> The Changeling King Part 2: Kings' Gambit
>  by th3l0stch1ld
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> The Return of a Threat
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	The hive was active.  It had been two years since the new queen had taken over, and the hive had grown substantially in both size and number.  A changeling stood on a balcony overlooking a river, the breeze blowing through his coat as he stared, listening to the chirping of many different birds.  The wind showed hidden scars, claws and bite marks up and down his neck and shoulder.  The wind parted his hair, showing his face.  A crown held the majority of his hair in place, but his green eyes never left their focus.  A mended heart was depicted on his flank.  He was so caught up that he did not here another changeling approach him from behind.
“Amor, why is it that I always find you here?”  He blinked his eyes as they came to focus.  Amor turned to see the other standing behind him.  She had hair like his, only longer.  The holes in her hooves were less numerous, and like many of the changelings from the previous generation, she had no cutie mark.  She too had a crown, but hers was much smaller, slender and taller than his.  Amor smiled at her presence, after all, she was his wife.
“I love the view from this spot.”  The former queen walked out to the spot beside him and looked out into the natural view.
“It is a great view.”
Amor looked at the pony, or changeling, that he loved most.  “Was there something you needed me for, Chrysalis?”
Chrysalis looked back at Amor.  “More savages were found.”  Amor expected the news.  Recently, changelings from an enemy hive, led by a false king, have been found wandering the forest near the hive.  Every time the news was delivered Amor stopped with his cheery day and became a much more serious pony.
“Alright I’ll be down soon.”  As Chrysalis walked back to her duties, Amor looked over the river again.  “This isn’t good.  There has to be a reason that we have been seeing so many hostile changelings.  They couldn’t have found the hive, could they?”  Amor recalled all the savage changelings that have been found recently.  All the captured, all the missing troops from the other hive.  Amor put a hoof to his head.  “How could I be so stupid?  All the changelings going missing in this area, of course they know where we are, or at least the general area.”  He put his hoof back in position. “How are we to fight an enemy that we cannot find?”  With a sigh Amor turned from the balcony to his room, walked around the bed, and left.
In a small chamber attached to the main castle, a chamber that few knew about and even fewer were allowed in.  It would cause panic if the hive knew about the chamber where so many prisoners were held, changeling prisoners from a hostile hive.  Amor appeared in the door and walked down the long hallway, prison cells filled with changelings on either side of him.  As he walked by, every changeling snarled and growled, spit flying in his direction.  He was accustomed to making this journey, for he had lightly interrogated every one of these changelings.  He approached the last cell in the row, where a group of those he trusted most had gathered.  Amor could easily identify those in this group, his adopted daughter and current queen Purity, his wife and former queen Chrysalis, and two of Amor’s most trusted soldiers, Avispa and Escara, both with spears pointed at the changeling lying in the cell, all four legs tied together.  The group opened up and allowed Amor to enter the cell.  The changeling picked up his head and looked at the former king as he approached.  Amor looked down at the changeling on the ground.
“What’s your name?”
“Why do you want to know?”
“I want to know how to address you.”
“I don’t have to give you my name.”  The same answer all those before him gave.
“Alright, savage, where has your leader set up his hive?”  Silence.  “What are you looking for?”  Again silence.  Amor sighed.  “Alright, savage, what will you tell me?”
The changeling looked up and an evil grin appeared on his face.  “I will tell you that you are doomed.  I will tell you that you will never find us.  You think we are savage, but you are the savages.  You have pulled so far from the ways of our ancestors, it’s insulting.”
Amor put his face close to the changeling, who didn’t even flinch.  “You think we are savage?  Let me show you something.”  Amor bit the changeling on the back of his head, obviously causing pain, and dragged him down the rows of cells.  As if on cue, all the changelings growled and hissed and spit at the presence of the former king.  “You look at your people and tell me we are savage.”  The changeling looked shocked by the site of all the rabid changelings.  Amor then dragged him back to his cell and threw him against the wall.  He put his face close to the changeling’s again and barred his fangs before asking again.  “Now where is your hive?”  Again silence.  “I’m getting tired of this.  Maybe I should just kill you all.”
The changeling finally gave in.  “Alright, you win.  Our main hive is in the hayseed swamps.”  Amor was actually surprised by how fast the changeling broke.  At the sound of their home, every changeling in the room roared in anger.
“How am I to know you are telling the truth?”
“Trust me, it is.”  
Escara stepped forward and placed the tip of his spear on the changeling’s chest.  “Willing to bet your life on it?”
The changeling’s eyes went wide.  “Please, I’m telling the truth!”  Chrysalis stepped forward and pulled both Escara and Amor back into the group.
“Do you think he is telling the truth?”
Chrysalis rolled her eyes.  She pulled Amor from the group and began whispering to him.  “Amor, you know I could see his memories?”
At first Amor had a puzzled look on his face, then came to the realization of what she was talking about.  “What about the pain?”
“Please.  I doubt there is much pain this weakling could take that I can’t.”
Amor sighed before turning to the other three.  “Leave me and Chrysalis here with the prisoner.  We will be done soon.”  Purity nodded and signaled the two soldiers to follow her to the castle’s main chamber.  “Wait.  Avispa, leave your spear.”  The changeling silently handed his spear to Amor who took it with his magic.  He watched as the three finally left and the door closed behind them.  As they approached the cell, Amor slammed the base of the spear against the ground to gain the attention of his captive.  “If you try anything, I will put this spear through your skull.”  
The changeling sat in full attention as Chrysalis approached.  In an attempt to hold him she placed her hoof down hard, his head the only thing stopping it from hitting the ground as she placed her horn to his.  With a bright white glow, all the memories from the last week were transferred into Chrysalis’s mind, along with the pain.  When the spell was complete, Chrysalis’s whole body ached with pain.  She put a hoof to her forehead as she stumbled out if the cell.
“Are you alright?”
“Yes, yes, it’s just a headache.  He’s telling the truth.”  Amor closed the cell door as Chrysalis made her way out.
“Wait!  You can’t leave me like this!”  Amor turned and pulled the spear up.  The changeling closed his eyes and braced for the end.  He waited, but never felt the tip.  Soon he heard a snap, he opened his eyes to see the spear in the middle of his four legs, barely missing him but cutting the rope.
“Before you try anything stupid, your magic is bound.  Have fun in your cell.”
> Change of Plans
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Amor exited the prison cell, Chrysalis leaning all her weight into him.  He handed the spear back to Avispa as he spoke.
“He’s telling the truth, their hive is in the hayseed swamps.”
Purity had a shocked look on her face.  “But that’s on the other side of Equestria!  What are they doing out here?”
“Isn’t it obvious?  They’re looking for us.”
“And I think they found us.” Chrysalis said, still leaning against Amor and putting a hoof to her head.
“Mother, are you alright?”
“Yes, yes, it’s just a headache.”
Amor spoke up.  “We’ll talk more about this tomorrow.  For now we need to prepare ourselves.  Escara, how have the soldiers been doing?”
“Great, sir.  Our numbers have grown since last year.  Our army alone numbers in the thousands, the hive possibly triples that.”
“Are they trained?  How are they in combat?”
“As well as they ever will be.  I’ve been training them myself.  They’re great with swords, experts with spears, masters at stealth.”
“What about infiltration?”
“We haven’t gotten that far yet.”
“We may need it.”
“Yes sir.”  Amor walked with Escara as far as the castle doors.  He stopped at the top of the stairs and looked over the hive.  The twenty buildings from two years ago still stand, but are now part of a much larger hive.  Hundreds, thousands of homes were built, the tunnels were expanded over time, so large that the farthest walls of the cave cannot be seen from the castle anymore.  Some of the changelings had to resort to pods on the roof of the cave for the time being as houses were built, no possessions to hold onto yet.  The hatching chamber, a large tunnel-like area off to the side of the castle, was covered wall to wall with changelings, still too young to break out of their pods.  The only way into the chamber is from an opening in the tunnel on the outside of the castle.  But as Amor looked on at the growing empire, a cold thought filled his head.  If this started with twenty changelings, how big has Hornet’s hive grown?
Chrysalis saw Amor’s worried expression.  She put her head to his and nuzzled him for comfort.  “We’ll be fine.”
“I hope.”  She tried to hide it by giving a comforting smile, but she too was worried.  She knew that if these changelings were as dangerous as she thought they were, they wouldn’t stop at the same point Purity’s hive would.  
“Come, let’s get some sleep.”
As Chrysalis washed up before bed, Amor looked over the balcony connected to their room, recently added for him instead of flying to an open guard tower, which are never empty anymore.  Chrysalis appeared in the room moments later, her mane still wet.  She watched Amor from the bed until he closed the balcony door and joined her.  “Amor, I’ve been thinking, about the captives.  It’s getting to the point where the ones we have captured are becoming a threat.”
“You think we should kill them.”
“Well, yes.”
“And I think you’re right.”  Amor sighed.  “I was hoping to hold off, see if we could get any more information from them, but they’re no help. You know I hate killing changelings, but since we have to, I’ll give the order tomorrow.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.  If there is any chance they can get out, they’ll find it eventually.”  He wrapped around Chrysalis.  “And I couldn’t live with myself knowing such a threat is so close to you.”
Chrysalis smiled.  “Alright, I’m getting tired, aren’t you?”
As if on cue, Amor yawned.  “Yeah.  Goodnight, my love.”  Amor kissed Chrysalis on the head before lying his head down and closing his eyes.  
Even though he was tired, it took him a few moments to actually sleep.  In these moments, he found it helpful to listen for the noises around him, which are usually the occasional sigh and near silent breathing of his sleeping wife.  It was enough to make him grin, until he began recalling events from the day.  Why was that changeling so quick to tell us where the hive is?  And on that note, how could I be so stupid as to forget about Chrysalis’s spell?  Idiot.  Let’s just hope our troops are ready for our attack on the hive.  Chrysalis began to moan quietly, which Amor expected after casting that spell.  He placed a cool hoof to her head to calm her, which apparently worked.  With a quiet hum a damp rag hovered out of the bathroom and onto her head.  Amor smiled as he looked at her sleeping peacefully.  We need to prepare.  If we can get the drop on them…we might…just…  Amor’s thoughts drifted off there as he finally fell into a deep sleep.  What he would wake to the next morning, though, would surprise even him.

> Rude Awakening
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	A boom in the distance.  Another.  Closer, louder, every time getting that much closer.  Until…BOOM!  Both Amor and Chrysalis sat up.  Over and over again, explosions came from outside.  Amor jumped out of the bed and stood in front of Chrysalis.
“Stay behind me.”  Chrysalis obeyed and walked close behind Amor.  They slowly walked to the door, but before they made it a changeling soldier burst through.
“Sir, I am here to guide you to safety.”
“What’s going on?!”
“We’re under attack!”
Amor’s eyes went wide but he quickly recovered.  “Chrysalis, go with him.”
“But-“
“Go!”  Chrysalis hesitated, but nodded before following the guard.  Amor was close behind them until making it to the main castle chamber, now in ruin.  Escara and Avispa rushed to Amor.
“Sir!  The threat has been identified as changeling.  What are your orders?”  Amor expected Hornet to attack, but not this soon.
“Escara, guard the prisoners, kill them if you have to.  Avispa, you’re with me.”  With a nod, both changelings did as ordered.  Escara ran to the prison cells as Amor rushed for the exit of the hive, Avispa soon following.  The hive was in panic, changelings running every which way to find cover.  Ignoring it, Amor finally made it to the exit.  Large green beams of energy flew through the air and struck the rocky exterior of the hive.  Surveying the area, Amor noticed groups of changelings battling each other with swords and spears.  The changelings from Purity’s hive wearing dull grey, almost black sets of armor.  In an act of paranoia, the armor was recreated to hold from confusion on the battlefield.
“Amor!”  The sound of Avispa’s voice broke him from thought, just in time to see a blue armored changeling charge at him with a sword.  Amor fell to the ground, but before the changeling could strike him dead, Avispa intervened and blocked the attack with his own sword.  Amor didn’t wait, he quickly rolled over just as Avispa moved out of the way.  He kicked his back legs with all his might and caught the changeling in the jaw.  It dropped its sword and rolled over on the ground.  When it finally got to stand, the changeling’s mouth hung open, the bottom jaw dangling by the skin, its tongue hanging out.  With a snort, it turned and retreated.  Amor grabbed the sword in his teeth.
“Avispa, follow me.”  The two changelings tore through the crowd, swinging their swords at anything wearing blue.  Swinging, tearing, slicing at the fur-covered flesh.  A quick jab and Amor caught one behind the shoulder.  After letting out a cry of pain, the changeling fell.  A swing and he caught another across the neck, and all that was heard from him was a gurgling noise as blood filled his airway.  It seems like they would keep coming, like there was an endless amount of them.  Amor didn’t care.  If he had to, he would fight them all.  Another charged Amor and he quickly retaliated.  Blocking the swing with his sword, the two found themselves eye to eye.  Amor twisted his head, and thankfully his horn was longer than the soldiers, because it caught him right in the eye.  As the changeling backed away, covering its bad eye with a hoof and trying to somehow look in the direction of the bad one with the good one, Amor charged and plunged his sword into its chest.  He wasn’t sure how much more of this he could take.  
Eventually, and thankfully, the firing stopped, and the changelings from the opposing hive ran for the hills, in the direction of their hive.  Amor stood panting and covered in blood and dirt, the sword clenched in his teeth was also covered in blood.  A large team of changeling in black armor came from the direction the air assault was from.  Avispa approached.
“Sir, the air attack was the result of large groups of changelings concentrating their energy into one powerful beam.”
“I see.  This news will help.  Get a group to clean up the dead.  Find weapons, armor, anything that could be salvaged, and…prepare the corpses for burial.”
“Sir, ours or all of them?”
“Ours are to be buried.  Do what you wish with the enemies.”  Amor let out a grief filled sigh as he looked over the battle scared land of his home.  He walked back into the hive, but began running as soon as he remembered his family.  Please be okay.  Please be okay.  Amor burst into the main chamber of the castle to find Chrysalis, Purity, and Escara, standing in a semi-circle.  Escara wielded a bloodied spear at his side, leading Amor to one conclusion.  “Escara, what happened?”
“Sir, the changelings in the cells were going crazy.  They kept throwing themselves at the cell doors.  One finally broke out, he was the first to die.  After that the rest turned psychotic and threw themselves against the cells harder.  I had to take action.”
“You did the right thing.  I was going to have to execute them anyways.  They were growing too numerous to house in the hive.”  Amor passed the sword to Escara as he drew closer to Chrysalis.  “Are you two alright?”
“We’ll be fine, Amor, thank you.  The question is are you okay?”
“What are you talking about?”
“You’re bleeding!”
“It’s not my blood.  It will wash off.”
“No, not there.”  Chrysalis walked closer to Amor a pointed her hoof at a long slice down Amor’s side.  “There.”
Amor turned his head to look at his side.  Sure enough, there was a clean cut from just in front of his flank to his left shoulder.  He didn’t recall ever getting hit, but in the heat of battle, it is highly possible that he was too preoccupied with his bloodlust to ever notice.  “I’ll be fine.”  He parted the hair on his neck to reveal a large bite mark only inches away from his jugular.  “I’ve been through worse, remember?”
Chrysalis moaned.  “Don’t remind me.”  In an attempt to reveal how bad the wound really was, she prodded at it with her hoof.  Amor winced every time her hoof made contact with the bare spot the skin wasn’t covering, and Chrysalis quickly took notice.  “It’s still pretty bad.”
“I’ll tend to it later.”
“No, you won’t.  I know you.”  Chrysalis licked the cut, coating it in wax to stop the bleeding and close the wound.  “There.”
“Thank you, Chrysalis.”  Soon after the words left Amor’s mouth, Avispa trotted into the room.  He stood erect before Amor and Chrysalis.  
“Sir.  Ma’am.”  He then bowed before Purity.  “My queen.”
“You may rise.”
Avispa rose to his feet again.  “Thank you, my queen.”
“Avispa, what do you have to report?”
He turned his attention back to Amor.  “Actually, some good news.  There were no dead from our side on the battlefield.”
“Really?”
“Nope.  Not a single changeling of ours.  A lot of injured, but no dead.  It’s a miracle.”
“It’s not a miracle, we have skill apparently.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean I have the luck of a black cat that broke a mirror with an open umbrella in the house.”  The whole group looked at Amor with puzzled looks on all their faces.  “Very, very, very bad luck.”
Chrysalis closed her eyes and sighed.  “Well then…”
“Hey, you know I’m not joking.  Only I could leave the hive, find an ursa-major, get captured by Canterlot guards and get threatened with my life in one week.”
“Fair enough.”
“Not to mention that, just because I was there, a timberwolf tore my neck and shoulder to shreds, broke my leg, and put me in a coma for a month.”
“Alright!  We get it!”
“Just making a point… what were we talking about?”
Chrysalis rolled her eyes.  “Avispa, do you have anything else to report?”
“Let’s see… well the weapons and armor salvaged from the battle have been moved to the armory.  And… no that’s about it.  But, um, I…I think war is inevitable.” 
Amor sighed as he sat on a fallen pillar.  “I figured as much.  Avispa, get me a messenger.”
“Yes sir.”  Avispa trotted out the door on his next mission as Chrysalis sat next to Amor.
“Why do you need a messenger?”
“Well, we don’t have a dragon and I don’t know how to get a note around like Celestia, so it’s the best way to get a note to her.  She needs to know what is going to happen.”  Amor’s horn glowed and a quill, inkwell, and a parchment appeared before him.  He then floated it in front of Purity.  “Here.”
“What?”
“I can’t write it.  I’m not in charge, so here.”  Purity sighed.  She dipped the quill in the ink and began writing her note.
Dear Celestia,
I wish I wasn’t writing to you under these circumstances, but I have no choice.  Recently, we were attacked by another changeling hive located in the hayseed swamps, and we have no other choice but to retaliate.  Please respond as soon as you can, for it is going to be hard to fight an enemy if Equestria is off limits as a war zone.
Purity
	Amor rolled the paper up.  His horn glowed again and a red ribbon appeared and tied around the paper just as Avispa returned with another changeling.  Both bowed in the presence of so many higher beings before approaching the former king.
“Sir.”
“Get this note to Princess Celestia of Equestria as fast as you can.”  The paper floated to the messenger and landed in his mouth, being held in place only by his two large fangs.  Doing just as instructed, the changeling turned around and left in a full sprint until he reached the exit of the hive, where he took to the air.

