Chapters War with a Changeling Part 1: The Beginning
LOCATION: Canterlot diplomacy center CURRENT EARTH PONY DIPLOMAT: Freenumac Forest CURRENT PEGASUS DIPLOMAT: Sky Bomb CURRENT UNICORN DIPLOMAT: Power Surge CURRENT DISCUSSIONS: Unicorn military expansion project+Pegasus Sky Fortress/City construction
"...but you can't just take our land like that!" objected diplomat forest with his right hoof slamming on the map of equestria on a table in front of them.
"Oh but we can, it's vital to the upcoming Empire, if we don't get those lands we won't have room for our new army to expand to" said diplomat surge to the annoyed earth pony.
"My question is why you need that new army in the first place, or is this another 'classified' topic?" said diplomat bomb.
"Well I'd expect you to know more, didn't you hear about last week, you know the changeling Invasion?" said the unicorn diplomat starting to get annoyed about the delays.
The new unicorn Empire has been attempting to expand their borders ever since the changeling invasion as an excuse to hide their secrets.
The Earth pony diplomat was annoyed due to the large LOSE of land that would be a result to the Earth pony's.
The Pegasus diplomat sighed at the mention of the invasion, he said "Yes I remember the invasion very clearly, but still, the princesses could..."
"THE PRINCESSES CAN'T HELP FOR CRAP, IT TOOK THE A UNICORN TO DISCOVER QUEEN CHRYSALIS'S PLAN AND TO HELP CELESTIA EVEN REALIZE THAT SHE WAS BEING TRICKED FROM THE START!!!" Interrupted the now angry unicorn letting out a sigh to calm himself, he continued with the original topic "My pardons for that, anyway what makes you peasants think you can decline our demand?" said surge looking at the Earth pony.
"well we have a city in those places, and important farms that we need for food." said Forest, he was giving a, COME AT ME BRO, look to the unicorn diplomat.
"ENOUGH!" yelled the Pegasus who at the time was angry about not getting his demand "The Earth pony's have made a deal with us to supply us with materials to help build our sky born city that can house all races, but those lands are the only pockets that have the needed materials, the unicorns won't be taking anything until our city is finished being constructed is that clear?"
Forest says "um, actually I haven't filed the document's yet so..."
"Shut Up!" interrupted the Pegasus.
"you and your floating city..." sneered the angry unicorn "The unicorn Empire will not accept this rejection, we tried to reason with you but you've forced my hoof!" the unicorn slammed a document onto the map "We the unicorn Empire hereby declare war on the Earth pony and Pegasi to for disobeying a demand that was considered vital to the advancement of the Empire. "
After the events of the diplomacy meeting 2 days later diplomat Sky Bomb found dead in his quarters with a handmade Earth pony knife jabbed into his back with allot of force, the Pegasi almost instantly declared war on the earth pony's, the princesses tried their best to prevent blood from shedding on all sides, but they were still busy dealing with changeling sightings around Ponyville.
And so began a war that would threaten the very existence of the magic of friendship, the mane six were forced to split up due to war protocol's 'any race cooperating, assisting or just seen with an opposing race with be executed publicly in the canterlot palace courtyard regardless of who they are...
MANE 6 LOCATIONS & OCCUPATIONS AT CURRENT TIME
TWILIGHT SPARKLE: LOCATION SOMEWHERE IN UNICORN TERRITORY. OCCUPATION: HER AND HER ASSISTANT SPIKE ARE DOING MERCENARY WORK FOR ANYPONY WHO'S PAY TOP BITS.
APPLEJACK: LOCATION PONYVILLE RESISTANCE CAMP. OCCUPATION: CURRENTLY ATTEMPTING TO LEAD A RESISTANCE THROUGH THE CURRENT WAR STATE.
RARITY: LOCATION: UNICORN TERRITORY MEDICAL CAMPS. OCCUPATION: CURRENTLY TRYING TO HELP WOUNDED SOLDIERS.
PINKIE PIE: LOCATION: LAST SEEN LEADING A LARGE NUMBER OF EARTH PONY'S ONTO THE PEGASI AIR FORTRESS/CITY INTENTIONS UNKNOWN. OCCUPATION: PINKIE IS ASSUMED TO BE THE HEAD OF AN ATTACK ON THE FLOATING FORTRESS, FIGHTING BATTLE AGAINST FORTRESS LEADER.
RAINBOWDASH: LOCATION: FLOATING FORTRESS/CITY. OCCUPATION: LAST SEEN FIGHTING ALONGSIDE BOTH PEGASI AND METAL RED EYED PONY'S AGAINST CURRENT EARTH PONY ASSAULT.
FLUTTERSHY: LOCATION: LAST SEEN ENTERING THE EVER FREE FOREST WITH ALL HER PET ANIMALS. OCCUPATION: UNKNOWN.
And so the story has been brought down to now, the mane six are fighting each other, a war has started between all races and changelings have been confirmed around ponyville and are not considered a threat because... ...well the war and all.
Now lets jump to the real story, the story about the only one who can end this war before the word spreads around the world, the story about a changeling...
War with a Changeling Part 1: The Beginning
Episode 1 a change of scenery
Equestria at war
Days (since war was declared): 108
Current location: Outskirts of ponyville
Race: changeling
Current situation: damaged wing preventing him from flying gives unicorns that have given chase advantage, has only just arrived in equestria to investigate rumors of war, on arrival was attacked by unicorn patrol result of attack was a spear cutting his rib cage making it hard for his wings to spread, resulting in ground chase headed in random direction.
Back story: Core wasn't a normal changeling, took part in the canterlot invasion, but instead of terrorizing the population he chose to avoid conflict, Core was fascinated with pony's, he wanted to learn more about them, about how they could have so much love and peace when changelings are always going to war, he thought that with the help of pony's, changelings could learn how to make their own love without the conflict. The love-splosion blast seriously wounded him considering he was up against a wall at the time, his escape involved allot of what he hated most, deceit, funny a changeling who doesn't like to deceive other's.
Anyway back to running for his...
