//------------------------------// // A Stealthy Approach // Story: The Element of Corruption // by Fyronarion //------------------------------// It was a grueling walk towards Canterlot for the three mares and the small squadron of changelings. Twilight informed Nightmare that due to the security issue with her joining Nightmare Moon, Canterlot’s defense has been fortified tenfold. They could not teleport there, due to the Royal Guard watching all teleportations that lead to the city. Nor could they fly, as the guards have permission to shoot down any unauthorized pegasi. The only option is to sneak in, which was going to be a feat, since the Royal Guard is working overtime for the city’s protection. “How much longer? It would have been easier to fly there..” muttered Chrysalis. Nightmare didn’t answer and kept leading the group, only stopping after a few steps to look around her surroundings. They were in an open field now, and the moon glowed brightly against the pitch black sky. A gentle breeze rustled the flowers and trees, and in the distance, wolves howled. Twilight started shivering. It was getting cold. Nightmare seemed to notice and looked back at her group. “We will set up camp here. At dawn, we shall continue our trek to Canterlot. We must awaken him before this month ends. I have a bad feeling that my sister is going to move all the masonry inside the castle by that time.” she announced. “I got the camp covered.” said Chrysalis simply, turning to her subjects. The changelings quickly flew away and started gathering the basic necessities for a camp. While she was busy overseeing the work, Twilight felt somepony poking her. She turned to see one of the changelings that came with them. “Do you mind if I have a word with you?” he asked. Twilight glanced at Nightmare Moon and Chrysalis, who was shouting at one of the changelings. She turned back. “Sure.” she replied. He smiled went to a small clearing at the edge of the grove. Twilight followed him, wondering what it is... Meanwhile, at Ponyville... “Hiya!” shouted Rainbow Dash, bucking a cloud shaped as a pony. The cloud burst and smaller pieces of it began to drift off. Fluttershy was watching her in awe. “That was awesome, Rainbow!” exclaimed Fluttershy quietly. Rainbow Dash grinned. “Yeah, well, it’s all about the training. Set up the next cloud, Fluttershy. I want that one to be a challenge.” she said confidentially. Fluttershy heeded her orders and began to pile a few pieces of cloud. While Fluttershy was gathering the clouds, a large purple object burst from under the cloud. Fluttershy yelped and flew towards Rainbow Dash, who has busy using a nearby cloud as a punching bag. Rainbow felt something moving next to her sides and looked down to see Fluttershy cowering. She cocked her head in confusion and lifted her up. “What’s the problem now, Fluttershy?” she asked, used to that type of behavior by Fluttershy. She only pointed towards the object, which turns out to be a hot air balloon housing Pinkie, Applejack and Rarity. All three of them looked at Fluttershy in confusion. “So she’s scared of hot air balloons, eh?” asked Applejack. Rarity nudged her. “Don’t make fun of her!” she chastised. Applejack shrugged. “So what’s up? Oooh, are you beating up clouds again, Dashie?” asked Pinkie, trying to get out of the balloon basket, but Applejack quickly held her back. “Woah there, girl. We don’t want you to fall. That would have been unpleasant, won’t it?” she said. Rarity nodded in agreement while Pinkie was dangling by her tail. She laughed gleefully. “This is fun!” she shouted, swinging herself. Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. “Remember when you guys came with the hot air balloon to Rainbow Dash’s flying contest? Oooh, that was fun...if only Twilight was here..” chimed in Fluttershy. She instantly regretted saying the last line when she saw Rainbow Dash stiffen, Applejack growling, Pinkie’s smile turning into a frown and Rarity turning her head away in disgust. “Oh..um..sorry.” she squeaked, moving back a little. Rainbow Dash sighed and tousled her mane. “It’s alright. I-We just can’t believe that she’s gone. But once we see her, I’ll make sure my hoof is up her-” “Enough with the chitchat! Y’all forgot why we came here. The Princess ordered us to train. Luckily, I managed to pull Twilight’s ‘ol balloon out of my barn. Ah picked up Pinkie and Rarity, as they have finished. How are ya two doin’?” she said, looking down from the balloon. Rainbow Dash raised her hoof and mockingly saluted her. “Everything is good here! Strangely, Fluttershy can do things that I couldn’t imagine.” she said, gazing towards Fluttershy, who was looking at the ground uncomfortably. “Like what?” asked Rarity. “She strangled a cloud that was ten times her size. I can’t wait to see what she does back on ground.” Everypony started laughing and hoof fived the shy yellow pegasus. Fluttershy smiled sheepishly as her friends looked at her in awe... Back at the camp... Twilight and the changeling were lying at the clearing, looking up at the dark sky. Stars littered the black space, and some were glowing faintly in the background while others were glinting powerfully against it. A few feet away from them, they could hear one of the changelings yelling at the other one about his bedsheets. Twilight turned to the changeling, who was staring at the night sky intently. “Beautiful, isn’t it?” she whispered. He nodded, appreciating the stars. He then suddenly realized that he forgot to introduce himself. “Oh yeah, sorry for not introducing myself. I’m Nucleon.” he said, smiling at her. Twilight smiled back, and turned away from him. She felt her cheeks getting hot. “I’m Twilight. Twilight Sparkle.” she mumbled. Nucleon nodded understandingly. “Yeah, I heard about you. Used to be a pony and a student of Celestia. Then you became one of us and now, here we are.” he said, looking at her as if she was some kind of a superhero. Twilight chuckled nervously. “So..um..what was it that you were going to tell me?” she asked, trying to avoid his eyes. “I know you don’t want to talk about it, but how was the conversion process?” he suddenly blurted out. Nucleon