Windshear was your average changeling, he got up each day, cleaned and shined his carapace and then did whatever his queen commanded. But he felt as if there was more to life than this boring old drone routine. Over time Windshear started to develop a personality that set him apart from the other drones, enough for the queen to take notice.
While the Changeling Queen knew it could be dangerous to have a drone that could make it’s own decisions, it could also be very beneficial because they would not have to be connected to the Hive Mind all the time. So instead of killing him, she took him aside and trained him to be a spy, an infiltrator unlike any the world had ever seen. She trained him to disappear.
The training took months and was very long and vigorous. She taught him how to hide his essence so scrying spells couldn't detect him, she taught him further control over his shape-shifting abilities, she even taught him memory wiping magic so he could clear any traces of himself from ponies that saw him. After the training was complete, she congratulated him, told him he would be partaking in a very important mission about three ponies who were dangerous to their cause.
Windshear was excited about the new mission the queen had given him. He would finally have his chance to show the queen his loyalty. The commanding officer he had been assigned to was another changeling like himself, one that could think independently from the Hive Mind his name was Bladewing and he was the queen's most trusted lieutenant.
“Alright you worthless pieces of chitin, this is the mission that the queen has instructed us to carry out. We will infiltrate the target location and foalnap three of the ponies, who have been poking their muzzles where they don’t belong. Another thing, I will not tolerate deserters, cowards or traitors, because all of you can think on your own it leaves that as a possibility. I will let you all know now that if any of you do those things you will be killed on the spot. Do I make myself clear?”
Bladewing’s final sentence was met with his subordinates firm “Yes Sir!”
Good, fear is an excellent motivator. I cannot afford to disappoint my queen again. So this mission must go off without a hitch. Bladewing thought to himself as his subordinates got into their flying formation.
As Windshear positioned himself into flying formation he couldn’t help but wonder what those ponies had poked around in to make the queen take action like this. But he assured himself that just because they were foalnapping these ponies and being that his queen was kind and merciful she would just want to talk to them.
Bladewing checked over the flight path one more time, making sure everything was in order. Their orders stated that they were to fly from the Badlands where they were currently located, to the town of Ponyville where they would infiltrate the motel the mares where staying at and apprehend them.
“Okay maggots, I want those wings flapping. Get ready to take off, stay in flight formation. This mission must go perfectly. FOR THE QUEEN!!!” The commander roared.
The changelings echoed his cry and they took off, in the direction of Ponyville.
As they were flying Bladewing noticed that Windshear was fumbling off course every once and a while and seemed to be distracted by something. Taking note to confront him about it later, he focused back on the task at hand. Bladewing was puzzling over which of the changelings he would send to infiltrate the hotel. After thinking about it for a while he came to a decision, Windshear had been trained by the queen herself about espionage and stealth. He also seemed eager to please his superiors be it Bladewing or the queen and enthusiasm was a good thing to have. As he continued pondering other aspects of the mission he didn’t notice they were approaching the landing zone until one of his subordinates yelled.
“Sir we’re approaching the landing zone. “
Snapping out of his thoughts, Bladewing yelled “Okay recruits this is it. We’re approaching the zone, when we land you are to stand in attack formation. I will relay your orders once we land.”
The landing zone that the queen had selected was a remote area about 6 leagues outside of the town. When the changelings landed they quickly did as their commander said and formed into their attack formation. Bladewing looked the recruits over. If this mission goes according to plan, then we will finally be able to save the species and never have to worry about starvation again. Bladewing thought to himself, after sizing each and everyone of them up he spoke.
“These are your orders, you, you, and you” he said as he gestured to the three male changelings. “You three will remain here and secure this area, you will assume the forms that you have been assigned and stick to the cover story that you were given should any of the ponies see you. If the ponies refuse to leave then you are authorized to use force to subdue them. You” he said as he pointed to Windshear “you will be coming with me, and will be assuming the form of the motel janitor that we have in our custody. Now get to work all of you, Windshear follow me.”
With that Bladewing flew off in the direction of the town, Windshear tagging close behind him. Bladewing broke the silence and said. “You will be infiltrating the motel as the janitor, and will be gathering intel of when they sleep, eat, and everything else about them. I will return to you in a week and I will want a full report of your findings. The queen requests I return immediately, and judging by the fact that you will be the only changeling present that can function without being in contact with the Hive Mind, you will be in charge.”
