The trip was extended by a day. He’d explain it to his mother and then things would be fine!

Except they weren’t fine. Leviathan was anything but fine! After Amber had explained to him what his emotions might mean, the Changeling was pulling apart at the seams.

“Do you know what love is?”

Leviathan had stared at the golden Dragon, completely lost. “Obviously? Chrysalis’ Hive fed off of love. She almost overthrew the Empress of the Crystal Empire, right?”

Amber had rolled her eyes, “It’s an emotion idiot. Ponies often feel it for their friends or for other ponies they’re really close to and want, uh,” She turned a little pink, “more, from.”

“More?” Leviathan had lifted an eyebrow, a bit confused. Amber tilted her head, gesturing toward the Changeling’s still-stiff wings. Instantly red flushed his cheeks once more. “Oh! Okay, I see.”

Amber just sighed, smiling, “It’s not just that, though. It’s this feeling you get when you really want something but you’re not sure if it would work out if you acted on the feeling.”

Leviathan had been considering what this twisting, yearning feeling in his gut was since early in this trip, and though he hated to admit it, Amber was probably right. He was growing affectionate toward Irradiance. What a beautiful name, he’d thought when Amber had told him. It was mean to spoil the secret before anyone could properly guess, but secretly Leviathan was happy to know it before the other two ponies.

“Oh, I only grabbed one blanket,” Irradiance noticed once the pair were in their designated tree. “Do you want to grab another?”

Absolutely not. I want to sleep right next to you and press really close until I forget I’m supposed to bring you to my mother to be feasted upon until you’re nothing but an emotionless, magicless husk that haunts the halls of my home. “No, I can share.”

The two stallions spread out the blanket, curling up close together as they felt a chilly breeze make its way through a few cracks in the trunk of the tree. Leviathan was glad he was sharing body heat for more than one reason now.

“Uncool that Amber told you my real name,” The Unicorn said once they’d both lay down in the blanket, waiting for sleep to overtake them. “I was having fun making you guys guess. Now you and Amber can both spoil it.”

“Sorry,” Leviathan whispered, feeling the darkness force him into quiet. “It’s a pretty name, though.” A pause. Irradiance had stopped breathing for a moment and it made the Changeling nervous, turning to face him without realizing Irradiance was already turned toward the Pegasus. They were nearly nose to nose now and Leviathan felt himself actively fighting his eyes craving to go lower.

“You think it’s pretty?” Oh, wow. In the darkness of the Everfree Forest, he looked so soft and vulnerable. Purple coat muted, turquoise hair falling upon the pillow in silky strands, Leviathan wanted something he just couldn’t find the words for. He just knew he wanted… more.

“I think it’s beautiful,” Leviathan emphasized, eyes traveling all across the stallion. “I think your curse is beautiful, too. I know I offered a cure, but don’t you think your crystals make you even more enchanting to look at? Like a painting.” It was dark, but Leviathan was sure that the purple before him was turning pink.

“I might start crying if you keep talking,” Irradiance said suddenly, causing the Pegasus to panic, eyes frantic all of a sudden, causing the Unicorn to laugh, “Not in a bad way!”

“Oh, good.”

Irradiance sniffled for a moment, pushing his face further into the pillow, “I haven’t been close with anyone like this in a really long time. Actually, maybe never,” He rolled onto his back, facing straight up as he continued to speak and Leviathan listened intently, “This is new to me. You’re new and it’s kind of scaring me and I don’t want to do anything rash just because I’m enjoying something new.”

Leviathan squinted, trying to understand what the pony was saying, “This is new to me, too.”

Irradiance shook his head, “No, you at least had Amber, no matter what that was like. I’ve never done anything like this. Never felt anything like this.”

“No, Irradiance,” Lifting a hoof to the stallion’s face, he turned Irradiance to face him, “You don’t understand; I have never experienced this before. Not like this.” Without revealing who he was, Leviathan didn’t know how to tell the stallion how different this emotion was and how conflicted he was feeling at all times along the journey. This worked, he decided.

