The Changeling of Illusions

Forge pulls his newest creation out of the water bucket, the blade having cooled off. The design is unlike anything seen before in Equestrian society. The grip is horizontal, hidden under a dome of metal just large enough for muzzles of large size to fit in. The blade's edges are horizontal when held, the edges flowing into a cross-guard made from two additional curved, smaller blades. The shaping of the blade cross-guard is curved outward, the tips pointed diagonally forward from the grip in a crescent moon like shape. Forge presents this new design to Solid Weld, who looks it over with a sharp eye.

"Hmm... This is... interesting, to say the least... I can see the guard is also meant to catch the blades of opposing swords, yes?" Solid asks, gently tracing the crescent with a hoof.

Forge nods excitedly. "Yep! And the dome makes sure that the caught blade won't be able to cut your muzzle either! Plus, the horizontal grip inside allows for you to wield it easier than a vertical grip would, and makes it more maneuverable than having the blade jut out to one side with no muzzle protection. I mean, it's almost like traditional sword designs weren't originally meant for ponies or something."

Solid continues his inspection, holding the sword by the grip and taking a few test swings. He sets it down afterwards. "This is a pretty well designed sword for ponies for sure. Congratulations Forge, I think you've just managed to create a significant change in the way our swords should be designed. Not many can say they've done that you know." Solid turns to Gina, bringing the new sword over to her. "Do you think you can modify your hilt designs to match this?"

Gina looks it over, picking it up and making her own inspections. "Blade could use some work, but the grip's alright. I can see the ideas behind it, shouldn't be hard to remake in a higher quality. I'll have a whole rack full for you by tomorrow night." She affirms, immediately setting to work.

"Excellent. We can have some of the guard training with these new weapons soon enough. " Solid walks back over to Forge, putting a hoof to his withers. "You did good kid. Keep churning out new weapon designs like this and you might lead the Royal Blacksmiths soon." Solid smiles, patting Forge a few times.

Forge beams, setting to work on making more of his creations.

-<>~--*--~<>-<

Chrysalis paces around in the throne room, bored out of her mind. She flops onto the throne with an exasperated sigh. "Suture, how are your eggs coming along? You should have laid a clutch by now."

"Umm, your majesty. I think we might have a bit of an issue... Apparently, I haven't been fertilized." Suture relays back.

Chrysalis' anger washes across the hive in a sudden wave. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU HAVEN'T BEEN FERTILIZED!? YOU WERE COVERED IN HIS JIZZ LIKE A COMMON WHORE AFTER A BUKKAKE!"

"I don't know what to tell you! The bastard must've shifted so he wouldn't ejaculate actual semen beforehoof! I even lied to him about not being able to lay without assistance and everything!" Suture relays, panic and worry clear in her voice.

Chrysalis puts a holed hoof to her muzzle, eyes closed. "Ugh, so much for that plan. We'll need to find another way to obtain new changelings with the same lust capabilities he has. In the meantime, ensure he doesn't reveal our plan too early. For the hive!"

"For the hive!" Thousands of echoed voices across the hive echo out in unison.

-<>~--*--~<>-<

Aurelic sits in his room, having a rare audience with both Celestia and Luna.

"So do you think it would be alright if I revealed myself to them after I finish helping with the harvest?" Aurelic nervously asks, his wings twitching in anticipation of the answer.

Celestia simply nods. "I'm sure they'll understand if you explain yourself to them. I feel obligated to warn you about Twilight's..." She clears her throat. "Enthusiasm for learning."

Aurelic sighs in relief, unaware he was even holding his breath. "Good, no more lying..." "Aaaand here's the guilt. You know what? No. I'm not human anymore. I've been given a clean slate and new body. Where I initially came from doesn't matter."

"Is... everything alright Aurelic? Thou seem... troubled." Luna inquires.

Aurelic snaps out of his thoughts. "I'm fine. Come harvest, which shouldn't be too long from now, I can stop hiding who I am from them. I'm sure you'll get a letter all about it from Twilight on Tuesday."

Celestia gets up to take her leave. However, Luna remains seated. Celestia raises a brow. "Are you not going back to sleep yet then, sister?" Celestia inquires.

Luna looks up at her. "Do not worry, dear sister. We are just going to ask a few more questions before we leave."

Celestia nods. "Just don't stay up too long, you need your rest before you start raising the moon again."

With that, Celestia leaves. Luna looks back at Aurelic, very seriously. His ears flatten on instinct.

