Author's Note

Ok there is an awkward singing sequence in this, feel free to sing along with your own version of the song or simply gloss over it, its rough and shaky as the original was completely obliterated stupid fricken computer *ehem* anyways sorry for the late chapter but here ya go ;3

~3~ The Changelings Decision

The thunder seemed like it was hitting even harder, the winds grew more harsh as I stood inert and unblinking as the two forms before remained... Unmoving and they only grew more cold with every second that drew past, all I could do was hold my breath, just hoping something would change and that this was all just a trick. I tried nudging them, but they remained motionless as I felt my heart grow heavier with every second as a sickening feeling enter my system. What Have I done! I wish I knew better, I wish I had stopped, I wish I had only fed a little, I didn't know this could happen, how can something like this happen.

"M-Mom?" I call out, looking to my side "Dad?"

I tried nudging them, but they were silent, they were just heavy sleepers, I mean there is no way that they could be... That they-

"Mom! Dad!" I Screamed out, I shook them more vigorously this time

Why won't they wake up, why did this happen to them, why can't I feel their love anymore?! I closed my eyes as I summoned some of my own magic, hoping to feel mother's own spark of magic, to show that she was still with me and that she would just wake up so that we could try to wake up father as well. Please, Please just wake up, Please, Please!

"Why won't you wake up!!!" I cried as I felt tears develop before me.

"It is because you took all the love they had to give" A calm voice spoke from behind me

Jumping I spun around, only to see my regal Queen before me, bowing down before her in an instant I looked up at her questionably.

"Wa-what do you mean? Do they no long have love? But they had so much love before, it was more than enough to feed a normal changeling, if anything a few changelings all at once" I asked, frightened and a bit horrified.

"But you child are no normal Changeling" She then steps aside, gesturing for me to follow her.

I look back at the ponies who I had once called my mother and father but they only laid there, silent and unmoving, it was unnerving.

"I'm not?" I ask as I slowly made my way towards her.

"I will explain more when we reach home, are you ready?" She asks me with a small hint of a smile

It felt... Wrong, so wrong just to leave them there, Looking back at them I wince before sighing as I looked away.

"Do not fret my child, they have passed on peacefully and with their passing no pony can link it back to our drove" She places a hoof to my shoulder, making me look up to her "It will be alright little one"

I gulped before taking a step back "C-can I pack up a few things, it's not a lot... Just small items" I ask her

She looks at me for a moment before nodding "It is understandable to want to hold onto something to remember them by" She then lowers her head so that her eyes leveled with my own "But remember, these are not your things, they belong to the filly you portray yourself to be, this life, is no longer your own"

I looked deeply into her eyes and I had a deeper understanding with this before nodding to this.

"I know... It's just..." I tried to find the words to say to her "I just want something to remember them by... You know? I- I didn't mean to do... that... And, I never want to forget them, because of what I had done"

She peers at me for the longest of moments before nodding as she stood straight.

"Very well, I shall await for you down below, you may take your time to bid your farewells" she states before making her way down the stairs

I watched her for a moment before I slowly began to move down the hallway, heading to my own bedroom... I'm sorry, I am so sorry...

Home, it had been years since I stepped hoof into this place, it was still swarming with my kin as they even seemed more excited to see me. Our Queen approaches the grand throne with her head held high as I could feel pride and joy emanating from her, it was a different aura coming from her as she usually wore disinterest and disdain with a hint of worry in her being. I gulped as I walked a little closer to Chrysalis as all their eyes were on me, she made nothing of it as she kept moving as she even had a smirk on her face.

The hive was buzzing madly around us as we stepped into the throne room, the hum was nearly deafening and I couldn't really translate what they said in the excitement, the thing I got out of it, was that I have returned. Concentrating harder I was going to listen to what they had to say, to know just what I was heading into as Chrysalis had decided to wait to address her horde before telling me anything. I stared back in bewilderment as I heard their humm.

