Changeling Therapy

Chapter One - The Runaway

No matter how many times she was in her presence, Fluttershy always felt a few lingering trembles of nervousness whenever she was around Princess Celestia. Standing under the stained glass expanse of the throne room hall, she saw how the sun cluttered the mighty volume with dazzling rays of light. Each great glass pane was backlit fully, displaying the range of great ponies and deeds remembered on their face, including the mane six adorned with The Elements Of Harmony.

Fluttershy turned to face Twilight and cocked her head to one side with a quizzical look. “Do you know what this about Twilight?” She asked politely, suppressing her voice into a little hush as though she were in a library.

“I’m honestly not sure Fluttershy.” The alicorn replied, pressing a hoof to her snout momentarily then settling it back down again with a firm clop which echoed around the walls.

The Mane 6 as well as Spike and a few of their friends had been staying in Canterlot all week after the most recent Grand Galloping Gala. This year the event had, uncharacteristically progressed without too much of a ruckus: much to Twilight's relief and much to Celestia’s chagrin: who had commented later as a joke that she had been so bored she considered inviting Tirek to the party.

Rather than leave immediately after the affair the Mane 6 decided to spend a week in Canterlot as a holiday, with a little business on the side for Rarity of course. Halfway through their stay Twilight and Fluttershy had both received an urgent summons to come to the palace immediately. Usually when this happened, from all their previous recollections, it was most commonly not good news.

“I’m sure it’s nothing we can’t handle.” Twilight remarked, giving Fluttershy a little broadside nudge with her flank. “At least let’s hear first what the princess has to say first.”

“I always still get a little nervous, I can’t help it.” Fluttershy replied, a little meekly, but only a little. After all her self confidence and assertiveness had been one of the challenges she’d overcome with the help of her friends.

“Oh Fluttershy you’re not nervous around me and I’m a princess.” Twilight pointed out, and Fluttershy felt obliged to return a small nod of agreement.

Whatever else they might have said was never to be as Princess Luna and Princess Celestia entered the hall, flanked by the clattering of the iron clad Royal Guard. Twilight smiled for a moment and began to canter forward in preparation to greet her friend and mentor when she suddenly froze, her eyes widening. Fluttershy let out breathy squeal and pointed forward with the base of her hoof, shooting her foreleg out like a salute. Between Luna and Celestia there stood, almost like a spiny silhouette, the unmistakable chitinous form of a Changeling, one of Queen Chrysalis’s minions.

“Celestia there’s a….” Twilight began, spreading her wings in preparation for any imminent trouble.

“I know Twilight…” Celestia hastily interrupted, attempting to mollify Twilight before she hastened to action prematurely. “There is no cause for alarm. The changeling here is exactly the matter for which I brought you to me.”

Twilight and Fluttershy exchanged quizzical stares and then faced forward once more, staying quiet as they sensed Celestia was poised to deliver some much needed exposition.

“My dear friends, please allow me to introduce Iridis.” She motioned to the changeling who stood between them, a slightly nervous looking expression on his face, something Twilight and Fluttershy had not expected to see.

He stood about the height of a grown mare, looking Equestrian in form but shiny beetle black, his pliable and slightly soft carapace hugging his body like armour. His eyes were insectoid in appearance, reflective and opaque, with no discernable pupils. Characteristic holes dotted and mottled the extremities of his legs, while two semi transparent bug-like wings were folded across his back.

Iridis raised his gaze and managed to meet Twilight’s for only a moment.

“Iridis has defected from the Chrysalis Swarm.” Princess Celestia explained. “We found him wandering the outskirts of Canterlot a few weeks ago and although initially we thought his intentions were hostile - we are convinced he genuinely wishes to escape Queen Chrysalis’s tyranny and learn about friendship.” She saw Twilight and Fluttershy’s skepticism and so continued. “He has willingly chosen to wear an inhibitive collar.” She motioned to a platinum looking ring around his neck. “As you well know Changelings feed on the love of others, choosing forms to elicit those feelings and then taking advantage of them. For Iridis to live safely amongst other beings he needs to be able to feed enough to survive, but not so much as to harm those around him - the urge to feed is hard to resist and this artifact will help reduce his cravings. It also prevents him being able to shapeshift. Which as you can understand is quite a sacrifice.”

