Are we ready to fight again next week when me and the other brothers try to find your hideout?”

Pinkie nodded and lightly grabbed him by his throat. “I’ll be ready to bring the pain, little fly.” She gave him a quick kiss before tossing him yards away from her. “That’s right! Go ahead!” She yelled .”Run back to you mother!”

Doomie stood back up and shook his hoof at her. “You haven’t seen the last of us!” With a wink of his eye, he turned around and fled along with the rest of his siblings.

As the last of the changelings ran away, the ponies cheered in victory. Pinkie was the only one staying silent and, instead, leaning on her spear and smiling. “See you soon, Doomie…”

“Aheam! Pinkie.”

The pink pony snapped out of it and turned around, looking right at Fluttershy. “Oh, h-hi Shy. Uh…” Pinkie then pointed her spear to where the changelings ran. “D-Did you see the way those bugs ran, HA! We sure showed them, huh?”

Fluttershy’s face stayed blank. “Pinkie, Zecora want’s to see you.”

Pinkie held her spear closer. “S-She does? Why?”

Another pony came up behind the two of them. “Well, when you’ve warned us several times about a group of changelings trying to attack our base and it’s been true all those times...we’re kinda thinking something's up with you.”

Pinkie facehoofed. “I already told you, my Pinkie sense has been really good these last few times.”

“She still want’s to see you.” Shy insisted, pointing toward the clearing where the village was just yards away. “Now, are you on your way or not?”

Pinkie sighed and rested her spear on her back, hoping this was just another victory party. “Alright...let’s go.”

As the three of them started walking, Pinkie took one last look behind her. Trying to hold in her excitement for the next time they charge at them..

“Be safe...little fly.”

Explain...again

“Zecora, Pinkie has been right over eight times now.There's no way her sense can get it right that many times in a row! She’s got someone...or someling on the inside helping her.”

Gasps arose from the room and all eyes turned to Pinkie, who was the only one sitting on the opposite end of the round table. “Wh-What do you mean, Fluttershy? I’m...-my Pinkie sense is always right, it has been for the past three months!”

Fluttershy didn’t buy it, and neither did some of the other ponies that sat in this room, even Zecora had doubts. Fluttershy adjusted her seat and continued. “Tell me, Pinkie, what’s it like fighting them?”

Pinkie was taken back by the question, not knowing how to answer. “Uh...i-it’s alright...I-I’m glad to know that my efforts for fighting them back have been...uh...helpful.”

“And what’s it like talking with them?”

“Ta-Talking? I-I wasn’t-”

Fluttershy slammed her hooves on the table. “I saw the way you acted with that bug!” she shouted.

Pinkie froze. “I-I don’t know what your talking about.”

Fluttershy eyed her. “You were talking to him, and not the kind of talking when you try to pummel the bugs to the ground, I’m talking about the talking that you talked to him.”

Everyone, even Pinkie, found that confusing. “What?”

Zecora placed her front hooves on the table and stood higher. “I think what Fluttershy is trying to say, is that the fight with the changelings was more than foul play.” She continued looking at Pinkie. “If what Shy says is true, then this story I must see through.”

Another pony stood up. “Yeah, are you really talkin’ to the bugs?”

“Are you helping their cause by making us win?”

“Are you helping them plan out another attack!?”

"Are you a tra-"

“NO!” Pinkie knocked her chair away and stood high. “N-No! I-It’s not like that...I-I would never betray the resistance!”

Zecora continued having a straight face. “Then tell us, Pinkie, are you with this fly, or is this just an outright lie?”

Pinkie couldn’t take it, every single eye was looking at her as if she was traitor to them. She knew it was only a matter of time until they would find out anyway. Might as well say it now. “O-Okay, I-I’m...or...h-he..I...I’ve been getting help...from...a changeling.”

Another chorus of gasps fell through the room. “Help!?” One said. “From those monsters?”

Another voice shouted. “I doubt those monsters want to help us!”

“Help us get destroyed, that’s what they want!”

“But Doomie’s not like that!” Pinkie blurted out before she shut her mouth with her hooves.

“Doomie?” Zecora said with a tilt of her head.

Pinkie sat down on the floor and nodded. “Y-Yeah...t-that’s his name, t-that’s the changeling I talk to every time we see each other in battle...I-It’s kinda our only chance to do something fun together...heh..eh…” She hoped others would laugh at that, but they continued to have looks of worry or concern.

“When was the first time you and this ‘Doomie’ met?” Zecora asked. “Answer, or you will regret.”

Pinkie gulped. “E-Ever since the Canterlot Disaster.”

One pony did a spit take and coughed up the rest of his drink. “That long ago?”

Pinkie couldn’t forget that day, it was one of the greatest and worst days of her life.”It was...during the attack...right after we ran from the fight…”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Canterlot, six months ago…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“AH! DOOMIE!”

“W-whut? *hic* did I do somethin’ wrong? *hic* D-Did I put it in the wrong-”

“W-why are your eyes all pink like that?”

Doomie blinked, his eyes glowing as pink as Pinkie’s coat. “Oh...yeah...they *hurp* they get like that when a cha-*hic* changelings gittin’ a little bit t*Bleck*oo much love, hemhemhhmm.”

Doomie got on top of Pinkie and started nuzzling under her chin, but she quickly pushed him to the side.

“I-Is that a bad thing?”

Doomie sat up, hitting his head on the lid. “Ouch...ugh...we shoulda *hic* shoulda found a better place, this tra*hic*can probably should’ve had some softer stuff, at least it doesn’t s*elch*ll as bad *hic*”

Pinkie still felt worried about him. “Doomie, are you sure you’re alright?”

Doomie smiled. “I’ve never *hic* felt better…” He smacked his lips and rubbed his belly. “I’m telling you right now, I’m-”

“Doomie!”

Doomie hit the top of the lid with his head again. “W-What the f*elch*?” He flicked his ear stem. “That sounds like my brother, Tom?”

“You have a brother named Tom?” Pinkie found that kinda strange for any creature to have a name as simple as that.

“Doomie? That you in there?”

Pinkie started becoming concerned. “Why are your brothers looking for you? Shouldn’t it be ponies?”

Doomie quickly shook his head, hoping most of the pink got out of his eyes. “L-Lemmy handle this.” He took a deep breath in hopes that his hiccups would go away and opened the lid while Pinkie stayed out of sight, “Hello, brothers!” He waved at the two bugs in front of the alleyway. “What can I do for *hic* you?”

The two changelings before him tapped their hooves impatiently. “Brad told us you were here with a pony, is that true?”

Doomie put on his best poker face. “Uh...n-no, why?”

“Doomie, we can see the pink in your eyes. You were feeding off her, weren’t ya?”

Doomie should’ve know it would take more than a few shakes of his head to get the pink off. . “Alright, fine, I *hic* was with a pony, but she’s gone now, so just-”

“Well then, find her!” Tom yelled. “We gotta round up as many ponies as we can?”

Doomie raised an eye. “W-We *hic* we do?”

The other brother laughed. “Doomie, how long have you been in that dumpster?”

Doomie looked down at Pinkie, hoping to get an answer from her, but she just shifted her shoulders up and looked up at him with worry. “I-I dunno, bout ten minutes. *hic* m-maybe twelve.”

Tom smiled. “Well, stinky, on those so called ten or so minutes, Chrysalis and us managed to take control of Canterlot. That silly pink princess thought she could get through Shining’s head? HAH! What an idiot!”

Pinkie quietly gasped. “They wa-mhh”

Doomie immediately put his hoof over her mouth, hoping that sudden outburst didn’t blow her cover. “W-We won?”

The brothers nodded their heads in pride, not seeming to hear what Pinkie said. ”Yup, Chrysie is rounding up the princesses while the rest of us are going to get some ponies and throw em’ in our new home to feed off of, I’ll tell ya, I was really doubting this plan, but now that it worked.” He laughed. “It’s amazing!”

Doomie nodded meekly. Part of him kinda liked how his swarm finally won something, but to win against a side that had Pinkie in it… “Uh...y-yeah...g-go us.”

Tom pointed at the street where some ponies were running and screaming in panic. “So, come on, we got ponies to wrap up.”

Doomie gulped and looked down at Pinkie. Her expression had mixed feelings of worry, sadness, and concern over this information these bugs were giving them. Luckily for Doomie, he managed to hold it together and say, “U-Uh...o-okay, give me a sec...I...g-gotta make sure a ponies not in here, right?”

Tom and Phil just looked at each other and shrugged before running out into the streets to terrorize more ponies, seeming to care more about that then a bug in a dumbster. Doomie sighed and pulled his hoof away from Pinkie, who then shot up from the trash and looked right at him. “You guys won!?”

Doomie found it hard to believe as well. “I-I guess so...I-I really had no idea we could pull this off...w-we’ve always failed at all the other places.”

Pinkie grabbed him by his shoulders. “D-Do you know what this means?”

Doomie had a few ideas. “Um...we’re gonna end up enslaving your entire kind and rule over it with an iron hoof?”

“No! It means my party’s been cancelled! H-How am I supposed to throw one when all the ponies are gonna be thrown in the dungeon!”

“We don’t have dungeons, Pinkie, we have call centers.”

“But you’re gonna have one when you take control of the castle, they’re always a dungeon in there! Then there’s gonna be major mass ruling and...”

Doomie looked out into the streets as Pinkie continued ranting. He say ponies being snatched up and taking to the sky, others stuck to the ground with gunk, and even more still running from all of them. “Oh Chrysie...w-what has she done?”

