> The Queen's Eye
>  by JJN Whitley
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Chapter 1
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


The Queen’s Eye 

It was twilight in Equestria, as it had been for the past two decades. Both the Sun and Moon hung in the air, neither willing to give up any ground. It was as if they were locked in an eternal tango. At least, that was how it had been explained to Redhoof.
The red mare currently resided in the darker side of the world, in the outskirts of Canterlot. She paced in a circle, as she waited for her partner to arrive. I swear on Celestia’s grave, if she went drinking again I’m going to kill her. We have a job to do!
She went through the plan in her head once more. It was a simple job, in and out. Easy as grave robbing. Redhoof shuddered at the thought. It practically is a grave at this point. Who knows how many poor bastards have died in there since that day?
She shook her head, and rubbed her face.
“Come on, Redhoof, you can do this. There are worse places to break into.”
But none were coming to mind. She could feel her anxiety like an insect, slowly crawling up her back. To take her mind off of her anxiety, and insects, she looked through her saddlebag.
Let’s see here. We’ve got rope, a knife, and a flashlight. She raised her eyes toward her horn, and scowled. 
“It would be nice if we didn’t need a flashlight, but no. Someone had to be bad at performing magic.” 
She knew her horn couldn’t feel guilt, or any emotion for that matter, but it helped to blame her ineptitude on something rather than herself.
“Don’t be too hard on her, Red. It’s not her fault her master is as useless as buffalo crap.”
Redhoof sighed. At least she doesn’t sound drunk.
“What do you see when you look in the mirror?”
She could feel her partner rolling her eyes. “Apple cellars and dead bodies. And what do you see in a flickering candle?”
 “Starlight and lost dreams.”
It was a stupid exchange, but it kept the duo’s trust intact. After all, how could anyone figure out a password so bizarre?
Redhoof turned around to study her companion. There were no traces of red in Pilfer’s small green eyes, proving her to be clean of any alcohol. However, the pink pegasus was smoking a cigarette. She used her feathers to take a drag, and blew smoke into Redhoof’s face.
Redhoof coughed, as she waved the smoke away from her hoof.
“Sorry,” Pilfer said insincerely. “It’s for my nerves.”
Redhoof grunted. “And what about mine? You’re late, Pilfer. I was starting to get worried.”
“Oh?” Pilfer’s eyes twinkled. She bounced her curly blonde mane, as she sashayed towards Redhoof. “I didn’t know you cared so deeply about me.”
Redhoof merely frowned. “Don’t change the subject. Where were you?” 
 “Not here.” Pilfer returned the frown for a moment, but lost it with a sigh. “And I don’t want to be. This is a terrible job, Red.”
“True, but money is money. And sympathizers of the Harmony Brigade tend to pay very well.”
“But that’s my point.” Pilfer dropped her cigarette, and put out the butt with a hoof. She retrieved another from her saddlebag, and promptly lit it. “Wasn’t rule number one to avoid politics.”
She does have a point.
 When the two of them had met two years ago, they had agreed to a set of rules. A couple were obvious; both partners needed to be present when talking to a client, and all earnings were to be split evenly, unless one of them willingly gave up a portion of their share. They had also agreed to not let a third pony into the partnership. While a second flier or an earth pony could prove useful, two conflicting personalities were enough.
Of all their rules, the most important was to avoid politics. Not only were political jobs more dangerous, but there was the added risk of being labeled. Being a loyalist would mean less work; being a rebel sympathizer could lead to being harvested.  
“This isn’t political; we’re not doing a job for the Brigade. Our client just happens to support their cause.”
Pilfer raised an eyebrow, as she took another puff. Redhoof didn’t need to see the gesture to know how feeble her excuse sounded.
“Okay, I admit I’m taking a few liberties with our rule, but you know the money will be worth it. I’ll even give you some of my share if it’ll cheer you up.”
