I pretty much hate MLP, but I love these guys. They are just so cool.

Looking at the distance with her binoculars, Pegasus Guard Sharp-Eye couldn't help but gush at the creature she saw. "Look there, Icey! It's a Changeling!" She points her hoof towards the creature in the distance "Isn't it adorable?"

Earth Guard Cold-Gaze squinted his eyes to the Changeling. In the distance, it went about its business, blissfully unaware of the two Royal Guard ponies. It was in a happy mood, he could tell - and given the trail of drained critter husks made it abundantly clear that the creature might had just got its best meal in months, since the scatter of the Changeling forces across Equestria from Canterlot.

Cold-Gaze did not share his college's opinion of its cuteness. For that matter, he did not feel even a single pinch of emotion towards their target - he was a Royal Guard Frontier Ranger corporal by profession and rank, and by specific job, a sniper. Snipers are, by nature and training, to be emotionally balanced, unable to feel any emotion for their target nor be susceptible to emotions. They cannot feel anxiety about the nature of their role. They cannot feel sympathy for their targets. They cannot feel remorse towards those they target. When the face of the enemy comes within their scope, THEY DIE.

He frankly couldn't care less if the Changeling is a cute little critter. It is the enemy. It has to die.

Calmly, he shot down his college's seeming love for the creature. "You seemed to forget that they are a race of parasitic vampires that had tried to invade Equestria and turned us all into cattle."

"Of course I know that!" Eagle-Eye replied mirthfully, "So, we're going to pop its head or what?" She beamed happily, eyes wide and sporting a big, eager grin.

Cold-Gaze raised an eyebrow. So, she was not being serious about her compliment. Much as he was a clinical buck, Eagle-Eye disturbed him on a level he didn't even know he have; she seems to be TOO enthusiastic at her job. It wasn't that she was doing it for glory - no one passed sniper school with that attitude - but it seemed she took the death of their many, many enemies at the frontier TOO well to be healthy. She seemed to even enjoy it.

Maybe that's how she coped with her lifetime of issues, unlike how he coped with his troubled past.

This could wait for later. Right now, they must deal with the Changeling.

"Your turn to be spotter this time." Cold-Gaze ordered simply.

Eagle-Eye pouted with disappointment, but nevertheless complied, "Just try and keep the horn intact, would ya big guy? I've been dying to get one of them for my collection."

Cold Gaze said nothing as he assembled the scope and rifle. He lied down flat, pulled himself up to the .308 caliber, feeling the cold metal skin of the long, gunmetal-grey weapon pressing on his shoulders.

He recited the Sniper's mantra in his head: Get a proper sight picture: check. Watch for scope shadow: no scope shadows, check. Find natural point of aim: check.

"Distance: Five. Seven. Six." Sharp Eye whispered the numbers. Her voice was calm. Good, Cold Gaze thought, she was out from cloud-cuckoo land and back to her job now. "Wind going East to West, half value."

He did the math in his head in his head. He shifted his body a bit. Don't muscle the rifle, he reminded himself.

On scope, on target, and the 'adorable' head of the Changeling came quickly to his sights. The Changeling looked like it was having the best day of its life; so happy, so at peace, with no worry and good things to look forward to.

Cold Gaze wondered what price should one pay to feel that kind of joy again.

He waited for that pause in his natural respiration.

And he pulled the trigger.