//------------------------------//
// New Contact 
// Story: Acceptance 
// by Riddle-Me-Think 
//------------------------------//


I do not own My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic





Twilight gave a satisfied breath after drinking some tea she had warmed for herself while putting down newly collected information on changelings once more. Over the time she had found out about changelings and had inquired more about them, it seemed to be only thing she would research in her spare time.

Traditions, ideals, philosophy and more could be gleaned from Masquerades telling's at times, and seemed more than happy to share. The Gem sisters seemed more reluctant to say anything, but they had parted with some things about changelings. Like how changelings that had passed their time as a clan head or ruler, would be deemed experienced enough to be given the title Elder.

It was an interesting thing she learned there. Elders acted as teachers, advisers and sometimes on a few occasions, diplomats to the clan they were from. It was apparently a tradition made to keep stability in the clans, as the Elders could help sway dissensions made by clan heads or any king/queen in power if it would cause grief for them all.

Twilights current information however, was coming from Daisy, who had given both her and Masquerade a quick history of her clan, Descry. The clan itself was a small group that had learned of a spell that could allow a changeling, drone or heir, to see another changeling that would be in disguise.

Daisy herself, never learned the spell, being to young at the time to learn it just yet. That didn’t mean she didn’t know a few other things from her clan. One fascinating subject was the clam that all changelings to the Descry Clan would at some point, be able to see through most forms of deceit. Though, Daisy doubted it to be true, she did admit that she had a knack to know when somepony wasn’t completely honest.

Masquerade had taken a keen interest in the clans ability to spot other changelings, despite the cast they would be from. Twilight suspected that it would have something to do with how Daisy knew of other changelings, despite being a common and shouldn’t be able to tell there are others near by.

Some time during the conversation, Rose had asked what Masquerades changeling form looked like, seeing he was an heir. At the time, Twilight thought it was a strange request. But when he showcased himself, Lily had commented how he looked more menacing than Daisy’s form.

Though she could agree, Twilight decided to ask how much more he could look menacing, as she had seen his cousins look not too far off. It seemed to be Daisy’s turn to show her changeling form, and give Twilight a good look at how different commons and heirs looked next to the other.

The first big thing was that a common had blue compound eyes, not the green cat eyes Masquerade had. Another thing was Daisy was smaller, more closer to her friends size, rather than Masquerade, who was nearly a head taller then all of them.

The last one had to be that despite being both changelings, only Masquerade seemed to give off an oppressive feeling. He then explained that was a small trick he had learned with changeling transformations.

With more interest in the subject, She had asked how that worked. And so began a rather invigorating telling of the four stages of changeling transformation that could be achieved.

The first stage was the most simplest, Shape.

The outer shell that gives changelings their shape, and can be done by all changelings. This however, is more or less a overly detailed costume, only giving appearance and nothing more.

Daisy also pointed out that a small discharge of magic can make the whole thing come apart, and drones had a tendency to lose focus and switch from shape to shape by mistake.

The next stage was Structure. This is used to make certain inner workings for the Shape. Though the Shape gave the appearance, the Structure helps imitate the copied body’s strengths and weaknesses that can not be imitated. This is much harder to achieve, and drones have a hard time reaching this point.

When asked what sort of weaknesses, Masquerade has said things like a dumb knee or a lazy eye could not be imitated easily. Daisy also then added that certain organs only males or females had were also added or removed to enhance the disguise further.

The third stage was Substance. This level of the transformation allowed the changing of mass, muscle and even genetics to copy the being they wish to take on. This allows for almost perfect disguise for changelings, as their body takes on the characteristics of the chosen species blood, hormones and even sweat.

It was very rare for a drone reaches this point, and uncommon for commons like Daisy to get to this point. Heirs like Masquerade or his cousins Ebony and Ivory, have a natural ability for it, and have less trouble achieving it.

The last and possibly most hardest stage was the Signature transformation. Even with the other three in place, the magical currents in the body can still be off. Any species that can sense these magical pathways and how they move can tip-off even the most well disguised changeling. This was what heirs could sense when spotting disguised changelings, the current and output of emotions in their magical pathways.

However, this level of transformation actually alters these path ways, their output and wavelength the magic is made up of, making them next to undetectable to even other changelings if done right. It was why Masquerade was considered one of the best, as he could achieve this level and be unnoticed by nearly all.

A few knocks on her door seemed to call for her attention and pull Twilight away form her work. Giving the door a curious glance, she got up and left the scroll roll up on itself to answer the door.

