Groom Hornwell's 2022

Kalby and the nurse got out of the Ponyville's hospital.
They both stood by the door.

"Take me to her" ordered Kalby, looking at the nurse by his side.

The nurse pointed itself with a hoof. "Do you mean...?"

"Yes. And let's do this quick. I know it's night already but I want to make sure you are telling me the truth" Kalby said.

"Okay, sire. I'll show you"

"Stop calling me sire. You are not a pony" he harshly whispered.

"Uhhh..." The nurse looked behind at the closed doors of the hospital. "... Oh, I understand. No problem." It nodded twice.

They started walking on the paved road that connected the building to the rest of the town.

They passed a bridge over the train tracks and followed a road of cobblestones illuminated with antique streetlights on its sides.

Near a lamplight there was a sign:

<----- Spiral tower
Old ponies home ------>
Residential blocks ----->

Kalby and the nurse turned right.

After two minutes of walking, they reached a house just like any other around. Kalby approached the door and was about to knock when the nurse grabbed his hoof.

"Wait!" it whispered. "I told you she was sick! Do you expect her to go downstairs and meet you?"

"Shut up and let me solve this, okay?" He pushed its foreleg away. He then softly flapped his wings and went up until he reached a window. He got close to it.

The inside of the house was dimly illuminated by a candle. A pony lay in the bed.

It had a pink coat and a white mane . Just like the nurse/changeling.

Kalby got away from the window and landed next to the nurse.

"Was she there?" It asked.

"Yeah, be thankful" Kalby answered. "Now, let's take you to the Everfree forest. From there, you'll be free to go back to the hive you came from"

"Oh, but you must go to Canterlot now! Please just let me get out of here." The nurse pleaded.

"I insist, come on" Kalby moved and the nurse had no choice but to follow.

They decided to go flying low. Since the changeling was imponyating an earth pony, it made appear wings on its back.

Three minutes after flying and they were above the limit between the west Orchard of Sweet Apple Acres and the Everfree forest. They were over a creek.

Kalby, in mid-air like the nurse, was behind it.

There was another flash of green light, and in front of Kalby was the changeling on its true form.

The changeling, with tears on its cheeks, turned around to Kalby. "Thank you for sparing me, sire!" It flew to Kalby and hugged him.

Kalby looked up to the stars while he hugged the changeling around its neck. He started to gradually apply pressure. "What's your name, changeling?"

"Uh, ehem, my name is Larynx" the changeling started to push Kalby away but couldn't get off him. "Uhm, you are holding me too tight. Agh!"

"Oh, the irony lies on your name" Kalby said softly.

Kalby was strangling Larynx. He could feel it's trachea contract thanks to force of his forelegs.

"N-no!" Were Larynx's last words.

Twenty seconds later, the body of Larynx fell from a height of ten meters into the creek.

Kalby sighed, and started to head to Canterlot.