Kestral, in the dark room with only his flame to illuminate, admired the work that was done to his rifle. It almost appeared the same, but a close look at the bolt showed that the change was mostly internal. He wiggled the handle of the bolt up and down, but it didn't budge. He pulled back, and it slid back just as fast. Where the end of the bolt used to be, a simple metal seal took its place, preventing the new bolt from ever being seen from the back.

The orange glow of his fire reflected off the shiny metalwork, almost like it was painted with chrome. A whole bunch of weapon improvement opportunities were bound to come up after that.

It was the improvement that discord had paid him for his deed the night before; Turning his bolt-action rifle into a semi-automatic. Literally. Within seconds, Kestral had witnessed his rifle have its insides gutted out and replaced with reformed pieces. Why Discord didn't just get a different rifle, he didn't know. But it was interesting to watch nonetheless.

“Well. Better get this show on the road.” He made the weapon disappear, then pulled his mask over his head, completing the disguise. He turned around and made his way out the door, ensuring it was locked before he started walking to the lobby.

He pulled several bits out of his satchel, and placed them on the front desk as he passed by. He snatched a newspaper on his way out into the afternoon sunlight. He unfolded the parchment, and leaned against the wall, beginning his afternoon with a peaceful watch for information.

Let's see...

Chrysalis decided for herself to have the 'royal treatment': An orgy, hosted in Celestia's very own chambers without her majesty's knowledge.

Oh, boy. I may have to give her an apology for getting her framed. Maybe a gift basket.

Witnesses say that a great deal of pegasai flew off after the event was discovered by Celestia. Her majesty investigated after a socially inept guard screamed at the sight. Several undisguised changelings were even seen in the fray, leading many to believe that Chrysalis initiated the act, and unknowing ponies were pulled in through seduction...blah blah blah. What's next?

He turned the page, revealing another massive article.

'Monster versus monsters: the human of Ponyville'.

Oh, cool. I wonder what misconceptions they have about me.

Starting about a week ago, there have been sightings and encounters of a human stalking around Ponyville. It is unanimous among those that actually encountered it that the human is male,but that is all that is actually agreed upon. Some claim 'him' to have claws instead of hands, which is the usual appendage of humans, while others claim that he uses magical abilities and sheer charm to brainwash unsuspecting ponies into doing his bidding.

So why is he in Ponyville? It seems apparent that the human has grown fond of valuables. Gold, platinum, silver, diamonds, gems; None of these are safe from his greedy hands. But in doing so, he has come across a problem. You see, there is another race that bides its time in the night; Changelings. It is currently unknown if they pose a threat to him, or if he hunts them for sport, but one thing is for certain; He is capable of finding the changelings, killing them, and saving the ponies that were trapped in their slimy prison.

Some claim that the human is taking the stolen valuables as payment for his deeds. After all, no one can argue that a few hundred bits is worth more than a life. But what is far more interesting is how, after an entire week at work, this human had evaded arrest time and time again! The guard is hard at work in Ponyville, but he's simply one step ahead of them. Some suspect wizardry involved, but that is partially debunked by local anthropologist, Lyra Heartstrings.

“The last human encounter shed some light on the fact that humans have no magic to call their own.” She says. “That said, he could probably still use enchanted material, or have a magic using ally.”

In any case, the denizens of Ponyville sleep lightly tonight, as just yesterday, a changeling disguised as Mayor Mare, was killed in front of everypony at the town meeting! Questions of magic involved were deluded in the almost certain performance, though a few naysayers still proclaim that it is not magic, but instead “most certainly an advanced technology never seen by a living non-human”.

The human sends the authorities for another loop, however, as they believe him to be in connection with an assassination attempt on an Element Bearer! There is a thousand bit reward going out to anyone that can provide substantial information that leads to his arrest.

There wasn't much else worth reading. The rest was a recap of everything he did, and a few things he didn't do, along with the note he left declaring both his name and his 'problems'. After scanning through the rest of the article in growing disdain, he folded up the paper and tossed it in the trashcan next to him.

Wow. The editor didn't even try to hide the prejudice. Can't really blame them though. Walking around with people that tried to kill me two months prior would leave a bad taste in my mouth too.

With his backpack on, he began walking towards the higher ground that was the noble district.

Whatever. Time to get to work.

