Prologue: You're Special!
Not One of the Others
by: LunaPhobos
No one is ever safe from their own nightmares. Nightmares could take the form of anything! It could be about something you've accidentally did back in your foalhood or a manifestation of one's negative emotions, like guilt and regret, that haunt your dreams. Fluttershy always had these dreams. She was always in fear that these dreams will forever haunt her, for they've been with her for as long as she can remember. It's the same dream, always in an eternal loop. Although you'd expect poor frail Fluttershy to give in to such dreams, she won't give up that easily. Her friends and her animals... without them she'd be nothing. She couldn't have possibly forgotten the nightmares without the happiness, the friendship, and the... love they share. But it just never ends...
Fluttershy yawned quietly as she woke up in her bed. Awkwardly enough, she was a bit worried. She didn't dream about anything at all. No nightmares, no quiet squealing under the blanket, no nothing. Her bed wasn't even messed up for that matter. She then stood up and thought to herself... "How?" How, indeed was the question. She was about 8 years old when these nightmares had been terrorizing her. She had been having these nightmares for many years... up until now. Was it because she has seen a more traumatizing event? It was only few days ago that they have faced the queen of Changelings, Queen Chrysalis. "She was quite scary..." She said to herself. "But that couldn't be the reason.". She went to her closet to get her grocery bag and there she saw something, her reflection. She always said to herself through that same mirror everyday, 'look, that's me' and giggle, but she felt as if it wasn't her, as if she was a faker. She shook her head at the though and quickly grabbed the bag and left the room in order for such thought to go away.
Equestria 1998, Cloudsdale Orphanage, 7:30pm
A knock was heard on the door of the orphanage. "Now who could that be?" said one of the caretakers. She opened the door and looked down to see a butter colored pegasus inside a basket, looking shyly at the mare. "D'awww, what a cute lil' filly..." the filly started fluttering and squealing. The mare then took hold of the basket still with the filly on it. "I know you're going to make a lot of friends here... But you look so shy... Fluttering and Shy..." the mare giggled as she saw the filly was now sleeping in the basket.
"I want 3 carrots, 2 tomatoes and 4 lettuces." Fluttershy said as she passed bits to the salespony.
"There ya' go, ma'am!" cheerily said the salespony.
"Thank you, sir." Fluttershy said.
"Oh, and... not to be rude ma'am, but there's something on your face."
"Oh, my! Thank you, it's probably nothing..." blushed Fluttershy. "I'll be going now."
Fluttershy trotted back to her cottage. She had everything she needed to make the perfect salad for angel... again. "Okay, we put the lettuce here and..." A few minutes later and Fluttershy was done. "There! Perfect..." She said. "Angel!" she called and the bunny was quickly there, munching on the salad. "Hope you have a good snack, Angel. I have to go check what the salespony was talking about."
Fluttershy went upstairs to her bedroom and checked the mirror. There was a bit of black blots on her face. She giggled "Oh what a relief... It's just a blot of ink." Fluttershy grabbed a bar of soap and started rubbing her face with it. Washing the soap residue off, Fluttershy saw that the stain was all... gone? She saw that the thing on her took up more space in her face. It was black... "That can't be right." she muttered to herself. Looking closer, she had noticed that it wasn't ink taking over her face but it her butter fur and skin... it was peeling off...
"Thanks for hanging out with me Rainbow Dash! Even though you were tired from the whole invasion thing yesterday!"
"Anything for my biggest fan!" The rainbow maned pegasus said as she patted the orange filly's mane. "I mean, we're in the park! I usually hang out here! Sleeping and flying is my way of relaxing! Being tired is no obstacle for this pony!"
"Speaking of obstacles, wanna set up these obstacle course for my scooter trial?"
"Sure why no-" then the annoying sound of small bells being rung. "Oh, crud." Rainbow Dash went to a cloud and put her hoof in it, reaching for something. "Gosh darn, there's my alarm clock and my notebook of stuff with a list of things that are due today. Sorry Scoots, looks like I won't be setting up that rad obstacle course of yours. After the Changeling Invasion, I'm way overdue with some stuff!"
"Aww, why now? I haven't showed you my sick Scooter flip yet!"
"Sorry Scoots. Fluttershy said she had a problem with chickens and some other animals." Rainbow chuckled quietly. "And she needs my help with them... or something."
