The Existentialist

I suppose it could be good to talk about the changeling invasion now. It would begin to explain why many of us began to worry about Thomas.

I remember the events that led up to the incident with Thomas. My friends and I were all having a picnic with him at the park. Applejack was talking to Thomas about the extra space she had lent him to grow a large quantity of corn. Twilight joined in their conversation when she became curious, I'm sure, about what Thomas needed so much corn for.

“I’m trying to make ethanol. Using the process of fermentation and a still I can create an alcoholic substance which I might be able to use as a fuel substitute for my truck.” Thomas always seemed to have a plan for everything.

Twilight was always keen on learning these new concepts that came from Thomas. “I see, but wouldn’t that be a more corrosive substance than the gasoline you mentioned?”

“I’ve already thought of that,” it was a wonder that Thomas was always one step ahead, “I know what parts would have to be replaced to handle the corrosion. And besides, this ethanol idea is just a temporary solution until I find a better long term plan.” Twilight and Thomas continued on about this for a while. The conversation eventually brought up using magic to create a substitute for the fuel that Thomas’ truck needed to work. I remember hearing the buzzing sound just as Thomas waved his hand to halt the conversation. “Sh!” I heard it. Then Applejack heard it. “Do you hear that?” Applejack and I both nodded to him, but Twilight didn’t quite hear it yet.

“Hear what?” Twilight tilted her ear up to listen better. It was only seconds later that we saw the changelings flying towards us in the distance.

I'll skip over us rushing back to Twilight’s castle, trying to defeat Chrysalis, and how we were ultimately trapped inside those awful cocoon pods. I'll skip to the important part.

“And now that I have this lovely new castle under my control, I can do anything I want!” Chrysalis cackled her evil laugh as before when she tried to take over Canterlot. “But first, I've heard rumor that you've found a new toy. What was it my spies said you called it? Ah yes, a human, where is it?” We had kept Thomas hidden away so that he wouldn't have to get into this trouble.

“We won't tell you anything, Chrysalis! You might as well forget about it!” Twilight spoke resolutely. I'm sure she would have been tight lipped if Chrysalis ever tried to interrogate her.

“Yeah! Leave Thomas alone!” Then there was Rainbow Dash. We all stared at her in anger. “Oh, heh, oops.”

“Thomas?” Chrysalis laughed. “Who is this Thomas? Is that the name of this human you seem so eager to protect?”

Just then, I saw Thomas walking straight up to Chrysalis. “They don't need to protect me.” He walked, without hesitation, and stopped right in front of her. She just stared at him. Chrysalis was clearly puzzled by his appearance, as we all were once.

“My, my, you are a strange little thing,” she stopped and sniffed at the air, “Testosterone. You're a male.”

“Oh, that smell was me,” Thomas chuckled a bit, “I thought it was you.”

To put it simply, Chrysalis was not amused by that statement. “Excuse me?!” Chrysalis lit up her horn with magic and got ready to aim at Thomas. “Why, you little-”

“Don't you hurt him!” It was to our surprise that Fluttershy had cried out the loudest.

“What is this?” Chrysalis looked to Fluttershy. “You cherish this being?” Chrysalis lit a bit of her magic which floated up to Fluttershy as a mist. “No!” Chrysalis’ lips curled into an evil grin. “You fancy him. I guess that's what happens when you spend too much time with animals and that freak, Discord. You start getting infatuated with hairless apes that walk on two legs.” I remember hearing Fluttershy cry next to me.

I looked down at Thomas and saw his face stiffen. His fingers were clenched tight into a fist. “Nevermind her. What about you? Changeling. Do you know what that means where I come from? It's a fairy child that was switched at birth with a real child.”

“I'm not a Changeling,” Chrysalis barked, “I am their queen!”

“A queen? Really? Oh, I've always wanted to meet a queen!” Thomas’ expression turned to that of a giddy school filly. “Oh, wow! I am really turned on right now!”

No comment.

I had never seen a changeling blush, but Chrysalis proved they could as she held her hoof to her chest. “Well, you flatter me.”

“Yes, now, I was wondering,” Thomas smiled what I can only describe as a sad smile, “shall we play a game?”

The word game triggered something in Chrysalis. “A game? I find myself intrigued. What kind of game?”

“A most excellent game,” Thomas ventured closer to Chrysalis, “I've seen that you can read minds, so, read mine. I'll think of a figure or character, and you have to try your best to become that character.”

“This sounds like child's play.” Chrysalis scoffed at the idea of Thomas’ game.

“But you've never turned into anything from my world. I believe it would be quite the challenge.” Thomas stood stoic.

“Okay then,” Chrysalis gave a hearty laugh, “prepare your first image.” Thomas closed his eyes and nodded to signal he was ready. With a flash of green fire, Chrysalis took the form of another human, but it was different, and less clothed than Thomas. “This is what a female looks like in your world?”

“It's a specific female. Carrie Fisher. Star Wars episode six.” Thomas started to laugh.

“I think I rather like this body.” Chrysalis began running her new hands around the curves of her body. “It's so sensual! And, what do you call this? No wait. A bikini!”

“How about something a little more challenging.” Thomas covered his eyes. It seemed as if he didn't like seeing this image that Chrysalis was currently in.

