Skyrim might be in peril, but all is not quite right in Equestria either. Ponies are being abducted in the night, and Princess Luna must answer the call to protect her people. Little does she know, she may be in the most danger of all.
When Stross made his escape to Skyrim, the changeling revealed another of his kind in the process. But he couldn't have known how deep that rabbit hole went.
A sinister faction of changelings is working in the shadows, capturing ponies and taking them away, conspiring against Princess Luna herself. With little known about these dangerous creatures or their plans, a hero is needed to crack this mystery wide open!
Princess Luna is on the case, but she won't be alone. For when you're fighting a foe as daunting as the night itself, you'll need all the help you can get.
A pair of deep blue eyes peered out through glass, the ghostly reflection of the yellow-coated mare they belonged to washed over the landscape as it slowly shifted by, far in the distance. She leaned back after a while and smiled in content. She took a moment to straighten her bright orange mane, then sifted though her bag until she found something to read, eventually settling on a newspaper from that morning. However, she never managed to read more than a few lines of text before her eyes drifted out the window again, her thoughts following suit.
It had been a long ride since that morning, but she didn't mind at all. After all, she’d saved her bits and planned this vacation to Neighagra Falls for quite some time. All day she couldn't stop thinking about what to do first. It wasn't every day she'd get to go to one of the most majestic places in all of Equestria.
She giggled to herself in excitement, realizing she was being a little silly. The first thing she'd have to do was check into her hotel. From there she could figure out everything else.
“What do you mean my reservation was set for next month!?” the mare shouted in a mix of outrage and panic.
“I’m sorry miss…” the hotel clerk double-checked the name on his list, “Sunny Delight. But that’s what my schedule says, and I’m afraid we don’t have any more rooms available either; this is a popular time to visit the Falls after all.”
Sunny put a hoof to her head and went over her options, only to come up with nothing. How could this have happened? After all her planning, and everything she’d looked forward to doing… months of saving her bits ruined by one little mix-up of dates! Even worse, it was already getting dark out, and the train station wouldn't be open until morning.
How was she going to get home? Where was she going to stay? If she was lucky there'd be another hotel somewhere in the city with a room available; she didn't even want to think about having to sleep somewhere on the street or in a dirty alleyway. But with every passing realization her hope started to dim.
She felt herself start to sweat and tried to get her breathing under control. "No... no no. Celestia curse my stupidity."
“I wish there was something I could do?” the receptionist colt offered weakly.
Sunny realized she was making a scene, and thanked Celestia there wasn't anypony else around to see it this time.
“No… no it’s alright. I’ll just have to come back some other time.” she said, having trouble hiding the defeat in her voice. “Do you know when the next train to Ponyville leaves? Maybe if I'm lucky I can get home before the station closes.”
“H-hey, hold on a moment.” a stallion hesitantly spoke up from somewhere out her line of sight. “Sorry, I couldn’t help overhearing and I thought- well y-you see…” he stuttered out, trying to find the right words. “My friends couldn’t make it. So… I was wondering since I’ve got two extra beds in my room, maybe…”
Sunny Delight stared at the Pegasus before her. She had to admit, he was quite pleasant to look at; his dark blue coat contrasted nicely with his neatly combed, sky blue mane, and it drew the eye to his face. Yet despite his looks, he acted and spoke so nervously. It was a little surprising to her.
Then Sunny realized she was staring, and considered herself lucky that he didn't notice. He just kept trying to talk, stuttering out the words and making gestures with his wings and hooves to get his point across.
“I mean, y-you don’t have to if you don’t want to. I was just, y’know… offering.” He said and averted his eyes downward, flicking back up to her every second or so.
“Y-yes!” Sunny jumped at his offer before he changed his mind. “Yes of course! Thank you. You’re a life saver Mister…” she extended a hoof to him.
“H-Hail Slick.” He answered and shook it gently, “My name’s Hail Slick. And you’re Sunny Delight, right?”
Sunny nodded. “You can call me Sunny D though, all my friends do.”
“Sunny D.” he repeated the name with a small smile, “Well my room is on the third floor, and I’ve got a spare key here. Y-you want to go there now, or..?”
Sunny gave him a smile. “Lead the way.”
The hallways were a bit narrow, so Sunny walked behind Hail, giving them both room for their suitcases to be pulled behind them. They didn’t say much along the way, probably because neither was sure what say. ‘How’s the weather?’ would probably just make things even more awkward.
“Well, here we are!” Hail announced as he unlocked their room and led the way inside.
The room was gorgeous! The entryway had tile floors, and led into a sitting area complete with a big velvet couch and two matching armchairs. Flowering potted plants decorated the corners and windowsills, and the balcony gave a spectacular view of the small city beyond it. Outside they could see the building lights dotting the inky blackness, mirroring the starlit sky above.
Off to the sides were the bedrooms, where Hail was already busy unpacking his suitcase atop one of the mattresses. From how the material sagged underneath the weight of the suitcase, the beds were obviously very squishy.
Sunny was able to confirm this firsthoof when she flopped onto one of the adjacent beds and found herself nearly swallowed by it.
She heard an amused chuckle come from Hail, the first thing that out of him that didn’t seem like it was going to fall apart out of nervousness. Sunny hoped to see more of this side of him while they were here, the part that wasn’t a bundle of nerves.
“The beds here are really great. My friend Glimmer Sheen always insists on paying for top quality rooms whenever we go anywhere.” Hail told her, only for a sad look to cross his face a second later. “It’s really too bad they couldn’t come this time, we were supposed to get together like we do every year, but… I guess family and work just get in the way sometimes.”
“Hey, it’s alright.” Sunny said, walking over and putting a hoof on his shoulder. “You’ll have a great time, and then you can tell them all about it! Maybe get them some souvenirs so they don't feel left out.”
Hail gave her a weak smile and nodded. “I guess. I’m gonna try and get to sleep so I can get up early tomorrow.”
“Okay… goodnight.” Sunny said and climbed into her own bed, the comfy mattress nearly swallowing her alive again. She reached over and flicked the bedside lamp off, closing her eyes a moment later.
She was only starting to drift off to sleep when Hail whispered over to her. “Hey Sunny… do you like waffles?”
“I love waffles!” Sunny said as she gleefully shoved another bite of syrupy filled goodness into her mouth, getting more than a little whipped cream on her muzzle as she did. In all the commotion last night, she’d completely forgotten to eat anything, and was practically starving when she woke up.
It was fortunate that Hail Slick was familiar with the area, and had a whole mental book of his favorite places to eat. Speaking of whom…
Sunny took a moment to swallow before glancing up at the blue pegasus who was digging into his own plate of food with just as much fervor. It was only when he had to pause and wash it down with a glass of orange juice that he noticed her looking at him, and his cheeks immediately flushed a deep red.
“Ah, um… yeah. The waffles here are really good.” He said and tried to save face by delicately dabbing the corners of his mouth with a napkin.
Sunny couldn’t help but giggle a little. “So Hail, what sights were you planning on seeing today?”
Hail pulled out a small tourist map of the area, thankful for the distraction from his messy eating habits. He unfolded it on the table and pointed an index feather at a cluster of buildings near the city's shopping district.
“I was hoping to take a tour of the Technology Museum today; they’ve got a new exhibit on hydro-electricity. I thought it would be interesting to hear about the pros and cons of building water turbines at the Falls. Apparently there was some movement by a bunch of nature advocates a while back, who wanted the museum to take down the display. So I wanted to see what all the fuss was about.” Hail explained as best he could remember from reading a news article some months ago.
