> You track the movement of the figure carefully in the crosshairs of your scope.
> You have been stalking this one since sundown.
> Rarity had pointed her out as a Changeling and suggested you keep a close eye on them.
> It was disguised as a Pegasus, the town mailmare apparently.
> Gray coat, yellow eyes, bubble cutie mark.
> Noted as a bit of a klutz.
> Also noted as acting strange lately, as mail was later than usual and mail was lost and or altered.
> Of course, the royal postal service couldn’t be bothered investigating.
> While most ponies were fast asleep, you saw this one leave almost as soon as the streets of the small town were empty.
> The fact it was actively bypassing guards and hiding from them was equally suspect.
> The suspect was moving towards The Everfree forest, known to be dangerous to travel alone in at night.
> If a hive was nearby, it would make sense for it to be in the Everfree.
> You glance up to see the brief shadow of Rainbow Dash against the moon.
> You had Rainbow keeping tabs on the imposter as well, to note the route she was taking.
> Laying flat against the ground, with a chunk of ice in your mouth to hide the vapors your breath would produce in the cold weather, you watch as the road turns towards the dark forest.
> You would have to move soon.
> You quickly fold the bipod, and look towards your next hiding spot in a small stand of high bushes surrounding a statue.
> About one hundred yards away.
 
> As soon as her back is turned, you slowly rise to a stand and motion towards Rainbow Dash.
> A dark cloud immediately hides the moon and snuffs the bright light from it, and you sprint towards the bushes.
> Hitting the dirt almost immediately, you set your rifle up again.
> You stop at the bushes and unfold the bipod once again, watching the mare.
> She has stopped at the crossroads near the forest.
> Then a second figure appears.
> A unicorn.
> A brief exchange follows and then they take the side path towards the forest.
> A soft thud behind you causes you to turn your head.
> “Thunder.”
“Lightning.”
> Rainbow Dash.
> “Derpy is with a unicorn. Anon, we need to follow them.”
“If we follow them into the forest alone we could get ambushed.”
> “I don’t care Anon. Fluttershy lives down that path, they might be going towards her house.”
> Damn it.
“Alright. Head towards Fluttershy’s house and I will tail them. We aren’t following them into the forest, but if they go for her house we have to take them down.”
> “Should I warn Fluttershy?”
> Should we?
> She was afraid of her own shadow; if we told her assassins were coming to get her she would flip. But if we warned her, we could lay an ambush with her being safer than she would be if we did not.
“Make sure she’s awake and out of the house, but don’t tell her what’s going on. Leave the lights off and the door unlocked, we can trap them in the house and arrest them then. Do not be seen.”
 
> “Got it anon. You want me to do anything after I have her awake and the trap set?”
“Go get Shining Armor at the guard camp, I might need some backup. I want to arrest these two quietly rather than track them down in the morning and arrest them for the town to see.”
> “You can count on me, Anon.”
> It figures they would go for the weakest one of the six.
> After all, they only needed one dead or unable to use their element to take Equestria’s strongest weapon out.
> You silently crawl out from the bush and run towards the stream near the town.
> A tributary of the stream ran right past Fluttershy’s house and right along the road leading to her cottage.
> You carefully lower yourself down into the bed of the creek and begin moving along the steep embankments.
> Keeping up with their progress, you quietly follow them.
> As they reach the cottage and cross the bridge, you see the house dark and quiet.
> You climb onto the snow bank near the bridge as they stand near a tree.
> Clicking the safety off of your rifle, you draw a bead on one of them and prepare to announce your presence to make the arrest.
> In the momentary silence, you hear a sharp crack in the distance.
> Instinctively, you hit the ground and crawl behind a nearby rock.
> A fucking sniper.
> Peeking around the boulder, you see the remaining subject dash for the house.
> A black figure appears from the shadow of the cottage and attacks the subject with a quick series of stabs from a blade.
> The figure appeared pony like.
 
> Why it attacked the other pony was anyone’s guess.
> As it reached the tree, you aim your rifle towards its midsection.
 “Hold it right there. Move and you die.”
> It looks towards you and immediately bolts towards the forest through a clearing.
> You take aim and expel all the air in your lungs.
> You squeeze the trigger.
> The round connects, and the figure tumbles in the snow.
> Carefully, you peak your head out from the boulder.
> Scanning the surrounding area, you couldn’t find the source of the shot.
> Must have run off.
> The body near the tree was laying still, dead probably.
> You make your way out to the clearing.
> The one you shot was in pain obviously, but moving around too much for it to be a mortal wound.
> You sling your M-14 over your shoulder and pull your pistol out.
> With the sharp mechanical sound of the slide moving forward to chamber the first round the figure notices you.
> It froze and looked up at you.
> The moonlight reflected off of its shiny exterior.
> Chitin, an insect like feature.
> You look to see your shot had torn into its leg.
> It had wings though, why didn’t it try to fly away?
> Your finger begins to depress the trigger of the handgun.
> But he stopped the killers.
> You had an obligation to at least hear his case.
“By order of the Royal Court, you are under arrest.”
> The insect like pony simply looks up at you and no longer struggles.
 