Pilfer just blinked for a moment. After regaining her composure, she retrieved a pack of Mareboro cigarettes from her saddlebag.
“This is the kind of pack I usually buy right?”
Redhoof glanced at the pack, and nodded.
“Why are you asking?”
Pilfer chuckled, and slipped the pack back into her bag.
“Oh, I was just making sure I didn’t accidentally buy a pack laced with hallucinogenic zebra magic.”
Redhoof rolled her eyes. “I’m serious. Even if I give you ten percent I’ll have still made a great profit.”
Pilfer’s eyes widened; her jaw dropped.
Redhoof smirked, and tapped her companions chin upwards.
“Still having reservations?” she asked, sarcastically.
Pilfer wrinkled her nose and grunted, but Redhoof couldn’t mistake the greed in her partner’s eyes. Pilfer placed one of her front hooves on her heart, while raising the other.
“Let it be known that I think this is a terrible job. Likewise, if our careers hit rock bottom after this I hereby blame you.” Her lips curled into a smile as she continued. “This being said, I will happily accept ten percent of your share if we succeed.”
“Amen,” Redhoof said with a nod.

***

“Passports, please.”
Despite the use of the word please, the guard at the Canterlot checkpoint was anything but friendly. In one of his wings he clutched a spear, which he now pointed at the mares. His rugged face bore an expression as cold as stone, but the disdain in his blue eyes was unmistakable. He’s probably a soldier for the Regime. The multiple scars and holes in his body supported Redhoof’s assumption. Serves him right. Every one of those things deserves a few extra holes.
Redhoof retrieved a small blue booklet from her bag, and presented it to the guard. He used his sickly-green magic to open it and study its contents.
“You’re from Baltimare, I see. So, what brings you two all the way to the dead city?”
“Personal business.”
The guard gave Redhoof a look as cold as winter, but she didn’t blink. She had no reason to fear him; her papers were in order. She had forged them herself. Without taking his eyes off of her, the guard stamped her passport and returned it to her.  
“Enjoy your stay in Canterlot, little pony,” he growled.
Redhoof said nothing as she trotted past him. Asshole.
“Passport, please,” he repeated as Pilfer approached him.
The pink pony hit her face with her hoof, and groaned.
“Oh, I forgot it back at home. What a pain.” She lowered her hoof, and pouted. “I don’t suppose you could let me through anyways?”
The guard remained stoic. “No.”
Pilfer’s pout melted into a sensual smile, and she fluttered her green eyes at the guard.
"Oh, don’t be like that. I’m sure you’ve always wanted to know what it was like to ride a pony.”
Despite Pilfer’s best efforts, the guard was still unfazed.
“I’ll ask one more time for your passport. If you still fail to produce one then I shall be forced to make you leave. Are we clear, little pony?”
Pilfer wrinkled her nose, and snorted.
“Yes, sir.”
She presented her passport to the guard, who examined it a tad more thoroughly than he had Redhoof’s. After a few moments, he returned it with a satisfied grunt.
“Enjoy your stay in Canterlot, little pony.”
Pilfer grimaced at the guard’s sarcasm, and trotted towards her partner.
“Some people, am I right, Red? I mean, I was just trying to show him a good time. He didn’t need to be so rude to me.”
Redhoof nodded. In truth, she wanted to laugh. While the guard was being an asshole, it was always nice to see Pilfer put in her place. Serves her right for wasting time.
“Hey, Baltimare.”
Redhoof turned back to look at the guard. He pointed his spear in Pilfer’s direction.
  “I’d be careful of that one if I were you. She doesn’t seem trustworthy.”
Pilfer gave him a malicious smirk. “Oh, really? That says a lot coming from your kind, insect.” She paused to spit, before she continued to walk down the road. “Come on, Red. I’m already getting bad vibes from this place.”
Redhoof didn’t say anything to either the guard or her companion; she didn’t feel she needed too. Instead, the two mares walked in silence into the dead city.

