Love for a Change!

Chapters

1. A Change of Scenery
2. Welcome to Wensleydale
3. The Lady and the Letter
4. Murky Motives and a Matter of Trust

1. A Change of Scenery

Princess Twilight Sparkle’s eyes strained to see through the foggy murk as the occasional sensation of water droplets on her legs made her shiver from hooves to horn. The sway and occasional rushing sound of water against the ferry's metal hull did less to throw Twilight off balance than the disorienting, directionless air around her. The stars would have been lovely over the calm sea if their glow were only a little brighter. The full moon’s light was only slightly visible in the low-hanging clouds that formed a thick blanket over the frowning princess’s worry-filled gaze. The letters on slightly moistened pages began to blur in her vision, despite her flashlight’s best illuminative efforts.

“Twilight dear, come inside; you’ll catch a cold!” a familiar voice came from inside the warm and inviting ferry cabin, “What are you doing out here all by yourself? Is everything alright?”

“Hm? Oh, sorry. I didn’t mean to worry you, Rarity. It’s just three days, cramped in that little room…I just needed some air, even if it is more cloud than sky out here.”

“I know what you mean. This weather has done nothing for my mane. It’s taking every effort just to keep it from…” Rarity paused with a small gasp as several strands of her mane began to wave and curl in every direction, “…doing THAT.”

Twilight stifled an amused smile as she closed her book with a moist pop. She watched as Rarity used her magic to pull the blue diamond scarf she was wearing from around her neck to gather her mane with a whining sigh.

“I didn’t expect the map to send us somewhere else so soon, especially somewhere with such DREADFUL weather–“

“ – I know right! Why can’t we solve friendship problems somewhere where Pegasus ponies do their job. This is ridiculous,” a scratchy and highly irritated voice interrupted, motioning to the thick soupy clouds around her. Rainbow Dash trotted towards the pair, shaking her wings and fog-moistened mane. “I can’t even FLY in this soup! I better get a horrific monster fight out of it this time! AJ would be so jealous,” Rainbow Dash grumped. Rarity rolled her eyes with a sigh.

“I could really use a good laugh from Pinkie Pie, or a kind word or two from Fluttershy, but unfortunately the map called us specifically…I wonder what they’re up to right now,” Twilight mused aloud with a sad sigh. Rarity shook her head before holding it high.

“That it did – because whatever lies in store for us, the three of us are the most qualified to handle it. Let’s just be thankful the others can stay safe in Ponyville while we’re out on this jaunt. Do we have any idea where it’s sending us this time?” Rarity asked. Twilight gave an enthusiastic nod.

“Yes actually! It’s why I brought this particular book. When our cutiemark symbols hovered over the map, I noticed several small villages I recognized. We’re headed to the southern hamlets just below the city Trottingham. I’m not sure exactly which village, but it doesn’t hurt to know the terrain, lore, mythos, culture, habits, customs –“

“MONSTERS? Are there any monsters?” Rainbow interrupted with a slight squeak in her tone.

“Not that I’ve read…although,” Twilight paused as she reopened the book, turning the pages as if looking for a specific passage.

“Yes?” Rainbow Dash asked with building anticipation in her voice. Twilight stopped flipping pages and lifted her flashlight close. She squinted and scanned the words as best as the foggy air would allow before reading them aloud.

“The Trottingham Hamlets are home to many unusual plants. Many are benign flora such as giant pepper roses which are used to spice certain native dishes, rainbow vines which are said to change color depending on time of day, and the dancing daisies which shake when you water them.

However, there are other strange flowers, found in the Neighmurk Moors just north of the hamlets, which are said to be carnivorous -- feeding on whatever living creature that is unfortunate enough to cross their path. One giant variety, called the “Lovely Princess’s Snare” is the most dangerous of all and should be avoided at all costs. Their vines are said to be inescapable, coiling and strangling whatever poor creature gets too close before dragging them into a maw of petals and teeth. Nopony has ever seen one and returned whole…” Twilight shuttered as she shut her book with a slightly wet sounding pop.

“Death flowers? Laaaaaaame…” Rainbow dash huffed with a roll of her eyes.

“Let’s just hope we don’t have to deal with any of those…I don’t like the sound of “Princess’s Snare” at all,” Twilight winced.

“Agreed!” Rarity chimed in with a yawn. “Anyway, that’s enough banter for one evening. We should get back to the cabin and get some rest. Who knows what will be waiting for us once we find dry land.”

“Might as well, it’s not like there’s anything to do out here,” Dash scowled with a flick of her wings. Twilight nodded a sigh, giving one more wary glance to the open water before following her friends back into the confining cabin.

~*~

Twilight flapped her wings to see if the water-frayed feathers might still let her fly as the sensation of wet, broken boards beneath her hooves sent an uncomfortable shiver through her legs. Annoyed grunts from the seemingly grounded Pegasus beside her served as a small consolation as the three friends traveled towards what looked like a grey-painted fishing village. Rarity adjusted her pale blue diamond scarf, still firmly wrapping her suffering mane, as stray strands of fog-curled hair threatened to poke through.

“Dreadful…” she sighed, discerning eyes catching the somber pallet of the fishing village like a wave of murky froth. “Maybe the map sent us here to freshen up the atmosphere around here, ugh!” Rarity choked as a sudden stench of sea brine and old fish caught in her throat.

“I doubt that, unless the fish merchants lost all their friends because of the stench, blegh!” Rainbow Dash grunted as she flicked some fresh droplets off her wings. The three continued along the pier, looking to the gruff, smile-less dock workers before stern looks cause their eyes to wander back to the ground or other non-sentient objects. The three mares continued down the pier until three figures, coming from the opposite directions came to block their path.

“Princess Twilight Sparkle and two of the elements of harmony, I presume?” one of them, a cream-colored earth pony mare with a band aide under one eye and a blackened paint smear under the other, asked with a smirk. Her emerald eyes seemed to glow with obscured knowledge as she moved a gloved hoof to adjust the collar of her weather-worn work shirt.

The two stallions in her company, grim-faced Pegasus ponies with weathered coats and cropped manes, seemed to be dressed in casual combat gear, saddle bags only barely concealing their weapons and ammunition. The sight of them caused Twilight to take a step back.

“Do, do we know you?” Rainbow Dash asked, leaning forward a little into the question.

“No, but we make it a point to know fellow defenders of Equestria and their movements. Name’s Pepperjack. I’m the leader of the Militia of Combat Keepers and these are my officers, Hollowpoint and Thrill Blitz,” Pepperjack motioned with her hoof before giving a slight head-bow to Twilight, making her chocolate brown, pony-tailed mane fall slightly over her shoulder.

“N-Nice to meet you, Pepperjack – Hollowpoint, Thrill Blitz. These are the elements of Loyalty and Generosity; Rainbow Dash and Rarity,” Twilight spoke with a nervous smile.

“We’re glad you’re here. There’s a situation in Wensleydale we can’t handle with our current numbers and it’s getting worse. We’ve petitioned to Her Royal Highness, Princess Celestia, may she forever reign, for help in this matter. I’m glad she’s finally answered our call,” Pepperjack said with closed eyes and a hoof over her heart. The others in her company did the same.

“Um, Celestia didn’t send us – our map did,” Rainbow Dash shrugged. Rarity gave her a scolding look before Twilight filled the silence.

“What Rainbow means to say is, what’s the situation and how can we help?”

Pepperjack gave a suspicious look to nearby merchants, who ears seemed to be wandering despite their hooves' concentration on work. She silently motioned for the three mares to follow her towards the inner harbor. Twilight nodded as the three mares followed the rough looking trio away from the docks and into unknown territory.

The group of six ponies walked through the stone and wood streets, which seamed to become less populated the further they traveled, before coming to what looked like a run-down, matchbox of a pub in a dark corner of the inner harbor. Twilight felt her heart pounding in her chest as she crossed the threshold into the darkened building.

The inside of the pub smelled like dust and wet wood, and the lighting left everypony grasping for details in the small space. From what Twilight could tell they were the only ponies in the pub aside from the bar keep who idly wiped a glass with a well-weathered rag. The earth pony looked up from his rhythmic cleaning to give a mildly welcoming nod to the group.

“Hollowpoint,” he curtly spoke beneath a bushy mustache. Hollowpoint nodded back.

“Jenkins. We’ll take the usual. Water for the ladies,” he said as the group moved to the back corner of the room. The table wobbled slightly as the group sat around it, an uneasy flutter flowing to Twilight’s wings as her eyes moved to rest on an old flickering candle. Her momentary fixation was interrupted by three giant steins of hard cider being placed on the table with haphazard hooves. The three glasses of water that followed seemed to be placed with relative care as a gentle flutter of fake lashes caused the bar keep’s cheeks to flush.

