Never the Same

Barley stepped right back, abandoning his intimidating approach, "How do you know my name?"

Flash didn't reply, bouncing a cheerful circle around his friend, "Ohyesohyesohyes! Ohmygoshohmygoshomygosh!" He broke off from his excited ranting, stopping to wrap his hooves around Barley in a tight hug.

"Get off me!" The older colt growled, shoving Flash away, "Changeling scum!"

The changeling frowned, looking down at his dark, Swiss-cheese hooves, "Oh," He sighed, "I-I guess you wouldn't remember me like this, would you?"

Barley stomped angrily, jabbing a hoof into Flash's chest, "What in the name of Celestia are you talking about? You're mad, crazy!" He punctuated those last words by waving an arm at the sky.

Flash's horn glowed with green energy as he was about to change forms, but the threatening voices of the crowd before him caused Flash to stop himself. He was hungry, tired and emotionally drained, only wanting to snuggle up close with his family by a warm fireplace. Could it happen? Yes. Would it happen? No, not for a long time. Maybe never. Maybe Flash would simply be driven from town and forced to be separate from everyone he knew and loved. Everyone and everything, it would all go down the drain...

Flash smiled, masking the turmoil of worried questions buzzing in his mind, "I missed you."

At those three, simple words, the changeling lifted himself up, turned around, and with a heavy heart, began to walk. He walked through the crowd that seemed to know exactly what he was doing, and everything seemed to take on a surreal, peaceful appearance. Flash felt light-headed with hunger and exaustion, but still he walked. Soon, he began to stagger, coughing and struggling to stay on his feet. Flash felt a stabbing pain in his chest, as though a sliver of ice was being driven deep into his insides. His vision blurred, the ground rushed up to meet him, and then Flash saw only darkness.

Flash cried out as he opened his eyes, seeing only jagged black rock under his hooves, and a warped, smoggy cyclone spiraling into the sky above him. Everything, the void above the unnatural storm, the cracks between the rocks, and a strange shaped mark on the rock under his hooves, glowed with eerie green light. A tall pedastal of dark rock towered above him, and atop it, a mysterious changeling stood. The royal-looking changeling's dragon-like green eyes glinted with a deranged light, long fangs bared in a crooked grin. It towered higher than even the already tall Flash, a jagged black crown resting on its head. A swarm of dark, red-eyed silhouettes flew down from the cyclone, engulfing everything in blackness.

A crazed and distorted voice feverishly chanted over and over, echoing through the endless darkness,

We are coming,

We are coming,

We must feed,

We must feed,

Devour the throne,

Devour the throne,

He is the ever-hungry,

He is the ever-hungry,

He is the Devourer,

He is the Devourer,

His reign of hunger will bring power to us,

His reign of hunger will bring power to us,

The ice in your soul,

The ice in your soul,

Is only his power,

Is only his power,

We are one of the Venomer's reign,

We are one of the Venomer's reign,

We are one,

We are one,

We are one,

We are one,

We are one,

WE ARE ONE!

Flash let out a shriek, "MAKE IT STOP! LEAVE ME ALONE! MAKE IT STOP!"

The changeling colt felt a dull, throbbing pain in the back of his head. He didn't open his eyes, but felt cold floorboards pressed uncomfortably against his spine. Flash let out a moan, and felt his mouth move in time to the deranged voice still pounding in his ears. Then he realized he was the one who was chanting aloud, it had been him all along. As soon as his sluggish mind processed the realization, he snapped his eyes open and let out another shriek, cupping his Swiss-cheese hooves over his mouth, this time the panicked wail only a noise rather than feverish begging to some strange figment of his imagination.

"Flash?" It was Twilight, he could tell. "Flash!" Twilight repeated, this time an edge to her voice, "What does it mean?"

The changeling blinked, taking in his surroundings. He was in a modest bedroom, on the floor in front of a side table, a sagging bed sitting next to him. One wing was tangled in star-print blankets, and a candle on the table cast a dim glow into the otherwise dark room. Books could be seen everywhere, in neat piles stacked across the floor, and carefully organized in ceiling-high shelves that were built into the walls of the room. Flash could see the circular outline of a window, the green-tinted sun throwing a weak, sickly light through the glass pane and into the room, the sturdy wooden  crossbeam supporting the window casting deep shadows across the bed and floor.

