Prolouge: A Threat has been made against Canterlot
A Threat has been made against Canterlot
Inside Out dropped his hoof on the door five times before taking a step back and waiting for it to open. It took a great
deal of self-restraint but he could not allow himself to look around, if any of his comrades were watching him no he did not
need more attention drawn to him for any reason. He knew four of the six others (one served in the Royal Guard with him,
one was an accountant for the Treasury, one served in the State Department, and one particular clever mare he knew
worked at the printing press) scattered through-out the city, and despite his care a few of them must know about him too. A
white unicorn stallion opened the door magically and tilted his head in recognition and suspicion.
“Light Hoof is it? Just what are you doing here,” asked Captain of the Guard Shining Armor. His friends and poker buddy’s knew where he lived but the inexperienced Guard’s rarely saw him even when he did his own rounds. And he did not know any of them enough to invite them to his home for the low stakes game on Mondays. So what sort of call was this?
“Captain Armor, may I come in? There is a great threat against the city of Canterlot and I have sensitive intelligence to share.”
Snapping to attention Shining Armor stepped aside and hollered over his shoulder, “Princess? Something’s come up! C’me here!”
Stepping over the threshold into the living room, Inside Out saw a pink Alicorn trot to join the two of them. After months of stalking Shining Armor he knew a great deal about his relationship with Princess Cadenza, even to the point of witnessing his proposal just last night. He nodded to her before jumping into his explanation.
“Probably best she’s here too. Sir, there is an army of Changelings outside the city and they are preparing for an attack on Canterlot as we speak. They are led by Queen Chrysalis herself.”
A gasp escaped Cadenza as she looked to her soon-to-be husband. He on the other hoof kept his face stoic as he questioned his inferior.
“That is quite a claim. I have not heard anything evidence of such a thing. A number of Changeling Caravan are within the Equsetrian border but they have not shown any hostility. How would you know this? What’s more, I know I saw you just before I left not two hours ago. You should actually be on duty right now. Why did you come to me with this instead of your direct superiors?” His suspicion clearly growing.
“I know this because I brought them here. I am a Changeling.” With that he spread his hooves and bent his head while his horn glowed green. The façade of his yellow coat and pink mane faded away to reveal the iron colored skin that covered his body, his crescent horn and tusks, flailed tail and wings, and the infamous “cheese legs” that other races called his bulky well-toned legs. Some could be so cruel in judging the appearance of other species; and his is so misunderstood. But maybe if they changed how they treated the world, the worlds’ opinions might change too. Maybe.
Holding his position, Inside Out continued to look up at the couple as Cadenza gasped again this time taking a few steps back. Shining Armor started charging up his horn with its’ blue aurora, enveloped the Changeling in it and held him far off the ground. Not that Inside Out would struggle, he had just betrayed his people and revealed himself to be an enemy of the state, in the home of a powerful unicorn. He was completely at the mercy of Shining Armor’s authority and Cadenza’s wisdom, meaning he was grateful she was here at the time, as he knew she would be.
Shining Armor snarled at his prisoner. “There is more to this. Keep talking. Start from the beginning.”
Taking a deep breath Inside Out started in his true voice, with the echo-like quality no Changeling bothered to study. “I am one of the first waves of scouts sent into Canterlot to scout the city for its potential to feed my people. Our primary goal was to collect data on population statistics like divorce rate, birth rates, tribal diversity, alcohol use, crime rates, anything that reflects love in a populace. We were also to gather data on state politics, protection like the Royal Guards and any local militias. We spread our-selves through-out and started spying on everything we could. I joined the Guards and immediately learned as much as I could about you in case we needed you dead, kidnapped, blackmailed or manipulated in anyway. You have looked me in the eye far more often than you want to know, albeit while I was in many disguises. We had to prepare for anything. We were to send back our findings every week and continue to gather data regardless of what happened.
“I picked a disguise, went to work, but I decided I would need something else to make myself seem more ‘normal’ to blend in. I found a mare and spent considerable time with her. Spending time with a member of the opposite sex was something many ponies did, so it was okay if it cut into my work now and then. I did send back findings and theories about her and more importantly the friendship she had for me. She feed me her love without knowing it, but I learned when I told her certain things, or acted in certain ways, her love for me grew. I grew to trust her, and felt love flowing out from me to her, but it did not drain me as I was taught it would when I was young. That was what I had been doing when I found I could make her love grow, but it also made me stronger to give it to her. Does that make sense to you?”
