Fall of Two Worlds: Dark Days

by EquestrianWriter

Rating: everyone
Tags: Adventure, Dark
Length: 12372

Thanks to Dragon /)

After an attack of the Changelings, Canterlot has to rebuild. But what happens when Bright Haze is captured by two rouges? And do they really believe in The Hive?

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2013-01-20 21:44:15 UTC

Memories

Rainbow Dash stood by, watching the now sleeping human as Celestia worked her magic on him. The process had been slow and the human had screamed out more than once in his sleep. Celestia was killing any memory of Earth, thus most of here, so they never returned and threatened the land. Heart Breaker hadn't spoken once since Celestia mentioned about how the human had to either go home or lose his Earthen memories. Rainbow wondered why but didn't make any move to ask the alicorn why he was so quiet. Celestia suddenly stopped giving power to her magic and the human moved and groaned in his sleep, he wasn't saying anything, Rainbow thought, the human was just making noises and painful groans. He was still wounded, even without his memories, the human had jumped between Rarity and three crossbow bolts and had passed out from the blood lose the brought. That brave, selfless soul. He was the true hero, always would be. Now, he is nothing until Celestia can bring him back.

"How we doing?" Applejack asked, to Celestia and not asking if Rainbow Dash was okay, as the Pegasus saw.

"I have taken all memory of Earth away from him, now I must recreate those of Equestria, and some others. What did he call himself the first day here?" Celestia asked. Nopony had really called the human by his chosen name, just sir or man or not saying anything. Rainbow thought back to that day after they went through the portal with that two legged stranger. She got it almost straight away. It was a strange name, but his all the same. Bright Haze, hero of Equestria and the returning of a dead hero. That sounded, dark, but nice, relevant.

"Bright Haze." Rainbow Dash said. "He called himself Bright Haze." Rainbow Dash had no idea where the human had gotten that name from, but she wasn't going to question it. That time was over, now she had to stop referring him as 'the human' and get it into her head he was going to be a reborn pony.

"Ok. Bright Haze. Have some memories." Celestia muttered and pushed off some magic into the dark cyan pony. Twilight said something to Rainbow as they watched the goddess princess work about something like the state Haze was in now was just a void now. If Celestia were to wake him up and stop the memory process, he would have no idea about anything, who he is, who they are, anything. The process went on for another good ten minutes before the hu- before Bright Haze started to stir again, suddenly he began to move about very fast and scream out. He wasn't saying anything, just shouting to nothing about nobody. He was rolling around the small bed and Rainbow Dash, Twilight and Pinkie Pie had to hold the pony down to avoid him falling of the bed. Rainbow looked over to her friends and caught sight of some medical unicorns searching the broken gates to search for Dari's body. Rainbow Dash wasn't sure weather she wanted them to find the Sirens body. Either way it was grim thinking of Dari now being dead. Bright Haze losing all his memories of his home.  The hundreds of dead ponies, normal and Changeling alike were still dotted around the battlefield. The whole area was a mess. Rainbow looked up to the mountain they had once climbed, only to watch Haze sonic Rainboom into Discord, launching them both into the sunset. Only to kill Discord and Haze in the process.

Bright Haze may not remember any of it. Just his name and where he is so far. Celestia began to look worn, but everypony knew if she stopped, Bright Haze wouldn't know what was going on. It was terrible in the current state the Pegasus was in.

Rainbow got bored and began wondering around, looking at the other ponies dotted around on their own beds, surrounded by their own friends. The healers had begun working extra hard now Celestia was down, and treating on of the heroes of Equestria. Dashie smiled at that. Everypony had begun calling them all that; Heroes and Heroines of Equestria. Rainbow Dash jumped when she noticed Princess Luna standing besides her.

"Sorry, did thoust stare you?" Luna asked. Rainbow blushed a little.

"No, your alright." Rainbow replied.

"Good. We wouldn't want to scare anypony, yet." Luna said. Rainbow nodded but otherwise said nothing. "Terrible sight, isn't it?" Luna asked, more serious.

"What is? The dead?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"No. War in general. When Nightmare moon rose to power, along with the New Lunar Empire, it was what began many wars that followed her defeat and our banishment." Luna replied. "All we could do was watch as the world tore itself apart." Luna paused the opened her wings up a little to get some air.

"But it's over now. We are at peace." Luna muttered and the two nodded together.

"Changelings!" Somepony shouted and from the sky a small warband of Changelings were flying down to attack. Luna took flight to attack them, as did Rainbow Dash after a few moments of panic. Rainbow, apart from the fear going through her body and her wings barely listening to her commands of flight, wished to see how cool the scene of Luna and Rainbow Dash flying toward about one hundred Changelings looked like.

Princess Luna shot some magic at the first group of Changelings and then Rainbow Dash and herself collided with the enemy. Rainbow noticed more and more Pegasi flying up to help the battle. Luna and herself flow back to back, fighting the Changelings surrounding them. Rainbow Dash and the other Pegasi fought, some Changelings making it onto the ground and swarming the medical bay. The cyan Pegasus lost all vision on the ground and focused on the fight.

Only did the last Changeling fall and Rainbow Dash return did she see what was wrong. A white unicorn had a golden axe lodged in her back from a throw and to make matters worse.

Bright Haze was missing.

The Human had been ponynapped without any memories apart from his name and where he was, and maybe, just maybe who his friends were.

"Bright Haze. Must. Be found." Celestia grunted, she was holding her leg with another, she had clearly been pushed down with a lot of force. "He could become a treat if not found." Celestia muttered and Rainbow Dash saw the reality of what was going on. In the wrong hands, Bright Haze, with his skill, could become a treat to Equestria very easily, he had to be found. Soon.

Horsenappers

Theon and Tungion galloped as fast as the two Sky Dwellers could go with the pony being dragged behind them. After the victory over the strange bug like enemy, not known in Dwellen history, King Ark had declared war over Celestia and all her followers, however the two young war heroes had followed the retreating enemy and the two saw them attack Celestia's camp outside Canterlot, they had clearly been attacked due to the fact Canterlot had no more gates. The two had watched from a distance as the enemy had charged at Celestia and the camp she had set up. Theon saw instantly that it meant the enemy were attacking everypony. Even Celestia. Tungion, not as bright watched the battle in awe and confusion.

"Why are they attacking Celestia Theon?" The dull Earth pony asked.

"Ever heard that old expression Tungion. The enemy of my enemy is my friend?" Theon replied, his long Pegasus wings shining in his armour. Tungion was the only Dwellen to be born non Pegasi and had been shunned from most places, but being Pegasi born, the pony had gotten some sort of cloud walking magic and thus hadn't been completely excluded from the cities. Theon had found Tungion as a young foal and they had become good friends, even joining the Dweller army together. Tungion shock his head and looked to Theon for guide.

"Ah, well it means that this new enemy is out to get everypony and that Ark needs to stop the war before there are unnecessary casualties, and that these strange ponies must be defeated for the good of Equestria, all of it." Theon stated.

"But Ark wouldn't believe us, we would be killed for treason." Tungion replied.

"You know something Tun-, that's the smartest thing you have ever said." Theon looked at the camp for a moment catching sight of a sleeping dark cyan Pegasus quiet close to where the two Sky Dwellers were. "-That, Tun-, is why we are going to take a Pegasus to help us convince Ark that this new enemy is a treat, and not Celestia." Theon added, then began crawling out of the bushes toward the camp. The battle was raging on ground and in the air so nopony would notice to armed, armoured ponies sneaking around.

