Prodigy: Hive Exiled

Chapters

The Assessment
The Surface
The First Chase
The Mystery Mare
The City
The Oncoming Storm
The Swarm
The Queen

The Assessment

Rusk slipped through the mass of bodies, squeezing past the traffic. He can't be late!

Rushing into the room, he was happy to notice that he wasn't. The teacher hadn't arrived yet, so he lucked out. Levitating his small notepad and pencil onto the desk, he rested back on the chair, his hooves going behind his head.

Rusk knew this day was coming. It was the last month of education for him, and the final test was to go out on a real hunt and gather love for the Queen. Everyone knew that.

He swiveled his head as the door opened and the teacher plod in and rest her rump on the office chair at the front of the room. She lit up her horn as she levitated a book over to her, flipping it to a certain page.

Some more students trickled in, filling up the hall. Rusk noticed one of his best friends, Fey come through the doors and come sit next to him. The male changeling and Rusk had grown to become friends after Fey was saved for a project by Rusk.

Next came through Flitter. She was carrying her note book and pen and went to sit behind Rusk.

Said changeling smiled. He always kind of had a small thing for the female changeling, even though much of the class disliked her.

She wasn't a mean grub, no, but some of the changelings threw some words at her like she was nothing. That didn't stop Rusk from liking her personality. Underneath the chitin-like fur was a kind and smart changeling, who tried her hardest and excelled at doing so.

She smiled as Rusk looked back at her, and he quickly averted his head to the front of the class. The teacher had stood and was now looking at the class.

“Good sun-up, little ones,” she said, “let us start by reciting the motto of our cause. Start.”

“Love is food, not for good,” the class droned in a mix-match of bored and enthusiastic voices. Rusk gazed left at his friend, who had a deadpan expression.

“Alright. Now, you know your final project is arising. Everyone here knows to feed off love through the multiple towns of Equestria. May that be through imitating someone they love, sex or other means, you must at least bring something to satisfy Queen Chrysalis.”

Rusk sighed. He will hate this task, but a decent hunt sounded kind of fun. The thrill of going out and harvesting love from somepony was amazing, the adrenaline of being caught heightening his senses.

He only had a week to wait - he was so excited! He decided once the class ended that he would practice perfecting his pony form, for he had yet to correct the colors. He was thinking of gray and white, then again that would make him seem a bit old.

Maybe white and blue? Yeah, maybe. Imagining the stallion in his head, he sighed and shook the thought out.

The teacher was answering multiple questions of the upcoming task. Had he been daydreaming that long?

Suddenly a small chime echoed through the halls. Some changelings rocketed through the hole in the back of the hall as soon as the sound reached their earholes. Rusk himself decided to wait until the traffic calmed down, scrawling notes into his small pad.

“Rusk?” Said changeling swiveled his head to see Fey and Flitter staring at him as he wrote with his magic.

“Yeah?” he mumbled, shutting his notebook.

“You wanna go now or next week?” Fey asked, getting a chuckle from both Rusk and Flitter.

Rusk stood up, shoved in his chair and shrugged. “Now sounds good.”

As the trio exited into the hallway, Flitter spoke, “So, what are you guys gonna do for the test? Like, what town are you going to go after?”

Rusk inwardly smiled at the tone of her voice. Flitter had an amazing voice - and even better of a singing one, when she rarely did sing. Rusk shrugged and said, “I probably will play it on a whim. The pony I’m going in as probably will take a bit of planning. I just can’t seem to get the colors right.”

The three had already stepped out into the main hive, the caved roof spiking down as stalactites. The hive was like a large tunnel or cylinder with ends that tapered both ways. The buildings were carved out of the rock, despite the insides much more comfortable.

“Can we see it?” Fey asked, cocking his head slightly.

“Sure, I guess.” Rusk quickly glanced around to make sure the area wasn’t too crowded and let his power take him over. The green flames started at his hooves and swiftly worked their way up, only disappearing when it went over the now invisible tip of his horn.

Rusk was now a white pegasus stallion with blue hair, the longer mane cascading down the right side of his face, not quite covering his eye. His eyes were a light shade of green, and his cutie mark was that of a cloud that cascaded partly up his flank. He gave a curt smile as Flitter buzzed around him with her insect wings.

“Not bad!” said Flitter, her hooves touching the ground once more. “Just change back now, we don’t want to attract too much attention.”

The flames licked up Rusk’s body, returning him to his black shell and bright blue glowing eyes. Flitter nodded in approval. She turned to Fey and asked, “What do you think?”

Fey shrugged. “I can’t really give much input, okay? I would have said something otherwise.” He stood up from where he was sitting, against the side wall of the institute. “Let’s go outside again!”

“Are you serious? Again? I hate the forest,” said Flitter, her wings twitching uncomfortably. “It gets into my hoof-whistlers.”

Fey rolled his eyes. “Fine.”

Rusk sighed. “Don’t we have work to do anyways?” He opened his notebook with his magic, flipping to the farthest page written on and reading aloud. “Work: prepare pony forms and choose town to hunt.”

“Bit over preparing for the test, though,” quipped Flitter, “I mean your pony form is good, and isn’t it just kinda random what town you’d want to hit?”

“You could say that, but there is no harm in preparing early!” said Rusk, his wings buzzing in preparation to take off. “Come on, let’s go home.”

The short flight to the residence district did not take long, and Flitter quickly waved goodbye as she swerved down to the cut-out in the wall, leaving Fey and Rusk alone, buzzing not too far away.

Rusk said his goodbyes and ducked into the hole, the pheromones emanating from it marking it as his home.

Landing and casting his notebook aside, he entered the small place. A single bed resided in the corner, and a desk sat next to the entrance.

Changelings didn’t feed off pony food. They fed off love, and enough was being harvested that there was the smell of it in the air. They must have filtered it again into the air of the hive, letting the changelings feed on the residual love.

Rusk flopped onto the bed, sighing. This was going to be a long week.

“And what did you do?” Fey queried Flitter.

“N-nothing really. I fed off the love of some gray mare. She was a pretty easy target, considering how retarded she was.”

“That's not a very nice thing to say,” said Rusk, gnawing his fangs into a rubber cylinder, his sharp teeth easily penetrating the material.

“But she was! She had this weird lisp and her eyes were all crossed. She didn't even pick up on the slight lack of knowledge of the pony I chose,” Flitter defended.

“Yeah, but-”

“Quiet, sssubjects,” a voice hissed, garnering the small crowd’s attention.

A tall dark figure loomed above the smaller changelings. Her coat was her-black, and her hair (which changelings don't usually have) was a bioluminescent green and bore many holes and knots. The holed legs were tall, and the face and long fangs secured the look.

All the changelings bowed in tandem to Chrysalis, the leader of the changelings. She smiled at the eager group, and spoke, “Rise.” They obeyed without a second thought.

“You are very honored to have me grade your assessment,” she began, “as little a changeling would feed me directly. All of you have love to give to me, correct?”

A chorus of “Yes, my queen,” echoed throughout the crowd.

“Very well. Organize yourself in a line, and make it fast.” The room buzzed to life, changelings putting themselves into line.

Rusk ended being behind Flitter and in front of Fey. They had been together when the speech began, it was no hard task to stick together.

Thus began the long and grueling progress. Male after female fed his or her love to Chrysalis as she visibly grew less weary and more steadfast.

“Flitter, come forward,” said Chrysalis, the changeling already standing before her. Chrysalis lit up her horn, and her pupils started flashing dimly.

Suddenly the queen’s horn fizzled, crackling with electricity as she howled in either physical or mental pain. Flitter was flung across the room, landing and skidding on the floor.

Chrysalis stomped over to the terrified female, scowling heavily.

“And why do you have no love and only anger?”

Flitter gulped. Her glowing blue eyes seemed exceptionally wide, and she scrabbled back with her hooves.

Rusk had his mouth open, forced to watch the spectacle. His friend - no, his best friend - was being pinned by Chrysalis.

“I should kill you for such an endeavor! You know what happens if you fail the Assessment!” Chrysalis howled, and as on command two armoured changelings started to drag her by her forehooves.

Flitter was screaming. Her voice shrilly cried out to get the two to stop. The armoured males scoffed and grabbed her harder, dragging her along her rump towards a side passage.

Rusk turned to his friend, Fey, then suddenly whipped his head around as her shrill cry called Rusk’s name.

Oh, how much he could wish to help. But Chrysalis had frozen him in place, her mouth open wide to receive the love that seeped from Rusk’s reserves.

As soon as he was released and out the door, he broke in a gallop, firing up his horn as he instinctively shifted into secondary vision.

Secondary vision lets you see pheromone trails, all very distinguishable. You could only track pheromones if the one emitting them wanted to be located.

In this case Flitter’s trail lit up like a beacon, her pheromones highlighting over the others. He quickly took after it, barely aware of Fey calling out to him.

Where had these guards taken her? The trail overlapped and stacked upon itself multiple times, leading to one of the exits. But they kept running into dead ends to only reverse and go in a different direction.

Maybe she put up a bit more of a fight than he thought.

Walking through the halls he noticed that a lone changeling strode across the roof, its horn lit up as it trotted along. With a creeping feeling, Rusk picked up his pace, skipping places where Flitter’s trail left off only to come back again.

This time he found himself staring at a steeply sloping tunnel. Her pheromones alone dragged up the tunnel, the guards ones already veered away.

Rusk was about to stick his head into the opening when an acute hiss was heard. He wheeled backwards to be staring muzzle to muzzle with an Elder.

Elders were respected, older members of the Hive. They had serviced for many years and were known for their experience in anything.

And yes, Rusk was staring into the muzzle of one.

“You have proven enough,” the changeling grumbled in a gravelly voice, “you must leave. Chrysalis will be sure to hunt after you.”

The Elder made no move to attack. Rusk raised an eyelet, giving a puzzled look.

“You and the female’s bond holds strong, friend. You must learn to run and hide, and stay disguised within the ponies. Even though I may follow Chrysalis’ command, she never spoke of bringing you back to her.

“Therefore, I am giving you a chance. The time you leave will start a great hunt for you, for you, youngling, would change the face of changelingkind.

“You think Chrysalis has shown you her wrath. You know nothing yet.” A loud clatter was heard and the Elder swiveled his head back and then back to face him. “Go now. You must leave. Make sure to hide your pheromones.” The Elder spun around and stalked off.

Rusk was thrown into a dilemma. Leave, and risk the unknown? Or stay, and live with knowing that his friend was out there alone?

He shook his head. The words of the Elder echoed in his mind, bringing him to his conclusion.

He will go. He will be betraying his own kind, but he will go.

Rusk plunged into the dark tunnel, the warm earth pressing against him as the clanging drew closer.

Suddenly, the dirt crumbled and gave in behind him, sealing him in darkness. He heard muffled voices and hisses, and a sharp crack. He sighed and began the trek through the darkness.

The Surface

Rusk pushed through the tight, dark tunnel, seeing a much open area ahead. He bent his wings in, which hurt a lot, to squeeze through the tight hold of dirt, popping through with a small shower of dust. The cave was dark, and completely hard to see in. Rusk lit his horn up and started following Flitter’s pheromone trail. He followed it for what felt like days, maybe even weeks.

Eventually the tunnel narrowed and light shafted through a small hole in the ceiling, with a outcropping leading to it. The green leaves of trees waved in a breeze not felt below.

Plodding along at a brisk pace, he trotted towards the canopy of trees. The light grew and he lit his horn, letting the pheromone spell deactivate. She can't have gone far.

Peeking his head out, he gasped at the sight. The soft shade of the tree canopy lay thick over him, expanding far as he could see. Thick vegetation covered the land around the mouth of the cave, ferns and grass and honeysuckle bushes.

Hauling himself out, Rusk peered over the overgrowth. A lake glittered in the distance, the water reflecting the sun into millions of colors. There was a small wooden platform jutting out over the small body of water, a wooden boat tied to it.

Turning around, Rusk saw a towering mountain, the stone terracing up like a butte. A huge structure of sorts was stuck into the mountain, the large disc and its heavy support of mountain rock being the only parts visible.

It must be a city. But what one? Rusk shrugged. He probably could not blend into a city very easily. He decided to head in the direction of the lake.

Pushing through the thick vegetation, Rusk noticed some hoofprints through a patch of damp dirt. There were ponies here.

Crouching low, Rusk peered over the edge of a plateau over the lake. There was a small wooden house, with the same wooden structure over the water. The house seemed made of wood, with glass windows and everything!

He diverted his attention to a smaller less noticeable structure, where a large door was open, with many sharp looking tools inside. There was a wooden pole with a hunk of metal on the end, shaped a bit like a sledgehammer, and there was a creepy looking device that consisted of a stick with sharp looking blades in a cylinder attached to it.

Rusk cast a small spell, just a small detecting spell. Nothing went off, so he fluttered off the plateau and landed near the small wooden structure.

He heard an odd rustling coming from inside, and he instantly crouched low, pressing against the side of the building.

The rustling stopped and a unicorn mare stepped out. Her coat was a light shade of turquoise, like the sky itself. Her mane was a much deeper lavender, the curls randomly flicking out of her tail and mane. Her cutie mark was that of a roaring campfire, the bright reds and oranges contrasting against her coat. Carrying something in her light pink magic revealed her eye color. She was curved nicely, her barrel keeping level and even with her hindquarters.

Suffice to say, she was a beautiful mare. She put up a hoof to her mane and flicked over a lock of curly hair, letting out a puff of air. Rusk quickly shrank back when she quickly glanced around slightly frantically, and Rusk relaxed when she trotted off toward the cottage.

He quickly put together his disguise. Quickly changing into a light gray stallion with crimson hair, he treaded over to a small dirt road, and walked to the cottage with a worried expression.

He already felt hungry. Despite everything, basic needs are basic needs are basic needs, and he needed love to survive.

Walking up onto the porch, he quickly thought and changed his form to have a tiny knapsack with some items inside it. He then knocked on the door with a hoof.

The same sky blue mare answered the door, a smile on her face that quickly faltered. “Who are you?” She asked.

Shit! Rusk didn't think of a name. He quickly spoke, “Crimson Ruby. Hey, I'm lost, are you able to help?” He inwardly cringed at the statement, waiting for the rejection.

“Oh, you poor thing! Come inside, please. I'll be fast to make you something to drink.” She quickly swiveled around, trotting inside. Shrugging, Rusk followed in, pushing the door shut behind him.

Rusk gnawed on the tinned tuna, shoved between thin slices of bread. Changelings can eat food, but it doesn't work nearly as well for feeding as love did, but it sufficed. Tuna was actually quite nice, the tin already seasoned with lemon and pepper.

“I take it you like it?” asked the mystery mare, levitating a book with magic, turning a page every now and then.

Rusk nodded happily, a grin plastered on his muzzle as he chewed on the bread and fish. Of course on the inside he still gnawed for the warm embrace of a full reservoir of love energy.

