The Everfree, this name fit the forest well. A forest where everything was free to do as it pleased. A place free of control. It also held some of the deadliest creatures in all of Equestria. This is where, King Metamorphosis, the King of Changlings was flying to. No, not flying... more like hurtling towards.
He was spinning out of control, like a rag doll thrown to the wind. His echoed voice screeched out in pain. Due to the fact he was spinning and he had no way of telling which way was up or down. All he saw was a blur of colors. His bug like wings flapped uselessly against the rushing winds. He was falling for about several seconds already, so he hadn't much longer before... splat. With the last of the air in his lungs he cried out a final prayer.
"PLEASE FAUST, I CAN'T DIE!"
Then he was knocked out.
- - -Several Hours Later- - -
The King's eyes slowly opened. "a~live..." He wheezed out. "Alive." He said with more force, before he let out a laugh. He would have continued if his stomach didn't flare up in pain. Looking down it was clear his exoskeleton was cracked. Even though it was night now he could see the bright green blood leaking from his wound.
He sighed "Alive... For now." Looking around he found he was in a bed room. The walls were covered in moss. The roof was nonexistent. A tree branch stuck in through the shattered window. The entire bed was rotting away. The remains of what looked to be a bookshelf was destroyed. The only thing still recognizable was an old grandfather clock, a writing desk and a white banner with a golden sun on it.
'Excellent,' he thought 'cloth. Now I just need to get up.' As he began to shift his weight he let out a pained grunt. He breathed heavily as he thought. 'I can't get up... maybe I can use my magic.' With a strained grunt through his clenched fangs he activated his magic. A smiled tugged at his lips as he was greeting with a green glow of his horn. 'yes' A matching glow surrounded the banner. 'Yes!'
Kazzzz-ZAP
"AGHHH!" He yelled out in pain as sparks flew from his horn. Huffing in air, he growled. 'Lying here won't get me anywhere. In need to stop myself from bleeding out. So it's either hope the wound closes or...' He sighed looking to the banner that hung but ten feet away. 'risk making it worse.' Gritting his teeth he seethe "What I wouldn't do for a glass of wine right now."
With several sickening crunches and one blood curtiling scream he began to drag himself to the banner. A trail a thick bright green blood was left in his wake. The world swayed as he lost more and more blood. If it wasn't for the fact he already emptyed the contents of his stomach in flight, he would have vomited. He stopped after four feet. His breath was heavy and his eyes shut tight. "Can't stop now..." he whispered weakly. "Can't... stop noooaAAGGGGGGHHHHH" He screamed as he drug himself more. His scream continued untill he hit the wall with the banner.
With a shaking hoof he reached up and yanked on the banner, pulling it to the ground. Pulling himself into a sitting position against the wall he opened his eyes. Grabbing the surprisingly clean banner he began to tear off long strip and wrap said strips around his wounds covering his aching body.
After the blood stopped dripping from his body the Changeling King smiled and his eyes began to close.
Scratch scratch scratch
The soft scratching made Metamorphosis open one of his eyes. He could hear what ever made the noise but he could not see it. It also didn't help that he could barely hear. Opening his other eye he looked around once more. This time instead of scanning the perimeter of the room he looked closer to himself. His search bore fruit. A rat was trying to make it's way onto his leg. It's little claws struggling to climb the King's hard chitin.
He leaned in to get a closer look at the vermin. Grunting ever so slightly as he leaned in. The rat took notice and stopped it's effort to look at the Changeling. Neither of them moved, both of them waiting for the other to make the first move. King Metamorphosis looked over the rat, this time he understood. It wasn't just a rat. No. it was pregnant.
Giving the pregnant rat a smile, with out showing his teeth, he leaned back against the wall. After a few more hops and scratches the rat finally manage to get onto the King's leg. "My name is King Metamorphosis. How are you, girl?" the King said softly in his echo like voice.
The rat squeaked and smiled as she looked into the Changling's eyes.
"That is nice, very nice."
She squeaked and cocked her head.
"Oh, me? I'm not doing so well. As you can see." He chuckled.
She squeaked and made her way to the King's stomach before nuzzling him.
"Oh don't worry about me, I'll be fine, all I need is time. A little love for these wounds... And maybe just a little luck!" The King let out a dry laugh.
She looked down with a frown.
"Hey don't be like that." The King said as he lifted her head with a bloody hoof. "I'll be fine, Miss. ... You never told me you name."
She gave him a deadpanning look.
"Right, it's not like you can... Let see if I can guess." He tapped a hoof to his chin. "Is it, Jenny."
She shook her head.
"Didn't think so. Is it Sarah? No? Elizabeth? No, again. Hmm... Oh I know Chrysalis!"
The female rat made a gagging noise before shaking her head.
"What? Chrysalis is a beautiful name!"
She made another gagging noise.
"Oh. fine then. I must just more refined tastes then."
The rat rolled her eyes.
"Can you give me a hit?"
Tapping her chin for a second, she nodded. She then held up one claw.
"One word?"
She nodded. Covering her eyes with her paws before uncovering her eyes and made a funny face. She then repeated this a few more times.
"Peek a Boo?"
She nodded then held up one claw again.
"Peek?"
She nodded head happily.
"Well Miss. Peek it's very nice to meet you." He said holding out a hoof, and Peek shook it happily. His eyes glancing upwards he took notice of the sparkling night sky. "I best get some rest. You should rest too."
Peek gave, Metamorphosis a pleading look.
"Fine you can sleep with me. Hop in." He said holding out his left fore hoof. Peek happily jumped into one of the holes in the King's leg. Moving a bit she snuggled down, content with her new sleeping place. The King sighed. "Good Night."
She squeaked before closing her eyes.
The Metamorphosis reached up to his galea helmet and slowly slid it off his head. Looking down at his bloody breast plate he thought, 'I can't take it off now.' Adjusting his sitting position he got as comfortable as he could on the stone floor and closed his eyes.
