Changeling Anon III - Witch Hunt

>The trip down the stairs of the saloon was slow going, Trixie still stumbling slightly after a sudden waking.
>Stout wasn't in the saloon, leaving you and Trixie to exit out of the back door, leaving it unlocked behind the pair of you.
>You could hear a commotion out near the center of Town. Trixie was looking around nervously, stopping every so often to straighten her mane or tail. Most likely out of nervous habit than actual bedhead.
>As you approach the center of town, you taste that metallic flavor in the air. Just as sharp and eye-watering as ever. You grimace as you start to approach the crowd, that obvious fear in the air not making the trot any better.
>Standing atop the makeshift platform, two hooded figures stood flanking a single unicorn. His eyes were sharp and glaring as he looked over the crowd in silence. His pristine, white coat seemed to blend slightly with the gray mane that he sported.
>"Greetings, Citizens of Appaloosa. I can only guess that you all are wondering why my associates and I have gathered here today."
>That voice was easily recognizable as the one you'd heard speaking with Braeburn from before. It sounded arrogant, and you could taste the disgust rolling off of him. It made you shudder as you kept huddled with Trixie near the back of the crowd of ponies.
>"We have heard from one of Her Majesty's loyal subjects that there is a threat to the very foundation of love and well being that we all cherish. A threat that has established itself in this town. One that has revealed it's presence to the good and wholesome ponies of Appaloosa."
>That metallic flavor was growing in intensity. You can see ponies shifting uncomfortably as they listen to the words of the unicorn on the platform, a few shrinking down under his accusing gaze.
>"You all know full well what I am referring to. The changeling that has taken residence into your very town. We all know the implications of such a creature. Or do I need to remind you all of the Canterlot Invasion?"

>Hushed whispers go through the crowd, as well as nervous shuffling. You're starting to get a headache from all this fear in the air. Beside you, Trixie lets out a small whimper, looking over at you with worried eyes.
>"I can assume I do not. But don't worry, Appaloosians. That is why we have come at the behest of Celestia herself to sort out the problem. We are here as your allies against the blackened hordes. We plan a full investigation of your small town, and a removal of the changeling threat, down to the last piece of chitin."
>A sigh of relief goes over the crowd, you letting one out as well. Not at the prospect of your forced removal, but the lack of that flavor of fear in the air. Your stomach decides to stop doing backflips and settle.
>"Now, to ensure that I have the cooperation of every last citizen, a bounty shall be issued for each and every changeling that is brought and confirmed for their crimes of trespassing in Equestrian territory. A sum of 2,000 bits to any pony that can meet the bounty."
>More whispers go over the crowd. Suspicion seems to well up in them, a flavor that tasted like a lemon, bitter and sour as they were. You wince slightly but keep your composure.
>"We shall be doing our interrogations in the sheriff's building on the end of town. And for those of you who find loyalties to the changelings, it has been proven time and again that they are unfeeling monsters and nothing more. The crime for withholding the whereabouts of a changeling is punishable by imprisonment. Do not think for a moment that we will hold mercy to those that pose a threat to our nation."
>That foreboding threat was the signal for the two cloaked ponies and the stallion to depart. The crowd began to disperse, but that lemony flavor in the air surrounded all of them. There was no denying it, Appaloosa was going to turn into a full scale witch hunt in a matter of days.

>You can only hope that no one decides to try and drag you down to the sheriff's office for any sort of interrogation. You and Trixie both depart to the saloon, quietly slipping into the back door.
>"Trixie only hopes that the changeling is found soon."
>You look over, slightly astonished at the mare.
>"N-not that the Great and Powerful Trixie is afraid or anything! She simply worries for the well being of the ponies of Appaloosa."
>You let out a chuckle, although you feel a bit ashamed of it. You'd hoped that Trixie would be some sort of changeling sympathizer, what with the way she seems to be ostracized. But everypony has a right to be afraid of a predator, and that's ultimately what changelings are.
"I'm sure they'll round up that bug in no time and cart him off. There's no reason for us to be worried, Trixie."
>"My thoughts exactly, Starfall. Now, Trixie must continue to practice her amazing feats of magic!" Trixie then rushes up the stairs towards the room, leaving you going at your own pace back up. The saloon would open in a few hours. You could only hope that the commotion doesn't spread to it during the night.
>As you watch out the window, idly commenting on the various feats of "magic" that Trixie would perform, you watched as the townsponies would go about their day from the glassless window in your shared room.
>There was a certain tension that hung over the town like a fog. The conversations were apparently normal, but you had developed a more keen eye for details when it comes to ponies. Maybe it was just instinct. You could notice the tenseness of every step of a mare, or the intermittent glances a stallion would continue to put behind him.
>The unicorn from that morning was lounging in front of the sheriff's office, biding his time as he watched the ponies go about their days. You'd managed to feed off of the suspicion that carried through the air, but the sourness of it made  you feel sick when you tried to take in too much at once.
>You hope it will be better tonight.

