As he let himself still be carried away with the crowd who was in full out panic now, he couldn't help but to look back. Twilight and her friends were no where to be found, so forcing his was through the crowd he managed to finally break lose. This only made things worse he noticed the entire city was in a panic and for good reason.
"What in tartarus is going on?" He asked under his breath, even though he knew what exactly what the answer was.
They were under attack by these changelings as ponies panicked being chased by black insect looking creatures. He only stood there stunned before he realized that one of them had noticed him. As it flew towards him he tried to perform a spell only to have it fail, then remembering that his magic was out of the question.
But in his moment lost in thought he forgot about the approaching danger until it was only three feet away from him his eyes widening. Panic of his own started to settle in as he stood there still frozen only this time by fear, and just right before the changeling got to him it suddenly screeched in pain. It veered off to the side nearly missing him and he managed to catch a glimpse of an arrow going through it's hind legs.
"Hey you better keep a better eye out there, this is a war after all. And I know you can put up a fight." A voice called out, and he turned his head towards the voice.
"Q-quick Shot?" He asked even more surprised, and before his friend answered he shot off some more arrows taking out at least another five.
"Yeah, when the city was threatened Celestia asked for volunteers from the arching team to take up position around the city along with the normal archers. But for some strange reason most of the guards went missing just as the attack happened." Quick Shot answered. "Look out!"
An arrow shot past his ear and another loud screech of pain came from behind him. When he turned around he saw another one of those changelings laying there with an arrow coming from it's throat. He looked back to his friend in horror as he realized what he just did.
"Like I said this is a war, there are bound to be casualties." Quick Shot said harshly his eyes looking at the body with a look of shame.
"No, I-I understand. Come on I need your help to find Twilight and her friends." He said thinking for a moment. "I think I know where they're headed."
"I'm sorry, I can't go with you. When I volunteered as a Royal Guard archer I did take an oath to protect the citizens of Canterlot, and now that your butt's been saved I have to do my best in order to save more. Though tell Rainbow I said hi." Quick Shot said and moved on rounding up and guiding the panicked citizens as he shot more arrows.
He quickly started to move making his way to where he thought he remembered Twilight saying the Elements of Harmony were located. But he was quickly cut off by a little squad of changelings who were looking at him with hungry expressions. What had the real Cadence say? They feed off of emotions, especially love.
"Great, now bring it on." He growled, now wishing he hadn't suppressed his condition knowing that right now he could have just stared at them and they would whimper with fear.
He full out galloped towards the squad not thinking of nothing more but getting to Twilight. This did take the little squad aback for a second but quickly regained themselves and made their attack. Though he was not the best hoof to hoof combat, he did at least know a few martial arts moves that in this situation helped out a lot.
Bucking the changelings that were behind, and punching the ones who got in front he slowly made his way through them. His head was killing him for some reason as well, like something straining to be released. But that didn't matter now, as more and more changelings were being knocked out. About to kick another one he heard a voice he had really wanted to hear all this time call out to him.
"Onyx, please stop!" Twilight's voice came in clear and loud.
"Twilight?" He asked dropping his leg and she nodded, and he ran to her and wrapped her in a tight embrace. "I'm so sorry for what happened last night, please don't be mad at me. Just know that no matter what i'll always be there for you, and...and.."
"Shush now, it's okay I forgive you. Just as long as I still have your love." She answered softly.
"Of course, you do! you should know by now that nothing will make me not love you anymore." He said planting a kiss on her. "Let's get out of here."
"Yeah, let's." She said with a smile.
As he started to lead her through the streets fighting some changelings who got to close for comfort. But something started to bug him, they were practically surrounded by an army and yet only a few came after them. That and something he remembered about the last time he actually saw Twilight.
"Hey Twilight?" He asked looking back at her.
"Yeah." She answered back.
"Where's your friends?" He asked.
"We got separated when the changelings attacked. But we should really start to move before more notices us." She said.
