//------------------------------// // A Sudden Increase in Foes. // Story: The Silver Prince // by Silver Mane //------------------------------// "Here we are, Apple Loosa," Bluewind swept his hoof through the air towards the growing city sprawled out across the countryside, "The oasis of the desert." I scanned the city and it's surroundings. The 'desert oasis' was surrounded not by desert, but by a massive orchard on the East and West sides. On the far West side of the orchard a few small mountains capped with snowy peaks rose out of the ground. A strange, brown line cut through the desert to the South and passed through the city, emerging from the North end and disapearing into the distance. "Thanks," I walked up to Bluewind and rubbed my 'muzzle' against his neck, "How can I ever repay you for such kindness...?" His white face immediately started glowing pink as he sheepishly kicked at the ground. "Oh, it was really nothing Miss Shimmer. You don't owe me anything." "Oh, but I simply must repay my debt to you," I used my 'hoof' to pull his face to mine, "How about a kiss?" I could practically see the steam billowing out of his ears as I leaned closer to his lips. He closed his eyes and tilted his head, slowly leaning towards me. Time to end this charade. I ducked under the unsuspecting stallion and forced my head into his chest, causing him to lose his breath and fall onto his side. His eye's widened as I placed a hoof on his neck. He was scared, confused, and I loved it. He managed to take in a small breath, so I pressed harder upon his neck, it's more fun when they can't breathe. "Now, do you want a quick death, or shall I make it a bit more fun?" He tried to say something, to ask me why, why I was betraying him, why I planned on killing him, maybe to beg for mercy, maybe he just wanted to spit an insult a me. I didn't really care, but I pretended to, and leaned in. "What's that? You want that kiss I promised you? Very well, I owe you that much." I drew saliva from the back of my throat and lifted his head to face me. As our lips met, I flicked my tongue, covered in sticky saliva, out and into his mouth. I glued his tongue to the roof of his mouth, his teeth together, and finally his mouth shut before breaking the kiss. I then let my saliva drip out of my mouth and glue his neck to the ground, releasing the pressure as I did so. Finally, I slowly lowered my mouth over his horn, causing him to shudder in excitement despite his terror. When I reached the base, I emptied my poison glands and slowly caressed it up and down the ridges of his horn, paralyzing the protrusion. Satisfied he was well and truly unable to fight back, I reverted back to my majesty with a flash of silver flames. "How does it feel, Bluewind?" I spat his name like it was rotten meat. "How does it feel for the pony you were growing close to, to suddenly turn around and stab you in the back?" I levitated a small branch over and snapped it in half, creating two jagged points. I lifted the branch above him, then shoved it into his back, shredding his skin and snapping his spinal cord. I leaned in close, "So, how does it feel?" He whimpered as best he good and pleaded to me with his eyes to spare his life. "Well, you're not much fun, are you?" I kicked his upper torso, where he could still feel pain, "I expected at least a little resistance from such a big, strong stallion." I laughed as he closed his eyes and a single tear slid down his face. "Well, I guess I should kill you now." With another flash, I transformed myself into Bluewind. "I think this'll hurt. A lot." I laughed at my near-perfect voice imitation, summoned a small flame, and set it upon his tail. It immediately burst into flames, and I watched as the flames crawled up his tail and to his flank. As the fire neared the spot where I stabbed his spine, he started whimpering again. When it consumed the branch and started working it's way up his neck, screams attempted to escape his sealed lips. I suddenly remembered his supplies, and snatched the pillow up from the ground where it had fallen when I tacked him. I put the fire eating at it's corner out, then placed it in my mouth and started walking towards Apple Loosa. My pillow. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- As I entered the city, I felt a familiar sensation. Almost like, yes! There were scouts integrated into Apple city.Huzzah! Now I don't have to waste valuable time searching this city for an innkeeper. My thoughts were interrupted by a voice from behind. "HEY! BLUEWIND! WAIT UP!" Splendid, just what I needed, a pony talking to me in a public place. I glanced back to see a pale orange stallion with orange hair wearing a weird hat and leather vest galloping towards me. I sighed and turned around to face him as he neared. "Howdy Bluewind!" He held out his hoof and I hesitantly shook it, "You didn't tell me you were gonna be in AAAAPLELOOSA!" As the pony said the name of the city he stood up on his rear legs and swiped at the air above him. "Uhhhhh... Right," I dropped the pillow out of my mouth and levitated it to my back. Then I raised an eyebrow as I had seen Bluewind do so many times before, "And, might I ask, who are you?" "Oh quit playin' with me Bluewind," the earth pony for some reason saw it fit to punch my shoulder lightly, "An' lemme show you all the new things that've been built since you last came!" He didn't wait for me to respond, and instead pushed me along at an impossibly fast rate until we were standing in front of a building with the word "Sheriff" on the front underneath a big silver star. That's a nice colored star... "I know you've already seen my little slice of this city, but we just got that big ol' star painted on!" He once again pushed me at supersonic speeds. This time we stopped in front of a "Saloon" with double doors. "This here's the new saloon! Once I'm done showing you around, we can grab a drink and catch up!" He pushed me again through the city, before stopping in front of just the kind of place I was looking for, an "Inn". "Ol' AppleCore's inn! He's my grandmother's uncle's grandson's cousin's father's brother twice removed, and he bought the inn a few months back. Place is hoppin' now, they even got blueberry pancakes!" The pony once again moved to push me. "NO! Wait!" He looked at me quizically. "What's the problem partner?" "I wish to speak with the innkeeper!" "Well why didn't you say so! Let's go!" With that, the pony pushed me into the inn. We walked up to a bar, and I set my pillow down on a stool to use as a seat cushion. He waved the brown pony with a black mane behind the counter over, "Howdy AppleCore!" "Well look who it is," the old pony sauntered over to us, "Deputy Breaburn, and who's this young fella you got with ya?" Deputy Breaburn, that makes two names related to apples in this town called apple. I think I sense a theme. "This here's Bluewind, a friend of mine," Breaburn explained, "He's always wanderin' the mountains, searchin' for his soul, ain't that right?" "Yes, travelling across the land, searching far and wide," I confirmed. "And he said he wanted to talk to you!" AppleCore turned towards me, "So what did you need, whippersnapper?" Whippersnapper...? "Well, I'm looking for a pony," I stated. "Well look no further! You just found two!" I tilted my head as Breaburn and AppleCore burst into laughter. ...ponies are just as puzzling as they are pathetic... "Oh AppleCore you old coot," Breaburn once again thought it necessary to punch the shoulder of the pony he was addressing lightly. "You ain't lost it." "Alright kiddo, I'm done messin' with ya though," the old pony suddenly became very serious. "Who exactly are you lookin' for? And may I be so inclined to ask you why you're lookin' for them?" The pony's sudden mode change seemed a bit strange, but I ignored it and answered the questions. "I need to find the pony who visited this town and was talking about humans. Blu-I mean, a friend, told me that I should ask an innkeeper for help." "Hoomans... eh?" AppleCore rubbed his chin thoughtfully, "Nope. Nothin'. Sorry." I simply stared at the innkeeper. I risk my life fighting demons, seducing stallions, and putting up with this incredibly fast pony, just so when I reach the "Innkeeper", the old fool knows nothing about humans?! My eye twitched, then suddenly Breaburn and AppleCore burst out laughing again. "Oh, AppleCore you gotta stop this," Breaburn said between gasps for air, "My sides can't take much more!" I slammed my 'hoof' on the table, causing both ponies to look up in surprise. "I demand you tell me what is so amusing!" They both just stared at me for a moment, before once again bursting into laughter. "Breaburn, this fellar's a hoot! You should date more guys like him!" Now it was Breaburn's turn to get serious. "I told you, AppleCore, I'm not gay! I just haven't found the right mare yet!" "Okaay, whatever you say!" The old pony giggled before turning back to me. "I'm just messin' with ya, Bluewind. I know you're straight." He leaned in and whispered to me, loud enough for Breaburn to hear, oddly, "Just be watchin' your backside when he's behind you. You can neeever be sure when he's gonna pounce." Breaburn glared at the old innkeeper as he laughed at his own joke. "I'm sure Bluewind loves your jokes, old stallion, but I'm sure he would also love to hear about that mint colored pony who comes through here every year or so?" Breaburn nudged me and I nodded enthusiastically. "Right, right, I was getting to that," AppleCore reassured the deputy. "Now, lets see, what was that cute little mare's name...? Ah, right, Lyra, it was. Lyra Heartstrings, real sweet girl, I