Chapters Chainwings Adventure
Prologue
There had once been a changeling who was named Chainwing, raised to believe the ponies were evil and would crush and break everything that changelings held dear. He will venture too far away from the place changelings call home, and stumble into Ponyville. It is unknown of what intentions this changeling will have when he sees the ponies of Equestria, but one thing is certain.
It won't end well for him. Or most of Equestria… What could possibly go wrong you may ask? It's just one changeling? Yes dear reader, it is just one changeling, but one changeling with too much curiosity for his own good? That, will likely cause more than just a few incidents.
And a brief description of what Chainwing looks like, pretty much an ordinary changeling, except he lacked the two large front fangs every changeling had, he had much smaller fangs along his mouth, making his teeth take the appearance of a chainsaws blades, which he surprisingly hadn't been made fun of for.
Also Chainwing as mentioned earlier, is too curious for his own good, raised to believe ponies are all evil and vile, what's the first thing he shall do? Go off on a quest to find ponies… Yep, he's a bit of an idiot at times.
Chapter 1
Rough Starts
Chainwings POV
Deep within the caves that changelings had called home, a changeling who was determined to be different gets caught in an explosion caused by a barrel filled with explosive powder. The changeling had been flung forward against the side of a cave wall. Unable to react in time to a large chunk of the ceiling that had begun to crack and was about to crush the changeling, who happened to be a female named Starburst.
But one changeling, whose stupidity could not be matched, flew over, and pushed her out of the way, and gets his hind legs pinned under the rock. And this is where we meet Chainwing.
Luckily I didn't break my hind legs, but it did hurt way more than it should have.
"Who just- Chainwing? Oh no! Are you alright Chainwing?" Starburst shouted flying over to me and helping with the other changelings prying the large chunk of rock off my legs.
"Starburst I'm fine… J-just a little hurt for a moment is all, as long as you're okay" I said making a forced grin, ignoring the pain I was feeling in my legs as I forced myself stand back up.
"S-see? Perfectly fine" I said, forcing myself to not be appearing in any pain at all, but it was clearly lying through my teeth.
"Well then… T-thanks Chainwing, I'll see you around" Starburst said with a smile as she walked off to help clean up the damage done by the explosion. I won't lie, I may have a little bit of a crush on Starburst, so when she smiled at me I felt my heart skip a beat.
"I can only hope- I mean of course you will- I mean, okay… See you around" I managed to say as multiple armor wearing changeling flew over to me in an instant frightening me slightly. "Chainwing!" They all said in unison, likely thinking I was the one who ignited that barrel.
"That's my name ain't it?" I said trying to be casual, except I had clenched my teeth down from the pain pulsing through my hind legs.
"Watch your mouth Chainwing, for we come to deliver a message from the Queen…" One of the armored changeling said walking right up to me, completely oblivious to what just happened to me.
Wait, did he just say the Queen? The Queen of all changelings, had a message for me? Wow! Moving up in the world! "Really? What is it?" I said, making my wings buzz as I began to float into the air with excitement.
"Queen Chrysalis has requested…" The armored changeling closest to me said but stopping himself from saying the last words, intentionally playing the pronoun game which I wasn't having no part of.
"Could you just tell me" I said with an impatient tone as I began to lower myself back down.
"She has requested that you be removed from the hive…" A female changeling voice said, but she hadn't had the nerve to show her face as she spoke.
I had essentially lost all my strength, I fell to my front legs as my hind legs gave out underneath me, tears quickly forming in my eyes, I shifted my gaze to each of the changelings who stood before me. I prayed to the gods that it was just a very cruel joke, and I wouldn't have to leave and face the monsters of the cruel world.
"You must leave immediately… Even though you have what you looks to be two broken legs, but it doesn't matter. You leave our hive, now!" The changeling guard closest to me shouted in my face, absolutely no sympathy for another changeling.
"A-are you serious! W-w-why? Why does she want me gone?" I managed to spout out, tears streaming down my face onto the ground forming a small puddle.
"That knowledge is classified, now, go before we have to strike you down." The armored changeling shouted in my face. I used my wings to hover into the air, assuming my legs had been broken.
I started to fly over to my room, but the armored changelings quickly stopped me "no… You take no resources from here, you go out onto the surface with nothing" the main armored changeling who seemed to do all the talking said.
"Are you serious?" I asked drooping my ears down. "Fine" I muttered flying off towards the exit. It was right then I tried to imagine how long it must have taken to mine out the caves we lived in, or we possibly may have went into an old diamond dog base, but either way how long.
It took me nearly half an hour to fly out from the tunnel at my top speed of flight. I didn't notice the stone door that had been in place though, and even if I did I was going too fast to have stopped in time. I slammed into the stone door and a burst of pain shooting through my body made me cringe.
I fell to my back as the stone door looked about to fall down on top of me. I flew out of the way just before it could crush me. And what I saw through that stone door was a higher concentration light than I had seen in a very long time.
It had been forever since I saw the sunlight, the only time I had seen sunlight was during… The battle… Queen Chrysalis, rather than try and make peaceful relations with the ponies decided to try and invade their capital city… Didn't work out so well.
I was one of the changelings who had been called into battle… I swear I will never forget that day…
Flashback
Me along with many other changelings had hid inside the mountain the ponies capital city rested on, it was a mostly hollow mountain to be honest, it wouldn't surprise me if somewhere a massive creatures hid inside.
We each waited for Queen Chrysalis to give the signal and destroy the shield. Once inside I was part of the group that would secure the elements of harmony. The ultimate super weapons the ponies hogged for themselves.
The signal was Chrysalis revealing herself to the ponies causing a massive blast of lime green light. She would then buy as much time as she possibly could by either monologuing about the plans, or she would attack their leader, which would make her a prime threat. No pony would care about the few changelings breaking away at the pink shield that covered the city. They would all go after Chrysalis.
When the signal came we went to work. We slammed our bodies into the pink shield repeatedly. It hurt us more than it did the shield, but after a few moments the shield burst. Shards of the pink shield falling down onto the ponies below, but they had been the least of my problems. We had to figure out where the elements of harmony were being kept. It wasn't easy considering the city had been so huge! My ears twitched to the sound of a fellow changeling shouting that they found the elements. Now Chrysalis had a plan that ensured the weapon wouldn't be able to be activated, over half of the army would be stationed to guard them. When the wearers of the elements came to retrieve them we would overwhelm them with our superior numbers.
When the six ponies showed up, I had been expecting them to be wearing some sort of armor but they hadn't, this would be too easy I had thought.
I was wrong, oh so very wrong… It started out with one of the changelings disguising as one of the ponies who had multi colored hair and messed with her head, mimicking all the movements she had made then pushed her away using their forelegs.
The confused faces the ponies had made… Priceless, we all then disguised ourselves of the six ponies, I kept my eyes locked on my target. A Pegasus I think they are called, with yellow fur and a long pink mane, she looked to be the weakest of the bunch.
I however took a similar form to the rainbow haired Pegasus, it was honestly the most weird feeling in the world. Male changeling one moment female pony the next. Next thing I knew it was a massive mosh pit.
I approached the yellow Pegasus, a large evil grin across my face seeing the terror in her eyes. But then… She stood up straight and stared me back in my eyes… She was looking into my soul, I backed up slightly with my eyes more narrow than I would have liked. I was seriously being intimidated by a weak little Pegasus's glare.
I grinned widely and mirrored her stare as I changed into a copy of her. She was the one backing away now, next thing I know she spreads her wings and flies away from me out of my sight.
I growled slightly not knowing who was a changeling and who was a pony now. I finally saw that yellow coated Pegasus, but she was about to be stomped to bits by four copies of the rainbow haired pony. I watched in awe as the rainbow haired pony was actually amongst the changeling fighters, and she knocked the three of them away and helped her friend up off the ground.
I turned my head to see the pink pony pulling out a cannon… And aimed it at me. Luckily it was just confetti or else I would have been blasted apart. The confetti did hurt a lot though, well more than you expect little pieces of paper to hurt.
In a matter of moments we had all been defeated. I lay on my stomach and watched with a grin as they opened the door, to see twice as many changeling as before. We had tired them out, the plan worked like a charm! They surrendered and were brought to Queen Chrysalis for some reason.
I stayed behind to ensure the elements would still be protected and guarded, I had a full five seconds to react before the explosion took place. I looked to the part of the city where Chrysalis had been inside. I watched in absolute horror as an orb of love expanded from where Chrysalis had likely stood. It was so powerful it repelled all the changelings. Every changeling inside the city had been blasted off into separate directions. The reason it was scary was some changelings were inside buildings. Did they get crushed? Or just smashed through the walls? I sincerely hoped it was the latter over the former option.
End of Flashback
After a while, my eyes adjusted to the light. The capital city was not too far away. I looked to my right and saw a large thriving city built near the coastline, and when I looked to the left I saw trees for miles on end and a tall crystal castle- no tree- no… was it both? A large crystal tree castle at the bottom of the mountain the capital city rested on and it hadn't been visible during the battle. So many questions right now.
I decided I would head straight towards the crystal castle. I mean sure it would be a long journey, but what could possibly go wrong right? I just got to head through some not so menacing looking forest, get to the large castle and just check out what's going on.
I slowly descended to the ground putting pressure onto my hind legs, having no pain at all? What the heck? I thought I had my legs broken by the rock. Oh well. A pleasant surprise is better than pain.
I took literally one step, I didn't realize I was on a mountain, lost my balance and slid down the mountain side on my stomach. I was screaming the whole way down until I face planted onto the ground with a painful thud.
At this point I would have preferred my legs to be broken. I lifted myself back onto my hooves quickly by using my wings, wait, I could have just used my wings instead of riding down on my stomach like a penguin would. I am such an idiot! A moth would look at me and laugh, and they will fly right into fire and burn. I thought to myself in my head.
I was about to put myself down again when a piece of paper that had been carried off in the wind smacked against my face. I winced for a moment before using my magic to levitate the paper away from my face and see what it had on it.
It was a fully done up map of Equestria! Wow, it's like I get one case of terrible luck, then one heaping dose of good fortune.
I strained my eyes looking to the map, so many pony cities… And according to this map there was a town nearby the major crystal castle tree thing- oh… And that original name though, 'Ponyville' Gee… Wonder how many minutes it took to think of that name.
Ponyville… Might as well just called it pony village… I thought out loud as I walked forward. I stopped and quickly flew up into the sky to check what part of Equestria I was in.
Apparently the town I saw to my right was named Fillydelphia… Amazing originality for these town names… Actually, now that I am looking closer… All the town and city names are some kind of horse pun! That is so cocky! That would be like us changelings setting up a town in Equestria and calling it "Change-Ville" It just sounds so stupid.
Oh, and the one seemingly normal name is reserved for the major capital city "Canterlot" hmm… No horse puns clearly visible, nice.
I began hovering back down, choosing to walk instead of fly. If I were to fly then I would possibly miss out on the wonders of this forest I am about to walk into.
"Mm-mmm… The air is amazing near this forest! What was its name again?" I thought in my head as I checked the map. 'Everfree Forest' is what the map said it was named, pretty cool name considering it was named by ponies.
I walked in through what seemed to be a peaceful little pathway, it was nice and quiet, some would say too quiet but I prefer silence. My ears twitched hearing something call out for help from off in the distance. I folded the map up until it was small enough to fit into one of the holes in my left leg, I made my wings buzz as I flew in-between trees to investigate what had called for help. Next thing I know I hear a mighty roar which made me stop flying immediately and look around.
The roar was followed by the call for help again, this time, more distinguishable than the last time, it sounded like a hatchling! A changeling too young to properly defend itself like an adult could. I quickly galloped in the direction of the call for help.
I screeched to a halt for a second time seeing what caused the roar. A large wolf made almost entirely from trees and other natural things that had been digging its claws at a small cave trying to get something out of it.
I turned around and began to sneak away. It hadn't seen me yet so I could possibly get away. My ears drooped down hearing the hatchlings voice call out again echoing slightly like a changeling's voice would "please someone! Anyone! Help me!" The voice cried out but turned to a sad whimper. When I turned around I saw the large wolf thing had something inside of its wooden mouth, I clenched my teeth and closed my eyes.
A burst of adrenaline began pumping through me, I buzzed into the air and shot straight forward into the large wolf's neck making it chip and crack slightly, the weight of the large wolf's head was too great for the rest of the neck to handle.
I essentially decapitated it, its head cracked off the neck and fell to the ground with a crash and the body spreading out in random directions. I hovered in the air looking down to the large pile of trees and twigs as I took it all in.
I had just decapitated a creature five times my size, I was referred to as being the weakest changeling by Chrysalis. If so, then how did I manage to destroy this creature, or did Chrysalis possibly lie? Or… Am I truly the weakest and the other Changelings are all better in every way? We would have been able to easily take the capital city if that was to be the case.
I heard the hatchlings voice cry out in terror, I snapped out of my little thought and looked down to see large pieces of the wood were reforming into three smaller versions of the big wolf. Great! Even more enemies!
I hovered down to where the hatchlings voice had cried out to only see a little pegasus pony with a dark orange coat and light purple mane and tail. I was rendered speechless. I had just saved a pony's life. What would the other changelings think of me! I was a border line traitor now, aiding a pony.
I didn't have time to dwell on that thought however, because one of the wood wolves had leapt at me and knocked me away from the pony I just saved. "No!" The pony shouted for some reason, not coming to my aid when I needed help. Typical pony.
I still was having an adrenaline rush however, so I pushed it off of me high into the air using my strength Then used a bolt of green electricity to tear it apart before it could fall down and crush me or the pony.
I glared to the other two wood wolves as they approached the pony, who had been pinned down by a log twice the size of her. So that's why she didn't come to my aid, she literally couldn't.
I levitated the log off the pony and used it like a large weapon to smack the wolves away. It was four for four now. Three wood wolves taken down and one major one. I was on a winning streak!
I looked to where the pony had been pinned, seeing nothing, I looked around me. Still no sign of the pony.
I directly behind me and saw the pony backing away with a look of fright across her muzzle, I threw the large log to the ground and opened my mouth to speak but the pony cut me off.
"W-what are you?" The pony cried out in an adorable voice, it must have been the echoes of the cave she had hid inside that made her sound like a hatchling.
"A changeling my little pony. Why do you look so afraid? If anything you should at the very least thank me" I asked with a grin.
The pony made a wide eyed look and took a step forward "you're… a changeling! Why should you be afraid of anything! You can change form can't you?" The pony stuttered with narrow eyes.
"Really? Well I can change my form yes, but only to either a pony or horse like creature" I said perking my ears down slightly.
"Oh. Rainbow dash told me that the changeling who attacked Canterlot had the ability to change forms, I thought at the drop of a hat you could just become a dragon or something" The pony said, referring to a pony with an honestly weird name Rainbow Dash. I am assuming she has something to do with going fast or rainbows.
"No… changelings can't just go 'poof' and change into a dragon at will… Also, what were you doing to anger that thing anyways?" I asked, as the little pony's face going a light shade of red with embarrassment.
"D-don't mind me then, I'll just be on my way-" The pony said obviously not wanting to tell a stranger and began to walk off, letting out a low quick scream.
She had accidentally looked right into the sun. Which I hadn't, surprisingly enough, and the scrunched up face she made was absolutely adorable and priceless.
I had to cover my mouth with a hoof to stop myself from laughing "really? I just fought four wood wolves for you and I don't even get a 'thanks' before leaving?" I said making my voice change to her voice only to say the 'thanks' part.
The ponies' jaw dropped, she walked up to me with a wide curious look "Two things, did you just copy my voice?" The pony peeped. Any sign of fear that once been on her face now turned to a grin of curiosity.
"Yah you don't say…" I said copying her voice again and rolling my eyes, it was actually difficult to get her voice just right, but what it gave me in return was the cutest reactions I had ever seen in my life!
"Okay then, also wood wolves? Hope you realize they are actually called Timberwolves" The pony said with a smug tone. Hmm… Timberwolves wasn't that bad of a name, has a nice ring to it.
"Shouldn't you just be on your way back to uhh- 'Fillydelphia' is that right?" I questioned looking to where I saw Fillydelphia to be.
"What makes you think I am from Fillydelphia. Wait how do you even know about that place?" The pony said getting suspicious.
"A map hit me across the face, I had just guessed we are near Fillydelphia. Are we not or something?" I said levitating the map out from my left hind leg and unfolded it.
The pony looked to the map and her ears perked back "yep! We are near Fillydelphia by the looks of it. Did I really run that far?" The pony asked herself looking to where I assumed she had ran in from.
"How far? Where is your home at?" I asked and watching her face light up red with slight embarrassment. "P-Ponyville." The little pony said looking away from me.
My jaw dropped as I flew up seeing how far away Ponyville was from where we stood, I hovered back down in front of the pony with a stern look.
"You ran!? What looks to be seven miles!? How do you plan on getting back?" I shouted getting worried for a pony's safety. Wow.
"I… I Ran in here due to all my friends finding out I was an orphan. They all thought I had a family but in truth I didn't. I don't know why I thought it would be a good idea to run into the Everfree Forever though. And I am likely going to die here in this nightmare of a forest!" The pony shouted with tears forming in her eyes as she laid down onto the ground.
It felt like my heart was being snapped in two, I took a long deep breath and walked over to the pony "don't say that kid. I was going to be heading towards Ponyville anyways, how about we go together, and I won't let you die. By my honor as a changeling, I will stop at nothing to make sure you get back to your home alive" I said with then realizing what I had just gotten myself into. If the pony did somehow die along the way, then I would not only officially no longer have any honor, I would never be able to forgive myself.
"R-really, A-and why should I trust a changeling like you." The pony asked looking at me with her tear filled eyes which made me bite back tears of my own.
Why shouldn't she trust me? Wait… I need to put myself in this ponies' hooves for a moment. I had just saw a creature I believed to be hostile and could change forms to me from four Timberwolves then asked if it could join me. Yeah seems suspicious now that I think about it. I saved her, yet I would accompany her as if she had done something for me.
My train of thought was stopped dead in its tracks as I heard the pony ask again and less saddened than the first time "why should I trust a changeling like you." The pony reiterated glaring at me as she got slightly more annoyed with my silence.
"You shouldn't. In all honesty you really shouldn't." I said closing my eyes and nodding, when I opened my eyes back up it looked like the ponies jaw had been dislocated from its socket.
"What do you mean I shouldn't trust you?" The pony said backing a step away.
"I don't think you should trust me. I mean, I just showed up out of nowhere at your hour of need and now I was going to go with you back to Ponyville. That sounds like something I would expect some mastermind or something to do in order to get somewhere they weren't supposed to be" I said. Then I made a serious expression and began to hover into the air.
"But I am no mastermind, I just want to do something good for once." I said as I hovered back down to the ground and getting painful memories of how most of the time I would always fail at something, no matter what it was either. I could legitimately screw up walking in a straight line sometimes. Yes. Walking in a straight friggin line.
"O-okay, you can come along." The pony said with a smile before I finally noticed she was a pegasus pony when she spread her wings out, guessing to just simply stretch them out for a moment.
"Also, the names Scootaloo" the pony said as she walked somewhat ahead of me.
"Chainwing's mine" I replied making the pony stop in her tracks.
"Chainwing? Are you seriously named Chainwing" the pony asked seeming to not believe it.
"Yes. I know it sounds a-lot like changeling but Chrysalis wasn't all too creative when it came to naming changelings" I said rolling my eyes slighting.
"Your name is Scootaloo. What, did you like scooting around or something as a colt?" I said mistaking the names for young ponies for a moment, big mistake on my part.
