Chapter 1: Welcome to Gustus Amoris
Entrance Courtyard, Gustus Amoris, the Changeling Empire, Gaia, Summer, 56 C.E.
The sky had begun to fill with a lighter color as Derpy, Donna, Flarewing, and Bass walked through the front gates of the city. Erik the dragon had hidden himself away in the hills.
"Where are the guards?" Derpy asked. Donna looked around for any sign of changeling soldiers. The pegasus was right. There were no guards to be seen.
"You'd think a city like this would have better security," said Donna.
"All of the good guards are fighting in the war. There's hardly any left," Bass replied.
"So there are some left?" Derpy asked.
"Yeah...like that one!" Donna yelped as Bass pushed her and Derpy into a nearby alley. Flarewing followed with haste. Bass poked his head around the corner and Donna followed suit. A changeling guard dressed in thick armor was making his way down the street. It appeared that he had not seen them.
"This way," Flarewing whispered. Donna, Derpy, and Bass followed Flarewing down the alleyway before the guard could reach their hiding spot. Walking through Gustus Amoris felt like walking through a town in medieval times. The smells ranged from bland to horrid and everything seemed to be cloaked in a dull shroud of black, brown, orange, and gray.
"Are we heading to the castle now?" Donna asked.
"Not yet," Bass replied. "We best wait until sunrise to send you in there. Trust me, you wouldn't like wandering around that castle at nighttime. We're taking you two to our hideout for the time being."
"This should be interesting," said Derpy with a giggle. Donna looked up at the Changeling Castle. It certainly looked threatening in the light of early morning. She gulped before continuing to follow the two changelings down the dirty street.
Bass's Hideout, Gustus Amoris, the Changeling Empire, Gaia, Summer, 56 C.E.
Bass was quick to open the door to let Derpy, Donna, and Flarewing into the hideout. The wretched smells of the city instantly faded away as they entered. The hideout smelled of flowers and fresh food, which caused Donna's, Derpy's, and Flarewing's stomachs to rumble a bit.
"Hungry, I see," chuckled Bass.
"Bass?" asked a wheezy voice from within the hideout. "Is that you?"
"Of course it's me, Kell! And I've brought a surprise for you!" A changeling wearing an odd pirate's hat emerged from the darkness. A smile appeared on the changeling's face as his eyes fell on Flarewing.
"Flarewing!" cried Kell the changeling as he rushed forward and gave Flarewing a big hug. Several more changelings suddenly emerged to greet Flarewing. Derpy and Donna couldn't help but smile at Flarewing's joy of being reunited with his friends.
"I wonder how Twilight and the Doctor are doing," Derpy said to Donna suddenly. Donna looked down at Derpy.
"I bet they're fine," Donna replied with a smile.
"Bass...what's a pegasus and a...er...what is that?" asked a changeling named Trix.
"These are our guests. Treat them with respect. I rescued them from Esmeralda's camp along with Flarewing. The pegasus's name is Derpy. This other creature is known as a human and her name is Donna. Donna is the key to our success."
"How?" asked Kell.
"Humans come from another dimension from ours," Flarewing explained. "Anypony remember that shield cast around Esmeralda's castle?" Donna watched as the changelings began putting the pieces together.
"Are you saying that she can get in?!" asked a female changeling named Ilia.
"It's worth a try and she's willing to try it," Bass replied. The changelings turned to Donna and Donna gave an awkward nod. "We send her out at dawn." The changelings nodded before returning to their talking and eating.
"Nervous?" Derpy whispered to Donna.
"Nah!" Donna replied. Derpy raised an eyebrow in disbelief. "Okay...maybe a little. I mean, I don't even know what I'm looking for."
"Her weakness, of course," said Flarewing with a snarky tone as he approached them.
"I know that but what is her weakness?" Flarewing beckoned Donna to lean in close and she did so.
"Her weakness is said to be located in a room in the heart of the castle. The room has an iron door with the Changeling Empire seal on it."
"Changeling Empire seal?"
"That." Flarewing pointed towards a flag that consisted of a green heart with red flames circling around it. "Anyway, if the rumors are true, I wouldn't doubt that was her weakness."
"What is?"
