Thorax smashed his head against the great barrier that stood between him, and the goal of his Queen's lust. The great city of Canterlot shone like a pearly white shell on the beaded necklace that was Equestria, and he could already feel the love oozing from it: giving him a taste of what was to come.
He banged his whole body into the shield this time, in synchrony with several other Changelings: making the network of cracks bigger with each strike. The wider the cracks, the more love seeped through: and the more his instincts took charge. His tongue lashed out of his mouth and provoked a sharp hiss as he and his fellows gave one final smack to the safeguard: prompting it to shatter completely.
Finally, the whole sphere cracked and chafed itself into oblivion, and set the great buffet of love that was Canterlot before them on a silver platter.
Thorax was the first one to charge in, and light his shield for impact. The others quickly followed suit, assuming he had seen the Queen's signal before them.
His shield protected him as he crashed into a building, but it broke on the impact, and left him helpless as he flew into the opposite wall by the floor. He broke through the wood and concrete, and plummeted to the ground in an unconscious heap.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
He stirred, and felt his head ache with a dull pain as he struggled to lift his head. He saw he had landed in a small alleyway, near the back. He heard a scream from above him, and looked up to see that his crash had trapped a thin, white Unicorn mare with a pink mane, who was now cringing back into the alley while staring directly at him.
He could feel the great amount of love coming off of this pony, but he could also feel something else: fear. He looked again at the mare whom he had entrapped, and the look of terror on the pony's face redoubled. It hurt him to have a pony at his mercy, and to see such a beautiful example of their race in such utter terror. He shook his head, resolved himself, and glared at the mare as screams echoed through the city.
Before his victim could react, in one swift movement: Thorax had dove onto her, and took his prey into the air. The poor mare kicked and screamed as the Changeling sped through the streets, before dumping her into a pile of rubble, and placing his leathery hoof over her mouth.
"Shut it, you stupid fool!" He hissed quietly, taking the form of a stone in order to hide her from the sight of a passing swarm. The mare obeyed instantly, and quieted down: not wanting to anger her captor.
When the swarm passed, he morphed back into his normal self, standing sentry protectively over the terrified mare. She looked up at him as he did so, expecting him to instantly turn to devour her as soon as the coast was clear.
To her surprise, he left her there with a stern order to remain hidden as he patrolled the area. While he was gone, she heard a pebble rattle down the pile above her, and watched with baited breath as it fell over the opening. She could hear a violent hiss as another Changeling lowered its head into her view: bearing its teeth, and licking its lips at the sight of her.
She froze as the creature flipped itself over, blocking her exit by standing in the entrance, and flaring its wings. She backpedaled as the monster stalked forth, inching closer with each calculating step.
As soon as it had guaranteed its success, it lunged forth to drink from its prey. The mare closed her eyes with a scream of terror as she waited for the snakelike strike from those great fangs.
She waited for a second, but no blow came. Instead, she heard a frenzy of hissing outside the tunnel: and pained shrieks from two creatures. She opened her eyes to see something she'd never expected to see...
Thorax had looked back in time to see the other Changeling enter the tunnel, and dove back at full speed. He had grabbed the beast by its tail as soon as it lunged, and flung it outside, where he then dove on top of it in a rage.
Now, he was locked in combat with it: aiming his punches towards the soft spots he knew, and biting the neck.
The pearl mare could only watch in terrified shock as the battle raged on, and froze when one of the beings went limp: bluish-green ooze covering the ground beneath it. The other took its teeth out of the limp one's neck, and spat out the fowl liquid. He turned, and flew up to her.
"Okay, bad hiding spot. We need to get you to a safer location..." It hissed, picking her up and shoving her towards another building. He threw her into an open window. When she clambered to her hooves, Thorax poked his head in, and pointed to a closet nearby.
"Get into that closet, and don't move until somepony comes for you." He ordered sternly. "They've already cleared out this area of town, and they won't come back for hours. But, if I do my job right, you won't have to worry about them returning."
He was about to take off, when the mare took his hoof in her own: holding him back. When he turned to give her a confused look, he saw a mix of bafflement and realization pass across her features, before she gave him a quick peck on the cheek.
"Thank you, whoever you are." She said softly. This thing, this creature that was the same in form as the monsters destroying her city, had just saved her life, in spite of its instincts. Looking out to the disarray of her fair city, she asked one more question.
"Are you with the resistance?"
He gave her a puzzled look: "What resistance?"
She gave a sheepish look, and shrugged. "I just thought, whenever a large army attacks, there's always some underground resistance that had prepared for it... so..."
It was Thorax's turn to observe the unfolding of the city's Armageddon. After a brief silence, he spotted a group of six ponies that were being pursued be a large section of the army. He turned back to her, and smiled ruefully.
"I'm not with the resistance..." he sighed, preparing to take to the air.
"I'm afraid I am the resistance."
He sped off once more, heading to the top of the tallest tower. It wasn't long before he had caught up with the six mares, and was about to warn them. Before he could, however, hundreds of others had joined him, and he was forced to try and blend in with the others.
He saw the prismatic one charge one of his fellows, only to be kicked back into place by her reflection. The lavender unicorn tried her best to remind seizure-mane of their enemies' true nature, only to have seven of herself repeat her words in a mocking tone.
