The Reluctant Changeling

As the sun began to fall from its highest point in the sky, Autumn Heart came to a sage conclusion: Celestia was a monster from Tartarus in disguise. She’d been staying in Dodge City, a former frontier, much like Appleloosa, that was growing into its own respectable status.  Autumn Rush had been in Dodge City for a week, and for seven straight days, it had been bright and sunny. Too bright, too sunny, and too blasted hot. The Earth Pony stopped for a second, wiping the sweat off her brow. Yeah, far too hot. Still, she gave a sigh, a soft smile gracing her lips.

The only reason she’d come here, the reason she’d stayed in this town in the middle of nowhere for the week, was her colt friend: Mist Chaser. A bright grey Pegasus with a dirty blonde mane, whose job was to follow rain clouds when the weather team was done, and make sure the moisture stayed where it needed to be. She wouldn't pretend she understood it, being an Earth Pony. However, all she needed to know was that he was a sweet, awkward stallion, who seemed to always make time from his job as a weather pony to see her. Her job took her around Equestria, as a professional runner for the annual ‘Running of the Leaves’, but only around the fall season. Still, somehow, he found a way to travel with her.

She had headed out into town for a walk, wanting to keep her body in as much shape as her mind and relationship. The town was Mist Chaser’s home town, where he’d been born and raised. Honestly, she questioned how, in this sun scorched town, her colt friend could have found out his talent involved rain.  Even with her mind occupied though, Autumn could hardly keep the spring out of her step. When Mist had offered to bring her to Dodge City while he visited family, she had accepted without a second thought. He’d followed her around so much, and she’d never even heard him talk about his family. And yet, when they’d arrived, Mist had met his family at the train station. Mist introduced her to them, and they regarded her kindly enough, before pulling Mist away to discuss some “private family business.” When Mist came back, he seemed to be very happy, beaming even.  And that was the last Autumn had seen of Mist’s family. They were staying by themselves in a small, one bedroom home, tucked away from the rest of the town, to the point Autumn would almost call it hidden.

So, with the idea that he wanted to introduce her to his family obviously wrong, Autumn had begun to wonder why Mist had wanted to bring her to Dodge City. Especially since it seemed that he was very nervous on the whole train ride over, and even when there, even when they were laying together in his home, Mist seemed like he was on edge. For the life of her, Autumn couldn't figure it out. Adding to the mystery was the fact that Mist had taken to vanishing during the day, and she had even once woken up to find him missing when Luna’s moon was high above. When she confronted him about this, Mist had only said he was “Making preparations” and that she would “find out soon enough, and he hoped it’d make her the happiest mare in Equestria.” It was after that, Autumn could only think of a single, logical reason for his actions, and when she’d thought of it, she’d let out a happy little squeal that she’d deny making as long as she lived.

Mist Chaser was going to propose.

It all made so much sense as she turned the events again and again in her mind. He’d wanted to propose in his home town, maybe even planning a sappy speech about how ‘his life began in Dodge City, so their shared life should begin there to.’ He asked his parents for their blessing and help, and he’d been heading out to prepare the wedding ceremony, and in the night… Well, that remained a bit odd, but still. Nothing else made sense. And since that thought  a few days ago, she had been nearly skipping when she was away from him, like now. However, a voice pulled her out of her happy revelry. A voice that would change her life forever, in a worse way than she ever dreamed.

“Oh, Misty….” The voice was feminine, and spoken with a gasp and a giggle that hinted at naughty thoughts.  It teased Autumns ears, making the mare wonder if she’d even heard it, or if it was just a sudden, paranoid thought. However, the next sound burned her even more than the first.

“You want me to stop?” It was Mist. There was no doubt in her mind. She’d recognize his voice anywhere. And she recognized how he spoke: That teasing edge, the soft chuckle that rang out, lecherous intentions on his voice. B-But no. Autumn shook her head, refusing to believe it. Mist would never…

Peeking her head around the corner, she saw what she was terrified to find. Her Pegasus, walking side by side with another mare, a bright yellow Pegasus, and nibbling on her wings softly as they walked. A few ponies snorted and looked away, mumbling about indecency, others blushed and scampered into buildings they suddenly had a deep interest in. Autumn, however, couldn't stop staring, abject horror playing across her face.

“I didn't say that.” The yellow mare cooed, giggling softly again. “C’mon, my place is right here.” She told him, turning and pulling a key from her still folded free wing. She turned to unlock her door, squealing and jumping a bit as Mist nipped again. Giving the cheating stallion a look that seemed to mix annoyance, arousal, and joy, the mare pulled her wing back and bopped him in a teasing manner on the nose. “Wait ‘til we’re inside Mist. You’re incorrigible, I swear.”

