Ace in The Hoof

Chapters

Repercussions
Judgement
Alive
Kinship
Rogues
Consequences
Lessons

Repercussions

It was another peaceful day in the city of Canterlot. But it was a day filled with excitement as preparations were being made everywhere for the grand wedding that was to come tomorrow. Ponies from across the land of Equestria were gathering for the occasion. Their expressions filled glee, non-stop chatter here and there, activity running rampant with still so much to do for the tourists and shopkeepers.

That day was going to be perfect.

It was a golden opportunity for a nefarious changeling queen. The circumstances couldn't be better. She positively predicted the outcome of her plans for her and her people. While everypony was busy being distracted by the festivities, her reinforcements were standing by in the outskirts of the city. Waiting for their leader to give the signal and readying their strike against the capital, scheming their plan of attack for when the time came.

For now, the bride in disguise would enjoy the luxuries of the castle and its humble servants. The adoration and compliments given to her so willingly gave her confidence that everything was going well and according to plan. As she looked down from the balcony of her current living quarters, the expression on her face had formed a sly grin. Canterlot was in for a big surprise.

Despite an increased amount of guards patrolling the city and the barrier around it, the supposed surprise was not really as big as it was already expected. However, the real surprise was something neither side could've foretold. The overwhelming end result will decisively have one side victorious and while the other will have its empire's fate change for possibly the worst.

One week earlier

Deep within the caves of mountain ranges far, far away from the castle city were old mines left abandoned for decades. Of course, with the outer layout of these mines, nopony would bother to explore them as many would believe there is nothing of value left inside the dead interiors. In actuality, they were home to the changelings. They have made it their home for quite some time now and have grown accustomed to it after many years of hard work of altering the cave's map to their needs and liking. Covering most of the entrances with shrubbery to hide them from outsiders and leaving the inconspicuous ones known only to themselves.

It was a more productive day than usual for the hive. Most were getting ready for their queen's big mission they had been briefed about. While some will have to stay behind to keep an eye on the place and attend to their daily duties. This included the caretaker changelings to watch over the young, the overseers who keep watch over the rations and populace, and the guards to keep all else in check. This also meant the prisoners in the dungeon that were kept below ground level.

Those changelings were some of the unfortunate ones who will not even partake in the queen's plunder of gathered love for the rest of the hive to feast on after her return from the raid. Guilty of wrongdoing and various other crimes deemed by their own kind, they've been sentenced to confinement behind bars until their eventual judgement by their superiors. Within cells that have been constructed by worker changelings, fitted with slate rocks broad enough to be used as either seating or bedding. It wasn't much for comfortability. Those above could care less as there was little to no pity taken for the ones down here.

However, some wishful mercy was about to be granted to one of these prisoners. A lone changeling wandered into the dungeons to see a friend of his in these dark corners of the hive, lit only by the torches and dimly glowing green fungi on the walls. This inmate he was about to visit was once esteemed as one the best of the best. Throughout his life, from one struggle after another with scars to prove it, he was considered to be an excellent candidate for the royal guard. Considerably worthy enough to stand next to the queen herself if more time had been spent in the military. But his status, as well as rank, went progressively downhill after his fellow soldiers and authorities started questioning his motives and tactics. Refusal of undertaking certain missions and questioning his orders were the last nerve the council had and ordered him out of commission from anymore work as a soldier and put into labor work. What got him into his current position was his latest assault on two guard changelings who thought it would be wise to shame and make light of his past failures.

Some still considered him a hero for his valiant efforts for saving others from dangerous situations and donating spare love energy to those still living impoverished from hunger.

Others knew him as the "dragon of the hive" for his violent lashings under his moments of anger.

While the rest called him a traitor for his recent deeds.

He was known throughout his peers as...

"Dirge. Psst. Hey, Dirge! You awake, buddy?" The lone changeling whispered into the cell to get the attention of his friend who was laying down on the rock bed, facing towards the wall. But his voice didn't seem reach him and attempted a different manner of getting his attention. He grabbed a pebble from the ground and gently threw it towards the back of Dirge's head.

This fortunately got his attention and lazily raised his head to look back towards his visitor. "Hmm?" Dirge moaned as he got a better look at who it was that came to see him.

"Uh... hi! I just came to see how you were doing." The changeling sat down, wanting to begin a conversation with him.

"Ozzie? You shouldn't be here." As Dirge calmly finished stating, he laid his head back down to how it was seconds ago.

Ozzie looked down at the ground in a disappointed mood. "I-I know. It's just... I can't believe they wouldn't even let you go on this trip. We were supposed to go together." He sighed as he looked up to him still laying there. "How did this happen?"

Dirge felt that he didn't need to tell him about everything that's been going on in his life lately. He paused for a moment before speaking up again. "Times change along with standards."

With a perplexed but saddened look now on Ozzie's face, he looked to his side. "I'm not gonna pretend to understand everything, but..." He tried to think of something to help lighten the mood. After less than half a minute of grumbling, thinking of something uplifting to cheer up Dirge from his depressive state, Ozzie's expression lit up with a smile. "Hey! Don't feel too down! I-I'll bring back some delicious love to share with ya! It's gonna be sweeter than anything else you've ever tasted!"

But Dirge did not budge from his position. "Don't bother." He said with his same tone of voice as before.

This led Ozzie back to his previous emotion. Drooping his head and ears when he heard his response. "You're my best friend, Dirge. I hate seeing you this way..." The depression now infecting him as well, he suddenly felt a hoof to his head and then gently getting rubbed. He looked up with one eye to see Dirge standing in front of him.

"Spare no concern over me. You do what you feel is right." Dirge said with a reassuring tone this time as he removed his hoof off of Ozzie. There were small but noticeable smiles on each others' faces. "Make your elders proud." With that, he turned around, walking back to his bed, and laid back onto his original position.

Disregarding his first bit of given "advice", Ozzie still held worry over him. Making one last attempt at raising both their spirits, he exclaimed but with weaker enthusiasm in his voice:

"Once they let you outta this dump... let's go on harvesting missions together. Just like old times, okay?"

But no response came.

Feeling like there's nothing else he could do for him, Ozzie turned to leave and exit the dungeon. He couldn't stay any longer without risking getting caught by any guards on patrol. With one last look towards Dirge behind him, he whispered to him "I'll make you proud too." Picking up the pace on his walking, Ozzie left to prepare for the journey ahead of him.

With his friend's presence now gone, Dirge felt regret. Guilt taking him over once again. As much as he opposed the queen's plan to take over an entire kingdom, he couldn't stomach the thought of putting down his partner's nor the rest of the hive's faith by voicing his knowingly unpopular opinion on the whole matter. They were already living off of the low amount of rations left as it is. Most of it being consumed as investment for the huge amount of love energy the expedition was hoping to return with.

Having nothing else to do inside his cell all day, the only thing Dirge could do was sleep away his time while trying to shut off his thoughts on memories still lingering in his mind. At least until his sentence was decided and carried out.

Six months prior

On a small village settlement miles away from the hive, with the moon shining luminously in the night sky, a team of changelings lurking in the shadows were currently undergoing a stealth operation. To them, it was just another mission. Impersonate a set of townsfolk, retrieve the love energy from the specified targets, and leave no traces of their tracks before heading back.

Meanwhile, another group of changelings on top of a hill within viewing distance of the village lay waiting for their next set of orders while watching their comrades from afar. One of them standing taller than rest was in charge of overlooking the progress and succession of the mission.

"Squad leader!" A scout unit approached them from their side. "The perimeter is secure. We're clear to move in!"
Their leader turned his attention from the scout and onto the village. He scanned the view to confirm his claim. After a short moment of looking around their surroundings, he felt the confidence to issue his next order.

"Dirge, sir. We're ready." The changelings behind him casted their magic and shifted into their designated forms. An orange mare with a green and mint colored mane with pigtails and green eyes. One stallion with cream colored fur, long brown mane, and blue eyes. Another a with yellow coat, short blue mane, and brown eyes. All of them earth ponies with apples in their cutie marks.

Dirge looked over their disguises for any inconsistencies. To make sure there weren't any holes left in their hooves or their eyes didn't remain unchanged. He was training the rookies after all. It wasn't his forte, but somebody had to do it.

"Before you begin, I want to make something clear." Dirge stood in front of them with a stern display of authority. "We've been on this mission for several days now. I will not have it botched with less than acceptable results and have my time wasted for nothing." As he affirmed his statement, he closed in face to face range of the disguised stallion standing in the middle of the group. "Am I clear on this?" Glaring at him, waiting for his response.

He nodded nervously after a slow gulp.

Dirge could sense their fear. True, it was a sign of respect from the lower ranks, but he didn't want them going into this mission preoccupied with thoughts of punishments, distracted by fear. In a more composed manner, he made another statement to calm their nerves and reassure their own confidence.

"Accomplishment of this mission with a successful outcome... and you may look forward to a promotion and nourishment in your bellies."

The group, upon hearing this, gasped with delight and saluted to their squad leader to show their now increased self-esteem.

"For the hive!" They said in unison.

Dirge gave a small grin to their acts. "And remember to stay in character." Turning to his scout still standing by, he now gave out his next command. "Have Team A rendezvous back to this area." Then pointing his hoof towards the other group now ready for action. "Team B..."

They motioned their flanks back and stretched themselves as if ready to pounce.

Dirge waved his hoof towards the village. "Move out." With that, they ran down from the hill and into secluded areas. Still remaining incognito until the right moment.

While supervising their movements, Dirge was suddenly interrupted by a shout behind him, calling for his attention. Viewing back, he saw two of his scouts with what looked like a pony in their custody.

"Squad leader! We found this one skulking around behind a tree!" The changeling said as the pony was struggling to free himself from the hooves gripping him. This stallion had a dark crimson colored coat and short black mane and tail.

"Please! I-I didn't mean nothin'! I swear I won't tell nopony if ya'll lemme go! Just--!!" A hoof was planted on his mouth before he could finish with his plea. "Hnnggmmp mmph mmmmph!"

"Quiet, you fool!" The changeling shushing him to prevent him from making anymore noise. "What should we do with him, sir?" Asking in a slightly sinister tone, he grabbed a stick near him and pointed it towards the pony's throat. "Silence him for good, perhaps? We wouldn't want him squeal to his friends and jeopardize all we've worked for, now do we?"

Dirge raised his hoof in protest of this suggestion. "Stay your hoof! We're not here to cause any casualties!" Lowering his hoof, he countered by making a point. "Besides, who's going to believe him when he tries to convince the village that their residents aren't really who they say they are? He has no proof and I doubt these ponies have the intellectuality to even process this witness' visual testimony."

With their hostage still trying to break free while making muffled noises under his breaths, the stick that was pointing at his throat was lowered away from him.

Dirge turned his attention back to his soldiers below. "Merely knock him unconscious and drag him away from here. Then hide the body. This should be simple enough, even for you."

The changeling, however, did not feel satisfied with his new orders. He still believed this pony was a great risk to the mission. Not to mention it wasn't unheard of for changelings who felt this way to 'dispose' prisoners like this, for similar reasons.

Having the stick still on hoof, it was raised to strike the skin below. The other changeling still grappling the pony noticed this. "Hey, what're you--?"

Dirge, still on watch, perked up his ears as he heard unsettling sounds behind him.

"Grrrrraaahh!!" The stallion was soon gasping for air and coughing blood after his throat was stabbed. His grip now loosened, he dropped to the ground.

"What do you think you're doing!?" Shocked and upset at this turn of events, Dirge angrily looked at the scout who was holding a bloody stick. "Why did you--!?"

"I had to!" Exclaimed the now stained in blood changeling. "I couldn't let this one just get away and ruin everything!" Along with making his own angry expression. "Have you gone soft!?" He added with a tone of disappointment.

Gritting his teeth, growling, Dirge threw a punch at the changeling. Knocking him off his hooves and a small distance away. "I will NOT tolerate insubordination! I gave you a direct order to dispose of him carefully and you disobeyed in favor of your own foolish execution!"

Rubbing his cheek from the pain, the changeling staggered to get up and looked at his leader. Wondering why his commander couldn't comprehend this used method when it was already done before. "B-but...! It should be excusable! In fact, I've once heard--"

"Excusable? Have you no regard for the life of others?" Dirge sternly said. Now gazing at the corpse still flowing with blood. "Clearly not. But while you're under MY command, you will follow my EVERY order without question! And I expect you to do so to the letter."

He had to change his directives in order to handle this new situation. Trying to calm his mood as to not let his current emotions disrupt his flow of thinking, he issued all scouts still under his presence a new task. Planting his hoof to his face then sounding off a rough sigh. "Damn it. Just... dispose of it quickly. I don't care if you have to pluck every single blade of grass stained with blood, you will clear these tracks before any pony can find this mess."

So, with their clean up duty now in session, the few changelings left unhappily nodded and gathered around the body. Lifting and carrying it away into the nearby forest.

As for Dirge, he looked to the ground, sighing, and closed his eyes. He had gone on many missions before. Experienced a number of losses, both expectantly and ones uncalled for. But each time it happened, he still couldn't bear them. Whether changeling or otherwise. As much as he tried to prevent needless deaths when he had the chance, all he could do was hide his shame under his everyday, somber face.

"I'm sorry."

Present Day

Tossing and turning in his sleep, Dirge's attempts at peaceful slumber were in vain. Now arising from his aching back, yawning as he got up. Still putting up with the occasional nightmares plaguing his dreams, he found it pointless to lay back down. It didn't help that his mattress was made of stone.

It felt like weeks had gone by and there was still no word of the queen's return. Sitting wide awake on his bed, Dirge could sense the hive still feeling emptier than usual. They must have sent search parties to look for Chrysalis and the other changelings that were part of the attack. He could only hope that Ozzie was alright as it was all he could do under his powerless spot.

"Hey!" Said the prisoner next to Dirge's cell. "When are we getting some grub!? I'm starving over here!" He yelled out as he shook the bars.

"Pipe down!" Said the guard in traditional blue armor approaching them. "You're just going to have to hold out a while longer."

"This just ain't fair!" The inmate protested. "Why do we gotta hold out while the brass 'n' grunts get all the food!? Seriously!"

"Well..." The guard began sarcastically. "If you hadn't done what you'd done, maybe you wouldn't be down here." He said bluntly.

"Oh, screw you! I coulda been deserving of all that if I hadn't got caught!" The prisoner expressed, irritated and crossed his hooves as he looked away from him.

"Umbrae, any word yet?" Dirge asked the guard as his attention was now on him.

Umbrae sighed. "Listen, I just said to--"

Dirge cleared his throat loudly. Using his head to point above himself.

"Oh." Umbrae looked away for a second before looking back at Dirge. "No. Nothing. As far as I know, they're still searching."

"Then, could it possibly mean they've...?"

Both of them looked down and became worried.

"Let's hope not." Umbrae said. Trying to dismiss the thought of what could be the worst scenario.

It didn't need to be said. Something had obviously gone wrong.

Author's Note

Since this is my first time writing a fanfiction or anything else like it for the matter, I would appreciate any helpful criticism to better improve the story and dialogue for later chapters.

Thanks and I hope you enjoy.

Judgement

It was the middle of the day, the sun shining high in the sky with no cloud in sight. It would normally be a fine day for most, but for a certain set of stragglers, the warm weather and humidity was only working against them.

“We’re almost there. Keep up the pace!” A changeling drone, being part of a search party that had been sent out some time ago, had yelled to his group behind him. Escorting the remaining army that had been left over from the attack on Canterlot back to the hive. Of course, Queen Chrysalis herself was a part of that army. Looking dirty and disheveled. Now tailing along between them. They were all fatigued from not just their injuries, but their continuing hunger and exhaustion from their trek across perilous areas throughout Equestrian lands.

It had been a long and arduous journey, but their destination was only minutes away. One of the drones leading the group, among the several who still had the most stamina left, rushed ahead inside the main entrance to signal the other available changelings to come to the aid of those incoming. Complying with his cry for help, the soldiers and medics that stood on standby expectantly for days now, had readied themselves by the entryway.

Arriving inside, much talk had been started with the survivors. Asking if they had succeeded with the queen’s plan. But none of them were wearing looks of satisfaction nor pride on their faces. Merely wincing at the question in general. Some just ignored the question outright, walking away with their heads down in defeat. While other changelings growled at their inquirers, angered by the thought of any reminder of their recent failure.

As all the other changelings were being taken elsewhere in the hive for treatment, Chrysalis was walking towards her personal chambers with two royal guards in tow and a few other changelings that were to take priority in helping to deal with whatever matters she may have. Whether it was tending to her wounds or her debriefing on the recent events. The council was still waiting for further news to report to the rest of the hive.

Umbrae, on his way to the gathering of soldiers and the source of all the noise at the moment, noticed the queen walking by. She didn’t look too happy, but this didn’t surprise him. Any changeling attempting to speak with her was ignored and shooed away by her accompanying guard. He took note of this and proceeded to the main hall.

Upon getting there, the whole area was bustling with changelings running and flying from place to place in a hurry. Trying to search for the nearest soldier, he was bumped into a few times by others. Apparently, being in a rush, they didn’t have enough time to watch where they were going and look behind them. After passing through busy corridors, he had finally reached the front entrance.

Approaching the soldiers still on standby, Umbrae cautiously walked up to one of them further away from the rest, preparing for the worst.

“So? What’s the word?” Umbrae asked.

Slowly turning his head, the soldier replied. “What do you think happened?” His eyes now glaring. “Hasn’t it been made obvious enough?” Turning around to face Umbrae behind him.

“Better to receive the official word than not being in the know.” Umbrae said, not trying to anger him with more of his curiosity, but it seemed inevitable now.

“We LOST!” The soldier exclaimed profoundly. “And not only that, there are still others struggling to make it back! Some may not even return!” The soldier turned around to where he was facing, shaking his head in disappointment. “All we can do now is recuperate from our losses and do whatever the queen orders.”

Umbrae sighed. This wasn’t the best news he had heard all day and he could easily predict things going further downhill from here. Now inflicted with doubt, he only had a couple other things in mind that needed answering.

“What of the rest? How many have made it back?”

“There are some who have fallen behind and are still headed here as we speak. Our scouts are guiding them along to help them go undetected from any of those damn Canterlot guards who may be tracking us down now.” The soldier looked away dejected. “But like I said… not every one of us will make it back…”

“How badly did the invasion go? Where did it go wrong?” Asked Umbrae, now looking concerned.

The soldier only took one last quick look at Umbrae before turning back again. “Hmph. Why don’t you go ask the queen yourself if you’re so curious? I’m sure she’ll be delighted to fill you in on all the details.”

Unamused with his suggestion, Umbrae turned to leave as he felt there was nothing left to say, to now return to his post and inform Dirge on what he had learned. He had to pass on the idea of asking Chrysalis directly of what really occurred and ask elsewhere for more info on the situation. Preferably from somebody else who wouldn’t raise tensions from a now sensitive subject.

Meanwhile, within her personal confines with royal guards on duty standing by the entrance, Queen Chrysalis was laying down on a bedding of cocoon specifically weaved for her. Looking sour and grunting from her injuries currently being treated by her drones, fidgeting from the pain.

“I’m telling you... victory was within my grasp! Had it been successfully imminent as I had planned, we would be rejoicing on the streets of Canterlot!” She raised her head as she spoke out.

“Your Majesty, please be still. We’ve not finished examining your wounds yet. Do not strain yourself more than you already have.” A female changeling calmly advised her as she inspected her torso and hind legs. Applying small pints of green medicinal gel-like substance on any cuts or cracks on Chrysalis’ chitin from a small sphere-shaped cocoon next to her then sealing the wounds with bandages. Other assistant changelings were also maintaining her appearance by picking off any leaves and mud from her mane and polishing the shell on her back with a wet rag cloth piece.

“Had that little brat not intervened…” Chrysalis grit her teeth and growled loudly at the thought of what happened. “I grew careless!” She slammed her hoof on the ground, her attendants flinching at the action. “I briefly take my eyes off them to revere in my glory, and within moment’s notice, the tables had turned on us! All our forces and efforts… gone! Wiped away, just like that!” Waving her hoof in a quick straight line as she finished her sentence.

Two changelings, members of the council and currently in charge of assessing the situation, were standing in front of her. Gathering information from Chrysalis’ story and the outcome of her campaign.

“So, our endeavours have proved fruitless then? Repelled by a blast of love energy, no less.” The changeling said bluntly. Staring at his queen unpleasantly. “This doesn’t bode well for the current deficit of the hive. Due to the investments made into waging that attack, I’m afraid we’ve fallen short on rations and many changelings will, unfortunately, not make it by the end of the month.”

Chrysalis stared right back. “And I suppose you cretins have nothing better to do than to chastise me for my shortcomings?”

“Actually, we were wondering what you were planning to do to make up for this. As it stands, sacrifices will be unavoidable at this rate. Even if you were to increase the flow of harvesting, we still face the problem of insufficient units to take on such jobs. Many will be out of commission for some time.”

Chrysalis faced the ground and tapped a hoof to her chin. Pondering on her own thoughts now. “Hmmm... I’ve done some thinking during my trip back. You’ve made your points clear and I have indeed thought about making some changes in rule to have a better handle on our troops. Not just to circumvent our current crisis, but to improve our chances of survival for the future.”

“Then we await your further orders, my queen.” The council member took a bow before her.

“It’s time we undergo new regulations.” Chrysalis rose from her position. Startling her assistants as they were still busy tending to her. “But first things first: Our leniency with those not currently contributing to the hive will be dramatically reduced. I’ve no patience for those draining our resources and giving nothing back!”

“If that’s the case, then you may want to primarily divert your attention to the prisoners still serving their time. What do you wish to do with them?” Asked the second changeling, rubbing his hoof beneath his chin and arching an eye.

“I’m glad you asked because I was just thinking of taking care of them first.” Chrysalis said deviously, walking away from the room.

“And what of Dirge?” This time, the changeling asked out of concern.

Chrysalis paused. She nearly left the room until she stopped upon hearing that name. “What about him?”

“Surely you don’t plan on disposing redeemable units?”

She narrowed her eyes and grit her teeth in anger. “Guard!” She yelled out.

A royal changeling guard in green armor that stood next to the entrance entered the room and bowed in front of her. “Yes, Your Majesty?” He said, graciously addressing her.

“Summon that abomination to my throne! You know which one!” She said as she trotted off. “It’s time I dealt with him personally.”

“I see.” Dirge said. “I knew it was a suicide mission, but pride comes before the fall...”

“From what I’ve seen so far, the whole hive seems to be in distress. No matter who I asked, I was shrugged off. None of them seemed willing to give me a straight answer. Just nothing but vague replies.” Umbrae said. Looking stressed while leaning on the wall in front the cell before him.

“What about Ozzie? Any sign of him?” Dirge looked to him, worried.

Umbrae slowly shook his head. “I’m sorry, Dirge. I haven’t seen your friend anywhere. He may still be trying to make it back here with another separate group, but that’s as good as my guess is.”

Dirge let out a long and rough sigh. Placing his head on a steel bar and rubbing his eyes with a hoof. “It’s only going to get worse from here on out.”

“You’re telling me. Bet the captain’s going to make all of us work overtime.”

After their conversation had faded and they were left with a feeling of woe, a set of hoofsteps in the distance was heard. Umbrae stood up to see who it was. The image was drawing closer and upon further inspection, it finally became familiar to him.

“Speaking of…” Umbrae saluted at the incoming guard.

The royal guard, now standing in front of Umbrae, gave him a brief nod. Then afterwards, looked to his left to see Dirge standing there. However, he was not making eye contact.

“I see you’re looking well.” The guard said with an abrasive tone.

Dirge knew exactly who it was. It was none other than his adoptive father, Onyx. He was always cold and strict with him, but this was mostly to keep him disciplined and in control. Overall, it was he who taught his son how to fight and encourage him to do his best to serve the military faction of the hive and serve his queen to the best of his abilities. But today, he was in no mood for nonsense or excuses. Less so than usual. From neither his subordinates or his own son.

“Open the gate.” Onyx commanded Umbrae to do so.

“Right away, sir.” Umbrae said before leaving to fetch the keys.

Finally looking at him face to face, Dirge spoke up. “What is this?” He asked solemnly.

“The queen has asked for you. And let me make this known; I will not have anyone provoking her with any meaningless drivel. Especially not from you.” Onyx said as he glared and pointed his spear to the tip of Dirge’s snout. “Is that understood?”

Without budging, Dirge gazed at the sharp end facing him and then towards his father. “You haven’t changed.”

“Don’t get cocky with me, boy.” The spear was now lifted away from Dirge. “If you have any sense of honor left in you, you’ll face whatever punishment you have coming your way with dignity.”

As Captain Onyx finished his short discussion, Umbrae returned with a keyring jingling in his mouth. Taking them with his hoof, he slid the appropriate key into the keyhole and opened the gate.

“Out.” Onyx demanded.

Dirge looked to Umbrae, but all he responded with was a shake of his head and a shrug. Then momentarily exiting the cell and glanced at his father. His upsetting expression still overlooking him.

“Follow. Don’t slow down for anything.” Onyx said as he left with Dirge walking by his side.

As they made their way to the queen’s throne room, Dirge observed his surroundings. There were changelings idling about, appearing tired or impatient for one reason or another. Some had noticed him passing by, taking glimpses at him and then returning to their business, paying no mind. While there were a few who hissed at his presence. Ignoring the latter, he continued on with his stroll.

Further along the way, from the corner of his eye, Dirge spotted what could possibly have been his missing friend. A changeling sporting a spiky, grey mohawk was sitting by his lonesome self. Without hesitation and stopping in his tracks, Dirge called out to this changeling in hopes of revealing his identity by facing his direction.

“Ozzie? Ozzie!”

The figure turned around, but unfortunately, it was not him. His eye color was a different shade of blue and his fangs were of different size. Dirge was saddened by this. His mouth slightly agape, he was disappointed he couldn’t speak to his friend for possibly the last time.

Suddenly, Dirge was hit on the side of his head with the blunt end of a spear. Shutting his eyes quickly while grunting at the pain.

“Move it!” Onyx yelled at him.

Groaning, Dirge proceed with his father to their destination.

A lengthy trek later, after what seemed to be the longest minutes of passing through depressing scenery, they had at last made it to the hall leading into the throne room. The two passed through a checkpoint with the other changeling guards saluting to signify their clearance to enter.

Once inside, they were now treading on old and rather worn lavender carpet. It stretched out to the stone seat at the end of the throne, with Queen Chrysalis currently positioned there. Large emerald colored crystals behind the throne were placed there in decoration in an attempt to make the interior seem more ‘regal’.

At the moment, Chrysalis was discussing some form of matter with two non-guard changelings. Noticing Dirge and his father approaching her, her expression became bitter as she eyed the former. Before she could get to him, she dismissed her current audience.

