Dual Natured Change

I opened my eyes to a welcome sight. The smooth rolling hills of the empty valley I had come to appreciate so much filled me with contentment. The only sound that could be heard was the slight breeze blowing down through the various mounds of earth. Time was meaningless here; I could spend an eternity in the comforting embrace of its passionless void.

My ears perked as a new sound cut through the stillness. I couldn't make it out, but it was foreign, unwelcome. The world around me quaked at its coming, like a body reacting to a cut. The sound grew louder. It was a voice of worry. Emotions flooded into me again and I dropped to the ground, my hooves flying over my ears in a fruitless attempt to cut out the invading noise. The earth cracked and split beneath me as the dream’s integrity was lost.

"Are you OK? Hey! Wake up!"

My eyes flew open to a brown colt standing over me. I tried to jump to my hooves, but I found myself entangled in a blanket and tumbled off the opposite end of a bed unceremoniously. I quickly unravel myself and take a defensive stance before he could try anything, placing the bed between me and him. His short light brown mane and tail had darker browns throughout them, making it hard for me to figure out if he was dirty, or just colored that way. Something was off about him, like he was missing something. Then it came to me: he wasn’t afraid.

"Who are you?" I demanded, “Where am I?”

I was ready to run at any sign of aggression. I looked around quickly, searching for any clue as to why I was now in one of the small houses I had seen earlier. The floor was covered with tools and trinkets, and papers were strewn messily across the table tops.

"Whoa, whoa, calm down. That's no way to treat someone who just saved your life." He nervously scratched at his messy mane as he spoke. "Are you hurt?”

Saved my life? I didn’t believe him. "Where am I?" I spoke louder as I took another step back.

"Did you fall out of the sky or something? You know you shouldn't be flying during a storm. It’s lucky I found you hidden in those bushes,
laying face down in mud even. You really…”

Could he even hear me? As my abductor rambled on, I took the opportunity to search for an escape route. Closed windows, one door, and just my luck! It was behind him. I could probably walk right past him and he wouldn’t notice though. He didn’t seem to care about anything else I said or did.

“...and you started moving around like you were in a nightmare or something...”

I couldn’t take it anymore. I focused as much power as I could into my horn and - my horn! Where was my horn!? I felt no flow of magic. I quickly placed a hoof to where my horn should be and was shocked to discover that the light grey leg before my eyes wasn’t mine. My anger grew at an alarming rate.

“That bitch!”

The colt jumped back in shock, but at least he wasn’t talking anymore. I could feel my face red hot with pure anger. This had to be Chrysalis’ work. She was the only changeling I knew who was able to alter another changeling’s form against their will, and on top of all that, I couldn’t change again until the spell wore off.

I looked up to see the confused pony still standing in front of me, a disturbed look across his face. I hated to admit it to myself, but I needed this idiot… at least until I changed back. I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself.

I lowered my guard and took a step closer in an attempt to ease the tension I had just caused. “What did you say your name was again?”

“Oh! umm- My name is Rusted Shell!” he said with flare of pride, Puffing out his chest.

Well he certainly recovered quickly. “My name is Iniquis,” I replied with a half-hearted smile. “I’m far from home and I got lost in the storm. Do you know where we are?”

“My house.”

I stood in awkward silence as I waited for the answer I wanted to arrive. Yet again, I was denied, and my fake smile quickly faded.

“No! I mean, WHERE are we?”

“Ponyville,” he said with sarcastic tone, as if I should have known this already, “or, on the outskirts anyway.”

“Do you know of a place I could stay for awhile?” My patience was growing thin, but I tried to keep my voice as sweet as possible.

“You really aren't from around here huh? Well, if you're going to be staying here awhile I should show you the town.”

I tried to ignore the fact that he, again, failed to answer my question, but I was curious about the town and I needed time to sort everything out. I accepted his offer. Maybe I’ll run into someone who can actually help me.

It was already well past noon as we made our way down a long path toward the town. He had served me lunch before we left, and I ate a little bit, but changelings don’t need such things to live.

I used the quiet walking time to think up my strategy. I needed to gather as much information about the town and the ponies here as I could. A new hive was the last thing on my mind to worry about. Feeding and blending in were far more important. It shouldn’t be too difficult; pretending to be someone I’m not is something I was quite good at, but I have never had to make up my own personality. I usually just copied the personality of someone I knew, but I only knew changelings. Ponies seem to respond better to others who are nice, or maybe that was just him.

I looked over at Rusted as he walked beside me. He had a carefree attitude about him that bugged me, like an ignorant child who didn’t know any better. He noticed my stare and glanced back at me, a friendly smile beamed across his face. I quickly looked away. It made me uncomfortable in a way I had never felt before. I didn’t like it.

