> Dawn of the Changelings
>  by alexandru1208
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Chapter 1 : C85
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

- Dawn of the Changelings, by alexandru1208 | Chapter 1 : C85 -


Tartarus Citadel. A place of horror and despair, a place where all evil lies locked up in cages and rooms reinforced with locks or pure magic. Tartarus was known to be a land of prosperity and happiness, until the dawn of dark reign down across the land, now, the once known land of Everbreeze is named Tartarus plains.

The citadel lied in a dark, death-like silence, only the sound of rain pouring down the stone tiled roof and the sound of growling and grunting echoed the halls.
It was past midnight and half of the monsters encaged there were asleep, the wardens were patrolling the hallways with their horn lit up, surveying for any flaws at the walls and doors. Everything seemed in tip-top shape, nothing was gonna leave this place.
From the dead silence, a very loud growl was heard outside the great gate that was keeping the citadel closed.

“What is it!?” yelled one of the wardens that was on the next floors wooden platforms.

“Its general Shining Armor!” a reply was heard, echoing through the great building.

“OPEN THE GATES!” the signal was shouted, the silence was broken by the sound of gears and chains that opened the great doors, the sound was infernal. The metal scraped the stone floor and combined with the screeching of the wood made it impossible to listen. It stopped half-way.
Sound of hoof steps and armor plating echoed through, a pony entered the citadel. The wardens bowed and allowed the general to enter.

“I have heard of the news and arrived.” said the general, Shining Armor.

“Yes, right this way.” one of the wardens replied. “He is in the dark room, follow me.”

The two walked through the citadel, sounds of crackling wood, scraping of stone and the crackling of the torches gave the citadel quite a dark atmosphere. The eventually arrived at the door of where they needed to arrive.

“So who is this prisoner you caught, warden?” asked Shining Armor, gripping the door handle with his magic.

“You shall see, general.” said the warden.

The general hesitated first but opened the door after a while, it was a large room with no source of light, the general lit up his horn in a chance to see the prisoner, from the far end of the room, a pair of shining eyes were seen, they had a mix color of red and blue.
The general approached closer and shined the room brighter, lighting up the creature. It was a changeling, it was chained to the wall with a metallic collar around its neck, it was impossible to break it.
“A changeling!? I thought these creatures were banished since the second dawn of shadow.” the general shouted.

“Yes, sir. We found him in a village, captured by the other ponies, he was sneaking around, in search for food I think.” the warden replied with the story he was told.

“I see. It seems like the Changeling Queen ran out of food... This is just a scout of hers...” the general approached the changeling to a limit. “Is your Queen foolish enough to send weak scouts in search for food?” said Shining Armor, mocking the changeling. After a stare down, the changeling pounced but was stopped by the metallic collar, it hissed and showed its fangs at the general, bloodthirst was seen in its eyes and behaviour.

“You wretched mongrel!” said Shining Armor, blasting the changelings face with a spell, slamming it against the wall. The being was weak due to the hunger he suffered. “This creature deserves to die of hunger... To the torture room with him. I have a plan...” spoke the general, walking out of the room.

“Right away, sir.” saluted the warden before covering the changelings face with a cloth bag and dragging it through the hallways.

The three arrived at the stairs of the dungeon and walked down, the changeling was slamming each step all the way down, it remained silent but still struggled to escape. It was of no use, the three entered the torture room, the smell of rust and blood were covering the air. The changeling was slammed against a stone table and it had its hooves tied up. The warden then removed the cloth from its head.

“What shall we do to him, General?” asked the warden, unaware of Shining Armor’s request of arrival.

“Call in two more guards. We might need them.” replied Shining Armor, looking over at the changeling from the door.

“Yes, General.” The warden exited the room and left the General and the changeling along.

Shining Armor approached the changeling and mockingly leaned its head. “Maybe this will make you learn that we do not want your smiley nation into our lands...”
Fear trembled the changeling at the sound of three ponies came down the stairs, they enterec the room. There were two stallions and a mare.

“We arrived, General Shining Armor.” saluted the three wardens.

