Brigand's camp, date unknown

Stas awoke today feeling even better then yesterday. The sensation of magical withdrawal finally left his body and he was able to sleep as much as he wanted thanks to the fact he had no need to wake up in ungodly hour to get to work, small mercy it was. He stretched, this time remembering about his injury and taking care of it before moving out of his bed.

He had barely anything to do for now as he healed. His plans included reading through his books in hopes of improving his understanding of magic, make himself some crossbow bolts from the arrows he found in the camp, train his crossbow skills and finally break into the leader's trunk.

After leaving the tent he moved into the food storage, he felt lazy today after all the problems he had to deal with within that couple of days, so he decided to simply munch on the dry fruit instead of trying to cook something. Stas ate in silence of the eerie empty camp, sitting on a stool which was left in the storage.

"I wonder, is there any of that famous Arabic coffee somewhere here i could have missed..." Unfortunately, Stas was pretty sure he did not missed anything usefull, so, unless ataman kept a stash of coffee beans in her trunk, he was out of luck on that front. Finishing his meager breakfast (which was, pretty much, just him gorging on dry apricots and drinking some water), he left the tent and slowly made his way back to the tent which served as his temporal home.

Sun shined brightly, it's heat deterred by his cloak. Empty camp met him with the same indifference as the greyish dunes before them, silent, save for the sound of wind playing with cloth of tents, eerie atmosphere was not that much of a problem to him, at least yet.

Stas was pretty sure that was what people would call a reverse horror scenario. He can already imagine the very same situation being an early-game boss fight in Skyrim-like RPG or DnD - party of adventurers finding an abandoned bandit camp, a reason of previous owner's demise and an only inhabitant being a sole black mage. He chuckled, imagining himself in the role of a videogame boss.

He entered back into the tent and looked at the trunk standing in the war room like it owed him money. He picked the very same rock he used on the previous day to break into drug-stash from the floor, It was the time to see what is it what ataman was hiding from her gang.

Stas hid behind the overturned table, just in case there was some sort of a trap or an armed spell inside for those who tried to steal from the leader, lifted the rock in the air above the lock and struck down. First strike was unable to break the lock, on second strike the lock still stood, but the wooden lid of the trunk broke, causing the unharmed padlock to uselessly dangle off the lower eyelet.

"Huh, that is one sturdy lock! I wonder, is it enchanted?" Stas used his magic to turn the trunk away from his hidey-hole and opened the lid with his telekinesis, just in case of some Indiana-Jones styled bullshit. After waiting for a minute for anything to happen, he realised he was probably overreacting. After all, what are the chances that some rando gang leader placed a trap with a timed fuse in her own chest?

He moved closer and turned the trunk to face him, Stas opened the lid and took a peek inside. To his surprise, together with a hefty looking coin purse and two silken robes, he found three books, four different scrolls, two corked glass bottles and what seems to be a set of copper bangles, similar to the decorative jewelry he saw African tribals wear on TV. Books, scrolls and robes probably were useless to him, so he decided to take a look at the coin purse first.

"Ah, but of course the leader of the bandits will have more money than her entire gang combined..." After spending an hour on counting, he realised that there was exactly 300 golden Equestrian bits in the ataman's stash. He could say that it was an unexpected turn of events, but that would be a lie.

Second thing he lifted was the set of copper bangles, after expecting them closely, he found that those were just an absolutely normal set of bangles, not even decorated with any images. He remembered that ataman was a zebra, those bangles were probably just a memento she kept from her home.

Next was a pair of identical glass bottles. Heavy glass bottles were full to the brim and corked, there was no label on the side like on a drinks in his homeworld, but underneath the cork, on the bottle neck, there was a wax seal, holding a paper label. Stas turned the labels around and found out that there was an Equestrian text on it.

"Mareshinn Fortified, Dry Red Wine, harvest year - 986 A.B." Label proved to be more than usefull, at least now he knew what time period he was in. Still, what year is it now? For all he knew, it could be 987 right now. He decided not to think about it more than that. Thought, he should give ataman some credit, she knew a thing or two about good alcohol.

