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// Ch5 I Am Judged... 
// Story: Never Meant to Be 
// by Priceless911 
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                Placement Mark: Zebrican Equivalent to a cutiemark; Zebra use this mark to identify their role in the tribe of their birth.
Placement Trial: A ritual in which young zebra earn their placement marks. At the age of twelve, Each Zebrican foal must take place in a series of tests that usually point out a young zebra’s qualities and helps them earn their placement mark. However if a zebra fails to attain their mark by the time they reach the age of fifteen, they are then banished from their tribe until they attain their mark elsewhere.
Zeil sat the encyclopedia down as he thought to himself, “So that’s what Zecora meant when she asked if I was banished… this is a really helpful book.”
Zeil sat the book down on a dusty table as he began looking through the old bookshelves for more information. Since Zecora was gathering supplies from Ponyville, Zeil decided to take this day to do research in the library of the old castle ruins that he was staying in. Although, as far as Zecora knew, he was taking a break since he had been training nonstop for ten days straight.
As Zeil looked through the book, he found another book that was about Zebrican history, so hoping to find a map of the foreign land, Zeil opened the book and began looking through the pages. While flipping through the pages, a subject caught his eye as he paused on a specific page and began reading the words:
“Zebrica is known by its four main Tribes, the North, South, East, and Western Tribes which hold most of the country’s population and sit at the corners of the nation.”
Zeil continued looking through the book, but from there the book went to discuss actions of the nation’s economy and exports, which only bored him. So with no interest in the nation’s economy, Zeil turned to the back of the book where a map of the nation sat. Looking through the map of Zebrica only worried him as he mumbled to himself, “Great… there is no tribes in the center of the nation. Just a desert. I guess I'll have to stick to my story… unless I can find a time to change it so that it doesn’t seem like I'm deceiving her. I'd rather Zecora still think I'm a zebra for just a little while longer.”
Getting tired of looking through this book, Zeil placed it back on the shelf as he continued looking through the books for other information. As he continued looking, a thought remained in his mind. Zeil could only wonder what his Placement mark would be. Naturally, he would make it resemble magic, but how would he attain it? He had been training with Zecora for a week and a half now, and since the first day, he had made excellent progress. He even made a potion to cure hiccups, although it seemed almost useless.
With the thought of magic crossing his mind, Zeil could only mumble to himself, “If I'm going to stay here any longer, I'll need to get a placement mark… hmm… is there anything on Zebrican magic in here?”
With that thought, the disguised changeling started skimming along the books as he searched for anything that could help him in his search. As he looked, Zeil finally found something as he pulled the book from the shelf and read the title, “Zebrican Mystics: Ancient Magic of a faraway land. This looks interesting.”
Zeil then opened the book as he looked through the table of contents and mumbled the title of each chapter to himself, “Potions, Powders, Natural, Unnatural, and Forbidden. Hmm… better avoid the forbidden; let’s just to keep it simple.”
From there Zeil began flipping through each page of the book as he looked at each spell closely. Some spells seemed familiar, but many of them seemed either too complex, or had ingredients that couldn’t be found in the Everfree forest. Nevertheless, since Zeil knew that this was the only tool he had to help him in this task, he continued skimming through each page with determination.
Before he knew it, Zeil found that he had flipped through every single page in the book and had reached the title page of the forbidden section. As Zeil sat there looking at the words, “Forbidden Spells” Zeil started to reach for the page until he stopped himself, “What am I doing?... not only is this literally forbidden, but if Zecora had caught me even considering any of these spells, then she wouldn’t speak to me ever again… no matter what form I took. There had to be a better spell in here somewhere.”