“What about the Falls themselves? Don’t you want to see those first?” Sunny asked just as Hail was taking another bite.
“Mmph…” Hail swallowed and answered, “When I’m with my friends, we tend to save to Falls for the last day so we can take a group photo. The first time we were here we made the mistake of going on the first day, and well… we kinda started on a high note and our trip got more and more boring while we tried to kill time. So we decided next time to save the best for last!” Hail Slick explained. “It became sort of a… tradition. Kinda.”
“Huh, that makes a lot of sense actually.” Sunny said and sipped her coffee.
“Well, ya know… if you want to go see them on your own I’m not stopping you.” Hail told her.
Sunny thought about it for a second, but then decided, “Nah. I think I’ll stick with you for a while, if you’re okay with that.”
Hail smiled. “I’d love it.”
Clouds rolled over the starlit sky. On the streets below, street lamps cast a soft orange light.
Sunny Delight found herself lost in thought as she idly picked at her half-finished plate of fancy pasta. The last several days passed faster than she realized. Time really did fly when you were having fun. Despite that slight hiccup near the beginning, her trip to Neighagra had been a wonderful experience, and she was sad that it was coming to a close.
Truly it was all thanks to Hail Slick that she’d had as good a time as she did, and not just because he let her share his room. That kind-hearted, fidgety pegasus took her to places she would have barely given a passing glance at if she were on her own.
In fact, she and Hail Slick had just gotten back from the ‘trip-closing climax’ by taking a photo of themselves next to the Falls. Hopefully she’d be the topic of a few stories Hail would be telling his friends when he got back, even if it was the one where they wandered off a hiking trail and spent half the day trying to get back before they were finally found by a passing ranger patrol. She doubted he'd let her forget that one if she tried.
Right now they decided to stop at one of their favorite restaurants for a quick dinner before the trains departed. She already had her suitcase sitting beside her, stretched much fuller than when she’d arrived due to how many souvenirs she’d bought.
Still, the most precious things she’d take away from her vacation would no doubt be the memories. Especially those of Hail Slick.
“Um… S-sunny?” Hail spoke up rather suddenly. “I… I need to ask you something.”
Sunny perked her head up, giving him her full attention. He’d been acting strangely when they were at the Falls. He’d had trouble breathing, but dismissed it when she brought it up. She’d caught him staring at her on multiple occasions only to dart his gaze away the second she looked back, and she wondered if she had something on her face or caught in her teeth.
“I… I just wanted to know…” Hail began, stuttering as he always did when talking with her. “Uh… can you pass the salt?! Y-yeah… the salt, that’s... what I meant to ask for.” he trailed off.
Sunny looked at him oddly, but gave him the little glass shaker anyway.
The rest of the meal passed in silence, with Hail and Sunny resuming their usual game of ‘Don’t look. Look, then look away.’
“Well, thank you for everything Hail Slick.” Sunny said to the blue pegasus as they got out of the restaurant. “This really has been a wonderful time, and it’s all thanks to you.”
“It was nothing.” the stallion blushed, “So where are you going to go now?” he ventured to ask.
“Oh, back to Ponyville. You’ve probably never heard of it; small town and all.” Sunny said, the realization that she’d soon be returning to the grind of her everyday life dawning on her.
“W-well, have a safe trip!” Hail said with a cheery and awkward smile, his wings stiff at his sides.
“Yeah… I will.” Sunny said and turned to go.
Still, as she plodded slowly along down the street, Sunny felt as though something was wrong. Unfulfilled; that was the word. She felt as though there was something she hadn’t done in Neighagra, but she’d gone to nearly every museum in town with Hail, dined at all the popular restaurants with Hail, taken a picture near the falls with Hail. What could she have been forgetting-?
“Sunny wait!” Hail called from behind her, and she turned to find the stallion mere inches away from her face with a determined look in his eyes.
Hail knew this was his last chance. The words had been in his mind for days now, and he’d rehearsed them silently in the mirror every morning, waiting for today. But when they’d gotten to the falls… the setting sun reflected off her coat so stunningly, and the water rushing behind her created a scene of pure bliss... he’d lost his nerve and the words stayed caught in his throat.
He’d hoped to save his fumble by asking her over dinner, but once again, he found himself unable to get the words out. He couldn’t let this last chance slip him by, he wouldn’t. It was now or never.
“Sunny D, I got you something.” Hail said and extended a hoof. In it was a small keychain charm in the shape of a teddy bear, with a big red heart covering its belly.
“A-and look,” he continued as she took it. He pulled out a necklace of tiny metal beads, on it were several other small charms; a tiny picture of an elderly couple, a miniature metal tea pot, a polished bead of tree sap, a baby tooth, and finally… a bear just like the one he was giving her. “I’ve got a matching one. This charm necklace has something to signify each of the ponies in my life that are important to me. Now you’re one of them.”
Sunny was about to thank him, and tell him how touched she was, but he paused her just before she could.
“Sunny Delight. I’ve had the most wonderful time here with you. And I really don’t want to say goodbye and know that I might not ever see you again.” Hail told her. His stutter was surprisingly absent, as he was allowing himself to speak from the heart, clear and true. “Will you let me be yours? Your coltfriend, your special somepony, or whatever you want to call it? Anything, as long as this won’t be the last time I get to see you. I don’t know if I could- Mmph!”
Hail felt himself blush hotter than he ever had before as Sunny pressed her lips firmly against his. He closed his eyes and just enjoyed the feeling of warmth radiating from those two soft pads. The moment seemed both an instant, and a perfect eternity until she pulled away, smiling that beautiful smile to him.
“S-so does that mean yes?”
Sunny just giggled and gave him another quick peck. “Drop by Ponyville sometime. Find Sugarcube Corner and talk to the mare named Pinkie Pie. She’s a friend of mine, and something tells me she’ll want to welcome you to town personally. It’s just kind of her thing.”
“O-okay. And Sunny D? Thank you.” Hail said, sharing one last hug with his new marefriend before she had to catch her train.
On the other hoof, his train wouldn’t leave until the next morning, and he still had to pack up his belongings. With a smile on his face and a song in his heart, he skipped back to the hotel room, unaware of what awaited him.
Sunny Delight sat on the train car home, sinking into the seat much as she had when she’d arrived. However, rather than drifting out the window at the quickly darkening skies, her eyes rested on the adorable little charm Hail Slick had given to her.
Rain poured down from the stormy skies overhead. Ponies would have run for shelter if they were unfortunate enough to be caught in the downpour, but there were none, not out here.
Only one lone figure slogged through the rain and the cold, wrapped in a soaking wet cloak, pulling a covered metal bin behind them as they went.
Old abandoned warehouses lined each side of the dilapidated road, covered in vines and falling apart from neglect. Concrete foundations crumbled down to the steel rebar, and rusted metal doors hung precariously on ancient hinges. All throughout the streets and alleyways in between were scattered heaps of junk. Broken crates, dumpsters, empty metal drums and glass panes smashed to bits littered the ground.
The lone figure trudged on, four legs unwavering in their purpose.
At last it stopped in front of one particularly overgrown old building, a foreman's office at one time, perhaps. Carefully the figure looked around, listening against the rain for anyone or anything that may have followed it. Satisfied that it was alone, it pulled its cargo around to the back of the building.