Opening it up, she gave a pleasant smile saying, “Hi girls, what can I do for you?”

Before her sat three small fillies all looking up with bright smiles, with the small orange pegasus saying, “Hi miss Twilight, we were wondering if we could take a look at some books?”

Rolling her eyes, the mare said with amusement, “Scootaloo, this is a library, so of course you can.” And opened it wider for the three, “What are you three looking for exactly?”

“A book on psychology!” The small filly Twilight knew as Rarity’s younger sister, Sweetie Belle. 

Twilight rose a brow at that saying, “Isn’t that a little…advance for you to learn?” Trying to understand the reasoning behind it.

“Oh, well, what she means is…” Scootaloo tried to say but was cut off by Apple Bloom, “We‘re tryin‘ at get our…uh…”

“Psychiatrist cutie mark!” Sweetie Belle finished with some excitement.

“Yes, that!” The orange filly nodded with false excitement, trying her best to seem upbeat about it.

She gave the three another strange look, but didn’t say anything about it. When it came to the Cutie Mark Crusaders, one did not question their means that almost reached Pinkie Pie levels. Thankfully, this sounded safer then their previous ideas so…

“This way girls, I think there are a few left out you can take a look at.” Twilight had to admit that Masquerade did take advantage of the libraries stocked shelves and learn what he could. Mostly on the subject the three fillies wanted to look at.

Passing the table she was working at, Sweetie Belle gave a curious look over to it and broke away from the others. Spreading the scroll open more and reading some, her eyes widened before she let go and rejoined the group, post haste.

Twilight could hear the three whispering to one another, only hearing little things that put together sounded like they would change their idea of what they were going to try.

Giving a shrug at this, and hoping they do change to something more along their skills, she stopped at some piled books saying, “Here’s a few books on the subject. If you have any further questions, come and get me, okay?”

Looking back to see them all nod, she gave a friendly smile of her own and moved on back to her spot at the table. She rolled up the scroll and decided to put it away for later. Setting it to the side and pulling a book that was next to it, she reopened it to where she left off and began to read once again.

Just outside her range of hearing, the three fillies continued their whispering with one another, casting a look to Twilight every now and then. Finally, after a while, Sweetie Belle got up and walked over to Twilight asking, “Twilight?”

Pulling her attention away from her book and looking down to the filly, the smaller unicorn asked, “Do you have anything I could, um…practice my magic with?”

Blinking at the question she asked, “I didn’t think you were practicing with magic jest yet?” Wondering when this had started and why Rarity hasn’t mentioned it yet.

“Rarity just started me a few days ago, and I was thinking that you could help me?” The white filly asked, giving two big eyes as an additional push.

With a big smile, the older unicorn said, “Sure I can, but what about Apple Bloom and Scootaloo?” Looking over to the two fillies that chose that moment to look back into two separate books.

“They, um…told me that I should take this moment to ask for help, as I was having a little trouble?” She said with a shy smile that didn’t look to convincing.

Giving the filly a strange look Twilight told, “Well, I do have a few exercises for younger unicorns in the basement.” And got up to retrieve them, “I‘ll go and get them so you can practice up here.”

Looking between Twilight and the other two, she called, “Can I help?” And rushed after Twilight.





Masquerade made his way out a door with both Rarity and Big Mac in tow. Shortly after, Toe-Taper walked to the door-frame waving, “Thanks for visiting, and don’t forget we have practice next Tuesday!”

“Eyup!” The large red stallion called, while Rarity waved goodbye herself and trotted next to the changeling in unicorn form commenting, “Well, that went well.”

Keeping both eyes forward, Masquerade agreed, “Yes, much more better than I hoped for.” Seemingly lost in thought.

Giving the darker stallion a look she asked, “Are you alright Masquerade, you seem to be somewhat out of it?” Trying to find what little body langue she could from the mysterious Unicorn.

Keeping his eyes forwards, he told, “I‘m just trying to figure out some things.” While on the inside, his mind was working overtime. The number of changelings in Ponyville is more than double either I or the Gems know. Further more, the ones we have found said they came here on necessity!

It was almost disturbing to hear so many changelings had come to this little town because of something. Division of a clan, destruction of a clan, and even hostile takeover of a clan.

Daisy was part of the former Descry Clan that was killed by infighting and then taken over. Roma, he had learned with Applejack and the twins, was part of the Deluge Clan, and they were wiped out because of a hostel clan. The recently met Toe-Tapper was part of the Ditty Clan, a clan of singers and musicians, funnily enough, and suffered a separation. Tappers faction was then shortly attacked by a different clan after the divide.

