Chapter 5- Black and White
Thankfully, the changelings had decided not to follow us. One thing’s for sure: my feet were not used to this much walking. Even with the energy crystals, they were sore. But, I made no complaints. I was with Cynder for the long haul, no matter how much trudging we'd have to do.
Luckily, our next stop would be a city named Amalga. Just as well; I was already tired of the woods. The forest began to thin as we continued our march. The sun was setting, and we'd have to make camp soon.
"Looks like we'll spend another night beneath the stars," said Cynder.
"Actually, if we go another few miles, there's a city ahead. We might be able to get a bed instead of sleeping on the ground," I suggested, though I wasn't sure how open she'd be to the idea, since she only had a limited number of bits.
"Hm... I guess we can see about a room." She looked into her bag, counting our funds. "How many of these does a room usually cost?"
"Couldn't tell ya. I've never been to Amalga before." That part was true, at least. I've never actually been outside Equestria, except for that time I went to the dragon territories. I guess I overestimated my usefulness as a guide a little bit... but we're here now, and there's no going back! Until I get Cynder that crystal she's looking for. Then I guess I'll have to go back... and face a really, really upset Twilight.
No time to think about that now! We kept on through the edge of the woods until we came to a dirt road. The signposts at the intersection pointed out Amalga was east, so that's the direction we headed. Not long after, the edge of the city limits appeared between the trees.
I've read about a lot of places outside Equestria, places where a bunch of different races all mix together, mostly getting along. Then again, there's crime in any city. As we started passing shops, most of the citizens eyed us with suspicion. It was upon arriving here that I realized my kind were still not exactly welcome in some places. As wrong as this is going to sound, I can kind of understand why. Once we become adults, we aren't really that social. I mean, when I tried to start my hoard early, all I cared about was increasing it. It took Rarity getting all emotional on me to finally snap me out of it. Maybe there was a reason I'd never left Equestria. There, I was: Spike, assistant to the Element of Magic, Twilight Sparkle. But here, I was just some dragon. Just like Cynder.
"I guess dragons aren't as common around here as they were back in... Ponyville, was it?" she asked.
"Yeah, I think you're right," I replied. Ponies, griffons, zebra... any and all species avoided us like we had some kind of disease. If there was a crowd, they'd disperse to let us through. If there was a conversation going on, it'd stop until we’d passed. I'd never known what it was like to feel different until then. Thank Celestia we had our own food supply. I'd hate to try and get something to eat in a town full of bigots. Unfortunately for us, the weird looks weren't all that we'd have to endure.
After getting into the town proper, I noticed a hotel on the side of the street. It wasn't Canterlot castle or anything, but it was better than the hard ground any day. I tapped Cynder's shoulder and we walked toward the front steps. From the outside, the Hotel Laureate looked like it would be a good place to spend a night. But once we got inside, we got the same treatment we'd received while entering town. Everyone in the lobby stared at us in either fear or disgust, and every conversation stopped as soon as we walked in. This was getting old, and I had half a mind to tell these bigoted jerks off, but I didn't want to cause trouble if I could help it. I just wanted to rest on something soft.
We approached the front desk, and the griffon behind it met me with a grimace. It was the kind of face you make when you catch a whiff of the dumpster outside Donut Joe's after he throws out his expired cream-cheese filled crullers. I should have known then to turn and leave, but I decided to give him the benefit of the doubt. "Got any rooms for one night?" I was polite. I was downright personable to this guy, who I knew had already judged me before I even spoke to him. The look on his face after I spoke suggested he was shocked I didn't just roast him alive right there. In retrospect, I should have.
"Not for the likes of you. This is a fur or feathers only establishment," he sneered. "If you want, you can try the Amalga Inn down the road. They take all kinds." I so wanted to burn down this entire building. But as gratifying as that would have been, I don't think Twilight would condone property damage, no matter how justified I thought it was. Plus, it'd be a lot harder to get Cynder her crystal if we were locked up. Again.
Resisting the urge to light his stupid, pointy mustache on fire, Cynder and I left without another word. I couldn't believe any creature could be such an... asshole! For lack of a better word. I guess the world outside Equestria was a lot different. Amalga was situated in unincorporated territory, making it an independent city-state. If enough citizens decided it was okay to hate dragons, then that's what they did. No ruler or monarch to tell them how wrong it was, or force them to think differently.
