Behind Closed Doors

by OrphiusOlyandra


Chapter 16

“Damn it!” I yelled and bucked the wall, leaving a nice neat hole in the wall. With a growl, I glared at Eclipse, fangs bared. “One day is not fucking enough! I need more time.”

“Well we don’t have more time.” He shrugged helplessly. “If you can’t convince them to give up their secrets, I will have no choice but to go through with original plan.”

“No!” I slammed him against the wall and hissed, “I thought you were better than that. We are not doing that! Give me a week at least. Come on, one week. Trust me on this.”

“I don’t have a week to give you, in fact I had to fight for just this one day.” He calmly removed my hooves from him and said, “I’ve done everything I can to stall, delay, and prevent it from coming to this, but it’s here and unless you can get the information, I will have to.”

“No...” My hoof slammed into his chest and I felt tears forming on the edge of my eyes. “Lie for me then, please. Just... don’t do this...”

“If you were to tie me up in a closet for the next week this would still happen.”

“No it wouldn’t!” I screamed. “And don’t tempt me. I will tie you down and hide you somewhere in order to get around this. Some... personal... time off.”

“There is nothing I can do to prevent this outcome,” Eclipse replied. “But there is something you can.” He pressed a hoof against my chest. “And that’s get one of them to talk.”

“Easier said than done,” I muttered. “They all view me as a monster and traitor. They may not like Chrysalis, but they hate me even more.”

“Then work with that, frighten them or something.” Eclipse waved a hoof. “Whatever you can do to prevent this, do it. Why not play to their fears and expectations?”

“Because I want them to join me!” I rested my head against his chest and breathed out slowly. “But... I suppose preventing that is more important than getting them to join me. Isn’t it?”

“Changelings joining you is the long term goal, but for now we’re trying to save their sanity. They’ll be hurt far worse if we don’t get something from them.”

“Don’t remind me,” I mumbled as I straightened back up. “Fine. I suppose we should try again then.”

“You know what the alternative is. I say trying again is the least we could do.”

“I hate you right now, you know,” I said as I walked off, hips swaying just for him. “I need someone I haven’t talked to before then, any candidates?”

“The smallest one, the one with the ruined eye.”

“Of course. If I’m going to scare him, I’m going to scare him. Mind if I borrow some of your magic?”

“How so?”

“How does a screaming mare of death emerging out of a pool of green flames at its hooves sound?” I ran a hoof through my mane and grinned at him. “Maybe even a bit death metal just to set the mood.”

“I refuse to allow death metal to be played inside the palace, but other than that I’ll help how I can.”

“Not even a smile? You suck.” I stuck my tongue out at him before jerking my head towards the wall behind me. “That’s the changeling’s room, right?”

“It is,” he nodded. “So you want me to help you shadow walk in?”

“How about you help me kick the wall down?”

“That sounds more like it would provide an opportunity to escape. Plus, that wall is made from stone, I’m not sure we could kick it down.”

“Hm... The problem is, we can’t really scare crap out of them. We’re not individuals, we’re a unit, a single whole.” A sigh escaped. “We can try, but I don’t really have high hopes. Those injures... how were they inflicted?”

“I believe it came from Shiver when it was captured.”

I winced. “Shit.” Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes and sighed yet again. “Alright, shadow walk me in.”

“Are you ready?” I felt the cool tingle lapping around my ankles. “Would you prefer the wall or the floor?”

“Can I just walk through the wall? No. Can we walk through the wall. I want you there with me. Please.”

He raised an eyebrow, before he shrugged. “If you wish.” He moved towards the wall and waved a hoof at it. “Ladies first?”

“Oh, so I’m a lady now?” I turned around and walked backwards into the wall, grinning at him the entire time.

He followed through behind me, and with a cold shiver I stepped out of the dark and into the cell. Turning around, I smiled at the changeling before me and he blinked back, or was that winked? Is it still blinking if you only have one eye? Whatever.

It just took a step back, and glanced between the two of us with concern.

“Your name? I don’t think we’ve met before,” I asked.

“...SO5333,” he answered after a moment.

It was my turn to blink. “Special Ops? Low ranking, but technically you still outrank me. And what were you up to in that warehouse?”

He shrugged. “Like you said, low ranking. I don’t know anything. This was my first time in the field as an SO.”

I paused and turned to Eclipse. “Do you think it’d be enough? If he- wait, do you prefer he or she?”

“Does it matter?” he frowned.

“Of course it matters. Like I identify as female and within non-changeling cultures, gender tends to matter.” I shrugged. “I don’t know why, but it does.”

“...I don’t have a preference,” he said after a moment.

“Alright...” I turned my attention back to Eclipse. “If he, you know, will that satisfy Luna for long enough?”

He nodded. “All we need is enough progress to make her reconsider. If we have enough evidence this method is valid, that could buy us at least a few weeks, if not another month.”

“You’re really new at this aren’t you?” I asked our captive. “To, you know, not ask about me and what I am.”

He shrugged. “It’s weird, yeah, but I was a sentry in Aviana. I’ve seen Weirder. I figured it’s just like 1010 said to me: if I wasn’t already told, asking won’t make a difference.”

“So you were actually there during the fall? Damn. I was stationed nearby and the call was... alluring to say the least.” A sad smile touched my lips. “Then again, I’ve always been more emotional than the rest.”

“I was unconscious at the time so I didn’t quite feel the call, but... ponies call them dreams?” He frowned. “At least that’s what I think they were.” He shuddered.

“I...” I frowned. “Now that you mention it, I’ve been having dreams recently. Did you enjoy it? The emotion?”

“It was... frightening, but also exciting. I’d never felt more alive than when I awoke and had to flee. I think ponies call it a rush? A thrill? I’m sorry, I’m more used to speaking the northern tribe’s tongues. I still don’t get all the pony words right.”

“It’s a real rush, isn’t it?” I smiled fondly at Eclipse. “Something Clipsey here still needs to figure out for himself.”

“What made you join... them?” he waved at Eclipse. “They hate us.”

Turning around I began walking towards Eclipse, a coy little grin on my face as I licked my lips. Swallowing nervously, he backed up until his back was against the wall and both forehooves were immediately on either side of his head. As tempting as it was to lean down and kiss him, I instead looked back at the changeling and smirked.

“Does it look like he hates me?”

“...Not really, but he could just be acting.” The changeling frowned. “He doesn’t actually feel like a pony.”

I groaned and dropped my head onto his chest. “I knew you’d fuck this up with your stupid special talent. Stop repressing your emotions please?”

“I’d rather not.” Eclipse frowned.

“Please?” I looked at him and pouted.

With a roll of his eyes, he stopped his repression and I was hit with a wave of emotion. It was... wow. Just... wow. There was so much there, such a rich palette, from the sweetness of concern, to that hot lust and tender, cold yearning for companionship. I found myself licking my lips, inexplicably drawn to towards them, watching to just devour it whole without a second thought. Swallowing, I ripped my senses away from him and tried my hardest to not focus on them. He was my friend, someone I trusted completely and utterly and as long as that was the case, I was not going to pry.

“Th-Thanks.” I licked my dry lips and turned my attention to the captive. “So? That satisfy you?”

He swallowed and licked his lips. “I see why you defected.”

