The Changelingby DamionHChaptersChapter 1Chapter 2ReleaseChapter 1The Changeling Chapter 1 I awoke with a start as I heard a rustling in the bushes below the cloud I was sleeping on. I dropped my head down to listen for what it was. “Shh. You’ll wake them you foal,” said a raspy voice of an old pony. “Sorry boss, I didn’t mean to and I ‘aint see no rustling from ‘em. So it didn’t cause too much noise then,” said a younger obviously less intelligent voice. Two figures then crawled out from the bushes, an old unicorn stallion and a young pegasus colt. I swooped down and landed behind a tree my insectile wings fluttering silently. They failed to notice as I peered from my hiding place. As I saw them approach the other pony I was traveling with I then produced a dagger from my bag of holding (an almost infinite bag tied around my waist) and jumped at the old unicorn. I felt the blade pierce the throat of the dirty pony his scream silenced by my blade as it dug into him. I waited and watched as he suffocated on and drowned on his blood his gurgling bringing a smile to my face. He died with his white fur stained dark crimson.The pegasus reacted by jumping up and falling his rump hitting the ground with a loud thump causing the unicorn mage to stir. “You killed ‘im, he ain't done nothin’ to you what you kill him fer?” he asked his face contorted trying to hold back tears. “I can’t let you steal from my partner,” I said adding dislike to the last word. I hate ponies and griffins and minitours, frankly anything that’s not a changeling. So to call a unicorn my partner left a bitter taste in my mouth. I then jumped at the colt and drove my blade through his heart my blade sticking into a tree. I, not wanting to touch the blood of the dirty pony decided to leave the blade in the corpse. His face was stuck forever now in a face of pain, sadness, and shock. Let me explain to you how I ended up here with a dirty unicorn as my guide. If you are a pony and you are reading this I will find that you die as slowly and as painfully as physically possible. This is how I broke free from the control of my beloved queen and mother Chrysalis. The changeling race is a noble race with the ability to become any pony we wanted on whim. We are commanded by our mother, Queen Chrysalis by a network of mental telepathy connecting each changelings thoughts together. We feed on the most plentiful and powerful energy, love. This is achieved through dispatching and replacing a pony who has others who love them and feeding off of the emotion that come from the other. We changeling have bodies that are pony like with holes all over our legs, insectile wings, and curved horns. We are all black except for a blue part running down our backs from the base of our necks to the start of our tale, we have pupiless eyes that are completely blue we also have no manes or tails while in our natural form. It was a normal day in the hive I awoke on the command of mother as I saw my fellow changelings rise I headed to the chamber in which the queen stayed. Today I was to be given a pony to become and would start my infiltration. “I want you to be a unicorn thief named Ransen, the Blackhoof. He is only stealing to feed his wife and two children who by my studies love him allot enough to feed you my child for a long time. He usually shows up in the Canterlot shopping district around noon every day for food. He has yet to be noticed by the guards so he is well trained in using sleight of hand. Go my child, feed,” the command from my queen was stated the target locked and I was off. I arrived in Canterlot at 10 in the morning that day. The flight was draining seeing as I had to keep our races existence hidden, until mother reveals us in the next year during the royal wedding. She has planned for it to be set into motion with the third seemingly well concealed princess, Cadence. I saw the target arrive at noon as mother said. I took a coin purse with 7 gold bits in it, I threw it on the ground and waited for him to notice and pick it up. When I saw him approach I ambushed him producing a dagger from a pouch I had around my waist and plunging it into the throat of this Rasen, the Blackhoof. He tried to scream but was silenced when I covered his mouth with my hoof. I removed my blade when I was sure he was thoroughly dead. My body was then engulfed in green flame as I changed into the unicorn, my body grew a coat of mint green fur with a mane and tail of a cyan blue color I striped him of his brown tunic which had a hidden bag of holding inside. I used my magic to make him appear to anypony who happened to pass by as a stray dog who was killed in a fight with another dog. I paid particular attention to detail with this showing the open neck with savage tears the blood running down the matted light brown fur and the pool of dark blood on the ground. I then picked up my coin purse and looked as though I was ecstatic to happen by it. I purchased a loaf of bread, 3 apples, and a bottle of whiskey. I went to the “home” of this damn dirty pony I was disgusted by the disheveled look of the shack. It had a tin roof covered in spots of rust and holes, the wooden boards that made the walls were thrown together and badly nailed. It had a hole cut in the boards with a dirty tarp hanging as a door. I walked up to the “door” and pushed my way past through the tarp. “I’m home I have bread and apples for you.” I called as I entered the shack The inside was more horrifying than the outside. There were four dirty and very dusty blankets on the floor and the holes in the ceiling now were more prominent the light showing through the ceiling made the dirt floor look even more disgusting I wanted to leave this dirty pony shack and never come back. My hooves touching the ground that these dirty ponies have walked. The children ran out one earth pony colt who looked like Rasen and a unicorn filly who had a pink mane and tail with a coat of dark green. The earth pony wife followed she had a pink mane and tail with black fur. Her blue eyes looking faded and older than they should be her only being of twenty years she looked to be sixty. “Mother I have made it I’m in,” I thought sending the message to Chrysalis. “Good my child feed,” I heard the quiet response as I was tackled by the filly. I watched as the children scarfed down the apples they were given and chuckled lightly to myself as they looked saddened when they had finished their own apples respectfully. “Now, now children what do you say to daddy? He has been working hard to get food for this family,” The wife said in a slightly high pitched voice. “Thank you daddy,” the children said in unison. “Good,” the wife replied while she nibbled on her apple. I used my magic to cut the bread into four pieces and gave them out to the foals and the wife. I “ate” the bread not feeling any sustenance from the food though. I then drank the whiskey. The ponies may be dirty and almost useless but they had two major uses, food