Never trust what you see in your reflection. Bright Dawn has a good life, and it's been good ever since she moved to Ponyville. She was making ponies happy, and that's what matters. One day, her reflection brings it all down.
**Inspired by the song of the same name by Aviators ft. Princewhateverer.**
That day was like any other... a nice enough day, all told. I made my patients feel better, my bills were paid, and I wasn't going hungry. Being a counselor in a happy town like Ponyville isn't an easy job, and my life is rough. At the end of the day, though, I make ponies happy, and that's what matters. I'd lived a peaceful life there for the past three years, and it was a content one. I'd have been happy there. But that day... that day, one that should have been like any other, everything went upside-down. My name is Bright Dawn, and this is my story.
I'll add character tags relevant to a chapter a week after they air, as to avoid the spoiling of the thingstuffsomethingorother. Also my first story with a female protagonist. We'll see how this goes.
Comments of the supportive/constructive variety are highly encouraged! (Just don't mindlessly flame me and we'll be good.)
[Gore] Tag just to be safe.
While this is the 'sequel' to Ghosts in the Code, it isn't required reading. After all, it was a retroactive prequel.
The bell above my door trilled as a mint-colored mare exited my clinic.
"Take care, Lyra! I'm sure you'll find what you're looking for someday!" I called after her. Lyra was one of few regular customers, and I was grateful that she trusted her suspicions in me.
"Thanks, Dawn! Have a good day!" A warm feeling played across my emerald coat, and I relished in it, letting go after a few moments. The gratitude of my patients is why I got into this line of work. It's what keeps me going, day to day. I flicked a lock of my orange mane from my eyes, and turned to the room proper. The waiting room of the small clinic was furnished more like a living room of a typical house, with plush white chairs and a couch adorning the walls on the sides, and a rather plain rug on the center of the room. It's where I typically hang out after closing time. I then moved to the simple door leading to the back room. The doorknob came alive with a bright green glow, and with a click, I entered the room where I see my patients. On one wall was a small couch, and nearby an office chair and a simple desk, where I took notes. A filing cabinet nearby held patient records, and a mirror hung on the opposite wall. Closing the door behind me, I trotted over to the mirror.
The mirror was coated in a thin layer of dust, so I took a tissue from my desk in my magic, and wiped off the facial portion first. I looked into my own eyes, their sky-blue hue piercing my confidence. I hate the mirror. Whenever I look into it, it's just a reminder that it is still lurking somewhere. I'm still getting used to the pony staring back at me. My Cutie Mark, a sunrise with a wispy cloud suspended above it, sat on my flank as it does, reminding me of a promise of brighter days ahead. So far, that promise has held. In the time I've been in Ponyville, I'd made a few friends, and my business has held up. I guess the reality of the situation is I don't like to think about myself.
My introspection was shattered when the bell over my front door chimed.
"Just a moment!" I yelled through the door. I shook my head to clear my thoughts, brushed my mane into order, and stepped back through the door to the waiting room. What awaited me there was a yellow stallion, strong in build, with smoke grey, untidy mane stylings and bright green eyes. His cutie mark was an odd swirled shape that I couldn't quite identify. As I entered, a flash of recognition blinked through his eyes. I felt a feeling work its way into my head that something isn't right about him, and my heart stalled when he broke into a clearly forced grin. He turned and locked the door behind him.
"How strictly do you adhere to patient confidentiality?" the stallion grunted. "Wholly. Do you need something for privacy?" I cautiously replied. The earth pony shifted slightly. "Is there anyone else in the building?" The feeling resurfaced again, stronger than before. It was buzzing in my head like a hive of bees this time. "N-no... Nopony's here but us..." I stammered. I've felt this feeling before... but... I just can't place it! My blood ran cold as he smirked at me. "You know... I believe in provider confidentiality. Close the blinds, please." There was something about the way he said that. He said it as a suggestion, but through that feeling in my head- Which at this point is loud enough so I can't think straight - it felt like an order. My horn flared, and as the blinds clicked and slid down, it hit me. This feeling... I hadn't felt it in years, and it could only mean one thing. The stallion in front of me laughed aloud. "Scape, you're not going to like what I have to tell you." There's no way he could know that name... unless... My suspicions were confirmed when he erupted in a green blaze, and when it subsided, a male changeling warrior stood before me. Though he looked mostly the same as all of the others, there is a slash mark in the exoskeleton across his left eye. My life had just fractured. He shouldn't have come here. "Entropy! What are you doing? You'll blow my cover! You'll lead them to me!" He flinched visibly, and a feeling of sorrow emanated off of him.
"I didn't want to, Scape, trust me! She's too close to finding you out! I had to warn you!" I knew this day would come eventually. I sighed and released my spell. Green fur gave way to ebon chitin, and I assumed my natural form for the first time since I left. "B-but..." Were I still a pony, tears would be pouring from my eyes. As I choked out an attempt at a response, I sufficed to radiate my despair to my old friend. "I was so careful! Nopony suspected a thing!" Entropy flicked his wings, and offered a small grin to me. "We can sense each other, remember? She's been sending agents all over Equestria for you. You're lucky I found you first." "What can I do, though? I'm sick of running! I just want a normal life!" I screamed. Am I glad I got these walls soundproofed...
Entropy looked thoughtful for a moment. "Well, you and I know the inner workings of the hive. No pony knows what our society is like on the inside." he suggested. "What would ponies care for our stinking culture? I've lived without it for three years and it hasn't been long enough!" I retort. "You got me there... but your case could be used as pretty convincing anti-Changeling propaganda for Equestria, and, if we're lucky and a bit careful, maybe we wont get punished for being Changelings." Entropy was sure to release some extra reassurance with that statement.
"How do you know we won't be arrested? Changelings don't exactly get a warm welcome here. What makes you think any pony higher-ups will even give us the opportunity to speak before they lock us up?" I exhale deeply after my pessimistic review on the situation. Wait, I got it! "I might have an idea. One of the locals, a patient of mine, has close ties with Princess Twilight. I also happen to know of a local custom that will prove invaluable to us." The warrior's eyes widen, clearly not expecting me to have a line to pony royalty. After a moment, he stiffened.
"Where's your client? We need to reach them as quickly as possible!' He reapplies his disguise, and I follow suit, the warmth of the fur reinforcing my decision.
