The Lunar wing was very different from the Celestial wing. The dark stone and grandiose carving were a stark contrast of the white marble and tapestries Brigade was used to. It didn’t help that he stuck out like a sore thumb among all of the dark purple armored ponies walking the halls. Of course it didn’t help that was in his full regalia like usual. As he approached the door to the basement labs the two Lunar guards protecting the doors readied their spears.

“Halt, nopony except Lunar officials allowed into the basement levels.” One of the guards recited.

“I have permission from Princess Luna.” Brigade pulls a form from his satchel and presents it to the guard. “Co-signed by Princess Celestia.” He added just in case that wasn’t enough incentive to let him pass.

“Okay,” The guard motioned to let him through. At the last moment one of the guards drops his spear blocking Brigades path. “One last thing, Whatever happens down there is protected secrets of the Lunar guard and the private studies of Princess Luna,” The guard looked him right in the eye. “Disclosing this information to anypony besides Lunar Officials will be considered treason.” He rose his spear. “Understood?”

“Sir, yes sir.” Brigade replies as the weight of what exactly he has signed up for begins to settle on his shoulders.

“Have fun.” The other guard comments as Brigade descends into the basement.

The labs just seemed to go on forever. Ponies in light blue lab coats milling about having conversations about research and test subjects. Strange machines pumping strange liquids into strange containers. This place was truly bizarre. Every once and a while he swore he could hear a scream echo down the halls. Passing the labs he noticed that the further he went down the thicker the doors got and fewer ponies were out side their labs. Until he came to the lab he was instructed to, painted on the door.

Changeling Studies

The sign made him uncomfortable. He was concerned that behind this door he would see the rescued nymph cut to pieces or being tortured for information. He steeled his nerves and pressed the buzzer. The door slid open with a metallic grind.

“Brigade.” Doc greeted him, his goggles readjusting to the new light, “Always a pleasure. Celestia has informed me that you wish to see the changeling rescue?”

“Yes, sir.” He was relived he used the word ‘rescue’ and not prisoner. Doc lead him into the lab. Brigade stopped in his tracks as his eyes adjusted to the dark room. Before him lay changeling corpses dissected and clearly being studied. On the shelves changeling eyes, teeth, and other organs floated in jars. Remnants of the invasion, now he was beginning to see why this place was so secretive.

“All of them killed in battle.” Doc said while leading Brigade through the lab. “Me and my assistants have been studying the changelings for many months and have learned very little, their biology is very alien.” Brigade could see other ponies wearing face masks working quietly in the low light. “So when I heard Acropolis had rescued a live one, and a female on top of it, I took my chance.”

“Your chance?” rescue again, but it didn’t quell his unsavory thoughts.

“Yes, to study one alive, You see changelings are very hard to study. They typically perish in confinement, and food consumption will only prolong their lives so long.” Doc explained.

“Because the live off of emotion?”

“Not just Love, but nearly any emotion! Anger, love, compassion, lust, nearly any emotion can keep a changeling alive. Which is why she survived in those hate filled sewers.” Doc lead Brigade to a large door with SPECIMEN CONTAINMENT written on it.

“So, what you starve them and then expose them to an emotion to see if it works?” Brigades displeasure for this style of research shone through in his tone.

“That’s the old way, they always died before any solid conclusions could be made.” Doc opened the door. “This is my way.”

“What in the…” Brigade was lost for words. In the containment room was a small ecosystem. Before him stretched a small swamp. Swamp trees, lily pads, frogs, the stink of muck and shallow still waters that came with it. If he hadn’t just walked through the lab he wouldn’t have been able to well he wasn’t actually in a very dark swamp. He could hear some small creatures crawling through the trees and the buzz of bugs as they flew past his ears.

“Welcome to the Mimic Swamps.” Doc said with a smile on his face.

“Mimic Swamps?” Brigade was still in shock.

“Yes, changeling homeland, the deepest and most dangerous swampland in all of Equestria. Please.” Doc motioned down the small beaten path. They followed the path through the swamp until they came to a small structure made of local wood and vines. Inside he could see the changeling on a small pile of muck, leaves, and twigs sleeping quietly. “And there she is.”

“Has she moved?”

“No, actually,” Doc frowned and took a swig of his flask as they moved into the small hut. “Not since she spoke with you.” Doc picked up a medical chart hanging on the wall. “She is medically fine, or at least as far as I can tell.” His goggles whirred and clicked as he read.

“I wonder why?’ Brigade looked at her sleeping face, as he looked at her her face turned peaceful.

“Beats me, I cant figure how to raise her.”

“What have you tried?” Brigades question was spiteful.

“Calm down, I may be a mad scientist but im not psychotic, well okay im not sadisti- macho- whatever im not that bad of a guy.” He goes back to reviewing her chart.

