The Lost Changeling

by Joshua Crapo

Chapters

Prologue - Awoken
Chapter I - Past the Hybrid
Chapter II - Right to a Wall
Chapter III - More Like Little Markets
Chapter IV - Recollection at Skeleton Corner
Chapter V - Whose Savior is Mine Anyway?
Chapter VI - He Does What Now?!?
Chapter VII - We've Got a What in Here?
Chapter VIII - Oak Trees Are Houses Too
Chapter IX (Rewrite) - What Are All Those Passersby?!?
Chapter X (minor rewrite) - New Rules
Chapter XI - A New Day
Chapter XII (Minor rewrite) - Getting Breakfast
Chapter XIII - Breakfast Burns
Chapter XIV - To Break a Changeling
Chapter XV - A Revelation
Chapter XVI - Not so Wrong Anymore
Chapter XVII - Consequences
Chapter XVIII - The Final Meet
Chapter XIX - Built From Over the Decades
Chapter XX - A Night at Twily's
Epilogue - The Reflection

Prologue - Awoken

Groans...

Groans and buzzing.

That’s all I can sense.

I have awoken to a numb body.

All of my legs... unmovable... unfeelable.

I cannot open my eyes. They’re too heavy with pain, assisted by a migraine.

I stop my wings from buzzing and I take a minute to tolerate the pain temporarily. I hear nothing but droplets around me off and on. Wherever I am, I don’t think it’s Canterlot anymore. The symphony of droplets leaves a reverb as if I were inside a building like any palace of Canterlot during the night.

I finally get the strength to move my head around, so still unable to feel my legs, I use my muzzle to feel where I landed. However, when I do, I feel a trickle of pain on where I feel around, as if I were to closely sniff a pile of tacks, curious for a scent. Speaking of scents, the surface I tried to feel with my muzzle has the scent of wet leather. Suddenly, a subtle, mild breeze strokes my matted, mangled mess of a mane, which has to contradict the reverb in some way, unless the place I’m in is a cave. But if this was a cave, why does it smell like wet leather around me?

I have absolutely no idea whatsoever of where I am, but there’s something present that I can sense from this location. Unlike any other structure I have been inside, this one has to have the highest density of negative emotion, which must mean someone must’ve been here within the past half hour. I finally give into the migraine and groan a few more times.

Finally, able to open my eyes, I get a good look at where I lay. I see what look like stairs. Their railings look to have a reflective characteristic to its otherwise dark color. Glass panes are present where the support beams should go. However, the metal-like floorboard doesn’t look to have openings for any support beams. In its place is that of a straight crack, cutting directly in half with the slanted floor, supporting the panes.

The glass shard infested stairs have a black and white, rough looking, trance inducing pattern unlike any staircase I’ve ever seen. Beside this ruined staircase is another identical to the one I lay on. The only way to break the trance seems to be to simply close my eyes in hopes I could fly off of this Chrysalis forsaken, glass filled double staircase.

When I look at the ceiling, I see that a good amount of its tiles have fallen. However, there is an opening closer to my proximity. I’ve never seen anything like what is above me. Then, near the top of the double staircase, I see the edge of what is presumably a second floor. Looking at the edge, there is a two tier railing that has what I expected the stairs to have, filled to the brim with support beams. Below the railing, I see the same material as to what is in between, and at the edges of, each staircase.

For a second, I think that this might be only all that remains of the building that I reside in right now. I see that this is an entire room around me as I turn my head left to look behind me. All around the room, there is something to look at. Part of what looks like a futuristic cart is directly in front of the double staircase. Throughout the floor of the lower level from what I can see, it’s littered with glass shards. Then I see a pillar that bears the same appearance as the edges of the second floor.

Right of that, I see two rows of windows with boards behind them, piercing the wall of bricks. Above all of that, there is a label that simply says “JCPenney’s Outlet Store”. I’ve never heard of “JCPenney’s Outlet Store”, but I must be in an enclosed town market if the name suggests anything. Sandwiching the staircase, as I turn my head, stands overgrown plants. Turning to the opposite limit of my head turning capabilities, I see another pillar with a striped design of a dominant white with a recessive grey, all under what appears to be a grey skeleton from what the top of the pillar suggests.

Then, still turning my head, I see a small structure standing across from the staircase. It doesn’t look broken like the rest of the portion of this market suggests. However, looking closer, there appears to be a puncture near the bottom. The design near the top has a rough, orange characteristic to it.

When I turn my head back to facing the double staircase, I notice that my legs don’t feel so numb anymore, just low enough to be able to move them with ease. Of course, not without any pain do my legs move either. However, I should be thankful that I’m still somewhat numb in the legs. By now, had it not been from the numbness, that same small twinge that hit my muzzle earlier would be all around my hooves. So, I decide to get up and have a closer look around where I stand.

Looking behind me again, I see that the staircases end unlike anything I’ve seen before. It looks slightly similar to what little amount of conveyer belts that I’ve seen in my life in all of the invasions onto Equestria that I was ever eligible to partake in. Judging by that, I’m willing to bet that the upper part of the staircases end in a similar way.

Now that I’ve observed all of the area that I physically can, my head's a mess of questions. What’s a “JCPenney’s Outlet Store”? What are these stairs, and are they really conveyer belts? What is this kind of place called exactly? Where am I? How did I even land here? Why does everything look so big? Do I wait out my numb legs before I can observe more of my surroundings, or for that matter, seek help? Should I find a way out of this place that is filled with negative emotion?

Chapter I - Past the Hybrid

After sorting out my barrage of questions raised by my surroundings and circumstances, I decide to first find out where exactly I am. How am I going to do that? I guess I should start by seeing what this place is called in particular. That means I’ll have to walk to find my way around and search for anything that may point to this place’s name, seeing as how I don’t detect any ponies nearby. I begin up the hybridized staircase, hearing small crunches under one of my hooves for every step I take along the way, before I find a pathway that I never expected to see. Actually, make that three.

When studying the three paths, it seems that the railings around where I awoke are the only ones here. In every other structure I’ve been to, back during the invasions onto Equestria, all edges of the floor on an upper level always had railings. Did the developers of this building just decide to quit on copying the railings or something? Were they literally feeling edgy in their design choices? Okay, I’m gonna shut up before I die of negative emotion.

Inching closer to the intersection, I deliberate on which path I should go first. I can hardly think at the moment as the clipping of my hooves echo throughout this structure. The droplets are already enough, so I stop to think more clearly. And I’m lucky I do that, because trying to think almost rams me into the wall of four black arches, three on the left of which are (sort of) levitating. I walk closer only to appear to be in a dark, open, musty room, the negative emotion somewhat denser - and I never thought that was possible before - than it was on the hybrid staircase, so I immediately exit the room.

Looking again at the three paths, the two on the left seem to be darker than the one on the right, added by how the right one looks plenty safer, and longer, offering more of a chance to find out where the hell I am. But even with the two... “edgy” paths... by Chrysalis, someone zap me now... even with the two dangerous paths, I need to find some sort of information on what this place is. What little light there is on the far left path shows that there seems to be a wall similar to the one with the “JCPenney’s Outlet Store” sign on it. Even the middle path looks quite open for opportunity in its darkness.

Back to my right, I see what look like miniature structure skeletons. How I can see this somewhat well is because of the bright daylight that is coming through the ceiling. And there’s a little ways past that as daylight pours into a section too far away to see in detail.

Then I look at the middle path and see something that catches my eye. It looks to be an opening on one of the risen edges. On the second pit, the front has what looks like the end of a normal staircase, just without railings... okay. Edges on the second floor are one thing but at least that hybrid staircase I first woke up on had railings, even if they were only supported via molded glass panes. The lack of railings is ridiculous.

When I finally looks back to the left path and see the third, wider opening, there’s a vertically standing board on the left, and what looks like another staircase on the right, as if that stub was enough to conclude that, both of which end on the front of the edge. Looking somewhat elsewhere, there appears to be something hanging from the ceiling over the large opening. Finally, at the set of windows, it doesn’t look like there’s any sign around it unlike the one with “JCPenney’s Outlet Store”. Like at the end of the right path, there’s some daylight shining into the large opening.

Then I get curious. What is downstairs that these staircases lead to? I don’t see much, but it’s obvious that something is on the first floor. I just haven’t seen it yet. Yeah, it’s safer to go right. But I’m getting pretty curious. Plus I really want to know what the name of this place is. I’m seriously reconsidering the chance of finding the name on the safe path. Yeah, those stairs lack railings, but I could probably just glide down without a problem. Right now, my legs are still somewhat numb, but at least I could bend them just fine. Maybe I could jump to test it out.

Well, I underestimated my regain in strength. My wings work perfectly fine. In fact, I could actually fly... well, for a relatively short period of time. I don’t know exactly how long, but my flight lasts for a good chunk of time, or at least long enough to go downstairs with no problem. Of course, I’m exactly where I was before jumping. So, now I have four options, one of which I can enter now in six ways. Still as I look around, no sound sans the droplets reaches my eardrums. It is very obvious that there is absolutely no ponies in here, and that this place possibly hasn’t been used in years.

Well, I have no idea yet where to go. It seems like there’s a trade-off for all of these paths. If I go left, I have three ways to go downstairs, but I don’t want to trip on and fall off any of the edges. Who knows what’s downstairs that I’d land on if I did that? Plus, there seems to be a dead end, so I don’t have as much of a chance to find out what this place is called on this floor alone. If I go to the middle path, it’s going to be the same as the left. Going right might be safer and more of a chance to find the name on this floor, but will it be worth it in case I can’t even get out of here before I die? I don’t know.

Author's Note

Wow, coming up with titles is VERY hard.

Very early on, I named the chapter Locale. It didn't work out because of the whole choice of path.
Mid chapter, for a short time, I renamed it Edgy Paths. That didn't work out because it was too punny of a title.
When I did Off With the Railings, it almost survived into the final product. But I consider it too much of a spoiler.
Just after I was also considering The Choice. But again, too much of a spoiler.

Past the Hybrid is the final name I went with, and it actually fits. Not punny, not spoilery.

So, what path should I cover first? Left, middle, or right? Should there be a chapter dedicated to the downstairs area? Feel free to talk to me any way you want on the matter. This is comment driven after all.

Chapter II - Right to a Wall

I decide that it’s best to make do with the path that takes the least amount of time to explore just to get it out of the way. Out of the vastness of this structure, this looks the least likely though. Ah well. I guess it can’t hurt, right? I start onto the left, looking at some of the open entryways for anything that points to a name. However, the left side has absolutely nothing. No labels and the entryways are all blocked. However, looking to my right, I see that there’s more to this path than I originally saw. I walk up to the hidden path, letting the darkness surround me until I see that it is indeed a dead end.

So practically, that trip is all for naught. Coming back, this time on the opposite side, I pay attention to any open entryways. There are several ones, but they all lead into all of the same room. So, I decide to go into the room to see any writing. No such luck. There isn’t even a label on the front above the dismantled gate. I do see some unusual structures though. I turn left out of the room and try another path.

However, I see something as I head out. Within a large, dirty spot across from me, I see some reflected light that wasn’t there before. I trot up to the particular area and smell it, seeing if I only just got my hooves wet, them starting to sting quite a bit. I don’t remember stepping into a puddle. I know I remember seeing one on the left path. Suddenly, I smell something oddly familiar, yet it’s a completely new scent. It starts to worry me a little, but I sit down and look at my right forehoof just to make sure it’s not what I think is going on.

My hoof looks okay. It’s kind of hard to see in the dim light. But then my nose picks up the scent pouring off of my hoof, one that’s nearly identical to the scent on the wet mark. I was right. I never stepped into a puddle. But now, I’m bleeding in one of my hooves. By now, the numbness on my hooves is practically unnoticeable. I’m not sure how to feel about it, but when I put my hoof back onto the ground, I hiss at a twinge, crying out afterwards. I hover a little to ease the pain, which proves to be somewhat successful. I can control my tolerance temporarily and find a place to heal.

Looking at the remaining part of the dismantled gate, I get the idea to use that as a source to make the material I need to heal myself, which is called motite. I light up my horn and prepare to put my left forehoof onto the gate as I climb to the right of it with my presumably good hooves. None of my hooves are actually in any good condition, but the others are much better than my right forehoof, so it’s a rather slow process. Not to mention that I’ll have to climb onto the ceiling in order to put my right hoof into the motite. By Chrysalis, is this a slow process, and the being upside down isn’t fun at all.

So FINALLY, my right forehoof heals to a condition on par with the other three. I hover down, bracing my legs for landing, and try to rest in the room I found. However, that doesn’t seem to work out in any place. Looking for a good corner is such a challenge in this part of the enclosed town market because the floor is so far engulfed in dense dust.

I think of everything I have been through... the forceful wall... waking up on the hybridized staircase... the sound of crunching... the powerful reverb... the intense negative emotion in the dark room at that corner... the dead end... the bloody hoof... what is this sick, twisted, crazed, cruel reality I have run into? Is this all a dream? I don’t think so. I screeched in pain earlier. Are there even any ponies around my locale anymore? It sure would be better than being all alone in this Chrysalis forsaken structure.

Suddenly, I lose my thoughts when I start coughing violently in a way I haven’t been through before. But during this coughing fit on all fours, I start feeling wet from my chest down. A while after, I lose the cough, and in its place, I start shivering. Looking around me, I see the presence of a puddle that was absent just before I started coughing. Just afterwards, my eyes start sagging and I fall into the puddle that presents the right forehoof scent from earlier. At this point, I don’t care that I’m now laying on a puddle that appeared during my coughing fit. I have gotten too weak, cold and drowsy.

“Queen Chrysalis, in case I don’t ever return to the hive, I have to tell you that I have always loved you. You have always promised me and the hive love, shelter, and everything that we have needed. You have been persistent in achieving the dream of the hive. However, I am truly sorry to say that I could not find the name of the locale I have ended up in. If you have any of your drones with you, please send them here. However, it actually would be preferred if you sent ponies. I don’t want to see our comrades fall like I may have now.”

