//------------------------------//
// Chapter Sixteen: The Guardians. (The Rear Guard) 
// Story: The Last Changeling War 
// by Coyote de La Mancha 
//------------------------------//

The caverns twisted and turned as they spiraled downward into the heart of Equestria’s tallest mountain, where her greatest treasures lay.
Captain Pedipalp’s eyes narrowed. He and his team had been specially chosen only a few hours ago, their new orders given through the mind speech of the Queen Mother.
Go to the secret place far beneath their great palace, Chrysalis had sent to them. I shall show you the way. There you shall find the makeshift sanctuary they have created for their hatchlings and their infirm. They are guarded by an inept unicorn, and perhaps by a traitor as well.
See that they all die afraid and in pain. And tell them, before they die, that the princesses send their regards.
The psychic map that the Queen Mother had sent to Pedipalp and his fellows had been flawless, but past a certain point it hadn’t been necessary. The old tracks and abandoned mining carts had been guide enough.
Soon, the plentiful crystals and jewels of the abandoned lower mines surrounded the invading Changelings. They crept forward carefully, silently, finding their way along the mirroring facets flightlessly and with minimal light, so as to maintain the element of surprise.
They all knew, far too well, the price of failure.
For it was the stronger will that could harden its heart when called to duty, no matter what the task. And the weaker will was the will that failed, that betrayed. That deserved the punishments that Mother would devise.
For hers was the strongest of all wills. And, thus, hers was oft the hardest of hearts, even as she crushed her children beneath it.
Captain Pedipalp’s mandibles worked anxiously, and he took a moment and willed them to be still. Now was not the time for weakness. He had a mission to complete, he and the drones who followed him, and he would not let them down. Not his fellow soldiers, nor the Hive, nor their queen.
Suddenly, the cavern was awash in a strange blue-green light, momentarily blinding the Changelings even as they expertly rolled for cover. It took only a second or two for Pedipalp’s eyes to adjust to the glare and witness the impossible before them.
The archway that lead to the next-to-last corridor was blocked by a cyan barrier of magic, its shimmering glow the source of the cavern’s light. Yet, it was not the only source of illumination before his team, for there was a unicorn barring their way. Her horn was aglow with the same magical radiance as the barrier behind her, its light gleaming off the golden armor she wore.
To one side of the sorceress was the traitor Pedipalp had been warned of. His eyes were sad but determined, betraying the same weakness that had led him to his ultimate failure years ago. 
To the other side, a nightmare out of legend, its tail lashing in anticipation. A feline body shaped from velvet darkness with a pumpkin head, soulfire crackling hungrily from its carven mouth and eyes. For an instant Pedipalp could only gape, almost-forgotten memories of childhood nightmares swirling at the edges of his mind.
Then, the pony mare spoke, pulling the captain’s attention back to her.
“Remember, Jack,” she said, her eyes still on the Changelings before her. “No killing.”
Throughout the large chamber a small chorus of uncertain hisses arose. After all: unexpected or no, these would-be defenders were outnumbered by over ten to one.
“If I were you,” the young unicorn said, “I’d run.”
Pedipalp grinned, the buzz of his wings joined by others as he rose into the air.
“Death first,” he said.
In response, the unicorn let loose a blast of blinding blue-green light. Pedipalp barrel-rolled around it into the fray, and the Changelings surged to the attack.





Sunrise barely dodged the Changeling leader’s counter-attack, rolling to the side as her opponent raked the air with his claws. She’d made the barrier with a long duration, so it would last independently of her concentration. 
Good thing, too, she thought as she rolled to her hooves. No way I could maintain it otherwise.
While the cavern exploded into violence, Sunrise and her foe had sized one another up instantly. Sunrise had some background in street fighting and dirty moves, but the Changeling leader was a highly trained combatant with years of experience.
Sunrise knew she was outmatched. And so did her foe.
Crap!
