Dreams of Broken Promise

Three painstaking days past before the elements were finally constructed. At last they had a weapon to destroy the fiends that had plagued them for centuries.

"At last the elements are ours! The changeling army will be vanquished once and for all! All we need is the seven spirits to power the weapons, their magic will be the catalyst."

"And where pray tell will we find them father?"

"Perhaps there is a way... Aurora, we have need of your expertise. We need thou to see the true nature within the hearts of the crystal ponies! Though we think we may have already found one, Magic. Aurora after thou incredible display we think it would be more then appropriate for thou to wield it."

"With great thanks master, We will honor this role with complete and utter sincerity!"

Aurora was amazed that she would be picked by one of the most prestigious unicorns to become a force for good. The Element had chosen her? She wondered briefly if it had chosen wisely but quickly shut the thought out.

"Discord! It has chosen thou! It would appear you hold the power of Diversity, a fitting choice!"

"But... I am a changeling, how could it choose me?" Discord asked questioningly, his expression a mixture of pride and confusion.

"It works through your persona, not thou race or affiliations. It is the wonder of old magic."

All they needed now was the final five, a small army against the forces of chaos. They began their search in the city, certain they would come across the elements rather quickly. Hours passed with no sign of another, hope began to wane. At long last they decided to retire, perhaps a new dawn would hold better results. From behind them came the sounds of hurried hoofsteps, belonging to none other then the oracle.

"Discord! Aurora! I heard thee are searching for somepony to hold the magical elements, i know of three very special mares who could wield these powerful artifacts. One lives just outside the city in a massive subterranean dome, marked by a single crystal pylon. The other two however, thou have already met...""

Discord stared at the elder pony, his gaze focused on the single item she held in hoof. A glowing orb that showed his likeness and slowly faded to black.

The mistress caught his staring eyes and quickly hid the object away, a brief moment of silence passed before she answered the unspoken question.

"Don't let the orb of fate take thou thoughts, it is simply revealing one of your alternate destinies. But for now it is not important..."

"The others you speak of, are they perhaps the princesses?"

"Yes, their powerful affinities grant them powers beyond those of mere mortal ponies. Now begone! Thou hath a kingdom to save!"

Both the changeling and unicorn bowed before the oracle, muttering a small word of thanks.

Before long they began to wander out towards the borderlands of the crystal empire. The harsh icy land beyond a jarring contrast to the vibrant city behind them. At the very edge of the wasteland a massive crystal pylon stood tall, a hum of power surrounding it. A single metal door jutted out of the earth, leading deep underground. Discord lightly rapped on the door hoping for an answer. After several minutes the sound of shifting gear whirred from behind the door, slowly it begun to roll into the frame. At the now open door stood a pony made entirely of steel, her metallic surface was the color of bronze. A mess of silvery wires protruded from her head, flowing over her neck just like a mane. On her tail was a single wire ending in a somewhat bladed tip.

"Strangers are not welcome here! Begone ponies of flesh and blood!" Said the metallic pony, her voice a strange mixture of both feminine and robotic qualities.

"But we have need of your-"

Slam! The door shut suddenly, barring access to the underground complex.

"Well I think we'll just be going now, thanks! Another pony who hates us! Swell..."

"Discord thou can't just give up! Without her assistance we may never get close enough to save your alicorn friend."

"Damn you make a good point..."

From behind the thick steel door stood the metal pony, watching them carefully through the security monitor.

Bzzt! "Wait what is it that thou request?" Her voice blared through the intercom.

"Equestria has fallen under siege by the changelings, they decimated our defenses and the royal princesses are hostages to be bartered. A small resistance group has held their ground for some time, but the hivelord has other ideas. Please we beg of thou, help us!" Aurora stared into the monitor, tears forming on her eyes. Her pitiable look tugged ever so slightly at the golems heartstrings.

The door rapidly began to rotate open, revealing a large room with smooth walls and a single set of stairs leading into the main building.

"We will allow thee to enter but the changeling with thou must stay above!"

"Discord will thou be alright out here?"

"Simply fantastic... I could use a nap while i'm waiting!" Discords voice was heavily sarcastic, irritating the metallic golem further.

"Ignore him....his just, well a bit of a jerk."

Aurora trotted into the rather small room, the door rolling shut behind her. The golem gestured towards the stairs, hoping to avoid talking until it was absolutely needed. After walking for what felt like hours they had finally reached the main building. A small pad sat attached to the left of the larger door. She gently placed her thin hoof against it, a green light shining brightly underneath.

"Access Granted, Welcome back Ironheart!"

"A peculiar name for somepony clearly made of a steel-bronze alloy, Perhaps it stands for something more?"

"We do not speak of such things! The ancient one destroyed my family and the wound is yet to heal, even centuries later it still hurts!"

"Oh we did not mean to offend!"

"Don't fret, thou are hardly the first who has asked that, now let us discuss my obligation to help thee."

They both stepped through the door into a brightly lit room filled with all manner of brilliant technology. From cameras to advanced weaponry, the golem had it all. On a large desk in the center of the complex stood a single picture within a wooden frame. It showed a simple scene of mother and child, Ironheart stood to the left gazing towards the pair with adoring eyes.