Finishing his sandwich in ravenous bites, he shuffled deeper into the plush couch. Looking at the mare he asked, “So, what is your name?”

The unicorn smiled. “My name is Burning Hearth. I usually do a lot of stuff around the winter holidays…” she sighed, “It gets so lonely down here, even with occasional goes to a market in Canterlot.”

So that was the city in the mountain! Canterlot, the capital of Equestria, the housing of the princesses of the moon and sun.

“I see.” Rusk rifled through the fake knapsack. “Does this place have a spare room or something? I may need to stay the night…”

The mare bit her lower lip. “I think I do, but the room hasn't been used in a while. Hold on.” She stood and walked up rickety wooden stairs to the second floor.

Rusk got some time to think. This mare… she seemed lonely. Rusk’s base instincts kicked in and he prepared to at least try to coax some love energy out of her. Then he could leave and find Flitter.

Soon enough; the mare came down, the stairs creaking with every hoofstep. She sat back down in the small armchair and said, “I think you can stay the night.”

Rusk beamed. “Great! So, what's the area round here?”

Hearth frowned. “I'm actually not that in the know about the area around here.”

“So, you mean…”

“Yeah. I know this is the whitetail woods, just under Mount Canterlot. That's all I know, honestly.” She shuffled her hooves against the fabric of the armchair. “Sorry. That is all I really know.”

Rusk smiled. “It's fine. What do you do to pass the time?”

“I read books.”

“What?”

“I read lots of books. I reread lots of books. It's all that is really here.”

“Don't you have a boat by the lake?”

“I got bored of it a long time ago.” She waved a hoof dismissively.

Hearth stood. “I need to get back to what I was doing. You don’t mind going and acquainting yourself with the guest room upstairs, now?” With a nod in response, she pushed the door open with her snout and let the door click shut behind her.

Rusk did an internal hoof pump. This mare was incredibly kind, and he could already feel the aura of kindness in the room. He opened his mouth, sampling a taste. He didn’t care that it wasn’t love, but kindness or happiness, and he eagerly took another pull of the feeling.

Of course, he limited himself. Changelings can survive off kindness, but it made them feel slightly bloated. Already feeling his stomach churn slightly he got to his hooves, getting off the chair.

Looking at the suspicious wooden stairs, he climbed up them and looked around. He was in a small hallway, the width of it possibly barely holding two ponies side by side. There were two doors on both sides.

One was labeled ‘guest’. Peeking into it, he saw a large single size bed with a blue duvet laying over it. The pillow was propped up against the headboard and there was a corner folded in the corner facing the window. The blinds on the window were down but not shut, letting light shaft into the room casting a glow onto Rusk’s chest.

A simple small black painted dresser stood in the corner, the doors open revealing the dresser was empty. A couple hangers teetered on the bar on top and there were a couple drawers on the bottom.

The nightstand next to the bed had a lamp sitting on top of it, the metal hinges and springs slightly rusted. The light color was a warm gold, perfect for reading at night.

The room was quite nice, Rusk admitted. The mare had done a good job.

Then he furrowed his brow. Where was Flitter? Had she gone in the direction of the mountain city? Had she even seen this pony that gave him hospitality?

Questions swimming through his mind, he trotted back downstairs and out the door. Pushing his forehead into the door opened it, and he stepped out onto the porch.

The sun was closer to setting, the brilliant light reflecting off the lake’s surface as the calm water rippled with the breeze. The trees seemed to give off a glow, probably from the setting sun.

A light cloud cover was inching across the sky. The wild areas of Equestria had it’s own weather, even though the Whitetail Woods was not like the dangerous Everfree at all. It may rain tonight.

Glancing around, Rusk activated secondary vision, then gasped as he saw a trail leading through across and around the lake, leading into the forest. It snaked around, pausing at the edge of the lake and dipped into tree cover.

Flitter had been here! She was not too far off, she was just in the forest! The scent was not even stale.

Flipping out of secondary vision he peered at the docks. The light blue-green pony resting there was lazily lying on the edge of the tiny wharf, her front hoof waving at the water, giving little ripples as she tapped it.

A soft noise reached Rusk’s ears. Perking them up, he located the noise and moved towards the docks.

As he got closer, by the open shed, the sound suddenly took form of words, blending into a soft melody.

The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky
And also on the faces of people passing by
I see friends shaking hands saying
How do you do?
They're really saying I, I love you…

The voice felt familiar to Rusk. It reminded him of Flitter, and her singing voice that entranced him whenever she sung.

Flitter always sang when she was sad. It was a way of expressing her feelings without crying or getting angry. The occasions where she did sing in front of Rusk always made him sit down, close his eyes and let his ears carry him into a soft blend of noise.

Rusk rested behind the shed, his eyes peeking out the corner as Hearth took a breath and let out more singing, taking deep breaths between each line:

I hear babies cry and I watch them grow
They'll learn much more then we'll know
And I think to myself what a wonderful world

Someday I wish upon a star
Wake up where the clouds are far behind me
Where trouble melts like lemon drops
High above the chimney top
That's where you'll find me…

The singing drew to a close, Hearth’s voice fading off. Rusk sighed, repeating the beautiful lyrics in his head.

He remembered. Flitter used to sing a song similar to this, a song about rainbows and a carefree world that accepted her for what she was.

It was probably a huge coincidence, and it threw Rusk deep into thought. If Hearth knew the song, then where did Flitter get it from?

He ducked back behind the shed and snuck back into the house, casting glances in the direction of the mare as she stared into the water, tapping it gently with her hoof sending ripples that deflected off the supports of the pier.

Pulling the door, he softly shut the door behind him and turned into the house. The chair was still showing an indent of him sitting there, and he flopped back into it, his rump fitting into the previously made indent easily.

Slowly dozing off into a soft rest, he shut his eyes and sunk into the couch more.

“Crimson? Crimson!”

Rusk blinked his eyes open, and found himself staring into pink irises.

“Good! You're awake! I made tea for us both!” She lit up her horn and a bowl of red liquid floated to him as well as a spoon. “It's tomato soup. I made it myself!”

Rusk took the bowl and spoon, and dipped the utensil into the steaming soup. Beads of the liquid slid down and dripped off the bottom of the spoon as he brought it to his mouth.

Tasting it, his mouth exploded in flavour as he tasted the soup.

“I take it you like it?” asked Hearth, smiling at the wide-eyed expression.

Rusk nodded and instead picked up the bowl with both hooves, putting it to his lips and drinking the soup from the bowl.

It didn't take long to finish, and Rusk put the bowl down on the small table in the middle of the couches, licking his lips.

“That was really nice,” he commented, leaning back into the chair. Hearth was opposite him in another chair, her spoon levitating to her mouth with deft precision.

She swallowed. “That's great. It's got tomatoes, celery, and some milk with some vegetable stock. It's nice and good for you.”

Rusk nodded. He glanced out the window, where the sun had already set. “I saw the guest room. It's nice.”

Hearth smiled. “I made sure to use some warmer blankets. It gets quite chilly down here at night.” She scraped her spoon along the bottom of the soup bowl, digging out the remains.

Rusk put a hoof behind his head, using the hoof tip to scratch the back of his neck. “Hey, by the way, thanks for letting me stay here…”

“No problem!” said Hearth, her bowl and Rusk’s levitating into the sink. “It's been…” Hearth hesitated for a minute, “a good few months since someone last visited. With Hearth’s Warming over, I relax here to wait for the Summer Sun Celebration.”

She moved over to the sink, pulling the tap handle up and using a sponge to wash the dishes with magic. “Of course, unless someone sends me a letter needing something, or the occasional field trip out here for the foals to go sailing. I enjoy the company.”

Rusk nodded, and let out a yawn. “Do you mind if I go to bed now?”

“Not at all!” said Hearth, “I'll just be here for a few hours more, then I'm going to sleep as well.

Rusk made a decision there. When Hearth goes to sleep, he was going to leave and find Flitter. Hopefully he can before it's too late!

He plodded up the stairs, peeking down to share a quick ‘goodnight’ with the turquoise mare.

Pushing open the door to the guest room, he used his changeling magic to shut the blinds, and climbed into the bed, shuffling the covers over him closer to the wall.

He silently waited for the mare to creak up the stairs and climb into her bed so he can go find Flitter, and when he heard the boards bending he shut his eyes and pretended to be asleep.

He nearly snapped out of it when he heard the creak of the guest room door opening, and the silence that followed it.

A quiet shuffle of hooves tip-hooving on the carpet alerted him to someone in the room. He shuffled slightly in his bed.

A sudden pressure shifted him slightly in the direction of the edge of the bed, and he could feel the covers lift slightly off him. The pressure on the mattress drew closer as the blankets settled on him again, and he breathed slowly, waiting for the door to shut or something.

He felt a slight breath against his right cheek and he inwardly grimaced, then let it loose. He nearly flinched as a hoof wrapped around his upper body, pulling him tighter against something.

The contact of fur against fur surprised him. He squeezed then hesitantly opened his eyes.

Staring at him were two pink irises, and the soft smile on her muzzle as she spotted his eyes opening. She leaned her head in and nuzzled against Rusk’s right cheek with hers.

“It's been too long alone,” Hearth whispered, her breath hot against the ear of Rusk. “Please let me stay.”

Rusk could practically feel the raw emotion leaking from the mare. He silently let it soak into his body, filling him up.

The mare let out a small gasp as she drew back slightly. A small tendril of pink, which only changelings could see, worked out of the fur of her chest and into Rusk’s fur, filling his reservoir with love.

Rusk held his breath as he got more than he thought. He drew from her, staring into her eyes as he filled completely.

Then something unexpected happened. The mare’s eyes went wide as she glanced down at their chests. There were two working tendrils, pulsing softly as love energy was transferred.

Rusk saw the love and gasped. He was still full! What is going on?

Rusk stared back up into the eyes of Hearth as he felt love transfer between the two. What was going on?

He felt Hearth entangle her hind legs with his, and he felt a strong pulse as she touched noses with him.

Suddenly a green glow covered Hearth’s horn, and he gasped as green flames flowed up the turquoise mare, her hooves growing holes and insect wings sprouting from her back.

Her eyes wore an incredulous expression as the changeling stared at the two pink glowing tendrils, then back at the jaw-dropped face of the male. Her mouth opened as she felt herself fill up, and she spoke.

“Rusk?”

Author's Note

Had written this chapter mostly when I wrote first chapter, so I guess here's the next. If you find and grammatical or spelling mistakes, tell me. Enjoy this chapter. :moustache:

The First Chase

“Rusk?”

Rusk’s disguise fell rather quickly, the soft touch of fur returning to the chitin of his normal body. He was pressed up against the changeling, his mouth open in shock.

Flitter put a hoof up to his jaw, closing it. Her eyes bore into Rusk’s skull as he tried to process what just happened.

“B-buh…” he sputtered, clearly at a loss for words. Flitter smiled, and shifted closer to him, their chests touching together.

“You came…” she whispered, wrapping her hooves tighter around Rusk’s neck. Rusk started to breath faster, managing to say few words in between breaths. He slowly started to come to his senses and breath normally, his heart pumping slower.

“F-Flitter?” He asked incredulously, his chest pressing against Flitter’s every time he inhaled.

“Yes?” The female changeling asked, then suddenly pressed her nose against his when he tried to speak. “It’s okay. I’m here.” She once again shifted closer to him, wrapping her forehooves around his upper back, just in front of the changeling wings.

Rusk closed his eyes, breathing in deeply. The scent he breathed in smelled exactly like her. It was refreshing. Reopening them, he found himself once again staring into her eyes, despite them being the same sea-blue they always had been, he found himself captivated in the way her eyes stared straight back at him as their noses pressed.

Flitter then drew back and buried her face into Rusk’s neck, sniffling. “I’m so scared, Rusk…” Her eyes started to water as she shook, holding fast onto the other changeling’s.

Rusk couldn’t help it. He returned the embrace, finally, as Flitter began to cry, shaking as sobs wracked her body.

How long did it take to find her? It had nearly been three days before he even found the exit of the cave. Flitter had been alone for all that time! He squeezed, letting Flitter hug tighter against him.

Flitter’s sobs slowly turned into sniffles as Rusk comforted the changeling, gently holding the back of her head as she quieted down. Her breathing slowed as her eyes slowly closed.

“Good night.” Rusk whispered under his breath, ceasing his calming efforts and trying to pull away from her. Flitter groaned as Rusk tried to slide his left forehoof from under Flitter. Finally breaking free he weighed his options. The sheets were tucked in tight, leaving few options. He had yet to untangle his hind legs from when the disguised Flitter had tried to harvest love from him.

Which brought him to the next thing. He was full. He had no need to feed for the next few days, which was great. But how? He had obviously not drained the love from Flitter as she wasn't all sour, but that didn't explain why he saw the dual lovepulls. Flitter had been feeding from him and Rusk feeding from her, and they were both full despite the fact that none of them were ten minutes ago.

It was something for the next day. Rusk sighed as he flopped onto the mattress, gaining one more look at Flitter’s slumbering body before turning over and falling to sleep.

It felt weird. A light pressure was against Rusk’s back, gently pushing on his spine between his wings. He groaned as he blinked open his eyes and stared at the chipping paint before him.

The entire thing felt… odd. The warm, comforting pressure on his back, the fact that he wasn't in the hive, and the bed was too soft. Casting his gaze down, he took notice of the holed hooves wrapped around his torso, slightly hooked ends of the hooves holding themselves together. Feeling trapped, he cast his head behind him, twisting his body in the process.

He caught his breath as he laid eyes upon the sleeping form of Flitter. The changeling had a peaceful smile on her face, which contorted into a frown of discomfort as she was dislodged from the spooning position she took around Rusk. Unhooking her hooves accidentally, she shuffled in the blankets, sliding them further up her shoulder.

Rusk laid there, feeling content with this moment. He always had liked Flitter. The two friends had suddenly grown closer, maybe not more than friends quite yet, but in these times they would trust each other with their lives.

Laying his head deeper into the shared pillow, he placed a single forehoof around Flitter’s waist, pulling her closer. A happy smile grew over Flitter’s face, contrast to the frown from earlier.

Unfortunately every moment has to end, in which this case was Flitter stirring and opening her eyes. Rusk gazed back, smiling softly as her sleep-ridden eyes blinked. A green tint worked it’s way into her cheeks as she recognized Rusk, still smiling as she sighed.

“Good sun-up,” said Rusk, “I believe that was some nice rest.”

Flitter smiled. “Yeah. It was so comforting with you here. Thank you for doing that.”

“It wasn't like I had much of a choice…” Rusk mused, making Flitter light up and let a brighter green tint surface on her muzzle.

“Should we get up?” Flitter asked. Rusk, in response, pulled her closer and shook his head, wanting the moment to last as long as possible.

