Company of Myself

Sand. Dust and sand, thats all Starlust could see. That and the two mares that he was begining to believe would soon be the death of him. The more he thought about it, the more it seemed true.

'Snap out of it.' He told himself. 'Its just the Stone messing with you.'

"We should be there soon." Twilight informed the group.

"O-oh..." Fluttershy mumbled.

"Good, I'm getting a little sick of sand." Starlust muttered.

Soon a large mound could be seen, like a massive ant hill. It was about twenty feet high, and made of the same sand that was all around them. As the group aproached the hill two changlings darted out of the top of the hill. They did NOT act friendly. Buzzing Angerily they charged Starlust and the others.

Starlust was quick on the draw, first forming a magical wall right infront of the guards. They slammed into it, dazed and confused. Starlust then proceeded to form a magical spear, twirling it around at a high rate of speed. Not many ponies could stand on thier back legs steadliy, vey few could do it while holding a weapon, only Starlust could do it and fight like it was natural. His spear was a blur, with a quick step the blade went right through the first guard. The guard fell to the ground dead. Starlust shifted his left leg back a few inches, moving into a defensive stance. It was at this moment Twilight ran inbetween the two fighters, her horn aglow. With a sudden flash the other changling guard was on the ground asleep.

"Thats ONE way to stop them." Starlust said under his breath.

"Fluttershy, I want you to stay behind me." Twilight said. "Starlust can handle most of the fighting."

So they headed into the nest, following the tunnel. Soon it lead to a large room, in which four very large changlings stood. Starlust resummoned his spear, and charged them. The Changlings however, pulled out small knives.

Starlust slammed the blunt end of his spear into the closest changling's leg, breaking the leg. The creature howled in pain. Starlust kicked the thing aside, and parried an attack from one of the other's knives. He tripped it and plunged the spear through it's heart. Starlust had to duck as another knife came inches away from his head as yet another changling attacked him. He swung high, hitting it in the throat, and with a low gurgle it fell over on it's side. That left two changlings left, and one was already wounded. The one that had yet to fight Starlust fled, leaving the wounded one behind.

Starlust went over to the wounded one and kicked it again. It grunted from the pain, and stared at him with pure anger in it's eyes. However, Starlust stared back almost blankly.

"Fluttershy, can you help fix this changling's leg?"

"WHAT?!" Both mares exclaimed.

"W-WHY would you want to help it, it tried to kill you!" Twilight said, utterly confused.

"This poor thing need medical attention, I'm not just going to leave him here to die." He stated.

"why s-show such kindness, when my kind only gives death and suffering in return?" The wounded changling asked.

"Because unlike your kind, I have some sense of morals. Now Fluttershy, CAN you fix his leg?"

"Um I-I do believe so." She said timidly.

"Good, now if we help you. Can you promise that you will not immediately attempt to stab us in the back?" He asked.

"I-If you can fix....my leg. I will help you, you have my word." It moaned, gritting its teeth in the pain.

"Good, now I do not believe that we got your name....?" Twilight asked.

"Arigos, my name is Arigos. PLEASE fix my leg."

"Twilight, do you know any spells that numb pain?" Fluttershy asked.

"Um yea, why?"

"Because you might want to use it on Mr. Arigos in a moment..."

A few seconds later, a scream could be heard all the way from the surface. Ten minutes later Fluttershy was finishing up bandaging Arigos's leg to prevent further injury. After she had finished Starlust hefted the wounded changling onto his back and they proceeded down the tunnel, although they encountered more changlings, they we're granted clearence by Arigos's insisting. A little while later they approached the throne room. There, the Queen sat, looking like the most dangerous thing that lurked in the dark. Starlust knelt, showing his respect.

"Queen Chrysalis, I was told that you can curse the curse that tortures me." He said.

"I cannot, but I know HOW to. Only the three most powerful magicks in the world can lift the curse." The Queen stated.

"And what may they be?" He asked, hoping that his quest might be near completion.

"The three magicks are Trust, Kindness, and Love." She stated. "It seems that you have shown the Magic of kindness by sparing one of my kind.... Arigos!"

"Yes my Queen?" He asked humbly.

"You are to accompany this...Stone bearer, assist him in gaining the other Magicks, for you owe him your life."

"It would be and honor my Queen."

"Good. Now leave my presence."

"I still have one question." Starlust asked.

"What may that be?" Chrysalis said.

"How does everyone seem to know that I bear the Eternity Stone?"

At this question the queen shifted uncormfortably. "We see that in your heart and mind....there is conflict. That is how we know, I am not as kind as this most of the time, yet I sympathize with what you suffer. Nothing deserves what plagues your mind. NOTHING."

With that note the group of four left the nest, and headed back to Appleoosa. Not entirely sure where to find the other two Magicks, they began the long journy back to the only pony town in miles. As they walked Arigos asked Starlust something that had been bothering him since the trip from the nest began.

"Master Starlust....I was wondering wh-" Before he was cut off by Starlust.

"Arigos! I'm not your master, you are a companion, nothing more."

"Ok then.... but I was wondering, WHY did you spare my life?"

Starlust glanced at him with his deep blue eyes, and told him: "Because I do not take a life unless I need to, and I do NOT kill someone or something that cannot defend itself. So you we're spared."

"Either way, I thank you. I hope that one day I may safe your life and return the favor."

At this Starlust grinned, he HOPED that he wouldn't need saving from anything, but hey, its better to have someone watching your back rather then go it alone, and who knows? It might come In handy to have a changling on the team.

Soon the group had made it to Appleoosa, and Starlust noticed a couple ponies staring at Arigos. While on anyday it might seem strange for a pony to be traveling with a changling, the whole thing with the changling attack on Canterlot was still fresh in many ponies minds, so they we're VERY suspicious of Arigos.

"Um Arigos, I don't suppose you could disguise yourself could you?"

"Oh, yea no problem." He said, and quickly shifted into a cream colored pony with a lime green mane.

He winced in pain as he shifted, still not properly recovered from the wounds Starlust had givin him during thier first meeting.        "Atleast now he won't attract more attention...." Starlust thought to himself.

And so the group found a hotel, and got some well deserved rest. Because in the morning they would have to find out how to find the two other Magicks...... Trust and Love.