"Two things! First off I don't know why I was given the name Scootaloo okay. And second I am not a colt!" Scootaloo retorted before I could correct myself, her voice cracking a little as she spoke.
"I know that. I had just simply mistaken the names for young ponies so don't get your feathers in a bunch" I retorted back with a grin, that made her shut up.
The sound of a lion roaring had come out of seemingly nowhere and it made Scootaloo start to panic "we need to get out of here! Now!" Scootaloo yelled as she began to run in the wrong direction of Ponyville mind you. I folded my map back up quickly and stuffed it into my left leg's lowest hole to the ground.
"Wait up! You're running the wrong way!" I shouted then immediately shut up and ran after the little pony hearing the roar again getting closer. It may have been the wrong way but as if I would just sit around and wait to get eaten by a lion.
Chapter 2
An Unlikely Friendship
Chainwings POV
"Wait up! You're running the wrong way-" I shouted then immediately shut up and ran after Scootaloo hearing the roar again but getting closer, it may have been the wrong way but as if I would just sit around and wait to get eaten by a lion.
I seemed to be much, much faster than Scootaloo, and she didn't want to get left behind. So I used my magic to levitate Scootaloo onto my back without warning, I heard Scootaloo let out a whimper of sadness but I wanted to keep my train of thought on just trying to escape.
Next thing I knew a large shadow flew overhead and landed in front of me. I halted to a stop seeing it wasn't some ordinary lion chasing us, because then that would be fair. No, it was a lion that had two dragon wings sprouting out from its back and the tail of a scorpion.
"Chainwing… Don't… Make any… Sudden movements…" Scootaloo said letting out a scared gasp for air with every word, I could feel her pressing her hooves against the back of my head using me like a shield.
The lion-like creature snarled slightly and began to walk closer and closer, I took a step back with every step the lion took forwards. Its dragon wings flapped for a moment. Trying to either intimidate me, which was working. Or it was trying to let us know we were in its territory, which was a more likely option.
The lion roared in my general direction and I would have been flying the heck out of there if I didn't have a pony on my back weighing me down. But before I could respond I heard what sounded like a chicken mixed with a dragon roar back from behind me. I realized I was in the middle of two creatures that where likely very lethal.
"G-g-great… S-s-stuck between… A Manticore… And a Cockatrice… On the back… Of a Changeling…" Scootaloo muttered and leaching herself to the back of my head. Cockatrice… And Manticore? Two names I never heard of when looking into the history of Equestria, actually kind of strange how they weren't mentioned seeing as how the Manticore at least looks to be a deadly threat.
I felt like the world around me was going insane, the Manticore pointed its head to the right, assuming it was signaling for me and Scootaloo to flee. I ran in the direction the Manticore pointed, I could hear Scootaloo begin to cry. I looked back to see that Scootaloo hind legs had been turned to stone!
"Scootaloo what the heck happened!" I shouted twisting my head so I was facing Scootaloo, it did hurt my neck but my pain was the least of my worries right now.
"I… I looked into the Cockatrices eyes… I… I…" Scootaloo sobbed putting a hoof to one of her stone legs "it feels like my legs have been cut off!" Scootaloo screeched making my heart feel like it was breaking, she was just a little pony! She shouldn't have to feel what it's like to lose a limb at such a young age, actually nothing should have to feel what it's like to lose a limb at all, no matter the age!
"Is there any way to undo this Scootaloo?" I asked as I felt tears in my eyes, I partially felt like it was my fault Scootaloo's legs where stone.
Scootaloo seemed to struggle to get out any feasible words, but after us both hearing the lion let out a scream of pain she managed to speak again "I… If the cockatrice is intimidated… I saw Fluttershy reverse its effects by intimidating it with her stare…" Scootaloo said wiping away her tears. Wait! Was that Manticore thing trying to save Scootaloo! I pondered my choices for a moment, I tried to think up a strategy intimidating the Cockatrice.
I had realized something… The books inside the hive library, which held books that had been stolen from ponies. I remember reading a book on the monsters of Equestria, but it only told of creatures that where harmful to Changelings, the Manticore seemed to be passive unless threatened, but it didn't make sense for a Cockatrice to not be in the books in the hive library! Unless, it's stone vision didn't actually affect Changeling…
"Scootaloo…" I asked.
"Y-yes…"
"Have there ever been a stone Changeling found that was turned to stone by a Cockatrice…" I asked with a hopeful tone.
"No… But… Changeling where only discovered to exist when the Changeling went and attacked Canterlot during the wedding of Princess Cadence and Shinning Armor" Scootaloo replied making my eyes go wide.
Both from realizing the battle took place on a wedding, talk about wedding crashers. And secondly that there was I chance I wouldn't be turned to stone. I turned my head away from Scootaloo and smiled.
"Scootaloo, I am going to need you to shut your eyes tight as you can. I have a plan" I said running back to where the Manticore and Cockatrice where still fighting.
I had to hope Scootaloo had shut her eyes like I asked because she went almost silent, part from the breath of air she took every now and again. I walked up just at the right moment to see the Cockatrice turn the Manticore to stone after the Manticore let its guard down. And what do you know, it is just a dragon chicken.
The cockatrice spread its wings and roared at me, it had red glowing eyes and the head of a chicken, the rest looked to be a green dragon without arms. Its red glowing eyes stared right into me. And I didn't feel any different, I looked myself over and saw I was perfectly fine, I made a wide grin, that was half smug and half joyful.
The Cockatrice had more tricks than just stone vision thought, it charged at me at attempted to claw at me, but I grabbed it with my levitation and began to laugh out loud at the sight. This was the creature that could turn others to stone? Without its stone vision it's just as effective as a chicken.
I starred the Cockatrice right in its red eyes and forced my lips to rise revealing my sharp teeth, I would easily intimidate the Cockatrice, but this was going down too easily… Something wasn't right.
"Undo all the creatures you turned to stone… Or else… I eat a Chicken tonight!" I said leaning forward towards the Cockatrice, for some reason Scootaloo didn't seem to like the thought of me eating a chicken, typical herbivore…
The Cockatrices eyes began to glow bright red, I looked to the Manticore as the stone broke away from the Manticore and it looked to me as if I was a superior being, I felt suddenly lighter as Scootaloo's stone hind legs had been reverted back to normal.
"Now… Get lost before I decide to feed you to the Manticore" I said intimidating the Cockatrice to the point where the moment I released my telekinetic grip it flew off without another thought.
Scootaloo squeezed my neck tight as she could as she repeated the phrase "thank you!" Possibly five hundred times in a row, it got a little hard to breath but I just took the sign of gratitude regardless.
The Manticore roared once but not as menacingly as before as it flew off into the sunny sky, it was almost like a "thank you" in roar form. But something didn't feel right, like I stated before, I had just intimidated a Cockatrice and stood before a Manticore. And nothing bad happened to me, it was a major stroke of good fortune. I actually didn't believe I was in reality for a brief moment.
But bad luck quickly fell down upon me as dark storm clouds formed overhead, something I never saw before. Little pellets of water fell down from the sky and smacked against my face making me run to a tree where none of the water seemed to hit me while under.
Scootaloo had gotten off my back and was laughing so hard at me, un-phased by the pellets of water hitting her.
"Have you never seen rain before or something?" Scootaloo asked then proceeded to laugh.
"No… No I haven't…" I retorted with a stern expression, well at least Scootaloo wasn't crying now.
"It won't hurt you, it's just water" Scootaloo said stating the obvious, but she was just a kid so I could let it slide.
"Let's just get you back to your home in Ponyville" I said walking out into the rain, and I won't lie, it was really nice, the 'rain' was nice and cold against my hard exoskeleton.
"Which way…" Scootaloo replied, I flew up into the air and saw Ponyville was not only in the sun, but it was even further away "Too damn far…" I replied back as I hovered back down.
"Say… Why can't you just fly back to Ponyville…?" I asked seeing her wings which she hadn't even attempted to use.
"I… Can't exactly fly yet…" Scootaloo said cringing slightly, getting bad memories by her expression.
I felt my eye twitch as I looked to my whole filled wings, then to Scootaloo's wings "really? You can't fly yet I can? Have you seen my wings?" I said in a dead panned tone.
Scootaloo's eyes narrowed to the point they looked like just two black dots, but didn't seem to have a response "how… How… How are you even able to fly…?" Scootaloo questioned turning to her own wings, the symbol on her flanks looked to be a purple shield… How had I not noticed it before? Purple image on orange background, your eyes will be drawn to the purple right? Well why I didn't noticed it is beyond me.
"I just make my wings flap incredibly fast until I hover… But that isn't how ponies fly…" I said hitting myself in the face as Scootaloo attempted to fly like I did. She did stay in the air for possibly two seconds, but that's it.
The rain falling down at the same time as Scootaloo's attempt to fly made her into a living sprinkler shooting water in seemingly every direction. Scootaloo began to shiver, the rain was becoming freezing cold! "We need to either find, or make a shelter" I thought, and by Scootaloo's look she had the same idea.
Scootaloo's POV
"That cave I had hid inside to escape the Timberwolf, which should be a good place to stay until the rain dies down right?" I replied to Chainwing within a second of him asking me about finding or making a shelter.
The changeling looked to like that idea a lot more than having to build one, without asking me he levitated me onto his back. I wasn't in the mood to argue with being carried around however, I just wanted to get out of the rain.
I still couldn't get over the fact I was becoming friends with a Changeling! My friends and everypony else may not be so welcoming towards a Changeling... But he wasn't like anything Rainbow Dash had told me Changelings to be like in slightest.
Plus the little fact he can look a Cockatrice in the eyes in not be turned to stone! How awesome is that? Fluttershy had done something like what Chainwing did but she was slowly being turned to stone, Chainwing? Nope, not at all.
After a little bit of back tracking we managed to find the cave again, Chainwing walked inside to the darker part of the cave as I jumped off his back and shook all the water off my fur coat. Getting Chainwing twice as soaked in the process by accident. The sound of the rain constantly hitting the entrance of the cave was emitting a small annoying echo, but I got used to it after a while.
Chainwing didn't seem to be annoyed by it either, he levitated out the map he had and sat down to his haunches then he lit his horn up with light and stared at it like he was trying to figure something out. I scooted over besides him to see what he was doing.
"It would make more sense to just go to Fillydelphia… We appear to practically a small trot away" Chainwing said pointing to Fillydelphia but before I could respond he added "also… What's with all these lines on the map? Are those actual landmarks?" Chainwing asked, his normal echoing Changeling voice echoing even more due to the cave, Chainwing was likely referring to the train tracks, and I assumed he wasn't too familiar with them.
"No, they are called train tracks, wait… Is there a train station in Fillydelphia? That's great! We can just hitch a ride on that-" I said quickly clamping my mouth shut remembering what ponies in Fillydelphia were said to do to unsuspecting Changelings who wandered into their town.
"What's wrong?" Chainwing asked turning to face me.
"Chainwing… It's… It's just that ponies in Fillydelphia… Will tie changeling up and… Hang them by the neck… Killing them" I said and with every word watched, as Chainwings white pupils narrow until they looked like just two white dots.
Chainwings POV
"It's just a rumor Chainwing, don't worry. If they even think about hurting you ill knock some sense into them" Scootaloo said quickly… Trying to reassure me…
I looked to Fillydelphia on the map… I took a careful look at the town drawn on the map… And, and what I noticed made my heart stop. A guillotine… Off on a hill under a tree, the image was no bigger than a leaf from a newly planted tree, but it was still there none the less. I pointed my horn to the guillotine and Scootaloo's face went grim.
"Is… Is that what I think it is? No, it can't be!" Scootaloo said in alarm.
"It's a guillotine… Something much worse than just being choked to death… Being beheaded" I replied in a grim voice as I realized Scootaloo was just a child and shouldn't have known of such a device. I made a small smile then added "or… Maybe it's just my imagination going haywire" and with that Scootaloo let out a sigh of relief.
"I sure hope so, far as I can tell Changelings seem to be rather nice, and… Mostly silent" Scootaloo said with a smile.
I realized I didn't actually speak aloud too often, and Scootaloo would almost always speak aloud. Before I could say something in response I heard what sounded like a low growl very near me.
I jumped up and onto my hooves and looked around rapidly for what made the growl, I didn't even have to ask what it was "Chainwing, it's just my stomach grumbling" Scootaloo said with a sheepish grin making me feel stupid.
"Oh, so… What do ponies eat? Exactly?" I asked raising an eyebrow.
"Generally fruits and vegetables" Scootaloo replied then looking to the entrance "and I doubt we will find any of that out here in the everfree…" Scootaloo added putting a hoof to her stomach. Making me really have to consider my options.
I would either have to hope Scootaloo doesn't starve to death on the way back to Ponyville, which looked like it would be a long painful trip if we didn't go to Fillydelphia and take the train. Or I could put myself in danger by going to Fillydelphia and getting on the train with Scootaloo where food would hopefully be, so… I would have to disguise myself as a pony and hope no pony notices two of the same pony in one area.
"Let Scootaloo die because I am a coward… Or possibly die trying to get Scootaloo to safety… Do you even need to think about it" I felt my consciousness in the form of a smaller version of me said in my head. My little Changeling if you will.
"Alright… So it's off to Fillydelphia then as soon as the rain dies down" I said aloud to Scootaloo, a both grim and joyful expression seemed to take place at the same time.
"Chainwing no! What if they find out you're a Changeling, and that those rumors are true!" Scootaloo said, almost begging for us not to go there.
"It will be fine Scootaloo, I am sure it's just some false rumor and besides, I am a good fighter after all-" I said stopping myself from speaking as I saw a spider descend from the ceiling from a piece of web no more than an inch away from my face.
Now here's the thing… Spiders are known to eat flies and other incest's, I am in essence, a huge insect horse… I am terrified of spiders because they eat insects that I am loosely related to! That and they look like an abomination of nature that shouldn't exist, and having a spider so close to my face will likely make me have constant nightmares for the next few days… Hooray…
I felt my leg muscles tense up and not allow me to move away. I let out a scared shout as I fell to my side as my legs that had tensed up began to sting and hurt with every movement I made. Scootaloo began to laugh uncontrollably at the sight, likely not realizing how painful this was for me.
But I would have laughed too, I mean, a creature nearly eight times the size of a spider falling to the ground and screaming like it was something out of a nightmare, which… It kinda was.
The laughter Scootaloo was letting out was slowly numbing the pain, love is like food, and laughter is… Adrenalin? Strength? Power? It was something good, and the pulsing pain in my legs quickly began to stop. I teleported myself behind Scootaloo out of pure instinct, she was a pony. And spiders can't eat ponies… Right!?
"Chainwing, don't tell me your afraid of some little spider" Scootaloo said turning her head to me then began to laugh again.
"No… I am afraid of a nightmarish abomination of nature, aka a spider! Wouldn't you be scared too if it was commonly known to eat relatives of yours!" I said and I saw the spider even began to laugh, the freaking spider! How does that even work?!
Me and Scootaloo sat for a while after the spider ran off, and watched the rain fall down sheets of water, eventually Scootaloo piped up "so… Have you ever met ponies before you met me?" Scootaloo asked in a curious tone.
"Well… Yes and no, does 'fighting' count as meeting them? Because if so then I met exactly six ponies before." I said getting a painful short flashback of the six ponies, the bearers of the elements, beating me and multiple other Changeling to a pulp.
"Oh… What did they look like?" Scootaloo asked in a concerned tone.
"One was a purple unicorn with a dark purple mane and light purple strand of hair running through it. Another was an earthpony with an orange fur coat and light yellow mane and tail, had a red rope tied around the end of her tail though." I said describing two of the six ponies to Scootaloo, and already I saw her eyes go wide with recondition.
"Another was a white unicorn with a dark blue beautiful mane. Another was a pink earthpony with a darker pink curly mane and tail, also the pony who shot me in the face with a barrel full of confetti." I said and Scootaloo leaned her head back. I wouldn't like what she would have to say once I finished I just knew it.
"Another was a yellow coated Pegasus with a long pink mane… And… A terrifying stare" I said then cringed at the thought of the Pegasus's stare.
"And finally the last pony was a Pegasus pony with a cyan fur coat, and all the colors of the rainbow in her mane and tail" I said then added "all of which female… Haven't seen one male pony yet actually, are they rare or something?"
Scootaloo's eyes wide and her pupils narrow as she spoke "The first was Twilight Sparkle, who now has wings since she became an alicorn princess. The second was Apple Jack, Apple Blooms big sister. The third was Rarity, Sweetie belle's big sister. The fourth was Pinkie Pie, and you are lucky she was just using confetti. The fifth was Fluttershy, and the sixth… Was Rainbow Dash, the closest thing to a big sister I have" Scootaloo finished and then took a moment to breath.
So now I knew the names of the bearers of the elements… Also, the fact a pony who I had once looked to as an enemy, was the essential sister of the pony I swore to protect… Just my luck I guess. But if the situation where to come to it, and I would be face to face with the six ponies… Would any hold a grudge on me due to the whole Canterlot battle thing?
"Scootaloo… You know all their names… Are they all your friends?" I asked as my ears perked upwards.
"Yep, I know all of them, each are really good friends" Scootaloo responded, but something didn't honestly add up.
So I asked Scootaloo "Good friends? Well if they are such good friends why did you run away the moment they figure out you're an orphan, I mean, did they act surprised, did they make fun of you, what did they do in order to trigger you to run off nearly seven miles from what it looks like." I asked and Scootaloo turned her head away for a moment.
"They were surprised, but I didn't want them to know… I didn't want to chance them making fun of me… Bad enough I can't fly" Scootaloo said hiding her expression from me.
"But… I really shouldn't have just ran off at the drop of a hat… It was foolish of me to run off… They are probably going to be mad that I made them all so worried, if they are worried at all" Scootaloo said turning back to me, crying like her tone had suggested.
"I am sure they won't be mad Scootaloo, and if they are. How about I knock some sense into them" I said re-saying what Scootaloo said earlier. Scootaloo wiped away her tears than… She gave me a hug and said with a wide smile "thanks… I really hope all the Changelings are like you, Chainwing" Scootaloo actually did it, she made me cry slightly from joy.
I quickly wiped the water from my eyes as I used my magic to fold the map back up and tucked it back into my left hind leg as I noticed the rain began to die down. Only to hear the thundering roar of what seemed to be three dragons very close, I felt Scootaloo latch herself my left foreleg.
"C-can we... M-maybe go now? Or… Or after the dragons pass…" Scootaloo said as her ears slowly drooped down.
I nodded in agreement unable to make any feasible sounds as I felt a cold shiver down my spine as I spotted three dragons in varying size land a short distance away from the cave we hid inside, they each let out a blast of fiery breath at a seemingly random bush, the sound of a dying Cockatrice echoed the sound of the dragons breathing their fire.
My heart stopped as one of the three dragons, a tall muscular dragon with red scales crooked teeth, decently sized wings and a yellow under belly which looked more like armor than a stomach. Turned to me and Scootaloo and made a large smile followed the other two dragons turning to face us.
One of the two other dragons was 'larger' in body size, dark brown scales, had tiny wings, but a tail like a mace and a somewhat big jaw, and no under belly color. The other third dragon was skinny with dark purple scales a yellow hair do that covered his eyes, and a yellow under belly.
"Get behind me now…" I muttered to Scootaloo who let go of my front foreleg and hid right behind me and said "We… We need Rainbow Dash… She could defend both of us easily…" Scootaloo sobbed making my heart break. Did Scootaloo not think I could defend her? Or was it a case of Scootaloo not wanting me to get hurt?
The dragon began to walk closer until they were just outside the entrance "lookie, lookie what we got here fellas' a Changeling for the main course, and a little baby pony for desert!" The red scaled dragon said with a wicked smile.