I am almost now too weak to talk, but I finally squeak something out before I inevitably start the big sleep.

“Somepony... anypony... please save me...”

I start losing my vision and my hearing as I continue to start my nap. I have to admit, I haven’t even come close to this in the hive due to my kind around me. Now, I am completely isolated, lost, and to add on to that, almost gone. I sure hope I can wake up soon.

Author's Note

Okay. I canned eight titles this time before I found the perfect one. Ready?

Middle of the Paths
First Exit New Target
First Exit by No Bullseye
It’s Not Easy Hitting the Bullseye
Wrong Target
Middle and the Wrong Target
Wrong Name Wrong Target
Right to the Wrong Target
Right to a Target
Right to a Wall (Final)

Chapter III - More Like Little Markets

Sweat... That is all I feel right now. At least, I think that might be it. It must’ve been a while since I lost activity in that little corner, because it feels hot in here compared to before. I stir to get a grip on my body status. I feel something weird on all of my hooves. It’s like paper of some kind, and it’s bound tightly to me. Okay, it’s not tight enough to the point where I can’t stand. That was already true with my weak body to begin with. I let my forehooves feel each other, confirming my assumption that I’m wearing bound paper in that area, further confirmed as I open my eyes.

So, did a pony come by and patch my hooves up? Did talking to Queen Chrysalis the way I did actually work? I have no idea. If that pony or changeling comes by again, I’ll have to thank them for saving me like I asked Queen Chrysalis. I sniff my hooves again, gandering at the familiar carapace scent... with one big difference. That difference being that it smells like a small fruit was added to my blood. At the very least, I feel a lot better now, maybe even well enough to walk properly. And there’s actual sunlight too boot instead of just the grim, grey sky.

Refocusing, I notice the symphony of droplets again in its strong reverb. I get up and make my way out, the scent of wet leather sensed once again. As I pass the dismantled gate, I look closer at the wrap. All of it is stained green, a color just like the motite I used to heal my right forehoof. Looking up, I see that the gate has that exact same color of stain. I decide that since I’m still up to finding the name of this place, I might as well turn right upon being in front of the only set of railings here, heading to the similar setup at the dead end as to that of the JCPenney’s Outlet Store wall.

As I walk on the right side of the hall, I see to my right a sign that says, “Welcome to the JCPenney Outlet Store”, partially free of the window it resides on. Right next to that window, I see that the room is perfectly enterable, sans the expansive water puddle extending to the front of the next room over, labeled “Community Room”. I choose not to go in either room, however, due to the thought of denser negative emotion being a possibility in each. After about three more entrances on the right as I walk, I find myself at the dead end to the hall.

I pass by another possibly de-labeled entrance before I’m in front of the main row of windows, focusing solely on the direction I walk in at hoof. Then, I spot two entrances on the left. I canter over to the entrances with hope that these might have the name of my locale. Everywhere I look, there’s no writing indicating a name. However, coming back out, I catch something in the corner of my left eye, so I turn around. It’s a door that is painted in the same pattern as the rest of the wall before the two entrances I was just in. I feel very intrigued to find more about what lies behind the door.

As I enter, a long, extensive room greets my eyes, bearing a much weaker reverb to my ears as I walk. As I look at the big picture, the room doesn’t seem like the rest of this building. Everything looks more clear and familiar, only a little bigger, I can finally recognize everything unlike the rest of the building. First waking up in this building, I was under a lot of stress from losing my locale, but I think I have finally gotten used to this place surprisingly. Almost as if the elements ignored this particular room, it kind of reminds me of the orders I was given in Canterlot from Queen Chrysalis’ plan.

Looking slightly closer at the items, I notice a large array of papers strewn about, although some have been perfectly stacked onto others, obstructing my view. Now, I start getting excited as I see writing on them, pretty much unfaded. I levitate a few of the papers until I find something clearly in large print. It reads, “Rolling Acres.” Between the words are two shapes that are relatively small. The green shape looks like that of a changeling’s hoof. The purple, above the green, resembles the bottom half of a fish with a symmetrical checkmark coming out of the torso, going under the fin.

Rolling Acres... that sounds like a knockoff of Sweet Apple Acres. And yet, my locale doesn’t even come close to being a vast field like Sweet Apple Acres. All I’ve seen so far are just small rooms that I assume is just a bunch of stores. I mean, I only found two that have names. JCPenney’s Outlet Store, and Community Room. However, now that I think about it, out of the three names I found, none of them seem to have any obvious pony pun. Wherever in Equestria this “Rolling Acres” is, I have to say, someone finally had the sense to come up with a name without including their pride in ponykind.

I levitate the papers back where they came from, still thinking. Hmm. Judging by how Ponyville has Sweet Apple Acres, the town I must be in just has to be something other than “Rolling”. Ponyville as Sweet Apple... that’ll be the day. And judging by the names I’ve come across so far, it could also be devoid of a pony pun. I’m not going to lie; I might just like this portion of Equestria the best. Well, it’s a given that I do like the name, Carve, but that’s different. It’s no insect pun like the rest of the changelings’ names. Well, at least I can stay in a building in Equestria that no one occupies now.

Author's Note

So, it seems there we found the name of this place, huh?

Well, obligatory title story time.

Original this was going to be called "What is this place?", but I decide to change it to More Like Little Markets, as a comparison.

Chapter IV - Recollection at Skeleton Corner

Well, it looks like I found the name of my vast locale. I might be losing my mind, but I think this may be the only area in Equestria without a pony pun. I know I still have an entire other hall to explore, but I feel so satisfied that I found the name of this place. I just wish I had known about it before I landed here, because that would mean a prebuilt hive to reside in. Actually, no. Queen Chrysalis would absolutely deny my offer because Rolling Acres is filled to the brim with sadness and sorrow, obscured by the more highly destructive hate and anger.

I have stopped noticing the negative emotion around me. So, one of two things may have happened. One: I soaked it all up, even when I was unconscious. Or two: I have acclimated. I sure hope it’s the former. I know it means sacrificing the ability to change and fly and what not, but it’s better to have soaked every once of my poison than it is to still have more around in the amount of time I’ve been here, implied from the increase in heat, continuing to become poisoned and crazed. I might’ve even blocked it out with my enthusiasm for successfully finding the name of this place.

I head my way out of the left hall and straight into the right. I don’t even pay attention to my surroundings. It doesn’t even matter if I gallop on any glass shards. I feel so eager to explore more of Rolling Acres and see what else is in here. I know I saw a series of skeletons of former mini towers. I want to actually get a close up view of it.

That all changes when I see two more halls aside the one straight after with the wall of the once again similar design to the JCPenney Outlet Center wall. I skid from in front of the corner rooms before the series of skeletons to the edge before a dried up moat surrounding said series. I look around me, lost in the relief of stopping just before I would be supposed to trip.

To my left, I see a stand in the middle of the hall with a label on top titled “Customer Service”. Past that is yet another dead end. And just like the JCPenney’s Outlet Store wall, there’s something that doesn’t match the rest of the wall. This time, there’s a large board with a faded label titled “Dillard’s”. On the mismatched part of the wall, there’s a lone door that is presumably locked. In the hall itself, there are two openings in the ceiling, letting sunlight bounce off of the wall in the opening and give me the view that I currently see, almost as if Celestia was taunting me.

To the right, there’s a few more rooms extending before the doorway to the outside. Past the doors, there is a level porch that leads me to conclude that this is the main entrance to Rolling Acres. There are boards on two of the glass panes, the panes possibly having gone missing. Out of the sixteen panes that should be in the main entrance, fourteen are present. Yet again, I can sense that Princess Celestia is taunting me... Wait a second. This intersection with the group of skeleton mini towers looks to pour the most amount of sunlight in here. Well, I’m glad to be in this intersection then.

On the area inside the moat, there seems to be a similar design on the floor as that of the brick wall of the JCPenney’s Outlet Store. There are a few steps up to the skeleton mini towers, which I don’t mind in the slightest. However, the area the moat surrounds is littered with paper and waste.

Suddenly, when I look at the group of mini tower skeletons, I start feeling my enthusiasm for exploration suddenly disappear, leaving behind a thought I have never experienced. All of my kind is scattered throughout the outskirts of Equestria, leaving the hive practically abandoned. What positively wipes away any enthusiasm left, however, is how there’s not a pony to be seen in Rolling Acres, at least the second floor. I highly doubt I would have any idea where anyone from the hive is and what they’re going through.

I still can’t believe that invasion in Canterlot failed, even when we got extremely close to success. That out of nowhere explosion was the only thing stopping the invasion, and it happened. I got knocked out as my body made contact with the explosion, so that leaves me even more clueless as to where the rest of the hive I live with is than I already would be otherwise. I will never forget that day we almost triumphed over Equestria. Not even once. I hardly doubt anyone would forget it, be it for better or for worse. Okay, I need to look away from the mini towers before I burst into tears.

I find it kind of funny, looking elsewhere, though. In the condition that Rolling Acres is in, there’s a physical illusion that suggests that not a pony in Equestria has been in here for possibly years, seeing all of the holes in the ceiling. And yet, whatever emotional residue is left is brand new, almost as if Rolling Acres is still active today.

Now what? I could explore either the two little halls with the dead end. But I have been dying to get out of here and find out where I am. I know this place is named Rolling Acres. But that name is kind of misleading. Yeah this place is vast. But it isn’t anything like a field in here. I very well will die if I don’t leave sooner or later much less lose my changeling features from all of the negative emotion. It’s not even to mention that this side of Rolling Acres still has its negative emotions intact. So I seriously don’t know what to do.

Chapter V - Whose Savior is Mine Anyway?

Flightless or not, I still have a savior to thank for helping my ailment when I first got here. My wings are stuck in place now, because of the negative emotion. I might as well look for him or her. Goodbye, reminder of an abandoned hive I used to live in. I will see you soon as I walk.

I decide to start looking where I explored before. As I do so, I see so many details I never saw before.

Firstly, to my left, the first labeled room is Sydney Ryan. Of course, there’s nothing of interest inside. Same thing happens when I pass Claire’s. Suddenly, I notice a label to the right of JCPenney’s Outlet Store. It says “Rolling Acres Management Office”. Above the name is the outlines of three green hills under a sun with eight surrounding ray stripes. Since the negative emotion in this side of Rolling Acres seemed to have died down, I can actually sense a faint amount of love pouring from the label. Hmm... this must’ve been before the ponies around here left this place sitting here.

So, let’s see here. Based on the contents I can pick up, I can possibly make an emotional timeline. Hmm. Obviously, first there’s love. After that, I think there came fear... then sadness... then pain... hate...

Disbelief?!?

Wait. Disbelief is the newest emotion here?!? How is that possible?!? Ugh! I don’t know what’s going on... well... it’s possibly why I didn’t sense emotions as negative when I woke up the second time around. Actually, if a pony were here during my time unconscious, that could explain why disbelief is here. So, where does this disbelief trail off to? I don’t know. But it does head downstairs.

Following the trail of emotion, I pass between the hybridized staircase and the partially punctured platform tower, coming across a sign that says “Picnic Place” as I turn to my left. After turning, seeing the dead end with the hidden room I discovered the name of this place in. Continuing to walk, I notice two staircases that I walk in between. On the left is one similar to the conveyer belt staircase across from JCPenney’s Outlet Store. On the right is exactly what I thought the edge opening had when I first landed in Rolling Acres.

Finally, I come across one final hall on my right before I see the exit across. As I walk, the disbelief seems to get stronger and stronger, so I turn to the right, still following the trail. However, not even halfway into the new hall, I see a peculiar entrance on the right. The label is pretty much gone, the only bit of writing remaining being one, two and three. Looking inside the room, it looks like any other, only with carpet flooring reminiscent of Las Pegasus. In here though, the disbelief from earlier is at its strongest. Clearly there must be a pony or a changeling in here, maybe even something else.

Studying the room, even under the darkness, I could see structures similar to the one across the room where I fell unconscious. However, half of the ceiling in the room is now on the carpet floor. As I actively look, there seems to be not a single pony in the long room.

Suddenly, looking at the two back doors of the room straight across, labeled one and two from left to right, I see some dim light after the left door. Because of this light, I was able to see some large, torn parchment opposite of the door.

There’s someone in there. Obviously it’s not a changeling because a changeling doesn’t need an external light source to find their way around the dark. Then something with the dim light happens. The source of light starts to rise. This has to be a pegasus or a unicorn. Earth ponies can’t levitate the light source like that nor can they fly.

Listening more closely with what little sound there is, I hear little whips in the air, so now it has to be a pegasus in here. I creep to backroom 1 to see if my assumption is correct.

It is.

Suddenly, the light starts to glare at me, scaring the living daylights out of me, making me shriek.

“Whoa, whoa... didn’t mean to scare you there. It’s a good thing you finally came to.”

“So wait. You were the one that bandaged my hooves?!?”

The pegasus nods.

“Mhm. Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Rusty Flashlight.”

“Rusty Flashlight? Hmm. Interesting name. Do you visit places like this?”

“Almost every day, pal. I wonder how you even got here.”

“I don’t know.”

“So, what’s your name?”

“Carve. I ended up stuck at...”

“Rolling Acres? I know.”

“Hey, uh, Rusty... can I call you Rusty?”

Rusty nods, prompting a sigh of relief for me.

“Okay. So Rusty... have you explored the entirety of Rolling Acres?”

“Yeah. Why?”

“I ended up trapped here after the invasion onto Canterlot failed.”

“So, how long have you been here, Carve?”

“Obviously longer than you. That’s for sure. Hey wait. Why haven’t you shrieked and run away yet?”

“One, I’m fresh out of school... two, I never heard of a changeling invasion. I knew changelings existed, so I guess it never made sense to fear them if they never invaded Equestria.”

“But what about what I just mentioned? The failed invasion onto Canterlot?”

“That was over two months ago. Surely the changelings would have changed their minds by now about doing that.”

“I have no idea, Rusty. I’ve been trying to get out of here. It’s very dangerous for a changeling like me in Rolling Acres.”