Cynder followed me silently. I figured she'd want to know what just happened, but my sour mood probably wasn't lost on her. She held her tongue until we reached where that snobby jerk told us we could actually rent a room. Like our bits weren't as good as a ponies or griffons or... sorry, I'm ranting a bit. Anyway, to say this place was rundown would be a massive understatement. I wasn't even sure the building was safe to occupy! The tilted sign read: Amalga Inn in fading white letters. If it was all we were going to get, we'd take it. The sooner we left this town, the better.
The lobby of this place was a world away from the one we'd just come from. Instead of normal-looking furniture, shabby tables and mismatched chairs were scattered throughout the room. A small front desk with a old donkey asleep behind it seemed to be the only thing in use. I walked up to the desk and rang the bell. The attendant jumped to life, nearly falling out of his chair.
"What the hell's all that racket?" he demanded, before looking down at us. "Ah. Two little dragons expelled from th' dragon kingdom, eh?" I wasn't sure what he meant by 'expelled from the dragon kingdom'. As far as I knew, there was no such thing. But I dismissed his ramblings and got to the point.
"You got a room for the night?"
"Oh, aye," he replied, standing from his seat and retrieving a quill from beside him. He brushed the guest book off with a hoof; a layer of dust floated down onto the floor. Looks like we were the first customers they've had in awhile. I could see why. "It's seven bits fer a standard room, 'n ten fer a dee-luxe 'un." I looked to Cynder.
"How many bits do we have?"
"I stopped counting after fifty," she whispered. I figured an extra three bits wasn't much for an upgraded room. If the lobby was any indication, we'd probably be better off.
"We'll take the ten bit room." Cynder set ten bits on the desk.
"Very well, lad. If I find any scorch-marks, I'm chargin' a fee!" he warned. He slid us an old, worn out key with the room number scrawled onto it. "First floor, second door on th' right."
I thought it was weird he specified what floor, because there seemed to be only one. We walked down the musty carpet to our room. The key barely fit in the lock, and I was afraid I would break the darn thing off if I tried to turn it any harder. Finally, the lock gave way, and the door swung open with a creak. If this was the deluxe room, I'd hate to see the standard. Everything, and I mean everything was coated in a layer of dust, like no one had been in this room in years. There was only one bed, and the sheets were a moldy, green color. I was hoping that was the color they were made, and not the color they'd become.
The only upside to this room not being used in years was that the bathroom was relatively clean. Useable, at the very least. Cynder and I walked in and shut the door. An old armchair sat in the corner, next to a lamp which—surprise, surprise!—didn't work.
I sat on the lumpy chair and Cynder set a careful claw on the bed. After testing it, she climbed on, curling her tail around her and looking at me. "It's better than the ground." I nodded. I suppose just about anything would be. "So, why wouldn't that bird-thing let us stay at that other place?" I guess they didn't have hotels where she was from, either. Or racism. That must be nice.
"Because we're dragons." No use beating around the bush. She let out a disappointed “oh”.
"Are those things the enemies of our kind?" It must be easy to live, where she's from. Everything seemed so black and white.
"Not exactly. Most griffons are nice, hardworking creatures. But any species can hate another for any reason," I explained. "Does everyone accept dragons where you're from?"
"Well, we are the most powerful. No creatures would dare challenge us without strong magic, or a vast army." Apparently, our kind ran the show back in her realm. "Are the dragons here persecuted?" I could see a genuine curiosity in her eyes. A caring for those who identified themselves as dragons, whether they were from her realm or not. It was actually pretty refreshing, considering what we'd just been through.
"I don't think so. I mean, once we grow up, only unicorns could stand a chance against one of us." I paused, remembering Twilight would probably be the only pony besides the Princesses that could possibly stop an angry, adult dragon. "But we usually keep to ourselves once we're fully grown."
"Then... why were we turned away from the building before this one?" she asked.
"Just because we're fierce doesn't mean everyone has to like us. Especially a younger dragon and a small, female dragon. No offense." She nodded.
"The beast of burden that sold us this room mentioned a dragon kingdom. Have you ever been there?" She was certainly full of questions today.