I felt a surge of anger rush through me as the three dragons began to taunt us, their pray "look, the baby one is crying! What a wimp" the dark brown coated dragon said pointing a claw to Scootaloo.
I noticed the dragon with red scales expression turn to one of annoyance when the purple scaled dragon chimed in "Maybe since it's so young, the meat will be tender and sweet, and look at those little wings! So cute I just want to swallow it whole."
I felt my heart twist into a knot then beat faster than before when I heard Scootaloo shout in an almost threatening tone "C-Chainwing and Rainbow Dash would, no they will tear you part if y-you even try!" And she was right, I wasn't about to go down without a fight. I would protect Scootaloo even if it meant I would die in the process.
I remembered something, a possible reason for the dragons to not just attack at random. The dragons honor, something no dragon would be able to break. Killing and eating two creatures that never fought back would be a disgrace on their dragon honor, so they were trying to get me or Scootaloo mad enough so we would attack them, then they could just light the cave a-blaze with their fire breath.
So long as I nor Scootaloo don't attack they wouldn't be able to kill us whilst keeping their honor. But they did burn a defenseless Cockatrice alive earlier so they possibly don't care for honor and where just toying with us.
I levitated Scootaloo onto my back as I saw a streak of rainbow light shoot across the sky, it distracted the three dragons long enough for me to run right past them. It may have been a stupid choice but it beats being dragon food.
I could feel intense heat following my ever step, I whipped my head around to see a wall of fire no more than a hairs distance away from my tail, I quickly turned my head to where I could see tall buildings, Fillydelphia I assumed! I hoped the dragons would give up chasing us before we got to the city… Or inside they had some powerful weapon or trap that could stop three rampaging dragons.
A Tragic Past Best to Be Forgotten
Chapter 3
A Tragic Past Best to Be Forgotten
Chainwings POV
I could feel the intense heat of fire following my every step. I whipped my head around to see a wall of fire no more than a hairs distance away from my tail and Scootaloo. I quickly turned my head back to where I could see tall buildings. Fillydelphia I had assumed! I hoped the dragons would give up chasing us before we got to the city. Or if they had some powerful weapon or trap that could stop three rampaging dragons.
I felt the fire begin to roast the back of my tail. How much fire could these dragons breathe out! I made my wings buzz quickly and I began to fly upwards away from the flames. I realized Scootaloo wasn't weighing me down so much anymore, I turned my head back for a moment and prayed to whatever force that would listen that Scootaloo hadn't fallen off my back.
I didn't even notice the two forelegs wrapped around my neck before doing so, Scootaloo hadn't fallen off my back but she wasn't weighing me down either. She was using her wings to hover while on my back. She couldn't fly but she could hover though.
I was flying straight for Fillydelphia as I felt something tugging at my left hind leg, I. I turned to see the purple dragon pulling at my leg. I felt a sudden numbness in my leg as a ripping sound, similar to that of a limb being torn off, occurred from my left leg. I was suddenly freed from the dragons grasp but at what price? I didn't want to bring myself to look back at what happened, all I knew was I heard a limb being torn off and my left leg was numb. So I had either lost a leg! Or even worse Scootaloo did!
I kicked Scootaloo high into the air as I flew back at the purple dragon and bashed at his face with both my forelegs sending the dragon spiraling to the ground. I saw a piece of paper float down after the dragon, looked like a piece of a… Map… I turned my head to see my leg was still there! If the dragon did tear through your hide, then you would be feeling a lot worse right now! My consciousness shouted at me making me feel stupid, Thank you, myself, so confused.
Scootaloo is falling you dope! My consciousness shouted again, I quickly flew after Scootaloo at a break neck speed and caught her on my back.
"That. Was. Amazing!" Scootaloo squeaked with excitement, at least one of us was enjoying this.
I began to panic as the dark brown scaled dragon took a deep breath, then let out a large blast of fire straight at me and Scootaloo.
I hovered slightly to the right and dodged the attack then breathed fire again where I was hovering, I moved slightly left and avoiding the attack for a second time. Scootaloo face hoofed as he breathed fire again for the third time, and I flew right to avoid the attack again.
"You'd think he would catch on to what's going on at this point."
Scootaloo said echoing my thoughts as I heard the red scaled dragon roar then fly straight at me. At the same moment the brown dragon had breathed fire in my direction.
I flew up as the red scaled dragon flew straight into both the fire and the brown scaled dragon knocking him out of the sky. The red scaled dragon turned to me as the brown scaled dragon fell from the sky and crashed into a tree. I could see pure anger and fury within his eyes as he let out a blast of fire at me and Scootaloo. I kicked Scootaloo high into the air as I used my magic to teleport behind the dragon. I wrapped my forelegs around the dragon's arms and began to spin the dragon around like a tornado.
"Have a nice flight!" I said as I let go just at the right moment for the dragon to get flung off towards the ocean. I quickly flew and caught Scootaloo on my back. I felt like an epic warrior! Today I had gotten my legs crushed, fought off three Timberwolves and one massive one, intimidated a Cockatrice, got scared of a spider, and beat up three dragons. All in the same day! And here I thought leaving the hive would be terrible- oh wait…
My eyes went wide as I saw multiple arrows shooting out from Fillydelphia, I watched the sky turn dark as the Arrows rained down. But I used my magic to form a shield around me and Scootaloo just before the arrows could make contact. And as if our luck couldn't get worse, a wave of fatigue washed over me. Seemed like the adrenaline was the only thing keeping me from just falling out of the sky.
I began to slowly hover back down during the arrow rain. Scootaloo let out an annoyed sigh as multiple armor wearing Pegasus ponies flew up from Fillydelphia after the arrow rain had finally stopped. But there was one other creature with them that I couldn't properly name. It looked similar to a dragon whilst while also maintaining the body type of a female pony, my heart skipped a beat as I recognized what the creature was.
The adrenalin that was running through my veins stopped in an instant. The shield I had put around me and Scootaloo busted like a bubble and I struggled to stay in the air. The multiple Pegasus guards flew over and… Kept me in the air.
I saw their mouths opening and closing like they are speaking. I felt a sickening feeling wash over me as everything faded to black.
Moments before Chainwing blacked out
? ? ? POV
I walked at a casual pace towards the defensive barracks, I had decided to wear a business suit to look nice for a change… But it kept my wings clamped shut so if I were to fly I would have to tear the suit off. The commanders of the city stood awaiting for my arrival. The defensive barracks for the city held advanced technology that would only be deployed if there was a major threat to our city.
"Oh… Mrs. Razor, we have spotted… Quite an interesting sight that you will have to see for yourself to believe" one of the pony commanders said then pointed to a telescope for me to see for myself. The telescope had silver edges that held it together and it rested on a stand so non-magical beings could easily use it.
I peered my gaze through the telescope and looked down at the everfree forest "It's in the sky Mrs. Razor" the same pony commander said slightly making me mad. My name is just Razor… There is no Mrs. Yet that is.
I pointed the telescope up towards the stormy sky and saw three dragons flying after a Changeling with a little orange filly or colt on its back. I watched in awe as the Changeling kicked the little pony high into the sky, and charged at one of the three dragons knocking it out of the sky.
A second dragon flew at the Changeling after it caught the pony on its back, it sent out a blaze of fire which lit up the entire sky with light. The Changeling looked to be engulfed by the flames, but it had just maneuvered itself slightly further away from my sight and avoided the blast. The Changeling did this for another two times in a row before the last dragon charged from behind. The Changeling flew up and the two dragons collided. I pulled my head away and turned to the pony commanders. They all seemed to be in just as much shock as I was.
"A Changeling is protecting a pony… But it isn't from here because all Changeling have been accounted for…"
An earthpony mare commander said, her voice trailing off into an almost accusing tone then finished by adding.
"Did you assign any new Changeling into the city without telling us?"
It hasn't even been a month since Changeling were welcomed into Fillydelphia in exchange for their loyalty and trust to not harm ponies unless it is for defensive purposes. And to think this mare would think I would go behind their backs and allow a Changeling to enter the city before swearing to the oaths.
"No… That Changeling isn't with us, maybe he or she has come from Ponyville, since they had allowed Changeling to live amongst them as well for a brief period" I said and watched all the commanders turn to the window as what looked to be a flaming tornado was happening high in the sky.
I looked through the telescope quickly and saw the Changeling fling the dragon far off into the ocean and fly down quickly and caught the pony. If that was a female Changeling that had just done that, Dibs she's mine!
I felt the urge to scream as I saw a vast number of the arrow launchers that had been put in place go haywire and shoot the arrows out at the Changeling and pony. I turned to the commander who was nearest to the switch to activate the trap and scowled.
"We need to stop the arrows before they kill those two!" I shouted at the commanders. The ones who actually had guards at their disposal flew off to get them. I quickly spread out my draconic wings tearing the suit that I was wearing almost completely off. I walked outside as the arrows were about to make contact!
But luckily the Changeling seemed to know a shield spell as he or she deflected any arrows that were about to hit him. I watched as the Pegasus guards flew out overhead for some reason. They seemed to realize something I didn't…
I flew after them quickly as I saw the Changelings wings stop and the shield burst, they luckily caught him or her before they could fall too far.
The pony kept holding onto the Changeling like it was killed… No wait, he… The Changeling was a male… Dammit… And the pony was a filly with an orange coat and purple mane and tail.
"It will be all right, probably just exhausted from fighting three dragons" one of the guard ponies said trying to reassure the filly.
"He's done a lot more than just fight three dragons today… I hope that's right and he isn't poisoned or something" The pony said sounding genuinely concerned for the Changeling. Which meant they could be friends… This is very promising.
I watched as the Changelings eyes closed slowly and looked to have blacked out. I flew alongside the guard ponies who had been carrying the Changeling. Once we landed I ordered the ponies to bring the Changeling to a hospital just to be on the safe side of things.
The little pony was getting anxious and had been pacing back and forth, the doctors had told her that fillies and colts weren't allowed near patients and she was attempting to wait patiently but she was failing, miserably.
I had decided to stick around out of curiosity, I wanted to find out why a pony was so concerned for a Changeling. I was sitting in one of the benches for ponies- and Changelings, to sit in while waiting for patients to be finished.
"Kid… Why do you fear for his well-being?" I asked and the pony stopped pacing back and forth.
"What… Oh, well because he saved my life multiple times in the past two hours… And half of those two hours was spent here." The pony responded, likely not realizing it had only been two or three minutes since she was told she couldn't go in with the Changeling.
"He took on three dragons, four Timberwolves if you count the massive one, stared a Cockatrice dead on reverting my legs back to normal, after the Cockatrice had turned my legs to stone that is. And deflected a hail of arrows that would have likely killed both of us. So I kinda want to make sure he is okay…" The pony said then made a sheepish grin.
I looked to the room the Changeling was inside, then back to the pony "that Changeling… That one lone Changeling! Took on four Timberwolves, and a Cockatrice before fighting off those dragons. Yeah right…" I said not believing a word the pony was saying, but… It wouldn't surprise me, Changelings who were about to get robbed have shown to be quite strong and very durable in situations like that.
"That's kinda what I would have thought too, if I didn't witness it myself…" the pony mused as she rolled her eyes.
"Why do you think he has been defending you?" I asked making the pony tilt her head to the left.
"To be honest I don't entirely know for sure… He had fought off four Timberwolves like I said, then he asked where I was from since I had ran away… I told him and he nearly flipped his lid" the pony said snickering slightly.
"Where did you come from exactly? It can't be that far from here right?" I asked expecting her to say 'Manehattan' or somewhere else close by.
"Ponyville" The foal responded in a flat tone. Ponyville! The place that is so far away it's quicker to wait for hours on end trying to take a train ride there, which is nearly a three hour train ride? Wow… Makes sense why that Changeling 'flipped his lid.' I thought to myself.
"A little time passed then a Cockatrice turned my legs to stone, because I accidentally looked at it… After he intimidated the Cockatrice and reverted my legs back to normal I told him why I ran away. Which I am not telling you or any other stranger… No offence…" The pony said shrugging, I wouldn't have taken offence anyways but whatever.
"And… Well, he promised on his Changeling honor he would get be back to Ponyville no matter what the cost… What does Changeling honor mean? Is it anything close to a dragon's honor?" The pony asked acting as though I would know, luckily for her I did know.
"A Changeling's honor is similar to any type of honor, without it… They have no purpose. Dishonorment is something no creature desires, and those who do lose their honor become evil or... End themselves" I said choosing not to use the word Suicide just in case the pony didn't know what that meant yet.
"Oh… Also I remember hearing rumors Fillydelphia would hang any Changeling who came close… That's obviously wrong, right?" The pony asked innocently, despite talking about Changeling getting killed.
"Yes, it was completely false, a rumor I myself had started up to make ponies who had believed Changeling to be bad. To send the Changeling's here thinking they would be killed, when in reality it is basically a secret sanctuary for Changelings to be amongst ponies in somewhat harmony… But nothing is ever perfect" I said with a sheepish grin and putting emphasis on somewhat.
The pony seemed to let out a sigh she hadn't realized to have been holding in when I said that. One of the doctors who had went into the Changelings room walked out with a grim expression, which only could mean something bad happened.
"Is Chainwing okay?" The pony asked jumping in the doctor's way, unintentionally allowing me to know the Changelings name before I was even told it. Also… Chainwing… That sounds so much like Changeling it hurts.
The doctor's grim expression faded for a moment, but quickly returned as he spoke "the Changeling… Is in a coma… It could be weeks before he wakes from it" the doctor said closing his eyes softly, not being able to look into the pony's saddened face.
The pony seemed to hold back any tears she had as she turned and walked towards the exit "I am going to try and get back to Ponyville… It's what he would have wanted me to do- I think" the pony said aloud as she walked outside.
I got up quickly as I heard a dragon's roar, the dragon 'Chainwing' had flung off into the ocean must still want revenge, I ran outside when I heard the scream of the little pony followed by a second roar. I couldn't believe how terrible her luck must have been.
The dragon had bright red scales of flames shooting out from his nostrils as he shouted "where is your little pet now!"
I charged at the dragon and used my razor sharp teeth to puncture through the scales on his wings.
The dragon began kicking and shouting as I wrapped my wings around the dragon's neck and began to choke it "you get the buck out of my city the moment I let you go… Or else the moment that Changeling awakens I am certain he would do a lot worse than fling you into water next time" I said in a hopefully threatening voice as I spread my wings out. I didn't normally have a threatening voice, most described my voice as being Gentle and soft, just what a dragon pony wants to hear, that they are gentle and soft.
The dragon flew off quickly and out of sight the moment I released it from my grip and dropped the pony, I looked to a puddle that had formed during the rain and saw how menacing and threatening I looked. With how I looked upon first glance you would think I would bite your face off if you came near me, but I honestly have more of a bark than a bite when it comes to my strength in a fight.
Scootaloo's POV
There seemed to something with strangers and saving my life today… First Chainwing saves my life multiple times, then this… Dragon pony hybrid? saves me from possibly getting cooked alive by a dragon.
My eyes went wide as I saw the dragon ponies whose name I didn't know yet, walked over towards me "are you alright?" the hybrid asked in an almost gentle voice, something I wasn't expecting to come out of such a scary looking creature.
"Um… I am heading back to Ponyville before something else tries to kill me, could you possibly tell Chainwing to come to Ponyville soon as he's awake?" I asked trying to stay hopeful that Chainwing actually will wake up.
"Of course… What is your name exactly so 'Chainwing' can trust it's the truth." The hybrid asked putting emphasis on Chainwings name for some odd reason.
"Scootaloo." I said. "Wait… Where is the train station exactly?" Feeling a little embarrassed for not knowing where it was.
"Right behind you. Also the name is Razor…" The hybrid responded flatly, now I really felt embarrassed.
"Okay… Bye then- Razor" I said as I walked towards the train station, that was directly behind me. I turned back to see Razor walk back inside the hospital, which was right next to a train station for some odd reason… That still didn't make too much sense but oh well.
Two weeks later…
Chainwings POV
My eyes opened slowly, my vision was blurry and a light was being shined into my eyes. As my vision cleared I regained my hearing slowly.
"Chainwing… Chainwing…"
A male voice said repeatedly in a low frequency I could barely hear, I felt my ears twitch as the male's voice became much louder in an instant.
"Chainwing, welcome back little guy."
The male's voice said as I realized I was in a strange rectangular shaped thing, think ponies called it a bed? I had a white blanket covering most of my body which felt surprisingly comfortable. I realized multiple ponies were standing around the bed.
I began to panic not seeing Scootaloo anywhere nearby, she was hungry last thing I remember… 'OH NO! She didn't starve did she?' I thought to myself looking around frantically. I realized I didn't have to get out of the bed, let alone the strength to speak.
I felt myself cringe as I heard rapid beeping sounds, I turned to the source of the noise and saw a device that was linked to my arm, with every moment I panicked more the faster the machine beeped. Did the ponies build, and hook me up to a bomb of some sort?
"That is a heart tracker…" One of the doctors said clearly realizing how frightened I was becoming.
"It takes in account for how quickly your heart was beating."
One of the female ponies added in an amused tone, I calmed down at the realization that I wasn't hooked up to a bomb. For some reason I felt different now, like something incredible has happened to me while I was unconscious, but I was only unconscious for a day or two… Right…
My eyes adjusted to the dim light of the room I was in… And saw the hybrid I spotted before I blacked out, I felt my heart begin to beat out of rhythm, and heard it as well. The dragon pony looked to be taller than most other Changelings and ponies I have seen so far, also having a vast number of spikes that gave the illusion of it having long hair, when in reality it was probably tough like a brush.
"Do not be afraid of me… I know I look scary but I won't hurt you, Chainwing."
The hybrid said in a smooth gentle voice as it smiled, no, it was clearly a female. Now my heart was beating out of rhythm for more than one reason, first was the fact that dragon pony hybrids actually exist and seemed to have good connections with ponies. And secondly… I found her to be somewhat pretty… The idea of my crush on Starburst seemed to leak from my mind for a moment, a brief moment at that.
"You're wondering where you are, correct?"
The hybrid asked in the same gentle and smooth voice, was that her normal tone or something? Because if so I am not complaining in the slightest, I nodded my head in response feeling as though my throat had been cut by something.
"You are in the Fillydelphia hospital, you blacked out moments after saving your friend from the dragons. Also you need not worry for Scootaloo's safety, she is back in Ponyville where she belongs"
The hybrid chimed just as one of the ponies was about to speak. I felt a wave of relief hit me, I let out a deep sigh I hadn't realized I held in. I saw my torn map folded up neatly and laid on a chair, I had it tucked away in my left hind leg though… Must have fallen out or was taken out by the ponies.
I felt a warm feeling emitting from my horn which was both painful… And relaxing… My eyelids became heavy until they were forced shut "sleep now… Awake soon and you will regain your energy" the beautiful voice of the hybrid echoed as I seemed to be forced into sleep-
I awoke feeling as though not even a moment had passed. And the only difference from before was there had not been as many ponies crowded around me this time and I felt much more energized… You know for just waking up.
There was only one pony standing back onto me and was looking at the map I had, a unicorn mare with a white fur coat wearing a white outfit and had a symbol of a red cross on her flanks, and a red mane and tail to match the image… Hopefully the only time I will ever wake up to see a pony's rear end.
The pony seemed to panic as her ears twitched to the sound of me coughing, to get her attention and I honestly needed to. The pony seemed to go stiff like she was turned to stone, her ears perked down as her tail seemed to cover as much of her flanks as possible.
"Eh hem… Hello?" I said, my voice sounding nothing like it had before, I sincerely hoped it was just because I was tired and my throat may not have been ready to speak yet.
