> The Half of It
>  by Shapeshift
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Keep Calm and Breathe
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

I awoke in my apartment in the middle of the night with a soft groan, upset that I wasn't getting enough sleep again. It was quieter for a Canterlot night, even for the outer parts of the capital city. The air outside was still, no crickets were chirping, and not a single sound of anyone outside could be heard. After what felt like an eternity of trying to go back to sleep, I opened my eyes to check the analog clock on my bedside table through my messy pale cyan mane. It was unreadable, as the night was darker than usual. I decided to get out of bed, not bothering to look at my clock as I passed by, and following the wall that the head of my bed was against to take a look at the nighttime weather through my window. Maybe staying awake for a bit to look at some calm scenery, then going right back to bed will help me sleep.

I opened my curtains all the way and some more light shown through onto my blue-purple coat. The sky had plenty of clouds with one passing across Luna's moon, slowly dimming and refracting more light as it went. The few streets that were in my view were completely empty, with only dim lighting to help ponies see where they were going. After a minute or so I saw a mare galloping to a door of the same apartment complex that I lived in. She seemed to be in a hurry, but with the dimness of the light and distance I couldn't make out the mare's face well enough, nor the face of the colt that answered the door. Whatever is going on doesn't seem to be too much of an emergency and I wouldn't be able to help much with what little sleep I've been getting. I felt a bit calmer after what felt like ten minutes or so, so I shut the curtains half way and went back to bed.

A while later I heard the distinct sound of breaking glass. It was close enough for me to immediately open my eyes again, facing one of the walls of the corner that my bed was against. It was one of my downstairs windows, so I was a bit shocked from it. I feared that there was an intruder, but I eventually turned my head around to face the rest of my room... and my worst fear.

Many dark figures of what I was sure looked like ponies had filled my bedroom half way, angrily glaring at me with squinting eyes and some with barred teeth. My eyes went wide and my throat went tight. Something sank in my stomach like I swallowed it right before it finished a fall off the cliff of Canterlot. I was sure I almost vomited, but I only winced and put a furry, hole filled foreleg on my equally furry stomach at the momentary sickness it brought me. 

Wait... 

Then I put the same leg up to my eyes in shock, the chitinous holes becoming apparent. I turned my head towards my my flank and my pupils shrunk to razor thin slits when I saw that my green flame cutie mark wasn't there either.  I don't have my disguise on?!I tried to think of something to say, but all I said was “P-Please, I haven't harmed anyone. J-Just leave me be.”, in a weak, trembling voice that was deep and slightly distorted, as if two people with nearly the same voice were almost in perfect sync.

The crowd started yelling at me. “Yeah right!”, “Nopony wants you here!”, “Leave, you abomination!” My green eyes started tearing up and I could swear the crowd was starting to slowly form into one single, dark cloud. It's multiple faces remained, glaring and yelling at me to leave while it's form was slowly getting closer. “You're not welcome here!”, “Go back to where you came from!” The room slowly went into complete darkness. The last thing I saw of the cloud were the eyes, before I hid under my bed sheets like a scared little filly, eyes closed tight. This can't be real! It's got to be a nightmare! Some seconds later I noticed that the voices seemed to slowly fade, as if they were getting further away, and that my bed seemed to slowly harden.

Only after a minute of dead silence did I slowly poke my head out from my sheets to discover that I wasn't on my bed anymore. And that my sheets had a tear in them from my pointy blue-purple changeling horn, but I couldn't care less about that at the time. 

I was on a dirt road, near Dodge Junction considering the rocky terrain and a sign that confirmed that, saying “Dodge Juction: 30 miles”. It was still night time and not even the sound of a soft wind could be heard. I was still shaking from the prior experience, but the freezing weather outside was making it worse. I needed to find a warmer place and some time to calm down before trying to find out what was happening, but I still thought about it anyways. Is Discord unreformed and spreading chaos again, or is this really a dream? He's crafty enough that he can still technically wreak havoc by NOT doing anything, so I might not know until the end of this.

I looked around for shelter. There was a farm next to the right of the road, and a windmill to the left. I flared up my chitinous horn with powder green pony magic and tried putting my disguise on before going to either one. But as hard as I tried, I wasn't able to, so I decided that I should hide in the windmill for now. I put my sheets on my back to help stay warm, and after a few seconds of walking towards it, things suddenly went thousands of times faster than they should. 

I first noticed, with wide eyes, the windmill turning at the speed that could blow a hydra all the way over the horizon, yet no wind came from it. The structure was noticeably decaying as well. I looked at the farm to see the plants growing to full size in seconds, then being harvested in the blink of an eye. The house and barn's paint were aging to dullness, then being repainted so fast it looked instantaneous. The farm ponies were going so fast that even if I looked for one of their beds, I would probably just barely make out their coat color if I was lucky. Everything except for me and the heavens were moving frighteningly fast, but everything was still dead silent.

I galloped to the windmill as fast as I could, not wanting to find out what would happen if one of the ponies ran into me, in either sense of the phrase. After bucking the door open, I hurried to the highest floor to have a pony pass right thorough me. I slid to a halt and looked back to the door the pony went through. How are they intangible? Then I looked around to find a window facing the farm, some large boxes close to the entrance door, and a small unused storage closet which I hurried into. The accelerated rate of decay in the wood wall was forming a small gap that I could look through to the outside. I took a peek to see that the farm was much larger than before with crops still growing and disappearing, and the paint on the buildings still dulling and being replaced. Then it all slowed down to normal and I came out to get a better look through the window. 

The last thing that the farmers grew were apples, and everything else seemed to be in a state of decay, but there was finally some noise other than myself. The barn had rotting wood and missing planks, the house had broken windows and more than half the shingles were falling off, and the chicken coop they had had completely fallen apart. The whole thing gave me a sense of dread, but the odd thing that gave me a look of confusion was that the Summer Sun Celebration appeared to the right of the farm and adjacent to the road while I was going from the closet to the window. I was in time to see Celestia slowly and majestically raise into the sky with the sun in her magic grasp. My angle provided a view I've never seen before when she hit the apex of her accent, of her silhouette against the sun when it shone otherwise unobstructed.

Though my eyes had to readjust for some time, so in immediate retrospect that was a bad idea. But with the sun up, it was starting to get warmer. 

After my eyes cleared up, I spotted Luna talking with the guards at the celebration and she looked right in my direction. I ducked below the window. No no no! Is it the real Luna? Did she see me? I know she can enter others' dreams, but I can't even tell for sure if this is a dream! No, that doesn't matter. I need to evade her and every other pony here in case it isn't. So I slowly crept to the door, trying to avoid all the floorboards that became creaky from the lack of care. Though I wasn't able to get to the door before I heard someone trying to open it, then knocking on it. I jumped at the former sound and hid behind the large boxes. The farmer probably locked the door on his way out.

“I do not wish to pry, but you seem to be in some... trouble.”

It was definitely Princess Luna. I've been to a few of her announcements, so I knew her voice. I wasn't able to think of anything to say in my panic while looking for escape routes, so I stayed silent, my ears folded flat on my head.

"I do not know why you are hiding.” Her voice grew a little pleading but also reassuring, “If you could at least talk with me, it may help put your mind at ease.”

I spotted one of the windmill's fan blades at about a 12 o'clock position through the window and crept over. If the distance to it isn't to far, I can jump to it and climb down at least most of the windmill.

I backed up from the window, took a deep breath, started galloping towards it, then jumped through. I was able to get a grip on one of the blade's wood rods, but it was to decayed. It snapped in half and I fell, surprised, but managed to get a sufficient grip on one of the opposite blade's rods and climbed down the rest of that. I dropped the remaining height and landed with some pain in my legs. Thankfully, I don't make verbal cries of pain unless I find it unbearable. Though I still grimaced a bit. That was a bit farther than it looked.

I then went to the farm to find a new place to hide from Luna. As I was galloping there, I spotted a friend of mine who was in the Royal Guard. His name was Blitzkrieg. He had a red mane in a style similar to Spitfire's, but nowhere as long and his coat was a solid orange. His cutie mark was a lighting bolt and staff arranged in an X formation, his eyes were purple, and his build was lean but still noticeably muscular. I was originally thinking about hiding in the apple orchard, but when I spotted him I thought that it might be better to hide in the broken down farm house. 

As close as it was to the celebration's area, I had a chance to yank him from it and possibly help me despite my undisguised state.

I entered the farm house through one of the doors on the opposite side of the celebration to find myself in the living room. It didn't look any better than the outside. The wood floor was decaying just as badly as the windmill's, and the walls had plenty of cracks and some holes where there wasn't any dulled and torn wallpaper. The only thing that seemed to age well at all was the chimney, and everything else looked like it couldn't support more than it's own weight. There was also a back door in the corner closest to the road that I could bring Blitz though, but I also noticed a pony sized hole in the adjacent bedroom's wall that faced the same direction as the door.

I was able too keep an eye on Blitz through the cracks and holes in the walls when he wasn't in large crowds, though I was starting to rethink my chances of getting his help. What if he doesn't think it's me? No, I should be able to prove that... But what if he just runs off first to tell others because he gets spooked? I let out a deep sigh. I think I need to change my plan a bit. So I looked around for anything of use in the bedroom first.

There was a stuffed animal sheep on the bedroom nightstand that was about the right size and a large drawstring pouch under the bed. I went to the kitchen to find plenty of rusty pots and pans, and an old cutting board. I then crept over to the storage shed and found some rope. When I got back to my hiding spot I saw Blitz walking towards the hole in the wall without his helmet on. I had to prepare quickly, seeing as this was the perfect opportunity.

My horn flared a deeper green and I enchanted the stuffed sheep with a changeling gag spell. When Blitz passed the wall's hole, I crept the cutting board and sheep up behind him in my powder green pony magic. He was then whacked square on the nose. He recoiled some and I took his momentary, but absolute halt to stuff the sheep in his muzzle, quickly hogtie him with the rope telekineticly, then put the pouch over his head. Thankfully, no one saw this and I was able to quickly drag him into the house's living room with the help of my magic.

"Quiet!", I commanded, my voice wavering a bit.

"Mafmif?!"

"Yeah, it's me. When I remove the pouch, don't even let out a pep until I say so."

When I took the pouch off he had a surprised face on, which shortly shifted to a deadpan stare. I let out an exasperated sigh.

"This is serious, Blitz. Luna's looking for me and I need you to misdirect her to buy me some escape time. Can you do that?"

The guard made an irritated muffled noise and I took the stuffed animal out of his muzzle.

"You expect a Royal Guard to lie to a princess, after being wha-!?"

I winced a bit, shoved the sheep back in his muzzle, looked outside for a few seconds, then said with a hushed tone, "Keep quiet, I don't need anyone finding me right now!"

Great, this plan was far more drastic than it needed to be. Wait, is he more angry at me than I thought he would be?

I removed the sheep again after asking, "What do I look like to you?", with a puzzled look.

With a still irritated tone he answered, "You look like a normal Tatarus dang pony. What is wrong with you today, Shapeshift?"

If he sees me as a normal pony, then who else does? Luna might, but if this is a dream she could easily look past the illusion. Ignoring his question, I said "Jeez, just calm down. I'm not really in trouble with Luna. Let's just say she picked a bad time to talk with me."

Blitz then gave me an unreadable expression as if to keep me from knowing what he's thinking, which was odd given the circumstances. That reminded me that I could sense emotions like a changeling, though in my case it's not as strong. So I concentrated on him and felt plenty of worry, anger, irritation, and oddly enough, a bit of fear and doubt. Given what I did, I wouldn't be surprised if that doubt's about my real identity. But it's inconsequential at it's potency, and I should be more concerned about the influence of his anger and irritation.

I gave the guard a resolute look. "Okay, here's the deal: As long as you agree to try to avoid taking to Luna, I won't leave you here. If you decide to misdirect her and get in trouble for it, I can help you out of that problem. What's it gonna be?"

Blitz gave me a skeptical and slightly puzzled look. "And how would you be able to help me out of that?"

I gave him a cocky grin. "You know I'm crafty. I could think of something to pull off."

Blitz looked up to the ceiling to think for a minute then calmly said "Fine. I'll avoid Luna, but don't expect me to mislead her."

Great, my trail might be discovered quicker than I would've liked. I need to get out of here fast.

I untied Blitz and he hit me on the back of the head with an audible 'clop'. I winced then gave him an irritated look while saying "What was that for!?"

"For being an idiot!"

I deadpanned. "Okay ... whatever."

Blitz then gave me a worried look. "So where are you going to go?"

"Even if I had a place in mind, I couldn't tell you that."

"Oh, right. Hopefully I'll see you around sometime."

I turned around to walk off and I told him over my shoulder with a smile "Don't worry, you will."

I walked over to the front door, and Blitz the back, but he stopped at his for a few seconds then said "Hey", and I turned my head while at the door "keep your muzzle above water, but remember to breathe." I gave him a puzzled look.

"It's some kind of proverb or something. I want to know what it means, but you're better than me at finding the meaning of cryptic phrases anyways. Hopefully you can come back sometime and tell me."

I said "Will do", opened the door, and walked out.

I hastily crept my way into to the apple orchard. At first it was just a bit overgrown with some bushes, tall grass, and occasional vines, but after what seemed like just 20 minutes of a brisk jog it was somehow looking much like the place I occasionally travel to for potion ingredients, the Everfree Forest. I slowed my pace to bring less attention to myself, in case something like a cockatrice was near by, but I still somehow thought that Luna would be closer than any dangerous creature. 

She would probably even spot me easier. After all, she has to have more experience in practically everything compared to everyone else besides Celestia, given how she's easily over ten times the average pony lifespan. Then again, there's probably very little you could do in the way of training for anything when you've been banned to the mo-

My train of thought was interrupted by my hoof somehow missing a step and I fell. When I looked down there was a shallow canyon that somehow completely evaded my perception. After falling about 10 meters I landed in the raging river at the bottom, being violently shoved around under the white water to the point that I lost which direction was up for a few seconds. 

I managed to breach the surface when I almost ran out of breath, despite the river's efforts to shove me back down. Unfortunately, I was unable to breathe without major pains in my chest, so I got little oxygen before being pulled back under. I kept trying to get back to the top for air, but I couldn't get enough through the pain when I had the chance and I was starting to feel lightheaded after a few more attempts. Then I dropped at an unexpected waterfall and it all became much calmer.

I got back to the surface and winced a bit for every shallow breath, but at least I was alive. I tried looking for a way out of the now wider canyon, but I couldn't find any method of escape. Instead, what I found while being carried down the river was rather odd, but not particularly surprising due to all the strange events.

First off, it was nighttime again. The second thing to catch my eye were two figures in the sky, flying around and trying to shoot each other with magic blasts. One was mostly a bright white. The equally bright, flowing ethereal mane gave it away as being Celestia. The other was a vastly darker figure that was harder to make out in the low light and long distance, even with the light from the blasts. So I was unable to make out enough details to say anything more with certainty than that it was a tall, dark pony. Though I was sure that it was Nightmare Moon.

The third thing was a scene being played out of group of six ponies being shown, in a large flat crystal surface in the canyon wall. One pony, a purple unicorn, was lying down with her head buried in her forelegs while all the others were walking away from her in their own individual direction with their own general stuck up look on their faces that you normally see the Canterlot elite wear to show disdain.

Then a magic blast hit the crystal, leaving a gaping hole where it made impact and the scene flickered away. I looked where the blast came from and not to far away was the dark figure and Celestia. I was able to confirm at that distance that the dark pony was Nightmare Moon, as I expected.

Being distracted by all of this, I didn't notice that there was a growing background noise until it was just barely more than that. I tried to find something to hang on to to stop the river from pulling me along. Most of what I found were roots but they were too weak. Most of the canyon walls, which became much higher from when I fell, were covered in moss so it would be hard to find a good part of it to hang onto, and the same went for what few small amounts of rock there were in the water. After a few minutes, the water's flow picked up significantly and I realized what the noise was. 

It was another waterfall. And it sounded very high up. Probably more than 50 meters.

I didn't know how to do any teleporting spells, so even though I had the energy and this was an emergency I couldn't pull it off. Changeling shape-shifting was out of the question as well because the spell for that wasn't compatible with me due to my body being a haphazard combination of both pony and changeling, and something was preventing me from using any spell as a disguise anyway.
After a few minutes the canyon turned and I could see that the walls right next to the waterfall looked to only be a dozen meters high at most, so I had a last chance. There wasn't anything that I could use as rope, including anything underwater, so I could only hope that there was something like a vine I couldn't see to help me get out.

Fortunately, I spotted a strong enough vine only about seven meters away from the fall and I wasn't too late to get a hold of it. My leg strength wasn't that good but it was enough to get me out of the water and onto the mossy wall, despite my chest pain. There were enough small holes and such that I could climb it, but not all the nine meters that it was. I was two meters away from the top and the portion of the vine at the ledge was stuck in a groove. I could still slip and fall back into the water if I wasn't holding the vine well enough, so I tied some of it around my waist and shoulders. I'm sure this will hold my full weight, but I don't think it'll be strong enough if I fall too far. I securely tied the excess vine around myself just in case and looked around for anything else to use, but my search was fruitless. I can't call for help because Luna might be close enough to hear me, so what in Tatarus do I do? I thought for a solid seven seconds, then face hoofed. Telekinesis, duh... 

I tried looking for anything on land level that was in my sight and levitating other vines over. But whatever being that controlled fate decided to get a laugh from seeing me like this and I couldn't put enough strength into my levitation for any vine that looked long enough because I use a different spell that losses strength with distance, so it was too far away and heavy. I growled in irritation. Great. I didn't want to try this because it might break but seeing as the wall's even enough, my last chance is a wall run. So I placed my hind legs perpendicular to the wall and hung onto the vine with my front, then let a few meters of the vine loose so I wouldn't have to change directions frequently.

I started slowly and the vine seemed okay, but as I ran faster it seemed like the it would snap at any moment. It also wasn't helping that the pain in my chest was getting worse from my heavier and faster breathing. 

At the exact second I got close enough to the top, the vine snapped but I was able to get a grip on the ledge. Unfortunately, I was losing that grip fast because that portion of the ledge was far too muddy. In my panic I couldn't find anything to levitate over to help me up so I fell back into the water, and shortly went down the waterfall with my eyes clenched, waiting for whatever would happen to me.

But I shortly noticed something about the fall was missing. 

I opened my eyes then looked down and I couldn't really see any ground directly below me. I looked elsewhere and there were islands of land just floating in place as I went by them, then I realized what it was. 

There was actually no feeling of falling whatsoever. I was floating while everything else was flying up. So I stayed there for a long time. 

I had no idea how long I was there but I eventually noticed an island in the void, directly under me. It was coming towards me and I couldn't tell how fast, so I started panicking. I finally noticed that, at worst, it was going fast enough to break a bone if I didn't land right, so I tried to position myself correctly. It was extremely difficult because I was just floating in place with next to nothing in reach. Then when I tried getting my bed sheet off my back to help me, I realized that it was gone. Great, I lost it in the river. Now what am I going to use? 

I looked around, but the only possible thing to use was the vine that I wrapped around myself. I untied it and used it as counterweight to manoeuvre into a suitable position which wasn't easy either, considering how it would quickly start flailing around, but it was all I had to work with. It didn't help that there were occasional gusts from the islands flying by either.

Shortly after getting my position right, I landed on the island with a small thud. It hurt a lot, but after checking myself I didn't seem to break anything from that, as far as I could tell. So I casted a passive healing acceleration spell with changeling magic and tried calming myself down by just lying on the ground for a minute. 

My worry dissipated, but was replaced with anger.

I quickly got up and pointed at the sky with a hoof and a face of pure rage.

"If I ever find out that there's a god of fate, I'll personally hunt you down!"
I stood there for a few seconds, breathing heavily with one hoof on my chest from the pain of the earlier injury, and the other still pointing.

Then I remembered that Luna was probably still looking for me. My face shifted into a look of surprise at what I did, then worry for a minute as I tried to think of what to do while looking around the island. 

It looked to be about 50 meters in diameter when I was falling towards it, and I was in a small clearing with the rest of the place populated by a thick forest. It didn't seem to be populated by any monsters and it had a lot more vines than even trees, so the few bushes that there were had many vines of various sorts tangled up in them. There were so many that I could practically just find a large tangled bunch of them to hide in. When I decided on a plan, a look of determination swept across my features. It had to be the real Luna and this has to be a dream. Why else would she be so calm in all this chaos? Why would she have said what she had at the door in the windmill? I don't even think this is Discord's style of chaos!

I then crept over to a large bush some distance away from the clearing. I flared up my horn with deep green changeling magic and cast a noise reduction spell on it, then weaved my way through the vines in the bush to the middle. I got comfortable in a sitting position, with a hoof on my chest pain's area. Then I casted a pony spell, to create disembodied sources of my voice placed at random locations throughout the island, as well as a changeling spell to listen at all those spots.

Okay. So I wait for her to come to the island, then I can get answers for all these crazy events.

I waited only about five minutes before I heard sounds from one of my spells listening points, one being wing beats then rustling plants. I put my voice through all the disembodied sources at once.

"Luna?" 

She stayed quiet for a few seconds, probably trying to find the source, then said "Your voice is rather odd", with a confused tone. Then her voice started showing a little concern. "But why are you hiding? I do not wish to harm you, even if you are a changeling."

With exasperation in my voice I said "My problem's far more complicated than that. Something happened to me during the attack on Canterlot, but I have very little memory of it. All I know is that someone owes me an explanation of my dramatically changed life to fill in my memory gap, and it's probably a changeling. I haven't had any luck with that."

"As it currently stands, we may have the authority to do anything we wish with Chrysalis within reason if she decides to show her face here and gets captured. We may be able to help you if we can have some details of what you look like, but I suppose you wouldn't want to give that away." Luna stated with a pondering tone.

"Yeah, and I'd prefer to stay thoroughly hidden until changeling integration has been worked on significantly."

"I suppose that is a good idea, but for your sake you will need to give your word to yourself that you'll do it. Your feeling of having to stay hidden forever will only become true if you keep telling yourself that it is not the right time."

I grew a bit sadder and my voice showed it "I know. This is a self fulfilling prophecy." Then I became more determined. " But back to finding my memories, I've decided that I'm going to take up some skills to help, as well as fixing something to take full advantage of them. I may even try to help with the changeling affairs in some way."

I tried putting up a disguise and finally had success, so I trotted into the clearing I was in before. Luna came out and was met with a silver furred stallion with a light blue mane, yellow eyes, and a waffle cutie mark sitting down. Luna sat down as well and was the first to speak.

"I would ask how you are disguising yourself and why your voice is that way, but you would most likely not tell me that either."

How does she know I'm disguised!? " I started to panic and it showed a bit with a slight shaking and a moderately strained smile. "H-how do you know I'm not in my real form?"

"Either you are not a pony and this dream has forced you into this form, you have changed your voice in some way, or both with the latter to keep your identity from me. Though you may also be a changeling." Luna's face shifted into one of concern. "Are you alright? You seen to be trembling slightly."

There was a saying I've once heard from a changeling in Ponyville. The best lies are the ones that are true.

"I-I just have a bit of social anxiety is all."

"A deep voiced stallion shy of mares?" Luna or her hoof over her mouth to stifle what was probably a giggle.

My smile became far less strained "General social anxiety. Especially mares, but, um, we're getting a bit off topic."

Luna coughed into her hoof and her face grew more serious. "Yes, we are. There are other ponies that could use my help, so I should make this a bit brief and to the point. When you go searching for your memories, be wry of what shortcuts you take. Some may hurt or hinder others, and some can do the same to yourself. If you do find out what happened during your memory gap and your life change was due in part by somepony, remember that revenge is never the answer. I also recommend talking with the Ambassador of Changeling Affairs. Perhaps to have him ask other changelings if they know anything about you. He has dozens of them living in his house, after all."

I started feeling a strange pulling sensation, then Luna stood up and said "You seem to be waking up, but I may meet you again some day." And she started walking into the forest.

I walked to the edge of the island, but stopped for a few seconds, craned my head back with a sly smile and said, "Oh, two things." She craned her head back to me. "You're my favorite royal sister, and I might be bringing your night guard an occasional present as a token of my appreciation for helping me with this."

Luna's face changed to show a bit of concern as well as some suspicion and quirked an eyebrow. "I hope it is not something our guard will have to hunt you down for."

With my smile still on and a roll of my eyes I said,
"Don't worry, it's not like I'm a psycho mailbox bomber, Lieutenant Nightlight." Her face shifted into a more confused look as I saluted to her. Is there a lieutenant by that name?

With that, I jumped off the island and actually started falling this time. Though I thought I heard Luna shout something just as I jumped. The pull was growing faster and I could suddenly feel as well as see the dream warp into the distance.





I jolted up in my real bed with wide eyes. My disguise spell I created was still active, keeping me looking like myself before the accident. I rubbed my eyes some as I usually do in the morning to get rid of any sleep and took a look around. Everything was normal, just like the start of my dream. 

Then I scooted up to lay my back against the bed's backboard, a small frown on my face and my eyes closed. I'm tired of waiting for a change while the constant fear of being discovered looms over my head every single day. It's time I've done something about this and contribute in some way, instead of leaving it to others. My pet lynx, Frost, entered the room and followed me as I sauntered over to the window after some stretching and audible joint pops. I pet his white and black spotted fur while l looked outside with a determined and analyzing face, my eyes narrowing slightly. 

I need to fix my shape-shifting, and find a friendly infiltrator.

> Chapter 2: Progress
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was a few mere weeks after the dream with Luna that I got my shape-shifting reasonably functional. I was working on it before the dream and it helped that I joined a research team working on understanding changeling shape-shifting for a week or so. But upon casting it the first time I found that, depending on how much I changed my body, I would be met with a certain amount of pain for the duration of the transformation process. I fixed this by quickly adding a full body anesthetic effect, though I continued to work on it to make it more combat feasible.

Another spell I obtained was the changeling disguise dispel through my profession's perks. My access to those counter spells, and the documented changeling spells, were meant for ponies in my profession and a few others to help create various counter measures against infiltrators. So it should come as no surprise that, upon hearing that every researcher will get the disguise dispel cast on them every time they enter the research area, I decided to leave the job. Because of that, the Guard required that I get said spell cast on me, but it didn't dispel my disguise because all the vital portions of its composition and then some had to be modified for me to use it.

On Thursday I did my usual potion brewing requests at home and some more changeling spell examination and experimenting, which became one of my hobbies, and I took Frost to the park for some time.

He usually finds a place to perch or lay on while enjoying the park's scenery and sun, away from anything noisy. He'll occasionally chase something flying, but pretty much nothing else. I usually just read a book while keeping my eye on him. As for other ponies, the ones who frequent the park pay him no mind, though we'll occasionally get odd glances. The latter of which I find amusing.

After Frost and I got back to Stoneneigh, our apartment complex, I gave him some food and made something for myself, then went back to my experiments. After the sun set, I left to meet up with a friend of mine at Doughnut Joe's. 

When I arrived, I didn't see my earth pony friend Class Act anywhere.

While I waited I decided to field test a pony spell I was working on while I was sitting at one of the two-pony tables adjacent to the wall. Upon casting it, my eyes subtly flashed light green, then certain things in my cone of vision were highlighted the same color. The intended effect was for the user to know what things were currently affected by any changeling magic by seeing said things with a highlighting tint over them that only the user sees. Though at the time I only knew that it worked specifically with my changeling telekinesis and shape-shifting in my lab tests. I needed to know for sure if it at least detected the same spells cast by any changeling.

Undisguised changeling's pastry being levitated is highlighted, other changeling that shape-shifted for his friends is now highlighted. Pretty rare to see two changelings in even the same block, so I'm lucky for that. Even some things in my cone of vision that are behind larger obstructions are highlighted as well. The last thing isn't particularly something I had in mind, but it's a more than welcome feature with obvious benefits. I'm a bit surprised that there aren't any-

Just then, Class Act came in. He was tinted green from my spell.

He usually wears something subtle to show his nobility when he's not working, though it's never a hat of any sort. His coat is white and his mane is black and usually in a strictly professional style, kind of like Harsh Winny's. Though he doesn't like her business demeanor and describes it as "Something that, given only a few hours, will make you desperate enough to contemplate attempting a lobotomy on yourself with a plastic knife." Anyways, he lets his mane go a bit and usually doesn't wear anything extremely fancy when he's not working or dealing with other nobles.

 Wait, what?! That can't be right... Unless he's been replaced or he's been a changeling all along. I have to find out what's going on here if I want to know for sure that the spell's functioning perfectly and that Act isn't in any trouble!

The might-be-Act approached me with a smile and said "Hey! How's everything going?", while he took the other seat.

The right emotions touched my senses, so I reclined into my seat all the way, though given that this might not be Act I was a bit hesitant about doing so. "Nothing particularly interesting is going on with me. Just the usual potion requests getting filled and examining changeling infiltrator spells. Anything going on with you?"

Act sat down on the other chair at the table.

Strange. It didn't look like I even got a single micro expression or unexpected emotion out of him with the last part.

"Nothing much with me. Just examining a few laws that were passed specifically to keep any changeling under Equestrian law from committing things like espionage. Want to also make sure that one or more of the nobles haven't successfully sneaked something devious in." he said matter-of-factly. "Though I am expecting to eventually see at least one of the nobles getting hit with a class action lawsuit involving changeling discrimination. Or at least cases that are more personal in nature."

I gave him a skeptical look and said "I don't think that there will be something that bad, but I won't be surprised if there will be individual cases. I know that there were occasional personal accusations of that sort a long time ago made by griffins. Considering they never tried any kind of major hostile takeover, I'd pretty much expect the same but more frequent with the changelings."

"Well, you know me."

I rolled my eyes with a smile. Cynical as always. "Let's get something to eat."

So we went to the counter to order and I let Act go first.

So far he seems to be giving off the expected emotions and acting like he always does. If my spell is functioning the way it's supposed to, then he's probably been an infiltrator all along... And easily one of the better ones. If he's actually friendly, I may be able to get him to train me for infiltration, but I'll have to follow him to confirm all this.

"And for you, Shape?", Joe said.

"Mmm...eh." I shrugged. "The usual."

He trotted over to the doughnuts to take some. "Alright, a jelly filled, a creme filled, and a glazed sour creme cake."

He then came back with said pastries and said "Sometimes I wonder how you stay that thin eating that many deserts." He said with an amused smile, while I got out the bits to pay.

I said, "Probably just a fast metabolism."

"I wish I still had that. Anyways, enjoy."

I trotted back to the table where Act was sitting and we talked in between bites. It was only after finishing my food that I finally noticed something that might be a bit off about Act.

"Oh, I forgot to mention something. There was some news that some jewelery given as a gift may have been enchanted with a persuasion assisting spell of some sort by a changeling." Act said, then stole a glace at some ponies that trotted in the bakery that very second. "Though the pony that was given the gift may or may not have been paranoid, or something similar, and the gift hasn't been fully examined. It made me realize that there's always the possibility of the same thing happening with me." Act took another bite of his glazed doughnut.

My face lit up with excitement. "I've been examining changeling spells since the attack, so you could bring things to me so I can examine them for malicious enchantments. It's not too hard for me and I like doing it anyways. I might even be able to find changeling spells that ponies haven't found yet!"

Act's face lit up as well. "Ah, good! I was hopping you'd do it for me. I’d be paying you, of course." 

I noticed his eyes stealing another look, this time at a group that was leaving as they went through the door. I always have a good idea who he's taking glances at when I notice it because they're usually at least a bit unusual. Though this was the second time tonight that I noticed him doing it with completely normal ponies, so I took a glance myself. It wasn't to specifically look at the ponies, but the general picture of his line of sight, which seemed to include both changelings in the bakery.

Why would he want to keep tabs on those changelings? Given his discovery of that news, it could just be lingering paranoia, but he could be using that news to confuse others about the real source of it. He could also not really be paranoid at all and just acting it out to keep his alter ego's appearance looking and feeling real. Then again, changelings living peacefully with ponies is still more than just a bit odd, but why try to hide those glances from everyone, including me? 

If the best lies are the ones that are true, I could try finding out by asking the right questions. All the answers could need are a switch in context to reveal the complete truth. 

Act raised an eyebrow slightly. "So what are you thinking about?"

"Oh, uh, sorry. Just thinking about what tools I don't have to do it."

“The enchantment analyzing?”

"Yeah, I'll need to talk with Cordial about getting the more special tools for that soon. I'm sure he'll know a pony that sells that kind of stuff. After all, I like to say that he's the Pinkie Pie of business relations."

"Really? Sounds like a stallion I'd like to meet. I have many business ideas but, as I'm sure you know, most require an advanced understanding of specific magic subclasses and physical mechanics. Hopefully he at least knows some ponies that can cast or create physically responsive illumination spells. With that, I could soon give Celestia or Luna a nice show of what my idea is!"

I gave a knowing smile "And if you're thinking what I think you are, then both would definitely want to give it a try in one way or another."

"Especially since Fancy Pants thinks the idea is 'a superb display of both form and function'. You know how influential he is with the nobles." He then gave another glance at a group exiting the bakery while taking a bite of his doughnut.

Considering the suspicious glances that he's doing, and everything else, I'd say that it's a safe bet that he's a changeling. Though I still want solid proof, so I'll need to follow him a few times.

I realized how late it was when I looked at the dining area's clock, then stated "It's getting a bit late for me. I need to head home to work on my experimental transformation potion." as I got up to leave.

"Oh! How's it coming along?" Act asked as he got up to walk out as well.

I shrugged as we made our way out, "Slow as usual, but I seem to have made no progress in the past week. I've done lots more research for it, but nothing I'm finding seems to help yet."

We both stopped outside the establishment and Act showed a small frown. "Oh, well that's disappointing. Anyways, I should head out as well. I've unfortunately got a bit too much work to do to spend literally all night fulfilling social obligations. Same time next week, as usual?"

"Yup. See you again soon!"

"Alright. Bu-bye!"

We both made our separate ways home. Or at least that's what I wanted Act to think.

I started going my usual route at first, but once I was sure he wouldn't come looking for me for some reason, I started making my way to Act's usual route home. At the same time I was looking for a discrete place to change into a disguise.

I've been told by Act long ago that the way the Guard follows targets with non pegasi is that they go about it in a team of at least five. Each one takes turns following the target in a round robin manner, with each pony's turn lasting up to 2 or 3 blocks, while the others discretely prepare to switch places at as many possible points on the target's route as the team can.

I'm not multiple ponies, so I can't be in two places at once. But I can still give the illusion that I'm more than one with my shape-shifting. The problem is if he deviates from his usual route, which I don't find likely, I'll have to somehow predict his next move well enough.

I then spotted a rather large box just sitting out in front of a shop. It looked like I could fit, so after checking that it was empty, I picked it up with my foreleg and took it with me. I eventually found an alley with no windows, so I set the box down, climbed inside, and changed into a larger, older body with colors that were a bit less bright and a more classy mane.

With the box still with me, I picked up the pace to catch up with Act, and I soon found him three blocks west from me. It looked like he was still on his usual route home, so for the first two blocks I walked west, so that if he was still on his usual route, I'd see him one block north of me. I saw him there and while I was going north, he took the usual road that cuts northeast through the next block. Next I opted to go east one block. After that, I didn't see him at the intersection north of mine, but I expected that, so I went half a block north to go east through an alleyway.

 He should have been going one block east after the diagonal cut through the block. Right now he's probably about to go through the second northeast cut, if he's still on the usual route.

While I was there I set the box up and changed disguises. I knew I was falling behind, so I switched to a young, muscular adult build, with blue fur, a purple buzz-cut mane, and a dumbbell cutie mark.

When I exited the alleyway with the box, I started a light gallop north to the next intersection to catch up. I was able to see Act near the end of the block's cut, so I assumed that he still didn't and hopefully won't deviate from his path. I kept the pace up while still heading north until I was in front of his house. I also spotted Act again, while turning into the southeast cut in the block to the east of me.

I soon discovered that, unfortunately, it wasn't quite the right move because my quick search of a place to change on the block turned up nothing. So I ended up going south on the road just to turn west, then north one block later through another diagonal cut. Though this one had an alleyway, so I went into it.

I need a spot that can't be seen from- I should've gotten rid of the box after the first time Act saw me with it! Now he might think that he's being followed by a changeling!

I set the box up between two short walls after climbing over one and changed into a older, thin adult unicorn build, with brown fur, a green mane, and a gardening spade cutie mark. Then I realized that it might be better to change into a thin little filly instead. So I did and got rid of the cutie mark.

I've changed into a colt before, which felt strange. But swapping genders? This is just the weirdest thing I've ever experienced. It's like I'm out of place! How long does it take a changeling to completely get used to this?

After I was able to sufficiently ignore the weird feeling of being female at the time, I started thinking up a plan.

If I act like a lost filly, I could gain entrance to his house. Though it wouldn't have much of a point if he knows someone's in his house, and he'll probably just hand me over to the Guard because they have records on where ponies live. 

...But if we encounter a guard on the way to the castle, he'll hand me over to them and I can try to sneak away from the Guard shortly after, so that I can gain a more stealthy entrance to Act's house as long as he doesn't get back before me. I do have a key to his house, so it won't be hard to find one. Unfortunately, there's a risk that we won't find a Guard before getting to the castle, but it is more likely that we'll find one at night. There's also the risk that I may not be able to sneak away from the Guard he hands me over to.

I couldn't think of another plan at the time, so I mulled over it for a few minutes and ended up going with it. I then climbed out of the box and left it there, to trot towards Act's house.

When I got there I went up to the door, knocked on it, and took a few steps back. Shortly after, Act answered it with a surprised look. I used my nervousness as an advantage.

"C-can you help me find my mommy? I'm lost and I don't know my way home."

Act gave me a slightly puzzled look, sighed and said, "I think it would be best if I escorted you to the castle so the Guard can find out where you live and take you home, alright?"

"O-okay."

He trotted out, locked the door behind him, then said, "You look a bit tired. Do you want to ride on my back?"

I gave a shy "Yes, please", and climbed on.

A few minutes later I grew less nervous and we found a unicorn Guard patrolling the streets.

Act approached her, saying "Excuse me, this little filly is lost and can't find her home. We're hopping you can look though your residential information at the castle to find it for her."

"Oh, yes. We can do that. Follow me."

"Actually, I need to get back home. I'm very busy right now."

"Okay", the guard turned toward me and said in a sweet voice, "Would you like to come with me... What's your name?"

A name!? I didn't even think about that!

"Uh, Ditch... Digger."

I hint of amusement and surprise came up from the Guard, but concern was still obviously at her forefront. Act had the same reaction, but with a bit of suspicion instead of amusement.

"Alright, Ditch, if you get on my back, we can find your home and get you there in no time!"

I got on the Guard's back without saying anything and we started making our way to the castle, while she quietly muttered something about bad parenting. Though my guard's attention was grabbed shortly after we begun because an out of sight mare and a stallion sounded like they were arguing over something serious. When we got close enough I heard two ponies with a Trottingham accent. "Gold! Nopony has seen this horrifying enchantment since the reign of Discord over a thousand years ago! You have to let me fix it!"

"No, it's how I like it!"

"How you like it!? It's practically cursed! If this was an equine, I'd bury it alive!"

When we got in view, the earth pony stallion was holding a necklace and the unicorn had what I knew were enchanting supplies.

The stallion facehoofed and simply said "I just want an extreme temperature ward added."

The mare threw her hooves up. "It already has one that does that!" Then pointed to something on a large paper. "It's the same one that turns you into a snow pony for 5 hours afterwords and I can't undo that one or all the other enchantments get undone and the necklace gets destroyed!"

"That only sometimes happens. But what about that, the G looking thing. That's the shape for the fire magic."

"I think I- the shape for the fire magic?!"

My guard approached the two, took me off of his back, and said "Hey!" which got their attention. "Can you please keep it down? This is a residential area and it's late, so ponies are trying to sleep. Why are you even doing this outside?"

The mare then gathered up her supplies with an irritated look and said, "You know what, Gold? If you want to trot around with a necklace created by Discord himself, that's fine by me!" Then she walked away saying, "It won't be my problem!"

After he turned his head to the guard, the stallion said, "Sorry about that. I should actually be asleep right now."

I started slowly backing up, being careful that the stallion wouldn't remind my Guard of what she's supposed to be doing. Though I wasn't looking behind me much, so I didn't know where the closest turn in my available paths were immediately.

"Yes, well, at the risk of sounding like your mother, just try to keep it down."

I picked up my pace a bit and my heart was starting to race.

This'll probably be my only distraction to use!

I took a quick look around the area while the stallion said "Yes, mam."

That window looks big enough for me to fit through. But I need to get to Act's house quickly, so hiding isn't an option. I need to get to the closest corner and round it so I can move faster without them hearing me.

I opted to just round the street corner and tried silently galloping away.

The guard didn't notice for some time as I heard her say "Good, now if you don't mind me asking, what was that all about?", before I was too far away and rounded another street corner, galloping at full speed by then.

 I need a faster form, but I can't change much or I'll get caught. I could try an adult form, but that's not very small. I want to stay this way for stealth when I'm back at Act's, so I'd have to change an extra time. But I didn't make this form particularly athletic, so I think it's best that I just buff it up, to keep from doing extra transformations.

So I ended up changing in a discretely placed trashcan, then continuing my marathon back to Act's house.

When I got there I opened the side gate to the backyard as quietly as I could, then sneaked next to hedges, brushes, and fences to get to the back door with minimal risk. While he doesn't keep any keys hidden anywhere outside, he did give one to me, which I keep on me as often as my own apartment key. So I took it out, and unlocked the door. But a thought occurred to me before I opened it.

Wait, no! What am I doing? This is his house, he trusts me with this key! I know of nothing that he's done to deserve someone invading his home!

So I locked the door and went out the way I came, just in time to see Act trotting up to the front door. My fear and panic spiked while I dove into a bush, at least one emotion bringing the attention of Act to me. He immediately turned his head to look in my direction. Fortunately, he seemed to chalk it up to being an animal, because he didn't do much more than stare at the spot I was previously in and the bush for a few seconds. Though I could feel suspicion from him, so I made sure to not make any noise he could hear from inside of the house as I sneaked off the property.

Once I was about half way home, I ended up shape-shifting back to my default disguise in a large dumpster because I couldn't find anywhere else to do it. So I ended up coming home very tired, stinky, and disappointed.

But Frost didn't care about the smell much because when I entered, he let out what I'd describe as a raspy bark-howl. This is how he usually gets my attention, and it's generally a lynx's version of a typical house cat's meow.

Anyways, I was too tired to care about a shower that night, so I went right to bed and planned to shower and wash my sheets tomorrow.

Shortly after I got settled in, Frost decided to jump up and sit parallel to me with his face looking at mine, purring a bit. With a bit of an apologetic tone I said "Sorry buddy, but I've been up for far too long as it is. No petting this time."

So after a bit he decided to lie on my lower back, and I thought about some things while waiting for sleep to come.

I hope Act's at least not with the hive. It'd be a lot harder to deal with turning him in to the Guard. But considering how he's always given me advice on handling other's emotions and occasional tips on hiding in plain sight, which I naturally do anyways, he may have been trying to subtly tell me that he is one. So he probably sees something in me that tells him that he can trust me, but what is it? If he's not part of the hive anymore, then I may be right. If he is, which I doubt, then I've got no idea.
> Chapter 3: Secrets
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

I woke up on Friday, took a shower, washed the bed sheets and went through my usual routine until later in the day, when I decided to go to Cordial's general store. It doesn't take much more than fifteen minutes to get there, and when I did, I went up to one of the employees in the front of the large store.

"Excuse me."

The stallion turned around from shelving, "Yes?"

"Is Cordial here today? I need to ask him about a personal order."

"Yeah, he should be. He was in the health section when I saw him about 20 minutes ago. He may be in his office, though."

I smiled, "Alright, thanks."

I decided to go to the health section first. He was shelving what looked like half of the entire aisle, and as I went down it I spotted an interesting pocket watch. I didn’t get a close look at it but the cover had something engraved on it in the same style as the Canterlot castle's historical stained glass windows. Though I didn't take it because it was probably another pony's.

"Wow. Took you a while to get fully stocked again."

Cordial kept working but knew it was me. "Yeah, since the changeling attack some ponies were expecting another, so getting these supplies fully stocked was harder than usual. I'm trying to buy in bulk prices and sell in individual."

A small brief anxiety spike.

"Ah, okay. So I was wondering if you could find me a pony who sells enchantment supplies. The kind for analyzing, and wide variety, too."

Cordial paused to think for a few seconds. "I think I can find you a pony, but it'll probably have to be more than one. There's not many that make a wide range of them in good quality. I can give you an estimate on the finder's fee after this."

"That's fine. There's a pocket watch with Discord on it in this aisle. Did somebody lose it?"

"A pocket watch? No, we haven't bought any of those with that on it. I think somebody lost it, so depending on its worth I'll have it in the lost and found for up to several months. Hopefully somebody will pick it up before then, otherwise I'll be selling it.

"Oh. I was hoping it was being sold. So..."

I should try asking him about his Canterlot attack experience. It could let me read his emotions about it. At least for another second or two. 

"... I never asked what happened to you during the Canterlot attack."

Deep physically hesitated a bit. 

Fear, a bit of regret and anger, worry, and sightly more of something that feels like slightly off worry. I need to know what it is.

He said, "That's not something I'm willing to talk about with anyone", with a slightly distant look in his eyes. He then stopped shelving and motioned for me to follow while saying, "I think it'll be better if I get you the estimate now. It's not like anypony who comes in here looks for immediate medical care, and the employees would help anyways." So I started walking with him to his office.

I could try using my detection spell, but it may not be accurate enough. I need to think a bit on what to do next.

So I quickly said, "Actually, I'm going to the bathroom. I'll be back.", then trotted over and into it. I sat on the toilet while thinking.

So far everything that I noticed is only inductive proof. His emotions about the attack are only a bit odd for a pony's and so are his actions. My changeling magic detection spell can be further proof, but still only inductive because it correctly identified only two changelings and one possible changeling. I'll use the spell on him and if it shows any magic, then I'll call him out on it privately. But how am I going to do that?

I haven't done anything like that before. I also haven't known him for long, so he could be malicious, but I suppose I could use my telekinesis to restrain him if I can stay right next to him. But what about his possible magic? I don't know much offensive battle magic. As much as I'd hate it, I guess I'll have to knock him out if he so much as lights up in any way.

So I trotted to Cordial's small office after casting my spell in the bathroom and I noticed his body being highlighted through the wall. I shut the door behind me. The office was filled with filing cabinets, which had a lot of info on past sales, other sellers, ponies looking to hire, and pretty much everything else you could possibly think of that would be in an office cabinet. Of course, there was also a desk that Cordial was sitting behind and two chairs in front that matched the other two for waiting right outside his door.

He told me "Okay, so the fee's probably going to be about one hundred bits."

I raised an eyebrow with a surprised look and said, "Isn't that a bit much?"

"You've always said that you wanted quality products and it takes a lot of time to go through my files and more to find new contacts." He shrugged and added, "I've got to make a living off of it if I'm spending extra time on it."

"Okay. I guess you can run the bill up to one hundred and I'll pay for whoever's info you find."

"Sounds good to me."

"Alright. I've got nothing else so I'll see you later."

Might as well tell him now.

"Oh, and I know you're a changeling."

As soon as I finished that sentence, he said, "What!?", shut the door, and tripped me with green magic as I was turning around. He then got right over me and said, "How do you know?! Somepony told you, didn't they?!"

I was worried for myself at this point but I managed to say "T-technically, you, right now."

Cordial put a hoof to his face in self disbelief, then gave me a flat and serious stare close to my face and demanded, "Then why did you say it?"

I nerviously responded with "Because I thought that you could be one, but I- the phrase came out a bit wrong. I was going to imply that I wasn't sure."

Backing his face away from mine a bit, he sighed deeply and gave my sixth sense a feeling of irritation and worry. "What made you think that I was a changeling?"

"I sensed some questionable emotions from you."

It was Cordial's turn to be surprised again. "You're a changeling, too?" But then he grew more nervous and put his face inches from mine again, saying, "Or do they have a spell for sensing emotions that I don't know about?"

"No, we don't have that yet, but I'm not exactly a changeling."

Cordial narrowed his eyes at me, but backed up, saying "Then prove that you're 'not exactly a changeling'."

I got up and changed into Cordial's disguise with a flash of green flame.

Cordial pointed at me lamely and said "That only proves that you're a changeling."

So I took an apple on his desk with my pony magic, put it between us, and transformed it into an orange.

Realization struck Cordial. "But... that's pony magic! How are you doing this?"

"My real body's been part changeling since the Canterlot attack. I can't remember why, but-"

With an unamused stare Cordial said "You drank your potion, didn't you?"

I sighed and said, "Yeah, I probably did. But I don't remember it, so that may not be the case." with a sightly sad tone.

Cordial gave me another suspicious look. "So why should I trust you to not tell anypony that I'm a changeling if you've only been part changeling for less than a few months?"

"Because I've managed to stay hidden- well, keep my change hidden and I'd like to keep it that way for who knows how long. And I prefer to be called a half-ling."

"Alright. You don't tell anypony and I don't tell anypony."

"You don't tell anybody."

Deep rolled his eyes. "What's the difference?"

"One refers to only ponies while the other refers to all sentient beings."

"Right. Stupid ponyisms."

Deep let out some relief while he went back to his position at the desk then said, "Anyways, you can go."

I left for my house without saying anything, and mostly experimented with changeling magic for the rest of the day.

The next day, after sundown, I left my apartment to hang out with Blitz and Modus. We usually meet at a pub with a very fitting name. After it was built, the owner couldn’t decide on a name for a few weeks. He eventually realized that it was attracting ponies who were more strange than many of the city’s residents, so he decided to name it The Fairly Odd Pub.

When I arrived, I was met with the pub’s usual sight of a taxidermy cockatrice, manticore, and a few other animals. There was even a slain timberwolf strewn up from the ceiling, arranged to show what it looked like. How somebody managed to slay it without burning it to ashes is as beyond me as the going price for one. It’s so rare that most ponies think it’s not the real thing until they see it’s certificate of authenticity. Anyways, the pub also gets more than it’s fair share of changelings, so they’re asked to not shape-shift in the building. Otherwise, the customers getting used to ponies suddenly bursting into flames won’t even bat an eye at it, which, for several reasons, can’t be a good thing in a place filled with alcohol.

There were a few booths with comfy seats along the wall, and the rest of the seating arrangements were tables with stools that tended to be moderately uncomfortable. We always try to get there earlier than the after work rush so we can use a booth, which was where Blitzkrieg and our changeling friend, Modus Ponens, were sitting when I arrived.

They both greeted me and Modus said “You seem to be used to my real body by now, for the most part. At first, just seeing me would weird you out, and I didn’t even need my emotion sense to know that you didn’t want to so much as touch me.”

I still felt a small tinge of guilt for being like that towards him, but he already knew all about that for changeling reasons. 

“Yeah, I’d have to agree with Shape. Chitin on pony sized creatures seemed weird at first. You seem to only flinch every once in a while around him, just like you did around me for a few weeks after the spinach incident,” Blitz observed. “And that reminds me, I never asked what specifically happened with you during the invasion. Wasn’t it a nightmare for you?” 

“Yeah, it was,” I answered. “I noticed it from the beginning, like most. I was in my lab when I heard them dive bombing, and I took a look out the window to see them falling everywhere. For a few seconds I thought I might have been in one of my rare giant bug nightmares. Though, for some reason, I can’t remember anything after that. The next thing I knew I was waking up to my lab in complete discord and a large hole in the ceiling.” 

“Sounds like it could have been pretty bad, so it might be good that you forgot it,” Modus said.

It can’t be any worse than what happened after. To bad I can’t forget that.

“Maybe. And speaking of mysteries,” I then turned to Modus with a look of confusion, “why did you denounce you changeling name? I mean, it’s the first part of your pony name anyways.”

“It’s the principle of it. Chrysalis definitely doesn’t like it, because it shows her that the changeling recognizes freedom she doesn’t want them to discover. Specifically, I’m doing it to show her and other changelings that they don’t have to be under her dystopian rule,” Modus explained.

“So you’re saying that the changelings should all leave the hive?” Blitz asked.

“No, not specifically. There’s more than one way to choose your government. They can leave the hive, but they can also stay and try to... push Chrysalis into political submission. Anyways, I’ve been trying to find a way to create an explosive plant lately.”

Blitz quirked an eyebrow in confusion and said, “What’s the point in doing that?”

“Besides how hilarious it would be,” Modus said with a smile, “I’d like to see how cost effective it can be.”

“Well, it would be funny to see the Guard armed with explosive coconuts and pineapples," Blitz admitted, “but I don’t really think it would be a very cheep method for producing explosives.”

I responded with, “At least it would be an interesting novelty, even if each one’s short lived. Though before you sell it to civilians, you’d probably have to make sure that the explosions aren’t too powerful. And speaking of short lived experiences, at least one of you have seen a blood moon before, right?”

They both say, “Yeah.”

And Blitz asks, “Why do you have a sudden interest in astronomy?”

I started my explanation with, “Well, Luna controls the moon, but does that connection include her mon-”

“WELL! I’ve already heard enough of this topic.” Blitz said as he got up from his seat. “I think I’ll go chug an entire barrel of hard cider to forget that.”

After several seconds of Modus and I snickering, I ask him with some concern in my voice, “Do you think he’ll actually do it?”

But Modus says, “Ehh. I doubt it.”

I guess that was too nasty for Blitz. Maybe Modus is rubbing off onto me a little too much.

So we continued the blood moon topic for several minutes, and went on to something else for a while. I started to notice Modus feeling a little worried about me, but I just ignored it to try and act like I usually do. Then Blitz came back looking like he fulfilled the first part of his namesake... again.

Modus asked what I was wondering with the same deadpan expression. “Did you... actually drink an entire barrel?”

“A barrel of what?" Blitz slurred.

I said “Yeah, he’s hammered," with no amusement in my tone, while Blitz took a seat.

Blitz pointed at me and tried to counter that with, “You’re high, go to school," with a slightly smug grin, but Modus and I just laughed at that.

Blitz laughed but went back to confusion, saying “How’s that funny?” before Modus and I were done laughing.

“We’ll tell you later” Modus said while I noticed his worry for me increase a bit more, “because there’s something else that I need to ask Shape.”

I stayed quiet as Modus turned to look at me and said “You seem to be acting a little odd recently. Did something happen?”

“Noth-” I began, but was cut off by Blitz.

“Yeah, you haven’t been showering or brushing your teeth as often, your apartment’s also been gross and you’ve been more of a hermit. But you’ve been sadder and more nervouser too. I love you, and you don’t have to be afraid to tell us anything.“

Despite the pressure to tell them, I said “No, nothing new’s been going on," because I would’ve preferred to talk about it with only Modus in private, but I also didn’t want them getting caught in any crossfire from what I was planning.

Our waiter, Olivia, came by and asked “You guys need anything?” in her sweet bubbly voice, which I thought was a little odd for her species seeing as she’s a griffin. Then again, I don’t see a lot of griffins.

“I’ll have the watermelon-applejack cocktail” I said, without looking at the menu. Blitz gave me a slightly odd stare, and my sixth sense told me that he was a little surprised. For some reason it also made him give off serenity and a little fear.

Olivia must have noticed that Blitz was hammered and Modus wasn’t done with his drink because she said “Alright, that will be out in a jiffy!” and left the table.

As soon as she did, I turned to Blitz in irritation and said “What? Why should only mares be allowed to have fruity drinks? When I feel like garbage, I’m not looking to get a drink that tastes like it!”

Modus was moderately surprised at my sudden aggression , but still shrugged and said “Makes sense to me.”

Blitz didn’t react much, but said “It’s weird, but I’m not here to tell you what to do," with a moderately drunk slur. 

Modus was about to say something when Olivia practically teleported right behind me. As soon as she said “Your watermelon-applejack cocktail," I jumped. But she didn’t react to it and set my drink down.

I turned to her and asked “How is it that you can always sneak up on me that easily?”

Olivia turned thoughtful for a few seconds, then answered with “I… don’t really know. It only happens when I’m waiting tables.”

“Yeah, that’s a bit odd. Not many ponies can sneak up on Shape that easily," Modus said.

“Oh, I thought you were just easily startled. Anyways, I’ve got other tables to wait, so call me over if you need anything else.”

When Olivia left I drank my order in one swig, then Modus quarked an eyebrow slightly and said “Shouldn’t you take it easy? After all, I thought you wanted to enjoy the drink.”

I didn’t say anything to that because I knew that Modus could tell what I was feeling and I had the same sixth sense so I knew that he was sorry, especially because his ears were pinned back a bit. My irritation at him lessened, and I turned to Blitz to ask “So how much can you tell us about how Equestria was founded?”

I didn’t really ask to know about that quite as much as to keep from talking about how I was feeling, and I knew Blitz was a huge history buff so he could go for hours if he tried. Though Blitz was still drunk near the end of his lecture because he continued drinking during it, so some of the facts he told us were wrong and several others were probably not accurate.

"Thanks to the new friendship of the... um... visors, the leaders decided to share the lan and call it Celestia! And that, my frends, is how Celestia was laid!"

I suddenly started laughing my flank off, because I was probably borderline drunk at the time. Though Modus laughed for only a few moments and Blitz gave this perplexed look while asking “What’s so funny about that?”

Though it only took him a few seconds to realize what he actually said and laughed a bit as well.

“Well that was the most detailed and interesting drunk lecture I’ve ever had of history, though I’m sure that some of that wasn't quite right," Modus observed.

With a bit of a smile I asked “But isn’t that the only drunk lecture of history you’ve ever had?”

Modus tapped his chin in thought. “Well, the hive doesn’t teach much history, being drunk at all is almost a crime there, and I’ve never attended an Equestrian history class before. So I guess not.”

“I’m getting tired so I should probably go home to my bed.”

“I should probably get home before my wife starts wondering where I am.”

He probably sensed my confusion because he added “I mean I said to her that I’d be back before twelve.”

I then felt Blitz get disappointed and he said “I’m going to stay longer.”

But Modus told him in a lightly concerned voice “I know you’re more friendly when you’re hammered, but you’re hammered. Shouldn’t you get home before you do something more regretful than what you could do at home?”

“Wouldn’t it also be boring to just sit here by yourself?” I added.

So Blitz countered with “No, I’d be talking with other ponies," though his emotions seemed to show no interest in anyone as far as I could tell.

Modus then rolled hi eyes. “I haven’t had any infiltrator training, but I’m a changeling, Blitz. I can sense that you have little interest in others here besides us.”

Blitz gave in a “Fine...” and we both walked him home. Now, normally Modus would tell me that he’d handle getting Blitz home seeing as it was not much of a detour to his house. But at that time I didn’t wonder much as to why he didn’t tell me that I didn’t have to help him, until after we got Blitz home.

After exiting his house I said bye to Modus, but he said “Actually, can I talk with you for a few minutes while you walk home?”

I got a little nervous and slowly said “I guess so.”

So we both didn’t say anything for a minute or two, until Modus spoke up. “I know you’d probably prefer to talk with Blitz about this, but I’d really want to help you with whatever is bothering you.”

I could tell you, but you can sometimes be bad with secrets. There’s also no telling whether or not I might accidentally drag you into the trouble I get in.

So I decided to say, “I… Something happened during the changeling invasion that I can’t remember. Something important. I’ve been trying to find out what it was.”

He gave me a hopeful look and asked,“So I can help you with it?”

As much as I hated to say it with the look he was giving me, I calmly said, “No.”

I felt him grow more confused and he asked, “Why not?”

This whole conversation was getting me more worried about him getting into my trouble the more questions he asked about it, so I said a bit nervously “It’s probably best for me to do it on my own.”

Modus pinned his ears back a bit. “You’re making it seem dangerous to me.”

I thought on that for a few moments. “I’m not even sure if it’ll end up being dangerous for me.”

He would’ve raised an eyebrow at me if he had any, if his confusion I sensed was any indication. “How important is this?”

I usually wear my neutral face when I have any negative feelings, but at this point I realized that my ears were starting to fold down against my head and I was starting to lose control of my sadness. “It’s… pretty important. I need closure.”

Modus then cut in front of me and asked “Just promise me that you’ll be careful and won’t do anything immoral.”

I was surprised that Modus said that last part, considering how I’ve never done anything immoral on purpose in years. “I… you know I’m always careful, and I’m not thinking of doing anything immoral.”

Modus gave me a completely serious look and said, “Promise me you won’t do anything immoral.”

I looked perplexed, so Modus stated “You didn’t promise on the last bit. I sensed it in more than your words.”

My nerves may have started to show a bit. I wasn’t completely sure if I could keep that promise, but I was trying regardless of who I was doing it for, so I said it.

“Thanks, Shape. I care about you, and I can’t let you get into too much trouble.”

He then hugged me, and it felt great. Blitz isn’t very touchy-feely and I was scared of Modus for a while after the invasion, so I haven’t really had much close contact lately with any sentient creature. So I hugged him back… for a little too long.

“Shape, can you, uh…”

“O-oh, sorry.”

I let go and rubbed the back of my head in embarrassment.

Modus spoke first, “I’ll um… I’m glad that…”

I slowly completed the last one, “I don’t think of you any differently?”

“Yeah. I’ll see you next week.”

I said, “Ok, bye," and trotted off a little faster than normal.

It felt good to not have him worry as much, but I didn’t know why I still felt bad for not telling him what happened right after the invasion. Yet at the same time, I knew I almost had to get into at least some trouble with the hive to get what I was looking for. So as long as the control of the hive was in the hands of Chrysalis or those with her current mindset, I’d have to keep myself hidden in plain sight.

I tried to push those thoughts aside as I walked home, and when I opened my front door, Frost greeted me. He usually doesn’t if he’s not hungry so I gave him some food and went to the bathroom to brush my teeth. 

Ponies didn’t seem to have noticed it, but I was making a conscious effort to ignore my own reflection since the changeling attack. But that’s not to say that I didn’t look at it when I needed to.

So when I was done brushing, I decided to get a good look at myself. After noticing the things that Blitz said, I started wondering how long I’d have to keep trying to pretend that little has changed. My morbid curiosity about the change got the best of me at that moment and I decided to close the door and let my disguise go.

I was greeted with the reflection of my real self, queen eyes and all.

I'm a stranger to myself now. I don't feel like this is my... chitin covered horn... my leg holes. I feel like it's harder than it should be to look away from them! And every changeling I see reminds me that I have these things! Even Modus at times.

I decided that I had enough of looking at what shouldn’t have been me, and changed back. I felt like I wanted to tear the cabinet door under the sink off and destroy the mirror in a fit of rage, but I didn’t. I wasn’t insane and I was better than that.

So I opened the door to my bedroom, turned off all the lights and went to bed. I knew if I kept letting myself think about my problems I wouldn’t get any sleep, so I tried to get my mind to wander away from it. Frost usually expects me to pet him for several minutes after I get to bed, and it always helped me fall asleep.

Tonight wasn’t any different, as he hoped onto the bed, bunted my face, and sat right next to me while purring. I greeted him with a sweet voice and reached my hoof to his side opposite to myself. I started petting him there and he shortly rolled to his side so I could pet his belly.

My attention eventually shifted to him entirely. With the sensation of petting him and the sound of his purring, I eventually drifted off into slumber.
> Chapter 4: Meat the Mentor
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

A week later in the late night of a Friday I was at Act’s house. Not inside it, but on a neighbor’s roof to watch if Act goes anywhere. The only two reasons I wasn’t noticed was because I used a pegasus form to fly onto the roof, then used an easy invisibility spell I learned to cast a year before my schooling was finished. It’s designed to be used while staying completely still, so if you start moving, the illusion gets distorted.

What I learned after four night-time stakeouts was only that he doesn’t go anywhere after ten, he doesn’t seem to get many visitors, and that he goes to bed at about midnight. There wasn’t any changeling levitation spells I detected, and he didn’t shed his supposed disguise yet.

Thirty minutes after midnight I was about to leave when Act left his house and started casually trotting down the street. He wasn’t emitting any odd emotions, but if he was an infiltrator I couldn’t rely much on my emotion sense to know what he’s thinking. I quickly decided to follow him by flying high enough that he wouldn’t hear me, while still using the invisibility spell. If he tried to find where the noise was coming from, he’d only see the smooth and very even overcast despite the spell’s distortion.

At first it looked like he was heading to his law firm’s office or something close by, but he slowly started heading more towards the outer part of Canterlot. It seemed strange to me, so I kept following and he eventually exited the city entirely. He climbed down the city’s mountain for a few minutes, headed left, and entered a small cavern. I cautiously landed close to the entrance to cast the changeling detection spell to see what Act was doing in there.

It looked as though Act was standing still for several seconds, then my spell’s green highlight came up from the ground and engulfed his form’s highlight briefly. It went away and what looked like a different pony appeared. Who I assumed was still Act started trotting down the cave at a leisurely pace, so I tried to take a quick peek but it was too dark so I changed my eyes back to my real ones. I didn’t find anything noteworthy so I followed him inside, seeing as the spell’s range wasn’t far enough to stay out.

I stayed close enough so that my spell would still show his highlight, but still far enough away so that I could stay behind walls and other visual obstructions most of the time. I say visual because it didn’t take much time to follow him and the cave’s descent into what looked like a small mine with plenty of translucent crystals. By that time I started to feel like I might have actually known what I was doing.

Unfortunately, I didn’t see a small pile of crystal pebbles and stepped on them. The pebbles’ grinding caused Act to immediately look in my general direction, but I froze before he could see me. He scanned the tunnel for several seconds, his eyes darting around to look at what were probably potential hiding spots. It seemed as though he didn’t see me at all and started heading down the tunnel again.

I made a deep but slow and silent sigh of relief where I stood, then started following him again once I was out of his line of sight. After several more minutes of tailing him and being more careful about where I walked, he came to an exit that was much more close to the mountain’s base. He spread his wings and took off gliding, presumably to make less noise, so I did the same after he was a bit of a distance away.

He ended up landing next to a moderately thick forest and entered it, so once I landed in about the same spot, I went in as well. It wasn’t easy to not make any noise with all the flora on the forest floor. I stepped on a pile of leaves or a branch a few times and I could swear I made too much noise, but Act didn’t react much to it. Granted, I was about 12 meters away because I didn’t need a line of sight, but I was expecting more than him just stopping and looking around for a few seconds. When he did this, I stayed still so my invisibility spell would be effective. He was obviously ready if anything tried attacking him, despite his emotions remaining calm.

After a while, Act stopped and looked like he was gathering something, so I decided to sneak into a large bush and peak through it. He was taking some nets, ropes, and  bear traps out of what looked like a secret compartment hidden behind a door that was made to look like it was part of the large tree trunk it was in.

Once everything was out he set one up at the tree and covered it with leaves, then started setting up more of them around the area. When he was done he flew up to his tree’s branches and laid down on a sturdy one to rest. Though after what felt like half an hour, Act got up and started to wander around as if he was trying to remember where on the forest floor he put something.

Is he looking for one of his traps? Maybe there was a noise I didn’t notice.

A few minutes passed then Act stopped at the tree, still scanning the area. Another minute later and he starting coming towards me, though it still didn’t seem like he found what he was looking for. He stopped a meter away from me and started looking in the treeline for the first time, so I tried to remain as still as possible for my invisibility spell and slowed my breathing to a crawl to minimize noise.

But it wasn’t enough. I forgot about the one important sense that changelings had.

No no no. I can’t let my nerves and fear get the best of me right now! I need to remain calm.

Act then switched back to searching the floor and after several seconds, he was looking right at me.

He found me!

I suddenly tried turning around and galloping away as fast as possible, with the invisibility spell still going in the hopes that it would camouflage me enough to make the difference. I heard Act chasing me as I ran and I could feel his determination to catch me, but I couldn’t look back to see how close he was because I needed to know if there was something like a low hanging branch in the way.

Oh, and that difference I was hopping to get with the spell? It didn’t matter, seeing as I tripped on something and my face was met with a pile of leaves, which lifted up to reveal one of Act’s net traps. The wings that I forgot I had got tangled in the net and I tried to undo them. After a few seconds, Act walked right in front of me, face to face, and I froze.

“You’ve been following me. Why?” he said with a suspicious look and dangerous tone.

I answered quietly with, “I, uh... thought you were a changeling.”

“How long have you been following me for?”

I lied to him with “Since I saw you on the mountainside.”

“You’re lying, which means that you probably know my usual disguise.”

“I-I don’t want to reveal you. To anyone.”

“Who are you?”

At this, I stopped my invisibility spell, changed back to my usual disguise and said, “I’m Shapeshift.”

At that, Act looked me over like he didn’t believe me, then he stopped and his emotions suggested that he might have realized something.

He looked at me quizzically. “Prove it.”

I charged up a high-power spell and intensely concentrated for a few seconds then cast it on a firefly which burst into flames, it’s ashes falling to the ground where some of the grass was burning.

“That did not prove anything.”

But the spell wasn’t over. Small streams of ash flowed up from the ground, came together, and in a flash of light the ash was transformed into a baby phoenix.

Act started rubbing his forehead in exasperated thought. “Well that definitely proves both things.”

Seeing as I proved my skill in casting transformation magic, I wasn’t sure of what the other proof that he needed was.

I slowly asked, “What was the second thing?”

While Act was stomping out the small fire I started he just said “Regret.”

Once he was done, he dropped the net and let me untangle myself while he checked the other traps. Once I was out and Act returned, I decided to tell him, “Act… I’m a halfling.”

“This isn’t some game, Shape I need to-” but he didn’t finish when I changed into his disguise in a burst of green flame.

In his voice I said “I’ve been like this for several weeks now.”

Act completely and suddenly lost his composure in from of me for the first time ever. “That just raises further questions! And don’t use my disguise!”

I changed back to my own, feeling a bit guilty.

Act then seemed to calm down and grow very intrigued about something. “Now, what made you suspect that I was a changeling?”

“Well, the first thing was that I created a changeling magic detection spell.”

He suddenly went pale at that. “You didn’t give it to the guard yet, right?”

“No, I need opportunities that the guard would eliminate if they had that.”

Act gave a sigh of relief. “Good. For a second I thought you might have in the last few days.”

“I’m not sure if it’s really ready to be used to… solidly confirm that somebody’s a changeling. It’s record is only 4 out of 4 changelings.”

“And it could have mistaken some changelings in disguise for ponies, which you may not have noticed.” Then Act’s demeanor suddenly shifted to serious. “But enough of this for now. You’re coming back to my house so we can finish discussing everything in full.”

I looked around as if there was someone who was listening in on our conversation, then quickly said, “I’d prefer that right now.”

He said “Good," while trotting to one of his other traps. I followed and noticed that it caught a cockatrice. Act immediately put his foreleg to my eyes. “Right. Don’t look at it or it’ll try to stare me to stone.” I covered my own eyes from it and Act removed his foreleg from my face.

Act went back to his secret space and came back with a butcher’s knife. “If you’re like the typical pony, you’ll probably want to look away.”
This was one of those times that my morbid curiosity got the best of me, so I said “No, I’m fine.”