“Hold that thought. For now, leave us.”

The two changelings glanced behind them to see the queen’s new guest. Acknowledging that their business was now postponed, they took their bow and turned to leave the room. Captain Onyx now taking his spot beside the queen. Leaving Dirge standing in front of her.

“You...” Chrysalis began, as she became even more disgusted.

Dirge hadn’t changed his gloomy appearance in quite a while. Not feeling the confidence to look directly at his ruler before him, he slowly blinked before bowing his head with the same pace.

“You’ve any idea why I called you here this time?”

“Not for a pardon, I presume.”

“Indeed. In fact, I’ve given quite enough of those out to you already. Now onto the point: I believe you’ve spent enough time in the dungeon and you’ve wasted even more of mine. I’m a bit surprised you’ve managed to last this long down below with restrictions in place. With the limited amount of rations used to keep you and the rest of the prisoners sustained. But effective immediately, those who have already served a certain period of time with crimes I deem worthy of punishment will carry out specified sentences.”

Chrysalis trotted towards Dirge, his head still down. To force his attention onto her, she placed a hoof under his chin and tilted his head upwards. Now with each of them only mere inches away.

“And I’ve just the penalty for you.” Tauntingly, she grinned and chuckled under her breath.

Softly grinding in his mouth, Dirge put his head down again as Chrysalis distanced herself away from him.

“I’m through investing anymore resources on you.” Her malevolence had displayed again. “Since all you’ve shown to do in the recent past was defying your orders, with excuses to shift them distinctly to your liking, and letting your superiors down, time and time again! And for what!?” She forcibly struck her forehoof to the ground, now irritated. “Because you felt it wasn’t ‘right’? Because you felt morally conflicted with your mission? Despicable! Such virtues are reserved only for the nobility of ponykind!”

Hearing this brought recollections of the details with missions involving high value targets. It wasn’t everyday soldiers would be given these assignments, but when they did, they would only be chosen for those with the utmost skill to carry them out. Apparently, Dirge had qualified for the jobs but refused for personal reasons.

In objection to her statement, Dirge rebutted. “I’ve already made my intentions clear before. I’m no assassin. It’s not within my nature to--”

“Silence!” Chrysalis interrupted.

Onyx, who was still observing Dirge, scowled at him.

“You seem to have forgotten about your little incidents all those years ago. Who do you think pardoned you for those heinous crimes? Excusing your actions as just ‘natural behavior’?”

Dirge vaguely recalled about those events, but wanted to leave them alone as nothing more than water under the bridge. Repressing those memories, however, was another story.

“You showed so much promise back then. If you had just kept up your efforts admirably like you had done so with your first set of missions, you would’ve been a shining example for the rest of the hive today.” Chrysalis had then huffed upsettingly. “But just the fact that I couldn’t bring you along to Canterlot just proves how much of a liability you’ve become!”

“Then why choose me? As far as you’ve been concerned, I could’ve been just like every other changeling had I been conditioned normally like the rest!” Dirge exclaimed. “Why do you talk as if I’m some special case?”

Chrysalis laughed in a maniacal manner. “Oh, please! Don’t tell me you’re still so naive as to believe you’re just like ‘every other changeling’!”

“What’s so amusing?” Dirge looked up at her confused.

“Have you not noticed throughout your life the differences in your performance compared to the average soldier? Or how your physique is taller than even your father’s? Though I’m surprised he hasn’t filled you in on all the details by now!” She said as she batted an eye to Onyx beside her.

Dirge also took notice of him. His expression still remained stern as ever.

“You see, it was I who tasked him with the responsibility of raising you. Assigning him with you when you were still a young nymph. His history of prowess in the field of combat and his overall competence in his years of service to me proved him worthy enough to take on this duty. He may not be one for caretaking, but he understood the importance of my request, so of course, he had no qualms about it. To train you to your fullest potential!”

Dirge wanted to say something, but couldn’t form the words in his mind as he was in disbelief as to what he was listening to.

“And as to ‘why’, you ask? Long before you hatched out of your egg, I decided to try a little experiment. Though my desired results couldn’t be accomplished without trial and error. So, when I sought a set of eggs from the hatchery, yours happened to be among them. Along with a group of knowledgeable changelings to aid me in my project, my goal was to create the most flawless warrior, under whatever realistic means I was limited to. Those specific eggs had incubated the most ideal but uncommon breed of our kind: The alpha males. Nominated as born leaders.”

Chrysalis continued with Dirge now holding a look of curiosity. “Sure, you may have already seen various out and about in packs or serving in the royal guard, but they can’t compare to what I wanted… a true spectacle! One that would surpass them all! However, not all of them made it through the tests. In order to achieve ‘you’, a definite amount of love energy had to be absorbed into the eggs. Too much and they had died before they could hatch or suffered deformities. Too little and they hatched normally, just with extra supplement to last them an extra day or two.”

“Those who made it after hatching and eventually nearing their pubescent stages were also assigned to formidable, adoptive caretakers like you had been. But when I heard reports that some of them were already displaying flaws, I grew distressed. They were already showing signs of inferiority in their builds! Others had even died during the training process! After thorough investigations, they seemingly passed out from exhausting too much energy during their exercises! Their energy reserves were evidently smaller than even the typical drone!”

She calmed herself a little as she narrowed her eyes on her once, esteemed subject. “But no… not you. Where they failed, you succeeded. My hopes for obtaining my own, reliable trump had reignited. Or at least the closest I’ve gotten to such a result...”

As abnormal as this information sounded, Dirge was appalled after hearing this abrupt news. It was hard for him to take it all at once. His whole life, he believed he was a normal changeling like everyone else in the hive, but with additional training to become just another guard in the ranks.

“I should’ve known your imperfections were contained from the inside. Showing mercy to your enemies... attacking your own brethren… disgraceful!” Chrysalis then briefly showed a small sign of sadness. “Where did everything start to fall apart…?” Then quickly regaining her former disgust. “But enough is enough! You’ve betrayed my expectations for the last time!”

Dirge, now revolted, had his curiosity take the better of him again. “Why… why are you telling me this now? Of all times?”

“Hmph. There was never any reason to. You can have this occupy your conscience instead of any pitiful remorse you may have! I can at least grant you this last bit of mercy before you die.”

Chrysalis raised her voice and hoof towards the exit. “Take him to the execution site!” She started to trot off and take her leave. “I’ll be there momentarily to watch his downfall.” She paused beside Dirge giving him another glare. “Literally.”

As Chrysalis left the room, Onyx followed behind. Halfway out, he was stopped by his son calling out behind him.

“Why did you never say anything!?” He said angrily.

“I’ve no obligation to tell you anything. From this moment on, any shred of responsibility I may have had over you has been nullified. You want to be ‘just like every other changeling’? So be it. As that’s all you are to me now.” Onyx said bluntly as he continued to walk out.

Left alone to his thoughts, Dirge hung his head in shame. Another guard alongside motioned to him. Escorting him out to the appointed place to meet his fate.

High atop a cliff with a rockslide underneath and a raging river even further down, stood a wide audience of changelings. In front of them were an assembled group of soldiers and prisoners at the edge, with Chrysalis behind them observing the event.

She gave out a short speech to those watching. “Let these prisoners serve as an example for each of you! Those who would throw away everything I’ve given to them and work against our causes will share the same demise!”

Chrysalis then pointed with her head towards the cliff, signaling the guards holding a prisoner between them with their hooves to be the first to be ejected. Dirge recognized this particular changeling as it was the same one who shared a cell next to his. His hooves were cuffed in rope and so was his torso around his wings to prevent him from flying away.

Pleading with the guards, he tried to push back with his hind legs as he was dragged away.

“Hey, hey! Y-you can’t do this! All I did was take a bit of supplies! Nothing more! Honest! Please don’t--!!”

With his efforts in vain, he was set down and quickly bucked from the back. Screaming on the way down until he made a distant splash into the river below.

“Let nature deal with the corpse.” Said Chrysalis as she looked down before turning her attention to Dirge, also being held with the same bindings, sans for any on his already flightless wings. “So… how do you want to go about this? Shall I get some relaxants for you to make the experience easier?” She said sarcastically.

There was no turning back. Dirge no longer held regards for his own life nor the incoming agony. Taking his now ex-father’s advice, he steeled himself to embrace the inevitable.

“Deal with me as you please.”

“Finally something I can agree with!” Chrysalis grinned.

Dirge was poked with a spear from a guard behind him. He began to walk to the end of the cliff and as he got there, he looked back to see and hear chants and hissing from the crowd. Onyx standing amongst them to keep them under control. Cries of displeasure and anger were spoken against him.

“Rot in Tartarus, ya pony lover!”

“Get outta, freak!”

“Justice!”

“Jump already!”

Taking another last look at the crowd at one opposite side, he saw a group of changelings who weren’t eager to see him go through this. Umbrae was also there. Along with them, their expressions were of grief and despair. Some looked away or held their eyes shut. They remained silent and did not want to protest their oppositions for fear of earning their queen’s ire.

Sighing, Dirge looked down the precipice. He made one last thought before closing his eyes.

‘Ozzie… I’ll be seeing you soon, my friend...’

And with that, he felt a push behind him and plunged to his doom.

Making contact onto the rough surface within seconds, he tumbled down as he bounced slightly between each hit on the slide down. Grunting in pain as he did so. Shortly afterwards falling off the rockslide and splashing into the rapids below.

The river being quite deep and cold, Dirge surfaced from the water. Only to sink again. Then immediately surfacing with a big gasp for air, he paddled with his binded hooves in failed attempts to keep himself afloat. He tried to cough out the water stuck in his throat. Choking as his breath was running short while being swept away from the strong current. Crashing into large rocks along the way.

The greatest danger had yet to come, as he was flowing towards a waterfall. With nothing to hold onto and his efforts to swim to dry land were too late, he plummeted from a great height and into the pool below.

Raising his head from the surface, Dirge kept submerging in and out of the water. The oxygen in his lungs running dangerously low, he sank to the bottom. Gurgling the last bits of air as bubbles rising to the top. His strength weakened, he looked above and stretched his hooves upwards in a desperate attempt to escalate. To no avail. His vision blurring and his consciousness steadily fading, his last sights was of the sun shining brightly on the reflection of the water and a dark substance coming from somewhere out of him. He couldn’t tell what it was or where it came from. It didn’t matter anymore.

It was all over.

Pain.

Numb.

Cold.

These were the feelings Dirge slowly awoke to as he tried to open his eyes. When he came to, he felt light as a feather. But still inexplicably uncomfortable. Looking around him, he found himself in some sort of twilight scenery. Floating in midair, no less.

Whether this was a dream, purgatory, or somewhere deep within the recesses of his mind, he wasn’t sure. He tried to stretch his hooves down to try and touch any kind of ground. Surprisingly there was, as the floor below was made of very shallow water. Almost as if he was standing on top of the liquid itself.

He started to walk, rather slowly, to get a hang of the gravity in this mysterious realm. Each step he made was like a drip in a puddle. As he grew used to it, he stopped for a minute to examine his surroundings. This place stretched out endlessly. Not a soul in sight. Pure nothingness.

Resuming his stroll as he tried to find any trace of life, he heard voices. Echoing from the back of his head. They all sounded familiar. As they were getting louder, Dirge stopped in his tracks, shut his eyes, and put his hooves to his ears. Shaking his head to try and silence the voices.

Shortly after letting go of his head, they had not been completely hushed. Instead, they became more audible and comprehensible this time. When he opened his eyes, he was surrounded by ghosts. Transparent illusions of his past. They were all wandering about, ignoring Dirge as if he wasn’t there.

He curiously walked among them. The eerie fact of the matter was that he knew every one of them. Nobody was a stranger. Then it became apparent to him that these were all individuals who shaped his life in some way or another.

Soldiers, guards, drones, old acquaintances, Umbrae, Onyx, and even Chrysalis were among these projections. He heard them talk as he passed them by.

“Well done, Dirge. You should be ready by now for your first mission.”

“As Captain of the Royal Guard, I hereby promote you to…”

“That was no easy feat. He must be something else.”

“Hey, good job out there.”

“Why would you do that!? Can’t you tell the difference between friend or foe?”

“What do you think about us starting our own hive? Let’s runaway together! I’ll be the queen and you can be my loyal subject!”

“Truly magnificent, isn’t he? My ace will soon be ready…”

Quickly passing through the Chrysalis clone, Dirge paused at a changeling he never thought he’d see again. It was his mother. Or rather, the closest thing he had to one. She was also his caretaker. It had been a long time since he last saw her, but they both disappeared from each other’s lives a long time ago.

“She may be harsh sometimes, but our queen means well. I know you’ll grow up to make us all proud someday.”

Then she spoke the words that had been engraved into his mind. The ones he tried to uphold throughout his life.

“No matter what they try to teach you, you must never take the life of another. For there is no love to be gained from the dead.”

Hearing these words again brought Dirge on the brink of tears. Knowing he had failed before to hold on to these lines, he turned away from her. Disgusted with himself.

“I’m… sorry…”

He sniffed. About to begin his crying when he suddenly heard sobbing somewhere else in the distance. He looked around for the source of the noise when he saw a lone changeling sitting by itself.

Walking towards it, he began to think it was his supposed dead friend, Ozzie. As he approached him, he said his name quietly in hopes of recognizing him. Oblivious to Dirge behind him.

“Ozzie?”

He put a hoof on his back, until finally, he turned around to face his friend. But when he did, Dirge’s eyes grew wide as he gasped. The background scenery faded away into a midnight black.

“Why, Dirge?”

This was indeed Ozzie, but there was something horribly wrong with him. His eye sockets were empty. Dripping with tears of blood. He had two sets of voices. His regular tone was accompanied by something crudely demonic.

“Why didn’t you warn me?”

Dirge was taking steps back while this Ozzie was slowly walking up to him.

“Why didn’t you tell me I would die in the attack? I would’ve listened.”

“N-no… get back!” Dirge said. His body now felt as heavy as lead.

“I thought we were friends, Dirge! Aren’t friends supposed to look out for each other?”

“Enough!” Shutting his eyes and looking away, Dirge swung his hoof to strike Ozzie. When he felt no physical contact with the body, he looked to where Ozzie was standing. He had vanished in a cloud of smoke. Upon checking his hoof, it was stained with blood. The same with his other.

The blood was still fresh as a drop of it fell to the darkened ground he now sat on. As Dirge became horrified with what he had just witnessed, what surprised him more was the sudden image that appeared before him.

Three dead changelings lying on a pool of blood. All of them mutilated in their own way.

Dirge shuddered in fear. Beginning to hyperventilate as he cried out in denial.

“No… I didn’t mean… I never meant to… I’m not…!”

A random voice from behind screamed at him in accusation.

“MURDERER!!”

“No, I’m not!” Dirge said. Though he noticed his voice sounded more childlike.

Before he could come to his senses, they were soon being dulled. His vision turning white and a ringing in his ears getting louder.

“Please... not again...”

“The day that changed me…”

It was just another productive day in the hive. Every changeling was tending to their own business. Even back then, everyone had to learn about conserving their energy to last them as long as it possibly could. Granted, it wasn’t as bad as it was presently. It was a time when ponies were still blissfully unaware of the presence of infiltrators. Making it easier to gather food from love harvesting.

A young Dirge was walking by through the busy corridors of the caves. He was heading back to his caretaker’s place after another rough session of training with his father. They were getting harder and harder with each lesson. He had to give up on the idea of them getting any easier. However, he would never hear the end of it if he was caught complaining about it.

Exiting on the other side of the tunnel as he was strolling by, he stopped to see the usual, unpleasant sight. Another young nymph was being picked on by a few bullies harassing him for the same, detestable excuses. They wanted him to fork over his bag of food.

“Come on, Ozzball! Hoof it over! We ain’t got all day!” The one in the middle demanded.

“Y-you can’t have it! My nanny made it just for me!” The young one said. Quivering a little.

“Aww, does your nanny also tuck you into your cocoon and kiss you goodnight before sleeping?” The three laughed altogether.

“Just go away and leave me alone!” He pleaded with them.

“Oh, screw this!” The tall one tried to grab the bag from him, but the little one already had his grip on it. They were both now in a tug of war.

“Stop it!”

“Just give it, you little twerp!”

As they pulled from opposite sides, the bag ripped open. Spilling its contents all over the ground.

“Hey, fish steaks! My favorite! But… they’re all dirty now…” The bully on the left said.

“Grrr…! Look what you did, you moron!” The middle one yelled at the young victim. “Now you’re gonna have to pay for that!” He grabbed the nymph by the horn. Forcing him to start crying.

Dirge had just about enough of this farce. Fed up with their shenanigans, he marched towards the vandals before the situation could get worse.

“Hey! What did I tell you idiots before about picking on those less fortunate than you?!”

The three had taken notice of this. The leader in the middle of the group turned his attention to Dirge. Temporarily leaving his current victim for a moment, he stepped towards him. Not looking too happy about being called an idiot.

He closed in on Dirge’s face. Narrowing his eyes at him. “What did you call me?”

Dirge copied the bully’s actions. “Leave. Now.” He said threateningly.

The bully didn’t budge, however. Instead, he showed a smirk. He threw a punch to Dirge’s nose and then his left cheek. Flinching from the hits, he tried to shield his face from anymore hits until he was bucked a few feet away.

“No one tells me what to do!” The bully retorted. “Get outta here, loser!”

The three laughed while Dirge lay knocked down.

“What a pushover!”

“Weakling!”

They taunted him. After they finished with their remarks, they resumed their bullying on the nymph. Who was now crying out for help.

While dragging himself up for the gravel, Dirge came to a realization. There were changelings all around the hive starving. Families in need of help. And all these punks could think of was to waste their time antagonizing the lesser citizens. Nobody was willing to break up the situation. To everyone else passing by, it was merely another occasion. He knew his father wouldn’t stand for this.

Watching them as he got up, he felt an emotion in him swelling up by the second.

Anger.

Outright infuriated, Dirge bared his fangs and snarled. Throwing away any remaining chances of reasoning with them to diffuse the situation, along with losing his grip on his sanity and the lessons he was taught, he was focused on only one solution:

Killing them.

He felt he would be doing the hive a favor by ridding these three for good. It would be less mouths to feed after all. With this in mind, Dirge picked up a rock big and heavy enough to crush bone. He paced himself on his hind legs towards the bullies with the rock held above his head.

A shadow slowly approaching them unnoticed, the three continued their harassment until…

“Hey! I bet I could make him squeal like a pig if I pulled hard enough! You guys wanna take bets on who--”

He was knocked unconscious to the ground with a bloody concussion. But it didn’t stop there. Dirge relentlessly slammed the rock onto his head over and over with blood gushing from each strike. Growling as he did so. The other two gasped in horror as they backed away from the massacre.

Dirge finally stopped until the head became unrecognizable. Planting the rock on it afterwards. He now turned his attention to the bully on his left.

“Are you crazy!?” He said. “I’m telling the guard!”

Dirge pounced onto his head. Aiming for the horn, he bit and chewed on it in attempt to pull it apart. Being pushed and shaken off from the bully while he tried to resist.

“Get… off me… you freaking lunatic!”

His horn was shortly snapped off as he struggled to remove Dirge from his hold. Screaming in pain and falling to the ground as he clutched his head, now bleeding. He peeked at Dirge who now had his horn in his teeth. Taking the horn to his hoof, he lunged and stabbed him in the right eye with it.

With one target left, he looked to the last changeling standing there horrified. He shook his head at Dirge while backing away slowly.

“We… we were just messing around! We weren’t actually gonna hurt anybody!” He ran in the opposite direction to escape from becoming the next victim. However, he was soon apprehended as he was tackled to the ground from behind. “Somebody help!!”

His plea was for naught. Dirge placed his hooves around his victim's head and twisted forcefully. Taking his last breaths, his throat had then snapped. No longer breathing after the deed was done.

Panting, Dirge got up and looked at the carnage. Feeling like his job was done, he went to check on the nymph.

Upon arriving to the little one, he was still shaking in fear. His mouth agape and eyes widened. Dirge had to calm himself down first and took a deep breath. He extended a hoof to help him up. But it was no use as the nymph was traumatized. Since he was paralyzed in shock and couldn’t move.

Looking at the blood on his hooves, Dirge hadn’t realized it yet until seconds later. He had just killed for the first time. Violating his own rule. His eyes widened in surprise. Shedding a tear as he tried to deny in his mind of what he had done.

Though all this time, he was being observed by several changelings in the background. Many of them shared looks of disgust, disbelief, and shock.

Dirge tried to cry out to them to dispel any accusations he had coming to him.

“No… I didn’t mean… I never meant to… I’m not…!”

“Murderer!” One them yelled out from the crowd.

Momentarily, a couple guards came rushing to the scene. Witnessing the dead bodies and then looking at the two young changelings. Laying there scared and crying.

“What happened here!?” The guard said astounded.

Dirge shut his eyes and held his hooves to his ears. Trying to shut off the world. One by one, the illusions around him started to disappear, until he was left alone in a sea of darkness. He curled up into a ball, shivering from the sudden cold.

“Let him be.” A feminine voice echoed in the distance.

Dirge gasped. He knew who it was…

“He’s just doing what comes natural.”

Left to the sounds of his sobbing in the silence of nothingness, he held his hooves to his ears again. He didn’t want to hear that voice again. The only things keeping his pain sustained was the haunting memories and the pounding headache he was suddenly afflicted with.

There was no hope for salvation.

Author's Note

Credit for the art in this chapter goes to the mod of Ask Broken Blinkie and talkingfornothing.

Alive

"But I've already said my apologies for what I’ve done! Why do you feel the need to further my punishment!?"

“I care naught for your pity. The order has already been set to advance your training. It’s for your own discipline.”

“I was just fine training under you! I don’t need any special treatment!”

“This is not negotiable. Now, come!”

“What!? No! Let me go!”

“Enough of your bickering! You shame your innate potential with such childish mannerisms!”

“But I’m not even prepared! Mother!! Please do something!”

Thus, with a blunt force to the head, the nightmare came to a sudden end.

Dirge, unsure of where his consciousness currently lay, could now only hear the sounds of his own heavy breathing. His body felt strained and his mobility was limited. The painful headache still persisted from his unpleasant voyage down memory lane. Only this time, the pain felt more real.

Struggling to open his eyes, Dirge tried to maintain an effort into keeping his mind alert. Not wanting to fall back asleep and now resisting the drowsiness preventing him from being aware of his senses. All he could hear was the chirping of birds in the distance and subtle ticking sounds from somewhere nearby. However, he soon also noticed that his nostrils felt stuffed and restricted some of his breathing. As well as a burning sensation inside his nose. Shortly but unexpectedly, he sneezed loudly. Groaning in pain as most of his body ached from the sudden jolt of surplus energy. At the least, this give him the vitality to finally examine his current surroundings.

His vision now less blurred and becoming clearer, he raised his head slightly. From what he could tell, he was laying on a soft mattress and tucked in with a colorful looking quilted blanket. Turning to his side, he looked around to see that he was inside a spacious wooden interior. From the looks of it, the walls and even the ceiling were made of the same material. Most likely inside a cabin. There was a large rug centered in the middle of the room with a rectangular shaped wooden table in the middle.

The house was decorated with bizarre looking masks hanged on one wall. All of them painted in different colors and styles. On the other side, a row of tables with vials, cups, glass bottles, a pestle and mortar, along with a strew of plants were set on them. Whatever was brewed recently left a strange odor in the air. The aroma giving Dirge a tingling feel to his nose.

Above the wall beside him was a clock with a pendulum hanging below it swinging smoothly side to side. Yet again made of wood like the rest of the house, but with the numbers burned in. According to the time, it was already past noon. This made Dirge curious as to how long he was out. His bigger concern was as to who would willingly take in a changeling.

“Anyone here?” He said rather weakly. Followed by letting out a few coughs. But there was no response. The house remained silent.

Dirge did not want to wait around to find out who the residents were. It was a nice change from his cell back in the hive, but something didn’t sit quite right with him. He removed his covers, but upon further inspection, there were bandages applied to his body. There were some wrapped around his upper legs and his chest where his scars would be. Though this only made him even more curious. Trying to think for a moment, he felt his headache come back. Planting a hoof to his forehead, he tried to apply some pressure to where most of the pain was coming from. However, as he reached for his horn, he felt something was off. Literally, in fact.

“Oh no…” Dirge said as he was about to panic while he felt half of his horn missing. What should’ve been there was now replaced with bandages spiraling around the broken edges and a cotton ball taped to the top. It was likely to have been snapped off during his fall.

This spelled disaster for him. Having your horn this damaged meant your magic would cease to function. Which also meant the loss of the ability to disguise. He was completely exposed now.

The mystery of his ongoing headache was solved, but didn’t want to stick around to find more unpleasant surprises. Dirge cautiously rose from his bed and onto his hooves, he started to slowly walk towards the front door to exit the house. His whole body still ached as he staggered away.

“Come on… you’ve had worse than this… !” Dirge grunted in pain with each couple steps. As he reached the door and raised a hoof for the doorknob, it suddenly twisted by itself. The door opened a little too quickly and struck his nose. “Ugh!” He fell to his haunches, rubbing the tip of his snout as he looked up to see who just intruded on his getaway.

A zebra with a concerned look on its face gasped from laying eyes on Dirge. Perhaps seeing him now awake was what startled it. Also in particular, the zebra was wearing several necklaces around its neck. Each were decorated with an assortment of vibrant stones and beads. Its mane style resembled a mohawk, though lazily brushed. A golden nose ring protruded from its nostrils.

“Ah! No, no, no!” He said. Extending a hoof towards Dirge to help him up. “Please! You must go back to sleeping! You are still very ill!”

Dirge, now with a perplexed expression, had figured this stranger was the one to have saved him but wanted to confirm his belief.

“Are… you the one responsible for my current state?”

“We talk later. Resume your resting now.” The zebra said as he grabbed Dirge’s hoof, steadily rising to his hooves then guiding him back to bed.

Dirge sneezed again. His cold still posed a problem for his respiration. Coughing more to help clear his throat. “I’m… not exactly in the best condition to sleep either.” Inhaling roughly through his nose in another attempt to alleviate his sinuses.

“Oh, sickness is bad. I notice. Please wait in bed while I go make brew for you.” The zebra said while he departed for the other side of the house containing the cooking utensils.

As Dirge laid back onto the bed, a young zebra filly he hadn’t noticed yet had walked up to him. It stared at him curiously. Judging from the pink ribbon on the end of the braided ponytail from the back of its mane, it was female. She wore a few pearl necklaces around her neck. After a moment of looking back at each other, she spoke in some foreign language Dirge never heard before. From her tone, it sounded like she was asking a question.

“Excuse me?” Dirge said.

