In Another World

by Music Brush

Rating: mature
Tags: Fetish, Profanity, Violence, Sex, Anthro, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Death, Alternate Universe, Romance, Changelings, Original Character
Length: 34404

A retelling of the story Changing Odds.

You may have heard of the changeling who tried to live an everyday pony life, but what if this time that story was told a little differently?

Essentially, this is a retelling of Changing Odds with a whole new world. The story will contain profanity, sex, public nudity, and some violence.

Published 2020-06-23 02:50:01 UTC
Last updated 2020-08-15 01:39:15 UTC

Prologue: Part I

Author's Note

Please let me know if you find any errors I can correct, as I am currently rushing through making a few changes in this story.

Prologue: Part I

A summery of the creatures of the world

There are many creatures in this world of Equestria, the dominant of which are the equines. They consist of three different races: the earth, the unicorn, and the pegasus.

The earth equines are non-magical equines that are more known for their endurance and strength. They appear as humanoid creatures with hooves for feet and have fur that ranges from a wide variety of colors in place of skin, and they have marks on their flanks that signify what skills they are most talented at. Many of them work in manual labor such as farming, construction, gardening, or anything that involves hard work. However, they also do many other things outside of the labor force, like guard duty or baking.

The unicorns share very similar appearances to the earth but are born with a natural affinity for magic, which comes from the horns that stretch from their brows. They tend to have magical outbursts at a very young age, making them difficult to manage, and they do not start to learn how to control or use their magic until they reach the age of accountability, usually eight years of age. After learning to use basic magic, they learn magical abilities that best suit their lifestyles, which have a massive range of opportunities such as entertainment or advanced technology to study the world around them.

The pegasi are born with nubs on their backs that sprout into wings that give them the gift of flight and free-range to interact with everything in the sky, making them best suited for weather control and aerial defenses of the land involving attackers from the sky. Apart from that, they very much share the same appearance as their earth and unicorn counterparts. For a thousand years, the best of the pegasi was part of an elite group of fliers initially dedicated to protecting the monarchy before they gradually became the most coveted group of fliers who perform the most dazzling of aerial acrobatics for all to see and enjoy. Many of the pegasi live in a great city in the sky made out of the very clouds they manipulate called Cloudsdale, but they are also scattered in many different homes, great and small, all over the land.

The most powerful of all the equines were the alicorns. Alicorns share traits from all three of the equine races, the earth's strength, the pegasi's wings, and the unicorn's magic. However, few know how they came to exist. Many say they were initially unicorns who learned how to grow wings, which increased their power exponentially. Others say they came from a distant land and were recognized for their greatness and named Equestria's rulers. Regardless, there are only three of these alicorns known to Equestria. The high princess, Celestia. The princess of love, Mi Amore Cadenza. The name of the third has all but been forgotten since her last known records were from almost a thousand years ago. Now she only was known as a legend.

While the equines make up most of the land, many more share Equestria as their home, such as the gryphons. The gryphons are much like the pegasi in many ways, except they are born with their heads resembling that of an eagle while their bodies from the chest down show that of a lion. Because of their eagle lineage, they are born with a sharp eye that lets them see for miles as clearly as if they were right in front of whoever or whatever was in their line of sight. Their lion lineage gave them pride and strength that make them ideal for reconnaissance and security, but they were unreliable due to their selfish, unfriendly, greedy, and ill-behaved nature. There is not a lot of information about the gryphons. However, there have been reports of them outside their homeland, Gryphonstone, a barren wasteland in the rocky mountains, participating in many of the same activities as the pegasi, such as flight camp.

The most infamous, yet equally unknown, are the dragons. These are massive brutes covered from head to toe in armored scales, making them impervious to almost all forms of damage, and can breathe fire, making them lethal fighters, and they primarily feed on gems, though it has been said they also feed on equine meat. No record of equine being devoured by the dragons exists, but many keep their distance and avoid them when they are sighted because of their brutal nature. They are migratory creatures, but they primarily live in mountain caves where they keep their hoards of priceless treasures and precious gems or within active volcanos of the dragon lands where they can bathe in magma to stay warm.

The most powerful and most rare in recorded history is the dragonaquus. Everything documented about these creatures suggests they have regular equine heads atop bodies made of a wide range of random parts from all kinds, such as goat horns, cloven hooves, serpent tails, etc. The only one of these creatures ever recorded is said to have ruled the land over a thousand years ago in a world of nothing but chaos. All under his rule were miserable due to his nonsensical and chaotic magic. For his enforcement of disharmony globally, the alicorns punished him by turning him into stone forever, restoring peace and harmony in Equestria.

Many other dark creatures have committed horrible crimes against the land, from stealing all the natural magic from the equine to rule with an iron fist to enslaving an entire empire to spread hate and fear. The equines of Equestria all but forgot these ancient beings since the rule of the Nightmare, a cold-hearted alicorn queen who clouded the whole world in endless night.

However, none are more feared among all the known creatures that roam the land than the shapeshifters known as changelings. These creatures are known to feed off of the love energy of the other races in the world, which is why equines fear them the most, as many believe that if they drain too much, the victim would become a heartless shell of his or her former self, or even die or turn to stone as a result. Those who have seen these changelings in their natural form have reported them looking much like the equines of the world; only their skins have a black scaley texture with great, translucent wings they fold under their arms to make it appear as if they wear long, sleeveless coats. Their feet resemble the dragons, with thick claws that can dig into the ground. Protruding from each of their elbows are thorns they can detach from their arms to use as weapons. However, that is mainly for decorative properties to add to their disguises when they hide amongst other magical creatures by placing them on their foreheads. They have a different form of magic that most do not understand.

Take these words to heart, for you will need them in the world you are about to enter. The knowledge you gain from this information may just save your life someday.

~~)oOo(~~

The lone changeling, Zuro, sat at his desk as he closed the Feildguide of Equestria and leaned back in his stone chair with a sigh. "The most feared," He mused as he folded his arms. "We changelings aren't monsters." He leaned up in his chair and waved his hand through the air, making an image appear in the air that showed two equines standing side-by-side. One was a unicorn male with a rich blue coat and messy golden hair, and the other was a well-built pegasus female with hot pink fur and long, well-kept, bright red hair.

"Many of us lived happily around equines without causing any trouble," He said to himself. "Damn those rogues!" He cursed as he made the image fade away with a wave of his hand as he stood up from his stone seat. "If it weren't for the rogues' fucking things up, we'd be living with the equines instead of hiding among them. It doesn't help that we're always starving for their love energy too." He groaned as he paced around the room. He was always fascinated by the equine. Their culture, the way they work together, how they control the environment around them.

He turned to a wall just as the hole in it closed up and waved his hand to make a reflection of himself appear. The castle he lived in had many halls with walls that regularly shifted as the changelings themselves do, making it impossible for any other creature to navigate the great structure without a changeling to guide them. "If I could live as an equine, I guarantee I could make it work!" He told himself confidently as he stretched his wings from their coat position out behind his back, and the scales of his skin began repositioning themselves, folding over each other to reveal a different color from underneath. The transformation moved from the tip of his head down to his toes, completely changing his form. His dragon-like feet shifted to hooves, and his translucent wings took a more feathered shape, and his scales solidified before growing fur that was a light blue color. His bald head started to grow black hair that stretched to his cheekbones in a messy style. He looked down at his male parts between his legs and smiled before looking back at his reflection.

"How hard can it be to slip into the equine culture?" He asked himself as he looked over his new look. "Everything I know tells me we have similar lifestyles. Families, jobs." He released the reflection charm just as the wall opened up again to find a couple of changelings against the wall, a male thrusting his hips between the legs of a female whose back was pinned against the wall as she held her arms and legs around mate while moaning out in bliss. He was not surprised at the sight of a couple having sex openly within the castle because it was a common practice among their kind.

"Having a good time?" He asked them.

"Oh," the female cried out over her mate's shoulder. "Don't mind us~!" She arched as he thrust deep inside her, making her moan out as she clung to him. Changelings could sense each other no matter what, so it was no surprise to see one in the form of another creature.

He turned away from the two, leaving them to have their fun as he went back to his desk while lifting the transformation and folding his wings under his arms to resume the sleeveless coat look as he sat back down. "I'm tired of living in hiding." He said to himself even though the two would not notice anything he said in their heated moment. He hummed in thought for a few minutes before coming to a revolution. "That's it. I'm leaving the castle to live with the equines." He smiled at his proclamation as he leaned back in his seat to stare at the ceiling.

~~)oOo(~~

The next morning the young changeling flew through the ever-changing holes in the walls while ignoring the occasional mating session. He flew by until he arrived at a small room where four other changelings gathered together. The eldest male instructed the younger male on shapeshifting while the older female held a baby female in her arms. "Morning, everyone!" He called as he flew through the wall and landed a few feet away from them on the ground. They all looked up to him with smiles on their faces as the youngest, Dili, rushed up and tackled him in the chest, making him grunt as he caught her before he chuckled at her enthusiasm.

"Hi, bubba!" She cried out as he hugged her while she giggled.

"Hey, Zuro!" The second youngest called. "Check this out!" He began to strain himself while he began to make his body change. The young one had been practicing transforming into creatures other than the equine, and the result of this current effort was the head of a gryphon atop the body of a dragon.

"Nice try, Gnator," Zuro said politely, "but you still need work." Gnator looked himself over, confused.

"What?" He asked.

"You have a mixed result again, son," Vitam said.

"Looks like a dragon to me?" He looked back at the thick tail protruding from his tailbone.

"Except you have the head of a gryphon," Vitam corrected, causing Gnator to feel his face to confirm if what they told him was true and groaning at the results.

"Damnit!" He stomped. "I had it a minute ago."

"Gnator!" Anorum barked. "Watch your mouth around your little sister!" Gnator flinched and hung his head as he reverted to his natural form.

"Sorry, mom," He said as he sat down on the floor. "Dunno why language is bad when mating openly is fine." He muttered under his breath as he folded his arms.

"So, how'd you sleep last night, sweetie?" Anorum asked as she walked up to him. He held up Dili and nuzzled her nose as she giggled and hugged his head.

"I slept fine, mom," He answered. Dili smiled at her big brother. Ever since Dili hatched, she and Zuro were almost inseparable, but that was not the case for her and Gnator. Gnator hated their little sister for a while after she was born, but he soon grew attached to her and has openly admitted he would feel incomplete without her in his life right now.

"Well, we were about to go get our share of energy for the day," Vanorum began. "Would you like to join us?" He looked up to her as he held Dili in his arms.

"Actually," He hummed with slight hesitation. "I was thinking about leaving." They all looked up to him.

"What do you mean, son?" Vitam asked. He looked between them all.

"I'm going to live with the equines." He answered matter-of-factly. Anorum's eyes went wide as Gnator's heart sank while Vitam simply opened his mouth as if wording "ah" while Dili only giggled as she bounced in her eldest brother's arms.

"Bubba equine!" She cheered before she stopped and looked confused. "What's an equine?" She asked.

"Equines are the creatures we get our energy from, sweetie," Anorum explained as she took her daughter into her arms. She only cheered as she hopped into her mother's arms.

"Bubba equine!" She giggled.

"You're joking," Gnator observed. "Tell us you're joking, Zuro." He got to his feet.

"I'm not, bud," Zuro replied as he looked to the young shifter.

"And what makes you think you're going to do that?" Anorum asked as she gave him a sharp look.

"I'm sick and tired of hearing how they fear us, and I want to make a difference," Zuro explained.

"Absolutely not!" Anorum countered. "No shiftling of mine is going out where they can get hurt or killed."

"Anorum, when was the last time you ever heard of a shifter being killed by an equine?" Vitam asked as he walked up, earning a sharp glare from his mate.

"He's not going!" She barked. Dili flew out of her mother's arms to get away from this, jumping straight into her brother's arms. Anorum realized she scared her baby and changed her tone instantly. "Oh, Dili, mommy's sorry. Mommy didn't mean to scare you." Dili clung to Zuro's chest as he held her close,

"Anorum, every changeling has to experience the world for themselves someday," Vitam said as he walked up and petted Dili's back.

"You're defending this?" She asked sharply yet softly so she would not scare Dili any further.

"You know I lived as an equine for years-" He began.

"Until you told that female who you were, and she rejected you," Anorum countered. "Thank the gods she didn't rat you out, otherwise-"

"I wouldn't be here with this beautiful family I have now, I know," Vitam interjected as he pulled her into a hug. She resisted lightly at first before she leaned into her mate's hold. "You know how fascinated he's been about the other creatures in the world."

"Yeah, I know," She sighed in defeat. Gnator's face grew more and more fearful as his gut started to twitch and churn at what he was watching.

"He's been well trained, he knows how to hide, he can handle himself in tough situations," Vitam went through a checklist to her.

"I know," She sighed as she looked at her firstborn. They looked into each other's eyes as Zuro's heartbeat began to quicken while waiting for the answer. It was clear she was at war with herself over this big step in his life. She knew she had to let him go. She would have to let each of them go at some point, but she did not want to. She pulled herself from her mate's hold and took a step closer to her son as Dili lifted her head to look up at her mother.

"Okay," She said. "You can go." Dili began to bounce as she smiled. She was too young to understand what was going on, but her joy knew no bounds in any case. Gnator's gut all but shattered. Vitam closed his eyes, smiling at his mate on the inside at her bravery for making this choice. Zuro began to smile and scream with joy internally at what he just heard. Even if she told him 'no,' he was going to get out of the castle somehow and at least see what life was like for the equines instead of just reading about them. His father had given him several books about the creatures outside the castle since he knew how much Zuro enjoyed reading about them.

"Mom, you can't be serious!" Gnator called out. She looked at him.

"I know you don't like it," She started, "I don't like it either, but sooner or later, all shifters have to make decisions on their own." Gnator looked to his older brother. He did not at all want his brother to leave; he loved him. Ever since he was born, Zuro was nothing but supportive and helpful in his transformations, and he did not want that to change. He never did like change, but after time he grew to accept things as they happen.

"You're not going, right, Zuro?" He asked. Zuro passed Dili back to their mother before he stepped to Gnator.

"Bud, this is something I've wanted to do for a long time," He answered as he looked his brother in the eye. "Maybe someday I'll come back to bring you with me." He suggested. Gnator did not show any enthusiasm for this and turned away to stare at a couple in heat through an open wall. Zuro sighed at this before looking back to his mother and father, standing side-by-side with Dili in their hold as they all looked to him. He stepped up and planted a kiss on Dili's forehead, who giggled at this as she hugged his head.

"Love you, sissy," He smiled at her as she giggled. He then turned and hugged his mom, who rapped a wing around him as she was still holding Dili. "Thank you, mom." He then turned and hugged his dad, who patted his back with a smile on his face. "Thank you too, dad." He then turned back to his brother, who had his back to him. He walked up and rested his hand on his shoulder, getting him to look back to him. "I save the best for last, bud." A tear ran down Gnator's cheek as he sniffed before pulling him into a hug.

"If you die out there, I'll fucking kill you," He whispered so their mother would not hear.

"I heard that!" She barked lightly so as not to startle Dili. Zuro could not help but chuckle at this before pulling away and looking at his brother in the eye again.

"I'm not going to die, bud," He assured. He rustled his head before he stepped back. Gnator sniffed and rubbed his nose with his arm.

"Goodbye, Zu," He said. Zuro smiled at him before turned, spread his wings, and took off.

~~)oOo(~~

Zuro spent the last several hours flying east from the Desolute Zone toward the heart of Equestria. His flight took him over a great city and a few other locations before the sight of a small town south of the capital that rests between the base of the mountain where Canterlot stood and the infamous Everfree Forest caught his attention. He began his descent toward the forest just outside of the town, where he landed within the trees before giving his wings a few flaps to stretch them out after the flight.

He rested his wings under his arms in their long coat position as he took a few minutes to catch his breath. Changelings Learned to fly long distances at a relatively young age, but Zuro barely had enough practice before leaving. After a few minutes, he stretched his wings out and began to change his appearance to the guise he came up with the night before. Once in his Aerial form, he again took flight and made it look as though he was flying in from the south.

He landed on the open streets, where the equine greeted him with warm and welcoming smiles, which put a smile on his face. He walked through the streets for several minutes before he bumped into a young pegasus male with bright red fur, a muscular build, and wavy black hair with white streaks.

"Oh, sorry, I didn't-" Zuro began to apologize.

"Why don't you watch where you're going, asshole?" The pegasus barked. Zuro was confused at this since he did not sense any real anger coming from him.

"I'm sorry," Zuro began again, "I'm new here, and-"

"We don't need any clumsy newcomers messin' up the place!" Zuro was interrupted again. Zuro narrowed his eyes at him.

"Look, I don't want trouble, so I'll just get out of your way," Zuro began to walk around the red pegasus, only to be stopped by a raised hand. He looked up at the equine.

"If you want in our beloved town, ya gotta go through me!" He demanded.

"You really don't want to pick a fight with me, pal," Zuro countered.

"Oh, you think you're tough shit, don't ya?" He started to crack his knuckles, shoulders, and neck as he readied himself before he put up his fists. Zuro could see he had a level of experience due to his stance being neat and practiced. Zuro simply chuckled before repositioning himself in a more relaxed posture with one hoof behind the other.

"Alright then," Zuro hummed. "Let's dance!" At this, his challenger lunged his first toward his face. Zuro side-stepped, making him miss his head by about half a foot as Zuro raised his left hoof in front of him. The changeling tripped on Zuro's outstretched leg and fell face-first into the dirt. "Rule number one; never be too eager to rush your opponent." The pegasus pushed himself off the ground before going for another swing, only for Zuro to step to the side completely. As the man started to fall to the ground again, Zuro grabbed his wing just before he faceplanted again. "You're impatient. If you're going to have a chance against someone who actually knows how to fight, you'll need to work on that." Zuro let go of his wing to let him fall in the dirt once again. "Plus, no fighter ever finds victory in the dirt."

The pegasus growled as he got right back up and started swinging full force at Zuro, who only dodged every swing like it was nothing. When the pegasus began to show signs of fatigue, Zuro landed three hits; first, the gut knocked the wind out of him, followed by a knee to the chest to stand him straight, finally a right-cross to the chin the knock him off his feet. Once the pegasus was on the ground, Zuro once again took his relaxed stance and looked down at his opponent.

Panting, the pegasus looked up at Zuro with a smile. "Damn, you're good!" He huffed. Zuro sense no threat from this boy anymore, so he held out his hand to him to help him up to his hooves again. "Where the hell you learn to fight like that?"

"My family tends to travel around the country quite a lot, so we prepare ourselves for the worst," Zuro answered.

"Shit, man, you gotta teach me some of your moves!" He held out his hand. "Name's Jet!" Zuro sensed no ill-intent from Jet, so he smiled as he took his hand.

"Zuro." They shook each other's hands as Zuro was overflowing with a sense of joy since it seemed like he just made a friend with an Equine.

"Welcome to Ponyville, Zuro!" Jet greeted him. "Named in honor of town animal, the pony! Where you'll find all the races of Equestria living in harmony!" It was apparent Jet was very proud of the town he called his home, and this put a smile on Zuro's face.

"I think I'm gonna like it here," Zuro mused.

"What brings you to our humble home, anyway?" Jet asked. "Did your family come with you?" The two started walking alongside each other.

"No, just me," Zuro answered. "I came on my own to get a change of pace."

"Why'd you do that?" Jet asked.

"Let's just say I needed to get away from the active neighbors for a while," Zuro answered. Jet stopped and grabbed his shoulder.

"You mean to tell me you ran away from free, live porn?!" He whisper-shouted so as not to draw unwanted attention. Zuro shrugged.

"Isn't such a thing common practice?" Zuro asked.

"Dude, where the hell have you been?!" Jet asked. "People don't just fuck out in the open; it's indecent! I'd give my wings to live in an environment like that!"

"Okay, chill," Zuro pleaded as he looked around to make sure they were not getting the attention of the equine around them, especially after their little scuffle.

"Yeah, sorry, I've got problems," Jet sighed before he stood straight. "Anyway, since you're new, you gotta place to stay?"

"Actually, I kinda left my home as a spur-of-the-moment kinda thing," Zuro answered. "No plans, no money, or anything."