> Prepare for Battle
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Hours passed.  The group waited in the castle chamber for word from Celestia.  Everyone was tired and on edge, expecting another attack from Hornet eventually.  Finally, a bright gold flash appeared above Amor and a scroll hit him in the head.  As he floated it before himself and unrolled it, all four changelings gathered around him like he was telling stories to Phillies.
“What’s it say, sir?”
“Father, what does it say?”
“Amor, do we have permission?”
“Give me a minute!  I’m getting to it!”  He finally unrolled the scroll and read it out loud.  “Queen Purity of the changeling hive, you have permission to cross Equestria so long as you do not disrupt the citizens in towns throughout the lands.  I must tell you that I cannot aid you in this battle, Canterlot has nothing to do with this and I would like to stay out of it.  Signed Princess Celestia.”  Amor rolled the paper and looked up, only to see four sets of eyes concentrated on him.  “Well?  What are you waiting for?  Get to it!”  
The whole group looked at each other confused.  “Sir, get to what, exactly?”
Amor sighed.  “Avispa, Escara, get the soldiers ready to travel, we need to move now.  Purity, write back to Celestia, tell her we never expected help and can handle ourselves.  And Chrysalis…”  he sighed again.  “I can’t stop you, and I know I’m going to regret this, but get ready for battle, we’re going to need all the leaders we can get.”  All the changelings nodded as they headed to do what they were told.  Purity sat and began writing back to Celestia while the other four headed out, Escara heading to gather the soldiers and the other three heading to the armory.
The group walked through the armory, where all spare sets of armor and weapons were kept.  Walls were lined with swords and spears.  “Sir, a special set of armor was made for you, and you too, ma’am.”  They entered another room filled with black armor pieces, somewhat organized.  On one side were helmets all up and down the walls.  On the other chest pieces and back plates.  The group kept moving.  A small room off to the side of the armor filled one appeared in front of them.  Avispa opened the door and they walked in.  Before them was a table carved of building wax, along with one on the left and one on the right.  Atop of these tables were three sets of armor that were larger and somewhat different than the others.  
The helmets can only be described as what Nightmare Moon in the legends wore combined with the helms of the Canterlot royal guards, without the crest.  They were a dull grey color and had a large opening in the top to let a unicorn’s, or a changeling’s in this case, horn through.  They were designed to go all the way down the back of the neck and merge with the back plate, which is perfectly molded to cover the changeling’s shell, wrapping around the waist in the same place as well.  Two openings are in the back to allow wings to be revealed.  The back plate is broken into three sections to allow movement and bolted together.  A small section extended outward to cover the flank of its wearer, hiding their cutie mark and adding protection.  All three were different sizes, built for particular soldiers, and Amor knew who those soldiers were.
“I have to get ready as well.  I’ll be back soon.”  Avispa left Amor and Chrysalis in the small room to prepare.
Moments later, the two changelings were wearing their armor.  Avispa came in wearing a full set of black armor, a sword on his side and carrying two more.  “For you two.”  Chrysalis picked her sword up and immediately strapped it to her side.  Amor levitated his before him after strapping the sheath to his side.  He studied the blade.
“Useless.  I could use my magic if it came to that.”
“Why didn’t you today?”
“Good point.”  He sheathed the sword and began walking out, Chrysalis close behind and Avispa leading.  Now that he was moving in his armor, he could see how maneuverable it was.  He stretched his legs and arched his back.  He could barely tell it was there, other than the added weight.  He began flapping his wings.  It took some time, but after speeding his wing beats, he left the ground.  He quickly landed and continued following Avispa, content with his armor.  	Reentering the hive, Amor saw armored changelings running up the walkways to the castle.  To get away from the rush, the group took flight, reaching the castle before the crowd got too big.  The messenger had just gotten back at that point and all four landed before the queen.  Avispa and the messenger bowed before quickly rising.  Avispa took his respected place beside the three royal changelings, Escara on the other side.  The messenger looked up at the queen.
“My queen, do you need me for anything else?”
“Soon, but not yet.  Please wait nearby.”  The changeling nodded and followed his order, moving against the far wall to get out of the way.  Amor and Chrysalis walked in front of Purity.  She tilted her head and studied the two before her.  “Is that really what our armor looks like?”
“Yes, what’s wrong with it?” Chrysalis asked.
“It looks so weird.”
“I like it.” Amor stated.
Purity sighed.  “Oh well.  Whether I like how it looks or not, if it protects me, it’s fine.”
Amor grinned, but it soon faded.  “So now what?”
“Now I speak to our soldiers, get ready, and after we map out where we are to set up our camps, we’re off.”
“Alright.”  He turned to Avispa.  “Get a map of Equestria.”  The soldier nodded before turning.  He trotted through a door to their left and disappeared.  Amor turned his attention back to Purity.  “It looks like most of the soldiers have gathered.  I think it’s about time.”
“Alright.”  Purity began walking to the stairs outside the castle, Amor and Chrysalis following on either side of her and Escara following between them.  From the top of the stairs, they could see thousands of changelings gathering everywhere.  Atop roofs, flooding walkways and alleys, hanging off of walls and anywhere else they could find.  Avispa appeared behind the group with a rolled up piece of paper in his mouth.  With a majority of the soldiers gathered, Purity took a deep breath, exhaled slowly, and began her speech.
“Soldiers of the changeling hive, as you all know, we were recently attacked by another group of changelings lead by a former soldier calling himself a king.”  The crowd roared in anger, but soon stopped when Purity raised her hoof.  “What we recently learned from a captive from that hive, is that the location of this hive is located in the hayseed swamps, on the other side of Equestria.  My soldiers, the reason you are gathered here today is this: we are going to war with the savage hive.  I know we can win, I believe in you, in all of you, that we could win this war.  Now I have one question for you all.”  Her voice rose drastically.  “Are you with me?”  In reply she received cheers and war cries from the group.  Amor heard one from behind him, and when he turned around he saw Avispa had dropped the map and began cheering.  Escara stood beside him, his eyes closed, head hanging and shaking in disapproval, but even he couldn’t help to grin.  One voice from the crowd shouted at the top of his lungs.  
“For the queen!”  All of a sudden the whole crowd began shouting.
“For the queen!  For the hive!”
Purity held her hoof as high as she could above her head.  “For the hive!”  The whole crowd cheered as Purity walked back into the castle.  “How’d I do?”
“Pretty good for a motivational speech.”
“Good.  Let me get ready and we’ll talk about where to go.  Avispa, care to lead me to the armory?”
“Yes, my queen.”  As the two changelings headed in the direction of the armory, Amor, Chrysalis, and Escara began walking to a large clearing in the rubble.  On the way there Amor picked up the map that Avispa dropped, spreading it out in the middle of the clearing, Amor and Chrysalis lied down beside each other, Escara simply sat down on the other side.  Amor looked up at him.
“Shouldn’t you get ready?”
“Right, I’ll be back.”  Escara trotted off to a random direction, which Amor knew was the direction of his house.  For the time being, it was only him and Chrysalis.  She put her head between his hooves.  She rolled over and looked up at him, he looked down into her eyes and smiled.
“I’ll miss you.”
“What do you mean?”
“You didn’t think we would be in the same area, did you?  No, the soldiers need leaders, and if all the leaders are together, the troops throughout Equestria will give up.  It will boost their moral, and our camps need to be spread out.”
Chrysalis closed her eyes and was silent for a few minutes.  She opened her eyes again and looked up at Amor.  “I’ll miss you.”
“I know.  I’ll miss you too.”  Amor bent his head down and kissed Chrysalis.  She closed her eyes and picked her head up, lying down again.  
The first ones back were Purity and Avispa.  Purity lied down on the opposite side of the map, exactly where Escara was standing.  She was wearing the same armor as Amor and Chrysalis.  Wearing it, the cluster of hearts on her flank was completely covered.  She looked exactly like Chrysalis, other than the emotionless look she almost always wore on her face.  Avispa, wearing his solid black armor, sat off to the side of the map in between Chrysalis and Purity.  Moments later, another changeling entered.  He was wearing the same armor as Avispa, but instead of a black helmet, he wore an older, navy blue one.  Amor looked up and easily identified him as Escara.
“Still wearing that helmet I see.”
“Tradition and sentiment, sir.”
Amor noticed a small metal amulet dangling overtop of his breast plate.  It was a small circular thing with carvings on it, but from the distance between them and the size of the carvings, Amor couldn’t make them out.  
“What’s that?”
Escara sat in between Purity and Amor, opposite of Avispa.  “What, this thing?”  He held the amulet to his own face with a hoof.  “It’s an amulet from some time back.  It’s said that each one created was blessed by the queen who ruled the hive at the time of its creation.”
“Ah, I remember now.  It’s been a while since I’ve seen one.”
“I’ve had it for a few years now.  It was one of the few things salvageable from my house.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”  Amor turned to the map.  “Well, if you don’t mind, let’s get started.”  Amor already had a large amount of the map planned out.  He began pointing around the map as he spoke.  “Alright, we can set up spots here at the base of Foal Mountain, deeper in the woods.  Another could be placed here, near the bog in the Everfree.  And another here in White Tail Woods, farther to the West.”
The whole group studied the map.  The first to speak up was Purity.  “What if we were to put one here, next to Hollow Shade, just for backup.”
Next was Escara.  “We could put one here, in the woods next to Baltimare, and here, near the base of the mountain range to the east of Smoky Mountain.”
Amor looked over the map.  His horn glowed and a quill and inkwell appeared before him.  He dipped the quill in the ink and began circling all the designated areas where camps were to be placed, along with the hive.  “So we’ve agreed on these locations.  Any objections?”
Silence.
“Alright, I’ll lead the camp at the base of Foal Mountain, along with Avispa and Escara.  Purity, you will be in the Everfree, and Chrysalis, you will be in White Tail Woods.  Escara, Avispa, you two are in charge of choosing who is to lead the other camps, along with equally separating troops to their designated area.”  Both nodded.  “Alright, get to it then.”

> What's Left Behind
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Hours passed.  The soldiers were separated into seven large groups, one to protect the hive, and were all waiting outside, armed and ready.  Amor looked around, seeing the changelings grouped up like Phillies in a classroom click.  Escara zig-zagged between groups and made his way over.
“Sir, everyone has their orders and know where they are going.  Orders are to be cautious but find ways to eliminate hostiles without drawing attention to themselves.  Anything else?”
“Make sure their love reserves are full, they are going to need it.  And make sure the designated squad leaders have maps of all locations they need.  Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to find someone.”
Amor headed back into the hive to find a certain changeling.  In the hive of thousands, it would normally have taken Amor all day to find the one he needed, but Amor knew where to find her.  He knocked on the door to one of the original houses in the hive.  A second passed, and Amor heard hoofsteps coming down stairs.  The door clicked as the handle turned, and a single changeling welcomed Amor into her home.
“Oh my goo-oh, Amor, come in, please.  Sorry, I didn’t recognize you in that armor for a minute.”  Before Amor was a small, first generation changeling, no cutie mark on her side.  A toothy scar was across her body and her wings were shredded, making it unable for her to fly.
“Thank you, Souls.”
“It’s my pleasure.  To what do I owe the visit?”
“Just making sure you have a way to get to Canterlot while we’re away.”
“Well…uuhhh.”
“You don’t, do you?”
“Well, em, no.”
“No one is willing to help?”
“I…haven’t really asked.  I always expected to ride in a chariot with you, sir.”
“Well, while we’re gone, the soldiers can’t pull you, so we need to find you someone who is willing to help.”
“Oh there’s no need.”
“I insist.  There’s got to be someone willing to help.”  Souls sighed as she followed Amor into the walkways of the hive, flooded with citizens.  Amor already had one changeling in mind, who coincidentally walked by as Amor exited the house.  A healthy changeling walked by the former king, a green flame on his flank.  Amor stuck a hoof out to catch him.  “Sheol, may I ask a favor from you?”
“Of course sir.”
“Would you pull a chariot to Canterlot while I am away?”
“Of course.  What am I going to carry?”
Amor waved his companion forward.  “Sheol, I’m sure you know Souls.”
Sheol bowed and put a hoof forward.  “Ma’am”
“Well, aren’t you a gentlecolt.”  She took his hoof and shook.
“Alright, do you know anyone who would be willing to help?  It’s going to be a two person job, at least.”
“Of course.  I know at least one of my friends would be willing to help.”
“Are you sure?”
“Don’t worry about it, I’ll find someone.  Care to join me, Souls?”
“Of course.”  The two changelings trotted down the road, leaving Amor to go on with his duties.  He called out to them before they were too far out of range.
“You know where to find the chariots, right?”
“Yes, yes, we’ll be fine, sir.”
Amor sighed as he waved them away.  He began taking into account anything else he needed to do.  “Let’s see, Souls is taken care of, the soldiers are getting prepared, everyone has their assigned post…”  Amor began using his magic to pull his sword half out of the sheath and letting it drop back in repeatedly as he thought, listening to the soothing sound of dragging metal.  “Purity and Chrysalis are ready, the hive is protected, everyone knows to go to Canterlot…I hope.  No, that sounds like about it, although I still feel like I’m forgetting something, then again, I always have that feeling.  Ah well.”  Amor let his sword drop one last time before shrugging off any doubts and headed back outside.  Purity and Chrysalis were already waiting outside, the rest of the soldiers chattering away, oblivious to the presence of their queen, or anyone other than them for that matter.  Chrysalis trotted to Amor and put her head to his, closing her eyes and crossing horns.
“I’ll miss you.”
“I’ll miss you too.  And I’ll see you when this is all over.”  Chrysalis smiled.
Purity was watching the whole thing.  “Ahem.”  Both Amor and Chrysalis shook off their affection and were in full attention.
“Eh, sorry.”  As Amor apologized, Escara and Avispa made their way back to the royalty.
“Now I just need a way to draw their attention.”
Escara chimed in.  “Allow me.  This is easy.”  Escara, being the superior officer in the changeling army, could easily demand the attention of his soldiers.  He stood firm and tall, cleared his throat, and shouted at the top of his lungs.  “ATTEN-TION!”  At the sound of his voice, half the changelings immediately dropped what they were doing and looked at the group, while the other half panicked in fear that they did something wrong, then shook off the fear and did the same.
Purity gracefully stepped forward.  “Thank you, Escara.  Fellow changelings, you have your orders.  At my command, we fly to our camp areas and set up.  If you find a camp of the false king, Hornet, near your site, you are to eliminate all hostiles.  Leave no survivors.  Infiltrators are to search the lands around you to find any other camps.  When found, do NOT attack.  You are to report the location to your superior officer and they are to send a letter to me, Amor, or Chrysalis.  Is that understood?”  The crowd cheered in response.  “Good.  Alright, takeoff!”  At the order, every single soldier spread their wings.  A near-deafening buzz filled the air and shook the ground as the changelings filled the air.  The sky went black as six groups separated from the one major one.  Escara, Avispa, Amor, Purity, and Chrysalis stayed behind for a few moments to marvel at the site that was as rare the great dragon migration.  Amor turned to see the rest next to him.
“I’ll see you all when we get back.”
“Yeah, if we get back.”
“No, when we get back.”
Escara took his amulet in his hoof and closed his eyes.  “We’ll make it.”
Amor grinned as his wings began to beat.  “I’ll see you when this is over.”  He followed the swarm through the air and broke away with his team.  Escara and Avispa began beating their wings.
“We should follow him.  Queen Purity, Queen Chrysalis, it’s a pleasure serving you.”  The two found themselves following Amor, having to put forth twice the effort to catch up.  Purity and Chrysalis were left standing outside of the hive.  Chrysalis looked over at her adopted daughter, the usual emotionless look on her face was replaced by one of worry.
“Not as eager as your father is to get this done, are you?”
She closed her eyes.  “I’m practically shaking.”
“You are shaking.”  Purity looked down at her legs.  Sure enough, she couldn’t keep them still.  “Breathe.  You need to be strong, for me, for your father, for your people.”  Purity mumbled something under her breath that Chrysalis couldn’t understand, but it sounded like she said someone’s name.  “What was that?”
“Nothing.  I’ll miss you, mother.”
“Don’t worry, we’ll be back.  Come, let us go.”  The former queen and current queen both began beating their wings, taking off in their separate directions.

