Palace Entrance Door/Hallway

[Mathew Clayton (Max)]

Max was startled by the unexpected voice that sounded like an enemy in his head conveying to him. Suddenly his brain sparked and brought back his war memories making him turned around quickly and punched the guard right against the spot the armored helmet didn't cover the face area. "You're not taking me that easily you bug!"

[Vaan]

Suprised by the sudden action, Vaan couldn't help but smile at the turn of events. He began to shuffle his feet, preparing for action. It seemed Canterlot wasn't such a boring city after all and he was glad about it.

"This city never has a dull moment, my friend. I bet fifty bits the guard gains control before we get over there." Vaan stated, ushering Astral to the fight.

[Correctional Forces]

Like an antenna ready to hear predators, the changeling's emotion scanner had been on point. Noticing the shift in the pony's mental levels, the soldier had merely brushed it off. Not yearning to become a psychologist, the changeling couldn't predict where the anger was coming from, nor did he care. That was, until his face was smashed into with a sudden surprise of brute force.

"G-aah!" Hissing and getting sent back, the soldier's helmet could be heard hitting the floor as the echoed metal thud filled the hall. Collecting himself and told over and over again to control his temper, the changeling now had a reason to let it loose. "You are going to pay for that dearly. You are under arrest for assulting an officer of the law!" Buzzing his wings to life, the changeling had made a beeline for the stallon's chin. Throwing an upper cut punch in attempt to knock him off his feet, the soldier was quick to move.

[Mathew Clayton (Max)]

Max was completely out of control at this point, his training taking over, the past fueling his rage. It would seem the medicine didn't quite work for longer than he was told. Suddenly Mathew felt the uppercut strike his jaw. His teeth would crunch together chipping a few of them in the process as Max was launched backwards into the wall then to the ground; a little shaken he stood up spitting out some blood that pooled up in his mouth. "What don't they treat you new tricks?" Max grabbed a potted plant nearby and chucked it in the guards general direction hoping it would buy him time for another well-placed attack.

[Correctional Forces]

Growling as his hooves moved him closer to the stallion brave enough to attack him, the changeling was more then happy to oblige his beat down. "Why has no one put you in your place yet? News flash, changelings rule 90 percent of the population now. You obey Us!" Offering a low chuckle before continuing onward, the soldier knew it was only a matter of time before others arrived. While it seemed some changelings only wanted to live along ponies in harmony, the feeling wasn't quite so mutual among the hive. Letting out a small blast of magic from his horn to shatter the pot before it landed its target, the soldier marched through the debris in ease. "Surrender and I wont worsen the damage. This is your last warning."

[Vaan]

Noticing that the situation was escalating, Vaan flapped his wings towards the changeling and the stallion. He didn't know what was going on in between the two, but he couldn't help but get involved. Besides, he couldn't let any valuables in the hallway to be broken;they could turn into much meeded bits later in the future.

He reached a distance that he felt was comfortable enough for him to stay a decent amount away from each creature. It also gave him time to react if needed.

"Calm down, guys, "Vaan stated in a soothing yet firm tone," There's no need to fight and throw things at each other. We are only ruining the peace of this castle."

[Mathew Clayton (Max)]

As the changeling moved through his own created debris cloud Max took that advantage to grab a painting of royalty and brought it down on the changelings head causing a massive hole in the art destroying priceless history. "You're magic doesn't scare me you pathetic fly!" All this ruckus and fighting echoed down the corridors. Max wasn't in the clear his mind and eyes filled with rage, he was at the peak of his abilities being an earth pony, but the rage makes him believe he could take down a Yak.

[Astral Midnight]

(Sorry about the late reply. Was having difficulties..)

Watching the whole situation, Astral felt more and more nervous each second. After only a few moments, he jumped into panic mode, flipping up his hood and disappearing. He immediately moved away slightly, ready to run in case it was needed.

[Correctional Forces]

Blasting through the painting before it succeeded in doing any real damage, the changeling turned to the griffon with a heated glare. "Are you with this psychopath?" Flapping his buzzing cloth like wings, the soldier lunged forward. Colliding into the stallion in an attempt to tackle him to the ground, he certainly didn't withhold full force. "Enough peasant!"

[Mathew Clayton (Max)]

The changeling did make contact with Max forcing him back a bit, his hooves scraping against the floor until he was against the wall. Max tried to push the raging changeling off of him boy the bug was strong."You're Kind has already taken so much from me!" He reaches out to grab a small pot with a black rose growing from the dirt.

[Vaan]

Reacting quickly to the situation, Vaan flapped his wings to give him and extra boost while he ran to subdue the stallion. First, he snatched away the flower pot and threw it on the ground. It wasn't worth much so it didnt hurt him. Next, he pressed his weight against the pony, pinning he to the wall.