and earth pony made alcohol. I then decided to go walk around Canterlot (anything to get me out of that shack). I ran into a noble while on my walk as I passed I slid out my hoof and grabbed his coin purse I then nodded to him as to not raise suspicion. I opened the bag and found 67 gold bits inside. I went into a store and bought myself a new dagger for 50 bits, it had a leather bound handle for better grip and a small crystal on the end making it possible to be wielded by magic as well as hooves. I stopped at the Canterlot Library looking for some books on how to help me combat unicorns in case I should be chased by any royal guards. As I looked through a history book I discovered a curious item it was used in the last war with the changelings 900 years ago. The passage read “In the war that was believed to have killed the changelings there was one thing that let the ponies under the rule of Celestia win, the horn-lock. This as history tells us stopped any use of magic by the pony it was used on. The changeling’s needed magic to communicate and to transform…” the rest had been torn out or lost in the last 900 years. “Hmm. I wonder if I can learn more about these horn-lock things? Maybe I can learn how to use them to support my mother in her plans.” I said thinking out loud. “I think I have found one I will find it’s food source and eliminate it.” said a shady figure standing behind a nearby bookshelf. I stopped by a store as I neared the shack I was to call home, I got two more loaves of bread to feed the livestock and two bottles of “Strong Apple Family Cider” as the salemare said. The orange earth pony mare who sold it to me was horrifyingly cheery for not getting any other business Applesmack or some stupid name like that. I put on a fake smile and thanked her as I walked off with my drinks and bread. I got a gift for each of the young livestock as I passed a toy shop. I came out with a book on pranks and tricks for the colt and a Luna doll for the filly. “I’m back and I have some gifts for you kids.” I announced as I walked through the tarp. “DADDY! DADDY!” the children exclaimed as soon as they heard me announce my arrival Chapter 2Chapter 2 I awoke at first light on my second day of infiltration, Celestia’s sun rising over the castle. I pulled of the dirty, hole covered rag that was around me and shuddered with disgust at the thought that I had to sleep under that nasty cloth and that I was unable to bathe. I looked in the coin purse I had and found only 6 bits. “Not even enough for a bath. I need to get money so I can stay clean, unlike these dirty ponies I am staying with,” I thought aloud. “What was that honey? You never complained about dirt before,” the wife said looking confused and tired “Nothing Whimsy. I just thought a bath would be nice. I need to relax my aching muscles from my work,” I responded thoughtfully “Ok if you say so. It’s dawn what are you doing up anyway? You don’t usually wake up this early,” Whimsy inquired, her voice already starting to get on my nerves. “Weird dream, can’t get back to sleep is all. Why do you ask anyway?” I responded. “Well you were acting a bit different yesterday is all. Did something happen at work or something?” she asked me a tone of remorse badly hidden in her voice. “Weird? How do you mean?” I asked sounding surprised “Well you were drinking more than normal and you didn’t have any of your stashed alcohol. You seemed detached somehow. I’m sorry for intruding but I just want to know what’s wrong and help you to overcome it,” Whimsy said the emotion making her already vexing squeak of a voice crack with the held in tears. “Listen Whimsy, I have had some problems at work. A new less than agreeable situation has come up and I have to work with ponies I don’t get along with. I got a small bonus from the boss and I splurged on some nicer drinks. I am the same as before, just stressed from my work,” I said adding an elegantly placed tone of sadness and remorse to my explanation. “Well Rasen if it’s that bad talk to the pony you don’t like and voice your issue. If you don’t let them know there is no way for them to change. I have had to deal with less than agreeable ponies before, but I told them my issues and they would be understanding and typically they would change their ways,” said Whimsy sounding supportive and understanding. Whimsy then burst into tears her sobbing hurting my ears but I felt a good amount of nourishment from it. The love from this pony was delicious as good as the aged wine I had in my last form. The sobbing was so loud it woke the children. I comforted the now sobbing family by telling them I would talk to the pony I wasn’t getting along with and sent the kids back to bed. The mare stopped sobbing but continued to sniffle as she laid back down and fell asleep a big smile on her face. As the day approached 11:30 I set out to the marketplace in town square. I found near a trash bin a hat it was a black top hat with a pair of goggles with a blue strap and a rim of the same blue around the lenses. I picked up the hat with my magic and cast a spell to decontaminate it of the dirty pony germs and then put it on my head. I decided to wander a road that lead to a town called Ponyville traders travel that road in order to reach Canterlot so it should be easy pickings for some food and bits. As I passed the gates of Canterlot I nodded to the guards and trotted down the road I reached a wooded area by the road I jumped in making sure I was fully concealed I turned into a forest green pegasus mare with a mane and tail of a slightly lighter green color with spots of brown in it. The green flames dissipating and my new form blending in well with the forest cover. As I heard a cart approach I pulled out my blade and readied myself for attack. The cart passed and I flew silently behind it looking inside I saw eight crates of peaches, two crates of ponchos, a rifle and a half empty bottle of cheap whiskey next to a napping guard pony. I landed softly in the cart and used my knife to cut the throat of the guard making as little noise as possible so as to not alert the driver. “Hey Snap anything going on? I heard that this road is a large target for robbery.” said the driver in a deep voice. I grunted in response. “You still sleeping. Lazy bastard Snapshot you may be a good hunter with great ears but that ain't give you the right to sleep the whole time,” the driver stated annoyed. “Well this Snapshot’s ears aren't that great if I got on here so easily,” I said to the driver laughing as I shot him with the rifle the bullet going through his skull making half of the back of his skull explode spraying blood and brain all over the dirt road. He fell over and the harness that attached him to the cart snapped as it rolled over him. “Ahahahahah. That was amazing I’ve never seen a head shatter like that, I like this gun! Ohh, the sound his head made as it exploded was a fun one. BKKK POP, hahaha so much fun let’s do it again,” I