Strange Bedfellows

Chapters

The Beginning
The Gift
The Mind
The Effect
The Meeting
The Brawl
The Decision
The Hitch
The Trek
The Pass

The Beginning

Branches score me, roots trip me, and vines threaten to strangle me as I run for my life through a forest I know nothing about from a people I know nothing about. The angry cries grow louder with every step I take, am I running head long into them? Are they behind me? I do not know anymore, nor do I care, I just want to go home to my nice little town house with my nice warm bed and my nice room mate that isn't trying to kill me.

A spear hit the tree in front of me just after I trip and I thought in a calm that only those who are over the brink of sanity feel That would have killed me so quickly, huh, maybe I should have let it hit me... oh well. I pull myself off of the ground and sprint even faster as a loud sound resounded from the tree that the spear was stuck in and I hear a crashing in the forest behind me, I start ducking and weaving through the underbrush of this dense death trap.

I smash out of the brush and find myself on the banks of a river, it is wide, but swimable... the thing is I'll be a sitting duck in that water for them to pick off at their leisure. I don't have any other choice so I sprint at the water and manage to veer to the side as a crocodile opens it tooth filled maw for me to run straight into. I don't even bother to try again and run along the bank, looking for a tree or something to cross on... or at least a spot that didn't have a crocodile.

I found a spot that would have worked wonderfully, it was a set of rocks I could easily hop across and so I do just that... or at least I went to when the first rock slide out from underneath me with serpentine grace and I splash in the river as I gasp in shock. I drag myself back to the beach as I cough up the water in my lungs before standing up slowly. A serpent who's mouth is big enough to swallow me whole with room to spare is what I see when I stand fully. I fell a warmth trickle down my leg as I run in the opposite direction at full tilt, only to watch the ground in front of me explode violently.

Here I stand, too afraid to move, as I watch in horror as the people who chased me here stepped into the clearing. I would have laughed at this if someone else was telling me what they saw, but I'm not laughing now as the group of Techno coloured horse-things stood in front of me with fear and murder in their eyes. I think I know how Frankenstein's monster feels. The Horse-Things look at the serpent behind me and whinny angrily, I spare a look at the creature behind me, it was an off shade of teal, with fiery orange hair and a moustache that matched... but only on one side of it's face, on the other it was purple. The serpent looks shocked... theatrically so as he makes a quiet roar that seems to be a reply to the whinny, then a whinny resounds once more and the serpent's face changed to match the Horse's, his mismatched moustache quivering in rage

With a roar his head snaps forward and I jump above his gnashing maw, barely escaping. I run along the beach once more but he kept pace like it was nothing, I notice there are no spears raining down on me and I decide to press my luck. I ran back towards the forest, and notice smoke rising from the horizon as a spear hits the ground in front of me, so I immediately turn around and sprint full tilt at the roaring serpent, who lunges at me. I think to myself I'm dead. as I hop up and run along the serpent's head, along his back and hop off to run full tilt into the forest on the other side of the bank.

The beast roars behind me as I run, but my exhaustion is over coming my adrenaline, I can feel it slowly draining the fire from my veins. I don't dare slow down as I crash through the brush while making no attempt at finesse, because I know it will be my end if I do. I hear the angry voices behind me again and a surge of fear pushes me even faster.

I stumble into a clearing on the edge of a cliff, and through my exhaustion hazed vision I see a dilapidated castle across a rickety wooden bridge that hung over a fog filled chasm, "If I make it across that... I can untie it." it wasn't the best plan, but it was the only one I had, so I stumbled my way over to it, put my hand on the rope railing an- A hot pain lances through my right leg and I scream out in agony. I drop to my knee and look back at my injured leg, a spear stuck out of it like a REALLY big, and angry, splinter.

"There goes my plan..." I think sadly as the horses walk up to me, the leader is orange with a green mane, but that's I get to see before they reached up their left foreleg and bring it across my face. I fell my jaw crack as I spit out blood, "That hurt you fucker!" Another horse steps forward; this one is grey and had orange hair, and a tattoo on it's flank that looked like a loom. The gray horse neighs at me, I look at it uncomprehendingly, the orange one struck me again, and again more blood. I can tell I'm close to passing out from the black on the edge of my vision, I try to respond to the gray one's repeated neigh but all that comes out is blood and air. The gray one gives the Orange one a sharp look and barks out a neigh that seems to be belittling in nature, the orange one just eyes me angrily and neighs calmly.

The Gray one did a double take and stomps over to the orange one, and when it gets about halfway there a roar splits the clearing. They both stop and turn slowly to the way they came, my gaze following theirs. standing In the entrance to the clearing is a monster, it is a lion, but it has bat wings protruding from it's back and a scorpion tail hovering over it's head. It roars again, but pounces on the closest horse, a green one with black hair, the screaming stops abruptly as the monster crushes the horse's head in it's jaws. The rest of the horses panic and run away from the monster... towards the bridge I was laying on. The orange and gray horses were already on the other side of the bridge when the monster stung another horse, a blue one that died screaming as it's flesh melted from it's bones, and had pounced another... but it was toying with that one like a kid with a new toy as I watched in horrific fascination as six more horses ran past me, one breaking my right arm with his hoof as he ran past.

The deep red horse had a bright blue mane before the monster was on it but now it is a red that matches it's coat, with twigs and such sticking out of it. The horse would wiggle out of the Monster's grasp just to have the tail hit in front of it, which scared him back into the creature's waiting paws that would bounce the horse between them for a few seconds before "Miscalculating" and the horse go to escape, just to repeat the process all over again. After a few minutes of this I SAW IN IT'S EYES when the creature got bored, again like a little kid, and it just stomped on the horse's head that popped like a under ripe grape. It looks over the bridge at the horses that had escaped it, then it's gaze lowered. It is staring right at me and it's eyes lit up once more with predatory glee as it stomps over slowly, savoring each step. I force myself forward, off of the bridge, and crawl to the side. I look into it's eyes once more, it was smart... too fucking smart, it knew what I was about to do.

"Fuck you, you furry little shit." I spout with venom as I push myself off the cliff, It lunges and it's paws miss me by a hair's breadth, and I fall into the fog below. The last thing I hear before the blood loss and adrenaline knock me out was an angry roar that split the heavens.

*-*

I open my eyes to find myself in a cave that was lit with a strange green glow and a faint buzzing filled the room, I shook my head and went to stand up... A few moments later I woke up again and decided I wasn't going to move my Torso again," I apparently now have broken ribs on top of everything else, great!" I sigh and shook my head, and almost threw up "and a headache too..." then look around the cave slowly, which I now call "Healing cave number six" for shits and giggles, though I am neither shitting nor giggling at the moment. It was just a cave with a glowing lichen on the walls that I had never seen before, there was nothing blocking the exit that lead into another cave that sported more lichen, not that I could run or anything. There is also a pile of stones beside me arranged in the shape of a desk, it even has papers on it, I was curious but I can't reach with my left arm... I look at my right arm and almost scream at what I see, It was encased in what looked like a green goo, I tap it and it thunks like a normal cast would. "I'm not liking this at all..." I say quietly as I inspect my similarly encased leg.

"Oh, really? Your alive aren't you?" I almost made some shits and giggles right then and there.

"Who said that? Where are you... Where am I?" I ask out loud as my eyes flick around the room trying to find the source of that... sound? "I'm not sure it you could count it as that..." I think to myself.

"In order; Queen Chrysalis, in the throne room, in one out our hospital rooms, and you couldn't constitute our conversation as being carried by sound"

My eyes went the size of dinner plates and I say "Can I go home now?" in a small voice. The voice laughs at that, but not happily.

"No, I am sorry to say you can't... Truly"

I feel madness start to tear at my mind as I scream out "WHY!? Why won't you let me leave, WHAT HAVE I DONE TO YOUR PEOPLE THAT CONSTITUTES TRYING TO KILL ME?!" after a moment of stark raving madness and fear, I feel a calming presence in my mind and I calm down after a moment of sputtering and break down crying "Why can't I go home, I just want to leave... I want my mom... I don't even like my mom... and my cat... I miss my cat..."

From between my hands I see movement in the exit, I move my fingers apart and see a peculiar creature standing in the door way: It was black and had a smooth, almost insectoid, body; It had wings that were definitely insect-like that had holes in them... just like it's legs. I find myself asking it "Does that hurt?" but it just tilts it's head and looks at me with it's flat, turquoise eyes uncomprehendingly, It's mouth moving as it produced a sound I don't recognize and I glimpse sharp pointed teeth. A sickly green glow surrounded the horn on it's head that he hadn't noticed before and I was lifted out of my bed as my eyes go the size of dinner plates once more.

A chuckle fills my head as I am hovered towards the door, "No it does not hurt, they are like your mouth or your nostrils, there from birth."

All I could say to that was "Oh." in a shaking voice, as I float behind the black creature's back as it carries me down the hall shaped cave. After floating down a series of halls I ask to my escort "Are you Chrysalis then?" The laughter fills my head once again.

"No, He is Drone number three hundred forty eight, and he is a rather nice fellow when you get to know him and he is also a wonderful carpenter."

I tilt my head in confusion and say "So how do you know you don't have him mixed with Three hundred forty seven, or Three hundred forty nine?"

"How could I? Three hundred forty seven, or "forty sev"," I could almost taste the sarcasm as she "said" that,"as his friends call him, is an intolerable fool with a mean streak in him a mile long... but he is the best pastry chef we have... And Three hundred forty nine was the nicest mare you'll ever meet, kind, caring, and generous..." there was a sad silence for a moment, "I was greatly saddened when the ponies killed her..." the sadness was replaced with an anger that scorched my mind "JUST BECAUSE SHE WAS A CHANGLING!" She continued to rage about the loss of three forty nine and other's like her, but I could no longer understand her as me mind was assaulted be the burning inferno. As I just wobble feebly in the air, on the verge of consciousness, "Three Forty Eight" looked back at me with a worried look in his eyes. There was a pause in the middle of the inferno before it was extinguished and sorrow rushed into the void, tinged with embarrassment. I am grateful to not be dying anymore, but if this continues any longer I may have to take my own life... It will hurt my head less...

After a few more minutes of silence I am floated out into a large cavern with an almost Gothic architecture, the roof was lost in the gloom of the cavern but I could plainly see it was sharply pointed like one of those cathedrals I learned about in school all those years ago, and I can see a throne on the other side of the room that was at the high of where my head would be if i was standing because it is at the top of a set of stairs that start about three quarters of the way between me and it. The room was lit with the green glowing lichen which was set along the room on top of carved rock that looked like torches in torch sconces. The creature carrying nods at the throne and proceeds to walk forwards as I float behind him.

I reach the steps in about a minute and set on the ground at the base of the stairs, standing on my good leg and supported by green sickly magic on my right side, I look over at Three Forty Eight to thank him but his horn isn't lit, So I look at the Throne to see why I was brought here. Dinner plates would be smaller then my eyes at this point as I look at the creature that towers above me as it descends the stairs and then stops right in front of me: It is taller then I am and has a very equine body; but it has wings and holes in it's legs that are similar to the other creature's similarly It's teeth are long and pointed and the canines point out like vampire's teeth just like the other's do... But the key differences make It seem like a completely different species of creature; It's eye's whites are tinged a slight green, with it's Irises being a non-uniform deeper shade of green that gets darker nearer the top, and where the pupil is supposed to be is an even darker shade of green with a vertical slit pupil resting in the center of it; the holes in It's legs are located near the bottom instead of going all the way up it's legs; It has a mane and tail that are a blue with a slight green tinge and have holes in them as well; and It's horn is huge compared to the other's, it also has holes in it like it's legs, which the other creature does not, and is glowing with what I assume to be the magic that is holding me up; and to top it all off there was a little crown sitting on It's head, sitting right on the top of her head. "Umm... Are... are you Chrysalis?" I say, then noticing my mistake, quickly correct myself, "I mean- Queen Chrysalis." and shuffle uncomfortably, avoiding eye contact like it will kill me.

It looks at me with a slightly amused look on It's face and says in my mind again "Yes I am Queen Chrysalis," She adopted a regal pose, then added in an amused "tone" "and I won't hurt you so you can stop cringing now." I relax a little, but not much, and look her in the face.

"So... your not going to kill me painfully?" I ask hopefully.

She laughs out loud as she says in my head "No, I wouldn't dream of it... I kill my pray painlessly." My eyes are now the size of hubcaps as I stare at her in fear, then she falls over laughing, I mean like collapses and holds her stomach like it was the funniest joke in the world. After about half a minute of this, and me barely avoiding a repeat of meeting the serpent thing, She stood up and said "I am only kidding, we feed mostly off emotions, but we do have to eat physical food as well."

"I want to skip all the happy banter and get right to the point," I say with a serious look on my face, then I shift my position and the serious look becomes seriously pained as I continue "Ow... that hurt... I want to know why I am here and why so far your the only things-" I gesture my head at Three Forty Eight "- that haven't tried to kill me yet, despite looking like you would enjoy it more then the sadistic cat thing that almost ate me?"

The Queen's looked quickly saddened, and it saddened me that there was no look of surprise on her face at my heartless comment, but before I could correct myself she spoke up in my mind "I do not know why, or how, you came here. I looked into your memories as you slept and was just as confused as you were when you went to sleep in your bed and woke up in the middle of the Everfree forest..." she trails off as sadly as she started before continuing even more sadly, which I didn't think was even fuckin' possible, "But the reason why you were attacked by the Ponies was-"

I snorted offensively very loudly and said disbelievingly "Ponies!? You expect me to believe that pack herbivores with barely the mental capacity to learn basic tricks broke my jaw by PUNCHING me? What the hell do you think I am, Retarded?"

I immediately regret my outburst as the searing anger once gain filled my head, with an accompanying reprimand "DID YOU NOT LISTEN TO A THING I SAID EARLIER WHEN I SPOKE OF THREE FORTY..." It tapered off to a loud drone as I drop to my working knee and vomit what little was left in my system on the steps in front of me and almost fell over into it when a force stops me and lifts me back up. The anger was gone once more, and I could feel regret tinged with concern in it's place. "I'm sorry about that... You just happened to hit a nerve and I lost control..."

I cough up some more bile before saying "I didn't just hit the nerve, I stomped on it with cleats... I am very sorry about that." I sag a little as my headache returns with a vengeance, "It's just hard for me to believe that they could be so cruel."

Chrysalis whips her head to the side in an attempt to suppress her anger, but some of it got through and I could feel what it was made of this time... it was pain and sorrow, regret and loss, and It brought tears to my eyes: it wasn't the anger of hate, or even fear; It was the impotent rage of someone who watched as they lost the ones they loved were taken away from them and they couldn't do a thing about it... but despite all that pain, all the sadness, there was not an ounce of bitterness; she was sad but not jaded, angry but not hateful... she just wanted justice, not vengeance. I found myself hugging her with my good arm, tears are just streaming down my face, as a look of surprise crossed her features and her body went rigid... It felt strange hugging her: her body was hard as rock, but I could feel there was a softness beneath it's outer layers. After a moment I regain my composure and release her, my face as hot as a fire. "Uh... sorry about that... I was just... over whelmed...by the... you know..." I stammer out in an embarrassed tone.