The other zebra in the background then shouted at her in the same language. The filly turned her eyes towards him then back to Dirge. Then shortly leaving his presence.

“Apologies! Cannot have her catching cold too!” The other zebra responded from his position. Still conjuring up whatever he was making.

Finally, after almost half an hour, he returned with a cup of a steamy substance. Dirge sat up from his bed as he was given a hot and freshly brewed cup of green tea. “Thank you.” He took a whiff of it first before inspecting its contents. It smelled strongly of leaves and seemed to have tiny shreds of them at the bottom of the cup. “What’s in this?” He then asked.

“Special herbal blend. Good for mind and body!” The zebra stated proudly.

Carefully placing the cup to his lips, Dirge blew into the liquid first to cool it off a little before dipping his tongue into it. Then quickly retracted his tongue afterwards from the scalding tea and bitter aftertaste. Wincing and shuddering in disapproval of the flavor.

The zebra chuckled from his display of disgust towards his remedy. “First time never easy. But you must consume while drink is warm and potent!”

Dirge didn’t want to try his luck too soon again. Instead, while waiting for his tea to cool off, he thought he may as well have some questions answered.

Looking at the clock above him, he wondered: “How long have I been unconscious for?”

“Oh, you out cold for entire day! You toss and turn in your slumber.”

“I’m also quite curious.” He said, now looking at the zebra. “Did you drag me here from anywhere in particular?”

“Hmm.” The zebra nodded. “Found you washed up in dire shape by river. Patch you up as best I could.”

“And… you saved me?” Dirge blankly looked back down at his tea. “But… don’t you realize I’m… ?”

The zebra waited for him to finish after a moment of silence. “You are... what of?”

It was probably for the best that these two were kept in the dark about his origins. They either don’t keep in touch with the outside world, or wanted to try a friendly approach towards a changeling. Dirge shook his head and decided to drop the subject. “Nevermind.” He took a light sip of his tea and brought up another topic for discussion. “It’s not everyday I come across your kind. Your grasp on the Equestrian language is… well… below par compared to the average pony. Judging by your dialect, I take it you’re not from here?”

“Oh ho ho! You guess correct!” The zebra said, now trotting off towards the kitchen area. He continued his speech while placing an assortment of berries and plants onto a table from a basket he came in with. “Came here from my village afar after relative of mine invite me over. Saying how wondrous new land is! To claim new opportunity! And such friendly ponies here too! And what you know?” He pointed his hoof towards the ceiling, smiling. “They build roof over my head just for me!”

Dirge thought he knew the extent of the kindness of ponies, though after hearing the zebra’s last sentence, he had a newfound regard for them. It was no wonder changelings easily gained enough emotional energy from them to survive for this long. Though that my change now.

“And what of you? From where you hail from? Not see your kind either.” The zebra asked politely.

Dirge was hesitant about answering at first, but there was really nothing left to lose if he revealed the truth. He thought he could avoid a negative response if he left out some details. “I’m… uh… changeling.” He cleared his throat nervously before going on. “My… erm… village kicked me out recently. Didn’t leave on friendly terms either.”

“Oh?” The zebra looked back to him in a saddened manner. “That why you left in wounds and ropes?”

“Well… you could say that.” Dirge sighed before taking another sip of his tea. “But I’ve bared these scars long before you found me.”

“Ah. So, you break some ‘changeleen’ taboo or some such to result in exile?”

Thinking that perhaps it was for the best not to describe the concepts of changeling culture, Dirge gave a vague answer. “Hmph. We’re not the friendliest bunch.”

The zebra walked back over to Dirge, putting a hoof over his shoulder with a sympathetic look on him. “Not to worry. This only mean new chance for you. Start over and make your own dreams! Take over your own life! Free spirit now!” He said energetically. “Ponies teach me many new things while my stay here. Important lesson was friendship! You and I…” He pointed towards himself then back to Dirge. “... friends! Yes?”

He had a point. Giving it some thought at first, what this zebra said very well meant something new for him. Having been expelled from his hive, it likely meant that he would never see his comrades ever again. But with every new chapter in life, new beginnings would take place. With a new sense of identity, he wouldn’t have to uphold his old ways anymore. It would be hard at first, but if he learned anything valuable during his span of duty, it was that friends did indeed make life all the more bearable. He had Ozzie to thank for that. Maybe this zebra would be his first after his revelation of turning over a new leaf.

In a weak form of laughter, Dirge shook his head at first. “I don’t even know your name.”

“Ah!” The zebra then laughed hysterically, but noticeably awkward in doing so. “Where have manners gone? We have not yet introduced ourselves proper! How unkind of me!” He then placed a hoof on his chest. “I am Zable. And this…” He pointed towards the filly now gazing at the collection of flora on the kitchen table. “... is young sister, Ayana.” He scratched the back of his head nervously. “She not, eh… well spoken in Equestrian yet. Still a learning filly with much growing up to do.” Afterwards turning back to Dirge smiling. “And what of your name?”

Taking another sip of his tea, he replied without hesitation. “Dirge.”

“Hmm. Unheard of name.” Zable arched an eyebrow. “Who name you ‘Durg’? Your late elders perhaps?”

Dirge only chuckled at his curiosity. “My father entitled me with that name. Don’t bother thinking too deeply into it.” Though as luck would have it, the unfortunate kind anyway, he thought it was a fitting name for him if one were to look at his afflictions in the past. Something he didn’t particularly like to delve into all that much.

“I see. Then I bother not.” His smile still remaining while looking sympathetic. “And how is tea now?”

His tea now at a more moderate temperature, Dirge took a bigger dose of his drink, sighing in relief afterwards. He smiled with contentment.

“It’s good.”

A day had now passed. Dirge was sleeping soundly in his bed while the zebras were out again. The medicine he took last night had done wonders for relaxing his muscles and helping him sleep without being interrupted by nightmares again. However, he still had to take it easy as his cold remained persistent.

An itch on his nose was getting progressively bothersome. Unconsciously, Dirge scratched the tip of his muzzle. But this caused a burning sensation inside his nostrils. Momentarily waking up to let out a sneeze. Groaning in irritation to his sudden rude awakening.

“Tsk. Dammit.” Sighing in frustration, he closed his eyes and attempted to ease himself back asleep.

Outside of the front door, Dirge could hear Zable in the distance. Apparently making conversation. He assumed it was with his younger sibling, but it didn’t make sense to talk to her in Equestrian and not in their usual native language. That’s when he also heard a stranger’s voice. Their chatter was growing slightly louder by the second as they were approaching the front door.

Dirge was almost taken by surprise as he raised his head a little to see that the doorknob was twisting as it was about to open. After a quick gasp, Dirge laid back down and concealed himself completely with his blanket to avoid detection from the unknown guest.

The door opened. Both Zable and his undisclosed visitor came in and resumed their talk. The latter making themselves heard first.

“I’m tellin’ ya, you’ve been workin’ miracles with this stuff! If I could just make ‘em as well as you do, I wouldn’t need to come by so often buggin’ ya for more!”

It sounded like a pony. A stallion with a southern accent to his tone. Thankfully, he hadn’t noticed Dirge under his cover. All he could do was to silently, as best as he could through his cold, eavesdrop on their chat.

“Tis no trouble at all.” Zable said. “How is you feeling today?”

“Much, much better!” The stranger replied. “Still kinda hurts when I cough ‘n’ such. Think ya can do somethin’ about this here scar? I was kinda hopin’ my fur woulda grown over it by now.”

“Hmm.” Zable paused for a bit before speaking again. “I possess no potent drug for such wound. Apologies. But however, I may know somepony who does! Let me get in touch with contact and you wait until I receive new supply.”

“Aww, really!? Well, why didn’t ya do so earlier!? Thanks a bunch, Zabe!”

Zable chuckled. “Anytime, friend! I still cannot give thanks enough for your family’s generosity of providing me shelter!”

“Aww, shucks. This again? Heheh. I told ya’ll, it wasn’t no problem at all! Figure we could pay ya back for what ya did for us.”

While their conversation went on undisturbed, meanwhile, Dirge felt the need to let out another sneeze. “Eh… uh… !” He inhaled a small amount of air and held it tightly. Then held a hoof to his mouth. Trying his best to maintain himself to prevent his cover from being blown.

“Take these for time being.” Zable said.

“Thanks again, Zabe.” The unknown stallation said. Now sounding like he was trotting away back towards the front door. “Hey, why don’t ya come on back to our place sometime? Looks like we’re gonna have a surplus amount of apples this season. Sure’d be a waste to let ‘em rot in the barn. We’d be happy to give ya a whole batch!”

The door creaked open. Dirge let go of his breath along with a sigh of relief. His bout of tension was almost over.

“It sounds swell!” Zable responded. “Let me finish own work first before I go--”

“AH-CHOO!!”

Dirge cursed his luck. He didn’t anticipate this one sneeze as he barely felt it coming. He shut his mouth with both his hooves and grew angry with himself for making such an amatuer mistake.

“Huh? Hey, ya got company over, Zabe?” The stallion then made hoofsteps towards the bed.

Dirge felt his heart beat increasingly faster as he heard him getting closer. There was no telling what this pony would do if he saw him. It would be bad news for both him and Zable if he found out he was housing a changeling. Their relations could get hurt, or worse, permanently tainted. Worst case being this pony would call the guard on him and have him imprisoned again. And Dirge was in no condition to fight back.

“Oh, it is just patient of mine.” Zable said. “Still not feeling good, so he is resting at moment.”

“Sounds like he’s got a cold.” The stallion then laid a hoof on top of the blanket. “Ya gonna be alright, mister?”

This was it. His life was coming to a close yet again. His revelation short lived. He knew he shouldn’t have trusted this zebra. Things were too good to be true and he was foolish enough to believe in the illusion of hope that transpired between them. At least this time, he could go more peacefully.

“NO!” Zable suddenly shouted back. “Please! Do not disturb his slumber! He need as much rest to aid in his recovery!”

Dirge felt the hoof on top leave him. A sense of relief overcame him again as Zable managed to avert anymore attention from incoming.

“Oh, uh… sorry ‘bout that. Didn’t know he was that sick.” The stallion’s hoofsteps then sounded off back towards the front door. “Hope ya feel better soon, mister! You’re in good care with Zable here, let me tell ya!”

“Aha! You are much too kind!” Zable happily replied.

“Anyway, see ya later, Zabe!” The stallion said as the door closed behind him.

With the visitor now gone, Dirge removed the cover over his head. Zable was looking out the window, waving his hoof as a sign of farewell.

“Who was that?” Dirge asked.

“Oh! Dorje! Thought you went asleep!” Zable said. A little startled to see him up.

“You two didn’t exactly keep your conversation subtle.”

“Ah. Many pardons. Twas only a local friend from town further away.”

Dirge slowly emerged from his bed and sat up. Stretching his back and forehooves as he yawned. “Next time, could you at least warn me in advance if you’re going to have guests over?”

Zable chuckled at this. “I did not figure you to be shy type!”

“It’s not that. It’s just...” On the other hoof, Dirge could play off his cautiousness of ponies as ‘just being shy’. Merely as an excuse for Zable to persuade him away from the real reason. “... I have a difficult time with placing my trust in others.”

“I see.” Zable walked over to Dirge to inspect his current condition. While in doing so, he continued. “But Ayana was same with strangers when we first arrive to Equestria. Took her time first, but after while, she blossom with assertiveness! Then everypony love her!”

He wasn’t anywhere near a filly’s level of trust or innocence, but Dirge could see what he was trying to get at. If only ponies and changelings didn’t harbor hostility towards each other at first sight, then it would be a whole other effort for him. He sighed disappointingly.

Zable looked at him with a hint of sadness in his expression. “Why a glum face, Dorje?”

Ignoring his actual concern, Dirge shifted his attention to his bandages and tried scratching at the ones wrapped around his chest. “Would you mind taking these off now?”

“Whatever for? Do your wounds not still ache?” Zable looked worried at first.

“No. The rough texture on these have been irritating the exposed, sensitive layer of my chitin. That, and they were wrapped a little too tight for comfort.”

“Well, if it is as you say, then I will gladly help to lessen the burdens.” Smiling, he helped Dirge remove his gauzes.

Keeping the bandages on his horn, however, Dirge still had a minor headache leftover and didn’t bother to remove those. But he thought of one useful way to ease the pain.

“Would you happen to have anymore of that tea? I could go for another serving.”

Zable nodded. “Of course.”

One week later

A short length of time had gone by while Dirge had finally recuperated from his cold and weak state from when he first awoke after his sudden death. He hadn’t noticed how long it had been until Zable reminded him of the current date. Throughout his stay, he managed to survive on whatever rations Zable had spared him. Whether it was meals from his vegetarian diet or the medium amount of emotional adoration the zebras passively gave off and absorbed into energy. He took just enough to satiate a little of his hunger and never to a point where Zable would notice a thing. Neither were very filling, but granted, he was thankful, if not lucky, for the contributions he received nonetheless.

Having a broken horn had a silver lining to it after all. It meant he didn’t have to exhaust as much energy for the usual, everyday tasks changelings would normally undergo and left him with spare vigor for other activities. Even though the downsides heavily outweighed this minor positivity, he would just have to learn to live with it from now on. This, along with a flightless pair of wings, would prove to be a challenge in his life’s later trials.

Dirge was currently outside the back of the cabin sitting on a stump near a garden surrounded by a split rail wooden fence. It was aligned with a variety of edible fruits, flowers, and herbs Zable used for his remedies. He was in the middle of sharpening the top of a thin, broad tree branch and carving it with a knife while watching Ayana picking berries from the bushes in the yard.

Zable approached Dirge from the side and came equipped with a saddlebag and wore a cone shaped straw hat. “Dorje, feeling much better now than yesterday, I hope?”

Dirge nodded and smiled softly. “As good as I’m going to get for now.”

Zable returned the gesture. “Am pleased to hear.” He then looked at the sharp object in Dirge’s hooves. “What is stick for?”

“Fishing.” Dirge said.

“With sticks and stones?” Zable chuckled. “Your tribe have unusual ways and delicacies! Not to put offense, of course.”

“Heh. None taken.” Dirge paused for a moment and looked at Zable. “Going somewhere?”

“Ah, yes. I will be gone for brief while into town to make important delivery.” Zable then looked towards his sister in the garden. “If you may grant me favor, can you watch after Ayana? I trust you keep her company under my absence?”

Dirge didn’t have any babysitting experience, but since this was a request from somebody who had already done so much for him, he couldn’t simply turn it down. “Sure. I’ll keep watch over her.”

“Thank you much. I try to be quick!” Zable then shouted some incomprehensible dialogue towards Ayana, then waved each other goodbye as he turned away and left.

Continuing with his work, Dirge was just about done with his homemade spear. He inspected the sharp end once more before deciding that it was good enough for what he was going to use it for. Grabbing the knife’s handle with his mouth, he headed towards the tool shed closeby and opened the door, entering inside. He put the knife back where it was on a bench and looked around for anything else that may prove useful. At the corner of his eye, he spotted something.

“Hmm. So, that’s where those went.” It was the very ropes that were used to bind him during his fall. They looked somewhat worn, but fortunately, it also still seemed sturdy. An idea sparked in his mind. This time, they were going to be put to better use.

Stepping back outside with the ropes in tow, he returned to sit back down on the stump and tied them to the opposite end of his spear. Fastening both two ends to make it so it was long enough for him to reel in.

Finished with his little project and looking satisfied, Dirge got up from his seat and trotted towards Ayana, who was now just eating the berries out of her basket. He gently nudged her shoulder and she looked up to him curiously.

“How about some exercise?” He motioned his head towards the nearby river. “Come. Maybe you’ll learn something.”

Dirge took the lead, but saw Ayana still standing there looking at him. Sometimes he forgets she doesn’t speak the same language as he does, so the only method of communication between them was limited through signals and action. Trying again, Dirge extended his hoof and waved towards himself and then towards the direction of the river. Obeying this time, Ayana got up and followed.

Upon reaching the stream, Dirge took a moment to ponder how he survived through his ordeal. Maybe it really was extraordinary luck after all. Or maybe there was some mysterious entity out there taking mercy on him. Or perhaps he actually was dead and this was the afterlife he was sentenced to.

After a minute of daydreaming, Dirge shook his head and snapped himself back to reality. Returning his gaze towards the river, he scanned around for any fish that may be swimming by. Today had been a good day so far as he caught wind of some in the deeper middle.

Taking his spear to hoof, he stepped into the shallow water and looked back at Ayana still standing on dry land. “Watch.” Dirge said. Hoping the filly could at least understand this much.

He raised his weapon and took aim at a trout that looked the biggest out of the other fish swimming alongside it. Within seconds of waiting for the right moment, he lunged and threw his spear. Reeling it in with the rope he still held onto his hoof.

He had caught one, indeed. However, when he checked the end of his spear, it didn’t look all that big. Either he missed his target or the underwater image of the fish fooled him into thinking it was of decent size. Nonetheless, it was still food.

He removed the small trout from the tip, still alive and flapping its tail. Dirge tilted his head upwards, opened his mouth wide and stuck out his tongue. Holding the fish by its tail fin above himself. About to devour his freshly caught prey until he noticed Ayana still watching. He closed his mouth and held out the fish towards her as a sign of sharing.

She didn’t look interested and merely turned her attention to a butterfly hovering above her and towards a patch of flowers behind her. Dirge sighed at her lack of observation in teaching her something he thought was a valuable skill. He reopened his mouth to eat his catch and shortly dropped it down into his gullet. Swallowing it whole.

Looking down at the river again, he immediately sighted another fish. This one looked much bigger than the others. He raised his spear again and took aim. Momentarily launching it forward and pulling it back. No catch this time as he missed his target. “Tsk.” He grunted in frustration as he looked back to Ayana still sitting there. Fortunately paying attention this time. “Patience is key.” He said while he readied himself to strike again.

Throwing the spear with a little more readiness and precision, he finally caught his prey. Dirge grinned at the victory of catching a sizable salmon. Now walking back out of the water and sitting next to Ayana. He licked his lips as he stared at his prize he held in his hooves. Before he began to dig into his meal, Dirge tried to offer Ayana another sample of fish. “Care for a bite?”

Ayana looked at the fish in his hooves stretched out to her and understood this gesture as his bid of splitting his food with her. Arching her eyebrow, she shook her head in disinterest.

“Suit yourself.” Dirge shrugged before instantly sinking his teeth into his food and taking a good chunk of meat into his mouth. Chewing it swift and steadily before gulping down his first bite. “You’re missing out on some good nutrition, you know.” He said to Ayana before taking another bite.

She wasn’t very impressed with his eating habit and stuck out her tongue in disgust. Not to mention he had blood and bits of flesh dripping out from his mouth. Deciding not to stick around watching Dirge stuff his face, she turned to leave to observe the butterflies on the patch of flowers she saw earlier.

Dirge saw her walking away and yelled out to her after swallowing another portion of his meal. “Ayana! Stay within sight!” Hoping she would stay near him and not into the forest beyond her position.

Dirge continued to consume the salmon until there was nothing left but bones, save for its head and tail. He felt full for the first time in quite a while, though the same couldn’t be said for his other ‘stomach’ still in need of the other nourishment. Granted, this would slow down his need for it while he digests the current meal.

He disposed of the fish carcass and laid down to relax. Head rested on his forehooves. Thinking about his newfound freedom and how he’s going to manage from now on without a hive to fall back to. Coming to terms with his present condition and how he was living now, he couldn’t see a sustainable future living with Zable. His hunger would only grow if he solely fed on his fragments of love he willingly offered and he’d have to leave eventually to seek better sustenance.

Suddenly, he perked his ears up when he had just heard a shriek coming from far off in the distance. When he turned to see if Ayana was where she was last seen, she was nowhere to be found. “Ayana?” Dirge quickly stood up to check his surroundings to search for her until he heard another scream crying out. This time, it was sounding off from the forest. The one place he hoped she wouldn’t wander off to. “Ayana!!” He saved the blame on his incompetence for later and grabbed the spear, holding it in his mouth. Running towards the forest to rescue her from impending harm.

Sprinting through countless shrubbery and recovering as fast as he could through trips in his steps, he hurried to the source of the loud crying. There was no time to stop for anything and wouldn’t forgive himself if he found her dead. More needless weight that would pile up onto his conscience.

Passing through another set of bushes, he finally found her. Unfortunately, she was ambushed by a pack of four timberwolves. One of them had her pinned down while it was pulling on her ponytail and the others surrounded her. It was about to sink its jaws into her throat.

Sparing no opportunity to give them the chance to do further injury to their prey, Dirge pounced from the bushes and held his spear high. Aiming it towards the timberwolf on her and throwing it with as much force as he could. He landed a strike on its torso. The wolf barked in surprise while the rest barely noticed the attack.

Dirge reeled in the spear along with the wolf. He turned around quickly to buck it with his hind hooves in midair. It fell to pieces immediately after being struck. The other three snarled and took this as a threat and focused their attention primarily on the changeling now. One stayed behind to keep watch over the zebra filly while the other two charged to attack.

Dirge anticipated their moves and stood on his hind legs. As soon as the first timberwolf came into range, he grabbed it by its wooden claws as it jumped in the air at him. He did a quick spin with the wolf held onto his hooves to gain momentum and slammed it into the second one that followed suit. Both were reduced to a pile of rubble.

With only one of them left standing, the timberwolf near Ayana was stepping back, growling, as Dirge approached it slowly. He bared his fangs and glared daggers at it with his spear held high again. He threw it right in front of the creature’s way and it barked back by being startled. Intentionally missing as a warning to back off.

“Get lost, cub.” Dirge threatened one last time before the timberwolf eventually ran away into the deeper section of the forest.

Ayana was still crying from her fear of what had just happened, but looked a little stunned from Dirge’s attempt at disposing the threats and rescuing her.

“These beasts are more fragile than they appear.” Dirge said as he checked to make sure none of them were still looming around. He then turned to Ayana, with a calmer expression now, who was trying to stop herself from weeping. “Dry those tears. The danger has passed.” Gently taking a hoof to her cheeks to wipe away her leftover teardrops.

She spoke up softly in her native language, but of course, Dirge was oblivious to it. Though not to her tone in which she pleaded with. Ayana mentioned Zable’s name somewhere in her speech and Dirge guessed it meant he would probably know about this event if told.

Dirge smiled lightly and placed a hoof behind her back. “He doesn’t need to know.”

Ayana took his smile as reassurance that she would be alright. Now seemingly more tranquil.

“Let’s head back before he arrives and figures out we’re gone.” He said as both of them were heading out of the forest and back to the cabin.

Much later that day, the sun was setting and the crickets were now starting to chirp in the background. Zable had still not returned from his trip. Meanwhile, Dirge overlooked Ayana in the garden from his spot sitting on the same stump. He was getting curious as to why Zable was taking his time getting back. Hopefully, nothing had gone wrong and shook his head to clear off his pessimistic thoughts from taking over.

His worry was soon put to rest as he heard hoofsteps and an energetic “Hello!” from behind. It was indeed Zable and he looked optimistic as ever, carrying a large basket of apples on the opposite side of his saddlebag. Ayana came rushing towards him happily and the two hugged.

“Sorry to take long.” Zable said to Dirge. “What once was brief turned to many other things!” He chuckled nervously. “Please accept these as apology. Apples from recent harvest! They very tasteful!” Grabbing a ripe, red apple from his basket and giving to Dirge.

Dirge had already replenished himself earlier and wasn’t very interested in eating more vegetarian food so soon again. Instead, he hoofed it over to Ayana. Trying once more to share his food. She happily obliged and took it with her hooves. Taking a bite of the juicy apple and smiled at his gesture.

“Thank you for kindness, Dorje. But… you not like?” Zable asked. Looking slightly worried.

“I’m good. Save some for another time.” Dirge said.

Zable nodded. “If you must insist then.”

The zebras then emanated more ounces of redeemable emotion, which Dirge breathed in passively and carefully absorbed. It wasn’t plentiful, but he had to admit, it tasted better than what he had in a long while. Even by the hive’s standards, he considered it quite the delicious treat.

“Shall we retire for evening? Journey here has made me exhausted.” Zable said with Dirge nodding in agreement.

The three headed inside as the day was coming to a close. The night sky overshadowing the last of the setting sun’s light with the moon glowing brightly by the hour. The lone abode separated from the town afar turning off the last of its lights before its residents finally fell to sleep.

Dirge was wandering around the woods during an unexpected fog. The paths before him were almost too difficult to see with so much haze clouding his way.

He could’ve sworn he had seen another changeling running off to the area ahead of him and was currently tracking it down. The job was harder without hoofprints on the ground to trace since all of it was covered in leaves and tall grass. He stopped for a moment to listen closely for anymore movement. Suddenly, he heard rattling from the bushes northeast of his position. He eyed them closely while walking cautiously towards it. That’s when a black figure popped out and ran away into the shadows at lightning fast speed.

“Hey! Wait!” Dirge took chase and followed as fast as he could.

For sure he had gotten lost by now in this maze of endless trees with every turn he made into the foggy abyss. Stopping again in the middle of his chase to catch his breath and listen for anymore sounds. He perked up his ears when he heard a familiar, playful laughter that came from his left.

“It couldn’t be…?” Dirge ran off again to the source of the voice.

As he was supposedly getting closer, there were more echoes heard in the distance. They faded from laughter, into crying, and lastly into shouting. Hastily passing through another set of bushes, he paused when he spotted a pack of timberwolves in front of him.

They were apparently attacking the changeling Dirge saw earlier with their constant biting and slashing of their claws. But when he took a closer look at their victim, it was the one he thought to be long dead.

“Ozzie!” Dirge yelled in realization. He hissed at the timberwolves who had his friend in captivity. “Let go of him!”

They turned to look at him. Though they did not falter when they set their sights on Dirge. What they did instead was laugh at him like wild hyenas.

It confused Dirge as this wasn’t the expected reaction he received. Eerily, he was filled with the dread of anxiety he hadn’t felt in a long time when their pitch in laughter evolved into voices of prepubescent youth.

A beaten Ozzie crawled away from the timberwolves’ grips and pointed a wobbly hoof to Dirge. “B-behind… you…”

Dirge turned his head when he barely noticed a shadow lurking behind him. He widened his eyes and gasped when he saw a timberwolf holding a large rock above him. Before he could even react, the stone was dropped onto him. Blacking out with a painful force to his head.

Dirge arose from his bed in a panic. Panting for breath and his heart still beating in terror from his nightmare.

“Dorje? Dorje! What is the matter?” Zable quickly came to him placing a hoof to his back. “More unpleasant dreams?”

Another headache had befallen unto Dirge. Sighing in displeasure then placing a hoof to his head and tried to rub away the pain.

