Creator Hatch

As the grubs finish feeding on the love that we gave them, I decide to take a small nap on the loft. Taking in the view, Gac and the grubs make me feel like the size of a gouger. When I look near the ceiling, I see the cocoons. There are ten of them altogether. Eight of them are of fillies and colts I don’t recognize aside from them being from Our Town. The other two I know right away. Party Favor and Diamond Tiara. For a time, I think for a bit, afterwards sighing in depression.

Diamond Tiara was a pony that was just trying to vacate from changelings that had invaded Ponyville. And I encouraged Gac to do the very thing that she feared. I can’t believe how inconsiderate I was to her.

Party Favor was a unicorn that kept my plan from progressing this fast. And Gac cocooned him. I considered it to be the only choice at the time since he accidentally revealed that I was a changeling. I don’t think it’ll ever be the same without him. Nothing too much I can do about it now.

When I wake up from my nap, the first thing I hear is yelling, new voices I haven’t heard before. They certainly aren’t changelings. They sound like authentic ponies, as if they’re from Our Town, Rainbow Falls, or any other town that hadn’t been taken over by Queen Light or Queen Chrysalis. That can only mean one thing. I have to disguise myself now. Then I recognize two of the voices, leading me to look at the cocoons, which have all been completely decapitated and freed of each subject. I change into Catcher and clear my throat.

“Wait!!!”

“Huh?!?”

When I look down, I see that there are three new ponies added to the formerly cocooned ones. All three of the new ones are fillies, each with a blank flank. The three are coated as, from left to right, tan, yellow, then white. All thirteen ponies look up where they heard me yell. I jump down to where the ponies are.

“What’s going on here?”

“Oh... hello there... Catcher.”

I raise my eyes in response to the yellow blank flank’s greeting.

“Um... who are you three? Are you from Rainbow Falls? I do know that town’s more populated than Our Town.”

“Actually, no. We’re from Ponyville. Ah heard some pretty strange things ‘bout y’all.”

“Wait. Party Favor told you about me?”

“Wah yes. Ah heard y’all were a changeling.”

“Uh...”

“Sweetie Belle...”

And with that, the white blank flank, I assume to be Sweetie Belle, carries a familiar necklace, it coming closer to my eyes. I back off.

“No... what’re you doing?!? If you put that necklace on me, it could get ugly here!!!”

“Perhaps because of its effects...?”

“Sweetie Belle!!! Do NOT drop that necklace!!!”

“Oh, I won’t drop it. That would actually hurt; wouldn’t it?”

“Well, when you put it that way, I guess.”

Finally, Sweetie Belle’s horn lowers the necklace onto my neck, completely obliterating my disguise, revealing my true form. Diamond Tiara and the fillies and colts from Our Town gasp.

“Catcher?!? You’re a changeling?!?”

“Now that Party Favor has passed his knowledge onto these three fillies, fessing up is the only option, Diamond Tiara. I am a changeling... a changeling that wishes to come in peace. Is there any one pony that wishes to accept my offer of peace?”

Right away, the ponies start chattering angrily, meaning it’s the views of a hive of thirty nine against the views of eleven ponies. However, when I look at the eleven ponies, I see that one of them, Diamond Tiara, is looking to the ground, disappointed with no anger.

“Why, Catcher? Why didn’t you tell me you were a changeling grub? Why did I wake up in that cocoon with that one other changeling? It certainly couldn’t have been you, Catcher.”

“You’re right, Diamond Tiara. I didn’t cocoon you. That was Gac. He was trying to help me make our hive, but I wasn’t the changeling that I am now. I hid my identity to hide my initial intentions. Those intentions are gone now. I seriously doubt that they’ll resurface and I apologize for whatever trauma we may’ve put you, Party Favor and the fillies through and the lack of consideration for you.”

“What?!? You’re apologizing?!? Aren’t changelings normally evil?!?”

“I was only initially due to the lack of love that I had back in my old hive, also possibly due to Queen Light’s influence. Gac, my grubs, and I will let you stay at Rainbow Falls.”

“Don’t worry Catcher. I forgive you. I sure hope your name’s still Catcher.”

“No need to worry. You can call me that if you want. An alternative would be Hatch, my real name, if you don’t want to call me Catcher anymore.”

“Thanks for letting me know.”

Diamond Tiara turns around to face the three new fillies, then to Party Favor.

“Cutie Mark Crusaders, I truly understand why you didn’t get your cutie marks in changeling revelation. And I will let you off the hook if you touch no part of any chitin in this cave. As for you, Party Favor, you’ll be hearing a word from me for revealing Catcher’s true identity the way you did.”

As the “Cutie Mark Crusaders” sigh relief, Party Favor puts a hoof to his mouth in nervousness.