"We grab that blue Pegasus. Ready?" Theon asked, getting nearer.

"Ready Theon." Tungion replied and the two ponies leaped forward, only to be blocked by Celestia herself.

Rainbow Dash galloped in panic, with Bright Haze missing with only a few memories, it could mean anything. They had to find him. The cyan Pegasus said so.

"Of course we have to find him. Among others things he is our friend. But we have no idea as to where he is, who took him." Rarity replied, not helping the matter in the slightest.

"I know who took him. And where they will go." Celestia said, finally standing again. Everypony looked to their princess in hope. "A Sky Dweller ran in moments ago, followed by another with a spring launcher of a battle axe. They rushed in a grabbed Bright Haze, I don't believe they did it for spite. They were here due to the Changelings attacking them, as Rainbow Dash has said. So they must have followed these retreating Changelings coming here thinking the city was still theirs, in hope of reinforcements, the Dwellen king, Ark, will most likely think the Changelings were my own forces, so these two rogues took Haze in an attempt to get a more stable pony in an attempt to convince their king that the Changelings are not my doing and thus, end a war that would have come out of that." Celestia said. Twilight stared for a few moments before blinking twice.

"No offence, but how the hell did you figure that out?" Twilight asked, bemused.

"I know these Sky Dwellers a lot. They have been around a long time." Celestia said, suddenly dark.

"Oh." Twilight replied, not wanting to push the situation deeper.

"That and I heard them talking about it in the bushes when the Changelings attacked. I didn't think they would grab Haze though. Twilight, you and your friends have to get him back, follow the Dwellers north and save Haze if anything goes wrong, which it will. Bright Haze has no memory except for a few blurry memories of us, his name and a few more random things I put in. He will be hurt still, those arrow wounds were deep and he may be infected and ill, I want you to bring him home." Celestia ordered, everypony nodded and got ready to leave. Somewhere in the distance, a Hydra screamed.

Theon and Tungion dragged the sleeping pony across the muddy ground before finally, Theon collasped and sat down.

"That Pegasus better bucking wake up soon. I ain't dragging him all the way Marvic." He grunted angrily.

"Theon. How long until then?" Tungion asked, staring into his saddle.

"What do you mean?" Theon replied. Tungion showed him his almost empty back of rations. About three days worth for the three of them. Marvic was five days away, by flight. But due to Tungion's Earthen ways, they had to walk. Which would be almost two or three more days. And the two Sky Dwellers just didn't have the food for that.

"What the buck we gonna do Theon?" Tungion asked.

"I don't know Tun. I just don't know." Theon replied.

"We could buy food and water?" Tungion suggested.

"Where would we get the money, we are soldiers of Ark's imperial fleet. We are just privates, we earn nothing, and the money we would get, wouldn't work in Equestria, it is Dwellen money." Theon replied.

"Could melt down our armour?" Tungion suggested again.

"Nah, ponies would question where we got the gold, and Ark would kill us if we did that. I guess we could find apple tress and such on the way." Theon said. Tungion nodded, probably had no idea what Theon was talking about. The two sat in silance for a few minutes, just staring at each other, or the sleeping Pegasus, or the trees, those dark tall trees. Theon didn't fell safe here, like the trees themselves were watching the two Dwellers and their pony captive. Well, negotation tool to end a war before it begins. Suddenly there was a roar of a beast and Theon jumped up, ready for a fight. Tungion also did the same, with his unloaded weapon as he had thrown his only axe at the medic back at Canterlot.

"Buck, we are in the Everfree forest." Theon finally realised and then saw what had roared. Out of the tree line came a four headed Hydra beast. Theon saw defeat when it swooped down and crushed Tungion without hesitation. Theon looked up at the giant claw as he embraced death.

"Bullocks." Theon said before dying.

Where creatures roam

The hydra looked at its pray, one was crushed and dead, the other sliced in half. The hydra was pleased with himself, picking up his two meals he began to wonder away, but suddenly he caught a smell, something unknown to him. The hydra looked to the cause of the smell and saw a pony, it looked dead. The hydra sniffed again and caught the horrible smell had come of this pony. Thinking it was just a rotting corpse, the hydra moved on. Not noticing the two bug like creatures in the bushes.

I opened my eyes slowly, my head was throbbing and I felt a deep pain in my side. I didn't dare get up as my eyes felt heavy and my head was burning. I caught sight of some dark trees around me and realised my head was at the stump of one.

"Where am I?" I asked. "What happened?" I asked myself. But I had no idea. The last thing I remembered was my friends, I had jumped in front of Rarity and then, blinding pain. One of them had shot me. No, they wouldn't do that, would they? I barely had any memories of anything, my mind was blank. Only a few moments with my friends, but who were my friends, I remembered Rarity, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash, but none of the others who appeared in my mind and I also found I had no remembrance of them. Just names and faces, and one shooting me. I jumped up in panic. One of my friends had shot me and dumped me here! I rushed around, but after a moment, I stopped, throw up. And passed out.

Sap and Aeb had watched the Pegasus wake up and stare at the tree line confused. Then rushing around before finally passing out. Sap looked to his clone, they were all clones, mirroring the queens own son. No identity, no personality, just war and orders. The news in the hive had spread of the defeat of Discord, the closing off the rip and the 'death' of this pony, Bright Haze. The queen had ordered, in preparation to her invasion for her most elite soldier to steal the ponies body, dump it somewhere and stall the Elements of Harmony, or Humanity or whatever the queen had called them, by forging a letter by Princess Celestia telling them to wait three days. Aeb had been told about how the elite Changeling had actually done it but died fighting the returned Bright Haze. How the pony was revived was a, miracle some would say, but how Haze had come back was, strange and unpredicted. Any doctor could have said the Pegasus was dead, but he had indeed returned, fought his battle and then was ponynapped by some Sky Dwellers. These two Changelings had quietly watched from the bushes, watching for this moment. The two Changelings crept out of the bushes toward the passed out pony. He was breathing heavily and a wound had opened and was bleeding. Sap looked to his colleague and blinked.

"What do we do?" Sap asked. "Here there be the number one enemy to the Changeling race and he lays dying at our feet."

"We keep him alive." Aeb replied. Sap blinked again in confusion and then waiting for his clone to explain.

"We can bring him up as a Changeling. You saw him. He has brain damage or something. He has no idea who he is, what happened or where he is." Aeb finally explained after a short pause.

"But you have no way to prove this."

"Okay. Sap if you woke up here alone and wounded what would you do?" Aeb asked.

"Fly back to the hive." Sap replied.

"But if you had no memory of this place, only your hurt and have no idea this place is bad?"

"I would stay and try to heal myself-" Sap got the point and nodded.

"See, this Bright Haze is obviously a war hero for the other races. So what if we change that, make him believe he is a Changeling."

"He could fight for us and once he is officially joined in we can take back Canterlot and the rest of Equestria."

"And then we can be war heroes and be feed more!" Sap replied. The two laughed and watched the pony below them. Who stirred in his sleep and muttered something.

I woke again. Still unsure as to where I was. Two strange figures stood over me, they were both replicas of each other, both having the same identical feature. Black and green all over, wings and a horn. Green eyes and bug like features.

"Who are you?" I asked. Feeling sick again.

"Haze, do you not remember us?" One asked. I flinched as a shock of pain shot through me again. My head hurt and my side ached, it stung as well.

"No. Who are you?" I repeated. Looking to the two ponies above me.