exclaimed sounding way too happy for even me. I searched the guard and found 30 bits, 22 extra rifle rounds, and a pair of leather gloves to better hold the gun. As the day progressed I robbed two more carts and have a larger one hidden and loaded with the stolen goods. As another cart approached I heard the sound of the cart of the road was different it sounded more full than the last ones yet it looked smaller. “Well I’m having too much fun to stop now,” I thought as I started to sneak up on the cart. “Hi there how are you doing?” I asked as I got on the cart “Fine ma’am nice night it is, Luna’s moon is beautiful tonight,”the guard responded. “Wait who the hell are you?” he asked as he fired a shot by my ear. “You bastard!" I yelled my voice cracking with rage. "This was supposed to be a clean double homicide robbery but nooo! You have to shoot me!” I yelled. I calmed down enough to where I wouldn't be yelling and said, mostly to myself “You know what I haven’t had sex yet on this mission so since you shot at me here’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to eviscerate you and use your intestines as a condom while I fornicate with your skull. Wait damn, I’m a mare right now. I guess you get to keep your skull unpenetrated,” I said with a sadness. “But don’t worry I still plan to kill you. Isn’t that nice of me?” I finished a playful tone obvious in my voice. “It’s just what I’ve always wanted. To die by pegasus mare,” the guard said sarcastically. I was bored of this conversation now and so I grabbed my rifle and pressed the barrel to his forehead in just such a way I could hit both targets with my next shot. I had magically enhanced my bullets to add more power to the shots while I waited for carts to come. I just thought of how close we were getting to Canterlot and knew I need to finish this now. “Driver, stop now,” I commanded in an aggressive tone. The cart slowed to a stop as soon as I gave the order. “Good. Now if you vermin would like to live you can beg for life whoever is more convincing lives to flee away from the capitol and the other dies,” I told them with a dark smirk on my face. “Who’s first?” The guard started first he got into a bowing position like I was a princess who was judging his petition. He removed his hat and started “Please I’m beggin’ you, if you have any compassion let ol’ Dusty go he has two kids and a wife in the hospital. I ‘aint got no one so if I live I’ll be as bad as you. I want him to live and see his children grow. Kill me,” by the end he was practically sobbing over the thought of me killing this Dusty fellow. I felt the love of a brother in his tears and decided. “You have been judged and I choose to kill neither of you. But I'll ask for one favor from each of you. Dusty is it? Take this with you and give it to your wife and you are free,” I tossed a necklace with a red and blue gem attached to it at the driver. He caught it and nodded to me in both thanks and obedience. “And you other one you will help me get all of my goods to Canterlot,” I told the guard. “Thank you ma’am,” he said in sincerity. "Don't mention it. No I mean it don't mention it , I'm not afraid to kill you still," I said with a serious glare at my new carriage puller. "May I inquire about that pendant you gave Dusty? It seemed odd for a homicidal pony like you to let someone go free unharmed because of a sob story and give his wife a gift as well," The dirty whelp inquired "It doesn't matter to the likes of you pony filth," I retorted with a snarl my hat bobbing on my mane The pony decided not to pursue the matter further probably writing me off as just a crazy pony who escaped from a mental hospital. The trip through Canterlot on the way to my current residence went well but as the cart drew close to the shack smoke began to become visible from the area near the shack's location. "No! My food. ~cough~ Family. I need them to be alive, please don't be dead," I exclaimed a small panic at the prospect of starvation set in. "Move you dirty earth pony," I barked at the driver. "Celestia be damned, I'm moving." he responded "You winged mule of a pony," he muttered under his breath As the sight of the burning shack came into view I accepted the deaths of those three. The thought of my "gift" to Dusty's wife helped, I used some special jewels I got off a wagon guard it has the magical ability to absorb love energy and send it to my medallion I had attached to the inside of my hat. This meant as long as a creature capable of love had possession of the pendant and I had my hat, I can still feed. I stood there laughing as the smell of burning wood and flesh filled the air. ReleaseChapter 3 Release As I stood there, the fire long out, I pondered if I should inform mother yet. “Nah. She’d call me home as soon as she’s informed,” I stated out loud “What ma’am,” asked the dirty pony his ears perking “I’m pondering where I’m going to go now that my family’s dead. And frankly it’s not the business of a filthy earth pony,” I responded adding a cynical air to my response. “I have a name,” he said adding disdain to his words “You have yet to say it so I don’t know your title. I can’t read minds as a pegasus stupid earth pony,” I retorted my words leaving a baffled expression on the earth pony’s face “Well insanity aside, I’m called Dark Shot,"he responded. “Well Dark Shit, now I know your name. So I can use that knowledge for future reference." I responded still thinking about where I was going to go. "Dark Shot, not shit. You sadistic mare," he snapped "What? I'm not sadistic," I responded with mock surprise in my voice making me sound as demeaning as possible. “I’m just creative” Dark Shot sat there glaring at me as I continued to ponder where I was to go. I thought of finding a new family to infiltrate maybe in that Ponyville town I heard about a small town would be a nice change. “Yep to Ponyville. Charge Darky!” I announced hopping into the cart’s riders chair and pointing my hoof heroically into the air. “You are the rudest pony I’ve ever met you have no sense of compassion or empathy. Why am I still driving you around?” he responded “Because I’ll kill if you don’t. Now go you stupid earth pony,” I ordered nonchalantly “So why do you want to go to Ponyville? A quiet town doesn’t seem like the place for you especially since the number one student of Princess Celestia lives there along with the other Elements of Harmony.” Dark Shi… Dark Shot inquired “The Elements of Harmony? What are those?” I asked “Avoiding my questions like normal. And the Elements of Harmony are chosen ponies who embody certain traits and together they have the ability to fight evil that threatens the harmony in Equestria. There are six they are, Twilight Sparkle who embodies magic, Rainbow Dash who is loyalty, Applejack she’s honesty, Fluttershy who is kindness and the cutest, Rarity embodiment of generosity, and finally Pinkie Pie she’s laughter. They are all close friends and really nice they