Shining Armor kept Inside Out in his magic aurora and stayed silent. Cadenza did speak up. “Yes it does. If you’re crafty and sneaky you can trick a pony into thinking you are friends, but when you do love them in return you that bond grows much stronger than anything false could have been. The bond between two friends should not be underestimated.”
“I know that now. She is my friend, and that has made me stronger than my Queen promised invading even a place like Canterlot would. And no-one was hurt because of it. I put these thoughts into my reports as well and even philosophized that we could feed off love in this city without the invasion we planned for. Then this morning I, and I presume all the other scouts in the city, received a message that the army would invade soon. We were to hide from the fighting to preserve our cover should something go wrong. I knew and told them that there was another way, a better way for us and you, but I was ignored. What they are planning to do is wrong, but I have no power over them. Telling you is the only way to rescue my friend from the pain and hurt she is sure to feel. You have to stop this invasion Captain Shining Armor.”
He had held his stoic face through-out the entire explanation while Cadenza had looked worried and thoughtful, but remained silent. “Again, why not just tell your superiors? Why do I have to hear all this?”
“Because Princess Cadenza is here too. She spent time learning about the Changelings and living among us for a while. She is wise enough to see options you and I may not.”
Inside Out felt his hind quarters being pulled upwards with his head remaining stationary, stretching the skin on his neck and showing how entirely helpless he was. Shining Armor’s muzzle appeared in his vision and he heard him snarl, “Don’t you EVER drag my wife into something like this again! Do you hear me?” “I have half a mind to kill you for that. Now, what brilliant ideas do you have? There must be a way to keep your whole army out from beyond our walls.”
“Diplomacy won’t work Shining Armor.” Princess Cadenza went on to describe historically how Changelings struck. “They don’t just use love to fuel their magic, they actually feed off it in the same way we eat hay and oats. First they will damage the city, then they will change their appearance and befriend us into thinking they are good ordinary ponies and help us rebuild. There will be fear and distrust, but the populace will pour out love into those they think they can trust, who could very well turn out to be the enemies they can’t tell apart. Or they will see friends and lovers, take the form of one of them and feed of love in quick doses like that.”
Shining Armor voiced his concerns too. “Sneaky bastards. Can we trust him? He obviously is one, but maybe it’s a trick by them to draw down our defenses in certain places opening up that door for them?”
“I doubt that’s the case, this does not fit the pattern. No-one has known the Changelings were going to strike until hours before it started. This is unique, and so is he. What did you say your name was?”
“Inside Out Princess.”
“And what is the name of your friend?”
“B Flat ma’am.”
“Inside out, what do you have to gain from your army’s defeat? B Flat will be safe you said? Do you have anything else at stake?”
“Actually, I was dreaming about bringing my family to settle here so they could have a steady flow of food without hurting any-pony. I have betrayed my people and you. I doubt I will ever see them again.”
“Hmm.” Princess Cadenza pondered as she looked him over and thought about his words, or one in particular. “You said ‘Settle.’ As in a colony? As in assimilating to our culture but brining with you customs to would enrich our own?”
“Uhh, I never thought about any cultural impact…”
“But why not? And why just your family? It is a steady supply of food; this is an opportunity few could pass up regardless of their species.”
“Where are you going with this Princess?” Shining Armor was lost, but knew well enough to know when she was onto something.
“Inside Out, if the Queen were to be defeated would she be disgraced by your laws? Maybe removed from power?”
“No. It is her royal task to find food for her subjects. This victory would be a feast for her people, losing it would not starve us, though she would be greatly shamed. And I doubt she would set hoof in Equestria again.”
“Okay. Who would she disguise herself as to get into the city?”
“Probably some-pony prominent. So even in disguise she is seen as some-one in charge. But it could really be any-one she needs to be.”
“What of her army? How will they enter?”
Shining Armor had to ask, “How large is her army? Will they have weapons? What kind?”
“Disguises of typical ponies of every tribe, walking through the gates and flying in. By the time you realize they are trying to get in too many will have already gotten past. And they may have found other ways into the city you are not aware of yourself. As for numbers, eleven thousand strong the last I heard. And we have our own magic, no weapons made of iron or anything.”
