Octavia trotted down the main avenue of Canterlot, wearing her favorite incognito outfit, a simple green dress with a straw hat. The snooty elites around town mostly ignored her, thinking she was a simple bumpkin from down the mountain. She smiled to herself as a couple of jewelery makers gave an offended huff as they passed by such an unfashionable pony.
If they only knew they had bought front and center seats to my last concert. Hah!
Today was tea day. Her favorite tea shop was a small cafe on a side street off the main avenue in Canterlot. On warm days like this, she especially enjoyed sitting at the tables outside the cafe. In the afternoons, the shadow of Luna’s Tower gave shade to the cafe creating a relaxing, quiet place to think.
The Tower stood as a monument to the night. Designed after Luna’s return, looking at the walls was like looking into deep space. It was made of deep blue and black stone, with white marble strewn like stars. Building materials were imported from the Diamond Dogs and the finest craftsmen in Equestria were hired to create it. The rumor around town was Celestia commissioned it out of guilt.
Octavia arrived under the shade, the regulars greeting her genially. She sat at her usual table in the corner of the small patio, gazing at the Tower as she waited for her waitress.
A unicorn arrived with a tray balanced on her back, laden with teapots, cups, saucers, tea bags, and various other tea making paraphernalia.
“The usual, Octavia?”
“You know me too well, Silver Platter.”
“You’re too predictable, ‘Tavi,” she said, levitating a cup and saucer on to the table. “You need something new in your life. You need a good gentlecolt.”
“Says the mare who has been single longer than I have?”
“Nice one. That hurt right here.” She tapped her heart, making a show of chest pains. “But seriously, one of these days, you and I are going to go out on the town!”
“As you wish,” –Octavia gave a grin– “It’s a date.”
The waitress pony poured Octavia’s usual: green tea with a sprig of mint, a la straw. Eagerly sucking down her tea, Octavia planned out her day. Perhaps she would go down to–
She felt a deep, growling rumble
As it grew stronger, she looked around the street, looking for the source. Was there a parade today? She thought about it, but couldn’t remember seeing any flyers or announcements of any events big enough to cause the ground to shake. She looked to the sky to look for any pegasi news teams. Maybe she could follow them to the commotion. Instead of pegasi teams, she saw a bright, sickly green comet in the sky. Strange. Fireworks, maybe?
As her curiosity grew, Octavia caught sight of more comets dispersed across the Canterlot skyline. Ponies around the cafe started noticing the comets. The tone of the crowd darkened. Hushed whispers flowed around the patio as the comets took up more and more of the sky. No one else had heard of festivities planned for today either. The patrons of the tea shop agreed that one comet seemed to be in line with the Tower, and Octavia was worried it might actually strike it head on. Silver Platter walked back to Octavia.
“‘Tavi, I’m scared. What’s going on?” There was a tremor in her voice that gave Octavia a shiver.
“I don’t know, Silver. I don’t like it either.” Octavia stood closer to Silver Platter.
By now, everyone could see the first comet was heading straight for the Tower. Everypony stood, waiting for the inevitable to happen.
One pony asked, “Do you think it’ll really hit the Tower?”
“That’s what it seems like. From here, the angle is just right.” said another, hoof covering her face from the sun. "I hope whoever is putting this on realizes they're scaring ponies!"
Ponies throughout the room started theorizing on the origins of the comets, ranging from surprise fireworks to the return of Nightmare Moon. Most of the crowd dismissed the latter rumor immediately.
The underlying fear of the group materialized in the worst way. The comet which seemed to be on a path through the Tower had indeed tore straight through the brick and marble, sending rubble tumbling to the ground like galaxies flowing down a waterfall. The patrons of the tea shop, who had previously been bunched together talking in hushed tones, ran in all directions, panicked. Throughout the city the impacts of the comets could be heard. One comet landed close, the wind from the impact sent those ill prepared for the tremors to the ground. The smoke from fires dotting the city rose in small clouds, creating a light haze.
Octavia watched as a stallion from the group galloped straight into a changeling as he rounded the corner. Those ponies who had been looking in that direction screamed at the sight of the creature.
The changeling had a build similar to a pony, but horribly warped. Its gray-green forehooves were riddled with holes, most of the mass simply gone. The decaying pony's wiry body was wrapped in a jet black exoskeleton of thin slats protecting the chest and flank, leaving the head and hooves bare. Its eyes were blank green and piercing. Even with no irises, a pony knew when they were being targeted. The horn curved wickedly, sharpened at the point. The wings shared a similar fate with its hooves. Insect-like and full of holes, they were still sufficient to carry the lightweight creature in flight.
The creature appeared with the suddenness and intensity of a nightmare.
