Chapter 10: Do Changelings Come With A Reset Button?

***Morgan pov.***

“I can’t believe you fell for that.” Said Talion as he carried me on his back.

“Hey! It's not my fault that I couldn't defend myself from a bounty hunter disguised as an elderly lady offering free cookies!” I whined, It's not fair that I’m the one being targeted by bounty hunters… What did I ever do to get their attention anyway!?

“Really?” Said Buggeys as he pulls a face at me. “I’m the one who warned you not to go talking to strangers, and then what do you do?”

“B-but… Cookies… Free cookies!” I pouted as I tried to move my legs again, “How long is it going to take for this tranquilizer to wear off? Riding on Talions back is embarrassing!”

“We’ll now you’re stuck like this until it wear off.” Said Dust with a smile. “Look at it this way, you get a free ride until you can walk again.”

“I’d rather walk…” I said as I looked away from Dust while scrunching up my muzzle.

“Good luck with that.” Said Talion as he held me, “Be happy you can’t feel anything, I have no idea where my hands are right now. And I don’t want to know.”

“I do.” Said Dust as she laughed.

“Move your hands any closer together, and you will be missing an ear.” I warned.

“And risk me dragging you along the floor?” He said back almost sounding playful. ”Relax I’m not going to do that.”

“Good.” I reply as I try to transform. Sadly it seems the tranquilizer is preventing me from transforming into anything other than my pony and bipedal form...

“This looks like a good place to camp.” Said Buggey as we all camped out in the woods. Talion carefully put me down as he go off to help.

“How are you feeling?” Asked Hel as she walked up to me.

“Like a formless pile of clay…” I grumbled. I appreciate her kindness, but this situation is seriously uncomfortable. I then saw Mag get out those two crystals again looking them over and writing something down in a book.

“Oh, well let me and the others know if there anything we can do to make you feel more comfortable.” Said Hel as she go off to help Eron cook.

“Hmmm fascinating.” Said Mag as he held one of the crystals up to his face as the other was left to his side. I then felt my hoof twitch.

“Here, got this before we leave.” Said the Diamond dog as he held out some kind of candy to me. I looked at it before opening my mouth and he carefully put it in. Hmmm! Rockcandy!

“Is this Rockcandy?” I asked. The Diamond dog nods at me yes before smiling and going off to talk to the others. Now I’m curious... are those rocks Mag has edible? They look like rock candy...

***Talion pov.***

Once the tent were up I couldn’t wait for diner to be ready it smelled so good. I was licking my lips waiting for it to be ready. But I had other work to do, look look over the map the guys had of this city and this tower in the middle of it all.

“So how do we get it in?” I asked as I practised some moves.

“Getting in easy, the hard part will be getting out.” Said Dust as she had a sour look on her face. I looked to Busier and asked him something.

“Hey dude, whats wrong with Dust?” I asked as I left Dust to brood.

“Remember how Eron said Dust used to live in that town we was in. That was half true, that where she was boute.” Said Burier. That got my full attention, did he mean she used to be a slave?

“She used to live in this city we’re going to, bad memories there.” He said as he looks at her. I didn’t say anything I could guess the story by what happened in the last town we was in.

“How she get out?” I asked as he looked at me.

“Don’t know.” Was all he said as we sat there.

“What have you done!?!” Screamed Maggabl as I saw he was now shaking Morgan by the neck. “Spit it out right now you insane bug!”

“I’m trying!” Morgan said as she looked like she was panicking.

“What going on?” Asked Buggey as he was cleaning his guns. I and the rest of the party get up and go over to the two of them to find out what happening.

“She swallowed one of the crystals!” Yelled Mag and this set everyone into a panic. When I say everyone I mean Eron, Hel, Me and Lily I think that was it really.

“What do we do!?” Yelled Eron. But I was working on staying calm, panicking won’t help. Didn’t help Lily was trying to calm down Hel as the Ninja was having a panic attack.

“Everyone calm down!” I yelled. That stopped everything, I then went up to Morgan and looked at her.

“Okay Morgan, can you still breathe?” I asked making sure we don’t have to worry about her not getting air in her lungs.

“Of course I can breath! but my stomach feels like I swallowed a bowling ball!” Morgan said as she started to cringe. The tranquilizer must be wearing off...

