The Changeling In My Heart

The Changeling In My Heart

By Music Brush.

A reboot of my first fully published story, Heart Of Fire: You'll Be In My Heart.

Prologue:

Attack Of Canterlot

"She's a changeling!" The young and beautiful, pink coated alicorn, Princes Me Amore Cadenza barked for the whole crowd gathered in the room to hear. "She takes the form of someone you love and gains power by feeding off your love for them!"

The whole crowd turned their attention to the same alicorn in her wedding dress, standing at the alter next to the captain of the royal guard, Shining Armor, who appeared to be mesmerized as he stood there looking as though his mind was not even there. Princess Celestia stood behind them with a look of shock and confusion on her face as she tries to piece together the puzzle as to who the real Cadence is. The one in front of her, or the one making a dangerous accusation on the red carpet between the crowd of her subjects that led to the altar.

The Cadence at the alter glared at the one standing beside the lavender unicorn, Twilight Sparkle, who in turn glared back at her.  She growled and cursed to herself. Everything was going so perfectly up until those two mares came along. Now there was only one thing left to do. She knew she could no longer keep the charade up any longer. It was time to make her next move. "My child. She called out.

"Yes, my queen?" A young female voice replied.

"Sound the attack!" She ordered. "Our plans have been accelerated.

"Yes, my queen!" Came the young voice.

The imposter arched her back and a green flame circled around her. The ponies gathered gasped and backed away at the sudden burst of magic as the imposter levitated off the ground and began to grow slim and taller. Her fur burned away and a black shell was left behind, her limbs full of holes and her horn crooked and unnatural. Her mane became a greasy and flat green and her wings became thin and bug like. The fire died down as she hovered over the frightened ponies staring up at her in fear. She laughed a maniacal cackle and marveled at the site of those around her.

"Right you are, Princess." She said. "And as queen of the changelings, it is my job to find food for my subjects." She grinned at the pink alicorn and lavender unicorn staring up at her as they slowly backed away from the creature. Everything would soon be hers to control and she loved the very thought of it.

~~)oOo(~~

Outside of the large bubble acting as a shield surrounding the great capital of Equestria, Canterlot Castle, Changelings by the thousands were pounding, scratching and gnawing away at the spell to get to their targets. Their desperation feeding their strength. They were starving and hungry for energy. Everything the had was dying and this was their last chance.

The spell was obviously growing weaker by the second. Queen Chrysalis was succeeding in her task on the inside by placing the captain controlling the spell under her control. Cracks quickly became visible with each pounding against the great shield. Sooner or later it will give, allowing the bug like creatures to swarm in and feed off the love energy overflowing this great city, then they would spread throughout Equestria.

Overviewing the invasion was a single female changeling, who had a look of high authority over the rest. She cast a few blasts of green energy at the shield, adding to the damage, making their victory that much closer to taste.

"Come on, grunts!" She barked. "The sooner we get in there the better! Think of all that love!" That last bit got the changelings attention. They all backed away from the shield a little and at once slammed themselves against it, causing the great spell to shatter and fade away as the pieces fell to the ground. At that very instant the armada bolted to the ponies below and chaos erupted like a volcano after months of building pressure.

Instead of flying for ponies like her brethren the lead changeling flew to a tower to oversee the proceedings. She sat on a balcony high enough to watch the chaos as everypony began screaming and running to their loved ones. She could sense the queen very pleased with everything. Minus a few exceptions, like the family of the changeling commander, Gnator were locked away for insubordination while there eldest, Zuro abandoned the hive for his own pleasure. She had hear, Gnator went to convince his older brother to join us one last time and has not been seen since.

"My lady!" A voice called in her head.

"What?" She replied.

"Commander Gnator was just seen in a hoof fight against a blue pegasus. We all sensed it was really a changeling." The voice reported.

"Well, at least it's been confirmed that Zuro is no longer a part of this hive." She mused. "See to it that when this is over Zuro is dead."

Yes, ma'am!" The solder's presence left her mind and she resumed watching over the scenery. Parts of her question why things had to be done this way. She had to admit that the queen's way of becoming queen were extremely questionable, but the reason behind it was more so then just to gain power. And would it not be easier to sneak in as the ponies to feed on love instead of invading and feed that way? Granted the love was indeed more potent when the fear of loosing the ones you care most about is strong in your heart, but she still had her doubts. Still, she had her orders and she was not about to become a traitor now and rick loosing her place in the hive.

Her attention was soon caught by the sight of six mares running along the streets through the chaos. She narrowed her eyes at them. She knew at once they were up to something and needed to be stopped. She glared and growled.

"Boys! Get those mares!" She barked. Immediately all the changelings began to charge at the six ponies. A cyan blue pegasus with rainbow hair was the first to make a move before she was bucked to the ground. All the changelings surrounding the daredevil pony and the others chose one of their forms and a battle began. The yellow pegasus with pink mane somehow managed to trick the changelings into thinking she was actually one of them. It was not hard considering they were starving and were more focused on looking for love energy than they were battling six simple mares. The lavender unicorn knew how to get at the changelings. She knew spells to remove the camouflage as well as some tactics. The orange earth pony with yellow mane was good with rope. Although she got herself in a pinch once or twice her friends aided her immediately. The white unicorn with purple mane tried to avoid fighting, but when she swung her hooves she packed a powerful punch with a grin of satisfaction. The pink earth pony was most unusual. She even used one of the unicorns as a weapon of some sort, blasting away at the changelings rapidly.