“Can I stop now?” Eclipse touched a hoof to his skull. “I feel... exposed.”

“Hey!” I was suddenly in front of Eclipse, glaring at the changelings. “Hooves off, he’s mine.”

“There’s plenty to share...” the changeling pouted.

I hissed at him and took an aggressive step forward. “Mine.” And with that single word, I forced my will onto him.

It hissed and fell to the ground, clutching its head. “I’ve stopped, I’ve stopped!”

Eyes wide, I scrambled back. “Sorry! Do you need a doctor or something?”

It’s good eye found mine and it shook its head.

“Sorry...” I said again before turning to Eclipse. “That... was not what I was intending on doing.”

“You... you can do that?” The changeling on the floor asked, standing up again. “I haven’t felt that since Aviana... Are you... one of those?”

“I’m... unique.” I smiled down at him. “Do I feel like one of those? Do I gorge myself on emotions and keep feeding, keep seeking, keep wanting more?”

“You feel... sad, and worried for me.” He frowned. “Why are you worried for me?”

“Because I care,” I said with a shrug. “Is it wrong for me to care?”

“Queens don’t care.” He sounded more suspicious than ever. “What are you?”

“Queens should care,” I replied.

“And we shouldn’t have been found.” It backed away slowly, watching me wearily. “What is this?”

“This is a revolution,” I said. “We are feared, hated and spat on and I want to change that. I’m something new, something different, changed so that I can start a hive of my own, one that helps other nations and is given love freely as a result rather than forced to steal it in the middle of the night.”

“...But I like fear,” it said after a moment.

“Work in the horror industry,” I said with an eye roll.

“No, I mean I like being afraid...” He frowned at me. “Don’t you like the struggle of it at all? Being the underdog and the constant risk of being caught? It’s exciting.”

“Chrysalis has put a personal hit on my head. If you join us, you’ll get a personal hit as well. Want thrill? This is thrill.”

“... I see the temptation...”

“Eh, I’d rather not have everypony who knows I’m a changeling threatened with death, but each to their own I suppose.”

“Does that gryphon know what you are?” He glanced between me and Eclipse. “Is she really as dangerous as all the memories say?”

“More dangerous and she knows.”

“And is she really insane?” A hint of an eager smile touched the corner of his lips.

I tilted my head up. “You see this across my neck? She gave me this.”

“...And that mare who ruined my eye.” He indicated the wound. “She’s here too, right?”

“...Yes.”

He considered it for a moment, before he shook his head. “It’s interesting, but I won’t betray my species just for that.”

“Why not!” I yelled at him. “Do you want changelings to continue being the most hated race ever? We can actually change that!”

“It sounds more like a pipe dream. A fun pipe dream, but still... it doesn’t sound possible to me. You won’t beat Chrysalis, even with my help.”

“If we always say it’s impossible, we’ll never try and if we never try, nothing will change. At least I’ve got the courage to give it shot.” I ran a hoof through my mane. “Plus, we’ve got the Princesses on our side, we’ve got this in the bag.”

“The princesses would kill us the second we’d finished with Chrysalis.”

“Considering it was Princess Luna who did this to me, planned for me to make a second hive? Highly unlikely.”

“... Would I get to be as tall as you?” He asked after a second.

“Nope.” I grinned.

“...Could I at least be a little taller?”

“Nope!”

“Would I get to feed on him?” he indicated Eclipse with his head.

I snarled at him.

“Okay, okay,” he took a step back. “Would I at least get my own room? And my own feed-pony? I mean, what are the perks?”

“Chrysalis not killing you over the smallest mistakes? Doing the right thing? Privacy? Your own room, the ability to walk around as a changeling without a disguise? The ability to have your own personality and identity? You pretty much have to work as a nightguard for now though.” I shrugged. “You don’t get much.”

“Would I get a rematch with that mare?”

“Considering she’s a nightkin and we pretty much spar with each other daily for training? Yes. Sorry about the eye by the way.”

He touched it lightly and winced. “If you guys had healed it sooner, I might have been able to see out of it again. Would I at least get to wear an eyepatch?”

“If you want?” I looked over at Eclipse who just shrugged.

“And what will happen if I don’t join?”

I sighed and looked away, unwilling to answer that question.

Eclipse wasn’t as unwilling apparently. “We separate you from your hive, hold you in isolation until you go insane, take whatever information we can from your maddened gibbering, and then leave you with the other changelings as an example where we repeat the process until we have all the information we can from you.”

The changeling’s eyes widened in horror, and he looked between me and Eclipse like we just confessed to murdering foals and necrophilia.

“N-no. Ponies wouldn’t do that.”

“I would,” Eclipse warned.

“H-he’s lying, right?” He looked at me with pleading eyes. “This is a bluff.”

I couldn’t meet his eyes.

The changeling was silent for a moment. “Well, that’s a whole lot better than Chrysalis.” He said sarcastically.

“It’s not my plan and I’m contemplating kidnapping him so that no one will be willing to carry it through,” I grumbled.

“I told you, that won’t stop it happening.”

“I don’t care!” I yelled at him. “I just don’t want you to be the one doing it!”

The changeling glanced between the two of us. After a moment it sighed and said, “Alright.”

“Wait, what?” I blinked and just stared at him. “Why?”

“Well... Chrysalis doesn’t care for us, you apparently do, this job sounds better than my old one, and...” He scratched the back of his head. “Well, one thing I’ve learned about myself since I started feeling emotions is that I’m actually pretty selfish...” He added after a second. “And I really want to stay sane.”

“If you do this, you’ll be working as a nightguard and... well... with me as your new Queen.” I smiled sheepishly and looked away. “I’m... not sure I’m the right changeling for the job, but I’ve been given and, well, I’m willing to try. You’ll get more privacy than before, but, you know, hivemind.”

“Will I get my own pony to feed on? Do I get to pick the flavour?”

“I...” I looked over at Eclipse. “I’ll have to talk it over with Luna, but ponies are not a food stock for us. Eclipse willingly lets me feed on him, he willing opens up to me and as a result everything tastes better. You saw, just before when he opened up and I think that’s because we’re not stealing it. I dream of a place where we can feed openly, where other creatures give us their emotions openly and happily because of what we are and what we do for them.”

The changeling yawned into his hoof. “Sorry, I drifted off for a bit there. When do we start with the flower power make the world better crap?”

I glared at him. Every fibre of my being screamed at me to kick his flank and smash his head in. This changeling, this thing, was not something I wanted to be associated with. I wanted changelings that cared, that believed, that actually wanted to make a difference. Not a selfish whiny bitch who didn’t give a shit. I wanted so bad to just walk out and not look back, to find some other changeling, but I had no choice. I was out of options and this was the only one who was even willing to give it a shot.

“We have to start somewhere,” Eclipse muttered, nudging me with his hoof. “There are selfish ponies as well, you know. It wouldn’t be fair to condemn them just for that.”

I sighed and closed my eyes. “Can we leave? I... I need to think this over,” I whispered back.

“We can,” Eclipse glanced at me. “But I’m not sure there is anything to think over.”

“Whatever.” I glanced over at the changeling who was watching us curiously. “We’ll be back.”

