//------------------------------// // New Damarescus // Story: Lucky's Seven: The Changeling Hunters // by Lucky424 //------------------------------// What was that? There it was again. Something is inspecting me with a hoof. And another one. Wait, are they sniffing me? “Get any closer and I'm going to break your nose.” There was a mad scrambling as whoever that was backed away. I slowly rolled over and stood up, opening my eyes and looking for my 'investigator'. I couldn't see anyone around because of the dust in the air, and then there was a rush of wind as it was blown away. Landing softly, a middle aged mare hit the grass. “I'm sorry, I didn't mean any offence....I was just curious as to what you are. Are you that..... 'hoo-mann' I have heard rumours of?” Looking at the mare, it was obvious she was scared and ready to fly away at the first sign of trouble. I sat back down, trying to look as un-threatening as possible. “Yes ma'am, and there are four more as well. Don't worry, we're friends.” I leant over to my right and started to brush off the dirt covered mound, revealing my friend. “Hey, asswipe, get up. We've got company.” Simon rolled over and shook himself off like a dog. “Damn, last time I had sand in my ass crack was when me and this chick were getting it on down at Newqmmppph!!” I had shoved my hand across his mouth and nodded to the side. He glanced over and stared at the mare for a second, before leaning back and keeping his trap shut. “Mother, is that you?” The voice came from behind us and we both turned to see Pokey sticking his head out of the Pelican. There was a dark blur as she darted over, giving him a mighty embrace. “Oh After, it's so good to see you!! How have you been? Wait....is that a…..ring on your horn?” He smiled and nodded sheepish, before being pulled in for another hug, this one with enough force to crush his lungs, if the way his face went purple was any sign. “Oh I'm so happy for you!! I can't wait to meet her? It is a her right? No that there's anything wrong with it, it's just I'd like grandfoals someday and your brother isn't doing any good on that front!!” A black hoof tapped against her and she relinquished her hold. “Now, importantly, have you been able to avoid these Changeling Hunters? I couldn't imagine it if they found you!” “Actually mother, they are inside helping, and I think you will like them.” We watched as he led the mare in to the Pelican, to which there was a shocked gasp as she saw her other son. “Now stand back mother, they are professionals. They will help.” This is going to be interesting!! “But....are they the Hunters? Wait a minute......Cannon Bolt, is that you?” “Auntie Shadowstar!!! I wasn't expecting to see you out here!! What gives?” “I came to see how my son was settling in. Not that well it seems, judging by his condition.” “What?” “Yes, you heard right. After and Vanishing are my children. So yes, that means their father is a Changeling. Didn't your parents ever tell you?” “No. No they didn't.” “Not surprising, as they never approved. I just wish their father could be here now.” “Um, excuse me ma'am, but what is your sons last name?” I recognised the voice as belonging to White Feather. “Why, it is Image, the same as their fathers. It has been many a year since I saw Shimmering, and I would love to see him again....and apologise for how I treated him.” “Pokey, your father is King Image??? Why the buck didn't you tell us??” “I didn't know you had met him!!! I've only just met you this morning!!! I didn't even know he was royalty!! Why, have you seen him? Did you....deal with him?” There was the sound of sniffling coming out of the door, to which I only assumed was 'Shadowstar'. “No, Pokey, he dealt with us. I think he is visiting Canterlot at the moment, negotiating peaceful terms between a mini-hive and the princesses. We'll take you there after we get the way open.” A flutter of movement to my left, and Technia rose from the dirt, with a strange sandy-ashen combo staining her coat. “That......was a blast!!!! Can we do it again? Can we? Can we? Pleasepleasepleasepleaseplease!!” “Technia, calm the fuck down, we got a.....situation. Pokey's mother is here.” Her head shot to the cargo door where the mare in question had looked out from the shout. “Now, you go check on the damage done, and we'll get the next stage prepared.” She nodded at me and jumped over to the rocks, making her way on top. We got up and walked over to the Pelican and started to lug the bags back out, the others helping. By the time we reached the cliff, Technia was awaiting the next batch of explosives. “Right, you need to mix these chemicals evenly down the holes, then we'll go up and place the ignition sources. You can light them.” She lit her horn and started to channel the compounds in to the cracks. Almost a week had gone by, and we had created a tunnel in to the colony. The thermite worked as expected, burning through the rubble like a hot knife through butter. It was a surprise when Rarity turned up on day four.....with three Diamond Dogs in tow. These were not from the same pack as the others, as evidence by their lack of armour, tatty clothing, and the way they ran away when I knocked the big one down without even trying. Rarity was not pleased about that. I still have bruises. Turns out she had roped them in to helping stabilize the tunnel in exchange for helping them find some gems in the next week or so. I still didn't trust them, even if they were the ones from the show, and kept my hand on my pistol at all times. To fair though, that had done a good job bracing up the entry, and left without a fuss. It was weird making friends with them, as my entire being was screaming at me to throw them in to a deep crevasse. Technia had been strangely absent during this time, and at first I thought is was because the was construction instead of destruction going on. But she hadn't used her bed in the inn once. Pokey and his mother had gone to Canterlot with the Seven to meet with King Image, a reunion that I wanted to stay the fuck away from. Vanishing Image was taken to the nearest healer, and it turned out he was injured by falling debris as he tried to clear the way. He was ordered to remain in bed for the rest of the week. It was early on the fifth day when I finally found out where our explosives mare had disappeared to. “Hey Alec, you got to come see this!! It's amazing.” I just stared at Dan as he stood there, looking like a kid on a sugar rush. He seemed to be shaking as well, but the lighting wasn't perfect in the caverns. “Dan, the last time you said something was amazing, my car got stuck on Salisbury Plain!!! How, I don't