Trying to find another Zebrican magic book, Zeil looked through the entire library in the castle but the only spell books he could find where Unicorn, or alicorn books. So, disappointed by his failed attempts Zeil sat down and mumbled to himself, “There has to be something… Dust of dawn? No that’s a curse that blinds its victim. Hmm, Fire Breathing Powder… no, where would I get a dragon scale around here…”
All of a sudden, Zeil thought he saw a shadow out the corner of his eye, so out of surprise Zeil looked into the direction that he saw the figure appear. However as Zeil looked into the corner of the empty library, he could only assume that whatever it was, was in his mind. Feeling a little silly, Zeil picked up the Zebrican spell book and trotted back to a table as he sat it down and mumbled, “Guess I just need to clear my mind. Hmm… maybe I should meditate for a while. If I'm lucky a spell will come to me somehow.”
Picking up the book and taking it with him, Zeil began leaving the library as he made his way into the room that he was sleeping in. After entering the room, Zeil trotted to the bedroom table as he sat the book down, and pulled onto of the chairs into the middle of the room, “I'll use this for balance.”
Using the techniques thought to him by his teacher, Zeil climbed onto the chair and began balancing on one of his front hooves as he raised the rest of his hooves in the air to keep his balance. Before, this would be something that would take two or three tries, but thanks to Zecora and her teachings, Zeil was able to attain his balance almost immediately as he closed his eyes and slipped into a deep meditative trance.
As he began his meditation, Zeil’s senses kicked in as he began feeling and hearing the wind as it whistled through the cracks in the balcony window. Then as the wind circled back with the airflow in the room, it blew against Zeil’s face as it started creating the mental image of his surroundings just like it did every time he meditated. As Zeil began seeing everything around him, he began his deepened focus as all that he could see at this time began fading from his mind. However, his trance was soon broken when an unexpected and unfamiliar voice spoke. “Meditation can’t be used to learn a spell… especially if you don’t know what the spell is to begin with.”
Out of surprise, Zeil quickly opened his eyes, but when he did, Instead of being balanced on the chair, as he was when he began his meditation, Zeil found himself standing in open grassy plans. Confused as to where he was, Zeil looked around and could barely see both the Everfree forest at one end of the plains, and the main road leading strait into Canterlot on the other side. Standing there looking at the vast empty field, Zeil sat down and rubbed his head, “What the?... where?...”
At that moment, the Zebra warrior stepped out from behind him as he spoke, “Beautiful isn’t it? What vastness the forest holds that soothes Zecora’s mind bears no harmony that this place bears. However, be a peaceful sight as is. This ground holds no such tranquility, for its past is one of great despair.”
Not expecting the zebra to appear out of nowhere, Zeil jumped back he spoke in shock, “Y-you… I mean… you’re the zebra from the other day, aren’t you?... the one from the cave.”
The unknown stallion smiled as he replied, “Yes, and you are one of an unusual sorts… for when most hold one identity, you hold many. But what is your name, and what your mask?”
Zeil couldn’t help but feel intimidated, the warrior was about the same height as him, but his spear towered over a foot above both their heads. The unknown zebra wore green armor, which covered only a small amount of his body, but left plenty of room for mobility and attacks. Unlike equestrian armor, this seemed to be much thinner without the need for a neck piece or even a helmet. As for the spear, the blade seemed to be a sharpened grey piece of metal that was tied to a long staff that had exotic markings all up and down the shaft. At the point where the blade was connected to the shaft, also hung two phoenix feathers. As for the zebra himself, his colors weren’t like Zecora or Zeil’s shades of grey. He was strait black and white, which made him seem more like a ghost then a zebra.
With the zebra’s appearance completely intimidating Zeil, the stallion noticed the silence so he spoke, “Forgive my rudeness, it would seem unusual for me to ask of your name when I myself haven’t given you mine. My name is Jumb Rafi. At one time, Zebras knew me as Chief Jumb Rafi of the Western Tribe of Zebrica. Although, the title of chief has far escaped me now a days.”