He could have been paranoid, but if Masquerade was right, then the death of so many changelings would warrant something big going on. Was it possible that the rouge clans attacking the capital were also attacking these other clans?

Was it possible they were just doing this to bolster their numbers so they could attack in greater force? And further more, how was it so many changelings were coming to Ponyville of all places to find safety?

So many questions, but no definitive answers. And heaved a sigh saying, “And let me say, they are giving me a headache.”

Stopping the unicorn with a hoof to his shoulder, Rarity told, “Perhaps you should take a rest then. If not to relax yourself, than to gather your thoughts?” The second heir went to protest but wasn’t allowed to say more, “Heaven forbid you overtax yourself, you need a clear head after all. And doing things with a jumbled mind can get in the way, right Macintosh?” Turning to the farmer.

Giving a nod and a simple, “Eyup.” Seemed to convey his thoughts in one word on the matter.

Giving a sigh Masquerade said, “Your concern is noted, but I have to meet up with Dash later to meet Serenity and gauge him.” And moved away from Rarity’s hoof that she was using to hold his shoulder to keep him in place.

“But you will take the time to rest yourself and not burn out?” She called out to Masquerade.

Craning his neck to give a smirk he told, “Ask me no questions, and I‘ll tell no lies.” And trotting off to leave a stumped Rarity.

It wasn’t the point that he was overtaxing himself that he needed rest, Masquerade had reasoned more then once to himself. It was the point that there was so much to be done with what little information he had. A month had already passed, leaving him with only four.

T-minus four months till invasion. He humorlessly thought, all ponies and changelings, synchronize your “we're all going to die” watches. and felt his amused smile slowly fade away. There was so much ridding on this, and to an extension, him.

Here he was, a single changeling, trying to undo a millennium of changeling traditions of hiding away, and doing so by nearly stepping into plain sight.

With the twins making nice with the Apple Clan, that would help make some peace. Sham was out and about with most of his clan, gathering information upon his return and better grasp what was going on.

And here he is, trying to make sure the town was secure so he might implant not only countermeasures for an invasion, but create peace for both changeling and pony kind. It was a lot of pressure knowing any mistake could cost him, but it had to be done.

So far, Twilight had been more helpful than he would like to admit. She had actually gotten him started on this whole thing much sooner then planed. If she didn’t force his hoof to show himself that day, then he wouldn’t be here.

Note to self: get Twinkles another cake with daisies. The unicorn grinned, already planning how to thank the mare he was falling for more and more. And maybe gift-wrap a book or two she doesn’t have, she’s earned it.

It was strange really, to develop a crush for a filly that you meet and suddenly find yourself thinking of them almost constantly from there on. It’s just a phase I told myself, He repeated in his mind, it’ll pass with time I told myself.

With a rouge grinned he said to himself, “Shows how much I know about love.” Chuckling at the irony of the statement seeing as to what he was.

The sound of rustling wind caught his attention, just as a voice rung out, “What‘s got you laughing?” And found his sight was overtaken by two rose colored eyes.

With his grin in place he told, “Thinking about irony and all its glory RD.” Moving around her saying, “Serenity up for this?” Searching the sky for the pegasus.

“Not today, apparently he left two days ago to visit some relatives.” She crossed her hooves, “So we can't meet him, sorry.”

Letting out a breath of air he told himself, minor set back, can be rectified later. And looked to Dash, “Well, apparently my day‘s been cleared up. What about you?”

Shrugging from her spot in the air she said, “Same here, but I was thinking of getting some practice in.” Doing a loop in the air while he moved on passed her.

“Wonderbolt‘s, right?” He questioned, but not turning his head to see her nod, “I personally know some of them.” He told, and felt her excitement spike.

Landing next to him she asked, “Really?”

“Oh yes, two of them I met during one of my infiltration missions, so it was a more passing by thing.” He told the mare that had taken up to walking next to him, “But I happen to know one pretty well, because she‘s actually a changeling herself.”

Giving the stallion a bump she asked, “No way, your saying one of you bug ponies actually made it into the Wonderbolts?”

With a smirk he asked, “What‘s wrong, scared of a little extra competition from my kind?” And could feel that spike of excitement turn into something more like pride.

“As if, I‘m the fastest there is, I bet you can't boast that with those flimsy things you call wings!” She challenged, taking to the air and doing a few small tricks over him.

“One: I don’t have wings at the moment.” He pointed out with amusement, “Two: Changeling wings are made for acceleration and precision flight.” Looking up at the more subdued mare he added, “Three: If we need to, we can change our wing type to fit our needs.”

