A Changeling's Love to Hate

8 days till invasion of Canterlot

"Chirp chirp"

"Huh?"

"Chirp!"

"What?" Dark Fang slowly opened his eyes. His vision was really blurry at first. He sat up and used his front hooves to rub his eyes. His vision became more clear and saw a blue jay standing in front of him.

"Chirp chirp!"

Dark Fang wasn't sure what to make of this. This was the first time he's ever seen a bird come up to him this close. Though, it's always nice to be polite when someone or some creature greets you. "Um... good morning?"

The blue jay jumped off of the branch and dove down under it. Dark Fang watched as it dove, wondering what it was doing. Then he noticed that there was a sheet of folded paper falling down to the ground. Paper? he thought. What's that about?

The blue jay grabbed it with its feet right before the paper landed on the ground and flew back up to Dark Fang. It flew over his head and dropped the paper on his forehead as he watched. "Let me see." Dark Fang grabbed the paper off of his forehead and unfolded the paper. As he did this, the blue jay flew off up into the sky. Dark Fang didn't bother to follow it. He was more interested in the paper. There should be something special about it since it appeared out of nowhere and the blue jay seemed to have been telling him it was urgent.

After Dark Fang completely unfolded the paper, he looked carefully at the paper. It was a letter. A little that seemed to have appeared out of nowhere. Was it magic? Was it that the blue jay sent it to me? How'd it get here? He wondered.

He then began reading the letter, wondering if it really was meant for him and who wrote it.

Dark Fang, the Changeling,

"Wow, guess it is for me." Dark Fang silently muttered. He then continued right after reading the header.

I have watched you carefully in your dreams. You certainly are a Changeling like no other. I also see that you were suffering a bit in the Changeling hive and started to question the ways of the Changelings. From what I can understand, you really aren't all that happy staying in the hive.

"What?! I was happy living in the hive! How dare you?!" Dark Fang shouted at the letter with a very convincing voice. Though, no matter how convincing it was, he still felt kind of empty about it. He still felt a bit doubtful. He didn't know if he telling the truth. He didn't even know if he was being truthful to himself. Now that the letter did mention it, he does feel a little less sad about leaving the hive. Maybe the letter was right. But he still was upset that he left his mentor and Night Wing behind. He still continued reading the letter.

I have decided that maybe it's best you stay with us for a while in Night Marington. It is a town far east of Canterlot and it is where I, Princess Luna, rule, so long as my sister doesn't need me for anything that is.

"Princess Luna?" Dark Fang muttered, wondering why the princess of the night would been very interested in him. Why would she help him anyways? He's done so many bad stuff to her and Princess Celestia's subjects. Though, as he kept reading, it seemed as if the letter was reading his mind.

Never mind about the misdeeds you've done in the past. What's important now is what's to come. I have seen that you are really willing to change the Changeling's way of life. I regret to inform you that this is a task that will take a very long time o make and won't be something that happens over night. Though, if you still really want to know, then you must know of another way to obtain love. A way that wouldn't hurt others in the process. There are other Changelings here in Night Marington that seem to be doing very well. These Changelings are also outcasts and has each found their own way to have food. Maybe you could learn something from them?

Dark Fang started to feel a bit excited. Could this really be the key to change the Changeling's way of life? Were there really other Changelings that thought the exact same way like him? He started to feel reassured now. The sadness that was in him was banished out from him like he was from the hive. "Wait... how do I get there?" He muttered. He started reading again, and like always, it's like the letter was answering his every question.

I have made sure that there would be a white pegasus with a wavy mane that is striped light blue and white to take you to Night Marington, should you accept my offer that is. However, be warned, that if you don't find her before nightfall comes along, she'll assume your answer is no and leave. If you wish to find her, then try searching along the edge of the forest. She should be stationed at the exit where it would lead to Canterlot. To make sure that you are the right Changeling, she'll ask you a question. No matter what the question is, just say "Not until a blue moon." This will acknowledge her that you are the one she's looking for.

Have safe travels and we hope to see you soon, should you accept.

