I would never have thought this would ever happen. Sharp Edge was always against marriage, or some romance, but now he's standing at the alter with a mare he just met the other day. I slowly stood up in the middle of the wedding cake, there was a loud snap, and the table collapsed out from under me. Edge hurried over to me. “Steam! My favorite dragon, you just made it to be my best dragon”. He had a very goofy grin on his face. I slowly got to my feet, “what? I thought you WERE NOT going to get MARRIED, well not now”. He patted me on my shoulder, “my dear friend Steam. When I saw this cute little thing here,” he pointed at the coffee mare, she giggled when he gave her a wink. “I know she was the one for this stallion of adventure”. The Preacher pony cleared his throat. With out another word, Edge headed back to the alter and snuggled noses with his new fling. The Preacher began to speak in the deepest preacher voice you could imagine , “Dearly beloved, we have gathered here today, to bear witness to these two souls be united in Holy matrimony”. I was a little creepy to see them not even blink as he continued to speak, “If there is anypony has any objections, please speak now or forever hold your piece”. My claw shot up, “I do!” I shouted out, making every pony gasp.
Everypony's eyes where on me. I could feel it in my gut that this was not good plan. The coffee mare glared at me as Edge stomped down the aisle to face me. “Steam, what in Celestia's bulbous, fat, balloon shaped, rainbow colored, cake loving ass are you DOING!?”,he shouted pushing his face into mine. “umm ahha, I c-can't let you do this...”, My voice getting smaller. “ WHY!?” his shouting starting to hurt my ears. “ah, because I know you. You would not get married this fast a-a-and uh” I stammered to find words. “Oh, so you want her huh?!” he said leaning into my face pushing my face. I fell back, “what?! N-no I..” but I was cut off by Sharp Edge,”That's settled then, we duel for her right here and now.” he glared down at me. So, I got to my feet and pushed back,”Ok, if its the only way to beat some sense into you, then fine!” I said nose to nose with him. Needless to say, the fight was short and pathetic on my part. It ended with my head back in the cake again. I was thankful he didn't stick my tail right up my...well you know. “yes , I am the victor!” he leaped up on to alter and rapped his hoofs around his prize, “give me some sugar baby” he said with a very long kiss. I pulled my head out of the cake to see some tongue action.
Hell, I was getting sick by the this, but I couldn't let him go though this. I didn't want one of my only friends in this crazy world to go into something that might turn him into a mummy pony. They began to say their own vows, so I had to do something quick. I saw an empty seat in the front row. “ I hope this works!”, I ran up to the front row, picked up the chair and flung it as hard as I could at edges head. It was a direct hit, knocking him off the alter and on the the grass beyond. I ran over to him and checked if he was all right. He was breathing and his eyes were closed. “Edge? Edge! Are you ok?” I shook him. He opened his eyes, they where rolling around in his head trying to focus on me. “Steam?” he said sitting up rubbing his head, getting his eyes straight. “where am I?” he patted his head, “and more impotently where is my HAT”! The coffee mare came over with his hat and sword. She smile as he took them in his magic, “thank you sweet heart” he said putting them on, “ So, what happened”? I put my claws together “ um... you see.. you almost got married.” I said as gently as I could. “ I almost WHAT?! To who!? Is she pretty!? I hope to Celestia that it wasn't like that one time I woke up in a crummy hotel in Detrot”. I pointed to the coffee mare. She smiled and waved at him. “Well, at lest your pretty.”, he looked over to a commotion behind the alter. “ you didn't tell me that there was a fight going on and I wasn't invited!” he stood up and got on top of the pedestal where the preacher pony had his book. He was trying to calm everypony down. That is, until Edge shoved him out of the way, climbed to the top of it, and jumped off spread eagle on top of a large fight going on. I sighed and shrugged. I should have known that there's always a fight when someone throws a chair.
The coffee mare pulled me down, “who are you?!” she asked me as we could hear sharp Edge lay the smack down on some poor ponies. I was kinda surprised that Edge didn't tell her who I was but I guess she wouldn't be able to get anything out of him when all he could speak was goo goo talk. “Well, I'm Steam, me and my friends where passing through, and got caught up in all this.” I was a little nervous talking to her since my unfortunate event not too long ago. “So, I'm guessing you found out, haven't you.” her voice changed to a more silky smooth tone as she spoke. “ umm I think so but can you tell me what is really going on here?” I asked a tad bit worried. She smiled a little wider then I thought ponies could smile, “don't worry Steam, I do not wish to hurt you”. “uuuuuuhhhh, ok” I was able to say. “The queen had this place only for a reserve of love that we would feed on if the hive was in trouble. That is, when drone #066 came to be the mayor of this town.”, she looked down slightly with a twinge of regret. I put a claw on her shoulder, “what happened?”. Sorry, I'm a softy for a sob story sometimes. I guess I'm just to kind hearted. She looked up at me when I touched her. “He has been making an army from the love that comes from this city. He has been taking his time for over thirty years to make his army. Doing everything to keep it low key so it doesn't raze any suspicion with the Princess or Queen Chrysalis. It's obvious that he wants to take over...well everything.” she looked down and away from me. I tilted my head slightly to look at her better “what's your name”? She looked at me, “ my name.. umm yes of course YQ#007 I'm a young Queen . But you can call me Crystal Clear” she said with a small smile. I smiled a little feeling more comfortable with her, “well, Crystal, we need to get out of here before the puffin drone see's the ruckus I just caused” I said taking her hoof and giving it a small tug. She nodded, “I think that would be a wise idea”. “but I have to find the rest of my friends.” I said scooting along with her on the ground. “ I saw your blue friend in the dress shop when I was getting mine”. My eyes razed an eye brow at her, “crazysaywhat”?

