Chapter 11
When I wake up its dawn and I'm still on the same cloud that I was on before. Though the position has changed it seems that the cloud orbited to the other side of town. My head is pounding it seems someone was trying to contact me in my sleep I close my eyes and connect to the changeling who wanted to speak with me. It was Red the official leader of the council, “why did you want to speak with me" I asked inquisitively.
”I’m terribly sorry my lord it's just that you are the last changeling to be our leader and If something were to happen to you there wouldn't be anyone to lead us."
“Continue" I say to him. “Well the counsel and I have been talking and we've decided that you need at least some protection when you’re on your own."
“You’ve made a decision without my consent" I yell at him feeling my anger start to rise. “You’re the king now my lords there are things that need to be established and this is one of them."
" Don't call me a king" I say to him " our queen is still out there somewhere and once we find her she'll regain her rightful place on the throne, I am only holding down her kingdom until she returns."
"Your protector will be there by the end of the day I’m sorry to go against your wishes my lord but your all we have left". The more I talked to him the more I felt annoyed by him. “Just look harder for our queen" I said and to completely end the conversation I 'hang up' the connection between us.
When I opened my eyes again the sun had risen quite a bit. So I decided to stretch my body and glide down to the ground. Before I could reach the ground however I heard a faint howl. This howl sounded as if something were in pain. When I hit the ground I turned my head into the direction of where the howling came from.
Turns out it came from the ever free forest which just so happened to be right next to me. The cloud probably floated its way over to the Everfree forest. Either that or somepony was trying to play a prank on me. Though it was probably the former I heard that clouds around the Everfree forest move on their own, maybe this one just happened to drift all the way to the other side of town.
Anyway that's not important right now I have to find the source of the howling. With that resolve I charged straight into the forest. The forest was darkening rather quickly until I could barely see what was in front of me. All I could do was follow the sound and hope I could find the source of it.
I transformed out of my Pegasus form and back into my changeling form immediately the darkness lessened a bit. I guess pony eyes don’t come equipped with night vision capabilities. After a while of searching I found a small clearing with a wounded wolf cub howling softly in pain. It acknowledged my existence and looked at me with pleading eyes.
I don't know what compelled me to do so but I went over to it and fed it magic through my horn. The injuries that it adhered were many scratches over the body. It was bleeding profusely and I had lessened it considerably but it still needed to be treated by someone who was an expert in animals.
Immediately after I thought that my brain clicked, I should take the pup to Fluttershy. I put the pup on my back and returned out of the Everfree forest the same way I had entered. During the party yesterday I learned that Fluttershy lived near the Everfree so I quickly changed back into my Pegasus form and traveled around the perimeter of the forest. I did this quickly but carefully as to not hurt the pup even further.
The reason I'm calling it by pup is because I don't know if it's a girl or a boy. I didn't really have the time considering it was left there to die. In no time at all I had found a home near the Everfree and I assumed it was Fluttershy's, why you may ask because there are animals all around this home and the mare in question is flying around tending to these animals.
I trotted up to her and said " Fluttershy" I may have said her name louder than I needed to because once I said her name she let out a small "eep" and hid behind a tree nearby. “Fluttershy I'm sorry I scared you but I need your help." She quickly uncovered her hooves from her face and looked at me. Her eyes immediately grew larger, probably in shock and said “what happened to that poor creature on your back".
So I told her what happened starting with the faint howling and how I had found him like this. Of course I left out the part where I had healed it with some of my magic. All the while she was listening attentively to what I was saying while she tended to the rest of the pup's injuries. She had a rag that she was pressing into the pup’s fur and each time she pulled it off of the pup, it got stained redder and redder with blood.
The pup was unconscious or what I believed to be unconscious its eyes were not opened and it was breathing softly. It may have been asleep but I can't be too sure. Fluttershy excused herself from her newest patient and told me to watch after it while she managed to go get gauze to wrap it's injuries with.
