Taking the form of a white unicorn had eased the Sun's glare a little bit, but Mystax still felt its rays burning their way into his chitin — or, rather, his skin.
The day started the same as the previous dozen had: Mystax woke up, ate what little of his food he had rationed for breakfast, erased any evidence of his cocoon lying in the sand, and started again on his journey West. He knew not where he was headed; he no longer had a place in the Hive, and nowhere else to go, either.
For now, though, he needed to find a town. Somewhere to refuel. Not just his saddlebags' limited supply of food, but also his minimal supply of food.
Love.
Changelings could only live so long on pony food. It sustained them for awhile, sure, but it was never enough. Mystax needed to find a town and hopefully replace a lover or a cancer patient or something. Anything.
The hours flew by as Mystax walked through dusty flats, and he soon found himself standing at the edge of a tall cliff face overlooking his salvation. Only a mile away sat a small settlement. A couple dozen buildings, all of pony architecture — there was surely a surplus of love within such a small community. It would, however, be quite difficult to avoid suspicion, given how closely-knit the town likely was, not to mention the paranoia following the Hive's recent invasion of Canterlot. Mystax was nothing but confident, nonetheless. Every commander had, at one point, been an infiltrator, and he was a damn fine one.
His back encased in a bright green fire, and he sprouted his natural insect wings, but he made sure to retain the white coat of his pony form. Fluttering to the bottom of the cliff, Mystax again concealed his wings and headed straight towards the pony settlement.
Before replacing some pony's loved one, the best thing Mystax could do was get a feel for the townsfolk, understand how they worked, and then he could find a suitable candidate. Thus, he entered the little village in the form of the unicorn stallion, white coat turned beige through the combined efforts of wind and dirt.
He trotted into town with purpose, horn pointed in the direction of a dark, older stallion selling fresh produce. His disguise's matted appearance seemed to trouble the few passersby, but they neither stopped him nor offered their assistance.
The produce seller saw Mystax approaching and stood up from his camping chair before Myst arrived at the wooden stand. "Hiya, traveler!" he called with a hospitable smile. "You don't look in too good a condition. You been walking awhile?"
"Yeah, no kidding," came Mystax's low voice.
Reaching out a hoof in greeting, the stallion said, "I'm Taproot, pleased to meet ya."
"Frosted Glass." The changeling shook Taproot's hoof. Despite the anxiety he tasted in the other ponies he'd seen so far, this pony seemed very trusting. An admirable, but dangerous, quality.
"What brings you 'round here, Mister Glass?"
He thought for a moment. "I'm not sure. I just... am." With a pause, Mystax pointed at the bins of various fruits and vegetables that sat across the stand. "I need to resupply."
"Ah, right." Taproot chuckled. "Alright, whaddya need?"
Mystax paused to think again. "Couple of potatoes ought to do it. Five, please, and a jug of water."
"Alrighty, that'll be twelve bits."
Of course, luck would have it that the price was twelve. He had only six bits left over in his sack. Mystax hoofed the contents onto the wood with a sigh.
"Ah, Sun. You're broke, huh?"
He grunted affirmatively.
"That's a shame. You don't look in any shape to go without, but we're down on our luck too. My kid Overshield left to join the Guard a little while back — he survived Canterlot, stubborn little guy — but it's only me and my other colt to work the fields. I'd love to just hoof over the goods, but we need all we can get at the moment, especially with all the raider attacks going on lately."
Mystax sighed again, quieter this time. Figures as much.
"But hey," Taproot offered , "if you're willing to help me work the farm for an hour or two, I'll give you the food for free. Might even give you a night's stay, if you're lucky," he finished with a wink.
He looked up at the stallion's aged face, a new idea coming to mind. This pony had a son, did he?
"It's a deal," Mystax said with a convincing smile.
This pony was going to be a pain to mimic.
As soon as Taproot and the disguised Mystax had entered the property, the colt was severely irritating the changeling. His high voice and constant chatter was driving him crazy. How could this old stallion put up with him? Still, Mystax kept his cool and ignored the child as best he could.
"My name's Morning Glory, what's yours?"
"Where'd you come from?"
"Where are you going?"
"What's your favorite color?"
"Morning, will you knock it off?" Taproot ridiculed with a huff. " Give the gentlecolt some space, hear?"
The smaller earthpony sighed affirmatively, opting to run towards the beaten wooden home a few meters away.
Taproot turned to Mystax as they walked. "You ever work a field before?"
As a changeling, he'd had to imitate plenty of earthponies in his time. The best lies were always rooted in truth. "Yeah, plenty."