“Oh, I know where to look, Carve. Follow me. It may be a long walk, but you’ll have to trust me on this one.”

If it’s whatever it takes to get out of here, I’m in.

I nod, letting Rusty lead me out of the room and back into the halls of Rolling Acres.

Chapter VI - He Does What Now?!?

On our way out, Rusty Flashlight flies up to the second floor while I just walk, seeing how I still can’t fly, meeting back up with him afterwards. As I do though, I see a cutie mark. I remember seeing them on a few ponies as I looked at them from the side, but I never got to see one up close. The cutie mark is that of two flashlights that make a plus sign, one pointing down, and the other pointing ahead of him, both having the same rough design as the top of the punctured structure across from the hybridized staircase.

“Hey Rusty.”

“Yeah Carve?”

“Those flashlights that make up your cutie mark...”

“Yeah... what about them?”

“Why do they intersect each other the way they do?”

“Hmm. I do have my trusty flashlight to help me see. The way those flashlights that make up my cutie mark intersect mimics the range of where ponies usually shine flashlights on the job of one like mine.”

“And... why do they look so different from the one you’re holding with that rough soil color design on them?”

“Oh. Well, that design would actually be rust. Rust is one of the many things you’ll commonly see if you’re an urban explorer.”

“A what?!?”

“An urban explorer.”

“What’s that like, Rusty?”

“Let’s just put it this way. You’d be one of the first ponies, or changelings in your case, back inside a given building. In this case, that building is Rolling Acres. Now I know every name that’s present here.”

“I can’t say the same for myself, which only I can say so on a potential level.”

“You don’t have to. I’ll show you around. Just be careful of the glass around here.”

I smirk.

“Heh. You can say that again.”

“Eh. Saving that for when necessary.”

I nod at Rusty as we continue straight to...

“Uh, why are we headed to...”

“The Court of Twelve Trees?”

“Uh, well, that place that gave me terrifying thoughts of the potential aftermath of the failed Canterlot invasion.”

“So, The Court of Twelve Trees.”

“Uh, okay. You can call it that. But why are we headed there?”

“You never experienced the entirety of Rolling Acres, no?”

“Well, not really. I pretty much saw how to navigate it. But that’s it. I never got any details beyond this point. I can’t get any details beyond this point.”

“But why not?”

“Well, I couldn’t get past this part of Rolling Acres because it reminded me of Chrysalis’ hive and its potential future.”

“Welcome to my world. As an urban explorer, memories always pop up at different points in time as I explore. I got used to it a long time ago.”

“I wonder what it’s actually like.”

“It varies. Resurfacing memories can trigger any emotion really: disbelief, ecstaticism, sadness, anger, shock... even confusion.”

“So, what does this ‘court’ remind you of?”

“Equestria, to be honest.”

“Well, what part of Equestria, Rusty? Canterlot? Capital Mountain? Cupcakes?”

“It reminds me of the entire country and its geographical contents.”

;=;

Rusty Flashlight flies into Ponyville with the flashlight he almost never leaves without, taking a deep breath as he lands. The town is exactly how he imagined a town of this size would be like. It’s nothing eye catching, busy, alongside ponies just going about their merry day.

He catches sight of an oak tree shaped house to the west though, scanning for any passersby before he can enter the oddity. It looks to have no writing on it, much like the rest of the town. However, next to the front door is a hot pink sign simply with an open book on it with the standard sand colored pages with a brown cover.

With the coast clear, Rusty Flightlight, out of curiosity, walks up to the front of the door and knocks.

“Hello?!?”

Rusty Flashlight freezes.

That’s weird. I could’ve sworn that house looked vacant. But apparently not.

“Hi. Uh, who’re you?”

Who’s that pony? She looks prestigious.

“Hello!!”

“Wah! Whoa. Wha-”

The pony in front of Rusty giggles as he shakes his head. Having opened the door, the pony before him reveals to be a unicorn with different shades and variations of purple. There are bangs in the indigo mane and tail with two stripes: one that is near pink and one that is practically her coat color. Her cutie mark is of a near hot pink six pointed star covering a white one, all surrounded by five others of the same color as the covered star.

“Sorry about that. I was lost in my thoughts. I’m Rusty Flashlight, you can just call me Rusty. Nice to meet you. And you are...”

“Twilight Sparkle, but Twilight’s just fine.”

“Okay. Thanks for letting me know. I was here because I was looking for places that-”

“Places like The Castle of the Two Sisters?!?”

“Wait. How could you tell?”

“Those flashlights on your cutie mark?”

“Oh that. Yeah, I came exploring different towns across Equestria for infamous vacant places.”

“Well, you could go to The C-”

“I already explored that ages ago. I don’t want to go there again because of the Everfree Forest.”

“I understand. Hey, I know one place that you could visit. Spike had recently seen it before you came here when we were looking for one of my old letters.”

“Spike? Who’s Spike?”

Suddenly, Spike walks up between the two’s conversation.

“Hey Twilight. I found that old letter about the two tickets.”

“Thanks. Hey Spike, what was it that you saw recently when searching for that?”

“Huh? Oh yeah! Akron!”

“Ak- who now? Twilight, can you explain?”

“Sure thing Rusty. Akron is in a place that works almost exactly like the Everfree Forest, sans the many kinds of horrible monsters. Disregarding the weather and the plants, it’s actually pretty safe.”

“Really?”

Spike nods.

“Yeah. It’s kind of like that world’s version of Ponyville. However, whatever you do, beware of Rolling Acres.”

“Well, okay. See you around Twilight. Bye Spike.”

“Take care!”

Twilight waves Rusty Flashlight Goodbye as he takes to the skies to find this new location.

Chapter VII - We've Got a What in Here?

“Okay, so how did you get to Rolling Acres then? This Twilight Sparkle never told you how to do that.”

“I found out myself. After I talked with Twilight, I figured I would just fly northeast up until I came across-”

A voice suddenly interrupts me and Rusty’s conversation.

“Hello?!? Anypony in here?!?”

I facehoof at the pun while Rusty rushes over to earlier in our route in evident recognition of the voice.

“Pane Fall?!?”

I decide to quickly follow Rusty to see who was interrupting our exploration. Who else I see is a yellow unicorn mare with an orange mane and tail that are curled at their ends. The cutie mark is of two glass panes: the bottom pane intact, and the top pane only having its sides intact while the rest had fallen in front of and behind the bottom one. The pony’s eyes are of varying tans on both eyes with the lightest on the top and the darkest on the bottom. At this moment, the two hug until the mare sees me and shrieks.

“AHHH!!! A ch-”

“Pane, Pane, Pane... this is a good changeling. I don’t want us to get caught here anyway. So, do you promise not to scream bloody terror anymore around her?”

Pane Fall just nods.

“Good. Pane Fall, this is Carve.”

“Rusty, do you know how long I’ve been looking for you?!?”

“Three weeks? That’s how long I’ve been here.”

“Well, yeah! You had me worried sick! You never go on these kinds of adventures without me.”

“I was extremely curious about this one, Pane. It was only going to be just this once. But then I found Carve and... waited until she came to. I first properly met her at the theater here. How did you get in here anyway?”

“I just found an opening in one of the shattered skylights here. I floated down there.”

My eyes shoot as open as possible after blinking when I hear about floating.

“So let me get this straight. A unicorn can fly with just magic?!?”

“Uh, yeah. I do it all the time to avoid getting cut in the hoof by shards of glass whenever I go exploring with Rusty.”

“So, you’re also an ‘urban explorer’?!?”

“She sure is, Carve.”

Pane Fall turns her head to look at the sign next the JCPenney Outlet Store wall.

“So, this place must be Rolling Acres, huh?”

Rusty nods and turns to me.

“So, Carve, what do you know about Rolling Acres that we don’t know?”

“Why do you ask?”

“You can sense emotions even when you don’t see anypo-”

I scowl at Rusty.

“What?”

“You know what.”

“What? It’s just our way of speaking.”

“By using puns in pride of your kind in everyday speaking?”

“Well, haven’t you used it any?”

“Not since I came to.”

“Look. You can sense emotion unlike us, so what do you know about Rolling Acres that nopony else does?”

“You know you can say ‘no one’, instead of ‘nopony’? Honestly, I don’t see what the point of that is. I would’ve known what you had meant if you said ‘no one’. Seems to me that’s the kind of thing everyone’s doing just because everyone else is doing it.”

“Carve, Rusty’s just trying to ask for information that only you can gather.”

“Thank you, Pane Fall. From what I could gather, possibly around two and a half years ago, this place started looking like what it looks like now. New love hasn’t been in here for years, if my nose says anything. Sadness seems to be the newest before distrust, hatred, anger, and cruelty came in, and sadness here seems to be about a year newer than love, so it seems that Rolling Acres was last used as a market here in... Akron was it?”

Rusty and Pane nod.

“...here in Akron back around eighty moons ago.”

“Thanks Carve. So, this place has been abandoned since the fall before Nightmare Moon’s return?”

“I think that’s what Carve was saying, Pane.”

“Wow, and nop-”

I glare at Pane.

“...and no one ever knew that this place existed?”

I shake my head.

“No.”

“No one except Twilight and Spike.”

Pane looks at Rusty with confusion.

“Who’s Twilight? Who’s Spike?”

“Hmm... now that you mention it, Pane, Twilight actually sounds familiar. Rusty, where did those two live again?”

“In an oak tree like house. At first I thought it was vacant, until Twilight answered.”

“I thought so. I know what she’s a part of.”

“What? What is it?!?”

“It could only be one thing, Pane. Twilight’s part of the Elements of Harmony, more specifically Magic.”

“Magic?!? What does magic have to do with harmony? And what are the Elements of Harmony anyway? A traveling band? Rusty and I never heard about them.”

“I actually have to agree with your questioning on magic’s relevance on harmony. Music does actually make sense for the name of The Elements of Harmony, although it’s actually a bunch of rocks that steer creatures filled with negative emotion clear of Equestria.”

“So that’s why changelings always invade Equestria. We almost never have negative emotions come from p-”

I glare again at Pane.

“...from our kind!”

“So, what are you suggesting, Pane? Is Rolling Acres not in Equestria? If that’s so, then that would explain why negative emotion is everywhere here.”

“Well, if you want to say that, then yes, we’re not in Equestria anymore.”

Rusty puts his right forehoof to his chin.

“Huh. I guess it would also explain the lack of reference to our pride. So, if we aren’t in Equestria anymore, where are we? Where is Akron located?”

“I have no idea. The only two places I’ve ever been to before Rolling Acres is Queen Chrysalis’ hive and Equestria. Hey Rusty?”

“Yeah Carve?”

“Can you guide me and Pane to Twilight Sparkle’s oak tree house? You told me you were there before.”

Rusty shakes his head at me.

“Actually, the better question is, ‘how do we get out of here?’”

“Rusty...”

Pane points to the ‘skylight’ I apparently entered through as a means to get out of Rolling Acres, causing Rusty to land his hoof on his cheek.

“Oh...”

Chapter VIII - Oak Trees Are Houses Too

When I look in the direction that Pane points, I see something hanging that says “JCPenney” on all four of it sides. Quickly, the three of us float or fly out of the opening in the skylight, revealing all of the roof that we were under. For the most part, the panes on the skylights are all gone. However, one skylight still completely intact hovers over “The Court of Twelve Trees”. Finally, as time moves on, Rusty and Pane continue to rise, so I continue to follow suit after looking at the intact skylight.

After a quick flash, the three of us stop rising. The flash itself almost blinds me, forcing me to briefly close my eyes. When I look at the ground, none of the roads look near black and rough anymore. Instead, they have a sandy texture and are in different parts of my view, much less farther and few between.

Unfamiliar with the roads, I look at Rusty.

“So, where in Equestria are we now?”

“We’re almost near Ponyville. I took this route when I went to Rolling Acres. Hey Carve.”

“Yeah Rusty?”

“Have you been here before?”

“Only on the first time I was involved with an invasion.”

“Okay, so I assume you don’t know where Twilight’s house is.”

“No. This invasion took place six years ago. How long has Twilight been here?”

“Since Nightmare Moon’s attack.”

“Then that would explain why. So, should I look for what looks like an oak tree?”

Rusty nods.

“Exactly, Carve. It should be in the east.”

When I look at the town of cottages up ahead, I see the oddball I was expecting: I’ll just call it the oak house, since it looks like an oak tree just like how Pane and Rusty said it would. As the three of us land, Rusty looks at me.

“Wait. Were you able to fly like that when I first met you?”

“No, I was earthbound.”

“Then how did you fly like that just now?”

“It was because you two were drowning out the negative emotion. Then when it disappeared after the flash, you kept me going. Thanks, you two.”

Pane lets out a nervous chuckle.

“Uh, you’re welcome?”

So, I knock on the door with my still bandaged hoof, stepping back behind Rusty and Pane, afterwards before Twilight answered.

“Oh. Hi Rusty.”

“Hello, Twilight. How’s it going?”

“Goo-”

Suddenly, Twilight shrieks.

“What is that doing h-”

I interrupt Twilight with a sigh.

“As usual.”

“Excuse me?”

“Twilight, this is Carve. She’s a changeling that ended up trapped in Rolling Acres. Would-”

“WHERE DID YOU GO, RUSTY?!?”

“Uh, Rolling Acres?”

“Don’t you know that’s a dangerous place for a pony to be, almost as dangerous as the Everfree Forest?!?”

“I’m aware of that, Twilight. But it’s even worse for a changeling. Carve could’ve died just by presence if not for me.”

“Well Rusty, was she part of the invasion of Canterlot?”

I step forward.

“Yes. I was, Twilight. But I was more of an eroder, and not much else. I was trapped in Rolling Acres for well over three weeks. Even Chrysalis would’ve long been dead by then if she was alone there.”

Whoa. Twilight looks puzzled.

“Really?!?”

“Yes.”

“Wow. Rusty, thank you for doing this. No one would ever be daring enough to do that.”

Rusty just nods.

“Uh, Twilight?”

“Yes, Carve?”

