The Last Changeling Commune

{\_7 Months Later_/}

One wouldn’t expect a meeting of the Crystal Empire’s communist groups to take place in a card game in the basement of an orphanage. That thinking though, is exactly why the three ponies and a cloaked Changeling played there.

At the head of the table was a dark red Earth-pony stallion with a jet-black mane who led the Steelist members; the authoritarian fanatics everypony believes all communists are. To his left was a thinner Unicorn stallion of a lemon coat and a balding light blue mane who led the Trotsky members; the behind the scenes ponies who would provide aid the working classes in times of distress, both natural and revolutionary. At the end opposite the Steelist was a Pegasus mare of a green coat and pink mane representing the Anarchist commune located south of the Crystal Empire’s capital. And in between them all was the scarred Changeling we know as Breakheart.

“You know,” started the Trotsky, “if you told a younger me that I’d be playing a card game with a love eating shapeshifter who’s the moderate in the group, I’d ask what you were on.”

“What do you mean by moderate, Gold Star?” the Anarchist said giving a name to the Trotsky, “I haven’t killed before.”

“No, I mean that it’s not to either of your extremes of governmental powers, Chain Breaker.” Replied Gold Star returning the name game to the mare.

At this the Steelist jumped in, “Correct me if I’m wrong Comrade Changeling, but I’m sure that he still has loyalty to some sort of monarch with a militarized society. So almost a Steelist, like me!”

“No Flag Bearer,” the Trotsky replied to the Steelist, “it isn’t so interested in isolation. After all, it contacted us first.”

“UNO!” shouted Breakheart having only one card left in his ungues and drawing the ponies attention, “Did you guys forget about the game?

“Oh, correct, the game. I guess we got carried away.” Replied Gold Star with a slight blush.

“So, what are you all in that matter Comrade Changeling?” Asked Flag Bearer.

“Well,” Breakheart tried to pick the right words, “it is difficult to say since we do see the benefits of both sides in this matter. I myself probably would lean somewhat authoritarian, but you would get along fine with my Lieutenant. You two see things, similarly.”

“Draw four!” exclaimed Chain Breaker placing the card to stop Breakheart’s incoming victory, “By the way, those pigeons you used to send messages to us. How’d they know where to find us?”

With a smug look even with four new cards, Breakheart almost boasted, “Well, it’s much easier to give orders to drones than birds.”

“Those were Changelings?” Gold Star jumped in.

“That’s correct.” Breakheart replied with a mile-long grin.

“So, Comrade Changeling, then why would you insist on meeting us in this form?” Flag Bearer questioned, “Especially with the history of our races?”

This question, Breakheart recited his prepared answer, “Notice how I have no horn? Well, without a horn I can’t really do magic. As for why I wished to meet you. That Idea was from my little assistant.”

“Your little assistant? Does that mean you have a child?” asked Gold Star.

“Yes, I found her in a closet during an attack on a Crystal Nationalist held town.”

“So, you’re the ones behind those?” Flag Bearer said, with a twinge of jealousy in his voice.

Before Breakheart could answer though, Chain Breaker chirped in, “When can I see the little dear?” Causing all to look in the Anarchist direction, “What, I think it’s adorable that he has a little daughter. *gasp* What’s her name?”

Unsure of how to react Breakheart responded “She goes by Smiles now.”

“How precious! You must bring her one day.” Chain Breaker continued to squee.

“I take it that you haven’t had any of your own then?” Gold Star asked Breakheart.

At this Breakheart tried a slightly comedic approach, “Haha, with this face? I’m lucky Smiles even got used to me. But luckily, I’ve got a helper, and trust me he’s been a lifesaver at times.”

“So, this filly has no mother figure?” piped in Flag Bearer.

“Ooh Ooh Ooh,” Chain Breaker almost flying out of her seat asserted, “I can be there, just call me ‘Mother Anarchy’!”

At this Flag Bearer placed his hoof to his face, Gold Star let out a sigh, and Breakheart blushed.

“Sorry, but I’m not looking for a partner.” Breakheart finally coughed up, “And no, my helper is not a partner either.”

Now realizing what they all thought, Chain Breaker corrected with a blush, “No, I meant that Smiles and I could go do something fun while you guys do your meetings here.”

“Yeah, I couldn’t imagine a pony and a Changeling getting together.”Flag Bearer let slip.

“Eh, it’s happened before. And it’s worked for us since it brings some diversity into the nest.” Breakheart corrected.

“Wait that’s happened before, Comrade Changeling?” Came Flag Bearer’s disbelief.

“Yes.” Replied Breakheart, “Changelings have gotten together with many different species to be honest. Being basically linked to them all has made it nontaboo like it would for other creatures.”