“And before you know it, we’ll be nothing but...but...Doomie?” Pinkie tapped him on the shoulder, making him snap back around and face her. “Doomie, what’s gonna happen to us?”

Doomie couldn’t answer, he knew this was probably the worst thing that could happen right now. “I...I…” He got out of the trash. “I’m sorry, Pinkie, but...but I can’t stay here."

“W-WHAT!?” Pinkie grabbed him. “Y-You’re leaving me?”

Doomie tried his hardest to not look at Pinkie, but his eyes refused to look anywhere else.. “Pie...I-I need to be with my family, cause if I stay here and they find you with me...I-It's not gonna be good for either of us, Pinkie.”

“B-But I can’t leave you, what if I never see you again?”

Without any warning, Doomie gave her a small kiss before looking right in her eyes. “I promise...I’ll see you again, just get out of here and try not to get seen by anyling!”

“W-What about my friends?”

“Find them if you can, but I can’t stay with you...m-my hive needs me...I-I...I have to go!” Doomie started to run, but took one last look at her and said. “I-I...I’m sorry, my piece of pie…” With those last words, Doomie shut the dumpster lids on top of her and ran off into the fight, leaving Pinkie in the trash.

“Doomie...”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“And then, I ran out of the dumpster, met up with my friends, and got out of that place before any other changeling could get me.”

Everyone’s jaws went to the floor after she ended that story. Some were on the verge of throwing up while others already did. “That’s how you met the bug?” Fluttershy yelled. “In the trash!?”

“Talk about gettin’ dirty.” One pony said jokingly before getting hit upside the head by Fluttershy.

Pinkie ignored the stares and continued. “It took us forever to find each other after that. I didn’t see him until the first attack they did after Canterlot.”

Zecora was still curious about all of this. “And how did that go? Surely, we should know.”

“Well…Me and my friends, Fluttershy included, tried staying at another place besides ponyville to hide from Chrysalis’s army...but...little did we know, the town we went to was one of the first ones they attacked.”

Fluttershy hung her head. “We lost them that day...didn’t we?”

Pinkie choked. “Ye...yeah...w-we lost them during that.”

Zecora was still curious, as was everyone else. “Please, Pinkie, continue your tale, forget about your friends that went..to...um…” Zecora decided not to finish that sentence. “J-just continue.”

“Okay...um...It was a few weeks after we lost, a-and me and the girls got separated after the changelings attacked, a-and I was determined to find him through all of it!”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ten miles out of Canterlot, Five in a half months ago…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Doomie?”

“W-What? No, I’m not-”

*WHAP*

“Doomie?”

“Wh-D-Does it look like I failed love class?”

*SMACK*

“Doomie?”

“No, this is Twig.”

Pinkie’s eyes twitched, not wanting to give up on finding her lingfriend during this attack, even if it meant getting herself captured. “Where! Is! Doomie!?” She grabbed his face and looked right into his eyes. “I know he’s somewhere in this fight.”

The oversized changeling looked across the area. Most of it was burnt down buildings where the surviving ponies held out until the changelings found them. “Um...he might be here...somewhere...wait, why are you looking for-”

“GRAAAAAAAAAAAH!” Pinkie put her back into it and threw the changeling behind her.

Another changeling didn’t have time to react as his overweight brother was thrown right at him, knocking him out of the air and into the ground. He rolled him off and started backing away from him. “Oooow...T-Twig! will ya watch where you’re- ACK!” The bug felt hooves wrapped around his neck from behind him. He’d struggled if it wasn’t for the sound her heard next.

“You have three seconds to tell me you’re Doomie, or this hoof is going right up-”

“P-P-Pinkie!?” The bug managed to turn around and look right into the eyes of a pony he had seen weeks ago, a pony that he’d never thought he’d see again, a pony that he...loved.

“D-Doomie?”

The bug immediately tacked her into the ground and brought her in for a fearsome kiss, which she then returned the favor. “Dah-Doomie...h-how?”

Doomie pulled her up and brought her further away from the battle. “Pinkie. I-I honestly didn't think I’d see you here...I-I thought you’d got to conyvile.”

“Ponyville.” Pinkie corrected.

“Yeah! W-why are you here and not over there?”

Pinkie frowned. “M-Me and the girls thought you would come there after the attack, b-but I guess you were one step ahead.”

“Um...a-actually, we just kinda moved to a random location and-”

“Oh no!” Pinkie pointed behind him. “L-Look.” Doomie turned around and watched as more buildings began to either topple over or burn to the ground. Pinkie took it harder than him. “T-This can’t be happening…” She said.

Doomie sighed. “It is...Pinkie...we’re really taking over now...this is the first city we’ve been to and, sooner or later, we’re coming for your home town.”

“N-Not Ponyville!”

“Yes, Ponyville!”

“I-I gotta warn my friends!” Pinkie was about to run off, but Doomie held her back.

“Pinkie,” Doomie sighed, knowing she wouldn’t take this news well. “we...we already have them…”

Pinkie’s ear flicked, thinking she didn’t hear that correctly. “I...w-what?”

“It’s true, Pinkie...we have them.” Doomie started naming off her friends. “We got the white one, the orange one, the blue one, some small lizard, and that one pony who tried to kill me a few weeks ago.”

“T-they even got Twilight!?”

“So that was her name...”

Pinkie grabbed Doomie by the arms. “What about Fluttershy?”

“That yellow one? Well, we didn’t really see her as a threat, so, we kinda just watched her run away and laughed...b-but uh...I-I didn’t laugh...that much.”

Pinkie let go and sat down, her mind having too much trouble to take all this in. “M-My friends...D-Dashie, AJ, Rare, Spikey, Twi…”

Doomie wanted to comfort her, but, seeing that more changelings were coming in, he knew now wasn’t the time. “I-I gotta go…”

Pinkie snapped out of her sorrow and grabbed Doomie again. “You can’t leave me again, Doomie! W-Who knows when I’ll see you!”

Doomie looked around the town, seeing the changelings were preoccupied with chasing and capturing ponies then look at the two of them. “Pinkie, I know for the fact the last place we’ll be looking for ponies would be the forest, because not many of them live there, right?”

Pinkie wasn’t sure. “I-I guess not.”

“J-Just see if you can get some to follow you there! M-Maybe some other pony can help you.”

“The only other creature that I’ve meet out there is Zecora, and she’s not even-”

“WE GOT HER NOW!”

Doomie and Pinkie turned around to see a small group of changelings charge at them. “Grab her, Doomie!” One shouted

Doomie started thinking fast and said, “D-Don’t worry, guys! I got her!” He grabbed Pinkie and pulled her closer to him. “Pinkie, punch me...p-punch me and run!”

Pinkie could already understand he was trying to make this look like a losing fight between the two of them, but hurting him was the last thing she wanted right now. “Wh-be-ca...D-Doomie, I-”

“HIT ME!” He yelled, knowing this was the only way to get them both out of this mess. "P-Please."

Pinkie closed her eyes and, with a broken heart, punched Doomie right in his face, sending him right into the group of bugs and making them stop in their tracks. “Da-doomie! You idiot!” One changeling yelled.

Pinkie looked around to find somewhere to run, but her only option was the one Doomie said earlier. The forest. She spun around and started running, never looking back. Her eyes were filled with tears from what was happening. Almost all her friends were captured, she had no home to run to, and she just hit her lingfriend after not seeing him for weeks. “This...t-this…”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“P-Pinkie...y-you can stop.”

Pinkie sniffed and rubbed her hooves over her eyes, trying to get the tears off. “S-Sorry...sorry...Shy...b-but, um, y-yeah, that’s what happened.” Pinkie pointed at Fluttershy. “Y-You had the same idea and went to the forest too.”

Fluttershy smiled, thankful to know her animal friends helped her when she got to her house. “So that’s how you got outta there in one piece?”

Pinkie grinned for a second before it went away. “He let me get away, saying that the only place they’d look at last would be the forest, wasn’t that sweet of him?”

“I must to say, it was a smart place for us to stay.” Zecora looked outside. “but for the ponies that come here to survive...it’s hard to have all of them thrive.”

“Zecora’s right.” Fluttershy said. “it’s not gonna be long until we start running out of rations.” She stood up from the table. “It’s becoming more of a risk for ponies to go out for food every time those bugs attack. I mean, what if they catch one of us and force them to spill the beans about this place!?”

“That’s not gonna happen!” One pony yelled. “They can punish our bodies, but they will never punish our spirit!”

“PUNISH OUR BODIES!?” One mare screamed.

“I never agreed to have any punishment on my body!” Another stallion said.

"I don't even wanna get-"

“ENOUGH!” Zecora yelled, making everypony calm down. “Now’s not the time to worry of the attacks to come, now's the time to get things in this place done!” She pointed at Pinkie. “Pie, when is their next attack?”

Pinkie fidgeted. “D-Doomie said that it’ll be next week, a-at nightfall.”

“Then that’s the amount of time we have before they act.” Zecora started walking around the room. “Ponies, I know things look bleak, horrible, hopeless," She pointed at Pinkie. "but what Pinkie has told us may bring us success.” Most ponies nodded in agreement, making Pinkie feel better about telling them about the affair.

Fluttershy flew above the room. “Not just her, but us! We can take anything on! We can save everypony!”

"For as long we we have the everypony's assistance,” Zecora raised her hoof, making others do the same. “noling will ever defeat-”

“THE RESISTANCE!” The ponies yelled before a small ruckus of cheers fell through. Pinkie was excited at first, but sat down again, worried about something else.