She just looks at me with a sad smile on her face for a moment before saying "I understand, but thank you anyways, It felt nice." I look around the room as the fire in my face intensified a thousand fold, and I cough in my hand... which prompted a painful coughing fit because my ribs decided to not like that. I notice I didn't cough up any blood, which is good I think, and look at the Queen and shake my head. "I should let you get some rest." and she turned to walk back up to the throne, I place my hand on her shoulder and force her to turn around.

"Not before you tell me what I want to know: Why?"

She sighed and said "The ponies are highly xenophobic, they hate non-ponies with a passion that borders on obsessive, though it wasn't always so. That is the reason I think they attacked you, but from what I saw in your memories there might have been an outside factor in-" She paused and tilted her head for a moment, then said "I think I know why now... one of the ponies' houses was in flames shortly before you emerged from the forest, it was located near the forest, and fairly near your exit point... They may have assumed you did it."

"I did see some smoke when I looked back as I ran away..." I rub my cheek where the pony had smacked me, "I think I see why they were so angry now, doesn't mean I condone it, I just see why."

The Queen stiffens for a moment and says quickly "It was Fluttershy's house... that is not good, luckily she is in Canterlot right now." She theatrically wiped her brow in relief, "She is one of the very few ponies that isn't xenophobic to the core, she also was one of the ponies instrumental in stopping my take over of Canterlot, and it would have saddened me greatly to see such a kind heart injured in anyway."

I look at her with my eyebrow raised and state "You would be sad if one of our greatest enemies was injured?" She nodded like it was the proper thing to do. I shake my head, "Man, this whole world is fucked up..." Something from earlier clicked in my head, "What do you mean that the ponies weren't always assholes?"

Chrysalis shuffles uncomfortably before saying "Your language is starting to get rather offensive."

I shot her a glare that could have melted iron "You try going as long as I have, doing what I have, and being as used to swearing as I have and NOT swear for the whole time." My headache had intensified even FURTHER, which was fuckin' great.

She seemed a little put off by this but then answered my question [i"]The Changelings have a hive mind-" I guessed that much earlier but she seemed to have to tell me like I didn't anyway, "-We pass information and feeling freely through out the mind, though we can segregate ourselves from it to variable degrees. The mind is what keeps us together, and where our minds go when we die; it is our past, our present, and our future."

"So what your saying is that your great grand dad is chatting with his great grand dad right now?" I ask in an irritable tone, "Man this headache is fucking killing me" I think to myself quietly, so she can't hear.

"No, their memories are passed along but the personality is not... So I can remember what my "great grand dad" ate on his last day, but he doesn't exist as his own personal self anymore."

"Okay, so you can remember as far back as...?" I say as I clutch my head and clench my teeth and add "FUCK! Why does my head hurt so much?" I feel her enter my mind once again, her horn glows brighter, and the headache goes away.

"We must conclude our discussion, you were bleeding in your head and my magic may have made it worse... your mind is not made to handle this..." She broke off contact and I stagger.

I feel strangely alone... and sick... and dizzy... and now everything is black...

The Gift

I wake up for the third time in what I think is a day to find myself alone in my room... again, but this time there is food on the desk. I wolf it down as fast as my ribs will allow me, not even looking at what it was, and belch loudly when I finish. I cover my mouth and said "Excuse me... That was gross." as an automatic reaction, half expecting my sister to smack the back of my head. No smack came and the smile fell off of my face, "Oh yeah..." I say as I rest my now aching head in my hand.

"Are you feeling well?" The ever pervasive voice echoed in my head, "I'm very sorry about what happened yesterday, I had no idea that would happen." I just grunt in irritation, an emotion I find I now have an abundance of. "I am apologizing to you, I don't see why your so angry."

My eye twitches as I say "Are you the only thing that has happened to me over the past few days?" I shake my head wearily and continue with an angry edge in my voice, "No, you aren't, so being irritated won't change because you say sorry." The presence recoiled as of from an assault, then I feel bad. "I'm not mad at you or your people, hell, they're the only reason I'm still even alive... so yeah, don't think I'm not grateful or anything."

"I never said you weren't, I was just surprised by your outburst." Then Chrysalis walks in the door and says "Also I doubt that mushroom rice did anything to sate your appetite." My stomach growls in agreement as she lifts me out of the bed with her magic.

"Hey! Stop that, get me a crutch and I can walk just fine on my own!" I yell at her, her response was to lower me back to the bed as her eyebrow raised.

"A crutch? Like what the Diamond Dog use for their wounded?" I look at her like she is the stupidest person in the world, and she avoids my gaze. "That will take some time, in the mean time I suggest you "suck it up" to use a quote from your people." Then she lifts me from the bed again, though Vertically this time, and takes me out the door.

We "walk" down a series of corridors and end up in a room almost as large as the throne room, It is lined with rows and rows of benches all long it's length, there is about three doors per wall and at the far-and I mean far- end there is a rectangular hole in the wall with Changlings walking around behind it, even this far away I can hear the pang and clatter of dishes being prepared and my stomach growls once again. Chrysalis chuckles as she walks over to a bench and sets me down, then sits across from me and asks "What would you like to have to eat?" I think about it for a moment, and when I open my mouth to speak she says "Surprise it is then."

My mouth closes without a sound as I give her an un-approving glare, "Please stop that... It's unnerving and creepy, how would you if I broadcast your thoughts to a whole hive of creatures you barely understand?"

"I would be honored to have been accepted by the leader of such a fine race of beings, who takes time out of their day to personally show me around." she says as she gives me an amused expression.

"Fine, fine, I get it... Thank you so much for your generosity, Oh Mighty Chrysalis; Leader of the Hive..." I say, emphasizing my mono-tone voice with as much a mocking bow as my ribs will let me.

"I'm never hiring you as a herald, I can tell you that." she added with a smile on her face, "Oh, our food is here!" she said as she turned her head towards the Changlings that are carrying plates towards us, they set them down in front of us and I am greeted by a very ugly mole rat the size of a large cat with an apple sized-mushroom in it's mouth. "Most Non-Changlings have an avers..." she trails off as I pull the mushroom from it's mouth and eat it in two bites.

"Don't have to worry about cores for those." I said as I chewed on it, honestly I hate mushrooms but when you have no idea when your last, or next, meals were/are you take what you can get. Chrysalis watched me in fascination as I tear one of the front legs off of the mole rat and chew on it like a drumstick. "What?" I say between chews.

She coughs in her hoof to compose herself as she says "N-nothing, I just haven't seen a Non-Changling adapt to our cuisine so fast..."

I point to her plate with the leg and say "You haven't touched your... what ever that is yet, eat up, make you grow nice and strong so you can lead the Changlings into triumph or what ever it is they like." I end my sentence with a chomp on the leg.

She looks down at her plate with an inscrutable expression on her face as I finish off both the front legs and one of the back ones. I poke her with a bone and she shakes her head and looks at me "Yes?" I point to the plate in front of her and make an eating gesture, "Oh... I've lost my appetite, you go ahead."

"Women..." I think to myself as I say "What's the problem, anything I can do?" This time she give me the un-approving stare.

"I heard that, and no I don't believe there is much you can do." She says sadly as a rumble fills the hall.

"Uh... what's that? Am I about to have a forced bath?" I sniff my armpit theatrically, I recoil in actuality "I can see why... Whoa, apparently almost dying is sweat inducing work..." When I look up I see Chrysalis smile faintly and Changlings come in the hall from everyone of the doors. "Lunch time?" I ask her quietly, well as quietly as I can over the cacophony of the rest of the Changlings, as some Changlings sit at the bench with us, everyone of them pressed tightly together to the person beside them, including me. Their shells are hard and slightly warm, like a rock that had been in the shade for a few minutes after being in the sun for hours, and they chitter excitedly to each other like they were telling stories or something.

When they roar in laughter I figure it was a joke, then I notice that Chrysalis is laughing as well and my face contorts to one of pure confusion. "Okay, okay... The joke goes like this... Umm... wait, I guess I have to explain what emotions taste like..." I hold up a hand and shake my head, forestalling any explanations.

"If it's what gets you out of your dark mood, then good for it, but I don't want an in depth explanation to a fart joke or something like that..." She covered her mouth with her hoof as she laughed with the table behind her, I just shake my head and listen to the groups of Changlings, they were almost all "talking" excitedly or gesturing wildly... but those that weren't were on the opposite side of the social spectrum, sitting alone and looking at their food sadly and eating slowly of they ate at all. "Chrysalis?" She was recovering from a bout of laughter that almost took her off of her seat, I continued, "I want to know what is going on, this-" I gestured to the half empty tables "- is directly opposed to this-" I gesture at the packed-to-the-point-bursting tables "- These isn't just a social thing, it points to a much darker outcome... What happened?"

When she stands up she seems to take the whole world on her shoulders... then I notice that the room is now silent and has adopted and aura of sadness, a sickly green glow surrounds me as she lifts me around the table and out into the corridors once more "I... I can't tell you in words... I can show you, if you are willing, but it isn't to be done lightly for it will permanently change you..."

*-*

We arrived in the throne room again, and we "walk" up to the throne, she sets me down against on of the arms of the throne and lets go of me with her magic without a word. I feel my full weight as my ribs start to burn, then I watch her as she braces herself, her magic wraps around the back of the throne and a grinding resounds through out the room as the throne-back shutters upwards slowly, I look back at Chrysalis and saw how set upon this she was, her were eyes closed tightly, and she was biting her lips and sweat pouring down her face and sides. The stone is about halfway up when I see a bit of green well up around her left fang and a single drop slowly slides down, leaving a faint green trail along her lip. I feel a bit of apprehension at her sheer determination, what is going to happen, are we going down to some weird cave that holds the echos of the past? Are we going to a secret ice cave that houses a once powerful mage that managed to ascend to a higher state of being? Am I going to have to read a fuck ton of books?

I look at the stone and it is almost free, then it moves back in the wall and stops moving. I look at Chrysalis and see she is swaying in place, he right fang had managed to puncture as well and the green sickly blood was trickling down her lip slowly and mingling with her sweat... I find myself more then-a-little turned on right now... there is something wrong with me. She looks at me with a far away expression on her face and a thousand yard stare in her demonic eyes, then she smiles wearily, and walks up to the throne and plucks out a gem from the just off of the center of the... wall of gems that were behind the throne. My jaw drops, "Whoa, that's alot of shiny..." I shake my head and hop painfully over to Chrysalis.

She give me a funny look, then I reach over to her and wipe the blood from her chin with my shirt sleeve, changing it from a red to more green-and-sticky red. She blushes as I fuss over her wounds "Changlings have a natural clotting agent in their saliva, so you can stop now..." I didn't say a thing, but I stop... Only because I don't have anything else I could do with a tattered shirt. "This-" She gestures to the gem she had a hold of, it was a dark-almost-black gray, like ash and had a familiar sickly green running through it in veins "-Is a Hive Stone."

I look at it and nod my head knowingly and said "If you say so."

She gave me look of irritation and continued "It is somehow connected to our Hive Mind, our collective consciousness, we haven't found out how or why... but if somepony, such as yourself, who isn't connected to the mind touches it, it imparts our collective memories upon them permanently."

I give her a funny look, "I'm not a pony, and that sounds rather painful to have all those memories shoved into my skull."

"Actually it's rather painless, but extremely disorienting." she states with a single knowing nod, I give her a rather disbelieving look, packaged with a head flail and a snort. "It is what all of the other honored creatures have said, I don't actually know first hand."

I look her in the face, her eyebrows furrow as she tilts her head away from my searching gaze. "Why are you staring at me?" She asked with a confused tone in her "voice". I don't say anything as my gaze shifts to follow the entire outline of her body, she shifts her legs uncomfortably a few times before I finish. I note that she seems to harbor a bit of apprehension, but underneath that was an excitement that seemed to tremble just beneath the surface... or she could have bad gas, I'm not psychic.

"Fine," I say as I hobble closer, "Lay it on me then..." I add with a (false) air of defeat. She smiled brightly and I couldn't help but find it infectious as she brought the stone closer to my forehead... A look of confusion crosses her face. She tugs on the stone with her magic. The look changes to one of fear as it move closer. "Uh... every thin-" I start to say before it shatters her hold over it and it slams into my chest, knocking me over just before I-

The Mind

-I was greeted by a bright-dark light I had never seen before flash before my vision and then it settled as it always had, I felt a weight manifest that I was far to heavy for me to have ever dealt with before and pull me down as it always had, and a screeching sound that by the sweet grace of god had never reached my ears before in my entire life that had been there for eons. "Di-rienti-g -s ri-h-!" I say disjointedly, then a confused expression crosses my face for a reason I can't quite fathom. My hoof comes up to my face as I shake my head and the light around me swirls, shifts, and coalesces into a scene.

A bright orange quadrupedal creature with a mane of finespun moonlight was chopping wood slowly in the clearing that I could see through the trees, my head tilted to the side as my brothers and sisters bantered back and forth in my head excitedly.

"What's that?" Twenty asks excitedly through the Mind

"Is it friendly?" Three added in a relaxed, though curious, tone

"Can I keep it?" Twenty seven pleads in his newly acquired voice as he chewed on his pacifier.

"What's with the square stack of logs and ice that it is standing beside?" Two inquired with a hint of wariness.

That was when I noticed the structure that Two had pointed out beside the four-legged mystery; it's sides were made from stacked logs, it was topped with woven branches, and it seemed to have blocks of ice that blocked off holes in the logs that made up the sides. The creature chops one last block of wood, then it leans on it's stick-tipped-with-curved-moonlight and wipes it brow, then it mutters a sound that We couldn't understand.

"What did it say?" Three asks as he abandoned all pretenses of calm demeanor and hopped about in his cave excitedly.

"If you don't know, then We don't know, you fool!" Two shot at him angrily, "What if it has friends, what if they have already found you?" Two asks in a voice fringed with fear. "You should retreat for now, until we find more out about it... Please heed my words, One, we don't know what we would do without you."

My head returned to it's normal position as I walked out into the clearing and told the Mind "You needn't worry at all My Kin, If worst comes to worst I will flee and it will be none the wiser about us." I walk with a grace that belays my royal blood, without a stumble or a sound I walk until I stand about ten feet away from the creature that had captured my fascination so completely. "Hello?" I buzz in the tongue of my kin, the creature turns it's head so quickly that it's mane snaps through the air like a whip. It's eyes grow wide as it just stands there and stares up at my face, I raise my hoof as I go to speak once more and it snaps the spell that holds it in place. The creature whinnies loudly and runs towards the structure, it opens a flat piece of wood then disappears behind it and a loud, rattling sound ushers forth from the structure as the piece is closed strongly.

"That could have gone better..." Three states dryly as muted scraping sounds from the stack of logs reached my ears.

"I-I wanted to h-hug it..." Twenty Seven sniffs out sadly before he starts to cry and Ten goes to comfort him.

"That was far too reckless, One!" Two hollered through the Mind, "What if it was hostile? What if you were injured?" She started to descend into a state of near panic as I clean my ears thoughtfully.

"Two, We look to you for you invaluable tactical advice... but you worry far too much." I add calmly as the scenery blurs and disappears.

*-*

A series of picture, feelings, and sounds flash past me quickly and I find myself staring across a snow swept plain, towards a town-shaped shadow in the blinding flurry. I go to walk forward and kick something that makes a muted clang, I look down at the source of the sound and see a dark helmet with a brush-like thing protruding from the top with the snow slightly displaced from it, the winds were already undoing the damage I had caused. "Pegasai?" I say quietly as I look up towards the town one more, "Here?"