Sighing heavily, Shining Armor did not want to consider a battle with a force that size. Equstria had not been officially at war in three hundred years. The Royal Guard combined with Equestria’s standing army numbered around five thousand, all of whom were scattered along the borders. He could recall some regulars, but without endangering border lands he could not get more than two thousand in the city. And even then only a third of them would be unicorns, able to stand up to Changeling magic. Then he would have to think about housing and feeding…
While he tried not to panic, Princess Cadenza began pacing while she came up with a plan and gasped. “I am going to put up a Sovereignty Bubble that will keep her army out. Actually it will work on all enemies of Equstria. She should recognize it but it won’t single her out. Bubbles can’t stay up forever, but with three alicorns taking turns one can be kept for a very long time.”
“We will have to tell Princess Celestia and Luna.” Shining armor pointed out.
“No. The point is to draw the Queen and her army out. Alerting the Celestia and Luna could tip off the Queen in any number of ways. If we scare her away she might return without our knowing of it. Besides, we don’t know where the other two scouts are, and they could inform the Queen of any behavior changes among the other two. Come to think of it, we should also bump up the wedding date to explain my and your behavior changes as well.”
Staring at her, Shining Armor blinked and sputtered out, “Bu-but no-pony else even knows about our engagement. Don’t you say a word to any-one!” He snarled at Inside Out, still surrounded by his blue magic aura before turning back to his wife-to-be. “And how will our wedding play into this?”
“As important as it is to both of us, we can use it as a lure for the queen. The Bubble to announce to them we know their coming but not to tip our hand too much. And the wedding would be the perfect place for her to strike all three Princesses in one place while knowing a week ahead of time.”
“Princess, this would obviously be a trap. Why would she just walk into it” Inside out asked.
“Because it is obviously a trap it would force her to change her tactics. And we know just what she will do. It would get the Queen to disguise herself close to us surrounded by guards. A Changeling can wield more magic than a typical Unicorn, but putting on a disguise draws a lot of it from them. The Queen is no exception, a call from one of us to seize who-ever she is and she’s dragged away by two dozen guards. Plus with me holding the Bubble up she will HAVE to come near me. We negotiate a peace treaty, with her bound in chains I might add, and the Changelings don’t threaten Equstria for as long as she is alive. Problem solved.”
Shining Armor and Inside Out processed all this and stared at each other. The Changeling said nothing but her fiancé did. “I don’t like it. How will you keep the shield up and look for a Changeling in disguise? What if you teach me the spell? Let them come after me while you point them out in the crowd.”
Princess Cadance was about to protest when she realized it would be too taxing to do both and plan for a wedding.
“It is a very difficult spell to initially cast, and I doubt you will be able to perform other magic during that time. Are you sure you are up to it?”
“I have done some amazing things before. And I am familiar with the Theory. It will take a lot to bring it down once it is up. And should I not be in full body and mind it will continue to stay up if I remember correctly.”
“Yes Shining Armor. But there still will be risk. If you are incapacitated, your magic will continue to power the Bubble until it’s broken or some-pony more powerful removes it. Are you prepared for that?”
“Without hesitation, yes I am.”
“Okay. Just be careful,” She whispered to him.
Inside Out spoke to break the silence when he realized their conspiring was complete. “I should get back to my Guard tasks. I can tell my direct superior you summoned me here and that’s why I was derelict in my duties. My disappearance could go noted by any other Queen’s spy’s who would report to the Queen.”
He hated being outsmarted by this traitor, but he was right. Shining Armor gently lay him on the ground but snorted at him before opening the door. “If I ever catch you stalking me, my loved ones, or any-one else again, I will not hesitate to kill you in cold blood. Do you understand me?”
Turning back into his disguise, he nodded his head Inside Out galloped out the door and headed for his post. He had no way of knowing it, but no Changeling noticed his exit from the Captain of the Guards home. As he neared his empty post, a pink pillar of light rose up to a crescendo in the sky behind him and split in every direction to envelope the city in a filter that gave off little of its’ own light. Looking behind him Inside Out sighed in relief knowing that B Flat was safe. And he too might survive the coming invasion.
