Fallout: Equestria - Vanguard

by Veprem

Chapter 1: Suspicious Minds

The muffled bustling of a crowd was barely drowned out by a pleasant patriotic theme. A gentle knock on my dressing room door reminded me that in just a few minutes, I’d be expected to trot onto stage and deliver a big speech. Being in the spotlight and playing to a crowd had always come naturally to me, and I wasn’t lacking in experience. Still, something was gnawing at me as I fiddled with my earthy-toned uniform. I took another look at my reflection.

Was a strand of my bouncy, curly, sky blue mane out of place? Any blemishes in my peachy pink coat besides my freckles? A feather out of place in my wings?

A clay-colored glare of annoyance stared back at me as I failed to figure out what was wrong. Magic of the same hue enveloped a military dress cap and fitted it onto my head, my horn slotting snugly through a hole in the front, just below a golden insignia. With a final turnabout in front of the trio of mirrors, I concluded that the problem had nothing to do with me or my outfit. An uncomfortable energy, a feeling that something was amiss, continued to eat away at the back of my mind.

Whatever it is, Cozy, don’t let it ruin the ceremony. Today is a big day.

Bombastic music and fanfare greeted me as I strode across the stage to a humble podium. I glanced up at the Vanguard flag as confetti sprayed around it. The billowing fabric was black, encompassing the same insignia on my cap. A minimalist rook, inspired by the image on my flank, adorned with wings and a horn. Both it and the flag’s trim were shiny gold.

An invigorated stomping of hooves and clapping of claws died down as I took my place at the microphone. A turnout of several dozen ponies, zebras, deer, and griffons, including their foals, fawns, and fledglings, waited anxiously before me. It must be this quaint settlement’s entire population.

“Golly…” I gave them all a proud smile before I continued. “Today marks an incredible milestone for the Equus Commonwealth. One hundred fifty years of lasting prosperity, defended by the Vanguard, and built by countless hard workers like you. Farmers, carpenters, teachers, soldiers… This achievement is yours.”

I paused to allow another clamor of cheers. “That’s why I’ve chosen to celebrate this momentous occasion here, in Whinnypeg, the Commonwealth’s latest settlement. We’ve come a long way since our founding in Seaddle, and it’s thanks to you for braving the harsh frontier. For braving the wasteland, and all it has to throw at you.” My wings unfurled wide. “Every day, the people of the Equus Commonwealth and its Vanguard prove that they are tougher than the wasteland! Tougher than the radiation! Tougher than the raiders and slavers! We will continue to build this great nation of ours, through the sweat of our own brows, and the strength we find in one another!” I reared up and thrust a hoof towards the sky. “Friendship is power!”

My face swelled with warmth as the crowd erupted louder than ever, chanting the motto back to me. I relaxed back into a sitting position as another round of music and fanfare concluded the speech. “Now then, we have an anniversary festival to celebrate!”

Throughout the tents and stalls dotting main street, all manner of settlers and off-duty soldiers enjoyed food, drink, and games. Even the on-duty soldiers were quite relaxed, chatting to others as they passed their posts. They’d snap to attention in my presence, of course, but I’d always motion them to be at ease.

My coat and hat flapped in a sudden gust of wind as an airshow raced overhead, a combination of talented pegasi Shadowbolts and ace Griffonchaser IX pilots performing daring acrobatic feats.

It’s a shame the Enclave had to soil the Wonderbolt title. Oh well, at least they didn’t have a monopoly on ponies who could perform sonic rainbooms, despite their best efforts to control their population. Between them and Gustave, no Raptor or Thunderhead would ever dare invade the Commonwealth.

The advanced whirligigs designed by yours truly flying alongside them were an impressive deterrent in their own right. Highly maneuverable with a top speed of two hundred eighty kilometers per hour, Shadowbolts and Wonderbolts were about the only things they couldn’t keep up with. Thermal, S.A.T.S.-integrated targeting was linked to 25mm rotary guns, homing rockets, and a gimballed novasurge cannon. Quite the fighting machines.