Act gave me a confused look but said “Alright. Let’s get rid of another problem waiting to happen," in an eerily calm tone, then took the cockatrice in his magic and put it’s face and neck to a tree. “Last chance before you see how long this one will last without a head," he warned, without looking at me. He waited a few more seconds with the thing squirming in his magic to get out, then drew back the huge knife.

~~~~~~

The experience was disturbing but not enough to give me nightmares, nor gruesome enough for me to heave, yet still bad enough for it to stay at the forefront of my thoughts until after the fire-portal to the cave from earlier, then another to get us to his house. The last fire-portal worried me much more than the cockatrice at that point.

“Act, shouldn’t we have traveled back in a less conspicuous way?”

“Nothing to worry about with that. You’re magic’s color is similar enough to a changeling’s so I can just say that it was your pony magic. You’re here so it would check out with any witnesses, especially if you walk out the door instead of using any other method to leave after we’re done.”

“Oh, okay.”

Act put the meat away in a secret wall freezer, while I took a seat on the couch in his living room, and listened to what he was doing while I thought.

He once told me that there were numerous locations in many houses that would allow for one to create secret compartments in the ceilings, floors, and walls, but I didn't think before that he'd have any. I didn't think he'd have any reason to have them.

Act came out from his bedroom, where the hidden freezer was. He closed all the blinds, shed his disguise with a burst of green flame, and sat in the lounge chair that was facing the coffee table like all the other furniture in the room. The couch I was using was positioned on the adjacent side, so I shifted to where I could still lie down and face him with my head propped on the plush couch arm.

"Seeing as you technically stalked me to be sure that your suspicions were correct, I would think it's fair that I ask my questions first", Act said with surprising calmness.

"Sounds fair", I said.

"So can you show me what you really look like?"

"Yeah." Green flames tore away at my disguise and Act looked more surprised than he'll ever be for at least the next month, yet he also wore a large sly grin. 

"Your eyes! They're the eyes of changeling royalty!"

With a look of confusion I said "Green slitted eyes mean royalty? But I'm not."

The surprise and grin on his face grew. "And your voice has the same distinct property as Chrysalis's! How did you become...", he motioned to me with his smile still on, "this?!"

I sighed and gave only a slight frown to hide how bad I really felt about it. Though that was more out of habit, seeing as I knew Act was a changeling. "The only thing I know is that for some reason I drank my experimental potion during the Canterlot attack. I want to know exactly what happened, even if it means infiltrating Chrysalis's swarm itself, so I need to find an infiltrator that will train me."

"So you want me to train you", Act said in a thoughtful tone.

"Yeah", I plainly stated while radiating optimism.

It was Act's turn to sigh. "You do realize that it takes years to make somebody an infiltrator, right?"

"Yeah but considering my habits and knowledge, I figure it wouldn't be to hard for me to learn how to blend in. But I know there's more to it than that."

Act thought for several seconds. "Alright, we'll start on Sunday at seven."

A sly grin grew on my own face as I sat up on the couch and I said "I'll see you then. So I guess it's my turn for questions?"

"Shoot."

With confusion on my face I asked, "Why are you keeping meat around when you know it could get you caught? Is it a nutritional need?"

"Well, unfortunately, when I don't eat enough of it on a regular basis my muscles slowly get weaker. If I don't eat it at all I eventually unable to so much as get out of bed anymore."

I gave him a concerned look. "Wow, that's... pretty awful."

"It's worse, considering no other changeling has this disorder, so there's little to no knowledge on how to alleviate it. At least I know that you'd help me if it somehow comes to the worst."

"True", I said with a smile. "So on to my last question, which is a bit- well, pretty broad. Why did you leave the hive?"

"Ah. The story of my life. Do you want to hear the longer version of it or do you want me to get to the point?"

I shrugged while saying, "I don't mind hearing some details."

"Well, it began when I started practicing infiltration in the field. I always kept an open mind towards different and new infiltration tactics, but when I entered my first pony settlement I saw how much better a pony's life was. I thought that they had so many frivolous things and, somehow, plenty of free time. Pony food was undoubtedly a commodity and so was positive emotion. They even got along with plenty of other species.

"After seeing that, I felt that I was lied to. I kept the thought to myself, at least mostly, knowing that I'd be shunned for my 'heresy'. So for the next ten years or so, I tried using some of my infiltrator training to subtly persuade other changelings that we didn't have to live in those Celestia forsaken holes in the ground in the middle of a wasteland. Unfortunately, every time it seemed like there was going to be a small group that wanted to change things for what I thought was the better, Chrysalis or one of the princesses stomped it out. Other infiltrators thought it was me who was implanting these thoughts into the others, but they never had enough legitimate proof. So some grew to have a vendetta against me and tried to catch me in the act, but I was too careful for them. After all, I was at least in the top twenty five percent of the infiltrators.

I got lucky. He should have some good tips from experience!

"I eventually became fed up with the close mindedness of the entire hive. After those ten years I was selected to go on a mission to Cloudsdale, so I planned to disconnect my association with the hive and leave it during that stay by leaving for Canterlot and never allowing myself to return to the sky city until changelings were welcome in Equestria. It wasn't that Cloudsdale was a place I didn’t like, I just don't want to be found by the hive.

"Anyways, I left by making a 'friend' then having him over a few times to establish to some of my neighbors that he was just that. With some ponies convinced of that, I exited my apartment disguised as him. The disguise was only good for exiting the apartment complex and a few blocks after, seeing as it could leave a trail by association and I could have run into the actual on accident. So I looked around for a discrete way to change into a third disguise. I ended up finding a single door refrigerator, so I emptied it out of everything, walked in a circle around a few blocks, then I climbed in and changed into a third pegasus disguise.

"From there it was easy. I flew away towards Canterlot and found a train running late at night towards the city, so I landed on the top of one of the cars as quietly as I could and rode it until I was near the top of the mountain. From there I started a new life as a pony, except this time I made it my real life to happily have."

I thought on this for a few seconds then asked, "That's a lot of measures to keep your identity a secret. Which hive mates would want to find you?"

Act's face changed to a slightly concerned look. "Well, you were a possible suspect of being a changeling even before your new form, so you probably have enough problems as it is. I can only tell you that most if not all of them would be infiltrators, so you'd probably not know them at all if you saw them right now. All the more reason to give you the training."

I looked a bit disappointed but also frighted by the answer. I wasn't going to push for more, or at least not in the wrong direction, so I asked, “So the infiltrators that don’t like you might come for me?”

Act remained calm as always. “There’s a chance, but it’s slim as long as we both keep each other’s secret.”

That kept me from worrying any further. Though the fact that it was well past midnight was taking it's toll on even me, a night pony.

I said, "Well, I should go before I pass out walking home." with a roll of my eyes, then rubbing one. I got up to walk out and we both changed into our usual disguises while walking to the door.

When we got to the entry way Act said, "Alright, but there's one more thing I need to say."

I turned to face him.

He said, "You'll be gaining adversaries along the way."

"Okay, I already know. So why tell me that?"

"Changeling integration has begun and I'm expecting a major effort on it to start in the next several years. I know you'll go out of your way to help with that, and it's doubtful that a movement that big won't have opposition, so be careful."

With a tired smile I said, "I'll remember that and I'll see you on Sunday."

"Alright, bu-bye."

My hard work payed off and I finally found someone. I feel better than I did since the changeling invasion, but I’m sure there’s more to this feeling than just helping changelings and getting the explanation I’m looking for. Unfortunately, I can’t give the guard the detection spell yet, so I’ll use it as a trump card against any changelings that go too far with me. Hopefully that won’t ever happen.

> Chapter 5: Then and Now
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Act started off training me every other day for two weeks, which was exhausting but worth while. But before any of the actual training he gave me a few tests. One of them seemed to be like an infiltration training version of hide and seek.

“We’re going to do this in the city, so well need to come up with a question to ask to who we think is the other, and a certain answer. The question is ‘Do you know of a great place to eat?’, and the answer should be the Celestial Cafe.”

“But a pony might say the same thing," I told Act.

“That’s pretty unlikely cause they’re not all that well known, and the changelings aren’t even 1% of the total city populace. Now, you’ll need to give me a five minute head start, so stay in my house and don’t use you’re detection spell until you can start looking.”

I waited out the five minutes, then took a pegasus disguise and started flying around low with my detection spell active. After asking the questions to several ponies disguised as changelings, none gave the right answer so I rethought what I was doing.

Realizing that looking for an infiltrator in only pony disguises wasn’t good enough, I started looking for changelings disguised as another changeling. It took a while but I was able to find one in a park reading a book.

I came up to him and asked the question. He gave the right answer then got up from the bench and flew off as I trotted off. While I was returning to Act’s house something about his strategy gave me the idea of a metamorphic shape-shifting spell, which I decided to start on as soon as I could.

Once Act invited me back into his house he said, “Alright, now we reverse roles. I’ll give you a ten minute head start.”

So I exited the house with the pegasus disguise still on and Act said bye to me like I was leaving as usual. My first decision was to change disguises in the mines under Canterlot, seeing as very few if any ponies go in there. Once I was back in the city with a different pegasus disguise I didn’t really know for sure how I should be hiding. I mean, I was only able to hide in plain sight because I was once a real pony and still had all the mannerisms of one, and my shape-shifting spell didn’t break under the disguise dispels.

Turns out that my stomach decided for me and I went to one of my usual places, the Currier’s Croissant. I like their stuffed croissants, and for some reason I’ve recently acquired a taste for the sea food they serve. They also manage to keep what they serve tasting pretty great for how fast they cook everything, and a lot of it can be eaten on the go.

I entered the place to see their most common customers, of which are couriers of sorts, getting a bite. I ordered a fish stuffed croissant and sat down at a table to wait. Once I had the food I decided to eat it in the building, but a few bites in I changed my mind and left to find a nice cloud to finish eating on.

I soon forgot that Act was supposed to be finding me and I was becoming a little tired, so I took a nap. Upon waking up I checked the position of the sun and realized that I was asleep for about 2 hours. I started worrying that this exercise would cut into something else on his schedule, but quickly assumed that he made plenty of time because he didn’t say that there was any time limit.

Suddenly a pegasus mare approached me from behind and asked, “Hey, know of a great place to eat?”

I told her, “The Celestial Cafe is good.”

“Thanks!” She then changed her eyes to a color similar to her own and flew off.

I supposed that the color change was a subtle way to be sure that I knew it was Act, so I flew black to his house after a few minutes. After Act let me in he asked me, “You want to know how I found you, right?”

With some excitement I said, “Yeah!”

“Okay, your first mistake wasn’t going to a restaurant, it was which one you chose. I know the places you like to eat at, so I could start by looking for you at those. The second mistake was, for the most part because of the fish, what you ordered. They had other things on the menu, but you got a croissant, as usual.

“The third and most important thing was your emotions. When you had a short spike of worry after a two hour nap I could assume it was about a schedule, because you took a look at the sun’s position. You didn’t know if I set aside enough time for this and you hate being late with me. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg.”

Act continued, telling me about how he found me by feeling ponies' emotions while discretely following them and comparing it to mine. He quickly went on to tell me how an infiltrator’s disguise needs to be “more than skin deep”.

He started my infiltration education with how they use their emotion sense to learn and make accurate guesses about others. He also did some small side lessons about things such as making changeling resin. I was particularly glad to know that it’s infused with magic energy. There was also two or three combat lessons because I’d be likely to get into a fight at some point.

After several sessions of practicing emotional control and reading others with my sixth sense, I asked Act how I was doing.

“Well, you still aren’t very close to controlling your emotions like an infiltrator can. More specifically, you’re having trouble with anxiety and sadness, the latter of which I’m not too surprised about.”

I gave him a calm but self-concerned look and asked, “Are you saying I’m clinically depressed?”

He continued in his teaching tone with, “Well, you’ve recently been sleeping for several hours more than usual and not really taking care of yourself as well as you should. Though that’s just what ponies see.”

With a slightly irritated and unimpressed look I told him, “Can we not make a lesson out of my depression?”

“Oh, sorry… Anyways, the good news is that you’re decent at shape-shifting for an infiltrator and, as far as I know, fantastic for a soldier! Now, I’ve never seen much combat myself, know a lot about it, or heard many stories, so I’m not sure about how much praise this should get: I don’t think I’ve ever seen a changeling with the skill to change between different bodies so quickly and use them that effectively in combat. You might be better at combat than infiltration.”

“Haven’t hive changelings always tried to be conservative with their magic?”

“Yes, which is why there probably aren’t many changelings with that skill. It’s a lot more draining than only switching once or twice per fight, compared to switching every minute or even few seconds. So I wouldn’t recommend doing that in battles with several opponents.”

“I’ve been noticing that and keeping it in mind.”

“Good! So anything else?”

After a few seconds of thinking I remembered something I kept forgetting to ask him, “I’m pretty sure I’m getting far more emotional background noise than most changelings. It feels a bit different than emotions directed at me, but they don’t seem as scrambled together as you describe it.”

Act put a hoof to his chin in thought. “The background noise for a changeling's emotional sense is emotion not directed at the changeling in question, but it’s still useable as an indicator of what a pony’s generally feeling… It could be that you’re sense is at least a little less tuned towards emotions directed at you and more towards the ones that are not, but you’re not strictly a changeling so I can’t say for sure what it could be.”

“I guess I’ll need to test it sometime. Anyways, I’ve decided today to start finding leads to whoever can tell me what happened during the attack. I’ll specifically be on the lookout for potential hive changelings.”

“That’s fine. Just be careful and you won’t get into much trouble if any, and if you need to do some interrogation you can contact me for help.”

“I’ll definitely do that, but right now I should get home. I haven’t had my apartment completely cleaned in far too long.”

So until Saturday I cleaned and worked on making new spells. The research for the metamorphic shape-shifting spell was proving to be daunting. I had to build a library of alternate ways to create each of the twenty predefined sections of the shape-shifting spell, and I was aiming for twenty different ways for each section.

For each alternate construction method I focused on using methods from as many of the other classes of magic I could so that making a dispel for this would prove just as daunting. But there lied the problem. There wasn’t a lot of books on changeling magic, Act wasn’t the best with the magic theory that infiltrators needed to know, and as with all my other changeling spells I couldn’t ask Modus for help.

The only new meaningful thing I had from that time span was an optimization for my changeling magic detection. I was able to narrow the detection down to the user’s cone of vision, which gave it better range.

Once Saturday night came around, I headed over to the pub for drinks with Blitz and Modus again. When I got there I saw Blitz by himself and started towards him, but a changeling popped up on my right and startled me with a short hiss. I staggered to the floor while I grabbed one of the changeling’s reared up forelegs with my telekinesis and tossed him in a random direction like a ragdoll. The next thing I heard was said changeling yelling, wood cracking, then a thud.

After I picked myself up I heard some of the pub’s patrons laughing hysterically, but I payed little mind to that. Scanning the room, I found Modus lying on the floor in front of a spot on the wooden wall with a long crack line and dent. I stood where I was for a few seconds, realizing how much that probably hurt and that I didn’t remember the last time I used my telekinesis for fighting.

I sighed in irritation and approached Modus, who I could tell was still conscious due to his worry at himself and everyone else, and his surprise at me.

“Why did you try to startle me?" I asked Modus in an unamused tone.

While Modus was wobbly getting up he asked, “What?”

I repeated myself a bit louder and so he calmly said, “I thought it would be funny.”

“Well it turned out to be pretty stupid," I said.

While Modus said, “I didn’t think your telekinesis was that strong," I realized how oddly quiet the pub was so I took a look around to see that everyone was pointedly minding their own business and trying to not look at me. I also noticed a pony highlighted in green.

Bingo. Now I need to find out what side he’s on.

I quietly said to Modus, “Well, it looks like everyone here doesn’t want to ever mess with me," as Blitz started towards us.

“I’d think they have a good reason not to. I feel like I might have a concussion and a fracture or three in my chitin.”

Blitz said that he’ll take a look, and after his short examination he told Modus, “It looks like you have a spiderweb of fractures on your back. They seem to go all the way through at the center. There’s also a few small spots of your flesh exposed and bleeding a bit around that area.”

It almost sounded like I was scolding Modus when I said, “I told you my telekinesis was easily usable in combat," with a hoof to my forehead.

Modus craned his neck to get a look at it and saw that Blitz was right, then turned back to me to say, “I guess I can’t say that this wasn’t mostly my fault, despite the fighter’s reflex you’ve suddenly obtained.”

“Hey!” someone yelled.

All three of us turned to see that it was the pub’s owner, who came out of his back office. An office that likely shared part of the same wall that I damaged.

“What’s with all the ruckus?” After noticing us he seemed to want to know why Modus had chitin cracks, but changed his mind when he saw the wall he hit. The owner’s tone became more disapproving and angry when he almost yelled, “And why did somepony damage my wall?!”

Modus was going to say something, probably snarky, but Blitz spoke first.

“I saw the whole thing. Modus startled Shape on purpose and Shape reflexively launched him at a wall with his magic. I’ll be sure that one or both of these guys pays for the repairs.”

The owner still looked displeased and I could feel it. “Fine, but don’t let it happen again.”

Modus then blurted out the exact rhetorical that I was thinking. “Does any of this look like anything anyone would want to have happen again?”

Blitz wacked him on the back of the head after that and Modus told him, “Do I look like I need to be in more pain?!”

With an awkward smile, Blitz said, “Uh… Force of habit, I guess?”

Modus exhaled through his nose in an irritated fashion. He wasn’t wobbly anymore, so he started heading for the table Blitz was at before. “Let’s just sit down already.”

Blitz and I stayed by his side and noticed Modus grimacing almost every step. Blitz said, “You should probably see a doctor and be a little careful not to make the fractures worse.”

Modus and Blitz took a seat in front of their cider. Modus practically chugged his drink and said, “Yeah, I’m going to make an appointment. Can we talk about something else now?” while I sat down as well.

Seeing him in pain that night didn’t make me feel like a nice pony, so I rubbed the back of my head while quietly saying, “Not quite yet. I, uh… want to say sorry for throwing you at the wall. I didn’t even bother to look at who it was.”

“It’s fine, Shape. Just remind me to never scare you again.”

I carefully said, “If you say so…”

“Actually, this scene I made reminds me of that story you never told me about you two and the spinach.”

Remembering that was always amusing for me, and Blitz thought of it similarly. 

I immediately said, “Oh, that story! One of the most ridiculous school stories I’ve been a part of.”

“It might not sound funny at all at first, but the last part definitely is," Blitz added, as Olivia came up to us.

“Hey, Shape! What would you like today?”

“I’ll try the Stonefarm cider.”

Olivia gave me a confused look. “Are you sure about that? It’s made by rock farmers so it’s the driest cider in Equestria.”

“Oh, no. I’ll have the Rambling Ridge then.”

“Okay," Olivia said. “You want a refill, Modus?”

“That would be great," Modus answered.

“Alright, your drinks will be out in a jiffy!” she said with a smile, and practically pranced off to another table while I started my story.

“So… the story. I was two years away from graduating at the time and Blitz and I were friends for a few years by then. I was going to my next class when Blitz came up to me and slapped me on the cheek to try and be funny. It didn’t hurt much, but did irritate me even though I was sure at the time that he didn’t mean for it to actually hurt.

The disguised changeling just seems to be chatting up the stallions for now. Though the background noise in my emotion sense is making it too hard to pick out the disguised changeling’s emotions from everyone else. I’ll have to let that go until it’s easier.

“Once I entered the classroom I saw that Blitz was there. Not that it wasn’t his class, too. Anyways, I sat down near him as usual but the teacher noticed that I had a hoof mark on my cheek before class started. So she takes me into the hall and asks who gave me the mark, but I didn’t know I had it and stayed silent ‘cause I didn’t want Blitz to be punished for a small accident.

The fact that I’m currently the center of attention with my friends isn’t making it easy to get any good looks at the changeling’s face either.

“She asked me if it was a bully, but I still stayed silent. She then asked if it was a friend, and I still said nothing. She probably read me pretty well because the next thing she said was that whoever did it wouldn’t get into trouble if I didn’t want them to. At that point I finally told her and we went back to the classroom.”

“Wait," Modus interjected after finishing his drink. “What does this have to do with spinach?”

“I’m getting to it.”

Blitz took a large swig of his drink then picked up the story with, “Yeah, so I was just waiting for class to start when the teacher comes up to me and asks for me to come with her into the hallway. Instead I tried to attack Shape because I thought he got me in trouble, but the teacher restrains me and takes me out of the room for questions.”

“I was also taken out for more questions a few minutes after," I added while analyzing the disguised changeling.

He looks like he may actually be looking right past the stallions he’s interacting with. He may be uninterested with all of them. Though some don’t quite seem to care, so I may get to find out exactly what his intentions are if he brings one with him to a secluded location, like maybe his home.

I was still paying enough attention to Blitz in case he or Modus asked a question about the story. “Not long after school on that day I met Shape and told him that I was really sorry for trying to attack him and giving him the slap. Shape was a bit awkward with it but said that it was okay, so we decided to go to my house to do stuff together. Our friendship was a bit awkward for a week or so but we didn’t let that event split us apart.”

Olivia came to our table with a large plate of several drinks on her back and handed Modus and I one, saying, “Here you go! Anything else?”

After a second or two of none of us saying anything I said, “I don’t think so.”

She said, “Alright then. If you need anything else, just call for me!” then happily bounced off to another table.

Modus and I took a few gulps of cider while Blitz continued the story with, “So after a few days I heard from the other students that I actually fought Shape and won. Some of them asked me if it was true and I said that it was.”

I interjected with, “And I still don’t really care that he lied about that.”

“Why was that?" Modus asked.

I answered with, “It’s in the past. It really doesn’t matter anymore.” I then sensed confusion from him, but I didn’t say anything.

“No, I mean, why didn’t you care when he told you?”

Blitz answered for me with, “It was for my reputation with the other students, though we both knew at the time that it was useless after my schooling was over. Anyways, this is where it gets ridiculous and funny!

“Part of rumor was that I attacked Shape because he stole my spinach, even though I didn’t have any nor do I remember ever bringing any to school that year.”

Modus snickered for a bit after talking another swig of his drink and asked, “How did that rumor even start?”

Blitz shrugged. “I still have no idea.”

I said, “I still think it was because you said ‘You son of a bitch.’ before trying to attack me, and a student in an adjacent room heard it but thought you said ‘You stole my spinach.’”

I didn’t need any sixth sense to tell that Modus was amused at my theory, though Blitz said, “I’m still pretty sure that that’s not how the spinach part started. Though I can’t blame them for making something like that up.”

Modus quirked an eyebrow, or at least the part of his face that would have one if he was a pony. “Why’s that?”

Blitz drank some more of his cider and said, “Well, I grew up in a place where if you so much as steal someone’s potato chips, the usual thing that happens is they punch you as hard as they can a few times. Though I definitely never thought that spinach was worth doing that. I mean, I don’t even like spinach!”

I could tell Blitz about the changeling, but if I do that I can’t get any leads from him. I’d likely have to get it out of him through interrogation after providing a good enough excuse for the Guard to let me. But even then, the Guards would be listening so it would be nearly impossible to get it out of him in that setting. Not to mention that the info I’d want from him would raise questions from the Guard. 

Yet I have to start somewhere and this changeling may not actually be malicious, so-

I then felt someone poke me in the cheek and turned to see it was Blitz.

“Shape, you haven’t been looking to well recently," Blitz stated. “Are you okay? You look distracted too.”

Not this again. I was afraid he wouldn’t remember much of the last night he got manurefaced.

I tried to appear like nothing was wrong when I said, “I’m fine enough. You don’t need to worry.”

Considering that Blitz said, “You’re not all that adventurous, so you could probably use a change of some kind," he knew I wasn’t all that well.

“You could really use a marefriend," Modus casually added.

I began to look just barely to the right of Modus and said, “I… don’t feel like now is the time for that.”

Blitz rolled his eyes. “What excuse do you possibly have this time? Last time you were too focused on getting a job, moving out, and messing with spells.”

I gave an irritated sigh, shifted in my seat a bit and told them, “Something personal is getting in the way. I can’t be dating right now because it might… worry them.”

“I saw you taking glances at a certain mare here tonight, so you’re clearly interested in dating again.” Modus observed. “Besides, knowing you, what ever it is, is probably not as bad as you think.”

“I may be interested, but I know I shouldn’t be dating because I have self control. I know my problem will complicate things too much.”

Modus thought while taking a drink then said, “I think you still should. If you have as big of a problem as you claim it is, just keep it to yourself until a month or more in depending on how badly she’d want to know.”

I rolled my eyes while casually saying, “And when I tell her, she’ll leave me. What possible reason would she have to stay?”

“Because she’ll think you’re worth it, Shape. She knows that we all have problems, some bigger than others, but despite even your biggest problems she knows you can overcome them with her help.” He then grew more worried about me and asked “Have you… ever had a marefriend before?”

I applied my hoof directly to my face in irritation and said “Yeah, her name was Crooked Gallery," then put my hoof down. “She and I were dating for a few months near the end of my schooling. So I have experience, if that’s what you’re really asking.”

At this point I had a strong urge to chug my drink and I wondered if I was becoming an alcoholic. But I just took a few gulps instead.

Every time I remembered Gallery I couldn’t help but think of how close we were. Near the middle of our relationship’s time, at any time either one of us could cuddle in private, we would. Whether it was just for a nap, for the night, or watching something we were both equally happy to comfort the other. 

In the last month or so she would try waking me up by kissing me on the lips. At first I’d pretend to stay asleep most times, but one morning I decided to reciprocate by suddenly wrapping my hooves around her and kissing back. It startled her at first but she appreciated it, so I decided to do it again every once in a while. 

Gallery also occasionally teased me by reminding my friends about our cuddling, but she always said that real friends wouldn’t make fun of me for what I like to do. Blitz was the most real friend I had back then in that regard, and he still is.

Then there were the times she kept trying to get me into creating visual art. I couldn’t find any personally suitable mediums for that. Instead, I somehow ended up with an appreciation for music, but I never played any instruments or sung.

“Shape? You there?”

“Oh, yeah.”

“You zoned out again," Modus stated.

“Oh! Now I remember her," Blitz exclaimed. “She was the one that made all those awesomely disturbing paintings. It’s too bad she left you after a few months because she was moving away.”

I said “She never wrote to me," while my ears pinned back slightly.

“You should try contacting her yourself," Modus suggested.

I had another drink of my cider and said, “I tried a few times. I swore I had the right address but I never received a reply. She was the only one I ever dated.”

So Modus cautiously said “I think you might want to talk to a psychologist about that.”

“I don’t need to. I’m over it.," I said. Though my sigh might have suggested otherwise to Modus. “Can we talk about something else now?”

Blitz finished his cider and said, “Yeah, I’m getting bored of where this is going already. Want to hear about my assignment in the Everfree? It was pretty crazy. Not like most visits to that place aren’t, unless you’re that zebra. I don’t know how she survives in there, even if she takes visits to the village.”

Modus and I both said, “I thought you were going to tell the story” at the same time.

Then Olivia came back to the table. “Hey guys! Need a refill, Blitz?”

“I’m probably going to be drunk enough soon so something that burns going down is a good idea," Blitz responded while looking at the menu. “I’ll have an Alpine Fire next.”

“Okay! Anything else?”

Modus said, “I don’t think so.”

I said, “Nothing I can think of.”

“In that case, Blitz’s drink is coming right up!”

Olivia zoomed off and Blitz said, “I forgot what story I was going to tell.”

“The one about the Everfree," I reminded him.

“Oh, right. So the reason we were sent to that place was that a pony went missing and the last pony to see him noticed him going into the Everfree. Usually, squads going there would have a well rounded team of ground pounders, unicorns, and pegisi, but for some reason we didn’t have any unicorns. One of us asked why but none of the higher up guards knew. So we went in and made sure that all 6 of us stayed together to help keep predators from attacking.”

By then I realized that I forgot about the disguised changeling, so I took discrete glaces around the pub through my cider mug while taking drinks and found him at one of the tables talking to another stallion.

“In the first hour or so a cragadile tried to kill us, but most of us knew what to do. Two of us distracted it while two of our pegasi prepared for an aerial attack and the remaining two that included me tried to keep a good position to help the pegasi. After the pegasi got enough altitude they started diving and several seconds later my teammate and I suddenly knocked the cragadile belly-up out of nowhere. One of the pegasi missed the creature while the other hit it right on the mark.”

Considering how large an average cragadile is, I was almost sure it took more than two earth ponies. I asked, “How big was it?" to not only show that I was paying attention, but because I was actually interested. At that moment, the stallion that the changeling was trying to talk to obviously wasn’t interested in his persona anymore.

“I’d say that it was a little less than average, but it was still tough to pull that teamwork off," Blitz told us, as Olivia came back.

“Here’s your Alpine Fire, Blitz! Anything else?”

We all said our nos, she said, “All right then!" and went off to wait other tables.

Blitz drank a little cider and continued. “Anyways, the cragadile had enough and ran away, and we continued looking for another two hours. But just when we thought we wouldn’t run into another problem we came across a clearing where these four huge timberwolf amalgamations were starting a fierce battle with a hydra.”

The disguised changeling started towards my general direction by then with another stallion.

Hopefully the changeling sits at a table close enough to us so I can reliably read their emotions.

Modus did a spit-take so hard that it thoroughly sprayed the empty table next to us. “Timberwolf amalgamations are a thing?!” he asked with wide eyes.

“Yeah, they’re usually at least twice as large as a pony. Though these were at least three times as large, so when one came after us I thought that I might have been a goner.”

With a slightly grim look I said “I’m pretty sure I would’ve thought the same,” while the changeling and the stallion took a seat three tables away.

“So we decided to move some distance away before the giant timberwolf caught up to us. That way we wouldn’t be as likely to attract the other three or the hydra. Usually the best way to get a timberwolf to run from a fight is to show it that you can light it on fire. Though the creature just managed to knock out one of us and put out the fires we kept lighting with the few torches we brought, so we had to rethink our plan.”

There’s still significant noise, but I think the stallion’s interested in what the changeling’s talking about. Though, if my emotion sense is able to pick up things directed at others, then the changeling is outwardly hiding his contempt for him and other ponies with a smile and half-lidded gaze. He seems to be up to something, so I’ll keep track of him.

“Soon, a bunch of plants with some kind of knockout gas came into the fight and tried to snare and sedate everyone. Some of us tried to get rid of them with fire, and another one of us got knocked out from too much of their gas. But another one of us had an idea. She told us to stop attacking the plants and trick them into snaring just the timberwolf. Since it looked like the plants that were trying to immobilize it had only done so half way at best, and the other half or so of the plants were chasing us, we all went with the idea.

“We didn’t take long to do it and by then the timberwolf was really struggling to get free. Though all the wolves in the amalgamation seemed to be in this situation before because it collapsed it’s collective self only to reassemble back, out of the plant’s grasp! Yet as unfortunate as we were on the trip at that point, a giant stone column fell out of nowhere and crushed the timberwolf and sedation plants.

“So we took a few seconds to take stock of ourselves and the immediate area. That’s when the pegasus scanning the area from a tree saw that the stone column was actually a petrified hydra.”

I knew a hydra could be petrified by a cockatrice but what surprised me was that, despite the fact that it was rare, he saw it. On the other hoof, Modus asked, “A hydra can be petrified?”

“Yeah, it’s pretty rare so it would’ve been interesting to look at more if I wasn’t wondering how many cockatrices it takes to do that. So I asked the group about that and one of the pegasi said that it usually takes ten or more. The same pegasus asked ‘Run?’ and everyone else said ‘Run’ in the most terrified tone I’ve heard in months. Then we all immediately hoofed it back to Ponyville ASAP.

“After we were back they sent another team in to look for the pony. The ponies in my team that were awake went to write a report, and the unconscious ones were sent to the hospital until they woke up.”

“So you didn’t come across anything else on your way back?" I asked.

“We didn’t, thank Celestia.”

Modus pinned his ears back some and said, “It sounds like it was a miracle that you survived," while the disguised changeling’s conversational partner got up.

The stallion seems to have a small sense of worry but not for, or of, the changeling. So he’s probably leaving the building. Hopefully I won’t have a good enough reason to follow the changeling.

“I’ve fought several different creatures. Manticores, chimeras, diamond dogs. I’ve also competed with griffins, minotaurs, and yaks. But before that, I never saw a situation that insanely out of control.”

I suddenly said, “Oh! That reminds me of this one insane pony I saw a few days ago at the park. Well, he might not have-”

“Did you just see that?" Blitz interrupted while looking at the table.

“See what?" Modus asked.

I said, “I didn’t see anything.”

“I thought I saw a face in the wood for a second. Hopefully I’m not going crazy, though I’ve had far weirder things before. Like the time I thought I saw a male Celestia walking down the street with a leashed filly Star Swirl the Bearded.”

Modus gave Blitz a strange look. “You never told me about that one. Are you sure that I’m the most insane pony in this little group? Actually, you might be the one that gets drunk the most.”

“Oh, wait. Shape probably wants to finish his story.," Blitz said while I took another swig of cider.

So I picked up where I left off. “Yeah, so the pony might not actually be insane, but he was saying some insane stuff to everyone about urging them to pull out their dental fillings. So I decided to leave after it started looking like he actually was. He definitely didn’t look drunk and from the kind of pony he looked like he may have taken a dare.”

“What did he look like?" Modus inquired.

I tapped my chin in thought. “He had an orange hat on, a southern accent, and was pretty thin.”

“Actually...," Modus said while looking towards Blitz “This is something that you would probably do for a dare.”

“As long as I don’t get any negative attention from the Guard I would do it regardless of being paid, otherwise I’d be doing it in disguise and for at least one hundred bits," Blitz said.

We continued onto other topics for a while and the disguised changeling went through several stallions, but I eventually had to go as the changeling was leaving with a stallion he seemed to pick up.

The stallion’s emitting some lust and a lot of interest while the changeling may be outwardly happy, so they might be leaving for a secluded area. Perhaps one or the other’s house. I need a quick, sound excuse for leaving.

“Obviously the diamond dogs didn’t have a chance as the hive’s soldiers quickly came and merely had to make an example out of one of them to scare them off. The queen herself told them that the hive would end them if they told a soul about us," Modus said.

Blitz then looked down at his cider mug in thought. “You know, there’s a huge crystal mine under Canterlot. I’m surprised that we haven’t had a problem with them in such a long time.”

I rose from my seat and said, “I need to go. There’s a potion order I forgot to finish and I’d need to leave a bit early to get it done.”

“Alright, we’ll see ya later Shape," Blitz said.

Blitz didn’t get suspicious, but I could sense Modus’ small suspicion. I’d deal with that later if I had to. I had a disguised changeling to monitor.

I left the bar and scanned the area for a place to change disguises. There was an unused building close by, which could work, but I also spotted an unattended private carriage.

This would work better. Less questionable than a building that I might have to break into to use and it’s Canterlot so every building is owned.

Before entering I discretely looked around by itching my mane in a few places, turning my head and alternating between my hoofs to get at different sides. Seeing as no one was paying any attention to me, I entered the carriage and changed disguises then immediately cast a low level invisibility spell to keep anyone from seeing me.

I slowly opened the blinds on the door window to take a look outside, then quickly but still silently came out as a pegasus that flew off. No one noticed, so seeing as I was using the same tactic as when I was following Act, I was safe from being noticed unless I was bumped into by another pegasus. Though that would be highly unlikely.

Once I was higher than the buildings I started looking for the changeling’s disguise. It didn’t take long at all to find them three blocks away from the pub, walking to somewhere. I tailed them from above until they entered an apartment, then I searched the rooftops for the best spot to hide. There were both flat and vaulted roofs, but the flat ones didn’t have anything large enough to hide behind so I went with one of the vaulted ones close to but angled away from the unit I was watching.

Activating my detection spell, I took a look at what the changeling seemed to be doing. It looked like he was reading a book, while the stallion was feeling content. They might have been discussing said book, but that wasn’t the kind of detail I was looking for. After a half hour, the changeling got up and seemed to levitate something to the stallion. This seemed to elicit mostly appreciation and maybe a bit of surprise.

The disguised changeling continued reading until a few minutes after the pony’s emotions seemed to start slowly shifting at what seemed like random. The changeling decided to levitate something large, probably the pony for some reason, into another room.

If this is an infiltrator, he’s probably not going to do anything insidious. But if he isn’t this might be the time that he does.

The changeling set what he’s carrying down on something, probably a desk or bed, then went to another room to shed his disguise. This was out of the ordinary for an infiltrator and it worried me because it meant that he wasn’t likely to be one so he might try something with the pony any minute by then.

The changeling then came back to the room that the pony was likely in and started fiddling with something next to the pony. I tried matching what he was doing with various activities, but from the detection spell’s silhouette of him it seemed more and more like he was doing something with changeling resin.

After several minutes of trying to recognize what he was doing, I was exceedingly sure that the changeling was putting the pony in a chrysalis. It was a sloppy spot to do it, considering an infiltrator would have fire-portaled or led the pony to some place extremely secluded, like deep in a forest. This meant that he definitely wasn’t an infiltrator, so I could read his real emotions much easier.

But that just made it more strange.

Why does he want to do this? If he’s considered a traitor to the hive then it would make some sense. He’d be trying to provide the hive with additions to their more stable food supply, but he’d also have to take the risk of being followed back to the hive. That wouldn’t be acceptable to them if he couldn't fire-portal.

The changeling might intend for the pony to be his own personal food supply, but that would be a huge risk without several measures taken to not get caught and to keep the pony from being discovered. Though I doubt that he has the knowledge to take those proper measures.

I decided to quietly fly out of the complex’s property, then stopped the invisibility spell after hiding in between a collection of large dumpsters and mulching bins. What I did next wasn’t something that infiltrators would do, but I was a half-ling. The same infiltration rules didn’t completely apply to me.

I sauntered up to the apartment unit of the changeling and rang the doorbell to get the changeling’s reaction. He initially became very panicked which wasn’t what I was hopping for because it meant that he was almost definitely doing exactly what I thought. 

Once he took several seconds to calm down he opened the door with his disguise on. I immediately took him in my magic to keep his mouth shut and to keep him from resisting. I casually went right in, and closed the door while the changeling started freaking out again. If anybody saw that, it wouldn’t matter. I would be gone by the time someone came in to investigate and if I somehow turned up in the investigation, they wouldn’t and couldn’t know who I really was.

While looking for the pony in the living room I told the changeling “I know what you are and what you’re doing with the pony," then let him speak.

“Who are you? What are you talking about?" he demanded while squirming in my magic for a few seconds. It was all it took for him to know how ridiculously strong my telekinesis seemed to be and it didn’t seem like he was planning to cast any spells to get out.

I lit up my horn and reverted him back to a changeling. “You know what. I’ll find him. I know you’ve done something with him," I said while looking through a bedroom.

He responded with “I don’t know what you’re talking about!" just as I opened the bedroom closet to find the pony in a chrysalis.

That’s pathetically cliche...

I turned my head to him and gave him an angry look as I lit up my horn and said, “You’re coming with me," right before hitting him with a stun spell.

I found a camera and decided to take pictures for evidence to leave at the house. I also did something for both fun and keeping the Guard’s investigation off my trail.

I put the unconscious changeling in the chrysalis, then changed into a particularly cute changeling. I went into the bathroom and made a few faces to decide which would work best. I then went back into the bedroom and set up the camera to get all three of us with the changeling in the chrysalis behind us but still in clear view.  I also noticed a pair of sunglasses on the bedside stand and put them on the pony.

Finally, I started the camera’s timer and propped the pony up next to me with one of his forehooves around my shoulders and vis versa, then made the cutest smile my disguise could with my tongue sticking out. After the camera took the picture I looked at it and made an impish grin. 

I also decided to leave a note for the stallion to explain what happened.




Pony,
You were lured into a trap by a changeling. I managed to catch him putting you in the chrysalis after you fell asleep, and I went in to take care of him. The changeling will be delivered to the Guard and notified of your possible visit for this incident. I have made photos for evidence that you may turn in yourself.

With love,
A Changeling




I then left the changeling in the chrysalis and set it in the closet for now. The stallion I left on the couch with the glasses off before quickly leaving to get Act.

When I told Act that I needed his help with interrogation he gave an excited, mischievous grin and told me that it was going to be fun. I was a little nervous about the interrogation but admittedly a little excited. So Act cast a string of fire-portals to get us back to the hostile changeling, then to the mines under the city. It was worth noting that the pony wasn’t in the changeling’s apartment unit anymore when we got there.

Act watched the changeling while I left to get to Cordial’s general store. It was close to closing time but Cordial usually stays for a little while after to do some paperwork. I asked one of the staff if he was there but they said that he left a few hours ago and hasn’t come back, so he probably left for home.

I knew where he lived so I headed over there and rang the doorbell. Cordial opened the door and gave me a confused look.

“Do you have anything that nullifies magic?" I asked.

Cordial silently ushered me in and told me, “You know things like that are probably illegal to own without a license or something, right?”

“I don’t really care. I’m in a bit of a hurry and I don’t need it on any record that I own that kind of thing.”

In a conspiratorial tone he asked, “Were you followed?”

“If you mean by changelings, then it’s unlikely. Guards haven’t been watching me either.”

“Good enough for me.”

He had me follow him into his basement, where he opened a door that had no handle with his magic. It was impossible to see when closed, as it seemed to have a minor illusion spell to make the small gaps around it disappear. The room behind it was dank and once Cordial started a light spell I saw that it was filled with boxes, locked chests, and random objects laying around that were slightly questionable to own.

I started my own light and he started searching through chests and boxes as I looked around the room and thought to myself.

Why would he want to have all this stuff? Is he selling it in an underground market of some sort? I don’t think that there are any in Equestria, but what use would he have for a perception filter coin, magic-ray glasses, and an amulet of persuasion? Maybe I’ll buy the coin some time.

I looked back to what Cordial was doing and noticed that he moved around several boxes and large items. He came out of the path he made through it and told me, “I found what I was looking for, but it’s an expensive chair.”

So I took a look through the path he made and noticed that it was made of metal, had elegant etchings all over it, and a few gems near the top of the back’s front side.

“Actually, this is exactly what I was looking for.”

Cordial quirked an eyebrow, “Wait, wait. You of all ponies are interrogating someone?”

I plainly said, “Yeah.”

He just stared for a few seconds then said, “You’ve turned into a half-ling, a changeling who changed his name to Sky decides to live with ponies undisguised, others join him, then you become an interrogator. What’s the world coming to?”

It’s coming to its senses.

“Actually, I’m training to be an infiltrator.”

“Oh, is this the end of days? Next thing I know Discord is going to become friends with the bearers of the Elements of Harmony!”

I’ve never seen him this bothered by anything other than business stuff before.

“Can I just… buy the chair or something?”

He sighed. “Fine, fine. It’s worth at least fifty thousand bits, so I don’t think you can afford it. My customers don’t bother with even renting it and for good reason. But if you want to rent, it’ll be three hundred.”

I didn’t like the idea of spending that much every time I wanted to interrogate, but using my telekinesis to restrain would be too draining and the subject could still use magic, while using the stun spell wouldn’t let them communicate at all. I needed to find a stun spell designed for this really soon.

“What about a deposit?" I asked.

“You’re deposit is me knowing what you are.”

I caught on to what he meant and even though it felt risky, I knew he wasn’t a jerk so it sounded reasonable. “Alright, but I’ll need to get the bits and have a friend come to pick it up. How did you even come across this?”

“I’m part of a hidden market run exclusively by changelings that left the hive. We rarely provide anything that’s more than… somewhat questionable. This chair being one of those things. But knowing you, it’s use won’t be anything more than questionable. How will I know who’s picking it up?”

I looked around in thought. “He’ll ask about finding some ponies to hire for a magic armor project of his. It may also be a legitimate business proposal to talk with him about later.”

“Using a legitimate, legal, and non-secret business proposal he’s been meaning to ask as the code, to hide another transaction. Whoever is giving you infiltrator training is doing a decent job so far.”

“Well, I’m going to get the bits. See you later.”

“Alright. Good doing business with you again.”

I left the house the way I came and went to my house to get the bits, then back to the mines to give Act the bits, the address to Cordial’s house, and the code, which he thought was good enough. I watched the changeling for the time Act was away. He didn’t wake up or anything so it was mostly boring.

Once Act fire-portaled back with the chair, he told me, “Cordial forgot to mention one thing about the chair. It was designed to be a trap, so unless you wear one of these," here he held out a bangle and I took it to put it on, “once you sit in it, the chair will automatically put your legs in position and the hidden latches will shut.”

“That will make it easier to put him in," I thought out loud.

Both of us were using a throwaway disguise already, so we took the changeling out of the chrysalis and set him in the chair which sprang to life. It put his legs in position and shut the latches, which turned out to be a hidden “feature” of the etchings. We then waited for the changeling to start waking up.

It only took a minute for the interrogation subject to start stirring. He soon opened his eyes, looking very confused. Though soon realized that something was obviously wrong despite his mind’s haze from the chrysalis’s gooey resin he was previously floating in.

“Why am I here?“, he quietly asked to himself. Upon seeing us, he tried getting up but the latches kept him in place. After taking a look at what had a hold of him, he turned his head to us and snarled, “Where am I and what do you two want?" at Act and I.

Act sat in front of him and calmly started with, “You’re probably feeling a little sleepy, but you should know that you’re not in any position to be asking questions right now. That being said, who are the current princesses in the hive?”

With an undertone of malice he told us, “I’m not with the hive anymore and I don’t care for you or any other pony.”

“You didn’t really answer my question. How long ago did you leave the hive?”

“I don’t care about your questions either!”

Suddenly, Act switched back to a changeling, though not his own form. “Will you tell me now?”

“What makes you think I care about a changeling tainted with the values of a pony?”

I had just about enough of the subject’s attitude, so I approached him and revealed my real eyes to him. It was something unique to me, but at the same time it was something that would throw anyone off my trail unless they knew exactly what to look for.

“Your situation is far more different than you think it is," I told the changeling.

The subject didn’t look impressed and my sixth sense felt it as well. “It doesn’t take a changeling to do that trick.”

So I took the form of one of the changeling princesses that would still likely be alive, as Act had educated me on. “Do you really want to take the chance that I’m not a princess?”

I could sense his confusion and fear quickly rising. 

Though he still had one question. 

“Y-You never came back to the hive. Why is that?”

I gave him a questioning look. “Is it so hard to believe that a master of infiltration would be able to survive and stay hidden on their own for nearly two decades?”

I could tell that his fear of me actually being the previous infiltrator, Ceymi, was slowly winning him over, even though he didn’t care about the hive anymore.

I guess Act was right. Changelings do fear the wrath of their princesses and queen more than I thought.

The subject didn’t say anything, so I elaborated. “If you know anything about how I supposedly died, it’s likely a lie. All the infiltrator students I had tragically died one day when I took them on their first trip to a pony settlement, and so I found it the perfect opportunity to fake my own death.”

The changeling’s confusion grew at this, so I continued. “I needed to know something. All our lives we were taught that ponies saw us as a species to be eradicated, but something about our explanation of this felt off. I needed to see not only the proof of this with my own eyes, but somehow the opposite as well.

“I decided to take it upon myself to find proof of both answers to my burning question. This required me to fake my own death so no one would ask questions. The perfect moment to do this came to me in the worst way imaginable. I took my infiltrator prospects out to their first pony settlement for training, and all but one ended up dying from a few monsters. I faked my death in front of my last prospect and I was then free to search for answers.

“Merely living among ponies and faking their mindset was not enough, so I ignored everything I knew about changelings except for infiltration. I found many of their values to line up with everything else about them, just as I knew before, yet my proof of what we thought continued to lack just as it’s opposite did.

“I soon realized that the ultimate proof I needed lied within how a pony would react to discovering that their significant other was a changeling, and their relationship after if the pony was willing to keep it. Yet we could not reveal our species until one of us tried this. This meant that what we were taught was likely to be merely speculation, as this was also the ultimate quandary of any other changeling looking for the same thing.

“Then one day, of all the changelings that decided to give away our existence, the one you know as Sky decided to do so. Upon discovering this news I investigated Ponyville. The proof that our species claim was wrong grew greatly. I must admit that it was very encouraging, yet the marriage and proof I was looking for was not there. So I continued to search, and yet I have found nothing new since.

“So I tell you again. Who are the current princesses of the hive?”

This seemed to thoroughly convince the subject that I was, in fact, a princess. He told me, “I-I’m sorry I did not recognize you, Princess Ceymi. I-It’s probably the same as when you were still at the hive, with the obvious exception you must already know. Chittri is the new infiltrator princess, Chara is military, Indress is labor, and Cocoon is breeding.”

I turned to Act and I brought my head level and close to his from my high stature. 

He whispered to me, “All of those princesses except for Chittri are the same as when I left. This could help us a bit depending on the influence they have on Chrysalis.”

I whispered back, “Do you think there’s anything else useful that we can get from him?”

“If he’s been gone from the hive for any longer than a month then anything he knows about the changeling you’re looking for is likely too old for us. He seems to have been an average labor worker or something having little to do with anything outside the hive, so he wouldn’t know of their plans for Equestria either.”

I turned to the subject and asked, “How long have you been gone from the hive?”

He visibly tensed up at this but managed to say, “A-About six weeks.”

So I told him, “Then I have nothing else to ask," in a casual manner, then lit my horn up, which caused the subject to tense up even more, and cast another stun spell on him. 

I told Act what I wanted to do and he saw very little in the way of problems with it, so he returned the chair via fire-portal while I wrote a note.




Lieutenant Nightlight,
You have helped me with a personal problem I’ve been having and as thanks, I would like to present the first malicious changeling I caught to both you and Sargent Shiny Sides. He was putting an unconscious pony in a chrysalis so I took care of capturing him for your Guard. The pony from the mentioned incident may come by, or has already.

Best of luck,
A changeling

PS: Say hi to Memento Mori for me




Act returned and told me to change now if I was planning to do it soon, so I changed into a pegasus. Act then fire-portaled me and the captured changeling on my back to a secluded location close to the castle and left for home while I finished the operation.

I took to the air with the changeling after starting the low level invisibility spell and scanned the castle perimeter for an area with no pegasus Guards. They were thorough about spreading the three varieties of ponies throughout the perimeter, but I did find a spot that had a sufficient lack of pegasi. I quickly flew down towards them picking up speed, but I had no intention of stopping.

Once I was close I quickly leveled off while dropping the changeling close to them on purpose, and ascended back up. Once I landed some distance away I canceled the invisibility spell and hurried back to the dropping spot. Once I was able to observe the Guards from the cover of an alleyway I cast the spell again and took a look at how it went so far.

Two Guards, a mare and stallion were taking care of him. The former was reading the note I made and was very confused. The latter was examining the changeling for wounds from the fall in irritation and confusion.

“Hey, is there a Lieutenant Nightlight or Sargent Shiny Sides?" the mare asked the other Guard.

The stallion replied with some irritation in his voice. “No, but I was hopping that my shift would be the kind of interesting that didn’t involve changelings raining on me like it was the invasion all over again.”

I was afraid I would do that by accident.

“What does the note say?" the stallion asked in a neutral tone.

“It says that the changeling is a present to whoever Lieutenant Nightlight is and claims that he was trying to put a pony in a chrysalis.”

“It may be referring to Celestia and Luna.”

The mare just became more confused. “But why refer to them like that?”

“I have no clue, but the princesses might.”

“And why deliver him like this? The only reason I can think of is that whoever did this doesn’t want to be connected to it.”

The Guard stallion then mentioned, “I thought I saw some kind of partially invisible pegasus shaped thing right before the changeling landed on me, so I’d say that’s spot on. Why are we examining this situation? We’re not detectives, you know.”

The Guard mare rolled here eyes. “Oh quit complaining, Mori. Are you done looking at him yet?”

Oh, well this is an interesting coincidence!

Mori said, “Almost," and once he was, he hoof cuffed the changeling then put him on the mare’s back and they went into the castle. Seeing no other reason to stay, I left for home.

When I opened the door Frost complained about the lack of food, so I gave him some for the night and started making some tea to help me sleep. While the water was heating up I gave Frost some attention and thought about what happened.

The background noise in my emotion sense seemed like something I was able to sort out with some concentration, but I shouldn't depend on it in any way that’s even near moderate yet. I can’t make definite conclusions about what it is and how it works from only one test.

Whatever it takes to help me find the changeling responsible for my transformation, I’ll do, as long as it doesn’t cross my morals. I’ll even infiltrate the hive it’s self if it comes to that.

Once the tea was done I poured some for myself but then I remembered going through an entire book on why it is or is not okay to give your cat certain foods, and wondered if Frost would even try it. So I poured some into a small bowl and gave it to him. He sniffed it for several seconds before lapping it up, and I just sat near him to watch until he was done. 

He rarely eats anything other than milk based food, meat, and the stuff I buy for him, so whenever I find an exception it always confuses me. He’s eaten peanut butter several times before but he stopped doing that a year ago for reasons unknown. 

After Frost was done with the tea I put the dishes in the sink, brushed my teeth, then went to bed.
> Chapter 6: High Hopes and Low Luck
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The next day, in the late afternoon I met up with Blitz at the castle to try archery. While heading to the training grounds I asked Blitz, “Are you sure that I’m allowed to use the Royal Guard’s weapons, even with a Guard watching me?”

“Well, not really," Blitz casually answered.

“What?" I asked in a confused and surprised tone.

“They never made it quite clear to me but if anyone gets in trouble for this it’ll be me.”

I just simply said, “Okay.”

Once we got to the training grounds, we entered a long room that was mostly made up of the actual practicing range while the rest was for weapons and ammo storage. It was obviously not part of the original castle’s design seeing as it was mostly made of wood and stone, and had a large area on one wall with metal plating.

Blitz showed me where everything was, including the medical supplies, then decided to practice with the bow while I started with the crossbows. Ten minutes later, Blitz mentions that there was a point in history where it was commonly believed that crossbows were an immoral weapon because of how deadly they are. It was interesting, but not as much as when he asked me something another half hour or so later.

“Hey, Shape?”

I put my crossbow down after firing the bolt already in it. “Yeah?”

“You want to see something absurd?" Blitz asked.

I was always up for absurd stuff so I said, “Sure.”

While walking to the weapon storage lockers he told me “We have this crossbow that no one except the princesses, and few others can draw back all the way.”

He got to one of the locked lockers and put in the combination to open it up and took said weapon out, then came back with it and tried giving it to me for some reason.

I was genuinely confused. “Why are you giving it to me to even look at? Isn’t this the most deadly weapon in here?”

I noted it’s features while Blitz was speaking. It had four abnormally thick prods, the stock was made from what seemed like a different metal, and the draw string looked suspiciously like Celestia's mane. It also had four spots on the stock where the draw string looked like it could rest, for those who couldn't pull it all the way.

When Blitz said, “Besides, this is a weapon that depends on the user’s strength to work. I don’t think you’ll be able to get it drawn back even half way," I took it as a challenge, knowing that he wanted me to.

I nonchalantly took the crossbow and asked “Can I have some ammo for this?" to which he hoofed me some that he was already holding, which was further proof. I also noticed his doubt, and rising anticipation and joy.

Though I decided to take a closer look at the crossbow and the ammo for several seconds and asked, “What’s this even made of?”

“The weapon it’s self is made of steel and some other metal that’s not used all that often called tungsten. The bolts that it uses at full strength are made completely out of metal, though no one told me which one.”

I then pointed to the draw strings. “Why does this look like Celestia’s mane?”

“That’s cause it is. It’s treated with a potion that uses the mane hair’s ethereal magic to massively amplify it’s tension limit.”

“Okay, I’m gonna try and see how powerful this is in my hooves… or rather, magic," I said with a hint of a cheeky grin. Blitz had a skeptical look on his face, but my sixth sense told me that he was excited and hopeful.

I fired up my magic on the weapon, then concentrated as hard as I could on giving my telekinesis as much power as possible with the intention to draw it back all the way.

Despite my best efforts, I got the draw string far enough to only rest at the middle point. Though I was close to the third. Then I went to the targets, put the bolt in, aimed as best as I could and fired.

The bolt seemed to go right through the wood target and disappear through the wooden wall. It was so powerful that I snickered, until Blitz asked me, “How far back did you pull it?” in a worried tone. 

I turned to see him looking at where the bolt fired towards with this slightly distant look and I said “Half way," in a similarly worried tone. “Why?”

“That was a four hundred fifty kilogram draw weight crossbow," Blitz said before galloping out of the room.

The implications Blitz gave were obvious to me so I started panicking a bit while he was out. Once he came back at a walking pace he told me, “It went through the metal plating on the wall's other side, and got stuck in a chariot that's not supposed to be there.”

Despite most of his fear having subsided, I still had my ears pinned back and asked “Did it… go through anyone?” 

“It didn’t, thank Celestia. You won’t get in trouble, but I’ll still have to explain why a bolt is stuck in the chariot.”

I stated “Well, at least I didn’t hurt anyone.” Then went to put the absurd crossbow away. “I’m gonna just use one of the less ridiculous ones now.”

After another half hour or so and many more shots that wouldn’t pierce metal plating, Blitz told me some interesting news. “So apparently the Crystal Empire’s returned after about a thousand years of completely disappearing and the Element bearers defeated it’s oppressive king named Sombra. Maybe even killed him.”

I gave him a slightly confused look. “I’ve never heard of that place before.”

“Most if not almost all of everybody hasn’t. It reappeared in the frozen north, right where it was before. It’s protected from the region’s weather by a shield projected from a magical artifact that absorbs ‘the love and light’ that the ponies have for the Empire and maybe certain other things, too.”

If their culture is a reflection of that artifact, then if changelings existed a thousand years ago, this is where they’d likely get most of their food. They could have had the highest chance of encountering them, and therefore information of some kind may be there. I need to go there to be sure that they have nothing I don’t already know!

So I said “It sounds like the kindest place in Equestria.”

“It probably is," he said. “And arguably the most beautiful.”

A minute later Blitz seemed to realize something important.

“I just realized that you’d probably want to leave before you’re caught in the middle of me explaining the bolt in the chariot to a superior.”

“Sounds like a good idea," I said while starting towards the weapon storage.

After putting my current weapon and ammo away, we said bye to each other and I headed to the train station to see if I could travel to the Empire tomorrow. After looking though their schedule I noticed that they had planned for just one train to travel through Canterlot then all the way to the Empire early in the day. Unfortunately, their ticket booth wasn’t open at the time so I went home.

The day after, I woke up early and asked Modus if he could look after Frost while I was at the Empire for up to a few days. He said that he could and I told him that I owed him a favor for it, so I was officially free to travel. Next I went to the train station, bought the ticket, then went home to pack some things including the research I’d need.

I have one large briefcase that I can always pack everything I need for a trip into. It’s interesting to see someone’s reaction to it when they see me pulling a lot of things out of it because it always looks like I can pack far more than it can hold. But that’s because it can. It could also be really heavy, but I could always handle that well enough.

Once I was done packing I went to wait for my train, then got on and departed. Nothing particularly interesting happened on the train ride over, but once the train arrived my sixth sense started to feel something consistent in it’s background noise. It was undoubtedly positive emotion and it all seemed to be going in one general direction.

I decided to pay attention to it, while finding the Empire’s biggest library, to find out if it would get stronger. After a minute to check that I still had everything, I asked one of the Guards if they knew where the biggest library they had was. She told me that it was in the castle which was at the center of the Empire, so I thanked her and went on my way.

I took in the sights as I headed to the castle, which was all crystal. And by that I mean everything was crystal, even the ponies!

Though I was still paying attention to the anomaly in my emotion sense, and the closer I got to the castle the more obvious it was to my sixth sense. Both it’s strength and direction were becoming far clearer until it almost drowned out all other emotion and became a bit more of a distraction than I thought it could be. The oddest thing about it was the way it did so, because it somehow seemed naturally distracting.

Thankfully, after I climbed up a few flights of stairs at the castle it died down enough to not be a bother. Which meant that I was able to research in peace at the library.

I first came up to a librarian that had a purple coat who was just reading at a counter.

“Excuse me.”

She looked up with a smile and said, “Yes?" in a sweet voice.

“Do you have anything on changelings?“

She tapped her chin in thought. “We have one or two books, but that’s about it. They’ve only been discovered recently, so I wouldn’t expect a lot on them yet.”

“Hmm… What kind of stuff does the book have on them?”

“The books aren’t a long read and focus mostly on their biology. There’s barely been any useful studies at all on their magic.”

“I think I’ll take a look at them then.”

The purple mare stood up. “Alright then. Follow me!”

This mare looked like the kind of mare that I’d date, seeing as she was working at a library and seemed to be enjoying it, but I had more important things to do at that time.

We walked past several rows of shelves, then took a turn and went through a few more until she stopped to search a certain shelf. She didn’t take long to find it and hoof it over to me.

“I suppose we should go search for the other one, right?”

I confirmed, so we went down another few rows, then started searching for it.

After a minute of searching the librarian told me, “I think that one’s checked out right now or someone else might be reading it.”

“Alright, this will for now then. Thanks!”

“No problem! I’ll be back at the same desk if you need me.”

I found a table somewhere to read at and started, but I soon found that I already knew all the info the book had on changeling magic. So instead of searching for books entirely about them, I started searching in less obvious books with the aid of a keyword search spell. Depending on the user’s proficiency in magic, it could be cast on anywhere from one to entire shelves of books to search the entire text of each. It also had a variant I knew for easily searching entire shelves of books for just titles or authors. It was useful when I was in school.

I started with making a list of keywords and terms to use, marking some down for viable use in book titles. Once I was done with that I pretty much ended up searching for books about encounters of odd and unknown magic. My first few title keywords turned up a lot of books, but none of them even had one single mention of changeling magic that was useful for my research.

By the time I was done it was nighttime, so I left to first find a hotel. It wasn’t hard to find one in general, but I wanted to stay in a cheaper hotel so I took some time to look around. I found a decent place that gave me a room with the entrance right in the middle of the hallway on the second story. 

Once that was done I went back to the castle to start my investigation of the odd emotional anomaly that was likely to be close by. It didn’t take long at all to find the likely culprit. A single, large, crystal heart slowly spinning in between two similarly radiant outcroppings on the ground and castle above. It also had two guards stationed nearby to keep an eye on it. 

Normally I wouldn’t want to get close to it if it was guarded, but the closer I got to it the more interested I was in it.

I never noticed how interesting the Heart was. Entirely made of gorgeous crystal and it seems to be powered the same way as changeling magic. I need to study it now.

I started to slowly walk closer to it, staring at it for a different reason that I didn’t understand.

I need to know everything about it. The intricate way that it wedged it’s way into the lives of everyone here. The way that it shines and glimmers.

Once I was only a dozen or so meters away from it I started to lose my composure.

It doesn’t deserve to be here. They do not understand it’s nature, unlike myself. Unlike changelings. It’s power could be mine for the taking. I can easily take it away from here and never have to go hun-

No! That’s not- I can’t do that! …unless- No, it’s immoral! Why can’t I think straight?! It’s the ponies trying to mess with my mind so they can capture me! But they have no reason to! Unless they’ve already found me out… Which would be highly unlikely. Maybe the changelings already have the Crystal Empire in their control!

I started my detection spell and quickly scanned the area. The guards looked a little nervous about me, yet they had no green silhouettes, nor was there any at all anywhere.

So that leaves me with one last possibility: it’s the artifact. I might- No, I must get away from it as fast as I can!

So despite the two nervous guards nearby, I suddenly turned and galloped away as fast as I could. The guards called for who I could only assume was me, but I didn’t stop or slow down until I was at the hotel’s front door. They didn’t follow me so I tried to get my composure back, which I wasn’t entirely successful at. 

When I headed in, a stallion asked if I was okay so I said that I was fine. He didn’t believe me but he let it go anyways and I continued to my room.

I was still in a panic once I got there, but I figured out what was likely happening. The Heart was probably drowning out all other emotions from my senses and majorly drowning out even my own, as well as pulling at my emotional hunger. All it took was me standing close enough to a widely beloved figure, living or inanimate.

I wouldn’t be able stand within several meters of either royal sister while they’re in public without having the burning urge to fillynap them with the intention of feeding off of, yet also worshiping them. The thought terrified me into avoiding the Heart and other said entities as much as I could.

Though the second and most important thing I learned was that my sixth sense’s background noise was, in fact, emotions not directed at me. The next thing I realized was that emotions not directed at me were harder to detect the further away I was to the physical space in-between the two entities in question. Though it almost never seemed to be more than moderately difficult until I was at the range that emotions directed at me would start to fade. 

This would explain why it took a close range to the Heart for me to go into a near trance, though the exception I speculated on in that instance was that the Heart and/or the crystal ponies had a special emotional link that didn’t ever degrade in any way as long as it entirely remained in the Empire.

I was able to recompose myself while lying under the bed sheets, despite feeling like I was mentally violated. I also felt like I was forgetting something and soon realized, from two changelings disguised as mares while I was in the halls, that I didn’t deactivate my detection spell. I could still see them and presumed that they rented a room together by estimating how far away they were using their green silhouette and likely body type.

I figured that it would be worth it to watch the two for a while, so I kept the spell on and monitored their emotions while casually reading a book. After ten or so minutes I couldn’t keep up with that kind of multitasking while enjoying a book, so I put it down and closed my eyes.

This didn’t stop the spell from showing their silhouettes, which was a second unintended part of the spell but welcome just the same. So I kept my eyes closed, looking like I was taking a nap on the bed. Their emotions towards each other strongly indicated that they were comrades keeping a very close eye on each other while their emotions towards others and objects seemed to be suspicious.

Yes, I could even sense emotions towards objects, yet not as well as emotions not directed at me. I didn’t exactly know when I got this ability, whether it was during the accident or not, but it was very useful. Infiltrators wouldn’t suspect that anybody could sense that and, judging from these changelings, they seemed to let their real emotions towards individual objects slip for far longer periods of time than emotions towards others.

Both of them mostly had slips of loathing and vigilance, which objectively supported my suspicion of them being infiltrators. So when they left the hotel about an hour later I followed them in the same fashion I’ve used at night as a mare to know more. While the two were trotting down the road I analyzed their disguises.

I don’t trust my ability to guess the age of somebody from looks alone but at the generally young age their disguises are, their parents would let them go out of town. They’re likely no younger than eighteen, probably no older than twenty-one. The only kind of story I can think of for an infiltrator to use with a non-crystal pony disguise, at that age, in the Empire is that they’re researching for a big project.

As I was discerning their intentions they walked to the crystal castle, passed by the Heart, then went up a flight of stairs to go in. I assumed that they wanted to go to the royal library, because what better place to go to know about an entire civilization that just practically traveled into your present time from a thousand years ago?

I dispelled my invisibility, went into the castle at a different entrance and went right for the library.

They're here to gather intel on the Crystal Empire for the hive. If they figure out that the Heart uses and stores massive amounts of emotional energy, they might try to take it for that. I'm not going to let them think that it'll be as easy as they think it is to even make off with that info without their cover being blown, let alone taking the Heart it’s self.

Upon entering the library the two disguised changelings were in the history section, as indicated by the position of their green silhouettes. They were probably going to look for info on the Heart seeing as their desire and disgust briefly slipped out at it upon first realizing what it likely contained.

I needed to keep track of their location with my detection spell, which required them to be in my viewing angle. This meant that I needed to have something to look at while they could see me and, seeing as I was in a library, the solution was trivial.

After finding a book on advanced magic I went to an almost adjacent table within viewing distance of the changelings’ and started pretending to read. My proximity gave me a chance at knowing the names of the books they were looking at through their hushed voice even though I had to be as discrete as possible.

At first they only seemed interested in the Crystal Empire’s history, which wasn’t all that useful for the hive to know, until one of the two started bringing books on artifacts to their table. There was one in particular that I noticed immediately. It was the exact one I read before that had a picture of the Heart on it.

I decided to change into another female pegasus in the bathroom, which wasn’t far from the library at all. I then picked a new book, then moved to a close spot behind the changeling that I presumed was going to read the artifact book. Once he started on the book and eventually reached the Heart’s section, he let out bits of the same emotions as when they passed the actual thing. He also let out a little too much surprise for a pony who just learned what the Heart did. I was sure that they were hive infiltrators by then.

The book had a well rounded section on the Heart, but it didn’t contain anything on it’s inner workings. It would be pretty bad to let just anybody have the knowledge required to modify it. For all I knew, the changelings could use that knowledge to craft a compatible mass mind control spell. Nevertheless, they’d definitely try to return with the info from that book as soon as possible so Chrysalis could decide on what to do.

I decided that it would be best to give them more of a scare by capturing and interrogating them for any leads as to why I was a half-ling, then trapping them somewhere that would take a few days to escape. They wouldn’t know how good I was at finding out infiltrators nor if I lived in the Empire, so their comrades going there would try to be more careful.

I also thought about implanting the idea that the hive may know about the Heart into the Empire’s population. The Guard may tighten up security at that possibility.

Once the two changelings were done researching, they decided to go back to the hotel and I decided to change disguises in the bathroom again, keeping my gender as female. I then followed a safe distance away from them in the castle, using the detection spell to know the path they were taking without being in their line of sight. Once they were outside I followed in my usual aerial way, waiting for a good opportunity to catch them in relative privacy.

My chance came when they decided to take a shortcut through an alleyway. So I quickly swooped down and landed at the other end to approach them. This wasn’t the best way to seem inconspicuous to them, but seeing as they thought that no one could detect changeling disguises they’d think that I was far more likely to rob or attack them.

Though, in this case, I was hopeful as I was approaching them so they wouldn’t think I’d do anything the sort.

“Hey, do you mares know a cheep place I can stay for the night?” I asked the faux ponies as I got closer. “All the cheep ones I’ve found are full and the next train out of here doesn’t come until a few days later.”

Both of them became confused and one asked “But shouldn’t there be a train tomorrow?”

By then I was within a leg’s length away so I restrained and brought them even closer with my magic to tell them something you’d expect to hear in an action movie. 

“Not for you two.” I said, while they tried to cast a spell because I let my entire emotional facade go by then.

Though they didn’t finish the spell as I was quicker at giving both of them a hit on the horn with my hoof and casting the stun spell on them so they couldn’t try it again. Next I told them, “I know you’re both hive infiltrators.," in a deeper and more distorted variant of my real voice that I shortly decided to use as my go-to intimidation voice. I then cast the disguise dispel, and lastly the invisibility spell on all three of us so I could take them to a good interrogation spot.

It wasn’t fun for me to find one, not only because of the time it took, but also because I had to put a lot of extra effort into flying to carry the changelings and my magic consumption rate over that time was causing me a headache. In hindsight it might have been better to transform them into something smaller for that time. I swear I searched all of the Empire and the best spot that wasn’t out in the frozen wilds was a warehouse that looked unused, so I flew down for a closer look.

After putting the infiltrators in one of the few unused crates, I let the invisibility spell on them go but kept it on myself so I could find a window to look through. To my dismay, there weren’t any which meant that I’d have to actually go in. It was just a bit risky for me to do so, but worth it. So I went to one of the back doors and tried slowly opening it.

With relief I realized that the door was unlocked and the entire building was empty, so I brought the infiltrators in and set them lying on the wall while I told them, “If you make any loud noises I will serve you to the Crystal Empire’s Guard undisguised.”

I pointed to one particular changeling and stated, “I know that you let a bit of surprise and disgust at the knowledge you read about the Crystal Heart. And yes, I’ve read that book before, I could tell what section you were reading at that moment. So why else are you here? Why are you looking up magic artifacts in a thousand year library?”

I then cast a slightly different stun spell on them. This one canceled the first one and let the subjects move their faces so they could communicate effectively. The guard used to use it when they still officially did interrogation but that was hundreds, maybe thousands, of years ago. I was no history buff.

Anyways, the one that I pointed to defiantly told me, “We are willing to die to keep hive secrets from every pony, and your voice distortion spell won’t hide you from us. We’ll find you.”

I smirked, let out a quiet and short chuckle, laid on my side in front of them, and casually said, “As infiltrators you should know that everything is not always as it seems.”

After taking one of my hooves and resting my head on it I continued. “I was not hired by the Guard to capture you and despite what you may think, I’m not as I seem even to you two. Paint me like one of your shellac queens?”

The two just gave me an infuriating glare.

I smirked again and said, “Oh, right. You can’t move anything but your face," with as flat of a tone as I could.

Putting on a serious face again, I continued. “But on to what I actually want to know. Do you know of any hive changeling that’s seen a pony with a mostly winter color to him during your Canterlot invasion?”

Both of the infiltrators remained silent and they didn’t show any micro expressions. Though their emotions towards each other betrayed them, as I expected. They seemed eager to get away now more than ever, seeing as I gave them a lead as to who I was. But I could handle making it seem like a dead end, besides, I’d find it entertaining.

As for their knowledge on the changeling I was looking for, it seemed that they had none. Both asked if the other knew through emotion, but they both responded back to each other with neither indignation or worry. They likely knew nothing.

“I am disappointed," I said, acting as though I was their mother and that I didn’t get an answer. “I was thinking of just letting you go if you were going to be exemplary, but seeing as you are not I will make you into a warning instead.”

The infiltrator that I haven’t singled out yet decided to speak up. “Killing us is only going to make you look bad, and you won’t be able to manipulate the hive.”

Unfortunately for him, what he said gave me an idea.

“I will take that as a challenge," I said with a serious face. “You’ll deliver a message or two to the hive for me to start.”

The infiltrator that gave me the idea said, “We aren’t going to deliver any of your petty messages” with full defiance in his voice.

“Oh, but I think it will interest the hive greatly sometime in the coming months. I’ll also need the names of your disguises.”

Both said, “And why would we tell you that?" in impressively synched stereo.

So I gave a wide and slightly devious smile while saying, “You are not leaving this frozen climate until the hive finds you first.”

This convinced them to give me their disguises’ names, which meant I was able to hint at their location to the hive without the Guard knowing it. At least as long as the Guard didn’t find the two first. 

After casting the full body stun spell and the invisibility spell exactly as before, I flew off with them again. I took one or two hours to look for a spot in the Empire that no one would find them at without a hint, but I didn’t find anything suitable. They seemed to use almost exactly as much space as they needed. No land in the Empire and nearly no building was unused.

I would’ve used a graveyard if it weren’t for the fact that it would be a huge risk to dig up or bury anything in them, even when posing as the grave keeper or a Guard. It might seem a bit odd to say that but, for the most part, ponies don’t bury their dead. They usually cremate them, so there’s usually no graveyard in smaller urban areas and they’re usually only reserved for historically significant ponies. Even the one in Canterlot is small to many other species.

Which meant that I only had one place left. It was a pain to do for a few reasons, but still worth it.

I landed next to the shield and went through it, trudging through the cold and snow. There wasn’t any blizzard at the time so I was able to spend as much time as I needed without practically freezing to death. Once I felt that I was just far enough from the shield and found what I presumed to be a frozen river, I began the real work.

I closed the two infiltrators’ eyes and started out with transforming into a changeling. Next I made the more gelatin-like outside of two cocoons with changeling resin and set the changelings inside them. After that, I filled them up with the sleep inducing goo, which I filled with a few weeks worth of emotion and enchanted it to generate enough heat for that same time span so they wouldn’t freeze to death.

They were there to gather intel so it wouldn’t take any longer than a week for the hive to realize that something’s wrong and to get somebody to the Empire by then. By the time that somebody gets there they wouldn’t take any longer than another week to find them. 

I then made two semi-hardened slabs of changeling resin, and engraved a popular song quote onto each. The first being "Cast out, reject the plague in all your hearts", and on the other "If not yourself, then you have naught. To say the things you truly feel, and not the words of one who kneels", on the other. After hardening them I stuck one to each of the infiltrator’s backs then sealed the cocoons. Finally, I melted a section of the river so I could lay them a few inches beneath the water and let the cold refreeze it.

After making sure that they didn’t float up before the water froze, I went back to the Empire, making another disguise change well before entering the shield. I’ll admit that my nerves were a bit wracked after trapping the two, but I managed to get rid of the feeling before arriving at the library again. They were going to close soon, so I quickly wrote the letter to the changelings that would come looking for the ones I trapped. 




We've somehow been roped into helping some weird ponies look for something called a yeti. If we don’t die by becoming ice cubes we’ll be back the day you arrive. If we don’t get back by then assume that we’re trapped and need help. I don’t completely trust them, but we have to right now.




After changing to one of the infiltrator’s disguises in the bathroom, which was as empty as could be at that time of night like I expected, I went back to the hotel. When I gave the pony at the desk the letter I told her to give it to the pony or ponies that would come looking for the two unless they came back.

I then headed back to my hotel room, still in one of the infiltrator’s disguises. No one would notice a pony entering the wrong room considering how few ponies there would be in the hallway so late at night.

Once back in my room I went to the bathroom to change back to my default disguise, then went to bed.