I take a few more slow, frigid steps forward before I start to trot slowly, then I find myself at a canter, then I flew across the pain at a full gallop as the winds die down and the frozen banners jump out of the grayness like wraiths from the shadows, they spanned across the whole of the plain . As I ran I could feel the residue of combat magic burn in the snow as I ran past. I broadcast my eyes and ears to the Mind as I entered the snow smothered town and charged straight to the town hall... what was left of it anyways.

The town had been smashed, gutted, and ransacked. Corpses lined the streets, the clothed lay evenly with the armored, and the young with the old. "Hello?!" I shout out in the tongue of the ponies, "Is there anyone left?!"

"Here..."

I tried to follow the source of the sound but lost it after only a few feet, "Keep calling, I can't find you!" I holler into the air.

"Here... in the Smithy..." I galloped to the Smithy and I run through the smashed doors, a cough echoed from the back room.

I dash to the back room and find a familiar dark brown earth pony leaning in one of the corners, with dried blood in a streak down his side. "Splint Mail? Is that you?" I ask quietly.

"Ah... it's one of you..." he says quietly as his head turns to face me, a far off look in his eyes, "I can't think of a better sight right now... except for a mug of apple cider, though I think I'll have enough of that soon..."

"What happened to you, to the town?" I ask quietly as I kneel by him and inspect his wounds.

"That won't be necessary, my friend, I'll be done soon anyways..." He says as he waves a hoof at me, "What happened to the town was that the Feathered Fools showed up to demand an increase in tribute because the last group of inspectors said we didn't look as weak as we should have... When we refused, they attacked us... But then those Horned cowards decided to use that to their advantage and blew both the town and the Feathered battalion apart with their stupid spells..."

My hoof shot to my mouth in horror, "A-Are we to blame for the attack? We just couldn't stand by and watch as you starved... We had to he-" Splint's hoof shot up and touched my shoulder as he coughed.

"No... No, don't blame yourselves... it was bound to happen anyways with this absurdly long winter... I just wish I could have seen my son grow up..." He shuttered painfully as he sighed, "Well... looks like I'll be of along the Old Windy Road soon enough anyways, so at least I'll see him again..." He coughs as he barks out a laugh, "I'll smack him a good one for trying to take... on that... mountain of... a pegasus... and... losing... a Mail... never... lo..." He shutters once more and lays still as his eyes fade. A tear slides down my carapace and freezes as the vision fades once again.

*-*

The stream of sight and sounds last for noticeably longer this time before I'm deposited back in the head of yet another Changling, who is inspecting a sunny town where pegasai walk side-by-side with unicorns, who in turn wave happily to any Earth Ponies they come across, as they shout greeting back to them. "What's this?" I thought loudly, "Didn't they hate each other for the longest time?" The previous vision flashed before my eyes for a moment before I nod resolutely, "Sure as the stars in the sky and the moon in the night..."

"This is rather strange..." The old crone Two rasped quietly as she inspected the scene through my eyes, "It has been hundreds of years though, maybe they have changed?"

"I think Two is having a stroke guys, she's being optimistic!" Two Twenty Three laughs out as he jabs Two Eighteen with his elbow.

"I never said that it was for the better, Two Twenty Three..." she retorts in her dusty voice, and Two Twenty Three stops laughing and hides from the mind and her "Gaze" bears down on him.

Queen Alexia let her presence be known and the background chatter was cut to a minimum as she said "One Fifty Six?"

"Yes, Queen Alexia?" I ask calmly.

"I would like you to investigate, but please be careful." She commands

I nod, knowing she can tell, and change into a green earth pony mare with a long, flowing blue mane. "Show off..." One Forty Nine says irritably as I walk out of the tree cover. After a few steps I realize I don't have a cutie mark, so I shift my form again to include one in the shape of a single acorn. I walk to the town without incident and mingle with the population easily as I make my way to the library to dig up historic literature. I arrive at the library, which was a rather regal stone structure that had decorative stone columns along the front, and start on my quest.

After several exhaustive hours I can't seem to find anything on Changlings at all, "it's like we never existed..." I think tiredly.

Queen Alexia decided to share an idea with me, "Why not just ask one of them?" I blush brightly as I rise from my seat and walk over to the librarian's desk.

"Umm... I have a question..." I ask quietly, the Librarian looks over her book, smiles, and nods for me to continue. "I can't seem to find anything on an old folk lore that my people used to share..." I add as I scrape my hoof on the floor timidly

"Which one would that be, sweetie?" The librarian asks as she puts her book down and releases her magic.

"Umm... Changlings?" I ask hopefully... and wished I hadn't, because the smile froze on her face and her eyes settled on me icily.

"There is a reason that those demons are not in any literature, now I suggest you forget about them and leave." I retreat from her glare and leave the building more confused then when I started, then head to the forest once more as the vision faded once again, this time it didn't stop at the bright darkness and I felt like I was falling into an infinite abyss and just before I started to scream I-

The Effect

-Land smack dab on my ass. "Ow!" I exclaim loudly as I rub my now-tenderized hindquarters, then remember what had just transpired "Whoa... I... I had no idea..." I state quietly as I try to stand up, only to fail terribly as my encased leg refuses to bend and my ribs stab at my insides viciously. "Forgot about that..." I mumble quietly.

Chrysalis runs the three steps over to me and helps me up with her magic, "Are you okay, are you hurt at all?" she asks in a tone that sounds much more worried then it should be.

"I'm hunky dori, now get out of my bubble." I say irritably and hobble a few steps away, then I hear a funny joke and (Understandably) laugh. "You hear that?" I say as I turn back to her.

She had a hoof to her mouth like she was laughing, but her face was one of shock, "Yes I did... but how did you?" I look at her funny and point at my ears. "It wasn't said... it was thought"

"Wait... One second..." I say to her with one finger raised, then I close my eyes and think out a simple sentence: Pineapples are delicious. Nothing happened for a moment, the buzzing in my ears never lessened, nor did anything else increase... and then.

"Where did that come from?" Three Forty Seven asks loudly.

"Umm... it was just a test?" I "say" meekly as I tap my for fingers together like a nervous eight year old.

"Who is this?" He asks suspiciously, "I don't recognize your "voice"."

"Who? Me? Oh I'm just a regular old guy, new to the whole Hive Mind business... Say, how do you guys sleep with this running through your head all the time?"

"What?" He says in an alarmed tone, "Queen Chrysalis! there is an-"

"Calm down, Three Forty Seven, it's just our guest..." She gives me a sideways look of curious confusion, "Somehow..."

"Wait... THIS ISN'T SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN!?" I yell at her loudly, then I look down at my chest and see a familiar looking gem LODGED in the center of my chest, my shirt sporting a new burn spot right where the gem sat that still smoulders as I watch. "What?" I said with a calm I didn't feel as I touched it lightly, I instinctively pull my hand away when I felt that it was warm, and pulsing. "The fuck?"

I look up at Chrysalis, and find her staring at my chest with a look that would have made a statue look emotive. "This is... concerning... " She said in a light buzzing voice.

"WHAT?!" I yell as my calm shatters again, "WHAT DO YOU MEAN "CONCERNING"?!" AM I GOING TO IGNITE OR SOMETHING?!" I look myself over for any others smolders or other sources that will entice further panic.

"You can understand our tongue?" Chrysalis ask in a surprised voice, I give her a look that would have withered Yggdrasil and she shifted uncomfortably under my stare, "Yes... Yes you can..."

I look back at the Stone, twisting my head like a raven to get a good look at it before I close my hand around it and go to pull. STOP! The command froze me in place, I could see Chrysalis' hooves enter my vision, and then a tug pulled my hand open and away from the gem as I feel my body come under my control once more. "That may kill you rather painfully, or do nothing at all... I, nor any other Changling for that matter, have seen anything like this before."

I roll my eyes at her, "Really?" I throw my good hand in the air, "The human just HAPPENS to entice an atypical reaction from a magic rock." I wave my arm in the air, "Oh mah gawd!" My arm drops to my side loudly and my face follows suite.

Chrysalis just raises an eyebrow at me, "I think your overreacting, calm down and take some deep breaths." she walks over hand places a hoof on my shoulder, I follow her advice and breath deeply, but it doesn't help.

"I just need to lay down..." I say dejectedly, "Can I just go back to my room... cave... thing?" She nods and Three Forty Seven walks into the throne room with a serious look on his face, I wave at him and say "Hello, Three Forty Seven, how are you today?" His eyes go wide and he reels back in confusion, "Calm down, you pussy, just take me to my room." I add loudly as I hobble towards him.

*-*

I twirl my arm around as the cast that had imprisoned it for so long bubbles and slides off. I didn't even mind that Two Eighty Nine had to spit on the cast to take it off... Well... "spit" is as close as I could come to describing it anyways; it was more like a shotgun blast of clear mucus that emanating from the jaw, It was a little gross.

I continue to rotate my arm and test if it still hurt with my other hand: it didn't! I almost squeal in pleasure, but catching sight of Chrysalis stops me... barely. "Glad to see your enjoying your new freedom." she says happily as I hug the "Nurse-ling".

"Yup, and my ribs don't hurt anymore either!" I respond giddily, the euphoria is absolutely intoxicating.

"Your leg looks much better as well."

My smile drops a little as I look down at the still encased leg as I tap it with my newly freed arm, "It does look alot better, and it feels better... but..." I just tap the cast again to emphasize my point.

The Queen nods her head knowingly as she adds soothingly, "It will only be for a few more days, if the rest of your body is any indication."

My smile returned in full force as I explode into words, "But that's the best part, Where I come from NO ONE recovers this fast!" I hop off of the bed and grab my three day old crutch and hop over to her like a happy crippled kid. "It must be the Stone..." Then I give her a sly look as I nudge her with an elbow "Or maybe it's your fine ass that guides me to better health." Chrysalis stutters loudly as she blushes bright enough to produce several lumins. "Ha! I'm just fuckin' with you, it's the Stone... I can tell somehow..." I add as I touch the slightly pulsing stone through my shirt. It was still kind of a weird feeling to had a solid chunk of rock beat like a second heart in my chest, but I was getting used to it.

We walk towards the mess hall, and about half way there Chrysalis asks, "How have the memories been?" I shake my head as I try to look for the words to describe... It.

"Well they seem to mostly come in my sleep, as I told you before, but sometimes they show up when I'm in the middle of eating, or walking, or other less... public activities..." It was very disorienting to get the memories of a Changling spying on a Pony wedding when you were on the crapper. "Hell, just yesterday I was walking down the hall to get dinner and got lost because the memory of some childre- sorry, Foals, were playing in a completely different part of the Hive a few hundred years ago." Chrysalis tried to hide her laughter but failed miserably as we entered the Mess Hall.

Her laughter subsided as her face changed to one of stern considerations "I still don't understand why it's happening this way," We sat at the same seat as we did every other time, "Every other time we have used the Stone it imparted the knowledge instantly..."

"... And didn't get fused to their sternum," She seemed to suddenly find something on the roof to be extremely interesting, "I'm a special case, being the only one of my kind to have even met your people..." A serious look crossed my face as I look at the one who saved my life as I say quietly, "I think I may have a theory on why it is doing this..." She looks at me with a look that tells me that I have her undivided attention... it was kind of creepy... "You said my mind wasn't fit to house the addition if even one mind, correct?" She nods as a pained look crosses her face for a moment, "Don't worry about it, anyway, This lets me have a connection to the whole Hive at once and not even have a slight ache..." I hold my hands up and cup them and add "Well, If we picture my brain as a tub hanging above some... paper or something." I take me left hand and put it near the top of the "Tub" and say "Well, If my "Tub" is three quarters full all of the time..." I move my hand to about half again the height of the tub, "Well if you add another mind, it over flows," I wiggle my hand and spider it over the the other one, "Then the paper get damaged."

Chrysalis nods uncertainly as she asks, "But how does the Stone stop that?"

I shrug and respond with; "I don't know, but my theory is that it acts like a" -I move my hands around each other, not really symbolizing anything- "series of pipes that drain and add as needed, never letting it over flow, yet never dropping it below three quarters..." Then I add with another shrug "I guess... It's only a theory."

Chrysalis nods her head slowly at first, then speeds up as a smile spreads across her lips, "I think I get it, though I think if you said it was like a "Jump Drive" for one of those "Computers" you like so much, It might have painted a better picture" I raised a finger in protest, only to realize that she was completely right, I forgot that she got my memories as well.

"Fuck... Lets just eat something so I can hide the shame..." My standing order of "surprise me" seem to have stuck as I found myself staring at a pile of... stuff, it was rather gray and nondescript in almost every way. "The fuck is this?"

Chrysalis almost chokes on her pork stew as she laughs, "It's a new dish... It's called "Surprise me", the chefs want to see if you like it."

"Smart asses..." I stick my fork into the pile and pull up on it, it pulls out a semi-solid chunk that was only slightly larger then the fork, I look at it from all the angles I can before I shrug and put it in my mouth. It was... chewy... and it tasted like... My eyes went the size of serving trays as I spewed it out and scraped my tongue of all it's foul traces, Chrysalis' eyes were almost as wide as mine as I almost lot the war with my gag reflex. "THE FUCK IT THIS SHIT?!" I shout in disgust, "It tasted like... LIKE..." I trailed off uncertainly, then Chrysalis stuck her floating fork in it and, to my horror, stuck it in her mouth.

She chewed on it thoughtfully for a moment, before a slightly grossed out look cross her face as she swallows and says "The chefs and I are going to have a nice long talk..."

"W- Wh- What?" I sputter out in exasperation, How the flying fuck could she respond so coolly to such a DISGUSTING taste?

"It tastes like depression... I think the Chef may be quite sad about something, even if they do not know it."

My stomach flipped, "That's what feelings taste like?" I say in a displeased voice as I shove my plate as far as I can reach. She nods as she stands up and walks to the kitchen as I mutter "Eww."

*-*

I fly through the mist as the Hive buzzes with energy, I swell with pride for my Changlings. After all we have had to deal with, all the hardships we have suffered, they still refuse to fall into depression and sorrow... for the most part anyways, As with all rules there are exceptions. I drop my altitude till I'm just a few feet above the river that had cut this gorge over the millennia, then I drop and let my hooves cut through the water, giggling as the water tickles me as it passes through the holes in my legs. I spend the next few minutes just skimming the surface of the river, letting the fish nibble my hooves and scaring away the ducks that drift lazily in the current. I soar back up into the sky and the urge to sing struck me, as I opened my mouth to sing something slammed into my back and drove us both into the river.

I flail for a moment before the thing slides off of my back and I frantically kick my way back to the surface, then I scan the river's surface for what had attacked me and I see a wooden shaft protrude from the surface a few feet down the river, I swim over to it as Three Forty Seven and Two Eighty One show up.

"My Queen, are you alright?" Three Forty Seven asks loudly as he scanned the air for threats.

"I am alright, just a little bruised..." Then I dive and wrap my hooves around the creature that was slowly sinking, and pulled it's head above the surface. I gasp at the sight I am greeted with: It was white, like the snow, it's eyes were shut lightly and it was coughing up red tinted water. "It needs help..." I tell myself quietly, then I shout out to the two circling Changlings, "I need you to take this... thing to Two Eighty Nine right away!" Then I haul it's sopping wet body above the water enough for the two Changlings to grab it and take off as I notice the spear protruding from it's right leg and the same side's arm sticking out at an odd angle, then they fade into the mist. I swim to the closest rock and climb it, then I shake the water off of my wings and notice the cut in my rear left leg: it was shallow, long and went through one of the holes in it. "It is a mere inconvenience." I tell myself quietly and I take off after the mysterious "Ghost" that had almost killed me.

