FireyIce

Hey!

*Not bothering with a salute, she instead opted for a mouth-to-mouth kiss with a surprised Firey, fleeing at top speed towards her assignment, face completely red while violently shaking herself in denial* "D-did she... Just k-k-kiss me?" *He gently shook his head, following Tiger while keeping his horn subtly energized for any circumstances* "So, what's the plan when we get there? I think you should do the talking while I do the infiltrating." *Meanwhile, Sharpfeather had gotten to Sugarcube Corner and dove inside the garbage, scooping up everything she recognized as from a explosive, artificial or natural, ignoring the workponies' complaints. Exploding out of the tash and causing a greater mess, she dashed to their house and sped to her room, using chemicals and spells to find out more about this bomb while having dragged the poor P-smith with her* "Hopefully you're alright, pencil-pusher?"

He nodded. "Most never do things partway. They always aim for the furthest extent of chaos as possible, which means replacing the highest position possible and then sowing chaos throughout the company or city using the company. I've heard of those types of Changelings being inserted into the chemical and book companies of Manehatten and Canterlot, as well as the companies of Ponyville's own Filthy Rich. Of course, there are those who would rather sow chaos at ground level, which means random killings, poisonings, magical bombs like that one in Sugarcube Corner today, and so on." Sharpfeather spoke up. "I believe I spotted one of those "groundlings" while I was eating in one of his restaurants, the Prancing Pony, but I can't be totally sure."

Name: Sharpfeather Gender: Female Age: 24 Species: Griffin Eye colour: Grey Coat: Grey and brown. Head/Tail: Brown for the head. Grey for the tail. Mix of both for the body. Physique: Slightly muscular. Residence: Wherever Firey Ice is. Occupation: Former bodyguard of the Royal House and former guide of Griffinstone's national park. Cutie Mark: N/A Unique Traits: Warrior, self-styled Robin Hood. History: She was a former guard for the Royal House, who had noticed her brutal self-defense skills due to her headstrong nature and frequent accusations of stealing. Becoming bored and irritated of the children, she left after winning a "leaving challenge", becoming a guide to Griffinstone's only national park. She met Firey during his travels and they have struck up a 'friendly-yet-little-more-than-that-but-either-one-wants-to-take-the-next-step' relationship after saving each other from some nobels' guards. The edge of her wings and the bracelets on her claws and paws are armored, with magical storage for her bracelets that can turn her invisible and increase her punching and kicking power. The tip of her tail is also armored, but it's disguised so as to provide an element of surprise. Character Personality: Cold, yet friendly; trusting, yet cautious; headstrong and slightly stubborn. More concerned about civilians' safety if there are any nearby. Character Summary: A cold, yet friendly griffon who decide to take up a Robin Hood pastime while guarding the royal family until she quit and became a guard for the national park, meeting Firey Ice the first time he visited and deciding to go with him after they rescued each other from danger.

*Firey felt the invisible Sharpfeather tense on this back, then quietly release a breath and become visible* "Let's make one thing clear before he answers: I'm only helping because Firey is a part of this." "To answer your question Miss Crusader, there was only the short message that I received, and since Changeling magic isn't pony magic, I'm afraid that it was successfully broadcasted to every unreformed Changeling in Ponyville and Canterlot. The reason I was able to receive it was due to my proximity to the blast and because I decoded it. As to the intel, the word, "Hive", is code for chaos, as our hive is chaotic for anycreature that's not a Changeling. The chaos that's about to envelope these two cities could take any form, from companies collapsing to "random" killings to kidnappings, as well as almost anything else. We'll also have to keep an eye out for other broadcasts over other cities."

*After a short time, with Sharpfeather rubbing his back and whispering comforting words in his ears, he relaxes. With her by his side, they begin to make their way to the barracks, the griffiness becoming invisible once again halfway there and silently riding on Firey's back, continuing to whisper to each other* "So, who's the pegasus?" "A fellow warrior who helped me capture that unreformed Changeling and find out that she's apparently a part of a conspiracy to sow chaos throughout Equestria." "... How are we not sure that she's a part of it? Changeling magic, and all that." *They come upon her and an Earth pony talking. Ice subtly motions for her to be quiet as the two refocus on him* "My friend had something else to do in the meantime. Who's this?"