Stas placed the pair of wine bottles to the side and decided to take a look at the robes. The pair of robes were made of the tan and yellow colored silk, probably for the same pony as the ruined reb robe ataman's corpse is adorned with right now. Obviously, he wont be able to fit into them, but they looked expensive. Perhaps, he will be able to pawn them off in the near future, money is not something useless to him, unlike those cloths.

Now, that is an idea! Maybe, with all those money, he can pretend to be a travelling merchant from Equestria? Still, he probably should do something with his looks before trying to talk with people. Those three bandits he met at the canyon were ready to tear the pants off of him right in the middle of the desert, but almost immediately became hostile the moment they realised he is a changeling. Stas decided to continue with his looting, he can think about his future in the next two weeks he will have to spend in this camp.

Next were the four scrolls from the chest. Two of those turned out to be letters, which were written in what is probably Zebrican. It was probably a good thing he was unable to read those as well, for all he knew, those letters could've been ataman's parents begging her to return home and reading that would just made him feel awful. Still, the other two scrolls were more intresting. The scrolls were, in fact, spell scrolls, one of which was written in Equestrian.

"Mend wounds?" Stas clearly was one very lucky bug or, maybe, the Nightmare blessed him with an incredible luck while trying to sway him to her side. The magical diagrams were easy to read, as they resembled what he already seen in the books of Solomon. The scroll stated that the effect is instantaneous upon casting, so, it probably was worth the try.

Stas decided to try just that and heal his leg, he ignited his horn and, after making sure he weaved the spell correctly, used it on himself. The spell activated without an issue and filled the tent with a white light, Stas undid the bandages and took a look at his leg.

It did not worked. The wound was still there, looking just as normal as before. At first Stas thought that he might have fumbled the spell and tried to cast it again, this time, with even more precision, but just like previously, it did nothing.

"Is there an error somewhere in the formula? Or is it not working because I'am a necromancer?" Stas tried to find any mistakes in the text, but he was pretty sure the spell was in the working order. Still, for some reason, it had no effect on him.

"Just my luck... Oh well, I probably can sell it later." He tried not to think about why the spell did nothing, instead, he worked on redoing the bandages on his leg. For a moment he thought "What if there is no advanced normal medicine because everyone uses magic?". Maybe, he should stay late tonight and try to ask the Moon why the spell failed?

Trying to loose that train of thought, he lifted the second spell and took a closer look. Unlike the previous disappointment, that spell was written in Arabic, still, his was able to read the formula. Stas can cast this, but he decided not to do so, after all, it probably was the fireball spell bandits used against him. He decided to try it later, when he will be working on his crossbow aim back at the training yard.

There was also three books standing on top of one another, the top book was unlabeled and looked rather worn. He lifted it from the chest and opened it, just to be greeted by the handwritten Zebrican text.

"Oh, come on! Did the ataman actually was keeping a diary like a high-school girl? Why would you even do that when you are a criminal? You are just going to leave more evidence like that!" His failure with a healing spell irritated him way more then Stas was willing to admit, and the ridiculous sight made him even more peeved. He forcefully placed the book on a floor by the trunk, and decided to take a look ay the second book.

"Tactics of combined detachments of Trot by Iron Helmet?" Stas lifted it closer and opened the book. Curios, he decided to read a few chapters and realised very quickly that the text was familiar to him. In fact, it looked like Trot used the same tactics as the Roman Republic back in times of Gaius Julius Caesar, the biggest difference being that majority of war machines in this world were replaced with a war-caster batteries and the cavalry, such as cataphracts, was replaced with pegasi or griffon-auxilary air-raiders, which allowed an array of much more complex tactics to be used.

As much as it was interesting to read about how existence of magic and flying sapient races changed the history of warfare, he still had a last book to check. Stas turned the table back on it's legs and placed the book on it, fully intending to read it later.