“You're an awesome friend, coming out here for me,” Flitter began, “and I think little things like this can let me show you my gratitude.

“I was scared. That mare I harvested love from, her love felt… artificial. I didn't know what was going on when I was dragged out by the honor guards. When I was shoved into the tunnel, I was in there for days!

“I thought I had to deal with this all alone, or try to blend into the ponies. But if I failed to harvest love, I would have died…” Flitter shuddered, “but for some reason, when I finally realized it was you… I felt… full. It was weird. I can't explain it in any way, but let it be spoken here: you saved me, Rusk. Thank you.”

Flitter rested her head in the crook of Rusk’s neck, her pointed horn angled to jut out under his chin.

Once again, moments like these are not meant to last.

thump

Flitter flinched and sat up, casting her eyes around the room. “What was that?”

thump thump thump

Flitter’s eyes widened. “Shut off your pheromones and wait here.” Flames engulfed her as she transformed into a bird, and opening the window with changeling magic, she flew out.

Not long, she flew back in, hurriedly transforming back into a changeling. Her eyes were wide, the slightly brighter color of her pupils narrow.

“They have come for us.”

Rusk sat up in the bed, gazing at the female. “Who?”

“Queen Chrysalis! Well, not actually her, but her guards are here! We need to go!”

BANG BANG CRASH

Flitter jerked her head in the direction of the window, her ears pointing down. She transformed into a rat and leaped out the window.

Rusk was quick to follow suit as the stairs creaked with use. He leaped out as a rat just as the door was kicked open.

“He was here!” A male voice hissed, “search for him!”

Flitter as a rat motioned in the gutter pipe, then turned into an eel, sliding down it.

This was risky. Changelings can become alert to transformation magic. If the group used it too much, they would be caught.

Rusk instead used his sharp claws to dig into the soft wood, climbing down and leaping deftly onto the grass on all fours.

Flitter was now a wild cat, her golden fur on end as she jerked her head toward the forest cover closest to the house. She quickly darted off.

Transforming himself into a wild cat, with black fur, he tore after Flitter, his muscles rippling with every stride across the open field. The wind whipped through his whiskers, sending odd sensations to his brain he was not used to as he darted into the overgrowth.

Flitter’s cat tail disappeared into the bushes, and Rusk instinctively opened his maw, following the scent trail she left behind.

Flitter had stopped and reverted to her changeling form not far ahead. Her forehead was glistening slightly with sweat as she huffed to catch her breath. Rusk slowed down as he transformed back into his changeling form as well.

Flitter was staring at something through the ferns. Rusk stood by her side and peeked through. Train tracks were laid across a clearing of grass, the metal and wood looking worn.

“Rusk, I have an idea,” Flitter began, “if we follow the train tracks, we can get to a town. It's better than this… eugh, forest.”

Rusk nodded wholeheartedly, already trotting down the track at a brisk pace. Flitter followed.

The sun beat down on both of them, making them sweat lightly as they briskly trotted, occasionally cantering.

“So,” said Rusk, “how did you get a disguise with a whole backstory that fast?”

Flitter giggled. “Silly, it was my original disguise for the Assessment! That is, until I found that retarded pegasus.”

Rusk chuckled. “Your pony disguise is actually quite nice looking.” He remembered the curls of her mane, the sky coat and the slightly more mature voice Flitter used.

Flitter just smiled.

The pair continued along the tracks for a few hours. They ducked to the side as a train roared past about an hour in, leaving a trail of steam in it’s wake.

It was about midday. The sun was nearly at the top of the sky, already starting to sink towards the horizon. Rusk and Flitter were both relatively exhausted already.

They decided to rest under the shade of some trees, the dappled shadows they cast perfect to take a break in. In their normal forms, they caught up like old friends, trading chatter for a half an hour.

Flitter heard the grind of train wheels against the tracks, and had an idea. She turned to Rusk and said, “If we take the train, we’d reach a town much faster!” Rusk nodded, agreeing wholeheartedly with the idea.

They hid in the brush as the train drew close, and awaited the chance to get on.

Rusk suddenly pricked his ears.

“Seize them!” Barely audible over the train, a voice sounded behind them. Rusk glanced behind him to see an armour clad changeling, glaring at him with bright blue eyes.

Rusk and Flitter darted out the bushes.

The train headed in the same direction as them. Glancing behind him Rusk noticed a small band of changelings behind him equipped with shock staffs. One hit from those and you're out.

Rusk galloped as fast as his hooves would take him, glancing behind him to see the train caboose drew near. He prepared to leap for it when he heard Flitter scream.

One of the changelings had thrown his shock staff and hit Flitter! She collapsed and the guards were quick to grab her.

Rusk skidded on his hooves, bringing him to a stop. His breath came out in ragged gasps, his chest heaving.

Fury lanced through his veins, adrenaline powering it. They were grabbing the convulsing Flitter, her yelling in pain the entire way.

Rusk felt a warm feeling in his forehead as he hissed, and a visible light began to glow on his forehead. Suddenly, pure electricity arced from his horn as he rushed the guards, the tendrils of lightning contacting them as he drew close.

The first one dropped suddenly, probably unconscious or dead. The second convulsed in a sudden pain, collapsing and zapping himself with his own shock staff. The next few all tried to run from the onslaught, but bolts of pure magic stopped them in their tracks.

Rusk stood over Flitter, watching her body convulse and her wings buzz into awkward positions. Her tongue lolled out, a thin stream of drool leaking out onto the dirt.

Rusk lit up his horn on instinct, compacting his wings to place Flitter on his back. He turned to find the train was too far to catch up to.

Unless…

He imagined him, Flitter on his back, standing on the back deck of the caboose. His horn lit up and he engulfed himself in a flash of green light, accompanied with a poof of noise.

He hissed, shutting his eyes. The clack of train wheels startled him and he hesitantly opened his eyes. His eyes went wide.

With Flitter on his back, he watched as the train tracks sped after him, his hooves firmly on the back caboose deck. The railing kept him from swooning off in shock. Rusk had just teleported! Teleportation is a super advanced spell! How did he manage to perform it?

Flitter moving on his back snapped him from his musing. Flitter was not awake, but she was now actually sleeping instead of unconscious from shock. Using his horn to open the door, he walked into the caboose, which had suitcases and boxed piled inside. Using his horn to dislodge a few cases, he made a small resting hole, leaving a window in sight should someone come into the caboose.

Levitating Flitter down onto the floor, he propped himself up on his hind hooves and stared out the window. The trees flew by as the train chugged along, the caboose lightly rattling side to side. The train picked up a little speed as suddenly they chugged into a tunnel, leaving them in darkness save for the shafts of light glowing through the cracks in the boxes.

He stifled a yawn. His head hurt slightly, probably from some form of magical exertion. He laid his head down, eager to at least get some proper rest after the long walk and fight. He quickly took a glance at Flitter.

Her wingtips were slightly singed, and her breathing was unsteady. She was still peaceful despite so. He set up a spell on her so if something went wrong, he would know.

Putting his head all the way down, he fell asleep quick.

Rusk was quick to wake when Flitter’s hot breath blew against his muzzle, making him twitch. He blinked his eyes open and was immediately lost in her eyes.

The blue orbs bore into his skull, a genuine look of care and worry adorning them. Rusk found them genuinely beautiful, and his breath hitched when her fangs prodded her lower lip.

She tenderly placed a hoof on his chest. “What happened?” She asked. Her burnt wings buzzed, her grimacing as she did so. “There were these guards… and then there was just pain…” she nuzzled her head into the crook of his neck, shaking like it was sub-zero.

“I was scared. Again,” she cooed. She drew back, looking at Rusk. “Thank you. I only now realized how much I need you…” she let her head resume its position under Rusk’s chin.

Rusk hummed. He could be like this forever, and not a moment would feel wasted. He wrapped his forehooves around her midsection, careful to avoid her wings. He squeezed, pulling her closer to him.

Of course, it was a cold, wooden floor of a caboose. As he shuffled he felt his spine click.

Flitter craned her neck back, looking at him with worry. “You okay?” She asked.

Rusk stood and arched his back, feeling the joints loosening and clicking into place. “Hardwood floor sucks,” he quipped.

The train suddenly jerked and started to slow. Flitter stood with the help of Rusk, and they exited the back of the caboose, peeking carefully.

The train station was easily visible. Ducking behind the caboose again, they peeked into the forest that lay next to it. Few ponies filed in and out among the trains, chatting as they entered and exited the train.

Perfect. They turned into wild cats and tore into the trees, only changing back into changeling form when they were safely behind cover.

The two stared through the cover to the station. It was empty now, and the Ticketmaster was fast asleep.

“We shouldn't go there,” said Flitter, “maybe we can seek refuge in the forest here.” She turned into the forest, eyeing it’s brushery.

The two ventured in, staying along the edge until they stumbled across an unused path, the moss showing it’s age.

A small rocky alcove lay hidden in the trees, barely visible from an eye’s glance. Rusk trotted down to it and peered into the small covering. Suddenly, he had an idea. Lighting up his horn, he imagined a fake covering of rock draping down the opening. A rock wall shimmered into existence.

Rusk turned back to Flitter. “As long as you know it’s an illusion, you can go through it.” He demonstrated by disappearing into the wall, his body going through it. Flitter stared incredulously. He did it like it was nothing, the spell that even Flitter could not do herself.

Shaking her head, she thought hard that the illusion was fake and stepped through the barrier.

The inside felt much smaller now that the walls were ‘sealed in’. The rock gave them enough room to stand and walk around a small bit, but they’d probably only use this small place for sleeping.

“I set the enchantment to only fall if we go too far, for instance, leaving the town. I think it was set to about two kilometers,” he said, placing a hoof under his chin.

“We can’t just go into the town in our natural forms, though,” said Flitter, “We need to assume a disguise.”

Rusk immediately changed into the same dark gray and crimson stallion that he was disguised as when the two reunited. Flitter transformed into the same turquoise mare. The two smiled broadly.

“You ready?” Flitter asked.

“You bet.”

The town itself was quite quaint, with wooden cottages lining the streets, the hay-thatched roofs swaying ever so slightly in a quiet breeze. Few ponies littered the streets, as it was a lazy day in the town. The changeling duo headed into the quiet town, keeping to the side of the street as to not make much of a scene. From what it looked like, the entire town knew each other, which meant it was a very small community.

Maybe they should not have come should they try to blend in. They tried anyways.

And failed. A pink pony has approached them and asked their names, in which after them saying their names, she gasped and floated into the air, defying gravity, before disappearing in a literal puff of smoke. In the shape of her form.

She left the changelings head scratching, suffice to say. The two shrugged and continued their self-tour of the town, mapping it in their heads.

As the sun began to set in the sky, they found that most of the buildings were nearly identical, save for a few double floored ones, a house that looked like a sweet tooth’s erotic dream, a cloud house they only noticed last, a house that had differing paint split directly in the middle, even affecting the door itself, an ornate house in a cylindrical shape with a cone shaped roof, and a house built into a tree. The town hall was the tallest building in the settlement, with a rather tall cylindrical shape that tapered at the top sharply.

What a weird town. The two ended up relaxing in the park, them watching as pegasi flew lazily in the sky and unicorns and earth ponies trotting below. They all chatted, smiles barely leaving their faces.

It was quite a happy little place, and maybe a suitable place for Flitter and Rusk to lay low until the changelings lost interest.

Leaving the park, Rusk noticed a mare staring at her. The earth pony had a cream-yellow colored coat and a mix of a pink and blue mane. Her gaze followed then as they left the park.

Rusk shuddered. “There was this creepy mare staring at us. Her face was totally all frowny for the ponies of this town.”

Flitter shrugged. “We are new ponies in town. Of course they would be sizing us up.” She started to trot at a more brisk pace. “Come on, let's go back to camp.”

Making sure eyes didn't lay on them as they cantered into the forest, they slowed down as they walked across the moss-covered path.

“So,” began Flitter, “How do we approach this? The ponies here have a very happy culture. I'm not sure how to tackle this.”

“We just play it by day,” said Rusk, hovering for a second to shrug his shoulders. “Besides, I feel the worst that can happen right now is someone knowing who we are.”

They reached the pile of rocks, with the hidden cave behind the illusion. They grafted into it, entering the small space. Rusk lit up his horn as they sat down, casting a green glow across the room as he transformed back into his natural form. Flitter also changed back.

Rusk laid down, his wings buzzing as he sighed, the soft moss a decent bedding.

Flitter scooted closer to him, probably because of the cold bitter night that pierced their exoskeleton. Their flanks pressed together as they reveled in each other’s warmth, breathing in tandem.

Flitter rotated herself, her softer underbelly shell pressing against his side. He craned his neck slightly to the side and let Flitter place her muzzle in his shoulder.

He felt her cool fangs press against his shell, and he liked it. He smiled contently as he rotated to face Flitter. The two locked eyes, pausing only when they blinked. Flitter scooted up until her head was level with Rusk’s, and gently nuzzled her nose up against his.

No words were needed to be spoken, for all they would want to say was spoken in the short figurative electrical shocks running down Rusk’s spine. Flitter gazed at him with those eyes, and Rusk practically melted.

Never in his life would he ever imagined such an adventure!

More like, he couldn't believe that his affections were returned by her.

She gently cooed as she drifted off to sleep, quietly tucked up against Rusk’s body. Her breathing leveled as she transitioned to deep sleep.

Gently stroking her he shut his eyes and hoped to get rest as well.

Sleep came fast.

The Mystery Mare

Author's Note

Thanks a ton to EverfreePony for editing this!

The Mystery Mare

Rusk felt a large throbbing within his skull. He let out a thin groan as his body was shaken lightly. The pain roared and peaked where his horn protruded from his forehead.

He blinked open his eyes to the small dark cave. Flitter was shaking him lightly, muttering to herself.

“Sweet Chrysalis, that smarts…” said Rusk, rubbing his head with a hoof.

“You overexerted yourself, Rusk. Just rest for a bit.” Her horn lit up and a soothing coldness spread through his forehead, staving off the pain. “I'm just working on numbing the pain for you, but don't expect to be performing any spells besides changing today.”

Rusk sighed, then groaned once again as pain lanced across his head. Once it subsided he sat up agonizingly slowly, buzzing his wings once they were free of being pressed against his back. Flitter still had her horn up, her expression of worry animated on her face.

“So…” said Rusk, “what's today's plan?”

“Well, I guess we just have to head into town today. I think trying to find a map of the place would make more sense.”

“But there is also something else that is bothering me. The town just feels… familiar. I don't know why. It could be deja vu, but…” Flitter trailed off.

“You didn't go hunting often. Maybe it was your Assessment?” Rusk prompted, making Flitter perk up.

“Yeah! This may be the place. Probably. We will just have to find a map.”