~~~~~~

I woke up in the middle of the dark night to what sounded like the sounds of upset ponies. So after a minute or two of the sound not stopping I got up, moving some of my mane out of my face with a hoof, and listened for where it was coming from. It wasn’t that hard to find, and in a few seconds I went to the room’s window to take a look.

My apartment unit was in the corner of the building that was closest to the adjacent intersection and there was no fog of any kind at all, so I was able to examine two of the roads from my window. I saw a group in the streets so I left my unit to scan the other direction of each road and found that there were was another group of ponies going the opposite direction on the same road. 

Both groups sounded like they were singing the same odd thing. It wasn’t like the subject of the song was odd. It was, in fact, that I couldn’t understand them at all. The best way I could describe it was that they were singing in a completely different language that used an additional communication medium I had yet to figure out. 

As they walked closer to the intersection another odd thing caught my eye. The street names on the signs were in another language that I didn’t know. The only thing I could read on them that was useful was that they were both boulevards. If it weren’t for that I would’ve thought that I forgot how to read and write.

But that got me thinking on how many other things might be in another language that shouldn’t be, so I scoured the area for Equestrian. I winded up finding that everything from my apartment’s front sign to the display menu in the candy shop less than a block away were all in this unknown language. By then I would’ve decided to ask the ponies about all this, but after reading the candy shop’s menu I noticed that my real eyes were showing. 

Taking a look at my full reflection, I saw that my entire disguise was gone!

After rushing to a hiding spot I tried to apply my disguise again, but I couldn’t.

They saw me without my disguise! Why can’t I conjure it back?! ...why do they not seem to care? Why are they even here singing? Something is seriously off about all of this.

The only thing I thought to do was carefully watch them and as the two groups met at the intersection. As they conversed in their odd language I could see their faces change from frowns to glad smiles and feel their moods lift. Despite the language barrier I could tell that all the ponies were making new friends with the opposite group. After which, two leaders stood on top of some wooden boxes. I could only make out that one was a changeling while the other was a pony, as if some kind of light-warping fog was around them. After announcing something, the two then started down the other road, marching and singing something cheerful together with everybody else doing the same behind them.

By then the circumstances of the entire event perplexed me, the feelings of which I carried with me to my waking after the group was a block or so away.

~~~~~~

While trotting back to the castle’s library in the morning, I tried deciphering the dream. I played the entire thing over again several times in my head, but something felt wrong about it.

It doesn't make any sense! It seemed like the dream meant that I need someone who understands my problem, yet I'm probably not going to be able to find someone who's got the same problem as me for years! I'm not going to some kind of support group as it is because no pony or changeling even half understands my problem. It'd be a waste of time.

So what am I missing? Is there something missing in the dream it’s self?

Once I was close to the castle I started to sense the Heart’s anomaly again. After what happened with it last night I was admittedly scared of the thing so I stayed as far away from it as I could while still entering the castle. Because of that thing I completely forgot about the dream while I was researching.

After a half hour the same cute librarian from yesterday grew confused and interested in something about me. 

“You look like you’re really intent on getting any changeling knowledge you can.” she stated professionally. “Can I ask why?”

I realized that she was fascinated with my research’s topic but still more interested in me, but I wasn’t interested in dating her. At least, not at the time.

Without looking up from the books I had I said, “I’m an expert on changeling shape-shifting and this place seems like the perfect environment for changeling infiltrators to gather food. If it’s any place in pony society that changelings and their magic would’ve been noticed a thousand years ago, it would be here.”

She looked and felt skeptical about it. “Changelings weren’t something we knew about at that time so they may have never been here until now.”

I countered with, “They’re masters of disguise and can blend in with any pony society. Someone could have noticed it but either ignored it or covered it up out of fear or something similar.”

“If that’s true, wouldn’t it be easier to discover everything through examining them yourself?”

“… that’s probably true.” I then closed the book I was currently reading and told her, “I’m going to do a little reading on the Crystal Heart instead.”

I actually ended up doing that research for a few hours, though I wished I had access to the more in depth material. I then went back to the hotel to study and play with whatever changeling stuff I could with the tools I brought until late at night, and went to bed a little early.

The next day I signed out of the hotel and left for the train station to leave for Canterlot. I didn’t have to wait long before the ride arrived, and once it was on it’s way to my home I started reading a novel.

The next time the train arrived at a station I took a look out the window to be sure I didn’t miss my stop for any reason. Apparently it was in Ponyville, which reminded me of the Castle Of The Royal Sisters. It had a library that was almost never visited anymore so there had to have been some lost knowledge in it.

I didn’t waste any time leaving the train to find a hotel for the coming night and leaving my luggage there. Neither did I hesitate to run right into the Everfree Forest, though that was a small mistake. Though not because I couldn’t fend of the monsters in there. I was perfectly capable of that. My problem was that I realized I’d need all the energy I could to quickly find it.

This led to me galloping out of the forest and back into Ponyville for the first coffee shop I could get to. I approached the counter and asked for the darkest coffee they had and payed the pony. In a few minutes I had my brew, which I filled with a mound of sugar and a long pour of cream.

A blue coated mare next to me at the ingredients counter was a bit disgusted by this so she said “Jeez. Need some coffee with your sugar?” in a tomboyish voice.

I knew the voice but she didn’t really know me, so I completely ignored her and chugged my coffee down. Once I was out of the shop I galloped back to the Everfree and by then the coffee was working. This let me race though the Forest as fast as I could, with my mind going just as fast.

Only after a few minutes I realized that, despite encountering the castle a few times, I didn’t know where it was for sure. So I sat down and thought about it for a minute.

I could ask somebody in Ponyville, but it’s highly likely that the only ponies who know of it’s location are the Element bearers. Even if I asked around, everyone who wouldn’t know would probably tell me to ask Twilight Sparkle or her friends anyways. I think it’s best that I find it again myself.

After several minutes of running through the forest, my sixth sense started picking up vigilance and anticipation. Something or somebody was following me and waiting for me to do something. A few more minutes later I was still remaining vigilant myself but something hit me and when I landed my face was met with that of wood and two glowing green eyes. 

It tried to swipe at me with it’s claws but I instinctively took the timberwolf in my magic and threw it aside at a tree where it fell to pieces. Though it wasn’t done with me, as it slowly reassembled with the intent to try again but by the time it picked it’s self back up I had started a small campfire sized fire with my magic. While holding it in the air between the two of us I told the fowl beast “I know how to deal with you.”

Regardless, the timberwolf tried to slowly move closer. I responded with turning the fire’s intensity up to half a bonfire, which convinced the creature to back up slowly then run off. I stopped the fire and made sure that I didn’t let any other fires remain, checked the time with the sun, then went on my way again.

~~~~~~

After what felt like three hours I finally found the castle, but before entering I took a look at the sun. From it’s position I found that the timberwolf attack was actually just one hour ago, so I was making good time so far.

After excitedly entering the castle’s library, I started going through it all with my word search spells. The coffee was still definitely working as my work speed was at least doubled compared to my time in the Crystal Empire, and by the time I was done I found some useful information. Though it wasn’t on changeling magic.

I discovered a few new transformation spells that I managed to copy down after finding some old, unused parchment and a quill, and an unconventional replacement for ink. Unfortunately, the ink replacement I used was blood from the same cockatrice that I got the quill from. Yes, it was that important. Almost entirely because of an immensely complicated spell that would let me change into any creature the magic could reach. I immediately decided to learn how to cast it, because if that’s not one of an infiltrator’s dream spells, then I dare you to tell me why.

Anyways, by sunset I had gone through all the relevant books and started back towards Ponyville. Once I entered my hotel room I went to lie down on the bed and read a novel, but before I started I noticed that my chest was hurting a bit. I assumed that it was the coffee because sometimes it would induce a small, dull pain in what I could only assume was my heart if I have more than a cup or two of the stuff. 

Though it wasn’t ever all that concerning for me so I started reading and, even though I was still caffeinated, I eventually started to feel tired so I went to sleep.

~~~~~~

The next morning I got up and went to a Hay Burger for breakfast. After getting my meal I sat down and heard two changelings talking to each other about some kind of play made and preformed by changelings.

“Oh come on! Making the main character a changeling that can’t shape-shift would be hilarious!”

The other changeling gives his friend an unamused look. “And how would they explain that?”

The first changeling thought for a few seconds then told the other, “The character’s probably got some kind of injury. I’ve heard it can happen.”

“Well, if it’s going to be a comedy I’m not going to see it. It’ll be far too painful to watch him constantly fumble with keeping his identity a secret.”

“You just have terrible taste in comedy.”

“No. I used to be an infiltrator so watching anyling mess up infiltration is painful.”

At that point I stopped listening and made a mental note to ask Act or Cordial if that kind of thing can happen. It was possible that my shape-shifting wasn’t working right because of an improperly functioning changeling organ, or one that I didn’t have all together.

Once I was done eating I signed out of the hotel and left to buy a ticket to the next train back to Canterlot, which turned out to be several hours later. I didn’t have much to do so I just waited there, thinking of something productive to do to pass the time. I eventually had a fantastic idea.

I could infiltrate Twilight Sparkle's home for her changeling magic research! 

I'll need to find out if Spike and Twilight are there. It would be ideal if Spike was the only one home, seeing as he's a little more gullible. Twilight would probably be in the middle of doing the research I'm looking for, so it might be trickier to make copies of it.

I should try to first see if either of the two, or anyone else for that matter, are at the library, so I'll enter and ask if I can get some help from Twilight with changeling magic. If Twilight's not there, it might be easier to ask Spike for her research. I might be doing this more than two or three times, so I'll want to make a solid alter ego beforehoof. I'll claim to be a changeling that's studying changeling magic in depth while traveling the world, so that it'll explain my long absences and why she won't be able to contact that persona.

By the time I thought of this it was noon, but I still had plenty of time before the train. I decided to head out to the Everfree to change into a random changeling persona and trot over to the Golden Oaks Library. I’ve been seen entering that forest several times by ponies in the village well before the discovery of changelings and I’ve been accused of being one before but the dispel didn’t work so no one would suspect a thing.

Once at the front door of the library with my briefcase I knocked and Spike shortly answered, looking at my persona’s face then legs.

Spike looked at my face again. “Sorry. I can only tell changelings apart by their leg holes.”

“It’s fine," I stated and shrugged. “I know most species do it that way.”

“What are you here for?" Spike wondered.

“It’s actually who," I corrected. “I’m here for Twilight Sparkle.”

“She’s out helping a friend with some kind of stunt. You can stay here while you wait if you want. It’s a library, after all.”

I picked up some curiosity from Spike, but I still told the little dragon, “I think I’ll stay," and walked in to look for a book on transformation spells that I didn’t have.

Spike followed me and casually asked, “So why are you here to see Twilight?”

“I’ve heard that she’s doing research on changeling magic. I’m specifically here for her findings on the transformation spell. She might have something that I don’t know yet.”

“Well, you’ve come to the right place for that.” I looked back from the shelf I was at to Spike because of the way he said it. He was giving me an unamused glare and continued with, “She has an obsession with research…”

I just went back to looking through the books and decided on reading the description to The Guide To Minimally Improvised Transformation Magic, which was about how to add modularity to transformation spells.

This confused him and made him suspicious of me, which drove him to ask, “Why would you need to read that?" in a slightly suspicious tone.

“Changeling magic seems to be built for vastly superior modularity. At least in our transformation magic, which I want to make even more modular.”

This only increased Spike’s suspicion and confusion. “But changeling magic is different from pony magic.”

“Yes, but despite the intricate differences that make them incompatible, their overall construction concepts are the same.”

Spike just stared at me for a few seconds in thoughtful confusion then said, “I guess that makes sense. I’ll be in the front room if you need me.”

Spike waddled off while I took a look at the book’s table of contents. It indicated that I found what I was looking for, so I sat down at a different table in the same room as Spike to read it.

Two hours later, the front door opened and I took a quick glance to see that Twilight came back looking tired.

“I’ve never been more happy to be back at a library," she exclaimed as she unpacked some physics books and gave them to Spike to put back on the shelves.

While doing so he asked, “Isn’t that the third time in the last month you’ve said that?”

Twilight sat on a cushion in front of a desk, which she rested her chin on. “I’m pretty sure that was the fourth in total, and the third time it has to do with Rainbow. It makes be wonder why I keep saying yes to helping her with stunts.”

Spike asked, “What did she break this time?” in a tone that seemed a little too excited to suggest that he had as much concern for her as he really should. Though my sixth sense told me otherwise.

“She forgot one of my warnings again and this time she broke the town windmill. She was going to use it to make pulling back from a dive easier, but she went too fast and the sails came off.” She then lifted her head up and threw her hooves in the air. “It ended up cartwheeling off and almost hit the school!”

“But… don’t they have the day off today?" Spike asked in confusion.

The only response she had to that was mild contempt, which was the response I expected from her.

“What? I’m not saying you should’ve let it destroy the school.”

Twilight sighed and told Spike, “Our biggest problem was that the sails broke so we had to repair them and put them back on with AJ’s help. It’s why I’m an hour late.”

I made a snort of amusement, which was apparently a little too loud as Twilight suddenly noticed me.

Spike then spoke up to tell her, “Oh! I almost forgot. He’s actually here to talk with you on your changeling research.”

This elicited some excitement from her, though also some suspicion. I unburied my head from my book and turned my head towards the two to see Twilight get up and approach me while looking at my persona’s legs. “I don’t believe I’ve seen you around Ponyville before. What’s your name?”

I got up and said, “Metamorphosis, and I already know yours, Twilight Sparkle.”

“Ah, good! Spike says you’re here to talk about changeling research. What part of it do you want to know about?”

“I was hopping to see the magic portion of it.”

“Alright, but I’ll need to cast a spell on you first. It won’t hurt or anything like that.”

I knew what spell it was, so I casually said, “Go ahead. I know it’s the changeling transformation dispel.” Though a small voice in the back of my head told me that she could have improved it recently in a way that could dispel or visually disrupt my disguises.

She then concentrated on me and the spell while her horn lit up, and by then I felt something pulling on my disguise in the same way as the standard dispel. This ended up with nothing happening as usual, so Twilight’s suspicion fell to almost nothing. Next she said for me to follow her and told Spike that she may need him soon, to which he happily responded with, “I’ll be ready whenever you need me as always.”

Twilight had me follow her to a study room on the second floor, which had a few desks to work at and shelves filled with notebooks. At one desk there was a stack of papers that I thought might have been some of her research. 

While she was looking for some of the notes I wanted, I decided to take a look at the ones on the desk. It was Twilight’s research, though it looked to be about some kind of pool.

I didn’t get to read much before I noticed a spike of panic directed at me and a pink aura yanked the papers from my hooves.

I immediately dropped my briefcase and looked to Twilight, who literally teleported from the filing cabinet to me and said “How much did you read?! Promise me your not going to go looking for it!" in horror.

I tensed up, not sure what to say “I… uh…”

Her fear started to turn into anger as she said “Promise me that your not going to!”

“I-I promise.”

Twilight noticeably calmed down and told me “Sorry. Between the problem that thing caused recently and what you probably heard downstairs, I’m not in the best mood.”

We sat in awkward silence for a few seconds, then I spoke up. “Maybe… taking a look at my notes will cheer you up?”

She got right in my face with a look of joy, the degree of which I’ve never seen on her before. “You have notes, too?! How much?”

Even with as much of a changeling buffet as she was giving me, I backed up a few steps to both get an appropriate distance from her and set my luggage on one of the desks. “All my research is in this briefcase.”

Turning my attention to the briefcase, Twilight sidled right up next to me sparing no room in her excitement. I thought it was cute but a bit awkward, so I tried to ignore that while turning the briefcase’s numbers to their right combination.

Upon opening it she immediately took several of my pages in her magic, though she quickly became confused. Yet she didn’t ask about anything so I guessed that she was trying to find a good place to start in my moderate mess of notes.

I stood there looking at her for several seconds until I decided that she was too focused on my notes to remember that I was there. “Can I take a look at your notes yet?”

She didn’t take her eyes off the pages, but in response she pointed to the filing cabinet she was going through before and said, “It’s in there, second lowest drawer.”

I went right to it and shortly found the notes, which I went through for several minutes at one of the desks. During that, Twilight became confused for a minute, then curious and worried.

“Meta?" Twilight asked in a more gentle tone, still not taking her eyes away from my notes.

I turned my head to look at her. “Yeah?”

“When you transform does it… hurt in any way?”

I had no problem telling her some half-truths. I just had to leave out the right context clues to keep her from finding out. “Yeah, but only during the transformation. You found the anesthetic effect I patched into it?”

Taking some paper and a quill in her magic, she said, “I did, but I didn’t know you could do that, or that changelings had medical spells!”

“They don’t.”

Twilight gave me an intrigued look, so I elaborated. “I went through a lot of text on medical spells ponies use, then studied the innate magic that takes effect when we become injured as a starting point. From there I had to craft the spell with nontraditional methods by drawing parallels and guessing a lot of times. Though I’m still trying to find what’s causing the pain by mapping out and documenting the whole spell.”

Twilight thought for a few seconds with her hoof tapping on her chin, then blurted out “Biology! It could be any number of things from missing organs to an injury that never fully healed.”

“Missing organs?” I asked with worry. “I really hope I’m not, but I’m pretty sure it’s not anything to do with injuries.”

Twilight became nervous at that as she slowly said “Well, from what I know and your notes, I don’t think our combined findings have an answer any better than ‘missing organs’.” She then gave an awkward smile and said “At least if you’re missing any they don’t seem vital," though it seemed more like she was asking a question.

“I’m not as worried about it as it may seem. Can we get back to discussing magic?”

Her worry subsided at that, though she became worried about the notes as she asked, “So is it okay that I copy all your notes?”

I hated to give her a time constraint on that, but I really needed to get back to Canterlot, so I made my excuse. “Yeah, but I’ve got a train ticket for a late night ride tonight that I have to catch for something important.”

Twilight starts to look a little panicked and immediately calls for Spike, who shows up in seconds.

“What do you need?” Spike happily asked.

“I need you to help with copying down all these notes," Twilight said, while gesturing to my briefcase and the folders she pulled out from it.

Spike gave me a short and mildly irritated look at that, but started the work regardless. At that, I decided to start copying everything from Twilight’s notes that I didn’t already find out.

An hour later I found her examining my briefcase, mumbling about something not being right with it’s size, so I came up behind her and said, “It’s bigger on the inside.”

Twilight jumped at that, put a hoof to her chest, and said “Please don’t scare me like that.”

In my embarrassment I said, “Sorry, I have a bad habit of doing that by accident.”

“It fine. Just try not to do that again. So where did you get this?” she said, digging through my briefcase.

“I found it in an oddity shop in Las Pegasus. It was nowhere near cheep but I was saving up for that kind of thing for years, hopping to find one at a decent enough price, which it was.”

Though the truth was that I found it in a niche enchanted comic shop, being sold for about half the average going price.

By then, Twilight got to the bottom of it. “Seems like it’s three times larger on the inside. What about the weight reduction?”

“That’s where it falls a little short. It’s only cut in half, but I can still carry it with no problem.”

“If I had one of these I’d be pretty protective of it," she stated.

“I am. I’ve had a few times where I told ponies handling the luggage roughly that if they break or make a hole in it, it would collapse into a singularity that could destroy the entire world.”

She giggled at that and playfully told me “Well you’re a devious little dung beetle.” Though she immediately realized what she said and stumbled on her own words in an attempt to apologize, while I quickly went from snickering to waiting for a complete response with my ears lying back. 

Once she finally managed to say, “I didn’t offend you, did I?" I told her, “It’s fine. I can tell how you feel about me.”

I immediately realized how what I said could be misinterpreted, but I tried to ignore that fact.

From her feelings I could tell that she wasn’t exactly sure what I meant, while her slight blush only helped to confirm it. “Oh, um, right. I still sometimes forget even though I have a local changeling friend.”

After some seconds of awkward silence, I broke it with, “We should probably get back to work.”

“Right.” Twilight said, and we both went back to copying each others research.

Once I had an hour before my train ride, I was done with copying Twilight’s notes long ago and was reading the book I previously read before she arrived. Twilight came up to me and I looked up to her as she asked, “Is there any way that we could keep the notes for at least a few days then send them back to you?”

“I don’t really have what ponies would consider a proper home. More specifically I’d be described as a nomad, seeing as I live my life in constant travel. So it wouldn’t be easy to give you my only copy of the notes and have them returned. On top of that, my schedule is unpredictable and I’ll need the notes far sooner than when I can come back.”

She sighed in disappointment. “I just wish that I could make copies of everything.”

At that I felt even worse for lying about the importance of my on-time departure, but I had to if I wanted my secret to remain exactly that. Though just as sudden as her disappointment came, her face lit up and I felt feelings of epiphany from her.

“I think I have a plan for whenever you come by here next!”

“Please tell me you’re not excited enough about that to use that pool in your plan.”

Her face quickly shifted to one of slightly distant horror as she said “No, never again. Not after Pinkie-” She shook her head to clear her thoughts. “Never mind, but trust me, I have a plan that can’t possibly go bad.”

She had a lot of confidence in that, especially for a mare that constantly questions herself, and she didn’t seem to have any desperation about the problem either. “Well, I’ll see if I can come back sometime, but if I were you I’d get back to copying the research. I’ll want to head out in thirty minutes or so.”

“Right," she said, and went back to her desk to continue her copying frenzy until I told her that I had to go.

After packing everything up I told Twilight, “Next time I find myself in this village, you’re going to be my first stop," as she saw me out.

“I appreciate that," she responded, as we arrived at the front door.

I opened the door and left as we said our goodbyes. I went right to the train station and waited until the train arrived. It was apparently ten minutes behind schedule, but it didn’t really matter that much to me. I just wanted to get back to Canterlot by the next day.

Though when I started reading a novel with a large love subplot to it to pass the time, I had a realization of my own.

What did I just do... I passed up an opportunity to intentionally flirt with the Twilight Sparkle. The most beautiful and smart mare I've ever seen! I got all the info she had on the spell, and I currently don't want all my notes on the shape-shifting spell to be known, so I can't return to the library as Meta until everything is over. How disappointed could she get over Meta not returning for months, maybe years? Is she more interested in the notes than Meta? If I ever date her, whether or not I do it as myself, how would I tell her that Meta is me? Can I even keep a long distance relationship?

...why am I thinking this far ahead? It's not like it's probable. But something about the thought of dating her is far more welcoming than I previously thought.

> Chapter 7: Attention
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

My magic research progress in the two months that followed, as well as a bit of Twilight’s research, had lead me to believe that my progress in the metamorphic shape-shifting spell was enough for it to be in proper working order. In the morning I decided to try it out as my usual disguise. 

If the disguise was moderately off for any reason, I’d be able to claim that it was a spell that I was practicing. Of course, whoever caught the flaw would likely want me checked for being a changeling, but I made sure that the spell would withstand any and all disguise and transformation dispels that I could get my hooves on at the very least. That would include nearly, if not all of them.

I was excited at the prospects of what I could do. I was undetectable. Nobody could reveal me but myself. I could canter right into Canterlot Castle and get away with it every time!

After applying the new spell to myself and giving Frost a short petting, I exited my apartment. Only a few steps out I sensed someone close being suspicious of me, which was also when one of my next door neighbors came out of her door with an expression of such.

“You’re not Shapeshift, your a changeling!" she told me.

I could only reply with, “Uh… what?”

She just continued with, “You can’t hind you’re disguises’ gender! The real Shapeshift is male!”

Her bringing that to my attention made me realize that I did not, in fact, feel anything between my hind legs.

The spell swapped my gender? This is going to get awkward…

A bit weirded out, I asked, “Why would you be looking there?”

But she ignored my question, as she spotted a unicorn Guard and shouted out to her, “Guard! I need your help!”

The Guard galloped to us and she asked, “How can I be of assistance, mam?”

Pointing to me, my neighbor said, “I need you to confirm that he’s a changeling!”

This aroused the guard’s suspicion, so she faced me, sighed, and said, “I’d recommend you allow me to cast the dispel," in a voice that said that she was tired of being a changeling detector.

I sighed as well and rolled my eyes, saying, “Yeah, go ahead," even though I knew that I should be a bit worried because the spell hasn’t been through absolutely all the proper tests yet.

The Guard then began casting the dispel and as usual, I could feel it pulling at my disguise, but this time it was almost nonexistent. After finishing the dispel, the Guard was far less suspicious of me, so she turned to my neighbor to tell her, “He’s not a changeling, mam.”

My neighbor seemed to be three fries short of a Hay Burger meal, because the next thing she said was, “But I’ve seen that changeling goop resin stuff in his trash, and the real pony’s a stallion! Look for yourself!”

The Guard facehoofed. “Look, I’d have no good reason to resort to something that violates somepony’s privacy like that, even if we’re all mostly naked most of the time. And seeing as the dispel didn’t do anything at all, he’s not a changeling.”

“And even if I did change genders, my talent is shape-shifting," I added.

“But I can do some other short tests on the spot," the Guard said, then turned her head to me. “If that’s okay with you.”

In a tired voice I said, “Yeah, that’s fine.”

The Guard began casting a few more dispels, all of which barely tugged at my disguise. Then she suddenly cast a water spray spell, which caught me off guard, and I fell to the ground.

I irately asked, “Why did you spray me?" as she helped me back up.

She calmly told me, “Sorry. That was more than I intended, and to answer your question, some ponies paint themselves to make surprisingly convincing disguises. Now can you please cast a spell?”

I decided to just take my saddlebags off with my telekinesis, which had the Guard saying, “Green, but too pale. He’s certainly not a changeling, but do you see anything different about him after the dispels?”

I could feel my neighbor’s suspicion only slightly lower while her irritation had been rising more and more, to the point that she was now clenching her jaw intensely and grinding her teeth every few seconds. The latter of which is something that I can barely stand, and it didn’t help that she decided to take the guard’s question as an invitation to closely examine me for several minutes.

She made irritated hums several times and gave me a dirty look. When she was done she suddenly yelled, “Forget it!" stomped back into her apartment unit grumbling, and slammed the door behind her while I gave a slight grin of mischievousness.

The guard had a confused look until she turned to me and concluded her exams in a happy mood with, “It’s odd, but somehow I still have a small nagging suspicion that you’re a changeling even though it should be impossible for one to keep a disguise after all that. I’ll just have to ignore it. You can carry on with what you were doing.”

She started walking off and so did I, but after a few seconds she came back to me and asked, “Hey, you said that you can transform things, right? If it’s not too much trouble, can you change my apple into some other fruit?”

I said, “Yeah, I can do that.”

So she took the apple out of her small pouch, gave it to me, and I sat upright with it in my hoof. I then lit up my horn and concentrated on the spell, which I shot at the apple after it’s short charging period. The resulting flash replaced the apple with an orange, and the Guard was impressed yet at the same time a bit disappointed. 

“Wow. That’s pretty cool! I was hoping for a peach, but it beats having an apple for a snack the tenth time in a row. Beggars can’t be choosers and all that. Either way, thanks for doing that!”

“No problem," I told her. “Though I should really get going.”

“Alright then. I’ll see you around," she told me as she left me to my business.

While heading to Cordial’s store I keep as low a profile as someone who technically just changed genders could, but that didn’t help as much as I hoped.

Once I arrived at Cordial’s store, I went right towards his office with as much haste as half my trip and entered without knocking. After closing the door behind me, Cordial took a whiff of something unexpected and put down his newspaper to see me with lipstick, mascara, and eyeliner smeared all over my face.

I sensed his joy and noticed his face turning red with his barely contained laughter. He managed to say, “What happened?" with a wavering voice before he burst out laughing, his head slowly coming to rest on the desk.

I just stood there with a frowning, half lidded gaze devoid of amusement until he seemed to be done, at which point I asked, “Are you done yet?”

“Mostly," he said while still snickering.

In a flat tone I told him “A small group of mares decided that it was a good idea to give me a makeover.”

Cordial managed to ask, “Why?" between more snickering.

I decided to start off with using my magic to shut and lock all the doors and windows to change back to my default disguise using my usual shape-shifting spell. This prompted Cordial to ask, “What was that about?”.

So I told him, “My new shape-shifting spell gave me the wrong gender," then I unlocked and opened the doors and windows, and said “I’ll be right back.”

After a quick trip to the porcelain throne room, I came back with a clean face and Cordial was silently reading his newspaper. So I sat down on the chair at the other side of the desk and realized that he was reading The Horse’s Mouth for laughs.

He shortly set the newspaper down. “It’s always more funny to read this than any newspaper’s comic section and it’s almost never good for anything else.” 

He then turned it around and pointed to an article while raising an eyebrow and telling me, “Though this falls under that ‘almost never’.”

I wouldn’t blame you for not wanting to read a joke of a newspaper, but I thought I’d find it amusing to read.




Are There Changeling Hunters?

The Royal Guard has declined answering questions regarding the matter of two ponies that seem to be mysteriously saved from being abducted by changelings. But we've managed to interview one out of the two that have been saved, by an unknown pony or changeling, from being abducted.

But after that, the question of who saved the ponies remains, even though the mystery changeling in a picture taken during one of the occurrences was found at it’s associated crime scene. Said changeling was likely the one that saved the pony, though any questions about it have remained unanswered as the Guard have had no luck with finding him. Are they incompetent, do they not actually care about the crime, or are they part of some kind of conspiracy?

Several speculations on this entire event have been made, including that the changeling is part of a group of skilled infiltrators, that it's a changeling who has created new spells that help him find infiltrators, that it's a pony with such spells and a special skill in shape-shifting, that it's multiple citizens getting lucky about their guesses, or that it’s mean spirited prankster changelings. 

A few small groups of citizens have each strongly suspected a different changeling or pony, but none have been proven to be the hunter. Though make no mistake. The princesses are not entirely above conspiring to get ponies to believe that changelings are more trustworthy than they really are.

Whatever the case may be, citizens are highly suggested to report such suspicions of changelings affiliated with the hive to the Royal Guard and let them take care of it.




When I finished I looked at Cordial, who comfortably leaned back into his chair and told me, “I’ve known you for a few months now but I didn’t think you’d ever try to play hero, even if you could team up with someone. I especially didn’t expect you to go for it more than once.”

I could sense his interest and hope in me, so I asked, “Why are you telling me this?”

“The hidden changeling operated market, which is far more of a grey market than a black market, has found out that a certain mare is looking hard for ‘the changeling hunter’ to get his help.”

I wasn’t expecting anybody to want my new talent so soon, but I wondered what about me she was hoping for. 

“Why does she want my help, of all changelings?”

Cordial gave me a serious look and said, “We’ve tried finding out a few times, but with no luck. It could be any number of things.”

I gave him a serious look of my own while saying, “Then I’m going to try finding her," which gave a small spike to his surprise.

He gave me a look that you’d only give to somebody who’s likely got something wrong with them. “That’s not a good idea! She could be a changeling! She might even want to capture you whether or not she is one!”

I confidently responded with, “I’ve made a set of spells specifically for detecting and tracking changelings. I even made a shape-shifting spell that’s designed to be hard to dispel. If any number of things happen, I’ll have a way out.”

Cordial sighed and started looking in his desk for something while saying, “If you’re going to go looking for her, I might as well give you a picture.”

“Why would you have a picture of her?" I asked, before he found it and hoofed it to me.

“The changeling that told me about her, had some pictures. I don’t know why for sure, but he might have been one of the changelings watching her to find out what she wanted.”

“No, I mean why did you keep it?”

Cordial then facehoofed and told me, “I was going to give it to you so you could avoid her, not go looking for her!”

I rolled my eyes and said, “Well, if you’re done trying to convince me to not do that, I could use some help in trying to contact her without her knowing who I really am.”

He thought for a moment and told me “There’s not many options for that and the only one I have to offer is passing a message through the gray market so the mare eventually gets it. The problem with that is it may take a few months, because the others and I try to meet infrequently.”

I wasn’t expecting that kind of service to be cheep, even if it was slow. “How much is it going to cost?”

“It depends on how much each changeling’s willing to do it for. I’d say one hundred bits will get you five to ten changelings to pass it on.”

“One hundred bits it is then," I told him. “But I want to hold off on that for now. I’ve still got one thing to take care of before meeting with this pony.”

“Well feel free to come back when you want me to start sending it. Is there any other business you need to talk about?”

“No, but I have an unrelated question.”

“Go ahead.”

“Is there any kind of injury that can inhibit a changeling’s transformation ability?”

Cordial thought for a minute but said, “I’ve only heard a few stories of it happening and no one I know has had that happen before.” He then got up and started going through his filing cabinets. “Though I have contact info for a pony that’s researching changeling physiology.”

I sighed and asked “How much is that going to cost me?”

“Just two bits," he said. “It’s just one pony, I already have the info for her, and I have a pretty good idea of where I put it.”

He pulled out a single paper and I told him “Sounds pretty fair," so he started copying it.

It’s risky to get this researcher’s help, even if I disguised myself as a different pony. She may know how to physically disable a changeling’s shape-shifting, but she might also try it on me if she’s absolutely sure that I’m trying to pull something on her. I’ll have to hold off on that for who knows how long.

Once he was done, he gave me the info and I hoofed over the bits while saying, “I should go.”

“Alright. Good doing business with you," he said and started doing paperwork as I left.

I decided to make some other purchases at Cordial’s store before leaving and dropping it all off at my apartment. After that I thought of where I could change disguises so I could safely look for that mare. 

It’s not like trying to find the spots that she was hanging out at was more dangerous than actually meeting with her. Even if she was at one of the places at the same time as me, I’d know that she’s there far before she would know that I’m there even if she was an infiltrator.

After thinking for several minutes, it turned out that I didn’t know any good places in the city, so I decided that somewhere close to the city was best. Besides pegisi, not many ponies at all travel off the roads into the city and there was plenty of spots that weren’t in view of them. Not only that but ponies would notice my persona walking into the city, giving it the alibi of a visitor.

After finding a cave entrance far enough away from the roads, I changed into a Trottingham unicorn mare I made up by the name of Neon Dancer, who had a pink coat, white mane and tail, and a glow stick cutie mark. I then climbed back to one of the more empty roads and entered back into the city.

From there I started searching for the mare by visiting restaurants and food stores, because even if she was a changeling she’d have to still eat food every day to look like a normal pony. I went through a few places before finding one called Omelette Au Fromage.

Practically bouncing in with joy, I noticed that it was a fancier place where they only served breakfast and lunch, and closed a few hours before dinner. A waiter came up to me and asked, “Just one?”

“No, just looking for somepony," I said a bit fast, then hoofed her a picture of the mystery mare. “Have ya seen her?”

The waiter hummed in thought then told me, “I believe I have, though the pony that waited their table isn’t here today. Why do you need to find her?”

“I’m trying find her so I can help her with a major problem, but she never gave me her address or told me to meet her anywhere, and she does odd jobs so it’s going to be hard to find her.”

I could sense that my oddly upbeat attitude of my made up situation was a little weird to him, but that didn’t stop him from continuing the conversation. “It was little over a week ago that she came here with a few other ponies, but that is all I know.”

“Alright, bye-bye!" I suddenly told him, and immediately rushed out. Yes, her awkward exits meant that she was more memorable, and memorable was something that infiltrators usually tried to avoid. Though, again, my shape-shifting’s difference compared to any other changeling saves me the typical nuisance of avoiding the dispel.

The next place of note was another restaurant called The Mystic Scent. Rushing in, I caught the smell of fish and a lot of hot spices. It was enough that I’d think some ponies wouldn’t be able to stand being there for more than five minutes without feeling like Tatarus it’s self was leaking out from the kitchen. Though my sense of smell was questionably bad, so I would have no problem if I was going to end up stuck there for several hours.

It was one of the places where you helped yourself to a table, but I wasn’t looking to eat so I speed up to the register. 

The mare behind it said, “Hello! You can take a seat and we’ll be happy to serve you shortly.”

“I’m not actually here to get food," I told her with a smile.

“Oh? Then what do you need?" she sweetly asked.

As I hoofed her the picture of the mystery mare I asked her, “Do you know anything about this pony? I need to find her really soon, but she never gave me her new address or a place to meet so I can’t help her until I find her.”

She took a good look at the picture and grew a bit confused, then mentioned, “She’s been here a few times in the past two weeks, sometimes with friends. But why would you not have her address? Didn’t she send a letter?”

That was a good question and I wasn’t prepared for it, but it was easy to make up an answer to. “I don’t live in this city so I had to get her message by letter, but she didn’t put down a return address.”

“As far as I remember, she never gave any hints on where she lived," she said while rubbing her chin in thought, though I sensed that her confusion remained.

I took a few quick glaces around the place, hoping that it would help me think of a solution, then asked, “What about any of her friend’s addresses? I could try getting her’s from one of them if I could find them.”

If it came to it I really would try to find one of her friends for help, but that wasn’t ideal for a primary method. It would be another pony to deal with and I’d gain far more obligations from them than restaurant staff. Not keeping up with those obligations would be a disaster for both my cover and the mystery mare’s odd secrecy.

The waitress said, “I don’t believe that any of her friends gave any easy hints on their home’s locations. The light blue coated one mentioned loud construction noise at night, but that might not even be going on anymore. Sorry that I’m not much of a help.”

My smile remained as I told her, “It’s fine.”

She raised an eyebrow a bit at that. “You seem oddly happy for being in this dilemma.”

I responded with, “Well, when you’re chewing on life’s gristle, don’t grumble. Give a whistle!" then proceeded to literally skip out of the place while humming and whistling a tune. Once I was a block away, I stopped doing it and decided to head to one of the food markets.

My final noteworthy location turned out to be at the market not far from the castle. The particular stall I visited had delicious looking cherries and a few other fruits for sale, but despite the mare running it looking happy, I sensed that she was bummed out about something. 

Upon coming up to the stall she said, “Hey! Looking to buy some fruit? My cherries are the best out of everything I have!”

“I’m actually looking for a pony," I told her.

She gave me a slightly confused look and said “You know that’s what nightclubs are for, right?”

“What?”

She let her facade go a bit, “Sorry, sorry. My stallionfriend just- never mind. You came here to buy fruit, not hear about my problems.”

I put on a serious face and said, “No! You said something about a nightclub! I have to know what this is about!”

“Are you sure you want to know?”

“Yes. You’re even so distracted by whatever it is that you forgot that I was looking for a pony, not fruit.”

She sighed. “Okay, fine… My stallionfriend’s been going to nightclubs recently without telling me and I’ve been worried that he’s trying to pick up other mares.”

I didn’t quite expect that. “Jeez. Maybe he feels like the relationship is getting stale. You should offer to go with him to a club! Maybe skydiving, or bungee jumping!”

She wasn’t convinced that was the problem, and she seemed to have an aversion to the last two suggestions. “And if he’s been seeing other mares?”

I gave her a smile and said, “Then you should totally dump his flank for somepony more loyal!”

She gave me this strange look. “You’re… oddly cheery about giving that last advice.”

I continued to smile as I explained. “Why not? If you figure it out now and it turns out that he’s doing what you feared, you’re just getting it over with sooner! Even if he isn’t doing it, you’d be putting your worries to rest sooner as well!”

She gave me a look that seemed to suggest she heard that before, though she was still considering it. “My friends keep saying that same thing. Maybe their right.” She gave me a lighthearted smile. “Thanks.”

“No problem.”

She seemed a bit happier by now, but still nervous about it. “So what was that about looking for a pony?”

“Oh," I hoofed her the picture as I said, “She’s a friend of mine and I’ve been trying to get to her to help her with something important since yesterday when she sent me a letter with no return address. She recently moved, does odd jobs, and didn’t give me a meeting spot, so I have no idea where and when to meet her.”

She stared at her fruit in thought then said “She bought something at my stall a few days ago, but I don’t remember ever hearing anything about where she goes on a regular basis. Sorry.”

“Did any of her friends say anything useful?”

Her face lit up a bit with realization. “She did have a friend with her. The only useful thing she mentioned was that she goes to Celestia’s School For Gifted Unicorns.”

“Thanks and try not to explode!" I exclaimed, and left her there confused.

It was getting late by then, so I started back home. While on my way I couldn’t help but think on who the mystery mare was. She may have been new to Canterlot or she could have been a changeling, but both would mean that she’d be harder to find. I didn’t want to risk going to the castle to get her address either. The less everyone knew about what I was trying to do, the better.
> Chapter 8: Hubris
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

After six more weeks of working on the metamorphic shape-shifting spell, I heard some news that I’d never expect in my lifetime.

Twilight Sparkle is now a princess and her coronation is planned for only a few days later!

I knew at that moment that the spell needed to be complete by then. I was not going to miss something as amazing as that! So I spent the next few days working harder than I ever did on the spell, but there were still a few problems that I had yet to solve. That’s when someone unexpected made their appearance, though unexpected was the name of his game.

I was trying to fix the last problems in the spell during the last several hours before her coronation, when something behind me made a sudden bright flash. I immediately turned to see Discord of all creatures standing next to a chimney that I knew didn’t exist a few seconds ago. He was wearing a black coat with an orange knitted scarf, white gloves, a hat with a few daises on it, and carrying an open black umbrella.

“Oh, hello Shape! I’ve been watching you for a while now and noticed that you could use some help!" was the first thing he said.

I responded with a slightly confused and suspicious expression. “Why are you suddenly interested in me? I don’t do the kind of chaos that you find entertaining.”

“On the contrary, my friend, you know what they say about life," he said as he took both his eyes out then opened his hands to reveal lemons. He then put his hand in an empty eye socket and pulled out a glass, then squeezed the lemons. Seeing as this was Discord, I wasn’t surprised that the lemon’s juice was colored purple.

“You look thirsty," he said as he offered me the cup of juice. “Grape juice?”

In a deadpan tone I said, “No thanks.”

Discord shrugged. “Very well. But let’s get to business. I know you’ve been practicing changeling infiltration and working on that metamorphic spell of yours.” In a flash of light he got rid of the getup, swapped to Twilight’s colors and gave himself her mane style. “You do want to see Twilight’s coronation, correct?” And apparently her voice as well.

My expression told him ‘yes’, so he continued with, “I could give you what you need to fix all it’s remaining problems. All you’d owe me is one favor.”

So seeing as he wasn’t to be trusted with explaining everything up front, I asked, “What kind of favor?”

Discord hummed in thought for several seconds, and I went back to working. Though he soon snapped his fingers and changed to his normal self, which got my attention.  He shrugged, and said, “I can’t think of anything yet.”

So I told him, “It can’t involve wounding, killing, emotional scaring, or betraying anybody or thing I care about.”

He then decided to change into a samurai griffin wielding a sword with a black and gold hilt design. Though he looked at the sword for a second and casually threw it behind him, cutting a set of armor that wasn’t there before right in half, long ways, as if it was just a cheep nightmare night costume.

Right after he threw the sword he made a sad dramatic pose and told me, “I’m a offended that you’d think I’d ask for such a thing! I thought that my reform meant something!”

I didn’t completely trust him with this deal, but I still sternly said, “I accept the deal as long as what I said is off limits.”

Discord stopped his dramatic posing to say, “Straight to the point, eh? A deal it is then!" and materialized a large pile of parchment filled with notes onto my desk with a smile. “It wasn’t easy finding all of this, so put it to good use!”

Before I could say anything else, he flashed out of my house. So I decided to take a quick look through everything he gave me to make sure that it all at least seemed to make sense, and once I was done I started using it. With them, it didn’t take too long before I was done. The notes even drastically helped with the spell’s moderate energy efficiency problem!

After that, I had a few hours before the coronation, but I left two hours before it started so I could get a good seat. 

What? Seeing a princess coronation is a once in several lifetimes opportunity! I wasn’t going to waste it by sitting in one of the farther, more obscuring spots!

Anyways, once I took the time to change disguises in one of the crystal mine’s entrances and activated my detection spell, I traveled to the castle. Upon arriving at the entrance, the unicorn Guard had to cast the disguise dispel on me before letting me enter. As usual, the dispel did nothing and she let me pass so I could find a prime spot to wait at.

It was no surprise to me that there were already a few ponies who also took a spot for the event. The airspace was about as clear as I expected, so I took a spot on one of the pre-placed clouds and read a novel for the time being. About an hour before the event, the place was already starting to get packed and by then my detection spell also picked up three changelings.

I kept an eye on them during the event, though I was too far away from them to pick up their emotions with my sixth sense. The crowd’s emotions were too much for me to sift through, so I decided to wait until after the event to analyze them.

The event it’s self was amazing. After Celestia gave us her speech, Twilight Sparkle came out onto the balcony. She wore an amazing dress and gave a heart melting speech that included getting her five best friends out there with her to thank them. I wasn’t sure if it was me getting the crowd’s emotions confused with my own, but I teared up when he friends appeared and cheered with the crowd.

They then went down the event area singing, but for some reason Twilight and her friends decided that it would be fun to gallop up to one of the tallest points of the castle afterward and have her fly off while finishing their song. I had no idea how they got her to fly already cause it wasn’t viewable from the event area. It could have been anything from a spell to a catapult. I also wondered if the Guard was annoyed that she did that without learning how to properly fly first.

I’ll admit that I probably should have payed a bit more attention to the disguised changelings, but I felt like seeing as much of the coronation as possible was more important. They obviously weren’t assassins, but I didn’t want them to slip out while I wasn’t looking. Luckily that wasn’t the case by the time the event was over, so I started following them.

I kept myself grounded while everybody was leaving, as my detection spell’s range wasn’t far enough to detect them from a typical cloud altitude, and without it I’d lose them in the crowd. Once the crowd was dispersed enough, I made sure to be on the other side of the road, then concentrated on analyzing their emotions.

They had the same telltale signs as the other infiltrators from the Crystal Empire. They looked like they might have been keeping an eye on each other, and their emotions towards each other confirmed that. Their emotions also confirmed the fact that each of the three felt that the other two were comrades in the strict and unique way a hive changeling would describe the word.

With that established, I casually flew up to land on a cloud and started watching them from there. I constantly but slowly moved it towards their general direction without changing altitude so they wouldn’t be as likely to notice it practically following them, and I kept watching them for a while.

The infiltrators went to get some tools such as a two-pony saw and an axe from a house, presumably one that one of their persona’s owned. After that, they left the city, went down one of the mountain’s pathways, then towards one of the closer forests. 

Upon hearing what sounded like ponies chopping trees, I decided to burrow into the cloud so I could discretely change into a unicorn then cast an invisibility spell. This way, when I slowly moved closer to them they still wouldn’t be likely to notice anything, especially with the forest being a bit dense. Overall I could see them clearly enough and confirmed that they were doing some lumberjacking.

It was here that I decided to make my first move, which had to be a surprise. I had one particular move in mind that I wally wanted to try. I knew that I’d rarely use it because the best moves for me would almost always be stealthy and I didn’t want to cause property damage. But in this case, there was no chance of it. I also had a good enough chance of knocking out out all three of the infiltrators with this move before they’d notice me in time, because of the forest’s trees, the infiltrators’ distance from each other, and how unlikely it was that my well past noon shadow would be seen if I actively avoided it.

Overall I was delighted to finally try it, but I was also a bit nervous about it. Despite the latter, I decided to use it. So first I changed back into a pegasus then performed a nonchalant fly-by a bit above the treeline to be sure that I had their exact location and didn’t get them mixed up with anybody else. Upon finishing that, I flew to a suitable cloud and changed disguises after doing some burrowing again.

While I was flying my heavy, muscular self to the highest clouds to finally begin, I took a few seconds to recall what I’ve read about the technique for a pegasus to achieve the most speed possible. I’ve practiced it some by then, though I knew I was no Rainbow Dash. Nevertheless, once I was high enough I started my downward descent.

Even with the fact that I had wings at that moment and that I was highly unlikely to get injured doing it right no matter how fast I ended up going, I couldn’t help but worry about the sheer speed I was accumulating and my altitude. My heart was pounding, there was a stone in my stomach. Yet at the same time I had a feeling of exhilaration in my chest and it only grew as I descended! Upon getting close to ground level and casting the changeling dive bomb spell, the exhilaration surprisingly outgrew my worry.

Yet the infiltrators below had only time to react, as even the most sharp of the group had only a second or less. They ended up diving out of the way as I quickly shifted into a changeling build with thick, dense chitin, which impacted the ground with enough force to practically cause an earth shattering explosion. 

Within a few seconds, in a moderately impressive crater, I stood up and quickly scanned the area with the detection spell. I noticed that I had completely buried two of them in dirt and that one of those two were unconscious, yet I couldn’t find the third.

Though that mystery was soon answered for me, as the third one’s forelegs came up and took hold of my hind legs. I instinctively reacted by taking his forelegs in my magic, pulling him out as easily as an adult dragon, then throwing him at a tree with equal ease. Remembering that at least one of the other buried ones were still conscious, I quickly took a look at the other two to see that one had just breached the ground’s surface.

I started for him while his horn was already charged for an attack, and while I tried to dodge it, I failed and took a moderate crack in my right foreleg chitin. Yet with no more than a slight trip, I was fast enough to get in range and pull the changeling out of the dirt. Having one of them restricted in my magic, I turned to check on the one I threw at a tree, who turned out to have gotten up and started casting what looked like a fire-portal spell. So I rushed to him with a slight hobble, while keeping the one in my magic facing away from me so he wouldn’t be able to hit me with projectile spells as easily. Getting within range of him, I took his head in my magic and buried it in the dirt to both keep him from casting any offensive spells and completing the fire-portal.

After casting the disguise dispel and interrogation stun on the two, I distorted my voice as I did with the infiltrators in the Crystal Empire. Interrogation preparations completed, I pulled the one with his head in the dirt out and propped the two upright against a tree, saying to both of them “If you cast any spells at all, you’re going to get a strike on the horn.”

As I sat down in front of them they just cowered in fake fear, though I took it as acknowledgment and they knew it, so I continued. “I am looking for a specific changeling of the hive that crashed into an apartment near the start of the Canterlot invasion. He likely saw a pony with mostly winter colors. Do you know of any such changeling?”

After a few seconds of more fake, yet impressively convincing fear from the two infiltrators, I added “And you can stop with the innocent cowering act," which they did.

Though the first one to say anything told me, “I'd rather die than tell you anything about any hive member, you freak," in a cold tone. From their emotions, I was sure that they didn’t know anything about it, but it didn’t hurt to try a bit harder.

I clarified with, “While I do not plan on killing you, I could spare you the humiliating fate of being turned in to the Guard by a mere infiltrator who has not even had half a year of training.”

The other infiltrator responded with, “As if you’re just going to let us leave.”

“I never said that," I told them. “You would go back to the hive sometime soon.”

Amusement grew on the first infiltrator’s face and he told me, “You’d have to do a lot more than that for us to even tell you how long we’ve been infiltrators.”

At this point I decided to move on to something else, at least for the time being, so I laid down on my side. “It would be interesting to know the history of why the hive's been keeping it's self secluded for so long.”

“You don’t need to know that," the first changeling sneered.

His response didn’t change my pondering expression as I told them, “I am not necessarily looking for an answer from you two. But where to begin? Let us start with the root of your problems. Most of you do not think for yourselves enough.”

The second changeling became irritated by that, but he didn’t show it as he responded. “We do. We can perfectly blend into pony society.”

“And yet all hive changelings believe the same thing about ponies,” I reminded them. “Who taught you those beliefs? Your government, and knowing how it works, Chrysalis. It is no surprise that when Chrysalis is wrong, it is dangerous for a hive changeling such as you two to be right. But as infiltrators, you should know from even before living among ponies that the art of progress is to preserve order amid change and preserve change amid order.” I raised an eyebrow as I asked “Can you claim that the hive has had any progress in the past months?”

“You’re not tricking us into giving away hive secrets," the first infiltrator remarked. 

Despite their refusal to talk about the hive at all, I could tell that they had doubts about the hive. I had planted a small seed in them and I decided to keep feeding it.

“Chrysalis has only tried to keep order, with no room for change and very little individuality. So because of that, she is making peaceful revolution impossible, which can only lead to an undesirably violent revolution. This is why changelings are starting to leave the hive, and are no longer comfortable with the direction Chrysalis is taking it.”

The second infiltrator cut in with, “Those traitors can’t live like a real changeling because they’re weak. They’ve been lured and trapped into pony society by everything that makes them lazy and soft!”

I countered with, “But did you forget who keeps telling you that? Who is it that keeps the hive from believing anything else? Nearly all hive changelings believe the same things, because everything else is considered heresy by Chrysalis. This stops anyone from getting further than anyone else, because no one in the hive walks their own path to discover things no other changeling has discovered before that would benefit the hive. When was the last time anybody but Chrysalis decided to do something significantly different for any reason other than necessity?”

“Progress only matters when it’s necessary," the second infiltrator retorted with a look of faltering scrutiny. They were trying to change the subject, but it wouldn’t help them. I had the creativity and philosophical mindset to bring the subject back and use their retorts conversational momentum against them, like I was a master of verbal Aikido.

“And yet more of your hive will continue to leave with every passing day because that is true. They are not just leaving because Chrysalis refuses to accept any new way, or out of lack of change. They do it because they know that everything she is accepting is leading to the hive’s self destruction and that they strive to be everything that leads to the hive’s salvation. They are doing it because they know what progress is necessary. If you think any of this is a lie, then waltz right on into Equestria as a changeling.”

By then I could start to see a tiny bit of doubt in their faces, though I knew how much they actually had was moderate. So it was no surprise when the second infiltrator cautiously and doubtfully asked, “How would one even do that in a preferable way?”

I decided that leaving them with unanswered questions would only grow the doubt I put in them. So my response to the question was to get up while charging a spell and say, “That, my dear infiltrator, is one of the right questions," then cast a full stun on them both.

“Just like the infiltrator ice pops, I’ll settle on you two delivering a message to the hive," I told them, as I started making the cocoons. I knew the joke was bad. In fact, I did it just to irritate them.

After completing the cocoon I crafted my usual resin slab messages, which included "You are running on empty, running blind" and "You are slaves to the pink gold because of your queen." I then stuck one to each of the infiltrators’ backs, put them in the cocoons, then buried the cocoons just enough to have a small portion of them above ground.

Upon transforming into a pegasus, my chitin injury translated into a small bone fracture, so before flying off I applied a local anesthetic spell to it. It wouldn’t take too long to heal seeing as my body had a new innate healing magic that came from the transformation potion incident. It was only about one third as fast as the average changeling’s, but it was a bit more efficient with it’s emotion energy consumption. Hopefully it would be fast enough to heal to the point that I could hide it before seeing Modus or Blitz again.

After a few minutes of flying away, I realized that I forgot about the third infiltrator, who was probably still unconscious. Though I decided that it wouldn’t matter much, as it would be better to let that one wake up to discover his fellow changelings in their current state.

~~~~~~

After going straight home I went to work on the usual potions and spell research, and a few hours after twilight someone rang the doorbell. I didn’t expect anyone to come by at that time, so I started my detection spell to see that it was a disguised changeling. From the spell’s silhouette it didn’t look like anypony that I knew, and I remained cautious when I answered the door.

Upon opening it I was met with a unicorn mare that had a purple coat, light blue eyes, moderately messy pink mane, and a sideways picture frame cutie mark. I had a decent skill in recognizing ponies that I hadn’t seen in years, yet even without the cutie mark I knew who it was likely supposed to be. I was surprised that an infiltrator would try this on me already, and I was also sure that I wasn’t giving off quite as much surprise as I should have to keep my cover from him.

“Crooked Gallery?" I breathlessly asked.

The changeling awkwardly answered with “I’m not surprised you recognize me. Can I come in?”

I put on a small smile. “Yeah, sure.”

But once he was in and the door closed, my expression turned intense as I took a hold of the changeling in his entirety with my magic and dispelled the disguise. 

While I took him upstairs, I started interrogating him with, “Who are you and why are you using a disguise that’s obviously a grown up version of a marefriend I once had?”

The changeling responded with some fear, sadness, a lot of surprise, but no words until I arrived at my bedroom’s doorway. “You’re a vir-”

“And how would you know?" I demanded before he could finish.

He cautiously responded with “Because you told me… several years ago” as we both lingered in the doorway.

I wasn’t willing to believe what he was implying, so I finished entering my room and asked him “Who was the only pony that had ever punched me in the crotch in my last few school years?”

The changeling raised an eyebrow and asked “Why ask something like that?”

“Because it’s almost completely useless info for one infiltrator to pass on to another.”

This seemed like a good enough answer for him, and he answered my question with “Your loveable scoundrel friend with the white coat and grey-blue mane.”

The only marefriend I ever had was a changeling the entire time.

I never expected nor prepared for that in any way. I was surprised and confused, fearful and a little sad. So I let him go from my magic and went to the window to pretend that it’s view was more important.

Despite that, I managed to ask “What was the real reason you left?”

Crooked Gallery felt ashamed to have to tell me, but he did. “I was an infiltrator in training. I was assigned to be somepony’s marefriend for at least half a year, and I faked my attraction and affection towards you. But as an infiltrator I grew too confident. After being with you for a few weeks I thought that finding a genuine pony and changeling-like appreciation for any given pony would help me immensely with blending in. It helped, but I didn’t notice that I was doing it too much until I realized that many of the feelings I had for you slowly changed from fake to real.”

“At that point I decided that I had to leave before I became too attached, so I did. While back at the hive I slowly started feeling more and more awful for some reason and I didn’t know why. I realized after a year that I was feeling sad and regretful about it, and I tried to just deal with it for several more months until I couldn’t take it anymore. I had to find you.”

Despite being a mess of emotions that neither I nor Gallery could read, he still continued and I still felt compelled to listen for reasons I was unsure of. “I severed all communications with the hive and searched for a few years with no luck. By then I was regretting my choice and I gave up, until I heard about Twilight’s ascension. After attending the coronation, my determination to find you was renewed and I began again. Changelings being known to ponies made it much easier to find you. You were accused several times of being one for all the reasons you probably already know.”

By then I had turned my head to look right at Gallery, though my only question at the moment was, “What’s your real name?”

“Hamartia," he answered. A moment of silence followed, during which he could sense my interest, so he elaborated. “After my… failure as an infiltrator they changed my name to that. Some also called me Hubris. The hive saw my growing empathy for ponies as weak and saw it fitting. They said that they’d never even let me be a guard and reassigned me to a digging team.”

He was starting to tear up a bit and stopped looking at me. I could tell he was genuine about everything as he continued. “I’m just… I’m so sorry for leaving you like I did. I don’t expect you to forgive me, if ever.”

I wordlessly gave him my sympathies and told him “It doesn’t matter," though it confused him.

He looked back at me again. “But why are you… such a mess to read?”

I took several seconds to try and put it the right way and ended up with “It’s the way I think about who I want and should to be with.”

“Is it because I’m a changeling?” Hamartia asked. He was terrified of what I would say to that, and who could blame him? I used to hate everything with chitin.

I told him, “No, I’m used to changelings by now," with a small smile, though Hamartia was still confused. My smile faded as I said, “I don’t care what species you are, but… I think I care about the gender.”

His confusion grew at that, and he became a bit sad and fearful again. Though he still managed to take a few steps towards me and say “I just wanted to apologize. I didn’t think you and I would get back together again…”

“I’m not sure if I’d want that," I said.

He was moderately surprised at the implication so he asked “Why are you still considering it?”

“If you want it, I’m willing to consider trying it.”

At this, Hamartia got right behind me and hugged me. I was startled and jumped at it a bit. He didn’t let go, but I quickly relaxed and a few seconds later my eyes were closed and he was petting my mane. At this point I closed the window blinds.

I would say that it was just like a few years ago, but his chitin made it feel so much different. Yet at the same time, everything that I knew he felt for me was still there from when I was in school because of the way he hugged me, more clear than ever.

And it made me tear up more than he thought.

“A few years later and you still care too much about what other ponies think, but you’re still just as forgiving," Hamartia mentioned.

“Yeah," was the only thing I could say to that.

“It’s nice, but I don’t care much about getting back together.”

I didn’t exactly know how long we stayed like that for, but I was sure it wasn’t more than a minute.

“Lier," I suddenly but softly told him.

Despite all the infiltrator training he had, he couldn’t hide the fact that he had many of the same feelings as I did for the time we spent together. At the time we were both the closest we had ever been to someone.

Hamartia stopped petting me and rested his chin on my shoulders, telling me “I don’t expect you to believe me so often or even trust me after being the kind of first marefriend that plays with her stallion’s emotions.”

He got it all wrong. “No, it’s… I might as well tell you a recent secret.”

“You’re a changeling?" he asked.

I turned my head and he got his off my shoulders to look at my face. In a serious tone I said, “You have to Pinkie Promise not to tell anyone without asking me first.”

He quickly gained a serious composure and wordlessly did all the motions involved in said promise ritual.

“I was there when the changelings attacked Canterlot," I told him. “I don’t remember what happened after I noticed it happening through my window, but I woke up to being half changeling the next day.”

Hamartia froze in sympathetic horror.

“It was in the middle of me working on the potion I always said I’d make one day. I should have been more careful with it.”

Hamartia managed to say “I don’t think it’s your fault. You were the kind of pony that was always been careful when you needed to be.”

I smiled a bit a that. “I still am. But sometimes I feel like it is.”

“Well, actually, what do you call yourself? What do you call half changelings?" he asked with much interest.

“I call myself a half-ling," I simply stated.

“Can I see what you look like now?”

“I probably shouldn’t," I told him in a moderately serious tone. “You might get in danger if I do. Just knowing what I am is bad enough right now.”

“I think you’re overreacting a bit, Shape," he said with an encouraging smile.

“The hive is probably trying to find me out for messing with them. They’d come for you if they found out that you knew my secret.”

Hamartia was in complete shock. I told him, “Everyone that knew me before the Canterlot attack would react similarly to me telling them that I’m trying to be a hero. Some already have.”

He then managed to ask, “You already told some ponies? What did you do to the hive to make yourself one of their main priorities?”

“I really shouldn’t tell you any more than I already have," I seriously told him.

Just then, Frost wandered into the room. Hamartia stared at him as he went to me and bunted my cheek while purring.

“Okay, you can’t really be Shapeshift," Hamartia said.

I gave an amused snort at that, and Hamartia asked, “Is he this friendly with everypony?”

“Pretty much with everybody," I said. “Even if he’s annoyed.”

So Hamartia decided, with some reluctance, to let Frost sniff his hoof. Frost did so then started looking at the window shades, probably wondering what was currently on the other side. Hamartia took it as an invitation to touch him, so he started petting him.

“I didn’t think you could find a friendly cat this big," he thought out loud.

“I raised him to be like that after I spotted him at Fluttershy’s cottage," I explained as we both pet him.

Hamartia gave me a smile as he said, “Fluttershy. That explains a lot. I didn’t know you wanted a cat the size of yourself.”

“I didn’t know until I met him," I responded, as Frost bunted my cheek again.

“Do you have to let him outside every once in a while?”

“I bring him to a park at least once a week.”

“You probably get a lot of questions about him," Hamartia wondered. “Have you used it as an opportunity to pick up mares?”

“I haven’t dated anybody since you left," was my response, which concerned him. “I decided to focus more on my studies, then on starting a carrier and getting my life in decent order. But the half-ling thing happened pretty much right after that and I’m trying to… figure that out before dating again.”

Hamartia praised me with, “I think it’s good that you’re trying to keep your priorities straight.” He then grew a bit nervous. “We… can at least be friends for now, right?”

I gave another small smile. “I’d like that, but…”

He sighed and told me, “It can’t be too dangerous," in a reassuring smile.

“You’re an ex-infiltrator. You knew something was up with me before I even told you. If the hive suspected me, they’d find out who my friends are and try to use them. That would include you. If you aren’t at least in a disguise to hide your identity from them and my other friends, they’d attempt to interrogate you before asking anyone else because they’d know how likely it is for you to have more info on me than my other friends would combined.”

“Have you been getting some kind of infiltrator training?" he asked.

Though I ignored the question and continued.

“Just use some kind of disguise and try not to be seen with me too often until my problem with the hive is over for the most part.”

Hamartia stopped petting Frost and gave me a serious look “Shape, I’ve kept my infiltration skills sharp after leaving the hive. If I got tangled up in your trouble I’d be able to handle it well enough. Which reminds me, how did you find out so quickly that I was a changeling?”

After letting out a sigh of slight irritation, I told him “That’s a secret as well. Can you stop asking about the dangerous side of me?”

Though he kept pushing. “But why can’t you give that information to the Guard? However you’re doing it, it’s something they could really use!”

“I don’t quite think the Guard should know it yet.”

“But it would make it a snap to find every changeling in Equestria!" he almost begged.

“It would also be a privacy concern.”

It was Hamartia’s turn to sigh. “Fine, fine… I should be heading out anyways.” He gave me a small smile and said “It was nice doing some catching up with you, even if we’re both messes right now.”

I could sense that he was trying to be humorous, so I returned his smile. He then hoofed me a paper which had his address on it. 

“In case you ever want or need it," he told me, before trying to put his Gallery disguise back on. “I, uh… the dispel is keeping me from using my disguises. I’ll just fire-portal out.”

He started on the spell, but stopped after a second and asked me, “Can we catch up some more later on? Maybe about more bright topics?”

“I go to a bar called ‘The Fairly Odd Pub’ with my friends not long after sunset every weekend. Just go disguised for everyone’s safety," I said.

Hamartia cheerfully said, “I’m fine with that," then we said our goodbyes and Hamartia left by fire-portal.

Though while I was working on my changeling capturing arsenal of spells a few minutes later, I realized that we didn’t agree on what disguise he was going to use. I wasn’t going to find it any fun to figure out if the mystery pony that was going to join our group was Hamartia or not.

Upon going to bed, Frost laid next to me as usual, so I pet his belly while thinking.

Hamartia says that he doesn't care about dating me anymore, but I could sense some love from him, directed at me. Maybe he doesn't want me to worry about it, or he's embarrassed about it? No, I didn't sense any embarrassment, but I did sense care and some worry. Maybe he doesn't know that he still loves me, and he's confused about his emotions towards me right now. If he is, I can't blame him. I'm about as confused as he is.

