Putting on a Silver Robe and Wizard Hat

by David Silver

34 - Sudden Departure

Eventually everypony there fell to slumber in a comfortable-enough pile. Their rest was interrupted an uncertain time later by a soft whisper.

"We have arrived."

Bleary eyes opened and heads craned, trying to find the source of it. A pony stepped away from the wall, suddenly not concealed against it. It was Yin. "We've secured an exit route. Be ready to move in exactly two minutes."

Yin's sudden surprise was a good way to get their blood moving, and soon they were upright and ready. Night nodded at Yin, "Should we be expecting anything?"

Yin shook her head, "Negative. We found a clean way through. It's almost as if they left a path for us. We've checked and double-checked for traps, looks clear." She quickly moved to the exit, rearing up and poking with her hooves a moment before her horn glowed. The door slid open quietly. "Operation begins."

They followed closely on Yin's heels, moving through narrow tunnels and corridors on their way through the changeling hive. The route Yin took was far less direct than their stroll through the center. She had them climbing ladders and crawling through tight places, all while hushing them if they began making any amount of noise. The route was clear of changelings, however, and forever and a moment later, they emerged out of a tiny hole into the darkness of the Badlands' evening.

Nightwing emerged from behind a rock nearby, "Everything went smoothly? Cake walk."

Yin smiled gently, some of her professional appearance washing away, "I wouldn't object to cake." From behind the rescued group, Yang suddenly appeared, "I will take some cake as well."

Silver raised a hoof, "Thanks for the save, but I've made things more complicated."

Nightwing scowled at Silver, "That appears to be your specialty. You sure you didn't get your cutie mark wrong?"

Purple Quill called out from above on a small rocky bluff, "Are we leaving?"

Silver shook his head, "A considerable portion of the changeling leadership is ready to defect. I promised them refugee status and escort to Equestria. They're tired of being Chrysalis' disposable shock troops for badly designed plans."

Yin looked perplexed, "Can he do that?"

Yang nodded, "Technically. He is a diplomat. A good one, if he secured that."

Trixie shook her head with amazement, "Trixie's colt is doing amazing things." She leaned over and whispered something in Rough's ear, making him go deep red.

Nightwing nodded, "Alright, what's the plan? What happened while you were in there?"

Fast advanced to explain that, "We were taken to the Queen, and she laughed right in poor Silver's face when he offered peace, but at least one of her leaders liked the sound of peace over the flank-kicking that they face every other time they deal with Equestria. She mentioned there were others, and they were supposed to meet us once we got out." She glanced around a little, "Not sure how long they'll take to get here.

Night squinted through her broken glasses, "I hear something."

Nightwing perked an ear, "Quiet." The group fell silent. The faint sound of buzzing was getting louder. She led the group swiftly under cover of the bluff and they waited. The sky became even darker as a worrying cloud of changelings moved into the area above the exit.

Queen Chrysalis landed lightly with a haughty expression, "Come on out. This little game is over."

None of them moved from their hiding places.

She frowned and gestured. Six changelings were dropped roughly to the ground, bound in the green goo and looking roughed up beside. "Your traitorous friends sang your plan as soon as sufficient... leverage... was applied. The game is up. As if Equestria would abide changelings, pheh."

Silver whispered to Nightwing, "Those six we have to rescue."

The sky suddenly lit up as a very familiar-looking fireball exploded in the center of the cloud, roasting many of the ready swarm. Silver blinked in surprise. When did anyone but him learn his fireball? There was little time to ponder this, as the swarm dispersed, many heading in the direction of the rocky bluff above where Purple Quill likely tossed it from, while others charged their hiding place. "Hard way it is," said the Queen, "I like the hard way."

Nightwing threw herself over the boulder that served as cover and spread her wings wide, "Come and get me, little bugs. I'll show you how I treat insects."

Yin and Yang simply faded away. Trixie popped up and let loose with a fantastic spray of fireworks and light, illuminating the battlefield and confusing some of the changelings in the process.

