The Trotford Husbands

Chapters

The Town
The Investigation
The Secret
The Report

The Town

Trotford was just a normal little Equestrian village, very much like better-known Ponyville, but further away from Canterlot. It had the same stone streets, the same firefly lanterns, the same magnificently engineered multi-storied thatched-roof houses. They were also just as mutedly cosmopolitan, with a modest nightlife and all.

There were some differences as well. The gender balance was more even, with about as many stallions as mares. The stallions tended to be more rambunctious and closely-knit than the ones in Ponyville. They preferred the company of other stallions, drinking, singing off key, playing electronic and physical games, and generally hanging around.

The mares had their own tight-knit community. It had been loosely defined and mostly consisted of the mares getting together in somepony's house to drink wine and complain about how the stallions didn't want to date. They constantly dated, and sometimes even had romantic evenings. But no proposals ever came of the evenings. They simply didn't seem to have the inclination to marry.

Things carried on, limping along with few, if any, marriages and many dissatisfied mares, as well as a lot of cheerfully free-wheeling stallions. That persisted until after the royal wedding in Canterlot. The mares put their hooves down and resolved to get themselves wed. The figured they deserved some happiness. The informal gatherings became more regular, though no more organized.

One of the big hangout spots for stallions was The Arcade Academy, a combination bar, restaurant and arcade, exclusively made for adults. The bulk of the male population came to the place at some point during the day, to eat with friends, play video games and yell about their scores, or to have some drinks to cap the day.

Two friends sat at one of the smaller tables and clinked glasses of dark beer. One was a light green pegasus named Wind Catcher, the other a pale yellow unicorn named Gold Bug. They drank some of the beer and munched on a few hay fries.

“It's another beautiful evening in Trotford,” Gold said with a grin.

“Could be better. We could have some mares here,” Wind noted, looking out at the profusion of stallions. The only mare was the one behind the bar.

“This really isn't the kind of place mares go, especially not the mares in this town,” Gold said with a sigh. “They're all so... uptight. Serious. They just don't have any fun at all.”

“Oh they always say they have fun but... they never came back to my place to show me,” Wind said with a suggestive pop of his brows.

Gold laughed at the implication. “I had one do that. She got a little clingy. But, I told her how it was. I'm just trying to have a good time. Enjoy myself, like right now.”

The pair clinked glasses and had another sip. “I hear ya. Nothing wrong with that kinda thing. We can have fun and that's just our business. Nopony else's,” Wind said firmly.

“That's right. All these mares seem to want to do is, I dunno, settle down, have foals, that kinda thing. Well that can sure as buck wait,” Gold humphed.

Silence descended for a moment as they drank and munched on hay fries. Wind finally asked, “Speaking of settling down, have you talked to Bagel since the wedding?”

“Are you kidding? Sunshine keeps him jumping every minute, the poor bastard. They go shopping, they go on picnics, he takes her out to movies, they stay in and watch dumb movies. His days of fun are over,” Gold huffed.

“And he always has that smile on his face. It's weird. He just looks completely happy,” Wind said.

“Well, to his credit, he's getting Sunshine. That is one nice bit of earth pony. But I guess he wants to keep getting laid. He'd better keep on smiling. And then sneak out when she's not looking,” Gold said with a laugh.

Wind laughed as well and downed a long swallow of beer. A contemplative look crossed his face, and he tapped a hoof on the table. “You know... is it just me, or have there been a few marriages happening lately?”

“Well, what do you mean? They're pretty normal,” Gold said, giving his friend an odd look.

“I mean, used to be the mares always wanted to get married but there weren't many chances. They'd ask but they always wanted all the fun to stop. Now there's more weddings. And the guys don't want to party anymore,” Wind said.

“Their loss,” Gold quipped.

“I just thought about it. It's not just Bagel. Some other guys aren't going out like they used to. Party guys. Guys like us. It's just weird,” Wind said, his voice dropping, becoming conspiratorial.

“Well... what are you trying to say?” Gold asked, dropping his own voice.

Wind looked around a little, eyes lingering on the barmare. She almost looked to be watching him, but after a moment she turned away to draw another beer. “I don't know. Something just feels weird. It just hit me today how weird.”

“Watch it, guy. You're gonna end up wearing tinfoil on your head and going on television talking about how the spaceship came to take you for probing,” Gold laughed, voice back up to normal.

“I'm really serious about this. There has to be something going on here,” Wind insisted.

“There is. Guys are getting laid and liking it, and they want it with some regularity. So they give in, quit partying and settle down to be good little househusbands. What else is new?” Gold asked with a shrug.

“I... I don't know. You might be right...” Wind socked back another swallow of his beer and shook his head. “Anyway, let's get to the games. I'll totally kick your flank this week.”

Gold snorted and rose up. “In your dreams!” The two of them ran off to the video games, not noticing the barmare slipping away to the back room.

The weekend passed into the working week. It was still normal to hang out during the week but most didn't. They tended to focus on making the money they could waste on some fun times. Wind saw Gold out on the streets most days and they usually had a little chat. The third day of the week there was a surprise.

“You won't believe it. Oat Sheaf says she wants to go out,” Gold said with some excitement, getting a high hoof at the news.

“Awesome! Talk about a nice earth pony. How long before you get some?” Wind asked.

“I'll lay some charm on her and go from there,” Gold said confidently.

“So... a year from now?” Wind joked, getting a magical thump on the head for his trouble.

“Seriously... it's weird. I didn't know she was so into me. But she came on to me at work, and she was all shy and talking about how she wanted to see me. We actually used up some time talking,” Gold said.

“Ugh, talking with a mare for hours. It's happened. They got you too,” Wind said with mock seriousness.

Gold used his magic to playfully shove Wind. “Come on... no, it's true. She was telling me about her family and her friends and all the stuff she likes. So, I figured I'd be a good guy and tell her about me. Thought I'd impress her.”

“Didn't work, did it?” Wind asked.

“Oh shut up. She actually really paid attention. She was just so into me I know I can make this work,” Gold said confidently.

“You're a lucky stallion, Gold. None of the mares at work even look at me twice. I just don't get it,” Wind said.

“I'm not lucky yet, but I'll get there,” Gold said with a wink, the two friends sharing a laugh before they parted.

The week passed by with more short talks, about how Oat was being a bit shy and reserved, talking more, asking questions, getting close but not intimate. The pattern continued over the course of two weeks, Gold strung along without resolution.

“I think she's trying to drive me crazy,” Gold said, again meeting with Wind at The Arcade Academy on the weekend. “We talk, and talk and talk and...”

“Alright, I get it. Crazy. These things happen,” Wind said, rolling his eyes. “What's so bad about talking, besides being boring?”

“Because it's... it's like she wants to do more. She shows off a lot of flank on purpose, she gives me a lot of looks, she nudges me, touches my hoof but... then we get to her place, she makes me a drink and we talk. A while later she gets me to the door, kisses my cheek and we're done,” Gold said.

“Wow. There's teasing and then there's... I'm not even sure what that would be,” Wind said with a shake of his head.

“She's also dropping some hints about particular things,” Gold said.

“Seriously? You too?” Wind asked, incredulously.

“Can't be helped. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe I'm just reading too much into it. Maybe my head's a little wobbly from all the slapping-off I have to do to deal with this relationship,” Gold sighed.