Entropy and I trotted down Mane Street, in the direction of the fashon store. We did our best to act natural, and it seemed nopony was particularly close to figuring us out. In fact, we even got one or two friendly waves. Pinkie Pie bounded alongside us, and gave me an envelope. As soon as I looked back up from examining its pink shape, she was gone. Opening it, it read:
Super dooper sorry I can't join you guys, looks like super fun, but I'm too busy. Good luck with your mission!
I jumped at reading it, hovering for a moment. Wait... I don't have- Entropy quickly pulled me back down, startling me again. ...wings. He looked around, checking that nopony had seen. Satisfied, we continued on to the boutique without further incident.
After rapping sharply on the door, we waited for a time in front of the intricate building until Rarity answered the door. "Why hello, darling. What brings you here an hour past closing?" She queried, confusion evident on her features.
"I need to talk with you, Rarity. Can we come inside?" I answer.
"Oh, but of course!" She motioned for me to come in, then noticed my company. "And you are?" he shifted to a straighter posture.
"I'm Entropic Shift. Dawn here's an old friend of mine." He said.
"A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Shift." As we stepped inside, I turned to her.
"We need your help, Rarity... But I need you to Pinkie promise that what I tell you won't leave this room." The fashonista seemed perplexed by my request, but went through the motions anyway.
"Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye. Now what is it that you need, dear?"
"One moment, Miss Rarity." Entropy cut in, pushing me aside. "Can she be trusted?" he murmured into my ear.
"Would I have brought us here if she couldn't?" I countered, "Besides, she doesn't need to know everything." Turning back to my client, I inaudibly gulp. "My friend and I are trying to escape from somepony. Could you contact Princess Twilight for us? We really need help, please understand!" Rarity looked slightly confused.
"Why not just go to the library and meet her yourself? Why bring in a middle mare?" She asks.
"Because we need somepony to vouch for us. I've hardly talked to Twilight, save for an occasional 'Hello' if I pass her on the street." I reply. She nods, and waits for me to continue. Instead, Entropy steps forward.
"You see-- We're not from Equestria. Our native government wants to capture Dawn, and they are close to finding her. I came to warn her, and here we are." he stated with a hint of nervousness in his tone. If Rarity wasn't already white, I'd have sworn she went pale.
"You're... You're.. An international fugitive? Wha---"
"Calm down, Rarity. Deep breaths. I'm not guilty of anything. That's why we need Twilight's help. And you. You know me, right? Do you honestly think I could have done something that would put a mark on my head?" She shook her head once, fixed her mane a bit, and looked me dead in the eye.
"Dawn, you've helped me many times, and I consider you my friend. I don't think you are capable of anything that terrible. If you need a hoof, I'll do what I can." I smile widely.
"Thank you so much." I turn my head to an empty corner of the room, where some mannequins stood. "Yes, Pinkie, she can tell Twilight, and you have to promise, too." The pink pony's head popped from behind one of the mannequins, and nodded solemnly. She did the motions quickly, smiled at me, and disappeared. I practically heard Entropy's jaw hit the floor.
"Wait, what?!? How is that even-- That doesn't! What?!?!" He blabbered. Rarity chuckled softly.
"Don't question Pinkie Pie, otherwise you'll need your friend's services for life. She can be trusted, don't worry." I hold back a laugh at Pinkie's antics.
"She probably already knew. Don't sweat it, Ent." He didn't seem to register what we were saying, though.
"Is that you ponys' definition of NORMAL?" he cried. "She disappeared, for buck's sake! I, of all ponies, should know! What? Just... What?" He's going to blow. I quickly fired a ray of emerald energy into his forehead. Slowly, he calmed down, his eyes rolling about for a short time before I released it. I step up to him, and whisper,
"Don't blow it. You nearly shifted. Just ignore Pinkie and move on." He nodded lightly. "I'll explain her later." I said more loudly. Rarity was giving me an odd look. "It's a spell I can use to calm some ponies down. It just stops them from freaking out. Trust me, you don't want a pony Entropy's size running around and breaking things." I finish with a small grin, as Entropy rolls his eyes. Rarity slowly nodded.
"Twilight is currently out of town, I'm sorry to say, but she'll be back late tonight. I'll get a message to Spike, and we'll meet at the library tomorrow." She said. I nod and grin.
"Thanks for the help, Rarity, I owe you one. How does noonish sound?"
"It would be perfect." She answered. Nodding to her, I motioned to Entropy and began to step towards the door.
"We'll be there around midday then, Good night, Rarity, Thanks again!" I say, and Entropy waves a bit as we step out into the evening streets of Ponyville.
We reached my clinic after nightfall. I had set Entropy up on the couch in my waiting room. That done, I headed through my back room into my bedroom, where I fell into vague, peaceful dreams.
I woke to silver moonlight in my eyes. I heard a muffled thunk on what I'd assume was my front door. Who would knock this late, for Celestia's sake?
I slowly got up and shuffled into the front room. The knock sounded again, louder this time. Entropy was stirring within the mess of covers he was tangled in. I open the door to two white pegasus stallions in golden plate armor. Royal guards. I locked eyes with the left-hoof guard first.
"Good evening, sirs. What can I do for you tonight?" I ask, drowsiness still evident despite my best efforts.
"Miss Bright Dawn?" The guard I was looking at rumbled, in a deep monotone.
"That's me." I mutter. The right stallion smirked. Just then I felt that poking in the back of my head again. Royal guards are strictly disciplined, so that one must be a changeling. Figures. The changeling spoke next.
"We have a warrant to search your establishment, Ms. Dawn." He turned to his ally. "Stoic, guard the exit." The guard nodded and assumed a position to block the door while his 'colleague' stepped inside. The fake turned and locked eyes with his counterpart, and in a flash of green, the pony looked on with little else but a glazed over expression. With that, the door was promptly slammed in his face. The remaining stallion turned to me with a predatory grin. "Well, well. You have some nerve, Scape, betraying your kind to live with prey. Her highness wants you, dead or otherwise." His voice had changed, no longer the standard monotone of a guard, but a more meticulous speech, with sharper emphasis. A speech pattern I easily recognized.
"Is that you, Pincer?" I snarl, baring my fangs as I shapeshift back. I signal with a flick of my tail to Entropy, who takes the hint and convincingly cowers beneath his covers. "Is this any way to treat your friend, you sorry excuse for a broodmate?" While returning to changeling form, I cast my first ploy. I step back, leaving a duplicate of myself, using the flames of my transformation to mask the invisibility spell I also cast.