> Enjoying the View
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Hours passed, Amor’s group was still in the air.  While Amor flew, he admired the around him, and above him.  The first major site he saw was Cloudsdale, when they flew right under it.  Amor looked up to see castles and factories made of clouds.  A large coliseum with a gaping hole in the middle passed above them.  So many places I want to go before I die.  I hope I still can when this is over.  He watched as his team parted to get around the rainbow falls.  I wonder how it feels to fly through them.  Amor let his curiosity get the best of him as he charged head-first through one.  It felt just like water, but was more refreshing in its own way.  It flowed through the various holes in his legs and wings, repeating the process it did when it initially fell from the clouds above.  Amor had to put forth more effort to keep in the air with his now wet wings.  The colors stayed in his coat for a while, making him a rainbow with wings.  Wasn’t one of the Elements of Harmony said to be a rainbow pegasi?  Eh, who cares right now.  Amor shook most of the color out of his coat, leaving only a very dull and unnoticeable color left, which eventually would fade when it dries.  He tilted his hooves back and watched as what gathered in them fell until he couldn’t see it anymore.
Next, Amor saw the beautiful golden city of Canterlot to his right, hanging off the face of the mountain.  The sun shimmered off it, leaving a bright glimmer off of the already glowing surfaces.  Amor squinted his eyes really hard, only narrow slits remaining.  Amor looked at a balcony hanging off of the castle and saw something that looked off.  A color was there that didn’t belong.  Amor concentrated really hard on the color.  Is that?  No, it can’t be.  Wait, it is!  Standing on the balcony of the castle, as expected now that Amor saw the position of the sun, was the midnight blue alicorn princess, Luna.  She flew into the air and lit her horn.  With the slow motion of her head, the sun set over the horizon and the moon appeared.  Once, finished, she stopped when she noticed the large group of insect-like ponies flying through the air.  She marveled at the site, appearing to pick out every single changeling in the swarm.  When she noticed the one in the back, much larger than the rest, she smiled as she waved a hoof above her head.  Amor smiled in return and waved back as she landed.  The way her mane set on the mountainside made it look as if there was a large hole in the side, allowing you to see the starry sky on the other side.
Canterlot was a much different place at night.  The streetlights were lit, leaving only a slight glow over the city walls.  The bright blinding glow of the sun on gold was gone, leaving only a white glare on every surface from the moonlight.  Amor was awestruck at the site, but turned his attention back to his flight trail.
Looking down, Amor saw the start of the woods where their camp was to be set up.  He was almost sure that the night sky could hide them, but wanted to be careful.  He hissed at the changeling in front of him, the signal he gave to stop.  The changeling passed the message on to the few in front of him, who in turn passed it on to the ones in front of them.  When the message finally made it to the front, the swarm landed in the leafy surroundings of the forest where they were to set up.  Amor could still hear the babbling of the river on two sides of them.  Escara and Avispa soon landed behind Amor.
“Sir, why have we stopped?”
“We are to make the rest of the trip on foot.  The night may hide us, but I don’t want to take any chances.  It should be about an hour’s walk away from here.  Everyone, keep your guard up.  Who knows what dangers hide behind almost every tree in these woods.”
“Sir, don’t you think you’re being just a little paranoid?”
“Maybe, but paranoia can save lives.  Take no chances, don’t attack until you’re sure that it will kill, etc.  Paranoia taught me these things, and has saved my life plenty of times before.”
A voice from the crowd rose above the others, leaving a smart comment for everyone to hear.  “Apparently it didn’t help with the timberwolf.”  Amor shot an evil look at the crowd.  With the aid of the moon, a solid white shine covered every spec in his eyes, making him look even more menacing than he intended.  The whole squad sat up in attention.
The color came back into his eyes with a minor, almost unnoticeable turn of the head.  “I have no regrets and I’m still alive today.  Anyone else have anything smart to say?”  The group fell silent.  “Then get moving, now.  The less you talk and the more you walk the faster we get there.”
“S-sir, what are we to do to keep us preoccupied?”
“Other than looking for enemies?  Enjoy the scenery.”  With the last remark, every changeling readied their spears, save Amor, who instead took his sword in his teeth.  Slowly, in a defensive strategy, the squad made their way through the woods.
Not much was worth fighting or killing while through the forest, other than a few bears.  When they finally reached a clearing against the mountainside, Amor gave the order to search the area for anything out of the ordinary.  Luckily, there was nothing too odd.  The team let their waxes fill their mouths and began building crude, tent-like shelters.  It wasn’t much, but it would keep the elements off of them.  About ten of these shelters were built, most being shared between multiple changelings, all accept for Amor, who as the leader of the squad built his own shelter for himself.  Most of the changelings built pods attached to the roof of their ‘tents’, while others chose to gather grass, straw, leaves, and anything else they could find to make a bed.  Amor was one of them.  Gathering only straw and hay, Amor had a large pile in the corner of his shelter.  
Pleased with his drooping dome, Amor headed towards the end of the woods and found a somewhat small tree about as thick as his leg.  He drew his sword and swung at the tree, coming back to hit again, then again, and again.  The tree fell over, leaving eight pieces roll out that were all around the same length, along with the leafy top.  Amor levitated the pieces into a pile and carried them back to his shelter like that, where he set them on the ground.  Taking one piece between his hooves, Amor applied a small amount of wax up the side.  He grabbed another piece and pushed it into the wax and held it there until it dried enough to hold it into place, then did the same to that piece.  After finally getting four pieces together, Amor took another piece in is hooves and applied the wax to the end of it.  He stuck this piece to the corner of what he already had put together, forming a ninety degree angle between that and the end piece.  He then repeated the process with the last three, and when it finally was all dried, Amor looked at his handy work.  Table he thought to himself.  Not the best, but it will do.  Not like we have the pick of the litter out here.  Amor stood the table up in the middle of his blue-green shelter and unrolled the map he had on top of it.  
Looking over the map, one thing came to mind: food.  Not for right now, but eventually.  Purity’s camp could simply go into Ponyville and make friends to get their love, along with the camp at Smokey Mountain.  Chrysalis could make the short fly to Las Pegasus, and the camp to the Northeast was practically in Hollow Shades, and Southeast of Amor, they only had a short walk to Baltimare.  But Amor’s camp had a farther fly to Filly Delpia, less they wanted to fly over Foal Mountain, which would be dangerous due to lack of air and intense cold.  He sighed.  
“Oh well, looks like we don’t have a choice.  We should be fine, it’s not like we’re flying to the hive every day, and we’re not starving.”  Amor left the map open on the table as he walked out to the main campground.  Almost a dozen of the shelters circled around one central point, where two changelings were gathering rocks to make a fire pit.  Amor used his wings to make chirping and buzzing noises to gather the changelings before him.  A crowd of twenty or so stood before him, waiting curiously for word from their squad leader.  “We need to set up guard posts around the camp.  Who will volunteer for night guards?”  Moments passed before a small group hesitantly rose their hooves.  “Alright, you are to buzz your wings if you see anything.  If we are attacked, simply yell, shout, whatever you can to give notice to the rest of us before it’s too late.  Same for the rest of you during the day.  Infiltrators, step forward.”  A group of four changelings walked to the front of the team.  “You are to search the areas in a sweep maneuver.  One of you has a map, yes?”  The leader of the infiltrators pulled a map out from under his armor.  “Good.  Anything you find is to be marked and brought back to me.  Any questions?”
Silence 
“Good.  Back to what you were doing.”  The group scattered, leaving Amor standing before a hollow space.  He looked up at the moon and yawned.  Once he reached his small shelter, he fell into his pile of hay with a thud, but it did little to stop him from hitting the ground, and it was no substitute for his bed back at the hive.  “It’s going to be a long night.”

> Rest and Relaxation
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Amor couldn’t sleep.  Staring at the blue-green ceiling was all he could do as the night went by.  This will take some getting used to.  With a final yawn, Amor stood.  I’ve had enough of this.  He began walking through the camp, peering into tents as he walked.  The first one he peeked into had two pods hanging down, both had something inside.  Under them were piles of Armor, swords, and spears.  Looking closer he could make out the blurred figure of a changeling curled up, floating upside-down as if by a lack of gravity inside.  One began to squirm inside his pod.  Bad dream?  Or restless sleeper?  Amor kept walking.  In the next one, he saw one pod, just like the last one, but beside it was a changeling curled around itself, a sword atop a pile of armor nearby.  Against the wall was a spear, the tip digging into the dried wax.  Amor shrugged at the site and kept walking, doing a steady patrol around the camp.  He saw a few combinations of the sleeping quarters.  One even was completely filled with anything that could be found, covering the whole floor.  There were a few spots that were empty, owned by the night patrol.
That’s when it hit him.  He hasn’t seen anyone from the patrol while he was out.  He was almost worried, but finally bumped into one of his patrols, literally.  While thinking, he walked right into one of his soldiers, who was moving at a slightly slower pace.  Both fell to the ground in a jumbled mess.  The way Amor landed on top of him, his jaw hit right off of the hilt of the soldier’s sword.  He was about to yell in pain, but held it in, letting out only a slight mumble.
“Ow.”
“Sorry sir.”  Amor easily identified the voice.  It was almost exactly the same as any other changeling, but something in his voice sounded like two: one slightly deeper than the other, but both had a vibration-like effect on it.
“Avispa?  I didn’t see you volunteer.”
“Well, when I am wearing my helmet, I look just like any other soldier, well other than Escara.”
“Yes, well.  I should mention that there is an opening in the patrol that I’ve been walking for about five minutes.”
“It’s only the first night, and there are only a few of us.  Give us some time and we’ll have it figured out.  But are you doing out here?”
“Couldn’t sleep, decided to go for a walk.”
“Well, you need your rest.  At least try.”  Amor’s eyes did begin to feel heavy.  At this point, he felt like he could sleep on anything.
“I…” he yawned.  “I guess you’re right.  Good night, Avispa, you should get some sleep tomorrow.”
“I’ll be fine, sir, just worry about yourself.  You, eh, tend to make…bad decisions when you’re tired…or stressed.”
“Really?  How so?”
“Well, now this is just me, but I feel like stress, paranoia, and sleep deprivation was what lead you to holding out on attacking for so long, and eventually lead to famine.”
Amor became serious.  “No, that was guilt.  No one knew it at the time, but stealing love made me feel guilty, but when it is freely given to me, I feel less remorseful about it.”
“Ehm, okay.  Still, I feel you should sleep.”
He yawned again.  “Alright.”  After making the short trek back to his tent, Amor collapsed into his bed, and immediately fell asleep.  He awoke, his eyes slowly creeping open, blurred from the bright glare of Celestia’s gift.  When they finally adjusted, Amor tried to let out a yawn, but it was muffled by something in his mouth.  Apparently, at some time through the night, Amor took a bite out of his bed, for he had a mouth full of straw and hay.  He looked down at the clump in his mouth before he spit it back into his bed.  “This will take some getting used to.”  He finally let out his yawn as he rose from his bed of straw.  Walking out into the center of the campsite, Amor caught the scent of the charred smell from the newly lit fire in the center of the fireplace.  Coughing from it, Amor shook the smoke away from his face and took a seat on a large rock next to the fire as he stared into the flames.
“Good morning, sir.”  Amor looked up from his stupor to see Escara and two other changelings take their seats around him.  “Sleep well?”
“Hardly.  I still feel tired.”
“Well, this oughta wake you up.  We have two letters.  One from Queen Purity, the other from-“
“Chrysalis.”  Escara grinned as he took his amulet in his hoof and kissed it before pulling two folded pieces of paper out from his side.  Amor looked worried.  “Did you…”
“I give you my word, I, nor anyone else, read either of the letters.  I kept them with me to make sure.”  Amor stared at him for a minute.  “You can trust me.”
Amor took the letters in his magical hold.  “Whether you did or not, it would make no difference now.”  One of the letters unfolded, and Amor read it silently to himself.
Father,
We have finally set up camp in the Everfree.  It took some time to find a clearing, but we finally set up.  The ponies in the nearby town are friendly, even to changelings, but what else could be expected after two years of tolerating us, right?  Also, I just got word from mother.  She has found a nice clearing near the edge of the woods, the river flows right against her camp.  All else is quiet so far.  No hostile activity here, so that’s another good thing.  Can’t wait to hear back from you.
Purity
Amor refolded the note and unfolded the next one.  He easily recognized the handwriting of Chrysalis as soon as he laid his eyes upon it.
Amor,
We arrived in camp just before the sun went down yesterday.  We didn’t see anything nearby yet, but we haven’t let our guard down yet.  I can hear the river flow from where I sleep at night.  It’s soothing, but I can’t sleep at night without you.  I miss you already.
With all my love,
Chrysalis 
Amor smiled.  As he rose to head back to his tent, he turned to Escara.  “Bring me some paper, ink, and a quill.”
“Yes sir.”  Escara quickly jumped up and ran through the camp, searching for someone who had anything.  Amor was sitting on the ground looking over his map when Escara finally came back with the requested items.
“Thank you, Escara, that will be all.”
“Yes sir.”  Escara gave a brief salute and turned to leave Amor’s quarters.  Amor put the paper down before him and gently dipped the quill in the ink.
Purity,
I am glad to hear that you reached your spot safe.  My team reached our campsite sometime last night.  I saw Luna raise the moon when we passed.  She waved, I waved back.  Things have been boring around here, but I guess that’s a good thing.  Hope this ends before the year.
Your father
Amor
He folded the paper, moved it to the side, and began writing the next one.
Chrysalis
I know how you feel because I feel it too.  I miss you.  Things are quiet here.  We set up sometime last night, maybe an hour after the sun set.  I too can’t sleep at night.  I ended up wandering around the camp hoping it would tire me out.  Don’t worry, we’ll always be together because we’re both under the moon.
My love back to you
Amor
	Amor folded the paper up.  He wrote the name of who the notes were going to on each one.  Walking out into the camp again, Amor called out.  “I need a messenger!”  Quickly, a small and agile changeling in a full set of black armor and a small bag over his shoulder approached.  
“Yes sir, here and waiting for orders.”
“Deliver these notes to the Everfree and White Tail Woods.  Find the camps there and give these to Chrysalis and Purity.”
“Yes sir.”  The changeling took the notes and quickly shot through the air like a bullet.  Amor watched for the few seconds before the changeling disappeared on the horizon.  He stood and watched the empty sky for a few more moments before Escara walked beside him, following his eyes into the blank blue above.
“Sir, what are you looking at?”
Amor shook his head.  “Nothing.  Any word from the infiltrators yet?”
“Actually, that’s what I was coming to find you for.”  Escara pulled a map out from under his armor and passed it to Amor.  “This came in from Baltimare.”  Amor unrolled the map and immediately noticed a small red dot marked on the map near the edge of the Hayseed swaps.
“He set up a camp right there?  Why so close to the main hive?”
“Maybe they are afraid.”
“Or they’re getting prepared.”
Escara looked up at Amor, who was still looking into the blue.  “You don’t mean…”
“They know we’re coming.”
“But how?”
“Who knows, but they will do anything to keep us out, even if it means dying.”
“What can we do?”
“Added security.  You know the names of our soldiers, right?”
“Yes sir.”
“What about their marks?”
“I could tell you who has one of what and who doesn’t.”
“Good.  Gather everyone from the camp, get their names, get their cutie mark, everything.  The next time they go out, I want them to line up and give their information before they leave and when they get back.  Anyone who doesn’t seem to fit in, stop them and find me.”
“Yes sir, right away.”  Escara was about to turn, but stopped.  “Eh, permission to enter your quarters for paper and writing utensils?”
“Granted.  But no snooping.  The paper is on the table…actually, I’ll go with you, I need to record these findings.”  The two changelings slowly walked back to Amor’s quarters, remaining silent the whole way other than the soft sound of their hooves kicking up dirt.  Upon entering, Escara looked around the drab little tent.
“Wow, I thought my quarters were depressing.”
“I have what I need.  That’s it.”
“And your bed, even for a pile of hay, it looks disgusting.”
“Any suggestions?”
“More hay, more straw.”  Escara walked over to the table, his amulet jingling as it bounced off his breast plate.
“Alright, I have to ask.  Which queen was it that blessed that thing?  Was it Chrysalis’s mother?”
Escara smiled.  “It was Queen Chrysalis herself.”  Amor’s eyes closed as he chuckled.  Whether the stories were true or not, he was glad that at least one of his soldiers had faith in her.
“Alright, you’ve had your fun picking around in here.  Get what you need.”
“Yes sir.”  Escara gathered a few loose pieces of paper and anything else he needed.  He was about to leave, but stopped himself.  His head turned back and Amor could only see his mouth.  “And sir, I am sure she’ll be fine.  She may not make the best decisions-“
“Watch it.”
“But she can fight, and she never gave up on us when we were going hungry.  I don’t think she will just yet.”  Amor didn’t know what to say.
“Th-thank you, Escara.  You are dismissed.”  Escara nodded as he trotted into the camp.  Amor could hear the distant call of his second in command gathering his troops.  He only sighed as he sat at his map, only to realize that Escara took his only quill.  He shrugged as he set the map next to his.  “I’ll wait then.  Might as well gather more straw.”

