Antares, wearing her armour with just the decals marking her as a private, approached the tunnel that led through the mountains from the Badlands.
Swift Chess, in formation with three other bat ponies, noticed her from the starry sky above. He signalled to the others before joining the mare on the ground. "Hey, Cute Bite! I didn't see you leave for the Badlands. Did you find anything?"
"Yes, and I must inform Nightmare Moon as soon as possible."
"What did you find, Cute Bite?"
"I'm sorry, but I can only talk about it with Nightmare Moon."
As they advanced through the tunnel, Swift was intrigued by something. "Come on, Cute Bite, you can tell me!"
"No."
"Please, Cute Bite."
"I said no."
"I said please, Cute Bite," Swift said, suddenly placing the blade under Antares' throat. "All right, listen to me, changeling. We have orders not to kill you, except in self-defence, so you will immediately stop pretending to be my Cute Bite and you will explain to me why you were trying to leave the Badlands. Without moving, otherwise I will kill you and pretend that you tried to kill me. Do I make myself clear?"
"Very clear."
"Okay, let's start at the beginning. What are you doing here?"
"My queen, Chrysalis, sent me to ask Nightmare Moon for an audience."
"As much as I know you're a changeling, it's scary to see Cute Bite say ‘My Queen Chrysalis.’ And for what reason?"
"You don't have to know that. Now, either you kill me and take the message to your Queen yourself without having all the details, or you lead me to her."
"By the stars, Cute Bite has a secret twin. Very well. I'll guide you to Nightmare Moon's tent. I'll be behind you. If you try anything else, I'll slice you like a mango."
"I have no doubt that all the changelings you killed were good training for that."
"Well, that would mean I wouldn't be able to kill you, then."
"Wait, what?"
"I'm the one asking the questions here. Move on."
Chitin growled and set off through the tunnel. Swift flew a few steps off the ground behind them, just within range to cut them off at the slightest suspicious movement.
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"Stop, and don’t move," Swift ordered the changeling at the exit of the tunnel, then turned to the bat pony stationed there. "Private Dauntless Halberd, assist me in escorting this changeling to Nightmare Moon's tent."
The soldier in question blew an ultrasonic whistle. Immediately afterwards, all the bat ponies in the area approached like a swarm of bees scaring off an intruder, weapons held in their mouths. They carefully observed Chitin and Swift.
Chitin turned cautiously to Swift, who turned to Dauntless. Swift did not seem to understand the reaction of the other bat ponies.
"You forgot the password,
Swift sighed, half relieved, but also exasperated. "For a moment, I thought you assumed I was a changeling without even checking—just imagine the face Cute Bite would have made if you had dragged me to the command tent. The eternal eclipse is coming."
Private Dauntless Halberd started to laugh. "No doubt about it, you're Swift." He turned to the bat ponies from the camp. "We have a changeling. You know the orders. Take her under heavy escort to see our Queen. Swift, too. For once, he does something right. It has to be highlighted. He will undoubtedly receive congratulations. Who knows, he may be exempt from chores for once."
"Super funny Dauntless. Really super funny," Swift said, rolling his eyes.
"At your service, Private Swift Chess." Dauntless saluted Swift, who was forcibly escorted along with Chitin.
The real Antares stood in front of the tent, wearing her soldier's armour with the distinctions due to her rank, as well as the two swords arranged in their dorsal sheaths.
Nightmare Moon stood one step before her aide de camp. They watched Swift and the impostor arriving. "I'm listening to you, changeling. Explain the reason you came here."
Chitin was enveloped in a pillar of greenish flame for a short moment, returning to their original form. "Queen Chrysalis is asking for an audience this very evening to discuss the Pepper Chilly case."
"It was about time," Nightmare Moon said as she unsheathed her claymore. She looked at her own reflection in the polished surface of the blade. "Would you dare to repeat your wish, changeling?" asked the queen before threatening Chitin's throat with the tip of her blade.
Almost everypony was surprised by the sudden turn of events. Except Chitin, who hardened their eyes. "You don't scare me, monster. I still wish you were all dead," they said before whistling briefly.
Before anyone had time to react, Nightmare Moon slammed her right forehoof on the ground to maintain order. Despite the show of force, she was amused and didn’t hide it. "Considering your situation, you really have guts to spit such words in front of me." She stopped threatening Chitin's life, sliding the blade against her rightwing. "Let your queen know that I will come with a squad in three hours. Major Antares, escort them back to the Badlands. Unscathed. Into infamy shall be plunged the lineage of the bat pony who dares to lift their hoof against this changeling."
Chitin spoke before Antares had time to answer. "Concerning Pepper Chilly's body, my queen wants you to know that coming with only one subordinate will be enough to repatriate her."
Antares lifted her shoulder to present the sheath of the claymore so that the alicorn could put it back, but the latter did not do so. "One bat pony is enough? What happened?"
"My queen has not explained why."
Nightmare Moon blew her discontent through her nostrils. "Major, escort the changeling out of my sight." She stared at the bat pony next to Chitin. "Private Swift Chess, my tent, now," she ordered coldly in an imperative tone, her weapon pointing at the entrance of the command tent.
Antares blinked, surprised by Nightmare Moon's last order. She hesitated for a moment, feeling a hint of fear for her companion, who obeyed the order without blinking or even paying attention to it. Finally, she sighed and resigned herself to escorting Chitin back to the border with a squad of bat ponies at her side.