“Pace yourself, friend.” Zable said, patting Dirge on the back. “Mayhap some tea with breakfast will calm your nerves?”

There was an enticing smell in the air of food being cooked. This gave Dirge a slight boost of energy to leave his bed and onto the table in the middle of the living room. He sat opposite of Ayana who was also awaiting the morning meal. It didn’t help his mood much when he had to expect that none of it was of any delectable meat like yesterday’s lunch. Zable came back to the table with a plate filled with apple slices and toast set next to Ayana.

Moments later, Zable came back again with his own breakfast while Dirge got the same meal as the zebras with an additional cup of green tea. They both began to eat while Dirge stared at his food in melancholy. His thoughts running around in his mind again and trying to piece them together.

Thinking about yesterday’s speculation on his current life, he had to make a decision on whether he should prolong his stay here or move out entirely. Like he had mentioned to himself, there wasn’t much benefit from these two zebras anymore and he didn’t want to force them to give him more than what he was already given. Plus, the likelihood of his friend Ozzie still alive out there sparked a bit of hope. Indeed, there was a tough road ahead for one such as him in a land filled with dangers possessed by those he worked against before if he decided to tread the path of risks along the way. If and when he found his friend, their odds of survival would increase. Along with a brighter future, he wouldn’t care about anything else.

“I’ve decided.” Dirge said.

“Hmm? What you mean?” Zable asked.

Dirge sighed. “I… must leave. Far away from here. Find my own refuge and reason to live.”

Zable looked saddened by his sudden response. “But… you not content here with us? I would not mind extra help around--”

“Listen.” Dirge said standing up away from the table. “I’m very grateful for all that you’ve done for me. I truly am. However, personal circumstances wouldn’t permit me to allow myself to go on like this. I’ve…” He looked away from Zable and to the window on his left. “... other reasons for my departure. Please understand.”

Zable didn’t answer for a brief moment until he frowned and closed his eyes in disappointment. “I cannot let you go…”

“Pardon?” Dirge raised an eye at him.

Zable opened his eyes again and smiled. “Not unprepared, of course!”

Dirge remained baffled by his response as Zable got up and walked towards a wicker chest on the other side of the room. “Come here for minute!” He said while Dirge complied.

He was busy digging around his storage looking for who knows what. Shortly, he pulled out what looked to be a blanket of fur in a color of a light shade of brown. Although it appeared to be a large pelt made of some sort of animal.

“Father was famous hunter back in homeland. This he gave to me when very young.” Zable draped the fur over Dirge’s back. “Use it during cold nights.”

Dirge examined the fur pelt on him. It was of decent size, comfortable and covered most of his scars, but the lower half of his legs were still exposed. Zable continued his search inside his storage until he pulled out a worn saddlebag.

“Bag may have… eh, seen better days. But it have served me well before!” He hoofed it over before scrambling through his contents again.

“And this…” Zable held a strange pendant in his hoof. “... to help with repelling away your bad dreams.” He placed it around Dirge’s neck. “Gift from buffalo folk. Call it ‘dream catcher’. Say it brings peace during slumber.”

“I…” Dirge looked over his accessories in uncertainty. He didn’t expect more charity from his zebra friend, but his generosity knew no bounds. Thinking of how to express his gratitude better, all he could mutter was a simple: “Thank you.”

“Think nothing of it!” Zable said “However, I still cannot let you go.”

“Huh?” Dirge said looking confused again.

“Not on empty belly, of course!”

“Hmph.” Dirge smiled softly.

Later that morning, the three were outside the cabin standing beside the front door. Their breakfast session now over with, the zebras were saying their goodbyes to their changeling friend.

“Visit town ahead. They may give further aid to you as well.” Zable said pointing to the direction ahead of the road.

Dirge shook his head and frowned. “I doubt that.”

Zable walked up to him and placed a hoof on his shoulder with a reassuring smile. “Please. Give them chance. I was strange guest like you once.”

He was still in doubt. The local ponies would most likely not be fond of him the same way Zable was. Speaking of, he went back inside for a quick moment before stepping out with his straw hat and placed it on Dirge’s head. It covered his eyes and, thankfully, his broken horn. He tipped it up to adjust his point of view.

“Have this. Say you have my blessings!” Zable said.

“Thank you.” Dirge bowed his head to express his gratitude. “For everything.”

“Farewell, friend. And good luck!” Zable waved his hoof to him as goodbye.

As Dirge turned away to leave, he felt a tug on his fur cape. He looked back to see Ayana holding him back, looking sad. And as fast as she could, she ran away towards the back. Possibly to the garden, though it was unknown what her intent was. She came back briefly with a flower in her mouth.

“Ah, she want to bestow you with good fortune! White lily is symbol of luck in our homeland!” Zable said.

Ayana held the lily with her hoof to give to the departee and smiled as she finally spoke with comprehensible words. “Gud luck!”

Dirge smiled back and took the the flower. Putting it away in his saddlebag equipped on his side. He placed a hoof over her head and rubbed gently. “Likewise.”

With their farewells done after one last wave of his hoof, Dirge turned away to leave for his destination ahead. Unclear of what his future holds, he proceeded with his head held high. Now ready to face his challenges with a new sense of faith. Relying on his instincts to guide him along the way as his only compass.

His long journey had just begun.

Kinship

High in the treetops, hung a beehive among the branches. A swarm of bees were bustling in and out of the hive tending to their own work. Whether it was maintaining their home’s structure or gathering nectar for themselves.

Dirge observed their activity from below. Watching them buzzing around their nest, reminding him of what he used to be a part of. For a moment, he admired the scene, reminiscing about his earlier years. Then after a minute, wondered what would happen if a lone bee strayed away from its hive and its chances of survival in a world full of perils for its kind. But before he could delve any deeper into such a subject, he thought it too trivial for now and travelled onward to his destination ahead.

Instead of taking the default route that connected Zable’s home to the town further away, he was now making his trek there through the forest that was separated from the dirt road to avoid any passerby that may come across his way. He took his time getting there at a steady pace and in the meantime, thought about what he will do when he arrives. Or at the least, how he’ll handle himself with a less than friendly pony populace. Maybe even skipping the town altogether if he couldn’t come to a reasonable approach by then. As well as possibly having to disregard his zebra friend’s recommendation without the courage to go through with it.

His contemplating was cut off abruptly when he heard the sounds of twigs and leaves being stepped on somewhere nearby. He stopped in his tracks to listen in on the noise. Looking left and right, Dirge noticed they were slowly getting closer and closer. They sounded too heavy to be a timberwolf’s. Finally, he looked to his left behind him and saw what seemed to be a griffin walking towards him. It chuckled deviously as it drew nearer.

“Well, well, well… lookit what we have here.” He said tauntingly.

This peculiar griffin was adorned with his own set of equipment. He wore a necklace around his neck that was aligned with fangs from various kinds of creatures, a brown outback hat, and a stuffed backpack on his back. The feathers outlined around his eyes were a dull grey while the rest of his head’s was plain white.

“You lost, stranger?” He tipped his hat up and grinned. “Watcha doin’ wanderin’ around here?”

“What’s it to you?” Dirge asked in annoyance. He wasn’t very fond of griffins since his last encounter with one was responsible for a couple of his scars. Those sharp talons of theirs were not just for the sake of intimidation.

The griffin eyed him from head to hoof, scanning his appearance. He laughed at him amusingly. “And what’s with that getup!? You look like you came straight out of the bargain bin!” He laughed again in the same manner. “Yo, Rough Sport! Get a load of this guy!” He yelled out to someone in the distance.

From the other side, an earth pony was coming into view. His fur was a dark orange and his disheveled mane and short tail were black. He wore the same attire as the griffin, sans a necklace and wore a brown jacket with several pockets on it. His sideburns complimented his five o’clock shadow and his cutie mark consisted of two pony heads clashing together.

“Yeah, yeah. I hear ya.” He said with a gruff voice and soon, started to look at Dirge suspiciously. “Hey, doesn’t something about this guy seem… uncanny to ya?”

Dirge grew impatient, but wary of these two. “I’ve no time for this. Now if you don’t mind…” He tried to walk away but the griffin stretched his talon in front of his way.

“Woah there, mate! What’s the rush? We just want to… get to know ya a little. S’that so much to ask?” The griffin said, his grin hadn’t left him.

“I don’t share the same sentiment.” Dirge said, annoyed by his persistence.

“Eh? How could ya not!? Don’t you even know who I am? Or have ya been living under a rock? Heh. Guess my reputation hasn’t stretched out far enough yet!” The griffin huffed and stood more proudly. “Name’s Eagle Eye. Hunter and wildlife explorer extraordinaire! And this…” He pointed towards to Rough Sport by his side. “... is my associate. Sorta the backbone of our operations, but don’t mind him.”

“Associate, my flank! And have you been paying attention!?” Rough Sport cautiously walked closer to Dirge and eyed him with disdain. “Somethin’ ain’t right with this one. Look at his hooves! Look at his fangs! You can’t tell me this is just another run-of-the-mill foreigner!”

“Huh.” Eagle Eye raised an eye at Dirge. “Now that you mention it, this fella does look different than the rest. Where ya from, stranger?”

But Dirge didn’t dignify his question with a response. Choosing to stay silent instead. These two hoodlums were starting to get on his nerves.

Rough Sport gave an irritated sigh. “Honestly, Eagle! Exactly how daft are you!? See, what we have here is none other than a… !” He forcibly knocked away the straw hat concealing Dirge’s upper head and revealed the rest of his features. His blue eyes and head fins were exposed for them to see and he wasn’t looking too happy about this. The sight of the changeling made the accusing pony jump back in shock. “Oh, sweet mother of Celestia!! I knew it!”

“Geez, what crawled up your bum all of a sudden? Calm down, ya pansy.” Eagle Eye said with not a hint of worry.

“Eagle Eye! This is a freaking changeling!” Rough Sport said as he pointed a hoof to his reference. “You know, the ones responsible for that attack on Canterlot some time ago!?”

“Huh.” Eagle Eye squinched his eyes and placed a talon under his beak in thought. “So, that’s what they look like. I thought they’d be smaller?”

“And I thought you’d have read the headlines by now! Seriously, everyone’s up in hooves over them after that wedding incident!”

“Pffeh!” The griffin rolled his eyes and swung his talon in dismissal. “I got better things to do than to worry about some other pony’s problems! Like what we’re gonna do with this one here, for example!”

“I’ll tell you what we’re not gonna do! Letting him go, scot-free! I betcha this menace was gonna stroll on downtown over yonder and give the folks a good spook! So, listen here, changeling!” Rough Sport placed a hard hoof on Dirge’s chest. “Your kind may think you’re all clever, but you ain’t nothing but a wolf in sheep’s clothing!”

Dirge, still scowling, had had enough of their bravado. He was on his last nerve and wanted nothing more to do with them. As a threatening act, he grabbed the pony’s hoof still on his chest and coldly said: “Get your hoof off me before I break it off.”

“Ho ho! Watch out! We got a bad flank over here! You just gonna let him get away with that, Rough?” Eagle Eye said. Amused at the changeling’s shift in attitude.

“We’re done talking.” Rough Sport glared back at his adversary and within a few short seconds, threw the first punch.

Dirge took the hit and growled in anger. Another blow was about to strike him but blocked it with his own hoof. He grabbed the pony by his own hoof and pulled him into a headbutt. For the brief moment that Rough Sport was dazed from the attack, Dirge threw his own heavy punch back at him. Leaving his enemy vulnerable again, he grabbed him by the jacket and started to drag him to the nearest tree. “Arrogant little punk!” Placing a hoof behind the pony’s head, he slammed his face onto the tree trunk. The force knocking him off his balance and fell to the ground.

“GUH!!” Rough tried to shield his muzzle and rub the tip of it, believing that his nose was now bleeding. Before he could, his face was stomped on by the changeling’s forehoof.

Dirge was about to land another hit until he was tackled away by the griffin. Both of them were rolling on the ground as one of them was trying to get a handle on the other. But after moments of struggling, the griffin had the changeling in a stranglehold. Strengthening his grip over his victim to prevent him from slipping.

“Come on! Let’s see what ya got! I’ve wrestled cragadiles tougher than you!”

As Dirge tried to wriggle out of the griffin’s bind, he had his own grip on his talons. While one hoof was busy trying to remove his ties, the other was punching his opponent on his side. He felt the pressure growing slightly weaker each second and wouldn’t stop until he was let go.

Meanwhile, Rough Sport managed to rise from his beating and ran to assist his cohort in subduing the changeling.

Dirge saw him coming from the side and took immediate action. He forced himself and the griffin to roll aside once again. This time, he was on top while Eagle Eye was on the bottom. Rough Sport swiftly tried to jump onto the changeling, but instead, was bucked in the stomach and was sent flying back. Landing back down on the ground with an exaggerated “Oomph!!”

Eagle Eye was losing his grip until he completely lost it when Dirge headbutted him with the side of his head.

Finally free from the griffin’s grasp, Dirge rolled away and hastily got up onto his hooves. Coughing and panting for breath while distancing himself away from his foe.

“I’m not through with you yet!”

Dirge looked behind him to see Eagle Eye charging at him. Within the instant of coming into close contact, he raised his talons and attempted to slash him with his sharp claws. Dirge sidestepped out of the way from the first two swipes, but on the third, he caught and grabbed his talon. Putting his back behind him and ducked, he threw the griffin over him. Slamming him onto the dirt.

Eagle rolled back onto his front and tried to stand up, but was pinned back down by a hoof on the back of his throat. “Grr… ! Go ahead! Do your worst! I ain’t afraid of some overgrown pest-- urgh!” More pressure was applied onto his back.

“Then allow me to demonstrate why our kind are on top of the food chain!” Dirge took this opportunity to both satiate some of his hunger and prevent these two from getting up again anytime soon. He craned his head, opened his mouth, and started to forcibly drain the griffin’s energy. A green mist evaporated from him and was sucked into the changeling. As he absorbed it, he noticed the flavor of the emotions was somewhat bitter and foul. He stopped before it made him gag. Coughing a couple times, he couldn’t taste much of any love in it. If this griffin even had any. Definitely didn’t have any care for others at all.

Walking over to the pony who was still struggling to stand, Dirge repeated his action and consumed his emotional energy. His didn’t taste much better, but couldn’t really decide to be picky at the moment.

There wasn’t much sustenance to take from them, but at least they were too weak to fight back since their stamina was also affected from the draining. Dirge still wasn’t full, but this would help keep him going for a while longer. Now done and over with their quarrel, he went to pick up his straw hat. Dusting it off and putting it back on as he walked past by the now defeated offenders.

“Underestimating your enemy can prove to be a fatal mistake. Learn to pick your fights more wisely.” Dirge said and then afterwards, trotted away and resumed his trek.

Rough Sport, whom only had enough strength to talk, watched the changeling leave. He chuckled weakly and grinned. “Heh heh… hey, Eagle Eye… ?”

“Uuugh… what?”

“I think… I may have… found a way to pay off our debt.”

The town that had been distantly far was now in full and close view. Today seemed to be a lively day as there were ponies everywhere going from one place to another.

Dirge remembered this specific place as he came here once on one of his infiltration missions many months ago. It certainly was bigger than the last time he visited as there more homes and buildings in addition to its expansion. He was currently hidden from view behind some foliage in the town’s outskirts. Watching the townsfolk while thinking of a way to pass through.

He thought back to Zable’s words for a moment.

“Please. Give them chance. I was strange guest like you once.”

And then his recently discouraging encounter with those hostile strangers.

“Your kind may think you’re all clever, but you ain’t nothing but a wolf in sheep’s clothing!”

He looked at his pendant and then himself for a while. Thinking about the latter’s quote. As much as he didn’t like to admit it, he was right. It conflicted with the advice he was given earlier. For all he knew, at least Zable wasn’t met with vicious reception and hunted down by an entire kingdom.

Dirge sighed, forlorn. “Who am I kidding?” He ultimately decided to skip this place altogether. He didn’t want to cause an unnecessary uproar among an already alert population. Leaving his position, he left to circle around the town as far as possible as it felt it was the best course of action to go undetected.

After going through completely, he hurried along across the dirt road and out of sight from any peering eyes that may have seen him. But out of regret, he looked back to the town behind him. If his old zebra friend were here now, he’d be shaking his head in disappointment. He held his hat down over his eyes and continued his journey towards who-knows-where.

While he was absentmindedly walking away, a mare and a stallion pulling carts with empty baskets were about to cross paths with him. Just now noticing the two, Dirge snapped out of his daydreaming and stopped in his tracks to see they were getting closer. He looked around for a place to hide, but it was pointless as he was out in the middle of the big open fields.

“Hey!” The mare waved her hoof to him to grab his attention. However, he pretended not to notice and backed away slowly. She was intrigued by his appearance and trotted faster towards him. Though as soon as she was close enough to get a better look at him, she paused. Her eyes went wide and gasped in horror. “Oh my gosh!”

Dirge kept his distance and did his best to keep the new situation under a level head. “Listen, I’m merely passing through. There’s no need for panic.”

“Are ya alright, mister!?” She asked. Surprisingly concerned.

“Huh?” Dirge was now confused.

“I mean, just lookin’ at ya, you look like ya got pierced by somethin’ awful! How can ya still walk like that!?” She said, pointing towards his hooves and possibly his front scars as well.

Dirge didn’t know what to say. In his bewilderment, he made a closer inspection of the mare before him. He thought he recognized her, but thinking back, she looked exactly like one of the ponies one of his underlings impersonated during his last mission. Those green eyes and mane with pigtails, along with that orange fur were unmistakable. Getting back to her question, he answered meekly, “I’m… fine. Really.”

“Surely? Cause I’m findin’ it hard to believe somepony like you can walk even a mile in those hooves.” She said, still quizzically looking at him. “Why don’t ya go back into town and have yourself looked at? My cousin knows a good doctor and I’m sure he’ll fix ya up, right quick!”

“No thanks. Like I said, I’m just… passing through.” Dirge said, avoiding eye contact now.

“Wait, ya mean you haven’t even stopped by and checked out our stalls ‘n’ stuff? We sell some of the best apple fritters ‘n’ pies in all of Equestria! ‘Course, my niece has me beat in that regard, but… “ She giggled and stepped a bit closer. “Nopony beats my vanilla brown betties and you won’t find anythin’ better for miles!”

“That’s… wonderful.”

“And speakin’ of! The name’s Apple Brown Betty, but ya can just call me Betty if ya’d like!” She took Dirge’s hoof and enthusiastically shook it. “Hope I didn’t hurt ya or nothin’. And over here… !” She motioned towards the stallion behind her, an amber colored pony with green eyes and mane wearing a ten gallon hat, who now joined her in the conversation. “... is my husband Bushel!”

“Howdy.” He nodded with a smile.

“We was just headin’ back after makin’ a delivery. Why don’t you join us back to our place and we can give ya a grand tour around town while we’re at it?”

“N-no, I can’t…” Dirge tried to walk away until Betty placed her hoof on his back.

“Aww, come on!” She stared at him sadly. “Look, I can’t forgive myself if I let somepony like you just walk away with nothin’. ‘Specially in your condition. I promise you’ll like what we have to offer!”

Dirge didn’t feel the same excitement as she did and only dreaded the thought of arousing trouble around more ponies. He may have been lucky enough to meet one that didn’t suspect him for what he was, but if any fortune was on his side, he was going to have to find out. Even if he regretted it. After his near death experience, he already had nothing more to lose. With a heavy sigh, he turned towards the mare and said, “You’re not leaving me with any other choice, are you?”

She smiled and blinked in joy. “Nope!”

The trio made their way into the town nearby and were now making conversation to pass the time. They were going at a steady pace so there was no rush to get to their destination. Dirge was walking between the two ponies.

“So, I was gonna ask ya… that hat of yours looks pretty familiar. You gone by a zebra by the name of Zable, by any chance?”

“We’ve been acquainted. Helped me in more ways than one. He’s the reason I’m still walking today.” Dirge said. Growing slightly more cautious and worried with every passing second.

“Aww, that’s so sweet of him. I always get worried about the poor guy gettin’ all lonely up there. Nice to know he had more company than just us.” Betty said with a caring tone and expression. “So, where ya from, anyway? Never seen your type ‘round here before. Most we get in these parts ‘sides the usual ponies are a few griffins, mules, and some protein guzzlin’ minotaur. But then again, it was the same thing with Zable, and look where we are now!” She chuckled and then patted Dirge on the back softly. “I’m sure everypony else will warm up to ya eventually.”

Dirge didn’t respond right away. They couldn’t see it, but underneath his hat, he hid his pained expression. He began to feel a tightness in his stomach that made him uneasy the closer he was getting to the town’s reaches.

“Eh heh. Sorry if I’m bein’ too nosy or anythin’, but I didn’t catch yer name either. Err… what was it again?” She asked nervously.

When he went silent, Bushel noticed his deep frown. Looking a little concerned, he nudged Dirge lightly. “Uhh… stranger?”

“Alright, ya’ll! We’re here!” Betty said as soon as they stopped to see that they’ve arrived. “Welcome to Appleton!”

It was the same tranquil scenery from before. Looking at the buildings in more detail, they were mostly built out of wood with the roofs made of stone tiles. All of them were either painted in bright colors. Ranging from white, orange, or brown. The residential homes looked more or less the same from each other.

They stopped at the most populated area of the town, where all the shops and locals were gathered. Luckily, nobody had noticed them yet. That was about to change soon enough.

“This place’s gettin’ bigger by the passin’ months ever since the Apple Family’s been expandin’. Some of us wanted to live closer to each other, so we settled here over a year ago and things took off from there. Soon as we knew it, ponies from all around started vistin’ and even moved in. I guess everypony shared the same taste in apples as we did that brought us all together. S’like we’re all one big happy family!” She smiled with glee, then looked towards Dirge. “So’s this really the first time you came by here?”

He was still on edge, but knew that if he acted out of place, it would only attract the wrong crowd. Keeping his self-control in check, he replied, “Can’t say that it is.”

“Oh, then this is gonna be real excitin’ then! Follow me and I’ll show ya ‘round the best parts of the neighborhood!” She said, while they now entered and passed into the main street. “So, over here, we got my favorite coffeeshop! Or caff-ay if you like pronouncin’ it in fancy! S’got a nice view of the outside and the owner’s a good friend of mine! Usually I grab myself a cup of coffee and some apple tarts when I go there every other day and it’s a divine treat every time! And over here we have--”

While Apple Betty went on with her chatter, Dirge however, kept his head held low. While his hat and fur cover concealed most of his body, it still didn’t hide his fangs, the fins behind his head, and lower holed hooves. He was already at risk of other ponies taking notice of those. Some of them were blissfully unaware of his presence while they were going about their own lives. The rest, though, took curious glances at him.

“... and to yer right, we got--”

A few ponies simply stared at him in awe. A mare hid her filly behind her. A couple stepped out of a building, gasped, then quickly headed back inside. Dirge didn’t have to look at them to know they were afraid. The fear he sensed from them was already enough to tell him so. He grit his teeth in his mouth, hoping this would be over soon. Thankfully, Betty and Bushel were there by his side to vouch for him, but they could only do so much.

“And finally, our orchards!” All three of them were now in front a huge field of apple trees, separated from a fence to signify their property. They turned from the road they walked on and then strolled towards a barn within view. The apple fields at their side now. “Great Apple Orchards, that is! Ain’t it quite the sight?” Betty said with pride. “By the by, where were ya plannin’ on stayin’ tonight?”

“I…” Dirge was still anxious after that uncomfortable experience. Nonetheless, he remained calm. “... wasn’t planning on staying anywhere in particular.”

“Well, we can’t have that! I’d be delighted to let ya stay over this evenin’.”

“I’d only become a burden.”

“Now don’t be thinkin’ such nonsense! We got a spare guest room ya can lounge in.”

Arriving to the big red barn, Betty removed her harness from the cart. “Bushel, be a darlin’ and put these away? I’ma head inside and introduce our new friend here to our family.”

“Sure thing, hon.” Bushel said with a nod.

Yet again, Dirge felt apprehensive about meeting more unwilling ponies. He could’ve just made a run for it before all this, but he held onto Zable’s words in his mind still. He’d have to get used to the company he would be staying with, or rather the other way in this case. It was a little too late to turn back now anyhow. This mare was friendly enough, but didn’t have hope to meet anymore like her.

She opened the door to the inside and entered with her guest behind her. “We’re back, ya’ll! And I brought somepony along!”

“Who is it, auntie?” Momentarily, two mares came walking downstairs.The first to speak was a yellow coated pony with a red mane and tail with amber eyes wearing a green neckerchief. The second following behind had lime colored fur with red mane and pigtails.

“Mister, this here’s Apple Bumpkin and Candy Apples. Say hello, girls!” Betty said as she pointed towards them each.

“Heya.” Candy nodded.

“Hi! Uhh…” Bumpkin paused. Both mares were now surveying Dirge with their brows raised.

“Come on, girls. Don’t be shy. He won’t bite!”

Though apparently, they were not the only ones. Still hiding his eyes under his hat, Dirge kept his head low to avoid making contact with them. But their emotions told him they were still somewhat afraid of him. They were completely baffled when they eyed the holes in his hooves. The awkward moment was suddenly broken when he was pushed closer to the mares by Betty.

“Go on and greet yerself! The day ain’t gettin’ any younger!”

Dirge cleared his throat and lightly bowed his head before speaking. “Good day.”

His show of politeness managed to impress them, though, only a little. But it was enough to bring their anxiety down and back into a form of more curiosity. He was no stranger to these situations, however. For back in his early years of infiltrating into pony society, it was an emphasized point to fit into their groups. Only this time, being exposed in his natural form made this scenario a little unpleasant for him.

“”Quite the gentlecolt too, ain’t he?” Asked Betty.

“He’s… tall.” Said Bumpkin as plainly as she could.

“Yup! Just like our cousin Big McIntosh!”

“And… weird.” Candy said awkwardly.

“Alright, gals. Let’s not ask too much. We don’t wanna make him feel too outta place now.”

During their chat, another pony, a stallion, came walking down the stairs. Unaware of the new visitor.

“Hey, ma. Welcome back.” He diverted his attention from Betty and onto the stranger. “Who’d ya bring over… with… ya… ?” He slowed down and stared in confusion. It wasn’t until he looked at him closer that he realized something. “Hey, w-wait a second… !”

This stallion was all too familiar to Dirge. Not just from his voice alone, but his dark red fur, black mane and tail brought back memories. His cutie mark, a half eaten apple, was unmistakable as well. It was the same pony who visited him back at Zable’s cabin and the unfortunate soul who - Dirge had thought - suffered from a fatal injury during a certain mission all those months ago.

Dirge backed away slowly, but the stallion edged closer and removed his hat. His whole head was revealed, but he looked away in mortification.