With the stallion seeming less intimidating then before, Zeil replied, “Um… m-my name is Zine…”
The chief chuckled at the name as he replied, “Yes… it most certainly is… although, I feel it better for you to present your real name. You know, the one your changeling mother gave you. I would feel most honored to know you by that name instead, wouldn’t you agree?”
Knowing that his cover was blown, Zeil stood up as he changed into his changeling form and replied, “Oh… well… my name… is… um Zeil.”
The warrior gave Zeil an intrigued look as he began trotting around him looking with curious eyes at the creature in front of him, “Hmm… interesting, I in my youth have never come across such a remarkable one. Then again, Equestria was one of very few nations I traveled to in my life. Tell me if I'm not mistaken, But your name Zeil… would it be spelled, Z, E, I, L?”
Feeling a little uncomfortable about being marveled at by a Zebrican chief, Zeil replied, “Um… yea… it is… why do you ask?”
Chief Rafi smiled, “I just think it funny, that your name spelled backwards is liez. That’s all.”
Feeling a little insulted, Zeil gave the chief an annoyed look, “Gee… thanks…”
Chief Rafi shook his head, “Apologies, I did not mean to offend. I understand that a creature such as yourself must lie in order to survive. However, you seem to be different from the rumors your species has left behind for my brethren to tell. Watching you and your actions with my youngest sister makes me wonder. Why do you act differently from the rest? What… do you seek?”
Feeling a little embarrassed to say, Zeil tried to change the subject, “you’re… Zecora’s older brother?”
Chief Rafi chuckled as he replied, “Sorry, I understand it may seem strange to hear us refer to our fellow tribe zebra as brothers and sisters. But I assure you, Zecora and I are related, although… it’s more of a… distant relation. Nevertheless, you failed to answer my question. Exactly, why is it that a creature who feeds on emotion, would seek to learn magic? And furthermore, why would he seek a spell to attain a placement mark when he so foolishly knows that he merely needs to create one to attain it?”
Zeil continued to try to stall his answer, “I… um… well you see… I need… um…”
Chief Rafi smiled sarcastically as he began trotting past Zeil and replied, “such a foolish action, to seek what can merely be attained with no effort… unless… it isn’t a placement mark you seek… is it? Perhaps, you seek something more. Something that can’t be attained through a simple spell… something… personal.”
Zeil turned around and looked at the clever chief as he replied, “Well, I um… magic can be a useful skill for a changeling… I mea…”
Chief Rafi interrupted, “Yes… it can… although it’s not magic that you seek… you already have that. But… perhaps what you wish for, is… approval…” Rafi turned and looked at Zeil, “The approval… of a mare…”
Zeil blushed as he tried to avert his eyes, “well… I… um…”
“Do not feel modest friend. You’re not the first to fall for the charms of a Zebrican mare. Trust me, the stories I could tell… well that’s beside the point. At any rate, I cannot over look this without concern. You see, Zecora is the last of my family. When her time is done, there will no longer be reason for me to roam this world. You see, Zecora is very strong, however when she first arrived in this kingdom, she was as vulnerable and naive as you. Yet my guidance and protection allowed her to become strong, both physically, mentally, and spiritually.”
Zeil thought to himself for a second before replying, “So… you’re her spiritual guide or something?... but what does that have to do with me? Why are you here? And… this place… is it real?”
Chief Rafi looked away with a serious expression as he replied, “So serious… I'd rather be better acquainted before getting to the point, but… I suppose this day and age allows for impatience. I'm here to both judge you… and perhaps, help.”
Zeil felt confused, “What?... what do you mean?”
Rafi looked across the field at the distant view of Canterlot as he replied, “Changelings are known for deception… but from your actions, I have not seen anything to prove that rumor. From the moment I saw you, I knew there was more to you then what crossed my eyes. The same goes for Zecora. And this was proven when you saw me in that cave.”
“What?”