***

The first thing Redhoof noticed in Canterlot was the complete lack of life. There were no ponies, or any other creatures, stalking the moonlit streets, nor did there seem to be anyone in the barely intact buildings. There were cracks in the walls and most of the windows were shattered, but still they stood. It was more than could be said for the old café. It, along with many of Canterlot’s attractions Redhoof had heard about as a filly, had been turned to rubble or burned.
The dead city, huh? The name certainly seems to fit.
The second thing she noticed was the graffiti. The words “Assimilate,” and “Ponies Must Perish” defaced the remains of Canterlot. Although Redhoof did chuckle when she read “Feed Us” on the café rubble. I hope that was an intentional joke.
Though as Redhoof and her partner trotted closer to the castle, she noticed the graffiti had shifted in tone. She found phrases; such as, “Remember the Princess,” and “Down with the INSECTS” on the ruins of the museum.
Pilfer had snorted at the latter.
“You know, suddenly the Regime doesn’t seem all that bad. At least their propaganda doesn’t shout at me.” 
Redhoof shrugged. “That’s true, but it’s always so negative. I don’t think I’ve found a single one praising the Queen.”
Her partner shook her head, and chuckled.
“Everybody’s a critic.” She cocked her head sideways. “That positive enough for ya?”
Redhoof lifted her head, and gasped.
They had made it. The paint had faded, one of the towers had collapsed, and there was a gaping hole where the doors used to be. Despite the damage, Redhoof instantly recognized Canterlot castle. An arch had been built around the doorway, and it had been adorned with two words. In bright rainbow, and capital, letters was the phrase, “HARMONY RISES.”
Redhoof smirked at her partner. “I could do without the shouting.”
Pilfer chuckled again, and reached into her bag to retrieve her flashlight. She held the end of the flashlight in her mouth, and used her tongue to flip the switch. The way before them lit up considerably, and Redhoof was able to make out a few shapes in the distance.
 Pilfer cocked her head towards the hole in the wall. “Afhter you”
Redhoof retrieved her own flashlight with her magic, and held it out in front of her. With a nod to her partner, she began to walk across the drawbridge. It had not been well maintained after the war, Redhoof was certain she was going to receive a splinter, but she crossed without a hitch. The gentle flapping of wings informed her that Pilfer was right behind.
Right in front were the bodies. The shapes she had seen were piles of bones. Many wore the armor of the old Canterlot Guard, but there were just as many wearing the green and black of the Regime.
Pilfer whistled behind her. “Now this is what I call a graveyard. Maybe this job has its perks after all.”
Redhoof nearly agreed with her until she realized something. Wait a second. How was she able to speak in a coherent sentence?
 She whipped around, shining the flashlight on her partner.
Pilfer was draped over the body of a Canterlot soldier. She had rested her flashlight on her back, while her hooves were busy digging into the crevices of the armor.
“What in Chrysalis’ name are you doing?!”
 Pilfer looked back at her, but did not stop her search.
 “Grave robbing. What does it—Oh, hey a bit!” She pulled a dull yellow coin out of the armor and placed it into her saddlebag. “What does it look like I’m doing?”
“Pilfer, this isn’t the time for this.”
Her friend wrinkled her nose, and narrowed her eyes.
“Oh no, the pony with a shovel and tombstone for a cutie mark is not about to start lecturing me about looting from the dead. I don’t care if he was a soldier or not. What matters to me is that he has—Oh, another one!” She put it in her bag before continuing. “What matters is that he no longer has any need for it.”
Redhoof smacked her face with her hoof. “Pilfer, I don’t give a rat’s ass about you stealing from a body. But the longer you stay and, well, pilfer the more battery you’re going to drain from the flashlight.”
Pilfer glanced at her flashlight, and picked it back up. She gave Redhoof an apologetic smile.
“Er, shrry.”