"No-one defies the queen!" He roared, releasing his own spell, revealing an infiltrator just like myself, but with a tattered head frill. His fangs glistened menacingly in the low light. "And no-one in my cluster that is worth my time gets away with it!" With that, he lunged at my copy, sailing straight through it and crashing to the floor. I stepped to the side and bucked him in the head. I then jumped back and began discharging flashes of fierce green fire from my horn, connecting with the left side of his face. He struggled for a moment, hissing as the flames seared him, but he managed to put up a shield against my onslaught. He then buzzed his wings and flew at me with blinding speed. He tackled me to the floor and began pummeling me with his forehooves. Each blow hurt quite a bit, and it was adding up.
All of a sudden, a resounding crack sounded through the room. Pincer yelped in pain and fell limp, and I threw him aside. I then noticed Entropy standing over me, still disguised, with a spattering of green blood on his hoof. He winked at me, and I nod my thanks before I quickly reapply my guise. Not a second later, the door crashed open and the other guard ran in. He looked a few pegs less than amused.
"You are under arrest for assaulting-" He started,
"An attempted assassin impersonating an officer of the royal guard?" Entropy cut in, gesturing toward the unconscious Pincer. "This changeling incapacitated you and attacked Ms. Dawn with admitted intent to kill. We acted not only in self-defense, but also to apprehend a changeling spy in the guard." The guard stopped in his tracks and blinked a couple times before beginning to fumble about in his armor. He retrieved a magic inhibitor and hoofcuffs. After applying the instruments of justice to the changeling, he turned to us.
"I'm sorry, sir and ma'am, for disturbing you tonight. he brought me here under false precedent. Good night." He slung Pincer over his back unceremoniously and headed off into the night. I ease the door shut behind him, and lock my eyes with Entropy.
The morning sunlight filtered through my bedroom window, stirring me from my shallow slumber. After a moment of groggy pondering, I jumped from my bed and rushed to the front room. I crashed the door open, causing Entropy to jump up and look about wildly.
"C'mon. we're not safe here. We need to get to Twilight as soon as possible." I slip into my kitchen, and open one drawer. Inside is a single knife, in an ebon scabbard, with silver symbols engraved in it. I envelop it in my magic, and unsheathe it halfway. The flat of the blade was black, with similar symbols in silver forming a complex pattern. The sharpened part was similarly silver, and razor sharp. I took its sling from beneath it, and let it rest at my side. I never thought I'd have to use this so soon... but it's us or them.
I cast a quick spell, and in a crackle of green flames, the knife vanishes. Only its weight at my side proved it was still present. Satisfied, I trotted back out front. Entropy looked me up and down.
"What did you do?" He queried. I release the spell on the handle for a moment, before concealing it again.
"Insurance policy. If we get jumped on the way there, I want to be ready." His eyes go wide and his mouth falls agape.
"You're going armed to a meeting with a PRINCESS? The same one who single-hoofedly took out nearly half a swarm of us in Canterlot before she ascended?" I held back a laugh, and tried to keep it from showing.
"You haven't been around ponies much, have you? They're an understanding people, and seeing as we were just attacked, I think Twilight will understand my actions." I motion over to the green stain in the carpet from last night. He got the message, and with a wary nod, we moved outside. I changed the time on the closed sign to 'Unknown' and we were off for Carousel Boutique.
We showed up at the boutique only to find a note on the door, reading: Away at the library, will be back soon. As that seemed to line up with our meeting with Twilight, Entropy and I headed off towards the tree. After another short, uneventful walk, we ended up in front of the Golden Oaks Library. It seemed nearly monolithic, and I hesitated at the door for a time. After a second, I strengthened my resolve. I couldn't stop here. I raised a hoof and knocked on the door. It was only a moment before it is answered by a small purple-and-green dragon, Twilight's assistant Spike. He looks between us, then turns inside.
"Twilight! Rarity! They're here!" he calls, then turns back to us. "We've been expecting you two. Come on in." He opens the door wide, and motions for us to enter. We quickly do so, and are assaulted with the scent of paper. This was certainly a library, though it seemed more chaotic than organized. Stacks of books were scattered every which way, and nestled amongst them was the princess herself, entranced by the open book in front of her. Rarity stood off to the side, and I nodded to her. A nod she returned. Spike poked Twilight's shoulder and motioned to us. A sheepish smile makes its way onto her muzzle as she set the book aside.
"Oh, sorry." She said. "Found an interesting paragraph on the ancient Crystal Empire, and it just sucked me in!" She turned to Spike. "Spike, could we have some privacy, please? These ponies have made a request that what they want to tell me be kept to as few individuals as possible." Spike rolls his eyes, but produces some earplugs and heads for the basement.
"Suits me just fine." he said. "I've got a new Power Ponies comic to read anyway." After he left, Twilight turned to me.
"Now, who's after you?" she asked. "And why come to me instead of Princess Celestia?" I gulped. The moment of truth... a bit too literally for my tastes.
"Well..." I began. "The government of our native nation is pursuing us. As to why we came to you..."
"You're not surrounded by battalions of armored guards that may or may not be spies." Entropy finished. "And, as something we'd like to keep on a need-to-know basis, a huge room filled with nobles is counterproductive." Twilight frowned.
"But why confide in the lesser princess, when Celestia would be able to help so much more? If you're running for your lives, aren't Celestia's resources worth the risk?" Entropy looked to me to answer.
"Shift," I start. "Should we tell her everything? I don't think she'll understand otherwise." He shot me a look, asking if I was serious. When my look held firm, he gave a reluctant nod. "Okay. Twilight, Rarity, I'm going to ask that no matter what happens in a moment, that you remain calm." I look over to them, giving each eye contact for a second. After receiving wary nods from each, I closed my eyes.
"Whatever do you-" Rarity started before being cut off by flashes of green fire from myself and Entropy. The shock in the room would have been tangible, even for a pony. As we stood before them in our natural forms, Twilight's pupils shrunk to pinpricks, and she charged her horn. Rarity, for her part, fainted instantly.
"Twilight..." I say slowly. "I said to keep calm. This kind of reaction is exactly the reason we came to you. We can trust you, right?" She slowly backed down, and her horn shut down. She then cocked her head ever so slightly.
"Why not just stay hidden? If you can change your appearances, why not just hide from them in Equestria?" she asked. I sigh. If only it were that simple.