“This whole “giving love” to another thing’s not too painful after all,” the Changeling said as he smiled to himself.
***
At noon the next day in her tent, disguised as a pink bubbly Earth Pony she had seen weeks ago, Queen Chrysalis went over the newest reports sent by scouts in Canterlot and considered the possibilities. The Sovereignty Bubble AND the royal wedding announced for next week threw her monkey wrench. She could not just stroll in as expected, but this did not have to end poorly for her. There would be at least two Princesses in attendance, and the scout who smuggled for the crime syndicate noted that the bubble shield did not extend down to the caves deep under the city.
Little did she know she imitated Cadenza and began pacing. She had to get close to Shining Armor, the one ultimately casting the spell, and she could sneak through the subterranean network of natural caves and abandoned mines to get inside the city. If she fed off his love for some-one, she could use that to overpower him in a duel. Celestia might put up the shield again, but not before her whole army swarmed in. Come to think of it, Shining Armor had a sister right? If she could disguise herself as his sister-
The same girl who was foal sat by Cadenza and taught by Celestia? Yes! She could feed off the love of Shining Armor, Cadenza, and Celestia all at once. One problem: she was sure to be in Centerlot a few days before the wedding. She would need a lot of love to overpower two princesses, but if she took them down one at a time…Forget Twilight Sparkle, it had to be Cadenza! That will make things easier on the wedding day; she can be Cadenza feeding off love from Twilight Sparkle, Shining Armor and Celestia. During that time she could spend as much time as she wanted with Armor, cast spells to whittle down the Bubble little by little, and deal with only Celestia on the wedding day.
Yes. Everything is coming together. Opening a bottle of Equestria’s Finest Applejack Daniels, a most intoxicating and sweet liquor, Chrysalis had decided she better hurry, one week was not a lot of time to plan a coup.
Author's Note
Constructive Criticism is always welcome. If any reader has a story they wish to add to this do not hesitate to ask.
The last of the Changeling Scouts had been arrested and thrown into the dungeons of Canterlot Castle and sealed with the strongest magic the Princesses could perform. Inside Out’s task for his new home was complete, and seeing as Ni Amora Candenza and Shining Armor were the only ones he told his secret to his betrayal of his Queens army would go unnoticed. He was now free to leave Canterlot, and the first place he went was the Staging Camp: a collection of wagons that had been sitting 40 kilometers outside the city for some time.
The Camp was relatively large but the atmosphere hung heavy with the bitterness of defeat and humiliation. The very old, very young and crippled were all that remained in this camp like all the other scattered around Equestria. They too would have their chance to Feed on the love of the populace, but not until they were forced to see Changelings would have their way. Queen Chrysalis governed her people the way all others had lead the Changelings in recorded history, for better or for worse. And mere hours after her defeat, Inside Out had arrived to preach a different way.
One collection of wagons set in a circle had a bonfire burning in the center. It normally served as a dining area and on rare occasion notices would be given. Tipping over a barrel used to hold animal fat; he stood up and began spreading the news. “People of the Changelings, we have been humiliated and otherwise disgraced by our loss at Canterlot. We Feed on love but that same love powered a magical blast that conquered us in seconds. It is doubtful we will Feed as the Queen promised us anywhere else, and we will not be able to return to this land for a very long time should we leave now. But there IS a way for us to Feed without leaving. We can disband and integrate ourselves into the society and culture of Equestria and love these ponies on personal levels.”
He was not speaking to any-one in particular, but really any-one who would listen. And he was pleased several elders sat on their haunches to listen to him, and in the back was one not too much older than him. He could have been a scout from another area the Queen had sent out, or he was a member of the camp who had attempted to raid Canterlot and made it back already. He had an unreadable expression on his face, so he might have a mind open to ideas such as Inside Out’s.
“I was a scout in Canterlot, and to build my cover I obtained a friend. It wasn’t hard, Equestria is built on friendship and she loved me. I felt myself gaining strength simply by her knowing me. I did not lie to her anymore than I needed, and her love Feed me. I am as strong as the Queen promised but I went about it differently and we can all do the same! Let us go out and settle in Equestria and form friendships and form new lives! A new culture, where we look for more than survival!”
The small crowd had started turning to each other and muttering amongst themselves. One of the elders spoke up, “You are suggesting we leave our way of life behind and become like this soft ponies?”
