“It has to be done.”
“But why you? Why must you leave now?”
Amor looked down at Chrysalis. In her eyes was fear. Amor had just revealed his plans to search the area around Canterlot for any remaining soldiers, and Chrysalis wasn’t too happy with the idea.
“Right now, there may be more changelings out there who are weak or have abandoned the hives old ways. If they are near, it would be better for them to be kept in Canterlot.”
“Can’t we wait longer? Just wait until I can travel with you?”
“I know you’re worried, but if we wait, the weak may not survive, and if they left the hive, they may not trust you, but they may still trust me somewhat.”
Chrysalis thought over the plan for a few minutes, looking for any alternative. She finally gave up, and with a heavy sigh, let Amor go.
“Alright, I don’t see any other alternative. You are right, you need to go soon if you are to save them, they may scatter otherwise. Just… be careful.”
“You know I will. I’ll be back at the end of the day.” Amor left the room and was ready to leave, but had one major problem: Celestia. He found her in her throne, and bowed before her.
“Amor, do you have something to say?”
“Yes, princess. I have been thinking for some time, if Chrysalis was out there, maybe there are others out there who have abandoned the hive, seen the error in their way or gained confidence to leave after seeing me leave. I want your permission to search and bring in any changelings I see.”
Celestia looked on, bewildered by this new plan brought before her. “What makes you think they won’t trick you? Try to get into Canterlot to launch another attack?”
“Well, it is likely that any who are still in the old ways would attack me on sight. If they are too weak to run, they can be easily detained and we will judge them later. If they trust me still, than they likely left the hive after hearing of my absence. They will be put in cells until they prove themselves like I did.”
Celestia thought for a moment, then asked a question she thought would take Amor off guard. “What if something happens? What if there is an incident caused by a changeling?”
“Any problems caused by the changelings I bring in will be pinned on me. If they cause any problems, they will be sent out of Canterlot, the rest is up to them.”
“Alright, you seemed to have thought this through. If you need my help with anything, let me know.”
“Actually princess, I do need you to do something. I need you to tell the citizens of Canterlot about this plan. No matter how much they trust me, they will always follow your word over mine.”
“I understand. I will spread the word effectively. You are dismissed and may begin your mission.”
“Thank you, princess. I will leave immediately, and I won’t be back until the moon rises.”
Amor left Canterlot early that morning, determined to find another changeling that could be trusted, reformed, anything. After the Chrysalis incident, Amor knew to look where you wouldn’t look. He flew for hours, searching for a starting point for his search. He decided to begin with a cave he found after his hours of searching. He landed, and began searching the cave. He traveled through the entire cave, looked over every rock and crevice, but to no avail. He left the cave and decided to search the rest of the day on foot.
Amor was almost ready to give up already. He didn’t realize how hard this would actually be.
“Who am I kidding, any changelings out here would be either long gone by now or dead.”
Then he heard a rustling in the tree nearby. Amor walked up to the tree cautiously, and was surprised to find a young changeling soldier, bruises covering his entire body, stuck in a low branch and tangled in vines.
“Hey, are you okay? How long have you been up there?”
The changeling slowly looked down and his eyes widened.
“My king? We thought you left for good!”
“I asked you a question, soldier. Are you hurt?”
“Yes, actually. We were led to Canterlot by the queen, and we were easily defeated. I hit the top of this tree hard, and hit a lot of the branches on the way down. I was caught in this branch ever since. I saw small search party pass, but they left me, said they were starting a new hive, and that the weak were not to be included.”
“What’s your name soldier?”
“Avispa, sir.”
“Well, Avispa, are you ready to give up your old ways to live in piece with ponies?”
“Anything to serve by your side again, sir.”
“Well then, there are a few things you need to do to gain the trust of others, but welcome to Canterlot.”
Avispa’s eyes grew wider.
“Canterlot? You have become allies with Canterlot?”
“Yes, and if you want saved, you must put the old way of the changeling behind you.”
“Alright, I’m with you.”
“Good, but for now, I must bind your magic.”
The soldier hesitated, but after weighing his options, eventually agreed.
“Can you walk, soldier?”
“Probably, I’ve just been stuck in this tree for a week. The blast left me weak, so I wasn’t able to break out of the vines. Would you mind helping me?”
“Sure, just give me a second.”
Amor Concentrated, and a small beam of magic left his horn and swallowed the changeling’s for a second, then he flew up and broke through the vines with ease.
“Avispa, you are to follow me for the time being. Your magic has been bound, so it is now unusable. We will rest at the first sight of water.”
“Yes sir, I will walk at your side.”
“Good, be on the lookout for any other changelings these rouges left to die. They will be saved if I have anything to say about it.”
“Glad to see your honor is still intact, sir.”