-Sincerly

Princess Luna

The Changeling was really happy with the news. This should solve most of the problems he's having right now, with the most important of not having a home to stay right now. Though, what really is irking him is that he has to look all across a perimeter just to find this pegasus that is supposed to take him to the place. Might as well try since I have no other choice... He thought.

It's been five hours since he's flown along the edges of the forest. He saw Canterlot just a few miles away from the forest. The white castle that Princess Celestia lived in was an obvious landmark to distinguish it from any other cities that may look fancy as Canterlot. He turned to face down towards the ground as he flew along the edge of the border to keep searching for the Pegasus. It was already in the afternoon and he was starting to run out of time. Plus, he was getting kind of tired. Typical... I have to fly all over the place to find a pegasus on the ground. It's like trying to find a Changeling within a huge crowd of ponies, except that it's a bit more easier to tell who the Changeling is. He thought. But then, he realized something. Wait a minute! Pegasuses can fly! So why didn't they have her fly up into the air to make things easier for me? This got him irked up a bit more. Really, this is a wild goose chase!

The sun was finally starting to set as Dark Fang had zero luck in finding the Pegasus. He was really peeved now as he flew all day for nothing. Just my luck. The Princess obviously did this to punish me! He thought. Though, as he thought more and more about it, he started to feel more depressed now. Eh... I guess I deserve it. No one wants me. I'm a criminal to ponies and a traitor to Changelings. Both races hate me. Of course this would happen. He sulked as he slowly hovered in the air just above the forest's perimeter. He wondered what he should do now. He didn't have a home to go to and no one to feed him any love. Speaking of which, his stomach started to ache from hunger pains. He could hear it growl as he hasn't eaten since he was forced to leave the hive. He looked around to see if there was anypony who could help him out. He even took a look at the city off in the distance. It had him wondering if he should go. He could go there to Canterlot to try and absorb enough love for him to survive, but that would go against what he believed. Of course, if it was necessary, then he'd be willing to do it. Necessity has no bounds after all... He thought.

Dark Fang turned his back on the forest and was about to fly to Canterlot to try and fill his hunger. Though, a very loud disturbance has stopped him dead in his tracks.

BANG!

"Huh?! What was that?!" It sounded like it came from behind him. The sound of a weird kind of... explosion.

CRACKLE!

He turned around to see what was going on. There was nothing in the skies except thin layers of clouds. He didn't really see anything down in the forest either. Of course, there were trees covering the entire forest though so there's almost no way for him to see anything in all of it very easily. All except for something that flashed in one spot about 500 yards from the perimeter. Four seconds later, he heard the noise it made.

POW!

Dark Fang wasn't sure what was going on. He decided to fly down to check it out. As he approached, the flashes and the noise became much more recognizable. He thought he knew what it was just as he was about half way there. "Is that... lightning? From the ground?!"

Dark Fang knew that pegasi were capable of manipulating Equestria's weather. This must have been the pegasus that was mentioned in the letter. Maybe this lightning was meant for him so he could get her attention. But... why inside the forest rather than the outside? This could destroy a few trees, as Dark Fang knew.

Dark Fang decided that maybe it would be unsafe to fly right in from the top. He stopped and turned around to, instead, fly into the entrance and walk towards it instead. "Better to walk a distance than to be a crisp bug..." He muttered.

As Dark Fang got closer and closer to the source of the flash and the noise, he could start hearing voices. It wasn't easy to make up thanks to the constant loud explosive noises of the lightning bolts, but he could make out that this supposed pegasus wasn't alone.

Maybe Princess Luna's also there... He thought.

He finally stumbled upon lots of fallen trees with scorch marks on their trunks. It was obvious that the thunder bolts the pegasus was conjuring was the cause of it. He could see that the trees were still smoking from the charred spots and the stump that no longer supported the tree. What was notable about them is that they all seemed to have fallen away from the source. Dark Fang knew he was close, but getting there seemed to be more difficult as he had to climb over the fallen trees and walk through jungles of sticks and leaves.

CRACKLE BOOOM!