“I-it’s--!” He expressed a look of a shock and screamed in terror. Backing away towards the wall behind him and pointed a hoof at the exposed changeling. “IT’S HIM!!”

“Crimson! What the hay’s gotten into you!?” Betty asked.

“It’s him, ma! That weird space alien pony I told ya about! The one that tried to kill me!” He said, shaking in fear.

“Space… alien… pony?” Betty arched an eyebrow. “Aww, gosh darnit, Crimson! You been readin’ those stupid comic books again, haven’t ya!?”

“B-but it’s true! He and his buddies tried to take over the town! But nopony would believe me!”

“Oh, come off it, Crimson! You know that’s just a bunch of hogwash and you know it!”

“Then how do ya explain this!?” He pointed under his neck to reveal a scar.

“And I told ya you were just gettin’ off on the hard cider again and hurt yerself! Yer lucky somepony found ya in time before it got worse!”

“But, ma--!!”

“That’s enough!” She stomped her hoof to silence him. “I don’t wanna hear no more of this rubbish! Now, yer just gonna have to learn to get along cause he’s stayin’ over for the night whether ya like it or not!”

“What!?” Crimson said in his remaining shock.

“Now get out there and help yer father with his work! He’s got a long day ahead of him and he would appreciate the help!”

“Y-yes, ma…” He got back up and reluctantly walked past Dirge. He glared at him in displeasure. “I don’t trust ya one bit, ya hear?”

As he walked out the door, Betty came back to Dirge and looked at him with a reassuring smile. “Don’t mind my son. He’s Crimson Delight, by the way. Sometimes he can be a lil’, uhh… eccentric, but he’s a good kid.”

Dirge hadn’t changed his expression after that bout, but to his own awareness, it changed into a slightly grimmer look. The coming evening was not something he would be looking forward to.

“Goodness! What happened to yer head!?” She said, noticing the bandages around his horn. “That was suppose’d be yer horn, right?”

Dirge shook his head. “It’s nothing.”

“Huh. Now that I have a better look at ya, you do seem awfully… uh, outlandish. No offense, o’ course. Dunno what all them holes are for, but who am I to question, amirite?” Betty chuckled nervously. “Come on upstairs and I’ll show ya to yer room.”

After picking up his hat, Dirge followed her upstairs, but not before giving the other two mares one last glance. They looked surprisingly neutral after what happened, but their fear did not leave them altogether. Sighing, he left for the upper floor for where he’d hope he’d be left in peace for a while.

Later that day, Crimson Delight was helping his other family members with their daily tasks. Currently, moving buckets of apples back to the barn after his father was finished bucking them off the trees. Angrily mumbling to himself while doing his job, unhappy that he was forced to stay with somebody, under the same roof, he didn’t approve of. Not to mention the potential risk of harm that stranger brought along with him. Not only worried about himself, but for the rest of his family. What upset him most was the fact that nobody believed his accusations.

He trotted over to his father who is in the middle of his work. Wanting a word with him about their recent visitor. “Hey, pa? Don’t ya think we’re bein a little too acceptin’ of the new guy? I mean, we barely know him or where came from!”

Bushel just about finished with his apple bucking and then looked to his son while taking a breather. “Huh?” Afterwards, wiping the sweat off his brow.

“Did ya see his freaky lookin’ eyes and how his front teeth stuck out!? How can ya trust somepony like that!?” Crimson said.

“Not this again, son. Look, if yer mother’s word was good enough to let him over, then it’s good enough for me. Why can’t ya just give him a chance?”

“Oh, sure, pa! Lemme see if he won’t try to kill me this time!” He said sarcastically.

Bushel rolled his eyes and sighed. “Crimson, I really don’t have time for this.” He said as he walked over to the next tree.

“He’s got to ya too! What did he say to ya, pa? What did he do!?”

Though Bushel resumed his work nonchalantly.

Letting his father go to his own business, Crimson grit his teeth in irritation. Next, he saw his cousins Apple Bumpkin and Candy Apples working beside the barn stacking hay and sorting apples. He trotted over to them and proceeded with the same sense of curiosity.

“Did you two notice anything too unusual or, uh… mysterious about that new guy?”

Both mares looked at each other and then back to Crimson. “Yyyyeah?” Said Bumpkin with one eye raised.

“And?” Crimson persisted.

“He was… dressed funny.” Candy said.

“Uh huh?” He nodded.

“And had big teeth.” Bumpkin said.

“And?”

“He had a lot of holes in his hooves.” Candy said.

“And!?”

“He didn’t have any fur of his own.” Bumpkin said.

“Ugh!” Crimson facehoofed. “No! I mean, did he look suspicious to any of ya’ll!? Ya know, like he was hidin’ somethin’!?”

The mares shrugged, still unsure of what he was getting at. “I dunno. Maybe? He did carry a saddlebag.” Bumpkin replied, but looked uncertain herself.

“So, that’s gotta be it then! He’s up to somethin’ and I know it!” Crimson then looked up at the second story window of the guest room to see the one of his allegations.

Dirge was leaning on the windowsill with his head resting on his forehooves. Looking somber as ever while overlooking the town ahead. He didn’t pay any mind to the ponies below him, regardless of the conversation going on behind his back. After a moment, he retreated back inside the room and disappeared from view.

“Whatever it is, I’ll be the one uncover it and expose him for what he really is!” With that, Crimson scurried off. Leaving the two mares to their duties.

“Is he usually like this?” Candy asked, raising an eye in perplexion.

“Meh.” Apple Bumpkin shrugged. “Ya get used to it after livin’ with him for so long. ”

“How’s that?”

“This one time, when he was just a colt, he thought our house was haunted. Couldn’t go by himself for nights to go to the bathroom without me holdin’ his hoof.”

They giggled at the thought of that. Each returning to their work while passing the time with other less important topics. The day went by smoothly for the rest of the family, except for one stallion who couldn’t shake his paranoia away until he had his answers.

The sun was finally setting and the day was now nearing its end. The two mares and stallions were heading back inside after finishing their daily routines and were going to top it off with a meal before heading to bed.

Apple Betty set the table in the kitchen to get it ready for supper. Everyone took their seats and exchanged words while they waited for their food to be served. Afterwards, she went upstairs to fetch her guest to invite him over to eat with. At first, he was hesitant on joining them, but knowing it would be rude to turn her down after her display of hospitality today, he nevertheless went to partake in the moment.

Gathering downstairs with the family, Dirge was about to take his seat at the opposite end of the table when Crimson expressed his disapproval.

“Wait, why does he have to sit with us!?”

“Crimson, behave yerself this time! We’re all here to enjoy ourselves as family like any other night and I don’t see no reason why he can’t be here either.” Betty said as she was getting their plates ready.

“But he ain’t even one of us!” Crimson banged his hoof on the table.

“True, but tonight, let’s give him the ol’ Apple Family treatment and see what it means to be one of us.” Betty smiled as she placed a big bowl of apple salad in the middle of the table.

Crimson groaned in anger while Dirge sat down. The stallion continued to eye him in the same manner, determined not to let him out of his sight.

Their dishes were at last served and everyone started to eat except the two who were feeling the most tense sitting across from each other. Crimson took slow bites and chewed his food without looking away from the one in front of him. Dirge only looked back at him almost bored, but when he was taking too long to start eating, it only arose more suspicion from his accuser.

“What’s the matter!? Can’t eat our food ‘cause ya know it’s poison for ya!?”

“Crimson! Shush!” Betty said to him, now growing slightly annoyed.

Dirge took an apple slice from his salad and chewed it in his mouth. Crimson wasn’t showing any satisfaction, but then ate bigger portions of his food. Eating it at a normal pace now. This, however, did nothing to please the other.

“How’d ya like it?” Betty asked. “S’good, right? Not too tangy or sweet for yer tastebuds, I hope?”

Dirge lightly nodded after swallowing. “It’s fine.”

“Yeah, it better be!” Crimson yelled.

Betty cleared her throat loudly while looking at her son unamused, then back to her guest. “So, I was still wonderin’ ‘n’ all… where’d ya get yer stuff from? Haven’t seen that kind of clothing going around these parts.”

“They were gifts from Zable.”

“Or more like he robbed 'em!” Crimson persisted.

Betty sighed, but ignored his comment. “I remember ya sayin’ ya both met a while ago. S’that why yer horn’s all wrapped up like that?”

“Mm hmm.” Dirge said while eating another round of his food.

“That’s mighty kind of him.” She said.

“What’s that pendant around your neck for?” Apple Bumpkin asked.

“What kinda fur is that?” Candy Apples also wondered.

“What planet are ya from!?” Crimson interrupted.

“Crimson!!” Betty stomped her forehooves on the table. She was on her last nerve after hearing more of her son’s incessant claims.

“It’s alright.” Dirge said. Upon hearing that, everyone turned their attention to him. Surprised that he seemed calm. “He’s just as curious as everyone else is and he has every right to be.”

“I-I’m sorry about him. Ya don’t need to humour him at all. He’ll just let it go to his head like always.” Betty nervously smiled while twirling her hoof by her ear.

“No, ma! We oughta know what and who he really is! For everypony’s sake!” Crimson pointed his hoof across the table.

“Celestia, help me…” Betty proceeded to plant her hooves to her face.

Dirge looked to him expectantly. Waiting for whatever questions the curious stallion may have. No matter how bizarre they may be.

“For example! Who’re ya servin’? Where’d ya come from? How many ponies did ya abduct? And how many more died because of you!?”

While the rest of them looked away from him embarrassingly, Dirge, however, looked increasingly uncomfortable now. Silence filled the room for nearly a minute. He then turned to Betty with her head now tilted up and her eyes staring at the ceiling.

“I… need to excuse myself. Would you mind if retired for the night?”

“Go right ahead, dear.” Betty said, still displeased.

As Dirge walked back upstairs, Crimson stood up from his seat. “Hey! I ain’t done with ya yet! You can’t just leave--!”

“Siddown, Crimson! Ya couldn’t just let go of yer ridiculous beliefs for one night!? Honestly, what’s anypony to do ‘bout ya!?” Betty said, disappointed.

“I was only trying to--!”

“And no dessert for ya neither! Ya can think about what ya’ve done while yer gonna apologize to him first thing in the mornin'!”

“Tsk!” Crimson crossed his hooves. Angered again that his family would take the stranger’s side and not his. He had no intention of apologizing to him either. Instead, he would take matters into his own hooves.

It was well into the night. The moon shined brightly down from its place high in the sky. The hour was late and everyone else was sound asleep. All except for a certain pony who’s fixation on another within the same household would not fade. The worry preventing him from getting any wink of sleep.

Crimson was tucked in bed, but didn’t look the least bit tired. He remained wide awake with his agitative state keeping him up. He still couldn’t believe that no one would take him seriously. They all thought this was a joke. But in the midst of his thinking, an idea sprang into mind. One that would rid of his problem for good. He would get his own ‘just desserts’ tonight after all.

Getting up from his bed, Crimson quietly walked out of his room and into the kitchen downstairs. Trying to keep his presence silent as possible with careful steps along the way. He went to the drawer containing the cooking utensils and withdrew a knife. It looked big enough to do the job and afterwards, proceeded to the guest room with the weapon’s handle held in his mouth.

The creaking floorboards did not help in undertaking his stealth attempt and took wider, but slower steps. Upon reaching the door to the room, he opened it cautiously and peeked inside.

Dirge was currently sitting by the window looking outside. He held his dream catcher pendant high into the moon’s center. Trying to figure out whatever magic the charm had. He didn’t have a clue how it worked and wanted a peaceful night of sleep. However much he needed it right now, wishing into it didn’t make it respond with anything either. After shaking it a little, he looked dissatisfied and stopped before he could make a bigger fool of himself.

Unaware of being observed, Crimson watched him closely for any sudden moves. A minute had passed and still nothing suspicious. He took this chance to enact his justice for what he did to him.

Crimson opened the door carefully, but it swung with a squeak. This startled him, but not his target who hadn’t taken notice yet. He let out a breath of relief and continued to sneak up on his victim with his back bent low this time.

Dirge, however, had already been aware of him. As soon as he came within the vicinity of the door, his changeling senses allowed him to feel the strong emotions lingering nearby. It was those of fear, hatred, and malice. The former two were more noticeable than the latter. Not only that, the kid was doing a poor job of keeping himself discreet with each move, but he gave him the benefit of the doubt and didn’t turn his attention to him.

Crimson was close enough to land a fatal strike to his back now. He took his knife from his mouth and held it high with his shaking hooves. He hesitated for a moment, but knew this wasn’t the time. Fear overtook him again and his heart was racing. He had never done this before, but if he didn’t act now, he would put his whole family at risk and even the rest of society. Resuming his stance, he raised the knife again.

“Are you sure that’s wise?” Dirge said all of a sudden, not having turned behind him yet.

Crimson froze. He wondered if he was talking to himself or to him directly.

“I used to think that was the answer too. But I had to learn the hard way that rash actions lead to dire consequences.”

Hearing him talk in a non-alarming tone made Crimson lower his knife. Seemingly willing to listen to what he had to say first.

“You didn’t deserve what happened to you. I admit, it was my fault that things didn’t turn out the way I had planned, but that’s life.”

Crimson was in disbelief at what he was saying. He sounded remorseful and his previous intention to attack him was fading quickly. But more questions took over in his mind.

“I understand you’re trying to protect yourself and your family. But if you think you’re making the right decision, then I hope you’re ready to deal with the aftermath. That’s a burden you’ll be carrying for the rest of your life. If you’re prepared to deal with that as well, then go ahead and strike me down while you’re still at it. I won’t stop you.”

At this point, Crimson was speechless. He looked at the knife in his hoof and then towards him. Unsure of what to do now. The conflicts of decisions going on in his mind had cleared out. He no longer had the will to carry out his execution. Regret overcame his expression.

“Back at the cabin…” Dirge looked to him calmly. “... do you still hope for my better health? Or do you wish I remained bedridden?”

“T-that was you?” Crimson said looking surprised. He eyed around the room, not knowing how to respond. “Well, I… uh…” He briefly spotted the saddlebag sitting on top of the cabinet and went to grab it. “I-I still don’t trust ya! You prolly got some secret weapon in here that’ll--!” A mere flower dropped from the bag and onto the floor. He picked it up and appeared puzzled by the discovery “... deceive… us?”

Dirge turned his gaze back outside. Not really interested in his reaction. “Believe what you want.”

Crimson set aside the bag and flower and hung his head low. “I… dunno what to do nomore…”

“Then you can start by returning to bed and forget this ever happened. You can always look forward to tomorrow to begin fresh and anew. Considering your job, you’ve got another long day ahead of you.”

“Uh, o-okay. I’ll do that then.” Crimson picked up his knife and walked towards the door. Before he left, he asked, “What about you?”

“What about me?”

“Ain’t ya headin’ to bed too?”

“I’ll sleep on my own time.”

“A-alright then.” Crimson opened and closed the door, but not before he said, “See ya in the mornin’.”

Left alone now, Dirge looked back at his pendant. There wasn’t much else he could do about it anymore. He would just have to wear it to sleep and see if it did him any good then. Regretting the thought of not having asking Zable for in depth information on this thing before he left.

The next morning, Betty spent her early hours at her favorite cafe. She was sitting at a table indoors next to the large windows overlooking the fields outside the town. She had her usual coffee along with some apple tarts

One of the cafe’s employees, a mare with a yellow coat and green mane and tail styled in pigtails wearing an apron, walked out of the other side of the counter and went to serve a tray of cups to a couple customers reading the newspapers sitting at a table. “Here’re your orders, sirs. Enjoy.” She bowed and left them to their business.

When she caught sight of Betty, she gasped and trotted over to her. “Betty!”

“Oh, g’mornin’ Fritter! How’re ya?”

Fritter hugged her tightly. “Oh, Betty! I’m glad you’re alright!”

Betty arched an eye in confusion. “Course I am, hon. Why wouldn’t I be?”

Letting go of her, Fritter looked at her worryingly. “I-it’s just that some of the townsfolk have been saying they’ve seen you yesterday with a… !” She looked around before whispering in her ear. “C-h-a-n-g-e-l-i-n-g!”

“A what now?”

“Betty! How could you not know!? They’re those creepy, black skinned, bug looking ponies that suck the life outta you! They were even on the front page of last month’s newspaper!”

One of the customers reading said paper perked their ears up upon listening in on their conversation.

Betty gave a hearty laugh and waved her hoof in dismissal at her. “Now yer startin’ to sound like my son!” She wiped a small tear from her eye. “But naw, seriously. I stopped readin’ that junk a long time ago when it became nothin’ more than filly’s gossip and them gaudy Canterlot ponies showin’ off their fancy new apparel.”

“They attacked Canterlot! We could be next! But who knows when another one of those things could pop up again!?”

Betty tapped her chin. “Are ya sure yer not just overexaggeratin’? The fella I know wouldn’t hurt a fly.”

“I was there when it happened! We were all running away from them when they tried to invade us! Thank the princesses they got dealt with. Any later and we woulda been done for! Luckily, nopony got harmed too badly, but they left most, if not all of Equestria on the lookout for ‘em!”

This left Betty concerned. Perhaps she placed a little too much trust on the stranger still at home, but was certain he wasn’t exactly like what Fritter described. “They… they can’t all be like that, can they?”

“We can’t be too sure! If ya know that stranger’s one of ‘em, you gotta let the guard know!”

Betty rose from her seat and walked towards the exit with Apple Fritter following. “Well, I… gotta do my weekly round of grocery shoppin’. Be seein’ ya same time tomorrow, Frit!” She took her leave as Fritter waved goodbye.

“Stay safe!”

Suddenly, Fritter was tapped on her shoulder.

“Excuse us, missy.”

She looked behind her to see an earth pony and griffin with a sly grin on his face.

“We couldn’t help but overhear your little chat there. What was that about changelings now?”

Author's Note

Props to anyone who can spot the little game reference I made.

And yes, I'll be using some minor ones throughout the story.

Rogues

The morning had progressed well into the day and only less than a few hours remained until noon arrived. The resident ponies of the Great Apple Orchards barn were already preparing to tend to their daily farm work, save for a couple of them remaining inside and a certain changeling still under temporary stay.

Dirge was sound asleep on his bed, clutching his hooves onto his dream catcher pendant and holding it close to his chest. Without any way of actually knowing how the thing particularly worked, he placed a bit of faith into it in hopes of giving him peaceful slumber. Albeit his reluctantness in putting hope into such an object seemed far fetched even for him, it seemed to be working, judging from his calm expression.

From behind him, peeking through the door, was Crimson Delight, whom observed him for a little while now just to see if he was still there and checking up on him just in case. Again, there were no signs of anything malicious and all seemed well. He breathed a sigh of relief and closed the door quietly, then headed back downstairs.

Sitting at the kitchen table, eating her breakfast of apple cinnamon pancakes, was Apple Bumpkin. She was about finished with her meal and sat up from her seat until she noticed Crimson coming down, equipped with a saddlebag. He approached her nervously, shifting a hoof to his other and rubbing a little roughly.

“Hey, uh… cous’? Could ya do me a favor and tell ma and pa I’ll be back later? I’ma head out to Zabe’s and pick up some, uh… meds again.”

Bumpkin looked at him suspiciously. Confused as to why he was acting slightly anxious. “Ooookay, sure, but… why ya actin’ all strange about it? Not that I should be surprised...” She rolled her eyes and gave him a deadpan look. “Did ya wet the bed again?”

“Hey! That was a one time thing! And that ain’t what I’m gettin’ at!” He then stared at the floor for a moment and sighed. “It’s just that… well… I’d been thinkin’ that if that stranger knows Zabe, I figure, maybe, I can go ‘n’ ask about him. Ya know, see if I can get some answers outta him while I’m at it.”

“Yer still on about that?” Bumpkin asked boredly.

“Well, better safe than sorry!” Crimson said, assertively.

“Whatever ya say.” Bumpkin replied, sarcastically. “Though, while yer out and about, could ya pick up some sugar and flour? Auntie’s gonna be makin’ another batch of pies soon to sell at our stalls and we’re runnin’ low on baking supplies.”

“Sure.” Crimson nodded. “I’ll be makin’ my way then.” Afterwards making his way to the front door.

Meanwhile, on the path leading to the barn, a couple of visitors were on their way to the orchards. An earth pony and a griffin, both looking rather displeased after their morning coffee.

Rough Sport, the rugged looking pony, held a glass bottle of hard cider in his hoof. He drank a single gulp of it before speaking up again. “That was some of the worst coffee I’ve ever had.”

“You’re telling me.” The griffin, Eagle Eye, agreed. “Seriously... five bits for a latte! What a rip off! It’s worth half a bit at most!”

Rough took another dose of cider into his mouth. He swirled it around his tongue and gurgled it before spitting it out. Trying to wash off the aftertaste from his morning beverage. “And this stuff ain’t much better either! ‘Best cider in town’, my flank! Tastes more watered down than the crap they serve back at the tavern. Would’ve told that waitress to shove it if she hadn’t been gracious enough to tip us off on that changeling.”

“Speaking of,” Eagle raised his brow out of curiosity. “What’re we gonna do once we get there? Just gonna waltz in and nab that freak? Assuming he’s already taken those idiot ponies as captives and wrecked the place by now.”

“Don’t matter. Once we have him in sight, we bind him down and cuff him. Ol’ southern style.” Rough grinned with confidence. “Who knows? If they’re still alive, maybe they’ll reward us for doing some pest control!”

“Yeah, last time we tried that, we got our rumps handed to us. What makes you think we’ll have luck on our side this time?”

“Heh.” Rough smirked as he violently smashed his bottle against the fence beside him. “You leave that to me.”

“Woah-ho, chief! What’ve ya got up your sleeve this time?” Eagle Eye asked, slightly surprised by his cohort’s abrupt action.

“If he doesn’t come quietly, we’ll just use a bit more... ‘persuasion’. Like I used to say: You wanna get what you want? You gotta up the stakes!” Rough said with a confident grin.

While the two were making their scheme along the way to their destination, they had finally set into the orchard’s territory. Now making their way to the barn and reaching for the front door only a short while later. Approaching the main entrance, Rough Sport took the lead with Eagle following closely behind.

“You just stand back and let me take the initiative. Get the ropes ready in case-”

Without notice, the front door suddenly opened to reveal Crimson Delight. About to make his way out until he paused in front the two strangers before him. All of them looked baffled for a moment.

“Well, whaddya know? Signs of life.” Eagle Eye said with a raised brow.

“Uh… can I help ya’ll?” Crimson asked.

Rough Sport glanced at Eagle Eye expectantly and cleared his throat loudly before speaking. “G’day to you, sir!" He greeted politely before he took his hat off and held it to his chest. “We’re part of a, uh… group that deals with all manners of dangerous beasts. Wildlife specialists, you could call us! We understand you may have come across a certain... untamed, wretch recently?”

“L-like what?” Crimson nervously asked.

“Word through the grapevine has it that you’ve seen a changeling around the area.” Eagle Eye said with a hint of curiosity. “You wouldn’t happen to know where it’s gone, would ya?”

“A changelin’? I’m s-sorry, but I ‘unno what that is.” Crimson said as he shook his head.

“Are you dense!? How could ya not-- mmph!” Rough was interrupted by Eagle forcibly placing a talon to his mouth before he could finish.

“What he meant to say was; if you’ve seen any wild, black-lookin’ critters that can shapeshift in the blink of an eye. Ring any bells?” Eagle said, with Rough glancing at him upsettingly.

“I-I, uh… m-may have.” Crimson’s eyes stared elsewhere while he looked increasingly anxious. Recalling the horrible events that almost ended his life amongst a gang of those creatures. “But that was a long time ago. Why ya askin’?”

Rough swiped the talon away from his muzzle, glaring at Eagle for a quick second before going back to the young stallion. “We’re looking for one. A big one, at that! And for your own safety, we’re gonna take care of the problem for ya. Now have you seen it or not?”

Crimson caught a clue from their description and thought back to the stranger still sleeping upstairs. Not jumping to conclusions this time, he instead, wondered what these two would do if they acquired knowledge about him and his whereabouts. He didn’t trust them completely with their shady appearances and decided to inquire more about them before giving out more information.

“Why? What’re you gonna do with him?”

“That’s our business.” Rough said, growing impatient by the moment. “Now enough with the questions! Where is it!?”

Crimson was also irked by their continuous pressing and questioning. Having had enough of them, he pushed his way through them and left to be on his way. “I ain’t seen no dangerous lookin’ critters ‘round here! I dunno where ya’ll gettin’ these rumors from, but ya ain’t gettin’ nothin’ from me! Now if ya’ll excuse me, I’ma-- uh!?” He stopped when suddenly felt a pull on his tail.

Rough Sport tugged and pulled the red stallion closer to him. He stared him down, glaring, face to face, with suspicion. “I wasn’t done with ya yet! You think I’m just gonna walk away without my prize!? And how do we know you’re not one of them!?”

Crimson widened his eyes and his lips quivered in fear. “W-w-what’re ya d-doin’!?”

“What in the hay’s goin’ on out here?” Apple Bumpkin stepped out to investigate the shouting. Only to find her cousin and two unknown guests with him.

Seeing the unwanted attention before him now, Rough Sport gripped Crimson by the throat and quickly drew the broken bottle from his jacket and placed it near the younger stallion’s throat.

Crimson panicked as he struggled from his grasp. W-wha… !? Lemme g- ah!”

“Shaddup!” His captor hit him on the side of his head with his hoof, annoyed by his efforts.

“Ugh.” Eagle shook his head and rolled his eyes, dissatisfied with the situation, but not surprised by his partner’s actions. “There goes that plan…”

“Right then. On to Plan B! You!” Rough angrily said, pointing a hoof to the mare. “You best not be hiding any secrets from me, else your boyfriend here’s gonna get a nice new breathing hole! Now answer me! Where’s the changeling!?”

“W-what’s this all about!? I… I don’t know nothin’ about no changelin’!” Bumpkin couldn’t answer straight away between the fear and confusion suddenly inflicted on her.

“He said… !” Eagle Eye grabbed the mare by her neckerchief and pulled her closer. “No secrets!”

“S-stop it! Let go o’ me!”

With all the yelling going on, it caught the attention of another mare and stallion within the barn. Candy Apples and Bushel hurriedly stepped outside from the barn doors within the back to investigate the ruckus. Both of them looked in shock as their younger relatives were being harassed by a couple of strangers with ill intent. Candy stepped forward with the purpose of going in after them to save her family, but was promptly stopped by Bushel, who put a hoof on her shoulder. He shook his head in disapproval and instead, pointed back inside. Urging her to retreat into safety, while he ran off elsewhere with a determined look.

“C’mon! Don’t make me ask again! Spill it!”

The noise was also stirring up another guest inside. That being the changeling in mention.