The pony didn't turn to face me, but I heard a long deep sigh in response to what I said.
"H-hello… Did I wake you, because if so I am so sorry?"
The pony said, by her tone it seemed like she was asking if she was truly sorry.
"No… At least I don't think…" I responded raising an eyebrow. The room I was in didn't have any windows… Or… Doors… How did the pony get in? How did I get in? Or was there a door I just wasn't seeing, maybe to my left or right.
"Oh… I hope I didn't disturb you in anyway at all"
"No, you didn't disturb me in the slightest… Also what are you up to, looking at my map…?" I said, lying through my teeth so I would not seem rude.
"Oh this is yours! I thought one of the, seven ponies think it was, who came over within the first week of you being in A Coma, left it for you."
The pony said making my mind almost break what seven ponies! Was it the guard ponies who caught us and Scootaloo? Was it Scootaloo plus the six 'friends' of hers? Why would anypony aside from Scootaloo care enough to see if I am okay…? My consciousness asked, as though it had a mind of its own.
"Seven ponies… What were their names?" I asked tilting my head, the pony put a hoof to her head seeming to try and remember.
"One of them was your friend I believe, the pony who you fought off some of the most dangerous creatures in Equestria to keep safe."
The pony replied making me narrow it down, it had likely been Scootaloo and the other six ponies… Who had beaten the living crap out of us Changeling during the battle- why would they ever even consider going to see a Changeling!
Or did they have intentions to finish what they started… No… No they couldn't have intended what happened! Or did they? Think about it… What better way to get rid of a threat… Than eliminate it entirely my consciousness echoed in my head, okay it has to have a mind of its own or something.
Flashback
It had been almost seven minutes after the mega love orb had knocked us Changelings off the face of 'Canterlot' and I looked around as I got blasted off into the sky, most of the Changelings had been missing… Was my suspicion right about them getting crushed to death?
I spotted Queen Chrysalis just before gravity finally took its toll and brought us down against a mountain side, which would soon be the mountain we would live inside.
Chrysalis looked like she could not believe what was happening. The sight we saw, was beyond horrifying! Changelings who had been further behind than us, exploded in the air before they could hit the ground, over exposed to love. I watched the blue liquid splatter against the ground all that remained of the Changelings who exploded.
I felt a stinging feeling emanating from my chest. I fell to the ground as if I tool would explode. I felt as though there was burning hot lava inside of my chest, but it wasn't burning through my chest either. It just lingered around as I screamed from pain. I looked over to the sky and saw the Changelings who had been told to stay behind so they would not be put in danger, fly over to our position quick as their wings would allow.
Chrysalis for some reason wasn't on her knees from the pain, but she was clearly feeling intense pain from her expression, but something was keeping her alive, something was keeping me alive, something was keeping the vast number of other Changelings who were in similar pain… I didn't realize it at the time… But it may have been the intense fear and sadness we all were feeling. The idea that we would all possibly explode, and after we came so close to saving our species! We would fail… We would let everyone down… That may have been holding back whatever was happening to us.
The Changelings landed down as my vision began to get blurry, and that's when I saw her… Starburst…
"What happened? Can you tell me what's wrong! Speak to me please."
Starburst shouted looking me over, I noticed multiple other Changelings where in much worse pain than me, from their screams it seemed as though they were being burned alive.
"Make sure… The others are alright… Before you even start worrying about me… I am just a weak insect compared to them… Save them and only save me if you can…" I said truly believing at the time I would die, but the other Changeling had families… They had children they were fighting for… I had nothing, I was expendable.
Starburst looked to be taken aback by what I said, as though she never heard the "idiot sacrifices himself for the others" cliché in stories read to us as hatchlings.
"If… If you insist sir."
Starburst said with a smile that made me feel warm inside, well not exactly on par with the burning feeling but you get the point, neither of us knew the others name at the time but Starburst had enough respect for others and actually listened, she then flew over to a Changeling who needed help more than me. Copper believed his name was, he was screaming as though he was being eaten alive.
The method which was used to undo the affects which- none of us truly knew what was going on but we all safely assumed it was an over dose of love, was using a freezing spell which had been learned by Chrysalis during her time amongst the ponies and learning any useful spells, the spell would cool the fiery feeling inside until it was no longer noticeable. I lay on the ground for nearly 40 minutes what it seemed like, but when they finally came to me the burning feeling had faded away naturally and I had been simply just trying to rest.
I felt vibrations coming from under the ground, something massive was tunneling underneath us, and I turned to where the entrance to the hive would soon be, as a large worm like beast broke out from the stone startling every Changeling in hearing range. The creature had purple skin along its long body and red fur lining separating its head from the rest of its body. A pink skinned head and six eyes, two on every slit of its head- it has three jaws that open up to show tendril like tongues!
And even with blurred vision, I witnessed why Chrysalis is our queen. She stood before the beast as it let out a menacing roar without fear. She had just witnessed her loyal subjects get brutally dismembered by an overload of love, it's safe to say Chrysalis was pissed. And you don't mess with an angry Changeling, not if you know what's good for you at least.
"If you have intention to harm my subjects than you shall have to get through me first…"
Chrysalis said in a tone which can best be described as the "I ain't taking any of your crap right now" tone, it likely has a cool name, but the heck if I know.
The creatures red fur around its neck stood up, as though it was trying to intimidate Chrysalis. Poor mistake on its part, it opened its mouth to roar or whatever sound would have come out of that thing, but Chrysalis grabbed it with her magic and slammed its face into the ground hard as she could.
The creature let out a squeal as struggled to break free of Chrysalis's grip, but it failed miserably. Chrysalis levitated the large worm out from the tunnel, the creature stopped struggling as Chrysalis lowered it to the ground as I noticed her chest begin to glow bright blue.
No! I felt myself try and shout by I couldn't, Chrysalis let the creature go as she fell to her knees. Nearly every Changeling accept for me flew besides Chrysalis and took a defensive stance, the creature moaned like it was defeated and burrowed into the ground, the light emitting from Chrysalis dyed down as my vision became even more blurry and my eyelids forced themselves shut.
From the sound of it the creature was retreating…
"We have a new hive… And much of the work has been done for us."
The voice of Chrysalis said victoriously, wait what… No something else must have happened… Chrysalis must have done something to fend that beast off, but what.
End of Flashback
No… The ponies likely had just thought we would get blasted off, and they don't know what truly happened, it's for the better they don't ever find out. The guilt may drive them into a deep depression… Maybe it is best I try to never have flashbacks of the past again… They are always so painful.
"Eh hem… You okay?"
The unicorn mare asked as I snapped out of my flashback, I realized my map the unicorn was looking at was gone, of course it was.
"Yeah, just had a bad memory…" I said pulling myself out of the bed, the unicorn's jaw dropped as though I was coming back from the dead.
"How do you have the energy to move…? Let alone breath."
The unicorn managed to say sounding to be afraid, very afraid. But of what?
"What do you mean? What happened while I was asleep?" I asked hovering up for a moment then landing on all four legs.
"You were asleep for not even 20 minutes since Mrs. Razor forced you to sleep."
"What, what, what… The bucking buck do you mean! Are you sure?" I asked getting right in the ponies personal space. What! 20 minutes! It felt like I was asleep for an entire day! WHAT!
The pony didn't seem to have a vocal response, her cheeks went bright pink and her ears drooped down.
"It's been maybe less than that… I-I have terrible memory sorry… But you were put to sleep not too long ago… Mrs. Razor probably hasn't even left the building yet."
The unicorn said wincing slightly, what was with her pink cheeks… It's called blushing you derp, remember reading up on the ponies' physiology just in case we ever meet one? No? Okay then… Blushing is something that occurs for ponies and every other creature when either embarrassed, shame, or being attracted to someone else… In the romantic way 'my little Changeling' echoed in my mind, didn't help my face was almost touching hers… Not liking where this situation was going in the slightest.
I backed away a few steps and I saw the door… A wooden door, which was the same color as the wall… Great choice of design. I walked towards it but the unicorn ran in the way.
"Can you just answer a question I have?"
The pony asked tilting her head, I don't like where this is going…
"Suuuuuure, go ahead" I said, I prepared to run if she asked if she could do anything to me along the lines of kiss or hug… Not interested in ponies in the slightest.
"Where did your friend say she ran from…"
The pony asked levitating out MY map and unfolding it, a place up in 'the frozen north' had been torn off, Cryst- was the only letters to not have been torn off from the name, along with the picture.
"Ponyville… She didn't believe she ran that far either, and neither did I to be honest" I said rolling my eyes. I realized I was actually taller than the pony… Not by a lot but noticeably taller, hmm.
"Ponyville… Ponyville! Wait so did she not cross train tracks? And I can somewhat recall Mrs. Razor mentioning that your friend and you had ran through the Everfree… Look where the everfree stops, according to this map there is hardly any forest between here and the Everfree."
The pony said then stopping to take a breather, I assume Scootaloo hadn't noticed the tracks due to being chased by a Timberwolf… And I likely just misread the map earlier.
"Just so you know I probably got the location wrong, also who is Mrs. Razor?" I asked making my horn glow as I grabbed the map away from the unicorn.
"Mrs. Razor is hybrid who ordered you be kept alive."
The pony said and I felt my ears twitch as a loud whistle interrupted from outside, not like other whistles though, different, sounding much louder.
"Oh yeah that's right! Your friend asked if you would visit her soon as you could, might want to catch that train if you wish to get there quickly."
The pony said pointing to the door, I wanted to at the very least find out this ponies' name even if I would never see her again, just so I wouldn't seem rude.
"Okay! Before I go what's your name?" I asked folding the map up quickly and stuffing it away into my right hind leg this time.
"It's not exactly important… You should really get going!" The unicorn said essentially throwing me out of the room. I made my wings buzz and I shot down the hallway towards an opened window, It was luckily opened just enough for me to fly through.
I dove down onto a small house which had the train tracks running alongside it, I saw the train moving off in the opposite direction of me but it wasn't too far away yet if I land on the train as an undisguised Changeling how would they react? Let's just be on the safe side and disguise the moment I land on the train my little Changeling said as I took flight again straight for the back train car.
Chapter 4
Whats a Cutie Mark?
Chainwings POV
I landed on top the train car with a thud, then jumped down to the back of the car where the door was. I didn't see any windows on the back car so I flew up to the second to last car. There were windows here, and quite a few other ponies. I didn’t seem to find anypony that would be a good candidate for me to change into so I flew over to the next train car.
I looked inside hoping to see a pony I could disguise myself as, and what I saw was a reflection of myself as a pony. I mean, I know if a Changeling looks at a reflection while disguised, the reflection has a small chance to show the actual Changeling undisguised but… this was a reflection on a window, and I wasn’t disguised.
I took the form of the pony in the reflection and the only thing that felt different was I didn’t have wings. I grabbed onto the door so I wouldn’t fall off the very narrow walkway between the cars. I felt so confused, why was there a pony version of me in the reflection… Maybe it’s just an extremely rare thing, similar to how my short blade-like teeth are a rare feature among changelings.
I pushed the door open and saw what looked like a mostly empty carriage, so I walked slowly inside and sat down on one of the benches. When I looked out the window for a brief moment I saw some strange white material covering everything I looked at. Every building, tree, rock, mountain, everything was covered in this white substance. The sound of a door opening made me panic slightly, I wasn’t good at acting like a pony, I was afraid I would be caught.
Two ponies walked inside, one was a pegasus mare with a light blue fur coat and a silver mane. The other was an earth pony stallion who was half the size of the mare, having an almost tanned fur coat and a brown mane.
I averted my gaze away from the two ponies and tried to act natural. What would be classified as being ‘normal’? The little voice inside my head said as I looked out the window.
“Eh hem… Sir may we sit with you? If you don’t mind.” The pegasus mare said with a smile, there had been no other ponies on the train car but the two other ponies and myself so what the pegasus was asking didn’t make sense. But I honestly didn’t mind, if they were a couple I could subtly feed off their love when they weren’t looking.
“Why? We are on a mostly empty car aren’t we…? Why do you want to sit with this one-?” The stallion chimed then getting cut off mid-sentence by the mare shoving a hoof against his mouth stopping him from finishing. The pegasus whispered something under her breath which I didn’t quite catch, the stallion rolled his eyes and lowered his head.
“Sure… I don’t mind” I said making a forced smile, this was highly suspicious behavior coming from that pony… Why did she want to sit with me? The stallion did seem to mind however, but before I could properly react or the stallion could speak the mare said something that made me seriously question the intelligence of ponies.
“You wouldn’t happen to be a changeling would you?! If so I won’t tell.” The mare said with a wide smile that seemed to extend past the limits of her face somehow. Also, say what now? Was she just a psychic or something?
“Sorry mister, you will have to excuse my little sister… She thinks every pony who sits alone is a changeling.”
“Oh… Well I am definitely NOT a changeling, I guarantee that- wait how are you his little sister when you're twice his size?” I asked the Pegasus mare. Her eyes were a sapphire blue, similar to a Changeling's eyes in a way.
“My doofus brother here walked into a flower patch of poison joke, it shrunk him down to half his size.” The mare said with a giggle making the stallion mumble some words which I could only assume was him cursing.
“Poison, joke?”
“Yeah, it’s a flower that has random effects on the pony who touches it. The same effect will occur again if the pony touches the plant again though…” The stallion said pressing a hoof against his face from embarrassment. I felt the entire train car bounce into the air for a moment giving me a fright. Making the mare burst into laughter, likely due to my expression.
“You act like you never been on a train before, a changeling wouldn’t have been on a train before either… hmmm, you sure about that whole ‘I am not a changeling’ thingy?” The mare said looking at me dead square in my eyes and leaning forward towards me. I see/feel high levels of joy and excitement within her stare as though she wanted me to be changeling.
“What is with you and your obsession with changelings?” I said leaning my head back away from the pegasus.
The pegasus didn’t seem to have a response other than awkward silence. She hit her brother on top of his head as she was now the pony hiding her face from embarrassment.
“Ouch! Oh yeah, my sister thinks changelings are all noble warriors who will sacrifice themselves for the greater good. Which is wrong because if that was the case then why did they go and attempt to invade Canterlot.”
“Because the changelings feed off of love! Their leader probably thought that if they controlled one of the cities their subjects could never go hungry again, they tried to invade Canterlot because they want to survive.” Wow, I am honestly rendered speechless here, this Pegasus seems to be very, very passionate about this topic. But why would she be… For what reason does she believe this.
“If I could interrupt, what are your names?” I said feeling myself make a sheepish grin. The two ponies both halted their argument for a brief moment as they looked to me.
“You may call me Silver Sky, and this is my bro Chestnut Hammersmith, or just Chestnut for short.” The pegasus- no Silver Sky said blinking with only one of her eyes for a brief moment.
“What’s your name- also what’s with your non-existent cutie mark? Chestnut you see this right?”
Silver Sky said with a smirk pointing to something, what was a cutie mark! I turned my head to where Silver Sky was pointing, it was my rear end. Lovely… The name the ponies chose for the symbol on their flanks was… Cutie Mark … just wow, they couldn’t have chosen a more girly sounding name eh?
“One question at a time Silver, sir what is your name?” Chestnut said pulling Silver’s hoof so she was no longer pointing. I noticed that Silver Sky, had a image of a brown book lit on fire, green fire at that. And Chestnut had a symbol of an anvil with a hammer next to it actually, sorta made sense that a pony named ‘Chestnut Hammersmith’ would have an image of an anvil but… An image of a book on fire… How did-
I was cut off mid thought by the entire train car bouncing up for a moment giving me a fright. I looked the two ponies over and feeling as though my heart had jumped out of my throat said “Chainwing.”
Silver Skies eyes lit up with joy “did you just admit you were a changeling!” Silver Sky said beginning to hover in the air an inch away from my muzzle.
“Chainwing- not Changeling although very similar sounding word ain’t it.” I said with a smile then using a hoof to push Silver Sky back away from me. Her eyes seemed to indicate disappointment, I am honestly getting worried with how she would react to finding I actually am a changeling.
I felt my ears twitch as I heard two strange objects hit the roof of the train car we were in. OH GREAT! Just my luck ain’t it! Before Silver sky could have said anything, six razor sharp black claws dug into the roof of the train car, one of the dragons from earlier I assumed.
Silver Sky and Chestnut both looked in shock and awe as the claws tore a hole into the roof, and a large fierce looking wolf hopped inside with us. It was breathing heavily as though it had been running for miles and didn’t even bother to notice the three of us. All three of us crouched underneath the seats to avoid the creature seeing us.
The large predator whimpered as it held its right arm, a strange red liquid seemed to be staining the creature’s fur where its claw covered. It took a moment for me to realize it was the creature’s blood and the creature seemed to be in immense pain.
The creature then lay down in one of the seats and looked as though it was trying to hide, I then heard why this creature was likely hiding. A massive dragon with white scales and blue claws flew aside the train and letting out a terrifyingly loud roar. Chestnut and Silver Sky stayed quiet as they could, the large wolf was also trying its best to stay silent, and it seemed like everything around me was muted if not for the dragon roaring.
I felt my heart begin to beat out of rhythm as the door to the carriage where I spotted so many ponies in before, looked completely empty. They were likely hiding down as well to avoid being seen. The dragon flew off luckily for us.
The large wolf let out a hurt wine seeing the dragon leave, then it noticed us and I noticed its ears perk back. I felt Silver Sky squeeze me as though I was a huggable shield. I have no idea why other than maybe just something to hold onto for support.
“I mean no harm-” the large wolf said in an almost gravelly voice but sounding more like a ponies’ than anything, then winced as the red spot on his arm turned to a darker shade of red. Silver Sky let go of me immediately and stood up, she began to timidly approach the large wolf as though she wasn’t just afraid of it and nodded her head for me and Chestnut to get out as well.
“What happened to you?” Chestnut asked, do ponies’ just forget about fear when something is hurt?
“I scraped my arm on a tree branch while trying to get away from that dragon. There was a pony riding atop the dragon, looking for changelings. I don’t know why or what a changeling even is. Mind explaining?” The large wolf asked, with each pause taking a deep breath. I felt as though my heart would stop beating. That dragon was after me! Worse than that it was after the other changelings too!
Silver Skies POV
This was very very bad. A pony had managed to befriend a massive dragon and was on the hunt for changelings. I was hoping ‘Chainwing’ wasn’t actually a changeling now. Also his name doesn’t make sense for a unicorn who doesn’t have wings.
“Changelings are insectoid pony like beings, superior in every way possible to us. Being capable of supposedly lifting three times their own weight and can all use magic and flight. The ultimate beings. Also, according to reports from ponies in Fillydelphia, could regenerate their limbs and their exoskeleton at a fast rate.” I said being honest, I turned to Chainwing expecting to see some form of recognition like yup all true changelings are the best but instead Chainwing had a look across his muzzle which indicated he thought I was wrong. Maybe he isn’t a changeling after all.
I felt my jaw almost drop as Chainwing bit into the wall on the train car and ripped the wallpaper off it. Then using his levitation magic to wrap the wallpaper around the diamond dogs wound without a word. Almost as though he refused to speak.
“Uh… Thank you pony.” The diamond dog said whose coat looked to have the same color pallet as a husky. Chainwing smiled and nodded again not saying a word. I noticed while we were talking earlier he wouldn’t speak too often and would be consumed in thought. But this was strange.
The train car door to the other carriage was shut by a gust of wind. The snow which was nice and beautiful a moment ago now seemed to become a blizzard. Before I could even react properly Chainwing collapsed onto his face for no reason. Chestnut backed away from Chainwing slowly, and then I saw why the two of them were so scared. A spider, a little tiny spider. Looks like my brother and Chainwing both have arachnophobia, great.