This was a first for me, I didn't think Trixie would be a slink kind of mare but there it is. She wore a light blue wedding gown, that was cut and sewn all for the soul purpose of it to flow behind her with every turn she made in the four mirrors. “nice gown” Crystal complemented. She smiled looking at us through a mirror, “ my smoopy woopy pie picked it out for me.” she said waving a hoof over to a small stallion in a suit that waved back.
I leaned down so only crystal could hear, “ I'm only guessing but did you put some kind of love spell or something in the drinks you gave us”? She nodded, “a very mild love poison, it was mandatory for some cases, like lonely ponies that came here. However, when Drone #066 took over, now its in every dink we serve.” she shrugged and looked down slightly. “sorry”, she apologized. I waved it off, “doesn't matter now, I just need to snap her out of it”. She shook her head, “the only way to fix love poison is to keep the two apart for one hour, but in this place when the swarm see that two ponies are in love, we make sure they are together for as long as possible”. I sigh but something came to me, “wait, blunt force trauma”, I said putting my claws together. “what?”, she asked but I moved behind Trixie without another word. “Hey Trixie, there's something on your face.” I said waiting for the proper moment. She looked in the mirror, “where?” I balled up my claw, leaned way back and asserted myself. I would have made Two face proud when my fist connected with the back of her head and Trixie went down like a sack of lead. She went down to her face, “Why did you do that?” Crystal had a hoof over her mouth. I shook out my claw, “Well,I just did what I did for Sharp Edge”. She looked confused as she stared at me. I sighed a bit, “look, you know when a pony hits their head hard. It kinda scrambles the brain pan”? She was having a hard time fallowing me but she slowly nodded. “Well, once they shake out the cobwebs, they feel like their thought has cleared even for a moment. Its kinda like a reset button.” I finished. She was still confused by my words but I think she got the gist of it.

There was a gasp behind us and her soon to be hubby, pushed me out of the way and started to stroke her face, “crumb cake, honey dish, snooggy wogums are you ok”? She slowly opened her eyes slowly after a few moments to look at him, “get off of me!”, she shouted shoving him off her , “The Great and Powerful Trixie does not like to be crowded, maybe after Trixie's show but not before”. She reaches up to adjust her hat but it wasn't there, “where is Trixe's hat?!” she demanded. I sighed, and explained as much as I could to Trixie. Her eyes went wide when I finished my story, “Trixie almost what?”, she looked at her self, and shrugged, “at lest he had great taste”, she spun in her dress, enjoying how it flowed with her. Me and Crystal face hoofed.
There was a a hiss from her newly ex-fiance as he flew out of the boutique. “we don't have much time. You and your friends are causing too much trouble for the changelings here.” Crystal said looking very worried. That's not good, “we need to find Oger, where is the diamond dog that I came in with?” I asked Crystal. She just shrugged. Trixie tapped her chin thinking,” I think I saw him walk into the woods, last time I saw him”. I smiled slightly, “well, that's a start, but we gotta hurry.”