*Tapping his muzzle in thought, a literal lightbulb went off over his head* "And that's not the last of the gags and humor, folks! La la la la la la!" *Shaking his head at the humorous mare as she ponked her way out of the castle, he replies* "I do. She's a sneaky son-of-a-birdbrain, but she'll do what's right. RIGHT, MISS.-?!" *His mouth gets slammed closed by air while the sound of a griffoness snaring came from near in his face, two grey eyes glaring at him* "You promised to NEVER say that name!" *He smirks as the power to her gems were fully siphoned away, revealing a grey and brown griffon.* "I wasn't, Sharpfeather. Star Crusader, Sharpfeather. Sharpfeather, Star Crusader. Meet the best warrior besides moi that I've ever met in all my travels. Apparently-." "'Apparently', nothing! I'm off, getting food, and then I hear that y-you were a-al-almost K-KILLED by a bucking jerk Changeling!" *She hugs him fiercely, while he's struggling to not draw his sword as bad memories rush through his head.* <Queen kisser!> <Love Horder!> <PONY BUCKER!!>

*He nodded while operating on his developed warrior instinct, binding the Changeling with his Fear Spell and darting out of there into the Harmony Throne Room, fighting down long suppressed hive instinct while bowing to the now stoic-faced Princess who was in conference with her friends* "Your Majesty! I am Firey Ice, a reformed Changeling, who have just captured an unreformed Changeling with the help of one of your soldiers, Star Crusader. We have decoded a message that she was attempting to send to sleeper cells. It was, And we need your help to uncover any potential sleeper cells in Ponyville and beyond, as the blast, by my reckoning, would have been strong enough to shatter her horn and skull, sending it over Ponyville, Canterlot, and a bit more!"

"Good plan. Now, let's take a look at what this saboteur was trying to send." *The length of decoding wasn't about the length of the message, it was about the strength of the- BOOM! He was hurled back from the intensity of the transmission, which imprinted in his mind:* OUT OF THE SHADOWS, INTO THE LIGHT. HIVE. *His face turned white and his eyes widened while his pupils constricted and his breath grew faster and harder*

"Apologies, Ma'am." *Another glance. 80% there.* "Should this message be more threatening than just an attempt at sowing chaos throughout Equestria, what should we do?" *He began running through his head various situations they could encounter, including her being a traitor. Unpleasant, but experience told him that nothing should be shelved until it is shown to be absolutely, unequivocally, and in all other ways, inconceivable. And even then, to make sure to keep it in hoof's reach*

*His eyes widened in surprise.* "I heard from a very recent acquaintance that Prince Blueberry was to be married. I was unaware that I was talking to his fiancee. Also, I was referring to the free love that the group gave me after I landed the final blow that knocked out those two suicidal jerks." *He glances at the decoder* "Over halfway there, Miss. So, after you and Mr. Blueblood have gotten married, are you going to still be in the group you're in on the 'front lines' as it were, or will you move to a more advising role?"

"Well, I can certainly understand about not following in your family's hoofsteps, nor wanting to be bogged down in rules and paper when chaos and flames are ruining them." *He giggles at a sudden memory* "I remember a time when I was with some griffins deep inside their sole national park, with a duo of warrior guides. We had to follow this absurd path in the air and on the ground, even when the air currents were forcing us to adjust in order to not get smashed against the ground or canyon walls. The group of griffins under this commanding duo finally rebelled when we nearly got killed because they refused to let us ambush a creature that was trying to kill us." *He sighs* "The love that they gave me after I subdued them was- I didn't have to eat for a week! Oh my, I've derailed your train of thought, haven't I? Sorry about that, Miss. Star!"

*He nods in agreement at her reprimand* " Understood, Miss. As to what I'm interested in? Nothing secret, of course. Just what you would tell in a biography if the Princesses were to read it."

