Breaking Boundaries

"So, do you know anything about the Crystal Empire?" Blazing asked Chocolate as they sat on a cloud just above the edge of the Everfree Forest. A week passed since Twilight, and her friends left Ponyville for Canterlot. When the six returned, they explained how Princess Celestia gave Twilight a task to save the Crystal Empire, and now the great city's light can be seen across Equestria.

"Only that it's an ancient city powered by love and magic," Chocolate answered in her changeling form. Being in a secluded area, Chocolate felt comfortable enough to be in her natural form without fear of being discovered by the equines. "The empire was way before my time. I don't think even Chrysalis knows much about it."

"Powered by love, huh?" Blazing asked as he admired Chocolate's unique form. "Sounds like the perfect place for a changeling." Chocolate looked at Blazing with a raised eyebrow. "A city powered by love. Changelings feed on love. It almost sounds like two sides of the same coin."

"I guess that makes sense," Chocolate observed. "But, if we did belong there, why'd we leave? Why don't we remember it?"

"Maybe you should ask your queen," Blazing suggested.

"Fuck no!" Chocolate countered as she sat up. "What am I gonna do? Go up and be like, "Hey mom, why don't we live in the Crystal Empire?" She'd likely bite my head off for even suggesting such a thing."

"Two questions," Blazing began as he smiled at Chocolate. "One, 'mom'? And, second, why would she do something like that?" Chocolate blinked when she realized her slip of the tongue.

"Oh," Chocolate began as she hung her head. "I guess I never told you Chrysalis is my mother."

"No, you didn't," Blazing casually observed, making Chocolate blink at his reaction.

"That doesn't shock you?" Chocolate asked.

"Why would it?" Blazing asked.

"I just told you I am the daughter of Chrysalis, queen of the changelings, and you're not surprised?" Chocolate observed.

"So what?" Blazing asked. "I'm the sun of a zebra who was adopted by a lesbian. Twilight's the princess's protege. A baby dragon's living in the library. The world's full of fun and interesting facts, and I've seen and heard a lot of them. Having a princess as a friend is cool, but nothing to lose my head over."

"Okay, you're full of surprises," Chocolate observed with a raised eyebrow and a smirk before leaning against Blazing's shoulder. "Anyway, Chrysalis has made it clear she wants Equestria. She never backs down from something she wants. I've seen her kill changelings for even considering other options that don't involve her desired target."

"Harsh," Blazing observed as he draped a wing over Chocolate's shoulders. Chocolate stirred in Blazing's hold.

"Y'know, being Chrysalis' daughter means I could be a lot like her in so many ways," Chocolate explained. "Aren't you worried I'll do something horrible to you?"

"I don't see a cold-hearted, blood-thirsty creature sitting next to me," Blazing answered. "I see a friend I've spent almost a month with who's given me no reason to distrust her."

"You're too trusting," Chocolate stated. "One of these days, your kind-heartedness is going to get you killed."

"Well, when that day comes, I know I'll die doing what's right, even if it kills me," Blazing replied. Chocolate lay in Blazing's hold as she watched the lights in the sky coming from the north. She knew she had to turn against Blazing someday, but everything she experienced as an equine made her dread that moment.

Suddenly, Chocolate fell to the cloud and looked up to find Blazing struggling with Rainbow Dash. The blue pegasus tried to charge Chocolate with a glare on her face while she swung her fists in the air. "Dash?" Chocolate asked as she watched in surprise.

"Let me go, Blazing!" Rainbow cried. "That thing's a changeling!" Blazing covered Rainbow's mouth as he held her against him.

"Dash, calm down!" Blazing growled as he held onto her. "I know she's a changeling!" Blazing's statement gave Rainbow pause as she stopped struggling while keeping a sharp eye on the changeling on the cloud. "I'll explain everything, but you have to calm down." After a few seconds, Rainbow relaxed her muscles. "Chocolate, can you make another cloud or something? I don't want to just drop her." Chocolate inclined her head before she waved her hand, making a green cloud appear beneath Blazing and Rainbow. Blazing let Rainbow go, and they both landed on Chocolate's cloud.

"You better have a damn good explanation, Blazing!" Rainbow growled as she kept her eyes on Chocolate.

"Her name is Filia," Blazing began. "I found her half-dead in the Everfree. I took her to Zecora to heal her, and she's been with me ever since."

"Wait!" Rainbow blinked. "You saved it!"

"What was I supposed to do?" Blazing countered.

"Oh, I don't know," Rainbow rolled her eyes. "Leave it for the Timber Wolves! Lock it away! Alert Princess Celestia and have her deal with it!"

"You know I won't let a creature die like that!" Blazing countered as he glared at Rainbow. "And that "thing" is a she!"