Strangely, they didn't go for the back door, instead choosing to walk towards a wall that had collapsed. The hole was large, but had had long since filled with rubble, with and metal beams sticking out like spears. A hoof was raised and pressed through the blockage, the concrete and metal rippling like water at their touch. For a few seconds they swept their hoof back and forth inside the illusion, as if searching for something.
Finally there was a loud *clank*, followed by the sound of something sliding open.
The figure walked back to grab their cart and dragged it through the rippling illusory wall with them. Seconds later the wall appeared still and solid once more, as if nothing had ever been there.
Now inside the dark dry confines of his hive, the changeling pulled off his sopping wet cloak, discarding it near the door for when he'd eventually need to put it on again. His eyes quickly adjusted to the pitch blackness, letting him see the path that led deeper in.
After several minutes of walking, dragging the cart and hearing its wheels grind against the stone floor, he arrived in the hive proper. It wasn't anything grand or glorious by any stretch of the imagination, but it suited their needs just fine. It was a network of underground storage cellars, one of dozens built and abandoned by the ponies, minotaurs, and griffons decades ago. Old posters claim it was supposed to be an industrial trading hub, an attempt to promote friendly relations between Equestria and their neighboring kingdoms.
Obviously that hadn't worked as well as they'd hoped, but one pony's failed political economic venture was another changeling's new secret base... or something like that.
Announcing his presence wasn't necessary; the others had been alerted of his arrival the second he walked through the door. Instead he simply continued towards his first stop: processing.
It was one of the few areas of the hive that wasn't completely dark, if only because of the glow of magic coursing along the veins in the walls. What was shown by the light of those countless streams of intoxicating blue would have horrified anypony who saw it, but to the changelings, it was their glorious salvation at work.
In every one of a hundred rooms, the walls were lined with ponies. Each lay comfortably inside their own slimy cocoon, the shimmering tendrils that wormed through the walls wrapped around their heads. None of them were bound. None of them needed to be bound, as each one was trapped in a deep, unbreakable sleep.
Changeling workers patrolled the rows of ponies, meticulously inspecting each one. If they needed substance, a nutrient-rich slime was pumped down their throats. If they'd fallen ill or developed bedsores, they were removed, treated, and replaced. And if they perished... they were taken away and disposed of.
"Depositing new subjects?" a nearby worker asked from beside him, a clipboard in hoof.
The changeling nodded and opened the metal bit, revealing three large sacks. "Penworth Write: unicorn stallion. Age: 41. City abducted: New Hamshire. And Toffee Blossom: earth pony mare. Age: 38. City abducted: also New Hamshire. The two were husband and wife."
"Good to know." the other changeling said, quickly scribbling everything down, then pointed to the third. "What about that last one."
The changeling placed a hoof over the last cloth sack, defensively. "Hail Slick: pegasus stallion. Age: 26. City abducted: Neighagra. The queen wanted this one herself. Part of phase two."
The other changeling gave a curt nod and took the other two. They'd be cleaned, processed, and integrated into the dream.
Meanwhile, Hail would be brought before the queen as requested.
The queen's chambers were easy enough to find; just follow the tendrils in the walls. They grew denser and glowed brighter the closer you got, to the point of covering every surface like luminescent paint.
Upon arriving, there were no guards to offer resistance, no doors to block passage, just a simple silk curtain where the door should have been. More of these thin curtains were hung inside the room, lit by that eerie blue light and flowing in a nonexistent breeze, and giving the feeling of drifting through a sea of ghosts.
The source of the light was easy enough to see, as she hung right at the room's center, tangled withing a giant mass of tendrils that pulsed in time with her breathing. She was the source of them, and the perpetual sleep they brought.
"Queen Narcolace."
The queen shifted slightly at her name, though her eyes remained shut.
"We've captured another one. Hail Slick this time."
Narcolace breathed deeply, the tendrils bearing an extra bright glow as she did. "Bring him over." She finally managed to say.
The changeling removed Hail Slick from the sack, still unconscious, and lifted him up to the queen.
Narcolace leaned her head forward, brushing her face ever so slightly against the pegasus. A purr escaped her and a smile spread across her face. Then her face contorted as if in pain, and another blue tendril snaked it's way from her horn and wrapped around Hail Slick's head.
"Hmm, yes... put him with the others."
The changeling nodded and carried Hail out of the queen's quarters to the special place she kept the ponies crucial to her plan, those with knowledge of Princess Luna, and more importantly... how to kill her.
"We're close now." Narcolace crooned. "So very close."
Sunny Delight lay on her back, a hoof outstretched in front of her face, staring up at the little bear-shaped keychain that had once meant so much to her. Once upon a time it had held the promise of happiness and love. Now it only brought sadness as she thought back on the better times she’d had with the one who’d given it to her.
Hail Slick.
Nowadays the name was painful to think about. Sunny didn’t know what had changed with the nervous, awkwardly cute stallion she’d enjoyed that week in Neighagra with. She didn’t want to think she’d she'd been wrong about him that whole time, and that he'd been playing her like a fool, but she had to face facts about how he had treated her.
Sunny assumed he'd be eager to visit her in Ponyville, meet her friends, talk over lunch... enjoy each other's company like they did. Instead several weeks passed where he never even replied to her letters. When he finally did arrive, she could see there was something different about him, something wrong. It was in the way he walked, and the way he spoke. In place of his shyness was a brash and headstrong attitude, and the nervous stutter had vanished from his voice in favor of chuckle that bordered on a sneer.
At first she thought it was all an act to impress her with newfound confidence, and she would have kept thinking that if his demeaning words weren't directed solely at her. He would say the most hurtful things like they were just simple facts,
"You shouldn't eat so many sugary sweets. You're already getting pudgy around your waist, any more and you might burst."
"You've got this little twitch in your eye when you look at me, and it's really annoying. Can you just... not stare at me so much? Maybe look at the floor instead? That'd be great.
"Why are you always asking me to do stuff with you? You're lucky I'm willing to be with you at all. You're lucky any stallion would choose to love you."
A few times it was too much for her, and she called him out on it, but he always had the same response.
"Sunny wait I-... I didn't mean it like that. I'm just worried about you. ... I love you."
She'd be upset for a little while. Then she'd tell herself he really was just looking out for her but didn't know how to say it in a nice way. They'd make up, and everything would settle back down. And eventually the whole cycle would start again.
Being around him was exhausting anyway, like he drained the life out of her.
But then... there were those moments, those few precious moments when Hail would come to her looking absolutely exhausted. He'd look at her like she was the most wonderful thing in his life, and tell her he just needed to be with her for a while. It was so rare for Sunny to hear him say that he needed her. They'd collapse on the couch together and just cuddle. There were no mean words, no biting remarks... just the two of them leaning into each other's embrace.
Sunny began drawing a picture of Hail with moments like that, seeing him more as a pony that was going through a rough time and couldn't help lashing out at her. He never told her what was going on in his life, blatantly refused to. But Sunny convinced herself that Hail was worth trying to be with, despite how mean he could be. She could be the comfort he needed to be that pony she met in Neighagra again.
She wished she had been right. She wished she'd been enough for him.
She wished she'd never gotten on that train to Manehatten to surprise him, congratulate him on his new job.
She wished she'd never him in bed with that other mare, and wished beaten the living Tartarus out of him when she had. She wished she'd done anything but fall to her knees and ask him 'why'.
Sunny wished she hadn't let him use and lie to her like he did, wished she'd never met him!
