I stood in front of Princess Luna, glancing curiously at Discord floating in the air. I never met him before, he was already locked away in stone by the time my sisters and I tried to take over Equestria. I’d heard the rumors about him of course. Everyone has.

“So she told you everything?” Princess Luna asked curiously as she sat on her throne. Princess Celestia had already gone to bed after greeting us. The room was soundproofed so no one could hear in.

“Yes ma’am.”

“And you believe her?” Princess Luna questioned as I nodded.

“Yes I do,” I answered and stretched a bit. Last night had gotten a bit out of hand or well hoof in this case. “Sunbeam and I scouted it out a bit. The farm is there and everything.”

“Excellent. Come in!” Luna called out and I stepped back at the changeling trotting in. He didn’t look like the others and I raised an eyebrow. “Meet Thrash. He’s well a mercenary.”

“Oh what a treat!” Discord grinned and clapped a hoof and claw together. “I get to do questionable things and not get in trouble!”

“Don’t take advantage of it,” Luna glared at him and he rolled his eyes. “Thrash here will be taking over Lilac Blossoms place. And I will be giving you a different form in case they have seen you around, Aria.”

“Okay,” I said as I raised a hoof. “But one question. Why doesn’t he look like the other changelings?”

He flashed green and a bright colored changeling stood where the black one once was.

“I do look like the others. But bright colors doesn’t really give off scary and intimidating vibes for a hired killer,” Thrash smirked as he turned back to his original self.

“Hired killer?” I asked and my eyes flicked over to Luna who nodded. “So we’re working with him now?”

“If you don’t like it, you can walk off a cliff and I won’t lose any sleep,” Thrash grumbled and I glanced at him. He had multiple red marks on his forelegs. “Those are marks for every creature I’ve killed. I’d kill my own mother if the bits were good enough.”

I rolled my eyes in disgust. I may have been a evil person or pony in the past but I never killed anyone. And definitely not my own mother. That was Sonata. On accident of course. She didn’t mean to shove her into a pit of spikes.

“I don’t approve. How do we know he will be on our side?” I groaned as Luna smirked.

“I’m loyal to bits. Just because I have no real allegiance to any country doesn’t mean shit,” Thrash said with a smirk and folded his forelegs. “And Luna here has offered me a very appealing pile of bits after this whole affair is over. Aiming to have seven or so tattoos on my legs after this over.”

“Fascinating,” Discord mused as he popped out of the changelings horn. “I didn’t know Celestia allowed criminals to be worked with.”

“He’s not a criminal. He’s a mercenary. We often work with them when the guards can’t handle something.”

“Fine what’s the plan?” I sighed as the two smirked.

“Unicorn, pegasus or earth pony?” Luna asked as she stood in front of Mr.

“Uh pegasus I guess?” I shrugged in response. I don’t really care either way. She blasted me her magic and I glowed blue before setting back on the ground. I opened my eyes and stared curiously at a sparkly purple hoof that was a shade lighter than my normal coat.

Luna gave a smug grin as I looked back and was greeted by a pair of opening wings.

“Do they actually work?” I asked in awe as I closed them. My cutie mark was different and so was my eye color plus mane color and style based on the mirror I was looking at.

“Yes. I will teach you how to fly,” Luna reassured me as I felt oddly excited. I’ve always wanted to fly.

“What about me?” Discord complained as he paced back and forth.

“You do make a good point. You’re a bit recognizable,” Luna said as she nodded. Discord snapped his fingers and brown unicorn with yellow eyes and a white mane stood next to me. “Huzzah!”

“Can we get a move on now? I’m ready to get this done and get paid,” Thrash complained as he flashed green and royal guard stallion stood in his place.

“Fine.”

“You will go back to Ponyville. Wait until we send the word and you three will go into the farm area as some ponies with a grudge against the crown. And don’t kill anypony unless it’s self defense. After you leave Ponyville, Discord is going to be leaving a clone of you behind so none of the guards or Twilight don’t get suspicious,” Luna explained as I nodded.

“What about the changeling? How do we know the others won’t offer him more bits and he won’t betray us?” I pointed out as he bared his fangs.

“This is my job. Once I get hired, I don’t get change my mind. It’s how I keep a good reputation. You don’t have to worry about me betraying you. But once we get there, you listen to me. I’m the expert. Am I clear?”

“Fuck that,” I snarled and slammed a hoof on the ground. “I only answer the princesses, Sunset and my sisters. Not you.”

“I’ve been waiting for them to kill each other so I can take charge with no problem at all. Me answering to me,” Discord said enthusiastically and pumped a hoof as we all glared at him. “Transformers reference.”

“How the fuck do you know what transformers are?” I demanded in surprise. “That’s a human thing!”

Discord gave a wide grin and I shivered a bit. I had a weird feeling about him. He was a weird looking thing normally but I think I’d prefer that over a pony.

“No reason.”

“Enough arguing. Aria come with me. We will teach you to fly,” Luna stated firmly and I shrugged.

Together, we walked outside the throne room as the sounds of Thrash and Discord conversating followed us.