Rafi smiled as he continued looking at Canterlot, “For a zebra to meditate, is common, but for one to see far beyond is rare. So rare, that some train for years before every laying eyes upon a guiding spirit. Even Zecora meditated for a decade before I was finally revealed to her. You see, only one who is pure and intoned with the will of nature could ever accomplish so much in a short amount of time. Zecora saw it, and I did too. Therefore, my hope is to aid you in your endeavor.”
Feeling unsure, Zeil rubbed his head as he replied, “Endeavor? What endeavor?”
Rafi could only chuckle at the clueless changeling as he turned to Zeil and replied, “Your spell…. I want to show you the spell that at will both test you and… impress Zecora.”
Zeil cold only give Chief Rafi a strange look, “You want to show me a spell… but why?”
Chief Rafi smiled, “Because this task will test both skill… and devotion. To succeed, will mean sacrificing something of value. But do not fear my friend; this sacrifice won’t threaten your life in the least.”
Zeil thought to himself as he replied, “And… is it harmless? I mean will anychan… I mean Zebra get hurt over it?”
Chief Rafi nodded his head as he replied, “Not only will no harm come of this spell, but it will be a spell that bears no regret. Of this, you have my word.”
Zeil thought to himself, he didn’t know if he could trust Rafi, or even if this so-called sacrifice would have any consequences. Nevertheless, he knew it wouldn’t hurt to know what the spell was first, so with a curious nod, Zeil replied, “As long as it’s safe, I can give it a try… what is the spell?”
Chief Rafi smiled peacefully as he looked Zeil in the eye and replied, “Three pages.”
Zeil was confused yet again, “… Wait… what?...”
Rafi repeated himself, “Three pages… the spell book you were reading, turn to the final page, then flip three pages forward. This is the spell you should use. Not only is it harmless, but its effects are more noble then pointless.”
Zeil thought to himself before realizing something important, “Wait… the last chapter of that book were all forbidden spells… you want me to perform a spell that’s forbidden? N-no! No, there is no way in Chrysalis’ domain that I would ever attempt something forbidden! I mean, what would happen if Zecora found out? She would never speak to me again!”
Chief Rafi chuckled as he replied, “You see, that’s the nobility I was admiring. Loyal and dependable, I could ask for no better student for Zecora… or suitor.”
Trying to ignore what could easily be described as flattery, Zeil replied, “Suitor or not, I know what a curse is capable of. And even if it’s to impress Zecora, I will have no part of it.”
Chief Rafi nodded his head, “And you shall have no part of a curse, however this spell is no curse. In fact, if that book were up to date this spell wouldn’t even be considered forbidden.”
Zeil gave the now untrusted stallion a suspicious look, “Not forbidden?... what do you mean?”
Chief Rafi looked into the sky as a flock of phoenix flew overhead, “Tell me Zeil… what is it that makes a spell forbidden?... of Zecora’s teachings, what is it that defines a curse?”
As Zeil looked at the phoenix above he replied, “Well, it’s a spell that bods any kind of harm towards others. Whether it be physical, mental, or intellectual. Any spell that harms another is considered a curse and should never be used unintentionally even if it’s to save one’s self.”
Chief Rafi smiled, “Very good, any spell used to harm others is bad and usually bears ill will to both the victim, and the user… though it isn’t all that classified a curse, oh no, in years long passed, a curse was a spell at which the action, creation, or ingredients would harm the user, or others around him. Therefore, many spells of the past that were forbidden are now just unsuggested.”
Zeil looked back at Chief Rafi as he replied, “Unsuggested?... explain.”
Rafi turned back to Zeil as he replied, “Absolutely. First, I should ask, what are simple ingredients for brewing spells? What ingredients are used most often?”
Zeil thought to himself, “Well there is pollen from most plants. Herbs, feathers are often used…”
Rafi nodded his head as he interrupted, “Yes, plants produce pollen, Herbs are grown, and birds continuously grow feathers. Therefore, using such items in spells are harmless when used in few, but there are some spells that require ingredients that aren’t as easy to come by. For example, the beak of a cockatrices. To receive this, you must first kill the creature, which in our culture is forbidden. So spells that require such things were also considered Forbidden. Even spells that could cure deadly illnesses. To harm another is unjust and unnecessary; this is what I taught to my tribe, and what I managed to teach to the entire nation of Zebrica.”
