The Lost Changeling: Taken it Back

“So, Carina...”

“Yes? Pinkie?” I ask as we enter the Appleoosa southern limits.

“Where do you live?”

“Eh. Just in northern Wisconsin. When I first met the first member of my current family, I was all over the press. Likely because that world didn’t know what a real changeling was.”

“So, you and Aita are the only changelings who live in that world?”

“Yeah. Chrysalis came there once, but other than that, the only other changeling I know of that came close to where I live would be Carve. She’s the one that constantly visited the Rolling Acres Mall before it started getting torn down based on what she said at Correal’s calling.”

“Well, who’s your family then?”

“Jon, Aita, Sophie, Tim, and Roman. That’s pretty much it.”

“Oh. Well, I’m sure it’s-”

-a ha-ty return?!?

“Um, where’s that voice coming from?” Aita asks.

“Why, that woul’be me!”

A stallion taps me on the shoulder, prompting me to turn around and look at him. The earth pony looks as tidy as my eyes can take. A gelled back silver mane and tail alongside a pale night-colored coat covers him from top to bottom. His cutie mark is that of three bits, and his eyes are swamp green.

“Oh no...” I groan to myself, facehoofing.

The stallion lightly points a hoof in my direction.

“Ah know you. Areola, if I’m correct. It’s been SO long since Ah’ve seen you! Welcome to Appleoo-”

“Um, I think you got...” Aita starts.

“Hey... I know you! You’re that pony from where Rusty and Pane live! What are you-”

The stallion laughs like no one I’ve ever seen within the seven years I remember.

“Ahohoho!!! I’m SO glad you remembah me, Areola! Even aftah ten years, you have those invasion skills still intact!”

Great, he’s shaking my hoof.

Oh my god, he’s got it all wrong...

“Um, Glad Mane? Can I-”

“This is the GREATEST thing I’ve evah experienced since I arrived at LAS PEGASUS!!!”

“Glad Mane?!? Can I fill you in on something?”

“Sure, Areola. Whatevah you gotta say!”

“OKAY... firstly... the only reason why I know you is because I watched a documentation on Equestria’s history in Wisconsin, and you were in Las Pegasus when you were featured in it. Secondly... my name is actually Carina. It’s been that way for almost seven and a half years now.”

“Ahohoho! Sorrah! Mah mistake, Carina. Now, why don’t I show you and your friends all of Appleoosa?!”

“Um, Glad Mane? You do know one of those friends is Pinkie Pie. Sh-she’s been to Appleoosa before. She can probably do it.”

“Aho, alright, whatevah you say, ditto.”

Huh... well, at least he left.

-=-

For most of Appleoosa, nothing of interest really happens. But then near the end...

“Oooooh!!! A salt block!!! OOOH!!! I can’t resist!!!”

I chuckle at Pinkie Pie for a bit.

“Well, do you have an ID?”

“Oh course I do!!”

Pinkie proceeds to put her hoof in her mane, only to pull out a well gripped ID, showing a picture of the excited pink pony.

“Well, if you wanna go there, there’s no stopping you.”

Well, everybody knows how that will turn out. I mean, it’s apparently possible to have enough salt to get kicked out. But knowing Pinkie and that hot sauce, I bet she wouldn’t really break a sweat.

I sigh, having taken in me and Aita’s surroundings.

“Come on, Aita. While we wait for Pinkie, why don’t we see where Braeburn is. He might know a thing or two about Twilight.”

Oh, ya need me? Well, here Ah am!

I gasp at the voice and turn around.

“Braeburn!”

The yellow stallion nods.

“Tee-yep! That’s me! So, what’ve you come here for, you two?”

“Well, actually, it’s the three of us, but Pinkie Pie’s at the salt block. Twilight’s friends have been searching for her, so me, Aita and few other changelings are helping them look for her.”

Braeburn blinks three times.

“Hmm. I haven’t heard from cousin Applejack in a while.”

“And what about Twilight?”

“Nnnope!!”

“Oh, phew. Well I guess that means that she isn’t here. I guess we can take in the sights while Pinkie consumes nothing but salt licks.”

“So, I guess that means you want the grand tour of Appleoosa?”

“Eh, I’ve seen it before in a documentation, so I might know my way around.”

“Okay then. Y’all take in the sights. I’ll be home if you need me.”

As soon as Braeburn leaves, I start smelling salty breath.

“OOH that must be Pinkie Pie!”

“Eeyep!!! So, now where to, Carina?”

“Huh... maybe Dodge. But first...”

“‘But first’ what?”

“Um, maybe we should probably look for a mint shop while we’re here. I don’t want ponies gagging from your breath. I actually don’t mind the scent, since I’m a changeling... but you get my point, right?”

“Oh... yeah I get it. BRB!”

Well, there goes Pinkie... again.

“So, I guess we have a little bit of time before we walk over to Dodge?”

“Hmm? Oh, uh, yes, Aita. You’re correct. I wonder though why Braeburn didn’t question our appearance. From what I heard, ponies are usually pretty hostile toward Pro-Chrysalis changelings.”

“Maybe it was because I was with you.”

“Huh... never thought of that. Maybe he just thought I was a new queen. Well, no one ever writes on the wall for nothing, I guess.”

;=;

So yeah... that was Appleoosa. Things could’ve gone better, like NOT running into Glad Mane, but at least it was rather easy to look here. Now, we are at Dodge Junction, yet another city I’ve been meaning to explore for a while.

“So, this is Dodge Junction in the flesh... reminds me a bit of Appleoosa without the shade of yellow.”

“Huh... every single town in Equestria probably thinks that you’re-” Pinkie starts.

“-a newly coronated Queen of the Changeling Kingdom?!?”

Okay... first Glad Mane, then Braeburn... now, Cherry Jubilee?!? Well, I guess at least I’m not getting berated for siding with Chrysalis.

“Why look who follows up King Thorax! At the very least, you look much more trusting than that one queen.“

I sigh.

“Alright... please let me clear this up for you. I’m no queen. I’m just a mother drone, helping five ponies look for Twilight.”

“And one of them is here! I remember Pinkie Pie! She was headed for Yakyakistan at one point. Well, if you’re wondering, I haven’t heard from-”

“Ugh... yep. I knew it.”

“So, who are you two then?”

“Carina and Aita,” Pinkie happily states.

“Huh... doesn’t really give me any real clues on what you two are like.”

I shrug.

“Eh. I see that coming all the time. Well, I guess since Twilight’s not in Dodge, I guess we’ll just move on with our search.”

Cherry Jubilee nods and waves goodbye.

“Alrighty then. Have a safe trip, you three!”

Well, I guess Twilight Sparkle isn’t in Dodge Junction. Maybe Las Pegasus might be her location. If not, I guess it’s back home for me and Aita... well, after I report it to Chrysalis. I seriously hope her changelings will have better luck finding Twilight. Although I have to say, I didn’t expect that Aita would change an entire nation’s views on me. Yeah yeah, towns call me something I’m not, but had Aita NOT been with me... it probably wouldn’t end well... at all.