Redhoof sighed, and continued walking. There were bodies all over the grand hall. As much as she wanted to follow Pilfer’s example, she knew they had a more pressing mission. Besides, we can always loot the bodies when we come back.
Redhoof trotted up a small set of stairs, and examined the corridors. Unfortunately, both of them had collapsed. It’s almost as if the city itself is trying to protect the treasure. She immediately shook her head, and laughed. That might just be the stupidest thing I’ve ever thought.
Upon closer inspection, she realized the right corridor had an opening. It wasn’t very large, but appeared big enough for both mares to squeeze through. Looks like we’re going this way.
“You see that gap there, Pilfer?”
Silence.
“Pilfer?” Redhoof echoed, a little louder.
Still, she received no response.
For a moment, Redhoof was worried. Did Pilfer find a secret passageway, and go exploring? Or maybe the castle is alive, and got her? Could I be next?!
Then, Redhoof remembered who she was dealing with.
“I thought I told you to stop stealing.”
“That’s true, but…” Pilfer’s voice trailed off; Redhoof assumed it was because her partner had found something worth pocketing. “But you were more worried about me wasting power. But my flashlight is off, so I’m not wasting anything.”
Redhoof grunted. “Do what you want then, but if you don’t help me you’re not getting the ten percent.”
There was silence again. However, this time Redhoof knew Pilfer was thinking instead of flat out ignoring her. Finally, she heard the shuffling of hooves behind her.
“Whish whay?”
Redhoof shined her flashlight on the small gap in the rubble.
“After you.”
Pilfer groaned, but didn’t say a word of complaint. Probably wasn’t worth the effort with the flashlight in her mouth.
“You made it through yet?”
Redhoof waited a moment, but Pilfer made no reply.
“Pilfer, I swear on the Queen’s throne, if you’re looting another body I—”
“Do you know what happened to Ponyville after the war?”
Pilfer’s question caught Redhoof by surprise. Of course I do. There’s not a pony alive who doesn’t know about the Great Harvest. But what does that… Oh sweet Celestia, no.
Redhoof shot through the gap as quickly as she could, which wasn’t very. Each step brought down an avalanche of dust, and she kept hitting her horn against the ceiling. Stupid useless horn.
After what felt like an hour, but in truth was near two minutes, Redhoof finally made it through the gap. She collapsed onto the ground, and kissed the ground.
“Princess be praised! I’ll never take air for granted again.”
She expected Pilfer to make a snarky comment, but instead found her partner transfixed by the ceiling. When Redhoof titled her head upwards she immediately realized why. It’s just like Ponyville.
Nearly every square inch of the ceiling was occupied by a slimy green cocoon. In each cocoon was the husk of a pony. The ponies in the cocoons were not much more than skin and bone, and some weren’t lucky enough to have the skin. Redhoof flicked her flashlight across the ceiling, but did not find a single living pony. Figures. Those damn insects are nothing if not efficient killers.
“Hey, Red, check this out!”
Pilfer was standing a few meters away, now holding the flashlight with her right wing.
“Did you find any survivors?” Redhoof asked, cautiously optimistic.
“Survivors?” Pilfer scoffed. “If you know about the incident in Ponyville, then you know there are no survivors. Anyway, I found one of those stained glass windows.”
That caught Redhoof by surprise. I thought Chrysalis has destroyed all the windows after she took Canterlot. Galloping to her partner’s side, Redhoof was both amazed and disturbed by what she saw. With the exception of one, all of the stained glass windows had been shattered. The one which survived was quite clearly the most recent.
At the bottom of the window was Princess Luna. She was surrounded by guards wearing golden pony armor. However, each guard’s face was that of a changeling, and each of them plunged their spears into her body. Above her was Celestia. Horn glowing, wings outspread, she looked ready to save her sister. Or at the very least, to avenge her death. Perhaps she would have if not the blade-like horn of Queen Chrysalis piercing her chest.