"Is that-?"

My sister and her baby daughter, the first of my family to fall to the living shadow. Ironheart stared at the picture with a stern scowl, anger rising once more at the painful memory.

"My fierce loyalty to the ones we have lost is why we felt a connection to thou predicament, the minions of chaos dare rear their head to me? I will smite them and bathe in their foul treacherous blood!"

"We carry with us the magical weapons known as the Elements of Harmony, ever since we stepped into thou living quarters one of them began to glow. Thou art to carry the element of loyalty, your duty to our cause will empower us." Carefully Aurora opened the bag she carried on her flank and handed the simple stone to Ironheart.

The stone shone brightly, shattering into pieces and revealing a metal ball with a symbol within matching her cutie mark.

"It is a pair of gears exactly like my mark! We can feel the ancient magic coursing through it!" The steel pony was utterly amazed to witness the birth of something so magically inspiring.

Aurora took her hoof in hers and shook it, "Welcome to our small army Ironheart! Once we are together the changelings will flee in terror!"

The dawn of a new day shone through the metal bars of the cell, Celestia could feel the solar energy granting her strength. In the corner lay a very weak alicorn, the feeding having taken its toll on the younger sister. Her small rapid breathes worrying the elder sister even more. A small note flew through the gap in the bars, landing beneath her left hoof.

"What is this? Perhaps word of our rescue?" Celestia gently pried open the seal and read it rather hurriedly.

To whom it may concern,

The items have been recovered and we are ready to begin a rescue. Both thou and Luna must be prepared, for it to work we will need your alicorn magic. Beware the changeling spies, they have eyes and ears throughout, contained with is a set of matches. Burn this upon reading lest they discover our plans.

Be Safe.

D.

"Luna wake up! They are coming to rescue us tonight... Try to eat something, you will need it to destroy the hivelord."

"Discord, we knew he would return for us! When the time comes we will be ready!" Luna stared into her sisters eyes, hope returning to her dull eyes. Celestia gazed back, her own hope rising with her sisters.

Discord awoke suddenly, a dark dream sending shivers down his spine. The mental image of Luna being drained plaguing his mind, he felt sick as if he was the one who fed. Quickly he reassured himself, Don't be so dark, tonight they will be saved and the changeling scum will be sent from Equestria forever!

Around him his father and sister slept, their light snores filling the quiet air. Discord undid the latch and stood out in the tropical rain. On the small rise above stood the immovable form of their newest member. Being made of steel she hardly slept, instead she chose to remain lookout throughout the night.

"Ironheart?"

"Halt! Who dares approach?"

"It is simply I Discord, have you caught scent of where we are headed next?"

"Yes, we are facing due south and are within several hundred kilometers of Canterlot, by dusk we shall reach its ivory towers." Ironheart sniffed the air ever so slightly, her keen sense of smell detected nothing but the changeling beside her.

Leaving her to her own thoughts, Discord returned to camp and began to prepare for a day of travel. Once he was prepared he sat himself at the table and drank his daily meal of emotion. As the sun rose the sleeping forms within the tent awoke, loud yawns escaped their well rested bodies.

"Good morning father!" Discord smiled, a hint of mischievousness held within, "I see your loud snores didn't attract a manticore female in the dead of night!"

"If we really did sound as bad as thou think, do thou really think we want to listen to a snarky child? No? Well then thou can learn!"

"Again thou two? We mean really? Colts..."

After they had all finished their rather small meal, they neatly packed the tent away and begun the final trek to free the denizens of Canterlot. As the sun began to rise ever higher in the sky, the heat began to climb. By midday the air was heavy with humidity the sweat clinging to the skin of the group. Ironheart continued on apparently unfazed by the stifling heat.

"How does the weather not deter you?"

"We are made of steel, thou would need much more heat to affect a golem. Cold weather is more of a threat to us then the sun bearing down through the trees."

"Right, I forget how different your kind is."

The rest of the day passed in utter silence, thoughts focused on the task at hand. The forest had begun to thin, the valleys and mountains towering over the landscape. Even from a few kilometers away the castle appeared to be badly damaged. Several of the towers had collapsed, revealing the inner rooms to the still air. They continued toward the city, the dark of night beginning to form around them. The skies suddenly filled with a loud buzzing drone, a squadron of elite changelings flew overhead seeking a meal far below.

"Get down now! We must not be seen!" Quickly they all dropped to the ground and waited for the small swarm to disperse.

Discord could hear a slight voice itching at his skull, but he ignored it hoping it was his mind playing tricks.

"Ignore the voices young one, do not fall back to your roots so easily!"

"Argghh! The voices, what are they?"

"The Broodlord calls to his minions, the hivemind shares the bond. He does not hold sway over thou fully, for you were born of another hive."

"It seems we may have to double back, find an entrance out of sight." Starswirl sighed softly, he knew the situation would turn dire come morning. His look of dismay filled Discord with dread.

"Master, let me go! I can pretend to be one of the simple minded drones, bringing two very unique prisoners. While the Broodlord is occupied Aurora and Ironheart could give the elements to the princesses. Once morning comes and he brings the prisoners to execute, we then eliminate the tyrannical king, with your help of course!"