“Hey – I want cider!!” Rainbow Dash shouted with a creaky-voiced pout. Thrill Blitz smirked with a small chuckle.

“Not this cider, miss. It’ll melt your pretty little wings off,” he asserted with a nod.

Pepperjack lifted her stein, looking to her officers to follow suit. Twilight hesitated for a moment, looking to Rarity and Rainbow Dash, before she raised her water glasses.

“To reinforcements,” Pepperjack spoke with restrained enthusiasm.

“To reinforcements,” Hollowpoint and Thrill Blitz repeated before taking a great swig of cider.

Twilight wordlessly took a sip of her water, smacked her lips together at the stagnant taste, before placing the glass down again.

“Alright, so what’s this situation?” she asked. Pepperjack took another swig of cider before closing her eyes, taking a deep breath and fixing her intense emerald gaze squarely on the princess sitting across from her.

“Changelings. A massive, systemic, infestation in the hamlets,” she informed with no hint of whimsy or jest in her tone. The three mares exchanged worried looks before questioning eyes looked to the officers for a different answer.

“Are you sure – how can you be so certain?” Rarity asked placing a hoof over her chest.

“Because they USED to walk around without taking disguises – brazen buggers -- that was before we formed the militia, stepped up and tried to protect the ponies they had in their thrall. Unfortunately, we were too few to stop them and now they’ve brainwashed the mayor of Wensleydale into thinking we’re the enemy. Though we still have some members stationed in town, the three of us can’t set hoof within 10 miles of the hamlets without the threat of capture. It’s why kept sending letters to Her Royal Radiance to send help – and whether directly or through some map, she answered our call by sending you here. We all know what you did to protect Canterlot and expel Queen Chrysalis and her drones. Now that you’re a princess, you and your friends should have no problem doing it again,” Pepperjack explained with a nod.

“Yes we helped but…there’s just one problem –“ Twilight started as a squeaky voice spoke over her.

“We weren’t the ones to actually get rid of the changelings in Canterlot -- Princess Cadence and Shining armor did, with shining pink love explosions!” Rainbow Dash interrupted with an exaggerated wave of her arms. Pepperjack shook her head with a determined smile.

“That may be the case, but that was BEFORE lady Twilight here became a princess. That and you have the advantage of prior dealings with these beasts and knowing their habits…” Pepperjack paused with a sad sigh. “I know it’s a lot to ask, but please – these ponies need help. If someone doesn’t do something, all the ponies, including my baby sister will…I don’t want to think about what will happen.” Pepperjack's determined look quickly changed to one of despair as small tears began forming in her emerald vision. She took a large swig of cider and managed to contain them. The three mares exchanged sad looks before their faces turned to ones of decision and resolve.

“We’ll do what we can to save your sister, to save everypony in the hamlets from the swarm,” Twilight quietly declared.

“Thank you, this means so much to us all – especially since we can’t help our operatives in town, they'll need guidance --"

"How will we know who they are when we get there?" Rainbow Dash asked. Pepperjack's face grew dark for a moment before responding.

"The militia was forced into hiding when we failed to release the changelings' hold over Wensleydale. They sent word to the rest of the swarm in the lower hamlets, too. I'm afraid the only way my troops will reveal themselves is if you're able to expose their leader. They'll be more than happy to help you kick the snot out of him -- but they wont risk exposing themselves before that happens I'm afraid," Pepperjack said, hoof finding her cider stein was growing lighter with each passing moment.

"While we can’t help you directly – we can back you up. Do you know about the moors?” Pepperjack asked, motioning for Jenkins to bring her a fresh stien.

“We know enough to stay away from them,” Rarity spoke, images recalled from Twilight’s description caused her to shudder.

“Good call. We know our way well enough in them, and can set up camp nearby in case things go south,” Pepperjack motioned to Thrill Blitz who moved to dig around in his over-burdened saddle bag to pull out three flare guns. He moved them across the table to the three mares before them. “If you get into trouble, shoot off one of these and we’ll come in and get you out.”

Twilight took the flare gun with an unsure hoof. The cutie map got the three of them into something big, bigger than the usual friendship problems they were used to working through, and the sinking feeling caused the princess among them to wish the three of them heading into Wensleydale were the full six.

~*~

The sky seemed to mirror the three mares’ mood as grey clouds swirled above them with the occasional rumble. The only relief seemed to come from the cool, dry earth beneath them as they traveled the long pike that threaded through the inner hamlets. Along with the flare guns, Pepperjack and her companions provided maps as well as extra food rations in case the confusing paths and weathered map lead them astray. Rainbow Dash flew in tight loops above the pair of horned mares letting out occasional hoots of joy and relief at the feeling of air beneath her once more.

“Rainbow Dash, could you please stop – try and be more inconspicuous!” Rarity scolded. Her words were seemingly lost on the wind as trails of rainbow’s tail began to show through the gloom. Rarity rolled her eyes. “Honestly…”

“Ah, let her go. We’ll have to be very careful once we get to Wensleydale. I doubt she’ll get another chance to let loose,” Twilight looked to the looping Pegasus with a slight glint of jealousy in her amethyst eyes as her wings gave a nervous twitch.

“Pepperjack had a point though. We do know what to expect with changelings. But if they’re all disguised, and the mayor is under their control, how can we possibly stop them?” Rarity mused aloud with a slight whine.

“We find their leader, rough ‘em up and send them packing with their tails between their legs,” Rainbow Dash asserted as she came to land beside Rarity who shook her head.

“We can’t go in with brute force – that didn’t work the first time!” she scolded.

“Something tells me we’ll have to observe and try to trick them into revealing themselves somehow. I know I can erase their disguises with my magic, but if I hit the wrong pony with the spell, I could do even more damage to already weakened ponies,” Twilight mused with uncertainty in her sad eyes.

“And when we reveal them, what then? Will the members of the militia really risk being captured by them, and maybe worse to help us like Pepperjack said?” Rarity asked with a raised brow. Twilight looked to the ground before her in thought as the only thing that stuck out in her mind made its way to her mouth.

“Once we have proof of changeling presence – we’ll fall back and send a letter to Princess Celestia asking for reinforcements.”

“I thought we WERE the reinforcements,” Rainbow Dash remarked earning her a disapproving look from Rarity.

“You’re not helping –" Rarity started as a sudden cry from further up the path quieted the doubts and gave the three mares pause.

“Did you hear that?” Twilight asked, as a weaker cry that sounded like “help!” called out once again. The three looked to one another for a brief moment before thundering up the path towards the sound of the weak call. Rainbow Dash took to the air, scanning the ground for any signs of a creature in distress as her eyes took in large pepper-rose bushes just ahead of them.

Her keen eyes picked up something tangled in a large bramble, twisting weakly and trembling as large thorns dug deep into its form. Rainbow dived to hover just over the struggling creature, a young unicorn stallion in her vision.

“Don’t worry, help is here,” Rainbow leaned down and spoke in the most soothing tone she could muster before calling out to the others, “OVER HERE!”

Rarity and Twilight made their way through the treacherous rose bushes, using their unicorn magic to move the brambles and clear their path. When they reached the trapped stallion, the magic-users effortlessly moved the tangled flowers and thorns, freeing the trapped stallion. Though he would have fallen only a few inches, Twilight used her magic to gently place him on the ground.

Three pairs of concerned eyes came to rest on the stallion, who seemed to suffer far more injuries than what a pepper-rose bush could muster. He was sickly thin beneath his tattered brown cloak with deep, dark bags beneath his dull amber eyes. His yellow coat looked faded and dull, and his black mane hung lank over his face and down his neck.

“T-thank you for saving me. I took a tumble down the path and I thought I’d be in there forever,” he spoke with a slow, raspy drawl as he used sputtering magic to pull what looked like a very robust first aid kit from his pack. Rarity's blue glow opened the pack and began applying the bandages and salves over his wounds, earning her a sad, pitiful "thank you".

“Are you alright? You look pretty, uh…well…” Rainbow started as the looks on Twilight and Rarity’s faces caused her to re-think her words. The weak looking stallion gave a soft smile and shook his head.

“Terrible? It's okay; you can say it, I know,” he stifled a yawn. “I haven’t gotten much sleep lately, what with what’s been happening…” the stallion looked panicked for a moment, as if saying something he shouldn’t before coughing for a moment and giving a nervous smile. “My name is H-Hoodwink. May I please ask the names of my rescuers?”