Windshear was stunned that he had been put in a commanding position this early on. Bladewing seeing this stunned look on Windshear’s face said “Can I trust you with this?”
The stunned Windshear quickly regained his composure, he saluted and said “yes sir”. Seeing that the squadron was now in relatively good hooves Bladewing took off, back in the direction of the Badlands and his waiting queen.
Windshear watched until Bladewing's figure was but a speck in the distance, after his commander was out of sight he started to think about how he was going to carry out his mission. There were many different ways that he could carry it out and he was trying to figure out the best way to take it up. He was so engrossed in his thoughts he didn't notice the pony that was sneaking up behind him.
He heard a small gasp and he whirled around and came face to face with a mint green mare, that had some sort of string instrument emblazoned on her flank. He swore under his breath and berated himself for being so careless that he was seen. The mare spoke out excitedly and said "Oh my faust, a changeling I’ve never seen one up close before, this is so exciting."
Windshear stood there for a moment contemplating what to do. He could let her go and make her swear not to tell anypony but it was still very risky. He could kill her but Bladewing had said to try to keep the killing to a minimum. So that left only one other option, he would have to wipe the mare’s mind.
Barry sighed, he hated to do this but the mare had seen him and he had no choice but to wipe the mares mind. He spoke to the mare, his voice laced with sympathy and regret. "I am very sorry, but since you have seen me I have no choice but to wipe your mind. I regret this but I have no choice."
The mare reeled back at what the changeling had said to her, the fear was evident on her face. "Why? I won't tell anypony I promise."
Windshear looked at her with even more regret, and he said "I'm sorry but this is what my queen has instructed me to do if I was spotted. If there was another way I would take it, mind wiping is an invasion of privacy and I hate to do it."
The mare was clearly panicking now. "But why, what could be so important that you have to wipe the mind of anypony that sees you? What did I do, I don't want you to do this I'm scared." She whimpered.
Windshear spoke again trying to comfort her, and he made a decision one that would affect the rest of his life from that moment forward. "It won't hurt I promise, you will feel a bit of a headache afterwards but you will just see a bright light and it will be like this conversation never happened." Windshear continued looking at the mare who looked as if she was about to breakdown and start to cry. Sighing again and knowing that he was going to regret this decision for a long time to come he said “I’m sorry” and then the ponies mind went blank.
Lyra woke up and rubbed her head, she had a wicked headache and it felt as if she was missing something. Whatever it was, it was on the tip of her tongue yet she just couldn’t remember. That’s strange, I don’t remember being out here, I wonder what happened. Lyra thought to herself. Slowly rising to her hooves she tried to remember but it seemed as if somepony had ripped the information out of her skull. Lyra looked around puzzled and noticed something there was a broken branch right next to where she had been lying. It took her a couple seconds to put two and two together but then it dawned on her. Oh that makes sense, I must have been walking in the woods and that branch must have fallen on my head, that would explain both the headache and the memory loss. Feeling satisfied that she had a logical explanation she trotted off back in the direction of Ponyville.
---\-o-///---
As Windshear flew he started to think about what he had done, he knew what he had done was necessary but he couldn’t help but feel guilty. Well at least she won’t get dragged into this mess. Windshear thought to himself. After about 10 minutes of flying he came upon the motel he would be infiltrating, it was an old building on the outside of Ponyville, it’s brick walls had many chips in them and it seemed overall quite rundown. But the ponies he was supposed to spy on were staying there so he didn’t have much of a choice. In a puff of green flame Windshear assumed the form of the pegasus janitor he would be disguised as.
Windshear landed by the front doors of the motel and scanned around to see if there was anypony around, making sure it was all clear he walked towards the doors and threw them open. What he saw greatly surprised him, while the motel looked very rundown on the outside that was not the case on the inside. The floors were spotless, there was a large fireplace crackling in the far end of the lobby and the whole place had a warm atmosphere to it.
Walking up to the front desk he saw the pony that the intel had named Beatrix Lulamoon, a former street performer that had been reformed by Princess Celestia’s prodege Twilight Sparkle. He walked up to her and said “Good morning Mrs.Lulamoon, what would you like me to do today?”
Beatrix looked up from the book she was reading and said “What I always have you do everyday, look around and clean any mess you come across, otherwise you can just relax.” With that Beatrix looked back down and continued to read.
Windshear continued to stare at Beatrix for a few more moments before he walked off towards where the three ponies were supposed to be staying.
