The Waning Moon War Book 1

Chapters

Chapter 1 Reunion
Chapter 2 A Dark Force
Chapter 3 The Ambush
Chapter 4 The Secret Hive
Chapter6 The Black Diamond Market
Chapter 5 The Nameless Visitor

Chapter 1 Reunion

A bolt of green magical energy whips past Silver's head striking a tree close by; The tree explodes scattering shards of wood everywhere. She screams as she closes her silver nightmare eyes and turns her head away from the exploding tree, as her long deep green mane flies in front of her deep purple furred face blocking the majority of the wood shards. While she turns her head back just in time to narrowly miss hitting another tree. She thinks "Buck, I can't get away from them."

Another two flashes of green light erupted from behind her. This time one of the bolts burns deep across the upper left part of her muzzle; Leaving the scent of burning flesh and hair in her nostrils. As the second bolt cuts deep into her upper front right leg, she cringes in pain as she collapses and tumbles across the ground. Silver begins to cry from the pain that ravages her body. While the sound of buzzing wings and laughter starts filling the air.

Silver struggles through the pain to get up and turns around while limping on her injured leg tucked up to her body. Tears now streaming down her face as her little horn begins to glow dark blue with magical energy as she remembers what her grandmother told her in training "Never give up my little darling. You are strong for being so young." The memory gives her a sudden surge of confidence making her horn glow brighter. Then two big pairs of blue eyes with bright white pupils appear from the darkness.

As they approach with the whites of their eyes locked on her; standing twice her height they tower over her. The one on her left smirks "Ohhh. Look at the little nightmare trying to be tough." The other one giggles at the remark. They both charge their horns and their green light crushes Silver's little light emitting from her smaller horn.

She begins limping back in fear. While she feels the blood running down her right leg, leaving a trail of blood while backing up. She feels a sudden surge of anger and fear boil up from seeing the blood. She yells at them and fires her own magical bolt of energy at them. "LEAVE ME ALONE!" she screams as the bolt grazes the head fin of the right one.

The one she grazed yells "BUCK!" She then felt a rough shove from her left side sending her sprawling to the ground. As she hits the ground on her right shoulder she cries out in pain. She quickly looks up and sees a third one standing over her.

This one stands three times taller than the other two and its eyes look like a nightmare but with two different irises with two different shades of green in them. Silver quickly fires a bolt at the towering creatures but misses. The large creature charges its attack with a strange looking horn, as the green light emits from it. Silver gets a better look seeing its long green mane with holes in it and its wicked smile filled with sharp teeth. It fires the green magical energy at Silver. As it hits her she screams and hears a voice yell "WAKE UP!"

Silver opens her eyes to see Tairis, a green-eyed, black coated stallion nightmare pegisi, with a short gray mane and tail. He's in a crouched stance ready to dodge and is holding a spear in his left hoof with the pole end towards her. Silver says in an embarrassed tone as she lowers her head behind the blanket she was laying under "Oh no. Did I hurt you Tairis?"

He puts his spear down and heaves a sigh as he brushes his burned mane with his left leg as a few strands of burned hair fell out then says "No; Other than my mane I'm fine." He looks around the tent at all the newly burned holes; "Your tent on the other hoof got another beating from your magic."

"I'm sorry." Silver says, then she sees the sunbeams shining through the holes then says in a panicked tone as she throws her blanket off with her magic and rolls over to get up. "Horseapples I'm late and I still need to get my supply bundle from.."

Before she could finish Tairis says with a smile "Don't worry we have your bundle at the meeting spot for you all you need to do is get there."

Silver sighs in relief then said “Thank you for that Tairis.” now standing by her bedroll on the ground and magically grabs a cloth soaking in water. Then applies it to her right shoulders scar. Then pulls some water from the bowl with her magic and applies it to the scar on her muzzle. Silver heaves a heavy sigh of relief and says "That's better."

"Another one of those nightmares linked to your scars?" Tairis asks while slipping his spear back into his holster.

"Yaa." replies Silver "I really hate how my scars burn when I wake up after a dream like that. This is the third one this week." After a few moments, she puts the cloth back in the bowl. She grabs a few pieces of cloth and starts repairing the holes in the tent with her magic. Then asks Tairis "So how is the rabbit doing that you saved with the broken leg last week?"

"She made a full recovery last night. So I let her go this morning when we got to the forest's edge." He says a little bit disappointed. "It’s a pity I couldn’t release her where I found her.” He continues in a more upbeat tone as Silver pulls two daggers out from under her pillow “On the other hoof your healing magic helped a lot."

As Silver slipped her daggers away into their sheaths, then straps the holsters on and then strapped her saddlebags on over them with her magic. "I only have a few years of healing studies, but if I really understood healing magic I would have healed leg right there." She picks up a small black box from beside her bed; As she opens it to reveal a metal horse skull with its ears still intact on an iron chain. She uses her magic to place it around her neck.

Tairis says as he looks at the necklace "You know the Captain hates that thing and what it stands for."

"I know he hates it, but I don't really care. I’ll just hide it in my mane or something when he comes to see us off ." Placing her left hoof over the necklace she continues "Besides its one of the few things I have left from my family."

Tairis smiles as he heads for the flaps of the tent and Silver sits facing her bed he says "Yaa, hide it in your short mane. Just hurry up we need to be there in about fifteen minutes."

Silver replies, "I'll be there as soon as I finish my prayer." As she hangs her head and closes her eyes readying to say her prayer.

Tairis says "Okay I'll inform the others you're on your way." As he walks swiftly out of the tent.

Silver opens her eyes and turns her head to the right in time to watch Tairis leave with his wings stretched out, smiling to herself while thinking and blushing, "I would love to be wrapped in those big strong wings of his. Then there's the fact how kind he is to animals even while we are caught in the middle of this terrible war." When the tent flap closes she shifts her head back to her bed.

She lowers her head close to her chest as she closes her eyes; quietly intoning "Mara the mother of all nightmares, the master of illusions and manipulation, I ask for you to watch over us as we enter the Everfree Forest from all the things that lurk in the shadows and bushes. Let our mission be a success to try and save our race from extinction and enslavement." Once finished she exits the tent to the view of a grassy hill and a few large rocks around her tent. When she reaches the hilltop she sees the nightmares training camp in the distance as there are a few pegasi doing some combat drills in the air. She starts heading for the edge of the Everfree Forest.

"Where the hay is she?" yells Violetta, a purple-eyed, indigo coated earth pony mare with her short ruby red mane and tail. As she looks back at the training encampment.

"Calm down she'll be here soon, that's why Lotus sent Tairis to check on her." replies Melody Night, a green-eyed, yellow coated earth pony stallion, with a short pink mane and a short light green tail. While he sits watching the forest for any movement.

Violetta turns around and says in an irritated voice "We should leave her behind this time if she doesn't get here in time. She knows where we're going anyways.”

“Violetta will you shut your hay hole. We aren’t going to leave her behind for any reason. Besides she lost her whole family when she was a filly. For pony sakes we all lost somepony important at one time or another so take it easy on her.” says Bloody Lotus a deep green-eyed, crimson coated mare with a short cobalt mane and tail. While she lays in the shade of a large rock with multiple supply bundles next to it.

Violetta replies in an upset tone “Fine.” as she looks away from Lotus and gives a snort of disapproval at the same time she drips a few tears to the ground as a few painful memories come back.

“Besides she’s probably having another one of her nightmares.” says Lotus as she stretches out in the cool shade “Besides Captain Starrl won't be here for another eight minutes or so.”

After a few minutes pass Tairis lands beside Louts but before he could say a word or close his wings Violetta rushes up close to him asking frantically “Where is she!?”

Tairis pulls his head back and pushes her back with his right hoof until there was at least one leg length between them. He replies “She’s on her way. She was in the middle of one of her nightmares. I almost lost my head to her again.” He brushes his mane with his right hoof; as a few more strands of burnt hair falls out.

“That’s her third one this week.” she turns to Lotus “Are you sure it’s wise to bring her on this mission? She could burn the underground outpost down on us.” Violetta says in a worried tone.

“Don’t worry when I talked to Starrl on the way to the outpost the last time he said that the wood they used had a spell cast on it that absorbs magical energy so her attacks won't damage the outpost along with the magic research we will be doing.” Replies Lotus “So as long as we stay out of her room when she's having a nightmare we will be safe.”

After a bit, the sound of Silver’s voice cuts through the air “I’m here! I’m here!” Silver runs out from behind the rock Lotus is laying against. Silver stops just past the rock and looks over at Lotus as she says while gasping for air. “I’m sorry for being...”

Then Silver feels something clamp around her neck cutting her voice off as Violetta says “Thank the moon you made it here on time. We won’t need to listen to Captain Starrl complain about you.” She lets go as she prances away humming a joyful tune.

Silver looks over at Lotus with wide eyes and says “Judging from Vio’s strange reaction I’m not late.”

Lotus smiles as she stretches and gets up while shaking then says “Yes your on time barely but still here.” As she walks past her she remarks “So catch your breath.” And sits down watching the encampment in the distance.

Silver walks over to Melody and sits beside him then asks “So what the hay happened to you Melody?”

Melody giggles as he looks over at Silver with a, smile. “Well I tested a new device last night for earth ponies and Pegasus to use. The plan was to get an illusion spell of a bush to happen; but I guess when Lotus charged the small orb, the orb became unstable. When Lotus left the tent I tested it; but unfortunately I barely touched it and it exploded.” He stands up and gives a spin while saying “Then I ended up with this new look afterwards.”

Silver looks Melody over as he spins around while saying “You look good in those colors. So when will this wear off?”

Melody sits down while saying “Well it should’ve worn off by now.” he shrugs “Oh well hopefully it wears off later today. It’ll be nice to get my royal blue coat, Seafoam green mane, and tail back. Although I can’t deny that I do like these colors.” He replies happily as he swishes his short tail from side to side.

Lotus turns around from watching the camp smiling then says “A mistake you would gladly make again like your sex change spell you accidentally made.”

Melody gets up and turns around then tilts his head to the left and raises his right front leg up then flicks his hoof downwards saying in a girly voice “Oh no I wouldn’t ever do this or the other thing again.”

Everypony bursts out laughing at how sarcastic he says it. Lotus still giggling as she turns around to look at the camp and sees a pony walking towards them. Lotus says “It looks like Captain Starrl is finally coming so line up and grab your supply bundle.” Lotus looks at Silver’s necklace. “Silver I know that your Mara pendent is important to you but could you put it away just till Captain Starrl dismisses us.”

“Okay.” Silver says in a disapproving tone as she removes it with her magic and puts it back in the black box in her saddlebag; as she puts the box back she slips the large supply bundle she was to carry into her bag with no problem.

They all line up facing from the forest, Lotus gives them one quick look over and then stands in front of them all turning to greet the Captain. As the pony she thought was the Captain got closer the less he looked like the Captain. After a few seconds Lotus realized it was Lieutenant Razor Cloud. He stands a little over a foot taller then all of them. His chestnut coat shimmers in the morning light, along with his short snow white mane and tail. When he finally got to them they could see his left deep blue nightmare eye, and his right eye was completely white. The right eye has three scars going from the left of the eye down his muzzle. On his chest he bares a large scar from his right shoulder to the bottom left of his chest. They could also see his armor along his wing bones which also housed his weapons called wing blades.

“Sir.” Lotus says “we weren’t expecting you today. Is Captain Starrl going to be here soon?”

“Not today.” replies Razor “He was called back to Nighdramar for another mission late last night. So by his order he wants me to escort your team to the hidden outpost when the retrieval team gets back here with the Elements of Harmony.”

“Sir I mean no offence by this but we were there yesterday to drop most of our gear off.” says Lotus “So why the escort?”

“Well with the Timber wolves getting more active from are building of the hidden outpost the Captain told me to escort you there; then when he got his orders last night the Generals also said that if this operation goes BUBAR to send the survivors home for redeployment along with closing this camp up and getting the rookies back home.” He replies “So I want to make sure you all make it there safe and give these rookies more time for training. So with that aside you all can take it easy.” As they sit down and Melody retakes his position looking at the forest. Razor looks around in confusion then asks. “Where’s Celia?”

An odd silence falls over the group as Lotus reports with a heavy heart, “We lost her to the changeling forces a while ago. We were on a hive attack for another country and our teams had a shot at killing their Queen. So our team and six other teams decided to help them but when we ambushed them she was cut down by the Queen so fast we barely knew what happened. We would have been killed or captured if it weren’t for the others that came in to back us up.”

“Sorry for....” He stops and closes his eyes then hangs his head while he sighs heavily.

“It’s okay.” says Lotus in a sad tone “So what happened to your eye sir?”

He looks up saying “I lost it to some Timber Wolves when our old training camp was attacked. We lost quite a few recruits and a few trainers. So three years ago a group from research and development was dispatched here to build this time distortion zone that can only be entered by these bands we have.” he raises his left leg up to show off a black metal band. “But as you know there is a fault in it when one enters the zone there is a hole in the field for about seven seconds before it seals up.” He lowers his leg while asking “So why did command send you...” but before he could finish an ice cold howl cuts through the air.

Melody quickly runs back as the others ready for battle by drawing their weapons. Lotus teleports to the front of the group readying her sword with her magic. The sounds of leaves rustling and twigs snapping starts becoming clearer. Then from deep in the forest they see a one wing pegasus with a dull yellow eyes, gray coat stallion, with a short light brown mane and tail jumps over a bush. A few seconds later a Timber Wolf jumps over the same bush no more then five meters from him and closing in on him fast. Another three Timber Wolves comes bursting out of the deep bush of the forest running after the pegasus.

The pegasus uses the trees to try and keep the wolf off his back. As he yells “Get this bucking wolf off my flank before I’m his chow!"

Razor Wing yells as he expands his wings revealing his bladed wing armor. “That’s Storm Runner from the other team; can any of you deal with that wolf?”

Lotus drops her magically held sword to the ground and starts taking aim at the wolf. Her horn begins to glow a bright yellow. She takes a step back with her right front leg and left rear leg. She continues watching for an opening. While the Timber Wolf takes an opening by darting around a few trees. Storm goes past a tree as he looks to his left to see the Timber Wolfs wooden teeth closing in fast. As Storm tries to change his direction on the spot. Lotus sees a small opening and fires. The bolt of plasma she launched grazes a few trees but makes solid contact with the Timber Wolfs neck. Storm watches the wolves greenish-yellow eyes fade while the wolf falls apart. Storm looks back just as he grazes a tree with his flank.

Storm rushed out of the woods and collapses behind his allies while breathing heavily. The other three Timber Wolves stop where Lotus took the other one down. The fallen Timber Wolfs wood, and leaves start to levitating; slowly reforming back together and after it fully reforms it expels it’s awful breath as it opens its eyes.

Tairis asks nervously as the wolves approach and the stench of there starts to reach them. “What do we do sir?”

Razor Wing looks back at Storm who upon closer examination was in need of medical attention and was still breathing heavily. He looks back at the wolves which have reached the forests edge and look ready to charge. Then says “Silver deal with Storm. The rest of us will keep the Timber wolves busy.”

“Yes sir.” She replies while sheathing her daggers. Then pulls her medical kit out as she turns around to look her patient over. Her eyes lock on to his missing left wing where a black aura emanates from the wound. She mutters “What the hay?”

She quickly look Storm over for any injuries. While doing this she asks “What pains are you experiencing?”

Before Storm could say a word Razor yells “Attack!”

The sound of combat fills the air as Storm says “No, other then the gash on my head. I have a pulsing headache, my left ear is mostly gone, along with my left wing, part of my tail, and the tree I just scrapped into just now.”

Silver focuses on the flank first and cleans it up. Then turns her attention to his head wound which is covered in a combination of dirt, and dried blood. She uses her magic to pull a canteen of water from her saddle bag. She uncaps and pulls some water out with her magic and starts cleaning the head wound. After a few seconds the wound opens and starts seeping blood. She quickly discards the water and then applies an ointment to stop the bleeding. Then quickly wraps his head up while moving the water canteen and saying “Drink this when I’m done.”

Silver finished wrapping up his head and moved to his left wing to examines the black aura. Storm takes a drink of water then says “Thanks I needed that.”

In the background they hear Bloody Lotus says “Uh Silver, is Storm good to go?”

Silver and Storm looks where Lotus is looking, they see the wooden remains of the four Timber wolves slowly morphing into one; using other pieces of trees to become bigger. Silvers eyes widen in fear and says “Oh Buck! There's no way we can beat a Timber King, can you move on your own Storm?”

She looks back to see Storm getting up. He nods his head as he says “Yaa I can move on my own.”

Just then Razor shouts “Lotus blast that things leg to give us the time to retreat back to the camp.”

As Lotus blasts at the giant wolfs leg busting a chunk off. The rest started to run for the camp. Lotus then teleported to catch up with the rest.

On their way back to the camp a terrifying howl pierces through the air. Silver looks back to see the Timber King charging them. Silver yells as she starts charging her magic “LOTUS! INCOMING! WOLF! SHIELD! NOW!”

Lotus looks back and says “HOLD POSITION AND RAISE THE SHIELD!” As there shields converged into a dark green the wolf raises its right leg to swat them. In a flash the wolfs paw shatters there shield and throws them across the ground.