Gold Star then jumped in with his question, “Do they all pop out Changelings?”

“No, it’s just whichever the female in a heterosexual relationship is. Which is why there are actually more Changelings of mixed relations than vice-versa.”

“I thought only your Queen was female!” Came back Flag Bearer.

At this Breakheart knew this would definitely be a common confusion to be answered, “Shapeshifters are natural hermaphrodites, think of it like. fish. Most may stay in a male form as we’ve found most creatures are more intimidated that way, but we can be either one really. But perhaps we should get back to the real reason we’re here before we lose our ‘teen’ rating.”

“Teen rating?” All three ponies questioned.

“Oh, uh, never mind. Just a random thing that popped in my head.” Breakheart replied, still wondering why he always felt watched. “Anyways, my scouts have heard rumours of a forsaken town near the Chestnut Peak Bay.”

“I know what you’re talking about Comrade Changeling, along the South East Coast. It is the result of a failed magical excavation, which while not lethal, it has caused the inhabitants to go crazy.” Flag Bearer responded.

“And that spell was to attempt to harness powerful matters, correct?” Breakheart asked to check on his facts.

Gold Star now responded, “Yes, almost pure magic in physical form, left over from the founders of Equestria when they altered the lands to have control over its weather and wildlife.”

“Well then, since we Changelings are born syphons of magic, we could possibly find a way to harness it for the betterment of us all.” Breakheart stated.

“I know you Changelings think that you can just control magic,” Chain Breaker started, “but do you really think it will work on arcane magic and should you even have that kind of power. It was too much even for a town of scholar-ponies.”

“And how do we know that it won’t poison the rest of us?” Added Gold Star.

“Ok, listen everypony!” Breakheart started commanding, “We Changelings are very resourceful in these situations, we were even able to control Discord’s magic back when the Hive was in our control. And all I’m asking is for your aid in the transportation process if we are able to capture it.”

After a period of silence, Flag Bearer spoke, “Tell me your full plan first, Comrade Changeling.”

With a glimmer of hope in his eyes, Breakheart proceeded to explain the plan of sending a Changeling to scout the area, find collectable magic, and if possible recruit the locals to the cause. Then how the magic could be used to make the northern tundra fertile. He also taught a brief lesson on how magic dampening worked and how a suit of armour could be made to protect one from harmful magic in the air.

At this the ponies pondered with the information presented.

Then, slamming his hooves on the table. Flag Bearer announced, “We will help you Comrade Changeling. When you have proof of being able to control this magic, we will provide protection in its delivery here.”

“Thank yo-”

“But, we do expect that it will be used for the benefit of the Equestrian Proletariat Revolution when it comes.” Flag Bearer finished, cutting Breakheart off.

“Of course.” Breakheart answered.

“We’ll help as well.” Gold Star pronounced.

“I’m willing to watch Smiles if you’re going to be having dangerous materials around.” Chain Breaker added with a smile of her own.

“Thank you all, I’ll contact you if we need any more assistance” Breakheart said starting to leave the table.

“Wait!” Gold Star yelled after him, “What about our game here?”

“Looks like we’ve all forfeited.” Replied Breakheart referring to how everyone had place their cards face-up in all the ruckus.

With that, Breakheart left through a set of stairs which lead to a side alley. By now the sun was well past set, so there were no ponies out to bother the cloaked Changeling on his way back to the outpost.

Returning to the outpost was always a relief. It becomes even more of a relief when it’s the dead of night.

Making, his way to his chamber. Breakheart encountered nothing of excitement, besides the cloak flipping over his head on his way down the vertical hall.

Entering his chamber, he saw Smiles asleep on her bed; which had been made for her about half a year before. Looking over at his desk, revealed Gaster snoring softly over piles of papers covered with Changeling ruins and imitations of the ruins.

Nudging Gaster awake Breakheart whispered, “How is she doing with her studies?”

“She’s picking it up, luckily only a few terms are different between our spoken languages.” Gaster replied. Then looking at Breakheart’s recently purchased clock, “Huh, before 1 AM, must be an outpost record.”

“Oh hahaha,” Breakheart replied sarcastically, “why don’t you go tell that joke back in the drone quarters.”

With a yawn Gaster simply answered, “Yes Sir.” And with that, he picked himself up and left Breakheart’s chamber.

Now alone, Breakheart placed his cloak on the corner of his desk and made his way to his nest. Ever since Smiles had gotten a bed and her wounds healed up, his nightmares started to become less frequent. Sleep now felt rewarding to the haunted Changeling.

But as he lied down in the nest, he couldn’t stop thinking about the meeting he had left. That he had allowed Smiles to persuade him to go physically and unmasked. That the ponies must be desperate enough to trust an ‘unreformed’ Changeling. That they could very well betray him to the royals. That they even had their own inward fights.