She wished...
She wished...
“I wish I had you back.” Sunny whispered, clutching the bear charm to her chest before falling off into an uneasy sleep.
Sunny rolled over on the disheveled covers. She wasn't sure why she slept so much these days, but she didn't feel like doing anything else. She also didn’t know how long she’d been laying there; the window blinds were always closed, maintaining her perpetual darkness. It was her stomach’s growling that told her, be it morning or evening, it was time for food.
Groaning, she dragged herself off her bed and shambled over to the window. As she peeked through the blinds, a piercing light hit her eyes, telling her it was still daytime.
After rubbing the spots out of her vision, she grabbed a small bag of bits and left the house, discarding the bear keychain among the other random junk covering the small table near her door.
Outside she realized it was still bright and early, not much later than when she’d have normally woken up, and somehow she felt like she needed another ten hours in bed. "Go through the motions." she told herself, "Just keep walking, one hoof in front of the other."
She kept walking. That was good enough for her right now. The sun was warm on her back, and the sounds and smells of Ponyville surrounded her as she trudged through the streets, but it didn't do anything for her. It all seemed so meaningless now, so hollow.
It wasn't until a pair of familiar voices called her name that she even bothered to look up.
"Like, oh my gosh. Sunny D! We haven't seen you in like... two whole days!"
"I know, right? Like, you totally need to get out more."
Sunny knew this pair of outlandish outfits with ponies attached. Turf and Surf were their names, the dynamic valley-filly duo that were and always have been (in their own words) 'Like, the hottest most fashion savvy mares in all of Ponyville. Rarity like, doesn't know what she's talking about. Our outfits aren't outdated! She's just jealous because she's fat.'
"Hey gals." Sunny greeted them drearily, trying to form a smile. They were her friends after all, the first two friends she made after moving to Ponyville actually. The pair flicked between trends that went out of style decades ago; disco one month, goth culture the next. But while outfits were discarded as soon as they were bored with them, they never discarded her.
Even if right now, she wouldn't mind it.
"Okay Sunny D, hold onto your socks, 'cause I'm like, about to totally knock them off!"
"Ugh, Surf she isn't even wearing socks."
"Oh mi-gawd Turf, shuddup. I'm like, trying to cheer her up over here." Surf snorted. "So like I was saying, we met these three guys today and they're like, totally cute. We're gonna bring them on a date. You totally have to come!"
Sunny sighed. "Girls I can't. I just... I really don't want to do this again."
To anyone else the pair would have been overly indignant over being snubbed, but for Sunny they were just disappointed, pleading her to change her mind even.
"Aw like, come on Sunny. You gotta give somepony a chance!"
"Yeah. We promise it won't be like the last triple date!"
"Or the one before that-"
"Or the one before that-"
"Or the one before that!" they finished together, joined at the cheek and giving Sunny their saddest puppy eyes.
Sunny sighed and finally relented. "Fine. I'll be there."
As her friends cheered, Sunny turned to leave, largely ignoring their assurances that this time would be different, and that she wouldn't regret coming.
One hoof in front of the other. One hoof in front of the other.
The next thing Sunny knew, she was standing in the entrance to Sugarcube Corner. The bakery and its cheery atmosphere was just enough to make her focus on her way to the counter. Mrs. Cake was manning the counter this morning, and greeted Sunny with a smile as she walked up.
"Well hello there deary. How're you feeling today?"
Sunny gave a small shake of her head. "I'm alright I guess. Just not great. I'd really like to buy some of your glazed donuts. Maybe some tea too."
"Coming right up. And don't worry about paying for these ones, it's on me." Mrs. Cake told her. Sunny was about to object, and tell her she had plenty of bits, but the mare quickly shushed her. "Up-up-bup! I insist. Wouldn't want you to run out of bits before you and your girl friends go to the movies tonight!" she added slyly.
"I... I don't think I'll be going with them." Sunny mumbled.
"Aw Sunny Delight, I know how upset you must be. But you can't let one bad relationship take the rest of your social life down with it. Do try and feel better dear."
Sunny groaned and picked up her pastries, quickly making her way to an unoccupied table. She'd had quite enough 'meeting new ponies' and 'trying to cheer up'. More than that she was tired of everypony constantly trying to force her to feel better. It was thanks to Pinkie that nearly all of Ponyville had gotten involved. It was her own fault for crying on her shoulder, Sunny supposed. She should have made Pinkie promise not to tell anypony.
As helpful as everyone was trying to be, Sunny didn’t want their help.
She felt betrayed, abandoned, and crushed. Being overwhelmed by friends trying to help her... just wasn't helping.
She was tired of trying to forget, and it was still too painful for her to even think about finding somepony to fill the gap in her heart. All she wanted right now was to get something to eat, and be left alone while she felt sorry for herself. Surely that wasn’t too much to ask for.
[>>]
“Just look at what that meanie mean-pants did!”
Apparently... yes. Wallowing in self-pity was too much to ask for.
Sunny Delight only looked up briefly enough to see the small-framed, greyscale unicorn Pinkie Pie was talking to. She didn't recognize him from Ponyville; first day in town and already caught up to speed. Knowing Pinkie, she was probably forming some hare-brained scheme on using this random stallion to make her happy again.
“Hey Sunny!” Pinkie greeted, suddenly appearating at her table with the grey stallion.
“I know my ideas to cheer you up haven’t worked out too well the last couple dozen times. But that’s why I brought somepony new to help!" Pinkie said with a cheek-stretching, winning smile. "Sunny D, this is Stark Shade, he’s new in town! And since your other friends are running out of ways to make you happy, maybe you can be friends with him and he can make you happy! Do you two wanna be friends with Starky? Huh huh huh? It’ll make you feel better about you-know-whooo-ooo.”
Sunny just buried her head in her hooves. Normally she enjoyed Pinkie’s cheerful voice, but now it was just grating on her ears and her nerves, and her bluntness didn’t help either.
She knew Pinkie was only trying to help... again, but this was literally the last thing she wanted right now. She tried to tell her, but Pinkie had always been a bit too fast for her. The party pony's mind was already working way ahead of her, specifically on 'new best friend milkshakes' phase. Pinkie bolted off to the kitchen faster than Sunny could blink, leaving her alone with an equally confused Stark Shade.
The grey unicorn seemed nice enough, really. Messy white mane, soft eyes, and a gentle demeanor… almost like Fluttershy in stallion form.
It reminded her all too much of Hail Slick when they first met.
“So…” he began.
“Go away.” Sunny told him before returning her face to the table. If her best friends weren't any help, she doubted a random stallion would be any help.
“Are you okay?” he asked, taking a seat across from her.
Planning on being persistent it seemed.
She brought her eyes up enough to level a glare at him, and took a bit of pleasure in seeing him recoil the way he did. She began thinking of ways to scare him off; she found the thought of growling at him like a rabid dog particularly silly. She supposed actually doing that would be mean though. Better to just explain she didn't want anyone else to pity her.
“Pinkie told you about my ex-coltfirend, yes? And she’s come up with another half-baked scheme to cheer me up that somehow involves you.”
He nodded slightly to both questions, though they were slightly rhetorical.
“Pinkie Pie…” Sunny couldn’t help but groan, for anyone new to Ponyville, Pinkie was... a little odd. “She means well, I know she does. But she just doesn’t understand what it feels like to have your heart ripped out and stomped on! Fun can’t fix that kind of thing.”