then covered his mouth with his hooves. Twilight couldn’t help but laugh at his outburst. “It was smooth at first, but then it turned..well..a bit hairy. It felt like fire was surging through me. I was out for a day, but now, I’m a changeling. That pretty much sums it up.” she said, watching a small comet streak through the sky. Nucleon nodded, not taking his eyes off of her form. (Form meaning she was in her changeling outfit) “So...guess we’ll both raid Canterlot together then?” he asked. He then kicked himself mentally. Why would he state the obvious? They were going in this together. “Yup.” said Twilight. An awkward silence went past them for a moment, until Nucleon stood up and stretched, yawning. “Guess I’ll go hit the bed. At least, I hope I do. My brothers are typical pranksters.” he said. Twilight stood up and stared at him. “Your brothers?” she asked, puzzled. Nucleon nodded. “Yeah. All eight million of them. Not as maternal brothers, but as close friends. You know what I mean.” he said, winking at her before walking towards the exit of the clearing. Twilight just stood there, watching him go. She was deep in thought. Did he just wink at me? He probably did-What am I thinking? I need to focus on our objective. There’s no time for this nonsense she thought, scolding herself mentally. She started trotting towards the camp. A lone campfire was crackling. It was starting to die out. About five tents have been erected around it. One of them was large and grand, with green stripes. So was the one next to it. Deep snoring was coming from that one. Twilight smiled to herself and walked towards her tent, which was painted purple and green. “Night Twilight.” said a voice behind her. She turned to see Nucleon waving at her before disappearing in his tent. Twilight stared at it, biting her lips. She then shook her head and went into her tent, zipping the entrance behind her. Inside was a small cot and a single lamp. Several scrolls of parchment were stacked on a crate, which was pushed roughly against the tent wall. A single quill, still in the inkwell, was lying there. Twilight was about to pick it up when she realized she needed some sleep for tomorrow. She turned and collapsed on the cot, mind whirring about what’s going to happen tomorrow.. At the Sugarcube Corner... “Dangit Pinkie, I said Blueberry pie, not Redberry cake.” groaned Rainbow Dash, pushing the small red pie towards the center of the table. All five of the Elements of Harmony are having lunch at the Sugarcube Corner, courtesy of Pinkie. “Sorry about that, Dashie! I’ll be back to you after I help this customer!’ she yelled from behind the counter. Applejack was eyeing the pie hungrily. “If you don’t want it, Rainbow, ah’ll be more than happy to take it.” she offered. Rainbow Dash nodded and pushed the plate towards her. Applejack grinned and dug in, using her hooves as a fork. Rarity looked at her style of eating as if she were a cockroach. “That was tasty. Hey, Fluttershy, you want yours?” she asked, red frosting covered around her mouth. Fluttershy looked down at her cookies. “I want them, but you can have them. If you’re alright with it.” she said quietly, sliding the plate to her. Applejack waved her off. “Aw shucks, if you want them, eat them. Ah don’t want to be greedy.” she said. Fluttershy smiled and ate another piece of the cookie while Rarity shot a dirty look at Applejack. “Yes, because we all know how greedy Applejack gets when she sees baked goods. Look at her! It looks like she forgot proper table etiquette!” huffed Rarity, crossing her hooves together. Applejack glared at her. “Ah see you still got your pie left. Scared y’all gonna ruin your hooves?” she asked sarcastically. Rarity quickly turned to her, acid in her eyes. “How dare you-” “Pinkie here! With a pie!” shouted Pinkie Pie, holding up a Blueberry Blast. She plopped the plate down in front of Rainbow Dash and turned to Applejack, who was wiping her mouth with her hooves. “I hope you enjoyed my Redberry Rhubarb. It’s sweetness is to the max!” she said cheerfully. Applejack nodded happily. “Uh, Pinkie? Do you have napkins?” asked Rainbow Dash from behind her. Pinkie nodded. “Of course I do! Who doesn’t? That would be a crime against pastries if we didn’t have napkins!” yelled Pinkie, jumping up and down and causing Mrs. Cake to stare at her. “Pinkie, dear, can you settle down please?” she called out. Pinkie stopped hopping. “Sorry Mrs. Cake! Anyways, here you go!” she said, handing a wad of napkins. Rainbow Dash took them and didn’t ask how Pinkie got those without going to the counter. She was probably the strangest yet funniest pony she has ever met. Back at the camp... The group has already packed up and have reached Canterlot after two hours of walking past barren lands and dense forests. Twilight, like the others, were exhausted from the journey. But her energy spiked back up when she saw the familiar tip of the Canterlot Castle. Nostalgia flowed through her as she looked at the city where she was born and raised. “Okay, listen up! Half of us changelings will provide air cover for Twilight and Nightmare. I want the other half of you to be on ground patrol, watching for any suspicious activity. If you encounter something or somepony, send up red sparks in the air. We will get to you as fast as possible. In the meantime, I want you all to pay attention and stay on your hooves.” she barked. The changelings before her roared in approval and flew off, fulfilling their duties. As Twilight looked at the city, oblivious to Chrysalis’ orders, she felt somepony walk up next to her. “We will part for now. Good luck, Twilight.” said Nucleon, sticking his hoof out. Twilight shook his hoof, which was surprisingly soft, and smiled nervously. The same thought struck Nucleon too. She’s so cute when she’s nervous he thought before turning around and taking off in the air. Twilight watched him fly away. “Ready for our part?” asked Nightmare Moon, landing in front of Twilight. She nodded. “Yes. Let’s do this.” she said, a look of determination on her face. Nightmare smiled in approval and they both set off towards the castle gardens, intent on their objective...