Some day, the Vanguard and its soldiers and weapons won’t be needed. Some day, Equestria and beyond will be pieced back together, into something better than it ever was. That will take time to do it right, without making ethical compromises in the name of progress. I’ve heard that a major push towards industrialization was being made on the east coast… on the backs of slaves. Whoever’s running that operation clearly doesn’t read any history books. Anyone who has knows the ultimate fate of oppressors.

My ears twitched towards the beating of wings and a pair of familiar voices. I turned to face a pegasus stallion and griffon buck as they touched down before me, both wearing officers’ uniforms similar to my own.

Colonel Icarus Waxwing was tall and slim for his kind, with slender facial features. His coat, beak, claws, and feathers were mostly silver and white, and tipped black, aside from a mask of yellow-orange wrapped around his lavender eyes. The plumage on his head was adorned with several long, thin black feathers protruding straight back.

Major Wind Striker was comparatively strongly built, especially for a pegasus. He had handsome features, and a dark plum coat. His mane was professionally short and swept back, mostly black with graying streaks. Deep green eyes held the wisdom of his long career. It was covered by his uniform, but I knew his cutie mark was that of a winged hammer.

Both gave me pleasant smiles before Icarus spoke in his exotic, suave accent. “Your speech went wonderfully, General.” My second in command pretended to wipe a tear. “Truly, it made me feel as I did when I first signed up. Such invigorating patriotism.”

I rolled my eyes. “Shut up.”

Striker bumped his friend’s shoulder. “You should give the speech next time, charmer.” The Major’s voice was deep and gruff, ironically making him a more commanding presence than either of his superiors standing before him. “We were just about to inform you that Whinnypeg’s mayor has invited us to dinner.”

Icarus snickered. “Of course, you’re welcome to join us, if only for pleasant conversation.”

Why did he enjoy bringing up the fact that I don’t eat? “Tell Jasiri I’d be honored. In the meantime, I’ll enjoy mingling with the riff-raff.”

Wind Striker smiled. “I’ll back you up, General. Folks with dirt on their hooves are more my speed than political types.”

“Well then,” Waxwing straightened his collar, “I heard there’s a wine tasting to attend.”

Striker and I chuckled as he flew off. “I swear,” the pegasus began, “he’s almost as frilly as that Whiteclaw buck.”

Icarus was certainly a bit of a dandy, but I wouldn’t trust anyone more with overarching strategy and tactics. Despite his demeanor, he wasn’t one to buckle under the pressure of high command. Striker, as he said, was far more in-tune with the common soldier. Sometimes I felt he forgot he had wings considering how much liked being in the mud with the grunts. He’d still be a sergeant had I not insisted on his promotions. If he didn’t keep resisting them, he’d be a Colonel alongside his griffon colleague.

My subordinate and I spent the afternoon enjoying the festival. The townsfolk made pleasant company, telling stories between drinks. I enjoyed beating Striker at games of darts or horseshoes, to which he complained was an unfair matchup. He wasn’t wrong. The stallion was somewhat intoxicated, and I had cybernetically precise magic. I let him win a couple of times to lessen the blow to his ego.

Not wanting him to be a stumbling mess for dinner, I ordered him to sober up and wash up for a couple hours. He begrudgingly saluted and trotted off. I flew up and found a perch to watch the town from.

It was built along a river, around the ruins of a museum. The marvel of modern art architecture resembled a chromed nest wrapped around a glass tower. It was once a center dedicated to the history of pony-creature co-existence, making it a fitting centerpiece to today’s celebrations. The museum had been substantially restored, and now served as Whinnypeg’s capitol building.

The other structure of note was an asymmetrical suspension bridge spanning the river, connecting the settlement to a major caravan trail. It had been fully repaired, and repainted to its original crisp white. A large, round veranda surrounded its central support, where many creatures were dancing to a band’s upbeat music.

Other than these two landmarks, the town was dotted with freshly built cottages, farmhouses surrounded by crops, and stores. The largest farm was made from what was once a Buckball stadium. Beyond all this was the ruined husk of a greater pre-war city we simply didn’t have the resources to reconstruct. The degraded jungle of steel and concrete was better served as a source of scavenged materials. It’s not like there’d be a population large enough to occupy a city like that anytime soon, anyway.