"Don't you want to look for them? I mean they are your closes friends." He said stopping completely.
"Onyx, sweetie i'm sure they'll be fine. They're fully grown mares after all." She said trying her best to look a little concern.
"Sweetie huh?" He said.
"Yes, sweetie. We really need to go." She said a bit of anger seeping in her voice.
"Yeah let's go." He said leading her towards a new destination.
"Where are we going the exit is in the opposite way." She said looking at him.
"We're looking for the real Twilight and her friends." He said with a harsh accusing tone. "Because I know you're not the real one."
"What are you talking about? Of course i'm the real one sweetie." She said putting as much concern in her voice as he could.
"She doesn't call me sweetie! And I defiantly know that she would never ever abandoned her friends, especially when they might be in danger." He said turning around his eyes shimmering with utter anger and hate.
"Ah, who cares I think I got enough power from ya anyways." Her voice suddenly changed as did her form. "Enough to know I could kill you and still have enough left over for a mind control spell."
"Wha...ack!" He was suddenly thrown back by a blast that hit him square in his chest.
"Mph, I see somepony's pretty tough to have taken that much power at point blank." The changeling said only slightly impressed.
"B-buck you." He manage to say getting back on his hoofs, as it felt like a dam was about to beak in his head.
"I'm tired of messing around, even if I only did shoot off one shot. Now be a good stallion and die!" The changeling said and he braced for another impact knowing he was took weak to move, but nothing came except a loud thunk sound.
He opened his eyes to see that a cloaked pony, who must have been a stallion judging by the build of what he could see, was standing over the changeling. A spear in hoof the other stallion looked at him his face well hidden withing the shadows of the hood. Though he couldn't see the face he knew that the stallion was smiling at him for some reason, and then everything went black.
When he came to he was surrounded by looks of concerned nurse ponies and others as well. He groaned slightly as he shifted his position to get a better view of where he was at. It looked like a small hospital with what looks like a shield protecting it. After helping him get into a more comfortable position one of the nurses started talking to him.
"Sir, do you know where you are?" The mare asked.
"L-looks like a hospital." He managed to say.
"Yes, do you remember what's going on outside?" She asked.
"A-an i-invasion, right?" He asked looking at her.
"Yes, now can you tell me what happened to you? A guard found you laying just outside of the shield, and not in to good of shape." She said pointing to his chest where bandages were wrapped around. "A third degree burn, fractured ribs, and bruised lungs. Looks like from mostly a blunt force trauma except the burns."
"I-I got blasted b-by one of those c-changelings." He answered, now realizing that he had a lot of pain. Why did she have to point out his wounds?
"Here, let me get you some pain killers." She said standing up giving him a concerned look as pain flashed across his face.
"No, I don't need anything like that. I j-just need to g-get back out there and f-find my marefriend." He said trying to get up.
"Oh no you don't, you're already in to much pain." A white aura enveloping him holding him there.
"It's fine Nurse Silver Heart, i'll go with him." Quick shot suddenly appeared. "After all this stallion has a mission to complete, and I don't think you'll be able to stop one that's seems to be motivated by something greater than simple duty."
"You know in times of battle, even nurses out rank the soldiers when they aren't fit for duty." Silver said harshly.
"Yes, but he's no soldier. He's a civilian who isn't under your command. That and I said i'll take care of him, just as long as you do something to help him walk." Quick Shot said in a tone he barely heard him use.
"Fine, but if something happens to him it's on your hooves." Silver answered. "I'll be right back with pain killers."
"T-thanks." He said looking at his friend with admiration.
"No problem, after all you still have to find Twilight right? And as you know i'm a sucker for a good romance." Quick Shot said with a grin.
"D-don't worry, i-i'll pay you back soon enough." He said.
"Good, cause you know how I like to call on favors." Quick Shot said.