“The Princess is dead; long live the Queen,” Pilfer muttered.
Redhoof shot her partner a glare. “She was our princess, Pilfer! Show some respect.”
Pilfer returned Redhoof’s glare with one of her own. “I am, for the winner. In the end, Chrysalis is the only one worthy of being respected.”
Redhoof opened her mouth to protest, but was silenced by Pilfer holding up her hoof.
“Don’t get me wrong, Red; the Queen is evil. If this city isn’t proof enough, then Ponyville certainly is. But you have to give her credit.”
“I don’t have to give her a damn thing.” Redhoof backed away from the window, and walked down the hall. “The vault should be at the end of this hall. Are you ready to pick it?”
Pilfer dismissively waved her hoof. “Yeah, yeah, I’ll be there in a sec. I’m just admiring the craftsmanship.”
“Craftsmanship?” Redhoof glanced back at the window. “It’s propaganda.”
“Au contraire, Red. The grisly details aside, this is actually a splendid piece of art. There is little to no sag or separation, and the platina seems to have been applied evenly. Whoever worked on this window really knew their way around copper foil.”
Pilfer gave the window an approving nod, and gaited towards her partner. Redhoof gazed at Pilfer with a raised eyebrow.
“What was all that?”
Pilfer replied with a mocking chuckle. “What? Just because I’m a thief doesn’t mean I’m an uncultured mule” She rolled her eyes, as she took the lead. “Honestly, Red, I expected you to have a better eye for art.”
Redhoof ignored Pilfer’s teasing, and followed her down the hall. As they walked, the vault began to appear in Redhoof’s vision.
 That’s not what I expected.
What Redhoof had expected was a large safe. There was supposed to be a combination lock, and most likely a keyhole as well. Since it was carrying an important treasure, she had anticipated the interior of the safe to be booby-trapped in some way. That last prediction had been why she decided it would be Pilfer’s job to pick the lock.
Instead, she was faced with an electronic door. On top of the door was a stencil drawing of Princess Celestia, which had been vandalized to resemble Queen Chrysalis. In the center of the door was a picture was a large blue-green eye. However, Redhoof could still see the orange paint of the original image. It was probably a picture of the sun. She glanced at Pilfer for a moment. See, I know enough about art to tell this wasn’t the original image.  
In the eye’s pupil was a hole. There was no key slot, or wheel with numbers. There was just a hole. Pilfer inspected the door, but was unable to find any other mechanism for opening it.
“Sorry, Red, but I don’t think I can pick this.” She retrieved a bobby pin from her mane, and bent it into a straight line. She placed it in the hole and wriggled it about, before pulling it out with a disheartened shrug. “As you can tell, a bobby pin isn’t going to cut it; it doesn’t reach far enough. I hate to leave a job unfinished, but maybe we should just go home.”
No. This job is worth too much to just give up on it.
Redhoof gave the door an inspection of her own. Like her partner, she was unable to find any other way of opening the door aside from the hole in the center. As she scrutinized the hole, an idea formed. I wonder…
She lowered her head, making her horn level with the hole.
“Really, Red? Didn’t your mother teach you not to stick your horn in unfamiliar places?”
Redhoof couldn’t help but smile, as she inserted her horn.
“She taught me lots of things, Pilfer She taught me how to dig up graves, how to subdue stallions, and all kinds of motherly things. But most importantly, she taught me to never give up until I’d exhausted all my options. Now, I would appreciate it if you could shut up while I concentrate.”
Pilfer sighed. “You’re going to try to use magic. This operation is officially boned then. Please excuse me while I get as far away from you as possible.”
Pilfer jokingly took a few steps backwards. Redhoof grunted, giving her partner an irritated glare. Pilfer shuddered for a moment, before running a hoof across her mouth. She followed it up with an unsure smile, and Redhoof rolled her eyes. At least I got her quiet.