"Well, I gotta spare room and bed; you can crash at my place until you get on your hooves," Jet suggested, getting a smile from Zuro.

"Thank you!" Zuro proclaimed.

With that, the two walked off into the town, where Jet would show him around and introduce him to the locals before showing him where he would stay as he began his new life.

Prologue: Part II

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Chapter I

Author's Note

Detailed sex scene ahead. Hope it won't drive you guys away from this rewrite.

Chapter I

Family And Fun

"Hey, Guardian!" Jet called as he burst through the front door, getting Zuro to yell out in surprise as he fell to the floor from hanging a picture on the wall, hitting the ground with a loud thud. Jet flinched at the sound. "Did I interrupt something?" Zuro sat up as he rubbed the back of his head.

"Just hanging a picture of my first day here," He said as he held up the picture frame, which cracked when it hit the floor. He frowned before looking up to Jet. "Why the sudden bust-in?"

"There's a pegasus guy looking for you," Jet explained. "Said he was your father." Zuro perked up.

"Vitam?!"

"I think that's it," Jet answered just before a flash wooshed right past him through the door. Jet blink and looked back to where he was. "Wow! Rainbow would've loved that." He started to fly off before Zuro stopped him short, making him jump in surprise.

"Where is he, exactly?" Zuro asked.

"I told him to wait at Sugarcube Corner while I got you," Jet answered.

"Thanks!" Zuro flew off again. He flew around every corner, dodging every tree, jumping over every equine until Sugarcube Corner was in sight. He landed just outside the door before opening it to find a blue pegasus with white hair talking with Mrs. Cake, who had a proud smile on her face.

"Sounds like he's been quite helpful to you, Mrs. Cake," Vitam mused.

"That he has," She giggled with a bit of a blush before she noticed who walked in. "Oh! Well, look who's here!" She waved for Zuro to come in as the pegasus turned to face him with a smile. Instantly, Zuro could sense another changeling standing by the counter, and he knew it was his father, so he rushed up and hugged him.

"Hey, dad!" Zuro cheered as Vitam chuckled.

"Hello, kiddo," He replied as he hugged him back. "Mrs. Cake here has been telling me how you've been quite helpful in her-" He gave a slight cough, "... active life." Zuro looked over at Cup Cake, who winked at him.

"Yeah, she's been really nice to me, so I felt I had to return the favor," Zuro answered with a smile. Luckily, the store was empty at this time, so no one would get suspicious about what they said. He then smiled up at his father. "Perhaps we can fill each other in." He looked around. "Where no one can eavesdrop," he suggested. Vitam smiled and nodded his head in agreement before Zuro looked back to Mrs. Cake. "I'll see you later, Mrs. Cake."

"My door is always open to you, Zu," She winked at him before heading back. Zuro and Vitam left the store and started flying up.

"The clouds are some of the best places for quiet time here," Zuro explained as he guided his father to the sky.

"Lead on," Vitam smiled.

Zuro smiled as he flew with his father to the clouds before finding one big enough for two. They flew up and landed on the cloud, causing it to fluff up as they sat down.

"We can relax here," Zuro said as he shifted back to his natural form, "the weather team has already left the skies for the afternoon, so no one will be around to see." Vitam looked around for a bit before he shifted to his natural form as well. Zuro smiled at him. "So, do what do I owe the pleasure of this surprise?" Zuro already knew the answer, but he felt the need to ask anyway.

"What, your old man's not allowed to surprise you at your new home?" Vitam countered with a smirk. Zuro chuckled.

"Of course you are," Zuro smiled at him. "It's so good to see you." They hugged each other again.

"It's good to see you, too," Vitam replied. "So, where'd the name Guardian come from?" Vitam asked with a smile.

"From saving Jet's ass more than a dozen times since I moved here," Zuro smirked.

"A trouble maker?" Vitam chuckled.

"Try antagonizing big animals just to get into big fights," Zuro explained. "Seriously, he doesn't know how to pick his fights carefully."

"Something you learned early in your life," Vitam smiled at him.

"I hope you didn't rough him up too much," Zuro looked at his father.

"What do you mean?" Vitam asked with a raised brow.

"Wait, he didn't try to pick a fight with you?" Zuro looked confused as Vitam shook his head in reply. "Huh, he's known for picking fights with anyone who looks tough."

"Well, it's better he didn't try to fight me," Vitam mused.

"I know; that's why I was worried about him," Zuro explained.

"You two must be good friends," Vitam smiled.

"I wouldn't have it any other way," Zuro smiled. "Anyway, what did Mrs. Cake tell you?" Zuro asked.

"She told me how you helped her with her," he paused for a moment to scratch his chin, "itches?"

"She must be talking about mating," Zuro clarified. Vitam looked at him.

"She's your mate?" Vitam asked.

"No," Zuro answered, "she already has a mate. They have, what the ponies call, an open relationship." Vitam looked intrigued. "It's similar to how changelings are before they choose a mate for life, except they've chosen a mate, and both agree to allow each other the freedom to mate with others as they please. The equine mating rituals are performed privately instead of out in the open like at home."

"Really?" Vitam asked, even though he already knew about their practices from his time amongst the ponies.

"Yeah. Ever since the first day I was here, Mrs. Cake kept on confusing me," Zuro explained. "I could sense her and her mate's love for each other as strong as you and mom's, so I was foncused when she showed interest in me."

"Why would that confuse you?" Vitam asked.

"Cause Jet, the red one who told you to wait at Sugarcube Corner, said that ponies tend to choose one mate of the opposite sex for life," Zuro explained. Vitam inclined his head. "Anyway, I went back to her the next day to see her, and one thing led to another, and I found myself in the back room alone with her."

"I assume you kept your pony form in check?" Vitam asked.

"It was tricky at first, but I remembered how I could keep it in check if distracted by something so intimate," Zuro smiled. Vitam smiled at his answer.

"Glad you remembered my teachings." Zuro smiled at his father. "How was your first mating?"

"It felt amazing, even if I was a little bit distracted on keeping my disguise up," Zuro answered. "Outside of that, every other pony I've met has been so nice. The first day, three of them offered me a place to stay until I get on my feet."

"Well, that's just wonderful!" Vitam smiled. "It's odd during my time here; I never heard of an "open relationship," but I did learn enough to be independent, which is one of the reasons I came here." Vitam waved his hand and made a scroll appear and handed it to Zuro, who opened it in his hands.

"What's this?" Zuro asked.

"If you're going to stay here, you'll soon learn about finances," Vitam explained. "This scroll has all the information I left behind before I met your mother." Zuro looked up at him.

"Is a million bits a lot?" Zuro asked.

"Quite a lot," Vitam answered.

"How'd you get all this money?" Zuro asked.

"Let's just say I lived the bad pony life before I met a certain unicorn who got me on a less self-destructive path," He explained.

"You mean you were a thief?" Zuro asked. Vitam nodded.

"Face it; that's what changelings are," He added. "Stealing the love energy to feed ourselves. I just took the same concept in pony form and lived a dangerous but a wealthy lifestyle."

"How were you able to keep all the money if that unicorn made you go straight?" Zuro asked further.

"Breezy was quite knowledgeable about finance and taught me how to make positive investments," Vitam answered, getting Zuro to raise a brow at him. "Okay, I told her I gave it away when I actually locked it away in a bank account in case I ever needed it again," Vitam admitted. "Turns out, living with her for so long didn't require me to touch that money again, so I almost forgot about it until I found that scroll last week." Zuro looked at the scroll again. "Consider it a going-away present from your old man. You can use it to get your new life started while you look for your own ways of becoming independent. Just don't get lazy because of it." Zuro looked up at him.

"Thanks, Dad," Zuro smiled. "But how can I explain this to the ponies? I already had a hell of a time remembering about the Muneries and their country to make it seem like I've been living there for the last several years."

"We've had little to no interaction with the Muneries. How do you know about them?" Vitam asked with a raised brow.

"Mom gave me a book or two about them. I just found the ponies of Equestria more interesting," Zuro answered. Vitam hummed at the answer.

"That does make sense since your mother told me about a time she spent with magical pegasi," Vitam observed as he scratched his chin. "I'll have to ask her about them someday." Zuro rolled up the scroll and tucked it under his coat/wing before looking up to his father.

"Speaking of which, how is everybody doing since I left?" Zuro asked. Vitam blinked.

"Oh, that was another thing I came for," He bopped his head. "The bank information and to give you an update." He looked at Zuro. "To sum everything up, your mother is a nervous wreck, Dili is as cheerful as ever, and Gnator has been spending less time with us."

"Mom's scared to death for me, isn't she?" Zuro asked, earning a simple nod from his father. "Dili was always an optimistic little changeling," Zuro chuckled. Vitam smiled at this before Zuro furrowed his brow. "But, Gnator," he paused, "what's he up to?"

"We don't know," Vitam shrugged. "The best I can guess is he's looking for some way to fill the void you left behind."

"I just hope he's not getting into trouble," Zuro signed as he looked over the edge of the cloud.

"It's just a phase," Vitam assured his son. "He'll grow out of it. Most changelings go through some kinda phase at this point in their lives."

"I wasn't like that, was I?" Zuro asked.

"There was a time we couldn't get you to stop trying to run away to the equine life before you were ready to go on your own," Vitam smirked.

"I've always been fascinated by ponies," Zuro observed with a raised brow.

"But when you were about his age, you would not stop finding crafty ways to sneak out of the Dezolute Zone," Vitam snickered.

"Oh," Zuro blushed. "So, I actually tried to face the Dezolute Zone at an underdeveloped stage?"

"There was next to no possible way to stop you from trying," Vitam smiled.

"That bad?" Zuro asked.

"Sometimes, worse," Vitam smiled at him.

"Okay, okay, I had my own phase," Zuro pulled a tuft a cloud up to cover his blush. Vitam chuckled.

"Enough torture for one visit?" Zuro gave a simple nod for his answer, getting Vitam to chuckle even more. After a minute, Zuro put the tuft back on the cloud.

"How about everything else in the hive?" Zuro asked. "Like the guard and monarch?" Vitam looked up.

"The guard seems to be increasing a lot lately," Vitam observed. "Come to think of it; I wonder if it has anything to do with Chrysalis?" He scratched his chin.

"What do you mean?" Zuro asked.

"Well, Queen Chrysalis seems to be getting more and more desperate in the wake of the shortages," Vitam explained.

"How bad are the shortages?" Zuro asked.

"Critical." Zuro blinked.

"I thought we were getting a handle on that," He observed.

"It's gotten worse since you left a few months ago," Vitam explained. "We're managing, but I fear the worst, and Chrysalis' desperation only adds to that fear." Zuro hummed.

"Should I come back to help?"

"I think it would be better for you to stay where you can thrive," Vitam replied. "I can sense that love energy you've absorbed since you left, and should the worst happen, you'll be strong enough to continue the line. Even make a better future for us." Vitam looked around the landscape. "Besides, this country is far better than anything the Dezolute Zone could ever offer."

"I do love it here," Zuro hummed. Vitam looked back at Zuro.

"Well, I guess I better get back before your mother starts having the biggest episode of her life worrying about both of us," He said.

"Already?" Zuro asked. "But you just got here."

"I know, but you know how your mother can get," Vitam countered.

"True," Zuro sighed.

"Hey," Vitam called. Zuro looked up at him as Vitam handed him a little stone.

"What's this?" He asked as he took it.

"It's a communication stone," Vitam explained. "It'll help us keep in touch as if we were right next to each other. Let you speak with everyone instead of just me every so often." Zuro smiled.

"Perfect," He said as he tucked the stone away under his wing with the scroll. "I'm sure that'll help settle mom's nerves."

"My thoughts exactly," Vitam smiled.

"So, I guess there's no better time than to test it as soon as you get home?" Zuro asked.

"Better wait for me to contact you to make sure you don't get me in a bad spot," Vitam clarified. Zuro nodded as a response.

"And better to wait until after hours," Zuro added. "When the moon is high is when most of them turn in for the day."

"Then you can expect a call in a few days," Vitam smiled. They both gave each other one more hug before shifting to their pegasus forms. "Best of wishes, son."

"Safe travels, dad." Vitam kicked off the cloud and began flying west as Zuro remained on the cloud smiling at his father as he flew away. A few minutes later, Zuro's peace was interrupted.

"Hey, Guardian!"

Zuro looked up to find Jet as he flew up to the cloud. "Where's your dad?"

"If you were looking to pick a fight with him, trust me when I say it would be the last thing you ever did," Zuro warned. Jet snorted.

"I could've taken him," He said as he folded his arms.

"You thought I was tough?" Zuro pointed out. Jet glanced at him. "I was being nice. Dad plays for keeps when provoked."

"You're just saying that because he's family," Jet challenged. Zuro turned around to show a scar between his wings.

"That was from my dad," He explained. Jet took a closer look and saw how it was massive. "He doesn't mess around when it comes to fighting, especially for family benefits."

"Doesn't look that bad," Jet snorted.

"Try an inch deep," Zuro continued.

"Seriously?!" Jet blinked. "Your own father risked your life like that?" He shook his head. "You're making shit up to get me to lay off your father."

"Don't say I didn't warn you if he rips off your wings for picking a fight with him," Zuro said matter-of-factly.

"Okay, okay, I get it," Jet huffed. "I won't try to fight him next time I see him."

"Why did you try to fight him earlier?" Zuro asked.

"He was already at the Cakes by the time I knew he was in town," Jet explained. "I'm not about to cause problems for Cup and Carrot."

"Well, I'm glad you were thinking about them-"

"Because you're fuck buddies with Cup?" Jet interjected. Zuro blinked at him.

"Jealous much?" Zuro countered. Jet snorted. "Admit it; you wish you had someone you could fuck all you'd like too."

"As if I'd fuck a married woman twice my age," Jet folded his arms. "Why are you so willing to have sex with her anyway?"

"I'm used to it, remember?" Zuro replied. "I told you the first day I came here how my neighbors were open. As I recall, you were so interested in public mating." Jet snorted. "Anyway, I need to get to a bank." Jet blinked before looking at Zuro.

"Why?" He asked as he hovered closer to Zuro as he pulled out the scroll his father gave him.

"My dad came to give me an update on the family and leave me some money he earned while he lived here," Zuro explained. "He wanted to make sure I'd be set until I got on my feet." Jet took the scroll and looked it over before his jaw dropped as his eyes opened wide.

"What the fuck?!" He moved face-to-face with Zuro. "Why the hell didn't you tell me you were this loaded, and why the fuck didn't he give you this sooner?!" Zuro snatched the scroll from Jet.

"I didn't even know he had anything," Zuro answered. "He only just now told me."

"How the hell could you not know your dad is loaded?!" Jet asked as he waved his arms around. Zuro rolled his eyes.

"Travelers, remember?" Zuro rolled up the scroll and kept it at his side. "Now, I need to go to the bank." He kicked off the cloud and started to fly back to town.

"I'll come with you!" Jet followed eagerly before a blue hand pressed against his face.

"I think you're a bit too eager about this, so I'll take care of things on my own," Zuro groaned. "I'll catch up with you later."

"Oh, come on, Guard!" Jet pouted.

"See you later, Jet," Zuro called as he flew off.

~~)oOo(~~

Zuro landed outside of Sugarcube Corner while the moon was high in the sky. He walked up the steps and gave a few knocks on the door. A few seconds later, the door opened, and Mrs. Cake poked her head out with a smile.

"Oh, hello, dear," She greeted him.

"Hi, Mrs. Cake," Zuro smiled at her. "I thought I'd stop by to see you."

"I'm glad you did," She replied as she stepped aside. After Zuro walked inside, she closed the door behind him. "Carrot was so tired from the day's work; he's already gone to bed."

"I can't help but feel sorry that he can't keep up with your enthusiasm," Zuro observed.

"Oh, you don't need to worry about that," She said as she walked with him to the back room. "I always was an active girl growing up."

"You sure this isn't going too far between you two?" He asked as he followed her.

"I'm positive," She smiled as they walked through the back door behind the kitchen, where there was a spare bed fully made and ready for use. "But enough talk!" She pushed him onto the bed. "I need a hunk inside me!" She grinned hungrily down at Zuro, who looked at her with a welcoming smile.

She got on her knees as she spread his legs open to stare at his penis. She licked her lips as she leaned in and gave his balls a soft lick before taking the left sack into her lips. The sensation of his ball in her maw sent shivers up his form as his length began to grow. She hummed as she tenderly suckled his sack with a well-practiced tongue. Zuro watched her as she hungrily suckled his tender bits as his rod reached half-mast. She then proceeded to pull off his balls with a pop before moving up, licking his length as she went. He bit his lip as he watched her take the tip of his penis in her lips, looking him in the eyes as she slowly slid that meat into her mouth.

"Oh, Mrs. Cake, you're so good at pleasing a male," Zuro moaned softly. She rewarded his compliment by bobbing her head up and down his length, suckling as she pulled up and down. The sensation was just as wonderful as the first time he felt her oral sex. His member throbbed in her mouth as it reached full length, ready to be used. She pulled off very slowly, suckling as she moved up until her lips popped off his tip.

"Care to please a girl before the main course?" She smiled at him.

"I'd be glad to," He answered with a smile. She pulled herself on the bed as he laid on his back while she lifted a leg over him, resting her knees on either side of his head, exposing her already wet pussy to his view. He stared at the plump flower that sat under a puff of pink hair with a smile before he leaned up his head to give it a lick. She moaned softly to the feel of his young tongue licking her vagina. He slithered his tongue around her clit a few times before moving it to her slit, pushing into her wet walls, making her moan to the intrusion.

"You're getting better!" She moaned softly. He rubbed her thighs as he continued his efforts at pleasing her. Her moans were a clear sign he was doing a good job. The added feal of her lips returning to his member made him double his efforts. They both worked at making their partner happy in their sixty-nine position for what seemed like several minutes before she pulled off him. "I can't wait anymore!" She almost growled as she repositioned herself over him, lining her pussy over his dick. He reached down and guided his length to her entrance as she slid down with a shuttered moan.

When their hips met, he caressed her fat flanks as he looked up at her. She was in bliss at the feel of his penis inside her as she rested there for a minute before looking at him. She reached back and untied her apron to rip it off before she leaned down, pressing her thick breasts against his chest as she locked her lips against his. They moaned into each other's lips as he started rutting up into her.

He groped and squeezed her ass as he fucked her vagina while she moaned to his mating. He was new to the activity, or so he said, but he was a natural. He picked up the action and all the positions that came with it very quickly.

After a while of this, he rolled them over, so he was over her, resting his hands on either side of her head as she looked up at him while he continued slapping his hips against her. She gripped his shoulders as she wrapped her legs around his hips. "Yes! Fuck me!" She moaned out as he groaned with each thrust.

"Mrs. Cake! You feel amazing!" He groaned as he continues. His dick was throbbing hard inside her warm walls.

"So are you!" She replied.

After a few minutes, he moved behind her as he moved her to her right side, lifting her left leg to continue fucking her. As he continued like this, she pulled him into another deep kiss by the cheek, moaning into his lips. It was not long before he broke the kiss.

"Mrs. Cake, I'm gonna-"

"Don't you dare pull out!" She growled as she watched their combined genitals. He groaned more as he throbbed harder inside her. He gave a few more good thrusts before he gave one, good, hard, deep thrust inside her, unleashing his load with a loud groan. She threw her head back in a silent scream as she reached her own climax. Her walls clenched around his length, sucking it in as he filled her up so much that his semen leaked down her leg onto the messed up sheets. Their combined orgasm last for what felt like hours as they huffed from their fun. He slowly lowered her leg down, keeping his meat inside her as he looked up to her. She looked back into his eyes with a thankful smile.

"Was that good for you?" He asked the heavy panting. She reached up to pet his cheek with a smile.

"You sure you weren't active before coming here?" She asked. He chucked a bit.

"Where I came from, sex is actually quite the open activity, so I see it a lot," He explained. She giggled before she looked down at her soaked legs. "You sure do make a mess." He looked over her shoulder.

"Sorry," He softly whimpered.