An awkward silence was put upon them. Flitter broke it by sticking her head out of the mirage. “We can go now,” she said, her horn finally dimming. Rusk noticed the pain was gone - basic painkiller magic was known to most magic using changelings, a basic spell.

Rusk nodded and he shakily stood up and left the cave. Flitter followed behind him as Rusk shifted into his disguise and padded onto the path to town.

The town was bustling that day, many ponies crowding around a small market buying carrots, apples, baking ingredients and many more items. Bits were traded, words were spoken and many ponies wormed around each other in their pursuit of purchasing certain items.

Rusk and Flitter avoided the crowd, moving around the streets behind the main stalls as to not draw too much attention to themselves.

When they finally got to the other end of the market, the crowd had thinned considerably, and multiple booths including the apple, baking and a booth with a giant cardboard muffin in front of it.

“What happened?” Flitter asked the question on both of their minds. Rusk noticed the few ponies left were clearing from the market, heading all in the same general direction.

“I'm guessing the market is an early riser thing, or maybe there's something more to this,” said Rusk in a low voice, starting to trot down the same direction the ponies went. Flitter followed suit.

“Interested in trying some cupcakes?” They had barely made it through half the closing market before being sidetracked. It would make them seem rude, so the two trotted up to the table, manned by an earth pony mare that had blue fur and a pink mane that swirled upwards like ice cream.

“Have a try, you two!” said the mare with gusto, pushing a split cupcake across the table. Flitter quickly took a half with her magic revealing that inside the plain looking cupcake was a small center of caramel that oozed out of its small crevice. Rusk took it in hoof and placed it in his mouth.

Immediately his face lit up. The ‘plain’ cupcake was actually a very nice lemon, and the caramel sauce blended nicely with the cake.

Of course, this would be pretty standard to a pony, but to changelings, sugar had a very, very different flavor - in a good way.

“This is amazing!” commented Flitter after swallowing her cupcake half, “how do you make these so well?”

“Well,” said the mare, “I work at Sugarcube Corner, a bakehouse slash café. We make all kinds of these things here.” Casting a glance at the empty table with the single cupcake wrapper, she sighed. “I'm going to pack up and leave back to the bakery. I hope to see you there soon!” She winked as the tugged the table cloth into a bag and hauled it onto the bag.

“Wait!” Rusk called as the mare walked off, “Where is this Sugarcube Corner?”

The mare laughed. “Just follow me.”

“So, you have two children and run a bakery?” said Flitter, “What a handful it must be!”

Mrs. Cake chuckled. “You have no idea.”

The trio had made it to the house that looked like something out of candy land. Mrs. Cake pushed open the door with her nose and trotted inside.

The room was dark as Flitter and Rusk walked in, and their changeling night vision began to fade in. They caught a glimpse of ponies before the door shut behind them.

“What?” Flitter asked Mrs: Cake.

The lights flicked on suddenly, making Rusk hiss in frustration. A cacophony of voices yelled something, but Rusk was not sure what they said.

Uncovering his eyes, Rusk looked around the room. Streamers hanged from the roof, balloons were everywhere and a banner with some blurry words,one of which read ‘Welcome’, hung above a table with sugary food.

Changelings get disoriented by sudden light. It can impair their hearing for a solid minute, and make their vision blurred. Luckily they don't break form.

“Gah!” said Flitter, now uncovering her eyes. Her pupils dilated and her ears flopped down. “This is… What is this?”

“A party, silly!” a voice said from above them. Rusk looked up to find a pink pony impossibly hovering above them. He recognized her as that pony that disappeared in a puff of smoke. “It's your ‘Welcome to Ponyville’ party!”

A party? Rusk looked to see that the banner read “Welcome to Ponyville” and the two changeling’s fake names underneath it. There was a total of about thirty ponies, most of them wearing broad smiles.

Except one. Standing next to a mint green unicorn was a certain yellow pony with blue and pink curls, her gaze resting on the two with a stern glare.

“I don't like her,” Flitter whispered to Rusk. He nodded his head.

Music started playing from a gramophone placed in the corner, the thin needle in a thick record labeled ‘party mix’. The ponies broke up from the rough circle around them and began to mingle, some heading towards to the food table to help themselves to some food.

The pink pony popped up in front of them. “Well, what do you think? Go and enjoy the party, it's for you!”

“It's… nice, if a bit startling,” said Rusk, “Thanks for the party, uhh…”

“Pinkie Pie, but you can just call me Pinkie!” the mare exclaimed. “Now, go and join the fun!” She swung behind them and pushed them toward the crowd.

Rusk gulped. He had never been in such a tight and enclosed space before. The amount of feeling around him nearly drew him nuts. Flitter seemed to be struggling as well, he noticed.

Rusk sighed. This was bound to be a long party.

“Crimson, come have some cake!” a pony called. Rusk turned his head to find Mrs. Cake with a plate balanced on her back.

“Thanks, but I'm fine. We did kind of eat not long ago,” Rusk lied.

Mrs. Cake smiled. “That’s okay!” She padded off.

Rusk glanced around for a break. Glancing at a corner booth, he ducked through the crowd, sliding into it.

He took deep breaths, trying to calm the thumping in his chest. He knew that if he got too worked up he could be prone to accidentally reverting to his normal form. That would cause a lot of unnecessary complications.

“Mind if I escape too?” Flitter ducked into the booth, scooting in next to Rusk.

“I don't see why not,” Rusk said, shifting a bit more so she could fit in next to her.

Flitter rested her chin on the table, sighing uncomfortably. “This is a mess. We need to find a library to get a map.”

Rusk nodded. “Agreed. Let's escape here.”

“Nuh uh!”

Rusk jumped out of his fur as Pinkie Pie slithered out from under the table, her usual beaming smile prominent. “This is a party for you guys!”

Flitter groaned and placed hooves over her ears. “Too loud.”

Pinkie giggled. “As to answer the question you have on your minds, we have a library. Just look for the tree!”

Rusk sighed. At least Pinkie had the decency to answer the question.

But they had to get out of here. Rusk quickly thought of a fib. “Uhh… Hearth here has crowd anxiety. I think it's best we may go now before she has an attack.”

Flitter glanced at him, but he looked at her with a ‘play along’ look.

Flitter looked at Pinkie and nodded slowly, taking a shaky breath. “It's not your fault…”

“Oh.” Pinkie’s mane seemed to change color. She slumped down slightly, and her expression became slightly less cheerful. “I understand… You two go along, I guess.” She sniffled, taking Flitter's place in resting her head on the table as the two left the booth.

“I feel really bad for her in a way,” Flitter said, “I mean, she did spend all that time making a party just for us.”

“Yeah, but any more emotion and I would have overloaded,” said Rusk. “But it’s behind us. Let's find that library.”

The search wasn't long. A tree with a sign that had a book on it beheld the two, and what a strange sight it was! It was not every day a tree is used as a library.

Pushing the door open, a pleasant bell jingled as the two stepped inside. The atmosphere was cozy, books laid on shelves built into the pulp around them. Stairs wound upstairs, and a centerpiece stood proudly in the center.

There was a clop of hooves from upstairs. Rusk and Flitter watched as a purple unicorn rushed down the stairs, levitating an open book in her magic.

“Hello, welcome to the library!” she spoke, putting the book down on a small table. “How may I help you?”

Rusk shuffled his hooves. “Uhh… we need a map. Of here.”

“A map of Ponyville?” she asked, “Sure, no problem!” the unicorn’s eyes scanned the shelves, then she tugged a book down using her magic. She set it on a table standing in the corner, then levitated a notebook from said desk. Opening it, she scrawled down a few things, then shut it. “Here you go! Just bring it back in a couple weeks or so, okay?”

Rusk nodded. “Thanks.” He and Flitter turned to leave, but the unicorn spoke up.

“Wait! Just… Pinkie told me you’re new ponies, and, uhh, if you need anything, don’t hesitate to come here.”

“That would be nice, thank you,” said Flitter, and the two left swiftly.

The sun had already reached its apex, the warm yet humid day’s breeze gently blowing towards the forest as the two disguised changelings stepped out of the library.

“So… park again?” Flitter asked her companion. Rusk shrugged his shoulders.

“Why not?” he concurred, and the two set off at a quicker pace, heading in the general direction of the small grassy area.

“Ru- Crimson, I’d like to ask you something,” Flitter began, “What was that back there, on the railroad? You used some advanced magic. Enough to overexert yourself, no less.”

Rusk pondered the question. He had performed a strong combat spell to save Flitter, but he only could think of stunning spells used when their cover was blown. Perhaps he supercharged the basic spell Electrus, a stun spell that used a charge of electricity from the horn to zap their target, and made it into a close-to-lethal charge shot. Honestly, the spell was not that different from the power of the shock staffs that the changelings had.

“I don’t know,” he finally answered, giving into just not knowing what he did, “it just… happened.”

Flitter let out a little mm-hm at what he said. “I can see the reasoning in that.”

The two remained silent for the few minutes it took to briskly trot to the park. Taking a seat, the two remained in a perpetual state of idle chatter.

Rusk noticed that the mare was staring again. Her face was, instead of a glare, a perfectly flat neutral stare. It creeped him out.

Rusk wondered if the mare suspected them, but shrugged it off once again.

The two made eye contact again, but this time, a few extra ponies had gathered with her. They were approaching them with similar neutral expressions.

Flitter nudged him. “We need to go, now.”

“Huh?” Rusk asked obliviously, not aware what Flitter meant.

“You can smell it.”

Rusk took a deep breath, inhaling the smells. Grass, the humid air, changeling pheromones…

Wait. He remembered something the librarian had said.

“A map of Ponyville?”

Ponyville. It made sense. Ponyville was a town close to a small changeling hive branch.

Rusk turned his head to face Flitter, his eyes wide. He slowly slid off the bench.

“We need to get to the library, now.”

“What do you two need?” the librarian asked, the two facing her. She was troubled by the frightened looks that the two had.

“Well, it’s hard to explain, but there are c-ponies looking for us right now. We need to lay low,” said Flitter.

“Is this a criminal sort of thing they’re after you for?” the librarian inquired.

“No, no, it’s just-”

knock knock knock

“Hold on,” she said, “let me get the door.” She trotted over to the door and swung it open with magic. “Oh, hey, Bon Bon, Minuette, Lemon! What do you need?”

Rusk peeked at the door frame, leaning slightly. There were multiple guests at the door, ponies whom Rusk recognized as the grouchy bunch that creepily watched them at the park.

“It’s them,” Flitter whispered into Rusk’s ear.

‘Bon Bon’ opened her mouth and said, “We want Rusk, Twilight. Nothing else.”

“Who is Rusk?” the librarian asked, “Come in, you can tell me who this ‘Rusk’ inside is.”

The few ponies shuffled into the room. Of the other two, one was a banana yellow mare with a double-hued blue mane, and the other was blue-coated with a mix of white and blue making up her own mane.

“Who is this pony you’re looking for?” the librarian asked. Bon Bon held up a forearm, sticking it at Rusk.

She then suddenly curled her fetlock, and the blue pony grasped the librarian in an aura of magic. All three dropped their disguises, hissing at the outnumbered pair.

“What is going on?” the librarian said, breathing heavily on the border of hyperventilation to breath properly in the magical grasp.

“Oh, it’s just that these two have been lying to you,” said the lead changeling, promptly firing a beam at Rusk and Flitter that sent them back into their natural forms.

The poor mare had quite a fright. She darted her head in between the two, trying to grasp that the ponies she knew were not quite ponies. She growled and let loose a magic blast, freeing herself from the bindings.

“WHO DO I TRUST ANYMORE?” she yelled, charging her horn for a magical blast. “WHY ARE CHANGELINGS INFIGHTING?”

“It’s cause we need him. He’s a prodigy, Twilight,” said ‘Bon Bon’, “but that other one is useless. We were to dispose of her.”

Flitter and Rusk’s jaw dropped.

The librarian, ignoring Flitter and Rusk’s incredulous expressions, glared at the lead changeling. “And?”

“Uhh, Twilight!” Rusk called. Her head swiveled round to face him, and she angled her horn to point at him.

“What?”

“You… please, just don’t kill us! I literally BETRAYED my kind to save someone!” Rusk pleaded. “We aren’t bad, please just believe us!”

Twilight growled. She then looked at the trio. Looking back at Rusk and Flitter, she half-muttered, “You better not be double-crossing.”

She let loose the charged magical blast at the one on the right, which immediately knocked the changeling out. She rotated her head to find a magic beam slam straight into her chest, sending her flying against a shelf. The books shook and fell from it, landing in a heap upon her.

Rusk glared at the now two changelings. This was to himself and Flitter now.

He charged one of the few combat spells he knew, trying his theory out. His head began hurting like nothing he had ever felt before, but he kept putting extra power into it, igniting a ball of light on his horn.

The two changelings disguised themselves and fled, quickly slamming the library door behind them as they hastily retreated. Rusk dropped the spell, feeling the magic retract and the headache became worse. He groaned as he dropped to the ground, his head swimming with pain.

“Rusk! Why did you do that? Too much of it could’ve killed you!” Flitter fretted, rushing to his side to aid him.

Twilight was pulling herself out of the pile of books, glancing around the room. She laid eyes on Rusk and rushed to his side. “You okay?”

“I’hm fhie…” said Rusk, his voice slurred from gentle painkiller magic being flowed into his mind by Flitter.

“That’s a relief,” Twilight said, “Now, you must-”

“Twilight!” a voice of a young male echoed from upstairs. Down bounded a dragon, with purple scales and a green underbelly. He held a scroll clutched in his claws, a red strip with a golden badge on it. Twilight undid the scroll and read it. Upon reading it, her face blanched. She dropped the scroll and stared at the couple.

“You need to go, now.”

The City

The train whistled, jolting Rusk from his sleep.

His head hurt a lot less than it did yesterday, decreasing from pounding to a dull throb. He was leaned against the window, shaking as the train vibrated down the tracks. Dim lights hummed above him, and a soft furred body was shifting next to him.

Twilight Sparkle, as soon as Celestia sent that letter, went in a panic and sent Rusk and Flitter onto the next train to a city called Manehattan. The train had run overnight, leaving Rusk and Flitter to sleep on the cushioned bench.

“Rusk, you awake?” asked Flitter, blinking her pony eyes and yawning. Rusk, in return, placed a hoof on her shoulder, and pulled her in for a side hug. He got a squeak in return.

The train was chugging slowly to a stop, the brakes squealing and echoing in the busy train station. The duo shook themselves awake, clearing the cobwebs from their minds, and when the train finally stopped, they left.

The station extended in a glass arched roof above them, with large stone pillars running from the tall roof to the floor. Stone arched above them, forming platforms for pegasi chariots to swing in and out of, the dual pegasi bus chariots being the quick way to neighbouring towns and suburbs.

