//------------------------------// // Chapter Nine - Fire, Battle, in Metal // Story: Seeking Hearth and Home // by TessiFlameheart //------------------------------// The sun sat low on the horizon as all of Ponyville quietly began to shut down for the night. The shops closed down one by one, ponies went home, the street lamps flicked to life. A few bars and the town's nightclub were the only places which were not winding down or already resting until the light of Celestia's sun returned in the morning. Lyra and Amber stood side by side on Oat Way. The residential cobble street was almost entirely deserted, only a few ponies who were headed home were moving up or down its length. Amber looked towards the 19th house on the street with an angry sadness. Lyra's looked at the house as well, but with anger alone. “You still haven't told me the plan.” Lyra accused. “Because you won't be doing anything yet.” Amber answered, taking her saddlebags off with her magic. “But I should know what the plan is!” Lyra snapped. Her face fell the moment after her outburst. “Sorry, I'm just... anxious I guess.” Amber sighed, “I understand. Look... I've done this kind of thing a lot. It's not going to be good, and someone will be hurt or dead by the end of this.” Lyra frowned, “Yeah! That... that dungbeetle will be the second I get my hooves on her!” “Thorn was laying a scent trail. We normally do that to direct Drones... they are basically mindless. Follow any order you give them. Without a trail they can get lost and do some weird things.” Amber explained, “Thorn probably has a bunch of Drones, and it is likely she is getting the town ready for them to operate in. That has some nasty implications.” Lyra paused for a moment, “Like what?” she asked with a curious expression. “Like she plans on modifying the town by having the Drones dig and build. Or, more likely, she is using them to attack, probably to capture the town for a food resource. Meaning she or someone she works for wants a mobile food supply, and is willing to drain ponies dry. Or she is working for a non-Changeling who wants slave laborers.” Amber's aura unlatched the clasp of her saddlebags as she spoke, retrieving her bottomless box from the inside. “Oh... So you think she is going to attack us?” “That's the most likely event. Also, my Adventurer Sense is tingling, I'm pretty sure that this is going to end with me standing blood soaked and half dead atop the corpse of... I don't know... some sort of floating blob creature that's little more than a giant eyeball and a fanged maw with a bunch of tentacles that end in more eyeballs.” Amber said with a strait face. “Has that happened to you?” “No. But it would be in line with my track record of small things like this which get way out of hand and end in a fight against some kind of ancient horror.” Lyra nodded. The minty mare took a half step back from the house. “Sooo what are you going to do?” “Well I am going to go in full armor, armed to the teeth, with potions in my bandoleer ready to go. If I'm wrong, I look silly and I can live with that. If I'm right, I am ready for the inevitable trap.” Amber opened her box and started to sort through the contents with her magic. A green glow spilled from the box as she slowly took out item after item. It took Lyra a few molments to realize Amber was getting a suit of armor ready. A quick ripple of green flames accompanied Amber as she stood up on her hind legs, joints popping as they reshaped. “It's fitted to me for when I'm standing this way.” she explained, nodding at the pile of armor. Amber slipped into the armor piece by peace. First a padded shirt and pants, followed by some formed pieces of a material Lyra feared was leather, then a chainmail hauberk, and lastly several dozen black metal plates. It looked like a fairly complected task, her magic had to individually move, attach, and then adjust each piece. Fortunately it didn't take Amber more than a few minutes. The assembled armor was jet black. It was stylized to appear like a series of organic themed mechanical parts with an over all pony-like shape with most parts blending together as if the plates were the carapace of some strange creature. The silvery chainmail hung a ways down her hind legs almost like a dress providing a splash of color to the blackened steel. Amber's helmet left her horn uncovered, but could otherwise be described as a dome bottomed bucket with a T shape cut out of the front. A flash of green fire lit up the inside of the armor for a split second as Amber dropped her unicorn guise. Her horn glowed green as she levitated a large towershield from the box and slipped it over her left foreleg. A second later and her slender silvery sword was held loosely in her other hoof. As a finessing touch Amber took a green cloak and fastened it to her breastplate. As the cloth draped over her shoulders, the image of a seven pointed crown in black embroidery was displayed prominently as if it were a badge of office. Lyra frowned, realizing in that moment exactly what was about to happen, “You... you don't need to do this. We can call the guard.” “No we can't,” Amber looked over at Lyra, her yellow eyes faintly glowing through her helmet's view slit. Amber hissed a long sound of irritation, “And here I was just two days from retirement.” Amber took a few steps towards the house, looking over her shoulder to call, “The moment anything bad happens, get what's her name and run. We will meet back at my place.” Lyra nodded and gulped, her heart speeding up to a rapid pounding beat. Amber looked at the door. Behind it could be any number of opponents, all manner of deadly traps, any deadly beast under the sun. 