“Get your hooves off of me half-breed! The hive knows who you are! It’s only a matter of time before we come for all of you!”
Normally, captured changelings weren’t nearly as vocal as the one called Ginseng. In a normal operation, any exposed changeling would first try to reestablish their blown cover before jumping to neutralizing any witnesses. Ginseng ignored these rules when their adversaries were identified, mustering all changelings and puppets to fight them off.
“You can’t stand against the Changeling swarm! You all will be…” The obnoxious changeling was silence with a swift punch by her accompanying partner, Second Life. The stallion hoisted the trembling changeling so his eyes would meet his predatory yellow eyes.
“Quiet bug, you’re in no position to be making threats. In fact, I would remain quiet else you draw unwanted attention to yourself.” The bug said no more, deciding to whisper to its other detained brethren on the surface. The caged changelings on the outside were blinded by the multiple camera flashes going off. Their disorientation was sent through the link, and even to the bats, causing the three in the tunnel to blink as their eyes adjusted to these new sensations.
“We’re nearing the surface Solar Night.” A simple statement that other ponies would be left wondering where the rest of its content was, but to the “bat” ponies it was enough to get the desired reaction. Even though Solar Night by pony standards would just barely be leaving her parents home, the lifestyle of their kind was a harsh one. A never ending test that made them hardier than the normal pony which was the kind of pony need for this job.
Her soft, deflated mane began reaching for the sky, like each strain could sense the magic literally in the air. A nerve plucked here and there while the blood assaulted the back of her eyes, causing them to roll into the back of her head. Solar Night’s signature elongated canines wrapped and dissolved to the point she couldn’t tell them apart from any of her other teeth. The cartilage snapped in a sickening display that made their captive nearly lose his sight.
It’s a painful process each bat pony learns early on in their life if they want to stand a chance at blending in. A remnant power of their cursed heritage where you either learned to master or suffer an even worst existence than normally experienced. Second Life gave her the privacy of not looking, keeping his and their guest’s eyes forward toward the end of the incline where the surface lurked. He chose no disguise as he swiftly knocked the changeling out to prevent it from spilling their secret to the press.
Ponies saw him enter and they expected to see him exit.
Being one of two confirmed in Luna’s service, he paid a small price to ensure no suspicion filled the grapevine other than their distrust of him. Second Life felt his young student’s mind brushing against his, looking for some form of comfort other than “It’s your duty.” The greying veteran gave her the courtesy glace before exhaling a weak breathe; constructing the brick walls around his feelings and thoughts.
“Eyes forward and no sadness. You need to play the part Solar Night.” his increasing detached voice echoed throughout her mind. She wanted to say something but the others quickly agreed, killing the words before she could whisper them. Defeated, the mare said no more as she resumed her role of a Equestrian Ranger.
Solar placed a hoof on the door that separated them from the sloping tunnels to the prejudice streets of the surface. Her eyelids flickered and the yellow irises of disdain were replaced with something more fitting for life on the surface; lying orbs of ebony. One last grunt and what was left of the filly was gone to be replaced with the hardened ranger that went by the name of Resilient Star.
The godly light tore through the abyss in a show of dominance, then came the suns rays.
“Miss. Star! A word for the National News!”
“What is the nature of your visit?”
“Can you tell us about the rampant rumors of your involvement with the Changeling attack nearly 9 months ago?”
The blinding and obnoxious flashes of their camera lights were enough to pixelate Resilient’s eyes, forcing the mare to hold a hoof over them. She proceeded out into the open lot where many of the local and nationwide news teams had been waiting once word of this suppose operation was “leaked” by a certain princess. Another publicly documented example that the government was not only taking the steps to ensure the public safety but also these steps were leading to results. A special task force created by none other than Princess Luna to find and capture changelings hiding in pony society.
The public gets its peace of mind while the recently unknown princess gets some much needed positive attention. It would be a win-win if all the ponies involved weren’t hiding something.
“Alright, alright. I will began answering questions, now if you will all please stop with the pictures we can began.” the hard pressed ranger stated. While her age was younger than most, many couldn’t question her unnatural skills in tracking. If there were anypony needing to be found than Resilient Star was the one to call… if she wasn’t now under contract from the princesses.
The camera flashes busied themselves with the captured changeling as he was escorted to a waiting chariot nearby. Princess Luna presented herself in that strategic moment, stationing herself between the captives the newsponies were desperately trying to get one more photo of. The swarm quickly left Resilient Star alone as they rushed the princess to find the answers they sought.
This left the half-breed with mixed feelings; it meant she wasn’t the center of attention anymore, but it left her mentor, Second Life, exposed as he took his place beside their princess. All the ponies there simply ignored him while a few were giving him the worst feeling of disgust they could give him. While their culture and customs were deeply guarded, their heritage wasn’t so fortunate.
Citizens of the night to the reinstated Princess of Night, and the scapegoat for every other pony’s problems. Demon spawn of ponykind’s only known predator and perhaps their only defense against them; the life of a Vespertilio was a dangerous one, and with the formation of this new task force it just became harder.
Known as the Dissimo in the old tongue, but more commonly described as the Night Watch.
Welcome to the only known changeling containment force in Equestria.
Author's Note
This is a short prequel story my Villainous story, before I resume work on it. The main reason is to hopefully provide some better world lore and introduce a group of characters in depth that likely won't get much attention in the main story.
