Palace Gates.

[Correctional Forces]

Breaking their focus on the outside world, both guards had turned to face the Queen. Without question, they bowed with respect. "But your Majesty, we must-"

Nudging the changeling soldier next to him, the earth pony stallion had cut him off in due time. "Yes my Queen, we will, thank you very much." Turning and bringing his confused partner with him, the two looked back to salute before galloping off towards their homes.

[Queen Chrysalis]

Watching her soldiers take off, the Queen had felt a sudden sense of respect. Tilting her head and noting it came from her staff, intricate orbs stared at where they once were. Pleased to see things were finally looking up for her in terms of leading with respect instead of fear, Chrysalis glanced back to Perspective.

"Percy it is. Now, this is going to be detailed out in your book, so I insist you study it when we are apart. Now, follow me."

Pondering her next potential spot for this training session, the Queen marched onward. There was a perfect spot, but not here. Passing the large gates that hung in the balance of visitors stopping by or not, she truly did wish for it to be a non frightening place. Leaving the gates behind them, it was time they moved to the best city in Equestria. Canterlot.

[Exit Queen Chrysalis & Perspective Shift to Main Street.]

[Vaan]

[Enter Vaan from Main street]

Third time to the castle, in one day, Vaan wondered if he would be paying regular visits to this place. A place he saw a pony's life end; a place he was thrown into a dark place and almost not released. What a good day he thought. Now, he was back for food. Hopefully that was it.

[Astral Midnight]

[Enter from Main Street]

Astral kept following Vaan, feeling more and more hungry as they approached their destination. Wishing he had flown, he sighed slightly in disappointment in himself.

[Vaan]

"This place seems empty," Vaan said, looking around his surroundings, " I hope they didn't all leave for home."

He lowered himself to the ground; his talons clicked against the walkway. Remembering the events earlier today, he couldn't help but feel sorry for the pony he had traveled with. He was too young for his life to end; yet too foolish for it to have continued. Vaan shook the thought out his head. It was too late in his life to start becoming wise. He had made his life choices and would stick to them.

Hearing his partner's sigh, Vaan thought checking in would be the best course of action. Seemed the easiest to give off a caring, pleasant attitude.

"Something the matter, mate?" Vaan asked as he pushed towards the castle entrance.

[Astral Midnight]

Astral's mind had strayed slightly, wandering to some good thoughts. Upon hearing Vaan, he snapped back into reality. "Huh? Oh. Just.. Feeling sorry for myself.." He said, his head lowered. Truly he felt sorry that he held Vaan behind slightly. If only he knew how to fly, they could have been here faster

[Vaan]

The words nearly stopped Vaan in his tracks. He knew of such a feeling. Wandering around for five years, makes one feel the same. He empathized with the pony, so he turned around and asked, "Sorry about what?"

[Astral Midnight]

"Well.. You had to go slow to get here, simply because I can't fly. It makes me feel like I held you back, and I don't like that. I don't know.. Maybe I'm just overthinking.." He said, staring at the ground as he walked. Saying what was on his mind helped a little bit, but not a whole lot.

[Vaan]

"Going slow isn't a problem," Vaan reassured," Bur you not flying...is."

The bird never heard of a Pegasus that could fly. Well, perhaps in a couple of bad jokes or sad stories, but never actually in person. A bit of sympathy flowed out as he looked to the pony. He was surely missing out on the wonders.

Feeling slightly positive, Vaan offered his help, "I could teach ya...I mean,"Vaan wanted to take back his words. He hasn't taught anyone anything. He never even taught his own daughter to fly, "I could...but griffin methods are...different."

[Astral Midnight]

Astral simply offered a shrug as he walked. "Thanks for the offer, even if it's not real. That's the most anyone's ever offered to me, even my own packmates.. It's really no trouble though. I'll just stick to the ground.."

[Vaan]

"It's an real offer. Down to my lion heart," Vaan said, as he raised his right claw, "But youre implying you have a choice in the matter. I could at anytime grab you, fly you up high, and drop you. That's how I learned. And that's how you'll learn."

Vaan moved to grab the pony but opted not. He would wait till another day. Or after they ate.

"Comeon, buddy, our food awaits."

