//------------------------------//
// Chapter 13 - Pretender 
// Story: Iron Eyes 
// by Dramaro 
//------------------------------//

I smiled before noticing how Blueblood paid no attention to me. Raising an eye brow, I tapped Blueblood's shoulder to get his attention.

"Oh, sorry. I was just admiring the picture."

The painting was a portrait of a middle-aged, or as I presumed, mare with a platinum colored mane and a light purple coat.    The inscription gave it as Queen Platinum of Unicornia and I presumed she was the ruler of the nation before Equestria was established. "Her name fits her well." I commented.

"Why are you here anyways?" said Blueblood with a rather haughty attitude.

I was confused to why he was acting... like before. Didn't I just cleared his name? "Blueblood? Are you okay?"

"Yes I'm fine! Why do you keep on pestering me?" he snapped.

Backing up for a moment, I wondered why he was being so annoyed at me. It took me a moment before a question popped in my head. "What about Crystal Clear?"

"What about her?"

That answer wasn't right. Blueblood wouldn't give me such a cold blow off... unless it wasn't him. "You're not Blueblood..."

The impersonator went bug eyed and suddenly was consumed in a volley of green fire.. Using my arm to keep the fire out of my vision, I looked to see a black equine like insectoid standing before me. Its pupiless blue eyes stared at me in anger and its curved dagger like horn glistened under the light. The wings on its back buzzed constantly in anger.

Seeing me staring it him, or it, the changeling quickly turned tail and shot off. I quickly went into a full sprint with my goal to catch the creature. The changeling was quick, and as nature was, being a biped meant I was slower. As I gave chase, the distance between me and the changeling became larger.

Suddenly, the changeling stopped and turned around. I was surprised to see its horn shrouded in a sickly green glow. With a powerful flash, the changeling shot out a powerful beam of green energy from its glowing horn. I leaned to the left just enough for the beam to miss me and it struck a panting behind me, burning a hole straight through it and into the wall.

The changeling hissed at me. Without hesitation, I grabbed my pistol and trained it on the creature before firing a shot. I just grazed its chitin shell, leaving only a harmless scratch. The changeling shot its deadly beam back at me. I was able to move of the way enough that only a small portion of my jacket got singed. Finding myself behind a bust for cover, I looked back to see the changeling turning around to run again.

I took two more shots. One quickly struck the changeling in the leg, cracking its chitin armor a bit. It didn't stop him and the second bullet simply took out a bust sitting at the end of the hallway. The changeling quickly took a left turn and I quickly followed.

I heard a shriek of fear and upon turning around the corner, I saw the changeling with a poor maid in its magical grasp. It's horn dangerously close to the mare's throat. I kept my gun trained on the changeling but I was fearful for the maid. She shook in the changeling's grasp and was sweating profusely.

"Let her go!" I shouted. "You don't want a second murder under your belt."

The changeling growled. "Don't even make a move!"

I kept my ground. Looking down, I noticed that the changeling's back right leg was indented and kept raised off the ground. The bullet hadn't pierced but it did cause internal bleeding or some form of damage. The changeling slowly walked backwards with the mare in tow, keeping his eyes trained on me. Each step he took with his hurt leg made his face contort with pain.

"Good. I'll take take this mare and return to the hive!"

The mare screamed in fear. "You know I can't allow you and besides, there are guards everywhere! There's no place to go!" I shouted. Looking carefully, I noticed something behind the changeling.

"Not if they don't know. I already got away with killing the last maid!" In the same flourish of green fire, the changeling took the image of Shining Armor and even copied his voice. "The Queen will be surprised to hear what weapons you humans have. Such power would be a great addition to the... "

A sudden bolt of lavender magic quickly struck the Changeling in the back of the head, knocking it out and allowing the maid to run to safety. The changeling automatically reverted back into its black chitinous self. Looking up, I noticed Shining walking towards the changeling.

"Thank God you arrived!" I said in relief. I quickly placed my pistol back in its holster before walking up to the changeling. "Ugly bug, isn't it?"

"Yeah. Try a thousand of them ruining your wedding day."

"That would be a problem. You heard the whole thing?"

Shining nodded. "We have our killer. I'm surprised we caught the thing alive. Normally they use some sort of loopback spell that literally fries their own brains."

"Like cyanide."

"What?"

"Suicide capsules soldiers and spies have used throughout history. Dead men tell no tales."

"Ugh... Let me take this changeling into custody. Maybe he can give us some knowledge on Queen Chrysalis' whereabouts."

I nodded and watched Shining lift the changeling onto his back. "I'll go and tell Celestia. We'll probably have to check every personal in the castle just in case," I said.