Fluttershy noticed and flew down to her. “You okay, Pinkie? W-We’re not mad at you for-”

“It’s not that.” Pinkie explained. “It’s about...him.” She turned to the window and sighed. “I just hope Doomie's taking the failure okay.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“YOU LOST THEM AGAIN!?”

Doomie and his other brothers couldn’t stop shaking as their queen looked down at all of them from her throne, her eyes filled with hate. “Y-Yes. My queen.” The lead-ling said shamefully. “T-They ambushed us...again.”

“Again?” Chrysalis growled. “Tell me, Stan. How did it happen this time? Was one soldier arrogant? Did someling make a noise to give away a position? Was there a cause for this or were you all just being STUPID again!?”

Stan gulped. “W-We’re trying our best, my queen...w-we just-”

“Your best? YOUR BEST!?” Chrysalis slammed her hoof on the ground, making all the bugs fall to the floor and causing an echo throughout the halls of the Canterlot castle. “If you were trying your best, you would’ve had them by now! You’ve destroyed towns, cities, empires, and now you can’t find a single village in a forest?”

Stan managed to get on all fours again. “I-It’s harder than it sounds, my queen.”

Chrysalis narrowed her eyes, the black slits staring right into her sons and daughters souls. “Children, I’m not an idiot, I know what’s going on here.”

“Y-You do?” Stan and the others weren’t sure what she was talking about, except for Doomie, who was lower on the ground than the others.

Chrysalis started pacing around the top steps of her throne room. “Every story I hear back from the children have all been the same. An ambush,” She mocked. “ponies managed to get us, we were surrounded, they were too strong and always outnumbered us!” Chrysalis stopped pacing and looked at them again. “They seem to always know where you children are at every time, at every place, at every moment.” She started eyeing everyone of them. “There’s only one explanation.”

One changeling raised his arm. “Ponies are starting to become smarter than us?”

Another arm raised. “The ponies know our tactics and strategies?”

“They use alicorn magic to deduce our weara-”

“NO!” Chrysalis screamed. “You idiots! There’s a traitor among us!”

Doomie’s heart skipped a beat while the others raised an eye. “A-A traitor, your majesty?” Stan questioned. “H-How can you be sure?”

Chrysalis looked at each one of them individually. “I know you children are loyal, but I know some can be loyal to others, others who they care more about than us! Others they’d rather help than be apart of the hive, others...” The queen laid her eyes on Doomie. “that they love more than food.”

Doomie almost broke after she said that, but he managed to keep his cool and look back at her without fear, she didn’t seem to care and just looked away from all of them. Stan straightened himself up. “S-So...you think...a-a traitor in our hive, my queen?”

The queen didn’t answer, she knew she didn’t, she knew her children would find out the answer for themselves. “Leave.” She said coldly. “Leave and prepare the children for the next recon mission.”

The changelings bowed. “Yes, my queen.” They all said in unison before turning to the doors and marching off.

Chrysalis groaned and sat down on her throne, now having a headache from all of this. “Ugh...those bugs...I need to relax.” She thought about what to do, thinking of only one way to help calm her down. “Maybe the unicorn has softened up by now.”

Doomie was the only one in the group to crane his head behind him to see the queen go in the next room, knowing that he’d have to tell the three top prisoners. He sighed and looked ahead as the throne room doors closed.

“You’re gonna be fine, Doomie...you’re gonna be just...fine.”

Night...186

“You bugs are gonna be in a world of trouble for keeping us behind these bars. When our friends find out what you’ve done to us while we’ve been in here, you’ll-”

“Regret it…” The changeling guard said in annoyance. “Listen, ya rainbow haired freak, every dang day you sit in that cell and always go on a rant about somepony getting you out, and every single day, what happens?” He waited for her to finish, but the pegasus just turned away and let go of the bars in front of her. “Come on, pony, what happens?”

“No one comes…” An orange pony across from Dash said in depression while leaning against the wall of her own cell.

The guard slowly clapped his hooves. “Give the little horse a prize. Yes, nopony comes to save your flanks, and it ain’t gonna happen anytime soon, so, I suggest shutting up before we cut your meal plans again.”

The cyan coloredmare gritted her teeth. “Like I actually like the slop you give us! You know how bad that stuff is.”

The earth pony cleared her throat, wanting Dash to shut up. “Dash, I really don’t wanna see ya starve again, so stop yellin’ and just go back to your exercises.”

Dash ran up to her cell bars and wrapped her hooves around them, her head trying to pop out with no avail. “I’ll do my wing ups when I feel like it, AJ!”

Applejack glared at her while the guard smirked. “Heh, you ponies and your hopes and dreams of getting out of this place, it’s kinda pathetic.”

In a fit of rage, Dash tried pulling on the bars for the fifth time today and failed again, landing on her back. Applejack facehoofed. “Dash! will ya stop doin’ that! You know it’s not gonna work.”

“It will one day!” Dash yelled. “And when it does, the first thing I’m gonna do is rip that spear off that bugs hooves and shove it right-”

The changeling held the tip of the spear inches away from her face, making her reel her head back. “You ain’t gettin’ out of there, ya winged weirdo, and you two should be lucky you get a cell like this all to yourselves. Your unicorn friend has is worse than you.” He pointed his spear at Dash again, making her back away from the bars.

“Which one?” Applejack asked. “Twi.” She turned to her left, where the last cell was, holding a white unicorn who was curled up in a corner with her face on her legs “Or Rare?”

The guard shrugged innocently and walked up to Rarity’s cell. “I dunno, but I'm sure it's not the one who deserves a muzzle for twelve hours a day with how much she whines.”

Rarity instantly ran right up to him and snarled. Her hooves would’ve made contact with him if the bars weren’t so close together. “Hmm mhmm hmm!” She mumbled through the muzzle.

The changeling laughed while Applejack glared at him. “Puttin' that thing on 'er mouth and stickin' gunk on her horn is sick, ya know that?”

The guard shrugged and looked over at Applejack “At least we let ya keep your hat, and the way we treat you mares are better than what the queen does to your twinkle friend.” He raised a hoof to his ear stem and leaned toward the steel door at the end of the room. “I think I can almost hear that unicorn friend of yours giving answers.”

AJ didn’t even want to know what went on in the room Twilight was held in, she stopped thinking about it after she heard about magical torture being worse than physical. “Twi has held out for five months, and I doubt she’d ever tell you bugs anything about the resistance.”

The guard rubbed his chin. “I could never really understand why you think a ragtag bunch of ponies in a forest will save you from an empire.”

“Hmmhrph hmm hrph Rfgmh!” Rarity mumbled loudly.

Dash stood tall. “Rarity’s right! They will save us...eventually.”

The guard rolled his eyes. “Yeah, you keep tellin’ yourself that, I’m sure it’ll make you sleep better at night.”

Applejack glanced at her bed, which was nothing but a pile of hay the changelings provided them. “S’better than where ya keep the rest of the ponies.”

The changeling held a hoof to his mouth and gasped. “Why, whatever do you mean? We make sure all the ponies we’ve captured be taken with the utmost care.”

Dash punched the bars, causing a ding sound to eco. “You shove them in a cocoon and hang them upside down in a section of this castle that’s just rows and rows of them!” she shouted. “You changelings are monsters...treating ponies like food.”

“But they are food.” The guard said. “And they will be nothing but until their lives give out, but until then, they’re gonna be stuck in those things for a long time, just like you three, minus the cramped living space.”

Applejack slumped on the right wall. “If ah hear another word about what goes on in this room, I’ll-”

The changeling laughed. “You’ll what? Hurt me? Break out? Cause us more chaos than that stupid goat? Cause if we can deal with him, we can deal with you.”

“Mhh hm mph hrrmpy mmh HRRph!” Rarity mumbled.

The guard chuckled. “Keep mumblin’ ya stick head, ain’t gonna make your life any better

Applejack was getting sick of what this changeling was calling them. “She’s a unicorn, ya insect.”

“And you’re a filthy mud runner, you’re point?”

AJ held back her words and actions that would cause the bug so much pain if it weren’t for the bars that separated them. “Mud runner or not, when I get outta here…” She pointed at her legs. “these legs are gonna kick. Your. A-”

*CREAK*

The changeling and ponies looked toward the door, seeing another changeling wearing a green rag on his head and holding three trays of green gunk on his head and back. “I’m here, Jack.”

Dash scratched her head. “It’s been five hours already.”

Jack the changeling laughed. “You’re still wearing that old rag? You look like an idiot, you know that?”

Doomie rolled his eyes. “Yeah, well, believe it or not, it really intimidates the ponies, ain’t that right?” He looked at the three mares in the cells, all of them glad to see him again.

Rainbow Dash tried her best to act terrified. “Uh...yeah, it sure is pretty scary, really intimidating.”

Applejack got up. “Yup, it makes ya look pretty tough, too.”

“Hmm phf hmmphf.” Rarity muttered.

Jack glared at them while Doomie put on a smirk. “Told ya.”

Jack propped his spear on his back and started walking out, standing close enough to Doomie and whispering,. “Make sure the rainbow one gets the least amount, and be really careful about taking off that muzzle on the white one, I dunno how you do it without a scratch on ya, but make sure she puts it on again before you leave.”

Doomie saluted. “Don’t worry, Jack, I got it from here.”

Jack eyed him and looked back at the ponies, hoping they wouldn’t hear this next bit of information, “You better keep an eye out, I heard the queen talk about a traitor walkin’ around here, they could be anyone of us in this hive, so, be on the top part of your hooves, got it.”

