Cursed

When Jinx arrived in Ponyville, the sun didn't explode with Celestia's wrath. Ponies just swiveled their heads to watch the black-and-white maned alicorn dash into the library.

"Auntie Twilight! Spike!" Jinx cried.

"What's wrong, Jinxie?" Twilight walked out of the foal's section.

"Did you know about the curse?" Jinx demanded.

Twilight sighed. "Yes. I'm sorry, Jinx. I was ordered by Celestia to never tell you."

"Wha- what's gonna happen to me? I heard something about a Changeling and my birthday." Jinx's lip quivered.

"Do you know the story of your parents wedding?"

"No, they never tell me anything." Jinx pouted.

"Well, your mom was imprisoned in the Canterlot Caves by the Changeling queen, Chrysalis. She was defeated, but at the time of your birth, she returned for revenge. She put a curse on you, and she told your mom that when you turn thirteen, you'll turn into a Changeling.  I'm sorry." she put a hoof on Jinx's shoulder.

Jinx shrugged her aunt's hoof off. "I get a curse on me and you don't tell me? Excuse me, but that's bull."

"You should go home. Your parents are probably wondering where you are right now. They might want something to do with your birthday."

"Uh huh, sure. My thirteenth birthday."

Twilight looked shocked. "Thirteen? Already?"

"Uh, yeah. Remember, Changeling curse?"

"You need to leave. Now." Twilight pushed her toward the door.

"Why?"

"Because."

Jinx was lifted off the floor and dropped outside the door. It slammed in her face.

Tears sprung to Jinx's eyes. Once again, she fly away as fast as she could. This time toward the Everfree Forest. She flew over the treetops for a long time. So long she didn't notice the dark clouds gathering. A few raindrops plopped on her wings. Then it started to downpour. Jinx noticed, but didn't care. Before long, her mane and tail were soaking wet. The wind chilled Jinx. Her wings shook with the effort of staying aloft. The once bright day was now dark. So dark that Jinx didn't see the lone branch until it was too late. Her left wing slammed into the branch and Jinx heard something snap. An explosion of pain hit her and she blacked out.

Hours later, Jinx opened her eyes on the forest floor. She rubbed her head and winced. A large knot was forming behind her right ear. Pain shot down her wing. Such pure agony coming from a little fracture? Pfft, Auntie Rainbow Dash would not be amused.

Jinx stood up and comtemplated her surroundings. One side, trees. Next side, trees. Third side, trees. The last side, trees.

Jinx decided to walk off in the direction of the darker trees. They might harbor some Changelings.

* * *

Miles ahead, a Changeling patrol left the Hive. The Hive was actually a series of hexagon shaped houses hanging, actually hanging from thick vines in the trees.

One Changeling was different from the others. He had eyes much like a pony's, except for the pupil shaped like a cat's. The other patrol members had the uncharacteristic drone eyes.

"Venom, hurry up! Just because you're the prince doesn't mean that you get to lag!" the expedition leader barked.

"Sorry, Sargeant Trap." Venom muttered.

"We have a large area to patrol today, kiddies. Not the best to be learning on," Trap barked again. "We will be covering approximatly fifteen miles. Any lagging will result in being left behind."

The trainees shivered. Timberwolves ravaged the ground at night, and many young Changelings have mysteriously gone missing at night.

"Move out!" Trap ordered.

The trainees scrambled. If they didn't keep up...

"Now, maggots!"

* * *

Jinx was getting tired. Fatigue was climbing up her limbs, making them feel as heavy as steel. Her useless wing trailed in the dirt, turning the normally black tip brown. A loud crunching grew louder. Jinx paused and her good wing instictively spread. She swore. A white wing in a dark forest? Bad idea.

"Venom! I swear to Chrysalis, if you step on one more twig..."

"Sorry, Drillbit. I  won't step on miniscule sticks." a voice sarcastically apologized.

"Another comment like that and it's food for a month."

"You suck. Hey, I think I see something!"

A series of loud cracks led up to the alicorn. Two teal eyes peered at Jinx from a bush.

"I can see you."

"No you can't. I'm inVISIBLE!" he said the last part of the word like he walks.

"Venom! Report!"

"It's a pony, sir. An alicorn."

"Oh, a princess! Let me see the earth pony, rat!"

"I'm positively quaking," Jinx told the larger eyes that appeared in the bush.

"Let me see!" many voices chimed in.

"You all suck at stealth." Jinx rolled her eyes.

"Hey Venom! Looks like a pony version of you!" a snide voice taunted.

"Shut up." the voice Jinx assumed to be Venom said.

Drillbit, as the-voice-Jinx-assumed-to-be-Venom called him, stepped out of the bushes. He was overweight and had strange holes in his hooves. The horn was weird, it looked like swiss cheese. He was black and had bug-like eyes. And fangs. He had fangs.

He judged Jinx. He took into account her broken wing and her horn. He seemed especially wary of her horn, even though she was in no state to use magic.

Finally, he said something. "Venom, I want you to take this alicorn to Queen Chrysalis."

"Yes, sir." Venom sounded grateful.

He trotted out of the bush. He, too, was like he other pony, except he was fit and had eyes similar to a normal pony's.

He levitated Jinx onto his back. His eyes glazed over. A moment later, they re back to normal. "Thanks for showing up randomly. It's six more miles to patrol." he whispered.

"What's your name? Just to make sure." Jinx whispered back.

"Venom. Yours?"

"Jinx."

"Let's just get you back to the Hive."