The changeling jumped over logs, rocks and fire, anything to get away from what he saw behind him, 3 unicorns and a strangely large one were using a fireball spell launching every thing they had at the dark figure in front of them, it was night time so it was hard to see him until a fireball or two passed him.
The changeling was starting to sweat and was panicking at the thought of catching fire, he only just arrived and was going to try and be civil to both investigate the war and get his dream of ACTUALLY meeting a pony, but instead he got the opposite, on sight he was attacked and ended up with a bleeding hip.
Eventually he caught sight of somewhere to hide, he was far enough ahead to hide in a large bush.
He made a dive for the bush getting caught on the leafs, also trying to be as silent as possible to prevent them from realizing he's in a bush. Once he was in a comfortable well hidden position he stopped dead still.
As the sound of the unicorns galloping past started to ease away he began to take deep breaths to fill his lungs, then he put his ear to the ground to check how far away they were, he could tell they were almost half a mile away, (they were galloping very fast). He pocked his head out slowly just to be sure there was nopony nearby, when he was 110% sure he walked out towards a nearby ruined house to stop and think about what was going on.
When he was inside he laid down and started to think about what just happened. Maybe they still have a thing against changelings, then again it would have to be something big to want to kill him, then it hit him, he remembered the rumors of war in equestria, this made him put his face down into his hooves.
You see Core DEFINITELY was not a normal changeling, he had no 'holes' in him, even chrysalis didn't know why that was, he was the only known changeling to actually want to be like a pony, the only one who wanted to know peace, the only one who wanted to know friendship, the one who wanted to learn how to fall in love.
He didn't want to believe it but Equestria was no longer the place he wanted to know about, he knew now that equestria is at war. He didn't know what to do, he was stranded somewhere he was completely foreign to, and to top it all of there was a war going on in the very same country.
How was he supposed to survive, by eating scrap? Not this changeling, just because he's different doesn't mean he doesn't know how to survive. Then suddenly, an news paper floated into the ruined structure, it looked fresh, Core stared at the article, EQD it said in big bold letters at the top, TURN PAGE FOR WAR UPDATES, Core new if he was going to survive he was going to need to know what was going on.
He turned the page...
War with a Changeling Part 1: The Beginning
Episode 2 Bad news and bad views
...he turned the page, the headline reading WAR UPDATE'S, he read each section bit by bit....
WAR UPDATE'S
EARTH PONY TERRITORY IS DECREASING RAPIDLY AS THE UNICORN EMPIRE HIRE'S MERCS TO KILL OF RESISTANCE LEADERS!
EARTH PONY RESISTANCE LEADER APPLEJACK IS HOLD UP IN THE PONYVILLE LAST STAND BASE KEEPING THINGS UNDER CONTROL!
COMMANDER PINKIE PIE HAS BEGUN AN ASSAULT ON THE PEGASI AIRBORNE WAR FORTRESS/CITY, AND IS NOW CURRENTLY IN A 'DEADLOCKED' BATTLE AGAINST PEGASUS LEADER RAINBOWDASH!
RUMORS OF DISAPPEARANCES NEARBY THE EVERFREE FOREST HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED AS THE FOLLOWING: WILD BEARS, TIMBERWOLFS, POSSIBLE SAVAGE WILD LIFE, AND MORE CREATURES THAT WE WOULD RATHER NOT MENTION.
CHANGELING ACTIVITY HAS INCREASED AS THE UNICORN EMPIRE HAS ORDERED GENERAL SAB GERAL TO MAKE SURE THESE CHANGELINGS ARE NO LONGER A THREAT.
MORE UPDATES TOMORROW.
Core began to feel pain in his back, he thought it might be his cut wound and decided that his first priority would be to find something to heal the wound. He began to search the ruined house in the hopes he would find some bandages or medical supplies.
He checked the upper level of the structure, the stairs were worn out and broken, he couldn't fly up as that would make the wound worse, so he very slowly walked up the stairs and up into a surprisingly intact hallway, the hallway had three doors, one on the left, one on the right and one at the end of the hall, if there were any other doors they were crushed and blocked off.
First he chose the door on the left, it had no handle, (it had fallen off), so he just pushed it open, it was the bathroom, he entered and the first thing to catch his eyes was the smashed mirror and the shards of broken glass placed in the bath. As Core went to check the cabinet behind the mirror, he saw large burn marks along the side of the tub, when he got to the cabinet he opened the door and found some medicine, it was barely enough to keep a burn mark from hurting let alone a fractured rib cage. He put under his back plate with his magic, he knew it might be the only supply he would find.
He exited the bathroom and turned his attention to the door on the opposite side of the room, it was only a top half of the door and was presumably a clean cut considering the other half was on the floor behind the door. Core warily walked over to the door, he touched handle that had survived and the door just fell straight off the hinges. He entered the room which on first view looked like a bedroom, but on closer inspection he realized it was a fillies bedroom, this room was different to a normal fillies room and had a pile of dust next to the fillies bed, and allot of burn marks everywhere, he saw a pile of bandages and some more medicine. He went strait for the bandages and before grabbing the medicine started wrapping the wound with the bandages, after five minutes of wrapping the bandages on the wound like a highly untrained doctor who was doing surgery for the first time, he grabbed the medicine and left the quite room.
Upon exiting he saw the door at the end of the hall again, he already had the necessary meds to heal his wounds but he felt there could be something else he would need in that very room, he walked towards the door, the perfectly intact door, the door with no damage, the door with a strange red light coming from the other side. He got to the door, he could hear himself thinking 'Turn around and leave' but he couldn't help but think if he left without looking through the door he would regret it, but a similar came to mind, if you open that door and see whats inside, you WILL regret it, but Core chose to investigate the unknown, if he left he would never know, so he opened the door.
He looked inside with horror and pain, after exactly fifteen seconds from opening the door he slammed it shut, he immediately began to gallop out of the ruined building fast, he ran out in any direction that wasn't leading to the house, what he saw was two pony corpses, one a Pegasus and the other a Unicorn, the unicorn's corpse was split in half with insides facing the door, a singed picture of the filly in the pegasi's hoof, and there was blood everywhere in the room, the light was on and was surrounded by blood becoming the source of the red light.
