As it turns out the journey there would take a bit longer than expected. It was quickly made aware to me that on foot, or hoof, in this case, this little walk of mine is going to take at least two weeks.

And yes I did the math and put into those calculations all of the little nuances from toilet breaks to food stops and even some rare instances of sleep. That basically just meant that I would walk until I pass out. Yeah, it’s not the best fucking plan in the world but it sure beats having to waste more time to sleep.

Besides… I still have that same nightmare with that dark creature… It seems I am being stalked, or at least tormented by the supposed other sister of Celestia. Luna if I remember some of the documents right. They did mention something about her developing this dream walking ability of hers and clearly she doesn’t understand boundaries along with them.

So with that said, my dreams were currently a mishmash of monsters made to scare the daylights out of me but after the third time which took six days, I put my foot down and broke this mares' silly illusion and exposed her. “Will you give it a bloody rest!!” I yelled at her making her actually recoil in fear as she saw my furious yellow eyes. “I hadn’t had a proper rest in a week and I am sick of your constant jumpscares that startle me!” I then started to grow bigger and higher over her as I also grew those three other faces around my hand taking the form of my dark god. I even added some reverb to my voice.”YOU WANT TO SEE FEAR. THEN I’LL SHOW YOU TRUE TERROR!” I scream as I then break the black stary void to reveal a hellish place filled with molten lava rock.

It was filled to the brim with various beasts that were so grotesque and misshapen that even the strongest willed warrior would flee in pure terror and she screamed as she then ran for her life. Granted I couldn’t harm her from this but I will make sure she never does this again. With that said I pointed at her and my abominations chased after her while I sat in a throne made of obsidian and watched with glee as the princess runs away and at one point she even pissed herself from fear.

Eventually, she got caught and was brought before my enormous form my head speaning over to the smiling face. “Now then little one. Let's make ourselves a deal.” I said with almost a purr behind it. She was too terrified to object so I simply continued my head turning to the blank face. “I am sick and tired of your useless attempts at scaring me so I will say this once and only once.” I then took a deep breath. “LEAVE MY MIND ALONE!!” I yelled sending her into a coconut cream pie behind her. “And in return, I shan't scare you anymore… Okay?”

I then add sweetly as everything turned back to the way it was before I broke her illusion. I swear she poofed out quicker than a flame rabbit out of a stew pot. I probably haven’t laughed like that in a really, really long time.

+++++

After that, I was free to rest peacefully with no more annoying interruptions of headless ponies and stuff of the sort.

But that is not why I wrote that title for as it turned out I arrived at a town but it most certainly wasn’t Manehattan. The city was dark. And I don’t just mean like dark bricks but the entire sky over it was completely cowered by a dark cloud. Not unlike a storm that always looked ready to begin.

The buildings were all very organic looking and had many many holes inside them from which, an eerie green light was always radiating from. The entire town put off a feeling of unease into me and to be completely honest I rather liked it. So after making my observation I simply walked on in with no real hesitation.

Sadly for me, I missed the sign that clearly stated that this was Canopia the changeling capital of Equestria.

Once I entered the town I quite quickly found out that this town was more of a city and that it was filled with many pony like creatures but these were quite different from all of the ones that I have seen this far.

They all had black coats which upon closer inspection was a glossy carapace instead. And they all had fangs telling me that this subspecies was instead a predator, unlike the others. They all also sported those compact eyes that I saw on many bugs from my world which also complimented those bug-like and lightly translucent wings. But the main thing that stood out about them was their mid drifts, manes and those eyes. They each sported a different colour and hairstyle. It made them look a bit cuter then they ought to but they were still eyeing me like I was going to end up their next meal.

“Uhm hello?” I tried as I gave them away and a disarming smile. I did not like how they still looked at me.

But eventually, one stepped forward and looked at me more up close. It was a purple changeling with a hair styled over one of its eyes and after looking me over for what felt like an hour it turned to the others and called out in a buzzy voice… It was the only way I could describe it. “It’s okay everyone he is not a pony!” It sounded a bit more like a female voice but honestly, I couldn’t tell the difference.

With her call out everything returned to normal and I was left at the end very confused. “What the fuck just happened?” It was an appropriate response after seeing that just happen before me. “And where the fuck am I… and furthermore who the fuck are you and what is this fucking species problem with staring at newcomers!?” I may have yelled that last part but that was more out of just trying to move on from that awkward and slightly terrifying experience. ~~I can best a strong princess but even I struggle against large groups of enemies~~… Gonna have to erase this last part out later.

The purple changeling turned around and ten first extended her hoof. “First we exchange pleasantries and then I shall answer your… rather crudely formed questions. My name is Odonata and you par chance are?” She asked me with what a voice that had little to no emotion behind it.

“Uhm my name is Geria miss Odonata,” I replied to which she raised her eyebrow at.

“I meant your real name.” She insists seemingly able to tell when I was lying. I squinted my eyes and let my magic enhance my vision only to find that this creature was radiating a magic tendril that was sucking something from me.

“I shall strongly consider it after you stop leaching off of me like the common mosquito,” I said with a bit of an edge to my words which after hearing it immediately cut her connection. She also seemed to have been a tad insulted.

