Over the hills and far away

Once the camp was packed up, the Ponyville company started heading south again. The guards insisted that Twilight and the other bearers took the head of the group again, at least until they rendezvoused with the other companies. They walked through the early morning sun, but with the surrounding countryside a little less green and a little more dusty, everypony’s spirits were a little lower than the previous days.

After a couple of hours, they reached the edge of Appleloosa where a small band of ponies were waiting for them. Being a smaller town, and a farming community, most of the ponies were needed to run the towns farming and logistic activities for the home effort, but still a hoof-full of earth stallions had signed up for the front line.

None of the townponies wanted to come and wish them goodbye, as it was too painful to loose anypony from their small community, a community that had been through so much in its short history. The stallions joined in the middle of the marching pack, and the company continued on its way.

As Celestia’s sun reached the peak of its arc, Rainbow, who was flying a few feet in the air, suddenly noticed something in the distance

“Wait, are there…changelings over there?” Rainbow pointed to the distance.

One of the Royal Guards overheard this and flew up next to the filly.

“Indeed they are Private. Looks like a small scouting party which are no doubt feeding back information that Equestria is mobilising an army.”

Rainbow drifted down to the ground “Well, best we teach them not to spy on us, isn’t it?” the pegasus said with a smirk on her face.

The Captain of the Guard had come to the front “It’s only a few scouts, nothing to worry about Private” The captain explained “No point delaying everypony in dealing with them.

“There’s no need to get everypony involved, I’ll get rid of them! Er, Sir” Rainbow boasted.

“By yourself? Don’t be stupid, Private” the Captain remarked with disdain

“There’s only three of them, and they are deep in Equestria’s territory…I don’t think they’ll fight!” Rainbow started putting on her armour and took up her lance. Most of the Pegasi units would use shorter swords than a lance, but after the jousting contest in the Crystal Empire, Rainbow had become quite proficient with it. Besides, lances were much more aerodynamic for fast flying.

“It sounds foalish and illogical…and that’s why you're going to do it, isn’t it?” Fluttershy asked, knowing her friend all too well!

“Oh yeah!” Rainbow shouted with delight.

“I forbid it Private Dash” the captain ordered “It’s too risky”

“Actually, might do the company a bit of morale boost sir!” Twilight interjected, pointing back at the rest of the group who had seen the small dots of the creatures in the distance “I think it will do all us all a world of good to get an early victory. And given Rainbow can outfly anypony or changeling, I don’t see she will be in harms way”

“No, it still seems too dangerous Private Sparkle, Private Dash”

Twilight got closer to him so only he could hear “We've fought these before, and we know we can handle them. Rainbow’s going to go and do it anyway, and if she flies off, there’s nopony who could stop her. If she goes against your orders, it’ll be a disaster all round. If you let her, everpony wins”

The Captain looked at the Royal Protégé, who he had been given orders to always listen to by both Princesses “But if she’s a loose cannon, surely she cannot be here in an army?”

“I think when she joins a group it’ll be easier, like when she works the weather teams or in the Wonderbolt Academy. It’s only when she’s alone, like now, she’s like this”

“You have a mighty old head on those young shoulders Ms Sparkle”

“Please, call me Twilight…Sir” the filly giggled a little in response, causing the Captain to smile. He than stepped away “Okay Private Dash, you may chase away the enemy, but do not put yourself in any unnecessary danger. Do I make myself clear”

“Sir…yes sir!” Rainbow replied with a smile, and strapped the lance to her hoof. Given one last look, and smile, to Fluttershy looking on scared she jumped up into the air, and started zooming towards the three changelings in the distance.

***

The three changelings had been on a scouting mission around the south of Equestria for a while. What had started out as a mission to locate a few towns to raid for love, had soon turned into something a little out of their league. They had seen some large groups of ponies marching south, towards the Changeling Kingdom, and reported this back to the Hive.

The Queen was confused by this news, and had sent them back, along with some other scouting groups out. Sure, the Royal Guard had been a little more active in patrolling and monitoring the border, but not in massive groups. Soon she had news that a great camp had been set up not far from Changeling Territory and this greatly concerned the Queen – could it be that Celestia had lost her mind and was going to attack her Kingdom?

The three scouts had been watching this particular group for an hour, when they noticed a single pegasus flying towards them. They had previously been spotted by some of the other groups of ponies they had spied upon, but none of them had reacted to them before. The trio were currently out of range of the Hive mind, so had to decide themselves what action to take

These changelings had not seen any action before, and not taken part in the Canterlot invasion. It’s only a single pony, that’s not going to be much of a threat the trio thought collectively.