"Nope. I didn't even know it existed, but he's the only one I've ever heard mention it, so he could just be crazy," I answered.
Orange light shone through the curtains, so I figured it was about time to get some sleep if we wanted to get a move on early the next morning. I made myself comfortable on the chair before Cynder objected.
"What are you doing over there?"
"I don't mind letting you have the bed. You paid for the room, after all."
She waved a claw. "Nonsense, this bed is easily big enough for both of us." She slid over to one side, beckoning me with her tail. "If we're truly in this together, then our resources must be pooled. This is to include beds."
Well, I couldn't argue with that logic. Plus, this chair was smaller than my basket, so I'd probably wake up with a nasty crick in my neck if I tried to sleep on it. This was the second night I'd spent in the company of another dragon, and I had to say, I didn't miss my basket. I didn't miss it too much, anyway.
"That's what this black gunk is?" Rainbow asked, rubbing a leaf with a hoof to examine the substance.
"Yes, dragons leave trace elements when they use one of their abilities," Blackfang replied. "I have no way of knowing what she attacked, but I doubt it was your friend."
Their tracking ape signaled for them to follow him deeper into the woods. Rarity held in her normal complaints, reminding herself that this journey, this mud, and the bugs constantly harassing her had to be endured for Spike's sake. She knew he'd do all that and more for her, and she was determined to return the favor. Rainbow hovered along behind her, getting close to Rarity and voicing her distrust of their guide.
"I still don't trust this guy, Rare," she whispered.
"Come now, he's helping us rescue Spike. Whatever quarrel he has with Cynder is none of our business," she replied. "Cynder's true intentions notwithstanding, he's leading us to Spike, and that's all that matters."
"But what if it turns out we're following the evil one? Like in Daring Do and the Shining Path?"
Rarity rolled her eyes. "Honestly, Rainbow Dash, not every situation is relatable to a foal's novel."
"It is not a foal's novel!" Rainbow snapped.
"Something the matter, girls?" Twilight and Blackfang had stopped, noticing the argument.
"No, let's just keep going," Dash answered for both of them.
The continued trek through the woods soon revealed Cynder's old camp. A fire pit and animal bones littered the ground. Rarity gasped and Rainbow cringed in disgust. Twilight's breath caught in her throat, but only briefly, as she realized the bones were much too small and frail to belong to a dragon.
"We're on the right path," Blackfang said confidently. "They made haste from this camp. It appears they headed north."
Twilight gulped. "That's not good."
Blackfang raised an eyebrow. "Why is that 'not good'?"
"North of here are the Hivelands. The heart of the changeling kingdom," she muttered. Not much was known about the changelings, other than their shape shifting abilities and their hunger for the love of sentient beings. Many unexplained disappearances at towns near the border were often blamed on the changelings. To be captured was to be imprisoned until death, having the love and longing to return to your family feasted upon by the hive until death.
"And what, pray tell, are changelings?"
"Vile creatures, no more fit to walk the earth than their filthy queen, Chrysalis," Rarity spat.
"Regardless of our personal opinions, they number in the millions, and are not afraid to kill or enslave anypony foolish enough to venture into their territory without an army," Twilight explained.
Blackfang nodded, exhaling sharply as he came to a very grim realization. "I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it appears both Cynder and your friend Spike entered the Hivelands."
All three ponies gulped. Silence settled over them like the constant fog over the cursed lands of the changelings. "Well then, we will follow them in!" Rarity demanded, stepping forward.
Blackfang nodded. "In the face of overwhelming odds, you willingly step into danger. I must admit, for a race that seems to know nothing of the horrors of war, I admire your courage."
Twilight and Rainbow joined her, inspired by their normally squeamish friend's resolve. "Let's kick some changeling carapace!" Twilight shouted.
Blackfang drew his sword from the scabbard beneath his cape. "Yes. It has been far too long since I've tasted combat."
The foursome faced northward, and began their trek, soon disappearing into the disorienting fog of the Hivelands.
The haze of the Hivelands surrounded them, the ape's finely tuned sense of smell serving as their only guide. Rarity and Rainbow Dash balked at the alien landscape they crossed. The feeling beneath their hooves alone was enough to make them uncomfortable. Coupled with the spires, incubation sacs and overall strangeness of Queen Chrysalis' realm, Rarity found herself wishing she'd been born a pegasus.