"Here, take these. They should help mend your ribs quicker while dulling out the pain a lot, and the bandages should help keep the burn clean. Ah you know how that stuff works." Silver said as she came up besides his bed giving a glare to Quick Shot.
"Thank you." He said taking the pills and the glass of water at his bed side and swallowed the pills.
"So now that that's taken care of, let's go." Quick Shot said.
"Okay, and thank you again Nurse Silver." He said giving her a smile.
"It's fine, just go and make sure your marefriend is fine. And I better not catch you back in here again after what I just did for you." She said with a smile of her own and he nodded.
As they left he had to lean on Quick Shot for support for a few minutes, the attack still going on. But the pain medicine started to really kick in and he was able to walk on his own again. They slowly made their way through the city making sure not to draw attention, and he told Quick Shot about everything that happened.
"Ah, I've only just heard about that pony. Right before I discovered you were in one of our safe zones, another guard informed me that a mysterious stallion in a cloak kept guiding lost or hurt ponies to them. Sounds to me like he save your butt, looks like i'm not the only one you owe for saving you know." Quick Shot said with a chuckle.
"Shut up, have you heard anything about Twilight and her friends?" He asked concern filling his voice knowing he had been out for two hours.
"Yes, unfortunately they were captured and took to the palace. We'll have to fight our way in, unless we sneak in." Quick Shot suggested.
"No can do, I can't use my magic for another hour or two. Before you ask, it's because I took a potion by a zebra that said it would suppress my condition." He said.
"Shame, we really could have used that to our advantage. Well looks like it's the first choice then." Quick Shot said. "You ready to fight our way into the palace?"
"Yeah, ready as i'll ever be." He answered.
They quickly made their way over to the palace with some fights in between, making sure that there weren't any other pony still roaming the streets. But when they got to the palace doors they immediately stopped as many changelings seemed to be guarding it. After avoiding being caught they talked about their next step.
"Look I know you can shot up to five arrows at a time, and no I can't use magic still. I've still got at least another forty minutes." He said giving a glare to his friend.
"Fine, so then what are you going to do?" Quick Shot said with a huff.
"Well, the thing is that after you get their attention and get most of them to follow you then i'll sneak up and take care of the rest of them." He answered.
"Oh, sure using me as bait. You're just lucky i'm still a fast runner and a pretty accurate shot while still running. Now is that all of your brilliant plan?" Quick Shot asked irritation and sarcasm in his voice.
"Yeah, pretty much the basic bait plan. Hopefully it'll work." He answered.
"Alright then here I go." Quick Shot said running out of the hiding spot. "Hey you bugs, come on and follow me!"
He heard Quick Shot yell then he heard the sound of arrows being released from the bow. After hearing wings buzz and running hooves he looked to see that it actually worked, most of the changelings had gone. Though he hoped Quick Shot would be alright since he saw three changelings laying on the ground motionless, and two of them being carried off arrows sticking out of their legs or shoulder.
It was then he made his move running up to the now few changelings that didn't go after his friend swiftly, more so for a stallion with fractured ribs, knocked them out. He stood there a moment out of breath looking at the ones he knocked out. After nodding he quickly opened the doors and found himself face to face with himself. That's when he knew how stupid his plan was, and he was supposed to be a brilliant astronomer?
---
When she awoke she was in some sort of cocoon of green slime, she looked around and saw the one who had put her in this prison. Though she tried to move the slime seemed to numb her muscles, and she couldn't use magic as well. She gave up trying to free herself and just watched the mayhem outside.
"Yow won't get away with this, Twilight and her friends..." Cadence started to say but was cut off when a group of changelings came in with Twilight and her friends.
"You were saying?" Chrysalis said in a gloating voice. "Oh and look whose awake."
"Auntie Tia." Cadence said looking up at the cocoon seeing that in fact her aunt was awake.
"You know Celestia, I managed to snag a surprise for you. One I know you'll just love, bring her in!" Chrysalis ordered.