defeated Nightmare Moon a few months ago didn’t you hear about that seeing as you come from Canterlot,” Dark Shot explained “Thanks for the explanation. Now that he mentions it I do remember something on that in the hive,” I thought out loud As we approached the trees I would hide in earlier I saw a shadow bounce between the trees. I didn’t think much of it until Dark Shot screamed and we veered into the brush. “THE HELL!” I yelled my voice cracking slightly “Sorry, I stepped on somethin’ sharp and I lost control,” Dark Shot responded. As I peered down at him his left forehoof was bleeding and it had what looked like a nail stuck in it. “Clean that up now, there are ponchos in the cart use one of those.” I ordered “Well well. Looked like it didn’t kill either of you. Darn, and I was hoping to make this kill look like an accident. Oh well, now I get to have fun with you two and I was given permission to do as I please to the changeling and anypony with them. Your food source was no fun they didn’t even scream that much while I tortured them,” Said a voice from the trees followed by sick twisted laughter. “Who the hell is that? Do you know the…” Dark Shot was cut off by a blast of red magic to his neck leaving a big black burn on the earth pony. He fell over dead. “No, now I have to pull my own cart. But ponies are great slaves damn you unicorn!” I exclaimed. “And how did you know what I was? I’m pretty good at keeping secrets,” I asked “I know the tells of your race. I’m part of a group of ponies who have taken up the task of exterminating all the changelings known as Mors ad Tenebras or death to darkness. I have been tasked with killing you and I will do my duty to my master and execute you,” the pony responded moving from tree to tree so I couldn’t tell where they were hiding. “I’ve heard of that in the hive you were established by the princess after the changeling war to prevent us from challenging the rule of Celestia again right. You also lost royal support 200 years after you were founded due to the public risk and that Celestia was sure she had a secure regime. I know what you are and what you have done to my people.”I said “You know of us so now you’re an even greater threat to me. Now where did you learn that from?” the tree pony stated. “Canterlot Library, history section I read up on you after I saw a mention of you in the book on the great war. Now I need to know are you a mare or a colt you have something muffling your voice so I can’t tell?” I stated haughtily to the tree pony. “Well seeing as I’m going to kill you I’ll humor you, I’m a mare if you must know,” she responded. I started to use my transformation but as the green flames started to engulf me a blast of red magic hit my left foreleg. “Now now. We can’t let you transform now can we? I want this to be as easy as possible, I don’t want to deal with magic and wings,” “YOU DAMN PONY THAT HURT!” I screeched “Now look my favorite pegasus body is burned. I would like it to look good not have a burn on it. Well it won’t be burned next time I use it so I guess it doesn’t matter other than the searing pain,” I said in a tone that made it sound as if I was chastising a young foal that had done something bad. “You are the most foalish changeling I’ve ever met. I mean you are mad that I killed your driver because now you have to pull your own cart. And you are mad because I burned your stolen form,” the tree mare stated sounding annoyed “I’m not foalish. I just don’t like to do work when I can get the lower races to do it for me. And it hurts to be burned. I mean have you ever been burned?” I said my haunches on the ground and my forelegs crossed in annoyance towards this insufferable mare. “Look at this you’re sitting and sulking like a foal. You arrogant changeling grow up,” she retorted disdainfully I had now caught on to the pattern the tree pony was using to jump around and sprung on her as she jumped. She was a blood red unicorn with a black mane and tail and dark green eyes. She was taller than my current form and was very lean. She also had a black gas mask on her head and was covered in soot and dark spots on her fur that I could only assume as blood from killing my last food source. As I looked over her I felt like I’ve seen this mare somewhere before. “Have we met before pony?” I asked “Yes, I’ve known you for a long time. You happen to be why I know about and hate changelings,” she responded “Did I kill someone you loved or some shit?” I asked wanting to know who this mare was and why she knows who I am “ONLY MY FATHER AND MOTHER!” she yelled then took a deep breath and continued. “I was only a filly when you murdered my parents in front of me when you were impersonating my sister. I’ve been looking for her and you since” “Well how do you know I was the one who did that?” I asked “WHAT? YOU’RE IN HER FUCKING BODY! DO YOU FORGET THE PONIES YOU KILL?” she yelled her voice cracking with rage. “Where is she it’s been so long?” she asked her face showing the strain of holding back her tears “Well, I think I erased her memories and left her with new ones. Or, maybe I killed her?” I responded sitting down on the unicorn and tried to remember “YOU THINK? YOU MEAN YOU DON’T KNOW IF YOU KILLED HER OR NOT!” she screamed. “I’ve been searching ten years for a pony who might not even know who I am or is dead” “Looks like it,” I responded. “Wait ten years that would make you only what sixteen or seventeen years old?” “I’m eighteen thank you very much” She said adding a humph at the end of her sentence. At that her horn emitted a blinding white light and she rolled over. This caused me to fall to the ground my hoof over my eyes. “FUCK, MY EYES!” I screamed. “Serves you right changeling filth. Now it’s my turn to learn more about you, to be more specific about your mother,” the unicorn said with a note of irony when she mentioned mother. My vision cleared just in time to move out of the way of a hoof as it came down towards my face. The unicorn had dawned back on her mask and now looked like she was ready to kill. Her horn began glowing as she charged at me, I dodged out of the way and grabbed her tail in my teeth and pulled her to the ground. I climbed back on top of her and started to transform she tried to struggle free so she could stop me but when she had managed to get out I had already changed. I was now a deep blue unicorn with a white mane and tail that had a teal streak going through both. “Now we’re on even ground, magic against magic,” I said smiling darkly at the thought of this unicorn’s dead body her blood dripping from my knife. She gave a sarcastic laugh and said with a smirk on her face, “Even, how in Equestria are you so dense? I’ve already won and you should just accept that this is your fault.” My mind started to go hazy and my body started to lose balance, I fell to the ground looking at the unicorn. I felt a pressure around my horn and my mind went silent, I tried to reach mother and felt nothing. I couldn’t feel the hive at all.