Zeil gave Chief Rafi a sceptic look, “So… this spell you want me to use… its ingredients are what made it forbidden?”
Chief Rafi nodded his head, “Yes… the spell’s effects aren’t in any way harmful.”
Zeil thought to himself, as he replied, “And… I can do it? It isn’t complex in any way?”
Chief Rafi nodded his head, “If you can bear the cost… then yes.”
Zeil still seemed skeptic, “You say there is a cost… what is it?”
Chief Rafi smiled, “To discover what thrives in the forest, you must first seek it out. In other words, that is something you should discover on your own. Just remember, the choice to do this spell is yours and yours alone. There is no consequence to deny it, although finding another spell will prove to be a challenge in itself. The choice is yours my friend.”
Zeil nodded his head, “Then, I guess I could take a look. It wouldn’t hurt to check first right?”
Chief Rafi smiled, “Then I'll leave that decision to you, and… I wish you luck… Zine.”
With those words, Chief Rafi turned to leave as Zeil stopped him, “Wait…” Rafi paused and looked back as Zeil continued, “If you’re trying to help me, then you already judged me and I apparently passed… right?”
Chief Rafi smiled, “It would appear so.”
Zeil had to asked, “But… why?... you know I’ve been lying from the very start, so why trust me?”
Chief Rafi smiled as he looked over the field and replied, “Centuries ago, there was a great war in this land. And on this very ground, the blood of zebra, griffin, and pony proved too much for any of this grass to grow and thrive. It was on this very soil, that I met a stallion of both great power, and great nobility. Some go entire lifetimes without meeting such noble spirits. You carry the same strength as he. Determined to prove yourself for the one you love. It is this quality that will decide whether you will succeed or fall. Nevertheless, I judged him fairly, just as I judge you. I only hope your story ends better than his.”
Zeil couldn’t help but understand that Chief Rafi knew what was going to happen as he asked, “My story… can I ask?... how will it end? What will happen to Zecora and I?”
Chief Rafi shook his head as he replied, “Nozebra, not even a changeling, should ever know his fate. But I pray that good fortune will smile upon you, and lead you to a prosperous future.”
With those words said, the vision of Chief Rafi vanished as Zeil opened his eyes to find himself laying on the floor of the decrepit bedchambers in his zebra form. As Zeil looked around, he could tell that his balance was broken at some point, but he had no idea how long he was in his trance or even how long ago it was that he fell from his balanced position on the chair. Nevertheless, Zeil wasted no time in putting that matter aside as he rushed to the spell book and flipped to the very back page, before flipping three pages into the back of the forbidden chapter and reading what was on the page. “Hmm… golden Joke? It says that by using qualitied found in its main ingredient, the golden joke will take aspects to the ingredient and attain the same such abilities as the ingredients origin. With it, the poison joke will change colors from its royal blue to a glistening gold. With this, the powers of the poison joke will be neutralized as the plant judges its host and chooses whether or not to yield its magic. In doing so, this plant will gain immortality only till the hosts proves unworthy and ceases the emotion that the plant must sustain to live.”
Smiling at the obvious term, “Judge” Zeil continued reading down to the plants ingredients, “Ok, pollen of a sunflower, silk fibers, rotting wood mold and the main ingredient… W-what?...”
As he looked at the final ingredient that would make up the qualities of the joke itself, Zeil couldn’t believe his eyes. This ingredient was the only reason that this spell was forbidden, and even then, there was no possible way to attain such a thing in the Everfree forest. Zeil closed the book as he thought to himself, “I can’t believe it… this can’t be a simple coincidence…. Could it? If I use it, then I will be making a decision that will change my life forever… but… do I need it anymore?”
