“How could you let him be spotted?!” Celestia shouted at her sister. She was pacing up and down the red carpet of the throne room, stopping only to give Luna and I an angry glare.
“I’m sorry sister, I was unaware of anypony being present below us in the street!” Luna protested. It was really my fault for hanging over the balcony, but I had done the same the night before, and nopony had seen us then.
“Well, surly you could have considered the rumors going about, and that ponies may be out and about searching for evidence to confirm them. Now, they have all they need.”
I decided speak up in Luna’s defense. “Princess Celestia, this is really my fault. I too failed to consider that ponies might be out wondering about and put myself in a position to be spotted.”
“It may be a fault on both your parts,” Celestia said, “But I trusted my sister to be more wary, especially since she took the risk of brining you out to the balcony to begin with.” She turned to one of the stained glass window and sighed. I felt bad for disappointing her, and getting Luna in trouble. I couldn’t help but think she was considering sending me back.
“Captain, were you able to round up any of the spectators on the street?” She asked Iron Side.
“No, your highness, none of the guards we dispatched could track down anypony who may have been out on the street tonight.” Celestia turned from the window and faced the three of us present in the room. “Tell me, then, what am I to say to everypony tomorrow?”
“Well, there is always the cover story we used on prince Blueblood, Princess.” I suggested. It seemed to work on him, and the ponies of equestrian would trust anything that their Princess and protector told them.
“Hmm, that you are a refugee, and are here to aid in protecting the city in exchange for asylum.” Iron Side added. “Princess, if I may, I think this is the best course of action for you to take. They will trust what you say.”
“I suppose you both are right,” She said, “I could dispel the rumor that you were summoned here, but I must have your promise that you will stick to this story, and this story only. I’m sure everypony can agree with this.”
“Of course, your highness.” I replied, bowing my head.
“Do you know why I didn’t want you to leave the palace during your stay here” Celestia asked me, walking back to her throne.
“Well, you said it was for my protection, before.” I said. I stared back at her, and saw her face take on the emotionless glance I had seen when I first arrived.
“In part, yes. I did not want to ask for your help, and then throw you into harm’s way. It was also advantageous to have an advisor like you, without the enemy knowing. However, I kept the full truth from you. While I believe that the spell we cast would summon the right individual, the things you’ve told me about your world, how strange you appear, I just wasn’t sure I could trust you completely.” She paused, and took on a sad expression. “Perhaps it was wrong, perhaps I should have told you outright, or should not have questioned the spell…”
This made a lot of sense to me; I didn’t feel angry about it at all. “Princess, I understand, I kinda, sorta, felt like that was the reason all along. I want you to know that you can trust me. I may have been brought here unwillingly, but I’m more than willing to help. I hope what I’ve done here so far can speak for me enough.”
Luna returned to her side of the throne as well, next to her sister. “I have discussed with Louis, during the last two nights, about his feelings about being here, I have sensed his heart is right and his intentions are honest. Sister, I do not feel he is of any threat to us here.”
“Thank you, Princess Luna” I said. “I do feel that I could be of greater aid, if I was allowed to at least accompany the guards on patrol outside the palace. There is a lot more to patrolling than being a passive watch. The Captain would understand more."
“My sister and I will consider it,” Celestia said, “But before any of this can take place, we must work on our speech for tomorrow. I want you to be present for it, so please wash up and get some rest tonight.”
“Will I have to say anything?” I asked. I’m not one for speeches, especially speeches in front of a huge crowed that is staring at you like you have a dick on your forehead, which I was certain would be the reaction tomorrow.
“Not if you don’t want to, you can just smile and wave.”
“Sounds like a good idea to me.” I bowed and dismissed myself from the room. “Good night, I heard Luna say as I went through the door.
I walked down the stairs and into the atrium, then took the left that lead to the guest rooms. Twilight was in the hall with Rarity, whispering. Rarity noticed me first. “Ah, your back, are you in trouble?” she asked excitedly. “Is the princess going to punish you?” Twilight also inquired. “I can talk to her, I’m sure it wasn’t your fault, uh, whatever you did.” They both looked very worried.
“No, everything is fine. I’m not in trouble.” I assured the two of them.
“But, the princess, She was so angry!” Rarity exclaimed. She put her hoof up on her forehead.