The three mares introduced themselves, earning them a grateful bow from Hoodwink.

“Wonderful to meet you all. It’s not everyday one meets such heroes as a princess and elements of harmony. Although I have no right to ask, may I ask—no, beg a favor from you?”

“Sure, how can we help?” Twilight asked with a concerned smile.

“I may need some help getting to my destination. My master sent me with a message to a friend in Wensleydale. I may need an escort, less I have another tussle with any more plants…”

“Your master?” Twilight asked.

“Yes, I am the personal valet of Count Torcas; he lives just beyond the Neighmurk Moors and I often run errands for him in the lower hamlets.”

“You traveled through the moors, in your condition?” Rainbow blurted. Her words caused a small chuckle to come from Hoodwink.

“They’re not as bad as you may have heard, if you know the way,” Hoodwink informed with a confident smile. “Though, the trip has taken a bit of a toll on me this time around,” Hoodwink admitted as he looked to his tattered hood with a sigh. The three exchanged a quick glance as Twilight gave a firm nod.

“We’d be happy to escort you. As it happens, we’re on our way to Wensleydale, anyway,” Twilight spoke, choosing her words very carefully. A hopeful shine came to Hoodwink's eyes as he gave an excited gasp.

“Oh, how wonderful! A visit from a princess will really go a long way to cheer everyone up!” Hoodwink’s eyes went wide again as a small drop of sweat formed on the side of his brow. He cleared his throat and gave a stuttering comment regarding the weather being the cause of a great amount of gloom. None of the mares made motion to dispute that statement as the four ponies continued on to their uncertain and worrisome destination.

Author's Note

Hello Everypony!

Bronies with changeling OC's -- want your OC featured in this story? Please send me a message or leave a comment and I'll do my best to include them.

2. Welcome to Wensleydale

Despite the ominous grey clouds and scent of impending rain on the wind, the cozy little village of Wensleydale seemed to radiate an inner warmth. Rainbow vines, which neatly coiled around well-kept cottage walls, slightly shimmered morning reds and oranges from what little light came to their leaves. Gaggles of foals, though slightly tired and thin looking to the visiting mares, galloped to manicured pots of dancing daises in anticipation of when the clouds would deliver their seeming promise of rain.

Twilight and the other mares looked to the townsfolk for any suspicious behavior, only to see tired but otherwise cheerful looking ponies. Wensleydale’s resemblance to Ponyville in its mood, architecture, and its denizens seemed to cause a slight unnerving rumble in the pit of Twilight’s stomach as they walked through the welcoming lane with Hoodwink guiding their steps.

“Thank you again for seeing me here safely. Are you hungry at all? The Skyfire Café has the best pepper-rose scones in all of Equestira,” Hoodwink offered.

“I am feeling a bit peckish. However, first thing's first -- where is the salon?” Rarity asked motioning to a mane that started to resemble an angry octopus. Hoodwink smiled and pointed to the end of the lane.

"Just down the avenue; Moonlight Blossom Salon and Spa -- Count Torcas raves about the service there and he is NOT a forgiving stallion when it comes to his looks," Hoodwink asserted causing an excited shine to come to the unicorn's sapphire eyes.

“It wouldn’t hurt to take in the sights while we’re visiting,” Twilight mused aloud, mind quickly working as a small, knowing smile came to her face, "Why don't you check out that spa, Rarity? I mean, any place that caters to a regular like the count would be a place worth visiting, and we'll meet you there once we're done at the cafe." Rarity blinked the remaining ignorance from her eyes as she gave an understanding nod.

"Sounds wonderful, I'll see you ladies later," Rarity nearly sung as she trotted in the direction of the spa.

“I’d be more than happy to take you by the cafe, it's the least I can do,” Hoodwink nodded as he turned to talk in the direction of Skyfire Café. Rainbow Dash and Twilight exchanged a look before following.

When they arrived Twilight noted the full seats and bustling atmosphere around the café’s patio. Some of the ponies, who sat sipping tea and eating snacks, seemed as healthy and normal as a pony could look, while others looked worn and sick despite their smiles and assurances.

“Hello, welcome to Skyfire Café!” An orange-coated Pegasus with what looked like flames for a mane called as she trotted over to the four with a spring in her hooves. Her mane seemed to burn as bright as her honest smile as she held up a note pad and pen. “How many?”

“Two,” Hoodwink answered with an apologetic bow, “I’d love to stay and dine with you all – but I have business about town. I know Miss Skyfire here will take great care of you. Once again, I’m very grateful for your help today and I hope we’ll meet again soon.”

“We hope so too, take care!” Twilight spoke with sincerity in her tone as the three waved and Hoodwink weakly walked away with a nervous flick of his tail.

“Right this way ladies! I have a table inside for a – princess I can assume?” Skyfire asked with excitement in her eyes.

“Yep, she’s the former star student of Celestia, the Princess of Friendship: Twilight Sparkle,” Rainbow Dash said with less enthusiasm than the first thirty or so times it was announced in her presence.

“That’s so cool – I’ve never had a princess in my café before. Um, is there like any protocol I need to follow -- bowing, certain number of cups, anything like that?” Skyfire asked with a worried pause.

“No, no – of course not, just the usual sitting and menu-giving,” Twilight felt her guard drop a little before giving a little cough and a nervous chuckle – which seemed to return a smile to Slyfire’s face. She quickly placed the menus down before them, ensuring none were crooked or backwards before allowing them to take their seats.

“Great! Please make yourself comfortable and,” Skyfire paused to look at her mini seating chart within her notebook, “Ah – Mode Seven will be your server. He’ll take great care of you. Please enjoy!” Skyfire said with a smile as she trotted towards the kitchen. Twilight watched her leave with a forced grin before turning her attention to Rainbow Dash who was seemingly reviewing the menu with mild surprise but little real interest.

"Huh, I didn't know Cloud Cookie Flip Cakes were a thing outside of Cloudsdale..."

"Rainbow, focus! I need to be keeping an eye out for suspicious or odd behavior," Twilight hissed through forced-grinning teeth as she waved to a small foal who she'd caught staring at her twitching wings. Rainbow Dash sighed and gave her a face AppleJack would approve of as she did her best to lower her raised brow.

"Twilight, the only reason you knew about Chrysalis was because she didn't get Cadence's personality right. We're probably not going to notice a thing off about..." Rainbow paused, motioning to a figure standing behind Twilight.

"Welcome to Skyfire Cafe, what can I get for you today?" the figure, a zebra with a finely-styled mane and a black turtleneck asked as his kind eyes seemed to sooth the tension at the table.

"Oh- Hello! Um, we need a minute to look the menus, but we'll both start with water," Twilight nervously spoke. Mode Seven nodded.

"May I recommend the peppered rose hot chocolate? Its spicy-sweet and a decision you won't regret," Mode asserted with a smiling nod.

"So do ALL of you zebras speak in rhyme?" Rainbow Dash blurted, earning her an outraged look from Twilight. Mode's smile faded as he quickly looked around for a flaming mane before leaning towards the table.

"Ugh, no! We don't. Skyfire told me to because she thought it would be a novelty and help business. I can't say she's wrong though -- bits are better when I do," Mode rolled his eyes with a sigh. For the first time since they arrived, Twilight's face softened, as she shot a sincere smile in Mode Seven's direction.

"Well you don't need to do that for for Rainbow and me, because I think it's kinda silly..." Twilight's eyes went wide for a moment before both she and Mode Seven shared a relieved laugh. "Let me get you those hot chocolates, on me, take your time," Mode insisted as he walked towards the kitchen.

"Modemodemodemodemodemodemode," Skyfire excitedly whispered as she waved a hoof for him to follow her into the kitchen.

"Yes?" Mode asked with an unsure sheen in his eyes.

"She's a princess, there's a princess in our cafe!" Skyfire squeaked, "How is she, is she nice? Is she royal?"

"She's thirsty. I'm going to fix her and her friend rose pepper hot chocolate while they look at the menus, like all of the other patrons -- how's Clora Phil holding up?" Mode asked, looking towards the inner part of the kitchen, where two cooks worked in harmony to handle the orders that had been flowing in since the cafe opened. One of the two chefs, a stallion with a dull green coat and a thin blue mane looked worn, baggy eyelids threatening to close at any moment.

"I told him to take some more time off but he just won't listen," Skyfire sighed.

"They never do. He won't last much longer at this rate. Has another batch arrived yet?" Mode asked as he turned to pull out two fancy-looking mugs and moved to a large, simmering pot of molten chocolate.