No amount of ‘suddenly single’ parties, or ‘let’s eat ice cream till we forget the pain and can’t feel our faces anymore’ extravaganzas were going to make her feel any better. But parties were what Pinkie knew, and she used them to make ponies smile. She just couldn’t understand that sometimes there are problems a party can’t solve.
“I’m sorry, I… I know what that feels like too, like there's a giant gap that's been ripped in your soul. And I know it hurts.” Stark told her softly.
Sunny Delight looked up at him again, surprised. That was... exactly what she was feeling. He understood?
“I’d really like to help if you’ll let me.” he offered.
Sunny shook her head no, but gave an apologetic smile. “At least you gave me a choice." she told him. "Pinkie has been pestering me about it constantly ever since I made the mistake of telling her. Somehow the girls were even worse, setting me up with blind dates to ‘get me out on the market again’. They just don’t understand. Hail Slick was perfect. I can’t just replace him, even after… after…” Sunny found her words getting caught in her throat, it was difficult for her to even say.
She felt a hoof slide on top of hers and give a soft squeeze.
“Shh… it’s okay.” Stark whispered, and she let out a few shuddering breaths she didn’t realize she was holding in. It was only when she was calm again that he dared to ask a tiny voice, “What was he like anyway?”
Sunny blinked, eyes shifting to the floor when they opened again. What was he like when she’d first met him… or after? It seemed like two completely different questions depending on which one you chose. She hated thinking about the latter, so she went with the first.
“We... we met at Neighagra Falls.”
…
“…then on the last night we went out to dinner together like we had been all week,” she got to her favorite part, “and he asked if I would be his marefriend. And of course, I said yes!” Sunny said with an audible squeal.
But… that of course was where her personal fairytale turned grim.
“Of course it was too good to be true. We were together for almost half a year. He got a job that payed a lot of money, but required him to move to Manehatten. ‘It’s so I can treat you right’ and ‘have a good life together’ he says.” Sunny did her best dopey impression of Hail, “He told me in his letters that I’ll be the only one he’ll ever love. So why would I worry? It was only when I came for a surprise visit that I found out that ‘the only one’ didn’t include ploughing this runway model that happens to live next door to him!”
The image flared into her mind: an open doorway, the bedroom with Hail and the mare who she didn’t even know the name of, both curled up under the sheets together. She was shocked, the other mare looked terrified... Hail just stared back at her blankly as though he’d done nothing wrong.
“I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. And when I asked him why… he wasn’t even sorry! Said some stupid line about keeping all his options open, and that it wasn’t a big deal! It was a big deal to me!” Sunny yelled, and noticed she was attracting quite a bit of attention from the other ponies in the store.
“I’m sorry mister Shade.” She said, lowering her voice and slouching over again. “I didn’t mean to dump all my problems on you. It just sort of… all spilled out at once.”
“It’s okay, I don’t mind, really. Keeping things bottled up is hard.” Stark said as he just smiled back reassuringly. Sunny honestly hadn’t expected for him to be so patient with her, thinking he’d have backed off at this point. She felt it was more than she deserved.
“I thought Hail and I had something special. I just can’t believe he’d just use me and then leave for somepony else who’s richer, more successful… prettier. And he lied right to my face the whole time. I don’t even know what I did wrong.”
“But shouldn’t that make it easier to get over him then?” Stark asked. “He sounds like such a scumbag. Charming… but a scumbag.”
Maybe it was the brutal honesty, but he was sounding a little too much like Pinkie now. A little too much like her friends.
“That’s what everypony keeps saying.” She told him, “But it feels like a big chunk of me isn’t there with him gone, like it was ripped right out. It just... it hurts so much to think he's not there anymore. Maybe he wasn't great to me... but he was mine.” Nopony could understand. Not even Stark.
Sunny felt a hoof under her chin, and found her eyes looking into Stark’s. “You want to know what I do after a bad breakup?” he asked.
Sunny wanted to sigh and roll her eyes. Was this all anypony had to bother her with? She’d heard it a thousand times from a thousand different places.
“As long as it has nothing to do with parties.”
“Well actually, and I hope you don’t mind me saying this, but I think Pinkie Pie had the right idea,”
Sunny frowned at this, but chose to let him finish.
“at least to start out with. And your friends too, but they were just jumping way ahead. You see, treating the pain of a breakup is a lot like treating any other kind of physical wound, at least in theory.
“What I mean is, if something hurts really bad you’d use some kind of painkillers in order to make it bearable, right? And for break-ups, your painkiller of choice is anything that gets your mind off it; salty or sugary food, being with friends, buying something you’ve always wanted, whatever makes you feel good. That’s what Pinkie was trying to do, it’s just that she never moved on to the second step.
“You see the thing about any painkiller, physical or psychological, is that it doesn’t actually heal you, and if you keep using it, you’ll still be hurt on the inside. So sooner or later you have to confront the source of the problem and deal with it for good. And I don’t mean find the guy who hurt you and punch his lights out, as satisfying as it would be to watch...”
Surprisingly, Sunny found herself actually interested in what Stark was telling her. The parallels didn't match perfectly, but it made a little sense. She even had to stifle a giggle when the image of Hail being punched over the horizon by a giant boxing glove popped into her head.
“But anyway, I find that the best way to work out any pain is to just talk about how you feel. Psychiatrists are great for this, and it’s probably why they get paid so much.” Stark continued, “Being able to just vent your frustration and pain will leave you feeling like a weight’s been lifted off your back. Also, being able to think about what your ex actually meant to you, or what you saw in him, and then put those things into perspective will help you to move past him.”
“Perspective?” Sunny asked.
“Yeah, like…” Stark tapped his chin and thought for a second, “Name something nice he did for you, just off the top of your head.”
Now it was Sunny Delight’s turn to think. She wanted to use an example of something from outside of their first meeting in Neighagra, but after a few seconds, nothing sprang to mind.
“Well,” she settled on the bear charm. “When he took me out to dinner to ask me to be his marefriend, he stopped me before I left for home, and gave me this keychain in the shape of a teddybear with a heart on it. He pulled out a charm necklace that had one just like it, next to a photo of his parents and one of his baby teeth.” She smiled and felt herself tearing up at the memory. He showed her he considered her as close as family, somepony he loved. “I thought it was so sweet of him and I just- I just-“
"I fell for it. Hard."
Sunny felt Stark’s hoof on hers again, and it helped her to breathe calmly again.
“And now, try to remember a time when he wasn’t so nice. Some time when he let you down.”
Sunny frowned, thinking back over the last few months and everything she hated about Hail. It was easy to do, but she noticed it didn't hurt as much now.
“Everything changed when I met him again, after Neighagra.” She told him, “I can’t count how many times he said he’d meet me and never showed up, made plans and then dropped them over nothing. It was like he was a totally different stallion. All those times when hanging out with his friends at this sleezy bar was more important than spending time with me. Sometimes I don't think he even knew them. Or how about when-“
“Okay, I um… I think I get the idea.” Stark stopped her, his eyes glancing around for anypony getting too interested in their conversation. “But you see what I mean, right? Whenever you think back on how happy he made you, try to put it in perspective, and ask yourself if it was worth the pain he caused later on. You might even realize how awesome you are for getting through it.”
Sunny remembered trying to tell herself things would be better now that it was over, though she never described herself as 'awesome'. Looking back she could only see the mistakes she made.