"I... I'm in the library," Flash whispered hoarsely to no one in paticular, "And he keeps repeating..."

"Excuse me? I didn't quite catch that."

Flash continued to stare blankly up at the ceiling, "No," he said, his voice growing

louder and stronger, "Why?"

Twilight's eyes were wide, "You need help!"

His wings fluttering and legs working hard as he tried to get up, Flash muttered, "...Don't need help...."

"Princess Celestia! I need backup please!"

There was a flash of golden magic, and Celestia materialized next to Twilight, "What is it? How is he doing?"

Twilight nodded, her purple wings fluttering in anxiety and frustration. "He was talking in his sleep, and even awake he asked me 'why'. Just 'why'."

Flash felt sick, his stomach knotted in anxiety. A burning cold had filled his body, and with wide eyes, he untangled himself from the blanket and tossed it up on the bed. He managed to stagger to his hooves, trembling with effort. Despite the urge to bolt for cover and find somewhere warm to be alone, Flash let out a deep sigh and faced the Princesses. Luna had appeared out of nowhere, it seemed, or maybe she had been there the whole time. It was hard to tell. Still shivering, Flash dipped his head to each Alicorn in turn.

"W-what happened? He managed to choke out through his chattering teeth as he fought the urge to retch, "H-how did I g-get here?"

No reply. The three Alicorns simply watched him with wide, wary eyes. Twilight finally cleared her throat, breaking the awkward silence, "You," she paused, looking Flash over one more time, "You, uh... Passed out from exaustion. We brought you here to rest up."

"About that," Celestia cut in, "When's the last time you got a proper sleep?"

Flash shifted nervously, wondering if his answer would upset the Princesses. "Weeks," he replied hoarsely, lowering his gaze, "I've managed to grab a few quick naps in between, but you're not expected to sleep at the hive."

"Here," Luna said warmly, a corked bottle of pinkish, bubbling liquid in her outstretched hoof, "This is synthetic love, it's meant to keep changeling prisoners alive for long-term interrogation, as well as to restore those that have been fed on by changelings. I know it's probably not as good as the real thing, but it's all we have."

Flash smiled gratefully as he took the strange potion, holding the glass bottle between both hooves and pulling the cork out with his teeth. The changeling took a quick swig of the liquid, feeling a pleasant, tingling warmth replace the burning cold that once dominated his body, "Thank you," he said softly, "It means a lot."

Luna opened her mouth to reply, but a loud crash from outside cut her off. Almost immediately, the acrid stench of smoke found its way into Flash's sensitive nostrils. He let out a cry, bursting through the door and into the open, not bothering to pull up a disguise. A nearby mare screamed at the changeling's sudden appearance, minty-green coated, darker mint white-streaked mane, and lyre Cutie Mark. Unicorn. Lyra. Another changeling smashed into the ground in a bubble of green energy, leaving a fair-sized crater at its hooves. The changeling hissed viciously and gave chase, gaining quickly on the defenseless Unicorn mare. Flash snarled, charging at the changeling with all his force. He roared savagely, leaping onto the changeling's back, sharp hooves scrabbling frantically at the carapace of the other changeling's back. Flash wrestled the helpless changeling to the ground, shrieking in rage as he slammed his forelegs into the changeling's side over and over. Electric sparks flew from his hooves, scorching the changeling's coarse hair. Crack after sickening crack sounded as bones broke under his hooves. Even after the changeling stopped screaming and twitching, Flash continued to maul it over and over, blood coating his face, chest and hooves.

"Please stop!"

Flash whirled around with a snarl, but quickly relaxed as he saw Lyra trembling before him. "L-Lyra," he choked, "I didn't mean to..."

"How do you know my name?" Lyra stepped forward fearlessly, despite the quavering note to her voice. "Why did you help me?"

Flash blushed, "It's complicated."

Lyra shook her head, not understanding what was happening, "How complicated? And why can't you tell me?"

A scream from behind them caught the pair's attention, a young colt being closed on by a half-dozen or so changelings. Flash let out a shrill wail, and all six whirled around to the source of the noise.

"What do you think you're doing?" Flash demanded, his eyes glowing dimly green in his rage. The changelings didn't respond, blinking in confusion. Flash sighed as he realized that there were young drones, and that they'd speak in Drone Code. Flash stepped closer to the changelings, and using the Drone Code spoke, "What do you think you're doing?"