tell ya, if you can look past the whole obsession with hoomans, that is." "So you know her!" I exclaimed, "Where can I find her?" "Uhmm... Let's see... it wasn't Canterlot, she's not stuck up enough for that... Not Dodge City, not enough hats for that... Was it, oh, yeah, now I remember! It was Ponyville! That's where she said she came from. Although, if you do go to Ponyville after this mare, be careful. Some craaazy happenings happen in Ponyville." "Thank you, Applecore," I said, "Your help is most appreciated. I'll be taking my leave now." I stood up and retrieved my pillow. "Yeah, sure thing," AppleCore. "Don't let the door, (or Breaburn's little willy), hit your tail on the way out." Breaburn scowled at the old stallion as he chuckled to himself, then started following me out. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "So, it's getting kind of late," Breaburn started as I exited the inn and reached my mind out to the scouts. "How 'bout we go get a drink and catch up?" "No." I don't have time to mess around with a pony. I shall rendezvous with the scouts, and then start heading to this Ponyville. I have a mare to meet. Breaburn stopped following me and waved, "Cya later partner!" I put on my best smile and waved back, "Cya, partner." As soon as I had turned the corner, Breaburn started racing towards his office to get the sheriff. He burst through the front door, causing Sheriff Silverstar to jump up out of his seat and pull out his gun. Seeing his deputy standing in the doorway, out of breath, he relaxed and holstered the weapon. "Breaburn, you damn near gave me a heart attack! What's the matter?" Breaburn leaned on the doorframe and caught his breath before answering. "I've found a changeling." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- You, over here. A young stallion looked up from his beer as a voice entered his head. "Hey guys," he slurred, "I gotta g-hicgo... I saw a cute mare." His group of friends all laughed and the one to his right patted him on the back. "Go get hurrrr..." The stallion smiled at his friend. "Goo-BELCHhuhuhuh... Good luck!" The stallion stood up from the table and staggered to the door. He pushed the saloon's doors open and half-tripped half-walked down the short staircase to the road. As soon as he was out of site of his 'friends', he stood up straight and trotted over to a white stallion who was walking down the road. Tell me how to get to Ponyville. My liege! Is it really you? What are you doing so far from the hive without an escort? Experimenting. Of course, my liege. You wanted to get to Ponyville? May I ask why? You may, but I shall not answer. Just tell me how to get there. Of course, my liege. Follow me. I complied, and the scout led my down the street to an abandoned building. He led me inside, and up the stairs into a bedroom. Inside the room, he opened up a pink wardrobe and stepped inside. I followed him through a narrow stairwell into a system of underground tunnels. We eventually reached a circular room with several cocooned ponies hanging from the ceiling. I set my pillow on the ground. This is your base of operations? Yes, my liege, give me a minute and I shall bring you some bits. Equestrian currency? I presume? The drone and I both, in flashes of fire, changed back into our true forms and stretched our wings. Yes, my liege. You shall need it for a train ticket to Ponyville. Train... train... You mean the vehicles that ponies ride around in? The very same, my liege. The drone opened up and small cabinet on the far side of the room and rummaged through it until he found what he was looking for. He brought me a sack filled with strange, flat, round peices of metal. These are bits, then? Yes, my leige. And I give them to ponies for train tickets? Yes, my liege. Excellent. I shall be staying here for the night. Tell the others that your Prince is hungry. Yes, my liege. Satisfied that food was on the way, I hovered into the air to examine the ponies, trapping in literal globs of saliva and feces. I poked one of the cocoons and it swayed back and forth a bit. I chuckled. "Freeze, varmint." I widened my eyes in surprise as a gruff voice came out of one of the tunnels. I reached my mind out, lo and behold, the useless drone had gotten himself caught. "Lower yourself to the ground, slowly now." I scoffed. "And what happens if I refuse? You'll kill a single, useless drone?" "Or we kill you," the voice was cold, like steel. No emotion, just a threat. Time to do what changelings do best. "And just how do you expect to kill an immo- BANG AAAAAAAAAARRRGH!" I cried as a bullet ripped through my shoulder and my wings seized up. I fell to the ground in a heap and held my leg over the hole in my skeleton which had been shattered where the bullet had gone through it. "Like that." A grey pony lifted his gun into the air and brought it down on my head. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mother, a scout from Apple Loosa is here with urgent news. What does it want? You would probably rather hear it yourself. Fine, have him connect with me. Queen Mother, permission Granted, hurry this up. I'm busy with an egg. The Prince, he came to Apple Loosa. He was captured, and all of our identities were discovered. ...you mean to tell me that not only did that useless thing get himself captured, but he ruined the entire operation in Apple Loosa...? Queen Mother, it wasn't the Prince's fault, we were all at fault. We weren't careful enough. Please spare our lives. How about no. I shall dispose of the body. Yes you shall. Then send a squad of feral brutes to Apple Loosa. Kill Silver. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I awoke to a dull throbbing in my head and a numbness in my right foreleg. I attempted to lift my left leg and rub the shoulder, but found it bound with thick leather strap to the wooden arm of the chair I was in. I tried to lift my back legs, but they were bound as well. I glanced down at my right leg. It was covered in my green blood, as was the chair leg on which it rested. "So, you're awake now, how excitin'," a familiar yet somehow changed voice came out of the darkness of the room. "I was worried you wouldn't for a bit there, it wouldn't be nearly as fun f you just died on us." "I demand you release me from these bonds," I commanded. "If you comply, I may consider sparing your life." A bright light suddenly shone in the dark room, temporarily blinding me. When I opened my eyes, Breaburn was standing a foot in front of me. "Well, sorry to break it to you, but you're in no position to be makin' demands." "Then you leave me no choice, I shall burn this building and you to the ground." I tried to summon a fireball and launch it at the deputy, but a strange force blocked my power. I tried again, concentrating with all of my might on making a ball of flames materialize, but every time I tried to channel the energy to complete the spell, it was blocked like a tunnel clogged with drones. "What did you do to my magic?!" I screamed at Breaburn. He laughed and sauntered over to the chair I was bound in. He lifted a hoof and tapped on the base of my horn, making an odd metallic click. "This bad boy right here. Magic inhibitor. Prevents you from channeling your power into a spell. Sheriff was worried it might not work on a changeling, but it looks like it he had nothin' to worry 'bout at all." Breaburn backed away from me. "Now, why don't you start by tellin' me what you did with Bluewind?" How could he possibly know that wasn't really Bluewind? "I know not of whom you are speaking of." "Don't play dumb with me." I then noticed why his voice sounded different. When I met him, it was bright, cheery, excited to see his friend after so many moons. But now, it was... dark. Much more menacing and deadly then the old voice. "You, or one of your friends, were pretendin' to be Bluewind. So I ask you, what did you do with him?" "How the hive did you see through my disguise...?" I stared at the ground in front of me. "It was perfect, my voice and the body. Not a single flaw in my imitation, how did you see through it?!" Breaburn struck me, snapping my head sideways and causing a hairline crack in my skeleton. "I'm askin' the questions." "And I wish to kno-" he struck me again. "You really wanna know? Well, for one thing, Bluewind was my friend. It's not that hard to see through a disguise when you act nothing like him. Now tell me, what did you do with him?" I started laughing. A soft, light chuckle, that grew into a loud, maniacal cackle. The fire that consumed Bluewind's body burned in my eyes. "Oh, you have no idea how much I enjoyed burning him!" Breaburn recoiled, "B-bu-burning?" I smiled as I imagined his muffled screams when the fire reached his upper body. "Oh, yes! IT. WAS. MAGNIFICENT! He was so terrified! Whimpering and cowering like a child! And when I severed his spi-"CRACK My head snapped to the side and the hairline crack spread further across my face. I turned back to Breaburn and smiled at him, "Well, look at little bitty Breaburn, standing up to the big, bag, cha-"CRACK The hairline spread further and grew wider. "Oh, I almost felt that one! Go ahead, HIT ME AGAIN!" CRACK Breaburn hit me again, and again, the cracks in my face spreading and my skeleton threatened to shatter with each blow. I soon grew tired of his rage, however, and decided to spice things up a bit. I summoned my power to change shape. The inhibitor had no affect since I wasn't projecting the energy, so I had no trouble changing my appearance to match that of Bluewind. Breaburn was still striking me as I changed, his eyes brimming with salty tears. "Breaburn... why...?" I