The most populous city in the Commonwealth was Seaddle, back in the Vanhoover region. Practically untouched by the bombs, restoring and settling it was a challenge easily met by the combined efforts of stable dwellers, pegasi defecting from the Enclave, and to the surprise of both, remnants of zebra legionaries. Forging an alliance with the latter rather than sparking a pointless war was critical in our early success. Over a century later, we were still thriving together.

Stable 14 hosted the majority of the aforementioned dwellers, a shelter that exclusively housed roughly fifteen thousand griffons for thirty years after the bombs fell. Smaller Stables housed earth ponies and unicorns. Each now served as bases for the Vanguard, with 14, which was built into Mt Reinier, serving as our main headquarters.

Maybe being so far from base is why I felt so off. The feeling that something was wrong hadn’t gone away, and at this point was getting quite annoying. Sweeping my gaze across Whinnypeg, I saw nothing out of place. Still, the ominous twinge lingered.

I didn’t know what to make of it, and that frustrated me. I designed my horn and magic. I should know what it’s trying to tell me. On a hunch, I brought up my Eyes Forward Sparkle. A handy feat of Stable-Tec engineering, it could identify potential threats. A sigh escaped me as all I saw was a sea of friendly yellow ticks. Of course, all the soldiers on duty would have their EFS active, so they’d have been alerted to this mystery problem long ago.

Applying Occam's Razor, I concluded that my horn must simply be in need of tuning. In fact, it has been years since I’ve given my synthetic body some proper maintenance. I’ve just been too busy. Taking a few deep breaths and listening closely, I confirmed that my cooling systems weren’t running as optimally as they could be. I also haven’t been getting as much sleep as my mind probably needed.

As soon as dinner with Mayor Jasiri was over, I’d get a good night’s rest. A checkup will have to wait until I’m back at my lab.

A mature striped mare met me at the door of the capitol building as I touched down. Jasiri took my hoof in hers as she greeted me warmly. “General Glow, it is such an honor to have you here. I welcome the opportunity to thank you with my hospitality.”

A fleeting, dark intrusive thought upon being touched by a zebra was quickly squashed into the furthest pits of my mind. I’m better than that. I’m ashamed those thoughts ever surface at all.

I produced the warmest smile I could. “Of course, Mayor Jasiri. The honor is mine.”

As she led me through her home to the dining hall, I properly appraised her. Her mane and tail were beautifully braided into coils. Her body was adorned in various gold and silver bangles and chains, as well as sashes of violet and crimson which matched her dual-hued eyes. Her cutie ma- glyph was impossible to interpret, being some sort of triple spiral rune. My own outdated biases aside, which I clearly still needed to work on, she was very lovely.

Wind Striker and Icarus were already seated, chatting with other prominent members of the community. Ponies, griffons, zebras, and deer were entrenched in conversation with one another. I’d learned that the latter were Whinnypeg’s original settlers, having used their unique magic to aid in vegetation growth. If that could be applied on a wide scale… That could be discussed another time.

Taking a seat between Icarus and Jasiri, I took in the aromas of the food and drink everyone was enjoying. The sight and scent of a meal were the only parts I could enjoy, so I savored it.

Besides us dignitaries, various servants scampered about with carts and trays. Most were unicorns, but the individual giving them quiet, almost imperceptible orders was a thestral stallion. Jasiri informed me that his name was Solace, and he was her most faithful companion.

I noticed Solace’s tufted ears twitch, and his mouth formed a demure smile at the praise. His coat and wings were a deep jade, contrasting a lilac, neatly combed mane and azure eyes. A modest tuxedo hid anything else about him.

Another thing I noticed was how strongly my horn was bothering me again. The energy screamed danger. It felt outright malevolent, and it infuriated me that I couldn’t pinpoint a source.

“Is everything alright?” Jasiri leaned close to me, reading my eyes.

“Oh, yes! Well, no… I don’t know how to explain it.” I rubbed my horn with a hoof. “Darn thing must be acting up. Something keeps giving me the heebie-jeebies, like there’s something wrong, but that obviously can’t be the case.”