"No, I'm not with this crazy guy, "Vaan grunted, "Just a griffin who's trying to help."

[Correctional Forces]

Noticing the griffons aid in getting the earth pony against the wall, the changeling couldnt figure him out. Pulling out his hoof cuffs and slamming them on over Max's front hooves, the soldier finally stepped back. "You wont be going anywhere now, freak." While most ponies seemed to misunderstand the point of cuffs, soldier's used them quite frequently. While on his front hooves, Max would find himself unable to run. Even irritating to walk, they certainly helped the guards in slowing down the harmful citizens.

Lighting his horn to weigh down the earth pony with his very own body weight in form of an aura, the changeling smirked. Turning to the griffon, the soldier nodded in appreciation. "I must say, you could make a pretty good guard one day. Thank you Griffon."

[Mathew Clayton (Max)]

Max let out grunts as he was held down by the magic aura trying his hardest to push off the ground the cuffs piercing his legs to the point that blood was visible. "You Bastards!" Mathew yelled as he winced in pain; his veins visible from the straining he was putting on himself. At a sudden moment, something pops in his head and Max instantly is pushed to the floor. He didn't move, He didn't twitch Max laid there on the dirty floor, but was still alive. Just barely.

[Vaan]

Vaan stepped away and looked towards the currently detained stallion. He watched as he fought, even to the last second. Internally, the griffin wondered what was happening in the mind of the pony. Was he always this way or did something happen after he became unconscious. It was something that sort flipped a curiosity switch, but Vaan could guess how it started-the war. That's where most things nowadays started.

Jumping out of his mind, Vaan listened to the changelings words. Honestly, he never thought about working on the other side of the law. After years of smuggling, he grew accustomed to steering clear of the enforcement, yet hearing what the changeling said touched something in him.

"Ya think?" Vaan questioned. He backed away to let the changeling work. Then he quickly looked around the hallway and noticed his group member was gone, "I mean, I never thought about it before."

[Correctional Forces]

"Think about it, you could do wonders for us on the ground." Hissing lightly at the fallen stallion on the floor, the changeling had cared not for Max's poor state. In fact, the soldier cared so little, his efforts in getting the pony medical attention was zero to none. Laughing lightly, the changeling let go of his magical pressure. Stepping away and shrugging it off, the sound of approaching hooves caused him to move aside.

As more soldiers came to his aid at last, two in particular had picked Max up and onto a table. Strapping him in magically before trotting off, the one left over had simply offered a silent nod. Turning and teleporting off, the newly arrested criminal would be taken to the holding cell for the time being.

[Exit Mathew Clayton to Reflection Mines]

[Vaan]

Stepping further away from the activity at hand, Vaan knew where they were taking the unstable stallion. An endless maze of crystals; a place he didn't want to return. Though, a place like that may be what the pony needed.

"The ground, huh? I suppose I could see that," Vaan asked, picturing himself in armor; the idea of joining the guard was growing on him, "So where would I sign up? If I were sign up, that is."

Once again, Vaan looked over his shoulder for Astral. He didn't know how or why the pony disappeared when troulble happened but he made a mental note to find out.

[Astral Midnight]

Watching the pony get dragged away by the guards, Astral felt somewhat safer. He stepped around a nearby corner and removed his hood, rendering himself visible once again. Cautiously, he approached Vaan and the Changeling again

[Correctional Forces]

Smirking as the other soldiers carried the bumbling stallion away, his eyes ventured to Vaan's with a pleased expression. "That was so much fun! I could have called them sooner, but what fun would that have been?" Chuckling mainly to himself, the changeling straightened up as he picked up his helmet. Placing it back on his head, the griffons question had the soldier looking back up. "Oh. You would report to the throne room. Unfortunately we dont have a captain anymore. Dirty outlaws made sure of that! But none the less, we need fresh new blood with a lot of spirit and spunk.

[Vaan]

Returning to the throne room didn't please Vaan too much. Most of his day was spent there trying to survive and use diplomacy. The latter didn't work too well. Though, if he had too he'd try. Though, the dead captain might hinder him a bit. (He couldn't help but wonder if he knew the bandits that ended the Captain. Most likely he did. At least one of them.

"You know, this is sounding like a good thing," Vaan said, looking around and seeing Astral, "Yo! Where ya been?! Ya missed the fun and are about to miss an opportunity. "

[Astral Midnight]

Astral stopped near Vaan and shuffled his hooves a bit awkwardly. "S-sorry.. I got a bit overwhelmed again.." He said, not making eye contact with either, staring at the floor instead. "W-what did I miss..?"