"I am Aeb, this is my brother Sap. We are your friends Haze. Friends. You have been attacked by some ponies under the rule of one Princess Celestia, she sent her ponies to kill you but only gave you major memory loss and a few arrow wounds. You will be okay Bright Haze, but you must believe we are your friends." The first, Aeb, answered.

"Your a friend? I don't remember you. Just, just a white unicorn, and a rainbow coloured Pegasus." I groaned, seeing flashes of old memories.

"We are both friends Haze, you are a Changling and we are your mentors. The wound has rendered your morphing skills useless and you will be stuck in your dull Pegasus state for the rest of your life. Also due to the wound we will have to retrain you for immediate attack. As soon as you are ready again we can join the HiveArmy once more." Aeb replied. I nodded in understanding and tried to get up, only to fall back down again in weakness.

"No Haze, rest. We shall wake you when you are needed, but for now my friend. Rest." Aeb said, I nodded my thanks and closed my eyes to sleep.

Aeb and Sap laughed together as the Pegasus finally drifted of to sleep. Aeb had completly convince the ertswhile enemy that he was on their side and his friends were trying to kill him.

"He really believes he is one of us." Sap laughed. Aeb joined in until he spotted something.

"Well he may not be the best choice after all. Look at his wounds." Aeb pointed out where the arrow stab was raw and red, puss dripped out of it and scabs had began to form.

"The puss is colourless, meaning that the wound is infected. He could die soon just through this wound alone, and I haven't checked the other two. He also has a cutie mark, which can't be done by normal Changlings." Aeb said.

"But he doesn't need to know that." Sap replied, staring at the sword over a shield tattooed to the pony's flank.

"Aye I guess so. Any ideas as to what to do if he doesn't in fact, wake up again?" Aeb asked.

"Simple. Burn his body so he doesn't come back and we stay here and wait the war out." Sap replied.

"Which war?" Aeb smiled. It was true. There was three or four soon about to kick off and the two Changlings knew that, and with one of the strongest of their enemies, the Changling empire could win. But first, either Celestia or The Sky Dwellers had to fall. Fire was spreading, the fires of war.

Leaving

Rainbow Dash and the others held almost three weeks of food between the six of them. Twilight and Rarity had gone off quickly with Celestia, later to be found out that the two had been taught some spells that may come in handy during the trip through the Everfree Forest. Their target was a sky city named Mavaric or something, Rainbow would look into it if the name was wrong. They were also armed with some battle saddles with spears or crossbows attached to them. Celestia was really worried about them clearly and Rainbow Dash saw why. Not only had the group got to go through the Everfree Forest but then go deeper and deeper into the land known as Everfree Central is. Legend saying that Everfree Central was where all the terrible monsters of the forest are spawned. Rainbow Dash finally decided that some sort of armour protection was in need and she asked for a set that would fit her. After some more valuable time and re-forging she was ready. The seven now stood before Celestia waiting for some heart warming speech.

"My little ponies. I know you may be tired from this battle hard won. But you go out into one of the most horrible places known to pony-kind to find and save your friend. I give you my hope and wish for you all to go back. Now please, go after Haze, bring our hero home." Celestia said. Rainbow turned to Heart Breaker before Celestia began to tell them their route and plan for saving Haze and stopping the war with the Sky Dwellers. The alicorn was staring intently at the princess but also seems distracted by thought. Rainbow Dash quickly lost interest in what Celestia was saying and looked around, completely by accident spotting Dari's gravestone and feeling a tear start up on her right eye. Rainbow, despite knowing the Siren for only a little time felt bad the Pegasus had given herself up to make sure the others got into Canterlot. But thankfully, she didn't die in vein. Well at least taking back Canterlot, but Rainbow Dash felt the thought of how many more ponies would die before peace returned to Equestria.

I was in complete darkness, again. There was nothing around me, although I couldn't exactly tell since it was pitch black where ever the hell I was. I tried to walk, but couldn't, some invisible force was keeping me still. I couldn't move at all, even my wings were clenched down.

"Fuck." I said. "I can't be dead again." I added. "No, not again! Please not again. Derpy!" I shouted into the darkness. Panicking. I couldn't leave her again. I promised to return home to her. "DEEERRRRPPPPYYYY!" I shouted. I kept shouting for her, tears forming, kept shouting into the darkness. "Derpy! I promised I would find you!" I shouted, tears flowing freely now. I couldn't be dead. Not again.

I stood completely still for another few moments looking down at the darkness. I realized this time I was actually on a floor not just floating in space heading for Bliss. I kept thinking of Derpy Hooves, hoping that in some way keeping her in my head would bring me back to her. So far, nothing.

Suddenly I heard something in the darkness, I tried to turn my head a found I was free again. I couldn't move my body just yet, only my head. I caught sight of a small, creature, almost like a scarecrow thing or something. I didn't get a good look but could fell trouble. I saw more of these creatures. Appearing all around me, circling me, almost a taunt.

"Derpy!" I shouted again. Trying to count these monsters, and failing. I could barely see myself, but my eyes were adjusting to the darkness. It was horrible this felling I had. I didn't know where I was, if I were dead or alive. I had no way of telling.

But then a white light flickered in front of me and a figure stepped out of the darkness, and I knew my questions would be answered.

Rainbow Dash had finally gathered all the gear she required, armed with a spear and clad in armour she felt prepared, everypony was going to free Haze, even Steven and Nick. Nopony had seen or heard from the Bloody Skulls so Rainbow presumed they weren't coming or at some other battle somewhere. The group began to head off and Rainbow caught sight of Twilight and Heart Breaker talking.

"Look Twi, I'm really sorry about the Canterlot battle. You needed me and I could have helped save Haze. Before he passed out, or got shot. I just, can't. My wings don't work and my horn is dead. I have no magic to give to you all and can't do anything right." Heart Breaker said.

Twilight leaned her head on the stallions back leg.

"No Heart Breaker, it's not your fault  your wings or magic doesn't work, you still stood by us all that time. Hey Heart Breaker. You were probably the bravest one out there. Besides,-" Twilight froze for a second then righted herself. "-Besides Dari anyway. I'll make a point to tell Celestia when we come back with Haze." Twilight said to the alicorn who seemed reasured, for a moment.

"But, the portal. Isn't it still open?" He asked.

"How is that your fault. Im sure we will find a way to fix it. It won't get any bigger." Twilight replied. "How is it your problem though?" She asked kindly. Heart Breaker froze that time. Then gulped and said nothing. Until Twilight poked him with her horn.

"I dunno Twi. What if we don't come back with Haze?" He asked.

"We will. If it was any of us Haze would come. Right? He came back from the dead just to see Derpy again." Twilight said. Heart Breaker nodded and Rainbow Dash figured out why he was worried about the portal. Dash smiled slyly and made a point to confront Heart Breaker later. The only problem, would it affect Equestria? Or Earth?

The Mo'ka

"Who. Who are you?" I asked scared, the strange creatures continued to circle me and the figure in front was a complete mystery. I couldn't see any features and he blurred if I looked directly at the thing. I readied for combat but wasn't sure if I would be any threat against this thing and the creatures. I waited a moment watching the blurring creature, it made a coughing noise like it was preparing for something. Then, silence again. I tilted my head but the blurring continued and I looked away, toward the demonic creatures crawling and hissing.

"I am a member of a age old group, the Mo'ka." The figure finally said, in an old, hoarse voice. It was male sounding but had a female background, like it had two voices together. "Or in your language, a Keeper of Peace and Order in Time and Space." The figure said.

"So a Time Lord?" I asked. Looking at the figure full on, ignoring the blur.

