One Believes What One Sees
Fading-Echoes' POV with narration
What does one do when your Imperial majesty asks you to do anything? If you in her elite guard you go do it then ask if she wants you to do it again. For Fading-Echoes it is no different but he will wonder why it was not someone with at least more than two years of experience under their helmet. Don't get him wrong to save the lost changelings is a honorable task to be given... even if they betrayed everyone in joining that upstart. What has him nerve-racked is he must start at where the invasion was in the capital of THE FREAKING SUN GOD! Now that would normally be fine but she and that student of her's Twilight Sparkles or whatever were attacked in the invasion and most likely have one mind set for changelings.
"If I meet her she is going to be PISSSED! No no don't go thinking about that your going to be fine. Your going to find the Thousand missing changelings and get home. Everything will be back to normal and we will all have some love and loyalty... maybe a .. bit of lust too." whispered Fading-Echoes with a slight blush at the end as he sits in the empty train car he jumped on disguised as a Thestral.
Fade has taken the train a few times admittedly never the normal and legal way but when your BUDDIES leave you tied up on the outskirts of some town THANK YOU MIRAGE! you learn what trains are going where. Appaloosa was the next stop then Las Pegasus, Ponyville and finally Canterlot is the course of this train and before and after each stop unless you want to get thrown off you have to jump out and back on when it leaves. You would not have to do this if you had bits but a certain changeling does not have the money to spare for that. The salary of a solider is not as great as people think but if you don't have to pay for food it stretches farther. It is nice of the company to have books on the train unfortunately not all the books are good reads.
The border itself was quite easy I guess it's because that most of them were not elite troops that are in Canterlot, but I expected more of a challenge thinking that the defences would be reinforced following up on the invasion that happened at the wedding. Especially since the groom is the captain of the guard, maybe that section has not received his reinforcements when I got there. Other then that I guess that they think that Chrysalis' army was our actual army and not a band of workers enslaved by that self entitled queen. Going through Appaloosa should be easy considering that the rodeo competition is going on creating massive crowds for me to hide in from the guards. I know if I travel by night in most cities they will think I am a part of the night guard if I I am a Thestral... I just have to avoid the actual ones ones.
'Time to go mares and stallions.' he thought as he opened a window to jump out at the sound of the whistle. upon landing scared the day lights out of him... Twilight was here casting subtle spells on people before looking at him. after a bit of a stare down on her part she turns away to talk to her friends occasionally looking back at him as he darts into town. That was not the best encounter to have added to his shot nerves and tried to collect himself going down an alley every now and then calling out to any changelings in the area to no response.
Twilight's POV with narration
"This is great to go relax and have some fun but I should be helping with the changeling crisis with Celestia." said Twilight looking out the window at the scenery with worry.
"Ah come on Twilight I'm sure that everything will be fine and dandy when we all get back." Applejack says putting a hoof over her shoulder. she waves her other hoof for Rainbow Dash to join in and help get Twilight positive.
"Applejack's right Twilight and if we meet any I will beat them back in ten seconds flat." encouraged Rainbow Dash while on a train heading for Appaloosa for the annual Rodeo competition.
Even though everyone says to just enjoy the competition and relax there is no way that the changelings will just give up. This will be the perfect time to test my changeling to detector among crowds if there are any here I will find them. Upon the parting from the platform Twilight noticed a Thestral jumping and landing off the guardsmen train car with a roll flowing into a walk into Appaloosa.
Rainbow Dash coments on the little stunt "that was cool but not as cool as if I've done it" everyone behind her rolled their eyes.
Applejack gives Rainbow Dash a look before saying "I don't normally see any festival show up to the rodeo before, maybe he's here to make sure no one causes a ruckus".
