The hatred of the shadow

The trio walked through the forest and Malonex was looking at the map while Lock and Tacit where walking behind him.

They were so absorbed in their conversation that they didn't noticed that Malonex had stopped. Lock bumped into him and Tacit stumbled over one of Locks hoofs.

Malonex turned his head a bit and looked at them lying on the ground in the corner of his eyes. "We will rest early today. We nearly reached our goals and if we go any closer their scouts will find us before we can find them."

Malonex sat on the ground and began to meditate. Ever since the ritual Malonex magical power has increase and it seems it became even stronger than before his imprisonment. Lock has watched Malonex when he meditated and sometimes red fog began to surround Malonex after some time.

Tacit began to look if she still had all her weapons while Lock sat on the ground and watched the clouds in the sky. He began to think about the plan again and than a question came in his mind. "Malonex, about how many allies are we talking about?"

Malonex opened his eyes. "It is over two years ago since I last met them but since they number increases steady I think they have around two millions of soldiers."

Lock got up and stared at Malonex. Tacit had stopped looking though her bag and looked questioning at Lock. "What group has such a large number of members."

Lock shrugged and turned to Malonex who had his eyes closed again. "Can you tell us the name of the group?"

Malonex opened his eyes once more and looked at both of them. "I guess it would be better if you know what we will face."

They both sat on the ground and Malonex began. "The group I am talking about is over thousand years old, to be honest to call them a group is understatement. I am talking about a whole race that serves under only one leader."

Malonex waited to see if they would find the answer themselves but in the end he told them. "The race I am talking about are the changelings."

Tacit was too surprised to say anything while questions began to form in Locks mind. "You want to tell me that you want to recruit Chrysalis and her army? How do you think you will manage that?"

Malonex grin widened. "I already had a short conversation with the queen. I think she will remember me and understand that it would be better for her to have me as ally than as enemy."

Lock wasn't quite sure. "Do you think you can trust her?"

Malonex chuckled devious. "I don't trust her at all but I know that she is a smart leader and she will see that this will be the best chance she will ever get too help her kind."

Lock raised an eyebrow but didn't question anymore and just laid back on the ground. "Well I don't know anything about ruling a race but if you say so."

Tacit was still a bit confused but still didn't said anything but after a few moments she finally managed to open her mouth. "You want to form an alliance with these monsters?"

Malonex expression turned grim and he looked at Tacit with a disapproving stare. "You rather don't call them monsters because if they are monsters then we are demons."

This made Tacit close her mouth. She didn't dared to say anything against that and looked thoughtfully at the ground for the rest of the day.

Malonex closed his eyes again and began to meditate. The air around him to fill with red fog while he began to concentrate on his magic. Soon he felt his masters magic reaching out for him. Malonex created a black room in his mind and a moment later his master formed in front of him.

Malonex bowed before his master. "My king, how can I serve you?"

Sombra indicated his student to stand up and looked at him. "How long till we will reach our allies? I am getting impatient in this small crystal!"

Malonex lifted his head. "Tomorrow we will meet with the Queen and then we will go for the empire. I promise that it won't take much longer till we can go to the main part of my plan."

Sombra expression formed an evil smile. "Well done Malonex, this alliance will give us the opportunity to finally attack Equestria directly."

Malonex nodded. "We can finally get our vengeance and free our kind."

Sombra looked at him with a grin. "Perfect and if the queen doesn't cooperate you know how to correct her..."

A devious smile began to spread on Malonex face and he bowed with his head again. As he looked up again he could see that his master has vanished and felt that Sombras aura was gone again.

For the rest of the day Malonex didn't opened his eyes while his companions spent their time with a conversation about the things they knew about changelings.

On the next morning Malonex stood up first and called his companions. "Get up! I want to reach the changelings before noon."

Lock stood up with a groan and Tacit got up as quickly as usual. She looked up in the sky and saw that the sun just rose over the horizon and she could hear that the first birds began to sing.

Malonex had to wait a couple of minutes before the others were ready to go. While he waited for them he looked out with his magic and as he expected he couldn't find anything alive near them except a few animals.

Soon they were walking again and Tacit noticed that the forest to became more and more quiet as they came closer to their goal. She wanted to tell Malonex but as soon as she opened her mouth Malonex interrupted her. "From now none of you will even say a single word. We could walk into a scout any minute now. And take your cloaks on." With this he put the hood over his head. Now the horn was the only thing that could make it possible to recognize him.

Tacit closed her mouth again and they walked in complete silence from there. She and Lock put their cloaks on and lifted the hoods over their heads too.

Suddenly Malonex stopped walking and Lock and Tacit looked confused around. They couldn't see the reason for their sudden stop. Tacit was about to ask Malonex about it as he began to speak. "Step out of the dark and face us. You can't hid in the shadows."

A moment nothing happened but then they heard the sound of dozens of insect wings from above them. They could see how changelings flew out of the treetops and others climbed them with head first down. Soon the group was surrounded by at least thirty changelings.