"I did, for 3 years." I begin. "But they found me yesterday. First Entropy here figured me out, and told me they were close. Then, last night, an old friend attacked us. He's been arrested, but there will be more; I'm sure of it."
"But how? I can't tell you're a changeling when you're disguised, let alone which one!" she said. I guess Ponies don't know anything at all.
"We Changelings have something of a sixth sense." Entropy cut in. "When our cover slips even slightly, we get a sort of... feeling that something isn't right. It's hard to explain properly, but it is a unique feeling." I chuckle slightly.
"Some better trained agents have methods of overloading this sense in their targets. It's how Entropy found me out." I nudge Entropy with a forehoof. I look over to the princess. She had produced a yellow legal pad and quill and was frantically scribbling notes. She raised her head up, and there was a certain gleam in her eyes.
"What made you run away?" she asked.
"Those were painful days, Twilight. I'd rather not talk about it right now." The days my life restarted... the ones I'd rather forget. She opened her mouth to talk again, but I cut her off with a hole-filled hoof. "Imagine if Princess Celestia betrayed you. Left you for dead. Made you run for your life, leave your family and friends, and live every single day of your life hiding, praying to the stars above that they don't find you. Because once they do; It's all over." I pause, struggling to maintain what was left of my composure. Sobs were threatening to overwhelm me, but I held them back. "You ponies have it easy. Failure to live up to Queen Chrysalis' standards means death. I'm a wanted mare, Twilight, and now Entropy's wanted too! Can you help us?" I plead. Please, Twilight... We need you. The princess lowered her eyes to the floor.
"Your people have cast you out and want you dead." she said. "And all you want to do is live a peaceful life?" I nod. She's been listening, at least. She locked her eyes with mine. Burning within them was a fire unlike any I'd ever seen. "Any creature deserves a normal life, Dawn. I don't think you deserve not to. I don't think you're a bad person, in the brief time I've known you. If there's anything I can do, I will." There was movement on the floor. Rarity's eyes blinked open, scanning the room. She shakily got to her hooves. Then, she looked straight at Entropy and I, blankly. She then turned to Twilight. With a sudden predatory grin, her horn lit, and a green ray shot from the tip, drilling into the alicorn's head. Shortly after, she collapsed into a lavender heap.
"Twilight!" Entropy yelled. We both made to knock Rarity down, now obviously a changeling impostor. She shot us an icy glare, and spoke a single command.
"Halt." With that word, my legs locked. I couldn't move them, even a hair from where they were planted. From the looks of things, neither could Entropy, by the confused look on his face. Our enemy smirked, and began to pace around us. As she did so, green fire began licking at her hooves. "I've been looking for you worms." she hissed. Oh no. "No-one escapes the Hive. No-one defies me, and if you wanted to live your precious 'normal life'," as the fire reached her body, she'd grown much taller. "then you should have never opposed me."
The last thing I saw before the green flash was the notched horn and tattered mane of Queen Chrysalis.
I awoke to darkness, with something cold and metallic on both my horn and my left-hind leg. Tugging with the leg revealed it was chained to something. I tried to make a light with my horn. The result was meager, but considering I probably had a magic inhibitor ring on, it'd have to do. It allowed me, at least, to make out some of the details of where I was. I could guess I was in some sort of cell, which was reinforced by the bars on the other side of the room. The floor is uneven, and seemed to be hewn from black stone. It had bumps and nicks in it. The wall seemed hewn with about as much care. Rough, but not sharp, it connected with, big surprise, more black stone at the ceiling. The bars too were made of some sort of dark metal. The guard, having noticed my light, began giving me the stink-eye. Oh, cut it out. At least let me see the hole I'm imprisoned in. Around me, three other shapes laid prone on the floor. The larger, darker shape I could only assume was Entropy was laid on his back, with his head against the wall, in restraints much like mine. Twilight was in a corner, the middle-dark shape, in what looked to be zero-mobility forehoof cuffs and a full-horn magic inhibitor. Like Entropy and I, she was chained to the wall. Rarity, the lightest shape, and who was nearest to me, appeared to be merely roped to the wall. She did, however, also have a magic inhibitor. Her mane seemed disheveled, and there were tears pooling nearby her head as she slept.
"Rat!" the guard shouted, "Power down, or I'll power you down!" Begrudgingly, I obeyed, and I was plunged into darkness once more. I doubt I could have kept it going too much longer anyway. I note, as my head had begun to throb.
"What's going to happen to us?" I quietly ask, trying not to wake anypony. The guard, however, wasn't so considerate.
"You two traitorous scum are to be made an example of! The unicorn is to be relocated to the broods, and the Princess will be held hostage until further notice. Enjoy your final day, nymph, because this is it." the guard sneered. This guy's the scum.
"Where's Chrysalis?" I hiss.
"Her Majesty is away. You scum aren't worthy of her time." he growled. I've met Canterlot nobles more pleasant than this guy. I turned away from him, towards the wall. Feeling along my side, I searched for my blade. To my surprise, it was actually still there! The invisibility spell had worked! I just need an opening to use it. We must be in the lower dungeon. Not many criminals are kept here, and fewer for long, so there aren't many guards here, compared to the rest of the Hive. It is at the center, though, which creates its own problems. Assuming I know what I think I do, we may still have a chance. I bided my time until I began to hear a droning buzz from outside the cell. Once I was sure he was out, I moved carefully over to Rarity and gently prodded her awake. She shook her head, and peered through the darkness in my direction. Given the light level, I doubt she could see me clearly.
"Who's there?" she whispers, shaking and trembling.
"It's me, Dawn." I whisper, lighting my horn as well as I could, and revealing my face.
"You're... a Changeling?" she choked. I nod, a small smile playing at my lips. "I let myself get counseled by a changeling?" she gasps.
"Hey, that's racist. I never meant any ill will. The story I told you in the boutique was all true." I murmur. She looks like she's going to speak again, but I put a hoof over her mouth. "We'll talk once we're out of here. I need you to go and wake up Twilight." I motion towards the princess. Rarity nods and quietly moves over to her friend, gently shaking her awake. Twilight, once conscious, looks up at her horn and sighs.
"If we're where I think we are, we're in deep!" she exclaims. I shh her, and angle my head towards the sleeping guard. Comprehension dawns on her face, and she nods.