Twilight wondered if these Thestral is from Luna's guard sent to Appaloosa maybe as a reassignment or if Luna believed me that the changeling Army is still a threat. What if he is here to protect twilight from changeling infiltrators that might still be around to get revenge on her. There must have been some that got away and will surely come to get revenge for stopping their queen. As they leave the train She gets worried and starts to use her experimental detection spell as sneaky as she can. After leaving the platform she spots the Thestral in question and he seems to be looking around a lot before turning to me and freezes. Twilight looks around to find what he looking at before Rainbow Dash cut in.
"looks like someone has a fan and here I thought bookworms don't get those." Rainbow Dash says enjoying this little scene after a long ride here in the train.
Twilight tries to stop her saying "I think he is new and has been reassigned to-"
Applejack cuts in "We could just ask him ah reckon he'll tell us there is no need to assume anything." Trying to keep Twilight on the positive side and away from anything to do with the changeling invasion.
"A Thestral guardsmen on the same train as us and froze when Twi looked at him, obviously he wants to be her guardsmen" Rainbow Dash says with half lidded eyes "You saw him Applejack trying ease his way close to Twilight before he knew he was spotted right Applejack?" getting Twilight to blush while Applejack tried to recall seeing him get on.
When the little band look to where he was to see him take off into Appaloosa sometimes looking back at Twilight. He will probably talk to her later and more private she guessed. The trio set off to Braeburn's home to stay for the rodeo with Twilight casting a certain experimental spell of hers here and there subtlety. she swore she heard something hissing in the distance and veered off to find out what made the noise.
One Believes What One Sees
Fade's POV
"Bucking Tartarus this is the third false alarm at this rate I am never going to get through this town" cried Fade as he apologized to the pony called cheese something or whatever. Before he could start again he heard a painfully bad kind of familiar voice behind him.
"Do you need some help I have been working on a area changeling detector." said the voice behind him causing him to panic. he starts to lead her down the street with a couple gestures.
"Hi Twilight it is very good to see you again. Do you come here often by chance? You seem to move about the area vary fast" Fade replied a little faster then he liked but dodged the proverbial lance by acting like he was embarrassed to be snuck up on. 'WONDERFUL THEY GOT A SPELL FOR THAT NOW!' he thought as he spun around it's a Twilight Sparkle student of The Sun God and one of the ponies who must hate changelings the most.
"What do you mean very fast I just got here from the market?" She says with rising worry.
"Well I just spoke with you and you went that way so ether you are lying or there are two Twilights" lied Fade
"The other is a impostor quick use you identification spell on me to prove I am me. I will do one for you too" she says He agrees and starts with her and prays the spells only works on illusions and not actual shape shifting. It did not switch him back thankfully and ended his mini heart attack.
"Alright Twilight fire away! let's find the changeling." Fade declares half lying, she will not find any I will and I will get them home. After a purple flash a black aura temporarily formed around him then disappeared. "Um is it supposed to do that Twilight?" he asks slowly turning to her with a eye brow razed.
"I guess it still needs a little work, I am glad nothing changed color this time" she says smiling but having no effect on Fade.
"Say what now? what happened last time?" asked Fade Now concerned for more than his people now.
"Oh look my friends are calling me see you later" said Twilght and she ran off be for he could say anything else and with a shrug went back to his search.
"Another block nothing but pony you would think a place this would have a 'ling or two" Fade says with a sigh "Is there any buggy over here? We made a way back home." he Hissed "Anyone here that is about this high with a chitin with legs that have holes and glowing eyes of any color?" as he wonders in the back ways around the town. Fade was about to move more out of the town when He felt a weak tug deeper into Appaloosa. Someone is calling him.... and they are not in good condition Fade thought with wide eyes. He flew as fast as he could to it's location the Farm of a certain Apple family. In the orchards there was a slight dugout with green blood Changeling blood. Fading-Echoes entered after giving the area a quick search for anybody else.
You heard me? hissed the Changeling laying inside with a very tired voice but still very bright eyes.
"Of course I did you may have forgotten but we are all in this world together. Now hold still and let me fix you up." Hissed Fade as He search for any wounds but no luck so far.
