Twilight quietly peeked into the guestroom to gaze upon its lone occupant, as she had done once every hour since they had arrived back from Sugar Cube Corners. Music poured out of the crack of the doorway, emanating from the small phonograph she had dug out of the closet. Tarpan sat in the middle of the room listening to the works of some of Equestria’s greatest composers, staring diligently at the device as it played. His expressions changed as the music did, as if he were watching a story woven by the notes. The lavender mare watched, just as fascinated with him as he was with the music. She quietly began to scribble her thoughts down on her notepad, recording the name of the music, Tarpan’s reaction, and her own analysis. She was so engrossed in her study that she failed to notice Spike come up behind her, his eyebrow raised in curiosity.
“…Twilight,” he whispered, “What are you doing?” His eyes suddenly widened as Twilight tensed up in surprise. The dragon jumped to the floor just as she bucked her hind-legs in the air. She whirled around, shooting the reptile an annoyed glare.
“Spike!” she hissed, “How many times have I told you to never sneak up on me?”
“Apparently not enough,” Spike grumbled as he rose to his feet. He noticed the notepad and pencil nearby, and shot Twilight a wry look. The unicorn’s irritation melted into sheepishness.
“Really?” Spike said as he crossed his arms, “You’re studying him already?”
“Well…” replied the equine as she shifted uncomfortably, looking away. The dragon sighed and put a claw to his forehead.
“Twilight,” he groaned, “I thought we went over this. It’s not polite to study the guests. It creeps them out.”
“I know…” came the guilty reply, “It’s just, well, this is such a huge opportunity. Nopony has ever had the chance to study a live Neighanderthal before, and, well I…” Spike sighed and put his arm around her shoulder.
“Don’t worry,” he said as he began to lead her away from the guestroom, “You’ll learn more about him tomorrow. Just give him some privacy for now.”
********
For such a busy, bustling town during the day, Ponyville was surprisingly quiet at night. Not a single light shone from a window. The normally crowded town square was empty, the vendor’s stalls bare and silent. The bright, silvery moon overhead cast still shadows about the cobblestone streets, faintly reflecting off of the large, clear glass of the store windows that ran up and down the block.
A new shadow suddenly appeared. It was formed the moment the door of the library slowly opened, creating a warped, rectangular visage against the doorstep. From the darkness within Twilight’s home, a big, blockish shape emerged out into the moonlight, creeping along on thick, sturdy hooves. They padded out onto the doorstep, making little noise as they shuffled back around to face the library. The shadow of the door slowly eased back into the doorway, shutting with a faint click.
A low sigh of relief broke the silence of the night as Tarpan turned back to face the empty street. The stallion looked up at the moon. It was still high in the sky, telling him that the night was still far from over. He had plenty of time to explore the settlement and its surroundings. Tarpan’s blunt muzzle swung left and right as he peered down the street. His gray eyes finally found something of interest in the market square. The Neighanderthal started for the empty stalls.
The air was cool, something Tarpan greatly appreciated after experiencing the heat of the day. He looked into each of the stalls as he passed them by. It had been only hours ago that each one had been filled with yammering southland ponies who gave out food for bits of shiny, yellow rocks. The Neighanderthal shook his head at the memory. Only a fool would trade food for rocks. Granted, Tarpan noticed had that the ponies handing it out seemed to have more than enough, but even then, it was strange to think that they would willingly give it away.
The stallion kept wandering, peeking in and around the makeshift counters and flimsy, ply-board stands. The sweet scents of various fruits still lingered. There was one in particular that drew his attention. It was exotic and powerful, leaving a spicy aroma in his nostrils. He drew in deep breaths as he followed it through the maze of the marketplace, until he found its source. A small box that lay on its side, knocked from a table just after closing time. Tarpan stuck his head inside, his nostrils sucking up a fragrance that was unknown to him. It was strong and tangy, but was altogether pleasant, like a fruit or a berry.