Finally, he lifted the last item from the trunk, a black colored book with a stylized changeling's queen head on a cover. "The Treacherous Bugpony and all their Vile Kin, by Golden Seal - the Grand Archivist of Equestrian Royal Institute." was written underneath. Stas was shocked. It was the very first thing he found about his own (now) species and the first thing he finds it's that his kind is hated that much?

He walked to the middle of the room and sat at one of the cushions by the table, he started to read.

Changelings.

A violent insectoid species of magical predators.

So many things are unknown about those secretive creatures, many speculate that changelings are an offshoot of a ponykind which was corrupted by the vile energy that is forbidden magics. Others believe that they were a result of manipulations of Dark lord Grogar, who created them as creatures of Deceit, a living mockery to the very Tenant of Honesty.

One thing can be said for certain - those fiendish beings are hostile and incredibly dangerous. The very nature of bugponies make them into natural predators of other thinking beings. One of their main needs, outside of water and food, is nothing else then emotional energy of other thinking creatures, which may vary depending on the hive of origin.

That, together with changeling's warlike culture and high intelligent, makes them into a serious threat and deadly opponents on the battlefield.

Even worse is changeling's natural ability for transformation, which allows those monsterous creatures to infiltrate other societies without being spotted by unsuspecting creatures. An ability they use to foalnap victims, gather information and sabotage the defences of cities before the raids.

*Flip*

Anatomy and magic

Changelings, in spite of their natural appearance, are significantly closer to the pony from the anatomical viewpoint. Mostly, the difference between the two species is visible mutations, but there is also some important metamorphoses of inner organs:

1) Visible features compared to a pony - chitin; insectoid wings protected by elytra; well protected faceted eyes without a visible pupil; crooked sharp horn; large fangs and a serpentine tongue.

2) Inner differences compared to a pony - omnivorous diet; ability to devour emotional energy; extra "stomach" in the torso for storage of emotions; extra gland of unknown purpose (most likely, an organ which makes transformation possible for their entire kind); a complex system of joints, which makes it possible for changelings to bend their limbs at unnatural angles.

The big difference and advantage all changelings share over pony - it's the presence of horn and wings at the same time, making every bugpony capable of both sorcery and flight.

Changelings, just like any other thinking species of this world, have a significant gender disbalance, it is impossible to say how big that imbalance truly is, as there were no sightings of bugpony stallions outside the hive-cities, however, it is assumed (considering that ponies are the closest species related to changelings) that the gender ratio of mares to stallions in changeling society is 6 to 1.

Another major difference it's changelings reproductive cycle - while changeling genitalia are not different on the visible level from that of a pony, it was proved that changeling are oviparous species. Once fertilized, changeling drone is capable to lay 2-4 eggs once in a year, however, by unconfirmed information, Queens are capable of laying 10-30 eggs every two months.

Changelings hatch from eggs as grubs, which, after an indefinite time, metamorphose into pupa and enter the nymph stage, in which they bear a close resemblance to a pony foal. After that nymph grows for approximately 10-20 years into an adult drone, molting every year until they are completely developed.

On a magical level situation with changelings is similar to that of a pony. However, there is several serious differences, one of which is bugponies ability to convert stored emotions into mana directly. Changelings, being a creatures mostly weaved from magic, are capable to use their mana to increase their lifespan (in theory, indefinitely) or force themself to gain new physical traits through metamorphosis.

Not only that,the very nature of a bugpony makes them proficient in dark magic, such as curses, mind control and necromancy. Ironically, the very same affinity for black magic makes changelings incapable of using weather manipulation, druidism and healing magic.

"Блять! So, the spell did not worked because changelings just CANT use healing magic?!" *Flip*

Types of changelings

There is several types of bugponies, that inhabit their hives, specialized in different ways depending on their role:

1) Drones, also knows as workers - the most common type of a bugpony, it's a universal type without any specific role in the hive, which can serve any purpose within changeling society, ranging from manual laborers to infantry mares in poorer hives. They are the most common and supposedly could metamorphose into any other types of changeling. Physically similar to an Equestrian pony in every aspect, beside the natural armor.