The insect-like clicks, hisses and rattles coming from the other changeling before him morphed into words in Flash's ears, "We're destroying the ponies' town?"

Flash snarled with a flurry of rapid, alien clicking, "On whose orders?"

"We did it on our own to impress the Queen before she anoints her successor," one changeling confessed in a series of rattling hisses.

"To gain her favor," another added with a set of clicks.

"Too bad," Flash hissed, "Because I am her successor, the Prince of the changelings! So, I order you and anypony else you may have brought to leave this town. Ragtag bands like you will disrupt the progress of our plans!"

Each changeling nodded in turn, waving and calling to their companions to leave, and fluttering away into the forest, and likely into the 'hive,' that was merely a war outpost rather than the main city of the changelings, which was located within the wastelands just between the Everfree and the border of Zebrica.

Flash let out a relived sigh as the changelings flocked away, horn glowing as he transformed into his pony self.

"Flash?"

The transformed changeling jumped at the sound of Lyra's sharp-edged voice, "Lyra!"

"What just happened? Humans? Why are you all bloody? Why are you here? You were captured, right? Why'd the changelings leave? Or are you a changeling?"

Flash narrowed his eyes, "Please stop, Lyra. I-I... You're right, I am a changeling."

The Unicorn mare took a step back, "So you were the one who killed the other changeling. I should've known..."

"I know," he said softly, "I killed it... I just... Couldn't stop... I saw you, in danger... I just lost control..."

Lyra shook her head, "I don't understand," she admitted, "You're not acting like a changeling, in fact you're acting just like the real Flash. He was-”

"Your coltfriend, I know. I am."

"No."

Flash frowned, his ears splaying back against his skull, "It's true," he insisted, "I was captured, and I am Flash Lightning. I always was. Since I was born, I was and always will be Flash Lightning!"

"You mean," Lyra drew closer, "They changed you."

"Yes."

"I'm sorry."

"Yeah. Me too."

"What now?"

"I hope I wasn't seen."

"And?"

"And if I was seen, I try to explain."

"If that doesn't work?"

"I run back to the hive and probably never come back."

Lyra frowned, breaking off from their brief, one-sided conversation. The Unicorn mare looked up as a group of royal guards galloped into the square.

"What's happened here?" One guard demanded. The firey brown eyes were unmistakeable - the same guards that raided Flash's home, hot on the trail of his changeling magic.

"Changelings, Sir," Flash said softly, "We... Drove them off, to say the least."

The brown-eyed guard from before narrowed his eyes, "I am Clear Glass," the Unicorn announced, "And you are?"

Flash dipped his head submissively, "F-Flash Lightning and Lyra Heartstrings."

"I see." Glass came closer to inspect Flash, "Have I seen you before?"

"N-nnn..." Flash stuttered, stepping back as the guard aggressively came forward, "No! I've n-never seen you before!"

Glass seemed to have backed off, thinking that Flash wasn't actually a changeling. He smiled warmly, "Well," he sighed, "I've gotta go and translate that Drone Code, or so it's called."

As Flash heard Glass say that, he felt his stomach lurch with guilt and suspicion. A slight hiss escaped him in his nervousness, making Flash quickly bite his lip and mentally kick himself for being so careless,

Why am I so stupid?

Flash snapped back to reality as he realized the Princesses were approaching. He sunk into a respectful bow, the bow he'd forgotten back in the library.

A cold, warped female voice cut through the silence, "Rise."

"Chrysalis," Flash snarled, whirling around to find the source of her voice, "What did I do this time?"

Chrysalis revealed herself, stepping out of an alley, green eyes glowing in triumph, "I just wanted to tell you something, Venom."

Flash narrowed his eyes at the changeling Queen, "And what's that?"

"You are King, Venom. It's all yours, except the perfected appearance of changeling royalty, but you'll get that soon enough."

"MY NAME IS FLASH LIGHTNING!"

Chrysalis' eyes were actually wide with fear as white-blue tendrils of electricity crackled at Flash's hooves. "Y-You wouldn't use it on me!"

"Would I?" Flash growled, electricity forming a shell around his body with its thin, swirling strings, "I WOULD!"

