The Changeling transformation has set laws that it must follow, making it magic and not Magic.

One of those laws is that a changeling can not transform into an inanimate object, such as a bowl of plastic or a metal blade.

The second law is that a changeling may only transform into a creature of similar weight, with a difference of up to 500 kilos. Thanks to that Changelings are able to transform into the more common species of civilized creatures in the world, such as the Ponies or the Buffalo.

A Changeling cannot exceed the weight limit of the transformation, an example being grown Dragons. While fairly common to see flying above the desert, a Changeling will not be able to transform into an adult dragon due to the weight limitations of the magic.

The Size of a transformation on the other hand varies greatly depending on how powerful the changeling is personally, or how much LOVE it has stored inside of itself.

During my third year, as a nymph, I managed to transform into a writhing mass of tentacles and eyes. The size of the abomination was that of a flat-one story house, however, the weight of the form, which should have been several tons at the least, was no more than 700 Kilograms.

It was also during that transformation that I learned about the more physical aspects of a transformation.

When a Changeling changes its form, it encases itself in a burst of green fire, which I have decided to dub Fel Fire for convenience's sake.

The Fel Fire is not simply an aesthetic effect, its job is to repair the matter making up the biology of the Changeling.

For you see, when a Changeling transforms, it doesn't place a shell over its body, nor does it hide inside of an illusion.

The Transformation is more closely tied to the process of a Chrysalid Metamorphosis, where the caterpillar inside of the cocoon releases a series of enzymes in order to digest itself, melting in the process, only for the body to rebuild itself from the digested goop as a butterfly.

The Fel Fire is that cocoon, if for only but a moment.

Every time a Changeling transforms, even partially, it melts itself in green fire and rebuilds its own body into a new form.

A theory of mine is that during the split second in which the Changeling transforms, the body is placed in such unimaginable pain that the Fel Fire shuts off the pain receptors of the brain for the duration of the transformation so that the Changeling wouldn't die of over-stimulation.

More research is required to figure out if any more biological laws or limits exist in regard to the Changelings transformation, A subject for later date.

It has been four days since Looper took on the identity of Blaze Glass the Pegasus.
During those four days he has spent his time being watched and treated by one of the Elders of the Plains Buffalo Tribe, the one that bandaged him when he first arrived.

He spent the rest of his time memorizing the culture and traditions that the Buffalo tribe has shown him, he won't be able to write down his notes without revealing himself as a Changeling, sadly.

An interesting happening was the daughter of the chief, the one who found him after he dropped from the sky, grow a small crush on him.

It was nothing major, Looper knew, simply a young woman being intrigued by the prospects of a stranger living with her, It won't lead to anything. But for the moment, Little Strongheart has become the unknowing source of food for Looper.

And how he took advantage of that.

For the first time in four years, Looper was able to absorb Love from a first-hand source.

No longer would he eat the tasteless mush fed to the Nymphs and Grubs of the hive, no longer will he eat the distilled rations given to the adult Changeling.

He will eat love, slowly, of course, absorbing it from the surrounding like photosynthesis. It isn't the fastest nor is it the most rewarding, but the slow absorption of the ambient love leaves no trace, unlike the active siphoning of the conceptual emotion.

And so, with a steady source of food, and more information being given to him about the history and traditions of Buffalo culture on a daily basis, Looper was relaxed.

Only three or more days and he will be able to finally leave this camp and return to his goal of mastering Magic.

And as long as things remain at the pace that they are, there shouldn't be any problems.

Which obviously meant that a problem was approaching.

It was during his fifth night with the tribe, Whilst everyone else was sleeping, Looper sat awake in the tent given to him.

Changelings being mostly nocturnal creatures thanks to their underground habitat, makes it so as long as they get at least six hours of sleep they keep themselves awake for up to forty-eight hours if they keep their LOVE at a steady supply. Which thanks to Little Strongheart fueling him, Looper was able to stay awake for most of the nights he spent with the Tribe.

It was on that night that a group of creatures sneaked into the tribe and left after taking a number of items, mostly articles of clothing and spare tents.

With the creatures showing intelligence by sneaking instead of waltzing into the camp, Looper became curious.

The only creatures that are known to live in the area are the Buffalo, and the Ponies up north wouldn't dare to think of sneaking into a Buffalo camp.

Suffice to say, Looper was more than intrigued.

He had a group of criminals on his hands, one that only he currently knows of, and if he plays his card right, only he will ever know existed.

With a flash of Fel Fire, gone was the Changeling that masquerades as a Pegasus during the day, in his place was a long black snake.

Because of the weight law of Transformation, Looper's snake was far longer than average, making up the length of at least three snakes.

Making the serpent wider and taller might have made the transformation shorter, but by spreading the weight across a long body, the snake will be able to move almost silently over the hard rocky ground of the desert.

And with a blink to readjust to his newfound serpentine eyesight, a quiet hiss from a forked tongue, and a small squirt of venom from the newly poisoned fangs.
Looper exited the tent and followed the series of footprints.

He had some thieves to research.

Author's Note

As you know, my chapter are usually 1k words long, maybe 2k if I'm feeling it.

Don't expect any chapters longer than 3k words anytime soon.

I miss seven years ago, when I could write 8k words per chapter and not feel tired.
What happened to those days?