Shining Armor glanced in the room and picked up two bonesaws with his magic, he floated them to the nearest wardens and ordered. “Slice its wings.”
The changeling was in pure terror, it struggled in its binds but with no use, he was tied with force. The two wardens went to their position and waited for one and another, one of them placed the blade first at the base of the changelings wings and began to saw then it was followed by the second one. The changeling yelped in pain as it struggled to free itself from the bonds.

Shining Armor stood at the entrance with no emotion on his face. It was his job to secure Equestria from evil.

“S-Sir, don’t you think it’s cruel for the poor changeling?” said one of the wardens.

“I have no choice. I have to do this, I feel sorry for the changeling but I cannot leave such creature and enemy of mine to tremble on these lands...” said Shining Armor.

The two watched as the changeling had its wings sliced off, the two wardens finished, the wings fell down and turned into dust. The changeling feinted and shivered.

“It’s done, general.” One of the torturers spoke.

“Good, untie it and send it back into the room, I want a report written until tomorrow on its behaviour.” spoke the General, leaving the room.

The two wardens slowly untied the changeling and got ready to drag him from the table but suddenly, the changeling attacked. The changeling bit the mare warden by her neck, causing her to bleed heavily, she let out a yell of pain then fell on the ground.
The other warden shouted in shock and then gazed at the changeling in panic, its eyes were crimson red and blood was all over its mouth, he pounced at him and impaled him with his horn.

Upstairs, the scream of the second warden was heard. “WHAT THE!?” shouted the waden accompanying Shining Armor, the two stopped and looked down the dark stairs, from the shadows, the changeling jumped straight for Shining Armor.

“GENERAL! WATCH OUT!” the warden shouted then jumped in his way, making the changeling bite the back of the warden. A shout of pain sent the warden to the floor bleeding.
The changeling stood up and as it looked up, it was blasted by Shining Armor for five times, making it feint and burn.

“Get the medics! Send two down at the torture room...” these were the last words the the changeling heard before blacking out. That day remained written into the history events of Tartarus Citadel. The changeling was taken into a prison cell on the second floor of the citadel.

“Keep him locked up here. Do not approach it in any way.” Shining Armor said to two wardens.

“Yes, Sir General.” saluted the two wardens.

“Sir... One question...” asked one of the wardens. “What should we announce if something its wrong about it?”

“Tag him as C85. Now, back to your duties, I must return to Canterlot to deliver the report.” spoke Shining Armor, leaving the room with the two wardens.
A slam of a metal gate awoken the changeling, it stood up, shivering and wandered around the room, inspecting its surroundings. It knew that there is no escaping from here...

- End of Chapter 1 -
> Chapter 2 : The waiting game.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

It has been days since the verdict of changeling C85. He was sentenced to be closed for eternity, there was no hope for it to escape from such a citadel. 
Days passed and soon turned into months, it was a permanent waiting game.
The grim weather at Tartarus citadel, C85 was scraping a side of a wall with its horn, there was no reason to use magic. The hoof steps of passing guards echoed in the stone halls and silent whispers rustled through the stone cracks.
The changeling felt lucky it was not a normal pony, by now it would have been dead from Shining Armor’s magic strikes. but neither being a changeling helped it very much. The starvation was taking him to a brink of death. A changeling does not die of age or pure hunger, but him being separated from its Queen slowly killed him.

He could not speak, hear or do anything, he lay there by the wall for hours, thinking of a way to escape. The pain from losing his wings faded and ways of regenerating them were nonexistent. Changeling wings, once sliced, cannot be regenerated. 
As it lay down by the cold prison wall, a voice echoed through his head.

“My minion, my child, do not lie down in pain.” The voice of his Queen made him raise up.
“Your time of freedom has arrived.”  these were the only words spoken by her towards the rustled changeling, nothing was heard from that moment. An earthquake shook the citadel with a powerful force. A metallic crack was heard and with a swift movement, a metal bar snapped from the prison doors and stabbed the wall behind the changeling.

C85 stood wondering of what happened, he stopped in place after a violent growl startled all the wardens of the citadel.
“THE CERBERUS! WHAT IS GOING ON!? WHERE DID IT GO!?” one of the warden shouted, galloping past C85’s cell. The changeling knew this was a moment for escape, he approached the metallic door and inspected its lock. It was heavily damaged by the earthquake, the only thing the changeling had to do, was to channel enough force to break open the door.