Doomie continued saluting, internally scared for his life. “I got it covered.”

Jack nodded and made his way out, once the door finally shut, Doomie walked in between all the cells and sighed in relief. “Is he gone?” Dash asked.

Doomie set the trays on the floor and leaned on Dash’s cell. “Looks like it, anyways, how’s life been treatin’ ya, Rango?”

Dash glared at him. “It’s Rainbow, and life been treating me like sh-”

Applejack coughed. “Life’s been okay for us, we’ve been workin’ out a bit to build our strength when we get outta here. Which should be any day now.”

Doomie figured that she would still be impatient about the plan. “Listen, I promise I’ll break you guys out soon, I just need time.”

“You’ve been sayin’ that for months now, Doomie.” Applejack slumped back to the wall on the far end of her cell. “How much time do ya need?”

“I just need to wait for Steve to finally quit his job as a night guard. That stupid insect has gone on long enough to guard you three through the night, and I know the place well enough to get you guys out without anyone even noticing.”

“You don’t even remember our names.” Dash pointed out. “How can you remember a castle like this?”

Doomie crossed his arms. “Names are just harder for me.”

Dash didn’t want to ask and decided to ask more important questions. “So, how was the morning mission? Did you meet up with Pinkie?”

Doomie smiled. “The mission was a complete failure, I made sure to Tell her that ya still hate it here, and she still misses you gals.”

“What about Shy?” Applejack asked. “Is she feelin’ the same way?”

Doomie shrugged. “Pinkie didn’t tell me, but I’m sure she does

“Hmm mhh hmrphhfth?” Rarity asked.

Dash nodded. “Yeah, what about Twilight? D-Did you manage to get a glimpse of her?”

Doomie was afraid they’d ask him this. “She’s...been better. After the queen yelled at us, she went into her tor...er, prison room and...uh-”

“Don’t.” Applejack said. “Don’t say it, Doomie. I don’t wanna hear it, I just want somethin’ to eat, so hoof over the food, will ya?”

Doomie faced her, eyes filled with determination. "I'll get her out too. I promises, and it'll probably be easier since the queen leaves her in there without any guards anyways."

"Hmmphf hemf?" Rarity asked.

Doomie smiled. "Because the queen says the chains on all her limbs and neck, the things she goes through, and the gunk on her horn makes her-"

"DOOMIE!" Applejack yelled. "Stop...talking...and give us...the food."

Realizing what a touchy subject he brought up, he decided to drop it and look down at the trays of ‘food’, which were just the green gunk they used to hold up the cocoons. Dash gagged. “What make you bugs think we can stomach this stuff?”

Doomie shrugged and held up one of the trays. “It’s nutritious, Okay. We changelings ate it when we were hatchlings and they helped us grow big and strong, so...” He leaned the food closer to her, making her back up. “eat up.”

Dash then noticed something. “Uh...why’s my stuff smaller than their servings? Not that I’m saying I want more.”

Applejack decided to answer. “Probably because they cut ya down...again.” Applejack turned to Doomie “Give her some of mine.”

Rainbow Dash wanted to object, but her stomach told her not to with a loud growl. Doomie noticed and said, “You’ve had your rations cut five times this week, Django, and every time it’s gotten less and less, so just eat the stuff.”

“It’s Rainbow Dash, and why’d ya put a D in front of it?”

Doomie smiled and grabbed some of AJ’s lunch, throwing it on Dash’s with a splat. “The D’s silent.” He set the tray on a wide, cut off section on the row of bars for food to come through, he carefully slid it in while Dash held her hooves out to catch it.

“Why can’t we have water during lunch?” Dash asked as she set the tray on the floor. “Why’s it always at dinner time?”

“Water’s pretty hard to get for you ponies.” Doomie walked over to Applejack and did the same. “Here’s yours, Eppaljeck”

“AppleJack.”

“Isn’t that what I said?”

AJ didn’t say anything and just took the tray out of his hooves through the slot, dropping it on the ground without worry of it spilling. Doomie shrugged and walked over to give Rarity her serving. After her first hard gulp, Rainbow Dash realized she didn't even say,“T-thanks AJ.”

Applejack swallowed hard on the piece of green gunk. “Brrleh...don’t mention it, sugar cube.”

Dash grabbed another piece and held it up to eye level, her stomach saying yes while her tastebuds said no. “C-Can’t ya just get some real pony food from Pinkie?” She asked Doomie.

“And risk getting caught with pony food?” Doomie asked as he waited for Rarity to come close enough to help undo the straps on her muzzle. Once she had the back of her head facing him, he started undoing the straps through the bars with his magic. “I’ve explained this already, Dosh.”

“Dash.”

“Whatever, anyways, Pinkie has also been trying to get food for her ponies too, but she doesn’t have the heart to do it. I’ve heard that it’s been harder for them to find food the longer they’re out there.” He pointed at Dash’s ‘food’. “The stuff you’re eating now is almost the combined size of the ponies rations per day.”

Applejack was almost too afraid to ask. “How many mouths do they need ta feed?”

Doomie frowned and undid the last slime bind on Rarity’s muzzle. “Last time Pinkie told me, it was over seventy.”

Rarity gasped as the muzzle finally came off and yelled, “Seventy ponies!? How can you feed that many ponies with food the size of that!” She pointed at her food.

Doomie bit his lip, knowing that there were probably more now. “I don’t know, Fairity.”

“RARity!” She yelled as she reluctantly took the tray of food. “You really need to brush up on pony names, Darling.”

Doomie shrugged. “At least I remember her name.”

“When are ya gonna meet Pinkie again anyways?” Applejack asked.

“In a few days.” Doomie smiled. “We’re gonna be meeting-”

“By the waterfall in the moonlight.” Dash said mockingly and took another bite reluctantly. “An’t ou ouw unng finah a plahs ta.” She swallowed. “Bleah...a place that’s not the same every time?”

Rarity gasped dramatically. “Where else are they supposed to spend their time together?” She said, holding her hooves together and smiled. “I can only imagine the things you two love birds do in that place. It must be so wonderful.”

“Whe...Well, we try.” Doomie couldn’t hold back his blush. This mare would always give him love advice whenever she talked to him, and it did work at times, though, Pinkie could always guess it was things Rarity told him. “S-She usually knows the things I say are from you, though.”

Rarity smiled and raised an eye. “You better have been taking my advice, Doomie, I know what a mare like her needs in times like this.”

Dash snickered. “Don’t ya mean what you need?”

“Oh, hush. Dash, what do you know about love?”

Dash held up another piece of slop, waiting for the right moment to take a bite. “I know enough that getting love advice from you is not a smart thing to do.”

Doomie laughed. “Then it’s a miracle that I’m not that smart, ain’t it?”

Rarity laughed. “Doomie, don’t say something like that. You are smart...just...in different ways.”

Doomie cocked his head. “Like what?”

Realizing saying that was a mistake, Rarity started coming up with something nice to say. “Um...w-well...uh.”

The door swong open and Doomie immediately stood in attention. “Doomie!” The next guard on watch yelled. “Shift’s over, I’ll take it from here.”

"fifteen minutes already? Doomie frowned while Rarity wiped off sweat from the top of her brow. “Alright, alright.” Doomie said. “You don’t have to be so professional about it.”

“These are the elements, Doomie! They are the most important prisoners in this place, just think of what could happen if they were let out!” The guard shivered, not even wanting to know.

Doomie just shrugged and said, “I’m sure we can handle something like them.” He turned to Rarity and winked, knowing she was probably one of the most dangerous mares he’d ever met.

The guard didn’t notice and extended his hoof. “Hoof over the muzzle, Doomie. Little Miss annoying needs it after she’s done with her slop.”

Rarity would’ve made a rude remark if her mouth wasn’t full of said slop. Doomie grinned nervously and gave him the muzzle. “Uh...a-are you sure you're okay with putting it on her?”

The guard shrugged. “Eh, how hard can it be.”

Doomie decided not to question it and make his way to the doors, nodding at Applejack and Rainbow Dash before he left. He shut the door and sighed, knowing that theses next few days were gonna be long the more he thought about meeting up with Pinkie. He started walking off, but not before jumping in surprise once he heard sounds of pain come from the room, he could only guess Rarity found some way to hurt him.

“Heh...crazy mare.”

Meet...Up

Pinkie sat patiently on the grass that covered the entire forest, looking around in anticipation. She had been waiting for at least five minutes, which felt to her like five hours. “Come on, where is that bug?” She continued swinging her head back and forth, keeping an eye out.

She looked at her wrist, seeing that her invisible watch was going slower every time she looked at it. She sighed and looked up again, seeing the waterfall in front of her. The small pool that formed in front of it was practically begging her to jump in, but she had to wait for Doomie.

Another five minutes passed. She started getting worried at this point, she knew both of them didn’t have much time to spend together, seeing as how both their factions were waiting for them to get back after separating from the patrol, Pinkie was just glad her excuse of being too tired worked, but she had a feeling her friends knew what she was up to after she told them about her relationship with the changeling.

Pinkie then remembered that she would soon have to tell him about it, and she was sure that he wouldn’t take the news well. It almost made her not want to see him, but missing out on an opportunity to be alone together was insane to think of. “Geeze, I hope he’ll take it okay, I can only imagine what would happen to him if he told the queen about this, she’d probably-”

*WAM*

In seconds, Pinkie found herself pinned to the ground, her back against the grass and her arms held down by a dark figure right above her. She would’ve yelled for help if it wasn’t for the blue eyes and green rag that were right above her. “Oh...hi, little buggy.”