“I know some ponies who would have stayed and taken the abuse." Stark told her, "You’re really brave Sunny Delight.”
This came as a shock. Brave? He thought she was brave? She fell in love with somepony she thought was nice after one week on vacation, only for that pony to abuse and cheat on her. And he thought she was brave. She couldn't believe he was serious.
And somehow she found herself smiling anyway.
“Thank you.” she whispered.
Stark smiled back. “I know you’re going to be okay, just give it some time.” he told her. “And when you’re feel confident, you can move on to step three, and find someone new. You might run into ponies like Hail again, no denying the possibility, but as long as you don’t give up on yourself, you can always get back up, and keep trying.”
“That’s all there is to it, just believe in yourself and keep trying?” Sunny asked doubtfully. There was no way it was that easy. And even if it was, what kind of pony could handle being rejected over and over, hoping to find the right one? They’d explode! Or melt! Or, y’know… something equally dramatic.
“Well okay… maybe not all there is to it.” Stark admitted, “I think I’m oversimplifying. But I believe in you. I mean, I’m still wondering why this Hail Slick would give up someone so...”
“Boring? Whiny?” Sunny offered.
“Wonderful.”
Sunny found herself blushing, and vaguely wondered if he was trying to be her 'step three'.
“And cute.” he added with a laugh, and she felt her blushing intensify.
Definitely definitely trying to be her step three.
But at least he was talking some sense. Maybe she shouldn't let this whole thing keep her down like it had. Stark said she was brave, awesome... cute. Even if he was just trying to butter her up, but that at least meant she was worth buttering up.
It didn't make a lot of sense to her, but maybe it really was just as simple as he’d made it sound. Don't shut yourself away because you're afraid of the jerks. If you run into one, make sure you can walk away; it's nothing against you if you do. As long as you can catch get back on your hooves and keep going thing will be okay.
“You know what Stark, you might be right.” Sunny decided as she pulled herself up. “No more kicking myself over this.” She said, wincing when her back made a bunch of little popping noises. But it only accentuated Stark’s point, and she felt better already.
It was at that point that Pinkie Pie came back to them with a tray of milkshakes impossibly balanced on top of her poofy mane. And she looked delighted to see she was no longer a lump of miserableness.
“Sunny! Are you feeling better?” she gasped in excitement. “Did Starky help you like he said he would?”
Seeing her made Sunny remember another important thing: don't push away your friends.
“You know what Pinkie, I really am feeling better.” Sunny told her, which only made Pinkie’s smile grow. “Thank you Stark. And thank you for not giving up on me Pinkie.”
“Woo-hoo!” Pinkie jumped for joy while somehow keeping the shakes balanced on her head, “I knew it would work. New friend making prevails over being down in the dumps once again!” she declared victoriously. “Ooh and that reminds me, your milkshakes! And don’t go anywhere, I need to get my camera to commemorate this moment!”
With that, Pinkie set the drinks on the table and zipped upstairs.
Things were going well. Sunny was amazed to admit it, but she was feeling… good. Better than good even, she felt like she could do anything! She laughed alongside Stark as they toasted their glasses, and even the brainfreeze she got from drinking hers too fast couldn’t dampen her spirits.
She couldn’t explain it, but for weeks she’d felt as though all the life had been forcibly sucked out of her, and she was only now starting to recover. She was sure Turf and Surf would be glad to hear it, and while Pinkie snapped their picture for her wall, Sunny felt an idea bloom.
“So mister Shade, my friends were planning to take me out on a sort of triple-dinner-date tonight, another attempt to set me up with some stallions they know from work. Would you like to join us, and maybe be my ‘step three’ for the evening to show them I'm better now?”
“I’d be happy to.” Stark told her with a smile, “Just let me know where and when.”
Sunny giggled. She was going to feel like a total secret agent when she and Stark put on a show for them. And hey, maybe Stark would turn out to be a nice pony. She owed it to him to at least give him a chance. In fact, she owed it to herself too.
For the first time in quite a long while, Sunny D felt as though everything would turn out okay for her.
Then the front door got kicked in, and the pony who stepped through was at the same time the stallion she never thought she'd see again, and the stallion she never wanted to see again. Sunny’s mind went into a state of mild shock upon seeing him here, not knowing whether to scream every bit of her hate at him or to run away in tears, yet wanting to do both at the same time.
“Sunny, I know you’re here!” Hail Slick yelled, quickly drawing everyone’s attention. His eyes scanned the room until they locked onto her, and he rudely shoved Pinkie aside to march straight up to her. “Sunny, I’ve changed my mind. I want you back.”
Again Sunny felt her mind lurch. What was that just now?
She scowled at him. Less than an hour ago she would have practically leapt back into his hooves. But this was a very different Sunny Delight he was dealing with now. “I don’t think so. I’m my own mare now. I don’t need you anymore, so go back to that slut in Manehattan.”
“Are you still mad about that? Come on babe, I’ve heard what everypony’s been sayin’, you’re a wreck without me, you need me. Now I came all the way here, offering to take you back and you’re saying no? What gives?” Hail Slick said, and Sunny felt herself boil.
“What gives-“ She got up and punched his chest. “-is that we are done! You’re not the same stallion I met in Neighagra Falls. I am done with the grief you’ve given me all this time, and I’m done with you! Now get out of my town.”
Celestia, it felt good! Why hadn’t she done this months ago? What was stopping her, and keeping her so… weak back then? Well it didn’t matter, because this was happening now. She wasn’t going to take his abuse any more. This was her time to shine!
But just as she was getting her second wind, Stark stepped in, standing protectively beside her even though she was totally killing it.
“You need to leave Hail Slick.” Stark said, a tenseness in his voice that was all but absent while he’d spoken with her.
The two regarded each other with cold glares for a moment. Sunny looked back and forth between them.
Hail finally broke the silence when he asked with a snarl. “And who are you supposed to be? Punk?”
“His name is Stark Shade. My new coltfriend.” Sunny told him spitefully, working every angle she could get against him, and it felt awesome. She wasn’t going to let anypony swoop in and rescue her. This was her fight more than anypony else’s, and she’d finish it herself.
Or at least she really wished these two would let her finish it herself. But rather than turning his attention to her like she wanted, Hail just continued to sneer at Stark like she wasn’t even there.
“So, trying to take what’s mine, are you?”
Sunny scoffed indignantly, “I am not yours-“
But Stark cut her off, quickly holding her back with a gentle hoof, his eyes never leaving Hail Slick. “I’ve got this.” He told her before speaking to Hail, “Shall we take this outside?”
“After you.”
The small crowd of onlookers gasped, and frankly, she was getting a little sick of all this. She had just decided to be empowered dang it! She wanted to use that assertiveness now!
As Stark Shade and Hail Slick made their way to the door, Sunny was quick to follow them. Along with most of those who’d been there to witness the challenge.
Stark and Hail had gone into a side alley behind Sugarcube Corner, and while most ponies were eager to see what happened between them, knowing it would likely end in an absolutely vicious slap-fight like in the hardcore action flicks, none of them wanted to get too close either. Even with the daylight outside, it was too dark to see much of anything in the ally. From the street it was just two blobs standing there.
Sunny Delight however, was not your normal everyday pony. While the others crowded around just outside the alleyway, a safe distance from the ensuing action, she’d used her mad ninja stealth skills to get above them undetected!
Okay... so in reality, there was a stack of crates that allowed her to climb up to the rooftops, and neither stallion bothered to look up.