'Only an idiot would take the door.' She decided. “I'll keep the damage to a minimum.” Amber called then turned towards a window, raised her shield, and charged. Amber covered the ten yards to the window in a few short seconds of rattling steel. She jumped, tucked her legs behind her shield and smashed through the glass in a thunderous crash of glass and metal. Her iron shod hooves slammed into the wooden floor, biting into the timber. Shield held aloft she quickly scanned the room. 'Empty.' The room was only empty for long enough for the changeling to stand up. Thorn galloped into the room, her pony guise covered in a suit of bronze Equestrian guard armor, and a flanged two-handed mace was held tightly in her tail. “I knew you were working with another hive!” Thorn exclaimed, transitioning to a bipedal stance with a subtle green flare, her armor shifting with her. “You were always so dedicated. You always have to have a master.” Amber grinned, “I'm on my own actually. Trying to retire.” Thorn rolled her eyes, transferring the mace from her tail to her right hoof. “You kept your old armor... Are you still blindly loyal to Polygyne?” Amber nodded her head. “If her majesty is behind this, I will happily take this town in her name.” Thorn's eyes narrowed, her lips pulled back in a sneer for an instant only to be interrupted by an exasperated sigh, “Look, I always cut you some slack. You did figure out a good way to fight, and you can't hold too much against someling who had their skull caved in like that. But you need to get over the old hag, if she is still alive she rules over noling today, and her hall is a dragon's toilet. You are a good Soldier, work for us.” Amber shifted her hooves, putting her shield between herself and Thorn as well as readying her sword. 'You insolent unbaraki!' Amber clenched her teeth in anger. “Who's 'us'?” “I know you hate her, but Chrysalis is the rightful heir to the Hives. The other Royals are all dead. She isn't all that bad seen from within her service.” Thorn sighed, “But you really hate her. So now-” Amber lunged, her sword flying point first directly for Thorn's left eye. Thorn leaned right, swinging her mace to smash Amber's blade off course. “-I have to parry your attack.” Thorn finished as the clash of steel echoed through the house. “You don't know if her majesty is dead, you only assume so. Serving Chrysalis makes you a traitor.” Amber spat sweeping her blade to slash Thorn from right flank to left shoulder. Thorn nimbly hopped backwards, avoiding the blade and screeching out a quick phrase in changelish, “Hazkal, ara'novor or!” Within molments eight unmorphed Changeling Soldiers burst out of the kitchen, instantly firing a barrage of green magic rays. Amber's shield took one direct hit, a layer of molten metal running down the surface as the outer layer melted under the impact. The rest of the rays smashed through the house's wall, leaving a three pony wide hole to the street. 'Knew it.' Amber muttered to herself. She focused for a moment allowing a blue white nimbus to build up around her sword-hoof as she prepared a counter attack. Thorn sprinted forewords, sweeping her mace and smashing it against Amber' shield with a sound like a hammer striking an Anvil. Shock ran through Amber's arm, the shield's straps being the only thing keeping it in her grip. With a growl Amber thrust her hand up, a blue bolt of magic slamming into Thorn's left side. Thorn cried out in pain, stumbling backwards. Amber slammed her shield forwards, catching Thorn in the chest and knocking her to the floor. Amber stabbed her blade downwards, hoping to impale Thorn, only to dive to the side as Thorn's squad fired off a second salvo. The green bolts hissed through the air, punching holes in the wall with explosive flashes of green. Thorn rolled away as well, springing up in a flash of green fire, shapeshifting her injury away, then charging in mace held low. The moment she came into range Thorn unleashed a hail of sweeping blows, hammering against Amber's shield, striking at the damaged spot. Amber was forced back by the assault, her quick steps taking her out through the hole in the wall into the street. The changelings hesitated for a moment before shifting into a rainbow of different unicorn shapes and advancing towards the hole to keep their leader covered. Amber's shield leg began to throb with pain. Fighting through the distractions about her she conjured another ball of blue light. Seeing the glow Thorn jumped back, shouting “Zharr!” Her command brought another salvo of magic rays, several burned shallow pits into Amber's shield. Amber did her best to ignore the new assault. Flicking her fetlock down the conjured blue orb split into a dozen small bolts which sprayed outwards in a wide arc, making a sound like shattering glass. Thorn dropped, ducking under the barrage at the last minute. Her soldiers were not as lucky. Three of them took most of the bolts, collapsing in pain as their disguises dropped in a green blaze. 