Rainbow came straight towards them, easily dodging the weak magic blasts that scouts attempted to throw at the pony. The changelings were all in flight mode, and having not absorbed any love for a week they were much weaker than usual. As the pony got closer, the Changelings saw the sharp lance, the shining armour and the determined look on the ponies face.

The trio of changelings flew off in three separate directions, and Rainbow started after the fastest of the fliers – of course tactically going after the slowest would have made more sense but Rainbow wanted the enemy to know that she was fast.

She chased after the changeling, who was changing direction and trying to shake the pony off. However, slowly but surely Rainbow was catching up to it, her armour and lance glistening in the sun ready to pierce the enemy. The two others saw the third changeling was in a bit of trouble, and headed back to help, their Hive mind working together.

As the changeling she was following banked round, even Rainbow could tell that they were trying to get her surrounded and into a trap How dumb do they think I am?

Just as the trio was about to spring their trap, Rainbow dived down meaning the magic blasts from the two changeling apporaching from an angle whistled over her head.

The one she was chasing, tired from barely keeping away from the lance, sent a weak blast towards the pony. As Rainbow wasn’t expecting this, it hit her back but the armour easily absorbed the magic so no damage was caused. However seeing one blast hit the pony gave the changelings hope, so the three of them started after her.

Rainbow now had the trio following her, and she started to climb. Flying upwards at full speed, the changelings could not keep up with one of Equestria’s finest flyers and soon stopped the chase. Once she was safely out of range, she banked round and headed back to the Pony Army. The Changelings thought they had won, and watched their enemy retreat to the safety of numbers.

As soon as Rainbow was close enough to her friends, she yelled “Twilight…catch” and threw down her lance and armour, the unicorn catching it in her aura. Rainbow then turned, and headed at speed back towards the three changelings.

“What is she up to now?” The Guard Captain asked

“Oh, you’ll see” Pinkie laughed, twiddling a moustache she had suddenly grown, making the Captain perform a classic double take.

The changelings noticed the Pegasus returning, but without her weapon this time. Feeling a little too smug at the first encounter, they flew towards her, ready to take down the pony and feast upon any emotions it had.

Rainbow judged their speed, the air temperature and humidity, and adjusted her acceleration accordingly. Timing was going to be everything, but you don’t expect to train and perform with the Wonderbolt unless you get your timings right, and the cone was forming exactly to schedule around her front hooves.

The trio Changelings saw the pegaus getting closer, and practically licked their fangs with lustful appetite . When the four combatants were just meters apart, Rainbow hit the desired speed and shot quickly upwards. The trio flew at full speed into the Sonic Rainboom’s shockwave, knocking the three of them down to the ground with an almighty force.

The marching ponies, which had kept moving during the whole battle, saw the Sonic Rainboom. As Rainbow had never done one near Ponyville or Appleloosa, and as most weren’t at the young fliers competetion or the Royal Wedding, they were amazed at the sight in front of them. Twilight was right The captain thought to himself That sort of thing is bound to perk the soldiers up a bit. How can we lose when we have powers like this?

Two of the changeling managed to get themselves up onto their hooves, but the third was lying unconscious and injured. The duo quickly decided to leave the third behind, and rush back towards the Changeling Kingdom to report what happened. Rainbow looked down at the two in retreat, and decided to let them go. Oh yeah, that showed them who's the boss of the skies! Rainbow thought as she drifted back down to the ground.

Rainbow landed next to the unconscious changeling, who looked mostly intact but didn’t look like it would be waking up anytime soon. She kept an eye on it as the other ponies approached, Rainbow looking as casual as anypony could, and not looking like she just performed a legendary feat.

“Rainbow, I’m so glad you’re okay” Fluttershy yelled softly and ran towards her friend.

“Fluttershy, stay back” Twilight growled, stopping the pegasus in her tracks. Twilight’s horn lit up and it sent out a small purple shockwave out over Rainbow Dash and the changeling on the floor. A loud ping sounded off the changeling, but pass through Rainbow with no effect.

“Okay Fluttershy, go hug” Twilight smiled at her confused friend, who immediately dashed forwards.

“What on Equestria was that?” Rainbow asked in confusion, as she was crushed by Fluttershy’s hooves

“It’s a Changeling detection spell, had to make sure you were you” Twilight explained

“Of course I’m me, not even a Changeling can be as awesome as me!”