To Silver's dismay, Fast suddenly assumed the form of a changeling queen. He was relieved to see, at least, she had no holes. She strode from her cover confidently, "Swarm, to me! We will feast tonight as welcome guests of Equestria."

The drones' confusion was deep as they looked between the two available queens. Queen Chrysalis bared her fangs, "Imposter! Get her!" She pointed at Fast Change.

Fast Change pointed back, "I am whole and well-fed, clearly I am more fit to rule. Take that low-grade imposter away!"

The simple logic was agreeable to the drones, and they swarmed over Chrysalis, trying to secure her.

Nightwing didn't have any drones to fight. On one level, this disappointed her, on the other... She rushed forward and shattered the green binding circle on the six captives, "Time to go."

Purple Quill fell from above, landing beside the group. With a spell Silver could barely see, let alone grasp, the entire group vanished, Nightwing included. He realized there were no warlocks left in sight. "Uh, I think it's time to run!"

Chrysalis exploded in a shockwave of hostile green magic, sending the drones flying in all directions, "Fools! Half rations for the lot of you. They're getting away!"

Night spread her wings and grabbed Trixie, taking off with her.

Rough grabbed Silver in his mouth, tossing him up onto Rough's back and galloping off at full speed. Silver craned his neck to keep Fast in sight. She lifted from the ground on her insectoid wings, quickly catching up with much of the swarm following her.

Chrysalis, to put it mildly, was displeased. She pursued with rage boiling in her eyes, firing wildly with deadly green bolts of magic. Fast bobbed left, right, up and down, narrowly avoiding the shots. They were slowing, as was Chrysalis. The Queen sagged to the ground, weary and drained.

Fast flew up beside Rough and Silver, "She ain't so tough without a big dose of royal love, is she?"

Silver perked an ear, "I suppose not, or maybe it's the fact that you kind of took her swarm from her."

Rough didn't reply, focused on running away and huffing for breath.

Night swooped down from above, joining the group with Trixie held tightly in her hooves. Night smiled broadly, "That was amazing!"

Trixie nodded in agreement, "Spectacular, but you do not need to remain a changeling any longer, do you?"

Fast glanced up at the swarm overhead, "I think it'd be wise, until we get them somewhere safe, with some of those co-leaders."

They eventually slowed their retreat, with fatigue if no other reason. With Fast to guide them, the drones landed, and they managed a quick few hours of rest before they were up and moving again, headed north to safety.

As they emerged from the Badlands and approached Dodge City, the populace entered full panic mode. A swarm of changelings was not something to be taken lightly, and the good ponies of Dodge City ran about in a confused mess. Their panic only mildly lessened when the swarm arrived, but didn't attack. Fast ordered them to land, and soon there was an uneasy silence.

The sheriff trotted forward nervously, glancing between the swarm, the changeling queen, and the other ponies that had arrived with them.

Silver decided to take charge and play his part, trotting up to meet him, "Good stallion. I am Ambassador Silver Lining. These are refugees under my direct care. We're bringing them to Canterlot."

The sheriff looked down at the pint-sized diplomat, blinking, "Ah reckon ah have no idea what's going on anymore. How do I know you're not a bug too?"

Silver shrugged softly, "Going to have to take my word on that, but I'm very well spoken for a bug."

Trixie held out a hoof and suddenly she was bleeding slightly, red blood falling to the sandy ground, "We are not bugs. Allow the Great and Powerful Trixie past. We have business in Canterlot that cannot be delayed."

The display was another small shock to the already confused populace. Several ponies fell over. The sheriff was still standing, and pointed to the train station, "Best be on your way then, have a nice day."

Fast waved forward, "You guys take the train. No way will they let a swarm on board. Besides, we can fly." She pointed to the well, "Everyone, get a drink!" The swarm lined up and began to hydrate themselves. "We'll be out of your hairs in a bit. We'll fly to Canterlot."

Silver was hesitant about leaving Fast behind, but Night nudged him along, and soon they were on board the locomotive, chuggling along back to Canterlot.

About halfway there, napping, Silver was visited.