*-*

I shake my head as I come to my senses and notice that the cast was finally off of my leg, but I wasn't dancing just yet. I stood up and thanked the nurse as I hobbled over to my crutch, I would need to work my leg to get it's strength back. I look up at the door and see that Chrysalis wasn't there this time, "She's just busy, she is a queen after all." I walk into the hall and make my way to the exit, I haven't even seen the sun in over... how long was it? "Bah!" I humbug as I test the strength in my leg; I could hold my weight, but I wouldn't be running anytime soon.

I make it outside after what seemed like ages, "Ah..." I moan quietly as I blink painfully in the sudden brightness and notice that I was in clearing surrounded by trees, there was a calm and clear pond in the middle, and it was about noon... if the time here worked the same as at home... Home... I walk over to a tree and sit heavily on a knee high root. Home, I miss it... My apartment, my freeloading roommate, and my cat... It's not much to have, but it was mine... I sigh loudly as I place my head in my hands, "I miss my little ball of fluffy death..." After a few minutes of sitting there I sigh and stand up, intent on trying to work on strengthening my leg by walking around and doing light exercises, the uneven ground made it hard; but I liked that, it took my mind off of the things I didn't want to think about. After a minutes and only slightly fewer falls I decide to sit down again, but in front of the pond and look at my reflection in the water.

What I see staring back at me was a ghost with silver hair and red eyes: his shirt was tattered, a dark blue and had a hole in the center of his chest that looked like it belonged in a Table top RPG, and he wore dark green cargo pants that had more pockets them most thieves picked in their whole lives, we shook our heads in unison and a shadow popped up beside him. "I see your leg is working fine." Chrysalis said with a smile, that smile I knocked off before she saved me.

"I..." I manage to croak out, the tears weren't just there for show. Chrysalis moves a little closer as I start again, "I wanted to thank you... I saw how we... met earlier." She blinks a few times as I carry on, "You saved my life three times in the span of five minutes, and even more times after that..." I stand up suddenly and wrap my arms around her neck "Thank you... So much..." and I squeezed harder. We stood that way for a lot longer then I would have like to admit, I let go and wipe my eyes as I step back. "I'm sorry about that..."

"Don't be." She said as she placed a hoof on my shoulder, then our eyes met and I saw that she had tears in her eyes. Then my mind kicked in and I step back quickly, then fall over and smack my head lightly.

"Gah... I'm going to need to work on that..." I state as I rub the back of my head, then we look at each other again, except this time we both burst out laughing and the tension breaks like a crisp carrot.

I manage to stand up as chuckles still wrack my body, "I was wondering if you would join me for lunch" Chrysalis asks regally, I extend my arm out and she slides one of her fore hooves through it as I say:

"As long as I don't get another fuckin' "Surprise Me"."

The Meeting

I am preforming the last day of my personally prescribed physio-therapy when I heard the Mind buzz with excitement, I can't make out what is being said, but it seems to be about a "High Value Target" and/or "the Defiler". I splash my face with the water from the pond and head into the hive structure, only to be extremely surprised when dozen of Changlings came flying out of the entrance and took to the sky. "I wonder what that was all about..." I ask no one in particular as I enter the caverns, I try to find Chrysalis through the Mind... But it was so full of activity it made me sick to try for longer then a few seconds. I wander the caves aimlessly for a few minutes, trying to come across her by chance, then I realize that I'm sweaty and hungry. So I go have a short shower and head to the Mess Hall to grab something to eat, which was a nice big mushroom that tasted like an apple. As I chew on the appl-room I head to the Throne room to see if I can catch her there.

I turn the corner and walk into the Throne room and proceed to run right into a Changling, they don't even bother to look at me. I look up and notice the entire room is full of Changlings, the ground was covered and the air was swarming, and they all were looking straight at the Queen, who was standing in front of her throne. It seems like I came in half way through a speech, "... I need you all to do your part, be the Hive's eyes and ears, so we may continue to survive and one day prosper as we once have!" Okay... more like then end, The Changlings erupt into cheers and, after a minute or two, swarm out of the exits.

"Nice speech, too bad I missed it." I call out to Chrysalis as I wave at her and walk towards her in no particular hurry.

"Too bad, it was quite motivational, I've been working on it for a long time..." When she finishes she has a far off look in her eyes, but by the time I actually reached her it was gone.

"I couldn't understand the Mind at all..." I tell her simply, then I ask "So why is everyone so excited?"

Chrysalis didn't respond for a few moments, I could see she was struggling with something, but I couldn't tell what it was. Then she says quietly, and in an oddly monotonous tone, "It's the Princess... She is visiting Ponyville for the Summer Sun Celebration, and to see her student..."

I let the oddness of her reply slide, I remember her defeat at the hands of Celestia's niece and nephew-in-law in Canterlot; had that memory just a day before the one where she saved me. "Well, this makes a perfect opportunity for me to say hello."

Chrysalis' reaction was not one I expected, because she slammed her hooves and shouted "NO!" in a worried voice. I look side to side in confusion before she regains her composure and says less... emotionally "No, It's too dangerous."

I raised an eyebrow at her as I stated calmly "Actually, it is probably the least dangerous time: with their diarchs in town, the ponies will have to be on their best behavior and I can have a little chat with them, and maybe clear up some misconceptions... Like the one where they see you as demons."

She looks around helplessly as she says "You remember everything, and you still want to do this?"

I could feel my face twist into a puzzled look as I tell her, "Yeah... just had the latest memories a few days ago... remember the really sappy moment?"

Despite her continued distress she blushed and said with an air of defeat, "If you feel you must... But please be careful."

I rub the back of me head as I ask nervously "Can I have a ride?"

*-*

Chrysalis personally escorts me through the Everfree, pleading the whole way for me to reconsider, which really struck me as odd and left me thinking that maybe I was missing something... but all of the memories were in chronological order to the best of my knowledge and I didn't remember there being any inconsistencies. We land just out of sight of the edge of the forest and she says one last time, "Please comeback with me... I... I'm worried you won't comeback otherwise."

By this point my previously heightened spirit had been dampened somewhat by her plain-as-day fear and I just say to her quietly "I have to do this, Okay... I have to say I tried." I pat her shoulder before walking out of the forest, I hear a rapid buzzing that stays in place for a moment before disappearing quickly. I let out the breath I didn't know I was holding and walk towards the now-quite-foreboding brightly colored town. "Maybe this wasn't such a good idea..." I tell myself quietly, almost connecting to the Mind and asking Chrysalis to pick me up before I got interrupted.

"Halt!"

I look at the source of the sound and catch sight of five of Celestia's golden attired guards coming towards me... Then I realized I didn't speak Hoovian. "Umm... Hi?" I say in English as an attempt to communicate. The guards looked at each other for a moment uncomprehendingly before moving towards me with their spears lowered. Smooth, me... smooth I think to myself as they reach me.

"Do you understand me?" Asks the guard I assume is the leader, because of his slightly more fasionable armour, in a gruff tone. I nod at him, then He asks "Can you speak Hoovian?" I shake my head. He looks at the other guards and says "The Princesses need to see this." and they took up a pentagon formation around me and walk towards the center of town. The foreboding feeling only got worse.

*-*

We march down the main streets, slowly making our way to the center of town, when I notice one of the ponies lining the streets turn to another and whisper "Isn't that the thing that burned down Fluttershy's house and got those ponies killed?" The second pony looked over and narrowed his eyes at me, I recognized him as the pony that nearly broke my jaw. My hand clenches as I think of the things I've wanted to do to him, then I let out a long breath and calm down.

Your anger will only get you killed here. I think to myself calmly, and I lift my hand and wave at him timidly.

"Guards, that thing got my friends killed," Jaw-breaker yells out angrily, "And that's the thing that burned down Fluttershy's house!" The guards look at him, then at me as I make frantic No-I-Didn't gestures.

Then the guards say to him, "Come with us then, we were taking it to the Princesses as a precaution anyways, you can make your case there." Jaw-breaker fell in behind the guards and glared daggers at the back of my head.

We march for a few more minutes and I see a small bridge a head of us, about fifty or sixty yards, and then I hear some one shout, "Look out!" I turn my head to the source of the sound and see a cart barreling towards us from down a side street. The guard between me and it panics and rears up, he is a dead pony if I don't do something. I watch his legs and time my kick so my foot hooks around his closest leg when it was at it's lowest and into his chest before I heaved with all of my strength, all I managed to do was cause him to stumble out of the way... then I notice it's too late to dodge the cart. Fuck me. I think to myself as I hop back and plank, and as I drop to the ground the axle scrapes some of the skin off of my head before I even make first contact with the ground. I stay on the ground until I hear the cart smash into a building behind me, then I stand up and survey the damage.

One of the guards didn't make it completely out of the way and was hobbling around on a broken leg, but beyond that there were no injuries. The building the cart slammed into was decorated to look like a carousal, it had run right through the front door and dashed itself against the opposite wall, covering everything inside with crust and apple filling. Even the sign above the door, which depicted a pony with a very stylized dress, was tilted... the building looks like it should be condemned.

"I feel sorry for Rarity..." I mutter to myself as I brush the dirt off of, then the guards move back around me, with the injured member in the center of the new square formation beside me. We continue our march over to the center of town, which had a tall, brown building I hadn't noticed before.

The guard I saved leans over and whispers to me, "Thank you." before resuming his previous posture, then we march over the bridge and through a large crowd. When we reach the center I see the back of a large white horse, with wings and a flowing rainbow mane that moved in a wind that wasn't there.

"My lady, We have intercepted the creature that has been suspected of being responsible for the arson that involved Ms. Fluttershy's home." The lead guard states to the white horse with an air of deep respect as he drops to one knee... which is really weird to see a pony do.

"Yeah, and he got my friends killed!" Jaw-breaker shouts out from behind us, earning a scathing look from the guards.

"I really hoped he had got hit by that cart..." I think to myself irritably as the white horse turns and faces the lead guard, then I notice the horn on her head and felt a vague sense of recollection, and the foreboding feeling becomes almost unbearable.

"Is that so?" the white horse asks Jaw-breaker in a light, joking tone as a small smile spread across her muzzle, then she turns to the lead guard and asks him, "What do you think, Shining?"

The lead guard stands up and looks straight forward as he states, "It does not speak Hoovian, but it seems to understand it... and it saved one of my guard from a run away pie cart on the way over here."

"Really?" she says in the same tone as before tone as her eyebrows raise slowly and she turns her head to look at me, Then our eyes lock and a headache blooms, my hand flies towards my head before-

*-*

I feel pain, suffering, and death as the images flash before my eyes in the swirling gray mist. I see fires, blood, and the corpses of my brothers and sisters as they litter the ground in my Hive and home. I see my mother fall before my very eyes as a bolt of magic rips her in two and splatters my face with her blood, and I see the one who did it all... all the death, all the pain, all the suffering.

She stood before me now, in her royal glory; Her horn alight with raw magical power, her wings unfurled and extended like a demon about to strike, her mane blowing in a wind that could not exist this far under ground, her white coat spattered with the green blood of my kin... and her eyes alight with a manic glee as she levels her horn at me, only to be tackled by one of my brothers as he shouted "Run, Chrysalis, RUN!" as the vision faded and I was deposited back into my own body.

*-*

My hand hits my face as I drop to one knee and my breath comes out in a raged stutter, I look up at the creature before me through my fingers: The creature who wore the face of a god and committed the acts of a demon; as all of her subjects catered to her whims and wants, blissful in the fact they were graced by her presence and ignorant of her sins. I stand up slowly, then I rocket my leg out and into the side of the guard who's life I saved and send him sprawling, Then I pluck the spear he had dropped out of the air and throw it with all of my might at the demon in front of me as I bellow at the top of my lungs in English:

"DEFILER!"

The Brawl

The echo doesn't even finish bouncing off of the various building before I chase after my spear right at the Defiler, I flick my eyes at the spear as it disintegrates above my head and the bait's ashes flutter peacefully to the ground. Close, but not close enough. She manages to level her horn at me again and fire, I drop and slide as the shot goes way above my head, I hop back up off the ground, ball my fist, and coil up like a spring. I glance at her face for a split second as the smile drops from it and blast my legs straight into the ground and my fist catches her in the unprotected throat. I flounder backwards as I curse out "What?!" and get a hoof to my chest for my troubles.

I sail through the air for fair distance before landing back first on the ground, I roll with the bounce and manage to plant my feet. I grind myself to a stop a few feet further and sprint forward again, completely undeterred by her show of force as I think "What the hell is she made out of, bricks?". I growl as I dodge another bolt of magic, and jump over "Shining" as he tries to take out my legs. Celestia turns to face me as I get within striking distance and a second smile spread across her face as she blast another bolt at me, I hop to the side and claw my hand, then I hop back and slash at her throat with all of my-

I now find myself tumbling through the air, but with none in me, as something tightens around my midsection, I hit the ground and bounce away I feel that something let go. I eventually come to a stop on my back and quickly hop to my feet, only to catch sight of a rainbow maned Pegasus slamming into my stomach and sending me even further. After a few feet I manage to get my breath back and I wedge my legs between the two us and unload both like a double barreled shotgun into her gut as I grunt "Sod off!", sending her straight into the ground and I watch as she bounces and yelps in pain. Then I land and-

I find myself flying sideways while two points on my side feel like they got shotgunned, then everything goes dark and I feel something cold and hard and steel-y all around me. After a far too brief moment I find myself airborne once more to the sound of birthday blowers, surrounded by confetti and streamers, and before I even hit the ground I end up wrapped up in something with only my head untouched, Then I slam into the ground and roll like a log for a few feet, stopping rather nicely on my back, and I look down to see the fact I'm wrapped up in blue silk ribbon, complete with a nice fancy bow on my chest and I hear from short distance away, "Nice job, Rarity!"

I tear at the ribbons with my teeth like a rabid dog, causing me to tear up my tongue, lips, and cheeks,... but I honestly don't care; I just want to crush the defiling whore. With one last jerk of my head I manage to rip the ribbon and free myself, only to be picked up by a purple glow and levitated twice my height from the ground as the ribbon slides off of my body, then it spins me around and see the six new adversaries in front of me. I growl at them as the blood flows from my face and drips off of my chin as I slowly raise my arms and legs, then I cork screw them and spin like a drill. I drop to the ground as the tall purple one gasps and land on my knees hard as I glare at my adversaries.

There were numerous guards in front of me, then there was the six newcomers behind them, then there was a rather entertained looking Celestia behind them. The guards wield spears and halberds and the like; then there was an unarmed orange earth pony standing right behind the guards that wore a Stetson on her golden maned head; The Rainbow maned Pegasus hovering in the air just behind her almost blending in with the afternoon sky; a yellow Pegasus floats and hides behind the rainbow pegasus as she hides her face behind her lustrous pink mane; there was a Pink earth pony standing right beside a... Well it was a Cannon, and she sports a mane that looked like it was fired from said cannon. Then there was a white unicorn with a very stylized mane of a purple-ish hue, and that had ribbons floating around her which were surrounded by a blue aura; and, just beside Celestia, was a Purple winged unicorn with a golden tiara on her head and a pink streak in her mane... And every last one (except for the yellow Pegasus) was giving me their game face. I just glare at them as I try to "remember" each of their names without reconnecting with the hive, but I couldn't for the life of me. I lock my gaze once more on the White Devil as stand up and walk forward silently.