If he cares and worries about me enough, to not want me worrying about choosing whether or not to date him again, then maybe I had a bit more influence on his change than I thought. Either way, he still loves me a little. I feel like I could still love him, yet I'm sure I don't bat for that team. I also feel a bit obligated to try it because of our past, but it would probably end up with one of us changing to the other gender at times. I wouldn't want that because that would make one of us look shallow no matter if it was me or him, and the other would feel disappointed or inadequate. How could I possibly approach this in a way that would work out for the best?

This makes me wonder how many more changelings in disguise I've befriended, too...

Upon falling asleep, I had the Boulevard Dream again yet I still couldn’t figure it out. I knew it was important, not just because it obviously had to do with how I was feeling recently, but also because it was reoccurring. My mind could have even been warning me of something. 

Though I put those thoughts aside after I got out of bed to head right over to Cordial’s store. Upon entering it, he was dealing with a customer that wanted to return a product for some reason or another. I decided to just browse out of boredom while waiting for them to be done with the exchange, and a few minutes later I came back to him.

The stallion was gone, so I told him, “Hey Cordial. Remember that one thing I wanted to hold off on?”

It took him just a few seconds to remember what I was referring to and he confirmed, so he led me into his office.

Upon closing the door, I hoofed him the bits and the message for the pony or changeling, which said that I’d be at a specific park at noon to one every Sunday and to look for a mare with a purple coat and black mane.

“I actually asked around in the gray market for changelings that would deliver the message upon meeting the mare, and the average price was about what I told you," Cordial mentioned. “You sure you want to spend this much on a message? You can trust the couriers, but I still feel like there’s a better way to do this.”

His questioning of what I was doing and getting into was getting a bit irritating again. “Yeah, I’m sure. You should know by now that I’m also using other methods to contact her as soon as I can. I’m still looking around for her myself.”

I could see and, to a lesser extent, sense that he was going to say something about that, but he decided against it. Instead he simply told me, “I’ll have it delivered to the changelings as soon as I see any of them.”

“Alright. Do you still remember that mare’s voice and accent? I might need a description of that as well. Also, anything about the way she acts would help too.”

“From what I remember, her voice was quiet but aggressive while her demeanor was about the same. She was overall gothic and likely a bit sadistic.”

I said, “Thanks. I’ve got nothing else so I’ll see you later," then left the office and went back home.
> Chapter 9: Thinking Like An Infiltrator
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Another week later I finally had a major breakthrough in the progress of how my changeling magic detection needed to function to pick up on all said magic. I was able to isolate some patterns that were exclusive to changeling magic and find a method to detect them using spells and nothing else. 

I learned from Act at the beginning of infiltrator training that changeling resin had magical features, so I specifically tested the stuff with the spell. It turned out that it was detectable with the new addition, so I was able to detect potential fillynappings by hive infiltrators!

Unfortunately, Hamartia hadn’t met my friends and I at the bar yet, so I was a bit let down by that. I was also feeling the same about the first time I waited in the park for the mystery mare. I wasn’t expecting her to be there the first time, but I was hoping on it. So at opportune times I thought about how to go about finding her on my own in a more efficient manner.

I eventually decided on something that I thought was pretty clever. Though, as usual, my method would have too much risk if tried with a standard changeling shape-shifting spell. I personally wouldn’t even use my first modified shape-shifting spell.

To start, I went through my usual daytime disguise changing routine, opting to make  the disguise the exact same mare I was looking for. I also started my detection spell in case I ran into a hive changeling. Because it was in the middle of the week and right after lunch time for most ponies, I went to wander around one of the markets. After about a half hour, no one who knew the mare came up to me so I proceeded to think up another good location to wander around. After about an hour, someone who knew the mystery mare came up to me looking a bit surprised and confused.

“Hey Metrion! I thought you had class at three thirty today.”

I turned to see a muscular mare hauling a cart of crates that contained weapons, as their labels suggested.

“Yeah, well the professor canceled class for the day because he was sick," I said in a slightly irate manner.

The mare let out an amused snort. “I always find it funny when a biology teacher gets sick. Obviously not when they contract something truly terrible. Oh! Once I’m done with moving these to the Guard supplies, we can go bungee jumping! An hour and a half is definitely enough time for it!" she said, completely oblivious to my tone.

“No.”

“Oh, come on! It’ll be fun! There might be some first timers you can laugh at even if you don’t like it yourself.”

I unenthusiastically responded with, “I doubt there would be very many.”

I need to lead her into telling me which biology class it exactly is. I still have too much trouble with this kind of info extraction.

“Yeah, well you still need to get out more. And going to your classes doesn’t count.”

“Who are you? My mom?”

She rolled her eyes and said, “If I have to be. How’s school, dear daughter? I hope you haven’t accidentally opened up another portal to a nightmare dimension.”

I knew she was going to probably make jokes about the mystery mare again and that biology was ripe with embarrassing joke opportunities. So ignoring the last part of what she said, I told her, “I’m going to go study. Bye," in a deadpan tone and walked right away.

The last thing I heard the mystery mare’s friend say was, “Have fun looking at pictures of stallion bits!”

Despite all my infiltrator training so far, I couldn’t help but blush at that, though it didn’t matter much because she couldn’t see it nor would I expect it to be out of character for the mare I was pretending to be.

Considering the mystery mare’s age, she’d be highly unlikely to need an introductory biology course of any type. So her class is probably on the pony body it’s self and only has a bit of info on other associated things here and there.

So I left the city to change into a different unicorn mare with a brown coat, blond mane, and a fly swatter cutie mark. I then headed over to Celestia’s School and grabbed a course schedule book to look through. It turned out to have all class listings and schedules for the current year, which was good because the next semester was listed as well as the current.

I looked through all the pony biology class schedules and quickly found the correct one, which I headed off to. Upon arriving at the class’s door, I took a glance inside and noticed that my mystery mare was highlighted by my detection spell. Sitting down near the door, I waited for the mare’s class to be over.

I was still wondering what a disguised changeling would want me to do for them. I didn’t know whether or not he was still with the hive, so it could have been anything. Did he need help looking for another changeling? Did the somebody that he knew supposedly get abducted by the hive? One thing was for sure: if he wanted my help for revenge of some kind he would have little to no chance of me having anything to do with it, let alone killing anybody.

Eventually the classroom door opened and students started coming out. The disguised changeling soon came into the hallway and I approached him, saying, “Excuse me, you’re the mare with the pest problem, right? I was told that you needed a specialist.” I also made sure to let him know that I knew that he wasn’t who he appeared to be through emotion alone, so no one would suspect a thing.

He seemed to catch on because he was surprised but also a bit suspicious about me, though he didn’t show it much and said, “Yeah. But I’d like to talk about this in private. Let’s go to the music practice hall.”

I knew that every music hall room was designed to be soundproof, so I agreed. While heading over there I took note that her demeanor wasn’t far off at all from Cordial’s description, as vague as it was for infiltration. 

Once we arrived at the music practice hall, we entered one of the small rooms meant for single ponies to practice in. It was just big enough for two ponies to comfortably fit in, which was about what I was expecting.

He locked the door, closed the window blinds, and said, “You noticed that I’m looking for the changeling hunter. If this is another joke, I swear I’m going to-”

I then cut him off with, “I am and I know that you’re a changeling.” 

He reacted with wide eyes, so I added, “But I have no reason to take you in. At least, yet.”

“Good. I don’t need the hive to be disappointed at me for going a bit rogue and getting a pony’s help. Though, for a pony it’s impressive how fast you figured me out.”

The way he talked at this point had some malice in it, especially on the word ‘pony’.

“I can tell in a matter of seconds. Hive infiltrators take a bit longer," I said.

“In any case, someling in the hive is pretending to be someling who’s a higher rank. This is highly frowned upon in the hive, yet no one believes that this is going on. I need to know your secret for detecting us so fast.”

“My method isn’t possible for a changeling to do.”

He got a bit frustrated with that and asked, “Why?”

I gave a mildly amused look and told him, “I wouldn’t give it to you regardless and you don’t need to know why.”

Despite his suspicion of me he said, “Then you’ll have to help me find and capture a changeling hiding somewhere in Equestria," then became even more serious and looked me right in the eyes. “I’ll also want you to stop interfering with our hive affairs.”

I gave him an equally serious look and told him, “I can do the first, but the second isn’t going to happen. At all.”

“Then what do you want?" he asked with a bit more malice.

Though it didn’t phase me. “The only thing I could possibly want from the hive right now is to know which changeling during the Canterlot attack encountered a pony with winter colors and green eyes.”

“I’m not an infiltrator.”

I sighed and rolled my eyes, “I don’t care much how long it takes, if that’s the problem you think I’ll have with it.”

He was silent for several seconds, likely thinking on the possible agreement so far.

“Fine. You help me find the changeling and you get your pointless info. It’s not like a pony can infiltrate the hive.”

I gave a slightly devious grin, which he ignored. “A deal it is. We can meet any Sunday, noon to one at the Pond Springs Park. Look for the mare with a purple coat and black mane.”

“Okay, bye," he unenthusiastically said, then opened the door and left.

I left the room right after him and headed to the outskirts of the city, though after a few minutes I noticed there was always a disguised changeling not far behind me. Every turn I took, he also took. So I wandered around town until I either thought of or found a suitably secluded location.

If he was trained in assassination or infiltration, he might be trying to kill or capture me. Though before I found a good spot, he just up and left. Because I went around the city for a full hour and only one hive changeling knew my current disguise, I guessed that it was Metrion. If he tried it again, I’d be sure to have a good place to bait him to beforehoof so I could keep him in line.

To help make sure I wasn’t followed, I went through a castle checkpoint to confuse any potential stalkers. I then headed back to the city outskirts to change back to my usual disguise, then I started back home. Though when I entered a residential area my detection spell picked up something at least as big as a pony in somebody’s house. I thought it was a changeling cocoon, so I passed by to be sure.

It definitely looked like one and I quickly went back outside the city to change disguises again. Though after getting back to the house the chrysalis was gone and a disguised changeling was present.

What I opted to do was knock on the front door, which the changeling disguised as a pegasus stallion answered. He would’ve actually greeted me, but as soon as he opened the door I took him in my magic and slid him aside so I could enter.

While still holding him in my magic, I told him, “If I see your horn glow, I will hit it. Hard," before I changed into a changeling and started hogtying him with resin. 

“You are wondering how I knew what you are," I said in my interrogation voice.

The infiltrator narrowed his eyes and responded in an accusatory tone with, “You’re the one who found out some of our infiltrators. We’ll find and eliminate you, traitor!”

I gave a light chuckle and told him, “You think I at least used to be a changeling. Well that’s cute, but it’s wrong. I have told the others that I am not as I seem. I guess none of you believed me. As for your threat, considering your culture shuns the use of magical and technological advances, it is practically empty.”

He responded with, “Whatever trickery your using won’t hide you from the hive for long!" as I finished tying him.

I smiled. “Oh, I expect you to take a long time to find me out, but I know I would not want to do it for the rest of my life. I will reveal myself to the public long before your hive could ever eliminate me.”

I suddenly changed into his disguise, and as I was closing some of the blinds I noticed a magic noise, which I quickly turned to. Almost on instinct I took the infiltrator’s head in my magic and managed to keep his face on the wall. Once I was close enough, I did exactly as promised and the infiltrator let out a grunt of pain while squirming a bit.

I then gave him a serious glare. “But on to why I am here. I saw the cocoon and you would not have made one for no reason, so where did you take the pony?”

“What makes you think I’ll tell you?! Especially after that!" he said while he still made small grunting noises, as I probably gave him a head splitting pain.

“No reason worth mentioning, but I know that cocoon will be on it’s way to the hive soon, unless I see it," I told him.

The infiltrator responded with a simple, defiant, “You won’t.”

But I ignored it and told him, “Your uncooperative attitude, as with every other hive infiltrator I have crossed paths with, will only result in you being an embarrassment to the hive and your fellow infiltrators.”

I then took him in my magic and started dragging him into the basement while he squirmed and told me, “Whatever psychological game you’re playing won’t work on me or the hive!”

In a neutral tone I said “We’ll see. But that’s not the only game I’m playing.”

After entering the basement, I cast the interrogation stun on him. I then took a chair and set it facing away from him, though I sat on it facing him with my front hooves on the top of the chair’s back and my head resting on my hooves with a neutral expression.

“Now I think it is time we talked.”

The infiltrator responded with a rhetorical “Who are you? My psychologist?”

I shrugged slightly. “Somepony has to be. Now, as it currently is, no matter how hard the hive works, you accumulate no progress. The hive has had insufficient resources, no increase in population, worse is that the hive's pride is undoubtedly plummeting, and worst of all, you all look more like prey than ever before.”

The infiltrator irately but impressively retorted with, “We’ve had progress where it matters, population doesn’t matter when we could bring down Equestria with just a few well placed infiltrators, the changelings that are leaving the hive for an indolent pony life are at fault for the hive pride falling, and we can still take what we’ve always taken from ponies!”

I allowed myself to raise an eyebrow while telling him, “Changelings are leaving the hive because they are tired of it’s views on progress. Would you be able to take down Equestria before too many of the infiltrators leave? Even if the hive did, how long could you all hide it? The citizens or other kingdoms would eventually find out and those kingdoms may never trust ponies and changelings again!”

As I went, I started emitting passion due to the subject at hoof. “Is the hive going to cocoon all the ponies like they are the hive’s emotion crops to keep up an appearance? If that is the case, sure, you would not have to worry about going hungry but the same thing will happen if the hive makes peace with Equestria. You would still have an easier time working for your food. Chrysalis will be breaking hive tradition out of desperation either way. In fact, she already broke tradition when she attacked on the day of the royal wedding. But all of this is not just for her to decide. This is why they are leaving the hive. To have a voice and live among like-minded individuals.”

The infiltrator’s only verbal response was, “You’re… ” with wavering malice in his voice and opening then closing his mouth, as if he couldn’t find anything to say. His doubt was rising, but he was stubborn.

So I continued. “If you have figured it out by now, if someone thinks they are not being oppressed, they will never free themselves. I question the reasoning behind many of the laws I know in my government that make me uneasy.”

“You’re paranoid of Equestria," he responded, as I could sense his confidence rise.

But I retorted with, “I have lived in Equestria as myself to a higher degree than any infiltrator that has not left the hive, therefore I have the fuller experience. I see, and most importantly, feel the effects of many of them and therefore I know which ones feel right to me. At this time, hive infiltrators only know Equestria, they must have a full experience to understand. Only then will you and the others see it for what it really is. I am sure Nictis and Sky could say the same.”

At this point I couldn’t help but be radiant with passion, while the infiltrator was merely suspicious. “How do I know that you’re not lying?”

“By doing as I do. See ponies as friends, trust them like they trust each other, under a disguise that is simply your own species. There would be very few to suspect such a thing, and no dues to pay if you decide to leave. As an infiltrator you should know that the chance to be completely anonymous is taken because it gives you the opportunity to act exactly as whoever you want, including who you always wanted to be, with little consequence.”

I knew that if he actually tried to do as I said, he'd likely become attached to the things that ponies have. Acting as themselves will likely increase their chances of developing attachments to other sentient creatures, and therefore increase their chances of physically and mentally leaving the hive to live in Equestria.

As for the infiltrator’s response, he remained silent again for several seconds until he asked, “Why are you torturing infiltrators with uncertainty?”

At that point I got up while charging a spell, said, “That, my dear infiltrator, is the right question," then cast the full stun on him.

I did my usual cocooning to him, put "As long as your Queen's ideology is diplomatic hubris, the hive's hamartia is self extinction" on the resin slab, then hung the thing in the basement and went back home. 

It didn’t seem likely that anybody else lived there, so there was less of a chance that any Equestrians would find him before any hive member. Also, infiltrators are given the most freedom so they can operate with the highest efficiency, but with the hive knowing that somebody’s meddling in their operations, they’d likely be required to report in somehow every once in a while.

Overall, I started to enjoy messing with them immensely.
> Chapter 10: To Catch A Changeling
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Another week passed and yet Hamartia hadn’t met me at the bar yet. I was starting to worry a bit about him, but when it came time to wait for Metrion at the park I set it aside.

I waited there for nearly the entire hour, until he came galloping up to me out of breath.

All ‘she’ said between breaths was “Hey.”

“You want to take a minute to catch your breath?” I asked in my disguise’s soft-spoken voice.

He managed to say “I’m fine. Lets go to my school.”

Rolling my eyes I said, “If you say so," acting as though I’ve seen him do this several times before

We headed over there and Metrion led me to his locker where he took out a violin and a folder, then we made our way to the music hall where we went into one of the small practice rooms just as before.

After locking the door, Metrion told me “The changeling that you’re looking for might be one of the two that I’ve already been investigating.”

“That can’t be all that you know. I want specifics," I sternly told him.

He begrudgingly told me “Fine. The two were in the same attack squad that apparently crashed into your pony’s apartment. I don’t know who else was in it. Now if were done with your pointless desires, I’ve got info I snagged from the Manehattan Guard that shows possible changelings. I want you to do this part because of your freaky ability. I don’t care how you manage to take Ingress back to me as long as you’re not followed. You’ll get your changeling’s name when it’s done.”

He rudely hoofed the folder with said info onto my chest and I took a quick look. It seemed to actually be parts of a report from one of Equestria’s more covert branches, possibly the spy division. It’s analytical info wasn’t what the Guard usually looks for themselves, and they usually don’t go undercover for anything. Thankfully it looked like Metrion was smart enough to make copies of the info instead of just taking the original, seeing as the legibility was worse than I’d expect from such a professional organization.

“Alright, I’ll be heading over there today," I said.

As Metrion went to unlock the door he put on a sassy tone, saying “Good. Hopefully you’re all that you’re cracked up to be.”

As much as I hated him, he was my only inside changeling at that time so I sucked it up and said nothing else.

~~~~~~

After changing back to my usual disguise, I went looking for Act and found him at his law office. After telling him everything at his house, we got on the first train to Manehattan. Thankfully, we were able to have an entire private compartment to ourselves so we could plan things.

After locking the compartment door, Act said, “So, tell me how you plan on figuring these potential changelings out, alliances and all.”

“There’s an operation that’s being run to find all changelings in Equestria, and to confront them in a docile manner," I said. ”Nictis and Sky aren’t always present for the confrontation, so they sometimes just send one or two ponies for it. Sometimes the changeling that they think they’ve found could be hostile, which is when they send ponies to ask questions to the changeling and his neighbors. Of course, the ponies that they send don’t know who the changeling is, just who to question so that the changeling thinks they still have no clue. It’ll be easier to pose as the lesser known ponies while asking to come into their house to ask questions in private.”

“Not bad," Act complimented. “We already know your ability to detect changelings, so that’s easily covered. What if one of us is sure that the changeling’s a hostile after we enter their home?”

I answered with, “We would give the other an emotional signal that the changeling can’t feel, then I’d get close enough, dispel his disguise, and restrain him in my magic until you tie him up in resin.”

“I asked about just the signal” Act simply stated, though he also gave me a mischievous smirk. ”You’ve already gotten the rhythm of the actual capturing. I mean, you caught an infiltrator already. You even managed to fight and restrain three at once!”

“Only because my first move was a good combat decision," I said. “Not to mention that I feel like hitting all three of them at once was more of a fluke. It was also more of something an assassin would do.”

Act was still smirking. “Yes, but for an infiltrator that would be better than most.”

“I guess so. Anything else, ‘sensi’?”

“Just one more thing: If we need to, how are we going to follow a changeling?”

My response was, “The streets in Manehattan are relatively crowded, so I’ll use my detection spell to keep track of where he is while staying about ten meters back. He won’t even be able to see or detect us in general unless the crowd thins out.”

“And if it does?”

“Then we take an aerial pursuit, and if it’s nighttime we use a bat pony form with changeling princess eyes colored like a bat pony’s so we can still see in the dark.”

I sensed a bit of confusion from Act and he asked “Do bat ponies have good night vision? They’re not an ideal infiltrator disguise, so I never figured that out.”

I shrugged. “I don’t really know.”

“At any rate, I’ll see how well you do with everything else I taught you when we get to the city," Act said. “I’m also interested in how you’ll use your different emotion sense. Though for now, I’m going to take a nap.”

Seeing as Act told me to not bring anything, I had barely anything to do on the train after that, so I started looking out the window. I couldn’t help but think about my dilemma with Hamartia at that moment.

I can't think of any way Hamartia and me could possibly make a relationship work...

I've never been the one who wanted to break up with anyone before, but do I treat it like that in this situation? He still loves me some, but I don't care for him in quite the same way anymore, so I guess I do treat it like a breakup. How can I even approach this with how little I seem to know about him? How could I possibly say "You've searched for me for years, but I've decided that I'm not interested anymore", in a way that won't upset or anger him much? Is it even possible to do that with him at this point? We can sense each other's emotions towards the other, but is that enough to help with what I end up saying? 

I've gotten myself into the perfect storm, and the only way to survive it isn't going to be easy for either side of our friendship.

“You look like you’re taking that scenery pretty seriously," Act joked.

“No," I idly said. “I’m thinking.”

“About what?”

So I told him, “I had a marefriend near the end of my schooling. She just up and left one day without explaining anything, then she comes back to visit me after Twilight’s coronation. She showed me that she was a changeling the entire time. Or, rather, I figured it out before he was going to tell me.”

“Sounds like a big problem, but I’m afraid I can’t help you there," Act said. “I mean, I know you’re only interested in mares but I’ve never dated outside of infiltration. Which reminds me. I hate to be to be the one to tell you this, but from what I know about your personality at the time, you were probably an infiltrator magnet.”

I sighed with slight irritation at that, still looking out the window. “Oh, great. How many ponies did I know who were actually infiltrators?”

“I wouldn’t know, but I do know that you’re interested in why I’ve never seriously dated before. The reason for that is I don't want to keep my secret from the marefriends I'd be dating, nor do I want to give anybody a reason to accuse me of something that would lead to my reveal.”

“Sounds reasonable enough," I stated.

After a few minutes Act suddenly said “I hope that, someday, all of Equestria can be as accepting towards changelings as Ponyville is.”

“Me too...”

~~~~~~

A few hours later, the train arrived in Manehattan after crossing a long, metal bridge and we got off to head to our first lead with both of us in a unicorn disguise. I knew some things about the city because my dad grew up there, though I don’t travel much and I never had a reason to go there until then.

It was just like how he described it from the time he lived there. Busy ponies crowding the sidewalks everywhere, street-side venders at many corners, and there were skyscrapers everywhere. Most ponies living there were of the earth variety with few unicorns or pegasi. Things were laid out in districts for things such as fashion, haypacking, and dinning. 

As we were heading to one of the boroughs, Act paused for a few seconds to cast some kind of spell, then continued.

Shape, can you hear me?

Yeah.

Good. I forgot to remind you. If any of our leads offer anything to eat or drink, don’t actually consume it. I can’t have you passing out on me or dying.

Okay. Anything else?

Be prepared for the leads to ask why them specifically. As long as we can get in without being discovered by ponies, we’ll be fine.

Once we were passing by the small apartment building of our first lead, I casually started my detection spell and took a look. There was only one disguised changeling in the entire building, so we went in for further inspection. I was sure he was on the second floor, which was where our lead lived, so we went up the stairs and found that he was in the exact unit number as the info.

I knocked on the door and the changeling answered as a middle aged earth pony mare that gave us a confused look.

“Can I help you with anything?" he asked.

“Yes," I said. “We’re here on changeling affairs business. While we don’t know who it is, we have reason to believe that there’s a disguised changeling living in this building.”

Something about that caused the changeling to emit a small spike of irritation and hate, though it wasn’t directed at us. As for how he felt about us, he was trusting. Yet he didn’t feel the same for anyone else, even before we mentioned changelings.

Either this was a former or current infiltrator.

“Can we come in to ask a few questions in private?" Act asked.

The infiltrator stood aside and motioned for us to do so with a small smile. We trotted in and the infiltrator closed the door while facing us. He then led us to the living room, saying, “We’ll talk here, but I’ll be getting a drink first. You two want anything?”

It might have been a bit risky, but I decided to say, “I’ll have a cider.”

This caused Act and the other changeling to give me a look of confusion. 

After I emotionally conveyed to Act that I was testing the infiltrator, the infiltrator said, “Are you sure?”

So I casually shrugged and told him, “Being on the job hasn’t stopped me before," which the changeling reacted to with slight disgust.

He then turned to Act with a smile. “You need a drink?”

Act told her, “Yeah, I’ll have a glass of water, milk, and orange juice.”

“In different cups, right?" she asked with slight nervousness.

Act said, “Nope," with a straight face.

The changeling seemed to suddenly make a small noise and shortly gulped, while emitting a tiny bit of short lived hate at Act and I. It seemed that Act had the better idea, though I was set on beating it.

“Are you okay, ma’am?" I asked.

He waved a hoof with a strained smile and said, “I-I just have a lot of phlegm in my throat. I’ll get the drinks!”

She quickly did so and when she came back out with the odd drinks, I asked, “Do you have any meat gelatine?”

The infiltrator gave me a huge, split second spike of hate right before upchucking. He probably had a way to self-induce vomiting that I didn’t recognize. A useful infiltration skill, but not something that would fool me.

After he finished his first stream, Act closed all the window blinds while I swiftly closed the gap to the infiltrator and enveloped all of him in my magic. After I let him empty his stomach as much as he wanted, I kept his mouth shut and started using my interrogation voice. 

“I know you are a changeling, an infiltrator of the hive. But I do not have to hurt you or dispel your disguise and stun you as long as you do not call for help, attack anypony, or cast any spells at all.”

The infiltrator shook and I could see fear in his eyes just as easily as I could sense it, though it wasn’t genuine. I proceeded to cast the interrogation stun spell on him and set him down. “I-I don’t know what you’re talking about! I’ve been living here for a year now!" he told us as I did so.

Though Act changed his voice to mine and proved our claim with, “Your little hate slip up and lack of disgust when you barfed in your mouth a little and especially right before you actually emptied your stomach was proof enough.”

This caused the infiltrator to let his act go. He let his disgust and anger for us flow, and he spoke with venom in his voice. “Hive secrets are staying just that, you freak changeling!”

I lightly chuckled for a few seconds. “I have all the hive secrets I would want already, and I already know I am a freak. Say it all you want.” I then turned my head towards Act, who was standing right beside me at that point, and asked, “Is it worth some light torture?”

“I would not think so.”

“Alright," I said. “I will give you one last chance. We are looking for a changeling by the name of Ingress.”

“I have no idea who that is," the infiltrator claimed, though Act was telling me that he was lying.

“Well, I lied anyways. I am not feeling like you are worth much more effort than what I did with the others," I told the infiltrator.

He responded with, “The hive has no interest in your little messages.”

“On the contrary, you actually care a lot. We have been messing with your infiltrators enough that you would obviously make an effort to find out who we are. I am willing to bet that you have a team of sorts analyzing every message we give. How many infiltrators is it taking to screw in this particular freak light bulb?”

At that, the infiltrator grew more agitated. “That joke makes me want to dry heave.”

As I charged and held the full stun spell I said, “I can torture you with bad jokes, but as I said before…”

I then let the spell go on him and followed up with the disguise dispel.

“So we are doing the usual with him, right?" Act asked.

“Yes, I will start with the slabs and you can start the cocoon.”

“What is going to be on it this time?”

“Your hive lives in tragedy, you can not stop to stare, and still your queen walks on by pretending not to see," I told him.

“I like it’s inspiration," he said with a smile.

So Act started on the cocoon and after I made the slabs, I helped him with it. The process went much faster than usual and once we were done, the infiltrator was in the bedroom closet floating in the cocoon.

“I haven’t done infiltration work in years. I’ve forgotten how exhilarating it is!" Act said with a hushed voice and devious smile. He then changed to a pegasus and told me, “Just to be safe, we’re fire-portaling out.”

So while we were still in the bedroom with the blinds down, I stood next to Act and he did just as he said. The next thing I knew, we ended up on top of a skyscraper. Though the first thing I noticed about it was that the edges had no railing, so it wasn’t meant for public access. At this I immediately and instinctively gave myself a pegasus form.

Are you okay?

Act must have noticed my emotional reaction.

As I was casually trotting to one of the edges, I thought Warn me next time you fire-portal me to high places! 

Sorry. I didn’t know.

As I took a peek over the edge with Act right behind me, I could still sense Act’s confusion towards me. What?, I thought without looking at him.

It’ll look strange being a pegasus that’s afraid of heights.

I backed away from the edge and gave him a straight look, thinking Fluttershy is also afraid of heights, and being a pegasus gives me more control over falling to my doom.

Alright. As long as it doesn’t look too strange.

So we flew off to our next lead, which was a house on what appeared to be the opposite side of the city from our first lead’s house. As my detection spell was still on, I noticed a changeling in the house seconds before landing. Once on the sidewalk, Act telepathically asked me if there was one and I confirmed over the link, so Act said to use the same method to gain entry as before.

After walking the short path to the front door, I knocked and the door opened to reveal the disguised changeling. Act calmly told him, “We’re here on changeling affairs business. The info we have led us here, so we’d like to ask some questions.”

At the first mention of changeling affairs, he gave off a lot of panic and remorse. He was obviously not an infiltrator. Though to his credit, he hid it better than most common changelings.

“Of course," he said, as he stood aside for us. “Come in and have a seat. I’d imagine it’d be better to discuss this in private.”

As we came in, we noticed a mare who the changeling obviously loved. The emotions he had for her were so intense that I had no doubt she was either his fiancee or wife.

She sat down with the three of us, and the changeling asked what we need to know.

Act started with, “Have you seen anypony acting even the least bit strange?" while I was concentrating on emitting serenity, trust, and optimism toward the changeling. 

This seemed to help him calm down as he answered Act with, “There’s a pony that visits a local bar. I’m sure he’s acting a bit odd, but I can’t quite put my hoof on it. He has a green coat and brown mane, but I never knew his name.” Though his emotions for me indicated that he thought I might have been a changeling, because he had a feeling of hope and trust towards me. He also had worry for his mare and I assumed it was because he hadn’t told her yet.

“I haven’t noticed anything myself," his wife said, while her stallion only started worrying more.

So I asked, “So what’s the bar’s name?" and the couple answered in stereo with, “The Bar of Cats.”

Okay, they’re definitely married.

The changeling then told us, “There tended to be a lot of cat fights at that bar when it first opened, though there aren’t as many now. The owner also brings his cat to work, though it drives away ponies with an allergy for them.”

“The cat starts fights, or the mares?" I asked, partly out of curiosity.

The changeling answered with a roll of his eyes while telling us, “It’s the mares. Otherwise it’s a nice place.”

“Alright," Act said while we got up. “I think that’s all we’ll need. Thank you for helping us.”

“You don’t need to thank us. Helping you is what everypony should be doing," the mare said with a smile as we made our way out. Though this further grew her stallion’s worry for her, though he started to feel more trusting of her as well.

So when they closed the door, I told Act, “Wait” while he said the same thing to me. So I used my invisibility spell on both Act and myself and crept up to the wall closest to the couple. The mare became worried about her stallion for a minute, while the changeling was worried for her as well. 

Suddenly, he showed her what he really looked like, which startled the mare a bit. For a few seconds her emotions were in a mild turbulence, though it was clear that she was unsure of something about him. The changeling was beginning to feel sad about it, like she told him that she didn’t know what to think of him anymore.

Though she suddenly became glad for him and just as suddenly hugged him, which made the changeling love her even more than before. I couldn’t help but feel glad and happy for the two as they stayed that way for several seconds. 

Once they parted, the changeling noticed my emotions and seemed to tell her something that she completely understood, then he headed over to the front door. I did as well while stopping the invisibility.

When he opened the door, he had a straight face and wasn’t in his disguise anymore. He told me, “So I guess you’re not really a pony.”

To which I told him, “Something like that," and became a little embarrassed as I said, “And I guess you caught me.”

“Doesn’t matter. You didn’t ruin the moment," he said, and rubbed the back of his head as he told me, “I guess I should tell you a bit more.”

So Act and I came back in for a minute and the changeling told us that the supposed changeling gave off suspicion towards him, seemed less social and a bit paranoid of everyone ever since about two months ago.

After Act and I left, we started making our way to The Bar of Cats. On our way I was thinking on my recent odd feelings until I finally put it all together. I did, in fact, want to start dating again. Yet with what I got myself into I still didn’t think it was wise to do so. I couldn’t tell my dates about what I was secretly doing, so they wouldn’t know about it, and if they were captured because of me it would be a complete surprise that anybody would get angry about.

I put those thoughts away well before getting to the bar and once we arrived, we went up to the counter and I asked the burly bartender, “Have you seen a pony with a brown mane and green coat?”

“Yeah," he said, “though it doesn’t look like he wants any visitors. Don’t know why.”

“Well, this is the only lead I have that could help me find my brother," I said with a bit of a down expression.

“In that case, from what I know of him, he lives somewhere in the eastern part of the city. An apartment. He also visits this place about every week or so.”

I thanked him and we left for the city outskirts. Once there, Act and I changed our disguises to unicorns, though Act wanted to know exactly what I was planning so he could fully understand it. I told him that the bartender might tell our lead that ponies are looking for him, but that it'll only take one infiltrator to monitor that. Though I was sure that there was a faster way, so it was merely a good preventative plan. I also said that I’d be the one to wait during the more likely hours until we figured out a better plan, because I’d be able to spot our lead on sight and more easily follow him.

Act thought it was a good preventative plan, so we went back to the bar, sat down at separate tables, and ordered a non-alcoholic drink. Act then started a psychic link spell.

So any better ideas yet?

Not any good ones. I thought about just asking about him in the area where he lives, but that may alert him in some way or another. Not that we haven’t made it inevitable already.

So if we want a better plan, we’d need to think of one very soon.

Yeah. I also thought of disguising myself as him, but we don’t have anywhere near a good enough description of him. I wish it was easier to get our hooves on some Guard armor without being found out at all.

So after an hour or so, Act decided to go somewhere to eat while I stayed and ordered a snack for the time being. At first I was thinking about possible better plans, but I eventually realized that the lead may not care anymore about going back to the hive.

If that was the case, then I’d feel like dragging him back to the hive wouldn’t be right, yet at the same time I wouldn’t be able to get Metrion the proof he wanted. It’s not like it was easy to get proof as solid as what we were after, so I thought of a few alternate methods for more directly revealing the other changeling still at the hive.

My first idea was to come with Metrion, under a disguise, to the hive and cast the disguise dispel on the imposter. Though it would be obvious that I wasn’t one of them if I used pony magic because of my lighter green pony aura. Metrion would also easily get in trouble for bringing me to the hive and I’d have to make an escape. If I didn’t make it out, they’d likely use me as a food source. Even if I did make it out they’d only want to put forth more effort to find me because of what doing that might imply about me.

Recreating the disguise dispel for changeling magic wouldn’t really help all that much either. Casting a spell like that in the hive would obviously get me noticed, not only because it would be unheard of, but also because they try to not use much magic, so finding the caster would be simple.

Act then came back into the bar and sat down at a different table again, starting the psychic link spell.

I bought some repairpony tools and clothes that would help us get into the changeling’s apartment. Anything else I should know before we plan this out further?

Actually, I’m using the metamorphic shape-shifting spell right now so the Guards won’t dispel it.

Good. So what do you think the plan is?

I’ll be the one to follow him, while you follow me not too far behind so that the Guard won’t think you’re with me and so they won’t dispel your disguise.

Not bad, but I have a better idea. You’ll follow him home alone while I go to the spot where I hid the repairpony things. It’s the same spot that we changed disguises. Once you know where he lives, come to the spot to put on the stuff and change disguises again.

We’ll then go to the lead’s apartment unit, claiming that we’ll need access for a repair request from the pony living below him because it’ll be easier to fix with access to his unit. Once we’re in and he shuts the door, we restrain him and ask questions.

Sounds good, but I want to be sure of what his alliance is. If he doesn’t like Chrysalis anymore, then I won’t want to send him back to the hive.

Well, this is your mission. I’m just here so I can help and give hooves-on training. As for alternate methods of getting proof, you could sneak into the hive to cause an accident that would give one of the imposter’s shape-shifting relevant organs an injury. It wouldn’t take much time before he gets found out.


But I still want to know what happened during the changeling invasion. It would probably be best to get him alone and cast the dispel, then get all the info I want.

True, but going to the hive ourselves to do anything is probably not a good idea in the first place. You’d pretty much have to reveal yourself as the changeling hunter to get your info, and the hive knowing that you infiltrated them would only raise the already high tensions between them and Equestria.

At that point I was a bit conflicted on whether or not I’d prefer that the lead wanted to stay in Equestria, though I was leaning towards him wanting to stay. It would make it harder for me to get what I wanted, but it also meant one more changeling that doesn’t like the state of the hive anymore.

~~~~~~

A few hours past sunset a stallion came in who matched the description, and more importantly, was highlighted by my spell. I took note of his large build and his sickle cutie mark, while Act started another telepathy spell.

Is he the right pony?

My detection spell says he’s a changeling, so probably. Looks like he’s here to drink, so I should have time to quickly change disguises. When I come back, one eye will be green and the other a green-blue.

I left the bar and searched for a quick place to change, which ended up being a different bar’s bathroom. Once I returned, I sat down at a different table and ordered a drink to have while waiting for my lead to leave. He eventually left about an hour later and I left to follow about ten seconds after that.
> Chapter 11: Two Steps Forward One Step Back
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Following my lead through Manehattan wasn’t all that hard. Sure, the disguised changeling was a bit paranoid, but the number of ponies out and about were still high enough at that time of night for me to only change disguises once because of his suspicion.

Once he entered his apartment building it was a snap. As he was climbing the stairs I lagged just one floor behind and when he got to the fourth floor he exited the stairwell. I stayed on the floor below so I could easily see where the changeling entered his unit. After I was sure that he did, I came up to his floor, then noted the unit number and that there weren't any other disguised changelings in the apartment. I then left for the changing spot as planned.

Once there, Act and I put on our repairpony attire, changed into burly ponies, then left for the lead’s apartment. We entered it’s lobby, which had a clock that said it was ten fifteen. It was a bit of an odd time to be doing repairs, so we had to come up with something that would need more immediate attention.

No one bothered us as we went to the stairwell, climbed up to the lead’s unit, then knocked at his door. The changeling became a bit irritated and suspicious but opened the door anyways and took a quick look at us with a deadpan glare.

In a moderately flat tone he said, “I didn’t tell anypony that something needed fixing.”

“Probably not," I said. “It’s a little urgent. A pipe close to your water heater is probably the culprit of a large leak spilling into the unit below. We may need to break down a part of one of the walls. Maybe the floor as well.”

The changeling’s suspicion grew a bit more, but he sighed with some disappointment but no anger, and said, “Alright, come in. I’d rather not pay for water I’m not going to use.”

After we walked in, he closed the door and told us, “I’ll be reading in the living room if you need me for any reason.”

Though as he turned around to do so, I took all of him in my telekinesis and started bringing him to the bedroom without any struggling on my end. I also took note of any potential exits.

There’s a fire escape, which might be useful. A ceiling vent? Too small, probably can’t climb down that very safely.

I switched to the interrogation voice and told him, “I know that you are a changeling and if you deny it, your disguise will be gone for several hours.” This got him to stop his squirming and remain in silent, trembling fear.

Once Act and I were in the bedroom, I closed and locked all the doors and windows, and closed all the blinds while Act tied the changeling to a chair and gagged him. Though I reminded Act that I had an interrogation stun spell, to which he responded by removing the gag and bindings while I cast the stun spell.

“Remove your disguise," I commanded.

The changeling did so with a green flash of flame, and I started exclusively watching for other changelings with the detection spell.

Act took on the interrogation voice as well and told the changeling, “If you call for help, my friend will cast the disguise dispel so you can not take on any disguises. If you cooperate, you will not have to go back to the hive. In fact, my friend and I would not want that either. As for why we are here, we know what you planned to do when you left the hive.”

The changeling responded with confusion, but didn’t say anything yet so Act continued.

“But we are not with the hive. We have our own agenda and can choose to let you go if you can prove that you want to stay.”

“I-I’m not the changeling you want," he told us. “I’m just covering for him because he’s in a coma. Though I’m fairly certain he wants to stay.”

Act asked, “Can you take us to him?”

“I-” was all he could say before I interrupted with, “We have two disguised changelings heading our way in the hall!”

“I’ll fire-portal you two to the hotel," Act said, though I was skeptical about it.

“And not yourself as well? How are you going to evade them? We don’t know how much they know. They’re infiltrators and they may figure you out before you can leave! You fire-portal yourself and him, while I escape through the fire escape with my invisibility spell," I said.

“Are you sure? It makes obvious distortions when you move and there may be another hive changeling watching from the sky.”

I started saying, “I can make do with-," but just then I realized how I could use the vent. “Never mind that. I’ll use the air vent in the living room.”

The changelings then knocked at the door.

“Okay, that’s good enough," Act said with haste, then told me the hotel’s address and his room number. He then started up a fire-portal while I went to the bathroom to switch to a changeling baby and take a screwdriver, then swiftly went to the vent. The changelings knocked again while I was making my way up the wall towards my exit and by then Act and the lead were gone.

Once I opened the vent cover and got in I tried closing it, making sure to put it back exactly the way it was in as quiet a manner as possible. It wasn’t easy, but I managed to shut it and lock it back in place right before the changelings used a key to enter. As I felt the air being sucked to the outside, I could see them through the vent cover. They called out for somebody then started searching around. I didn’t want to stay so I silently continued up the dry, dusty ventilation shaft with my flat-head screwdriver.

It was harder than I thought it would be to resist the urge to cough in there, so I let out weak and shallow ones for a minute or two. By then I found the end, which had a fan and vent cover behind it as I expected. I waited for the fan to stop moving and tried to squeeze through, but no dice. It appeared I had to bend one of the fan blades, so I first undid the vent cover behind it and started the invisibility spell. Next I bent a blade out of the way, crawled out, then bent it back to make it look as much like before as I could. If they thought of looking in the vent, they would still likely notice that someone bent it but at least they wouldn’t be sure who did it.

Though I wasn’t out of the woods yet. 

I mentioned before that there might have been a changeling watching from above, though it was less likely that they would notice me even with their night vision. The maintenance access hatch leading to the building interior had some kind of imbedded combination lock on it, but thankfully the roof had a small control room for something. Sure, it had a lock too, but I was able to remove the back of it with the flat-head screwdriver, some time, and a lot of magic force.

Taking it’s insides with me into the room, I closed the door and simply left it on the floor. After using it as a changing room, I came out as a pegasus filly with a blue coat and purple mane, then flew off towards the hotel. Once I was close, I went to a different hotel and, seeing as it was late at night, there was minimal risk to using the public bathroom to change once again. Exiting the building as a unicorn stallion, I went the rest of the distance to the hotel where I knocked on Act’s room and thanked him as I went in.

The lead was still stunned, so I asked Act, “Do you think it would be okay to dispel the stun?”

He responded with a shrug. “Yeah, he’s been pretty cooperative so far and he asked himself. He also needs to use the bathroom.”

So I lit up my horn and cast the dispel, after which the changeling immediately said, “Bathroom!” and immediately headed to it. After he came back out he said, “So about the changeling. He’s being taken care of by a small group that prefers to not live with ponies or the hive anymore. If you want to get in without infiltrating, you’ll have to be evaluated by someling.”

“A psychological evaluation?" I asked.

“Yes. His shop stays open late into the night, so we should be able to meet him there.”

Act responded with “Then let’s not waste any time. I’d suggest you use your personal disguise. We don’t want want to attract the hive members with Ingress’s disguise.”

The changeling wasn’t all that surprised that we knew Ingress’s name, though he probably wondered how we got the information about him. Nevertheless, our lead changed disguises and led us to an aesthetically impressive clock and watch shop where we waited just outside the back office while our lead conversed with another changeling.

After about five minutes our lead came out and sat down while the other changeling came out to call Act in first. While waiting I came to the conclusion that the owner of the shop was an infiltrator. After all, what other kind of changeling would be doing a psychological evaluation this important to their security?

After about fifteen minutes, Act came back out and the infiltrator called me in. I sat down in the comfy chair on the opposite side of his desk and he began.

“The evaluation is simply a series of questions. Nothing you haven’t heard before.”

Nothing I haven’t heard before? What does that mean?

“So lets begin. What are you strengths?”

“Overall?" I asked.

“Yes”

“I’m good with changeling and transformation magic, naturally not being noticed, and generally being nice.”

“What are your weaknesses, in general?”

“I’m a little shy and have a small anxiety problem.”

At that point, I noticed he was keeping his emotions distant from the interview. He was likely trying to keep me from measuring them to figure out what to say.

“Why do you want to access our hideout?”

“To find out if Ingress genuinely wants to stay in Equestria.”

“Why should we let you in?”

This is really crafty! He’s using job interview questions to gauge our verbal and, more importantly, emotional response!

I answered in a calm manner with, “Because if you don’t, I’d infiltrate it to find out the answers myself.”

“What do you know about our hideout?”

“Nothing more than what the changeling who led us here suspects we know.”

“What is your greatest failure and what did you learn from it?”

“I had an accident with a transformation once, when a friend drank a potion I made that turned him into a mouse. My cat ate him whole, then I had to force my cat to eat shreds of paper to vomit him up. I learned to make sure that the cat wasn't in the room when using potions that turn others into smaller creatures, and to keep my transformation potion storage locked.”

“If I were your superior and asked you to do something that you disagreed with, what would you do?”

I hummed in thought for a few seconds then told him, “I’d go as far as leaving the hideout to not do it.”

“What was the most difficult period in your life, and how did you deal with it?”

“When I moved out of my parent’s house. I just trudged through it to get used to it.”

“Give an example of a time you did something wrong, then how you handled it.”

The first thing that came to mind was… extreme to say the least, but I went with it anyways. “When I was about eight or nine, I snapped and strangled a bully in school. I talked with the principal about it, and I did feel sorry so I apologized to the colt.”

“If you found out your friends were doing something against the law, like fraud, what would you do?”

“If it’s against my own morals, I’d tell them that I might report them if they continued.”

“What was the most difficult decision you’ve made in the last two years and how did you come to that conclusion?”

I sighed at that, knowing full well what my answer had to be. “I had my ex-marefriend come back after some years, tell me that she was an infiltrator in training the entire time, and was hoping that he could get back together with me. I decided that I couldn’t because he and I wouldn’t be able to satisfy each other in… various ways.”

“If you had to choose one, would you consider yourself a big-picture pony or a detail-oriented pony?”

“Detail oriented.”

“Tell me about your proudest achievement.”

I gave a small smirk at that one. “I’ve found a way to detect some changeling spells. Are you aware that the changeling shape-shifting spell’s most noticeable weakness is that it doesn’t copy cutie mark magic?”

The infiltrator looked right at me. His pupils slightly shrunk and I could sense some of his worry and nervousness seep through his act. “Are you saying…”

My smirk grew at that as I sat up completely straight said, “I can detect changeling shape-shifting, during and after the casting. Even ponies don’t have much more than a basic understanding of cutie mark magic. It just so happens that our current understanding allows us to know what is and is not cutie mark magic and that the absence of such can be shown with the right kind of spell.”

“You’re… not going to tell the Guard or any authorities, right?”

I reclined in the chair again and casually told him, “As long as Chrysalis doesn’t command her changelings to start killing ponies. If she does, I will literally stop any and everything I’m doing to canter right up to one of the princesses and give them my detection spell despite any obstacle in my way.”

“Let’s, uh, hope it doesn’t come to that.”

“I don’t want that any more than you do. So what’s the next question?”

Getting back on focus, he asked, “What do you like to do?”

“Research changeling magic and transformation spells.”

“What are your lifelong dreams?”

“To create an omimorphic potion and be one of the best in shape-shifting magic.”

His next question was, “What do you want to ultimately become?”

This reminded me of a joke, and it wasn’t like it would ruin my chances of passing this test, so I casually said, “An attack airship.”

“Uh, excuse me? I don’t think I heard that right.”

I rolled my eyes. “It was a joke. I actually want to be a leader in changeling magic research.”

“Okay. What three character traits would your friends use to describe you?”

“Kind, cautious, and… predictable.”

“What are three character traits you don’t have?”

“Being outgoing, optimistic, and managing stress well.”

“If you were interviewing someone for entry, what traits would you look for?”

I thought on that for several seconds and said, “Kindness, respectfulness, and cautious.”

“Who has impacted you the most and how?”

That one was another obvious one for me, so I immediately responded with, “My dad. His… social nature wasn’t the best. He inadvertently taught me that subtlety, generosity, and temper management are important.”

“What is your greatest fear?”

“Right now it’s ponies discovering what I really am.”

“What is your biggest regret and why?”

“I have none, because there's no point in regretting what already happened if you learned enough from it, though there's still a reason to feel bad or sorry about it.”

“What’s the most important thing you ever learned?”

“Knowledge pays the bills, but intellect pays that and interest.”

“How do you feel about taking no for an answer?”

“With decent reasoning, it’s not a big deal.”

“Tell me one thing about yourself you wouldn’t want me to know.”

“I’m not quite a pony.”

“Who are your heroes?”

“Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, and Luna.”

“What do you do in your spare time?”

“I catch changeling criminals, create and modify spells and potions, and hang out with friends.”

“Tell me ten ways to use a pencil other than writing.”

“You can use it as a shiv, to copy the pattern of some physically textured art pieces, to help start a fire, completely remove the graphite for a prank, to extend your reach a bit… and I can’t think of anything else right now.”

“If you had to be a different species, which one would you want to be?”

“I’d prefer to be a changeling.”

“How do you think I rate as an interviewer?”

I thought on this for a minute and said, “At least a nine out of ten.”

“Do you have any questions for me?”

I gave a knowing smirk. “No, but it’s clever that you’re using job interview questions for the evaluation.”

At that point the infiltrator revealed his emotions towards me, which included sympathy and severe confusion. Though he gave me a small smile and said, “That’s all of it. I actually liked your response to the regret question. I’ve never heard anypony say that one before.”

I smiled at that. “Thanks!”

“Oh, and sorry about your marefriend. Must have been pretty difficult to decide.”

My ears drooped slightly at that. “I haven’t event told him yet," though I didn’t want to make it too awkward. “Anyways, did we pass or…”

“Yeah, both of you did. Though we’ll need to keep a bit of a closer eye on your friend.”

I rolled my eyes as I said, “I expected something like that. So are we heading off to the hideout soon?”

“As long as you weren’t followed," the infiltrator said.

“Pretty unlikely. We changed disguises before coming here.”

He nodded in approval, “Alright then. Let’s head out.”

We both came out of the office and the infiltrator told Act that ‘we’re all heading out’. So the infiltrator, the lead, Act, and I started making our way to the hideout. Though when it was apparent that it wasn’t in the city, I asked the infiltrator how far away it was and he told me about a few miles from the city. 

At some place in the woods we arrived at a large, flat rock with a crude engraving of a heart surrounding two lover’s names. The infiltrator then took the foal-sized heart in his magic, lifted it up to reveal a tunnel, then with a green flash of flame the two changelings became foals. Act and I followed suit, though at that the two changelings became even more confused about me.

While starting our way through the dank, dark, mineshaft-like crawlspace, the lead said, “It’s about thirty meters long," in an adorable voice.

After a few meters, my detection spell started to pick up something huge that seemed bigger than the spell’s range. My only guess was that their hideout was made out of mostly changeling resin.

As we were nearing the end it seemed like our lead was right. As somepony who’s used transformation spells since colthood, I’ve grown accustomed to the varying spacial perspectives that come with it. It’s not too different from the perspective difference between a filly and adult. As an adult you think that a particular distance doesn’t look all that long, but when you were a colt or filly you probably thought that the same distance was a few times longer than it feels now. The difference between that and transformation spells are that it can occur for varying reasons. But I digress.

Upon arriving at the room on the other side of the tunnel, the first thing I noticed was that it was made mostly out of solidified changeling resin, as I guessed, with some metal struts right behind it for extra support. So I decided to smell it before exiting the tunnel, which rewarded me with the faint aroma of window cleaner aside from the obvious dirt smell.

I would’ve still come inside their hive if it wasn’t all that clean. I’m no germaphobe. Though I would’ve taken a shower after the visit if it wasn’t.

The two changelings changed back to their real bodies, and Act and I changed back to our adult disguises. We then went to the only door in the room, which was one of the typical house variety. There was a single changeling guarding it, wearing the armor that Chryalis’s changelings wore and wielding a metal tipped spear.

“Who are these two changelings?" the guard asked as he blocked the door.

“They’re not members of our hive, but they don’t mean any harm," the infiltrator said. “They’ve passed the interview.”

“Very well," the guard said, and stood aside.

The next room looked to be a living room space. Aside from the resin construction it actually seemed to look a lot like a pony’s. Couches, recliners, coffee and dinning tables, lamps, and many other modern furnishings were present. The walls weren’t see-through like the entrance’s, probably for privacy in what I could only assume were the bedrooms and bathrooms behind the room’s many doors. Overall it seemed like a good place to live underground.

The infiltrator led us to one of the doors, knocked on it, and the changeling on the other side answered with a mostly flat, “Yeah?”

The chitin on his face had several interconnected scar lines, as if it took the brunt of major blunt force trauma.

The infiltrator told him, “I need you to come with me to the meeting room.”

“Who are those two?" he asked, emitting suspicion towards Act and I.

“They’re why we’re having a private meeting.”

“Oh, great. More outsiders," he said unenthusiastically. “You know we can’t house many more before we’ll have to expand, right?”

“They’re not here to stay. They need something from us. From Ingress.”

The scarred one sighed and said, “Alright," and came with us to the next door which opened before we even got close. A short, stout changeling came out and sauntered right up to us.

“Oh. Are these two new residents? They look fun!" he said in a mellow but excited manner.

“Not really," the infiltrator said. “They want something from Ingress. I’ll need you for their meeting right now.”

“Yes, of course! We can pick up our game of Xiangqi later. I’ve already told my opponent that I’m needed.”

While heading to the meeting room, our lead told me, “The hideout’s actually a hive for the most part, for changelings that didn't like Chrysalis much. They prefer to just live with other changelings for the most part under similar ideals to Equestrians for their own reasons.”

The meeting room was small and had a round table that had six chairs at it. The short changeling was a bit suspicious of Act and I as well, though my sixth sense told me he was just as excited to see us as he appeared to be. Especially because after Act and I took a seat next to each other first, he sat right next to me. The infiltrator then sat next to Act, and the scared one sat next to the infiltrator and our lead.

The infiltrator began by reviewing why we were here, then asked for the opinions of both the short and scared changeling. The scared changeling was the first to respond.

“What would you do if we denied you access to information about Ingress?”

“We’d leave," I began, “then return to infiltrate the place for the information we want. Depending on the results we’d get from Ingress, we may or may not take him back to the hive.”

Our lead and who I assumed at this point were the infiltrator’s advisers became confused at that, while the infiltrator was only slightly confused yet thankful.

“I appreciate the honesty," the infiltrator said. “But why?”

With hope in my eyes, I told them “Because I want to believe that the changeling wants to stay, and I know that you believe it. Otherwise we wouldn’t be here.”

“We all have to play with the cards we are given," the infiltrator told me.  “You’ve played yours as well as anyling possibly could, but this leaves us with what to do if you end up infiltrating us for Ingress.”

“You have any plans for that yet?" the scared one asked.

“Yes, but this one," and he gestured to me, “implies that he’s not a changeling or pony in both his words and emotions. For all I know he could be an infiltrator or a Suneighrian demon.”

“Then we need to discuss it before we do anything else," said the scared one.

The infiltrator agreed and so Act and I were escorted, by the scared changeling, to a nonadjacent room to wait. While in there, Act and I kept to our own thoughts.

I didn’t really know how anybody who knows how to pick their advisers does it, so I wasn’t sure if the infiltrator’s choices were normal. As far as I could tell, his advisers almost couldn’t be any more different. What confused me a bit was why he chose them despite that. In fact, I was sure that he chose them because they were opposites. Yet they would always have opposing opinions and suggest opposite actions, and among that kind of chaos he somehow makes his decisions.

After about an hour of waiting and my mind wandering to other subjects, the infiltrator returned and led us back to the meeting room. We took the same seats as before, while the small changeling said, “Sorry about it taking so long. Web Head’s always paranoid and constantly neurotic. Unfortunately, whatever is going to happen, will happen.”

Web Head retorted with “How can you be so laid back about this?!”

“I have faith that this will go over smoothly," the small one said, reclining in his seat.

Web Head gave him a deadpan glare, saying “Faith is blind hope.”

Wow. He actually said something I agree with.

“You shouldn’t worry anyways. It just leads to being neurotic and making unwise choices," the small one said.

“Hey!" the infiltrator interrupted. “This meeting isn’t about philosophy!” He sighed and continued with, “Now, who are we going to simulate to get our answers? Keep in mind it’s unlikely that he’s capable of using his infiltration oriented skills very well, if at all.”

Some of you may not know it, but ponies have been experimenting for years with how comatose patients respond to certain things. What they’ve discovered is that there is a whole spectrum to how deep a coma can be. Depending on that, they may not have all of their cognitive thinking, or they could have no emotional response to anything. In this case, Ingress had at least instinctual responses in his state.

Act asked, “We need the pony to be one that’s close to him, yet doesn’t know he’s a changeling. Does he have a really close pony friend, marefriend, or coltfriend?”

“While I do have one in mind, is it worth telling to these two, to any extent, who we’ll be simulating? Or even letting them see the changeling?" the infiltrator said.

Web Head answered first with, “No. It'll put the pony in danger and make it far easier for them to take Ingress back to the hive.”

“Even though it seems like you two wouldn’t fillynap anypony," the small one said, facing Act and I, “he does have a point. We’d rather not get tangled up in Guard investigations because of that.”

“Well that’s that," said the infiltrator. “You two aren’t allowed to know who we simulate, nor see Ingress.”

I turned off my detection spell at that, though not being content with how it was going to happen yet, I said, “I have to be there to sense all the emotions in the exchange myself. Can’t have you lying to us if Ingress still likes the hive’s state too much.”

Though Web Head obviously didn’t believe me, and not just because he outright said “Changelings can’t sense emotions like that, and it’s not like you can’t have the infiltrator skills to lie to us.” Oh no, he had a skeptical and challenging look on his face as he did this while leaning into the table.

For the small changeling’s part, he just said “I’m skeptical about it, myself.”

So to prove it to Web Head, I told them “Your infiltrator is a little suspicious and fearful of my friend, the other adviser has barely any fear or suspicion towards my friend, and is in fact interested in him. While you fear, suspect, and have some hate towards him.”

This elicited varying degrees of surprise from everyone I didn’t know well, except Web Head. His response was to suspect and fear me more than Act, while he tried to come up with a reason to still prove otherwise.

“Infiltration skills can still tell you all that, even when used on other infiltrators.”

All I responded with was a smug grin and, “You’ll see.”

Web Head was going to say something else, but the infiltrator got out of his seat and cut in with, “Well, looks like we’ve decided on everything, so let’s head to Ingress. You and your friend will wait in a room close to him.”

“Can’t I get a room next to Ingress for this?” I asked.

“Okay," he said “but only because I want to know if your emotion sense works as you claim it does. We’ll use an interrogation room with you, your buddy, and Web Head on the other side.”

“Why me?” Web Head asked, clearly unamused.

“Because you’re being too antagonistic again," the small changeling quipped, which irritated Web Head.

“He’s not wrong," the infiltrator told him. “Anyways, lets get a move on. I’ve got other matters to attend to, as I’m sure some of the rest of us do as well.”

We left the meeting room and entered a hallway from the common area, where the interrogation room was connected. Before Act, Web Head, and I entered, the infiltrator told Web Head, “Let them hear the conversation.”

All he responded with was irritation and, “Fine.”

I was never in either side of an interrogation room before that, but after Web Head opened the door it appeared to be the viewing side, if the implication a few seconds ago wasn’t enough of a clue. There was a lack of tables, some chairs, a few speakers mounted on the walls, and a one-way mirror.

After the three of us entered, Web Head closed the door, turned on the audio system, then stood next to the light switch. It was obvious he expected that we’d try to get a look at the two characters, but at this point his suspicion was starting to get ridiculous so I rolled my eyes at him.

After none of us said anything for a while, the infiltrator came to the room to tell Web Head that he could turn on the mics, then left for the other side. Upon Web Head doing this, we heard what was likely some last minute preparation, then silence for several more seconds before hearing a stallion’s voice.

“Are you the one who’s supposed to tell me what my coltfriend is feeling?”

It sounded like the one to answer him with a simple, “Yes," was the small adviser.

After that, I said, “Ingress’s fear spiked and he has some regret, but also hope and love.”

The adviser said the same thing to the coltfriend, and he responded with, “I wish we could talk about this at a better time and place… but I have to say something important.”

At Ingress’s reaction, I said, “He’s still just as fearful and regretful, but has some hope now.”

The adviser said the same thing again, and the stallion told Ingress, “I still love you… even if you are a changeling. I’d say that you have no idea know happy I am to know that you’re willing to do this, but…," and here it sounded like he nervously snorted in amusement.

Sensing Ingress’s feelings change, I said, “His fear is falling significantly, and his trust and love are rising moderately while he’s starting to feel acceptance towards him. He’s also humored a bit by the last part.”

“I was afraid that our relationship was just an act to you, but allowing me to see you despite the risks of me telling somepony about this hideout proved it otherwise.”

I told the same thing as the adviser did. “His love, acceptance, and happiness have gone up a bit more.”

“But I don’t know if I can take care of you.”

At this, Ingress became sad, and both the adviser and I said so. Though the stallion immediately said, “But I’m going to try," with determination in his voice.

I sensed Ingress emitting some guilt but admiration at that. Both the adviser and I said so.

“Even if I have to ask a changeling friend or hire one for us to communicate for however long this lasts, I’ll do it. I’m not going to give up, especially because I could be spending more time with you because of it.”

“He’s feeling much less guilty, and giving off a little more love," I said as the adviser said the same yet again.

“But I have to go now. I love you… and I promise I’ll come back.”

I then heard the door on Ingress’s side open and close, which prompted Web Head to turn off the sound system. With a slightly irritated sigh, he said, “Fine. I believe you," then walked out of the room.

There was something obviously off about how Web Head reacted to the entire conversation between the two on the other side. Sure, he hated that he was wrong and he was jealous of their relationship, but during the exchange I noticed that he wasn’t just being ridiculous. He was empathetic and protective of the two for some reason. So after a few minutes we headed back to the meeting room while I thought on it.

Did he lose somebody he loved? Did he even ever have a relationship? And does his scar have anything to do with it? Maybe he tried to protect them or stay together, but failed. I should ask the infiltrator about it. Maybe he’ll be willing to tell me, if he knows.

So before the infiltrator entered the room, I asked him “Can I talk with you for a minute?”

“I suppose. Let’s do this in my room," he said, then told everyone that he and I will be back in a few minutes.

Entering his room, the first thing I noticed was a large art piece he had hanging over his bed. The artist used the same picture of Chrysalis that the news papers used in their article about the Canterlot attack. It showed her laughing with outstretched hooves amidst the chaos she created. Though that picture was just a base, because everything in the piece was made from only colored words. Some of the biggest words that made up Chrysalis were ego, hate, jealousy, and tyrant, while her changelings were made up of words such as blind, indoctrinated, and oppressed. At the bottom it read “The truth is rarely pure and never simple.” The infiltrator also had a large collection of books on poetry and visual art, so I thought that he may have made it himself.

“It’s never simple, is it?" the infiltrator said as he closed the door. “You want to know something about Web Head, right?”

“Yeah. I noticed that he was jealous but also empathetic of the coup-”

But I didn’t have time to finish, as he grabbed me with his forehooves and violently shook me, saying, “Why didn’t you tell me?! I’ve been trying to figure him out for years! What else did you notice?!”

“Stop shaking me first," I said, and he did so.

“Sorry," he said rubbing the back of his head. “He just somehow knows how to keep himself hidden as well as an infiltrator.”

I rose an eyebrow. “Wait, why do you believe me? Did Web Head already prove my ability to you?”

At this point the infiltrator was back to his usual composure. “Yeah, even he believes you now. So what else did you notice?”

I tapped my chin in thought as I said, “Not much else. I was concentrated on the conversation the entire time but I did notice that, for some reason, he felt regret and guilt. I think whatever happened to him, whatever he experienced, was something he didn’t learn enough from.”

“Yes, I remember from the interview, and thank you for telling me. I think this will help me reach out to him more than most, if not all the things I knew about him.”

“I’m glad I could help, but I think we should get back to the meeting room.”

“Right," he said, as he started for the door with me following behind him.

Upon coming back to the room, it looked as though Web Head left. I had an idea as to why, but I didn’t bother asking anybody. The lead wasn’t there because he was told that he didn’t have to stay, and as for the small adviser and Act, they were discussing the outcome of the situation.

“So it currently seems that we may have to infiltrate the hive," Act said as we came back in and sat down. “So if you know the name of that changeling that he essentially switched places with, that would really help. The changeling that sent us to Manehattan in the first place said he’d tell us the name, but now that we won’t be taking him in he’s not going to tell us.”

The infiltrator opted to say, “Luckily for you two, that’s common knowledge in this small home.” He then grinned. “We even started a betting pool for how long it’ll be until he’s found out! Looks like I may be the winner, too.”

“Don’t get your hopes up," the small adviser said with a smirk. “My bet’s not far from yours.”

“I’ll just wait and see before I start bragging. I know not to make a fool of myself," the infiltrator said, before turning to Act and I. “Anyways, the name of that foolish changeling is Tricher. But why are you after him?”

I put on a serious expression as I told him, “He owes me an explanation for what happened during the Canterlot attack. It turned me into what I now am, and I want to know who’s to blame.”

“There’s a lot of ponies living in Canterlot that would appreciate an explanation from their attackers. But going through all this to find your changeling? I really hope it’s actually worth it, for your sake.”

I simply responded with, “It is.”

~~~~~~

Once we left their little hive in new disguises, it was pretty late. There were some ponies still out and about in the city, but the streets were mostly empty. So it was a bit surprising that we could catch a late night train ride back to Canterlot. During which, we agreed to take turns watching out for hive infiltrators in case they managed to follow us.

Neither of us wanted to be followed by the hive nor abducted.
> Chapter 12: Equal and Opposite Reaction
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Act and I agreed it was best that I laid low for a while, which meant no messing with disguised changelings and especially not the hive in any way. Though it wasn’t  boring. I had spell research and development to do, which yielded some very useful results after a month of laying low.

The first thing was a change in the anesthetic effect in the transformation spell. I managed to find out how to sync the effect with the transformation paths. Remember Chrysalis’s dramatic transformation style? That’s the path I’m referring to, because I found out that it’s just the shape-shifting spell slowed down. Overall, the effect’s change allowed the spell to be useful mid-combat with minimal repercussions.

The second thing was that I incorporated identifying specific spells into the detection spell. It involved recognizing a few technical details such as whether the spell uses direct targeting, has an area of effect, or is a projectile that has to be aimed. Spells added to the recognition library that I was filling included the fire-portal, telekinesis, and transformation.

Though there was some worrying news.

I noticed that there was a group of three changelings disguised as a mare, stallion, and filly who were moving into my apartment complex. There was three possible explanations for this.

The first and most likely was that all three were fully grown changelings sent to spy on me. The one disguised as a filly was probably the one that was specifically trying to find me out. Ponies are more inclined to believe children, suspect them less, and let their parents punish them, so it would be much easier for a changeling disguised as one to infiltrate somepony’s house. Fortunately for me, I knew that they were changelings so I wasn’t going to be easily tricked by any of the three.

The second possibility was that the one using the filly disguise was actually a young infiltrator being trained by the other two infiltrators. The last possibility was that the parents were actually adult changelings and the filly was actually a young changeling, all of which wanted to leave the hive to live in Equestria. It was unlikely to me, but I cautiously gave them the benefit of the doubt until I found out what they were there for.

Next time I saw Act was when we ate and talked at the Celestial Cafe until it closed for the night. After which, I discretely told him that there was something more private that I wanted to discuss, so we headed to his house. Once there, we went up to the second floor and I told him about the new neighbors.

“It’s most likely that the ‘filly’ is being trained while the ‘parents’ are likely doing what the hive thinks is an easy mission," Act said. “I do like that you considered the advantages a group of infiltrators would have with one disguised as a filly or colt. Though be careful that the latter doesn’t try breaking into your house and if he does, use the disguise dispel.”

“Yeah, I know that," I responded. “Though I want to find out exactly why they’re there.”

“I wouldn’t recommend going out of your way to do that," he told me with some concern. “If they’re there to spy on you and they recognize your habit changes as potential signs of counter-infiltration, they may send someling else who’ll be much more skilled at either fillynapping or assassination.”

I grew a bit worried and rose an eyebrow at that. “Then I think I’ll hold off on that. Anything on your end?”

“Oddly enough, there’s been absolutely nothing going on here that suggests I’m being spied on. Probably because I’m in a higher class neighborhood. Anything new with your spell crafting?”

“I finally got that spell recognition system and it’s notification HUD in the detection spell. There’s only a few spells in the library so far, but I’m planning on adding as many as I can as well as notifications for spells outside my field of view. The more spells in the library, the more spells I can anticipate before it’s even fully cast.”