The concern in Jasiri’s face noticeably increasing did not make me feel better. “Actually… I’ve been oddly anxious the last few weeks. I’d chalked it up as nervousness about the festival, but hearing you say you’re feeling it as well… And it’s more than butterflies in my stomach. It’s as you said, like something is wrong.”

It was then that I noticed the unicorn waitress listening to us, standing perfectly still, staring through us. Looking directly into her dull blue eyes, which seemed cold beyond description, the magical grating of dread in my mind became like an unceasing note from a poorly tuned violin.

Solace trotted to his frozen employee with an expression of annoyance. “Amber Quill, you’re making our guests uncomfor-”

The thestral was abruptly cut off when the pale orange mare plunged a carving knife into his chest. Amber let out an in-equine screech, and her telekinesis launched the blade towards Jasiri. In a moment of reflex, I caught the blade in my own magic and sent it through the assassin’s throat.

In the midst of this exchange, everyone had leapt from their seats. The civilians gasped or screamed. Striker and Icarus stood ready to act, scanning the room for additional threats.

“Everyone, remain calm.” I turned towards the Major. “Striker, get Solace to a medic. Icarus, call in a platoon to secure the building. I will-”

A disturbing sight broke my concentration. Just as Amber ceased squirming, her flesh began to shimmer and contort. Concerned that her corpse was somehow magically rigged to explode, I put myself between her and the others, spreading my wings. What her body became instead created a whole new problem. Hide was replaced with carapace. Limbs became riddled with holes. Thin, transparent, twitching wings appeared on her back. Her horn became jagged, and her eyes became opaque blobs.

A changeling.

Another bout of insectoid shrieking from all around snapped me out of my stupor. Five more of the servants, and two of the city counselors, shimmered and became bug monsters. They brandished weapons of their own against the others.

Not on my watch.

Leaping into the air, I charged a ball of deadly magical energy at the tip of my horn, and unleashed it.

Seven changelings.

Seven beams of alicorn fury.

Seven piles of ash.

“...Golly.”

Shock and disbelief at what had just occurred was suddenly broken by a pained wheeze. Jasiri gasped and knelt beside her deeply wounded thestral friend, carefully placing her hooves and applying pressure to slow the bleeding. I joined them and cast a healing aura over the victim’s chest. My knowledge of medical spells was limited, to say the least, so the best I could do was keep him stable.

“Solace, please, try to stay awake.” Whinnypeg’s Mayor pleaded in a panicked tone.

“Striker.” The stallion snapped to attention at my word. “Disregard my previous order. There may be other hostiles, so it’s too risky to move Solace to a clinic. Focus on keeping this room secure.”

With a “Yes Ma’am,” he began to patrol the dining hall’s perimeter.

I turned to the griffon. “Waxwing, get on the radio and bring in a platoon. Make sure their medics bring super restoration potions.” I narrowed my gaze. “Have each soldier give their name, rank, and identification number at the building’s entrance. Any hesitation in their response, deny them entry.”

After calling it in, he turned to me with a worried gaze. “General, what are we dealing with? What are these things?”

I blinked, then nearly face-hoofed. Of course I’m the only one here who’d know what a changeling is. Even before the bombs most people weren’t sure they existed.

“They’re called changelings,” I began to explain. “They’re shape-shifters who feed on the energy of other creatures to survive. They haven’t been seen in over two centuries.”

The Colonel finally asked the most pertinent question. “Why are they here, and why now?”

I could only offer conjecture. “Whinnypeg might be on the edge of their territory. They may have been hidden among its settlers from the start.” My eyes swept towards Jasiri. “Did you know Amber Quill very well?”

The zebra wore a thoughtful expression. “Solace here knew her better than me, but…” He was in no condition to answer questions. “She had been acting strangely.”

“For how long?” I needed a timetable to establish just how infested this town could be.

“A few weeks, I’d say…” Horrified realization entered her eyes. “Stars above, did these monsters kill the people they replaced?”

I did my best to give her some hope. “From what I remember, they cocoon their victims to feed on them over time. There’s a chance they can be saved, but we need to figure out where they’re being kept.”

