Adventures of a Man turned Beastly

Nothing much to say here, just gonna say I love reviews like changelings love love. I don't know if that makes any sense to you, but it does to me.

Disclaimer: I do not own MLP: FiM or any associated characters. All I own is Mundo/Teravolt and the story I'm writing. I do not require monetary compensation for your perusing of this fiction but emotional sustenance would be greatly appreciated.

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/Ugh, my head. Where am I?/ I sit up to look about and realize I'm in a spartan room, laying on a clean pile of straw. /No, seriously, where am I? I thought I was cleared by Princess Celestia herself... also, why do I feel lighter?/ I take a look at myself and give off a high-pitched, buzzing screech in shock. /WHERE IS MY ARMOR?! WHERE ARE MY SPINES AND MANDIBLES?! WHY AM I  BLACK AND WHY ARE THERE HOLES IN MY LEGS?!/ I start banging on the barred metal door, only to see it glow a light purple and make a discovery after I calm down somewhat from my high of rage and fear. My armor is still there but there is much less of it, nor am I as flexible as I was before. I take a deep breath to calm myself, sit back down on the pile of straw, and examine myself once again.

I note a few things: One, I still have claws, except they are distinctly more like hands than they were before. Two, my armor is distinctly more armorlike rather than just haphazard plating, and as such I have thicker plates across my chest, neck, shoulders, and back, and there is some across my stomach and upper legs now, and it looks like shiny black platemail from Europe. Tapping against the glossy material on my chest produces a muted, but still noticeable sensation. Most likely chitin and not bone as I had before. Speaking of my back, there is a thick, bluish-gray plate upon it, and growing out of it are black wings resembling that of a wasp. I work the muscles I had used before to flick my spines about, and the wings buzz in response. They could probably carry me through the air if necessary. I fold them down against my back and continue my self-examination.

My tail is still reptilian in nature and still rather flexible, but it now has thick ridges running down the top of it, and has a small pair of curved spines growing out of the end, facing upward and outward at about ninety degrees from each other. My limbs have seemingly random holes in them, and I can feel air whispering through them. Noting the air flowing through my limbs, I realize I can feel/hear the room about me, as if I still had my spines. My rear limbs are proportioned to hold my weight better, and the claws are more defined. I lost a toe, and there are now three toes pointing forward and one pointing back, suspended above the ground when I stand up.

My front legs/arms are considerably slimmer, but still remind me of shiny black Popeye arms with claws, and there are no holes in them, excluding one where they fit into my rounded shoulder chitin plates and attach to my torso, and my 'hands' have retractable claws, like before, but now can be placed flat upon the ground, enabling more stable quadrupedal locomotion. My head is mostly unchanged, excluding the loss of my mandibles, the development of two oversized, protruding fangs as long as one of my foreclaws, and a sharp-edged, dual-pronged axelike horn upon my forehead that looks like it was ripped straight from a Pokemon called Heracross. I probe my mouth with my tongue and find that instead of the alternated needle-like and flat teeth that I had before, I have nothing but razor-sharp teeth along the length of my gums, fang to fang to throat. I stick out the forked tongue as far as it can go, finding out that it's actually about the length of an average pony and I can nearly tie it in knots.

I'm now considerably slimmer than I was, and I could probably fit through the door if I moved on all fours and didn't bang my head on the top of the doorframe. Also, the chain is still around my neck. Nice.

/All in all, this body is probably more useful and fun than my last one. Damn scientist can take his experimentation and shove it. Speaking of useful, it would be useful to get out of this cell./

I grasp hold of the bars and look along the length of the hallway, both ways. No guards in sight, no inmates either. Suddenly, my ears twitch as I hear the door open to admit somepony, around the corner where I cannot see them, but I can feel the vibrations in the floor, it's more than one pony coming.  Somepony speaks in a gentle tone and I strain my ears to listen to the panicked reply which comes right after. As they come around the corner, I begin to hear them properly, and I blink at who it is coming around the corner, as well as the new sensation of feeling...something.... radiating off of all of them, like a smell but different. It smells/feels delicious either way, and I don't know why. I blink again and both Princess Celestia and Twilight Sparkle, as well as a silent squad of four guards, are suddenly almost in front of my cell.