Hovering by him, she said, “That’s cheating.” And glared down with crossed hooves.

“Not if you’re a changeling, then it‘s completely fare!” He laughed before saying, “Also, it‘s Fleet Foot, third heir to the Lue Clan.”
Scratching her head for a moment and ignoring his jab about fairness, she asked, “I think Twi said their a group of eggheads?”

Laughing openly at that he confirmed, “Yes, they are for all intents and purposes, a clan of eggheads.” Chuckling at the end at the idea. It did come as a big surprise that one of the high thinking clans heirs wanted to do nothing more then soar in the sky as fast as possible. Unlike her older siblings, Bard that was both a musicale genius and inventor, or Yellow Jacket that was a smith and enchanter by day, and flurting jazz singer by night.

That excluded their common siblings that spent their time in Canterlot doing research into newly developing machines. Out of all of them, it was Fleet Foot that chose the most straightforward of living then the think-tank she was born into.

“Fleet Foot, really?” Dash asked rather interested for a moment before thinking of something, “Now that I think of it, she is more quicker on the uptake and does pretty well on flight coronation.”

With another grin Masquerade told, “Well, having a bunch of eggheads for family would make you more likely to be fairly smart.”

Reaching the Library and nearing its door, he lit his horn and opened the door, spotting Twilight going over the books. She quickly turned around to face them before saying, “Oh, hello Rainbow Dash, Masquerade.”

Landing on the floor, Dash greeted, “Hey Twinkles, what‘cha doin‘?” Looking over all the covers in the shelves.

“Just cataloging the books, seeing if any are missing and if they’ve yet to be returned.” She told, going back to looking them over.
Rainbow gave a slight sinker of, “Egghead.” and bumped Masquerades shoulder. She however stopped at his lack of snickering and looked at his face.

Though Masquerade still had a grin of sorts, his eyes were locked on with Twilight as if bothered by something. She went to ask what was wrong, but a lifted hoof stopped her. Watching him point to Twilight he whispered quietly and calmly, “What is missing from this picture?”

Blinking at the question, she looked back at Twilight and observed her. So fare, she couldn’t see anything out of the ordinary. Just the scholarly unicorn going over her organized shelves and checking--

All thinking stopped as she had her eyes look all about Twilight for her checklist, but didn’t find one. A foreboding feeling overcame her as she looked to Masquerade who mouthed, “Get the others.”

Turning to the unicorn, the cerulean Pegasus said, “So, uh, I just remembered that I had some things to do, so… see ya!” The pegasus about faced and rocketed out the door without waiting for a reply from Twilight who turned to say something.

“Rainbow Dash seems to be in a hurry.” Twilight observed from where she stood, seemingly surprised at the sudden amount of speed used.

With an absent shrug Masquerade said, “Eh, said something about practice earlier.” And started walking to his bags, “So, did you want to continue where we left off?”

With a confused look, she asked, “Where we left off?” Lost as to what he was talking about.

Opening his bag, he pulled out his white cloak and a letter opener hidden in it, “Yea, in our research on changelings.” His eye twitched at the sudden alarm that was spiked from Twilights being, knowing for sure he wasn’t wrong in assuming this was a changeling.

“Oh, right, that.” She more hurriedly said, looking around for something before grabbing a scroll from the table, “Do you mind if we continued this upstairs in my room?”

With a more teasing smile he asked, “Why Twilight, are you asking me to come up to your room alone?” He could see the gears turn in the others head before she gave a more sensual smile.

“Maybe?” She suggested, turning and going up the stairs with extra sway in her hips.

Watching her go up the stairs he mentally shook his head thinking, yep, no way that’s Twilight. She’s too dense to figure that one out. And followed closely adding, or would have at least have the decency to be embarrassed at the idea. This seemed to only add to his worries some.

She opened the door to her room and walked right in with him closely behind. Before she could utter a word, a green veil was sent over the room, covering it in a silencing spell.

Turning to Masquerade, he simply told, “We want to keep this quiet don’t we?” And moved to the window, closing its blinds.
Nodding her head and keeping up her act, she said, “Of course, we don’t want anypony to overhear us, do we?”

With a grin he confirmed, “No, we don’t.” And quickly lit his horn to grab her and send her up into the air. Just as quickly as she was lifted, she was brought down to the floor.

Before making contact with the wooden floor, her own horn lit a bright green and covered her form to help lessen the hit. Banging and bouncing off the floor, she rolled to the side and shot a blast of green changeling fire.