"Esmeralda is a cruel creature with dark and deadly powers. I think it's only fitting that there was no heart inside her."
"Wait a moment. Are you saying-"
"Yes. Esmeralda's greatest weakness is her own heart, torn straight out of her body." Donna looked at Flarewing with a dumbfounded expression. She could tell that he took pleasure in seeing the shocked look on her face. "Dawn will be upon us quickly, Donna Noble. You should eat something before you head into the castle." Flarewing then walked off to talk to his friends and catch up with them.
"Derpy," said Donna.
"Yeah?" asked the gray pegasus.
"I think I'm starting to get a bit more nervous."
Outer Wall, Canterlot, Equestria, Gaia, Summer, 56 C.E.
The Doctor looked out upon the landscape of Equestria. Everything seemed so quiet and peaceful. He could make out the remains of the Equestrian camp far below. So far, there had been no signs of any changelings.
"What are you doing?" asked a familiar voice. The Doctor looked to see Twilight and Angie walking towards him.
"Just looking," he replied.
"At what?" Angie asked.
"Nothing really. Just the countryside." The Doctor proceeded to turn back towards the countryside. "Are you two feeling better."
"Physically, yes. Mentally...meh," Twilight replied. The Doctor gave a quick chuckle.
"Same here," he said.
"Do you have a plan on what to do next, Doctor?" The Doctor sighed before turning back to Twilight and Angie.
"I'm trying to, but there's so little to work with. The only thing I can think of right now is prepare ourselves for the changelings' next move and go from there. Everything's out of order right now."
"This whole situation confuses me."
"How so, Twilight?"
"Well, firstly, there's the fact that our army was completely surprised by this attack. Secondly, why did the changelings go through two years of fighting before attempting this? Thirdly, why was it so easy to perform said attack anyway?!"
"Good questions, Twilight. Subconsciously, I think I've been wondering the same things."
"Doctor, we need to speak with you," said a commanding voice. The Doctor turned around to see a group of stallions in ruined armor. He recognized them as some of the generals who had attended the dinner in Celestia's tent. "If it doesn't trouble you, we need to speak with you...alone." The Doctor looked at Twilight and Angie before turning back to the generals and nodding.
Brink Street, Canterlot, Equestria, Gaia, Summer, 56 C.E.
The generals led the Doctor down into a side street a little ways from where he had been talking with Twilight and Angie. There was nopony else there aside from the Doctor and the generals.
"My name is Alec. I am the Captain of the Royal Guard as well as the Head General," stated a stallion with a white coat, black mane, and cutie mark consisting of a golden helmet.
"Pleasure to meet you officially. I believe I saw you at dinner yesterday evening," said the Doctor.
"Yes."
"Okay then. What business do you wish to speak with me about?"
"Our business with you involves the Princess."
"What about the Princess? Is she okay?"
"Do not worry. She is recovering smoothly from last night's skirmish. However, she is not ready to get back into the line of fire like the rest of us." Alec turned towards his fellow generals before turning back to face the Doctor. "I went and spoke with Celestia a little while ago to discuss who would be in charge of the army while she recovers. She told me that normally I would be the next in line...however...now she has somepony else in mind to take her spot while she recovers."
"Let me guess. It's me, isn't it?"
"Yes. It's apparent that the Princess trusts you greatly. She has spoke many a time about your skills when it comes to dark times such as this. And if the Princess trusts in you then I shall as well." The Doctor was silent for a moment. He thought about whether he even wanted to be in charge of the army, even if it was temporary. However, he felt that he could at least help them prepare for the changelings' inevitable return.
"I accept," he said. Alec and his fellow generals proceeded to give the Doctor a series of quick bows.
"What are your orders, sir?" asked another one of the generals.
"Put this city in lockdown. Use as many protective spells that you can conjure, get all civilians to safety, and prepare all weapons in your arsenal. The changelings will return and I feel that they'll be much harder to drive away this time."
"You heard what he said!" ordered Alec. "Move out! Move out!" The generals nodded before running out to give the orders to their soldiers. The Doctor and Alec gave each other polite nods before heading their separate ways. The Doctor began heading back in the direction of where he left Twilight and Angie. He felt that he would need all the help he could get his hooves on.