> After disarming the pony like insect, you aided it back to the cottage where Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Shining Armor, and a few guards were examining the area.
> Fluttershy was crying while Rainbow Dash was consoling her.
> The animal lover must have hated that death had come to her doorstep.
> Shining Armor approached you with his guards, both having their weapons drawn.
> “I see you have a captive.”
“He’s not putting up a fight, leave him be.”
> “Don’t get too comfortable around this abomination, that’s a changeling they are not to be trusted. An odd looking one at that.”
“What about the other two?”
> “The same, though none like I have ever seen before. These appear to be some new caste of changeling.”
> You set your prisoner down near a tree and motion for the guards to watch him.
> Passing Rainbow Dash, you kneel down to examine the fallen changing near Fluttershy’s door.
> The transparent ichor was dribbling out of a few holes it the creatures neck.
> You look at the blade that was attached to the changeling’s foreleg.
> Same stuff coated the blade.
> Why would they kill their own kind if they wanted the elements gone?
> You then walk back to the tree, to find the other changeling.
> You notice the tree was coated with the same ichor that was pooling around the other one.
> The exit wound was towards the tree, so you glance towards the general area town was in.
> Town was in that direction though.
> “Anon?”
 
“Yes, Captain?”
> “Can I do anything to help? Something feels off about this.”
“I know. Clean these bodies up, no sense letting them rot in plain view. Also, get a cart over here for our friend and a secure place for me to have a chat with him.”
> “It may be worth noting that changelings cannot speak like we do. They are…strange creatures…”
“Know anyone who is familiar with the creatures?”
> “I know of a few scholars that have done research on them but…they all live in Canterlot.”
“What about Twilight? Do you think she could help us?”
> “Well I don’t know Anon. If your planning on interrogating it she’s not exactly going to let you beat answers out of it.”
“I don’t need to, yet. Go wake her up. Tell her to wait for me at Rarity’s place, because that’s where I intend to take it. Also, see if you can find a place for Fluttershy to stay that’s more secure than her cottage, I don’t want to run the risk of having a dead element bearer. Any more elements that live outside of town?”
> “Applejack lives at the farm with her family, about ten minutes outside of town.”
“Go get her and bring her into town, I don’t care what you have to do to make that happen. We need to minimize our risks if they are going to start pulling this shit.”
> You walk back over to the Changeling.
“Who are you?”
> It stares at you a moment.
> “I told you Anon, they can’t speak.”
“Can you speak?”
> It shakes it’s head.
> You turn your head to see the Captain paying full attention to the creature now.
 
“That’s an answer I can work with, Captain. We just have to ask questions it can answer.”
> You sit down next to it.
“But you can understand what I am saying?”
> A nod yes.
“Were those two here to hurt Fluttershy?”
> It nods but winces and looks down at its leg.
“If you promise to cooperate with us, I can see to it that you are patched up and taken care of. Will you work with us?”
> It nods.
> “Um…Mister Anon sir, I have a doctors bag I use for the animals in my house…I could stop the bleeding…if that’s okay with you…”
> You turn to see Fluttershy, having dried her eyes, kicking a small pile of snow around.”
> Turning back to the creature, you look down at the wound.
“Will you let her help you?”
> It nods.
“Alright Fluttershy, go on inside with Rainbow and get your first aid kit.”
*Two hours later.*
> “How fascinating…”
> Twilight looked back to her notes again.
“So what is it? What’s special about this one?”
> “The three known castes of changelings that we know of are queens, drones, and workers. The role of a queen is obvious, but the drones also serve as warriors, workers act as cannon fodder for the drones. This one however…”
> The changeling shifted in its seat uncomfortably.
> “This one seems to be a drone but…specialized…”
“Can you make it talk?”
> She looks back over to you.
> “I’m sorry?”
“Make it speak, you know, like we can.”
> She went back to one of the numerous tomes she had bought with her.
> As she flipped through a few pages, you and the creature lock eyes.
 
> “Do not fear us.”
> You blink and shake your head.
“What did you say?”
> “Hm?” Twilight said looking back to you. “I didn’t say anything.”
> You shake your head again.
> You needed some fresh air.
“Carry on with your observations; I’m going to go get some breakfast. Do you want anything?”
> “Just get something that has a lot of sugar in it.”
> You walk up the stairs, passing Rarity who was already at work for the day to keep appearances up.
> Rainbow sat at the table with Fluttershy, both drinking some tea.
> “Hey Anon, any progress?”
“Twilight is still doing her research that I promised.”
> “Figures. Where are you going?”
“Out to get some breakfast and coffee.”
> “We can come with you. I’m hungry myself.” Rainbow looked over to Fluttershy. “Do you want to come Fluttershy?”
“I actually need some time to myself, you know, to sort some things out. Come get me if Twilight makes a breakthrough or something of that nature.”
> “Oh. That’s cool I guess, when can we expect you back?”
> You shrug.
“A few hours, tops.”
> “Okay Anon…stay close by, Twilight works quickly.”
> You nod and step out of the door.
> The early morning air was a refreshing change from the stuffy basement.
> Plus the soft early morning light was a nice change from the candlelit basement.
> You glance at your watch.
> Six twenty-three.
> Time to pay a visit to the train station.
 
