The Changeling Hives by Written Word

Independent groups

As one might know there are quite a number of free changelings in the world and while they were seen with contempt originally (although in many places they still are) the increase in number has made many ponies change their attitude. The influx came after the invasion due to the simple fact that ponies were seen as changeling enemies, both by the changelings and many ponies alike. When a changeling is kicked out many believe they can find at least safety and a hot meal by defecting to Equestria, hoping the government would take them in for their knowledge and information. Sadly Equestria is not some kind of military state, most changelings end up on the streets or pretending to be ponies in order to establish new lives, though as their numbers increase a lot of groups have formed around these new migrates.

The United Changeling Union protects changelings from a political level. Originally they were a sort of work union organizing strikes for equal working conditions. As they grew the group branched out concentrating their effort in passing laws to better protect changeling rights. Their success is usually mixed, Celestia herself more than happy to sit down with their leaders and come up with an effective compromise although other towns often give them a hard time, in some cases they simply get ignored. Metamorphis is a group with a much more colorful name with much deeper goals. While the UCU focus mostly on rules and law Metamorphis focuses more on pony opinions. They're a much more aggressive group targeting racist focused pony organization organizing counter protests and setting up rather creative punishment for anti-changeling ponies such as, let’s say, spreading photos of them kissing a changeling, the individual in the photo really be another changeling in disguise. Some say they went too far when they broke into Baltimare’s town hall to steal documents that proved the town government was anti changeling behind their voter’s back, having been banned from a number of cities although their still allowed within most major towns.

Bread for Changelings, a rather unimaginatively named group compared to Metamorphis, focuses more on charity work collecting money from ponies usually with house calls to clothe and feed homeless changelings, helping new arrivals to get on their feet quickly. They're mostly changeling run but they're are a number of pony volunteers and working for the group counts towards community service making it a top choice for convicts. Funny enough they are actually in a need for these convicts as some of their charity op shops have come under attack by anti-changeling ponies and having one or two large burly ponies working there drastically lowers the amount of trouble a place has. From the other side of the fence the Ponies Against Free Changelings are a pony based group that focus on keeping changeling rights in check. They’re not exactly racist as much as distrustful of changelings, often acting as the rival to United Changeling Union. They often get mixed reactions much like the changeling groups with some calling them out as single minded bigots, fighting a good fight or simply not prosecuting changelings enough.

The Truth is the extreme opposite end to Metamorphis, a group that calls about the extermination of all changelings. Luckily, they have been marked as a criminal organization though that hasn’t stopped their protests and violet acts. The group is pony based but also has branched out into Saddle Arabia. The organization believing that the only good changeling is a dead changeling, that all are deceptive, cruel and wish only to cause pony pain whether though battle, infiltration or simply stealing pony jobs. They receive the mostly hate and while the Equestria chapter often has to work behind the curtain the Saddle Arabia chapter has shown more success. They were excommunicated however by their mother chapter after they decided to include zebras into their hate filled speeches and actions.

All of these groups are relatively small mainly because the number of changelings in Equestria can be numbered in the thousands compared to the hundred of thousands of ponies, not to mention couple hundred griffins, zebra and diamond dog. Probably the largest changeling related group is the Institute of Changeling Management in the Griffin Empire. While the Inquisition deal in spies they take care of the day to day management of changeling related issues such as public information, running the world’s first changeling only prison and rounding up Miasma changelings to be used on the battlefield. They're more logistic based then anything physical but they have a center in all major towns usually accepting changeling accusations before passing it on to the Inquisition. They're government run and as such doesn’t really have to worry about finances and manpower, unlike our next two groups. On the other side of the world in the Free States changelings are third class citizens and that doesn’t always go down well with people. The Revolt is a group based out of Wingomi which was originally one of many pegasus only settlements until over time they became multi species. Unlike most cities diamond dogs and griffins are given equal citizenship, however changelings are used strictly for slave labor, laws being put it place that prevent one from ever being free. In fact if freed by their master they become property of the city, which then get sold back into slavery. The Revolt, quite simply, comprises of mostly changelings (although they also has ponies, dogs and griffins in its ranks, mostly foreigners disgusted by the treatment of these slaves) that exist to make life difficult for slave owners. They often organize riots, sabotage machinery, free slave and use fertilizer to produce primitive explosives. The group is clever enough to keep their numbers low within the cities walls though this makes causing any permanent damage difficult and many a secret hideout becomes the new snack lounge for the monsters outside the walls.

The Red Beast was originally a group of these changelings who established a camp in other cities to intercept slave trains and free the prisoners but as they spent more and more time away from Wingomi theses changelings began to be more concerned with the treatment of their species in the other cities. After all, what’s the point of freeing their brothers and sister if living in scrap tin huts and working ten hours a day was the best they could hope for? The group originally kept to the same strategies as the Revolt but their numbers quickly grew as they had a wider population to recruit from. Things went south however when a number of changelings, in their name, brutally murdered a factory owner and her family before being accepted into the organization instead of being punished. This started a trend of more bloody and brutal attacks, going from a spanner in the works to a knife in the back. Their name originates from this time too, as The Revolt discommunicated them while the Lord of Wingspan described the group in a speech as “A red beast” and so they began to wear it as a badge of honor before officially naming the group. While the leader of Revolt is unknown, The Red Beast is led by a mare of unknown originals simply called The Red Mare, despite her coat being white. We know she is a unicorn of average power, with a white coat and green mane but that’s all, as she has only appeared in propaganda and many argue whether she is even real or just an icon.

Epilogue

Classifying changelings as monsters could not be more wrong. Their diversity, physically, biologically, culturally and spiritually diversity make the changeling just as intelligent and cultural as any other race including ponies. Viewing them as nothing more than a foe to be conquered vastly limits what we can personally take away from the species. Despite being separated their species has flourished and while others attempt to prevent this, have continued to grow into communities full of their own rich beliefs and personality. Sure, they are often plagued with issues that we take for granted, such as racism and safety but they have accomplished more than they could together.

To decide that changelings are monster is to call ponies greedy. Many a noble and business pony suck up the bits from the poor and needy, to stuff their coffers with riches while those around them starve and suffer. These ponies are few and far between but if one was exposed ONLY to these ponies one would make that assumptions don’t you agree? While I am not suggesting we should work together with these insects, forgive them or even feel at ease I simply believe one should judge on what a person is instead of what they might look like. Hopefully, I may have convinced one or two of you while informing a lot more on the diversity, culture and mystery of the changeling.

For False Image, my one and only partner who freed me from my prejudice.