As Silver and Lotus lay on the ground stunned and bleeding from their noses. Razor gets up as the giant wolf starts to approach. He takes an aggressive stance with his wings stretched out. Then out of nowhere multiple colours of bolts strike the wolfs side forcing it back towards the forest. As it retreats back, the wood that fell off starts levitating and reforming to it.

As it falls back Razor looks back at Storm and says “What the buck did you do to piss them off?”

Storm replies “I was crossing a river and disturbed a Cragadile by accident then I jumped over a near by bush to get away.” he sighs “Then I landed in the middle of a pack of Timber Wolves and landed on one of their pups. Then they chased me here.”

While Razor and Storm are talking Violetta, Melody, and Tairis cries out “Lotus, Silver!” They run over to check on them.

Melody stops beside Lotus right side and lifts her head up. Lotus mumbles “Is ever....” The ring in her ears drains all thought. She closes her eyes to try and stop the world from spinning.

Meanwhile Tairis and Violetta checks on Silver. Tariris asks “Silver, are you okay?” He kneels down by her head and lifts her head up.

Silver opens her eyes and smiles at Tairis as the sound of other ponies running passed yelling as they go by. Still not all there she raises her right hoof and touches his muzzle with a smile. Then says disoriented “I’m fine, honey.”

Silver rolls out of Tairis’ legs and onto her belly. As she tries to get up with no success Tairis says “Take it easy Silver. Were safe from the Timber King. The others are dealing with it.” He wraps his wing over her right shoulder and holds her tight to his body.

Over the howling of the Timber King and the yelling of the ponies attacking it, Silver says a little more coherent “Help me get over to Lotus. I can heal us a little to at least stop the bleeding.” Violetta helps Tairis stabilize her as she stands up. As they help Silver up, she cuddles up to Tairis more as she sighs contently.

Violetta says with a sly smile “Looks like somepony fancies you.”

Tairis blushes and says “Lets just get her over to Lotus.”

When they reach Lotus they lay her down next to her. As Lotus opens one eye then groggily asks “What's going on?”

Silver replies “Just relax I’m going to try and heal us as best as I can.” Lotus closes her eye as Silver closes her eyes too as a dark blue field engulfs their heads.

After a bit the magical field dissipates then Lotus says with a clear head “Thank you Silver. I feel a lot better but what about the Timber King?” They all look back at Everfree Forest and see all the recruits attacking the Timber King. They were successfully pushing the giant wolf back.

Razor yells “Nithes, tell them to cut the attack when I get in position with the others.”

A unicorn with a short light blue mane and tail replies “Yes Sir.” Razor takes to the air with three other pegasi. When they get into position Nithes yells “Hold fire!” As the last bolt hits the Timber King. Razor and the others dive bomb the wolf. Their wing blades cut deep into the wood and vines that comprise its front legs and score two more hits on its chest. Once they were clear they heard Nithes yell his command “Concentrate fire on its legs and chest!”

In seconds the Timber King begins falling apart and collapses to the ground. The four Timber wolves reform and take off into the forest. Razor lands near Nithes and commends him with a pat on the back “Thank you for saving our flanks. Your doing a great job training these recruits. Keep it up.”

They shake hooves and then Nithes yells “Okay! All you rookies fun time is over. Back to training! I`ll make soldiers outta you grubs yet!”

Razor walks over to Silver and Lotus asking “Are you two okay?”

Silver rubs the blood from her nose then says “We should be fine but I think we all should visit the medical tent. Would be a wise decision.”

Author's Note

For anyone wondering what BUBAR is I took the military term FUBAR. (Bucked Up Beyond All Recognition)

Chapter 2 A Dark Force

While they entered the camp Silver levitated her canteen over to Storm and says “Here drink some more you need it.”

Storm stops and sits down as he grabs the canteen with his right hoof then takes a long swig. Then exhales loudly with a satisfied sigh.

“Thank you again.” He says as he recaps it and offers it back to Silver.

She takes it with her magic and slips the canteens strap over his head. Then says “No, hold on to it for now until we are finished at medical tent.”

While they continue their way to the medical tent Razor asks “So what exactly happened at the Castle of the Two Sisters?”

Storm sighs then says “Everything was going well until we put that rope bridge up and crossed that damn gorge. When we all got across to the other side we heard this ungodly cry come from within the castle.”

******

Sparkle Tail said as we all were looking at the castle “What in the name of Nighdramar was that?”

Diamond Star draws her sword and says “Stay on your guard we need the Elements of Harmony that are just inside of there to save our land from the Changelings.”

As they entered the castle they saw the elements sitting on a unique pedestal in the middle of the room. Diamond Star says “Strong Wing and Storm Runner get the element orbs. The rest of us will take up defensive positions around them, if any of you see any movement alert us and get ready to take it out. I don’t want to take any chances while we’re here.”

Before I could set my hooves on one, I thought I saw something move in the shadows of a pillar from the corner of my eye. I looked in that direction for only a second then I heard Strong Wing say “What the buck!”

I turned around just in time to watch in horror as a shadow like pony with solid yellow eyes standing on the element he was grabbing. Then it just severed Strong’s right wing off with its left leg as it stretched out and cut it off with no effort. While he was falling he flapped his other wing furiously to slow his fall but luckily Diamond Star and Sparkle Tale slowed his fall with their magic.”

*****

They began to approach a red eyed, white coated stallion, with a short light blue mane and tail. He is sitting behind a desk shuffling through some papers next to the entrance of the tent. Razor says “Hold your story for a second as I get us a room.” Razor walks up to the white nightmare saying “Hello Tiatis, we need to see a doctor. So which rooms are free?”

Tiatis looks up and around Razor “For everypony here?”

Razor replies “No, just Storm, Louts, and Silver but we`ll all be in there.”

Tiatis looks down at a book then says “Okay, so all of you can go to room five and Dr. Zafmir will be with you in a bit sir.”

Razor repeats “Room five. Thank you Tiatis.” He turns to the group “Okay everypony follow me.” They follow Razor to room five which was a large examination room. Storm takes a seat on examination table as the others sit on the ground. Razor asks “So what happened next?”

Storm takes a deep breath then continues “As he was falling I watched the damn thing melt flat against the round object and it slipped back into the shadows. So I pulled back from the pedestal and went up to see if I could locate it. While Sparkle Tail was trying to reattach Strong’s wing it reappeared at the entrance.” Storm closed his eyes and heaves a heavy sigh “Then things got worse when Diamond Star gave us the order to take it out. So Sunny Stone charged it with his magically enchanted war hammer. He got a solid hit on the top of its head and dropped it to the ground as lightning arced from the hammer in to the things head. As the thing collapsed to the ground Sunny raised his hammer high into the air as he stood on his hind legs to get more striking power but the thing quickly took his right rear leg out from under him. He fell backwards to the ground and it quickly stood over him preventing him from moving. So I quickly drew my spear and was about to charge at it when Diamond fired a beam of blinding white light at it. The thing took the hit and was shot just outside the door. Sunny quickly as he could grabbed his hammer and hobbled his way back to us. The thing got up almost as if nothing happened to it.”

*****

Its eyes locked on Diamond as it re-entered the room. Then she yelled at me. “Runner get the hay out of here and report back to Razor and Starrl. Tell them not to send any other ponies and what happened here.”

So I quickly started to ascend but the shadow-like pony moved like lightning up the decaying walls to cut me off. Before I knew what happened even with Diamonds assistance by giving me cover with her attacks the shadow pony launched its self at me from the top of a wall. Its two yellow eyes were closing fast so I tried to dodge to the right but it still caught my left side. Then I crashed into a pillar knocking myself senseless.

*****

“After that things get really fuzzy.” He says with a sigh as he hangs his head and closes his eyes. “I recall somepony helping me up and escorting me to the door. Then I think I heard Sunny say “That thing has Sparkle and Storm almost cornered.” Then there was a flash of white light from somewhere far away. Then...” He stops for a second as a few tears start running down his muzzle and the sound of him chocking on his next word fills the room. “The...Then I heard Sunny say “Sparkles is down! Get Wing out of there before it gets him too.”

“Then another blast of bright light filled the room from Diamonds horn as she yelled “EVERYPONY FULL RETREAT BACK ACROSS THE BRIDGE!” By then I started to get most of my senses back as I heard her say “Move it Sunny you’re coming to.” But he replied “No, you switched my hammers enchantment and plus I’ll just slow you down. I’ll slow it down so you all can escape.” Then she fired another beam of blinding light and pulled me up with her magic as she yelled “Move your flank Strong Wing!” Then the sound of a sword hitting the stone floor could be heard in the distance as Diamond said to Sunny “Thank you and it’s been an honor to serve with you.”

“As she helped me down the stairs I started to regain the rest of my senses by then. So I broke free from her and started moving for the bridge on my own. By the time we got there I looked back to see a flash of white light coming from Sunny`s hammer and Strong just clearing the last step. I shouted to Strong “You can make it!” Then there was a burst of a black light cutting Sunny in half across his chest.”

He pauses for a moment as he begins to shake and more tears flowing from his eyes “Th...Then like a black lightning bolt it ripped across to Str... Strong and attacked from under him. It only left his legs and a few pieces of his chest on the ground as it devoured him. His legs were...”He pauses to take a drink of water then continues “His legs were still moving on the ground. That’s when Diamond yelled at me to “Move now!” I started across the bridge as the rope and wood began to glow a light green.” His breathing becoming more erratic “When I got to the other side I quickly looked back to see Diamond levitating the last part of the bridge she was on. When she cleared the bridge we looked back as the bridge clattered against the cliff and saw the shadow creature was at the edge of the cliff watching us. We turned to start heading back to here then she shoved me forwards and tumbled across the ground. I looked back to see the thing standing almost on top of us. Then Diamond teleported us a few meters away putting herself between me and the monster. Then she said “You have your final order. I’ll keep it busy while you run for it.”

“So I got up and took a few steps deeper in to the forest and it looked right at me.” Tears now streaming down his muzzle and gasping for air as he tries not to cry. “I...I was frozen in place and Diamond yelled at it “HEY! OVER HERE YOU YELLOW EYED CREEP!” When it looked back at her she said “Now go!”

“So I ran.” He says as he begins to cry “I... I ran like a coward. The last thing I heard was her battle cry and then a few flashes of bright light lit the forest up like day time. Then I heard that...” He pauses to try and catch his breath “that bone chilling cry come from behind me and a scream...”Gagging on his last few words.

Razor Wing sighs as he gets up and walks over to Storm. Then wraps his wings around Storms whole body and hugs him tight with his front legs. While resting Storms head on his right shoulder he says “It`s okay son you did well especially against something like that. So to me you’re a hero.”

Still crying a little he mutters “Some hero I am. I lost my whole squad to that thing along with my sister.”

Razor pushes his son back and looks him in the eyes. A few tears run down his face as he says in a tone that sounds like he’s trying not to cry also “This may sound cold but Sparkle Tail joined your team willingly to replace your teams lost medic but I’m glad one of you came back. It will be hard for me and your mother to accept her fate. On the other hoof you getting here has saved the six other nightmares in this room from looking for your team and possibly meeting the same fate as your team. So, yes in my eyes you’re a hero.” He says as he wipes away some of Storms tears with his left wing. Then grabs a tissue box from nearby and sets it by his son. He turns to the others and says “Soon as were done here I need you all to drop your bags off at your tents and report back here to prep half the camp for departure tonight.”

Melody asks “So what’s the plan now? Sir.”

Razor replies “From the orders I’ve received last night when Captain Starrl got his message. We’re going to be massing at Nightofia for a final attack against the Changelings. They have been there for the last three months readying the place for battle.”

Lotus asks in confusion “Why there? We’ve been there before and found nothing of battle worth there.”

“Well the Generals say they found a way to defeat the Changelings there before they can destroy another country like ours but only from there they didn’t say much else.” He explains

Lotus asks “Okay, so when do the rest of us have to depart by?”

“Midnight tomorrow.” Replies Razor “We are waiting for a group that went far north in to the Crystal Mountains to get back. As for your stuff I’ll lead you all to the outpost tomorrow morning as I seal the portal up.”

Then a couple of voices come from behind the room’s entrance. “Have Dr. Apris deal with rooms six and nine. When I’m done here I’ll go to room twelve. Okay Tiatis?”

“Yes Doctor.” Replies Tiatis

As the sound of hooves start walking away the door flap opens revealing a unicorn wearing a White lab coat and glasses. The stallion has bright yellow eyes, a red coat, a short black mane and tail. He says while looking at a clipboard “Hello I’m Dr. Zafmir.” He lowers his clipboard “Not like you all don’t know that already right.”

“Hello Dr. Z.” Replies everypony but Razor.

“So let’s see what we got here.” He says as he starts looking Storm over.

After a few minutes they exit the room as Dr. Zafmir says as he looks back at Lotus and Silver “Now you two take it easy with the magic for today and you should be fine.” Then he looks over at Storm “As for you follow me we may have a way to fix your wing with an experimental procedure. We acquired from Canterlots experimental medical procedures. We’ll need to probably transport you back to Nighdramar to do it though.”

Storm replies excitedly “Really that sounds great I’ll be able to fly again.”

Razor says as he exits the room “Well this works in your favor then. We need you to get half of your teams together for departure tonight for Nightofia in Nighdramar. So make sure all of your patients are ready for departure tonight.”

Dr. Zafmir replies “I’ll let the others know right away. So how much time do we have?”

“I’m hoping to have half the camp departed by early this evening.” Replied Razor “Is that possible?”

“I’ll see what I can get started.” Says Dr. Zafmir then turns to Storm and motions for him to follow him.

The rest starts towards the tents entrance. As they exited the tent a group of six nightmares starts to approach them being led by a lime green coated stallion Pegasus with purple eyes, a short dull yellow mane and tail. He stops in front of Razor then says “Security team three reporting back from southwest barrier patrol.”

Razor replies “Hello Tracer, what do you have to report?”

As Lotus leads her team past them they over hear Tracer say “We meet up with the camps resupply wagons last night but they were under attack by bandits. We tried to save them but by the time they retreated they made off with most of are supply’s and most of the caravan guards were injured.”

Silver quickly looks back to see a black coated stallion unicorn, with emerald green eyes, along with his short messy red mane and tail. She could also see he was bleeding in a few spots and had some burns. As she walked around the tent still looking at the new arrivals she collided into Tairis and collapses to the ground. “Are you okay Silver?” he asks as he helps her up from the ground.

Blushing from the accident as she looks to the ground sheepishly she says “Uh...Ya I’m fine. Sorry about that it’s just that the black stallion with them looks familiar somehow.” As she tilts her head to the left to look behind her.

He looks behind her and says “He kind of looks like me a little.”

As they make their way through the rows of tents Silver thinks to herself. “Maybe I should talk to him now.” As she approaches her cohort’s tent she says “Tairis can I talk to you for a second please?”

“Sure I can for a bit.” He replies as the others go inside their tent. “So what do you want to talk about?”

“Well I was wondering if...” She says as she rubs her left rear leg nervously against her right rear leg. “If you would like to watch the moon rise with me tonight?” Soon as she finishes asking she feels herself blushing. She looks away nervously as she waits for his answer.

“Well I guess I could since after we...” He stops mid-sentence as Silver gives him a hug with her left front leg and nuzzling his right side of his head.

Before he could say another word Silver says “Thank you.” Her voice filling with excitement. She lets go quickly and starts prancing away as she says “See you in a bit.”

Tairis enters the tent to see the whole squad looking at him and smiling at him as he continued to his bed. Melody says as he approaches Tairis “Ohhh looks like Silver has her eyes on a special somepony.” As Melody gives Tairis a little bump by bumping there flanks together.

Tairis looks over at Melody with a slightly concerned look and says “No. Well I ...” as he begins to blush.

Violetta interrupts Tairis while putting her bag away on her bed “We all heard what she said and it sounded pretty clear to me.”

He looks over at Violetta “Were on the same team we can’t have a relationship.” He looks over at Louts for help. “Right?”

Lotus chuckles for a second then says “Well It’s advised that there are no relationships on a team.”

“I knew it.” He says at the others.

Then she continued “But our squad never did listen to most of the rules even when Celia was in charge of this group. So I’m fine if you two become a thing. As long as it doesn’t ever become a problem on our missions I’m cool with it and who knows it may help her little nightmare problem out. Anyways let’s move it.”

As the day pressed on Melody’s colours slowly returned to normal. By the time they finished packing up half of the camp the sun was starting to set as the first convoy started to set out. Silver started hurrying to her little encampment to prepare for Tairis’s arrival.

As Silver was preparing some hot water for tea when she heard a sound come from outside. Silver quickly draws a dagger from one of her holsters she was wearing and yelled “Who’s there!?”

“It’s just me.” Replies Tairis as he opens the tents flap and enters.

Silver resheaths her weapon then says “Sorry, old habit can’t be to careful when out here by myself.” she then sees that his spear was missing “Uh... where is your spear?” she asks as she turns her attention to the tea she was preparing.

“I left it behind tonight I didn’t think I would need it tonight.” He replies as he looks around the tent.

Silver turns her head to watch him as she thinks “That’s strange he always has his spear on hoof.” She looks back as the kettle starts to whistling. Then says as she turns around with two levitating cups of tea then says “The tea’s ready. Here’s your cup so let’s...”

