//------------------------------// // Subject 170: Sky Mission Part II // Story: Interviews With Equestrians // by Jmaster49 //------------------------------// This presented a load of new difficulty. There were many different types of shapeshifters that existed throughout history. Many of which predated changelings. Granted, there was a reason why such beasts were no longer around nowadays. Mostly due to the fact that they were focused on killing each other, and the fact that there wasn’t really a “magic of friendship” around during that time period to set them straight. While I was (and in some ways still am) critical of the way Twilight operated, I couldn’t deny that her efforts were mostly positive. Mostly. Anyhow, Cork and I both had to put our heads together for this. I trusted Flim and Flam...for the most part. So if they knew that everyone there was at risk, then we couldn’t just ignore the imminent danger here. But this was going to be quite different from our other battles. In fact, this was going to be more of an espionage situation than a battle at all. We left the brother’s office after we discussed what our intentions were. As we trotted out to the lobby, Cork and I started to muse over our plans. “So what’s the plan, boss?” Corkscrew looked to me for guidance. “We can’t exactly just roll up in there and ask ‘who’s the impostor’ or something like that.” I glanced over one of the flyers that was on an advertisement board in the main lobby of the resort. “Hrm...I think I may have an idea.” “Eh?” he leaned over my shoulder to get a glance. A stage performance done by some of the Yakes from Yakyakistan. “That’s our situation,” I replied with a low, yet admittedly excited tone to betray my desire to bust open a case in the middle of a crowded building. Cork raised a brow. “Really now? You think someone is gonna sabotage the Yak performance and cause civil unrest between the races? Because that would be amazingly bad.” “Why not?” I retorted, “There could be a whole slew of reasons to attack this place. With the higher number of folks here compared to last time, then we could be in deeper danger than we thought. So can I count on your help?” He flapped his wings with a bit of excitement. “Of course boss! But…” he tapped his chin as he started to think, “How exactly are we going to find such an enemy? I mean, we don’t even know what kinda shapeshifter it is. And there could be loads!” “We’ll just have to rely on our own senses…” I looked around the resort until my eyes caught onto a familiar face. “And a bit of help…” “Uh…” he tilted his head left, then right, “Just who or what are you looking at?” I placed a hoof on his head, and turned him in the direction of the barista near the theater. “Right there, three o’ clock,” I said in reference to the positioning to our right. “Ohhhh...her. Well why didn’tcha say so?” For our first move, we went over to the bar to find Lightning Dust hard at work as usual. When we explained the situation to her, she responded amicably. “...A threat to the dinner-theater performance?” she replied with a wide set of eyes, “I mean, I suppose it isn’t entirely off of the table. But what makes you think that would happen?” I hunched over as I sat at the bar so I could discuss the situation a bit more...cryptically. “This is just a hunch based on the little evidence we have. But we have reason to believe that a monster capable of shapeshifting beyond that of a changeling has invaded this place to cause mass unrest and confusion.” Corkscrew had chosen to partake in the complimentary sparkling water. Once he finished a sip, he spoke his mind. “And if that happens, we’ll have a war on our hooves before we’re anywhere close to ready. A public spiel like this is gonna help us gain even more support against the enemy we’re dealing with.” Dust leaned up towards the counter. “I see...so this is about that thing we discussed. In that case, I can tell you what I know.” Well that was simple. Hopefully she would have some decent information for us. “And what do you know?” I asked. She finished polishing a glass, and poured me some soft cider in a different one. “I haven’t seen anything out of the ordinary lately. However, you might have some luck if you do some more digging backstage.” “Backstage?” Cork asked as he downed his third drink, “What’s going on backstage?” Lightning Dust pointed over the crowd of ponies in the theater towards the closed stage curtains. “Jackpot has been having some difficulties with his next performance. Of course, it might just be a case of performer’s block, but I figured that I may as well mention it.” I nearly spat out my cider. “Wait a second, he’s still performing?” Jackpot was probably one of my favorite performers. When I was a rowdy youth, the occasional show I caught in Manehattan always hit the spot for how corny yet amusing they were. But at that time, he was most certainly in his late thirties. The fact that he was still in the stage game even now was awesome to say the least. “Mm-hmm,” Dust replied with a nod, “Crazy right? I thought he’d have stopped by now, but apparently he’s still kicking. Doesn’t look like he’s aged much either. His partner, Big Bucks still comes around as well on occasion.” However, Corkscrew was a bit confused. As shown by the utter confoundment on his face, he wasn’t entirely sure who the unicorn was. And I couldn’t blame him. “Who? Wait...isn’t that the stallion that looks a bit like Trixie?” “Yeah that’s him alright. Hm,” Lightning gazed up at the ceiling for a moment, “Come to think of it, they are extremely similar-looking. I wonder if they’re related…” While that certainly was a possibility, there was no time to wonder about such things. For the moment, we needed to focus. If there was anything, anything at all that would help us ascertain any suspicious activity, we needed to interview and question as many individuals as we could. “Thanks for the tip, Dust,” I said with a tip of my hat, “If we need your help, we’ll be sure to ask.” Then I left her a literal tip--a few bits. Then I got up from the stool with Corkscrew close behind. “So...do you think this could lead us to some new discovery?” “No idea,” said the orange pegasus, “But as long as I don’t have to leave you alone on another mission, I don’t really care where we go. I mean, I care but--ack. You know what I mean.” I chuckled. “Hm. Of course I do.” Now hopefully we could meet this renowned magician...