"Should be here sometime today, according to Laser Lemon. I hope it's stronger than the last batch -- who knows how long all this hiding is going to go on," Skyfire sighed as she handed Mode Seven a basket full of what looked like dried rose petals. Mode took the basket and generously sprinkled some of the dried petals into the cups of steaming, rich-smelling chocolate.

"We can only hope the mayor can deal with these militia members so things can go back to normal around here. I have a feeling the princess's arrival here may speed things up a bit," Mode Seven smiled as he placed the hot chocolate-filled mugs on a tray, balanced it on his head and walked back towards the princess who filled his heart with hope.

~*~

Hoodwink passed the clerk with an acknowledging nod, as she waved him on without so much as a sideways glance. The exhausted-looking mare snorted, eyes barely staying open, as he passed. Town hall seemed quieter compared to previous visits he'd made, the few workers that remained since the militia's stand seemed stressed but too tired to rush in his own half-closed eyes.

Hoodwink came up to a large wooden door, and raised a trembling hoof to knock when the massive slab quickly opened to reveal a familiar, irate mare's face.

"What took you so long?" She asked with an angry and worried intensity in her bright yellow eyes. Her black and white sport's coat made a rustling sound as she pulled Hoodwink into the room with a small gasp. He barely remained on his hooves as the mare pushed him towards the mayor's desk with a firm, pale-yellow hoof.

"Lemon, not so rough," Hoodwink winced as the sensation of sore wounds being slightly re-opened made it's way into his consciousness.

"What happened, did you fall into the roses again? You clumsy idiot, I swear! I told you to wait for me, but noooo, 'I can handle this Lemon, I'm well enough to go by myself, Lemon'--"

"Laser Lemon, that's quite enough," the mayor, who had a firm brown hoof over his face firmly spoke with a sigh, "What matters is that he's here now. What word do you bring from Neighmurk, Monkshood?" the mayor asked.

"Don't call him that, Manefred -- you don't know who could be listening," Laser Lemon hissed as she shot a suspicious gaze to the mayor's assistant, a light brown stallion with a bucket hat who seemed far more interested in organizing law books and invoices than their conversation.

"Oh and 'Hoodwink' is any better? It means "to trick somepony." Very subtle," Manefred scoffed.

"Well he wouldn't go with my suggestion..." Lemon huffed.

"I'm not a Hoodlum, Lemon," the stallion who called himself Hoodwink pouted.

"Yeah you're not; you don't have enough cred--"

"ANYWAY, we're safe in here, unless you were unsuccessful in rooting out the remaining militia members..." Mayor Manefred asked with a tilt of his head and a raise of his brow.

"I got them all, don't you worry. The only ones not in jail are the three we know about; they're the most dangerous, and resourceful of all," Laser Lemon asserted through gritted teeth as thoughts of the mare among them made the hair on the back of her neck bristle.

"At any rate..." Mayor Manefred looked to the stallion, whom he called 'Monkshood", with a wanting gaze.

"Ah, yes sir. I have detailed letters from the Count and the Lady right here, along with the next batch of potions. The Lady ensures that, while they are still not what we'll need in the long run, they'll be sufficient to keep everyone in good health for much longer," Monkshood nodded and pulled the notes along with two small packages from his saddlebags. They made a small clinking sound as he placed them on the desk in front of Manefred, who took them with a relieved smile.

"Same dosage as the last batch?" Manefred asked, opening one of the packages and taking one of the vials out. He held the small vial filled with thick, slimy looking ooze and swirled it about in his hoof with an inspecting gaze.

"Less actually, only one drop under the tongue instead of two. Doesn't taste nearly as bad either. It's rather minty," Monkshood mused as he swishes his tongue in his mouth, as if trying to feel for the taste.

"Is that old lady using you as a guinea pig again? Not that I care, but should she be doing that in your condition?"

"Who else can she use? The count? You know she won't risk that," Monkshood sighed as Laser Lemon stamped a hoof with a snort.

"Anything else to report?" Mayor Manefred asked with an impatient tick.

"Yes actually," Monkshood's face seemed to brighten as he spoke, "A princess is here. The Princess of Friendship, Twilight Sparkle, along with two of the Elements of Harmony. I'm sure once we explain things to her, she'll be able to help us --"

"Uh, the princess who helped rid Canterlot of Queen Chrysalis's army? Are you serious? She's the last thing we need!" Laser Lemon shouted as Monkshood rubbed his ringing ear. Mayor Manfred looked away for a moment as a slowly spreading smile came to his face.

"There is someone who might make her understand..." Mayor Manefred stated, gaze resting on Monkshood with implication and suggestion. Monkshood's eye's widened for a moment before bringing a shaking hoof to his muzzle in thought.

"Bring Princess Twilight to the Lady? Are you sure that's a good idea? I know the Lady will not like that, not one bit," Monkshood mused out loud.

"If anyone can convince the princess to help us, it's her," Mayor Manefred nodded to the pair with a knowing spark in his sky blue eyes. Laser Lemon scoweled and squinted for a moment before fully closing her eyes with a nod.

"You're right, for once. The old bag might be able to explain things better than we can. Come one whatever your name is, we need to go collect some ponies and head out," Laser Lemon commanded with a flick of her short, bright-yellow tail.

"Y-You're coming too?"

"Duh, I'm not letting you go through Neighmurk like that and with three strange mares," Laser Lemon spoke as she shot a sharp gaze to the stallion, causing his steps to momentarily falter as they made their way from the mayor's office in the direction of Skyfire Cafe.

~*~

"...and then she says, 'is that your mane or did a griffon build a nest on your head?'" the stylist quipped, causing the purple-maned unicorn sitting just in front of her to howl with loud but dignified laughter.

"Oh my, Moonlight Blossom -- you are a delight! I'm so glad that nice young stallion recommended this place -- and wherever did you find this product?" Rarity gushed as she poured over the various bottled and tonics available in the brochure in her lap. The pink unicorn with silver and indigo stripes in her perfectly quaffed mane gently brushed through Rarity's frazzled mane as she brought sharpened sheers through it, removing small split ends that had formed during her journey.

"Let's just say I have very discerning customers who expect only the best. I would close this place down for good before I'd let any of my clients look less then perfect when they walk out that door," Moonlight Blossom asserted.

"A friend we met in town said a count visits here often?" Rarity asked with what sounded like innocence and ignorance despite the slight glow of knowledge behind her eyes. Moonlight's face grew bright for a moment as she gave a firm nod.

"Yes, Count Ca-- ahem, Torcas used to visit every week for his mane styling and trim, hoofacure, full-body massage, and facial treatments before," Moonlight paused with a sigh, "before all this nasty business with a group of thugs."

"Group of thugs?" Rarity asked with concern clear on her face.

"Nothing you need worry your pretty head over miss Rarity -- but let's just say there is an group causing a lot of trouble for us, a very dangerous lot, and well, they've threatened the count and his lady multiple times to the point they rarely risk coming into town anymore. It's a shame, and on top of that I lost my best customer," Moonlight shook her head as she began rubbing a sweet smelling conditioner in Rarity's mane. It was then that the door to the salon opened, causing the small bell tied about the threshold to jingle.

"Good afternoon, Moonlight Blossom," the weak-sounding voice meekly greeted with a yawn. Moonlight's face filled with shock and worry as she gently arranged Rarity's hair in a clip before trotting towards the door. Rarity's eyes occasionally drifted to the mirror, allowing her to see the interaction.

"Miss Kalila, are you alright? The Lady said you need to stay in bed," Moonlight softly spoke, moving a worried hoof beneath the rose-colored unicorn's chin. Kalila shook her lavender-maned head with a weak but very sweet smile.

"I took my medicine today and I'm feeling much better--"

"Two drops under the tongue?" Moonlight asked with a motherly tone. Kalila nodded with a small shudder as the memory of the algae-taste returned to her mind.

"Do you have any time for a leg massage today?" Kalila said, straining to walk to the waiting area where she sat with a thud and a wince.

"Of course, dear. Please feel free to fix yourself some tea and I'll take care of you once I'm done with this nice lady," Moonlight Blossom spoke as she walked back to where Rarity sat. She shook her head with a sigh.

"Is everything alright, Moonlight? She looks, rather exhausted," Rarity carefully inquired. Moonlight Blossom nodded with a saddened frown.

"Yes and no; unfortunately a bit of a super bug has been going around here and since things have been so restricted with that gang still on the loose, the medicine we need to help the sick can't get to us fast enough."

"That's terrible. Can't the hospitals take care of them, can't they acquire the medicines?"