Chapter 1The Changeling Chapter 1 I awoke with a start as I heard a rustling in the bushes below the cloud I was sleeping on. I dropped my head down to listen for what it was. “Shh. You’ll wake them you foal,” said a raspy voice of an old pony. “Sorry boss, I didn’t mean to and I ‘aint see no rustling from ‘em. So it didn’t cause too much noise then,” said a younger obviously less intelligent voice. Two figures then crawled out from the bushes, an old unicorn stallion and a young pegasus colt. I swooped down and landed behind a tree my insectile wings fluttering silently. They failed to notice as I peered from my hiding place. As I saw them approach the other pony I was traveling with I then produced a dagger from my bag of holding (an almost infinite bag tied around my waist) and jumped at the old unicorn. I felt the blade pierce the throat of the dirty pony his scream silenced by my blade as it dug into him. I waited and watched as he suffocated on and drowned on his blood his gurgling bringing a smile to my face. He died with his white fur stained dark crimson.The pegasus reacted by jumping up and falling his rump hitting the ground with a loud thump causing the unicorn mage to stir. “You killed ‘im, he ain't done nothin’ to you what you kill him fer?” he asked his face contorted trying to hold back tears. “I can’t let you steal from my partner,” I said adding dislike to the last word. I hate ponies and griffins and minitours, frankly anything that’s not a changeling. So to call a unicorn my partner left a bitter taste in my mouth. I then jumped at the colt and drove my blade through his heart my blade sticking into a tree. I, not wanting to touch the blood of the dirty pony decided to leave the blade in the corpse. His face was stuck forever now in a face of pain, sadness, and shock. Let me explain to you how I ended up here with a dirty unicorn as my guide. If you are a pony and you are reading this I will find that you die as slowly and as painfully as physically possible. This is how I broke free from the control of my beloved queen and mother Chrysalis. The changeling race is a noble race with the ability to become any pony we wanted on whim. We are commanded by our mother, Queen Chrysalis by a network of mental telepathy connecting each changelings thoughts together. We feed on the most plentiful and powerful energy, love. This is achieved through dispatching and replacing a pony who has others who love them and feeding off of the emotion that come from the other. We changeling have bodies that are pony like with holes all over our legs, insectile wings, and curved horns. We are all black except for a blue part running down our backs from the base of our necks to the start of our tale, we have pupiless eyes that are completely blue we also have no manes or tails while in our natural form. It was a normal day in the hive I awoke on the command of mother as I saw my fellow changelings rise I headed to the chamber in which the queen stayed. Today I was to be given a pony to become and would start my infiltration. “I want you to be a unicorn thief named Ransen, the Blackhoof. He is only stealing to feed his wife and two children who by my studies love him allot enough to feed you my child for a long time. He usually shows up in the Canterlot shopping district around noon every day for food. He has yet to be noticed by the guards so he is well trained in using sleight of hand. Go my child, feed,” the command from my queen was stated the target locked and I was off. I arrived in Canterlot at 10 in the morning that day. The flight was draining seeing as I had to keep our races existence hidden, until mother reveals us in the next year during the royal wedding. She has planned for it to be set into motion with the third seemingly well concealed princess, Cadence. I saw the target arrive at noon as mother said. I took a coin purse with 7 gold bits in it, I threw it on the ground and waited for him to notice and pick it up. When I saw him approach I ambushed him producing a dagger from a pouch I had around my waist and plunging it into the throat of this Rasen, the Blackhoof. He tried to scream but was silenced when I covered his mouth with my hoof. I removed my blade when I was sure he was thoroughly dead. My body was then engulfed in green flame as I changed into the unicorn, my body grew a coat of mint green fur with a mane and tail of a cyan blue color I striped him of his brown tunic which had a hidden bag of holding inside. I used my magic to make him appear to anypony who happened to pass by as a stray dog who was killed in a fight with another dog. I paid particular attention to detail with this showing the open neck with savage tears the blood running down the matted light brown fur and the pool of dark blood on the ground. I then picked up my coin purse and looked as though I was ecstatic to happen by it. I purchased a loaf of bread, 3 apples, and a bottle of whiskey. I went to the “home” of this damn dirty pony I was disgusted by the disheveled look of the shack. It had a tin roof covered in spots of rust and holes, the wooden boards that made the walls were thrown together and badly nailed. It had a hole cut in the boards with a dirty tarp hanging as a door. I walked up to the “door” and pushed my way past through the tarp. “I’m home I have bread and apples for you.” I called as I entered the shack The inside was more horrifying than the outside. There were four dirty and very dusty blankets on the floor and the holes in the ceiling now were more prominent the light showing through the ceiling made the dirt floor look even more disgusting I wanted to leave this dirty pony shack and never come back. My hooves touching the ground that these dirty ponies have walked. The children ran out one earth pony colt who looked like Rasen and a unicorn filly who had a pink mane and tail with a coat of dark green. The earth pony wife followed she had a pink mane and tail with black fur. Her blue eyes looking faded and older than they should be her only being of twenty years she looked to be sixty. “Mother I have made it I’m in,” I thought sending the message to Chrysalis. “Good my child feed,” I heard the quiet response as I was tackled by the filly. I watched as the children scarfed down the apples they were given and chuckled lightly to myself as they looked saddened when they had finished their own apples respectfully. “Now, now children what do you say to daddy? He has been working hard to get food for this family,” The wife said in a slightly high pitched voice. “Thank you daddy,” the children said in unison. “Good,” the wife replied while she nibbled on her apple. I used my magic to cut the bread into four pieces and gave them out to the foals and the wife. I “ate” the bread not feeling any sustenance from the food though. I then drank the whiskey. The ponies may be dirty and almost useless but they had two major uses, food and earth pony made