"Don't be, sweetie," She assured him with a smile. "You're going to make whoever you choose to be with one happy woman." He blushed at this. As his erection died down, he could not hold in any longer, so he pulled out, spilling more of his white juices out on her leg and the bed. He scooped her up off the bed, bridal style, and carried her up out of the room. She wrapped her arms over his shoulders with a giggle. "Such a gentleman." He carried her up the stairs to where her room was and slipped quietly inside. Carrot Cake was asleep in their bed.

"Good thing he's a heavy sleeper," He observed quietly as he carried her to the bed. He lay her on the bed next to her husband, and she smiled at him before pulling him down to peck him on the cheek.

"Thank you, sweetie," She said. He smiled at her.

"I'm happy to help however I can," He replied. She turned and snuggled up to her sleeping husband as Zuro slipped out of the room, quietly closing the door behind him. He waited there to feel the love energy coming from the room and smiled. "Even though she looks for fun with other men, they still love each other."

Chater II

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Chapter III

Summer Sun's Eve

Zuro seized the opportunity to lounge on a cloud since Rainbow Dash had yet to clear the skies for the day as she should have in his natural form when he looked up to see a carriage flew in for a landing in Ponyville. He sat on the edge of the cloud as he resumed his pegasus disguise with eagle eyes to get a closer look. In the roofless carriage sat a lavender-colored unicorn with a deep purple bowl-cut hairstyle lined with pink and lavender stripes, and next to her was...

"A baby dragon?" He asked himself as he looked closer. Sure enough, there was a young dragon with a lighter shade of lavender scales and a green belly as well as no wings. Zuro raised a brow at the little one. He lept off the cloud, opening his wings, and let himself parachute down to the streets. He started to walk up to her when he saw a streak of rainbow crashed into her. "Uh oh." He began to rush up to see if anyone was hurt before he saw Rainbow Dash make it rain on the newcomer before she spun around her. He stood there watching the scene with his jaw hanging before Rainbow started clearing the skies as if someone dared her to do so. When Rainbow flew off, Zuro rushed up.

"Excuse me," he called out, "did Dash hurt you at all?" The unicorn looked up at him. He looked her over, seeing her hair was a complete mess but no scars or bruises while the baby dragon covered his mouth to fight the laughter he was holding in.

"Just a little shaken up, thank you," She replied.

"Sorry about her," He said. "She can get a little out of control, sometimes."

"So I see," She said as she looked up to the now clear skies.

"My name is Zuro," He introduced himself as he held out his hand to her. She looked at him.

"Twilight Sparkle," She said as she briefly shook his hand before turning away. "I don't mean to be rude, but I have important duties for the princess." Zuro blinked.

"You were sent by the princess?" He asked as he walked up by her.

"That's right," A young boy voice called out, getting Zuro to look down.

"Oh, hey," Zuro said as he looked at the dragon. "Wow! A real baby dragon," He observed as he knelt on his knees to meet his gaze. "And you are?"

"I'm Spike," He proclaimed proudly, yet politely as he pointed a thumb at his chest. Zuro smiled at him.

"And we have to get going," Twilight called at him. "We need to see if the decore is coming along." Zuro looked up at her.

"I guess you'll wanna see Rarity next?" He asked as he stood up.

"Is she the one in charge of the decorations?" She asked as she looked at Zuro. He pointed.

"She runs the Carousel Boutique," he explained, "but last I heard, she was in Town Hall."

"Thank you," Twilight said. "Come on, Spike. Let's get this over with, so I can continue my research."

"But what about what Celestia told you?" Spike asked as he ran after her. Zuro watched them walk toward Town Hall with a hum.

"What was that all about?" He asked no one in particular.

"That was Twilight Sparkle," A familiar voice called, making Zuro look up to see Angel landing behind him. "She's Princess Celestia's protege and is most likely here to check on preparations for the celebration."

"And how do you know her?" Zuro asked.

"I lived in Canterlot for a while," She answered. "I've heard several of the girls tried to get her to take time away from her studies, but she's more interested in books than making friends."

"Have you met her?" Zuro asked.

"Not personally, but I have seen her running around Canterlot," She answered.

"Hey!" They both jumped at the sudden call of Pinkie's voice. "Did you see the new girl?! I'm throwing a party for her because she's new!"

"Calm down, Pinkie," Zuro grabbed her shoulders. "Seriously. I know how excited you get about people who are new in town, but take a breath!" She took in a deep breath. "You don't have to send the invite; I'll be there." He smiled at her, getting a huge grin from her.

"Great!" She cheered. "It'll be at the library!" She looked at Angel. "You're invited too! See you there!" Before either of them could say anything else, Pinkie bounced away. Angel shook her head with a chuckle.

"I don't think I'll ever get used to that girl's antics," Angel mused as she watched Pinkie bounce off. Zuro chuckled as he looked at Angel.

"Wanna go to the party together?" He asked. She smirked at him with a raised brow.

"You're not one to give up, are you?" She asked. He shook his head.

"If I gave up, Jet wouldn't be with us today," He observed.

"Good point," She agreed. "Well, I enjoyed having lunch with you, so, okay. I'll go with you to the party." Zuro pumped his fist in triumph.

"Score!" She chuckled at him.

"Don't get too carried away, Guardian," She smiled at him. "I'll see you at the library."

"See you then," He replied before she flew off. "In the meantime, I wonder how the Cakes are doing." He turned to Sugarcube Corner. He walked in the front door and found the place surprisingly almost empty with Cup Cake at the counter, who looked up at him with a smile.

"Hello, sweetie," She beamed.

"Hi, Mrs. Cake," Zuro waved at her as he took a seat at the counter. "Thought I'd come see how you two were doing since Pinkie's busy right now."

"Well, we're doing just fine right now," She answered.

"Are you sure?" Zuro asked. "I figured with Pinkie busy, you could use help around the store," Zuro observed as he looked around the store.

"Pinkie came in and told everyone she was planning a party at the library, so I guess they're all going there right now," She explained.

"There's a new unicorn in town, called Twilight Sparkle, and Pinkie's throwing a party for her," Zuro clarified.

"That makes sense," Cup mused. "Are you going to the party?"

"I already told Pinkie I'd be there and managed to get a date for the party as well," Zuro smiled. Cup beamed at him.

"Oh, that's wonderful!" She leaned on the counter. "Who's the lucky girl?"

"Angel Wings," Zuro answered.

"Jet's cousin?" Cup asked with a smile. "Oh, she'd be crazy to reject you!" she giggled, making Zuro blush.

"Oh, stop," He chuckled. "It's just a date; it's not like she's my girlfriend."

"Don't sell yourself short, sweetie," She said as she walked around the counter to sit next to him. "I can speak from experience; you're going to make whoever you choose to spend the rest of your life with very happy." He smiled at her.

"Thank you," He said. Cup pecked his cheek before getting back up to walk around to the back of the counter.

"Can I get you anything?" She asked. "We're closing early because of the celebration."

"How about that delicious cupcake?" He smiled at her, getting her to giggle.

"I thought that would be the case, so I already had one made special just for you," She explained as she reached under the counter and pulled up that familiar cake she gave him the first day he came to Ponyville.

"You know me too well, Cup," He smiled as he took the cupcake. She beamed at what he called her.

"That may be the first time you actually called me by my first name," She mused. He blinked at her.

"Did I?" She giggled. He smiled. "I guess I did." He took a bite of the cake. "Just as good as the first one you made for me, Cup." She beamed at him. He left five bits on the counter as he got up.

"It's just one bit, sweetie," She pointed out.

"The four is for being a good friend to me," He smiled back at her. "And a bit of a mother figure when you think about it." She smiled at him. "I'll see you late, Cup. Give Carrot my best wishes."

"Will do, sweetie," She smiled at him as she put the bits away. "Have fun tonight."

"I will," He replied as he walked out the door.

~~)oOo(~~

Zuro walked up to the door of the Golden Oak Library, where Jet stood waiting outside, who looked up at him. "Hey, Guardian!"

"Hey, Jet," Zuro replied as he looked around. "Is Angel here yet?"

"Why?" Jet asked before he blinked. "Wait, you're not-"

"I asked her to come to the party with me," Zuro interrupted.

"And she said yes?" Jet asked with his jaw hanging.

"Is that a problem?" Her voice called out as she landed next to them.

"What if it is?" Jet asked her as he looked at his cousin with a narrowed brow.

"I believe who I date is my choice, cuz," She stated bluntly as she shoved a finger straight into his chest.

"Ow!" He pulled back as he rubbed his chest. "Okay, okay." He looked between them. "So, you two are a thing now? That's cool!"

"It's just a date, Jet," Zuro stated, "it's not like we're-"

The door swung open. "Less chatting!" Pinkie Pie shouted out before grabbing Jet's wings. "More hiding!" She yanked him into the darkened room, getting a yelp out of Jet as they vanished. Angel and Zuro blinked at the event that just happened before their eyes before they looked at each other, then walked inside.

The room was dark, with whispers in every corner. They looked around to no avail since the only light in the room was from the setting sun shining through the windows. "Hey, guys," Jet's voice called out in a hushed tone, "over here!" They followed his voice, bumping into a few people as they want until they found him. "Pinkie's making this a surprise party, so keep quiet," Jet explained.

"Well, that explains the total darkness," Angel observed.

"Shh!" Pinkie's voice sounded right next to her ear. "She's coming!" Pinkie whispered.

The door opened. "We simply must get you to bed!" But, that was not Twilight's voice; that was Fluttershy's voice. They looked up to see Fluttershy's silhouette flying into the library before Twilight's rushed in, taking a small creature from the Pegasus before kicking her out.

"Yes, we'll get right to that," Twilight said. "Bye." She slammed the door.

"Rude much?" Spike's voice called out.

"I'm sorry, Spike," Twilight replied. "But I have to get to my research without a bunch of crazy ponies trying to make friends all the time. Now, where's the light?"

As if on cue, the lights flashed on when all the ponies in the room cried out, "Surprise!" Confetti showered the room as party music began to play. Zuro watched Twilight as he sensed frustration and fear coming from her. The frustration seemed understandable given what little he knew about her, but what did she have to fear?

Pinkie started rambling on to Twilight as the pegasus walked to the table filled with snacks and drinks. Apple Jack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and even Fluttershy gathered around Twilight to welcome her before the unicorn ran upstairs.

"Zuro?" Angel's voice pulled him from his trance, and he looked at her. "You okay?"

"Yeah," He shook his head. "Just got lost in thought, is all. Nothing to worry about." He looked to the stairs. "I hope." The fear he sensed from Twilight was quite intense, it was concerning, but he shook it off, thinking it was just nerves from being in a new place. "Anyway, shall we go to the snack bar?" He asked her with a smile.

"I just ate, so I'm good," She smiled. "How about pin the tail on the pony?" She asked.

"Sounds good." He smiled at her as they walked over to the game. They had to wait for their turn as several ponies were having fun with the game as well. After a few rounds of failing miserably at pinning the tail, couples' music began playing. Zuro looked over to Angel with a bit of a blush as he held out a hand to her. "Shall we dance?" She smiled as she took his hand.

They walked over to what was the dance floor, where they faced each other. He held her right hand in his left as he rested his right hand on her smooth waist, keeping her close as they started dancing to the music, all while she rested her left hand on his shoulder. The feel of her curve in his hand was unlike anything he had ever felt before. She felt different from Cup Cake. He began to dance to the music as she followed while they swayed side-to-side to the sound of the music, smiling in each other's eyes.

"You're not a bad dancer," She observed.

"My mother taught me a thing or two," He replied.

"I'd love to meet your family someday," She said, yet he kept a warm smile on his face. Zuro's heart sank a bit. Arranging for her to meet the family would not be a problem at all. The problem is to convince her his family was all pegasi instead of changelings. His mother and father would be able to pull off the act with ease, but his brother was still struggling with his magic as far as he knew, and his sister was still too young to have a handle of shifting at all. He could just straight up tell her the truth, but he had no idea if he could trust her with that knowledge yet.

"I think I can set something up," He said. "Why the fuck did I tell her that?!" "But it may take a while since they're in another country right now."

"I can wait," She said with a smile. Zuro smiled at her. "Well, at least that buys time for me to get something set up. Especially if we do end up as a mated pair." Their dance came to an end when the song concluded. Angel pulled away from Zuro's hold as she smiled at him. "Now, I'm peckish."

The party continued for hours without its guest of honor, Twilight, until it came time for everyone to head to Town Hall for the celebration. They started to follow the crowd, leaving the library, when a pair of red hands rested on their shoulders, making them look to see Jet between them.

"Saw you two love birds on the dance floor!" He smirked.

"Jet, keep pressing on this, and I'll have to cut your dick off," Angel threatened.

"Whoa, pulling out the big guns, huh cuz?" He smiled at her. "Don't worry; I won't tell anyone."

"Jet, have you been in the special cyder?" Zuro asked.

"No, officer!" Jet replied. Zuro rolled his eyes as he shook his head. "C'mon, you two! Let's go watch the princess raise the sun!" As jet started to step forward, he fell face-first into the floor with a yelp. Zuro looked down just in time to see Angel pull her leg away, getting him to look at her as she looked off to the side with an innocent smile. Jet got back up on his hooves as he brushed himself off. "I meant to do that." Then he proceeded to follow the crowd out the door.

"Nice move," Zuro whispered to Angel, who giggled at his compliment before she walked with him out of the library.

Inside Town Hall, everyone in Ponyville gathered together to see their princess raise the sun for the Summer Sun Celebration. Jet took the lazy option by flying up to sit on the edge of one of the upstairs railing while Zuro and Angel stood side-by-side below him.

As everyone mingled while waiting for the celebration to begin, Zuro could not help but feel a sense of dread at the princess being so close. He looked around at the number of guards posted at every corner, including two at the main entrance, which gave him chills as he passed them.

"Hey, Zuro?" Angel's voice pulled him from his thoughts. He blinked and looked at her. "You okay? You seem a little on edge."

"Oh, I uh-" He looked around a few times. "I've never seen the princess before. I guess I'm just nervous about being in the presence of royalty and the royal guards."

"Are you a criminal?" She asked. Zuro looked at her. He had never committed a crime in Equestria or the Dezolute Zone.

"No, I'm not," He answered. "I've never committed a crime in my life. Not even a misdemeanor." Zuro was confident in his answer, as he never did break any Equestrian law since he arrived, as far as he was aware.

"Then, you have nothing to worry about." She offered him a smile.

"I guess so," He replied. Though he had never committed a crime in his life, records of his race were unfavorable in Equestria, and a large part of that has to do with rogue changelings running among them. If the guards find out Zuro is a changeling, they may arrest him on the sport. One of the many fears his mother always dreaded.

"Jet told me you fought lions, tigers, and bears to save his life, and a few guards throw you off?" She observed.

"Wild animals aren't trained elite operatives," He pointed out. "And before you say anything about my fighting skills, I may be good, but I'm not a one-man army against a platoon of royal guards."

"Good point," she admitted, "but you still have nothing to worry about."

Before he could counter her good point, the sound of birds tweeting a royal introduction tune filled the room, and everyone looked up to see the Mayor stand on the stage. She smiled over the crowd as they all smiled at her.

"Thank you all for coming!" She said. "Today is a day to celebrate our princess, Celestia, for a thousand years of peace and harmony!" The crowd cheered at this. "Now, please join me in welcoming," she pointed up to the balcony above her as the birds started singing again, "Princess Celestia!" The red curtains behind the guard rail pulled open as a spotlight shined where no one stood. Everything went silent at the lack of the princess stepping onto the platform. A few seconds later, Rarity stepped into view with a look of concern on her face.

"She's gone!"

The room filled with one loud gasp at the announcement of Celestia not in the building. Zuro watched Rarity on the balcony as he held back the urge to gag at the sensation of overwhelming unease and fear. Jet landed behind Zuro and Angel, making them look at him.

"Something's wrong," he observed.

"Thanks for pointing out the obvious, Cuz," Angel rolled her eyes at him before screams filled the room, drawing their attention back up to the balcony as a cloud of purple smoke swirled in on the spot, solidifying into the silhouette of a pegasus. The silhouette took the shape of a woman with a rich black coat, long, flowing purple hair, and a long wand in her right hand while dawning cyan-blue armor that covered her chest, waist, forearms, and shins, topped with a regal helmet atop her head. Her body was smooth and firm, more than enough to mesmerize any male or lesbian who gazed upon her dark beauty.

Zuro went wide-eyed at the sight of this frighteningly magnificent creature standing before the crowd. Angel stared at the alicorn in both awe and terror. Jet's jaw dropped as he eyed the newcomer from top to bottom.

The alicorn cackled with an evil grin upon her face as she looked over the gathered equine. "Well, my loyal subjects," she mused.

"What have you done with the princess!" Rainbow's voice cried out as she flew up for an attack, only to be stopped by Apple Jack grabbing her ankle.

"Whoa there, nelly!" AJ called.

"What?" The alicorn asked. "Am I not regal enough for you? Does my crown not count now that I have been imprisoned for a thousand years?" Then, she evaporated into a purple cloud of smoke that flew over to Fluttershy, scaring the young pegasus's birds away as it solidified again. "Did you not foresee my return? Did you not see the signs?"

"I did!" Twilight's voice called out, getting the alicorn to look over at the source of the voice. "You're the mare of the Moon!" Twilight said, "Nightmare Moon!" The alicorn grinned at her as the crowd gasped.

"Well, someone who remembers me," Nightmare observed. "Then, you must also know why I'm here!"

"You're here to-" Twilight's voice trailed off as the crowd focused on her.

"What do you think is going on?" Angel asked as she looked to Zuro.

"In some of the books I've read on Equestrian history, there was a dark time over a thousand years ago, known only as the nightmare," Zuro whispered.

"Sease her! Only she knows where the princess is!" The mayor's voice cried out as the guards charged Nightmare. Zuro, Jet, and Angel looked up as Nightmare raised her arms while spreading her wings, and her hair began flowing in all directions.

"Stand back, you fools!" Her voice boomed in the room as lightning struck from her wand at the guards, sending them falling to the ground. Nightmare cackled maniacally as her hair engulfed her in a cloud of purple smoke before flying out the window. Apple Jack lost her grip of Rainbow Dash's ankle, who flew out the main door screaming, "come back here!"

"Hey!" Jet's voice caught Zuro's attention as he looked at Angel holding his right-wing.

"No, you don't!" Angel yelled as she held him down. Zuro quickly pieced together that Jet just tried to fly after Nightmare with Rainbow.

"Jet, a monarch would kill you before you had a chance to throw a single punch," Zuro insisted.

"C'mon!" Jet protested. "She knows what happened to Princess Celestia! We have to go after her!"

"And how do you propose we get her to tell us?" Zuro asked. "If you have any idea on how to get a creature more powerful than most in all the world to do what you want, please tell us." Jet stopped resisting Angel's grip on his wing in defeat.

"Fine, I get the point," He pouted. Angel kept a hold of his wing in case he only said what they wanted him to say.

"Regardless, Jet does have a point," Angel piped up. Jet and Zuro looked at her, who, in turn, looked at Zuro. "You said you read Equestrian History. Do you have any idea on where to start?"

"Nothing I've read went into detail about The Nightmare," Zuro answered. "The most I ever got was brief mentions in field guides."

"Seriously?" Jet asked. "You told me you obsessed over Equestrian culture before you moved here, and you don't know anything about this?" He pointed out the door the purple cloud flew through.

"Yes, but Equestrian books are limited where I come from," Zuro countered.

"Okay, stop," Angel piped up before she looked at Zuro, "would it help if we checked the library? There's bound to be something about this Nightmare character in there."

"That's the best place to start at this point," Zuro observed.

"Then, what are we waiting for?!" Jet called out as he slapped Angel's grip off his wing before he flew off.

"Jet, wait!" Angel flew after him, and Zuro followed.

They stopped short outside of Town Hall to see the sun had yet to rise. "Wait, isn't the sun supposed to be up right now?" Angel asked.

"The Night was a time of Darkness, remember?" Zuro pointed out.

"I thought you meant a dark age, not literal darkness," Jet observed.

"Well, so did I, but it makes sense when you think about it," Zuro looked up at the sky when something caught his attention. He narrowed his eyes to find the source of the overwhelming hatred and rage he felt inside Town Hall. Now that he was away from the crowd, the sensation was made clear. He looked around but could see nothing in the night sky, but he could sense where it flew and turned to look in the direction of the library.