'She is to be the Next' one hisses

'Our Savior is here at last'

'Finally our new-'

"Silence my Children" Our Queen spoke softly and clearly

Instantly the whole room had died of any sound as we neared the throne, I stopped at the foot of the throne but I felt her wing grace my side, edging me closer to the throne until we were standing side by side, no one gone this close to the throne unless the Queen bid it so, and to be up here, it was amazing to see all the eyes peering down at us, I looked all around the throne room as all of our kin was silent, even the hum was dull and their wings were silent at their side.

"For thousands of years I have stood alone on this throne, looking out for our own, A lesson that was taught to me by the very likes of those Pony Sisters"

With the mention of the Royal Pony sisters the whole crowd hissed at their very memory

"It was because of Celestia that we had lost our Leaders before, both King and Queen befell from their betrayal, all because of what we are," She then softened as she looks back at me, smiling "But now, after countless years, we have the next cometh, in time she will rise and be the next Queen of the Changelings, My daughter Heartstrings" She declares

All around us there were cheers, each changeling were stomping their hooves and a new hum began, something I have never felt before, this hum was full of hope, of happiness and joy, for once the hive had hope.

"Daughter? Queen- This is all-" I couldn't find the words to speak as I look up at her for answers.

"You may not be that of my blood but in you holds what it takes to be the next Queen my little changeling, something I had long thought to be extinguished, you are capable of holding more love than any other changeling before you, making it so that you can hold so much more power” I could see her flash brighter mentioning that power “to make you strong enough to protect and fight for your Changelings" She says so royally and definitely

I took a step back "I, I am... Honored" I said slowly

She notices my hesitation as she steps close to my side "You have nothing to fear my changeling, for we will take over Canterlot together and then next all of Equestria, making it so that we will never have to hide again and our ranks well fed for all time, that is the future you should feel proud of once you rule"

My ears splayed back "That's great, no more will we go hungry and we'll be happy" I say smiling, I then looked down as I began to draw circles with my hoof "But what of Meadow Weaver, the original one?" I ask her, curious.

Chrysalis blinks at this "She is of no use to us now, she has no pony to love so we will put an illusion over her, she will be our source of food for the next coming of days" she answers as if it was natural to do such a thing.

I pull away from her "But, she's been through so much already, it would be cruel to just-"

"Cruel? have you forgotten who or what we are dealing with?" She stomps her hoof and the ground beneath her shook.

I gulped "Well, nopony told me why we harbor such distaste to ponies, I mean they seem really nice and-" she cuts me off once more as she began to circle around me

"Do not be fooled by their smiling little faces Heartstrings, ponies don't care for you, they only care for their own kind, and if they knew just what you are they would cast you away without a second's glance"

I began to back away from her as she follows me down the steps, the hive around us began to hum as they stood close to one another, each slowly stomping their own hooves.

"Don't be fooled my little Changeling,

You are better than they

We fight to survive

When they laugh all day

Do you think that's fair?" She chants at me

Don’t you think we deserve better?

All we have to do is all but one task

And that's to take over Equestria.

I fell back as the hive began to hum even louder, making me shrink away from them but with nowhere to go I flew up.

"I have been with the ponies that you declare to be so unruly

They were very kind and had so much love to give

Why can't we be a changeling and change with the ways

I sang out, hoping to reach out to the others when Chrysalis grabs me in her magic, levitating me closer to her so that I was staring right into her burning emerald eyes.

Do not be a fool

Do not buy into their tricks, their deceit and their lies

Listen to me when I say

Changelings look out for their own.

She lets me go with no hint of doing so as I slump to the floor, looking up I had my ears splayed back, looking around I felt small looking at all the changelings looking down at me.

What has happened before

Can't happen again

The past is gone as we're still here

Just listen to me and we'll find a better way

For all the changelings and all of Equestria

To make it our home

I believe in us so why shouldn't you?

Chrysalis sighs as she turns away, looking at the tapestry that hung above the throne.To serve as a reminder of the history we have endured together.