Half way to the guards I kick into a full sprint to catch them off guard, it worked and I breeze through them like they were ghosts. I clear the last guard as he flails at me, only to promptly get charged by the rainbow maned pegasus, so I drop down to one knee at the last second, she passes inches over my head and runs right into the guard. I hop back up and run for a few steps before hopping to the side just as two hooves that were supposed to slam into my chest crack through the air where I originally was supposed to be, the owner of a fine Stetson lets out a confused "Wha-" just before I smash her right in the ribs hard enough to drop her like a rock.

I jump back just as streamers and confetti obliterate the spot where I was standing, then I hop up and slide down the apparently fast moving cannon and kick the Pink one in the face, eliciting an "Owchie!" from her muzzle as she falls on her rump and clutches at her face. I stop and stand over her, then I look to the side and run straight at the white unicorn as she sends her ribbons flying right at me, then I dance to the side at the last moment and smile as she tangles up the Rainbow maned Pegasus, who was trying to tackle me from behind, who ends up sailing right into the white unicorn's shocked face.

The yellow Pegasus winces and squeaks in fear as she stands her ground infront of me "St- stop, Please!" I dash right past her without so much as a second glance, and charge straight at Celestia's smug face, I lazily dodge the bolts of light that shoot from her and her purple friend's horns. I grab a loose rock just before I jump over the last shot and drop my foot right on the purple one's face, and I kick off of her face to jump at Celestia and her exposed Thro-

*-*

I wake up on the stones mid-bounce and find myself at the bridge... which was some where in between "Too far away from the princess I had just almost killed" and "I need a gun"... actually I think I landed on that one. I lay on my back for a moment as i stare at the sky, then I roll slowly to my right and plant my left hand on the ground, my new green shirt was ruined. I push myself up slowly, only to drop to one knee half way up as I Hack a couple of times and spit up blood, "I hate this place." I think dejectedly. I look up at my target and her companions as I finish standing up: They took up the same formation as before, but we all knew that my tricks wouldn't work a second time; All seemed to be in fine fighting shape save for a few hearty coughs; and they all seemed very happy about the addition of the Dark Princess that landed right beside her beloved sister. I spit the blood in my mouth in disgust as I stare at the Defiler, then I run full tilt in the opposite direction. There were too many, they were too strong, and I... worse for wear. "Fuck!" I shout as I barrel down the streets and I open my mind to the hive and almost run into a wall as a shout burst through my head immediately.

"WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?" Chrysalis voice boomed in my head, "Fighting the Princesses, the Elements of Harmony, AND the royal guard?" I hop past a confused pony as the Rainbow maned Pegasus, who he just remembered was named after her mane, sails over his head and comes around for another pass and Chrysalis continues her tirade, "YOU said you were going to TALK to her!" She says in a noticeably quieter, though still loud, voice.

"I was!" I shout at the top of my lungs and I jump to the side as the newly "Remembered" Rainbow Dash cut through the air where my chest was seconds before, I snake my fist out and catch her in the gut, I run down a side street as she flies right into a fruit stand. Chrysalis was quiet, so I add, "Maybe if you told me the truth I wouldn't have gone!"

"You said you knew everything!" She shouts in a hurt tone that was on the verge of tears through my mind as I dodge a bolt of dark light that explodes a vegetable stand.

"And I would have know that if you hadn't lied, I had to see that... Defiler in order for the thrice damned memory to show it's self!" I dart down an alley and hope they didn't follow, and they did with gusto.

I fly out the other end of the alley as the earth behind me explodes and I make a beeline for the Everfree as Chrysalis says in a quiet, dejected tone "We didn't mean to...", I grunted in irritated frustration, "I'm very sorry."

I look back, dodge a flying cart surrounded by a purple nimbus, and shout "Apologize AFTER I make it back!" as I tumble down a path in the Everfree. I hear the flying ones land and the flying impaired ones catch up and, after a moment of conference, they chase me down the path together. "Fuck!" I whisper to myself frantically as I search for a way out of this mess, that's when I noticed I was absolutely exhausted exactly like I should have been. "Fuck... No magic endurance for me." I cough to myself as a branch lashes my cheek and my chest burns. Then I notice another thing; this was the same path I ran down last time, I just ran past the remains of the tree that was exploded the first day I was here, I run for a few more minutes and crashed out of the forest and onto a familiar stretch of river... I didn't even slow down as I charge the river just like before.

A crocodile pops it's head up, just like last time, and I hop on it's opening mouth and jump off... and landed knee deep in the water on the other side, "That worked much better then expected..." I wheeze to myself in awe as I trudge forward and look back over my shoulder, only see my pursuers glaring at me from across the river and the crocodile turning back to the river, I see all of the "Elements" and the Dark Princess, but no guards or Defiler... I trudge faster as not to get devoured by a now pissed off crocodile and the ponies capable of flight took off as I dash haphazardly into the greenery.

I flail tiredly through the forest and find myself in a far too familiar place... except the bridge was gone, and in place of it's posts there were deep claw marks in the dirt. I think to myself idly "There goes my plan..." as I stand where the posts use to be and drop to my hands and knees, then I stand up slowly turn around as Rainbow Dash, the newly ascended Twilight Sparkle in her Alicorn glory, and Luna, the Dark Princess walk calmly into the clearing.

"We have you cornered, surrender." Luna says calmly as her companions watched warily.

"...No." I say in the Changling tongue after a moment of panting, causing Luna's wary, half lidded eyes to flick wide open in surprise as she adopted a very aggressive stance.

"What did it say?" Rainbow Dash asks as she leans towards Twilight with a hoof to the side of her mouth, Twilight had adopted a very similar stance to Luna.

"It spoke in Changling." Twilight states angrily as she glares daggers at me.

Rainbow's expression changes to one of shock, then to one of indignation as she in turn glares daggers as well. "Explain, Creature, or I will be forced to put you down like the animal you are." Luna growls as she scrapes her hoof on the ground menacingly.

"That was rather... violent, I'd say... your rather unhinged..." I pant as I finally manage to take my hands off of my knees, but plant one firmly on my hip and lean into it, "It's unbecoming of one as esteemed as yourself."

"Pleasantries were waved to moment you laid a paw on my sister." Luna fumes as Twilight stepped forward, in a less aggressive stance.

"Does that mean you give up?" The Purple one asks calmly, betraying none of her former irritation.

I regard her curiously for a moment with a exhaustion bend head, then I say "Depends, do I not get taken prisoner and executed for fun?"

Twilight's calm demeanor broke for a moment as her head rockets back in confusion, "What? No, Why would you think that?"

"Because that monster loves death."

Twilight blinked for a moment and opens her mouth to continue, but she gets cut off by Rainbow Dash, "What's it saying?"

"Enough of this!" Luna shouts as she stalks over to me, "Why are we bickering over semantics; You're in our custody now, accept it and come with us quietly."

"My life is semantics?" I ask her questioningly, "I like to think it's worth a little more then that." Luna glares straight into my eyes as I stand at full height and stare right back, we stare into each other's eyes for a while as the tension thickens to a nice paste like consistency.

"Enough of this!" Twilight shouts in exasperation, "We have you out numbered, please just come with us and you won't be harmed!"

"I think I'll take the other option; you know, the one without me dying of dysentry because your god is a sadist." I shot at her with fire in my eyes.

"That option involves you dying now, creature." Luna states inches from my face.

"You in position yet?" I think loudly

"I don't like that one at all... How about option three?"

"Not quite, give me ten more seconds." Two Twenty Six answers back

"That one involves the cliff and learning if you can fly!" Luna answers angrily.

"You have five."

"I'll take that one." Then I blow raspberries in her face and take my leap of faith.

The Decision

A hiss escapes my lips as the Nurse dabs my wounds, "Stop being such a baby, it's just some disinfectant." she scolds irritably, "Your lucky that's all you need after attacking a god." she adds as she wipes my face with a damp cloth and applies some bandages, "There, all done for now, does the baby want a lollipop?"

"You know... My blood sugar does feel a little low..." I say as I look at her slyly, only to get an amused shake of her head as a response, "But I'll make due." I finish offhandedly as I stand up and walk to the door, "Thanks though, now I have to see your esteemed leader for a nice chat..." The smile drops off of my face as I turn away and walk down the corridor. "Yes... A nice LONG chat."

I arrive to hear the Queen in a heated discussion with voice I couldn't readily identify, I lean against the wall and calmly wait outside of the throne room and play a guessing game as to the identity of newcomer. The game didn't last that long because the only names I knew were either Changling designations, human, or names of creatures that Chrysalis would be trying to kill by now. I lean against the wall right by the door and try to eavesdrop, but they are a little too far away for me to make out most of their conversation.

"... I told you we can't even support..." that was Chrysalis.

"... Just a few... We need the reinforcements!" The unidentified voice pleads.

"I TOLD YOU NO!" Chrysalis' voice thundered through to doors, causing me to jump back in shock.

"YOU MADE A PACT, YOU HAVE TO!" The unidentified voice retorted.

"YOU ARE DISMISSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE, GUARDS!"

"You cannot do this, YOU MADE A PACT WITH US!"

"And when I can fulfill my end, I will." A creature that stood about as tall as me walks out of the Throne room with two Changlings walking just behind him, My jaw drops when I notice it was bi-pedal and VERY disgruntled. It's face is canine, maybe a pug or boxer that looked like it got hit by every single car on the ugly train, and it's arms end with two paw like hands, and it's clothes are rather ragged, dirty, and it smells like an old iron smelter.

"Are you their latest pet?" It asks as it stops and inspects me like I was a not-so-choice donkey at a horse auction.

"What?" I droll out stupidly.

"Just as I though, not worth my time." It scoffs with finality as it walks away.

"What the fuck is his problem?" I ask the air.

"He's just angry because we can't help him." The air answers back in a voice that sounds suspiciously like Chrysalis'.

I turn and face the sound, and lo and behold, it WAS Chrysalis. "Why can't you hel- why am I asking THAT, you lied to me, that's why I'M angry!" I say as I throw my arms in the air, "That repressed thing, that was bullshit, you knew what was going to happen and THAT'S why you tried to stop me!"

"No, I didn't lie to you..." She replied with alot less gusto then I expected, "I just had a feeling in my gut that it was a bad idea." She looks off to the side sadly and I can't help but feel a little sorry for her... after all she was the one who lost her mother to a crazed god.

I sigh loudly before saying, "Look, I-I'm sorry about your mother, I'm sorry about this whole thing..." I place my hand on her shoulder and she looks back at me with the same sad, dejected look, "If it will take that look off your face I'll help you, OK?"

"I can't ask you to do that!" she replies as she hops in place and her wings buzz excitedly, "It's too dangerous."

I look over her shoulder, straight at her wings, and thought, "Oh my god, that's so adorable!", then she blushes and looks to the side, then I realized that I hadn't hid that at all... Oops. "None the less!" I carry on with more gusto then is needed, "I have a debt to pay, and I will pay it!" I bring my triumphant fist down from above my head and place it back on her shoulder as I smile at her and say, "I never asked to be here, but I want to help you."

Chrysalis nods nervously as she smiles and says, "I really don't want you to be in any danger..." She looks at my expectantly and I just smile at her like a love struck simpleton, then she adds with a defeated sigh, "But if you insist, then I can't stop you..."

I pat her shoulder happily and ask in a bad Irish accent "What can I do for yah?"

*-*

I sigh angrily as I scrub at the pot of caked on... stuff, "We're low on dishwashers." I say mockingly, "We need you to help keep the food flowing." I sigh again with even more irritation as I scrub even harder, "What did they cook in this thing, CEMENT!?" I toss it into the sink and hang my head. "This isn't what I meant when I said "I'll Help."" The cook behind me giggled.

"Looks like your hav'n all the fun in the world, huh?" he asks in what I could only assume to be a southern drawl, "When your done there, the stores need organizing-" He gives me a look that doesn't have even a trace of mirth, "-REALLY badly..."

I sigh defeatedly, "Fine... but then I'm having a talk with Chrysalis..."

*-*

"A month has passed and I STILL haven't talk to her... And that ugly fuck is still here, what does he do, DANCE?!" I mumble to myself as I order the weapon racks in the storage room. "Spear goes here, Halberd goes here, helmet goes here... HOW DID THIS GET HERE?!" I shout in confusion as I pick up a pacifier and stare in horror at the huge diaper in the corner, and with a mental click I drop the pacifier and hop back... and fight the urge to vomit. "Okay... Time to have a little chat with my host..." I think to myself as I hurry out of that den of debauchery.

I head straight to the janitors closet to find some bleach to scald my hands with and, when I don't find any, I try to not to think about it as I hurry to the Throne room to have a little talk. Long before I actually reach my objective I can hear the occupants... Every night this happens.

"We need your help!" Dog Face shouts at Chrysalis, "You made a pact and that is not something you can just throw away on a whim!"

"I am well aware of that, Raul, but we can't spare the people right now... I really wish we could help, Honestly." And she did honestly feel that way, I could feel her pity and sorrow even through her diminished link.

"These are lies designed to trick us as you suck us dry!" "Raul" shouts

"HOW DARE YOU INSULT US!?" Chrysalis' voice boomed, "WE ARE THE REASON YOU RESISTANCE EXISTS!" I reach the doors and stop just outside of them with my hands hovering over the handles, "If your mentor could see you now, he'd be-"

"DON'T YOU DARE SPEAK OF HIM, INSECT, HE WAS ONE HUNDRED TIMES THE LEADER YOU WILL EVER BE!" Raul's voice thunders, I open the doors and watch as Chrysalis stands up and, as her wings buzz adorably once more, she stalked down the stairs infront of her throne.

"I DO NOT TAKE KINDLY TO BEING INSULTED, FOOL!" This isn't going to end well.

Raul takes a single step forward, so his face is inches from her's, "RESPECT THE PACT!" I need to do something

"WHEN I CAN SPARE THE PEOPLE, I WILL!" I clear my throat loudly and Raul turns around violently as Chrysalis' eyes flick up to me and instantly lose all of their fire, "No, you can't!"

"If I go, then you-" I point at Raul, "-Will have a direct line to her-" I point at Chrysalis,"-ear" I say quietly in a matter-of-fact tone, "And I," I think to myself, "Will never have to deal with diapers again..." I repress a shiver as I look at the two expectantly.

They answered at the same time, abet in to different tones, "NO!" his was an indignant shout, and her's, a fearful plea.

"I refuse to be so blatantly insulted!" Raul continued, "What can you do, huh?!" he walks up to me and pokes me in the chest.

"I can kick your ass, fuck face." I state in a calm and relaxed tone as I shift my weight and cross my arms, "Wanna try me?"

Raul was dumbstruck, and when he realized he had been insulted (which took a tad too long), his face contorted in rage, "Why you lit-" He steps forward and then he hovers to the side as he glows a bright green.

"No, I won't allow you to do this!" Chrysalis says as she shouts through the mind, "What are you doing?!"

"Well, it's the best way, so you should." I respond calmly as I retort mentally, "What has to be done."

"I'm not going to allow such a blatant insult!" Raul shouts as he stalks over to us and glares into my face before continuing, "What can a little, weak THING like you do that will help?!"