"No, they do not exist. Us Mo'ka keep the balance in the multiverse and stop anything in the Balance from failing." The figure replied. I looked to the creatures again. "Feeders, they follow those who are out of the Balance and feed on their mana energy." I had absolutely no idea what the (b)uck was going on but I just stood and listened.

"What does that mean for me?" I asked.

"Unbalance."

"In what?"

"Time. You shouldn't be here, or in your current status."

"Which is?"

There was a small pause and the blurring increased.

"Death." So that proves it, I was dead, again! Bollocks.

"What is the Balance?" I asked.

"The Balance is what the Mo'ka call either the Mo'kai, the good, or the Do'kai, the bad or Unbalanced. If you have Mo'kai, nothing is wrong with the multiverse and everything is going along it's natural timeline. However if a God or supernatural being gets hold of time powers or ways of ripping apart the void between the Multiverse, then you have Do'kai, Unbalance. The Feeders then appear following those Unbalanced few and feed of their mana energies, not hurting them, but taking the mana which is used for Ka'Bringy or 'Magic', The Feeders help us Mo'ka to search out and find the Unbalanced and change time to correct it. Many planets and universes without the use of magic is due to said Unbalances, the people have become so out of the natural timeline that Feeders have taken all Magical energy. A place for example is on 'Earth'. They are constantly Unbalanced and must be corrected nearly all the time."

"What is wrong with me then?" I asked, wanting every possible answer I could get from this strange figure. The Feeders began to howl a little and scattered for no apparent reason, to to reform in their little circle and crawl round me again.

"You are Unbalanced by the happenings of your timeline. Since the leak between universes opened and this 'Wild Magic' you call bleed into you, you have been. You were born human Haze, not pony. I cannot undo everything of the Unbalance but I can bring you back for your fight against destruction. Haze, you will not remember this, nor anything about your old life. Your friends have taken that so you may stay but hear me." The figure said, looking more ghost like. I nodded. "There is a war coming between universes Bright Haze, and use Mo'ka are powerless against it. Your Gods have opened a rip through the universes and the other side are preparing for war. They have vast technology better than yours, but Haze. With your 'Wild Magic' you can save your home. But you must make a choice. Either way, one planet will fall. And the Balance shall of been returned. You cannot save everyone Bright Haze, many friends will die before this day, but you must make the choice between the two worlds. Only then, can you save your world, your home." The figure vanished, along with the 'Feeders' and I was left alone again, plunged into darkness.

"But why are you telling me this if I won't remember?" I called into the dark at where the figure had, been? Stood? Sat?

Only an echo replied.

"Your memories shall return when the time is needed for them Haze. But only then." With that I collapsed and remembered no more.

The Timberpony

Rainbow Dash stood alongside Heart Breaker and Rarity. It was nearly pitch black in this awful forest and the tightly-packed trees had slowed the groups journey down numerous times. Luckily Steven was here and would either take the non flying members of the group above and around the trees, or completely knock them over, normally by accident. Rainbow Dash looked to Rarity and indicated she wanted a chat with Heart Breaker by gesturing her head. Rarity gave a nod and wondered off to comfort Fluttershy.

"So. Heart Breaker." Rainbow Dash said causally. The Alicorn turned to look at the Pegasus.

"Yeah?" He replied with a slight accent Dash hadn't picked up on, until now.

"What was that earlier about the rift? Wouldn't know why it was still open would you?" Dash asked. More loudly then intended.

"I have no idea what you are talking about." Heart Breaker replied calmly.

"But you were worried about Bright Haze not being the main threat with the closer of the portal? Were you not?" Rainbow Dash asked. Getting more of a bitch every word. And sadly, she knew it, but wanted to get to the bottom of the mystery of 'Heart Breaker'.

"Shouldn't we all be?" The Alicorn replied, completely calm.

"Heart Breaker. I know, just admit it." Rainbow said. Finally annoyed, the big pony turned to look at Rainbow Dash, opened his mouth and.-

"Timber wolves!" Nick shouted, jumping from Steven's back ready for combat. Everypony gathered in a circle and heard the first cry of a howl. Twilight's horn was glowing, along with Rarity's. Applejack posed for a kick and Pinkie jumped her to fore legs down looking like a cat ready to pounce. Heart Breaker also readied himself as did Steven and Nick. Fluttershy began to curl up and shiver in fear.

"Come on Fluttershy, you have fought in a war, you can win against some wolves. We need you. To save Haze, and Equestria once more." Rainbow found herself saying. Fluttershy paused before nodding.

"For Bright Haze, our friend." Fluttershy said picking a dry stick up. Rainbow Dash became prone as the first wolf jumped through the tree line. Applejack kicked out and smashed its jaw in. A second ran out and was shot by the combined magic of Twilight and Rarity.

More timber wolves bounded out of the tree line only to be continuously cut down. Rainbow Dash charged at one and flapped her wings, flying over it as the wolf clawed out. Dodging the attack, she landed the spin and kick back, hearing the wood splinter and smash. Another came at Dash and she flow up and boom dived onto it, shooting wooden remains everywhere. A third came out and Rainbow Dash ran, then a shout was heard from a figure somewhere in the tree line. and she realized the group were outnumbered, and surrounded. A figure shrouded in a long cape and hidden by the darkness stood above the ponies on a tree branch, looking down. And laughing.

Bright Haze woke up to see Aeb and Sap sitting over him. Aeb was holding a sharp stick between its hooves and hid it before Haze could realise the Changeling had just tried to kill him in his sleep.

"Ah Haze, welcome back to the living. How are you feeling?" Sap asked in a cruel, misleading voice. He had a cold, evil smile on and his bug-like green eyes were still and staring, unblinking as the Changeling inspected the erstwhile Hero. Now at the two drones' mercy.

"I still hurt." Haze said.

"You remember who did this right?" Sap asked. Haze began to think for a moment and nodded.

"Celestia's ponies, they shot me."

"Yes, and are you ready to begin your training to get revenge on them?" Sap asked, loudly. Haze nodded and slowly got up, only to fall down again in pain.

"Come on, get up. You can do it, it'll be good for the wounds." Sap said, silently laughing. Bright Haze nodded and stood up. Only to move his front leg from unbalance and splitting the raw wound apart, spraying puss and blood down his leg. The pony cried in agony and feel.

"It will be good for the wound. The puss was infected." Sap said, if it wasn't, that fall onto the ground would make it. Sap was determined to train this pony into a weapon, even at the expense of its life.

Bright Haze nodded under the pain and stood up again. Ignoring the blood surging from his body.

"To avoid them Celestians from hurting you again, you need to forget pain." Sap said and punched Bright Haze, the plan was to make the pony into a weapon, now Sap just wanted something to torture. Haze cried out and Sap punched him again.

"Forget pain! Its an emotion. Think only of the Hive, think only of the hate the Celestia ponies gave you. Hate is your only emotion, hate is your weapon. Use it Haze!" Sap shouted, continuously hitting Bright Haze, Aeb just stood, watching, but not in belief for the Hive. In fear for himself. Sap was going to turn Haze against the world. Aeb snapped, he broke from the HiveMind and, was himself, he thought for himself. And choose his own side for when the time came. Bright Haze gave a roar and charged at Sap, who jumped out of the way, Haze charged, screaming, toward a tree and on impact, destroyed it.

Kicking and punching the pony went, smashing into the strong oak and breaking every piece of it. The tree collapsed and Haze kept going. Shouting in angry, pain. Hate.

"No pony can stop me. For the Hive." Haze said to himself, before passing out on the ruined tree.