"A brilliant plan my dear boy, take these with thou just in case." Starswirl handed him a small iron ball, the surface ran with magical runes. "If used in a time of need it will teleport the user to a safe distance, We want thee to use it to save the royal siblings, or our lives may be forfeit!"

"It will be done, oh and father? We will defeat them don't worry!" Discord gave his father a small reassuring grin before flying up into the changeling swarm, his *prisoners* followed along the ground bound in chains.

"You there, what have you caught in your web of liesss? Imposssible... The apprentice of the great Ssstarswirl and a golem?"

I thought they were wiped out by the cleanssing darknesss. The masster would be more then willing to ssee your prisonersss."

"On my way sir! Come, mortal scum, the master demands to see you!" Discord yanked on the chains, pulling them ever so slightly in feigned authority.

"Not so rough, thou need to fool them not maim us!" Whispered Aurora, slight anger rising in her voice.

"Sorry..."

Before the changeling stood the borderline ruins of Canterlot. Buildings lay in smoldering remains, the burnt bones of the victims scattered within. The town center opened up into the caverns beneath the city. The cries and screams of ponies filtered through the blackness. A black growth covered the ground,directly underhoof, it pulsed ever so slightly with each step. The castle itself was buried beneath an organic covering resembling a massive beehive. Thousands of changelings scurried over the fleshy composite, focused on the menial tasks of a hive species.

Discord shuddered at the state of the formerly gorgeous city, but he willed himself to continue knowing full well that it would never be the same. Both of the mares lagged behind, their gazes on the insectile structure in front of them.

"Those fiends! They will pay for this insurrection!"

"Hush, we must remain calm lest we be captured before our plan reaches fruition!"

Aurora hurriedly shut her lips, hoping none of the other changelings had heard the outburst. Eventually they reached the guarded door of the palace, surrounded on both sides by fake guard ponies.

"Halt! Who dares stand before the masters hive, are thee one of us or one of the traitorous pony lovers?"

"I am a loyal subject of our Lord, Arachnor! I request entry for my valuable prisoners!" Discord pulled the two mares before him, eliciting several murmurs of shock at the prisoners he had captured. The captain of the guard throttled the blond unicorn and spat in her face.

"Apprentice of the Usurper! She is high on our wanted list... How did you capture this unruly beast?"

"Quite simple really, her powers are nothing to that of our kind. Her pet golem simply gave itself up, seeing how pathetic its master was!"

"Alright, proceed!"

Discord stepped past tthe guards through the door, dragging his false prisoners with minimum force. The main hall was now a hatchery, hanging from the ceiling were hundreds of cocooned ponies. Each one writhed and squirmed trying desperately to escape this nightmare. Thousands of larva blanketed the blackened walls, feeding upon the pained emotions of the victims. He had to look away from the gruesome sight before he vomited, his stomach lurching at the feeding frenzy.

He hastened his pace, wanting to avoid this horrid scene. At the end of a long hallway sat a chitinous throne, within it sat a very distinct changeling. His bright golden eyes revealing a cold, calculating intelligence. The whispered voices began to increase within Discords mind, threatening to halter his progress. The large changeling rose from his seat, revealing his full height. Standing well over eight feet, he towered over all his subjects. Two massive wings protruded from his spine, buzzing ever so slightly in the still air. A deep, hissing voice spoke in a sinister manner

"Dissscord, I see you have rejoined our rankss. What do i owe for the pleasure of your company?"

"I have captured the great Starswirls apprentice and her pathetic golem creation! I will punish them as you see fit!"

"Excellent my young changeling, our effortss have finally resulted in the conquessst of Equestria! Perhapsss you should be the firssst to drain her life energy. Kill her!"

"No!"

"What?!"

"I mean, shouldn't we interrogate her first? She would know much about the war effort. My liege!"

"Do you perceive me asss a fool, Discord? Did you honessstly believe your foolish ploy would go unnoticed?! But you forget one little detail my child, now that you have revealed yourssself, you mussst obey the hivemind! Dessstroy them both, them we can watch as you consume your friend below us!"

"Yes my king... Arggh! No! I will not- I must feed!"

The king simply watched the futile display of self thought, laughing heartily at the pain he had caused.

"Rawwrr! Your weak mind control will not bind me to you!"

"Imposssible! No-one has ever denied my will! Guards, seize him!"

Discord pretended to put up a fight, but after awhile he fained defeat. He fell to the floor groveling at the broodlords feet.

"You have made the right choice Discord, tomorrow we execute the prisoners!"

The young changeling gave a small wink to his prisoners and mouthed the words, Tell Luna I am here to save her!

Aurora nodded slightly before being yanked to her hooves once again. She struggled briefly before following her newest captor.

A cold dank dungeon awaited them far below the castle, its walls slick with blood. The cell at the end creaked and groaned as it slid open. revealing two very malnourished alicorns. The door was bolted shut behind them, the guards hoofsteps fading away as he left the dungeon.

"Princesses! Tonight we free this kingdom from these fiends, let us discuss a plan of attack..."