Oh Heartstrings, I was young and naive just like you

And I didn't listen to my parents when they said

Do not be fooled my dear for it is they that are in the wrong.

We are that of a few now, our numbers dwindle with passing day.

The conclusion could only come to one thing

It is us

or

them

The changelings all around us began to hum louder as they peered down at me, surrounding me, invading my space with their gazes as they followed behind their queen.

Its us, or them, no inbetween.

For the hive

They must feel the downtrodden defeat they had damned us with

It is us, or, them.

I was pacing back and forth, the hive was dull now, backing away as Chrysalis was walking closer to me, I was cowering before her when she only holds a hoof out to me. Seeing this I slowly perked up as my hoof slowly reach towards her own.

Little Changeling

Please see it the way we do

They only saw you as if you were their own

If they saw the changeling that you are

Banishment would be the nicest thing they would do

For they are the Ponies that dare betray us

So in the end

She grabbed my hoof as she pulls me closer to her as I stared helplessly into her emerald eyes, her face nearly pushing up against my own.

A changeling only looks out

For

Their

Own.

The hive retreated as well as she, leaving me in the center of the room alone as the darkness began to become more evident, the only light source was that of the shining moon that glistened over the large hole in the roof of the castle.

A Changeling looks out for their own

A Pony looks out for theirs as well

But why can we not change with the times

And look out for each other

A changeling and a pony

Perhaps it is not to be

But maybe one day

A Changeling will Change

And a Pony will too.

I sang softly before looking down, deep in thought as I tried to decide just what I had wanted and perhaps what can become of us, it all decided on me as the paths I could take were so coarse and different… My mind knows my duty but my heart yearns for something else, has any other changeling faced such a dilemma or perhaps I was the only one…

I was pacing back and forth, my mind racing, there was too much conflict in my mind, I know what I needed to do, but there was also another part of me that just knows what I needed to do, which one was the need and which one was the want? I stomped my hoof as I turned around once more, nearly running into a different changeling.

Stopping suddenly I gasped as I reared up before falling back.

“Oh I- I am so sorry your highness” The changeling quickly shouts before helping me up, his hoof grabbing my own as I stood back up.

“Oh it was my-” I tried to say but he interrupts me.

“Oh no, I touched you without your permission your highness, please forgive me!” He squeals before bowing before me

My face flushed upon seeing this “Please, don’t be so, so, er-” I tried to find the words I was looking for but I shook my head “Please, just call me heartstrings, just treat me like any other changeling, I don’t really feel like a highness or anything like that” I tried to say when I realized something, “Wait, why are you here?” I ask

I was in a secluded area of the castle, the garden where hardly any changeling ever goes to, well it wasn’t exactly a garden as everything was barren and decollete but it was once a garden.

“Um, her highness Queen Chrysalis has requested for me to know the knowledge of why you have tuned out the hive as she is unable to hear you” he states

“Oh” I said softly before slumping down “I… It’s just a lot to take in you know and I just need to get… used to it” I say while pawing the air before me “Eventually I will but… There is so much to think about it” I made sure I had allowed the hive to hear me with a simple hum to sate the Queens query.

He gulps as he looks around, probably wondering what to do or where he would make his escape. I look at him before patting the ground next to me.

“Mind accompanying me for a bit, just a little and you may leave” I say softly

He went to disagree but upon looking at my conflicted face he felt the need to follow my request as he sits next to me.

“Of course… Heartstrings” He says shakily.

We sat in silence for the longest of times, I shifted and he flinches, moving as well before trying to settle down, but his wings were buzzing rapidly and I sighed at this.

“You can leave if you want” I say finally

He looks at me startled “No it’s just… I never thought that someone from my own hatchling nest would be the next coming, I mean, we hatched almost at the same time” He states incredulously

I look at him when I finally recognized him “You’re the changeling that needed help shifting”

He blushes at this “Yeah, if you hadn’t helped me I probably would have fallen to the lower ranks, I’m a soldier now, er, rather in training, for now I do simple tasks of following my betters” He admits but it was sheepish, far different from any other changeling who took pride in what they did for their Queen and such.