"It's a changeling!" Rainbow countered as she gestured to Chocolate with her hand. "They attacked Canterlot! Tried to ruin Twilight's brother's wedding! Take over Equestria! You do know they're bad news, right?!"

"Yes, I know about the fiasco at Canterlot," Blazing sighed.

"And you saved it anyway?!" Rainbow continued.

"Her!" Blazing snapped. "And, yes, I did! I would've done the same thing to you if you were a changeling! You know that!" Rainbow looked at Chocolate, who quietly sat as she watched the pegasi argue. "And before you go on about how she could be using me, I already know the risks." Rainbow sat on the green cloud for a few seconds before she kicked off to hover.

"First thing's first, let's get rid of this green cloud," Rainbow began, "it's gonna cause a panic."

"Good point," Blazing observed as he looked at Chocolate. "You think you can bring one of the other clouds closer?" Chocolate inclined her head as she waved her hand, making her magic cloud disappear while bringing a natural cloud under Rainbow. Rainbow sat on the cloud while Blazing returned to Chocolate's side.

"Okay, so your friend, Chocolate, was a changeling this entire time?" Rainbow asked.

"I think that's already been established," Blazing answered.

"You seriously trust her; after everything that's happened?" Rainbow asked.

"If she wanted to do me harm, she's had plenty of opportunities to do it," Blazing answered.

Rainbow stared between Blazing and Chocolate as she thought about her options. Chocolate kept a close eye on the pegasus as she sensed her emotions. Confusion, rage, and excitement, just to name a few.

"Okay, Blazing," Rainbow said after a few seconds of silence. "I trust you."

"Whoa!" Chocolate blinked. "Just like that?!"

"Blazing's one of the most trustworthy equines I know," Rainbow stated with a smile. "If he trusts you, that's good enough for me!"

"Thank you, Dash," Blazing said with a smile. Rainbow offered Blazing a small smile before looking at Chocolate.

"But, I'm still gonna keep an eye on you," Rainbow stated. "If you do anything to Stripes or any of my friends, I'll make you regret the day you were born a changeling!" Rainbow slammed her right fist into the palm of her left hand as she threatened Chocolate. Blazing groaned at the nickname Rainbow gave him.

"Dash, changelings are part of a hive," Chocolate explained. "We're almost completely useless on our own."

"Do you expect me to believe that after what your queen did?" Rainbow countered.

"Chrysalis is on another level than a drone, like me," Chocolate countered. "She's the damn queen."

"Yeah, but if changelings are anything like her, they can get stronger like it's nothin'," Rainbow observed. "You guys feed off of love energy, right?"

"Dash, I thought you trusted me," Blazing piped up.

"I do, Stripes," Rainbow countered. "You can't blame me for being careful." Blazing narrowed his brow at Rainbow.

"It's okay, Blaze," Chocolate said as she moved to Blazing's side. "Besides, I don't even wanna go back to the hive." Blazing smiled at Chocolate as she leaned on his side. Rainbow watched Chocolate with a raised eyebrow. "The past month has been so strange and wonderful at the same time."

"How so?" Blazing asked as he draped a wing over her shoulders.

"The equine life is so different from changelings," Chocolate began, "It's a change of pace I'll have to get used to, but one that I'm liking. That, and," Chocolate paused as she looked at Blazing, "you've done more for me than anyone else ever has." Blazing smiled at Chocolate.

"That's so sappy," Rainbow said as she rolled her eyes. "So, when are you two gonna get married and start a union between our races?"

"Dash!" Blazing snapped as his cheeks flushed red.

"Why do all these equines think I should marry Blazing?" Chocolate asked herself.

"What?!" Rainbow asked as she raised her hands in defense. "It's obvious you two are in love; you should make it happen."

"Dash!" Blazing snapped again. Chocolate could not help but giggle at the two pegasi. Blazing blushed harder when he noticed Chocolate's reaction.

"Okay, I'm gonna dash," Rainbow said as she stood on the cloud. "I'll be keeping my eyes on you for a while." Rainbow spread her wings as she prepared to take off.

"Rainbow," Chocolate called. Rainbow stopped to look at Chocolate. "Thank you for understanding." Rainbow stared into Chocolate's blue eyes for a few seconds.

"Just be careful about your disguise from now on," Rainbow urged before taking off. Chocolate and Blazing watched Rainbow fall away.

"Do you think she'll tell the others?" Chocolate asked.

"Rainbow's not the type to turn her back on her friends," Blazing answered. "She may be hot-headed, but she's one you want as a friend."

"Do you think you can trust all of them with the truth?" Chocolate asked as she looked at Blazing, who looked back.

"Are you saying you want them all to know?" Blazing asked. Chocolate thought about how she wanted to answer before she felt a sudden sting in her spine. She sat up and tried looking over her shoulder to see if anything was there. "You okay?" Blazing asked.