An annoyed grumble escaped me. I didn’t like how many assumptions we were relying on right now. What really bothered me was why they’d give themselves away to attack us. Were they planning to wipe out and replace everyone here? Take over not only this town’s leadership, but also prominent Vanguard officers? Had I not attended this dinner…

Soldiers in full gear trickled in as they confirmed their identities as ordered. Medics quickly got to work saving Solace, who unfortunately had no additional insights into the situation. The thestral did, however, aid Jasiri and I in interrogating everyone else in the building. Each was asked things only the real them would know. Any who couldn’t answer were quarantined.

Two more changelings were discovered, and I ordered they be kept alive for questioning. After breaking their horns and clipping their wings, of course. This building thankfully had a small jail, retrofitted from a series of art vaults. The prisoners were kept separate from each other.

They weren’t quite how I remembered them. In the back-when days, changelings, in their true forms, looked virtually identical to each other. These two, and the one who mimicked Amber, had distinct color palettes and other subtle features that marked them as individuals. Their carapaces also had a distinct shimmer to them, like they were made of crystal.

One, who I presumed to be a male, kept his lips sealed and his expression stoic. All of my questions went ignored. I could tell that threats would be wasted on him, so I didn’t bother. The blue, white-spotted bug could stay locked in isolation until he felt more chatty.

The other, noticeably female, was certainly frightened enough to talk. Being a blend of dark and pale greens, the expression shaking like a leaf seemed almost literal. I nearly felt sorry for her.

I knelt down to be eye-level with the cowering insect. “Tell me how many of you there are, or you will join the eight I’ve already dealt with.”

She whimpered. “I-I-I d-don’t… I’m just a d-drone, I can’t…”

My horn pressed between her eyes, and glowed an ominous scarlet. “The last thing you want to be right now is useless.”

Tears streamed from her bulbous yellow eyes. “Empress of the North, forgive me… We arrived here fifty strong two months ago.”

My magic ceased, and I gave her a calming smile as I wiped her eyes with a wing. “There, was that so hard?” I turned to leave her impromptu cell. “Oh, your friend had best corroborate that, or you will both suffer.”

The changeling curled into a ball in the far corner as I shut and locked the door. A squad of soldiers took places around it to keep watch as I strode back to the dining hall. There wasn’t any need to question our other guest. The lie detection spell I had just used, developed by the Ministry of Morale, sufficiently validated the information the first had given me.

At this point, a perimeter around the capitol had extended to the clinic. I ordered the body of Amber’s imposter be brought there for examination. I also ordered for all the townsfolk, one small group at a time, to be questioned and examined, then quarantined. There were approximately forty changelings to root out.

This was turning into a very long night. The people of Whinnypeg were exhausted and scared, and I didn’t blame them. A day of celebration had been turned into a witch hunt. It was, however, necessary. The sooner this was handled, the sooner their lives could return to some semblance of normal.

One by one, the changelings were filtered out of the population. Those who fought back or fled were shot. The rest, I personally interrogated as I had the first. It didn’t take long to learn that most of the settlers they replaced were alive, as I had hoped. After learning their location, a cave to the northwest, I sent Striker with two platoons to secure them. A wing of Griffonchaser VIIIs, a cargo/transport variant, went along to provide secure passage back, as well as crates of emergency supplies the captives would likely need.

In the meantime, my mind was exhausted. Confident that my forces could handle things from here, I retired to my own private transport to get some needed mental rest. Not even bothering to undress, I curled up on my cot and shut my eyes.

A gentle breeze soothed the heat of the summer sun, as well as ruffled my mane. The slender white stallion trotting alongside me down the streets of Canterlot gave me a cute smile before magically fixing it for me.

“Radieux, you make me wish I was born a unicorn.” The things I could do if I had magic…

He responded with a nuzzle. “Then you wouldn’t have those cute wings.”

I smirked. “An alicorn, then.”

My buckfriend snickered. “I’d have been too intimidated to ask you out.”