Sneaking out of the Boutique was a little easier with Crystals help. She could tell us when squadrons where coming and where to hide with out them sensing us. It wasn't until now I had to ask, “why are you helping us”? She stopped to think about it for a few moments. “you where the only one that didn't turn into a mindless love sick dragon, like we usually get. I thought it would give me an opportunity to leave this crystal mother forsaken place”, she looked down sadly when she finished talking. I felt something else was more to the story but I didn't want to push it just yet. “thank you, but we need to keep going.”, I gave her a kind smile. She smiled back as we continued.
The streets where cleared except for groups of changeling's not looking like normal ponies. They look a lot more uglier in real life then on the show. However, I just think it was the bright red in their eyes instead of acid green. They also clicked and hissed like some kind of hell insects.
I tapped Crystal on her shoulder to get her to look at me. “what are they saying?” I asked, kind of guessing already what they where talking about. She stopped to listen for a few moments. “ The tan pony is causing trouble in the main court yard, they need more units to hold him down”. I smiled shaking my head. “ he has always been one of those ponies that are to stubborn to go down, and loves an impossible challenge.” She smiled and blushed slightly, well it looked like she was blushing, with a light blue in her cheeks. I shook my head slightly thinking, ya he's the stuff that's part of every mare's wet dream is made of.

We were clear once we got out of the city. It was nice to breath fresh air again, it was not as sickly sweet in the city. It took us nearly a half hour to at lest find his refrigerator still laying on top of the broken tree it smashed into yesterday. “where is he? Where is that big dope?” Trixie huffed. I looked around and threw my arms up, “I have no idea where he is. He could be half way to Canterlot by now for all I know”. “That be wonderful honey bumps” Oger's voice carried over to us. The three of use exchanged looks from Trixies surprise to Crystals confusion. I was the first to slowly walk over where we heard Oger.
The sight was strange, even for Oger's standers. He was laying on his belly with both paws rapped around a stump. He was snuggling it with his face against it, saying so many goo-goo names to it , I thought I was going to puke gumdrops. “I have to hear a lot of baby talk but hearing a large Diamond Dog tell a stump that it is its smoopy, woopy, dooopy, snoopy pie makes me disgusted”, Crystal made a face, sticking out her tongue. “well, lets see if I can wake him up.” I said picking up a good sized log. I walked up to Oger with log in my claws. I took a solid stance, taking a few careful practice swings at his head, I swung the log as far as I can back in my stance, then I gave him my best home run swing.
With a loud crash, the log exploded into splinters against his skull. The impact snapped his head back and to the left. He slowly flopped over on to his side releasing the stump. “ I think you killed him!” Crystal said with a hoof over her mouth. I dropped the nub of the stick I had left, and checked him quickly. He had a pulse, but his eyes were rolling in his head, “ moopy doopy” he said trying to focus on me. I slapped his face hard trying to straighten out his eyes, but it didn't work. So I continued to slap him. “ WHY!...WONT!... YOU!.. WAKE!...UP!.. WAKE UP” I said very pissed after I don't know how long of slapping. “ STEAM! MOVE!” I heard Trixie yell. I hopped off Oger's chest, just in time to see Trixie flatten Oger with his own fridge. “You killed him!” Crystal said with her two front hoofs over her mouth, her eyes very wide. Trixie just blew a raspberry, “Nah, hes not dead. Hes been through a lot worse then this”. Sadly I would have to agree with her on that one.
Oger's limbs were the only thing visible from under the fridge, but no sound came from the large diamond dog. Crystal and I glared at Trixie. “What?” she asked looking back at us. Groans came from the Diamond Dog. Oger shoved the huge metal box off of himself, and sat up rubbing his head. “uh, Oger head hurt.” he rubbed his head and looked up, “What happened to tan pony?” he asked looking at the three of us. I sighed and explained everything that had happened in the last few hours of the morning. He started to laugh when I told him about Sharp Edge getting married. Crystal shied away a bit when he laughed. I slugged him. “what Oger do”? I gestured to Crystal. It took him a few minutes for the kogs to work. “ ooooh” he said finally realizing who Edges intended bride to be was. “\ya, show some manners next time.” I said Gibs slapped the back of his head. He said something in his native tongue wile he stood up. “Now,” I clapped my claws together, “ we just need to get Edge and get the buck out of here”. Crystal shook her head slightly, “one could not simply walk in there unscathed, we would be swarmed within seconds.” she looked a little afraid when she spoke.
Oger grunted in amusement, “buggers don't scare Oger.” he beat his chest with one paw. Trixie tossed her cape, “yes Trixie will be able to withstand any amount of changeling's you throw at her.” I smiled and patted Crystal on the shoulder, “don't worry,” I smiled “come on, I'm a dragon. Whats the worst that could happen.”