"Oh, okay, bye!"
And within 10 seconds, Rainbow Dash flew as fast as she usually did when traversing Ponyville. She was heading to Fluttershy's cottage at her usual speed until she heard a familiar scream.
"Fluttershy!" hearing the scream, Rainbow Dash flew as fast as she could.
Rainbow quickly bolted in the house, and quickly entering in Fluttershy's room. Fluttershy was in the corner, covering her whole face. "It all makes sense now." She said while she was crying. "Those nightmares...".
"Fluttershy! Are you okay?"
"Rainbow, go away! I want to be alone!" She shouted. "I don't want you to see me LIKE THIS..."
"Oh, come on Flutters. You know me, I know you. We grew up in the same orphanage! We're besties since orphans!"
"Yes, but I didn't know where I came from. You found your parents a while back. They lost you remember?"
"Oh right. You don't have parents." Rainbow realized what she had just said and mentally facehoofed herself.
Fluttershy cried even more.
"Oh, whoops..." Rainbow Dash approached the crying pegasi. "Cheer up Fluttershy. Past is past, you got nothing to worry about it. You got us, remember? We're family!"
Fluttershy stopped crying. She stood up, still not showing her face. "Past may be past, but what I'm focusing is the now. The present. Yes, Rainbow, I do wish I knew my parents, but the now speaks more words to me... I don't want to know who they are."
"Why not?!"
"Because I know who they might be."
"Who?"
Fluttershy finally brushed off her hair to reveal her face to Dashie. Her entire left face had a charcoal color. Instead of fur, it was of a hard substance, similar to Obsidian. Her left eye was now a round light blue gemstone, or something of the sort. The appearance resembled the creatures that they had once fought only a yesterday.
"Dashie... I am a Changeling..."
"What the hay!? You Changeling scum! You can impersonate me, you can impersonate the Princess... But no one ever impersonates Fluttershy!" Rainbow yelled with anger. She flew up to the roof and prepared to strike, until Harry the bear blocked the blow with his body. Harry, although hurt, still continued to defend the changeling. "H-harry? That's not the real Fluttershy!"
Harry just roared, lying down near the butter pegasus. Tears bursted through Fluttershy's eyes. "But you've got to believe me! I am Fluttershy!"
"And how are you going to prove that, Changeling?" Rainbow said, not being convinced about what she had said.
Sniffling, Fluttershy wiped off the tears and started to think. "Remember that time at the orphanage when we were drawing comics? I was the illustrator and you were the story writer. I remember one comic I made was the one with the super-powered cow. I also remember the Birthday Cake Incident at the orphanage."
"Huh... Changelings can't take memories from ponies and they were only a big problem yesterday! You making comics at the orphanage was 7 years ago! You really are Fluttershy!" Rainbow then hugged Fluttershy, hoping it would make her feel better. "What happened anyway? Why are you a changeling?"
"I don't know and I'm scared! I'm very scared Rainbow! Why am I a Changeling?!"
"Fluttershy. Get a hold of yourself. Remembering that you're from the orphanage and the comics we've made is all the proof we need. And no matter what happens, we'll still be best friends, right?" Fluttershy nodded slowly as she stopped crying.
"Alright, now, we need to get Twilight for help so-"
"N-no... No thanks. No need for Twilight's help, we don't want to be much of a burden for Twilight..."." Fluttershy said, struggling to have a positive tone in her voice.
"Hmm, yeah... That would be a problem if Twilight would discover. She'd blow a fuse and probably dissect you."
Fluttershy deflated a bit. Harry looked at Rainbow Dash, looking not very amused by what she just said.
"I guess I'll let you be. It looks... Kind of painful. Does anypony know about this?"
"No, just you."
"I guess... Thinking about it, because of the Canterlot Invasion, I think it's best to not say 'Hey, the Element of Kindness is actually a Changeling'!"
Fluttershy squealed a bit. Harry was starting to get tired of Rainbow Dash's business, he got up and left the room. "Ah.. Sorry. I can keep watch of the things though."
"Thank you... But you don't need to do that, Dashie."
"I have to, we're in this together! WE. CAN. DO. THIS!"
"Okay..." she quietly said.