Dash looked to the pony figure standing above them on the tree. Laughing, the laugh was cold and shallow, lime the sound a tree makes when the wind blows through its leaves. The pony was a dark brown sort of colour from what Dash could tell, for the figure wore a dark green robe covering all his body, a hood was also there so the face was completely covered in shadow. The Timber wolves had stopped their attack now this figure had appeared.

"Who are you?" Applejack shouted. The pony in the tree laughed some more. When it spoke, its voice was hoarse and quiet.

"Do you not know me? I control the forest, I control the Everfree. I am part of it you see. I am the Timberpony, master of all things green!" The pony said and laughed again.

"Timberpony! What do you want with us?" Twilight asked. A wolf growled ready to jump but the pony rose a hood up and the wooden wolf shattered into pieces.

"Oh nothing really, its not personal, you are just travellers who are lost in my domain. I would normally let you be, but my wolves attacked a Hydra earlier, carrying some dead ponies, now they want meat. And as you can see.-" The Timberpony pulled its cape and hood off showing himself. Wood was everywhere, his front leg was missing and in its place a wooden stump, and eye was gone, one ear, in fact, this pony was more wood than flesh. There wasn't a limb on the things body that didn't have some piece of wood attachment or replacement. "-I have already given them most of my flesh." The Timberpony finished and the wolves below readied to pounce.

'Kill him' A voice said in Rainbow Dash's mind. She still had the crossbow saddle on, luckily it was loaded. She needed to aim the shot.

"Distract him." Dash muttered, hoping some pony would hear, one did. Nick.

"So, Timberpony? How come you are in the forest?" Nick asked, for a second the Timberpony didn't know who had just spoken to him due to Nick's size, and the Timberpony even thought it was Heart Breaker or Steven.

"Do not question my power. I am the forest, I have been here since the first seedling was growing. I am the Everfree!" The Timberpony shouted. Rainbow Dash had the shot.

"When will you kill us?" Nick asked. The Timberpony laughed.

"Soon my knife, my wolves like waiting for their meal." The Timberpony replied, then gasped out in pain just after a buzzing noise filled the air. Rainbow Dash had fired.

'Good Rainbow Dash. Very good.' the voice said. Rainbow Dash watched as the bolt stuck out of the Timberpony's skull and after lots of sawdust and blood shot out. The figure fell, as did the wolves, collapsing into themselves as their master died. The group walked over and crowed round the pony, still alive.

"You, have, saved me." He said. "The Everfree, took control. Turned me, insane and evil. Now, now I am free." The Timberpony said. "Remember. Me. As, Diamond Ray." He added. "The Everfree Forest. Corrupts. Run ponies.." With that, Diamond Ray, or the Timberpony, died.

"What, what did he mean? The Everfree corrupts?" Pinkie Pie asked, confused. Rainbow Dash stared down onto the part wood pony, once a normal being with friends and family, but then Everfree Central corrupted him and changed him. Forcing him to become 'one with the forest' and becoming the evil demon any pony would hate to become.

Rainbow Dash shook her head and felt a tear drip down her check.

"We should bury him." Dash said, muttering.

"We don't have time. We need to save Haze." Twilight replied.

"But I killed this pony, he was corrupt, trapped here. You guys go on ahead then. I am going to bury this pony." Rainbow Dash said determined and begun to punch at the ground with her hoof. Fluttershy trotted forward and aimed her spear at the ground, then began to dig lime it was a shovel. Rainbow Dash looked to her friend, and nodded, then Nick came over, and Applejack, Pinkie Pie, hell even Rarity began to. Supervise. After only a few minutes, there was a hole big enough for Diamond Ray. They placed his body in the hole and covered it.

"I'm sorry. Diamond Ray." Rainbow Dash muttered as the group departed, it was getting dark,er. Night would soon come. Then the real threats awoke.

Night visitor

Night had fallen over Equestria, the moon shone high and bright over the trees of Everfree Central. The moonlight over the shadows of the trees made their figures look even more twisted and evil than normally in daylight. Heart Breaker was on guard duty for the shift but Rainbow Dash lay awake, staring at the 'pony' as he trotted around the small camp. Steven lay in the centre and was snoring loudly, any monster a mile off would hear, but being a serpent everything was probably too scared to attack. Every now and again however Rainbow heard some sort of howl or bark from a distance. Always from a different place. Rainbow, nor anypony else hadn't dared take their armour off and Dash herself had a spear not three feet away from her pony. Another howl barked out but was far enough away for Dash to worry. She closed her eyes for a moment, then. Sleep.

Heart Breaker knew Rainbow Dash was watching him, but decided to ignore that fact. Holding his spear saddle out he was ready, howls had been echoing all night and were always from different positions, so whatever was coming, was definitely on the move. In force. Heart Breaker wasn't worried about some timber wolf pack or Hydra, the group could take that, it was the fact that the nights were getting longer. By his standing the sun should soon be coming up, but it looked to be only midnight. Both Luna and Celestia had power over both sun and moon so something was wrong. Luna hadn't been around at all during the Changeling invasion, captured straight away then disappearing. Luna was a princess, she could do what she wanted, but the lengthy nights didn't feel right. Usually long nights meant bad things. Like when Bright Haze died after Discord's defeat, the first time Heart Breaker had heard about him, the days would be long and rainy and clouds would be raining on their own, no Pegasus could stop or move them. Nopony seemed to care that much about long rainfall and long nights, but it didn't seem right. There was a howl and Heart Breaker jumped up, spear ready. He had apparently gone to sleep but didn't recall it. It was still night overhead and the moon had barely moved. Suddenly, Heart Breaker noticed some movement of an unknown creature. Heart Breaker readied his spear and more shadows appeared, surrounding the camp, covering any exit and circling the sleeping ponies, and knife, and serpent.

"What are you? Who goes there?" Heart Breaker called out into the darkness. Then a strange, humanoid figure stepped out of the forest in black robes.

"The Mo'ka." It replied.

'Bright Haze stepped out of the forest first, only to be hugged tightly by Derpy Hooves, the other ponies soon followed, sore and bloody. Rarity began to complain about the mud again and Fluttershy began flapping her wings excitedly to see Spike with her rabbit Angel. Steven and Nick began to talk amongst themselves and Pinkie Pie started to jump about happily. Rainbow Dash stood in armour still, stood at the edge of the forest proudly. They had done it, gone into the heart of evil itself, gotten Bright Haze out and returned saviours. Everypony was cheering for Rainbow Dash saying she was a hero. Bright Haze even came over and admitted to loving her more than Derpy, or anypony. Rainbow Dash was full of self pride and was blushing completely red. But suddenly, the sky went grey, rips appeared in the ground and undead humans stepped out. Lightning began to strike and Earth appeared in the sky once more. The undead began their slow approach toward the ponies, suddenly Celestia, Luna and everypony else but Rainbow Dash faded away, or turned into Changelings. Discord even appeared and everything began advancing onto her, Rainbow was screaming at them to make them go away, that she was the hero who saved Bright Haze. Discord was dead. The portal was closed. The portal was closed. Equestria was safe. The portal was closed. But everything closed in and ripped at Rainbow with claws and teeth.'

Rainbow Dash jumped up shouting, everypony else jumped up in panic as well, alarmed by Rainbows sudden scream everypony gathered round her.

"Rainbow sugarcube. Are you okay darlin'?" Applejack asked. Rainbow was breathing heavily and panted a few times.

"Just, just a bad dream is all." Rainbow Dash replied. Heart Breaker walked over to the group from guard duty with a confused look on his face. Confused and scared.