“Why do I always say stuff like that!” I said holding the door closed, as small red eye changelings hissing and snarling tried to push it open. We found our way into the town, with some difficulty. Ok, we were spotted within moments and chased into a coffee & bagel shop. Oger was holding a table up to a window. The changelings broke the window behind it and were scratching at the table. Trixie was hiding behind the bagel bar and shot a random firework or two at any changelings that got past Oger. Crystal, hissed back at the changelings, and slung crystal blue spell bombs out her window. Edge on the other hand, ….... he was sitting reading a news paper, enjoying a bagel and coffee while he swung his sword in his magic, keeping over half the Zergs at bay. I stared at him, “We are in the middle of a ZERG RUSH, and you having COFFEE AND BAGLES! “ I yelled out of frustration, I could feel them starting to cut through the door. He sighed, and putting down his paper, said “fine, I'll help to the best of my abilities.”, he sipped his coffee “and it's tea not coffee.” Then he slammed the large shutters on the changelings, they let out a loud screech and all of them retreated. I gave a sigh of relief and let go of the door almost slumping to the floor.
“There, I chased them away” he said before slapping me on the back as he turned back to his paper, “quit being such a scale butt,” he flipped his paper open at me. Crystal shook her head, “no they are getting #066 to help them fight the intruders”. I sighed and slumped into a seat next to Edge. “Ok, so we are stuck in a bagel house and going to get Zerg rushed again, with puffin pants as back up”. She nodded, “that is just B.E.A.utiful.”, I looked at Crystal. “is there any Changeling repellent or some way to repel them away from this town”? She sat at the table across from me, tapping a hoof to her chin. “ I'm not sure, the only time I could think that any changeling was chased off was when the Queen and her army was blasted away by some kind of very strong love energy”. I hit my head on the table, “great, we are so bucked over a pole on this one”. Edge chuckled a bit from behind his paper. We all looked at him, even Trixie from behind the bagel bar. He looked back at us, “what?” he asked returning most of our glares. “What do you think is so funny, you tan hided suicidal psycho pony.”, Trixie scolded Sharp Edge. He rolled his eyes and put his paper on the table, showing a black and white picture of a heart gem. I looked at it, “so what is it”? “ look tasty” Oger licked his lips. Crystal gave him a shot to the back of his head, “that's not for eating!”, She shouted at him.
Edge chuckled, “she's right, and I figured out a way to get out of this alive.” he said flattening out the paper, “this is an ancient artifact called, The Lover's Necklaces”. Once flattened he read, “the Lover's Necklaces has been moved today, from Canterlot to the Hearts & Hoof museum for further studies of its mystical powers of making anypony fall in love with whom ever is wearing it.” he finished looking up at us. “so”, I started to ask, “how in the blue blazes will that help us?” I finished throwing my arms up. He smiled at me “simple, we break it”. “what?” Crystal asked incredulously. “Well, this thing should be full of powerful love magic, if we break it open then that power is released. Thus saving everypony in the city of hearts.” he finished crossing his hoofs and smiling, proud of himself.
I couldn't argue with him, I could hear the changelings buzzing wings outside of the building. “If that's all we got, we have to move now”. “ Ya lets go.” he finished his coffee … I mean tea and reached for his other half of his bagel. “wait, where's my bagel?” he said looking at the empty plate. I wiped my chin of crumbs, “um I don't know” I said after I picked my teeth with my tongue. Come on, it was a toasted cranberry bagel with fruit cream cheese. How could I pass that up?
The buzzing stopped and there was a knock at the door. Then I heard the gravely voice of the drone outside of it, “please come out my scaly friend, and no harm will come to you or your friends”. I motioned everyone to go to the back. “How do I know you aren't just blowing rainbows up my skirt?” I said as everypony and diamond dog slowly moved to the back, Edge was behind me. “I give you my word.” he said, I swear I could see that smile on the other side of that door. I stepped back a few steps. “No deal, I don't trust anypony with the name puffin pants”. Edge looked at the door and said, “Puffin Pants... Really, is that the best you got”? “Then I guess we have no choice but to break down the door. Good bye Mr dragon.” Once The drone finished, the door started to splinter. Oh shit! In an act of desperation. I gave my best breath weapon blast hoping to burn them but only ice came out. I moved my ice bean across the door, and windows before I ran out of breath. “well that works”, Edge said then patting my shoulder, “we need to move, its not going to hold them out forever”.
We made our way with the others to the back door. “ the changelings have us blocked off, we are doomed.” Trixie was shivering from fright, solid in place. When I touched her shoulder, she jumped looking back at me. “calm down, we will get out of here.” I gave her a small smile. I didn't think we where, but anything could happen. She gave a smile back and stopped shaking at least. “This taking to long”, Oger picked me up by my neck and he squished my belly. A large fireball burped out of my mouth blasting the door to pieces, sending Changelings flying through the air.