"Great! All I need you to do is till up the dirt 'round this here fence," Taproot said, waving at the enclosure. He then laughed, saying, "No offense, but you unicorns usually aren't the strong farmer types!"
"Heh, can't disagree with that."
Taproot left Mystax with a steel plow, circling around their house to work on the other, fuller field. With that, Mystax dropped his dusty saddlebags on a lone, rickety table, equipped the plow's harness to his barrel, and started pulling. This was perfect — he could work his way to a resupply of food and come back to replace that kid, Morning Glory. Maybe he could even stay here, collecting love—
No. He never stayed anywhere too long. He hadn't gone back to the Hive since Canterlot, but somehow (telepathically?) he knew the Queen had banished him. It felt as though he couldn't stay put anywhere without her order seeping into his mind. Mystax was now on a meaningless journey West, away from Canterlot. He just... felt as though something was calling him there. He'd thought it could be another queen, but he would've recognized a changeling summons if he'd received one. It was just a... push.
Mystax jumped as he felt a sudden push on his back leg. He snapped around in attack mode, but no one was there besides the small, yellow-green form of Morning Glory.
"Sorry! It's Glass, right?"
Mystax dropped his guard. "Yeah." He again began plowing.
"Sorry, I just wanted to ask you something."
What a surprise.
Mystax kept up his work, saying, "Alright, shoot."
"Where'd you get that armor?"
That stopped Mystax in his tracks. He turned to meet the colt's wide-eyed gaze.
"I saw it in your saddlebags over on the table."
He knew what he was referring to. He'd brought his battle armor, worn and beaten, with him in his bags. Few of the ponies who'd seen a commander had lived, so it couldn't have been much of a giveaway. He could lie, but that felt... wrong, for some reason. "I'd rather not say where it came from."
Morning looked down at his own small hooves. "Oh, alright."
Mystax watched as the little colt walked back inside. He was a sneaky one, wasn't he. Irritating, but relatable.
"Guest bed's in here. You have a good night's rest, son, and we'll get you all ready to go in the morning."
"Thanks, Tap." Mystax walked inside the poorly lit bedroom, Taproot retreating to his own quarters. With a yawn, Mystax closed the thin door, letting loose his disguise with a pulse of that familiar green fire. He hadn't been wearing the disguise for too long, only during sunlight hours, but he knew to conserve his strength as much as he could. That meant a one-minute magical stretch from time to time.
Mystax tossed his bags on the floor next to the door. He fluttered over to the bed — not as comfortable as a cocoon, but a mass of resin in the middle of the room might set off some alarms. Pulling the sheets over his body and again donning his disguise, the changeling closed his eyes and drifted.
A yellow-green hoof pulled the guest bedroom door ajar. Morning Glory winced as it gave a little creak. Still, he continued on, slipping through the crack he'd made and scanning the room.
In the far (but kind of close) corner, the white unicorn from earlier was fast asleep on his bed, mouth agape and drool escaping onto his pillowcase. Nearer, though, was what Morning was looking for — his saddlebags.
He quietly moved closer and sat in front of it. He slipped out the sleek, blue helmet with both hooves, resting it on his head. Far too big — he could barely see out of it — but it'd do. He reached down and gripped the breastplate with his teeth. He had what he came for. Morning Glory stood back up, slowly retreating from the room and closing the door without another sound. Flawless.
Except, it wasn't. Otherwise, Mystax wouldn't have seen everything through squinted eyes.
Hooves flailing in every which direction, Morning Glory fought off imaginary changelings with a perceived practiced ease. Grunting and whisper-yelling, he didn't hear another pony's hoofsteps lightly impacting the dirt.
"You're wearing the breast wrong."
"AAH!" Morning jumped, falling on his haunches. He looked up at Frosted Glass's neutral expression with shame. "It didn't fit facing forwards. Sorry." He slipped it and the helmet off, offering it to Glass.
"Don't be. I understand." Mystax set them on the dirt and sat down himself. "I dreamed of being a warrior as a kid, too."
"You did?"
"Everyone my age did."
Timid curiosity replaced the shame on the colt's face. "So, you made it then?"
"Heh, yeah. I made it."
"Did you ever have to kill anypony? A-actually, no, that's a rude ques—"
"Yes," Mystax responded without hesitation.
Morning's jaw dropped in shock.
"Hey, that's what a soldier's job is. Nothing to be scared of."
"Oh..." he replied quietly.
"Look, Morning," Mystax said, "I don't like foals much. Not usually. But," he added before the child could interject, "you're a special case. I respect your drive to serve your Qu— uh, Princess."