> Paranoia Drives the Mind
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

`	Amor loved the scenery in the woods around his camp, but that didn’t mean he would ever let his guard down.  To hold off on drawing attention, Amor would travel disguised as a deer.  Simple enough, but still very believable.  Running through the forest looking for anything that could be useful, Amor kept his eyes open.  The stuff he was looking for grew in spaces where the sun could hit the ground.  He found what he was looking for almost a mile south of the camp, near the edge of the forest.
Amor revealed his true form and gathered as much as he could fit, packing his armor and mouth full.  When he was finally satisfied, and sure that he couldn’t carry anymore, Amor turned back.  A green flame lit at his hooves as he, along with anything he was wearing or carrying, was transformed back into a deer, all except the straw in his mouth.  Moving like the animal he chose, Amor traveled through the woods in long, jump-like strides, reaching the camp in minutes.  He was out of breath when he stepped back in, but was surprised to hear the camp, silent.  He revealed himself once more.  Amor managed to slip in between two of the tents, being his own and the one beside it, belonging to Avispa and Escara.  He wasn’t exactly sneaking, but when his front hoof took its first step within the camp boundaries, something shot out from the tent to his right, bit down on his leg, and quickly flipped him onto the ground in one flawless move.  The straw in his mouth scattered, making it impossible to gather again.
“Ow.”  The attacker jumped on top of Amor and drew a sword, holding it to his throat.
“Alright, who are you and what are you doing here?”
“What?”  He felt the tip of the blade dig into his neck.
“Do not test me.”
“Former king Amor, leader of this squad.”
“Alright then, what’s on your flank?”
“A mended heart.”
“And who am I?”
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me.”
Amor shifted his vision enough to see a bulky changeling on top of him wearing a black breast plate and a navy blue helmet.  Amor rolled his eyes.  “You are Escara, my second in command beside Avispa.”  The sword was removed from Amor’s neck, giving him back the ability to move his head.
“S-sorry sir.”
“Okay.  Now you should have expected this after that, but WHY THE HELL DID YOU DRAW ON ME LIKE THAT!?”
“Safety precaution.  You said yourself there could be spies among us.  I heard a flame quickly burn out from behind my tent and saw a changeling.  I thought someone was impersonating you.”
“Okay…”
“I…didn’t hurt you bad, did I?”
“No.  Luckily I just got back from gathering straw for my ‘bed’, so my armor was packed full.  My fall was cushioned.”
“Good, good.  Sorry again, sir, but please tell me next time you go out.”
“It’s alright.  I guess this sort of was my fault anyways.  What else should I have expected after spreading my paranoia like a disease and aimlessly wandering through the woods?”
“May I ask why exactly you decided to head out?”
“Because you took my only quill.”
Escara looked puzzled.  “Come again, sir?”
“You didn’t hear wrong.  I was going to record the information from Baltimare, but you took my quill to list down our soldiers.  I got bored, so I decided to take a walk.”
“R-right.  By the way, here’s that list.”  Escara pulled a rolled up sheet of paper out of his armor and gave it to Amor, who took it in a magical hold.  As the paper began to emanate a green aura, it unrolled and Amor read over it.
“Let’s see.  Avispa, Escara, Vida, dadadadada… alright, looks good.  Thank you, Escara.”
“You’re welcome, sir.”  Amor rolled up the paper and tucked under his armor with the added stuffing as Escara nodded and trotted off.  “I put everything back where it belongs.”
“Thank you,” Amor called back as he turned to enter his tent.  Once inside, he set the list down on the table, removed his armor, and emptied it out over his pile in the corner.  Setting the back plate down beside it, he walked over to the table, where he set his helmet.  He looked over at the quill hanging out of the inkwell sitting next to the maps, right where Escara said it would be.  It floated out of the ink as the map from the Baltimare camp unrolled.  Copying the exact location, Amor marked the same spot on his map.  Replacing the quill, Amor looked out the gaping hole in the wall he used as a door.  “I really feel like putting some sort of door there.  I’m no carpenter, I mean I built the table out of sticks and wax, so…cloth?”  Amor began babbling to himself as he wandered outside.  “But where would you get cloth from, you idiot?  Leaves maybe?  Yeah, like that would work.  Think of something else, stupid.”  Amor stopped in his tracks as he realized what he was saying to himself.  “Gotta love my encouraging ego.  I need to stop doing this.”
“I’d say.”
Amor whipped around to see Avispa behind him, his helmet nowhere to be found.  “Eh, how long have you been listening?”
“Since you got out of the tent.  Kinda hard to ignore when I’m set up right next to you.”
“…okay?  So, anything to report?”
“Just an issue.”
“And what would that be?”
“Well, with all the notes and information being sent back and forth, who’s to say the messengers aren’t being attacked and replaced somewhere in between?”
Amor picked up a hoof and began tapping his chin in thought.  “That is an issue…”
“And if the enemy happens to come across anything important, like say, a map of our camps, maybe a list of how many soldiers are in each, it could spell disaster, chaos, destruction, need I keep going?”
“No, no, that’s quite enough.  How’s this: whenever a messenger returns, we hold them and send our own in return.  They disguise themselves as, say, I don’t know, an eagle or something, when they deliver the message.  Good?”
“Good enough.  I see no other way around it.”
“Well, it’s not like Hornet is going around shooting down everything he sees, thinking something is a changeling.”
“Good point.”
“Is that all?”
“For now.”
“Good, dismissed.”  The changeling nodded and took his leave.  Amor looked up at the blue sky littered with white clouds that blocked the sun.  “How many more times today?”
Amor heard a call from the distance.  “Hopefully none!”
Amor sighed and rolled his eyes.  “Thank you, Avispa.”  He began grumbling to himself as he walked away.  “Is nothing private anymore?”
“I Gu-“
“Avispa!”
“Sorry sir…”