“I can understand that perhaps…” Fluttershy piped up, suddenly feeling a burst of kinship as she looked at the slightly sad looking face of the Changeling. “When I was Flutterbat…. I was so hungry I didn’t care who I hurt as long as I could feed. Though I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

Princess Celestia and Luna both smiled as Twilight skeptically cocked her head and narrowed her eyes just a little.

“And that Fluttershy is exactly why I must ask for your help once again…” Princess Celestia continued, a warm and respectful look in her eye. “You are kind and empathetic Fluttershy, able to see the good in everypony. Just look at the wonderful job you did helping to reform Discord.”

“What are you asking, umm, your highness?” Fluttershy piped up.

“I want you, if you are willing, to take this Changeling back to PonyVille with you, to help him learn about himself, friendship and integrate into the society there.”

Twilight and Fluttershy swapped glances once again and turned away slightly, facing from the royal ensemble and forming a little conspiratorial huddle. Twilight learnt close to whisper to her friend.

“I’m not quite sure what to say Fluttershy. I’m sorry you seem to have been put on the spot.” She shot a glance over briefly at Iridis who appeared to avert his gaze, an impenetrable expression painted on his face. “ I trust Celestia though, she wouldn’t ask without a good reason, but what do you want to do? I’m here for you whatever you decide.”

Fluttershy swallowed a little, controlled her nervousness and doubt then replied to Twilight. “I think I know what to do Twi…” She replied, turning back and raising her neck out a little proudly so she could easily be heard. “May I address Iridis, princess?” She asked to Celestia, who smiled knowingly and stepped aside a little to bring the changeling into focus. He looked diminutive next to the voluminous bodies of the Celestial and Luna alicorns - vulnerable, perhaps even slightly afraid.

“Of course you may Fluttershy.”

The yellow Pegasus stepped up, climbing one or two of the steps at the hall’s end, and looking into the eyes of Iridis. “Hello Iridis. It’s nice to meet you. I’m sure you’ve been through a lot, but I want to ask you… Is this what you want, to come back to Ponyville with us, to learn about friendship?”

Iridis paused for a moment and looked up briefly to Luna who nodded with her habitual serious expression.

“I can’t go back.” He replied, quietly, shifting his neck momentarily and grimacing as though the inhibiting carcanet was both heavy and irritating.

“But do you want to move forward?” Fluttershy asked, instinctively probing but without seeming to be too demanding or forceful.

Iridis remained quiet, his expression giving the appearance of contemplation and pain yet remaining almost paradoxically unreadable. He slowly nodded his head.

“He’s been through a very difficult time.” Luna explained. “I feel a kinship with him for… obvious reasons. He was the one who came to us.”

“I’ll do it. I’ll do what I can to help you.” Fluttershy decided, a ring of determination in her voice. She could see Twilight nodding approvingly despite her own concerns, this was after all, a dance they had done before with Discord - Fluttershy having shown to everyone that even the most antagonistic of beings were capable of change. Even if Discord had attempted to send one of Fluttershy’s friends to another dimension in the not too distant past (an incident Celestia still continued to giggle about).

Iridis’s face twitched a moment, and Fluttershy fancied she saw the briefest and most ephemeral of smiles slowly adorn his cheeks and then vanish just as suddenly. It was Twilight though who next spoke up.

“Is there anything you need me to help with Princess? I’m sure that collar requires some kind of maintenence, is that why you called me here?”

“Indeed my former pupil, I can fill you in on the details later if you wish. The upkeep is relatively simple, but if anything goes wrong you may need to take action to control Iridis. I say this not to be cruel towards him, it is he that requested this. He doesn’t want….”

“I would rather die than go back to the hunger, to being a slave…” Iridis suddenly snarled and it was plain for all to see the anguish contorting the even the firmness of his smooth, shiny and chitinous face. It was of a slightly softer consistency though than a beetle carapace, enough for some flexural movement.

“It won’t come to that… I promise.” Fluttershy interjected, immediately, instinctively - feeling a rush of sympathy for her soon to be charge.

Twilight took a deep breath. “I think it’s settled then. I suppose there probably are some arrangements. I should make a list perhaps?”

“This would be a good time for some lists Twilight.” Celestia replied, smiling at Twilight’s compulsive record keeping. “Let me fill you in on the particulars..”