She took a deep breath, and closed her eyes. In truth, Redhoof had no idea what kind of spell she needed to use, or how to perform it. Just focus on the door opening. Visualize it, and make it happen.
She imagined the door sliding open, and the eye in the middle splitting open. Okay, not the prettiest mental image, but—FOCUS! She saw the eye splitting open, and her treasure sitting before her. A glass monocle, oozing with a green and black Aura. She saw the Queen’s Eye: the changeling identifier. 
Now for the tricky part.
With her visuals in mind, she started to use her magic. She could feel her horn trying its best to open the lock, but she was also starting to get tired. She wasn’t used to using this much magic in one go, and she could feel her breaths becoming gradually strained. Come on, horn. Help me out here. I know we can do this. She bit her lip, as she pumped as much magic as she could into the door.
Click.
Redhoof opened her eyes, blinking in shock.
“Did I do it?”
She pulled her horn out of the door, and it opened. The eye in the center was split in two, and right behind it was her treasure. It was just as she had heard it described; it was a glass monocle. Aside from the green and black smoke emanating from it, it would have seemed quite ordinary. The Eye’s aura was similar to the purple trail emanating from the eyes of King Sombra. At least, according to her readings.
That’s more than a little creepy. But at least I found it.
Redhoof reached out to grab it, but Pilfer smacked her hoof.
“Hold on, Red, we’ve got to check it for traps.”
Pilfer approached the open door with a lit cigarette, and waved it around. The smoke filled the door, obscuring the Queen’s Eye. But as the smoke began to clear, green beams of light appeared inside the door. There were at least twenty magic tripwires protecting the Queen’s Eye.
Redhoof let out an exasperated sigh. “Of course, there would be tripwires too. As if opening the door wasn’t difficult enough.”
The pegasus ran a hoof through her mane, and cast a doubtful glance at her partner.
“Are you going to levitate it out of there?”
Redhoof nodded, feeling beads of sweat starting to drip from her forehead.
“Well, then.” Pilfer started to flap her wings, and flew a few meters backward. “I’ll just be over here hoping you don’t trigger an explosion, or something.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence,” Redhoof barked.
Her partner gave her a wink and grin. “You’re more than welcome. I’m always happy to help.”
Redhoof scoffed, and focused her attention on the Queen’s Eye. Since it was thin, there was definitely enough room to guide it in-between the wires. She just needed to be patient. Ordinarily, Redhoof could do that without much difficulty. The problem now was that she was drained. I have enough magic to pick it up, but do I have enough to move it without dropping it?
It didn’t help that she didn’t know what the tripwires were for. The castle was long abandoned, so it was possible they were simply for show. But then why would they have been invisible? They’ll probably trigger some type of trap.  
Redhoof shook her head, and slapped her face with her front hooves. Don’t think about it, Red. Just keep your concentration, and get the job done. You can do this!
A dark red glow surrounded the Queen’s Eye as it was lifted into the air.
“Careful, careful,” Pilfer chanted.
Redhoof paused to give her partner a hard glance. Pilfer immediately stopped talking, and ran her hoof across her mouth again. Redhoof returned her focus on the Eye, slowly moving it over the first wire.
One down.
And one by one, she maneuvered the Eye around the beams. With each beam she crossed Redhoof’s fatigue increased. Her eyes felt heavy, as did her lungs. Sweat continued to pour down her face, but she didn’t dare wipe her face. You’ve got this, Redhoof. You’re almost there.
Only one more beam stood between her and her target. Yes, I’ve got… Oh no. To get this far, Redhoof had moved the Eye above and below other beams. Diagonal beams had been a challenge, but they were beatable. Now, however, there was a beam blocking her routes both above and below. While she had encountered this problem before, this time there was little to no room for the Eye to squeeze through. In a sense, she had reached a dead end.
This is just not fair. Maybe if I go back a few beams I can think of another way. But the Eye was beginning to slip, and Redhoof’s horn was throbbing. My magic isn’t going to last much longer; I don’t have time to retrace my moves. I only have one option left. Damnit!