"Is there something on my back?" Chocolate asked as she turned her back to Blazing, who examined it closely.

"I don't see- wait," Blazing said as he slid his hand over her scales.

"What?" Chocolate asked as she looked at Blazing over her shoulder.

"Weren't your wings black?" Blazing asked. Chocolate spread her wings as she looked at them to find they appeared more crystal blue-green instead of black. Though they maintained their dragonlike shape, the color in her scales began to change.

"What the-?" Chocolate said as she stared in awe.

"I take it that's not normal?" Blazing asked.

"No," Chocolate answered as she gave her wings a few flaps.

"Have you been feeding?" Blazing asked. Chocolate blinked as she thought about the answer. For the first few days, she kept her focus on getting the information she needed for Chrysalis, but as the days turned into weeks, the changeling lost herself in the warmth she felt from everything around her.

"I haven't been paying attention," Chocolate observed.

"Maybe Zecora has the answers?" Blazing suggested. "We should go see her."

Chocolate paused as she thought about the day she faced Zuro. "Did he look different?" she asked herself. She was so focused on her task to kill Zuro on the spot; she ignored the details of his body. "He was in his natural form, wasn't he?"

"Chocolate?" Blazing called, pulling the changeling out of her thoughts.

"I think I know someone else who may have the answers," Chocolate observed as she changed to her pegasus form. "Follow me." Chocolate jumped off the cloud and flew toward the town. Blazing took off after her. Chocolate landed in front of Zuro's house as Blazing landed next to her.

"Zuro?" Blazing asked. "What would he know about any of this?"

"Trust me," Chocolate said as she knocked on the door.

"Come in!" a female voice answered. Chocolate opened the door and stepped inside to find Angel sitting on the couch with a bundle in her arms, pressed against her breast. The pegasus looked up and smiled at her guest. "Hey, Blazing," Angel warmly greeted.

"Hi, Angel," Blazing replied with a smile. "I see the bun is done baking." Angel giggled.

"She's been a handful, but I couldn't be happier to have her in my arms," Angel said as she smiled at her baby.

"Angel, is Zuro here?" Chocolate asked as she closed the door behind them before reverting to her changeling form. Blazing blinked when he saw Chocolate change in front of Angel.

"Chocolate?!" Blazing cried out. "What are you doing?"

"It's okay, Blazing," Angel called. "I already know about Filia." Blazing blinked as he looked at Angel. "Let's just say she paid us a visit a few weeks ago."

"It's Chocolate now," Chocolate corrected, getting Angel to look up.

"Oh?" Angel asked.

The door opened behind Blazing and Chocolate, who both looked to find Zuro walking in with a few bags over his shoulder. When Zuro saw Blazing and Chocolate, he blinked before quickly closing the door behind him. "What's going on?" Zuro asked.

"Zuro, I need to ask you something," Chocolate said as she walked up to her fellow changeling. Zuro looked between Chocolate and Blazing.

"So, he knows?" Zuro asked.

"You can trust him," Chocolate answered. Blazing stared with intent as Zuro released his guise in front of everyone while walking to his wife. Chocolate took in the features of Zuro's body to find there was a significant change. His scales changed from black to grey with white highlights. His wings were now transparent and a crystal blue-green color.

"Wait, you're a changeling too?" Blazing asked in shock.

"Really?" Chocolate asked as she raised a brow at Blazing. "You're not surprised about Chrysalis being my mother, but Zuro being a changeling does surprise you?"

"This one is catching me off guard," Blazing defended himself.

"I trust this isn't going to be a problem?" Angel piped up as she looked at her guests. Chocolate noticed a change in her personality since the last time she saw her. Angel seemed more confident, and the energy she gave off was protective and threatening.

"I'm not here to cause trouble," Chocolate stated as she watched the couple on the couch. "I just wanted to ask you something," she said as she looked at Zuro.

"What about?" Zuro asked.

"Your body," Chocolate answered. "I didn't notice before, but you've changed." Zuro paused before looking at himself.

"Yeah, that started happening around the time I proposed to Angel," Zuro explained before looking at his princess. "Why do you ask?" Chocolate only turned to show her wings. Zuro immediately got up from his seat to get a closer look. "It's happening to you too?"

"I just noticed it a few minutes ago," Chocolate explained. "I suddenly felt a sting in my back and looked to find this. I was hoping you could give me an answer." While the two changelings examined Chocolate's wings, the two pegasi watched with intent.

"To be honest, I'm not entirely sure how or why this is happening, but I think it has something to do with the energy around us," Zuro explained. "After spending so much time with my new friends here in Ponyville, I noticed I stopped needing to feed. I accepted the change, and suddenly I changed."

"Just like that?" Chocolate asked.