“Give it another week. She's totally into you. She keeps coming around, she seems interested. I'm sure she'll finally let you get to her. It can't hurt, right?” Wind asked.

“I guess so. She's really hot, and she seems like she'll let it happen if I play along. I guess we'll see,” Gold said.

The next week, Gold came to the meeting with Wind wearing a ring on his horn. “Come on, man... you have got to be kidding me. After all that complaining,” Wind groaned with a shake of his head.

“She is really, really, really hot. Plus she has a good job and makes some decent bits,” Gold said with a slightly insincere laugh. “Seriously though, it might not be so bad. I mean, what's the worst that could happen?”

“You end up like Bagel. I mean... I actually tried to talk to him. And it was weird,” Wind said, voice dropping.

“Here we go again. Okay, where did the aliens touch you?” Gold asked with a roll of his eyes.

“I'm serious! So, I talked to him. He knew stuff. Knew all the stuff I expected him to know. He didn't even get tripped up by the lying questions I asked trying to confirm he knew what he had and had not done,” Wind said.

“'Lying questions'? 'Confirm' stuff? What are you, a spook? This isn't a Con Mane movie, it's a small town in Equestria,” Gold said. “This can't be healthy.”

“Listen!” Win demanded, hitting the table with his hooves. “I know this sounds weird. It's weird to me too. But this is what I know. He said all the right things. He knew all the details, he sounded exactly like Bagel. But it wasn't him. I know it wasn't him. He knew it all but he didn't sound like he had lived it, he was just giving me answers, like a student on a test.”

Gold shook his head. “You need to find a mare like Oat. Or go on vacation. Get a hobby. Figure something out. This used to be hilarious but it's getting sad.”

Wind sighed and slowly rubbed his temples, wings twitching on his back. “I don't know why I can't let it go. It's like... when you see a little hidden image in a picture. It's impossible not not see it anymore. It's just fixed there.”

“I get it. Life is changing. And that's not cool. Marriages, settling, responsibilities. But come on, try to cool it,' Gold said, placing a hoof on Wind's shoulder.

Wind smiled lopsidedly, and nodded a little. “I'm sure that's it. Sorry I've been such an idiot.”

Gold waved a hoof dismissively. “Just relax, it's cool.”

Two nights later, Wind was placidly sleeping in his bedroom. He had kicked his sheets off in the night, the light of the moon falling across his body. A dark shape moved in the room, carefully stepping to avoid making any noise. It slowly approached Wind, looming over him and standing in the light. A hoof came up slowly, and suddenly planted itself on Wind's mouth.

Wind's eyes shot open and he started to thrash. His wings flared and flapped, lifting him a bit before a magical field pressed him down. “Wind! Wind! It's me,” Gold hissed, turning his face to the soft moonlight.

Wind settled down as soon as he saw his friend's face. The hoof came off his mouth and he whispered, “Gold? Wh-what the buck? You scared the...”

“Listen, I have to be fast about this. I made a few promises but I... well... I had to tell you, if no one else,” Gold said with a shifty glance.

“What is it? What's going on? Are you in trouble?” Wind asked.

“No... kinda... no... it's complicated. Look, I may feel... strange about this, but I'm still going to go along with what's happening. But I had to at least say, you're not crazy,” Gold said, looking around again.

“I'm not crazy... wait, you mean about Bagel?” Wind asked, looking a little desperate.

“About... look, I can't say. But you're not crazy. And just because I don't want you to drive yourself nuts, when you talk to me later on, after the wedding... just keep in mind that it's not going to be the same,” Gold said, more frequently looking around.

“What do you mean? What's happening?” Wind asked, starting to get out of bed.

Gold used his magic to push Wind back down. “Look... just... accept things as they are. And... the mares are really, really looking to get us to be less... crazy.”

“The mares? What, all of them?” Wind asked, pushing against the magic.

“See you around. I'll put the key back into the fake rock when I leave. You really need a better fake rock, the paint is chipping,” Gold said, his magic dropping. He slipped back out of the room.

Wind stumbled out of bed and watched as Gold left the room. He stood there, thinking about things for a time, turning to look out the window to see if he could see Gold.

The silent street was still and shadowed, no one stirring. Then he saw a shaded figure, too slight to be Gold. It had to be a mare. She looked around shiftily then motioned to another figure. They were harder to see, but looked male. He dashed along with the mare, the both of them turning a corner and vanishing down an alley.

Wind fell down on his bed, staring up at the ceiling in the low light, his thoughts swirling with confusion and the deepening mystery. Gold knew something. He was part of something. Something to do with mares. He knew about what was up with Bagel, and that something like it was going to happen to him. What was it? What was going on in his town? It had just been a normal Equestrian town. The stallions had fun and the mares... the mares...

The mares wanted to have more than just what they had had. They wanted to settle down, to have their own Equestrian dream. Trotford was the kind of town that usually made for the right site for that. But... stallions just wanted to have fun. They did everywhere. There was nothing wrong with that.

He knew there was something wrong. And he'd figure out what. Gold would be his source. He had come to talk to him. He would spill the secret eventually, after marriage. It would all be resolved. With that comforting thought in mind he drifted off to sleep.

The wedding followed in short order, after only a week of preparation. Gold remained skittish and evasive during conversations, and flatly denied ever saying anything about mares and some kind of conspiracy regarding anything happening in town. He remained so evasive right to the day.

Wind was Gold's best man, and looked out into the crowd during the ceremony. The majority of the mares were on Oat's side, including the married ones and their husbands. On Gold's side the group was smaller, the few other stallions who knew Gold well and could be bothered to go to something as unstallionly as a wedding.

The silhouette from the darkness gave him no indication of who he had seen, even looking over the mares from every angle. And the mysterious male had been even more indistinct. None of the stallions in the crowd was acting especially shifty or suspicious. Nothing gave any real indication of anything but a normal wedding. He wanted to just think it was, but Gold shot him a strange look after saying his vows. As though he was resigning himself to something unpleasant.

Wind suffered a great deal on the honeymoon night. He left the reception early, since it seemed to be mostly the mares standing around complimenting Oat, and the stallions drinking and talking to Gold. Wind wanted the day and night to be over. He wanted to talk to Gold after his experience with Oat, to start the process of prying the truth out of him. He had to wait it out and it wasn't easy.

The next day he was at Oat's house, bright and early. Gold had moved into her place because her place was larger and more comfortable. It made sense. He knocked on the door and waited around for the response.

The door slowly opened with a waver of magic and revealed Gold. He was smiling brightly and looked like he was pleased with the world. Wind was a bit taken aback. “Uh... h-hey there, Gold.”

Gold tilted his head and stared for a moment, as though thinking about what to say. Recognition flashed in his oddly wide eyes. “Hello there, Wind. Did you come to see Oat?”

“Uh, no, I came to see you,” Wind said, peering at Gold's face. It was him alright. But he had never smiled like that before.

“Oh yes. Well, you are my best friend. But it's very early. We barely had breakfast,” Gold said.

“Who's at the door, dear?” Oat called from inside the house.

“It's Wind! He came to see me,” Gold replied.

“That was nice of him. But be quick about it and come finish your breakfast, you don't want to be late for work,” Oat called back.

“Alright, dear,” Gold called into the house. He then turned his smiling face on Wind. “What did you need? I have to eat breakfast and get to work.”

“Gold... it's me,” Wind said, with some bit of pleading. “We're friends. We talk all the time.”