Octavia winced as she witnessed the sharpened horn of the changeling penetrate the stallion’s side on impact. The pair of ponies plummeted to the ground. The stallion screamed, the wound in his side splashing blood on to the changeling's head. The wide-eyed stallion kicked and flailed against the changeling with varying degrees of success, the creature thrashing to release its horn. As the wound grew larger, the blows from the stallion became less urgent, his face gaining a pale hue. Planting its feet on the ground, the changeling’s head jerked upward, tearing through muscle and skin. Blood sprayed outward on to the ground and the creature’s face.
If any of the ponies in the area hadn’t been panicked before the killing, they didn’t hesitate afterwards. The remaining ponies in sight ran into the nearest hiding places, with a few brave souls electing to gallop to safer places.
The changeling trotted slowly down the street, occasionally peering into the stores lining the street. Octavia and Silver Platter had taken refuge inside the cafe, watching the changeling approach from the window.
“Where did they come from, ‘Tavi?” Silver Platter whispered, “Why are they here?”
“I don’t know, Silver.”
Octavia felt a hoof on her shoulder. She looked back to see tears flowing down Silver Platter’s face. With that sight, Octavia felt the full force of the situation. Canterlot was being attacked. As far as the two knew, no one was coming for them, at least not in time to get them safely away from the changeling. Assuming the green comets were other changelings landing across the city, the defenders of Canterlot had a lot more than one changeling on a side street to deal with. The changeling approached the cafe from the middle of the street, its eyes locked on to the shop. Octavia and Silver Platter backed away from the window, just as the changeling sent a green flare similar in design to the comets. Within seconds, another changeling joined the first, landing softly on top of a table. Octavia could faintly hear the pair speak in a language she had never heard before. She turned to Silver Platter. The waitress gave a small shake of the head.
The changelings outside stopped talking, and for several minutes silence prevailed in the coffeehouse. The two mares sat against the wall, hearts pounding. They listened, ears twitching, for any sounds.
WHAM
WHAM
WHAM
The back door near the ponies burst open, followed shortly by the front door. Silver Platter galloped across the room, eyes shut in terror. She ran head long into the black armor of a changeling. The surprised changeling recovered quickly, grabbing Silver Platter and dragging her toward the front door. Octavia rose to help her when a changeling blocked the path. She was forced to watch in horror as Silver Platter was forced roughly through the door.
Octavia turned her attention to the remaining changeling, advancing toward her, murder in its eyes. She lowered her head, a tear welling up in her eye.
She was defenseless, hopeless.
She felt calm. Her breathing slowed, her heart stopped pounding in her ears. She let go of all the things that lead up to this moment; they didn’t matter anymore.
Octavia resigned herself to her fate.
The changeling licked its lips at the sight of the submissive pony. It flared its wings and lunged at her with ferocious agility.
At that moment, Octavia felt a spark. It traveled up her spine, through her extremities and into her brain, where it exploded into anger. Her feelings and emotions bubbled and boiled. Adrenaline pored through her veins, her reflexes became razor sharp. Time seemed to slow to a crawl.
Octavia ducked, kicking the changeling in the chest as it passed over her. It crashed into the ceiling, making a sickening thud as the changeling’s skull collided with the wooden ceiling. Octavia was forced to jump out of the way, the falling body of the unconscious changeling landing where she was standing just a few seconds ago.
Octavia breathed heavily, looking around the cafe for any danger. The cafe was still. Tables and chairs were strewn about, the hanging lamp swinging wildly. The corners of the cafe were thrown and withdrawn from the light, the room seeming to move at whim. Octavia forced herself to breathe regularly.
Paranoia over the lighting situation is not your most pressing problem.
Octavia could hear distant, dull roars of was she assumed were more comets falling on the city. The cafe itself was uncomfortably quiet. The only sound was the overhanging lamp squeaking as it slowly returned to its equilibrium.
She returned her attention to the changeling on the floor. Octavia approached it slowly, not trusting the unmoving body. Gathering her courage, she prodded a hoof into the black armor of the creature. It didn’t move. She poked it again. Again, it didn’t move. Poke. Poke.
Nothing.
She gave a sigh of relief, letting herself fall into a chair. She listened to herself breathe. She decided to take this time to get recent events in order and organized.
One, today is Tuesday. Two, I went to the cafe to get a cup of tea and talk with Silver Platter. Three, changelings appeared again, and everything went down the river. Yep, that seems about right.
A smile slowly crawled on to Octavia’s face.
It’s simple really when you think about it. As easy as one, two, three!
A giggle escaped from her mouth. The giggle evolved slowly, gaining volume and frequency. Laughter soon filled the small room, Octavia banging a hoof on the table, trying to catch her breath. The hysteria ebbed and flowed, retreating back to a small giggle before returning to gut-busting laughter. After a while, the giggles degenerated into a fit of sobbing.
How did they let this happen?