The diamond dog walked over to the spider, lifted it up and then began to laugh “ponies are afraid of this little thing?” The diamond dog said laughing a little more then dropping the spider back down.
“No, Just these two apparently.” I said beginning to laugh a little too. Chainwing pulled his head up and aimed his horn at the spider then began charging it up.
I felt myself burst into laughter as Chainwing fell to his side as the spider leaped onto the bridge of his muzzle, Chestnut walked behind both me and the diamond dog for protection. I looked to Chainwing’s eyes and saw a good sign of him being a changeling! A flash of green flame went across his eyes and for a brief moment I saw a changeling's eyes replace his normal light blue eyes. That was either some form of spell or he was losing concentration and would soon revert to a changeling form, yes!
Chainwing shook his head violently and the spider got flicked at a wall, Chainwing now teleported everypony- and dog, and used us all for protection, from a spider.
“Why are you scared of such a little creature? That would be like a dragon being afraid of a mouse.” The diamond dog said then moved to one of the seats then sat down, I looked to his arm and it looked like it was tensing up, not allowing him to bend it in any way or form.
Chainwing sat beside the diamond dog and me and Chestnut sat paralell to them. The diamond dog looked to be exhausted, it curled up on the bench and began to sleep. Chainwing looked out the window and his jaw hung wide open.
I looked outside too and saw the castle of friendship. It was decorated with all the Hearths Warming Eve decorations and looked very pretty. Hearths Warming had happened early this morning. I felt a warm feeling inside when I looked to Chainwing’s reflection in the window. It was a changeling clear as the setting sun behind the castle. But Chainwing didn’t seem to care for his reflection. He was taking in all the beauty of Equestria and since he was a changeling it was likely for the first time so I stayed quiet and let him enjoy it. Chestnut saw the reflection and looked to me with a wide eyed expression. I grinned then pointed to the sun setting then whispered “just let him enjoy it.” And Chestnut nodded.
I let out a deep sigh looking over Chainwing’s reflection. He looked similar to other changelings but different. His teeth were short and gave him a cute appearance. I looked back to Chainwing;s pony form and saw many similarities, his horn length, his eye color, his fur color, everything was similar, which made me more curious about Chainwing.
The blizzard seemed to have disappeared during the spider incident And no snow had seeped in through the massive gap in the ceiling to my surprise. I noticed the diamond dog was sleeping through the beautiful sight so I woke up the large predator who was just chased by a dragon. Not a smart move on my part. Chainwing fell backwards when the diamond dog snarled at me “why did you wake me.” The diamond dog growled, I simply pointed a hoof to the window and watched the angry expression turn to one of awe. I offered Chainwing a hoof to help him up but he got up by himself and looked back outside.
Both Chainwing and the diamond dog’s reactions were uncannily similar, but diamond dogs lived underground and changelings may possibly have went underground to avoid being seen so their reactions would be similar.
Everyone on the train car seemed to take in the beautiful view, I overheard ponies from the other carriages admiring the sight then realized if any of them walked into this car, there would be chaos.
*** *** ***
“Next stop, Ponyville.” The train conductor shouted waking me from a comfortable sleep, I don’t remember how or when I fell asleep but I did. I held back a snicker as I saw Chainwing sleeping on his back upside down from the seat.
The diamond dog was gone however Chestnut was also asleep until the train came to a screeching halt abruptly waking Chainwing and Chestnut. Chainwing’s reaction made me think he was having a nightmare he couldn’t wake from. He looked around rapidly, then to me and let out a major sigh of relief then collapsed face first into the ground.
I crouched down beside Chainwing and poked at his head “What’s wrong Chainwing?” I asked not expecting the train car to jolt upwards on a bump knocking both Chestnut and Chainwing into the air for a moment.
“Nothing, it’s nothing… It’s nothing, it wasn’t real… It wasn’t real…” Chainwing said looking as though he was about to cry.
“That is bull right there, complete bull.” Chestnut said with a small grumble.
Chainwing made a clearly forced smile and stood up “It was nothing, I swear.” Chainwing said as his pupils dilated and he tried to act as though he was fine which he wasn’t.
I was concerned about the diamond dog that seemed to have just vanished but he likely just left seeing a gem in the side of a mountain. I was more concerned of what Chainwing was hiding.
Chainwings POV
I had a dream… That can only be described as torture. Listen if you have the nerve.
Dream Beginning
Everything was black, I looked down and saw no ground, nothing but my insectoid hooves.
I made my horn glow a bright blue and give light within the darkness.
I saw another light from a distance. Soon three lights became visible then began charging at me. It was the fire glowing within three separate dragons’ stomachs, they each let out a blast of fire at me.
I avoided the blasts then felt myself fly into something. The white scaled dragon from before was flying in midair inches away from my face. A cloaked pony was standing atop of its snout.
The pony had a large crystal sticking out from his head where a unicorn’s horn should be.
The pony began to strike the three dragons down in midair using electricity which seemed to come from its crystal horn. Then the pony removed the cloak, the pony had strange markings across its body which glowed a bright luminescent blue.
Below me blue fires began to start revealing cages which hung over a bright luminescent blue pool which gave me bad memories of the changelings being exploded over the Everfree.
“Your kin have died by the hooves of two royal figures. They killed your kin without remorse. Look at the pool. The ponies call it the mirror pool.” A strange voice began saying. The voice of the pony.
I looked down at the pool and the voice spoke again “A pool filled with blood of your fellow changelings mixed with natural water. If a pony enters it a copy of that pony is created. Ponies enter this pool without examining the properties of it. They bathe in the blood of your family!”
I watched as a pink pony appeared from the darkness. Pinkie Pie if Scootaloo was right. She jumped into the pool and a copy of herself emerged with her from the pool. I cringed as I watched her continue to copy herself until there was a hypothetical army of the same pony.
“Now look to the cages…” The voice said as the pink ponies all faded away into black smoke. I took a closer look at the cages and immediately hoped this was just a bad, bad, bad dream.
Each of the cages held four changelings Each of the four having a vast number of cuts and wounds making them lose blood at a rapid rate, but they weren’t dying. I felt as though the world was becoming a living hell as metal structures appeared in the darkness. A red glow lighting the structures up from the inside.
Each metal structure was connected with metal bridges, catwalks I believed was the term. I noticed a conveyor belt carrying the empty husks of dead changelings into the lava and I wanted this nightmare to end!
I was thrown by an unseen force into one of the catwalks. I looked up to the see the pair. Dragon and pony fly in between the massive three structures which seemed to be the center of this nightmare factory.
I felt myself want to cry as I spotted the empty husk of Chrysalis on the conveyor belt, I heard something swoop down and land on the catwalk behind me but I was too drawn towards the terrifying sight to care. Were the ponies’ behind this?! Where they extracting the blood of changelings just to make that one pool look nice!
I felt a hoof against my spine and I let out a long deep sigh I didn’t realize I was holding in. My eyelids got heavy and it felt as though everything around me was getting colder. I turned and opened my eyes to see a pony with the wings of a pegasus and a long horn of a unicorn. An alicorn pony.
I instinctively wanted to flee, but something wasn’t letting me move. The alicorn had a dark, dark blue fur coat and a dark blue mane which seemed to not obey gravity. It just floated in the air. The pony also had bright blue eyes and a shade of blue for the white of her eyes. Something about this pony indicated she liked blue. Don’t know what.
I looked around frantically as the metallic structures seemed to fade away into the darkness. The alicorn had tears streaming down her face as she looked at me. It felt real which was the scary part. Everything that had happened made me feel pain and sympathy , and I was feeling things I shouldn’t be able to feel in a dream. Right?
“It is alright little one. Your nightmare is over for now, everything you saw is not real.” The alicorn said making me think it actually was but something about the pony’s voice made me quickly doubt myself. I found I couldn’t speak. Because if I could I would have been praising this pony as though she was a queen.
“When you wake you must promise to head straight to Ponyville. There you will have a higher chances of surviving.” The alicorn said with a smile. Luckily I was already heading towards Ponyville so it would be easy to get to safety.
I made the terrible choice of looking back down. There was the white scaled dragon flying toward me and the alicorn at a breakneck speed coming from essentially nowhere. I made the choice to push the alicorn away and out of the chomping range. The dragon clamped its mouth shut with me inside and that’s when I woke up.
End of the Dream.
I awoke with a major headache. I looked to my hooves and saw that I was still a pony thankfully. I wasn’t keen on seeing Silver Skies reaction to me as a changeling just yet. Or any ponies for that matter.
“Bad dream?” Chestnut asked tilting his head. “Yes. Very, very bad dream.” I replied immediately. I didn’t want to talk about what the dream was about, I just wanted to get to Ponyville. A mere five seconds after I had spoken I noticed something off about the sky. It was almost completely black!
The hole the diamond dog had torn into the ceiling made for a nice skylight to the sky above. White dots covered the sky and one massive white circle floated in the sky among the other objects.
“What? Have you never seen the night sky before? Or the moon and stars.” Silver Sky asked nudging a hoof against my chest. Night time? I was witnessing the night for the first time in person that is. Back in the hive I remembered reading stories which would mention the night but I never imagined it to look like this!
“Nope… I… I am not from around here…” I said flatly, my jaw hung open from the beautiful sight. First the sunset now this? I am distracted by the beauty of the sky yet again. I heard a loud whistle go off which made me cringe and cover my ears to the best of my abilities.
“All ponies departing in Ponyville please exit the train now.” A male pony shouted. I was surprised as both Silver Sky and Chestnut got off the train with me. And both a little relieved that two somewhat familiar faces would be near.
I was extremely glad it was dark out and not many ponies would be active, hopefully at least. And I was glad mostly because it felt as though I was going collapse of exhaustion again which I did. The last thing I remember seeing was a vast number of cottages made from what looked to be hay and limestone lining the path ahead. Then I fell into a deep sleep again.
The world around me was gone, similar to the nightmare I had before but now it was just empty. I didn’t feel tired or sleepy, I just... As though I was dead in a way, having no feeling and just floating in darkness for what felt like an eternity.
I felt my eyes open and a familiar cyan coated pegasus with a rainbow mane hovered in the air shining a lamp light into my eyes. I felt myself snarl as I struggled to move a hoof to cover the light, but found my hoof was full of holes, I was undisguised in front of Rainbow Bash? Think that was it.
My hearing kicked in as though I had been knocked unconscious and I winced at what I heard.
“Changelings are all evil…” The pegasus said, a part of the sentence she was saying before was cut out but it was likely her just saying you changelings are all evil And I only missed out on the ‘you’ part.
Before I could respond the pegasus jumped backwards in surprise “wow, shining a light into the poor critters eyes actually worked, ya’ll happy now rainbow?” A pony with a southern accent said who was just outside of my view.
Rainbow made the mistake of giving me space, I made my wings buzz and attempted to fly off, only to find I was tied down to some sort of crystal chair?
“Where am I? What do you want with me?” I managed to timidly ask as I saw a purple coated alicorn. She had the same appearance as Twilight Sparkle did if I recall. The alicorn whipped its head looking to me suddenly. She approached slowly as the pegasus flew backwards. She had an expression that indicated she was immensely scared.
“You, you’re in my castle. You were brought here after face planting on a sheet of ice. Are you feeling normal?” The alicorn asked seeming to examine my face for marks. I knew I collapsed but on a sheet of ice? How did that not wake me? Also what was ice and why does it come in sheets?
“As normal as it gets, why?” I asked tilting my head in confusion of what the alicorn meant.
“Well darling, it had looked as though your face had fractured like glass. Twilight here had cast a healing spell but it only works on ponies or so she thought at least.” A white coated unicorn said walking into view beside me. The pony would have given me a fright if not for, what’s the word? Highly educated accent?
It took me a moment to realize the pony who was just speaking was named Rarity. The pegasus was rainbow something, and the alicorn before me was actually Twilight Sparkle! Did that mean the other three ponies’ were here? If so just my luck to meet the ponies’ who took on most of the changeling army and won without a scratch... They had just been tired out.
“What’s a changeling doing in Ponyville anyways?” Twilight Sparkle questioned me in such a way it felt as if I lied I would explode. Twice. Is that possible? Probably.
“I was just wanting to admire this massive tree castle thingy. I wasn’t expecting to get inside.” I said making a sheepish grin, Twilight let out a sigh of relief along with what maybe five other ponies at the same time!?
“Okay good. But how do we know you’re telling the truth. Just need to ask a few simple questions for me, I mean us.” Rainbow Bash- still not sure on that name said grinning. I raised an eyebrow as everypony I could hear sighed or made some sound of annoyance. I wasn’t liking where this was going.
“First off, what is your name?” Twilight asked instead of Rainbow. Why, I have no idea.
“Chainwing”
“Chainwing!” Up to six voices shouted all in unison. I felt the rope that was keeping me tied to the chair break. I flew up quickly as Rainbow flew right at me seemingly fast as she could.
“Yeah that’s my name! No need to try and- do whatever you were about to do.” I said then found myself caught in a purple field of magic. Great. Twilight was holding me still in the air for a moment then Rainbow charged at me knocking me out of the air and pinned me against a wall.
“If you are Chainwing then… Uh…” Rainbow paused looking like she was trying to think of something only I would know even though she hasn’t met me before. This will be fun.
“What was Scootaloo’s Cutie Mark?”
Oh Great, I have to conjure up the image of a child's rear end. I hate you Rainbow Whatever your name is… Wait what was it even? A Shield? Yeah but what colours. It had colours I couldn’t make out so…
“Some multi colored shield-thing, I was more worried about getting us away from the dragons and timberwolves and anything else that wanted to eat or harm us.” I said rolling my eyes for a moment then attempted to push the Pegasus away from me. I failed miserably.
“Rainbow Dash! I think you’re going to crush him against the wall if you keep pushing” a high pitched voice called out but was cut off by the sound of a cracking sound. Luckily it was the crystal wall behind me that was cracking and not my actual back. Bash, Dash, eh I was close enough.
Me and Rainbow Dash fell backwards through the crumbling crystal wall and hit the ground, well she hit the ground. I landed chest first into a tree knocking the wind out of me. A completely random tree which I swear wasn’t here before. The pony I believed to be named Pinkie pie somehow managed to get up to the spot in the wall where me and Rainbow Dash had broken through and shouted something I didn’t quite hear.
I began to catch my breath, but stopped hearing two male voices say the following “Maybe you will never fly like us.” “If that’s the case then I guess you are a chicken pony” Then they laughed, I positioned my head so I could see what was going on and I saw three Pegasus stallions making fun of Scootaloo.
“Hey! Leave Scootaloo alone!” Rainbow Dash shouted at the three but they didn’t seem to hear her. I felt my body jolt up into the air as I saw one of them raise a hoof to hit Scootaloo!
Big mistake pal, big mistake! I could feel pure hatred and anger flowing through the air near this tree. It was coming from me and Rainbow Dash so it seemed we both had the same plans for those ponies if they hurt Scootaloo. The white substance that covered the ground would soon either be stained a bright blue from me, or a dark red… And it was more likely to be the dark red that spilled the ground.
Chapter 5
Unfortunate Events
Rainbow Dash’s POV
“Hey! Leave Scootaloo alone!” I shouted at the three bullies but they didn’t seem to hear me or were choosing to ignore me. I felt my body jolt up into the air as I saw one of them raise a hoof to possibly hit Scootaloo.
My eyes locked onto Dumb-Bell. The stallion who was about to strike Scootaloo and before I could do anything a blast of blue light shot through the air and struck Dumb-Bell in his wing making him fall to the ground.
It was Chainwing, from what Scootaloo had told me this changeling had saved her life from dragons, timberwolves, cockatrice, and a hailstorm of arrows. All to help her get back home, only to get knocked into a Coma. I didn’t honestly believe it but I was starting to come around to the idea.
Chainwing leaped out from the tree he must have crashed into, landing into the snow and aiming his horn to the three of them. I could feel myself make a devilish smile as Chainwing wrapped a field of levitation around the tree, ripped it out from the ground roots and all. And began to walk forward with ease as though the tree was just a small twig.
“A CHANGELING!” The three bullies shouted in unison. I would be scared too if I was in their situation.
Hoops kicked Scootaloo into the ground then flew off into the sky. I flew fast as I could for Hoops but I stopped as a flash of green light passed me. Chainwing? Wasn’t his magic blue though?
I flew down and stared Dumb-Bell and Score in the eyes “You two better get lost before that changeling comes back.” And just like that the two pegasi flew off like the cowards they are. I approached Scootaloo but her eyes were locked on the sky. I looked up and saw exactly why!
Chainwing was chasing after Hoops and was gaining on the coward. I felt my jaw drop as Hoops flew higher and higher, but Chainwing still kept going faster than Hoops.
“Was that Chainwing?” Scootaloo asked.
“Yep” I replied struggling to keep my eyes locked onto Chainwing and Hoops.
“Well that pony is pretty much doomed” Scootaloo peeped. Chainwing and Hoops flew into a cloud and they seemed to just stop.
It felt like my jaw came loose from its socket when I barely saw two figures falling from the cloud. Chainwing had gripped onto Hoops and was going to pile drive him into the ground! I heard the distant shouts of Hoops trying to apologize and Chainwing remaining silent.
The rest of the gang ran outside and looked up to see Chainwing stop in midair and let Hoops fall into a frozen lake. I looked around and saw multiple ponies’ looking to the sky in both amazement and horror, Chainwing then did something I wasn’t expecting, I was expecting him to hover back down but, in a blinding flash of blue light the changeling was gone!
“That was the changeling you told us about darling?! How and why pray tell did he come to protecting you again? That changeling seems to be nothing but a monster.” I heard Rarity ask Scootaloo in a nervous tone.
“Monster? Monster? A monster would have kept flying that pegasus into the ground. I think he just wanted to give him a scare, let em’ know not to mess with his friends?” Scootaloo retorted giving a shrug, she was wrong but i'll just pretend that's what I actually intended.
“We need to find him before somepony hurts him!” Fluttershy said making me want to hit my head against a wall. Of course Fluttershy would sympathize with a changeling who has shown only aggressive traits so far. Fluttershy did defend the spirit of chaos after all so it’s not that big of a surprise but really?
“B’fore somepony hurts him? Sugarcube ah’m pretty sure it’s gonna be the other way around” Applejack said seeming to be on the same page as me.
“Let’s just find that changeling before it escapes!” Twilight said then after getting a glare from each of us changed it to “Let's… Find Chainwing before somepony hurts him or he hurts somepony” Twilight said then gave a painfully forced smile.
Literally five minutes earlier.
Chainwing’s POV
"Hey! Leave Scootaloo alone!" Rainbow Dash shouted at the three but they didn't seem to hear her. I felt my body jolt up into the air as I saw one of them raise a hoof to hit Scootaloo!
Big mistake pal, big mistake! I Looked down and saw Rainbow Dash who seemed to have the same plans for those ponies if they hurt Scootaloo. The white substance that covered the ground would soon be either stained a bright blue from me, or a dark red. And it was more likely to be the dark red that stained the ground.
I saw the stallion about to strike Scootaloo and it felt like time screeched to a halt. I charged my horn up quick as I could and let forth a concentrated beam of magic straight into the stallion’s wing. Forcing him to fall to the ground for the moment.
I then leapt out of the tree and landed onto the ground. To demonstrate what they would be messing with I pulled the tree I had just came from right out of the ground, roots and everything. But I quickly dropped the tree out of the air as I saw one of the stallions kick Scootaloo down then fly off into the sky.