“I'm married now. I have new responsibilities. And right now two are eat breakfast and go to work,” Gold said.

“I know that. Okay. How about... could you at least tell me... you know...” Wind said, leaning in conspiratorially.

“I... know?” Gold asked, his smile slipping a little bit as his head tilted.

“Come on... you dodged the questions before you were married but come on. What were you talking about when you told me about how you would be and how the...” Wind cut off his own ramble as his intellect caught up to his passion. “Well, you remember. That speech you gave me... at The Arcade Academy. About... your attitude.”

Gold tilted his head again, as though thinking. “Oh yes, yes. I'm sorry. But, you know. The honeymoon night. I'm a little forgetful.” He popped his brows and smiled wider.

“Right... honeymoon...” Wind said, smiling nervously. Gold had laughed at his deceptive questions, but they worked. He stepped back, stumbling a little bit. “I'll... see you later. At The Arcade Academy?”

“Oh no, I can't make it. Oat and I are choosing dish patterns and repainting the living room,” Gold said.

“Oh. Alright. Marriage. I get it...” Wind turned quickly and galloped off. Gold was... not acting like himself. Just like he said. And he didn't even remember saying it.

Wind didn't go in to work that day. He locked his door, after taking the fake rock from by door, barred his windows and closed all the curtains. He huddled in his self-imposed darkness, gripped by something much worse than simple fear. The dark claws of the unknown tore at his guts, and pierced his mind. He knew something was wrong, but couldn't begin to pinpoint what it was that was actually happening. He had only the mystery with not a clue to follow.

Gold had told him something was going on. He had come along to tell him that things were going to change, that he wasn't crazy. Yet he was going crazier than ever. Without the full scoop he could feel nothing else. He wasn't helping his image either, skipping work and huddling in his house, but it was all he could manage.

He remained there, not eating, or moving, all day. All he could do was wait for the blind terror to leave him. The night found him with his eyes closed, almost in a doze. He snapped them open when he heard some soft clattering around the window. It was hooves on the stones outside. He chanced a small peek, the smallest lifting of the curtain and a look.

He saw Oat standing there, looking in the window. She was a normal earth pony, a pale grayish color, like boiled oats, with a golden mane and tail. She was looking in another direction when he peeked out. In the split-second that he viewed her Wind could see she was not alone. Gold was standing just away from her, looking as he had before, with the large strange smile on his face.

Wind dropped the curtain and dropped back down, stifling a surprised cry. Somehow, Gold had figured out the questioning was unusual, and told Oat. And of course Oat needed to snoop around to see what Wind knew. It all made sense. There was something serious going on and Gold had become a part of it. He had almost said he might, yet he had been free enough to give a warning. It was confusing. A deeper level of not-knowing.

He slowly crawled his way to his front door, sliding his hooves to avoid making too much noise as he scooted along. He wasn't sure what to do, except open the door slowly and quietly, and leap up to his hooves. He dashed out into the night, aware of a sudden movement all around him.

He saw others all around, pointing in his direction and approaching. He didn't bother trying to see who was after his. With the last of his rational mind he spread his wings and leaped into the air. He beat them hard and surged upwards, banking in a tight spiral. He needed to shake any potential pursuers, even if he couldn't see any. He just had to flee, with all he could muster.

He looked down briefly over Trotford. Shadowy figures seemed to be looking up at him, but none had taken wing yet. He zipped off swiftly, body aimed towards Canterlot. He needed to inform somepony of his suspicions, of his idea regarding what it was that was going on. Something had happened to Bagel, and Gold, and other stallions who had been roped into marriage.

He stuck his forelegs out and pulled himself into a tight, aerodynamic shape. The silhouette of Canterlot was highlighted by the moon, showing him where he had to go. “Don't worry, Gold! I can fix this! I won't let this go without a fight! I promise you I'll get someone involved here and put an end to whatever this is!”

The Investigation

Time: 0700

Place: Trotford, in the County of West Emery; Current Head: Lady Mayor Verdant Glade

Investigator Information: Agent 68, Penny Lane

Overview: A citizen of the town, named Wind Catcher, flew into Canterlot after flying all night. He was found to be suffering exhaustion, minor dehydration and his physical state indicated an extended period of great fear. He demanded law-enforcement personnel help him with a situation transpiring in his town, which appeared to be some sort of brainwashing or destruction of the personalities of male citizens.

The standard constables opted for emergency commitment, given the bodily state of Mr. Catcher. Following a night of rest and the balancing of fluid levels Mr. Catcher was more lucid but continued to speak of some conspiratorial collusion between brainwashed stallions and the town's mares. He continued to ask for some kind of law-enforcement intervention.

The Bureau of Equestrian Security and Investigation came into play because certain elements of the story, gleaned from the report, brought a certain recognition. There was not enough information to justify a full intervention but prompted the dispatching of Penny Lane, Agent 68. The report of Agent 68 will determine further action, if any.

Penny Lane snapped a photo of the fountain in the center of Trotford and looked around with a certain amount of delight. She was a copper-toned unicorn, with a brighter, brassy mane and tail combed into gentle waves. She was wearing a fairly stereotypical tourist outfit, with a loud tropical shirt, a straw hat, and a camera harness around her neck.

Penny strolled casually down the cobblestone streets of the little town, snapping quick shots of storefronts and homes, as well as citizens of the town. Everyone seemed to respond positively. The stallions posed and goofed around for her camera, by and large. The mares struck more sedate poses and smiled for the apparent tourist. Those married stallions and mares were a little more retiring, looking away or not fully engaging.

She purchased a quick snack at a small bakery, looking around at the occupants. It seemed to consist exclusively of married couples. They were sharing baked treats and milkshakes, regarding one another with loving looks. There was a sort of sameness to them all, with similar postures, similar gazes, and similar shared sips of milkshake. It seemed both wholesome and troublesome at the same moment.

Penny slipped up to one of the couples, an oatmeal-colored earth mare and a yellowish unicorn stallion. “So, uh, I'm new here, taking a little vacation. Can you tell me what there is to do around here that's fun?”

The stallion looked up with his huge smile and gave a shrug. “I don't know what a tourist might like. I like being with my wife, listening to records and reading.”

The mare nodded slowly, and gave Penny a fairly thorough going-over before speaking. “There's not much to do here, that's the point of a small town. It's good for relaxing. But it you have a deep need to do something wild, The Arcade Academy has video games and alcohol. It's a very popular hangout spot, mostly for stallions.”

Penny didn't miss the scrutiny. It didn't look like she was burned, but the mare was sensing something wasn't quite right. “That... sounds like it could be an interesting place. I hadn't even considered it.”

“It gets wild on the weekend, but it's much calmer on weekdays, especially during the day,” the mare said, still looking Penny over.

“It used to be my favorite place. But I have a much more interesting time now,” the stallion said, leaning in to nuzzle his wife.

“I guess I should have a look before it gets late and busy. I might just find it to my taste,” Penny said, slowly making her way out of the bakery, snapping a shot of the couple as she left. Something was familiar about them, from her briefing. She'd look into it later on.

She continued along through the town, aware that she was being watched by the mares of the places. The stallions noticed her, of course, and she got the occasional attempted pickup, but she was more keenly aware of the mares. They turned their heads quickly to regard her, or turned them away when she looked in their direction. The briefing had mentioned something about them having some secret.