Flash set his stance as the field of electrical energy around him grew, a thunderous roaring of the energy filling the air as Flash's rage grew. He gritted his teeth in strain, letting a huge bolt of lightning erupt from him, expelling all of the electricity that had been gathering within him. Chrysalis screeched, collapsing as the lightning struck her flank.

"What was that?" Lyra cried, "Please tell me!"

Flash smirked cockily, "My name isn't Flash Lightning for nothing!" He reached down with a hoof and tapped his flank and Cutie Mark that depicted a thundercloud with a shockwave of lightning around it.

"I-I'm sorry," Chrysalis' thin voice cut in, "I really am," Though painful, the scorch mark on her flank wasn't fatal. "It was selfish of me," she admitted, "I took you away for my own purposes, and in doing so, ripped away the perfect, happy life you should've had. I'm sorry."

Flash's hard gaze softened, "I... I'm sorry too."

Chrysalis smiled weakly, "Who would you like to become leader of the changelings?"

"Misty," Flash immediately replied with a smile, "Misty Skies. She'd be brilliant!"

"Very well," Chrysalis said, spreading her wings, "I shall send the word, and good luck."

"Flash! Flash!"

The changeling turned around, yellow eyes wide to see a changeling filly running towards him, "K-Kara?"

The filly nodded, hopping up to him and wrapping her arms around his neck in a tight hug. "You're gonna leave me?"

Flash's ears splayed back against his head as he watched tears well in Kara's pale blue eyes, "No," he began, "No. You always said you wanted to go to school?"

"Yes?"

"You're gonna get your wish!"

Kara jumped off of Flash, bouncing happily up and down, "Ohyesohyesohyes!"

Flash grinned, "Every bit I possess will go to-"

"I'll pay for it," Celestia interrupted, "It's the least I can do for all this trouble. And speaking of, you need to catch up on your schoolwork as well, Flash. Seventh grade is a big year."

"But Princess," Flash insisted, "What about the cloud-thing?"

"I'll take care of that as well. Everypony get some rest, the moon was due to rise an hour ago, and it would've if Luna's magic hadn't been intercepted by the changelings."

Flash nodded, picking Kara up onto his back. He spread his black-tipped wings and hopped into flight, flapping up to the cloud formation that held his home. The moon was rising, the warped cyclone dissipating, all seemed to be on it's way to being back to normal. Flash was sure thing would only get harder, a lurking fear growing inside him, a wave of cold nausea washing over him. Maybe it would get better if he got some sleep...

A loud, metallic clanging filled Flash's ears as he slowly opened his eyes. Flash blindly reached sideways, pressing the button on his alarm clock, and the ringing ceased. He rolled off his bed, landing on his hooves and trotting to the bathroom. After he washed his face and otherwise woke himself up and prepared for the day, Flash stumbled downstairs, still somewhat asleep. He rubbed his eyes, feeling more alert, and entered the modest, cloud-furnished kitchen.

"Morning Ma," he said cheerily, grabbing a bowl and pouring himself some cereal, "Is Stormy awake?"

"Good morning, Flash. Yeah, she's out in the park with your father and that Kara you brought home."

Flash nodded, opening the refrigerator. He didn't expect to see several large bottles of synthetic love. "What?"

The mint-coated mare smiled, "They came in the mail this morning, it says they're a gift from Princess Luna."

"Really? That's so generous! I don't know what to say!"

"You, speechless?" His mother teased, "That's new."

Flash chuckled, pulling out a bottle and pouring some it into his cereal. "Very funny."

"Now," she warned, "Don't use too much. We don't want to waste it."

"Don't worry, Ma. I can explain to you how changeling love intake works, if that makes you feel better." He levitated a spoon up to his mouth, taking a mouthful of love-cereal.

The mare smiled, lifting up a set of packed saddlebags with a lightning-bolt shaped buckle. They were tattered and worn; the strap looked like it had been replace at least thrice, the bottom corner of the left bag was stained slightly, and several patches dotted both bags.

"Eat quick," she said, "You've still got to head to school."

Flash nodded, "I know." He lifted up the mostly-empty bowl, pressed it to his lips and drank the liquid left over from the bottom of the bowl. Hopping to his hooves, Flash grabbed a simple blue vest that had been hanging on one of the chairs, slipping it on. He then smiled, taking the bag from his mother and pulling the strap over his lanky shoulders.

