"Archangel, this is Mage. No new Intel on VIPs 'Paramour' and 'Knight'. Copy?"
"Copy that, Mage. I'll let Singular know. Archangel, out."
"You know, Chitinia said to Metamorpha as she closed the communication channel, "there isn't a garuntee that they're here."
Sighing, Metamorpha said, "I know, sis, but we still have to check. Otherwise, we'll be attacking with no intel. This is the Crystal Empire, after all."
It had been a week since the escape from Canterlot, and the ponies were still adjusting. Just a few hours after leaving the clearing in the Everfree forest, they had arrived at the outskirts of the Empire. Lone had informed everyone what the situation was, and said that they were going to rescue Cadence, code named 'Paramour', and Shining, code named 'Knight', if it was possible. As a result, Chrysalis, Chitinia, and Metmorpha were in the Crystal Empire, trying to ascertain if the two royals were here. Due to the circumstances, Lone had asked those present that weren't a part of lone team, regardless of them being alien or not, if they wished to join, and the only ones to say no were Zaeed, Garrus, and Sawn. The others had become acolytes, though the chain of command was, in order: Lone, Chrysalis, and Rainbow, as they were the three senior members, even if Rainbow had only been a part of the team for two days at the time. Understandably, the main training regimen was altered, with only the magic users being trained at the moment due to Lone being the only member still at the main camp, which was about three quarters of a kilometer away from the Empire, who had full training. Chitinia and Metamorpha were getting the changeling training from Chrysalis.
Right now, the three changelings were in an abandoned, though well kept up, building that acted as their hideout. More accurately, the basement of it, which allowed for the privacy they needed.
"So," Chrysalis asked her daughters, "what do you two wish to learn next?"
"Well," Chitinia said, "what about more advanced shape-shifting techniques?"
Smiling, Chrysalis said, "Of course. It's actually what I learned at this point."
Both her daughters got in front of her, with Metamorpha having a scroll and quill, and sat.
"Now," Chrysalis said, "of all of the advanced shape-shifting spells, the most common is light bending. What most changelings do, though more fool proof, is much easier to spot differences. Light bending is what I, my infiltrators, and shock troopers use. What we do is focus on the light-waves that make up the colors of the pony we are trying to imitate. The standard is much more painful, but easier to accomplish, and that is actually changing our body to match the pony, though this is harder to remove, it also takes a long time for it to take effect, and has greater risk, as a pony could see us during the process."
"I suppose that makes sense," Metamorpha said, "but why do both give off flames?"
"I don't know," Chrysalis said. "Not even our best scientists know why, though many theorize it's due to the natural magic color of our species. But some changelings have different flame colors naturally, such as an old friend of mine, Wasp, who's flames were yellow."
"Really?" Chitinia asked.
"Yes," Chrysalis said, "though he often showed off. Even with that, though, I still found his company pleasant. It was thanks to him I was able to get through the stress of being elected."
"What happened to him?" Metamorpha asked.
Chrysalis' smile faded as the question reached her ears. "He died during Green Mist's uprising, trying to protect me. If it hadn't been for his sacrifice, I doubt I'd be here. I even gave him a place of honor in the cemetery that's usually only given to war heros" She chuckled a little, and a small smile came to her face. "You know, you two remind me of him. He had Chitinia's love for fashion and eye for detail, and he had your love for knowledge, Metamorpha. I imagine he'd be happy to see you two as you are now. He was your father, after all."
"Our father was given what?" Chitinia asked.
"The best honor a changeling could have. He sacrificed himself for me, as well as you two, and I saw to him getting the honor he earned when the rebellion was finished."
"I imagine he was the best you ever met, mom," Metamorpha said.
"Indeed he was. But that's enough for now. Back to your lesson. One thing you must master for this is control. Should you become surprised, and it breaks your concentration for even a second, your disguise will waver, and those with sharp eyes willnotice."
"But wouldn't it be an unconscious thing, like Lightning said?" Chitinia asked.
"Ordinarily, no, though Lightning is one of the few like that."
"Looks like our family is full of unique changelings, doesn't it?" Metamorpha said.
"Indeed it is," Chrysalis said before she went back to the lesson. She explained how to activate the particular variant of shape-shifting, which was to focus on the particular pattern of a pony's color in terms of mathematical values, a feat easily accomplished for the studious changeling and the fashionista changeling. After that, Chrysalis explained the many variations of the spell, some of which allowed for a changeling to look like other species, though this was rarely used.
This continued for an hour, after which, it was time for the three to go back into the city. The three went into their crystal pony disguises, Metamorpha becoming a light red mare with a light blue mane, a single crystal being the cutie mark, while Chitinia took on the appearance of a blue-coated mare with an orange mane that had some semblance to her original mane, in terms of fashion, while Chrysalis adopted the appearance of the form she was in when she had arrived in Canterlot a little over a week ago, the only change being that she looked more like a crystal unicorn, which were rare, but not unheard of.
They headed out, going to different parts of the city, Chrysalis to the library and the surrounding area, Chitinia to the area around the shopping area, and she was amazingly able to not gush over the outfits there, while Metamorpha went to the military district, which was the castle, as well as the barracks that sprouted up next to it.
. . .
Metamorpha had been listening to the various conversations she had heard for a few hours when she heard a familiar voice say, "Make sure the patrols are stepped up. Green Mist told me personally that the traitors will attempt to free the prisoner tomorrow during the celebration. Is that clear?"
"Yes, sir!"
"Good. Now, spread the word, and ensure everypony knows about the new patrols, as well as the plan."
"Yes, General Armor."
. . .
Lone team main camp
All things considered, Ken was having a good week. Sure, compared to other points in his life, this was a very confusing, and occasionally crappy, week, but given the circumstances he found himself in, it could have been worse.
Right now, he was one of the snipers watching the camps perimeter, along with Garrus, Zaeed, and Lily. It was, in all honesty, the most boring role he could think of, even though it was necessary. He and the others were on a rotation schedule so that none of them would fall asleep on the job.
He was on his second hour of watch, looking through his sniper scope, bored at the fact there was no wild life nearby, when he heard Lily say over the radio, "Ken, get to the pelicans. We just got word from the infiltration team, and, as Pinkie puts it for some reason, 'It's gonna be a doozy.'"
"Got it, Lil," Ken replied, getting up as he did so.
He made his way to the pelicans, which were also the command center of the camp, due to the comm tech there. When he made it, he saw looks of worry, urgency, and surprise on some of the faces there. "Hey, what's up?" he said.
"We just got some news regarding Shining Armor, and possibly Cadence," Garrus said.
"And what's that?"
"'That',Ken" Lone said, walking out of the pelican he was in, with Luna beside him, "would be that Shining has most likely been brought under the influence of the Brotherhood and is leading their defense of the Empire, where as we think Cadence is in the dungeons."
"And how do we know this," Ken asked.
"Because Metmorpha told us over radio once she was certain it was safe, and she had Chitinia say the same, and had Chrysalis tell me over the link."
"So," Lily said, "what are we going to do?"
"Simple," Lone said. "We sneak into the dungeons, and if Cadence is their, we get out as fast as possible."
"How are we supposed to get out?"
"Easy," Maruco said, holding up a sticky detanator. "The fun way."
"That may be an issue, Maruco," John said.
"Why?"
"Because I just got word from Metamorpha. She said she was able to sneak into the dungeons, and it isn't Cadence in there."
"Then who is it," Luna asked.
"Celestia."