Before she could finish he interrupts “Never did like tea so no thank you.”

Silver lowers the cups next to the kettle and says “Okay.” Soon as she lets the cups go she quickly pulls both of her daggers with her magic and threatens Tairis with them as she says “Where is Tairis you Changeling bastard?”

“Whoa easy Silver I’m right here.” He says as he takes a step forward.

Silver takes a step back bumping the table over and extinguishing the fire with the tea. Leaving the tent lit by only a lantern. She takes a swing with one of her daggers and as he stops advancing she says “Stay the buck back you can’t be the real one. He would never leave his weapon behind and he always drinks tea at least most of the time. So once again where is he you monster?” She readies to charge him.

He sighs and starts to chuckle “Well buck me. I should’ve captured him before coming here or at least gathered some info.” He takes a deep breath “Oh well.” says a female voice as she changes back to normal in a flash of green light.

Now standing before Silver was a Changeling with a helmet, neck armor, and what looked like light body armor. She quickly fires a green bolt from her horn at Silver. She quickly rises her daggers to deflect the bolt away to the ground. As Silvers eyes lock onto her opponent again she saw her in mid swing with a yellow glowing sword. As it struck her right front leg she lost all feeling to it. “Shit!” She thinks “This isn’t good.”

As the Changeling makes another swing at her Silver quickly raises a dagger to block it. Silver goes for the opening to kill the enemy but gets blocked by another sword her opponent pulls.

Then the tent lights up with green streaks above. The Changeling smiles evilly and says slyly “It’s over this camp is ours now.”

Silver uses the moment to slam the nearby lantern up side her head with magic. The Changeling stumbles back from the hot lantern. Silver charges her and slams both blades into the changeling. One dagger digs deep into the neck as the other one pierces her body armour both filling the tent with the sound of cracking shell. She rips the daggers out throwing green blood everywhere. As she cleaned her blades off a horn could be heard in the distance.

“Damn it I got to move it now.” She mutters as she hobbles around the tent getting her holster and saddlebag on. “I wonder how bad it is out there?”

Then the sound of buzzing wings starts closing in all around the tent as a male voice calls out. “Divana did you neutralize your target!?”

Silver sees four figures approach from above her tent thanks to the light show above. As she looks for a way out as they started to surround the tent. Then another female voice asks “What do we do now?”

“Keep the tent surrounded and I’ll see if there is anypony in there.” Ordered the male voice.

Silver thinks “Shit, what am I going to do.” She looks around and smiles to herself. “This may hurt but better than a four on one fight.” She thinks, as she quickly grabs the corpse to hide behind. Then uses her magic to produce a small black sphere in the middle of the tent. “Hope it’s not too strong.” she mutters “Just in case.” She casts a shield around her body and hunkers down.

As he opens the tent flap slowly to peer in the tent and sees the black orb pulses white he yells as he dives for the ground. “Hit the...” The black orb explodes with a deafening sound, a bright light, and with enough force to obliterate the tent to shreds and sending all the Changelings sprawling to the ground.

Silver disbands the shield and feels the remains of Divanas chest fall on her. She looks up at the mangled remains in disgust and then quickly runs up the small hill towards the encampment. When she reaches the top she is greeted with a dreadful site of almost the whole camp on fire and as the last of the changelings coming down stop.

She was about to charge in to the fray when a raspy female voice whispers. “Run, run before it’s too late.” Silver turns around in shock of the voice. Then she sees the changelings recovering from the blast.

“Shit, no time.” She thinks. “I’ll head for the hidden base in Everfree Forest. Hopefully my teammates can make it there.” She starts galloping towards the forests edge.

In moments she hears buzzing wings from behind her. As one yells. “Remember the Queen wants as many of them alive as possible.”

Silver watches as a few bolts of green energy explodes around her and the buzzing of their wings gradually getting louder. “Shit, I’ve got to move it.” She says in a panicked tone as she looks further ahead and smiles. She quickly charges her magic and releases two spells. As a cloud of smoke engulfs her body and expels in a large radius as she uses a teleporting spell to get near the forests edge. As she enters the thick brush another bolt strikes a tree near her head.

Once out of sight she stopped near a poisonous berry bush to rest for a bit. Then the voices of the changelings ring out. “Damn it hold on Therm I need you to go back to the encampment and get another few squads here to track this mare down.”

“Right away Quile.” Therm replies who sounded like a female.

As she flies away Quile says to the others. “As for the rest of you. I need you in the air to watch for any movement around us. The rest of us will go in by hoof and find that bucking nightmare.” As the air fills with more buzzing from the distance. “Ahh, good Therms is back now let’s find this mare.”

As the buzzing stops she hears Quile say. “I need you seven in the air now. The rest of you spread out and stay alert we can’t let any of them escape.”

As the buzzing grows louder around Silver as she thinks. “Shit, I can’t take the chance to move and get seen now. I’ll just have to blend in with the surroundings.” As she uses her magic to look like the bush she was hiding beside multiple Changelings fly over her.

The air continues to hum with their wings, snapping of twigs, and rustling of bushes. Silver remains motionless as the sounds get closer. As a green glow starts to light up her area. Then only a few feet away stops a very large and muscular Changeling wearing heavy armor. As it looks in her direction she slows her breathing and watches its glowing whites of its eyes looking around as if cutting through the darkness. When it turns away and starts walking towards the others. Silver sighs in relief and thinks “Thank Mara it didn’t see me.”

As she slowly turns her head to look behind her she catches a whiff of a bad odor. As a wooden paw comes crashing down inches from her head. Silver holds her breath and her eyes widen as fear overwhelms her body. Then the wolf`s green glowing eyes and head comes into view. The stench from its breathing starts to make Silvers eyes begin to burn and water. She thinks “If that wolf doesn’t leave soon. I’ll be his next meal.”

Then like lightning it took off towards the Changelings. As Silver gasps for air, she losses focus on her illusion and the illusion explodes in to a shimmering cloud of dust. Not wanting to stay there any longer she quickly starts heading for the hideout as a voice cries out from above. “TIMBER WOLVES!” Followed by multiple green explosions of light and multiple other howls from the woods.

Silver quickly looks back to see a Changeling in the jaws of a Timber wolf and fighting for its very life. She looks back forward thinking “Better them than me.” As she sneaks away from the battle zone she mutters “I can only hope my teammates make it out of that hell storm.”

Chapter 3 The Ambush

After hours or so of travelling through the thick, dark woods with only her dark vision and a few beams of the full moon to light the way. Then the sound of running water could be heard over the sounds of the night. “Finally theirs the stream so the cave should be near by.” She mutters as she stops at the stream and looks around. Her eyes locking on to some vines and loose roots hanging over a rocky looking hole. As she pushed the debris aside to enter a bone chilling howl comes from near by. Soon as she puts the debris back in place she lights the darkness with a dark blue light emitting from her horn.

Silver thinks as she starts walking deeper into the cave. “Now where's that rock.” She pushes on a few rocks but nothing happens after a bit she finds a rock near the back of the cave that sinks in to the ground and opens a stone door that swings into a new passage way. She sees a blue portal rippling from the center out. While she approaches the blue portal the stone door swings shut on its own. She heads straight through to emerges into a smaller tunnel lit by glowing mushrooms. At the end of the tunnel stands a circular door.

While she approaches the door she mutters softly. “I wonder if any of the others are here yet.” As she opens the door a cold chill eats its way through her as she sees nothing but darkness. She lights a small lantern above the door way to reveling some hooks with five black cloaks hanging on them and a larger round table. She sets her saddlebags on the table and starts pacing around the place with only the moon light shining through all the windows to light the remaining darkness. After a bit she stops at the table in the kitchen and starts rubbing her front right hoof on the floor nervously while biting her lower lip. Waiting for the sound of her teams voices but nothing comes she starts to scolding herself. “You left them there to die you stupid bucking mare.”

She looks up at the five black cloaks and feels an unbearable level of pent up anger in her at herself. Then she yells. “No! No, I’m going back maybe I can still save them.” She quickly grabs a spy glass out of her saddlebags and puts it in a small pocket on her holsters. As she grabs one of the cloaks modified to fit a unicorn horn in the hood. Then levitates a few apples over to stuff in the cloaks pocket to eat later and then quickly extinguishes the lantern and closes the door behind her. Once she passes through the portal she presses another rock to open the stone door up. As she reaches the over hanging vines and roots she flips the cloaks hood up then exits into the moon lit night.

The moon was setting as she started to come upon a camp in the woods with strange greenish structures at the base of the trees with many patrols walking around. She quickly uses her stronger illusion magic to resemble a bush thinking. “Hopefully they didn’t see me move or have a good memory of the area.”

Before she could move there was movement near by as two changelings emerge from a few meters away. Silver freezes up thinking. “Shit, did they see me?”

Then a female voice says. “Damn, I can’t believe how many of those nightmares slipped passed us. Thirty eight got away some went south I heard.”

Then a male voice says. “Yaa, and to think eleven of them ran in to this forest. So did you hear what happened to Quile’s group last night.”

“No, what happened Kaile?” asks the female

“Well from what I’ve heard Val they lost the one on the edge of the camp.” Replies Kaile as he leans against a tree while Val sits on the ground.

“Wait that’s the one that blew up its own tent?” Asks Val

“Yaa.” He leans in closer to Val and lowers his voice. “I also over heard that before they attacked Divana went one on one and got her throat slashed open.” Says Kaile

“So that explains why Iron Shell was going off on them last night.” Says Val

Then a new voice female says “Hey Val, Kaile go back to the hive. Jakis and I will take over.”

“Thanks Cetana.” Says Val as she stands up. “So anything new we should know of?”

“Well other then finding out that this was another bloody training camp and a possible lead on one of the runners form a black pagasi. Other then that nothing much else.” Says Jakis.

“So are they getting a team together to go after the runner?” Val asks excitedly

“No there still trying to brake his mind.” Replies Jakis. “They been at it for almost five hours. So will see in a bit but my guess is that Iron will send Quile’s team out to attain there runner.”

Val sighs in disappointment. “Well that sucks, I was hoping to fight this one myself.”

“So what's new about are teams out in the woods?” Jakis asks in a curious voice.

“Well we still have nine nightmares unaccounted for since one group watched two get nabbed up by a couple of Crocodiles late last night.” Replies Kaile. “So who knows what the other teams may find today.”

“Yaa, well lets go back Kaile and get some food before they leave with the fresh catch.” Says Val while walking pass the new arrivals. “Have fun you two.”

Soon as they leave the area the two new patrol guards set off. Silver waits till she can’t here the movement of them then slowly and quietly sneaks back to a safe distance from the small hive. When far enough away she sits behind a bush while using her magic to blend in to the bushes and sticks the spy glass out of the bushes. While the day pressed on to noon she started to feel her thirst grow to almost an unbearable level. She recalls a nearby stream while getting ready to move in that direction something catches her eyes from the hive. She quickly pulls the spyglass up to see what looks like a black pegasis. She mutters. “Is that...” She tries to get a better look but with the large number of changelings disrupting the view. She continued watching as an even larger one emerges from a hive shelter “Ohh buck, that must be the leader of this group.” Silver mutters as she quickly looks around for a better view of them. She moves slowly to a new spot with less stuff disrupting her view. Soon as she looks through the spy glass she sees only five changelings remaining along with the unknown pony.

After a bit the tall, muscular changeling they were talking to points its hoof towards Silvers direction. Soon as they turn she instantly recognized the pony. “Tairis, what have they done to you?” She says softly. She quickly analyzes Tairis seeing that he was missing his left wing, his eyes are glowing a light green, and carrying his spear. As they got closer to her hiding area she quickly slipped the spy glass back in its holder on the holster straps and remained completely still.

The sound of leaves rustling was stating to get closer as a male voice says “Which way now slave?”

Tairis points past the bush and say in a dazed voice. “This way.”

Silver watched as Tairis walked right pass her and disappears into the brush. Silver starts following them at a distance. While thinking “Where are you taking them Tairis?”

After a bit she realized there were heading in the direction of the hideout. “I can’t let them get there I have to stop them at any cost.” She says softly to herself. “I have to try and get him away from them but if bad comes to worse I’ll..” She pauses for a second. “I’ll have to kill him.”

A little over a half an hour passes before they come to a wide river to cross. Silver watches the Changelings fly over while Tairis starts to cross by hopping on stones sticking out of the water. Then without warning as Tairis reaches the last stones he gets launched in to the air and into the water. As the current of the water starts pulling him away he tries to swim out. Quile yells “Get him...” before he could finish the snout of giant Cragadiles launches him out of the water and into a tree on Silvers side. “Protect him at all cost!” Yells Quile as they take to the air.

Silver sees Tairis lying unconscious by the tree he hit and the Changelings distracting the Cragadiles. She thinks. “I’ve got to move now he’s open.” She bursts from the cover of the trees and bushes around her as fast as her legs could move. While running towards him she started charging a teleporting spell to get away. While another smaller Cragadiles bursts from the water and charges right at Tairis with its mouth open.

Soon as Silver busted from the cover Tethril yells. “We have an unknown contact.”

“It could be her.” Yells Quile. “Stop her.” As he fires a bolt at her.

The bolt zips inches from Silvers legs while the other Changelings charge her and fire there own volleys of attacks. Then the giant Cragadiles whips its tail out of the water taking out Tethril and Salisa. Tethril crashes into the ground as Salisa falls in to the river and starts to be pulled away by the current. While there green bolts graze her cloak and strike around her, as the smaller Cragadiles was closing in on Tairis. As she lunges towards him he comes to and sees the Cragadiles mouth start to wrap around him. Soon as Silver latches on to Tairis she teleported themselves as the Cragadiles mouth snaps shut.

“Buck!” Yells Quile. “Dievn, Tethril, Therm split up and find that bucking mare! When you do fire a red spark in the air! I’ll get Salisa and start hunting for that bucking mare.” As he rushes down stream.

Silver and Tairis appears on top of a hill with trees. They tumble across the ground from when she tackled him. Silver starts giggling as she says “I did it.” She looks over at Tairis who was in the motion of bring his spears staff on her head. She quickly rolls away as it strikes the ground.

Silver quickly stands up and gets ready for combat but before she could pull her daggers out. Tairis’s spear pole struck her on the right side of her head as he said “I have you now Silver so give up.” The next strike hits her head on the left side. “Your lucky...” Silver tries to look up just to get greeted by a powerful strike on top of her head. “they want you...” He wedged his staff in the ground as Silver stumbles backwards. When she was far enough back he let his staff launch upwards, it strikes her in the lower jaw this forces her up on her hind legs. “alive.” She loses her balance and falls on her back.

Silver lays there in a daze from the assault on her head. Before she could begin to move Tairis jumps in the air with the spears tip pointed at her. Silver stops the spear with her magic as Tairis lands over her chest. As she struggles with Tairis and his spear she feels the spear slowly creeping through her magical hold. “I thought you wanted me alive.” She says as she feels her magic failing to stop the spear.

“Yes, but an injured shoulder will slow you down from running away.” He says with a twisted smile.

Silver starts to squirm her hind legs in to kick him off. Now drenched in sweet the spear starts to slip through even quicker. When she wiggles her last leg in and gets in position to push him off when his spear breaks through her magical hold and cuts in to her left shoulder.

She screams in pain, then in a burst of rage she kicks him off while yelling. “Get the buck off me!” Tairis gets thrown off while his spear remains lodged in her shoulder.

Tairis instinctively tries to fly but instead he swings around and smashes through multiple tree branches, then tumbles down the hill. Silver takes a deep breath and pulls the blood soaked spear out. She cuts a long piece of her cloak off and wraps her shoulder up. She grabs the spear with her good leg and starts hobbling her way towards where Tairis fell down the hill. She starts talking softly to herself. “It’s not his fault he isn’t in control of his body right now.”

When she reaches the edge of the hill and sees Tairis lying against a rock about the size of him. “Ho no, he’s not moving.” She thinks in a panic as she descends the hill. “Did I kill him?” As she got closer to him she saw he was still breathing but was in really bad shape. He had a stick piercing his gut, his left rear leg had a stick through it and he was bleeding from multiple spots.

She stops a few feet from Tairis, he looks up at Silver with no green glow in his eyes but his face covered in blood from a gash on his head. “Thank you. Thank you so much.” He says weakly his eyes wonder down to Silvers wounded shoulder. He gives a sigh while closing his eye in shame then says. “I’m sorry Silver.” He hangs his head and starts to tear up.

Silver sits down in front of him to lifts his head with her injured leg while he opened his eyes. She wipes one side of his face full of tears and says. “It’s okay, I had a blast on are first date.” He looks at her with a confused look then smiles a little. “Listen you weren’t yourself so I won’t hold this against you. So what happened to the rest of are team?”

Tairis sighs and says “Well when the attack started we tried to get to the Lieutenants tent but when we got there he was dead in a cocoon with foam around his mouth. So we started for the hide out but along the way Lotus got struck by a stray bolt that killed her on impact. As for the rest I lost site of Melody and Violeta when I got my wing shot off and crashed into a tent with something really solid in it. Next thing I knew I was captured but I didn’t see them with all the other cocoons so hopefully they made it out.