With a smile and a nod, Shining left the hallway, probably to have the changeling's horn severed and to find it a comfy home for the evening. Noticing the time, I retired to my room for a bit to do some prayers before heading to the throne room.


---


I stopped at the doors of the throne room. The guards had told me that Princess Celestia was dealing with some guests of some kind. The guards told me to wait a moment and I watched one peek inside. After a few moments the guard turned to me. "Celestia is waiting for you. You seem to be popular."

I raised my brow at the comment but simply ignored it. Waling inside, I was surprised to see griffons standing at the feet of Celestia's throne. Each one wore thin leather armor with light chain-mail underneath. A sword was sheathed around their hips and, in all, it gave the griffon guards a very classical European look.

Celestia looked at me for a moment before smiling. "This is Lt. Roya Sayid. She's the human that arrived a few days ago and has been of great help with our Royal Guards."

The griffons watched and stared at me for a moment. The one griffon that caught my attention was a tall one, wearing leather armor under a well made tunic of expensive fibers. Around his neck was a large golden chain necklace with a centerpiece showing a symbol of office. He had a middle aged look in his face, with a well worn out beak accompanied by numerous scars. A second scar ran the side of his neck, revealing that he was probably a veteran solider or maybe even an officer.

"Where's your armor?" the well clothed griffon said.

"I don't wear armor. Where I'm from, the police force is separate from the military. Not to mention, we don't wear armor unless necessary, such as a raid."

"Strange... what if someone has a sword?"

I couldn't help but smirk a bit. "We don't use swords anymore."

"Strange... no swords? Doesn't that seem a bit... backwards?"

This time, Celestia decided to step in. "Excuse me Sir Sideclaw but Roya is from a different world. In fact, her world's technology is very advanced."

"Hmm, what kind of species are these humans anyways? Predatory? Prey?"

I sighed. "We're a predator species and the most successful of our world."

Sideclaw simply stared at me for a moment before turning to one his guards. The two stared at each other and suddenly began chuckling. "Really? You got those puny things you call talons, no fur, and you're small failure of canines is laughable! Not to mention, with two legs like that, you'd probably run as fast as I can throw a sack of bread."

I was getting a bit annoyed, and seeing Celestia she had the same reaction. With a sigh, I ignored the offhand comment. Fortunately, Celestia was more vocal about it. "Excuse me, Sir Sideclaw, but you shouldn't disrespect the current ambassador for her species. Besides, there are things about these humans that you would best not to find out..."

"Sorry, my apologies. It was rather rude of me. Anyway, Celestia has told me of your recent exploits. Though, I would have expected more."

"I accept the apology, Sir Sideclaw. People tend to make the mistake of making an opinion in haste. Now, is there something you wanted to see me about?" I asked.

"Yes. You see, we recently had reports of strange.. machines appearing within our borders. We have no clue what they do but we immediately contact Equestria about the. Princess Celestia told us that these machines were "cars" or some sort of ponyless carriage of some kind. We are simply here to ask if they're dangerous."

"No, they're not. Human cars are simply forms of transportation. May I ask, did any other humans arrive?"

Sir Sideclaw sighed for a moment. "One did but it... errr he or she, I don't know which, died shortly."

"Thank you for telling me this. Can you bring their body and belongings here?"

"Currently they're in Griffony. I'll request them to be transported here as soon as possible."

"Thank you."

"Before you go, may I ask.... I don't to be rude but, why are your eyes... like that?"

"They're cybernetics. Simply put, they're mechanical ones that are directly connected to my brain to allow me to see. I went blind as a little girl."

"Oh... You humans must be masters at magic."

I smirked and shook my head. "Not magic. Just pure technology." I turned to Princess Celestia who seemed to have calmed down a bit. "I wanted to tell you that Shining and I have apprehended a changeling spy. Plus, he was the murderer of Crystal Clear."

"How do you know?"

"He flaunted it like it was some sort of trophy when he tried to take a hostage. Gave Shining an opening to knock him out. The changeling is currently in custody as we speak."

Celestia nodded. "Good. Shining will take control of the case now. Changelings of Chrysalis' hive are currently enemies of Equestria thanks to the wedding incident."

"I know. I'll be retiring to my room for the evening. Thank you for the introductions and everything. Celestia and I will try to arrange a proper burial for the person who died upon entering your country, Sir Sideclaw."

He simply nodded. "I'll be unable to attend the diner but my superiors will be there to speak with you. Thank you, Celestia, for introducing me to Roya."

With a smile I gave my thanks and left before heading to the command center. Shining and I have an "interview" to do.