"Well, its daytime now anyway. We better get moving, still three days til this Sky Dweller city. Then we gotta save Bright Haze." Nick exclaimed. The group ate a quick breakfast, gathered their gear and head off toward their destination.

New Challenge

"What do you suppose that means?" Applejack asked.

"The Timberpony mentioned something like this." Nick added.

"But in this state, with two?" Steven replied. The group had been wondering toward the edge of the Everfree Central, thus closer to the Sky Dweller kingdom and had walked upon the rotting body of a five headed Hydra and the torn apart bodies of two ponies in golden armour. One had no skull, just fragements of some crushed bone laying around, and the other body was in full golden armour.

"Sky Dwellers." Rainbow Dash exclaimed, saying what everypony thought.

"Shit." Nick said. "What does that mean for Haze." He asked. Rainbow Dash stared at the bodies, flies were buzzing over the three corpses and were feasting on the bits of flesh still there.

"That he is wounded, lost and now alone and we have to find him." Rainbow Dash replied finally.

"What off the peace agreement with the Sky Dwellers?" Steven asked.

"Without belief from us that the Changelings are their own doing and not Celestia's we need proof, and that, my serpent, is our proof. Dead." Rarity replied, pointing a hoof at one dead pony.

"Well we still have to find Haze first, then we need to go back, we only have supplies for one." Twilight said walking down a grass pathway.

"Where are you going?" Nick called out.

"Our best beat is too follow the Hydra's path. Let's go." Twilight replied, everypony nodded to each other and the group head off, away from their original target and deeper into the Everfree Central.

The group walked for miles down the track of the Hydra but found no Haze, nor any end to the pathway. Rainbow Dash was near the front following closely to Twilight and Steven. She kept glancing at Heart Breaker but he was avoiding her gaze. Rarity noticed this and decided to intercept her friend.

"Didn't know you liked Heart Breaker as well." Rarity said, catching Rainbow offguard.

"What do you mean, as well? Actually nevermind, I haven't got the eye for Heart Breaker, just trying to figure him out." Rainbow replied.

"What do you mean?" Rarity asked, confused.

"Well, he seems very worried that Haze isn't the only reason the portal hasn't fully closed and I have seen him look at Bright Haze. He seems, what is it Haze says, fucked up, about the portal." Rainbow Dash replied, Bright Haze the human had always sworn, mainly out of habit Rainbow guessed, but ponies had been picking it up, not recently but before. Rainbow found herself doing it more and more, pretending like Haze never explained to her how swearing was bad and he knew he shouldn't do it. But Rainbow still did it, covering up that fact, but still doing it. Haze never explained swears to Rarity, and for good reason, so the white unicorn just nodded at the strange term and began to think on what she was going to say next.

"So." Rarity said after a long pause. "Do you think Heart Breaker is, you know, like Haze?" She asked.

"I don't know, there is no way he could have gotten here from Earth without pony magic and he doesn't have any wild magic or whatever reason to of been brought here by pony if indeed he is human. I have asked him before but was interrupted by that Timberpony fellow." Rainbow Dash replied.

"He is almost as mysterious as those Bloody Skulls group. You know, I have been looking into them, when we had spare time during Haze's sleep, and discovered they have been everywhere, everytime causing some war and leaving hundreds dead, they didn't seem that brutal in the Changeling war as they do normally." Rarity said, changing the subject.

"I know. Something is going on in Equestria but I don't know what, things have been changing since Discord's defeat. Its meant to be late winter now and it's sunnier than summertime. The Everfree is getting stronger Rarity, I can tell, if it's able to corrupt ponies like Ray back there. And spawn a Hydra so bloodthirsty for pony it'll attack two armed Sky Dwellers." Rainbow replied. She didn't mention the fact it had been a strange voice in her head that told her to shoot the Timberpony, and she had, without thought or delay.

"But Discord's death couldn't have caused this right? This is more chaos than when he was alive and imprisoned. You don't think he latched onto Bright Haze somehow do you?" Rarity asked.

"No but there is definitely something going on and I bet it relates to Discord or Haze. Just need to find out what." Rainbow said. Applejack trotted forward to catch the conversation.

"Maybe Discord ain't dead, he was a god weren't he?" She said. Rarity nodded but Rainbow was still unsure.

"I really don't know what to think AJ. We got the Sky Dweller and Changeling war to face, Equestria can't be dealing with Discord returning too, the whole world would go to shit."

"How are we going to sort this Sky Dweller issue anyway?" Rarity asked.

"Well without proof that the Changelings attacked that Sky Dweller outpost without Celestia's or Luna's doing then they sure as sugar ain't gonna believe a group of ponies, knives and serpents that they are the true enemy, not us. So we dont have much choice in the matter." AJ replied.

"What choices are there?" Rainbow asked.

"Find some proof or face the threat of war. We would lose in war and have no proof. As soon as we get back, Canterlot better be ready for a bombardment. It'll be a long one." Applejack said, completely honest. They three sunk their heads down and were quiet for quite a while afterwards.

"Hey everypony! Come quick! I found a hoof trail and a lot of blood!" Twilight suddenly shouted, the ponies being began to gallop forward and saw what Twilight meant, there were broken twigs and tree branches all over the dirt ground. More bone fragments lay about along with armour parts of that of a Sky Dweller, an crossbow bolt head lay on the ground and Rarity picked it up with magic.

"Same one as the ones which penertrated Haze." She said. There were hoof prints in the ground along with a few blood stains heading off east.

"East we go then." Rainbow Dash said before anypony could say anything. The cyan Pegasus stepped forward and began to walk into the darkness. Soon, everypony began to follow, they were getting close to Haze, Rainbow could fell it.

Changeling nature

Night had fallen again in Everfree Central and Rainbow Dash stood guard, determined that Bright Haze was so close she began to wonder around on her own. Searching all around the area and staying close to the hoof ridden pathway, it was almost pitch black but Rainbow was adjusting to the darkness of the Everfree even in daylight. Rainbow continued through the brush until she heard something. She got closer, being stealthy now as not to alert anything and began to listen in.

"Now we have him under complete control we can take him back to the Queen." One said.

"Yes Sap, he completely believes he is one of us. But aren't you worried him being to violent, you saw what he did to the Griffin today. He could go wild." A second voice replied.

"But isn't that good, when the war starts again he will be a valuable member to the vanguard force. Keeping him wounded is making him more angry and stronger." The first, Sap said. Their voices sounded almost identical but Rainbow could find subtle differences.

"Still Sap, I don't like what we are doing, he will be killing his own kind and we owe nothing to the Hive." The second voice said.

"What? Aeb we owe everything to the Hive, its what gave us life and food and training for warm the Hive is our home Aeb, you cannot be so corrupt you forgot that?" Sap replied, almost shouting, but not quite so another Changeling must be nearby, possibly sleeping. Rainbow decided to look around closer to them and try to spot the other Changeling. She had the crossbow aimed at one, Aeb, she believed and knew if she did it stealthily enough she could have time to reload and take the other out and have to go close quarters with this sleeping one if the noise woke him up. She crept around the bushes and saw the third Changeling out of the corner of her eye, but she wasn't at a good enough angle to see properly. She side stepped around a tree, but then, the inevitable happened, a twig snapped.

"Shit she muttered." Alerting the two Changelings.

"What was that?" Aeb asked.

"We are being watched, get the pony up." Sap replied.

"But he is still resting."

"Just do it! If its his friends come to save him, then we can test his loyalty." Sap replied, Rainbow saw the last pony. Bright Haze, and from the sound of it. Not a friendly one anymore. Rainbow Dash ran.