“Yes. We can feed just being around them. Friendship isn’t a part time activity. It is a way of life.”
“Hersey!” A young squeaky voice called out. A foal, little maybe not even in puberty called Inside Out one of the most horrendous and serious words in their Tongue, and he was right.
“It’s way past your bed time squirt. Go home and tell your mother to change your diaper.” The young male watching from the back stepped up and stood next to Inside Out. “I was scouting out Bespin in the south. It is a growing vibrant town build on mutual dreams, and it flourishes because of the friendship its citizens have for one another. He speaks the truth. We have been mistrusted and feared for centuries, we will be punished for our failure this week, and can avoid making the same mistake again.”
Another voice cried from the sky, “Then we will try again on a smaller scale. We should have invaded Canterlot by force from the beginning. This is the time for change, but not who we are. We are-“
“You are a fool to think Princess Celestia would let us fly into the city like that. We did what we had to, but our Queen was inadequately prepared. She will lead us out of Equstria and we will not return to this land for many, many years.”
A crowd had gathered and it seemed to be splitting among these lines, but Inside Out and his ally would not be dissuaded.
“Every-one, violence is not the way! It has lead us to where we are-“
“We are the most powerful magical species on our world,” reasoned another newcomer.
“And we use most of our magic to deceive others into giving us love. What if they loved us for who we are? We could be ourselves in body-
“They will never be like us. We are the stronger!” The burly earth pony dropped his disguise and screeched at them.
A female voice sounded from behind the two preachers. “And yet we live like parasites. We Feed off their ways of life and have nothing to show for it. We used to be a proud people, now every race sees us as scum and parasites. And we are.”
“I have never called my people scum. You are the reason we did not succeed in Canterlot. Doubt and fear and-”
“I never doubted us before, but he’s right. We can’t keep doing this. We hurt every nation we let host us. They are our HOST. We ARE parasites.” This new friend of Inside Out’s was burning with passion, she might make a good speaker.
“The Queen should be charged with Treason for our defeat. Punish her!”
“We should simply murder Shining Armor and those Celestia cares for. We know who they are and where they live.”
“Flight is the only way to protect our Queen. They are sure to seek revenge.”
“No! Violence will change nothing-“
It was no use. The camp had already descended into a tizzy of heated argument, most of which ignored Inside Out. Bowing his head he stepped of his soap box and sadly trotted away, closely followed by the only two who stood by him. Finding an extinguished campfire from last night he lit it up again and looked around at three others kneeling down and plopping to their haunches.
“I don’t think I saw you at earlier,” he mentioned to the new arrival.
“I was there, just knew it was pointless to argue with them. You are right, we have to change who we are, but it must be for the right reasons. We hurt the trust of those we Feed on, and it’s much more difficult to Feed on them later. Let alone what they go through. I am interested in what you plan on doing about it. My name is Myrrah by the way.”
“I’m Raven,” said the other female.
“Call me Aaaron.”
“My name is Inside Out. It’s good to see you listen to me. Maybe we should exchange what we know and work together.”
Myrarah was not interested in sharing what they knew. “We should just leave this damn Caravan and never look back.”
Aaaron spoke, “It’s our home.”
“My home is where I make it. I have jumped between wagon parties all my life and I don’t fit in. I am a rebel, but I believe what you say too. Let’s just leave and forget all these idiots,” Raven retorted.
Aaaron spoke up again, “This is one camp, in one Caravan. There are so many others we should speak with and convince them to change.”
Raven put her two bits in. “We see where the wind’s blowing. They don’t, not yet.”
“Can we really expect to change our whole people alone? We should change ourselves first.”
“Wait every-one, you all have a valid point. And I tried to tell Intelligence this. We can make friends with other species on a personal level and they will freely give us Love. And it does not hurt us to give them love either. I a pony out in Canterlot has fallen in love with me.”
“They won’t trust us if we stay in our Caravans, or any kind of town made exclusively of Changelings. They will remember what we tried to do here.”
“No, I see where he’s going with this. That’s why we leave and join towns filled with ponies?” Aaaron was sharp.
“Exactly what I mean. We should not bottle ourselves up, but spread all around. Split off into families, so every-one knows we’re here and pose no threat what so ever.”