Core stopped at the outskirts of Ponyville to breath, he didn't want to believe what he saw but he had to, he knew now how bad the war really was, he had finally realized that the place he adored and wanted to learn about, is now in a blood driven war.
He still had the news paper from earlier, he got it out and looked back at the war updates " This war is not going to last much longer,..." said the changeling with a infuriated look on his face "...not while I'm here, I'm not letting equestria turn into ruins, I may be a changeling but I will end this war before that happens." he put the news paper back in his back plate, then he noticed something in the distance, buildings surrounded by metal walls. Core figured he should head in that direction because he knew he was on the outskirts of Ponyville and need somewhere to start if he was going to end the war...
War with a Changeling Part 1: The Beginning
Episode 3 arrival in ponyville
TIME: 1:30 AM
LOCATION: JUST OUTSIDE PONYVILLE
Core approaches ponyville with worry pumping through him, he knew that there would only be two outcomes from this.
He would walk up to the entrance, knock on the large gate, the guards would answer and you would explain that your friendly.
They would answer and attack you on sight.
Core didn't want to risk his plan before it takes any effect, so he resorted to an alternative plan which would involve sneaking in by steps:
Step 1: Get over the walls (unseen)
Step 2: Find the local library and get in (unseen)
Step 3: Search for book on Equestria history and get the knowledge to remake Equestria before war does. (unseen)
With his plan ready to take effect he prepared his wings to hover over the wall, he wasn't ready to fully fly yet, he spread his wings and started flapping them up and down very fast, he knew he could just climb over but he never learnt how to actually climb yet, he started to hover of the ground and move over the wall making as little noise as he could, when he got half way over the wall he saw five Earth pony's with spears and crossbows walking towards the gates, on sight of this Core slowed down with his eyes barely open, Core's eyes were bright green, not the normal changeling eye color but again another reason why he's different to the other changelings, he kept his eye's as focused on the plan as possible and when he landed he hid behind a building, the night sky may have kept him hidden but he wasn't invisible.
He began to head through the town area alleyways to avoid being spotted by the patrol guards. As he passed a clipboard he froze dead still, he walked backwards then turned to look at the clipboard, he saw posters of 'we need you' on the board with Applejack on them, he saw a rule board with the basics being: help the wounded, fight the empire, leave no pony behind.
But his gaze was stuck on the poster in the middle of the clipboard.
It was a picture of a changeling on a poster saying 'bring one alive 1'000 bits, bring one dead 500 bits' he began to worry as his attention drew to the real dagger in the head of the changeling, Core began to tremble, in horror with the thought in his head 'what will they do to me if they catch me?' as if on cue...
"You like'n our poster, I've got quite a few things planed for when we get one"
Core stood dead frozen, he was too scared to move, his eye was twitching due to the large amount of stress that was just put on him. Core gulped.
"I'd run if I were you" said the voice.
Core instantly dashed down the road leaving behind the voice that pretty much threatened him.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Core was more scared of the voice than anything else, from what he heard the voice sounded like a mare, he never even got a chance to look at his pursuer, he just kept running.
"can't.... ...let... ...her... ...get me" said Core barely having time to breath between each word.
He began to hear the pony galloping behind him, he was running too fast to engage flight, his only option was to run around til he found the local library, which ironically enough was just at the end of the street.
"Al...most....there" he said with whatever breath he had left. As he heard the mare get closer and closer he dived for the ironically open door, he slammed the door shut behind him hearing the mare stop in her tracks.
"Stop hidin lika wuss and get out here!" said the voice slamming a hoof against the door.
"No way... ...am I going out there... ...i'm not going to die!" Core yelled back with his back against the door.
"I've never seen a changeling try so hard to get away, or head into the library" the voice said to Core through the door.
"Well... ...well I have a good reason!" replied Core still trying to breath.
Core then got up and put a lock on the door to keep the pony out. He began searching the dark library for a book on equestrian history, when he found the book he grabbed it with a green glow of magic, then suddenly he heard a loud creek come from upstairs, his reaction was dropping the book.
Core decided to investigate the creek that came from upstairs, he was careful not make any noise of his own.
what he didn't see was an orange mare stare at him through the window.
War with a Changeling Part 1: The Beginning
Episode 4 whats up those stair?
As Core walked up the stairs with fear in his heart, he was scared of what he might find, was it going to be like the ruined house, he didn't need any more nightmare's, But he knew he had to investigate, or else he'd never know.
Core approached the door preparing himself for what he might see, the first thing he did was put his head up against the door so his ear was resting on it, next he listened for any possible sound coming from the other side of the door. When he didn't hear anything he almost went back downstairs but he was still weary of what was there.
He opened the door very slowly as not to make any noise, when he walked in he saw that it was a perfectly preserved bedroom, but something wasn't right, he looked at the bed and could instantly tell the bed was being used not to long ago, about a minute ago to be precise. This could mean that the pony who was using it was still in the room, as if on cue...
'SMACK'
Core fell to the floor in pain, somepony hit him in the back of the head hard, he could hear the pony leave the, undoubtedly going to get the voice from behind the door. Core was in too much pain to move anywhere so he rolled onto his back, his vision was blurred from the hit, he hear'd two sets of hoofs approaching the room he was lying in. He knew he had no time to escape so he had only one chance to plead for mercy.
When his vision started to return he could see both pony's, no one pony and one filly, this confused Core, how did a filly knock him flat on his face? The filly began to speak "See, I told you he ain't got no holes."
"This don't change nothing, he's still a changeling" said the mare that chased him here, she started to slowly approach Core.
"Well that's a bit racist don't you think?" Said Core making the mare stop.
From what he could see he pick out that the mare might've been applejack from the posters on the clipboard.
"He's allot more polite than the other's that we caught." said the filly who was staring at Core.
Applejack went up to Core and wrapped a thick rope around him.