“That Canterlot invasion is still fresh in my mind. Chrysalis had replaced Cadence if my memory’s correct.”

I get a scowl in response.

“Yeah. Why?”

“I saw a parallel between me and Cadence. We both felt lost. Well, I was lost. I still don’t know my way around Equestria though.”

“Then I guess I see a surprising parallel with Rusty if that’s the case.”

I pause for a few seconds.

“So, where did that wall come from that sent me to Rolling Acres?”

“If you know about this, do you promise not to tell any of the other changelings?”

“You have my word.”

“That was from Princess Cadence and Shining Armor just before their official wedding. That wall was made from love.”

Suddenly, I start laughing uncontrollably for about a minute, flailing my legs as I fall to the floor.

“Holes and hives! That just sounds too ridiculous to keep a straight face on! ‘Made from love’...”

I continue my laughing spell, trying to calm myself.

“Wow Twilight. You sure are a knee slapper.”

I stop laughing to see that Twilight doesn’t share the lovely, yet positively silly sentiment, and instead is just unamuzed.

“Are you done now?”

“Heh. Yeah. Phew!”

“Good. Now where were we?”

“Explaining where the wall came from that sent me to Rolling Acres...”

I cackle.

“...and what it’s made of.”

“Yes. Would you like that worded differently, Miss Laughs-a-lot?”

“Nah. I think I know what you mean.”

“Good. So, is there anything else you want to know, you three?”

“Well, I guess it’s just for me, but is Rolling Acres in Equestria?”

“No. In fact, I don’t know where it is.”

“Huh. I guess all we know about it is just how to get to it. Most of the names there do sound quite peculiar, I like the way they were made. I don’t know about Rusty or Pane though. So, Twilight, where’s that thing you found with Rolling Acres in it?”

“Oh, Spike found it really. It was when Spike and I were looking for the letter about the two tickets to the Grand Galloping Gala. You’ll have to ask him.”

“Wait. The Gra- where have I heard that before?!? I shouldn’t know this, but I do somehow!”

Suddenly, Spike joins our conversation, shrieking when he sees me.

“Ah!!! Cha-cha-cha-cha-cha-chaa-chaaaaangeliiiiing!!!”

And he’s out of the oak house. But maybe it’s not too late.

“Hey!!! Come back!!!”

I pause before I run after him.

“You two get the map of Akron! Twilight and I have a drake to retrieve!”

And with that, Twilight and I gallop off into Ponyville, chasing after Spike to try and calm him down.

Author's Note

Yeah, originally, this chapter was going to be double length, but I found that it ran actually at a pace that I'm happy with at the normal length.

That is all.

Chapter IX (Rewrite) - What Are All Those Passersby?!?

So, finally returning to Rolling Acres, the way that Rusty went, he, Pane, and I decide not to reenter the building, seeing as how I don’t want to get weakened by negative emotion again. So instead of entering entirely, all three of us land onto the ground in a vast area of road in front of it.

Looking at the entrance I found when I first got to the Court of Twelve Trees, the front of the design of the entrance simply reads “Rolling Acres” with the same image from on the front of the “management office”. The field of road in front of the entrance has some traces of pattern left from previous use. However, there are some tracks that are rather peculiar. I remember from my previous visits in Equestria during invasions that there were carts on the dirt road sometimes. However, those wheels where smooth unlike the traces left of the roads in front of me now. The texture of the tire tracks are a lot more rough than they should be.

“Alright. So, Pane and I found a map for Akron in Twilight’s library. It seems that Rolling Acres is located in the same direction in relation to Akron as the schoolhouse is located in relation to Ponyville. I think we should start by heading left as we leave this parking lot. Apparently, the theater’s on the southern side, so as we leave, left is north.”

Suddenly, I see something just to our south. Like when I first came to, I find a sign that says “JCPenney’s Outlet Store”. Unlike the rest of Rolling Acres, it seems that it’s still active to this day. However, I shift my focus, vowing not to reenter Rolling Acres if I can help it, looking at Rusty and Pane. Pane’s horn starts to spark.

“Well, what’re we waiting for? Let’s take a look at Akron!”

Right away as we walk, I see an onslaught of buildings, catching them from right to left.

One of them is covered with boards, which indicates that it's in much worse shape than Rolling Acres. There are two that reside at the same point of field as a sign, giving me the ability to tell the two apart. However, the sign is only that of a skeleton of itself. Above of the leftmost building thus far, a pair of glowing disembodied eyes changes from red to green. Just by those eyes lies yet another building, this one in much closer proximity to the three of us, and behind that is a sign with a yellow M on top of a red platform that has some name I can’t tell yet.

As we move away from Rolling Acres, something happens when we get to the street that Rolling Acres is on. The passersby aren’t ponies at all. One, I don’t sense any emotion that the passersby emit. Two, ponies don’t go as fast as these do. Not even close. Finally, three, these are so much bigger than a pony could ever hope to be. Okay, maybe Queen Chrysalis, or any changeling queen for that matter, could be taller than the passersby, but not bigger overall.

Then something else that is weird happens. It seems that those passersby contain a creature, sometimes multiple, and all of the same kind, inside. They themselves look to have more of similar traits to ponies than what they’re in. So if anything, those “passersby” were actually some sort of carriage, if I could even call it that. I mean it’s not being pulled or anything. I guess that’s why I mistook them for passersby, because they moved on their own. So, are those a cross between a carriage and a drone? That sounds very confusing but I guess that’s what they are.

And they’re all so diverse too. One can be small and only carry one or two earless creatures. Another can be more than twenty times larger and can carry dozens upon dozens of these creatures that they apparently contain. One can resort to just one color while another can have a whole name on its side like “Lowes”, “Kenny Carpet”, and ...walle mart...?!? What kind of names are these?!? They aren’t puns, thank Chrysalis, but they’re so bizarre nevertheless! It’s a good thing that the traffic is kind of like that of Ponyville from what I’ve seen, which isn’t much.

“Uh, Pane? Rusty? Are you seeing what I’m seeing?”

Rusty rolls his eyes.

“Yeah. We saw those too. What is McDonald’s anyway?”

“Not the names. Those earless creatures are what I’m talking about. And they sure have some small snouts.”

Pane’s eyes shrink.

“Huh. Didn’t see ‘em. Did you, Rusty?”

“No... I didn’t. Are you sure you saw those, Carve?”

“Yes! I’m positive! They aren’t ponies; that’s for sure.” I start nervously shaking. “What if they know about what the changelings and I did? I wonder if they even ever heard about us before! Do they e-”

Pane puts a hoof to my mouth, causing me to stop shaking.

“Hey, hey, hey! Catch your breath, leaper. Don’t conclude just yet. Equestria is a very well known country. You probably wouldn’t be able to accidentally scare them off if they never heard of you.”

“Of course you wouldn’t be scared of these creatures! You ponies don’t get the short end of the stick like us changelings!”

“Carve, our kind has faced challenges too: the yaks, the dragons, the buffalo, the griffons, the centaurs, hell, even ourselves. I find it kind of funny that Equestria, the most peaceful nation, is also one of the easiest to not to get along with. All those creatures I mentioned: they don’t usually give changelings a hard time. Buffalo have a mutual respect for them down south.”

“Great. So that means most of the kinds that changelings trust are flightless? That’s reassuring. It’s a given that most beings in the world are flightless.”

Suddenly, Pane puts a hoof around my neck in comfort, causing my right cheek to itch slightly as I sigh.

“I-I’m sorry, Pane.”

“I understand. You’ve been separated from Queen Chrysalis for almost two moons. I promise you, we will get you back to your hive soon enough.”

“Really?”

Rusty and Pane nod together, causing me to hug the two, who respond with a hug back.

“Thank you so much, guys!”

Chapter X (minor rewrite) - New Rules

After our hug, I look back up to the disembodied eyes above and study them. It seems that there’s a sequence they follow, at separate times. The pair facing south is what I see first, and for a good forty seconds, the eyes stay green. After that, they change to yellow without sound, and for a short five seconds before it changes to red. I quickly shift my focus on the pair facing west. Shortly after, that same sequence of events happens, and the whole time, the pair facing south is red until the other pair turns red.

Then I shift my focus to the carriage drone hybrids. It seems that they halt into a stationary position whenever the pair of eyes facing south is red. And when they’re green? Those hybrids just go about the day like nothing happened. Yellow and its short time? Almost exactly like green. I say almost because select few of the hybrids stop as the eyes change.

“Uh, Rusty? Pane? Do these rules apply in Equestria?”

Rusty blinks.

“What rules?”

“Red is stop; green and yellow is go.”

“Well that’s new to us. We just travel wherever we please or need.”

Suddenly, one of the carriage drone hybrids keeps going while the rest of the others are stationary as the eyes are red again, turning to one of the buildings across the street.

“D-did you see that?!?”

“Carve, you don’t have to pay mind to them. We could just fly over them. Look, there’s an area we can safely walk on.”

As Rusty points to the northeast corner of the area, I lose control of my body, floating, Pane levitating herself. I close my eyes, trying to process what is happening. Opening them back up, we are on the other side of the stopping area. On the road that crosses with the one that the hybrids seem to stay on, there’s a two tier sign that reads:

DISTRIBUTION CENTER AND DEALER SHOWROOM
Regency
YOUR COMPLETE OFFICE SOLUTION

The Office Place
Desks, Chairs, and MORE!
Office Furniture Specialist 330.848.4652

IMAGINE SCHOOL

When Rusty notices it, I notice that his state is conflicted.

“Uh, why aren’t there any pictures on here? There’s just the name of some place with some information about it. I have no idea what that number is supposed to mean, but I take it that it’s something about this organization, maybe some code we haven’t learned yet. What do you think, Pane?”

“I-I’m not sure. Maybe those ‘earless creatures’ know.”

Hmm... Pane and Rusty seem to be missing the point of our trip here. I know they're used to Equestria Logo Format, but I ought to tell them what I think.

“If we’re going to ask them, then we might as well find the town hall here. But that’s not important right now. We’re trying to get me back to Queen Chrysalis, right?”

Pane and Rusty nod.

“Good. I would like to explore this town first though. Those earless creatures have my curiosity peaked right now. And we don’t have any time to waste. Just look over at the sun.”

I point to the wider growing shadow cast by the front of Rolling Acres alongside JCPenney’s Outlet Store, it inching towards the three of us.

“So what you’re saying is that your resting time always starts at dusk?”

I nod at Pane.

“Well, shoot. Let’s find a hotel then.”

Rusty suddenly startles me.

“Actually, there apparently isn’t one within four miles of us. It would be way past dusk by the time we even reached the closest one.”

“Aw, damn it. Carve, which place do you see that we should stay at?”

I scan around for any places that don’t look to be in use right now, and judging by the empty parking lot past the two tier sign, it so happens that it’s not in use. I take a closer look at the structure in relation to the parking lot.

On the front looks to be two playgrounds. The areas they rest on look to have some sort of fake sand or something of the sorts, unlike the other playgrounds I saw in Equestria. The building itself looks like some sort of market, if the aesthetic of blue that the top of the front boasts says anything. The strange part about it, though, is that the sign on that front reads “Imagine Leadership Academy”. The playground wouldn’t look so far off if it were next to a schoolhouse. It wouldn’t even fit in an academy. Maybe I might be thinking of another definition of academy, but what do I know?

But apparently, I was only looking at the right side of the structure. On the left, the top of the front has a purer blue than on the right. As opposed to the right entrance, the left entrance has only one pane left on the top. I point to that entrance, to which Pane’s eyes grow.

“What? That place? Isn’t that part of the ‘academy’?”

“Apparently not. Look at the entrance. There are boards on the top, just like there were some on the entrance of Rolling Acres. And you probably didn't see it, but I saw a distant building covered with boards. This one must be vacant.”

When we approach the left side of the “academy”, Pane attempts levitate the door open, but with no success. Then, she presses on the panes with her face, trying to get a good view inside.

“Well, you’re right, Carve. It is abandoned. But we can’t go in.”

“Don’t worry about it. I have a plan, ponies.”

I change into Twilight, remembering all the details about her and correcting whatever details I got wrong by looking at the reflection on the windows. Finally, I’m satisfied.

“Okay, you two. Hold on to me.”

And with Pane and Rusty holding onto my neck and torso respectively, I’m ready. I use my horn to teleport into the vacant half of the “academy”. And because of teleporting, I lose my disguise and collapse onto the floor, ready to sleep as the two let go of me.

Chapter XI - A New Day

“CARVE!!!”

I wake up to a feminine scream onto my name in state of being shaken. But it’s not a jolt. It's more like being enveloped in levitation. I see a golden tint like when I lost control of my body when crossing the road. It has to be Pane.

“Huh...” I mutter.

“You had us worried back there! Are you alright?!?”

The tint fades, giving me a chance to regain my energy and get up..

“Um. I guess so.”

“Why did you do that? We were worried sick about you!”

“It was the only way I knew how to get in, Pane. The door was locked anyway.”

“Perhaps for a good reason.”

“But wait. Why were you two worried for me? Ponies normally don’t care about a changeling’s state. How long has it been?”

“Only one night.”

“Phew. I wasn’t out cold. Thank Chrysalis. But then why were you worried?”

“That you wouldn’t make it?”

“Well, I’m awake now, if that pleases you guys. Come on; let’s explore Akron.”

“Okay. First, though, how did you know to change into Twilight of all ponies?”

“Element of Magic? Duh.”

I change back into Twilight and attempt to teleport again. However, Pane stops me.

“Save the energy for when we go back to Equestria.”

“And how’re we supposed to go to Equestria if we’re st- oh! I see a lock on the entrance. I got that.”

I use my horn to unlock the entrance so that we can exit, which succeeds. And with a push using my magic, the door simply opens.

“Carve! Pane! What’s going on over there?”

“Rusty, you can come out now! Carve discovered the exit here!”

Rusty comes out of the backroom to see that the entrance is open, but not without shaking off any dust.

“Alright. Since this is in the same structure as an academy, some of those ‘earless creatures’ might be here pretty soon.”

Pane’s eyes grow.

“Like, how soon?”

