Author's Note
This story came from a prompt that simply involved Changelings. It was a story that we were quite literally asked to write in a half-hour, so, in a panic. I looked up A Series of Letters and wrote this AU of an AU that somewhat involved Slate.
It got 3rd (out of 4), and while I don’t like it, it got the job done.
This story’s like a 2/5 for how proud I am of it.
Panic held on 7/19/21.
Apart From My Kin
Ponies weren’t necessarily looked on kindly by Changeling kind. They used to be seen as little more than a source for love and food. Recently, that had changed, Changelings had become more ponylike, and also changed their appearance completely. They changed their appearance into fantastical colors.
Then there was me.
I was taken away from my hive as they all changed, and I couldn’t quite find it in me to quite forge a connection. The ponies who’d taken me seemed to love me, but I couldn’t. All of the love wasn’t shared equally.
I’d heard stories about my old hive, and how they shared love with one another. They were all these beautiful colors, and I was simply alone. They didn’t really treat me as a Changeling, more of a pet.
I wanted to be with my old hive again, Changelings who loved each other and Changelings who were treated by ponies as proper ponylike creatures.
I couldn’t love somepony back who treated me as a pet, it makes me wonder why they ended up taking me in the first place. Was I young and shy, and couldn’t speak up, or did they just see me as a pet? Something to show off to everypony else?
Whatever the case, I wasn’t any sort of beautiful color, I was black, and my hooves were still ragged and torn. As much as my captors loved me, I didn’t love them, there was no love shared between us.
I got up from the bed I laid beside and stepped on out into the main part of the house. Nopony was home, and I realized I didn’t care.
I stepped out, and I made my final choice. I needed to go out there and find somepony who would treat me like a pony equal instead of a novelty that was something they salvaged from a warzone up North. Somepony who might love me, carapace, holes, and color be damned.
I wrote out a candid letter, just like I know my captors did.
If you’re reading this, I’ve gone away. I’m running away to simply live my life as a pony equivalent. I don’t want to be treated like a pet anymore, I need to find a place where I can live peacefully.
I know how much you’ve done for me, but it’s not enough. I’m leaving, after being alone for so many years.
-Slate, your Changeling