Silver still trying to process the information then smiles and says “Well at least there’s still hope for them and I can save you now.”

She goes to help him up after she slips his spear in between her holster strap, and body on the right side with the tip towards her head. As she tries to help him up he shacks his head and says. “Don’t bother I’m too messed up to save and besides I’ll just slow you down. I can’t even feel my rear legs let alone move them.” As he holds her injured legs hoof.

“No, I’ve already lost everything once before I wont lose you to.” She starts to lift him to move him under a tree. Then there was a flash of red light from above. Just as they look up they sees a large green bolt strikes the ground a few feet away. It explodes throwing them both back a few feet Silver closes her eyes in pain from her shoulder. While Tairis looks back at the dust cloud as it expands.

As the dust begins to clear Therm emerges from the dust and says. “Well look what I’ve found.” She looks over at Silver and smiles. “It looks like he did his job well he even injured you to.” She looks over at Tairis and sighs “Well you seems to really messed up. Which is really a shame I wanted to see you turn on your other comrades and see their faces. While now it looks like your pretty much useless now.” Her horn begins to glow green.

Silver opens her eyes in time to see Therm charging her magic for an attack on Tairis. She quickly puts a barrier around Tairis to protect him. Tairis looks back at Silver and smiles then says. “Tha...” He was cut off as Therms attack shatters Silvers barrier like it was made of glass and explodes large portion of Tairis’s head. As blood, flesh, and skull fragments fly everywhere a small portion land all over Silver. She feels her heart skips a few beats as her mind gets swallowed in sorrow. She begins to cry as she watches as part of Tairis remaining brain dislodges from his head while oozing blood all over the ground.

“There he won’t be a problem now. As for you stay right there like a good mare as I cocoon you and if you behave I’ll make it pleasurable for you.” Therm starts to approach Silver.

Upon hearing Therms voice Silver sorrow gets burned away in a fiery rage as she feels a dark energy rise up from deep within, as her eye go completely white and ports the spear to her right hoof. Therm stops a few feet away as she senses the strange energy coming from Silver. Silver quickly stands up and turns on Therm as she thrusts the spear at her and she yells. “I’m going to bucking butcher you! YOU BUCKING MARE!” Her horn now spilling over with magical energy as wisps of dark blue energy fly from the tip of her horn.

Therm quickly teleports out of the way and fires a energy bolt at her chest. Upon hitting her Silver flies back a few feet and hits the ground as she closes her eyes and loses grip of the spear. Therm chuckles and says. “Your not so tough are you.”

Silver starts laughing as she starts getting back up and ports the spear back to her right hoof. She looks back at Therm and says. “Was that it?” She smiles evilly as she bows her head as a blinding flash of light and a deafening sound erupts all around them.

Quile and the others sees the flash of light as the sound throws them back a bit. Quile yells. “That came from where Therm set her spell off. She may need are help so double time it everypony.”

When the light dims Therm starts looking around in a dazed and stunned. Before she could fall to the ground Silver catches her magic. Then stretchs her legs out and holds her head back so Therm is unable to defend herself while holding her in a vertical position above her. As she pulls her closer she raises the spear to her lower gut then soon as Therm comes to realizing her predicament and looks down at Silver the best she could. Before she could charge a spell to teleport away Silver plunges the spear into her lower gut while saying with a demented smile. “This is for Tairis.” She grunts in pain as it skewered right through her. Her green blood started running down the spears shaft, as it falls on Silvers back and ground.

As the sound of low buzzing starts filling the air. Silver rips the spear out and drops it in her right hoof. Silver horn starts to glow dark blue as it spews magical energy everywhere then says “Well it sounds like your back up will be here soon. So lets end this.” She touches her horn to Therms chest.

Therm says in a weak voice as she tries to move her head to see Silvers eyes. “Are numbers are infinite you’ll never wi...” She stops as an uncomfortable felling fills her chest.

Sliver casts her spell on the changeling cutting her last words off and exploding her chest cavity into the air. While it rains green blood and black shell. Silver feels something hit her back and fall to the ground. She looks down as she drops the remains of her legs and head to see her lower jaw while saying. “Well see.” Her eyes return to normal and looks back at Tairis with a heavy heart. With the buzzing almost upon her she quickly teleports under some trees and uses an illusion spell to blend in with some near by bushes. She thinks to herself “They shouldn’t see me if they keep there distance and I stay in the shade. Well I hope.”

Then four changelings land where they were fighting. They start looking around in disgust. “What in the name of the queen happened here?” Says Quile as he examines Tairis’s corpse. “Okay, collect what you can of Therm and will bring the nightmares corpse to.”

Soon as they finished picking up Therms legs, head along with her lower jaws remains and then grabs Tairis’s body then they take off. As the buzzing gets further away she gets up and flips the hood up then takes one last look at where Tairis laid. She looks away with a few tears running down her muzzle and starts to limp back to the hide out.

By the time she reached the caves entrance the sun was starting to set. When she closes the door behind her she sits against the door and heaves a heavy sigh and mutters. “Then what happened to Melody, and Violeta? Violeta should have been able to get themselves here even if Melody can’t navigate with out a map.” She shacks her head in worry of them as the sound of something clatters off the floor. She looked down and saw a piece of skull on the ground.

She looks down and examines herself to see the damage she has sustained. Other then spear wound and her burned chest she felt fine. Her mane, cloak, and coat. Were soaked in blood, flesh, and bone fragments. She shutters as she thinks about it. She sets the spear on the table and grabs her med kit out of her saddlebags then heads for the bathroom for a shower.

While she took her shower she sets the cloak on the bottom of the tube to get the blood out. She also starts cleaning her spear wound as it started bleeding aging she quickly used her healing magic to stop the bleeding then stitched herself up. Once done in the shower she pulls a white canister and opens it. A powerful sent of aloe escapes from it and she applies it to both of her injuries.

As she applies the ointment she thinks. “I wonder if Zatal still lives here in Everfree?” When she leaves the bathroom she levitates her saddlebags off the table to her room with herself walking right behind them. She sets her saddlebags under a desk in her room and thinks to herself. “If I’m going to save any of the ones that escaped the changelings. I’m going to need the gear from my cohorts rooms.” She works her way onto her bed and starts humming a lullaby to her as she drifts off into a painful and uncomfortable sleep.

A month and a half passed by before her wounds were healed up. In that same time she connected her room with her ex-commanders room, Then put a map of the surrounding area of Everfree around the cave up on a wall left of the door, and gathered information on the enemy's camps in the area. While she stands in front of the map looking at what information she collected. It showed the locations of three dragon dens in far points of the map, the probability of a few Timber Wolf packs roaming around, locations on were she looked for her allies, seven changeling outposts and the walking trails they take from outpost to outpost.

She looks down at a desk under the map that has a few files on it with a couple of other books stacked on top of each other. She levitates a few sheets up and starts to read them out loud to herself. " I've heard that there's a rumor going around by the Changeling troops that a few of their outposts were wiped out by Timber Wolves. If so it'll make my job here easier. On the other hoof..." She lays one sheet down to reveal the other one. "This Iron Shell will be a problem. I've heard from a few Changelings under his command say that he can be ruthless, but nothing of what he can do." She puts his sheet down and looks back at the map then highlights a path between two outposts with her magic. "Since the information I've gathered from watching them this passed bit I know that they will pass.." She highlights a smaller piece of the map next to a cliff face. "right by here in a few hours."

She turns to her bed in the far corner of her original room with an assortment of items. She started to strap on her newly modified holster that now has one large pouch just above both sheaths, she also installed two throwing knife holsters near her front. Then pulls a small black metal box out from under her bed labeled "Melody's Proto Items" then opens it to reveal two types of small balls separated by a small divider. Six little white balls with a label above it that reads. Thunder Blinders can temporality blind and disorientates target effects could vary for each target. The other one held five slightly larger pink balls labeled Sticky Goo can incase a target up to 5 to 20 seconds will erode quickly after and can expend up to a three feet radius.

She slips them in to separate pockets thinking "It's a pity there are so few of each." She then picks up her satchel sitting on the floor slipping it around her neck while walking into the kitchen. She looks up at Tairis's spear above the sinks in the kitchen then says in a murderous tone "I'll save the remainder of are team, along with any other survivors and kill Iron Shell for his transgressions." She levitates a few bottles of water and three apples in to the satchel. As she closes the satchel and opens the door to leave she thinks she hears a sound behind her. She looks back to the unpopulated rooms and she whispers "Don't worry guys I'll avenge you all."

Upon leaving the cave she was greeted by a cloudy sky and a wild wind whipping the tree tops around. She starts making her way through the forest to the ambush site as leaves and needles fall from the trees around her. After hours of walking she reached the ambush site. She quickly choose to hid next to a bush near the base of the forty meter cliff and used her illusion spell to blend in with her surroundings.

After hours of waiting the sound of a snapping twig pierces the whistling wind. Silver pushes her satchel under the bush and starts to scan the woods for any movement. Then a female voice cuts through the sound of the wind "Sir, how many more Nightmares are left to find!?"

As they appear from thick woods a deep voice replies "There should be only be seven left out of the seventeen that got away."

While they continued to get closer Silver counts four enemy's surrounding one in the middle that stands about a foot taller then the rest and one out in the front of them all. She teleports in front of them in a cloud of gray smoke but the one in front doesn't hesitate for a second and unleashed a few bolts of green energy at her. She quickly raises a ward and deflected the bolts away. Then she draws her daggers with her magic and takes a defensive stance with them. "I'm here to destroy you Iron Shell for my dead team mates and the countless others you've killed."

Laughter erupts from the other five changelings as the one at front turns and asks "You want us to deal with this nuisance for you Sir?"

Then a heavy voice of Iron cuts the silence "No, I'll deal with this Nightmare." As he steps forward the others step aside. His eyes glow green from under his hood locked on her as if they were trying to burn through her. In a few strides he stands at the front of the group. He looks Silver over and says in a disappointed tone "I was expecting more from one that killed Divana and Therm but appearances can be deceiving." He removes his hood and looks back at the others "I should really just let my cohorts here beat you into submission..." The changelings behind him give a toothy grin while all there eyes locked on her. She prepares a spell to defend herself while her horn. He looks back at her and continues "but I'm going to beat you myself." He teleported his clock off behind him reveling a large war hammer glowing yellow. He drops the hammer to the ground with a loud thump sinking about a half an inch into the ground.

Silver feels a nervous shutter runs up her spine and her heart starts to beating faster as she thinks "Stay calm don't panic." While she did her best to hide her growing fear.

"You know for my own curiosity and entertainment.." He pushes the hammers handle to the ground "so I'll give you a free shot at me." As he smiles at her.

Silver sheaths her daggers and pulls Violetas two throwing knives while thinking "I have to keep my distance or he'll crush me with his hammer. Not to mention his size on me." She levitates the knives into the air and takes aim at Iron while charging them. Silver recalls what Violeta thought her on throwing knives. She launches the blades at him one strikes him in the neck glancing off his natural armor, as the other hits dead center in his chest and sticks in but doesn't pierces his armor.

Iron pulls the knife from his chest with magic and tosses it aside. Then looks at Silver and says disappointed "Is that really your best?" He picks his hammer up with his magic and says in a commanding tone "Come on you killed two of us on your own. So show me what you can do or I'll crush you with no effort. Now try aging and don't hold back."

The other Changelings behind him starts to giggle as one says "The captain is being too nice he should just put her out of her misery."

Silver starts to worry while thinking "Okay so his shell is to thick to be harmed by physical attacks. Then what about magic?" She smiles then says confidently "Okay, you want strength?" Her horn started glowing dark blue "I'll give you it!" She unleashes a powerful bolt of plasma at Iron.

The bolt strikes him hard in the right shoulder and throws him sparling to the ground while a small amount of green blood flies through the air. He starts laughing as he gets up and grabs his hammer with his magic then says excitedly as he looks back at Silver "Now that's more like it. Now this will be fun." He gets into a fighting stance then says "Now it's my.." He disappears in a cloud of gray smoke. Silver looks around franticly to find him while she charged her magic. "Turn!" He yells as he appears in front of her swing his hammer at her right side.

Silver quickly generates a dark blue shield on her right side. The hammer smashes right through and throws her to the ground towards the cliff base. She feel a slight numbing to her shoulder as Iron hovers in the air with the hammer ready to come down on her. "Buck." She says as she puts a full sphere shield around her. The impact causes a few cracks to appear.

"Your defensive magic is strong..."says Iron as he raises his hammer to her right side aging. "but how long will it.." He brings the hammer down on the right side of the shield while saying "LAST?"

With a loud crack the shield cracks and launches her to the right. Her shield ricocheted off a tree and rolls to a stop near the cliff. She lays there in a daze looking at the sky as the shield burst like a bubble. As she rolls over to her left and gets up as a green bolt strikes the ground of where she was. She takes a side step to her left and turns around as another bolt narrowly misses her lower neck. She starts backing up as she thinks "How am I going to beat something I can't even harm?" She bumps into the cliff and remembers something her grandmother told her. "When you can't hurt your opponent use your environment. Nothing beats the beauty and destructive force of Mother Nature." Silver thinks happily while keeping her worried look "I've got a plan."

Iron smashes a thick tree out of his way as he says tauntingly "I thought you wanted to avenge your team mates." He teleports in front of her as she falls on her flank in surprise. He swings his hammer down at her but before it could hit she raised a half shield around herself. The hammer cracks the shield while he says "Your doing a pretty bad job so you might as well surrender to us." He raises his hammer for another strike at her.

"Ill never give up to your kind!" She yells as he strikes her shield again. The cracks now running all the way down as he whines up for another hit as she thinks "This shield can only take one more hit like that. I have to disarm him." She quickly starts to charge her magic as his hammer comes down just before it could make contact with the shield, she unleashes a powerful burst of magical energy outwards. The burst surprises him as it interrupts his hold on the hammer and flings it back smashing into a tree many feet away. As he looked back where his hammer landed Silver quickly slipped one of the pink balls under her while charging it with magic.

Iron looks back at her with an irritated look and says "I don't need my weapon to deal with you." He rears up while saying "I'll just knock you out with my hooves." Silver holds her position as he starts coming down she gives a sly smile and quickly teleports a small distance away from the cliff. She turns back just in time to see the pink ball explodes under his hooves and it starts incasing his legs in what looks like a big wad of chewing gum. He tries to pull away but fails as the goo cements him to the ground. He yells while he blasts the pink goo with magic "WHAT IS THIS CRAP! I CAN'T TELEPORT OR GET RID OF THIS PINK SHIT!"

Silver quickly takes aim for the cliffs top and unleashes a beam of energy across the top. Since Iron was to busy trying to free himself from the goo to notice the falling rocks. His allies burst into action throwing there clocks aside and blasting at the rocks but to no prevailed as the rocks crush him. One of them yells as they charge Silver "Tifana, Kavis get the Captain out of that rock pile. The rest of us will deal with the Nightmare."

Silver watches green blood trickling out from under the rocks and giggles while she turns and starts running for her satchels hiding place. She only gets half ways there when an explosion of gray smoke blocks her path and a female voice says "Where do you think your going?" A changeling holding a yellow glowing spear emerges from the smoke; as one appears behind her with a yellow glowing sword and another appears on her left side with a yellow glowing mace. "You still need to get through us."

Silver pulls her daggers from there sheaths and gets ready for combat. She narrows her eyes while quickly examining her new opponents while scolding herself by thinking "You stupid bucking mare you should've at least have killed one of these plot holes before taking Iron down."

As the one with the spear trusts forward Silver quickly dodges to her right while pulling another pink ball out. Charging it while dodging the spear she says "I don't have time to mess around with all of you." As the others try to hit her but miss due to her change of location. Once on the other side she launches the ball at the spear wielders face. The pink ball explodes upon impact and quickly engulfs her head and part of her body as she drops her spear and starts to flail around in a panic.

Silver quickly turns around while staying away from the flailing changeling that is suffocating. The one with the sword takes a stab at her Silver moves one of her daggers deflect the attack away. As the sword gets deflected it grazes her front left leg sending a numbing sensation through part of her leg. Silver quickly plunges her other dagger into the enemies left shoulder with the sound of cracking shell filling the air as she rushed forward and the enemy steps to the right. Before her opponent could ready another attack she stuck her other dagger into the attackers neck. As the Changeling begins to choke on and cough up there own blood, splattering it over Silvers face and chest. Then Silver feels a stinging pain paralyzing her right side as she falls to the ground next to the one she just killed.

Silver tries to look to her right with little success but Silver sees from the corner of her eye the mace wielder stands near her head. then says as he rises his glowing mace over his head "It's over. Good nig..."

Then out of nowhere a green beam blasts the mace wielding changeling to the right into a tree knocking him out while he yells "She's mine Black Storm! The rest of you stay the hay out of my way."

Silver starts getting more movement back as Iron worked his way over to his hammer. By the time he reached his hammer Silver was re acquiring her daggers thinking "What the buck. I drop part of a cliff on him; how did he survive that and what is his shell made of?" When she gets up she sees Iron holding his weapon with his magic but the hammer isn't glowing now and his shell was giving off a green hue. Along with a murderous look in his rage fueled eyes.

As Kavis taps Iron's front leg then says in a vary nervous tone "The Queen wants them alive. Re.. remember sir?"