"Alright whats your deal?" Applejack said giving a deathly stare at him.
"(sigh)well what do you want to know?" said Core cooperating with the mare.
"Why'd ya'll come into our camp in the first place, every changeling we've caught was outside them walls." She asked with a suspicious look.
"I came here to learn about what made Equestria a nice place before the war started" replied Core, Applejack was confused.
"Care to explain why?" She asked.
"I needed to know what I would need to help me" Said Core now looking down.
"Help you with what?"
"I don't want Equestria, a beautiful happy place filled with innocents, to turn into the exact opposite, I need that information to help me do what it takes to turn equestria back to what it was before the war" Core replied.
Applejack just stared at Core for a minute then she said "And why should I believe you your just another..." before she could finish her sentence Core interrupted.
"I AM NOT 'JUST ANOTHER CHANGELING' I RATHER BE DEAD THEN STEAL LOVE FROM ANOTHER, I ADORE EQUESTRIA BUT NOT FOR POWER, NOT FOR FOOD, BUT TO LEARN!!!!" Core had raged at applejack, he hated the thought of stealing love from another, his anger surprised applejack and the filly.
"You aren't just any normal changeling, your very different" said the orange mare.
"Hey if he's friendly can we keep him?" said a now exited filly.
"Alright, promise you wont attack any of us?" Applejack said turning to the changeling.
"I promise"
"No I mean pinkie promise" Said applejack only just realizing he didn't know what she meant.
"What's a.... ...pinkie promise?" Core asked confused.
"just say this and do what I do" said the filly "(clears throat) Cross my heart, and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye."
Core copied and repeated the filly.
"Good, because if you break this promise, your in for a world of pain, you got that?" Applejack said giving Core a menacing stare.
Core replied with a nod, and Applejack released the rope letting him stand up properly.
"So whats your name?" said a now happy filly.
Core looked at the filly "You can just call me Core"
War with a Changeling Part 1: The Beginning
Episode 5 I am still alive
Time: 4:45 AM
Location: Ponyville resistance camp
Current status of Core: Is making an alliance with Earth pony resistance.
Earth pony alliance strength: normal, is hoping to increase this with further teamwork.
The two pony's and Core exit the library to be met with multiple guards with crossbows approaching aiming them at Core. Applejack dismissed them and told them to rally all the troops for a meeting.
"Alright the meetings at 10:30, until then I need to get back to gathering our food supply, Applebloom will keep'n eye on ya til then." said applejack with a now confident look on her face.
"YAY, first I'll give ya the tour, then...." Applebloom was cut off by Applejack who knew she would ramble on forever if not stopped.
"Maybe you should hurry up, you only have up to the meeting." Said Applejack.
"Only til the meeting? we don't have allot of time, come on Core, lets go." said the filly as she started pushing him with unexpected strength.
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As Applebloom pretty much drags Core around Ponyville she begins to start asking questions.
"So if your not like the other changelings, then that means you have different interests to them too!" Applebloom said to the changeling "Can you eat anything other than love?"
Core answers the question as polite as he can "Well actually yes I can but allot of the food I'm capable of eating is bad taste, only very, very rarely do I find a food I actually like, and when I do it's always a really amazing taste, but like I said the chances of that happening are very, very..."
Core was cut of by Applebloom shoving an apple into his mouth.
He started chewing on the apple, he tasted the 'really amazing taste' he mentioned, the fact that the first thing he ate in equestria was an apple and that apple was amazing was shocking "This is amazing, whats in this stuff?" Core said with a mouthful of food.
"No added artificial colors or flavors" Applebloom answers happily.
Core had a look of shock again "Seriously? I've been starving for about a month and all I had to do was eat an apple?"
"I new ya'll would like it, now next question, why don't you have any holes?" said Applebloom while keeping track of time.
Core shrugged at the question "Even I can't explain that one, it's just another thing that reminds me i'm not like the others."
After a while they arrived at the town hall, the meeting wasn't for a while so Applebloom recommended they rest and catch their strength, she used this time to ask more questions "Whats with the green eyes, you got a reason for that?"
This time he had an answer "Well you see, I hatched with these eyes green, I know changeling eyes are supposed to be blue, Chrysalis told me that this specific difference must have been a sign that said I should never have been hatched in the first place."
Applebloom felt like she was digging a bit to deep into the questions and decided to ask one more before resting til the meeting.
"So, what is the back plate for?" She asked.
Core gladly answered her question "Well it's actually supposed to be armor plating for battle protection, the plate itself is actually part of my body, although it's mainly used for storing things in here let me show you." Core used his magic to lift the back of the plate up and he pulled out the news paper from earlier, some of the medicine he picked up, and a helmet that could fit his head.
Applebloom was surprised how much room there was under the plate, Core realizing how this looked told her how it worked "The plate has the power to shrink any item to fit in it, I've got my whole armor set in it including a weapon in case of emergency."
Once Applebloom understood how it worked she decided to lay down and relax.
"Can I ask you something now?" asked Core with the urge to ask a few things.
Applebloom sat up and nodded in response.
"Alright, what were you doing all alone in that old library? You know other than waiting to kick me in the back of the head." he asked with interest.
Applebloom looked down "I was trying to find memories of before this stupid war began..."
Core realized what he might have just done.
"...I mean, we used to have friends and now their gone, they could be helping there factions, they could be captured or dead or worse...!" Applebloom was close to tears getting lost in her thoughts.
Core now regretted asking in the first place, he tried to cheer her up "Hey don't think like that, have hope in you friends, because if they are as amazing as you say they are then they should be perfectly fine right now." Applebloom looked up at the changeling with a smile and tears in her eyes, she jumped into the changeling giving him a big hug.
Core was surprised at this but decided to return the hug, Applebloom said something through her tears "Thank you".
When they were done they decided to take a nap and then go to the meeting when they woke up.
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When they woke up they looked at the big clock on town hall, the time was 10:25 AM, they got up and headed towards the entrance of town hall where meeting was taking place.
Applejack was there with two crossbow wielding guards next her, she had a large map in front of her with what looked like every troop leader in ponyville gathered around it.