Tarpan withdrew his muzzle from the box just in time to notice a shadow pass overhead. The stallion glanced up, his eyes zeroing in on a dark shape as it fluttered around the corner. For a moment he stood still, staring at where it had vanished. His eyes narrowed as he caught another strange scent in the air. It was musty, almost toxic, seeming to sting his nostrils. The closest Tarpan could compare it to was the musk of a stinkbug.
The Neighanderthal quietly crept forth out of the marketplace, trailing after the smell. It seemed the only sound to be heard was the soft clomp of his hooves as they fell against stone. All the same, he kept his ears up and alert as he pressed his body against the wall of the post office, sliding along until he came to the corner. He peeked over its edge, his cheek brushing against the brick. The stallion’s gray eyes widened at what he saw.
A shadow was hovering in the middle of the street, halfway between the ground and the rooftops. It gently bobbed up and down, occasionally drifting from side to side. Two glistening, ragged wings kept it aloft, perpetually beating with uncanny speed. Tarpan likened them to the wings of an insect, but the thought created a brief moment of dissonance within his mind. The form they were attached to was not an insect, but a pony. Or at least, from his vantage point, it appeared as a pony. The Neighanderthal continued to watch the shadow as it began inching toward a pony dwelling, a wary frown spreading across his face.
***********
Closer. Just a little closer. Edgar could see his reflection smiling back at him as he neared the window. The yellow crescent faltered for a moment as the changeling noted his teeth. He really had to get them fixed some time. He doubted it would do much to improve his overall appearance, but then, since when did changelings worry about cosmetics? Edgar and his brethren could take on the appearance of pony supermodels if they wanted to.
But for now, as per instruction by the queen, Edgar was to find and replace a citizen of Ponyville. He was about to do precisely that. For two days he had observed a stallion known as Noteworthy, taking mental notes on all of his attributes and memorizing his relationships with different ponies. Now came the simple part of assuming his identity. All he had to do was sneak into his house, take his form, and keep him hidden until his work was done.
Edgar reached out for the windowsill with porous hooves, his exoskeleton rustling softly against the wood. His palled blue eyes squinted as they peered inside at the bedroom, zeroing in on the bed. The changeling’s grin widened as he spotted the form of a sleeping stallion, his chest rising and falling beneath the blankets with each breath. Edgar gripped the corners of the window pane, preparing to slide it open. He paused for just a moment, casting one last glance at Noteworthy. He showed no signs of stirring. His eyes were closed, his mouth in a slight smile. Fast asleep. Edgar took a deep breath before tightening his grip.
His ragged ears suddenly stiffened up as he heard a sharp crack shatter the silence of the night. Panic suddenly raced through his brain at the thought that he wasn’t alone. The changeling whirled around in the direction of the noise. He had just enough time to see a stone soaring towards his face.
“Oh…”
Edgar somehow retained enough self-restraint not to scream as the stone impacted his forehead. A hairline fracture appeared in the chitin above his right eye as it bounced off, landing in a rain gutter across the street. By that time the changeling had fallen the fifteen feet to the ground, landing on his back with a muffled crunch.
**********
Tarpan’s eyes followed the shadow as it dropped to the street. The Neighanderthal stepped over the small pothole that had been filled by a cobblestone only moments ago, heading over toward the downed creature. He picked up his pace as he saw the limbs twitch. He could see now that it was black in color, as dark as burnt wood. The stallion came to a stop over the creature, looking upon it in disbelief.
It was a bizarre mix of pony and insect, partially covered in jagged plates of chitin. All four of its legs were pockmarked with gaping holes, looking as if they had been gnawed by maggots and worms. Along its segmented neck was a rigid, wrinkled membrane that mimicked a mane. The ears were long and thin, ending in uneven points. A horn projected from the creature’s forehead; curved, Tarpan noticed, like a stinger. The mouth was half open, revealing a set of long, crooked canine teeth.
