Chapters Graves looked around his new place. The building in the middle of the graveyard he would call home. The first floor was typical to him. A small room for a office and planning, a large viewing room, with a place to make the coffins next to that. That same room could be used to prepare the bodies as well. Off to the side of those was a small dinning room and kitchen area. Up stairs just a couple of store rooms and bedroom. the basement was what he found the most interesting though.
It was largely unfinished, and kind of disconnected form the main part of the house as it appears to have just been a large cave that might have been found here by accident. He noticed over him a kind of ramp that connected from the place where bodies where prepped to a small crack int he cave wall. Upon investigation in a smaller form, he found it connected to the cave he originally hid in. He grinned at that when he got back to the basement and assumed his more natural changeling form.
"This will work very well... especially if I can hide the entrance to this place." HE headed back up and noted how the door to it was built under the stair case. This gave him a idea. He excreted some good and spread it over and around the door slightly. Then using some of his magic he embuded it with some of his own ability to change and made it look like a normal section of wall there. He then heard a knocking at the main door.
He quickly assumed the shape of Graves, and got dressed, then opened the door. One the other side was a stallion, with a mare, along with a covered cart behind them.
"Eh pardon mah disturbing yea sir... but me and the misse, well granny just passed on and we reckoned a chance you be could be open fer arrangements?"
He looked at the stallion that spoke, he could feel there love for the departed flowing freely from them, and surprised the need for a grin as he feed slowly off this, while talking with them, "Of course... bring the body around back so I can bring her in and out of the heat... then we can talk about arrangements in my parlor."
The talk was pretty short, they wanted to be sure it was done right, with arrangements done in the local flowers, with a chance for at least 3 of her relatives and friends to speak before the burial. He also took them to a spot, to be sure it was one that would work for them, then marked it with a simple marker.
Graves did find the body difficult to work with when he was left alone with it. He never done this before, and while he had a idea of what he was doing he knew he had to learn the skills and quickly. Luckily one of the pre-made coffins was the right size and look for the body, and a simple blanket helped make it look good. He decided the smell might be a issue, so he placed some flowers in the coffin to help with that.
On the day of the funeral he just stood tot he side with a couple of volunteers. As they did there thing, the whole time he feed off the love in the room. So much love in one place, and none of them had any idea he was feeding off it. The amount could likely keep him well feed for well over month. He was careful though, just to glean enough as not to arouse any suspicions. Maybe one or two of them got slightly dizzy, but he notd that they shrugged it off as part of the mourning process.
When it was done and over with, and he was paid for his time for doing he job. Graves smiled to himself when he was finally alone. He headed back to the basement, and made it look more like a hive, and a better place for him to rest. "This job is prefect, I just keep to myself, do the job they expect of me.. and I can just feed off there idiotic love for the departed." He then got a idea and grinned to himself, "If it gets slow I could also likely find someone old, weak or sick to.. pass on, and keep myself feed like that as well." He laughed openly at that before moving to lay down. He was home and so long as no one got curious about him, it was a damned fine over for his hiding here...
Though as he drifted off to sleep, his thoughts went back to his queen and the rest of the hive. He missed just opening the connection as he slept and listening to there drone which he found comforting. He hoped that they would find him, as he did miss them. Time will tell, but for now, he found a place of relative safety. He intended to keep it that way as well.
Author's Note
The end for now, I might add more chapters to this as time progresses.
The changelng looked around, there where ponies in Canterlot trapped in resin, he saw two guards running towards him with spears at the ready. They then stopped and he looked at something that made them wide eyed. A purple magic sphere formed form the palace, he then felt a pain as it hit him.
Graves woke up form the bed with a start. He growled, shifted to his changeling form and shot a wall with a green bolt of energy from his horn. He snorted and huffed a bit then took in his surroundings. He was in his bedroom in Appleloosa. He then peered at the mark he left on the wall.
It wasn't serious just a scorch mark. He could paint over it, not a problem. He then shook his head again, the hive mind still was not working for him. He stomped his hooves and paced the room a bit before shifting back to his earth pony disguise. He grumbled to himself.
This whole situation was sending him on edge, and he didn't like it. He just headed down to the basement and shifted back to his normal form. He started to slam his head on a wall out of anger for a while, then just collapsed sobbing.
Why was he alone.... was he the only one left.... it wasn't fair... he was loyal, he did his job, he was a soldier... he didn't deserve such isolation.... so why was he still alive...are the others even alive, and if so why can't he hear them....
He lifted his head as he looked up to a crack he made to see the sky with. He noticed it getting brighter, and changed to get dressed. He decided to head in to town and at least get breakfast out of the way.
The town was still mostly sleeping but he could taste there love premeditating the air. It brought him some comfort to know he would survive, and a little bit of hope that he might be reunited with the hive one day. Along with his beloved mother and queen.
He made his way to the saloon, and sat down at the bar. By now the bartender knew what he wanted and slid over some hard cider. He had come to enjoy the taste, though thanks to how his body works... he never suffered form more then a slight buzz.
One of the local nurse mares, Nurse Blueshoes sat with him occasionally. She noticed his behavior and kept talking to him about stress management and such. He just shrugged it off. After all what would she know about such things.
Of course she was also talking about how soldiers feel the same at times. He made it clear to her he was never a soldiers... but as far as she was concerned since his job dealt with death it could be the same, with how he was reacting.