Applebloom had went to sit next to Applejack, Applejack had gestured Core to sit in an empty space on the opposite side of the table, he sat down in the said seat and was ready for the meeting.
Before the meeting began one of the leaders to the right of him was nudging his shoulder "You must be that Changeling Applejack was talking about, I'm commander whooves but you can just call me the Doctor." Core looked to his right and saw...
...a brown stallion with an hourglass cutiemark.
"Doctor who?" asked Core.
"Just the Doctor, nice to meet you." He extended his hoof as if to hoof shake.
Core accepted the hoof shake with interest "Your the first pony I've met who hasn't wanted to kill me upon meeting, what's your deal?"
The Doctor's answer didn't sound truthful but instead sounded like an over used lie "Well I figured if I ever met a Changeling like you I would take the opportunity to know you and maybe make a new friend."
Core smiled at this and said "Sure, I've only got like two other friends anyway."
After a bit of idol conversation with The Doctor, the meeting began, Applejack dimmed the lights so the map was more visible, now that it was easier to see Core noticed multiple area's on the map marked 'UNICORN TERRITORY' and others marked 'PEGASI TERRITORY', Applejack begun to speak "Alright, as you may have heard, a changeling has joined our resistance with the intention of ending this war." some of the leaders looked at Core "I'm afraid I have bad news from the frontier, our scouts in the Unicorn empire have not been sending any reports lately..." one of the leaders looked down and stamped his hoof on the ground in anger "...I'm sorry Tedeth, I never should have sent your sister, she was too young to leave the camp."
The leader known as Tedeth got up and left town hall.
Applejack continued "(sigh), anyway pinkie has reported that the pegasi in the sky fortress have started constructing some sort of war machine and 'Ropony' production has increased, pushing our forces back across the pegasi city. But our biggest concern is the Unicorn empire expansion, Intel says their taking the wounded alive and executing any surviving leaders."
The leaders began to sound worried and confused Core heard somepony say "Well that's it, isn't it, game over we lose, what are we supposed to do now?" and this made him snap.
Core jumped onto the table and began to speak "NO! We have not lost yet, it's NOT game over, AND WE ARE NOT DOOMED!" his outburst dragged the attention of everypony in the room "You don't understand whats happening, you need new tactics or they'll just adapt to your current ones, look yourselves, you may think that because you've lost so much that the war is already lost, but just look at yourselves, I look at you and you remind me of when I was cut, deep into my rib cage, I was weak and badly wounded, but when I look at myself now I think of one thing and one thing only..."
All the leader's were entranced by the speech, they stood there waiting for those next words.
"I AM STILL ALIVE
War with a Changeling Part 1: The Beginning
Episode 6 Unexpected guest
Time: 11:00 AM
Location: Ponyville resistance camp
Earth pony alliance strength: Strong
The leaders left the building cheering and chatting about their next step in the war.
Core, Applejack, Applebloom, and the Doctor stayed behind to discus the plan "Alright, now that you know the locations of enemy bases and battle grounds, whats the plan?" Applejack asked Core.
Core stepped forward pointing at the map "Well our first priority is to regroup with our other forces at the Pegasi air fortress/city, but if your contact there was telling the truth then that war machine will be finished by the time get there..." Core's hoof moved over an area above the everfree forest "...so if we were to take a shortcut through this forest right here, we would arrive there and..."
Applejack cut Core off "Wait, that's the everfree forest, if we send our troops through there, chances are they'll get slaughtered by the wildlife!"
The Doctor then objected "Actually, I know for a fact that there is somepony we can trust in there, all we'd have to do is get to them and we'd have safe passage all the way to the air fortress." he then pointed to a clearing about half a mile into the forest.
"How do you know somepony's in there, Zecora left 5 days into the war to avoid inclusion" Applejack questioned.
"Ah, but she left allot of thing behind if I'm correct, and last time I was there I remember meeting a certain pony who might I ad was very polite" said the Doctor.
"Who was it?" asked Applebloom.
The Doctor turned to the filly "Your going to have to find out for yourself, I've got my own way of getting to the fortress."
Applejack turned back to the map "Everfree forest it is then, what's our plan when we get to the fortress?"
"Stage 1: From what you've told me to what I've heard I think our first priority would be to stop this... ...'Ropony'... ...production, and then go after the war machine, after we've stopped both the pegasi will be forced to retreat, letting us attack the central command and force a peace treaty with there leader." Answered Core.
"Stage 2: After that we move onto manehattan. As you may know manehattan has turned into a battlefield nut that's not why we'll be heading there, The Unicorn Empire have set up some large monuments there. Destroying these monuments will send a message to them letting them know that we're coming..." Core was interrupted.
"Uh... ...isn't that a bad thing?" asked Applebloom.
"That's when stage 3 comes in." Core answered.
"Stage 3: Once the monuments are gone they'll be thrown into panic and will too riled up sending there forces to defend the most noticeable points of entry to there imperial city, that we can begin a counter attack. The only problem is we don't know what the city looks like yet, but we can focus on that when we get there."
Applejack smiled in agreement "Alright, the plan is set, I'll alert the troops to...." Suddenly...
A purple lazer hits the center of the room launching all the pony's back, the table smashes as a purple unicorn floats down to the crater that was made from the impact of the lazer.
Applejack looked up to see the purple unicorn move slowly towards the changeling that was lying in pain "Twi... ...Twilight?"
'Twilight' stopped in her tracks and turned to see, Applejack getting onto her hooves, Applebloom on her back moaning, and the Doctor standing perfectly fine as if he new it was going to happen "I wont hurt you AJ, I'm just her for the changeling." said the unicorn, she pulled out a dagger and pointed it at Core who was now staring up at Twilight, but not with fear or regret, but instead with amazement, a strange feeling went through Core, a feeling he never felt before, he didn't know how to explain it but when he saw the unicorn he saw an beautiful pony with amazing talents. That was until he remembered she was pointing a dagger towards him.
"Well you cant have him!" said Applejack who was charging at her.