Twilight, however, was unfazed by the peculiarity of the landscape, having studied the enemies of Equestria thoroughly. Though she knew what to expect, it made it no less unsettling.
As they followed their guide, he suddenly stopped, seemingly for no reason. "Her scent..." he whispered. "It ends here."
Rainbow fluttered to the front of the group. "Whadya mean it 'ends here'?"
Blackfang sniffed the air carefully. "I'm sure if it..." As the words left his lips, they heard a faint humming that grew louder, as the beats of a thousand insect wings drew nearer with each passing second. Twilight looked around frantically. There was no place to hide!
Before she could even muster a cry of panic, a shifting black cloud appeared out of the fog, surrounding the hapless ponies and their warrior guide. Blackfang kept his sword close, unsure if the steel of his world would even affect creatures in this one. Within moments, the changelings landed, a larger one stepping out from the crowd of thousands of Chrysalis' swarm.
"Ah, two groups of wanderers in one day," he hissed. "You will make an excellent gift to our Queen." Stowing her fear as the group backed against each other, Twilight picked up on the changeling leader's choice of words.
"What do you mean, 'two groups'?"
He grimaced, as though she had just rendered an insult. "The dragons escaped, but I assure you, you will not share their fortune."
Twilight couldn't help but smile. "Spike escaped!"
"Yeah, I'm stoked about that and all, but what about us?" Rainbow asked with a lump in her throat. A group of changelings was one thing, but fighting the entire hive, on their turf? She may be confident, but she knew when she was outnumbered.
"Stay behind me," Blackfang growled, eying the approaching Changelings warily. A distant part of him was pleased that they eyed him and his sword with similar wariness, but he shut it out.
There was no room for those kind of thought in battle.
One of the Changelings closest to him suddenly hissed and lunged with blinding speed.
Blackfang smoothly transferred his weight forward and cut upwards, in a blow that would have cleanly bifurcated the insectoid being – but it leapt back, out of range. Just testing the waters, it seemed.
Every muscle tensed as he heard a high-pitched shriek from behind him. He jerked his head around, scowling at a trio of Changelings that were advancing from the rear. Not a test, but a distraction.
The Changeling closest to Rarity bared its fangs and leapt forward. With a single smooth stride, Blackfang stepped into its path, sword sweeping out in a two-handed blow, but then he caught a glimpse of Twilight's face.
She was staring at him, and his sword, with near abject horror. This was one that had never killed, or seen something killed, he realized. These creatures had not beared witness to the horrors of war. And so an instant before contact, he twisted the blade, catching the Changeling with the flat instead of the deadly edge. A blow that would have sheared the Changeling's head off instead simply knocked it to the side, cracking the carapace.
Twilight charged her teleportation spell. "Put a hoof on me, now!" she commanded. Rarity, Dash and Blackfang each realizing her escape plan and hurriedly followed orders.
A torrent of purple energy engulfed them, and they disappeared in a flash.
Once the light receded, nothing remained but a blackened scorch mark. The lead changeling stepped forward, prodding the space previously occupied by their potential slaves with his horn. "Impossible!" he snapped.
In an instant, the group reappeared outside changeling territory, near where they had first entered. Twilight wiped the sweat from her brow. Teleporting that many beings at once never seemed to get any easier. "Everypony still have all their limbs?" she asked, catching her breath.
Blackfang sheathed his sword. "I must say, that is quite a useful spell," he admitted.
"Ancient spells can have modern day applications." She smiled. "Well, now that we're out of that mess, where do you think Spike and Cynder went?"
"Unfortunately, I lost their scent in the Hivelands, but if they've escaped, then they have more than likely continued their journey to the mountains.” Twilight retrieved the map from her saddlebag, following Spike's most likely route. "They've probably stopped for resupply at Amalga, just outside of changeling territory," she reasoned. "We can take this road through the old growth forest. It shouldn't add more than half a day to our trek." Blackfang and Rainbow Dash looked at the route Twilight had traced.
"Then let us be on. The more time we waste, the less likely we are to get your friend Spike back alive."