“Look, wait!” It held up a hoof. “I’m sorry, I just want don’t want to die, okay? Is that so wrong? I want to live a normal, sane, natural life, and if that means working for you, fine, if it means working for Chrysalis, that’s fine too. But is that evil? Does that make me unique at all? I’ve never even hurt a pony before!”

“I know.” I didn’t even bother turning around to address it. “And I’m desperate enough to use you, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it. I foolishly dreamed that I’d find changelings like me, ones who thought there needed to be change and that we could get that change. Yet here I am, talking to you. I’m just... disappointed really.”

“Look, I’m sure there are other changelings out there like you, and I’ll help you find them if you want, but that’s just not me. And I promise you it won’t be any of the others in there. None of them were anywhere near Aviana when it happened.” He suddenly clapped his hooves together. “I might even know where to start. There’s this changeling I know works in Manehattan, SC1543, he was always talking about freedom and the junk even before last year.”

That got me to pause. “Alright, you’re in, but I still need to talk to Luna first,” I said before adding under my breath, “and a hard drink.”

“Come on,” Eclipse walked towards the wall. “Luna told me to contact her the moment we make a break.”

“Well she didn’t tell me that,” I muttered as I followed him through.

“How much does she tell anyone?” Eclipse replied with a frown. “I don’t believe I even know a fraction of her secrets.”

“I doubt anyone ever will.” I shook the chill off of my shoulders and closed my eyes. “Is it alright for you to talk to Luna by yourself? I’d like some time alone.”

He hesitated before nodding. “If that’s what you wish.”

“I wish for you to join me, but I know that won’t happen and I know I’ll just end up ranting to you, which would most definitely be annoying and not a lot of fun,” I said as I began walking away.

“I’m sorry, but I have to go find Luna. You’ll just have to make do by yourself for now.”

“Whatever,” I muttered under my breath as my disguise flared up. Screw them all, who needed him anyways?

“Bluey!” I heard Pitch shout and the clopping of hooves as he trotted to catch me. “Bluey,” he repeated breathlessly, “We need to get to the markets.”

“What? Why? What’s going on?”

“There’s a protest forming in the city, some gryphons complaining about... kinda everything. I mean, seriously, what don’t they have to complain about? I know I get odd looks when I go off duty and-” He shook his head. “Anyway, that doesn’t matter. Celestia’s worried it could turn into a riot, so she wants some guards to go watch and make sure nothing happens. She wants some nightkin to go with the guards to make it look more multiracial and stuff.”

“Of course,” I muttered under my breath as I let my disguise appear once more. “Fine, whatever, go grab that idiot Eclipse and I’ll round up everyone in the barracks.”

He shook his head. “No, Celestia just wanted a few of us so it doesn’t seem like we’re putting our hoof down and taking away their free speech and crap. She mentioned you specifically, something about keeping an eye out for changeling wanting to make trouble.”

“And probably to look less racist,” I said with a shrug. “Fine, whatever, but you do realise that means I’ll be in charge, right?”

Again he shook his head. “Captain Shining Armour of the Royal Guard will be the ranking officer there.”

My eyes hardened. “As far as I’m aware, the Nightkin are not under his jurisdiction. His position was enacted before Princess Luna’s return and as such, he is only in charge of the Day Guard.”

“That doesn’t really matter one way or the other, we can argue-”

“It matters.” I snorted and stomped my hoof. “We’re going there and the first thing I’m going to do is talk to this Shining Armor and ensure he understands what our positions are.”

“The nightkin don’t even have a commissioned officer yet!” Pitch protested. “Eclipse is still only a Sergeant, we can’t just waltz up to Shining in the middle of his mission and tell him to stuff it. He’s popular with the public, and starting a fight with him in the middle of a mission is just a dumb thing to do, especially if it can wait till later.”

“Gilda,” I said with a grin. “We’ve Gilda and guess what? She’s not there, neither is Eclipse so I have command of the nightkin.”

“Ugh, fine. But if we get chewed out for this, I’m pointing them blame at you. Now come on, Wreath and Blight are already in their armour.”

“Has my armor come in yet?” I asked as I ran after him.

“I checked in with the armourer this morning,” he said over his shoulder. “The only part that they haven’t finished is the helmet.”

“Sweet.” I grinned and really began racing along. “Time to kick some flank!”

“We’re supposed to stop things getting violent!” He called after me. “This face is too pretty to be damaged!”

I was bored enough that when I heard the sound of mass shouting, I decided to see what was happening. Spending all day just wandering around Canterlot with only Grace for company was about as much fun as pulling feathers, so when I saw what was happening in the marketing district I did something dumb and stepped over to watch.

I hadn’t planned on getting involved, but... getting dragged into random shit is kinda the story of my life these days. Sure I was just there to watch, but I was also pretty damn certain things would eventually involve me too.

All the ponies in the marketing district looked like they were either trying to ignore what was happening, or shouting hate and throwing rotten greens. Right in the middle of the street, there was at least a hundred gryphons with picket signs chanting in unison. One of them had a megaphone, and was shouting out over the crowd.

“-starved, slandered, misrepresented! Without citizenship, we’re not allowed to voice our problems, and without visas we can barely find work! Those of us who are lucky enough to hold those things are barely any better off, having trouble with starting any kind of a career.”

Protesters. I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. Not that I disagreed with what they were saying or thinking, but... damn it, just standing in a group and shouting all day long seemed like a stupid way to try and change things.

“How am I supposed to feed my children?!” The gryphon with the megaphone shouted from his soapbox. “We can’t work for food, and the food we’re given is barely enough to feed a pony for a day, let alone a gryphon! I wish I was just an isolated tragedy, but it’s all too common. The only outlets that sell meat do so at an exorbitant price that flies in the face of all fair trade notions. What has to happen before this government stops discussing the problem and deals with it?!”

Having nothing better to do, I walked over to an outdoor cafe and sat down to watch the show.

Across the street I noticed a bunch of guards in gold armour, watching the protesters wearily, but making no move to stop them. I recognised the white knight himself, Shining Armour looking like he was straight from the papers standing there with a politely professional expression.

“We don’t need token efforts to represent our race in the guard, nor do we want anymore talk about an evenly represented Equestria. We want food, shelter, education! We want the right to earn our stay here without fear of being mistreated for the crime of asking for the basic necessities to live!”

“Excuse me miss, this seat has been reserved,” said the waiter.

I blinked at him and looked around. “Who reserves a seat at a cafe? I’ve never even heard of one that takes reservations.”

“We are a high class cafe so it is no surprise you haven’t come across this before. Nonetheless, please leave, we are currently extremely busy and would prefer to not have to call the guards over.” He looked down his nose at me.

I grit my beak and leaned in closer to him. “I’ve lived in Canterlot for years, buddy. I know this town like the back of my claw, and I know for a fact that you’re not busy, and you sure as fuck don’t take reservations.” I slammed some coins down on the table. “So take my bits, and bring me a fucking coffee.”

“Ma’am, we do will not tolerate verbal abuse. Please leave before we get the guard involved.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. Bring me a coffee, please. Call the guard if you want, but if you read the papers at all you’ll know that will turn out way worse for you than it will me.”

“Impersonating the guard is illegal, we do not serve gryphons of such disputable reputation.”