Rusk looked to see Flitter darting her eyes around with a surprised expression on her face, and he inwardly chuckled at the surprised changeling. In her failure to notice her immediate surroundings, she tripped over the intricate feet of a lamp post and squeaked as she stumbled forward a few steps.

She stood, using magic to quickly smooth out her fur, and the two trotted along towards the exit of the giant structure.

If the train station was amazing, the city itself was mind-blowing. Towering skyscrapers were visible just ahead, their pointed tips invisible as the buildings extended above the low-lying clouds. Ponies bustled down the sides of the streets, with carriages swiftly moving down the center, usually pulled by strong-looking ponies.

“This place is amazing!” Flitter spoke both of their thoughts. Rusk nodded in response once again, gazing at the tall skyscrapers in the distance.

Flitter regained her senses first, pulling out the map from Twilight with short directions to a nearby bed and breakfast. Poking Rusk to get him to follow, she followed the directions with him in tow, glancing down at the map every so often to follow it.

“So,” began Rusk, trying to start a conversation for the journey, “That all happened really fast.”

Flitter nodded in agreement. “Lucky we got out of that, though, and that pony was trusting to some degree.” She tilted her head at him. “But what they said, about you being…”

“Yeah, a prodigy,” said Rusk, sighing. “I guess it explains the magical bursts I have.”

The weight of being of such importance weighed down on him immensely. Why did it have to be him that has such power that he can spellcast to a high degree?

“I don’t like it, Flitter,” he admitted, “I feel like it’s too much for me.”

Eventually, they arrived at the three storey building. Large print that read ‘Manehattan BnB’ adorned the sign above the door with neon-lit lighting, a light humming noise emitting from the glowing lights.

Pushing the door open, inside was a small, carpeted room. Plush grey couches sat on the walls, and a small window in the wall in front of them housed a pony with equally grey fur. She looked up and smiled warmly. “Welcome. Presuming you’re together, do you want a room for two?”

Flitter nodded, stepping ahead of Rusk. “Yes, please. Just for a couple nights will be good.”

Flitter slid the bits over in exchange for a skeleton key with a lot of weird notches on it. Flitter muttered thanks and turned to head up the staircase. Rusk followed suit.

The stairs creaked with both of their hoofsteps. The steep stairs extended up about four flights, and Flitter walked into an empty doorway with the number ‘2’ printed on the wall on the side.

The hallway was nice as well, with full carpeting and an ivory wallpaper with a very interesting wavy design. Flitter inserted the key into the first door, turning it smoothly with a click. There was also a flash of white magic. Artificial magic, used in locks to prevent unicorns from picking them.

The room itself was pretty small. Two single beds were pressed up against the
left wall. Just to their right was a door, presumably into a bathroom. A couple chairs and a coffee table sat in the corner.

“It's nice,” commented Rusk, flopping onto one of the beds, “and the beds are nice, too.” His eyes were squinted from the lack of sleep despite sleeping on the train. The ride was pretty uncomfortable. Soon he was slumbering, lightly snoring in a steady pattern.

Flitter sighed, and climbed into the other bed, placing her hooves behind her head, and tried to find rest as well. She didn’t fall asleep as quickly as Rusk, for she was not as tired. Truth was, Rusk as a pony did very well to cushion her head when she slept.

Rusk woke up first. Blinking open his eyes wearily, he scanned his surroundings from the limited movement that lying down on his belly had given his neck. Flitter was snoozing on the bed next to him, sprawled out on her side with her back facing Rusk.

He yawned, rolling over onto his back and stretching his four hooves in the air. He winced as blood rushed back into his legs, giving him a painful case of pins and needles.

Rusk rolled off the bed, clunking to the floor ungracefully. Just as he did, there was a knock at the room’s door. Moments later, there was a loud crash against it.

“Hesuwhah?” Flitter jerked awake at the banging noise. Once again the sound of the deadbolt straining in the wall reverberated through the room. Flitter raised her head and asked Rusk, “That you?”

Rusk said in return, “No.” Then he turned to the door. He grasped the doorknob, twisting it and opening the door. Flitter saw him backpedal, then flare his magic, a green light enveloping his nonexistent horn. A figure went flying into the back of the room.

Flitter leaped from her bed, and dashed towards the front of the room, where Rusk had called her to get out of. She pushed into the hallway.

Rusk glanced down the stairs, then bolted up. “Flitter, hurry, follow me!”

Flitter panted as she ran up the flights of stairs, the fact that she just woke up showing in her stumbling gait. Each stair felt like a great leap for the poor changeling, and she was glad to reach the top.

Rusk barged through the roof door, and a shrill clang started echoing throughout the building as the alarm tripped. The afternoon sun suddenly shone down on them, earning a couple surprised hisses.

After Flitter came through, panting, he slammed the door shut. Unfurling his wings, he grabbed Flitter around her barrel and lifted her, messily flying over the stout buildings. Changelings were light creatures, and pegasus wings had no trouble carrying them.

Eventually Flitter was dropped to the ground by Rusk, and the pair ran across the building tops, followed by some ponies who reeked of changeling pheromones. Rusk yelled to Flitter, “The next building has a gap in between it!” He lowered his front and leaped across the gap, using his wings to propel himself. He turned back and waited for Flitter, who leaped across and stabilized herself against Rusk.

The other changelings following them hissed, then green fire surrounded them as they all changed to pegasi. Taking flight, they started making towards the couple.

“Flitter, change into a pegasus!” Rusk hissed, his invisible horn alight as he put up a shield to deflect sudden magical blasts. By now, the wailing of police sirens was gaining volume, as well as the worried screams of ponies below.

Flitter transformed into a pegasus, her form losing the pointed horn and instead growing feathered wings. She took flight, and Rusk followed behind her, holding the shield for a while longer before dropping it.

Beams of magic were now being flown their way. Not powerful ones, like the lightning bolt one Rusk casted, but stun ones that could knock a changeling or pony unconscious. Rusk individually deflected the bolts with levitation, deciding that a shield would be battered down too quickly by the magical beams.

In all honesty, Rusk was probably trying to defend Flitter more than himself.

The high speed chase came to a stop when more damaging beams were thrown, the dangerous bolts tearing through Rusk’s magical field, and one hit Flitter in the wing. Despite having the appearance of pegasi wings, technically they had the integrity of the membrane wings that changelings had.

It tore through her wing, and she screamed as she lost her lift and toppled out of the sky. Rusk heard her and saw her crash to the building below.

Guess she was on hoof now. Rusk flew over to Flitter, who was nursing the pegasus wing that held a small bit-sized hole in the center. She looked up to see Rusk and gulped, then stood up. “Are you going to hold them off while I run?” she struggled out.

Rusk shook his head, then motioned Flitter to follow him, dashing off and ducking into an open door.

Luckily, the room was empty. Flitter stumbled in and collapsed to the floor, her left wing hanging out awkwardly, a steady dripping of blood falling from her splayed wing, staining the concrete floor. Her breath was coming out in short, shallow gasps, tears brimming the corners of her eyes.

Rusk winced, sitting next to Flitter to examine her wing. When he lifted it up from the floor, Flitter cried out in pain, rolling onto her side and holding her legs tightly against her body.

“Yep, this isn’t something that can be fixed on the field,” said Rusk, quickly numbing the wing and standing up. He partially opened the door, peeking outside, then jerked his head, motioning Flitter to follow.

Rusk stayed low on the ground alongside Flitter, the two bounding across buildings. The group of chasers was gone for now, and they started to make a mad dash back towards the train station.

It was in sight, Flitter grinding her teeth as the last building jump lay just ahead..

Three hoof-steps to the end, Flitter crouched down to make the leap. She straightened her legs as a sharp magic beam struck the back of her head, and the world slipped away from her as she practically tossed herself over the edge.

Rusk ground to a halt, seeing the blue-furred figure ungracefully falling like a stone. His instinct sent him shooting towards her, angling downward to gain more speed.

Flitter was about fifty metres from the ground. Rusk reached her and tried to grasp her, but she tumbled and slipped out of Rusk’s hooves. He scrambled again, and managed to grasp her.

He glanced down as he started to brake in the air. They were about ten metres from hitting the busy streets. Ponies were staring in horror and amazement, and there was some cheering as well.

Struggling under her weight, Rusk glided down the street and into the train station. Once inside the lobby, he lifted Flitter onto his back and headed to the kiosk.

“Is she alright?” the ticketmaster asked with a wide-eyed expression. Rusk nodded.

“She is rather sleepy,” Rusk lied, “she went out like a light. Two tickets to Ponyville, please.”

The ticketmaster nodded, pulling out two tickets. “The train is in fifteen minutes.” Rusk took the tickets and trotted off in the direction of the platform.

Flitter hurt all over, especially suffering a burning pain in the back of her head. She groaned, not wanting to wake up.

“Flitter?” She recognized the voice. It was Rusk.

What had happened? She opened her eyes to see the seatboards of a wooden bench and some grey fur.

Lifting her head, she saw the train platform, and Rusk himself, still in pony form, his eyes focused on hers.

“How are you feeling?” he asked.

“What happened?” Flitter ignored the question.

“You fell… and I managed to catch you just in time,” he muttered, ruffling his pegasus wings. “You got shot in the back of the head with a stun beam.”

Flitter was content on resting her head, and it went back to the view of fur and wooden planks. “Ugh… my head.”

Rusk chuckled. “I thought so.”

A whistle was heard somewhere behind her, and the sound of a railway train screeching to a halt filled the station.

“Flitter, our train is here.” Rusk stood up and gently lifted her up from the lying position on the bench. She sleepily trotted into the train, Rusk following.

“Let’s go back to Ponyville.”

Rusk idly stared out the window, watching the scenery pass. He was sore everywhere, but he was more worried about Flitter than himself.

Her wing had stopped bleeding a while ago, but it was still splayed out, and may stay like that without medical care soon. The back of her head sported a strong scorch mark.

She was groaning in her sleep. Whether that was pain or a bad dream, Rusk moved to comfort her, gently lifting her with magic up against his left shoulder.

He went back to the window, thinking. Flitter stirred after a while, shaking her head slowly to shake the cobwebs out of her brain.

Flitter was running through many emotions, and none of them were good. Fear, pain, dread…

Except one.

Flitter leaned forward towards Rusk, and gently nuzzled his cheek.

Twilight glanced up as Rusk and Flitter barged through suddenly, the little bell on her door clanging loudly. Flitter looked quite beaten up.

“Oh my gosh, what happened?” asked Twilight, cantering over to Flitter’s side. She took a look at the damaged wing.

“We were followed. Flitter got shot a couple times, both being pretty bad, but not fatal. She nearly fell to her death, though…”

Twilight sighed. “Well, at least you avoided the Princess, she left nary an hour ago. You are extremely lucky.” Her horn was alight, working at healing the damaged wing. Purple magic seeped into the wound, and Flitter grunted in pain, then sighed as the pain receded.

“Don’t use it,” said Twilight, “or you may damage it again.” Her magic let go of the wing, and Flitter contentedly tucked it in before transforming into a unicorn.

“Thanks, Twilight!” Flitter gave the unicorn a hug, which the purple pony gladly returned.

After breaking up, the three sat and Rusk regaled the adventure in Manehattan to Twilight.

“The police must be all over the city,” commented Twilight in the middle of his story.

“Yes, they are,” said Rusk, “I couldn’t not hear their sirens.”

“Well, how about-”

“Twilight!” a voice called from upstairs. Spike appeared, a scroll grasped in his claws. Twilight took it when Spike was halfway down the stairs.

She opened it and read, “Dear Twilight Sparkle…” she murmured after that, then she groaned and rolled up the scroll.

“You’re not done yet, we’re going to Canterlot. You’ll like it, though.”

And like it they would. The city was more of a sight than Manehattan!

Well, the duo would normally have time to see the sights, but this wasn’t that kind of circumstance. Instead, they were galloping in the direction of the castle.

As they ran more towards the center, Rusk noticed a golden light had shaded over the day, like Canterlot got some sunglasses, or something like that. It shimmered, casting shadows onto the street.

The trip was tiring and uneventful. They ran into the main castle, which was familiar even to Rusk. Changelings often practiced infiltrating events in the castle.

Rusk and Flitter ground to a halt when they saw her, however. The alicorn of the Sun.

Needless to say, both of them were scared shitless.

“Twilight, it’s great to see you,” said Celestia, “and you six, too.” Five other ponies plus Spike had come along.

“Who are these ponies?” asked Celestia.

Rusk gulped.

“They may be the key to solving our problem,” Twilight said. “Besides, I couldn’t just leave them at the library alone.”

Celestia nodded. “This concerns national security, Twilight. Are you sure they can help us?” A nod in response, and Celestia turned to Rusk and Flitter. “Well, it seems Queen Chrysalis of the changelings has declared war against Equestria.”

“What?” both Flitter and Rusk exclaimed at the same time.

“They have missing changeling, apparently important to their hive. That’s what she told me, at least. She said to look for a single changeling with the name of Rusk. He’s one of those prodigy things.” She waved a hoof, then turned to Twilight. “So, Twilight, it is paramount that we find this changeling and give him back before a large-scale war against Equestria is had.”

Twilight gulped. “Well, you see…”

Rusk looked Celestia in the eye. “What Twilight is saying…” He stepped forward and sat down, throwing his hooves in the air.

“I am who they’re looking for.”

Author's Note

Sorry for not updating! I've been moving countries the past week or two and I completely lost the drive to write. This wasn't forced, but I finally got the mojo back. I enjoyed writing this chapter.

The climax of the story is approaching very soon. Chrysalis has given a large scale threat agains Equestria... What will happen to our two changeling heroes next?

The Oncoming Storm

Rusk decided that revealing his identity was not a good idea. As soon as his hooves went up, a glow of thick yellow magic wrapped around his neck and he was brought eye-to-eye with Celestia.

“You WHAT?”

Rusk gulped. His life was pretty much gone if he didn’t make a good enough reason. This was why he wanted to avoid the princess.

Well, now he was face to face with her. Not the best scenario for avoiding somepony.

Flitter was staring in shock, suddenly backpedalling away from Celestia with frantic eyes. Celestia grabbed her too, then shook both, letting the flames do the work. The changelings were now revealed.

“Celestia, wait!” Twilight called, but was held back by an orange pony with a sandy mane.

“Twilight, you don’t realize? They’re changelings! They’re supposed to look like your friends!”

“But I know they’re changelings! They’re good!”

Rusk chimed in, “Yes, I wouldn’t attack you guys…”

“Queen Chrysalis took her away,” he said, motioning to Flitter, “and that caused me to snap. I thought the changelings were in the right with their morals. I was wrong.”

Princess Celestia bore a puzzled face, her muzzle scrunched in. Eventually, the golden magic released them both, dropping them ungracefully to the ground. Rusk glanced upwards to see Celestia staring back. “If you do one thing out of line…” she warned.