"Zuro?!" Zuro blinked and looked at Jet, who was waving his hand in his face. "Come back to reality, pal!"

"You've been fazing out a lot tonight," Angel observed as she watched Zuro. "Are you sure everything's okay?"

"An alicorn of legend just appeared out of nowhere," Zuro defended himself to avoid telling them the truth.

"Well, if you're back, let's get our asses to the library already!" Jet took off.

"Come on," Angel sighed. "We better catch up with him before he gets his ass in deeper trouble." Zuro nodded, and they both took off after Jet.

They landed just outside the library to find the door wide open, so they walked inside to find the place exactly covered in confetti and empty cups and plates.

"Alright, where should we start?" Jet asked as he looked through the shelves.

"Shh!" Angel hushed Jet as she held a finger to her lips. They looked up and noted the sound of... snoring? They looked between each other a few times before Angel hovered up to the top floor, where she found the baby Scaled asleep in the bed by the window. She hovered back to the ground floor as she looked at them.

"Spike's sleeping upstairs," She explained.

"You mean Twilight's pet, Scaled?" Jet asked with a raised brow, getting a glare from Angel.

"Seriously, Jet," She softly growled. "At some point in your life, you're going to have to learn to shut your mouth the fuck up."

"Guys, now's not the time to be pointing fingers," Zuro piped up. "We need to find out how we can stop Nightmare."

"So, where do we start?" Jet asked him.

"What about the open book on the table over there?" Angel asked as she walked over to the table at the center of the room, where an open book lay. "The Elements of Harmony; A reference Guide?" Zuro walked up to look the book over.

"I've never heard of that before," He observed. He picked the book up and began scanning through the pages. "It talks about ancient artifacts.

"Do you think we can use them to stop Nightmare?" Jet asked.

"It doesn't say-" Zuro began before he blinked. "Wait! I remember reading something that talked about Celestia using some sort of Element to stop a wicked alicorn of darkness!"

"Shh!" Angel hushed him. Zuro gave a look that said "sorry" before she looked at the book. "Does it say where we can find them?" Zuro looked through the pages.

"The Castle of the Two Sisters located in the Everfree Forest," Zuro observed. Jet and Angel blinked, getting Zuro to look between them. "Is the Everfree really that bad?" Unfortunately, Zuro barely read anything about the forest before he came to Equestria, so the most he learned about the place was by word of mouth during his time in Ponyville.

"Seriously, dude?" Jet asked. "In all the time you've been here, you don't think the Everfree is bad?"

"A regular forest offers enough dangers, but the Everfree is something else," Angel added.

"Worse than a life of nightmares and everlasting night?" Zuro asked. Angel and Jet looked at each other for a moment. Zuro did make an excellent point. If they did not try to stop Nightmare, who would? They looked at Zuro.

"Okay, pal," Jet said. "If you're going, count me in. Celestia knows you've been there to pull my ass out of the fire; it's only fair I should be there to return the favor."

"And I'm not about to let my new friend venture into that dangerous forest on his own with my klutzy cousin," Angel added, getting a "hey!" from Jet.

"Alright," Zuro smiled at them. "I don't want to put you two in danger, but if we don't do this, things could get much worse, so let's go." All three of them rushed outside and took off toward the forest.

Chapter IV

Into The Thick Of It

At the edge of the Everfree Forest, Angel, Jet, and Zuro stood side-by-side, staring at the trees before them. Angel and Jet look at the darkness of the trees and bushes that made up the entrance of the great forest as they both fought with their fear of going inside. Zuro looked around until his eyes spotted a set of hoof prints heading into the woods.

"Hey! Look!" Zuro pointed to the tracks on the ground, getting the other two to look down to where his finger rested. "Someone's already gone in there."

"Well, then we can go home," Jet said as he turned away from the forest.

"Are you kidding?" Angel called to Jet. "We can't just ignore this! We have to go to help whoever's in the Everfree!" Zuro could not help but smile at Angel's desire to help others.

"Oh, c'mon!" Jet pouted. "That forest is fucked up!"

"Angel's right, Jet," Zuro piped up. "If someone else has gone in there to find a way to stop Nightmare, we need to go help them! The more we have on our side, the better are our chances of survival!"

"Did your parents teach you that too?" Jet asked him with knitted eyebrows.

"Actually, I learned that from experience," Zuro answered. "I tried fighting off a wild animal that attacked my kid sister, but it took a few friends and me to fend it off." Jet hung his head with a frown.

"You're not going to let this go, are you guys?" Jet asked.

"I can't," Zuro answered. "I'm involved now, and I won't forgive myself if I simply ignore something I had a chance to stop." Jet huffed.

"Alright, I give," Jet said as he turned back to the forest. "Let's get this over with before I lose my nerves."

"As long as we stick together, we can face whatever's inside," Zuro said as he led the pack into the woods.

Angel and Jet followed Zuro close behind as they began to traverse the dark forest. As they walked in, they encountered all the usual things you would expect in a forest, from broken branches crunching under your hooves to seemingly endless vines hanging from every tree, all of which only grew thicker the further they went. They also received their fair share of scares as little critters bolted from under some bushes to get away from the intruders.

"Oh, Celestia!" Jet coughed as he pinched his nose. "Angel, did you just rip one?!" She shot him a glare sharp enough to pierce his heart.

"Guys! Stay close!" Zuro called to them as he assumed a defensive position while looking through the bushes. Angel and Jet looked at him before they followed his instructions.

"What's going on?!" Jet asked.

"That's the stench of the Timber Wolf!" Zuro replied as his eyes darted left and right.

"How do you know?" Angel asked as she looked around at green lights popping up in pairs.

"It was a Timber Wolf pack that almost killed my sister!" Zuro answered as he kicked up a branch from the ground, catching it in midair as he readied himself for a combined attack from wild, hungry animals.

"Okay, now I really want to go home!" Jet stated.

"And leave your best friend and cousin to fight off these monsters by ourselves?" Angel pointed out.

"Focus, guy!" Zuro ordered. "Timber Wolves are never alone! We'll need to stay on top of things if we're going to make it out of this!" His eyes darted back and forth between the number of green eyes that stared at them. They heard deep, threatening growls as the wild beasts began creeping up on their prey. As their name suggested, the Timber Wolves were creatures made of timber wood branches that take on the shape of wolves. Their eyes shined a menacing green, and their breath was the most fowl you could ever smell, second only to that of a skunk.

"Stay close!" Zuro ordered.

"Guard," Jet piped up. "For every one of us, there's five of them! How can we stand against them?!"

"I'm almost with my cousin on this one, Zuro," Angel added as she pressed her wings against theirs. Zuro may have learned how to stand against large numbers before, but this time was different from all the other times. Timber Wolves had this uncanny ability to regenerate themselves since they are made of wood, so if they take one down, it would only be a matter of time before it got back up again.

A wolf leaped at Zuro, and he gripped the branch as he locked his eyes on the beast before giving one powerful swing at his head, causing it to explode in a confetti of twigs and leaves as the rest of the body came crashing to the ground, shattering into a million pieces of branches and bark.

Another charged for Angel, getting her to hold her fists up in defense, but the beast went for her hooves, dragging her onto the ground with a yelp. Zuro looked over to her and charged after the beasts, smashing his branch on the creature, again and again, shattering it into pieces on the ground before helping her back up. The bite marks on her leg were deep and bloody, causing her to groan in pain. Another wolf began to pounce when a quake scared them off. Jet started running after them, screaming and hollering like a maniac.

"That's right! You better run!" Jet shouted at the wolves as they ran back into the woods while Zuro looked over Angel's wound.

"Damn it! I can't see with this poor lighting," He said as he leaned in closer to her leg. Jet came running up and sat on his knees on the opposite side of her.

"How bad is it?" He asked.

"I just fucking said I couldn't see!" Zuro barked in frustration.

"Don't take it out on him, Zuro," Angel hissed in pain.

"Do you think you can stand?" Jet asked.

"No!" Zuro urged against the suggestion. "If we can't see how bad the damage is, we don't know if that'll make it worse."

"I can go back to get a light," Jet suggested as he got to his hooves.

"We're too far into the woods for any of us to go back on our own," Zuro warned.

"Guys, I got something," Angel piped up as she reached under one of her wings and pulled out a stone. Jet gasped at it.

"No! Not your mom's lucky glow stone!" He looked at her. Zuro looked between them.

"She gave it to me for times of need, and I think this is a damn good need for it," She explained as she held it up to Zuro, who looked at it for a few seconds before looking at her.

"Are you sure?" He asked. He could sense how she had a love for that little stone. From how Jet described the stone, it must be important to her. After looking back at Angel, she gave him a look that said, "it's okay," before he took it and held it to his lips. He read about glow stones before and how to use them if he ever got lost in the dark. He held it to his lips for a few seconds before he blew on it, and the stone came to life. He held it up as the light shined a beautiful and pure white light. He handed the stone to Jet as he knelt by Angel again, staring at the stone in awe.

"Jet, take the stone and hold it up, so I can see how bad the damage is," Zuro ordered. Jet blinked before taking the stone and held it over Angel's leg as Zuro leaned closer to inspect the wound. The teeth marks were deep, staining her beautiful blue fur in blood. "Okay, I can work with this, but I'll need some large leaves and vines," Zuro observed. "Nothing's broken, so you should be fine."

"I can still fly if I have to," Angel observed.

"Why the fuck didn't I think of that?!" Jet cursed himself.

"Jet, if we didn't get a good look at this beforehand, she could've bled out while flying," Zuro said as he looked up to the red pegasus.

"Was it really that bad?" He countered.

"Jet, just go get the fucking leaves and vines!" Angel ordered.

"Okay, okay!" Jet got up and left the two alone. Angel looked up at Zuro.

"You really know how to look after yourself in the wild, don't you?" She asked.

"Kinda have to where I was living," Zuro replied as he looked around the immediate area. She watched him as he protected her in her most vulnerable time. Usually, she hated it when others had to watch out for her, but she knew someone needed to look after her given her current situation. She only knew him for a few days now, and in all that time, she only saw him show kindness and a willingness to help others. Jumping from one place in town to the next, offering help in any way he could, even offering her a place to sleep just to get away from her cousin while she was in town.

A few minutes later, Jet came running back with an arm full of leaves and vines and set them down by Zuro. "I got the biggest I could find," He explained.

"That'll work great," Zuro smiled as he arranged the leaves and vines so he could work with them. "Now, I don't have any way to stop the pain," he explained to her, "but this'll stop the bleeding."

"Do what you have to do, Zuro," She gave him the go-ahead. Zuro got to work right away, wrapping the leaves around her leg and binding them to her leg with the vines as Jet held the light so he could see his work. She hissed a few times as he tied the vines to her leg as Jet looked around the area to make sure nothing else was coming.

"That'll do it," Zuro said as he finished tying a vine above the wound. Jet looked back at Angel.

"Alright, help me up," Angel said as she held an arm up. Zuro gently took her arm and pulled her to her hooves as she groaned a bit, keeping all her weight on the left leg. Next, she tenderly tested her right leg by putting a little weight on it, which sent shards of pain running up her leg, getting a hiss out of her while Zuro kept to her side to give her something to lean on.

"Can you walk at all?" Jet asked.

"What the fuck do you think, cuz?" She asked. He held up his hands.

"Just asking," He defended himself.

"At least my wings are good," She observed as she began flapping them. Zuro gave her a bit of a push to get her off the ground, and she hovered in place.

"You know, we should've just flown the entire time," Jet observed.

"Through all these branches and vines?" Zuro reminded him.

"There's enough of a clearing," He began as he looked around but quickly frowned as he remembered how thick the forest was. "Okay, you're right."

"Guys, I'll just keep close; that way, I won't get tangled up," Angel pointed out. "I can still hover close to the ground."

"What do you suppose caused that quake, anyway?" Jet asked as he looked around.

"Possibly some big rocks collapsing," Zuro observed as he watched Angel hover next to him.

"Or an Ursa?" Jet asked as he looked back at them.

"I was trying to avoid the worst possibilities," Zuro countered.

"Either way, we can't stay here," Angel piped up.

"She's right; we have to get moving," Zuro added.

"Then let's get the fuck outa here," Jet said as he turned back to where they came.

"Wait, where are you going?" Angel asked him. Jet stopped and looked back at her.

"Back to Ponyville," He answered. "We're getting outa here."

"No, we're not," Angel countered, "we have to find the others."

"What others?" Jet asked as he stretched his hands outward.

"The other equine who came into the forest before us, remember?" She countered. Jet groaned.

"Seriously?" He protested.

"I thought you loved a good fight, Jet," Zuro pointed out as he looked at him.

"Marching into the Everfree isn't what I had in mind," Jet countered.

"If we stop Nightmare, we go back to town heroes," Zuro pointed out. Jet seemed to perk up at the thought of the town thinking of him as a hero.

"Can we stop arguing and just get a move on?" Angel piped up as she began to fly forward. Jet and Zuro followed after her. Several minutes of traversing the forest, they came across a cliff that showed signs of recent collapse.

"Guess we know what that quake was," Zuro observed as he looked over the edge.

"You don't think whoever came here fell down that cliff, do you?" Jet asked as he looked around.

"There's only one way to find out," Zuro looked up at him. Jet looked at him and shook his head.

"Oh, no!" He took a few steps back. "There ain't no fucking way I'm jumping down that death trap!"

"We've come all this way! We can't stop now," Zuro said as he gestured his hand around.

"Then, you go first!" Jet ordered.

"You're the daredevil here," Zuro said as he pointed to Jet.

"And you're the one who's always willing to help others," Jet countered. "Help me know that it's safe to go down there."

Before Zuro could continue the argument, a blue blur flew between them and over the edge, snatching the glowing stone from Jet as it went. They both watched in horror while simultaneously calling out "Angel" as they rushed to look over the edge of the cliff together. At the bottom, they could see the light from the stone, making it clear to see Angel looking up at them.

"You boys done being pussies yet?" She yelled out to them.

"My cousin just one-upped me, again," Jet observed as he shook his head. He looked over to Zuro, who had already jumped off the edge to meet Angel at the bottom. "And my friend leaves me in the dust." He flung his hands up in the air before letting them drop to his sides. "Fuck it!" He jumped off the edge to meet them.

"Seriously, you guys are starting to get on my nerves," Angel shook her head as she started flying further, following the tracks left behind for them to find.

"This whole forest is getting to us," Zuro observed as he followed her, Jet soon behind him.

As they continued on their trek, they came across a sleeping manticore, of which they kept their distance so as not to disturb the beast. There was a bit of a struggle in the area not too long ago, from the looks of it. However, after successfully avoiding waking up the manticore, they continued to follow the tracks until they came to a river with a giant purple serpent swimming around, looking quite joyful as he sang to himself.

"Shit!" Jet quietly cursed as he looked at Zuro. "The tracks lead through that river, and there's a giant serpent in the way."

"Why, hello there!" A male voice called out. Jet and Zuro looked to see Angel hovering at the river's edge, looking up at the serpent.

"Hi," She replied to him. Jet's jaw dropped. "I'm sorry to bother you, but has any equine come through this way?" She asked the serpent.

"Oh, yes, they have!" He answered with a big smile on his face. "The lovely white one cut off some of her own hair to fix my beloved mustache." He pointed to the right half of his mustache, a stylized purple compared to his orange hair color. "And I helped them to cross the river for her kind generosity."

"Rarity!" Zuro and Jet called out together.

"Do you know where they headed?" Angel asked him.

"My best gest is that old castle at the heart of the forest," The serpent answered as he pointed further in.

"May we pass so that we can follow them?" Angel asked.

"I would be glad to let you pass," He answered with a smile. Angel looked back at Jet and Zuro.

"You boys coming?" She asked as she flew past the serpent, who gave her a friendly wave.

"Are we going to let her outshine us this entire time?" Jet asked with an annoyed tone.

"Hey, don't put her down," Zuro countered. "She's probably trying to make up for her leg." Jet rolled his eyes before both of them flew after her. "Thank you, sir," Zuro offered the serpent a smile.

"Oh, the name's Steven Magnet," He smiled at them. "And it is my pleasure."

The three continued through the forest until they got to an old rickety bridge crossing a deep gorge.

"Before either of you two start bickering about who crosses first," Angel stated as she turned to face them and pulled one of each of their wings out. "We can fly!" Jet and Zuro looked at each other and shrugged before they kicked off the ground. On the other side of the bridge, they saw an old, worn-out castle just a little further off.

"Anyone know who's castle that is, or was?" Jet asked as he looked up at the spectacle.

"Isn't that the castle of the two sisters?" Angel asked.

"The book did say something about the castle of the two sisters," Zuro observed. "That has to be it."

"You think Rarity and the others went in there?" Angel asked.

"If they're after those element things, they must have," Zuro observed.

Before any of them could say anything else, a bright flash of multicolored lights filled the windows of the castle. They heard screaming, and a loud bang knocked them to the ground. All three of them lay on the ground, a little disoriented from the blast for several seconds before they started to pull themselves off the ground, groaning as they get up. Zuro rushed over to help Angel up so she could keep off her wounded leg.

"What the fuck was that?!" Jet asked as he looked up at the castle.

"I don't know, but-" Zuro began before he was cut off by the sun rising over the horizon. The light blinded them for a few seconds before they looked around.

"What does that mean?" Jet asked.

"My guess is, Nightmare was defeated," Angel observed as she looked at the glowing stone she managed to keep a hold of in the blast. The sunlight caused the light from the stone to fade completely, making the stone nothing more than just that. A simple rock. She sighed as she held onto the stone while Zuro watched her. He could sense heartache coming from her as she stared at the stone in her hand and wanted to ask about it but felt it was best not to push the subject. She tucked the stone under her wing before she looked up at the castle.

"So, we going in there, or what?" Jet asked as he looked back at them.

"If our friends are hurt, they're gonna need all the help they can get," Zuro answered as he tore his eyes from Angel to look up at the castle. Angel kicked off the ground with her good leg and began to fly toward the castle while Jet and Zuro followed after her.

Inside the castle, they found Rarity, Apple Jack, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Twilight Sparkle, Princess Celestia, and another pony, who appeared to be a pegasus. The monarch was a dark blue female, standing over shards of broken cyan-blue armor. Her hair was the same color as the broken armor she stood over. She reached down and picked up a wand from within the broken armor. She was an alicorn.

"Who the hell is that?" Jet asked.

"I think that's Nightmare," Zuro observed. Jet blinked and looked at him.

"Wait. What?!" He asked.

"That's Princess Celestia's little sister!" Pinkie Pie stood up behind the trio, making Jet jump a little as he looked back at her.

"Pinkie!" He yelled.

"Of course!" Zuro called out. "This is the castle of the two sisters." He looked at the two alicorns. "And those are the two sisters!" He pointed at them before he realized the taller one smiling at him. Her fur was a rich and clean white as her wings splayed out proudly while her long, technicolored hair flowed in the air even though there was no wind. He suddenly dropped down to his knees, bowing his head, his nose touching the ground. "Your majesties! He called out in respect." Angel and Jet also bowed, but not as dramatically. Celestia chuckled.

"You have nothing to fear, young one," She said in a soft, motherly tone, getting Zuro to look up at her as she walked up to Angel. "Let's see if we can fix that leg of yours." She smiled at Angel, who looked up at her. The alicorn was considerably taller than Angel by comparison now that she stood so close to her. Celestia raised her wand, which looked very expensive and well built. The wand began to illuminate a golden aura, and she pointed it at Angel's leg, engulfing the appendage in the same color of magic. Angel watched her leg as she held it up; the vines and leave evaporated into thin air, and the bite marks hidden underneath quickly healed as if they were never there.

When the aura faded away, Angel rested her hoof on the ground, applying her weight onto her now healed wound, and gave a few stomps to test it, causing no pain at all to shoot through her leg. She looked up at the monarch before her with a grateful smile. "Thank you, your majesty!" Celestia smiled at her.

"You're quite welcome," She paused to give Angel a chance to give her name.

"Angel Wings, your majesty," Angel said with a bow of her head. Celestia then turned to Jet with a smile, who quickly bowed his head, staring at the ground to avoid eye contact.

