//------------------------------//
// Chapter 1 : C85 
// Story: Dawn of the Changelings 
// by alexandru1208 
//------------------------------//

- 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 -