He replies in an angry voice "I know but she never said in what condition!" He gives a wicked smile "Besides the other three survived and all they suffered was a few broken bones."

"Bu.. but that was when you were in a good mood sir." stutters Kavis

"Ya, well this one is no recruit she's fully trained and has killed countless others. So I'll show her no mercy to her like before." He says while charging an attack with his horn.

While they were talking Silver raised her daggers into a defensive position. Feeling exhausted and reaching the limits of her magic she readies another shield spell while muttering "If I don't end this fast I'm good as dead or captured."

Silver starts to back up to try and use the trees in a defensive method. As she passes the one she suffocated, Iron fires a bolt at her. She quickly raises a barrier to defend her front but the bolt flies past her and hits a tree near her flank. The explosion of wood shrapnel strikes her as most of the wood glances off her fur but a few shards sink into her left rear leg and flank.

She takes a quick look at her wounds but when she looks back at Iron all there was, was a few puffs of gray smoke. He then appears in front of her on her left side as his hammer closes in on her right shoulder from the front. Silver tries to raise a shield to stop it but the hammer smashes right through it striking her right shoulder from the front. The impact sends her flying backwards to the ground. She lands on her left side as pain paralyzes the right foreleg. She looks back as Iron stands over her.

He raises his hammer and says in a cold tone "Now I'll finish you off and if you survive I'll drag your unconscious body back to camp."

As he talks Silver starts charging three Thunder Blinders and by the time he finishes. Silver ports them behind her and launches them at Irons face. Right after launching the Blinders she raises a shield, rolls to her right side feeling a blinding pain shoot through her right shoulder then closes her eyes, and slams her right ear to the ground while covering her left ear with her good leg. After a second she looks up to see Iron stumbling around in a daze as his hammer falls towards her and smashing through the shield hitting the ground behind her head. Silver struggles to her feet relying heavily on her left side. When she looks at Iron who was starting to get rid of the effects he was under. Giving him no time she sinks both daggers into his weakened shell seeping green blood. One cuts into his chest as she sinks the other one into his throat. She limps up to Iron as she holds his body in place from falling while saying "Now stay dead." She touches her horn to his throat then blasts a bolt through his neck spraying viscera all over her. Then pulls the blades out and lets his body crumple to the ground.

"Diata is still breathing she's lucky that pink stuff didn't kill her. How's Storm doing?" Says Tifana as Iron was stabbed.

Kavis replies "Storm is fine he's just out cold."

They both see Iron hit the ground and both look at Silver covered in green blood. Tifana says in a irritated tone "Oh great she took Iron down now. Our great and powerful Captain got killed by his own pride."

Kavis teleports behind Silver but before she could react he pulls out a four foot glowing pole and strikes her in the back of the head sending her stumbling forward over the corpse of Iron then collapses in front of Tifana. While Silvers body writhes in pain, she sees Tifana pulls out a small ax and swing at her. Silver quickly teleports away leaving her daggers behind as she stands a few feet from the cliff wall. Kavis and Tifana quickly teleports in front of her to corner her. Kavis says "With her in this weakened state this should be ea.." but before he could finish Silver launched two pink balls at them. They quickly step towards each other as they watched and evaded the pink sticky goo. Silver taking advantage of the opportunity she quickly throws two white balls at them. Before either of them could look back the white balls detonated near their heads. Sending both of them into the pink masses. She quickly teleported to her blades and re sheath them.

She quickly hobbles away thinking "I'll have to come back for my satchel later." While pushing her way through a few bushes she hears Kavis yells "Where the hay did she go?" Silver limps over to another nearby bush to hide behind as the sound of snapping twigs approaches.

While she lies in wait her heart pounds heavily as a long and uncomfortable silence hangs in the air. Then Tifanas voice cuts through the silence "Kavis forget her we need to get these two to the nearby outpost soon as possible."

The silence grows thick then Kavis response "Buck, fine lets go before something else happens."

After a bit only the sounds of the forest remains. Silver struggles her way up and heads for the hideout. After hours she limps through the door and leans against the hanging clocks. She removes her holsters and hangs them off a chair then limps off to the bathroom. She pulls her medical bag out to the kitchen table and retrieves a leather strap from the bag. While limping to her rooms door frame she gently bites down on the leather strap. She gently pulls on her leg with magic as small amounts of pain courses through her. Then bites down hard on the leather while thinking "One, Two, Three!" She slams her right leg back into place as she slides down the door frame to the floor on her right side from the pain. After a bit she fights the strap out of her teeth and spits it to the floor.

She gets up from the floor muttering "Good thing I didn't fall on my left side." Still feeling the pain but more bearable than before. She heads back to the table to deal with her other injuries. While cleaning them she starts scolding herself "You stupid bucking mare. What good did this do you? Nothing! That's what it got you." She says as she finishes "Other then almost getting yourself almost captured and severely injured." She starts eating an apple and thinks "I have to rethink how I operate and be a lot less reckless." She sets the apple core on the table and heads for her room to go to bed. She lays on her bed and starts humming the lullaby her grandmother taught her as she drifted off to a painful sleep.

Chapter 4 The Secret Hive

Chapter 4 The Secret Of The Hive

Amesis quickly slipped through a closing hole as two of his Changeling brethren just exited the same hole. With the sound of his hooves echoing off the walls with luminescent cocoons hanging all around. He grazes a wall while slipping between a group of Changelings near a path he needed. A few seconds later he comes to a grinding halt in front of two heavily built and armored Changelings standing in front of a multi sliding stone slab door.

"Halt." Says the one on Amesis right side. "The Queen doesn't want to be bothered right now."

Amesis bows his head then sits down and looks up at them saying "I understand Tifen but you and Sophie must let me see the Queen. I've come with an urgent message from our forces in Everfree Forest."

Sophie and Tifen look at each other for a few seconds then Tifen says "Fine I'll get the Queen for you." Using his magic he slid one of the stone like slabs in a upward arc and steps in. A green pulsing light emits from across the room showing an outline of Chrysalis and her prey on a cocoon like bed. As wavy green energy is excreting from the nightmares chest Tifen says "Excuse me your Majesty."

The green light disappears as a body of a Pegasus drops to the bed in the darkened room. Chrysalis looks over at Tifen her green eyes glowing she growls "I thought I told you two I didn't want to be disturbed!" As multiple candles erupt in flame brining new light to the room.

Tifen bows his head as his head as he kneels down on one leg "Once again, excuse me for the intrusion but Amesis has a message for you from our Everfree forces." He says in a nervous tone.

Chrysalis smiles and says gleefully "About time, quickly send him in."

Tifen gets up and says as he turns around "At once my Queen." He moves the stone slabs out of the way and lets Amesis in then exits the room while sliding the slabs back in place.

Amesis standing a fourth of the height of the Queen. He quickly bows as Chrysalis walks over and lays down to come closer to eye level with him "So what’s the message from my Everfree forces Amesis?" She asks eagerly

Amesis raises his head and sits down then says "I regret to report that three of our encampments were destroyed from Timberwolf attacks, and numerous squads went missing from our camps. Also Captain Iron Shell and Thunder Striker were killed by a silver eyed unicorn Nightmare with a deep blue coat, a deep green mane and tail over a week ago. Only four of his team survived the attack." He pauses as he watches Chrysalis expression changes to an irritated and angry look.

Chrysalis asks with a growling tone in her voice "Did they capture any other Nightmares?"

"N..No my Queen." He answers nervously

She looks away muttering under her breath "It's been almost two months and they captured only one. What’s going on up there?" She looks back then asks "Did they at least report how Iron and Thunder were killed?"

He quickly responded "The report said that Iron was crushed by rocks with the assistance of a pink goo that held him in place, also it said that magic didn't effect it. Afterwards apparently she blinded him, then stabbed him, and then she blasted his throat out. As for Thunder he was out maneuvered and got his throat cut out." he stops for a moment then asks "What do you want me to tell their messenger, my Queen?"

Chrysalis gets up and starts pacing around the room. After a bit she stops in front of Amesis and releases an angry sigh of frustration. She steps back and leans her head down then says in a slightly calmer tone "I want the four survivors back here A.S.A.P I have a new job for them. As for the outposts have the messenger tell them that the outpost commanders are in charge now and I'm sending other teams their way to help with the capture of the Nightmares but they are not under any outposts command. You got that?"

"Yes my Queen." Amesis says as he repeats what he heard. Then he says "Only one last thing my Queen. Zifana wants to have a private audience with you."

"What is it about?" She asks curiously

"She wouldn't say but she told me to say it's urgent." replies Amesis "What do you want me to tell her?"

"Tell her to be here after I'm done addressing the hive in a bit." She says. Then asks "Anything else?"

"No, my Queen." he replies

"Then your dismissed." She says as she opens the door with her magic. When he exited she closed the door and started back towards her bed while she slowly extinguished the candles. While she crawled back in to her spot then feels a wet spot next to her. She looks over at the barely conscious pegasus then says lustfully as she pulls his head up "Drooling in your new Queens bed, you naughty Nightmare." Then continues feeding off the Nightmare.

After a bit she exits her room licking her lips and lets out a satisfied sigh. Then says to Tifen and Sophie "You two take him back to the dungeon for cocooning I'll finish with him later."

"As you wish your majesty." They both say as they bow to her as she walks by.

Chrysalis continues her way through the hive to her throne room. She approached a dead end with two heavily armored changelings standing about two meters apart. As she got closer the dead end opened up to a new room. When she walked through they followed her in and walked to either side of her. She enters a room with a cocoon and rock throne. As she walked around it while the others took a position on either side. She sat down in her throne looking in to the large green glowing room filled with changelings of all sizes.

She cuts the silence in a loud voice "Hello my loyal and beloved subjects. I've just received some rather unpleasant news from our forces in the Everfree Forest. Apparently Captain Iron Shell and Thunder Striker were killed in combat against the Nightmares there."

Some of the changeling start talking amongst themselves, Chrysalis clears her throat to quiet the room. "So in response I'm letting ANY of you take a..." She points with her left leg to them all "shot at getting rid of them one way or another but there is one I want alive. She is a unicorn, she has a deep blue coat, a deep green mane and tail but her most distinguishing mark is her eyes they are supposedly silver. As a reward for bringing her alive to me I'll bestow upon the group or single warrior a position in my royal guard and if I deem her useless to me she can be yours to do with as you pleased. So if any of you want to try contact a commander tomorrow to give them time to prepare." She stands up and takes a step forward then says in a more cheery tone. "As for our forces here in Nighdramar; are spies have reported that the Nightmares are preparing for a final attack against us. The location is still unknown but once we know..." Her tone changes to a more sinister and ominous sound "we can wipe them out IN ONE SWIFT ATTACK and the ones that survive will become our food and slaves. Then with their race out of the way..." She raises her voice "NOTHING WILL BE ABLE TO STOP US FROM TAKING CANTERLOT AND BRING THAT BUCKING PRINCESS CELESTIA TO HER KNEES FOR IMPRISONING ME AND SOME OF YOU IN THAT FORSAKEN VOLCANO! Then will take all of Equestria by force!"

The sound of clopping hooves and cheers of the changelings ring through out the hall. Chrysalis smiles at the sound as she walks past her left guard she says "Aflis, I want you and Reva to tell the messengers to get all the commanders in the war room in a few hours. Also tell them to spread the info on Everfree."

Aflis replys "Yes my Queen."

She exits through the back and heads for her room. As she comes around the corner and sees a changeling wearing glasses, sitting against the wall in front of Sophie and Tifen. looking at a clipboard with some papers on it. Chrysalis walks up and says "Hello Zifana." Zifana doesn’t respond as she continues to look at the sheets and muttering to herself. "Zifana?" Chrysalis raises her voice a little.

Zifana looks up from her clipboard and sees Chrysalis standing next to her. Zifana quickly bows and says "Sorry my Queen I meant no disrespect I was going over some..." She pauses for a moment then looks over at the other two for a few seconds then looked back finishes "information."

"For what?" asks Chrysalis

Zifana looks back at Sophie and Tifen then back to Chrysalis then says "Can we go to my lab and talk there. Plus I want to show you something my Queen."

"Okay lead the way." She says

"At once this way my Queen." She says as she trots away.

Zifana leads the way deeper into the hive and stops in front of two guards then says "Don't let any changeling in here and I don't care if they have something important for me they can wait."

"Yes, mama." They both say as Zifana and Chrysalis pass by.

As they entered the spacious room with some lab equipment Chrysalis asked "So what is it you wanted to show me?" She looked back to the sound of Zifana casting a spell sealing the wall.

Zifana replies "Well it's not here but..." She walks past the Queen to a table she pushes the table to the right. She grunted while saying "when I move this here..." then walked over to the middle of the wall. "and a knock or two here." She knocks a spot three times then a section of wall opens up in ward. Reviling a dark passage with soft glowing blue light. She motion to the Queen with a interested look "This way my Queen."

As they started walking into the tunnel while the wall shifted back into place. They continued down the blue lit tunnel until they reached another room lit by torches. When they entered they saw two guards sleeping in cocoons, while another two are feeding off of six Nightmares in the back of the small room, and two more standing guard near another tunnel. "What’s this place for?" Chrysalis asked as the two feeding stopped and came to attention.

"They're here to keep the little Nightlings from going to far from their nests." She replied

"What are Nightlings?" Chrysalis asks with a confused yet curious look as they passed the two guards into a torch lit tunnel.

"There a hybrid of us and Nightmares." Zifana says "They are a secret project started about twenty two years ago by your stand in Queen Valisa. They were going to be a new infiltration unit but due to multiple unforeseen problems in them we found them better as a reinforcement unit. There is a few things I found really interesting about them is that we all share the same ears, fangs not as long as ours, some have holes in their legs and shells that vary from in design and form. But the most interesting thing I found out about them is that there blood is brown."

Before Chrysalis could ask another question the sound of something bouncing off the walls along with clattering of wood on stone. Then multiple voices says "Not again Star Crusher."

Chrysalis stops and pulls Zifana back with her magic as a ball comes around the corner and a young girls voice says "Please don't be to far down here." Chrysalis stops the ball with her other leg and looks down at Zifana. Then a light green coated, with a moldy green shell that ran part way up her neck, golden Nightmare shaped eyes, with a blonde mane and tail Pegasi comes around the corner saying "How far did that ball bou...nce" She freezes when she sees the Queen and instantly drops to her front knees then says "Your majesty."

She lifts the ball up with her magic and asks "What's going on? While looking at the little Nightling.

"Uh...I guess you could call it training your Majesty." Replies the pegasi.

"Training with a ball?" Chrysalis asks she puts the ball in front of the pegasi. "Lets see this so called training."

"As you wish." She replies as she unfolded her large insect like, pegasi wings and turns around. Then sits down and grabs the ball between her wings then starts leading the way.

After a few seconds they turned into a slightly darkened hallway where some of the torches have fell on the floor. As they made there way towards the end of the tunnel Zifana relit and put back all the torches. Just as they came to the threshold of the room the pegasi stops. Chrysalis looks up to see a unicorn nightling getting struck in the head by something and sent flying in their direction. He bounces off the ground and comes to a tumbling stop at the pegasus hooves. "Are you okay Star Runner?" She asked helping him up.

"I'm fine Dust Fire but that really hurt." Star says as he shakes his head then he grabbed the ball from Dust with his magic but as he does his eyes light up with a red glow but the nightmare pupils glows white. He tears off not even noticing the others behind her yelling "I'm still in and I'll get you for that Blitz Wing!" Laughter fills the air for a bit.

"What just happened to Dust?" asks Chrysalis while she continues to watch.

"Well I'm still new to this but this tests our abilities in combat. So as long as your conscious you go until you're out cold or you give up." She replies then turns around and says looking up at Chrysalis "Is there anything else you need your Majesty?"

"No." She replied as she looks at the golden eyed nightling. "Go back to your training Dust." She turns to Zifana as Dust runs off to the left. "What was up with Stars eyes?" Asked Chrysalis.

Zifana smiles "It's one of there traits as a unicorn but I'll explaining more at the demonstration I have set up." She starts walking to the right side under the balcony that goes all around.

Chrysalis lowers her head see how big the room is and counted five levels but each level on each side had five doors all with symbols above each door. Zifana stops for a second as a brown coated, gray shelled, earth nightling with a black mane and tail tumbles into one of the open rooms with a crash. As they continued passed as another one says "He's out cold but he's okay. I think?"

Chrysalis continues to watch the game as she walks. Not noticing all the Nightlings that were bowing as she passed by. When reaching the other side and enters the next tunnel she asks "What was that room before?"

"It was my first breeding area. There were fifty Nightmares with over a hundred Changelings to tend to the eggs and Nightmares. Then after a very successful hatch rate of a hundred percent to the lousy less then one percent to a female Changeling." They started to reach the end of another tunnel and entered a warm sunlight filled massive room. "Valisa ordered this place to be built by our workers and then erased their memories to keep it a secret. Then she gave me a total of four thousand Nightmare females along with more Changelings to help." She turns around to Chrysalis which is looking around in amazement.

"How is this place not discovered yet? It's out in the open." She asked looking at the ceiling which shows the blue sky, clouds, and the sun.