He gulped, and nodded. Standing up, he picked Flitter up with magic and set her down, then turned to the princess.

“I don’t want to go back with them, princess. They’ll kill Flitter.” Rusk motioned to the only other changeling in the room, who was shivering, curled on the ground.

Celestia rolled her eyes, and turned to look at Twilight with a stern look. “Can you keep an eye on them?”

Twilight nodded. “Sure, why not. I mean, they’ve not tried to eat love from us or anything…” She glanced at Rusk, who was consoling Flitter, and turned back to Celestia. “Celestia, you have to believe me that these changelings are not bad.”

Celestia sighed. “I don’t trust them, and I never will. But with the oncoming changeling army, maybe we need a few of their own kind on our side.” She paced back and forth on the red carpet lying on the floor. “But… What is the purpose of this?” She looked to Rusk, and asked, “Why are the changelings out for your blood?”

Rusk shook his head, sighing, “It’s because I’m magically talented for a changeling, and I think us changelings keep magically adept changelings close to the hive. Well, that would make tactical sense, but I thought the idea of prodigy changelings was a myth. The only changeling to wield such power that I know of is the Queen herself.”

Celestia hummed in thought, then spoke in an authoritative tone, “Alright then, you nine will be staying here while I retrieve the Elements of Harmony. I shall send someone to take you to some sleeping places for the time being.” She turned to face Twilight Sparkle. “I need you to measure Rusk’s power, and maybe assist him in combat magic. I don’t know how much he knows, but against an army of changelings, some good combat magic can go a long way.” Facing Rusk and Flitter, she continued, “You two, I suggest you assume your pony form for now. There is a public hearing in this castle due to our current threat, and the last thing the war room needs to see are two changelings inside the castle.”

With two quick flashes, Celestia was staring at two ponies, green smoke curling off their bodies for a split second. She nodded in approval.

“Alright, I must go retrieve the Elements,” said Celestia before cantering out of the throne room.

The eight ponies plus dragon were led through to a short hall containing multiple bedrooms. Each one was identical, with a prince-size bed sitting in the center, chest of drawers to the left, and an en-suite in a door to the right. It wasn’t that large, but larger than a usual house’s bedroom.

Details, of course, didn’t matter. Rusk flopped onto the bed, sinking deeply into the mattress. It was a while since he had a good rest. The soft material hugged him tightly, and his eyes closed, starting to snore in bliss.

“Rusk?”

Of course, it was Flitter. She had perfect timing, didn’t she?

The bed squeaked as she climbed onto the bed beside him. He grumbled and rolled to his side, opening his eyes. He was met by her eyes.

Flitter was in her changeling form, her head rested against the pillow. She was laying sideways, all four of her hooves splayed forwards in a relaxed manner.

“This is scary.” She sighed, looking down at the pillows with a worried expression.

“How so?” Rusk moved forward to comfort her, resting a forehoof on top of hers.

“This was not what I expected. The Assessment, everything happening right now…” Flitter shuddered. “And now, we’re in the fight AGAINST the changelings. Rusk, you heard what Celestia said. She wants Twilight to train you in combat magic.”

“And?”

“I want to come with you, at least… I am kind of sick of being helpless,” she said. “All these times you’ve been the one to… you know, help me when I’m in trouble. I’d like to return the favour, but… I’m just scared. I’m afraid of what is going to happen. Knowing the Queen, she is probably amassing an attack directly against Canterlot. And I’m sure we’re going to be right in the middle of it.” Rusk started to object, but Flitter stopped him by touching his nose to hers. “Rusk, it’s really about me as much as it is for you. I’m the reason you left the hive… You have no idea how much that meant to me, that such a good friend could have come to assist me in such a hard time.” Flitter let out a sigh.

“Flitter, this may be our one chance to end this,” Rusk said. “Then we can find some place to relax and not be thrown into a chase every second day. But soon the changelings will attack, and it will be a deciding point in our lives.”

“Rusk, can we not do this? I’m pretty sure Celestia and Twilight have the situation covered.”

“Flitter, I must fight. This is about me.”

“Please, Rusk!” Flitter began to softly sob, and Rusk inched closer to Flitter, moving his hoof to rest on her shoulder.

“It’s okay, alright? I’ll be fine…”

Flitter was now crying, and her breath hitched as she said, “Rusk…”

Rusk inched close to her and pulled into a hug, which Flitter gladly returned. Flitter cried into his shoulder with earnest, her emotions a swirl of mixed colors. He eased her into a tighter hug, a hoof wrapped around her barrel and one around her neck.

“It-it really is overwhelming, Rusk…” Flitter said in between sobs.

“I know, Flitter… It will be fine, alright? I don’t mean to be repetitive, but look, I wouldn’t go through with something like this if I had the choice. And you know I’ll do my best to get through this rough patch.”

“I don’t want you to,” Flitter desperately begged. She craned her neck away from Rusk’s shoulder to look him in his eyes. Tears stained her face in a sideways pattern.

Rusk rolled his eyes. “Flitter, please, don’t be-”

“Rusk, do I have to be blunt?” Flitter sniffled, then she shook her head.

Rusk heard a light click noise, and he looked to see Flitter had retracted her fangs. His heart leapt to astronomical levels.

A changeling can retract its fangs, but usually they leave them extended. They are useful for biting, attacking and general shock value. But when a changeling retracts their fangs, it’s usually a sign of defeat, but that made no sense here. There was another use for retracting a changeling’s fangs, and that was to-

“Rusk, it's because I love you.”

Rusk was caught very, very off guard when Flitter ungracefully smashed her muzzle into his. Flames rolled up Rusk’s body, quickly changing back to his natural form in pure shock.

Never in his life would he ever expect something like this to happen. Flitter kept the strong pressure against his muzzle, and it kind of started to hurt.

Rusk craned his neck backwards, and Flitter took on a look of confusion. Rusk held a hoof to his mouth.

“You…” Flitter began to speak, but Rusk cut her off.

“No, it’s fine. You were a bit hard with that…”

Flitter was relieved. That was a small heart attack she didn’t need. With a huge grin, instead of lunging, she softly pushed her muzzle against Rusk’s.

This time, he returned it.

It was like nothing else really mattered for now, it was just them. Through a world of strange and interesting ponies, chased by their own kind, the pair had gone through so much together. As a result, their friendship had grown extremely strong.

Rusk’s heart was aching strongly for a moment like this. Ever since he had started crushing on Flitter he daydreamed about such a scenario. When he suspected she returned the feelings after her Assessment and when she was exiled, he had his hopes up.

And now a weight was off his shoulders. He knew Flitter felt for him as well, had it been after the exile or earlier, but she felt for him.

And boy, what a great feeling it was!

Flitter aggressively pressed against Rusk, her actions showing desperation and sorrow within the thick layer of feelings. Pulling back, she choked. “This is something I want to cherish before you have to go…”

Happy tears streamed down her face, her muzzle curled into a joyous smile. Her breath came in short, deep rasps.

Making a move, she moved herself so she laid on top of Rusk. Wrapping all four hooves around him, she kissed Rusk for the third time.

“Rusk, I need this…” she groaned. “Tomorrow-”

The locked ebony door reverberated with three solid knocks. A male voice spoke through, “Rusk, sir? Twilight Sparkle sent me to receive you.”

Flitter rolled off of Rusk and growled in frustration. “Go, Rusk,” she said between her gritted teeth.

Rusk rolled off the bed and sighed. “Another day, Flitter,” he said, and trotted over to the door to unlock it.

“You're here!” Twilight exclaimed as Rusk entered the room. It was a stone-walled room rippling with green magic. Multiple monster shaped magical fields moved slowly inside a large caged area.

“I had the room booted up for you,” she said. “This is specifically for combat magic training. Let me demonstrate what to expect.”

Twilight charged her horn, and a beam of solid pink magic was flung at a field shaped like a griffin. The beam impacted and the hologram fell over, and dissipated. A thick green smoke billowed from where it fell.

“The colour of the smoke is based on your efficiency, and power. It goes from red to green. This is mainly to judge your combat skills, but I'll be monitoring your magic power as well.” She presented a ring and slipped it into Rusk’s horn. He felt a small wave of energy pass through his horn.

“It won't impact your magical ability at all. It just measures your magical power,” Twilight explained. “Now, are you ready?”

Rusk nodded, and suddenly he found himself inside the box.

“None of the avatars will hurt you,” said Twilight, still outside the box next to him. “But if they strike you, you'll lose a ‘strike’ per se. Get three and you're out of the arena.

“Let me get a more suiting environment for you.” Twilight lit her horn, and all the holograms sunk into the ground, only to reemerge as changelings. A light hum filled the air as the changelings took flight, and they hissed, spotting Rusk.

Rusk charged his horn. There were at least twenty of them.

One charged him immediately, and once he got closer, Rusk sent a strong static charge to it, and it crashed into the ground, surprisingly kicking up dust. It dissipated, and a yellow smoke rose into the air.

Rusk glanced at Twilight, who was poring over some data appearing on a foreign device. Looking back, he saw a group of two changeling avatars approaching.

Rusk remembered the spell Twilight used. It was just a solid beam of pure magic. He concentrated on bringing raw magic forward rather than converting it into a spell.

The result was an acid green magic beam tearing at surprising speed towards one of the changelings. It struck through its chest and out its back, and it left behind a green smoke.

He smiled. He was getting it! He turned to face the other changeling and sent another strong magic beam to him. That avatar fell as well and left behind a green-yellow smoke.

He held the beam and swung his head, the strong magic punching into some more of the charging avatars.

But then it fizzled out, and Rusk got hit in the side by one of the changelings. He grunted as he slammed into the ground.

“I thought this wasn't supposed to hurt!” He called to Twilight.

“It's not supposed to hit you! Maybe it's because you're not a pony!”

Rusk nodded, and tried to release another magic beam at the avatar. A weak beam the width of a noodle streamed out and knocked it back, but didn't kill it.

Rusk finished him off with a static charge. He may be low on raw magic but spells have a lower magic usage compared to using raw magic like that. The changeling released a red smoke this time.

“Enough, enough.” The avatars disappeared, and Twilight was at Rusk’s side. She held out a hoof for Rusk to take. Pulling him up, she said, “You have a couple things to learn, but great job so far. You figured out how to use a raw magic beam, however to conserve your magical energy you need to not cast raw magic like that. Still, your magical output is amazing! I've never seen a changeling cast such powerful magic! Well, it's relatively normal for a unicorn, but it's still above average!”

Rusk was hit by a minor headache. “That magic hurts,” he moaned. Twilight must have expected it, for she drew out a glowing grey potion.

Rusk took it and downed it, coaxed by Twilight’s magic. The potion burned slightly, but he could feel the headache fading away quickly.

“Alright,” said Twilight. “Time to teach you a few things.”

Twilight used her magic to work pressure into Rusk’s head.

“You need to work on overexertion,” she said. “You're using too much magic for too long. You need to use it in concentrated bursts if you don't want a headache.

“It was great progress, however, and I think if the changelings attacked now I'd be confident you can face them easily.”

“With the amount of changelings bound to attack Canterlot, I doubt I could pause for much of a second,” said Rusk in between moans of pain and pants.

“You have a point.” Twilight released the aura from her horn, and hauled him up from the lying position he was in. “Alright, Rusk, let’s get you back to the castle’s armory, and then you can rest,” she announced.

The walk was pretty painful for Rusk. Despite using mostly his magic, it took a huge toll on his entire body. His legs felt like they were gonna fall asleep, his head drooped towards the floor, and he probably couldn’t cast a spell to save his life. A grey potion swung at his side, the magical restoration potion instructed only for use if the changelings attacked, given by Twilight.

The armory itself was pretty small, but placed in the center of the room were seven armor stands. Twilight effortlessly levitated a set of jet black steel armor off its stand and across the room.

“What’s this?” Rusk asked as Twilight placed the armor next to him.

“It’s your armor. Not too heavy, but it’ll take a hit,” said Twilight. “It also helps us identify you, you know, because you look like every other changeling I’ve seen.”

Rusk hummed in confirmation, and Twilight levitated the helmet onto his head, bending the metal slightly to fit it on.

Rusk could see easily out of the front of the helmet, and if he woke up with the pressure he wouldn’t know it’s there, unless he looked in the mirror. He tapped his hoof against his right temple, hearing a metallic tap.

“It’s good,” he said, and Twilight levitated some more armor his way. There was a chest piece and a spine guard. Rusk refused to put on anymore, making the point that his exoskeleton was already much harder than a pony’s, in which Twilight hung up the rest.

Rusk spun around, buzzing his wings contentedly. The armor didn’t put unnecessary pressure anywhere, and the small amount he put on didn’t weigh him down much. After a small experimental hover, he asked Twilight to take off the armor, which she did so, placing it back on the armor stand.

“Alright, Rusk. Let’s head back to your room. I need to talk to Celestia.” Twilight trotted out of the room, and Rusk followed, glancing back at the black armor one more time before galloping to meet her ahead.

“H-hey, Rusk!” Flitter called as Rusk re-entered his room. She looked like she was just woken up. She was quivering slightly.

“Did I wake you up, Flitter?” Rusk buzzed over to the bed, laying softly on it to face Flitter.

“N-no, I just woke up a minute ago…” Flitter shuffled closer to Rusk. “How was the magic thing you did?”

“Well, my head hurts, but that’s fine. It’s just a lot of magic was used,” Rusk murmured, already feeling like sleep was taking him.

“Yeah?” Flitter’s voice was wavering. “Well, I’ll just go back to my room now. I need to do something anyways.” Before Rusk could protest, wanting her to be here, Flitter quickly trotted out the room. The door shut with a quiet click.

Rusk was too worn out to care. His head and body hurt in a lot of places, but mostly centered around his neck and head. He knew that drinking the potion would restore his magical power and help reduce the soreness, but Twilight said to rest, and that would solve most of the problems.

Sinking deeper into the mattress, he finally fell asleep, quiet snoring filling the silence in the room.

Rusk woke with a jolt when he struck the cold marble floor of the throne room. Gasping in shock, he scrambled to his feet. Twilight had teleported him into the middle of the throne room!

Twilight was in front of him, holding the grey potion, and she bore some steel plated armor in the color of her mane - dark purple. A gold pendant with a purple gemstone set into it wrapped around her neck. Celestia stood behind her, and those other five ponies stood to the side. Rusk took the grey potion and drank it, the rest of his weariness slipping away as the magic sharpened his senses.

There was a large echoing cracking noise that seemed to be everywhere at once. Celestia visibly recoiled in pain, and Twilight rushed to assist her.

“Rusk, get to the armory. Princess Celestia can’t hold the shield up much longer! The changelings have been at it for only five minutes, and she can barely keep it up!”

Not needing further instruction, Rusk, following one of Twilight’s friends, got to the armory. He shoved on the armor he only needed, much more painfully than last time, as he didn’t bend the armor to put it on.