"Well, for starters I am rather versed in the art of war, what with it being my major and everything, then there's the fact I could kill you right now with a flick of my wrist-" Raul's face hardens immediately "-I said I could, not that I will... Then there's the fact I owe my esteemed host my life several times over." I end as I calmly gesture to Chrysalis.

Raul opens his mouth to protest, only to have Chrysalis cut him off with a wave of her hoof, "If you feel you owe me so much, then you should listen to what I am saying... Which is no."

"I owe you my life and my loyalty... but I'll decide how it's best used, he needs a direct line to your ear, and I need to do something more-" I gesture vaguely, "-Material."

Raul burst, "I WILL NOT HAVE THAT THING BE YOUR ONLY SUPPORT!"

Neither me nor the Queen in front of me even turn our heads at him as we both argue loudly with each other for all the Mind to hear. "I will not have you be put in danger just to placate this fool!" Chrysalis growls.

"I will not have myself IN danger, I'll only be a ambassador for him to get a hold of you through."

"That worked So well last time, don't you think?" She retorts venomously

"And *THAT** would have hurt more if it was less accurate..."* I say in mock injury, then I carry on in a more serious tone of voice, "Look, I don't trust this guy as far as I can throw him, which is about a foot, but you need eyes and ears in his power structure that circumstances don't normally allow, Changlings can only assume equine forms, so this is the best choice of action... besides, I might get a chance to smack him and I couldn't pass that up for all the chocolate in the world."

I could feel Chrysalis' amusement, which is quickly crushed, as her face melts into a granite slab as she pulls her head and, with a disinterested flick of her head, she says, "Raul... It looks like you have a new guest," Raul glares at her and raises a paw with it's funny looking claw pointing at her, but she cuts him off by saying, "Several in fact... You'll get the Changlings, and supplies, you have been hounding me for... But only because He-" She gestures at me coldly, "-convinced me."

Raul's entire demeanor does a one eighty, "Ah, I see that you are quite capable of seeing reason!" he says with a bow, "How soon can I return home and resume fighting out oppressors?"

Chrysalis is silent for a moment as commands and requests were sent through the Mind, then she says, "About a week... maybe less..." Raul dances, DANCES, out of the room as he claps and thanks her profusely.

"You will not be disappointed!" is his last parting statement before he disappears in the hallway and the door shuts behind him.

"Oh, how I loath that pathetic creature." Chrysalis sighs behind me, I turn to face her and notice that her face is buried in her hoof.

"That fuck is nuts." is all I could think to say.

*-*

Six days, close enough to a week not to matter, but even then it seemed like years. I'm absolutely giddy, to go out and see the rest of the world, meet new people, never, EVER, clean that weapons locker again... Life is good. The carts are loaded, the changelings are ready... and Raul is tap dancing, "This is going to be a long trek..." I think to myself, and in technicality it was, over two weeks, probably longer with the carts. I sigh in amused contentment as I lift my clothes onto a cart, "He's not that bad..."

I felt a mental ping, "You ready?" Three Forty Seven asks calmly through the constant buzz.

"Yup!" I say happily as I drop my hand on his shoulder, and earning an irritated look. I look around and notice the throng, "Now, how many are coming with us, I thought we were only taking like twelve?"

"Twelve will be what we reinforce the Diamond Dogs with, but we need-", there was a loud buzzing noise that I thought I would never hear again, "-for the Mind."

I look at him like he just spoke in tongues... which he kind of did, "What the fuck was that?"

"Apparently that word doesn't translate." He says with a chuckle, "They act as... relays for the Mind, it doesn't have an unlimited range, you know."

"I knew that..." I lie through my teeth, "I just didn't understand the word." Three Forty Seven just chuckles again and walks up the the carts as he summons everyone to the carts.

"Everypony here?" I shouts out.

"God, I hate that word." I think quietly to myself.

Three Forty Seven rambles out a list of nam- numb- designations and marks down when there is a response, I on the other hand was looking out at the pissing rain through the cavern mouth, It was dark, dreary, and did I mention the rain?

"That looks like everyone, lets go," My companion says as he taps my shoulder, "I'll need your help to strap in."

"Alright!" I say with enthusiasm as I turn away from the caver- "OH GOD!" I flew back about five feet from the ugly mug that was right in my face seconds prior. "When the FUCK did you get there?" I shout as I bring my arms down and plant my left foot once more in the dirt.

Raul just pulls his head back a little and says, "You've got a strong mouth."

"And you look like you've been beaten with the ugly stick!" Did I mention I don't like him?

"That was hurtful, but I'll forgive you, because I want you to forgive me..."

"Who in the what now?" I am genuinely shocked by this claim, I've met many people like him before and not ONE as apologized to me.

"I was acting like a brash fool before," He looks to the side sadly, "I'm just worried about my people, every day I'm gone is another day they are leader-less."

All I could do is look at him, I feign speechlessness but I'm really putting him under the scope. His body language was saying that he was sorry, his words were saying he was sorry, Hell, his AIR was saying he was sorry. I hold out my hand, "Sure why the fuck not?" He shakes it once, sharply, a good shake

"Good, now lets be off!" He says, then he spins on his paw and marches off happily.

"Fucker is still nuts..." I mumble to myself as I walk over to the lead cart and find my companion already strapped in and ready.

"What took you so long?" Three Forty Seven asks calmly

"I'm not quite sure myself." I answer truthfully as I test the straps on his back.

"Thanks, now I think you should say goodbye." He gestures vaguely in my direction.

"Eh?" I look over my shoulder and find myself face to face with the Queen of the hive. After a moment, with my eyes the size of dinner plates and a pulled back head I utter a single syllable, "Sup?"

She doesn't do much of anything as she says emotionlessly, "I am well, yourself?"

"I'm not too bad..." I trail off uncertainly as I look to the side and rub the back of my head. Silence prevails for a few moments before I look her in the eye and say quietly, "Look, this is something that has to be done."

"I agree with you." She responds equally as... lifelessly, "Otherwise I wouldn't have sent my Changlings with you." I nod as I blush brightly.

"Yeah... I should have thought of that." I berate myself mentally and we just stare at each other for a few more seconds and I think a Changling makes a sawing motion in the air, then I burst out, "I'mgonnamissyou,okay?"

"I'll miss you too" She responded quietly.

"We should get going..." I mumble quietly as I rub my neck nervously.

"Yes, you should... Good bye." I think I catch a hint of a sad smile before she turns around and walks away.

After a silent moment of me watching her walk away, two things happen; First, I notice that the ENTIRE cave was silent, and; Second... "THAT was smooth, Champ," Two Sixty Three says sarcastically as he rests his elbow on my shoulder as he hovers in the air, "Remind me to come to you when I need to learn some moves." and with that he was off.

"Could this day get any worse?" I think to myself as I turn around.

The gods heard me, and they can go fuck themselves, because when I turned around things got ALOT worse.

The Hitch

Wide eyed, I freeze in place and stare at our newest, and by far the biggest, problem we have encountered this morning. The mind was buzzing with everything from Rage, to Panic, to Mild Irritation; but all of it was directed at what I was staring at.

Stories have been created and told for years about the creature in front of me, none of which were good, happy, or entertaining. When it's name was whispered behind closed doors; curtains would be drawn, children would be gathered up in hushed tones, and doors would slam shut. When it was seen; Ponies and Changlings alike would flee for there lives. When it's voice was heard everything would cover their ears.

It inspects me for a moment, seemingly completely oblivious to the Changlings slowly gathering behind me, and I take a single step back just before it opens it mouth and ushers a command, "What sort of foul creature are you?" I just stare at it in shocked confusion for a few moments longer before I start to giggle.

Did I mention all of the above was done out of embarrassment?

"What's so funny, The Great and Powerful Trixie demands that you answer her!" She accentuated her outrage with a stamp of her hoof and a flare of her horn that I gather was supposed to menacing. I just continued to laugh to the point of doubling over, "Answer, creature!"

"I never thought I'd meet her, honestly!" I shout through the mind as my amusement floods along behind it, "Honestly, man!" The Changlings around me shuffle in place as my amusement conflicts with their confusion, embarrassment, and fear. "I'm- I'm-" I start but another bout of laughter cuts me off, "GOD, THAT HAT IS STUPID!"

Trixie gives me an indignant glare, "How dare you mock the Great and Powerful Trixie's fashion sense!" she stamps her hoof again, "She demands that you tell her who you ar..." she trails off as she notices the Changlings, "Oh dear..." I takes a step back, "The Great and Powerful Trixie no longer cares to know, good day!" She turns around to leave rather hurriedly but runs right into Three Forty Seven's chest, and she just repeats herself, "Oh dear..."

Giggles still wrack my body, but they slowly subside as Three Forty Seven asks her a simple question in hoovian, "How did you get here?" Trixie gulps loudly as she stares at his face in blatant fear, "Don't make me ask again."

"Your going to kill her with fear, Forty Sev." I toss at him

"She is trespassing and is now in possession of our Hive's current location, so I ask you; is that a bad thing?"

"I was just saying that I've never seen that..." Just then Trixie blasts Forty Sev out of the way and books it outside, "Oh dear..." I thought idly just before I grasp the severity of the situation and chase her with an army of Changlings all around me.

*-*

A retarded, blind, deaf, legless squirrel could follow the path she was carving through the forest; broken branches, deep hoof prints, scared animals, shouts of fear and very shaky threats... Yeah, hardest chase ever. We caught her in a clearing as she spun around in confusion, we circled around it and the Changlings slowly move into the clearing... It was rather menacing actually. She spun around again, this time in fear instead of confusion, and then she started wildly blasting at anything that moved... She missed every time, thought she did take the branch right beside my head off it's tree rather cleanly.

I hear some smashing behind me and I turn around to find Raul coming into sight, only to get the previously mentioned branch to the face, I stifle a giggle as he flails around in confused indignation. "What's the hold up?!" he demands in a rather loud voice, which causes Trixie to whip around and blast a bolt in his direction, she missed...

"Damn..." I mumble under my breath as I point over my shoulder to the magic wielding maniac in the clearing, "That's the hold up."

"My Queen, what do we do?" Forty Sev asks Chrysalis.

"Who is it?" Raul asks me as he uses me for cover and peeks over my shoulder.

"Take her in for questioning." Was Chrysalis' response.

"Trixie, The Great and Powerful." I told Raul off handedly, "That was kind of confusing." I think to myself as I shake my head. Then an idea shot it's way through my mind, "Maybe we can use her, a mage as powerful as her is rare, and if we motivate her properly..." I ponder on this for a moment as I watch the Changlings slowly close the ring around her, "I leave today... So I won't be able to convince her at anytime but now..." I walk forward calmly as she blasts wildly around the circle, still missing every time, then I pass the Changlings, feeling their bewilderment, irritation, and curiosity as Trixie is busy blasting in the other direction.

"Hey, Blasto!" I shout at her as I come to a stop a few feet away; she whips around, wild eyed, and blast one of her bolts right into my chest. I hit the ground just in front of the Changlings and a few of them openly laugh as the others place their faces in their hooves at varying speeds. "Ow." was all I said

Trixie belted out a "Sorry!" at about the same time.

"Well, at least she isn't a sadist."

"Wait, Trixie is not sorry!" she corrected herself. I look down my chest from my spread eagle position on the ground, "She's rather glad that one of you beasts got what was coming to you!"

"Ow." I repeat as I stand up slowly, wobble, catch myself, then finish. "All I'm trying to do is give you a chance at freedom... or another kind of prison, depending on your view..."

"What ar-" Chrysalis begins, but I sever the connection with the hive and calmly walk towards the frazzled unicorn.

"Work for me." I say as I hold out my hand.

There is a pause, even the rain seemed to stop for a moment, Then... "WHAT!?" says the Changlings, along with the diamond dog, and the absolutely bewildered unicorn all at the same time.

Trixie recoils from my hand like it's a snake, "The Great and Powerful Trixie does not bow to anyone!"

I stifle a theatrical chuckle with my extended hand, "Who said anything about bowing?" "One wrong word..."

"Her point is still made!" She stamps her hoof again as she regains a little composure.

"That's good, she can at least adapt to pressure... sort of." "I'm offering you a chance to avoid a cell you'll most likely never leave... You won't even get to see the sun once."

She visibly pales and, after a long moment of her eyes darting back and forth, her tongue slips out and wets her lips just before she says, "Wha- What might you be needing Trixie's assistance for, exactly?"

"Espionage, housing known fugitives, trafficking armaments... the list goes on and on." "Not much, mostly just need your silence and,-" I hold my hand out again, "-Your wonderful talents, do we have a deal?" She looks left and right as she thinks about it, then I decide to add a little more motivation, "We are fighting the government of your country-" Her eyes fly up and go wide in shock, "-Which includes a certain lavender goddess..."

Her eyes narrow in contempt and her hoof flies into my hand and, after a single firm shake, she says, "Deal."

I smile at her and calmly turn back to my allies and bow my head, they part for me with absolutely dumbstruck, or extremely angry, looks on their faces. "Come along my friend," I say to Trixie and she hurries to walk in stride beside me, "We have alot of ground to cover."

*-*

I definitely did NOT want to reconnect with the hive after so rudely cutting Chrissy off like that, "Chrissy?" I thought to myself as we got closer to the cavern, "We're not THAT close." I chuckle under my breath, Then I look over at my newly acquired minion, "How you holding up?"

"The Great and Powerful Trixie is completely fine!" She declares loudly as she stares straight ahead with a determined look on her face.

"Lighten up, save your game face for the fight." We pass through the mouth of the cave and I look up, "Hopefully you won't be in one though." We made our way to the cart with my things in it, "Say... don't you have a cart of your own?"

Trixie made a sour face, "Trixie lost that to Twilight Sparkle." The last two words were dripping with hatred, I laugh and her head whips up and throws daggers at me, "Would you laugh if you lost everything?"

"I'm laughing now... So yes." I shrug as I hop on my tip toes and sift through my things, "These are gifts and such from my hostess and her rather kind kin." I grab a comb and look down to pass it to her, only to catch her staring into the distance, "You alright?"

"Yes... fine." She says as her head turns to the side, I raise an eyebrow and garner no further response.

I toss the comb on her hat and say as I turn around to find Forty Sev to get our asses going, "I've had even less for alot longer, so I'll learn to cope." I turn my head away from Trixie to find the fact we were surrounded by Changlings. "Not good... though it was expected."

"Apprehend the Prisoner!" Chrysalis' voice rang through the cavern, The Changlings start forward and I just scratch my eyebrow as I step in front of Trixie, "Move!"

"Nope, not happening." I stood there with my arms crossed and watch as the ever regal figure of Chrysalis carves it's way through the crowd.

"You, I'll deal with you later, MOVE!" She glares daggers at me as she shoulders her way to the front of the line

"You heard me, No." I inspect to back of my hand nonchalantly as her head lowers.

"MOVE!" Her voice roars loud enough to hurt, the echos bouncing around loud enough to be heard for a full minute... which I waited for the full length of before I spoke up:

"What are my stakes in this?"

Chrysalis' head shakes as she's thrown off track (hopefully), "In what?"

I raise my hands and gesture vaguely, "This, all of it, the Hive, the war, this world... what is it?"

"I wasn't aware you had any other then the fact you have stressed several times that you owe me your life."

"I don't," I say with a shrug as my arms drop to my sides, "So you could say that the only reason I exist is to help you."