He just shrugged it off and headed out. He wandered out in to the desert, and decided to shift back to his normal He flew low around the desert till he found a place he thought he would be alone. He then decided to take out his frustrations on some of the smaller rock formations, making them explode in to small chunks. He panted a bit after a while, and what he did helped make him feel better.
He then jumped at a sound. It was some young buffalo that found him. She approached him slowly, then started asking questions. What is he, what is his name, where is he from..... Graves rolled his eyes at this. He then opened his mouth and with a glow of his horn he started to drain her of all her emotions. It wasn't too long till she realized what was going on.. but at the rate he was feeding it was too late for her to do anything other then pass out.
He looked down at the body and snorted. All he could think of was how pathetic this was. He then looked to the cliff near by and levitated her over to it. He had no problems with this, after all its what his kind does to keep themselves hidden. He then shook his head slightly. He dropped her on to a lower ledge, on to her head, before putting a simple suggestion in to her. One to make her think she saw nothing, tripped and then fell.
With that he left her there. He decided to head back home. Once there he ignored changing back in to his disguise and went back down to his basement, his hidden alcove. There he created a resin bed for himself, like the one he had in the hive and crawled in to it. He yawned abit and decided to sleep. He hoped that tomorrow would be another day.. one without the pain of loss, or the frustration that he might never be alone.
The time: 1 week after the Changeling invasion attempt on Canterlot failed.
A soft groan came from the sands as it stood on black legs with holes in them. The drone looked around it had no idea where it was. Only that it was in a desert. It could recall the blast, that damned spell of equestrian magic that blew him and the others away from Canterlot. It had no idea how much time it had but it's wings hurt to move, and looking himself over he noted sign of wounds still healing. Albeit slowly as he has not properly feed in some time.
He noted a small cave near by and went to it. Best to hide for now, and recover. He closed his eyes in the darkness and thought through his memories. As far as his own magic goes he was adapt and gaining memories and surface thoughts from his victims. Which helped in is infiltration. He even learned to draw on the life of a pony if needed to kill, though not as sustaining as love, it would do as a last resort.
He opened a eye as he heard a noise. He choose to pear out and he saw three mares. One talking about leaning some boards for the school, another talking about how to make care products for manes to sell. The other just remained quiet. He skunked back in to his cave, not sure if he was spotted, but he planned not to take chances latter. He did wait till daybreak however before deciding to explore.
When the day came he moved out carefully. He noted a structure in the middle of a grave yard Curious he drew closer to it then noticed a full gray stallion in a brown suit taping at a cart with some bags on it. “Glad I made it.. best to get to work and introduce myself to the townsfolk...”
The changeling grinned at that and started to sneak over. It used his magic to get a idea of his name, basic manners and why this earth pony was here. Then lunged at the earth pony. There was no time to make a sound from the sudden attack. The changeling held him down and started to feed, and kept feeding drawing out his love, for his job, his new home, and work, and continued to feed even when this earth pony was drained of all his love. Making him pass out.
The changeling then assumed the shame of the earth pony, though to be safe removed and took the clothing for his own. He then looked and saw a open grave sight. He smiled and pushed the earth pony in to it and buried the earth pony alive, nice and deep so ti would never get out.
He also looked to the house, “Lets see... home for a base of operations good.... this one was to be the town mortician... a good cover for my.... feeding.” He shook his head slightly, “His name... not good.. Lily... bleh that sounds more like a mare....” He then looked back to the grave he buried his victim in, “Graves... yes that will do Graves.”
He then practiced the voice a bit and grinned and trotted over to the town, this place called.... Appleloosa.
Graves trotted slowly in to the town before him. It wasn't all that small as he expected, but it was small enough. He noted it was mostly earth ponies here, so good. He made a note of the name, Appleloosa, which is also fine. He then decided to get it over with. He had a idea that it was likely a good idea to report in to the sheriff at the least that he was here.
The building itself wasn't too big. Two floors, the bottom one had a simple jail cell in the back, along with a desk and some other things in the front, the upper floor likely living quarters. Silverstar was at the desk and didn't even look up as he was looking over the report that came in from Canterlot about the recent changeling attack, “Can I help yew?”
Graves pulled out a paper and placed it on the desk, “Names Graves, I'm taking over as the town mortician. I know it says Lily on the papers, but that was someones idea of a joke...”
Silverstar gave Graves a inquisitive look then looked to the papers, “I'll get this to the town hall, and welcome to Appleloosa, if you need any help just ask.” He then started to note how Graves was looking at him, “There'n a problem?”
Graves just said with a flat tone, “Nope.. just getting idea for box size.... I like to plan ahead.” With that Grave headed out.
When he was sure the Sheriff wasn't watching him, Graves grinned a bit to himself. “Good,” he thought. “They won't be to curious if I behave in such a manner.” He then decided to head to the general store. There he picked up some basic supplies. While there he attempted to access the hive mind again.
Nothing... no voices chattering, no sound from the queen, nothing. He sighed abit, he must have been knocked far away from the others. So he was on his own, which shouldn't be a problem. He noted how the towns folks where loving and caring for each other, some random draining here and there, helped to keep himself feed. As they just put it off as dealing with the heat related with there current home.
Once done in town he decided to head back to what was to be his new home here, and funeral parlor to the town. So far so good no one suspected him, which is how it should stay.