"my leg was broken I was not cut. that was Mirroring Song but she is gone now.." Hissed the Changeling looking out the opening.
"What? What happened? and can you still shape shift to get you a proper brace?" Hissed Fade while trying make a splint some sticks outside and good old resin.
"Guardsmen happened they came by saw her and grabbed her a little while ago and who will take care of this Hatchling?" hissed the Changeling wincing her leg is moved.
"You who say what now? YOU BROUGHT A HATCHLING IN ALL THIS!" hissed Fade frantically looking around for the little one before danger can find it.
"I'm not a Hatchling! I would like to see you sneak around here for a couple of weeks and not get caught!" Hissed someone behind Fade. He turns to see a small Nimph about half his size looking at him with narrowed and angry eyes but looks too cute to be taken very seriously. "How did you get passed the border guard anyways?" She hissed while sizing him up.
"Could have fooled me about your age if you are not a Hatchling. All I have to say about them is they were not ready for me." Hissed Fade as he is not very much older than being a Youth himself. Now as for the border guard it was the most effective unorthodox thing he could come up with.
Flashback to the Wasteland Equestrain Border
A Royal Guard on patrol comes across a box labeled PLAN A very second handed just off the path. The Guard stares at it for a minute before creeping closer to inspect it. He looks around before giving it a tap with his spear. He starts to say"What is-"
"CAWCAW MOTHER BUCKER!" Fading-Echoes interrupts him while while pouncing at him from inside the box to the floor. The Guard tries to recover but receives a couple hooves to the face knocking him out. Then he is Carried by his 'Friend' to the nearest checkpoint to be cared for while his 'friend' goes to inform the Princesses about the increase in chimera attacks. While almost everyone else clears the checkpoint to more defend-able locations for possible attacks the new group of 'guards' volunteered to watch the checkpoint.
Back to the present
After hearing why he was here the larger Nimph looking at the smaller with a bit of a grin. Agreed to go to the hostpital and then to the checkpoint for a Small Price of course. "You know what take the Little Nimph with you she is not great at long distances. your still sticking around here are you not?" The larger Nimph said while the Smaller just huffed and folded her front hooves.
"What! I have to watch this Drone? You Should even be here anyways. Drones belong back in the hive. The smaller Drone hissed adding a whisper "It is safer there then here for now." Glaring at the larger occasional glancing at the Fade.
The larger just laughed and with Fades support went to the doctors as a Family of Pegisi. They were eager to help the 'mom' after the her 'accident' during her 'training' with the 'younger sibling'. After the 'mom' flew home while the 'siblings' continued their 'vacation'. "So Where do you want to stay 'brother'" said the disguised Nimph.
"Don't know 'Sis' how about that Room and Board there" suggested Fade gesturing to one down the street. He gussed it was fine because she just went to it without a word. Fade got a room after some haggling but missed it was a SINGLE bed. Thus the two had a bit of a awkward night.
"Soooo what is your name? Assuming a Nimph gave you one?" She hissed turning her head to him.
"Fading-Echoes and yours? Or have you not done enough conquest and Glory seeking to get one?" He hissed turning away from her. looking out to the moon and wondering what it would be like to standout from everything else. before being brought back to reality by a small buggy behind him giving him a hug and whispered in his ear.
"It Is Nova-Storm and I know what most do back home to Drones but Not all of us are like that." Nova hissed and to her dismay he shutters to her actions.
Nova's POV
After the Drone no Fading-Echoes fell asleep she kissed the back of his head and whispers "One day I will become powerful and ALL of those Nimphs will regret what they did to you, Dad and all the Drones in the lands. I know who you are and I will Make you mine Fade and I will be Empress I just need to remove the horrid Nimph Echoing-Dust and her little group". She gets up and heads to the window to look at the moon. "Maybe you will help me. You are all about Friendship, Equality and would surly like to smack a Nimph or two." she mutters before joining the Drone no no Fading- no to be Fading-Storm, yes that sounds right. The quickest rising Empress and Patriarch.