"Right! Now Flutters, I have to write everything what's happening about you." Using the notebook of lists of things that are due today.
"Wow Rainbow, that's so organized of you..."
"I gotta at least learn something from Twilight's eggheadedness..."
'Fluttershy to Changeling Documentary. 9:00am'
Left side of face is nearly Changeling-ified. Is that a word? Don't know, don't care. The skin is starting to peel in other places, like the back and the legs. I'd say the percentage of completion is about 20%. Hopefully Fluttershy doesn't become a mindless creature of some hive-mind. I couldn't possibly imagine what would happen if she gives in to some hive-mind.
I hope that never happens...
And it ends there.
Author's Note
Man, this had a lot of potential now that I'm looking back at it.
What a 4-year long hiatus of no poners. Funny thing, the only reason why I came crawling back to the cute little poners is because of that one gif of Twilight saying Pudding... Yeah, there's nothing more, nothing less... That just gave me the emotional energy I needed to write again. Anyways, I'm going to rewrite some stuff in this. Hope y'all enjoy this story I'm working on!
I need a proof-reader. If y'all wanna help, just message me! :D
Chapter 1: How much do you remember?
Chapter 1: How much do you remember?
"Rainbow, I think writing everything down won't help me one bit..." Fluttershy said, looking at her newly developed chitin in her body. "Plus, what if I become evil of sorts and attack you!"
"Oh please, Flutters. I'm stronger than you, no offense. Also, this 'quote on quote, notebook' right here..." Rainbow emphasized. "This right here is the information we need if ever I go and ask Twilight about it..."
"Alright, Rainbow. I'll leave it to you." Rainbow then started writing everything that was happening to her. "Oh, I almost forgot. Dashie. I think I should mention the dreams that I've had."
Confused, Rainbow Dash accepted her offer. "Okay, let's give it a shot." Rainbow said as she readied her pencil and notebook.
"Okay..." She said as she started to prepare herself.
"Droid #1973's Cocoon went missing! That poor little pupa!" said one of the Changelings. "That was the only sign of true love of the Queen! The kingdom now will never be complete! Our colony is now imperfect!"
Clopping sounds echo, similar to what you'd hear in a large hallway.
"Halt! Who goes the- princess 1973! Stop! Fillynapper!!"
Clopping becomes louder.
Sobbing can be heard. "I, the Queen of Changelings, will bow my revenge on the ponies and all of EQUESTRIA!"
"My lover is a lie."
"That's it?"
"No... Pretty weird. Especially 'my lover is a lie'. I don't get what it means. It must be a sign. Queen Chrysalis must have been heartbroken and I must be that baby Changeling." Fluttershy said as she looked at Rainbow, pacing around the room searching for more things that could help them.
"Aha!" Rainbow exclaimed. "Wear this first." She said as she handed her a pink hoodie. "We have all the information we need. We really need to go to Twilight's."
"I-i said i don't want to be a burden."
"What's that Flutters?"
"I-i really don't want to be a burden. We could do this on our own..."
"Don't be so sure that we can work it out on our own. Like you said, you could turn evil from them Hive mindy crazy wacky whatnots... Anyway, we gotta go to Twilight's."
"But you said she might dissect me..."
"Oh yeah..." Rainbow laughed nervously. "Forget about it, Flutters!"
"Okay, I guess..." Fluttershy sighed.
Meanwhile in the Golden Oak library, Twilight was always being herself, studious as usual. "So that's how they shed!" She said as she was reading the book. "Those changelings." she sighed, probably remembering the huge fiasco at Princess Cadence's wedding. "Next creature."
A knock was heard on the door. "Huh, I wonder who'd that be?" Twilight walked up to the door and saw Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy with a pink hoodie on. "Oh hi, Rainbow! Hi Fluttershy?" Then Twilight came to notice the look on their faces. Fluttershy had her face covered by the hoodie and Rainbow had a worried smile on her face. "Ummm... What could be the problem?".
They hastily went inside the library and locked the door. "Okay, Twilight... " Rainbow then showed her the notebook. "Read it and weep."
"Things to do. Number one, move clouds eastward of Ponyville. Number two, Practice Personal Hygiene. Number Three, write romantic poems in hopes I'd get a stallion one da-"
"OKAY, THAT'S THE WRONG PAGE!" Rainbow said as she snatched the notebook and turned it on the correct page.