I stared at him for a moment, before shaking my head in disbelief. “You have got to be one of the most racist ponies I’ve ever met.”

“I apologise, but there is no racism here. We merely do not serve gryphons who claim to be guards when they are not, insult staff and are verbally abusive. Please leave or I will be forced to get the guard involved.”

“Seriously, I’m in the guard.” I took off my sunglasses, showing my nightkin eyes. “I am literally the only gryphon in the guard right now. If you’ve read a single newspaper in the last month or so, you would know that.”

“If I had a bit every time a gryphon tried to convince me they were in the guard, I’d be rich by now,” he replied stiffly. “Leave now, this is your final warning.”

Normally I’d be pissed, but this time I just leaned back in my chair and snorted out a laugh. “Fine, call the guard. I can’t wait to see how that pans out for you.”

He glared at me and immediately waved one of the nearby day guard over. “Excuse me, sir, can you please remove this gryphon from our premise? She has insulted the staff with her vulgar language and we refuse to serve her, but she refuses to get off private property.”

The guard blinked, then glanced at me. “Ma’am, this pony maintains the right to refuse service to anyone he sees fit. Regardless of his motivations in doing so, if he asks you to leave, you have to leave.”

“This isn’t actually private property, though.” I pointed out smugly. “If I were inside the building, then he could throw me out, but out here on the street is public, even if he’s set up tables and chairs.”

He opened his mouth to reply, when we all winced at the sound of a megaphone close by.

“See this?” The gryphon had stepped down from his soapbox, and was now standing there pointing a claw at us and shouting out to the rest of the protesters. “This is exactly what I’m talking about. What kind of a fair society accepts a guard that harrasses someone for simply sitting in a public place?”

I blinked in shock, before frowning. “Why do I get the feeling I’m about to get dragged into some messed up shit?”

“The guard is here to protect us! To serve the crown and its people! This guard, this symbol of Equestria, this symbol of equality and justice denies this gryphon her very rights! Where is the equal treatment? Where is the justice!?”

I coughed into my claw and waved at the guy. “Hey, buddy. I appreciate what you’re doing, but I seriously don’t need the help. Just... keep on protesting... over there.” I pointed over towards the other end of the street.

“Look at her! This is Gilda, the gryphon you’ve all heard about in the papers and look at her! She’s lived here all her life and she has been tamed by their pony ways! Is this what you want your cubs to-”

“Okay, the fuck di-”

“-turn out this way? To simply turn the other cheek when these racist ponies spit on them-”

“-swear to fucking Celestia, if you keep trying to turn me into some kind of-”

“-shit on, forced to work as free slave labor and not complain the entire time! This is our future if we do not fight back-”

I stalked forward and snatched the megaphone out of his claws. “I’m not gonna sit here and take shit from you, or anypony else. If you’ve got something to say to me, say it to my face.”

“Look at her! Turning against her own kind even after she’s spoken out in Celestia’s meetings!” yelled the gryphon, waving his claws above his head. “This hypocrisy and servitude is exactly what I’m talking about! We need our freedom, no, we demand our freedom. We demand equality. We demand justice!”

I stared at him for a second, before shaking my head in disgust. “Are you really this retarded, or are is there something contagious going around? I swear to fuck, everyone in this city is acting even more retarded than usual.”

“The contagion is known as gryphons,” the waiter muttered under his breath, and unfortunately for him, the megaphone was close enough to catch his words, letting them ring across the entire square.

The entire marketplace froze, as if they needed a moment to let that sink in.

“Oh, fuck me.” I groaned.

Then the crowd was shouting and throwing rocks. The gryphons were all hollering in anger, being spurred on by the soapbox retard, turning a protest into a complete riot in seconds. Windows were smashed as the hoard scrambled and kicked and fought to get their claws on the racist scumbag.

The guards instantly moved in, putting themselves between the crowd and the cafe. Their magic flared into existence, shielding against the gryphons.

I ended up being caught in the moment, pushed back behind the wall of guards along with the cafe owner. Shaking my head clear, I looked around. Fuck, there were barely twenty of them, nowhere near enough to stop a hundred angry gryphons for long, even with most of them being unicorns.

“That got out of control pretty quick,” I muttered, looking around. Spotting the cafe owner, I glared at him. “You happy now, douche bag?”

“Gilda, stop antagonising the stallion,” snapped one of the guards.

I rolled my eyes, and turned towards him. “Look, you’re gonna need more guards. The twenty of you won’t be enough to stop this many for long.”

One of the other guards snorted. “You don’t know who you’re talking to, do you?”

“Some say he is illegal in all nations except that of Equestria, and that when he died, even Tartarus spat him back out.” The guard paused dramatically. “All we know is he’s called Shining Armor!”

Cue facehoof from Shining.

Rolling my eyes, I said, “Yeah, I know who he is, and I’m still right. Just call for some reinforcements.”

“I have,” he replied flatly, “it was the first thing I did.”

“Great. How many?”

“However many Princess Luna and Celestia can spare,” he replied before sighing. “Cadence is going to kill me when I get back.”

“I know that feeling,” I muttered. “Mares, right?”

“Mares with enough power to make you really regret it,” he replied under his breath.

“Well...” I looked at the guards then at the gryphons. “Looks like you’ve got things under control here, reinforcements on the way... I’ll just be going then.”

“Where? I’m not dropping the shield just for you,” he replied.

“I’ll just shadow walk out,” I answered with a shrug, glancing up at the sun. “It might be day time, but I bet there’s enough shadows scattered among the guards for me to work with.”

“Except you're a guard and there’s a full blown riot out there, or there will be soon. Sorry kid, but I can’t let you go, you’re the only gryphon guard and you’re the only hope we have of actually calming them down.”

“‘kid’?” I repeated with a frown. “I think you have me mistaken with someone who’s your bitch.”

He smirked and opened his mouth to say something, only to close it after a second. “I’m just saying that if you don’t calm them down, we’ll invoke the Riot Act and things won’t get pretty.”

“Wait, the Riot Act?” One of the guards frowned and stepped forward. “Captain, we can’t do that, sir.”

“What’s the riot act?” I frowned at the two of them. “I haven’t heard of that one before.”

“It comes from the time after Nightmare Moon’s fall, but it gives the right to kill a rioter if they pose a large enough risk,” he replied flatly. “They’re just yelling and chanting and throwing stones, but if this continues and we can’t contain it...”

“Wait, what the fuck?” I glared at him. “Are you fucking kidding me? You can’t just do that, not to a bunch of innocents just asking for some food.”

“They’re not asking for food any longer.” He turned and looked to the pegasus on the right. “Sunstrike, how long till reinforcements arrive?”

“I’d estimate about ten minutes,” he replied.

I took a step to the side in surprise as a nightkin suddenly popped up out of my shadow, right from under me.

“Sorry about that,” he rolled his neck and looked at me. “But there aren’t many other shadows here.” It took me a moment to recognise him as Pitch. “Oh, hey Gilda. I didn’t know you were here.”

Around me, a couple of other nightkin crawled out of some other ponies shadows, with Bluey stumbling out from Shining’s and grinning at me. “Gilda! I knew you’d be here. As soon as I saw the rioting gryphons I thought to myself ‘Who would have started this?’ and you immediately came to mind. So what’d you end up doing this time?”