“Probably ten to thirty minutes. Judging by this time of year, it’s likely six o’clock to six thirty in the morning.”

“So you’re saying that students here come as early as six ten?!?”

“No, not the students. The staff might though.”

Pane blinks.

“Oh. Right.”

So, the three of us head our way back to the road with the glowing eyes, me closing the door on our way out. And just like yesterday before sunset, the traffic remains unchanged. The only difference now is that a higher percentage of the carriage drone hybrids are coming into the parking lot opposite of Rolling Acres, so that means more rights on red if that one hybrid turning under those circumstances said anything. Suddenly, something pops into my head relevant to the two tier sign.

“Hey wait a minute. Did that place we just left use to be Regency if my logic is correct?”

“What about The Office Place? Did it use to be called that?”

“Pane, I already see a building that has that name.”

“So, I guess that place was called Regency then.”

Suddenly, I hear gurgling.

“Hey Pane? Carve? Anyone else getting hungry?”

Pane nods.

“Perhaps you had your breakfast already, Carve?”

“Heh. Yep. I’ll see if I can find you two a place to eat here in Akron. I’m not sure what these earless creatures’ diet is. But I assume it’s roughly the same as yours.”

Suddenly, Rusty points a hoof to the sign past “The Office Place”. It’s the yellow and cheddar building from earlier. At this view though, I can only see the sign, and not even what it reads. But it is in the shape of a bell with a blue outline.

“What about that one?”

“Taco Bell? Well, that’s convenient. Rusty and I could just find something within our diet over there.”

I suddenly get itchy on my cheeks as the “Taco Bell” sign reminds me of that blue tint I got when I was very young when I was gently put into my nest every night, which got me thinking of that day that eventually led to getting stuck in Rolling Acres.

“Actually no. I don’t want to go somewhere being reminded of that one day the whole time.”

Rusty’s eyes grow.

“What?!? What day, Carve?”

“January thirteenth... Queen Chrysalis’ very first invasion onto Equestria. It was over eight years ago. To this day, that day is regarded as one of the saddest days in changeling history.”

“What happened?”

“The former Queen - Areola - was Chrysalis’ mentor at the time. Areola had made plans to go after two towns: Ponyville and Canterlot. When the ponies fought back, there brought an explosion that caused damage onto the towns, caused by the changelings that had been blasted into them. Three of them died, including Areola, and coincidentally, Queen Chrysalis had sustained a massive injury by a repellant spell, one that was much more severe than the drones had sustained.”

Rusty gasps.

“Oh. Wow. That’s horrible! How long was Chrysalis like that?”

“Up until the invasion onto Dodge Junction, which was about two and half years afterwards. By that time, it had inspired me to help out Chrysalis in any way I can with her first independent invasion, but all I got was basically, ‘Aren’t you a little young to help invade Equestria’. From then on, I would have to report what had happened since the last invasion in that specific location by entering shacks to gather dates and records.”

“Well, you could wait for us at...”

Suddenly, Rusty’s eyes shrink when he sees something unusual.

“...Regency.”

“What’s going on?”

“Carve... look.”

Rusty turns me past the direction of where I slept through the night. There’s a third part left of it. And what does the sign on the entrance read? Regency.

“Look. Let’s all just stick together until we all know where to fill your guts. Okay? Obviously Taco Bell won’t work if we do that. Why don’t we just go with what we originally planned? Going north?”

Rusty and Pane nod.

Chapter XII (Minor rewrite) - Getting Breakfast

So, when we finally travel up north into Akron, There doesn’t seem to be anything of interest. We do see a place named “El Puente Mexican Grill”, but it apparently opens four and a half hours from now. Things go pretty smoothly possibly since it’s rather early in the morning.

But then, the sideroad stops in front of a small forest beside a building labeled Miller’s. The rest looks like chicken scratch to all of us. Pane decides to fly over the road so we don’t have to worry about the carriages, but at this point in the day, not many of them are coming from behind us, and are instead headed for presumably the improbable school. However, we fly the rest of the way until we can get to another of those sideroads.

A little ways after, we see parking lots filled to the brim with carriage drone hybrids in a variety of kinds, just like from yesterday. The only difference, though, is that these ones don’t contain any of the earless creatures I saw yesterday. Three of the most notable labels are “U-Haul”, “Toyota”, and “Chevrolet”. None of them sound like restaurants, so we continue to keep flying.

Then, after bypassing a bridge, all that changes.

The first sign we see is “Burger King”.

“Burger King? Hmm. I’m feeling up to some hayburgers. How about you, Rusty?”

“Eh. Let’s see what they have. Wait here, Carve.”

I nod, letting the two peer into a window. After about twenty seconds, Rusty shoves his face into a bush under the window. Then, it’s Pane’s turn to do so. Finally, the two weakly trot back to me, Pane being the first to speak.

“Let’s, uh, try and find a different place to eat.”

“What happened?”

“Oh, those are ears alright, but why don’t they move?!?”

“That’s nothing compared to the picture they have on the menu, Rusty. That does NOT look like hay, so I guess that’s not in their diet.”

“Let’s try another place then. Maybe we can find a place with your tastes in mind. Actually, we should take a look at that McDonald’s from before. Maybe they have something you’ll like.”

When Rusty, Pane and I arrive back where we started, we detour and head up to where that M sign is - looks like that's where Rusty got "McDonald's" from, and all three of us peer at the window across from a counter. However, looking at the menu, most of it doesn’t look to peak Rusty and Pane’s interest. “French” fries and hash browns don’t seem to be very much of a breakfast. But just when I think the two are going to walk away from the building, the just walk around the corner to my right.

Following Rusty and Pane, I enter the building. However, there’s a sickening scent that greets us all. It’s like a mix between what I smelled when I first came to at Rolling Acres and a pony that had suffered a severe cut. But we all agree to bear the scent as long as my two friends get their breakfast. Then, a raw voice fills the room.

“I can help anyone who’s next!”

And as we look ahead, the area is empty of the earless creatures with the exception of one that’s behind what I can only assume is some advanced bit register. Now, I can thoroughly examine them. Of course, they do have ears, just in a different location in relation to ponies and changelings. Suddenly, Rusty whispers something into my ear.

“These things really love their fashion.”

“I guess so,” I whisper back, before stepping forward.

Suddenly, we catch the creature’s eyes.

“Hmm. This is rather interesting. Are you with them?”

I nod at her, only knowing it’s “her” because of the voice being about as high as Pane’s.

“It isn’t every day that I do this, but whatever you want to order, it’s on me. So, what would you like?”

“Uh, what do you two want?”

Rusty looks at the menu above the creature and thinks for a few seconds.

“Wait, hotcakes?!? There’s a proper breakfast we can eat? Okay then, I’ll just go with that. How about you, Pane?”

“Hotcakes.”

“Two orders of hotcakes it is then?”

I nod.

“Will that be for here or to go?”

“To go,” I answer.

“Okay. Let me just pull out my wallet and I’ll pay for that.”

The creature proceeds to look through her clothes and find what I can assume is the wallet she mentioned. Then, something weird gets pulled out. I don’t know what it is, but it certainly isn’t a bit. She then opens the register and puts the paper thing in there.

“CAN I GET TWO HOTCAKES?!?”

After a minute, we finally get the order.

“You three take care.”

“Bye.”

I wave the creature goodbye and make for the exit, levitating the two plates of pancakes as Rusty and Pane follow me. When we get back onto the sideroad, Rusty and Pane look at the pancakes that are topped with syrup and whipped cream, Pane licking her lips.

“My stars, they look scrumptious!”

“Really? This meal is coming from a completely different species that we have never heard about. I definitely say though, I like how appealing those pancakes look. Maybe even better than what I saw in Equestria.”

“I agree with Pane, Carve. They really do look delicious.”

“Alright, now where to, guys?”

Rusty looks at me weirdly.

“Ponyville? Appleoosa? Dodge Junction? I don’t know.”

“Well, where we live! Isn’t it obvious?”

“Where’s that?”

“Las Pegasus,” Pane and Rusty answer together.

“Oh, I know where that is! All I have to know is the specific house.”

The two nod.

Well, Las Pegasus is actually relatively close to Queen Chrysalis’ hive. I’m sure she wouldn’t mind the near two moons it took to get home. Now, I have a chance to get life back to normal. But should I properly wish the two farewell? Do I stay with Pane and Rusty? Should I go as far as to enjoy their breakfast with them? Do I even waste the time by saying goodbye?

Chapter XIII - Breakfast Burns

When the three of us see a flash, as usual, the locale changes.

“Well, there’s Ponyville on the horizon.”

Rusty points to what he thinks he sees. What I see beside that is a forest.

“So, is if what you’re seeing is Ponyville, what’s that?”

“The Everfree Forest.”

The deadpan in Rusty and Pane’s voices amuses me.

“So, if the Everfree Forest is south of Ponyville, then the trip to Las Pegasus goes right through Ponyville.”

The two nod at me.

“Swing by anyone?”

“Actually, yeah, Carve. I feel up to that. How about you, Pane?”

“Don’t we have to get home?”

“The pancakes are going to be too hot to eat for quite a while. I’m sure that by the time we get home they’ll be cool enough to eat.”

“Wait how do you know, Carve?”

“Care to feel it for yourself Rusty?”

Rusty proceeds to get close to the two plates and touch them with his forehooves. Suddenly, he shrieks and flails about.

“HOT!!! HOT!!! HOT!!!”

Then Rusty races ahead of us into a cloud with his forehooves visibly red.

“P-poor Rusty!”

Without hearing her voice any further, I can see Pane bopping her head in amusement.

“Look, I should probably help him out. Okay, Pane?”

She nods, giving me the go ahead to check on Rusty. However, when I get there, another pony is present, one that I instantly recognize. Her mane and tail are that of a rainbow, and her cutie mark is of a thunder cloud with a rainbow colored lightning bolt. She has a cyan coat with dark pink eyes. Meanwhile, Rusty tries to cool his hooves off by putting them inside a cloud, all the while, straining to ignore the burn.

“Whoa. Are you okay there, burner?”

“Burner?”

“WAH!!! You!!! Uh... Weren’t you part of the Canterlot invasion?!?”

“Well, every one of those kinds in my six years of invasion reports and erosion. Really, I had reported history to Queen Chrysalis and sorted through records located in little shacks.”

“Huh. You do still seem...”

“...a little young to help with an invasion? I get that all the time, to my amusement. I guess I’ll need that comment the next time that one day comes around. Maybe then, Rusty, Pane and I could all go to Taco Bell in remembrance of that day.”

“Uh, which day are you talking about? And what’s Taco Bell?”

Suddenly, Rusty gasps.

“Phew!. Yeah, Taco Bell has a kind of sign that reminds her of o-”

And I use a freeze spell to stop Rusty from continuing on how he was addressing the day I was talking about as.

“Rusty Flashlight, we do not say that day in only numbers! My brethren would find it absolutely disrespectful if I said any day in that style to them!”

Then, I release to end the spell.

“Sorry about that... Rainbow Dash was it?”

“Uh, how do you know my name?”

“All the survivors of a brawl that apparently broke out told me how you and five others represent The Elements of Harmony. Anyway, the day I was referring to was January the thirteenth.”

“January thirteenth, huh? Wait; I was twenty four back then. And what are those bandages doing on your hooves?”

“I put them on Carve when I first found her at Rolling Acres.”

“Rolling Acres?”

“I had repeatedly stepped on some glass when I first woke up after landing from being blasted away.”

“And where did you get those pancakes?”

“Look RD, Rusty and Pane wanted to pay Ponyville a visit, so I think we’re going to-”

“Oh, okay. Want me to tag along?”

Whoa, did that get many times creepier.

“Well, that’s up to you. You’re, uh, welcome to come with us.”

Rainbow Dash nods, coming along as we land on Ponyville grounds. However, when the four of us land, I hear Rusty briefly groan in pain. Pane lands and runs towards Rusty as he begins standing on his hind legs.

“Rusty! Are you alright?!?”

“Guys, he can’t stay like that. Nop- why are you looking at me like that?”

I apathetically glare at Rainbow Dash.

“I think you know why. There’s no time for puns. We need to take him to the closest hospital.”

“Carve’s right. Rusty may’ve gotten a burn from just plain touching the plates of our breakfast.”

Rusty proceeds to start flying at a decent elevation for us to still talk to him.

“Okay. Let’s go then. No burn is going to take anything’s life on my watch. To the hospital it is.”

;=;

When we get to the Ponyville Hospital, we are immediately greeted by an earth pony in a lab coat with a pair of raspberry blue eyes, a flashlight yellow coat, and a lightning blue mane and tail. Her cutie mark represents that of a red and white pill with a black middle. When she sees me with Rainbow Dash and my two friends, she just blinks like I had cast some nonexistent spell on them to force them to take me here, even though we’re trying to get Rusty’s hooves back to normal and absolutely nothing else.

“Uh, what is that changeling doing here?”

As the mare says the name of my species, the ponies in the vicinity gasp and begin screaming “bloody terror”, as Rusty puts it. I just lower my eyes, and use my horn as I sigh.

“As usual.”

The resulting voice ringing throughout the room causes the ponies to stop.

“I guess I can’t stop you guys from screaming ‘bloody terror’.”

I let out a chuckle.

“Could I have a medic help out my friend, Rusty Flashlight?”

Suddenly, the mare we saw up close raises her hoof for a short time.

“I-I am. But how can we be sure if this ‘friend’ of yours is-”

“Rolling Acres,” Pane, Rusty and I say in a deadpan unison.

“What’s Rolling Acres?”

I nod.

“Exactly.”

“Well, okay. I’ll check your friend in then.”

“Thanks, uh...”

“Immunity. And you’re welcome.”

I chuckle a bit, realizing how close the name sounds to one of the Elements of Harmony.

Chapter XIV - To Break a Changeling

For the most part, the whole visit to the Ponyville hospital is just me pacing around the waiting room while Immunity checks up on Rusty Flashlight. After about twenty minutes, Immunity comes out alone, causing me to come to her.