There wasn't anything organized in their surveillance. She would have noted any use of coded message transmission or properly arranged tailing and reporting. It was oddly decentralized. They all seemed to be doing it but not at a central behest. Just by their own personal choice. They had taken it upon themselves to watch the new arrival.

She arrived at the brightly painted Arcade Academy and stepped within. It was somewhat dark, even at midday, with low artificial light providing the illumination. Neon signs announced the various areas of the place, and thick plush carpet muffled the sound of her hoofsteps, which only finished the job started by the cacophonous din of the extra-loud arcade machines.

She stepped over to the dining area of the place, and sat down at one of the square tables, near one occupied by two stallions. The men, both pegasi, turned to her immediately and tried to strike the most attractive poses. “Well hi there. Just passing through?”

“Oh yes, I'm here for a little vacation,” Penny answered, turning slowly to regard them. She picked up the menu on the table with her magic and gave it a quick glance, to maintain her charade as a normal customer. “I like these little out-of-the-way spots.”

“It's not as much fun as you might think,” the second stallion said, looking around at the empty place. “If it wasn't for this place there'd really be nothing for a stallion here in town.”

“And there barely is if you happen to have a day off during the week or you don't want to wait for the evening,” the first said.

“Well, I can see that,” Penny said with a nod. “I'm amazed. I thought there would be more mares in here. We like to have fun too.”

“Yeah, but the mares in this town are... different,” the second pegasus said. “They're all stuffy and boring.”

“Not really boring...” the first said, noticing that the waitress was approaching. “They just have different kinds of fun.”

“Whatever. It's not really all that fun if all they want to do is talk and listen to music,” the second said.

“What can I get you?” The unicorn waitress asked of Penny, levitating up a pad and a pencil.

“I'll just have a salad with dressing on the side, hay nibblets and a plate of potato skins, sour cream and cheese, hold the peppers,” Penny responded.

“Gotcha,” the mare said, writing down the order and tearing the paper out. She turned to the two pegasi and gave a wink to the one that had defended the mares in town.

“Hah! There's always a good reason to stand up for mares,” the pegasus said to his companion.

“Whatever dude, it's not like she'll get with you,” the other one said with a huff. “They just don't give it up. They want to get all committed and stuff first.”

“Well, it's sounding like a good idea,” the first one grumbled.

Penny turned away from the stallions and waited for her meal. The mares were the key. The original report from the stallion that escaped and the observation of the mares, it was all pulling into something significant. That may have been why the BESI sent a mare. She could go among them, and discover what was going on.

After a rather delicious lunch, Penny went back into standard tourist mode, and sought out the groups of mares that were not occupied with work. There were a few around, mostly clustered around market stalls, talking and laughing and seeming to be having a good time.

“Hello there, ladies! Don't mind me, just here for a visit,” Penny said, snapping a photo of the group and sidling up to them.

“Oh. Yes, a tourist. Welcome to Trotford!” One of the mares chirped, putting on a huge smile and glancing quickly to the others in the group. They all repeated the greeting.

“Is there anything important going on here soon? I love visiting local festivals and celebrations. There's always something happening...” Penny said, with some significance, leaning in as though asking to be let in on a secret.

The small knot of mares traded glances again, but tried to look casual about it. “Festival? Celebration? No, no, nothing like that here. We just celebrate the standard Equestrian holidays. Nothing special going on here. Truth to tell, you picked a rather quiet town. Good for a relaxing vacation but... you may as well have left your camera at home,” the lead mare said.

“Oh I don't know... there's always something to see in little towns like this,” Penny said, keeping her smile up but slowly pulling her head back to a normal posture. They knew. Somehow they knew she was digging for information.

“I don't meant to sound like I'm running down my town, but... there's really nothing of that nature here,” the mare said, the others quickly nodding in agreement.

Penny stepped away slowly, snapping another picture. “Well... maybe it's a waste of film, but I like taking pictures. I like to have a lot of memories of the places and folks I see when I travel. I think I'll see what else is happening...”

The rest of the day was spent fruitlessly attempting to question anyone that seemed like they might have an answer. No one had anything useful to say, and the mares that didn't simply wander away gave evasive answers and looked with some suspicion on Penny.

She ended her day in the small room he had rented at a bed and breakfast. There was no real inn, in a proper sense, in the small town. Some houses simply had rooms available for tourists. She steeped a teabag and rested on a soft pillow as she considered what she had found. Nothing of any substance, but a lot of small implications that meant something strange was happening.

Smiling husbands, commitment-averse single stallions, and mares that had a secret and knew she was trying to find out what it was. She couldn't have been betrayed. They must have just been expecting it, which made the secret's resolution all the more pressing. They knew they were due for investigation, likely thanks to the departure of Wind, and would likely do everything they could to remove traces of the conspiracy.

Penny sipped slowly on her tea and smiled. She wished she had saved the pastry from earlier, it would have gone perfectly with the cuppa. She started thinking about it. Small towns tended to shut down early in the evening, roll up the streets and put all the citizens to bed except those in the bars. She parted the curtain and peered out to see if the bakery was lit up.

The town was silent and still, as was usual for a small town in evening. The firefly lanterns were glowing, adding to the natural glow of the moonlight. It cast a warm light across the scene, but it made the shadows seem all the darker, and cast those shadows out at odd angles.

There were still a few lights on, but in the private homes, not the businesses. She was about to close the curtain when a minor motion caught her eye. There was someone walking the streets, almost seeming to glide over the cobblestones without clopping their hooves too loudly. They were pony in shape and size, but covered in a large, black cloak. With them was a clearly identifiable pony, the golden stallion that Penny had seen in the bakery.

The two slunk around down the street, being joined by further robed figures and other stallions. Just from the small bit of data and few inferences she had she guessed that they were the mares and the married stallions. She didn't hesitate to rush out of the room, through the house and out onto the darkened streets.

Penny's passion was suppressed when she got out the door, smothered by her BESI training and intellectual understanding that she had to be sneaky in order to find the truth. She went down as low as she could manage and hugged the walls of the house, eyes casting around to pick out any details in the darkness, in case there were any others following or looking for snoopers. It seemed safe enough, so she pulled herself along close to the stone street, and walked with as soft a step as she could manage.

The shadows that swallowed Trotford seemed to grow and expand as she peered around the corner, the firefly lanterns dimming and the house lights snuffed out one by one. The bright glow of the moon did nothing to bring any brightness to the proceedings, leaving her flicking her eyes over to any little motion that seemed larger than an errant fly or skittering leaf. Her night vision was usually better, but coming straight from a bright room was not good for that.

She snuck out through the streets, still using her softest tread to work along the stones, pushed against a house as her training required. She had been, perhaps, overcautious, and let the procession get ahead of her, with time enough to cover their tracks. It was doubtless they had her number. They knew she was a spook. Or at least that she was an interloper.

One citizen flees the place, and then in short order a stranger comes to town, asking questions. All the tourist trappings in the world couldn't have hidden her purpose. She might as well have stapled her badge to her horn. The element of surprise was lost, but her mission was far from burned. In fact, it suited her purposes to be discovered.

The conspiracy seemed to thrive on secrecy, rather than making ponies vanish. They seemed to do everything towards the end of keeping the secret. She was now aware there really was something to hide. She could move forward and present a report to that effect. But there was still the matter of following the secret-keepers. She wouldn't give up until dawn.