> Luna had sent word that Captain Silverlight and his team would be joining you and your team.
> The growing concerns were pressing enough that she wanted two operational teams on the case.
> Your orders were to meet with Silverlight and his team and lead them back to the safe house.
> The Ponyville train station was fairly basic compared to Canterlot’s station.
> Just a brick and mortar platform with a canvas awning to keep the rain off, opposed to the high glass ceilings and guided ivory pillars of the grand station.
> The platform was just a short walk from Rarity’s shop.
> You arrive to see the Railroad workers and maintenance engineers already preparing for the day.
> You check your watch again; their train was scheduled to arrive at seven AM sharp.
> You find a bench, and sit down.
> You glance towards the sunrise that was just now starting to break.
> You watched it rise yesterday.
> Celestia was a creature of habit; she would begin the raising of the sun around six and have it in the sky by six thirty to six forty-five.
> Maybe it was a compulsive thing about her being an Alicorn, and controlling the raising and lowering of the sun.
> You look down to your gloved hands and notice the dried crust from last night.
> Shining Armor had his work cut out for him; he was supposed to defend Equestria with a bunch of delicate flowers.
> They didn’t even do any fighting, yet they looked half traumatized when you asked them to move the bodies around.
 
> You rub the dried fluids off your gloves.
> No sense walking around with stained hands.
> “You mind if I sit here stranger?”
> You look over to the owner of the voice.
> An older pony.
“Not at all.”
> He drops his bags and takes a seat next to you.
> “A fine morning that she’s given us, an excellent day to take a train ride through the country, don’t you think?”
“Absolutely, where you headed?”
> “Going to visit my family in Canterlot and see the yearly play that’s coming up. You going too?”
“Yeah, but I have business to attend to here in Ponyvile before I head out.
> “Lot of people want to go, tickets are always so expensive though. My son’s covering me this year though.”
“I never got your name, stranger.”
> “Oh! I always forget to introduce myself, Aegis Crackedhoof, founder and former owner of Aegis Securities.”
“Aegis Securities? Sorry, I’m new in the area. Mind filling me in?”
> “Well it’s been some time since I managed the company personally, but my son has made it clear to me that the company is still providing top notch private security services to clients.”
> Your interest was immediately piqued.
“No kidding? How’s business been? This place seems pretty peaceful.”
> “Well, there is a reason my son is getting free tickets. His guards are going to be providing security for the play.”
“You wouldn’t happen to know a Shining Gem, would you?”
> “Ah yes! My nephew! You know him?”
 
“I had dealings with him; I’m a foreign business owner from a faraway land you see.”
> “I see. I trust he treated you well, his shipping company is very large and efficient. I would number his fleet larger than the Royal Navy.”
“Very well in fact. I made quite a bit of money, and was very pleased with our transaction.”
> “It is refreshing to see our economy so vibrant with so many strong and energetic souls. It really is nice to see enterprising individuals like yourself making a name for themselves in these exciting times. I almost miss the chasing around for coin and chasing after mares…” He pauses. “But I enjoy the nice quiet life out here in the country as well.”
> In the distance, you hear the clattering of the rail tracks.
> You glance at your watch.
> Six fifty seven.
> “She’s running early! Well, it’s been fun…what was your name again?”
“Anonymous. Also, give Shining Gem my regards.”
> “May good fortune find you well Anonymous, praise Celestia.”
“Praise Celestia.”
> As the train pulled into the station, he picked his bags up and got on the train.
> Just as four ponies stepped off, Silverlight among them.
> Silverlight approaches you with his friends in tow.
> A big burly earth pony, rather tall unicorn, and a Pegasus.
“Captain. So glad you are early and bought some friends to play as well.”
> He immediately gave you a hard glare.
> “I would watch your tongue around such high ranking operatives, Anon. We are professionals after all.”
 
“No offence meant. Could I perhaps buy breakfast for all of you?”
> The larger unicorn smiled and
> “That would be lovely. Would it not, Captain?”
> “Why yes! Of course! It would!” He said as he snapped to a rigid posture.
> Something was off.
“You are?”
> “You will soon see, Anonymous. For the time being please lead the way, we must go somewhere private so we can discuss a few things.”
“Absolutely. The safe house I have established is currently occupied with a number of prying eyes. But I am sure the town library is open.”
> “It will do.” She says with a smile. “Please, show us the way.”