[Exit Vaan to Palace Entrance]

[Astral Midnight]

Astral imagined the scenario, but quickly abandoned that thought when Agate crossed his mind. Not noticing the attempted grab, he continued on.

[Exit to Palace Entrance]

[Queen Chrysalis]

[Enter Queen Chrysalis]

Pushing through the double doors that would lead them to the outside world, the Queen accepted the evening daylight for what it was. Assulting her notrils with the smell of smoke coming from the main street, narrowed pupils glare with vengence. Walking to her gates, Chrysalis stared through with without dread. Watching the dragon work, he came from the pits of volcanos, that much was for sure.

Whipping around with the thought in mind, the Queen had raised a hoof as if preparing to describe what was going down. If these average citizens were using magic, they were going to get killed. Tapping her chin and watching Strong's face for changes, the mare placed her hoof back to the ground in a stomping motion.

"Thats it. This dragon came from the badlands, the volcanos give the creature a resistance to magic. Straight blasts wont do a thing. We need to bring it down from above, the old fashioned way. It needs brute force."

[Strong Defense]

Hm... brute force wasn't Strong's department. Thinking for a bit as the queen talk the idea came to him. When the queen had finished Strong made his suggestion. "You might want to have them drop some of the rubble left over from the war on the beast. Oh, would you mind giving me a description of this dragon?" 

[Queen Chrysalis]

Description? Does he not see them? Capturing the dragons features well, the Queen offered but a sigh. Hating to destroy such a wonderful creature of destruction, Chrysalis tried to think of a better offer. They could kill it, but what if they didnt? Surely she could use this newly found friendship method on him!

"The two headed creature is black, its scales seeningly sculpted to take a beating. I say, we try to befriend the beast. He has come due to the shift in power I assume. I will not lock him away as the foolish leaders before me probably have. What a waist of brilliant potiential. Wouldn't you agree?"

[Strong Defense]

"Wait... kills. Who say we were going to do that? No I was only talking about incapacitating and subduing the creature." Strong frowning and waving a hoof around, as spoke. Strong didn't even think that anyone would think he meant to attack the dragon to that point. "If we did something like that how would they get a fair trial?" 

[Queen Chrysalis]

Fair? Laughing at the stallions preposterous words, Chrysalis wasn't about to shove him into any court room. Humored by the imaging alone, her vision was simple. Use him to raid hideouts and destroy her enemies, or slaughter him to save her city another day. Motioning the guards standing firmly on the otber side of the gates to open it up, the slow process was enough to get a mental plan going.

"There will not be a trial. He will adapt to my needs and stop these actions or I will personally end his life. Now, my guards just arrived, this is perfect."

[Strong Defense]

Strong frowned at the queen's statement, he still don't get changelings. How could a race that needed love, be so hostile. Oh well a question for another time. "O...K... We can talk about what do with him later, as for now you might want to cover your eyes. This is going to be bright." 

Strong took in a deep breath and started to cast, his horn's over glow like a spotlight. After a couple seconds his shields started to form. They were in the shape of his cutie mark and each the size of a tower shield. One by one the shields formed until there was 8 in all. Bright gold, the shields slowly orbited around Strong and Chrysalis. Finally let out his breath, Strong's leg shock, before he righted himself. 8 Large high grade shield at the sametime was a good amount of energy, but now that they were made he should be fine. "So what cha think?" 

[Queen Chrysalis]

Humored by his pitiful attempts at thinking he had any control over what happened to the rulings around here, the Queen smiled on. Observing his magical field with an amused brow, the tall mare was interested in seeing how this would even work. Judging from the dragons massive frame and half ton weight mass, a magical shield wasn't enough to save them in the long run. Flashing back to the day her changelings broke through Shining Armors impenetrable shield, a unicorns ability to hold such power was never something that lasted long.

"It is certainly an interesting trick."

To her, his little games were but a talent show. To prove himself worthy, this beast was going to be his test. Risking herself in the process, Chrysalis knew she could call upon the crystal heart buried deep inside of her gullet for the power she may need. The problem is, it wouldn't be pretty. Most likely painful to her darkened core, the pure object inside of her was tainted, and yet still filling up with so much love. Is this perhaps where the Queen stores her extra food/power for another day? No one knows.

"It's coming my way."