even know, but it was a Vauxhaul Astra!!! It's not even a fucking off road vehicle!!” “Yeah yeah, I said I was sorry for that. Now come on, you'll miss it!” Shrugging, I followed him to a single story house near the outskirts of the colony. It looked plain and simple, functionality being the priority. Dan approached and waved me over to the window. “Look over there, that doorway leads to the bedroom. The other one goes to the front room and it has a small couch in it, might be big enough for a pony to use as a bed.” “Listen you perverted little twat, you're bad enough at the best of times, but spying on ponies in their own home takes the fucking cake. You're seeing a shrink when we get back. Again.” “Relax dude, these two aren't doing anything. It's more who is in there. Just give it a minute, you'll see.” Regretting following him already, I peered around the frame as the door to the bedroom opened. From out of it trotted a unicorn mare, charcoal grey coat with a two tone red and grey mane. “See what I mean? Fucking amazing right there!!” I had to admit, it was amazing. She trotted over to a cupboard, and took out what looked like fresh bandages, medicine, and other medical things. Almost a year ago, she had sealed this place off to prevent the Changelings from doing any harm, and now she was helping one of them to heal. Making her way back over to the bedroom, we heard a thud from inside, and Technia's voice easily penetrated the thin pane of glass. “Now you better not be out of bed Vanishing! You know what the doctors said!” The door closed behind her in a green aura as she went in. As calmly and quietly as I could, I went to the front door, and finding it unlocked, made my way inside. I got to the bedroom door and listened carefully. I couldn't hear any talking, and I was quite curious, so I gently turned the handle, and slowly opened the door. It was something I was not expecting. Lying on the bed was Vanishing Image, and wrapped in his hooves was Technia, both dozing away. “What the fuck is going on in here? Technia, why are you in bed with him?” The mares eyes snapped open and she fell out of the bed with a loud thump. “I-i-i-i-i-i was the one responsible for his injuries, so I elected to be the one to heal them. The couch was too small for me to sleep on, and there......was only one bed.” The greys of her cheeks were slowly turning pink, and she must have noticed my grin. “It was his idea, so you can stop whatever dirty thoughts you have going round in your head.....” “But...you are quite pretty.” “....and leave while I tend to his wounds.....what?” Both myself and Technia looked at the Changeling staring at the foot of the bed intently. He said nothing for a moment before looking her in the eye. “I said I think you are quite pretty.” I just turned and walked out. My time getting couples together ended when I got Trixie a coltfriend. I wonder how she's getting on? I'll have to take some time to catch up with her soon. “Hey Captain, we're back!” I turned to see Jet Streak trotting over to me. “Colonel Feather has stayed behind to escort Pokey and Shadowstar around. He'll meet us back in Ponyville later. Oh, and as I'm the acting rank here, I've been put in charge!” “Don't get your hopes up yet Streak, the Captain's still here you know. So you're not in charge!” Hammer had come up behind him, and Streak just poked his tongue out before returning his gaze to me. “So, are the rumours true?” “What rumours?” “That you and the admiral are going to throw down for everyponies entertainment. We heard it from the one called 'Dan'.” I just turned back to the house to see a black humanoid shape vacating the area very, very quickly. I just sighed with resignation. “Well, considering he's probably already told the admiral it was my idea, then yes. We'll do it tomorrow.” “Sweet!! I gotta get back to the ship!! The colonists already have a pool going, and you're the favourite!!” “Great!!! Well, this should be fun, I haven't tangled with him for a while.” The two ponies just stared at me in shock. “What? I sparred with him all the time. We just had to stop doing it in public after the police were called on us....for the tenth time in one day.” We were stood in a pit that some unicorns had hastily dug. It was circular, with a radius of ten metres. “So the rules once again. The victor is the one who makes his opponent yield, or renders them unconscious. We will decide who is the victor and who is the loser. Do you both understand?” We looked at each other and then back to Luna. It was a surprise when she turned up out of the blue. No, literally. There was a gathering of blue smoke, and then there she was. She had gotten wind of our little competition and decided that she would officiate. We both nodded and she quieted the crowds with a wave of her hoof. “You may begin! And four hundred bits on the Captain!!” Dan hit play on the stereo he brought along, the track one that I had requested. With a smile on my face, I turned back to Simon just in time for his fist to slam in to my chin, sending me down in to the sand. “That's for Canterlot, motherfucker. Now lets dance.” Standing back up, I put my feet in to a good stance and raised my fists. “You're on.” We were a blur of motion as strikes met blocks, counter strikes meeting counter bocks. There was no middle ground, and he certainly wasn't holding back. I wasn't putting my full strength in to it yet, but I was nearly there. It went on for a good three minutes. Suddenly, he gave a quick right-left combo, and I went to block for the third strike, but he spun around to his left and struck out with the back of his left arm. It collided with the only thing in its path. My head. I managed to regain my senses and saw a fist coming right for my eye, and managed to stop it in my palm, fingers wrapped around it. “My turn.” Pushing back with all my might, he was thrown off balance, staggering backwards. Lunging forward, I pulled the same move on him, and he blocked all three shots as expected, but not the fourth one that impacted his open chest, sending him in to the air. I spun around to right and punched him square in the stomach, sending him flying through the air and impacting the pit wall. He fell face down to the floor, and coughed a little, bringing up some blood. Shakily, he stood back up so I raised my fists again as he approached. Just when he was in striking range, he toppled over and I caught him, his head laying loosely on my shoulder. He was breathing heavily before he managed to speak up. “I........yield.” “Luna, hospital. Now!” A flash of blue and the three of us where in a white reception room, earning a lot of shocked gasps.