That's when we made our move. Oger held me like a rocket launcher under his arm. Every once and wile, he would give me a hard squeeze against my protests and I would burp up a fireball sending flames and changelings everywhere. Trust me, you would not believe ... how much this hurt. I finally wiggled free of Ogers grip when we got into the museum “don't ever do that again” I said through the pain and gasps for air. Oger just shrugged and moved deeper into the museum.
When I could breath again, I was able to look around. For the most part, it looked like a normal museum that you would find in a good sized city, except for the color scheme of reds, pinks and whites. There was a pink and white service desk in the middle of the lobby, signs point off to the different exhibits. Crystal barricaded our scorched entrance with two desks and a bookshelf.
“Ok”, I said my voice a little horse, ha get it horse “where is the necklace”? “It's in the historic section.” Edge said behind the desk. All I could see was his tail, then he came up for air with a museum map in his magic. I walked over and looked at it. It was really obvious where it was, when there was a colored picture of the heart necklace under the historic label. “Well, that's convenient.”, I said, my throat clearing up a bit. There was some loud buzzing outside the door. “We better hurry, they sound really upset.” Crystals said looking a bit worried. Edge and I nodded in agreement.
It wasn't long till we found the the exhibit we where looking for. The Lover's Necklace looked very beautiful. The whole thing was made out of white gold, and socketed with many well cut white gems to make wings to go around ones neck. The center piece was a large smooth, light blue heart gem. The necklace was encased in a glass box. “There necklace, what ponies waiting for”, Oger said drawing his great sword, and swinging it at the box. His sword rang like a bell when it connected. Oger stood still like a statue for a few seconds before dropping his sword. Crystal rolled her eyes, and looked at the sign below the box. “Its says for extra security Lover's Necklace is always kept in a diamond reinforced , crystal box.” she finish wile Oger had his paws under his armpits. “Changeling should have told Oger first” he said with a small growl. “Then how do we open it?” Trixie asked throwing her hooves in the air in exasperation. Crystal shrugged, “we can always blast it open.” Edge said thinking. Oger nodded and reached for me again. I slapped his paw away and glared at him. He held up his paws, “Ok, Ogers sorry for using little dragon as boom stick”. I looked back at Edge, “I know that's out of the question. How else are we going to get it out?” I asked standing next to Edge. He smiled wide at me, “I have an idea”. That didn't sound good for me.
He stomped his hoof on my clawed foot, I opened my mouth to let out a yowl of pain, only to have Edge slam my opened mouth into the box. My teeth sunk into it and he turned my head into a clockwise direction to make a hole. Once the hole was done, I pulled my head back and I spat out the pieces of the box I still had in my mouth. “you know, I hate it when you get ideas like that.” I said cleaning off my tongue. It instinctively tasted like blue berry, with a touch of coconut. I hate coconut, not the taste the consistency.
Edge started to pull it out, then we noticed that there where red changelings on the windows, on the roof, and at the exits, all were made of glass. They used their faces to break through the thick glass. “ooh horse apples” Crystal said looking up at the many changelings bashing their heads on the glass. The bashing was creating cracks that's spiderwebed across each pane. “ um hurry up Edge. How do we break it open”? I said as the window panes shattered above us, shards of glass fell down all around us. Edge and I jumped back away from large chunks of glass coming down. None of us was hurt, however, within seconds we were surrounded by bright red eyed changelings. Then Drone #066 landed with a solid thud in front of the empty box. He was about Big Mac size for a changeling, well muscled, his color was a deep red instead of the bright red like his army. He did have a horn, but instead of the swirly horn like normal changelings, it looked sharp and jagged. “Did you really think you could stop me with old magic from a cheesy necklace?” “w-well it seemed like a good idea at the time.”, I stuttered trying to keep my nerves under control since the top of my head comes to mid neck on him. He smiled polished onyx fangs at me, “ how pathetic, a rag tag group that contains, two unicorns, one of which was chased out by her kind”. Trixie moved forward trying to get past me. I held her back, “calm down”, I whispered to her. She nodded but she still glared at him. He continued with out a second thought, “a diamond dog that is far from home, a Changeling that should know better then to help outsiders, and a dragon that doesn't know when to keep his pointed nose out of other ponies business”.
Edge walked in font of me with a smile, “you insulted everypony but me. What am I not that important to your agenda?” he asked still holding the necklace. The Drone narrowed his red eyes at him, “no, your just a slight thorn in my side.”, he said with a smirk. Edge nearly walked up almost nose to nose to the drone as he stood on two hooves. “well, I always can do better than that”, he turned away slightly, “I can always turn from thorn in your side to pain in your ass”, he finished then suddenly swung the necklace hard up side Drone#066”s head throwing him off balance for a second. Edge quickly tossed the necklace to Trixie, then drew his sword. He was tossed by the drone to the side, anger in his eyes,” GIVE ME THAT NECKLACE!” he howled at us, then made a horrible screech. The Changelings sprung into attack formation.