“So, what’s going on? What’s wrong with Rusty?”

“It turns out he has a third degree burn on each of his forehooves. He’ll need some skin grafts to heal the burns. I have to wonder though. What happened that caused that?”

“He touched both plates of pancakes.”

“Odd. Pancakes shouldn’t be able to do that. I know they start out hot, but not that hot.”

“And it happened about an hour and a half after we got them.”

“Where did you get them anyway?”

“McDonald’s.”

“What’s that?”

“Exactly.”

I nod.

“Say, what happened to you?”

“Oh, I was in Rolling Acres before I met Rusty. Stepped into some glass shards. The hooves were fixed when I last came to.”

I wave my left forehoof forward to show that it works.

“Hey, if I do this, would you be able to keep it incognito?”

“Eh, I can do it.”

“Good. How long has it been since you came to?”

“About a day. Rusty first arrived at Rolling Acres almost two moons prior. Hey, wait a minute, speaking of Rusty, don’t you have skin grafts to do?”

“Well, another doctor has to do that. I just do the basic stuff. Just keep me taking off the bandages a se-”

“Wait a minute. Take off the bandages?!? But then how’ll Pane and Rusty recognize me?!?”

“Uh, by your voice?”

“You don’t understand, Another changeling could imitate my voice perfectly; it’s in our nature.”

Now, I change my voice to sound like immunity.

“Like this.”

“Whoa. Okay, that is freaky.”

I change back to my natural voice by clearing my throat.

“So, judging by your reaction to the appearance of the three of us, you probably have heard of changelings.”

Immunity nods.

“So, if you take off my bandages, what will be unique about me to set apart from the rest of my hive?”

Now, the earth pony just looks all over me to see something visually unique.

“I suppose your mane and tail have a bit more blonde than the rest; other than that, I don’t know what else to think of.”

“I think I might want to see what Pane thinks. Most ponies wouldn’t be able to catch that difference.”

Suddenly, Pane comes to me out of one of the chairs on the other side of the waiting room.

“What about me?”

“Hey, Pane. Do you see anything different that can set me apart from my hive?”

“Hmm... all I can really catch is that you’re a bit thicker than the rest, but that’s it.”

“Aw, hun! Useless! What about Rusty?”

“You’ll have to ask him.”

I nod at Pane, afterwards, turning around to the hall.

“Immunity, may I?”

“Afraid to say, but no.”

“What? No? Why not?”

“He’s waiting for the graftor, who’s going to be here any second and take him over to the operating room.”

“Can’t I talk with Rusty while he waits?”

“I’m afraid not.”

“Come on, Immunity! I won’t hurt any of my friends, and that includes him! Just a simple question to ask him; that’s all!”

“Please, not until the skin graft is done.”

“Do you want to remove the bandages off my hooves or not? I need to make sure I’m recognizable without the bandages before they can be taken off!”

Suddenly, we stop as the door opposite to me, Immunity, and Pane, bursts open.

“Alright, Immunity; where is he?”

Immunity simply walks into the near hall as the door opens from the incoming stallion’s magic while I just blink alongside Pane. Suddenly, a rage visually starts to surface over me as the stallion passes me. Finally, as the nearby door closes, I can’t hold that rage anymore.

“No! No! No! No! NOOO!!! CLISARIS HUNUR DURU!!! Nuta hi hunur frema!!! Ve na hata vi; NI HUNUR OSIA!!! UGH!!! Why me?!? Neta hunur ve?!?”

As I shout, I begin to pound my forehead on the wall containing the door Immunity entered through with the graftor. At the end, I slide onto the floor from the wall, letting my cheeks itch as I cover my scalp with my forehooves. Suddenly, I hear Pane’s voice.

“Uh, Carve? Are you alright?”

“No.”

Pane puts a hoof around my upper back.

“Why, Pane? Why do we even bother?!?”

“With what?”

“Why do we even bother doing something only we would do... if no one ever gives us a chance to?”

Pane proceeds to rub my upper back with her hoof.

“Actually, Carve, you have done something only you would do.”

“What is it?”

“It’s everything you’ve done since we got here. No changeling would ever want to help a pony out. No changeling would ever care to see some random urban explorer in the hospital. But you did. Anyone can deny it, but we decide our own actions. Changelings are no exception, even if their decisions are unfortunate.”

Suddenly, the door bursts open again as the stallion from earlier carries an unconscious Rusty Flashlight across the room, Immunity following suit. I avert my gaze back to a comforting Pane Fall to my right with her hoof around my upper back. When the door across closes, I look at it, thinking of how infuriatingly difficult Immunity got. Then, I turn back to Pane as she gets up. I get up as well.

“Pane, I think I changed my mind. Immunity seriously shouldn’t remove the bandages. I thought I would’ve trusted her, but I found evidence plenty against it.”

“Yeah... I kind of noticed. Hell, even I wasn’t given a chance to see Rusty before he was carried off, and I’m a unicorn for Celly sake.”

“Well, looks like it’s time apply that old saying: ‘break a changeling, they break you.’ Let’s move.”

“Right behind you, leaper.”

And with that, Pane and I run for the door, levitating it open.

Chapter XV - A Revelation

As we walk throughout the maze-like halls of Ponyville Hospital, Pane and I start getting antsy after five minutes of not finding the front.

“Great. I think we’re lost, Carve.”

I snort. “Ni osia.”

“What did you say?”

“Eh, you don’t want to know. Something is certainly off yet familiar about Immunity though.”

“Familiar? How?”

“Looking back on what happened, she seemed to follow that same mentality that changelings do.”

“Like, ‘break a changeling, they break you’?”

“That’s what I saw when she wasn’t letting me see Rusty.”

“Look. If we find a familiar hallway, then do you think you could teleport us over to Twilight’s?”

“More like in front of the hospital but okay.”

The next few minutes is us just looking for a hall we’ve been to before. Then when we do, I change back into Twilight, trying to remember all the details.

“I said tel- oh, right. Now I remember what happened.”

“Shh. Now, I'm going to go for-”

Suddenly, we hear hoofsteps coming closer to us. As the two of us turn around, we see Immunity.

“Twilight Sparkle? What’re you doing in here?”

“Nothing. I just came to check up on Rusty Flashlight. I heard he got-”

“Okay. That’s enough. Carve, drop your-”

“You know you just-”

“Carve, I know it’s you. Look behind you. Those plates of pancakes give it away.”

“Pane, hold these with your magic and go to the front. I’ll meet with you soon.”

Pane nods and takes the pancakes out of my magic using her own and runs away.

“Carve. Stop this nonsense now, if you don’t want to deal with me.”

“Seriously Immunity? What are you talking about? If I thought there wasn’t something strange about you before, there definitely is now.”

Then I teleport over to the front of the hospital. In response, I start to breathe heavily but recover quickly. Then I see the receptionist while I’m still in Twilight’s disguise.

“Hello? Uh, do you know where Rusty Flashlight’s room is? I heard he got a burn.”

“Hmm. He should be in room one hundred and thirteen.”

“Okay. Uh, thanks.”

When I leave the front to head to the room, I start itching on the cheeks in thought of the number. Up to this point, the hospital has smelled rather decent, that is compared to Rolling Acres. Then, when I near a corner in the “grafting hall”, the scent turns from decent to eerily familiar. When I look at the post next to the door, the number reads as the receptionist recited. Okay. Why does it smell like a capsulation cocoon in here? I really shouldn’t be smelling that, at least not in a hospital. However, going into the room, I look far and wide and see nothing to really note... Rusty’s maybe in another ro-

“OH VIDO CLISARIS!!!”

To my left, I notice exactly what I smelled... a capsulation cocoon... and Rusty’s in it!!!

I teleport to in front of the hospital to meet Pane. It looks like she ate her pancakes and left Rusty’s untouched.

“Hey Carve.”

“Uh, Pane. I have to show you something! It’s an emergency!”

“Okay, what i-”

I teleport back to where I was, taking Pane with me.

“What are you ta- wait. I know that scent.”

Turning to her left, she suddenly sees the cocoon hanging from the ceiling next to the door.

“OOOOOH MYYYYY GOOOOD!!!”

Pane steps back into me and falls to the floor.

“How the blazes did that get in here?!?”

“I know. If you look at the room number, it’s the same number as that historic day. Not a pony would even care to pick that room out of thin air. If so that were the case, it would’ve been extremely unlikely. It has to be a changeling that got Rusty in here.”

“But what changeling?”

“Not quite sure yet. It could be a changeling queen.”

“How could you tell?”

“A changeling’s vocabulary gives a few clues on their status. For example, I know both Lingo and Equestrian because I learned to read in the early two thousands, which is actually quite late for my rank considering my age.”

“Wait, so how old were you when you began with the whole shack thing?”

“I became an eroder and record reporter at fifteen, when the hive went to Appleoosa. I’ve been first middle rank ever since.”

“First middle rank?”

“There are two sides, first being the more common, and the second being the more rare. There are more ponies that are poor than they are rich right?”

“It only makes sense.”

“Kind of think of it that way. Poor is lower; rich is higher. First low extension is the lowest rank there is. That rank only learns Lingo, so basically, they wouldn’t know what you’d be saying unless you learned Lingo yourself. However, we’ll have to touch on that later. Let’s go find Immunity.”

So, as we walk to throughout the hall, I have the thought that I can probably use my horn to locate Immunity if Rusty is in a capsulation cocoon. When I do, I immediately pick up something, and it so happens to be Immunity. Throughout the halls, we look for six minutes before we run into Immunity.

“Hello, Carve.”

“Not today. I know what really happened to Rusty.”

“Really now. I suppose you were in one-”

I loudly growl and charge at Immunity. When she decides to put the right forehoof in front of her, right in my way, I make a narrow slide under her. Then, I get back up.

“Ze le fu HUNUR ELDEYEN!!!”

“Oh, who? Ve? How do you know?”

As Immunity turns around, her normally raspberry blue irises briefly flash a capsule green.

“I should’ve known. I’m NOT lost anymore.”

I charge up my horn the best I can and fire the charge at Immunity’s forehead. Upon it landing, green flames envelop Immunity. The revelation following the flames is none other than the queen herself. Queen Chrysalis. In response, Pane gasps.

Chapter XVI - Not so Wrong Anymore

Facing me right now is the queen I once looked up to. Responding to the revelation, Pane gasps.

“Queen Chrysalis?!? YOU were Immunity?!?”

“Yes, you urban trespasser! WHO ELSE would it have been? Carve was clever to see through my disguise. Isn’t that right, my drone?”

“Why are you in Ponyville, queen? Weren’t you sent south of the hive?”

“Don’t ask petty questions, Carve! Regardless, I will forgive you for referring to my title as other than a monarch if you return home and leave every one of the ponies behind.”

“Queen Chrysalis, I have looked up to you since I split my egg. But the Chrysalis I know never leaves her drones behind. I know, the latest Canterlot invasion was a complete disaster. Hell, I found out I was lost in some alien realm where I landed. All this time, I have been patient to find you. I don’t want what Rusty, Pane and I did not to be worth it, so I’m not going to exit this hospital until Rusty gets the care he-”

“TRAITOR!!! Ze ni valdraso fi mone sa ga ata ze mato FLEMA!!!”

Suddenly, during her yelling, Chrysalis floats me into Pane, causing the two of us to tumble over into a nearby wall, hearing a nasty crack as we hit.

“Now, which side do you choose? Your role model, or those muling grubs?”

“Come on, Pane. We better warn the receptionist.”

Suddenly, I hear the crack again from behind me.

“OW!!! Carve, some assi-”

“Right behind you!”

I throw Pane over between my wings, using my magic. Then, I gallop over to the front of the hospital.

“Hello?”

“Anything I can help you with?” the receptionist inquires in a deadpan manner.

“We have a demented changeling queen on the loose here.”

“Okay. Let’s evacuate then. It’ll take five minutes before we go though.”

“Alright. You can do it now. I just have to heal two of my friends before I can get out.”

“But what will ha-”

“I’ll be safe. I’m not going to be targeted. All I got to do is make the right cocoon.”

So, I go back to room a hundred and thirteen with Pane still on my back.

“What’s going on?”

“I’m going to put you in a cocoon that will... what exactly do you have?”

“My left hoof got crushed.”

“Okay. I’m going to put you in a healing cocoon that will correct tissue connection.”

“How is it done?”

“I’m sorry I have to do this, but you have to be upside down for this.”

So, I levitate Pane in a position so I see her chin and she sees mine. Then, I fly up and wave my hooves in a relatively complicated sequence.

Left hoof: far down, then left - Right hoof: Right, up - Left hoof: far right - Right hoof: right, down. Then, I move both of my hooves down to finish off one loop before doing the same sequence over and over and over until the cocoon starts to take shape. When I finish the cocoon, I free Rusty.

“Carve?!? What’s going on?”

“I’ll tell you after I get you a healing cocoon.”

“Why is- oh wait. You just said you’d tell me when you got me one of those.”

I nod.

“Hey Rusty, the one I’m going to heal you in, since I have no other choice, is going to be different from Pane’s.”

I start making Rusty’s cocoon and try to remember what the sequence was to make an organ revitalizing cocoon.

Left hoof: far right, left, up - right hoof: far down left - rinse - repeat.

A cocoon takes shape around the now upside down Rusty.

Looking at both Rusty and Pane, all I can be sure about is that those two are going to be okay. I had to heal the two anyway, otherwise I wouldn’t be even tempted to cocoon them. It feels so wrong to cocoon ponies, but it’s for the best that they heal if they have to. Looking at Rusty’s forehooves, the burns are still present. Looking at Pane, I see that her back is arched in a way almost like the hump of a camel. Pane’s back looks a lot closer to her wall than Rusty is to his.

“Clisaris le maturo mato flema pa nuta vi hodao Pehin. Ve ni valparel vi pa ga!”

I sit down in front of the wall containing the exit into the hall and bang my head into it.

“HUN ZE, CLISARIS!!! MOT EN LORINEHICEZ!!!”

I slump onto the floor and cover my eyes as I start wetting my bandages. I sure hope Chrysalis is happy about what she did, because I sure am not.

