Chapter 1- Capture
It was a quiet day in Canterlot. Again. As always. I sighed to myself as I walked along the castle perimeter. There had been nothing eventful for quite some time, and I was starting to get restless. My research was the only thing to keep me sane.
Ten years had passed since I fled from home, and brought into Canterlot. Thinking back to the way things were before… it was just too painful. The abuse. The hatred. The pain. I shook myself, annoyed. “Come on, pull yourself together,” I scolded myself, looking around, to make sure nopony noticed me talking to myself. My attention was caught by a shadow darting into the garden area. “Hey!” I called after it, giving chase. “Halt! This is a restricted area!”
I ran into the maze of hedges, glancing around. Whoever it was, they had themselves well-hidden. Drawing one of the two swords that I carried with me, I stepped further into the labyrinth. My horn glowed as it readied the sword. “Come out!” I shouted. “You can’t hide from me forever!”
Still no response. Cursing to myself silently, I pushed further into the mass of plant life. I heard a rustling behind me, and I whipped around. However, I was too slow. I felt a slumber spell strike me, seeing nothing but a flash of green light as I fell to the ground.
***
I still felt groggy when I woke up. “Ugh…” I groaned, my head spinning as I sat up. My vision took a while to focus, but when it did, I took in my surroundings.
I was in a room- bedroom- of sorts. I found myself sitting on a rather comfortable cot, with bookshelves lining the walls. The walls. They were a vivid green, and made up of some sort of gummy substance. I frowned a bit, poking at the wall. It was solid enough that I could not pass through. I tried using magic, but my horn fizzled weakly. I wouldn’t be able to do anything beyond a simple levitation spell. “Great.” I muttered, noting that my armor and weapons were also gone.
“You’re awake.” I jumped, as another pony walked in from an adjoining room. He was a blue Pegasus with a white mane and tail.
“Who are you?” I asked him, frowning slightly.
“The name’s Clear Skies.” He answered. “I know who you are. I read about you in the Canterlot Press. You’re Captain Dust Storm of the Lunar Guard. Or as I like to know you, Captain-Screaming-in-his-Sleep. It must have been some nightmare.”
I didn’t answer, choosing to turn away from him. It was true. I had dreamt about my father. For some reason, the dream wasn’t clear, but I remembered fear as my father walked towards me. I had felt defenseless and weak.
“Hey, didn’t mean to offend.” He walked up to me. “You okay?”
“Yeah.” I slid off the bed onto my hooves. “Where are we?”
“Wish I could tell you.” He answered, looking around. “The décor’s nice, but the walls are a bit… well, green.”
Our conversation was interrupted by one of the walls opening. Two Changelings in some sort of armor stood there, spears held in their magic. They had white carapaces and golden-yellow wings. “Hello, Clear Skies. Dust Storm. Please come with us.” I watched them carefully, but did not sense hostility within them.
“How do you know our names?” I asked in a measured voice, deciding if I should attack and try to take a spear.
“Our Queen is interested in you two. She simply wishes to talk. Please, we mean no harm.” The other one looked over at me, ignoring my question.
“Yeah, right.” Clear narrowed his eyes. “That doesn’t mean much, coming from Changelings.”
“Don’t be racist.” I held out a hoof, stopping him. I turned back to the guards. “I’ll hear what your Queen has to say. Then I’ll decide on my next course of action.”
“We appreciate it.” They turned to leave, looking back at us. “Please, follow us.”
Clear looked over at me uncertainly, and I nodded. He shrugged, falling into place behind me as I followed the guards. The path was winding all over the hive, a rather confusing tangle. Despite my good memory, I found myself unable to remember all the twists and turns. Some time later, we found ourselves in front of a giant set of double doors. The guards opened them inward, bowing as they entered. “We have brought them, my Queen Glimmer.” They said.
I saw a large Changeling, also white with golden wings, sitting on a throne, guards surrounding her. I respectfully bowed, motioning for Clear to do the same. He complied, albeit reluctantly.
“There’s no need to bow to me.” She waved a hoof. “Please, rise.”
I straightened up, looking back at her. “Why have you brought us here? Why do you want to speak to us?” I asked, keeping my guard up.
“Well… to be honest, I need your help.” She said, stepping down from the throne and trotting up to us. “You, Captain Dust Storm. I need your strength. And Clear Skies, you are a caretaker at one of Canterlot’s daycares, are you not?”
“That, I am.” I answered as Clear nodded. “But you haven’t answered my question.”
“Let me explain then.” She sighed. “My hive… is in danger. I believe somepony… wants to attack. I can’t let the little ones, my larvae get hurt. I needed somepony strong enough to defend the hive if this happened. Dust Storm, you’re famed for your battle techniques and skill. Clear Skies, you would be more than fit to help overlook the little ones. I honestly do not have many caretakers here who are as skilled as you are.”
“You know, you could have just asked.” Clear raised an eyebrow.
“Really?” I frowned at him. “A Changeling strolls into Canterlot. Based off of your reaction, I can say that the reception would not be well. Disguising wouldn’t work, we have counter-measures against that since the Chrysalis incident. Only way to get in is stealth.”
“Good point.” He admitted, turning to the Changeling Queen again. “You better not have anything nasty planned. If this is really your problem, then I’ll help.”
“As will I.” I stepped forward. “As a Royal Guard, I can’t simply allow innocent lives to be in danger.”
“Thank you.” She smiled at us both. “I truly appreciate your help.”
“I’ll still have to report this in.” I told her. “I can’t just go missing for a while.”
“I understand.” She nodded, passing me a quill and paper. “I swear to you that I will get this to your Princess Luna.”
I scribbled down a quick report before passing it off to her. Glimmer fired off a shot of magic, making the scroll disappear. “I’d very much like my magic back.” I commented. “The magic restriction fields you have on me aren’t very nice.”
“I’m very sorry.” I felt my magic return as the dampening fields fell away. “I just had to make sure that you wouldn’t attack or anything.” She nodded at some guards. “Take them back to their rooms for now. Give them anything they need.” Glimmer turned back to us. “You two can start tomorrow. Please just take the day to get comfortable.”
We were led off by the same guards from before. “Go on, then.” They motioned us in once we got to our rooms. “Do you need anything?”
“Some tea would be nice.” I answered. “I don’t suppose I can get my weapons back, too?”
“I’ll do my best to retrieve your swords.” The guard nodded. “I’ll also bring some tea.”
“For you?” the other guard asked Clear.
“Nothing, thanks.” He answered. With respective salutes, the guards departed.
Clear turned to me. “What now?” he asked. “Doesn’t this all seem a little fishy to you?”
“Yes, but I can tell. They mean no harm. I sensed no hostility in any of them.” I answered. “I truly believe that she is speaking the truth. I’ve made my decision to help.”
“Well, I have, too.” Clear shrugged. “Let’s just see what comes tomorrow.”
“We’ll decide on a course of action, then.” I agreed. “Come on, do you play Chess? I saw a set in my room.”
“I’d love a game.” Clear smiled as we moved off.