Within moments, the changelings where on us like ugly on an ape. Oger started swing his sword keeping them off him the best he could, when they clung to him, he was beating off changelings with a free fist. Trixie ran around in circles keeping that necklace from the swarm, sending fireworks and small bolts of lighting that oddly enough left the changeling that it hit in stitches when struck. When #066 was on her tail, she tossed the necklace to Crystal. She garbed it wile the Drone slid into a display of a ruby encrusted Faberge hearts, smashing them to little pieces. He hissed in anger at Crystal, she hissed back as she took off. The changelings where on my ass, since I was standing there like an idiot. My body wasn't big enough to take on anything. All I had was my breath weapons. So, I breathed ice on the ground to sent them sprawling behind me. I clocked one in the head with a closed claw in font of me to make some room, and I began to run. I sent small puffs of fire to get the attention of most of them to keep them off my friends but there were too many of them to stop. Crystal tossed the necklace to me before there was a crude cage made of splinters of wood and red ooze, dropped around her. I caught the necklace and ran with it in my claws.
“Steam, up here!” I heard somepony yell to me. I looked up to see Edge riding on the back of a flying Changeling. He swung his sword over his head, “YEEEEE HAAA!” he howled as he flew over head. “ENOUGH!” yelled the drone, he summoned a hellish red lighting bolt and vaporized the the changeling he was riding on. Once the ash fell away, Edge tried flapping his hoofs before falling to the floor at the Drone's feet. “I have had enough of you making me look like a fool”. Edge just smiled, slowly getting to his hooves, “oh, you didn't need me for that Puffin Pants”, he gave a laugh at his name. In a spike of anger, the Drone grabbed a rock from another exhibit and smashed it into the side of Edge's head. Sending him flying into a wall. “Drain him and his friends, we'll make it look to be a robbery him and his friends cooked up for the Lover's Necklace”, he smirked. They had Edge pined along with, Oger and Trixie within seconds. My back was in a corner with the necklace in my claws. I knew I was fucked if I didn't do something soon.
Crystal hissed and snarled in her cage. The drone smiled, “and as for you YQ#007” his smiled widened “you will treat me with the same respect as your sister”. “ I will never be your queen you cur, slimy, white hatchling!” The drone just chuckled, “temper temper, that's no way a young queen should act.”, that's when he turned his attention to me. “and as for you, my little dragon friend”. I began to squeez the heart center piece of the necklace out of fear and hope it might break in my hand. The changelings parted for him as he approached me. “I'll leave you for last.”, he smiled before speaking in a grim voice and leaning his head down to my eye level, “I want you to watch your friends be drained of all their essence”. I looked over his shoulder to see everyone slipping away. It took thirty changelings to hold Oger down and drain him. He was still struggling slightly as green mist was being pulled from his body. Trixie was on her back and her eyes where rolled into the back of her head. Then I finally saw Sharp Edge, still struggling and trying to fight, was held down by eight changelings and I could tell he was dieing before my eyes. “Steam...” he was struggling to breath now “just ... run.” I could feel my face harden and a tear come to my eye as I looked back to Puffin Pants. His smiled sparked a fire inside of me, this smug asshole would not get away with this. I may have to do the worst case scenario. I don't know if this will kill me but I would do it to take down the bigest asshole of this world. “Now give it up, you can't win. Hand over that necklace and I'll kill you quickly”. I couldn't help but shrug and give him a smile, “no” I whispered “What was that?” he asked his face hardening.“Do you have a hearing problem? I said no you cocky son of a bitch no, but I will see you in hell” I said before shoving the entire necklace into my mouth. “ NO!” the drone quickly reached out with his dark red magic to take it from me, but it was too late. I bit down hard on the very sweet gem. My mouth snapped open, spewing pink flames at the drone. He held off the magic for a few seconds with his own magic but it wasn't enough. The recoil slammed me into the wall behind me. The stone started to crack around my back. From the shear force of the blast, the drone's horn snapped in half. He howled of pain as he was tossed ass over teakettle out of the roof and away.
The remaining changelings fled from the museum but my trip was far from over. My head squished deep into the wall before it broke. I went flying off like a rocket. My head slammed in to many of the roof tops, and sent my body rag dolling along with the ride. It slammed me hard into the ground and the flames wrapped around the stone heart that was in town square. I finally coughed up the last of the flames after the heart started to glow pink. I didn't care at the time, I was spitting up the the pieces of the necklace on the ground, then scooping up dirt into my mouth. “ SWEEEEET! TOOO SWEET!” I yell through the dirt I shoved into my mouth. Tears and muddy drool covered my face. I washed my mouth out with the water in the fountain. I wiped my tongue off then finally looked up at the heart that was now glowing a pink color above me. Instead of heart being stone, it was now a large pink gemstone that radiated a power of true happiness. I guess that's what real love feels like. I could see the few changelings that where not in the fight , flying off trying to get away from the energy. I lay on the ground before the fountain. Once again, I was sore all over. Ugh, I hate having my ass kicked so much in this world.
