Time Vigilante: Butterfly Effect

Chapter 3: Negative Emotion Poisoning

I had taken to pacing while reading. I was using my wings to hold the book on Cryomancy, since I wanted to work on the werewolf guise first. And then a rude, cutting voice cut into my thoughts and interrupted my reading.

"What is a Pegasus doing with a magic book?" Spoiled Rich asked in a loud, judgemental voice. After looking at her, I could sense a sickening aura of pride. It was entitlement foul enough to make me want to throw up.

"I dunno, why does it matter? It's not like it's your job to know everything about everyone." I asked her rhetorically. The look on her face was like she had just drank spoiled milk mixed with lemon juice and bleach.

"Why I never! Do you know who I am?!" She demanded. I stared at her unamused.

"Should I care?" I asked boredly. This absolutely enraged her.

"I am the head of the board of education!" She shouted at me. I pretended to look horrified.

"Oh mother of Celestia, who put you in charge of children?!" I asked, even sounding horrified. I felt a sick feeling bubbling up within me. "Gods above, the idea of someone so entitled being in charge of a foal's education makes me-" I promptly vomited on her hooves. Or the ground. She dodged it pretty well. She shrieked and started running away. As I was coughing, I raised a hoof to wipe the black gunk I vomited off my mouth, and saw my black chitin. Wait what?

Looking myself over, I saw I was back to my changeling self. And my legs were leaking black fluid. I coughed up more gunk, beginning to sway a little bit. "Sh-shit…" an alert in my vision warned me of me contracting a thing called Negative Emotion Poisoning. Quickly reading over the details, I saw that the effects are… devastating. Stage 1 was that sick feeling I got. Stage 2 was the nullification of my magic. Stage 3 was rapid physical decay… and stage 4 was the point where I became Black. Stage 5 was the point where I could become an empty, eternally static husk. A fate worse than death.

Thankfully I had only hit stage 2. I needed to find a place to rest without negative emotions. The hospital was no good. The staff would worry, and worry is negative… Fluttershy is a good choice. Kindness itself could heal me.

"Wh-what is that?!" I heard Twilight shout in confusion, shock, and curiosity. I turned to her, and a startled expression came across her face.

"T-twilight? G-get Fluttershy." I told her. I didn't realize I was shaking so much. I didn't realize how close to stage 3 I was. I felt like I was about to pass out.

"It's you?!" Twilight seemed startled to recognise me. I nod as my legs give out under me. I fall into a coughing fit again.

"Yeah… I never did s-say my name, d-did I? I'm Switchlock." I told her. She looks around at all the ponies hiding from me.

"You have a lot of explaining to do." She told me. Her horn lit up and I started hovering off the ground. After that, my senses faded from me.

When next I woke up, I could hear Twilight talking to Fluttershy about me. She sounded concerned and confused. Fluttershy didn't seem to know me or what I was, which confused both of them. But Twilight seems happy to have met Fluttershy all the same. And Fluttershy is happy to have met Spike.

As I sat up, opening my eyes, all conversation stopped. I spotted a short notification.

Short Rest complete. N.E.P. reduced to stage 1.

A short rest, huh? This world must be familiar with and uses the D&D rest system. Which means I will need to rest in order to heal and avoid exhaustion stacks. Dismissing the notification, I saw Spike, Twilight, and Fluttershy looking at me curiously.

"You're an interesting pony, Switchlock. I haven't heard of anypony becoming a Gamer since Clover the Clever." Twilight said. That got a raised eyebrow out of me.

"Oh, so you're familiar with my abilities?" I asked. She nodded in answer.

"I had to read up on it, but yes. Would you care to explain a few things, however? Specifically, what even are you?" She asked. I nodded in acceptance. No use hiding something like this after I've been so careless about it.

"I'm a changeling. Known among few as a parasitic beast, the truth of the matter is, I'm just a shapeshifter that consumes the emotions of others to sustain myself. If I don't, I'll physically rot alive like some of the worst necrotic curses out there."

"Curses? Everyone knows-" Twilight started, but I raised a hoof to stop her.

"That the sure mark of a fool is to dismiss anything as impossible. Curses do exist, and in very large quantity. Or have you never visited a Dark Magic licensing agency?" I gave her a hard, undeniable look. She gulped and shook her head.

"I haven't. Sorry." She said. I leaned back, coughing a little.

"Have you finished the list?" I asked. She shook her head.