alcohol. I then decided to go walk around Canterlot (anything to get me out of that shack). I ran into a noble while on my walk as I passed I slid out my hoof and grabbed his coin purse I then nodded to him as to not raise suspicion. I opened the bag and found 67 gold bits inside. I went into a store and bought myself a new dagger for 50 bits, it had a leather bound handle for better grip and a small crystal on the end making it possible to be wielded by magic as well as hooves. I stopped at the Canterlot Library looking for some books on how to help me combat unicorns in case I should be chased by any royal guards. As I looked through a history book I discovered a curious item it was used in the last war with the changelings 900 years ago. The passage read “In the war that was believed to have killed the changelings there was one thing that let the ponies under the rule of Celestia win, the horn-lock. This as history tells us stopped any use of magic by the pony it was used on. The changeling’s needed magic to communicate and to transform…” the rest had been torn out or lost in the last 900 years. “Hmm. I wonder if I can learn more about these horn-lock things? Maybe I can learn how to use them to support my mother in her plans.” I said thinking out loud. “I think I have found one I will find it’s food source and eliminate it.” said a shady figure standing behind a nearby bookshelf. I stopped by a store as I neared the shack I was to call home, I got two more loaves of bread to feed the livestock and two bottles of “Strong Apple Family Cider” as the salemare said. The orange earth pony mare who sold it to me was horrifyingly cheery for not getting any other business Applesmack or some stupid name like that. I put on a fake smile and thanked her as I walked off with my drinks and bread. I got a gift for each of the young livestock as I passed a toy shop. I came out with a book on pranks and tricks for the colt and a Luna doll for the filly. “I’m back and I have some gifts for you kids.” I announced as I walked through the tarp. “DADDY! DADDY!” the children exclaimed as soon as they heard me announce my arrival
Chapter 2Chapter 2 I awoke at first light on my second day of infiltration, Celestia’s sun rising over the castle. I pulled of the dirty, hole covered rag that was around me and shuddered with disgust at the thought that I had to sleep under that nasty cloth and that I was unable to bathe. I looked in the coin purse I had and found only 6 bits. “Not even enough for a bath. I need to get money so I can stay clean, unlike these dirty ponies I am staying with,” I thought aloud. “What was that honey? You never complained about dirt before,” the wife said looking confused and tired “Nothing Whimsy. I just thought a bath would be nice. I need to relax my aching muscles from my work,” I responded thoughtfully “Ok if you say so. It’s dawn what are you doing up anyway? You don’t usually wake up this early,” Whimsy inquired, her voice already starting to get on my nerves. “Weird dream, can’t get back to sleep is all. Why do you ask anyway?” I responded. “Well you were acting a bit different yesterday is all. Did something happen at work or something?” she asked me a tone of remorse badly hidden in her voice. “Weird? How do you mean?” I asked sounding surprised “Well you were drinking more than normal and you didn’t have any of your stashed alcohol. You seemed detached somehow. I’m sorry for intruding but I just want to know what’s wrong and help you to overcome it,” Whimsy said the emotion making her already vexing squeak of a voice crack with the held in tears. “Listen Whimsy, I have had some problems at work. A new less than agreeable situation has come up and I have to work with ponies I don’t get along with. I got a small bonus from the boss and I splurged on some nicer drinks. I am the same as before, just stressed from my work,” I said adding an elegantly placed tone of sadness and remorse to my explanation. “Well Rasen if it’s that bad talk to the pony you don’t like and voice your issue. If you don’t let them know there is no way for them to change. I have had to deal with less than agreeable ponies before, but I told them my issues and they would be understanding and typically they would change their ways,” said Whimsy sounding supportive and understanding. Whimsy then burst into tears her sobbing hurting my ears but I felt a good amount of nourishment from it. The love from this pony was delicious as good as the aged wine I had in my last form. The sobbing was so loud it woke the children. I comforted the now sobbing family by telling them I would talk to the pony I wasn’t getting along with and sent the kids back to bed. The mare stopped sobbing but continued to sniffle as she laid back down and fell asleep a big smile on her face. As the day approached 11:30 I set out to the marketplace in town square. I found near a trash bin a hat it was a black top hat with a pair of goggles with a blue strap and a rim of the same blue around the lenses. I picked up the hat with my magic and cast a spell to decontaminate it of the dirty pony germs and then put it on my head. I decided to wander a road that lead to a town called Ponyville traders travel that road in order to reach Canterlot so it should be easy pickings for some food and bits. As I passed the gates of Canterlot I nodded to the guards and trotted down the road I reached a wooded area by the road I jumped in making sure I was fully concealed I turned into a forest green pegasus mare with a mane and tail of a slightly lighter green color with spots of brown in it. The green flames dissipating and my new form blending in well with the forest cover. As I heard a cart approach I pulled out my blade and readied myself for attack. The cart passed and I flew silently behind it looking inside I saw eight crates of peaches, two crates of ponchos, a rifle and a half empty bottle of cheap whiskey next to a napping guard pony. I landed softly in the cart and used my knife to cut the throat of the guard making as little noise as possible so as to not alert the driver. “Hey Snap anything going on? I heard that this road is a large target for robbery.” said the driver in a deep voice. I grunted in response. “You still sleeping. Lazy bastard Snapshot you may be a good hunter with great ears but that ain't give you the right to sleep the whole time,” the driver stated annoyed. “Well this Snapshot’s ears aren't that great if I got on here so easily,” I said to the driver laughing as I shot him with the rifle the bullet going through his skull making half of the back of his skull explode spraying blood and brain all over the dirt road. He fell over and the harness that attached him to the cart snapped as it rolled over him. “Ahahahahah. That was amazing I’ve never seen a head shatter like that, I like this gun! Ohh, the sound his head made as it exploded was a fun one. BKKK POP, hahaha so much fun let’s do it again,” I exclaimed sounding way too