//------------------------------//
// Ch 5 Secret Grotto (rewrite) 
// Story: Enforcing Change 
// by Scootaboom1 
//------------------------------//

Nightlight

I was looking out of the window of the train cart. Moth Ball was taking me to Ponyville to get something that I had requested from Chrysalis.

As we got off the train and made are way through town I saw Pear Butter going into what I could only assume would become Sugar Cube Corner. I already had Celestia begin to keep tabs on the parents of the element bearers.

Eventually we made it to the home of Star Hunter or rather Kevin. He was apparently a great flier and skilled navigator.

When we made it to his home near the Everfree Forest we just walked in. Apparently it was ok for Moth Ball to just walk into his house.

Seeing that he was apparently not home much to Moth Balls' horror I decided to look around. I found a picture of him with Cranky, Steven Magnet, and a few others at what I recognized from pictures as Flash Freeze Lake.

I found a few awards for flying competitions, since he was apparently acting as the the delivery boy between the hive and agents I guess he'd have to be a good flyer.

Moth Ball was getting even more nervous than before and it was no longer fun.

Deciding to do something about it Nightlight asked, "So do you just give the reports here or what?"

Realization lit up on her face after a second.

"Actually there is a secret grotto in the forest and if he is not home there should be a note with instructions," said Moth Ball.

As she began to look at where the note would be Nightlight responded, "I see, it makes sense for my delivery to be there."

Moth Ball returned with a smile on her face and said, "It appears that Kevin has decided to keep guard over the more sensitive items that you requested your lordship.

I shall lead you to the secret grotto your lordship."

As the sun set we made our way into the Everfree Forest and were approaching the grotto I began to notice the signs of a struggle and Moth Ball also seemed to notice.

We began to move through the forest while keeping to the shadows when we noticed an injured dark coated pegasus in a small clearing looking around frantically.

My guess Star Hunter.

Suddenly a chuckle with a hiss echoed throughout the area and the voice it belonged to began to speak, "What'z wrong little pony or should I zay bug. Zose documents you have zeem quite...

...important.

Perhapsz you could hand zem over and I may just let you live."

The heavy accent told me that the speaker was still unfamiliar with ponish.

Suddenly a shadow silently shot across the ground from a bush behind him.

Before it could stab a dagger in his back I put up a shield behind him.

Finally out in the open I saw the attacker was a thin naga with black scales. His expression changed from a wicked grin to one of confusion. As a changeling I could sense the fear from him.

Moth Ball motioned Kevin to her and the naga attempted to get back to the bushes only to find an invisible barrier.

"What?" Exclaimed the naga.

Nightlight chuckled and said, "I set up a barrier to prevent you from running or hiding. As well as any other outside interference.

Now who are you and why do you want what my little changeling has?"

His face warped into one of anger and he shouted, "DAMN YOU!"

In an instant he coiled around me and was bringing the dagger down on my neck.

I heard Moth Ball and Kevin call out to me.

Suddenly the dagger was nocked out of his hand as a spike pierced it like many others around his body where he wrapped around me.

As the spikes receded and he collapsed to the ground because of my sleep spell. as he fell I noticed a tattoo of a red eight headed serpent but three of them were black.

I took out surgical camera tube thing that I had the team Celestia had assigned to attempt to recreate technology from my world and used it to search his insides.

As Moth Ball and Kevin approached Kevin asked, "How did you do that?"

I began taking steps to ensure he would not escape and said, "We changelings possess the limitless power of transformation.

I have experimented on myself in order to give myself new abilities.

The one that you saw me use to fell it was based off of how dragons grow spikes out of their tails for combat.

So, what happened?"

Kevin

Among all the things that I had to deliver, the collection of items that I was charged with now were the strangest.

I mean why would there be a need for a list of every changelings' name like ever.

Once all these items were used they were to be either destroyed or sent back.

I had chosen to wait about half way from the grotto and edge of the forest.

Suddenly a voice called out from the shadows, "Oh what have we zere, a bug?

What are you doing out zere?

Wiz how close you are holding zose bagz, zey must be quiet important.

So I will make zis simple.

Give me the bags and I may let zou live."

I couldn't figure out where to voice was coming from, but I would not let them have the bags.

There was rustling coming from multiple locations.

I tackled something in the nearest rustling pinned a naga, be it could counter attack I stabbed it with a dagger.

In shock at what happened when I did this I exclaimed, "WHAT!"

There was no blood, no flesh, only skin.

Suddenly it hit me with a strong hit from a branch causing me to drop my dagger.

The voice cackled and said, "I am Razor of ze Orochi, and zou are now my prey."

As I tried to escape he continued to attack me with what I could only assume were his copies.

He continued to mock and belittle me as his copies would attack me.

Even if I got a good hit on one it would only work more to his advantage. There weight and appearance were so real but in a moment they would wrap around him and throw him.

Nightlight

I sighed, "Nothing more annoying than an arrogant coward."

Kevin looked confused, "What do you mean?"

Without looking at him I responded, "He attacked with only his clones, but rather than staying far away he waited until he was sure he would be able to finish you himself.

When you were giving me a overview of what happened I cast a spell to control him remotely and found his copies were disabled when I nocked him unconscious.

They were even more impressive than you realized.

Not only did they weigh and look real.

They gave off heat and had vitals.

In fact they could even have emotional auras.

I wonder if I could replicate it?

Hey cocoon the skins and naga for me while I read what I came here for."

Kevin and Moth Ball began to follow my orders as I read through Chrysalis' reply to my message and confirm some entities did exist and others I just made up didn't, and while she was annoyed that I couldn't report to her myself she understood why.

I read through the list of names and saw that Thorax, and Pharynx were not on it.

Eventually we made our way to the grotto. While there were not really that many books in the hive but I managed convince the Queen to loan me some.

I had books on various topics such as changeling magic, history, culture, and language.

We set up a second grotto for storing Razer and his skins so I could perform experiment on him later.

Moth Ball and I soon returned to Canterlot and we made no mention of the naga to Celestia just yet.

Kevin sent a report to Chrysalis about Razer and I searched both the Archives and city library for the symbol.

Eventually I did find it. In the lost Kingdom of the Naga the Orochi were a group of eight warriors who answered only to the ruling monarch. Originally the first members were the king's drinking buddies but the importance of the group grew over time. When a member of the group dies the head that corresponds to them will turn black.

As it turns out their last ruler The King of Poison Bašmu pronounced Bashmu. Turns out he was quite the tyrant eventually his daughter had enough of him and attempted a cue, and with his dieing breathes he cast a spell that caused all nagas to just disappear. Though this all happened over three thousand years ago.

The most recent members of the Orochi were divided amongst each other three sided with the king Razer, Pechrock, and Laticauda. The ones that sided with the Princess Nigricollis were Crotalus Atrox, Cerrejonensis, Cerastes, Atheris Hispida, and Echis Carinatus.

It was unclear where this kingdom was and since I was unsure of which Orochi members were still alive but since I already had Chrysalis keep tabs on the areas around Equestria for signs of Cadence I asked her to tell them to keep an eye out for the naga.