Suddenly, Morning became infatuated with the ground. "Since my brother joined the Royal Guard, I've wanted to go, too. I want to fight changelings!"
"Canterlot was a once-in-a-lifetime experience," Mystax began. "It's not gonna happen again. The Royal Guard sounds great, but they have one fatal problem: they don't DO anything. They're just there to be intimidating — they barely train at all. That's why the changelings so easily conquered the place."
"But, Princess Cadence and the Captain of the Guard defeated their leader, right?"
"Exactly," Mystax nodded. "Equestria relies on magical conveniences instead of military might. The Guard is never there when they're needed, cos some Princess will show up and solve everything. The Guard has nothing to do but stand idle during ceremonies and guard doors no one will approach. They're there to protect those who don't need it."
"Better than staying home..."
"At home, you can protect your family, your neighbors, and your friends. Ponies that the Royal Guard won't be there to protect. And when you need it, they'll protect you, too." It was a lot like the Hive, now that he thought about it...
"Thanks." The colt looked up and sniffled. There were tears in his eyes. "So, what about my brother?"
"He's doing what he thinks is right. Nothing more to it. Hey, wai—" the changeling was suddenly assaulted with a hug. Why did ponies hug strangers? They were an odd people. Mystax took the opportunity to soak in Morning's outpouring of emotion. It wasn't quite love, but it filled him up quickly.
"Thanks..." the colt mumbled.
"Yeah. C'mon, let's get to bed."
"Alright, Mister Glass, you're all good to go!" Taproot announced, closing Mystax's freshly-filled saddlebags and slapping a hoof on his shoulder.
"Thanks, Tap. See you around."
"Hey!"
A high-pitched voice came from the house, followed by Morning Glory and his vigorously waving hoof. "Bye!"
"See ya, kid," Mystax said with a smile. It was genuine this time. He turned and set off back through the settlement on his journey West.
His supplies were topped off, and his emotional reserves were high too — even if they were mostly unappetizing emotions. And Mystax, for the first time, had done at least a little good for ponies, and not for his own gain. Despite his existing prejudices, it felt good. Maybe the Hive was blinded. Maybe the two species could get along...
"Watch out, stranger."
Mystax looked up just as four creatures passed by, their faces partially hidden by cloths. He quickly stepped farther out of their way, eyeing them wearily. A jackal, two ponies, and a griffon. The griffon seemed to be in charge, and he was armed, sheath hanging along the length of his barrel.
They seemed to be headed for Taproot's farm. It wasn't Mystax's place to interfere, though. The less suspicion, the better. Thus, he turned back to the dirt path to the main village and continued walking.
The settlers were still weary of Mystax, even in his unicorn disguise. He did have a somewhat dramatic entrance yesterday, so he couldn't blame them. He kept in the shade of the various roofs until there was none left on his path.
Time to get moving again.
Mystax placed his first step in what would be several hours of unforgiving sun when his pony ears perked up. He could hear muffled yelling and the familiar sound of a strong gallop. More accurately, a set of gallops.
He turned towards the noise. Soon after, the four creatures from before emerged from a corner, closely tailed by Taproot. They were carrying heavy-laden bags.
"These creeps stole from my harvest!" Taproot yelled at seemingly no one. "Catch 'em!"
As the four crooks made about half the distance to Mystax, Morning Glory darted from the corner after them.
Mystax took a refined defensive stance. "Give back the goods."
The crooks slowed down to face Mystax. Pony settlers were peeking out their windows at all the commotion.
Taproot, eyeing the griffon's sword wearily, slowed down a distance from them and yelled to Mystax, "These are a bunch of those damn raiders! Always come 'round here, stealing from us poor folk!"
The griffon removed the cloth over his beak. His voice boomed behind him, "Stay back, you old prick." He locked eyes with Mystax. "You're not from around here, are ya? I'm Gavin, pleased to make your acquaintance. Now, get your ass out of the way, or we'll have to welcome you here properly."
"You steal from the ponies?"
"What's it to you?" Gavin said with a snort.
"It's wrong. That stallion can hardly get along as it is. Give him his stuff back."
Gavin gave a laugh at that. "It doesn't look like you're in much of a position to bargain, does it?" He waved his claws at his three comrades.
"Try me."
The griffon's cruel smile faltered. "Drop the stuff, boys." He turned to the jackal on his left, saying, "Usze, rough him up."
The jackal ripped off his own cloth, snarling, and sprinted for Mystax on nimble paws.