The Changeling lunged, and Sunrise moved to block. But it was a feint, and the insectoid’s true attack scored Sunrise badly along her left shoulder, ruining the spell she’d started to cast.
Sunrise gasped, almost screamed. She’d been cut before, but there was a world of difference between a sharp butterfly knife and a set of jagged, razor-like claws that could tear through the mystic armor she wore. She dropped to her knees, only barely rolling out of the way as the Changeling landed with both foreclaws where she’d just been, scoring the stone.
“No killing,” the creature hissed mockingly. “The last bargain offered by the doomed.”
Sunrise’s horn glowed as she desperately tried to focus despite the pain. But she was too inexperienced, too untrained, and the glow vanished instantly as she desperately dodged the next swipe of her enemy’s claws.
“So young,” he hissed. “So weak. Small wonder you were left behind, to guard the other hatchlings. A desperate final sacrifice, a vain hope of their survival.”
For a moment, Sunrise’s eyes narrowed, her eyes and horn glowing with identical rage. Then, just as suddenly as it had appeared, the magical light vanished, Sunrise giving the smallest shake of her head, whispering an almost inaudible, “No.”
“Yes,” came the insectoid’s triumphant reply. He circled Sunrise slowly, milking the moment. Sunrise circled as well, trying to keep some control of the fight, trying to focus, to think, even as she desperately dodged yet another expert attack.
She had options. There were always options. She knew moves, though they were for a different body in a different world. But more than that, she knew spells! Why couldn’t she think of any?
The Changeling gave a sideways slash, ripping through Sunrise’s chest plate, scoring into the flesh below. Her left shoulder still hurt where she’d been slashed as well, blood running down beneath her armor, making her hoof just a little slick against the stone. She felt cold, and wondered for an instant whether it was from physical shock or just fear.
Then, crazily, a memory of Luna. Of she and Luna lying together beneath the covers between the nighttime and the dawn, laughing as they exchanged tales of their childhoods.
Foalhoods, she thought crazily, as she botched an attempt to parry and came away with a bleeding right arm.
For just an instant, her enemy looked grim. As if the whole matter was some unpleasant chore. Then, his eyes narrowed again, his mouth contorting into an unwholesome grin.
“There is no fool like a sacrificial fool,” the Changeling gloated. “And none like you, above all. You can hear how the battle behind us is all but spent, my forces slaying your friend and your turncoat ally. And now, you will die. Alone. And a failure.”
Carefully, controlling her panic, Sunrise composed the spell in her mind. It was simple enough. But despite her efforts to conceal her energies, her horn began to glow, betraying her intent. Seeing this, the Changeling’s expression became completely focused.
“The princesses send their regards,” he said. And then he lunged for the kill, even as Sunrise’s spell burst outwards from her horn.





“Sunrise!” Thorax shouted as he ran to her. “Sunrise, what happened, are you--?”
“Yeah,” Sunrise managed from where she lay. “I’m fine. Great. Peachy. Help me up, will ya?”
While Thorax helped her back to her hooves, Jack inspected the iridescent sphere that floated near the ceiling. It slowly drifted in its upwards ascent, the rage-filled screams and ineffectual strikes of its prisoner barely audible through its sound-muffling power.
“’Tis an impressive construct,” Jack nodded to himself. 
Sunrise managed a smile despite her pain. “Glad you like my bubble,” she said.
“It might be that mother herself could make one of greater strength,” Jack agreed, “though if so, not by much. But why didst wait so long?”
“I… I don’t know,” Sunrise admitted, tears starting to fall. “Everything happened so fast, I couldn’t think, I…”
“Shhh,” Thorax said gently, supporting most of her weight so she could walk. “It’s alright.”
“No, no it’s not,” Sunrise insisted, shaking her head. “I nearly let everypony down, they could’ve gotten past me, they could’ve—”
“You could have died,” Jack pointed out. “Such guilt is sorely misplaced.”