"Spike hold the changeling down, i'll hold of Applejack." said Twilight, out of nowhere a baby dragon jumps onto Core and holds him down, Core's gaze still on Twilight.
Applejack was able to knock the dagger out of her hoofs and ended up pushing her into a wall. The Doctor grabbed spike and threw him onto the upper level, he then proceeded to help the changeling up who was still looking at Twilight.
"Whats so important about a changeling that you have to keep him alive" asked Twilight getting back on her hooves.
"He's trying to help us end the war!" yelled Applejack
"Please, one changeling wont make any difference to the war!" Twilight using her magic threw AJ against the wall like a wet paper towel.
"You'd be surprised." Twilight turned around to see the changeling was right behind her. He used his magic push her back against the wall and holding her there.
"LET ME GO!!" yelled Twilight.
"I mean we have a plan and everything" this made twilight think, 'have they really got a plan?'
"If you help us, we'd have a higher chance of succeeding in our mission." Core reasoned.
Twilight looked at the changeling "(sigh) Fine, I would rather see equestria back to the way it used to be than what it will turn into if this keeps up."
Core let go of Twilight and they went to help up Applejack "Twilight?"
"Yes Applejack?" Twilight responded.
"It's good to have a friend back"
War with a Changeling Part 1: The Beginning
Episode 7 The adventure begins
Time: 1:30
Core's current objective: Move the resistance through the everfree forest and to the pegasi airborne fortress.
Location: Outer walls of ponyville
"So lemme get this strait, once we leave ponyville we can't come back?" Applejack asked with confusion.
"Yes, if the Unicorn empire found out our forces have left home base what do think they'll do then?" Answered Core.
"Well that explains all the food and supplies we're dragging out here." said Twilight who overheard the conversation.
Core, almost loosing focus when Twilight arrived, explained the rally plan "The food and supplies will go round the long way so that they arrive when we hopefully have a treaty with the pegasi, a small guard force will aid them encase of unicorn patrols..."
"...while we go through the forest, right?" finished Twilight.
Core nodded in response, the Doctor came over to the small group holding a strange metal object in his mouth "hey mind if you hold onto this for me?" mumbled the Doctor, Core used his magic to put the object under his back plate.
"What're you doing here? I thought you said you were going to make your own way of transportation." questioned Applejack.
"Yeah change of plans, I left my 'way of transportation' at the clearing so I'll be following you till then, sound good?" He said with a cheerful look on his face.
"Of course, besides, I'd like to see this mod of transportation you have, plus we can talk along the way." Core replied happy he wasn't going to be the only 'male' who was there. (The other troops didn't know him as well, nor were they as cheerful)
"Yeah I can't wait to get going" said Applebloom approaching the group.
"Fine but stay close to me and Big Mac, I'm not letting any Timberwolfs get a hold of ya." said Applejack who went to over to talk to 'presumably' Big Mac.
Core was staring at Twilight who was busy mapping out their root to the clearing, both the Doctor and Applebloom noticed this.
"Alright, I mapped our path from here to the clearing so we should.... ...why are you looking at me like that?" Twilight had noticed Core staring at her.
Core suddenly snapped out of it "Huh.. ..oh uh what are you talking about, I was just waiting to see if you were done mapping our path." Core had looked very nervous and sweating a bit.
After Applebloom had realized she tried to hold a big 'gasp', the Doctor however thinking 'now how would that work?'
Twilight just shrugged and alerted everyone to move out, Core felt like an idiot after that, before the troops headed in they grabbed all their things that they didn't want to leave behind, Applebloom was ordered to stay next to AJ and Big Mac, but the Doctor instantly went to investigate Core's previous action around twilight.
As they all walked through the everfree forest, Core saw the Doctor approach him "hey Doctor"
"You know if you find it easier you could just call me Time Turner, it's what everypony else calls me" said the Doctor.
Core nodded knowing he was going to ask about earlier with Twilight.
"So what was that about earlier with twilight? Have you got a crush on her or something?" asked Time Turner.
Core looked at Time Turner with nervous eye's "W..w...what makes you think that?"
The Doctor's answer made it sound very obvious "Well there was the fact that you stared at her in amazement when she was about to kill you, then there was you staring at her again with very meaning eye's, then when she you confronted on staring at her you sounded very nervous, so I took my best guess and assumed you 'like' her."
Core had no excuse to get out of this, so he was just honest "FINE, I have a crush Twilight but I'm a changeling, and I doubt we have ANYTHING in common, I like to learn, I'm eager to learn about how magic works, I like books, I mean what are chances she like any of those things?"
Time Turner just chuckled "Well there's only one way to find out" he said and pointed a hoof towards Twilight.
With a sigh, Core nodded and walked ahead to Twilight, she had given the map the Applejack so she was pretty much just admiring the plant life.
"H...hey Twilight" Core said very nervous.
Twilight turned her head and saw Core "Oh hi Core, how's it going?"
"Uh good, real good, uh hey do you like books?" Core said still very nervous.
"I love books why do you ask?" responded Twilight.
Core was surprised at this "Really? You like books too?"
Twilight looked at Core confused "Am I like the only other pony you know who like's books or something?"
"Well yeah." Core replied.
Twilight didn't look surprised "Oh I forgot, your a changeling of course you don't know any other pony who likes books, if anything I'm surprised a changeling liked books in the first place!" and with that Twilight stormed ahead leaving behind a now sad Core.
Time Turner walked over to Core "So how'd it go?"
Core looked at Turner with an unhappy frown on his face "Well she likes books..."
Time Turner gave a smile "Well that's good isn't it?"
"...but she doesn't like me." Core trotted ahead to talk to Applejack.
Applejack's head turned to see him "Howdy Core, doing good?"
Before Core could answer, Applebloom said "He's got a crush on Twilight, don't you Core?"
Applejack turned back to Core with a surprised look on her face, Core figured he may as well "Of course you'd find out wouldn't you, yeah I have a crush on Twilight, but she doesn't like me at all."