Quickly, Masquerade moved his cloak into the way, casting a new spell and filling the room with more shadows and green smog. The confirmed impostor looked about in confusion at the change in scenery before locking on with the moving cloak that was on fire.

She sent a strong blast of magic at the charging cloak to stop her attacker, but quickly found that it was just that, a cloak. She didn’t have time to ponder this as she was stabbed in the side by something, and then quickly rammed.

She rolled on the ground, leaving green blood in her wake, looking up in time to see the other unicorn. She lit her magic and grasped one of the nearby busts that held up some books. Sending it to the stallion, he had no time to properly dodge and had it glance his face and making his nose bleed with red blood.

She didn’t leave time for the unicorn to recover, and sent a book as a projectile. This one he dodged, and then sent his own changeling fire right to her. The false Twilight jumped out of the way, only to find a magical blast hit her when she landed and completely make her disguise lose form at the hit area.

Before she could get up, she was grabbed by his green magic and slammed into the wall. The changeling in Twilights form charge her magic to attack, and found herself being hit by a continues beam of magic being drug down her body and slowly changing her form. Afterwards, the changeling felt dizzy and disoriented at having his disguise ripped away from a magical overload.

“Now tell me, where is Twilight Sparkle.” Masquerade demanded, feeling beyond cross that a changeling had entered into his domain and into his territory and has taken from him.

Spitting at the unicorns face he responded, “Or what pony?” This earned the changeling another slam into the wall, breaking any focus he may have had with his magic.

Glaring at this changeling that looked the part of a common, having a mane that was held in a warriors braid Masquerade asked, “You would like to know?” And let his face turn into his blank mask and locking away all his emotions.

“It‘s simple, I‘ll get you to talk.” He stated, slamming the other changeling into the wall at the smallest sight of his magic gathering.
Seeing as he couldn’t use magic, the changeling just hung there, saying nothing.

With a raised brow Masquerade said, “The silent treatment, really?” Giving an unimpressed look, “What did your clan teach you?”

All that was given was a glare and a tight lip, unwilling to say anything. Seeing that a new form of strategy was needed, Masquerade began to work his mind before remembering the silver object in the changelings side.

His blank look turned into a rather sadistic grin as he pulled out the silver object from the wincing changelings bleeding side and asked, “Do you know what this is?” Twirling it slowly so its dull silver blade was shown with green blood dripping down.

“A-a letter opener?” The changeling asked unsure of the sudden change and finding out what he was stabbed with.

With a another grin the Unicorn cooed, “Very good, now normally I‘d give you a doggy treat for answering correctly.” To this the changeling held pinned to the wall growled at him, “But since this is an interrogation, I‘m to do something more drastic!” 

To emphasize this, Masquerade stabbed the dull pointed tip into the changelings open wing, getting a yelp at the blade almost hitting one of the veins in the gossamer wing. Changing into his own changeling form, the one pinned to the wall could not hold back his fear at the malice the two glowing cat eyes held. It was made worse with the green blood going from nose to grin, looking much like a cat that had cornered a mouse and was going to toy with it.

“Now, question number one:” He said pleasantly before forcing the dull cutting edge to rip through the wing at an agonizingly slow pace. The changeling howled in pain and struggled to free himself as a almost demonic voice demanded, “Where is my Twilight Sparkle!”





Laughter filled the room as Rarity spent some time with the three flower ponies and getting reacquainted with Daisy a bit more. But as of yet, there were no changes in there visits ever since the discovery of her changeling heritage.

“Your saying that Carmel is actually trying to make a colonel to get a my attention?” Rarity laughed out, “I feel flattered, but nothing like that would catch my attention.”

With a smile, Lily asked, “Then how, you know every stallion in town has tried to ask you out once.” And watching Rarity give a long sigh.

“It‘s true, my beauty has beckoned all the bachelors to look to me and try their hoof for my heart.” Putting a hoof over her forehead she lamented, “Alas, none have shown me true and lasting feelings of love and affection.”

Taking a drink of some lemonade, Rose said, “I think that’s because your whining scared them off.” Hearing this, her two friends began laughing up a new storm while Rarity pouted at them.

Giving them all a calm look, she said “Shame on you Rose, I realize I can be a little picky at times….” But was cut off by Daisy.

“You run at the sight of bit sized mud spots” Giving the white mare a smirk, “If I remember right, that’s what ruined most of those possible dates.”

With a haughty upturned nose, Rarity said, “A stallion must be presentable when taking a lady out.”