I wanted to blast him out of the air but a voice similar to the one in the nightmare began to call out; Flyy after him. A simple pegasus cannot outfly a changeling such as yourself. I cringed because the voice made me think everything would turn nightmarish again but I did so anyways. I zipped off into the sky so fast my body actually caught fire, green fire at that.
I passed Rainbow Dash who looked like she was about to do exactly what I was doing. Chase that pony! I was going extremely fast! Faster than I ever had before. The stallion turned his head and saw me coming after him. Rather than zig zag and possibly tire me out he just kept flying straight.
Allow me to energize you for the time being so you may keep up with minimal effort. The voice called out from inside my head. I felt a surge of energy rush through me as though I was being electrified. I felt myself smile as I chased the pony straight into a cloud.
I could see the pony but they couldn’t see me. This was perfect Call out your inner demons, let out a shout that will instinctively paralyze the pony with fear! The voice called out again. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. I heard the pony begin to shout in protest then I opened my eyes, the world around me became like the nightmare I had suffered through before. And by the way the pony was acting somehow he was seeing it too. The ground below me and the pony was a deformed form of the town we once stood in, each cottage was either burnt or on fire, dragons were circling the burnt version of Ponyville and picking off anything they could see.
Remember this is not real, embrace the darkness young changeling. Let out a mighty dragons roar! Scare your victim into submission! The voice called out, I did exactly as the voice instructed, and I charged at the pony and opened my razor sharp tooth filled mouth and roared the best I could. The pony fell backwards out of the sky and everything went normal again. I flew down and rammed myself into the pony and sped up his fall.
If this pony wanted to hurt a young pony- a filly or a colt- Scootaloo or anypony- I would break every bone in their body until their screams echoed throughout Tartarus! I snarled at the pony as we both fell from the sky.
“Please I am sorry! I will never go and hurt another pony again I promise!” The stallion called out, but I wasn’t buying it. The pony could just be lying to me to show mercy. I wasn’t going to give him a chance.
“I- I’m telling the truth! Please I don’t want to die!” The pony called out. Tears floated up into the sky. We were falling faster than gravity would seem to have liked. I decided I would listen to the pony and show mercy. That and I would probably die too if I went through with this plan.
“Fine… I will let you live. But if I catch you hurting ANYPONY again I won’t be so forgiving.” I said then kicked myself away from the pony while simultaneously kicking the pony into a lake which had a solid layer of something on top that he broke through. Strange, really strange.
I saw a vast number of ponies looking to me in the sky. I saw a small alley way I could probably teleport to if I tried hard enough. And nopony except Silver Skies and Chestnut know what I look like as a pony so I could pull this off and get away.
I charged my horn up and teleported successfully to where I was looking. Which at first surprised me to how I didn’t screw up the teleporting spell but, I won’t complain. I took my pony form and walked out of the alleyway. I felt myself just want to eternally scream as the two ponies who would recognize me were right in front of me. Just My Luck!
Silver Skies face lit up with joy, as I expected it would. And Chestnut, well, Chestnut was twice the size of Silver Skies now. I am not even going to try and understand how that works. I wasn’t prepared for Silver to leap at me knocking me to the ground. It was almost exactly how Rainbow knocked me up against the wall except Silver was pressing her muzzle right up against mine.
“Chainwing! Was that you who flew up after that pony then threw them into the lake! If so, bravo Chainwing bravo.” Silver said beginning to nuzzle her head against my neck. Why I don’t know, was this just some weird way of greeting ponies? I saw the six ponies from the battle and Scootaloo walking along the street.
“I can’t be seen by those ponies, if they ask what my name is you just say that it’s Dr. Hoof or something and say I am a mute so I can’t talk to them” I whispered and Silver got off of me and whispered back “okay but you owe me and Chestnut one, deal?” She replied making me genuinely afraid for what she had in store. But I imagined it to be better than whatever those ponies had in store. I nodded as the group of ponies got closer and closer.
The group passed us without a word. I let out a sigh of relief but turned and saw Silver Sky hovering in the air flapping her wings quick as she could. What was she planning? I wasn’t going to like this no matter what.
After the group of ponies left Chestnut spoke before Silver Sky could asking “Last time we saw you your face had shattered like a cracked egg, are you still hurt or do wounds not transfer onto your disguise.”
“I was apparently healed by Twilight Sparkle, she had me tied to a crystal chair thing and was asking me questions” I said and watched the two ponies’ expressions turn grim.
Why though, why did she attempt to heal me in the first place. Was it only so I may answer questions for her? What would she hope to get from me anyway? The location to the hive or something- I mused to myself but was cut off by Silver Sky shoving something down my throat, what the actual heck is wrong with this pony! Does she not know what personal space is? I began to cough violently, I had to clench my eyes shut from the pain each cough was causing me.
“What- wa- was- that?” I managed to spout out feeling as though I would eventually choke if this got worse.
“Just take deep breaths. Trust me” Silver Sky said with an almost somber tone, I struggled to open my eyes and saw both Chestnut and her back up and held scared expressions.
I did as Silver asked and took multiple deep long breaths and closed my eyes again. When I opened my eyes I was tied back down against the crystal throne thingy. I don’t think I would trust Silver Sky again after this.
My eyes adjusted to a purple light being shined in my eyes, I let out a moan in protest not having the strength to fight back or use my magic. Twilight Sparkle was shining the light of her horn into my eyes. For the alicorn’s credit I don’t believe she intended this, because the moment she did realize she was straining my eyes with her light, she pulled her head away.
“Look I just want you to answer some questions. They aren’t difficult, and the moment you are done you can go off to wherever you belong. Okay?” Twilight said giving a small sheepish grin, which I wanted to smash against the wall repeatedly.
“Chainwing she just needs to make sure you’re not going to try and kill anypony. Well a physical record saying you won’t. Because your word isn’t solid enough.” Scootaloo said walking into view. From her tone she wasn’t liking this anymore than I was.
“Fine… Let’s just get this over with.”
“Great, question one the most obvious one. Your name, Chainwing right?” Twilight said giving a grin, I noticed out of the corner of my eye Scootaloo’s cheeks turned a shade of pink. Embarrassment or shame, she told her friends about me didn't she.
“Yeah, next question already” I said feeling myself scowl.
“Alright, question two, why did you willingly injure that pony? If you hadn’t stopped when you did you may have killed him. And you have to be honest with me.”
“I… I attacked the pony because they were hurting Scootaloo, a filly, and a child in other words. Would you sit idly by and watch a child be harmed? Of any species? No you wouldn’t. Also at the time it seemed like Rainbow Dash was about to do the same thing I was soooo…” I spoke my gaze trailing away from the alicorn and saw Rainbow Dash standing in the background with a sly smirk as she chimed in “100% would have done the same, but probably much cooler” then went quiet again. The way she worded it in a way, made me almost proud that I nearly killed a pony. Whoa.
“I have a question for him” a quiet voice called out from behind me.
“What do changelings eat. With his fierce dagger like teeth I am scared that… They eat meat” The voice peeped in a scared shy tone.
Oh boy… How do I explain it to a pony… I thought to myself for a moment. “Well… I don't eat meat, or any other physical meals for that matter. Changelings feed off emotions like love and happiness for nourishment… If that's even the right word” I responded then heard the supposed same pony let out a sigh of relief.
Three Hours Later
Some time had passed and most of the group of ponies had left to get some sleep. Twilight Sparkle- or Princess Twilight Sparkle had stayed for who knows how long just asking me some of the most repetitive questions ever. But to her credit she was just as annoyed with them as me.
“And… Final question” Twilight started but paused for a moment to yawn then continued “would you like to live in Ponyville or any other city.”
“Yep…” I responded flatly feeling like I would collapse from exhaustion again.
“Great… Now we can sleep” the moment she said that I fell asleep immediately.
*** *** ***
When I woke up I was inside a wooden structure. I looked around and got up from a pile of hay, not a bed which I was expecting from ponies.
“Chainwing? What a relief to see your finally awake” the familiar voice of Silver Sky called out but the pony didn't look anything close to the backstabbing pegasus I knew.
The pegasus who stood before me had a silver coat and a long dark blue mane. Silver Sky had a light blue coat and silver mane, not like this.
“What? Oh, it's my colour palette right? I look completely different now don't I” Silver said with a sheepish grin, how long was I asleep?
“You look… Nice. Not that you didn't before don't get me wrong but now you look better” I said, wrong choice of words on my part. Or possibly the right words. A shade of red covered the area around the bridge of her muzzle and the tips of her ears.
“Really? Y-you think I look nice?” Silver Sky stuttered as her ears perked up. What was this… Red blushing? I thought when ponies blush it was pink. I thought to myself for a moment.
“Yeah. Also, where am I?” I asked looking around at the wooden walls. It honestly made it look like we were inside a tree.
“Well, since you're Ponyville's first official changeling resident, a group of ponies built you a house. They weren't told it was for a changeling. So in other words… Your home” Silver Sky said in a relaxed tone despite just saying that I was not only a resident of Ponyville, but also saying they built me a home and everything!
“And Princess Twilight Sparkle herself asked that I look after the house until you woke up. Also I'm so sorry about how I tricked you like that. I shouldn't have betrayed your trust. Will you ever find it in your heart to forgive me?” Silver Sky added with a smile.
“It's okay. I just want to know how you did- what you did and how long I was asleep. And how your colours changed. So many questions...”
“I fed you a Poison Joke, according to research if eaten by a changeling it would knock em out cold. You were asleep for nearly five days, and the poison joke I mentioned earlier switched my colours up but I sorta liked it” Silver Sky said somehow all in one go without taking a break for air.
Before I could respond the demented voice spoke again in my mind; You are in a house created by ponies just for you. A house is like a small nest for a limited number of creatures to live inside. This mare seems to have an… Interest in you. A word of warning, do not betray this pony the way she betrayed you. The voice finished sending a chill up my spine.
“Well, I… Better get going now. Hope to see you around sometime” Silver Sky said as she walked towards the exit. For some strange reason she stopped and turned to me with a sad expression.
“Chainwing, are we friends? I would like us to be… If we aren't already that is” Silver Sky said turning and hiding her expression away again.
“Um… Of course, just try not to do- that again!” I said as Silver Sky rushed at me and began to squeeze me, like a hug but much harder.
“Sorry” Silver replied quickly, but didn't let go. And it was at this moment I realized that I was still undisguised. A changeling obsessed pony is getting a chance to hug one, so I did the stupid thing and continued to let her squeeze me. For all I knew she was going to hug me for eternity.
I swear she just kept her grip on me for nearly an hour before she let go. Well that voice did say she had an interest in me. That may have been an understatement however. I thought to myself and almost like the strange voice could hear me it responded with; agreed. Keep one eye open while you sleep just in case she is there . The voice chided making me have to fight the urge to cringe.
I opened the door to the house for Silver Sky to leave while still undisguised like a fool. I wanted to bury myself away under a volcano the moment I saw a flash of rainbow light fling itself right into me knocking me against the back wall.
“You don’t move!” Rainbow said pressing her forelegs against my neck, Rainbow- Smash? why do I forget this pony’s last name so much! It felt like she was trying to crush my windpipe.
“Y-yes. How nice of you too drop in… WHAT DO YOU WANT!” I shouted kicking the pegasus away from me and somehow managed to send a bolt of electricity out from my horn and missed her by a hair.
“There is sorta a Timberwolf running around in the streets. Scootaloo said you fought off four of them, last I saw it was going after Fluttershy” Rainbow shouted then added in with a yelp “no need to fry me! I just wanted to know if you can help take it down.”
“A Timberwolf? Are those things actually considered a threat?” Silver chimed in with a smug expression across her face.
“Yes, well no. But the Timberwolf that is running around had… Stone parts instead of wooden. I actually don’t even think it qualifies as a Timberwolf. Maybe a stone hound?” The rainbow maned pegasus said all too relaxed. there was a wolf, made of stone, running around and may be a possible threat!
“Where is it?” I said feeling my lips begin to snarl back. Both ponies seemed to back up at the sight of my sharp teeth. But before Rainbow could respond a howl sounded off. It was close. A scream of a pony sounded. By the pitch of it possibly a filly or colt! I buzzed my wings and shot myself out of the house. My eyes darted around looking for a small stone wolf like create. But instead my gaze fell upon a massive rocky wolf. Its eyes made from a ruby color and its teeth from steel. This was really really bad!
Use your nightmare mode! Concentrate on your enemy and close your eyes. Open your eyes and call out those who have a weaker will than you and send them to attack the beast! The deep monotone voice said making me think that I was conducting Dark Magic. And I wasn’t being corrupted by it, yet.
I did as the voice instructed, closed my eyes and concentrated on the image of the massive stone beast. With my eyes closed I turned my head around and saw golden glowing beings of varying sizes. I opened my eyes and saw it was animals. Little tiny cute adorable animals. That yellow pegasus and a big bear trying to stay hidden under a bridge. I closed my eyes again and looked to the wolf's direction. A golden color surrounded the beast.
I wanted to understand what was going on but I didn’t have time to think. The wolf bit me right out of the air. I was inside the steel toothed mouth of a massive stone wolf! So this is how I die.
Command the wolf! Your willpower is stronger than its! Chainwing you can do it! The voice shouted but soon shifted to the voice of the dragon-pony thing I remember seeing from the hospital.
It is hard to describe what I did, but I used my mind somehow to control the massive stone wolf. I forced its mouth open and once I jumped out I lost concentration and it smashed one of its steel claws down on the bridge the animals had hid under. I shouted and let out a blast of magic that knocked it backwards.
I once again gained control over the wolf then instructed it to go back to wherever it came from. And it did. The wolf walked off into the distance without any signs of resistance.
I hovered back down and wanted to laugh at the expressions of Rainbow what's her name and Silver Sky. Their jaws hung open like they couldn’t believe what they were looking at. In all honesty they probably didn’t believe it. I sure as anything know I didn’t. I was expecting to wake up from this insanity filled dream, but it wasn’t a dream, it was real!
“Fluttershy!” Rainbow called out flying to the rubble that used to be the bridge.
The stone wolf had appeared to have crushed the group. But when I closed my eyes the golden figures still were there. I used my magic to move the rubble aside with ease and the pegasus named Fluttershy? Crawled out and her expression made me think she had her life flash before her eyes for a moment.
“Thank you..” Fluttershy squeaked then collapsed to her chest. The other animals soon followed and crawled out from the rubble.
“What exactly did you do? Blast a beam of magic down its gullet?” Rainbow questioned tilting her head slightly to her left.
“Uh… Yeah, that's exactly what I did” I responded making a forced smile.
“Well, that was a little anti climatic. I mean it ran off after like nothing” Rainbow said with a small smile. Yes because what I just did was totally something small hardly anything at all.
Silver Skies POV
I felt my heart rate triple as out of nowhere an apple tree fell right on top of Chainwing without any warning. Rainbow Dash jolted backwards but didn’t seem to be that concerned.
Applejack ran into view and her jaw dropped and said “where’d that massive stone Timberwolf go!?”
“Chainwing blasted a beam of magic down it's throat and it just walked off” Rainbow Dash said seemingly unphased by Chainwing getting crushed by a tree.
“Where is he now?” Applejack asked looking around.
“This tree crushed him!” I shouted flying to the tree and tried to pry it off.
“Big Mac you can stop! The wolf thingy is gone” Applejack shouted but I didn't pay attention. There was a life possibly on the line!
A shadow of a falling boulder or massive rock came into view and stopped on the tree Chainwing was under, I wanted to scream, I wanted to cry! I wanted to help Chainwing but if I did I would probably get hurt worse than he would get.
I flew away from the tree just before the boulder could crush me. Chainwing however, wasn't so fortunate. Come to think of it, he has had nothing but bad luck according to ponies claiming to have seen him.
The boulder split the uprooted tree right down the middle, and a painfully familiar liquid poured out from the cracks. Blue blood. Changeling blood...
A muffled sound came from the broken tree and boulder. I felt as though my heart would explode when the boulder and tree were in essence vaporized by a blinding blue flash of light. Chainwing let out a scream of pain as he flew off into the sky. I looked to the almost disintegrated rubble and saw a little spider, okay so I guess while near something a changeling fears they become stronger?
Chainwing was still alive and by the looks of it extremely mad. He dove back to the ground and pulled up last second sending a wave of wind and dust at all of us. After the dust cloud cleared I saw Chainwing had multiple cuts across his muzzle and forehead along with having a chunk taken out of his left hind leg. Chainwing let out a painful yelp as he fell to his chest. His normally cyan blue eyes flashed bright red for a moment. This wasn’t good.
“We need to get him to a hospital!” I shouted seeing that there was a piece of wood sticking out from his back. I really hope changelings are more durable than ponies are.
To Reader From: The Mastermind
Things could have worked out so much better. But I had to get the most unlucky changeling in existence. Now didn’t I… I need to set the plan back into motion! Wake up you insignificant maggot!
You dear reader. You are confused of who I am and what my intentions are for Chainwing? If everything goes according to plan then there will be peace across the dimensions! All petty fights, wars, and everything in between will be put to an end! If they don’t comply with the plan, then the most powerful weapon in the known world will force them to comply.
Darkness, fear, pain, suffering and immortality! Will end. Forever! But I need a being who can witness such horrors and survive.So I am testing the will of this pathetic excuse of a drone. Don’t cry or fret. His demise will be quick and painless, I promise ...
Chapter 6
Wrap Up Winter!
Chainwing’s POV
I had just been crushed beneath a large tree and a massive rock. I could feel my hide breaking slowly due to the pressure being put upon it. I thought this was how I would die. Why did I have to have the worst luck in the world, but the deep voice returned shouting in the back of my mind Wake up you insignificant maggot! then went quiet again.
Through the small cracks in the tree I could see Silver Sky, Applejack, and even Rainbow, each holding a expression similar to being scared half to death. Did they think I was dead? I felt my horn begin to burn like a torch as I saw an oh so familiar changeling fly overhead. Starburst! And another changeling soon followed her in the sky. Was I just hallucinating or was Starburst really here.
I forcefully made my horn charge up until it felt like I would die if I pushed it any further, then I blasted the ground. Next thing I knew I was blasted off into the air in a cloud of green fire! I didn’t have the strength to fly however, and I plummeted to the ground at an alarming rate right for the three ponies! I forced my wings to buzz as I pulled back and somehow miraculously landed on all fours perfectly.
After the dust cloud cleared I wanted to shout ‘Starburst! ’ But I couldn’t, I had exhausted all of my energy just trying to not ram into the three ponies. Last thing I remembered before I blacked out was Silver Sky having a look in her eyes like she would start to cry in a matter of seconds.
When I woke, after probably with my luck three days, she had pretty much the same expression except the tears were tears of joy. Silver Sky wrapped her forelegs around my neck and began to squeeze to the point it was getting increasingly more difficult to breathe
“How is he even alive? He has no pulse!” The voice of Rarity called out in alarm. Silver pulled back and looked to a heart-rate-tracking-thing and like Rarity said, no pulse was shown.
“Maybe because it's not actually connected to Chainwing.” A high pitched female sounding voice retorted pointing a white hoof to a wire with a patch on the end of it that was just laying on the bed I had been laying on.
Silver Sky now completely let go of my neck and flew backwards with a smile. Not saying a word however, just staying silent. Pretty much every single pony from the battle plus a few extra stood before me. I wanted to speak but I found something was stopping me from speaking as I saw a dragon standing by Rarity! A small purple scaled green spiked dragon was standing by the ponies and they didn’t seem to care! What in the what?
“Don’t worry Chainwing, your luck is bound to turn around now, right? I mean how many times do you get hurt badly like this just leaving your hive. It has to be the end of it by now” the pony I believed to be named Pinkie Pie said all too confidently.
