Abzan the Changeling

Episode One

It was an average day for the zebra couple as they strolled past the badlands due to the peace treaty made by their queen. Now the meeting was over and they would return to their home. The two zebras names were Zane and Lilly and that fateful day their lives were changed forever.

“Zane dont you think that we should be heading back. We can’t keep the tribe waiting they’re  are expecting us back soon so we can depart back home.” Lilly said.

“I know, I know but I thought we could use some peace and quiet for a bit before we return.” Zane as he nuzzled his wife.

The two kept walking until a thundering roar came from the skies and rain pouring down on them. Zane knew this wasn’t good and immediately grabbed Lilly’s hoof and made a dash towards the forest as where the tribe was waiting for them, but Lilly stopped as she heard crying nearby.

“Zane wait...do you hear that?”

The two zebras moved slowly under the trees, following  the sounds of weeping. Until Zane tripped over a branch and fell off a nearby ledge and landed in a puddle.

“Zane are you alright?

“I’m fine but I do believe that we’re getting closer to who or whatever is crying.”

“It sounds like a foal.” Lilly said with a concerning face.

Each step they took was a step closer to the foal and the crying got louder and louder. Then they saw an opening where a small basket was laying in the middle where the crying originated but when they looked in the basket they found a changeling.

“WAAAAHHHHAAA!!!.” Was all the baby changeling said.

“What is it?” Zane asked.

“I don’t know but it’s adorable.” Lilly said with a grin as she tried to pick it up.

“Lilly I don’t think it’s a good idea what if it’s dangerous.”

“Oh come on what can this adorable little angel do, it’s just a foal after all.”Lilly said.

“I wouldn’t say adorable….actually I don’t know but adorable not really.” Zane said but he didn’t know what to think of this creature but he did admit to himself that it was sorta cute but he wouldn’t let his wife know that. She’d never let him live it down.

“Sure you mean that ~” She said with a wink.

As Zane looked to find anything to tell them who or where the baby changeling belonged too, he noticed something written on the basket it was scratched but he was able to make it out.

“Mor-du huh Mordu sounds a little bit intimidating for a cute little foal...wait...grr...damn it.”

“I knew it you thought it was cute you big softy.”

“Hey i’m not soft and it was a minor mistake…” But Lilly just kept smirking at him knowing that she was right and that he thought it was cute too. “Okay, okay you win...but I still think we should get out of here while we still can.”

“Alright lets take this little baby home with us…”

“Now hold on we can’t just bring a little foal home with us the others might think we stole it. We have to speak with the counsel first if we’re going to keep it.”

“(Gasp) You really mean that?” Lilly said with a glee.

“Yes but that all depends on the council members. But if they agree then yes we can keep him but he’s going to need a new name.”

“Hmmm how about Drake I always wanted a son named Drake...What do you think little one do you like.

“hehehehe mama nam nam.” the little changeling giggled as he chewed his blanket.

“Aww….he called me mama.”

“Okay that is cute, but no not Drake, we really should get going no….” But before Zane could finish he heard something hidden within the tree’s. This concerned him and he gently pushed Lilly to start moving slowly. But soon stopped and started hearing growling.

“Zane what was that?”Lilly said as she held tighter to the changeling.

“Stay behind me I remember that stench from anywhere…... Timberwolves.” Zane said as he got into a defensive position. Soon at least five Timberwolves came out from the darkness of the forest ready to feast on them.

“Alright you mangy mutts if you want them you have to go through me.” As soon as Zane said that his body started to glow as a strange aura surrounded his body and with a mighty yell his power blew the Timberwolves away a few feet but didn’t scare them off as they were desperate to eat. But Zane as he clinched his hoof into a fist it was soon on fire and Zane dashed forward with great speed and punched the Timberwolf in the stomach and turned the Timberwolf into a fiery pile of splinters.

The second Timberwolf didn’t hesitate as it charged Zane but Zane saw this coming and he leaped over it and kicked it without effort and it crashed into a tree and broke into bits and scattered everywhere. Then he shot a fireball at the remaining timberwolves and it consumed one of them as for the other two they managed to survive with a few pieces missing from them.

“If this keeps up I won’t be able to move for a while and I know theres more of them out there.” Zane thought to himself as he looked back at Lilly and the little foal. Nothing matter more to him then the love of his life and the foal’s safety. Zane wanted to try and get the two remaining Timberwolves in one attack .

They circled around Zane as he waited for the right moment to attack them. “I need to be precise on this, one slip up and it’s all over.” Zane said to himself as his hoof started to spark electricity from it. As soon one of the Timberwolves saw this they both jumped at him hoping to get him in one swift attack. But Zane was ready for this as he leaped into the air and fired a large fireball that consumed the two remaining Timberwolves.

