Author's Note

Before you read, this is written a lot like a history book. This is designed to help the readers understand a bit more of the story's setting. Actual Narration begins in Chapter 1: Silence Broken

Prolouge: To Make Things More Simple. . . .

The start of the changeling era of equestria was an event that was only brought up by a domino effect. The effect began about twenty years before the adventurers of Rough Stone had begun shortly after the wedding of Mordecadence and the Captain of the Royal Canterlot Guard: Royal by Knightship. After the failed invasion upon what has been called by Ponies as the “Day of Aria”, equestria had begun to fall within the grasps of one of the most crippling anxieties of the Changeling’s power . It was this that had marked the “Skitter Scare”, a name appropriate for the Changeling’s bug like appearance and anatomy.

This time period was a prosperous one to contribute to Pony culture, including the increased study of changelings' anatomy and their abilities, but with these advancements, the masses of pony civilizations began to become increasingly frightened by the idea of the fascist views of changelings were going to consume their culture. Several Pony Militias had appeared nationwide, and including with these were the “Black Eagles”, the “Rhino Knights of Canterlot”, and my personal favorite, the “Civilized Organization of Concerned Appleloosa”. With the establishment of pony powers being spread from the Socialist Monarchy, the second phase of the domino effect had been taken place.

Arguments of whether the defense spending of local governments (such as mayors and Lords of towns and small cities) were allowed to tap within the Royal treasury, as it was seen appropriate from the masses of ponies. Princess Twilight herself, about five years after the wedding of Aria, had argued in defense of the local militia organizations that had been arising from just local ponies with a few hand-me-down spears and armor. Her argument was that the forces were simply trying to keep their homes, families, and friends safe from a legitimate threat (though the activity of changelings had been dormant at most). Of course the issue was that the local forces were simply spending so much on the defenses of some rumored force, that they would simply waste the bits invested in the army. The council had regretted using words like that, and from this, civil war had began to brew.

The threat of changeling forces was almost completely forgotten about three years later when Pony-Wide War II had begun. Refugees of multiple exotic races had tried to escape the conflict, but sadly were tossed within the fray they had not wanted to be a part of. With this conflict, obvious protest of foreign involvement was apparent. The East part of Equestria had began to establish allegiance to the resisting Militia forces, while the West had seen more support for the Canterlot Royalty, but the war was essentially fought on every front imaginable. Battlefield, to Outskirts, to Towns, To City Streets and even within Homes, Ponies had began arguing, and going into complete mayhem and riot. Ironically this war for pony defense rights, was the cause of Changelings being able to take over the entirety of Equestria. With two forces conflicting and fighting one another, they stood little chance as the Changelings had invaded from the Badlands located to the North-west of Equestria. From Canterlot, to the Crystal Empire, Changeling Fascism had taken over. During their invasion of the pony land, and the decimation caused by their suicidal and blitzkrieg warfare, the Changelings had began to take remaining ponies and place them within internment camps. These ponies were forced to mine out new locations for underground hives, and served as both sexual and sentimental “milking cows” as the changelings called them. They were essentially slaves who provided food more than they received it.

The Four Princesses disappeared during a great battle named, “The Battle of Canterlot”, leaving the ponies defenseless. Without their leader, they had filed official surrender, but this did not stop the Changeling onslaught, immoral as it was. The remaining ponies have been branded, and herded like cattle. Due to Changelings not able to get nutrients from the foreign races, who were already hiding from Pony soldiers and “recruiters”, they have allowed them to live free as they please, as long as they do nothing to stop the terrible acts against ponykind. Reluctantly, many of the races agreed, but that does not keep the occasional protest from their ranks. These protesters are either killed or exiled to appease the new Changeling overlords.

The few ponies able to escape the Changeling’s capture are titled Drifters, for no village will give them permanent residence, and normally capture them to give the Changelings.

Drifters are rated in danger by Greek letter classes. Delta Drifters, when caught, are sent back to the internment camps and punished accordingly. These are ponies who have escaped without doing excessive harm to changelings and have only been drifting for less than three months. Beta Drifters are taken back to the hive, and are scarred, tortured, and given a clean death. Beta Drifters being ponies who have escaped with killing a few changelings, and/or been drifting for at least a year. Alpha Drifters are killed on sight, or taken back to the closest hive for rigorous torture and an execution that is guaranteed to be slow and agonizing. Alpha Drifters are ponies who have escaped and killed an excessive number of changelings, and/or have been drifting for longer than a year and a half.

Knowing the methods of removing Drifters, it is clear that the number of any pony not under Changeling Suppression is a rare faction. They are held to great respect with the slave pony community, but are seen as nothing but barbaric thugs to Changeling’s eyes.A few known, Alpha Drifters are:

Fluttershy, The Gentle

Vinyl Scratch, The Loud

Braeburn, The Brave

Apple Jack, The Pure

Macintosh, The Big

Rough Stone, The Barbarian

Changelings, as a fascist community of hive minded pony like insects, have a rather large theology influence in their government and culture. They are devout to one single Broodmother, Chrysalis, followed by thirteen Broodseers. Each of the Broodseer are important, and run the thirteen hives established in choice locations on the Equestrian maps. Locating beside Appleloosa, Canterlot, Crystal Empire, and many more smaller hives that are slowly developing in scattered points around the Foreign race’s civilizations.

The anatomy of the strange obsidian colored insects begins to develop and mature in the first year or two of their life. To ensure full strength and maturity the Changelings spend two years in eggs filled with liquid love, and a green goo that serves as blood within their bodies. The goo transfers oxygen, hardens to repair holes in their hard shells, and is used as a resource in order transform and morph into other anatomies. Because of this precious goo, Changelings are not physically able to transmorph while cut, or there is a breakage in their shells. If injured while in disguise, they will emit a green goo, instead of blood, and their disguises begin to break and shatter.

With this information, it will be easier to understand the environment the characters of The Holy Changeling Empire, and create a more enjoyable experience. Enjoy your read.