"I would be happy to help whoever I can. Now, while this word and letter salad turns into a understandable report, shall we get to know each other?" *As he laid down, keeping his horn lit, he noticed the prisoner beginning to stir* "One moment, Miss. Star." *Sending a pulse of calm and relaxation into the mare, she sighed and got into a more comfortable position* "Now she's down for the count."

*He knew her feelings, but boasting wasn't in his green, semi-acidic blood. As he finished gathering the information, he projected what he got, which was a pile of nonsense with random spaces, paragraphs, and letters.* "Or so it seems, Ma'am. Let me cast a decoding spell, and we'll be on our way."

*Keeping his balance while following her, he began to extract the message while replying to her question* "I... Haven't, actually. I've been so busy training creatures, fixing various things, and retrieving rare plants from the most remote parts of the planet that I've never found time to sign up for the A.C. And depending on the message that this female has for us, I just might have the motivation to call for some favors from some... contacts I have cultivated on my travels, depending on how serious this threat might be."

"Yes. I had actually just gotten finished with a self-defense class for fillies and colts, and was taking a Sweet Break at Sugarcube Corner when all of this happened." *Taking a closer look at the prisoner, he spots the inner part of her horn flashing in a regular pattern.* "Hmmm. It looks like she's attempting to send out a report, but isn't strong or awake enough. Do I have your permission to grab it?"

Thank you! Sorry for the long wait, but I had thought that I had already answered you. *Blush*

*He returned the shake with firmness* "Greetings, Captain. Firey Ice, formerly of Queen Love-Sucker's bodyguard, current inventor, teacher of self-defense, and doer of odd-and-even jobs, as our ever-excitable pink baker would say." *Que the mare herself, babbling about everything related to, either directly or indirectly, fire, while making the survivors (which was somehow everypony), laugh.* "... Anyway... The only reason I was able to discover this criminal was because she was using an out-dated code. I'll be glad to inform the Royal Guard how to decode it once we get to the Castle."

*In the blink of an untrained eye, the "Earth pony" teleported behind her and attempted to stab her in the back, being prevented by Firey flying up, corkscrewing, and slashing the other Changeling with his wing blades, disabling his magic and left wing simultaneously.* *Over the now exposed Changeling's cursing, Firey begins to explain while quickly folding his wings in front of him and wrapping his forehooves around them.* "I am unable to attack or defend in this position. Believe me when I tell you that I'm friendly. In fact-." *He drops his disguise and shows that he's one of the reformed Changelings.*

"Luna? Twilight? That wolf? Neigh." *He scratches his muzzle* "Actually, Luna doesn't sound bad... She must've been a warrior in the past." *His eyes widen at a secret code he spotted from the corner of his eyes, grabbing Psmith, Pinkie, the couple, and hurling them out of windows before the whole place went up in flames* "*Cough cough* On-on the other hoof... It's not paranoia if they're really after you, *cough cough* isn't it? Wait right here!" *He takes off at a gallop after a "random" pony.*

*With a strained grin and shaking body, he teleports his sword to his home* "There... Now to just... Spend a day without it..." *He rushes through eating the rest of the donuts then calls for a drink* "S-s-so, what's your history? How did you get your Cutie Mark?" *Everything leaves his body as he slumps* "I'm not fooling you, am I?"

"Really? Changeling intel always suggested that he was the type of stallion who wouldn't change if Discord himself Discorded him! I'm glad that we were wrong." *Looking around for Pinkie to pay her, he spotted the shadow of an unfortunately familiar Queen* "No, no... Not here. Not now!" *He shook his head hard then watched as the shadow quickly faded away* "Forgive me... I thought I had spotted My-... Queen Chrysalis here..."

*Nervously giggling, he sheathed the sword and tapped his hooves, now staring at the table while he continued eating* "Used to be a bodyguard for Queen Love-Sucker, before I deserted during the Canterlot Wedding invasion. Went around the world, trying to find my place, but it was only after King Thorax when I found this place. I've been trying to get rid of this overreaction, but when you've been bullied and nearly killed multiple times over the years, you tend to have a good grip and fast draw with both your sword and spells..."