Suddenly, I hear a loud buzzer go off, then a bell.

Well, it’s time for the ponies to evacuate the hospital apparently.

I hope Queen Chrysalis doesn’t join them, disguised as Immunity again.

“Hey! We have to go too!”

Oh, the receptionist.

“I’m safe in here! Just go!”

“It’s an evacuation from that crazy queen you told me about!”

“I know! But she won’t go after her own drone! Besides, I have to stay and watch Rusty and Pane!”

“Come on! Everypony else has d-”

“Just go!!!” I shout.

“Fine!”

The receptionist proceeds to leave me be. When I look out the window, afterwards, all of the patients and hospital staff stand outside.

“Well, I just hope every one of those ponies are safe from Queen Chrysalis. Wait a minute. Immunity?!? Uh oh. This can’t be good.”

I teleport to the front of the hospital.

“Everyone, listen! I noticed when I was looking out the front window of room one hundred and thirteen that there was a pony named Immunity. Does anyone beside that pony know Lingo?”

All of the ponies besides the disguised Queen Chrysalis shakes their heads.

“Good. Then I can thoroughly conduct this experiment. Greta, Imiuniti!””

Queen Chrysalis scowls at me.

“Greetings yet again, if I do say so myself."

“Hun ze.”

That scowl turns into a gasp.

“What did you say?!?”

“I rest my case. No one in Ponyville knows about Lingo, yet this particular pony DOES. Everyone, meet my former role model...”

I do the revelation spell again on the disguise, causing everyone to gasp at the green flame.

Chapter XVII - Consequences

In the front of the crowd, in place of Immunity is an enraged Queen Chrysalis.

“Queen Chrysalis.”

Then, the Queen starts stomping towards me.

“CARVE!!! You BASTARD!!! How DARE you oath against me!!! How DARE you use a revelation spell onto me in public!!! Do you have no affiliation with my hive?!? This is NOT how Areola and I raised you to be!!!”

“That affiliation of mine is over now. You can resume the hive without me. This has happened in the past, you know.”

“ONCE!!! However, that time was different!!! You don’t get it easy like she did!!! You don’t have amnesia!!!”

“I don’t care whether or not you give me a hard time! If you keep up the way you’ve been acting, then you can forget about taking me back to the hive! In fact, if I were you, I’d start over.”

I start trotting back into the front of the hospital but then stop to a yell.

“WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU’RE GOING?!?”

“I going to room one thirteen…”

Queen Chrysalis gasps, but before she can say anything, I assume my turn to yell.

“...TO CHECK ON RUSTY AND PANE!!!”

The memory of that cracking that Pane’s hoof had made starts to make me tear up as I walk the halls of the hospital. At the end of the hall before my destination, I hear a familiar, calmer voice.

“Carve...”

I turn around and see the six ponies I heard about before all of this had started.

“Twilight? What are you and your friends doing here?”

“I’m very proud of you for standing up to Queen Chrysalis. You seem to actually care about us...”

“...unlike the other changelings? That’s one way you could put it. I got tired of how Queen Chrysalis was acting, and now, I feel so much better knowing the freedoms I gave myself by doing that. I still have to let Rusty and Pane heal, but by tomorrow, they’ll be in a condition like their injuries never happened.”

Twilight looks puzzled.

“Injuries?”

Rainbow Dash taps Twilight on the shoulder.

“Rusty kind of burned his front hooves on his breakfast. That much I know. But what happened to Pane?”

“Her left forehoof got crushed after hitting a wall when I was thrown into her."

Twilight gasps.

“Oh no. I hope she’s alright.”

“With my solution to the injuries, Pane and Rusty will be alright.”

Now, Applejack looks puzzled.

“Are ya sure ‘bout that? Y’ain’t exactly a doctor.”

“I know I’m no healer, but I can distinguish different types of cocoons and how to make them.”

“So, uh, where are Rusty and Pane?” Rainbow Dash asks.

I gesture to the Elements of Harmony over to room one thirteen as they follow suit.

“Girls, welcome to room one thirteen.”

Before the six enter, Rainbow Dash gets confused.

“Uh, didn’t you say that the other members of your hive would take offense to saying a day that way?”

“Yeah, I did. But I’m no part of that hive anymore, especially since Queen Chrysalis said pretty much that exact same specific thing. I don’t even remember why she vilified it in the first place.”

“But where are you going to live, especially tonight?”

“I know a couple of places. Perhaps I could...”

Twilight shakes her head.

“No, we don’t need to see it. You and I probably both know that it’s in Akron.”

“Uh, do you?”

Twilight nods.

“Well, the general vicinity. Please don’t say Rolling Acres.”

And that confused everyone else except for Rainbow Dash.

“Apparently, Rolling Acres is some building that’s almost as dangerous as the Everfree Forest. It hasn’t been used for at least eighty moons, but is still frequently visited, if the emotional content had said anything when I was there yesterday.”

Fltutershy’s eyes shrink.

“But why would you want to be there in the first place?”

“Really? You don’t remember what happened when we-”

Then, Applejack, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie push their heads forward in realization.

“Oh.”

Rarity just blinks.

“Come on in, ponies. Rusty and Pane haven’t stayed in their healing cocoons for long.”

Looking at Pane now, her left forehoof seems to be quite misplaced. I wince.

“So, who is this duo y’all keep callin’ ‘Rusty and Pane’?” Applejack inquires.

“Rusty Flashlight and Pane Fall. They kind of have a knack for exploration. I met the both of them in Rolling Acres.”

Rainbow Dash flies up to the cocoons.

“Well, his cutie mark does have a pair of rusty flashlights. And that cutie mark with one broken glass pane would certainly look painful if-”

“Hun ve- enough of the puns! By Medley! I was lucky I got through my own when I was deliberating in Rolling Acres!”

“Oh.” Rainbow Dash nervously chuckles. “Sorry.”

I sigh.

“Okay. I’ll have to talk with the receptionist if I want to let the two stay here while I find a place to spend the night.”

“Yeah. Let’s do that. Spike went to Canterlot today to take a two day break. He’ll be back tomorrow. In the meantime, you could stay at my place.”

“Oh, uh, thanks, Twilight.”

When I get to the front desk at the hospital, it’s bustling again. However, something about it feels off, like something shouldn’t be here.

“Uh, girls? I have no idea whether or not it’s the case, but does everything in here seem a little off to you?”

“Um, what are you talking about?” Twilight asks. “I really don’t see anything different from before you first arrived in Ponyville.”

“I don’t know.”

I turn my attention to the “receptionist”.

“Uh, excuse me. Are you willing to let Rusty and Pane spend the night here? They’ll be out by tomorrow, I can assure you.”

“Haha, no. There are only so many staff members here at the hospital.”

“No, don’t give me that. The only thing that will be taken up is a room; no staff member is really needed with the way they’re being treated, unless there’s a desire for them to be carefully watched.”

“Very well, we’ll be sure to watch them for you.”

Suddenly, there’s a green glow in the normally brown eyes, causing me to back away from the six ponies.

“On s-second thought, maybe not.”

Suddenly, I jump to two familiar voices.

“Hey Carve!”

“Rusty? Pane Fall?”

How did they get out of their cocoons?!?

Chapter XVIII - The Final Meet

“Uh, Carve? How did those two escape the cocoons?”

I gasp in realization as their eyes glow green, just like the receptionist’s.

“No, Twilight. It’s neither Rusty nor Pane. And that pony over there is not the receptionist.”

“What are you talking about Carve? It IS me and Pane!”

“Well, I would like to say this then. Greta, Pehin. Greta, Lasti.”

“Pane” snickers. This imposter knows that I called her and her friend by who they're posing as at the moment on purpose, and in Lingo no less.

“Of course only you would be able to say that. I’m going to take it though that it means ‘Hello Pa-’”

“AHA!!! Caught red hoofed! You were saying a word for word translation of what I said!”

“Carve, what are you proving?”

“Pane doesn’t understand Lingo. Yet right this moment, she was saying an exact translation of my greeting, thus proving a-”

Someone behind me interrupts.

“Smart one, I should say. It’s too bad we’ll have to replace you now.”

I turn around, finding it to be “Immunity” once again.

“What you going to do? Cocoon me?”

“You don’t deserve to be told of your destination after what you did today!”

Suddenly, flames surround me in a circle as they capsulate me, turning into that of a dome.

“CARVE!!!” I barely hear Twilight shout. “NOOOO!!!”

;=;

I wake up inside a dark area. The walls look to be made of crystal, alongside the ceiling. The floor feels like it’s made out of coated slate.

“Greta? Le lohin uhedo? Nata le ve?”

“Ha. Good questions. But I won’t tell you where you are, nor will I tell you who is present.”

She should stop imitating someone who doesn’t exist.

“Tahoto! Stop it!!!”

“Oh, come on. You’ve had worse. Besides, nopony can hear you.”

“I’ve had worse?!? What are you talking about?!?”

“Don’t you remember where you landed after that Canterlot invasion, where you met those trespassers?”

“Don’t you DARE go anywhere NEAR them, you maggot!!!”

“Oh, you haven’t seen anything yet. I’m not going for them. But that’s all the clues I allow to give you.”

“STOP TORTURING ME, YOU BASTARD!!!”

As I oath, I fire a laser that shoots around the crystaline room until it breaks open a weak wall. What is revealed turns out to be none other than an exact replica of what Chrysalis was imitating.

“What the HECK!!!”

“AAAAAHHH!!! Why is a changeling in here!!!”

“Yeah, I am a changeling, but I am one that rebelled against her hive! Wait a minute. Is your name Immunity?”

The earth pony nods, causing me to hug her.

“Oh! Boy am I glad to see the real deal! I know a way out of here.”

“What’s your name? And what are you going to do?”

“Carve. And I can teleport us back to the surface of Ponyville...”

After using my horn, I find us back to the front of the hospital.

“Alright, do you know of my former role m-”

“Queen Chrysalis? She’s the one that replaced me. And are those two friends of yours?”

I look over the room as two of the drones have reentered as Rusty and Pane.

“Well, they’re posing as my friends.”

And with that, I use the revelation spell once again.

“Take me to Chrysalis, will you?”

The changeling that was previously Pane stops the other.

“Brand, don’t. We have a traitor on our hooves.”

“Call me whatever you want, Cervix. I just want to talk with Chrysalis.”

“Ha! The queen already told us about you. You ain’t seen nothing yet. In fact, right next to you: there she is. We all know there’s no such pony named Immunity.”

Immunity clears her throat at Cervix.

“You actually don’t. Well let me clear things up, then. And Carve has the easiest time with that. Go ahead. Ask me a question, you two.”

“Okay. Do you know Lingo?”

“Uh, do you mean the language I’m speaking right now?”

“Lingo is kind of the main changeling language. A particularly good chunk of the hive knows both Equestrian and Lingo while all the others only know just Lingo,” I clear up for Immunity.

“Okay, then no. I don’t.”

“So, may I speak with th-”

“No you may not, Carve! Didn’t you-”

Suddenly, Cervix’s eyes start to bulge when she sees Queen Chrysalis back up..

“Uh, oh. Come on, Brand. We’ve got to help out the queen!”

Brand nods and takes off with Cervix. Looking back out the window on the front door, I see the six ponies who congratulated me stepping closer to Queen Chrysalis with enraged faces, or, at least an unpleasant expression.

“Come on, Immunity. Let’s join them.”

Immunity just nods, permitting us to exit.

As Immunity and I arrive to join Twilight and her friends, their expressions cause me to stay behind the seven.

“Carve! What’re you doing?!?” Immunity shouts.

“Rolling Acres...”

“You can’t stop now!”

I jump to hearing Chrysalis.

“What’s that? I remember you mentioning Rolling Acres before. What is this place?”

I gasp.

“That's it! If I can’t really explain it to you, I can show you myself! I will have to have your complete permission though, as that place made my hooves require these in the first place.”

I rub the bandages together to show them.

“Nonsense, Carve. You can show me such a place right now. All you have to do is-”

“No, it doesn’t have any immediate relevance to relocation. But since you said I could show you Rolling Acres... are you absolutely sure you want me to do this? I won’t do it unless you grant me your full permission.”

“I am, well, was, your queen. I am ready for whatever you do, regardless of motive. You have made me curious on exactly where you landed and what you did while I had gathered the hive these past couple of months.”

“Okay, then. Here it goes. I’m going to need your horn to light up first.”

When Chrysalis lights her horn, I begin to start up mine.

Chapter XIX - Built From Over the Decades

When I light my horn, I gesture Chrysalis to lean down slightly.

What results is sorting out the many memories I have.

The first of them is when I first hatched. At the time, two changelings, one normal size, and the other like that of Chrysalis now, had come to the many eggs split around me. Suddenly, I was floating and was drawn closer to the two.

”What do you think? What should we name her?”

“Y’know, Chrysalis. I was thinking of... Carve. I just know this grub will be able to pave our way to feed the hive. Carve... welcome to the hive.”

“How do you do it, Areola? How do you name your subjects?”

“Perhaps I may tell if you accept my offer to be your mentor?”

“Really? You’d do that?!?”

“You have been my top drone, Chrysalis. You’ve done so much for the hive, I feel that the right decision is to let you step up. Will you take the opportunity to be my apprentice?”

“Yes. YES!!! Thank you so much, Queen Areola!!!”

And the two had hugged.

The second memory is of that one day: the day that haunts changelings to this day. In the morning, Areola had planned to finally let Chrysalis invade a town of her own while she went to Canterlot. Chrysalis chose Ponyville and led a third of the hive there while the rest followed Areola. My thirteen year old self was looking forward to the results.

”Chrysalis! You’re b-”

I stopped to study her, causing me to gasp from smelling sadness radiating from her.

”Chrysalis! What’s going on?!?”

“I... have to... rest...”

“Oh no. Someone!!! Anyone!!! HELP!!!”

“We’re on it, Carve...”

I gasp at the front drone behind Chrysalis.

”What’s going on?”