"My name is Jet Blast, your majesty," He said. She smiled at him before turning to Zuro before walking up to him.

"And you are?" She asked politely.

"Zuro, your majesty," Zuro answered, keeping his eyes glued to the floor. A sense of dread coursing through his entire being.

"You're not from Equestria, are you?" She asked.

"No, your majesty," Zuro answered. "I came from beyond the Dezolute Zone to live in Equestria." Celestia smiled at him.

"And you lead these two equines through the Everfree?" She asked further.

"Not really," Zuro answered. "We all chose to come here to find a way to stop Nightmare." He looked up at her hooves before he tore his eyes away to stare at the ground again. Then, suddenly, a finger reached under and pulled his chin up to face Celestia, who looked him in the eye.

"Brave, honest, strong," She went through a checklist as she looked into his eyes. This was it. She would figure out he was a changeling just by looking at him and have him thrown in a dungeon. He braced himself for the order to arrest him, but it never came. He looked up at her as she smiled down at him. "I think you'll be a fine addition to Equestria," She mused. "I'd even say you'd make a wonderful royal guard."

"He's the best you'll ever find, your majesty!" Jet called out proudly. "He's saved my ass more times than I can count from wild beasts, and he's a very skilled fighter!"

"Jet!" Angel called out. "Watch your mouth in front of the princess!"

"Thank you, your majesty," Zuro piped up. "But I'm more than happy staying in Ponyville. I have a home there, friends; I dare even say, a family." He bowed his head respectfully as he explained his situation to the princess, who smiled at him.

"Well, should you change your mind," She waved her wand to make a scroll appear before casting a beam of magic on it, then holding it up to him. "This will allow you access to the castle to sign up and begin your assessment." He took the scroll in his hands before looking at her. Did she really offer him a job as a member of the royal guard just now?

"Thank you," He said with a smile.

~~)oOo(~~

An Alliance

Months Earlier

The Dezolute Zone

Sitting on the edge of a cliff, staring over the barren wasteland of the Dezolute Zone, Gnator glared into the distance at the absence of his brother. "Why'd you have to leave?" He asked as if his brother was right there in front of him. "You were supposed to be there when I came of age. You were supposed to be there for me when I needed you." He let out a tremendous roar as he sent a blast of magic energy to a large rock in the distance. "You were supposed to be there!" The rock completely shattered as the blast hit it. He let out a deep sigh as he fell to his back on the hard, uncomfortable ground.

"My, my, what powerful anger you have," A regal female voice called out, getting Gnator to shoot up to his feet as he twirled around to find a tall, female changeling of great beauty smiling at him.

"Queen Chrysalis!" Gnator immediately dropped to his knees as he bowed his head to the changeling queen. She chuckled as she walked up to him and lifted his chin to face her.

"What's got you so troubled, child?" She asked as she smiled at him sweetly.

"My brother left us to live with the ponies." He glared. She hummed as she looked off into the distance.

"I've heard of several changelings living beyond the Dezolute Zone." She stepped to the edge of the cliff. "When did your brother leave the hive?" She asked as she turned her head to him.

"A few months ago," He answered. "He's been obsessing over these books from the country of Equestria."

"What books?" She asked as she turned to him fully.

"My father has been giving him books from Equestria for years," Gnator answered. "My father lived in Equestria before he met my mother and had us."

"Who is your father, child?" She stepped up to him.

"Vitam."

"Vitam?" She scratched her chin. "He used to be an elite." Gnator blinked. "I presume he taught you a few things about fighting?" Gnator nodded his head. "He claimed to be mortally wounded before he disappeared. I can only assume that he lied to flee the hive. The traitor!"

"Dad's not a traitor!" Gnator cried out only to immediately regret his outburst as she shot him a glare. A few seconds of nothing but dread coursed through his body as she took a few steps closer to him.

"And you have proof he hasn't betrayed the hive?" She raised her right hand to pluck the thorn from her left elbow, holding the thorn as if it were a wand.

"H-h-he happily married my mother," He trembled. "They had my brother before they had me. He proudly protects us all. He'd give his life to save ours."

"Such loyalty and dedication to his changeling family," She observed. "But what about you?"

"I hate my brother for leaving!" He growled. "He cares more about those ponies than he does about his own family. He was supposed to be there for me until I came of age, but he left!" She smiled at him.

"I may have use for you," she mused. "What's your name?"

"Gnator, your highness," He bowed to her. "How could I be of use to you?"

"You're the son of Vitam," she began. "You've been trained in combat, and you know of a changeling who's in Equestria." She smiled off in the distance to the east for a minute before she looked back at him. "How would you like to see your brother again?"

Chapter V

Author's Note

Here comes another detailed sex scene, which will include a minor watching, and even mildly participating in the act. If this offends you, this is your warning.

Chapter V

Time With Family

Angel and Zuro were eating lunch together while Jet was out working with the weather patrol in Cloudsdale when Vitam, in his pegasus form, approached with a younger pegasus girl right next to him. Her fur was a deep blue with grey and white streaked hair. When Zuro saw his father come up to them, he got up with a smile as he hugged Vitam.

"Dad!" Zuro cheered as Vitam return the hug with a chuckle. Angel watched them with a smile from her seat. Zuro pulled away and pointed at Angel. "Dad, this is Angel Wings." He then pointed at VItam. "Angel, this is my father, Vitam." Angel got to her hooves and extended a hand to the elder pegasus.

"Pleasure to finally meet you," She said. Vitam took her hand and shook it with a smile.

"Zuro told me he was seeing a beautiful girl, but his words don't do you justice," Vitam observed, making Angel blush a bit.

"A flatterer," She hummed. "I see where he gets his charm."

"Bubba!" A little voice cheered as the little pegasus ran right up and tackled Zuro to the ground. Both Vitam and Angel laughed at this.

"Hi, Dili!" Zuro smiled at her, surprised that she was here. He looked up to Vitam with a hint of concern. However, Vitam only offered him an assuring smile. Zuro got up from the ground with his little sister in his hold as Angel walked up.

"And who are you, little one?" She asked with a smile.

"I'm Dili!" she answered with a beam. "Are you bubba's girlfriend?" Angel, Vitam, and Zuro all chuckled at the question.

"I guess I am," Angel answered. Zuro smiled at her before looking around.

"Where's Gnator?" He asked Vitam, who frowned.

"He didn't come," Vitam answered. "When the sun didn't rise two weeks ago, he tried to leave to find out if you were alright, but no one was allowed to leave. So your mother and I found out he got into the guard." Zuro blinked.

"At his age?" Zuro asked.

"We tried to get him out of there, but we can't get to him," Vitam explained. "No one will listen to us about him. They say he's the best addition to the guard they've ever had."

"What is he up to?" Zuro asked.

"I don't know," Vitam answered, "but it's got your mother, and I very concerned."

"I take it your brother's a bit of a rebel?" Angel piped up. Zuro looked at her.

"He's been a good boy for as long as I've known him," Zuro explained, "but ever since I left, he's been acting up."

"He must be very upset you left and is now acting up because of it," Angel observed.

"Gnator is not the one who likes change at first," Vitam explained, "but he usually adjusts very quickly. However, for some reason, he hasn't let this one go." Angel looked between them.

"Maybe he's trying to do something productive to get his mind off things?" Zuro suggested. They both looked at him. "Trying to be optimistic about it."

"I'd like to think so," Vitam observed. "In any case, Dili here," he rustled her hair, getting her to giggle, "wanted nothing more than to see her bubba for her birthday."

"Awe, it's your birthday?!" Angel singsonged as she smiled at the little one.

"Ah-huh!" Dili beamed.

"Happy birthday, Dili!" She nuzzled her nose, getting a giggle from Dili. "How old are you now?"

"Ten!" Dili answered proudly. Zuro watched the two exchange with a proud smile of his own. The girl he has been seeing for almost three weeks now is getting along with his baby sister as if they had known each other this entire time, and they only just met.

"I hope you won't mind watching over her for a few weeks," Vitam chimed in. Zuro looked up at his father as Dili looked at Zuro in excitement.

"Wait, you want me to keep her here for a few weeks?" Zuro asked.

"What's wrong with that?" Angel asked. Zuro looked at Angel. He had yet to tell her or Jet the truth about what he was, but the two have been getting along so well ever since they first met when she came to Ponyville for the Summer Sun Celebration. He felt so comfortable and happy around her; he could tell her the truth without fear. Maybe he should. He looked to his father, who looked back at him as if saying, "it's your choice," in a way that told him his father was okay with him taking a big step, which only added to his confidence.

"Let's head back to the house," Zuro suggested. "I think you'll like the home I had built with some of the money you left me." Vitam smiled.

"Lead the way," He said.

"Why can't we talk out in the open?" Angel asked.

"Angel, this is something only for those we trust," Zuro explained to her. Angel looked back at him for a moment before she inclined her head.

"Alright."

Zuro led his father and Angel to their home with Dili in his arms the entire way. At the house, Zuro opened the front door after he set Dili down. She rushed right in, giggling and cheering as she looked around.

"Bubba, you have an awesome house!"

Vitam followed his daughter and looked around. "I see you took inspiration from home," He observed as he looked around. Zuro held up his arm as he looked at Angel, gesturing for her to go before him, which she did, and he followed after her, closing the door behind him.

"Okay, so what's going on?" Angel asked as she went straight to the couch and plopped on it as she looked up at Zuro, who took a breath as he walked up.

"Well, uh," Zuro scratched the back of his head as he struggled to think of the words he wanted to say. "Remember when I said we're from beyond the Dezolute Zone?" She nodded. "That was only partially true." Zuro watched her, who only watched him with intent. "We're actually from the Dezolute Zone." She hummed.

"You mean, you live in the most barren wasteland known to Equestria?" She asked with a raised brow. "How can anyone live in that place?" Zuro held his breath for a second, fighting with himself whether he should tell her the truth or just come up with a lie. He has already come this far, and it would be too strange to come up with something on the spot.

"Angel, please don't freak out," He looked her in the eye as she looked back at him. He let out a sigh as he closed his eyes and released his pegasus disguise, the fur of his body folding into black scales as his wings folded under his arms into the sleeveless coat-like form and his hooves splitting into dragon-like claws. He opened his eyes, which were now completely blue and bug-like. Her jaw had dropped slightly as she stared at him. Angel then looked to Vitam, who let his guise fade before looking to Dili, who happily did the same thing.

"You're," she paused as she looked back at Zuro, "... you're changelings?" Zuro nodded at her as he braced for her to abandon them. "And you trust me enough to tell me this?" she asked as she stood up. Here it comes. The moment she will run out and tell the whole town that changelings were among them. He looked away as he closed his eyes.

"Is bubba's girlfriend gonna hate us now?" Dili asked Vitam as she watched the pegasus. Angel looked at Dili, the child she only just met this child, if she really was a child. She should be terrified that she was the only pony in the building, but she had no fear at all. Even if this whole thing was a lie, there was something about them she found fascinating. She looked back at Zuro, who had his back to her, leaning against the wall.

Zuro felt heartbroken. He had a good thing going for almost a year now, and in a second, that was all destroyed. Then, suddenly, he felt a gentle hand grasp his own, getting him to look back to find Angel holding his hand.

"Does Jet know?" she asked. Zuro shook his head. "Don't tell him without me around." She smiled. Zuro was suddenly overwhelmed with a sense of great joy at what she just told him. Is she really accepting him being a shifter?

"You mean?" Zuro asked in shock.

"Zuro, a good foundation of any relationship is honesty," Angel began, "and you just took a big risk in telling me the truth when we've only just started dating." Zuro teared up, and they embraced.

"Yay!" Dili cheered, getting them to look at her. "Bubba has a girlfriend!" They all chuckled at her enthusiasm. Then, finally, Vitam walked up and gave his son a warm hug.

"Congratulations on achieving what I could not," He said.

"Thanks, Dad," Zuro said.

"Wait, what do you mean?" Angel asked. Vitam looked at her.

"Didn't Zuro tell you I lived in Equestria for some time?" He asked.

"He did, but I thought you and your wife lived here," Angel observed.

"Not quite," Zuro corrected.

"I was a lot like Zuro when I was his age," Vitam explained. "I came to Equestria to live a life, and I was very successful. I even fell in love with a unicorn woman, but when I told her the truth, we parted ways, and I returned home."

"I could've been a hybrid," Zuro added, "but that never happened."

"I see," Angel hummed. She looked at Zuro as she took his hand. He grasped her hand back as he offered her a small smile. "So, how much of what your family is actually true?"

"I think I better leave you to it," Vitam piped up at this as he resumed his pegasus form. Zuro looked up at him.

"You're leaving?" Zuro asked.

"I'm sorry just to have to drop Dili off on you," Vitam began, "but she's worked very hard to master her shifting so she can blend in during her time here, and it took a lot of convincing for your mother to let her go, so she's probably spazzing out as we speak and I need to get back to her."

"That sounds like her," Zuro inclined his head. "Well, I think between Angel, Jet, and myself, we can handle Dili just fine." He smiled at his little sister, who leaped into the air with a great cheer.

"I think it'll be quite fun to help watch over a changeling," Angel said as she walked over to Dili. "It'll give me a chance to learn more about your kind, so maybe one day we can take this knowledge to the princess and start open relations between our clans." She picked up Dili, who smiled at Angel before they looked to Vitam and Zuro.

"Then, I'll leave you two," Vitam said as he walked to the door. "I'll be back in a few weeks, maybe a month, to pick up Dili."

"You know where to find us, Dad," Zuro smiled at him as he walked out the door and closed it behind him. Zuro then looked at Angel, who held Dili in her arms. He walked over to them with a smile on his face.

"Guess I don't have to worry about keeping my Zerial form up around you anymore, huh?" He asked Angel, who smiled at him. She looked him over from head to toe, locking her eyes on his limp member for longer than what should be needed before she looked up to his eyes.

"I think you look gorgeous like this," She mused. Zuro blushed.

"Bubba, your girlfriend likes your boy parts!" Dili stated matter-of-factly. Angel blinked as she looked at Dili.

"Hey!" she cried as she fought a smirk with a bit of a giggle. "Who taught you to talk like that?"

"Sex is an open activity in our hive," Zuro explained, getting Angel to look at him in surprise.

"Wait, you guys fuck openly?" she asked. Zuro nodded. "Even in front of your young?" Zuro nodded again.

"Mommy and Daddy play every day," Dili said happily. Angel blushed as she looked at Zuro.

"Do you even-" she began.

"Oh, no," Zuro said as he raised his hand. "Not at least until the age of accountability." Angel blinked. "Our age of accountability is ten instead of eight."

"In other words, Dili here could choose a mate already?" Angel asked.

"Choosing a mate is deeper than just sex," Zuro explained. "We changelings are a lot like the Cakes until we choose a mate. We have sex with anyone we please until we choose one as a mate for life, after which it's usually restricted to the family."

"Incest?" Angel asked.

"Is this too much for you?" Zuro asked with a look of concern.

"Actually, the talk of sex is turning me on," Angel explained with a smile.

"Bubba, can I watch you have sex with your girlfriend?" Dili asked, getting a snort from Angel at her bluntness, while Zuro just smiled at his sister.

"I don't think that's going to happen for a while, Dili," Zuro answered, getting a pout from the little shifter in Angel's hold.

"Actually," Angel said as she regained her composer. Zuro looked at her. "It is Dili's birthday, and I'm getting pretty turned on by some of my fetishes being real." Zuro raised a brow at her. "Hey, I may be a girl, but I have naughty dreams too." She smiled at Zuro, who smiled back as he started to say something before looking at the door. Dili seemed to sense something as well because she quickly dawned her pegasus guise just in time for the door to swing open.

"Where is he?" Jet asked as he looked around. "I know he's here!"

"Jet, I told you he will hospitalize you at best, kill you at worst," Zuro yelled at him. "Drop it!"

"I faced the Everfree with you guys unharmed," Jet countered before he saw the little pegasus in Angel's arms. He looked at Zuro with a look of shock. "Dude, how'd you give my cousin a full-grown daughter so fast?" Angel rolled her eyes at this before resting Dili on the couch, then marched over to Jet to smack him hard across the head.

"Idiot!" she yelled at him. He held the back of his head as he looked at her in shock.

"Ow!" Jet finally said after a few seconds.

"Do it again!" Dili cheered as she bounced on the seat. Jet took a double-take between Angel and Dili before she smacked him again just as hard, sending him stumbling forward a few steps as he rubbed the spot she hit.

"Ow! Okay!" He leaned on the edge of the couch, where Dili crawled up and gave him a light smack on the forehead, getting an annoyed look from him. "Realy? Tag teaming now?" Dili laughed at him.

"Jet, this is my little sister, Dili," Zuro explained. Jet blinked.

"This is your sister?" He asked as he looked the little one over. "Dude, she's adorable!" He smiled at her, getting a proud smile from her.

"Is this dumb Jet, bubba?" Dili asked, making the smile on Jet's face instantly be replaced with a look of annoyance as he looked at Zuro. Angel covered her mouth with her hand to hide her fits of laughter.

"Really?" Jet asked.

"Hey, she came up with the term on her own," Zuro explained. "I just told her how you're the one who antagonizes wild animals for the fun of it."

"Nice, dude," Jet sighed as he stood up. "Now, where's your dad?" Zuro raised a sharp brow at him. "Hey, I haven't met him yet."

"And it's better that you don't, so he doesn't kill you," Zuro observed.

"What, I'm not even allowed to meet your father?" Jet asked.

"Jet, you tend to go out of your way to look for a good fight," Angel piped up, "so, yeah. It's better you don't meet Vitam."

"Seriously?" Jet looked at her. "None of you have faith in me when it comes to meeting- Wait." He walked up to her. "You met him just now?"

"Yeah, and believe me when I tell you, you do not want to get in a fight with him," She stated firmly.

"You guys suck," Jet signed before he rushed back to Dili, "but your sister is the best!" He scooped her up and tossed her up in the air, getting a "wee" as she spread her arms and legs out before giggling as he caught her again.

"Careful, Jet," Zuro said with a smile. "She might not want you to stop doing that."

"Okay, I have endurance, but not even I can do that all day," Jet said as he smiled at Dili.

"Anyway, Dili's going to be staying with us for a few weeks," Zuro explained. "I think it would be a good idea to show her around town for a while."

"Sounds good; I can get her around-" Jet began.

"Don't you still have things to do, Jet?" Angel cut in. Jet looked left and right.

"No, I just finished with my work," Jet answered.

"Realy?" She asked with a raised brow. "You finished your job just when Zuro's father is in town."

"Yeah," Jet answered with a smile.

"Jet," Zuro said as he walked up to take Dili from his hold. "Go finish your job. Dili will be here for a while." Jet snorted.

"Fine," He rustled Dili's hair, getting her to giggle. "I'll finish up quickly so I can see how this adorable little thing is doing her first day in town." She smiled up at him. "Don't have too much fun without me, sport." He said as he flew out the door.

"I swear, he's getting worse and worse every day," Angel observed.

"I like him!" Dili smiled. "He's funny." Angel smiled at her.

"Well, I guess he's not a total loss after all," she mused.

"Anyway, I think there're a few equines for this little one to meet," Zuro said.

~~)oOo(~~

Dili's first day through Ponyville went very much like Zuro's first day in town. However, their visit to Sweet Apple Acres was more direct than just watching them work from the other side of the fence. Apple Jack gave Dili some apple pie while Dili became quick friends with Apple Bloom. Unfortunately, it took all of Angel, AppleJack, Big Mac, and Zuro to keep them from running out into the trees.

Rainbow Dash was eager to give Dili a few flying lessons, which Zuro shot down because he was afraid she would be a bit too hard on the little one. Dash protested, but Zuro pointed out the activities she put Apple Bloom through a few days ago, to which she admitted defeat.

At the Carousel Boutique, Rarity took the time to make a quick scarf for Dili based on the same color scheme Zuro had in his house. In contrast, Dili made friends with Sweetiebelle, Rarity's sister, who had a similar fur and hair color to Rarity, who taught her a thing or two about the basics of singing. After Rarity finished making Dili's scarf, they headed to Sugarcube Corner.

