Twilight inclined her head at the bat pony before her. She'd never seen one before, outside of an image drawn by some creative pony. This one appeared female, strong, tall, and, if one was honest, even pretty, if also a touch exotic, which maybe added to it? Twilight faintly colored, chastising herself for such unseemly thoughts. "Nice to meet you."

Skyline offered wing towards Twilight. "The pleasure is mine. Both princesses speak highly of you, and they seem convinced you can solve a problem of mine." She waved at herself with the other wing. "I'm Skyline, night guard under the service of Princess Luna."

"Twilight sparkle." She dipped her head, then reached out to touch her hoof to the offered wing. "Student of Princess Celestia. If they sent you to me, I'll do my best! What would seem to be the problem?"

"First, an admission." She pinned her ears. "Please do not panic, and keep this to yourself."

"I've seen a number of odd things, I doubt—Sweet Celestia!" She jumped back as Skyline changed forms, becoming Twilight a moment before turning back into her bat pony form. "You're a changeling?!"

"And now you know." She sighed softly. "I was hoping you could help me." She stood still, doing nothing but blinking as she was zapped by Twilight's magic. It sent a shiver up her spine. "What is that?"

Twilight inclined her head. "That little jolt usually surprises a changeling back into their true form, but you haven't changed. Can you explain that?"

Skyline let out a laugh. "Because I'm stuck." She pointed at herself. "This is my true form, it seems. I can become a changeling, visually, if I want, but when I relax, back to this." She brushed a hoof over one of her ears, letting the tufted end spring back up. "Fortunately, I like this form. The only really variable part of it is boy-Skyline and girl-Skyline." She was clearly in girl mode. "So, yes, I am a changeling."

Twilight paged through a book. "Interesting. It's rare to see a creature change sexes at will."

"I'm not entirely sure that's the case." Skyline held up a wing and turned it around. "Changelings can be whatever they want, sexes and genders are included in that. Inanimate objects are not off the table. But I didn't call you here to brag about what changelings can do." She leaned in. "I'd much rather talk about what you can do. Queen Chrysalis, you met her before. You fought against her before. She is hunting me. She thinks I work for her, but I want nothing to do with her."

Twilight considered this. "Why does she think that?"

Skyline huffed gently. "A number of reasons, but one starting with that changeling fact. I'm one of hers, raised in her hive. Of course I should be loyal to her and follow her commands. Her mind has no space for any other kind of changeling."

"I see." Twilight hummed in thought. "Can you tell me more about her? This may take a moment, so have a seat."

Skyline moved over to sit at the table with Twilight. "She is a megalomaniac, and so full of herself, it's a wonder she can speak to another instead of admiring herself in the mirror, or so it feels at times. She lusts for power above all things, and your defeat of her left a wound that does not heal, to the detriment of all around her."

Twilight tapped a hoof to her chin. "And she sees you as hers."

"Correct." Skyline leaned back in her chair. "She doesn't know of my true alliance. She thinks I'm here under her orders. She was expecting me to set up shop, create a whole new tribe to devour for her, then step out of the way for her to do jus that." She huffed, irritation visibly growing. "As if I'd turn over my kids."

Twilight considered this, going over a number of theories in her head before reaching one that seemed solid enough to investigate. "Are you a mare?"

Skyline chuckled nervously at that. "Yes, but no? Right now, yes." She inclined her head at Twilight. "I'm filling with an egg as we speak, maybe two, if it's like last time, but even one's enough to make most fairly sure they're a lady at the moment. Why do you ask that?"

"Because your body is reacting to a threat, or perceived threat." She flicked a wing at Skyline. "In such a time, bat ponies have been known to call their friends, to ask for help."

Skyline blinked at this. "Bat ponies are barely a thing. How do you know what they are 'known' for?" She huffed gently. "Are you reading books of myths? Bad information, cast it aside. That aside, I actually am calling for help from what I hope is a friend." She pointed at Twilight. "Help, please?"

Twilight chuckled nervously. "Sorry. I'm not entirely sure how I can help. If she thinks you're working for her, maybe we can fake something to make it seem like were caught, and executed."

Skyline's eyes widened. "I did not think a pony would think along those lines.

She leaned in with a smile. "But I like the way you're going. If she thought we were all dead, there'd be nothing to chase anymore. This is, from her view, a high risk mission. If ponies discovered us, and reacted violently, it could turn out quite poorly."

Twilight rubbed her chin slowly. "Then perhaps we should stage a confrontation? It wouldn't take much to fake your deaths." She poked at a map of Equestria on her desk. "We just need to go somewhere deserted, so we won't be seen."

Skyline smirked. "The place I have in mind is not terribly far."

The two began chatting about the ways to make Skyline and the drones die in a convincing fashion.

Twilight sat up, the unicorn nodding with satisfaction. "I'll get some ponies, friends of mine, into position and ready. Then we'll put on a show. We'll invite some newspaper ponies to document it and put out articles, for Chrysalis' benefit."

