Glassclaw looked over the field ahead of him, the workers toiling in the sun for food and pay as they cultivated crops. His eyes drifted around to the edge of the clearing, where changelings worked to fortify and built a nest for living. All around those he was above moved about in purpose, while he simply waited for news of his friend and her quest. Beside him, the general of the changelings watched the work with more detail on their actions.
His three horns curved upward, the shell of his armor a rusted gold color. Despite this, his eyes were a deep green, gleaming with the young life of one who enjoyed their job above anything. As they watched, a pegasi flew in from the direction of the front gate, hastily bowing on the ground and pulling the letter for them.
"Message from the solar kingdom to the crystal kings general." The dragon took the letter from it, the pegasi hastily flying back over the gates. He looked over the note, a frown forming as he did.
"It seems that my little mission has turned into more then just a grab and go." He crumbled the letter up, placing it into a slot on his armor. The changeling general approached and stared up at him.
"The sun queen has informed me that the moon queen has begun to march her forces towards the sun kingdom. She asks for passage around our city to hit the city from the back. This may compromise the integrity of the city, and the mission I had planned." Glassclaw rubbed his chin, the pupil in his eyes reflecting the thought he had for the situation. With a nod, he turned to the changeling general.
"I need you to organize three sets of changeling squads to travel across the world. The locations will be given when they've been gathered, now go." The changeling bowed, then flew off towards the hive, relaying the orders.
"A war between the sisters may be just what the plan needs to succeed. I just need Maria to stay safe and get the moon kingdoms element." He got up from the spot, gliding down to the area of the changelings hive.
Maria rode on the carrage top, running a claw through her head as they rode. The others down below couldn't be heard in the rumble of the road, but she wondered what they thought of the new ordeal. The coach pony watched ahead, only giving small glances to the griffion in thought.
So many elements have been added to their ordeal. She didn't think it would be easy, but bringing the others into a possible warzone? Not to mention, the elements outside of the three kingdoms will be in more primal lands, unfit for something as simple as a carrage. What to do with the elements bounced in her mind like the wheels of the carrage.
The war itself would also lead to more chaos then already existed in the kingdoms. To think, a dragon attacking the moon queen and just leaving? Even with chaos being manifested in the area, a direct assault seemed too straight for someone who loved the other in simpler times.
Then their was what the sun queen mentioned. Even if they gathered the elements, the possibility of finding three other ponies to use them against the crystal king seemed even less likely then finishing the quest to get them. She pushed the thought to the back of her head, instead trying to find a way to enter and aquire the next element of harmony.
Pupter landed near the edge of the mountain side, his large claws digging to the fresh snow that fell over it. Marinette and hornet leaped from his back to the snow, the dragon giving a quick sweep of the area. Finding a cave nearby, he made his way to it, the other two trudging through the snow in his footsteps.
The dragon had to crawl to get into the cave, the other two stepping in shortly after. He took off the mask, replacing it with the green mask he had used previously. A blast of purple flame dried off the two as pupter returned to the small fox form, with Marinette going to his side and hugging him.
"Ahh, to feel power again. It is quite a rush." Hornet brushed some droplets of water from his shell, stepping deeper into the cave.
"If it is so powerful, can we now go and retrieve my clan from the crystal king?" The fox chuckled, shaking his head before placing the mask back into his bag.
"It can still be removed with a simple levitation spell. I need to get all of my powers back before engaging in that kind of a fight." He quickly removed and replaced the mask he wore to show this, with hornet looking away a bit sad from it.
"This doesn't mean we aren't close. In fact, deep in this mountain is a mask, so we will rest here for awhile to be able to get it. Your tribe will be rescued in time." The changeling sat away from them, staring out to the snowstorm that blew outside of the cave. Pupter began to gather stones in the cave while Marinette stood beside him.
The changeling gave a strange look to the unicorm, her scarred face seeming more beautiful in the wind that blew into the cave. He felt her energy coming into him, stepping back for fear he was taking her love by accident. She returned to his side, the energy still coming off her as if intended.