Dirge turned in his bed, his eyes opening halfway, with the ongoing uproar from outside his window making him grudgingly rise from his rest. He went and looked out to see what all the commotion was about, only to find the same two punks he encountered yesterday. He narrowed his eyes at them as he observed their unjust acts against the innocent farm ponies. Disgruntled, he exited his room and made his way down towards the scene.

Unbeknown to the danger from afar, Apple Betty was making her way home with saddlebags full of groceries. She hummed happily as she trotted back to the barn, looking forward to making more apple treats for the town and her family. When she advanced closer, she paused when she spotted several ponies, including some of her own relatives, as well as a griffon outside their home. She held a hoof above her eyes and squinched to get a closer look at them. With growing curiosity, she approached the strangers. Her smile fading into a concerned frown when she saw Bumpkin pushing back against the griffin.

“What in tarnation is going on here!? Why are ya’ll… !?”

“Tsk!” Rough Sport turned to see another unwanted visitor behind him. Having to deal with more company bothered him, thus elevating his irritation on the current event and strengthening his grip on his hostage. The stallion he still held in his hoof, whom was struggling, let out a yelp as a cry for help.

“Crimson!?” Seeing her son like that caused her to become alarmed. She gasped in horror at the sight of a sharp object being held close to his throat. Her son endangered, she feared for both of their sakes. “Crimson! What’re ya doin’ to my little colt!?”

“Get back! GET BACK!!” Rough Sport pointed at the mare with the broken bottle in an attempt to threaten her as well. “Don’t be trying anything funny now or you’re gonna get the same as this idiot!”

“W-why are ya doin’ this!?” Betty said, now on the verge of crying.

“Auntie! Run!” Bumpkin said while resisting the griffin’s pull on her. “Go ‘n’ get help!”

“There’ll be none of that!” Eagle Eye threatened as he raised a talon with the intent of hitting the mare.

“Leave ‘em alone!” Betty yelled back.

“I said get back!”

“Quit it!”

“You’re asking for it!”

Whilst their pleading and the hostility went about, the one in regard stepped out from the front door. His presence unknown until he spoke up firmly.

“Enough.”

For a brief moment, there was silence. Everyone stared in surprise at the changeling that had just revealed itself. Rough Sport, however, chuckled deviously after a slight moment when he laid eyes on his bounty.

“Well, if it ain’t the star of the show! Been lookin’ all over for your sorry hide after our little encounter.”

Dirge became detested the moment he caught sight of Crimson being held in his grasp with a weapon held by his throat. History seemed to be repeating itself to him with this familiar scenario again. Scowling at the ruffian pony, he walked closer to him. Almost daring him to make a move.

“Hold up now!” Eagle Eye said to his side, pushing the mare he had held away and making her land on her rump with a whimper. He got between his comrade and the changeling. “Don’t go trying to play hero unless you want the unfortunate to happen!”

“Ha!” Rough retorted. “As if this freak of nature would give a damn about some pony’s life! After what he and his kind did!”

Ignoring the threat as well as the risk involved, Dirge dared to step closer. His glaring eyes as a sign of warning to the receiver. “Let him go. He’s not the one at fault here.”

“What’s that!? Haha! So, the monster’s got a heart all along!?” Rough said, raising an eyebrow then deadpanned, looking almost perplexed by the changeling’s reply. “Ooooh, I get it! You’re just saving grace so you can have these ponies to yourself then drain ‘em dry when their guard’s down. Is that it!?”

Skipping his accusation altogether, Dirge remained vigilant. “I won’t repeat myself.”

“No, no, no.” Rough said with a shake of his head. “That’s not how this game’s gonna play out! What you’re gonna do is turn yourself over to us, nice ‘n’ easy, and I won’t have gut this little fibber for hiding you from us!” Afterwards smacking Crimson in the back of his head, followed by his whining.

At first, Dirge growled angrily. However, not wanting to repeat the mistake he felt he made in the past, he looked down in regret. Calmingly sitting down now, he sighed. He felt powerless and as much as he hated it, he surrendered willingly but with a grumble. “Make it brief.”

“Oh, that’s what I intended to do all along!” He then whistled over with a hoof towards Eagle Eye. “Cuff him!”

Complying, the griffin walked over to him and took out a rope from his backpack. “Wise decision, changeling! Don’t worry, this’ll be over right quick!” He said as he tied the bindings over Dirge’s forehooves with a tight knot.

It didn’t feel comfortable being in ropes again. It felt too soon to be in these ties again as it brought back those memories of being in that mundane prison cell. Dirge grit his teeth but never stopped looking at the pony in front of him with contempt.

But Rough countered with the usual grin. “There ya go! Niiiice and easy! Now was that so hard?”

Eagle shared the same wicked smile. “Heh. Now let’s see if we can shut his trap and chain the rest of him up when we get ba-” Though what happened next seemed out of nowhere when a lasso flew above him and wrapped down unto his hind legs and talons. “Eh!? What in the… !?” He fell to the ground with a thud as he was dragged away from the scene.

On the other side, Bushel pulled the rope towards him with Eagle Eye in its binds. As soon as he was within reach, he proceeded to hog-tie the griffin tightly. His wings flapping wildly in protest.

“You stupid, crazy hick! Let go or else I’m gonna… !” Eagle said, still struggling from his bindings.

“Now how’dya like them apples?” Bushel responded. Almost grinning himself from managing to turn the tables on them.

“You idiot! How’d you let that happen!?” Rough yelled to his partner.

“Shut up and get me loose!” The griffin uttered impatiently.

Bushel then eyed the pony holding his son hostage sternly. “How’s about a trade then? Your partner here for my son and none of this’ll have to get anymore messy!”

“Pffeh!” Rough spat. “You can go ahead and keep that bird brain for all I care! I can compensate for his dumb loss with what I’m winning!”

His cohort, however, did not take his reply lightly. “What!? Rough Sport... you dirty double-crossing snake!! You wanna be the one to pay that debt yourself!? Or did you forget!?”

“I was doing just fine without you holding me back! Should’ve left your worthless weight back in those woods!”

While the two were busy arguing amongst themselves, Dirge decided to take this opportunity to act while his captor had his attention elsewhere, therefore leaving his guard down. With his sharp fangs at the ready and with a quick reflex, he lunged forward and bit down hard on Rough’s hoof which held the glass bottle, letting go of it from the sudden jolt of pain.

“GAAAHHH!! SON OF A… !!”

His grip weakened, he was then pushed forcefully to the ground, though not before Crimson took the chance to free himself and scurry away from them both. His mother soon came running towards him, still worried sick. She hugged him tightly as a way to comfort and safeguard him from anymore danger.

Dirge, though, kept the troublemaker pressed down with his binded forehooves to the perpetrator's chest. He roared, with all his fury, in his face like an untamed tiger. Rough could’ve sworn he growled very much like one too. He flashed his sharp, bloody fangs as a way to show unbridled intimidation.

“I should’ve finished you off when I had the chance!”

With Rough Sport on the other side of danger now, he only felt slightly afraid of this uncontrolled beast. Although he mostly felt a rush of adrenaline overcoming him. “What’re you gonna do, huh!? You gonna chew me out alive!?” He took a quick glance at everyone else staring at both him and the changeling. All of them, besides his griffin accomplice, appeared to be looking at them with shocked but expectant observations. For a moment, he considered the daring but inevitable fate with a small but visible grin. “Well, go right ahead then! Why don’t you show these fine folks how you work, eh? Show ‘em a good bloodbath!”

Dirge paused in his actions. He, too, looked towards the farm ponies with his held angry expression. While they did seem expectant, Crimson and Betty though, were almost shivering from fright. Afraid they might end up on the same end when he was through with his current victim. Their ambient fear making it clear to his senses were evident enough. After a short moment, he struggled to calm himself down to a more sane level. Not wanting to stoop down to such primitive rage again. Though his distaste for the one below him did not fade fast enough.

He removed his hooves off of Rough and looked away from him. Feeling ashamed from the way he barely managed to prevent another incident. “Begone.” He said grudgingly to him. “Lest I change my mind and attempt something I’ll regret.”

Slowly picking himself up with his one good hoof left, Rough stood there agitated, once again bent on claiming his ‘catch’. “Oh no, I ain’t leaving ‘til I get what I came for!”

“Then I beg the differ!” Bushel then spoke up. “Ya’ll either leave yerselves, else I’ll turn ya over in ropes as well with the rest of town in tow to the sheriff! And don’t think I can’t neither! Yer just lucky my brother’s out of town!”

“Rough!” Eagle Eye interrupted. “You either get me outta this or you can forget about me cutting you anymore deals!”

As much as he didn’t want to admit it, they still needed each other for future business endeavors. Now on the last straw, Rough grit his teeth and growled loudly in vexation. “FINE!!” He said, directing his anger to every pony else still bothering to watch. “We’re done with this flimsy, backwoods town anyway!” Afterwards, limping over to Bushel and swiping the end of Eagle’s rope with his teeth, dragging his partner on the ground as he left on the road away from the barn. “I’m just gonna have to make due with some other poor sap then! Cause I am done wasting my time with these half-brained rednecks!” He then took one last look at the farm ponies before departing. “Hope that beast of yours tears you all to shreds!” Once more taking his leave when all else was said and done.

“Go on! Scram on outta here!” Bushel yelled.

“You want to untie me first, moron!?” Eagle protested.

“Shut your freakin’ beak already!” Rough grumbled in response.

“Urrgh! Remind me to beat the snot outta you later!”

The two of them now turning away from the barn and leading themselves away from the town as well, Dirge felt relieved enough to start chewing away at the ropes that remained tied to his hooves. Meanwhile, Betty shed a tear, overwhelmed with sadness but happy nonetheless that her son escaped with no harm done.

“Oh, Crimson! Thank goodness yer alright! I thought for sure they were gonna do the unthinkable right then and there!” She kissed him continuously on and on all over his face, joyful to know he came out alive from that frightening experience.

“S-stop it, ma!” Crimson tried to make space between himself and his mother by gently pushing her away. “Yer embarrassin’ me!”

Bushel walked over to Dirge, letting out a sigh of relief and bowed in gratitude, “I, uh… thank ya for what ya did. I dunno what woulda happened if you hadn’t shown up when ya did.”

But Dirge felt he didn’t deserve such appreciation. Not knowing how to respond but by lightly shaking his head, he resumed his removal of his bindings with solemn procession. Although he noticed a strong amount of love coming from the ponies who were sharing their familial affection for each other. It was very familiar to him as he had tasted it before, albeit a long time ago back when his caretaker mother fed him nearly the same sustenance. Nostalgia hit him strong when he picked up that particular emotion.

“Oh, that’s right!” Betty said, finally releasing Crimson from her loving grasp. “Crimson dear, don’t ya have somethin’ to say to him?” She said, lifting a hoof over to the changeling.

Remembering what he had to do, though out of his own decision as well, Crimson glanced sadly over to the one who saved his life. “Yeah… I do.” He proceeded over to him with an apologetic look.

Dirge almost finished with his cuffs when he noticed the young red stallion approaching him cautiously.

“Listen, I… what to mean to say is… thank ya for helpin’ me outta that jam.” Crimson said, shifting his eyes from place to place with his voice quivering in anxiety. “And I’m… s-sorry about everythin’ I said about ya yesterday. I-I mean it. I shouldn’t of said all them nasty things to ya.” He extended a hoof to him as a sign of showing his sincerity and a gesture of expecting a kind pardon. “Ya forgive me, don’tcha?”

Finally untying himself from the ropes loose off his hooves, Dirge examined the young stallion from eye to hoof. Although he did mean well and seemed to have wanted a hoofshake in return, Crimson was left hanging as the changeling simply rose from his spot and turned his back on him, walking back indoors. Feeling as though the gratitude wasn’t necessary.

“You’ve nothing to apologize for.”

As he entered back inside and made his way back upstairs, Crimson stood there puzzled. He looked to his parents who shared the same expressions and scratched the back of his neck with a shrug.

That stranger was indeed a strange one.

Author's Note

This was originally part of a larger single chapter, but since the next one was looking to be reaching 10k words, which I don't really want to stretch out that long, and I've taken more than enough time to update, I decided to go ahead and get this part out of the way.

Consequences

A couple hours later into the day and noon had nearly arrived. During that time, Crimson had prepared to leave for Zable’s home and talk with him for a while as usual. Topics included their general lives, the condition of his scar, a nice lunch, and of course, the concern over a certain changeling. The two of them discussed their own experiences with him, but nothing added up to Crimson’s past claims about his previous suspicions about him.

When everything else was said and done, Crimson parted ways with his distant neighbor with some more treatments for his wound stowed in his saddlebag. It would take another while on the walk back home, though during his trek, he took this time to contemplate on what Zable had told him about the stranger in specific.

He had been told everything the zebras knew about him. His origins, how he was exiled from his home, how he was found nearly dead from his eviction, and even his name. Learning all of this, Crimson felt increasingly guilty over his actions towards Dirge the past day. He vowed to himself that he would make a more profuse apology to him when he returned home.

Arriving back in town, Crimson remembered he also had to pick up a few extra groceries for his mother. He immediately made his way to the nearest market to stock up, but before he could get there, a crowd of towns ponies blocked his way. A noisy commotion had been underway and their conversations were too scrambled for him to make sense of any of it. Just then, a loud authoritative voice grabbed all of their attention, dispersing their chatter when it spoke up.

“Residents of Appleton! Remain calm! If you would all please cooperate with us during this urgent matter, we’ll better handle this situation under proper control!”

Making his way through the crowd after pushing through here and there, Crimson got a better look at the one in the center of the attention. Upon further inspection from the front view, it was a white armored pegasus accompanied by a grey unicorn with similar attire. Both of them wearing golden armor. He had seen these types of royal looking ponies once before in his life a long time ago, but as to why they would be visiting his hometown was a surprising mystery.

“If any pony here has any information regarding the whereabouts of any changelings in the area, I advise all of you to disclose any and such details to us immediately!”

With a light gasp, Crimson became instantly worried as he bit his lip. Wondering as to why the guards would also be looking for changelings and if they would capture them for the same purposes as those thugs from earlier. He was about to get his answer when another unicorn guard passed by and gave him and several ponies alongside a scroll. As soon as he opened up the paper, his eyes widened slightly with concern. It contained a crude sketch of a vicious changeling drawn in the top center along with a written message below it:

BEWARE OF CHANGELINGS!

Wanted for the attempted invasion on the capital of Equestria and the assault on the populace during the royal wedding event.

Report any suspicious behavior and sightings to the royal guard or your local authorities!

Dangerous if confronted!

“This… this can’t be right…” Crimson said as he took one last look at the poster. Shaking his head in denial with his lips quivering, he looked around him to see that the crowd was also making their own voices and expressions of worry and shock. Dropping the paper to the ground, he retreated back through the masses of ponies quickly but carefully. Soon after, rushing his way back on the road leading to his home.

His heart raced almost as fast he galloped with each step of the way. Running onward with great haste to tell the news to his changeling acquaintance, whom hopefully was still lodging in his room. Crimson looked behind him as he ran just to make sure he wasn’t being followed by any of the guards or any pony who might suspect him of anything. Though due to the lack of attention towards the road in front of him, he unexpectedly bumped into yet another pegasus guard. Falling to his rump and rubbing the side of his head from the pain.

“Watch where you tread, citizen!”

“Uh… sorry, sir! I’m in a real hurry and I can’t afford to make any stops right now!”

“Crimson, darlin?” A familiar voice said from his right. Recognizing the spoken pony, whom was a yellow coated and green maned mare. “Are you alright? How’s that scar?”

“Ms. Fritter? Y-yeah, I’m good. I just gotta be headin’ on back home quick-like!”

“Oh?” Fritter said in curiosity. Smiling in relief of hearing of his well being. “Runnin’ another errand? Sorry for holdin’ you up. I was just tellin’ this nice stallion here about that odd fella your mother saw yesterday. You wouldn’t happen to have run across ‘em, did ya?”

Crimson’s pupils shrunk. Almost sweating from anxiety now, his thoughts scrambled to find the right words while his eyes kept darting left and right repeatedly. “Well-- it-- guh-- I, uh-- GAAAAHH!!” And in that instant, he took off running away again.

“Huh.” Fritter arched her brow in bewilderment. “Can’t say I didn’t expect that.” She was nearly left nervous after her friend’s rather abnormal son had retreated rather hastily without much warning. “Eh heh. He’s, uh… rather a spirited young fella, so that was nothin’ new there.”

“Yes. Quite.” The armored pegasus spoke. “Now, as to what you were referring to earlier, madam?”

“Oh, right! I haven’t seen it myself, but from what I’ve heard…” Fritter stared at the sky, tapping a hoof to her chin, recalling the rumors she overheard lately.

All the while, Crimson had already made serious headway back to the barn. Upon reaching the front door, he opened it and instantly afterwards, slammed it closed. Panting for breath as he leaned on the door as if trying to keep intruders out.

“Crimson, hon? Back from your trip already?” Apple Betty greeted him back, though a little stunned from his sudden entrance. “Did ya get the extra ingredients I asked ya to fetch?”

“Nevermind that, ma!” Crimson responded with hurried breath as he ran upstairs.

“Crimson! What in the world… !?” Betty said as she tried to grab her son’s attention. But as he left her sight, she shook her head disappointingly and sighed, though not surprised by her son’s behavior. “That boy…”

Though unaware of the presence of the Equestrian authority in town, Dirge remained in his room, laying wide awake on his back in bed. After a dreamless night followed by an unpleasant morning, he felt he had overstayed his welcome past this point now. Staring at the ceiling whilst rationalizing his plans to move onward once after he leaves his current location. Having no further business here, he steadily rose from his bed and donned his fur blanket onto his back. As well as adjusting his pendant over his neck, although he couldn’t get to the last part of his apparel including his hat, a panicking stallion came barging through the door. Making his way in the same way he entered through the front entrance.

A little confused over another unexpected visit, Dirge couldn’t help but wonder why this pony was acting up in hooves yet again, save for yesterday’s shenanigans. “Why the intrusion this time?”

“You… ! They’re lookin’ for ya! It’s the… the… !” Crimson tried to speak through his shortness of breaths, but it was difficult for him do so while forming a sentence at the same time.

“Haven’t those two been taken care of by now?”

“No! It ain’t them this time!” Crimson shook his head before running towards the window and looked outside. Checking back and forth between the barn’s territory and the front gate. “It’s them guards in shiny lookin’ armor! They says they’re searchin’ for ya!”

Dirge looked slightly surprised for a moment, though his expression faded with a groaned sigh. “Tsk. I shouldn’t have prolonged my stay here...”

“They said somethin’ about a wedding and maybe you… or your folk messin’ it up or whatever.” He finished by closing the window and covering it with the drapes. Crimson looked to the stranger in front of him more calmingly though more worried this time. “You… you wouldn’t do somethin’ like that, would ya? I mean… you don’t really go around hurtin’ ponies like ya did with me… do ya?”

Dirge did not answer right away. He couldn’t give a simple response without bringing more suspicion onto him and let alone, more paranoia into this youth and the rest of his family. He blinked once before moving his eyes away from Crimson, signifying that there indeed wasn’t an easy answer to his question. However much the silence was working against him.

But they were interrupted from nearby voices heard from outside of the barn. Which all sounded familiar to Crimson, who gasped upon hearing them.

“Spread out! Search the area with utmost caution! Alert any troops should you catch sight of any changelings!”

Peeking outside the window through the drapes, Crimson and Dirge saw several royal guard ponies approaching the barn. Two of them made their way separately onto different sections of the residence while the other two made their way to the front door.

“Oh no... oh no! What do we do? What do we do!?” Crimson tapped his hooves in a show of panic. Desperately trying to think of how to repel the guards away from getting any closer. His first thought was not the brightest solution, but for their own sake, it was better than not trying anything at all. “I’ll go an’ see if I can distract ‘em! You go and hide somewheres!” He said, reopening the door almost as quickly as he ran out of the room.

Apple Betty though, had other things to preoccupy herself with besides concerning herself over more of her son’s spontaneous behavior. She, along with her niece Apple Bumpkin, were keeping themselves busy getting ready for their upcoming sale in baked goods for their stall. But before they could get started with their first batches, a loud knock came from the other side of the front door.

Not liking the interruption very much, Betty walked away from her current task of organizing apples and ingredients on the kitchen table to go and answer the call. “Huh. Now who the hay would come and knock on the door like that?” She sighed before rolling her eyes. “If it’s them crooks again, I’m gonna be havin’ a word with--”

She opened the door to reveal two unicorn guards wearing golden, shining armor. Looking stern yet composed in their stances.

“... the royal guards?” Betty said curiously with a raised brow.

Nearly arriving downstairs, Crimson stopped halfway when he gasped as he caught sight of the guards. Then slowly backing away upstairs.

“Good day, madam.” The guard spoke with an introductory bow. “We’re here investigating the reports of a changeling that has recently been sighted. We’ve inquired information that it may have wandered somewhere within the area. For your safety, we’re conducting a search to clear it out and any threats it may have brought with it.”

“Uhh… threats? Whaddya mean by that?” Betty asked.

“Imposing danger to civilians, miss.” The second guard said with a slight serious tone. “If there’s any more information you may have regarding this changeling, I would recommend you briefing us with as much now.”

Betty looked up in thought. Thinking back to that moment when those two crooks also mentioned the changeling and then what Apple Fritter said to her earlier about the same. “W… why are ya’ll lookin’ for this changelin’ anyway? I mean, what’d it do to cause such a ruckus?”

The two guards looked at each other in confusion, then returning the same expression back to the mare. “Are you not keeping up with current events, miss?”

“Ah, well…” She chuckled nervously before continuing. “We usually keep to our own business around here. Ain’t much for us out there when it comes to higher society and all.”

Although not surprised by her answer and the expected, typical response from a country pony, the guard sighed in disappointment. “Regardless, there are perils that may concern your well being.” He said as he magically levitated a scroll from his saddlebag and gave it over to Betty.

Immediately after unrolling it and reading over the same poster that was spread out amongst the townsfolk, she gasped in shock. Not just from the details she had just gone over, but from her realization that she may have just unknowingly taken in a dangerous suspect. Though her disbelief was causing her to deny such facts since the stranger she had met couldn’t possibly resemble the creature’s description that was described on that paper, despite how aggressively he acted this morning.

“If you don’t mind, we must conduct a search throughout your property and obtain any evidence of its whereabouts. Surely you’ll comply with your cooperation and allow us entry?” The inquisitive guard pony asked.

“Eh, err… I-I haven’t really seen any ‘dangerous’ lookin’ changelings either, so I don’t really see the need why y’all need to trouble yourselves bein’ here.” Betty said with an anxious smile, biting her lip from the rising tension.

“This will only take but a brief moment of your time.” The guard said, letting himself inside past Betty. He looked back to other guard behind him and gave a nod. “Stay posted.” His partner responded with a salute and stood by outside the front door.

With her aunt looking too stiff from her meeting with the guard to do much of anything, Apple Bumpkin curiously wandered over to her. “Auntie? What’s goin’ on?” She asked as she stopped by her side to take a peek at the paper she held in her hoof. What she saw made her jaw drop with raised eyes. “Wait… is that really… !?”

“I… don’t want to believe it either, sweetie…” Both mares shared their feelings of disbelief.

The first location the authoritative unicorn went to search were the downstairs rooms just below the balcony from which Crimson oversaw out of view from the others. With shaky hooves, he trotted back to the guest room where Dirge remained on the lookout for more guards.

Peaking out towards the view of the outer barn from the window’s curtains, he saw at least three more of them moving about steadily throughout the area. Even a couple pegasi flying in the distance patrolling the town from above. As much as Dirge was tempted to just fight his way through them to break free from this predicament, he thought otherwise as that would only alert the rest of them to his position and thus, slim his chances of escape. He frustratingly sighed from the stress this was causing him, though not long after, Crimson re-entered the room with his unsurprising reaction yet again.

“O-okay! So’s I can’t distract ‘em right now!” Crimson said with wary smile of confidence slowly fading. “And... they’re already inside diggin’ the place…” Scratching the back of his head, he chuckled nervously. “I say… Plan B?”

The thought of his fate being held in the hooves of just ordinary ponies, let alone a lesser one, made Dirge shake his head in displeasure. Nobody would believe him if he were to tell this tale to his comrades, assuming he would ever meet them again were he to survive this ordeal.

“What’re they gonna do if they catch ya!?” Crimson said. “Throw ya in a dungeon somewheres? Maybe even hang ya upside the head!?”

“Perhaps.” Dirge replied.

“Aww, no. We gotta do somethin’! We’re sittin’ ducks here!” The young stallion panicking once again. ”M-maybe I can go an’ tell ‘em yer not all bad! Maybe we can convince ‘em! It’s worth a try!”

But Dirge disapproved the idea with a shake of his head. “Not likely.”

“Come on now! We gotta try somethin’! Otherwise, they’re gonna drag ya off and do who-knows-what to ya!”

Whilst Crimson went on, Dirge edged closer to the door and held an ear up to listen in on any activity. There were faint sounds coming from downstairs, but a little afterwards, the sounds seemed to grow slightly louder.

“Look, maybe we could-- mmph! Hmm!?” Crimson was cut off when a dark hoof was placed onto his mouth.

“Quiet.” Dirge whispered.

Just as they went silent, the sounds of heavy hoofsteps came near. Though they were indeed moving toward upstairs, they grew distant again. Indicating that they were moving down the other rooms down the opposite side of the hall. Dirge had to make sure his assumption was correct and took a risk by cautiously turning the doorknob and opening the door. Taking a peak down the hall, it seemed that the guard went to investigate another set of rooms. But knowing there wasn’t much time left until he was inevitably discovered, he was again considering engaging the guard in combat and make his best attempt at a getaway. Until Crimson popped his head out as well and looked the other way down another door.

“Wait. Wait! I got an idea!” Crimson said while leaving the room with his hooves on their tips. Slowly but steadily, he sneaked his way down the hall opposite of where the guard headed towards another door and entered inside, leaving the door ajar.

Dirge, however, did not follow as he was left befuddled to the pony’s movements. Unsure of where he was going nor what his intents were. But just as he was about to make a second thought about pursuing him inside, the guard exited the current room and Dirge quickly retreated back. The sounds of closing and opening doors with all the shuffling noises being made, the guard was making another round of searching into another nearby bedroom. Thankfully, there was still time to make one last move and the chance had to be taken now without a moment’s hesitation.

Checking to see if the coast was clear, Crimson took one last look at the hallway for any more activity from the guard still lingering in the other room. Feeling it was safe enough from the temporary lack of his presence, he signaled Dirge with his hoof to proceed closer to his location. Complying almost immediately, his changeling friend rushed over as quietly as possible with careful steps along the way.