"Then what was the point of saying anything at all?" She asks, absolutely confounded, and so I hold my finger up and walk back to the cart and hop up, after sifting for a moment I find what I'm looking for. I grab it, pull it out and whirl it around my head before hoping down and grasping my newly equipped spear in both hands as I step back in front of Trixie.

"So you understand my exact meaning when I say that if you try to take her," I point the spear at her, "I will fight you," then gesture to the rest of the Changlings, "and as many of them as possible."

The cavern went absolutely silent, I can hear a faint dripping far off. "You woul-"

"I would." I state as calmly as a man would normally state his name.

"Your willing to fight ME, for HER?!" Chrysalis shouts in confusion as she violently throws out her forehoof, "YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW HER!"

"I gave her my unspoken word that I would protect her with my life when she agreed to help me." I reconnect myself to the hive to show her exactly how determined I was, which was very.

"If you feel that you must fight us..." Chrysalis says with a defeated sigh, "You can keep her as your squire, or you concubine, or whatever it is you plan for her..." she turns away and adds, "But if you die, she joins you shortly afterwards... I can't let loose ends remain untied,: Now go, enjoy your trip." and with that she was off. The tense mood was slowly replaced by a somber one as she made her her way to the tunnel that lead deeper into the Hive and, with one last look of regret, she disappears.

I continue to hold the spear in my hand as the Changlings exchange looks and slowly disperse, some giving me looks of confusion, some giving my looks of contempt, and others still just sadly shook there heads. After every last one of the Changlings moved to their appropriate locations I lower my spear, and a few minutes longer before, with a sigh, I actually turn away. The look Trixie was giving me hurt, it was one of pure bewildered thankfulness, then she says "The Great and-"

I cut her off as I toss the spear back on to the wagon,

"Shut the fuck up."

The Trek

"I'm so god damned bored." I grumble as I lay on my back and stare a up at the roof.

"So do something about it instead of complaining about it to the Great and Powerful Trixie!"

I sigh loudly, then I realized something, "Hey!" I roll over and glare at my minion, "Why aren't you pulling the cart, we've been at this for like, what... Three, four days?" I poke her chest, "Time to give Sev a break!"

"That work is beneath the Great an-"

"I told you to STOP CALLING YOURSELF THAT!" I poke her chest harder, "It's irritating!" Trixie rolls her eyes and opens her mouth to most likely utter a "Smooth" retort, but I cut her off, "Trixie is just fine, the whole title is just too much, it's like trying to say the serial number to something!"

"Fine, Trixie will listen if you stop making such a big deal about her speech patterns." She responds sarcastically.

"Deal," I turn my head to the flap that closes us off from the outside world and shout, "Hey, Sev, pull over and let our little magician pull the cart!" The cart slows and, when it stops, I gesture with a flourish for Trixie to go outside.

Just as she reaches the flap Sev mutters loudly:

"This isn't good..."

I gave Trixie an odd look and shimmied closer to the door and whispered to Sev, "What is it?"

"The pass is..." There was a pause, "Closed."

I look at Trixie and flick my head at the door, she gets out and I go to follow, only to have a brown hoof block me from that course of action, "Come on, Sev, my ass is killing me from your bad driving, I need to stretch!"

"And have one of Celestia's spies see you and cut our throats while we sleep, I'd rather not have that happen."

"Oh come on!" I sigh loudly as I fall back on the hastily arranged "bed" that I had been forced to stay on for the last four days, I bash my funny bone on a box. After the flailing, I stare at the tarp that serves as the roof of the cart for a moment before I decide to clean up the mess I had inadvertently caused.

I grab the black fabric and my curiosity gets the better of me, so I lift it up and grin mischievously at what I see.

*-*

I descend calmly from the cart as Sev surveys the butt-load of rocks that had blocked off our path through the valley in an inspiring evening light as Raul barks orders like he's in charge of the whole operation. As Sev turns he says, in an especially irate voice, "Get back in the dam-" He stops and looks at me as I grin my trade mark grin, not that he could see since I was covered from head to toe in a jet black cloak, complete with face wrap. Sev just face-hoofs as he says, "Fine... I guess, just stick close to Raul..." The smile drops of off my face immediately.

"Fuck..." I think to my self before asking Sev Politely "Righty then, where is my minion?" he just points to the small grove of trees by the road.

"Powdering her nose..."

"Eh?" I look at the forest and scratch my head, "I didn't know she wore make up." The loud smack that came from Sev's direction told me to stop the thought train, "I'm missing something I take it?" I say calmly as my head turns back to look at Sev's face, now sporting a hip new hoof mark.

"How do you not know what that means?"

"What what means?"

"The term "Powdering her nose."?"

I shrug at him and give him a face.

"It's used by women to state discretely that they need to use the washroom."

"Why don't they just out right say "I gotta go to the bathroom!"?" Sev's response was to just walk away and leave me scratching my head as Raul laughs at me.

"You are a strange one." He says as he wraps an arm around my shoulders like he's my "Bro" and leans lazily.

"Ever hear of personal space?" I thought to myself as I dis-entangled myself from his arms, "I am well aware of that, my fine furry friend, being the only member of my species here at all..." I make a Jazz hands-like gesture, "Ever."

He held his hands up like I pulled a knife on him, "Whoa, calm down, I was just trying to make conversation!"

"You picked a great opening line," I say irritably as I close my hands and gesture at the rocks that choked off our path, "What are we going to do about that?"

Raul shrugs calmly as he says, "I think we're going around it, it'll add a week, but..." He turns to face the roadblock and finishes, "It'll take about ten to twelve days to move that mess."

I sigh sadly, "Looks like the long way then..."

Sev's voice rang out over the mind and through the air, "We camp here tonight, tomorrow we take the mountain passes."

"Mountain passes?" I ask Raul quietly.

"We passed the turn off about an hour ago, you were too busy making out with your little Pony to be bothered..." He waves his hand dismissively, "So we didn't tell you, well, that and the fact we thought we could actually go through the main road... silly us." He mockingly places his face in his hand... paw... thing.

I hop back into the cart to pull out a tent so I could finally sleep under the stars, I could hear Raul's foot steps behind me, which what I was trying to avoid, "Yes?" I ask him as I stick my body through the cart's flap to grab said tent, leaving my legs to dangle in the cool breeze.

Raul's voice glided in from behind me on a conspiratory whisper, "So what's your plan with the little wench?" My foot managed to find his face rather well shortly afterwards, a loud "OW!" blasts through the curtains, followed shortly there after be the satisfying sound of his ass hitting dirt.

I chuckle quietly to myself for a moment before I say in a deliberately loud voice, "What was that Raul?" I pull myself out from the curtains and look at him in mock confusion, complete with innocent-hand-over-mouth, "What happened?"

Raul rubs his face as he glares at me from the dirt, "You kicked me in the face." He growls menacingly.

"I did?" I hop back down and hold out a hand to help him up, "I'm dreadfully sorry, I lost my balance trying to pull out my heavy tent!" He takes my hand, whilst glaring daggers, and I hop back up to the cart. After a moment I pull the tent out and hop lightly off of the cart. He glares at me again as I walk smugly to the side of the road and wave at Trixie as she trots happily back through the grass.

"Beautiful day, isn't it?" She says as she approaches me, "Trixie would just love to have a nice picnic and watch the sun set..." She looks at the sky longingly.

I look at her for a moment, my bewildered expression hidden by my face wrap, then I state in a flat voice, "Man, you need to get laid." The indignant look she gave me could have melted iron. "Who needs a heat lamp when you got her?"

She stamps her foot in that adorable way she does, "TRIXIE DEMANDS THAT YOU TAKE THAT BACK!" she shouts in a magically resonant voice.

After I pick my body out of the side of the cart I had traveled in, I look at her and shout, "HOLY FUCKING CHRIST!" I hop down and dust myself off slowly and meander back over to her, then with a pinch of her cheek I add, "Repressed much?"

The wordless scream of rage blasts me clean through the cart and imbeds me into a large tree on the other side, narrowly missing Sev and six other Changlings. "At least she was nice enough to put that shield on me..." I think dozily as I pull myself from the me-shaped hole in the tree and fall face first on an open suitcase. "Is my face in undies, or a bra?" I lift my face up and find a non-discript, red scarf wrapped around my neck nicely, "Damn... and what the fuck?"

Trixie walks through the wreckage of the cart angrily, "Take."

I feel a familiar warm and fuzzy feelings wrap around my throat.

"That."

She pulls me close to her very angry face.

"Back."

I calmly untie the Scarf and place it on her shoulders as she continues to sizzle my face with her eyes. I croak out quietly, "Nope, but you need to calm down a bit..." I gesture at the Changlings that had taken up arms and were watching intently. Trixie's rage immediately dries up and she drops me on my face again. "Ow." I say as I pick myself up and rub my nose, waving at the Changlings calmly. "Woman problems!" I shout to them and they give me a confused look, as Trixie glares at me again and I flinch theatrically.

"She destroyed the luggage cart!" Raul shouts as he storms through the wreckage, "She has to be dealt with!"

"Dealt with?" I ask with a tilt of my head, "I thought she'd just pick it all up and make a new one." Raul just stops and give me a confused look.

"What?"

"She broke it, so she can fix it!" I state with a happy nod of my head, though there was no smile on my face because this wasn't going to work. Trixie looks at me with an absolutely horrified expression.

"What?" She laments, then she adds in her angry, magically enhanced voice, "YOU WERE THE REASON WHY THAT-"

I place one of my fingers on her mouth calmly and say, "I never said I wouldn't help you, dum-dum, it's my fault too."

The others didn't seem to understand what just occurred, so I skirt around Raul and drag Trixie along as they all just look at each other with bewildered expressions. "Why do you do these things?" Trixie asks me in a genuinely confused and pleading voice.

"Lessons, entertainment, no reason at all; pick which one helps you sleep at night." I inspect the wreckage calmly and sigh, "The only salvageable parts are the wheels, I'd say you did a pretty good job at breaking this." I pat her shoulder and stand up. I look at the slowly darkening sky, and with a smile I say, "Welp, lets get started!" and thought to myself, Ha, it actually worked!

*-*

I study every last bunched muscle, every last strained tendon, every last flick of her head, every last drop of sweat on Trixie's body as she cut down a tree, delimbs, debarks, and cuts said tree into boards and added it to the frame of the cart all at the same time she started on the last one on of the bunch.

"Stay and watch my show, little one, and you will be amazed beyond your wildest dreams!" I smile at the sore memory that surfaces, I do miss that old man. I think sadly as I look up at the stars, "Four more hours, then we hit the road."

Trixie grunts irritably as she places the finished frame on the ground and starts pounding away with her mind hammer on the not-mind nails, after a few minutes she finishes the pounding them in and collapses, "Trixie... Just wants to... go to bed..." She rasps as she lies there panting.

"That look done to you?" I gesture at the frame and hold up my hand, counting off on my fingers, "It's needs wheels, a tarp, and all the luggage re-packed... Also," I tap my chin, "Now that I think about it... Two Ninety Eight is going to be miffed that you stole his scarf."

She looks at me groggily as she lifts one of the ends and inspects it, "How do you know that it's his?"

I tap the gem under my shirt and say in an overly exuberant tone, "I just know in my heart." She looks at my funny, so I pat her head like a dog, "Now add wheels, then the luggage, we can get the tarp in the morning."

*-*

"I love my carriage; it's luxurious, cool, and best of all-" The carriage bounces a foot in the air as it hits a rock, then Raul pats his seat "-Padded." I sigh as I stare out the window.

"I hate you sometimes, you know that?" I think at Sev as he hauls the cart that Trixie built two nights ago, his only response was to share his smug feeling of self satisfaction with me. "Dick." I turn and look at Raul as he talks about something I lost long ago.

"... He chased me for hours, trying to get that silly neck tie back... Man, did I get a whooping for that..." He wipes a mirthful tear from his eye as he stares off into his memories.

"How many days till we reach the mountains?" I ask him dispassionately as I study his ugly face.

"We reach the mountains tommorrow, then we are in them for about five days..." He grins at me, "I hope you brought a nice, padded carriage like me!"

I sigh and look back out the window at Trixie as she pulls the food cart beside us, I wave at her and she pointedly ignores me. "So... BORED..."

*-*

My mom tugs at my shirt for like the bazillionth time today, "Mom, I'm gunna be late!"

She looks me in the eyes and smiles happily, "Sorry, hunny, I just wanted to make sure you looked your best," she turns her head and beams as she looks at the calender, "It's your first day back." She kisses my forehead.

"EWWW!" I lament as I rub the spit off, "Mom, I'll get cooties!" She laughs, "You think I want to get everyone in class sick?" I tap my chin and think about that for a moment, "Actually..." I grin evilly and she just laughs again and pushes me lightly out the door.

"Don't get any big ideas, you still need to get through the next ten grades and you can't do that if your caught by the Superhero!"

"What! There's twelve of them!" I say as I spin around in shock, she just turns me around, pushes me out the door, and closes it behind us. "Aw... Man... It was hard enough going through the last two... learning letters, then numbers, then Words, I just wanna play with the dump truck..."

"And when your up on that podium, waving to everyone with that diploma, you'll think, "That went by too fast!"" she retorts as we step in the elevator, she presses the ground floor button, and then she pinches my cheek, ""And I learned alot of stuff I can wow the world with!"".

"Nuh uh!" I shout as I shake my head till I almost fall over.

"Careful!" She berates me happily and holds me up, "You need to get there in one piece."

"Woah..." I wobble for a moment, then the elevator stops and we leave the building quietly, then a question pops in my head, "Hey, mom?"

"Yes?" she looks down at me and smiles happily as we walk down the road.

"What do you do for work?" I ask her innocently.

The smile wavers and the mirth seems to disappear from her eyes, "I'm a... masseuse, hunny."

"Then why do those men always got to be so loud, do you go all Jackie Chan on them?" I make excited shooping motions in the air, complete with "Hyah!"s and "Wha-cha!"s

The bus pulls into sight, "I'll tell you when your older, Okay?" She tells me sadly

I kick the ground and pout, "Okay..." Then we get on the bus.

I rocket up in my bed roll, soaked in a cold sweat and panting heavily, I look around and see Trixie sleeping in her roll calm and peacefully. I stare at her for a moment before I throw off my covers and walk out into the moon-lit night. I sigh heavily as I cross my arms against the chill of the air, "I wish I could just wipe that away..." I mumble before I wander semi-aimlessly towards the designated washroom.

"Wipe what away?" Raul says as his head pops out of his cart that was ninja-parked by my tent.

"None of your damned business!" I growl at him as I continue to walk away, I didn't bother to look at him, but the sound of his door closing pulled my lips a little. After I drain the "Komodo Dragon", I make my way over to Sev's tent and, finding it lit like beacon, I let myself in.

"What do you want?" he asks without even looking up from his maps.

"A job as far away from the group as possible." Sev looks up at me and raises an eyebrow.

"Your here to be a dignitary, remember?" He stares straight into my eyes, "You can't wander off, nor can you aggravate everyone you meet: that incident with Trixie almost cost you your life, not to mention the Changlings you almost hit."

"That?" I wave at him with a gusto I wasn't feeling, "That was just a little bit of fun."

"If you said harmless I was going to sock you right in the face."

I jump back a bit, "Wow, your grouchy tonight."

"I'm starting to think you aren't worth the headache." I blink a few times before his meaning sinks in.

"What?" I say in a low voice and lower my head.