Penny's slow sneaking and careful observation finally yielded results. Right around the city hall she found a freshly kicked cobblestone, and saw one of the trailing robes vanish into a small door. It looked like cellar access into the hall, but had considerably more iron bracing and far more locks than were normally found on simple access doors. One way in, possibly one way out. But even so, she went down. She had to learn all she could.

The way was dark, light ending at the doorway. No one had thought to install electric lights or even put up luminescent fungi. The steps were at least well-constructed, with grip tape on the edges, and all in a good state of repair. She pressed against the right wall, which had been polished smooth by bodies passing down the steps regularly. There was an odd scent in the air, which grew thicker as she went along. It was vaguely flowery, but sweet, like an odd perfume or perhaps raw honey.

The corridor continued on at the bottom of the steps. She remained against the right wall, but reached out on occasion to touch the left wall. The passage was narrow enough that she could do it with a very casual reach. There were no side-tunnels that she could feel, unless they were above where she touched or far narrower than even the close passage down which she slowly moved.

At last the darkness was pierced by a weak light, around a dogleg in the near distance. The light illuminated the way and washed it in a weak, green-tinted light. Her step got even slower and she licked her dry lips. Equestria was too peaceful for this, too calm and sedate for her to have been in the situation. This was the kind of thing in spy novels, not what happened to real spies. It was happening to her all the same. She was living out a strange happening.

She peered around the corner and saw a door which was just slightly ajar. It was another iron-banded door well-supplied with locks. She could hear soft speech from within, primarily female voices. The only male voices she heard were even lower, barely able to be discerned.

There was no time for subtlety, or hesitation. The consequences were less important than letting them know that they were caught. Even if it cost her dearly, Penny had to let them know they would been under scrutiny. She burst through the open door and pulled her hidden badge from inside the tacky tourist shirt, waving it for all to see. “BESI! This is an official investigation, and I think there's something here to investigate!”

The response was immediately. The mares, in dark robes with the hoods pulled back, screamed loudly and ran towards the other side of the room, though one had the foresight to shut the door and pull a bar which sealed in place with a spring-driven lock. The stallions, who had been gathered together and speaking quietly to one another, galloped forward and spread themselves out, forming a protective ring around the group of mares.

No one spoke, they barely moved. Penny retained her stern look and serious demeanor, still holding her golden badge high. Finally, one of the earth mares stepped forward, whispering to a stallion who allowed her to pass. Her cloak obscured most of her particulars, but she was a mature mare, not old but no filly. Her coat was a hunter green color, while her mane was an aquamarine shade. From what Penny remembered from the briefing that was the mayor. “I suspected. But I wasn't certain you were something so official. I had hoped you were just a curious outsider, or at worst a private investigator.”

“This is the real deal. Investigating Agent Penny Lane, Canterlot branch. They sent the best, just to see if there was anything to see. Looks like there is. And don't think that holding me captive makes this go away. If anything it makes it worse. If I don't check in they send in royal guards with the next agent, and they won't be disguised as a tourist,” Penny noted sternly.

Verdant sighed, shaking her head slowly and looking sadly back at the mares and stallions. “I always knew it would happen. I thought it would be some other cause. But I always had that doubt in the back of my mind. I was happy with how it worked out, but we should have expected this to have happened.

“We gave it our best shot, and that was very important. What really makes me sad is... we couldn't finish what we started. The process was so slow. Too slow. Necessarily slow, but that always made me uncomfortable and upset. We had things to do, but we played the waiting game, we made ourselves drag it out, setting up all the pieces. I wish it hadn't been so, not for my own reasons, but for... well, it doesn't matter now, does it?

“I guess we're at your mercy now, Agent Lane. We won't restrain you, or fight you. We don't have it in us, not us or... we're surrendering, in a sense. You can leave, we'll unlock the door and let you out, to contact Canterlot and do what you need to do.” Verdant looked to the gathered figures. Mares and stallions alike were looking to the ground, sniffling softly. “I'm most sorry for you. We had this arranged perfectly. Maybe we can do something. But we need a unanimous vote. We can beg Agent Lane for mercy, and show her what it is we have here. Maybe... she'll be lenient. So... please raise your hooves if you want to show her.”

Stallions and mares looked to one another, the married couples to each other and the single ones to each other. Almost in one motion their hooves went up.

Verdant nodded and motioned towards the far side of the room. There was a small set of sliding doors, looking like the entrance to a storage area. The unicorns in the room lit their horns and slowly pulled back the doors. “You wished to know. Very well, then. Now you will know.”

As the door opened the sweet smell grew stronger. It was powerful, almost cloying. It wasn't bad, but it was a lot, and it was a kind of scent Penny had never smelled before. A hoof came up over her snout as it washed over her. The hoof fell as she saw what was in the room.

It was indeed a kind of storeroom, but expanded into the bedrock below town, outfitted with vents to provide fresh air, fungi for light, as well as food, and lots of furniture. The whole space was covered in a hardened green substance, emanating the sweet fragrance. Also within, huddled together and trembling, Changelings, a small army of them.

The stallions in the room proper flashed with green fire, their pony skin replaced with hole-filled black chitin and green membranes. The mares that had been identified as their wives leaped onto them and held tightly to them. They nuzzled the smooth and flexible material, and placed tearful kisses on their fanged mouths, the Changelings returning the kisses with equal passion.

Verdant dropped her head, looking defeated. “There you are, Agent Lane. What you came for. The Second Masquerade Siege Division, minus half their number. Drones. Changeling drones flung from Canterlot. And, to us.”

The Secret

Agent Penny Lane slowly stowed her badge away as she regarded the mind-boggling scene before her. Changelings. Enemies of Equestria, by all understanding. Being a Canterlot mare Penny had been there for the invasion during the wedding. She recalled a sky full of buzzing blackness and the defeat of the enemy by a wave of love.

She shook her head and looked closer at the scene. Mayor Verdant still looked dejected and defeated, the Changelings in the hidden room were still huddled together, looking at Penny with fear in their blue eyes, while the Changelings with the mares were still kissing them, and... crying.

“What is going on here?” Penny asked loudly. “I can't think about what to do when I have no idea what this is.”

“Would it help to tell you the whole story?” Verdant asked.

“Depends on what the story is. But I'm... not inclined to just call in the royal guards and sweep you all away without at least hearing this,” Penny said.

Verdant nodded, and heaved a small sigh. “At least they sent a reasonable one. Let me tell you how it used to be...”

“I have been Lady Mayor of Trotford for quite a while. I was hoof-picked by the Count of Emery and never faced a no-confidence vote from the town citizenry. In all that time there has never been a true, serious problem in this place. It is like the rest of Equestria. Peaceful, pleasant, if plagued by minor inconveniences.

“One minor inconvenience did not even enter my mind because it was pernicious. It plagued this town like a cancer. Surely you noticed, Agent Lane, we have a very even distribution of stallions and mares. That would not normally be a problem. In most towns, the stallions are very sweet and sedate, and enjoy the fruits of civility and stability. Our dark secret was that the stallions we seemed to grow never really grew mature.”

The stallions of Trotford whooped and cheered as they danced around a great bonfire. The blazing conflagration lit the night in a fierce orange light, while the smoke darkened the moon. They paraded around the edge of the burning pike of broken furniture and scrap wood, guzzling beer and spirits.

“This is awesome, man! So completely awesome!” A unicorn stallion shouted, throwing a bottle of whiskey onto the fire. The shattering glass and eruption of blue flame brought a cheer from his fellow inebriates.