Tacit and Lock took out their weapons but Malonex lifted his hoof to signal them to calm down. "I am here to talk with your queen."

One of the changelings stepped forwards, he was the only one in the group who wore an armor. "Why should she want to listen to what you say?"

Malonex grinned a bit and answered. "Because she will be interested in what she can gain from an agreement with me."

The changeling looked disbelieving at him and spoke. "Fine we will bring you to her but if you dare to try anything we will end your live and that of your companions."

As the changeling turned away Malonex began to smile. "I promise that it won't come to that."

The changelings began to march forward while keeping the group in the middle. Tacit looked up a little bit any saw that they were heading towards a mountain.

The changelings always kept an eye on them. They expressions showed mostly dislike towards them, maybe a bit hunger too.

After a short time a cave came into view. A green light escaped through the entrance and a few changeling were guarding it.

The changeling that lead the group stopped in front of the guards and talked to him. "We have captured three ponies and they say that our queen would be interested in talking with them."

The changelings that surrounded then made way to let the guards see them. "Take the cloaks of and give us all your weapons and bags, then you may enter."

Tacit notice that Malonex wasn't pleased with giving his cloak to them but he did it anyway.

Tacit and Lock did the same and both also took of the belts with the spikes. They also gave the guard their bags. The guard looked suspiciously as he saw Malonex crystal hoof and Locks crystal face half and leg but then just looked at Malonex. "Didn't you hear me? I said give me your weapons."

Malonex looked at the changeling. "Are you blind or just incompetent? Can't you see that I don't carry any weapons?"

The guard first looked at Malonex and then at the pile of weapons that was now lying in form of him. "After I saw how good you companions are equipped I assumed that you would be a bit better armed than nothing."

Malonex looked at him and he began to get impatient as the guard looked at their weapons for quite some time. Then the guard walked to the leader of the group and whispered. "Probably again some of these riche ponies that this barkeeper keeps sending here. Hopefully they will scream like the last ones." Even though they spoke too quiet for Malonex and Lock, Tacit could understand every word very well. She suddenly didn't feel safe anymore without her weapons.

The leader laughed and the guard finally turned back to the three. "Fine, you can come. I will bring you to our queen," then he turned to the group of changelings that brought them here. "And you go back to your scouting mission and this time you don't come back earlier."

The leader nodded and his group marched away. The guard entered the cave and Malonex and his companions followed him.

Torches were attached to the walls of the cave and they were burning with green fire. Some places of the cave were covered in green goo and the more they walked into the cave the more goo was there. While Malonex, Lock and the changeling just stepped into it Tacit tired to go around the goo as good as possible but soon the goo covered nearly the entire ground and since she didn't want to alarm the changeling by flying she just gave up and stepped into it.

On their way they could see many passages that lead to big rooms. Some of them where filled with changelings others seemed to be filled with weapons and in some of them they could see changelings training in combat.

Soon they arrived at an entrance to the main part of the cave. They entered it and saw a big room with big green fireplaces lighting up the whole room. The green goo covered the entire walls and there even were a few pony skeletons sticking in the goo on the wall. In the middle of the room was a stone throne with changelings standing on each side.

On the throne was sitting the queen of the changelings busy with talking to one of the soldiers so she didn't noticed them entering. The guard stepped forward and coughed. "My queen, these ponies begged for an audience."

Chrysalis looked up and saw Malonex and immediately recognized him. "You fool! Why did you bring him here without blocking his magic? Soldiers attack the shadow pony!"

Malonex smiled and his eyes and horn began to glow with dark magic. The guard that lead them here tired to run away to call for more changelings but as he reached to entrance it was closed with dark crystal.

As the way was blocked, The soldiers jumped at Malonex to attack him. While they were still in the air Malonexs shadow began to stretch and leave the ground. The changelings were hit by the shadows and knocked against the walls of the cave where they got tied against it by the shadows so they couldn't move. Their mouths were covered so they couldn't scream either. The fire that lighten the room turned to a purple color filling the room with purple light.

Chrysalis stood up from the throne and looked angry at Malonex who lifted his hoof to stop her. "Stop. I am not her to fight against you. I want to talk with you in a civilized manner."

Chrysalis expression turned a bit more calm and she asked. "What do you want then?"

Malonex stepped a bit closer to the throne. "I want to ask you to form an alliance with the shadows."

She lifted an eyebrow at him. "I didn't agreed to this offer over a thousand years ago why should I do it now?"

Malonex nodded. "Yes you didn't agreed as my father asked you and you called him and our race pathetic but I know that this time you are the one who needs help more than me."

She laughed at him. "There is nothing I need your help with and there is nothing you can offer me to make me help you!"

Malonex began to grin. "Don't try to fool me. Your race is starving and the chances that you can find enough food for all of them is rather small but if you form an alliance with me I can get you everything you want. Food, the land of Equestria and most importantly revenge."

Chrysalis looked at him for a moment and then she nodded. "Fine I will hear your offer but first you free my subjects and open the entrance."