I felt terrible, my jaw hurt the most. I thought my lower jaw would break off. I held my jaw as I slowly got up and hobbled back over to the hole I made in the museum. It was dark now, but I found my way in and seen my friends still on the ground. I checked them all first to see if they where still alive. They all had a pulse, and they where breathing, though Edge and Oger Aren't doing to great but there stable that's all that mattered. Edge and Oger tried to swat me off, but was too weak to really do anything. Then I went over to the cage that Crystal was in. She was curled up on the bottom of it, and she wasn't her red fur self. I had to admit she was pretty even for a changeling. She was smooth instead of a rough scaly bug carapace like the creatures we where dealing with before. Her true color was a light baby blue for her natural color instead of red or green . “Don't look at me, I'm a hideous.” she said covering her face with non-hole hooves. That was a first. I did my best to cut through the wood bars with my claws. I leaned down to her, “come on, you don't look bad at all.” I said softly. She shook her head, “ I'm just a monster, I'm just an insect that needs to be crushed”. She had tears in her eyes big blue eyes, looking away from me. “come on, look at me, most ponies think I'm a monster, but I like who I am as I am “ I gave her a smile, “ trust me I do understand”. She looked up at me and gave me a smile, “your right, and I didn't know you had such pearly whites”. I looked at her confused. “ what”? I headed over to the closest mirror I could find and smiled in it. Sure enough, my teeth where a polished pearly white. I never seen my teeth so white before. It even made the squeaky sound when I rubbed my tongue across them. I don't think I ever had a smile this good, but I have to get back to my friends.
There was a shriek, I rushed back to where the shriek came from. Crystal brought Trixie around and Trixie, with fear filled eyes, was hugging the wall. “it's ok, it's ok, it's Crystal. This is what she really looks like.”. I said getting between Trixie and Crystal. “Really? Well, that's d-different.” she said unraveling herself from the wall. I helped Crystal bring Edge and Oger around. She used some kind of blue smelling salts to wake them. I was there to explain to them this was Crystal. “oh, well you still are pretty,” Edge said still a little out of it. She blushed her light blue in her cheeks and I just shook my head. “so is every other pony still alive?”, I asked. She nodded, “yes, I would imagine that the real ponies where in storage. I'll show you where we keep them.” she said leading us out slowly since most of us where having trouble walking.
. . ,
Crystal lead us to a large storage room under the post office. It took us a few hours to get everypony awake. They where fearful of Crystal but after I explained everything to them, they were a little more friendly, and had a few extra lumps. It was easier to get them out from under the love spell, thanks to Oger. We got them all out and got them rooms to stay in to sleep off the head aches.
“Lets go to the bar and celebrate. We beat the Changeling army!” Edge cheered walking off with Oger. I saw Crystal walking away from us. “nah, I'll see you later ok?” I said heading off to catch up with Crystal. “ no problamo I'll save you a bottle.” he whooped as he and Oger headed into the the bar. I caught up with Crystal when she was almost out of town. She had tears in her eyes when I looked into her face, “Hey, whats wrong?”, I asked her as I walked with her. She didn't look at me, “I miss my sister.”, she sat down hard, tears leaking down her face. My heart sunk for her, I sat next to her and I hugged her, “I'm sorry for your loss.” I held my tears back as I held her. She was surprised at first, then she gave me a weak hug back, “thank you... your a very kind dragon.”, she said perking up a bit. I let go after a wile, “so, what will you do?” She shrugged still looking down, “I don't know Steam. I could stay here and clean up the place, and be a real mayor for this town or I could go with you, and see what its like outside of my home”. I was confused, “what for? I think I get ponies into trouble”. She shrugged again, “sure but you always have a plan to get them out and your the only dragon that was kind to a creature like me”, she looked at me then looked away, “give me the rest of the night to think about it, ok? There's a lot on my mind I have to think through”. “Ok, but will you be ok by yourself out here?” she nodded looking at the stars. I gave her a smile and was about to leave. She looked a me for a second, “oh, Steam one last thing” she said. I walked up to her, “What?” I asked. She slugged me hard in my gut. Any lower and I would be sing soprano. “What was lat for?” I inhaled. She narrowed her eyes slightly, “That's for ruining my first wedding.” she said but she smiled at me looking back up at the stars. I hobbled away, taking my time to breath again.
Half way in town I felt that gurgling feeling again and burped up a jet black scroll. I smiled slightly and opened it. The words read:

That was a very sweet thing you did for that changeling. I'm very proud of you and maybe a little jealous.

I blushed a little at that, but smiled none the less, “checking up on me I see Princess Luna.”

Maybe I am, maybe I'm not or maybe I'm checking up on my favorite little dragon. I heard you where causing a ruckus in the city of hearts, and please just call me Luna

I smiled a little more, “well Luna, yes I got myself into another pickle and almost died again. So its another day in paradise really.” I said with some sarcasm with that last part.

Well, I'm thankful your still okay. You know I do worry about you. I mean I brought you here and I feel responsible for your well being.

I chuckled a little bit, “or is it that you have a crush on me and you are thankful that I'm alive so I may see you one day.” I said jokingly.

Oh, my little dragon, you wont know until you get here.

The scroll disappeared in a puff of smoke and blue sparkles, but I was still standing there with disbelief on my face for a few beats. I sighed and headed back to the Inn/Coffee shop. I passed the mini party going on between Edge, Oger and Trixie, and Crystal joined shortly after. Edge wanted me to stay but I waved him off. I was too tired, and too sore to party or do anything for that matter. I saw the map on the bed side table and wondered how it got there, I thought I lost it a while ago, but I was too tired to care at the moment. I put out the candle and flopped into bed. I was out like a drunk after happy hour. Unknowing what lay next in my journey.

Achievement Awarded: ZERG RUSH! : Survive a swarm of 200 Zerg changelings.
A Very Sweet Treat: Use your jaws to brake the Lover's Necklace.

Perks: Prince Charming's smile: you gain +3 to your charisma when you smile, and have 20% better chance talking to the opposite gender.

Steam The Unknown

by Cavedragon

ZERG RUSH!