“Do not compare me to a mosquito you roughing. What gives you the right to walk into our town and dictate what we can and can not do. After all, you are still not one of us.” Thankful that she forgot to ask for my name again I simply walked further along into town. After realizing this she buzzed her wings in annoyance and followed.

“While I will admit that I am not of your species than that leaves the opportunity that I am something much more dangerous.” I looked at her and gave her an eerie glare. “After all your analytical mind was still aware enough to not let me notice your magic right off the bat.” I do believe she shuddered a bit but quickly recomposed herself. “Now tell me about this place before I consider demolishing it to the ground.”

“You would destroy our city just for the action of one of us? That is rather unfounded and a rather huge waste of time.” She started but I cut in.

“I have given a chance to the pony creatures before and got kicked down a well for it. Now would you consider giving me a tour to change my mind instead of wasting my time further then.” I said as I walked to what looked like to be the centre of this city.

There was a huge fountain in the middle of this big… town square I guess and in the middle of that, there was a huge carving made from a currently unknown material that represented six majestic insectoid ponies all protectively holding a solid gold looking star.

I was honestly impressed and after noticing my fascination Odonata smiled and stepped before the fountain. “I see that you are quite fascinated with this statue.” She said simply as I sat my rear down to start listening to a lecture from this rather odd creature. “Well, I guess I should first answer what we are. We are a species known as changelings. We are a subspecies from the Ponies, that you said pushed you down a well.” I nodded a bit to tell her that I was listening. “Well anywho. We, changelings, are a feared race amongst them only for the simple fact that they are our only food source. Why we do not feed on their flesh like you would expect we instead feed on their emotions. It was what I did to you but expect no bad side effects as the spell is harmless when one is in not feral. But should one succumb to their hunger they can, in essence, drain a pony to death.” She finished that last part off with a shudder.

“It is a ghastly sight to see a pony devoid of all emotion. But alas it happened and after a couple, the ponies feared us more and started casting us out. At one point we were on the brink of starvation but alas these six ladies behind me came to rise up and gave us all a special gift. The gift of illusion.” She demonstrated that by changing into a full-blown copy of my current form. “And it is with this magic that we managed to sneak in and collect the food we so desperately needed.” She said and then dispelled her illusion.

“After satiating our hunger the six queens decided to split up all of the changelings and take them to remote and rarely travelled parts of Equestria where they then founded the six capital cities of our great empire. Currently, you reside at the green city Canopia which is under the watch of our queen Chrysalis.” She explains further but says that name with a bit of… Fear.

“And why the sudden change of mood when talking about your queen?” I ask making her jump back from her little train of thought.

“O-oh… I really shouldn’t tell… but rest assured everything is alright.” She then coughed into her hoof and continued. “And after this city was fully built we erected this statue as a reminder of just how far we have come and that we still plan on staying here for thousands of years yet.” She concludes and I smile.

“Hmm… Sounds very nice but what would happen to me if I turned back to normal here? Would I be chased out or possibly attacked?” I asked as I looked around the place and then back at her.

“Well, nothing of the sort will happen as long as you respect us and do not provoke us.” She says curtly and seeing as they didn’t really do anything to me, I did indeed turn back and once I again opened my eyes I found her staring in awe at me. “What kind of illusion was that?”

I looked at her for a bit as I unclipped the saddle from my stomach and slung it over my shoulder. “Oh, that was no illusion, my friend. I did indeed turn into a pony but I have to ask how did you see through my disguise?” I asked being rather happy that I was once again in my skin.

“W-well to answer your question I saw in your eyes a mixture of all manner of emotion typical for every other creature other than a pony who usually radiates happiness and love by the bucket fulls while the other emotions are buried.” She explained and then stepped up to me. “But you have to teach me how you did that.” She said as she placed a hoof on my leg and looked up at me with those beady eyes that evoked in me, pity for this Changeling.

“Sorry, Odonata but I fear you do not possess the right magic to do so,” I said simply which made her wings fall and for her to take a sniff. I even saw some tears forming in the corners of her eyes.

“Please teach me anyway. I wanna understand your thought process and maybe even adapt it to our own skills.” She begged as she cried at my feet. “I’ll do anything. Plea-ea-ease.” She said now really putting on a show. I first scanned for any manipulations to my head or heart and instead found her snacking on me. I sighed and picked her up like I would a big dog.

I then wiped away her tears and I smiled at her. “Okay, I shall teach you the best I can but realize we shall go over the very basics for my magic is derived from a place that no one should dare explore. In return, I wish for you to provide me with a simple room and some extra food… And maybe some directions afterwards cause I clearly got turned around.” I said as I petted her belly which made her purr for some odd reason and afterwards she was so happy that I thought that I would develop cavities.

“Oh thank you oh so much mister… Uhm what was your name again?” She asked as she buzzed out from my grasp and onto the hard floor.

I simply smiled and patted her head. “Charon and it’s nice to meet you.”

Author's Note

Thank you for all of the support and comments. I hope that this story brings you much joy yet.