The Lost Changeling: Taken it Back

Having the experience from my adventures with Rusty and Pane all over Equestria, Ponyville will likely be a breeze. And to boot, Cilia will back me up by letting them know I’m visiting Ponyville.

It’s a good thing that I’m going to Ponyville as Carina’s headed to Wisconsin, wherever that is. I just wish I had more time on Carina’s phone. I still can’t believe that it has a timer and a stopwatch together though. Quite a bit more convenient for someone who’s an athlete, because I’m more on the lines of an explorer instead of an athlete.

Well, no matter. Chrysalis has a mission for me to go on. I wave goodbye to Carina she heads off with her bag. Shorty after, I begin my flight for Ponyville.

;=;

Well, it was a long journey in the skies, but I’m now on the outskirts of Ponyville. However, when I arrive at the Town Hall Roundabout, slowly walking...

“Huh, where is everybody? Hmm... probably just a slow day right now.”

When I take a little walk over to Twilight’s old home, all I see is just a crater like a tree was uprooted.

It’s still unbelievable how Tirek had just blown that place to pieces, much worse than a group of vandals putting an ETM further into disrepair. Rusty told me about the incident when returning from one of his adventures. Well, I wasn’t present in Twilight’s old house nearly as much as I was in Rolling Acres.

Well, if I’m going to find Twilight’s current home, I’m going to have to wander a little...

Wait. What is that building in the background? It looks like something that would be more fit in Canterlot than Ponyville. I think I might want to visit that.

“Hmm... should I use the disguise I used on Nightmare Night? Should I? On one hoof, the ponies still don’t know about what happened then. But I’m on a mission for Chrysalis, and I should keep from messing it up. Well, I’ll save it for later.”

So, having decided not to use my pro-Thorax disguise, I aim to walk towards the castle. That is until I abruptly stop and fall back, alongside suddenly hearing a familiar voice grunt. Looking at who I bumped into, I gasp and run over to him.

“Oh vido osia! Le zi aro?!?”

The baby purple dragon rubs his eyes to clear his vision, only to see me. He quickly crawls back by a foot and a half

“Whoa!! Uh, who’re you?!?”

“Spike! I’m so sorry! I didn’t see you there!”

“Uh, how do you know me?”

“Do you remember Rusty Flashlight?”

“Wait a minute. Aren’t you that changeling with the bandages that I freaked out over years ago?”

“Yes!! Were you in a rush or something? I should’ve seen you if were- or uh- ack! Oh, you know what I mean!”

“Well, Twilight wanted me to get her a scroll that she forgot to get when she was headed to town hall. She’s over there now if you want to see her.”

“Yes. I would like to see her. Can I come with you?”

“Erm, okay...”

“What? You're headed to town hall, right Spike?”

“Yes.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

“I-I guess what I’m saying is that it would be quite aw- um, uh, I guess I’m just used to seeing the newer look of changelings a little more.”

“Well, that’s not important right now. Let’s go.”

;=;

I sit on of the balconies and look at the floor, thinking about exactly what I’d forgotten to retrieve in this occasion.

“Twilight? Are you okay?”

I suddenly shake my thoughts out only to see Cadence beside me.

“Oh, uh, maybe. I sent Spike to get my scroll, but he shouldn’t really be taking as long as he is now.”

“Twilight, you can trust Spike. He’s your assistant. Everypony in Ponyville is in Town Hall, not blocking his path.”

“Well, he-”

Suddenly, I hear heavy breathing come into my line of sound. The source of it, falling on his stomach after having climbed up onto the railing.

“I’m... here...”

“Spike!”

I levitate the scroll from his claws and unravel it, prompting me to gasp at what it is.

“You got it! Thanks, Spike.”

“No... problem...”

“So, are we ready to start?”

Spike shakes his head at me.

“No... Carve’s... outside!”

“Fine. Why don’t you get her in here? It’s kind of important.”

“Maybe you should let him rest for a few moments first, Twilight. He looks quite worn out.”

“Thanks.”

;=;

For over half an hour of waiting, Spike finally opens the main entrance to the town hall, breathing somewhat heavily.

“So, Spike, can I come in?”

“Yes... but you’ll need a disguise first. It’s going to be pretty awkward in there... if a pro-Chrysalis changeling was present... to honor someone they overthrew.”

“I can already think of an awkward moment that might happen if a certain couple is there, even with a disguise.”

“Oh, uh, if it’s who I think you’re referring to... they actually are here.”

I blink a couple of times.

“Oh.”

“Kind of funny that this is coming from the same changeling that burst out laughing about the same thing way back when.”

“Trust me, Spike. I’ve lived in Equestria since the day after I saw you for the first time. Back then, I acted almost exactly like a changeling of my age, not one that has a life elsewhere but the hive.”

“Okay. Just come inside when your disguise is ready.”

I nod. I wait to for the door to close before I immediately change into my disguise from Nightmare Night and the day afterwards. When I levitate the door open, I see a crowd of up to a hundred thousand ponies, some of them in the air, and some of them on the balconies. Suddenly, right before my eyes, I see a unicorn stallion with a white coat, mane and tail striped similarly to Twilight’s, only blue, and a cutie mark that represents a blue shield with four stars, one inside the shield, and three above.

“Shoot! That’s him!” I shout to myself.

“Huh? W-who’s there?”

The stallion turns aimlessly to try and locate my voice, that is until he sees me.

“O-oh! Hi there! Uh, have we met before?”

I shake my head.

“Not properly. I’m Carve. Shining Armor, if I’m correct.”

“Heheh, that’s me.”

“Say, have you ever met another changeling named Carina?”

“Once... it was a little over a year after the wedding I had. Why?”

“She and I have been friends since Nightmare Night.”

“Cool. Say, uh, do you mind chit-chatting after hearing the princesses? Because they’re about to speak in a few minutes.”

“Um, I’m alright with that.”

“Good. It’s very important, since it’s about Thorax.”

“Yesh... him... okay. I guess I’ll talk about Carina later.”

I proceed to wave to Spike, yet with little success.

Is everypony ready?

Oh dear they’re coming back.

The door closes, one last time, this time being locked by a cross eyed pegasus.

“All set...”

Well, if I’m going to be trapped in here, possibly bombarded by puns, I might as well use the only method I know that will help me evade them...

Zzzzz.