"Rarity, loop your rope around Twilight's horn, if you can." I hiss. "I think I have an idea." She shot me a confused look, but did as she was told. "Twilight. Focus as much power as you can into your horn. Just power it as much as you can." Twilight closes her eyes, and for what seemed like an eternity, nothing happened. Then, her eyes re-opened, glowing bright white, as she grunts with the exertion. The metal casing over her horn began to glow red, then white, as the rope began to hiss. After another moment, it snapped. "There!" I say, and Twilight's eyes snap back to normal. She fell to the ground with a thud, clearly exhausted. I motion for Rarity to come over to me. She does so, sneaking a glance at the guard, who is thankfully still out cold. "Lean your head in. I'm going to see if I can get that inhibitor off."
"Won't that hurt?" she asked, looking to me with uncertain eyes. "Don't these things shock you if you touch them?" I smirk.
"Not if I don't touch it." I whisper. I lower my head down to my side and bite onto the handle of my knife, being extra careful with my fangs. Rarity gasped as I seemingly drew it from thin air, but didn't speak. She just stared at the knife, a hint of fear in her eyes. The knife, being single sided, was placed, flat to horn, and I slowly pushed up on the ring. After a small push, there was a soft *ping* as it came loose. As I slid it off, an azure glow slowly engulfed both the horn and the inhibitor, and it was gently lowered to the floor. I sheathed my blade in its now visible scabbard. "Now, get the keys. They should be on a wall hook, just over there. I point with my head. Sure enough, on a steel hook, a crude ring of keys hung. Rarity lit her horn, and they joined us in our prison sentence. On the ring were four items - a tiny, intricate key, a small, but simple key, a large, iron key, and a thin piece of metal with a hook on the end. After a couple minutes of unlocking things, we woke Entropy. Now free of our restraints, I levitated the large key into the lock on the door, and with a *thunk*, it came open. Entropy snuck up to the guard, who began to stir heavily in his sleep. Entropy clubbed him over the head with Twilight's former magic cage, and that was all for him. We moved him into the cell, locked him up in Twilight's restraints, and gagged him with the rope before locking him in. Twilight then wielded the key into the lock before doing the same to the doorjamb. As she worked, Entropy turned to me.
"So, how are we getting out of here?" He asked, his uncertainty pulsing in the air.
"We're Changelings, aren't we, Entropy? We sneak out." I reply. I turn to face Twilight, who had finished sealing the cell. "This may tingle a bit, but please try to hold still." My horn lit, and fired a stream of green fire at the alicorn. At first she flinched, but then seemed to be hypnotized by the dancing flames. They consumed her entirely, and when they faded, Twilight looked just like a changeling. She looked herself over with curiosity, and experimentally twitched her wings. "Entropy, please do the same for Rarity. I can only keep two disguises going." He nodded and turned to the unicorn, repeating what I had done. When it was done, he hid the scar over his eye with a pulse of flame. I also subtly edited my own look. The ponies probably wouldn't notice, but it'd make all the difference. Rarity gave her wings a quick flutter, raising a short way off the ground before landing gracefully. She must have some experience. "Now, neither of you use magic while we're in the open. We can't hide a magical aura's color." I say.
"Why not? It shouldn't be too difficult." Twilight added, before lighting her horn to test my statement. True enough, it still shone its steady magenta light from the smaller changeling horn.
"Nobody knows." Entropy said. "Leading theory is that it's genetic, or maybe it's changed based on how it's learnt. I've heard of ways to change the colors, but it's often dark magic. We've been looking into it as a people for a long time, but haven't made much headway." He added a small shrug to the end of his statement. Twilight seemed intrigued, but I cut in.
"As much as I'd love to theorize, we should really try to get out of here before they realize we've escaped."
The Hive is a big place, easily as big as Manehattan. The dungeon we were locked in was in the center. The bustling streets of the Hive were arranged circularly within a huge chitinous material that filtered the sunlight to an eerie dimness. The streets, however, were only one layer. Hundreds of miles of tunnels were carved into the earth. They were overlayed and reinforced so many times, no kind of bomb would collapse any tunnel. Of course, the place wasn't easy on the eyes. Unlike ponies, who took value in art and architecture as leisure activities or jobs, changelings had no use for them. As such, every building was as stable as a fort, and ten times as ugly. They were often just mounds of the same black material that made up most things changelings use. I could tell Rarity was having a hard time keeping a straight face. It was clearly her worst nightmare come true. Still, though this was a pit by pony standards, it's where I grew up, and that nostalgic feeling was almost worth being captured again. Though, when home wants you dead, there are few things making you want to stay long. Also, the entire place radiated fear, and fear feels like urine smells. As Entropy 'subtly' nudged Rarity out of her aesthetic overload, Twilight murmured something.
"What was that, Twi?" I ask.
"It's just... how has something like this not been found?" she answers.
"A combination of illusion magic and a little of the famous changeling 'diplomacy' tends to make the curious stay away." Entropy said. "Now, let's follow their lead and make ourselves scarce."
As we descended into the Hive proper, we stuck to the alleys. Often times, changelings are overly cautious, even here, as Chrysalis' lack of mercy is well known. It's for this reason we didn't draw much attention. The drones were too interested in their 'purposes' to give us a second glance, moving about in clusters to accomplish some mission or another. Infiltrators kept to themselves, typically sticking to the shadows, much like our group was. Warriors, the larger variants of changelings, were often stationed as guards every so often, though a token few were intermixed with the others. Thankfully, very little interest was directed to us. Changeling visual traits are very subtle, and Entropy and I had masked ours. However, there were guards at the exit, with spears crossed over the opening in the dome. We ducked into an abandoned alley to converse. Entropy started first.
"What do we do, Dawn? They'll scan us for sure!" he whispered. I furrowed my brow. It's a longshot, but it might just work.
"I may have an idea." I say. "Entropy, how good are you at the invisibility spell?" He shrugs.
"Passably, I guess." he said. "Couldn't take anypony with me, though." One down.
"Do you know the invisibility spell, Twilight?" I ask. The princess-in-disguise frowned and shook her head.
"I never got around to that one." she muttered. "Can you show it to me?" I nod, and light my horn. Taking great care to show every phase of the spell, I slowly faded from sight. Twilight's featured lapsed into total concentration, and her horn lit too. Slowly, her form began to flicker, and in moments after, she faded away. Rarity lit her horn too, but there was a lack of power. She seemed to be casting the spell... well enough, but she couldn't do any more than dim herself slightly. I guess that says something about changelings and illusion magic. I tried to cast the spell onto her too, but the strain of keeping both up, on top of my disguises meant all I got for my efforts was a minor headache.