While she went I took the liberty of looking at it to get a better picture of what it looked like. It was a black furred wolf with two red spots and two green spots on its chest, its tail was small and the eye color by what I can tell is a light blue shade. I then remembered the three pairs of eyes that have been following me since I was in Canterlot and I wondered does this pup have anything to do with those three eyes. I mean the eyes that I saw were red, green, and blue and this pup apparently has the same pair on its fur. It can't just be a coincidence though I guess I'll have to figure that out later Fluttershy is returning.
She told me to hold the roll of gauze in my hooves while she unrolled it and wrapped it around the pup’s scratches. When she was done I felt compelled to say something “Fluttershy thanks for your help this really means a lot to me" she looked back at me and gave me a small smile before saying " it's fine taking care of animals is my job after all". My face broke out into smile when I heard that she really does enjoy what she does “Is it ok if you could watch the pup for me until it gets better."
“Of course I'll make sure to take good care of him until he's healthy again." With that said I said goodbye to Fluttershy and headed out I'm sure she had everything under control. While leaving my stomach rumbled and I remembered I still needed to feed for today. I wasn't that hungry but it always does well to make sure you have a steady intake of love each day.
I had reserves of love you could say but love is better when freshly squeezed. So I decided to find out where any members of the CMC were. I decided to head to the apple family's farm, that's where Applebloom lives if I recall correctly. I flew in the direction of the farm enjoying the nice morning breeze. I really should do this more often it takes away the pain that I feel whenever I remember that my queen is gone.
Knowing her though she is probably trying to find another way to dominate Equestria or at the very least get revenge on whoever defeated her. Come to think of it I don't really know who defeated her. I'd assume it was the holders of the elements of harmony but the elements of harmony themselves were nowhere in the room. So that would mean it wasn't them and if it wasn't them then who blasted all the changelings into oblivion.
While trying to ponder on the subject I noticed I was flying over some Apple trees. Judging from the distance I was going I could see that I was in the middle of the orchard. How did I get here without noticing anything?
I decided to land and began to walk through the various trees sprawled around. I didn't eat any of the delicious looking apples because I figured Applejack would be mad at that, plus it wouldn't fill me with any sustenance anyway. I find a break in the trees and through it I see the way to the Apple family's barn and also a tree house.
I headed for the tree house, wanting to know what its purpose was. I got close to the steps leading to the tree house but I didn’t even make one step on them before a voice interrupts " Camo, what are y'all doing here near mah clubhouse?" when I turned around it was Applebloom who was talking to me I quickly answered " Well I was flying over the farm when I saw this magnificent clubhouse and I just knew I had to take a closer look at it."
She looked me up and down before saying “Alright then follow me I'll give you the tour." She went on to tell all the major features of the clubhouse, I wasn't listening I was mainly trying to concentrate on absorbing her love into me. Though one thing she said stood out above the rest. “This is the spot we sit around to come up with good ideas". One of my eyebrows rose up in confusion “you use a spot to come up with great ideas."
“Yeah most of our crusading ideas come to us when we sit and think on that spot." The spot in question was a target complete with red and white circles. My mind couldn't comprehend how one could get ideas from this one spot but I guess it's only crazy if it doesn't work.
"So where are the other crusaders shouldn't they be here with you?" “There on their way here we were supposed to do some crusading today." Suddenly her eyes got huge and she said with extreme excitement “Wanna join us I know you’re not a crusader yet but maybe you could help us find our cutie marks." “Let me think about it for a moment" once I said this Applebloom immediately pointed at the spot in the corner of the clubhouse.
I looked at her confused for a moment before she said “it’s also a good spot for thinking".
I decided to take her word for it and sat down on it. I could go and hang out with them I don't see the problem with it, but will hanging out with them really get me closer to finding my queen.
They treat me as their friends there also one of the first to accept me but if I get too close to them they may find out my secret or worse they may get me distracted from my mission although I do owe them for the presents and for when they allowed me into the castle.
Alright I'll hang out with them for a while and then I'll head for the library there may be something on my queen there. After all we are talking about twilight here and with her affiliation with the princess she’s bound to have something on the location of my queen. “Ok I'll join you on your crusade for today."