In his dream, Luna appeared, banishing his previous dreamscape harshly and plunging him into a simple dark field. "Silver! There is a changeling swarm at our gates, and they claim you sent them. What is the meaning of this?"

Silver reeled a little from the abrupt nature of Luna's appearance, "Huh? Oh... yeah. They're refugees."

Luna's wings shot wide, "All of them?! There is a queen with them, and the warlock has six more leaders."

So they did make it? "The queen is Fast Change, and yes, all of them. They're ready for peace."

Luna shook her head, "How can there be peace? They are predators, and we are their prey! Celestia will not agree to be feasted on by them, nor will I."

Silver reared up, holding up his hooves placatingly, "Just because they were bad under Queen Chrysalis' rule... They are sentient creatures, Luna, they can be taught. They can learn, and love, and feel. As you said yourself not long ago, are you so eager to destroy what makes you uncomfortable?"

Luna sagged, "I did say that. I did not think it would be used to explain an entire swarm in Canterlot!" Her wings folded against her back as she looked at him evenly.

Silver nodded slowly, "Well think of it this way. Every drone you see is one drone not under Chrysalis' control. Dodge City just got a lot safer, to say nothing of Equestria as a whole."

Luna advanced, touching noses with Silver, "Strange alien. What changes do you bring?" She vanished, and Silver woke up.

Silver looked out his window, seeing Canterlot slowly approaching as the train ascended the vast mountain that it was built on. Soon he'd have to face the music, and his gambit would come to a close, for good or ill.

Author's Note:

Our heroes bust free and bring change to Canterlot, but is it for the better?

Some of the changelings were actually typos in disguise!

Comments

[harts fire]

Now that is how to roll Silver!!
good job this story just stepped up to a hole new level.

love it.
Harts Fire

[David Silver]

5780615
5778844
5778387 It occurs to me that, while not disarming the spell, knocking out Silver still may have been a wise move. The fire, while still kinda hot and ouchy, could have been significantly worse if Silver was still fueling magic into it, instead of it just being released, and Thetics had no way to know if the ball was being released or not(or even entirely what it was in the split second he had to react to it)

He really doesn't deserve guff for that part of the incident, and he already caught severe burns, a stern tea-sipping warning from Celestia, and a dick curse for the other parts. Let's call it even?

[Nataniel]

5780777 I have a bad feeling about Fast Change. Somehow I think she's a changeling. Chrysalis said something like that I think.
Well, not really bad feeling, just slightly confused.

[Alzrius]

5780777 Letting it go works for me (so long as we don't have a musical number in that regard).

[David Silver]

5781039 Typos for the typo god! We get a prize if we get enough of them! Enjoyed?

[Alzrius]

5781117 Yes, though I suspect that I'm a bit too harried at the moment (stupid "real life") to appreciate the difference in how these chapters feel. Perhaps that's for the best though, since I do love surprises, and it's often easier to offer insight when what's going on is something that I wouldn't have expected.

Though I should have said "his abilities are an indirect threat to the changelings."

[Alzrius]

5781134 David has already asked us to drop this matter, and I've already agreed to. Given that it's gauche in the extreme to continue a debate when the person hosting the venue has asked you to stop, I'd recommend editing - if not deleting - that post.

[Alzrius]

Eventually everypony there fell to slumber in a comfortable enough pile.

The pile was "comfortable-enough."

Their rest was interrupted an uncertain time later by a soft whisper.

DEATH!!!

The route was clear of changelings, however, and forever and a moment later, they emerged out of a tiny hole into the darkness of the Badlands evening.

The darkness of the "Badlands' evening."

They're tired of being Chrysalis' disposable shock troops for badly designed plans."

For "badly-designed" plans.

Six changelings were dropped roughly to the ground, bound in the green goo and roughed up looking beside.

I'd change that last part to "and looking roughed up beside."

The sky suddenly lit up as a very familiar looking fireball exploded in the center of the cloud, roasting many of the ready swarm.

The fireball is "familiar-looking."

Fast Change pointed back, "I am whole and well fed, clearly I am more fit to rule.

She's whole and "well-fed."