Absently waving a hoof at the unicorn, Rose said, “Alright, we get it, you want a prince charming.” Giggling at how the seamstress was trying to hold her dignity.

Clearing her throat some, Rarity looked to Daisy asking, “Daisy, you changelings can tell what a ponies feeling, yes?”

Seeing the mare give a confused nod, wondering why the subject was changed so quickly, the white mare asked, “Tell me, do you think Masquerade has a romantic interest in Twilight?”

Before she could say anything to confirm or deny, both her friends snapped their heads to her, knowing good gossip was nearby. Her eye darted about the three that waited ever so patiently and conceding, “It‘s possible?”

“What do you mean its possible?” Lily asked, “You always know what a pony‘s feeling!” Not understanding how her friend couldn’t know.

Tapping her chin Rose realized quickly, “You don’t know because he‘s one of those heirs that can hide his emotions, right?” Seeing Daisy nod, she huffed out, “Well that’s not fair, so much for some juicy info.” Going back to drinking her lemonade.

“I only ask because I have seen him act differently around her.” Rarity told while in thought, “If he‘s not talking about his foal hood stories, he‘s talking about Twilight in some form.”

Lily went to ask for more when Rarity’s door slammed open and halted all talking that was happening. Turning to the door, they watched in shock as Rainbow Dash all but broke the door off its hinges, looking about frantically before locking eyes with them.

With a burst of speed, the pegasus was before them all nearly shouting, “A changelings taken Twilights place, Masquerade told me to get the others!”

“Slow down dear, tell us what's going on more slowly.” Rarity said in concern, putting her hooves onto the panicked mares shoulders.

She was practically shoved aside by Daisy who asked in an equally panicked tone, “Changeling as Twilight, and Masquerade sent you?” Seeing Dash give a confirming nod, she pushed her away saying, “Get the others that know, and also get Roma, Toe-Taper and Serenity if you can!”

Turning to her friends, she said, “Lets get home and get my stuff, we might need it.” And ran towards the door, missing Rainbow yell about Serenity not being home.

Making a mad dash for home, she and the other two mares slammed open their poorly abused door and ran for their shared room. Once inside they headed for a locked chest, were upon Lily reached under her bed and pulled out a key.

When she turned around, she found two questioning faces looking at her, “What, no pony looks under beds anymore.” She justified, moving over to the chest and inserting the key.

With the chest unlocked and opened, Daisy reached in and picked up what looked much like a crossbow, only for it to have a box at its top with a lever. This was her weapon that she had learned to make with her father, a chu-ko-nu, or continues crossbow.

Both mares on either side of her gave looks but said nothing at the rapid fire weapon. Giving a Rose a look, Daisy asked, “You said you can use a sword right?”

With a light shrug she told, “Only a little, and gramps old sword on the wall won’t do much. But I am a black belt like Rarity and Dash, remember?”

Nodding to that, Daisy reached back into the chest and pulled out a bag of poison tipped bolts, tossing it to Lily, “Think you can hold my bolts for me?” Seeing the preppy mare give a nod, Daisy wasted no more time and motioned for the two to rush with her.

Because of how many weird and over-the-top things happen in Ponyville, all three mares didn’t have to worry one bit if they were seen running by with a weapon strapped to Daisy’s side, or the faces that looked ready for a fight.

After all, they had a pink mare with a canon that fired compressed parties in town, how much stranger was this?

When all three mares reached the library, they each gave the other a look and carefully made their way in. moving in with Daisy leading, they gave the main room a careful look over for either unicorn.

Despite nopony around, Daisy stood on her hind legs, shouldering her close-to-mid ranged weapon and putting a hoof over the lever that was attached to the box on it.

“Where are they?” Lily questioned.

Looking around, Rose asked, “Do you think that changeling heir was wrong?” Giving one particular place with Masquerades cutie mark on some saddlebags a curious glance.

With a shake of her head, Daisy said, “I doubt it, you remember what Rarity was trying to say? If anything, Masquerade didn’t need to feel this one out to know it wasn’t Twilight.” Scanning the room for any hidden changelings.

It stayed like that for only two seconds, as the sound of hoof steps came from the stairs leading up. With all attention to the stairs, they watched and waited for whoever to show themselves.

The hoof steps got louder progressively, adding to their anxious nerves that were ready to send the signal for fight or flight actions.

Soon enough, a pony Masquerade came down and into view, looking very much cross with his bleeding nose and some green spots on his coat. When he spotted the three flower ponies he stated, “I have an appointment to keep, and left a slight mess upstairs.”