"It's only a spell that we acquired from a black market. This spell lets real sun light in to grow stuff like crops, grass, and trees down here." Explained Zifana then starts walking to the Queens left saying "Well lets continue the tour my Queen still a lot to tell and show."

Chrysalis asks "So what else should I know?" As she started following and looking around the vast cavern and all the plant life growing near by.

"Well the main reason we don't use them for infiltration is that they can't change size, sex, species, or colors as well as us. Another problem was the unicorns is that there glowing eyes are not hidden when they transform and use magic." She says as they passed a few apple trees with a few foals playing around the trees as a couple of changelings are watching over them.

Chrysalis asked while still looking around "What do you mean?"

"Well with extensive testing they can change the shade of their coats, mane, and tails but when it comes to shape, size, sex, species, or their eye color they can't change that. But the shape of there eyes and teeth can be hidden in their transformation." Then they approached a cave in a wall.

As they entered the cave Chrysalis could see six green oval eggs sitting in separate nests and anchored in an up right position in the torches light. "Is these the eggs you were talking about?" She asked curiously as she approached the eggs.

"Yes, they are my Queen." Says Zifana while she takes a clipboard from the wall and sat on the floor to look through the sheets.

When Chrysalis finally stood beside them they only stood a quarter the height of her leg. She lays down to get a better look at the little green eggs. Then she moves her head in closer to try and sees what was in the thick green egg only to see a faint silhouette. Then asks "Is it okay to touch them?"

Zifana looked up from her papers "Yes, my Queen. Their exteriors are almost as if made of a clear leather kind of like ours." She quipped a little excitedly as the Queen rubs one of the eggs in amazement of the texture. Zifana looks back at her papers "The only difference is that their eggs are just a little stronger then ours." Then the egg next to the one Chrysalis was touching, started wobbling and wiggling.

"What's going on here?" Chrysalis asked intrigued as she moves her head over and a strange green glow starts to emit from the egg giving a clear silhouette of the creature in the egg.

Zifana looked up from her sheets but before she could say a word or Chrysalis could react the egg explodes with a loud pop throwing green goop and leathery shell everywhere.

Then the sound of a small foal sneezing rings through the cave. Chrysalis opens her eyes to the site of a red coat, deep purplish shelled, colt, with a brown mane and tail Nightling sitting where the egg was. The slime covered colt looked up at Chrysalis as she leaned in with it's deep green nightmare like eyes and then it makes a quick bite at her nose. Chrysalis pulls back in shock of its speed and then watched it chewing on a piece of its shell. As a glob of goo fell off her face she looks back at Zifana asking "Do they all explode like that?" With wide eyes full of surprise.

Levitating a towel to Chrysalis to clean her face she replies "Uh..no. Only the unicorns do that but even some of them don't do that." She looks back at the Nightling still gnawing on its shell piece. "Although for some reason they all like to eat their shells or at least some of it."

Chrysalis looks back at the slime covered Nightling as it starts eating another strip of its leathery shell. She asked "So how long do they take to hatch?"

They take about two months for incubation then after the nightmare gives birth to the egg another nine months or so. But during the incubation unicorns have weakened magic fields but I've seen them use large amounts of energy to keep themselves safe from danger. As for the other two races I have seen pegasi fly less when carrying and as for the earth ponies they seem a little weaker but when they have to defend themselves they can." Zifana says as she takes a closer look at the foal.

Then a female voice says from a near by staircase "Well I didn't expect a royal visitor today." Then she walks into the light to reveal herself. A Nightling earth pony with a dull yellow coat, a light orange shell, deep purple eyes, a deep green mane and tail. She bows to Chrysalis saying "I'm Salena." and then takes the towel that Chrysalis used to clean her face with to started to cleaning the hatchling while saying in a kind voice "Well look who hatched early. Lets clean you up a little before we go see mom." When she finishes cleaning the foal and sets him down with the towel. While she grabs a bracer with a symbol etched on it from a nearby wall. As the foal starts playing with the towel.

Chrysalis asked "What is that for?"

Salena says as she pulls the towel away "They mark our family's. Since our father has four wives and we all live together it keeps order to which mother we belong to. Although since they all raised me I see them all as my mothers."

Before Chrysalis could say a word Zifana says "It's to give three of the nightmare a break while the other one carries. When we did the first run we almost killed a few with exhaustion and to many births in a year. This way it cut down on it by a quarter for each mare.

Salena asks as she walks away with the newborn wiggling happily in her left leg as he tried to reach her snout "Do you want to meet our parents? I'm sure mom and dad would liked to meet you my Queen. If you want."

"Sure a quick meet would be nice." Chrysalis says as she follows Salena up the stairs.

They follow Salena up a narrow staircase to a large room as a couple of young foals cut in front of Salena, laughing and running out the front door. When she gets out of the stairs and into what looks looked like a large kitchen lit by a green luminescence cocoon on a ceiling then she walks into a room down a green lit hallway with numerous doors on both sides. She walked into a room at the far end when Chrysalis got there she sees a nightmare pegasi with a white coat, a light blue mane and tale. With glowing green irises she looks at Salena with the newborn and smiles. Chrysalis sees another two nightling foals cuddling near the rear legs. Salena set the newborn in front of the white nightmares front legs as she says "Ohh..don't you look so precious." Then she starts licking him clean of the remaining goo on the fur and shell as he wiggled around to lick her back.

Chrysalis looks in the room and a few nearby rooms seeing empty nests in each room. She looks back in the room and asks "Where's the other... mothers." Stopping herself from saying slaves felt weird.

"They must be out right now, they were here before I went down stairs." Says Salena.

Then the nightmare says as she looked up from the foal that was licking her mothers leg. "Vanessa said she was going to the market with Millie, Tiffin, and Ridner. As for Zimtra and Taz they took the foals out to play." She turns her attention back to the playful newborn.

Chrysalis exits the room and say "Thank you for the visit Salena."

Chrysalis re-entered the kitchen Zifana asks "Are you ready to go?"

Chrysalis replied "Yes, so what’s next?"

Zifana said "Okay off to the demonstration." While she walked to the entrance of the stone cave house.

Her and Chrysalis took off in the middle of the massive cavern. In a few minutes they saw three nightlings sitting looking at each other and talking. As the two landed next to them they scrambled to attention. Chrysalis asks Zifana "So who are they?" looking them over.

She says "These are the only three that survived the changeling birth tests of the first room." She looked at them saying "Okay you three introduce yourselves."

The first a female unicorn with a gray shelled torso and neck that ended with a purple shell running down in a diamond shape almost to the tip of her nose. Her horn jutted out then down as it shot straight then loops around slightly to the left then up to the tip. She had lovely purple nightmare eyes, her coat was silver with blue hair with two purple strikes for her mane and tail. With blue pony feathers on her legs, covering her silver like hooves, and with what looked like four small bites in three legs "I'm Heart Timer." She said while she bowed her head and bent her left knee to Chrysalis then stands.

The second one was another female earth pony with a two colored shell bottom purple and the top shell a reddish purple. Her purple fur almost camouflaging her purple nightmare eyes with a blond mane and tail. Her yellow pony feathers barely, covering her grayish hooves, with four holes in two legs "I'm Star Heart my Queen."

The last one was a male pegasi with a brownish upper shell and a grayish under shell that ran up his neck just behind his ears. He had red fur, yellow nightmare eyes, his wings had red fur over his wing bones with golden like insect wing, a black mane and tail. His legs had three small holes in his legs, and long black pony feathers hanging over his black hooves "I'm Patches, My Queen."

Then they stepped apart then closed their eyes as the three of them burst in to green flame. Next thing Chrysalis knew she had three new ponies standing before her. She took a small walk around them all examining them all over. She stopped at Patches and ordered "Open your wings." He opens his large wings revealing his red fur covered wing bones and yellow feathers. She says in surprise "Do they all have different colors for wings and large wings?"

Zifana replied "No, some do have the same colored wings as there coat. As for there wings yes they are all very large."

As she talked Chrysalis continued looking them over for any other problems then said "It's impressive that there eyes, fangs, teeth, and even the holes on the legs are completely hidden." As she raised Patches upper lips with her magic. She looked up to his eyes "Change your teeth, and eyes back into a nightmares." In a flash of green light they where in a new form. She lets go then with one last look at the others then looks back at Zifana she says "So anything else you need to show me?"

Zifana looked at the others "Your all dismissed." As they walking away they burst in to green flames going back to normal. "Yes just one last thing I would like to show you." She gestured to a lager column in the middle of the cavern while taking to the air.

"And what’s there that you want to show me?" Chrysalis asks as she took to the air behind her.

"That’s where are solders train." As they got closer a loud cheer could be heard ring through the air. "It's similar to the ball thing but with weapons that seizes up muscles or..." Another cheer drowned her last words. "Well you'll see in a moment." As they landed on one of the top walk ways.

They walk in the building and saw about thirty Nightlings surrounding a circular hole with a two foot high stone barrier and intensely watching something. They both walked up to the hole to a unicorn and an earth nightling walking around each other.

The unicorn fired a bolt at the other but the earth pony quickly steps aside and charges forward to the unicorn. The unicorn fires another bolt as she takes a few steps back, but the earth pony deflected the bolt back at the unicorn with his blades. The unicorn raises a barrier to stop the bolt as it exploded leaving smoke and dust in the air, the earth pony burst from the smoke and debris charging the unicorn. With too little time to react the unicorn got one sword through her chest and in a blur he stuck a smaller blade into her throat. As she fell to the ground wiggling and choking on blood filling her throat. The other one turns away laughing and saying "I got you Zen..." As part of his head exploded out in brown spray of blood and his body flopped to the ground shaking a and twitching.

Chrysalis asks in a concerned tone as she looks over at Zifana with a look of confusion. "How is this training when they're killing each other?"

Zifana giggled then says "They're not dead my Queen?" She looked back to see ten nightlings writhing in pain on a stone floor. "This is the other way a little more effective at showing damage and how it feels. The other nice thing about this way is they feel the pain afterwards."

Chrysilas sat down as the thirty nightlings disappeared down the stairs to the sparing pit. Chrysilas asked as she watched the next match get ready "So how many are there?"

Zifana flips through some sheets then says "Well best guess from last count is one hundred and forty-eight thousand three hundred and sixty-eight. Then there's the eggs which come to a little higher then six thousand. Then the few Nightlings that had young of their own say about a one hundred or so."

Chrysalis remained quiet as she continued to watch the fights. After a bit she looks over at Zifana then says "I've seen enough here and I have another appointment to attend. I need to see you in your lab."

"Of course my Queen." She says as she followed Chrysalis out of the arena.

As they flew back Chrysalis asks "How many are ready for war against the nightmares?"

Zifana replied when they landed "Well if you take the main battle trained nightlings and our almost graduated warriors of this year. We would have about one hundred and forty-eight thousand three hundred and sixty-nine."

Chrysalis remained quite until they were back in the lab and sealed the secret passage. She turned then says "After the Nightmares are dealt with I want the Nightlings destroyed is that clear Zifana."

Zifana confused asked "Yes, my Queen but why? They could help us with..."

Chrysalis face filled with rage then yelled angrily as her eyes glowed bright green "It's taken over a thousand years to wipe these bucking Nightmares out along with a few close calls for us! I will not stand for a race as powerful as them stopping us or some half-breed carrying on from where they failed! So I want them gone is that clear!"

Zifana bowed in fear saying "As you wish my Queen."

Chrysalis turned and walked out of the lab then one of the guards stepped in and asked "Are you okay Zifana?"

Zifana stood up "I'm fine but go get Valisa I need to see her. And tell the others we have to have a meeting tonight."

"Right away Zifana." He says as he turned away to run down the hall.

Chapter6 The Black Diamond Market

Ch6: The Black Diamond Market

Silver comes to with the sunlight shining in her face. She closed her eyes and quickly moved her head to a shaded spot close by while saying "Uuggh.. Damn sunlight. When finally in a shaded spot she opened eyes to Corporals bandaged face hanging over her with a smile on it. He asked in a health and cheery tone "How do it feel for you?"

She looked away towards the foot of the bed and blushes "It felt weird but nice. It was like you stole my strength and energy all at once." She looked back up at him. "Even when I woke up last night I could still feel your feeding effecting me. It was a nice feeling from all the stress as of late."

Corporal was thinking "It may be easier to capture her now then before." He gave a soft smile as he asks slyly "So do you want do this again in the future?"

Silver feels her heart pick up its pace and her eyes opens wide in shock. In a panic she teleports out of her bed and into the kitchen with a nervous smile as she says uncomfortably "I don't know you might try and take advantage of me in that weakened state." She turned to the kitchen to make breakfast but as she opened a few of the cupboards. She started to realize that the food was running dangerously low. She pulled a few jar with more glyphs on them that held carrots and smaller apples within them. She then cut them up using her magic. As she returned to the beds with the bowls she asks with a nervous tone. "So uh how did I or..." with a confused look "my love taste?"

She set him up in the bed and levitated a bowl with a fork over to him. He replied "It was a bitter sweet tasted like..." He paused for a second as he ate a piece and thinks for a bit. "sugar on blueberries."

She looks over at him as she lays in the neighboring bed and swallows her mouth full before saying. "Well you look a lot better now then last night. It's kind of amazing to see how a little love umm..." She paused as she thinking of what to call it "energy affects your kind." Corporal nods his head in agreement while he enjoyed his breakfast.

After finishing her breakfast and putting the spare bed away she tended to Corporals injuries "Well Corporal some of your minor injuries look almost fully healed. You may be able to walk around a little but take it easy."

Once done with Corporal she said while putting her gear away in her room. “I need to go to town today too get more food." She looked back after entering the kitchen and putting her gear on the table with a small thud. "Is there anything you want from town?"

He looks out the window thoughtfully for a bit as Silver started making a small list. He looks back at her with a sly smile on his face. "How about blueberry’s and sugar."

Silver froze up and drew a blank on what to say for a bit then said while looking back at him "Uh...Ya I could look in to that."

After a half hour she put her gear on and threw on her black cloak. As the secret door opened she casted her illusion spell to change into a walking bush. After an hour passed she heard a near by branchs snapping.

Quickly laying down she watched a few deer walk out. She smiled thinking "Damn your getting scared by a few deer now."

Then the four deer began to glow green and burned up in a green flame. "It's getting hard to hold forms like this when hungry." says a female voice.

"I know." replied a male "But if what we heard are true. Captain said something about the camp to the north of us is getting Lighting Tail and his cadets are coming here; we’ll all be heading back south west to Nidramar. Then we can wipe out the nightmares out once we hear from our spies."

A different male voice asks questioningly "You mean the N.A.S Lightning Tail?"

"Yep, the same one." Replies the other one.

"Well come on lets get moving and if were lucky will find some small animals to feed on." says the female.

As they departed from Silvers hiding spot she started getting a wicked grin while thinking "So that bucking plot hole Lighting Tail is coming here. I should welcome him here."

After a few hours she reaches the edge of Everfree she shifted her bush illusion spell from a bush to a light blue unicorn with a grassy green mane and tail. Her eyes shifted from a silver nightmare shape to a normal par of light yellow eyes. Then headed for the nearby town. "Okay, now to track down the black market if there’s one here." She muttered lightly as she pulled her mothers book on black markets she visited out.

Upon entering the town she found the general store and gathered a small selection of berry basket before entering the store. As she approached the door to enter the shop she spotted a tiny diamond etched at the vary bottom of the door frame.

A little bell dinged as she opened the door and then a young male voice pipes up from behind a shelving unit. "Hello, I'll be with you in a second."

"No problem take your time." She says as she puts her berry baskets on the counter and waited for a second. But before the young male pony could appear a heavily built, older pony came from the back of the store he had a brown coat, with a blond mane, tail and his eyes a deep green. Saying "I've got this one son just keep working."

"Okay Dad." Replied the young voice.

"So how can I help you today?" He asked the earth pony.

"Well I need a bag of carrots, some oats and a few cups of sugar in this jar." She says while he pulled out a pot marked sugar.

He gestures to the other side of the store. "The carrots and oat bags are over there."

Silver comes back carrying in her magic the carrots, oats, apples and potatoes. She sets them on the counter and then looked up to see a variety of rope lengths. "I'll also need 25 feet of your strongest rope."

As he got a ladder to get the rope "Is that everything ma'am?"

She looked around seeing nothing else of interest. "Yes that’s everything sir."

"That will be..." As he counted everything up "95 bits please."

Silver opens her saddle bag and pulled some gold coins out then setting them on the counter. After she filled her saddle bags carefully while shielding the berry’s then tied the sacks to her saddle bags. She then pulled out the book on black markets looking for the symbol on the door. Then whispered in a low voice "I'm also here for the diamonds sale."

The shopkeeper looked up and around the store for any other pony. Then motioned for her to follow him to the back. When they reached the far back he pushed a sack aside and pressed something. Then a light click could be heard from beside her revealing a stair case leading down.

As Silver entered the dark stair case the store owner closed the door behind her. Silver continued her way down the dark stair case to a dimly lit room at the bottom. Soon as she reached the bottom two large and heavily armored Diamond dogs blocking her path. A deep and growly voice from behind them says "Let her through."