The creature on top of her chuckled. “Pony, I’m afraid I’m gonna have to take you in for your crimes against changeling kind.”

Pinkie looked up innocently. “But buggy, I have a lingfriend who’s supposed to be here any moment, I can’t leave now.”

The changeling leaned close to her ear, the moonlight shining enough for her to see his face. “Who said I’ll make you leave.”

“Hmmm?” Pinkie said seductively.

The blue eyes above her closed halfway and said, “All I said was...I’m taking you...in.”

Knowing that she could’ve done this from the start, Pinkie pulled her arms away from being pinned and wrapped them around her lingfriend’s neck. “I missed you, Doomie.” She said, pulling him in for a kiss, only to have him sit up before she had a chance, making her do the same.

“I missed you too, Pie.” Doomie said, leaning in and locking his lips with her’s. They continued this embrace for several minutes. Soft moans escaped their mouths and the tongues continued wrapping around each other, with Doomies always having the upper hoof. Pinkie giggled through the kiss and leaned in more, knowing she had an upper hoof in strength.

As the makeout session finally came to a close, Doomie and Pinkie looked over at the waterfall, smiling. “Ready?” Pinkie asked.

“Ready.” Doomie responded, taking a head start and running into the small pool that formed in front of the running water.

Pinkie shook her hindquarters like a cat and jumped toward Doomie, managing to leap on top of him and use him as a diving board, hitting the water with a splash. Doomie just smiled and leapt after her, soaring just over her head and landing a few feet away. “I win!” Pinkie yelled.

Doomie popped his head out of the water, managing to suck some in his mouth and spray it at Pinkie. “That’s no fair! You used me as leverage.”

Pinkie just laughed and wiped the water off her face. “Like I’d ever use you, Doomie.” She then swam over to him.

“Well, I’m sure there are some things you can use me for.” Doomie said as she finally made contact.

“Liiiiiike?” Pinkie raised an eye, waiting for a response that she knew would be inappropriate.

Doomie decided to play it safe and say. “You can use me for...um, a...uh…” Unfortunately, Doomie couldn’t think of anything to say that wasn’t dirty.

Pinkie giggled at this and rested her hooves on his shoulders. “Whatever it is, I’m sure you’d like it too.”

“Yeah, probably.” Doomie laughed

Pinkie dunked her head underwater and sprang back out. “Ahhh...now this is a swimming spot, the waters just the right temperature.”

Doomie looked around the pool, trying to figure out just why the water was warm even thought it was night time. “Got any idea how it’s like this, it’s not exactly a hot springs.”

Pinkie shrugged. “I dunno, but it is pretty good, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, it is…” Doomie then noticed how the water affected her look. “I have to say, your manes looks pretty nice when it’s wet like this.”

Pinkie noticed that her poofy mane was now so soaked that it was no longer all over the place and instead hanging down from her head, some of it floating on the water. “You sure you like it? Some ponies get creeped out when my hair’s like this. They were even more creeped out when I got a haircut too.”

“Hair doesn’t make the mare, Pinkie.” Doomie just smiled and brought his hoof up to her head, trailing down the long strands until his hoof was at the back of her neck. “And how could anything about you be creepy anyway? I’d think it’d be me that’d creep others out.”

Pinkie looked behind him, seeing that the fin on his neck was having the same effect. “At least your...uh ‘hair’ makes you look the same; wet or dry.”

Doomie tried his hardest to look at the fins on the back of his head, but after several spins, he knew it was impossible without a mirror. “Heh, well, I still look good, right?”

“You look good no matter what.” She rubbed her nose against his. “Well, except for when you’re not yourself.”

Doomie’s earstems flopped. “Are you sure you like me like this, I can be anyone you want me to be, Pinkie.”

“But all I want is you. Because I know the real you is the one I fell in love with.”

Doomie blushed. “I guess...no, I know that’s true.”

Pinkie laughed and reached up to head, fixing the rag that surrounded it. “How’s the green bandanna holding up, is it better than the last thing I gave you?”

Doomie ended up adjusting it himself. “Eh, It’s better than that pink ribbon ya put on my horn. The changelings kept calling me sprinkles or cupcake after wearing that. At least this time they just say I look like an idiot.” He ended with a smile.

Pinkie felt bad for him again. “Why do your brothers have to be so mean to you?”

Doomie shrugged. “They’re mean to everyone. Ponies, other changelings, other monsters, everyone except for the queen, it’s her job to be mean to us.”

“Well that’s just...just...mean.”

Doomie nodded. “Yup, a bug’s life is a strange one, isn’t it?”

“I-I guess so...b-but you won’t be living that life anymore once we free the ponies, right?”

“Yup, no more bully brothers.” Doomie sighed. “I’m gonna miss the daily fights, constant name calling, and all the yelling and hollering once you guys defeat us.”

“Really?”

Doomie laughed. “Like HAY I’ll miss it!”

Pinkie laughed too, grateful to hear that Doomie understood just how bad his side was. She then looked up at the moon, still seeing the same markings on it. “You think they’re okay?”

Doomie looked up as well, knowing who she was talking about. “Eh, I’m sure phoona and Keelestia can stand being banished to the moon. I heard the younger sister had to deal with that for a thousand years, can’t be that bad.”

Pinkie was surprised to hear Doomie talk about her history, even though he said their names wrong again. “Wh-Where did you find that out?”

“That library of yours has a lot of stuff on you ponies, most of the changelings were looking in the magic section for spells and powers while I snuck into the history books, it was a good read.”

“You, reading books? On history of all things?”

Doomie was a little offended. “Hey, I’m getting a whole lot smarter after sitting down and reading stuff, I’m in the top hundred of smart changelings.”

“What rank?”

“Ninety nine.” Doomie answered with a smug grin.

Pinkie rolled her eyes. “Nice to hear about you, but...what about my friends? A-Are they doing okay?”

Doomie still couldn’t understand the bond she had with her friends, since he never really had a friend besides Pinkie, and even then it was on a greater level. “They’re doing...better, but they keep asking when I’ll break them out...i-it’s really-”

Pinkie pulled him closer. “Doomie, I know we can do it, I know it’s gonna be a while, and I know doing so will probably be the most dangerous thing you do, but I want you to know that I believe in you, you understand?”

Doomie kissed her before bringing her in for a hug. “That answer your question?” He said, closing his eyes as they embraced. “I promise I’ll do it, just as long as no one finds out about us, we’ll be ay okay.”

Pinkie hugged back, knowing that she’d have to tell him this sooner or later, but she couldn’t figure out how to say it.“Doomie...I have to tell you something.”

He started nuzzling the side of her face. “What is it, pie?”

Pinkie bit her lip, deciding to be direct with this. “They know.”

Doomie stopped and opened his eyes. “W-what?”

Pinkie pulled away from him and looked him straight in the eyes. “They know, Doomie. T-The ponies know about me and...and you…”

“W-what!?” Doomie swam back a bit. “T-They know about us...a-and me...a-and how we...a-and-”

“Yes, Doomie...t-they figured it out. It was after the fight we had a bit ago...th-they were always suspicious about me being right about when and where you guys would attack.” Pinkie looked down at the water, seeing her own sad expression. “I-It was only a matter of time, Doomie.”

“A-Are they mad? D-Did they cast you out? Cause if they can’t handle me with you then-”

“No! N-Nonono, t-they took it well...sorta” Pinkie tapped her hooves together. “T-They were pretty surprised, b-but after I told them how you helped us, they really felt...happy.”

“Happy?” Doomie swam closer. “T-They’re happy about us being together.”

Pinkie would’ve said they were happy that both of them were helping the resistance and not about their relationship, but she decided to go with the latter. “They didn’t mind at all. In fact, they think it’s cute, even Fluttershy found it adorable.”

“What about your leader? What’d she have to say..or, rhyme in her language.”

“She took it well too.” Pinkie started fidgeting. “I-I’d ask you to do the same with you and the queen, but I’m pretty sure your family wouldn’t take it as well as my friends did.”

Doomie laughed. “Yeah, probably not.” He then noticed her invisible watch and frowned. “Aw geez...is it really that time?”

Pinkie looked at her wrist and frowned too. “Guess so, this things always on time, b-but we’ll see each other again.”

“I’m sure we will.” He gave her another kiss before saying, “I better get going. My patrol’s probably getting mad at me for being separated for so long.”

Pinkie smiled. “I’m sure my side will understand why I’m gone for so long, as for you, you better get going before they yell at you.”

Doomie swam up to the shoreline and got out of the water, shaking until he was dry. “They’ll yell at me regardless.”

Pinkie got out and shook her head and backside, her mane and tail now back to being poofy. “I’ll see you later, little bug~”

Doomie started walking out into the forest, waving behind him. “Love you, little pie!”

Pinkie waved back and walked back to camp. “Love you too, little fly!”

Both of them continued looking at each other as they walked away, it wasn’t until the trees and brushes blocked their view from each other that they faced forward, Doomie used his wings and flew off while Pinkie simply walked through the woods.

She was almost home, but she stopped once her ear flicked, hearing sounds of distress. “Huh?” Pinkie turned to where the noise was, knowing it couldn’t be Doomie. “He never makes a noise that high pitched before, and he doesn’t whine either.”