“Fuck off,” I growled at her. “All I did was sit in a chair.”

“Sorry, no can do, orders from Luna herself.” Turning, she gave a smart salute to Shining Armor. “Corporal Blue Moon, reporting for duty, I’m the acting commander since both Gilda and Eclipse are out of commission.”

“See?” I looked at Shining. “I’m ‘out of commission’. She’s in charge of the nightkin, you don’t need me, so I’m going.”

“Gilda, as your acting commander, you’re staying,” said Bluey without missing a beat.

“Listen, you can throw your fake rank around all you want, but I don’t give a shit.” I glared at her. “Like I just said, you seem to have me mixed up with someone who’s your bitch.”

“I’m pretty sure you’re Trixie’s bitch and she’s currently outside trying to calm them all down.”

“Wait, what?” I barged my way past her and squinted through the shield’s magic haze. It took me a second to spot her, but outside I saw Trixie standing on some balcony, yelling at the gryphons while they tossed rocks at her.

Turning around, I stalked back towards Shining. “New plan. Lower the shield, get out there, and put every last one of those fuckers in a full body cast.”

“Gilda, we’ve got a plan, now are you going to play along or not?” asked Bluey.

“Lower that shield right the fuck now, or I’ll start snapping horns off until no one can hold it up.”

“Gilda, shut the fuck up,” growled Bluey before her head snapped across to the waiter. “Well now, what do we have here? Pitch, arrest him please and drag him back to Luna’s special holding cell.”

Pitch blinked. “Wait, him? He’s a...?”

“He’s a changeling in disguise.” Bluey sounded all too pleasant as she trotted him to him. “Wouldn’t have noticed except you just had to communicate with the hive mind, didn’t you? After all, Gilda and Shining Armor and Melancholy all in one place.”

“Changeling?” Shining’s eyes narrowed and his horn sparked to life, causing the disguise to flicker and the waiter to clutch its head. “Well spotted Corporal Blue Moon.”

“Yeah, great. The racist prick was a changeling.” I waved a claw at the shield. “You gonna let me out yet?”

“Think for a second. The changeling wanted a riot, it got a riot. Now, why would it want a riot?” asked Shining as he stepped forward, pressing a hoof against the shield. “Maybe it wants ponies to hate gryphons and what happens if you go out there breaking bones? Ponies will hate gryphons. Congratulations for playing right into their hooves.”

I grit my beak. “I don’t give a fuck, one way or the other. If you guys aren’t going to help me save Trixie, I’ll just go out there by myself.”

“So you’d basically fuck over your species, play into a changelings hooves just to get Trixie back. I thought you hated changelings, loathed them,” whispered Bluey in my ear.

“Not to mention there’s a tactical advantage in all this. We don’t know what they want, but if we draw guards in that leaves weak spots in our defenses allowing them to smuggle something big in. If we don’t, they can push this riot however they wish and we’d end up with a catastrophe on our hooves.” Shining rubbed his temples. “Sunstrike, rely a message to Princess Celestia, tell her to cancel the last order, return all troops to station and to mobilise the entire Night Guard. I want all off duty officers brought in and to form a perimeter to keep the rioting contained. I want a further three dozen guard brought in and placed under the command of the nightkin. Pitch Black, you’re to shadow walk me out so I can personally organise everything. If we can place the nightkin between the civilians and them, that should help calm things down. After all, yelling about equal treatment at an equally subjugated race takes the oomph out of their message.”

“I don’t hate changelings,” I hissed at Bluey. “I hate any fucking thing that comes after me, or mine. And right now I hate every last one of those fuckers throwing rocks and trying to hurt Trixie.”

“The way I see it is, you managed to stop the changelings once and now both you and Trixie are here at the same time,” said Shining, “and that smells like a trap. If you go out there, they will pounce and you’re both be dead.”

“What do you know about that?” I snapped, turning around to face him.

“Everything,” he said flatly.

“Then you should know those weren’t even real changelings, and that I didn’t actually stop shit. Luna was the one who destroyed those things.”

“Regardless, you were a spanner in the works, which means she’d be afraid of what you could do now and that’s even considering your ability as a fighter.” He smirked at me and said, “And perhaps most importantly, are you willing to bet Trixie’s life on it?”

I clenched my talons and grit my beak. Anger screamed in the back of my head before I let out a low growl and squashed it. My eye twitched slightly, but after a moment I’d manage to force down the blood pounding in my ears and the fire in my skull. I was still as pissed as all fuck, but now it was at a slow simmer.

“Just tell me what I have to do.”

“First things first, Corporal Blue Moon, I need you to identify all changelings to the best of your ability.” He glanced over to where Pitch was, but he was already gone. “Okay, Pitch has already gone to do his thing. For now, we move out of this building into a safer location where they don’t know we are. From there the nightkin go out and try to calm them down.”

“We need more shadows for that.” I growled. “There was barely enough shadow for them to get in through your shield, let alone get out.”

Shining sighed and rubbed his temples, “Why can’t things ever be simple?”

“Because then it’d be boring. I mean, look at sex, if it was easy and simple, it wouldn’t nearly be as much fun!” chirped Bluey only to smile sheepishly at all the looks she was getting. “What? It’s true and you know it.”

“Luna is the worst sentient ever at distributing rank,” I growled and facepalmed. After a moment I glared at Bluey. “Seriously, who the heck would put you in charge of anything?”

“Your insanity, Eclipse’s foul mood and Luna’s insanity.” She paused, looking thoughtful for once in her life. “Huh, we need to make Eclipse go insane so that he’ll fit in.”

Even Shining facehoofed at that one. “Look corporal, can you be serious or do I need to send you away?”

All of a sudden Bluey’s eyes narrowed and she was in his face. “Here’s the deal Captain, you’re in charge of the Day Guard and only the Day Guard. These nightkin? They fall outside of your jurisdiction and currently I’m the highest ranking nightkin so I’m the acting lieutenant. Don’t like me? Tough, but I’m in charge of this branch of the guard so don’t think you can shove me around.”

All of the Day Guard blinked in surprise, before glaring at Bluey. The few nightkin that were here were smirking a little bit, looking proud as Tartarus. I just found myself chuckling. I was starting to remember that I actually liked Bluey before she turned out to be a mutant changeling.

Once more Shining breathed out slowly. “Very well, if you insist, after all, this is no time for power struggles.”

“Yeah, look.” I stepped between him and Bluey. “I’m a fucking captain, stupid as the idiot who decided that is, which means I’m the same rank as you. So when I say she’s right, and you can’t order the nightkin around, that means you just have to spread your legs and take it.” All the day guard gasped at that, and shot me death glares. Ignoring them, I poked him in the chest as I said, “There’s no power struggle here, because when it comes down to it you’ve got no power over the nightkin at all.”

“Very well, but as the officer with more experience, I’d like to take the lead on this one,” said Shining before glancing out the window. “And we seriously cannot waste any more time.”

I snorted. “Define experience.” But didn’t argue with him.