Kestral, as he stared at the large, mansion-like building, breathed a heavy sigh. There was simply no way around it. He had gone around and checked all the possible entrances he could, and what he found was terrible. There was only one; the front. A high metal fence surrounded the green grass, which was an oasis among the cobblestone road and brick buildings that surrounded it. The fence was far too tall to teleport or climb over, and the bars were far too close together to squeeze through. There wasn't a fence door, either, leaving him only the front as an access.

It might not have even been a problem, either, if it weren't for the two 'ponies' that were guarding the front of the house.

He could shoot them, sure, but he wasn't quick enough to kill them both before either one panics and runs or just warns the rest with their hive mind. They would have to line up for a double headshot, but he wasn't counting on that any time soon, given their stoic stature.

At least he now had that new spell. One look at the target changelings let him see a blue overlay of their veins, which made him wonder if there was more of a difference between the good and bad changelings than their loyalty.

He was snapped out of his musings when he saw one of them turn his head, scanning around the area. Kestral ducked his head behind the tall shed, hoping he didn't get seen. He didn't have his disguise on anymore, as he didn't want 'Hunter' being seen near crime scenes too much. Call him paranoid, but he believed it might have been a little too easy to connect the dots, especially now that he played the messenger for himself.

With no real options, he decided that it would be best for him to sneak in at night, when it was darker. He had to wait a while, since the sun was still casting a light just above the horizon. It would probably have been better if he put a disguise on and waited there-

“What are you doing?”

Out of nervous reaction, Kestral snapped his attention to the girly voice. She almost looked like a pony, but she didn't seem to have the mane or tail that ponies normally had, and her legs seemed to be slimmer. Her fur was mostly alabaster, with a few patches of light brown fur, which made it look like her coat was dirty. She had eyes as blue as the ocean, though her left eye had a pale spot on one side of the iris. She wore a simple string necklace with a red heart at the end of it. Her head only came up about knee-height, which meant she was probably a child.

Shit... I need to get better at watching my own back.

“Nothing.” He said. He leaned his against the shed, trying to look casual. “Just hanging out.”

She gave a curious look. “You looked like you were spying on someone.” She looked like something clicked in her head. “Oh! Are you that human that's was in Ponyville?” Her voice was the sound of an angel, if angels sounded like petite, squeaky-voiced girls.

“Shh!” He gestured for her to move closer, which she hesitantly followed. He stopped once she was behind the shed with him. Sure, it would be bad for a little girl to run around, knowing where he was, but what could he do? Threaten her? Drug her? He couldn't possibly harm a child and still call himself the good guy. He decided he could stall, at least until he thought of a better plan. “Yeah,” he whispered, “that's me. But, I’m a good guy.”

She just looked at him with a very curious set of eyes. “...cooooool.” She said, like it was just the most interesting thing in the world.

Now Kestral was slightly confused. They continued in whisper. “You're... not scared of humans?”

She shrugged. “I've never met one before.”

He just looked at her, then smiled, then gave a soft laugh. “Heh heh heh.”

“What?” She squeaked. “What's so funny?”

“Oh.” He said, shaking off the laughter. “It's just that; One of the most mature people I've met so far is a ten-year-old, versus the dozen or so adults that scream and run at the sight of me.”

“Well.” She said. “They just sound like a bunch of paranoid jerks... and I’m nine, actually.”

“Even better.” He said.

A moment passed, then she perked up again with big eyes. “So what are you really doing?” She asked.

“Nothing. I already said that.”

“No.” She said. “I mean, everyone's saying your a robber and murderer... but good guys don't do that, right? So what are you really doing?” She asked.

“Well, it's a long story. I'm sure it's quite boring, and your parents wouldn't want you hearing it.” He said.

She looked up at him with excited eyes. “I love stories!” She inched closer. “I want to hear it.” She stared up at him, trying to seem as absolutely as adorable as possible, with big eyes, and batting her eyelashes. Lesser men would have suffered from a series of heart attacks.

Yeah. Ain't gonna work on me, kid.

He turned his head around the corner, and spotted the two disguised changelings, taking in the fact that neither have moved an inch since he last looked. With a silence sigh, he pulled his head back.

Then again, I do have some time to burn before it's dark... Well, I have nothing to lose, right? At least it'll keep me occupied.

“Okay, kid.” He said. “I'll tell you.”

She looked like she was going to rip her lips, she smiled so wide. She hopped a couple of times, giggling.