“Okay, better not change forms until we work out how to get this out of you safely.” I tell her trying to keep her calm. “For now just lay still and keep calm.”

“But I can't sit still any longer!” Morgan complained as she flailed in Mag’s grasp.

“Morgan you have no idea what you’ve just done! What you’ve just did is thee equivalent to taking the power of the gods in your gut, or something close to it!” Yelled Mag as he stare at her. Oh god this could be bad.

“But it looked just like Rockcandy! How is that supposed to have anything to do with the gods!?” Morgan said as she started to try and pry herself from Mag’s grip.

“It was glowing and full of raw magic. We have no idea what it could do to you and, wait. What wrong with your body?” Mag asked as Morgan started to glow. “Take cover!” He yelled and hide behind a log.

“Not again!” Morgan cried as what looked like a flashbang went off around her. I couldn’t hear or see anything, reminds me of the time I used magic for the first time. Then I got a shock at what I saw standing in front of me.

“Holy crap, Morgan. You okay?” I asked even if I couldn’t hear myself talk or anyone for that matter.

Morgan said something. I’m not sure what though, I’ll have to ask her to repeat that. “What?” I asked and could hear a little better this time around.

“I feel like I was struck with a lightning bolt then melted down and reformed…” Morgan said as she lay there shaking.

“Oh okay… So, should we call you queen from now on or what?” I asked as I go down to her to make sure she okay.

“What?” Morgan asked as she slowly looked at me with a confused expression.

“Well, you kind of turned into a changeling queen...” I explain to her as she stare at me. Ya not feeling all that comfortable right now. “You okay?” I asked feeling a little worried about the way she was looking at me.

“Changeling… Queen?” She asked in a hollow tone, “You saying I’m like some kind of bee?”

“Ummm maybe?” I said wearily. I didn’t really know how changelings and their queens worked. All I know is what was on the show and they only showed up once… “I don’t know! The changelings only attacked canterlot that one time!”

“They did what?” Asked Dust as she looked at us.

“Not now Dust I’m trying not to die!” I growled at her as Morgan was giving me the death glear. My god she as bad as Dust.

“I will NOT give birth to hundreds of workers and spend my days sitting in a hive getting fat!” Morgan suddenly shrieked as she started scrambling about but wasn’t used to her suddenly fully developed body.

“No one said you have to!” I quickly tell her before she starts hitting me. “Calm down and relax, nothing is going to happen to you okay? We’re going to rest here you’ll get used to your new, body. And then we can go and take down this tower after that we can do whatever we want okay?”

“What am I even doing here!? I'm supposed to be off in valhalla for my services in protecting my community!” Morgan started ranting.

“Morgan… What did you just say?” I asked her, okay she has to know more than she's letting on.

“And who are you? My name isn't Morgan!” She snapped.

“Morgan what wrong?” Asked Dust as she walked up to her. Something bad or going is happening right now. I don’t know what.

“What the heck!? a unicorn!? where am I?” Morgan continued to rant as her eyes and body started to change color.

“Oh god damn it, it’s like how I first showed up here all over again.” I said as I rub my face. “Okay look just calm down and I’ll try and explain but I need you to calm down for me okay?”

“By the gods! a talking rat!?” Morgan shouted before falling onto her back.

“Fuck it, Fulgur!” I shocked her a little bit tell she passed out. I hope that worked, or she going to be pissed when she wakes up. I better ask Thor about this when I got to sleep.

“What just happened?” Asked Dust as we all looked at Morgan.

“I don’t know, but I think I can find out.” I said as I get ready for some crazy crap. “Mag how good are you with dream walking magic?”

***Morgan pov dreaming.***

“Morgan stop I’m here to help! Ouch!” Yelled Talion as I hit him again odd I didn’t get to hit him as much as I’m used to. He keeps dodging out of the way. “Cut it out god damnit!” His also yelling more than begging.

“That it!” He yelled before tackling me to the floor. That not right, I should be winning. “There something wrong with you and you need help! So stop fighting me!”

“There is nothing wrong with me!” I shout as I hit him over the head with a bagpipe. Where did I get the bagpipe? And how do I know what bagpipes are?

“Morgan listen to me! We’re dreaming right now I’m talking to you thanks to Mag magic but I’m here to help.” He said as he pushed the bagpipes away.