These thoughts raced around in his mind for what felt like hours until eventually he slid into sleep.

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All that Breakheart could tell was he was walking forward along a thin dirt path. To his left was a vast ocean of a light grey; while to his right was one of lightless blue.

Forward Breakheart walked, not even looking to see what on his body was making the sound of clanking metal.

All he knew was to go forward and that he must not stray.

So, on he went, between the pools of light and dark, face forward. Even when it felt that he was starting to walk uphill, forward he went.

Eventually his weight revealed that he was now facing vertically up, but onward he went still.

Then he heard it. A distant female voice, familiar yet different, soothing yet commanding, “Toy soldier, where do you think you’ll go?”

Breakheart didn’t respond, he just continued forward.

But the voice spoke again, closer this time, “You can never escape this loop this way.”

By now Breakheart’s weight told him he was now upside down. However, he continued, giving the voice no answer.

This, the voice did not take as an answer as it spoke almost right behind Breakheart, “I know not who you are, nor what ails you, but this path leads nowhere.”

Then something grabbed Breakheart around his body stopping him in his tracks. Looking down revealed blue magical-aura tentacles wrapping around a body of metal and gears.

But no matter how much the gears strained to continue their forward march, they could not overpower the force holding him back. Just then Breakheart was lifted high into the air and spun around to stair directly into two eyes shining as bright as the moon.

Then the voice asked, “Who are you?”

But before Breakheart could answer, all things started to fade away.

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“Captain! Are you alright?” came the worried voice of a Changeling Sergeant.

“I believe so, why do you ask? And why are you in my chambers?” replied a confused Breakheart.

To this the Sergeant answered, “Sir, we detected foreign magic outside the physical realm in our precinct. Something was trying to get in through someone’s’ dreams.”

Remembering stories of how the ponies’ night princess was able to send a cry for help when captured before, Breakheart was now fully aware of the severity of the situation.

“Do you think the Astral Princesses are planning an attack on us Sergeant Nighteye?”

Now in a more investigative mode, Sergeant Nighteye followed, “We can’t be sure sir, but your awakening seemed to make the magic fade. Did you see or hear anything that could be a clue?”

Withholding some needless details, Breakheart simply replied, “I heard a voice asking who I was, but that is all.”

“Alright, thank you sir.” As Nighteye started to head out of the chamber, he told Breakheart one last thing, “oh, and your filly is with Private Gaster in the wood storage room, something about wilderness survival.”

With that Nighteye left, and Breakheart did indeed notice that Smiles was not to be found in the room.

Looking over at his clock read 6:23, within starting time for most inhabitants in the outpost. Walking over to the exit did indeed reveal the sound of movement up the hall.

As Breakheart walked out into the hall, the commotion kept its steady pace around while occasionally a drone passing by would say a “Good morning sir”. This happened as Breakheart went up the vertical hall and down the horizontal one.

Taking a turn into a side hall which lead to the resource storage chambers, Breakheart almost bumped into Zhelezo.

After an awkward face-to-face stare off, Zhelezo broke the silence, “I see you’re awake a little late Comrade Captain, did your meeting with the other communist groups go well?”

“I believe we are off to a good start with our allies. They’ve promised to aid us if we can produce proof of being able to control the Arcane Magic in the forsaken town.” Answered Breakheart.

“Even the Anarchists Comrade Captain?”

To that Breakheart replied, “Well not them exactly, their representative seems to just want to become friends with Smiles.”

At that Zhelezo went on a soapbox rant, “You let them know about the filly? Buck it! Why not just tell them where our outpost is! Or even better, give them the ability to alter tunnel linings like you did with that filly! I swear, she’s making you softer. I warned you that she was bad news!”

“Keep talking like that and you’ll be called Corporal Zhelezo! This investment will pay off one day mark my words!”

At news of a possible demotion, Zhelezo took a shocked step back. Then he quickly hissed, “Your lisp is starting to come back.”

Breakheart then realized that his lisp had started to die down over the past few months.

“I serve the Commune! Comrade Captain.” Zhelezo finally spat before marching around Breakheart and into the main hall where a small crowd of drones had gathered to listen to the commotion.

Breakheart, trying to humour the crowd, stated, “What? We all know he’s got a tongue of serpent’s poison…”

“I can still hear you!” came Zhelezo’s voice from down the hall.

At that Breakheart dismissed the drones and continued his journey to find Gaster and Smiles. This quest happened to be only about 20 paces from the little argument.

Entering into the storage chamber, Breakheart saw Gaster pacing back and forth while Smiles sat on the floor with tears forming in her eyes.