No more words were spoken. Expression wilted, Irradiance pulled himself closer to Leviathan, snuggling against his chest within the confines of the soft blanket, letting himself fall asleep there. The Changeling felt his heart race and prayed that it wouldn’t wake the sleeping beauty between his arms.

Leviathan woke up with a start, inhaling sharply as he saw Amber inside of the tree he was currently sleeping in, Irradiance still cradled in his arms.

“What are you doing in here?” He hissed through clenched teeth, trying to be as quiet as possible. The Dragon looked conflicted.

“Call your mother,” Was all she said, tossing a small ball toward the green Pegasus. “I swiped this from you last night before we came back to the group. I know she checks in nightly.”

“Thank you,” Leviathan breathed, realizing he hadn’t heard the buzzing and then regretting the fact he hadn’t spoken to his mother at all about his ETA to the hive. “Did you speak with her?” Amber nodded her head, walking toward the tree’s exit.

“Yes. I told her we got pushed back on the trip,” She looked down at Irradiance, face twisted up. “If you’re having a change of heart, I don’t disagree. He’s good for you. You should think of a way to turn this around if you haven’t already. I’ll be outside.”

With a swish of her tail, Amber left the pair alone within the tree once more and Leviathan was stuck with his ever-racing thoughts, unsure what to do next.

“Mm,” there was a groan below the Changeling, and he looked down to see Irradiance snuggling even closer against his chest, head tucked beneath the Pegasus’ chin. “Five more minutes.”

Leviathan let out a breathy laugh and felt his stomach jump violently, causing him to sit up and ruin Irradiance’s comfort.

“Hey!” The purple stallion protested, expression falling from anger to concern as he watched Leviathan turn greener than he already was. “Hey, are you okay?”

Leviathan shook his head, feeling as if he were about to throw up or explode. It didn’t matter which was better, honestly. Just as long as this feeling went away! “I think something’s wrong with me.”

The pair stood up, Irradiance folding up Marigold’s blanket with his magic and laying it on the floor as he formed a response, “What do you mean something’s wrong? Are you feeling okay?”

Leviathan nodded, “Yeah I feel fine,” he assured, thinking of how to articulate his words without giving away the fact he’d been lying about everything this far into the journey. What would even happen? These emotions he was feeling would be useless and Irradiance and his friends would surely toss the Changeling to the side, never seeing him again. Rightfully so, of course, but it still would sting. “Let’s just go check on Marigold. We can talk later.”

Content with the dismissal, the purple stallion picked up the blanket and pillows and made his way out of the tree, back toward where Marigold was sleeping. Cobalt and Hibiscus were already waiting inside, while Amber was leaning against the trunk waiting for Leviathan to show up.

“Did you speak with her?” Amber whispered as Irradiance walked into the tree, out of earshot. Leviathan shook his head. The Dragon groaned, shooting a glare at her friend. “She’ll show up out of nowhere, you know. She popped up in the Dragonlands once when you hadn’t notified her where you’d been in more than 24 hours.”

That would be a nightmare. “I’ll talk to her. Don’t let the others leave the tree until I come back, okay?”

Amber nodded and walked in, greeting the other ponies inside.

Sighing loudly to himself, Leviathan walked to the back of the tree and was silently thankful that there weren’t windows low enough for ponies to look out of. Retrieving the glass marble, Leviathan was quickly met with screeching from his mother.

“Prince Leviathan!” Lilith scolded, syrupy voice raspy from overuse, he imagined. She looked into the crystal ball with a stern expression. “I check in on you nightly. I was told this would be a three-day journey, was I not?”

“You were,” Leviathan confirmed, rolling his eyes. Lilith gasped.

“Don’t you dare roll your eyes at me!” She scoffed, “And transform at once! I can’t bear to look at another pony.”