They stepped aside to let Silver passed by but as she stepped forward it felt like walking through a barrier of water. As she continued through her illusion was torn away from her. Silver froze in place feeling robbed of her identity. The voice spoke from a candle lit table "Don't worry pony its for our safety. Now come forward and discuss your business pony."

Silver walked over to the candle lit table. "I'm here for some special gear." She took her saddle bag off and sitting at the table with the diamond dog that looked like he had gray fur.

The dogs eyes grew wide. "Ahh you are a Nightmare pony haven't seen your kind in many months. Same order as always medicine and food?" He said happily rubbing his paws together.

Silver shook her head "No the camp was totally destroyed I'm here for personal gear."

He pulled out a piece of parchment along with a ink well and quill. Then leaned in to the table with an interested look. "What does the pretty Nightmare pony need?"

"I'll need a pony size sack, four anchor points with 8 long bolts, four three feet lengths of chain with a lock for each chain, 8 locks, 8 lengths of rubber tubes long enough to wrap around ones leg, I'll need five smoke bombs, five sleeping gas bombs, two small throwing knives with sheaths the colour of my coat..." she raised her fore leg while talking and lowered it saying "a very strong sleeping dart, a spool of decent wire, a bone saw, a machete with a sheath for it, and a pair of goggles." Silver stopped thinking while looking up to the ceiling saying "I think that's everything."

The Diamond dog looked up from the parchment and grabbed a knife along with a measuring tape. "Will need pony to give fur sample from each leg and size of hooves for straps. This to make sure they fit and match color."

After a bit she set two hunks of fur from each fore hoof from the back. Then he quickly took some measurements then opened two small bags and slipped the fur and measurements into separate bags. As she slipped the knife back to the Diamond dog she asked. "Anything else you need?"

He put the knife away while saying. "All I need now is what does pretty pony call self? No real name for safety reason."

Silver smiles. "Well I haven't used this name in a long time Wild Grove."

He finished writing and then pulled out a metal tube with a leather strap in the middle. As he sat it on the table slipping the parchment and samples he said. "That will be six amethyst, three emeralds, one sapphire, one ruby and a diamond." he held one of his clawed paws out waiting for payment.

Silver puts her whole head into her bag looking for her gem pouch. She levitates the gems out to pay him. "I don't have any amethyst but will you accept another diamond in place for them."

He smiles gleefully as the gems landed in his paw "That will do nicely pony." He put the gems with a small note in another tube and slipped it in the larger tube then sealed it. He left the table "I'll be right back pony." She watched him hand it to a smaller Diamond dog and points down a tunnel. The smaller one tore off like lightning.

He returned to the table "Okay pony you need to go to the saloon and give them this emblem..." He shoved a emblem a slightly bigger then a bit towards her. "they will do the rest."

Silver nodded her head as she picked up the emblem and put it in a smaller pouch. When she finally passed back through the barrier near the stairs her other form came back instantaneously. When she got back to the top a small click swung the door open lightly to the shopkeeper. He held a hoof up to her telling her to wait. After a bit she heard a little bell ring and the same young male voice. "Okay Dad it's clear."

He leads her to the front where a gray coat Pegasus, with yellow eyes, his mane and tail a lovely light blue. He nodded his head to Silver "Have a good day ma'am."

She smiled saying "And same to you two." She raises her cloaks hood soon as she exited the store and headed for the saloon down the street. Upon entering the saloon she sees three earth ponies playing cards in a corner. Near a small stage sat a unicorn and pegisis watching two unicorns dancing in fancy dresses. While another earth pony playing a piano for them. While at the bar counter a coulple of rugged clothed pegisi sat drinking. Silver walked passed them feeling their eyes looking at her through the mirror and sizing her up. Silver moved to the far end of the bar counter and put her saddle bags down then sat on a bar stool.

Soon as she sat down a pink coated earth pony with a sea foam green mane and tail rose up from behind the bar handing the pegisi at the other end another drink. As the earth pony walked over to her she could see a scar running from the top of it's right eye down to the lower part of the left cheek and a hole through the left ear. "How can I help you my good lady?" Says a male voice. Silver could not help but giggled a little he quickly says "I lost a bet and now I have to look like this for a whole month."

Silver clears her throat "Sorry, I'm Wild Grove but how much for a room sir?"

"The name is Darryl and that will be ten bits for a night or five for a stay till this evening." He puts his forelegs on the counter waiting for an answer.

"I'll stay till this evening." She says setting four bits and the emblem on the counter.

He grabbed the emblem and bits "Okay be one moment need to get the key." He tilted his head to look passed her then yelled "HEY CHARLY!"

The music stopped "What!?" yells the pony at the piano.

"Watch the bar while I deal with some business!" he yelled back.

"Okay!" As he stepped away from the piano he looked up at the dancers. "Go mingle with the customers girls."

"Okay Charles." They both replied while one laid down on the stage and started chatting with the awed ponies in front of them. While the other one walked over to the small group playing cards.

When Charley got to the bar the one over at the stage "Hey Charley! Bring these two lovely gentle colts a brew."

Soon as Charley left her view of the hoods she felt something sharp poke her just below her lungs. With no mirror she couldn't see her attacker. She gently turned her head towards the other end of the counter seeing the pegisis not in there spot. "Don't move a muscle and stay still." The ponies at the card table were watching now and talking amongst themselves.

Silver looked back forward thinking what to do. Then another voice said "Hey we scored a small pouch of gems and bits."

Silver took a deep breath thinking "Don't over do it." She quickly teleported behind them leaving only her clock in the stool and grabbed them both with her magic. She quickly lifted them up and over her twisting them in mid air to slam there chests in to the ground. While she turned around she used all her anger and strength to slam them into the ground but unintentionally slammed them both into a table. The one that held the knife on her lost it in mid flight as it sailed across the room with a clatter. The table crushed under the impact knocking the wind out of them.

Somepony at the card table was laughing as Silver walked over to her assailants. As she moved a chair to get to them one was trying to get up but before he could she pinned both of them to the ground by stepping on their back spines between the wings. Using her magic she grabbed both of their wings and stretched them to their maximum length. The whole place now watching the scuffle. Silver leaned down to the two on the ground then said darkly "I should just rip both of your guys wings out." As she spoke she pulled a little harder on their wings.

One started to beg and pleaded for his wings. While the other one remained quiet as she felt him shaking in fear. Charley says over the commotion "Could you try not to make too much of a mess ma'am."

She looked up at Charley with a stern look and then back at her assailants. "Fine." She says in growly tone. While she eased some tension off the wings as the one begging gave a sigh of relief while the other one remained tense. She muttered coldly "What are you sighing for I said nothing about letting you two go uninjured." Then instantly snapped the humerus bone in all their wings. They both cried out in pain while she kept them from squirming to much as she teleported the knife over to the owner. Then said "Okay, now leave me alone or next time it could cost you your lives."

As she got off one of the card players yelled excitedly. "HA! You two owe me pay up!"

Silver took a few deep breaths then looked up at Charley while the two injured pegisi walked away. "Sorry about the table. How much to replace it?"

Charly shook his head saying calming tone "Nothing I'll get Dave to repair it tomorrow."

Silence fell over the rest of the saloon. Darryl came back from what he was doing. In time to see the pegisi leaving with their crooked wings. "What in the hay was going on out here? I could hear almost everything in the back."

Just a small robbery attempt..." She says while putting the clock on "but I handled it."

He put a key on the counter "Room ten and" he looked back at Charley for a second then back at her "once you've rested you'll want to leave town fast. The two who tried to rob you are part of a powerful gang around here."

Silver grabbed the key with her magic and looked around the room. They were all looking at her like she was on deaths door step. She looked back "I'll be fine and if they try anything I'll deal with them." She said while raising her hood with magic and giving a wicked smile.

As she walked up the stairs as the saloon went back to normal as she reached the top, three other ponies walked in. Silver didn't look over at them as she went down the hall looking for room ten. After a few turns she found it she quickly looked around the corner then wasting no time she slipped the key in. But soon as she put the key in the keyhole the door disappeared and was replaced by a dark purple portal. She pulled the key back and walked through. She entered a candle lit room with a basic bed and table. She looked behind her to see a wooden door with the number ten on it.

Silver sat the key on the table and the saddlebags beside it. Then laid on the bed waiting for time to pass. She could hear muffled music and dancing as she laid there. After a bit she woke to the sound of a wall being shifted. She quickly jumped from the bed and pulled both of her blades from their holsters.

As the wall shifted open light cut through the dark room reveling more of the empty room. She saw one of the dancers entered the room levitating a larger package. "Sorry did I disturb you ma'am?"

Silver slipped the blades back into the holsters while saying "No you just startled me for a second."

She sat the package next to the table "Is there anything else you need?"

Silver shook her head "No I'm good. By the way tell your friend that you two are great dancers."

She smiled lightly "Ho uh thanks I will." When she exited the room and closed the wall up Silver turned her attention to the package.

She sees a small note on the package. She opened the note to read. "Thank you for your purchase. We also made it that the throwing knives and sleeves will mimic your illusions colors. When ready to leave please exit through the same door."

She sets the note on the table and opens the package while the note disintegrated to ash. She quickly unloaded the package and counted her gear out while loading it into her saddlebags.

Once she organized everything and strapped on the two throwing knives in their sleeves. She watched as the straps on sleeves and knives disappeared into her fur. Smiling she grabbed the key and walked through the portal into the hall.

Soon as she entered the saloons main room she sees the three pony that entered earlier. They were sitting at a table drinking. She walked up to the bar where Darryl was standing and put the key down with her magic. "Thank you for the room. Hope to see you again." She gave him a wink and headed out the door with the gaze of the three unknown ponies following her closely.

Soon as she exited the saloon a brown coat stallion with a black mane and tail. Wearing a tan cowboy hat, a blue vest with a sheriff star, and a red bandana around his neck. "Excuse me ma'am but are you the one that injured two pegisi earlier?"

Silver froze where she was then looked over to see a golden eyed earth pony with a well kept copperish mustache and beard looking her over. She said lightly "Yes, they tried to rob me of my bits and gems. So I dealt with both of them, I even offered to replaced the table I busted from slamming them into it."

He leaned back looking through the window seeing three ponies still looking at her "Well..." he looked back at her "it looks like you've attracted some unwanted attention." He turned around and motions for her to follow. "I'll lead you to the edge of town but your on your own after that."

As she followed the sheriff to the edge of town. She looked back to see three other ponies following them. She looked back to the front and raised her hood. "Okay there's three, two unicorns and one heavily built earth pony." She lightly muttered. Soon as she reached the edge of town. "Thanks, for the escort Sheriff."

"Anything for..." He turned around to head back to town "a customer of the dimond market."

Silvers eyes widen with a smile saying "A corrupted Sheriff in this town."

He chuckled then said "Yaa, I let them run it here but anypony thinks I'll look away from any other crime here is wrong. That’s way I'm letting you go for defending your stuff but if you had killed them I’d have arrested your flank."

"Well at least you have standards right." she said slyly with a smile as the two of them parted ways.

Chapter 5 The Nameless Visitor

Ch 5 The Nameless Visitor

Silver worked her way through the heavy brush of the forest looking like a walking bush she thought to herself "I can't believe it's been almost two months and I haven't seen any change in their activity with the losses they've sustained."

Then an ungodly scream cuts through the air. She took a quick moment to lock on to the sound then walked in the direction. As she got closer the screams could no longer be heard. Silver slowed her walk and saw green light emitting from behind a tree. She quietly drew her blades and slowly creeped around the tree crouched position. As she came around the tree she sees the back of a changeling in armor with its wings beating back and forth rapidly in short bursts. Silver slowly raised her daggers to make a quick kill but then a males voice says "OW! Careful there. There that should make your leg good as new." Silver freezes as she watches a vampiric jackalope hop out from in front of the changeling and into woods leaving a few drops of green blood on the ground.

She slowly lowered her blades back under her bush illusion with a confused look while thinking "Did he just help a creature instead of feeding off of it? Why?"

The changeling then pulled out some medical gear out while grunting "Shit that little blood sucker sure can bite." Once done he stood up revealing a bandage on his right rear leg just behind the knee. He took off after grabbing his gear.

After a bit Silver stood up looking in the direction the changeling left in. Saying softly "Why did he let it go Tairis?" after touching the green blood and looking at it she lowered her illusion. Then her eyes widened in fear as an unwelcomed stench filled the air. She quickly turned her head to see three Timberwolves were looking at her and was approaching her slowly.

She quickly tore off in the opposite direction looking for any way to slow or stop them. In a few seconds she spotted some loose rocks above her and fired a bolt at them. As they fell she quickly darted under them feeling the rocks scrape at her and crushed the closest one on her flank.

As she continued on the other two jumped over the rock pile. Then the two let out an ear chilling howl. In seconds multiple howls responded back through the woods. Silver looked around to see two more wolves leaping over a large tree and one on her right jumped off a large rock. Silver thinking to herself while looking back forward "Buck, they just keep coming. If I hurry I may be able to lose them before I get to the hide out."

As she ripped passed a few trees she spotted some tall bushes a little off to the right. Smiling while thinking "Right there." Soon as she reached the bushes she leaped over them with the wolves only seconds behind her she saw six changelings sitting talking. "Ho, BUCKING HORSE APPLES!" She says as she collides with one wearing only a helmet and sitting next to a cuirass. They both tumble across the ground while the helmet flew off.

As the changeling and her untangled she kicks his muzzle trying to get free. While the five Timberwolves tailing her burst from the bush landing only a couple meters from all of them. One of the changelings yelled "Master Corporal deal with that nightmare, as the rest of us deal with the wolves."

"Yes, sir." Said the one she collided with as he drew a pair of daggers with his magic.

Silver quickly analyzed the area and upon seeing little hope for immediate escape, she drew her daggers with a small flourish. Then sees the bandage on his right rear leg of the changeling. While she was distracted he teleported in close to her and made a quick stab at her flank. Silver quickly tried to teleport a short distance behind him but she still got struck as what felt like a bolt of energy ran through her right rear leg.

While Silver limped around to face the enemy while trying to wake up her numbed and bleeding leg. The changeling was turning around when a Timberwolf half the size of the other wolves jumps from a near by bush biting him on his flank and sinking its claws into his sides. While the changeling started trying to buck the wolf off Silver fired a bolt at the timber wolf without hesitation or thought. But the changeling bucked just as the bolt cut threw the wolfs lower jaw and then it cut deep into the changelings flank then blowing the top of the wolfs head off. While the wolf fell to pieces around him leaving a few claws in his side he limped to face Silver. While she stood there befuddled by why she just saved an enemy.

As he starts to hover off the ground and slowly started towards her. But as he flew forward another full sized Timber Wolf leaped up from a bush form and brought its massive wooden paws down on his head pushing him to the ground. When it landed on his head on the ground he passed out dropping his daggers to the ground. While the wolf Silver took out was just fully reforming and was eyeing her up for an attack. As she swiftly sheathed her daggers as the larger wolf pinning her opponent down dragged its wooden claws down his head across his right eye, then over his muzzle while turning to Silver.

Silver quickly started charging a powerful spell to slow the advancing enemy on her. As the smaller timber charges at her she closes her eyes and unleashed her powerful spell creating a ear shattering boom along with a blinding white light from around her body. The concussion wave deafens, and disorientates the changelings while the timber wolves were blown apart by the wave. Silver opens her eyes to see the damage around her as a few trees leaves, needles and small branches rained around them. Silver looked over at her opponent laying in a pool of his own blood as she turned to head into the woods. She hesitates for a second as her question about him crawled back into her mind "Why did he help that one creature?". She quickly ran over as the voices of her cohorts yelled in her mind "Leave him there!" As she levitates the male changeling onto her back as she hears another more gentler voice says in her mind "That’s my little one."

She quickly teleported to his saddlebags and grabbed them with her mouth. Then as she teleported deeper into the woods as she saw the timbers legs start to reform. As she kept getting further away she could hear screams of terror filled the dreaded forest. After a few seconds silence falls on the forest as Silver casts a stasis spell on him to slow his bleeding. Moving fast as she could through the thick brush to her hideout before he could bleed out. As she enters the hide out she turns the hot water on with her magic and teleports a bowl. She drops his saddlebag on the kitchen table and teleports her own next to his. While the bowl filled she swiped a door open and pulled a bed and box spring out with wheels. As she pulled them out she used her magic to reshape them to fit under the changeling. Once reshaped and placed down she gently sat him on the reformed bed with his head on a small pillow facing the wall. She teleported a few small nightstands near the bed then grabbed her medical gear and the bowl of water.

After a few hours of working on his wounds she was finally on the bite and humming softly through the surgeon mask. Then heard the changeling moan as he slowly opened his eyes then asks groggily "Where am I? Why can't i move?" Each question sounding more panicked.

Silver leaned over to his head then says softly through her covered mouth. "Your fine I've just put your body in a stasis spell to slow your bleeding. Now go back to sleep."

As she casted he sleep spell on him he asked "What happen.. to.. mmy..."

Soon as he trailed off to sleep she started singing softly while she removed a few shards of wood from his bite wound "Hush my little nightmare as I lay you down."

Once done she put shields over all the injury’s along with a spell to numb his future pain then levitated him up and returned the bed to normal. Then put him down and covered him with a blanket. She then took her tools back the kitchen to clean them and herself.