Cup Cake absolutely adored Dili and gave her not only the same cupcake she gave Zuro his first day here but a full cake in celebration of her birthday, of which Pinkie Pie immediately began zooming around town to get a party set up for Dili. Scootaloo, another young pegasus, who's wings seemed underdeveloped, also made quick friends with Dili. The two shared the cake Cup Cake made for Dili. Zuro took note of how surprisingly fast Cup was at baking.

Zuro hesitated to take Dili to Fluttershy's cottage, but his sister insisted on seeing all the animals. Fluttershy was quite excited to see Dili, especially when the little one showed interest in all the animals and happily showed her around. Because of Fluttershy coming out of her shell a bit, both Angel and Zuro seized the opportunity to try to get to know her a bit better. Zuro even expressed interest in possibly getting an eagle for a pet.

After spending half of the day running around introducing Dili to all of Zuro's friends, they spent the rest of the day at a party for Dili, which turned into a double party planned by Pinkie. A welcome-to-Ponyville-party, as well as a birthday party, which led to hours of fun. Even Jet joined in when he played several games with Dili, which was a blast for the little one. At the end of the day, everyone gave Dili one last "welcome to town" as Zuro and Angel took her back to the house.

Dili rushed around in the house, bouncing around as she cheered with glee. "That was so much fun!"

"Wow, I've never seen a little one with more energy after a big day," Angel observed as she watched Dili ran around.

"Changelings feed of love energy," Zuro explained as he stood next to her. Angel looked at Zuro.

"So, after a day like today, you guys have more energy?" She asked. He replaced his head with that of Big Mac's.

"Eeyup." Angel chuckled as Zuro resumed his full pegasus guise.

"Bubba, do I get to see you have fun with your girlfriend now?" Dili asked as he rushed up to them.

"Okay, as a pony, I find that question so wrong," Angel observed before she looked at Zuro. "but after all the things you've been telling me about your culture and my inner naughty girl, the thought of having sex in front of a ten-year-old turns me on so damn much!"

"Not that I have a problem with having sex with," Zuro paused as he looked up in thought for a moment, "anyone, really." He looked back at Angel. "But are you sure you want to?" She smiled at him. Zuro cared so much about others before himself; he still did not want to put her in a position where she would be uncomfortable. She leaned in and wrapped her arms over his shoulders as a wing stretched out to lock the door.

"I haven't had sex since my last day at school," Angel said in a sultry voice. "I want to live my fetish of fucking someone in front of a young audience." She pecked Zuro's lips as she smiled into his eyes. He smiled back into hers as he rubbed her sides before leaning in to lock lips with her. Dili hopped up and sat on the couch, watching happily as Zuro pulled Angel's left leg up to his side.

Angel parted her lips against Zuro's, pressing her tongue into his maw. He allowed her tongue to intrude his mouth as he curled his tongue around the warm appendage. Then, after several seconds of making out, he grabbed both of her legs to hold her up against him. She wrapped all four of her limbs around him, moaning into his lips as he carried her to a wall, pressing her against it, where he began to grind his hardening length between her cheeks. Dili turned around, leaning over the back of the couch with a smile on her face.

Angel broke the kiss to bury her muzzle into Zuro's neck as he pulled back to line up with her soaked vagina. "Fuck me, Zuro!" She moaned. "Don't hold back!"

"Are you sure?" Zuro said through heavy breaths. "I don't want to hurt you."

"Thank you, but I can take it." She kissed his neck. "Ram into me. I want to feel your hard cock inside me!" At these words, Zuro pushed the tip inside her hot, wet, welcoming entrance and held that position for a second before he slammed right inside her walls, getting her to arch against the walls with a loud moan while gripping his back and tightening her grip with her legs. He groaned as he felt a pussy tighter than Cup Cakes. How could she take it so hard while she is so tight?

"Gods, Angel," Zuro shuttered. "You're so tight!"

"I said, it's been a while," Angel panted into his neck. "Now, fuck me!" Zuro gripped her firm ass in his hands as he pulled back just to the tip before slamming right back in. After a few good, hard, slow thrust, Zuro increased his paste to slapping hard and fast into his mate's vagina, getting her to let out a moan with every slap as she clung desperately to him, both with her limbs and with her soaking pussy.

As Dili watched, she let her Aerial guise fall as she reached her hand down to her own little flower, rubbing her finger against her clit while biting her lower lip. She rubbed circles around her clit a few times before she slipped a finger inside, letting out a little squeak as she watched them go at it. Soon, she was slipping her finger in and out of her wet pussy in sync with her brother's thrusting.

Angel moaned out in the room as Zuro pulled her hips against his as he thrust hard into her, groaning into her shoulder with every thrust. Then, finally, he stopped his thrust long enough to pick her up by her ass while staying inside and carried her over to a table, resting her on her back as he leaned up and continued to fuck her while holding her legs up in a "V" shape, looking into her eyes as he continued. She watched him between her legs as she gripped the edge of the table she lay on, moaning louder with his thrusts.

After a few thrusts, he moved her legs to his sides as he leaned in and locked lips with her. She grabbed his nack and back, pulling him against her lips as he continued his thrusting for several minutes before pulling away from the kiss. "Angel! I'm gonna-!"

"Do it!" She cried out. He held his weight over her with his hands on either side of her head as he gave a few more hard, slow thrusts before one final push deep inside as he burst. She arched as she felt his hot seed pour inside her, coating her inner walls with a familiar feeling she had not felt in years. She welcomed the warmth with eagerness as she held onto him with heavy breaths.

Zuro looked down at her as she looked back at him, both panting from the act of mating so hard until a little squeak caught their attention, getting them to turn to the couch Dili sat, who was shaking in place as her little flower released a shower of orgasmic bliss that coated her inner thighs and the fabric between her legs.

"Did she just-" Angel began.

"Was that fun, Dili?" Zuro asked through heavy breaths as he smiled at her. Dili smiled up at him through her own panting as she nodded.

"Right," Angel said as she looked up at Zuro. "I was so caught up in the moment I forgot who I was having sex with." She reached up to rub his cheek, getting him to look down at her. She rubbed her thumb on his cheek as he leaned his head into her warm touch. "I think I'm gonna love calling you my boyfriend." She smiled at him. He smiled back at her as he felt that delicious energy coming from her, which was all the sweeter because it was meant for him. He did it. He successfully began a life in the Equine world.

Chapter VI

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Chapter VII

The Night Of The Grand Gala

Zuro stood behind a display curtain in the Carousel Boutique in his new blazer with his hair combed nice and neet as he waited for Rarity to come out with Angel. The fashionista insisted on making sure none of the two would see the other in their outfits until they bother were dressed and ready to go, so she had Angel wait upstairs as she got Zuro dressed first, then moved him behind a display curtain to get Angel. Zuro heard some rustling coming from within the workroom as Rarity's voice called out, "no peeking!" until after a few seconds, the curtain swung open. Zuro blinked at Rarity smiled at him.

"Come on out, darling! Your date awaits!" She gestured her hand for him to come out into the workroom, to which Zuro followed. As he stepped into the room, he looked around as Rarity rushed to another closed curtain with a big grin on her face. "Zuro, allow me to the first to show you," she paused as she raised her wand to the curtain, "your date!" With a wave of her wand, the curtain pulled itself open to reveal Angel in a sleeveless ensemble of black and greens to match his blazer. Angel's hair was done back in a top bun, with makeup stylizing her face. She smiled with a bit of a blush, although the red in her cheeks could be the makeup. The dress hugged her torso before it opened up from the waist down, leaving her loins and legs completely exposed, which showed off the attention her pubic hair Rarity gave it.

Zuro's jaw dropped at the sight of his date to the Gala. If he did not know any better, he would have guessed Rarity tried to make her as pretty as she should be for the day of her wedding. Angel held her left elbow in her right hand as she tucked her chin into her chest. The red on her cheeks definitely was not the makeup.

"Angel," Zuro sighed, "you look absolutely amazing!" Angel's cheeks grew redder from the compliment. Rarity waved her wand, and her magic pushed them closer to each other.

"And you look quite handsome," Angel muttered under her breath.

"Now that you two are all ready, I'm afraid I must ask you to leave," Rarity said as she walked up to them. "I don't mean to be rude, but I do have to get myself and my friends ready for the Gala as well, so I need this time to prepare."

"Oh, no problem at all," Angel smiled at Rarity as she stepped up to Zuro.

"Yeah, we need to get going so we can catch the train," Zuro added as he locked elbows with Angel. Rarity smiled at them.

"And I'm sure I'll see you two there."

"Thanks for the help, Rarity," Angel smiled at her as she and Zuro walked to the main door.

"My pleasure, darling." Rarity waved at them as they left.

As Angle and Zuro walked through the town, all of the ponies greeted them with warm smiles and congratulations. They kept close to each other as they walked the streets toward the train station, where they waited patiently for their train to Canterlot. As they waited, Angel could see Zuro sitting uncomfortably, so she took his hand in her own, getting him to look at her.

"You have nothing to worry about," she assured him.

"I wouldn't say that," Zuro countered as he looked at the tracks.

"Hey," she called to him, getting him to look back at her. "The princess sent you the invitation; she knows you're coming."

"But she doesn't know what I am," Zuro countered. "If anyone finds out, it could spell bad news for us."

"Zuro," she sighed, "put aside that fact for one night. Tonight is all about you and me." She lay her head on his shoulder. He gave her a soft smile as he draped a wing over her shoulders, getting a smile from her.

"What?" he asked with a smile.

"When a pegasus drapes their wing over another, it's a sign of that person belonging to the pegasus," she explained.

"So, in other words," he scooted closer to her, "doing this shows everyone you belong to me?" She chuckled.

"That's one way of putting it." She smiled at him.

The sound of screeching train tracks caught their attention, getting them to look up as the train pulled into a screeching halt before the doors slid open and ponies began getting in and off at the same time. Angel and Zuro got up from the bench they sat on to get on the train, where they searched for a nice, quiet place together. Finally, after a few minutes, they found a seat by the window, where they could watch the land zoom by as the train moved.

"You know, the Gala is nice enough as is," Angel said as she smiled at him. "You didn't have to get luxury seats too." He smiled at her.

"I guess I felt like you deserve the best I can offer," He took her hand in his. The train began to move, and they looked out the window to watch the station disappear. "Off to the Gala!" Zuro looked at Angel with a smile, who smiled back at him.

"This is going to be the best night ever!" she observed.

~~)oOo(~~

Just outside Canterlot Castle stood a massive line of all the equines who received invitations to the Grand Gala, most with a guest or in groups. Still, there were plenty of singles taking the opportunity to mingle with fellow dignitaries. Zuro and Angel walked side-by-side in the line as Princess Celestia herself admitted most of the guests into the castle for the Gala while others entered by other means. Zuro noticed Twilight Sparkle standing beside Celestia as they greeted the guests who came into the Gala.

Angel and Zuro walked up to the princess, who smiled at them. "Zuro, I'm so glad you could come!" She beamed at him.

"Yes, well, I have a date who wanted to come, so I couldn't upset her," Zuro explained as he smiled at Angel.

"As I understand it," Celestia smiled at Angel, "you have quite the Guardian, Angel."

"You know my name?" Angel asked with a blush.

"Twilight Sparkle," Celestia began as she looked to Twighlight, who blushed at the princess, "told me how you two are always by each other's side." Angel smiled at Twilight.

"Well, it looks like you have other ponies who are eager to meet you, your highness," Zuro observed as he looked at the line behind them. "We shouldn't keep you waiting."

"Do enjoy yourselves," Celestia smiled at them.

"Love your outfits," Twilight smiled as Zuro and Angel passed her. "Rarity does a wonderful job, doesn't she?"

"That she does," Angel replied to Twilight. "I heard she made your dress too." Angel admired Twilight's dress, which Rarity made similarly to Angel's, only the patterns were based on the star constellations instead of a black and green theme.

"It was a bit of a rough start, but in the end, all our dressed were amazing," Twilight smiled, getting a smile from both Angel and Zuro.

"Well, we don't wanna take up any more of your time, so we'll be going now," Angel said as she smiled at Zuro, who locked elbows with her.

"Have fun!" Twilight called as Angel and Zuro walked into the castle, where the Gala was in full swing. Couples and groups gathered around each other, mingling and dancing to the music. Zuro took in the tremendous amount of love energy that filled the whole castle. With this energy, Zuro would be satisfied for months, even though none of the love energy was directed at him.

Outside of all the energy in the air, Zuro could not help but notice the number of guards at every door throughout the castle. Of course, it only made sense for there to be so much security on a night like this, but knowing the reasons for the guards did not do anything to ease his nerves about being surrounded by them.

Zuro tore his attention away from the guards long enough to take notice of some of the familiar faces he saw from Ponyville. Rainbow Dash mingled with the leading members of the Wonderbolts while dawning a dress that matched her technicolored hair perfectly. Rarity appeared to be following a very well-dressed unicorn male, who Zuro could only assume held a level of royalty due to his ensemble and extremely well-pressed golden hair. AppleJack hosted a snack bar filled with plenty of apple-based products. Pinkie Pie bounced with excitement among all the high-class ponies and the musicians, who provided live music for the Gala. The only one he could not see was Fluttershy.

"I see several of the girls from Ponyville, except Fluttershy," Zuro observed. "Any idea where she could be?" he asked Angel.

"Why?" Angel asked as she looked at him. "You planning on ditching me for another pegasus?"

"Why would I do that?" Zuro asked with a grin. "You're the only girl for me." She smiled at him before Pinkie's bouncing, cheering, and singing about being at the Grand Gala caught their attention.

"That girl just doesn't know how to stay still for a minute," Angel observed.

"I like that about her," Zuro said with a smile. "She makes me laugh."

"You gotta point there," Angel smiled at him. "Anyway, I'm feeling peckish. Wanna see what AJ has in stock?"

"Sure!" Zuro smiled. "That cowgirl has the best recipes." Angel smiled at him before they walked over to Apple Jack's stand, getting a warm smile from the farm girl.

"Well, don't you two make the cutest couple!" Apple Jack observed as she smiled at them. "Ah see Rarity's handy work paid off for y'all, as well."

"Thank you, AJ," Angel smiled at her. "She did a great job on your dress too."

"Aw, shoot," AJ blushed. "Ah was gonna wear my old work duds before she offered to make this fancy get-up." She smiled at her dress, which matched her countryside perfectly. "Anyhoo, is there anythin' ah can get y'all?" Apple Jack asked them with a smile.

"How about a nice apple pie for us to share?" Angel asked Zuro.

"Sounds good to me," Zuro smiled as he pulled out a bag of bits from his inner-right blazer pocket while AJ pulled out the pie.

"One apple pie," she said with a smile. "That'll be five bits."

"Here you go," Zuro said as he handed her the five bits, plus an extra five, getting AJ to blink.

"It's just five bits, sugar cube," she explained.

"Consider the extra five a tip for good service," Zuro said as he smiled at her, getting her to smile back at him.

"Thank ya, kindly, sugar cube." She put the bits away before she got back to running the stand for others to come and enjoy her family recipe. Angel and Zuro looked for a place where they could enjoy their quick snack before they got to the rest of the festivities.

"How are you hanging in there, Guardian?" Angel asked as she wiped her mouth with a napkin from the table they sat.

"To be honest, I'm still terrified of all the guards around," Zuro answered. "But having you around helps ease the fear." He offered her a smile. She smiled back at him as she reached over to take his hand in hers.

They enjoyed their quick meal before the musicians began playing a slow tune; several of the couples went onto the dancefloor as the music started playing. Zuro smiled at Angel. "Shall we?" he asked. Angel nodded in reply before he got up and helped her out of her seat by offering his hand.

They walked to the dancefloor while holding hands before they turned to each other. Zuro took her waist with his right hand as he held her right hand in his left while she rested her left hand on his shoulder, both smiling into each other's eyes as he led her in a dance to the music.

"This makes me think about that party at the library," Angel mused with a smile.

"I have no problem reliving that moment," Zuro said with a smiled as he pulled her waist a little closer. She smiled at him as she followed his lead to the music. He twirled her around a few times, let her fall back at arm's length before pulling her back to him, and finally, when the music came to its conclusion, he dipped her back as she let her arm hang over her head. They held that pose for several seconds before he pulled her back upright.

"Now, why didn't you dance like that the first time?" she asked with a smile.

"The last time was a simple slow dance," he explained, "this time was a more high-class slow dance." They started to walk off the dance floor before they heard Pinkie's voice coming from the speakers, getting them to look back to see her on stage singing the Pony Poky.

"What's she up to now?" Zuro asked as he raised a brow at her.

"She probably thinks the Gala is another party like hers, so she's trying to get everyone into the swing of things," Angel observed as she watched the pink Normal singing proudly before someone in the crowd silenced her.

"I give it ten minutes before Pinkie's at it again," Zuro stated.

"I give it five," Angel countered.

"You're on!" Zuro smiled at her, though none of them would be happy as it took a good half an hour before Pinkie was back on stage, this time with a white unicorn with a crazy two-toned blue hairstyle and large shades on the bridge of her nose.

"So, now I guess none of us get the bits for this one," Angel shrugged.

Zuro smiled at Angel when he remembered the ring Rarity gave her the day she finished their outfits for the Gala. He rested his hand on the pocket where the ring rested as he thought about how he should ask her. He looked around the area, scanning the ballroom for the best place he could pop the question when his eyes locked onto an archway leading outside. Again, he smiled before he looked at Angel.

"Hey, Angel?" Zuro called, getting her to look at him.

"Yeah?" she replied with a smile.

"Come with me, real quick," Zuro ordered as he took her hand and guided her toward the archway.

"What is it, Guardian?" She asked as she looked at him in curiosity. He scratched the back of his head.

"Well, I've been meaning to ask you," he began as he reached into the breast pocket where the ring sat. "Angel," he pulled the small box out and started to kneel in front of her before some screaming caught their attention. They looked over just in time to see Rarity being used as a shield by the man she followed around the grounds earlier as some junks of a cake flew directly at her. Rarity began shouting at the man in a fit of rage, stating how he was the most uncharming person she ever had the misfortune of meeting.

"Stay back!" the man cried out as he backed up against a closed door behind him. "I just got my suit pressed!"

"Afraid to get dirty?!" Rarity called as she threw the splattered food from her dress onto him, getting him to stumble and fall back on his ass.

"What the hell is going on?" Zuro asked as he looked around. Just then, the doors to the gardens outside swung open, letting a large number of animals stampede into the ballroom with an angry and frazzled-looking Fluttershy following after them.

"You're... going to love me!"

Fluttershy's surprisingly loud voice caused a butterfly effect that sent the entire Gala into a frenzy. Statues were knocked over, animals running wild, and all the guests panicking in the chaos. Finally, a whistle coming from Twilight at the main entrance got the attention of her friends, who all fled the scene as fast as they could.

"I guess the party's over!" Zuro called out as he scooped Angel off her hooves just in time to avoid a stampede of animals coming straight for her. He took off with her in his hold outside of the castle and hovered in place as they looked back at the chaos going on in the ballroom.

"So much for the best night ever," Angel observed as she held onto Zuro.

~~)oOo(~~

Angel and Zuro walked out of a theatre that held a performance for all those who did not attend the Gala. "I felt sorry for the masked magician," Zuro observed. "He just wanted to be loved."

"He still did horrible things to the theatre and almost killed the girl's lover," Angel raised a brow.

"I didn't say I agree with his methods," Zuro defended himself. "I just said I felt sorry for him. Scard so bad, he was treated like dirt, and all he wanted was for someone to care for him."

"You have a point there," Angel agreed. "Anyway," she said as she stretched out her arms in a yawn, "I'm pretty tired. Shall we find a hotel?"

"I can carry you home," Zuro suggested, getting her to blink at him. "After tonight, I've got enough energy to carry you across Equestria," he explained as he smiled at her. Angel bounced to him, forcing him to think fast to catch her bridal style. Angel wrapped her arms over his shoulders as she nuzzled his neck as he held her close and took off the ground to fly over the mountainside toward Ponyville.

"My big, strong guardian," Angel mused as she held onto him. Finally, after several long minutes, maybe even an hour of flying, he flew in over the town toward his house, where he came in for a landing and walked up to the door. He looked around to make sure no one could see him, which was simple with how late it was before he used his changeling magic to open the door and carry her inside before closing the door behind him.