It stepped back and pointed its horn at the padlock, he struggled and a small sphere shown up at the tip of his horn. The power was immense and already the changeling got exhausted, after a few minutes of struggling, he blasted away a powerful ray that caused the padlock to blow up and send the metallic door slamming onto the other wall.

“What was that!? Check up there!” one of the wardens heard the blast. The changeling knew that is he ran away it would get spotted and captured again then came up with an idea. He used his racial abilities and turned into one of the wardens, he threw itself at the ground and waited for the best.
The warden arrived and leaned over the disguised changeling. “What the buck happened to you.”

“T-The c-changeling... E-Escaped. It went t-to the sewers....” said C85 trying to mimic one of the guards in pain.

With no word of reply, the warden left, offering a spot for the changeling to leave but it cannot turn back and run away, he had no wings to fly and sneaking out is the best solution.
C85 walked out the prison cell and ran through the hallways straight into the main hall, there, wardens looked everywhere for him. none suspected that C85 was right amongst them, so he trotted past by them but was stopped by a guard right at the exit.

“You! Where is your helmet?” asked him, giving a sharp look in C85’s eyes.

“Umm... I dropped it at the earthquake...” explained the fake guard.

“Return back to the armory and get one, soldier!” shouted the guard.

C85 quickly turned around and ran back inside the citadel, he had no idea where the armory was, he wandered around aimlessly through the halls. In his way, a warden was approaching.
“Hey, wa-... I mean. Where can I find the armory? I forgot.” asked C85, the warden stopped and pointed at an opposite hallway.

“Go through there and take a right, next time learn your way.” spoke the warden as immediately left. C85 followed his indications then walked inside the armory. Inside there were 3 more guards gearing up. One of them noticed him and shouted. “HEY! Blindspear! Come here! We need to tell you something.” C85 approached nervously and listened closely.

“I just heard that the General is going to get married with Princess Mi amore Cadenza!” spoke the guard. The other guards were amazed and talked different replies to that rumor. C85 knew that if he wanted to return to the Hive, he had to offer to his Queen something she would want. This marriage could prove useful.

“When is it going to be?” asked C85 known as Blindspear.

“In three months! We were ordered to move in Canterlot until then.” said the guard.

That was all that he needed, C85 could now earn his queens trust again and return back to the Hive. He took a random helmet from near a chest and went for the exit of the armory. Behind him, a guard spoke up. “Hey, where is your tail? Did you cut it off?”

C85’s disguise was running out, he had to get out before he was noticed. He ran through the hallways and past any warden patrolling and went straight for the exit, the main gate entrance was opened and C85 ran through to his freedom. “Careful out the--” one of the guards tried to warn it but stopped after C85 dashed past him.

C85 was now free, he stepped outside from the citadel, the only thing he had to do is to pass the citadel walls and to set route to the Hive. In his way he noticed in the distance a purple mare that was followed by the Cerebus that ran away an hour ago. The two stopped at the entrance and were greeted by a couple of wardens. A perfect distraction for C85 to sneak out, he passed by the wardens then the Cerberus and ran straight into the forest. 

Freedom was achieved, C85 was running away from Tartarus citadel as fast as it could, it even shaped back into a changeling form and ran until he exited the regions bounds. He found itself in Equestria, land of friendship and prosperity, the land where ponies live.

> Chapter 3 : The town known as Ponyville.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hours passed while C85 ran through the thick forest known as the Everfree Forest. After a while, C85 found itself at a high cliff side.
By now the guards would have already forgotten about it, but C85 did not take any chances of slowing down, it had to hide and return to the Hive.

It was a cold morning, the sky was covered in dark grey clouds and partially frozen dew covered the leafs. The ground was covered in snow, this showing that it was winter.
As C85 gazed below over the valley, it notices a smoke in the distance, it was a train that was stopped by the thick snow that was covering the tracks, that could give him a free ticket north.

Although, the fall from the cliff was big, a daredevil jump might cost its life for nothing. C85 needed another way to get down but idea struck. Since his wings are chopped off and no chance of using wings, its magic would be its best weapon. It lights up its magic and surrounds itself with it the proceeds into lifting off the ground. It was a full success, he could control itself well and continued its way down towards the valley.
Simply ‘flying’ to the hive would mean waste of energy, instead, walking the way there might be easier, or not...