With a smile, Act said, “Nice! With all these new spells, you’ll live up to your alter ego’s title pretty well.”

~~~~~~

After we were done conversing, I left Act’s house for home with my continuous detection spell on. It was the time of night when the streets were barren of pedestrians and felt slightly creepy to me. I could never decide if it was more creepy in the wealthier or middle class residential areas. The wealthier areas had their own general style which borrowed from many designs created centuries ago, most of which had a creepy feel to it at night. The middle class areas had more shady places to be lurking in, like alleyways. Crime wasn’t very high at all in Canterlot, even for pony standards, but there was always the off-chance.

While passing through a business district on my way home, my spell found something around a corner to highlight and visually tagged it as a telekinesis spell. I also noticed that the changeling was specifically vigilant and envious of me. It was obvious enough that he was after me in particular, but I didn’t think much on why.

So when I came into his sight, the changeling tried to attack me with the classic wooden bat. Unfortunately for him, I reacted well before he had a chance to even finish half a swing, grabbing him in my magic and hitting him against a wall. Only after that did I notice this was no changeling.

He was a half-ling.

Before he had time to say anything, I used a stun spell on him and thought on what to do for several seconds. What I ended up doing was using the spell I made before I learned how to use changeling shape-shifting, though on the new half-ling instead of me. That way he wouldn’t bring too much attention while I took him to the crystal mines. Though before I started my way there I also did a quick disguise change on myself, away from the half-ling’s view so that he didn’t know what spell I used.

Once we were in a good spot within the mines, I set him down, bound his legs with resin, went half way to one of the exits, then changed back to my usual disguise. After leaving the mines, I went right back to Act’s house and knocked on his door. It seemed that he was either about to or was already trying to go to sleep, as he had pajamas on.

“Act, something undoubtedly important just came up! I need to tell you in private!”

He rose an eyebrow, gestured for me to come in, then closed the door behind me.

Before he could say anything I blurted out, “There’s another half-ling!”

“I’m not sure what to make of that," he said with a confused tone.

“He tried to ambush me and I don’t know why. He doesn’t even know me! As far as I know.”

“You haven’t interrogated him yet?”

“Not yet. I thought it would be good to have you with me while I do it.”

“Alright, then I’ll fire-portal us into the mines," Act said as he charged up the spell.

Once in the mines, both of us took a different disguise and I led him to the half-ling. Act was almost as surprised at him as when he saw me as a half-ling for the first time. Though he only took a few seconds to look at him before leading me around a few corners to talk with me.

“So what’s the theory?" was the first thing he asked me.

“The most likely reason I can come up with is that my transformation potion I drank during the attack swaps out anatomy between the drinker and whoever the creature sample came from. It even looks like it. He’s got a unicorn horn, pony eyes, and no leg holes.”

“That would mean he may have problems shape-shifting," Act astutely pointed out.

“Yeah, and I think he somehow knew where I lived. Somebody probably told him. It’s unlikely that he’d be able to just walk around with a cloak on for multiple nights and not be asked by a guard at some point to pull the hood down to know what he looks like. He also specifically wanted to attack me, so it’s just too much of a coincidence.”

“You’re probably right, but who would tell him about you?”

I became a bit nervous at that. “Well, there’s only one I know. He helped with finishing the metamorphic shape-shifting spell and I agreed to owing him a favor in return.”

Act looked worried at that and asked, “Who was it? What does he have to do with this?”

“Well… I knew the favor would be something I’d really hate dealing with, but I had to finish the spell before Twilight’s coronation.”

“I still don’t know how that’s related. Who helped you?”

I took a big breath, let it out, and said, “It was… Discord.”

Act actually facehoofed at that, and with his hoof still in place he told me “You’re lucky if the favor isn’t the biggest mistake of your life. That’s the reason why ponies have the phrase ‘making a deal with Discord’!”

I was a little ashamed of myself as I said, “I know that.”

It was then that I heard noises coming from the half-ling’s direction. He was likely trying to escape, though it was predictably in vein as we came back before he could do anything about the resin.

I came up to him and sat down as he stopped to stare at me with a face of pure malice. I felt his anger, hate, and some fear as I asked him, “Why did you attack the pony?" in my interrogation voice.

The half-ling didn’t answer, but I sensed his confusion at me and the mines so I told him, “You do not need to know where we are and if you want things to progress, you will have to give answers.”

I gave him several seconds to make any verbal response, but he made none.

“I am guessing the hive exiled you for what you have become," I said, which elicited more anger from him. “Regardless of that, you know that pony is your best bet at fixing your shape-shifting problem.” Gesturing to a chain with hoofcuffs dangling from the ceiling, I told him, “I could always hang you by your back legs until you answer. You may take longer to suffer the same effects as a pony, but it’ll happen eventually.”

I turned back to him and with a neutral face I asked, “What happened to you during the Canterlot attack?”

He still remained silent and his emotions told me nothing useful, so I started to drag him to the dangling hoofcuffs. That is, until I heard a familiar voice say, “Oh, you finally found him!" with glee.

I dropped him and turned my head to the source to see Discord in a large crystal’s reflection. Out of curiosity, I turned to where Discord should have been and, of course, he wasn’t there so I turned back to him.

“And hello, my shape-shifting friend!" Discord said, as he walked out of the crystal’s surface like it was an ordinary doorway. “I’ll need to have a chat with you for minute.”

Before I could object, he snapped his fingers to move himself and I to some place quite dark. I couldn’t find a single light source, but before I started walking around for one, he lit a torch. With that, I was able to see the ancient looking hallway we were apparently in, but not before noticing Discord’s adventurer getup. 

Ignoring that, I flatly asked, “Where are we?”

“We’re actually in the Everfree," he told me. “I usually take a stroll through it every week or more. It’s quite nice!”

“Does that even have anything to do with the half-ling?”

“I’m getting to that," he said, then continued with, “So I was on one of those strolls and it was particularly beautiful day. The poison joke was blooming and the timberwolves were tussling. Then I noticed somepony who looked like they just went through some kind of temple of doom.”

“I’m pretty sure it was the forest," I interjected.

“Regardless, I went up to him and noticed that he was only half of what I expected. I asked him if he needed any help, but he refused until I asked him if his appearance was a disguise. He ended up telling me that he wanted his original body back, so I told him that I knew a pony in Canterlot that owed me a favor. I gave him your description, but unfortunately I forgot exactly where you lived.”

“I don’t care about your story, and I’m not planning on fixing the half-ling. I’m already busy as it is and you should be able to fix him yourself.”

He put a paw to his chest and said, “My magic doesn’t work that way.”

“Why should I believe you?" I said as I narrowed my eyes at him a bit.

“Because nopony knows how my magic works and even I don’t completely understand it, so you’ll just have to take my word for it. Nevertheless, you never said the favor had to be something I could do myself, and you should thank me for finding him before a pony did.”

That irritated but also confused me, which led me to irately ask, “Why should that matter to me?”

“Well, what possible outcomes could arise from another half-ling doing any matter of unlawful activities?”

The realization struck me like a free-falling airship.

“I’m just trying to play a role in damage control," Discord claimed.

As annoying as I was expecting the half-ling to be, I knew that I couldn’t just ignore him. He didn’t want to live with ponies and his hive wouldn’t take him back, so he’d just be left to wander around Equestria alone until he finds a solution for fixing himself. Who’d know what kind of trouble he’d get into during that?

“Okay," I reluctantly said. “But I’m not going to specifically fix his problem. I’ve been working on a potion that could fix it and do so much more. It’ll take at least another decade to finish.”

Discord shrugged and said, “As long as it gets finished in his lifetime. I mean, you’ll be stuck looking after him until you fix him… or reform him. Now, knowing that you like to keep things short, I’ll leave you to it.”

He then snapped his fingers and I appeared back in the Canterlot mines, right where I was before.

Act immediately noticed my return, then took me out of the half-ling’s sight and hearing range, then told me, “I wasn’t expecting Discord to come that soon. So what did he want?”

“Exactly what I thought," I told him with a flat tone. “I have to also look after him, unless you want to.”

“I definitely can’t, but do you want to continue with the interrogation? I’ve just been waiting here to help you finish up with him.”

I answered with, “Yeah, I still have more questions.”

So we went back to the half-ling after I took my default disguise and found him still in the same spot as when I left. Both Act and I started to approach him.

He turned his head to me as I told him, “I still have questions of my own," in the interrogation voice. “What happened to you during the changeling invasion?”

Right after asking he finally started talking, but all he said was, “I remember nothing worth mentioning," in a gruff pony voice that was likely his real one.

His emotions matched the claim, so I said, “You likely crashed into an apartment that had a room with a lot of glass.”

This jogged the half-ling’s memory, though he put on a smug grin and condescendingly asked, “Oh, did somepony lose their memory?”

I responded with a mocking, “Oooo, sassy!" then got serious again. “But yes, I have lost my memory of the invasion. So what happened?”

The half-ling switched back to his previous glare and told me, “My squad crashed into your apartment unit. We tried to capture somepony, but the love blast flung us out of the city before we could.”

I gave him a disappointed frown and one raised eyebrow. “The Discord is in the details.”

He told me, “I have none," but I could tell he had at least a little more than he was trying to lead me into believing.

“Then why?”

Giving me a moderately narrow gaze, he said, “You don’t need to know that.”

“If you want a chance at getting your body back this decade, you’ll tell me.”

He remained silent for several seconds, so I told him, “I don't care about any hive secrets that I don't already know.” I then turn around and said, “So with that in mind, I'll give you some time to think," as I started walking away.

A few steps before I left his sight, he suddenly said a begrudging, “Fine!”

I turned around and came back, saying, “So what happened?”

He told me, “After I crashed into the apartment, I was disorientated in more than one way and wet. All I know about the fight was that it sounded like you were losing it.”

For some reason he was lying about me losing the fight, probably to protect the hive's collective ego, but he wasn’t lying about his disorientation. Thinking on that for a few seconds, I couldn’t draw any useful conclusions that I didn’t already suspect so I told him, “You’re coming to my house. Can you cast pony spells?”

“I can. Why do you care?" the half-ling irately said.

“You’re going to use a disguise of some sort. I can’t have you bringing attention to me. So, what pony do you want to be?”

He didn’t think on it very long before telling me, “I’ll be a unicorn mare with a light blue coat, gray mane and tail, and... a blade of grass with a droplet of water for a cutie mark.”

“You need a name for that disguise," I pointed out.

“Morning Dew.”

I turned to Act, who was beside me but silent the entire time, and asked him, “Can you fire-portal him and I to my house?”

“Yeah, that’s not too far," Act said.

So I stood right next to the half-ling and Act fired up his horn to cast the spell.  After arriving home, I closed all the blinds, put the half-ling in the corner of my lab room, then told him that I’ll have a disguise spell ready in a few hours. What I ended up doing was modifying the pony disguise spell I used before I learned my changeling shape-shifting. It wasn’t too hard and in about an hour or two, I took him to my bedroom.

Upon setting him on my bed, he gave me what I assumed was going to be his usual glare of malice. I told him, “You’re going to follow my rules, and the law of Equestria if you want your body back soon. First off, you’re not going to leave the house until you can act enough like a pony. Second, if you don’t know what it is, don’t use it until you ask me. Third, you’re not going to mess with the window blinds until you can cast the spell. Got it?”

“Whatever you say, mom," was his response.

“I’ll take that as a ‘yes’," I said after rolling my eyes.

I untied him and gave the spell instructions over, but the first thing he said was “What kind of ridiculous toilets do ponies use?”

I sighed at that.

If he tries to play stupid, so help me I’ll give him a swirly. 

So I led him to the bathroom and gestured to the porcelain throne. “This is the toilet. It’s like a cauldron pot, but with a lid," I said, then opened the lid and flushed it. “That’s how you empty it.” I then pointed to the sink and told him “This is where you wash you’re hooves after you’re done.” I proceeded to show him how to run the sink faucet, then showed him the soap. “This is soap you use it-”

Though the half-ling interrupted me with “I know what soap is, you endoskeletal butt stallion!”

I was only mildly surprised at that, so I simply said, “Then that’s everything.”

Though as I started to leave, he mockingly asked, “But what do I use to wipe? Paper?”

By this point I was already thoroughly unamused. “Yes. Toilet paper. It’s the roll of soft white stuff right next to the toilet.”

I then left and a thought occurred to me on the way to my lab.

Sweet Celestia, I hope he doesn’t ever confuse the sink for the toilet, like that colt’s grandfather did at the dinosaur themepark.

...I wonder if Sky ever had to deal with that kind of thing.

Deciding to ignore that thought for the time being, I entered my small lab and locked the door to experiment with more changeling magic for about an hour. After that I decided to hit the hay. Though before I fell asleep I realized that I also had to make sure the half-ling knew how ponies slept.

Getting up, I started my detection spell, only to realize that it didn’t pick up the half-ling. I was worried for a second, before realizing that he may not be using any changeling magic. So I did a quick search to find him still trying to cast the spell in the living room.

Even though he was still in a bad mood, I came up to him and said, “You’re going to have to act enough like a pony as well, so you’ll need to know where we sleep.”

“I wouldn’t pretend to be your wife, even if it meant that I’d get my body back in the next week," the half-ling told me with a serious face, though his emotions told me something else.

I unenthusiastically responded with, “You know what I mean. Now, you can sleep either on the couch or in the sleeping bag.”

But something about the last part caused him confusion, yet a bit of joy. “Why would you sleep in a bag? I knew all you ponies are soft, spoiled, and indolent, but I didn’t know I could add freaks to the list.”

I gave him a deadpan look and told him, “Just pick one or I’ll assume you’ll use the couch.”

“Then whichever one is least comfortable. I’m not going to get as indolent as you.”

“Sleeping bag it is," I said, then went to my bedroom to get it.

After coming back I unrolled the sleeping bag, then said, “You just unzip it and crawl in.”

“What in the queen’s name is unzipping?”

It was at that moment I realized I never had to explain what a zipper was, so I just decided to show him. “You take this small metal flap and pull it down the... metal seal. This is a zipper. It’s used to open and close things.”

I could sense his small feeling of disgust grow a tiny bit towards me and the object as he said, “Then I’m not going to use the zipper.”

“I don’t care if you use the zipper or not. If you’re going to sleep, then sleep in it. If you have questions, ask me in the morning.”

Leaving him to his own devices, I went back to bed and wondered if the half-ling would end up doing something horrendously stupid despite what I said. Though I wasn’t worried about it all that much and I soon fell asleep with Frost laying across my hind legs.

Upon entering the dreamscape, I was met with the same boulevard dream again. Though when I checked the street signs, it said the one that the two groups of ponies started on was called Broken Dreams. I didn’t know what it meant for sure, but I didn’t think it would’ve helped me much.
> Chapter 13: Indignation and Blind Disobedience
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

I awoke the next morning and got out of bed. Or rather, I sat up and rolled out of bed followed by an unceremonious fall to the floor, realizing that my hind legs fell asleep with Frost on them overnight. So with the skill that only somebody who’s had that happen several times before could have, I took a bipedal walk to the bathroom to prepare a bit for the day.

After that my legs woke up enough and I came downstairs to find a can of Frost’s food open in the kitchen, though it looked like it wasn’t opened with a can opener. The opening it had was crudely cut and, taking a knife lying next to it in my hoof, I smelled it to find the scent of the can’s contents. So I went out of the kitchen and into the living room, where I found the half-ling doing push-ups on the ceiling.

In a commanding tone I told him, “Get down from there!”

Not stopping his exercise, the changeling asked, “Why?" in a challenging tone.

“Would you rather do push-ups right side up, or die from the ceiling collapsing on top of you?”

“The ceiling in your flimsy house won’t hurt me, and even if it does, what doesn’t kill a changeling makes a changeling stronger," was the half-ling’s response, so I took him in my magic and, while he was squirming to get out, I took him off the ceiling. After setting him on the floor right side up, I kept him in my magic so I could say, “You forget who can fix you.”

Narrowing his eyes at me slightly, the said, “Fine," with heavy malice then walked into the kitchen. 

I followed and told him, “You were eating the cat food. Ponies don’t do that.”

I felt his irritation and he decided to leave the cat food where it was. Though he went to a cabinet and took out a box of cereal which he proceeded to eat dry, while I took a few oranges from the fridge and went to the counter.

While peeling the oranges, I said, “That tastes better with milk," without looking up.

“I’ll use whatever I want!" the half-ling growled at me, and went to a cabinet to take something out. Judging by what he took out, he had no idea what he was doing. Not only that, he also poured the entire bottle into the cereal box. So I just watched, with the smallest smirk, as he took his first mouthful. This gave him an odd feeling so he ate slower and slower as it became more intense, while my smirk grew with it. Eventually he started to tear up then stopped eating and began to breathe more heavily, at which point I was almost done eating.

“I think you’ll want to have that milk about now," I said with plenty of amusement in my voice.

“I’m a changeling. We endure," he said, then started to eat more of the cereal, to which I told him, “Well, when you’re done enduring, the milk’s in the big metal box over there. It’s called the fridge. Oh, and I’ll also need to tell you how to take a shower some time today.” 

Celestia knows you could use one…

And with that, I left the kitchen to start my lab work. During the session, I finished another batch of potions for Cordial and discovered a few more patterns in changeling magic that appeared to complete the information I was after. So I crafted each pattern’s detection method and integrated it into the detection spell. These patterns were in every changeling spell structure I could get my hooves on, possibly due to the nature of emotional energy and the changeling mind. And the best part?

This even detected the emotion digestion magic!

Seeing as this was the spell I was trying to create all along, I was excited to use it to find the half-ling and tell him “I’m going out for an hour or so. Don’t eat anything that’s not in the fridge!”

After which, I left for Cordial’s store to drop off the completed potions while using the new spell. After dropping them off, I started my way back, but three or four blocks away something caught my eye.

My spell picked up another changeling cocoon which was located on the second story of a small coffee shop. So I galloped back to Cordial, who was taking inventory in the store area, and told him “I need to use your office for literally ten seconds!”

“What? Why?”

I brought my muzzle up to his ear and whispered “It’s an emergency, a changeling has a cocooned pony!”

Immediately giving me the key, he said, “Then use it.”

Taking it just as quickly as he gave it, I casually walked to his office, unlocked the door, closed all blinds and locked all doors, then changed to a random pegasus. Before casually leaving, I tossed the keys back to Cordial then quickened my pace.

Upon arriving at the coffee shop, I waited in a short line, while having a quick look around. It was moderately occupied with customers, none of which were changelings, though two of the three running it were. After ordering a large coffee that I knew I was going to need, I sat at a table and drank it while deciding on what to do.

Once I finished off the coffee, I followed the sign to their bathroom which was located in a short hallway on the side of the shop. There was also a locked door leading to what I could only assume was their living space on the second floor, but I didn’t bother with trying to get the door open. So entering the bathroom, I did my business while analyzing the space for any ways to slip into the living space. 

After a minute or two, I found only one possible entry to the second floor. It was a small vent, though too small for even a foal. At that point I exited the cafe and went around to the back of the building to get closer to it’s back room and out of everyone’s sight.

You've left me with no other choice.

I then changed into a unicorn and waited for one of the infiltrators to enter the back room. Once one did, I waited for him to close the door then cast the disguise dispel and before he had time to react, I made him punch himself in the stomach with my telekinesis, then the jaw, the stomach again, the cheeks a few times, and finally the jaw again.

While the changeling was dazed and confused, I switched to a changeling and quickly entered the shop again. Though once I did the other changeling was going to the back room, likely to check on the other one, which meant I had to act faster than I hopped. At this point I did the only thing I could think of.

Quickly walking towards the back room, the only actual pony running the place stopped me right after going past the counter.

“Sir, what-”

But she didn’t have time to finish as I took her in my magic and gently slid her to the side, saying, “Ignore me for now," in a tone just as gentle.

Surprisingly, she let me continue into the back room, where I sneaked up behind the second changeling then cast the disguise dispel on him while grabbing him with my magic. After that I cast the interrogation stun spell on both of them, though the whole thing alerted the mare and she came in, shocked to see both the conscious and unconscious infiltrator.

“Were they the owners?" she asked with moderate fear of not just the infiltrators, but me as well.

So I told her, “If you mean ‘Were they disguised as the owners?’, then yes.”

“H-how do I know you’re not sided with Chrysalis?" she asked.

“Hive changelings don’t know any disguise dispels they can cast.”

After she thought on it for a few seconds she told me, “Okay, I believe you. I’ll get a Guard to help with this," then galloped off.

Though I opted to cast the full stun spell on the two infiltrators, started the mid level invisibility spell on myself and the two, then changed into a pegasus. Exiting through the cafe’s back door, I took off with the infiltrators on my back and leveled out at a moderate altitude to keep ponies from seeing me while I flew out of the city. I then landed at a cave entrance, stopped the invisibility spell as I went through it, and finally stopped at a good spot in the crystal mines to talk with the infiltrators.

After binding them with resin in a changeling form and casting the interrogation stun on them again, I said, “I have heard a lot about enduring from changelings, but why do you think that experiencing changes in the way you live is not a test of your capacity to endure? Because there are dozens of changelings living in Sky’s home, enduring the transition to a pony way of life.”

“I’m not talking to you about the hive," said the conscious one.

“You do realize that statement alone, even without emotion, proves that what I have been doing has been effective, right?”

“You’re trying to play mind games. It won’t work.”

I responded by obviously playing stupid and saying, “I am?" though I went back to my usual interrogation demeanor right after. “Regardless, all hive changelings have been lied to about how everypony views them, and the way they should live.” 

But the infiltrator became infuriated and yelled, “Shut it!" so I told him, “If you can not be civil I will just use the full stun again while I finish. Now, the hive is currently taking your view of the world in exchange for a role, your individual logic to take orders, and for infiltrators like you especially, your ability to feel so you can put on a mask. This is why you and many other hive changelings lie to themselves and believe it, why they can't see any truth, why they have no respect for themselves, and could even be why your species needs to consume love. It could even be said that, in a way, without feeding on positive emotions, changelings die from a lack of self respect.”

“You’re lying, just like with every other infiltrator," he said with hate.

So I asked him, “Oh? Then why it is that the changelings that left the hive have enough self respect to make their own decisions? Why it is that their self respect earns them enough friends and therefore positive emotion to live on while the hive's deceptive ways give them next to nothing in comparison?”

“It doesn’t matter," the infiltrator said, grinding his teeth in irritation. Though my passion, determination, and worry for the subject at hoof was starting to give him uncertainty.

I continued with said emotions in my voice. “But that is where your understanding ends. You only know the traditional way of gathering emotion, and that has become ineffective ever since the Canterlot invasion. Chrysalis knows this, yet she turns a blind eye to it and lies to all of you. If you want to know whether or not you are being lied to, cast aside everything you have learned in the hive about what ponies think of you. Form your own point of view about what is going on by experiencing it with your own senses.”

By then the infiltrator seemed afraid of what he might find if he did as suggested and was skeptical, yet with all seriousness he still said, “If you turn out to be correct about this, how could the hive even change to ensure it’s survival? Nearly all of us are loyal to Chrysalis.”

Unfortunately, I didn’t want to stay in the mines much longer so as I charged up a spell, I told him “The answer will become obvious with time," then cast it.

After the full stun spell, I crafted two cocoons for them and put a resin slab on each. One had the phrase, “Your queen is not the answer, because only love can conquer hate," while the second said, “It is when the talking ceases that the ground becomes fertile for violence.”

Leaving them hanging from the cave ceiling, I walked back home.

~~~~~~

Upon opening the door, I noticed several small puddles of mud around the living room. Upon further inspection of said room, I spotted a moderate sized pile of sludge that looked like it contained or reflected the night sky. I also noticed a few deep voices in the kitchen speaking of hunting things, including what I could assume was me.

So just to be sure that it was as harmless as I expected, I started the invisibility spell and took a peek to see that the walls were, in fact, talking without mouths. So I set my bags next to the laundry closet’s wall and cast the detection spell, but I didn’t pick up anything so I went to search the apartment for the half-ling.

Great. He found Clumsy Caster's Book of Ill Conceived Spells, and probably cast Breath of Mud, Beast's Thought Walls, and Celestial Cloak of Sludge. Him successfully casting the second one is probably a fluke, and for his sake I hope he hasn't used the Wizard's Disappearance spell, seeing as no one who's ever cast it has ever returned.

I started by checking all potential hiding places and when I took a look behind the couch, I came across an open container of laundry detergent.

Please tell me he didn’t actually eat it.

So I called out for the half-ling, who responded with, “Your stupid hot sauce made me go blind!" to which I immediately galloped towards the source of his voice. Finding him in the hallway upstairs that connects my lab and bedroom, I saw him lying on the floor and noticed his breathing was heavy enough to be like he came back from a jog just now.

“I’m taking you to my bathroom," I told him with haste, and grabbed him in my magic.

As I picked him up and went through my room, he tried to squirm out of my grasp and demanded to put him down, but I ignored it. He needed to get the detergent out of his system immediately so after setting him down on the tile floor, I filled a cup with water at the sink, and went back to him.

Passing the cup to him, I said, “You drink this water.”

“No! I you can’t trick me!”

“If you don’t start drinking water now, you might stay blind!" I warned him.

Unfortunately, he took it as a threat. “I knew it! You’re tying to make me blind!”

“I meant that drinking the water now will help keep you from being permanently blind! You need to drink it!”

“How would I know if you poisoned it?!" he asked, breathing getting worse still.

“It’d taste different!”

“Then what if it’s tasteless?!”

Seeing as his train of thought was going nowhere, I responded with, “If I wanted to kill you I would've done it last night after interrogating you!”

“You’re just trying to torture me for hive secrets!”

“I don’t care about any hive secrets that I don’t already know, and even if I don’t like you I don’t want to torture you because of it, and I especially don’t want you to die!”

“Then give it to me!" the half-ling said as he held out a hoof. So I levitated the cup onto it and he took a few sips, then quickly drank the rest. I then took the cup and filled it again, and he did the same thing as before. After several cups and several more minutes, Frost came into the room and the half-ling seemed like he could see again.

Looking at me, the half-ling asked, “Why do you care about me at all?” in a tone less commanding than usual.

With a straight face I said, “I’d feel like a monster if I didn’t.”

“Why?”

“I’m… a sympathetic and empathetic pony. I hate seeing others unnecessarily suffer, no matter who… and especially if it's because of a selfish mentality.”

At the last part, I could begin to sense the half-ling‘s trust in me. He still didn’t like me, but it was a start.

So I continued with, “And it’s not just me either. All decent ponies are sympathetic and empathetic because it's part of Equestrian culture.”

“I haven’t ever seen any proof of that with ponies towards changelings, besides you," the changeling said in a slightly accusatory way.

That reminded me about my weekly bar visit, which I knew I’d have to bring him to in a few days, so I told him, “You’ll see more of it soon.”

Changing the subject with an unamused tone, he asked, “Why do you have a book with so many stupid spells?”

After taking a few seconds to think of how to explain it, I said, “It’s the novelty of having something that represents a hilariously bad idea.”

He obviously didn’t understand. Regardless, he changed the topic with, “Why do you have an animal as big as yourself in your house?”

I didn’t want to be the one to explain that, but I decided to try anyways. “His name is Frost and he’s my pet. Ponies adopt and take care of pets for… various reasons.”

“That’s pointlessly frivolous and a waste of time," the half-ling responded with a clear absence of amusement.

“Well, they used to be kept mostly for help in physical labor, like farm work.”

“That’s obviously lazy.”

Seeing as I couldn’t convince him of a pet’s usefulness in that regard, I tried something else with, “I doubt that, but the biggest modern reason is that they usually have less complicated relationships than ones between just ponies. It’s mostly due to a language barrier, yet the owner and pet will usually be happy with each other.

“So pets can be another living thing that you can depend on to comfort you… but I guess hive changelings don’t want that. They’re also easier to please, and can be a way to teach fillies more about responsibility. It usually rewards them with a nice companion when they can handle it.”

Despite all that, the half-ling said, “Still sounds like a waste of time.”

“The only other reason I can think of is that, for some ponies, it feels like they’re raising a very young filly because they generally act similar.”

“I’ve never raised any young," the half-ling pointed out.

I should have expected that… 

Then he asked, “And how do you know things about the hive?”

“You’ll know soon enough," I said as I got up. “Right now I need to clean the mess you made.” Leaving the half-ling to himself, I went downstairs to do just that.

The weird sludge and mud-vomit were the worst to clean up, even with a spell I knew to aid in stain removal. In contrast, the kitchen walls were very easy as I just needed to find and use the dispel that was in the same book. After that, I went to my lab to get to work, though I decided to check on the half-ling every few hours. I thought he could have been doing other things that he shouldn’t without realizing it.

~~~~~~

It turned out that I wasn’t wrong, seeing as I had to explain other things to him. He tried to practice knife throwing with the kitchen knives, turning pencils into arrows, and eating erasers. But the most interesting instance was late at night.

I went to the kitchen after I was done with lab work for the night and one of the first things I noticed was that the oven’s racks had been taken out. So I went to the oven and took a look through it’s window to notice something big. Opening it up, I found that it was the half-ling fast asleep.

I gave him a deadpan glare.

Really? Why would squeezing yourself in there be worth the effort? It’s not even comfortable!

I managed to wake him up with his pony name, and he responded with, “What do you want?" in a slurred voice. I naturally assumed that he was just sleepy, so I didn’t think much of it.

“You’re not supposed to be sleeping in the oven," I warned him in a flat tone.

The half-ling responded in a challenging tone with, “Then why?”

“It’s used to cook food at up to five-hundred degrees fahrenheit. Do you want to be cooked alive?" I told him.

Though he didn’t take me seriously and starting climbing out while staying, “Your house is practically the arctic. I’m turning it on.”

I immediately responded by taking him out myself with my magic and gave him a serious look while holding him. “You’re not sleeping in there. Also, why are you drunk?”

“Because you ponies need physical food to… live, you moron.”

Seeing as he wasn’t in any state to teach him anything effectively, I told him, “You’re either going to sleep on the couch or the sleeping bag. In fact, at this point I don’t care if it’s the floor, and if you try sleeping in the oven again I’ll lock you in my bedroom for the night.”

As soon as I let him go, he just plopped down, lying right where he was standing and closed his eyes. I didn’t think much of it, so I went to the trashcan to see what he drank, but it didn’t quite add up. He drank the few bottles of cider I had, but that shouldn’t have gotten him that drunk. Thinking on it for a minute, I realized the other thing he likely drunk and headed to the bathroom.

Upon entering, my eyes went right to the mouthwash, which was empty. I then decided to take a look in the cabinet under the sink where I noticed that the other bottle was also empty.

For the sake of not having to tell him about drinking too much alcohol, I hope he has a Celestia-awful hangover. Though I still have to tell him what the rest of the stuff in the bathroom is. I can’t have him using my toothbrush to clean the toilet or something else like that. I’ll also need to tell him about the oven again.

After going to my bedroom I laid down on the bed and started reading a novel. Though only a few minutes later, the half-ling comes in and tells me, “Your cat’s possessed," still slurring.

I sighed, looked at him, and said, “The only kind of possessed he is, is the fact that I’m his owner.”

Giving me a deadpan look, he said, “He made a zombie moan.”

“The lynx equivalent of a hiss sounds like that a lot of the time," I said, unamused. “Also, if you threaten or hurt him, I’ll turn you into a dragonfly for him to play with.”

At this point the half-ling turned around and walked away, doubting that I could do it and saying, “Ponies are insane," to himself.

And I’ll need to make sure he knows about that in the morning as well.

~~~~~~

The next day I woke up really early. Not because of myself or even Frost, who was lying on me, but the half-ling.

“What did you do last night?! I can’t remember anything after drinking those bottles in the fridge and I can’t stand the slightest bit of light and sound!" he said, probably with his hooves over his ears.

Frost made a sudden movement, probably just to see who was yelling. As for me, I told him, with a half awake slur, “You got manure-faced last night cause you drank too much alcohol. Drink a lot of water and it might go away quicker. Now go away, I’m trying to sleep in.”

“Ponies drink things that make them forget entire nights?! All you ponies are psychotic!" he yelled, then stomped out of the room.

After several more hours of sleeping, I got up and went through the living room to see all the blinds closed and the half-ling doing more exercising with resin in his ears. Once in the kitchen, I put some food in Frost’s bowl, ate some cereal, then went to my lab.

I was able to add on something to the half-ling's disguise spell that leaves a trail of inert changeling magic which lasts for a few hours. I didn’t want him running off and looking for him for days or weeks. As nonsensical as it would be for him to do so, I wouldn’t have been surprised if he did.

After several hours of more lab work and a total break time of an hour or two, the sun was about to set so I had to explain some things to the half-ling.

“I’m going to a type of place called a pub and you’re coming with me," I told him.

“Why?" he asked in his usual hostile tone.

“Because what you did while I was out of the house last time inspires the term ‘blind disobedience’," I told him, as unamused at his attitude as usual.

“Then whatever a pub is better be a quiet place.”

“It probably won’t be. It’s a place where ponies go to drink cider and chat with others. I’m meeting my friends there and if you want your body fixed, you’ll keep your ruse of being a pony up.”

“Then you better have some pony thing to put in my ears," he warned me.

I told him, “I do," and went to get my earplugs. After I gave them to him, I told him what my two friends looked like so he wouldn’t be confused, then he cast his disguise and put the earplugs in.

Arriving at the pub, Dew was acting just about as I expected. He had an irritated look on his face with a bit of confusion, was dragging his hooves, and looked exasperated overall. So it was a bit awkward to introduce him.

Arriving at the table that Blitz and Modus were already at, I greeted them with, “Hey, guys. I, uh, brought someone with me.”

And of course, the first question Blitz asked was, “Is she your marefriend?”

“No," I said, after a short and quiet sigh. “She just needed a place to stay for a while.”

Despite Modus already knowing that she wasn’t, he still said, “Well then. You’ve raised my hopes and crashed them just as fast.” To which I responded by applying my hoof to my face and rubbing it down one slow, singular time while audibly sighing.

“So what brings you here, other than Shape?" Blitz asked.

Though Modus immediately asked, “I think a better question is, why is she wearing earplugs?”

“She had too much to drink last night, and was bored at my place," I told them as I sat down next to Modus, who was facing Blitz on the other side. Dew decided to sit on the opposite end of Blitz’s side and put his head on the table, burying it in his forelegs.

Blitz seemed to know almost as well as Modus that I wanted a change in topic, because he took the opportunity to say, “I had a mare at my place earlier today, though that was because she slept there after I took her on a date last night. We hit it off pretty well, so it looks like this city still has mares of my preference after all!”

“Well, you’re not too picky on looks," Modus pointed out. “So I’m not that surprised.”

“Yeah, I think you were just having a stroke of bad luck," I added.

Blitz then said, “Either way, I have a pretty good feeling about her.”

So we continued to talk about his recent date for another half hour or so, until Dew told me, “I’m going to the bathroom," in a zombie-like tone, and did so.

As soon as he was out of earshot, Modus said, “I know she’s got a hangover, but why’s she acting a little weird?”

“Weird how?" I asked.

Blitz answered with, “I got the impression that she likes nobody. At all.”

“She definitely doesn’t like me, even though she hasn’t even talked to me yet," Modus added.

Blitz pointed out that, “She hasn’t even heard us yet.”

“She’s… not a ponies pony," I told them. “She doesn’t like anyone she doesn’t know.”

Modus shrugged while saying, “I guess that makes sense. I knew a pony who was like that.”

“I’ve never known a pony like that, but it makes sense to me," Blitz said.

Suddenly a mare called out “Hey, Shape!" and when I turned my head to the source I saw Crooked Gallery. Hamartia didn’t tell me which disguise he was going to use, so for all I knew, this changeling could actually be a hive infiltrator. My safest course of action was to act as if I hadn’t seen her since school.

Gallery came up to me and gave me a hug from behind, which surprised me a bit.

“I, uh…," was all I could say before Blitz surprisingly asked, “Are you Gallery?”

“Yup!”

So Blitz asked, “How did you find us?" as Gallery sat next to me.

“Well, Shape wasn’t hard to track down," she said as she gave me a pet on the mane. “Ever since the changeling invasion, Shape was accused of being a changeling enough times for the city to generally know him a bit.”

“Looks like your time of being the mystery stallion is over," Blitz amusingly stated, though I wasn’t worried about it.

“Ponies will soon forget about it. I’m the kind of pony that most forget about," I said with no sorrow whatsoever, leaning into the back of the booth seat.

Modus then asked Gallery, “How do you know these two?”

So Gallery put her foreleg around my shoulders, gave me a gentle squeeze and said, “I was Shape’s marefriend for a while.”

“Oh," Modus responded. “Well Shape mentioned you but not your name.”

Gallery responded to that by looking said and asking me, “You forgot my name?”

“No! I didn’t!" I worryingly said with haste.

Gallery just giggled and said, “Shape, I’m joking.”

“Well, I thought so but I wasn’t sure," I said with slight embarrassment.

“You really haven’t changed much," Gallery told me.

To which Blitz causally responded with, “Yeah, he really hasn’t. He’s still a dork.”

“I’m not a dork," I said to Blitz.

Modus added to it with, “I didn’t know him back then, but I don’t think he’s much of a dork now.”

“I’m disappointed," Gallery said to me with a hint of sadness. “Now I can’t call you adorkable anymore.”

Both Modus and Blitz chuckled at that, while Dew came back and took his seat and I sank down a bit from more embarrassment. The arrival prompted Gallery to ask, “Hi! You know these three?”

“She can’t hear you right now. She’s got earplugs in," I told Gallery.

“So she has a hangover already?" Gallery jokingly asked.

“Actually, yeah, she does. Too much to drink last night," Blitz said.

Gallery looked a little confused and interested, so I explained with, “She needed a place to stay for a while, and I somehow found it hard to say no to her. She apparently found it just as hard to say no to my cider.”

I started to notice Gallery’s small suspicion of Dew, while Gallery said, “Oh, well it’s good to know that you’re still such a nice stallion!” Gallery then turned to Modus. “So how did you meet Shape?”

“He was in two of the classes that I teach," Modus answered.

Gallery followed up with, “What were the two classes?”

“The first class he had with me was philosophy and the other was logic. He found philosophy pretty easy to understand. The paper he had to write was crazy and more interesting than many of the others. Though he wasn’t all that great in the other class. He had to take it a second time and did okay.”

Planting my head on the table, I said, “Now I feel like I’m in a parent-teacher conference. Why is everyone embarrassing me tonight?" which made Modus feel pretty bad about what he said.

“Because it’s entertaining," I heard Dew say, not knowing that he took out the earplugs a minute or so ago.

I gave Dew a deadpan and slightly threatening glare while Gallery asked Blitz, “Have I ever told you the first thing Shape ever said to me?”

“No. What did he say?" he asked.

“It was really cute!" Gallery exclaimed. “It happened when we were getting paired up for an in-class assignment.”

Knowing what was coming, I started to bury my face in my forelegs.

“We turned out to be the last two in the class who didn’t have a partner, so the teacher told us that we had to work with each other. I just said ‘Hi!’ and he said ‘It’s a meet to pleasure your acquaintance’! I still giggle about it sometimes.”

Blitz followed that up with, “Hey Shape, I bet she was a real pleasure to meet.”

A muffled, “Shut up," was the only response I had to that.

Gallery also responded a bit shyly with, “Actually… I never did that with him, even though I was willing to in the last few weeks of our relationship.”

I was surprised that Gallery felt that way about me at that time. All she had to do was ask, but I guessed that she was afraid of becoming too attached. Yet I was also further embarrassed because my friends would soon find out how this was big evidence that I never pondered the unicorn.

Though Modus helped save me any further embarrassment with, “I, uh… think we should change the subject. I’ve never seen Shape this embarrassed before.”

Gallery must have known how I felt about what she said but didn’t realize why until she slowly said, “Actually… I completely agree. Sorry, Shape.”

Sighing, Blitz said, “I guess we can," with a small bit of regret about what he said and sympathy towards me.

So none of us talked for a few minutes, during which I realized that having Gallery back in my group just felt right. Even if I wasn’t dating her anymore. I eventually unburied my head from my forelegs and a minute or so after, Modus said, “I think I found the right combination of flora to create the explosive fruit.”

Gallery burst out laughing at that, saying, “A naturally explosive fruit?!”

“Well," Modus said, “as funny as I do think it sounds, I’m actually doing it.”

After Gallery finally stopped laughing, she dismissively said, “I’m not surprised. Shape’s friends have always been weird and crazy. In fact, my talent is creating uniquely strange pictures.” She then shrugged. “So I’m at least weird.”

“I swear some of the pictures you made in school gave me nightmares," Blitz said with a deadpan stare.

Giving a devious smirk, I asked, “Was one of them the picture of the pony with six legs arranged like a spider’s?”

To which Blitz gave a face of moderate horror and a tone to match. “Don’t even remind me.”

“So what’s the exploding plant idea, exactly?" Gallery asked before I could say anything back.

Modus started with, “Apparently Blitz was on to something with using pineapples or coconuts, so I’m combining them with a plant called peat.”

“So if you can’t get enough pressure to cause a good enough explosion, you’ll stick with the pineapples for the shrapnel that it’s skin can be?” I asked. 

Smiling at me, Modus said, “Yep. Though I’m expecting the coconut to hold more pressure than the pineapple.”

“So the pressure’s going to come from the peat somehow, right?”

Still smiling, he said, “Right again. The peat’s properties I’m going to try will cause a gas pressure buildup, which is something the plant does to shoot it’s spores into the air.”

Though both Blitz and Gallery looked skeptical and worried for some reason. 

“Might one of the new plants in the breeding process release spores upon exploding?" Gallery slowly asked.

Blitz picked up with worry in his voice. “It could spread to anywhere if you’re not really careful, and if it gets to a spot where it can fully grow, it’ll explode and spread! If that cycle continues, we could have an epidemic of exploding plants!”

“Hold your halberds," Modus calmly said. “They’ll be in a tempered glass greenhouse, so there shouldn’t be much trouble.”

“That still won’t keep the spores from sticking to you and getting a ride out!" Blitz said a bit louder than usual.

But Modus said ,“I’m positive there’s a spell or potion to entirely prevent that," with a pondering voice and a hoof tapping his chin.

“For the sake of all of Equestria, I hope you find it," Blitz said with a sigh, knowing how much trouble there would be if Modus didn’t.

Gallery then suddenly blurted out, “Oh! Did any of you go to Princess Twilight’s coronation?”

“I was there to guard to skys," Blitz explained. “Thankfully it wasn’t entirely boring ‘cause I was able to see most of it, including the speech. It was interesting.”

Modus said, “It was really touching to see the speech, and my wife felt more of the same.”

“I went to it with binoculars!" I exclaimed. “It was amazing! Twilight was stunning with royal regalia and wings.”

Seeing as I was swooning over her, Blitz was slightly weirded out. “Why have you been so infatuated with her ever since she saved Equestria from Discord?”

So before I could say that I thought they were done embarrassing me, Gallery dramatically exclaimed, “I have to compete with Twilight for your love now?" while putting her foreleg up to her forehead in a dramatic pose. Both Blitz and Modus snickered.

“I’ve got my hoof in the door," I countered. “I go to Ponyville for a few days every once in a while and visit the Golden Oaks library every time.”

Modus raised an eyebrow that he didn’t have and said, “But that won’t help much. You’d have to ask her if she’s willing to do anything with you.”

“If you mean a way to get her to notice me, I’ve got that completely covered," I confidently exclaimed. 

“Then what is it?" Blitz asked.

So I gave a cocky grin and said, “All I have to do is ask her for help with anything involving advanced magic, which I work with all the time!”

“I think she’ll get too distracted by your magic work and friend-zone you," Blitz said.

“That’s just the first step," I said. “After I get her help a few times I’ll try to get her to go to some place nice with me, then do things for her every time I’m there and she needs help.”

All the while Modus was slowly raising his other eyebrow, which met the risen one’s height by the time he said, “You’ve been thinking about this more than I thought.”

“Yeah," Gallery pondered. “I might have some competition after all.”

“I don’t think you have anything to worry about. It’s a long shot for him," Blitz said dismissively.

To which Gallery responded with, “Probably, but I’m not taking any chances.”

At that point I was starting to get tired of how the topic that night was changing against me all the time, so I turned to Blitz and said, “I don’t see you trying to get with Applejack.”

Knowing that Modus would likely know if he was lying, Blitz’s first few attempts at a response were met with him abruptly stopping at the first or second word to rethink it. Eventually he realized that he had to tell us, or we’d probably keep bugging him about it.

“Fine. I’ve had a crush on Applejack for a few years and did nothing to get her to notice me. Happy?”

Before I could say anything, Modus told all of us, “I had a crush on Pinkie Pie for for a month or two, before I found my wife.”

“Really? Same here," Gallery said. “Though mine lasted about a year.”

“You swing both ways?" Blitz asked, and Gallery answered with, “I realized it about a year after I moved out of Canterlot. I started having feels for a mare and I asked her out, so she said yes and everything went well. I’m still friends with her after breaking up.”

Blitz then turned to me, leaned in a bit, and with a quieter voice he said, “Shape," so I leaned in as well and he continued. “I don’t talk about feelings much, but after my favorite dog I ever had died, I didn't feel like I should have ever adopted another because none would likely measure up. But after a month or so, my dad said that even if the next dog we adopted doesn't measure up to my favorite dog, the fact is that there's still other nice dogs out there that could use a good home.”

I wasn’t sure what he was trying to get at and I looked confused at that point.

“So, I know it’s not exactly the same, but you shouldn't let the end of what was one of the best, if not the best, relationships you ever had stop yourself from finding a mare that wants to live with nice stallion like you for the rest of each other's life.”

It was obvious that he figured out there was something at least moderately serious causing my dating reluctance, but it wasn’t even simple to choose who to talk to about it. 

After a few seconds of no one at the table saying anything, Gallery gave a cocky grin and asked, “So females are a bitch?”

Dew snickered at that while Blitz facehoofed and said, “The one time I spill my feelings and someone just has to ruin it with a joke.”

“Sorry," Gallery said, looking embarrassed. “I… still sometimes make jokes at inappropriate times.”

“Well," Modus said, “I think what Blitz said was fantastically wise.”

Blitz gave a slight smile at that, and I said, “I already know that lesson, but my problem is something else entirely.”

Raising an eyebrow in confusion, Modus asked, “Then what is it?”

A bit nervous, I said, “I-I can’t talk about it yet.”

“Why not?” Modus asked, though Gallery gave a small soft frown said, “He doesn’t want to talk about it, guys. Just leave it be.”

Blitz responded with his hooves raised in defense and said, “I wasn’t going to push it. I respect everyone’s privacy and the right to have secrets.”

Gallery already knew my reason and, if she was Hamartia, she was trying to cover my back. I already had enough problems to sort through at the time, though I couldn’t blame him for what he did back then, at least for the most part, so helping me to keep my cover was the most I’d ask of him.

“My bad," Modus said with embarrassment. “I can still sometimes push for too much information. It only happens once a year or so.”

With a sly grin, Blitz quietly asked, “Like that one time you asked that mare at the Gala something and she threw the punch bowl at you with her magic?”

“How do you know about that?" Modus asked.

“You were on my patrol route for the night, so I stopped to watch when she started to look embarrassed. Don’t know why they had a punch bowl sitting in the halls, but don’t worry," Modus said, then switched to a foreboding undertone. “No one here’s going to tell anyone else.”

No one was really intimidated by it. Not because he’s not intimidating, but because everyone at the table knew that he knew that we could be trusted with that secret.

For the rest of the night, we went back to the topic of romance. Blitz and I ended up asking questions about same sex couples. It was kind of embarrassing, but we never asked much about it with anybody. It was interesting and cute to hear about Gallery’s relationship, and Modus ended up answering questions valid to stallion couples, as he was in a few. Dew occasionally made a witty remark about me, but I took it in stride every time.

The last thing we did was go to Blitz’s home and casually took a pack of cider with us to a few houses some blocks away. At each one we put them in the mailbox while Dew rolled her eyes. Once we were done, we started snickering about it a few blocks down from the last one while sharing how we imagined the ponies would react.

In retrospect, we probably did that because we didn’t quite know what our minds of varying inebriation and exhaustion were thinking at the time. Though after that topic, we realized that we were just wandering and talking at the latest hours of the night, so we all went home. 

~~~~~~

The next day, Metrion came to the meeting spot and we both went to the music practice hall in Celestia’s school after getting Metrion’s violin. Once in one of the small practice rooms, the changeling asked, “So what happened?" in an expecting tone.

“He wants to stay in Equestria because he loves a pony," I said. “So I’m not going to capture him or find where he is for you.”

This quickly irritated Metrion, who asked, “What did you not understand about our deal? I need him as the perfect proof of the switch they pulled!”

“I understand the deal, but I’m not going to do anything to that changeling. The deal’s off.”

As Metrion viciously said, “If you won’t capture him, I’ll do it myself," I felt his emotions match his words. Knowing what this meant, I immediately took him in my magic and restrained him on the floor while I cast the stun spell. From there, I took the best option, which started off with changing him into a dragonfly, even though that spell was still moderately hard to cast.

I then left the room with Metrion, leaving the violin, and started towards one of the less conspicuous crystal mine entrances. After I entered one, I started finding a hidden enough spot for him, which didn’t take long. So I did what I usually did with the infiltrators I incapacitate, including a resin slab, this time with the quote “Your queen is not the answer, because only love can conquer hate.”
> Chapter 14: Inevitable Consequences
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

On Tuesday I finally finished modifying the changeling magic detection spell so it can be charged and released as an omnidirectional wave. A few days after that, I decided that Dew could leave the house but not for long, seeing as he still acted too much like a hive changeling.

On his first day he came back while I was taking a break from potion brewing and told me, “I was wandering around the city and some weird pony asked me if I wanted to join a race to see how fast I could harvest vegetables.”

I quirked an eyebrow and asked, “What did the pony exactly say?”

“I think it was ’Hey, you in the mood for some speed dating?’”

I face hoofed, “That’s not…," then sighed and looked at him, “He wasn’t asking you to harvest the vegetable.”

Dew was clearly as unamused by his own lack of knowledge as much as I was. “Then what psycho activity was he trying to rope me into?”

“It’s the faster version of dating where everyone gets to quickly ask questions and talk with everyone else on an individual basis. Dating is like doing things with friends, except it’s usually romantic and for the purpose of knowing if you want to marry the pony or changeling.”

“So that’s how ponies decide who to give their love to," Dew said in a thoughtful tone.

“Yeah. Now I need to get back to making potions.”

On the next Saturday I was about to leave to meet up with Blitz at the pub again, when Dew decided to ask if he could come with me. I said that he could, so we both left. He was giving off a lot of boredom, along with a little apprehension and interest. I was wondering why he’d bother to come with me even though he was abrasive last time, but from his emotions it seemed like he was just exceptionally bored.

I started my changing detection soon after leaving, so when we got close to the bar I noticed that there was at least two disguised changelings inside. I didn’t think much of it, seeing as it didn’t seem different than any other changeling disguise, until I realized that one of the spell’s two highlights looked exactly like Blitz.

I stopped walking towards the bar and Dew looked at me.

“Go home, Dew.”

He became severely confused and said, “I thought I could come.”

“Just. Go. Home.”

Dew wordlessly walked away.

Despite how casually neutral I seemed to be at that moment, I couldn’t help but feel enraged and had a deep sense of dread that manifested into a bit of nausea. Though it didn’t stop me from immediately focusing on what I needed to do to get Blitz back.

They think that their best can replace one of my best friends and I wouldn’t notice? They don’t know who I am or what I’m capable of but if they really want to know this badly, I’ll give them a taste.

It might seem weird at first but I decided to gallop around several blocks while I decided what I exactly needed to do. It helped my worry lessen a bit, and after that I finally entered the pub and galloped right up to the fake Blitz.

He happily greeted me with, “Hey Sha-”

“Modus is in trouble!" I quickly said while using every feeling I had for the real Blitz towards the imposter.

The imposter immediately became serious. “What happened?”

“We need to get to the base of Canterlot Mountain. I’ll tell you on the way.”

I motioned for him to follow me as I ran outside and once we were, the imposter told me to get onto his back so we could fly there. I did and he took off with powerful wing stokes, continuing with all haste. The other infiltrator followed at a more leisurely pace.

Over the sound of flight, the imposter asked, “What happened?”

“Modus was captured by diamond dogs and dragged into a tunnel. They quickly filled the hole so I couldn't snatch him back before I’d have to deal with more of them," I yelled over the blowing wind.

“Don’t worry too much. They’re not all that hard to battle.”

Blitz knows that there’s an entire abandoned crystal mine under Canterlot. He would’ve easily realized that diamonds dogs finding it would be definite trouble. This obviously isn’t Blitz.

When we were half way down the mountain the other infiltrator was still keeping an eye on me, but that wasn’t something that would stop what I was about to do.

I brought my hoof up and in the middle of swinging it towards the imposter, I shifted into a strong changeling. The sudden nature of it all caught the imposter’s attention but not soon enough as I knocked him unconscious while he was turning his head to look at me. The other infiltrator was probably trying to get to me by then, but his effort was pointless.

I immediately started buzzing my wings while I took the imposter in my hooves before he started falling, then cast the better, muffling invisibility spell. The latter was effective enough to blend the imposter and I in with the early night darkness, so I easily evaded the other infiltrator and found one of the tunnel openings that could get me to the mines. I dropped the imposter off and cast a stun spell on him so he wouldn’t go anywhere, then I changed into a speedy pegasus disguise to fly to Act’s house as quickly as possible.

I landed with a moderately loud thud in his backyard, and knocked on the back door. It didn’t take much time for Act to answer with a feeling of confusion and slight worry. I flashed my real eyes at him while saying, “They have Act," in a dead serious tone.

Act told me, “First you need to come inside.”

I knew where he was going with this, so I did and after he shut the door I shed my disguise.

“Alright, was-”

With the same tone as before I interrupted with, “Yeah, I captured him and he’s in the crystal mines. We need to interrogate him.”

Act knew I was dead serious by now. He told me to stand next to him and we took a fire-portal right into the mines. Once we were in, disguised, and starting flying to where the imposter was, Act said, “We can’t waste any time at all, so don’t bother with the anti-magic chair. They probably have him by now, and they’re going to get him to the hive as fast as possible as long as they can still do it discretely.”

Once we got to the imposter, he was awake, so the first thing I did was I tore away his disguise. I didn’t even stop flying before that. I rammed right into him with my foreleg on his neck, cast the interrogation stun spell so he could tell me everything I wanted to know, and got right in his face. For added fear I also transformed into a changeling princess and used my real voice.

With an uncharacteristically dark grin I said, “You’re going to tell me everything I want to know, or I’ll start cracking you like a pistachio.”

The changeling said nothing. Not because of fear or the fact that I rammed right into his neck, but out of duty. I didn’t wait any more than two seconds before I took his right hind leg in my telekinesis. I squeezed it so hard it made a sickening crack.

I barely cringed at the sound while the infiltrator immediately widened his eyes and opened his mouth in silent pain. After a few seconds his breathing hastened, deepened, and started to destabilize. 

I took his left foreleg in my telekinesis and told him, “Tell me, or this leg gets the same.”

The infiltrator responded between unsteady breaths with, “I’ll die before I tell you anything.”

I immediately crushed his foreleg without a second thought. I didn’t react to the resulting noise this time, while the infiltrator let out a pained cry. I then turn my head to Act and asked, “Do changelings have any sort of spine?”

Even Act was surprised by what I was implying, but he still managed to slowly tell me “There’s some kind of pseudo spine... in the exact place you think it is.”

My telekinetic grasp surrounded the infiltrator’s spine and I told him, “If you don’t tell me right now, you’ll never infiltrate or battle again and I’ll destroy your deceptive way of life by giving the Guard my method for detecting any changeling.”

“I’ll tell you!” he quickly responded. “Blitzkrieg is in one of three safe houses. Either a plant shop next to the Celestial Cafe, a warehouse on the south side of the city close to a place called the Treacherous Trampoline Tavern, or a spa called Let It Go two blocks away from a large statue of Star Swirl The Bearded.”

I let my foreleg go from his neck and he hit the mine floor with a thud.

“You’ll be let go after all this is done," I told him.

I walked to Act and whispered, “I’ll go to the warehouse. You get an infiltrator named Hammy to search one of the other two.” I told him the address to go to, used the full stun spell on the infiltrator, then we immediately took a fire-portal to the surface after I switched disguises. I’d finish dealing with the infiltrator later.

~~~~~~

I arrived close to the tavern by flight with an invisibility spell on so they wouldn’t notice a changeling searching for something. I then scanned for the target location with my charge up detection spell, despite the invisibility spell’s inability to hide any magic auras other than it’s own. I quickly found a warehouse with several outside guards and other workers underground that were disguised changelings.

This has to be it. Warehouses in Canterlot have underground areas so they can still have sufficient storage space, seeing as the city has very limited space above ground. They probably put extra hidden exits in every room so that fleeing is much easier for them. This means that I can’t go in horns blazing without one of them immediately making a run for it with Blitz. They’d probably start with using a fire-portal to get a quick distance away, probably into the mines to try and lose me, then fly to the hive with all haste. So I need to do this fast but discrete enough to not get noticed.

I also noted that many of unicorn guards but none of the pegasus ones were disguised changelings and that they were in pairs of one unicorn and one pegasus. Each pair were guarding an entrance so I landed and sneaked around to find the most isolated one, which was at the side of the building closest to the mountain’s cliff.

I silently and swiftly moved to a position behind a large wooden box that was about fifteen meters away from my two targets and took a few seconds to examine the changeling’s disguise. After that, I pulled my head back behind the box, readied a spell and cast it on the changeling, who’s disguise immediately tore away. I poked my head back around the box at the same time to get a good look at what happened next.

Both of the pair were caught off guard. Regardless, the pegasus mare apparently had a fighter’s reaction and immediately punched the changeling square in the nose. The changeling paused for a second and the pegasus took the opportunity to jump him in an attempt to subdue. I sneaked up close to them and took the changeling in my telekinesis while casting a stun spell on him, then the mare rolled back and stood up in one swift move while I uncloaked. She tried to buck me, but I caught her hind legs with my telekinesis before she landed it and told her, “I’m not here to fight you, or anyone. The entire warehouse is filled with disguised hive changelings and they have my friend captured.”

“Why should I believe you?" she hostilely whispered, while trying to get free of my magic grasp.

“Because I’m letting you go, if I was with them I wouldn’t tell you about them, and changelings can’t cloak themselves," I told her as I let go of her hind legs.

She became curious, but remained a little suspicious and asked, “Then what are you?”

“I don’t have time for this. They could already have started flying him to the hive by now. Are you going to keep quiet about me for now and give me the changeling’s disguise name?”

She took several seconds to decide but eventually said, “I suppose so. His disguise’s name is Tower Shield and for the love of Celestia, try not to get noticed.”

I changed into the changeling’s disguise and told her “I’m in a hurry. I can’t guarantee anything, but I’ll try. Is the disguise perfect?”

“The jawline needs to be a little more prominent and the head size is a bit big overall.”

I changed my disguise as described, the mare gave me the changeling’s security badge, then I took a deep breath to help reign in my emotional control as much as possible and walked in.

The inside of the warehouse was pretty typical, except for a large underground trapdoor entrance with stairs at the right side of the building. I headed towards it and went down the stairs, which lead to a storage space that was just as big as the surface floor and appeared to have structural reinforcements. 

I then started towards what looked like a secured storage room in the back, seeing as the short hallway to it had two disguised changeling security guards and there was an oddly large number of changelings in the secured room. I turned left into a walk path between the large storage shelves, which were almost everywhere, before entering the hallway to walk a short circle for a few seconds to think.

I can't just enter the hallway and beat them to a pulp if I want to get out of here in decent shape with Blitz, and I can't try crawling through any air ducts as a foal because I don't know that layout and I don't have time to learn it. But what if I try to trick the guards into thinking I'm one of the changeling princesses, or Chrysalis? I have telekinetic strength that might trick them into thinking that I have more power than I actually do, and I can disguise my pony magic color with my changeling aura as well, so they might think that I'm one of the changeling females.

I didn't have much time, so I dealt with the cards I was given and entered the hallway. The changelings closed the door behind me, and one asked asked “Badge and personal security code, please.”

I didn’t know the code, so I decided to change into Chrysalis, but that only caused them to light up their horns and prepare to attack me.

I say prepare because I was already close enough to restrain them with my magic, so they didn’t have a chance. I quickly slapped both their horns with one move while dispelling both of the two's disguises. They responded with a lot of surprise but also complete disgust and rage, which meant that they immediately knew who I was likely to be, so I quickly decided to knock them out. 

I put them behind the half of the double door entrance that I didn’t open when I entered, after taking my previous disguise. It wouldn't take much time before somebody discovered them, but I didn't have much time for the rescue to begin with.

The room was about half the size of the other underground room. I took note that there were six disguised changelings in the room, so despite my advantages in combat, it was probably a bad idea to take them on. I opted to look around manually for any containers that a pony could fit in, because they might have already known that I could somehow detect changeling resin. 

Less than a minute in I didn’t find Blitz, but I decided to remember the location of some crates with items that could be useful in combat. Things like a dry ice sculpture of a winged pig, dust and paint made of rare metals, and, for reasons I don’t need to get into, there were some bats in a specific shape that were made of silicone.

A disguised infiltrator entered and loudly told everyling, “We have a security breach! Line up two meters apart against the wall in the alphabetical order of your names!”

Everyone in the room, including the changeling that entered at that time started to do so, but I had a problem. I realized that I didn't know the name of the changeling I was posing as. So as I headed for the wall, I tried to find a way to distract them for a bit. I noticed that the large crate that had a dry ice sculpture of a winged pig in it was close enough.

As soon as I started charging a fire spell, several of the changelings tried to jump me while one, presumably an infiltrator, fire-portaled out. I changed into an armored build, then my detection spell notified me of a concussive spell being charged by the first changeling while I halted a second large bull-rushing changeling with my relatively equal weight and a low defensive stance.

During all this a third tried sneaking right behind me to get a hit, and a forth did the same to my right in synch. I assumed that they were already close enough so I used my telekinesis to pick up the one that bull rushed me and used him to hit the third and forth hard enough to knock them down. Then the first one holding the stun spell fired, and I quickly blocked it by using one of the knocked down changelings as a shield.

The fifth changeling ended up trying to bull-rush me, but he was too late and light for it to be successful as I swung the one in my telekinesis at the fifth one. The last two mentioned got knocked out and I blasted the dry ice with my fire spell I was holding. A large area around the sculpture became foggy, I started the stealth spell as I ran into the thicker fog beneath it, and took cover behind a large stack of crates.

The conscious infiltrators decided to play the waiting game, so I stopped the stealth spell and took advantage of my changeling detection spell’s highlights by firing stun blasts at them. I saw that most of my spells were missing, though I was able to hit one before my detection spell’s visual indicators warned me that the other three started charging and firing concussive spells, presumably behind cover. 

I managed to avoid all the spells and hit one more, then the last two decided to just wait there, presumably for the rest of the thick fog to disperse. So I sneaked to the edge of the thick fog with my stealth spell on again, and the rest of the fog thinned out enough for sufficient fighting conditions. The infiltrators peeked around their respective cover and saw that I seemed to vanish. 

One of the changelings whispered to the other one, and the other whispered back. They decided two stand next to and parallel to each other while facing opposite directions, so I couldn't get the drop on them. They then changed into pegisi and cautiously started flying around to find me, but I managed to change positions to a spot on the other side of the room, and laid as flat as I could.

Once they got close enough to me, I took one in my telekinesis and slammed the other, knocking them both out. I quickly opened up most of the pony sized or larger crates, then another infiltrator entered the room and tried hitting me with a concussive blast.

At this point I was starting to feel magically drained, so I transformed to lower my chitin density and increase speed to have a balanced build and bull rush the changeling. Said changeling tried to jump to the side to dodge and take flight, while I tried to grab one of his wings with my hoof.

I missed so I quickly used my telekinesis to grab it instead and ripped it off, producing a sound similar to tearing silk. This caused the changeling to fall to the floor with a somewhat clumsy roll, stopping face up. I quickly jumped on top of him with a face of rage, punched him several times while charging up a spell, then released a stun blast right in his face.

I continued searching for Blitz for another half minute, carelessly tearing open crates with magic and hooves until all suspect ones were gone through. So I went to the unconscious guards in the short hall and moved them into the secure room so I could leave. 

When I did, several ponies looked at me and I said, “There was an accident involving one of the items in there.” This seemed to sate everyone’s curiosity enough so I exited the warehouse the same way I came in.

The guard from before quietly asked me, “Did you find him?”

I just said, “No," immediately changed into a speedy pegasus, and flew off sensing her wondering who I was.

I decided that my next destination was the Let It Go spa. When I was almost there, my detection spell recognized a pegasus, carrying a pony who looked like Blitz, as a disguised changeling. The emotions from him were a far match from an Equestrian changeling, so I immediately started flying right at him and the changeling started fleeing out of Canterlot at full speed.

I was gaining on him slowly and it started looking like he was trying to reach the nearby forest. Once he reached into it, I followed but he wasn’t anywhere in sight so I changed into a dense chitined, strong changeling and charged up as much magic into my horn as I could. When I released it I looked around and found the changeling’s green silhouette right before he cast a flair.

I scanned the sky for a second but no one came, so I quickly galloped to the direction of the silhouette. When I obtained a line of sight I realized that the changeling was using Blitz’s form, leaning on a tree trunk and looking confused. So I disguised my emotions with the ones he wanted me to feel and quickly told him, “We need to leave! There’s probably more changelings on the way!”

“We? Who are you? How did you find me?”

In the same tone I told him, “The same way I do with every changeling," while taking his head in my telekinesis.

Fake Blitz tried to break free while saying, “W-what are you doing?!”

I replied with, “Getting my friend back," in my real voice and bashed his head on the tree he was resting on. I didn’t even take a glance to see how badly I injured him as I immediately started to pay attention to the detection spell’s indicators, which showed three new changelings.

They landed near me in less than a second. One immediately started to attack me with concussive blasts while the other two started searching nearby for the real Blitz. I galloped for cover and jumped over a large fallen tree to hide behind so I could think for a few seconds.

My changeling energy is almost drained and all the concentration is wearing me out on both magics. I don’t know if they’ve found out what type of telekinesis spell I’m using, but I’ll need to rely on only that unless I absolutely need to shape-shift.

So I stood up facing the attacking changeling and used my telekinesis to pick up the fallen tree I was behind. The look on the changeling’s face was priceless as a took most of the branches off by smashing it against another tree’s trunk. But his reaction was still less important than Blitz. Neither of us spared any time, as he started firing at me again right after I started charging at him. Every shot he fired I blocked with the tree I was holding, until it was crudely blasted in half.

I kept the trunk half to still shield myself from the attacks, though the changeling went airborne to avoid hoof to hoof combat. He might have known that I was almost drained in magic, and maybe a little physically as well. So I decided to change to a pegasus with a little more speed than endurance and dropped the tree trunk, hoping that I could find Blitz before they do.

Unfortunately they already found him and I noticed them fly off with him hogtied, but I wasn’t going to have that. I went after the three and they were soon losing distance from me, though my wings were starting to ache. So they decided to try losing me by diving back into the forest and changing directions. All I had to do to know exactly where they were, whether or not they were making noise, was to keep them in range of my detection spell. 

So I just flew right above the treeline until they stopped flying, at which point I landed close enough to two of the three and took hold of one. The only thing that that changeling could do was watch as his face was smacked into the other one’s like the end of a club, sending them both several meters back.

The third, who was carrying Blitz, decided to change and gallop off during this but I knew what direction he was going anyways. Once he knew that I was following him, he took off flying, and I did the same, even though my lungs ached. One of the changelings from before tried chasing after me to hit me with a stun blast. After I just barely dodged it I stopped as abruptly as possible, and waited for him to get close.

Once he was two or three seconds away I quickly gave myself a horn in a green flash of fire, took him in my magic, and swung him to the ground as hard as I could by his wings. I immediately started towards the one with Blitz again as I heard what was probably the other changeling crashing, but I wasn’t gaining on him much. 

My lungs were aching, my heart was pounding in my ears, my throat was burning, and on top of all that my wings weren’t just aching. No matter how hard I tried I was losing speed, and fast. I changed to my fastest pegasus form in an attempt to catch up to him with one last boost to my speed.

But as I got to only a few meters away, I started to lose distance and the nausea came back far worse than before. I literally could not keep myself airborne anymore, and I clumsily glided down faster than I wanted to. My wings couldn’t even spare the strength for a smooth landing in any sense of the word. I changed to a dense chitin changeling and hit the ground tumbling for what felt like thirty meters before I hit the base of a tree with a thud.

I’d almost welcome them coming for me if it weren’t for the fact that they would probably kill instead of capture me. I could have prevented this, but my selfishness got the best of me and now I’ve lost him. It’s taken me so long to find out what I’ve lost in the accident that actually mattered. 

It took losing my friend who understood me most to realize it.

There’s this feeling I get, like my body’s warning me several seconds ahead of time, where my mouth’s senses start feeling a bit off. My saliva starts to have a distinct taste and it’s like I’m producing more saliva or it’s presence is just more noticeable for some reason.

I was having those signs, and despite being exhausted in every way, I turned my head to the side so my stomach could empty it’s self. After one heave, I felt better, but not by much. So for the next ten minutes or so I laid where I was, then took a more comfortable resting position away from my reject with my face and belly in the dirt.

Not more than an hour later, I heard an unknown changeling and Hammy calling for me so I turned my head to call back. When they found me I had my eyes closed and had myself propped in a sitting position with my back on the tree that I crash landed into. 

They started to run towards me but I said “Stop. How do I know that neither of you are hive changelings?”

Hammy answered with “Your annoying but likeable friend that had a white coat and a grey-blue mane was the only one to kick you in the groin in school.”

The changeling that was probably Act gave us both odd looks for a second, then realized how that info was so seemingly useless. “We found a hidden subterranean changeling house close to Manehattan.”

I sighed out of both relief that it was actually them and the fact that I’d have to tell them what happened. I slowly told them “I lost him. They tried fleeing and I couldn’t get to him. I was so close but I became so exhausted that I just couldn’t keep going-”

I suddenly opened my eyes, got up and went behind some nearby bushes as fast as my tired body would let me. The next sound the two heard was my voice and a large short stream hitting the forest floor.

When I came back from the bushes, Hammy told me, “Shape, you look and sound like you’ve had the worst night of your life. You don’t have to-”

“I just couldn’t keep going. I did everything I could with everything I had. I’m even mentally exhausted, and I have a massive headache.”

Despite trying to keep it all in, some tears came forth, but I still wanted to tell them what I wanted to do. “We need to infiltrate the hive.”

“No, that’s a terrible idea.” Act immediately said. “It would give Equestrian changelings worse reputation in the hive, and it would hurt relations between the two species more than anything you’ve been doing. They might not think that it was just a group of changelings acting on their own behalf.”

“And there’s more than that” Hammy added. “What you know can destroy their way of life. If the changelings found you infiltrating the hive they'd most likely kill you instead of putting you in a chrysalis. As things are, long as you don't try it, they'd likely not have a good enough reason to kill Blitz. They also need the extra food that he can provide.”

“So I’m just supposed to accept that he’s a changeling food generator now?!" I yelled.

“No," Hammy said. “I respect and like him now more than ever for being in the Guard. We will get him back, but we can’t just think about ourselves.”

“Fine, but what do we do now?”

Hammy said, “You’re not okay right now, Shape. You’ve lost your lunch twice," and pointed to the first puddle. “You need some time to yourself.”

“I’m fine.”

“He’s right. You’re not," Act said.

“I’m not fine as in fine. I’m fine as in you don’t have to worry about me. Just… take me back to Canterlot. I need some time to rest.”

“Before you do, do you shape-shift in your sleep?“, Act quickly asked.

Hammy realized what Act was getting at already. “That’s actually a good question.”

I asked, “What does that have to do with anything?”

Act told me, “Changelings don’t shape-shift in their sleep but you’re a completely different question, so you could have been discovered that way.”

“I don’t know if I do.”

“Then keep your door locked every time you go to sleep, cause who else will I infiltrate with in the future?” Act gave me a smile for a second, then frowned a bit. “But as of now, laying low won’t help much. Keep an extra eye out for infiltrators.”

“I expect them to be on to me, but I’m still confusing them by passing the castle’s checkpoints without a problem when I think they’re watching.”

“Good.” Act then came right up to my ear and whispered, “My real name is Zimperium, and I think I can trust you with the fire-portal spell now.”

I was excited about the latter, but I needed to get home so I changed to my usual disguise. “Can one of you two take me back to Canterlot?”

Hammy offered and no one had any objections so he changed into a pegasus. I got on his back, and he started towards the city at a moderate pace. In only a few seconds my tired brain realized that he changed to avoid the buzzing for my sake. A minute later the relative privacy of a night flight on a close friend gave me a sense of of security.