[Strong Defense]

Strong watched the Dragon coming closer. It's size was honestly going to be the biggest problem, as he wasn't overly concerned with the dragon's output, but the sheer amount of space it's attacks would take up. Smiling openly at the queen, Strong prepared himself, glad he had gone with such large shields.  

With a wink "Well then I hope my trick turns out to be quite the treat for you. Though Please do remember to get in a couple good blows while I put on a show for your majesty enjoyment." Despite himself Strong was to start to really grow fond of the new queen. The princesses never give him such a good set up for his little jokes. 

[Queen Chrysalis]

"I know how to handle the overly obsessed."

Never giving the stallion much of a response to his little demands, his unique trick gave him the credit she desired. He had a useful skill after all, one that could certainly trump his wordy mouth. In the old days, ponies fled from her name alone. To see him so comfortably beside her, even though weakened, she was no force to mess with. Back then, things were alot easier. She hissed, they ran, the world was a bundle of puzzles. Now, she ruled it. The Queen had everything she truly desired - so why was she unsatisfied?

"One shot may do. However, it has to be at the right angle. Changeling magic will hold him off. But it is a sword that must strike the beasts chest. After its scales have been blown. I am guessing, I could be wrong."

At her statement, Chrysalis laughed low and mainly to herself. While Strong could hear her mild humor, he wasn't the only one enjoying himself. To the Queen, this was all but time wasted. Watching the sun start to set, the darker it could become, the harder the situation would progress. They needed to be swift. Watching the others in the distance, Steel's presence had caused the Queen to smirk. Finally, a swordsman.

[Strong Defense]

As Strong listen to the queen's words his attention was directed towards the swordsman as he made his attack on the dragon's tail. Now that the pair were at the gates they were just close enough for Strong to do something about this dragon. Strong sent a shield flying toward Steel's side. It was a good thing the queen had pointed him out when she did, because Strong's shield only us made it in time. Like a bolt from the blue the shield came a stop between Steel and the oncoming gate. The sound of the gate hitting the shield was little thunder, but the gate came to a full stop as it hit the shield. Strong noted the decrease in energy in the shield after the blow before shouting a the swordsman. 

"Hey you! You've just been drafted into the queen's army. Now get your flank over here!" 

[Steel Soul]

The sight of the shield was still fresh within the stallion's mind as he head somepony call out to him. At least, he believed it was to him. His gaze shifted towards the source as he pulled his blade out of the drake's tail, rolling off to the side as he did so. Not too far away from him was a gray stallion with a rather deep blue mane, and by his side was...was...

"Thats...she's Queen Chrysalis...isn't she?" He asked Nopony in particular. "Wait...did he say I was drafted?" Seeing the dragon was rather distracted now thst many of the changelings felt thst thier queen was in danger, Steel quickly made his way towards the pair. His gaze shifted back and forth between the stallion and the tall changeling before.

"You say I'm drafted? Fine. 1000 bits for following orders and full care for any injuries I obtain." He told them. They better decide fast, he was sure they didn't have that much time left before the drake set thier sights on the queen.

[Strong Defense]

"Ah... Bucking mercenaries." Strong place his hoof on his face as he groaned. Taking a second to regain his composure Strong looked at Steel. "Ok... first that was a figure of speech. Second That's not how the draft works, you don't name your prices." Strong motioned towards the shield that had follow Steel back, before shuffling it up with the others, so as to hind from those with sharp enough eyes the fact that the shield that had been used had slightly less shine than the others. "Lastly you were fighting the dragon anyway and I just saved your life, so how about for now you just keep stabbing the dam thing till it die or surrenders. Then you can talk about your compensation with the appropriate parties at a later date." 

[Creatures and Magical Beasts]

[Enter Augite]

Continuing to smash into and through the forces that tried to hold the dragon back sent ponies flying through the air, some screaming and others eerily silent. Some of the pegasi guards flying in the air attempted to catch their comrades to keep them from an unpleasant impact, but no matter how much they tried it was certain: there was going to be more pain and more death before Augite got his fill of violence. With more opposition coming against him the further he went, he knew that someone important had to lie in this direction. And those who were important usually held power, a thought that made the right side of the beast hiss with joy of the challenge. He had already met a strong one, in fact. Though the bleeding had slowed to insignificant, the injury to his tail made clear the fact that there were those here that possessed the ability to harm him. Even better, that meant there would be more of a challenge.