"Fluttershy to... Changeling? Rainbow, what is this?" Twilight said as she read the title.
"I couldn't believe it myself, but..." Rainbow said as she removed the hoodie off of Fluttershy. Twilight looked in shock.
"Sweet Celestia! Rainbow, that's a-"
"Changeling. I know. But she's still Fluttershy... for some reason. She was raised by ponies, birthed by Changelings!" She yelled, then realized that she tried not to make much of a ruckus. "Flutters told me that she had these memory dreams and ever since after the invasion, she'd been acting weird and she's exposing her true form."
Twilight then squinted her eyes in disbelief. "Rainbow, how are you so sure that this is the real Fluttershy?"
"That's the hard truth..." Fluttershy spoke up. "There is no Fluttershy."
"What?!" Twilight and Rainbow exclaimed in unison.
"Fluttershy doesn't exist. It's all in my head."
"Now where's this coming from, Flutters? You gotta keep a positive attitude. After all this, you could be Fluttershy again! Unless you prefer to be a changeling?"
"Changeling or not, you're still our friend, Fluttershy." Twilight said "I mean we could do more research about changelings and different things of what they're capable of that could grant us ponies more knowledge on them!"
"R-re-really?" Fluttershy said in disbelief. "I-i-i'm still a friend!?"
"Of course! I came here to Ponyville to make friends, not to judge ponies by who they are! As long as deep inside, their intentions are good, I'll be good to them... You're safe. Fluttershy or not, you are our friend." Twilight said.
"She got that right! Now, Twilight. I have the things you need for research." Rainbow said as she ripped pages from her notebook and passed it towards Twilight.
'Fluttershy to Changeling Documentary. 9:00am'
Left side of face is nearly Changeling-ified. Is that a word? Don't know, don't care. The skin is starting to peel in other places, like the back and the legs. I'd say the percentage of completion is about 20%. Hopefully Fluttershy doesn't become a mindless creature of some hive-mind. I couldn't possibly imagine what would happen if she gives in to some hive-mind.
I hope that never happens...
'Fluttershy to Changeling Documentary. 9:30am
Fluttershy tells her dreams and this was the result. It started in the hive mind. Everyone was gossiping about the lost filly of the hive. Then it cuts to the scene where a changeling guard saw a pegasus stallion running with the said filly. Princess Chrysalis was seen crying and said 'my lover is a lie.'
"I'm the daughter of the Queen, Twilight. She must've really cared that much about me." She said to Twilight. "Listen, I'm a Changeling now, and I think we should give Chrysalis another chance at love?"
"Hmmmm, after disguising as my beloved foalsitter, being an imposter on my brother's wedding, giving me emotional trauma and utter sadness after you chose her over me..." she said as she squinted, putting a hoof on her chin.
"Yeah, we get the picture here, Twi." Rainbow Dash said. "Even so, Flutters, Chrysalis is strong! We couldn't even take her out when she was overflowing with love. She even took down Princess Celestia! It's very hard to give her another chance..."
"I guess..." she said as she yawned.
"You need some rest? I just researched that Changelings shedding takes up a lot of energy." Twilight said, holding up a book titled 'The Unfinished yet Sufficient Guide to Rare Creatures'.
"Y-yes, I need time to rest."
"Okay, well... I'll leave you two alone up in the lab room. I'll just be here in the library. Spike isn't in there so you can talk about something more personal of what happened to Fluttershy."
"Thanks Twi!" Rainbow said as they went to Twilight's room and locked everything.
"Okay, Fluttershy... Here's the plan. You go to the Hive and using your Changeling thingies, you can sense the hive, right? You can easily go there! Talk to Chrysalis that you were Fluttershy and do the thing... what does Twilight call it? Ah, yes, diplomacy. A diplomatic agreement and everypony wins! Sounds good to you, Shy?"
"Oh! Yes. Making peace is a way I can." Fluttershy said as she nodded her head.
"Then it's settled, to THE HIVE!"
"Dashie! Shedding, remember?"
"Oh yeah... To the notebook!"
Author's Note
Man, writing stuff was never this hard for me. Maybe because it has been so long since I've actually practiced writing stuff. 
Anyways, hope y'all like it!