Changed into a new changeling form that made the red blood on his nose turn green he asked, “Could I trouble you three to clean it up some, or would you like to help me deal with some unsavory guests?”

While Rose and Lily looked at the other as to what to do, Daisy aimed her chu-ko-nu at Masquerade asking, “How did we first meet?”

Without blinking he said coldly, “I acted to crash into you, and then apologized for doing so. Then introduced myself, told you I was looking for Rose to learn flower arrangement, only for the whole plan to come crashing down with Rainbow Dash.”

Lowering her weapon, she nodded, “I think we‘ll stay here and guard the door.”

With furious looking eyes, but calm exterior, he nodded, “Good choice.” And headed for the basement saying, “If you hear screams of mercy, I suggest staying up here.” Then closed the door behind himself, leaving him in a slightly darker stairway. Making his way down, he began to plan how to go about his plan of attack.

If that changeling told him the truth, then Twilight was being held in the basement. The only reason so, was that she had information on changelings.

He could only conclude with this information that they were scouts for a clan, or were tipped off members of Veron or Malek. Willed weren’t into sneaking around, and both Lue and Gem liked ponies too much. The only reason he was guessing this was because his victim had passed out.

Reaching the bottom, he spotted two other changelings, one was a drone, marked by it’s slightly smaller size and fin like mane and tail. That one would be no trouble. Turing his eyes to the other robust changeling, he felt his lip twitch as he wanted to bare his teeth as the other changeling that was feeding on a cocooned Twilight.

Masquerade could see the common’s horn flare brightly to forcefully take the emotions from the mare inside her prison, who was struggling about, desperate to get free. Every now and then the heir could see her try and flare her horn, only to fail because of the cocoon stopping her magic. The liquid like gas the cocoon was filled with was no doubt making in increasingly harder for her to keep awake and use magic.

When the drone spotted him, she gave a happy smile and called, “Flints back, Flints back!” Bounding over excitedly.

Pulling away from an exhausted Twilight that was ready to blackout, the other changeling asked, “What happened to you?” Seeing all the blood that covered his squad mate.

Giving a sneer, ‘Flint’ said with irritation, “That unicorn, Masquerade, wasn’t fool as easily and tricked me upstairs and attacked.” Spitting to the side where some of his green blood landed.

“I‘m going to say he lost?” The other asked moving passed with a broad and smug smile.

“I have him contained in the pony‘s room for now. I came to switch with you until I can heal up.” And moved towards Twilight, casting his eyes about the lab and spotting some cords with metal ends. One of her gadgets from Canterlot he presumed.

Giving his cohort a look the changeling told, “I don’t know how to act like her much, I could blow our cover. And Twitchy over here isn’t smart enough, so that leaves you.” Motioning to the drone who looked offended at the name given.

Still scanning the room, he lit his horn and brought over a container of clear liquid muttering, “I suppose so, but I have a question.” Giving the label on the glass a look.

“Shoot.” The common said, looking over a few pieces of lab equipment curiously himself. It seemed to confuse him why ponies had to have such things made for who knew what purposes.

“How much would a volatile acidic compound used for breaking down organic material, hurt?” Blinking at the overly big and confusing question, the robust changeling turned to ask for a repeat, only to get a face full of what looked like water.

He screamed in pain and panicked, running blind and trying to find something to wash away the liquid burning at the exposed areas on his face. The drone jumped back in shock at her supposed ally’s attack, and was further so when she was picked up and tossed to the other side of the room by magic.

Masquerade didn’t stop there, and picked up both cords that were attached to what look like some kind of battery and cranked it on. His ears twitched at the high-pitched charging sound it made with magically made electricity built up onto it.

The large common had soon found some real water and was getting the chemical off his face, more then thankful to the ancestors that his chitin protected him some. That was quickly forgotten when two metal tips were put to either side of his shoulders, sending volts of electricity through his chest and stunning his body, making him shout in sudden pain.

Removing them, Masquerade watched the body twitch on the ground and smoke rise from the spots he had placed the metal tips. Dropping the contraption, he turned to the drone that was getting up and stumbling about. With a roll of his eyes, he charged his horn and fired a quick shot of magic. Like that, the drone was out like a light, with his surprise attack a success.

He then turned to Twilight, seeing her trying to stay awake, no doubt ready to black out from being drained for who knew how long.

She gave a grimace at him and tiredly shouted, “What do you want!” Still trying to break out of her prison that hung her from the ceiling upside-down. She was both frightened and confused, the latter being more prevalent seeing as he just thrashed the other changelings.