'Three down. More in reserve most likely. She's better than she used to be and I'm rusty.' Amber observed. 'Shit.' Thorn sprang nimbly back up, a flare of green spawning her large insectoid wings for just long enough to leap upwards, soar a dozen feet into the air and come slamming downwards mace first. Amber side stepped, countering with a horizontal slash which Thorn parried with her mace's haft, dismissing her wings to maintain her earth pony guise. “You are better at battle magic, but I know that suit's too heavy to fly in.” Amber grunted and lashed out with a floury of strikes, scoring two shallow cuts on Thorn's forelegs. Thorn growled as she was hit, kicking with one hoof against Amber's chest throwing her back. The remaining troops took the opportunity to fire again, one ray burning a hole in Amber's cloak. “Oritsir!” Amber cursed harshly, pulling her shield up to block the Soldier's line of sight. Taking advantage of the distraction Thorn muttered softly to herself, moving one hoof over her mace as a dull blue glow enveloped the weapon. “Hey! Do you remember the last time someone used this on you?” Thorn called. Amber's head turned, her eyes widened in terror. She didn't remember, she couldn't remember, but she remembered what she had been told. Thorn spun the mace in a circle over her head, sweeping it up into a high guard, the blue glow crackled around it like fire. She stepped forewords swinging the mace strait down. Amber rolled to the side, the stone where her chest had been exploding in a concussive blast, shards of stone zipping off into the night. Thorn let the mace bounce back upwards like a smith at an anvil, slamming her weapon down again. Amber rolled once more, a second explosion of magical energy blasting a head sized hole into the street. Thorn let her mace bounce a second time, Amber pulled her shield up, the mace struck the stressed metal, and with a sound like a bell cracking in half the shield split into three large chunks. Ambers foreleg shattered along with her shield, the magical energy penetrating her armor and heading right for her exoskeleton, pulverized green flesh oozed from the gaps in her left foreleg's plates. There was far to much pain for her to scream. Thorn pulled her mace up to strike again as it's glow faded away, pausing for an instant to see if she had felled her opponent. Ignoring the pain of her shattered limb with a surge of adrenaline, Amber stabbed upwards with her sword amid a scream of rage and pain. The blade's icicle like point plunged into Thorn's left hip, skidding off the bone before bursting through the other side. Leaving the blade inside her, Amber rolled back, pulling herself to her feet, her injured leg dangling limp at her side, still dripping. Thorn screamed, she let go of her mace with one hand to reach for the sword lodged in her hip. Her squad cried out in alarm, three of them firing magical rays. Amber dove forewords, grabbed Thorn with her good hoof, twisted herself, and threw Thorn into the three rays flying their way. For an instant Thorn vanished in a flash of green light and a cloud of burnt fur smell. The magic burned the fur off of Thorn's left side as the ray's energy rippled across her. Her mouth opened in a silent scream before she hit the ground with a sound like a wet sack of flower hitting dirt. The two soldiers who didn't attack ran forewords, dropping their pony disguises before scooping Thorn up and rocketing upwards with a buzz of straining wings. The remaining three's horns auras shifted from green to blue as they prepared to use battle-magic, only to wink out entirely as one shouted, “Tok'kad!” quickly pointing in Amber's direction, returning to changeling form and taking to the air. “Yeah, you better run.” Amber laughed softly, hissing with each breath as her shattered left foreleg shot pain all through her. 'Oh gods I think it's egg shelled...' Something massive slammed into Amber's back knocking her to the ground face first and pinning her in place. “This one's secure!” A stallion's voice bellowed. “Your highness, these three are dead.” another called from down the street. “Blaze Bolt, try to catch those changelings!” a mare's voice ordered. 