Amor and Avispa walked through the forest bordering the mountain. There pace was slow due to Avispa’s injuries, but it was a small cost to save any changeling he could.
They stopped at a pond almost an hour later, Avispa quickly fell to his knees and began to drink all he could stomache. When he was finished, he took a post that he assigned himself with one purpose in mind: guard the king with his life.
“King Amor, permission to ask a question.”
Amor looked at the changeling before answering.
“Granted. What did you want to ask?”
“Why was it you left the hive?”
“I will tell you when we return to Canterlot. For now we shou-“
They heard something crashing through the bushes on the other side of the pond. Avispa was quickly to the edge of the pond, looking to the other side. Amor quickly rose to his hooves. Whatever it was, it was coming fast. The two were amazed to see a rather large changeling wearing a full set of armor, scratched and nearly destroyed by years of battle. He wielded an older spear, shined and still ready for use, obviously kept clean. He looked to the other side of the pond and met eyes with his former king.
“King Amor? I assumed you were dead.”
“Well, I am very much alive. What are you doing out here alone, soldier?”
“I should ask you the same thing.”
Amor looked to the other side of the pond, keeping eye contact with the soldier, but thinking hard. He obviously is an outcast, he wouldn’t be out here alone if otherwise. Let’s see how he responds. Amor then answered his statement.
“I am not to return the hive. They think I am too good natured to lead them, they think I am weak.” That did the trick, because the soldier on the other side of the pond lowered his spear. He then called to Avispa.
“You, soldier, why are you out here?”
“I was weakened when I landed after the blast. I ended up in a tree and a small group left me to die, they said I was too weak. Our king was gracious enough to save me.”
The soldier completely lowered his spear and began walking to the other side of the pond.
“That makes two of us then. I was told not to return to the hive. I was able to survive on my own, but I am growing hungry.”
Amor spoke to the soldier again. “What’s your name, soldier?”
“Escara, sir.”
“Escara, are you willing to give up the old ways of the changeling to live in peace with all ponies?”
“I am in your service, my king, no matter what.”
“Well, there are a few small steps you must follow, but if you are willing, you may join me.”
“I am honored, my king. Just tell me what I need to do.”
“First, I need to bind your magic, also, I need to confiscate that spear.”
Escara looked at the spear before him. “This spear was all I had to use to survive, but if I must part with it, I would only give it to you. Do what must be done.”
Amor cast the binding spell once more. When he was done, he used his magic to lift the spear.
“You will get it back eventually, but you must prove yourself. For the time being, welcome to Canterlot.”
“Canterlot? We are going to Canterlot?”
“Yes. We will head back now. You two will follow me in, and will be kept confined. If your behavior is good enough, you will be given free access to the entire city, but one false move, and you must leave Canterlot for good. Do you both understand?”
The two soldiers looked at each other and nodded. “We understand. We are ready when you are.”
The three changelings entered the castle of Canterlot almost an hour later. When they entered Celestia walked up to them. The soldiers stood straight, and Amor bent down to speak to them quietly.
“Bow. In Canterlot, Celestia rules over all of us, even me.”
At the command the two changeling soldiers bowed before the princess, and Amor quickly followed. Celestia let out a small chuckle.
“It’s not as strict as your king made it sound. I expect that you abide to our laws and follow them properly. Now, what are your names?”
“Escara, ma’am.”
“Avispa, ma’am.”
Celestia stood tall. “Escara and Avispa, former members of the changeling army, you are to be kept locked away until further notice. If you behave well, you may be freed from captivity, and eventually looked at as an equal by the citizens of our town. Do you accept?”
Both of the changelings answered at the same time. “Yes, ma’am. We accept these terms, and will do our best to prove ourselves.”
“I am glad to hear that. Amor, would you lead them to their cell?”
“Yes, princess. Avispa, Escara, follow me.”
“Yes sir.”
Just before they entered the prison area, Amor spoke to the two soldiers.
“You two will be kept in separate cells. As of now, it would be better to keep you separate, keep the guards from thinking you’re planning something.”
“Yes sir.”
“You should know, you two were not the first that I found.”
“How many others are there as of now?” Escara asked with slight curiosity in his voice.
“Just one.” At that moment, the three turned the corner, and the two soldiers saw that one changeling, there queen.
Both looked on in startled disbelief. “My queen!” they both exclaimed as they bowed.
Chrysalis looked up from her bed, slightly surprised to see any other changelings so soon.
“At ease.”
Avispa looked up. “My queen, I thought you were with the hive.”
“No, they left me for dead. As of now, I am no longer part of the hive.”
“Well, it is good to be able to serve you both again,” Said Escara. At that moment, knowing that they had both the queen and the king on their side, the two soldiers were more at ease with the whole idea of being kept locked away.