Angel fell asleep in his hold during the trip, so he brought her upstairs to their now shared room, where he laid her on the bed before shifting to an earth pony so he could slip his outfit off with ease. He almost tossed it to the side before he remembered how much time and effort Rarity put into making their outfits, so he rested it neatly on a desk to the side before he turned to her. He walked up and tenderly began to undress her, making sure not to wake her before he carried the dress over and rested it next to his blazer. He would hang them up properly, but the bedroom had no place for clothing, and none of the guest rooms were being used, not to mention he did not plan on having ponies spend the night with a bunch of clothing in their suitcases.

When both Angel and Zuro were completely naked, and the outfits were resting someplace they would not get wrinkled, Zuro climbed in bed next to Angel, who scooted closer to the warmth in the bed as he shifted back to his natural form. He smiled at her and nuzzled her nose softly before he closed his eyes and began to rest with her in his hold.

~~)oOo(~~

Earlier That Night

On the mountainside outside of Canterlot, Gnator stood beside Queen Chrysalis as they looked over the city. Chrysalis beamed at the tremendous amount of energy she could feel ever since she first came into the country. Gnator only glared at the great city that stood before them.

"Equestria has more love than I could've possibly imagined!" Chrysalis mused.

"Love isn't all it has," Gnator growled, getting the queen to look down at him.

"Patients, Gnator," she urged. "Your eagerness almost got you caught multiple times during your mission." She looked at the castle. "Thankfully, you did get the information we can use to get inside the castle unnoticed."

"The Grand Gala," Gnator observed.

"Yes," Chrysalis mused, "we will infiltrate the Gala as two guests. You can search for your brother and find out what he's doing here while I look for a means for attack." She turned to look at him as she grabbed him by the shoulders to make him look at her. "And when you find your brother?"

"I'll kick his ass!" Gnator proclaimed.

"No!" Chrysalis growled. "You are to find out what role he's gotten himself into in this country. Does he play an important role, or is he just flirting around with the pony?" she instructed as she looked back at the castle. "You wait here while I go and find the guest list. And do try not to draw attention to yourself." She ordered as she stretched her wings from under her arms.

"Can I at least kill one or two of these damn creatures?" Gnator asked as he looked around at the little critters running around the rocks and flying overhead.

"You really do want us to get caught, don't you?" she asked as she gave him a side-glance. He folded his arms as he plopped his ass on a nearby rock. "Remember, Gnator. Patients. You'll see your brother again soon." She gave her great wings a good flap as she kicked off the ground to take off, shifting to a small creature so she could fly into the castle unnoticed.

Gnator watched her until she was out of sight. "If she can slip in so easily, why doesn't she just get the information she needs for the assault?"

~~)oOo(~~

After The Gala

"That went beautifully!" Chrysalis cheered as she and Gnator flew away from the castle.

"What the hell are you talking about, your highness?!" Gnator asked. "Everything was a disaster! The place was too crowded, and the stampede cam rushing in before I could get to Zuro!"

"But I was able to find out who the captain of the royal guard is!" Chrysalis beamed as she landed on a cloud as Gnator landed on one close to hers. "More importantly, I found out who his fiance is." Her lips curled into a menacing grin.

"So, what?" Gnator asked as he folded his arms.

"We can use them to slip into the castle!" Chrysalis cheered.

"So, I replace him while you replace her?" Gnator asked, getting her to raise a brow at him.

"You still have much to learn if you're to impersonate someone of such importance," she explained. "The captain of the royal guard is a serious position, one you have no experience in, and the one he's dating is a princess."

"There's no way I'm going to play as a princess!" Gnator snorted.

"I never said you were," Chrysalis corrected as she looked back at the castle in the distance. "Leave the infiltration to me. I'll look for an opening to slip in as the princess while you go back to the hive and order them to wait for my summons."

"What makes you think they'll listen to me?" Gnator snorted. "I'm a nobody. Just the son of a retired fighter, who's bearly of age." She reached down and pulled out a scale from just above her pussy and handed it to him, getting a surprised blush to appear on his cheeks as he looked at it.

"Take a piece of my flower to the captain of the guard, and he'll know I gave you the order," she explained. He stared at the scale with red cheeks. "Don't be ashamed to hold a scale from my vagina, Gnator. Too few hold such honor." He looked up at her before he reached up and took the scale. "Now, go!"

"Yes, your highness," Gnator said as he bowed his head before he began flying to the west, toward the Dezolute Zone. Chrysalis turned back to face the castle with a smile on her face.

"Now, where to begin with you?" She asked herself as the wind blew through her silky dark green hair.

Chapter VIII

What's Going On?!

Zuro woke up and stretched his wings before looking over to find Angel smiling down at him as she sat with her legs folded on the bed.

"Got me naked while I was asleep?" She smirked. "Anything else I should know about?"

"Nope," He smiled as he reached over to take her hand in his. "Just didn't think you'd wanna sleep in that dress." She smiled at him as she rubbed her thumb on the back of his hand before he looked up.

"Is it raining?" He asked, perplexed.

"Sounds like it," Angel observed as she followed his gaze. "Why?" He looked at her.

"It's not supposed to rain until tomorrow," He observed. Angel blinked as she got out of the bed with him following after her as he shifted to his pegasus form. They rushed through the hall, down the stairs, and out the front door, where they found it raining... chocolate?

"What the fuck?!" Angel asked as she looked up at the sky to see pink clouds floating aimlessly over the town. She stuck her tongue out to taste the brown rain. "Chocolate milk!" She looked at Zuro, who looked just as perplexed as she was. Then, suddenly, the sound of popping made Angel and Zuro jumped as they looked to see some of the flowers popping into popcorn.

"That's impossible!" Zuro looked around at everything turning into chaos before he blinked. "Wait?" He went wide-eyed. "That's impossible!" Then, again, he looked over at everything.

"No shit!" Angel agreed as she clung to his arm.

"No, there's only one thing I know of that can cause something like this!" Zuro wrapped Angel in his wings.

"What?" She asked as she looked up at him.

"But it's impossible," He observed as he jumped at almost everything that moved. Angel could see the terror in his expression.

"Why? What's going on?"

"The only creature throughout history that could cause this has been extinct for over a thousand years!" He looked at her. When he saw the confusion in her eyes, that gradually evolved into fear as she watched him. "A Chaotic!" Angel blinked at this. "A creature made up of all different kinds of things!"

"Bravo, little fella!" A voice from nowhere called out, getting both Angel and Zuro to jump with a shriek.

"Oh, gods!" Zuro cried out before a tall, slender creature with the head of a grey pony atop a body made up of a lion paw, an eagle claw, goat hoof, and dragon foot, one batwing and a feathered wing, and two different types of horns atop his head. His eyes were yellow with red pupils, and his hair was buzzcut and black while a tuft of fur stretched from his chin.

"Of course, a member of an ancient race would know about me," He smiled proudly as he pointed to himself with the thumb of his lion paw. Zuro glared at the Chaotic as he got between him and Angel.

"Keep away from her!" Angel looked at Zuro in a bit of surprise. Zuro was more concerned about protecting her right now than anything else. The Chaotic simply chuckled.

"Oh, how precious!" He stood tall over the two. "A helpless changeling thinks he can stand up against Discord! The Lord of Chaos!" Discord flicked Zuro on the forehead, making his pegasus disguise vanish. Angel gasped as she clung to Zuro as he fell to the ground.

"W-w-what did you do to me?!" Zuro panted.

"I simply nullified your powers," Discord smirked. "Can't have a creature like you bugging my beautiful chaos!" He vanished before reappearing behind Angel. "And as for you, little pegasus." He smirked. "What lovely fun can a lonely Chaotic do with you?" She covered her chest and groin as she glared at him.

"Stay the hell away from me!" She barked. Discord busted out laughing as he rolled on the air.

"You think I'd fuck a pony like you?!" He said through fits of laughter. "Palease! Something as simple as a pony couldn't possibly get this pickle to squirt juices, even if you tried for an entire year straight!" He said as he stuck his midsection straight out toward her, revealing his penis actually was a pickle. Angel shuttered at the sight.

"Get the hell away from her!" Zuro panted as he glared up at him. Discord chuckled at him.

"Still trying to stop me?" He appeared by Zuro the same size as him. "Honestly, you have no power to fight with." Discord poked at the thorns in Zuro's elbows, getting Zuro to pull his arms away from the draconaquus's reach. "Fine!" Discord stood up to his full height. "Be that way! But don't expect something pleasant to come from it!" Discord snapped his eagle claw fingers, forcing Zuro into a female version of himself as Angel became a male version of herself.

"Hey!" Zuro blushed as he looked himself over.

"Oh, my-!" Angel blushed at the sight of her having a penis instead of a vagina, which started to grow.

"Don't bother trying to use your magic to change back!" Discord chuckled. "Now, I have some wonderful chaos to ensue!" He snapped his claw/fingers again, vanishing into thin air.

"Get back here!" Zuro shouted out into the air with his new feminine voice.

"What the fuck is going on?!" Angel asked in a deep, masculine voice, which made her blush as she grabbed her mouth in her hands. Zuro looked at her.

"Calm down, Angel," Zuro advised.

"How can I be calm?!" Angel asked. "I'm a fucking male!"

"Help!" A familiar voice cried through the chaos, getting Angel and Zuro to look over to find Jet running toward them while being chased by a bunch of chairs. "They're trying to kill me!" Zuro started to help Jet but fell to the ground from being too weak to move. Angel caught Zuro just before he hit the ground.

"Help him," Zuro groaned. Angel eased Zuro onto the ground before she rushed up and started smashing the chairs.

"Wait! Stop!" Jet cried out. "They just-" Before he could finish his sentence, the pieces literally pulled themselves back together and started to attack.

"That explains why you're running from them!" Angel grunted as she fought the furniture off.

"Who the fuck are you anyway?!" Jet asked as he helped fight off the chairs, punching and kicking helplessly as they just got back up for more.

"It's me, cuz!" Angel grunted as she kicked a chair into splinters.

"Wait, what?!"

While the two fought off the furniture, Zuro groaned as he tried to get off the ground. Finally, a stampede of bunnies with very long legs caught the attention of the chairs, getting them to chase after them instead. Angel and Jet stood panting from the exercise as they watched them rush off into the dust. Angel turned and rushed back to Zuro, who got to his knees shakily.

"What the fuck is that thing?!" Jet asked as he went wide-eyed at the sight of Zuro as a female changeling.

"It's Zuro!" Angel explained as she helped him up to his feet.

"Like fuck that thing is!" Jet started to charge the changeling with a look of rage before Angel got between them, shooting Jet a sharp glare.

"Back the fuck off!" Jet screeched to a halt just short of Angel before he collapsed to the ground.

"What the-"

"Some creature, who calls himself Discord, is causing all of this," Angel explained. "That thing turned me into a male, and Zuro into a female changeling." Jet looked between Angel and Zuro with wide eyes.

"So, you're my cousin," he asked, pointing at Angel, "and that's Guardian?" he asked, pointing to Zuro.

"Yes," Angel answered as she returned to helping Zuro up. "And, he's very weak from the transformation." Jet got up and helped Zuro by pulling his arm over his shoulder.

"Why are you so weak?" Jet asked.

"changelings feed on positive emotions from other creatures," Zuro answered. "I've never fed like that before." Of course, It was a lie, but Zuro was still not yet ready for Jet to know the truth. Angel made no effort to correct Zuro since she agreed Jet could not know yet.

"What's going on here?" A familiar voice came from the sky, getting all three to look up as Vitam came flying in with Dili at his side.

"Dad!" Zuro called out weakly, getting Vitam to blink and rush down to check on him.

"Zuro?" He looked her over. "What happened? Why are you like that?!"

"Bubba?" Dili asked as she walked up in front of them. "Why are you a girl?"

"Um, how the hell do you two know it's Guardian?" Jet asked. Vitam looked up at him.

"I'd know my son's energy anywhere," Vitam answered. Angel and Zuro grew concerned looks as they watched Jet look at Zuro.

"Didn't bubba tell you?" Dili asked Jet, getting him to look at her. "We're changelings," she stated matter-of-factly.

"Sweetie, no!" Angel cried out, but it was too late. Jet looked Zuro over for several awkward seconds as the chaos continued in the area, which seemed to be getting worse by the second.

"Dude, why didn't you tell me sooner?" Jet asked with a smile, getting surprised looks from Angel and Zuro.

"I was afraid-"

"That I couldn't keep a secret like that?" Jet interrupted. "C'mon, you should know you can trust me better than that!" Jet helped Zuro over his shoulders. "Well, you can feed on my energy all you want, so let's get your strength back!"

"I can't," Zuro groaned. "Discord took away my powers too."

"Discord?!" Vitam cried out. "The ancient draconaquus, who's supposed to be dead?!"

"Vitam, keep your voice down!" Angel urged as she looked around.

"Everyone's distracted by that thing's handy work," Vitam observed before he picked his son up and took off into the air. Angel, Dili, and Jet followed after him.

"Where are you going?" Jet asked.

"Someplace that's not yet affected by the chaos," Vitam answered as he flew out of town into the Everfree Forest. He passed through the trees as the other three followed close before they came to a decorated tree with windows along the side.

"Zecora's?" Jet asked. "How do you know about Zecora?"

"She's an old friend of mine," Vitam answered. "I just hope she'll remember me." Vitam landed by the door before knocking. A few seconds later, the door opened to find a light grey equine with dark grey stripes lining her body, which proudly stood nude with only golden jewelry dangling from her ears, wrapped around her neck, and arm as she smiled at her guests. The hair above her flower was utterly unshaven but neatly combed.

"How can I help you?" the zebra asked in a deep, friendly voice before she noticed the female changeling in Vitam's hold. "Oh, my!" She rushed out to check on Zuro as he lay in his father's arms while looking up at the friendly face. "Come in quickly!" She rushed over to hold the door open for them as they went in one by one. When all of them were inside, Zecora rushed over to clear a spot for Zuro to lay on, where Vitam placed her.

"This is my son, Zuro, and he's been touched by draconaquus magic," Vitam explained, making Zecora go wide-eyed.

"Who are you, anyway?" Zecora asked.

"It's me, Vitam," he answered, getting a pleasantly surprised look on her face before she got to work.

"So, the draconaquus Discord has returned from his prison," she observed.

"I thought the draconaquus were extinct," Zuro observed with a groan.

"Hush, child," Zecora ordered as she looked through the bottles lined on shelves attached to the walls. "You'll need to conserve your energy until this episode comes to a conclusion."

"Why do I have the strange feeling she should be rhyming?" Jet whispered as he leaned closer to Angel, who just shrugged in response.

"If his magic is responsible for this," Zecora began, "there's little I can do." She pulled a bottle from one of the shelves before she went to get some herbs to mix in it. "But I can do something to help ease the weakness." She walked over to Zuro with the bottle in hand. "Drink, child." She lifted his head as she held the bottle to his lips. Zuro sipped the potion weakly until the bottle was empty before laying his head back down. "Now, rest." Angel walked up to Zuro's side, taking his hand in hers.

"Tell me my boyfriend is going to be okay," she pleaded.

"Your son is gay?" Zecora asked Vitam.

"Actually, Angel's a girl," Jet piped up as he took a few steps closer. "She too was changed by this shit."

"I'll thank you to watch your mouth around my children, young man!" Vitam shot Jet a glare, getting Jet to freeze in fear.

"I'm impressed," Angel smiled. "It's not easy to get my cousin to back down so easily unless you're an Ursa."

"Told you, Jet," Zuro groaned. "Dad'll kill you if you provoke him."

"I get the point, now," Jet replied.

"Guys, the more important thing we need to worry about right now," Angel piped up. "We need to find a way to stop that Discord character!" Dili walked up and hopped onto the table next to Zuro as Jet flung his hands in the air.

"How?" Jet asked in frustration. "We're just a bunch of ponies and changelings, and that guy's a draconaquus!"

"If anyone stands a chance against Discord," Zecora chimed in, "it is Twilight and her friends."

"Then, we need to go help them," Zuro said as he tried to get up, only to be pushed right back down by Zecora.

"You do not have the energy to do anything right now," she clarified. "And without your changeling magic, you are as useful as a butterfly."

"But, we gotta do something," Zuro protested before Dili straddled his chest.

"Bubba, you stay," she ordered, getting a giggle from Angel, who rubbed her back.

"I can keep Zuro safe within these walls while you three go find a way to help Twilight stop Discord," Zecora observed as she looked at Vitam, who inclined his head at her.

"Will you keep Dili safe, too?" he asked.

"Your family is my family," Zecora answered with a smile. "It may have been a long time since we last saw each other, but our friendship has never died."

"Exactly how long have you two known each other?" Jet asked.

"Questions later," Vitam replied firmly as he grabbed both Angel and Jet's wrists and guided them to the door. "Finding a way to fix this mess now."

"I'm staying with Zuro," Angel protested as she pulled her hand away from Vitam.

"The best way for you to help your mate is out there, child," Zecora urged her. "He will be safe with me, and you need not worry about him mating with me." She winked at Angel, who narrowed her eyes.

"Angel, Zecora is the most honest creature you'll ever meet," Vitam piped up, "If she says she won't do anything to Zuro, then you can guarantee she won't do anything. Now, let's go!" Vitam pulled Angel to the door as she reluctantly gave in and followed the pegasus alongside Jet. The door closed behind them, and Zuro looked up to his little sister, who still straddled his chest.

"Are you okay, bubba?" Dili asked her brother as Zuro reached up to rub a thumb on her cheek.

"Zecora's remedy's helping," he answered with a soft smile.

~~)oOo(~~

By the time Angel, Jet, and Vitam got back to Ponyville, the whole town was in absolute chaos. The ground had a checkered pattern. The buildings were cardboard cutouts. The plants were popping popcorn. The sky switched back and forth between night and day in a matter of seconds. On top of the checkered pattern, the roads were made of soap. Everything was completely out of control.

"Okay, how the fuck are we supposed to make everything better?!" Jet asked as he looked around in utter disbelief.

"Zecora said Twilight and her friends could stop Discord," Vitam observed. "Any idea who they might be?" he asked as he looked at Angel.

"Twilight Sparkle is the town librarian and Princess Celestia's protege," Angel explained.

"Well, if the princess's prized pupil is in this small town, we need to find her," Vitam observed as he looked around.

"Over there!" Jet called out as he pointed toward a unicorn dragging her hooves along the soap roads with her head hanging.

"That can't be her," Angel observed. "Twilight has purple fur, not grey."

"Discord must've gotten to her," Vitam observed as he rushed up to the unicorn. "Excuse me, are you Twilight Sparkle?"

"Why do you care?" Twilight asked as she kept trudging along.

"We need your help to stop Discord," Vitam explained as Angel and Jet rushed to his sides.

"Yeah, you and your friends are the only ones who can fix this!" Jet observed.

"Not anymore," Twilight sighed as she left them alone.

"Now, what are we gonna do?!" Jet flung his hands in the air in defeat.

"Sit back and enjoy the chaos, of course," A familiar voice called from the air before Discord appeared behind them, getting all three to look at him. "Face it! I've won! The whole world will now bathe in beautiful chaos with Ponyville as the Chaos Capital of the world!" he proclaimed as he raised his left eagle hand into the air while resting his right lion hand on his chest.

"You'll never get away with this, draconaquus!" Vitam cried out as he assumed a defensive position.

"Oh, please," Discord rolled his eyes as he waved a hand at Vitam, forcing him to assume the form of a jack-in-the-box. "You changelings never learn your place." Vitam looked himself over in frustration. "Though, you are the oldest drone I've seen in over a thousand years. So, tell me, how have you lasted for so long?" Vitam glared at Discord.

"Wouldn't you like to know!"

"Change him back!" Jet cried out as he jumped at Discord, who only snapped his fingers, forcing Jet into a bright red dog.

"Sit!" Discord ordered as he pointed a finger to the ground. Jet slapped his haunches onto the soap he stood on. "Lay down!" Jet got to his belly. "Roll over!" Discord smiled as Jet rolled in the soap. "Good boy!" Discord grabbed a purple cloud from the sky and tore a piece off before tossing it toward Jet, who jumped up to catch it in his mouth while Discord laughed at his work.