Though not all went unnoticed. As the guard exited from the room he just finished searching, he noticed the door at the end of the hall closing immediately with the click of the lock.

“Hmm?” With a suspicious glance towards the end ahead, he marched over to see just who managed to escape his line of sight.

The two managed to get inside, with Dirge’s dissatisfaction, the bathroom. Crimson locked the door behind him and whispered to avoid the guard’s attention.

“If we can wait him out in here, he’ll probably leave sometime!” Crimson said.

“This is your plan? A moment’s reprieve?” Dirge complained with a discontent sigh. “We’re doing nothing more than delaying the inevitable.”

“Ya gotta be so negative? We’ll be fine in here so long’s he don’t come this way…”

Much to their chagrin, any hope that remained of that idea quickly died when a stern knock on the door interrupted their short chat.

“Official guard! Open this door!” A dominant voice spoke from the other side.

“Oh, horse apples…” Crimson said.

With another impatient knock, the guard insisted with his search. Twisting the knob once more though it’s locked position hindered him from entry.

Crimson tapped his lips with the tip of his forehoof to his friend, telling him to keep quiet. Dirge, however, did not need to be reminded as he remained motionless with a prepared stance. Ready to take action should the guard threaten to break in.

“Uh… it’s occupied! I can’t answer the door right now!” Crimson yelled. Trying to persuade the other to leave.

His efforts were not very effective as the guard continued with his own attempts at gaining entry.

“Sir! Please exit immediately! Your residence is currently under a search and I will exercise my authority to exert proper force should I find any evidence of illegal conduct!”

The young, red stallion gulped in suspense. Here he was, cornered like a rat with nowhere left to run. His companion, moreover, took one step back. Teeth grit and his fangs bared, unnerved from the incoming threat, but did his best to compress his agitated state to prevent himself from giving away his position.

Apple Betty walked upstairs looking concerned that his son may still be hanging around with that stranger, whom she has now been warned about. Coming to the middle of the hallway, she called out, “Crimson, darlin’? Can I have a word with ya for a moment?” When no reply came after the first few seconds, she looked around and instantly spotted the armored unicorn standing by the bathroom door. Curious, she walked towards him and asked, “Mister guard, sir? What’s goin’ on now?”

“Stand back, madam!” He said with a hoof raised to stop her from nearing any closer. “I must persist that you not impede any guards from carrying out with their jobs!”

This was it. Crimson knew he had to do something before the authorities would eventually punish him and his friend. Putting all his brainpower into a new idea, he came upon one last resort. Putting both his forehooves together onto his muzzle, he blew a loud raspberry noise and tried to imitate the gross sound of what any would judge as flatulence.

“Oooooh!” Crimson yelled in a pained, yet mocking manner. “I knew I shouldn’ta eaten all them fritters last night! Uuuuugh! Y-ya don’t wanna come in here right now!” Finishing his moaning with the flush of the toilet.

This left the guard a little perplexed. The mare still next to him, he questioned her, “Are you… certain you haven’t seen any changeling activity within your vicinity, Miss… ?”

“Ugh.” Betty grumbled from the sound of her son and his latest condition. “That ain’t no changelin’. It’s just my airhead of a son. Ain’t nopony like him can eat my desserts and then complain about it the next day.” She said, knocking on the bathroom door upsettingly. “Crimson! I told ya, no dessert last night! I thought I heard ya snoopin’ around downstairs late in the mornin’! You are grounded, mister! Ya hear me!?”

“B-but maaaa… !” Her son replied, keeping his ‘pain’ sustained. Another raspberry blow and flush of the toilet later, he continued. “Ya I know I can’t resist yer cookin’! They was just… oooooh!” Moaning again while quickly going through a roll of toilet paper. Dropping most of the tissue on the floor carelessly.

The guardspony, whom had grown impatient already from their little squabble, rolled his eyes from the result of the occasion and simply moved on with his search. His next stop was the guest room, which unbeknown to his knowledge, was the room’s type and recent occupant. It appeared just as ordinary like the rest of the bedrooms that have been inspected so far. Although when he sweeped the area shortly after, he couldn’t find anything of significance until he stumbled upon a straw hat beside the bed. Picking it up with his magic and levitating it closer to him, he rotated it from one side to the other, examining it closely until he deemed it a likely piece of evidence, if what he had been told to be true.

In order to confirm his beliefs, he returned to the mare who had been scolding her son from his recent misbehavior. Much to his annoyance, the two were still going at it.

“Don’t you ‘But ma!’ me! You know gosh darn well what ya did!”

“Can we not talk about this right now!? I’m kinda… uuuugh!”

“And don’t think I’m buyin’ your sickly act for one second just so’s you can get out of doin’ chores! I know a faker when I hear ‘em!”

The guardspony intervened in their trivial family matter, trotting by to her and grabbed the mare’s attention by sounding off with his usual authoritative voice.

“Madam! A word!”

The guard’s loud and unexpected reacquaintance startled Betty from her spot. She looked toward him with worry, feeling nervous from the way he grabbed her attention. “Yessir, Mister Guard?”

“Answer me...” he asked, presenting the straw hat in front of her. “Does this hat belong to you?”

Betty bit her lip. As she was being put on the spot from the question itself, she pondered first, “Uh… why are ya askin’ about that old thing?”

“We’ve gathered witness reports of a changeling wearing odd apparel and this piece matched the description of one of it’s garments. Would you happen to know anything about that?”

Betty strained an innocent smile, although it waned with the guard standing before her, his serious expression staring her down making her all the more uneasy. “O-of course not! In fact, plenty of ponies would wear somethin’ like that on a summer’s day! Eh heh… right?”

Listening in through the door, Dirge eavesdropped on their conversation. Remaining quiet and still, while Crimson had already been ordered to do the same. Both of them feeling the tension from the moment and the possible outcome should something go wrong. Although he was apprehensive about Betty spilling the slightest bit of detail and giving away his position to the guard, he couldn’t help but feel a bit of compunction for these ponies helping him to hide away from the vengeful guard.

The guard himself, however, was not impressed by Betty’s rather hasty and poorly constructed reply, which did not sway him into believing her words. In response with a serious glare, he warned, “May I remind you, Miss? That aiding and abetting known criminals is a punishable offense. I hope you realize the weight of the situation.”

Betty dully nodded. Gulping before replying, “Y-yessir, Mister Guard.”

“Now I’ll ask again,” He said, presenting the hat in front of her again. “Does this belong to you?”

“Eh, um… now that ya mention it…” She paused for a second in though.

That short moment made Dirge tighten his muscles, gritting his teeth in his mouth. Should she reveal anything incriminating, he would have no choice but to take matters into his own and take action. But what came next startled even Crimson, a quiet gasp escaping him.

“That there belongs to our good friend, Zable!” Betty exclaimed, grabbing the hat and expressing relief. “He must’ve forgotten about it when he came over the other night and left it here by mistake!”

“And whom would this ‘Zable’ character be?” The guard asked.

“Why, he’s our friendly neighborhood zebra! ‘Course, he don’t actually live in town since he lives off ways from here. Helps us out in a pinch with all the complicated stuff.” Betty said, this time with complete confidence in her reply.

The armored unicorn’s doubtful frown did not leave him. Still unsatisfied from the results of his searching and questioning, though he decided not to press the issue further and instead, leave these ponies to their own devices. “I’ve little time to waste pursuing my efforts here for much longer, so I must depart for now and give my assistance elsewhere.” He said, taking his leave and going downstairs with Betty following behind. Before exiting through the front door, he gave one last statement. “But should any other implications arise and any other signs of danger, we will return, post haste. And you or anypony else will be held accountable for risking the lives of others. Is that understood, Miss?”

“Uh… y-yes… I understand.” Betty said. A hint of guilt and sadness in her voice.

“I urge you to contact us immediately should anything else of significance presents itself. And with that, I bid you a good day.” He said. Taking a bow before leaving with his pegasus unit. The other guards rallying back with them as well and returning to the town ahead.

Bushel came in a moment later with Candy Apples in tow, looking confused from the armored ponies having unexpectedly visiting his family farm. “Betty, darlin’? What’s goin’ on? Just what’s all this about?” He asked, only for Apple Bumpkin to arrive to his side presenting the poster that has already been spread quickly to public awareness. Seeing this put him on the same level of skepticism as the rest of his family, if not more so. Stunned at the information before him, he felt strongly inclined to inquire questions from that certain stranger about these ‘changelings’ and his possible involvement with them. With a heavy sigh, he said, “Honey, I’m gonna be havin’ a word with our guest.” and afterwards, trotting upstairs for the guest room.

With the lack of the guard’s presence, Crimson opened the door to check for anymore signs from down the narrow hall or sounds from downstairs. Only muffled voices came to his ears from the bottom floor, and with no more need to hide away, he felt safe enough to leave the bathroom. “Okay… I think he’s gone. Ya can come out now.” He whispered to his changeling friend behind him. Though not immediately sure from Crimson’s claim, Dirge peaked outside before completely exiting the room.

Heading back downstairs, their paths crossed with Bushel when he came up and looked towards the both of them with worry. Though that worry turned into firmness when he gazed upon the changeling trailing behind his son. “If both of ya could come down for a moment, I’d like to have a discussion with this… changelin’.” He said as he then focused on said individual, who also returned the same expression. “You mind?”

Dirge stiffened slightly from the pony’s words, but kept his awareness for anything he might try. Although it was not fear of apprehension that turned him rigid in that moment, but his concern that he may have let his guard down for too long amongst ponies.

Hearing this, Crimson’s anxiety roused up again when he began to meekly reply, “Wait… don’t tell me them guards are still here!”

“I just want to talk.” Bushel calmly said. “Come on now. I promise nothin’ll have to get ugly so long as everypony stays civil. Right then?”

Not left without much choice again, Dirge decided to comply with his request, sighing lightly in response. He walked past Crimson, who was still inflicted with concern if he should obey his father and receive another scolding from him as well. Going against that thought, he steeled himself for whatever came next. There were still more questions that had gone unasked and this may well be another chance at quenching their interest.

Arriving into the living room area, one changeling, whom was relieved from the lack of guardsponies now, and the rest of the Apple Family ponies gathered around for what could only be a chain of unpleasant discoveries. Bushel took the initiative of being the only one to begin his line of questioning. Taking the poster from his niece and presenting it to the one in suspicion, he began to voice the thought that was already on every other pony’s minds. “Now let me be brief about this and get on straight to the point. Would ya know anything about this at all?”

Dirge took the piece of paper and read through it carefully. Finding the drawing on the front of it nearly insulting, but yet at the same time, almost amusing. From the descriptive details it read, it had referred to the assault his hive had conducted from the month’s past. He understood straight away why he was being sought out for reasons he already knew. However, this didn’t seem enough to give his answers immediately to others, let alone ponies, who he felt were not able to comprehend the full story.

“Well?” Bushel asked, awaiting from the lack of a response. “Got anythin’ to say about that? Or are ya one of them vandals who goes around lookin’ for trouble too?”

With no acceptable answer at the ready, Dirge simply discarded the poster away. His gaze following the flow of the paper’s trail, which gently landed next to the farm pony’s hooves. Avoiding eye contact, he said with a dull tone, “Can’t say. My knowledge on that incident is limited. Unreliable from my perspective.”

“Now you look me in the eyes when I’m talkin’ to ya!” Bushel said as he formed serious face. “All I need is a ‘Yes’ or ‘No’. Were you responsible for anything that happened during that disaster?”

Dirge complied with his demand, although hesitant to do what the pony said. None eager to give his response, he did not feel the need to invest time in explaining his reasons to those his kind have wronged before as there was no worthy effort to prove whatever innocence he had. “I’ve done my fair share of… misdeeds against your kind in the past. But sabotaging ceremonial events were not part of them.”

A little put off by the changeling’s answer, Bushel pressed further. “I dunno why you would go and do such things, stranger. And how do you expect me to trust ya enough to know yer tellin’ me the good ‘n’ honest truth?”

“That depends on you.” Dirge said.

“Ya ain’t really leavin’ me with a good impression, son. I can’t have somepony like ya runnin’ around amongst us folks just tryin’ to make a livin’. ‘Specially not around my family here.”

“Bushel, hon?” Betty interjected. “Maybe they was just accidents or they wasn’t his fault? Who knows? Besides, we don’t know the whole story yet! That’s how it might’ve gone, right?” She asked as she looked towards the changeling, to which he only stared back silently. The mare, saddened by the sign, drooped her ears from the awkward disappointment and stepped back behind her husband again.

“We might’ve misplaced our faith in him and put us all in jeopardy this whole time!” Bushel continued, upsettingly disturbed by the realization. “I blame myself for lettin’ this happen and not seein’ it sooner. Shoot, how do we know he ain’t the one who put my boy in harm’s way!?”

“Wait! Hold on a sec, pa!” Crimson spoke up this time. “It was like ma said! I was really out of it that night and my head was pretty fuzzy from all I can remember. Plus, it was really dark out and-”

“That was my doing.” Dirge admitted.

From that confession alone, Crimson’s jaw dropped. “B-but! It wasn’t… !” The shock had made the rest of the other mares gasp from the horrific truth and imagery of the incident.

“I had the power to prevent matters from escalating too far and your son had unfortunately gotten involved. His injury was the result of my irresponsibility. That was my failure.” His admittance had not deterred the fatherly stallion from his stern stance towards the changeling, however. In penance for his actions, Dirge prepared himself for the inevitable outcome. “So? How do you wish to carry out your revenge? What a grand opportunity to summon the guards and haul me away to my demise, wouldn’t you say?”

“Woah there, stranger!” Bushel said as he held up a hoof in protest. “This ain’t about no revenge. That ain’t how we do things around here.” He continued with a dissatisfied sigh. “Now, I dunno what drove ya to do such unspeakable acts, but it took a lotta guts admittin’ what ya did. Ya don’t find that in a lot of common folks these days. I gotta respect that. But this don’t mean yer gettin’ outta this without no penalty either.”

“Then… what do you propose?” Dirge asked.

Bushel went and walked past him as he said, “If there’s anythin’ I’ve learned in life from discipline throughout my time, whether it was from my own grandad in my younger days, or keepin’ my son into shape…” heading towards the kitchen to fetch something from one of the many cabinets. “A little hard work goes a long way teachin’ some values into everypony. Perhaps offerin’ ya a second chance to make up for what ya did wouldn’t hurt since ya don’t really seem like too bad a pony, or… whatever the hay ya really are. And I learned that second chances can turn somepony around for the better. That’s a lesson Princess Celestia herself had taught us. A lesson most of us should be thankful for.” Straying back to the changeling, he held his hoof up, holding a small kitchen tool and giving it over to him.

Perplexed by this thin, metallic object, Dirge wondered the meaning of it. “And this is… ?”

“Ain’t ya never seen a peeler before?” Bushel chuckled, amused by the stranger’s bewildered expression from just laying eyes on that object as if he’d never seen it before in his life. “We got whole batches of apples that need to be skinned so’s we can get ‘em ready for sale at the market later. I’m expectin’ you’ll be up to the task?”

While this wasn’t as severe a punishment as Dirge had expected, it didn’t seem at all rehabilitating as the pony was implying it to possibly be. The idea of peeling apples, especially a whole number of them, was going to prove to be a lengthy chore. Sighing, he took the tool in his hoof and looked out the nearest window, which had already shown buckets of apples lined up by the barn.

This was going to be a long day.

Lessons

Today had indeed turned out to be a struggle for survival after several ordeals. After dealing with a vengeful group of vandals, evading detection from the royal guards, and now topping it off with a time consuming chore of peeling apples for a family of ponies that had decided his fate for him instead, Dirge was surely going to need his rest after an exhausting day’s conclusion. Thankfully, the farmers were kind enough to extend his stay for another night and allowed him to remain indoors to avoid the guards still patrolling in town.

He had to admit, the outcome of today’s trials could have been much worse. At this moment, he could likely be locked up inside a cage, tied up again after being apprehended from either party. Awaiting whatever cruel punishment his captors had in store for him. Fortunately, he was spared from all that and instead, here he was, peeling away a great many number of apples as a way of repayment to the Apple Family for his transgressions. Not that he felt it would actually ease his burden of crimes from his past.

From one bucket full to the next, another hour passed and yet, many more would repeat. The work went by at a decent pace, but had become increasingly dull as time moved on. Combined with the effort of gathering those apples and preparing them all was no easy task. Such extensive labor garnered respect for the earth pony race, let alone this small family.

Just as Dirge was beginning to believe he would be left to himself to manage all this workload, the young stallion, Crimson Delight, entered through the front door. Nervously making his way to the kitchen table where the working changeling was currently seated. Grabbing his own peeling tool from the nearest drawer beside him, he sat down next to him along with grabbing an apple from one of the various bushels and began skinning it.

“I, uh…” Crimson began, seemingly a bit shy at the moment. “I thought I’d come by and see how you were doin’. Figure ya could use some extra help.” He said, shortly afterwards finishing his first apple, though he was impressed by the amount of them already peeled when he had seen buckets of them already done. “Hey, mighty fine job with those ones there. Guess you don’t need the help after all! Eh heh… uh… ?”

That moment became awkward when Dirge did not look the pony's way nor respond to him. Apparently still peeling away as if nothing had been said. In actuality, he was still pondering the day’s events and what he would do next after departing from this place when the guards eventually leave the area. That, and he was still not used to being praised or knowing how to respond to it appropriately.

Crimson cleared his throat a little loudly to break off some of the silence. Wanting to get some sort of conversation going, but learning that this changeling wasn’t the talkative type, it was going to take some effort on his part. “Crazy day it’s been, eh? Nice to just kick back and relax with somethin’ easy goin’ after all that. Makes ya wanna go for a drink after.” Speaking of, his face lit up in a bit of excitement with the idea of going for a good refreshment to ease the stress. “Hey! Whaddaya say we end the day with some nice cider? Got some good brew saved up! My treat!” But as enthusiastic as he made it sound, his smile soon faded into a frown when his quiet friend had yet to show any sort of response. The saddened stallion simply went back to work.

Although his attempts at elevating the mood seemed to have gone completely unnoticed, Dirge appreciated it nonetheless. But one thought still bothered him. Finally deciding break from the ongoing silence, Dirge spoke his mind.

“You didn’t have to go through such lengths to safeguard me from apprehension.” He began with a calm tone, pausing his work for the moment. “But even after learning what I am, your hospitality didn't cease. Yet, I have to ask…” Glancing towards Crimson with a curious look, he then asked, “Why?”

Said pony mirrored the same expression. “Why? Cause, well…” Stopping his own work as well to look up at the changeling innocently, he continued, “It just wouldn’t feel right givin’ ya up to them strangers! Lettin’ them do who-knows-what to ya? Not after how ya helped us out back there. Especially not after… what Zabe said about ya…”

Dirge eyed him suspiciously when he spoke that last line. Almost worried the pony may have inquired something he shouldn’t have. Regardless, he allowed him to continue in silence and reveal everything he knew before passing judgement.

“He said a number of things about ya. About how ya used to be some soldier in yer homeland, how ya got kicked outta there and almost died… and how ya saved his little sibling from danger the other day. Heh, even if Zabe did get a little upset at her about that last bit, I was impressed by what ya did for ‘em! But…” Crimson paused in that moment before continuing. “Ugh! I feel like such a big jerk! If I had known you’d be some kinda hero, I wouldn’t of treated ya like I did yesterday!”

“Hmph.” Dirge shortly replied. “Hero? That's quite the needless stretch.”

“Well… I certainly think ya been doin’ the right thing.” Crimson said with a soft smile. “I know some ponies would look at ya as the bad guy, but I think it’d only be fair if we let everypony else know about yer good deeds! That way, no one else would look at yer kind as the same and maybe give ya’ll a second chance like I did with ya! I mean, the whole town would-”

“You’ll do no such thing.” Dirge interrupted. Disturbed by the idea.

“Uh?” Crimson uttered, confused by his answer. “B-but... why not?”

“Have you learned nothing from today’s events?” Dirge said as he resumed peeling another apple. “Spreading word amongst an already mistrustful populace would only serve to be counterproductive. Your words would be twisted by others to become nothing more than misinformation and eventually reach the ears of those with their own agenda like the ones you’ve met today. So, unless you want the wrong kind of attention at your doorstep again,” Giving Crimson a stern look before finishing with, “then I suggest you keep such knowledge to yourself.”

“Oh… right.” Crimson said disappointingly. “Guess I hadn’t really thought of it that way. I was… just tryin’ to help an’ all.”

While he did mean well by his intentions, Dirge hoped he wouldn’t act out on them in the future for fear of more unwanted repercussions.

Another minute had passed by with no further activity between the two. However, Crimson Delight seemed to be bothered by an unpleasant thought. Expressing his concern towards the changeling, he said, “Ya know, I can’t stop thinkin’ about last night. About what I almost did to ya and what woulda happened if I…” Wincing at the thought of the sudden imagery, “... offed ya. I mean, I didn’t think I really had it in me to do that and I can’t stop wonderin’ what my ma and pa woulda done if they had found out.”

“Hrrmmm…” Dirge sighed roughly. Crimson’s own regret reminded him of an unpleasant memory from his past. “Fortunately for your sake, you’ve managed to avoid a much worse outcome. Something far worse.”

“Whaddya mean exactly?”

Dirge paused his work again to give his attention to Crimson. “Let me share a piece of my history with you. Hopefully, you’ll learn something from my own mistakes.”

“Back when I was around your age…”

A matter of days had passed since that time. The memory of that one day still remained painfully etched in his mind.

When news spread throughout the Hive about an incident involving the brutal beatings of three young changelings, many grew curious as to who or what was responsible for the tragedy. But when the truth began to surface that a younger changeling was the one at fault, a mix of feelings strewed among the inhabitants who happened to have heard or witnessed the events. Some grew shocked and surprised that a changeling younger than the group of victims managed to overwhelm them. Oddly enough, there were the small few who were even impressed with the deed.

While the rest grew outraged and appalled. They were the ones who were the most vocal about demanding retribution for such vile actions. Especially against promising recruits for the Hive that had not yet reached their prime. Now, that potential will never be shown after that unfortunate incident.

One such changeling approached Queen Chrysalis with these concerns. She had already reassured every drone who had taken notice of the incident that she had kept the situation well under control and continue to monitor her ‘special subject’ under stricter conditions. However, this certain changeling did not have her concerns easily dispelled when the assailant of the crime was merely given a slap on the hoof.

Angry at the lack of appropriate justice, she, along with several others who felt the same about the verdict, decided to take matters into their own hooves.

Farther down into the reaches of the Hive located within the barracks, someplace more secluded from the more common areas, the sounds of a cracking whip and yelping could both be heard simultaneously. The noises seemingly echoed faintly throughout the empty corridors.

A young Dirge laid beaten on the ground. His forehooves tied behind his back with thick, green adhesive to restrict his struggling. Various cracks on his chitin signified other forms of torture had already been inflicted on him besides his current punishment. He was struck with another hard slap on the face, yelping from the hit and still sobbing from the ongoing cruel treatment he had been facing for a while now. His tears mixing with his blood on the rocky ground beneath him.

A changeling guard, in the usual uniform of blue armor, mercilessly struck the young changeling yet again with a horsewhip he possessed. A tool used for extensive disciplinary measures for cases such as these, though it was not rare for when it was used beyond its purpose and become a tool for abuse instead. The few other changelings witnessing the event certainly had no objections, judging by their dissatisfied expressions.

After one last strike from the whip, the guard stopped for the time being. Panting slightly for breath from the repetitive swings and looked behind him to one changeling. “Think he’s had enough?”

“It’s never enough!” Yelled the female changeling. “This… this… monster committed an atrocity against our brood and our queen does what!? Let him off with a warning!?” She said. Marching towards the young one and hissing right in his face. “He deserves every deal of punishment we can give him!”

The two other changelings behind them nodded their heads in agreement.

“Hmph! What does the queen see in this one anyhow?” One of them asked.

“He’s certainly not adding up to any expectations the way he is now.” The other spoke.

Dirge, mustering up as much strength in his state, bent his back and looked up at the female changeling with pleading eyes. “I-I… I’m s-sorry…”

“You’re sorry? You’re sorry!? Well, that fixes everything, doesn’t it!?” She replied. Getting angrier by the second and lifted Dirge by the horn. Forcing him to face her directly and their eyes only inches away from each other. “That was my son you killed, you wretched little freak! He was worth a thousand of you!” She ended by slamming his head down back to the ground. Followed by another cry.

“I-I’m... truly sorry f-for what I did. Just… p-please stop… !” Dirge cried out. But his plea went ignored.

“You want to know just how much damage you’ve done!?” She said as she got behind Dirge and stomped a forehoof on his back. His wings flapped wildly in response to the sudden pain. The female changeling applied more pressure under her hoof to keep him from wiggling away. “You want to know what it feels like to have something precious torn away from you!?”

Grunting from even more pain being inflicted onto him, Dirge was helpless in his struggle to escape as all he could do was flap his wings in a buzz and began more of his sobbing. Though one of his wings came to a halt when it was caught in the bite of the changeling on top and pulled it tightly to the side. Almost instantly, his wing was torn apart like a fragile leaf.

The young changeling opened his mouth wide in a loud screech from his wing being ripped apart. Yet once again when his other wing was also forcefully removed. Crying in agony from the further torment. Only a short moment later, all that was left of his wings were small shreds of where they stemmed.

“How does it feel, wretch?! Tell me, how does it feel when you’re the one on the verge!?” She went on, yelling at the young one with just a hint of sadness in her tone.

“What is going on in here!?” Another voice sounded off from the distance of the entrance. All four changelings gave their attention to the one sounding off, save for the child still on the ground, trying his best to hold in his cries from the pain.

A royal guard equipped in green armor, accompanied by two other guards in blue behind him, approached the scene to investigate the loud noises echoing throughout the vacant halls. The head of the group grit his teeth and growled furiously when he caught sight of the scene.

“Private! What’s the meaning of this!?” He asked. Upset by the discovery.

The guard who had been part of the group assisting in the torture hurried over to stand directly in front of the royal, saluting in response. “C-Captain Onyx, sir! I-I know this may seem unexpected, but… !”

While Dirge was only slightly relieved for the moment that the ongoing torment had stopped, he wasn’t all too happy to see his father had arrived to see him in his miserable state. Fearing the inevitable shame and scolding he would receive once he finished his questioning of the current situation.

Onyx shifted his attention from the group of changelings, then his son next to them on the ground in a defeated state, then leered towards the guard in front of him. “Mind explaining why my trainee is laying there in such a pitiful display? And why are there non-military drones in a restricted sector!?”

“I-I w-was merely showing some new recruits around the area and- !”