"Twilight, could you try casting it on Rarity, too?" I ask. I see a magenta glow form around Rarity, and while it wasn't immediate, over the course of half a minute Rarity faded to nothing. "Excellent. Now be as quiet as you can, slip by them, and make for the treeline." I then re-apply the spell to myself, having broken it in my attempts to hide Rarity. Then, I made for the exit. The guards were none the wiser as I ducked beneath their spears and quietly moved to the trees. The Hive is on a slightly raised plateau, encircled by woodland, and from a distance, spells would make it appear to be nothing but trees there as well. Changelings were taught to see through the illusion, but for a pony, the only way to find the Hive would be to practically walk into it. I slipped into the concealing foliage, and quickly found a small clearing with a little stream running through it. I released the cloak, and sat on a log along one side. Small rustlings in the brush became distinct hoofsteps as my friends appeared before me. "Now," I begin, "until we get out of Changeling territory, we need to keep our disguises up. If they catch us, we're dead... again." All present nod, and we began our journey back to Equestria. Once or twice, we bumped into some changelings, but between some half-baked 'infiltration orders' and the fact they weren't search parties, we managed our way to the Equestrian border unharmed. We set up camp for the night near the border, and lay our heads to sleep by crackling firelight.
Emotional hunger is something no changeling ever wants to feel. It's like conventional hunger, but magnified several times. Another key difference is it worms its way into your head if it gets severe enough. Crippling headaches, nausea, some cases of amnesia. I've come up with a magical substitute during my time in Ponyville. It tastes vile, I'd rather feed on fear, even, but it holds me over during times my clinic didn't get much business. Of course, Entropy had no such remedy, and he'd seemed disgruntled when we'd camped for the night. I didn't think much on it, because if it had advanced to any worrying degree, he'd be practically too weak to move. I awoke to his pained groans. As I opened my eyes, I saw him nearly doubled over by the fire's remains. He was clutching his head. He turned his head towards me as I stirred, and against the rising sun, his silhouette cast its shadow back to the tip of my hoof. His eyes were aglow in the low light, though something was off. The eyes, usually the light blue typical of changelings, were tinged red at the edges. This isn't good. He's progressed a lot farther than I thought. He stood up, and rotated the rest of the way to face me. He choked and stuttered his words as he spoke:
"L-llovely... Morning... Isn't it...? Just makes you wanna cry tears of joy, don't it? Huh, Scape? Thought'cha loved the sunrise!" his eyes twitched, and an odd grin adorned his face. Something's definitely off here. He's not like this.
"Didn't you name yourself after it? Huh, Dawn? 'Cuz this one's great, right?" he rambled, making a sweeping motion towards the admittedly beautiful sunrise before flinching and grabbing his head. "Oh, that's right... You're our fearless leader now, right? Gotta get us back to pony-land! Home of the-" he's interrupted by his own grunt of pain. Gripping his head tighter, he struggles for a moment, eyes closed. As they reopen, they are much more tinged. "-Prey..." he hissed. My blood ran cold. Jumping up, wings flared, I locked eyes with him.
"Entropy, snap out of it! Don't let your hunger cloud your judgment!" I hiss, trying not to wake the sleeping ponies. He takes a step towards me.
"And what exactly makes you queen?" he growls, the distortion in his voice much stronger. "I don't want to die because I let a nymph lead us!" He's now glaring at me, fangs bared. He sweeps his gaze to the ponies. "Leaders must use every resource at their disposal." He then groaned in pain again, and nearly fell over. He fell to a crouch as he gripped his head in both forehooves. It was clear he was biting back screams of pain. He clenched his eyes shut, and bit his lower lip so hard that a thin stream of green blood trickled out. He shook his head vigorously, and reopened his eyes, which were now fully red. I step between him and the ponies.
"They're our only hope for survival! If you feed like I think you plan to, you might kill one of them!" I say. He smirks.
"And just how do you plan to stop me?" He rumbled. "You're a puny little Infiltrator, and I'm a Warrior in his prime!" He winced, and grabbed his head again. "Even starving to death, I can still crush you." In a spatter of green embers, the scar over his eye reappeared, and a flickering green light from behind me meant a pony's disguise had faltered. He can't keep his disguises up, and his magic probably doesn't work either. I might have a chance.
"Try me. You can't even see straight." I chide. If he's that hungry, there's no way he's seeing less than five of me right now. That thought came to a screeching halt once a hoof slammed my face like a speeding carriage, sending me sprawling to the ground. Looking up, he stood over me, a smug grin on his muzzle.
"What's wrong Scape? Not seeing straight?" As he spoke, I cast my copy and invisibility spell, releasing Twilight's disguise, as well as my own in the process. I simultaneously turned invisible and rolled to the side. As he lunged for my duplicate, I rushed him from the side, brandishing my knife, and smashing the handle into the side of his head. With a startled cry, he crashed to the ground. I jumped on top of him, beating on him with the hilt. He roared and threw me off, but I flapped my wings, and hovered mid air, the knife floating by my side. He jumped up at me, fangs glinting in the sunlight. I swung the knife in front of myself, deterring his charge, before rushing him myself. I pushed him into the ground with a bolt of magic, then tackled him again, pummeling him with the hilt of the dagger. Once he was stunned, I cast a gentle green fog over his head. It did nothing at first, but then Entropy's horn lit, and began draining it. Then, a beam of energy locked our horns together, and I felt lightheaded. I felt my consciousness fading as every drop of my magic was ripped out. It released me, and the world faded to black.
After floating through the darkness for some time, I began to hear echoes... Ponies or otherwise calling out to me... Slowly, the blackness gave way to a colored fog, and the echoes began to take shape.
"~a~Wn?~" "~ake--" The fog began to swirl into blobs of color, slowly forming into shapes I could recognize. A yellow blob was beside me, while purple and white ones were... standing.. I think, what must be further away. I tried to move my head, but all I got was a piercing pain in my skull.
"Dawn? You awake?" I know that voice... It's Entropy. I raise a hoof towards the now pony-like yellow shape. A hoof that was green. I groan aloud as a response, unable to quite form the words. Suddenly, he moved towards me, and I felt his forelegs wrap around my neck. Then, something warm dripped onto my cheek. "I'm so sorry... I can't believe what I did... I nearly..." His sorrow pierced the air like the sound of thunder would, and I rested my hoof onto his shoulder, which was beginning to come into focus.