"Aurelic, we may not be back to full strength yet, but we know when somepony is keeping something from us. We've noticed your dreams have things other ponies' dreams all seem to lack. And your typical form sometimes is something we have only seen once before. Art thou from the other side of Starswirl's mirror portal?" Luna asks, firmness clear in her tone.

Aurelic tenses. "Ugh, I was hoping you wouldn't find out for a while longer... I'm not from the other side of the mirror at all, but I am from a world similar to it." He sighs. "But none of that's important. My past is irrelevant to who I am now. But yes, I used to be human. As such, my dreams contain an amalgam of locations from my old home world, and some new additions from my experiences here in Equestria so far."

Luna tilts her head inquisitively. "Doth thou have a family back in your home world? Would thou not want to return to them?"

"I have a family, yes. But I'm sure they're doing fine without me. They would have had to go on without me there anyway, since after I moved out I only ever really planned to visit them on holidays and birthdays. They're strong, I believe they'll get over my disappearance and carry on." Aurelic explains, affirming it with a nod. "Besides, even if there was a way I could go home, I don't think I'd ever want to. My short time here has been more fulfilling than the majority of my life back home."

Luna looks at the floor for a moment. "Very well then. We shall take our leave." She stands up as Aurelic does the same.

"I do have something I'm working on anyway, have a good rest Princess Luna." Aurelic says as Luna leaves. He turns to his work table, examining his sketching, research, and made components. "Soon, I'll finish building it..."

-<>~--*--~<>-<

Forge makes his way towards Ponyville's main square, carrying a big empty burlap sack. He plops his ass down next to the fountain, watching the water carefully. Sure enough, there are tiny little ripples disturbing the usually calm surface. He looks to the horizon as the ripples grow stronger, the dust cloud approaching in the distance.

"STAMPEDE!" Rainbow yells out, effectively taking the place of a weather alert with her loud, urgent tone.

The bunnies have arrived. "Pet rabbits back on Earth are effectively the same as all rabbits here in Equestria, so this should be no problem." Forge thinks to himself, watching the bunnies begin their rampage throughout the town. "Operation Bunny Bag is a go." Forge walks around, systematically picking up bunnies telekinetically by the scruff, and turning them onto their backs before placing them in the burlap sack. Fluttershy takes notice of this, while a fuming Twilight stomps off towards Sweet Apple Acres.

"Forge? What are you doing here? And why are you putting the bunnies in a bag like that?" Fluttershy asks, head tilted like a curious puppy with the ears to match.

"Too... Cute! FOCUS! Bunnies in the bag." "Well, I think you remember my immediate future visions, right?" Forge asks.

Fluttershy nods.

"Well, this is one of those times. I figured while I'm here, I might as well help with the bunny crisis. So yeah." Forge explains, continuing to place the bunnies in the bag.

"Oh... Well, I appreciate the help. I don't know how long it would've taken to round them all up otherwise. But, how did you know how to pick them up and calm them so fast?" Fluttershy continues to ask.

"Used to have a pet rabbit a while back. She definitely had a personality to her. Anyway, you should probably still look for the stragglers I almost definitely missed around here. You still know animals way better than I do, and where they'll be hiding." Forge finishes, making his way around the town to gather every bunny he sees. After about an hour, every bunny that got loose was relocated back around Fluttershy's cottage, and properly counted. That's when Rainbow Dash shows up.

"Hey Fluttershy, Twilight's finally convinced Applejack to let us help." Rainbow looks over to Forge. "Oh, hi Forge. Feeling up to helping around a farm today? AJ could really use the help." She hints not so subtly.

"Yeah, I'll help. That's actually why I came here today in the first place." Forge says, punctuating it with a nod.

Rainbow looks around worriedly. "Wait, is there gonna be a huge disaster at the farm!? Oh no! I gotta warn-" She's cut off by Forge tapping her on the wither.

"No, no huge disaster at the farm. If anything, the disasters have already happened. Though, those needed to happen for Applejack to finally accept she needs help. Anyway, I don't mind helping sort out the aftermath of all of this. Fluttershy and I will meet you there soon." Forge explains.

Rainbow nods, flying off. Meanwhile, Forge and Fluttershy begin the walk to the farm, discussing bunnies and other animals along the way.

-<>~--*--~<>-<

Forge uses his magic to gather about one tree of apples at a time, glancing over to Twilight's massive group of multiple trees worth of apples. "And that's why she's the element of magic. Meanwhile, my magic's depleting pretty fast, even with the ambient friendship all around me right now."

Applejack wheels out the apple juice. "How about y'all take a little break? I've got some fine apple juice waitin' for ya." She says as she wheels the cart over to a nearby table, setting up all seven bottles. "Girls, and Forge, I can't thank you enough for this help. I was actin' a... bit stubborn..."