"Yes my queen." A changeling answered, exiting the door. After a few moments two changelings entered with a Pegasus pony in between them, and her eyes widened as she knew exactly who it was.
"Hmm, I knew you be surprise. And to top it off I can taste your love for this one." Chrysalis said licking her lips, and then looked at the now shaking a little bit with fear Feather Dust in front of her. "Maybe I should make her my own private plaything, how would you like that Celestia?"
All she could do was think if she laid even one hoof on her she would not lose next time, she would swear to get her vengeance. But seeing the look on her face Chrysalis knew she had struck a nerve and laughed as she saw her struggle. After she managed to stop herself from laughing Chrysalis turned her attention back to Feather.
"Maybe I should take her right here right now just to show you that i'm now in complete control." Chrysalis said a smirk coming across her face.
"Don't you dare lay your hooves on the princesses fiance!" Rarity suddenly shouted.
"And why not? it would teach that want to be goddess up there a lesson, unless you want to take her place?" Chrysalis asked turning to the white pony. "No, then be quiet."
Just then another changeling came in coming up to his queen and saying something in her ear. Her smile grew and she gave a short laugh at the news she just gotten. Then some more came in carrying the limp body of Onyx and threw him on the floor.
"Onyx!" Twilight yelled trying to get over to him.
"Oh, yes I can tell that you two must be close. I'm glad my men didn't kill him when he tried to storm the palace by himself." Chrysalis yet again licked her lips at the taste of love. "Hmm such a sweet taste."
"He what?" Twilight asked shocked.
"Yes he tried to storm the palace all alone. But as you can see it didn't work out." Chrysalis said. "Which by the way Celestia, did you know that your lover went to the hospital?" She just stared at her. "Of course you did, since she does work under you in more than one way."
"What are you getting at?" Cadence asked.
"In due time, but for right now there are two here who share feelings for each. But I don't think they know about each others feelings, which makes me sad. You white one, and the yellow one I know that you two have feelings for each other." Chrysalis said smiling.
"What are you talking about?" Rarity asked a blush coming across her face.
"Oh come know, I know you have feelings for your yellow pegasus friend here. Just say it, I know she shares those same feelings." Chrysalis said.
"F-fluttershy what is she talking about?" Rarity asked her.
"I-I ..don't know, what um, she m-means." Fluttershy looked to the floor. "But is what she um, says true about you. I mean you don't have to tell me if you don't want to."
"Oh but I want her to tell you. It'll make this meal so much better."Chrysalis said. "But if you two don't want to share right now its fine, I've got a back up plan anyways." She turned back to Feather with a knowing smile. "Have you told them what kind of test you did while at the hospital?"
"N-no." Feather answered.
"Well, how could you keep such a thing from your lover? I mean doesn't she have a right to know that you're pregnant?" Chrysalis smiled at the sudden gasp in the room, and looked up to see Celestias eyes were widen is shock and surprise. "Or were you saving it for the wedding?"
"Buck you! I-I wanted it to be a surprise." Feather said tears streaming down her face. "P-please don't hate me Celestia, I only kept it secret so I could surprise you. I'm so sorry you had to find out this way."
"So tell us, is it her's?" Chrysalis asked with a victory grin.
"Of course it's hers, I would never cheat one the one I love!" Feather said tears still strolling down her face even though her tone was one of anger.
"Hmm, well now maybe I should play with you and make her watch." Chrysalis said stepping closer putting a hoof on Feathers chin. "But that'll have to wait."
Feather looked down in a little shame knowing that her secret had come out. The reason why she had been acting so weird was because she was now pregnant with Celestias child. Most likely due to that spell she had used during the time she had apparently going into a heat cycle.
---
She would make all of them pay, all of them for what they did to Song. Though she knew that they all weren't responsible she didn't care, for she knew that their kind was. The changelings would pay dearly and if she could find the queen she would pay dearly also.