The more rational left side let out a bellow that split the ears of everyone around him, leaving them all with nothing but a high-pitched ringing to be heard, and those who didn't recover from the disorienting effects fast enough were swept aside with the swing of a razor-sharp claw. The group further inside the courtyard held his attention; they calmly talked in the midst of the wonderful chaos he was causing. Unacceptable. Bursts of flame jetted out at any guard who got too close as the mighty steps took him closer to the Queen.

[Steel Soul]

Steel rolled his eyes but conceded. They could talk deals after the raging dragon wasn't destroying the world around them. The flame spewing from the dragon's mouth was proof of that. Turning to face the dragon he gave the unicorn a sideways glace.

"What do you need me to do?"

[Queen Chrysalis]

Glowing brightly through her sheer slitted orbs like a switch, the Queen's vision was shortly impared. Staring intently at the beast before her, swirling green orbs finally break contact, her smile turning into a light growl as the situation regressed. His envison of the world, HER world was not what she fought hard for at all! Stomping her hoof with frustration, the sound of a rumbling buzz had soon come to life. Flapping her cloth like wings as her holed frame rose appruptly into the air, Chrysalis regained her composure.

"Stop right there! You will go no FURTHER!"

Lighting up her curved horn with a small flare to her very tip, her levitation spell had soon taken effect. Picking up the remaining pieces of the sharpened gate behind the two headed beast, the deadly metal frame had been sent daggering towards his very back. It wasn't a magical blast, but it certainly was better then nothing. Reading into him and realizing magic wasn't about to work anyway, her plan was simple, stab the beast.

"You. Kid, try to blind him!" Speaking to Steel Soul without much knowledge of his name, she knew it was best to give some kind of order. Pointing to Strong, her eye contact had never left the drake. "Keep him in place Strong."

[Strong Defense]

Strong grinned as he started to work. First he assigned a shield to guard Steel. Sperring a quick word for Steel before starting on the dragon.

"You hear the Queen get to stabbing. As long as you don't do anything to crazy you should be fine." 

Strong sent two shields forward, a plan already forming. The dragon was just to big for to block every possible way it could move, but that wasn't going to stop him. The two shields moved to eye level on both heads and started to rapidly rotate around each head, till they were a solid blur around the dragon's respected heads. Next Strong started to intensify the brightness of their glow to a blinding level. He keeped up the speed and light till it looked like the dragon's head where adorned with golden halos, as Strong tried to burn the image into it's retinas. 

"Brighter and brighter still. Till you burn like the sun!" Strong shouted as the effort had he routed to the spot. 

[Creatures and Magical Beasts]

Glaring through their eyes with a firey passion, the dark scaled beast unleashed his jaw in frustration. Ready to light the palace ablaze, the Queens sudden rise to the challenge had the dragon grinning for more. She was the one he was looking for, he was sure of it. Snapping the right set of teeth with a violent crackling cry, Augite stomped forward. Flapping his winds with brute force, all movement came to a halt as Strong's shields came into view.

Following the seemingly slow bright lights as they sped up with motion, the dragon was taken for quite a spin. Screeching, his pupils continued to follow the shields with determination, his enjoyment no more. Waving his arms up in an attempt to scratch away the confusing lights, the dragon had stepped back in fear. Forgetting about the fence, the beast had left himself wide open, his stress obvious to the world. In one last attempt to end the light cycle, the dragon let out an incredible burst. Straightforward and aiming for the Queen, its defensive overload of embers were a deadly force to be reckoned with.

[Steel Soul]

The dragon was no force to be reckoned with. Too bad Steel was just stupid enough to try and do so. Drawing his blade he slipped in front of the queen of the changelings, the orb around his neck glowing with magical energy. The parting gift from his mother began to work it's magic bucking most of the magical flame that was aimed at the queen, adding to the fact was Strong's defence spell's and Steel was untouchable. "Gonna have to try a little harder ya overgrowned lizard!" He shouted before leaping up and drawing his blade from its sheath. He slashed at the dragon's chest as soon as he reached it, hopeing that it was distracted enough for him to make contact.