“She was angry that I was seen by other ponies outside the palace, but she decided that it was ok, and I’m now, possibly, going to be allowed to leave the castle on patrol with the guards”
“Well, that’s way better than I expected” Twilight said. “I’m glad you’re not in trouble.”
I ran my hand down my face and felt the scruff of a developing beard. “Hey, Twilight, you know growing magic, right?” I asked her.
“Yes, I most certainly do,” She answered, “why do you ask”
I pointed to the side of my face to illustrate. “Do you thing you can keep me from growing facial hair while I’m here?”
“Um, sure” She replied, “Hold on a second. Her horn lit up and my face felt warm suddenly. Before I could blink, I felt a slight jolt, and she was finished. I ran my hand down my face, feeling the smooth skin of my cheek. “Thank you, Twilight. I don’t really like facial hair, and there isn’t any place to shave or wash up here, I’ve noticed. The princess wants to present me to everypony tomorrow, using my cover story from the night before.”
“We actually do have a pool to wash up in, outside in the garden” Twilight said. “If you want, Rarity or I can show you were it is.” That didn’t sound like a good idea.
“No, thank you, I’ll find it on my own.”
* * *
Green Sentry stood with his fellow guards in a line encompassing the yard below the Canterlot Palace Balcony. Everypony had gathered here today to hear the Princesses’ speech on the rumors of the new arrival to the city. Green Sentry’s job was to maintain order and keep anypony from passing through the line in front of the palace that he was part of. Secretly, he was also supposed to be on the lookout for any strange activity or behavior. What the citizens of Canterlot had not been told, was that every member of the audience would be scanned after the speech with the identity spell, before they could leave.
He was a unicorn guardsman, and had learned the spell the day prior. He had conducted it on many of the servants in the castle already, so he fancied himself well skilled at using the spell. He began selecting several members of the crowd in front of him that he would scan as soon as the speech started.
“Hey, you started scanning yet?” The white earth pony guard next to him asked.
“No, but I have a few that I will scan as soon as the Princess appears. Keep your eye on the red and blue pegasus a few ponies back, she is standing behind a much taller earth pony, when she could be flying above him to get a better view. She may be hiding.”
“Roger, just give me the signal and I’ll go charging in.”
“I will, if we catch one, I hear Captain Iron Side wants to-“
Trumpets sounded from above, on the balcony, the signal that the Princesses would now be addressing the audience. Everypony began to cheer. Green Sentry looked behind him and only saw the two sisters. He had seen the stranger talking with the captain in the hall, and had been fully briefed on who he was and what he was here for. He also knew that the stranger was responsible for all the recent changes to procedure, changes that Green Sentry appreciated.
“Good morning, My Loyal Subjects!” Celestia announced, “My sister and I are happy to see you all gathered here in good spirits despite all that is happening in these dark times!” The crowd was silent.
“Now, it has come to our attention that there is a rumor between you, of a stranger in our land. This is partially true.”
The Stranger stepped forward, and Green Sentry went back to watching the crowd. Everypony gasped at the stranger’s appearance. Green Sentry expected that reaction. He reacted very similarly when he first saw him. He was more focused on the pegasus he had spotted earlier, as well as a few others. The speech continued.
“…He has come from far in the north, from a land where the changelings have taken over and destroyed his home…”
“Hey, you scanned her yet?” The earth pony next to Green Sentry asked.
“I’m about to, but I have to go through a few others in front of her, hold on.” Green Sentry prepped the spell and targeted a blue unicorn with glasses. He was clear, so he moved on to the next one.
“He has promised his aid in exchange for a home here in Canterlot. So far, he has done many things…” It was hard to focus on the speech and the spell at the same time. He finally scanned the pegasus. “She’s clear.” He said.
“Ok, move on to the next row.” the earth pony said.
A few ponies up in the front became aware they were being scanned, but did nothing in protest. The scanning policy had been in effect since yesterday, and was non invasive, so long as you weren’t a changeling imposter. Green Sentry looked down the line and saw his fellow unicorn guards doing the same. Most of them had moved on to the third or fourth row of ponies in front of them. The whole line was aglow from their horns. On the other side of him, a unicorn guard working with a pegasus was scanning into the fifth row, and found it necessary to push forward towards the crowd. Green Sentry also found himself having to do the same. He could hear Princess Luna take over for her sister.