"If only they could, but the medicine itself is terribly hard to produce, or so I've heard. There's only once place all the the ingredients can be found, and it takes a little over a month to fully leach all the curative juices out of it, according to the Count," Moonlight put the final touches on Rarity's mane before stylishly wrapping it up in her designer, blue-diamond scarf. "Now you're going to want to keep your hair up and allow the product to settle in. Plus, as I'm sure you're well aware, the weather is not kind to styled manes."

"Thank you so much for your help, Moonlight Blossom. I'll speak to my friends about this and see if they can't help get this medicine delivered any faster. Do you happen to know who we should talk to about this?" Rarity asked is she handed 20 bits to Moonlight. The stylish gave a soft, knowing smile as she answered.

"Count Torcas and his Lady."

3. The Lady and the Letter

The Lady and the Letter

The air in the Neighmurk Moors reeked of decaying plants and stagnant water as clouds of insects danced beneath thick tangles of trees. Pepperjack wiped fresh beads of sweat from her brow with the back of her hoof. She sniffled for a moment before turning to look behind her, ear twitching at a distant sound.

“They’re taking their sweet time…” Pepperjack growled as her tail flicked back and forth.

“These things take time, ma’am. We lost our opening the fast way – now we gotta wait it out,” Hollowpoint offered as he carefully cleaned what looked like a flaming projectile launcher.

“I can’t believe this. We were so close and now we have to rely on outsiders to do our job for us. I’m not ungrateful to Her Highness for sending the princess, but couldn’t she have come herself – and with her elite guard?” Pepperjack mused aloud as she paced around a damp but relatively dry patch of dirt.

“Princess Celestia, praise be her name, didn’t send the Princess of Friendship to us; she and her friends just kind of showed up,” Thrill Blitz offered with a dark tone in his voice.

“Do you think we made a miscalculation sending them in there?” Pepperjack asked with a raised brow. “No—No those ponies have seen changelings up close, they know what they are and how they should be dealt with.”

“Let’s hope you’re right on that,” Hollowpoint spoke with a nod as he placed his polishing rag down and began re-assembling his weapon. Pepperjack’s ears flicked again as more sounds within the darkened moor began to cause her hooves to quicken her pacing. It was then the sound of a crunched branch beneath an unknown hoof sent the three scrambling. Pepperjack darted behind a large tangle of vines and undergrowth, while Hollowpoint stowed the parts of his weapon within his saddlebags as the two Pegasus stallions took off for the canopy.
After a few moments that seemed to drag into eternity to the trio of militia members, a form emerged from the dark trees and rustling plants. Though the form was cloaked in a forest green cowl and cape, Pepperjack could tell it was equine – a unicorn, judging by the figure’s visibly large horn.

The unicorn was a great deal taller than any member of the trio, and walked with careful, almost floating steps through the treacherous landscape despite carrying two overburdened-looking saddle bags. It grunted in a tone that far better suited a mare than a stallion, her occasional flourishing step shifting what sounded like glass within the saddlebags.

The cloaked figure paused just below where the two pegasus stallions hid, not lingering long enough to be an easy mark, before nearly disappearing into the darkness. Pepperjack quickly scanned the ground around her, finding no crisp leaves or frail twigs in her way, before silently stalking in the direction the pony traveled. Slight shifting of branches from the trees above seemed to mirror her movements as Pepperjack carefully crept along the patches of underbrush and tangled vines.

Pepperjack stifled a gasp as the unicorn stopped just in front of what looked like a giant clove of turquoise and black garlic. She intently watched with shock and wonder as the bulb began to grumble and shift, barbed black vines creeping through its vibrant green leaves. Despite the horrific hissing sound that came from its tightly closed petals, the figure before it didn’t seem to flinch as a golden glow came to her horn. Pepperjack could see an amused smile on the figure’s illuminated face.

“Grumpy today, are we?” She spoke with a gruff, common-sounding voice that seemed unsuited to her graceful form, in Pepperjack’s perception. The unicorn used her golden glowing magic to pull a small vial filled with what looked like pink lemonade from one of her saddle bags and removed its stopper before turning her full attention to the shuddering bulb. Long, barbed vines began to swing and sway above her like venomous snakes ready to strike. “Oh, stop your belly-aching, you overgrown tulip!”

Pepperjack watched as the mysterious unicorn shot a beam of golden energy at the agitated plant, causing it to flail its vines and give a great screech before slowing its motions, and falling into what looked like the plant equivalent of sleep. Pepperjack’s heart nearly stopped as the cloaked figure pulled out what had to have been the largest hypodermic needle the earth pony had ever seen from within her opposite saddle bag and carefully stuck it into one of the plant’s lush, protruding roots. She pulled back the plunger, filling the glass syringe with thick, green slime.

Just as the syringe was nearly full, a large stick fell from the trees above with a snap and a rushing of leaves. It bounced off the unicorn’s head, causing her to gasp and give an annoyed grunt as she moved a hoof to rest and gently rub the stricken spot. In doing to, the deep-green cowl moved back slightly, revealing a lush, curled mane of nearly the same verdant hue. Her angry emerald eyes moves to the canopy above, but saw no sign of what caused the stick to fall.

Pepperjack’s eyes went wide for a moment as the revealed face of the unicorn caused her teeth to clinch and her brow to furrow.
“You…” she uttered, barely above a whisper and well below the sounds of creatures that chirped and croaked in the obscuring scenery. The unicorn gave a grunt before placing the filled syringe in her saddlebag and pouring the contents of the vial onto the prick point she’d made while extracting the green slime. The small wound fizzed for a moment, as the pink-lemonade looking liquid seeped in. After a few seconds the spot looked as if nothing had marred its pulsing green appendage. The unicorn quickly placed the emptied vial in her saddlebag before magically moving her cowl back in place and setting off into the darkness of the moor.

Pepperjack didn’t move. It took every measure of self-control she had not to charge after the graceful unicorn, settling for the trembling rage that threatened to move her into a foolhardy gallop. After what seemed like hours to the trio of militia members, the two pegasus stallions left their perches to stand beside their leader.

“What was that about?” Thrill Blitz asked with hint of disgust and mild curiosity in his tone.

“Hollowpoint, take a letter…” Pepperjack said in a low hiss, her long bangs slightly obscuring an intense stare that was fixated on a spot on the ground before her.

“Ma’am?” Hollowpoint asked with a raised brow. Despite the question, he reached into his saddlebag, sifting through ammunition, spare weapon parts, and his various autographed photos of his favorite princess, and pulled out a blank piece of parchment and a self-inking quill.
“Things just got a whole lot worse for us. We can’t wait on Twilight Sparkle and her friends – we need to get hooves on the ground, now.”
“O-Ok, go ahead,” Hollowpoint nodded, parchment in hoof and quill between his teeth.

“Dear Princess Celestia…”Pepperjack started. As the serious words flew from her lips, the quill scratched the parchment with equal speed. Despite the even flow of the formal request, one word nearly made the quill fall from between the usually unshakable pegasus’s mouth.
Thrill Blitz stood there, mouth agape and eyes wide before he finally found words to address Pepperjack’s.

“What? How can you be sure?”

“I know her – I know exactly who and what she is. Before you two joined the militia, when the changelings first came to Wensleydale, she was among them and she’s a big part of the reason my initial forces were beaten back. I thought we’d neutralized her in the battle, as she wasn’t with them the second time we tried to rid the town of the infestation, but it’s obvious she was in hiding – somewhere here in the moors…”
“We need to send the princess proof—“

“We don’t have time, and the three of us can’t take her out ourselves. We’d never stand a chance without proper back-up. She helped take out 30 militia ponies like stepping on ants!” Pepperjack said with a nod and a point of her hoof towards the spot where the quill had fallen. Hollowpoint lowered his head, retrieved the quill and continued to write as Pepperjack resumed her dictation. When Hollowpoint marked the final period, he tucked the quill away and quickly rolled up the parchment.

“Do you still have your contact with the honor guard?” Pepperjack asked as the two pegasus stallions looked to one another with a nod.
“She’s stationed in Bridlesport; I can take this to her,” Hollowpoint volunteered.

“Good – we’re counting on you. In the meantime, we’ll fall back for now. Hopefully there won’t be any flares from town before Princess Celestia sends us some soldiers, and with a little luck, get rid of this infestation in our fine land once and for all…”

~*~

“I’m just not sure what to make of it all…” Twilight mused aloud as she gently rubbed her chin with a slightly tired hoof. The sun was setting over Wensleydale, causing the rainbow vines just outside their inn-room window to turn a soft shade of blue. Rainbow Dash flopped onto the bed, pressing down on the mattress with her hoof as if testing its firmness, and shrugged.

