PreCommon Era Chapter Seven/PreLunar Rebellion: Chapter Seven: Changeling huntin’
The highwaypony looked at Masao with surprise. The human had started to put his weapon away, the stallion started to raise his bow half-heartedly.
“I know you don’t want to kill me, otherwise you wouldn’t have let me grab my shield in the first place, let alone save me from the changeling.” Masao said calmly as he stared down the stallion.
“Maybe I did not want to tangle with the changeling after it killed thee” was the counter and Masao shrugged as he stood there ready to die should the highwaypony decide to shoot. Luckily for Masao the pony returned the arrow to his quiver which was on his left flank. Snorting the pegasus turned away from the human. “Thou trusts far too easily, those changelings art far too numerous for that kind of attitude, and if Princess Luna truly sent thou to aid her ponies, then killing thou wouldst be a mistake that I wouldst likely not live to regret.” the stallion said and Masao smirked at that as he grabbed the rest of his items.
Later as Masao and the pegasus walked down the road to the small town of Stalliongrad they came across several more ponies, and a few changeling in disguise and seeing through their deception unnerved Masao a little but he was going to make use of this ability and pointed them out to his traveling companion, who introduced himself as Bullseye. Bullseye then proceeded to lure the changelings into an alley where Masao stood waiting. It wasn’t until the fourth one that the changelings grew wise to the fact that they were being hunted. Some of them changed to a different pony, others fled the small town under their disguises all the ones that stayed were captured,or killed if they resisted. There was a small incident that almost caused the death of a changeling that had been living in the town for all its life, even had a wife that genuinely loved the changeling. There had been an argument between the two changeling hunters on what to do with the peaceful ‘ling, Masao was all for leaving him alone, whilst Bullseye wanted to kill it for just being a changeling.
“No, we are not killing the changeling, just because it is a changeling, I will not have innocent blood on my hands, nor will I allow you to stain your hooves with the blood of the innocent!” yelled Masao which made the pegasus’s face shift into a snarl.
“That creature is guilty! Being a changeling is crime enough!” argued the highwaypony-turned-local-hero which in turn made Masao roll his eyes, at the volume the of the archer.
“No, it isn’t, where I come from, such an admission is known as being racist, or known as bigotry. Something I have a very small tolerance for. I will not sanction this ‘ling’s death, and if I find out that you went ahead anyway then I will kill you, I have no tolerance for hate crimes. Not even against these creatures” Bullseye gritted his teeth his hoof hovering over his quiver for a small amount of time before he seemed to think better of it.
“I hope that creature is worth—” he started before the ‘ling walked out and saw them.
“So it is my turn, changeling hunters?” asked the changeling and the two answered at the sametime
“No” said Masao.
“Yes” said Bullseye which made the two look at each other.
“I have a request, please, tell my wife that I love her, and that I will miss her, but do not mourn me, she should find someone else to love” said the changeling Masao frowned, and shook his head to which the changeling took to mean that they would not relay the message. “I suppose it was too much to—” he started when Masao spoke up
“From what I can see you have lived here peacefully and I will not end your life for just being a changeling” said the human but as soon as he said that Bullseye notched an arrow and was ready to release it.
“He might not, but I will, all these creatures have done is steal our emotions and kill off our fellow ponies! Name one good reason as to why I should spare thine life?” Masao snarled as he imposed himself between the pegasus and the changeling. “Get out of the way Ser Masao”
“No. You plan on killing this stallion for nothing more than being born different! You are no different than the pegasi of old.” Masao said his teeth gritted, this time however, unlike when he fought the changeling on the forest path, he was wearing his armor, not that it would protect him much this close to the missile that would be fired at him.
“That creature is no stallion! Its kind has been—”
“I know your arguments, but does the hare have to right to condemn the hawk for feeding itself? Does the herring kill the bear for eating it?” asked Masao standing his ground.
“Like thine opinion matters when thou joined me in killing the changelings that we killed before. or the changeling that nearly killed thou when first we met!” argued Bullseye and Masao gritted his teeth, for he knew at this point if he were to say the wrong thing, he was as good as dead, and so would the changeling behind him.
“The predator can not blame the prey for fighting for its life when it is attacked.” countered Masao making the pegasus growl, which on a side note, was a very particular sound coming from a creature that only eats vegetation.
“Why dost thou keep replying in analogies? Doest thou not have an original thought in thy body?” snarled Bullseye as Masao narrowed his eyes and drew his dagger in response.
“I do not think that infighting will aid thee in anyway” said a mare as she stepped outside, “And what doest thee needest with my husband? He has never done anything wrong” she said even as the Changeling turned to the mare.
“My dear, please go back inside, I don’t want thee to see this” the stallion begged but his wife ignored him.
“Doest thou think I dost not know he is a changeling? He told me himself near the beginning of our relationship, he has not hidden anything from me, and not once have I withheld my love from him” said the mare making Bullseye turn his head towards her, the bow in his hooves also turning towards her.
“Than thou art as guilty as he is!” yelled Bullseye and Masao knocked the pegasus to the ground just as the arrow was released, luckily with the force of the pegasus being hit, the arrow’s course was altered enough that it did not hit the mare, nor the changeling, but rather it hit the wall of their house. Masao and Bullseye scuffled for a moment before Masao managed to gain the upperhand and with his dagger against Bullseye’s throat, disarmed the pegasus.
“I will not have you commit murder, not while I can stop it” he snarled Bullseye just glared at him in response.
“Thou shalt pay for this, creature, I’ll make sure of it” growled Bullseye as a few town guards happened upon the scene and were about to arrest Masao much to the momentary delight of Bullseye. Fate however had different plans as the Changeling and his wife spoke up in defense of the human stating that he had risked his life to protect theirs when his former partner, “started seeing changelings everywhere.” Masao shook his head, not in total disagreement, but proceeded to inform the guard about the true nature of the couple, and the reasons as to why he saved them. How he was placing the under his protection, which did carry weight besides the fact of him rooting out other changelings that were aggressive rather than peaceful, as he was a Knight of Princess Luna, and a close friend to Princess Celestia. was a surprise to the pair, as he ordered guards to be placed at their home so he could send word to the princesses...