happy for even me. I searched the guard and found 30 bits, 22 extra rifle rounds, and a pair of leather gloves to better hold the gun. As the day progressed I robbed two more carts and have a larger one hidden and loaded with the stolen goods. As another cart approached I heard the sound of the cart of the road was different it sounded more full than the last ones yet it looked smaller. “Well I’m having too much fun to stop now,” I thought as I started to sneak up on the cart. “Hi there how are you doing?” I asked as I got on the cart “Fine ma’am nice night it is, Luna’s moon is beautiful tonight,”the guard responded. “Wait who the hell are you?” he asked as he fired a shot by my ear. “You bastard!" I yelled my voice cracking with rage. "This was supposed to be a clean double homicide robbery but nooo! You have to shoot me!” I yelled. I calmed down enough to where I wouldn't be yelling and said, mostly to myself “You know what I haven’t had sex yet on this mission so since you shot at me here’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to eviscerate you and use your intestines as a condom while I fornicate with your skull. Wait damn, I’m a mare right now. I guess you get to keep your skull unpenetrated,” I said with a sadness. “But don’t worry I still plan to kill you. Isn’t that nice of me?” I finished a playful tone obvious in my voice. “It’s just what I’ve always wanted. To die by pegasus mare,” the guard said sarcastically. I was bored of this conversation now and so I grabbed my rifle and pressed the barrel to his forehead in just such a way I could hit both targets with my next shot. I had magically enhanced my bullets to add more power to the shots while I waited for carts to come. I just thought of how close we were getting to Canterlot and knew I need to finish this now. “Driver, stop now,” I commanded in an aggressive tone. The cart slowed to a stop as soon as I gave the order. “Good. Now if you vermin would like to live you can beg for life whoever is more convincing lives to flee away from the capitol and the other dies,” I told them with a dark smirk on my face. “Who’s first?” The guard started first he got into a bowing position like I was a princess who was judging his petition. He removed his hat and started “Please I’m beggin’ you, if you have any compassion let ol’ Dusty go he has two kids and a wife in the hospital. I ‘aint got no one so if I live I’ll be as bad as you. I want him to live and see his children grow. Kill me,” by the end he was practically sobbing over the thought of me killing this Dusty fellow. I felt the love of a brother in his tears and decided. “You have been judged and I choose to kill neither of you. But I'll ask for one favor from each of you. Dusty is it? Take this with you and give it to your wife and you are free,” I tossed a necklace with a red and blue gem attached to it at the driver. He caught it and nodded to me in both thanks and obedience. “And you other one you will help me get all of my goods to Canterlot,” I told the guard. “Thank you ma’am,” he said in sincerity. "Don't mention it. No I mean it don't mention it , I'm not afraid to kill you still," I said with a serious glare at my new carriage puller. "May I inquire about that pendant you gave Dusty? It seemed odd for a homicidal pony like you to let someone go free unharmed because of a sob story and give his wife a gift as well," The dirty whelp inquired "It doesn't matter to the likes of you pony filth," I retorted with a snarl my hat bobbing on my mane The pony decided not to pursue the matter further probably writing me off as just a crazy pony who escaped from a mental hospital. The trip through Canterlot on the way to my current residence went well but as the cart drew close to the shack smoke began to become visible from the area near the shack's location. "No! My food. ~cough~ Family. I need them to be alive, please don't be dead," I exclaimed a small panic at the prospect of starvation set in. "Move you dirty earth pony," I barked at the driver. "Celestia be damned, I'm moving." he responded "You winged mule of a pony," he muttered under his breath As the sight of the burning shack came into view I accepted the deaths of those three. The thought of my "gift" to Dusty's wife helped, I used some special jewels I got off a wagon guard it has the magical ability to absorb love energy and send it to my medallion I had attached to the inside of my hat. This meant as long as a creature capable of love had possession of the pendant and I had my hat, I can still feed. I stood there laughing as the smell of burning wood and flesh filled the air.
ReleaseChapter 3 Release As I stood there, the fire long out, I pondered if I should inform mother yet. “Nah. She’d call me home as soon as she’s informed,” I stated out loud “What ma’am,” asked the dirty pony his ears perking “I’m pondering where I’m going to go now that my family’s dead. And frankly it’s not the business of a filthy earth pony,” I responded adding a cynical air to my response. “I have a name,” he said adding disdain to his words “You have yet to say it so I don’t know your title. I can’t read minds as a pegasus stupid earth pony,” I retorted my words leaving a baffled expression on the earth pony’s face “Well insanity aside, I’m called Dark Shot,"he responded. “Well Dark Shit, now I know your name. So I can use that knowledge for future reference." I responded still thinking about where I was going to go. "Dark Shot, not shit. You sadistic mare," he snapped "What? I'm not sadistic," I responded with mock surprise in my voice making me sound as demeaning as possible. “I’m just creative” Dark Shot sat there glaring at me as I continued to ponder where I was to go. I thought of finding a new family to infiltrate maybe in that Ponyville town I heard about a small town would be a nice change. “Yep to Ponyville. Charge Darky!” I announced hopping into the cart’s riders chair and pointing my hoof heroically into the air. “You are the rudest pony I’ve ever met you have no sense of compassion or empathy. Why am I still driving you around?” he responded “Because I’ll kill if you don’t. Now go you stupid earth pony,” I ordered nonchalantly “So why do you want to go to Ponyville? A quiet town doesn’t seem like the place for you especially since the number one student of Princess Celestia lives there along with the other Elements of Harmony.” Dark Shi… Dark Shot inquired “The Elements of Harmony? What are those?” I asked “Avoiding my questions like normal. And the Elements of Harmony are chosen ponies who embody certain traits and together they have the ability to fight evil that threatens the harmony in Equestria. There are six they are, Twilight Sparkle who embodies magic, Rainbow Dash who is loyalty, Applejack she’s honesty, Fluttershy who is kindness and the cutest, Rarity embodiment of generosity, and finally Pinkie Pie she’s laughter. They are all close friends and really nice they defeated Nightmare Moon a few