Sunny had only missed about a minute of the confrontation by the time she arrived, but what she saw surprised her. Instead of a fight like most expected, the two had begun to talk.
They spoke concisely, a simple question followed by a simple answer, and always accentuating certain words. Listening in, Sunny heard them talking about where they were from and what they were doing in Ponyville, or what each of them wanted her for. Something about their calm demeanor put her on edge; they looked ready to tear each other's throats out just a minute ago, but now...
Their speech patterns only changed after Hail brought up Neighagara, and Stark tilted his head in confusion.
“Do you still have that bear necklace?” Stark asked. It was a simple question this time, no fluctuating tones in the words, and no odd phrasing.
“The what?” Hail asked back.
“The charm necklace with your family's picture, and your baby tooth, and the bear with the little heart on it. Sunny has the bear matching one you gave to her. Did you at least keep yours, you know… for sentimental value?”
“What are you talking abou-“ Hail began, but stopped short. His expression wavered for a second. “You’re worrying about that right now?! I could cream you, and you’re asking about that?!” he yelled.
“I am. What happened to you at Neighagra Falls? Sunny said you were the practically the perfect gentlecolt before. Why’d you change like that?” Stark took a step forward.
“I really liked Sunny Delight, so I did what I had to get her to like me. Lots of guys do that.” Hail said defensively.
Sunny frowned from her vantage point, mentally slapping herself yet again. She 'd worked out that much a long time ago, but ignored it anyway, hoping he'd just... get better.
The argument below continued, Stark ever advancing on Hail, and the larger stallion surprisingly giving ground.
“I think Sunny would like to see you again. And you’ve got some serious explaining to do. And in case you don’t get my meaning... you’re going to find the real Hail Slick and let him go.”
"What?" Sunny must have heard wrong.
She turned her eyes downward again, and Hail looked terrified. “I don’t like your tone ‘Stark Shade’.” He said, clearly trying to keep an air of intimidation. “Nopony tells me what to do, and you really don’t want my friends to hear about this.”
Stark got inches from Hail’s face and said through his teeth in a way that Sunny had to strain to hear. “You listen to me. Sunny met the love of her life in Neighagra, and she’s going to get him back. So you can either do as I say, or I can get the guards involved and let them sort this out.”
“You wouldn’t.” Hail gasped, “Even someone like you ain’t dumb enough. They’d screw us both. My friends would have to…”
He whispered something after that, something Sunny couldn’t hear.
“Some things are more important than you or me, and I don’t give a damn about anyone that would hurt others like this just to get by. Last chance… where is he?” Stark whispered.
It was at this point that Sunny realized that this was about more than just her problems. Something big was going on.
Hail had obviously had enough threats. His punch came like a flash of lightning, yet Stark was able to evade it, if only barely. It was the second swing that hit him squarely in the chest, causing him to double over in pain.
Hail to grabbed him by the throat and pinned him to the nearest wall, and from her vantage point Sunny saw a sickly green light on the top of his forehead. A curved black horn protruded from the flames, and her eyes went wide, recognizing what he really was.
"Changeling." she breathed.
Their earlier words instantly made sense now. This Hail was a changeling. But the real one… the Hail she had met in Neighagra and fallen in love with was still out there somewhere, maybe even in danger! All this time...
“None of us are gonna miss a boat-rockin’ nobody like you.” the fake Hail below hissed at Stark.
Sunny knew she had to act fast. She wasn't sure what was going on, but whoever this Stark Shade character was, he did know. He might be the only one that could help her find the real Hail Slick! Her Hail Slick.
She was about to jump down and help him, she'd land on the changeling and flatten him if she had to. But Stark was faster, and hit the fake pegasus in the face with a blinding flash of light from his own horn.
Sunny rubbed her eyes, the aftershadow of the flash still blurring her vision. When it cleared, Stark had wrestled Hail’s hooves off his neck and was watching as he blindly flailed around trying to find him again.
Panicked shouts were coming from the ponies watching, wondering what was going on in the darkened passage.
Sunny watched as Stark hit Hail with another spell that made him limply fall to the ground. Then he turned and yelled, “Changeling! Hail’s a Changeling! Somepony get help!”
It wasn't that surprising he'd call for help, even when he had the changeling down and out. But what happened next threw her completely for a loop.
A wave of red embers pulsed off of Stark. Underneath was the same black shell, same blue eyes, same gleaming white fangs. Stark Shade had been a changeling too!
Sunny pushed herself back from the edge again as he began throwing more and more of those loud, blinding orbs at the walls. While Stark-... while the other changeling was doing some elaborate something-or-other below, Sunny could only feel lost. Just what in the name of Celestia was going on?!
She scrambled to put the pieces together in her head. Hail was a pony she met at Neighagra and had a really good time with. But at some point a changeling had taken his place. But where was he now? Was he even still alive?
Sunny Delight shuddered at the thought.
And how did Stark fit into all of this? He was a changeling too, but… trying to foil another, different changeling? And why? Changelings… how did they even work?!
A pair of guards arrived on the scene below her, taking the fake Hail Slick in to custody. Stark had fled. But Sunny's mind was still reeling. It was so much to figure out, and she barely had enough to work with. All she was sure of was that Hail Slick, the real one… something had happened to him. She wanted to know... and she was determined to find out.
My name is Princess Luna of Equestria, Princess of the night and all its domain. It is my solemn duty to watch over the night, to protect my dear subject from threats in the real world, and within their dreams. Often times this is a simple task, whether by assigning a force of my trusted Night Guard to an area in distress, or combating nightmares myself so that ponies may dream peacefully.
But lately there has been a disturbance within the dream realm, the realm I alone govern. For you see, each dream has a presence within my dreamscape, a door that I may use to enter a dream directly, and interact with my subjects on a subconscious level. That is how I combat nightmares, and help to put troubled minds at ease.
Those doors have been disappearing.
I take my duty to my subjects very seriously. As such I memorize each and every door in my dreamscape, and who they belong to. I feel a pang of sorrow whenever I find a door is gone, for it means the pony it belonged to no longer dreams. Usually... this is because they have died. I pray that in death they continue to dream, elsewhere, beyond my sight.
When the disappearances began, they were few, and I at first took it too be a natural thing. The ponies the doors belonged to were quite old, and I expected that they would pass away soon. But every night it seemed more and more were missing, far too many to be blame on simply equine mortality.
It could have been that ponies were dying for some reason, but I had heard nothing of the sort. Equestria has always had an extremely low death rate, something my sister takes pride in accomplishing.
So again I was foolish, and ignored it. I assumed it was merely as a few ponies (oh, how do they say it these days?) burning the midnight coffee? Those who's doors vanished seemed the type: business ponies, accountants, writers of horror movies...
What finally spurred me to action, the absent doors I could not ignore, were those of children. Specifically the children belonging to an orphanage just outside of South Detrot.
I shall admit I have always been fond of children. Their minds are so innocent, their perspectives so hopeful and full of wonder, and they show an eagerness for discovery and adventure that very few ponies retain when they mature. I feel almost driven to protect them from fears and doubts, to preserve that curiosity they hold.
Twenty-seven foals disappeared one night; during one of my patrols of the dreamscape their doors flickered out all at once! I immediately assumed the worst and took flight towards the city.
When I landed at the orphanage doors I half expected to find the building on fire. Thankfully t'was not the case. Though it begged the question of what exactly was wrong.