Feeling a little troubled with his decision, Zeil turned to the mirror in the room as he trotted to it and sat down while looking at his zebra appearance. Then, Zeil turned sideways as he looked at the stitching on his right side. The wound is now healed, and the stitching was now ready to be removed. However, Zeil couldn’t help but think about his decision as he transformed into his changeling form and observed the scar in this form as well. Both his changeling and zebra form revealed the same thing. A closed scar with stitching still in place. Considering his options, Zeil ran his hoof along the scarred tissue as he mumbled to himself, “There isn’t any need for it anymore… and… if I'm going to stay with Zecora… I'm going to need to get rid of it anyway. I-I'll do it for Zecora.”
With this said, Zeil transformed back into his zebra form as he trotted to his saddlebag and put it on as he trotted out the door, and into the ruins of the castles courtyard. First, he gathered pollen from a few sunflowers that grew what was left of the old castle garden. Then he proceeded to scrape wood mold from a rotting carriage into a small flask. Finally, he approached the silk tapestries of the old castle and began taking a small number of fraying fibers as he placed them into a flask and returned to the master bedchambers. With all ingredients gathered, he opened the book and looked over the instructions, “Ok… first I have to grind all the ingredients up while mixing water in it. Then when it turns into a paste I need to let it dry, then grind it into a fine powder. But first, I need to cut out small sections and add it to the bowl…”
A little hesitant, Zeil reached into his saddlebag as he pulled out a small cutting blade and his severed wing. Then as he spread the thin insect like wing on the table, he mumbled to himself, “Well, this settles it… I will never fly again. But… as long as I'm here. I don’t need to.”
With his mind made up, Zeil griped the blade as tightly as he could as he ran it across his wing and began cutting it into small pieces before placing them into the mixing bowl.

Shining Armor and Twilight sparkle were making their way through Trottingham as two Royal Guards dragged a struggling Blue unicorn to them as the pony yelled, “Let me go! I was doing anything wrong! If jaywalking is that big a crime then I'll pay the ticket just let me go!”
As the three approached Shining Armor, he spoke, “Is this him?”
One of the guards replied, “Yes your majesty, locals are saying that he traveled into town just last week. He had a doctor patch his unexplained wounds then began gathering supplied to head north.”
Shining Armor looked at the struggling unicorn as the captive spoke, “I'm just passing through! I got injured the other day when I got caught in a rock slide and now I need to get home to my wife and foals!”
Shining Armor replied with a sceptic tone, “Really? Where are you from?”
Without missing a beat, the unicorn replied, “Kestrel… in the Griffin Kingdoms.”
Shining Armor spoke again, “You said you have a wife and foal, what are their names?”
The unicorn replied with no hesitation, “Rose Marry, and my fillies name is Cinnamon.”
Shining Armor then nodded his head as he replied, “Ya don’t say… so, what is your name then?”
The unicorn replied, “My name is Oregano….”
Shining Armor looked at the unicorn’s cutiemark, which was a mixing bowl, then looked back as he replied, “So… I'm guessing you’re a baker aren’t you?”
The unicorn gave him a funny look as he replied, “A chef… actually…”
Shining Armor gave a fake smiled as he replied, “Alright then… it would seem you check out… guards. Let him go.”
Feeling a little confused, the two guards looked at each other then released the unicorn as he stood up straight and wiped the dust from his coat as he replied, “Thank you your majesty… I'm glad to see that at least one Royal Guard still has common since.”
Shining Armor held his fake smiled as he reached into a pocket under his armor and replied, “Don’t mention it, anyway I have to ask, that rock slide the other day, was it this kind of rock that hit you?”