"Entropy... not your fault..." I croak, my head throbbing. "How long... Was..." This is the worst headache I've ever had, no contest. Entropy stepped back, and Twilight moved forward a bit.
"It's been a couple days, Dawn. Entropy carried you all the way here on his back." she said. Looking around, we appeared to be in a hospital room, if all the curtains and beds were any indicator. Twilight and Rarity were radiating sympathy for me, and I carefully sapped at it, until my headache was more manageable. Raising my head up, and looking around some more, I ask the obvious question.
"Where exactly is here?" I look out the window, and see what appears to be a decently sized city.
"We're currently in Baltimare, dear." Rarity answered. She was sitting on a small couch nearby. "It was the first settlement we ran into with a hospital."
"The doctor said you were suffering from severe magic draining." Twilight said. "Do you know how that happened?" She looked to me with obvious concern. Entropy's eyes pleaded as I glanced at him. Looking back to Twilight,
"I guess the past few days have been harder on me than I realized." I said. To test what she'd said, I tried to channel a pinch of magic into my horn. The tiny spark I produced was rewarded by a stabbing pain in my head. Twilight frowned upon seeing this.
"You shouldn't be doing that." she scolded. "It might put you out again." She turned to another bed beside mine. It had its curtain drawn, so when she produced a carrot from the other side and gave it to me, I was fairly surprised. "I know you must not usually eat carrots, but they're great for recovering from burnouts. Trust me, I speak from experience." She levitated it over, and I took a bite from it. She then set it on the side table. "Now, Rarity and I have some errands to run in town, like getting us train tickets." She turned to Entropy. "Make sure if she needs anything-"
"Don't worry, Twi," he said. "I'll take care of her." He grinned gently to accompany his statement. With a nod from Twilight, both of the unicorns left the room. After the door thunked shut, he said, "I owe you one, Scape. I don't think they'd let me stay in Equestria had they known." I have a theory...
"Do you have Alphoris Syndrome, Entropy? Did you know?" I asked. He shook his head.
"This is the first time I've known about it, but the symptoms are pretty much black and white. Trust me, you'd have been the first to know. I'm just sorry it blew up in our faces." He turned, putting a hoof on the back of his neck. "I can't help but wonder if I'm dangerous... I mean, I nearly killed you! What if next time we aren't so lucky and somepony dies? I can't help but wonder if I'm a threat to our new home, Scape. I'm a monster." He plopped his rear down on the floor, and examined his front hooves intently. I crack a small grin.
"I don't think you're a monster, Entropy." I say, and he looks up at me.
"How am I not? I'm a time bomb!" he exclaims.
"No, you're not." I insist. I roll over onto my belly, despite my headache, and turn around to face him. "Alphoris symptoms only manifest when you're practically starving to death, and I'll make sure that doesn't happen. Besides," I rest a hoof on his shoulder. "Monsters don't carry their victims hundreds of miles on their backs to save their lives. Monsters don't release their friends from the clutches of a tyrant queen, then come back years later to tell them they've been discovered! You might have nearly killed me by mistake, but I'd have been dead years ago were it not for you." He stands back up, but doesn't seem convinced.
"Look, I get you forgive me, but what if I-"
"You won't." I state. "You've gone your whole life without this happening, right?"
"Well, yeah, but--"
"Then it won't happen again. I won't let it happen again. I owe you at least two. Don't worry, you're not going to hurt anypony. That's a promise." I say, and he relents, smirking slightly.
"You know, I can see how ponies believed you were a trained counselor." he says.
"It came with practice." I laugh. "Ponyville certainly has its characters."
Over the course of the day, I slowly regained my magic. With a little patience, (and a few carrots) we were on our way to Ponyville the next day.
On the train, the group agreed we should enter town cautiously. Chrysalis may still be around, after all. Entropy and I would use our abilities to scout out the town, so we needed disguises of ponies who would be there. As I walked down the streets of Ponyville, I had to move my long pink mane out of my eyes. I tried to stick to the outskirts, avoiding crowds where possible. My disguise was helpful, because who would question Fluttershy avoiding a crowd? I knew her fairly well, being one of my off-and-on clients. Of course, while it'd be much simpler to fly to the library, that would be too suspicious. As I approach the giant tree, I knock softly on the door. After a moment, the door creaked open to reveal Spike's face.
"Oh, hey Fluttershy." He started. "What's up?"
"Well... I'm sorry to bother you, but is Twilight in?" I ask in Fluttershy's gentle voice. Spike shook his head.
"No, don't you remember? She left for Canterlot on royal business less than 20 minutes ago!" Oh, ponyfeathers.
"Oh dear! I completely forgot!" I said, raising my voice only slightly. "Do you think if I hurry she'll still be at the station?" Spike shrugged.
"She never told me when the train left." He grumbled.
"Oh, um... Thanks Spike!" I say as I gallop away. I slip behind a tree and change my disguise to my usual form, before continuing my run back to the station.
As I approached the station, something was clearly wrong. Ponies were running and screaming from inside it, for example. I quickened my pace and headed inside, weaving between the members of the small mob rushing the other way. As I emerged onto the platform, there was a ring of ponies, surrounding a grisly scene. Sprawled in the center of the ring was Twilight, or, rather, Queen Chrysalis disguised as Twilight, as the real Twilight should be elsewhere. She was on her side with a small black object lodged in her chest. The wound had leaked a small pool of blood onto the ground around it, and her breathing was jagged and rasping. on the other side of the ring lay a changeling, with a large green pool around his head, and his horn missing. He had a scar over his eye.
"Entropy!" I screamed as I rushed over to his side. The ponies present were aghast, but I didn't care. "Entropy, speak to me!" At my words, his eye slowly opened.
"Scape..." he gasped, "...I...did it." He smiled weakly. "I took down the Queen, Scape... You're free." He choked a bit, and coughed up a mouthful of green fluid. I saw a flicker of green light from Chrysalis' direction, and heard a gasp from the assembly. Quickly, I move my horn to the gouge in Entropy's head, and conjure a gout of green flames. The heat fuses the chitin shut, and I relent, before grasping him in my aura. With a heave, I lift him to my back. His weak buzzing rasp was all that told me he was still alive. I have to get him to the hospital now. I grab his horn in my magic, yanking it out of an unconscious Chrysalis before putting it in my hoof. I quickly change into a form that'll get me there as quickly as possible: Rainbow Dash. With a stroke of her powerful wings, I took off towards the hospital. I could feel my magic straining to keep up with the ridiculous strain this exertion was putting on it, but the only thing that mattered was saving Entropy. In less than a minute, I was at the door of the hospital. It was open, so I angled for it, still going as quickly as I could. I saw a green glowing crack appear in my foreleg, and the fur began to burn away around it, but I just braced for landing. I hit the ground on all hooves, and slid into the lobby just as the disguise shattered from my body. The secretary looked at me, mouth agape with shock.