A simple phasing charm allowed me to enter the establishment easily. Tia would have had a fit over my 'not-breaking and entering', but I felt it was necessary. For all I knew, twenty-seven young lives were on the line.
There was nothing. The beds were empty, but the sheets still warm.
I scanned the whole building, all three stories, reaching out with my magic for anyone or anything alive.
Nothing was stirring, not even a mouse.
The next morning I consulted the local police department about any recent developments, any reason the orphanage might be abandoned. And might I say that these 'cops', as they are called nowadays, put the constabulary of a thousand years ago to shame! The lack of urgency they displayed was stunning. Not to mention the paperwork, warrants, proper procedures and protocol... they even had the gall to accuse me of wrongdoing. I can hear Tia's voice mockingly singing 'I told you so' right now.
In the end though, we were able to declare the children and the five orphanage staff officially missing, and search parties were sent out to look for them. I am still waiting for the results of the search, but in the meantime Police Chief Hard Buckle is 'keeping me posted on their progress'.
Apparently that is the term they use nowadays to keep one from asking questions or interfering while they work. Most curious. Back in my time we would forego politeness and plainly tell them as such.
As for myself, I refuse to let this matter rest. Regretfully, Celestia has little influence in matters of the night, and is far too busy running Equestria during the day to assist me. As is the case, I am currently en rout to the residence of Twilight Sparkle, a personal student of my sister, and a dear friend.
Hopefully she will have some insight on this matter.
Princess Luna tried her best to maintain her regal pose as her carriage descended from the skies and landed in the streets of Ponyville. Townsponies looked up at her in wonder, a few in a mild panic wondering what the occasion was and if they were supposed to prepare a welcoming party.
Landing alongside her were no less than two squadrons of her sister's pegasus guards. Luna knew that one or two would have sufficed, and indeed Celestia probably knew as well, but it was a formality she'd have to deal with.
As she walked towards Twilight tree/house library, she began thinking of what caused the disappearances of the children, not to mention the other ponies. In the time she'd been organizing ineffectual search parties, nearly ten more ponies had mysteriously vanished from her dreamscape. That amounted to over a hundred in the last week alone.
It dawned on her that this might have been going on for quite some time before she started taking notice, and the thought only served to worry her more. She desperately hoped Twilight Sparkle had come up with something. At this rate everypony in Equestria could be gone before she found out who was behind this and why, not to mention put a stop to them.
Luna remembered to breathe. Knowing Twilight, she probably started solving the problem as soon as she received her letter. The young unicorn took to books like most ponies took to apple pie. And mysteries... oh she adored those.
"I must remember to keep a level head." Luna thought to herself, "I'll be of no use to her otherwise."
"Changeling! Hail's a changeling! Somepony get help!"
Princess Luna heard the shout, and her previous thought was quickly thrown aside. A large crowd had gathered around the back end of the town bakery, an oddly shaped building that looked like a gingerbread house.
Immediately Luna took charge, ordering two of her guards forward and the rest to secure the perimeter in case the changeling tried to run. The two armored stallions shoved through the crowd, just in time to see a changeling glowering menacingly at them from behind fully charged spell.
It lobbed it at the crowd and the orb exploded in a blast of blinding light. While it retreated into the allyway, a panic broke out in the gathered crowd.
"It blinded me! I'm blind, I can't see anything!" ponies yelled.
"BE CALM CITIZENS!" Luna boomed in her royal Canterlot voice while suspending the panicking crowd within her magical field, much to the relief of her guards whom were struggling to keep them under control. "Please remain calm. We have the situation well in hoof. Follow the guards while they escort you to safety."
With that she lowered each of them back onto solid ground and motioned for a quartet of her guards to lead them away. She then turned to address her Lieutenant.
"Have you detained it?" she asked.
"Yes your highness, but there was another with it. Corpral Leadhead gave chase just now." the stallion answered, snapping a salute as he did.
Luna nodded and moved to approach the one they had captured.
Changelings. The shapeshifting bugponies had been a constant source of fear and paranoia after their dramatic reveal at Canterlot, and it took quite a lot of effort behind the scenes before everypony calmed down.
It had been quite a while since they'd last had to deal with them, and Twilight had locked Chrysalis and her hive away after their encounter under the Secretariat Comet. It was far less than she would have done personally, for which Luna both applauded and severely questioned Twilight's sense of mercy.
It seemed there were still some stragglers hanging around though. Truly they'd gone from being the boogymares that made ponies jump at their own shadows, to something more akin to pests that popped up now and then.
One of the changeling's they'd caught was brought out of the alleyway, held firmly by two guardponies, a magic suppression ring already slid over its horn. It jerked and struggled in their grip until it spotted her. It locked eyes with her as she approached, barely blinking.
Luna took a moment to appraise the creature, looking it up and down, trying to determine what it was thinking as it stared back.
"Tell me changeling, is there a particular reason thou are residing in my kingdom?" she asked evenly.
The changeling sucked in a breath and spat in her face.
Though the slime was in her eyes, she could hear the sounds of her guards giving the changeling a good roughing up for that.
"Take it away. Have it locked up for questioning." Luna ordered, cringing as she tried to wiped the slime off with her hoof.
"Wait!" a mare's voice called out, making them all pause. She was a bright yellow with an orange mane and tail and dark blue eyes, full of determination that even startled the guards. She marched right up to the changeling and grabbed it by the throat. "Where's Hail?!" she demanded, "What did you do with him?! Tell me! Tell me! TELL ME!"
"Ahem... Miss?" Luna began.
"WHAT?!" Sunny snapped, only to realize she just snapped at royalty and quickly backpedaled. "Oh, Princess Luna. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-"
"Has this changeling done something to you?" Luna cut her off.
"Y-yes. Hail Slick. He was a pegasus I met in Neighagra." she jabbed a hoof at the changeling with a leer, "He did something to him and took his place. He took advantage of me for months!"
Luna looked back at the changeling and frowned. She expected something like this; replacing ponies and feeding off their loved ones was what they did to survive.
"Indeed." Luna said stiffly. "Tell us where he is, and we shall be lenient towards your transgression."
The changeling curled its mouth back into a snarl, and let out a feral hiss, but said nothing.
"Very well. Guards, as you were." Luna said, her guards continuing to drag the changeling away, though with much less of a struggle now. She couldn't help feel unsettled at the way it continued to glare at her until it's head couldn't swivel any further.
First missing ponies, now changelings in Ponyville. What a mess.
"Princess?" came the mare's voice, reminding Luna she was still there. "You'll find him, won't you? You'll find Hail Slick and bring him back? I'll help in any way I can!"
Luna shook her head at her last statement. "I shall do all I am able to find him, but I cannot allow you to risk your own safety for our sake. Worry not though, once we've captured the other changeling, one of them will talk. We'll bring him home."
"Princess, about that other changeling." the mare shifted nervously, "I think he was trying to stop that one that took Hail. I can't explain it but they were definitely fighting each other just now, like they weren't working together."
Luna raised a brow at this. Changelings working against each other was unheard of, at least until now. Perhaps without their Queen to lead them, the strays started competing for prey. Twilight was sure to be interested in that sort of thing, perhaps they'd discuss it when matters weren't so urgent.
"That is... interesting. Perhaps it shall be useful in obtaining the information we seek. Thank you..?"
"Sunny Delight." she introduced herself.
"Thank you Miss Delight. I'll... keep you posted, as they say."