C85 approached behind the train and hid inside the piles of knocked away slow, behind them,  he sneaked all the way to the main engine. In front of the train, two earth ponies plucked the slow out of the way, clearing a path for the train. C85 knew that if it wanted to get on and ride north, it had to put on a disguise. As C85 walked to the back of the train, it looked inside each cabinet, in look for a shape to take. Most of the ponies were asleep, enjoying the warmth while others chattered or read books.
Once at the back of the train, C85 noticed a unicorn that came outside the last compartment. The stallion was dressed well, this indicated that he was the ticket checker. This was the perfect way to sneak past everypony and to make its way to the north with ease.

“Ugh... I hate winter mornings.” spoke the stallion, sighing annoyed. C85 sneaked on the metal platform and waited patiently. At that precise moment, the train began to move. 
The stallion turned around and wanted to get back inside but he was tackled by C85 and pushed off the train, causing him to crash into the cold tracks.

“WHAT THE--!?” yelled the stallion but it was too late for him, the train already left and it was too far away for him to catch it. C85 channeled its powers and shape shifted into him but with no clothes on, he walked inside and entered the cabinet where he stayed.

- - - - ~ Hours later. ~ - - - -

Enjoying the comfort of a normal pony, the train stopped at a station. C85 looked out the fogged window and wiped it. He noticed a gate with the name “Ponyville”.

C85 had no business there, he had leave the town immediately but the train was stopped in for the night, lucky, C85 was enough patient to stay in town to find out in which part it would go to reach its hive.
The dark clouds dispersed and sunlight broke through, shining up the white snow and bringing a faint warmth over the lovely town.

C85 exited the train and went straight into town, once there, he noticed different ponies covered in scarves and caps and had saddles on their backs. They were enjoying the sunny day but since The changeling does not feel warm or cold temperatures, he felt awkward showing itself in the crowd uncovered. As it wandered around the small town it came past a clothing shop, as it looked inside the large window he noticed the same outfits as the other ponies had.

As he progressed through the town, he took a glimpse at the locals around, every race, color and mane style where all around. Our changeling was apart of them, he was safe from any curious eyes. He continued his progression until a distant voice was calling for him.

“Spiffy! Oh Spiffy~” a voice of a mare made C85 twitch his ear. Due to the advance disguise function, he responded to the call and turned around, suddenly he was grabbed in a hug by the mare.

“Where you’re going, handsome~?” she asked in a lovingly tone, beginning to kiss “Spiffy” along his neck and cheeks. The changeling immediately felt the love aura around her and he silently began to feast on it without her realising.

“Nothing much?” C85 replied with the voice of her lover, hugging her back gently, gripping her prey.

“Wanna’ go back home and have ‘fun’ under the mistletoe~?” she suggested, playing her tongue on his neck. C85 stood and realised that his disguise won’t last long and his mission to return was still active.

“I will come soon, I need to do something first.” he replied, trying to lie his way out. The mare giggled and nodded.

“Alright, come fast~” she replied, turning around to leave, brushing her tail against C85’s disguised chin. He did felt regret for denying but the amount of strong love she left for him was enough to push him into continuing his road.

Through the snowy town, he came across a newspaper relating the following title : “Badlands, one place to avoid!”
Soon after, the changeling reminded the hive’s location and rushed in back to the train station, next destination, Badlands territory.

At the train station, C85 waited patiently, still holding the form on the tossed stallion from the last train he arrived in Ponyville, he notices the train leaving and walked to it but another yell was pointed at it.

“FAKER! STOP!” the voice was of the male abandoned on the tracks, the locals on the platform watched in shock as two of the same stood in front of each other. C85 did not attempt to charge into the male but dashing straight into the leaving train, through the run, the male chased him and gripped it’s scarf, causing it to lose some speed and get more far from the train, it jumped and turned back into it’s changeling form and struck down a beam at the stallion’s hooves, forcing him to panic and trip. 

Taking opportunity of his stop, C85 used his teleportation magic and vanished inside the leaving train.