“But...”

She stopped, and looked up to him.

“...you don't tell anyone, unless I say you can, capisce?”

She nodded quickly. “Not a word. Got it.”

“Good. Now, sit down, it's going to take a while...”

“Woooooow...” She muttered.

No one had any idea what was really happening. Once word got out that a human was in Ponyville, people were going on and on about how he was a monster that cared only about gold. When the changelings started dying, some were taking back what they said, and began calling him a hero. “Cleaning up the filth” is what some of the adults called it. After that, no one was sure what he was doing. Some thought he was filling some kind of bloodlust, and stealing from ponies for the rush of it. Others were more optimistic, and thought he was trying to kill bad guys and was taking money as payment. Those people usually hated changelings in the first place though, so she couldn't tell which of the two were better.

She was an optimist herself, but she doesn't judge people before she knows them, darn it! She had silently hoped that changelings weren't the bad people everyone thought they were, and she was almost right; There were only some bad ones. But people just couldn't tell between.

But if what he said was true, something far worse is going on...and he's the only one that can stop it! She really didn't like hurting people... but he was right. Those bad guys are going to hurt a lot of people if he doesn't stop them. She realized now that he did bad things, but it was so he could help more. And he tried to be helpful to ponies, even after some of them were hateful, so he couldn't be a bad guy, right?

“Listen kid...” His voice called her back to reality, and she looked up into his eyes. “You should probably go back home. I need to get busy, alright?”

She nodded, and started heading away into the young, but dark, night. Then she stopped, and looked back at him. “What did you say your name was again?”

“Kestral.” He said. “Now, go on. Your parents are probably worried.”

She gave a sad nod at the words, then muttered just loud enough for him to hear. “...my friends call me Navi...” She then turned and walked down the street, out of view of Kestral. Once she thought she was unseen, she moved towards the wall of the building, and looked out towards the mansion Kestral was spying on.

“...just 'parent'...” She muttered to herself, a twinge of a frown forming on her face. He was just worried for her, right? That's what adults do; they worry for kids. But she knew how to look after herself.

But him...he's new! Oh my gosh, what if he gets hurt?

She watched from her spot as he moved across the street in a lightning sprint. He moved into the shadows and disappeared along the other side of the house.

He's trying to help those poor ponies, but who's going to help him? He's all alone out here! I can't just leave him, I need to be ready for anything he might need help with!

Navi moved along the building, getting back to where she met with him for those past couple hours, and waited, looking at the massive house her new friend had just entered.

Kestral moved along slowly, trying to not make his steps in the grass too loud. When he reached the corner, he slowly stuck his head out, looking for any changelings that may be guarding the back. The back yard was filled with aesthetically pleasing shrubbery, but a quick look showed no signs of life. He continued to lean, getting him a good look at the back entrance, before he pulled his head back again.

Guarding the back door appeared to be the same two that were present at the front, in the same stoic pose. Neither of them motioned to patrol around the fence or anything... they just stood there.

Hmm...

Kestral moved away from the corner, and worked his way back to the front. He peeked out, letting him see the glow of a lantern hanging above the door, along with two disguised changelings standing firm beside the door. He pulled back and went back to the center of the wall.

Okay. So they might be on rotation. That mean's I’ve got a timer once I start taking them down. I just wish I knew how long.

From the center, he moved away and looked up at the windows. He scanned over them once, before he smirked at the top window, closest to the back wall of the house.

I guess I’m working from the top down on this one.

He got under the series of windows, then teleported up to the second story window, grabbing onto the ledges to stay. He put his foot on the top of the lower window, keeping his head level with the glass. There wasn't much to make out, but he knew he saw a weak light coming from somewhere deep in the house. He made another teleport up, and grasped the outside edges of the open window in an attempt to keep his fingers from being seen.

He removed his boots with his magic, gripping the top of the middle window with his socks instead, and very slowly pulled his head up to peer inside. A quick look let him know that there was only one source of light, and it was next to a single changeling, located at the other window, overlooking the back yard. Another straying glance let him see a third open window, which faced toward the front, and a single door in the middle of the wall separating the room from the rest of the third floor. He leaned down again.

Gotta do this right...

Kestral whistled as closely to the tune of a bird he could manage. He quickly threw his hand down to grab his machete, then gripped the window again. The light started moving closer, so he prepared himself. Once the light carrier's shadow came right up to the window, and the clopping of hooves stopped, he teleported through, silently landing him a couple of feet behind his target.