"Uhh Marinette? Are you feeling ok? I seem to be feeling a bit off from you." The unicorn stepped forward to look in his face.
And what's the problem?
"It's just, I don't want to take any of your energy while the elements and such are around us. You'll need your strength if we plan to continue."
I don't understand, we haven't fed yet. But if you need energy, I'll gladly give it to you.
"That can't be right. I've been feeling your energy come into me since we came here. Surely you must be doing something." The unicorn shook her head, assuring him of what she said. Before they could continue, a small blast of light got the attention of the two. Pupter had started a magic flame, glowing blue and bright. The two approach the flame, the fox opening a box of treats and food brought from the city and royal fridge.
"Glad you choose these instead of the milk and such. Even with the cold, they wouldn't have been good." He handed Marinette a hayburger she had gotten from the town, eating it at a mild pace as the other two watched.
"Aren't you going to eat? Her love is enough fuel for me, but I don't think you can stand without it."
"I can hunt for my own stuff now that I have my dragon mask. I will return to the den as soon as I finish." He stepped over the fire, placing his green mask by the fire and putting on the black one. He leapt from the cave as soon as he had grown wings.
The two sat in silence, the roar of the wind and the crackling fire adding any noise to the den. Marinette reached to tap hornet on his shoulder, startling the bug as she conversed.
Now that we're alone, I feel I need to tell you something about us here.
"And what's that?"
I've been getting attached to you as we traveled. I hope you'll understand that it isn't about feeding. I actually haven't had many friends or family after my original died. The changeling frowned at this, looking out to the snow as the fire crackled.
"Honestly, I don't really mind that. More food is always a pleasure to have. But it may not be healthy to get too attached. After all, I'm only here till he can recover my horde, so when it happens I hope you aren't too broken." He laid down on the floor, quickly falling asleep while Marinette watched the cave, a tear freezing to her cheek as she waited.
Glassclaw stood on the edge of the wall, looking over the field that stood before him. Beside him, a shadow fork of the crystal king observing beside him. The dragon pulled out a small letter, reading over the contents as he observed the traveling troops before them.
The sun queens army had arrived before the normal Dawn, the radiance of her presence giving her away from over a mile away. The crystal king had ordered Glassclaw to meet a messager from the army, who had arrived to both confirm safe travel and offer counts to showcase the troop.
The dragon had to squint to observe most of the army, the golden plating of their armor reflecting the queen's radiance and obscuring some of the queens troops. It was mostly unicorns, with a flying Calvary of pegasi bearing sun banners and shields. A large chariot carried the queen through the sky, leaving a trail of flames as they passed.
"The walls will keep a good number of the main company secure, but the slaves at least can be remade."
"Do you expect an attack?"
"I don't take a chance as to not have it happen. The queen is clearly corrupt as the lunar one, so I must take precautions for it." The silouette motioned to a set of changelings which hovered over the walls and city.
"Sir, the queen could care less for the slaves. This corruption has made her blind to all but her own gain. It is why getting you to rule over all the land will be a solution to this crime." The silouette frowned, gazing out as the troops continued their trek.
Pupter tapped on Marinette, waking her from the sleep she had been in. The unicorn looked to him curious, with hornet still asleep by the remains of the fire.
"It's time for us to head out. The presence of the mask makes me want to move now." The girl rubbed her eyes, the time having slipped away as she slept. The zebra nudged hornet awake, and after clearing away the fire pit, walked deeper into the cave.
Marinette lit up her horn, forming it into a glowing ball as she flew it ahead to scout the cave. The warm interior howled from the storms outside, with only an occasional drip of the snow falling as water from the stalagtites. The cave system inside was rough, yet seemed lived in, as if some large creature roamed through it, breaking rocks as it went.
"How could someone have one of your masks inside of this place? I've never seen mountain dwelling ponies or griffions that dig like this."
"You're right. It isn't a someone. It's a something." Hornet didn't say anything more, not wanting to know what kind of thought the chaos creature was thinking.