I was holding onto Hammy’s neck already for a bit of balance, so I just rested my face on it and silently let the tears flow. Hammy didn’t say anything, but I knew that he noticed as he became a bit sadder and angrier. I stayed like that the entire ride and neither of us said anything, but we did continue to respond to each other with just our emotions.

By the time we landed I felt a bit better, but despite what changelings may tell ponies, words can still be important.

“Shape, we’re here.”

I only responded by pulling myself together enough to stop crying.

“I landed in a private spot, so if you want to stay like this for a few minutes, I’m fine with it.”

I eventually got off of Hammy’s back and felt embarrassed. I’ve never messed up this bad in my life, but I knew an opportunity for him to be rescued would come up. So I turned to Hammy with a sad look in my eyes, but a small smile on.

“I don’t… Even though we didn’t rescue Blitz, I know you tried your hardest so I appreciate all your help tonight.”

Hammy’s worry for me lessened and he gave me a small smile in return. “Even if I found out on my own, I would have told you first. You’re one of his best friends. Besides,” and here I felt some empathy from him, “I know what it’s like to feel like you’re not going to see someone important to you again.”

It felt good to know, or rather realize, that someone that close to me went through something similar. He was someone I could confide in again if I needed it. “I know, he’s told me before. But I guess Blitz doesn’t understand me as well as you do. Can I go to your house to talk? There’s something really important I need to ask you.”

Hammy sighed and I sensed a small rise of hope and nervousness from him to me. “I guess so. Are you well enough to walk there by yourself?”

I said, “I’m not nauseous anymore and I think I can get there on my own power," while I took a quick look at where we were, which seemed to be the top of a building that would be high by Canterlot’s standards.

“Alright, I think I’ll fire-portal us part of the way so it’s easier for you.”

Hammy then shed his disguise and lit his horn up. I watched as a circle of green flame surrounded both of us, then a few seconds later a sphere of flame grew from it to cover us and pull us down. When we came back up, the sphere dissipated and we were in a completely different district. Neither of us talked during the walk to his house, so I was left with my thoughts for the time being.

He’s probably hoping that I’ve decided to date him again. I really don’t want to have to say no and see him broken up about it. I can’t lie to him either because there’s almost no chance that he wouldn’t know and it would eat me up from the inside out if I somehow succeeded anyways.

Not only that but, as much as I’d hate to admit it, there’s still a slim chance that he told the hive I was the one ruining their operations. Whether or not he was interrogated to give that info doesn’t make me any more or less nervous about it.

We arrived at his house, I entered first, then something in the living room caught my attention almost immediately. It was a large picture on a canvas that looked like it was of a changeling that had 8 holeless legs coming out of its sides and a happy, excited look on its face. But the thing I found the most creepy, specifically, was the fact that the changeling looked like it was made of clay, while everything else was painted like a cartoon. He seemed to be redoing an old painting.

I admit that I was staring at it only a few paces from the door while Hammy walked around me to see what I was looking at. He immediately caught on and told me, “You can turn it around if you want. It’s probably dry by now.”

I went over to turn it around while thinking he always knew how to creep me out, but back then I never thought he'd actually be a giant bug.

After doing so, Hammy asked, “So, what was it you were wondering?”

“There was a changeling using your Gallery disguise while visiting me at the Fairly Odd Pub," I said. “But I don’t know if it was you.”

I could feel Hammy getting a little sad over what the implied question was and it showed a bit when he said, “Yeah, that was me.” Though I could still feel his hope and nervousness remain.

I sighed in relief and told him, “I’d, uh, prefer that you don’t use that disguise when you meet up with me, but because you already did, I think it’s best to stick with that one.”

“I can do that.”

I gave a small smile, “Thanks.”

“Can I ask you something kind of personal?”

I was a bit nervous of where this conversation seemed to be heading but I still slowly said, “I guess so.”

He carefully asked “Why are you hiding yourself, aside from keeping your infiltration business separate from everything else?”

I remained silent for several seconds to think, and ended up saying, “Even though the kind changelings can live with ponies, being both species won’t be much easier. There’s groups in both species that… won’t like what I am, mean, or stand for.”

Hammy sensed how I felt about it and told me, “The changelings, like me, that leave the hive have a very similar problem. The hive thinks of us as betrayers, while some ponies hate us for their own reasons that I’m sure you know. It’s not as bad for us because what we are isn’t inherently an image of what the future could mean for both species, but what we collectively stand for is very much the same as you. The biggest difference between you and us changelings is that we chose this struggle… while you were forced into it. I’m sorry you were forced into it, so please don’t leave Equestria.”

It was nice to know that he cared and was the first one to acknowledge my problem, so I told him, “I don’t plan on leaving Equestria. I care too much about both the ponies and changelings I know to do that. I may not have wanted this, but… I would’ve wanted your- our struggles to mean something, whether or not the accident happened.”

It was Hammy’s turn to be relived, though he was also starting to tear up. “I was hopping you’d stay, and I didn’t know you cared that much about the success of our integration.”

“If a species wants to live with ponies, they should be welcome to as long as the ones that do just want peace. It’s not always easy to get past ones own prejudice… But I try to give everyone a chance, even if they themselves look monstrous. It’s what you do that ultimately makes you look beautiful or hideous.”

“I… Thank you, for showing me that kindness isn’t just some petty espionage tool.”

“I did?" I slowly asked.

“When I was dating you, you were so nice that it was a little awkward sometimes. Despite that, I started to admire it when I realized that every time you were like that, anyone you talked to who wasn’t a jerk didn’t hate you. That’s why I ended up really loving you and leaving the hive.”

I remained silent for several awkward seconds, not knowing what to say.

Though something about it was a little saddening to Hammy. “You don’t have to say anything. I know that you still consider me a good friend at the very least.”

“But we- I’m still trying to decide.”

I really don’t want to risk crushing Hammy’s heart at that time. There was a lot of things going on for both of us and neither of us could afford to have any worse of a mood than we already did.

But something about my response just made him sadder. “I understand. I’m going to bed soon, so I’ll see you again sometime.”

I took that as my cue to leave and headed for the door while saying, “I’ll see you later then.”

As I walked home I couldn’t help but think on why I couldn’t tell him what I decided, aside from the timing of it.

Why can’t I tell him that I’m not interested anymore? I have the courage to capture and interrogate hive changelings, and even take on five of them at once. Does wearing a mask really change me that much? Am I that afraid to hurt him like that?

I might have done just that by lying…

When I arrived home the first thing I did was start my detection spell, then I came to my bedroom where Dew was. When I entered he was laying on the floor with Frost laying across him, but Frost decided to leave the room. Dew was facing away from me, but from his emotions I could tell that he was probably awake, so I tried getting his attention with an ominous, “Dew.”

He responded with his usual irritated, “What?”

As I walked around him to look him in the face I told him, “If you’re going to play dumb, I’m not giving you the chance.” Then I took a few steps and put my head almost right against his. “Did you or did you not tell the hive everything you know about me?”

My intimidation tactic didn’t have much effect as he actually became irritated and told me, “What makes you think I would?! I’m not that stupid.” He then got up and squinted his eyes at me slightly. “No one else but you are going to help me get what I want back! If they found you it shouldn't be a surprise at all, if you’re an infiltrator or not!”

I pushed my head against his. “I don’t trust your word on that so if I find out that it was you, you’ll find yourself a dung beetle in a jar for a week.”

“As if you’re even capable of that.“

I was getting tired of his attitude, so started to charge my horn as I said, “Oh. You want to take that chance right now?!”

Dew slowly backed up several steps. “I- No, I believe you!”

I stopped charging my horn and walked towards the door, but halted when I got to it. “The hive may be infiltrating Canterlot and preying on ponies, but I am the one hunting them. I am the one who infiltrates, and don’t you forget it!”

I left him on the room and went to my lab to calm down while working on various things for the rest of the night, though I didn’t make as much progress as I expected so I decided to specifically practice combat spells. Despite all that I still went to bed with a bad mood.

~~~~~~

The next morning I was laying in bed half asleep and aching almost everywhere while thinking about what happened last night. Then I realized that I had unfinished business and sprung right out of bed, startling Frost.

The infiltrator! Wait, why am I hurrying to him when he tried to replace Blitz? He’s not going to get far in the condition I left him in, so what can I do with him?

So I went to do my morning ritual, then came downstairs and into the kitchen to get some cereal while Dew was in the living room. I came out to the dining table, which was in full view of the living room, and sat down. Through one of the windows in the room I noticed that I woke up an hour or two later than usual. I also noticed Dew taking glances at me and after a few minutes Dew carefully asked, “What’s with the freaky grin?”

I was about to give a cryptic answer, but Dew decided to say, “A-actually, I don’t want to know.”

I lightly snickered at that for a few seconds, finished up my cereal, left the city so I could change disguises, then entered a dark cave leading to the mines while dealing with my muscle soreness. Once I arrived at the interrogation spot with some rope, I noticed that someone, likely Act, bandaged the infiltrator up to stop his bleeding.

I was fine with that, but he also managed to fall asleep, so I took a hoof sized rock in my magic and came up to him, stopping a meter or so away so he wouldn’t be able to attack me in his state. I tapped his head with it but he didn’t wake up, so   I bashed him on the head. Not enough to hurt him a lot, just enough to make sure he felt it through his chitin and sleep. I didn’t want him to die… at least yet.

The infiltrator immediately woke up and took a look around, realizing that he was still in the mines. “You said I could go after it was over," he snarled.

“I did, but it’s not over yet. I didn’t get Blitz back, so I was thinking of torturing you on the way over here this morning. Though I realized that there’s a more… constructive way of dealing with you.”

“Whatever you’re planning, I’ll be capable of enduring it," the infiltrator challengingly stated.

I lightly laughed for a few seconds. “I’ve heard all about changelings and enduring, but do you want to know something about me?”

“What?”

“I don’t regret, but not in the same way as you hive infiltrator scum. The day you find out how is the day you realize that you have a lot to learn and make up for, and not just to me.”

“You’re insane.”

“I might be, but if I am, I don’t care. As for what I’ll be doing with you, I’ll be taking all your emotional energy and leaving you in the Everfree near Ponyville. You can either perish from the refusal of a pony’s help and the hive’s probable refusal to take you back, or you can get used to ponies.”

“The hive will-”

But that was all he could say before I cut him off with a stun spell. I then set him on my back after I changed to a pegasus and used the rope I brought to secure him to me. Right before I arrived at one of the mine exits, I cast a moderate anesthetic spell. After that I could fly without feeling so sore yet still feel it enough to know when I’d absolutely have to stop.

Even with an optimal pegasus build I arrived at the Everfree in about 6 hours of flying and taking breaks. I continued a few hundred meters into it and found a high, moderately concealed spot on top of a sturdy branch. So I set him on it, took all his emotional energy, then changed into a changeling to make another message on  a resin slab. This time, I carved “If you can endure so well, and change at the drop of a bit, then why can’t so many of you endure the change of your culture?" into it.

After sticking the slab to the infiltrator’s chest with a bit more resin, and reapplying the anesthetic spell, I started my way back to Canterlot. By the time I arrived home it was past sunset by a few hours and the streets were pretty quiet. As I entered, Frost greeted me and Dew took a glance at me without saying anything though I sensed that he was slightly afraid of me. I didn’t notice his fear in the morning, likely because I was more focused on figuring out what to do with the infiltrator. Though I was too tired and sore to really do much so I just went right to bed while the medical spell was still in effect.
> Chapter 15: Allies Close and Enemies Closer
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

In the days that followed, I managed to make shape-shifting almost primary nature to me. When I used the regular and simpler metamorphic spell, I could rapidly change between vastly different bodies. I also succeeded at adding indicators for spells out of the user’s field of view, which would pop up close to the border of my peripheral vision. I managed to also increase the range to twenty meters and add more spells to the recognition library.

Though that wasn’t the end of my plans.

Not long after noon, maybe even just a few minutes, I was taking a break and playing with Frost when I heard a knock on the door. I did the usual changeling check and it seemed to be Cordial, which was suspicious. He never came to my house before and if he wanted to, it’d be for business and he’d plan it with me.

So I answered the door as usual and Cordial left no time wasted as he blurted out, “Chrysalis came to Celestia’s court!”

After that, I was a flurry of emotions but I simply told him, “Get in," in a calm, collected tone. 

He entered the apartment unit and right after I closed the door I asked, “What’s she there for?”

“Likely not anything that she claims she wants. She’s full of lies and deceit, but somebody will eventually find out.”

“Is there anything else?”

“Not much else. She brought a squad of soldiers to defend her and I wouldn’t be surprised if she brought infiltrators as well.”

I gave a slight smile at the mention of more hive infiltrators, though Cordial knew what I was thinking. He poked me on the chest and told me, “Don’t intervene too much with them," in a stern tone. “I have no doubt the negotiations are going to be a delicate situation and no one can afford you inadvertently starting a war.”

“I want to find out what happened to me and get Blitz back, but not if other ponies get hurt. I’ve been being as careful as I can.”

Cordial sighed and calmly told me, “For your sake, I hope so," as he went to the door and left.

~~~~~~

An hour later, I left the apartment to take a trip for some odds and ends. Though before I left the premisses, a Guard approached me with my neighbor behind her. I sensed my neighbor’s suspicion and irritation and the Guard’s feelings of exasperation beforehoof so I was pretty sure of what to expect.

“Sir, I’ll need to cast a few dispels on you," she said.

I mentally rolled my eyes. “Yeah, go ahead.”

She cast quite a few spells on me, but not even one caused an anomaly in my appearance.

Turning to my neighbor, she said “See, ma’am? He’s not a changeling. Half the guard knows this and several of us know exactly what he looks like.”

She responded with a deadpan face of irritation and came up close to me to quietly say, “I know you’re a changeling and I know you’re doing something to keep that disguise up through those anti-infiltrator spells.”

After she left, the Guard apologized for her paranoid behavior and I went on my way. She didn’t really bother me all that much and I was happy to have my metamorphic spell go through the official checkpoint dispels with no problem. So with that being established, throughout the day I thought on how I’d infiltrate the royal castle.

I thought that I’d need my best disguise spell to get past any royal castle checkpoints. I also thought I needed to find out where negotiations were usually being held, while when was more of a bonus. Getting a copy of the castle layout would be easy and help immensely. 

I also needed a hiding place to possibly change disguises and to start the invisibility spell once at the appropriate area. The listening spot would have to be discreet and not too close to any patrol routes, probably where only pegasi can go, so it would involve either climbing or flying. Flying would involve too much movement to keep myself invisible enough with the best invisibility spell I can cast, and even at night it was probably not discreet enough.

Climbing in a pegasus disguise was likely the best option, but I’d need to scout out a route to the spot next to the room. A telescope makes it much easier and discreet if used correctly. Even then, the climbing would best be done at night because of lower visibility, but that would mean I'd have to stay awake and camp out for several hours while staying alert.

But then I realized that I didn't have to use my changeling magic to disguise myself. I could use pony transformation spells and potions! If I had memorized the right areas of the castle, I could try turning into a very small animal to get past the checkpoints and easily listen in on the negotiations without needing counter spells for the possible privacy enchantments. Though this would keep me from being able to take notes of any physical sort, and the methods for turning into the right creature may give me a limited time that's too short. I also realized that the transformation spell I found in the Castle of the Two Sisters could have been a huge help in this if I practiced the spell earlier, so I did that for other reasons.

An hour after sunset that same day, I made my way to Canterlot Castle and approached the entrance checkpoint. The Guards asked what I was there for and I told them I was going to the royal court, so they used their dispels and I passed through with no problem.

My next step was finding a bathroom close to the restricted records section. After passing a few more checkpoints, I entered a bathroom, went to a stall, and took a half minute or so to charge and cast the dragonfly transformation spell. Because of my insignificant size at that point, I had to be careful in a different way. Somebody could step on me by accident or something, even though most ponies actively try to avoid that sort of thing, so I needed to stay out of reach and remain high up. I also had to keep away from the dispels used at the checkpoints, least they find a half-breed landing on them.

Though the advantage obvious to me was that I was easily able to wait above the door to the restricted records. After an hour or so of waiting, somebody opened the door and I immediately flew in. While I was waiting on top of a light fixture, she didn’t take any longer than ten minutes to find what she was looking for and promptly left. At this point I flew to the ground, canceled the spell, then changed to a throwaway disguise and started my search.

I didn’t know of many changelings that had connections to the one I was after, but if one was suspected of being in Equestria, the information was likely restricted to higher ranking individuals. So while I didn’t find anything about those changelings, I did find some interesting intel about Rabble Rouser.

This pony was a basket case, but let’s start with the fact that he seemed to cause troublesome uproars just because he was good at it. How was I so sure about his talent? The novel sized file they had on him included the picture of a crossed torch and pitchfork that was his cutie mark. He claims it’s for nocturnal farming, but he’s never even been seen near a farm before.

And the troublesome uproars themselves were of varying subjects with no identified patterns of logical reasoning across each uproar. It was clearly no help in identifying his morals, though the file said that he was likely in it for attention, which I could believe.

His social connections were weak, with his family connection seeming to be the weakest, while he had few friends. I read that his employment was just as varied as the subjects of his uproars, though it had looked like he had finally found a job he could stand. Unfortunately it was for a newspaper called The Horses Mouth, which someone described in a quick side note as “a crackpot lunatic conspiracy-theorist tabloid rag.” Though his latest and most bothersome pursuit was his protest of changelings being allowed into the Royal Guard.

About ten minutes later, while reading another file I heard someone opening the door. I immediately thought to use an easier transformation spell, though the first easy one I thought of that would suit the situation at all was a walrus. Few ponies kept them as pets, so it was strange but not quite overly so.

With all haste, I charged up and cast the spell before anybody noticed the accompanying light. While sitting there, waiting for them to find their documents, I heard one of them get close to the isle I was in.

I can’t believe the first pet spell I thought of is the most ridiculous one I know.

Thankfully, she went to the isle next to mine and started rustling through the papers in the cabinets, quietly saying “This place really needs to be more organized... It’s not like it’s a public library. Not to mention how some of this intel going missing can be detrimental.”

After a few minutes, she went to the end of the isle and proceeded the end of mine, looking at me with confusion just as severe as the suspicion that she should and did have as a guard.

“Who thought it was Bring Your Pet to Work Day?!" the guard yelled.

“What?" the other guard called back.

“There’s a freaking walrus in here Pole Vault!" she said as I started waddling over to her.

“A statue of one?" Pole asked as I heard him make his way over.

The mare responded with, “No! An actual living walr- Agh!" right before I got to her and bunted my head on hers. Though I accidentally gave it more force than needed and she scrambled a bit to move out of my reach.

Just as she was scrambling and I was looking down in shame, Pole said, “Is this some kind of j-," until he came into view and made a face just as confused as the other guardspony.

The mare was clearly angry as she continued to stare at me and sternly said, “The walrus attacked me! Stay away from it!”

Which prompted the stallion to give a deadpan look and say, “First we get deadly shape-shifters as guests, and now this. What is my life?”

“You can have your midlife crisis later. Right now we need to move this thing," she said as she looked back at him.

Amused by the absurdity of the situation, he asked, “With what, Trebuchet? A pallet jack?”

“Yeah, something like that. It’s not like we can do this.” Trebuchet then turned to me, made a sharp whistle noise, and said, “Come here, boy!" while motioning for me. “See?”

But I decided to act as though I had some training and started to waddle towards her, even though it made her slowly back up out of the isle in fear. So instead I came up to Pole and gave him a lighter bunt, which he reciprocated with, “Awww… you’re not so bad, are you?" in a voice you’d usually use for a dog.

“Well seeing as you two like each other, you can be the one to take him to an unused room and guard him. I’ll find the document then figure out what to do with him.”

“Eh, fine by me," Pole said without looking at Trebuchet. “Come on, buddy. Lets get you some place safe until we find your owner.”

So Pole left the room with me, and we found a Guard who insisted that he take a spot behind me out of suspicion, though Pole didn’t seem to pick up on that the entire way to my room. All the while, the castle staff, guests, and even a few other Guards gave me odd looks.

Two times I tried sneaking off when it seemed like no one was paying close attention to me, but the two escorting me always had their ears on me. I was too heavy to sneak around, but it was worth a shot as no one would suspect me enough to  try any dispels. Speaking of, we thankfully found an unused room before having to go through any checkpoint, and I went in alone while my escorts guarded the entrance.

It seemed to be a large meeting room of some sort. There was a large round table in the middle with several cushions, and some shelves filled with books and scrolls. The ceiling, which was moderately high, had a fancy silver chandelier hanging from it.

I took a closer look around but there was nothing in the room that was useful for escaping, which meant that I had to continue with only using magic. After thinking for several minutes on what other transformation spells I remembered, I decided that the dragonfly one from earlier was my best option.

Unfortunately, there wasn’t any good place to hide while switching transformations so during that I just stayed on the other side of the room. After that, I flew up to the chandelier and waited for somebody to come in.

Once a pegasus Guard opened the door she didn’t see any walrus. She became very suspicious, then closed the door and searched around for a minute. Once she was thoroughly irritated, she opened the door and said, "Pole Vault! Where is the walrus?!"

Pole awkwardly said, "Uh... It's not in there?"

He then took a quick look around while saying, "We put it in there twenty minutes ago."

Pole's superior walked into the doorway and stopped, saying, "Is this some sort of prank?"

Pole turned and looked at her. "I swear this isn't a prank! Trebuchet saw it and the Sargent isn't trying to prank you either."

"Nopony but you three saw it, and as soon as I get here, it disappears? We're on high security right now, Pole. We don't have time for chasing imaginary disappearing walruses!"

Pole's superior then emitted suspicion towards him and gave a look to match.

"Why are you staring at me like that?"

She ignored the question and told him in a serious voice, "You're coming with me, right now."

"... why?"

"Don't asks questions. If you want to keep your job, you'll do it. Stand in front of me and go."

"...okay?"

So the two walked out in said fashion, telling the other Guard to come with her in the same tone while closing the door. I presumed that she was taking them to a checkpoint to make sure that they weren’t changelings, which meant that I had an opportunity to escape.

The door was shut and the room was in a public section of the castle, so I decided that slipping out as a pony was my best option. I wouldn’t get dispelled and at worst they would merely question why I was there if I was caught slipping out of the room. I did think about pulling the same escape method as in Manehattan, but I didn’t find any air vents big enough and I didn’t want to change into a dragonfly to get roughly tossed around by the possibly strong air currents inside.

I didn’t know if anybody who was there when Pole and the other Guard was escorted was standing guard anywhere near the door at this point. Because of this I decided to turn back into a random pony, start the mid level invisibility spell, then lightly push the door open a few inches. This caught the attention of the Guard close by who started towards the door while I did a fast scan of the hallway, which was otherwise empty of Guards, though I remembered he was here while I was being escorted.

If he caught me in the room, he would think that I was somehow behind the walrus. This wouldn’t do for me and I had to quickly hide in a corner with the spell still going until he was done with his quick inspection of the room. After that I had to wait three gruelingly boring hours as a dragonfly before he started getting anxious and left for either the end of his shift, lunch break, or the bathroom.

I was then able to slip out under a random disguise and leave the castle with nobody the wiser.

Once I arrived home, Frost greeted and followed me to wait in my bedroom while the half-ling was pretending to sleep on the couch. I say pretending, because somebody sleeping always had either significantly reduced emotions, which means they’re not dreaming, or abnormal combinations directed at random ponies or things, which indicates the opposite. 

The half-ing wasn’t trying to mimic either, nor would he have likely tried to mimic the rapid eye movement that often comes with dreaming. He was also getting slightly more nervous the closer I got to him, and was recently feeling guilty about something having to do with me every time he noticed my presence. By it’s self, the former was a little odd in general, while the combination was moderately troubling to me.

Despite that, I continued into the bathroom to get ready for bed. While brushing my teeth I locked the door and after using some mouthwash I shed my disguise. 

Taking a good look at my leg holes and their chitin, as well as the rest of my changeling features, I realized that I didn’t mind them much anymore. I thought it was interesting that what I partly became had a common ability that pertained to my greatest talent and that it was an aid in my search.

I even smiled.

After putting on my disguise again and going back into the bedroom, I jumped right in bed and Frost laid beside me while I tried to remember something.

What was that old saying? I think it was, “Liars can not smile in the face of their own reflection.”

~~~~~~

The following day I took a shot in the dark. At about ten in the morning I infiltrated the castle with the same method as before with no trouble. The difference that time was that I was going for an eavesdropping attempt at the peace negotiations. 

I drank my potion in the bathroom closest to the Solstice Hall to change into a small fly, then flew over there and waited near the door to eventually see three armored changelings and their Guard escorts approach it.

Chrysalis isn’t with them. This probably isn’t good unless she’s already in there.

The Guards opened the door and I immediately flew in, perching myself among the higher placed plants while listening to the row of changelings speak. The middle one who stood in front was the first, his snout held high just as the nobles frequently do with others.

“The Queen has declared that she shall not participate in any negotiations so long as Equestria continues to insult Her and the hive in such a shameful fashion. There will be no negotiations until Equestria has properly apologized and made amends for this insult.”

I'm definitely missing something here.

In general, their words were met with shock and surprise. Some of the ponies quietly exchanged words with each other while I specifically noted the royal sisters’ reactions.

I had to admit that Celestia was good at keeping her outer self level through her own irritation and disappointment. As for Luna, her difference was that she had far less disappointment, but much more anger. Yer she kept herself level to a diplomatically sufficient extent. I was expecting it, but I could only imagine how taxing it would be for me to deal with this in either of their positions. I would likely take this whole negotiation ordeal in a manner close to Luna’s.

So with the calmness she usually displays, Celestia asked the hive changelings, “What insult is it that you speak of?”

“The Queen had requested that Nictis appear before her before any negotiations commence, a request which has been coldly ignored by Equestria," the front one answered. “She demands to know if Equestria intends to make amends and negotiate in good faith, or if you intend to waste Her time with this demeaning farce.”

Sounds more like a demand. Celestia as well as Nictis knows that pony princess authority doesn't include this, even under these circumstances. Your queen isn't getting it if he won't be willing.

Nictis suddenly had a surge of guilt and fear at those words, yet as he recovered he stood up and barely opened his mouth before Celestia spoke for him in a matter of fact tone. “Nictis had prior commitments that demanded his attention, commitments your Queen was well aware of before her arrival.”

At this, the hive changeling gave Nictis a regarding look that immediately made him feel like retreating in some form or another, though he did not. As Nictis likely expected, the hive changeling responded with a tone that they would have used on me. “Yes, the Queen is quite well aware of how he has shunned his duty and commitment to the hive. It was hoped that he might still have shown some sliver of dignity or respect, but clearly that was too much to hope for.”

Too much respect for another leaves you with little for yourself and not a shred of dignity.

Celestia spread her wings, which prompted Twilight and Luna to stand up as Celestia took a few steps forward. Yet with all the fear the changelings had of her, they did not take a single step back. 

When Celestia spoke, her voice was gentle yet it had a slight warning undertone. “Nictis has committed himself to a noble cause, one which can benefit your hive far greater than his prior duties. He does not deserve your scorn.”

The hive changeling quickly became irate at her words and sharply responded with, “The Queen is not interested in excuses! If you wish these negotiations to commence, you will present Nictis to her. If not, we have nothing further to discuss.”

I could sense Celestia’s irritation slowly rise, though it was still slower than Luna’s. “I will not compel any of my subjects to appear before Chrysalis against their will. If she wishes to speak with him, you should be asking him, not me.”

With an arrogantly uncaring tone, the hive changeling gave a retort to Celestia’s words with, “We have delivered our message. What is your answer?”

Opting to speak louder than words, Celestia tried shifting his attention to Nictis with the gesture of a hoof while I flew to the door frame of the entrance they used. Though the hive changeling was stubborn about even looking at Nictis, he did. All that he communicated to Nictis with was his pure contempt and disgust, which was already clear to everyone.

Nictis didn’t say anything for a second or two, until he managed a, “I’ll go.”

This is all the more reason to loath Chrysalis.

Just barely satisfied, the hive changeling gave Nictis an unnecessarily short, “She will be expecting you soon. Alone.”

Once the hive changelings turned around and started towards the door with their Guard escorts right behind, I flew out and left the castle. After finding an empty public bathroom nearby, I entered a stall and used the potion’s mental dispel command. This left me as my real self, as I expected, though I fixed it by taking on Modus’s appearance so I could also enter my home without arousing suspicion.

Once I got to the front door, I already knew that the half-ling wasn’t in the living room thanks to the detection spell. In fact, he was in my bedroom doing what looked like petting and playing with Frost. I immediately changed back after closing the door and started up the stairs to my room, the sound of which made the half-ling stop what he was doing and begin to exercise, expecting me to be fooled. I found it mildly amusing, though when I entered the room I casually picked a magic analysis tool I forgot to return to my lab and left to work on the usual potions and spells.

~~~~~~

In the early afternoon I left the apartment to head off to Cordial’s store. While on my way I decided to play around with my long range detection spell, testing it’s range at differing charge levels until I noticed something particularly interesting.

The spell revealed green line highlights in the area around me, which was an indication of a potentially complicated spell, and my detection spell confirmed this. So my next move was to charge up the spell again, as much as I could. Unfortunately after I cast the spell it wasn’t there anymore, though it did prompt me about another detection above me. 

It was another line, though it was straight this time and seeing as it had the same properties as the spell from earlier, it was likely the same exact spell. The most interesting thing about it was that it looked like it was originating from, or had established a connection to something or somebody in Canterlot Castle. I didn’t know if I’d have time to infiltrate the castle fast enough nor be able to get any definite reason behind it on that end, so I went after the other end of the spell.

I galloped as fast as I could, though the link died out before I detected it’s end. At this point I was unlikely to find a definitive answer as to who or what it was connected to, but a probable answer was better than nothing. Based on the spell’s direction, it ended in what looked like an unused building which prompted me to use the long range detection again.

It picked up three changelings at street level, outside my view. One was sitting at a restaurant and the other two, using a pegasus and unicorn disguise, were walking down the street together. I decided to go with the two on the street. The area wasn’t especially crowded, but I still had to get within ten meters of them to detect their emotions clearly enough. After a few seconds, what I found was the usual signs of an infiltrator.

Unfortunately, something alerted them, and Nictis of all changelings suddenly flew to a small group of Guards and ordered them to capture the two. I decided to pointedly avoid getting close to him and the Guards, as the two infiltrators split up and made a break for it. At first I thought that I had to choose one to follow, but I quickly realized that I could follow both as long as I could still detect them. In order to do that I had to constantly cast the long range detection, and keep a relatively equal distance between the two. 

Fortunately enough, the Guard managed to capture the fake pegasus not fifteen seconds after I started running through alleyways and streets. This left me with needing to take care of only one, so I continued to follow that one infiltrator in the same manner until he stopped galloping. By then, he changed into a pegasus and I started the shorter range but continuous detection spell while following him through the streets for a few minutes. He eventually went into a furniture store, but there was a problem.

The long range ping spell isn't continuous, so in the time between detections the infiltrator could have unknowingly thrown me off his trail by doing something like passing by or, if the infiltrator was extra lucky, fire-portaling near another disguised changeling.

What I decided to do was quickly find a place to change into one of the guards Nictis was ordering, go to the store’s entrance, and open the doors. By that time I had taken the mentality of a guard looking for a runaway, as well as a deep breath.

I then yelled, “Surprise Guard inspection!”

The changeling responded with a slight spike of anxiety and began to nonchalantly sneak to a place that was likely secluded, like the bathroom. Though this was fruitless as my detection spell showed a green silhouette of him. Shrugging, I acted as though I didn’t see him, though I headed right to the bathroom as though I needed to use it.

The infiltrator arrived at it’s door first and opened it, which revealed it to be a single-pony bathroom, then entered while starting up a fire-portal spell. By the time he almost shut the door completely and was almost half way to completing the spell, I stopped the door and hit his head on the wall with my magic. This disrupted his concentration on the spell, stopping it, and let me enter while he was momentarily dazed.

After quickly locking the door behind me, I explicitly said in my interrogation voice, “If your horn lights up at all, I will strike it. Hard.”

“Who are you?" the infiltrator asked in a demanding tone.

I responded with, “Stop playing stupid," which was when he lit up his horn. Unfortunately for him, I wasn’t bluffing. 

As soon as I noticed the glow, I took his head in my magic and gave his horn as hard of a hit as I could. Putting a hoof to his horn the infiltrator’s anger and irritation slipped out, and in more ways than one.

"You pajama wearin', basket face, slipper wieldin', clype-dreep-bachle, gether-uping-bile-maw, bleathering gomreil, jesse oaf-lookin' stoner, nyaff plookie shan, milk drinkin, soy-facedshilpit , mim-moothed, snivelin' worm-eyed hotten-blaugh, vile stoogic, cally-breek-tattie!"

I’ll admit that during his eighteen second long insult, my sadistic side came out and I slowly gave him the biggest manure eating grin he’s probably seen in months.

Still grinning and emitting amusement and joy, I told him, “I don’t know what half those insults meant, but sweet Celestia that was great! So I’ll assume that was a yes, and if you didn’t know already, I have never worked with the Guard.”

“If you expect me to have any information on the changeling that’s seen your disguise during the invasion, you’ve been sadly mistaken," he irately told me. “And don’t even think about helping the bumbling idiots you call the Guard, or your Guard friend will die.”

I went back to my usual interrogation demeanor and said, “I’m not looking for that changeling anymore.”

“Then what do you want?" he asked.

“I want to know everything that’s been going on with the negotiations.”

The infiltrator slightly narrowed his eyes at me. “That’s none of your business, you freak.”

As I suspected, I had to convince him. I narrowed my eyes more than he did and got uncomfortably close to his face. “I can make it my business. I can go right to the royal court and show Celestia how I can help with rooting out infiltrators. It would destroy your way of life. If I had to I’d even reveal myself to them before doing so in public.”

Despite bringing that to his attention the infiltrator still remained confident, and with plenty of venom in his voice he told me, “If you do that, your friend gets wasted.”

At that point I had enough of the hive’s games.

“Your capture of my friend is something I will never forget or forgive. Even before that, I was working on a set of tools meant to find and capture you and your friends. I can see through your disguises like you're completely naked, and you can not hide all of your emotions from me either. I don't even need a line of sight to find you.

“You've made yourselves an enemy to the only one who can throw off the infiltrators you assign to stalk, who can reveal all Canterlot safehouses you have in a day, and even find your infiltrator princess out if she's near. To top it all off, you don't even know for sure who I'm usually disguising myself as. Blitz is willing to give his life for Equestria, and if you underestimate a Guard’s loyalty you won't have any chance left to keep your terrible ways.

“If I know you’re trying to kill or capture any of the princesses or high government officials, or be involved in a large number of killings, I will consider my friend's life and any other Guards you've captured honorably sacrificed so I can do what I must to directly help the Guard in saving more lives than you end. You got that?”

When they took Blitz, they didn’t just make it personal. It was a statement to all of Equestria. They thought that they could fillynap whoever they wanted, but they underestimated my capabilities and now the hive was in its tightest spot yet. Granted it would be hard for me to let Blitz die, even if it was a part of his personal vow to the Guard, but if other ponies started to die I would not hesitate to do it.

Seeing and sensing my dedication, confidence, ferocity, and passion, the infiltrator wasn’t able to suppress his fear enough to even hide it from a pony. “I-I’ll tell you, but it’s not much. I-It’s going poorly because Celestia’s been constantly offending the queen.”

Despite already knowing that, I told him, “Very well. You will fire-portal out of the city with me. I want to see you leave until I can’t any longer. Until you’re so far that the Celestia damn horizon blocks you from my view. Furthermore you will never again return for infiltration on behalf of the hive.”

“Yes, o-of course," was what the infiltrator said before he lit his horn up. 

My detection spell confirmed that he was casting a fire-portal before he could have had time to cast an attack, so I wasn’t worried in the least. Once the spell’s ring of fire was complete, it formed a hemisphere of fire that surrounded then lowered us into the ground. After the fire hemisphere completely emerged from stable ground on the upper face of Canterlot Mountain, it quickly dispersed. No other changelings were detected in the area, so it was unlikely I was going to be quickly ambushed.

“Leave," was all I said to him, and he started flying away.

I did this for multiple reasons. The most important one being the delivery of my message with the context of my genuine emotions that only an infiltrator could give. Therefore they would not believe that I was bluffing. Additionally, they’d do a passive part in keeping my existence from the Guard unless I lose Blitz.

Now, I didn’t actually stay to see him fly past the horizon. The discovery of those two infiltrators by the Guard could have been something exceptionally important to the negotiations, so I rushed to the castle. 

Once I arrived at the Solstice Hall doors with my usual method, I waited for another meeting between the hive and Equestria. Unfortunately, after an hour or so of waiting, it was apparent that the discovery of those two changelings weren’t as important to discuss as I thought.

~~~~~~

Before I went to the Fairly Odd Pub that night I made sure that the half-ling was still home. It seemed like he was acting decently and knew the full extent of his situation by then.

I then left to meet up with friends, but unlike almost every other meet up with them, I had to break some terrible news. I was nervous. I never disappointed Modus as much as I thought I was about to, but I had to tell him or he’d just be even more disappointed in me.

Once I arrived in the pub’s doorway, I noticed that Modus and Gallery were already at a booth waiting for Blitz and I. As I approached the table, Modus knew I had some bad news, and as I sat down his expression changed from relaxed and content to  worried and surprised.

“Shape, what happened?" he seriously asked.

My first statement was a soft, “He… They took Blitz. The hive did.”

Gallery wasn’t all that surprised, both because she already knew about it and that I’d likely tell Modus the news. Though Modus was far more surprised.

“You did something to anger the hive, didn’t you?" Modus asked with an almost horrified face.

Instead of answering the question, I lamely told him, “We need to go to some place far more private.”

“I want to know now, Shape," he said with an undertone of anger and irritation.

I simply said, “We’ll go to Cordial’s store then," as I got up and the two followed me out of the pub.

After a few minutes, Modus got close to me and asked, “Should you really let Gallery come with us? We’ve already lost enough ponies in this group. She could even be an infiltrator.”

I didn’t look at him as I said, “It’s fine. She already knows," though that caused Modus to be moderately suspicious of Galley and I.

Once at Cordial’s store, we went right to the back where the office was and I knocked on the door. Coridal opened it with a slightly confused look.

“Shape? I thought the next batch was going to come in tomorrow.”

“It will," I said. “But I need a place to tell Modus about some of the things I’ve been doing.”

I sensed an emergence of mild suspicion in Cordial that he directed at me, but he still let me in, opening the door all the way and gesturing with a hoof. I took the invitation and the other two followed me in while Cordial said, “I’ll be somewhere in the store if you need me.”

Gallery was the last in and the one to shut the door, after which I immediately began.

“I’m… not really a pony… I’m a half-ling.”

Modus wasn’t as surprised as I thought he would be, though he still said, “Prove it. And who you are.”

Seeing as I’ve gone though proving it a few times by now, I knew exactly what to do. Firing up my horn, I picked up Cordial’s desk and filing cabinets with my magic and set them down, then with my horn shining brighter I cast a spell on Gallery to change her into a dragonfly and undid it.

Slightly dazed by the unexpected transformation, Hamartia irately said, “Don’t cast those kind of spells on me again.”

Cordial wasn’t as surprised at Gallery turning out to be a changeling as I thought, but he was still confused about why Hamartia was disguised as her. So right as Modus opened his mouth, I told him, “He was always Gallery, but I didn’t know it for years.”

Satisfied with the explanation for now, Modus let me continue proving what I was with me firing up my changeling magic to change into Cordial’s disguise and back again.

The first question Modus had was, “I believe you, but what have you done to invoke the hive’s wrath?”

“For the last several months I’ve been finding out, capturing, and interrogating several hive changelings.”

Hamartia was stunned. “That’s what you’ve been doing?! Sweet Celestia, Shape! I thought you were just getting into contact with changelings that are still with the hive!”

“Never mind how for now!" Modus interrupted. “Why would you do that?!”

“I don’t remember how I became a half-ling," I explained. “I was trying to find out by finding the changeling that knows, by infiltrating and interrogating my way to him. Messing with the hive’s infiltrators was… something I considered a bonus. I also had a contact in the hive that wanted justice to be served to who was probably the same hive member that knew what happened during the Canterlot attack. In order to get the memories I wanted I had to work with him to expose the changeling.”

“He could have been lying to you," Modus said with all seriousness.

“I can sense emotions like a changeling," I said. “Even the ones not directed at me with a significant sensitivity.”

Hamartia responded with moderate surprise. “I had a suspicion you did, but I had no idea yours was tuned like that.”

Going back to the previous subject, I said, “My contact wasn’t even an infiltrator, and I’ve managed to find someling to get infiltrator training from in those past months.”

“Was it the changeling we worked with in trying save Blitz?" Hamartia asked.

I answered lamely with, “Yeah.”

But before I could say anything else Modus gave Hamartia a scrutinizing look and cut in with “What else did you help him with?”

“Nothing else," Hamartia seriously stated.

“And what’s your real name?”

“Hamartia.”

Modus then turned to me with a slightly irritated look and asked, “Why didn’t you tell me about all of this sooner?”

Though Hamartia responded instead. “I thought Shape was going to tell you right after we failed to save Blitz.”

“I… forgot," I ashamedly said.

Both Modus and Hamartia facehoofed at that.

“I can see why your name’s Hamartia," Modus said, which prompted him to say, “Shut up," in a deadpan tone.

After Modus removed his hoof from his face, he said, “So how have you been finding those changelings so easily? And how are you able to get past Canterlot Castle’s checkpoints?”

Hamartia’s anticipation in hearing about it became apparent to my emotional sense, though he still remained serious.

I felt some guilt as I said, “I created pony spells that notify me of any changeling magic in the area, and a metamorphic version of my own changeling shape-shifting spell.”

During that statement, Modus started giving me the most disapproving glare I’ve ever seen him do. “You’ve been poking a sleeping bear," he said. Turning around, he stated, “I should go," and did so.

His disappointment wasn’t the only thing that worried me. It was merely the most clear part of the torrent of emotions he had towards me at the time.

Feeling like I was scolded by my parents, I unenthusiastically told Hamartia, “I’m going home… and I guess you don’t need to use the disguise anymore.”

As I started to leave the store Hamartia followed right behind me, though my sixth sense couldn’t give me a good reading of how he felt about me. It wasn’t as much of an emotional jumble as Modus was, but he saw me right after I failed to save Blitz. I even confided in him and he confided in me. I just hopped that Modus wasn’t too angry with me to do the same.

As I went on my own way back home, I started to reconsider what I was doing.

Is it really right of me to invade the privacy of disguised changelings like I have, even if it helps me catch a few of the malicious ones? 

I never told anybody if a pony was actually a malicious changeling as long as I didn't know for sure so I didn’t think it was that bad. Also, with only me knowing, and nobody else knowing the fact that I know, there was still next to no chance of that knowledge getting out without the changeling's okay. But sometimes I did technically stalk one if I suspected one. Though I was usually right about it when I suspected it. Still, the stalking was pretty creepy...

And the whole royal castle infiltration thing. I didn't tell anyone about what I found, not did I tell that I had it or how I got it, as long as they didn't have a perfectly solid reason. It was almost impossible for anyone to even know that I specifically had the information, so I thought that it was safe with me.

...And there's what I did to the infiltrator that replaced Blitz. 

When somebody does something brutal to me and my friends, I try to take enough control to give any punishment I see fit. The infiltrator was involved in abducting my best friend, so I tried to give him a lesson in prejudice.

I don't regret anymore, because why regret something when you can't redo it? But I do accept where my decisions land me and what they teach me, and I can still feel guilty about it. 

But where will my past decisions put me if I see that infiltrator again?

I changed. I almost never invaded someone's privacy, even when there was a good reason to. I never wanted to be capturing dangerous shape-shifters. At that point in time I was doing it all to get answers from some changeling that's difficult to get to, and if I didn't play my cards right, Blitz could die.

Is it even worth the slimmest chance of Blitz dying to get my answers?

Once I arrived home, I trotted by the couch which the half-ling was sitting on and Frost was sitting next to. As Frost got up to greet me, I noticed that the half-ling was still feeling guilty about something having to do with me. He was also reading the dictionary of all things. It was then that he decided to tell me, “Your cat regurgitated some demon vomit in your room.”

Ignoring Frost for a moment, I told the half-ling, “Frost isn’t possessed," in tone expressive of both exasperation and irritation. I then turned my attention to Frost and greeted him back with a still exasperated but happy, “Hey, Barfy," because he was barfing more than usual. After I gave him a quick head rub, I headed to the laundry closet and pulled out some cleaning supplies, then went to my room. 

Frost made just as much of a mess as usual, though from the size of it you’d think that I’d have a dog. So with that being said, it took some time. Even with the cleaning products I had and the spells I searched for after I adopted my first cat. And as usual, while cleaning the mess up, I pondered why I didn’t give him the name Ralph.

Once done with cleaning up, I put the supplies away and decided I was getting sidetracked from Cordial’s order for too long, so I made up for lost time despite wanting to make further improvements to my spells. Advanced spell creation tools don’t pay for themselves unless you’re a Star Swirl.

During my potion brewing, my mind wandered to how the half-ling was doing at the time. He wasn’t annoyed about living in my apartment anymore. He was even starting to like it! But I was also wondering why he was feeling guilty towards me. He hadn’t done anything that I knew about to cause such a feeling, yet there was still my suspicion of him telling the hive what he knew.

Then in the middle of my brewing I heard somebody open the unlocked lab door. I responded with starting the detection spell, which indicated that it was the half-ling.

“Shape?" he nervously asked.

“Yeah?" I said, while continuing to work.

“I know… Even though I’m not part of the hive anymore, I’m sorry that they took your friend.”

That caught me slightly off guard as I didn’t think he’d apologize for something like that at the time. I also sensed something new from him, so I said, “I know that you feel more embarrassed than sorry, but I guess that’s progress.”

“What progress?" the half-ling asked in a confrontational tone.

“Reform.”

“That’s ridiculous. I don’t care about ponies, except for you, if at all. And even if it’s true, once you get me my body back I’m going right back to the hive!" the half-ling said, right before he turned around and left in what might have looked like anger or irritation.

Though as he talked I cracked a slightly sly smile as I could sense his growing turmoil over the idea, further proving my claimed progress. So not long after midnight, I went to bed and thought about how it felt nice knowing that I finally convinced him to not hate all ponies. Though a few minutes later I thought on my overall situation and decided that an explanation on something that mattered little to me wasn’t worth Blitz’s life.

I had to stop.
> Chapter 16: New Perspectives
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The following day, the half-ling and I woke up early to go to a Guard recruit graduation ceremony, though it was far from ordinary.

This was the very first time a changeling was going to graduate into an official Guard! It wasn’t as interesting as seeing Twilight’s ceremony, but it was still a significant point in history.

That being said, we arrived early to get a decent seat which turned out to be at the third row from the front. Once we sat down I started my detection spell to see the ratio of changelings to ponies, which was a little higher than I expected. 

I also noticed the half-ling taking in the scenery of the castle’s white and gold, though he was perplexed about something. I was sure of what it was, and once the ceremony began his confusion was more focused. Then when the changeling Guard, Chirrup, came into view near the end of the line, it was clear that his confusion was about why that changeling joined their ranks.

As for me, it felt fantastic to see the ceremony. Celestia stood up in the royal box, which was in the center of the crowd, and came to the very front of it. She then started the usual speech she always had for the event.

“The Royal Guard has a long tradition. From the very founding of Equestria, there have been those who have dedicated themselves to the protection of others. Individuals who sought out danger not for their own glory, but for the good of those around them. They came in all shapes and sizes, from great warriors of incredible skill, to common ponies, determined to do what they could.

“But despite their courage, they were still just individuals. In Equestria’s darkest times, they faced impossible challenges. It was in these times that these heroic individuals were brought together to form the first Guard. Before, they had shown courage in the face of danger and a selfless drive to help others. In those dark and trying times, they demonstrated the greatest truth of our kingdom: that we are all greater when we stand together.

“While the Guard has changed names over the many centuries, that truth has held. Many generations have passed through the ranks of the Guard over that time, all carrying on the same spirit as those founding heroes, and all carrying on the grand tradition of those who preceded them.

“It is the very first of those traditions that bring us here today, for it is one that began the very moment the first Guard was formed: the oath that marks the transition from determined citizen to member of the Guard.”

Despite it being the same speech, it felt different, and not just to me but many others. Though for me, it wasn’t just because Chirrup was there. It was also because of my situation with Blitz. It reminded me of his own additional vow he made with the oath.

Yet, as Celestia was presenting the recruits their emblems and Luna was following to give her own words of congratulations, I felt a sort of nostalgia rising in me. It was when they finally reached Chirrup, that the feeling was at it’s peak and I found out what it was.

It confused me at first. It felt exactly the same as my desire to date again, but I  soon realized something. The variety of past occurrences that strongly evoked it were too broad for it to be just a desire to date again. I wanted something more broad, something that Chirrup now had.

I wanted to be accepted by my community, have a sense of belonging that I lost during the changeling invasion. But there was only one thing stopping me. My fear of what others ponies thought of me. I had to get over it, or bite the sour apple, to take the chance and reveal myself.

But for now, I had to stay hidden.

~~~~~~

After the ceremony ended we started walking back home, and after a few minutes Dew suddenly asked, “Why would a changeling join the Royal Guard?”

I gave no indication of surprise at that as I said, “For most of them, it's probably because in the hive they either were such, or wanted to be one but they weren't designated as such. So when those changelings decide to live in Equestria, they seriously consider trying to join the Guard.”

“That’s obvious," Dew said, in a deadpan manner. “What specifically attracts them to that job?”

I gave a thoughtful hum and went silent for a minute or two, until I thought of something. “Changelings that know the Royal Guard, know that their loyalty towards Equestria is at least decent and, often times, admirable by changeling standards.”

Dew followed up with, “I’ve seen some examples of their loyalty, but I never thought much of it until now. What other reasons are there?”

I wasn’t sure if I could explain the next one with sufficient wording, but none the less I tried. “It's a... comfortable familiarity in a vastly different culture. The guard provides structure and order in the lives of their members, like most changelings get in the hive.”

“Maybe," Dew said. “But why join when so many ponies object to it?”

This one was obvious to me, as I effortlessly explained with, “The changelings and the Guard want to prove that changelings can be an effective and just as loyal Guard as any other pony.”

“They’re just beating their heads against the wall with that kind of thinking," Dew claimed.

“Then go find a noble and you’ll find that they’re at least tolerating them, no matter the profession," I countered. “The nobles usually have a mindset of arrogance that sometimes destroys their public relations, though it's fairly regular and predictable. Many think of themselves as a high horse, but they still have to bend to the populace’s standards like everybody else. So with that in mind,  and with the way things are going, the rest of Equestria should soon have little in the way of bad feelings about changeling Guards, meaning the nobles will have to get used to it and follow suit.”

The way that I talked about the nobles seemed to have helped in convincing him, and  he acknowledged it with a reluctant, “I guess so," then thought on it.

A few minutes later, I had an idea.

“I want you to come with me to Ponyville the next time I go," I stated, with a small warm smile. “To show you how everything can be in just a few years.”

Dew rolled his eyes and said, “I don’t think I’d have anything better to do, whenever that will be.”

So with that answer, we continued on the rest of the way home in silence and once I got home I took a long nap. By late morning I finished up the rest of Cordial’s order and went off to deliver it.

Once I arrived at Cordial’s office door I noticed he was anxious, though in two different ways. He seemed to be waiting for somebody that could help him and was anticipating something going horribly wrong. So I peeked in through the door’s window to see him, and he motioned for me to come in.

So I entered and showed him my saddlebags, saying, “I just here to drop off the potions.”

“Alright. I’ll have something for you after you put them in the stock room.”

Leaving at that, I put the potions where he told me and came back into the office. Cordial then stopped working. After he closed and locked all the blinds, windows, and doors, he sat down behind his desk and said, “The gray market’s been a bit suspicious of Fleur De Lis recently.”

“What makes them think that they should be?" I asked with a raised eyebrow.

“She’s been acting a little off recently," Cordial said. “Our changelings with exceptional infiltrator skills that have encountered her have noticed small things that don't quite fit her personality. Though most think that she's just having trouble with something recently.”

Raising an eyebrow, I asked, “How do you have infiltrators involved in that market?”

Cordial leaned back in his chair. “The smart ones left the hive once Ponyville became well known for Sky, but the ones that got involved in the market weren’t quite ready to reveal themselves or accept all the… questionable laws. We have very little of them but you seem to be our best, which is why I’m asking you to do this.”

“So you want me to figure out if she’s been replaced and if she may be a threat?" I asked.

“Yes, and make sure that the real Fleur is okay.”

I put on a determined face and said, “Yeah, I’ll do that.”

Cordial took that as his cue to set all the blinds, windows, and doors back to normal and I took that as my cue to leave.

What? You thought I was going to stop infiltrating completely? I had a personal reason in finding that changeling, but when I was trying to help ponies it stopped me from turning the infiltrators over to the Guard like I should have done from the start. At this point I couldn’t do that, but I could still save Blitz if the princesses couldn’t get him back. I had the skills and biology to do it, and nobody was going to stop me from finding a way, dispels or not.

With that being said, I was still improving my spell arsenal. The detection spell’s recognition library had more of the frequently used infiltration spells added, and I had the most complicated modification to the metamorphic shape-shifting spell complete. 

The spell constantly changes it’s self without the need to recast due to a redundant parallel setup for each section. This setup has 3 parallel parts per section that are always active. The second part is both a backup for if a dispel causes any disruption in it’s functions, and for keeping the spell going when it replaces a part of it’s self. The third is for the extremely rare case of both happening at once. Though the downside of this is it’s energy consumption. I couldn’t use it all day every day, let alone for several hours daily.

As for my next move, I decided to infiltrate the castle again in the same way as before, waiting at the Solstice Hall doors as a fly. Fortunately, the princesses were having a meeting and Chrysalis was invited, seeing as she opened the doors and entered.

Taking the opportunity to enter myself, I immediately noticed that many of them in the room were emitting disapproval at Chrysalis. Looking around, I noticed that everyone, even Celestia and Luna, were giving Chrysalis various glares of disapproval. Celestia specifically had her wings spread out and, judging by her emotions, it was likely for the same reason a cat’s fur stands on end before fighting.

Surprise surprise. The general consensus of today's gathering for Chrysalis is the one feeling I always have about her.

“Oh, what now?" was the first thing Chrysalis said, as I sat down on a high up wall plant where I could see both Celestia and Chrysalis’s faces.

Celestia spoke to her first with a sternness in her usual motherly tone. “Once again, your changelings have attacked my subjects. Here you say you finally want peace, but out there your agents still work against Equestria. Explain this.”

Chrysalis became more angry at this than she already was in general, and the showing of her carnivorous teeth reenforced that. After taking stock of everyone’s glares for a few seconds, she turned her attention to Celestia again. With a moderately predatory gait Chrysalis slowly came towards her, narrowing eyes filled with hostility and hate.

“And how, precisely, do you expect me to explain something I know nothing about?”

Celestia’s response was to narrow her eyes, though her’s still showed irritation and disappointment. “We are not fools. We were not so naive as to assume the few Infiltrators you called in were all you had under your command in Canterlot. We knew you had more out there. What’s more, we know you have been in contact with them.”

Was that spell I saw yesterday telepathy? Was the Guard tracking it?

“We have captured some of your Infiltrators. We don’t know how you’ve been getting messages in and out of the castle, but it’s undeniable that you have. So you will explain exactly why changelings under your direct command have carried out yet another attack on my subjects.”

Sounds like both may be true.

All the while, Chrysalis’ glare only became more intense. Nictis, on the other hoof, was bothered yet also emitting feelings of approval for something Celestia said. However, he didn’t outwardly show either.

And if Nictis' reaction is any indication, both of my suspicions are highly likely.

With a tone as hostel as her stare, Chrysalis responded with, “If that’s what happened, I would like to know myself,” Chrysalis spat back. “Yes, of course I kept some Infiltrators out of your grasp. I wasn’t going to hand over all of them when I was still uncertain of this whole ‘negotiation’ nonsense, but having them attack your precious little ponies would be counterproductive. I ordered them to avoid any form of violence except in the most desperate of times, so unless you’re complaining of my subjects defending themselves against yours, they acted against my explicit orders.”

“So again you claim to be unable to control your own Infiltrators," Celestia concluded.

Her methods of installing respect and obedience in her subjects are obviously worse than questionable. At least Celestia’s trying to get all the hive infiltrators out of the public.

Chrysalis’s anger spiked, though all she did was bring attention to the changelings in the room with a sudden hoof gesture and simply said, “Equestria seems to have that effect on my subjects.”

I couldn’t make out exactly what part of her face Celestia was looking at. Though it looked like it was her eyes when Celestia changed to a tone that might have been a tad less stern. “That should tell you something.”

That the princesses don't command respect, they request it by first giving it to their subjects. And those changelings aren't your subjects if they don't want to be. I wouldn't blame them if they don't.

Chrysalis just became more angry, made a dismissive snort, then looked away from the others and me. She then looked at Luna for some reason, but only for a second or two before turning back to Celestia and speaking again with a more calm tone. “What do you want, Celestia?”

I sensed feelings of gladness and possibly a tiny bit less disappointment from Celestia to Chrysalis, which I immediately understood. Chrysalis finally wanted to get to the point as much as Celestia did.

“You’ve said several times that you desire peace, but all the lies you have told have made your words meaningless. Instead, you will have to show it through your actions, and you will start by bringing in every single one of the changelings you have hidden in Canterlot.”

A snarl was Chrysalis’s response, though she wiped away the look with haste and said nothing. That is, for a few seconds. “Very well. It’s not as if they’d make much difference, anyway. Will that satisfy you?”

You’re lying, Chrysalis. About what, I don’t know, but I can feel your smugness about something having to do with all princesses present in the room.

With significantly less irritation, Celestia said, “If you follow through, and bring in every one of your changelings here in Canterlot, it will be a start.”

As Chrysalis turned away and started towards the door, I flew to it’s frame while noticing a smug smile on her face along with the typical expression found on the nobles.

She then stopped to say, “Well, I can’t promise all of them. There are probably still a few Infiltrators operating independently in Canterlot, and there is no way of directly contacting them.”

After Celestia’s more stern response than before of, “Then you will put in the effort to find them," Luna added a more stern “Because if we should uncover them ourselves, it will look as if you were lying yet again. I would hope we need not illustrate the consequences of such an event.”

Sounds like me finding them is now the lesser problem for her. But I'm still going to keep on the lookout for any cocoons.

Chrysalis craned her neck to look at the younger alicorn for a second and told the sisters, “Very well. If you want me to track them down, you’ll need to permit a few more of my changelings out to act as messengers. I think four should be able to manage, unless you could be persuaded to allow more out.”

“Four. And they will all have a full Royal Guard escort," Celestia explicitly stated.

So Chrysalis confirmed with, “Whatever makes you feel better," while rolling her eyes. Judging from her emotions towards the two sisters, I thought that she’d add ‘mothter’ to the end of that.

Instead she continued with, “Now then, if that’s out of the way, I assume it’s time for more of your ‘talks’?”

Celestia felt that she could finally calm her wings, but not sit down quite yet. She might have had to carefully choose how to say her next words.

“There is little point in continuing negotiations until we have resolved this matter, one way or the other. You may return to your chambers. The Guards outside will receive the messengers you select and see them escorted into the city. Once you have recalled all of your agents, we can discuss what comes next.”

Seeing what Chrysalis did next, Nictis thought that her word smithing in that instance was highly admirable, as did I.

“Fine,” Chrysalis said, with a hint of malice. ”But I’d rather not waste the rest of the evening just because you don’t feel like talking. I want to speak with these Infiltrators you’ve captured.”

After Celestia took a moment to think over her request, she told her, “I think we can do that. You may speak with them, individually, but not alone. They will be returned to the hive at a later date, but for now they are prisoners, and somepony will have to accompany you.”

“I believe Nictis would be ideal," Celestia said, as she motioned to him.

Even before Nictis cringed at that I felt bad for him. I knew somebody who I thought was comparable to her and I wanted to only spend as little time as I could with him.

Chrysalis shifted her attention to Nictis, though not soon enough to see his reaction. Loathing the idea, Chrysalis looked back to Celestia. “I’m also still waiting to speak with Chirrup.”

Celestia shook her head. “The graduation ceremony only recently finished. He will be notified of your request this evening, and I am sure you will receive your reply shortly after that.”

She knew Chrysalis’s very personality it’s self was a drain on anybody unfortunate enough to cross paths with her, so I was not surprised at the response in the least.

Emitting disdain towards Celestia, Chrysalis replied with, “Oh, of course. I have to do everything immediately, or else, but go ahead and take your time with anything I ask for.”

Celestia sighed.

“Are you really trying to play the victim in all this?”

Giving Cadance her attention and contempt, Chrysalis responded with, “Oh, you must be enjoying this. Is that why you came here, for some pathetic sense of vengeance? Were you hoping to see me humiliated, now that you’ve got all the better princesses backing you up?”

“Chrysalis," Celestia scolded as she unfolded her wings again.

Yet Cadance motioned an okay at Celestia with, “No. It’s fine.”

Candance then rose to face Chrysalis with a tightness in her jaw, and though she was nowhere near as tall as Chrysalis, she stood in front of her with a smile that I found to be satisfyingly smug. Shinning Armor’s feelings weren’t needed for me to tell that he’d jump over her and pounce Chrysalis at the first sign of a physical fight.

So with a tone that indicated annoyance, Cadance was the one who was the closest to telling Chrysalis off. “I have no desire to see you humiliated. The only thing I want is to make sure you don’t hurt anypony else, ever again. I see Princess Celestia and Princess Luna giving you every opportunity to become something better, and then I see you spitting in their faces. You don’t even appreciate how lenient they’ve been. As far as I can see, Equestria would be better off with you removed from power.” She then waved a hoof to the Equestrian changelings in the room. “And for that matter, so would your hive.”

Chrysalis exasperatingly snorted and told her, “The only reason I’m even considering this peace is for the sake of the hive.”

Cadance was on the bits and she wasn’t about to let a simple shallow retort prove her wrong. So with aggressive confidence, she narrowed her eyes and gave a retort of her own. “Only because of what it gets you. You’re losing control, aren’t you? Your subjects are fleeing from your hive to take their chances with a nation you’ve told them is their enemy. Your grip over them is failing. That’s why you’re here, isn’t it? To keep more of your power from slipping through your hooves?”

They prefer to live a life where there's such a thing as free time, being fed right, and respect that goes both ways. But that's far from the entire list.

Chrysalis’a contempt grew at her response and she retorted with a growling tone. “I am here for the good of the hive. The traitors who fled for their own selfish desires only weaken it, and they will be dealt with in time.”

Cadance repeated, “Dealt with?" while slowly becoming more frustrated at her attitude. “Listen to yourself! Your species lives off love, but you’re full of nothing but hatred. It’s no wonder that they’ve been leaving you when you can’t show them what they need so much.”

“We consume love, little princess," Chrysalis said in a demeaning but still angry tone. “We don’t roll around in it like you ponies. I’ve kept the hive fed, despite the hardships we’ve endured.”

“Yes, you’ve kept them fed. Barely. And that’s it. There’s more to being a good ruler than doing the bare minimum for your subjects. They’ve gotten a glimpse of how much better things could be. You could be a responsible ruler, helping your subjects to prosper. Instead, you’re content to be nothing but a petty tyrant.” Further frustrated and almost to the point of anger, she narrowed her eyes and spread her wings. “As far as I’m concerned, Equestria should do everything it can to keep you from power. If you’re so determined to be nothing but a monster, then that’s how you should be treated.”

And my large respect for Cadance grows further.

Surprisingly, Chrysalis didn’t even try to deny it. “A monster?" she mockingly asked in amusement, which was followed by giggling. “That’s what changelings are, little princess. I would have thought you of all ponies would have understood that.”

Changelings don't have to be monsters.

Surprisingly, Cadance didn’t get any more irritated at Chrysalis’s statement, though she did make an accusation. “You’re the only one acting like a monster here,” she said as she brought attention to the Equestrian changelings with the same motion of her hoof as before. “You could do to learn from their example.”

This only amused Chrysalis further and, as she leaned in with a predatory smile that caused all other princesses and many ponies in the room to be at alert, she asked, “And which one would you be referring to? The one who abused orphan foals for years? Or do you mean the one who uncovered Canterlot’s weaknesses, planned out how to dismantle the Royal Guard, and helped to find the best time and place to replace a certain soon-to-be-wed Princess?”

Both irrelevant. That was before they even tried.

Sky and Cadance’s muscles tensed up in fear, while she took a quick look at the other changelings then went back to Chrysalis. A stressful, silent moment occurred before Cadance said, “At least they’re trying,” in a moderate volume.

And succeeding. But you don't know or even understand that, do you Chrysalis? Because you never tried.

Once again, Chrysalis laughed, louder than before, as she turned in my general direction and rolled her eyes. “I’m here, talking peace, aren’t I?”

Because if you don't, you would inevitably have nothing to rule, and it scares you.

As Cadance went though many expressions, I could sense her’s and Nictis’s belief of the statement being irrelevant due to her own actions. So after several seconds, Cadance retorted with a forewarning tone. “But you don’t want peace, do you? You just want what it gets you, and as soon as you have that, you’ll just go back to your old ways.”

A hum and smugness was Chrysalis’s reaction, and it showed as she craned her neck to look behind her. “But that’s not so different from them, is it?” Here she moved her head to fix her gaze on the other changelings. “‘Sky’ just needs to remember who he really is to turn his back on all this ridiculous sentimentality. Nictis doesn’t even need that much.”

Upon hearing this, Nictis’s anger and fear at Chrysalis moderately rose. Then rose a bit more when she pointedly fixed her gaze on him. Despite the large but short spike of surprise, he didn’t externally react much.

Talking directly to him, she said, “Oh, yes. I see those little glares you give me. I can feel all that anger and hatred in you. I know what’s in there. It would take such a tiny push to get you to abandon this act and show them what a real monster is.”

And if you were the one to do it, you'd be the one to blame the most because you'd know it would happen. But don't worry about doing the same to me. In time I can put enough of my hatred of you behind me, for peace, you monster.

I wasn’t sure if Nictis could hold back his anger at this point. He seemed to have small tremors going through his legs, his jaw may have clenched down extra hard, and I could swear there was a hint of anger when he spoke.

“If you really think that’s true, then you should probably stop pushing me.”

Chrysalis simply gave him a smug grin, then turned to Cadance. “See?”

Giving the queen a glare devoid of all amusement and joy, Cadance took a defiant pose. “I see more than you do, Chrysalis. You can’t even see the difference, can you? Sure, they may be capable of doing horrible things. Many ponies are, too. The difference is that they’re seeking a way to live without hurting others, while you enjoy it.”

To nobody’s surprise, Chrysalis just lightly laughed as she said, “I’ve always thought it was important to enjoy what you do.”

Suddenly, Luna cut into the exchange with a steak knife of a voice. “Then you had best find something new to enjoy, Chrysalis, for those days are at an end.”

The queen replied with, “Oh, relax. I’m perfectly willing to give this whole peace thing a chance. If it ends up being better for my hive, then you’ll have no problems from me.” Though her emotions in their entirety were indicating the opposite, and the devious grin she gave didn’t help either.

Luna moved her head into an authoritarian pose as she said, “We had best not. I need not remind you that we have alternatives.”

At this, her mood did a complete one-eighty and she gave Luna a dangerous look. “Not that it seems to stop you.”

“That’s enough for now,” Celestia finally said. “Chrysalis?” The big bug turned her head, giving the white alicorn’s calm yet commanding look a glare. “You may return to your chambers. A messenger will be sent for you when it’s time for those meetings you requested.”

Giving a snide snort, Chrysalis responded with, “Don’t take too long about it,” and started towards the door.

Though Luna stopped her. “Chrysalis," she said with a smile. Though I sensed that Luna wasn’t smiling to be nice, but about getting the opportunity to punish her if it arose. “We are allowing the interviews you requested as a favor to you, one we are under no obligation to fulfill. You should show some gratitude that we are allowing it.”

And that, despite everything, I've decided to not get officially involved in these affairs.

I knew Chrysalis sensed some of the same things I did, seeing as she gave a look of contempt and a snarling, “Thank you," to Luna. She then continued to the door and with significant carelessness she threw them open. Though the doorstops did their job and kept them undamaged while Chrysalis left and I flew through, the Guards closing the door behind us.

The meeting didn’t have much info that was all that useful to me, especially with getting Blitz back or figuring out if Fleur was replaced. So I flew out of the castle and into a cloud to change into a throwaway pegasus mare disguise, then went to the market to find events that the real Fleur might attend. While there, I thought on why any changeling in the right mind would want to replace her.

Fleur was a pony that attracted a lot of attention. It would be much harder to keep up the charade, as at least one pony would notice something off. The most likely pony being Fancy Pants. But I questioned what would be such a valuable asset so as to cause an infiltrator to break one of the big rules.

Her influence alone couldn’t be enough. Act said before that they were the closest to each other that couples could be, so something about that had to be another factor. Perhaps the infiltrator was trying to gain what Chrysalis did at the royal wedding. Or was he trying to find some kind of deep answer in a relationship that only one like theirs could provide?

Whatever it could be, I hoped that it wasn’t going to end in catastrophe. 

While at the market I found a few events that Fleur would go to, then left for the castle. Once there I asked a Guard, “Excuse me, but do you know what public events in the castle are coming up?”

“Yes, mam,” the mare answered. “There’s going to be a formal party in the garden. It’s open to the public, but you’ll need to buy a pass.”

“Anything else?”

The mare tapped her chin in thought, the said, “No, mam. The castle space for events isn’t rented out often, unless it’s for a fund raising event. That gives a significant discount… Or it makes it free. I can’t quite remember how that works.”

“So where do I buy the pass?" I asked as I turned my head to look around a bit.

“It’s in the main hall.”

“Alright. Thanks!" I said, then left.

I knew that all the main hall entrances had a checkpoint, so I wasn’t about to give them a chance to reveal me. After swapping to my best disguise spell in a mostly empty jewelry store, I went back to the castle and approached the checkpoint, which had a short line. Before it was my turn, a guard asked the usual questions about any spells on me, which I all answered no to. Once it was my turn, I passed without a hitch and followed the signs to the event counter, bought the ticket, then left through another checkpoint to go home.

Though before I arrived, I realized that Act might have known some events that Fleur was going to attend, so I switched paths to his house. Once there, I knocked on the door and he opened, asking, “You need help with something?" with a slightly tired look.

“I need to come in and discuss something,” I said.

So Act let me in and we went upstairs to his office, where he closed the blinds on the only window in the room. I took that as my cue to shed my disguise while Act did the same.

“So what do you need?" Act asked.

“All the public events that Fleur De Lis is going to in the next few days.”

Act raised a brow in confusion. “Why would you need to know that?”

“Fleur may have been replaced by an infiltrator and the underground changeling market could get in trouble from that.”

Act sighed. “Well, my job’s been taking up a lot of my time recently so I don’t know what she’s going to be attending. What events do you know about?”