“I'm never getting married ever! I wanna just party and get drunk!” A pegasus stallion shouted, doing wobbly tricks in the air until he hit the ground and knocked himself out cold. Rather than render aid, the other stallions split their reaction between cheers and laughter at his expense.

“Yeah! No marriage! No Marriage! No Marriage!” The stallions chanted the slogan loudly, drinking, stumbling and throwing bottles into the fire.

“Mayor Verdant... I don't want to say you're a liar but I have the feeling there may be some amount of exaggeration happening in this explanation of yours,” Penny said.

“Would it shock you if I said it was only slight? They have a great preference for drinking, playing games and a lack of commitment. It is quite frustrating, as you might imagine. They may never have made a bonfire, but they certainly did all but say they were opposed to marriage. You've spoken to a few of our locals. Does that seem out of character given what you heard?” Verdant asked.

“Actually... no. Alright, I admit I've met more mature stallions elsewhere. Please go on, Mayor,” Penny said.

Verdant nodded “I suppose I had always been very self-sufficient, emotionally speaking. It was never much of a concern for me. But I am Lady Mayor of this town. These ponies are my ponies, just as much as we are all Celestia and Luna's ponies. I could see how the mares lamented the circumstance. How they hated it. It saddened them. If they went to bed with a stallion they woke up alone. They would never bother to do anything but play games with their friends and drink.

“The sadness grew all the keener when word arrived, about the royal wedding of Princess Cadance and Shining Armor. They all desperately wished to go. But, time, exclusivity and other such real life factors prevented it. Worse, a few of the more tactless stallions mocked the desire to see something like a wedding. As far as they were concerned, weddings were boring unless there was free food and an open bar.

“So we all arranged a private party. We gathered past the edge of town, facing Canterlot. It was less than a speck as far as we could see. But we were still able to see some portion of it. It was enough for those who gathered to celebrate love and togetherness. And to wish they could have it too.”

The mares of Trotford threw blankets down on the ground and set down baskets full of pastry and bottles of wine. There was a muted joy in it, smiles switching to frowns and back again. The few with binoculars passed them around to those that didn't have them, allowing each one, in turn, to look at the shining city of Canterlot.

There wasn't much that could be seen through the relatively low-power binoculars normally used for birdwatching and weather duties. But to pull the great city that much closer, to make the speck just a little bit larger, was precious to them. It also created a little bit of conversation. There were speculations about the shimmering bubble that seemed to be be enclosing the palace area.

“Guess they really, really want weather security,” Verdant said with a chuckle.

“They have enough pegasi, they really shouldn't need to get fancy for it,” a pegasus mare said.

“Let them have it. They can get as fancy as they want. It's a royal wedding,” a unicorn said.

“It's a wedding. You should get what you like on your wedding day,” another pegasus noted.

“Like a decent stallion to do it with,” a grumpy earth pony said, slugging a mouthful of wine.

“Let's not think about that. This is a wedding. We may not be there, but we can see the place it's happening and we can imagine what it might be like,” Verdant said, with as much cheer as she could muster.

“And we can read the society magazines tomorrow. They'll have all the details, with photos. That'll be almost like being there,” the first pegasus said, the other mares nodding agreeably.

The food and wine were shared around, the conversations attempting to stay light and positive, mostly focused on speculation on the details of the wedding. Cadance's dress, Shining Armor's formal regalia, the decorations in the throne room, the food.

Speculation on details turned into fantasy wedding planning. The desires and ideals of what could be done. They said, with laughter and frustration, which stallions looked nice, then quickly mentioned all the flaws they knew existed. Even Verdant eventually got caught up in things and talked about her ideal stallion and details on the wedding she would love.

The great city was losing their focus as things turned to the problems of Trotford. Occasionally someone would look through the binoculars, which was what made them aware the bubble of magic was no longer there. That inspired a few comments, and some talk about how it was just another part of an extra-fancy royal wedding.

Nothing seemed to happen on that front, which made the mares disinclined to pay attention to the distant city. They were all taking a break from conversation to munch on pastry when the explosion came. The corona of bright light creating a radiant halo over the top of Canterlot drew all the Trotford mares' attentions. They cheered it on, and stomped their hooves in applause for the impressive display.

“Those royal folks, they really know how to throw a party!” a unicorn mare cheered, toasting with a glass of wine.

“That must be the sign that Cadance and Shining Armor are married! Good for them,” an earth mare called out.

“I'd want something a little more subtle than a giant explosion. Maybe a few fireworks. Maybe some doves or something,” Verdant said.

“You know what it was now, of course. The wave of love that defeated Queen Chrysalis,” Penny said.

“We know all the details. As you might imagine we were very keen on knowing everything that happened that day. We all have read up on everything. I'd almost say we know about as much as the BESI and Canterlot Royal Security. But that's not important. What really caught our eyes, and the gaze of our binoculars, were the falling stars,” Verdant said.

“'The falling stars'?” Penny asked.

“They radiated out from every point of the corona as far as we could guess. Someone watching through the binoculars noticed them. They also noticed that they were streaking towards us. A small cluster of black shapes wrapped in green and lingering traces from the explosion in Canterlot,” Verdant said.

Those with binoculars tracked the shapes. They were in a tight cluster, streaking very fast though losing momentum to settle into the velocity of free fall through the air. The pegasi calculated the arcs and found that a large group would fall in the woods outside of town, just a bit further away than the picnic.

The whole gathering abandoned their picnic and rushed to the indicated spot, arriving in time to see them crashing down with a terrific crash and a giant cloud of dirt erupting into the air. The soil rained down all over the mares as they reached the spot, with the last of the black figures hitting the ground wrapped in a fiery field of green.

It took a moment for the dirt and dust to settle. The environment was surprisingly still and quiet. No birds chirped in surprise, no animals skittered in retreat. The wind itself was silent, not even the trees giving a rustle. All they could see in the aftermath was cratering and furrows from the impacts and dragging as the impact momentum was used up.

“You found Changelings in there. The ones that had been rightly blown out of Canterlot,” Penny said, with a touch of smug superiority.

“We're aware of what they did. We're also quite aware they were acting at the behest of Queen Chrysalis. You mentioned her yourself, Agent Lane. Seems there was a bit of an explanation there, right?” Verdant asked.

“You weren't there. But fine. You found the Changelings,” Penny said with a snort.

“We found them. They were dazed, understandably. I guess the green fire was an aspect of their magic, what they used during their assault. In this case they used it as shields to prevent serious injury. We all looked on them, not having any clue what they were. But we knew how they appeared. They were injured, starving, dazed, helpless and in need. We're Equestrians. We care for those in need and in pain,” Verdant said.

“They were enemies of Equestria. They're still enemies of Equestria,” Penny said sternly.

“We had no idea at the time. I told you, they were injured and in need. Seeing these poor, helpless, unknown creatures moved us. We had to do something,” Verdant said. “We had this storage area under city hall, with additional storage. We could hide them here, and allow them a chance to recuperate, rest and get their heads together.

“We had hidden and cared for them for nearly a month, getting them to talk about themselves. They had confessed to what they did for Queen Chrysalis, how they had been desperate for love. They had little food and less love. Both of their bellies were gripped with gnawing hunger, and they had believed their queen when she promised them plenty.”

“That's not an excuse, you know that. You know that can't wipe away what they did to Canterlot,” Penny insisted.