“You know, you could have just asked nicely.” Bluey smirked and trotted past him, looking out the window as well. “That gryphon there? Male, black feathers, looks to be the ringleader, he’s a changeling. Those two aggressors on the side, the brown and white ones are also changelings, that unicorn with the anvil is also a changeling, the female pegasus acting all scared? Also a changeling.” She began humming a small tune, dancing on the spot. “Two unicorn twins up in the balcony tossing stones back are also changelings, so is that flower shop owner, those two gryphons there, that one with the super long crown feathers is also a changeling, but damn, she looks fine regardless. What do you think Shining? Would you tap that?”

He spluttered uselessly, staring at Bluey in complete shock while the Day Guard looked absolutely mortified while the nightkin just rolled their eyes and snickered.

“No? Shame. Hmmmm...” She tilted her head to the side. “That’s about all I can pick up from here, your shields kinda interfering, but eh, I should be pretty accurate.”

“Gryphons hate changelings.” I glared at the ring leader who’d started this whole mess. “If we can get them to see what that guy really is, we should be able to calm things down.”

“We need to show that for some of the ponies as well,” said Shining, “otherwise tomorrows headlines will be ‘Gryphons suspected of hiding changeling terrorists’ or something equally stupid.”

“Alright, so who’s taking down who?” I glanced at the Day Guard then back at the rioting horde. “I think you wouldn’t want to risk having more than two of your guys take on one changeling. No offense, but the Day Guard are seriously shit. And that’s not mentioning if any of those gryphons are soldiers they’ll tear your guys a fucking a new one.”

“If I can get close to them, I can dispel the disguise,” said Shining. “Think you can shadow walk me up there?”

I shook my head. “My magic has been... pretty unreliable lately. Pitch should be able to do it, but I wouldn’t trust me to.”

“Hey Shiver, you up for some fun?” asked Bluey before her smirk deepened. “Actually, pair everyone up. A nightkin with unicorn and let’s end this thing then I can get back to teasing Eclipse and making his life a living Tartarus.”

“No one wants to hear about your sex life,” I groaned. “Just saying, ‘everybody partner up’ would have been enough.”

She just stuck her tongue out at me. “I’m not fucking him thank you very much.”

“Please, if we could focus?” groaned Shining.

“Ugh, Bluey you’re with Shining, Pitch can go with Sunstrike, and as long as Shiver isn’t anywhere near Pitch I don’t care who’s partnered with who.”

“I can’t shadow walk,” she replied flatly.

“Then partner up with Shiver,” I replied. “Shining, pick whoever you like. Like I said, my magic is whack lately and it wouldn’t be safe for me to shadow walk someone else.”

“No. You two are staying here where it’s safe, we’ll take care of those outside,” said Shining.

I snorted. “Yeah, fuck that. Trust me when I say I’m not sitting this one out, no matter what you say. I was dealing with shit more dangerous this when I should have been in freaking high school.”

“Very well, you’re with me in a trio. I don’t trust you to be by yourself,” said Shining.

“What you do and don’t trust means exactly dick to me, dude. I’m not being babysat by you, not when you’ll just get in my way.”

Shining held out a hoof before any of the day guard decided to commit suicide by attacking me. “Look, Gilda, we need to work together on this.”

“In case this conversation hasn’t made it obvious, I don’t play well with others. Working together is the opposite of what we need to do.”

Shining facehoofed. “The rest of you, get out of here and get into position. Spread out and stay hidden while we mark the targets. Gilda, stay here, the four of us are leaving when Pitch comes back.”

“Yeah... That’s not happening.” I glanced over my shoulder towards the shield, before looking at him. “I’m not taking this crap from you, and especially not when it’s my marefriend out there.”

“If you move too soon they’ll know which means they may react badly and kill your marefriend.”

“And if I don’t move she might get swarmed by rioting griffons. Either way, I’d rather between her and what’s coming.”

Shining glanced at Bluey and she sighed. “Alright nightkin, you hear him, time to get moving.” With a smart salute they stepped back one by one and shadow walked out in perfect synch. Almost immediately, she turned on Shining with a growl, “What?”

“You’ll need a new disguise, preferably one you’ve never used before. We’re going out there and marking out the changelings. Gilda will be an idiot and jump on the platform next to to Trixie and get her out of here. I do not need a civilian in the middle of this mess,” said Shining.

“You know, the changelings would probably more suspicious if I didn’t do everything I could to save Trixie.” I gave him a flat look. “It’s what I’ve always done in the past, and it’s what they should expect me to do now.”

“Let’s hope it doesn’t get everyone killed then,” sighed Shining. “Where’s Cadence when you need her? A blast of her love magic would sort this all out in no time flat.”

“Can we just get on with it?” sighed Bluey, “I need to get back to annoying Eclipse.”

“You’re priori-” Shining breathed out slowly. “Where’s Pitch?”

“You called your majesty?” All eyes snapped across to Pitch who finished his mocking bow. “So what’s the plan mighty chief?”

“You’re with Blue and Shining.” I tilted my head at the two of them. “Shadow walk them to where they tell you, and stay quiet. Seriously, if you crack any more of those shitty jokes today, I’m gonna kick your ass.”

“Nah, just tell Shiver,” said Bluey. “Much more amusing that way.”

“Whatever. The point is now’s the time to start taking shit seriously. No more jokes, no more back talking, and that goes for you too, Bluey.”

That got a look out of Shining. “Finally, some action. Pitch, shadow walk us out, onto the alley opposite beside the fruit store there. Gilda, do whatever it is you do.”

“It’s called breaking shit,” I turned around and padded towards the shield. “Look it up.”

It took me a moment, but after a while I scraped together enough shadows to step out of the shield, and into an alleyway just out of sight of the rioters. Glancing around the corner, I found myself tempted to just dive into the seething mass and start breaking shit, but that wasn’t going to help me or Trixie. Or any of those gryphons either, who, when I think about it, it’s kinda my job to keep safe these days.

Whatever. I just needed to get to Trixie and get her out of trouble as soon as possible.

Spreading my wings, I blitzed over the heads of the crowd as fast as I could, heading straight for Trixie. There were a couple of gryphons in the air, circling angrily, but none of them tried to stop me. The changeling disguised as the riot leader was busy shouting out stupid things and making the situation worse, so he didn’t notice me either.

In less than ten seconds, I’d crossed the street and landed on the balcony where Trixie was. She immediately turned to me and kissed me hungrily on the beak with tongue and everything, before pulling back, ignoring the yells from below. “Took you long enough.”

I shook my head clear, and frowned at her. “What are you doing here, Trix? There’s a freaking riot out there!”

“Trying to give gryphons a good rap and calm things down, obviously.”

I snorted, and glanced over my shoulder. “Whatever. We’re getting out of here, now.”

“Running away from a fight? That’s not like you at all.”

“You do remember I was the one who wanted to get the fuck out of there for most of the time we were in the Kingdom, right? You were the one who said we needed to check out White Peak.” I shook my head. “Anyway, that’s not important right now. Let’s just get you out of here.”

“Well maybe I’ve picked up the taste for adventure and danger from our time together,” she said playfully before drawing a hoof down my chest seductively. “Especially in bed. Knowing those claws and beak could hurt me at any moment and still letting you use them on me? So fucking hot.”