“For today, there’s going to be the grand opening of an Everfree exhibit and a charity auction with all proceeds going towards restoring a few public playgrounds. For tomorrow, a formal night party in the castle garden. Oh, and four days from now there’s going to be a cider tasting.”

Act thought on this for a minute, tapping his chin. “I think she’s most likely to attend the charity auction, then the night party. As for the cider tasting and Everfree exhibit, I’m not sure which one she’s more likely to be at, but they’re definitely the last two.”

“Alright. I think that’s all I needed," I said, as I put my disguise back on and started leaving.

“Wait!" Act suddenly exclaimed.

I turned around with a questioning look.

“I’ve got an invite to a flying yacht party that’s tonight. Fleur would probably be there," Act explained.

This only confused me and I raised an eyebrow. “Yeah, but you can’t just change the name on the invite, right?”

“Maybe. I’m not going anyways, so it’s worth a try," Act said, as he pulled out said invite. Taking out a fountain pen, he crossed out his name and asked “What’s your disguises name going to be?”

I only took a few seconds before saying, “Diamond Sparkle, stallion.”

After he put the name down adjacent to his, he signed it and hoofed it to me. “The host is a little lenient on this kind of thing, so hopefully this will suffice.”

As I took it I said, “Thanks. This should help a lot.”

“I hope it does,” Act said with a suddenly serious face. “Fancy Pants is practically a friend and he loves Fleur more than anything in Equestria. I’m not going to let some other changeling do Celestia-knows-what to her, so I’m trusting you to make sure that she’s safe.”

All I could say was, “I’ll do my best," and I turned around to leave.

Upon doing so, Act said, “Good luck!”

Once I returned home, I went to do my usual lab work until somebody knocked on the door. This prompted me to start my detection spell, which indicated that it was an undisguised changeling. My sixth sense told me that he was angry yet just as concerned for me. An odd combination. Not too surprisingly, his silhouette in the spell looked like it was Modus, but as I went to the front door, I prepared for the changeling to attack.

Upon opening the door, it at least looked like him. 

“Shape, I need to hear what happened to you during the Canterlot invasion.”

He didn’t look angry, he just looked and sounded determined if anything. 

I gave him a confused look and asked, “Why?" while my spell picked up another undisguised changeling.

Modus looked around in thought for a second. “I need to know how you feel while you tell me about what happened in more detail.”

At that moment I was tired, but I knew that this was far too important to tell him to come back later. “I guess. We can do this at the dinning table.”

So after I let him in, we both sat at opposite sides of the table. Then someone else knocked on the door, so I got up and opened it to see Hammy.

Like Modus, he still wasn’t entirely sure how to feel about me. “You… I, uh, feel like I need to know what happened to you during the changeling invasion.”

“Yeah, I was just about to do that with Modus,” I nervously said, before coming back to the table with him.

As Hammy sat down, Modus neutrally asked, “Here for his Canterlot invasion story?”

Hammy was going to respond, but I told him, “Yeah, he’s here for that …so I guess I’ll start from the beginning.”

Now that I had two listening I was more nervous, but I took a deep breath and started. “I was working in the lab when I started hearing the changelings dive bombing the city, so I took a look outside. It all seemed like a nightmare to me. I saw them as… a hideous combination of bug properties that I hated, especially chitin, with the remaining being equine. They were chasing, capturing, and feeding off ponies… and many looked like they were having fun doing it …so that’s pretty much where my memory cuts out for a while.”

Neither of the two’s feelings changed all that much, but I continued, trying to look at anything but the others.

“The next thing I remember was waking up. The lab room and several things in it were damaged, so I got up to start cleaning, yet I noticed that one of my legs had a large hole in it. I, uh… started to panic a bit and took a closer look. I noticed another hole, then shifted attention to my other legs to see that they had holes as well, and that my cutie mark was gone.”

At this, Hammy got up, came over to sit next to me, and reached around my shoulders to give a comforting squeeze before telling the story became hard. I blushed a bit at that. Modus was still hard to read, though he seemed to be thinking on how I felt while telling the story.

“By then I was freaking out. I went right to the bathroom mirror and noticed that I had what looked like bat pony eyes. The next change I saw was my horn. It was chitinous and curved. Both of these reminded me of the changelings I saw from before my memory gap. By then I… started having a panic attack.”

By then, Modus started to feel a bit guilty, possibly because he felt like he could have figured this out and emotionally supported me. But he knew he couldn’t at that point, so he let Hammy do it as I let out a single tear.

“I started worrying. I didn’t want to become a changeling or anything in between. I thought of other scenarios, but I began to get an odd sensation in my hooves and a light-headedness. I… Before I could calm myself, I became tired and unsteady, then vomited into the sink. After that, there was a blackness that started in my peripheral vision, so I tried to get to bed… but I lost all sight and passed out.”

I tried to not tear up any further, but I was losing that battle and it was obvious by then. “When I woke up, Frost was poking my face because I was late for feeding him. I-I did that, though the entire time I tried to not look at my legs. I was still pretty worried… and my mind felt exceedingly strange. I was hopping that the transformation was only temporary, so after I fed him I went through my books to find any spells that could have caused it. I knew it might have been my own potion, b-but I didn’t want to believe that.”

“Even though I went through everything I had, I found nothing, so I went to bed and completely c-covered myself in the sheets and tried to go to sleep. I hoped that by the time I woke up I would be a pony again… but something else happened.”

“I didn’t know how long I was trying to sleep for, but a sudden but brief, bright light appeared and I felt a large surge of pain everywhere that went away just as fast. I jolted up and saw that I was still a half-ling, so I tried to remember if there was ever a way to fix it… b-but I couldn’t and I doubted there was an easy fix if there even was one.”

Modus felt a bit more guilty at this, seeing as he could have helped me with fixing it, but he still remained silent. As for me, I was starting to feel better due to the worst of the story being over.

“I remembered seeing that the changelings could transform, w-which gave me the hope that it was an innate ability they had and that I could then do. I also thought that I might have still had my special talent, despite the loss of my cutie mark, which gave me the inclination to figure out how to use their ability. This took some time, but once I did, I was briefly surrounded by green flame… and a pain just like before that came and went just as fast.”

Despite remembering that pain, I was starting to smile. “After taking a second to recover from the pain again, I immediately looked at my legs and noticed that nothing changed. I was disappointed, but I was determined to find out what was going wrong with it, so I only cast it to study and fix it for the time being. I also soon realized that my mind feeling extra strange was due to gaining your sixth sense. At the time I described it as feeling others emotions… and that’s pretty much everything.”

With my story over, Modus told me, “That’s all I needed. I’ll see you at the bar at the usual time," then took a deep breath and left a bit quickly.

He wasn’t any easier to read as he left. In fact, even with my differently attuned sixth sense, his emotions were in a bit of a more chaotic and inconclusive state than when he arrived, so I didn’t know for sure what to make of his visit.

“Shape?” Hammy said, breaking me away from my thoughts. “I didn’t know you felt that way about chitin… and how horrific you first felt about that change.”

I smiled a bit more as I faced him. “I never would've gained the changeling shape-shifting ability, nor would I have created advanced spells for counter-infiltration, nor would I have ever had the nerve to use it to save ponies from being abducted by the hive if the accident never happened.”

Frowning, Hammy told me, “I wish I found you sooner, then you wouldn’t have had to go through this.”

I just smiled even more as I said, “I still regret nothing.”

“I know, but how does that make any sense?” Hammy asked, finally letting go of me and giving me a look like I was starting to go insane.

I had a standard response for this for a while. “Regret isn't an emotion worth holding on to because it helps keep you from moving on. Though I still feel like guilt is important, because it helps keep me from becoming a monster.”

Hammy was still confused, so I explained further. “Regret is to wish that you never did something because it resulted in an outcome that doesn't agree with your moral standards. Guilt is different in that it doesn't include the feeling of wishing to change the past, so it doesn't keep you from letting go of the past as much as regret does. It also still drives you to learn lessons from past mistakes.”

“I think I’m beginning to see what you mean," Hammy slowly responded.

“The philosophical side of Modus rubbed off onto me in his class," I told him, while the half-ling in his disguise passed through my view and into the kitchen. “Hammy, you remember Dew, right?”

“Yeah… and that she’s a changeling,” he responded.

Him knowing wasn’t much of a surprise to me, so I continued without skipping a beat. “Yeah, well not quite. He’s a half-ling like me, but he’s not quite used to pony society. Can you do public social things with him?”

Hammy pursed his lips in thought for a few seconds. “How accustomed is he?”

Rubbing the back of my mane, I told him, “He’s relatively normal… for a pony that lives on a rock farm," though the last part sounded more like a question.

“And you’ve been using that as your excuse?" Hammy asked with amusement and a raised brow.

A bit embarrassed but still smiling a bit, I said, “Yeah. I’d like you to get him more used to the public and show him what pony society has to offer.”

“I think I can do that,” he said. “I’ll start right now! Where is he?”

“Kitchen,” I told him, and he went right to it.

I stayed put for a minute or two, wondering what Hammy was going to plan, until he came out with the half-ling. Or rather, dragged the half-ling out by the tail, who was crossing his forelegs and wearing a pout on his face while he told Hammy “You’re not going to be able to drag me there.”

Noticing me, the half-ling asked, “Why do I have to date him?”

This momentarily confused Hammy while I sighed and told the other, “It’s not a date. I just want you to get used to ponies and their way of life so I don’t have to keep telling everybody that you lived on a rock farm most of your life.”

He responded in a deadpan tone. “A rock farm keeps sounding better every time you mention it.”

Hammy stifled a laugh, and I facehoofed as I told him, “Look, it’s not the same as a hive and they won’t let you live with them if you constantly refuse to do things that the hive finds ridiculous.”

A simple, flat, “Fine," was all he said, which prompted Hammy to start talking about what they could do as they left the home. So with that taken care of, I started towards my room to grab a book.

Until just a few seconds later, when I snickered from unmistakably hearing Hammy yell, “You don’t know what lingerie is?!”

~~~~~~

The first event I went to as the Diamond Sparkle persona was the charity auction, which started late in the evening. There was no problem getting in, but I really didn’t want to end up bidding with money I didn’t have. So before arriving, I thought of something clever and asked Act if there was anything he wanted from the auction. Unfortunately, he had no interest in anything there, so I had to be a little careful with bidding.

Infiltrators and assassins would usually have to rely a lot on body language clues to know who’s likely to place a bid, though once the fake pony places a bid, it attracts the attention of other ponies that want that item. It’s then that the fake pony can get a better measure of how confident the bidders are with their strategy. Assassins normally refrain from making the first bid on any item, but make what looks like an attempt every once in a while when an item is interesting to many ponies. After all, they’re not there to spend money.

So with that being said, I was able to avoid buying anything, yet Fleur wasn’t there while Fancy Pants was. I didn’t talk with him, but I did hear that he was also there to bid for Fleur, and from what I noticed he was a very reasonable pony. One that I could respect far more than most nobles.

As for the opening of the Everfree exhibit, it was just as simple to get in. I wasn’t able to find Fleur at first, but I was actually interested in much of the exhibit so I explored it. As I was going around to read about and look at many different fauna and flora, I kept an eye out for her. Unfortunately, neither her or Fancy Pants came to the event before one would likely leave for the flying yacht party, so that’s where I headed next.

Upon arriving at the entrance to the yacht, I presented my invitation. The pony examined it, told me to wait while he left with the invitation for a few minutes, then came back. He said that I was allowed to enter, but that I was going to have an escort and if I caused any trouble I was going to be immediately teleported out. Seeing as getting teleported without warning can be very disorientating, I didn’t want that. Let alone getting teleported into a solid object by accident because of quick and imprecise casting, among other things.

After my escort arrived, I boarded the yacht and asked him what activities there were. He was able to list most if not all of them on the spot, including the ones that were scheduled. I then asked if Fleur or Fancy Pants received an invite. He responded with a simple yes, but that he wouldn’t know if either showed up and that there was a list for that.

I asked if he could look it up, so we ended up going to what looked like a small break room. Going over to a manila folder, he opened it and searched through to find that there wasn’t a list of attendees. Due to that, we had to go to somebody to address the issue, though the pony told us that it wasn’t a big enough deal, seeing as we already took off.

Not having the easy way of knowing, I started wandering around to the events on board. There was only about three or four activities going on at once, but many were exceptionally interesting to either participate in or watch. Yet, despite that, I had a potential infiltrator to find so I thought up excuses to switch activities several times, though many said excuses included searching for either of the couple. This raised my escort’s curiosity and he eventually asked why I wanted to find the two so badly, so I told him that there was some interesting business info that I only wanted to tell them.

I had searched as much of the place as fast as I could while appearing reasonably unsuspecting, and at one point there was one pony that looked like Fleur, but after a few seconds I realized that it was a trick of the light. It was also noteworthy to say that her husband wasn’t there either. In total, I probably spent about two hours trying to find her while keeping my masquerade up. 

Unfortunately, I had to come to the conclusion that she wasn’t there.

Wanting to leave as soon as possible, but not wanting to initially come across as only being there because the couple were invited, I decided to sneak away. I did this by going to the one place that my escort would wait for me outside so I could discretely change forms. 

The bathroom.

Once no one else was in there, I swiftly changed into a dragonfly and once someone came in, I flew through the doorway and left the yacht. Once I got to solid ground, I changed into a pegasus and flew back to Canterlot. Once at a cave, I changed back to my usual form, then went home to just take the rest of the night off for once and read a book.

~~~~~~

The next day I spent most of my time before noon doing lab work, then took another shot at getting useful info from the hive negotiations. Even though Twilight was discussing details with Chrysalis that time, it was only about how Twilight figured the hive could improve under Equestrian assistance and technology.

Not anything useful, though it was interesting how Chrysalis seriously started thinking that the negotiations would be worth it.

After coming back home from that, Hammy came over to grab the half-ling and drag him off for more public activities. As for me, I did some house cleaning then went back to the lab work. Later in the afternoon I was trotting back home from the market when I noticed the sound of something flying close to Canterlot. It definitely wasn’t an airship, at least in the traditional sense, and it looked as though it was made of metal, but it wasn’t a chariot.

The only thing I knew of that fit the description was something I’ve heard about from Modus. Moreover, the owner of said thing was visiting Canterlot at the time, so it made sense to try and get a better look at it.

After finding a good spot, I changed into a pegasus, hid my purchases, then flew my way towards the unidentified flying object. By the time I got a reasonably closer look, other pegasi were following and taking looks at it as well, so I was able to examine it for longer than I thought I could without much attention.

Spark Wheel’s flying machine was an amazing invention. Modus has told me that even though it was loud, it’s agility and speed was amazing. He was definitely right about it being loud, and it’s speed, seeing as it was surpassing even the fastest chariot pullers. If he was piloting the thing from his home village it had to have a decent flight time as well.

Though as much as I wanted to get a close look at it, he was heading towards the castle so I flew back to where I hid my things and went home with them.

I did the usual things until about seven at night, then freshened up and put on a suit. Leaving the house, I went to Cordial’s store to change my disguise and swap the spell it’s self, then to the castle. Once there, I went though the first checkpoint, then went to the garden entrance where I presented my ticket and passed through the party’s checkpoint.

Starting my detection spell, I wandered around looking as though I was taking stock of what there was to do. It was as much as you’d expect from a formal garden party. Some nice classical music, ponies dancing, snack tables to linger at with others, exotic plants to look at and animals to watch. It was nice, but I had a noble to find.

After searching the entire party, I couldn’t find Fleur or Fancy Pants, but I kept in mind that they could arrive later. So I stayed to mingle while keeping an eye out for either and, after some time, my spell picked up a disguised changeling.

Looking in the direction of the green silhouette, I noticed that it had the general shape of Fleur. Naturally, this worried me. I couldn’t do much being a few dozen meters away with several ponies between me and the changeling, so I got closer to more easily make out the changeling’s emotions and get a line of sight.

It was indeed Fleur, and with Fancy Pants no less.

I reined in control of my worry as best I could and thought on how to deal with this. I knew the classical approach to getting a mare alone, but I wasn’t sure how to go about capturing the fake Fleur because somebody would notice the slightly alarming noise I’d likely make. Though I realized something about the fake Fleur when I had the chance to examine her emotions.

His true feelings towards ponies that he knows aren't changelings seem surprisingly docile for an infiltrator. Not much fear or hate, so why is he using Fleur's image? Judging by her curiosity and determination as well, it seems that he's far more likely to be here for information. I don't think he's going to be a threat to ponies in any way...

But you know what? I need some advice and there's an infiltrator that has it. He's probably understanding enough of both his own culture and the pony's to have a unique view of their relations. If nothing else, he probably has a new unique view of the world that I could use in some way.

I had to rethink my approach a bit. I didn’t want the changeling getting too alarmed or leaving, which meant that once I had the changeling in private, I’d have to initially be vague enough to confuse the changeling's persona, yet descriptive enough for his real self to actually have a good idea of what I meant. Then I could eventually get more detailed.

So I continued to follow the fake pony until she was no longer with Fancy Pants, at which point I decided to approach her with, “How are you liking the party, Fleur De Lis?”

Fake Fleur gave me a smile. “Everything is splendid so far. The music is lovely and the garden is as vibrant as usual. Are you finding the party enjoyable as well mister...?”

“Diamond Sparkle,” I finished. “And yes, the party has been a fantastic time so far.”

She had a slightly thoughtful look to her before she asked “Your accent. Did you move to another city from Trottingham early on?”

“Well, I left with my parents when I was three. I don’t remember anything, but I still have the accent due to my parents.”

“I grew up in Canterlot, though I have visited Trottingham. The palace is beautiful, though they say to not touch the Guards.”

“Yes, I know what what kind of things happen to those that do.” Giving a slightly worried look, I said, “They usually get taken away and come back in absolute terror. They take their job very seriously.”

“I have no doubt about that, though I prefer to move on to other topics.”

“As you wish, miss Fluer,” I graciously said. “Though, if I may ask, would you be willing to give a stallion a married mare’s advice?”

She joyfully responded with, “I would be happy to.”

“Well, if I may be so bold, it is a more private matter,” I slowly said.

“Oh…," Here, she considered whether or not to continue the topic. “I am very flattered that you would ask such a thing! …I suppose I can move this conversation to a more private area.”

Smiling, I said, “Thank you. I have just the spot.”

I started trotting off, and she followed as we made our way to a small storage closet. She was a bit reluctant, but went in with me anyways. Once I closed the door and turned on the light, I dropped the accent and put on a more neutral face. “So, I’ve had a recent change, and I’d like your opinion on whether or not I should reveal it to the public any time soon.”

My sudden shift in topic and accent worried her, and as such, she asked, “I thought this was about your marefriend. And why has your accent has changed?”

“We’re in a castle with Guards everywhere, so I assure you that you’re safe,” I calmly said, then switched to my interrogation voice. “That is, as long as you give me advice, promise to not to hurt any Equestrian citizens, and assure the safety of the real Fleur De Lis, infiltrator.”

This elicited a bit of irritation on the infiltrator’s face as she dropped her accent and demeanor as well. “What advice do you want?" she begrudgingly asked.

Putting on a serious face, I told her “I need a different angle to look at my problem from. A master infiltrator would be perfect for it.”

As she slightly narrowed her eyes at me, she said, “Asking your enemies for advice?”  then closed her eyes and sighed. All her irritation seemed to leave, though I was sure that she still was.

“I would prefer to make this quick,” she said, after opening her eyes again. “There are at least a few changelings that decided that they won't give away their real form. It’s not because they're afraid, but because, despite using a disguise, they've been acting like their true selves and had their disguise for so long that they feel like their disguise is who they actually are. So they feel perfectly happy keeping it a secret for only their closest, and maybe, honorary family.”

“I think I understand that," I said. “But I feel like I'd be living too much of a lie to do that kind of thing, despite my reluctance to tell everyone about my change.”

“Then how do you feel that your situation is different enough?”

I thought on that for several seconds as I tapped my chin. “Pony society prefers everypony to be open about who and what they are.”

“While Chrysalis prefers to have everyling do what benefits the hive,” the infiltrator said. “Which would mean few secrets can be kept to themselves individually.”

“Well, despite what I just said, pony society also prefers to give everypony privacy, which creates a moral dilemma. Though it’s not the dilemma that’s bothering me, rather, trying to find the best time and place to show my change.”

“Then perhaps something else may help. At the hive, waiting for the right time means waiting until it can best benefit the hive, otherwise it's considered selfish. I also know that in pony society, it's only considered selfish if it's done with questionable reasons and it hurts somepony.”

“I haven’t considered that part of the hive’s culture, yet I always try to help friends,” I said, as I rubbed my chin in thought. “I could be opening opportunities for myself as well as them.”

Frowning a bit, the infiltrator said, “I can’t help you much more, unless you tell me more. Other than the hive, what’s stopping you?”

“I’ve mostly put myself in this situation,” I told her. “I’ve messed with your hive’s infiltrators along the way to finding out what happened to me. I already know what it’s like to be different as well.”

“What kind of closure are you after?”

I reconsidered this. Before, I wanted revenge, then later an apology, even if it was forced. But now I wanted something else. 

“I want to know who did it.”

“But I have heard from the other infiltrators that you may already know.”

I smirked a bit. “I do know.”

“Then what more do you want?” she said, as I couldn’t help but slowly get to a full-on smirk.

“I want to thank him.”

The infiltrator raised an eyebrow at that. “I don’t follow.”

“Well, I think I know exactly what to do now.” My smirk disappeared and a moderately hard look took it’s place. “Though you still need to tell me where Fleur is. If she’s alright, you can keep searching for whatever it is you want, as long as it’s not the changeling underground market.”

Here, she gave an amused snort. “The hive started that market before my time, then after the invasion, it split off from us. I have no reason to rediscover or eliminate them. As for Fleur, you have my word that she’s safe, and if you don’t believe me, I’ll give you her location.”

“I want the location.”

“You’re smarter than you look. Though it’s no surprise to me,” she praised, as she found a clipboard hanging on the wall and wrote the address. As she hoofed it to me, she said, “It’s been an interesting conversation.”

I smiled as I took the paper and said, “I agree.”

“Though, how did you even see through an infiltrator princess's ruse?”

I went wide eyed with surprise. “I… just bested the infiltrator princess?”

“Yes, a moderate achievement for an infiltrator, though a major one for any pony or run-of-the-mill changeling. But again, how?”

I shook myself from my shock. “That will be a secret until the day it’s needed.”

“You are one strange and mysterious creature,” Chittri said. “That worries me.”

Taking that as my cue to leave, I opened the door, looked back to her with a smirk, said, “You don’t know the half of it," winked at her, and left.

Though I was expecting her to follow me, she never did. At least, as far as I could tell. For all I knew she was watching me from far away with something like binoculars.

So as I trotted up to the house on Clover Lane, I noticed how plain it was. Not the general kind of plain, but plain for Canterlot. Typical, if you will. The second thing I noticed was my detection spell’s notification of a chrysalis that was too low to be anywhere but the basement.

If it weren’t for that spell, I wouldn’t have just tried cantering in and going right to the basement. Yet as I stared down the basement stairs, I became more and more worried about what I’d see on the other side of the door. So I just started down the stairs as I imagined things such as the owners being held hostage, or worse. 

Though once I was half way down, I realized that it was ridiculous. If it was anything unwanted and unexpected, it would be a trap utilizing no magic. So once I was at the door, I changed to a dense chitin build and entered.

Yet no traps went off. 

I took a good look around and the only thing of note to me was exactly what I was looking for. Examining the cocoon, I found that it did contain Fleur, and as I looked her over with the aid of some magic, she seemed to be okay.

As much as I felt I had to release her, Chittri promised to keep her safe and I promised to not speak of it to anyone. So it was hard to just leave her there, even knowing the implications of Chittri’s investigation and her feelings towards ponies.

But Fleur De Lis was and will be safe, and that was all I really needed to know.
> Chapter 17: The Obligation
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The following day, after my morning routine, I was practicing spells. Finally being good at casting the fire-portal spell was a fantastic realization, while I learned that my magic power output under the required concentration for the polymorphic spell was limiting me to species that were only within the same family of the target. In my case, anything under the equidae family, which included horses, donkeys, and zebras. It wasn’t much, but it was a start.

Then at some time close to noon I left the apartment, discretely changed disguises,  and went through my usual routine to sneak into the negotiations. Upon arriving at the Solstice Hall as a fly, the door was open and I could hear Chrysalis talking.

“So you’re counting on her being careless enough to walk right into your hooves? And here I was thinking Celestia was the naive one. All Chittri needs to do is impersonate a pony and laugh as you stare at a bunch of empty houses.”

Another changeling then spoke up. “An impersonation requires much more than a physical disguise. That will only fool the most casual of acquaintances. Acquiring the knowledge necessary to convincingly impersonate a target at any length can take days, if not weeks.”

Even if I wasn’t in the room before he was done talking, I could have easily guessed that it was Nictis, given the knowledge on the subject at hoof. Landing on a spot on the wall, I could see both Chrysalis’s and Celestia’s face as Nictis continued talking.

"The difficulty is even greater when those around the target are aware of the possibility of impersonation. Between the actions of your impersonation, the news of the murder of a changeling Infiltrator, and the knowledge that the rogue changeling responsible remains free, the possibility is likely to be at the front of everypony’s minds.”

Celestia picked up with, “Which also stresses the importance of resolving this quickly. Paranoia can produce terrible things.”

Making a derisive snort, Chrysalis said, “Oh, yes, don’t want to scare your poor little ponies,” then gave Celestia a smile, despite being displeased to say the least. “Though if this is your hope, maybe they should be scared. You couldn’t even sniff out an imposter when I was right under your nose.”

Nictis was clearly unamused and unimpressed. “When ponies had no idea changelings existed,” he retorted. “And I should note that the flaws in your impersonation inevitably led to your discovery. Chittri will be faced with all of the disadvantages, yet none of the advantages.” As Nictis continued, an eagerness started emitting from Celestia. “I wouldn’t say it’s impossible for her to find some safe haven, but the odds are stacked greatly against her. If she is in any way competent, she must know this.”

Why do they want Chittri? She better not have broken our agreement!

Celestia then cheerfully followed up. “Which is why we must press this advantage. Her options are running out, so we will present her a new option. We would like you to contact her, and offer her leniency in exchange for turning herself in.”

So it was no surprise to me when Chrysalis spat back with, “Never.”

Celestia was just as disappointed in Chrysalis as I was while she shook her head. “The offer is nothing more than you have already promised, Queen Chrysalis. I know you desire a far worse outcome for her than we will permit. All I am asking of you is to inform her of the arrangement we have already made.”

Chrysalis had to think on it for one long moment, her acceptance slowly winning over her contempt until she turned her head away and snorted. “Oh, fine. It’s still pointless.” Raising her head, she lit her horn to cast the spell. 

For many seconds nothing happened, as I wished I could cast my detection spell to know what it looked like.

As her magic started to fade, she turned back to Celestia. “And she’s still not answering. Congratulations, Celestia, you’ve wasted a little bit more of my time and magic.”

So it probably was a communication spell I saw!

Celestia was a little more bothered about the attempt’s outcome than she looked, though she still responded with a casual shrug. “It was worth a try.”

Subtle, Equestria’s spymaster, was attentive to the small crystals in her hoof, which for some reason disappointed her after the spell. She looked to Sky, who was already looking at her, and shook her head.

Chrysalis rolled her eyes as she said, “Funny how all your clever ideas are ‘worth a try’ when they all end up failing.”

I don’t see you doing any better.

Celestia replied with more diplomacy than my own thoughts as she said, “You’re welcome to offer suggestions, though I expect it’s all going to be moot soon enough.”

“You want my ideas?" Chrysalis said with a carnivorous grin.

Are yours anything like, “Take the city and move it somewhere else”?

“Stop wasting time with these soft-hearted tactics. Take your guards, and sweep through this whole forsaken little city you love so much. March from one side of the city to the other, check every nook and crevice, every pony, and keep going until you’ve scoured the whole place clean.”

Too slow. She may even be able to avoid it without fire-portaling.

I could sense Nictis’s amusement grow as she said this, and he killed her idea with, “To find a foe who can fire-portal to avoid a slow, predictable advance like that.”

“Oh, please,” Chrysalis sassed. “I know you’ve been tracking my communication spell. Are you really going to claim you can do that, but you can’t track a fire-portal as it’s being cast?”

Not without my spells, so you were lucky I'm not explicitly helping.

“Assuming she portals somewhere we can catch her,” Nictis coolly responded, as Chrysalis became evermore frustrated. “She could go outside the city, and fly off before we arrive, or into a previously cleared neighborhood, and take up a pony guise.”

Nictis’s words were pushing Chrysalis over the edge. “Then round up everypony in the area! This isn’t that complicated!”

It was then that somebody tapped on the door.

Fleur De Lis was standing in the doorway, a barely embarrassed smile on her face. While setting her hoof back down, she said, “Is this a bad time?”

Celestia made it less awkward with a confident, kind smile. “Ah, Fleur de Lis. A pleasure to see you again, and I am glad to see you in good health, but I’m afraid we are a bit preoccupied. I’m sorry, I had told Miss Primrose to hold all visitors until this evening--”

“Unless it were particularly important, yes,” Fleur replied with a similar smile. “And I believe it is.”

“Is that so?” Celestia said, as she cocked an eyebrow.

With the grace of royalty, Fleur entered the room, keeping her distance from Chrysalis. Seeing as the queen snapped just moments before, I couldn’t blame her.

“Indeed,” Fleur said. “While I may have become a bit more deeply involved in certain events than I would have preferred, I believe I may be able to offer some measure of assistance, if you’d allow it.”

Celestia and I were a little suspicious of Fleur.

“Perhaps,” Celestia said, with an acknowledging nod. “What kind of assistance did you have in mind?”

Fleur’s demeanor completely changed in seconds. Her smile shifted to a serious expression as she took a deep breath, sighed, then closed her eyes as she bowed down as low as her nose and horn allowed. All the while her emotions directed at the ponies in the room moderately changed.

“I offer my life, loyalty, and service to Equestria and its Princesses, to be used in whatever manner you see fit.”

This is an infiltrator. Is it Chittri?

Several ponies in the room sprung up, though Celestia was not phased by this turn of events. “To begin with,” the princess said, “you may dispense with the disguise.”

Judging by the descriptions that ponies gave for how Chrysalis lets her disguise go, this infiltrator did it the same slow way starting from the hooves. As her disguise burned away, it became apparent that she was similar to what the real Fleur would look like as a changeling. A thin, tall body with a short and simple mane and tail, which were the same hue as Rainbow Dash’s coat, though many shades darker. Her legs had the holes that every changeling had, while her horn was shorter than Chrysalis’s yet it shared the same kind of jaggedness. All gorgeous in it’s own right.

Bingo.

Lighting up her horn, Chrysalis let out a hostile, “You!”

Yet Celestia didn’t look very angry at the Queen as she told her, “Chrysalis, stop. You will not strike her or anyone else within my kingdom. Equestria holds complete jurisdiction here; we have already agreed on this.”

Chrysalis continued her intense gaze, looking as though she was seriously considering the option of defying the agreement. Though after several seconds, she stopped her magic and gave Celestia a look of contempt. “And just what do you plan on doing with this filth?” she harshly exclaimed.

“I will ask her to explain herself,” Celestia evenly said, “and then we shall decide.”

I’d like an explanation as well.

“More weak-willed nonsense,” Chrysalis said in a threatening tone. “Just be warned, Princess. If you decide to offer some mockery of justice, the hive will not forget the insult.”

She was obviously angry at Celestia and Chittri, but there was something the others didn’t seem to realize. Even though the Queen was happy to finally have Chittri in her grasp again, my sixth sense told me she was uneasy with her and, to a lesser extent, Celestia. I wasn’t surprised about it, given current events, but I thought she might have been a little too uneasy.

As for Celestia’s next move, she faced Chittri again, who was being awkwardly still to the point that her eyes were still closed.

After Celestia said, “Rise," the changeling princess did so with the same grace that any Equestrian princess would have in formal company. Once she opened her real eyes to Celestia, I realized something.

Part of the green, fiery passion in her eyes was her determination to do what she knew had to be done. Chrysalis likely dismissed the truth that I gave some of the infiltrators as readily as any other case, but when Chittri came to Canterlot, she took it as an opportunity.

As sure as I was spreading the truth to the infiltrators, Chittri was trying to find it. 

Now the Princess stood before Celestia with a calm, friendly face that I could never imagine the Queen having. One that told me her quest was finally near a rightful end.

With the look that Celestia was giving her, I could imagine she was making her own analysis, until she spoke again. “I assume you are Princess Chittri, then?”

“I am,” was all she responded with.

As Celestia put her wings away, she said “You have led us on quite a chase. You have betrayed your sovereign, assaulted several of our subjects, and put the peace we have been working toward in jeopardy.”

“I have,” Chittri said with a neutral tone.

Did she lie to me!?

Celestia simply asked, “Why?”

The changeling princess conveyed a certain confidence as she vaguely responded with, “For many reasons. Each act had its own reason behind it, which I felt, at the time, justified my actions.”

For your sake you better have treaded carefully.

This prompted Chrysalis to cut in with a foreboding, “You can’t justify treason”.

Giving a correctional look to Chrysalis, then back to Chittri, Celestia asked, “And what were those reasons?”

Chittri stood there in thought for some time before providing a response.

“My Infiltrators had told me much of Equestria’s treatment of changelings. We had mostly dismissed it as a trick, as Queen Chrysalis had declared it, but the evidence continued to mount. The idea that we might have a mistaken image of a population we were so deeply involved with infiltrating disturbed me. It was dangerous to our Infiltrators, and also very intriguing for its implications. I brought up these concerns with Queen Chrysalis, but she dismissed them out-of-hoof. I accepted her conclusion, but the reports continued to come in.”

I knew it.

“I was pleased when she declared that I would accompany her to Canterlot. My excursions among ponies had been limited in scope before then. Never before had I the opportunity to conduct such an extensive infiltration of an urban center. I hoped that, here in the heart of your kingdom, I might be able to get a better understanding of things. I carried out Queen Chrysalis’s orders, but I also conducted my own operations. For that, I must admit one additional crime committed of my own volition that you did not mention: the abduction and impersonation of Fleur de Lis.”

My respect for you grows by the minute now.

Celestia nodded in acknowledgment.

“I gathered data for several days, all of it seemingly confirming the reports I had received. I found Fleur de Lis’s mate to be particularly intriguing. I made cautious attempts to further Queen Chrysalis’s goal of increasing tensions through him--” Chrysalis bristled, baring her teeth “--but even though his love for Fleur was intense, even the most gentle of attempts pained him.

That’s going to cost you some.

“I may have been able to doubt the reports of Infiltrators interpreting events that I was not present for, but I could see for certain that this was no trick. I informed Queen Chrysalis of my analysis, but she dismissed it as readily as we had both dismissed the reports of my Infiltrators. It left me uncertain of how to proceed.”

Chittri’s eyes finally left Celestia and shifted over to Nictis. “I’m sure I don’t need to tell you how hard it can be to accept that what you’ve been taught your whole life is nothing but a lie.”

Nictis remained stoic at that, though for just a moment my sixth sense told me a great deal that filled the gaps in my knowledge of him. He may have been lied to for years, but after everything he’s gone through, he was glad to finally know the truth, find Sky, and fix his relationship with Spark Wheel. And he wouldn’t have it any other way.

The changeling princess brought her attention back to Celestia. “So I continued to investigate, putting aside the assumptions taught in the hive. I acquired a better view on the nature of ponies than I ever had before. Unfortunately, Queen Chrysalis’s plans called for a premature end to those investigations.”

She halted for a moment, a bit of apprehension and pensiveness touching my emotional sense, then went on again. 

“We had discussed many plans before coming to Canterlot. There were many secondary and emergency plans, to account for any possibility. One was a measure of last resort.”

At this, Chrysalis increased from uneasy with Chittri and Celestia, to fearful, while becoming considerably more angry at Chittri as she continued.

“Queen Chrysalis would arrange to recall her Infiltrators from the city of Canterlot and bring them to the castle, as a sign of peace. Once there, we would strike from within, using shock and confusion to capture or eliminate the princesses and any other ponies of authority.”

And that may cost you more of my respect.

As Chrysalis’s horn suddenly lit up, she just as suddenly yelled, “That is enough!”

Though whatever she was going to do was interrupted by Celestia moving between the two, eliciting a flinch from the Queen. “That is enough,” Celestia said, calm as ever. “The knowledge that you sought to bring us harm is hardly news, yet we have still been willing to negotiate with you. If you can not calm yourself, then we will have to remove you from this room until we have finished.”

Stopping her horn, Chrysalis once again gave Celestia a displeased look as she said, “We’ll see, Princess.”

As Celestia turned back to Chittri, Chrysalis’s feeling of submission towards Celestia was high, though her aggression was as well. So as the Queen stared at the back of Celestia’s head, I knew she had a dangerously high urge to attack her. Thankfully, Luna read her like an open book and kept a vigilant eye on her, ready to protect her sister in a split second. Yet she had a small smile and an eagerness towards Chrysalis, as though she wanted the Queen to do it so she could have the excuse to, perhaps, beat her into some kind of submission.

As Celestia gave Chittri a nod, I could sense the changeling princess’s fear of Chrysalis lower significantly. Without my sixth sense I wouldn’t have likely noticed it.

Taking the nod as her cue, Chittri continued. “It was a risky plan. We knew even before coming here that it was a plan of last resort. It would take days for our army to arrive in force, and we would be attacking a foe that was alert and aware of our presence. After my time here in the city, observing ponies, I recognized that it would be completely futile. Even if we were to take out all four princesses, I suspected it would not be enough to break Equestria.”

Here, I felt the princess’s guilt, however small it seemed to be, for her actions.

“When Queen Chrysalis gave the command to bring every changeling in the city to her, I believed she intended to carry out that plan. I voiced my concerns, but she curtly dismissed them, and refused to answer when I inquired as to her intentions. I believed she was about to take us down a path that would likely end in our destruction.”

Chittri then faced Chrysalis, bowing to her. “I misjudged you and your intentions. For that, I apologize.”

Chrysalis disregarded her with a snort, and rudely faced away in contempt.

Her guilt grew a bit, but as disappointed as she was with the Queen’s reaction, it went back down and she faced Celestia again to continue. “I drew my most trusted Infiltrators to me, ones who had all started seeing the truth. I wanted to be absolutely certain, so I set out to gather more information. I had to know for sure if ponies were really as willing to accept changelings as they seemed. And so, I attacked your subjects.”

What did you do!?

Chittri then bowed again as she said, “I did not intend them harm, though I had to make it appear as if I did. It was not their pain I sought, but their reaction.”

But were they harmed?

Celestia made a small frown and I could sense her dislike for Chittri’s methods, yet she said nothing.

Chittri stood back up and resumed her explanations. “I started with Rainbow Dash and… Sky.” Here, she emitted some admiration for Rainbow Dash and seemed to give a small smile of approval. “Rainbow Dash is held up by some as an exemplar of loyalty, and I wished to test how far that loyalty extended.”

“You could have asked,” Dash blurted out. “You know, instead of throwing a freaking table at us!”

You better have a good reason for that!

“My apologies,” Chittri said. “Fear has a way of showing one’s true self. I know anyone can put on an act, but when you force someone to react on instinct, you strip away the layers of logic and conscious decision, and we can see the reality of what lies beneath.” Here, her smile from before came back. “And what I saw was a pony who threw herself in harm’s way to protect a changeling she cared for.”

Acceptable enough for me.

Even though Rainbow gave Chittri an angry look, I could sense her embarrassment as she nervously moved her wings. “Yeah, so what? I’d do the same for any of my friends.”

Chittri finally gave a full smile. “And that speaks even more to the quality of your character.”

As Rainbow sat there looking at her, she looked as though she didn’t know how to feel about it. She simply didn’t do anything else.

Chittri’s smile significantly faded before she spoke again. “Next was Spark and Nictis,” Chittri said, her smile lingering faintly. “I had to get close, to see just how true their relationship was. They have had a tumultuous past, but I could see they both care profoundly for each other. And I saw that, when threatened, they both tried to protect the other in their own way. Despite the pain they’ve experienced, they are still willing to trust each other.”

Nictis didn’t move at that at all, and I had a hard time determining how he felt about the princess’s words. He didn’t seem angry at her for what she did, just irritated. On the other hoof, the reminder of that event, in retrospect, was likely what gave him hope.

“And while I wouldn’t count Fleur de Lis and Fancy Pants’s reunion to be an attack, it is of a similar vein. After impersonating her for a week, I wished to see how their reunion went. I was not disappointed.”

It was just a small surprise to me when Celestia nodded with just a tiny bit of approval. “You seem to have had good intentions for much of what you’ve done, but you have still caused quite a bit of harm through your actions, harm that could have easily been avoided. There’s also the matter of what happened to Sapphire.”

Who’s Sapphire, and why does Chrysalis’s fear rise at that name?

Chittri’s smile was completely wiped off her face by that and replaced with a bit of sadness as she said, “Sapphire… was my fault.” Here she put on a neutral face yet again. “But I did not kill him. He was struck down by a changeling named Gloom, who I slew in turn.”

Doing the wrong thing for the right reasons doesn't make it right. I should know.

I noticed that at the mention of Gloom, Chrysalis became alarmed, though I didn’t need my sixth sense to know that, as it was obvious to anyone in the room.

Celestia asked, “Who was Gloom,” Celestia asked, “and why did he kill Sapphire?”

As Chittri answered the question, Chrysalis’s feelings towards Chittri went to an all time high of rage in a heartbeat. She seemed more likely to strike her down than simply strike Celestia. “He was one of three specially trained assassins. Eclipse, Umbra, and Gloom. They were one of Queen Chrysalis’s contingency plans, in the event that the hive and Equestria were to engage in hostilities. Each one was trained to assassinate a specific pony: the Princesses Celestia, Luna, and Twilight Sparkle, respectively.”

Nearly everybody in the room gave Chrysalis the coldest glare I saw in months, and it was obvious to her. “Oh, what? So I had backup plans. It’s not like you didn’t have plans for getting rid of me, as you’ve made a point of reminding me so many times!”

Cadance reacted with a quiet snort, and a flat glare at Chrysalis. “I’m not sure if I should be relieved or insulted to not be included on that list, but both of those are probably expecting too much of you.”

Chrysalis returned the gesture with a sneer. “Oh, don’t you worry, Princess. I was planning on dealing with you myself.”

Sounding like an exasperated mother, Celestia said, “Chrysalis, stop it. It’s no surprise that you would stoop to such low measures, though I should stress that our peace agreement will demand the end of any such plotting.”

“Of course,” Chrysalis said, with an angry tone.

“What I want to know now, is why your assassins have killed someone here in my city,” Celestia said with a slight anger in her voice.

Chrysalis said “As would I,” before giving Chittri an angry glare. “Because I sure as tartarus didn’t authorize them to leave the hive!”

Chittri coolly replied with, “And that is one of the multiple reasons I have come here today,” while I sensed her worry. Yet she had a confidence about her. One that  told me she had a plan.

“Go on,” Celestia somberly said.

Chittri bowed to Celestia once more. “First, I came to offer myself up in atonement for the mistakes I have made. I was sincere in my pledge to you, Princess Celestia. I will serve you in any way you desire, and accept any punishment you should offer. I do this not out of hope for mercy, but with the hope that I can repair any damage I have caused to the hive and Equestria through my actions.”

I can admire that.

Looking back up to face Celestia, she explained further. “My second reason is because of the growing difficulty of remaining hidden. Every action I took resulted in two more options being closed to me. You had a very clever pony stalking my every move.” She gave a smile, small but sly. “Perhaps when we’re done with this, you could allow me to talk with them somewhere private? I think it would be quite interesting to sit down and discuss the opposing sides of our little engagement over a friendly cup of tea.”

Subtle Tea, Equestria’s spymaster, who was sitting near the back wall, suddenly became both nervous and excited at the same time. She seemed conflicted on such an opportunity, and her face showed it as well, though her excitement seemed to be winning over.

Hah!

“And the third reason is the same reason that the assassins had come here,” the changeling princess explained. “Gloom did not come here to kill me, or my Infiltrators. He came expecting me to help him.” She turned to look to Chrysalis. “It seems I am not the only Princess of the hive who has betrayed you.”

Chrysalis was giving her princess a stare of alarm, though there was a fire in her eyes. “What?!”

“Princess Chara has seized control of the hive,” Chittri calmly explained, “And sent the assassins to acquire my aid in eliminating the Princesses and yourself.”

Twilight immediately stood up. “Don’t you think you could have told us that a bit earlier?!”

Smiling, yet bowing again, she told them, “My apologies, Princess, but Infiltrators are taught that information is a weapon, and like all weapons, it can be hard to resist the occasional dramatic flourish.”

“Enough!” Chrysalis shouted, and tool a single furious step towards her princess. “Explain. Now!”

To my surprise, Celestia didn’t say anything to Chrysalis’s antagonistic actions, and, despite hiding it, I could sense a bit of anger in her as well. Though she still kept a sharp eye on her in case she started anything physical.

As for Chittri she was, for the most part, externally unfazed, though I could sense her internal fear.

Chittri continued. “We met Gloom last night. He and the other assassins had been prowling the city looking for us, and we met almost by accident. If either of us had been less perceptive, we might have never noticed each other. I led him to one of the homes I had secured, and he demanded to know what has been happening. I informed him of events as neutrally as possible. At first, I left out my parting of ways with Queen Chrysalis, but then he hinted at the subject, as if trying to convince me to do so. I took the chance of revealing my betrayal, and it paid off; he was pleased.”

“He said that Princess Chara had heard of Queen Chrysalis’s plans to accept peace with Equestria, and was convinced that she had been corrupted. She believes that peace with ponies will lead to the hive being little more than a second-rate territory of Equestria, or worse, that the hive will be completely destroyed, consumed by Equestria.”

It seems I'm right. Chrysalis's leadership has been in question by the hive and now she's loosing all control.

Chrysalis only continued to fume, though she seemed to have trouble deciding who to direct her fury towards as it severely fluctuated between others involved, whether in the room or not.

“I pressed him for information,” Chittri said. “As it turns out, Chara fully expected me to help her. I suppose I had done plenty to give her that impression.”

With an angry snort, Chrysalis finally found something to say. “I guess traitors recognize their own kind.”

Though Chittri debunked that. “No. It was not a question of loyalty, but of ideology and ideals. She thought I was of a like mind on ponies. She loathes them, considers them worth nothing but the bit of love one can suck out of them. I, of course, fostered the impression that I shared those views.” She gave a small smile. “I have long since learned that the easiest way to improve someone’s impression of you is to support their opinions.”

Chrysalis reacted with a skeptical look as she asked, “And I suppose you did the same to me, didn’t you?”

I was almost sure that Chittri smiled just a tiny bit more as she said, “Of course not.”

Having trouble saying anything to that, Chrysalis didn’t respond for a while. So with a low, menacing voice, she simply said, “Get on with the story.”

“Once I had gotten all I could through subtle means, I tried more direct methods,” Chittri said. “I pushed too far. At some point, he realized my intentions. He struck Sapphire in the back and turned on me. We were able to subdue him for a while, but he broke free again and tried to kill me, so I struck him down.

I'm not entirely sure how I feel about that then.

“The other assassins fled. Eclipse was wounded by Lazuli, but he and Umbra escaped the city. From what I was able to get out of Gloom, their mission had been dependent on my support; without the aid of local Infiltrators to get them into place, their chances of success were minimal. Therefore, they are almost certainly returning to the hive, to inform Princess Chara that she does not have the support of the Infiltrators that she had expected.”

Done with her story, Chittri leaned her head up a bit. Chrysalis reacted with another furious snarl as she turned around to move many stomps away.

At this point, Celestia asked the most important question. “What will Princess Chara do now?”

Giving a look as serious as ever, Chittri said, “She is an extremist. She has all of the fury and ruthlessness of Queen Chrysalis, but she lacks her degree of pride. She would rather see the hive dispersed and hidden than to have it subjected to an Equestrian hegemony, and she will kill any number of ponies it takes in order to do so. I expect the first of those deaths will occur the moment Eclipse and Umbra return to the hive.”

No! I can't let Blitz die! There's got to be a way I can get there before the assassins do!

I sensed Celestia’s fear of losing ponies, but the feeling that was likely starting to reflect in her narrowing eyes was her contempt for Chara. “And why do you think that?”

Chittri thought on the question for a few seconds. “Before we left, Princess Chara had offered Queen Chrysalis some ideas of how to pressure Equestria. One was the suggestion that Queen Chrysalis go to the feeding chamber, select the most worn out and depleted pony, and behead them. She suggested bringing their head here to present to you, as a clear demonstration of what will happen should Equestria try to subjugate the hive. When I say that she is ruthless, that is the kind of ruthlessness I mean.”

Celestia’s head inched back, and the feeling in her eyes intensified as they narrowed further. Turning to Chrysalis, she asked, “Is this true?”

Chrysalis answered with a snappy, “Yes,” though realizing Celestia’s look, she rolled her eyes. “I obviously said no, didn’t I?”

Not after taking more than a second or two to continue glaring, Celestia turned to the double doors and called for the Guards, who entered in about the same short time span. She told them to bring Captain Aegis to her, and they galloped off to do so, while Chittri continued to inform the Princesses and Queen.

“As impressive as your army can be, I am afraid they may be a bit too much of a blunt instrument. Princess Chara will execute the prisoners she holds if the battle turns against her. She may have many talents, but bluffing is not one of them.”

“We do not plan on launching a full-scale invasion,” Celestia informed Chittri.

Luna picked up with, “We have many skilled ponies who could conduct a rescue operation.”

I hope you know what you're doing, Celestia.

Though Chittri had a better idea. “I do not doubt the skill of your ponies, nor their courage. However, a rescue operation would require detailed knowledge, meticulous planning, and perfect execution. If the hive has even the slightest knowledge that they are being attacked, ponies will die. What you need is subtlety. And it seems to me that, when it comes to subtlety, you have a better option at hoof.”

With a skeptical and confused look, Celestia asked, “You want us to send you?”

Come on, Celestia! You have the infiltrator princess and several other infiltrators right here!

As Chittri said exactly what I was thinking, I was liking her more and more, even after she gave a subtle, sly smirk, and said, “Though I would be immodest enough to claim that my skill would likely benefit such an endeavor.”

At this point, the Queen had turned around to look at Chittri while thinking on her plan. Celestia and Luna exchanged looks with each other, Luna’s being an amused smile.

“It does seem like an ideal solution,” the lunar sister said.

As Celestia thought on it for several additional seconds, it only seemed more and more appealing, so she turned Chrysalis. “Would you agree to this?”

“To rescuing your ponies from my own subjects?” Chrysalis heatedly replied. “No. But I will gladly send them to deal with Chara.”

You better not try anything funny, Chrysalis.

The changeling princess gave Chrysalis a nod as she said, “Rescuing the prisoners would be essentially pointless if Chara remains in control. With no reason to remain in the hive, she could flee with those whose loyalty she has obtained. She would become a festering problem. Instead of killing a few dozen in a day, she might have years. Any mission that starts with the rescue of those prisoners would need to end with her capture.”

And with her capture, my capturing of malicious changelings will be at an end, for the most part.

After glaring back at Chittri, Chrysalis fixed her gaze on Celestia. “Fine. I never should have gotten involved with you stupid ponies. It’s been nothing but one disaster after another. I just want to be done with it. Just don’t pretend like you’re doing me a favor by letting me take care of my own problem while you sit around being useless.”

I sensed Chittri’s disapproval of Chrysalis’s statement, so I wasn’t surprised when she said something that initially earned her an angry look from Chrysalis. “On the contrary, Equestria can offer the most vital piece of this mission: transportation. The team would have to arrive well before these assassins do. It will be a long and grueling flight, and they will need to arrive in good enough condition to carry out their mission. Eclipse and Umbra have no such restriction; so long as they arrive at the hive, it does not matter how exhausted they are.”

Celestia then offered chariots along with the most capable fliers, though both Chittri and I knew it wasn’t fast enough.

“A kind offer, though I’m afraid it would not be sufficient. These assassins were chosen from among the best the hive had to offer, and are in peak physical condition. They will fly swiftly and without rest until they reach their destination. Eclipse may have been injured, but I do not expect it to slow him much. Even if it did, Umbra may fly ahead. It is unlikely that your chariots would be able to reach the hive before one of them arrives with their warning, and even if they could, there would not be enough time to conduct the rescue.”

It was at this moment that I knew what she was suggesting.

Spark Wheel’s flying machine was quite fast to say the least and would not tire out on long trips. From what I saw of it, it also looked as though it had room for at least a few additional passengers in one of it’s compartments.

So with all discrete haste and a few ideas, I few out of the room and towards the most likely spot where Spark’s machine could be: the chariot platforms.

Landing upside down under the platform with the machine, I transformed into a changeling to remain there while I then cast the invisibility spell. Seeing as the one I was using didn’t mask magic horas, I had to sneak to the edge and slowly take a peek at the Guards’ positions to identify any blind spots.

Unfortunately for me, they were well positioned and sufficient in numbers, so I had no routes without considerable risk. This meant I had to use a pony spell.

After finding a spot above the landing platform with sufficient cover, I cast a spell to change into a capuchin monkey for it’s smaller size. While traversing down the castle, I decided on a spot to start at on the platform.

Once there, I started towards the flying machine in a casual manner, and while the Guards did notice me, they didn’t do much. Though once I was close to the machine, they started paying more attention to me. Despite this, all of them would eventually look away from me, and I continued into the machine. Quickly finding a spot to change, I noticed the larger-than-pony sized compartment, and climbed inside. After closing the top, I changed to my real form, then into a filly.

It was at that moment that I heard hoofsteps heading to my position and felt their suspicion moderately rise. Despite the risk, I took the time to cast the tracking spell on the compartment, which prompted one of the guards to whisper to the other. 

After a dozen or so seconds, the two Guards opened the compartment to take a look around, but after a few more seconds one of them said, “See? Every time you overdo the caffeine you get hyper and start seeing things. We can’t afford that with multiple squads of changelings in the castle, not to mention the infiltrators.”

“No,” the other responded. “I didn’t have too much this time. I got enough sleep last- wait, there’s something moving.”

As he started to move the compartment’s tools around, I decided it was best to show myself.

Once I emerged from the tools, the caffeinated Guard leaned in further to get a good look at me. “Jeez, is this little guy even a monkey? He’s so small I could hide him under my hoof’s frog!” 

“Just get him and let’s go,” the other Guard said. “I don’t want to be seen going through Spark’s things.”

Holding out a forehoof, the caffeinated one started talking to me like I was a pet. “Come here, little guy. Don’t want you squished by falling wrenches.” 

So I took the invitation and climbed onto his hoof, which prompted him to put me in the bristle of his helmet as they left the machine. While the two were conversing more and heading back to their post, I took my position’s opportunity to carefully climb down his helm, onto his armor’s back plate, then into his tail, all without him noticing. When they stopped moving, I took a peek to quickly scan the area for the best escape route.

The perimeter of the landing platform was mostly a ledge with the rest being against the castle wall for the entrance. Their post was almost in the middle of the castle wall portion, but that wasn’t a problem.

After making my way through his long tail to the ground, I stealthily made my way to the ledge. Looking below, I didn’t see much in the way of places I could use to transform, so I scanned the area to find it mostly clean. There was nothing but some leaves likely blown over from a nearby cliff of trees.

Knowing I had to make good time, I decided to take the bigger leaves close to the ledge, then stand on it so I could take opposite ends of the leaf in each hand. After rolling it over with my hands still in place, I took it to the edge of the platform and jumped off.

The entire way down I was violently swaying around while trying to keep the leaf from taking a complete nosedive. Despite my best efforts, it happened several times, but I managed a rough landing near the castle garden. Once there, I went deep into the hedge maze and under a tree to change into the fastest pegasus build I could. Not sensing anybody being alerted of my magic, I left the maze, then the castle.

After making it to Act’s house in record time, I checked several of the windows to find him working in his office. After knocking on the window, he opened it to let me in.

After he closed it and the blinds, I let my disguise go. “We need to act fast! The Guard as well as hive and Equestrian infiltrators are going to infiltrate the hive to save the captured ponies and dethrone Chara!”

Act gave me an odd look. “Did you pull an all-nighter infiltration or something?”

“No!” I said. “I’m being serious! I can explain on the way to the hive, but first we need to fire-portal to my house!”

As Act said “Alright, alright. Just calm down,” he came up beside me and started the fire-portal spell.

We ended up in my bedroom, but I went to my lab to search for something. After Act came into the lab, I already opened the potion cabinet and was searching through it.

“Looking for something to get us there fast?” Act asked.

“Yeah,” was my only response.

“So why is Chara on the throne? Actually, never mind. In fact, I think I can guess why all this is happening anyways. Chrysalis is going the peaceful route and Chara heard of it, so like the extremist she is, she’s going to try everything possible to resist and revolt.”

While still going though potions, I told him, “Yeah, and she’s going to start executing the captured ponies as soon as a pair of assassins comes back.”

Even with all that, Act was still confused about something. “Well, most importantly, how did you get this information?”

“I infiltrated the negotiations.”

This impressed Act, but before he could say anything else, I took out two potions. “Alright, I found two potions. One may not work, while the other one will change me into some kind of pony-like stone creature. I can’t remember the name, but that’s not important right now.”

After immediately starting my detection spell, I galloped right to the half-ling, who was playing with Frost in the living room. I tapped his shoulder and told him “Tell any of my friends to look after Frost as soon as possible, then travel to Ponyville with my work gear saddlebags and get a room at the Horse-fly Inn.”

His only response was a, “Okay,” which sounded more like a question than an answer.

Next, I told Act, “We’ll need to fly some distance away from Canterlot before using the questionable potion in an open area.”

Act asked, “Why’s that?” as we took on pegasus disguises.

“Because it’s supposed to change me into something powerful and huge,” I said, right as we reached the front door.

Opening the door and flying off with me, Act asked, “A dragon? That’s not going to get us there fast enough.”

“No, it’s something else. If the feather I used in it was genuinely from the right creature, I’ll turn into a roc.”

Act gave me a look like I was damaged. “A rock?!”

“Yes, a roc,” I said, though it only took a split second before I realized what he thought I was saying. “The bird! Not a stone! It’s spelled R-O-C.”

Act raised an eyebrow, so took that as a question.

“A roc is an incredibly rare creature that’s even rarer to find in Equestria. They’ve been known the easily snatch up creatures as big as elephants due to their wingspan, which can rival the largest of dragons.”

Act kept his eyebrow raised. “You do realize that that’s going to attract the attention of every pony within several miles, right? It might interrupt the Guard’s preparations to secure their mission’s success because they’d think they’ll have to defend against you.”

“Alright, then we’ll travel out several more miles than I planned. It’s not like any pony in existence can out-fly a roc.”

Act opened his mouth, but before he could say anything I said, “No, not even Rainbow Dash.”

The last thing he said on our flight was, “Just don’t fly too close to the hive, either.”

I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, I know.”

After we landed in an open spot at a forest several miles from any town, I took out the roc potion, which prompted Act to ask, “Are you sure that’s safe to drink?” as I hoofed him my saddlebags.

I sighed. “Yeah. Nearly all of the potion’s magic power comes from the roc feather, so if it’s not real, it’ll do little to nothing. Now, you’ll probably want to stand back.”

Act trotted back several meters until he was at the border of the clearing. Once he turned around with a neutral expression on his face, I popped the cork off the bottle and drank the potion.

At first I felt slightly nauseated, thinking it was from the almost sewage-like taste of the potion, but I was wrong. In seconds I sensed a magic power building in me that quickly covered me in luminescence and I felt the change begin. In seconds, I felt myself grow dozens of meters bigger, at which point the light stopped.

Act was just standing where he was before, in awe.

Adorned with white feathers that rivaled the radiance of Celestia’s coat, I stood tall with my gold feet and beak.

Opening my wings wide, I assumed that Act would take that as his cue to get on, but after several seconds I decided to tenderly grabbed him with my beak and set him on my back.

Upon taking off, my wing flaps produced gusts of wind that shook the trees and scared away many of the creatures that were likely blown off their hooves. Going forward, we started our way to the hive with eye watering speeds. I say that because, after just a few seconds, Act started the psychic link spell to talk with me.

Shape, I can’t see. My eyes are watering from the wind.

I packed goggles.

Left or right side?

Left.

So how did you infiltrate the negotiations?

I found a suitable potion to turn into a tiny, inconspicuous creature, then kept my distance from the checkpoints. I also ended up using some of my pony magic for other transformations.

Fantastic! Now you’re thinking like a half-ling infiltrator!

Thanks! Anyways, it shouldn’t be too hard to use the Princess’s move in a mutually beneficial way. It's also great timing because Blitz will be rescued by the Guard, so I won't have to worry about him much. I wouldn’t even have to worry about revealing myself!

Yeah, you seem to have thought this through well enough, but now is the time that we have to start thinking on our hooves. Also, the direction of the hive is at about your three o’clock.

~~~~~~

Once Act told me that we were within a few miles, I landed and used the potion’s mental dispel command to change back. After changing into a pegasus with an appropriate coat color to blend in with the sky, we continued flying until we were almost in view of the hive. At that point we changed colors to match the arid landscape, and sneaked our way closer.

As a roc, I wasn’t actually going as fast as I could have because I only needed to be faster than the flying machine and being tired out before even getting to the mission wouldn’t have been ideal in any way at all. As for Act, he was doing just fine and could manage a fire-portal if needed.

During our wait for Spark’s flying machine, we hid close to the canyon that was above the hive, but not close enough to be in the hive’s patrol routes, which Act said was new but not surprising to him. I had the detection spell up to be completely aware of any changeling that came around our hiding spot, and I was ready to cast the low level invisibility spell if need be. 

Fortunately, I didn’t need to before Act told me to start checking the area for my tracking spell’s trail. 

Flying low and using the low level invisibility spell for several minutes at a time, I constantly used the long range detection spell to look for the trail as fast as possible. Taking flight paths along other canyons was my best route for finding it, and after what seemed like an hour, I finally found it.

Following it to it’s end, I got a look at the machine’s location, though the changelings that likely tagged along weren’t there. So I went ahead and flew around with the invisibility and detection spell on until I found them located a few hundred meters closer to the hive. Thinking that it would be advantageous to see how they try to get into the hive, I watched them from afar.

Once they got to the same canyon that Act was waiting near, they made their way down it and hid behind a canyon wall, while I got closer with the invisibility spell. One of the changelings peeked around it to looking at something, so I sneaked over to a spot just above where they were looking while they seemed to be discussing a plan.

Not seeing anything below me with the detection spell, I risked a long range cast, which didn’t attract any of the infiltration team’s attention, as I kept low to the ground, nor did it attract any patrols. Luckily, this payed off some and I noticed three changelings underground, likely guarding an entrance.

I waited to see what the infiltration team’s next move was, so Act and I might be able to use their entrance method. While I sneaked around to a spot a good distance behind them, they started their way towards a shaded spot in the canyon and seemed to enter what was likely the guarded entrance.

At that point, I quickly went back to Act, who was thankfully still waiting in the same spot.

“You found them?” he asked.

“Yeah,” I said. “They seem to have used a secret entrance, though it’s guarded.”

“They’ve likely had to incapacitate the guards, so we should try the same entrance before someling finds them,” Act speculated.

“Then let’s go,” I said, as I started the lesser invisibility spell again.

Flying low, we went to the entrance in question and changed into different changelings. Going through it without my invisibility but my continuous detection spell, it soon picked up the guards from before. After holding my hoof in front of Act’s chest, he started the psychic link spell again.

The guards?

Yeah.

Well, how did they get past them?

It looks like they knocked them out.

Then let’s go. And let me do the talking whenever you can.

Act and I quickly galloped past the unconscious guards, and once their bodies were out of sight we slowed down to a more casual pace.

Being in a place I hadn’t been to before, and worse, where I was likely high on their wanted list, made me a bit nervous. Thankfully, the changelings in the hive don't make it a cause for concern and we went on our way uninterrupted.

The hive’s air was hot and humid, and there was next no light, with the only source being spots of a glowing substance unknown to me, though it was definitely enough for a changeling’s eyes. The hive was filled with changelings that all looked gruelingly busy, a perpetual state of the hive that I was told of by Modus.

Act seemed to have just a bit of trouble navigating through the hive, but every time we took a wrong turn it didn’t take him long to realize it, so we were still making good timing as far as we knew.

As for where we were going, I didn’t know until we arrived at a large chamber. This one was particularly noteworthy, as it being the biggest one was just the first interesting thing one would notice. The spire in the middle, which was equally impressive in size, housed the Queen. Her throne stood on a large, open area high on the spire. Knowing this, I became slightly more nervous as we flew closer to it, though, despite the area being busiest in the hive, no changeling gave any thought to my behavior. 

Act approached a guard not too far away from said structure and asked “Do you know where Ingress is?”

The guard replied with “Probably in a private meeting right now. They won’t let you interrupt it unless it’s urgent.”

“Alright then,” Act said with a shrug, as if we weren’t planning on still trying.

Leaving the guard to his duties, we flew to what I presumed was a cluster of multipurpose rooms, all of which had various furnishings common to the hive, such as chairs, tables, and cabinets. All of them looked as though they were made in a rush, with most made of wood or resin and very few being stone. I started my original changeling detection spell to specifically find my disguised changeling, though it took a while as there were several rooms, almost all of them not being used at the time.

Once I found who I could only assume was him, I led Act into a room that was almost adjacent to my target’s, taking note that the one between the two had no occupants, and closed the door. I then started my best detection spell, which picked up only one other changeling in the same room.

“Can you cast any of the detection spells on me?" asked Act.

“No, not designed for that,” I said. “There’s two ‘lings in the room total.”

As Act started barricading the door, he said, “A decent enough scenario, considering our limited time. I can fire-portal us in because I still know these rooms, but we’ll have to plan our first few moves.”

“Alright,” I said. “While you charge up the fire-portal, I’ll charge up a sound-proofing spell to release as soon as we’re in the room. Remember that it blocks sound coming from the outside, so anyone knocking won’t be heard. As for my form-” I then made my chitin denser and thicker “-it’ll be armored but still fast.”

Act picked up two rocks. “A nice longer-term and preemptive choice. I can’t do much with magic just a split second after casting the portal, so I’ll have to throw stuff.” He sidled up right next to me. “Ready?”

I took a slow, deep breath of the damp air and exhaled.

“Ready.”

As Act charged for the fire-portal, I charged up the sound-proofing spell, and we descended into the floor. As we came up on the other side I could start to make out the voices of the other changelings, then what they were saying.

“-stupid entrance is a wa-”

Though the one talking stopped once we were completely in and the flames died down enough to give him a partial view that showed him we weren’t who he was expecting. At the same time, I released the sound-proofing spell, while the one wearing armor said, “Who are you?!” in a demanding tone. Free to fully concentrate on his own levitation magic, Act shot one stone at each of them, though the other ‘ling shot a magic blast in time to both deflect the stone and strike me.

I was knocked to the ground, though my chitin only had a small crack and I was barely dazed. During this, the armored ‘ling dodged the other rock, while Act lighted his horn up and charged at him, wings buzzing for extra speed. The ‘ling anticipated with a low stance and quickly charged up his own spell.

While Act was charging, I was quickly getting back up to be notified of the armored ‘ling’s high powered spell, by my detection spell. I quickly took the most armored changeling form I could, and cast my original pony disguise for a little extra protection.

While I was casting, Act ended up tripping the unarmored ‘ling by levitating his hind legs, causing the ‘ling to miss with his magic blast, and opening him up for Act to tackle him. As the two tried to subdue each other, they rolled to the back wall.

While the armored ‘ling was surprised at my pony disguise, he didn’t hesitate to fire his spell, which directly hit me. I was merely staggered, while my pony disguise flickered away from it’s shield being destroyed, revealing several cracks in my chitin. Chancing a quick look at Act’s fight, he seemed to at least be a good distraction. Yet when I turned back to the armored ‘ling he was making a break for the door, so I took a page from Act and tripped him. Despite my injury, I quickly got right next to him while completely enveloping him in my magic.

As I held him down, he struggled to break free while charging a spell. A spell that never came, as I picked his head up and slammed it on the floor to break his concentration. While his aura dissipated, I brought the changeling’s face inches from mine and showed my real eyes, eliciting fear and uncertainty from him.

“Cast a spell again, and you’ll only get more head trauma,” I warned with dangerous eyes, then galloped towards Act. As I got there, the other changeling seemed to only want to escape, as he was no longer trying to subdue Act, but at that point he had no chance.

Right after I rose the armored changeling like a club over the other, Act managed to move out of the way while still holding on to the unarmored one with one hoof. Taking this as my cue, I brought the armored one down on the other, striking the unarmored one’s head with the plot of the other one.

Bringing the armored changeling’s face to look at mine again, I noticed Act firing a spell. Taking a glance at the other enemy changeling, then to Act with a questioning look, he told me, “Not taking any chances. Also, I’ll be taking this one’s armor.”

While Act removed the changeling’s armor, I had him facing me as I switched to my usual disguise. “This pony, Tricher. I know that you can tell me what happened to him during the Canterlot invasion.”

As I took a defensive changeling form, my target said, “H-how are you… H-how did you-”

But before he could say anything, a changeling opened the door, saying, “-saw a lot of fla-," though he stopped in surprise when he noticed Act and I, particularly my eyes.

“Leave,” I slowly and clearly said in my real voice, though he only responded with less fear and uncertainty than my target. A second passed and I added, “Or I’ll rip your chitin off.”

The changeling then flew off in more fear, presumably for backup.

Moving his ears around and gazing at the door, Act said, “We need to leave soon. That ‘ling’s going to have backup here in three minutes tops.”

“That’s enough time," I said, before turning back to Tricher with a cheeky smile. “I only have to do two things. First, I’d like to thank you and your Canterlot attack squad for making me what I am.”

With an intense flash of surprise and confusion, and a wide eyed look to match, Tricher almost yelled, “You’re the monster that’s b-been hunting us!”

“How intersting,” I calmly said, in contrast to narrowing my eyes slightly, then stripped my disguise away and told him “Both species can be monsters in their own special way. And for the second thing…”

As I charged a spell up, Tricher started to panic in the green light of my magic and tried to struggle free again, but it was pointless. I only needed a second before releasing the spell, and once I did, he burst into flames.

Flames that tore his disguise away.

After motioning for Act to cast his spell, all he did was quirk an eyebrow.

“Just do it," I said.

So Act finally released his spell, which hit Tricher with enough force to knock him out. Immediately and unceremoniously, I dropped Tricher on the floor, which prompted Act to ask, “You done?”

After confirming, Act stood close to me again and we both took a desert colored pegasus disguise before he started another fire-portal to get us out.

“Once we’re on the surface again, we’ll still be within the patrol’s area,” he warned. So I took that as my cue to cast my easier invisibility spell, which started well before the hemisphere of fire fully formed and the sound of buzzing changelings in the hall.

Upon arriving at the surface, we took a quick look around to be aware of any witnesses to Act’s spell. Unfortunately, there was an entire squad a hundred meters or so away that looked as though they were flying right towards us, so we had to move.

“They’ve noticed us,” Act calmly said.

“I know. Let’s move.”

Despite the ground being highly uniform in color and lighting, the closer they got to us, the harder it was to slip by. At first I was going a little slower than Act, who was at a casual pace, until a few seconds later when I decided that he was right. The spell was also harder to keep up the further away he was. So I went just a bit faster until I caught up, at which point he started to slow down to a more careful trot, and at the same time, I started hearing the sound of buzzing wings, which I took as an additional sign to slow down as well.

It took them a little less than a dozen or so seconds before they landed next to where we came up, but we were still not far enough away, and had to slow down to a crawl. Worse was that after a few seconds, they separated to search the area. Half of the changelings took to the sky while the others went by hoof, each with their own strategy. The ones on the ground generally tried to stay quiet and slow, while the fliers mostly took a quick and louder approach.

While inching our way around for a suitable spot to hide for a while, my adrenaline rush started slowing down some which meant that the injury to my right foreleg and first few right ribs made it particularly hard to keep going. Yet, despite that, I soldiered on as we went and managed to stop in time during the two instances where one started to get close.

During the last of those instances, there were two who stuck close to each other. They passed by so close that Act and I could listen to their conversation as we held our breath.

“Watch your back, I think this asshole’s using a stealth spell,” one said.

The second one replied a little quieter with “No shit, you fumble-fuck!” though his expression changed once they spotted a shimmering flock of something in the distance coming right towards the hive. The first then turned to see what was going on and, realizing what it was, started to internally panic.

Once they both took flight at the same time and started retreating back to the hive, Act and I made our way to a hiding spot at a casual pace. At this point I was leaning on him and still using the invisibility spell because the pain from my injury was in full force. Said hiding spot was a small canyon’s dark crevice outside of the patrol area. Once hidden there, I was able to catch my breath.

“We really needed to bring some medical supplies,” Act gravely told me.

I sensed his concern for me, but also pride, confusion, and a bit of disappointment. Between deep breaths I said, “Yeah, but how long should we stay here?”

“Once the Guard is closer to the hive than us. Then I’ll fly you back to Equestria,” Act said. “Though on the subject of how our mission went, I should have asked what you were going to do after the soundproofing spell. It would have been best if you used your telekinesis to trip or stumble them.”

My pain was causing me to be more irritable than usual, so I cast an anesthetic spell, then responded. “Yeah, I didn’t think about that until the armored one went for the door.”

Act hummed in thought while looking at me like there was something wrong, but he couldn’t figure it out. “Well, more importantly, you don’t seem anywhere near as disappointed as I thought you’d be about not getting your memory gap filled.”

“It felt like it really didn’t matter anymore,” I said. “As far as I’m concerned, being a half-ling is an improvement for me. It compliments my skills.”

Act gave me a small smile, though he was still confused. “Yet you still revealed that changeling’s masquerade before getting answers.”

“Metrion told me that he’d give me Tricher’s name if I gave him what he needed to stop him,” I said. “During the mission Metrion had me do, we got his name anyways, so I also felt the need to put his ruse to an end if I had the opportunity. I got what I wanted from him while he got almost nothing, so I did his end goal for him.”

Act responded with one raised eyebrow. “But… you still didn’t even get what you wanted out of that exchange.”

I grinned a bit at that. “I didn’t get what I originally wanted. What I have now is what I should have been going for all along.”

“Which was to thank Tricher?” Act asked.

“Yes, but also new reasons to reveal myself. Chittri helped-”

“Chittri?!” Act almost yelled. “How did you even find her?!”

“Part of it was luck,” I said with a smirk. “But I can tell you about that later. She helped me realize that it would benefit everybody more if I stopped my masquerade, and that I should reveal my change soon.”

Act though on that for a few seconds. “I’m surprised that she gave you actual advice. Asking an enemy for advice. Most would say that it’s either incredibly foolish or ingenious. I think it’s a fantastic idea if you’re cautious about it. Anyways, the Guard should be close enough to the hive. Let’s get you to a hospital already.”

With that, I climbed onto Act’s back and he started flying off to Equestria.

Not long into the flight, Act asked me, “So what are you planning for the half-ling?”

“I’m not really sure,” I responded. “He seems to be on the road to reform without as much effort as I thought.”

I couldn’t see Act’s face, and he didn’t respond, but I sensed his surprise at that news.