“Or Mare Do Well?” Twilight asked

“Okay, point made”

The captain came over and the four fillies gave a salute.

“Sir, I have captured one of the enemy and chased away two others, Sir!”

“Very good Private Dash!” The Captain acknowledge, before looking at the changeling. He hadn't seen one in real life before, and was surprised by how it looked. “Not sure if we want a prisoner as injured as this…is it going to die?”

Fluttershy lay down next to the unconscious changeling and started looking it over. Spike joined her, feeling sorry for an injured creature that was different from a pony - something that effected him deep down in a way the youngster didn't really yet appreciate.

“Really?” Rainbow looked at her friends gently stroking the enemy.

“It doesn't matter who, or what, you are, everything deserves a little kindness” Fluttershy reminded everypony within earshot.

“And with the amount of love Fluttershy is giving this changeling, I expect it to be awake in 4…3…2…1…” Twilight counted down and as she hit zero, the changeling let out a moan and slowly opened its eyes. I knew all thaat studying of Changeling physiology would pay off

“Don’t worry little one” Fluttershy cooed to the changeling larger than her “We won’t hurt you”

“But don’t even think about trying to escape!” Rainbow threatened, noticing it to be the faster of the changelings, the one that had managed to get a shot off and on her.

Fluttershy pulled a canteen out of her pack and offered it over to the changeling, who was still too weak to move. Twilight took the canteen in her aura, and gently poured some of the water into its mouth.

With the affection being shown towards it, the changeling soon found the energy to move and get to it’s hooves.

“Can you walk?” The Captain asked his prisoner

“I can, but I won’t!” The changeling replied, feeling very scarred being away from any other minds and surrounded by its enemy. It was finding a bit of comfort from the feelings coming from this yellow pony who had comforted it, as well as some other comforting feelings from the pink and purple. However, It could also feel a large number of negative feelings from the other ponies around it, especially from the blue pegasus that had almost chased it down.

“What are we going to do with it? I don’t want to have to carry a prisoner with us.” the Captain asked.

“Oh, don’t worry, I’ll make it walk” Rainbow threatened the changeling, thumping her front two hooves together and causing the changeling to flinch

“No!” Fluttershy yelled, practically hugged the changeling.

“Don’t worry, I know how to get it to co-operate, nicely!” Twilight cooed, whilst rolling her eyes at her friends behaviour.

“How are we going to keep it from escaping? Or shape shifting?” The captain asked Twilight, hoping the knowledgeable unicorn had some form of plan.

“Same solution I had originally. Everypony stand back”

Rainbow helped pull Fluttershy away as Twilight prepared her spell. Her horn activated and the Changling closed it's eyes in fear. When it opened it, it found itself inside a bubble that had formed round the changeling, about three times its height.

“It can walk along in this, bit like a treadwheel. And if it refuses, we’ll just push it” Twilight approached the bubble and knocked on it “Oh, and it’s magic reflective so unless you’re a really good spell caster, I wouldn't try to break it as you might hurt yourself”

The rest of the company reformed itself behind the bearers, with the changeling at the front.

“I still won’t walk” the Changeling hissed. Pinkie started rolling the ball forwards, and the changeling started to be tossed around. “Stop!” the changeling cried out and the ball was brought to a halt “I’ll walk, I’ll walk” it admitted in defeat. The changeling got to it’s hooves, and started walking forwards, propelling the ball forwards by itself. The company then followed.

“That was a bit…mean” Fluttershy turned to her friends “I mean, it’s scared and all alone”

“Fluttershy. We’re at war!” Rainbow Dash shouted at her friend in exasperation.

Twilight gave a more friendly look towards the element of kindness “Look, Flutters. You are such a sweet thing and you’ll make a wonderful doctor. And sure, you’ll be helping both ponies and changeling alike in the hospitals.”

“But leave the fighting to the rest of us okay?” Rainbow smiled and put a wing round her fellow pegasus “Afterall, we wouldn't want to have you any other way”

The rest of the walk was uneventful, and soon the sights of a small camp were visible in the distance. The rest of the South Equus Regiment had arrived and set up the new camp. Having been delayed on route, the Ponyville District company was last to arrive, so everypony got to see them come over the horizon.

At the head were by four fillies known as the bearers of the elements, but being led by a changeling prisoner in a giant hamster ball.

I wasn’t ready for this The colonel thought as he watched them arrived.