“I hate Timberwolves...Lilly are you okay?” Zane asked.

“Yes but what about you?”

“I’m okay but a...little tired but other….than….that I’m okay we need to get moving.” Zane said breathing heavily. “We need to go now before more of those beasts come.”

And with that said both of them rushed out of there as fast as their legs could carry them. Even though Zane’s body was tired he still pressed on leading his wife and the baby changeling to home safely.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

By the time they arrived there Zane was taken to the infirmary for a brief diagnosis for any injuries or internal injuries. After his check up he and Lilly went straight to the high councillors to decide the little changelings fate. Even though they had only found the foal no longer than five hours ago they became attached to it. Zane felt sympathy for the child and was afraid of what would happen to it and how it would affect Lilly, he was determined to win the councillors voted to keep the child.

“Zane I don’t want to let him go….it would be so cruel….I don’t know what will happen to him if they say he has to go.” Lilly said as she started to cry but Zane gave her a hug reassuring her that everything will be alright.

“Don’t worry everything will be alright...I promise.” Zane said as he hugged her again. But a guard wearing silver armor appeared interrupting them.

“Zane Racka’ and Lilly Racka’, the high councillors will speak to you now. I will escort you to them personally.”

“Thank you” Zane and Lilly said. The guard just nodded and began leading them to the councillors. It didn’t take long for them reach their destination as the guard opened the door where three elderly Zebra’s were sat upon their anti-gravity chairs, surrounded by Zebra and pony guards. The first one was named Lord Andrea the head of the councillor’s and is the wisest of all his clan and the first to master the elements. The second councilor is Lord Ra’ the second head of the councillor’s and is one of the respected and feared through his clan and determines the fate of those who is guilty but not without the votes of Andrea and Marcus. Lord Marcus is the third head of the councillor’s and the youngest of the others and sees things at a different point of view.

“I’ve brought them like you asked” The guard said.

“Thank you Amadeus, you may leave now we only require four of our guards to remain. The rest of you are dismissed.” Andrea said.

“But I thought….” But Amadeus was cut off.

“Do you dare disobey us Amadeus you know fully well why we ask you to do this, or do you doubt us?” Ra’ said.

“That is enough brother Ra’ for it is a common mistake most of these guards make.” The first councilor said.

“Forgive me for my outburst brother Andrea.” Ra’ said apologetically.

“We all make mistakes brother. Now Amadeus you are dismissed. Marcus said.

“Yes hierarchs.” Amadeus said as he and most of the guards left the chambers, leaving only Zane, lilly, the high councillors and a four guards.

“Mr. Racka’ you have come here asking us to hear of you and your wife’s recent finding in the Everfree.” Marcus said

“So tell us then what is that you have found.” Andrea said

“Yes hierarchs we have found a lost foal abandon in there and we would be willing to take it in and raise it as our own.” Zane said with a bit sweat coming down his forehead.

“Show us the child if you would be so kind?” Ra’ said. Even though he asked kindly Lilly was still afraid they would try and hurt the changeling baby. But Zane placed a hoof on her shoulder reassuring her.

“It’s okay Lilly.”  After he said that Lilly walked up with the child in her hooves showed the high council. They looked on in horror for they have seen the species of the child before.

“Get that monstrosity out of here.” Ra’ said with a deadly glare.

“Calm yourself brother let me speak to them.” Andrea said as he turned to look at Zane in Lilly with not a glare of hate but of curiosity. “Mr. and Mrs. Racka’ do you know what that child is?” He asked.

“No we don’t know.” Zane said with a worried expression.

“This is a Changeling, a monster that feeds off the ones you love and deceives the ones you love into believing they are you. It is very dangerous to keep such a beast here even if it is an infant. We…” Andrea was soon cut off by Ra’s outburst.

“This beast must be DESTROYED!!!!! remember the attack on our neighbors capitol they were attacked by these demons and had caused so much damage and scarred their people for life. We can not allow it here.” Ra’ said very coldly, making his point clear.

“Silence brother.” Andrea said very boldly. “ You will let me finish or you will be removed from the high council. Do.I.Make.Myself.Clear.” Andrea said as he shot a deadly glare at Ra’ and watched as he coward back in his chair. “Good now as I was saying the changeling maybe an infant but we must be careful if this changeling was placed back in the everfree than other creatures would most likely harm it and we aren’t that cruel. Well most of us at least. But we can’t allow the child to remain here.

“And why not if I may ask?”

Suddenly the doors opened revealing Princess Twilight Sparkle who was almost as majestic as Princess Celestia. She walked into the chambers with two of her royal guards by her side.