~~~~~~

Act decided to land in a small village on the edge of Equestria. Once at their hospital, they took me in to get patched up while asking me what happened. Anticipating this, I gave them a story similar to the fight I actually had. Instead of being in the hive, I was wandering the arid land near the patrols. Instead of winning the fight, I managed to incapacitate one before getting away from the other.

While they believed the story, they seemed a bit reluctant to believe that I got to them on the same day as the fight due to how much I healed already. Thankfully, these doctors didn’t press on the truth too much.

Once out of the hospital, Act asked if I needed anything before he left, but I didn’t, so seeing as the village had a train station, we parted ways on the spot. With the hospital visit over with, I went to the train station to buy tickets to Ponyville, which was luckily scheduled to arrive in about two hours. Once on the train, I was left to my thoughts as I watched the scenery go by.

I want to reveal what I really am some time in the next 3 months. I'm sure by then ponies won't mind me much, or at least there will be fair laws pertaining to changelings and their abilities. I'd prefer the former, though I'll take what I can get. But the next biggest question is where to first reveal myself, and what to do afterwords. 

I undoubtedly have major enemies, and my friends will likely get caught in the crossfire again, but I should have a solution to that soon enough. There’s also the question of what the Equestrian government knows and suspects I’ve done, and what they’ll want to do about it. With that in mind, I’m expecting a visit or at least a letter from them soon after my reveal. I wouldn’t be surprised if they go so far as to put me on trail if they knew about my eavesdropping. Hopefully, in that case, they give me an interesting proposition.

> Chapter 18: The Best and Worst Night Ever
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Once the train arrived in Ponyville, I went right to the Horse-fly Inn and asked which room the half-ling got, then trotted to it and knocked to have the half-ling ask why I had a cast on my foreleg. So as I entered, I told him that it was from taking care of a dishonorable changeling, and he left it at that.

After taking the rest of the day to just relax, I went to bed, but my injury was making it difficult and it took a full hour before I got any shuteye. Then I woke up a few hours later in my bed, back at Canterlot, which was familiar in some kind of bazaar way that got me thinking I was in a dream. So I left my apartment to see that my unit wasn’t in the right spot, and that there were two groups of singing ponies, each on a different yet intersecting road. Both of these details were also familiar in the same way, as well as the groups joining together to sing.

But after they went for an entire block it all felt off, and a lovely yet familiar voice came from right behind me. “In the waking world we can not always forget things, because of our minute control over our surroundings. Yet in the dreamscape we can not always forget either, as our mind has significant control. Our troubles are-”

Yet Luna had no time to finish as being in my real form in her presence gave me a panic attack, which in turn quickly destabilized my dream.

Now, there have been times when I was a filly that it took me several hours to fall asleep, but it wasn’t because of typical threats, like being fillynapped. It was odd things and the unknown, like urban legends and ominous predictions. The whole thing was more or less a phase, but having the real possibility of a demigod trying to capture you can make you a spastic mess, even if you're a decently sane adult.

Jolting up in bed, I knew that Luna possibly knew that my form in the dream was my real one. If that was the case, knowing that I was specifically known as a non-changeling by the Guard and that both forms are very similar, Luna would be able to put two and two together. Worse still, her attraction to a good challenge would further drive her to find me, and more so if my real form it’s self piqued her interest.

In contrast, as I started to sweat, I tried convincing myself that I could still remain hidden from her. She may have thought that the dream gave me that form, in both the one I just had and the one months prior.

Though that train of thought stopped as I remembered that a changeling’s disguise can partially fail under excessive emotion.

After silently making my way to the bathroom, I took a look in the mirror to realize that my eyes reverted to their real slitted form, while my horn had also changed back to it’s curved and pointy self. Despite this worrying me further, I tried several times to fix it, succeeding after about the eighth try. Feeling more relieved, I took a few seconds to look my disguise over for any other failures.

Until my eyes reverted again and I started panicking like I was when I woke up.

At this point, there was only one thing I could think of to calm myself with what I had. It was a song that was laid back and reassuring. As I quietly went back to bed, I sang it to myself in my head. It seemed to help a little, but several minutes later I found myself getting up to pace around for a few minutes, despite my injury, then going back to bed.

This bed and pacing cycle continued for what felt like several hours, though when I checked the clock, it was only one. And while I stayed quiet when pacing, the half-ling woke up anyways.

“What are you doing?” he groggily asked while still under the sheets.

While quickly searching my mind for an excuse, I stalled for a few seconds. “I can’t sleep.”

“Because?”

“Because of my injury.”

“So you’re trying to put weight on the injury that’s preventing you from sleeping?” he rhetorically asked in a flat tone. “I don’t need my emotion sense to know that you’re going crazy, but if you’re not going to tell me why, I really don’t care.”

As usual, despite what he said, I could sense that he still did care. Though I didn’t continue the conversation and resumed my pacing and bed cycle again, until I finally fell asleep a few hours later.

~~~~~~

Waking up, the first thing I noticed was that I felt pretty refreshed. The second thing being that, oddly enough, it was still nighttime. After pacing around the dark room for a few minutes, I noticed a slightly odd colored light through the room’s thin curtains, so I went to the window to have a look.

Opening the curtains, I saw Ponyville as it normally was. No houselights were on, the streets were mostly dark due to the streetlights being few and far between, thatch roof stone wall houses being the prevalent buildings. Though there was a slightly red tint to everything.

Taking a look around, I noticed that there was a blood moon. Then I heard the sound of rustling sheets from the half-ling’s bed, so I took a glance to see him with a bloodshot and moderately jaundiced pair of my eyes.

“Don’t mess with me right now,” I told him.

The imposter responded in my real voice with, “I’m not Dew," though he talked with a leader’s louder and clearer inflection.

Turning around to face him, I started my detection spell to realize that he was not the half-ling. His body was exactly the same as my real one and, for some reason, he was wearing a dress suit with no tie. The spell wasn’t even detecting any changeling magic from him.

“You don’t have to reveal yourself, you know.” he said, with a shady smile. “You’re metamorphic spell can keep you hidden for a long time. Possibly enough to take revenge on the hive it’s self for invading Canterlot and get away with it for your entire life.”

“Who are you?” I demanded.

His smile only faded slightly as he explained. “I could be your greatest ally. Or greatest enemy.”

Clearly irritated, I said, “Stop being cryptic,” while I noticed a subtle lime green and purple glow, along with an odd dark fog that seemed to stick to him with his every move.

The imposter slowly started taking steps towards me as his smile slowly faded. “Why?” he said. “We both enjoy confusing others and giving out punishment. Just think back to what you did with the infiltrator that replaced Blitz.”

This stroke a nerve with me. I took him in my magic and bashed him on the wall several times, causing a spiderweb of cracks and pieces of the wall’s outer layer to fall off. Yet after I dropped him to the floor, he still got back up with no visible injuries.

The imposter made an irritated look of his own as he slowly came towards me again and said, “I’d think that was proof enough of the latter.”

I was starting to get nervous. Something that could survive something like that would be hard to even just incapacitate. “How did you survive that?”

His only response was “I think you’ll find it quite hard to wound me,” before he lit his horn.

I suddenly felt my own telekinesis spell grab hold of me, and before I could react I was tossed through the window with a sharp sound of shattering glass. I instinctively changed into a chitin-shield of a changeling in mid-air before limply landing on the road with a roll that ended with me lying on my side for only a split second before I got back up.

It felt like I only managed to get a shallow crack or two from that, but I didn’t have time to examine that as I was a little distorted from the throw. Not to mention the fact that my imposter shortly landed less than a meter away from me and quickly took me in his magic again to force me down, my back to the ground.

He put his face inches from mine, a grin on his face once again. “You can fight all you want, but I know what you seek.”

My only reaction was to blast him with a quick fire spell to the face, causing him to let go of me and recoil a few steps back. I was a bit surprised that he even reacted to that, but I still got up while grabbing him in my magic to continuously slam him on the road while I galloped him to a building’s wall. I then proceeded to slam him on that several more times.

Unsurprisingly, he still seemed conscious, but thoroughly disoriented.

I knew that if I didn’t find one of my imposter’s weakness, I wouldn’t stand a chance, so I fled through the alleyways. 

Then a thought occurred to me. If he was effectively a copy of me he’d know all my spells, which meant that as long as I was in disguise he could easily find me with my detection spells!

I immediately shed my disguise, but it wasn’t enough as my imposter flew up a few dozen meters and yelled, “There he his! This isn’t over yet!”

Still running through the alleys, my changeling eyes allowed me to clearly see an earth pony with a shovel in the moonlight. He tried to take a swing at me, but before he even started I tossed him into an intersecting alley with my magic. Right after, I emerged at a road with no streetlights in sight where two unicorns were waiting. Then out of seemingly nowhere somebody bucked me, sending me several meters away.

“If he knows where you are, keep your distance you idiots!” one of ponies barked.

Getting back up, I changed to my highly armored build again and started my detection spell to see that the pegasus who bucked me isn’t who he appears to be. It was also then that I noticed the same subtle dark glow and black fog on all three of my imposter’s lackeys.

My next move was a concussive blast at the unicorn mare, who tried to dodge by rolling but failed, killing her momentum. During that, the stallion unicorn tried to throw a rock at me with his magic while the fake pegasus took to the air. I ended up trying to dodge the rock, but still took a hit in the left foreleg, right before the pegasus slammed me flat into the ground. He then shed his disguise to reveal himself as the imposter, and threw me at a nearby wall like a ragdoll.

“Restrain him with your magic! From a distance!” my imposter ordered to the unicorns.

Once they took hold of me, I was held up by my forelegs. I tried to break free but I barely made any progress towards the two, while my imposter came up to stand between them. With a small dark smile he told me, “You’ll learn that it won't be so bad. You may leave everyone you know behind, but it will keep you from ever being found. You could give all the punishment you want to anyone you please. Oh, and don’t worry about Frost. He’ll get a good home.”

At this, I started charging up another spell, which prompted the stallion to throw another rock at me. Almost dodging it, I was only hit on the ear as I managed to finish the casting and hit the rock throwing pony with an intense fire blast. The others thought fast enough and successfully dodge rolled out of the way, during which their magic hold on me let go, letting me fall back on all fours.

As soon as the blast was gone, it appeared that the rock thrower was completely gone, while the unicorn mare took a hold of my foreleg with her magic. Though her alone wasn’t enough, as I took a stronger and slightly less armored changeling form  for reasonable resistance. Then, noticing my imposter coming in from the right of me, I shot a more focused fire blast at him, to which he reacted with a foreleg over his eyes.

Taking a quick look at the unicorn mare, I noticed that her black mist had considerably diminished. Quickly thinking that their weakness might not be the fire it’s self, but the light from it, I cast an exceptionally bright light spell. This dispelled the mist from the mare after only a few seconds, while it looked as though it was slowly doing the same to my imposter while he shielded his eyes and galloped for cover.

Letting the mare run off in fear, I focused the light spell and went after my imposter, who jumped through a shop window, shattering it. Sure of an impending victory, I myself jumped in. 

While following the detection spell’s silhouette of the imposter, it looked like he was moving things around in the back room as I was approaching it. Upon entering it, I was met with a reflection of my own light, momentarily blinding me. The next thing I knew, I was hit with something. It didn’t feel like a concussive blast, though it did cause my muscles to stop responding, resulting in me falling to the floor.

A short few seconds after, my imposter started dragging me somewhere, saying, “In the end, it's never just the light you need," before he stopped for a second to hit me on the head, causing me to go unconscious.

~~~~~~

When I awoke, I felt the pain of my injuries again, and it seemed as though I had very little sleep. As I hadn’t opened my eyes yet, I was wondering why it felt like I was in a bed again, until I realized that the fight was just a dream.

“Awake yet?” the mare next to me in bed asked.

It took me no time at all to realize that I did not take a mare to bed with me last night.

And that the voice was Twilight Sparkle’s.

SHE FOUND ME OUT!

Screaming like a little filly, I jumped out of bed and galloped right out of the hotel as the ponies I passed watched in confusion. As I ran away from said building, several ponies in town noticed the terrified look on my face, but nobody stopped me. Despite my wounds, I didn’t slow down until I entered the Everfree, where I continued at a jogging pace, keeping an eye out for a good place to hide.

I could swear I was about a half mile in before I decided I got enough distance from Twilight. It was then I started looking for a hiding spot, which ended up being a dug out space under a tree’s trunk. As I spent an hour or so in it, I started wondering if I was still dreaming, but I eventually doubted it and calmed down enough to come back out of my hole.

I still couldn’t explain how or why Twilight of all ponies ended up in my bed in the morning, let alone why she was so casual about it. So I stayed in the Everfree, keeping an eye out for any princesses. Two hours later, the half-ling shows up on hoof, and finds me with a confused look on his face, emitting concern.

Highly suspicious, I asked, “How did you know I was out here?”

He just shrugged. “Probably a lucky guess.”

So I started my detection spell to check if it really was him and not one of the princesses in disguise. Judging from the magic trail, it was him.

“Why did you run from me while I was in Twilight’s form?” the half-ling asked, unamused. “You said before that you wanted to date her.”

I gave him an angry and stern look, which he responded to with some guilt as I told him, “It’s none of your business. Why and how did you change into her?”

He looked like he was having trouble looking at me as he said, “I was only trying to help… Your nerves were awfully frayed last night, so I used your Princess Twilight disguise spell to have you wake up to a nice view.”

I angrily sighed. “Do not do that,” I said, as I started my way back to town.

I knew it was a bad idea to keep that spell. I’m burning it as soon as I can.

The half-ling followed me back to town, at which point he continued back to the hotel. Feeling tired and paranoid still, I went to pick up some coffee while I kept an eye out for any of the princesses. By the time I came back to the hotel, I had finished my coffee and decided that I was still too tired to hunt for ingredients in the Everfree.

What I ended up doing instead, despite what just happened, was finally starting on a fix for the half-ling’s shape-shifting. I specifically aimed to stay awake until I usually went to bed, as I was too frightened of risking extra chances for Luna finding me undisguised in my dreams again, or any of the princesses finding me in the waking world.

I say ‘aimed to stay awake’ because by sunset I got tired of being so paranoid. I thought that having a benevolent demigod probably trying to find me was worse than having the enemies I’ve made find me. So I decided on revealing myself in Ponyville first, then Canterlot, seeing as ponies in Ponyville have gotten pretty used to changelings.

About an hour later, the half-ling came up to me and said, “You know, you could at least fix my shape-shifting," with a slightly annoyed tone.

But instead of telling him that that’s what I was doing, I told him, “I’ve got a better idea,” with a cocky and slightly crazy looking smirk.

“I don’t like that grin,” the half-ling said with a bit of fright.

I responded by grabbing his hoof and dragging him out of the hotel, despite my injuries and fatigue. As we came out of the hotel, he nervously asked, “What are we doing? Where are we going?”

I only said, “You’ll see.”

A minute later, the half-ling asked “Does this have anything to do with this morning?” but I didn’t answer to that.

Upon being close to the center of town, I stopped and the halfing asked, “What are we doing here?”

Yet again, I didn’t answer. Instead I cast an anesthetic spell, sighed, took a deep breath, and started singing. It was a song about being lonely, scarred, and depressed, but being all of it together. About bearing it all, together, to help each other.

I quickly attracted a drummer, who played to my singing first. I then started marching down the road, and once I was only a few lines into the song, an entire band started playing behind me! I looked behind me with shock at the turnout of several ponies, some changelings, and some disguised ones as well!

As I continued my song, the half-ling was marching along cautiously and seemed to be thinking about the song. A bit later into it, the half-ling suddenly noticed a green flash beside him.

I let my disguise go.

And absolutely everyone following me stopped what they were doing.

Then the most muscular pony I’ve ever seen burst though the crowd following me to yell, “YEEEEAH!” to which everyone started playing again. Soon after, I purposefully passed by Sky’s house and coaxed at least one changeling to come out and join! A few changelings were even coaxed enough by the song into letting their disguises go and carrying me! By the time I reached town hall, I literally pulled in ponies who were down on their luck, I climbed on top of the statue near town hall, started swinging around on the hall’s support beams, then had the absurdly muscular pony throw me to the top of it right before the end.

All in all, it felt fantastic, even if I only managed to get the half-ling to happily sing along with everyone.

Once I flew down from town hall and got rid of the wings and fake voice, many ponies were conversing with the newly open changelings, while some came up to me, the mayor among them.

“Please don’t climb on the historical landmarks! They’re irreplaceable!” she told me.

Looking slightly embarrassed, I said, “Sorry, I uh… was caught up in the moment,” with an awkward smile, to which she gave me a stare that was an odd mix of exasperation and confusion. “It’s my real voice, and I’m not a changeling king. Those don’t exist.”

“Just remember what I told you,” was all she irately said, right before she trotted off, leaving others to talk with me.

“Was your voice always that deep?” one mare asked.

“Yeah, but the whole thing about it sounding like two talking at once is new,” I sheepishly said.

A stallion asked, “How did you end up like that?”

“It was an accident during the changeling invasion of Canterlot. I don’t know any details.”

“Were you the one that mysteriously dropped off the evil changeling at Canterlot Castle months ago?!” another mare excitedly asked.

“Yeah. Why?”

“Want to go get something to eat with me some time? Maybe at a place as exotic as you?” she asked, sidling up next to me and rubbing my chest.

Stiffening up a little, I told her “I… I don’t think so,” without looking at her.

The stallion she was with rolled his eyes. “Way to be subtle, sis.”

While she gave him a glare, I separated from her grasp, then another mare asked, “Do you live in town? I almost haven’t seen you around here at all.”

“I live in Canterlot.”

A changeling asked, “What magic can you do?”

“I can do both species’ magic,” I said, as I noticed which pony had a changeling themed parade float. The only pony I knew of that would possibly have something like that.

Pinkie Pie.

I probably passed Sugar Cube Corner, but I didn’t think I passed by any of the other Element’s houses. Yet she would’ve told them about it, so I guessed that the others were still in Canterlot.

The half-ling then came up to me, still in disguise, to casually say, “I’m going back to the hotel.” Externally, he looked just fine, but I sensed his sadness, confusion, and some frustration as he started his way back. I concluded that he needed to think about what just happened, while some of the mares expressed disappointment that I seemed to have a marefriend already.

Then somebody poked me on the shoulder, so I turned around to see another mare who asked me, “What’s wrong?”

“I… It’ll eventually be sorted out,” I said as I shrugged.

“Oh,” she said. “Well, my name’s News Flash and I’m with the Cloudsdale Cumulus. Can we do an interview?”

I casually told the pegasus, “Seeing as you’re not a disguised changeling, sure.”

Her amount of confusion at the response was just a bit odd, but her nervousness was much more so.

“Can we do it tonight?” she asked.

“Actually, I’m pretty tired. Can we do this in the morning?”

“That’s fine. Does ten sound good?”

“Yeah, that will work for me,” I said, wanting to get it done a little early to leave time for ingredient harvesting.

“Alright, I’ll-” but before she could finish, Pinkie somehow pounced me from out of nowhere. “Oh my gosh! I knew it was you! You were the changeling all along!” Everybody gave Pinkie a confused look for just a second or two, while I asked, “Wait, what?”

Still standing over me, she explained. “Twilight mentioned that you were going to the library during your stays and that you always read books on transformation magic. She also mentioned your green eyes and thought that you might have been a changeling until she remembered you did unicorn magic and that your magic color was a pale green. But even if the Guard was convinced, I wasn’t! Every time you came to town, my Pinkie Sense went off.” Imitating the pattern, she said “Teeth clattering, eyes dilating, wobbly back hooves, and an itchy nose. It was saying to make a parade float, which meant that you weren’t evil, so I went with it and gave it the theme it obviously needed!” 

Pinkie then picked me up and gave me a hug, saying, “I’m so so so happy that you finally let your fear go!” Putting her muzzle a little close to my ear, she whispered, “You don’t have to have a party if you don’t want to. I remember the last time I did that for an infiltrator.”

At the moment I ignored what she might have been implying and continued hugging her back. Until she whispered, “It’s getting a little awkward for everypony else now,” at which point I let go. She giggled and smiled as she said, “It’s nice to meet the real you,” then bounced off humming the song from the parade.

Turning back to News Flash, she hoofed me a small paper and left after saying, “Here’s the address to the hotel I’m staying at. I’ll see you there!”

I was still just as happy as Pinkie was after conversing a little more with the locals and arriving back at the hotel. Though, despite the half-ling saying he’d be there, he wasn’t, so for once I was a little worried for him.

About two hours passed before the half-ling came back feeling much better. He seemed to have some kind of interest in me, though his apprehension was preventing him from asking about it. About an hour before midnight we both went to bed, then after several minutes the half-ling said, “Shape? Are you awake?”

Without opening my eyes, I said, “Yeah. You want to know something about me?”

“No, I was actually… I’m wondering what it is about ponies that make them want to help changelings,” the half-ling asked.

I thought on this for a minute before replying. “Ponies don't take emotional energy as food, but it doesn't mean that, after a pony helps a changeling, the pony doesn't appreciate seeing the positive energy of the changeling being manifested into actions that the emotion drives them to do. It takes far more to put emotions into meaningful action than just emitting it… and it makes the pony feel a lot more like the changeling cares for them, so ponies try to keep ponies and changelings they know happy.”

While I was talking, then thinking of what exactly to say next, I heard the distinct sound of a pencil lightly writing on a clipboard. Continuing on, I said, “There's a physical and vocal layer to pony communication, and that is only what ponies can notice, while changelings also have a purely emotional layer that ponies can't feel or see at all. So if changelings that genuinely care about somebody act on their positive emotions towards said somebody, then it becomes a mutually beneficial relationship because the changeling gets fed for doing nice things for the pony. It also helps the changeling feel better emotionally, just like ponies.”

After a few seconds, I asked, “Are you writing this down?”

“No!” the half-ling denied, while he made rustling noises with the bed sheets.

“Well, why did you want to know?” I asked.

“Before I got back to the hotel this changeling came up to me, knowing that I was a changeling as well. He told me that, not too long ago, he was left in the Everfree without any food at all. He was highly distrusting of ponies, but he needed serious medical attention and food, so he came out to Ponyville. When somepony saw him, they rushed him to the hospital where they tried to help him as best they could, but he kept refusing it, even right before he passed out.”

“They could have done anything they wanted to him, but instead they bandaged him up while another changeling who worked there fed him. When he woke up, the other changeling was in the room watching over him. He managed to gain his trust, and not long after the other changeling brought him to his home, he convinced him to trust ponies. There’s more to his story and he told me what he learned from it all, but I just feel like I’m still missing something about living with ponies.”

I only managed to say, “Oh,” as I realized which changeling it was. I had no idea how the broken infiltrator would’ve reacted if he met me, knowing who I really was. I just hopped that he wouldn’t explode in my face.

~~~~~~

Waking up early the next day with a better night’s sleep by several hours, I did my morning routine and started over to News Flash’s hotel room with my detection spell active. Many ponies that joined me last night didn’t pay me any mind and some greeted me in passing, while others that didn’t know what happened last night gave me a confused look. Only a few ponies, such as one with a lily in her mane, ran off in terror. At that moment, I finally knew what Frost might have felt when ponies fled from just the sight of him.

When I got to the reporter’s hotel, I realized that she didn’t give me the room number, so I approached the stallion who looked like he was doing paperwork at the front desk.

“Excuse me.”

The stallion flinched and looked up while saying, “Gah! Don’t-," at which point he recognized me from last night.

“Sorry,” I said, while rubbing the back of my head. “I tend to sneak up on ponies by accident a lot.”

He deadpanned at that. “Somehow I’m not surprised. So what do you need?”

“I was told to come here by News Flash. Do you know which room she’s saying in?”

He turned to some papers and looked though them for a few seconds. “Ah, she’s in room seven, second floor.”

“Alright, thanks!”

Before even arriving at the door, I noticed a changeling in News Flash’s room that looked as though he might have been impersonating her. I acted as usual when I got to the door and knocked, getting the disguised changeling.

“Hey! Come in and take a seat!” she said, stepping aside and gesturing to the only two seats in the room, which were facing each other. Accepting the invitation, I sat down at one and she followed suit, taking a pen and clipboard from a nearby table.

“So, what kind of spells can you cast?” was her first question.

“I can cast magic from both species, and I’m highly proficient in the shape-shifting aspect of both. It’s my main talent.”

“Interesting,” she said. “Were you always a hybrid?”

I responded with, “No, I got this way from an accident with my experimental potion during the Canterlot invasion. I don’t really remember it.”

“Memory loss… sorry to hear that.” she said with a sympathetic face. “But let’s continue. What was it like living under your disguise in Equestria?”

“I was really worried and didn't go outside as much as I usually do at first, but I figured out how easy it was to remain hidden. I also didn't want to tell most of my friends until a few days ago.

“How did that go? If you don’t mind me asking, of course.”

Looking away for a second, I turned back to her with a slight frown. “It was… complicated. I did some things and they got in the crossfire, so I don’t really know how they feel about the change. Can we move on to something else?”

“It’s fine,“ she said. “We can move on to something a bit different. What made you decide to let everypony know what you really are, and why in Ponyville first?”

“Well, it was more than one thing. The first was that I didn't want to lie about what I was. The second was that, despite being almost undiscoverable by even the most… meticulous, synchronized, and discrete sweep of Canterlot, I was afraid that someone would somehow find out and have indisputable evidence.” Here, I smiled. “Also, my neighbor was trying to do this exact thing but failed miserably every time.”

She smiled as well and told me, “That sounds entertaining.”

“Yeah, it was.”

Getting back on track, News Flash said “Anyways, how hard was it to keep that secret hidden?”

After humming in thought with a slight grin, I told her, “Considering how well my changeling disguise can hold up to any series of dispels, it was nearly a trot in the park. The only problem I could have was if one of the Equestrian changelings sensed key emotions that give away the fact that I was secretly someone else. I would've especially hated it if it was one of the infiltrators or the changeling in the Royal Guard.”

“A bold claim to make for your shape-shifting,” she said in thought. “But are you better at changeling or pony magic?”

I took a few seconds, but decided on saying “I’m not sure. That’s too broad of a question.”

“Alright, how about the just the transformation magic?”

I gave a small smirk. “It’s clearly easier for me to use the changeling magic for that. It’s got a really low difficulty curve for me, and I can force a much faster transformation process.”

“That sounds useful for infiltration... which leads me to my next question. Did anyone train you in infiltration?”

“Yeah," I said. “But the changeling wants to remain anonymous about that.”

“That’s fine, but may I ask how you used it?”

I gave her a full on smirk while telling her, “Well, I was naturally good at blending in to begin with, so I used that for the most part. There was actually a pony in my class back in my later school years that completely forgot I was in his class because I was so quiet.” News Flash giggled a bit at that. “Anyways, I’ve done a lot with it. Many things you’d expect from an infiltrator under Equestria’s spymaster, and a few other things to mess with the hive.”

“You worked for the spymaster?” she said with skepticism.

My smirk disappeared. “No no. I did my own thing.”

“Oh,” she said, a bit disappointed. “Well, as a hybrid, how much easier is infiltration?“

I started smirking a bit again as I said, “With the magic of both species it generally makes it twice as easy, if not more.”

As News Flash leaned forward in her seat a bit, she asked, “Can you tell me what methods you use to uncover changelings?”

“I’m only willing to tell you the traditional infiltrator methods, while my own are secrets that should remain a mystery for the changelings with bad intentions.” Here I gave my biggest smirk. “Speaking of, it’s very smart that the real News Flash is getting a changeling to conduct the interview.”

To the changeling’s credit, he didn’t let any giveaways slip though that changelings could see. “I think you’re mistaken,” he said with a confused look.

“You can plainly see and write about the interviewed subject's emotions towards you, and when they're lying. I never been wrong when I’m sure, and I’m absolutely sure about you.”

Still giving the confused look, he said, “Then how do you think I am?”

I then stood up, went to the bathroom, and faced the bathtub, which had it’s shower curtain closed. “Your ruse is over. Or rather, I knew it all through most of the interview.”

The real News Flash opened the curtain and came out with a notepad looking a little embarrassed, while the changeling shed his disguise and came into the bathroom with a deadpan look, saying, “I told you your idea was bad from the beginning.”

With my smirk still going, I told the two “I can sense emotions towards others far better than any changeling.” Turning to the changeling, I asked, “Were you a hive infiltrator? You seem to have the skills.”

“Yes, I was.” the changeling said. “Now, are we going to finish the interview?”

I replied with a simple, “Yes," and we went back to our seats while News Flash sat on one of the beds, ready to take notes of her own. 

The infiltrator opened his notebook to read the next question. “So, how worried are you about the changelings that may want revenge on you and why?”

“I’m only a little worried, because I’ve probably done little in the way of anything that would be a major motivation for revenge. I’ve also been working on something to further prevent that from happening, but I won't give any details because it would… ruin the surprise.”

This elicited a slightly questioning look from the infiltrator, but he continued. “Out of the ponies saved from abduction by the hive, how many did you save?”

I considered the most important aspects of it before saying, “I’d say about fifty to eighty percent. There are no publicly released numbers on these events. The only other thing I know is that there were others that had acted on their suspicions and were lucky enough to be right.”

The infiltrator looked surprised, which lead to News Flash being surprised as well. But not just at me. My only guess was that it had to do with the first article that The Horse's Mouth put out after the first two instances.

Putting a neutral face back on, the infiltrator said “What do you think changelings would be best at, other than infiltration?”

Seeing as I thought of that a few times before, I immediately said, “They'd be fantastic as psychologists, interviewers, and saleslings because they can read your emotions towards them and in general, like an open filly's book.”

“I’m guessing that’s one of the reasons you didn’t attack me as soon as I answered the door,” the infiltrator said while he finished writing my answer down. “Anyways, what drawbacks do you know of for changeling integration?”

“Crimes will be harder to figure out because of shape shifting being basically natural to changelings. Though ponies have been known to paint themselves to accurately look like another pony or one that doesn't exist at all, effectively doing almost the same thing. So it won't be too much harder than it already has been to prove the use of known disguise techniques.”

The infiltrator then said, “You’re oddly sure of that.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Why wouldn’t I be? I’ve familiarized myself with changeling shape-shifting in every way you can think of.”

I sensed the infiltrator getting a bit nervous at the implications, but his face didn’t change. “I guess. So would you like to say anything else about changeling integration?”

I took a few seconds to collect my thoughts before saying, “Despite the drawbacks, the fact that changelings will benefit ponies in emotional ways never before seen will be worth it. The understanding of emotion in general will even improve in leaps and bounds, like with the understanding of how deep of a coma it takes to shut off emotions that show character from highly sentient beings.”

At the last half of my final sentence, the reporter suddenly became optimistic. “Hold on a second,” she said. “Does that mean changelings can communicate with comatose patients?”

I turned my head to her wide eyes. “Yes, I’ve seen it myself.”

“One of my friends has a relative that went into a comma after a construction accident. I have to send a letter right away!” With that, she practically bolted to the door and left, leaving it open.

“Well,” the infiltrator said “that was the last question anyways. You can leave now… unless you have any good infiltration stories you’d be willing to tell.”

I gave another sly smirk, then remembered that my two best ones weren’t really something I’d want to share yet. So I put on a thoughtful look, and eventually started with the time I dive-bombed three infiltrators after Twilight’s coronation. At first he liked the story a lot, but when I reached the part where I had the two ‘lings tied up, he didn’t believe me.

“As if you’re that good with convincing someling to reconsider the truth,” he told me.

“You’re right, I’m not.”

“Then-,” he started, as though he had a retort. “Wait, what?”

My smirk returned. “They were in Canterlot right before I came for them. It was right in their faces the entire time!”

The infiltrator crossed his forelegs “I still don’t believe it.”

I tapped my chin in thought, then smirked again. “Are you familiar with the phrase ‘You are running on empty, running blind’ or ‘You are slaves to the pink gold and your queen’?”

Recognition flashed in his eyes as I said the first phrase, while the second made it obvious. “Chittri thought it was you! Queen Chrysalis didn’t want those messages or your talks with the infiltrators spreading, so she only allowed the infiltrators to discuss them in the hopes of using the resulting psychological profile to find you.”

“I just searched for quotes on truth that made sense to me and figured out which quotes… could lead into another, creating a guide or framework for finding truth. Is she really that afraid of it?”

“Yes,” the infiltrator said. “Chittri believed you practically created your own art of truth seeking. Chrysalis considered calling it the Exposed Framework at one point, because it could help expose any lies, including your disguise. The only problem we had after establishing that was getting close to you without suspicion, and even then you didn’t say much to give us reason to believe it was you. Also, whatever trick you used to at least look like you got past those checkpoints at Canterlot Castle severely confused us.”

“And that’s why I’m not planning on being an infiltrator anymore,” I told him. “I’m better at being a counter-infiltrator or assassin, though I’ll stick with the former.”

“Sounds like a good idea, but I want to hear the rest of your story.”

So after I finished my story, he told me a story of his own, then I left to go back to the hotel to gather my harvesting tools then enter the Everfree. In a few days of harvesting I had enough, and the half-ling and I left Ponyville in the morning by train to go back home.
> Chapter 19: Loose Ends
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Unsurprisingly, I got plenty of odd looks on the ride home, causing me to be a little more self conscious, but I just decided to deal with it. Though once the half-ling and I arrived in Canterlot and exited the train, another pony ran off screaming in fear. It caused a small scene which prompted one of the Guards in the immediate area to come up to me.

“What’s your name, citizen?” he asked.

I answered with “Shapeshift,” though I sounded a bit questioning.

While the Guard gave me this confused look, several other Guards did as well. “Is that magic, or were you always…”

“A half-ling, yes… for the last six or so months,” I nervously answered.

All the Guards in earshot suddenly came up to me as the first one told me, “You’ve been passing through the checkpoints in Canterlot Castle without a hitch, lying to us, and possibly even antagonized the hive into capturing Blitz. What reason could you possibly have that would convince me to not arrest you right now?”

“I prevented some ponies from being abducted by infiltrators… and I might have helped prevent all-out war with the hive, too,” I mentioned with a shaky voice.

“Hey!” one of the Guards shouted as he came right up to me. “That means you’re the one that dropped the changeling on me that one night!”

I pinned my ears back all the way as I said, “I d-didn’t mean to. It was an accident, I swear!”

Immediately after, the first Guard slipped a magic nullifying ring on me by surprise, yet he sighed. “I don’t like this either, but you’ll have to come with me. Remain in front so I can see you and I’ll tell you where to go.”

With that, we set off to the castle, thankfully without the half-ling. Once at the entrance, we went though a checkpoint and the Guards there called for two others to follow at my sides. I figured the reason he was the only one to take me to the castle was that he didn’t want to attract too much of the public’s attention, and I appreciated that. 

Next, we headed over to a hall connecting several small rooms, one of which they had me stay in. It was pretty basic with a table and two chairs, but oddly comfy, as I was expecting to be in a room used for questioning. After a half hour, a different Guard who was confused but looking mostly stoic opened the door and told me, “You’re free to go.”

I was confused at that as well, so I reluctantly got up from my seat and slowly made my way to the door. Though just as I was going through the frame, she said, “Oh, and one thing: Expect a visit from Luna some time soon.”

~~~~~~

I was pretty sure I wasn’t off the hook yet, so I was still pretty worried. I assumed that Luna would come to my home, so I stayed there as much as I could to get it over with. Once a few days passed, Luna still hadn’t shown up. By the time I usually went to the bar with friends, I decided to go, hopping that at least one would be there. I was also sure Luna would know where I was at that time, so I wasn’t very worried.

While the half-ling and I made our way to the Fairly Odd Pub, I was met with a wide range of reactions. Some ponies kept their fillies away from me, walked on the opposite side of the road, or even had the nerve to insult me. The last of which I responded to by sliding them to the side with my magic and continuing on my way. It’s not like you can go your whole life without having enemies, so I didn’t let it bother me much.

On the other hoof, some ponies thanked me, asked questions, or told me how awesome they thought I was. In general, the public’s reaction seemed a bit mixed, but it felt more like the consensus was that I was more of a benefit to everyone.

Upon arriving at the pub, I didn’t see either friend, but everyone else saw me. And by that I mean every pony and changeling in the pub stopped what they were doing to look at me for a few seconds. The reactions were mostly positive, so the half-ling and I took a seat at one of the booths while ponies were singing on the karaoke machine. Olivia came up to take orders, but I wanted to wait for everyone else before getting a drink.

Modus shortly arrived with a newspaper and came up to me asking, “Is that you, Shape?”

“Yeah,” I sadly said after sighing. “Sorry for getting you and Blitz mixed up in my troubles.”

I could sense Modus’s irritation, though it didn’t show all that much as he sat down across from me and said, “After you told me everything, my wife and I haven’t been sleeping as well as usual.”

I put my head on my forelegs, which were resting on the table. “Look, I was being too selfish. I’m not proud of absolutely everything I did or what happened because of it. I didn’t even accomplish what I originally set out to do.”

“Then what did you accomplish?” Modus asked in a similar tone as before.

“I found out that I shouldn’t care what other ponies think of me, no matter what creature I am, and that it doesn’t matter if you feel lonely for a different reason because being lonely together is better than being lonely by yourself.”

Modus’s tone became softer as he said, “Couldn’t you have figured that out in a less dangerous way?”

I looked away. “You know that I wouldn’t have even bothered with group counseling at the time.”

Sensing my growing discomfort and annoyance about the topic at that point, Modus decided to say, “Well… what changed your mind about revealing yourself?”

“A hoof full of things,” I told him as I looked back to him. “The first one was that, with time, I accepted my change and enjoyed the benefits that came with it. The second major thing was a short talk I had with Chittri. She-”

Suddenly, Modus yelled, “You found Chittri while she was infiltrating?!”

Every single changeling and some ponies looked in our direction and shortly gathered around the booth.

Nervous at the sudden attention, I just said, “Yeah.”

“How?” Modus asked.

“…I guess I had some help,” I said. “But neither of us were specifically looking for her. I was just asked to see if Fleur De Lis was replaced.”

Modus was still in awe as he told me, “You do realize how unbelievably amazing that is, right?”

“Yeah,” I slowly said, devoid of amusement. “Anyways, the third thing was… well, I was afraid of Luna hunting me down, starting from the night before my reveal.” Despite how ridiculous that was, Modus and the other changelings didn’t laugh or have any hint of amusement that anybody could sense. “Then the final one was that doing so would inspire other changelings in hiding to do the same.”

“So are you two supposed to make out or something?” the half-ling asked. That prompted one or two of the other changelings to stifle a giggle, while the rest were confused.

“No,” I said. “Not even if Modus or I changed into a mare.”

“As interesting as that may be,” Modus said, “I’d have to ask my wife first.”

Irritated about being embarrassed in front of all the pub’s changelings, I rubbed my forehead with a hoof. “I never asked for this.”

Surprisingly, Modus responded with, “I could say the same about being put in danger by your friends.”

“Look,” I said, sitting up completely straight with a completely serious face. “I’ve got the same problem and a solid plan to prevent any of your worries about infiltration and assassination in your home. I can even set it up for you when it’s done, which is soon.”

Modus sighed out of relief, though I could tell he knew he’d still need to keep up what he was doing to not get abducted outside his home. “I guess that will make up for it.” Opening the newspaper he brought and hoofing it to me, he said, “I’m guessing you’ll want to take a look at this.”

It wasn’t hard at all to figure out which article he was talking about. It had a nice large picture of the parade I gathered in Ponyville.



Half-ling Makes Inspiring Reveal!

In Ponyville, I happened upon a small, interesting parade that I took part in. The one that seemed to lead it was singing a lovely and inspiring tune. I quickly realized that it was of changelings coming out of their shell, giving ponies the benefit of the doubt, supporting each other when they find it hard to cope with the changes of leaving their hive, and not giving up when things are at their hardest.

I thought at first, like anypony else, that the lead pony was actually a changeling. After not even a minute he let his disguise go in the middle of the song. Yet everypony was surprised, not because of him being a changeling, as very few there even recognized him at all, but the fact that he is what he calls a "half-ling". Ponyville's reputation proved true as, even though everypony stopped in shock for several seconds, they still kept singing. There were even two or three changelings that decided, in the middle of the song, to let their disguises go. After the end, I was able to ask the half-ling, Shapeshift, for a short interview.

Shapeshift wasn't always a half-ling, as an accident during the changeling invasion caused his transformation. He was worried about being discovered and became more secluded. Though he did find that it wasn't as hard as he thought, despite his disguise's looks. He has the magical abilities of both species and a special talent in shape-shifting. He also mentions that he's had several months of infiltrator training, but can already tell who's a changeling in a matter of a dozen or so seconds or less. Shapeshift has even said that out of all the ponies who were saved from being abducted by changelings, he was probably the one who saved most of them. As with many other changelings, he eventually told his friends about what he really is, though he preferred to not elaborate on that.

His change has given him a unique perspective on changelings, and so with it, he has seen problems that many ponies don't think about, such as that, "Crimes that will be committed will be harder to figure out because of shape shifting being basically natural to them. But ponies have been known to paint themselves to accurately look like another pony or one that doesn't exist at all, so that they're almost like a disguised changeling. It shouldn't be too much harder than it already has been to prove the use of known disguising techniques." There is also the question of whether or not some changeling psychologists will report sensitive information, such as the mental state of the princesses or high ranking officers of the Guard, to the hive queen.

But Shapeshift also sees many advantages to changeling integration, such as them being, "fantastic as phycologists, [as well as] saleslings, as they can read your emotions towards them like an open filly's book." He has also mentioned that they can sense emotions directed at them from coma patients. This means that Luna is no longer the only one in Equestria who can easily communicate with them.

So when I asked him if he had anything else to say he said that, "Despite the drawbacks, the fact that changelings will benefit ponies in emotional ways never before seen will be well worth it. The understanding of emotion in general will even improve in leaps and bounds."

Only time will tell if his optimistic view with come to fruition, but even now we can do things to help make it a reality. After all, as a great pony once said, "The wishes of yesterday, are the dreams of today, and the reality of tomorrow."



While I read through it, my lips started shifting into a smug smile, but the smugness lessened at the final sentence.

“I wonder what Rabble Rouser might write about me,” I said, amused at the possibility.

Modus seemed to already have a good prediction, because he almost instantly responded with, “He’d probably try writing something hinging on changelings being better at jobs we already have. Something that could be summed up with ‘They took our jobs!’”

“So none of that stuff was a lie?” one of the other changelings finally asked.

“Nope,” I said. “It’s all true… though how fast I can detect changelings has a few more factors that she doesn’t know about.”

Another changeling asked, “What are they?”

“That’s going to be a secret for now,” I told everyone. “I don’t need infiltrators avoiding detection from me all together.”

After a few more questions, all the changelings left the table, so I got Modus to tell me the progress on his explosive fruit. About a half hour later, I sensed annoyance and disapproval directed at me from who I could only assume was Blitz. Seconds after, I got a firm slap on the back of the head, as I suspected would happen.

“You idiot!” he almost shouted.

I rubbed the back of my head as Blitz took a seat. “I probably deserved that…”

Blitz responded with, “Damn right, you freak.”

At that point I merely found it amusing to be called that, so I cracked a sly smile.

“What’s so funny?” Blitz almost demanded.

“The fact that you think me being called a freak bothers me very much,” I informed him.

Blitz frowned. “How am I supposed to annoy you all the time for getting me captured if name calling doesn’t work? I can’t just punch you or anything like that without asking. I’m a guard.”

“I don’t know,” I pondered, then made another smirk. “But I know you like a good fight.”

“Pfft. Fight you?” Blitz said in amusement. “As if I’m falling for that. You’ll use your cheater TK.”

“So I won’t use it,” I said. “It’s not like I can’t beat you without it. It’ll be more interesting anyways.”

Blitz made a smug smile. “You’re on! Next week, we meet at the bar as usual, then go to the castle. I’ve got some Guard friends that will want to see this, and there might be a good spot around the castle to fight.”

Olivia then came up and asked, “Now that everyone’s here, how about a drink?”

So we all ordered something, except for the half-ling, and she left with, “Alright, that will be right out!”

Just then, a pony came up to sing and picked something that sounded like a drinking song. But it wasn’t just any song.

It was about the limitations of our existence and how, despite that, we still do more than just manage to get by. We have our own flaws and limitations, yet they make us who we are while, despite them, we still achieve our dreams and have times of joy with others. But there are times when things get tough. You don’t have to listen to those who think you can’t get through it, and you have the capacity to bravely challenge everything and everybody who stands in the way of your goals.

The song was catchy enough that the patrons of pub shifted their attention to the song rather fast. 

By the first verse, a few ponies got up and formed a row, with each pony to the left of the other putting their right foreleg on the other, gently swaying left and right to the song. The changelings and unicorns had their horns lit up, while others used various methods of their own to make a light. Modus, Blitz, and I joined in early, before the line grew long enough to start a second one and the lights dimmed.

It was heartwarming to see and feel so many of the pub-goers appreciating the song, and especially the half-ling’s emotions. As the song continued, he slowly became determined, a little excited, and a little joyful.

And that was all he needed.

With a flash of green flame he shed his disguise, and only seconds after, Hammy came into the bar to come up to him and stretch his hoof out to the half-ling. I could only assume that Hammy asked to join him in the crowd, because he shyly but quickly took his hoof and got up to join in with Hammy.

It was the most beautiful moment I’ve ever had in a bar of any sort. Despite there being ponies, changelings, griffins, donkeys, and even a buffalo and zebra, they all joined in. We had differing struggles, goals, dreams, and limitations, but the important thing was that we were joined together in that moment by the simple fact that we all had them.

But it eventually had to come to an end, and everybody sat back down after it was over. Hammy and the half-ling were at our table by the time I got there, so I sat next to the former as the remaining two also took a seat in front of the drinks Olivia sneaked onto our table.

Right as Blitz did so, he said, “So Shape and ‘Dew’, you have any holes in your gentlestallion's leg?” 

Modus, Hammy, and I snickered, while the half-ling gave Blitz a deadpan glare. Though that only gave Blitz a reason to laugh.

“Nope,” I said with a smile. “I don’t have that.” I then turned to the half-ling as everyone else at the table took a swig. “It’s a good thing I put that song in their collection, or you may have never revealed yourself.”

The half-ling responded with disbelief as I took a gulp of my own. “As if you planned that out.”

Having my explanation ready, I told him, “I picked a song that's both appealing to the bar patrons and relevant to what you needed to hear, so that you were more convinced than pressured into doing what you did, and so that it looked like I had little to do with it.”

“As if you’re capable of planning something like that so well,” the half-ling retorted.

So I gave him a smirk and told him, “I’ve been getting infiltrator training. When you do it right, everybody, even some of your allies, aren’t sure you’ve done anything at all.”

The half-ling tried to think of a response while giving me a glare for several seconds, until I told him, “It’d be better to just believe me. If you don’t, it only further proves my capabilities.”

The half-ling’s only response to that, aside from irritation, was, “I hate you.”

Just then I sensed Blitz realizing something. “Wait a minute. I’m the only one in our group now that can’t sense emotions.”

“Actually, I can’t anymore,” the half-ling said.

“Why’s that?” Modus asked with an odd but interested look, before taking another drink from his mug.

“For the exact same reason Shape can,” the half-ling said with a deadpan tone.

Modus turned to me. “The potion swaps species traits between the drinker and somebody else?” he asked.

“Yeah,” I said. “Incidentally, a sample of him ended up in the potion.”

“Did it swap your gentlestallion's legs?” Blitz asked with a smirk.

Both the half-ling and I said “No," though I sounded amused while the half-ling was irritated.

Blitz was clearly more amused than me, though he finally decided to ask a serious question after another swig, “Who’s the new changeling?”

I decided to answer with, “Actually… he was Crooked Gallery all along. His real name is Hamartia.”

“Can I just call you Hammy?” Modus asked, to which Hammy said “Yeah, most ponies prefer to call me that,” before chugging several mouthfuls of cider.

Then Blitz asked, “So are you two dating again or something?”

I tried to think of the right thing to say, given how I had my answer to Hammy’s question by then, but all I said was a nervous, “Uhh…” until I decided to turn to Hammy.

Everyone at the table stopped drinking.

I was nervous about how he’d react. He seemed to know the answer already, as I sensed his growing sadness. I shyly told him, “I cared about you just as much as I did back then, just… not the same way anymore.”

Just as I was afraid of, Hammy started tearing up. Though I started feeling not sympathy from him, but empathy. He knew how I felt about things like breaking up with someone I still cared about.

After a second or two I continued with, “We both know each others feelings about that, so…” I held out my forelegs and Hammy took the invitation to hug me. As I started tearing up a little, I told him, “I want you to be with someone who cares about you just as much as I do, but in the same way you care for them.”

“I searched for you for three years, only for you to say no,” Hammy said. He wasn’t angry at me, just frustrated that things didn’t go as he planned. “I could change genders for you,” he suddenly said with hope in his voice, after breaking the hug.

I didn’t want to see him acting with any desperation, but I had to skeptically ask him, “Would you really be willing to marry somebody who doesn't want to interact with your real body in an intimate way?”

“I guess not…” he moped.

“I knew how much you wanted to get back together… If it’s any consolation, I’m flattered about it all.”

Hammy reacted with, “I know how you fell you dork,” though, again, he did not sound angry. “I guess an intimate relationship with you would leave both of us with… unfulfilled desires.”

After breaking the hug and wiping away his tears, Hammy told me, “I was afraid this was going to be your answer because you don’t trust me as much as you used to,” here he smiled a bit, “but knowing that you still care about me that much… makes this easier. Anyways, I should go.”

Modus then spoke up. “You don’t have to go if don’t feel like it.”

Yet he responded with, “But I do. I’ll see you guys later.”

The talk left me with a bad feeling, emotionally as well as in my stomach, so I had no desire to finish my drink.

After he left, Modus asked, “You think he’ll be okay?”

I sighed and I told the remaining three, “I thought I knew him in school, but my sixth sense helped me see so much more of him. I think he’ll be fine.”

Blitz had a sad, but more perplexed face for most of the exchange. “Why are you so opposed to dating males, yet have no problem with dating several other species?”

That only made me feel worse, and as such, I gave him a sad but irritated glare. I still didn’t have a good idea as to why I have such a nonsensical preference.

Feeling bad himself, Blitz just said, “Sorry…”

After we had a few seconds of silence between the four of us, a badly timed song started playing. It seemed to be about some stallion who wanted to date somebody else, but that somebody may have had no interest in it.

About fifteen seconds into the song, everybody started drinking again and Modus  said, “I like this song already!”

Then about a minute in I suddenly almost yelled, “Why does the bar have a new song that's exactly what I don't want to hear right now?!”

Several of the bar’s patrons became nervous at that, though I preferred it that night. After a few seconds, Modus and Blitz were about to say something, but I continued with, “It's like the universe hates me, or that I’m in a book written by somebody who's sadistic to fictional characters and likes music too much!”

Blitz took another drink and responded with, “That last one was oddly specific,” while Modus shrugged and stated, “Everyone’s a story of their own life. But I feel like we should change subjects. Are there any spells from either species that are inherently impossible for you to cast?”

“It’s not really that I can’t cast any,” I said. “It’s just the spells that require you to be a pony and can only be cast on yourself that I can’t use.”

Modus replied with, “That makes sense,” before taking a drink of his cider.

“But what about the changeling shape-shifting spell?” Blitz asked, before downing the last of his drink.

“Well, I doesn’t work,” I started, “and even with the fix I have for it, something about my biological difference makes it hurt during the transformation process by varying degrees. My first transformation was to get wings, which was agony, and I assumed that a gender swap would hurt about as much. I also assumed that getting or removing my horn would hurt almost as much as losing a limb. All that being the reason I just changed back to my real form at the time.”

Cutting in, the half-ling asked, “So why is my own shape-shifting spell taking so long to make?”

“I just don’t have enough info on your current biology,” I stated.

The half-ling pouted at that. “You’re useless.”

“You’re kind of cute when you’re doing that,” Modus observed.

Blitz and I snickered at that, to which the half-ling responded with, “Shut up, or I’ll tell everyone what you’ve been doing the past two weeks.”

I smirked at that. “Who are you? My mom? Besides, it wouldn’t matter anymore. I infiltrated Canterlot Castle numerous times to listen in on changeling negotiation sessions, then proceeded to follow the Equestrian changelings when they traveled to the hive and infiltrated it, so I could possibly gain an easier entrance to do what I needed to.”

I sensed Blitz’s disapproval at that before he even sat up straight, leaned in towards me from across the table, and intimidatingly said, “How did you infiltrate the castle?”

“If I let any of that info out, enemy changelings would try to steal and use it,” I  told him, with a serious face. “If they were to be successful, all current dispels would no longer work on them.”

“You should destroy that info,” Modus recommended, before finishing his cider.

Though I was prepared. “I have something to counter it already, and I’d give it up to the princesses if it was absolutely necessary.”

Blitz considered that, though he still reluctantly said, “I guess that’s good enough…” while Modus said, “I’ve vaguely figured out how you’re doing it anyways. But what about the loss of your cutie mark?”

I answered with, “I got over it pretty quick, even though I was really worried about it at first.”

“No, I mean why do you still have your special talent?”

“I’m still not sure,” I stated. “It's probably because my cutie mark was a changeling related allusion, and maybe the fact that I gained changeling traits basically made my entire body, or one certain part, my cutie mark.”

“Sounds like the best guess I’d have,” Blitz said.

Though Modus had a more simple one. “It could simply be that the cutie mark is gone but the magic is still there out of simple persistence more than anything else.”

“Yeah,” I said. “I might just be over-complicating it.”

So I continued answering my friends’ questions for a while, and Olivia brought refills. Then another changeling came up to us. I quickly recognized who he was, which caused me to emit emotions that instantly confirmed the suspicions he already had of me. Unsurprisingly, he didn’t visibly react.

The half-ling turned to the new changeling to say, “Hey,” then looked back to us. “This is the changeling I met in Ponyville. His name’s Cember and… I forgot to mention that he’s staying for a few days.”

After Cember sat down next to the half-ling, Modus asked Cember, “So why did you leave the hive for Equestria?”

As Cember told his story, I sensed his growing hate for me, which made it all the more uncomfortable. During this, the always attentive Olivia returned to ask, “Does the new ‘ling want anything?”

“Do you have Rockfarm Cider?” Cember responded.

Olivia gave him a slightly odd look and told him, “We do, but you do know how dry that one is, right?”

“Yeah,” he said. “I’ve had it several times before.”

“Alright then, I’ve have that out for you in a minute!” she said, as she left the table.

Cember continued his story, and after he was done, Blitz told him, “That was kind of vague.”

“I’d rather keep the details to myself,” Cember said, emitting a bit more hate at me.

“That’s fine,” Blitz simply stated.

“Now,” Cember said as he turned to Modus “it’s my turn to ask you the same.”

“Well…” Modus started. “I heard from several infiltrators what Equestria was like. The infiltrators seemed to look at Equestrian society with the perspective that they were brought up to have, but I eventually set aside that perspective to try to understand Equestrian philosophy. My curiosity and desire for a higher standard of living eventually led me to leave. I went to a few cities and villages to get accustomed to pony life, then attended school disguised as a filly. By the time I was done with school I had an intricate understanding of pony philosophy and mastered the field of general logic for practical reasons. By then I thought that I might return to the hive one day to teach Equestrian philosophy when they are ready for it.” Modus smiled. “That day might be soon.”

“At least you left more willingly,” Cember observed, while giving me a quick glace, and a short lasting spike of disgust. It didn’t make me feel any better, and no one but Modus seemed to notice.

“So have you found a job yet?” Modus asked.

Though Cember responded with a somewhat mocking, “Are you a hive princess?”

Modus shrugged “You could move to Canterlot or another city so you could more easily get a job, if you feel comfortable enough with it.”

Cember then emitted disdain for, as far as I could tell, living in Canterlot, which grew my feeling of awkwardness further, while Modus reacted to my feelings with some concern.

“Well, what job did you have in the hive?” Modus asked.

Cember answered with “I was an infiltrator.”

“We could use an infiltrator in the anti-espionage division,” Blitz mentioned. “Whether it’s part-time or full-time, field operations or information analysis.”

I sensed Cember’s irritation as he answered with a matching tone, saying, “I’d rather not.” Though he also emitted further hate towards me, keeping the situation awkward.

Modus seemed to figure out by then that something was going on between Cember and I, as he was directing a bit of disapproval and apprehension, as well as a moderate level of concern at me. Yet, despite this, he didn’t approach me about it until we were done conversing and everyone decided to leave.

As we exited the bar, I was about to split off with the half-ling and Cember, when Modus came up to me with concern and asked, “Shape, can I talk to you in private?”

“Yeah,” I simply said, nervous about what Modus already figured out.

We started an alternate path to my house, and after a minute he said, “Shape, I need to know. Did you put Cember in that desperate situation?”

Before I could even say anything, Modus could tell what my answer was from my emotions alone, and sighed in disappointment. “Why?” he asked.

“He replaced Blitz after the hive took him,” I ashamedly muttered, without looking at Modus. “I… wanted to teach him a lesson.”

I sensed a bit of anger directed at me as he asked, “What situation did you put him in?”

I slowly said, “I severely injured two of his legs, took all his emotional energy… and left him a few hundred meters into the Everfree near Ponyville.”

Both of us didn’t say a word for several seconds, until Modus finally said, “I want you to apologize to him.”

Sensing my distress at hearing that, he changed to a less harsh tone to tell me “I know you’re awkward at apologies, but you can take comfort in the fact that it’s much easier with changelings.”

I finally looked at him in the eye as he gave me a small but encouraging smile, and I sighed. “Alright,” I said, with uncertainty.

“Well,” Modus said, “I should go before my wife wonders where I am. I’ll see you later.”

After parting ways, I got back to the other two before they arrived at my house. Once we got there, I unlocked the door and we entered the living room.

“I’m tired,” the half-ling stated, followed up by a “Me too,” from Cember.

Seeing as they were both expectantly look at me, I told them “The only decent enough spot that’s left is the couch. I have an extra blanket you could use, though I could just give my bed up for however long Cember's planning on staying.”

“I'll be using the sleeping bag and sleeping in the same room as Cember,” the half-ling mentioned.

So Cember said, “I’ll take the couch,” while still emitting hate towards me. Though I also started sensing a bit of contempt when I offered my bed. I really couldn’t blame him.

Once I got the blanket from upstairs, I came back down and approached Cember, who was on the couch and talking with the half-ling. He only glanced at the blanket before I gave it to him. Neither of us said anything to each other, but Cember gave me this brief death stare that the half-ling couldn’t see from his angle. So after going to bed, I didn’t think it was ridiculous to have my changeling detection spell on or face the door all night.

About an hour after I would’ve been asleep on a normal night, my spell detected who could only be Cember entering my room. He slowly crept up to me, unaware that my spell worked even with my eyes closed, then silently lifted his hoof up to about his ear’s height.

Suspecting that he was trying to waste me, I took his hoof in my magic and opened my eyes to see his look of surprise and that his weapon of choice was a knife.

“The possibility of you trying to kill me isn't the only reason I can't sleep tonight,” I informed him in a sad tone and calm manner, as I shifted into a sitting position.

His expression shifted to hate. “You’ve been faking your feelings towards me all night, so why should I believe that you care at all?”

I sighed. “Because… I distanced myself from you in every sense of the word to get rid of the guilt, and now that you’re here…” I looked down at the sheets before saying, “I feel it again.”

I let Cember’s knife hoof go and he lowered it before telling me, “I had to make the hardest decision of my life. I decided to seek the help of the ponies in Ponyville because it would be unlikely that I could survive long enough for a hive changeling to find me. Once I found a pony and she got me to the hospital, my nerves were severely frayed. I took a gamble, and I didn't know if they were actually going to help me heal, or if they were going to experiment on me until I died. I didn't trust the doctors or nurses for a while, until another changeling was able to convince me to. I started living with that changeling.”

As he talked, I started facing him again and I could tell that he was analyzing my emotions during his story.

“I guess you weren’t faking anything tonight,” Cember said, still sounding angry. “I’m not going to bother with killing you anymore.” He then got in my face as he told me, “But if you’re seeking forgiveness, you’re far from it.”

Getting out of my face, he dropped the knife on the floor and left the room. I picked up the knife with my magic and put it in a nearby drawer. Despite my guilt from what I did to him, and my sadness from having to say no to Hammy, I soon fell asleep.

That night, I had the boulevard dream for the last time. There were a few differences this time as I left to check the streets. The other sign was finally readable, with the intersection being of Boulevard of Broken Dreams and Lonely Hearts Boulevard. The next difference was, after the two singing groups met, they started singing the song I sung in Ponyville. So I decided to watch them march down the street.

Until something struck me on the back of my head so hard that I swear I could have gotten a skull fracture.

As I got up from being knocked to the floor, I reached for the spot on my head and noticed that it was wet. Moving me hoof in front of me, I realized that I was bleeding.

I still can't get a break, even in my dreams...

As I looked to where the strike came from, I saw Luna standing there, more angry than anybody I’ve ever seen.

“What was that for?!” I irately asked.

The only two words she said were, “Blood moon.”

Immediately remembering that particular night at the bar, I couldn't say anything for the life of me, so I just looked at her hooves in fear of looking her in the eyes, but shame more than anything. 

After what felt like minutes, though more likely seconds, Luna said, “You should be glad you are not in a dream of pure horror. Your joke was not funny in the slightest, and I have never imagined that such a more wrong joke could be made about me in both senses of the word.”

I could still not say anything for the life of me in the several seconds before she said anything more. 

“Speak!” she commanded.

“I-I know- It was- I thought…” I verbally stumbled, before sighing. “S-sorry. I didn’t think others would want to make it into a joke, let alone listen in on what I was saying.”

She continued scolding me with, “You are damn right you did not think!”

I mentally berated myself over the whole situation, though I quickly thought of something to make up for it.

Looking her in the face, I made my offer. “I could make up for it by helping with any infiltrator problems.”

I sensed Luna’s intense anger lessen, before she said, “That is why I am here. For infiltrating Canterlot Castle, and causing a Guard to be abducted by the hive, you can either go to the dungeon for twenty years, or find us one hundred undiscovered changelings.”

In an exasperated tone, I responded with, “Don’t underestimate me…”

“Three hundred it is, then.”

She didn’t show it at all, but I could sense her amusement of how little thought I put into my reaction.

“I have heard that you once accidentally launched your changeling friend into a wall with your magic,” Luna said. “One of many reasons why I am thoroughly acquainted with what you do well.”

I gave her a confused look, “Who told you that?" though I had my suspicions.

She then gave a small smirk as she answered with “The same Guard that told me the origin of the offending joke.”

I’m gonna do something to Blitz for that, but I don’t know what yet.

At that, I decided to follow the singing group, and Luna followed to my right.

“Are you aware that you are in a dream?” Luna asked, a bit puzzled.

“Yeah. You’re here talking with me, which only happens in my dreams.”

“An accurate way to tell,” she exclaimed, though her emotions indicated some mischievousness at my logic. “Is this dream reoccurring? I remember one similar to this, though I go through so many others that it is hard to keep track.”

“Yeah, it is,” I said. “It changed a few times, but the changes that happened this time makes me feel like it’s the last time.”

“Not many ponies seem to know much about reoccurring dreams until I inform them. I feel that you are… well read.”

“Yeah, kind of” I responded. “I’m more about innovation.”

“Yes, well, I feel that you would get along well enough with Twilight Sparkle.”

“And that she’d want to run experiments on me,” I added, with a deadpan tone.

Luna gave me a smirk. “Then I suppose you have met her?”

I answered with, “At least a few dozen times. She doesn’t pay me much mind, except when she might have thought I was a changeling.“ Just then, a thought occurred to me. “What do you think the future will hold?”

“Many things,” Luna said, looking at the stars. “What predictions of mine would you like to know?”

“Look at me,” I told her, pointing to my face. “I’m a half-ling. What do you think?”

Turning her head, she gave me an unamused look. “Do not give me sass.” Though her expression shortly changed to thoughtfulness. “Relations between the two species are obviously still rough, but with enough time, the changelings as a whole can learn to appreciate the values of friendship and even love. As a species, their emotion sense may even allow them to surpass a pony's understanding of both, especially infiltrators, due to their training. If the singing group's song and your news article is any indication, you are hoping for something similar.”

“Well, it’s not a coincidence. That song they’re singing is the same one I sung in Ponyville, so you’re not wrong in the least.”

Luna didn’t say anything, so I looked to my right to see that she was gone, but I also spotted the Fairly Odd Pub. It was something significant to me, so having a hunch that she was there, I went in.

The scene I was greeted with was very similar to the one that started from the song I slipped into the pub’s collection. The exception was that, instead of Act, Blitz, and I being in the crowd, we were the ones singing. Nobody was paying Luna any mind, which I would find just a bit odd if it was in the real world.

Approaching her side and sitting next to her, she was smiling and emanating optimism. “Did this exact event actually happen?”

“No,” I said, which earned me a confused look, but I still smiled. “Though, the only difference is that it wasn’t anybody I knew who was singing up there. I just sneaked the song into the pub’s collection and joined in the crowd.”

I could then sense her pride in her subjects and myself, as well as relief. “Nevertheless, you have learned much.” She then turned around and started trotting out. “I had figured it was you who was calling me Lieutenant Nightlight, though, like I had said before, I did not know your true form.” Here, she gave me a slightly concerned look. “Whatever tricks you have used to get past the security checkpoints had thrown me off, therefore I had to go on a hunch. I hope that whatever it is, is something that you can counter.”

I gave Luna a serious look. “There is, but nobody knows my method’s details. It’s kept a secret, like it’s counter. For now.”

Luna considered this for several seconds. “Very well. I just ask of you to start on your search.” Unfolding her wings, she gave me a motherly smile and told me, “My time spent here has been… interesting, but I must help other ponies with their troubles.”

Before I could ask anything else, she took off with a powerful flap, saying, “Goodbye, Shapeshift!”

I yelled back, “Bye, Luna!" as she flew off into the night sky’s beautiful expanse of twinkling stars and nearly pitch black blue that was only matched by her own mane. Several seconds after, I was suddenly pulled back into the waking world, where I felt more refreshed than I ever had in the past six months.

Staying half awake in bed for some time, I thought on the dream a bit, though I was wondering if I should have asked Luna about any other dreams I’ve had recently. I didn’t feel like the other dreams were largely important, so I didn’t dwell on it as I got up and went to my room’s window. Staring at Canterlot Castle, I wondered what the negotiation’s agreements would come out to be and when exactly Modus would return to the hive for a while. Shifting my attention to the populace, I was wondering how many of the changelings would still cling on to what was soon to be the old ways.

There were many lessons to take from those six months of my life, many of which I already knew.

My destiny was what I made of it. I used it to make the change I wished to see in the world, instead of hoping everybody that was already striving for the same thing would accomplish it while I wallowed in despair. 

But even that didn’t feel like the most important lesson for me to learn. So what was? Well, I don't know if you're a Twilight Sparkle, but I’m sure you’ll figure it out if you haven’t already.