> A Night of Heavy Drinking
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	The days following were uneventful.  Amor lost track of how many days they had been out in the woods, but knew it had been well over a week.  Every so often, he would send his soldiers to Filly Delphia to feed and regain their strength, and while some got what they needed and returned, others weren’t so easy.  Some had to literally be dragged from bars or wherever else they were, trying to drowned their sorrows and have a good time away from the camp.  Amor remembered one event in particular where a changeling tried to disguise himself to get away.  Amor had to personally pay him a visit and drag him by his tale, the whole time he was screaming that he was being kidnapped.  Others would get drunk enough to forget where they were, end up wandering off, and wouldn’t show up back in camp for a day or two.  
As sickening as the sights were, he knew it was necessary to keep his soldiers sane.  It had been quiet for so long, the stress was getting to most of them.  Always waiting for the order to attack, always waiting for the next attack, they were growing paranoid.  So, every week, Amor would bring his team to town and let them do what they wanted, the whole time hoping that they wouldn’t do anything stupid, even though he knew they would.
It started with Escara and Avispa sitting at a table in a small bar, changelings scattered throughout the entire place.  They knew how to get love, and when things were tight, they knew the easiest place to get it was the drunkest pony they could find.  But they couldn’t let him drink by himself.  No, every time a changeling found a new drinking buddy, they would both get plastered to the point where they couldn’t speak without slurring words into one odd sound, love flowing freely between them.  Amor walked in and immediately was taken aback by the strong scent of alcohol.  Scanning the bar, he saw changelings hunched over the bar, changelings chugging down as much as they could handle, and a changelings and pony hanging onto each other, laughing about who knows what.  He then saw his two most trusted soldiers sitting at a table, feeding off of the loose love that filled the air.  Taking his place in the open seat next to them, they both immediately took notice, much to Amor’s displeasure.
“King *hic* king Amor.  Howz it going?”
“Not you too, Avispa.”
“Wattaya mean?”
Amor turned to Escara.  “Please tell me…oh.”  He cut himself off when he finally noticed the empty bottles scattered around the half armored changeling.  His helmet sat on the table, while his breast plate and back plate were crooked.  “Well, this is just great.”
“C’mon, Amor, have a drink.”
“You know I don’t drink.”
“No kidding?  I coulda sworn I saw you drinkin somthin before.”
“Nope.”
“Why not?”  Escara dragged his question out for what felt like hours due to the revolting stench on his breath, but it was actually seconds.
“Do I really need to answer that question?”
“Well…um…yez?”
Amor sighed.  “Because I see what it does to you.  Just look at yourself!  You can barely speak, your sentences are a jumbled mess, and I’d bet that at this point, neither of you can stand.”  Amor immediately saw the error in his words.  “Oh no, here we go.”
Avispa swung his head up, trying to look Amor in the eyes, but ended up just letting it hang back.  “I’ll take that bet.”  Avispa slowly rose to his hooves.  Putting his back two on the ground, he tried to swing his front two forward, but forgot there was a table in front of him, and ended up hitting his head hard.
Amor began rubbing his temples.  “Are you done?”  No response.  Amor looked up to see Avispa with his head on the table passed out in his chair.  One of his teeth that was knocked out on impact lied on the table next to him.  Amor couldn’t help but facehoof.  “Escara, anything else you want to add?”  He looked up to see the other of the two guzzling down another drink, too preoccupied to answer.  Amor was angry, saddened, but above all else, disappointed.  These were the two changelings he trusted with just about everything except his life, and here they were, rotting their brains away with every drink.  At least Avispa stopped, even if it was just because he was out cold.  A changeling hopped down from the bar and stumbled his way over to Amor.
“Sir, Iz think I’lla head back to the camp now.”
Amor had both of his hooves on his head at this point.  “Sure, yeah, whatever.”  He picked his head up as the changeling stumbled out of the bar, tripping over his own hooves.  When he finally reached the door, he checked to make sure no one was looking, and began to trot off.
Trot.
He was stone cold sober.
The changeling thought no one was watching him, but Amor’s eyes caught every motion.
“Something didn’t seem right about that one.  I’m going to follow him, but I may need backup.  Escara?”
The changeling slammed his now empty bottle on the table.  “Sorry, sir, but uhh…I’m…busy.  Yeah that’s it.”  He opened the next bottle and began chugging it down.  Amor turned to the other changeling, still passed out, a small puddle of spit forming near his mouth.
He nudged him with a hoof.  “Avispa?”  No response.  “Useless, pathetic drones,” he mumbled under his breath.  “Fine, I’ll do this myself.”  Amor trotted over to the door and peaked his head out.  Luckily, the changeling was still in sight, and hadn’t disguised himself either.  Slowly and carefully, Amor followed him, staying close to the shadows.  He followed him a good two blocks before the changeling turned down an alley.  Amor was going to follow him, but stopped when he saw the figure of a second changeling waiting for the first.  Without hesitation, Amor pulled himself around a corner and out of sight, picking an ear up to listen in on the conversation.
“So, did you learn anything?”
“Of course.  I learned that you can get anything out of those idiots if you fill them with drinks.  One of them told me just about everything.  I know where that bastard Amor is, along with the queen who tried to kill us.  He even told me where that bitch Purity is.”
“This is good.  Hornet will want to hear this.”
“Yeah, and the best part is, that idiot that we used to call a king was none the wiser.”
At this point, Amor stepped out of his hiding spot and revealed himself, blocking the only way out of the alley.  “Ahem.”
Both changelings looked up, fear in both their eyes.  The one Amor had been following spoke up.  “Oh, uh, where am I?  This isn’t ze camp.  Whoops, wrong way, better…keep…going.”
Amor looked on, unamused.  “Are you done?”  The changeling only cowered in fear.  “That’s what I thought.  Now, I’m already angry as it is.  I should rip your throat out for what you said about Purity, but I’ll give you the choice here.  Go quiet, and you live the rest of your days in a cell.”  Both changelings looked at their former king with confused, if not amused looks on their faces.  “I won’t hesitate to kill either of you.”
The larger of the two stepped forward.  “You’re in no position to be negotiating our lives, seeing as you’re outnumbered.”
“Oh?  Is that so?  Well then,” Amor drew his sword.  In the dark of the alley, it was hidden from the changelings view, and neither of them were armed.  Their eyes grew wider with every second as they listened to the sound of the blade drag against its sheath.  “Come at me then.”  Both began to back away slowly as Amor advanced.  Both shocked and in fear, they didn’t know what to do.  Finally, they backed into a brick wall.  Normally, flight was easy for a changeling.  Unlike pegasi, they could fly straight up.  But the alley was narrow, too narrow for a changeling to spread its wings.  The two were huddled in the corner like foals about to take a beating from the playground bully.  Finally, after seeing no other way out, the larger of the two stepped forward, his horn glowing a sickly green.  He swung his head as a beam of pure energy shot out of his horn, narrowly missing Amor, who didn’t even have to move to avoid it.  A green spot formed on the wall where it hit, eventually fading to a burn mark.
“Th-that was j-just a warning.”
“Really?  I thought your aim was just that bad.  Last chance, give up and I won’t kill you.”
Rejecting the king’s alternative, the changeling lit his horn again and let loose another blast.  That was the biggest, and last mistake the changeling ever made.  Amor was never going to kill the changelings, but the second blast grazed his shoulder, burning some of the hair and leaving the same green glow until it turned black.
“AHH!  You little pest!”  Amor spun around and gave the closer of the two changelings a massive kick to the head.  He fell to the ground, and neither Amor, nor the other changeling knew whether or not he was dead.  The second changeling’s eyes grew even wider with fear, looking as if they were about ready to jump out of his skull and leave him to deal with the consequences.
“Okay, okay!  I’ll go willingly!  Just please don’t kill me!”  Amor turned slowly and looked at the changeling.  He saw a strange twinkle of hope in his eyes that made him show his teeth.  Amor swiftly brought his knee up, where it met with the changeling’s jaw.  He fell beside his companion, unconscious.
“And that’s just for burning my fur.”  Amor leaned in close to the changeling’s head.  Both of them were still breathing, so that’s a good sign.  Amor quickly went to work.  He bound their magic and coated their hooves in wax, sticking the fronts together and the backs together so that they couldn’t run.  He coated their wings too, making them too heavy to even try to fly.  Amor quickly trotted back to the bar where he left half of his squad.  Looking back and forth at the mess his changelings were in.  Some were just the way he left them, that is, passed out over the bar or on tables.  Others were still drinking the night away.  “Anyone here still sober?”
“I am!” called a grey pony with a blue main in the back.  
Amor put a hoof on the bridge of his nose as he closed his eyes in frustration.  “Anyone still sober who is a changeling?”  The room fell silent for a few moments before three changelings stepped forward.
“Sir.”
Amor huddled them close into a circle and whispered his plans.  “Alright, two blocks down there are two changelings out cold in an alley.”
“Too much to drink?”  One of the changelings began to chuckle to himself.
“There from Hornet’s hive.”  Suddenly all the changelings in the group fell silent.  “Yeah, well, long story short, I need you to go get them, bring them to camp, and stick them to a tree.”
“Eh, what?”
“Cover them in wax and stick them to a tree.  I don’t want to see anything below the head.  From the neck down is to be completely coated.  Understood?”
All the changelings nodded.  They were about to leave, but Amor turned back to the room.  “I’ll be back in a few minutes, until then, this goes out to all my soldiers: NO TALKING ABOUT OUR CAMPS OR STRATEGIES TO ANYONE!”  Amor led them to the alley, where they picked up the changelings, unhappy that their night of binge drinking was ruined.
……….
Then next morning went like all others like it.  Most of the changelings were still passed out from the night before, while the ones who were up were moaning and groaning about how much their heads hurt.  Two changelings were just starting to stir, but couldn’t move a muscle.  One looked down at his body and saw nothing but a blue-green blob on the side of a tree.  He tried turning his head, but found it useless.  He heard his companion moaning behind him.
“Hey, wake up.”
“Just let me sleep a little longer.”
“Wake up you idiot.  You’re not in your bed.”  The changeling wasn’t sure what he meant, until he tried to get up.
“Uh oh.”
“Yeah uh oh.”
“What do we do?”
“What do you mean what do we do?  Does it look like we can do anything?  All we can do is wait and see what they want with us.”
Nearby, Amor was just getting up from a night of rest.  After a fresh fill of love and another night without drinking, he felt great.  He looked out his door to see half of his team wandering around with massive headaches.  “Yeah, that’s what you get.”  Moments later, the stragglers began popping up throughout the woods.  “Ahh, and here comes the rest of them.”  Walking next door, Amor saw two changelings still asleep, one hanging in his pod, the other with his head buried in hay.  “WAKE UP!”  Amor shouted so loud that both changelings were wide awake, their heads pounding.  Escara jumped so high he nearly broke his pod off the roof.
“Please sir, my head is killing me…where’s my tooth?  Am I missing a tooth?”
“Yeah, it’s somewhere in a bar in Filly Delphia.  Now get up.”  Avispa groaned as he rolled over.  Escara had his hooves over his eyes to block the sun.  “Aww, I’m sorry, hungover?  Let me help with that.”  Amor’s horn began to hum as Avispa and Escara’s back plate hovered in front of him.  He smashed them together, and the sound was similar to that of two frying pans hitting each other.  The sound was ringing in both the changelings’ ears, making their headaches that much worse.
“Alright!  Geez.”  Avispa slowly got to his hooves as Escara cut his way out of his pod.  Both had large bags under their eyes, which were a much paler shade of blue than usual.
“Now you see why I don’t drink?  No matter how much fun you forget you had the night before, the pain you feel the next day is just as much.  The only thing stopping me from shouting in your ears right now is…well, I’m tired.  I took down two spies alone because you two were too busy drinking your selves under the table.  Avispa in your case onto the table.”
“What?”
“I’ll tell you later, the point is, we have two changelings from Hornet’s hive captured, and I plan on getting what I can out of them before killing them.”
“Wait, wait, wait, we have prisoners?”
Amor rolled his eyes as he leaned in close to Avispa’s ear.  “YES!  THAT’S WHAT I'VE BEEN TRYING TO TELL YOU!  NOW GET UP, GET READY, AND STOP COMPLAINING!”  All Avispa heard after that was a very loud ringing as his head felt like it was tearing itself apart.
“Ow.”
“I heard that from hear.  Even my head is ringing.”  Amor turned to see Escara lying on the ground under his pod, his hooves now covering his ears.
“You two are pathetic.”
“I’m never going to drink again.”
“Yeah, right.  How many times have you told that to yourself?”
Escara stopped, thinking of a number that would fit the answer.  “Too many to count.”
“Just get ready.”  Amor threw the back plates at the changelings before walking out.
A few yards away, the changelings stuck to the tree were squirming, trying to break free from their binds, even though they knew it was useless.  When the heard approaching hoof steps, they immediately stopped moving and looked up.  Amor stood over the two, looking as menacing to them as he did last night.  
“W-what are you going to do to us?”
Amor sat down in front of them.  “That’s entirely up to you.  If you cooperate, I’ll let you live.”
“And what makes you think I’ll tell you anything?”  Amor stood and gave him one swift kick to the head.  “Oh, right.”
“So what are you going to tell me?”
“Who said I’m going to tell you anything?”  Amor drew his sword and held it broadside to the changeling’s neck.
“You’re testing my patience.”
The changeling swallowed heavy.  “Where do you want to start?”
“Where is your hive?”
“In the Hayseed Swamps.”
“I’ve gotten that far, but where exactly?  Hold on.”  Amor walked away and returned moments later with a map.  “Alright, where?”
The changeling looked at the map for a moment.  “You see those three clearings to the south?  The hive is in the center one.”
“Alright, any other camps we should know about?”
“One in the western part of the badlands, just under Macintosh Hill.”
“Why are you telling me all of this?”
“Excuse me?”
“I know that I am threatening you with your life, but this is too easy.”
“You kicked me in the head twice and you are currently holding a sword to my throat.  Be glad I can remember any of this.”
Amor sighed.  “Anything else?”
“Yeah, one more right there.”  The changeling’s horn touched barely north of the camp in the swamps in a small patch of trees.
Amor looked at the map, puzzled.  “Why so close?”
“Don’t ask me, I’m just a drone.”
“Fine.”  Amor let the sword pull away from the changeling’s neck as he stood up.  “But if anything happens, my soldiers have orders to kill you.”  Amor walked to his tent, happy and somewhat irritated and confused about the answers he got.
One of the changelings whispered to the other.  ”Do you think it will work?”
“Trust me, it will work.”
> No Word Yet
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Father,
I hope your time out here is going better than mine.  Apparently a shy little pegasus lives on the end of the woods. We found her on our trip to Ponyville for our love.   But it gets better.  She apparently is the element of kindness, so, yeah.  Some of the first generation soldiers immediately recognized her, and they weren’t too happy.  She was so scared that she couldn’t even speak, or fly, or move, or do anything for that matter.  The only thing stopping the soldiers from attacking her was me, along with a few of the younger and more sensible soldiers.  Also, I haven’t gotten word back from mother for quite a while.  I am beginning to worry.  Please tell me as soon as you get word.
Purity
	Amor read over the last part of the note over and over again.  It was true, it had been weeks since the last time he had received a letter from Chrysalis, and he too was worried.  Sitting at his table, he moved everything to the side and began writing away.
Purity,
Sorry, my luck is still the same.  Most of my soldiers got drunk off their feet last night, and some are still making their way to the camp as I write this.  I captured two spies last night, no thanks to any of my soldiers.  They seem to be cooperating for the time being, but I’m not letting my guard down.  Don’t worry about Chrysalis, I’m sure she’s fine.
Your father,
Amor
Even Amor was skeptical about the last line.  He hesitated on writing it, holding the quill above the paper, but eventually scribbled the last sentence, along with his signature.  Moving the paper to the side, he began on his next note.
Chrysalis,
I hope everything is alright.  Neither I nor Purity have heard from you in weeks, and we are beginning to worry.  Please write back to me as soon as possible.
Amor
	Readying both letters for travel, Amor walked out of his tent.
“I need two messengers, preferably ones who are not too impaired to fly.”
At the call, two changelings wandered over to Amor.  One he could tell was still feeling the effects from last night, the other looked perfectly healthy.  “Ready when you are, sir.”
“Are you sure your hangover won’t stop you?”
“My ears are ringing, but my headache has calmed enough to see straight.  Yeah, I’ll be fine.”
Amor turned to the other.  “And you?”
“I don’t drink, sir.”
Amor threw his front hooves in the air.  “Finally!  Somepony who thinks like I do!”
“Hey, not so loud.  I said my headache calmed, but if you keep this up it’s threatening to tear my mind apart.”  Amor looked over at the first of the two, who now had a hoof on his head.  
With a heavy and regretful sigh, Amor handed one of the letters to the hungover changeling.  “Make sure this gets to the queen.”
“Yes sir.”  The changeling shook off his grogginess as he took flight.  Amor then turned to the other.
“It is extremely important that this makes its way to Chrysalis.  I haven’t received word from her in weeks and I need to know if something happened.  Understood?”
“Yes sir.”  The changeling took the letter and placed it under his armor at his side.  He turned, lowered his front half while keeping his tail end as high as he could get it, spread his wings, and in one agile movement, shot through the air, passing the first messenger, who was moving at a much slower pace, and nearly sending him to the ground from the gust he received.  Amor could only shake his head in irritation as he watched the changeling regain what composure he had.
“Why do I have a sinking feeling that he is going to somehow royally screw this up?”  Amor smirked at the slight joke he made, but his face was once again serious as he looked up at the sky above.  “Please, don’t let anything have happened to her.”  Amor closed his eyes as he looked back down at the ground, but nearly jumped out of his skin when he looked to his right.  “When did you get here?”
Standing right next to Amor, looking up at the sky in the same manner he was, was Escara, a slight grin across his face.  He turned his attention to Amor.  “Just about after you sent those two out.”
Amor held a hoof to his face.  “You two have got to stop sneaking up on me.”
“Hey, when you find something you’re good at, you stick to it, and it’s hard to change habit.”
“Riiigghht.”  Amor dragged out his response, eyeing Escara suspiciously.
“Has it really been that long since you’ve received word from former Queen Chrysalis?”
“Yes, but I don’t think it’s anything to worry about yet.”
“But that’s so unlike her.  You don’t think-“
“I don’t want to talk about it.  The less I think about, the less I have to worry about, and the less I stress.”
“So that’s it?  Don’t talk about it until it becomes important?”
Amor turned and began to walk away.  “That’s the plan.”
……….
The more time that passed, the more Amor worried.  Minutes, hours, they all felt the same.  Sitting at the fire, he watched the flames as they reached for the sky, stretching as high as they could reach, only to fall back down and try again.  He watched the process repeat over and over.  He sat there all day, waiting for word from Chrysalis.  When he heard the faint buzzing of a changeling’s wings, he immediately looked up, hoping for the better of the two, but was saddened to see the one he sent to Purity, somewhat more in the world then when he was sent out.  Flying straight, he landed a few feet from Amor.
“Sir, your message has been received.  No word back yet.  Sorry.”
“That’s fine.”  Or that’s what he said.  What he was thinking was, I’m growing impatient.  With how fast that messenger was moving, he should be back by now.  I may have to send a search party to Chrysalis’s camp.  But just as the thought crossed his mind, he once again heard the faint buzzing of a returning messenger.  Amor let out a sigh of relief, but immediately wanted to take it back when he looked up to see his soldier.  “No.  No!  Oh no!”
In the air, flying straight towards Amor’s camp, was in fact the messenger, but what Amor saw sent chills through his whole body.  Amor could clearly see burns and wounds all over his body.  Blood was running down his body, dripping off his hooves.  One wing was moving at half the speed as the other one.  A large hole was burned into it, black burn marks around the edges.  He shouldn’t even have been flying, it was impossible.  But here he was, doing everything in his power just to make it back.  He couldn’t even land, just collapsed at the former king’s hooves.  His mouth barely moved, but Amor could just make out what he was saying.  “S-sir…the camp is gone…only charred remains…they attacked…I barely got away.”
Amor didn’t know what to say.  “Somepony get this soldier some medical treatment!”  Amor was off in a full sprint to his tent, where he began scribbling away rapidly.
Purity,
Something very bad has happened.  I sent a messenger to Chrysalis.  Her camp was overrun, and he barely survived to get word back.  I don’t know what happened, and I may not want to, but I am sending one of my most trusted soldiers to you.  Please, be careful.
Amor
	“Avispa!  Front and center immediately!”  As soon as the order left his mouth, his soldier was standing before him.
“Yes sir.”
“You are to deliver this to Purity.  Do not return, for you are to stay at her camp.  Guard her with your life.  Understood?”
“Of course, sir.  I will die before I let anything happen to her.”
“Good.  I knew I could trust you.  Now go, before anything happens.”
Avispa nodded before taking off in a full sprint and taking to the air.  Amor trotted over to the two changelings stuck to the tree, oblivious to anything that was happening.
“So, are we free t-“  he was cut off when a front hoof caught him in the jaw, making him bite down hard on his tongue.  Blood began trickling down out of his mouth.  “What was that for?”
“Shut up!”  Amor kicked him again before drawing his sword and holding it to his throat, pushing it in hard.  “There’s something you’re not telling me, now talk, before my sword meets the tree.”
“You wouldn’t.”  Amor didn’t have to answer.  He pushed harder on the blade, breaking the skin and drawing blood.  “Alright!  There’s a camp under Smokey Mountain!”  Of course.  If Chrysalis was in flight when she passed, someone would have noticed, and with all the time that passed they were only gaining in numbers.  Amor saw the error in his planning. He sheathed his sword, leaving the changeling to complain about his treatment.  “Good, now that’s everything I know.  If you would kindly let us go now…”  Amor’s horn began to glow a sickly green, almost white color.  The changeling immediately recognized it as an attack.  “Wait!  You said we would be freed!”
“I said no such thing.  My wife is gone, your king who you were so eager to follow is to blame, and you think I’m just going to let you go?  So you can go find your king and tell him where my daughter and I are hiding?”
“This is inhumane!”
“Says the one who was so eager to kill me.”
The changeling knew there was no fighting his doom.  He gritted his teeth and prepared for the worst, fear still in his companions eyes.  “You bastard.”
“Goodbye.”  Amor released his charged energy.  A green blast covered the base of the tree, burning the bark to a crisp and melting away the wax.  They didn’t even scream in pain.  When the blast finally seized, leaving the tree blackened, two charred corpses laid under it.  This war was turning Amor into a different pony, more vicious and bent on revenge than he ever was.  One thought filled his mind: Hornet will die.
“S-sir?”  Amor turned to see Escara standing behind him, a look of fear in his eyes.
“Dispose of the bodies.  I’m going for a walk.”
“Y-yes sir.”  Escara walked over to the two corpses.  He threw the smaller of the two over his back and dragged the other through the woods.  Amor turned south with thoughts of vengeance in his mind.  He was going to go to the nearest camp and destroy it.  There was going to be hell to pay, and he was set on delivering it.