“Seems pretty simple to me: town is full of changelings, townsfolk are getting their love drained, need to nip it in the bud before this becomes the Trotting Dead 4: the Changen-ing,” she asserted, clapping her two front hooves together with a determined smirk.

“That’s if we’re able to figure out who their leader is…although,” Rarity paused, eyes slightly squinting in thought, “I think we can narrow it down to a few ponies. Pepperjack says the mayor is under the changeling’s control, which means it isn’t him,” Rarity reasoned.

“It can’t be any of the sick-looking ponies; they’re the victims here. As such, they wouldn’t be able to tell us who the leader is without the changeling drones feeding on them stepping in and potentially taking away their entire agency,” Twilight added as the thought of her brother’s green-crossed eyes caused a shiver to course down her spine. “We can’t risk that.”

“Well then, it has to be one of the healthy ponies in town – we could line them all up and question them or something,” Rainbow Dash replied with a hint of growing irritation in her voice.

“That’s no good – not only do we let on that we’re on to them, but we could cause a panic,” Twilight spoke, teeth clenched but still maintaining some semblance of a smile.

“Well I don’t see you coming up with any good ideas. I say we stop talking about doing things and actually do something!” Rainbow Dash snapped with an exasperated sigh.

There was a moment of silence and a sense of desperate urgency between the three as their minds worked to grasp any small clue that may have passed their consciousness upon their arrival. It was then that Rarity’s eyes went wide as a name found its way from her mind and to her mouth.

“What about that count fellow our little guide mentioned, Count Torcas? His name came up at the salon as well. It seems he’s very well known in this town, and as somepony of influence and affluence, perhaps he may know something or be of help,” Rarity offered. Twilight and Rainbow Dash exchanged cautious looks.

“Or he could be the problem. Ridinghood – er, whatever his name was – looked really, really sick. What kind of pony would send somepony out through dangerous bogs or swamps in that condition if he wasn’t some kind of evil monster?” Rainbow Dash mused.

Twilight Sparkle’s brow furrowed in thought for a moment, before a determined spark came to her eyes. She gave an affirming nod. “Either way, I think we might want to pay this count a visit--”

Twilight started as a gentle, almost soundless knocking followed by a grumpy voice and then a much louder, booming knock gave her pause. Rarity moved toward the door and looked to the other two mares with caution in her sapphire gaze before turning her attention to the shuffling figures just beyond.

“Yes? Who is it?” Rarity asked politely as she opened the door just enough to make out the two ponies standing on the other side. The first pony, a weary looking and familiar unicorn stallion, smiled sweetly as the unfamiliar earth pony beside him stood with a slightly annoyed look on her pale yellow face.

“Hello again, miss Rarity,” the unicorn she knew as Hoodwink greeted, “we’re sorry to disturb you at this time of evening, but could we come in and chat with you and your friends a moment?”

Rarity looked to her friends with a raised brow. Their nods of approval caused her to fully open the door, allowing the pair of ponies passage.
“Thank you for seeing us so late. I’m sure you’re all very tired after sightseeing,” Hoodwink said with a nervous flick of his tail. The slightly sweating stallion looked to the bemused mare beside him as no more words seemed able to come from his mouth. Rainbow Dash and Twilight Sparkle exchanged looks as the mare with the intense yellow stare rolled her eyes with a sigh.

“Look, name’s Laser Lemon and as I’m sure you’ve all noticed, something’s amiss in this town,” Lemon started, evoking a frightened look from Hoodwink. Laser Lemon extended her hoof and gave each of the other mares’ a firm shake.

“Nice to meet you, Laser Lemon. And yes, we were made aware that there was a problem in town…but we weren’t told what exactly. All we know is many ponies in town seem sick and tired and we’re hoping to figure out the cause,” Twilight spoke with a strained smile and a pang of guilt at the half-true words. A suspicious, squinting look came to Laser Lemon’s face.

“You didn’t get stopped by anypony on the way here, did you? An earth pony mare and her two cronies, by chance?” she asked. Before they could stop themselves, the three mares’ eyes went wide, forms going rigid before scrambling to gather their words and trying to pick the right ones to say. Laser Lemon gave an annoyed sigh.

“I had a feeling that might be the case. Look, I don’t know what they told you, but I know it isn’t the truth, so as an act of good faith, allow me to enlighten you three,” she said, turning to look at Hoodwink with a mischievous smile. Hoodwink blinked as the realization of what she was suggesting came with a look of shock and a nervous shaking of his head.

“Lemon, you-we c-can’t!” he squeaked as her look turned from mischief to one of demanding firmness.

“I think they need to SEE exactly what’s going on here,” Laser Lemon asserted as Rainbow Dash flew from her spot on the bed to land just beside the trembling unicorn. Twilight and Rarity moved beside the earth pony mare, horns angled downward slightly as the tension in the room began to grow.

“Leave him alone, we know exactly what’s going on. We won’t let you monsters hurt the ponies here anymore!” Rainbow Dash asserted, causing Laser Lemon to stifle a laugh.

“You do, now do you? What -- that a bunch of changelings are sucking the townsfolk dry? Guess again!” Laser Lemon moved quick enough to avoid any potential strikes from the unicorns beside her. She pulled what looked like a collapsed plastic stick from her pocket and with a flick, extended the parts within with a locking pop. She tossed the night stick, sending it spinning in Hoodwink and Dash’s direction.

Rainbow Dash moved and expertly swatted the stick away with her hoof before charging at the mare, knocking Laser Lemon down and pinning her to the floor. Twilight summoned the revealing spell as quickly as her magic would allow, and sent it flying at the captured mare.
“Stop – please don’t hurt her!” Hoodwink shouted, as the purple glow surrounded his companion. Twilight began to sweat as her magic seemed to do little more than tousle the mare’s mane, wrinkle the white bow that bound it, and dislodge her two hair clips.

“STOP!” Hoodwink called as a blaze of what looked like bright yellow fire surrounded him. Bit by bit, the equine façade burned away to reveal shiny black carapaces, hole-filled limbs, and snakelike amber eyes. He stood there for a moment, a changeling in everyone’s eyes, before his form went limp and crumpled to the floor.

~*~

A bell slowly, lazily rang out in the foggy night air. The sound of water lapping against wood and the stony shore seemed to endlessly drone in the otherwise silent air. A few ponies milled about in the darkness, using guard-issued flashlights to guide them on their routine paths through the boardwalk and dock areas as they dully eyed the bobbing boats tied up at their usual posts. Whether it was the fog or the drudging routine that dulled their senses, the patrolling stallions seemed oblivious to the silent shadow creeping from crate to crate.

The gray pegasus waited for the pair of sentries to pass as he moved from sheltering crate to obscuring piles of buckets, traveling away from the salted docks and into the port town’s alleyways. When he reached his destination, the sneaking stallion ignored the “CLOSED” sign on the pub’s wooden door and gave two firm knocks. His ear twitched for a moment, straining to pick up even the slightest sound from inside. After a few moments that felt like lifetimes, three knocks could be heard from a hoof on the other side. He gave two knocks, then a quick three, causing the pony on the other side to slowly pull the door open. The stallion quickly entered and gave the pony within a grateful nod.

“Jenkins,” Hollowpoint quickly acknowledged.

“We intercepted your letter. She’s waiting for you in back,” Jenkins informed him with implication in his gravelly voice. Hollowpoint felt his legs and throat tense before closing his eyes for a moment and evening out his breathing. He moved toward a door just behind the bar, and raised a slightly shaking hoof to push it forward. He felt the sensation of sweat traveling down his forehead as a candlelit figure, seated at a small table among the barrels and boxes, greeted him with piercing blue eyes and a bitterly displeased expression.

“Is the moon setting for the sun, or does the night endure?” The figure, mare in voice and in stature, leaned forward, further exposing her spiky blue mane and raised brow as her face came to rest on her closed hooves.

“The moon has not changed its position, the night endures. But the sun grows restless on the horizon,” Hollowpoint sighed. The mare regarded him for a moment before moving a hoof to motion for him to sit before her. Hollowpoint quickly obeyed.

“Shall we lower the moon?” the mare asked with surprise in her tone and a slight twitch of her well-weathered wings.

“No, ma’am, it’s not time for the morning. Another star may be entering the sky but we haven’t seen it shine,” Hollowpoint shrugged. The mare before him gave a curt nod before speaking again.

“I see. That is very interesting. Pepperjack is convinced of this?”

“She did not seem to be joking or have any doubt of the claim, Commander Riftwing, you have my word,” Hollowpoint asserted with no hint of question or doubt in his tone.