2)Soldiers - the metamorphosis of a drone specified for war, usually serve as hive's defenders or as a main strike force during military campaigns. Differ from drones by an increased height (being a head taller then drones), thicker chitin, enchanted physical and magical might. May possess elongated wings and slicker figure when used as aerial force.

3)Diggers - the type of changeling specified for hard labor, capable of digging tunnels in the solid rock with unnatural speed and haul heavy weights with ease. Have an enlarged mana reserve, extremely strong and covered in thick plates of protective chitin, twice as big compared to a drone and possess a third set of limbs on the front of their body, a large pair of claws used for digging, similar to that of a mole cricket.

4)Mages - lanky bugponies with a powerful magical capabilities, a type which normally used as spies, battle-mages and, in peaceful times, thinkers. Mages possess a lithe tall frames, they usually stand two heads higher then normal drones and lack the protective chitin plates of other types, instead, their bodies are covered in a thin layer of flexible leather-like chitin.

5)Warriors - the hammer of the hives, a rare type of bugponies which is created by the prosperous hives as a main attack force for the large-scale battles or guardians for the royals and main hive-cities. Thrice as big as a normal pony, all physical and magical parameters are improved to the level rivaling that of a juvenile dragon, covered in the thick plates of chitin which makes it possible for them to withstand almost any physical attack (unless armor penetrating weapons are used).

5.1) Hive Knights - elite defenders of the hives, a subtype of a warrior. Unlike previous types of bugponies, Hive Knights are exclusively males. Changelings, being an aggressive territorial predators, have strong protective instincts, which makes it hard to siege their hives even when the odds are on the attackers side. One of examples of such behavior is Hive Knights - when the highly populated hive is endangered, normally meek stallions tend to became very aggressive as they are driven to protect their nymphs. That trait gained attention of the Queens, which create those elite warriors knowing that they will zealously protect their hive-city at all costs.

6) Warlocks - elite type of changeling mages, capable to fight with an archmage on the even ground or decimate entire companies in battle. Slick bugponies covered in light chitin, thrice as tall as a pony, they possess a unique metamorphose - a three fully-functional horns on their head, imitating in their placement horns of a rhino beetle.

7) Royals - tyrants of the hives, which rule over the savage bugpony hordes and push their broods to commit new villainies. Each Royal is unique, an only traits all of them share being abnormal size and having pupils in their eyes. Extremely dangerous, depending on their age and size of their hives Royals range in magical power from the level of a battle-mage to that of an elder dragon and higher. Always protected by the strongest of their brood and may be encountered in pairs in the large hives.

Take note, that this list is far from complete, as the everchanging nature of bugponies makes it almost impossible to get a full list of all possible types, subtypes and mutations those creatures might have. Not only that, some hives have their own unique types of changelings only they are capable of producing, such as Scorchers from the hive living on the border of Equestria and Dragon Lands.

.....

*THUMB* Stas closed the book, clearly shocked by what he just read. Now he knew why bandits tried to kill him, the changelings of this world had pretty much the same reputation as a goddamn orcs in the Lord of the Rings.

"I really need to find out how to use my transformation..." If that was an opinion everyone held in this world, he needs to make himself safe. However, perhaps there is more to that than what author wrote in her book, it was clearly biased against changelings.

Still, he was unable to find when the book was written, so Stas hoped that this book was outdated by few centuries and people no longer held so much against his species. After all, if he remembers this correctly ~~Luna~~ Nightmare is still a benevolent princess, even if a corrupted one. Perhaps she knows the truth behind all of that and realises that changelings are not just a savages?

Still, he decided to go to sleep earlier and try to digest what he just read.

Author's Note

P.S. : Yes, Golden Seal is just being quiet xenophobic and the book is biased. Changelings are not that hated or evil in my AU, otherwise, Celestia would already razed the Hives and NM would casted divine smite upon Stas on his very first night.