> Deceiver's Last Trick
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Amor had been walking for hours.  He knew where he was going, and he knew what he was going to do.  His magic was strong enough to destroy ten changelings at a time, but that was only if they were in a group.  But overall, Amor would kill them all.  On the outside, his face showed a dead, emotionless look that spoke no words, but in his mind, Amor looked savage.
It was then that Amor felt he was being watched from nearby.  Someone, or something, was watching, following his every move.  Amor didn’t hesitate.  He spun around rapidly and let out a large blast of energy into a nearby bush, watching as the leaves burned in the emerald fire.  He heard yelping, and soon after his stalker, a young timberwolf, ran as far away as he could, fire burning through his wooden flesh.
Amor continued on his trek, crossing a set of train tracks as he came to a mountain.  He stared at the top of the nameless mountain, clouds blocking his view.  If he went to the left, he would end up in the Baltimare camp, and he didn’t want anyone to know what he was doing.  But if he was to go to his right, which was the much more sensible and quicker route, he would end up walking down the train tracks for a good hour.  He looked back at his wings and gave them a quick beat.  “If the train comes, I’ll be fine.”  After throwing his intuition to the side, he trotted off to the train tracks.  Luckily, the train was nowhere to be found.
At the point where the tracks bent around the mountain, Amor stopped following them, heading straight into a thin stretch of woods.  He knew quite well what waited for him in there.  Somewhere in this stretch of trees was a camp set up by one of Hornet’s groups, and he was set on destroying it.  He didn’t have a map, but he knew he was getting close.  So where was everything?  There was no sign that anyone was there, or has ever been there for the last few years.  Was it possible that those changelings mislead him?  Did they send him on a wild goose chase, hoping that they would be freed if they told him something?  Suddenly, Amor heard a familiar chirping, something he knew too well to be comfortable. 
Slowly, calmly, Amor looked above him.  What he saw lead him to believe he would die here.  In the trees above him, dozens of changeling soldiers wearing navy blue armor covered every tree and every branch above.  It finally became clear to him.  This wasn’t a camp.  He was set up.  He knew he couldn’t kill them all, but if he was going down, he was taking as many of them as he could with him.  His horn began to glow.
“Come on!  You want me?”  He drew his sword, taking it in his jaws.  “If I fall, I’m dragging everybody down with me!”  The soldiers were hesitant.  They knew their orders, but none of them were ready to die.  Even if they outnumbered him one to fifty, they knew someone would die.  The first one leapt, and Amor immediately shot him down.  Two more leaped, the first was shot down, the other landed right on his sword.  Three dead bodies laid around Amor, and he was set to drop more.  The largest hissed to the group, the voiceless way of communication among changelings that was rarely used.  Get that sword away from him!  At the command, the whole horde jumped.  Amor let a massive overcharge out of the tip of his horn, taking out almost ten changelings.  The rest hit the ground, charging at Amor at full speed.  Swinging his sword like a mad pony, he hit three more before a rather large changeling tackled him, knocking the blade out of his grip.  Rolling over, Amor kicked him off while he tried to get his sword back.  Before he could reach it, the leader stepped on the blade, stopping Amor from picking it up.  Converting back to English, he spoke clearly.
“Game over.”  With one swift and powerful movement, he smashed his front leg into Amor’s face, knocking him out cold.
……….
Amor had no idea how long he was out, as if it mattered.  He wasn’t even sure where he was at.  He did feel like gravity had shifted somehow.  His head was throbbing.  “Why does it feel like I was kicked in the head by a…oh right.”  His eyes slowly crept open, expecting the blinding light of the sun overhead.  It was then he began putting the pieces together.  The first thing he saw was the floor, built of cold stone.  Picking his head up off of his chest, he looked around the dark room, stone walls all around him.  In the center of the room, a large emerald fire was the only light he had, but it only made his headache worse when he looked at it.  To his right, he saw a very familiar set of armor placed on a table.  He tried to move, but something was stopping him.  He looked at his numb front hooves.  Metallic chains hanging from the ceiling held him in place.  Slowly, yet surely, the feeling came back into his legs, and it wasn’t good.  When he finally followed the chains down to his hooves, he saw that the cuffs were hooked through the extremely sensitive holes in them, which would be the cause of the pain.
“The downfall of being a changeling, huh?”  Amor’s glare looked up to see a changeling standing in front of a large steel door.  The first thing he did was try to burn the changeling, but his horn didn’t even let out a dim glow.  “Don’t strain yourself, or go ahead, I don’t really care.”  The changeling walked into the light, and Amor saw a simple drone.  “What’s the matter?  Don’t recognize me?”
As true as that was, it didn’t take a genius to tell who it was that was standing in front of him.  “Hornet.”
“Oh, very good!”  Amor snorted at him.  “Alright, I’ll cut to the chase.  Tell me where your ‘queen’ is hiding, and I won’t torture you.”
“I’d sooner watch you choke on your own wax.”
“Is that any way to talk to the one who chooses whether you live or die?”  The changeling walked closer and kicked Amor in his flank, producing a loud crack.  Amor didn’t know if it was his leg breaking or just the impact of hoof on bone, either way, it hurt, but nowhere near enough to break him.  “Nothing?  I didn’t think so.  You’re too strong to break physically.”  He turned to the door.  “Alright, bring it in!”
Amor grinned “It will take much more than a little pain.  If a timberwolf alpha male couldn’t do it, what makes you think you will?”
An evil smile spread across Hornet’s already twisted face.  “You didn’t think I would hurt you, did you?  There is more than one way to torture a changeling.  If physical doesn’t work…”  suddenly, two changeling walked in dragging something large behind them, a trail of some crimson liquid following behind them, and it was quite obvious what that was.  “…then emotional might.”  The heap began to move, slowly, moaning in pain.  “Shut up, you bitch!”  Hornet walked over and kicked it until it stopped moving.
Amor was afraid of the answer he would receive.  “W-what is that?”  Hornet let the smile onto his face again.  He grabbed something protruding out of the shadowy figure and began dragging it over to Amor, holding it to his face.  
In front of Amor, half dead, was Chrysalis, Hornet was holding her by her horn.  He threw her to the ground.  “How do you feel now?  Ready to tell me?”
Amor gritted his teeth.  “I’ll kill you.  Let her go!”
“And why would I do that?  I like having a slave.”  Hornet seemed to like the reaction he was getting out of Amor, so he continued.  “You know, I’ve always found your queen quite…seductive.  Maybe I’ll have a little fun while she’s here.”  Amor barred his fangs.  
“I swear if you don’t let her go…”
He stopped when he heard her moving again.  “Amor…”
“I said shut up!”  Hornet gave her another kick.
“Stop!”
He looked Amor in the eyes before stopping his action.  Hornet walked to the door, leaving Chrysalis in her own blood.  “Since neither of you are in any condition to move, I’ll leave you be.  Don’t try anything while I’m gone.”  Hornet left, closing the door tight behind him.  Chrysalis lied motionless on the ground, barely breathing.  Amor began struggling against his cuffs, trying anything to break free.
“Amor…I’m so sorry.”
Amor stopped struggling.  “It’s not your fault.  No one could have seen it coming, and anyone would have made the same mistake in your place.”
“No…this.  He used me…to get to you.  Do not…tell him anything…no matter what he does.”  Chrysalis was at her hooves at this point.  She was wobbly, barely able to stand on her own.  After three shaky steps, she fell just in front of Amor.
“What do you mean he used you?”
“I don’t know…it’s as if…he thought it would send you into a rage.”  She raised her hoof as high as she could, barely able to wrap it around Amor’s back leg.  “I’m so sorry.”
“No.  This is my fault.  It’s always been my fault.  I’m sorry.”
A light smile spread across Chrysalis’s face.  “We have to stop blaming ourselves.”  This wasn’t exactly the reunion Amor was hoping for.
Just then, Hornet burst back through the door.  “What do you think you’re doing?”  The smile on Chrysalis’s face was quickly replaced by a look of fear.  Hornet dragged her away from Amor and began beating her, hitting and kicking her in any vulnerable place.  She began whimpering in pain and fear.
“Leave her alone!”
“Shut up!”  He kept kicking at her.  At this point, she had stopped moving.  She wasn’t making any more noise.
“If I could move I would rip your throat out!”
Hornet smiled at the reactions he was getting.  “How do you feel, knowing you are so close, yet too helpless to help her?  I could do anything I want to her right now, and you can’t do a thing.”  Amor was snarling at this point.  “What are you going to do?”
“I will break your horn off, shove it into your eye, cut your head off, stick it on a spear, and parade it through your sorry excuse for a hive if you don’t let her go!”
Hornet wrapped his hoof around Amor’s throat.  “I’d like to see you try, considering what position you’re in.”  Amor swung his head around and snapped his jaw shut on the front leg that was at his neck, his fangs nearly going all the way through.  “AAAHH, you bastard!”  Hornet pulled his hoof back, flesh catching in Amor’s bloodied teeth.  Hornet spun around and double-barreled him in the gut, knocking all the air out of him.  He kicked again, hitting higher this time.  Each time he made contact, Amor wanted to snarl like a wild dog, but the first kick made it impossible to draw in any air.  Hornet finally calmed down.  “If I didn’t need answers, I would have killed you a long time ago.  Come on, bitch.”  Hornet grabbed Chrysalis by the horn again and dragged her out the door, leaving Amor alone in the room.  Hornet turned back to look at Amor again.  “We’ll be back, and if you don’t tell me anything, she’ll be in much worse shape next time.”

> Rescue
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Amor struggled against his cuffs, trying everything in his power to break free, but it was only bringing him more pain.  Every movement he made sent the cuffs deeper into his skin, blood caking them.  Maybe I could kick my back ones up.  Listening to his mind, he kicked his back legs with all his might, only to get the same massive pain.  Shifting his head, he looked down, only to see the same cuffs on his back legs.  Now that I think about it, what was that going to accomplish?  Amor sighed.  There was no use in trying anymore.  Suddenly, a distant boom.  Then another.  Suddenly, the door burst open.
“Sir!”  Amor looked up to see Escara wielding a bloodied sword.  His horn began to glow as all four cuffs that were wrapped around Amor’s legs opened, dropping him onto the ground.  He didn’t stop to put his armor on, didn’t take his sword, didn’t even give Escara the chance to release his magic.  He ran right for the door.  “Wait, where are you going?”
“Chrysalis.”  He didn’t say another word, he just ran through the door.  He found himself in a large chamber, doors on every side of him.  He didn’t know where to start, until he looked down and saw the blood that looked like it was dragged across the floor.  As much as it brought pain to him, he showed his teeth and began following it.  Down corridors, through doorways, he followed it to a large metal door.  Amor had no idea where he was anymore, but he didn’t care at all.  All he cared about was Chrysalis.  He shoved the door open, expecting the reunion he was hoping for, but his emotions stopped short, when he saw nothing in the room.  He looked around, blood caking the floor and walls.  He closed his eyes tight.  “This is where he…I…I couldn’t protect her.  This is my fault.”
“S-sir.”  Amor didn’t even turn around.  He was too heartstruck to even stop.
“I couldn’t help her.  I…I can’t…I didn’t protect her.”
“Sir, it’s not your fault.  None of us could have seen this coming.”
“No!  I did this!  I let her go!”
Amor’s emotions were raging.  Escara knew this could get out of hand, but he knew he needed to get this under control.  “Sir, we can…you can still save her.”
“What do you know?”
“W-well, if she’s…not here….then she is likely still alive.  I doubt they would bring her if she was…you know…”
“Are you suggesting that they still have her?”
“Well, we didn’t find a…a body.”
“He’s using her.  We need to head to the hive.”
“Reinforcements?”
“No, his hive.  I want to see him die.”
Escara knew he had to change the subject.  “S-so, wondering how I found you?”
“Don’t care.”  Amor began trotting off.
“B-but-“
“I knew you were following me.  You didn’t really think I would hurt you?  No, when I realized the timberwolf was there I…wait, why are we talking about this?  My wife has been captured, possibly killed, and you want me to play guessing games?”
“Sir, I-“
“Do you know what he told me?  He said he was…he was going to have fun with her.  I swear, if I find another hair out of place on her body, I will rip his heart out and eat it.  And as his life fades away, I will make him watch.”
“Sir, I think you’re overreacting.”
“Overreacting?  OVERREACTING?”  Amor tackled Escara to the ground and pinned him, his fangs bare.  “Listen, drone, the only thing I have left to live for is being tortured.  The only pony I ever loved, gone.  Don’t tell me I’m overreacting.”
Escara’s eyes were wide.  He was shaking in fear.  If he didn’t choose his next words carefully, he may not leave here alive.  “Sir…I’m sorry.  You know I will do anything in my power to help her.”
A slightly calmer look filled Amor’s eyes as he loosened his grip on Escara.  “I’m sorry, I don’t know what came over me.”  He finally released his grip on Escara, letting him stand.
“It’s alright, sir.  I may not understand true love, but I see how happy you two are when your together.  I will do everything I can to help, even if it means dying, to have you reunited.”
“Thank you.  We will set up camp here.  More fortified than the camp and a lot closer to the target.”
“Yes sir.  I’ll send the troops back to gather what they need.”
“Good.”
“Eh, sir.”
“Yes?”
“There is another camp set up a few miles to the east of here.”
“Why so close?”
“This isn’t a camp, this is a torture chamber.  That’s why it was so easy to get in.”
Amor didn’t hesitate.  “Destroy it.  Kill them all.  I don’t want any survivors.”
“Y-yes sir.”  Escara didn’t want to argue.  Gathering his troops, Escara set out to the camp.
……….
Returning hours later, Escara began searching for Amor.  He found him lying in the floor in the room he stopped at, the blood of Chrysalis soaking into his coat.  He didn’t move, he didn’t speak, he barely even breathed.  At first, Escara thought he was dead.
“Sir?”  Amor blinked as his gaze shifted to meet the eyes of his soldier.  “Sir, I brought all your things back with me.  Where do you want them?”
“I don’t care.”
“Okay…at least let me free your magic.”  Escara approached and touched his horn to Amor’s.  With a flash, Amor could cast his spells.  He levitated a small droplet of blood in front of his eye, watching it as he deformed it in whatever way he wanted, then letting it turn back into a droplet.  He then dropped it and watched as it splashed, spraying onto his face.  “We are ready to attack when you are.”
“No we aren’t.  If we are going to attack a hive, we need a hive.  Gather every soldier in Equestria.  Send letters to all the camps, give them this location, and tell all the members of the hive, and Purity, to gather at Canterlot.  We will attack when all soldiers gather.”
“Yes sir.”  Escara pulled a pile of paper out of his armor and began to write three letters.
To all camps,
Former king Amor has asked that all soldiers gather at the location that will be marked on the map enclosed with this.  When all soldiers are gathered, we will send a full attack on the hostile hive.  That is all.
Commander Escara
Marking the location on five maps, Escara pulled out another piece of paper.
To the hive,
All soldiers are to gather for a final attack on the hostile hive lead by the false king Hornet.  The location where you are to gather is marked.  Send all the citizens to Canterlot before departing.
Commander Escara
He finally pulled out the final piece of paper.
Queen Purity,
Your father, Amor, has asked that all soldiers gather at a new location to attack the hive of Hornet.  He is worried for your safety, and has asked that you, along with your personal guard, Avispa, meet the hive at Canterlot.  There is a map enclosed with the new location marked where you are to send your soldiers.  
Escara
	Escara folded all five pieces of paper and placed a map with each.  After gathering five messengers, he sent them to their designated locations, hoping for the best.
“You, to the hive. You, the Baltimare camp.  You, the Smokey Mountain camp, they are to be informed of the hostile camp to the west of them and told to destroy it.  You, Hollow Shades.  And you, Everfree.”  Each soldier nodded as they took flight in the various directions.  “Amor…” he had to look up.  Escara hardly used Amor’s real name unless he was being serious.  “Get ready for the attack.  Be strong, lead us to victory.”

> The Gathering Part 1:Calm Before the Storm
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Amor reentered the cell he left his armor in.  Strapping his back plate on and placing his helmet on his head, Amor adjusted it all to get comfortable.  Looking at his flank, he made sure the small guard was rightly placed to cover his mark, leaving only a small tip of the heart sticking out.  The emotionless look was put back on his face as he waited.  The first group to find them, as expected, was the Baltimare camp.

“Sir, we are here and ready for the fight.”

“Good.  We are to wait for the rest before we head out.”

Almost an hour later, the Everfree and Hollow Shades camps appeared at almost the exact same time.  “Had some fun finding this place.  From the Everfree and ready for action.”

“Where’s Purity?”

“In Canterlot with Avispa.”  Amor nodded in approval as the Hollow Shades camp leader approached.

“It’s been quiet up north.  Glad to finally get some action.”

“Glad to see some enthusiasm.  We’re just waiting for the Smokey Mountain camp and the hive guards.  And here come some of them now.”  Everyone looked up as a group of twenty or so changelings approached wearing black armor.  “Alright, go wait inside while I talk to them.”  The changeling nodded as he led his squad inside the stone structure.  The group that was seen flying above landed, a single changeling who was leading the group stepped forward.

“Sir, we are here and waiting for further orders.  The hostile camp at Smokey Mountain has been destroyed.”

“Good.  The less we have to worry about the better.  Go wait inside while I wait for the soldiers who were guarding the hive.”

“Yes sir.  Alright men, inside!”  As the soldiers made their way inside, Escara approached.

“Sir, are you going to be alright?”

“Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.”

“Do you at least want to wash the blood off?”

“No.  It will be the reminder of my mistakes.  Her blood will stain my coat until this is done and she is safe.”

“I admire your dedication, sir.”

“Dedication? Hardly.  I do this out of love.  Now if you’ll excuse me, the army is here.”

Escara looked into the sky.  His jaw fell open, nearly hitting his hooves, as he stared at the thousands of changelings blocking Celestia’s sun.  A large shadow fell over the two.  Amor looked over at Escara, who was frozen with amazement.  The group finally landed, and the assigned leader stepped forward.  “Sorry for the delay, sir, but we had to escort the citizens back to Canterlot.  The hive is behind you and ready to attack.”

“I’m glad to hear it.  Get inside and meet up with the rest of the soldiers.  I’ll be in to brief you all soon.”  The changeling nodded and led the thousands of soldiers inside, a single-file line stretching back for miles.

Escara finally snapped out of his trance.  “I never knew our army was so large until I saw them all in one place.”

“You didn’t think a hive of tens of thousands had an army of hundreds, did you?”

“Well, no, but it looks like there are so many more than I remember.  I’ve been away for too long.”

“It’s almost over.  You’ll be back soon.”

Escara took his amulet in his hoof.  “I hope.”

“You’re family probably misses you.  They’ll be glad to see you.”

Escara let out a sigh.  He hesitated before answering.  “Yeah, sure.”

Amor sensed something was wrong, but he had to speak to his team that was now over a thousand.  He looked over the hive. Chirping and buzzing flooded the room, a vibrant feeling in the room.  Amor flew above them and tried to draw their attention.  He flashed his horn, a bright green filled the room, causing everyone to look up and see what they were missing.

“Good.  Now that I have your attention, I would like to explain the plan…well, it’s actually quite simple.  We attack head first.  We land before we enter, walk for a mile or so, and rush the hive when we find it.  Citizens are to be spared, they decide where they must go.  I…will admit, this has gotten really personal for me.  My wife, Chrysalis, has been captured and tortured by them, and I am finding it hard to think.  I will tell you that we know nothing about the hive nearby.  I don’t know how big it is, how many changelings we are dealing with, or what it even looks like.  I understand if any of you want to walk out now, and I won’t stop you.  I will go in there alone if I have to.”