Though she had taken out a few they all scattered when they saw the lunar princess as Nightmare Moon coming for them. Blast after blast she hit one target by one making them more than likely fall to their deaths if they were not already dead. They tried to fight back but it was futile as they were no match for her even with the stolen power or them combing attacks.
"You all will be squashed like the insects you are!" She screamed, upon landing she chased two who thought they could get away.
As she chased them mostly to enjoy the chase of her prey at the back of her mind something tried to stop her. A tiny voice reminding her not to let the nightmare take over. She slowed her speed at the realization of what she had been doing though this entire thing. But that did not last long as she reminded herself that they killed her Song, but before she took off she was stopped by a cloaked figure.
"Luna you need to stop this rampage!" The cloaked stallion sounded so familiar but she just started up her magic.
"You dare deny me my revenge?" She asked in a murderous tone her horn charging with powerful magic.
"Go ahead and strike me down just know that in your path of revenge you killed an innocent pony." He said in a calming voice.
'Why did his voice sound so familiar?' She asked herself.
"And who are you?" She asked out loud.
"I will tell you, but first know that your revenge was not necessary in the first place as he is still alive Luna." The stallion said.
"What do you mean he's still alive? I saw with my own eyes of his own charred remains!" She screamed in anger her horn flaring up again.
"The remains you saw was one of the guards in which the changelings replaced, a guard that was there on the day he was taken to prison. The guards name was Private Dancer." The stallion said.
"You're lying, you're one of them aren't you?" She asked but before he could respond she let loose a attack spell that he nearly dodged, but it managed to hit his cloak which caught on fire.
He tried to put out the fire but knew that it was useless since it was started by magic and would need magic to put it out. So the strange stallion did the only thing he could and ripped off the cloak revealing who lays behind. Luna's eyes widened at who she saw, but there was no way that it could be him.
"I-is it really you?" She asked a tear coming to the corner of her eye as she turned back into the mare he knew her as.
"Yes my princess, i'm the real deal." He said smiling at her.
"But how?" She asked.
"That's for another time, but for right now we need to go help Twilight, her friends, and your sister." He said.
"Wait Luna don't trust him!" A voice came from behind her, another stallion wearing a similar cloak that the one she had just set fire to. "He's not the real one Luna, I am."
"What?" She asked turning in surprise to see another Song standing behind her, the only thing different about this one is that he was carrying a spear that one the guards normally carried.
"He's only trying to trick you into going to the palace in order to capture you." The Song from behind said and she turned back to the one in front.
"Please, he's the one trying to trick you. He doesn't want you to go save your sister or friends. He'll only just lead you to a trap." The one in front said giving the one in back a glare. "Get out of the way so I can deal with him."
"Don't listen to him he's under orders not to kill me because of the creature." The one in back said.
"Will you two shut up!" She snapped using her Canterlot Royal Voice making both of them close their mouths. "Now I will let me decide."
"That's fine by me." The one in front said.
"Same here, go ahead I know you'll make the right choice." The one in back said.
"Alright both of you line up and let me have a look at you." She ordered, this is impossible how could he be alive? And if one of these two are the real one, then which is it?
See watched as the two Song's followed her order and stood next to each other, and when she looked they looked exactly the same. One was a little more beat up than the other, but she knew that didn't matter. What caught her attention was one of them was wearing a ring on their horn, one that looked very familiar.
"W-what are you doing?" The one without the ring asked seeing her horn glow again.
"I'm checking something, now stand still and let me do this." She snapped pointing her horn at both Songs.
She let the spell she cast do it's job, it was a very simple spell that she knew. One that would allow her to detect ones magic field around them. And by the look on their faces they seem to know what she was doing and stood perfectly still.
"I think I got it, I think it's you." She said pointing a hoof to the one without the ring.
"See, I knew you would make the right choice." The one she pointed to said taking a step forward but then stopped when she gave him an angry stare. "What's wrong?"
"You did not let me finish." She said looking at the other one who had a hurt and pained look. "I think that you are the fake."
