Anon pokes at its squishy, emerald eyeball. Its wet and makes a weird squelch.

The Drones only reaction is to blink slowly, one eye at a time, like a frog.

"Oh, this ones gotta be stupid or something. Was it even supposed to be on the raid?" Anon audibly questions, pushing himself up from his kneeling stance.

The Canterlot raid by the Changelings had been routed. With the blast of magic, most of the assault, including the vile Queen Chrysalis, had been forcefully ejected and sent scurrying. The few that weren't were in the process of being chased down and rounded up, destined for the dungeons. In the open halls of the castle, several guards jog by as distant shouts and clashes can be heard rounding up. Designated Nerd and too-purple pony Twilight Sparkle is walking down the hall, glancing around -- she locks sight with Anon, perking up. Before noticing the Changeling he's beside. She kicks up to a quick canter to close the distance.

Twilight Sparkle slides to a stop beside Anon, taking a wide stance as her horn begins to glow.
"Watch out, Anon. I'll handle this one!"

Twilight instead finds Anon stepping in the way of her magic. Her horn sputters as she leans back in confusion.
"...Anon? You have to move, I'm going to knock it out."

"Uh... you don't really need to do that, Sparkbutt." Anon protests.

"Anon. It's a Changeling! Move." Twilight reaffirms, her horn starting to glow again. To her shock, instead, Anon turns around, picking the thing up. A long globule of golden drool is running from its mouth, and it blinks slowly, again. One eye at a time, making an audible squish noise.

Squish.

Squash.

Twilight recoils slightly, weirded out as her magic sparks out of her horn again.
"Anon, what are you doing?! Put it down! It's dangerous!"

"Oh, man. This thing is like a Pug! I gotta keep it." Anon chuckles, holding it outstretched in his arms as he looks the fuckin' weird thing over.

It looked like your standard changeling, for the most part. One of their many Drones. Though a bit... small. Runty, even. The main difference, was its abhorrently pitiful wings. This thing probably couldn't even take off. And instead of green goey bits, this thing had gold. A squishy, gel-like underbelly gave insight into its insides, Anon watching in fascination as he can see its organs through its golden stomach.

It coughs up some golden goop, dribbling down his arm, staring blankly.

"Ha, ew. This things wicked." Anon huffs, already thinking of a name. Wait, maybe it already has one?
"Hey, barfy. What's your name?"

Its wings buzz for a short moment, jaw slack. Was that an answer?

Twilight finally drags the face from her hoof, ending her extended face-hoof, trotting beside Anon.
"Anon, I don't care how... weird, it is. We need to lock it away! We JUST repelled the Changeling attack!"

Anon purses his lips.
"MMmmmmm no. I'm claiming this one. Dibs, Spoils of war and all that. And I'm calling it Barfy."

An exasperated groan escapes Twilight as she considers just wrenching the thing out of his hands; right as Princess Celestia slowly rounds the corner. Her eyes flicker with familiarity as she sees the Human and her Student; then with caution as she sees the Changeling. Then, just as quickly... a dulled confusion that only came about when the Human was involved. He was holding it like one would a pet.

"...My dear Anon... I would ask if you had caught one, but considering it's you... what are you up to?" She asks tentatively, already slightly aloof thanks to Twilights visible exasperation.

Twilight perks up, twirling in place to point a hoof at Anon.
"Princess! He found a Changeling but won't hand it over! He keeps getting in the way and he said he's going to NAME the thing BARFY and KEEP! IT!" Twilight shouts, hopping in place.

Celestia slowly looks between Anon and... oh.

It slow-blinks at her, one eye at a time.

Squash.

Squish.

"...Perhaps it best you hang onto that one, Anon." Celestia says in a deadpan tone.

"Really?" Anon grins, throwing a smug expression Twilights way.

"WHAT" Twilight exclaims, jaw dangling.

"It clearly... I don't believe it's going to be a threat, and Anon is... uniquely capable." Celestia sighs, shaking her head.

Twilight is fuming, as Anon beams.

"I'll need a Collar! Oh, shit, I need like, pet stuff. These things eat love, right? I can do that."

"...Anon, it is a sapient creature. You do not need--" Princess Celestia starts, but stops a long, dribbly globule of golden drool stretches from its mouth, puddling on the floor.

"...We will get you one. What was it you said you have named it?" Celestia instead asks.

"BARFY!" Anon declares, holding the bug against himself.

Twilight is close to pulling her mane out, letting out a frustrated shout and storming back down the hall.

"Fucks her problem?" Anon snorts, keeping Barfy against his chest. He makes an audible squeak when Barfy wraps its hooves around his neck, leaning into him.

He doesn't even say anything as it hacks a smear of golden goop onto his shirt.

Celestia... just stopped worrying about the Human, some time ago. Similar to Pinkie Pie, things just... worked out, for the biped. She stopped questioning it, and it would be something that Twilight needed to come to terms with, as well.

"She just needs time to... adapt, as we all do. Perhaps you will champion diplomatic relations with the Changelings in the future, as you care for... Barfy." Celestia offers sarcastically sage wisdom. She'd have to warn the guards in the area. "I recommend you bring it home quickly, and quietly. Perhaps under a blanket. Or several. We will have... supplies, brought to you."

"Sweet."

Author's Note