“Did they trap you? We know they did that to many...” Verdant said.

“No, I was caught in the BESI office so I missed most of that but... I was there so I know what they did. I saw it,” Penny said.

“It's understandable you'd feel like this,” Verdant said.

“Never mind that. Just get on with it. How did you end up viciously kidnapping stallions and replacing them with Changelings?” Penny asked, with a touch of hate in her voice.

“And here I thought you were the open-minded and merciful sort,” Verdant said.

“I need as much information as I can get. This is important. And I was surprised at the moment,” Penny said.

“We didn't have any plan, except to give them tender affection and food, help them recover and get strong. Then it happened,” Verdant said, motioning towards a pinkish pegasus mare and a Changeling. “We'd been... developing a bit of affection for them, while going about normal lives. Iris there was engaged to one of the local stallions. He ran off, in the middle of the night, but didn't tell anyone. No one knew what had happened. But he did come back, and he did marry Iris.”

“The Changeling. You had him take the guy's form, and marry her as him. I get it, he's a quick substitute and it can't be good being run out on. But really... just a random Changeling?” Penny asked incredulously.

“His name is Obscura. He was a siege drone, and now he makes the best homemade basil-rosemary bread in town, and also likes playing cards,” Iris said, nuzzling against the Changeling beside her.

“My bread is only okay,” Obscura said in a buzzing voice. “But I do like playing cards. It's much more fun than simply waiting around in a hive.”

Penny peered at Obscura. “Well... you can talk. I thought there was some kind of nonverbal communication going on. And you have... some humility. So you picked this one because..?”

“I did have affection for the stallion I was going to marry. But I'd also been feeling something for Obscura while I was helping him recover. He comforted me when my fiance left, saying he could taste my sorrow. How can I not like a line like that? It was better because I could tell he meant it,” Iris said, hugging Obscura tight.

“Changelings feed on love, for a portion of their diet. But they don't need to forcibly extract it like Chrysalis did. She did that for the sake of her own greed,” Verdant said.

“We usually sneak in, gather some love and sneak back out,” Obscura said. “We've impersonated husbands... but there is something to being one. Just doing things we would normally do for the sake of fitting in or keeping our partner pleased creates a feast of love. We can gorge ourselves freely and there is always more love that just flows out over the town.”

“Changelings actually can nurture love, like a garden. They want peace and plenty and stability, because the love flows freely, flows easily, and is guaranteed to remain far into the future. Rather than getting used up it just multiplies,” Verdant said.

“Let's say I believe you, and that's not set in stone. But let's just say I do. I understand one stallion running off in the night and you having a Changeling take his place. What did you do to the others?” Penny asked, narrowing her eyes.

“Every town... has needs...” Verdant said delicately. “Regular infrastructure repair, hiring of outside contractors, salary for permanent or temporary employees. A lot of money that can be lost in the system. Hire a sloppy accountant, move the sums around, get kind folks to sign off as employees who never did a day of work, pitch in to do certain essential repairs at a very reasonable price.”

“I'm not the Equestrian Revenue Service. That doesn't mean anything to me, and has nothing to do with the stallions being replaced with Changelings,” Penny huffed.

“Stallions who like to have fun can have fun anywhere. They don't even need to have their own names to do it...” Verdant started.

“Are you saying that you bribe stallions to leave under new identities? How can you even manage something like that?” Penny queried.

“We engage them in a contractual agreement, that for a lump sum of money they agree to a confidentiality agreement and relocate to a new location, with a fully legal new identity. It helps being a mayor who knows how the system works,” Verdant said with a smile.

“Hmm, well, you can look like them but... wait... in the briefing the original subject mentioned his friend was questioned frequently, to get all the details of his life and personality. Date a stallion long enough, get the right information out of him and it's easy to get someone else to be like them, especially trained infiltrators,” Penny said.

“It is so much easier than going in mostly blind, having to fake a way through guesses and what gets revealed by talking,” one of the other married Changelings noted.

“Honestly... are you telling me to trust that you, enemies of the state, thrown away from an invasion, are just innocently living in a town waiting for stallions to be bribed to you can take their places? Do you have any idea how insane that sounds? And that all you want to do is get married so you can have love? All I know of you Changelings is you sucking the love out of the innocent and overrunning my city,” Penny stated gruffly.

“You can think what you want. You listened to us,” Verdant said, trotting to the door and unlocking the bar, sliding it aside and opening the banded door. “Go on, then, back to Canterlot. Tell them everything. But tell them everything. Don't let your personal bitterness and incredulity make you shade the facts. Those who have married are happy, the mares are delighted, the Changelings have full bellies and our town works better than it ever has.

“Agent Lane...” one of the Changelings in the hidden room said softly, looking down and slightly away. “You don't know us. You don't trust us. We used to be an assault squad. Now we live in here, with as much company as possible and just want... we just want to get married to these kind mares, settle down as husbands and be good fellows. That can't be bad, can it?”

Penny snorted softly and turned to the door. “You'll know what I decided. And don't bother to try just leaving. I'm here because I'm trustworthy. There will be investigations with a fine-toothed comb if the big stuff isn't still here. Something is going to happen.”

She marched her way down the darkened corridor, and began mentally preparing her report and thinking about how fast she could arrange transport home.

The Report

Bureau of Equestrian Security and Investigation After-Action Report and Summary

Investigating Agent: Agent 68, Penny Lane

Location of Incident: Trotford, in the County of West Emery

Nature of Incident: Threat to Citizenry

Further Intervention Status: Minor

Overview of Investigation

Agent 68 of the Canterlot BESI office was dispatched to the village of Trotford in order to investigate the rumors of a malevolent force harming the male population of the village. The investigation was initiated by the testimony of one Wind Chaser, a citizen of the village. He arrived in Canterlot in an agitated state, talking about mind control.

Initial constable intervention involved temporary commitment to the Canterlot Asylum. Particulars of the reports, those during the first contact and those after a night of rest and recuperation, were passed to the BESI office, which determined there was some reason to believe there was Changeling infiltration of the village.

After a follow-up interview by BESI investigators the case was determined to be plausible. A full sweep was contraindicated by the evidence, as only one complaint was noted, as suggestive as it was. Further investigation was ordered to determine the level of further intervention.

Agent 68 noted the stallions of the village appeared flippant, close-knit and fixated on alcohol and video games. Most mares appeared similarly closely connected, with seeming mistrust for outsiders. She found herself under non-unified observation, each mare operating as an independent observer noting her movements and questioning of citizens. Married couples appeared in great concord, with the stallions happily agreeing to what the mares said.

Further investigation resulted in the revelation of the actual happenings, recorded below as the Situational Particulars.

Situational Particulars

The Lady Mayor of the village, one Verdant Glade, along with the rest of the female population of the village, had been distantly observing Canterlot on the day of the Royal Wedding and Changeling Incursion when they observed the love wave in progress. Following the expulsion of the Changeling swarm some members of the assault team, identified as half the number of the Second Masquerade Siege Division, fell to earth outside the village of Trotford.

The Mayor, and the mares with her (names listed in supplemental attachments), took pity on the fallen Changelings. Not knowing they had participated in an assault on Equestria the Changelings were secreted beneath the city hall by said mares, who tended to their injuries, fed them, and provided uncoerced emotions to feed a yet-unnamed organ which processes emotions.