“Only around you.” He responded smoothly, but pulled back, behaving as he let her unlock the door and lead him inside. As the door closed behind them, Autumn could only stare in horror and heartbreak. She felt as though her dreams of marriage had shattered, leaving sharp shards to carve her heart apart. Tears sprang to her eyes, her hooves shaking, her legs dropped out from under her, bringing her to her knees. She couldn't bring herself to stop the tears, barely able to breath. She found that she gathered a small crowd of ponies, each asking if she was OK, what was wrong. She waved them off, shaking her head, and doing all she could to not begin to break down bawling. Her teeth began to draw blood from her lips as she sniffled. She refused to break down, refused to make any more of a spectacle of herself. Mumbling quick thanks and reassurances to the kind ponies around her, she gritted her teeth, staring at the door her love and happiness had walked through. Just as soon as the tidal wave of sorrow swept her away, it receded, leaving a burning fury. Rage like she had never felt, filling her entire being.  She’d cry more later, give into the pain and let it all out, but now, she was going to make herself known, and the earth pony didn't think she could be held accountable for what was about to happen.

With a single mighty buck, the door broke off its hinges, sailing a respectable three inches before it hit the ground, clattering into the darkness of the home. The home smelt empty, like there was no one home, and that the owner of the home had merely stepped out. Autumn was vaguely aware that she looked like a burglar, a mad-pony, kicking in the door of some poor pony’s home. She didn't care. She knew that’d be the least of things she’d have to explain to the sheriff when he caught her.  The furious, heart-broken mare, made her way from hallway to hallway quickly, when the sound of a shift on a bed alerted her.

“Oooh…” The sound was soft, laced with pleasure, and made her blood boil even further. Bucking the door that contained the sound down, she turned, her mind cooking up a number of furious things to say. However, all that fury died on her tongue at what she saw.

On the bed before her lay not her now-ex-colt friend and the yellow mare, but instead, a pony shaped monstrosity. The black shelled being was holding itself over the mare, who wore a dazed, open mouthed look of pleasure. Above her, the monster had its mouth open, and a sickly green gaseous cloud was flowing from her mouth to its.  While Autumn had never seen one for herself, she knew what was ahead of her. She gave a gasp, her breath caught and held by fear.

“Ch-Change…ling...” She breathed, her mind strangled by terror. The creatures name caused its ear to twitch, followed a second later by its head turning to face her, the eyes narrowing in an attempt to intimidate. However, when its eyes met hers, they shot open, wide with shock. The stream of…whatever, was broken, the mare below blinking her eyes, as though trying to wake up from a long sleep, as the Changeling moved its mouth.

“A-Autumn?” It knew her name. It knew her name!! The changeling knew her bucking name!!! Taking a step back, even as the Changeling turned to advance on her, she could only respond in one way.

“Changeling!!” She shrieked, hoping anypony would hear her, and turning to run. She didn't get a single step, as the Changeling lunged, trying to catch her and pull her back. He missed, however, and caught her in the side, making her lose her balance and trip, her head slamming painfully into the wall, stunning the poor mare. From behind her, she heard another scream, and another call of Changeling, before the Changeling hissed, almost sounding like it spoke.

“Buck me…” It hissed, its voice almost sounding panicked. Turning its attention to the yellow mare, her scream cut out suddenly. Autumn tried to pull herself to her hooves, her head still swimming, as she felt the Changeling approach from behind. “I’m so sorry Autumn, please, forgive me…I’ll try to fix this…”It said, its voice sounding oddly like Mist’s for a moment, before she felt a sudden warmth at the back of her head. The magic took effect and her vision swam, darkening before finally going dark.

Consciousness came and went for Autumn Heart. And each time her mind rose from the darkness, she was aware of a different sensation. First, she felt like she was being carried, her dangling hoof and the wind hinting she was being flown somewhere. The next time she was aware of her own mind, she felt a cold stone floor, the air warm and dank, moisture heavy in the air. Voices floated, each sounding like they were a million miles away, and like they were being muffled.

“…id you bring her here?” A female voice, and even with Autumn’s scattered mind, she could hear the regality behind the voice. It must be one of the princesses. That made some shred of sense to her battered mind.

“It’s not her fault, your Highness.” Yeah, it was the princesses, but the voice speaking now eluded her. It sounded so familiar, but so alien. “I made the mistake. I screwed up. She doesn't deserve to die over it though!” Die? Was she dying? She felt like it. Her whole body felt heavy, drained. She couldn't muster the energy to feel happy or sad, or anything. Her mind had to slog through a swamp of fatigue to even remember her own name.  “Please, save her…” There was silence for a long few seconds, and idly, Autumn wondered if she had slipped back into unconsciousness. Finally, there was a voice again.

“Very well. For you, Mystax.”  The voice came. “You've been a loyal servant to the throne, and provided more than your fair share of love. However, understand this. When she wakes, she will be your responsibility. You will be expected to teach her our ways, our laws, and to keep her from rampaging, or giving our location away. If you fail, then banishment shall be the minimum punishment for both of you. Likely, she will be put to death.” The words she heard made her heart jump to life, pounding in her chest, fear racing through her body. What were they talking about? She’d be put to death? But, weren't they saving her? What was going on!?

No sooner than she thought this, she felt something being pulled from her. It terrified her, as she felt her breath leaving her, her body feeling even heavier. She felt her mind giving in, her consciousness fading again, as though it was being pulled from her very body. Was this it? Was this how it all ended? She wished she had the energy to cry as she heard her mouth speak.

“M-Mist…” She breathed, and then lay still. Just like that, Autumn Heart was dead.