"Well there a subject I never thought I'd hear, a changeling has a crush on a pony..." Applejack was a bit skeptical about the idea "I guess love comes in many forms right?"
Core looked confused "I....love....twilight?"
Applejack's surprised look returned "I didn't expect you to be so confused about this, I thought changelings new everything about love."
Core looked back still a bit confused "Actually not one changeling I know of knows anything about love, we always found it as a food source, this is actually another reason I adored Equestria, to learn how to love. But what use is that when they don't love back?"
Applejack thought of why Twilight might hate Core "Well... ...maybe she's she's still annoyed about the changeling attack on canterlot, they did ruin her brother's wedding after all."
Core's face was looking directly down, his eye's were closed in depression "So she hate's me for something I never really took part in, great now I know it'll never happen, she must think I'm just another changeling. (sigh)"
Core fell silent and trotted ahead towards the clearing "I should probably talk to Twilight, maybe I can convince her he's not a normal changeling" was what ran through Applejack's mind while watching Core approach the clearing.
War with a Changeling Part 1: The Beginning
Episode 8 The clearing and the hut
As the small army approaches the clearing, they notice an increase in wildlife. Core not really bothered by this notices a highly fortified hut, the lights inside the hut keep flickering on and off giving him Core the sense of fear.
Time Turner walked up to the hut "This looks like the place, I'll knock on the door, she's more likely to recognize me other than an army of earth pony's at her front door."
Time Turner knocked on the door "Hello, it's me, Time Turner, are you home?"
The door slowly opened and stopped half way, only Time Turner could see who she was. they could hear some whispering coming from the door, Time Turner replied to the whispering "Don't worry, just because your a Pegasus doesn't mean they'll attack you, and don't be afraid of the changeling."
The door then opened after a bit and the pony inside was finally in view of the pony's and Core...
...the pony looked like she had been out here for a while, and when she talked it was as if she was scared of every single one of them "Um... hi everypony uh and changeling... ...um do you need anything by any chance, any friend of Time Turners is a friend of..."
"Fluttershy?!" Said Applejack and Twilight in unison.
The look that appeared on the Pegasi's face was close to tears "T...Twilight, A.....A....Applejack? What are you girls doing here, I thought you said we had to stay as far away form each other as possible." the pony began to shed tears like she hadn't seen them in so long, then they stopped.
Applejack stepped forward "Fluttershy, we're mighty sorry for..." she was interrupted.
"You should be sorry, after leaving all I had left were my REAL friends, wildlife..." Yelled the enraged Pegasus.
Time Turner, Twilight, and Applejack all had dropped jaws with a look of shock "...You all left me to head to the everfree forest, and you know what? I've got new friends..."
Suddenly two Timberwolfs jumped next her and sat down like loyal dogs giving the crowd a evil stare "...JUST LEAVE, it's all your good at anyway." she turned to Time Turner "I'm sorry Time Turner but I'd prefer it best if you left too, don't take it the wrong way, you can come back, I hope you understand." and with that she walked back into the hut and the Timberwolfs took position as to guard the structure.
Time Turner walked over to Applejack and signaled Core go comfort Twilight. Core slowly trotted towards Twilight who was lying on the ground, he finally reached her, she noticed he was standing next to her "What do you want, you want to ad to my woes?"
Core sighed "Are you OK Twilight?"
Twilight stood up and turned to Core, a look of hate in her eyes "YOU WAN'T TO KNOW IF I'M OK, well lets see, one of my old friends hate's my guts, there's a bloody war going on, AND I HAVE TO WORK WITH A CHANGELING!! HOW DO YOU THINK I FEEL?" at this point Twilight was looking down at him.
Core was starting to tear up "I...I....I was just trying to...."
Twilight gave Core a look as if she was about to kill him "I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU WERE TRYING TO DO, THERE'S NO EXCUSE FOR THE THINGS YOU'VE DONE...." Core didn't want to hear the next words she would say "THIS WHOLE WAR NEVER WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF YOU NEVER ATTACKED CANTERLOT!!!" Twilight had a look of shock when she saw him start to cry.
Core suddenly pushed her back "I never had ANYTHING to do with the attack on canterlot, if you still hate me for wanting to be different then... ...then... ....I'll just leave!" Core ran into a random direction in the forest crying his eye's out.
Twilight's look of shock was still, after hearing that he didn't have anything to do with the attack she realized that raging at him made her a monster.
Applejack and Time Turner gave a disappointed look at Twilight.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Fluttershy had watching the whole event happen from a window, she left through a back exit and went to a crowd of animals.
"Alright everyone, I need you to help me find a changeling, but don't hurt him I need to talk to him"
Then the animals nodded and scattered in search of the changeling.
Fluttershy started to fly up over the trees so she could get a better view of the forest.
"I need to know."
______________________________________________________________________________
Core ran through the forest, tears still running down his cheeks. He stopped at a small pond and looked at his reflection, a fish passed by saw him and swam the other way.
"Why does the pony I love, have to be the only member of our group that hates?" Core wiped the tears from his eyes "(sigh) I need to face the facts, she hates me, I'm just a freak..."
"You are anything but a freak." Core turned to see...
...Fluttershy walking up to him.
When she got up to him she pulled him into a big hug "Oh you poor poor thing, just because Twilight yelled at you doesn't make you a freak, don't worry Fluttershy is here to help." the fact that she was so kind to him was shocking him.
Eventually she ended the hug "It's OK you can tell me how you feel about Twilight, you love her and I'm behind you one hundred percent."
Core gulped "Well, when I met her she was trying to kill me but instead we got her to help us with our current situation, then when I first got a chance to talk to her she verbally assaulted me, then... ...well, you probably know the rest from there."
Fluttershy patted Core on the shoulder "How about I come with your group to comfort you when you need it, then you'll be able to focus on your 'current situation', how does that sound?"
Core replied with a hug, when they were done they went back to the clearing.
War with a Changeling Part 1: The Beginning
Twilight was having an apple waiting for the 'move out' order from Applejack who didn't plan on giving that order until Core returned, Time Turner agreed not to leave until he returned.