He held his breath as he stepped closer, raising up his blade to strike. He threw his free arm around to get the disguised bug by the neck, then plunged the weapon into the eye socket. The disguise faded away, leaving a chitin husk that quickly lost the ability to stand up.

One down.

He sheathed his machete again, and picked up the body. He carried it over beside the doorway, and laid it parallel to the wall. He looked out the doorway, and saw a scarcely decorated room, with just a couple of couches and a coffee table to fill up the large space. A massive window spanned for a dozen or so feet on the back wall, but that was the only lighting feature. In the corner was a staircase, and next to him was another door.

He moved to the door, and placed a hand on the handle. He pressed down, and pressed forward ever so slowly. Upon walking in, he revealed to himself the changeling pods that he sought after, half of them filled with ponies. He walked inward, and also noticed a safe setting at the back wall, between two of the pods.

He walked around, checking each of the pod's contents. There were fourteen total, seven of them filled with ponies, but an eighth one had a sleeping changeling. He walked up to it, examining it with what little light made its way through the window. He grabbed his knife, and readied his hands right next to the membrane. He made a slow cut down the middle, keeping his eye on the bug, then thrust his hand in, grabbing the horn. Before it could open its eyes he had already pulled the head out, then he shoved the blade as deep as it would go.

After a moment, he dropped it, letting the body slowly slide out into the pile of goop on the floor.

That's two. He thought.

He went to the pod next to it, and sliced open the bottom, then sliced upward, letting the pony contained to slide out in a similar manner. He continued to do that until all seven of the ponies were free. Once they were, he began carrying their unconscious bodies over to the couches he had seen earlier.

Once he was done, he moved back in to see the safe. It was about chest height, with a bland steel-colored coat, and a single tumbler lock, with a lever handle just below it. He was about to get out his picking set, but he noticed something. The front was turned to an angle, so he slowly reached out to the handle and pulled. The door of it gave way, letting him see the glittery insides.

“Damn. I'm just as lucky as a two sided coin today, aren't I?”

There was a small shelf at the top, with the rest of the safe being its own section. He leaned down to look at the bottom, and smiled a devilish smile. Setting at the bottom of the safe was a stack of gold bars. He counted them up, totaling at eleven of them. He grabbed all but one, sending them to his rift with such excitement that a cheerleader would be jealous. I guess I’ll be a little bit nice, and let them keep that one.

A couple of coins were next to the bars, along with an empty leather pouch.

Dang. Changelings must have used it.

His smile faltered a little, but his eyes went upward to the shelf. Right on the shelf was nothing but a single red egg... in a four-leg piece that held it...

What the...?

He grabbed it, and looked for the English writing on one of the legs.

The fires of a thousand suns could not match one impassioned soul...

He turned the egg around, examining its structure. What was it about the eggs that kept drawing him to them?

...How the hell do I keep finding these things?

He looked at it for a good, long moment, before finally placing it in his rift.

“I'm going to have to ask Luna about it sometime.” He whispered to himself.

With nothing else to grab, he closed the safe, and made his way out to the staircase. He descended as quietly as he could, searching for any form of light that would indicate someone's presence. He put out his own flame as he did so.

At the bottom of the steps, he could see the general layout of the whole second floor. Next to him was the top of the next staircase, leading down to the ground floor. To his side was a hallway leading all the way down to the opposite side of the house, ending in another doorway, with several doors on the sides. One of them was emanating an orange light, so he slowly began to creep towards that one.

He made his pistol appear in his hand, and readied his aim as he got to the door.

“ZZZzzzzzz.....”

He poked his head out to see another changeling, which he once again confirmed with his new spell, that was sleeping at a desk, under a window. He slowly entered, making sure there wasn't a second changeling among the lavish and large furniture. When none was present, he crept up behind the bug, pistol at his skull.

...don't let the bed bugs bite...

He pulled the trigger, causing a green wound to create, before the disguise dropped to show an additional hole in the chitin. The breathing stopped altogether, letting the room fall into silence. He grabbed the bullet casing, and moved on.

Let's see... there's seven. Three dead, and now it should just be the ones guarding the doors.