The town was more different than I had imagined. Colorful signs pointed the way to the many shops that ran down the winding dirt streets, still soft from the previous day’s downpour. Rusted had been talking nonstop about his job, something to do with metal? I had a hard time paying attention with all there was to see here. Many ponies of amazingly various hues went about their lives working and shopping- all with smiles on their faces. It was all so foreign.

I came to an abrupt stop as a shimmer of light caught my eye. I ran up to one of the store windows and positioned myself in front of the ornate mirror on display. The pony looking back at me was so strange yet familiar. Long purple hair fell down a little past my shoulders. Grey fur covered the rest of my body, save for my tail, which was also purple, and something else- on my flank was a mark I didn’t understand. I lifted my feathered wing out of the way so I could get a better look, a little pleased that she had at least left me with the ability to fly. I knew what a cutie mark was, but why my mother chose this was beyond my understanding. My flanks were adorned with a short silver colored tree. Half of the leaves white, the other half black. My curiosity grew only more as I studied myself, but I had little time to think about it as Rusted had realized I wasn’t with him anymore.

“Hey! whatcha lookin at? Oh that is a pretty mirror,” he said as he flexed in front of it, “This was one of the first things I made after moving here.”

“You made this?” My eyes wandered over the intricate detail of the bronze frame. I had never seen anything like it. Pegasi could be seen sweeping across the top, while earth ponies and unicorns could be seen at the bottom all flowing together beautifully, making it seem like they were all part of something bigger than any one pony. It was impressive to say the least.

“Yea, there aren't many ponies here that know how to work with metal.”

I looked away from the mirror at the many ponies walking behind us, all with their own marks. All of them were good at something. A part of me envied them.

“I wish I was good at something-”

“I’m sure you are! Whatever…” He looked down quickly at my flank and back up, “...plant related thing that helped you get your mark.”

Oh no! Did I just say that out loud? It was too early for this. I would need to feed soon if I wanted to keep my emotions in check.

“Uhh yes, yes you’re right,” I replied with a nervous smile “I don’t know what I was thinking. Let’s continue this tour of yours”

He took me all over town showing me the various sights of ponyville, talking about the random things the town is known for. One story stood out among the rest:

“This is the library.” He pointed a hoof at a dead tree that had long since passed it’s prime. It had been hollowed out and used as a building. “Magic used to keep this tree alive, but even the most powerful of magics can’t keep something alive forever.”

I don’t know why but I was saddened by this thought. It was probably my emotions taking over again, but there was a wise truth in what he said. This was my only time in the world to do something. Will anyone remember me for what I do?

“A really powerful unicorn used to live here,” he continued, “She even became an alicorn.”

This didn’t impress me much. I didn’t know or care how rare or impressive an alicorn was. I can fly and use magic so a pony who can do both just seems a little less useless than the rest of them.

Then he started to talk about all her achievements. I became more and more impressed with every story. This was a powerful pony indeed.

“...She even stopped two changeling invasions, and saved an entire empire from-”

“What was that?” I asked quickly, stopping his ramblings short.

“Oh, the crystal empire? Yea, it was gone for almost a thousand years and-”

“No, the thing before that!” I said, raising my voice in curious desperation.

“The changelings? She helped stop them twice.”

It was so frustrating trying to get information out of this guy. I was only left with more questions. Were ponies really that powerful? What had my mother thrown me into? I was extremely interested in hearing more about it, but my gut told me to keep the subject off of my kind.

“This alicorn, does she still live here?” I tried to seem really interested in her. “I’d really like to meet her.”

“You and me both!” He laughed, turning to continue down the path back toward town, followed shortly by myself. “She hasn’t live here for a very long time. I doubt we'll ever get the chance to even see her.”

This filled me with some reassurance, but the story still shook me up. It made me realize I really had no idea what I was getting myself into. On top of that, these ponies may have had encounters with changelings in the past. Panic started to set in. I was having more and more trouble keeping my emotions barred.

“I-It’s getting late. Can you show me that place I can stay at?” I hoped he wouldn’t notice my hurry. So far he was the only pony I had talked for an extended period of time and I was sure I would need him in the future.

“Sure thing! The Ponyville Hayseed Stables is your best bet. I think they even have a special going on to bring in more travelers; First night is free, or something like that.”

Stupid Iniquis. Why can’t I think straight today? Of course it would cost money to stay somewhere, but it seems luck was on my side. I would have to think of a way to get some money later. I thanked him and he turned back toward the way of his house. He told me if I needed anything else just to find him as he walked away

It was at this moment when I first felt it. He only just met me, and it was slight, but it was there. He cared about my well being. I was so hungry. It would be so easy to just- No! I can’t yet. I can’t scare away my prey. I wasn’t skilled enough to feed without a fair amount of concentration. I’ll have to wait for now.

I quickly checked in to the stable and went straight to my room, but it was far from relaxing. My head was spinning with emotional turmoil, like an addict craving her next fix. I couldn’t take this much more. It would become much harder to hide if I wait too long.

It’s decided then, I feed tomorrow.