Apple bloom gave a "yes" in triumph and proceeded to go outside of the clubhouse, probably to wait for her friends and give them the news. After a while of waiting the familiar buzzing sound of Scootaloo on her scooter got louder and louder until it stopped completely. I went outside to see if my guess was right and indeed it was. Sweetie Bell and Scootaloo had just gotten off there transportation and were headed straight for Apple Bloom.
The three of them gave each other a quick hug before proceeding to the doorway of the tree house. Every step they took they looked more and more excited, probably by the fact that they can do crusades they thought they wouldn't be able to do without a Pegasus that can fly. “Camo you’re really going to help us today?" Scootaloo asked with a vigorous tone. “Yeah why not I pretty much have nothing else to do today." Almost immediately after I said this she started jumping around excitedly. “Girls we can finally try sky diving."
“Isn’t skydiving a little dangerous for us I mean were just kids" I said. I should have figured she'd say something like that I mean if her role model is Rainbow Dash then I should've figured that she would want to do something that would rival her apparent awesomeness. “Why does every pony say that, all you have to do is drop us over a lake or something so that we land safely" now that could work and unless they don't know how to swim nothing can really go wrong. “I guess I could help with that I still have a bad feeling though." Scootaloo then nudges me on the shoulder “Aw come on what could possibly go wrong."
The other crusaders looked like they were ok with it so I decided it was fine to do what they wanted. We arrived at a lake that was on the out skirts of Ponyville I immediately went into the lake and swam down. The lake seemed like it was pretty deep and I would have searched longer but I needed air so I quickly swam back up to the surface.
I took a couple breaths of air before I swam back to the shore where the crusaders were waiting for me. “Alright it seems deep enough so who's first?" Scootaloo immediately raised her hoof in the air why did I even need to ask the question of course the only other Pegasus would want to try first. Especially since she told me she couldn't fly yet back at Canterlot. Speaking of which how long has it actually been since that day we were defeated.
That's a subject to ponder later on right now I have a flightless Pegasus to get airborne. I grab Scootaloo just above her wings and wrapped my front hooves around the circumference of her body and began flapping upwards. We were ascending at a slow pace and by the look of Scootaloo's face I knew she wanted me to go faster. I haven't carried anyone while flying before maybe I should consider weight training.
We arrive at the height that Scootaloo said to stop at and I drop her off on a nearby cloud. I did that mostly because I was tired but also because I figured Scootaloo has never been on a cloud before.
“Alright here I go" and with that she jumped off, I laid down on the cloud and peered over it to see how Scootaloo was doing. She was in a diving position headed for the middle of the lake.
She landed with a splash which caused the water in the lake to turn into waves which in turn splashed water all over Sweetie Bell and Apple Bloom. Their faces showed that they were slightly annoyed to get wet before there turn. I jumped off the cloud and started to fall towards the lake but before I could even land in the water I spread my wings and glided to where Apple Bloom and Sweetie Bell.
“Ok who's next" I said "me" Sweetie Bell replied though when she said it she had a little nervousness in her voice. I picked her up and began to fly again this time Sweetie Bell didn't want to fall as high as Scootaloo did so we went a little lower than the cloud and dropped Sweetie Bell. On the way down she screamed "CANNON BALL" and landed with a big splash in the lake.
The splash only affected the middle of the lake though so the waves didn't have a chance to mess with the other crusader that was left on the shore. By then Scootaloo was on the shore and she checked her flank for what I assume a cutie mark but to no avail. She looked sad but then decided against it.
I flew back down to the shore and waited for Sweetie Bell to arrive back. When she did she also checked her flank for a cutie mark but there was none. “Alright Apple Bloom you ready?" She nodded slowly and I also noticed that she made an almost inaudible gulping noise. "Su... sure let's go". I could tell from the stuttering that she was most likely afraid of heights.
