Dark Alleys, Bright Hearts

I stand at the edge of the marketplace, watching the ponies go about their lives.

Joy and satisfaction ooze off the merchants as ponies gobble up their overpriced goods.

Equal parts love and lust come off a stallion buying from a florist.

Ponies trot around with their muzzles in the air. It doesn’t take a changeling to know they’re full of pride at their every motion.

I suppress a yawn from the mundane activities.

I pause as my eyes land on a pony wearing a red dress, and I’m reminded of the previous night with Cape.

I grin as I remember, and feel once more the lust he provided to me.

I trot into the market, my eyes scanning until I find the perfect stall.

I move up to the stall, smiling to the stallion working it, “Hey there, handsome, I was looking for some help.”

The stallion nods, “Well, if that help involves buying a cleaning product, then I can help.”

I grin, “Well, you see, I was wondering what the best product would be for me to clean up some blood?”

The stallion raises an eyebrow, “Blood?”

I nod, “Yes. I was preparing some food last night, and I accidentally cut my leg while I was cutting the vegetables. I covered it quickly, but there is still some blood on the counter and on my knife.”

The stallion smiles, “Was the meal delicious?”

I smirk, “I put all my love into it.”

He nods, “Well, I luckily have a potion right here which should clean blood easily.” He places a potion full of green liquid on the stall, “This should be enough, right?”

I look at it, “Well, maybe I could get a few more of those? I always just get so focused on cooking, that I’m actually quite clumsy. And I’d rather be prepared.”

He smiles, and takes out a few more, “Well, it will cost you.”

I nod, “How much?”

He pauses, “Should be about one hundred bits.”

I frown, “One hundred bits?” I shift the frown into a smirk, and lean against the counter, running a hoof across his cheek, putting an aphrodisiac into him, “Any way I could lower that? I’m just such a poor, clumsy mare. I’m sure a big and strong stallion like you could spare some cost.”

He pauses again, and rubs his chin, “Well, I can think of one way.”

I grin, “Yes?”

He begins to smile, “For a mare like you, all I need as payment is to see you turn around.”

I smile, and turn my flank to him. I also make sure to move my tail out of the way, “Mmm, like that?”

A spike of lust comes from him, and he nods, “Exactly like that.”

I turn back to face him, and place the potions into my bag, “Well, I’m so glad a stallion like you is ready to help a mare like me in her time of need.”

As I lean forward to grab the final potion, he leans forward, and kisses my cheek.

I stop myself from shuddering as he whispers, “Come back tonight if you want even more.”

I put the final potion in, and grin, “I’ll be sure to.”

I trot away, making sure to give my flank a little wiggle. Now facing away from him, I let my grimace be shown.

He’ll serve as a good snack later, but he can also serve as a good cleaner.

Oh, ponies are so easy to manipulate, and I hope that never changes.

As I trot through the market, I am suddenly struck by two odd emotions.

Shame and anger, both coming from the same direction.

I turn to look, only to hear an angry, male voice shout, “Well you can fuck off, and tell your Princess to stick her head in the garbage disposal!”

I raise an eyebrow as I see a thestral take off. I trot closer to the commotion.

“And all of you can fuck off as well, you xenophobic assholes!”

Conflicting emotions come from the nearby ponies. Anger, and disgust being chief among them.

I finally see the shouting creature, only to pause as I see it’s rather odd form.

He stands on two legs, like a Minotaur, though his hooves seem oddly shaped, and are covered by boots. He stands at six feet, from what I can see. He doesn’t seem to have any fur, either, but instead has white skin. His form is covered by either dark blue or black clothing. His face doesn’t have a muzzle, instead having only a small extremity. His mane is small as well, and is black.

But what draws me most are his eyes. They are small, and could be described as beady. But the color of them are a deep, almost emerald, green.

He glares at the ponies around him, and they all avert their gaze.

Mom always said I had a thing for the exotic, and I never thought she was right. After all, nothing is exotic to a shapeshifter. We’ve seen everything, and learned how to become them.

But he is definitely exotic. His emotions taste stronger, and he looks unlike anything I’ve seen before.

He begins to storm down the street, not caring about the ponies standing in his way.

I smile, and slowly begin to follow him.

He could definitely serve as a good ally. Or perhaps, as a way for me to build my forces back up.

The way he pushes through the crowd as well, he’s like the old changelings from thousands of years ago.

I make sure this changeling-like creature doesn’t see me as I track him. I begin to write down where he’s going as well.

It’s safe to say that he’s drawn my interest.