[Correctional Forces]

"Good thing?" The changeling laughed out loud, his humor brought on by the clear amusement of these simple strangers. "If you call working heavy hours, fighting a species that genuinely hated you for years and obeying the Queens every order without a second thought, then yes. It's certainly a blast!" Sarcastic in his response, the soldier had looked around his shoulder before returning eye contact with the griffon.

"It is however incredibly rewarding. One flash of the badge, and you can get almost anything you want. You are certainly treated better on the right side of the law. Depending on your skills, you could be great. If that is, you have the skill. Training should start in a day or two. Think about it." Turning to the reappearing friend of his, the changeling had merely rolled his eyes. "I wouldn't however suggest your friend tries. I doubt he'd make anything more then a maid."

[Vaan]

"I suppose I can understand that, and ya missed a small skirmish and guard openings," Vaan said to Astral before turning to the changeling guard, filled with interest.

"Well, besides the taking orders from the Queen, I belive I can understand. Barely resting and fighting were a constant in what I used to. And if I think about it, my old boss wasn't exactly one to let ya waste time, "Vaan responded until the words about Astral caught his ears. He began to defend his group mate, yet he truly didn't have anything to back his words up. They would be filled with hot air. Then again, that was another of the griffin's skills, "Least give the guy a shot if he wants to try. I'm fairly certain he can do it if he set his mind to it."

Vaan walked to Astral and proceeded to wrap his arm around him, "I'll be there at the training. No doubt. My buddy here. We will see."

[Astral Midnight]

Having someone actually believe in him was new to Astral. Even though the first time he and the Griffin had met, he was in tears and in terrible shape, Vaan still defended him as though they had known each other for years. This feeling made something within Astral fill with.. Hope? Perhaps he could actually have a purpose. Maybe he was wrong about himself. Too caught up in his own thoughts to speak, Astral remained quiet, staring at the ground still

[Correctional Forces]

Amused by the griffon's loyalty to such a pathetic equine, the changeling had merely nodded his head in approval. Not understanding the foolish respect these creatures had for another, to see a griffon become friendly with a pony no less was none the less sickening. Needing new meat nomatter the reason, the officer had pulled himself together.

"If you say so. I look forward to seeing you work your feathers off. It shall be a fun sight to see." Chuckling lightly and starting to walk off, the dark shaded creature had offered but a fanged grin to their direction before marching on. "Meet tomorrow at the top of the outter hills, we'll see what you can handle."

[Vaan]

Offering his own sharp tooth grin, Vaan replied, "I'll see ya there. Make sure they have my armor all shiny for me when I finish the course."

Turning to Astral, Vaan let loose of his grip. He began walking towards the dining area, yet turned to look at the stallion. The pony was his first "companion" in Equestria, so he needed to keep him around and perhaps toughen him up. The griffin never knew when he might need some back up.

"Well, that was fun, but I think I put myself in a hard place. Haven't done anything too physical in a while. Gonna have to push myself tomorrow just not to die, " Vaan spoke, laughing to himself," Anyway, Imma need you to do something for me, buddy-toughen up. Can't have creatures walking over ya like that changeling did. He's no better than you or me. I aint gonna force ya to do the guard training, but ya need some bark...and bite."

[Astral Midnight]

Vaan's words rang true with Astral. That guard had been quite ride to him, and he did nothing to stop it. Though, doing anything may have caused a conflict, and Astral wasn't willing to fight at any point in the foreseeable future. Ooh well, he did need to start standing up for himself, since he no longer had his packmates to do it for him.

Taking a deep breath as some had feelings wasted through him, Astral followed Vaan without making any eye contact. "You're right.. But I don't think I'm very well cut out for that.."

[Vaan]

"Well, Canterlot wasn't built in a day. Neither is toughness. It'll build over time; don't worry, "Vaan assured as he walked to the kitchen doors, " First things first, Gotta keep your head up. Eye contact is the first step to anything."

After he finished speaking, his stomach growled once more ,and he knew he'd put the food off for too long. Filled with determination, he lead the way to the kitchen.

[exit Vaan to The Kitchen]

[Astral Midnight]

Astral sighed and followed Vaan, raising his head slightly but still keeping it fairly low. With his growling stomach telling him to get food, Astral went into the kitchen after Vaan.

[Exit to Kitchen]

[Mathew Clayton (Max)]

[Enter thru portal from Reflection Mines]

Max walked through the portal, he felt a bit dazed from the transition from underground to above ground pressure.

"Now Assistant...Now for the life of me, I cannot remember your name? Refresh my memory please."

[Correctional Forces]

Looking around as if ensuring noone was nearby, the soldier had simply offered a friendly smile. "My name is Lous.. sir. You must have hit your head rather hard defending our Queen. Are you hungry or tired at all sir? I can prepare both to your liking. It is getting dark soon." Wanting fo merely satisfy the pony upon the Queens orders, if she said he was important, then so be it.