A little while later the changeling opens his left eye to Silvers open mouth over him. He yells in fear and panic "Don't eat me you bucking mare!" as he raises his fore hooves up to push Silvers head away.

Silver started giggling "Eat you?" Then started to laugh so hard she lost her footing on her left side and fell to the floor with a thud. Still giggling in pain "Ho, that’s a good one."

He quickly tried to get out of the bed but fell to the ground. Realizing his hind legs and wings weren't responding he used his fore legs to crawl forward while he muttered "I can't believe this, captured by a blasted Nightmare. Probably going to interrogate and torture me."

As he crawled past the front of the bed Silver comes around her side still giggling to herself. He casts a bolt at her but only a few magical sparks fly from his horns tip. With a confused look on his face he says "Wha..What the?"

As Silver stops giggling then says "I've casted a spell on you to prevent you from attacking me with your magic." She lifts him up with her magic while he hisses at her in disapproval while he squirms but his hissing and squirming ceases his body attacks him with pain. She sets him back in bed in a slightly up right position and covers him up to his lower torso with the blanket. Then says "Now rest until the stasis spell wares off and the pain numbing spell take effect." She turned and headed to the kitchen while still looking at him slightly asking "While you were out I made us a soup made of rose buds, daisies, some hay, and few vegetables. Do you want some?"

Not responding to her question as she pulled two bowls out he asks "So why did you save me then?" In what sounded like a disappointed tone.

As Silver levitates the two bowls of hot soup up along with a couple of spoons and slowly walk over towards him while bring a chair for herself. She says "Well seeing you help that Vampiric Jackalope was different for your kind." She sets the food on the night table and positions her chair to face him while continuing "When most of your kind use them as food source."

The changeling looks away to his rear legs saying "So how much did you see?"

She gives a sly smile as takes her seat, he looks back while she talked. "Well not much since I was behind you and about to slice your throat open with my daggers." She looked over at Taris’ spear over the sink while taking a deep breath and gave a big smile "Then I saw the Jackalope bound away from you." She looks back at his wounded rear leg and nodded towards it saying "Then I watched you patch yourself up." She pauses for a second then continues in softer voice while looking away shyly "Anyways you seem different from the other changelings and you re ..." She stops and takes a deep breath as she wipes a few tears form in her eyes then shakes her to stop herself from crying. "Anyways you must be hungry." She says quickly while levitating a bowl up and offers it to him.

He raises what would be his left eyebrow at her then says "You know my kind feeds off of love right?"

"I know." She says as she levitates her own bowl up to her nose and takes a long whiff then continues "But we both know your kind still needs food to survive just like my kind. So are you really going to refuse the food?"

He sighed then nodded Silver pulls a small wooden bed tray from under his bed. She sets the tray over him and gently sat the bowl down with a spoon. As he picked up his spoon with his right hoof Silver started to eat her meal. He asked as he filled a spoon full of soup. "So what do I call you?" He gives a suspicious sniff of the soup.

Silver swallows then says "I'm Silver Moon and what do I call you?" He looks up at her and remained silent while trying to decide to tell her or not. Silver gives a small sigh as he looks away and starts eating as his eye grows wide in surprise. "Fine you don't have to tell me but I need to call you something." Silver takes a few bites of soup as she gives a smile. "Corporal." She says thoughtfully with a smile then magicly jabs her spoon towards him. “Yaa, I think I'll call you Corporal for now. Well at lest until you tell me your real name."

As he finishes his first few bites of soup not hearing what Silver said as he says "This is so delicious." He looks up at Silver with an overly pleased look on his face.

She says with a smile "I'm glad you like it Corporal."

He pauses in confusion then says with a giggle "Ahh, a name for me." He looks away for a second then says as he lifts another spoonful up he says "Well at least I have a name now right." Right after he started eating in without saying a word.

After they finished there food and took their bowls he finally noticed the other doors. Then asked "So, I'm guessing your not the only one here. What are your friends going to think when they see me?"

Silver gives a small, quiet sigh of pain and a cold chill runs through her as she looks up at Tairis's spear then says "Their opinions really don't matter right now." She puts the bowls in the sink and starts cleaning them. After she turned the lanterns off leaving moon beams lighting up the rooms and said "Have a good night." As she opened her rooms door she looked back at him and said with a smile "Thank you for the complement." She stopped for a second before she entered her room saying "Oh, right the washroom is here if you need it." She ignites a lantern in the washroom on for a second for him then turned it off.

She closed her door with a click and locked it with a red glow. Corporal watched the door fade back to normal as he laid his head down he thought as he slowly drifted off to sleep. "So how in the hay am I going to capture her?"

Meanwhile Silver was writing in a book and whispered softly. "I hope your right grandma." She closed her book and headed for her bed muttering "I must be crazy for saving him." She turned the lantern off and crawled into her bed.

When morning came, Corporal felt something warm and soft rubbed near his genitalia. He opens his eye to a bright light; he quickly closed his eye while groaning then asks "What are you doing to me?"

"I'm giving you a sponge bath to keep you and your wounds clean." Silver says in a muffled voice. "Your a really heavy sleeper. Now hold still I'm almost done cleaning your lower half. After which I'll change the water then I'll tend to your face." She glances over to catch a grin growing on his face. She asked "Are you really thinking that right now?"

He chuckled "Aww, you don't have any fun playing doctor." As he felt Silver started to re-bandaging the bite wound. "So how long have you been a medic or a doctor?"

Silver lifts him gently in the air with her magic and sets him down lightly then after teleporting to the kitchen and back with clean water she says "I've been doing this for over two years thanks to Dr. Zafmir he trained for the first year. The rest was on the field of battle and any book he left me when I left."

While she worked on taking his bandages off he asked "So what’s the damage?" As he opened his other eye to see it functioning properly.

Silver levitated a hand mirror over while saying "Your lucky the wolf's claws missed your eye." She lifted the mirror up to show three deep cuts running down from his right side of his head one just above his eye. As the other two cut just below his eye running down his cheek then down his muzzle half way as they meet up with the third claw and dropped towards his lower jaw.

"Wow close call." He said with wide eyes then asked "So how long are you going to keep me here to heal this damage?"

Silver started to gently wash his face with the soft cloth while she says "Well my best guess I’d say about eight weeks or so. Depending on how long it takes to heal the wound I inflicted near your flank. Not to mention I've been finding more wood shards that I missed last night."

While she started cleaning his head he asked "Why does this not hurt at all?"

Silver focusing on his head with squinting eyes as she removes another few wood shards while replying "It seems the pain numbing spell I casted on you last night is finally taking full effect." As she applied new bandages "I've got to deal with a few things in the forest but I'll be back before the sun sets." She said while levitating the wash bowl and medical kit up to head to the kitchen. "I want you to rest with little movement as possible today."

Tharin lays back down resting his head on the pillow and then asked "So what did you do with my gear?"

She pulled the mask off and lays it on the table with the other things saying "I have them in my room along with your weapons." She dumped the water out while saying louder. "I also had to take your medical gear you had..." She sets the bowl down continuing "in your bags." She quickly washed herself up in the kitchen sink then took the medical gear to her room. When she came back out with her saddle bag and set them down on the table opening the flaps over each other. She opened the fridge to pull a bowl out saying "If you get hungry there is some cut up carrots in water here for you."

Tharin raises his head as Silver sets the bowl on the night stand then sees her saddle bags as she walked away to get her supplies. He used his mouth to flip his covers off then took to the air with his wings creating a buzzing sound. Silver looks back at him with a raised eyebrow as he was inspecting her inner bag lining. Then says "Well that’s a rare sight."

Silver came over with a few bottles of water and apples while asked "What’s a rare sight?"

He touched the lining in curiosity "Your saddle bags inner lining..." He looks over at her "it's made from a black dragons hide. Right?"

She set the food and drink in one pouch while saying "Yaa, well that’s what grandma told me. But we can talk more on that when I return." Silver gently helped him back to the bed and covered him up. "Now listen to your doctor rest for today. Will talk later today." After returning to the kitchen she then throws on her black cloak while locking her bedroom door with the same spell as last night. He watched her leave and lock the main door with that spell. As he laid there in the warm light he drifted off to sleep.

As evening rolled in Silver came in giving a heavy sigh "Another bust on finding that new encampment." She says as she hangs her cloak up. "Not to mention another encampment destroyed by what looked like Timber wolfs due to the claw marks I found." She muttered while she sat her gear on her bed and put a magical red X over a small circle on her map.

As she exited her room she could hear Corporal give a light moan as if in detest. She walks over but as she got closer she started to sense an uneasy energy around him. She slowly crawled her way on to the bed and over his slightly squirming body. She closed her eye and leaned in close to his head opening her mouth, then starts feeding.

She materializes in what looked like a forest. Then in the distance she sees Corporal running from a large black entity. She watches him stop for a second to fire a bolt at it but when it hits it grows larger. Silver changes herself into Queen Chysalis and shifts the woods so he was running right to her. As he came into view he yelled "Thank the hive! Help me my Queen, I can't stop it!"

He runs past and hid behind a rock. Silver watched as the black entity devoured anything in front of it. Silver says in Chrysalis's voice "This is your end!" Her eyes begin to glow a bright solid white as she opens her mouth. Tharin looked out from behind the rock watching the black entity get torn to shreds and sucked in to Chrysalis's mouth. He watched as it was reduced to almost nothing. Then in a flash of blind white light erupts from Chrysalis. Silver comes to and gives a satisfied sigh. She gently got off the bed while the energy around him started to change for a better feel. She grabbed the bowl that still held a few carrots and walked towards the kitchen eating the last few carrots. She emptied the water out setting the bowl aside then grabbed another bowl along with a fork then started cutting up apples, lettuce and added some rose petals into each bowl.

After a bit Corporals voice cuts the silence "Your finally back, so what took you so long?"

She lifted the two bowls with her magic and walked to his bed saying "Couldn't find what I was looking for so I stayed out longer then I intended." She sets the bowls on the night table and then helped him into a sitting position then gave him the bowl with the fork. After sitting down she asks "So how are you felling right now?"

"I'm feeling some uncomfortable pains right now. Other then that I feel fine." He takes a bite of the salad and gives a light sigh as he enjoyed the mixture of flavors.

"I'll cast that numbing spell after cleaning your wounds tonight." Taking a small bite she and asks with a partly full mouth. "So out of curiosity why did you help that Vampiric Jackalope instead of feeding on it?"

He looks over at Silver with an uneasy look as if it would hurt to say. After a few seconds he says in a shameful voice "Well they are kind of like us in the way it needs blood to stay strong just like my kind with love."

"Why does it sound like your filled with shame with what you did?" She asked with another partly full mouth.

He looked down at his bowl for a bit as took a few more bites then continued "The Queen never liked how I've helped so many animals. I think in time the Queen was going to deal with me as an example..." His voice trailed off then he started to eat slowly.

Silver gave a small smile, while looking at him and swallowed then said "Well maybe with what I saw and what my grandma told me, Maybe the story grandma told me wasn't totally crazy."

Tharin looked over at her with a curious look "What do you mean?"

"The saddle bag you were asking about. Well she told me her whole team was killed trying to get some info on one mission." She takes a small bite and continued. "She was forced to enter a swamp to try and get away in the thick fog. Unfortunately a small team of changelings was just behind her." Taking another bite. "When she realized she was being tailed through the thick fog she ducked into a strange looking cave near by." Silver stood up as she took a final bite and took both of there empty bowls to the kitchen. After she put the bowls in the sink she grabbed her medical gear and the wash gear before continuing her story, as she set the gear down. "What she didn't know was that it was already occupied by a dragon." She positioned Corporal to tend to his wounds and put a surgeons mask on while saying "When she heard the dragons low growl she bolted out of the cave and into the thick fog then right into the changeling patrol." She took one of the bite bandages off and said softly while examining it. "Well this bite wound looks better at least."

Corporal asked curiously "So how did your grandma survived the attack?"

Silver wiped the wound softly saying through the mask "She couldn't remember she told me it was a blur but she does remember being saved by one of the changelings before she was crushed by one of the dragons feet." She lightly applied a white cream to the wound. "In return she took an acid blast to her torso. In the end only her and the one changeling that saved her called Kail survived but he was badly hurt. She bandaged the male up, sealed his magic for a short time, and put him safely against a tree." She covered the wound and put a shield over it. "As she tended to him he asked "Why are you helping me?" " She started tending to the other wounds while continuing "She replied "That not all of our kind are jerks. And why did you save me from being crushed?" But she said he never said a word for a bit well until he asked while looking her belly over "Why would you risk your unborn child for a mission like this?" My grandma told him it was the dumbest thing she ever did but she wanted a better life for her not plagued by war." Silver paused while she pulled a few more shards of wood out of his wound then continued. "Even if it didn't work out the way she wanted but she did make off with a small portion of the dead dragons hide with no trouble from any other changelings."

"So do you think there are some kind changelings now?" He asked while Silver wrapped his eye up.

"Well..." She started to say while casting a shield spell on the bandage eye "I did watch you give medical care to a Jackalope; so you can't be a total dirt bag right?" She smiles while lifting him up and flipped him on his belly. "So how was your sleep?"

She gently unwrapped his injured flank he gave a heavy sigh "It wasn't to bad but part of it was really unsettling."

"How so?" She asked while he squirmed uncomfortably from an ointment she applied to the wound.

"I dreamt that I was being chased by a large black entity then the Queen dealt with...it." He turned his head hard to the left looking at Silver working on his other bite wound. "That was you wasn't it?"

Silver looked over at him and smiled he only caught the faint glimpse of it. She then went back to her work. "What gives you that idea?"

"The dream changed and it looked like she ate the thing." He kept looking at her.

She started giggling softly "Okay yaaa, I did feed off of you but in the end we both got what we wanted." She casts the pain easing spell then looked over at him. "Right?"

He lays his head down "I..." he muttered "I guess." He remained quite for a bit. As she came around the bed he spoke softly "Th...Thank you...I guess."

"Your welcome." she replies as she smiled while she continued to treat his wounds, then finished his sponge bath. Once done she headed for the washroom but before entering she turned to Tharin "So Corporal do you need the washroom or anything?"

"No I'm fine for now?" He says while looking in her direction.

After a little bit. "Ahh that’s better." She says as she walks over to Corporal while using magic on two towels to dry her main and tail. She looks down to see him asleep. As she heads to her room she turns the lights out and goes to bed.

As three weeks ran by as Silver returned one night and checked on the Corporal she realized he was weakening from his need for love energy. As soon as she finished cleaning him and tending to his wounds she gently moved his bed closer towards the wall with the window on it. "What are you doing?" asked Corporal weakly while he looked up at Silver from the pillow.

Silver looks down at him and gave a light sigh "Something I'll probably regret later but you need to feed." She turned away to entered one of the near by rooms to levitate another bed, bed fram, along with sheets and blanket. Once she had them in place right next to Corporals bed she started to head for the washroom saying "Give me a bit to clean up and then will deal with your...hunger."

Corporal remained quite as he watched her closed the bathroom door. She looked at herself in the mirror while she retrieved a few rose flowers from a gilded jar. "Are you really going to let him do this to you?" She turns to the shower. After a little bit passed by she exits and heads into her room drying herself off as the scent of roses filled the room. Corporal lifted his head up to the scent of roses.

Silver exited her room levitating her pillow and locked her rooms door up while she walked over to her bed. She set the pillow down on the bed then closed her eyes while Corporal watched a blue aura forms around her head and slowly disappears. "Wh...what was that?" he asked weakly

Silver turned out the lights in the kitchen while flipping the blanket over. "It's a barrier for my mind so if your draining effects minds it wont get to mine." She said while she got into the bed and flipped the blanket over herself. She then focused on wiggling closer to him then she looked into his one large blue eye locked on her as she feels a old emotion stirring thinking "Wow I've never realized how mesmerizing and beautiful his eyes are until now." After thinking that she felt herself blushing.

While Corporal was stunned by Silvers' eyes and coat colour. The moon light reflecting off of her Silver eyes, her deep purple coat and deep green mane shimmering from any water left in her hair. He was thinking as he felt his temperature rise "What is this?"

Silver broke the awkward silence "So uh... how do you want to do this?"

Corporal shook his head then said "Umm... this is just fine." As he senses her strong love for Corporal along with a great sadness. He opened his mouth and began to drain her. She watched for a bit as a pink mist like energy was pulled from her chest and into his mouth. In just a few seconds she began to feel her strength and energy fade away. Then being replaced with a warm and relaxing feeling as she slowly drifted off to sleep.

With each passing seconds Corporal could feeling his strength returning. After a while he stopped and gave a satisfied sigh "That’s a lot better then just eating food." He licked his muzzle with his long snake like tongue while he looked down at Silver as she muttered something. He leaned his head down and kisses her forehead then says softly "Thank you so much." As he settled down in his bed he sees her give a small smile as if she heard what he said.

A few hours passed until Silver came to still feeling the weakness coursing through her body. She tied to move with little success as she thinking "So this is what the draining effects feel like. I can't deny it I do like this relaxing feeling." She looked at Corporal while the moon light reflected off his black carapace then says groggily "You are kind of cute even with those massive fangs." In moments she could feel the weakness growing stronger as her eyes slowly shut as she gave a weak smile.