Foxfire's Tail (extended)

I kept hearing a faint melody in my head. It was soothing in...a foreboding way. I cannot really describe this melody unless I made a projection thereof. The forest was my home, my territory. But, eventually, I found something odd. What was that odd thing, you ask?

A big, really oddly shaped rock in the forest. Around it were noisy Changeling drones. They had spears, so I assumed they were guard drones.

I assumed my own Changeling form and casually walked up to the entrance where there were two guard drones ready to poke me.

"State your name and reason to be here, misfit." Said one guard while the other motioned with his hoof.

"Before I do, I must ask if your companion is mute." I replied.

"Yes, he's mute. He's also deaf." Replied the guard drone.

"I have no name at all. I want to see your leader. That is all I ask." Was my reply.

"You are nameless?" Asked the drone, clearly shocked.

"Yes. My last name is Flowerfeather. I have not a first name."

"Very well, I'll lead you inside. Queen Aquafire will be pleased to see you." The drone said as he and his companion walked to either side of me as they directed me to the throne chamber. Inside the hive had more...misfits. One was solid white all over with blood-crimson eyes. He had no discernible wings to speak of, and his horn was a hare shorter than mine. He had a yellow mane concealing his left eye and it looked like a thunderbolt. He had no carapace to speak of. Another looked eerily like me, except her mane was blood red and her eyes were emerald green. Her carapace was aqua blue, and her wings were bat-like and brown. She had no horn at all. Another still had a dragon tail, claws, horns, wings, and black scales where the chitin would be. Her carapace was golden, as were her wing membranes. She had no mane, and her eyes were a hypnotic white. I could go on and on here, but I won't. We must get ahead with the story.

We were in the throne chamber. Sitting on a crude throne was a Changeling queen, her mane, carapace and eyes all started sapphire and ended in fire red. I wondered if she had another purple form, for crying out loud. She had her wings visibly clipped, and on her head sat a little crown with garnets and turquoises.

"We have another oddity? What is her name and purpose, drone?" Asked who was evidently Queen Aquafire.

"She has not a first name, and her last name makes us tremble. She wanted to see you." Replied the non-mute drone.

"Her last name?" Asked the queen. "Go ahead and say it already."

"Flowerfeather." Replied the drone.

"You mean....the direct descendant of Changeling hunters?!" Aquafire said slack-jawed.

"Yes. I find it...ironic." Replied the drone, who was now looking at me.

"So, err....young one." Said Aquafire, who was now looking at me.

"Please, do not call me 'young' or 'little one.' I already had enough trauma as is, and I need not another reminder." I said.

"Alright. Please, if you have another form, assume it now." Aquafire sighed.

I turned into my other form and everyone was slack-jawed.

EVERYONE. WAS. SLACK-JAWED.

"So, you're an alicorn." One drone said, his voice quivering.

"A huh?" I asked, not even hearing that word before then.

"A pegasus and a unicorn mixed together!" Shouted another drone in disbelief, holding his holey hooves in front of him.

"Who educated her?!" Called another.

"ORDER IN THE ROYAL COURT! STOP HARASSING THIS MARE!" Bellowed Aquafire as her horn came to life with magic.

Everyone shut up, and the horn ceased its glow.

"Why was I nameless?" I asked.

"It's...your family secret. Some of your ancestors were unicorns and pegasi with their cutie marks, yet everyone else were blank flank earth ponies, correct?" Aquafire said in a motherly tone of voice.

"Yes, but my dad was a unicorn." I replied starkly. "His name was Mechanical Gear Flowerfeather."

"I see. Well, those in your family who got their cutie marks had... a life-changing event happen to them. They also got their names because of those cutie marks." Aquafire said.

"Life changing?" I asked.

"Yes. But you're the odd one out. Your very appearance in both forms says so."Aquafire said.

I swallowed hard as I was reminded of that bastard.

Please, let me bury his memory. Nopony should have to remember him.

"Here, little Foxfire, you will be safe."Aquafire said.

"WHAT?!" Shouted everyone else, myself included.

"Yes, remember that ponies in your family are named after their cutie marks." Aquafire grinned.

I gave a nervous chuckle. "How am I descended from Changeling hunters?"

"We queens, provided we do not run into any complications, can live for a little over a thousand years. Let's just say I hid from your ancestors." Aqua sighed with a nod. "They put up strict regulations about cutie marks--that nopony could be allowed to obtain them. The reason behind that is because once gotten, they change drastically. Some even had dangerous powers and Celestia took it upon herself to seal them within the pits of Tartarus--your birthplace. Your father figured out the mechanics in order to break that seal and led your mother out just moments after you were born. And that was when he got his cutie mark. Celestia hasn't taken too kindly to the broken seal."

"Am I dangerous?" I asked.

"Exceedingly so." Aqua answered. "Guards, please lead her to the bedchambers of the other hybrids and see to it she's safe and sound."