A sigh escaped me. “It would make meeting your parents easier…”

“Oh, you’ll be fine.” He reassured me, while sweeping back his own cyan mane, which had a single streak of soft pink through it. “Don’t let their status and prestige scare you. They’re good ponies.”

Rounding the corner, we passed a vendor selling newspapers. Radieux bought one and tipped the filly tending the stand an extra two bits. He ignored the articles and turned straight to the silly cartoons at the back, smiling to himself. Being the gentlebuck he is, he made sure to show me the funniest ones.

The aristocratic Fancy Pants, and his supermodel wife Fleur De Lis, were already seated on the patio of Le Griffon.

The large, older white and blue stallion, who had a perfectly groomed mustache, stood first to greet us. “Ah, you must Cozy Glow. It is lovely to finally meet you.” I couldn’t help but blush as he took my forehoof and gave it a kiss.

His tall, elegant, slender wife brushed her gorgeously long lilac mane behind her ear as she stood as well. I offered a wing and she shook it. “I hope our son has only told you good things. He certainly has of you.”

I smiled. “Oh, of course! Nothing but stories of what wonderful parents you both are.”

Fancy got the chair for me as I sat down, as Radieux did for his mother, before both joined us and began perusing the cafe’s menu.

My prospective father-in-law adjusted his monocle. “It’s a shame yours couldn’t join us today. I’d have liked to meet them.”

My smile fell.

“Father…” Radieux gave him a look of mild condemnation.

Fancy Pants blinked, then gave me a pleading expression. “Oh, my, forgive me. It slipped my mind.”

I did my best to restore my demeanor. “It’s alright. Innocent mistake.” I need this to go well. No sense getting upset at an aging stallion for forgetting details. Nevermind me being an orphan is quite an important detail.

He smiled and nodded, then turned to his son. “Is that today’s paper?”

Radieux awkwardly gave it to him as our waiter took our orders.

Fleur looked at her husband as his brow creased. “Let me guess, rising tensions with the zebras?”

“It’s all that ever gets reported lately.” I groaned.

He waved a hoof. “I wouldn’t worry. The Princesses will figure something out. They always do.”

“I certainly hope so,” Radieux agreed. “Could you imagine if they couldn’t? War?”

That word brought with it a silence that fell across us for several uncomfortable moments. The arrival of our drinks thankfully broke it.

I tried to brighten the mood. “Fleur, have you had any interesting photoshoots lately?”

Her face brightened, and she went on to regale me about a recent trip to Prance. This led to many stories from her, Fancy, and Radieux about traveling, holidays, and get-togethers.

They’d have many more in the future, and I was assured I’d be part of them.

The next couple of days were a scramble to form defense contingencies against this new threat. I told the rest of the Vanguard’s command, either in person or by message, everything I knew about changelings. Which, admittedly, wasn’t much. Our assortment of insectoid prisoners were squeezed of as much information as possible. After which, I honestly wasn’t sure what to do with them.

Were they any other species, long term imprisonment and potentially rehabilitation would be simple. However, these creatures have specific dietary needs. I was not willing to let them feed on someone just to keep them breathing, but I also wasn’t willing to execute them. Waiting for them to starve was even worse.

Having had time to process my interactions with them thus far, it’s clear they’re not as monstrous as I previously believed. They’re people. On many occasions throughout interrogations, they displayed a willingness to be reasonable. They most proactively gave information in exchange for ensuring each other's safety.

The more I thought about it, the more I was sure that executions were off the table. Besides a swell of empathy staying my hoof, such an act could trigger a full scale war.

Empress of the North. Who could that be? Someone who could answer questions, I bet.

I was leaning towards a decision that I knew would be unpopular.

Icarus and Jasiri waited patiently as I paced back and forth, stewing in my thoughts. They’d been summoned on short notice. This decision could have dire consequences, and I needed outside input.

Finally stopping, I turned to face them. “The changeling prisoners can’t be held in captivity forever. They’ll starve. We also still know practically nothing about where they are from or who they answer to.” I took a deep breath. “I want to escort them to their home.”

The Colonel did a double take. “Pardon, ma’am? They attacked a Commonwealth settlement. They tried to assassinate a Mayor. That is an act of war.”