"Clever. She will find those, no doubt." Skyline shifted in place. "Um, so. Now that business is done. I have a question."

"What's that?" Twilight glanced up from her papers.

Skyline stood and moved over to sit on the floor before Twilight. "Would you like a hug?"

Twilight giggled gently. "Oh? Why do you ask?"

"Because, and don't take this the wrong way, but I think you need one."

Twilight inclined her head. "Why I do appreciate the offer, I have to ask where that offer came from? Most ponies I know aren't so eager. Except maybe Pinkie Pie, but she's special."

Skyline laughed gently. "It's a thing going around. Consider it part of my family. We've been giving one another a hug if we see another looking stressed. It really does help."

Twilight nodded, which was permission. She squeaked as Skyline pounced her, taking her to the ground in a warm mass of hugs. "O-oh!" She learned quickly that a sudden hug had its nice points. She hugged back with a little smile. "It's such a shame I have to hurt you."

"Do it gently." Skyline smooched her cheek and stood up properly. "Tell me when you're ready and I'll bring the drones."

Twilight snickered at that. "Take care." She resumed work on getting things together. They would be gone for a few days, and she wanted to make sure they were ready for anything.

Skyline strode from the library and made her way back to the castle. "That went well." She chastised herself for doubting the princesses. Both had spoken quite well of Twilight and her ability to resolve such situations. She felt confident that it would be done soon enough.

Skyline entered the her home, smiling at the drones present. "It's a go, my lovelies." She hugged the closest drone with a big smile. "Pack your things. We have a place to die at."

One of the drones squeaked. "But I don't want to die!"

Skyline eased back to look the distraught drone in the eyes. "You aren't. It's all pretend. Remember that. I won't see any of you get hurt. So just do as you're told, and it will all work out."

Another drone looked more excited. "Oooo. I get to be an infiltrator?"

Skyline considered that. "Yeah, this one time, you all get to be infiltrators."

They all shifted into changelings, ruffling their wings with the sudden change.

Skyline did the same. She gestured at them all with a wing. "Keep that disguise until I say otherwise."

One of the drones shook their head. "This isn't a disguise. Silly." The others joined in the laughter, confused at the idea that their changeling forms would be a disguise.

Skyline colored, letting that drop. "Yeah, silly me." She turned for the exit. "Follow me. We have a place to 'die' at, then we'll be free of Chrysalis forever!"

They all cheered at that. Chrysalis was their enemy as much as Skyline's. The queen had never been kind to them, and they were glad to be free of her. The lot of them rushed off to meet up with Twilight and her group of friends, eager to get things going.

When the element bearers arrived, there was a brief conversation, then they spread out.

The battle was fierce, but short, the girls striking down the changelings with loud calls of finding them, and stopping their wild plan. Each of the drones fell, most in somewhat hammy fashions. They were not very good infiltrators.

Just behind a rock, some pony journalists took notes on the whole thing. "Twilight and her friends put down a new wave of changelings before they can cause trouble!"

"Goodbye, Skyline!" Twilight put a hoof on Skyline's shoulder before lifting a crystal sword into the air. It struck Skyline's head clean off, leaving it to roll across the ground.

The journalist's eyes went wide, one falling over and passing out at the violent display.

Fortunately, it was a fake head. Skyline wobbled and toppled over, just not having a head at the moment. She was, fortunately a more talented infiltrator.

The changelings had been thoroughly defeated, slain to the last.

Then they waited. Twilight called in a cleanup crew, who came in and took care of things. "If we'd really killed them, I'd have had a guilt trip coming."

Rarity wiped her head clean of sweat. "Darling, I'd rather avoid such displays of barbarism in the future."

Applejack lifted a brow. "Didn't you like, put itchweed powder all over that one drone?"

Pinkie burst into renewed laughter. "Shoulda seen him squirm!"

Rarity's smile was warm. "That's different. He didn't actually die. You lopped her head clean off." She wilted slightly. "Was an alarming sight."

Twilight laughed nervously. "All in the line of duty." She turned to the reporters taking notes. "For Equestria. Do you need a lift back to Canterlot?"

"Sure! We got all we need here!" They climbed aboard a wagon and rode off with Twilight and her friends, ready to be taken back to town. The entire time they chattered away about the tragic ending of the new changeling menace.

Left in the dust, one of the drones lifted their head. "Are we done being dead?"

Skyline tossed her fake head to the ground. "I think so. Let's go home." She stood up and stretched. She couldn't believe that went so well. Chrysalis would find the articles, which Twilight would make sure went to the changeling queen personally. She returned to her bat pony form and stretched her furry wings. "Bat ponies up!" she barked like a commanding officer. In a rush of fire, they all took their bat forms. "Let's head home."

Author's Note

I feel like this is a good stopping point. While we could go on and on about lovely slice of life for our new folks, the major points are said. Oh, hm, maybe an epilogue? Lemme know.

Join the special community of folks who like my stories and/or get your own here at atreon!

Don't want to do an ongoing thing? You could

Join my discord to chat!