asked in Bluewind's voice. "Why did you do this to your- *cough* -friend?" The blows stopped. Breaburn wiped the tears from his eyes and looked at the cracked and bloodied face of his friend. He held up his hooves and looked down at them in horror. He backed up until he hit the wall, then slumped down onto the ground. "Are you all done, then?" I changed back to myself and asked the deputy. "Got all that anger and frustration out? I imagine it's quite horrible, knowing that your friend met a horrible and painful fate and there's absolutely nothing you can do about it?" Breaburn was silent for a while. I yawned. He sat there. "Well, this is boring. Mind letting me out?" He continued to stare blankly at the ground. "Oh come on Breaburn, you are a deputy, right? There are still changelings out there, I can help you find them if you release these bonds." Breaburn still did nothing. "Oh for the hive's sake! Do something you useless sac of flesh! You want other ponies to have to deal with what you are? I know it probably hurts, but there are creatures out there who care not of ponies and their feelings of attachment! It had happened before, and if I have anything to do with it, it will happen again. The only thing you can do is rise up and either end me or release me. Oh, and have you seen my pillow?" Breaburn finally stood up. He walked towards he lamp and turned off the lamp. He turned away from me and opened the door. "Hey, you can not leave me here! I have matters to deal with you coward!" Breaburn exited the room. Well. Damn. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "What's in it for us?" the largest of the changelings in the small cell asked. "Freedom, once the Prince has been killed, Queen Mother will allow your families to leave the hive with you," Tempest replied. "Ha, what, do you expect us to just take your word on that? As soon as we're gone she'll probably kill our families!" He challenged. "What other choice do you have? Do you honestly think you have much longer to live anyways?" "...give us a minute to discuss," the largest retreated to the back of the cell and huddled with his peers. They whispered to each other for a while before he turned back to the Princess. "We accept your offer, on one condition." "You are in no place to bargain, deserter," Tempest narrowed her eyes at the brute. "But let me hear this condition." "You let our families go and allow us to escort them somewhere far, far from here." "Unacceptable," Tempest replied. "You take the deal or you refuse it. No bargaining, no terms, no conditions. You do what we ask you the little one gets it." She nodded at an infant changeling sitting on his mother's back. "You wouldn't dar-" The brute was cut off by a magical blast that soared past his head and struck the infant changeling. It flew off its mother's back and, with a sickening crack, slammed into the far wall. Blood flowed freely from its head as it collapsed in a small head at the base of the wall. The mother rushed over to her child and attempted to stop the bleeding. "You were saying?" Tempest smirked as the changeling rushed over to his mate to help the small insect. "YOU BITCH! YOU MIGHT HAVE KILLED HIM!" he screamed at her. "Oh, that did not succeed in killing him? Shall I finish him off then?" her head tilted to the side as her horn glowed a bright orange. "NO! No! We'll do it!" the changeling cried. "Just leave our families alone!" "Good, you are to leave immediately. There are supplies at the exit if the tunnel, along with a drone stocked with food for your journey," Tempest unlocked the cell door and beckoned for the changeling. He and his friends cautiously walked by her and into the tunnel. "Bring us proof of his death, and your families are free to go." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I strained again against the leather straps, with no results. I tried to use magic to break them, but once again, the ring on my horn prevented me. I tried reaching out to drones within the city in the hope to use their bodies to free myself, but my mind was blocked by a barrier identical to the one blocking my magic. This is but a minor setback. I can escape. A simple chair shall not hold me any longer. I shifted my weight to the right, then to the left, then back to the right again. I continued doing this, causing the chair to rock back and forth. Soon enough I had enough momentum to shift to the left and make my chair fall onto the ground. Huzzah! The should weaken the chair's structure enough to break it! Now to just... I struggled against the straps, trying to pull the legs and arm off of the chair. Nothing budged, nor gave signs of weakening. In hindsight, this was never really a good idea. It was then that another bolt decided it was a good time to add to the throbbing in my head by ravaging my thoughts. I cried