I frowned at her. “Are you okay?” Wait, didn’t Trixie hate the idea of me hurting her? Or any of her loved ones, really. “Whatever, now’s not the time to be getting into that. We really need to go, now.”

“Well I don’t know about you, but having an audience sounds totally hot to me. All those eyes, a show up on stage...”

My beak flapped open, and I found myself blushing. Wait, wasn’t that the line I asked her? Shouldn’t she be blushing when I asked her if she wanted an audience. Wasn’t she embarrassed when she found out ponies had heard us having sex?

“Look, Trix, if we stay here any longer things could get...” A stray thought entered my head, and I glanced over my shoulder at the riot leader. “Trixie, what were you saying to them to try and calm them?”

“Just saying how a gryphon and pony could date.” She kissed me on the neck, trailing them along my shoulder. “Why don’t we show them how right I am?”

I took a step away from her, frowning. “You know as well as I do that’d just piss most gryphons off more.”

“Oh come on, a bit of fun, a bit of relaxing.” A small smile touched her lips. “I’ve missed you, you know.”

“...What’s my mother’s name?”

“What?” she looked at me curiously.

“Tell me, what’s my mother’s name.”

“Adelina...”

I nodded. “And what was the name you used while you were disguised as a gryphon last year?”

“What? What is this about?”

There’s no way Trixie would forget that the fake name I gave her was my mothers... My gaze hardened into a glare, and I clenched my talons. “Where were we when we first agreed to start dating?”

“In the gryphon kingdom, duh.”

“Yeah, that’s right. Remember? In Aviana itself, right after we broke out of the palace?”

“Of course I remember, I was there! As if I could forget such an important thing.”

I cracked my neck, and flexed my talons. “What was the exact location we were at when I asked you out?”

“You didn’t ask me out, I asked you out,” snapped Trixie.

I smiled and relaxed. “Yeah, that’s right. When you accidentally teleported us to that river in the lowlands before Luna came and found us.”

“Exactly.”

My claws closed around the changeling’s neck, and I pinned it to the ground beneath me with it’s horn pointed away.

“It was in the mountains, and there wasn’t a river. And there was snow.”

The creature merely grinned up at me. “Took you long enough, you dumb gryphon.”

Anger screamed in the back of my mind, and my grip on its neck tightened. I went to twist and snap its neck, but part of me hesitated. “You sound pretty confident for someone that’s about to die. Painfully.”

“Kill me and you’ll never find your pet bitch again. Or maybe you're the pet, I can never be certain.”

“...Alright, I won’t kill you.” I pulled the creature to all fours and dragged it towards the door. Shoving its horn between the door and the frame, I slammed, hard causing it to scream out in pain.

As I dragged its body out and slammed it against the wall, insane laughter filled the air even as green ichor dripped everywhere. “Look behind you, look as all the ponies watch as you beat up your marefriend. Look as you take the frenzy to all new heights.”

I froze, glancing over my shoulder to see the riot still in full force, but a couple of ponies gaping at me in complete horror. My stomach dropped, and I looked back towards the changeling.

I shook my head and snatched up its broken horn, which had turned back into a changelings’. “I have evidence. Before this reaches the presses, they’ll know you’re just a bug.”

“What’s more believable? A violent gryphon beating up her marefriend in a fit of anger or some changeling?” It grinned up at me. “Especially since your marefriend has... horn issues.”

“How about I pull of a leg then? Think that’d convince most of them? Or maybe the fact that you’re bleeding green? Or even better, when Bluey shows up and turns you back into the bug you are.”

“Mel’s here?” It’s eyes swept out and it blinked in surprise. “Oh Mel, how far you’ve fallen, don’t worry we’ll put you out of your misery along with... Shining Armor? My, my, a real catch today.” It’s eyes returned to me and it stumbled onto its hooves, yelling out at the top of its lungs, “Help! Help me! She broke my horn off!”

I instantly grabbed the changeling by the tail and dragged it back to me, pinning it to the ground and pointing its own horn at the top of its head.

“No, please! Don’t hurt me! Stop. Help! Help! Somepony help me, please!” it screamed. “You said you loved me! You said you’d stop hurting me.” Sobbing filled the suddenly silent air. “Please, oh Celestia please, don’t do this. I- I love you. Please.”

Hearing Trixie’s voice so that hit me like anvil. Grace sat on the balcony, shaking his head at me in disgust as my grip on the horn loosened.

“Sh-shut up! You’re a changeling! You’re not Trixie!”

“Is she?” Grace asked with a smirk. “Can you really trust your own perceptions anymore? Is it really that hard to believe you just think it’s a changeling and its actually Trixie?”

“Gilda, please, don’t do this, don’t-” A sudden scream of pain and I flinched.

“Oh, fuck.”

There were suddenly a pegasus flying up towards me, looking angry and horrified. All across the courtyard, the nightkin and day guard who’d been planning on taking out the riot leaders were suddenly swarmed with gryphons. Shit was hitting the fan at a high fucking velocity, as suddenly our plan turned to complete crap and everyone found themselves in a fight for their lives.

A pegasus landed on the balcony in front of me, hesitating only when he saw I was holding a mare hostage. With my body in the way, it was impossible for him to see it was a changeling and not a pony.

“Let her go, you fucking animal!” He shouted in horror, just as more ponies landed around him. “What the fuck is wrong with you?!”

All of a sudden, the changeling leapt forward, snatching its own broken horn and stabbing the first guy through the throat before crying out, “Oh Celestia. Please help me! S-Sh-She just stabbed him with my broken horn. Please! Help.”

It took me a moment, to get over my shock but I grabbed the changling by the back hoof, before twisted around and slamming it into the railing. Before it could react, I changed my hold on it and snapped its neck. The ponies in front of me screamed and tried to escape, but slipped in the blood of the stallion the changeling had killed.

Holding up the body, I shouted, “It was a changeling!”

The screaming doubled and pony turned on pony, tackling each other, asking questions and trying to knock each other unconscious in an attempt to find more changelings.

“Fucking ponies,” I growled, slinging the changeling over my shoulder and diving straight for the mob leader who’d taken up his microphone again. The streets were a seething, raging hoard of ponies and gryphons, angrily scrabbling for escape or trying to hurt each other or just screaming at the top of their lungs.

It was the sort of situation that only I could create by just being there. This was fucking ridiculous.

I slammed into the changeling hard, sending him sprawling to the ground face first with me on top of him. The megaphone was sent skittering away, and I dived after it before someone else could grab it and make this situation even worse. The second I grabbed it, I spread my wings and jumped back into the air, looking around for Bluey or Shining. I spotted Bluey clutching her shoulder, attempting to stem the blood loss from the arrow wound with her back against the wall looking as though she was scared shitless. From the look of things, so were the nearby ponies and gryphons, but that didn’t stop a gryphon from aiming an arrow from the restaurant balcony across the street.

With a growl, I dived through my shadow, and popped out of the gryphon’s shadow, grabbing his hind leg and throwing off his balance. He fell, and I dived on him, grabbing his arm and breaking it at the elbow. The gryphon screamed while I grabbed his quiver, and stabbed an arrow into his arm. The moment I saw icor I cut his throat with another arrow, and jumped up to the balcony again.