“Well then,” Brigade goes back to the changeling, “Good bye little changeling, wake up soon.” He got up and went over to Doc. “I did what I wanted, shall we leave?”

“Really? That’s it?”

“I finish what I start Doc, I did not get to see where my charge had been moved to, now that I have, I can move on.” Brigade explained.

“I see, truly an honorable trait.” Doc hung the chart back on the wall.

“Shhickckck…”

“What?” Doc asked.

“Wasn't me.” A surprised Brigade replied.

“Siicshshickk, Brigade.” They turned around as the changeling opened her eyes.

“I do believe she is awake Brigade, did she just say your name?” Doc amazed as he started taking notes.

“Yes she did.” Brigade went back to her bedside. “you remember me right?” she nodded, a small smile on her face.

“She must have reacted to you,” Doc paused, “maybe healing and locomotion energy are derived from positive emotions, would explain her lack of resistance in the sewer?”

“So what none of you down here have emotions?” Brigade commented as the changeling reached up for help out of her gooey bed.

“Not really, helps with all the unethical studies.” Doc goggles spun around to different lens.

“There you go,” Brigade got her on her hooves, wobbly he stands next to her. Leaning her against him to keep her upright. Gripping a small bowl of water with his magic he brings it over to her. Noticing the water she starts to drink it feverishly. “thirsty eh? Hey Doc.” Brigade motions for them to step out as she drinks.

“Yes?” Doc answers still feverishly documenting the wobbly changeling.

“What now?” Brigade whispers.

“What do you mean?” His goggles switched lens again.

“I mean what do you do with her now? Study her? Dissect her? Interrogate her? Tell me.” Brigade demands.

“It really is none of your concern but, I have my orders Brigade.” Doc said coldly striking a nerve with Brigade.

“And what are your orders?”

“Contain, Secure, and Study.” Doc’s goggles spin again, “She has a environment which should maintain her basic needs, and an entire staff to make sure she is healthy.”

“Keep her down here? I don’t know much about changelings-”

“You know nothing about changelings.” Doc cut him off.

“Maybe, but I know that down here, with you and your, no offense, heartless assistants she will starve.” Brigade made his point.

“No offense taken,” Doc paused and thought for a second. “What would you have me do? Release her? Let her roam the streets of Canterlot? 'Cause that went so well for her last time.”

“I-I don’t know. But she will die down here eventually.” He looks over to her with a pained look on his face.

“Why don’t you assist me in that?” He motions for them to re-enter the hut. Brigade helps her to sit down on her muck bed.

“What do you mean?” Brigade asks. Doc motions to the still groggy changeling. Assuming that the Doc wants him to talk with her he leans down meeting her eyes. “Hi there, how are you doing?” He asks her.

“Hiss Chicicks Gurriilickshsh.” She replies with a slight smile.

“Equestrian please.” He asks with a grin.

“Sorry, I-I’m okay, tired.” She leans back on her muck bed.

“What’s your name?” A question Brigade never thought to ask.

“Chiickck.” she replies in changeling.

“Is that short for something?” Brigade chuckles. Her eyes open a bit more and some more color comes to her skin.

“Its, like a shine, light, bouncing.” She tries to find the proper word.

“Like, a glint?” The Doc exclaims.

“Glint, yes my name is Glint.” She places a hoof to her head, “Its coming back to me in pieces.” She looks pained.

“Now, now, your safe now.” Brigade tries to comfort her, “No pony here is going to hurt you.”

“I know.” She smiles at him and closes her eyes. He can feel her pulling his emotions off him, not ripping them from him, more like gently trimming the edges.

“Fascinating.” Doc writes in his notes. “It would seem my hunch was correct.”

“Hunch?”

“Yes, I would like you to visit me and her everyday.” Doc writes a few more things down.

“Everyday? What for?” Brigade asks, Glints wings buzz slightly.

“So she can feed, Idjit.” Doc bonks him on the head with his notebook. “You said so yourself, she will die down here with me and mine. But you bleed compassion, honor, all sorts of emotions. Even if you are like a statue most of the time.”

“Why me?” Brigade asked.

“Sweet Celestia, you really are an Idjit.” Doc hangs the notebook back on the wall. “She reacted to you, not your emotions, mostly, but to you. And until I know why, how, and how that thing ticks. Im going to need your help.”

“Thing?” He looks back at Glint as she looks out the small window and out into the swamp. What was it Acropolis said? Aint she a looker? I guess I could have worse assignments. “I’ll have to clear this with Captain Armor.”

“Im sure he wont protest.” Doc smiles knowing his research could continue. Glint smiles softly feeding off of Brigades emotions.