Guards rushed the halls, armed with spears and swords held in magical grasp, but none of them took notice of Rusk. The guard had been briefed that there were changelings on their side, and that one would be wearing black armor. Rusk wormed his way through the halls back to the throne room.

Celestia was lying down, Twilight rubbing her side solemnly. When Rusk entered the room, she glanced up, and said something to the princess.

Rushing to Rusk’s side, she exclaimed, “We need to get outside, Celestia will drop the spell soon so she can still fight!” She galloped off towards the open entrance to the castle, and Rusk followed suit, running at his highest speed.

Soon enough, they reached the castle’s front door. Guards were rushing down the pavement, and a cluster of voices swam all around Rusk.

He heard another audible crack, and he looked into the sky. The golden shield was fractured everywhere, casting incredible shadows onto the city. It rippled and swirled as small black bodies threw themselves against it, gnashed with fangs or claws, or pummeled into it using their hooves.

“Oh my gosh…”

There was a huge noise that sounded like a glass window shattering, but magnified to a much louder sound. The shield started to collapse into itself, the pieces no longer holding themselves together, and the shield disappeared entirely before any of the shards hit the ground.

Rusk shrank back slightly in horror as thousands of black, buzzing changelings rocketed towards the city.

Author's Note

That smooch was well overdue ;)

Also, yes, what Flitter was doing was EXACTLY what you think she was doing.

If you really want me to canonise it just tell me.

The Swarm

Rusk ran down the path leading from the castle, Twilight following behind him.

The city had just gotten the rude awakening of the changeling attack. Screams broke out through the entire city, the sound of smashing stone drifted through the air as the changelings peppered the streets. The sky darkening from the sheer mass of their bodies.

A changeling landed right to Rusk’s left, throwing him to the side. It emerged out of the small crater it made, shaking itself off. Spotting Rusk, it hissed and rushed at him with a combination of hooves and wings.

Rusk couldn’t charge a spell in time, and he got the full brunt of the hooves-on changeling attack. They rolled for a second, Rusk scoring a few hits before Twilight tugged the offending changeling off with magic. Reaching Rusk, she helped him up.

“Remember what I told you?” she asked, her horn still alight from the spell. When Rusk nodded, she said, “Well then, let’s go!”

The two galloped into the city, and Rusk noticed her friends followed. The streets were alive with brawling ponies and changelings, and already weaker ponies were falling. Shallow craters marked where the changelings made their entrances, the cobblestone thrown everywhere from the invasion.

The changelings seemed to forget the ponies, all turning at once to glare at Rusk. They all charged at the same time.

Rusk lit his horn, using the combat magic training to toss spells at the changelings. Twilight assisted, her purple magic working together with Rusk’s to defend against the changelings.

“We need to find Chrysalis!” Twilight yelled over the background noise. “If we get her to surrender, or at a stretch, knock her out or something along those lines, we can get the changelings to retreat!”

Rusk nodded, casting a bolt at a changeling that got a little too close for comfort. “What’s surprising me is that none of the changelings are using magic! At least one would be casting some sort of spell!”

“Just don’t worry-” Twilight paused to send a shockwave that pushed the changelings back, giving them extra time, “-about it! It makes our job easier!”

Rusk noticed that Twilight’s armored friends were getting the other ponies out of the streets. They were rushing them towards the castle, seeking refuge inside its walls.

“Come on, Rusk!” Twilight panted, knocking out the last changeling. “We need to evacuate more streets!” She galloped off, Rusk and the others following.

The next street was worse. Right off the bat Rusk had to pull two changelings off a trio of poor foals. The little ponies galloped off towards the castle, bawling their eyes out.

As the group moved closer to the center of the city, more changelings were present - and there was more bloodshed. Already some ponies lay dead, the blood soaking into the cobblestone. Changelings were bashing down doors. The screams from within came from stallions, mares and foals alike.

“Twilight!” called Rusk, meeting her again to shoot down some of the changelings, “I think Chrysalis must be where the changelings are most dense! With the amount of perception the changelings must-” he was smacked in the side by another changeling, who Twilight promptly shot. He continued, “With the amount of perception they have, Chrysalis must be using the hive-mind to feed them information manually!”

“It may also mean she knows where we are,” Twilight said, “and that means she knows we’re coming.”

“Well, that means we gotta fight double-time before the entire army is on top of us!”

And fight they did! Rusk was already starting to develop a minor headache, the dull thudding drowned out by adrenalin from the happening fight. The changelings seemed to be infinite, every time he killed one, another one would replace it.

“They’re catching on! We gotta-” Twilight spoke but was struck hard by a changeling in the back of the head. Her eyes rolled into the back of her head, a loud clang reverberating through the streets as she collapsed.

The changelings converged on Rusk, his head starting to overtake the fight as he cast spells to keep them back. Eventually, he got enough time to cast a bubble shield around Twilight and him. Rushing to her side, he noticed she was out cold, but still alive. Dragging her, he shifted the shield so he could escape into the confines of a house.

Slamming the door behind him, he still held the shield as the changelings barged against it, trying to enter the house. Rusk put Twilight on the small carpet in the center of the medium-sized room. A chandelier hung from the top, the candles on it still alight.

Rusk kneeled onto the floor next to Twilight, and kept his mind focused on the shield spell. The changelings banged against the shield, but there wasn’t enough of them to dent the wall of magic.

Rusk heard a whimper coming from under the staircase that sat in the middle of the room. He stood, sneaking around the staircase, peeking under it.

A single young filly was wedged as far as she could under the staircase, trembling in fear, her ears pricked at every scream that tore through the air. She spotted Rusk’s glowing eyes and shrank back, shutting her eyes. Blood trickled from a deep score in her side, dripping onto the floor.

Rusk called forward the numbing spell, taking caution not to drop the shield. The filly started to cry as she saw the aura placing itself on her.

Slowly but surely, Rusk applied the spell. The filly visibly became more sleepy as the spell worked itself into the wound, and eventually she was sleeping soundly. Rusk carefully lifted her with magic, making no sudden moves to wake her.

She was lifted to a couch set against the wall, left to sleep quietly there.

Rusk put on a disguise, flames revealing a different pony than he used before. It was a white stallion, with a single-tone blue mane that crept straight down his neck. He started to search the house, finding nothing useful for a while until he eventually found a bandage roll. Returning to the filly, he lifted her up to wrap the bandages around her barrel, covering the wound.

“Poor kid,” he mumbled to himself as he went back to Twilight, focusing on holding the spell.

Luckily, Twilight woke soon. She glanced around in fright, but was stopped by Rusk, whom Twilight recognized because of the black armor he wore.

“Where are we? What happened?” she asked.

“You were hit. You need to watch your head, Twilight,” Rusk said. “Now that you’re awake, we can finally continue towards the center of the city to find Queen Chrysalis.”

He glanced at the bandaged filly, and back at Twilight. “But there is a foal here, and I found her in a bad state - I think a changeling got to her. I don’t think it’s safe to just up-and-go and leave her here.”

Twilight stood, tapping her chin with her forehoof. “I have an idea. I’ll teleport her back to the castle, but you have to wait here for a bit, okay?”

Rusk nodded. “I can’t hold the shield much longer, please hurry!”

The foal was lifted into the air by Twilight, and she jerked awake. She had just enough time to cry out before she teleported along with Twilight, presumably in the direction of the castle.

Rusk was recoiling as the shield started to give in. He could physically feel the changelings striking against the shield. Eventually, he fell back, and the jolt caused the shield to collapse.

Immediately, the door burst open off its hinges, and changelings poured in at speed too high for Rusk to strike them all with magic. He called forward a static charge, and all the changelings around him fell.

Twilight teleported back in, pulling out two potions in small tubes from the side of her armor. “Let’s go!” she called, shoving changelings out of the way as the two exited the house.

The streets seemed to be abandoned, all the ponies gone, leaving only changelings. A potion levitated into his mouth and he tilted his head back, drinking it.

The world started to blur slightly as it slowed, and he felt himself zooming a lot faster than he would normally. Twilight galloped steadily at his side, darting around many changelings as they took a sharp turn, followed by another.

The changelings seemed to thin out a bit, but they still moved around in numerous groups. Twilight and Rusk both zoomed to a stop as the potion’s effect wore out. Rusk felt like his hooves were really heavy.

“We have to deal with the side effect for only a minute, Rusk!” Twilight called, “Just hold your ground!”

The two circled each other, their backs facing each other’s as the changelings took notice of them, charging.

This area had a lot more ponies, but they were all out of the fight. They nursed their wounds, leaning against buildings as all the changelings deferred the ponies for Rusk.

Rusk cast a solid beam of magic, slicing through multiple changelings as he swept his head across. A changeling fell from above him, and he picked it up with telekinesis and threw it at the other drones. They tripped over one another, any that got past the dead changelings was shot by Rusk.

Eventually they cleared the street, the changelings only just recovering from the sudden attack. They ran closer to the city center itself.

They were now in a street full of restaurants, windows smashed and some food items thrown out onto the street from outdoor tables. There were no changelings there, which Rusk and Twilight took advantage of by galloping down the street to the next intersection.

A guard patrol was surrounded by changelings, the team jabbing their spears and casting magic at the group of assailants. Twilight and Rusk rushed to them, and Rusk immediately threw one aside with telekinesis.

He then grabbed another one and threw it to the ground, stomping hard on its chest. The exoskeleton now bore a huge crack down its middle. The changeling screeched and retreated.

The few changelings remaining were picked off by the guard patrol, who saluted Rusk and Twilight, running off in a different direction.

Twilight and Rusk heard a hum in the air as they drew towards the city center. Not from the presence of changelings, but rather from a weird humming noise.

“Agh!” Twilight backed off, clutching her ears with her hooves. Rusk felt nothing different.

“Are you okay, Twilight?” Rusk rushed to her side. A small stream of blood trickled from her ears.

“This must be where Chrysalis is… Maybe she is targeting us in particular with the buzzing. It doesn’t seem to affect you though.”

She looked him in the eyes. “You must go on your own.” She brought him into a quick, but friendly hug, then galloped in the direction they came, glancing back at him a couple times before turning a corner.

Rusk stared a bit longer than he should, then turned to walk into the static buzzing.

He found himself face to face with another changeling, but this time he recognized him immediately.

“Rusk?” the changeling asked incredulously, backing off. “I…”

“Fey!” Rusk smiled, “It’s been a while, hasn’t it!”

“You…” Fey couldn’t find words. He blinked once, twice, then glared at him. “You left me! You and Flitter were my only friends, and you left me!” He stomped a hoof on the ground, dragging it backwards for emphasis.

“Fey, I didn’t leave you… I had to go after Flitter!”

“Oh, so you leave me alone to chase your love interest? That’s bucking stupid, you know that?” he screamed, “She was a failure, Rusk! We both passed! You left the hive for a stupid crush you had through lessons, and instead of sticking to the hive, you just up and left.”

Fey began advancing on Rusk, his shoulders shaking in anger.

“You know what, Rusk? I know it’s been cool knowing you, but I gotta admit, you were always really damn annoying.”

Then he charged. Rusk did nothing in offense, only using a combination of magic and hooves to play defense. Fey was a normal changeling, and Rusk could easily overcome him in combat.

But he didn't, the simple reasons being that he knew that Fey had good points, and that he wouldn't attack a grubhood friend. Fey howled in anger as Rusk stood strong, deflecting hit after hit. His eyes showed the rage that boiled inside him, as well as the glint of betrayal.

That thought hit Rusk like a train. He betrayed Fey. He didn't realize that such repercussions would come out of such an act. He felt the wave of guilt hit him. When he selfishly waddled out into Equestria to help Flitter, he found that ties with Fey were severed.

It hurt.

“GIVE UP!” Screamed Fey, “It's not like you have…”

He paused for a moment, then fell back on his haunches. He curled up on the ground, crying. “They teased me, you know,” he said, “they called me the associate of a failure.”

“Fey…”

Fey glared at him. “They called me worse. They did worse.” He lowered his head so Rusk could see the word “FAILURE” etched into the back of his neck’s exoskeleton.

Rusk put a hoof on his shoulder. “I was selfish,” he said. “But maybe after this is over, you can come hang with me and Flitter. We don't have to be enemies.”

Fey sniffed and stood. Brushing himself off, he harrumphed and smiled.

“Well, I guess it was a bit uncalled for… But regardless, I'm guessing you're fighting the changelings?”

Rusk nodded.

“Let's go kick some plot!”

With Fey on Rusk’s side, it made the fights much more bearable. The two gladly exchanged banter during the fighting.

“Honestly, Rusk, I thought you were all anti-fighting.”

“Yeah, I was. But, you know, Flitter kinda happened.”

“She got you into fighting?”

“No, but we had to defend ourselves from multiple patrols.”

“They after you or something?”

“They think I'm some crazy wizard. You know, a prodigy. I'm just good at magic, right?”

“Yeah.”

They'd hit the occasional changeling down, but the changelings seemed to be missing from the area where the buzz was present.

Fey suddenly stopped after a while, glancing up into the sky. “Oh my…”

Rusk looked up and immediately wished he hadn't. The changelings were all swirling together in a storm. All right above where Rusk stood.

“It's like they're trying to indicate where you are,” said Fey unhelpfully. He got a swat to the side.

“Rusk…” a whisper echoed through the streets, the double-layered voice all too familiar.

“Chrysalis…”

“Why, why, what a stupid decision you had made, running away from the hive. There's a reason I wanted you to stay, little one…”

“Yeah yeah, I know, I'm magically talented, yada yada,” Rusk said. “Get to something interesting!”

“Let me put it bluntly,” she said, her voice bouncing off the walls omnipresently, “you were very, very special to me. I wasn't planning to reveal it to you, Rusk, until you were old enough to realize your power, but I guess now is better than never.”

Her chuckle reached all ears. “Rusk, you were meant to be the successor to me.”

A strong magical force slammed Rusk to his left. He tumbled and flipped along the ground, calling out in surprise. Standing up, he flung his head around wildly, trying to find her.

“It was a futile attempt, trying to resist me, or maybe it wouldn't be so futile at all,” said Chrysalis, finally coming into view. Her face was contorted to a sharp glare, and she held her wings out to demonstrate her size. A limp changeling body laid over her back, on its stomach.

“You see, Rusk, I would be up to fighting, but I think I have a much better solution.”

She lifted the changeling and tossed it towards Rusk, who watched it roll up to in between him and Chrysalis.

No…

Rusk started to breathe quickly. He raced towards the body, choking out her name.

“FLITTER!”

Author's Note

Oh my god, a ransom! :raritydespair:

There isn't much left to go of this story. Let's take it one at a time, and it starts with Flitter being... well, you'll see.