Right after he heard this noise, he finally stumbled upon a forest clearing. The perimeter of the clearing only had fallen trees, bending away from it. All of them were charred. In the middle of the clearing, he could see the white pegasus that was mentioned earlier in the middle. She looked really battered down as she was heavily breathing with her mane and coat looking a bit messed up and had a couple of gashes lined and dripping red. Is she... bleeding? What's going on? Dark Fang thought. He then noticed that there were three other ponies in the clearing. No... not ponies. They looked like ponies, but they were translucent. They looked as if they were made of... "Ice?!"

"You better tell us now where she resides!" The ice pony in the middle commanded at the white pegasus. This ice pony looked bigger than the other two. He also seemed to have a helmet that looked kind of like something that the guards in Canterlot would wear, except this one was also made of ice. The two ice ponies next to him looked just like normal ponies. No armor, no helmets, and normal size. All three of them, unlike regular ponies, had no cutie mark at all.

"Heh, is this all you have to offer? I already melted your squad." The pegasus said, still huffing. She managed to break a grin on her face, still showing her determination to fight.

"How persistent do you have to be?!" The ice pony leader shouted. He looked very irritated with the white pegasus. "Tell us now or we will have to eliminate you on the spot right now!"

"So how many soldiers do you have left? Two aside from yourself? And how many did you have to start? Twenty-five? If you are their so called squad leader, then you send yourself at me!" The white pegasus bent her front hooves into what looked like a very aggressive looking crouch. She spread her wings out, as if she was threatening to charge. As Dark Fang watched, he took note of the oddest thing he's ever seen a pegasus do. The wings looked like they had minature sea serpents swimming through them. No... not sea serpents, it was electricity.

Dark Fang awed at the sight. He knew that pegasi can use lightning with clouds, but he never thought that a pegasus could be able to summon them at will with their wings. This must be a special kind. Maybe she was actually an alicorn? He looked at her forehead to see if she was an alicorn, but there was no horn. Just a pegasus.

The leader of the ice ponies looked very enraged now. "Gah! That's it! Kill her now!" He pointed at the pegasus, ordering the last of his soldiers to attack. The two ice ponies started to charge with a loud war cry. As they started to close in on the pegasus, the pegasus dashed with her wings spread, running right in between the two ice ponies and slapped them with her wings.

ZAP!

"Grragghh!" The two ponies shouted as the wings touched them. A surge of electricity could be seen electrocuting the two, making them spaz out. Their bodies were shacking a lot, up until their ice structure fractured into pieces, melting on the forest floor and seeping into the ground.

"The squad that Winter Wrath has entrusted with me..." The leader started, staring at the carnage the pegasus did, "It's been... YOU!!!" He glared directly at the pegasus with a menacing stare. "I will kill you for that!"

"It's your fault you've been an incapable sergeant! And if all of you Frozies are like this, then your leader is ONE SORRY PONY!" The pegasus shouted.

Frozies? Dark Fang thought. Oh, I get it... frozen ponies. That must be what they are called.

"That's it! Fight me!" The leader said. "I won't stand here to watch someone with such a low caliber insult our great and wonderful leader!"

The pegasus looked very annoyed now. It must have been how the ice pony called her a "low caliber." After all, even Dark Fang would agree that he would get pretty mad at someone if someone were to tell him that, as he took pride in his fighting skills. He still continued to watch, but before he knew it, it was over.

"Graggllgahh!" The leader cried out as he got electrocuted to death, having the same fate as his subordinated did, along with the helmet he wore.

Dark Fang and the pegasus just both stood there, staring at the ground where the squad leader once was and shook their heads, both unamused at how the squad leader was pretty much defeated just like that. Dark Fang was hoping to watch a more exciting fight, after all, to see the pegasus's capabilities. Maybe compare them to his own.

"Low caliber? He couldn't even stand a second in a fight!" Dark Fang heard the pegasus mutter. "How did they even appoint him as a squad leader? Dumb and weak. Worst combination for a leader."