“It’s good to see you again Hierarchs

“Ah yes I almost forgot we were suppose to meet Princess Twilight but i’m busy dealing with a situation at the moment about….”

“A Changeling foal. I could hear you all yelling outside your chambers. I believe this changeling is not a threat if it remains with them.” Twilight pointed at them.

“Surely you jest Princess, don’t you remember what they did to you and your family 94 years to be exact.” Marcus said avoiding eye contact with her for some reason.

“And it’s good to see you too Marcus and no I don’t jest, I don’t even know how.” Twilight said with what looked like a smirk but wasn’t noticed by anyone but Marcus. “I know how you all fear that the same might happen to you as well but I can sense good in it, and not only that even if it was evil it would have drained her love already and she wouldn’t be even be alive knowing that changeling foals drain so much love that it kills the pony. But it’s unique in a way.” Twilight said looking at the young couple and the foal and gave a smile.

“Yes I believe you are right but what about when it gets older it will know that it’s not one of us.” Ra’ said as a warning. “Not only that but there will be those that will persecute him because of his race and their race.”

“I have already thought of that, if you allow it to….

“Um excuse me princess it’s actually a he.” Zane said.

“Yes he’s right.” Lilly said.

“If you allow him to remain here among your people until the age of eighteen then he can join a new school in equestria and attend as a student. This school allows all species including changelings although we don’t trust them still but if this one is raised right then maybe he would have a better influence on the rest.” Twilight said.

“Those terms are acceptable but not without our terms being involved.” Marcus said boldly. “If he is to remain here as one of us then he must follow our customs here.”

“Not only that, but he must also earn our trust and the clan and he will be tested at the age of eighteen to be part of our clan.” Andrea said. “But only if he passes and if he doesn’t then he can’t return when he departures to this school of yours Princess.”

Lilly and Zane were silent for a while thinking over what they had said so far and believe that there was hope of their new little foal but also feared that he might not return.

“Excuse me hierarchs and princess but we have been talking it over and we decided to agree with your terms.” Lilly said with a meek smile.

“Yes and I will be training our foal when the time comes.” Zane added.

“Very well then the foal is yours and we expect big things from….him” Marcus said.

“Thank you hierarchs.” Zane said as Lilly hugged both Zane and their new foal.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hours had passed since the meeting. Zane and Lilly were trying to find a name for their foal. But were having some difficulties and had been going on for hours.

“How about Zane jr.” Zane said with a smirk but only to get smacked in the head very hard by his wife.

“I’m not calling him Zane jr, besides he doesn’t even look like a Zane.”Lilly said with anger to the point if he suggested another stupid name like that one then she was going to put him in the hospital. but she tried to calm down and thinking of a name. “I was thinking Scales.”

“No just no.” Zane said as he rubbed the back of his head.

“Hmmm.” Was all Lilly said as she thought and thought and thought until it finally hit her.

“Abzan what do you think Zane.”

“I like it Abzan it is.” Zane said with a smile

“Welcome to the family little Abzan.” They both said as the little changeling giggled. Cause now he was home.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Marcus remained in the chambers seeing Princess Twilight again reminded him of the times he had spend with her in his youth even though he was almost in his fifties. He still had some feelings for her but didn’t want to reveal them for that was in the past and was difficult for him to move on after they broke up 20 years ago but he almost forgot how beautiful she was. But didn’t realize the princess presence.

“It’s been awhile since we spoke Marcus how are you?” Twilight said startling him to the point he was almost beat red.

“Ppppprrincess I didn’t know you were still here.” Marcus said as he tried to ban the thoughts he had about her from a long time ago. “I thought that you were suppose to departure home tonight.”

“Nooo I said I would departure tomorrow night remember.” Twilight said with a little giggle. “I missed you my old friend, still the same Marcus as always.” She continued to giggle and watched as Marcus was struggling to find words as he blushed like crazy but just mumbled.

“And I see you’re still the same Twilight that was always adorable and kind.” Now it was her turn to blush he laughed a bit, but he continued there little conversation. “It’s been so long since I laughed like that, still it’s been good catching up with you princess.”As he was about to leave

“Indeed but do you have go, I know it’s been years since we seen each other but I would like to catch up a bit please.” Twilight said with the most adorable puppy dog eyes ever and made Marcus blush as he tried to resist and was failing at it.

“Fine fine okay I will stay a little while. You are a very stubborn mare you know that.” Marcus said with a smile.

“I do try ~ “Twilight said with a wink.

“How about we get a late night meal and continue our conversation elsewhere.”

“I would like that”

End of chapter.