“Like I told you my name isn’t Morgan! Its Merlin!” I shouted, wait, But my name is Morgan… no it's Merlin! no it's… Argh!

“What is your name again.” He asked me again.

“I-I don’t know!” I wailed as my head felt like it was starting to split in half.

“It okay I’m going to help you but this may hurt, I don’t know what will happen. Just hold on.” He said as he held me in his arms. “Thor! I need to talk with you!”

Next thing I felt was pain and I heard Talion grone as well. “Okay… First time doing that, hurt like a bitch. But we’re here… I think.” Said Talion as I saw him get up.

“Well this is a first, first time calling for help and you bring someone with you. Who is this?” Asked a tall man holding some kind of hammer in one hand.

“This is Morgan and someone else, she needs help and I’m turned to you. Seeing as I can’t help.” Said Talion as he talked to Thor.

“Who are you? Wait… Are you Thor? How did I know that?” I said trying to figure out what was going on as my head started to hurt more and more.

“Sorry can’t help you I don’t want to brake the rules.” Said Thor as he start to walk away.

“What! You have to help her, I’m begging you here!” Yelled Talion as he try to run to keep up but it looked like he wasn’t going anywhere.

“Talion she apart of the game just like you, I can’t help her.” Said Thor just then a bolt of lightning strikes past his head. Talion hand was sparking with lighting.

“Then get someone who can.” He growled. “I’ve been looking after her even when she was an egg. I’ll fight you if I have to all I ask is she get help please… I’m begging you, just this once.” Talion dropped to his knees as he waits. Thor said nothing as he turn his back to us.

“...Who called you to the games?” He asked me as he dosen't look at us.

“Um… Games? Her name was Freyja. Where did that come from!?” I said in panic as I was now starting to writhe on the floor. Oh gods I feel like I was being cut in half in slow motion by a chainsaw! and I don't even know what a chainsaw is!

“...Talion go back, she’ll get help but you can not be here.” Said Thor as he walked off. Next thing I know Talion looked at me and was about to walk over until he disappeared.

“Where did he-” I started to say before flinching in pain. A short moment later I saw a beautiful woman with a cloak made of feathers appear in front of me before she said something that sounded like it was meant to sooth me as I passed out...

***Talion pov.***

“Ouch! Son of a, what happened?” I asked as I sat up then looked down at Morgan as she still sleeping. Well lot of good Thor was didn’t even help.

“What happened, it looked like someone used your magic to wake you up.” Said Mag as he looks at me. My head was killing me, it felt like someone was trying to push a hammer out of my skull.

“Thor kicked me out after I asked for help. Not sure if she’ll be waking up anytime soon.” I said as I looked to the others. “So what do we do now, what?”

“We’ll have to carry her until we can think of something or she wakes up.” Said Eron.

“Please wake up I’m sorry I called you a bug all those times!” Yelled Dust as she Hugging Morgan. Wow, guess she really did like the bug after all. “Just wake up you’re my friend!”

“Mommy?” Morgan responded as she started to wake up. Dust then hugged her happy that Morgan was fine however as soon as she saw the way we was looking at her. She pushed Morgan away and hit her on the head.

“You had us all worried!” She yelled and I could not help but laugh.

“Sowy…” Morgan responded as a crack formed on her chitin where dust hit her.

“Morgan are you okay?” I asked in a little worry seeing the crack on her head.

“Ok? I think I’m ok…” Morgan responded as the crack started to spiderweb across her chitin.

“It just your, cracking?” Said Mag as he points that out. The cracks then start to glow as magic begins pouring out of them. “Interesting.”

“No not interesting, what happening!” I yelled at Mag as his going all mad scientist on us.

“I feel sleepy…” Morgan said before closing her eyes as bits of chitin start falling off.

“Maybe we should let her rest.” Said Dust as we all agreed as I stared at Morgan new form. Well this is going well, Morgan is still glowing… Just what we needed.

When the bits of chitin stopped falling off and the glowing stopped Morgan looked like a Nymph again, but she now had blue hair instead of silver and her translucent wings looked like they were made of invisible feathers for some reason. I will never understand changeling growth. I sighed as I picked her up and wrapped her up in something... well let's go to this tower then.