Amor waited for an answer.  It was silent for a few moments.  Finally, a call from somewhere in the crowd.  “For Queen Purity!  For Queen Chrysalis!”  The whole room flooded with cheering and chanting.  Amor was happy to see everyone supporting him, and he suddenly felt he had enough power to take the hive himself.

Amor called out above them all.  “For the hive!”

Everyone began cheering again.

“For the hive!

For the hive!

For the hive!”

> The Gathering Part 2: A Hornet's Sting
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

                Amor wanted to send a note back to Purity.  He wanted to tell her it would be okay, that he would bring Chrysalis back, that he would be back, but even he felt as if he would die today.  And if he didn’t, Chrysalis surely would, and he was not going to let that happen, and he surely wouldn’t let Hornet hurt her any more than he already has.  If his life had to end for Chrysalis to live, so be it.
“Sir.”  Amor shook his head, turning to see Escara standing behind him.  “Everyone is ready.  Ever since your speech, the only thing stopping them is you.”
“Don’t worry, we’ll leave soon.  I just need a moment to think…to regather myself.”  Amor took in a deep breath and slowly let it out.  It was now or never, and he wasn’t about to wait.  Entering the main hall again, Amor heard once again the chattering of thousands of changelings, a low murmur echoing through the room.  A single changeling sat somewhere playing a calming tune on its instrument of choice.  Amor stood before his army, who slowly fell silent when he was finally noticed.  All soldiers watched every step of their leader, the one who lead them into famine two years ago.  Even with his mistakes, they still would follow him into battle, even when knowing the odds of survival.  He cleared his throat.  “My soldiers, it is time.  This day, we put aside what makes us who we are.  Today, we fight for our survival, for our families’ survival.  We leave now, so drop everything.  Let’s go!”  At the sound, every changeling spread their wings and charged for the exit, tackling and pummeling each other on the way out.  “Perhaps this energy will help.  It certainly won’t do them any harm…I hope.”
“They should be fine.  But you better lead them.  You never know what mistakes they will end up making.”
“Good point.  Come on, double time, Escara!”
“Yes sir!”  Both spread their wings and shot out the door like speeding bullets, quickly catching and pulling ahead of the rest of the hive.
……….
The hive stopped minutes away from the location where Hornet’s was supposedly located, in the first of the three clearings.  “We walk from here.  Follow me, make no noise.  No wings, no heavy hoof steps.  You are to walk slowly.”  Amor set the pace, walking silently, sulking low, as if stalking his prey.  No, he was stalking his prey.  A prey that has evaded him too many times, a prey who stole more from him than anyone else, a prey who has become the predator.  It would have been easy for Amor to slip into a disguise, but with thousands following him, no disguise would be useful.  Amor halted the group, turning to face them.  Pointing to the front most soldiers, Amor gave new orders.  “You ten, with me.  The rest of you, stay here until you hear anything.”  All followed their orders, or at least the ones that heard him.  The others just waited for the group to get moving again.
Amor’s small team, consisting of Escara and nine other soldiers, approached the edge of the second clearing, and it was quite obvious they were in the right place.  Where they were could hardly be called a hive, Hornet simply found old stone ruins and moved his people inside.  It was a tall, temple like building built of what looked to be either clay or tan stones.  There was much activity towards the top, changelings flying circles as if guarding and patrolling at the same time.  One of the four walls, the one Amor could see from where he was at, had a small doorway cut into it, two changelings standing outside it.  Amor already had a simple plan to get in.
“Wait here.  Maybe you’ll all learn something.”  Amor pulled closer to the ground to hide himself.  His eyes flickered to a solid blue, the same as any other changeling.  The flame lit, and in moments, Amor was a simple soldier wearing a navy blue set of armor.  He began beating his now smaller wings and appeared in the clearing above the temple, landing in front of the two guarding the door.
“What are you doing, drone?  Do you have anything to report?”
“I thought I saw a pack of timberwolves south of here.  Is that anything to be concerned about?”
“Hardly.  If that is all, quit wasting my time.”
“Actually, there was one more thing.”  Amor pointed towards his soldiers, who he could not see.  “There is something right there, just outside the clearing.”
One soldier squinted and stretched his head, trying to see what this soldier was talking about.  Amor saw his opening.  “I don’t see-“  Amor drew his sword and in a flash struck the now vulnerable neck of the changeling. 
“What the?”  Amor heard the second behind him, and quickly kicked before he could defend himself.  In one swift movement, Amor swung around and plunged his sword into the chest of the soldier.
“ATTACK!”  Amor shouted at the top of his lungs, causing every airborne soldier to stop in mid-flight and look directly at him.  The first to appear were the ten following Amor, who took to the air with swords drawn.  Moments later, the whole hive appeared above the trees and joined them in battle.  The blue-armored changelings in flight were shocked beyond belief.  Thousands of enemies appeared from right under their noses, and there were only dozens of them on patrol.  After only seconds, they were overthrown, easily defeated and overwhelmed.  Everyone gathered at the doors, pushing and plowing to get them opened. 
The stones grinded against each other as they slowly moved and the soldiers poured in.  After the commotion outside, it was expected to see almost a hundred soldiers waiting for them inside.  They fought hard, but with Amor’s drive and the large numbers behind them, they easily struck down every last soldier.  “Spread out!  Look for anything!”  As ordered, the soldiers separated into groups of hundreds, charging down corridors left and right.  Amor went straight ahead, where he knew he would find the throne room, and Hornet.
Blades collided, blood was spilled.  Amor was in a fury, slashing at anything that posed a threat.  As they traveled farther down the stone hallways, more doors appeared, and the teams began to dwindle in size, whether from injury, losses, or separation.  Amor was leading his team that now numbered twenty straight ahead, beams of energy blasting away, tearing down dozens who appeared as threats.  Escara was still at his side, his sword gripped tight in his teeth, panting hard as he swung.  They finally reached a large gold door, weathered from the years of decay.  Amor turned to his soldiers, bloodied and tired.  Amor could clearly see the looks on their faces, they were overused, they were tired, some were in pain.  Ten remained, hopefully enough to get the job done.  He gripped the door in his magical aura, and pushed with all his might until it started moving.  Amor could see on the far side of the giant chamber a throne.  Sitting atop this throne was a single drone, teeth marks in his front leg.  Amor’s remaining soldiers flooded into the room, he was quick to follow.
“So you’ve finally made it.”  Suddenly, the grinding sound was behind them again.  Amor turned to see the small gap in the door he opened being shut by four black and blue changelings.  “I’ll make sure you don’t get back out.”  They were trapped.
While many of the soldiers began to panic, Amor held his ground, biting deep into the hilt of his sword.  Thoughts flashed through mind, thoughts of actually doing all those things he said he was going to do.  He pictured the one-eyed severed head of the changeling before him.  Then, he heard something.  He scanned the room, and saw what he hoped he wouldn’t, yet wanted to see.  Chrysalis laid next to Hornet’s throne, bloodied and beaten, and ever so closer to the verge of death.  All the anger, all the hatred he had pent up inside, it subsided at the sight of his queen.  He looked up at Hornet.
“Let.  Her.  Go.”
Hornet paid no attention to the order.  “You came all this way just to kill me, but you fell right into my trap yet again.  You are so gullible, giving your life for this worthless piece of trash you called a queen.”
“Last chance.  Let her go now, and I won’t kill you here.”
Hornet smiled his sick and twisted smile.  “I have a much better idea.”  His horn began to glow a sickly green as he looked at Chrysalis.  Amor’s heart sank as he began to process what he was about to do.  
“No…”  The large concentration of energy was released, engulfing Chrysalis in a green flame.  Amor starred on in horror.  The flame finally seized, and Chrysalis’s limp body was left lying on the cold ground.
Hornet began gloating.  “Kill them, starting with him.  And you two, grab the corpse.  It will be my trophy.”  Following orders, two drones grabbed the corpse of the once great queen and began flying to the doorway that slowly began to open, Hornet close behind.  Three others began concentrating a large mass of energy aimed directly at Amor, who was paralyzed by the sight he had just witnessed.  He had just seen the death of the one he held close, the one dearest to him.  He had given up.  He was ready to die, to meet Chrysalis on the other side.  He wasn’t going to fight back.  As the mass of energy of three changelings reached it’s limit, it was released at Amor.
“NO!”  Amor’s eyes went wide as the shadow of a small figure dived in front of him intercepting the blast.  The other’s didn’t wait.  Using the opening granted to them by their fallen ally, the remaining soldiers attacked the three in the room.  One approached Amor.
“Sir?  Sir snap out of it!  We need you back!”  He lightly kicked Amor’s hoof, right in the sore spot where the chain cuff had broken the skin.  Amor came back to attention.
“I...I need to go.  Where’s Escara?”  The sound of a soldier coughing up blood echoed through the room.  “No…”  Amor turned to see the armored changeling lying on the ground.  It’s backplate was black like any other soldier’s of Amor’s army, along with the breastplate, but the helm was navy blue, from an older time.  “Escara...not you too.”
Escara laid on the ground, bleeding from various wounds torn through his flesh.  most of his body was charred, and his breath was ragged and faint.  “S-sir…”  Amor was quickly at his side.  “It’s been an honor...serving at your side.”
Amor quickly looked around the room.  “Someone!  We need medical attention!”  
No...it’s too late for me.  Please...I have one thing to ask of you…”  He murmured something quietly under his breath.
Amor leaned in closer.   “What was that?”
“Kill me.”
Amor took a step back.  “I...I can’t kill you!  I’ve lost too much.  I can’t lose any more.”
“Please sir...don’t give them the pleasure of ending my life.  Please…”
Amor didn’t want to hear it.  “No!  I can’t.  I won’t!”
“AMOR!  DO IT YOU COWARD!”
A small amount of rage burst forth.  There was a flash of steel.  Amor stood, a bloodied sword levitating above his head with a trail of blood still following it before falling to the ground.  Amor’s eyes went wide as he saw what he had done.  Escara laid on the ground, a deep gash across his throat spurting blood.  But...Escara was smiling.  He seemed to mouth the words “thank you”, unable to actually say them, but smiling as he slowly faded into darkness.
“I’m sorry, Escara.  I’m sorry.  I’ve lost two of the people closest to me, and for what?  simple vengeance?  I truly am worthless.”  Amor closed his eyes as he sheathed the now bloodied sword.  “Two soldiers, deliver the body to the hive for burial.  He deserves better than this.”  He bent down, wrapping his hoof around the small pendant barely hanging off of Escara’s neck before pulling it off, holding it tightly in his grip.  “I shall continue for you, my love.”
Soldiers began gathering outside of the temple.  Small groups were sent in to see if any lost in the temple could be found.  Suddenly, a soldier ran to Amor as he was exiting.  “Sir!  We have captured some hostages.”
Amor walked by the soldier and continued to the door.  “Kill them.”
“Sir...one of them is Hornet.”  Amor stopped.  He might actually get the revenge he wanted.
“Kill the rest.  Bring Hornet to the current camp location, bound his magic, and chain him to the wall.  Leave him to me.”
> No More Hiding
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	After any surviving parties were found, they were all sent back to the chamber hours away.  Amor arrived after assuring himself that all the others who had survived were removed from the building, although he had hoped to see more.  Hornet was already back at the camp, being prepared to speak for his actions. Amor went to his newly placed tent that had been made for him while he was grieving for Chrysalis...the second time.  Amor was told that Hornet was ready, but he was waiting for something.  
Hours passed, and finally, he saw it.  The two changelings who were sent back to the hive with the corpse of Escara.  After a small argument in the sky, one flew off, while the other landed before Amor’s tent and entered.
“Sir.  Escara’s body has been delivered successfully.  It has been buried and a ceremony was given to him by the hive upon their return.  Sorry you could not make it.”
“It’s...fine.  How was his family?”
The changeling looked at Amor with a puzzled look on his face, as if Amor had just asked him to steal the moon from Luna.  “What?”
“His family.  Surely you brought them his remains.”
“Sir...Escara had no family.  He had no mate, no widow, no child, and most of us are fairly certain that he was orphaned as a young.  It was amazing he even made it to adulthood, and even more so that he became a leading officer.”
Amor groaned.  “Of course.  That explains his behavior during our last moments together.”
“Sir?”
“I told him he would survive and he would be able to go back to his family when this was over.  His attitude after that seemed darker.  You are dismissed.  Go get some rest.”
“Yes sir.”  The soldier left, and Amor began mumbling to a being which did not appear to be there.
“Escara...you may not be my blood, you may not be my kin, but you were like a brother to me, guiding me whenever I needed it.”  He chuckled.  “You know, I was orphaned, too.  Maybe we are brothers.”  His smile soon faded when he realized his next course of business: Hornet
Amor entered the room he had awoken in the day before, the room where he and Chrysalis were tortured to the extent of a false king’s power.  On the wall, in the same position Amor was in, was Hornet, somehow still smiling.  Amor approached as he slowly drew his sword.
“I should kill you right now and be done with it.”
“Aww, is that any way to greet an old friend?  What ever happened to hello?”
“You’ve killed my wife.  You’ve killed one of the few changelings I would deem a friend, and now you’re staring death in the eye.  How could you still be so childish?”
“Simple, really.  I know something that will stop you from killing me for the time being.”
Amor looked into Hornet’s pupilless eyes for a moment, expecting for him to crack, but he did not do so.  “I’ve had enough of this.”  Amor took his sword in his teeth and cocked his head back as far as it would go.  when he couldn’t turn his head any further, he swung with all his might, aiming for Hornet’s neck.  “For Chrysalis!”
“Your wife is still alive.” 
Amor stopped only centimeters away from the spot he was aiming for.  He looked Hornet in the eyes again.  “What did you say?
“I said, your wife is still alive.”
Amor re-sheathed his sword.  “Explain yourself.  Now!”
Hornet’s crooked smile was back on his face.  “It’s amazing what a paralysis spell can do, how closely it mimics death.”
“Why would you still keep her alive?”
“I told you.  I wanted to have some fun.”
Amor pushed closer.  “Tell me where she is.”
“I’m not scared of you.”
Amor backed a few steps away.  “There’s more than one way to torture a changeling, remember?” he said, mocking the words of Hornet.  He put his head down and charged, sticking his horn into his flank, breaking through the skin.  Hornet winced, but it was nowhere close to enough to break him.
“Is that it?”
“Hardly.”  A flame started at his hooves, and in seconds, Amor took the form of a massive griffon.
“What are you going to do?  Feather me to death?”  Hornet began laughing at his own horrid joke.  Amor held a talon before Hornet, showing the start of his plan.  He placed it upon the hole in his flank, sticking his middle claw into the bare spot, digging it deeper with every second.  Hornet began gritting his teeth as he felt the talon dig into the muscle of his leg.
“Well?  Ready to talk?”
“N-never.”
“Too bad, guess I’ll have to dig through the muscle.”  with one quick thrust, Amor clawed his way through the muscle of Hornet’s leg, which began spasming at the massive amount of pain.
“How about now?  I think I feel bone.”
He finally gave in.  “Alright you bastard!  Our camp in the badlands!  It’s the only place left!”
Amor half expected him to say that.  “Good boy.”  He then arched his talon and tore it out of Hornet’s flank.  His leg kicked forward in one last attempt, but with the lack of muscle it fell numb and motionless.  Hornet hissed at Amor and attempted to snap at him, but missed.
“You...bastard.”
“Stay put.  I’ll be back for you later.  In the meantime, admire your new cutie mark, while you’re still alive.”  Suddenly, there was a loud crash outside.  Not again.  “Don’t move.”  Amor turned to the door and quickly shot outside to see what he expected.  Soldiers wearing navy blue armor fighting with Amor’s soldiers.  Amor drew his sword yet again and charged into the battlefield.  He managed to save a soldier who had his back to the ground and a changeling on top of him.  He kicked the changeling off and quickly plunged his sword into it’s chest.  He helped his soldier to his feet.  “Keep moving!  If you fall, you die!”  
Amor continued through the fight, tearing through soldiers with a newfound hope and an old burning anger.  Amor was going to kill them all if he had to, but before he had the chance, they retreated.  Amor scanned the battlefield.  Dozens lied dead through the field, but thankfully very few were from Amor’s team.  They must have given up.  at least they have sense enough to leave before I destroy all of them.  Amor aided his remaining soldiers, checking on each and every one of them individually.  When finally satisfied with everyone’s current state, Amor headed back down to the chamber where he left Hornet.  “Alright, now where-”  Amor cut himself short.  The room was empty.  There was no fire, no cuffs, and no changeling.  “Damn it.  It was just a distraction.”  Amor quickly was back to the surface and was readily greeted by one of his soldiers.
“Sir, is something wrong?”
“The prisoner has escaped.”
“What?  But how?  And where?”
“Don’t worry, I know where.  Gather our troops.  Anyone ready to move, we leave for the badlands.”