"That's enough, Discord!" Angel cried out as she rushed up to grab Jet and Vitam.

"Oh, but the fun's only just begun!" Discord proclaimed as he started to munch on the cloud as if it was cotton candy. "Get used to it, kids. This is how the world is going to be from now on!" He snapped his fingers, making a throne appear on a hill, where he sat on it proudly as the clouds flew overhead, raining chocolate wherever they went. "Angel, do be a dear and go play with my daughter, Screwball." Discord smiled at Angel, who only glared at him in response as a purple earth pony with curly hair floated over her head with a maniacal grin on her face. The pupils of her eyes were twirling around like a spiral.

"As if I'd do anything for you!" Angel shouted at Discord.

"Oh, come on!" Screwball cried in a high-pitched voice. "I wanna play with you!" Then, before Angel could protest, Screwball swooped them all up and carried them away.

"Hey!" Angel protested as he struggled in vain to break free. "Put us down, you bitch!"

"Daddy said that's a naughty word!" Screwball giggled. "I like naughty words! Are you a naughty boy?" Screwball dropped Vitam and Jet on the air as she held Angel up, eyeballing her nethers. "That looks like a delicious lollipop!" Screwball licked her lips.

"Don't you dare!" Angel began to protest only to have Screwball pull him in and take the entire thing into her mouth and suckle it like a straw.

Jet barked at Screwball in protest as Vitam struggled to shift, but the only thing he could manage was toys, from cars to plushies. Screwball hummed in delight as she suckled Angels growing dick and balls at once while she struggled to break free as she shuttered to the pleasure from the oral stimulation.

Screwball spent what seemed like hours having fun with Angel before she left her hanging in the air like a rag, covered in spit and love juices, before turning to Jet. "I've always wanted to play with a dog!" Jet yelped and tried to run off in the other direction, but his efforts were in vain as he ran in place, unable to move anywhere before Screwball picked him up and laid him on his back, eyeballing his sheath in hunger. "Dog dicks look so ugly but look so fun!" She leaned in before a rainbow suddenly appeared from the heart of the town, getting her to look up. "What the snowballs is that?" The rainbow outstretched around Ponyville and engulfed the entire area in bright lights as Screwball watched in awe before she disappeared. Vitam returned to his pegasus form while Angel and Jet returned to their normal selves before they came crashing to the ground a few feet below them.

"Ow!" Jet cried out as he landed on his back. Angel landed on her side with a groan before she shakily tried to pull herself up.

"That... was... horrible!" Angel groaned. Vitam quickly regained his composer before he rushed over to help the two back onto their hooves.

"What just happened?" Jet asked as he pulled Angel's arm over his shoulders. They all looked around the area to find everything was back to normal.

"My guess is Twilight and her friends just defeated Discord," Angel observed as she regained enough of her own strength to stand on her own two hooves.

"Zuro!" Vitam proclaimed before he took off toward the Everfree. Jet looked at Angel.

"Can you fly?"

"I'm good now," she answered as she gave her wings a few flaps before they both took off after Vitam.

~~)oOo(~~

Zecora watched Zuro with a smile as he played with his sister before the door swung open, and Vitam came in with Angel and Jet right behind him.

"Zuro?!" Vitam called out, getting Dili to look up with a smiled before rushing over to him with a proud "Dady!" while Zuro got to his feet and smiled as he rushed over to hug Angel and Jet.

"Thank the gods; you guys are alright!" Zuro sighed happily as they hugged him back. "What happened out there?" he asked as he looked at Angel, who glared in response.

"We are not talking about it!" Angel said as she glared at Jet, "and if you say anything about it, I'll cut your dick off!" Jet gulped and stood firm. Zuro could sense the overwhelming rage and humiliation radiating from his lover, so he chose not to press the matter.

"But, what about Discord and the town?" Zuro asked.

"Everything's back to normal," Vitam answered as he held his daughter in his arms. "A great rainbow engulfed the entire town, then poof, everything's normal again."

"As soon as Zuro reverted to his normal form, he tried to leave," Zecora explained as she walked up to the group, "but I reminded him of his current charge." She smiled at Dili as she patted the little changeling's head, who giggled at her.

"I wanted so bad to get out there and help you guys with whatever was out there, but I had to think about my sister," Zuro explained with a bit of a frown to Angel.

"It's okay, Guardian," Angel reassured him as she pulled him into a hug. He took in the energy she offered him with vigor as he returned the hug.

"You all are welcome to stay until you're ready for your journey back home," Zecora offered with a smile.

"Still, after all these years, you're willing to help others in need, Zecora." Vitam smiled at her.

"It is in my nature," she smiled back at him.

"What were you and Dili doing when we came in?" Angel asked Zuro.

"We were playing an old changeling game," Zuro answered with a smile. "I promise it wasn't anything sexual."

"Wait, are you suggesting you guys are incestuous?" Jet piped up.

"Sex is a common activity amongst the changelings," Vitam answered.

"Even with family?" Jet asked.

"Jet, shut up," Angel growled at him.

"Sorry," Jet backed down.

"Anyway, let's get the he- er, let's get home," Angel studdered. "I need a hot shower after today."

Chapter IX

Captain Of The Army

"Again!"

Gnator flinched at the order of his commanding officer. He was tired and sore, not to mention frustrated at performing the same move again and again. Since he and Queen Chrysalis infiltrated Caterlot Castle months ago, the monarch ordered Gnator to begin training in the Changeling Army. Gnator eagerly agreed to join to get stronger to protect his family and play an essential role in the queen's plan to conquer Equestria.

"I've done this move a hundred times already!" Gnator huffed as he looked up to Fortis.

Fortis never agreed to Gnator joining the army, and he made that very clear from the beginning. He drilled Gnator from dawn to dusk, hardly giving him a minute to rest. Even if Gnator got praise from his comrades, Fortis insisted Gnator was horrible.

"And you'll do it a hundred times again!" Fortis barked. "Now, again!"

"Fortis, you've drilled him enough!" A female stepped up, earning a sharp glare from the commanding officer.

"Stand down, Entibus!" Fortis ordered. Entibus was a fellow soldier in the changeling army who quickly bonded with Gnator after the queen inducted him. The two became quick friends and worked hard side-by-side, even finding time after a long day to spend with each other. She walked up to Gnator and helped him off the dirt, to which Fortis did not take kindly for one second. He rushed right up and yanked Entibus to the ground by her wing.

"I said, stand down!" Fortis barked. Gnator glared at his superior and swung a solid and swift uppercut directly between Fortis' legs before he leaped into the air in a roundhouse kick to his head. Fortis fell to the ground on his back and looked up at Gnator just in time to see him jump onto his chest and start punching his face. Gnator landed punch after punch, from left cheek to right cheek again and again until Fortis gripped his wrist tightly and, with a growl, lunged his fist straight up into Gnator's chest, sending him flying into the air before landing on his back, knocking the wind out of him.

Gnator coughed a few times before he looked up to find Fortis flying through the air directly at him. Gnator quickly got to his feet to take a defensive position only to have Fortis land and twirl, sweeping Gnator's feet right out from under him, sending him back to the ground with a thud.

"Pitiful!" Fortis spat. Gnator glared at him, knowing full well his superior used magic to gain the advantage. Nevertheless, Gnator got back up and began swinging at his opponent, who dodged every swing easily. Fortis finally swung at Gnator's gut, knocking the wind out of him before suspending him up in the air with his magic by the throat. Gnator gripped the air around his throat as he gagged and kicked to break free in vain.

"The penalty for insubordination is death!" Fortis growled. "I'm going to enjoy watching the life leave your eyes!"

"Fortis!" Entibus cried out as she ran up. "That's enough!" Fortis sent a beam of magic directly into Entibus's chest, sending her to the ground gagging for air as she clung to her body.

"Let him go, Fortis!" A stronger female voice called from behind, getting all the changelings gathered around to drop what they were doing and drop to one knee as they bowed their heads in respect.

"This pathetic excuse for a drone has committed insubordination and must die, your highness!" Fortis growled while keeping his glare locked on the changeling in his grip.

"Put! Him! Down!" Chrysalis ordered, speaking the last word with such force, it caused the ground to tremble.

"If this piece of shit is as good as you think he is, he can get his ass out of this himself!" Fortis smirked as he watched the life drain from Gnator as he choked and kicked to break free. Suddenly, Fortis fell to the ground, gripping his groin in his hands as he coughed in surprise. Gnator collapsed to the ground, gasping and coughing as fresh air rushed into his lungs. Having recovered from Fortis' magic, Entibus rushed over to Gnator's side after kicking Fortis's penis.

"Well done, Entibus!" Chrysalis smiled at the young changeling while slow clapping as Entibus helped Gnator off the ground. Fortis growled as he struggled to his feet while glaring at the two. "You should consider yourself lucky, Fortis," Chrysalis continued. "Another second longer, and I would've removed your head from your neck."

"I'll kill you both!" He lunged forward at them. Gnator glared as he raised his hand at Fortis and fired a green blast of energy straight at his face, sending him flying back before hitting the ground with a hard thud. Chrysalis smirked at this as she sat on a chair made from her magical aura while folding her legs.

"It looks like my choice in leadership was right." Chrysalis mused. Fortis picked himself off the ground as he looked at Chrysalis in shock. Chrysalis smirked at Fortis. "Oh, didn't I tell you? Gnator is going to replace you."

"Your highness?!" Fortis countered. "This piece of shit couldn't lead the stone you walk on, let alone the changeling army!"

"Are you the one who selects those who submits changelings into the army?" Chrysalis asked with her brow narrowed.

"No, but-"

"Are you the one who makes the final decisions on where the army goes?"

"Your highness, I-"

"Are you the one who decides if you stay in your position or not?" Fortis's eyes went wide at this last question.

"You can't be serious!" Fortis protested, making Chrysalis growl sharply as she got to her feet.

"I've heard enough of your superiority complex!" Chrysalis hissed as she raised her hand at Fortis, who went wide-eyed at what he saw before him.

"I claim the Right Of Challenge!" Gnator piped up as he stood to his full height with Entibus by his side. All the changelings looked at Gnator in shock. Fortis glared in rage and disbelief while Chrysalis took a moment to process what she just heard before grinning.

"How dare you!" Fortis yelled.

"He has as much right to challenge you as any changeling in the hive," Chrysalis stated as she sat back on her cloud of magic. Forits blinked at this statement as he glared at Gnator.

"Gnator, don't do this," Entibus pleaded as she held Gnator's arm. "He'll kill you!"

"I can handle myself, Ent," Gnator began as Fortis chuckled, cutting him off.

"You can handle me?!" Fortis laughed. "You can't even do the simplest training exercises! Honestly, I don't even know why I'm wasting my time talking about this!" Fortis outstretched his hand to conjure a bound sword. "It's time to face your execution!" Before Fortis could make another move, he fell to the ground, completely paralyzed. "What the fuck?!" Fortis looked up to find Chrysalis standing over him with the angriest expression on her face. "Your highness?!"

"The only one who should be executed is you!" Chrysalis hissed.

"Your highness!" Gnator cried out.

"Speak, young one," Chrysalis answered without taking her glare off Fortis.

"Let me have this, and he won't be a problem for you anymore!" Gnator offered.

"And if you fail?" Chrysalis asked, still keeping her eyes locked on her mark.

"Then you can do with him what you will," Gnator answered. "Kill him. Stuff him. Banish him. I don't care. Just let me have this." Chrysalis' glare slowly turned into a grin that sent shivers sprinting down Fortis' spine.

"Very well, young one," Chrysalis said as she returned to her seat with her legs crossed and her hands on her knees. "In any case, this will be quite entertaining."

Fortis regained feeling in his body, and he got to his feet, his body visibly trembling from what just happened. He took a deep breath to regain his composer before glaring at Gnator. "You will regret this!" Fortis pointed to the ground and did a full three-sixty twirl, using his magic to draw a large circle on the ground before glaring at his opponent. "Step in the ring!"

Gnator took a breath before taking a step forward. "Gnator, don't!" Entibus pleaded as she clung to his arm.

"Entibus, I can do this," Gnator said calmly without taking his eyes off his opponent. Fortis only snorted in response.

"Gnator, he's captain of the army for a reason!" She reminded him.

It is true, Fortis was one of the best changelings in the hive, worthy of his title, but he got to that position by using anything and everything to his advantage. He knew how to manipulate the world around him, and he never held back. Anyone who stood up to him ended up either dead or disgraced.

"Entibus, I can do this," Gnator said again, this time with pure conviction and determination. Entibus watched Gnator, and the look on his face put her mind at ease. Gnator was calm and collected, a different changeling from the one who just got into a fight with the commanding officer.

After a minute, Entibus let his arm go. "Come back to me, you dumb ass," Entibus ordered before she planted a kiss on Gnator's cheek. The stakes just got even higher. If Gnator lost this fight, not only would he lose his life and his family, but he would lose the changeling who he had come to love.

Gnator stepped into the circle, keeping his eye on his opponent the entire time. As soon as Gnator entered the ring, the line in the dirt ignited in green flames. The two foes glared into each other's eyes as all the other changelings gathered around the ring of fire to watch the inevitable fight while giving Queen Chrysalis her personal space.

"The conditions?" Fortis asked.

"No magic and no shifting outside of non-magical creatures!" Gnator answered. Fortis scowled at this."The battle ends when one of us shifts to a magical creature, or when one of us leaves the circle!" Fortis snorted, and Gnator could see the frustration in his face spike. He knew Fortis would be at a disadvantage without using magic. Fortis' greatest strength was in his magical ability, and without it, he would not stand as much of a chance, which made Gnator even more proud to have taken his father's fighting lessons to heart, but now he would have to focus on them more than ever.

"And if I refuse?" Fortis asked.

"Do you even have to ask?!" Gnator spat out sharply, earning an audible growl from his opponent. Fortis accepted the challenge as soon as he stepped into the circle. Walking away now would automatically force him to lose. "If you refuse these terms, then you lose!" Fortis' glare grew even more fierce, so much so it did not seem possible. Gnator already won the battle when Fortis accepted the challenge, and he knew that; he just wanted the satisfaction of beating this filth in a fair fight.

"I accept your terms," Fortis growled. The crowd gathered with excitement, starting to cheer and place bets on who would win this fight. Gnator raised his hands against his opponent, who just stood there glaring at him. Fortis may have been at his best with his magic at his side, but he believed himself to be better than this young changeling, nonetheless.

"Let the battle begin!" Chrysalis called out as she shot a sparkle of green magic into the air with her hand.

Fortis lunged forward at Gnator, who braced himself for the attack before stepping to the side. Fortis slid on the ground, trying to prevent himself from passing the line behind Gnator, who kicked him in the center of his back to send him out of the ring. Fortis twisted his hips and grabbed Gnator's leg before giving it a firm yank. Gnator used all of his weight to fall backward, pulling them both to the circle's center. The crowd gathered around cheered and shouted at the two combatants.

Half the crowd began to get wild as Fortis was already about to claim victory. Gnator and Fortis rolled in the dirt before Fortis pinned Gnator to the ground and raised a fist over his head with the intent to deliver a killing blow. Gnator looked up at his opponent and jabbed his fist directly at Fortis's groin, hard. Fortis fell to the ground, clutching his cock as he coughed and wheezed in pain. Gnator quickly got to his feet and glared at Fortis.

"What the fuck?!" Fortis Growled. "What the fuck's with all these fucking crotch shots?!"

"Get up!" Gnator ordered. "That was pathetic! Get up and try again, you worthless, pathetic piece of shit!" Fortis glared at Gnator as he used his own words against him. "Get up!"

"Strike him down now!" A few changelings called out. "Don't let him get up! Kill him!" A few others called out. Entibus watched in horror. She knew Gnator was not the type who would senselessly kill an opponent, especially when they were at a disadvantage like this.

Fortis struggled to his feet. "Cheap move, fucker!" Fortis coughed as he stood upright while glaring at his opponent.

"Whatever it takes, right Fortis?" Gnator replied, earning a sharp snort from Fortis, who charged with a yell. At that moment, Gnator closed his eyes as he took in a deep breath. Time seemed to slow around him. The sound of the changeling crowd cheering and chanting around the battle zone faded into nothing more than a whisper, allowing him to focus on the sounds his opponent made, both in his war cries as well as his loud claws digging into the ground.

"Remember." The sound of Vitam's voice echoed in the back of Gnator's mind. "Never be too eager to rush your opponent." Gnator opened his eyes. His calmed state made time seem to slow to a crawl. "Don't let the adrenaline get to you." As Fortis approached Gnator, he raised his fist with the intent to strike at the head. "Wait for an opening, and strike!"

Fortis's fist came flying toward Gnator's head when Gnator side-stepped just in time for Fortis' fist to miss his cheek. Gnator grabbed Fortis's wrist tightly with his right hand as he lunged his left first straight for the back of Fortis's elbow. As his fist came into contact, the sound of bone cracking could be heard just before the screams of pain escaped Fortis' lips. Gnator then kneed Fortis in the gut, knocking the rest of the wind from his lungs before Gnator let go of Fortis' wrist to raise his arm above Fortis and shoot his elbow straight into his opponent's back, sending him crashing to the ground with a loud thud.

Time resumed its natural flow, and the sound of the cheering crowd filled the air once again as Gnator stood over Fortis, who lay there coughing while clenching his arm. Entibus smiled at Gnator as she stood her ground. Chrysalis smiled at Gnator for his accomplishment. Fortis pushed his chest off the ground with his good arm as his broken arm dangled in the dirt while he looked at Gnator in both shock and anger.

"How the fuck did you do that?!" Fortis groaned. Gnator only glared down at Fortis. "Answer me, you little shit!"

"It's over, Fortis," Gnator stated matter-of-factly. "You've lost." At this statement, Fortis shouted in anger as he lunched up at Gnator while shifting into the form of a dragon. With a mighty roar, Fortis' mouth lit up in flames, ready to roast Gnator in one swift attack before he suddenly fell to the ground, his body restored to its natural form and once again paralyzed. The green flames around them vanished, and the crowd went silent. Gnator took a step back as he watched Chrysalis walking toward Fortis.

"Your highness!" Fortis cried. "No!" Chrysalis placed her right foot on Fortis' neck, forcing the air pipe closed with the pressure.

"Charge, violating the terms of the challenge," she firmly stated as Fortis struggled to get out from her grip in vain. "Sentence," she hummed with a sadistic smile, "execution." Fortis desperately struggled to break from the grip of her clawlike foot. She leaned down and grabbed his neck, lifting him off the ground, his body dangling in the air like a ragdoll. Fortis could only look into Chrysalis' eyes in horror, silently pleading for mercy. Chrysalis smiled at him as she slowly moved his face closer to hers. When his muzzle was only an inch away from hers, she opened her mouth.

The crowd watched in horrific silence as a green light began to escape from Fortis's mouth, a look of pure terror in his eyes as he stared into hers. The green energy left Fortis's mouth and retreated into hers. As the energy left Fortis's mouth, began to leave his eyes. What only was a few seconds felt like an eternity before the life escaped Fortis's body, and he dangled in Chrysalis's grip. The green light vanished in Chrysalis's mouth before she let the body go, a loud thud filled the air when it hit the dirt.

Chrysalis closed her eyes as she took in a deep breath while hanging her head back as if looking up at the empty, sickly orange sky. After a few seconds, she lowered her head and opened her eyes to look around at the gathered changelings. "Let this be a reminder!" she called out. The changelings could only watch with pure intent out of fear. "I will not tollorate such lack of respect and loyalty!" She then looked at Gnator with a smile. "Now, let us put this sad loss behind us and welcome our new champion!" She raised a hand toward Gnator, who stepped forward to her. "Captain Gnator!" The changelings all burst out into roars of cheers and applaud.

Entibus ran up to Gnator, tackling him to the ground as she pressed her lips passionately against his. Gnator internally screamed in pain from his aching muscles and the, which soon melted away as he embraced his lover, rubbing her sides as he leaned into the kiss. Chrysalis chuckled. "Well, what better way to celebrate than with a mating session?!" The cheering increased. "Go, my children! Have fun!"