“Nearly all of the Canterlot drones had sustained injuries: same with nearly half of the drones from Ponyville. We’ll make sure that Chrysalis gets the care she needs before she rules.”

“...Before she rules? What are you talking about, Cervix?”

“She needs to be queen! She’s Areola’s apprentice! That is until today!”

“Oh no! Do you mean...?!?”

“Yes. Along with Simmer and Hollow, Areola is gone. No other losses were reported.”

In the following week, the third memory, I had lost all reasoning and didn’t leave my nest. After that, the caregivers had taken me to a different level of the hive. By that time, I lost all motivation to speak Equestrian. To add on to the depression infested week, Chrysalis actually almost died she was injured so badly. When she finally gotten to a stable condition, the caretakers had noticed that I could no longer speak Equestrian because I was so depressed from the loss. Finally, had Chrysalis not made it, Thorax would’ve been chosen to be ruler of the hive, since kings were very rare.

However, because of that week, I learned how to make a couple of cocoons: Capsulation, Healing A and Healing B, leading to the fourth memory: my cocooning years. I made cocoon after cocoon as I scouted throughout the hive to feed on love from nearby wildlife and heal injured newborns. Every so often, I would check up on how Chrysalis is doing. Each time, she was still recovering from her injuries, although the later part of the second year saw some actual progress beginning. At one point, I was even told that I was the only changeling to regularly see how Chrysalis was doing.

The fifth memory, spans a wider period of time, which were my invading years. When Chrysalis was fully recovered, she had made the plan to start in Dodge Junction as she was a little rusty on her tactics from one thirteen. After that failed, not as badly though, Chrysalis straight up went to Ponyville, where reluctantly, she gave me the position of reporter and eroder, to report hidden records of points in time after the last invasion onto that specific place.

Then, it comes. Canterlot, the March of this year, the wedding of Shining Armor and Cadence. The last invasion before I was sent to Rolling Acres. Apparently, I was out cold before I first came to for six weeks afterwards, that is at the most. When I found myself in Rolling Acres at first, I didn’t know what the place was called. All I knew was that I had to get out before I died from feeding on negative emotions. When I came back, I found the bandages I currently have, on my hooves. Rusty had put them on me and had stayed in Rolling Acres for three weeks. Then, I met him and we explored.

“Stop! Stop!!! STOP!!!” Chrysalis yells, causing the memories to fade away.

When I look at her, her cheeks are filled to the brim with a stream of tears under each eye. When I feel my own, they too are wet. I look at Chrysalis.

“Chrysalis! Are you alright?!?”

“Enough memories!!!”

“This was exactly why I needed your complete permission, so that I would know fully well that you would be able to bear the chance of reliving any part of your rise to power. I was trying to sort through my memories to find the one I needed to show you.”

Chrysalis looks at me, emitting the strongest sadness I had ever seen, even more so than on January thirteenth.

“Even in the worst of your situation, you still had tried to call me for help, and have noted of what I had promised before. I have failed you, Carve. But I will make it up to you. Whichever place in Equestria your friends live, the hive will be ordered to steer clear of that location. That is if you still want to live with those two ponies.”

“Oh. Okay, if that’s what you want. But if you make that so, then I will be insistent that I visit the hive frequently. I’m very sorry about everything I did to you. If I could travel back to tell myself never to say or do all that, I would. I won’t act like that to you anymore.”

I hug Chrysalis, causing her to rub my back.

“You are forgiven.”

Chapter XX - A Night at Twily's

When the two of us let go, I wipe my cheeks with my right hoof.

“Thank you, Chrysalis. Once Rusty and Pane are home, I will make sure that I visit the hive.”

“Okay. I will keep you in mind until then.”

After Chrysalis and I bid farewell, I look at the Elements of Harmony and Immunity. While Applejack has her hat over her eyes, and while Rainbow Dash just looks at me with pebble sized pupils, the rest are gathered in a group hug with a tear puddle under them.

“Whoa. What the heck did you do? I know you basically said that there was a chance of Chrysalis reliving her rise to changeling power, but what exactly did you do?”

“I made a mental link to try and show Chrysalis where I had landed after the wedding. You know which one I’m talking about.”

“Rolling Acres?”

“Exactly.”

When I nod, I notice that me and Rainbow Dash’s shadows are quite elongated, meaning that it’s near sunset.

“Uh, Twilight...”

“Yeah?”

“I know it might be a bad time, but it’s almost sunset. Where do you think I can sleep?”

Suddenly, Pinkie’s eyes shoot open.

“Sleep?!? What do you mean?!? I know what this calls for, and it’s definitely the complete opposite of sleep!!!”

“...and w-”

“Meet you in ten minutes!!!”

PInkie dashes off, pouring dust into the wake.

“Uh, girls?”

The remaining six shrug, except for Twilight, who just walks over to me with a recovered smile.

“We should head to my place now. It’s too bad Spike’s going to miss out on all of this.”

;=;

When the seven of us enter Twilight’s oak tree house, there is very little light inside, that is aside from the daylight pouring out of two windows in the first room. By my study of the room, it’s filled with ponies.

“Uh, Twilight? Where’s the light? We kinda need to see,” Applejack notes.

“Ugh, don’t those po-”

I get interrupted by the ponies in the room who shout in unison, “Surprise!!!” With the exception of Twilight, we all jump.

“Whoa!!! Um, can Pinkie Pie tell the future?”

Then, we hear laughter coming from Pinkie.

“Well, of course I can! And how did you know about me? Are you a party planner too?”

“A what planner?!?”

Pinkie laughs again.

“Carve, right?”

“Yeah.”

“If I’m correct, then you have chosen to spend the night here in the Golden Oak Library.”

“So that’s what this place is called. That’s actually kind of genius. Since this place is filling with positive emotion right now, I think I might have a treat.”

“That’s what I like to hear!! Come on now!!! LET’S PARTY!!!”

And with that, everyone in the room cheers continuously.

Some time later, Pinkie decides to show me the refreshments when I point to a red bottle with a flame as the label.

“Uh, what kind of drink is that?”

“W’ll, that would be hotsauce.”

“Hot sauce? Ponies wouldn’t be able to drink this then.”

“Actually it is drinkable. The only catch is: drink too much hotsauce, your liver would explode, that is if it goes through your mouth first.”

I start to quietly chuckle.

“And you’d probably have to be a pony too.”

“Eh, what’s a little heat going to do?”

I levitate the bottle and pour the hot sauce into one of the available goblets. Well, it looks like hot sauce; the only difference is that the viscosity is a lot lower than I remember from whenever I was in Equestria. I levitate a straw into the goblet and sip into it. What results is... nothing? Probably a trickle in the throat? I don’t know. All I know is that the result isn’t significant. I smack my lips to get a better taste... nothing happens. I take another sip... again, nothing substantial. Hmm. I could get used to this drink.

“Say, how old are you, Carve?”

“Twenty one. Why Pinkie?”

“I thought you looked quite...”

“...young to drink this? Well, it doesn’t seem to affect me much.”

“Well, you’ve only taken two sips, silly! Try a few more!”

“Uh, okay...”

I decide to have a few more sips of hot sauce and the results... I CAN’T TAKE ANYMORE WAITING...

I finish up the goblet of hot sauce. Other than a little sweat in my mane and tail, nothing really happened on the outside. Inside, all I feel is my throat reacting to the hot sauce, like there was a fizzy drink inside.

“Hey, Pinkie... is it a little late in the year to drink hot sauce?”

“Hotsauce is always a good drink any time of year, Carve. Sure you’ll sweat after a cup, but that’s NORMAL.”

“Even in the winter?”

Pinkie nods.

;=;

Twilight looks at me from the front door. As of right now, only the Elements of Harmony are present.

“Carve... do you know what that is?”

“You mean the puddle?”

“Yeah! What is that?”

“Oh, that’s Carve’s sweat.”

“Uh, you do know that the heater has been turned off since Winter Wrap Up, Pinkie Pie.”

“Well, duh. Carve was curious about the hotsauce bottle. Then-she-and-I-had-a-couple-of-cups-out-of-the-bottle-afterwards. I-was-unfazed-but-Carve-needed-a-fan really REALLY badly, so-I-figured-you-had-one-but-I-couldn’t-find-it! Do you know where one is?”

“Do I know where what is?”

“A fan, silly!!!”

“W-why would you need a fan?”

“Weren’t you listening? Carve and I had some hotsauce!”

“Did you pour some in your cupcakes?”

Pinkie shakes her head.

Rainbow Dash, on the window sill, sighs after snacking on a scone.

“I gotta say, I didn’t know you had a tolerance for hotsauce, Carve. How do you not have the hiccups by now?”

“I don’t know if you know this, but my body doesn’t really react to that kind of stuff. It was a little warm, but nothing really happened. I’m an emotivore, Rainbow Dash, not an herbivore.”

Applejack comes down the stairs with Rarity and Fluttershy.

“Well, this was a mighty party that you threw Pinkie! Rarity and Ah have errands to run before the day’s over.”

“And Angel’s gotta get to bed soon.”

I chuckle at Fluttershy.

“Same here. Well, bye everyone!”

“Yep! See ya, Carve!” Rainbow Dash calls. “Time to go read some Daring Do!”

“Bye, Carve! I’ll be in Sugar Cube Corner if you need me.”

Pinkie waves goodbye before I go to get a mop to clean up my sweat.

Epilogue - The Reflection

I would’ve thought that Las Pegasus was as bustling as Pane and Rusty had told me once I freed them from their healing cocoons. But it turns out that there is a lot of residential blocks in the outskirts. And their homes are to the southeast. Apparently, Pane Fall was Rusty Flashlight’s “classmate” within the last year.

As of right now, it’s been about a week since Rusty and Pane were in their cocoons. Since I met Rusty first, I’ve been staying at his house. It’s actually quite cozy. It’s a two bedroom house, so it not only works that I am usually comfortable in a makeshift nest, but Rusty only has to pay for one bed for himself while he can use his winter bedding to build a nest for me. In the past week, the only day that I didn’t sleep in my usual spot was just three days ago, when Rusty was gone for a trip to Manehattan to look for a place to explore. In the meantime, Pane had let me stay at her place.

Last night, I didn’t get any sleep, so I can’t really concentrate so much. Rusty had noticed my tire and gave me some love to give me energy for at least the following couple of hours, which was really sweet of him.

Later, Rusty started to talk with me about why I couldn’t get to sleep. I guess something was keeping me stirring and had to get it out of the way before it affected me irreparably. In the seven days that I’ve stayed with Rusty, I visited the hive twice. And the second time around, while Rusty was in Manehattan, reminded me a bit of the Court of Twelve Trees. So, it was no surprise that when I brung it up with Rusty, he suggested going back to Rolling Acres to recollect.

At about noon, I begin a flight in the direction of Ponyville. And with the flash a few minutes after passing by Ponyville, I end up in a high elevation above the somewhat familiar Akron.

I briefly land onto the roof of Rolling Acres, next to the skylight I fell through when this all started. Looking through the broken skylight, I can see the hybridized staircase that I first woke up on. I hover into the building, stopping just short of landing onto the staircase. It looks like nothing really changed in terms of how Rolling Acres looks. But just to be sure, I look at all of the halls I explored when I was first here...

My first stop is where I fell unconscious before anyone ever put any bandages on me. There isn’t much to reminisce about, and all that I see that is new is the remains of my nest from that point. My second stop is the theater. I would’ve lost my mind if it weren’t for meeting Rusty. I’m glad I went to the theater. I’m just thankful that I got the care I needed. The third stop is the room that reminds me of the past invasions I was involved with as an eroder and a reporter. But I do think I would’ve still found the name of this place if I saw the entrance to the management office had I not found it here.

But when I go to The Court of Twelve Trees, instead of thinking of whether or not the hive is abandoned, I think of times that I have visited and that I will visit the hive. Chrysalis has successfully gathered her hive and has struck me an offer that I took with a price I saw fit. I pace around the dried up moat.

“Chrysalis, thank you for letting me stay with Rusty Flashlight and Pane Fall in Las Pegasus. That alone had told me that you knew I was growing up in a unique way, a way that I have paved, myself, to help ponies come well on their way to good terms with the changelings. I realize that while a couple other subjects of yours have left over the years, they also mean well and have built good terms with their surroundings, or at least will build those good terms.”

After a few minutes of pacing, I decide to head out where I came in.

Returning to Las Pegasus, I come back to Rusty’s house to see no one there. I wonder if Rusty went to get some food... there’s a note on Rusty’s door, I float down to read.

Carve,

If you read this, then I’m currently at Vanhoover checking out whatever I can find to explore. Pane Fall is currently with me, so you can spend the night where you usually do. I’ll be back shortly.

Rusty Flashlight

As I finish reading the note, the front door opens.

“Hello?!?”

It’s Rusty, so I run to him. And it turns out, Pane is with him.

“Ah. Hey, Carve. Back from Rolling Acres already?”

I nod at Pane.

“Yeah, there wasn’t much to do there. But you know what? Sometime, I might join you on your adventures. That is if you two don’t mind. So, where’d you go?”

“Oh, Pane and I didn’t find anything in Vanhoover. All there was was some warehouse, but it was kind of tall. You can come with us if we go back to that.”

“Thanks, Rusty. That really means a lot.”

“Anytime, Carve. Now who’s ready for some supper?!?”

“How about some hot sauce?” I ask.

“Hot sauce? You drink that?”

I nod at Rusty.

“Pinkie got me into it. I don’t mind it, really. All it does is just make me sweat.”

“Oh. Well, how about something I can buy without needing an ID? I know you only need emotion to survive, but I figured that you’d like something to fill your gut after that trip to Rolling Acres and back. How about some homemade fries and ketchup?”

“Okay. I could have that.”

After supper, I feel tired enough to rest before sunset, satisfied from the fries dunked in ketchup. I have to say, I didn’t expect those fries to have love in them, but they did. At first I didn’t notice, what with all the love inside Rusty’s house, but I do now after getting my fill, just as satisfying as staying at Rusty’s. I can’t wait to tell Chrysalis.