Myrrah nodded. “So we don’t ghettoize ourselves again and we can become more trusted?”
“Exactly.”
“And what happens if the ponies don’t trust us? What then?” A voice called out from above as a fifth member landed around their campfire.
“I return and see a fight over how the Queen should be punished, and you folks are talking about rebelling against everything we have done since we abandoned our homeland. That’s heresy according to the Queen.”
“According to a book of fairy tales teaching morals to foals. She takes that damn book far too seriously.” Raven corrected him.
“Name’s Boaz. So tell me; what does happen if our new homelands don’t accept us? Where will we go then? What will we do then?”
“It’s a big world. Some-one is sure to give us a chance. And this is Equestria, friendship is written into their laws. And most of all, we won’t give them reason to distrust us.”
“Well that sounds vague. Good luck with that. I can’t argue with you, but that’s throwing stuff against the wall and seeing what sticks.”
“The town you mentioned Aaaron, Bespin? You said it was friendly?” Raven inquired.
“Sure as sugar is. Ha, picked that from some ponies I meet there. First family in the area, Apples I think, they would give you the shoes off their feet. They have these tracks of land that flood every year, grow Swamp Apples on them. And the town was built by refugees fleeing war over the border in their homelands. They escaped certain problems and refused to bring them there.”
“That’s where I’m headed then. Tell me how to get there, and first light I’m packing things up and moving to Bespin. Forever,” said Myrrah proudly.
“Let me come with you. I was there, I know things-“
“After Canterlot they won’t trust you returning. I’m going to Bespin alone.”
“I heard some of the other talking about assassinating certain ponies Celestia cares for. I know who they are talking about, I worked in Intelligence,” Myrrah explained. “Maybe I should go to Ponyville and warn them, or even live there. I have heard it’s very friendly.”
Inside Out was feeling optimistic for the first time since strolling into camp. “Sounds like what I would do if no-one listened to me.”
“Agh, they listen, they just don’t care. You three go off and do what you want. But if it works write to us and tell us how it’s going. We could use you as examples and words of encouragement.” Every-one looked at Boaz.
“We?” questioned Inside Out.
“Yep. You gonna let just three go out into the world alone? Nah, nah. You need to spread the word. We need to keep going around to every campfire calling for this change. This way, our little invasions. they ain’t gonna work. Not no more. We gotta let every-one know about this. We ain’t just leaving, we’re Rebelling and starving the Queen of her ‘subjects’. She will have to listen to us before long.”
“Is this some type of revenge you got against the Queen?” Myrrah would not let him get away with this. “We’re doing this for the right reasons, not petty revenge.”
“No. I was at the Battle of Canterlot and saw the futility of what we’s tried to do. So many ways to feed off love and we pick the most dramatic, open and least effective one. She’s leading us down the wrong path, the same one we’ve gone down far too long. But she could get the more stubborn and less thinking ones to follow us too. She listens to us and she will see what we mean and our way will Feed us. Which is ultimately what this is ‘bout right?”
“Yeah, it is. I heard of this growing industrial town, Stalliongrad. They have a glass factory there, and I’m the best glass blower in camp. Find work and make friends there. Inside Out, what will happen to our families?”
“I’m going to their Caravan once every-one here has heard what I have to say, and then convince them to leave without me. I’ll catch up with them later. Maybe one of the towns you go to will accept them.”
“What if yer family doesn’t want to leave?” Boaz asked. No-one said much in response. It was hard to think about your loved ones not joining you when you were doing the right thing. Raven, despite her attitude to just get out looked uncomfortable going out alone.
“I don’t think it will be too big of a problem.” Everyone else looked at Myrrah. “Well, it’s not a once in a lifetime decision is it? I mean they might say No at first, but every day afterwards they could change their minds and join us. Their first choice does not have to be their only one. I can live without my family for a year or so hoping they will join me later. Right?”
Boaz sighed, stood up and stretched. “Look like we have our plans fer tomorrow. I’m gonna get some shut eye, then Inside Out, you and I are heading to the other camps and spreadin’ the word. You three, write to us every week like clockwork. We and our audience needs to know how you’re coping. Got it?”
Everyone went to their own wagons for night with their own thoughts. Tomorrow the Changeling race would change forever.
Author's Note
Constructive Criticism are welcome as always.