"As I said, I don't understand it," Zuro answered. "But since I changed, I've never felt better. I'm not hungry anymore. I don't feel the need to lash out. Everything's different, and I love it."

"You don't think it's some kind of new sickness to us?" Chocolate asked.

Eventually, Blazing walked to Angel with a soft smile on his face as he looked at the bundle in her arms. "So, when did the baby come?"

"A week ago," Angel answered with a smile.

"And, nobody told me?" Blazing asked. Angel gestured to the seat next to her.

"We have our reasons," Angel said as Blazing sat next to her. The baby let go of Angel's teat, giving Blazing enough of a glance to find it had changeling features. The baby's scales were blue, a shade darker than her eyes, and her ears were thin and changeling-like. A set of fangs protruded from her lips against Angel's breast as the baby fed.

"Yeah, that would be hard to explain to everyone," Blazing observed as he reached a hand to tickle the baby's chin. Angel watched with a smile as her child seemed to enjoy the attention. "Have you picked a name?" Blazing asked.

"Actually, Dili named her," Angel said as she rested the baby over her shoulder to pat her back.

"Dili?" Blazing asked.

"Zuro's little sister," Angel explained as she heard a little burp by her ear before resting the baby back in her arms. "Her name's Bluejoy. Because she's blue, and she brought us all joy."

"Sounds perfect," Blazing observed with a smile.

"Guardian and I agree," Angel said as she watched Bluejoy give a big yawn. "So, how'd you find your changeling?"

"In the forest," Blazing answered as he looked at the two changelings, still lost in their conversation. "She was half-dead, and I couldn't just leave her there."

"And she hasn't caused you any trouble?" Angel asked as she looked at Chocolate.

"Not at all," Blazing answered. "She's actually been adjusting quite well."

"Interesting," Angel observed.

"You said she paid you a visit before," Blazing observed as he looked at Angel, who looked at Chocolate with a glare before looking at Blazing.

"Just be careful, okay?" Angel urged.

"She threatened you, didn't she?" Blazing asked, only getting a nod from the other pegasus. "But, she didn't do anything to you, right?"

"Blazing," Angel began.

"If she does anything wrong, I'll take the blame," Blazing interjected. "I've been keeping my eyes on her ever since I found her, and I don't think she's a threat."

"Blazing, if she kills my husband-" Angel began to protest.

"I'm not going to let anything happen to you or your family," Blazing interjected again.

"I already swore I wouldn't do anything to Zuro," Chocolate piped up, getting the two pegasi to look up. Angel opened her mouth to say something. "We felt your stress rising," Chocolate said before Angel could speak.

"Honey, I know you don't trust her," Zuro began, "but if Filia-"

"Chocolate," Chocolate corrected. Zuro softly smiled at Chocolate.

"If Chocolate says she's not going to do anything, I know she won't," Zuro finished.

"That's not enough for me, Guardian," Angel protested. Blazing stood up and walked next to Chocolate.

"Zuro is quite the capable fighter, fueled by your love, and you have me and a few others to turn to if things go south," Blazing explained.

"Wait, others know about Chocolate?" Zuro asked.

"Pinkie let it slipped she might know something, and Rainbow just found out earlier," Blazing explained. "Those two and Zecora helped heal her. Between the girls and us, I think we can handle her if she steps out of line," Blazing said as he looked at Chocolate as if warning her not to try anything.

"The last month has been too good for me to try anything," Chocolate said as she looked between the three. "I think I'm starting to understand why you left," Chocolate said as she looked at Zuro, who smiled at her before going to sit next to his wife.

"And I'll defend everything I have here until my dying breath," Zuro stated as he looked at his daughter.

Chocolate watched Zuro and Angel as they huddled around their baby. Chocolate could feel the energy radiating from the trio, which started to make her dizzy. She took a step back as she shook her head with a soft groan.

"Chocolate, are you okay?" Blazing asked as he stepped up. Zuro looked at Chocolate.

"She's not used to the energy yet," Zuro observed. "You should probably take her home."

"She's been here for at least a month," Blazing began, "how could she not be used to it yet?"

"Some changelings react to the energy differently," Zuro explained.

"He's right," Chocolate added as she turned to the door while shifting to her pegasus form. "Some take to it easy, others take it slower, and some even lash out if they're not used to it."

"Glad you're not the type to lash out," Blazing observed as he walked with Chocolate before looking back at Zuro and Angel. "At least I know I have someone else I can look to if I need any help."

"I'm glad you took it well," Zuro smiled.

"Hey, when you've seen the shit I've seen, almost nothing is a surprise," Blazing stated.

"This coming from the guy who was surprised that Zuro is a changeling," Chocolate retorted.

"Hey, I wasn't expecting an old friend to be a changeling," Blazing countered.

"Sure," Chocolate rolled her eyes. "Now, let's go, so I can recover."