Mystax dropped his own bags. He was used to this kind of thing. As Usze made a clawed swipe for his neck, the changeling crouched below the incoming blow, administering a hard elbow to the side and cycling around his attacker's back.
Usze yelped in pain, but the blow only served to enrage him. He again ran for Mystax, diving for his neck, only to be met with a devastating buck to the jaw. He momentarily fell before picking himself up and sprinting out past Mystax to the village exit.
Mystax returned to his defensive stance.
"Argh, wussy little— Cement, go for him," Gavin said with a snarl.
The earthpony to his right shot forward, albeit slower. He was pretty big, after all. A second of galloping passed, and Cement struck the ground where Mystax had been, hardly able to react to the former warrior's agility.
Mystax took the opportunity to deliver a kick to the pony's flank, to no avail. Cement grinned and kicked in kind, sending Mystax sprawling.
He hit the dirt hard, fogging up his vision. Mystax picked his neck up just enough to see the earthpony again charging him. He adjusted his hind legs to meet the stallion's stomach just in time, pushing up and leaving nothing but Cement's momentum to launch him at the shack just behind Mystax. There was a crunch of wood and a thud, signaling the stallion's defeat.
Mystax picked himself up, restoring his previous stance.
The griffon was pissed, as his glare made obvious. "Alright, asshole. My turn." Gavin stood back precariously on his feline hind legs and gripped the hilt of his sword, doubling his already intimidating height. He unsheathed his sword's metal length for Mystax to see.
Wings spread wide, Gavin launched himself at Mystax, swatting aside his opponent's extending hoof with a paw. He spun like a torpedo in the air for a second before landing on the ground, slashing his curved broadsword.
Mystax dove to his left, eyes widening in surprise. This griffon knew what he was doing. He stood, but only for a split second before crouching below Gavin's incoming blade. He swiped upward, hoof colliding with neck, but the griffon was hardly fazed. Gavin gave a flurry of slashes in midair, Mystax narrowly dodging each attack, unable to return the assault.
With a mighty flap of his wings, Gavin backflipped, kicking Mystax in the jaw. He was again sent into the air and landed flat on the floor. All the wind was knocked out of him.
"Y'know, I tried being nice. You should've just got outta the way." Gavin mocked him with another twisted grin.
"HEY, YOU GET AWAY FROM HIM!"
Mystax did his best to look for the source of the high-pitched noise. Morning Glory was advancing on Gavin.
"Morning, come back here!" came Taproot's gruff voice.
"Kid," the griffon said, "you better run to Pops if you know what's good for you."
"No! Stop hurting my friend!" Morning wasn't stopping. Gavin raised his sword arm—
"NO!" Mystax flew at Gavin, shedding his unicorn disguise in a wave of green. He hissed at him and shot a volley of magical bolts. It struck Gavin square in the chest, and again in the throat. Still, the griffon tried to recover his stance, rising on his hind legs before Mystax slammed into him, encased entirely in green flames. It was a miracle the changelings wicked horn didn't pierce his skin. Gavin finally hit the ground, and Mystax landed on all fours, standing tall and proud in his true form.
Gavin was helped up by his remaining comrade. He rose unsteadily. "Changeling!"
"That's right!" Mystax yelled, horn burning green. He rose into the air on his translucent wings. "I am Mystax, former commander of Her Majesty's army! You and your friends leave this village and never return, or you'll answer to me!"
"C'mon, Skyline." Gavin held on to his buddy as they slowly exited the village proper. They left Cement, but he'd probably find his way back.
Mystax fluttered back down to the dirt and approached Morning Glory.
"You stay away from my son, changeling!" Taproot stood in front of Morning's shaking form.
"Kid, that was noble of you," Mystax said. "But you need to be cautious, too."
"Don't talk to me!" Morning shouted.
After a painful pause, Mystax bowed his head and retrieved his saddlebags. "Thank you, Taproot." He couldn't blame them.
"Never come back here, shapeshifter!"
With that, Mystax started for the desert once again. His bags were full; plenty of food and water. His emotional reserves were full, too, but these feelings hurt to feed on. Like a burning in the heart.
Mystax re-assumed the form of the white unicorn. It didn't do much to soothe the Sun's glare, though — he couldn't hardly feel it anyway. The only burning he could feel was that of his tears.
Author's Note
Considering this is my first MLP fanfiction, I'm very pleased with what I've created. However, I know that I'm still a very inexperienced writer, and I need all the feedback I can get. So, if you don't mind, do comment your thoughts on the story! I'd love to hear what you have to say, whether it be about my writing or about this little self-contained story itself.
'Preciate ya taking the time, folks!