With that asked Shining Armor pulled out a small shard of an everstone as he handed it to the unicorn and gave him a few seconds to look at it. Confused as to what type of stone he was carrying Oregano looked at the stone and replied, “I… I don’t think so… but then again I didn’t get a good look a…”
Before Oregano could finish his sentence, the yellowish stone in his hoof began glowing with a bright intensity as the unicorns hoof started changing colors. First, the hoof turned from its bluish tint, to a jet black. Then holes started to appear on the hoof as the transformation started spreading from his hoof in a wave fashion until every part of the pony’s body had turned back into its original changeling form. Shocked at what happened the discovered changeling dropped the stone and looked at Shining Armor “W-What is?... How?”
Shining Armor’s smile went from fake to sinister as he replied, “You said foals at first… I only asked for the name of your foal… no self-respecting father would say he had two foals, but only named off one. Attention to detail changeling. Guards, arrest him!”
Almost immediately, the two guards who released the changeling mere seconds ago, grabbed him and pinned him to the ground as the changeling struggled, “You… you tricked me! That wasn’t very pony like!”
Shining Armor replied, “To catch a changeling, you sometimes have to act like one. Twily? Can you please open the portal?”
Though this was a side of her brother that she didn’t want to see, Twilight nodded her head as she used her magic to open a portal right beside her. As twilight stepped away from the portal Shining Armor, the guards and their captive moved closer to the portal as the changeling looked into the portal and spoke, “What’s that!?! What’s going on! Why did you open a portal!?! What do you plan to do with me!?!”
Shining Armor looked at the changeling and replied, “We are sending you back where you came from… as far away from Equestria as possible. The Land of the Black sand!”
The changeling looked into the portal and could see the endless black desert that awaited on the other side, “What!?! N-NO! No, you can’t! Please No!”
The changeling tried struggling to get free as Shining Armor grabbed the changeling by his horn and looked him into the eye with an angry expression as he whispered, “Really?... and what makes you think I'm going to stop now?”
With no need to shout the changeling replied, “The Land of the Black Sand is a death trap… you might as well execute me now. It will save me the suffering.”
Intrigued Shining Armor asked, “Really? And why is that?”
Still keeping his voice down the changeling replied, “Nothing can survives out there… there is no food, no water, no life of any kind. And when the sun comes out, it’s like standing in an oven. The temperature can easily reach two hundred degrees. If given the choice, I'd rather go to Tartarus.”
With that heard, Shining Armor smiled sinisterly as he replied, “Then I’ll sleep like a baby tonight.”
Looking at the evil look on Shining Armor’s eye, the changeling could see a kind of greenish color in his pupil as he replied, “What?... no… it can’t be… you still…”
Before the changeling could finish, Shining Armor backed away as he spoke to his guards, “Throw him in! Make sure he doesn’t escape!”
With that said, Shining Armor turned and trotted away from the struggling changeling and towards his sister as the changeling spoke, “NO! NO DON’T PLEASE!!! I BEG YOU!”
When Shining Armor approached his sister, he stopped and turned back to his guards and watched the two Royal guards dragged the changeling to the base of the portal as they both reared back and tossed the helpless creature through it and watched him hit the ground on the other side. 
Trying to act quickly, the changeling shuffled to his hooves and sprinted towards the portal only to have it close, before he could reach it. With the portal vanishing on their side, Twilight looked at Shining Armor as she asked, “So what was it you said when you got close to him? I couldn’t hear.”
Shining Armor smiled as he replied, “I asked him if he knew where his queen was… that’s all.”
Twilight gave him a look of anticipation as she replied, “And?...”
Shining Armor turned away as he replied, “He said that he didn’t know, but they would probably go to the Land of the Black sand to regroup.”
Twilight seemed a little skeptic about Shining Armor’s answer, although she trusted her brother so she only nodded her head as she slowly followed behind him as they began leaving the area. As Shining Armor continued trotting, a faint green appeared in his pupil as he thought to himself, “If the Land of the Black Sand truly is a death trap, then I'll sent them there… I'll send them all there.”