She sprinted as fast as possible without alerting everything in the forest back toward the camp, she heard a grunt and then a strange sound, like somepony got hit, there was a male scream and a roar, Haze was wild. Deadly and wild now. All because of those fucking Changelings. The sounds of hooves running must have alerted everypony at camp, for when Dash returned, everypony was up.

"Changelings. Forest. Haze." Was all Rainbow could blurt out in the last breathe she had. Rainbow began to pant and cry.

"What Rainbow?" Twilight asked. Rainbow fell onto the ground sobbing.

"There are Changelings.-" Rainbow said, crying heavily. "-They have Haze and they have, changed him. He thinks, as far as I heard-" Rainbow couldn't hold back the tears and burst out onto Rarity's shoulder. But Heart Breaker understood at once.

"There are Changelings just ahead which Rainbow must have scouted out, they have the memory less Bright Haze and have, as far as Rainbow can tell, corrupt him into thinking he is a Changeling. This is Canterlot all over again, however Twilight, you may end up shooting the friendly." He said. Twilight nodded and Dash still cried, Applejack had a few tears as well.

"So the great hero of Equestria, is gone, replaced with this, Changeling wannabe?" Applejack asked, annoyed.

"As far as I know. I only heard a bit of the conversation and only just saw Haze before they heard me, he looked pretty bad and I think they have been hitting him for anger." Rainbow replied, still sobbing.

"Well even if it isn't Haze these Changelings are bound to have food and water, if they do eat. So it is better to check it out, even if they have no food, we can still find out why they are in Everfree Central." Twilight said, magically picking up some armour and a spear saddle.

"Armour up everypony." Steven said, in case nopony got that idea already.

"Now I want at least one Changeling left alive for me to integrate it, but if it is indeed Haze, shot them both." Twilight said. Everypony nodded, they were at the camp and the two Changelings were walking around in the clearing, Bright Haze was nowhere to be found.

"Where is he?" Rainbow asked, squinting.

"Where is who?" A familiar voice asked. Everypony turned to see the blood soaked Bright Haze.

"Haze!" Rainbow squeaked in delight. "What the fuck have they done to you?" She asked.

"They have been torturing me for ages, I'm glad you ponies came. I managed to escape but have no idea how to get out of this forest and want revenge." He replied.

"Okay then, but we need to get you home. You look like you are about to pass out. We can heal you here but we will need an actual doctor to heal your wounds." Twilight said. Suddenly a ball of green goo shot out of the clearing and into Rarity and Twilight, they were shot back into a tree, knocking them out. Another came and another and more and more ponies fell, passed out. Rainbow was quickly the last left, along with Haze.

"We have to help them!" Rainbow screamed looking out for enemies, only too late did she see who the real one was. Rainbow turned to rush to Rarity's aid only to see Bright Haze holding a crossbow to her. A tear was running down his check but a grin was on his face.

"Goodbye. Pony." Then he shot and Rainbow fell into darkness.

                 "I'm sorry.." Haze thought, then he died, leaving only the Changeling holding the crossbow...

Keep your friends close. and Changelings closer

Heart Breaker blinked his eyes open, his head was killing and he realized he was upside down. 'Shit' He thought. 'Changeling cocoon.' Heart Breaker could see barely anything and was completely incased in this Changeling goo. He could just see the two Changelings and Bright Haze holding a loaded crossbow standing below Heart Breaker.

"So, Aeb, you didn't even try to shot any of those ponies up there earlier. Why is that?" the first Changeling asked.

"I, I don't believe the Hive is right, about killing innocent ponies." 'Aeb' replied.

"Innocent? They would have killed us all if we had let them!" The first shouted. "No pony outside of the Hive is innocent, they will wipe us out if they get the chance. To them, we are just bugs, but we have the power, our armies managed to outwit and defeat one of the most famous Sky Dweller generals, we seiged Canterlot  and defeated the princesses. We are the master race Aeb, join it and stay, or join them and die. Choose."

"We are the master race." Aeb said.

"Yes my friend, the Changelings are supreme victors, when those ponies are dead and buried, nothing can stop us regrouping and retaking Equestria!"

"But Sap, I don't want to rule from fear, we live on love, not war. I am choosing the right side." Aeb replied, stepping away from the other Changeling.

"Who's side is that?"

"The ponies."

"I see." The first Changeling looked away from his friend and walked closer to Haze. "Kill him."

"No wait-" was all Aeb could say before a bolt was launched into the Changeling's chest, the pony fell, bleeding out. Heart Breaker closed his eyes, no heroic rescue from the converted Changeling then. The first Changeling looked up to see Heart Breaker staring at him in hatred and fear.

"Ah, Alicorn. That is what happens when you are on the wrong side. It will happen to you, death, but slowly, there are nutritious bugs inside that nest of yours, slowly eating away the love you have, in about a week you will have nothing left, starved, dehydrated, and wasting away, I can watch, I'm sure Aeb will be a good meal until then. You will all die slow, all except, sadly that cyan Pegasus of yours.-" The Changeling said and magically turned the cocoon to make Heart Breaker look at Rainbow, she looked more relaxed than he was, her cocoon was more red coloured and it made a pattern from her body, until he saw the reason, Rainbow had a bolt stuck in her body and was bleeding out in her sleep in the green jelly. The cocoon moved back to look down on the Changeling and Haze again.

"You see Alicorn, she will die soon, you will not. The Serpent shall be a feast." The Changeling went on about food but Heart Breaker was draw to something, a flash of light from the forest edge, Heart Breaker squinted his eyes and could make out a piece of metal, with cartoonish arms and legs, waving at him. Nick, he was okay. Being a knife and being so small it would have been easy to hide, or they Changelings just ignored him thinking it was just a weapon. Nick saw Heart Breaker had noticed him and began to creep forward, blade down obviously attempting to stab the Changeling and save everypony. Then something else caught Heart Breakers eye, Aeb moved, looking up, neither Haze nor the other Changeling noticed him. Heart Breaker did, the horn on Aeb's head began to glow and Heart Breaker could fell more freedom in his cocoon, then the jelly snapped, as did everypony else and he was freed. Ready for a fight.

"Nick now!" Heart Breaker shouted, the Changeling talking was suddenly very confused and Nick jumped at him, stabbing straight into the neck, killing instantly. Twilight was awake in a flash and shot a spell at Haze, knocking him out. Then Heart Breaker ran to the dying Aeb.

"You saved us." Heart Breaker said, this erstwhile enemy hadn't even known them, and was now dying in Heart Breakers hooves after saving all their lives.

"Its what, any, pony would've done." Aeb replied weakly.

"But you didn't know us, you are a Changeling." Heart Breaker said.

"I am my own, pony now. No more fighting, no more killing. I can, be. In peace." Aeb said, changing his looks to a normal pony. No wings, or horn, just a normal Earth pony. He had a grey coat and a messed up dark green mane, a bit like Pinkie's.

"I chose a side, don't let us lose." Aeb said, then, he died.

"Twilight!" Heart Breaker shouted. He looked over to see everypony tending to Rainbow.

"Twilight!" He shouted, tears forming. "Fuck!!"

Heart Breaker had no choice, he focused on his horn, on a healing mind, anything that would bring this pony back. He had tears flowing, he wouldn't let Rainbow and Aeb die.

"Come on!" Heart Breaker shouted trying so hard to release some magic, but nothing. Heart Breaker had no magic in him to use, the pony lay dead. Suddenly a roar erupted, Hydra. Coming close.