months ago didn’t you hear about that seeing as you come from Canterlot,” Dark Shot explained “Thanks for the explanation. Now that he mentions it I do remember something on that in the hive,” I thought out loud As we approached the trees I would hide in earlier I saw a shadow bounce between the trees. I didn’t think much of it until Dark Shot screamed and we veered into the brush. “THE HELL!” I yelled my voice cracking slightly “Sorry, I stepped on somethin’ sharp and I lost control,” Dark Shot responded. As I peered down at him his left forehoof was bleeding and it had what looked like a nail stuck in it. “Clean that up now, there are ponchos in the cart use one of those.” I ordered “Well well. Looked like it didn’t kill either of you. Darn, and I was hoping to make this kill look like an accident. Oh well, now I get to have fun with you two and I was given permission to do as I please to the changeling and anypony with them. Your food source was no fun they didn’t even scream that much while I tortured them,” Said a voice from the trees followed by sick twisted laughter. “Who the hell is that? Do you know the…” Dark Shot was cut off by a blast of red magic to his neck leaving a big black burn on the earth pony. He fell over dead. “No, now I have to pull my own cart. But ponies are great slaves damn you unicorn!” I exclaimed. “And how did you know what I was? I’m pretty good at keeping secrets,” I asked “I know the tells of your race. I’m part of a group of ponies who have taken up the task of exterminating all the changelings known as Mors ad Tenebras or death to darkness. I have been tasked with killing you and I will do my duty to my master and execute you,” the pony responded moving from tree to tree so I couldn’t tell where they were hiding. “I’ve heard of that in the hive you were established by the princess after the changeling war to prevent us from challenging the rule of Celestia again right. You also lost royal support 200 years after you were founded due to the public risk and that Celestia was sure she had a secure regime. I know what you are and what you have done to my people.”I said “You know of us so now you’re an even greater threat to me. Now where did you learn that from?” the tree pony stated. “Canterlot Library, history section I read up on you after I saw a mention of you in the book on the great war. Now I need to know are you a mare or a colt you have something muffling your voice so I can’t tell?” I stated haughtily to the tree pony. “Well seeing as I’m going to kill you I’ll humor you, I’m a mare if you must know,” she responded. I started to use my transformation but as the green flames started to engulf me a blast of red magic hit my left foreleg. “Now now. We can’t let you transform now can we? I want this to be as easy as possible, I don’t want to deal with magic and wings,” “YOU DAMN PONY THAT HURT!” I screeched “Now look my favorite pegasus body is burned. I would like it to look good not have a burn on it. Well it won’t be burned next time I use it so I guess it doesn’t matter other than the searing pain,” I said in a tone that made it sound as if I was chastising a young foal that had done something bad. “You are the most foalish changeling I’ve ever met. I mean you are mad that I killed your driver because now you have to pull your own cart. And you are mad because I burned your stolen form,” the tree mare stated sounding annoyed “I’m not foalish. I just don’t like to do work when I can get the lower races to do it for me. And it hurts to be burned. I mean have you ever been burned?” I said my haunches on the ground and my forelegs crossed in annoyance towards this insufferable mare. “Look at this you’re sitting and sulking like a foal. You arrogant changeling grow up,” she retorted disdainfully I had now caught on to the pattern the tree pony was using to jump around and sprung on her as she jumped. She was a blood red unicorn with a black mane and tail and dark green eyes. She was taller than my current form and was very lean. She also had a black gas mask on her head and was covered in soot and dark spots on her fur that I could only assume as blood from killing my last food source. As I looked over her I felt like I’ve seen this mare somewhere before. “Have we met before pony?” I asked “Yes, I’ve known you for a long time. You happen to be why I know about and hate changelings,” she responded “Did I kill someone you loved or some shit?” I asked wanting to know who this mare was and why she knows who I am “ONLY MY FATHER AND MOTHER!” she yelled then took a deep breath and continued. “I was only a filly when you murdered my parents in front of me when you were impersonating my sister. I’ve been looking for her and you since” “Well how do you know I was the one who did that?” I asked “WHAT? YOU’RE IN HER FUCKING BODY! DO YOU FORGET THE PONIES YOU KILL?” she yelled her voice cracking with rage. “Where is she it’s been so long?” she asked her face showing the strain of holding back her tears “Well, I think I erased her memories and left her with new ones. Or, maybe I killed her?” I responded sitting down on the unicorn and tried to remember “YOU THINK? YOU MEAN YOU DON’T KNOW IF YOU KILLED HER OR NOT!” she screamed. “I’ve been searching ten years for a pony who might not even know who I am or is dead” “Looks like it,” I responded. “Wait ten years that would make you only what sixteen or seventeen years old?” “I’m eighteen thank you very much” She said adding a humph at the end of her sentence. At that her horn emitted a blinding white light and she rolled over. This caused me to fall to the ground my hoof over my eyes. “FUCK, MY EYES!” I screamed. “Serves you right changeling filth. Now it’s my turn to learn more about you, to be more specific about your mother,” the unicorn said with a note of irony when she mentioned mother. My vision cleared just in time to move out of the way of a hoof as it came down towards my face. The unicorn had dawned back on her mask and now looked like she was ready to kill. Her horn began glowing as she charged at me, I dodged out of the way and grabbed her tail in my teeth and pulled her to the ground. I climbed back on top of her and started to transform she tried to struggle free so she could stop me but when she had managed to get out I had already changed. I was now a deep blue unicorn with a white mane and tail that had a teal streak going through both. “Now we’re on even ground, magic against magic,” I said smiling darkly at the thought of this unicorn’s dead body her blood dripping from my knife. She gave a sarcastic laugh and said with a smirk on her face, “Even, how in Equestria are you so dense? I’ve already won and you should just accept that this is your fault.” My mind started to go hazy and my body started to lose balance, I fell to the ground looking at the unicorn. I felt a pressure around my horn and my mind went silent, I tried to reach mother and felt nothing. I couldn’t feel the hive at all.