Can't thank EverfreePony enough for helping me get this far - thanks man! He does write good stories as well as putting up with mine, so maybe it's worth checking him out :raritywink:

The Queen

She was still breathing.

Time crawled to a standstill as Rusk looked at Flitter. Her chest was slowly rising and falling with slow, consistent breaths.

Rusk pulled her into his arms, holding her close as tears brimmed at the corners of his eyes, ready to break forth and spill down his cheeks.

He saw a large crack running across her chest, from her right shoulder diagonally downwards to her left. He gently traced a hoof along it.

“Are you done playing with her?” He jumped, and angled his head up to face Chrysalis.

He stood, gently levitating Flitter against a wall behind him, glaring at the changeling queen, his lips curling downwards. “Why her?” he growled.

Chrysalis met his scowl with a calm smile. “I needed you to react; to have a reason to come with me. I can't simply have you dead. You're important to me, as much as I want to simply squash you for your betrayal of the hive. You're a Prodigy, the first one since I was born. I was the last Prodigy, Rusk.”

“I, what?” Rusk’s scowl faltered.

“Indeed, what I'm saying is that you're destined to lead the hive,” Chrysalis stated, “And that I need you to come with me instead of trying to resist like an idiot.”

“There's a reason I resist, Chrysalis. But you won't listen.” Rusk lit his horn, his hooves spreading out a little under him, his eyes narrowing. “I have one other option.”

Rusk flung the first bolt of magic, the beam flying towards Chrysalis, who barely got a shield up just in time to deflect it. She stumbled back, her smile fading into a growl.

“It is on.” She lit her own horn and cast her own bolt of green magic. Rusk darted to the side, holding up a shield and casting another of his own in return, the same effect happening.

Rusk teleported behind Chrysalis and hit her in the back of a head with a bolt while she was still looking around with a look of bewilderment. She screamed as she stumbled forward, a nasty crack blooming as a result of his attack. She whirled around.

“You fucking little…” She leaped at him, her right foreleg pinning Rusk to the wall at his throat. Rusk’s eyes dilated and he struggled for breath as he grabbed her foreleg, attempting to pull her off. “I don't have the time to deal with you, at least not yet.”

Her leg kept strong, however, and he gave up trying to stop that and instead focused on lighting his horn to cast a bolt.

That didn't work. He felt himself growing light, blackness creeping around his vision. He glanced past Chrysalis, at Flitter, looking at her unconscious body, sprawled out across the cobblestone path against the wall.

Something broke inside him, a realisation that…

That he had failed, way too easily.

Everything went black.

Rusk was sore. He blinked his eyes open, his eyes glowing that soft shade of blue.

He sat up, his back clicking multiple times as he got onto all fours, looking around. It was a blank cave, with walls that were made out of reflective crystal. It was pitch black, the only light source being his softly glowing eyes.

“Hello?!” His voice bounced off the crystalline walls, reverberating multiple times before fading into nothingness.

The weight of his situation suddenly crashed around him and he groaned. “Oh fuuuuck… Flitter…” He walked around the small cave, finding no easily visible exit. He tried firing a beam of magic to destroy the walls in hopes of finding another room, but that failed, the bolt reflecting off the crystal walls and flying about the room energetically before burning out.

He flopped onto his haunches and buried his face into his hooves, sighing.

It was truly hopeless, wasn't it?

He was about to reach that conclusion, until he heard a voice.

A voice he knew too well.

I can see clearly now the rain is gone…

I can see all obstacles in my way…

Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind…

It's gonna be a bright…

Bright…

Sun-shiny day…

Rusk felt his lips curl up with the tune, feeling his heart flutter. It was really her.

“FLITTER!” he yelled, hearing his voice echo down whatever tunnel was there. The singing stopped a second after.

“Rusk?!” Flitter softly called, “Is that you?”

“Yes! Where are you?”

“I-I’m in a cave, I don't know… I'm scared, Rusk… please come help…”

Rusk took flight, realising he hadn't searched above him. He searched each corner and eventually finally found a gap in between two of the crystalline plates. He lit his horn and with a poof, he was on the other side, his horn still alight for a bit of extra light.

He galloped down the hall, following Flitter’s occasional calls which he returned, and after a small amount of running he found the source.

Flitter was calling out down the tunnel, a small cry that was amplified by the caves walls. She was sitting in the middle of the cave, her mouth open mid-cry. Her eyes locked onto his as he rounded the bend.

“R-Rusk?” she asked, standing up and peering cautiously.

“It's me, Flitter.” He ran up to her and tackled her, wrapping his forelegs around her tightly.

“Oh my gosh… Rusk…” Flitter sounded hard for words as she choked out those few words, and Rusk held her tight as Flitter cried in joy, squeezing him to her like it was her last contact with him she'd get.

“It's okay, Flitter, I'm here…” He gently nuzzled her, kissing her cheek. He felt the hot tears splash onto his chitin-fur, wetting his shoulder.

It took a while for Flitter to calm down. She broke the hug, looking into his eyes. “I… we need to get moving.”

Rusk nodded and stood along with her. “We need to get out of here and face Chrysalis again. I need to be more careful.” He set off down the tunnel.

“I'm going to help you,” said Flitter, starting to move alongside Rusk.

“You aren't.” Rusk looked at her, his mouth curled downwards. “I'm not risking you getting hurt or dying.”

“I won't,” she insisted, “I can help you.”

“Flitter, please… I'm the only changeling who has the actual power to combat her.”

“At least let me stay by your side.” She leaned on him. “Please.”

He sighed. “Alright… I trust you enough to stay out of the way.”

“Thank you… Rusk, I love you, okay?”

Rusk couldn't help but a blush to touch his face. “I love you too, Flitter.”

Flitter stopped suddenly and gasped, pointing down a tunnel. “Hey, look! I can see light that way!” She sprinted off, Rusk in close tow.

It was getting brighter, and eventually they emerged into the bright day, the sun still bearing down on the city.

The sounds of battle reached their ears. How long had it been? A few hours, or days? They worked their way up a dirt slope, which lead to a door. Rusk pushed it open and they found themselves inside the royal palace.

“Oh, well.” Rusk looked around. They were in some small cobblestone room with shelves, many of them filled with crystal related items.

“This way.” Flitter pushed through a door, Rusk following. They were now in a hallway, a long one. It had many doors, but there was a branching hallway that veered to the left.

Down that was more doors. Rusk groaned. “Where the hell are we?”

“I don't know, looking at this place it must be some sort of quarters. Let's just find a way out of here.” She took the left hallway, sprinting down it.

It seemed to go for ages! They took a few more turns before turning up somewhere similar - the throne room, taking a side entrance probably used for staff. It was empty, save for one pony.

Shit.

“Well, you two certainly escaped fast!” Chrysalis loomed above them, stepping close. “Did you enjoy your little reunion?”

Rusk growled. “Yes, we did. Why do you play with us? What's your purpose?”

“To get you to give up, essentially. I need to break you, to force you to do my will, Rusk. You aren't fit to be a leader, especially of my hive, but you have to do, because of how you were born.”

“I will never listen to you,” spat Rusk.

“Oh will you?” Chrysalis grinned and lit her horn. “How about we have a little wake-up call?” She shot a beam at Rusk, hitting him square in the chest. He flew back into the wall he was facing away from, slamming into it hard enough to crack. He flopped onto the floor and tried to get up.

It wasn't like his body responded to his movements, save for his mouth and eyes. He groaned. “Wh-what…”

Flitter was already upon him, hugging him. “Holy crap, Rusk… you okay?!”

Rusk felt himself stretch and stand up, but it was like he had no control over his movements. He noticed that Chrysalis had her horn lit and a devious smile written on her face.

He looked back at Flitter. “I… can't feel myself,” he said, “I am not in control of my own body.”

He felt his body shift into motion. His right forehoof lifted up and struck Flitter right in the cheekbone. Flitter yelped and fell over.

Rusk pounced on her and he could only watch as she began to be pummelled, hooves attacking her relentlessly. Flitter screamed his name, begged him to stop, but Rusk couldn't do anything, feeling each strike against her carapace harm her even further.

“RUSK, PLEASE STOP!” Flitter was crying, tears spilling over her cheeks and onto the floor. “I DON'T UNDERSTAND!”

Rusk felt his eyes brim with tears. “I-I… I can't control myself…” he mentally thrashed and attempted to break free but it was like he was completely locked behind a barrier, unable to control himself.

He lit his horn and he saw Flitter get lifted up and thrown into a wall, the marble cracking around her impact. She let out a pained whine as her shell around her back cracked, and she fell to the ground, looking up at Rusk as he approached.

His hoof raised, his horn alight, and it swung down, ready to give a blow that would have killed her.

But it stopped. The impact wasn’t hard at all, and there was a small flare of magic as Rusk stumbled back, sliding along the ground a little.

He stood, his horn flickering out. He was breathing heavily. His eyes glinting as he turned to face Chrysalis.

“What did you do?” he asked, “What did you just do to me?”

Chrysalis looked surprised. “W-what?” she stuttered, taking a step back, “T-that’s impossible!”

Rusk took a step forward, a shield forming in front of him. “You do realize that you nearly made me kill Flitter right?” He was visibly shaking, taking slow steps forward. “You know what she is to me, and you tried to take advantage of this. You tried to break me.”

Rusk cast a beam of magic into the air, the solid magic easily penetrating the roof and shooting off into the sky. He cut it a second later, taking another step forward. “Ponies will be here soon, and from then, I can’t do anything. But now, I want to show you what you just did to Flitter.”

He growled and launched forward, using the shield as a blunt force, bowling Chrysalis over. The shield dropped as he lit his horn and cast a electric bolt, the result being a loud bang accompanied with a large flash of light.

Chrysalis pushed, smoke rolling off her chitin as she scrambled back and stood, barely deflecting a bolt with a weak magical shield that shattered.

Rusk glared at her, his blood boiling as he growled loudly, a shield still up. He lit his horn and shot again at her.

He could feel his shots weakening. His magic was becoming depleted. He looked down at his side, realizing he forgot replenishment potions.

Chrysalis felt this weakening too, taking the chance to approach, charging a spell that wrapped around Rusk and squeezed his horn, his magic shield shattering. He cried out in pain.

The spell wasn’t telekenesis, he was sure of it. It felt internal, like something was happening. His horn lit up, a spell charging from within himself, outside of his will.

His entire reserves drained slowly, a layer of overglow appearing on his horn. It was becoming agonizingly painful. He didn’t know what spell was being charged.

It all exploded in one burst, a loud crack reverberating across the room. Rusk was forced back, sliding on the slippery marble floor.

The pain hit him and he screamed. It blacked out everything else, his entire body focusing on how painful it was. It originated in his forehead and crashed down in waves, washing over his entire body.

Flames randomly washed over his body, appearing as all pony races of varying colours, before it all stopped, reducing to a bad headache, changing back to a changeling.

He groaned, attempting to move. He could hear the sound of metallic hooves clanging across the floor, the sound of ponies talking around him. It was too quiet to hear, too muddled, too distorted.

He was pretty sure he could see shapes and forms, but before those images could be made out, he fainted, his vision going black.

Every part of him either hurt, was sore, or was stiff.

Rusk opened his eyes. He was in the infirmary. White walls, clean air.

He took a deep breath, opening his jaw in a quiet yawn, the yawn cut off by a groan of pain from himself as he shut his jaw. He tried moving, but found himself a tad too stiff to move anything other than his forelegs and head.

Looking left, he saw a glass of water. He realized he was surprisingly thirsty, for emotion. He could use water as a temporary solution, though. He reached out with his magic to pick up the glass.

Instead he felt a dull pain in his forehead and sparks flew out, dancing out above his head before he stopped trying to cast, the sparks stopping.

He reached up with his hoof, feeling around on his forehead before it came to rest on what felt like jagged rock, right where his horn should be.

No…

His breath was starting to become short. He couldn’t have lost his horn, could he?

He opened his mouth and let out a strangled cry, sounding more like a groan than anything. It hurt his throat to do so, but it managed to get the attention of somepony.

A nurse poked her head in, a frown on her face. “Is everything alright?”

Rusk could only get out, “Mirror.”

The nurse nodded and exited the room, to return with a mirror, which Rusk grabbed and angled at his own face.

On his forehead was no horn, the curved and smooth appendage simply reduced to a jagged shape jutting from his head. He tried casting a spell and watched as sparks flew out of the broken horn, dissipating before they touched anything.

Something inside him seemed to snap. His right eye twitched, and his hooves trembled as he dropped the mirror, the glass shattering on the floor.

He tried one more thing. Putting an image of a pony into his mind, his disguise, he gave an attempt at changing.

Flames washed over him, and he looked down at his hooves. They were still black. They still had holes. The reality of what it meant hit him, and he just sat there. He didn’t even notice the nurse cleaning up the mess and leaving.

He had no horn, his magic was useless. He couldn’t disguise as a pony.

He was useless.

He groaned in frustration, letting his head flop back onto the pillow. He didn’t know what was happening…

He was just going to sleep again.

“Rusk?”

Rusk had a sense of deja vu as he woke. It felt similar. He opened his eyes.

Flitter was just in the side of his vision, her eyes glowing softly. He groaned and turned his head to face her.

She wore a sad smile on her face. Her chitin was cracked, and she wore a set of bandages around her barrel. She was in a wheelchair.

“What happened?” asked Rusk, wincing as she gave him a small hug.

“Chrysalis is… apprehended,” she said, “Looks like Celestia may execute her, or simply exile her again.”

Rusk grimaced. “I don't like the idea of Chrysalis running free. She would come after me, after us again.”

“Yeah, me neither.” She chuckled. “She was swarmed by a whole platoon of guards, and Celestia and Luna herself. It looked like she was a young changeling caught feeding off of their nannies.”

Rusk couldn't help but smile. “That's funny.”

Flitter sighed. “Rusk, you… don't have your horn anymore.”

“I don't.” He sighed and put magic through it, letting it spark. “I… Chrysalis overloaded it or something… I still don't know what happened.”

He was feeling better than yesterday. He knew they were drawing emotion from each other, and he was fine with it.

“Look, right now we have other priorities, like making sure you're OK in general.” Flitter nuzzled him, pushing back on her wheelchair. “I need to go talk to some ponies now. I'll see you later.” She made her way to the exit.

“Flitter?”

“Hm?”

“I love you.”

Flitter blushed. “I love you too.”

Flitter pushed open the door and shut it behind her, leaving Rusk alone in his room.

Author's Note

Hey guys! I am sorry for this story dying. Genuinely am. Let's finish this, shall we?

No, this isn't the final chapter. It's close to the end, but the threat is finally defeated.

I won't argue against that... this isn't the best quality.

I guess my story writing is a bit on and off. I do have other stories written a bit better.

Thanks for everyone who has been a part of this journey so far. We are nearly at the end.

Feel free to moan about mistakes in the comments.

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