Pinkie heard the high pitched whining again, hearing that it was coming from a nearby bush. She cautiously walked up to it, knowing it could be anything. “Careful, Pie...careful.” She stood in front of it, deciding whether or not she should see what it was, but knowing the noise wouldn’t stop, she pulled the brush away, finding out just who was shouting out cries of distress. “What the-”

Deep inside was a light grey, purple haired filly with small wings, curled up in a ball with tears in her eyes. Pinkie’s heart immediately broke once she saw this. “Oh...oh my...a-are you hurt little girl?” The filly responded with another whimper, scooting back and shaking. Pinkie held her hoof out to her “Don’t worry.l. It’s okay, I’m not gonna hurt ya.”

After a bit, the filly finally approached her hoof, having Pinkie pull her out and into her arms “It’s okay. Pinkie has a nice and warm place for you to stay. Would you like that?” The little filly only nodded, still silent as Pinkie put her on her back. Pinkie put on a caring smile and made her way back home As she walked toward the camp, the filly smiled and looked behind her, knowing this was the start of a new life, both for her and for...them.

Night...Time

“Doomie, why do you ALWAYS go so far out?”

Doomie shrugged innocently as him and his siblings made their way back to the castle. “I just need to make sure no one’s trying to sneak in.”

“By taking over half an hour to split up from the three of us? Me and Skippy here were worried you got lost in this city...again.”

Skippy nodded. “Yeah, me and Mike-”

“Mike and I.” Doomie corrected with a smug grin, getting hit on the head by the wooden end of Mike’s spear.

“As Skippy was saying, me and her are getting pretty sick of you constantly scouting ahead of us. I mean, what happens if ponies are trying to break in from where we were, we’d be one ling short in a fight.”

Doomie laughed. “I’m pretty sure you two can handle any fight that comes your way.”

“But we ca-” Skippy paused.”R-Really?”

Doomie nodded. “Really really.”

Both changelings looked at each other and smiled while Doomie looked ahead, knowing that’s all he needed to say to make them forget about him going too far from Canterlot. As they continued walking, Mike decided to ask, “So, who do you guys think the traitor is?”

Skippy rolled her eyes while Doomie quickly turned away. “Oh please, like someling’s dumb enough to be a traitor.” Skippy chuckled. “I seriously doubt there even is a traitor in our swarm, maybe it’s just the queen being too nervous.”

Mike dropped his jaw. “Are you calling the queen a liar?”

“I ain’t calling her a truther.” Skippy responded.

Mike growled. “Doomie, what about you?”

“W-Whuahuh?” Doomie said, trying his hardest to stay cool.

"Do you think there’s a traitor in our swarm?" Mike asked. “because I’m pretty sure no one is that brainless, stupid, idiotic, evil, horrible, disgusting-”

“NO!”

Skippy and Mike stepped back once Doomie yelled that word. Doomie stared at both of them and panted heavily. “Uhhh, Doomie?” Skippy said. “You okay? It was just a question.”

Doomie stood straight, trying to calm down. “Y-Yeah, I’m fine...i-it’s just that...uh, h-hearing about a traitor gets me kinda...tense...l-like any moment a brother's gonna stab one of us in the back, right?”

Mike nodded. “I gotta agree, can’t stop watching my back ever since she told us bout it.” He then took his first step up the stairs, the other changelings did the same.

“But how do you know there is one?” Skippy said. “For all we know, the queen could be making it up to keep us on edge.”

“You really think the queen would do that?” Mike asked as they finally reached the front doors.

Skippy nodded and opened the doors, all of them walking into the main hall. “I’m pretty sure the queen’s just being a-”

"CHILDREN!”

The three changelings instantly dropped to the ground, knowing they had to if they ever heard that voice in such a high tone. Mike managed to look up and say. “Q-Q-Qu...Queen?” He stuttered.

Green flamed erupted in front of them, a large, angry looking queen stood above them once the flames went out. “Children, I need to talk to you.”

Skippy gulped, thinking she overheard their conversation. “U-Uh...a-about what...m-my queen?”

Chrysalis’s face was expressionless. “I have good hearing, children, so I think you know exactly what I’m going to say.”

Skippy’s crawled up to her mother’s legs before grabbing onto them, slightly sobbing. “I-I...ey swear...I-I didn’t mean it...i-it was...I-I was….w-we-”

“I found out who betrayed us.”

Skippy stopped panicking while Doomie started. “Wh-What?” Skippy said, backing up.

“So there was a traitor!” Mike punched Skippy in the arm. “I told you she was right.”

“Oh yes. I did. I found out who was betraying the hive, it was so obvious...the answer was right in front of my face the whole time. I should’ve guessed it from the start. it was…” Doomie shut his eyes, knowing this was the end. He knew it would only be a matter of time, he just wished it wasn’t- “STEVE!”

Doomie opened one of his eyes. “W-who?”

Mike sat up. “Steve? The nightwatchling? What makes you think he’s-”

“Wasn’t it obvious?” Chrysalis yelled. “He’s always a part of the fights out there, he spends a lot of time with the elements, and he’s probably able to slip right under our noses during the night. I knew he was the one. He had to be. There was no other choice!”

Mike and Skip looked at each other while Doomie felt like a huge load fell off his back. “So...uh, where is he?” Skippy asked.

“Oh...I wouldn’t worry about him anymore.” Chrysalis said in the darkest tone possible. “I managed to see him just before his shift a while ago, and I’ve...dealt with him. Luckily, you three came in just as I was on my way to find out who will take his shift.

Mike gulped while Doomie’s ear stems went in the air. “U-Uh...s-so, w-who’s gonna-”

“Doomie will be in charge of watching the elements from here on out.”

Doomie’s eyes widened, unable to believe his luck. “Y-You’re putting me in charge?”

Chrysalis nodded. “Normal, I’d let Mike do it, but last I checked, he wasn’t interested.”

Mike nodded. “Yeah...I’d rather not spend an entire six hours guarding while making sure something doesn’t sneak up on me, I gotta weak heart, you know.”

“So...me, guarding those three ponies...all night...for six hours...just me?”

“I know it’s a boring task, child, but I’m sure you can handle it.” Chrysalis pointed at his head. “And will you take that stupid bandanna off your head. It’s really embarrassing to see you wearing it.”

Mike and Skippy snickered while Doomie took it of reluctantly. “Um...o-okay, so, when do I start?”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Right now.”

Doomie was then shoved into the cell room by his queen, making the changeling guard inside jolt in surprise. “Have fun.” Chrysalis said before slamming the door shut.

“Doomie?” The guard sat up, surprised to see someone else take the night shift. “What are you doin’ here? You the new night guard or somethin’?”

Doomie sat up and shrugged innocently. “Guess so, seeing as how Steve is a dirty traitor, am I right?”

Carson raised an eye while the ponies started waking up from all the noises. “So, it was Steve all along?” Carson asked, getting a nod in response. “Heh...who’da thought.” Carson then handed him the spear with three sets of keys hanging on the tip. “Well, if that’s the case, then here’s to your new job, may it bore you to no end.” Once Doomie took the spear and keys, Carson made a dash to the door. “No backsies!” He yelled before slamming the door shut.

“Heh...idiot.” Doomie walked up to the nearest cell and clanked the bars with the spear.. “Ey, Tangro! wake up!”

The blue pegasus groaned. “My names RAINBOW!” She stood up and grabbed the bars, preparing to pull. “Can’t you just let...me...w-wait, who are you? Steve doesn’t have that long of a neck.”

Doomie held a green rag in front of her. “Who do you think it is?” He said, wrapping the fabric around his head and tying it.

Rainbow Dash’s jaw hung open. “D-Doomie? Y-You’re a nightguard now?”

Doomie couldn’t stop smiling. “I am now, thanks to Chrysalis.”

“Thanks to who now?” Doomie turned around to see Applejack in her bed of hay. “Wait a tick...Doomie? That you?”

Doomie took a stance. “In the carapace!”

“Cmmhhph?”

Doomie turned right to see Rarity holding the bars, the muzzle secure on her face. “Carapace.” Doomie repeated, tapping his back. “Ya know, the stuff we-”

“Mhph hmmhp hffpmhy hmmph hnnm?”

Dash nodded. “Yeah! It’s about time you got this job! I was starting to think it would take another month."

"Way way wait!" Applejack got out of bed. “Lemme get this straight. Your queen thought some other bug was a traitor, which was the night guard, and decided to make you of all bugs take his place?”

Doomie shrugged and opened Dash's cell. “Pretty much. I just heard that Chrysalis banished Steve and let me take his place as night guard, That's pretty lucky, huh?”

“Yeah.” Applejack said. “That is lucky...too lucky.”

“Don’t ruin the moment!” Doomie shouted, twirling the keys that belonged to AJ’s and Rarity’s cells. He handed Applejack’s key to Dash. “I’ll go get Chairady.”

“Rarity.” Dash corrected, only for Doomie to ignore her and help Rarity out as well. Meanwhile, Dash smiled smugly at Applejack. “So, are you gonna say it?”

AJ raised an eye. “Say what?”

Dash waved the key in front of her. “Ya know, about me being right about that bug freeing us and you being wrong about us staying in here forever.”

Applejack sighed. “Dash, ah still think we’re in danger, don’t ya think it’s kinda weird how this happened, I mean, look!” Applejack pointed at Doomie, who was currently getting a hug from Rarity. “You think she would pick him of all bugs to watch us when he’s been doing so much shady stuff.”

Dash rolled her eyes. “Sounds like you just don’t believe in luck when you see it.”

Applejack was still suspicious. “Doomie, how long ago did ur queen find the ‘traitor’?”

Doomie got the muzzle off a Rarity and turned to AJ. “She said she found out about him a few hours before me and my patrol walking in the castle, if that’s not luck, then I dunno what is!”

