"Okay...okay, just stay calm. You haven't done any real damage, and you regained your composure just in time!" An ebony changeling mare landed on the soft grass in a haste. She was out of breath, shaking from the terror and adrenaline surging through her body.
She had lost control again.
It has been 4 months since she had left Queen Chrysalis' hive, not wanting to take part in the selfish act of stealing the forces of love from helpless ponies. She has a kind heart, but she still needs to feed...somehow. She has some moments when the hungry animal inside bursts out of its shell, and she lashes out at everypony around her. She has caused quite a few panics because of her insatiable hunger. She hasn't hurt anypony yet, but it was only a matter of time before she would be taken over by her own mind. She needed to find a solution, and fast.
It is common knowledge that changelings feed off of the love other ponies feel for each other. They shape-shift into the pony's significant other; girlfriend, boyfriend, husband, wife, whichever, and manipulate them into doing destructive things for the changeling's benefit, whether it be for sustenance, or entertainment. She always felt that this was cruel and heartless. She wanted to live differently and not take advantage of others, but generation after generation of instinct was turning her into a monster.
She lowered her head, and walked slowly into the Everfree Forest; a dark place filled with wild and dangerous creatures that nopony could tame. It was where she belonged. Her purple mane and gold streaks dragged against the ground, her purple wings were folded, and her soft purple eyes were glossy. She couldn't believe what she was turning into, but what was upsetting her the most was that she didn't know how to stop it. She tried eating real food like a normal pony, which sustained her and kept her healthy, but her craving for love was almost too much to bear. It was like a small parasite that clawed at and tore open her heart. Warm tears slid down her face, which was scrunched up in an attempt to hold them in, but to no avail. She paid no attention to the occasional screeching of bats, or malicious animals jumping in front of her and threatening to attack. After a while, she started buzzing her wings, with the intention of getting to her destination faster.
The hut was finally in sight. A dim light from inside defined the features on the outside; old, but stable. A tree stood in front of her, leaves abundant on the top of its head. There were some painted wooden masks in the yard and on the door, which sent a small jolt of fear through her body, but it quickly washed over. She came to a landing just a few feet before the front door, slowly walked up to it, and gave a few gentle knocks. It opened on its own with a suspenseful creak.
"Z...Zecora?" She called, her voice cracking slightly from the earlier crying putting a strain on her vocal chords. "Are you here?"
"Ah yes, come in, I'll be there in a few." An African-American accented voice came from an unknown spot within the hut. Regardless, the changeling walked in, closing the door behind her. She found an assortment of shelves and tables, containing plants and bottles, some empty, some filled, along with an assortment of decorations, including those creepy masks. The centerpiece of the home was a big, black cauldron, big enough to hold four ponies. Something was boiling inside of it. When she peeked over the cauldron's mouth, she saw a green concoction bubbling calmly. It smelled sweet, and sent a comfortable sensation through her body, making her completely forget about her troubles.
A light gray zebra with dark gray stripes in a tribal-like design walked out from one of the dark rooms. She had a brown jar in her mouth, and the changeling mare figured that it was an additional ingredient for the brew. When the zebra poured the specs of green into the pot, it turned into a bright pink, that settled into a relaxing purple. Zecora left the cauldron alone, so she could tend to another matter. She sat down in front of the changeling.
"Now, what can I do for you?" She finally finished.
The changeling sighed, remembering why she came here in the first place. However, she sighed in relief at the zebra's kind and compassionate nature.
"My name is Resonance, and as you can probably tell, I am a changeling."
Zecora nodded at this statement.
"I don't agree with Queen Chrysalis' methods of feeding; I think it's immoral to just steal love from ponies. But the reason I come to you is..." Resonance made a conscious effort to switch her expression from angry and determined, to humble and seeking. "I sometimes have these outbursts. I sometimes lash out at others because I'm so hungry. I haven't hurt anypony yet, but I'm so afraid that someday I will..." A tear almost escaped from her left eye, but she wiped it with her left hoof. "I came here hoping that you could give me a potion to control these outbursts."
Zecora was looking down at the rear hooves below her in deep thought. She looked up at Resonance, her face serious.
"A potion cannot help your problem, alas. Maybe you should speak to a pony of another class."
Resonance tilted her head quizzically.
"Travel to Ponyville, and there you will find: Princess Twilight Sparkle; smart and kind. When you meet her, ask for a spell. One of which should work quite well."
Resonance thought about this for a moment. If she had to travel to Ponyville, she would have to adorn one of her personalized forms. At least, when she was in the public. She was reluctant about the idea, what if the Princess wasn't accepting of her? What if she was just shooed out of the castle because of what she was? No...this was the Princess of Friendship: one of the most accepting ponies in Equestria. Twilight was going to welcome her, especially if she showed that her motives were peaceful. Resonance made up her mind: she was going to see Twilight tomorrow. What other choice did she have anyway?