"It's only been an hour. But I've confirmed Applejack as a candidate." She said. "And Fluttershy as well. If you have a thing with emotions, it was a good call to bring you to Fluttershy's place."

I nod. "The best thing to cleanse hatred from my body is exposure to raw kindness. Negative emotions are literally toxic to me."

Fluttershy gasped. She promptly dashed up and hugged me, radiating her care for me. "I'm sorry you had to go through that… I'm here for you if you ever need me." She promised firmly.

"That's great, Fluttershy. Thank you." I said, hugging her back. A notification pop up told me this cleared up the last of my N.E.P.

After Fluttershy pulled away from me, I looked at Twilight. "I still have some spells to learn. I'm sure you still have the other Elements to meet. I'll see you at the party tonight in Town Hall."

"Hopefully as a Pegasus. Your… bug form might scare a few ponies." She said with a small amount of amusement.

"Actually, I have a better disguise. I've been learning the magic art needed to mimic a character of mine." I said with a grin. I transform into Summer Dash. Fluttershy and Spike both look at me oddly.

"Huh. Makes me think of a comic book hero." Spike commented.

"This is Summer Dash. She's got a long and complicated history that I won't get into right now. But just know that in her backstory, I gave her Lycanthropy." I said.

"You what? Are you talking about this as like a made up fictional character?" Twilight asked.

"Yep." I answered.

"Cool." Spike said giving a thumbs up.

"Whatever. Let's get going Spike. It was nice meeting you, Fluttershy." Twilight said, collecting Spike and heading out the door. I looked at Fluttershy and dropped my disguise. She still seemed startled by the transformation.

"Um… If you don't mind, can I…?" She shyly requested. I nod, transforming into Summer's wolf form. Fluttershy squee'd and brought me into another hug. I enjoyed the warm feelings her excitement gave me. It was like filling my stomach with a fresh meal.

"I've never felt the fur of a real wolf before. Normal wolves are almost extinct in Equestria." Fluttershy said with a sad tone.

"Oh. Why is that?" I asked gently. Fluttershy nuzzles into my scruff to enjoy my warmth.

"The Timberwolves took over the Everfree. Every other wolf was pushed out to find territory elsewhere. And with ponies reactions to the wolves, it wasn't long before they started dying off. At least the Frost Wolves in the frozen north and the Zebrican wolves are still plentiful. But it's very hard to find them any time I try to visit." Fluttershy said.

"Well, if I can sleep at your house each night, I'll let you snuggle up with any animal you want." I told her. She grinned widely.

"Oh thank you thank you thank you! You're such a wonderful person!" She cheered. I had to blush for that. Me? A good person? I mean sure, kindness is my best virtue, but I have a crippling vice in Pride and Sloth. I can be a lazy asshole if I'm not careful.

But… the way Fluttershy was filling me with love, I could hardly argue with her. It feels great to be a good person. To fulfil fantasies, to share with someone who cares. This is what makes me complete. And this could be why I became a changeling.

I pulled away after a little bit, giving Fluttershy a frown. "Did Twilight talk to you about Nightmare Moon?" I asked. She nodded with a scared shiver.

"Yes. I think it's terrifying that somepony like that is going to show up… do you really think I could use an Element of Harmony?" She asked in uncertainty. I nodded, sure as can be.

"Anyone who can tame a manticore's wrath without hurting it is someone who knows Kindness down to their soul." I told her. She beamed with pride at that.

"I'm glad you have faith in me! I hope I'm up to the challenge… They're in the Everfree Forest after all." She said, somehow not stuttering. I put a paw on her shoulder.

"You got this. As long as you and the Element Bearers all stick together, I'll be there to help you out with anything you need." I promised with a smile.

"Thank you, Switch." She said, pulling me back into a hug. After a few seconds, we broke the hug.

"I still need to learn some combat spells. I have to make sure I'm ready to buy you some time." I told her. "What time is it?"

Fluttershy glanced at her clock. "It's about 3 pm. I should make sure all my animal friends are well fed tonight…" she said, getting up. "Angel! I'm going to the market. I'll leave you in charge while I'm gone, okay?" She called through her house. A loud squeak noise that my Gamer system translated came back. Seems he agreed in his usual snarky manner.

Satisfied, Fluttershy and I left her house. The two of us went separate ways once we got into town. I decided to seek out Rarity to talk to her.

It was time the element bearers knew who they were up against.