“I risk being found out if I transform, Mother,” Leviathan covered, looking over his shoulder in anxiety. Would the others wonder where he was? Lilith sighed.

“Fine, remain in your grotesque form. When will you arrive at the Hive? Your citizens grow hungry! You understand that this pony will be able to provide a meal for a millennia, do you not?”

The gnawing sensation in Leviathan’s stomach grew louder. He wanted to speak up to his mother.

I don’t want to feed off of his magic. I want to befriend him! I want to live a life where tricking ponies isn’t my only goal! I want to explore this new emotion and explore it with him! “I understand.”

“Excellent,” The Changeling Queen seemed satiated with the conversation, allowing Leviathan the opportunity to sign off. “What is your estimated arrival time?”

“This evening.”

“Wonderful. Speak to you this evening, then. Farewell, dearest!” The ball dimmed and Leviathan was alone in the forest once more.

Walking back around to the front of the tree, Leviathan steadied himself in preparation for any questions the ponies might ask him.

“You make potions? Like, with just random stuff in the forest?” Leviathan did not expect a full-blown interrogation of Mage Marigold to be taking place. Cobalt looked like he was in absolute awe of the pony before him. The golden pony seemed at ease, no longer as threatened as she was last night when they’d found her in the swamp.

“It’s not from random stuff,” Marigold clarified, walking around and picking up a fern, “These things are magical all on their own! I collect nectar, plants, honey, and even some bones left over from animals long since passed!” She smiled. Living in the swamp seemed to be good for her.

“I get it,” Hibiscus seemed just as entranced as Cobalt. “It’s like the ingredients I see in books at the Academy; someone had to make the recipe before it was published. I guess that’s what you do, right?”

Marigold nodded, necklaces rattling. “I test how items react and I jot them down. I haven’t let anyone use my recipes since I don’t go out much, but if you wanted I could let you try them out on your own?” Hibiscus was awestruck, mouth agape at the offer.

“I would be thrilled to be the first tester of your potions! I mean, I’m sure they already work since you tested them, but to ensure the directions are legible and create the same reactions? Oh, I can’t wait!”

“We should keep going toward the monument,” Leviathan spoke up, causing the five creatures to turn his way. “It’s early and if we keep walking starting now, we’ll be there before sunset!”

There was a murmur of agreement and Leviathan felt something heavy inside of his stomach. This wasn’t something he wanted to keep feeling, like with Irradiance. This was… guilt. He felt guilty. He didn’t want to keep luring these ponies to a terrible demise but what else was there to do?

“Can I come along?” Marigold asked shyly, ears drawn back. “You’re all such nice creatures and I’d hate for you to get lost in the forest! I know the swamp and some areas past, all the way to the Changeling Hive!”

Uh oh, “Changeling Hive?” Irradiance repeated, completely caught off guard. “What hive?”

Marigold cocked her head to the side, “You didn’t know? The direction you’re walking in leads directly to one of the most vicious Changeling Hives in Equestria!” She needed to stop talking or else Leiathan was about to blow his cover. He looked to Amber, panicked, just to see that the Dragon looked just as nervous as the prince!

“Vicious like Queen Chrysalis?” Cobalt asked, similarly as confused as Irradiance.

Marigold shook her head, “Worse. Instead of love, they feed off of magic. Any creature is in danger of not just hypnotism, but death!”

Silence overtook the small group of ponies and Leviathan felt sickness overtake him as green eyes looked right at him, “Why didn’t you tell us about the Changeling Hive?” Irradiance asked.

“Uh,” Leviathan floundered for a minute before regaining his composure, “I thought you were already aware!” He said easily, laughing awkwardly as the ponies continued to just stare.

“I’ve never ventured this far into the forest,” Irradiance spoke carefully, “Why would I know of any hives? I had no idea about the Dragon Nest that wasn’t even more than a day’s journey away!”