"Emergency! Get the doctor!" I yell. The secretary remains frozen. "Now!" She shakes her head quickly before turning and galloping into the back. I hear panicked yelling, and two nurses emerge from the double doors with a stretcher. I levitate Entropy onto it, and place his detached horn beside him. They hurry him off without a word. I turn and move over to one of the chairs, before sitting in it. As the adrenaline fades, I feel my magic beginning to wane, but I muster just enough to return me to my unicorn form. I sit there quietly for a while. The secretary had returned, and was eyeing me cautiously when she thought I wasn't looking. I turn and give her a flat look.
"Miss, I've been here before." I say evenly. "I'm no different than I ever have been, I just want my friend to be ok. Do you blame me? It's not as if I'm suddenly malicious and evil." The mare shifts her gaze to the floor, and I look away. Oh, Entropy... Please be ok...
I sat in that chair for a good hour. Medics had rushed Chrysalis in at some point, but she didn't look like she was even breathing. I felt a little better at that. Without her, the Hive would be in too much chaos to bother me for a long time, until a new queen hatched, at least. Shortly afterwards, the doctor came out and told me Entropy had stabilized, and though still unconscious, he'd live. I felt as if a huge weight was lifted from my shoulders upon hearing that.
There were undoubtedly going to be bumps in the road, but, for now at least, my future had a hope it hadn't held in years. It'd take a while to adjust, but I'd say things are looking up! You know what they say about mirrors? That they show you as you really are? Well I think they're there to show you the past, and things you've left behind but can never truly escape. Some mirrors are better left broken, but sometimes a mirror can show you something truly beautiful. I stand here now, in my clinic, looking at my slightly dusty mirror. The mare looking back at me is smiling gently back. There is nothing in my reflection to fear now. Tomorrow will be brighter still.
I release a gentle sigh as a mare exits my clinic, the warm feeling of her gratitude adding to my content mood. She had been the second client today, and only the third since it was revealed I was a Changeling. It was wonderful to feel my strained magic reserves rejuvenate fully. As the door thunked shut behind her, the stallion on my couch shifted. He looked up at me with a grin of his own. He gingerly stands, and moves to the center of the room.
"Could you lock the door for a second?" he asks. "I want to try something." I nod, and turn the deadbolt with my magic. One shimmer of green flame later, and Entropy has returned to his natural form. He now sports a decently sized groove in the chitin surrounding his horn, which is bandaged up. He stretches his wings and walks over to the mirror hanging on the wall, inspecting the horn. He then shifts his gaze to an apple, sitting in a small fruit basket. He focuses intensely, and with a feeble and flickering green glow, the apple haphazardly lurches across the room, dropping the last few inches into his outstretched hoof. He breaks out an even larger grin as he lifts the apple to his muzzle and bites into it, ripping out a sizeable chunk. He loudly swallows the morsel and laughs loudly. "Never use magic again! Shows what he knows!" he then yelps in pain, dropping the wounded apple to the floor with a splat. He mumbles something unsavory under his breath as I move over and lay a hoof on his shoulder.
"Easy there, Warrior. Wouldn't want you to hurt yourself." I tease. He chuckles.
"Yeah, yeah. 'Give it time' right?"
"Pretty much." I reply. "In the meantime, if any high shelves rain on your parade, or you can't use your hooves, just let me know."
"Thanks, Scape." he murmurs.
"Don't call me Scape, please." I say. "Scape isn't who I am now. I'm no longer another cog in Chrysalis' machine, serving the Hive and its agenda. I'm Bright Dawn now, a councilor who helps ponies solve problems. And if I'm going to accomplish that, I've got to leave the past behind me. Might as well start with their name." He nods.
"Yeah, ok, Dawn. I can do that for you. Besides, business is picking up again! We'll be back to daily dilemmas in no-time. "
"Just as it should be." I murmur, unlocking the door as he reapplies his disguise. As I open the door and look out into Ponyville, I can see countless ponies going about their days, as if the incident months ago hadn't happened. Perhaps we'll join them some day. For now, though, we work from day to day. I can finally have the life I wanted... No strings attached.
This was Phalanx's first day on duty. Sure, maybe he was fresh from basic training, but how hard can guarding a prisoner be? As he stepped through the torchlit halls of Canterlot's dungeon, he noticed another guard approaching the prisoner's cell from the other direction. Like him, the guard was in the golden guard's armor, and had a white coat. It was the armor that did this, of course, but Phalanx could recognize his friend Stoic Bastion anywhere. As he approached the cell, Stoic stepped up beside him.
"Hey, Stoic." He said. "Thought you weren't on duty to--" His greeting was cut short by a hoof slamming him in the face, knocking him to the floor, unconscious. A dark shape stepped from the hallway behind Stoic, and she turned to face it. The shape slipped into the torchlight, and revealed a changeling. It chittered to Stoic, who nodded. In a flicker of green flames, the changeling looked exactly like the unconscious Phalanx. Stoic, meanwhile, reached down and retrieved a small golden key ring from Phalanx's armor, before turning towards the cell. Inside was another changeling. This one had a tattered frill, and the rest of his face was concealed with shadow. He stood and took a central position in the cell, stomping slightly.
"Very well done, my pets." He snickered. "Who knew you drones could be so useful?" He chuckled softly, a humming buzz sound. Stoic inserted one of the keys into the lock, and with a click, the gate creaked open.
"We have fulfilled our purpose, Pincer. What are your orders?" She asked. The other's ears perked, and stood outside the cell, keeping watch.
"First of all," He began, "get this blasted inhibitor ring off of me." She nodded, and used the inhibitor remover from the key ring to detach the offending restraint. In a blaze of green light, Pincer was replaced by another guard, this time a grey-coated unicorn. "Excellent. Now, Gamma, Delta, form on me. We're taking our leave."
"Yes, sir!" Both drones replied in unison. Pincer then stepped from the cell, and trotted down the hall, both drones in tow.