“We welcome him into our home. He will be aiding the guards on patrol, and will answer any questions you may have about his homeland…”
“Hey, the pegasus stallion called to his unicorn partner, “I think I got one ducking out, he pointed towards the sixth row, causing green Sentry to break his concentration and look over to his right. “Gray Unicorn stallion, wearing glasses, casually moving back through the crowd.
“Bring him up here!” The Unicorn Guard said.
“You hear that?” Green Sentry said to his partner, “They have eyes on somepony trying to get away on the right”
“I hear you,” The earth pony said, "I’m standing by to charge in"
Green Sentry watched the pegasus descend into the crowd. Suddenly, a commotion erupted. “Stop!” somepony yelled. Green Sentry’s partner wasted no time. He barreled through the crowd in front of him. Green Sentry followed his lead, prepping a disabling spell. Attention quickly fell from the Princesses on the balcony, to the chase that had begun in the yard. Green Sentry quickly caught up to his partner, as ponies on either side scurried out of the pair’s way.
“Quick Silver is in front of him!” His partner yelled. “Prep your spell!”
He found his target, trying to evade the pegasus guard who’d spotted him. He triggered his disabling spell and made contact. The grey unicorn fell to the ground as another spell, and identity spell, enveloped him. The pony flashed from grey to green, then took on the familiar shape of a changeling. Everypony around gasped. Green Sentry’s partner and the pegasus stallion tackled the changeling.
“What do we do with it now?” The pegasus asked.
“I think I can take it from here, said a powerful voice. Everypony looked up and saw Princess Luna descending from above. They all bowed respectively, except for the two restraining the changeling.
Green Sentry saw her envelope the changeling in a blue aura, and then teleport away.
“Quick everypony, Clear the way!” Twilight shouted as she ran down the hall. Princess Celestia, the elements, and a plethora of guards were in pursuit, followed by Luna, still restraining the Changeling captured during the speech. I wasn’t sure where we were going, but I assumed the had a dungeon of some sorts. This was confirmed when we came to a set of spiral stairs and descended them. They lead ro a dark lit hallway, flanked by cells, with a few guards stationed at the entrance. “Make Way!” Twilight shouted again.
We filed in, and Luna deposited the changeling into the first cell. A unicorn guard places a rope around its hooves and wings, making it immobile. Celestia placed another spell on it.
“Now, it is unable to change shape or mentally effect anypony,” She said, “It is completely harmless.”
The Changeling hissed and protruded it’s tounge in our direction.
“Can it speak? “ I asked.
“Yes,” Luna said, “but as Captain Iron Side and Emerald Wing have said, They simply chose not to.”
Captain Iron Side and Emerald Wing came running into the hallway just as Luna had finished talking. “We came as fast as we could!” Iron Side stated, snapping a salute. “Where is this bugger, Your highness?”
“In the first cell, already disabled as usual. What do you have planned this time, Captain?” She asked.
Well Princess,” He replied turning to Celestia, “Beatings don’t work, so we plan on doing what we said earlier and having dear Fluttershy here use the stare on it. That should make it talk.”
Twilight turned to Fluttershy with a look of concern. “Are you sure you’re up to this?” She asked her.
“Well, um, if, my friends, I mean, a..and everypony too, are here, standing with me, then yes, I am willing.” She stepped forward and took a deep breath.
“Take your time, Fluttershy,” Celestia Said, “Nopony is pressuring you, but we are all here to support you.”
Fluttershy approached it,, quivering, but then stood up and took on a dominating pose, and stared ito the changelings eyes. “It’s wrong to take somepony’s place and sneak around. You will tell us where you hid all the ponies you’ve been impersonating, and surrender to us now!”
Her sudden change of tone scared even me for a second. The Changeling stared back into her eyes, andf I was sure it was feeling the effects of Fluttershy’s stare. She held the gaze for a few more seconds but nothing happened. Then, it laughed, and spat in her face. Fluttershy was shocked and fell over backwards, covering her face. I ran over and kicked the bastard, and he flew into the wall, erupting in a fit of hissing and rocking. Fluttershy’s friends gathered around to comfort her. “It didn’t do anything, “ she was saying, “I failed.” Weak sobs came from under her hooves.
Celestia turned to Luna and Iron Side. “Now what should we do? None of our tactics seem to work. Perhaps it’s time to banish this one too.”