"A bit?" Twilight japes.

"Okay, a might stubborn. And I'm awful sorry. Now, I know the town gave me the prize pony award, but the real reward? Is having you six as my friends." Applejack apologizes.

"Good thing you realized how stubborn you were being, otherwise who knows what other disasters might've happened." Forge jokes, eliciting some giggling across the table. "But in all seriousness, there's something I need to tell all of you. It's been practically eating away at me for my entire stay in Ponyville, and Canterlot."

"Really? Why'd you wait so long to tell us then?" Twilight asks quizzically.

"Oooh, another secret? What is it?" Pinkie asks enthusiastically, bouncing in place with anticipation.

Meanwhile, Applejack just narrows her eyes at Forge.

"This is... a big one. Just, you have to promise me you won't freak out, okay?" Forge pleads. "Oh god I'm really about to do this." His pulse is racing so fast he's not sure if it's even healthy. Nerves are definitely there, taking all of his willpower to push through.

"How bad is it? I mean, no offense pal but... you're not exactly scary. Kind of the opposite, actually." Rainbow thinks out loud.

"And you helped me with the bunnies earlier today, so I know you're not a bad pony." Fluttershy affirms.

"Okay, here goes nothing." Aurelic drops his disguise, revealing his black, holed chitin, dull gold carapace, gold to green fin and tail, pale green glittered wings, glinting white fangs, and bright chartreuse insectoid eyes. Everyone present stares in complete shock. "R-remember what I said? No freaking out? It's still me, I just... look different is all..." Aurelic lies down, in an attempt to make himself look less threatening.

"What... are you?" Twilight asks, fear clear in her voice.

Fluttershy is practically as small as she can be, shaking with her wings covering her eyes while Rainbow stands between her and the changeling. Applejack just continues to judge Aurelic. Rarity has taken a few more steps back than the others, with Spike standing by her side, ready to defend her if he needs to.

"I'm a changeling. A shapeshifting insectoid equine species that feeds on positive emotions for sustenance. Even when it's cooked into things when they're 'made with love'. Unlike pretty much all of the rest, I only ever feed on ambient emotions in the air, never directly. My actual name is Aurelic, Turner Forge is just my created unicorn disguise. I can assure you, since day one it's always been me. The party, the castle, confronting Nightmare. I just hid my real form because I feared being rejected without having any chance for you to get to know me. I mean... you know how you reacted to Zecora at first. And she's just a zebra, nothing near as drastic a difference as a changeling is." Aurelic explains.

At this point, Fluttershy has an eye peeking from beneath a wing, trembling far less. Rainbow still keeps her guard up, and Applejack continues to stare him down. Skepticism hangs in the air like a thick blanket.

"I swear to all of you, I wouldn't hurt anyone. The princesses already know about this, they can vouch for me if you need that." Aurelic desperately tries to assure them.

Applejack just walks up to him, unfazed. "I knew there was somethin' you were hidin'. And I also know honesty when I hear it." She turns to address the others. "He's tellin' the truth. If he'd wanted to hurt anypony, don't you think he would've done it by now?" This calms everyone present, including Aurelic. She turns back to Aurelic. "Forge, I mean Aurelic. Thank you for finally openin' up about this. That must've taken some real guts to do." She offers a hoof.

Aurelic stands up, giving her a hoofshake. "Thank you, Applejack. I... know it might take getting used to, but I hope we can still be friends despite this. We cool?" He looks around.

"If AJ says you're alright, then yeah, we're cool." Rainbow says, the rest following suit with a nod.

"Why are your wings so sparkly? Did you spill glitter all over them?" Pinkie asks with her typical enthusiasm.

"No, they turn that way when a changeling makes genuine friends. I've got the royal blacksmiths back in Canterlot, and I think maybe you six. Though, I don't want to assume it's all hunky-dory, considering the smiths don't even know about this yet. I'll tell everyone soon, but not right now. I'm still feeling nervous as all heck right now, and I'd probably get sick if I tried revealing myself to the whole world right now." Aurelic says, sipping his juice.

"Now, I have even more questions. When we're done helping Applejack, would you please stop by the library?" Twilight asks, actually grinning at Aurelic now.

"As long as you don't put anything up my butt, sure." Aurelic jests.

"I- why would- what?" Twilight stammers in embarrassment, while everyone else laughs hysterically.

"Relax, I was just kidding. Mostly." Aurelic smiles. "I... actually feel happy. Genuine happiness. Haven't felt that in a long time. It's... nice."