"Bye," he called, "See ya later!"

"Have a good day," his mother replied as her son glided down from the clouds. Once on solid ground, Flash began to trot in the direction of the schoolhouse. It wasn't a paticularly special school, a squat brick building with lots of windows squashed between the town hall and a field of tall golden grass. There was at least one old, abandoned-looking storage shed sitting in the field, dusty and alone. Flash couldn't say he'd sympathize with the average, not-so-one-of-a-kind shed that only came along about a thousand times in a general week. Maybe millions in a wierd, stereotypical lifetime, but who had one of those?

Flash took a deep breath, opening the door and stepping into the school. There was only silence. The nervous rasping of Flash's hoarse breathing was unbearably loud, each click of his hoof against the hard floor felt the tiniest noises were screaming for trouble. The changeling slowly made his was to his locker, punching in his old combination and tucking the bags and vest inside. He shuddered, shifting his wings in anxiety.

"Hello?"

Only silence replied. Not that Flash would've expected a reply when the halls were so disturbingly empty. There was a sound of crackling electricity, and the lights flickered out. Flash didn't mind, his changeling eyes seeing more than fine in the dark. His sharp ears swiveled as a whimper sounded in the darkness, his dimly glowing eyes sweeping for the source of the noise. Flash channeled energy into his magic, casting a dim, greenish glow from the tip of his horn. Before long, his energy faded, and that light, too faded out. The changeling sighed, closing his eyes. Maybe everyone had hidden from him. Maybe they were going to ambush him. Flash didn't know, but he picked himself up and trudged further down the cold hallway. As he made his way to the empty homerooms, he saw traces of green slime on the ground. The traces grew to a trickle, that grew to a cascade of opaque, green, changeling mucus. The reek of blood and rot reached Flash's nose, and he recoiled. Despite the revolting smell, Flash continued onward, wading through the normally sticky substance with ease. The outline of a pony could be seen, standing solemnly at the end of the hall. It shied away as the changeling's hooves clicked on clean tile, and Flash's ears swiveled forward in eagerness at seeing a potentially friendly face.

"Hello?" He repeated, fluttering his wings nervously.

A voice called back, hoarse with fear, "W-Who are you?"

"Barley?" Flash ventured, taking a cautious step forward, "Uh... Barley Crop?"

"How do you know my name? Who are you?"

Flash took a deep, nervous breath, trotting out into the dim light that emanated from the hallway ahead of him. He kept his head low, avoiding Barley's blue-eyed gaze. The colt's burnt orange coat was dirty, his dark brown mane an unkempt mess. His wide blue eyes were scared, so full of fear and hate and confusion. That was definitely Barley.

"I'm a friend," Flash transformed into his pony self, "I can help you."

Barley narrowed his eyes, wrinkling his nose in distaste. "No! You're a changeling, even if you did help us, I'm sure there'd be a catch, am I right."

Flash stomped a hoof in annoyance, a sinister edge cutting into his voice as he continued, "I do have some... Alternate motives," he hissed, "But I feel they would benefit us both. Besides," he reasoned with a slight smirk, "I could kill you instead, if you prefer."

Barley suddenly was unsure. The changeling that called itself Flash did bear a striking resemblance to the lanky yellow-eyed colt he'd known, but the incredible contrasts in personalities could easily dismiss such similarities. Going from gently hopeful to disturbingly malicious in the blink of an eye was not something the old Flash would normally do.

"What are these 'a-alternate motives,' and how can they benefit me?" Barley cut in with a less pleasant consideration, "What if you're lying? You could just want to make me feel safe so you can kill me at just the right time!"

The changeling rolled his eyes, "We're gonna kick some changeling Queen flank! I can take care of the other changelings, and Chrysalis will no longer a threat to Equestria!"

Barley smiled slightly, a mischievous smile. "You're sure you're not gonna kill me, Flash?"

"I'm glad you're finally starting to trust me," Flash said with a smile, "Now, let's evacuate the others! It won't be safe for anypony to stay here if we end up fighting."

"Aye," Barley agreed with a nod, "You're right about that!"

With a final, silent pact of friendship confirmed, the two colts went onward, Barley in the lead as they headed in the direction of the gymnasium.

Finally, Flash thought, Barley and I can be friends again, like old times. The changling felt his stomach lurch, guilt washing over him. Just like old times...