Upon hearing this I quickly look around, making sure no changeling was around before scooting closer to him.

“Do you mind… Tuning out the hive… Just for a little bit, I just want some privacy from the hive, you can tune them back in right away after ok?” I say quickly

He looks at me for the longest time before his wings dimmed down and his ears no longer vibrated their usual hum to the hive.

“What is it my high- er, Heartstrings?” He asks, almost serious.

I looked up at the night sky, deep in thought “Do you… Do you feel like you fit in?” I ask simply

He jumps at this before bowing down before me “I’m sorry your highness, I know my behavior is different from the others but I’ll fix it, I knew one day I would be caught by you or Queen Chrysalis, please, forgive me” He shouts

I look at him for the longest time before sighing “My name is Heartstrings, and I have no idea that you have felt this way, to be so straight forward about such narrowness of the changeling way… It is… nice to know that I am not the only one” I finally stated

He looks back up at me “Heartstrings?” He questions to me

I took a deep breath before looking at him “If you had a choice, a choice to be the Equine you want to be or to face your duty what would you choose, don’t think of the consequence, it was a pure choice of your own matter and that you can achieve it any means how.” I ask him sincerely

He stood up, thinking for a bit before looking around, wondering if this was a test or not before sighing in defeat.

“I… I would like to be the Changeling I’d like to be, but I’m just a little changeling, what can I achieve that no other has” He says truthfully, he went to look back at me only to see me smiling gratefully at him.

“Thank you… Thank you for helping me clear it all up, I had felt suffocated by the choices I must make” Without his consent I hugged him “You have no idea how much weight has been lifted from my shoulders just now”

“Uh- Er- Y-You’re welcome Heartstrings” He says sheepishly

I let go of him as I spread my wings “Be who you want to be, that’s the path I’m going to take, if others follow I am sure Changelings will change with the time, if not then I will only follow my own dreams, it will be my own consequence and no one else's!” I decreed before taking off, before halting at the spot. “Wait, what is your name?” I ask, feeling so dumb for not asking in the first place

“Oh, eh-heh, my names Thorax, if only I was as strong as you to follow you dreams, I’ll be cheering you on Heartstrings” he says weakly with a meek little smile on his face.

I smile back at him before taking off “Thank you Thorax” I shouted back

I was looking back and forth rapidly as I was trying so hard to be undetected, taking slow hoofsteps closer to the door it was around this time that all the changelings would be asleep, I just couldn’t bare myself to leave her here, in such a state, not if it was my fault she is here, that it was all my fault that she was now an orphan. It broke my heart to think that, but it would shatter it if I left it be as it were.

Sneaking into the Chrysalis ward I saw many sacks glowing green with its fluids, most were empty as others… I had to look away, I only came here for the one, I would draw too much attention should I tried to do anything more, besides, this hive relies so much on this, to tamper with it, it was to sentence my hive to death.

Finally I found her, she was sleeping as her eyes moved rapidly, she hardly moved, and her breathing was soft. Lighting my horn I took the small sack off of its branch, being sure to be silent about it. Placing the Sack onto my back I used my magic to keep it balanced as I flew through the quiet halls, trying my hardest to keep my wings silent as it gave a soft buzzing noise. I saw a hole in the roof and was so grateful for it as it was now my newest escape, flying through it the upward movement was sudden as the sack on my back moved, oh no, please stop moving, it’s hard for me to concentrate!

But the unconscious body gave to heed to my plea as it stirred, it lost its balance on my back as my magic could only do so much as it began to plummet to the ground.