in pain for a second, before I fell unconscious and slumped in my chair. "Hurry up, slowpoke!" a female voice called through the darkness. "We'll never make it in time if you keep moving like a snail!" "AAAAH! It's so far!" my voice called back. "How much left have we got to go?" "Only another six miles!" the voice cheerily stated. "Now come on, James! Pick those feet up!" "Six more?" I cried in disbelief. "Amanda, I can't make it that far!" "One step at a time, come on!" "Oooohhhh, Mother my head hurts..." I attempted to reach up and rub my temples to alleviate the pain. "Oh, right, I'm stuck." I sat there in the chair tipped onto it's side, thinking about the strange voices in my head. There's absolutely no doubt in my mind that that was MY voice, but what the hell is an Amanda? And I do not recall ever saying anything remotely similar to that. Not to mention the fact that six miles is nothing! Perhaps... Perhaps Amanda something to do with humans. I shall just have to ask the Lyra Hearstrings of Ponyville. I once again struggled against the bonds, hoping that maybe I would be able to break them after resting for a while, but received the same results as always, the straps did not give at all. If I could only use my magic! But this damnable ring is preventing that! If only I could just mak-wait. Mother I had no idea I was this moronic. I focused my energy and transformed my body, turning my body into that of an earth pony. As my horn disintegrated in a silver flame, the ring clattered onto the ground and rolled across the floor. I quickly changed back, and channeled my energy into a small ball of flames. Huzzah! It actually worked! Those ponies can't hold me for long! I dispelled the fireball and set my sights on the strap. A silver aura manifested itself into a blade and sliced the left and right straps, then the straps binding my legs. No longer held in place, I awkwardly slid onto the ground and stretched my limbs. My right foreleg was numb, so much so that I could barely control it, but the rest of them, aside from being stiff, were fine. I leaned down and snatched up the magic inhibitor in my teeth, emptied out one of my poison glands, and used my tongue to push the ring into it. This is mine now. I glanced back at the chair, and it burst into flame. Satisfied, I limped to the door. Breaburn had not bothered to lock it, so I was able to quietly slip out and into an area marked "Cell Block A". It was a large room, two floors, lined with barred off rooms. Most of them were empty, but I noticed a few ponies sleeping on small cots. "Oooooh, yeah, suck it you little bitch!" a voice moaned from above me. Curious, I slowly lifted off the ground and hovered up to the second floor above me. The voice continued to moan things such as "Take it all in, take it all" and "Oh Tartarus, don't fucking stop". I followed it to a cell containing two stallions, one of them was kneeling in front of the other. The didn't notice me, as the one standing over the other and moaning had his eyes closed and the kneeling one was facing away from me. What in the hive's name are they doi-oh. That's strange, I didn't know stallions did that with each other. Satisfied in my discovery about Equestrian culture, I turned away and hovered down back onto the ground floor. Not wanting to stress my right foreleg, I continued to hover as I moved towards the door at the far side of the cavernous room. I found it to be locked, so I quickly melted said lock and continued through. As I reached a turn in the tunnel, a bright beam suddenly turned it and blinded me for a moment. "Eh, WHAT?! THE CHANGELI-" the unicorn didn't get to finish, as I leapt onto him and ripped his throat out. I lit the body and continued down the cement tunnel. I encountered a few more ponies, but I managed to kill most of them before they noticed me. After an hour of wandering through the tunnels, I managed to find a staircase leading upwards. I hovered up it and out of the smoke filled tunnels. There were a few ponies at the top of the staircase, but two quick bolts of energy silenced them, and a hungry flame silenced one of them for good. The other, I stripped of his clothes and disguised myself as him. He was a red unicorn with a buzzed blue mane and short tail. I donned his outfit and let the flames consume him before exiting the room. The tunnel changed from cement to wood, and windows started appearing, letting in the soft moonlight and casting shadows throughout the short tunnel and surrounding rooms. I exited the building, and sent my mind out the small band of scouts I felt were still in the city. One of you, bring me enough currency to purchase a train ticket to Ponyville. Then take me somewhere I can rest without disturbances. My liege! We couldn't detect you! You are alive! And I need a place to rest. Yes, my liege.