In the course of care one mare who had been engaged to a local stallion found herself abandoned before the wedding, the stallion having run off without informing anyone. One of the Changelings, identified by the name Obscura, took the form of the stallion and married said mare in the absent stallion's place.

The mayor and the other mares formulated a plan to continue the trend, in secret. Stallions were encouraged to become engaged to mares, then offered money and new identities, provided by the mayor, if they signed confidentiality agreements and moved to distant towns where they were wholly unknown, while Changelings took over their prior identities.

According to the Changelings, being husbands provided an unlimited supply of uncoerced emotion, with the added effect that excess emotion beyond that needed for feeding trickled down to those unattached, providing food for them as well, in the form of free-floating feeling or processed into a viscous green-gold fluid known simply as Changeling Honey.

Said money came from a certain degree of inventive but not dishonest bookkeeping on the part of the Lady Mayor and her accountants, who had all married Changeling drones. Non-indicative line items were put down, typically 'Civic Improvement' or 'Relocation Expenses.' Money came from government subsidies and requests, which was then shuffled through the budget while the work paid for by the money was done by volunteers, often the Changelings in the guise of outside workers.

The original complainant, Wind Chaser, brought the situation into focus because of the supposed brainwashing of his friend, Gold Bug. In point of fact, after studying the facts, the BESI located Gold Bug in a distant Viscounty, living under the name Gilded Cage. His confidentiality agreement forbade the divulging of particulars but he felt the need to inform his friend that he would not be there, in some sense, before his move. Further contact with Gold Bug, AKA Gilded Cage, corroborated the story, including meetings between said stallion and Wind Chaser.

None of the other stallions located by subsequent BESI investigation of the sealed records reported any harm or force used against them. The offer seemed reasonable though they were unaware that they would be replaced by lookalikes. They had assumed they were being given a gift, as each one noted marriage was not a strong desire.

The mares involved, including the Lady Mayor, as well as the Changelings so recorded, remain in Trotford. The BESI agents assigned to observe the situation have reported no escapes or attempted escapes and all involved have been fully cooperative with the Bureau and agents.

The only significant change in the situation since the revelation of the Changeling presence and the arrival of a BESI observation team has been the removal of disguises. All Changelings who married mares have opted to reveal their natural selves. According to reports the actions taken, such as daily trips to shops or on dates, have not been altered, and shopkeepers have not noted any change in spending habits.

Action Recommendation

As the Lady Mayor and mares of Trotford were unaware of the nature of the Changelings there exists no malice in their activity. At the time there were no restrictions on interacting with Changelings, and likely such restrictions would have been ignored for a higher Equestrian drive towards empathy and compassion for the sick and injured. They were not intent on abetting criminals, nor was there intent to rebel or commit treason. Absent intent, no criminal charges can be pressed.

The Changelings have demonstrated no hostility towards Equestria or its citizens; on the contrary, by the numbers they have ably contributed through roundabout payroll taxes and acts of public works and beautification. This is in addition to fees paid for marriage, joint purchases involving sales tax and the advancement of the general welfare through spreading happiness and love.

Additionally, the Changelings have no contact with other members of the swarm, and have no idea what has become of the defeated Queen Chrysalis. They have willingly disavowed loyalty to Chrysalis and their prior military and social service. On the condition of general amnesty and refugee status they have agreed to swear their loyalty to the Princesses and the Principality of Equestria to become citizens in good standing. Some thought they had a fast track due to being married to Equestrian citizens, but the marriages were required to be annulled because they were made under names not their own. They quickly reapplied for marriage certificates and the approval came through speedily.

With the revelation, the mares of the town could openly court the Changelings that had been revealed, with whom they had already started forming relationships. It cut out the necessity of first seducing and learning about a stallion in order to pay him off and replace him.

Because of all the above, minimum further intervention is required. Occasional checks as with any other refugee, reports to Canterlot and further examination for other Changelings who desire to be made part of Equestria.

“Mayor... this has been an interesting thing,” Penny Lane said as she shook hooves with Verdant in her office at city hall. It was plainly decorated, as was appropriate for a small village. There was nothing but a modest wooden desk, a few cushions in front of it, a potted plant and pictures on the wall. Most of them were of the town but one was of a very happy Changeling. “It's one of the most interesting cases of my career and nothing is likely to top it.”

“Thank you, Agent Lane. Without you none of this could have been possible,” Verdant said, looking out the window. A large, well-made figure of Queen Chrysalis was drawn through the streets by the stallions of the village while Changelings flew an escort for it. “We owe you much.”

“It was my pleasure. The report has been received and the action notes are being taken seriously. So you and your Changelings have nothing to fear,” Penny said, looking out at the figure as well. “That thing is disturbingly well made. I'm not even going to ask how long it took.”

“A week. A week of serious cooperative work. It was a labor of hate, and we meant every bit of it,” Verdant said with a firm nod.

“Well, should look good on fire. I can't wait until you torch it and roast vegetables over the flames. That's non-toxic paint and such on there, right?” Penny asked.

“Of course! This is a huge celebration. All the single Changelings are taking their Equestrian Citizenship oaths, and that's very special. We planned out every detail, and want it all to be wonderful,” Verdant said, walking towards the doors to her office. “Do you have any other matters that need clarification?”

“Nope. I can rubber-stamp my follow-up and send it off, and just enjoy myself at the big bonfire. Then I'll head back to Canterlot,” Penny said, opening the doors for the mayor.

The small room outside the office was little more than a modest antechamber, with a large window, a few cushions and a small desk, behind which sat the Changeling from the picture in Verdant's office. He smiled as Verdant emerged and he blew a kiss to her. “See you at the bonfire.”

“Best receptionist I ever had. And not bad looking. Can't wait for the wedding,” Verdant said with a laugh. She then turned to Penny and motioned to the lovestruck Changeling receptionist. “Sure you need to head back to Canterlot? Some of the guys don't have a specific mare they like...”

“No offense, Mayor, but... I guess Changelings just don't do it for me. I get that they make great husbands and... well, I'm not sure I want to know the lovemaking details but I'm guessing that's good too. And maybe there will be foals from this but I'm not sure so, I guess that's something else for us to look into later on. But it's ponies for me. Maybe donkeys. Or zebras. Or I'll take up that dinner offer from Goethite in Operations. But yeah, Changelings aren't on my romance map,” Penny said with a soft laugh.

“That's alright. To think of it I think most of the mares in town are a little attached to those fellows,” Verdant said with a laugh. “I hope you enjoy the festivities and convey our best wishes to Canterlot.”

“You bet! I think the Princesses will be glad that love and peace reign in the principality once more. And Cadance will be pleased to hear that Changelings are burning Chrysalis in effigy while marrying ponies. She won't say it out loud, she's too nice for that but she'll think it,” Penny chuckled.

“I don't doubt it. Until the evening, Agent Lane,” Verdant said, waving as Penny left. She turned and sauntered back to her receptionist and planted a kiss on his lips. “I'm so happy it all worked out. I was afraid... I mean... when the word came about the crackdown...”

“We were afraid too. But we knew that love would prevail. It's why Changelings can live so well in Equestria. There's so much love we can just savor life. We don't need Chrysalis. If we want a female to command us... well, that's why we get married,” the receptionist said with a buzzing laugh.

Verdant kissed the Changeling on the tip of his snout and gave him a push with her snout. “Silly. Come on. We've gotta get ready to roast vegetables on your former queen's effigy.”