Looking up, Smiles saw Breakheart had entered and was now looking sympathetically down at her. Well, the most a battle scared Changeling could look sympathetic.

Almost magnetically, she clung to Breakheart, tears now leaking out of her eyes. And she asked one simple question, “Why is he like that?”

Now stroking Smiles mane, Breakheart attempted to sooth, “He’s stuck to a corrupted balance which sees all things separate and at war. Sadly, I think he was empowered by me.”

Sobbing Smiles doubted, “No you aren’t like him! You are fair, he’s not!”

Looking up at Gaster, Breakheart signalled with his head that Gaster was excused.

Exiting, Gaster whispered, “Ask her about making fire.”

This Breakheart did do; after Smiles had run out of tears. And even though she was still shaking, she was able to start a fire in a few seconds by spinning a stick into another at a rapid speed.

For a few peaceful minutes, Breakheart and Smiles just sat and watched the fire in silence.

“You really don’t have that bad of a lisp.” Said Smiles, still looking into the fire.

Puzzled, Breakheart asked, “Why do you say that?”

“You really only have one when you’re angry or cold, and even then, it sounds more like you’re just picking your words. Like… Well you know.”

“Yeah, I guess it is like that.”

Now looking up at Breakheart Smiles asked, “Why does Zhelezo not want anyone to know about me?”

Taking a breath for a difficult discussion, Breakheart answered, “He’s afraid I may become weak if I develop some kind of love.”

“But if you feed off love, why would it make you weak?”

“Well. In our past, those who started to love would loss the will to fight. And in a world as dangerous as this, that’s not a risk we are willing to take.”

“They loss the will to fight? How does that work?”

“They claim that they feel fulfilled, that perhaps their love will stop whatever’s after them. Many ponies have learned this the hard way too.”

“Like my old family?” Smiles asked, tears now forming back up in her eyes.

Looking back into the fire, Breakheart nodded, “It seems so, and those Crystal Nationalists, the ones that hurt you, they are built completely around hate and fear. Such emotions cause creatures to have warped minds.”

“But if they’re looking for a fight, why do you fight them?”

“Because if we don’t, then that hate will become a parasite. It will spread among the weak minded until one of power can use them to complete what it wants.”

Recalling old stories, Smiles pondered, “Like King Sombra?”

Now looking at Smiles, “Yes. That is exactly how King Sombra rose to power. And that’s why the Nationalists still practice in his ways. They excuse evil if it leads to suffering of those they disagree with.”

“Bu-But don’t you make them suffer?” asked Smiles in her innocence.

“To them maybe, but in this world, it is merely a punishment. Every day, they threaten balance when they kill, oppress, and cause hate. We Changelings are simply nature’s equalizer.”

“It’s equalizer?”

“Yes, we remove the hate and keep love from getting too strong. Both ways could lead to disaster.”

Understanding the complexity of the situation, Smiles simply stated, “Oh, I see.”

As they sat watching the dying fire a voice rose up from behind them, “You know, many pony scholars believe that the odd items found underground that they’ve reversed engineered could have belonged to a species that wiped itself out.”

“How long have you been back there Tweet?” questioned Breakheart, surprised half to death.

To this, Tweet cheerily replied, “Since you were explaining why we fight the Nationalists.” Now blushing, “I didn’t want to interrupt the story.”

Smiles confused, asked, “So pony technology belongs to dead creatures?”

“Some of it yes.” Tweet explained, “There are still some artefacts that they cannot understand or find use for, and the others that they have found use for work better with creatures that have talons or four frontal limbs.”

“So why are they not here.” Smiles wondered out loud.

This Breakheart responded, “Either they ran out of essential resources, natural disaster struck, or they destroyed themselves in a war with their advanced technologies and magic.”

“Actually, a new theory is that they had no magic besides advanced imagination.” Tweet threw in, “After all; all the relics ponies have found are purely physics based.”

“Interesting. Anyway, why did you sneak in here to begin with?” for Breakheart knew there had to be a reason a messenger had tracked him down.

“Oh, yes! Well after you left the meeting last night I was summoned by Flag Bearer. Apparently, he knows I’m a Changeling now?”

“Yes yes. Why did he summon you?”

“Right! He told me that he wants to see what our Changeling will be equipped with when he enters the quarantine zone.”

At this, Breakheart had to think a bit, “Hmmm. Tell him that on the 101st anniversary of the start of the first successful Red Revolution I will send a soldier to demonstrate the base equipment.”

“So, November 7th?” Tweet clarified.

“Yes.”

With the confirmation, Tweet jumped to attention, clicked his heels, and exited in a matter of seconds.

Now turning to Smiles who had been pretty quiet the entire time, Breakheart asked, “So you said that you’ve always wanted to go to a convention with me?”