“Wait, Princess, I have an idea!” I stated, turning to Luna. “I know that Princess Luna is the warden of dreams, and that she can enter and effect a pony’s dream while they are asleep.”
Celestia spoke up. “yes, my sister does this, but how can this help?”
“Bear with me, Princess,” I said, “Princess Luna, do you think you could go into this changelings dream and extract information from it?” I stole that idea from the movie Inception. As cheesy as that was, it defiantly would help us in this situation. It felt really cool just to be suggestion the idea.
“Oh, well,” Luna said, “I suppose it is possible for me to do as you suggest, as scary as it sounds to go into a changelings dream. It is a burden I am willing to bear for the good of all. What would I be looking for it the dream?”
“Well, for any useful facts, memories of places, ponies, other changelings, plans he may be involved in,” I explained. “and anything specific to him, like his mission or who he operates with,”
“The subject, would of course, have to be asleep,” Luna pointed out.
“Don’t worry, my sister,” Celestia said, “I can make sure of that.” Her horn started to glow white, and enveloped the bug like pony. He struggled briefly, then closed his eyes and relaxed his body.
“I shall begin, then.” Said Luna. She closed her eyes as well, and lsat down by her sister. We all watched her and waited.
* * *
Only a few short minutes passed, and Luna awoke from her trance. We all looked intently toward her as she stood up.
“I wasn’t able to find much,” She said, “He resisted me even in the dream. I was able to uncover a street name and a door, however,. It seemed to be the most important secret he was trying to keep. “
“We’ll That gives us something to work with!” I said, “if you don’t mind, princess, what was the name of the street?”
“South Canterlot Avenue. ” She said.
“That’s the upper-class housing district,” Said the Captain. “I shall increase patrols in the area immediately.”
“Actually captain,” I interjected, “This is a perfect opportunity for a raid. The princess says she remembers a door. With this information, we may be able to pinpoint an area where changelings are operating and put a stop to it.”
“So you are saying we should just charge head long into this with no further INTEL?” he asked, raising an eyebrow at me.
“No, but with the information we have, we can find this area and stake it out. Once we observe any unusual activity in the area, we can act. I think we should post up in the area tonight.”
“If it is ok with the Princesses, I can organize a patrol soon. I suppose you’re going to want to tag along, now that you are allowed outside the palace walls.” The Captain asked.
“If I have the permission from the Princesses and you,” I replied.
“Very well, your highness, what should we do?”
“I believe Louis is right, this could be a great opportunity. We have had no reason to doubt him so far. I want you to approach this with caution, however. Don’t do anything rash, captain, and report everything to me immediately.”
“Yes, Your highness,” he replied, “If Princess Luna could describe this door, I think we could set things in motion, then.”
* * *
Darkshadow was pleased with how well Snakestalker’s plan was going. Not only had the rumor become viral in less than a day, but it had resulted in exactly what he wanted. This creature was now known to everypony in Canterlot and would be traveling around outside the palace. All he had to do was give his operators orders to follow him, and strike when the creature was unprotected or most vulnerable. There were plenty of places in Canterlot away from the public view. Then, they could learn about what he was and what he had done so far to aid the ponies. Of course, after gaining any INTEL from him, he would have to be disposed in order to no longer pose a threat.
“Sssnakestalker!” the chief called out to his subordinate.
“Yesss chief,” he responded, coming into the room.
“I want you to begin sssending operativesss to watch each patrol leaving the palace. Any patrol that thisss creature is a part of, I want them to follow, and to intercept if possible. Make ssssure they do not make an uncovered move, thisss isss our bessst ssshot.”
“Yesss, chief.” Snakestalker replied. “I have an unfortunate report, today.”
“What isss it?” The chief asked.
“One of my operatives was captured during the princesssscesss ssspeech today. He was brought to the palace.”
“Mossst unfortunate,” the chief said, “however, we have nothing to fear, and none of our operatives would even think of ssspilling any information. There are no meathodsss these ponies could possibly use to extract it from any of usssss.”
“True,” Snakestalker agreed, “we would never do anything to compromise the hive. I am relieved of concern.”
“Then you are dismissed, You have your mission, Snakestalker. For the hive!”
“Long live the queen,” he replied, trotting out the door.