“And what, makes you think that, and how do you-” I started but quickly clamped my mouth shut as Pinkie cut in “know about how you were kicked from your hive for an unknown reason?” Say, what now!? What? How? How does she know about that?
“Yeah, that. How do you know.” I started again but was cut off just as quickly by Pinkie saying “About that? Well half of it is because Twilight was sent a letter by a mysterious ‘pony ’ claiming to have known you for a long time.”
Twilight Sparkle stepped in possibly seeing how confused I was getting and said “they claimed that you possibly just exhausted yourself and you passed out. And as far as we can tell they were right. I hesitate to say it was a pony because of the name… But it isn’t outside the realm of possibility.”
“What was the name?” I said feeling like my heart would spontaneously combust if she said Starburst. “Star-Burst? With a scratched out ‘s’ in burst making it Star-Burt” Twilight said with a small snicker. Star-Burt. I couldn’t help but laugh at that for some odd reason. But Starburst had messaged the ponies telling them I was okay. Wow, just wow.
“I’m just glad you aren’t seriously hurt or something worse!” Silver Sky said with a small voice crack. By her expression she was fighting every urge she had to not hug me to death, but just stay quietly on the other side of the… Wherever we were in.
“I am perfectly fine- OH SWEET SON OF A WASP!” I shouted as the dragon belched out a puff of green fire and it turned into a scroll, you know! Logic.
The dragon caught the scroll and opened it. Was this a common occurrence or something? Just go walking down the street woops! I burped out a freaking scroll!
“Looks like another letter for you Twi” the dragon said passing the scroll to the alicorn. I watched Twilight's expression go grim looking over the scroll.
“Princess Celestia wants me to organize the Grand Equestria Pony Summit. Great...” Twilight Sparkle said giving an exasperated sigh. Hmph… She sounds like she isn’t going to enjoy this one bit, luckily for her, there's a changeling in the building. My consciousness said which was a welcomed change from the deep monotone voice of whatever or whoever was speaking to me before.
“Darling, but you do like organizing though right?” Rarity chimed as I spotted both her and a filly with a mixture of light purple and pink in her mane, and a white Fur coat standing by her side..
“Yes but it will probably take me all day and night to organize it before the summit!” Twilight almost growled with every word. Also the walls were the familiar crystally purple texture- thing. I was inside the purple alicorns castle… Again… Oh my favorite!
“Eh hem… If you don’t mind me cutting in,” I spoke but was cut off by Rainbow- whatever her last name was saying with an annoyed voice “like you care for sleep when it comes to your books and speeches” as the rainbow pegasus rolled her eyes after speaking. My eyes locked onto Silver Sky as she walked out of a large crystal doorway.
“I'll meet up with you later, I have somewhere I need to be.” Silver Sky said quickly as she left.
“Well the summit won't be for another three or four days, but it may take each of those days back to back in order to get everything organized!” Twilight exclaimed sounding generally worried.
“So you're goin’ t’be off in Canterlot organizing the summit, but what about winter wrap up?” Applejack questioned as I managed to push myself off the bed onto the back wall.
“Winter… What now? What's winter?” I asked probably seeming much more dumb then I wanted to be.
“I could probably help out as much as I can” I added after the ponies spent a few moments just looking to each other in silence.
“You didn't even know what winter was, how can you help with anything?” Rainbow said in a somewhat threatening voice.
“Well, how well can any of you help?” I spoke, feeling a sheepish grin begin to form across my face.
“What? Oh, we organize everything we can darling. I make nests for the birds, Pinkie Pie breaks the ice, Applejack helps clear the snow off the farmland. Rainbow Dash will fly south with a few other pegasi to guide the birds back to Equestria. And Fluttershy would have helped the animals wake up from hibernation but since she got hurt from that bridge collapsing she won't be able to” Rarity said with a frown, Fluttershy wasn't here. Oh no! How badly hurt was she! She didn't look hurt that bad. I thought to myself as I jumped out of the bed into the air.
“Is she alright?!” I shouted getting a surprised look from every pony I could see.
“Just getting rest at her home, she is perfectly fine” Rainbow Dash said with an oddly relieving tone.
“Wait Rarity, you didn't say what Twilight does to contribute” the little filly said to Rarity. I was confused to as why this little pony was even here. Maybe a friend of Rarity’s?
“Oh right Sweetie! Twilight will make sure everything is going on track” Rarity said clearly making a forced smile.
“Can’t the changeling do that for Twilight? You wouldn't mind right?” The filly asked me as I hovered in the air.
“Uh… Sure, if you give me your consent I could just turn into a copy of you. No pony will know the difference…” I said feeling myself grin.
Twilight Sparkles POV
“My consent? Well… Okay. You can change into me only for the winter wrap up! No longer, deal?” I said feeling rather surprised. I had thought Chainwing would just change without my consent and not care. He actually was asking if I would mind if he took my form. Surprised me he would actually consider this.
“Twilight… Are you actually worried about what Chainwing is going to do? I mean worst thing he would likely do and you said this yourself; 'The worst likely thing Chainwing would do is defend a defenseless pony and accidently hurt them in the process, he shows no aggressive behavior except when defending others ' so give him a chance.” Rainbow Dash said sounding a little bit too lenient on the idea of Chainwing being able to turn into anypony at anytime to do who knows what. Plus the fact that her favorite dream was apparently defending herself from an onslaught of changelings, so this was incredibly weird.
“Deal, but it probably won't work due to… The whole you're an alicorn thing, alicorns are much more difficult to change into apparently” Chainwing replied in the iconic echoing voice of a changeling. Chainwing’s horn glowed a bright bluish green as he took my form. It was like looking at a slightly confused mirror.
“This is so wrong on so many levels...” Chainwing muttered under his breath then coughed and spoke in my voice saying “this was completely easy! And now I'm a female… Great” Chainwing said in a sarcastic tone, he wasn’t enjoying it in the slightest I could just tell.
“Um… What's with the lack of a cutie mark?” Applejack asked.
Then I looked to the copy of myself and saw no cutie mark were one obviously should be. Chainwing seemed to notice the difference as well, maneuvering my/his feathered wings in a way it covered my/his flanks- Oh boy… Explaining this is going to get weird.
“Not a problem… Now… Remember those seemingly endless questions you asked me…” Chainwing spoke in his normal voice and I could feel my ears lower slowly with every word.
“Well… Tables have turned now didn’t they? I need to ask you a few questions just so I have a brief knowledge of how you would respond... This won’t take long” Chainwing said in my voice which was eerily creepy in a way.
“Of course some questions may get a little… Personal… If any of you would like to leave so you don’t hear you can go” Chainwing said mimicking my voice perfectly. Without another word everypony left the room and supposedly waited outside, Chainwing took his normal form and I realized he was physically bigger than me but only by a little.
A Long Boring Talk Later
Chainwing’s POV
The extent of my questions for Twilight was just asking her random questions and seeing how she responded. Luckily for me her facial expressions and the way she reacted wouldn’t be difficult to duplicate, I hoped at least… Knowing me I would screw it up.
“Okay… I should have all the knowledge I need” I said then took the form of the purple alicorn.
***
The next day I walked over to Twilight's castle. I found her running around like a madpony trying to find all the things she needed for Canterlot. Her hair was all frazzled and it looked like she didn’t get much sleep last night. Then again, I realized that I was still disguised like Twilight.
“Okay Chainwing- I have made a list of all the things you need to have done. Spiiiike! Have you found my other clipboard yet?”
“Got it!. It was in the basement. I don't know what all the fuss is about and why you would need another clipboard” said Spike as he was walking up to me to hand me the clipboard.
“Umm… What do you want me to do with it?”
“Oh, come on now Twilight, you had me search the entire castle to find this thing and now you don’t want it?”
“Spike, I’m over here. That’s Chainwing.”
“Gaaah! I can’t tell you two apart!” He said walking over to Twilight.
“Okay, here is the list. Just follow the directions and you can’t mess this up.”
I took the list from her and looked at it. It looked like some of the numbers were erased and renumbered. I looked up at her and her eye was twitching. “I think I can handle this.”
“Great! I will see you when I get back.”
“Have a good time!” I shouted as both Twilight and the dragon I assumed to be named spike, ran off to likely try and get to the summit on time.
Truth was looking the list over… I didn't know what half these things actually were. Like what is a snow plow anyway? What was snow? What was a plow? What was a nest? Other than that the list looked pretty manageable.
:List of things to do:
See if you could help Fluttershy with waking up the animals after their hibernation.
ensure that the snow doesn't melt too quickly before Fluttershy wakes the animals.
Help Rarity with making nests for the birds.
Make sure Pinkie Pie is scoring the ice properly.
Check on Applejack and see if she needs help with pushing any of the snow plows.
See if Rainbow Dash and the other weather ponies needs help with clearing away the clouds. (Likely won't need help but just in case)
Ask the mayor if there is anything else that needs to be done.
Good luck!
Okay… So all I apparently need to do is just ask if anypony needs help. This should be easy! Wait… Wasn't Fluttershy with a whole bunch of animals, and barely avoided getting crushed by the bridge? I mused to myself for a moment.
I went over to Fluttershy’s house to see how she was doing. Knocking on the door I asked: “Fluttershy, are you alright? May I come in?” I spoke in Twilight's voice. Just as I was about to give up, the door opened and standing there was a huge brown furred bear guarding the way. On the couch I could see Fluttershy. One hoof in a bandage, and the other in a sling.
“Oh, umm, you may come in” said she, hiding behind her mane. As I looked around the cottage I saw animals at every corner watching me half terrified for some reason.
“I see you have waking the animals taken care of...” I said looking to Fluttershy, her eyes hidden away behind her mane entirely.
“How badly did you get hurt?”
“I just sprained my right and left forelegs… I should be fine soon enough” Fluttershy whispered. It sounded like something I would have said to stop someone else from worrying too much about me if I had gotten hurt.
“Do you need me to wake up any of the animals? Who… Aren’t in this room at the moment” I said looking around seeing creatures of many different species all along each wall and corner. Again, each looking to me with a look that made me think they were scared.
“Why are the animals awake right now anyway? Weren’t they supposed to wake up later today?” I said in Twilight's voice, but I didn’t intentionally speak. I asked a question without asking a question. The voice of that dragon pony hybrid spoke in the back of my head Sorry… Couldn’t help but ask. Then went quiet again, I wasn’t even going to question it. For all I cared I had split personalities right now.
“That giant stone wolf woke them with its terrifying howl… Twilight, when could I meet that changeling hero who stood up against that monster?” Fluttershy said calmly. That sort of explained why the animals looked frightened, and why she was with animals when that wolf thing was prancing around town but... What was it she called me? Hero? How does staring down some wolf thing make me a hero? Don’t you have to die in battle to be classified as a hero? Or is the changeling way of identifying a hero completely different to pony’s classification of the word?
“I don’t know… Maybe once your sprained legs heal up, wait- what? All you got from a stone bridge crumbling on top of you… Was two sprained legs? How lucky must you be?” I said watching a smile form on Fluttershy’s face, I wanted to steer around the topic of the changeling hero as much as I could.
“Apparently, there was a small hole where the rubble fell on me, if not I would probably have to have been at the hospital.” Fluttershy responded making a warm smile. The voice of the dragon pony chimed sending an awkward thought through my head. Kinda cute ain't she? Just want to kiss that little face off. I had to admit Fluttershy was slightly adorable, but still, whoever this dragon pony was they--had an interest in other females? Say WHAAAAT!?
I was snapped out of my thought when Fluttershy's expression went somehow beyond joyful and saying “oh, good morning Discord, how nice of you to drop by.” That word… That name… To my limited knowledge Discord means Disharmony. A creature named Discord would be a spirit of pure chaos! Evil beyond compare and capable of anything! I turned my head slowly and came face to face with a weird creature I had only pictured in nightmares. A draconequus… Needless to say I was rendered completely speechless.
“Hello--Discord, what are you doing here?” I spoke again without physically speaking myself, and I wasn’t complaining because it would make me seem less suspicious.
“Oh just checking up on my bestest friend Fluttershy to see if she was okay” the draconequus said floating in the air as though gravity did not affect him. He then whooshed through the air beside the injured pegasus. No irrational behaviour Chainwing… Don’t want to anger such a superior being like him. The dragon pony spoke in my mind echoing my own thoughts.
“I saw two animals still somehow not awoken on my way here, think you could tend to that Twilight?” The draconequus spoke putting emphasis on Twilight's name. He knew I was a changeling. He could probably tell right off the bat I was a changeling, but he was just toying with me rather than just say Twilight here is a changeling in disguise but just playing along with it.
“Sure, I'll go do that. On a tight schedule after all. Well nice seeing you both” I rushed to speak. Once done I spread my wings and flew out of the cottage fast as I could.
Smooth… Real smooth the dragon ponies voice chimed in my head. I chose to ignore the voice and try and find the hibernating animals. I found them in a matter of seconds. I felt my entire body going stiff seeing what I had to wake. A spider--family--well guess neither me nor Twilight will be getting sleep in the next three days.
I timidly approached the sleeping spiders, every muscle in my body going tense the closer I got. I wanted to scream at the top of my lungs so badly. Four large spiders roughly the size of my hoof and two little tiny spiders each sleeping inside an extremely small cave sitting on a large silver cobweb. I managed to let out a small peep of terror which was enough to wake each of the abominations up from their sleep. I watched all the spiders eyes pop open. Each of their little pupils narrowing as they were focusing on me. I was completely immobile from fear. The spiders tilted each of their little heads in unison each looking to me.
I wanted to scream as one of the smaller spiders walked up to me ahead of the rest. It jumped up onto the bridge of my muzzle, looking like it was trying to make sure I wasn't a threat. The little spider was both terrifying and adorable.
Um… Chainwing, the list of things to do? You need to help Rarity right now I believe. The dragon ponies voice spoke up making me jolt away from the spiders. The little spider on my muzzle hopped off and went back with its family. One, how are you talking to me… Two, why, three, thanks… I thought back in my head as I spread my wings and flew upwards to find Rarity. It was weird not having to constantly flap my wings in order to fly, the ponies could seemingly fly with the most minimal of effort.
I had no idea where to find Rarity though… I did see Pinkie Pie though, I flew down onto the light blue surface which covered the lake to both find where Rarity was and to make sure Pinkie was scoring the lake properly- come to think of it, I didn't know what was proper and what was not. As soon as my hoofs touched the surface, my legs gave out and I went crashing down on my belly. Try as I might, I was unsuccessful. Every time I would get three of my hooves under me the fourth one would find another direction to propel itself in. “Aaarrrrgggghhhh! How do you stand on this stuff!”
Giggling, Pinkie approaches me. “Silly filly, you need to wear a set of skates in order to walk on the ice.”
“Oh, how silly of me” I said laying flat on the ice feeling both defeated and embarrassed.
“You have the ice scoring under control?” I asked going to stand again, inevitably falling back onto my chest.
“Yep” Pinkie replied reaching out a hoof blade tipped hoof to help me up. I carefully grabbed a part of her hoof that wasn’t covered in a sharp blade.
“Great, don’t suppose you know where RARITY IS!” I shouted slipping and falling onto my haunches, I was making Twilight look like a complete clutz.
Pinkie pie began laughing even more as she went to help me up again, this time I hadn’t been so careful. The edge of the blade skimmed across my right foreleg leaving a minor cut across it, nothing too bad, just a small cut barely even big enough for any blood to exit.
“Oh no! I am so sorry Twiligh- Chainwing? Oh yeah, Twilight had to go organize the summit.” Pinkie said tilting her head looking to the reflection in the ice, a reflection of me in my changeling form where Twilight's should have been. Of. Freaking. Course.
“Yes… It’s me, I want to make it look like Twilight is the one organizing the winter wrap up not some random changeling.” I whispered lightly managing to actually stand on the ice without slipping.
“Alrighty then” Pinkie Pie said shrugging slightly then beginning to skate off in another direction I had no idea what scoring was but it likely was making the ice into cubes so they could probably melt easier, was my guess anyway. And Pinkie was doing exactly that, somehow managing to get the ice perfectly into squares while also skating all over the place while not even denting the ice.
“Looks like you have everything under control, do you know where I could find Rarity so I could help with the bird nest--” I said slipping on the ice attempting to move and getting flung into the air falling onto my back. “Just go to Rarity's boutique, if she isn’t there then I have no idea where she could be” Pinkie said skating right past me.
I decided to fly into the air this time, forget slipping on this confounded ice again. “Thanks Pinkie” I said flying off through Ponyville. I hadn’t seen Silver Sky around in a while. It's like she went missing completely.
“Twilight, darling I would appreciate some help with these” the voice of Rarity called out from behind me on the ground as I passed an absolutely massive pretty looking building. I landed down and it was like Rarity could somehow see right past my disguise.
“Oh, it's you… Chainwing, I guess you will do.” Rarity said giving me a scowl. I looked to my left to where I landed right next to a window which had a reflection of me as a changeling in it. Of course it did were all reflections in ponyville made to just screw over changelings?
“Whats wrong with me.” I said purposely in my voice and not Twilight's returning the scowl back at Rarity.
“Oh nothing darling, I just have a few grudges against your kind due to Princess Cadences wedding getting crashed by Chrysalis and her mindless subjects. Sorry if I came off a little rude.” Rarity said giving a small smile. But that little sorry wouldn’t work because she just called all those who followed Queen Chrysalis
“It's fine” I said forcing a smile. I just wanted to get this over with.
“Good, now you can watch and see how I make the nest. Why do the others seem to be so willing to trust you?” Rarity asked catching me off guard.
“Changeling, the last anypony saw of the changelings was that failed invasion. Why are they just assuming you're not going to start another invasion and catch us all off guard!” Rarity shouted, sounding like she mixed my name up with changeling-Chainwing-changeling-hey I can't blame her. The little white coated filly from earlier walked up just out of her sight.
“Maybe it has something to do with how the changeling saved Scootaloo’s life” the filly chimed. I watched Rarity’s expression go flat as the filly spoke.
“That isn't a reason to forget entirely what his changeling counterparts did” Rarity said keeping her eyes locked on me.
“Just like there are good and bad ponies, there are good and bad changelings. He was kicked out of his hive for an unsaid reason. He has no reason to betray us ” I said in Twilight's voice wanting to not be seen as myself at the moment at least.
“Fair point…” Rarity muttered then turned to a pile of sticks on a nearby table. She walked over and I watched her turn the pile of twigs into a bowl looking object, with a bow on it. She did it with such grace and so effortlessly.
“One down, ninety nine to go” Rarity said with a sigh. I didn't think it looked that difficult, and only ninety nine to go? I was thinking the number would be higher than that.
“I would like to try” I said in Twilight’s voice.
“Me too Rarity. I want to help!”
“Why of course you can Sweetie Belle, use that pile of over there” Rarity said as the young filly trotted over to where she was pointing.
“Twilight, you know what happened last time. Although, I could use some more help. See if you can find me more ponies darling.” Rarity said seeming to forget, I actually didn't know, well not in very much detail. Rarity was working alone and couldn't meet the deadline in time was what Twilight told me earlier so… I would just need to either work constantly or find like twenty other ponies.
“Twilight, can you try and find the changeling, I bet he could get this done in a matter of minutes!” The little pony said with a smile. Why is the opinion of a changeling so badly split? Some have trust issues as they should! And most are completely fine, even to the point of praising something I didn't do anything to deserve that though!
“I can try” I said spreading my wings and flying off. I landed behind a cart of hay to think, I was tempted to jump into it and just sleep, but I would need to help--Or find twenty ponies--I may just do that.