“You realize it’s a lot to swallow. We’ll need proof – you understand?”

“Yes, ma’am!”

“…and what of Princess Twilight Sparkle?” she asked, moving a calm hoof to brush a stray strand of mane that had fallen over her eyes.

“She and her two friends are in Wensleydale. We supplied them with food and flares should anything go awry while they’re in town, ma’am.” Hollowpoint spoke with a firm but slightly more relaxed tone.

“We were hoping not to involve them in this – but if their map sent them there, hopefully their presence will be a boon rather than a detriment. In the meantime, I will pass your intelligence to Her Highness. We’ll back you up should the night shift unexpectedly. Go back to Pepperjack and tell her the message has been delivered and we will keep an eye on the situation as it develops. Do not disappoint me, soldier,” the mare spoke with a squint and a warning tone. Hollowpoint straightened up and saluted.

“Yes, ma’am.”

Commander Riftwing regarded him one last time before nodding toward the exit.

“You’re dismissed.”

4. Murky Motives and a Matter of Trust

Murky Motives and a Matter of Trust

Rainbow Dash stifled a yawn as her slightly reddened eyes resumed their vigil over the slumbering forms of friends in their beds and the potential foes on the floor beside her. The events of the evening slowly swirled in her mind like water moving down a blocked drain. The yellow fire, the flaring of tempers, the shock and accusation -- all blurred as they traveled further away in time and the threat of sleep during her turn at watch became more real. Her eyes shot open as the sound of stirring from the floor brought the room back into focus.

The changeling among them snorted before yellow-slit eyes lazily opened with a quiet yawn. He slowly propped himself up with one shiny, holed foreleg and rubbed his eye with the other. His still-sleepy vision looked about the room with slight apprehension for a moment, before they came to rest on a magic-bound, but seemingly unharmed Laser Lemon grumbling in her sleep beside him. He let out an audible, relived sigh between two glistening sabers for fangs before turning to look to Rainbow Dash with soft eyes full of gratitude.

Rainbow Dash returned the look with squinting eyes and a suspicious scowl as she shifted in her seat, causing the changeling’s eyes to fill with worry. He slowly moved to a sitting position with a wince and moved his two forelegs up where the Pegasus could see them. He looked up and motioned with one hoof to his horn, causing Rainbow’s eyes to follow. He tightly closed his eyes and gritted his fangs as a small blue glow came to the very tip. Beads of sweat formed on his cheeks and brow as the little light pulsed, barely above the candle light that flickered on the nearby dresser. He started to tremble and let out a restrained gasp as the light on his horn sputtered out completely and he nearly collapsed back onto the floor, panting.

Rainbow Dash’s brow rose as she regarded her sleeping friends for a moment before returning her gaze to the weak-looking changeling. She got onto her hooves, picked up the saddlebag she’d received from the MOCK militia members, and when Monkshood’s eyes opened again, they came to rest on an out-stretched hoof, beckoning him onto his own. He looked about his hooves for a moment with confusion plain on his face, as none of the purple magic that surrounded his companion seemed to be anywhere on his person.

He looked to Rainbow Dash, who gave an impatient flick of her tail, before raising a shaking hoof to hers. She effortlessly pulled the thin changeling to his hooves, steadying him as he weakly wobbled before motioning to the door. Monkshood’s eyes filled with questioning worry as his legs began to shake. Rainbow Dash closed her eyes, shook her head and gently tapped her hoof on his. Monkshood slowly nodded as the two slowly, carefully made their way to the exit.

When they left the room, Rainbow Dash could hear the changeling beside her exhale, as if he had just breached the top of a lake after holding his breath for hours.

“Don’t get any ideas,” Rainbow Dash hissed, wondering if she was right to go against her better judgment, “I’m just sick of asking questions and getting no answers.”

“Understood, b-but what if your friends wake up and find us gone? They’ll think the worst,” Monkshood quietly said as his eyelids drooped for a moment and his legs began to teeter.

“We won’t be gone long; it all depends on how fast you talk,” Rainbow Dash smirked. Monkshood straightened up with a nod.

“We can talk in the café area downstairs…it’s a public place, likely still well-lit at this hour--“

“That works. And don’t bother calling your little drone friends -- one shady move and I fly outta here and blast off this militia flare, got it?” Rainbow Dash threatened as they carefully walked towards the stairs.

“Got it,” Monkshood said with a nervous laugh. The pair carefully walked down the stairs to the first floor in tense silence. As they entered the still brightly lit café, the pair of equines were greeted by the sight of several ponies excitedly but quietly chatting about the constellations and the masterfully crafted night. Both pairs of eyes met with a stallion among the group, who seemed to be leading the discussion as a hush fell on the room. The stallion’s gentle eyes shone red in the bright candle light as he shot the pair a concerned smile.

“Good evening Prince Monkshood, miss. Is everything alright? You’re not in your disguise, sir?” the stallion asked as he motioned for the others in his company to walk closer.

“Good evening Mr. Stargazer. Things are, ah -- a bit complicated at the moment, but fine. The Princess and her companions haven’t hurt me or Lemon. Rainbow Dash here just wants to chat,” Monkshood informed them, causing Rainbow Dash to look between them with mild shock and confusion.

“Wonderful to hear, perhaps they will be able to help with those nasty ponies that keep attacking us –“

“All in good time, Mr. Stargazer. If you’ll excuse us, we have a lot to talk about,” Monkshood interrupted with an apologetic nod. Stargazer blinked for a moment before a look of understanding came to his face. He gave a nod and a farewell smile before walking back to his party, and beckoning them outside for another night-gazing session.

“Prince Monkshood?” Rainbow Dash asked with a raised brow. Monkshood pulled out a chair and motioned for the mare to sit before pulling out his own chair.

“Changelings have hives rather than families – like bees or ants. King, Queen, Prince, Princess – all just terms for the kind of changeling we are. We’re not royals… though some would argue otherwise,” Monkshood muttered with a sigh and a grump-faced rolling of his eyes as the image of one brazen queen came to mind.

“Come again?”

“It’s nothing. You have questions, yes?”

“A lot. For starters, why are there changelings in Wensleydale – in the pony villages around here? What are you planning, a takeover of Equestria? Because let me tell you, that didn’t work out so well the first time,” Rainbow Dash stated with implication in her eyes. Monkshood seemed to struggle to keep up for a moment before gathering his thoughts with a quiet hum.

“Let me start from the very beginning; I know we’re pressed for time but I think it will really help explain things better,” Monkshood paused as Rainbow Dash nodded for him to continue, “In the olden days, way before the Alicorn Sisters’ rule, well before the pony tribes were united, existed the great moors of Trottingham. They were much larger back then, more like a rival to the Everfree Forest where you come from, until ponies began draining the moors and using the land for town-building and such. Wensleydale is actually built on top of some of the ancient moors –“

“Booooooring, get to the good part quick before my trigger hoof gets itchy,” Rainbow Dash grunted.

“S-So, as you may know, Changelings are born from great flowering bulbs that bloom all over Equestria; however, the greatest concentration of them were in the old Trottingham Moors. When pony tribal and faction leaders who were clearing the land realized this, many of them began eradicating the giant flowers... this is what really started the great wars between pony and changeling kind, though I’m sure ponies would tell you something different.

Anyway, the only ponies to stand up for my kind and refuse to destroy the giant flowers were the ancestors of the very villagers you’ve already met. This is the reason why the changelings here live with the ponies, rather than enslave and feed off of them by force. When I first bloomed and found this place, I was just as shocked as any pony would be to find changelings and ponies living together. I was even imprisoned after attacking ponies and draining them myself – that was until I got to know everypony and I was told everything I’m telling you now,” Monkshood said with sincerity and regret shining in his eyes. Rainbow Dash sat there agape and shook her head.

“So then, if you’re all living in harmony, why the disguises?”

“Well, we normally don’t need them, but the descendants of the faction leaders that wanted us gone have regrouped again and recently attacked the village. If it wasn’t for Laser Lemon, Count Torcas, and his lady, they might have succeeded in their goal,” Monkshood shuddered.

“Does the ruler of Trottingham know about this? Does Canterlot know about this?” Rainbow Dash asked with a slightly raised voice before reverting back to a hush.

“That I don’t know. This village is hundreds, if not thousands of years old – and the changelings and ponies of olden times wandered about the land together for at least a couple hundred years before Wensleydale was actually built. If Equestrian royalty knows, they haven’t done anything about it,” Monkshood shrugged.

“Okay then, so why are all of the changelings so tired and sick? If you’re all so lovey-dovey you should be swimming in love energy,” Rainbow Dash said with a gentler tone. Monkshood sighed.