"We have to go, now! Steven can you carry me and Rainbow?" Twilight asked, not daring to release the spell, the Serpent nodded and they moved Rainbow onto Stevens back, then he ran, Heart Breaker put Bright Haze on his back and looked at the dead pony Aeb, before lifting him onto his back as well.

"Can you run with two ponies?" Nick asked, atop Pinkie.

"I can try, now move!" Heart Breaker shouted and they group ran just as the Hydra smashed into the clearing.

Healing ways

Derpy Hooves stood next to Princess Celestia at the clearing of the Everfree Forest, she had been for hours now. Fluttershy had flown in that morning to say they were coming home, with wounded. Then had gone back to tell the group that medical bays would be ready for them on arrival. Princess Luna also came out still with a limp and the trio stood waiting, the moon was almost out and both Princesses had their horns glowing calmly. Derpy was becoming anxious when suddenly Steven the Serpent crashed out of the forest with a unconscious Rainbow Dash and a worn out Twilight, who upon being set down on the grass, passed out. Both were taken into medical tents, next came Pinkie, and Fluttershy, and Nick and all the rest. Except Heart Breaker and Haze. Derpy was worried, until Heart Breaker walked out of the forest with a grey Earth pony and a very bloody Bright Haze. Derpy ran to Heart Breaker who also collapsed, panting heavily.

"Not again. Fate isn't that cruel." Derpy said, crying already. Celestia walked toward Heart Breaker who even despite the situation, blushed.

"He, he isn't dead." Heart Breaker said, then looking up at Celestia. "But we have a problem." Celestia nodded.

"Go on." She beckoned.

"We met two Changelings in the forest, one died, the other-" The Alicorn indicated the grey pony on the floor next to him. "-Saved all our lives. The dead one Nick stabbed, but we have reason to believe he has been attacking Haze to make him believe, that-" Heart Breaker paused and looked to Derpy. "-I am truly sorry, he has no memory of any of us and believes he is a Changeling." He muttered, Derpy processed that for a moment and her eyes went retarded.

"What do we do?" Derpy asked.

"We have no other choice, we have to redo his memories, from fresh, every last detail must be redone, and that will use a lot of time and magic. I may not be powerful enough for that." Celestia replied. Luna trotted over.

"I shall help big sister, and I am sure Twilight and Rarity will too. We are all here for Haze, and any other pony in need. I shall personally heal this Changeling saviour the best I can." Luna said smiling at Heart Breaker who could only nod his thanks.

"But, but what of the Sky Dwellers?" Derpy asked.

"Yes, how did that go?" Celestia asked.

"We found the two who took Haze dead by a Hydra corpse and didn't have enough supplies to get Haze and get to the Sky Dwellers, even then we would have no proof of the Changeling threat, I am sorry princess, we failed you." Heart Breaker said, looking at the ground.

"No my Alicorn, you have failed nopony. You brought Haze back safe and have a friendly Changeling. We could use him if we can save him. This isn't over yet Heart Breaker, we still have a chance of peace. As soon as you are all healed and ready." Celestia replied, then leaned down and kissed Heart Breaker on the check.

The next morning the medical bay was nearly as busy as after the retake of Canterlot. Doctors rushed around everywhere, between Rainbow being healed, Twilight getting magic back into her after using nearly all her source on saving Dashie, between Aeb and Haze. Bright Haze was still knocked out in case he decided to attack anypony so unicorns were healing his wounds before focusing on anything else. Rainbow's crossbow wound was sealed over and being cleaned so she would be back 'alive' by tomorrow, Aeb's heart was beating again and Twilight was once again magically full. So everypony was focused on keeping Aeb alive, keeping Rainbow stable and healing up all of Bright Haze's wounds. He had been found to of been internally bleeding once or twice and many surgical procedures had taken place on the pony. Blood was everywhere and the Pegasus had three blood bags connected to him. It was a miracle he was still alive, but must of been in immense pain. Derpy stood over him waiting, in silence.

An hour passed and everypony was now standing over Bright Haze, despite being warned Twilight began to pour magic into him and Rarity was also helping, Celestia, Luna and four other unicorns were all pulsating healing spells into Haze, most of his wounds were healed and no scars would be left behind, just those of the human undead and the fall and defeat of Discord.

"I must go though the memory spell now my ponies, I will need all of your help." Celestia said suddenly, everypony nodded and began to send their magic to Celestia's horn, which in turn began to glow different colours. Aeb the Changeling even began to shot out his green magic at Celestia and despite a worried look at first, she accepted the offer. Everypony kept casting and casting, until one by one, they were spent and needed rest. Celestia's horn was glowing so bright it was hard to look at, she focused her eyes and readied herself.

"You all ready for this?" She asked, everypony nodded.

"Haze. I love you." Derpy said.

"Derpy, I promise you he will be safe, as soon as we deal with the Sky Dwellers, you may have him." Rainbow found herself saying, but knew she hated to let Haze go.

"I know Rainbow. I'm sorry." Derpy replied, Rainbow didn't need to ask why she said sorry and just nodded.

"The last fight of ours together soon. Then I am going to need a drink." Heart Breaker said behind the two Pegasi.

"Lets just get Bright Haze back first. Go princess." Twilight said, Celestia nodded.

                       And began the spell.

                                    The end...

Authors notes and about series 2

Okay, so here we are again, the end of another one of my crappy fics you guys apparently enjoy.

So I only really have one person to thank for this (along with everyone else I usually thank) and he is BronyDragon. Yeah you, without you this whole Changeling episode wouldn't of happened, it was your idea and this is how it has panned out. Hope you enjoyed it.

I now actually want to give a huge thanks to all the characters in the Fall of Two World series. Surviving everything I pushed them into and never doubting each other, they have defeated undead, a god like princess, a god himself, a whole army of Changelings, and now have gone into the most dangerous place in all Equestria, Everfree Central and saved their friend from Changeling threat. Obviously not all character are my own but I am happy for the creatures of these superb characters to let me use them in my fics.

The Mane Six are obviously Hasbro, along with many ponies we all know (derp face/no shit)

Aeb, Bright Haze, Sap, Tungion, Theon, The Timberpony, Dari(RIP), and any other pony I don't mention under everyone elses characters are my own make and am very pleased as to how they have developed as ponies and actually still sad about Dari( I have had her in my mind long before she appeared in FotW3, actually in another of my things but not pony related).

Nick the Knife and Steven the serpent are BronyDragon's work (yeah Steven is in ep 2 of MLP FiM but Dragon has developed him in his own way so I count him as BronyDragon's).

Heart Breaker is one Sithjjf's work (don't question him he is austraillian but I can't say much, I am god damn British, which is honestly, worse) HB is a great character and has been fun to use in this fic especially, mainly in Aeb's 'death'

The Bloody Skulls is BrongGC's work and he needs to do more to that fic before I hire some mercs to make him... They weren't in this fic but I may have mentioned them once or twice.

I try to balance the speech and mention between all characters, well OC's mainly. I have been using RBD a lot in fics lately because she is fav pony and I don't fell comfortable using other peoples OC's in case I bollucks them up, like I did to Bloody Skulls (I am so sorry GC).

So next will be Bright Haze: The Sky Dwellers and will be the first of three in the next series of this line of fic work, I am going to finish off Bright Haze and Fall of Two then move onto more projects, like Sithjjfs incredibly late B-day present, the remake of Assassination of the Ponies and RBD: FoaN. So I guess I am done ranting, thank you for reading, goodbye! (for now)