I walked out from behind the cart of hay and nearly slipped on a patch of ice, I charged up my horn and blasted the ice until it melted to a puddle, enough slipping on this annoying ice! It may have been a little much but I didn’t really care, I was starting to hate ice.
I looked over and saw a unicorn levitating nearly forty objects in the air as they walked out of a store and idea sparked in my head. When Rarity made the bird nest she was using her magic, by the looks of it the same magic used to levitate multiple objects. Rarity could just get the nest building done by doing them all at once--or as many as she can. This would be the most efficient thing possible for me to do.
I walked out from behind the cart and flew off to Rarity again. I landed beside her and got an annoyed look “you didn’t get any help, or did nopony want to?” Rarity asked rolling her eyes.
“No, I just had an idea” I said with a smile “think you can show me how to make a nest?” I added feeling myself making a sly expression.
“Um… Okay…” Rarity said turning to the table with a massive pile of twigs on it. She levitated over a small amount of twigs from the pile and put it in front of me.
She levitated the twigs into the air then began twisting and turning each twig until eventually it came out looking like a makeshift-bowl. I did the same but instead of just making one nest, I levitated up a good portion of the pile and began twisting and turning in sync with the one nest in front of me and Rarity.
The little pony I assumed to be named Sweetie Belle was about to say something but I signaled for her to pipe down, I was kinda going for a rout that would impress Rarity a small bit, showing that I ain’t no mindless insect. When she was done, I had four more similar to her’s done at the same time.
“Not bad, but we still have ninetyfour to go.”
“Would you show me just one more time?” I said.
“Certainly.”
I picked up an even larger pile of twigs and ribbons and started to duplicate her actions again. It was extremely hard to duplicate so many and I think I was sweating with the effort. But when she was done I had nearly ten more very similar to hers.
“Wow! That's impressive” Sweetie Bell said in awe.
“We--I mean you, could have the nest building done in a matter of moments if you keep doing this!” Rarity exclaimed with a wide smile.
“You know what, all I am doing is just levitating more twigs and building it simultaneously , you try it. I promise it won't hurt.”
“If you insist” Rarity responded sounding unsure of her own abilities.
She picked up a larger bundle of twigs and ribbons and proceeded to make two at once. With my guidance, she did it with a bit of effort. Surprising at first that I was stronger than her when it comes to magic, but then I considered how a weak changeling would become stronger if the pony they disguise into was stronger than them, so I actually wasn't more powerful, Twilight was, and she was a princess so it is to be expected.
“I did it! It wasn't as impossible as I thought! Now that I look at it, it's not that bad, it's still fabulous though. Maybe I should try three at once.” Rarity said with a sly smirk.
She picked up a larger bundle and proceeded to work it. I picked up another bundle and continued with her mimicking her movements again. We worked this way until we had all the baskets done. Sweetie Belle was helping as well as she could making only one at a time. Rarity was also giving her pointers and doing what a ‘big sister’ should do, whatever that is. It looked so cute her holding her basket with her magic and weaving the twigs with her hooves. They weren’t that bad I thought, however from the whining and expressions on Rarity’s face, to her, they were horrid.
“Thanks Chainwing-” Rarity said but quickly stopped herself after getting a confused look from Sweetie Belle then corrected herself with “Thanks--Darling” Rarity said giving me the same smirk from before.
“You should probably be on your way to see if Applejack needs help with plowing the farms” Rarity said oblivious to how confused the little filly beside her must have been.
“Yeah, well, cya later Rarity” I said spreading my wings and heading off to Applejack's farm, well, I assumed it was Applejack’s since it had apples, everywhere around it, and yes, I know what an apple is, that red ball thing that grows on trees… And they eat them, for some reason- I dove down and landed behind the orange coated earth pony, accidentally startling her.
“Twilight! Don’t y’all go sneaking up on somepony like that!” Applejack shouted leaning her head back.
“Sorry, I swear I didn’t mean to, I was just flying by to see if you needed any help with--” I stopped, having a brain fart moment. “The snow plowing and planting seeds, and stuff…” I spouted out quickly.
“Y’all didn't do so well the last time ya took control of the plow remember?” I didn't really remember but I said yeah anyway and just nodded taking her word for it.
“Well is there anything I could do? I know! I could help plant the seeds!” I said looking for the contraption to plant the seeds with.
“Twilight, Ya can’t pull the plow, you know that. Big Mac has ta do it or somepony who be strong enough” Applejack said frowning and perking her ears to her sides.
“Oh… So you're saying I ain’t strong enough, is that it?” I said and for a moment I thought that she was saying it to me, and not me disguised as Twilight.
“Of course ya aren’t strong enough. Didja really think ya were strong enough?! Ya rely too much on yer magic, and ya s’pposed ta do it without magic. It’s the tradition.”
I felt my jaw drop “I am strong enough, I will pull the plow with ease” I said all too confidently. I did manage to throw a dragon before, and I assumed the dragon was heavy but I was filled with adrenaline so it may have seemed lighter than it really was. Well, I had heard that changelings were able to lift nearly four times their own weight, so I imagine that this would be easy.
Before she could say anything in response I hooked myself up to the plow and started to pull it. It was surprisingly no different than to what I imagined pulling a minecart to be like, except with this thing I didn’t know completely where I was supposed to take it.
It was so easy in fact I decided I would let it push itself, I ran pulling it along then unhooked myself letting the plow do the work.
“NO Twlight! Ya overshot the field!” the orange mare said placing her hoof to her face. The plow was heading straight for the Everfree Forest now, of course it would be heading there.
“Oh… Darnit!” I shouted flying after the plow, I felt myself freeze as two strangely familiar changelings became visible from the Everfree Forest and stopped the plow with their magic. As I flew closer to the pair they backed up and proceeded to back up into the Everfree, where they spies? No… I remembered briefly that Chrysalis made a rule that no changeling was to leave the hive unless banished… So… Were these two changelings also kicked out?
“D-don’t come any closer!” One of the changelings shouted in a male voice standing in front of the other, I was disguised as an alicorn so it makes sense they would be cautious and not want me near them.
“Look... I don’t want any trouble here” I stopped speaking then looked over to Applejack and several other earth ponies tending to the snow that needed to be plowed, they kinda seemed to be oblivious to how a plow ran off into the forest. “Don’t think anypony saw you yet, so you can still run off if you like” I said watching both changelings nod graciously as they ran off into the forest quickly. The other changeling was silent, but had distinct female features like the shape of her muzzle, the size of the forehead, and the general size. So there was a male and female changeling possibly planning to enter ponyville at some point, well it is bound to happen eventually.
“Thanks” I heard the faint voice of Starburst say as the two ran off, one of them was Starburst! I wanted to run after them but didn't hearing Applejack shout if I was alright. I was torn between going back and helping plow, or chasing after Starburst and that other drone. Starburst, plowing snow, Starburst, plowing snow… Starburst… Or plowing snow... I thought for possibly forty seconds before the voice of the dragon pony questioned in my head Who… Is… Starburst... And why are you giving this any thought… I decided I would just go for the plow, biting into it with my front jaw lifting it into the air like any changeling would if they were holding back the urge to say a curse word. I realized this would really make Applejacks jaw drop if I dropped the snow plow on the ground before her, carrying it in my mouth nonetheless, I literally would make Twilight Sparkle look like she has super-pony strength.
I walked up, blindly by the way, to Applejack and dropped the snow plow onto the ground, her expression was exactly as I imagined it to be. Jaw dropped and wide eyed.
“Twilight… Ya’ll are strong, but not that strong...” Applejack muttered slowly, her pupils was narrowed and iris was wide. I may have went a little overboard.
“Whoops!” I said sheepishly letting the plow fall on its side then proceeded to fly in the direction Starburst ran off in.
I felt myself cringe realizing I wouldn’t be able to find them. Due to them running off and possibly trying to hide, and it would be extremely suspicious if they saw me looking through the Everfree. I would have to remember that Starburst and another changeling are nearby and possibly watching… They are watching you, and I have doubts these ponies would care much if you shape shift, so there is no reason to be acting like this. The voice of the dragon pony chimed as I felt a wide smile creep across my face ear to ear. Hmm. There was no reason to be disguised unless to make Twilight's image better. No more holding back!
I spun around until I faced the snow covered field. I saw a gush of wind blow some of the snow into the air. It was just white cold dust. An idea formed in my head that would draw out Starburst and make Applejack or any other pony who sees it jaws drop.
I dived down beside Applejack and undisguised myself. It was starting to seem like Applejacks jaw had broke from being so widely open.
“Chainwing-”
“Yep, look, I have an idea to get rid of all this snow. You just need to get everypony as far away as they can get.” I chimed not allowing Applejack to finish. She nodded looking like she didn’t know how to respond. Then shouted out for the ponies pulling the plows to get out of the way If this worked I would possibly seem like an all out mastermind! No… Just don’t ever associate yourself with being Mastermind, that would be weird on so many levels for me… Hey what is this idea of yours? For some reason I can’t access it. The voice of the dragon pony said followed by an electrifying feeling in the back of my head and all along my spine.
If you can even hear this, I am planning to fly extremely fast near the snow in a circle until it gets swept up into the air. Then I continually make the snow spin in the air at an insane speed in the shape of a tube.. Then I make my horn spark, lighting myself on fire. Melting the snow turning it into boiling hot water pellets and getting sprayed all across the field. Melting a good portion of the snow away and completing this task. And possibly luring Starburst in to see what in the world caused this event. A win win in my book. I thought hoping the dragon pony would be able to hear it. I got multiple confused looks as I just stood idly to think all of this to the dragon pony I didn’t even know the name of.
“Okay, everypony is off the field, what are you planning-” Applejack said and I flew off to complete my plan.
I flew around a large area of snow quickly, more and more of the snow was getting flung into the air with every spin, I had no idea if what I was doing was actually affecting anything but I still pushed on. I had to close my eyes at some point because the snow was starting to blind me, the only reason I kept going with the plan was because I heard Starbursts beautiful voice shout out “Is that Chainwing in there!?!? Don’t stop now!” And I felt a surge of adrenaline shoot through my entire body. She was watching and wanted me to keep going. If I stopped now then I would be a weakling, no going back!
At a certain point I made my horn spark but found it wasn't catching a-blaze. I made my horn again spark a little more and nothing, I tried a third time with a bit more effort and nothing. I at first thought my plan was failing, but it was just, a major delayed, reaction…
My horn came a-blaze brighter than it ever had before. I felt my insides start to heat up, a little similar to the aftermath of the battle! My entire body was engulfed in a blinding green bluish light. I hoped this was actually working and I hadn’t just set myself on fire for no reason.
No Point Of View
Chainwing’s stunt had turned into a massive burning cylinder of bright green blue tinted light. Ponies had backed up due to the flame and boiling hot water that was shot out from this cylinder of fire.
The little ignorant fool’s plan had been working almost according to plan, except he hadn’t anticipated for his burning sprinkler to turn into an all out flaming tornado. Sucking up a few snow plows that had been nearby and getting burn’t to nothing but ash, instantly. The temperature of Chainwing himself at this point was reaching dangerously close to the temperature of magma. Yes, burning hot magma, how is he not a puddle of changeling goop? No seriously, how is he not goop? You going to answer writer? No? Okie dokie then… Not going to tell your bodiless voice whats going on? I get it, I am just a voice you called in last minute to say this part aren’t I?! Okay back to the story...
Starburst and the changeling named Copper, watched the flaming tornado and fled the scene, not to abandon Chainwing or the ponies who would need saving, but to save their hides due to them, not being very fireproof, they hadn’t even given the thought of trying to help.
Rainbow Dash seeing this disaster happening instructed a group of other pegasi including herself to push a group of storm clouds over the flaming tornado, but the clouds got sucked in the minute they came into contact.
“What in the world happened?” Rainbow asked flapping her wings.
“Chainwing came along disguised as Twilight, insisting on helpin’ out. Apparently the feller is extremely strong, able to lift a snow plow in his mouth.” Applejack responded cringing slightly. The tornado of fire was staying in one singular spot, luckily because most buildings in ponyville are made of wood and hay.
Eventually after a few minutes of Applejack and Rainbow Dash trying to figure out how to stop Chainwing. The apparently fireproof changeling got flung out of the flaming tornado and hit a building beside the pair of ponies, with enough force to crack away at his hide, leaving a cracked fracture mark on his left eye as the changeling slid down the wall slowly, leaving a trail of blue blood along the wall.
Both ponies had an expression of concern but were relieved as the fire tornado slowly dissipated into nothing but burning ashes in the air. There had been a large metal piece of plow stuck in what had appeared to be Chainwing’s left foreleg, but upon closer inspection it was going through one of his natural holes due to Chainwing being similar to burnt swiss cheese and full of holes. Chainwing had avoided being skewered against the barn’s outside wall.
“Are ya stupid or somethin Chainwing-” Applejack started but quickly stopped seeing the damage done to Chainwing, she realized he probably didn’t intend to cause so much harm, let alone any. He simply made a poor decision and he would be scarred because of it.
“Is… It going to be alright?” An earth pony stallion questioned walking timidly towards them, Chainwing’s hide had become a darker color due to being burnt to a crisp. Looking similar to a changeling, while also now looking different from the rest, well even more than he already did.
“We need to unpin him from the barn” Rainbow Dash said tugging at the piece of metal. Chainwing’s eyes slowly opened then began to cough violently.
Chainwings POV
It felt like I was dead, the amount of pain pulsing through my entire body was unbearable. My plan failed, I was a weak insect pinned to the wall…
I could feel my hide almost boiling. Was I alive or just dead, getting some glimpse of the world after I died before I entered the depths of Tartarus or heaven's gates.
The world faded away into a pitch black darkness, I felt the urge to cry, I was actually dead now wasn’t I. I was killed by my stupid plan!
I looked around and saw nothing. Everything and everyone was gone. The air was cold and refreshing in a way, like a light in the darkness I heard the voice of the alicorn I remembered from before saying “Who are you?” The voice asked.
“Ch… Chainwing…” I managed to say softly.
“Tell me, why did you create that fiery tornado back on Applejacks farm” the voice demanded a truthful response, a lie may get me eaten or something terrible.
“To get rid of the snow quickly, but I didn't intend it to turn into a flaming tornado I swear, I just wanted to help. I never wanted to hurt anypony.”
“Is that true…”
“Yes of course, why would I want to hurt ponies who did nothing wrong to me? I mean the ones who didn’t do something terrible like kick a filly or something else entirely. But you get what I mean right?”
There was no response… I looked up and saw white dots across the sky, similar to how the sky looked on the train to Ponyville. It was much better than just looking to the darkness. After a while of silence and looking to these strange things, I noticed that together some of them formed poorly made pictures. I looked down and saw nothing either, it was just the sky and or roof of this place that had something to look at.
“Miraculously enough, nopony was hurt. The only thing that occurred was the snow and clouds nearby getting disintegrated. So I guess you're lucky to even still be alive.” The voice said after a long moment of silence. Then once the voice finished Applejacks farm formed around me, including the piece of metal that had been lodged against the barn’s wall only barely avoiding crushing my left foreleg.
My vision had been blurred and there was a loud ringing sound in my ears, I could barely make out the figure of Rainbow Dash pulling at the piece of metal trying to probably unpin me from the wall. Wouldn’t want a “dead” changeling rotting against the barn causing a foul smell now would they...
I began to cough violently. My vision cleared after I heard Rainbow dash pull the metal scrap out. I could feel my stomach begin to twist and turn as the shadows of several birds flew overhead. A female pegasus with a light grey coat and yellow mane flying with them, something inside was telling me that there was something bad going on. Well, aside from the whole burning tornado event, but at least no pony was harmed by it.
The pegasus flew into what looked to be the town's central area. Everypony ran away from me and to the pegasus, yes, because the changeling who was just literally on fire is less important than a random pegasus flying with a few birds… That's just how it's gonna be ain’t it!
Once I managed to stand up I decided to see what was going on in the town square that was so important to abandon me, not to say I was that important but I was just on fire!
I walked towards where the pegasi had landed, only to see a large crowd in the way, but upon one glance of me they moved to the side, creating a pathway, wait why?
After walking in between the ponies the ringing sound went away and I heard multiple ponies sounding afraid, others crying… What was going on! I thought looking around.
“I'm sorry!” I heard a female pony shout, I walked closer until she was in my view. It was the pegasus I saw flying overhead, she had tears streaming down her face. And had an eye looking to me and another to Rainbow Dash. I was unsure who she was actually looking to, or if she was looking at both of us.
“Sorry for what?” I asked and every pony turned to me in an instant. I looked behind me and the ponies went back into place blocking my way out.
“D-dragon's captured a pony named Silver Sky and most of the birds along with her” the pony said sounding scared for her life. Why would dragon's capture a pony and a bunch of… Birds… Dragon's… Eat meat… They are going to eat them! Also they captured a friend of mine!
“Two changelings, a-almost l-like you. flew in and tried to help but only got caught too. Well one of them flew off but they are probably going to get caught now soon” the pony stuttered.
“More changelings?” I heard Rarity say with a scoff somewhere in the crowd.
Upon realization that it may have been Starburst, in mortal danger, I had to clench my jaw shut to not shout. Going in blindly and attacking would be a major risk to their safety… I would need to try and make a plan, that wouldn’t end in me nearly dead.
“We need to go save them before them dragons get hungry and decide to…” Applejack started but soon stopped looking to a group of fillies.
“Where is Twilight? She could easily make a plan to stop those dragons!” Rainbow Dash shouted out, but word likely wouldn’t reach her until it's too late.
“How about we all work together, and think up a plan that couldn't possibly fail?” I suggested walking closer to the pegasus and watched her face scrunch up more and more the closer I got.
“Sure, what can possibly go wrong… Aside from everything” I heard somepony behind me whisper.
“Well, where do we start?” I heard a pony say walking up to me, her coat was grey and mane was black and had purple eyes. Also she wore a little pink bow on her neck attached to a collar that looked like it belonged on a fancy suit some ponies wear.
“Um… I don't kn-” I started but stopped seeing a white coated unicorn push a monster of a machine! Two massive boxes on either sides with a whole bunch of buttons and black plates on the center box, it looked like it shot out laser beams! Or something equally as powerful.
“We should come up with a strategy… Involving that awesome thing somehow” I said quickly.
I came to the realization the ponies couldn't lose! Even if we used the most stupid plan or idea they would win, because they have strength in small numbers! Thinking back to the battle, a group of six ponies took on fifty changelings! Even if ten ponies go to fight the dragons the ponies would win.
“How about we start with a stealth mission, then the moment we get the birds, changelings, and any ponies inside the dragon's nest out we hit the dragons with Vinyl's bass cannon” the pony with the crossed eyes said with a smile. Bass cannon? So it shoots music or is it just some cool nickname?
“Or we can just go all out and attack them right now” Rainbow Dash said sounding impatient.
“Or we can just be stealthy the entire time” Pinkie Pie said seemingly to have teleported by my side.
“How about we go stealthy until they find us. The moment they see us we go full on attack, we can have anypony willing to fight on the sidelines waiting for the first dragon to shout hey there's the ponies, then um… Vinyl right? You can come in on that massive thing and blast the dragons in the faces.” I said turning to the white coated female unicorn with a blue mane and wearing light purple glasses. She nodded with a grin not saying a word. I knew these ponies would win no matter what though, so any plan would work.
Message From Razor To The Reader: hello, that dragon pony who has been helpin' Chain out - he doesn't know my name... Of... Course... not exactly sure how Chains idea going to work, it's not exactly like they are fireproof, but, neither was he… Next time I see him I got to conduct some tests on him to see what is so different about him.
I would be concerned about him wanting to fight dragons, but I saw him take on three dragons all at once. He will probably be fine.