I bit my tongue from shouting as I dove straight for it, reaching as hard as I could I knew the ground was coming up too closely, I can’t let this fall, I just can’t let it break here! My wings buzzing madly I managed to wrap my hooves around the stem but it was too late. Using as much strength as I could I managed to wrap my entire body around the thing, using my wings I turned us around so that it would land on me, I had managed to make the descend slower but at least the chrysalis would be alright. The ground stopped my thought process as pain was now evident in my mind, gritting my teeth I slowly rose back up, looking behind me I saw that one of my wings was crippled, it could take days before I would heal, sighing I look at the chrysalis. Circling around it I tried to make sure that it was fine, only to see that there was a small incision on the side of it.

I groaned at this, I had to get this sack out of here quick but in such a state I had to carry it on hoofstep. Looking at the large barren wasteland before me I sighed as I lifted the sack back onto me as I made the travel, no matter what this pony will come back to her own kind, no matter what.

I was heaving madly as the sun was now taunting to rise, I was at least three quarters of the way until we reached Equestria, I had sprinted nearly most of the way and I was so terribly weak as I resulted to drag the chrysalis by my teeth, the fluid that had once been in it was no nearly all gone, as soon as Meadow takes her air she will awaken from her illusion and face the harsh reality of it all but damn it at least she will be free!

I could see it, the vast trees and great plains of Equestria with their high mountains and breathtaking sky, it was a sight to behold, and it was so close. Grabbing the green lump once more I dragged it a few more feet before using my tail to swipe the desert ground, covering the green liquid up as well as my tracks before persisting, it was easier if I carried the chrysalis in my teeth as it dragged between my legs but I had to walk uncomfortably just to accommodate the presence of the small pony but I fought through it just to ensure her safety.

She was the only pony that I knew, the last two now gone she was the only thing that I could hold onto, the thought alone sent a surge through my system to protect her, something that I was not accustomed to but it was a welcoming feeling. The smell of the air changed the it was as if the sun had became less harsh as my hooves touched something cool, looking around I realized I had entered a trance as I was now in Equestria.

A burst of happiness enters me as I started jumping up “Yes! We made it Meadow, we’re free! We’re Free! More importantly you’re safe!” I shouted, turning towards her.

The form was breathing softly, moving ever so slightly at the sound I was making I approached it, giving it a soft push to her shoulder as I used my horn to remove the green film from her body. The fluid leaked away from her as she took her first breath, she immediately began to cough and sputter out the green substance as she fought to stand up, scrambling as if for her life.

“It’s ok Meadow Weaver, You’re safe, we’re free!” I exclaim to her

She opens her eyes to look at where the voice was coming from, upon seeing me smiling at her she quickly scrambling back.

“Y-You!” She exclaims “Where am I?! How did I get here?! Where are my parents-” Upon recalling them she soon remembers what had happened “That wasn’t a nightmare, I- You!” She soon glares at me. “You’re the monster who took my parents!”

I took a step back as my ears splayed backwards “I- I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it, they- they were going to- I left them, I’m not like the others, I promise!” I tried to reason

“You- You-” Tears began to pour down her face as she slumps to the ground, I went to reach out to her but I hesitated.

Oh how I wish I didn’t, I wish I held her, to tell her that it was going to be alright… But how could I? After what I had done to her, all the thoughts and dreams I had of being her friend and that we were going to travel across Equestria now faded in my mind as I stared at the small pony.

“I… I am so sorry” I whimper as tears welled up on my eyes “I wish I could take it all back, to never have taken your place, I’m sorry for taking your parents, I’m sorry for taking their love, I’m sorry for being a changeling” I cried out.

“A changeling” She said, the name rolling off her tongue like it was foul to the taste “A monster who feeds off of the love you have for somepony, A monster who steals love” She was standing now, walking closer to me “And you say you’re sorry? Sorry?! Sorry isn’t going to bring my parents back, Sorry isn’t going to help me alleviate this pain, this grief, this… this… This Hate!” She shouts at me “I hate you, I Hate You!” She screams at me.

I went to say something before she turns away from me and began to sprint away from me.

“Meadow Weaver wait! Please!” I shouted after her “Please don’t leave me alone!” I begged, but she never came back, I was far too weak to chase after her as I only fell, crying, full of despair, and alone, all so alone…