Dash raised an eye while Applejack looked back at her. “Huh, yeah, reeeeeealy lucky.”

Dash ignored this and shoved the key into AJ’s cell, unlocking it. “Will you stop being a downer and just escape with us already.”

Rarity came up next to her. “Dashie’s right, AJ. It’s about time we leave and meet up with Pinkie and Shy.”

Applejack sighed and walked out of her cell. “If we leave, we ain’t goin’ anywhere without Twi.” She turned to Doomie. “You know where she is, right?”

"I know this place like the front of my hoof." Doomie held his head high and made his way to the cell room door. “I’ll show you the grand tour while I’m at it.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“And here’s her throne room. In here, she yells, screams, hollers, screeches, hits, and hurts us if we disobey her.”

“Doomie…” Rarity said. “That’s very interesting, but would you please stop talking about what your queen does to you changelings in every area we go to!”

“But this is where the magic happens.” Doomie said, walking up to where Chrysalis would sit. “I can almost feel the hatred coming of this room, it’s kinda gonna make me miss this place.”

Dash raised an eye. “Really?”

Doomie paused for three seconds before saying. “Eh, I’ll get over it. Now, about Dimlight’s tor- er, prison room.”

“Is this it?” Doomie looked over to the right of Chrysalis’s throne to see Applejack standing right in front of a door that had Twilight’s cutie mark printed on it, several tally marks were under the image. Applejack didn’t even want to know, nor count, how many tallies there were.

“Yup, this is where Chrysalis comes if she’s really mad at us, and she always makes sure to put a tally mark every time she-”

Applejack shoved a hoof in his mouth. “Doomie, if I hear one more thing about your queen, ahm gonna make you wish you never took me outta that cell, you understand.”

“Crimphel” Doomie muttered before spitting the hoof out and reaching for the door. “So, ready to see her, cause she’s pretty-”

Before he could touch the door, Applejack grabbed his arm. “Listen, changeling, are you sure the queen’s not in there?”

Doomie grabbed put a hoof on the door. “Don’t worry, I doubt the queen’s gonna be in here at this time of night, she’s usually-”

“Looks like someling’s been telling stories out of class.”

Before Doomie could react, and realize who’s voice that was, he felt hard steel hit the back of his head, knocking him to the ground. He would’ve stood up if it wasn’t for something pinning him to the ground.

“Doomie!” Rainbow Dash was about to help, but about a dozen spears made sure that wouldn’t happen. “What the hay…” Dash and her friends backed up until they hit a wall, the three of them seeing that they were quickly surrounded by a small swarm of changelings.

“Everyone back off!” The lead changeling yelled as it pulled Doomie away from the elements. “Hooves where I can see em!”

Doomie started struggling while the ponies went into fighting stance. “G-Get off me!” Doomie yelled. “I-I know this looks bad, but Chrysalis told me to-”

“Doomie. Drone four hundred and eighty two.” Doomie’s eyes went wide, hearing the last voice he wanted to hear at a time like this. A voice that he had hear ten times as loud, but was even worse at this tone. He was about to run, but the bug that held him threw him on the floor before he could, his body unable to move the moment he made contact.

“Failed almost all his classes,” The voice continued. “but managed to muster up the strengths and brains to pass them all months after our takeover and study one in particular, which was night watch training.” A hole filled hoof was slammed inches in front of his face. “but is still not smart enough to realize the last thing a bug like him should do when caught in a spider's web is wiggle.”

The hoof then slid under his chin and forced him to look into the face of his queen. “And yet” She continued, a smile still on her face. “is still dumb enough to think that taking over a mole’s shift, making friends with the elements, and getting the keys to free them was all he needed to do to help the ponies win and fool a queen like me.” She tapped her head. “Stupid, Doomie...in fact, I’d almost say that was...crazy...crazy to think you could pull it off.”

“A-A mole?” Applejack grunted. “You’re saying that-”

The queen looked over to the elements while having Doomie in her magical grip. “What I’m saying, dear Applejack, is that tomorrow, at high noon, the entire resistance shall fall, and I will finally rule all of Equestria!”

Dash brought her hooves up in front of her and twirled them menacingly. “Like hay you will! We’re not gonna let that happen!”

“How is that gonna happen anyway?” Doomie asked.

Chrysalis shook her head. “You poor, poor, stupid child. Did you really think Steve would be my first guess? You were my first suspicion all along, Doomie, and this was the last test to prove she was right.” She chuckled. “You can thank Twilight for that.”

“Y-You made her talk!” Applejack yelled, wanting to cause immense amount of pain toward the queen after hearing that.

Chrysalis shrugged innocently. “All I asked was for her to tell me which changeling fell in love with that pink pony friend of yours, wasn’t so hard once she stopped caring for any of my children.”

“But what about the mole!” Doomie yelled. “A-Are you saying that you lied to me about him being the traitor?”

Chrysalis raised an eye. “Oh, a sudden spark in your intelligence?” She laughed. “You are correct, child. I fooled you into thinking the traitor was him and let you take his job just to see if you were still loyal.” She looked at the ponies behind him in disgust. “It’s a pity to see that’s not true.”

Dash growled.. “Yeah!? Well, who cares if you have us, c-cause the resistance can find out who’s a changeling and who’s not with their-”

Chrysalis smiled. “Not when they find a defenseless little filly, lost, cold and helpless out in the woods, desperately looking for somepony to help them.” She laughed. “I should’ve had this plan from the start!”

Dash blinked. “What the hay are you talking about? What filly?”

“Wait...I-I get it.” Doomie looked up at her again. “Y-You sent him out on his own to find the resistance since sending more didn’t work...a-and he's just playing as a filly to fool them all! Is that it?”

Chrysalis was impressed. “So, you really are smart, Doomie.”

Rarity stomped. “How do you even know your plan of finding the resistance worked!”

“It’s called brainwaves, dear. I can already hear reports coming in.” She tapped her head. “The amount of time he’s been there, the ponies that live in that stupid village...and most importantly: the location.” She stood taller. “I’ll have the entire swarm crush them in under an hour with the amount of changelings I will send!”

Applejack face wen't deadpan. "Brainwaves. Really? That's how you're gonna explain-"

“Not gonna happen, Chrysie!" Dash growled. "Not while we’re still standing!”

“Then it’s a shame you won’t be standing for long.” She turned to the guards. “Children! Take the elements back to their cells!”

Rarity stood on her back legs. “Like hay you will!” She then stepped forward. “You bugs will have to get past me if you-”

*CLANK*

“I-If you wanna-”

*CLANK*

“W-wanna get…”

*CLANK*

*I-Is it bed time yet…”

Rarity then fell to the floor, her friends soon following, though without as much pain. Once the changelings escorted them out of the room, Doomie glared at his queen, trying his hardest to look confident in this hopeless situation. “S-So what are you gonna do to me?” He said. “j-just throw me behind bars too!? Because the ponies will-”

“The ponies have no hope left in this land.” Chrysalis yelled. “Ever since I took out the princesses and controlled the sun and moon with my own powers, the ponies have fallen one by one, and now, the rest will soon follow.”

Doomie wasn’t afraid, he couldn’t be, not now, not ever. “The resistance will end you, my queen.”

“So brave, even in the face of someling as powerful as me.” Chrysalis continued smiling and started walking around him. “Doomie. As your queen, and mother, I’m giving you a selection of choices. You can either A. Join us in the destruction of ponykind and be forgiven for your actions, B. Continue being a traitor and rot in the dungeon with the other ponies, or C. Be really stupid and find some way to save the resistance as we attack.” She stopped in front of him. “So, what will it be?”

Doomie didn’t want to answer, he knew this was it, that he failed, that nothing could help him, only himself. “M-Myself?” Doomie then realized just how sad that was.

Knowing that silence was going to be her only answer from him, she turned to the guards. “Did you hear that, children.”

One changeling smirked. “He said he’d love to spend the rest of his life in a cocoon.”

The queen’s face went blank while Doomie looked up at her in anger. “How sad, and here I thought I raised you right.” She motioned the guard to come closer. “Please, Carson, give him a light anesthetic. He needs to be well rested for where he’ll be spending the rest of his life.

Doomie gritted his teeth as his brother stood over him, ready to administer a dose of anesthetic. “Sorry about this, Doomie.” Carson said.

Doomie looked away. “No...no you’re not.”

Carson smiled. “You’re right, I’m not.” Reeling his hooves back, he socked Doomie right in his eye, knocking him out instantly.

“Sweet dreams, my child~”

Break...Out: Part 1

“How’s the filly?”

The nurse in front of Pinkie smiled. “She’s doing fine, just a slight cold, kinda lucky you found the little one so far out in the forest, why were you out there anyway?”

“I was part of night patrol, silly.”

The mare shook her head. “No, I mean, what were you really doing out there?”

“Uh…” Pinkie scrunched her face and looked away, realizing almost the entire village knew about Pinkie’s relationship, fortunately, all of them took it okay. “I-I was...just, ya know, going farther out in my patrol to make sure there were no changelings.”

The nurse rolled her eyes but continued smiling. “Sure you were.”

Knowing she couldn’t lie, she said, “Okay, yes, I did talk to him.”

The nurse raised an eye. “Did he say anything...you know, about them trying to-”

“It was just a nice, romantic chat, nothing more, nothing less.” Pinkie started walking out, not wanting to talk about this kind of subject. “I-I’ll, uh, tell you more if he tells me anything, okay?”