"Don't let them distract you, we have to get to the Elements of Harmony! They're our only hope..."
With that, the team charged the swarm of disguised ponies, and the world slowed down for Thorax.
He couldn't stand idly by while these ponies defended their rightful homeland, nor could he bring himself to strike such beautiful creatures. A single step was taken on the stone floor as he remembered his time in the hive: train, eat, sleep, hate, repeat. Day in, day out. All he wanted was a friend, all he got was spiteful siblings. Then, a more recent image flashed through his head: a slim, white mare with a flowing pink mane, planting a kiss of thanks on his hard cheek.
Color rushed to his face as fury boiled his heart to the brim, for a steadfast decision was made by him. Not two steps had been taken by the ponies as he leapt into the fray: no Changeling was safe, for this was his final day!
In a swirl of green flame, he had transformed into the form of the rainbow-maned Pegasus, and set his target: a member of his brethren currently in the form of a pink earth pony.
The six didn't notice him as he charged beside them, yelling with all his fury as he ran with his twin. He leapt onto his brother with holy fire in his eyes, and swung without care. He knocked several fellows on their asses, and ran to and fro: kicking off the pursuers of the ponies when they weren't looking. He didn't care how hard he had to fight, these ponies deserved support more than his own kind.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
After what seemed like hours of fighting, and narrowly escaping being captured by his own kind, Thorax raced through the downtown. The ponies were losing, and there was nothing he could do on his own. He was stopped short when he ran directly into a duo of Changelings: both eyeing him with distrust and fury.
"So, Thorax," the first one hissed, "you thought you could betray her majesty, and not suffer for it? Prepare to meet your-- what the?"
He was cut off as a pink telekinetic spell gripped his tail, and whipped him around like lightning. A blue field took hold of the other's neck, holding him in place. Seamlessly, the first one collided with the other, as they both were flung into an unsteady house. Only to have it crumble on top of them immediately.
"Mr. Changeling! Over here!" Sounded a familiar voice. Thorax turned to see the same mare he had spared earlier standing in a window, and waving him towards her location. A slightly taller Unicorn stallion was standing next to her: displaying impatience and mistrust at the sight of the Changeling. Not daring to second-guess their kindness, he ran up and ducked into the window beside them, making sure not to get too close in order to keep them safe from himself.
"You see, Fancy?" The mare said sweetly. "He even recoils from us, we need not fear him."
"Fleur, that's because he just witnessed what we did to two of his kind," The stallion, called Fancy, replied. "I'd doubt he feels safe with us. Still..."
He turned to Thorax as they all ducked further into the wrecked home. "I heard you saved my sister, Changeling. And given that you're not eating us, and were attacked by your own fellows, I'm tempted to believe her."
"Thank you, sir." Thorax said timidly, making sure to always keep his head lower than Fancy's. He extended a hoof gently: "Name's Thorax."
"Charmed, I'm sure..." Fancy grumbled, taking the offered hoof with a firm shake.
"We need to get him to safety, Fancy!" Fleur said urgently, trying to decide between staying back with the creature that saved her life, and scouting for possible refuge.
"I'm sorry, Fleur, but I'm more concerned about getting you to--"
Fancy didn't get to finish as a loud thrumming was heard, and several unconscious changelings were thrown through the roof. A pink flash resonated through the room, and sent Thorax staggering back as his new acquaintances were left unaffected. Fleur looked back at him in concern as Fancy looked out to the castle:
"The shield is restoring itself!" Fancy cried in joy. "We've won!"
Fleur was grinning herself, until the second flash passed: knocking poor Thorax onto his back. Realizing what was about to happen, as the third shield was fast approaching, she ran over to Thorax. She lifted him with telekinesis, and quickly locked lips with him as the final layer of the barrier was approaching.
Thorax was quite surprised by the contact, but he welcomed it soon enough. Fancy had turned back just in time to see what his sister had done: and he gave a noise that was somewhere between a disgusted grunt, and a satisfied chuckle.
As their lips parted, she looked at him with teary eyes: "Come back to me... someday... please." She pleaded, before hurtling him into the sky, where he was soon greeted by the coming spell.
Next thing he knew, he was being flung into the sky, and a mysterious heat welled up in his chest which he was not sure if he liked. Much to his delight, and dismay: the only image he could see was the sorrowful face of the mare after she had kissed him.
Such a conflicting and confusing well of emotions and thoughts soared through him, causing him much worry. What scared him the most was what he initially felt, emotion. Changelings very rarely experience anything other than hate and despair, yet this brand-new, unshakable feeling flew within him as he was catapulted into the icy north, never to set hoof in Canterlot for a long while.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
"Uhh... Thorax?"
The Changeling shook his head, clearing his mind of the painful memory: and looked down to the little dragon that had befriended him. He sheepishly rubbed his foreleg, and looked away.
"I'm so sorry, Spike. What was that?"
Spike, looking rather unamused, crossed his arms and glared at the Changeling. "I said: what exactly happened to you in the Canterlot Raid?"
Thorax became rather evasive, and looked out the palace window. "I'm... not too sure, but one thing's for certain..."
"I never want to think about that again..."