Soon enough the six mares proved to be too much for this round. All the changelings lay scattered on the ground, grunting and groaning in pain and defeat. The commander glared at the sight. She bolted from the balcony and flew down toward them.

"No, child." The queen said. The changeling stopped.

"What would you suggest, my queen?" She asked, knowing the queen knew the castle and what those mares were going for.

"They are heading for the weapon. Go to the west tower. You can intercept them there." Chrysalis instructed.

The changeling grinned and flew to her brethren. "Follow me, boys!" She barked. A large number of changelings did as she told and followed her to the west tower. They all flew in through the windows and swarmed the room like bees to a beehive. It was not long at all they had to wait before those six mares burst in through the doors and came to a screeching halt to the site of the swarm. Immediately the changelings swooped in and captured the six mares.

"Unhand me, you brutes!" The white mare ordered. The lavender unicorn struggled to break free, but any attempt to use her magic was quickly silenced by the changelings. The pink mare offered almost no resistance. In fact she seamed just as joyful as ever, bouncing along where the changelings took her. The others cooperated to a point until they were directed into the castle courtroom. The site made them gasp.

The real Princes Cadence was glued to the floor by some green goo. Princess Celestia was suspended in a green chrysalis like a butterfly in its cocoon. Shining Armor was looking more out of sorts than ever as he stood there staring into nothing with glowing green eyes. Queen Chrysalis stood proudly as she marveled at her work. The castle was now hers and her children could now feed.

The lead changeling approached her queen and bowed respectfully. Chrysalis smiled at her. "You did marvelously, my child." She mused.

"Thank you, my queen." She replied.

"You know you don't have to call me that, right?" Chrysalis said. The changeling looked up at her.

"I know, but I prefer to maintain formality while in the presence of others." She answered. Chrysalis smiled at her.

"Come. I want you to stand with me as our family feeds." Chrysalis said as she turned to the balcony. The changeling followed with honor. "This day has been just perfect." Chrysalis mused.

The changeling looked out over the chaos with no smile nor joy. She was happy her brethren would finally feed after so long, but she still did not fully approve of the way things were being done. She had heard about how the traitor, Zuro wanted to peacefully find a way to live with the ponies and she admired him for that, but she knew there was no possibility of that. This was the only way her and her brethren could feed.

Then her attention was pulled away by the memory that they never fully secured the six ponies. She turned back to their prisoners and she blinked. Somehow, Cadence managed to break free of her bonds and she was now holding her fiancée, attempting to regain his love for her. Their manes flowing as if caught in the wind and their bodies started to glow as they were being lifted into the air.

"My queen!" She cried. Chrysalis turned her attention to the ponies, but by then it was too late. The energy of the two lovers was released and exploded throughout the castle. The burst sent all the changelings flying through the air completely out of capital, the majority of them scattered into the Everfree Forest. The young changeling spun out of control as she flew through the sky for what seamed like hours before she came crashing into a tree and slid down the trunk with a heavy groan. She hit the ground with a thud, the crash knocking some air out of her lungs. She coughed and groaned as she struggled to her hooves.

She looked around to get her bearings straight, but all she saw was vines, trees, leaves and bugs. She had not the strength to call out for others, she had not fed during the invasion. She started to walk, but as soon as she took a step she stumbled back to the ground. She turned back with a glare to see her leg was bleeding. She looked back through the forest to see if she could see the others, but to no avail.

"Boys!?" She called. There was no answer. "My queen!?" She called again to receive no reply. She could sense her brethren not far, but she was too injured to travel far on her own and she had not the magical strength to call her brethren for aid nor change without completely draining whatever power she had left. If that were to happen she would never be able to change again. But, she could not just sit here and hope for help or death. So, what other choice did she have other than to move.

She began to limp her way through the tangled vines and leaves. Time after time she pushed her way through some thorn bushes, earning more cuts to her already sore body. She limped for several minutes before the skies began to darken. She looked up to see a number of pegasi gathering the clouds together above the forest. She shook it off and pushed on. Soon after she could hear thunder crashing through the air and light flashed through the trees. She looked up to try and see anything and she noticed the light was coming from one source in the clouds, pointing to one direction. That was not natural. Her brethren must be there. She struggle her way into some bushes to reach that point when a stray lightning bolt struck at her hooves, sending her flying back into a tree. She cried out in pain as she fell back to the ground, her body torn, cut and bruised from the struggle. She gasped as she tried to look up to see the clouds clearing and the forest settling to an odd silence.

She lay there in defeat, knowing that her time had come. She had no strength nor enough energy to save herself and there was no chance of her brethren coming to find her when she is this weak and close to death. Her fate has come to a close.