"What do you know he's not the fake?" The one without a ring asked.
"I'm assuming you know the spell I did?" She asked lighting up her horn surrounding the fake in a field of magic.
"Yeah, it's a spell to detect a magic field around a pony, so what does that have to do with anything?" The one she held in her magic grasp asked.
"Simple, that ring the other one, the real one..." She smiled at the real Song. "Makes it to where he has no field of magic, he can't use magic. Because that's one fof the most powerful magic cancellation ring in all of Equestia, it stops a unicorns natural flow of magic."
"So he put it on himself." The fake said.
"Then he would be able to take it off himself, only the pony who put it on can take it off unless that other pony dies. Which isn't likely since I put on that ring myself, and now for a revealing spell." She said casting the spell she had just mentioned.
"No, wait I am the real one I swear!" But it was to late his true identity revealed.
"Oh, commander so you did follow me." Song said stepping forward.
"Wait, you try to take off the ring and don't play around either, i'll know if you are faking trying to take it off." She ordered.
"Fair enough." Song answered and put a hoof up to the ring and gave a hard tug which made him yelp in pain.
"Now, you try to take it off just you are one of the two I was trying to kill." She said to the one that Song had called Commander.
"A-alright, just p-please don't hurt me." He begged as she looked at him his such anger and pain.
"Just do it, and we'll see." She ordered.
She let him go out of her magic and he went over to Song and put a hoof on the ring. The changeling commander gave a hard tug making Song give another yelp of pain. With a satisfied smile the changeling commander stepped back and then turned to Luna.
"There, now can I go?" He asked.
"No, you are under arrest by the order of the princess of the night for threatening to take over Equestia, and for property damage, and harming citizens." She said freezing him with a spell.
She walked over to the one with the ring with a serious and stern look on her face, accompanied by a frown. As she looked him over again he got a bit nervous under her scrutinizing eyes. He knew that she was judging him, making sure he was real but that still did nothing to ease his nerves.
"So just because he wasn't the real one, how do I know you are? Just because neither one of you could remove the ring, how do I know your queen didn't put it there?" She asked.
"For one Luna, you need to think. If the ring doesn't allow me to use magic how can I do a transformation? Second like you said, only you can remove the ring, so why don't you try?" He asked.
"You have a point, but how do I know that the queen didn't make you look like that?" She asked back.
"Because the ring cancels any spell on the one it's on, unless it's a sleeping spell." He answered. "But why don't you try to remove it?"
"B-because if I do t-then the creature would..." She was stopped as a hoof was place on her mouth as she stared in kind and loving eyes.
"Luna, look at me i'm not suffering from the creature anymore. That's something i'll explain later, but for right now you need to trust me that I am the real Song. And you need to take off the ring since you are the only one who can." He spoke with such kindness and love, and trust for her.
"A-alright, a-are you sure you are all right? I don't think I could live losing you for a third time." She said looking at him, tears starting to form again.
"Yes, it'll be alright my princess. Do it, and like I said I will explain all of this later." He said nodding his head.
"As you wish." She said putting a hoof on the ring and giving it a light pull it coming off easy for her, and just as the ring was off the tip a sudden wave of powerful magic swept across Canterlot sending the frozen commander flying.
"What was tha..." He was cut off by lips on his. "And what was that for?"
"You are the real Song, my prince, my knight in a pink robe." She said and then realized he would not get those names.
"You know I miss being called that, but what was that magic field?" He asked.
"I think that was a combination of shield and love magic, and judging by the lack of guest I say it expelled the changelings." She answered, she would ask him about what he meant by he missed being called those.
He shouldn't remember anything except for what her sister and her told him, but she had a feeling that would be included in his explanation later. But for right now she just walked up to his side leaning on him, but still seeing for any sign that the creature was taking over. When she saw nothing but his old kind, loving, and sad eyes she nuzzled him and he gave her a small kiss on her nose.