“It sounds to me like you were just about to give me an excuse, soldier.” Onyx interrupted. “And this child,” He said as he swiped the horsewhip away from the guard’s hoof, “is my responsibility. His fate and consequences are ultimately left for me to decide. For you to take that authority without consent is an offense to not only myself, but to the queen herself!”

“Sir Onyx! I must protest!” The female changeling spoke, walking up towards the captain. “What we have done is simply take action where none was taken! This child committed an inexcusable crime against- !”

“Silence!” Onyx chided. “Take it up with council! I’ve no patience for anymore of this insolence!” He said as he directed his next command towards the troops behind him. “Escort these three out of the area! Make sure they don’t wander off into any other sectors they’re not welcome in!”

The female changeling groaned as she and the rest of her company were lead out into halls, tailing behind the two guards. As for the other guard who was involved in the beatings, he was about to take his leave until his attention was forcefully turned to Captain Onyx once again when he was grabbed by the shoulder.

“As for you, Private… consider yourself suspended from duty until further notice. Until then, I wouldn’t bother showing my face near the queen, if I were you.”

“What!? B-but, sir… !”

“Dismissed, soldier!” Onyx finished. The changeling guard taking his leave towards the exit to join the rest who had left, walking away slowly with his head hung low in shame.

But before Onyx departed with them as well, he paused when he heard a quiet sob behind him. His ear perked up from the sound and leered at the fact that his son was still there and needed tending. To him, such a sight was too disgraceful to bear to look at and an inexcusable show of weakness. Nonetheless, he batted an eye to the last changeling left in the area. “Hmph. I thought I heard your pathetic cries nearby.”

“F-father… I…” The young Dirge tried to speak, but he felt his throat hindered from an inexplicable pressure building up inside him. “I’m…”

“Save it. You’re of no use to anyone in your current condition.” Onyx said as he took a quick look at him. Shaking his head in disapproval from examining him. “Tsk. Look at you. All that time invested into training and you still can’t even handle yourself against the meager drones of this hive.”

Dirge felt further pain swelling in him from his father’s words. Gritting his teeth as he tried to shed another tear from his already exhausted eyes.

“You’ve a lot to learn, boy.” Onyx said. Leaving his son to fight his own way out of his restraints and to his own weeping.

And that he sadly did. From the painful and vain flapping of his absent wings, to his cries concealed inside that dark and cavernous room, he laid there. Secluded for what felt like hours.

“Wow.” Crimson said sympathetically. “So, your pa just… left ya there? Grounded?”

“In a sense… yes.” While Dirge had been telling his story, his multitasking of peeling various apples throughout the session helped him focus more on the task instead. It certainly helped keep most of his emotions suppressed away from that memory. The work was proving to be therapeutic, along with having someone listen to his tale. Even if it was some pony who doubtfully could comprehend every detail.

“That’s mighty rough what happened to ya there. Is that why ya got all them big cuts on ya like that?” Crimson asked.

Dirge shook his head at his question. “No. That’s a different story altogether.” Although he described the beatings from his childhood, he had softened the narrative by censoring the violent and graphic parts of his story. Feeling them unnecessary for this pony’s ears.

“Oh...“Crimson said. “I get the feelin’ I shouldn’t be askin’ ya about ‘em then… but what happened after that? Ya didn’t just stay there all day, did ya?”

“I eventually gathered enough strength to move on my own. Fortunately, my mother found me a while later and aided in my recovery. If it wasn’t for her, I don’t know how I’d have turned out afterwards.”

“Huh. Well, ain’t that nice.” Crimson smiled at that. “Wish I could say the same about my ma. She just yells and scolds me all the time whenever I mess somethin’ up! S’like she enjoys givin’ me a bad day!”

Finishing another apple and placing it on top of the bucket beside him, Dirge replied, “I don’t think you’re giving her enough reasonable credit.”

“Ha! You try livin’ with her! It ain’t easy dealin’ with somepony beratin’ ya everyday!” Crimson asserted while he rushed through the peeling of his current apple. More so in frustration.

“I believe you’ve missed the point of my story.”

“Huh? Missed what?”

“If you had managed to accomplish your deed last night, you’d certainly face consequences. That much is certain. However, I doubt your caretakers would have inflicted penalties as heavy as I have beared in the past. She would never put you through the same. Care to guess why?”

“I… I dunno. Because… ?”

“You may not see it, but it’s there.” Dirge said as he calmly looked on to Crimson. “As your mother, she shows her affection to you in her own manners. As do many maternal figures.”

“Wha… ? But… she wouldn’t forgive me if I… “ Crimson uttered sadly.

“You’d learn. You’d regret. And in time… she’d forgive. Something I believe some of you ponies have the capacity for.”

Crimson sighed. Realizing the possibility of what the changeling had just said to him. “I… I think yer right. I guess she’s right sometimes. Don’t mean I don’t respect her for what she does for our family.”

With yet another apple added to the bucket, Dirge laid back in his chair and relaxed in his position. “Count your blessings. You won’t know the value of something until you’ve completely lost them.” He said. Reminiscing about his scarce but enjoyable days he had with his own mother until she had left his life. Melancholy became him in that short moment.

“Yeah. Yer right about that.” Crimson nodded in agreement. “Ya know… ya ain’t such a bad guy after all… uh?” He paused when he noticed the changeling’s smile had formed into a frown. “What’s, uh… what’s wrong?”

When Dirge had stayed silent throughout his brief recollections of his past, he woke back to reality when a knock came through the front door. Both his and Crimson’s attention were fixed on the farm pony who just entered.

“Heya, fellas. Just comin’ in to check on ya’ll.” Said Bushel, already setting eyes on the buckets of the fair number of apples already peeled. “Quite the work you’ve done so far. Keep this up and we’ll be ready sooner that later! Appreciate the help, stranger.” He finished by giving a kind nod to both of his helpers.

Not that Dirge had much choice between this or risking his way through a gathering of guards patrolling the town nearby. Nonetheless, he didn’t complain about his choice nor did he regret it. It had helped ease his mind somewhat from the stress that had built up from the past hour.

“Don’t worry about them ponies in shiny clad. Told ‘em there ain’t anything to see here so long as they don’t see us walkin’ around with ya by our side again. So far, they’re convinced, but I’d keep an eye out just in case.” Bushel claimed as he walked back out the door again. “Ya’ll can finish up with a couple more of those buckets and call it a day afterwards. Betty ‘n’ the girls are gonna be doin’ a lotta kitchen work soon and they’re gonna need all the space they can get. Feel free to rest up in yer room in the meantime, stranger.” Soon after closing the door as he had finished.

Crimson chuckled lightly at what his father stated. “Boy howdy, he ain’t kiddin’ about that! Once we start makin’ goods for a bake sale, this whole place is gonna be stacked with a buncha sweet goods! Mmmmm!” He said, smiling at the thought. “Ya should try some out once we get ‘em fresh ‘n’ ready! How ‘bout it?”

Although not much of a fan of anything that didn’t contain a healthy portion of meat in it, Dirge hesitated to give an answer. However, there really was no good reason to turn down free food. After those several seconds of thinking, he reluctantly replied to Crimson’s offer.

“I don’t see why not.”

“Great!” Crimson said happily. “Now that’s somethin’ to look forward to! Now then, let’s go on ahead and get these apples done! All this peelin’ starts to get borin’ after a while, ya know?”

From that moment on, the two took their time doing just that. Progressing through their work in a nonchalant manner as the day went by.

What had been a slow afternoon was now finally coming to its end when the evening hours had at last arrived. After dedicating enough time to nothing more than just buckets of apples and preparing them for later, Dirge retreated back to his guest room while Crimson joined the rest of his family at the dinner table. Sans Apple Betty who was keeping herself busy monitoring the pies inside the oven whilst cooling off the ones that had already been freshly done.

Candy Apples and Bushel were currently having a laugh at Apple Bumpkin’s confession about a certain guard she laid eyes on earlier in the day.

“What? I thought he was quite a stud! At least he was calmer than the rest of his friends trottin’ around the farm.”

“Haha! Bumpkin, almost all of them guards look alike! How’d you fall for this one out of all the dozen?” Asked Candy.

Betty couldn’t help but grin at that. “Oh, sweetie. When ya get around to my age, you’ll know how to pick out the right one with that special charm. Call it a ‘mare’s intuition’ if nothin’ else. Besides, how do you think I met your father?”

Bushel responded with a chuckle from her comment with a blush forming on his cheeks. “Eh heh heh. Now that’s another story, dear.”

“Oh? Was Uncle Bushel as awkward as he is now when you two first bumped into each other?” Bumpkin asked her aunt Betty sarcastically.

Every pony in the room burst out in another fit of laughter at the thought of the scenario. All except Crimson who was eating his sandwich and had grown rather bored and uninterested in the conversation taking place. With one hoof resting on his cheek and the other holding his meal, he took another bite and exhaled a sigh through his nostrils. Instead, wanting to return to the company of his changeling friend back upstairs.

After another gulp of food and a roll of his eyes later, Crimson decided to break from the doldrums and knew just how to do so. Getting up from his seat, he walked over to the fridge to find a few bottles of cider inside. Thinking this could top off his night on a positive note, as well as a certain someone else’s. Smiling, he grabbed two of them and held them with one hoof. Shortly then making his way to the stairs.

“Now don’t be goin’ overboard with those, son.” Bushel said. Making Crimson pause in his steps for a moment. “I don’t want ya wakin' up late with a hangover again. ‘Specially not for tomorrow.”

“I know, pa. Just gonna share a drink is all.” Crimson replied. Resuming his walk upstairs.

Meanwhile, within the guest room, Dirge had been keeping watch over the guard’s activity outside ever since his work had been done for the day. Peeking outside the window and keeping himself concealed behind the drapes, he could still see small glimpses of them patrolling the town. With most of the residents already retreating back inside their homes for the night, the guards however, were planning to stay for a lengthened amount of time. From the distance, an array of small lights could be seen moving from one place to another. As the evening darkened, the royals emitted magical lighting from their horns to aid in their continuing search.

Combined with the pegasi also surveying the land from above and an unknown number of them remaining close to the barn, Dirge thought it too risky for now to attempt an escape. Instead, considered waiting another night to see if they would clear out the next day until he could make a move.

For now, he took his sight away from the window and thought about taking another shot at using of his magic again. It had been some time since he last attempted it. Previously, his horn was still too sensitive after being badly damaged and hadn’t had enough time to properly recover. He felt confident enough to try again this time and see if making use of a simple shapeshifting spell would yield any result.

Dirge tapped the sides of his horn with his hoof. Fortunately, he felt no sign of pain from the touch and decided the bandages were no longer necessary. Removing them immediately but carefully as the long strip of gauze spiralled off onto the floor. With it gone, his horn felt just a bit lighter with more room for concentration.

Taking a deep breath and exhaling calmly afterwards, Dirge closed his eyes and focused with all his mental energy at casting the usual shapeshifting magic. His horn started to glow a faint green, but the spell was starting to feel like as if it required more than the needed magic. Concentrating even further, Dirge put more effort into the spell. At this point, the glow became brighter. However, as it did, there were still no noticeable effects taking place. Gritting his teeth, he put more of his strength into it until sparks started to fly out of the broken half of his horn. Then suddenly…

BZZT!

“Ergh!” Dirge grunted and fell onto his haunches from the sharp pain he felt after the show of sparks that erupted from his horn. With a headache resulting from the failure of the spell, he tried to apply pressure to his head. But when he inspected his hoof again, he noticed a small splotch of blood. A tiny stream of the dark fluid had leaked off the tip of his horn.

Sighing, Dirge thought it too futile to attempt another casting of the spell. Rising to his hooves, a knock on the door came and caught his attention. Quickly wiping away the leftover blood.

“Enter.”

From the other side, Crimson opened the door. With a gentle smile and two bottles of cider held, he welcomed himself in.

“Heya! Hope I ain’t interruptin’ anythin’. Just came by and thought I’d share a drink with ya.” He said as he set the bottles down next to the bed. Though his smile waned when he noticed his friend looked a tad frustrated. “Ya alright?”

But Dirge tried to hide his expression and turned his face away from him, looking back to the view outside the window. “Nevermind.”

Regardless of his response, Crimson pushed on with his optimism and sat next to the changeling. Thinking of good way to start off a conversation to help lighten the mood. Beginning with, “I was thinkin’ ya might’ve gotten kinda lonely in here by yerself, seein’ as how my family downstairs already have their own chatter goin’ on. Thought ya could use some company.” He said. Momentarily noticing Dirge’s gaze towards the town ahead. Looking the same way, Crimson also noticed the guards still wandering about. “They still at it, huh? Well, I wouldn’t worry about ‘em too much. Looks like they’re keepin’ their distance now.”

For the next several moments, both of them had watched not only the townsponies from afar go about their ways, but the sun slowly starting to set, with the last of the day’s light fading with it. In its stead, the sky darkened into its natural navy blue as the moon took its time ascending to its place among the stars, also coming into view. Crickets began their chirping, owls hooting from the treetops, and the cumulative howls of other creatures in the distant forest all sounded off with the arrival of the night.

“Kinda nice, ain’t it?” Crimson said, complimenting the scenery. “Princess Luna sure does know how to make the night all lively.”

Dirge did indeed admire the view. Instances like these were almost rare for him when he had spent most of his life inside the Hive. The ambience helped some in taking away from the stress the day had left over. Though he snapped out of his distracted state when he heard the sounds of hisses and pops behind him. When he looked back, he was presented with a bottle of cider.

“Here!” Crimson smiled as he held an opened bottle in his hoof. “Best drink it while it’s chilled! Tastes a whole lot better that way.”

Taking the cold glass container in his hoof, Dirge took a moment to smell the contents of the inside. The sweet scent was enticing by itself, but there was another strong smell along with it. The latter giving him a second thought about drinking any of it.

“What? Ain’t any of you changeling folk ever had cider before?” Crimson said. Laughing at the idea. “Unless yer not a fan of the alcohol, that is.”

That was the keyword. Dirge, along with the rest of Hive’s fleet, had been warned many times about this ‘alcohol’. Placing a strict taboo on the consumption of this strange liquid. It had been said that this very substance could somehow expose changelings from their disguises since it had the ability to encourage carelessness. Ponies had been evident of this already.

This explained the unknown odor coming from the beverage. However, his curiosity got the better of him when Dirge decided to find out just how potent this alcohol was. Taking the top of the bottle to his mouth, he took just a sip of the drink and gulped it down. But he expressed displeasure when he found the strong and seemingly foul taste to be nothing to brag about.

“So? How’d ya like it?” Crimson asked.

Shaking his head, Dirge set the bottle down next to him. “Not my taste.”

“Huh. Really?” Crimson said almost disappointingly, but lit up when he had another bottle to himself. “Well… more for me!” Taking a drink of his cider before turning his eyes back outside along with his friend’s. “So, what’re ya thinkin’ about?”

Taking a moment to respond, Dirge could not think of a way to simplify his thoughts into a single answer. “Nothing you’d comprehend.”

“Umm… whaddya mean?”

Sighing, Dirge clarified his question. “It means you're better off not understanding.”

“O… kay then?” Crimson raised an eye at that. Gulping down another helping of cider. “Why not talk about somethin’ ya like instead? Could be anything.”

Half a minute later of pondering and Dirge eventually thought of something he found appropriate to reveal. “I’ve been meaning to say… you remind me of a certain friend of mine. In some aspects, really.”

“Huh? I do? How?”

“Heh.” Dirge chuckled as he couldn’t help thinking about it. “You both share quite some similar reactions when it comes to danger. Wasn’t the brightest among his peers either. Always trying to find an easy way out of a situation. Of course, in the end, some dumb luck would come to the rescue. Not to mention you both had a distinct fear of me when we first met.”

“Eh heh. Is that what ya really think of me?” Crimson said with a nervous smile.. “So, where is this friend of yers now?”

With a hopeful look, Dirge gazed back up towards the night sky. “Can’t say. Haven’t seen him for some time. He could be anywhere. But knowing him, through some weird twist of fortune… he’s managed on his own.”

“You two must be really good friends then. I kinda thought you weren’t really the type to have any. Uh… no offense.”

What he said made Dirge think over that comment for a moment. “I thought the same.”

“Ah. Kinda reminds me of an ol’ filly friend of mine from a long time ago.” Crimson said. Blushing from recalling his nostalgia. “We was just kids back then, but she used to be one of my only friends when all the other colts thought I was too weird ‘n’ such to hang out with ‘em. Whenever I got picked on by some jerk, she used to get me out of it. Course, sometimes we’d get in trouble in the end, but she’d still stick by me. Heck, she’d even believe me when I said the teacher was possessed by some evil magic when we got too much homework!” Laughing from the last part of his reminiscing. “Aww, shucks. Didn’t mean to ramble on like that. Heh heh.”

Dirge, however, didn’t seem to mind the stallion’s take on the recollection of his own past. The emotions he radiated during that little story made the atmosphere all the more exquisite.

“Hey, I was wonderin’ somethin’ about ya. How come they call ya ‘changelings’? Is it cause ya can change into other ponies like I saw yer buddies do last time?” Crimson asked, then immediately raised an excited grin. “Hey! Think ya can show me right now ‘n’ see how it’s done?”

But Dirge was not enthusiastic about his request. “You’re asking the wrong changeling.”

“Wha… ? But I thought you were--” Crimson said, but stopped when he noticed the broken horn. “Oh. Umm… s-sorry I asked. Guessin’ with yer horn the way it is, yer magic ain’t gonna work neither. How’d ya hurt yerself anyway?” Asking as he took another gulp of his cider.

As much as it pained him to think back to that unfortunate moment, Dirge looked up towards the moon. It’s gentle glow helped calm his nerves. “Just another mishap, I suppose.”

“Musta been a real bad one. I get the feelin’ ya don’t wanna talk about it, so I ain’t gonna push the subject.” Crimson said in a sympathetic tone. “But… just one more question, if ya don’t mind?”

From the moon’s light, Dirge shifted his attention back to Crimson’s shy expression.

Scratching the back of his neck nervously, Crimson asked, “So, uh… what planet are ya really from?”

Concluding that the young stallion’s nonsensical question was nothing more than just another attempt at humor, Dirge couldn’t help but snicker. Then, a rather loud chuckling followed.

“Hey! What’s so funny!? I’m bein’ serious!”

For the first time for as long as he could remember, Dirge laughed out loud. Indulging in that enjoyable moment, he had shortly forgotten about the day’s woes. Even if Crimson looked as if he was being made light of. Regardless, he had provided a good amount of emotional relief.

From that point on, the night went on without anymore unpleasant interruptions. With the natural ambience of the creatures of the night drowning out the muffled laughter from within the barn.

Later through the night, only prior to less than half an hour before sunrise, a rooster began sounding off with its normally loud crowing.

Dirge had awakened, one wink at a time, to the repetitive noises from outside. Crimson’s snoring also proved in making him more restless by the second. The pony laid on the guest bed in a lazy position, with the cider bottles littered next to his hoof, hanging off the side of the bed.

Throughout most of the night, he had sat and dozed, on and off, near the window to keep further watch for anymore movement from the guards. Peering through the drapes, the town ahead seemed to be void of any activity. Appearing to be rather quiet, though that wasn’t surprising at this hour.

Convinced that this was the best chance to finally make his departure, Dirge rose to his hooves and started to gather his belongings. Donning his fur cloth and pendant, he made his way to his straw hat hanging on the rack next to the door, but paused in his tracks when he sensed a strong but familiar emotion lingering in the air.

It was love. Not the kind one would commonly give to friends or family, but unmistakably, the sort that any would strongly express for a lover.

Dirge took in hints of its presence and looked to where the source was emanating from.

Crimson Delight, still sound asleep, had the silliest grin on his face. Mouth slightly agape from the drool he was seeping onto the pillow.

Approaching the young stallion quietly, Dirge observed his sleep for a moment and pondered just what sort of dream he was currently having to make him radiate that amount of affection. Before he bothered to come to a conclusion, he decided to take the opportunity to feed off some of it and stave off a bit of his hunger. Opening his mouth, he began extracting the emotional energy through a stream of green mist. Slowly and carefully as to not force them out of the pony and wake him up.

But Dirge stopped his feeding when Crimson snorted loudly, twitching in response to a slight discomfort. Through those emotions, the changeling had a better idea of why he was giving off so much love. It was the sort of fondness one would give off for someone they longed for. Then he recalled last night’s brief story of the pony’s childhood.

Smiling softly from the satisfaction of not only from last night’s stress relief, but the amusement Crimson Delight had provided throughout his stay. Regardless of his ill intent at first.

Leaving the young stallion to more of his dreaming, Dirge resumed his silent exit and placed the straw cap on his head as he walked out of the room.

Making his way downstairs and to the front door, he opened it halfway to inspect the surroundings outside. There were no signs of the royal guard anywhere nor any pegasi hovering above the morning sky. But Dirge took his time looking around the area until he heard the sound of hoofsteps creaking on the wooden floor behind him.

“Leavin’ so soon?”

Apple Betty asked as she stood there curious, looking as if she had just gotten up fresh out of bed.

“I felt it was time.” Dirge replied. “No point in staying here any longer.”

“Just yer time, huh? I understand. We all got places to be ‘n’ all. ” Betty said smiling. “Was nice gettin’ to know ya while you were still here.” Approaching him and giving the changeling a couple pats on the back. “Ya weren’t as bad as some ponies made ya out to be, ya know?”

While he accepted the compliment somberly, Dirge retained his focus back towards the view outside the door. Still on edge for any remaining guard that may possibly be lurking nearby.

“Lookin’ for them guards? They all shoulda left by now. Probably gone back to Canterlot. Ain’t got much reason to look for one changeling in the same place all day, really.” Betty said. Though she arched an eye when she asked, “But… where are ya headed for anyway?”

But Dirge, himself, didn’t have an answer to that either. “Who knows?”

Stepping outside into full view, he looked around to see that the mare was most likely correct in her assumption. There were no signs of them anywhere. Though whatever the case, he saw a good opening into the forest beyond the orchards. A better path to evade anymore attention. He made his first steps there, but halted when Betty called out to him.

“Wait! Ya forgot somethin’!”

Dirge inspected himself over to see that he was sure he didn’t leave anything behind. Positive that he hadn’t, he looked back to the mare doubtfully. “I’m certain I didn’t.”

“Come over here for a sec!” She said as she waved to him and promptly went back inside.

While Dirge waited outside the front door, she returned almost a minute later with one of her homemade apple pies. “Here! Don’t want ya gettin’ too hungry on yer way, so I thought ya might want one of these. First one’s on the house!” She said. Placing the pie into his saddlebag. “Even shrink wrapped it for ya.”

Though he appreciated the mare’s kind offering, he wasn’t all too excited over the pie. Perhaps saving it as a last resort should his personal preference for food become too scarce. Nonetheless, Dirge responded with a quick nod to her. “My regards.”

“Think nothin’ of it! Next time ya decide to stop by in town, be sure to look us up! Don’t be a stranger then!”

As much as he doubted his return to this place, Dirge was grateful he made some new allies out of unlikely odds.

And with that, the changeling proceeded with his trek out of the farm’s territory and into his next destination ahead. Apple Betty waving goodbye as the sun began to shine from its rising in the distance.

Later that morning, Betty made her way to her favorite cafe for her usual breakfast. Entering inside, she found that the place was expectedly empty only shortly after opening its doors, being the first customer of the day. She took her seat next to the window and looked outside towards the view. Wishing the traveling changeling a safe journey with a smile.

“Oh! Betty!” Apple Fritter called out when she spotted her.

“Mornin’, Frit!” Betty replied with a wave of her hoof over to her.

Trotting over to her friend, Fritter showed concern when she began asking, “So, what happened? Were there really any changelings? Did that stranger turn out to be one after all?”

“Oh, don’t go worryin’ about that! He wasn’t such a bad guy after all!”

“S-so… he wasn’t a changeling?”

“Oh no, he was one alright!”

Fritter gasped at that. “What!? Oh my gosh! It didn’t hurt ya or anythin’, did it!? We gotta call the guards back!”

“Relax, Fritter.” Betty stated calmly. “The changelin’ I know isn’t what yer expectin’ him to be, really!”

“But… how are ya so sure?”

“Ya might think me crazy, but that stranger reminded me of somethin’ very important…” Betty said as she gazed out into the fields beyond the town of Appleton.

As Dirge wandered through the thicket of the forest, he saw an opening towards a clearing and headed straight for it. Already making his way out, he came across the dirt road leading back to the town ahead, which appeared to be nothing more than a faraway blur at this point. He stood there for a moment, reminiscing his time from the days past and what he was leaving behind for the pursuit of his own goals.

“Ya know, Frit? There’s an ol’ saying my ma used to teach me back when I was a young filly. That we can’t let a few bad apples spoil a whole bunch. Ya gotta learn how to pick out the good ones from the bad! I mean, it wouldn’t make sense just lettin’ ‘em all go to waste when ya don’t put in the effort to get to know the rest better!”

“So… you’re saying we should start trusting changelings? Ya ain’t making much sense, Betty...”

Snapping back to reality, Dirge resumed his voyage back to the road in front of him. Where it lead to was unknown, for the vast green fields of Equestria were seemingly endless, but filled with possibilities and perils.

“It actually ain’t all that complicated! What I’m sayin’ is: Ya can’t judge everypony by their cover! Sure, a lot of us are guilty of that, but I knew better when I first met him. And I don’t regret givin’ him a chance neither! In fact, once we got around to chattin’ with him, he seemed like a pretty troubled guy.”

Out of the corner of his eye, Dirge spotted a large brown feather stuck between blades of grass. It appeared too big to belong to any pegasi in specific. Examining it closer, its scent was reminiscent of a certain creature. Almost as if he had smelled it before. But when he further looked around the area, a few more of them were scattered around. A particular one stuck out of a hoof print on the ground. Though there were more claw marks and rough patches here and there among the road. Evidence of a struggle that may have taken place earlier.

“But then my son was talkin’ about all kinds of things about him last night. Like where he came from ‘n’ other things like... oh! The fella even had a name after all!”

“Really? What was its name?”

As he watched the last of the feathers fly into the sky from a sudden gust of wind, his hat was also simultaneously blown away from his head. Landing a short distance away from his reach, he frustratingly went to pick it back up. But before doing so, a loud rustling in the tree to the right of him was heard. Dirge immediately sprang into a defensive stance as a dark figure was seen jumping down into the bushes below. Too quick for his eyes to catch sight of who or what it was.

“I believe it was… Doug? Didge? Dirb? Aww, shoot. What was it again?”

The mysterious form revealed itself as it leaped out of the bush. That’s when Dirge softened his aggression when he was surprised to see a common, yet unfamiliar face. One he didn’t expect to see so soon.

“Oh, now I remember! It was… !”

“Dirge!?”