“I… agree with the General.” Jasiri surprised me. “There are too many unknowns, and perhaps an act of compassion can stop the situation from getting worse.”

“Or allow them a chance to slip another blade in our backs,” Icarus scoffed.

I shot the griffon a glare. “Colonel, believe me when I tell you how dangerously fast reactionary violence can escalate. If you ever need a reminder, look out a window.”

“That…” He calmed himself. “You’re right, I apologize. It is an opportunity to learn more, in the event they intend to continue hostilities. How do you intend to transport them? G-VIIIs?”

I nodded. “Four should hold them and two squadrons each to keep them under guard. A pair of G-IXs should accompany us. I will be the only officer present.”

Icarus was clearly about to object to that last part, but I raised a hoof.

“If anything happens, I am more than capable of handling myself.” I smiled. “I trust you to command in my absence. Given the nature of the threat, I need as many sharp minds keeping an eye out as possible.”

He saluted. “Yes, ma’am.”

Jasiri spoke up again. “For what it’s worth, I believe this is the right thing to do, whether it succeeds or not. Whinnypeg has taken a blow, but it’s one we can recover from. The wounds of full scale war are not so easily healed. May any effort to avoid that be blessed.”

One problem remained. I didn't know where to take the changelings. It was time to pay shaky like a leaf another visit.

Rapping my hoof loudly and suddenly against her cell door caused the green bug to leap out of her slumber with a start. I grinned at her through the bars, and she whimpered as she pressed herself against the back wall.

“Good news, Shaky. I’ve decided to free you all. Even give you a ride home.” My words replaced her fear with disbelief. “But first, I need to know where I’m going, and who I’m turning you over to. Who is the Empress of the North, and where can I find her?”

Her usual terrified expression returned. “I can’t…”

My horn glowed.

“I, uh, I mean…” she began to correct herself. “The Crystal Empire! W-We’re from the Crystal Empire, in the Frozen North.”

The Crystal Empire is still standing? The number of missiles the zebras sent there should have obliterated it. And now it was occupied by changelings? At least I know where I’m going.

“Good, good… and the Empress?” My assumption is Chrysalis, but you never know.

Shaky shuffled on her hole-riddled hooves. “...Flurry Heart.”

I felt myself recoil in flabbergasted shock. The daughter of Shining Armor and Princess Cadance? She’s alive!?

No, that makes perfect sense. Obviously the royal family would be the first to get into Stable 111. Besides, Flurry is an alicorn. She and her mother have the lifespan to still be around.

Still, why hasn’t she reached out to the rest of the wasteland? Cadance is a Princess, she has a duty to uphold. Even if tragedy struck her, Flurry would inherit that responsibility. Also, why do changelings answer to her? Shaky could give me some answers on the way there.

With the assistance of three platoons, our thirty-six prisoners were shackled together in groups of nine. Each group was led into a transport whirligig by two squads of eight. I followed Shaky’s group into the first of the four Griffonchasers. After everything was checked and secured, we lifted off with our gunship escort.

The changelings stayed huddled together, trying to keep their eyes averted from the griffon-held rifles, battle-saddle-mounted machine guns, and sleek novasurge pistols their guards wouldn’t hesitate to use if provoked.

I noticed that the blue male who kept his mandibles shut was in this group as well. He repeatedly shot Shaky scowls of disapproval. I couldn’t help but wonder what sort of reprisal she’d face for being so cooperative with her captors. Really, they should be thankful to those who talked. They’re the reason they’re alive and heading home.

Hmm… For all I know, that could be the problem.

“Tell me, Shaky, what should I expect?” She looked up nervously at being addressed by the name I’d given her. She hasn’t corrected me thus far, so I’m going to keep using it. “Will it be a warm welcome by friends and family happy to see you safe, or am I dragging you to certain doom for failure?”

She did her usual nervous shuffle. “A bit of column A/column B, I suppose. Empress Flurry Heart will be pleased that most of us are unharmed, but… less so that we were discovered. Significantly less so that we’re leading you to her. Another alicorn…”

I heard a scoff from the blue beetle. His silence had been broken at last. “There weren't supposed to be other alicorns. Our Empress was the last. You… You must be an imposter. A fraud!”