He moved outside of the room. Deciding he could come back to loot any time, he went back towards the stairs, and began descending the second set. He arrived at the corner of a living room, with a kitchen in the back, and a lengthy dining table along the other side. It was difficult to see in the dark, but in appeared that there was carpet over the whole area barring the kitchen.

He put his boots back on, feeling safe on the carpet, then began moving to the other side of the dinner table. He put up his pistol, and summoned his shotgun instead. Surely the changelings would move on their own, where he could just surprise them with a face full of pellets.

Time to play the waiting game...

And so he waited...

...and waited...

…

…

...Okay, this is taking way too long for my tastes...

Perhaps he had already killed the changeling that initiated the rotation, so he decided he would just have to start it on his own.

Kestral stood up and walked to the back door, placing himself on the opposite end of the hinges. He extended his arm and gave two forceful knocks, before readying his shotgun.

The door swung open, and Kestral pulled the trigger! Green blood splatter out behind the changeling, with the disguise dropping instantly. He cocked the gun, already going for the next one, but the second bug jumped for it, bringing him into his sight. He pulled the trigger again, sending another blood splatter just beside the door.

BOOM

The noise of the changeling's mobile body hitting the door resounded throughout the house.

Whelp. There goes surprise advantage.

He cocked the shotgun again, and grabbed the two empty shells, before aiming at the front door and walking quickly. He got about ten feet from in, then stood there, wondering if they guards out front even heard it.

He readied himself, watching the knob on the door slowly turn, until it stopped. The first changelings burst through the door, smashing it open and running for him. Kestral blew his brains out before he got halfway to him, and loaded the next shot.

The last one was faster, though. He was already several feet in by the time Kestral was ready. He took aim, and shot, but the bug got to the table just in time, shielding him from most of the pellets.

There weren't any more bullets in the gun, so Kestral just focused on the changeling as he leaped onto the table. The bug launched into the air, ready to stab Kestral with his charged horn.

Kestral leaned to the side, slightly, and pulled the butt of the gun around to meet the changeling's face, causing the bug to tumble into the ground. It recovered quickly, quicker than Kestral could have expected, and sprinted back at him, chomping on his leg.

“AHH!” Kestral yelled.

He beat the changeling's head with the gun thrice before giving up, and grabbing his knife. He plunged the blade into the changeling, wiggling it around in an attempt to kill him even faster. Eventually the grip softened, but the fangs were still deep in his legs, so after putting up his weapons, he pulled the jaw out himself.

The fangs came out easily enough, so he thanked god that they weren't, for some reason, barbed. What worried him, though, was the wet feeling he had, which he could only guess was blood.

He had to get out of there, though. The several loud noises were sure to be investigated, and he couldn't risk getting arrested simply because he stayed too long.

He moved to the front door in a slight limp front the pain, and put out the oil lamp that was there. For a moment, he ignored the pain, and made a dead sprint back to the alley, leaving the house as it was. He got behind the shed, and looked around for anyone that may have been coming.

He saw nothing, so he stood back, then sat down, placing his backpack next to him. He rolled up his pant leg to his knee, and looked at the blood that was pouring out of his wounds. He quickly got paper towels and rubbing alcohol. He cleaned up the blood first, as best as he could, then poured some alcohol on a dry towel, and began rubbing it over the holes in his leg as best as he could.

“Do you need help?” A squeaky voice said next to him.

He snapped his next to his side, and saw the little reindeer-looking girl, Navi.

“What are you doing here?” He scolded. “Aren't you suppose to be at your home?” Just what I need. The local human now has a stalker.

“I thought you might need help!” She forcefully whispered back.

“That's great.” He said. “But unless you're a medic, I don't think you can.” He rubbed some more, then got out some fresh bandages, along with a roll of gauze. He placed a pad of them on the wounds, then began winding.

“Well, I'm not.” She said. “But my mom is a nurse! She's really good at it, too!”

“That's fine and....” He stopped, looking at the wounds. Well, it is a lot of blood... It might be better to get a professional on this. “...how close is your house?”

“Oh.” She pointed out the alley. “Just down the street.”

He nodded. “Okay... and how do I know she won't turn me in?”

“Well...” She said, uncertain. “...you could tell her all the stuff you told me. She's usually a very understanding person.”

He nodded again. “Okay...” He finished his bandages, and slowly got up.

“...lead the way.”

Author's Notes:

Huzzah! for over two hundred likes!

Didn't think i'd make that mark, actually.