"I still can't believe Twilight said that to Core" Applejack's head turned to see Applebloom looking worry'd.
"I'll go talk to'er, this resistance isn't going to work if we don't trust each other." Applejack stomped over to Twilight.
Applejack reached Twilight and had a look of determination on her face "Twilight, what is your problem?"
Twilight looked at Applejack "Is this about... ...look I'm sorry OK, I didn't know he wasn't a normal changeling, I just thought he was another one of the changeling's that attacked Canterlot."
Applejack was a little surprised about this "Good, if this resistance is going to happen then we need trust."
Twilight started thinking "I know AJ, and I trust him, I mean he's different to the other changelings, like he's got no holes, he seems to have an interest in pony's, his eyes are different... ...those eyes..." Twilight began to get lost in her deep thoughts.
"Uh.. ..Twilight?" Applejack interrupted Twilight's "What do you mean his eye's?"
Twilight shook her head realizing what she just said "Huh... ...oh never mind... ...I, need to apologize to Core."
Applejack nodded and turned back to see Time Turner talking to Applebloom...
________________________________________________________________________________
Applejack went to talk to Twilight and Applebloom had used this opportunity to talk to Time Turner.
"What do you think of all this mister Turner?" Applebloom asked looking up at him.
Time Turner turned to the filly "Well, I'm not quite sure where to start or what to say. I've never seen Fluttershy that angry before, and Twilight didn't have to be so mean to Core, on top of that Core's probably heartbroken about what that."
Applebloom looked over to Twilight and Applejack "I'd hate to have the pony I have a crush on hate my guts, I feel so sorry for Core."
Time Turner looked towards the direction the map had marked for them to go "It's a shame Fluttershy can't join us, she has a small army of Timberwolfs that could have helped us in the battle."
Applebloom turned back to the stallion "Did you have somepony special before this whole war thing?"
Time Turner froze, he suddenly had flashbacks of before the war, when he returned to the real world "Well um... ...I..." he was interrupted by Applejack who had overheard Applebloom's question.
"APPLEBLOOM! Don't dig into another pony's privacy!" Applejack ordered the filly.
"It was just a question..." The filly was a bit sad about her sister's sudden outburst.
Applejack noticed this "Look how's bout we treat ourselves to a muffin each, sound good?" The filly's reply was a smile.
"How's about you Turner, want to have a muffin with us?" Applejack asked him.
Time Turner turned away from them "No that's OK, I don't need... ...any... ...reminders."
Time Turner walked over to the side of the hut and sat there.
The two pony's realized what he meant and decided to leave him be and get some muffins.
After a bit of time Fluttershy followed by Core emerged from the forest, Applejack and Twilight went to talk to them Applejack spoke first "I didn't expect you to help him Fluttershy, especially after earlier."
Fluttershy had a 'don't mess with me' look on her face "The only reason I'm here is because Core need me to help him out of any emotional holes that you lot dig for him to fall in, so I'll be helping with both Core and this 'situation' your in."
Applejack sighed "How do you plan on helping us? It's not like you've got an army to help us."
Fluttershy gave a devious grin "Of course you'd say that, just an excuse to try and leave me behind." Fluttershy started walking towards the hut "I'll go get my stuff, and tell my forces to meet us at the edge of the forest." without another word she entered the hut.
Applejack turned to see Twilight hugging Core...
____________________________________________________________________________
Core arrived with Fluttershy, but she got dragged into a conversation with Applejack.
He turned to the only other pony their, Twilight, the pony that about ten minute's ago had yelled at him "Core... ...I'd like to... ...apologize for wrongly accusing you earlier."
Core looked at Twilight and began to tear up again.
"...I thought you were just another changeling, I'm sorry I couldn't see that you were different to the others. The differences should have been more obvious to me, you have no holes, you want to learn about Equestria..." Twilight was speaking in a highly apologetic voice.
Core was beginning to cry slightly without Twilight noticing, but he kept a smile on his face.
Twilight continued "...and those eye's, your eye's aren't only a different color but... ...but it's like... ...like their..." before Twilight could finish she was pulled into a hug by Core, this slightly shocked her, she had expected something 'similar' to happen, but she gladly returned the hug.
"Maybe we should start over, as friends." Core said to Twilight.
Twilight smiled "Yeah, lets start over as friends."
Applejack was looking at the two, she smiled and went to tell her troops to move out.
When Fluttershy exited the hut she saw Core and Twilight hugging, she smiled "At least they forgave each other." those words suddenly repeated in her head, she realized that she had been mean to her old friends.
______________________________________________________________________________
Time Turner walked up to the team that led the army "I'm going to leave here with the TARDIS now, I'll meet you on the other side." the group seemed confused by the word TARDIS but they chose to forget about it and start moving towards the forest exit.
During their walk the group talked about the floating fortress "So what's this floating fortress about?" asked Core.
Twilight looked at him "It was originally supposed to be a combined efforts of the Earth pony's and Pegasi to create a city in the sky that could house thousands of all races, but after certain diplomatic problems resulting in the war, the fortress/city was left to be finished by the Pegasi."
"Any idea what we'll find when we get there?" asked Core.
Applejack looked to Core "Well we will meet pinkie at the fortress, she said she has a way of getting us to the fortress from the ground. We will encounter these things called Ropony's that are metal lifeless robot's that are being produced at a faster rate every day. Then there's this war machine pinkie mentioned, we don't know what it is or what it does so we'll need to be careful."
When they were finished talking they arrived at the exit to a LARGE open field, they couldn't see anything, no floating fortress, no pegasi, and no pinkie...
...but when they looked up they saw it.
Not the city, but their way to get there, a large floating machine that said the word Zeppelin on the side of it.
From it came a loud voice "ALL HOOVES ON DECK, GET READY TO LAND AND RECEIVE REINFORCEMENTS!"
War with a Changeling Part 1: The Beginning
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Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter. War with a Changeling Part 1: The Beginning
Episode 13 The landing area
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Episode 14 The War Machine
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Episode 16: Pinkie's story
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