My troops gripped their weapons a bit tighter at his raised tone.

“Pot meet kettle,” I fired back. “To an extent, you’re not wrong. I was born a pegasus. I made myself something more. Make no mistake, shapeshifter, my power is not an illusion.”

Below us, the forest gradually became frozen tundra. All signs of life vanished in the icy, mountainous void. I began to sympathize with their desire to settle elsewhere.

Then I saw it. The Crystal Palace, in all its shining splendor, peaked above the mountains. Passing over them, I immediately felt the chill piercing our aircraft become pleasantly warm as the valley below became lush and vibrant. A colorful town in the shape of a snowflake sprawled out from the base of a massive white tower. All made almost entirely of crystal.

After pulling myself out of shocked amazement, I snapped my soldiers out of it by ordering the pilots to touch down on the main road, at the Empire’s gate. Whatever military force Flurry had, they undoubtedly saw us coming. Even as just a symbolic gesture, I announced myself and my intentions over all radio channels.

Sure enough, a decently sized swarm of armed and armored changelings was approaching as we exited our craft and corralled our prisoners ahead of us. Sticking with the theme, their armor was of a crystalline material, and was reminiscent of the old royal guard. Their weapons were unique, a sort of sword/laser rifle hybrid. Clearly meant to be held with telekinesis, but could be gripped in their mandibles if necessary. Their technology had kept up with the times, if not their aesthetic.

It contrasted sharply with my own forces. A mix of hooved and taloned creatures, adorned in modern combat armor that took design cues from war-time equipment as well as Stable security gear. Chest and shoulder plates colored a dark matte earth and gray covered a tan and black ballistic uniform. Full head helmets equipped with a suite of electronics akin to a Pip-Buck ensured a technological advantage in terms of target acquisition and communication.

Ordering my soldiers to hold their position, I moved up with the prisoners in tow. Ahead of me, the changeling soldiers parted to reveal a tall figure trotting forward to meet me. Dressed in her own elegant armor, white with a pink shimmer that matched her coat, the alicorn faced me.

Flurry Heart’s long, fuchsia, azure-streaked mane sparkled as it billowed in the breeze. Crystal blue eyes pierced me as we moved ever closer to each other. We stopped a mere few meters apart.

I made my synthetic body sufficiently taller than my admittedly height-challenged original. About halfway between an average pony and Princess Luna. I’m humble like that. Flurry was nearly Celestia’s size. Assuming this actually was Flurry Heart, and not a changeling in disguise.

She gazed past me at her shackled people, a bittersweet expression on her face. “I see… My little changelings ventured where they should not have, I take it?”

“They did a little more than get lost. They infiltrated a town under my protection with the intention of assassinating and replacing its leadership.” I scowled. “I am doing you the courtesy of returning those we captured. I hope we can both see why we should avoid something like this happening again. One survivor of the apocalypse to another.”

Flurry gave me a discomforting, smug little smile. “So it really is you.”

I cocked my head at her response, then backpedaled in alarm as her horn glowed. She was faster with her magic than I was with mine, and her spell struck me before I could raise a defense.

My body collapsed, and rapidly became encased in a translucent vitric shell. I couldn’t move anything except my eyes, and my horn was somehow silenced by my prison’s aura. All I could do was watch and listen as my soldiers panicked and retaliated.

“Castle is down! Castle is down! Open f-”

In the corners of my vision, I saw rocks and shrubs shift into changeling reinforcements. My soldiers were outnumbered, surrounded, and overwhelmed. Two deafening explosions caught my attention, and I witnessed our gunship escort get destroyed by Flurry. Those who weren’t killed were cocooned as I was.

As the brief firefight ended, Shaky trotted up to her Empress with a confident stride, having gotten out of her shackles.

Flurry knelt and kissed her forehead. “Excellent work, Commander Tenna. Your plan was flawless.”

Gosh darn it. Beaten at my own game.

The Empress turned towards me again, her horn forming another spell. “Sleep tight, Cozy Glow.”