“Wait,” Thorax said. “Sunrise… was this… I mean, you have been in a fight before, right?”
“Of course I have!” she said almost angrily. “I mean, nothing like this, of course. Nothing involving spells, or magical creatures, or having fucking hooves, or… or…”
Her voice trailed off as she realized her friends were staring at her.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t know,” the changeling said, helping her back to the first barrier she’d created. “Sunrise, no training truly prepares you for fighting for your life. Even in the Hive that’s understood. And against Pedipalp! I can only imagine…”
“Indeed,” Jack agreed. “The fault lies not with you. Long has it been since I was young, so long I had almost forgotten. Yet, that is no excuse.”
“Yeah,” Thorax agreed. “We’d never have let you fight alone if we’d realized.”
“Aye,” Jack agreed, taking his mist form and nuzzling her gently. “Please, forgive us.”
“No, guys, we’re cool,” Sunrise insisted. Then, smiling through her tears, she added, “Let’s not make it weird, okay?”
That elicited a chuckle from both her friends as she lowered the shield wall, allowing them access back towards where the younger ponies waited. And, perhaps more importantly, to where Doctor Stable and his assistants waited.
Wait! Hospital ponies! 
Within Sunrise’s mind, it was as if several puzzle pieces suddenly snapped together with an audible click.
“The other Changelings!” she said. “They’re okay, right?”
“They will live,” Jack said, looking at the corridor ahead.
Sunrise eyed him suspiciously. “Uh-huh.”
By then, they were past the threshold, and with a moment’s concentration Sunrise erected two new barriers. One, of course, covered the portal where they’d just passed; the other prevented passage back to the upper mines.
Sunrise gave an inward sigh. Funny how that had been so hard just a minute ago. Then, she locked off the pain from her wounds as best she could, and sent her thoughts outwards.
Hey, honey? Can you hear me?
**I can, my lo—Sunny, thou’rt hurt!**
No, I’m fine—
**Thou art NOT fine! Seek not to deceive me, Sunrise Shimmer!**
Okay, okay, I’m sorry, alright?? I’m a little fucked up, but I’ll be fine. Honest. Okay? And then, with what little anger she had dissolving instantly, she added, Honey, please don’t yell, I’m really not sure I can take that right now.
**Of course, forgive me! I should be there with thee, not snarling at thee over an errant thought...**
NO, Sunrise thought firmly. No, you’ve got other duties. I knew that was part of the package when I got with you, and I’m good with that. I’m with Jack and Thorax, I’m fine—well, I’m covered, she corrected as quickly as she could. You just stay there. And anyway, that’s not why I called.
Despite everything, Luna’s mind speech became more amused at her lover’s turn of phrase. **Very well. Do tell me why you… ‘called.’”
Right. So, the Changelings all survived, but I get the impression some of them are seriously fucked up. I’ve got them contained, but they’re gonna need medical attention as soon as we can get it to them. At the same time, they’re not exactly friends.
**Of course,** Luna assured her. **Most of them will need to wait, for I must bring the injured from Galloping Gorge to Doctor Stable’s makeshift hospital. But as soon as possible, thy charges and our injured will be teleported out from the caverns, and the Changelings attended to to in their stead.**
But under guard, of course.
**Of course. Palace guardsponies are on their way even now.**
Yeah, that was obvious. Sorry, hon. Thoughtspeak is hard.
There was a kind of telepathic wink, followed by, **Please tell me when thou art in Doctor Stable’s capable hooves, Sunny.**
Will do. I love you.
**And I, thee.**
Then the connection was broken, and Sunrise was in the lower cavern, beset by a veritable tidal wave of younger ponies. It was a gaggle, a tumult, a commotion of excited foals without rhyme or reason, positively tumbling over each other in their excitement. And above all, all of them were alive, unharmed, and clamoring to know if she was alright, how she got hurt, what happened, and how could they help.
It was without a doubt the most beautiful sound that Sunrise had ever heard.