Malonex smiled and the shadows that tied the changelings to the walls vanished and they hit the ground. With another spell the crystal that blocked the entrance disappeared back into the ground. The fires turned back to the dark green color they had before and Malonex watched as changelings ran into the room, trying to protect their queen.

As the first changeling tired to attack Malonex and his group, Chrysalis stopped them. "Stop! They are not our enemies. I want that everypony leave except the guards and him." She pointed at Malonex.

One of the changelings stepped forward. "What should we do with his companions?"

Chrysalis had to think for a moment and decided to make Malonex an offer. "I will let them walk free till after our conversation, if you promise to leave in peace when we don't come to an agreement or else I have to keep them as prisoners for the time."

Malonex raised an eyebrow at her. "Trying to fool me won't get you far. You know that if we don't come to an agreement this won't end in peace so don't pretend it would."

Chrysalis looked surprised of a moment but then quickly nodded. "Fine. Take his companions as prisoners till the end of our negotiations but treat them good. Don't ruin this chance too early."

The changeling nodded and lead Malonexs companions outside of the room and Malonex watched them till they were out of sight. "Before we can start I need to ask for my bag. Without it I can't represent the will of my kind."

The queen looked at him a bit confused but still turned to one of the guards. "Very well. Guard, get his bag here as fast as you can!"

The changeling bowed and flew away. They waited patiently till the changeling returned with the bag holding with his magic. He dropped it on the ground in front of Malonex.

Chrysalis leaned back in her throne and looked down at Malonex. "Now tell me your plan and what you have to offer."

Malonex chuckled shortly and began to search through his bag. "Oh I am not the one who will represent the shadows in this. That is the job of my king."

He took out the small crystal and placed on the ground. A moment later smoke began to surround the crystal and rose up. It began to take form and soon it had the silhouette of king Sombra. Red eyes began to glow in the dark of the smoke.

The eyes of the queen widened as she saw the creature in front of her. "What is this?"

Sombra turned his smoked head to her and spoke. "I am king Sombra, lord of the umbrum! I would prefer it if you call me by my name."

The queen looked even more surprised as she head the name. "You, I heard about you. You are the one who let the Crystal Empire disappear. But you were killed twice and your kind is trapped under the Empire!"

The shadow began to laugh. "You can't get rid of darkness so easily. Now let us talk about our alliance."

The queen leaned forward in her throne, suddenly interested in what he had to say. Malonex watched his master and the queen talking and he saw how they slowly created an alliance.

Meanwhile Lock and Tacit got lead through the cave. The more they walked the more changeling left the group till only the leader and two more changelings were guarding them.

They walked around for a bit till they reached a small room where the changelings sat down and began to talk. Tacit and Lock had no other choice to sit down with them. They heard the changelings talking about what they would do with their prisoners after their queen finally killed Malonex but Lock and Tacit were sure that it won't go that way.

Hours later they heard the sound of Malonexs crystal hoof knocking against the ground of the cave coming towards them and stood up. Malonex entered the small room and looked at his companions. "The alliance is made we will head towards the empire tomorrow morning. Now follow me."

The changeling looked at him with open mouths, while Tacit and Lock stood up and walked to Malonex. He immediately turned around and began to walk through the cave. On the way Malonex levitated each of them their bags and weapons back.

After a few moments of walking they reached a room with three stone platforms. Malonex put his bag on the ground and pointed at the platforms. "We will sleep here for tonight."

Wile Tacit just laid down on one of the platforms Lock wasn't really pleased. "Really? A rock bed?"

Lock tired to find a way to make his bed more comfortable, while Malonex began to meditate but Tacit stopped him with a question. "Malonex, can I ask you a bit about changelings?"

He opened his eyes. "I am not an expert about changeling but I will do my best. What is your question?"

"Two main things. First, what is this green goo and second thing is that I noticed that some of the changelings wore some kind of armor why are only a few of them wearing armor."

Before he answered he levitated one of his books out of his bag and looked through it. "Well I don't know anything about the goo but I can tell you more about the armor just let me look where... Ah, there! The armor is made of a rear metal which no one know how to find it. Changelings are the only creature who were able to find it."

"What is so special about it?"

Malonex closed the book again. "Well, it is rear but nearly worthless. It is not better than any other metal and it is hard to forge it to the right form. The reason changelings use it is that it changes shape with them. Every normal piece of clothing would stay normal when they transform while these armor transforms with them."

Suddenly Lock got to word. "Are we really going to walk the whole way to the Crystal Empire?"

Malonex chuckled a bit at Locks displease. "No, the plan is that we and fifty changelings will fly forward while the army and the queen marches after us."

Lock looked a bit confused at Malonex. "I know you can fly as a smoke cloud just fine and in Tacits case the question answers itself but how am I going to fly?"

Malonex had to think for a moment before he knew the answer. "Well, either Tacit can try to carry you or you have to walk with the rest of the army after us."

Lock groaned and let himself fall on his bed. "Seriously? I was here for the entire journey and now when things get interesting I will miss everything."

Tacit giggled a bit and Malonex just closed his eyes again even though a smile was on his face for a short moment.