"Apple Bloom you don't have to do this if you don't want to." Her fear was quickly dispelled by what I would guess to be pride. " Nonsense let's get this over with already." and with that I pulled her up though with each passing second she looked more and more frightened. I got to where I dropped Sweetie Bell and released her from my grip. She started to plummet to the water at a quickening pace and she began to flail her limbs around.
I quickly tried to catch up with her so that she wouldn't be as scared but before I could reach her a griffon caught her and began flying away. After I knocked myself out of my stupefied state of mind I began to chase the griffon. I could tell that he was green with a black shirt on and a scarf dangling from his neck. I quickly used my reserve energy to give myself a boost. Green energy began to swirl around as I charged my way toward the griffon. I tackled him and began leading him toward the ground. We crashed landed on the ground and as soon as I could get up I shook my body to get rid of any dust that had clung to my fur.
I then looked at my surroundings we were about a mile or so away from the lake and Ponyville could be seen in the distance. I then remembered why I had to crash land in the first place, the griffon. He immediately got up and held Apple Bloom in one claw while brandishing a dagger in his other. I realized that sense I wasn't in a unicorn form there would be no why for me to defend myself properly. And with my rapidly draining energy supply it was only a matter of time before I reverted back to normal again. “Put the girl down Griffon"
“Or what pipsqueak you’re gonna do something about it". There isn't much I can do at the moment my options are limited I can't just charge at him again I don't think it'll be as effective as last time. If I can just revert back to normal I may be able to overpower him though I may not be able to turn back. On the other hoof I could just run away but that'll lower any of my chances to get Intel on my queen’s whereabouts plus I'd rather not have to go through one of Pinkies welcome party's again.
“Apple Bloom I need you to close your eyes and don't open them till I tell you." "Why?"
“Just trust me." And with that she closed her eyes allowing me to revert back to my original form. “What you’re a..." I didn't give him the time to complete that sentence because I charged up an energy beam and blasted his claws. The shock of it made him release Applebloom and drop his dagger. With another blast I shot him in the chest. He landed on the ground a couple feet from where he last stood and Apple Bloom landed right next to the drag marks his feet left on the floor.
He then charged at me and was able to scratch my forward making me wince and bleed a bit. My body has a natural regenerative process so the gash on my head will eventually heal back before long. I then slammed my head into his stomach making him stagger back ward I then began to punch his face until he fell unconsciously on to the floor. I wasn’t the queens second in command for no reason. She made sure I was trained by the best to be the best.
When Applebloom landed on the ground she waited until she couldn’t here anymore signs of conflict before she opened her eyes. When she noticed that the gryphon was unconscious right before her eyes. She screamed and started to hyper ventilate, she then saw my hooves and since I didn’t transform back she must of thought something else was going to attack her. She then closed her eyes and said “Camo where are you I think a changeling is about to attack me.”
For a second I thought my cover was blown but she hadn’t looked up to see that Camo wasn’t a Pegasus but a changeling disguised as one. I then turned back into a Pegasus and said “Apple Bloom are you okay?" As she looked into my eyes she saw that it was me but she also gasped and then said “Camo your head is bleeding". I rubbed my hoof over my head and sure enough there was still blood on it. “Yeah I guess your right"
“Did you get that from fighting the gryphon?”
“Yeah but it’s nothing serious just a scratch”
She learned over towards my head and kissed me beneath my wound and then said” when we get back to Ponyville promise me you’ll get it looked at.” I nodded but for the moment I was stunned that she would do that to me and I could feel my cheeks flush.
What’s the matter with me I’m supposed to be the elite of all elite how can such a little filly bring out this much feelings from me. I wonder what my queen would say about this situation I don’t think she would be completely displeased; she may tease me under the circumstances and I would probably never hear the end of it. I gotta retain the training I learned, this friendship is an illusion that I created for the greater good of my queen and the hive nothing more and nothing less. If I get too attached I may corrupt my decisions and thus allowing the hive to fall and that is not what I want. If I’m going to inherit the kingdom I must make the best decision possible to ensure that our race doesn’t go into extinction.
“Come on Camo let’s get back to the girls they must be worried about us. I nodded and we were on our way towards the lake.