I am ambassador Silver Lining.

That should be a capital "A" in "ambassador," since he's using his formal title.

Silver shrugged softly, "Going to have to take my word on that, but I'm very well spoken for a bug."

That should be "well-spoken."

About half way there, napping, Silver was visited.

About "halfway" there.

Silver reeled a little from the abrupt nature of Luna's appearance, "Huh? Oh... yea.

Oh "yeah" at the end there.

Silver reared up, holding up his hooves placatingly, "Just because they were bad under Queen Chrysalis' rule.

Silver isn't talking in a complete sentence, there. Just because they were bad under Queen's Chrysalis' rule...what?

[David Silver]

5781204 Tweaks applied aplenty! The arc draws towards its conclusion.

[Alzrius]

I'm having a bit of trouble following the action in this chapter. For instance, when Purple Quill apparently made everyone in his group (notwithstanding Fast) invisible, how was Chrysalis able to chase them and fire blasts of energy at them? Also, did Fast take the entire swarm? It seemed that way, but I'm not sure, since Chrysalis was ordering them to "get them" after she shook off the confused drones that had tackled her, and we're not told if any of them obeyed her command or not. I'm also unclear on why Fast Change stayed with the group of changelings after they got to Dodge City. If Stand In and the other leaders were released at that time, why not have Fast stay with Silver?

That said, I was quite pleased that we're going to get the sub-plot with Fast taking the form of a changeling after all. It'll be interesting how this goes, since she might very well lose herself if she wants to study how they can so readily change their appearance...but on the other hoof, she could very well be the key to the changelings becoming something more than they are. After all, I'd like to think that plot-hook about changelings becoming ponies was more than just a throw-away reference, especially since an entire swarm will require a lot of love to feed on, more than can be easily granted.

A lot of good political maneuvering should be up next. Celestia's focus on the good of her ponies is going to put her in an awkward position, since I doubt she's going to be too idealistic about having her people's "natural" predators knocking on her door. Likewise, the changeling leaders are going to want Silver to make good on his promise of a better life for all of them. Perhaps a summit will need to be held? One also has to wonder what this means for the changeling spies that are already in Equestria - will they turn, or keep acting as Chrysalis minions? If things go well for Silver, more and more changelings might defect, leaving Chrysalis as a queen with no citizens. Or he could fail, and a fireball will be nothing compared to what happens if the changelings think that they've been lied to.

[David Silver]

5781248 Purple Quill did a recall spell, whisking him, Nightwing, and the recovered changeling leaders back to the tower. They were the first to arrive in Canterlot. He was supposed to take Yin, Yang, and the Silver+family, but plans changed.

Much of the swarm followed after Fast, hence her remaining in queen mode. Purple Quill, nor Nightwing, nor changeling leaders, were present in Dodge City(They were already in Canterlot), so Queen she remained to lead the drones onwards to Canterlot, taking a much straighter line than the train's round-a-bout path.

I hope that all makes sense.

[Alzrius]

5781259 Okay, it makes sense now (though it'd make more sense in the story if "the group" wasn't what vanished, since that sounded like everypony).

[RadicalDishonesty]

5781157
Yes, I see it now. My notifications are broken apparently, so I missed that David responded to my comment. I had to visit here specifically looking for replies to my response, and yours was the only one I expected. I have edited my message, deleted posts can look pretty bad.

[David Silver]

5781298 I don't think it makes a notification if the reply is in a different chapter than the original.

[RadicalDishonesty]

5781299
The fact that I got a notification for this promptly seems to confirm that. I'll keep that in mind.

[David Silver]

5781506 That'll teach those typos! A bit for your thoughts?

[albedoequals1]

She had them climbing ladders and crawling through tight places,

Why would a flying species have ladders?

many heading in the direction of the rocky bluff above where Purple Quill likely tossed it,

tossed it from,

[David Silver]

5783456 Fixed, thankee. Not all the changelings fly, like the breeders, or captives they may be leading around.

[VikingOtaku6]

Typos, as well?! What mad trickery; disguises beneath disguises!