Letting his changeling disguise fall in a wall of fire, he could feel Twilight's relief at seeing his pony form, “Masquerade?”

Not wasting any time, he launched a gout of changeling fire to the bottom of her prison, quickly following it with a buck to rip it off. All at once, a thick mucus like vapor made by changeling magic flowed out, carrying a tiered Twilight out gently.

She coughed a few times as she was given fresh air to breath, taking greedy gulps of it to clear her lungs up. A hoof wrapped its way around her waist and pulled her up, “Easy Twilight, take slower breaths, breathing to fast will only make the haze gas worse.”

Following his instruction, she took slower breaths and felt her mind clear up some from the haze that had messed with her concentration. With shaky hooves, the mare got up slowly with Masquerades help as he carefully lead her to the stairs.

Looking around, he told her, “Lets set you down over here for a bit.” And not giving the weakened mare a chance to make any protests, “I need to detain these intruders, and you should take a little rest from this ordeal.”

Any protest she may have had was lost when she sat down, already feeling more heavy as her body relaxed. He gave her a gentile hug, very quietly whispering, “I‘m glad your safe.” Almost too quiet for her to hear.

She watch with tiered eyes as the stallion turned back into his changeling heir body and went to work. From his hole riddled hooves, a green slime was being coaxed out by rubbing them and getting it to collect into the hoof itself. He then would apply it to the changeling in front of him, coating them in a hardening resin that was used for her own prison at one point.

She felt a yawn over come her, telling her that her body wished for rest, now she was safe. By the time Masquerade was done putting each changeling into their temporary binds, Twilight was fast asleep.





Daisy fidgeted in her place as she waited for either the heir to came back up, or more of the other ponies to get here. Rarity was already there, having gather Pinkie Pie on her way to the library.

Toe-Tapper was next, bringing what looked like a cane, but soon shown a small sword hidden in it’s wooden length.

With those three around, she felt confident enough to go up stairs with Lily to see what sort of mess Masquerade said he left. To say the least, Daisy asked her more weak hearted friend to go back down the stairs to wait with the others and send Toe-Tapper up with a mop.

Letting out a tiered sigh from where she leaned on the wall, Daisy could only wonder what was going on in the basement. According to Rarity, Lily, Rose and Pinkie, there were two separate screams from the basement. They were not screams of mercy, but none of the them wished to go down and see what was going on.

Now that the upstairs was somewhat cleaner, and the changeling trapped in a cocoon filled with a heavy amount of haze gas to keep him out of it, she and Toe-Tapper had come back down to wait.

Roma was next to arrive, bringing an assortment of metal rings. Though this made a few brows rise, none commented on the choice of weapon she had brought.

The waiting was over when the basement door was opened with a green aura slowly to let one undisguised Masquerade up. On his back he used his two gossamer wings to help balance a sleeping Twilight and gently carried her to the couch. When both Rarity and Pinkie Pie went to help their friend, both Toe-Tapper and Rome got in their ways, already feeling the aggravation coming off the heir.

Daisy had soon found herself slowly moving over to her own friends, hearing a slight hum as both of the heirs wings vibrating just slightly. She watched with them all as he place Twilight down as if she was made of glass, then just looked at her.

“My bags.” His buzzing voice ordered, still staring at Twilight. When no response came, he turned his cat-eyes to them and demanded with them blazing brightly, “NOW!”

Rather quickly, all changelings in the room scrambled about the room, more afraid of his ire out of pure changeling instinct than anything else. When Roma found his bags, she all but dashed to him and placed them at his feet before backing away to the group.

All ponies stayed in place, feeling some fear themselves at seeing the ever so calm Masquerade yell like that. With his added height and more monstrous insect visage, it did nothing to make them feel safe in the same room with him.

Turning on his magic, he opened one of the bags and got out a small vile, saying in a more level voice, “Put this in a tea and mix it well. It will help Twilight sleep and regain her strength better.” Having the said vile float over to the group.

“The rest of you gather the trash upstairs and in the basement.” With his full focus on Twilight he added without looking away, “I think there are a few potato bags in the kitchen you can use.”

With a gulp, Daisy took the vile gently into her hooves, waving for her friends to follow her. A surprisingly quiet pink party pony followed with, intent on getting those potato bags. With some quiet whispers, Toe-Tapper said he would get the changeling upstairs, while Rarity and Roma go downstairs to get whoever was down there.

All the while, one very alert and angry changeling heir stood over the lavender mares body like a guard dog, daring anypony to get too close to her without his permission.