Dark Fang actually kind of agreed, even though he doesn't know what Frozies are, aside from the fact that they are ponies made of ice and they melt when they die. Even the Changelings are smart enough to appoint the strongest and smartest as the squad leaders. The pegasus was still just standing there, looking around. Maybe she was looking for him? Dark Fang then scanned the clearing to see if the coast was clear. There was no signs of any other pony, being made of ice or not, nearby.

Dark Fang crawled out into the clearing and slowly approached the pegasus. The pegasus noticed this and turned her attention towards him. Dark Fang took note of her Cyan colored eyes as she stared into his green and purple eyes. The pegasus smiled, relaxing her tensed up body and folding her wings. All of her signs of hostility were gone.

Once they were face to face now, Dark Fang kind of stuttered a bit. It was the first time he's actually tried to communicate with a normal pony now. "Um.. hi. Are you the pegasus in the letter?"

The pegasus nodded. "I'm Cyan Thunder. I'm an adventurer. And you are?"

As she asked the question, Dark Fang was about to answer, "Da..." but then he recalled the letter. If she asks a question, answer "Not in a blue moon," or something like that. "Not in a blue moon!"

The pegasus's laughter was the only response he got, with her saying, "Okay Mr. Blue Moon!"

"What?! I thought I was supposed to say that?!" Dark Fang kind of got annoyed now. He was sure that was the question he was supposed to answer with that.

"Oh I'm just teasing with you! I know who you are. Luna told me that you are Dark Fang, the Changeling outcast."

Dark Fang frowned, looking a bit depressed at the reminder and turned his head away to hide his shame.

"Oh come on." The pegasus said, still smiling. "Tell me, what's it like to be a Changeling? What do you guys eat? Who's your leader? And most important... how did they Changelings come to be? Oh, and how many of you are there?! Where do you guys live?!"

The pegasus kept asking so many questions that he couldn't hear himself think. He set aside his depression for a bit to at least say, "Please! Be quiet! I can't handle this many at once!"

The pegasus snickered a bit. But she indeed, stopped her barrage of questions. "Sorry, it's just that I love to discover new places and species. Of course, we do have Changelings back where I'm staying, but they refuse to show me much. All I know is that they are filled with holes, have a tough exterior, they buzz around, and that they can shape shift into anypony or being. All of the wonderful things you can learn just by asking questions. Plus, it's always good to know as much as possible about the world you live in, is it not?"

"I guess that's true." Dark Fang said, nodding.

"Heh." Cyan Thunder said. "So, seeing as how I asked so many questions, why don't you ask one?"

Dark Fang thought about this. He still felt kind of depressed after being called a Changeling outcast, but he may as well get used to it as that's how most ponies will probably recognize him anyways. However, that wasn't important right now. He really wanted to know one thing right now. Just one about the pegasus. "Er... How do you do that? That... thing with the wings and the lightning?"

"Oh?" Cyan Thunder turned her head to look at her wings. She then turned her head back to him, blushing a bit, saying "Oh, you saw that? How embarrassing of me. Well, I guess it doesn't hurt to tell you that my wings have been struck by lightning, both at the same time, and ever since then, my feathers got fried. But I did manage to gain this nice power. Zapping anything I touch with these!" She even got into her fighting stance with her wings spread, as if she was trying to prove it just like that.

Feathers fried? Does that mean she's "Flightless?"

"WHO TOLD YOU?!" She shouted, backing up as if she's really surprised.

"Er... you said your wings were fried."

Her surprise immediately faded, "Oh yeah, so I did. But yeah, I guess I am flightless. But hey, at least I have this cool power!"

That explains why she wasn't flying at all... Dark Fang thought.

"But enough talk. We're losing too much daylight." Cyan finally said. She walked past Dark Fang and started heading out of the forest. "We should head to Canterlot to spend the night at an inn or something, despite my dislike for that place."

Dark Fang wondered what's up with the pegasus. This seemed kind of unusual for a pony. Rather, he was wondering why she wasn't afraid of him. She looked much more interested than anything else. Did she not know of the things the Changelings done? Plus why were those Frozies after he in the first place? And why did she dislike the capital of Equestria? All of these questions were popping into his head very rapidly. Almost as rapidly as Cyan's barrage of questions.