With one last surge of magic, Redhoof flung the Queen’s Eye out of the door, catching it with her hooves. Immediately the magic beams turned red, and an alarm began to sound in the castle.
“That’s our cue to go. Pilfer are yo—”
Redhoof felt an explosion of pain in her chest. Her body immediately went limp, and she collapsed onto her belly. She tried to scream, but found she was only able to cough up blood. She managed to roll onto her back, glancing down to inspect the damage to her chest. Or what was left of it. A gaping cauterized hole had formed in the right side of her chest. What kind of booby trap is this?
“Damn. I was trying to hit your heart so it would be quick. I was never very good at anatomy. Kind of ironic given my species, eh Red?”
Redhoof tilted her head up to look at her partner. Instead, she found a changeling. The creature grinned at her, and walked around in a circle.
“So, how do I look? I know, I know, black isn’t really my color but it’s not terrible.”
Redhoof spat out a small glob of blood, intentionally this time.
The changeling sighed, and approached her.
“Don’t be like that, Red; especially, since this is all your fault, you know.”
Despite her immense pain, Redhoof tried to stand up. How in Celestia’s name is my fault?
With a melancholic smile, Pilfer put a hoof on Redhoof’s chest. “It’ll be a lot less painful if you just lie down, Red.”
Ignoring her partner, Redhoof continued to struggle to her hooves. Pilfer’s eyes narrowed, as she applied force to her partner’s chest.
“Stubborn pony.” 
As Redhoof shrieked, coughing up more blood, Pilfer rolled her eyes.
“That alarm you triggered just alerted every Regime soldier within a hundred mile radius that the Eye has been found. Ever since the Second Battle of Canterlot it’s been lost. As it turns out, we’re just as afraid of this damned city as you ponies.” A bright smile appeared on Pilfer’s face, as she rubbed Redhoof’s mane. “But now the Brigade’s biggest advantage is back where it belongs. And it’s all because of you!”
Redhoof opened her mouth, but Pilfer held up a hoof for silence.
“Yes, I know. You just didn’t want to leave a job unfinished.” Her horn glowed a sickly green as she levitated the Queen’s Eye out of Redhoof’s bag. “And neither do I.” She slipped the Eye into her bag, and gave Redhoof a salute. “Well, I’m off. I’d like to hoof deliver this to the Queen myself, and I can’t do that if one of the others takes it from me. So, bye, Red. Enjoy your precious few moments left!”
Humming to herself, Pilfer trotted back down the hall. But as she trotted, her humming became less gung-ho until it ceased altogether. She turned her head to look at her former companion, the smile completely gone from her face.
“It was nice knowing you, Redhoof. Really, it was. I’m sorry I had to do this, but I couldn’t knowingly allow the Brigade to have anything that would compromise the Queen. And, hey, better me do it than one of them, right?” She gave one last shrug, before flying out one of the shattered windows.
Good riddance.
As Redhoof lay on the ground, was able to make out the image of Celestia on the stained glass window. Her face was twisted in both rage and pain, as she too suffered from a fatal chest wound. I’m right here with ya, sister. This pain is a bitch. In spite of her situation, Redhoof managed a chuckle. But I do feel a little better. At least I’m not dying alone.
In truth, she wasn’t. The buzzing of hundreds upon hundreds of wings informed Redhoof that she had company. Soon, the Canterlot castle would be overrun with a swarm of changelings. Changelings, who were possibly interested in harvesting a fresh pony. Suddenly, getting shot through the back doesn’t seem like such a bad way to go.  
Before closing her eyes for the final time, Redhoof pondered what Pilfer had said to her.
“In the end, Chrysalis is the only one worthy of being respected.”
Maybe she’s right. Why should I support the losing side?
Smiling one last mirthless smile, she saluted the image of the Changeling Queen.
Long live the Queen.