Chapter 9

Wildheart walked through Everfree forest following Weaving Silver. A branch snap from above caught Wildheart's attention looking up to see a Pegasus.

"Weaving," Wildheart called. Weaving Silver darted over beside Wildheart both had to duck as the Pegasus nearly took their heads off. The Pegasus crashed into a tree upside down.

"Ditzy," Weaving Silver greeted trotting over to the gray Pegasus.

"I heard that you were looking for, Tinted Silver," Ditzy replied rolling over to a sitting position.

"Yes," Weaving Silver replied.

"She helped my daughter; I will do what I can to help her," Ditzy said.

"Why didn't you just ask you wanted to come," Weaving Silver replied motioning for Ditsy to follow. Ditzy stood up and walked over to Weaving Silver and Wildheart. Weaving Silver blinked in confusion as Ditzy seemed to be avoiding her gaze.

"Something wrong," Weaving Silver asked.

"Y-You're not mad at me," Ditzy murmured not meeting Weaving Silver's eyes.

"Of course not," Weaving Silver replied.

"B-But, Tinted Silver was captured because of Dinky," Ditzy murmured.

"No, I told her to protect Dinky," Weaving Silver replied, "If anypony is to blame it's me." Ditzy seemed to brighten up as she took instep in between Weaving Silver and Wildheart.

"And where do you think you three are going," called a voice turning them to see the Mane Six. Pinkie Pie bounced over to Weaving Silver.

"How could you even think a leaving without us," Pinkie Pie exclaimed her face right in Weaving Silver's.

"Calm down, Pinkie," Twilight Sparkle said coming up behind Pinkie Pie "This matter is personal for Weaving Silver."

"Then she could have at least said good-bye," Pinkie Pie protested.

"Yeah, but could you be any louder," Weaving Silver replied sarcastically, "You might as well be holding a bright red sign." Pinkie Pie cocked her head confused.

"You will give away our position," Weaving Silver explained.

"Well, this makes our job easier," hummed a Changeling turning Weaving Silver to see two Changelings perched in a tree.

"Well, I kinda wanted to be farther in before I got your attention," Weaving Silver hissed crouching down as the two Changelings were accompanied by sixteen more.

"Stand down, you are outnumbered," the lead Changeling ordered. Twilight Sparkle stepped forward examining the Changelings.

"Oh, my," Twilight Sparkle exclaimed, "your right; what could we possibly do against eighteen Changelings."

"You will be silent, filly," the Changeling hissed.

"F-filly," Twilight Sparkle repeated.

"Oh, pony-feathers," Applejack muttered under her breath.

"Filly," Twilight Sparkle growled, "Let me show you what this filly can do." Instantly Twilight Sparkle was surrounded by an aura of purple light. Twilight Sparkle's eyes flashed and nine of the Changelings levitated into the air. In the same moment Twilight Sparkle launched nine magic bolts at the remaining Changelings. The rest of the Mane Six stared in silence as Twilight Sparkle turned to them.

"Remind me not to call her a unicorn," Weaving Silver whispered to Wildheart who nodded in agreement.

"Sorry," Twilight Sparkle said, "did you want to question them."

"That's fine we can always find more," Weaving Silver replied.

"Weaving," Wildheart called standing a few yards away his words seemed to catch in his throat. Weaving Silver darted over to Wildheart and glanced at the ground and sighed. Gray feathers littered the ground and blood pooled at the base of a tree. Weaving Silver dropped to her knees and hung her head in defeat.

"I'm sorry, Weaving," Ditzy said coming up to her friend.

"She's too young," Weaving Silver wept. Wildheart moved close to Weaving Silver offering comfort to the mare he had raised. Weaving Silver eyes were closed in concentration; Wildheart knew that she was trying to locate the Changeling hive-mind. Wildheart turned back to Ditzy and the Mane Six who looked on in concern.

"I-Is she alright," Fluttershy asked timidly. Wildheart opened his mouth to say the Weaving Silver was fine, but new that lying to Fluttershy was unfair.

"Only time can cure, Weaving," Wildheart replied.

"This is interesting," Weaving Silver said suddenly causing everypony to turn to her, "I can't seem to locate Banshee's mind."

"Maybe she's found a way to block the hive-mind," Wildheart suggested.

"You can't block the hive-mind, not even Chrysalis could," Weaving Silver replied, then added more to herself, "Unless, but that can't be."

"What," Wildheart asked, "We need to consider every possibility."

"Well, unless Banshee has locked her Changeling powers," Weaving Silver replied, "but, I know she wouldn't lock her powers; she would be stuck as a pony." Then catching the looks of the Mane Six Weaving Silver cleared her throat.

"No, offence," Weaving Silver said apologetically, "But, to Banshee, being a pony would be worse than death."

"Then what are we waiting for," Rainbow Dash demanded, "let's get them while their plots are down."

"Now Rainbow Dash, that wasn't very nice," called a voice from the trees. Rainbow Dash turned to see a Changeling crouched down. Weaving Silver could only stare in utter shock as Changelings appeared around them.

"Well, isn't this just great," the Changeling hissed, "Weaving Silver caught off guard?" Weaving Silver and the Mane Six glanced around as Changelings encircled them.

"Looking for Tinted Silver," hissed a Changeling. As soon as those words left the Changeling's mouth Weaving Silver's hoof smashed into its mouth. Weaving Silver lifted a second Changeling off the ground glaring at the rest of the Changelings.

"I will kill any Changeling who dares to mention my daughter's name," Weaving Silver snarled with such hostility; even Wildheart backed away in amazement. "I will find my daughter; I don't care if I have to kill you the get to her."