"I'm not the only one... Chrysalis is unsure if your really all that trustworthy..."

My hands slam down on his desk of their own accord, "The fuck do you mean, "Not trustworthy?""

"That's not what I sai-"

I slam my hands down again and my voice raises a few decibels, "Don't Fucking argue semantics with me, you Fuck!" I point violently out the tent in the general direction of the hive, "I'm trying to help you because you people-" I stick my face inches from his un-shaken muzzle and bellow, "-SAVED MY FUCKING LIFE!" I sit there and glare into his eyes.

"Well," he says in a calm even tone, "You haven't been showing your gratitude very well then: Blatantly getting in the way of the capture of a security hazard; conscripting said hazard to field operations where she can escape at her slightest fancy; then having her use you as a soft ball to almost kill Seven Changlings, including myself; AND-" his eyes lock dead on my own and basically vomit outrage as he continues in his calm and orderly voice, "-You haven't even told us your name... How can we trust you?"

My hands were on the table, but I didn't feel angry anymore, just confused. "What?" I ask as I pull my head back.

"You heard me." he states coldly.

"Well, I just thought you knew."

"How?" he quirked an eyebrow.

I tap the gem on my chest, "Duh!"

I can honestly say I've never seen anyone face desk so hard in my life, "YOU MEAN YOU DIDN'T KNOW THIS WHOLE TIME?!" He shouts at the roof, then he buried his face in his hooves.

"I just thought you guys were playing along with my little schemes..." I say shyly as I tap my finger together nervously and study the corner of the tent.

Sev let out an irritated burst of air from his lungs, "So what is your scheme involving the previously discussed security hazard?"

"Uhh... Nothing really, I just wanted a minion." I tell him honestly, and he stares at me in disbelief.

"Your saying that you threatened the Queen's life on a WHIM!?" he shouted the last word right into my face as he slams he chair through the back of his tent, I could see the rapidly brightening glow of green magic reflecting off of his face.

"Remember what I said about schemes and you guys being in on them?" The glow peaks, then darkens.

"Oh..." He just stares into my face at point-blank range.

"You have beautiful eyes, you know that?" I tell him, and the irritated look pops back on his face as he sighs defeatedly.

"So what was your plan then?" he asks as his chair hovers back in the hole in the wall.

"To earn her trust, Duh!" I explain with a tap to my head.

He places his head in his hooves and says, "I hate you..." through them, then a moment later he adds, "And my answer is still no."

"To?" I inquire as I place my elbow on his desk and my chin in my hand.

"You stay with the caravan till I say otherwise, even if that means we get to the city and I send the caravan back for supplies, is that understood?" His face is still in his hooves, it's kinda adorable, really.

"Yup" I say with an enthusiastic nod of my head.

"Then begone and don't bother me again for a nice long while..." He looks up from his hooves and gives my a death-glare, "I even mean by proxy, got me?"

"Got cha!" He waves me out, so I leave and take an exaggerated sniff of the night air as everyone stares at me angrily, "He insulted my haircut!" I say defensively as I smooth back my hair and walk to my tent. Trixie's groggy face greets me when I open the flap, "Ah!" I shout as I jump back.

"Haw haw, very funny..." She groans, "Now shut up and don't wake Trixie up again or she'll kill you... painfully." She flops back down in her roll and immediately starts snoring.

I smile at her in the dark and snuggle into my sleeping roll, eager for the day tomorrow with all the tired and irritable caravaners that I could pick on, and just before I fall back asleep I giggle and think to myself:

"Ha, it actually worked!"

The Pass

The scent of food and people, good and bad. Nose lifts from ground, eyes see light that dances and waves as the people above shift and move, squabble and bicker, whine and snivel. Body moves forward, tensed for any supri-

Something lands on head, jump back and growl, look down and see red and white bag. Nose sniffs, smells good. Hands grab, mouth tastes, food good.

Crack behind, Spin around, eyes see dirty man in the dark, nose smells dirty man and alcohol. "What are you, some kind of dog-ghost-kid thing?" Growl to show mean, "Shove off, Kid, play somewhere else and stop eating my food."

Huff, turn around and bite bag.

"Hey, I said don't eat my food!" Turn head and look at him, growl, walk towards exit. Dirty jumps at me, "I said drop it!" Hop away, bag drops. "Now look what you-" Eat food. "STOP THAT!" Dirty lunges again, hop back. "Oh, now your gonna get it!" Clack, Dirty holds knife "Who knows if anyone's gonna drop anything else today, I could have lasted days off of that!" He swipes, Hop back. "Now I'm going to have to kill you!" Swipes again, Hop b-

Hit something, turn head, bright light, blink and Climb through the light. "No, your not getting away that easily!" Foot grabbed, Pulled back, head hits, Pain. Pulled again, kick.

"Hey, is that a kid?"

"What's that kid doing?"

"Is that an Albino?"

"Someone help him!"

Kick again, knife flashes in darkness, Pain. Hiss, snap at hands, so many hands, all around.

"Calm down!"

"We're not gonna hurt you."

Pulled again, "If I can't have your head, I'll have your leg!" Knife flashes again, kick it. "Hey, I need that!" Growl and snap at hands. Pulled again, spin around, bite hand, tastes bad. "Ow, you little shit!" Bite through, tastes good. Dirty screams and lets go. Scramble through people, run down, trip, run again, climb up, run, hide behind curtains. Dark here, slink down.

"Oh, hello." head turns, can't find source. "Right here." Eyes darken, all can see is Big white beard. Hiss and scramble away. Happy laughter from the beard, Growl. "I mean no insult!" Hands appear beside the beard. "What are you doing here?" Eyes darken more, beard is wearing pointy hat, has stars and moons. Is stupid.

Big men appear from no where, "You okay, Oz?"

The beard turns to the men, "You guys are quick on the draw today."

"This kid has been causing a hassle for the past ten minutes, I'd say we're a little off our game today actually."

The beard turns back, "Is that so..."

"He bit off a man's Thumb apparently, we got someone trying to find out who's." The big men are closer then they were before. Growl and back up.

The other big man speaks, "Man, I hate dealing with ferals."

"I know how you feel." big man lunges, jump up, kick off back, other big man grabs arms.

"Ha, I go-" Spit thumb in his face. "Oh god!" Big man lets go, hit ground, other big man wraps his arms around body. Hiss and bite and snap and claw, useless. "Going to die... No, only little boys die!" Kick back, the big man groans. "Not a little boy, not die!"

"Right in the junk..." Kick again and again and again, the other one grabs legs. "We got you, so you can stop fighting no-" Snap at face. "Stop that or we'll have to get rough, and I don't want to hurt no kid."

"Maybe you don't have to." The beard says at it looks straight into eyes, "Your just afraid aren't you?" Snap at face. "Just as I thought," He made a strange sound, raised his arms as he said, "Stay and watch my show, little one, and you will be amazed beyond your wildest dreams!"

The big men look at him, confused, then they laugh, "It can't hurt him too much!" says the one holding legs.

"It's not him I'm worried about..." says the other one. Snap at face. the other lets go of legs, then grabs arms. Click, click. Wrists go cold.

"Lets watch the show, Kid." Kick, grabs leg. Click. Kicks with other leg, Click. "It'll be nice, and it might make you a little more complacent, it's worked on the other ones... Though this isn't an ideal seat." Carried to the side, sat in chair, hands on shoulders.

Beard walks out in front of wall and makes strange noise. "Sorry for the delay, Folks, just had to deal with a surprise guest." Laughter, "Now, on to the-" His arms shot up in front of him and birds flew out, "SHOW!"

Jaw drops, "I knew this would work." Big man says

"Like a charm." says the other.

*-*

I wake up to the sound of my head hitting the window, after a moment, I feel the pain, "Ow." I state as I rub the side of my head absent mindedly.

"It awakes!" Raul narrates as he throws his arms up in the air dramatically.

"Har de har, Where are we?"

"About half way over the mountain."

"So... Half way then?" I ask as I look out the window by my head.

"Not really, this path curves around another mountain, so that adds a day or two, otherwise it would be only slightly longer then the other one."

"Oh, I see." I watch the rocks as they crawl past.

"You don't seem quite as... Hostile today, is everything alright?"

I tilt my head as I try to make sense of the question, then it hits me, "Did you just ask if I was... All right?"

"Why yes, that is what "Is everything alright?" means."

"I was just surprised is all... I didn't think you cared." I look at him and tilt my head more.

"I don't," he said a little too quickly, "I just wanted to make sure my hotline to Chrysalis was alright."

"I'm touched, honestly." I say with faux affection.

"Get stuffed." He retorts irritably as the carriage stops, a confused look crosses his face, "I wonder why we-"

The door on my side flies open and a brown hoof hits me in the face, Pain, A brown hoof wraps around the neck of my cloak and pulls me out of the carriage.

"Name NOW!" Sev yells through his "Time Turner" disguise before he decks me in the face again.

"Ow," I state simply as I work my jaw, "You hit me." He growls and his fist crashes into my face as his other hand lets go, sending me flying, I crash into the ground, my head dangles over the cliff edge... CLIFF EDGE?!

"AH!" I roll forward and cower in a ball.

"That was... Unexpected." I heard Raul say from outside my safety ball of safety. Sev kicks me less viciously then I though he would.

"Name, Now." he says as he kicks me yet again.

"You almost killed me!" I shout at him as I curl up more. I feel a familiar warm sensation wrap around me, "Not this again..." Suddenly I was spread eagle and floating in the air.

"For the last time, Human, Name or I'll take the "almost" out of that statement."

"You killed- Oh, I get it."

"Name, Jack ass."

"That's not it, guess again." I rocket into his hoof and he clamps it on my throat.

"Name." His grip tightens

"My-" I gasp, "-Name-" the edges of my vision started to blur, "-is-" I try to cough and just end up hurting myself more.

my vision goes black, "-Bob..." His grip, both magical and physical, let go instantly.

"Bob?!" He says with disgust as my sight returns and I cough like a chronic smoker, "BOB?!" he picks me up with magic again, "What kind of bullshit lie is-" His ear flicks to the side, I noticed that Raul's had done the same... then I look up.

"Oh shit..." I croak out as the boulder teetering above us rolls over the edge. I point up at it and both Raul and Sev follow my finger.

"We'll finish this later," Sev says as he throws me to the side, "INCOMING!" He shouts both in my head and out as he buzzes to the side.

"Nice... talk..." I moan as I lay on my back and watch the boulder barely miss Raul, "Damnit, I was rooting for that rock..." I lay on my back and stare at the sky, "This probably means we're under attack, doesn't it?" I get up slowly, rub my throat, "That means I have to get Trixie, doesn't it?" I hang my head, "Not who I would pick as my first choice, but when you dig a hole, you have to live in it." I run towards the cart I last saw her hauling, almost getting crushed in the process.

"Attack!" I couldn't tell who, or from where that came from... That's probably not a good thing.

"They're attacking from the front!"

"From the back to-"

"From above- AH!"

"Protect Raul, the human is optional!"

"Hey... that hurts my feelings..." I turn around the back of a wagon and promptly get a pony to the chest. "That hurts the rest of me..." The pony on top of me was looking blankly to the sky, "Dead weight... Great." I go to shove him off of me, an arrow sprouts from it's chest. "I didn't know that they even had those here..." I rasp out as it rolls off of me.

"What the hell are you?" says a VERY close voice from behind me.

"Will you accept "Lost" as an answer?" as I turn to face a dark yellow pegasus floating at my eye height.

"No, but I am willing to accept "Dead" as one." He spins in the air and one of his back back hooves shoots out and crushes my chest... Well, that's how I think it would have gone, but while he was busy spinning, I was busy running the fuck away.

"AH!" I shout out in fear, "SOMEBODY HELP!" I could hear flaps behind me, getting rapidly closer... then a loud, sickly crunch. I slow down, turn my head, and find a dark yellow hoof sticking out from underneath a boulder, surrounded by a pool of blood and meat. "Gross..."

"Get out of the open, you idiot!" an familiar female voice shouts at me as arrows pin into the ground around me. I run towards the sound. Turn a corner and get punched in the face.

"OW!" I reel back and clutch my nose. "Why is everyone punching me today?"

"Cause your an idiot." I move my hand away from my face and find myself looking at the always lovely Four Ten, the "Nurseling", in the guise of a purple-ish pink unicorn named "Bright Reflections" with the picture of a mirror on her butt. "Now help me get to the triage."

"Uh, where is that exactly?"

"The center of the convoy, the safest point, though I use that term relatively."

"Lets get going, otherwise I'ma look like a porcupine." She runs off and I chase her, a bolt of light shoots at my head, I duck just in time, "AH!" an arrow pins in the dirt at my feet, I trip over it, "Dammit!" I scurry along on all fours, "Are we there yet?!" I shout at Four Ten as she turns around a shattered cart, "HELLO?!"

I round the corner and find a Griffon with one of his claws around her throat. "You'd fetch a nice price..." He says as he strokes her face with his other claw, one of it's digits is missing. He looks at me and raises an eyebrow, "What's this?" He punches Four Ten in the gut and drops her in the dirt, she doesn't get up. He starts walking towards me, "Never seen anything like you before..." I take a few steps back and glance at Four Ten.

"Come on, get up." I project at her, she doesn't even twitch.

"You'll be the talk of the..." The Griffon chuckles, "Block." I look at him, he steps forward, I step back. "Come willingly and we'll make sure your not beat... Too bad." He steps forward, I go to step back, but the hoof in my back stops me. I look over my shoulder and find an earth pony I don't recognize.

"Not good..."

"Depends on your point of view." The griffon says louder then he was earlier, I turn to look at him and find him right in my face. Now I know why he's louder. I knee him in the chest, he grabs my throat.

"What's with my throat today?" I think irritably as he lifts me off my feet.

"Not a smart move, from every point of view." a smile crosses his beak, "I like that one, what about you?" he turns an looks at the unfamiliar Pony.

"I liked it, sir, good use of irony." The Griffon rolls his eyes

"Oh my god, is that Cockney accent?" And I found myself trying -and failing- to laugh.

"Don't laugh at me!" the Pony shouts at me, "It's not me fault that I talk like this!"

I couldn't stop trying to laugh, oh god, did it hurt, but laugh I did.

"Is this thing insane?" the Griffon asks nothing in particular as my vision starts to blur and darken.

Kick it in the face. The grip tightens. "Are you trying to escape?" Dark, so dark... Dying... Cockney... Tee hee...

Suddenly I could breath again, the air was really wet though, I'm on my stomach. My vision returned and I was drenched all up my back. "I said you were optional." Sev's hoof appears by my head, I grab it. "Never said I'd turn down the chance to beat you again." He points at Four Ten, "Get her on my back."

I look at Sev, then I realize he isn't in his disguise anymore, "Okay." I croak as I pick her up and throw her on his back. "Triage?"

"Our strongest point." He runs off and I try to follow him, but my legs give out and I drop in the dirt face first. A pale blue hoof appears in front of my head as I turn to breath.

"Need a hoof?" Trixie's voice is suddenly alot less irritating. I grab her hoof and she lifts me up... and on to her back.

"Not... A... Child..."

"Trixie would disagree with that, but Trixie is a little too busy right now." A cart in front of us flips and she just blasts it out of the way, there were screams.

"Careful... Changlings..."

"Most of thoses left are at the center now, Trixie isn't sure quite how many that is though... Your friend never said."

"He's... kinda... like that..."