“We have to keep up appearances, and that takes a lot of power we simply don’t have. Yes, we feed on ponies’ love still, but it’s always given of their own will. We never take any more than we have to keep us healthy, let alone be able to use our talents. The Lady has come up with medicine that mimics the effect of pony love, but it’s nowhere near strong enough to flat out replace it. The longer this whole situation lasts, the weaker we all get. That’s why we came to ask you and your friends to come to Bean Manor – we’re running out of time and we need to convince the count and his lady to come back and help us again.”

“If they took care of things once, what’s stopping them from helping now?” Rainbow Dash asked, causing Monkshood to hesitate. He thought carefully for a moment before responding.

“This is one question I’m afraid I can’t answer other than to say both the Count and his Lady are very reclusive. It took a nearly hopeless situation for them to act, and I know I for one would rather it not come to that again. Lemon and I were hoping that a visit from an Equestrian princess and two of the greatest heroes in recent memory would be enough to convince them… If you and the others come with us, I promise you, you’ll get your answer,” Monkshood sighed, eyes searching the pegasus’s face for any sign of displeasure at his response.

Rainbow Dash’s pensive expression seemed to shift to one of acceptance as she gave a firm nod. Though her trust with changeling kind had been broken by Queen Chrysalis’s attack on Canterlot, something in Monkshood’s demeanor seemed to bring calm to her twitching wings and suspicious thoughts.

“Okay, I’ll do my best to convince Twilight and Rarity to come with us,” Rainbow Dash paused, allowing a smile of understanding and grateful nod to come from Monkshood, “Just know if you pull anything…” she paused, tapping a hoof on her bag. Monkshood gave an understanding nod.

“Something still bugs me though. The changelings we met had no ability to love, and most ponies I know would attack you on sight. Are ponies here really giving you love for free, or are you just taking it?” Rainbow Dash mused aloud, suspicion not completely gone from her tone.
Just as Monkshood moved to reply, a loud crash and the sound of a struggle sent their perked ears and attention toward the staircase. They looked to one another a moment as the sound of shouting and pained grunts came from the upper floor.

“WHERE IS HE – WHAT DID YOU DO WITH HIM! IF YOU TOUCHED ONE HAIR ON HIS HEAD I SWEAR--” the sound of an irate Laser Lemon followed by panicked, muffled calls for help from the other two mares in the room caused Monkshood and Rainbow Dash to look to one another for a moment before leaping to their hooves and galloping back up the stairs and into the developing fray.

Twilight flicked a large insect from her legs with a slightly wet tail as she and her five companions traveled through the steamy moor. Her side still throbbed where a swift earth pony buck landed earlier that day. She looked to Rarity who, though stoic-faced and chin held high as ever, still winced occasionally as her large sun glasses shifted over what looked like a terrible bruise beneath her right eye.

Though the earth pony who walked before her seemed to move with stiff, tense steps, she didn’t once turn to look back to the pair of ponies she’d fought in a fit of panic the night before. The changeling beside her, whom Twilight had come to know as “Monkshood”, moved his shiny, pointed ears with each small snap or movement from within the tangled underbrush, occasionally turning to check on the ponies behind him with concern showing through his otherwise alert features. Each step they took seemed to send the sunlight further and further away as what seemed like an early night fell over them with the thick fog and threshing leaves above them.

Rainbow Dash hovered as quietly as her flapping wings and saddle bags would allow before giving a small sigh, adjusting the over-stuffed bags, and coming to the ground to trot beside the changeling leading them.

“Ugh, these stupid things are weighing me down. Why’d you have to kick ‘em so hard?” Rainbow Dash whined, earning a shush from the unicorn behind her.

“Why do you need to talk so loud when we’re trying to get through here without anything noticing us?” Laser Lemon hissed with an angry glare.

“Quiet, both of you,” Monkshood spoke with a firmness none of them had heard from him.

“Don’t you tell me to be—“ Laser Lemon started with an indignant huff before a shiny black hoof quickly moved over her mumbling mouth.

“Shhh!” He urgently uttered as his ears quickly flicked back and forth, eyes darting about the twisted roots and tangled vines. Twilight quickly stepped over to the others as sounds of movement from just up the path became more obvious. Beads of sweat seemed to flow like tiny rivers down Twilight’s cheek as her violet eyes fixed on the direction of the sounds, finding only the tiniest shaking of leaves. Just as suddenly as it came, silence befell the ponies save for the sounds of their collective heart beats.

“We need to move, now!” Monkshood asserted as the sound of a shocked scream came from the rear of the group. The ponies turned, shock filling their vision as the sight of Rarity dangling from what looked like a giant, leafy black vine filled their sight. Monkshood and Laser Lemon charged forward, as the monstrous vine moved up her leg and coiled around her midsection, causing her eyes to go wide and mouth to gasp for air.

Monkshood grimaced as a yellow glow came to his horn. Sweat flowed down his face as his legs began to shake. He took a deep breath, gathering all the magic his weakened state could muster and sent a bolt of light towards the dark tangle where the strangling vine came, causing a horrible screech to echo in their ears.

From the darkness came a roaring, thorny mass of petals and teeth. The iridescent purple bulb pulsated as the low light occasionally caught what looked like rows of curved, unicorn horn-length teeth.

“What is that thing?!” Rainbow Dash screeched, as the giant bulb moved to dangled Rarity over its spreading maw. Rarity screamed and kicked as the acrid scent of rose water and decay caught in her muzzle.

Another flash of yellow came, knocking her sideways, but the vine remained tightly coiled around her. It wasn’t until beams of bright purple came did she feel the strangling vine slack. With a roar the great plant flung Rarity from its grip, sending her straight into Rainbow Dash’s path. Without a moment to react, the two collided, sending the contents of Rainbow Dash’s saddlebags hurling backwards.

The rations hit the ground with a crunch, sending little bits of food flying in all directions. The flare gun that PepperJack and her militia members provided went spinning into a large tree, causing a small explosion to burst forth from its barrel. The bright red flare barely missed striking Twilight as well as the purple plant as it zoomed up through the canopy before bursting into the open sky with a boom and a crackle.
The sound seemed to cause a frightened shriek to come from the carnivorous plant as it lunged toward where Monkshood stood on weakened hooves. Twilight sent another beam of purple magic in its direction, but it managed to dodge the attack as it brought a thorny vine down over the changeling’s head. Before the blow could land, Laser Lemon galloped between them and turned to pull what looked like a small cylinder from her pocket.

With a swing of her front leg, the collapsed baton extended with a snap, blocking the vine before she pressed a button on the base. At once a violent bolt of what looked like yellow lightning shot from the tip of the baton, causing the plant to scream in agony. When Laser Lemon removed her hoof from the button, all that assaulted the group further was the smell of burning grass as the creature made a hasty retreat.
What was left in its wake were frazzled and injured ponies trying to make sense of the random attack. Twilight quickly moved to her friends’ side, helping Rarity up as Rainbow Dash stretched her left wing with a wince.

“Are you two ok?”

“I don’t know, my wing feels tight like I hyper-extended it. I don’t think I’ll be flying for a while,” Rainbow informed as Rarity sat on the ground for a little while, clutching her head.

“I…I don’t feel well, my sides hurt,” Rarity weakly spoke.

“Let me see,” Twilight whispered, eyes quickly scanning Rarity’s midsection. Twilight’s eyes went wide as small gashes in her coat seemed to slowly ooze with purple liquid. Twilight looked to Rainbow Dash who wore a look of grim concern but remained silent. They didn’t notice the soothing yellow glow and humming sounds from behind them as a refreshed looking Monkshood and a weary-eyed Laser Lemon walked over to where Rarity sat.

“Did the thorns get her?” Monkshood asked with the most invigorated and energetic voice any of the ponies had heard from him since they’d met while Laser Lemon stifled a yawn.

“She’s bleeding purple, what do you think?” Rainbow Dash gritted between clenched teeth. Monkshood gave a concerned look to Twilight before moving to help Rarity to her hooves, steadying her with his own.

“Princess Snare’s poison is very mild but if not treated it can cause some rather nasty side effects. We need to get her to Bean Manor, quickly. Count Torcas has antidote for this on hoof, I’m sure of it. Let’s just hope we don’t run into any more of them,” Monkshood said as he looked back to the earth pony among them with a look of apology. She snorted and gave a cocky smirk in return, waving him off with a flick of her hoof.

The group didn’t waste any further energy on words as they trotted as quickly as their battered forms would allow in the direction of Bean Manor.