Tarpan looked down upon the creature with a mixture of disgust and curiosity. In all his years, he had never seen anything like it. The Neighanderthal hesitantly raised his foreleg, reaching out to touch its shoulder.
************
Edgar’s eyes snapped open the moment he felt a hoof prodding at his side. The changeling’s brain was suddenly aware that that he was experiencing pain. It was not the worst pain he had ever felt, but it was rather trying all the same. Firstly it was his head, which throbbed dully where the cobblestone had struck him. Secondly, it was his left wing. A brief and involuntary shudder allowed him to hear a crisp snap from his shoulder--Edgar let out a wheezing sigh. His wing had come off…again.
The changeling heard a deep, guttural voice cry out in surprise as he moved. Almost immediately, Edgar leapt to his hooves, wincing as the pain of his injuries flared with each movement. His lips parted in a fierce snarl, flashing his teeth in the moonlight. The chitin-plated equine let out a menacing hiss at whoever stood over him, his body tensing into a defensive crouch.
Edgar’s narrowed eyes widened slightly as he saw the brutish stallion before him. He was stocky and broad shouldered, covered in thick, shaggy, grayish-brown fur. A wild mane grew from a large, ugly head, the muzzle thick and square. His gray eyes were set in an angry glare. The Changeling returned his own ferocious snarl at the stallion’s icy gaze. Though outwardly Edgar appeared fierce and bestial, on the inside, he was panicking. This stallion, whoever he was, would jeopardize his entire mission. If Ponyville was made aware of the mere sighting of a changeling, the resulting uproar would make it impossible to infiltrate.
Though he felt a powerful rage toward the stallion, Edgar did not let it hold sway over his thoughts. The changeling flashed a sharp-toothed grin as his body was enveloped in an emerald flash, the shadow within morphing from a slender insectoid to one that mirrored his opponent’s.
**********
Tarpan let out a startled yelp as the bug-pony suddenly glowed a bright green, changing into a pony that looked like…himself. Standing less than a foot away was his exact copy, a brawny Neighanderthal with a stony glare on his face. The stallion snorted in bafflement, taking a hurried step away from the doppelganger. His double’s face broke into a malicious smile, a gravelly laugh sounding off in its throat. Tarpan stood still for a moment, his mouth open in astonishment. It even sounded like him. But he knew that it couldn’t be him, because he was him…Wasn’t he?
He could only manage a confused grunt as the double rose up on its hind-legs, bringing down its fore-hooves onto his skull. The next thing Tarpan felt was his body dropping to the cold cobblestone beneath, his teeth clacking together as his chin thudded to the street. He lay stunned for a moment, trying to collect his thoughts. He had just been assaulted by himself. But it wasn’t really himself; he was sure of that now. Though its appearance was that of a Neighanderthal, it still had that same awful stinkbug odor of the bug-pony.
*********
Edgar bit into his jaw as he tried to hold back a scream. A fiery pain was suddenly present in his hooves, quickly working its way up his forelegs and into his shoulders. The changeling-turned-pony backed away from his downed target, wincing as his forelimbs touched the ground. Striking the stallion’s head had been like punching a block of granite. Edgar let a muffled hiss escape from his lips as he turned back to look at his downed enemy. Much to his surprise, the stallion was no longer laying flat against the street. He was slowly rising to his hooves, a low growl in his throat.
The changeling took another step back as the stallion’s eyes focused on him, looking icy and unforgiving. A snarled tail angrily whipped back and forth behind him. Edgar had just moments to notice it before the pony wheeled around on his forelegs, firmly planting a kick to the impostor's muzzle.
The changeling’s face felt like it was on fire as he went sailing down the street, so dazed that he didn’t even notice his disguise had vanished at the moment of impact. In another instant he felt his shoulder brush against the ground, the street scratching and grating his carapace. He kept on sliding for quite some time, his body rattling over the cobblestones. At long last the Edgar finally came to a stop, his still body sprawled out chaotically like a fallen marionette. His chest sluggishly rose and fell as he stared up at the sky, his eyes wide and blank.