“Alright, alright.” The nurse reassured, turning around and going back to work. “But I’m not the only one worried about that changeling of yours, Pinkie.”

“Yeah...I...I know.” Pinkie grinned and started walking outside, wishing others would stop asking about things like this. “He’s more than just some messenger…” Pinkie said to no one. “Way more, can’t they just understa-”

“Pinkie!”

Pinkie yelped and turned around, seeing Fluttershy flying overhead. “What is it, Shy?”

Fluttershy narrowed her eyes, her face as serious as ever. “Did your changeling friend forget to tell us about an attack?”

Pinkie stepped back. “Wh-what?”

Fluttershy landed and pointed behind her. “We have sightings of a stray pony and a lizard coming our way, did he ever talk about a spy coming in here.”

Pinkie’s heart went into overdrive, unable to believe such a thing. “N-No...h-he’d always tell me if something bad was happening, m-maybe it really is a pony.”

Fluttershy shook her head. “We can’t take any chances.” She flew in the air again. “You’re lingfriend needs to be more informative if he-”

“He’s not like that!” Pinkie shouted, drawing some attention. “He’s not someone who just gives me help because I want him to! He does it to protect me, you, and everyone else in this place.” She stepped closer to her. “He’s not a messenger, he’s my lover. Do you understand?”

Fluttershy, and some of the other ponies, were a bit surprised by that sudden outburst, so much that the others started walking away, all except for Shy, who couldn’t look away from Pinkie. “I-I’m sorry, Pinkie...b-but you and him are practically our only hope at winning this war, don’t you know that?”

Pinkie had to admit, without him telling her everything, they would’ve fallen by now. “I do, Shy, I do...I just wish you and the others would stop asking me things like this, I’d tell you if something bad was happening. You don’t need to ask me every time you see me.”

Fluttershy flew in the air again. “But something bad is happening, and we just need to know if it’s true, that’s all we want to know before we check it out.”

Pinkie sighed, knowing she’d have to answer at this point. “He didn’t say anything about a spy trying to come in, but you’re right, we should see what it is.” Pinkie stood up. “I’ll come with, alright?”

Fluttershy smiled. “Then let’s go!”

Pinkie held her head high as the two of them started joining the rest of the group, but Pinkie was still concerned about all of this. “Doomie would always try to protect me,” She thought. “so why would...why would this happen?” She looked up and continued walking. “I just hope my little buggy’s alright…”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Nnnnrrrrrghh...ghhuh? Huh? What?”

Doomie slowly opened his right eye, finding it harder to do the same with the other. “Wh-Where am I…” As his vision finally adjusted to the darkness, he started getting his surroundings, seeing that he was exactly where he thought he’d be after what happened.

“This...this isn’t good…” Doomie looked up, which was down in the position he was in inside the cocoon, to see his legs were tangled in green gunk. He tried to light his horn, but it refused. He looked up to see it was also covered in gunk as well, at least he had his front legs, which he used to reach up to his head, wincing in pain as he did.

“Ooow...w-what the?” Doomie blinked a bit to see his own reflection in the clear cocoon, completely shocked to see himself. “Those downright, no good…” Doomie slightly adjusted the green rag that was now acting as a makeshift eyepatch over his left eye. He guessed it was his brother's fault after they knocked him out.

“When I get outta here, I’m gonna...gonna...oh, what’s the use. I’m not getting out of here.” Doomie stared up at his body, knowing he was too weak to do anything. “I failed. I let her friends down, I-I let her down...a-and now they’re gonna...g-gonna.” Doomie closed his eye, knowing this was the end. It was over. That it would take a miracle to save him now.

“HI DOOMIE!”

Doomie’s right eye shot open to see a sight he’d never thought he’d see in a time like this. “Twig!?” He squinted his eye to see past his own reflection to see a big changeling with a wide smile.

Twig smiled and waved. “Yup, it’s me alright.”

Doomie couldn’t believe it. “Twig? W-What are you doing here?”

Twig saluted. “Because the plot demands it.”

“What?”

Twig stepped closer. “Didn’t ya hear? The queens and her troops are on their way to stop the resistance while I stay here and watch the ponies...well, actually, one of the brothers who was told by the queen is supposed to do this, but he told me to guard the place while he decided to sleep, kinda cool, huh?”

Doomie looked left and right, seeing the other cocoons.“H-How did you know I was in here?”

Twig shrugged. “My left leg always itches when a brother is in trouble, and it stopped itching once I saw you in this cocoon...Wait, why are you in a cocoon, Doomie?” Twig glanced around, seeing the rows and rows of ponies hanging from similar prisons. “Is your bed really that uncomfortable?”

Doomie knew this was the only way he could get out of this mess. “Twig...y-ya gotta get me outta here.”

“But why are you in there?” Twig tilted his head. “Is it because Jeff is snoring loud again?”

Doomie took a deep breath. “Twig, I’ll tell you if you get me out, deal?”

Twig thought about this. “But I can’t let ponies out of these cocoons, Doomie. The queen told me not to.”

“But I’m not a pony.”

Twig went cross eyed for a few seconds before smiling. “Oh yeah! You’re not!” He then took out his spear and pointed it right at Doomie.

“WAIT! Twig! Don’t-”

*SHINK*

Doomie fell to the floor seconds later once Twig cut the top part off, the cocoon falling off to the side. “You okay, Doomie?” Twig asked.

Doomie groaned in pain, but managed to get on all fours after some help from Twig. “Y-Yeah, I’m fine.”

Twig smiled. “Goodie, now you can tell me why you’re in there!”

Doomie knew this was going to be hard to explain. “Listen...uh, Twig. Um...y-you know how the queen was telling the others about a traitor, right?”

Twig scratched his head with the spear. “Um...I think so...last I remember, the queen told us that she found out who betrayed the swarm and sent him to where the rest of the ponies were being held, can’t remember his name though.”

Doomie decided to get to the point, knowing that explaining things to Twig was like teaching a hatchling how to fly. “Twig...I..It...It’s me.”

“What’s you?”

Doomie gulped. “I-I...I’m the...the traitor…”

Twig’s face went blank. “Whu..wh-what?”

Doomie couldn’t look at him. “Yeah, I was the one who told the ponies about our plans and I was the one who tried to break out the elements.”

Twig continued staring. “Y-You did that?” Doomie nodded. “B-But...w-why?”

Doomie decided to explain in another way. “Twig, listen, don’t you think the queen is kinda harsh to us?”

Twig held his spear closer, still trying to understand. “K-Kinda.”

“And don’t you think what she’s doing to everyone is evil?”

“But she said the ponies are evil.”

Doomie found that hard to believe. “How are the ponies evil?”

“Because they don’t feed us love.”

Doomie pulled his ear stems. “That’s because we’re evil!”

Twig gasped. “W-We are!?”

Wanting to get to the point, Doomie said, “Twig, do you hate how our queen treats us?”

Twig was too afraid to answer even though the queen wasn’t around. “Uh…”

“And do you hate the way the other siblings treat us?”

“Uh…”

“Twig, if you hate that, then join me in stopping them.”

Twig was still trying to understand this. “B-But I don’t wanna stop anything! I-I just want others to be happy, a-and ever since we took over, everyling’s been happy.”

“But what about everypony.”

The gears in Twig’s brain started moving. “Oh...t-the ponies...t-they’re probably not happy, are they?”

Doomie looked at the rows and rows of cocoons behind them. “Twig, will you help me, or just throw me in a cocoon?”

Twig looked at the ponies, all of them asleep with no expressions of joy. “If it means others can be happy…” He saluted with his spear. “then I’ll help you!”

Doomie smiled. “Good, now we can...Wait, Twig, what time is it?”

Twig fiddled with his ear stems. “Hmmm, sounds like it’s around eleven, why?”

Doomie stomped the ground. “That means we have less than an hour to stop Chrysalis and her army from destroying the resistance; at exactly high noon!”

“High noon?” Twig thought about this. “Uh...How high does it need to be.”

Doomie ignored him and started pacing. “W-We need to go out and get there as soon as possible, and then we...a-and then...a-and…” Doomie hung his head. “Oh, who am I kidding, this is hopeless. Even if we managed to get there, it would just be the two of us and the resistance.” He stopped and sat down. “It’s gonna take way more then just two lings and a hoof full of ponies to stop her and an army.”

Twig looked around the room, seeing more cocoons than he remembered. “Then why don’t we get more than a hoof ful of ponies!”

Doomie sighed. “Twig, where the heck are we gonna find more ponies!” Twig then turned Doomie’s head to the rows and rows of ponies in cocoons. “Oh…right.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Are the changelings in position?”

The two changelings behind Chrysalis nodded as the three of them came closer and closer to the village, eager to start the attack . “Yes, my queen.” One of them said. “The changelings are ready to strike! How should we start?”

Chrysalis chuckled. “We trick them, obviously. Me and you two shal disguise as the elements and stroll in, saying we escaped from that one town of there's.”

“That was...Poniville...right?”

Chrysalis sighed. “Ponyville.” She corrected.

“Oh…” The changeling looked down, but looked up with a smile seconds later. “Anyways, who’s gonna be what? Can I be the blue mare, she looks the coolest!”

Chrysalis rolled her eyes and continued walking. “Just pick an element, b-but not the orange one, she’s mine.”

The other changeling frowned. “Aw, I wanted to have the hat.”

“Enough.” She whispered, seeing that they were almost in position. “Come on now, children.” With an evil grin, she disguised as Applejack while her two children went as Rainbow Dash and Rarity. “It’s time finally take over all of Equestria…”