“Maybe you ponies should consult maps more often, then,” Amber snapped, flinching at her own response as she did so. Leviathan appreciated the attempt at recovery but things were falling apart fast already, “I know of maps that have every danger labeled. Don’t you?”

“There… is a map of known Changeling Hives in the academy,” Hibiscus slowly admitted. “I didn’t know which direction we were headed in exactly, but now that you mention it, Marigold, I think I knew about this hive, too. Is it the Red Hive?”

The yellow pony nodded, looking around at the group nervously, “Yes, it’s filled with red Changelings. I’m sorry for the sore subject,” She laughed awkwardly, “You’d think one of you are Changelings with this type of reaction, huh?”

The joke did not land well as Leviathan completely froze at the suggestion. Amidst the arguing, a marble rolled across the floor and activated, leaving Queen Lilith to listen to the entire conversation.

“Good one, Marigold!” Cobalt lay a hoof across the mare’s shoulders as he laughed, wiping a tear from his eye with the other. “Like anyone here is a Changeling! They’re easy to spot!”

Irradiance stepped further away from the green Pegasus, eyeing him suspiciously, “No, Cobalt, I don’t think they are.”

“Woah,” Leviathan scoffed, “Are you saying that I’m a Changeling?”

“I never said that,” the purple stallion defended.

“You’re looking at me like that’s what you’re about to say, you know that right?” Leviathan was growing irritated. He knew he was guilty and he knew he felt it deep down that what he was doing was wrong, but he couldn’t stop now. He’d dug too deep a hole to try and escape, so he might as well keep on digging.

“Yeah, and you’d be right,” Irradiance raised an eyebrow, looking content with the reaction of Leviathan, who began to panic.

Amber stepped in, finally, “Hey, how about we chill with the anger and get this group of ponies out the door and out into the forest?”

Cobalt and Hibiscus thankfully seemed eager to end the conspiring and head toward the intended destination, but Irradiance had other plans.

“No, you can’t just ignore me. I’ve lived alone for ten years and I’ve seen my fair share of ponies,” He began to orbit Leviathan slowly, “I’ve met a Changeling or two in my time here. They hide well, but never well enough.”

“I’m not a Changeling, Irradiance!” Leviathan heard the other two Canterlot ponies frown at the reveal of the Unicorn’s real name and would have laughed if he wasn’t so scared of his identity being revealed. “I don’t know how to prove it to you!”

There was buzzing above the tree, loud enough to hear a hum but low enough not to understand what exactly was making the noise. A loud thud was heard outside the door and Amber gasped, causing Leviathan to turn around and see what was the matter.

Standing before the group of creatures was a tall mare, with long crimson hair flowing around her thin frame. She looked almost skeletal, but her entire body was black rather than white, filled with holes in her legs. Magenta eyes looked upon the group hungrily and her tongue darted between her lips as she spoke: “No proof necessary, darling. I’ll take it from here!” Lilith stepped into the tree and signaled her Changeling guards to restrain the four ponies inside.

“Hey!” Hibiscus bucked her back legs at the approaching creatures but ultimately fell to their attacks as too many of them began to swarm her at once. Though the Unicorn attempted to use magic to ward off the Changelings, a blast of red goo was aimed at her horn, preventing any magic usage.

“No cheating!” Lilith cooed, her horn illuminated after the attack. She faced Leviathan and frowned, “Darling, will you please lose that silly costume?”

As more Changelings restrained both Cobalt and Marigold, Leviathan felt as though he were being torn in two. Irradiance, victim to all sorts of Changelings forcing him into their hold, was easily captured due to his fawn-like response when in danger. The purple stallion’s eyes grew cold as the green Pegasus he’d slept with just the night prior transformed into a red Changeling.

Author's Note

i think it was at this point in the book that i decided i wanted to start extending the word count for each chapter, so this one is nearly 3k words!!!! everything else is just over 2k after this one. i think. book is finished, btw, with a sequel planned after! so i hope whoever reads this enjoys!!!