>As the afternoon wore on over Appaloosa, you decide to head down to the main saloon early. It was roughly an hour until the saloon opened, giving you time to look over yourself and chat with Stout.
>Your coat wasn't at it's best, still showing a darker shade of beige than normal. It wasn't too noticeable, however. But that would be fixed quickly within the first few minutes of the general rush into the saloon.
>Stout was getting the bar organized, with Fritter Frier working in the kitchen as usual. Stout waves you over with a slight smile as you make it down.
>"Well howdy Starfall. Gettin' all prepped for tonight."
>He continues sorting the glasses while he talks, polishing each one a few times over to ensure they had a good sheen to them.
>"Ah saw ya down at that meetin' they had earlier today. Ah don't know what they're tryin' to pull, but ah won't be havin' any interrogatin' or accusin' goin' on in my establishment. If ya start hearin' anything of the sort, just tell me who it is, alright?"
>At least Stout seems to be on your side. Sorta. In a very roundabout way that didn't directly involve you in the slightest.
>"Same for those fellers sent by Celestia. As much as I love our fair Princess, ah won't be havin' any of her lackeys or their antics here. This is the Appaloosa Saloon, not the Canterlot Dungeons."
>Stout gives a firm nod and starts to wipe the counter. It was apparent that he wasn't in the mood to talk with or deal with any guff from any of hte ponies here in Appaloosa. You start to slink out of the room, making your way to the back to pick up your vest for the evening. Fritter was working over the stove, keeping herself busy as she did so.
>You think you saw her out in the crowd before during the meeting, but you decide to brush it off as you set up the tables in the main area.
>Trixie comes down a few minutes later, getting herself ready. She still has a look of loathing about her concerning the whole ordeal.

"Hey, just don't worry about it. It's only one moon cycle and you'll be outta this."
>Trixie looks up at you with a frown, arranging stools around a table as she nods at the door to the saloon.
>"Trixie wants nothing more than to learn how to time travel so that she may be rid of this place. It is beneath her to have to serve these ponies. Not only that, but Trixie's life may very well be at stake, what with changelings hanging about the town."
>You fake a chuckle as the bar patrons start to flow in, cutting off any further conversation as you both begin to collect orders and serve drinks to the thirsty and altogether disgruntled ponies of Appaloosa.
>The afternoon turns to evening, with the pace going much steadier than the previous day. You can still taste that air of suspicion, but it was far more overpowered by the quickly growing sense of merriment. The sweet and sour flavors were strange, but they seemed to blend well together for you.
>Stout waves you over after a time, speaking to you behind the bar.
>"Starfall, ah noticed a few of those ponies keep eying you strangely. What with the commotion from earlier today, ah'd prefer it if ya just went up to your room for the evenin'."
>You feel grateful to the stallion as you quickly hang up your vest and start up the stairs. You hadn't been feeling particularly comfortable for most of the day. As you thought more about the interrogators sent by Celestia that were stationed in the town, it only made you feel more nervous.
>Hearing shouts outside, you look out the window to see a few mares dragging a bright pink mare towards the sheriff's office. You notice that many of the other townsponies are peeking out of their homes as well.
>"I'M TELLING YOU, I'M NOT A CHANGELING! LET ME GO!"
>"Right right, whatever you say "Posie". I bet Chrysalis told you to say that, didn't she?"
>The shouting continues as the mare is taken into the sheriff's office. The unicorn that headed the speech earlier today helps them get her inside, the door slamming loudly and silence once again going over the town.
>Ponies start to slowly pull back into their homes, but you wince at the sight.
>Things are going to start getting really bad, really quick.