"W-Weaving," Wildheart murmured. Weaving Silver dropped the Changeling to the ground then spun around kicking the Changeling into the crowd. The Changeling crown descended over the group of ponies. Weaving Silver sank teeth into a Changeling's throat causing it to screech in pain. Weaving Silver sidestepped avoiding a Changeling and pulled it backward slamming it into the ground. Weaving Silver swerved away from a Changeling and slammed her hoof into its side with sickening crack. Ice surged through Weaving Silver's veins as she fought through the crowd sending Changelings flying this way and that. This wasn't the ice of the Changeling blood; Weaving Silver was a worried mother.

"Weaving, look out," called a voice from the fray. Weaving Silver turned intercepting a Changeling sending the two flying through the air. Weaving Silver's eyes flashed as she spun around slamming the Changeling into the ground. Weaving Silver struck the Changeling across the face. Then Weaving Silver's hoof stopped mid strike as she gazed down at the Changeling before her.

"Hello, mother," Tinted Silver hissed spitting licking blood from her lips. Weaving Silver looked at where she had struck Tinted Silver and to her hoof.

"T-Tint," Weaving Silver stammered, then fell backward off Tinted Silver horrified with what she had done. Weaving Silver's wings fell limp to her side as a part inside seemed to crack. The ice in Weaving Silver's veins melted away and the Changeling fire in her eyes vanished. Weaving Silver backed away as Tinted Silver stood up.

"What's wrong mother," Tinted Silver hissed then kicking Weaving Silver across the face added, "can't fight your own daughter." Ditzy slammed into Tinted Silver knocking her away from Weaving Silver. Ditzy stood protectively in front of Weaving Silver as Tinted Silver stood up.

"Well, look what the dog dragged in," Tinted Silver sneered. Ditzy made no response as her narrowed eyes followed Tinted Silver.

"Ditzy," Weaving Silver murmured rising to her hooves.

"Come on, Weaving," Ditzy called, "we can beat her together."

"Ditzy, she's Tinted Silver," Weaving Silver murmured.

"What," Ditzy exclaimed turning back to Weaving Silver. As soon as Ditzy turned away Tinted Silver darted forward.

"Ditzy," Weaving Silver exclaimed pushing Ditzy aside. Ditzy rolled over and stared in horror as a blade of green energy pierced through Weaving Silver's shoulder. Weaving Silver clenched her teeth and collapsed to the ground.

"Weaving," Ditzy exclaimed rushing over to Weaving Silver. Tinted Silver's hoof knocked Ditzy to the ground and was pinned down by her throat. Tinted Silver to the battle before her; the Mane Six and Wildheart were slowly but efficiently plowing their way through the ranks of Changelings.

"Enough," Tinted Silver screeched stopping the Changelings. The Mane Six glared at the ring of Changelings.

"Come on," Rainbow Dash taunted boxing the air with her hooves.

"Surrender," Tinted Silver hissed. Rainbow Dash turned to the voice that sounded so familiar.

"T-Tint," Rainbow Dash stuttered her eyes turning to Ditzy pinned down by Tinted Silver.

"Let her go," Twilight Sparkle demanded. A blade of green energy appeared against the back of Ditzy's neck.

"Surrender," Tinted Silver repeated, "Or this one dies." Rainbow Dash narrowed her eyes and crouched down ready to spring, but Twilight Sparkle put a hoof on Rainbow Dash's shoulder.

"We surrender," Twilight Sparkle said sounding reluctant, "just let her go."

"As you wish," Tinted Silver hissed releasing Ditzy who moved to Weaving Silver.

"You are my prisoners," Tinted Silver hissed, "Get up and start walking." Tinted Silver turned to Fluttershy who was examining Weaving Silver's wound.

"I said get up," Tinted Silver hissed marching over to Fluttershy and Weaving Silver. Fluttershy turned to Tinted Silver with unusual narrowed eyes causing Tinted Silver to hesitate.

"Weaving Silver can't walk with that blade through her shoulder," Fluttershy stated sounding more angry than usual. Tinted Silver held Fluttershy's stare then glanced to Weaving Silver, and yanked the blade out. Weaving Silver screeched in pain and Fluttershy draped her wing comfortingly over Weaving Silver.

"Now get up," Tinted Silver hissed, hoisting Fluttershy and Weaving Silver to their hooves. Weaving Silver stumbled but Tinted Silver caught her.

"You will walk, or your friends will start falling," Tinted Silver hissed into Weaving Silver's ear. Weaving Silver closed her eyes then grimmest as she stumbled to her hooves and started forward. Tinted Silver turned to the Mane Six.

"All of you get in line," Tinted Silver ordered. Rainbow Dash stared at Tinted Silver in disbelief. It couldn't be true that the mare that Rainbow Dash had come to respect more than her mother would join with Banshee. A Changeling shoved Rainbow Dash toward the others knocking her from her thoughts. Tinted Silver counted the ponies before her and narrowed her eyes.

"Where is Wildheart," Tinted Silver demanded.

"We don't know, you're majesty," hissed one of the Changeling drones.

"I wasn't asking you," Tinted Silver snapped marching past the drone to Weaving Silver and the Mane Six.

"Where is Wildheart," Tinted Silver demanded again.

"What's the matter," Rainbow Dash managed to hiss, "lose something." Tinted Silver struck Rainbow Dash across the face knocking her to the ground.

"Take them back to camp," Tinted Silver ordered, "then start searching the forest for Wildheart."

"It's a lost cause," Twilight Sparkle said as the Changelings lead them away, "Wildheart, knows this forest better than anypony I know."

"That's what you think, Twilight," Tinted Silver replied.