“Fine.” Chrysalis burst into another green burst of fire. “My voice feels deeper.” She had turned into a male. Unlike Thomas, this male figure had darker skin, shorter hair, and wore glasses. “In your mind, I see his name. Malcolm X? Who is he?”

“A man from before my time,” Thomas clicked his tongue, “say, you're pretty good at this! I bet you can't do this next one.”

Chrysalis laughed. “You dare challenge my abilities?! We'll see about that!” With a quicker flash of green fire, a scream awoke many of us. “What is this!?” The new form Chrysalis had taken was very similar to Thomas, but blood was dripping from its nose and head. Then I saw the eyes. I was shocked.

“This is me.” Thomas said it so nonchalantly. “It's me in my adolescence.”

“The pain,” Chrysalis wept, “how do you do this to me.”

Thomas scratched his chin. “That's the bad side to telepathic connections. They're like revolving doors. People can leave while others come in. Now, take a look at this.”

Chrysalis seized in pain as she let out a scream from the image of the younger Thomas. “These words! These ideas!” The body began to spastic and shake violently. I felt so afraid as I watched Thomas silently cry at the image of himself like this. Chrysalis stopped. She looked up to Thomas with his own face. A single drop of blood was visible in the corner of her eye. “How do you bare it? How can you live, knowing that?” Chrysalis snapped back to her true self.

Thomas knelt down besides Chrysalis. “A man once said, We are such stuff as dreams are made on, and our little life, is rounded with a sleep.” Thomas rested his hand on her side. “I’m sorry. I had to stop you.”

Chrysalis lit up her horn. Only a small mist left as she read Thomas’ mind. “I understand. We know what we are, but know not what we may be.” Chrysalis laid her head down with a shaky breath. Thomas fled from her side and stood silently, not far away. He looked up to us and grabbed at his own hair as he cried.

Soon changelings began to tumble in from random points and circled around Thomas and Chrysalis. “What do we do now?” They all seemed confused. “We have no leader!” One walked up to Thomas and asked, “Who am I?”

Thomas wiped his eyes without thought and faced the changeling. “I can name you if you want. But, is there something you like that I should know about?”

The changeling looked around at it's brothers and sisters who watched so closely. “I like flowers.”

Thomas stood there, and then, a smile lit up his face. “How do you like the name Daisy?” Thomas touched one of his fingers to the changeling’s horn. A spark and a flash consumed the changeling, and there, standing in its place was a white pegasus mare with a blonde mane and golden eyes.

“It's a nice name,” the transformed changeling smiled, “but who is this?”

Thomas scratched his chin. “You are whoever you want to be.”

Daisy looked at all the other changelings. “But, now I'm alone.”

Then, another changeling walked up to them. “Can I join you?”

Thomas gave a knowing smile to this new changeling. “Green Light.” The changeling nodded with a smile. “Here you go.” Thomas touched his finger to Green Light’s horn. A green flash transformed Green Light into a light tan unicorn with a brown mane and green eyes.

Green Light turned to Daisy. “There. Now neither of us are alone.”

“Take care.” Thomas smiled as the two walked away to leave the Castle, together.

We all watched as many of the remaining changelings approached Thomas. I would say a third left his presence. Chrysalis watched as the remaining changelings took the new names and forms that Thomas bestowed upon them. Chrysalis didn't move or protest against Thomas' actions. “It's the end,” that's all she spoke.

After the last of the changelings departed, Thomas soon found a way to release us from our cocoons. I was surprised when my cocoon split open suddenly, but before I fell and hit the ground, Thomas caught me. While Twilight began to discuss with the others about what to do with Chrysalis I walked behind Fluttershy who held her head low as she approached Thomas.

“I know,” Thomas sighed, “Chrysalis will say anything to manipulate people. I think it's safe to say I got her back for lying about how you feel about me.”

Poor Fluttershy gasped. “But, she wasn't lying.”

Thomas froze. “Oh.” I had never seen him trembling like this before. “I'm sorry.” I thought that was fear that I saw on his face, but I was wrong. It was disappointment. Without anything else said, Thomas bowed his head and walked away. Fluttershy was about to go after him, but I caught her by the shoulder.

Fluttershy began to shake. “Thomas?” I held onto Fluttershy as she cried. “Thomas, please.”

Thomas kept walking. He yanked at his hair and kept walking.

Some time passed before Chrysalis was transported to a holding cell inside Twilight’s castle. The other princesses had been notified about Chrysalis’ capture. There were long hours of silence that passed. Finally, Pinkie Pie came prancing up to me with a forced smile. “You doing okay, Rarity? How are you feeling?”

It was the first time anyone asked me how I felt about the whole situation. “I feel fine.” That was all I could say. To my own surprise, I felt no such thing as anger towards Thomas. He had put on a show, a ruse to trick Chrysalis. He practically stopped the changeling invasion. He turned changelings around and gave them a new identity. I heard it myself! They claimed no more purpose in serving Chrysalis. Perhaps they've turned good. But, all this great action ended with Fluttershy’s broken heart. To judge Thomas after all he had just done, it didn't seem fair. We couldn't pressure him into returning poor Fluttershy's feelings. It's his choice, and to force it, that wouldn't be fair. It hurt me, because I didn't want either of them to be hurt, but this was what happened. I didn't have a solution to this problem. There was no immediate solution to this problem, it wasn't fair.

I guessed then that I would just have to see what happened next.