> Battle in the Badlands
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Amor stood before his soldiers.  Hundreds upon hundreds of ready bodied changelings stood before him, thousands of them, ready to fight.  There were some casualties, but none too major, other than the few dead.  Amor wanted to grieve for them, but not now.  This was his final chance to rid them of the filth known as Hornet, and more importantly, save Chrysalis from the torturous state she was in.  A soldier approached Amor, bearing news from their army.
“Sir, that’s just about everyone.  The uh, hive, was cleared out.  Most of our soldiers returned safely, and the remaining from Hornet’s hive, whether hostile or not, were set free to their own devices.  Where they go from here is their decision.”
“Good.  Let’s hope they don’t make a foolish decision by heading to the camp, it would make our job easier.  If that is all, you are dismissed.”
“Yes sir.”  The changeling scurried back into the crowd, lost among the many faces of his kind.  Amor had one last speech to give before they left.
He cleared his throat and spoke in his loudest voice.  “Well, it looks as if many of you are eager to get this done, almost as eager as I.  I know many of you are tired.  I know you’re sick, you’re hurt, angry, and sad.  But we must put all of that aside for one last time.  We’ve lost too much to quit now.  The other changelings, they attacked our home, our families, friends, our people.  If we let them go now, what will they do?  Come back and do it again?  Not while I’m still alive and breathing!  So are you all ready to finish this fight and return to our loved ones once and for all?  WHO’S WITH ME?”  In reply, every changeling standing before him began to cheer, various weapons floating above their heads.  “We will survive to fight another day!  For the hive!  For the queen!”  Once again, the crowd began chanting, repeating Amor’s final words as they always would.  Amor turned his back on the crowd and whispered, “For Chrysalis.”  Amor spread his wings and aimed straight for the West, for the Badlands.  His wings began to hum and buzz violently as he shot as fast as he could into the air, followed by every soldier left in his army.


……….


“Hurry it up!  If he catches up with us, he’ll kill all of you!”  Hornet was hovering over a small surviving group of his soldiers.  His left flank was still torn wide open to the bone, and the leg hung limp, dangling without order.  His wings beat to keep him off the ground  Below, two dozen changelings limped back to their last surviving camp, moving at a much slower pace than was to Hornet’s likings.  Two still clung tightly to the paralyzed body of Chrysalis, doing their best to keep it off the ground, but she was very slowly regaining control over herself.  Her eyes, while still heavy, began to open, scanning the area they were in onc half open.  Her head was throbbing, and the rest of her body was still very numb, so she had no control over what the drones did to her at the time.
Hornet pulled ahead, followed by the two carrying Chrysalis.  “Fine!  Any of you able to keep up, do so.  The rest of you are going to be left for whatever it is that lurks out here.  Good riddance to the lot of you!”  Hornet flew forward, followed by less than half of his remaining soldiers.  Within another hour, they could see the camp ahead of them.  “Yes!  I’m alive!”
The team quickly rushed to the campsite, where they were greeted by a single soldier.  “My king!  To what do we owe the pleasure?”
“Where the hell is everyone?”
“Sleeping.  we haven’t seen anything out here.”
“Well wake them up.  The hive was taken, everyone else is dead.  They’re heading this way right now, and if we don’t-”  Hornet cut himself off when a massive shadow covered the land.  He looked up to see a large swarm of blackness overhead, and it didn’t take long for him to figure out what it was.  Amor was out for blood.  “Wake them up!  NOW!”  The soldier scrambled towards the tents, yelling at all of them, causing dozens of changelings to stick their heads out to see what the cause for all the ruckus was.
“ATTACK!”  Amor was leading the group to the small camp.  Hitting the ground running, all of them drew swords and spears, charging forward.  Hornet was scared.  He couldn’t fly away, no that would make him an easy target.  Landing on his three working legs, he tried to quickly limp away from the crowd as the remainder of his soldiers readied themselves.
Amor pulled his sword up, scanning for Hornet, for Chrysalis.  He didn’t see either of them, but before he could react, two changelings appeared before him.  They were quickly struck down, one across the neck and the other on the backhand while Amor was recuperating.  He buzzed his wings and hovered above the crowd, still desperate in his search.  Three more met him in the air.  Amor charged his horn and shot one down.  The other two charged at him.  One was kicked back into the crowd below and never came back up.  The other was met with Amor’s sword right in the chest.  Then he saw something.  A slow moving black figure pulling something larger behind him.  “Chrysalis,” he said to himself.  “Chrysalis!”  Amor flew straight toward the changelings in the distance.  Two more tried to intercept him, but were quickly struck down.
“Damn it.  Cmon’.  Cmon’ you bitch, cmon’!”  Hornet did his best to drag the half paralyzed royal changeling away on his three good legs.  He realized the larger figure flying towards him faster than a bullet and quickly dropped the body, reaching for a sword he recently fastened to his flank.  Amor landed a short distance away, advancing slowly until he saw the sword.  “Stay back...or I’ll kill her this time.”  Hornet held the sword pointed downward at Chrysalis’s neck.
“Let her go.”
“No.  She’s going to be my ticket out of here.  You get any closer, and I ram this sword through her throat.”
“Why?  She has done you no wrong.  It’s me you want to kill, so face me!”
“Ha!  One on one with you?  In this state?  I’ll take my chances with her.”
“Coward.  If you don’t live with honor, you are not worth enough to lead.”
“Are you trying to guilt me?  To enrage me?  It won’t work, I’m not that foolish.  Now back away, and put the sword down or I wi-”  Hornet felt an excruciatingly sharp pain in his flank, causing him to lose his balance and throw his sword to the ground.  Amor looked down to see Chrysalis, her hoof stuck into Hornet’s bad leg before suddenly collapsing to the ground.  “AH! Ah...you...you bitch...I’ll kill you...for that.”  Hornet began scanning the area for his blade.  Amor saw is opening.  Quickly, Amor charged into Hornet’s side, sending them both tumbling onto the ground.  Amor quickly was to his feet, while Hornet stumbled trying to keep his bad leg off the ground.
“I’ll make you suffer.”
Hornet quickly grabbed at the hilt of his sword as Amor drew his.  Amor unhed forward but was blocked.  Hornet was at his feet at this point, and began his assail.  Amor did his best to block the fury of blows and swings, the best of them biting into his armor’s neck piece.  In a last attempt, Hornet gave an arduous attempt at an attack, thrusting his sword forward.  Amor easily evaded the attack, and countered with a blade to Hornet’s bad flank.  Hornet fell to his knees.
“Damn...damn it.”
“Hornet, you are guilty of treason, murder, war crimes, torture, attempted assassination, and rape.  You are going to pay for your crimes.”
“N-no.”  Hornet tried to crawl away, but Amor easily caught him.  In a final fit of rage, he stomped his hoof right into Hornet’s spine, pinning him and nearly breaking him in two.  Drawing his sword, Amor stabbed as hard as he could at Hornet’s neck, but the blade didn’t stop until it hit the dirt and sand below.  The ground was stained with blood, as a severed head fell from it’s original place.  Amor left his sword at the neck of Hornet’s corpse, where the head used to be.  He forgot all the pain when he turned to see Chrysalis lying on the ground, breathing heavy.  He was quickly at her side.  He pulled his helmet off, setting it beside himself, letting his hair down for the first time in a long time.
“Chrysalis?  Chrysalis, are you alright?  Please, tell me you’re alright.”  Amor gently rolled Chrysalis over to see her smiling face looking back at him.
“I knew you would save me.”  She wrapped her hooves around his neck and pulled Amor close.  He in turn wrapped his hooves around her before pulling back and looking into her eyes.
“That’s it, we’re done.  I thought you were dead three times since this started.  I don’t want to lose you, so from now on, retired means retired.  Okay?”
She smiled and kissed Amor.  “Of course.”
Amor looked over to see the ongoing battle slow to a halt as the last of the blue armored changelings was struck to the ground with a deadly blow.  “It’s over.  We can go back home.”
“Thank goodness.”
“What happened to the quiver in your voice?” Amo said as he smiled.
Chrysalis smiled back.  “I guess I regained my strength upon seeing you again.  Enough being playful, let’s get back to the rest of them.”
Amor stood, and Chrysalis attempted to follow.  She was shaky as she rose, but when she reached halfway, her legs gave out from under her.  “Are you okay to walk?”
“I’ll be fine.  I just need some-hey!”  Amor didn’t wait for her to finish.  He lied back down and pulled Chrysalis onto his back.  “I said I’m fine!”
“And I think you’ve been through too much.  The last time I saw you, you were bleeding.  A lot.  If you can’t walk, I won’t make you.”  Looking over her, Amor could easily see many open wounds and bruises.  Tattered wings and matted hair turned brick red from the blood. “You’d never be able to make it anywhere like this.”
Chrysalis sighed.  “Always want to lift my burdens.  Alright.  But be careful!  It still hurts a lot.”  Chrysalis playfully wrapped her hooves around Amor’s neck as he levitated his helmet beside himself and walked towards the gathering crowd of changelings.  All bowed before Amor and Chrysalis, parting down the middle to let them pass.  They were finally one again.


> Return to the Hive
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	The hive was once again filled with happiness...mostly.  Many were holding loved ones tight, long awaiting their return from battle, while others watched, waiting for somepony who wasn’t coming back, no matter how much they wished and hoped.  Not many were lost, but it was enough to cause sorrow to those who missed them.
“Mother!  Father!  You’re both okay!” Purity rushed forward, embracing both of her parents as they entered the throne room.
“We’ve seen better days.”
Purity backed away and looked over them both.  “Oh…”  Amor was scarred, no longer hiding any previous marks.  His shoulder still had a small amount of burnt fur that hadn’t quite grown back properly yet.  The blood was still dried  to his chest and hooves, various scratches, chips, dents and cuts in his armor.  His recovered sword was coated in blood, and two holes were burrowed into the hilt where Amor had bit down hard for the last few months.  The convalescent Chrysalis was much worse.  Her torso was bandaged, blood seeping through the wraps.  Her tail and mane were scraggly and bloodied as well.  She had dark bags under her eyes, surprisingly noticeable against her almost black coat.  There were numerous bruises and what looked like hoof marks covering her entire body.  Her wings were bent, possibly broken, and some of her fur was singed as well from the paralysis spell.  Dirt was matted through her coat from being dragged across the lands.  “Mother...what happened?”
“I don’t want to talk about it.  Just...just don’t talk about it.  I need some time alone.”  Chrysalis limped to her and Amor’s chamber, leaving the other two standing in the throne room.
Purity looked at Amor.  “Father?”
“Her...disappearance.  Hornet was torturing her when we found them, and had me convinced more than once that she was dead.”
“I see...and what of Hornet?  Where is he?”
“In the badlands.  I left his head severed to be picked at by the vultures.  He won’t be coming back, I made sure of it.”  Amor began following Chrysalis, but was quickly cut off.
“Wait, father.”
Amor stood before his daughter, looking down into her sorrow filled eyes.  “What is it?”
“I...attended the burial ceremony.  For Escara.  He...was a good soldier.”
Amor now shared the same look with Purity.  “No.  He was a great soldier.  He guided me, protected me, saved me, gave his life...for me.  He was a much better leader than I’ll ever be.  I should be dead instead of him.”
“Don’t say that.  He gave his life because he believed in you.  Just don’t waste it.”
Amor nodded.  “I should go check on her.”  Amor quickly trotted up the stairs, pushing the door open to see Chrysalis standing on the balcony, overlooking the river Amor had ,so long ago.  He approached her side and leaned his head against her’s.  “Nothing, none of  what has ever happened to you, has ever been your fault.  You’ve never done wrong, but we’ve all made mistakes and sacrifices for the greater good of our people, and our kin.  Just know that I’ll always love you and stand by your side.”
Chrysalis turned with tears in her eyes.  “I know.  It’s just been too much to handle these last few days.  I’m just sick of it.”  
Amor pulled her closer.  “It’s okay, it’s all over now.  He’s gone, and you’re safe.  I swear to you, I won’t let anything else happen to you.”
Chrysalis began to smile as she wiped the tears from her face.  “You’re still the same, always feel like you need to protect me.”
Amor smirked.  “Yeah, same old, same old.  Let’s get ready for bed.”  Chrysalis lied down into the bed as Amor unclipped the pins around his waist holding his back plate down.  He leaned his sword in one corner of the room and threw the armor nearby.  Then another thought entered his mind.  “...Chrysalis?”
“Hmm?”
“He didn’t...touch you...did he?”
“What do you mean?”
“Please don’t make me spell it out.”
What Amor meant slowly crept into her mind.  “Oh.  Oh!  Nononononono, it never came to that!  Had it of he wouldn’t have survived the night.”
Amor sighed in relief.  “It’s getting really late.  I’m looking forward to replacing that helm with my crown once again.”
“Yeah.  Good night, my love.  We have a big day tomorrow.”
“I know.  First day back in the hive.”
“Oh there’s much more to it than that.”
Amor sat up.  “How so?”
“She didn’t tell you?  I guess she wanted it to be a surprise.”
“Tell me what? What are you and Purity hiding from me?”
Chrysalis giggled before rolling over.  “Good night, Amor.”
“Hold on, tell me what? You can’t do this to me!  Please?”
> Seeing Old Friends
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Sunlight hits the top of a high cliff.  The trees are green, the wind is blowing, and the birds are chirping.  Amor’s head pops up over the ledge as he scans the area, seeing if anything was out of the ordinary.  Nothing too noticeable.  He climbs the rest of the way up, and walks to the center of the clearing, where a single tombstone stands with a nearly fresh pile of dirt under it.  It was a simple tombstone made of wood on short notice.  A soldier’s back and breast plate lied on one side with a sword leaning against it, a spear leaned against the other.  Atop it was a navy blue helmet from an older time. It worked for the changeling buried beneath.
“I finally made it.”  Amor took a seat next to the headstone, watching the birds fly by.  “They couldn’t have picked a better spot to put you, Escara.  This place is beautiful.”  
There was no response, of course.  No one was alive to hear his words, and they were directed to the grave itself.  “I’m sorry it came to this.  It should have been me where you’re at, but because of you, Chrysalis is safe.  Thank you, for everything you’ve done.”  Amor sighed heavily.  “I still think it should be me down there.  Sadly, reanimation would be considered borderline nekrofelia.”  He lightly chuckled at his own horrible joke.
Amor looked to the sky.  “You’ll never guess what I just heard, and you’d no sooner believe it!  It took some prying to get it out, but I finally got them to tell me.  Can you believe Purity is getting married?  And to Avispa of all people! I can’t believe I didn’t see it sooner, all the time they’ve been spending together, how closely he guarded her, and how fast he was to go to her when I gave the order.  Not all of the hive is too happy about it though.  I don’t need to tell you that this is going to be the first time a drone married to royalty, and some of your generation still believes in the ways of ‘royalty marries to royalty,’ but you know what?  They’re happy.  So long as Avispa doesn’t break her heart, I’ll let it go.  Considering all he’s done, he has risen in rank greatly, and he has proven his worth.  At least somepony found happiness in this time of hatred we had.”
He looked back at the dull little headstone.  “The actual marriage is in a few days.  I’ll be back when it’s over to tell you the details of it all.  I just wish you could stand by my side as it all goes on.  The hardest part is deciding whether or not Avispa should be labeled King.  I think we should hold out on that for a while, who knows what the hive would do to a drone who has risen to the rank of king, after that whole Hornet ordeal.”
Amor looked at the headstone again, as if he were looking a loved one dead in the eyes.  “Chrysalis is alive.  Thanks to you, I managed to save her.  It was a paralysis spell.  Can you believe it?”  Tears began to well in Amor’s eyes.  “I thought she was dead.  I froze up.  I was ready to die, but you intervened.”  He stopped to breathe.  “You died because of my stupidity and recklessness. I don’t expect you to ever forgive me, but know that I am so sorry, and I take full responsibility for your death.  It’s a burden that I will hold above my head for years and years to come, until the day I die, whether it be soon, later, or never.”  He wiped the last of the tears from his eyes.
“I’ll see you later, old friend.  And I’ll meet you on the other side one of these days.” Amor stood up, and faced the headstone one last time before departing.  He gripped something hanging from around his neck and yanked at it, snapping the string.  His aura levitated it over and tied it around the tombstone, just below the helm’s final resting place.  He backed up to look at the pendant now hanging from the neck of the headstone.  “And I’ll bring Chrysalis with me next time.”