Edgar had fought before. He had trained with some of Chrysalis’s most brutal Generals. He had been present at the failed siege of Canterlot, and had been able to best two of Celestia’s personal guards on his own. He had even fought against the Elements of Harmony when they had attempted to retrieve their respective elements. But he had never before fought with a pony who could kick him halfway across a town, nor did he ever wish to fight one again.
With a weak, agonized groan, Edgar began to move. He shakily turned himself over and pulled his battered limbs from beneath his body. He heard his exoskeleton crack in several places as he unsteadily climbed to his hooves, looking as if he might tip over at any second. Every inch of his body seemed to ache, so much to the point where it felt less like pain and more like a physical force pulling him down. The changeling shuddered, trying to regain control of himself.
His loose, wobbly body suddenly froze as a noise reached his ragged ears. A heavy gallop echoed from somewhere behind him, growing louder and presumably closer with each passing second. Edgar’s eyes grew wide. The changeling slowly shuffled around, looking back down the street. A dreading grimace appeared on his muzzle as he saw a powerful pony running toward him, charging along with the force of an express train. In mere seconds he was close enough so that Edgar could see his expression. Gray eyes were narrowed in determination, the enormous teeth gritted in a furious scowl.
It were as if Edgar’s pain had vanished. Instantly he had turned around and broken into a sprint that would have awed judges of the Equestrian Games. The changeling became a dark blur as he fled down the shadowy road, his hole-filled hooves ringing hollowly with each step. He heard the hoof beats behind him grow distant, but they continued to remain within earshot even as neared the very edge of Ponyville. He never looked back, and in truth, did not want to.
***********
Tarpan’s nostrils flared with each breath as he galloped after the bug-pony, his eyes zeroed in on its one-winged form. The creature’s speed surpassed his own, but the Neighanderthal wouldn’t let that stop him from driving it away from the pony settlement. Already the houses were thinning, growing fewer the farther they ran. Soon Tarpan felt the cobblestone street become dirt road. He could see the bug-pony clearly now, as there were no shadows for it to duck behind out in the open country.
But it would only remain open country for a bit longer. Up ahead Tarpan saw the moonlight shining upon a multitude of towering trees. The bug-pony suddenly disappeared into the darkness between two enormous oaks. Tarpan’s hoof beats began grow softer as he slowed, staring at the quiet forest with wary eyes. He might have given up chase if not for a last-minute thought. The bug-pony could have been hiding just behind the tree-line, waiting for him to turn around. Maybe it would be best just to make sure it was gone, and if it wasn’t, scare it off.
The Neighanderthal raced to the forest, the world growing darker as he approached the trees. Leaves crunched between his hooves and the road as he neared. Branches swayed overhead, casting eerie shadows about the forest floor. The stallion glanced up at the boughs of the oaks as he passed beneath them. It was only for a brief moment. But it was long enough to keep him from noticing the pit before him.
Tarpan cried out as he fell face-forward into a dark hole in the ground.
************
A smile weakly formed along Edgar’s bruised muzzle as he watched his brutish opponent tumble into the pit. A thick, loud squelch sounded off, and the smile turned into a grin. The changeling’s head poked out of a crevice in the base of an oak, his face half-hidden in shadow. With an oily snicker the insectoid slithered out of the tree, heading towards the edge of the hole. A furious grunt reached his withered ears as he peered down into darkness. The rays of moonlight that peeked down through the branches shone against the slick surface of glistening muck.
In the center of the gelatinous soil was the thrashing form of a stallion, his teeth bared in frustration as he made a grab for one of the gnarled, twisting roots that poked through the sides of the pit. The pony kicked his back-legs wildly, thrusting himself upwards. Edgar cocked his head slightly as the equine fell back into the mud with a loud splat, letting out another snide giggle.
“Well,” he chuckled in a nasally, greasy tone, “How…convenient.”