A sudden wave of pain and panic crashed into me, causing me to slip. When I caught my balance again, I looked around in confusion and saw Bluey stumbling backwards, bleeding from a new slash to her chest. A gryphon stood in front of her, an ichor coated knife in its claw. There wasn’t enough shadows for me to use, so I jumped into the air and flew towards him as fast as I could.

I hit him as hard as I could, just as he was about to stab again, twisting the knife as we fell to the so it went through the bottom of his head. Yanking the bloody knife out, I turned around and found Bluey’s disguise flickering on and off as she clutched her chest while on her knees.

“Bluey, keep your fucking disguise up or these ponies will tear you apart!” I snarled as I stalked towards her. “I thought you said you knew how to fight?”

“I know how to sneak attack,” she mumbled as she used the wall to get onto her hooves. “Head on combat is not my thing.”

“Well you better fucking learn it,” I growled, before looking back at the crowd. “Alright, we need to rally whoever we can, and just put this fucking mess down. Time to fuck some sh-”

She slammed into me, throwing me off balance just as a bolt slammed into the wall where my head was a second ago. Hitting the ground, Bluey groaned and rolled away, leaving a trail of green behind her.

I looked up to see a unicorn on a rooftop, a crossbow in its magic as it reloaded another bolt. Sliding through Bluey’s shadow, I reappeared right next to the changeling just as it slid another bolt in place. I slammed my palm into its nose, breaking it and spraying green as it yelped and dropped the magic. Catching the crossbow in the air, I flipped it around and unloaded a bolt into his chest.

Something moved behind me and I immediately twisted around as I stepped back, dropping the crossbow and yanking out the bloody knife. It took me a moment to realise it was Pitch, not a changeling and he flinched away covering his nose.

“Same team! Same team!” he shouted.

“Pitch!” I snapped, grabbing him and pulling him closer. “Status report, now!”

“It’s bad, really bad. Shiver’s down, Blight’s injured, Wreath’s taken a bolt through the flank, I’ve already evac’ed Twitch, Moonshine and White Out?” His eyes widened and he dragged me down just as a volley of five arrows slammed into the ground by my feet. “They’re targetting us. They don’t give two shits about the day guard, but they’re targetting us.” A small groan escaped as he clutched his side, eyes squeezing shut for a brief second before he looked at me once more. “Even Eclipse and the others on the outside are being hammered.”

“Alright, that’s it.” I glanced around for a second before I grabbed the dead changeling. “Follow me.” I ordered as I jumped through my shadow, appearing near Bluey again. She was on her knees again, wincing with pain. “Help her up,” I pointed my claw at her. “We need to get the and nightkin together, and you need to shadow walk her for me.”

He nodded, and I looked around for a second before I found an abandoned parasol. I tore the top off it, and shoved the pole into the changeling. With my bug on a stick, I turned around and shoved that into Pitch’s hooves.

“Congratulations, you’re the banner holder. Keep waving that so the other guards can find us.”

The sound of a bolt whizzing past my head, made me glance to the left and push the two of them forward as green fireballs, arrows, and bolts slammed into where we’d been standing. The resulting explosion made us stumble forward, but for whatever reason, they didn’t immediately jump us.

I couldn’t help but grin. “Looks like I’ve pissed them off. Come on! Keep moving! We need to find all the guards we can and form up! Shining will be doing the same if he’s not retarded.”

“Um...” Pitch glanced down at Bluey before turning over a table and ducking behind it. “I think we need to get her out of here. She doesn’t look so good.”

“No, you listen to me.” I snarled in his face. “We need to get this shit under control now, every second we don’t more innocents are dying. Bluey is a fucking soldier, and it’s her f-”

“At least let me shadow walk her out,” hissed Pitch. “If they jump us, then we need to defend her as well as ourselves!”

“No.” Bluey raised a hoof and shook her head. “I need... I need to stay here. I’m the only thing keeping the ponies back right now. Any that approach, any that don’t look scared, they’re a changeling. Kill them.”

“See? Get her up and lets get moving.” I turned around and scanned the crowd and roofs, keeping an eye out for changelings and guards.

“Firebolt!” screamed Pitch as he flicked a chair into the air and bucked it at the spell, causing the entire thing to explode mid air. “We need to move. Now!”

“Come on,” I shouted and led them forward.

The crowd cleared away from us, and a few ponies tried to approach, but every time I moved forward to take them out they ran back in the crowd. With the banner and noise, I managed get seven of the day guards to join us. Even though they were scared shitless, they were still in good condition to fight. I eventually found Wreath, but he was dead with a deep cut in his throat.

“Fucking, bugs!” I cursed getting a glare from Bluey.

“We should take him with us,” whispered Pitch, “before his body gets, you know. Not everyone’s fond of us...”

With a sigh, I picked him up and gently slung him over one of the day guard’s back. “No one gets left behind,” I growled into his face as an instruction, motto, and warning.

He nodded rapidly, and I turned back to the crowd.

It was slow going, but I managed to get a few more Dayguard under our makeshift banner, but it was a shit fight. I only found one other nightkin, but she was unconscious and bleeding from the head, and was probably gonna die in a few hours anyway.

We found Shining with about twenty Dayguard, trying to organise everyone like I was. Instantly, all the day guard we had moved in with his ponies, while some unicorns started trying to heal the hurt nightkin I’d found.

“Alright, Pitch. Now you can get Bluey out of here!” I shouted at him as I turned around.

“Gilda,” said Shining with a slight inclination of his head, “how are things on your end?”

“Fucking messed,” I muttered. “We need reinforcements, pegasi to take the rooftops and balconies, as well as unicorns to hold them. This situation is fucked, and I think they're targeting nightkin.”

His eyes flicked over to Wreath before nodding. “I think so too. You should get out of here, all of you. We can hold the line for now. Just... get out and tell them where we are and we can start working out from here. Take care of your ponies and leave the rest to me.”

“I fucking hate losing a fight,” I growled and looked around. “But you’re right. Also, one of the changelings mentioned you as a high priority, so keep your head down.”

“Thanks for the warning, but I figured as much,” said Shining. “Now go! We’re all in one place so if things get nasty, it’ll happen fast and I want you out of here before that happens. I can’t protect my ponies and yours.”

“Yeah, I know.” After a second I added, “And thanks,” before doing a quick scan for any more nightkin. As far as I could tell, they were all either dead, or gone already. Slinging Wreath’s body over my shoulder, I shadow walked away.

There was a bitter taste in my beak as I caught up to the others, their faces exhausted and shellshocked. I wasn’t the only corpse bearer, Blight had a small mare over his shoulders. Fuck, I was the only one that wasn’t wounded. Of the eight of us that were there, two were dead including Wreath, two were in stretchers with blood soaked bandages around their necks. Pitch and Blight were only scratched, but the scratches were pretty deep, plus Blight was limping. Bluey and Shiver both needed help to stand, and Bluey was leaning against Pitch.

After a second, I took the other corpse off Blight and told him to help carry Bluey, while Pitch moved Shiver. I figured the couple would want to be together after what just happened.

“Congratulations,” Grace waved a claw at the assembled. “You got everyone either hurt, or killed, just by being there.”

“...Let’s just get the fuck out of here.”