'I know that voice...' Amber realized. It was hard to place the voice's owner through her pain but suddenly it clicked, 'Oh crap! It's Twilight.' Thinking quickly Amber took a breath to speak, “Sorry for the trouble, Royal Business. Tracking down rebel traitors, did not mean to engage them-” “You are in full battle armor, you meant to attack.” Twilight said accusingly. The guard pinning Amber town twisted her up into a sitting position to face Twilight who continued, “Funnily enough I just spent three days hunting for a changeling only to find that my home is being attacked by them...” Her eyes narrowed as she looked through the helmet's slit visor. “You're eyes are... those are yellow. Dose anypony here know what that means? Is she some sort of special caste?” Amber shook her head, “No. It's just an eye color. Blue is pretty, so we shift to have it normally. Look my leg's broken and I am unarmed. You can have your stallion let go.” Twilight twitched as she recognized Amber's voice. “By Celestia's mane... You were here the entire time?” A eye twitch and a burning glare of repressed rage fluttered across Twilight's face for a moment, sending a jolt of fear down Amber's spine. “Somepony get some rope, or chain, or anything to tie her up with.” “Wait!” a voice cried. Amber looked towards the sound, Twilight and the dozen guardsponies turning as well. Lyra stepped out of a hedge beside the damaged house, a dazed and wobbling Bon-bon laying across her back. “Wait!” she called again trotting carefully so she would not drop Bon-bon. “Your highness, Amber only fought them because they were changelings and they had Bonnie brainwashed and were doing some smell thing to our town and we were really sure that they were planning something really bad like the last attack and-” Twilight sighed, “Lyra, this changeling is a violent criminal. I might have let her go if I found her a few days ago, but I just get off the train and the first thing I hear is a pony screaming about an attack on Oat Way. Now three changelings are...” Twilight frowned, “Dead... Ok maybe you have a point. But she is still a fugitive.” “For a crime that happened forever ago and she is really sorry for!” Lyra shot back, starting to sound angry. “She can defend herself.” Amber muttered trying to ignore her leg, and the guard who was putting all kinds of pressure on it. Twilight sighed and turned back to Amber, “Lyra... she is dangerous. Amber told me about changeling battle magic, we don't have anything that can prevent her from casting it, it's not like a weapon we can take from her. She... you, are also a trained soldier I can't let you run free even if I wanted to.” “Look, I seriously want to retire. My Queen is probably dead, I am tired of fighting, I don't like it, and from what you described Ponyville seemed like the one place I might be able to fit in. I only wound up killing today because well, defending your home is the responsibility of every citizen. I even bought a house here. I... Why am I trying to use our honor code as a defense to a pony?” Amber sighed. “Honor code?” Twilight asked curiously. “Maybe Zecora has a potion that could suppress her magic? Would you let her go then? Please Twilight? She saved Bonnie for me.” Lyra pleaded. “Wait, Zecora?” Amber asked looking up quickly, “Short zebra mare, talks in rhyme, amazing at alchemy?” “You know Zecora?” Twilight and Lyra asked in surprised unison. “Yeah! She taught me alchemy. She lived with the Batponies just outside my hive's hall. Look, she will vouch for me, I do not break oaths, and I own a home here therefore I will not harm anyone who lives here.” Amber smiled, her hopes starting to rise. “Well...” Twilight frowned, sighed, and turned to three of her guards. “Please bring Zecora to the castle. Everypony else escort the prisoner to the thrown room. Lyra, you come too. I'll have somepony get Bon-bon treatment. Amber, if Zecora can assure me that you will not harm anypony in Equestria, I will think about granting you amnesty if you also appear to be truly sorry for your crimes.” “Yes!” Lyra exclaimed gleefully, “Seriously, Twilight, she's a hero! Amber deserves a second chance.” “Well... I gave Discord a second chance. I suppose that makes it only fair to give you one too. At least as long as you are not dangerous.” Twilight gave Amber a glare her voice regaining an angry tone, “Even if you did make me tramp all over Las Pegasus for three days.” Amber laughed through clenched teeth, “Sorry about that. Didn't think you would look for me personally... Could I slip into my unicorn shape please? Because seriously, leg, broken, pain.” Twilight looked to her guards and nodded. The stallions formed up around Amber, those with spears pointed them at Amber's throat. With the tell tail flash of green fire shining through the openings in her armor Amber was once again her favored white unicorn self. Her formerly injured leg quite fine, at least in this form. “Oh thank the gods! That is so much better.” “You can heal yourself with shapeshifting?” Twilight asked curiously. “Kinda, I didn't imagine my leg broken so it isn't. If I change back its broken still.” Amber answered, smiling shakily as she added, “Also, your guards are aiming for all the wrong spots... Need someone to teach them how to fight someone in full plate?” Twilight rolled her eyes and turned around walking down the road. “Come on everypony, let's have a last minute trial.”