“...and that is why they believe we should hand it over to the Changelings. It looks so much like them now.” The crazy purple pony finishes her little tirade with an adoring smile at Celestia. I growl at her, but it comes out as a creepy, dual-toned hiss.

“Silence, creature. You are in the presence of Her Royal Majesty Princess Celestia, Solar Diarch of Equestria. You would do well to listen.” One of the guards intones. /What are you, a robot?/ One of the other guards knocks him on the head. Celestia discreetly shakes her head and mouths “I'm sorry” where only I can see. I can't take not speaking, so I speak up, even though I should know better by now.

“What are you going to do, make me?” I spit out. Everypony present, excluding me, gasps. I would have too, as I'm rather shocked I can speak again, but not only that, my voice comes out distorted, like it was split with a knife and haphazardly sewn together again. I suppose the hiss I gave earlier should have given me a clue as to how I'd sound in this form, but hindsight is twenty-twenty.

“We will if we have to,” the guard snarls. I roll my eyes and lie a little, mixing in a little truth for good measure.

“Oh please, you couldn't even ssssstop me in my weaker form! Not only that, but I wassssn't even trying to hurt you~” I like my voice now. It's deep, it's intimidating, and I might just talk for the sake of hearing myself speak but that would be narcissistic, now wouldn't it? The only problem is that I have to enunciate some words slowly and carefully or they come out as strangled hisses and clicks.

“I knew it!” One of the guards points at me with a hoof, then pumps the same hoof and bats Robo-Guard on the shoulder. “Pay up.” Said guard grumbles and passes over a hoofful of small golden coins to the winner of their bet.

Annoying purple pony- I mean Twilight coughs to get everypony's attention. “I hate to interrupt you, but I'm on a tight schedule here.” I busy myself by climbing the wall and hanging from the ceiling of my cell. “So, creature-” I interrupt her before she can go any further. “I ssssuggessst you call me by the name I gave your dear Princessssss... I do not appreccciate being ssspoken of assss if I am ssssome animal, it getsss old quickly...” The librarian huffs and flicks her ears in annoyance. Celestia frowns slightly.

“Fine, Teravolt,” She grits out, “being a creature of seemingly sound mind, what would you suggest we do with you?” I grin at this, and prepare myself to speak as eloquently as I possibly can. “What'ssss a changeling? You know what, never mind that for now. Even though my mind has exisssted for nigh upon nineteen of my planet'sss yearsss, thisss body is literally lessss than two weekssss old, thisss form even younger than that, sssso you cannot possssibly expect me to know everything about thissss world that Disssscord dropped me in. To quote him, he put me here to 'hang out'” -I release one arm from the ceiling and flex one claw to denote the quotation marks before returning it to its place- “and bassssically jussst let me run loosssse. Make of that what you will. My actionsssss were benign, you merely reacted to my monsssstroussss form.”

Twilight blinked at my 'age', and manages to squeak out, “Two weeks?” Everypony else present was stunned speechless at how nonchalant I seemed about being dumped here from another planet or universe entirely. Twilight suddenly snaps out of her slight shock and seems to have an epiphany. “So Discord didn't actually create you? You aren't really explaining anything very well. Also, can you please stop hissing and buzzing?”

“In reversssse order,” -Twilight winces at the hissing here, I like having ways to get on her nerves- “no, I cannot sssstop the hisssssing and buzzzzing. These fangssss and thissss tongue do not allow it. Ssssecondly, no. Disssscord merely asssssisssssted my dying mind into another body, the 'great armored beasssst' that you sssstrapped to your table. Twiccce.” The guards are slowly backing away from Twilight now, staring at her in fear, and even Celestia looks a little surprised and saddened. I rasp out a chuckle. “I was not happy about being drugged either.” The guards flinch again. “Thisss was not the firsssst time, but it will be the lasssssst.”

I drop to the floor, angling my wings to flip me right-side up as I fall, and step up to the bars, clutching one in each claw as I continue ranting. “The only positive interactionssssss I had there were with your asssisssstant Sssspike and maybe your ssssshy yellow friend, and even sssshe directly helped you with your 'ssssstudiessss.'” I spit out the last word like a bad taste. “Now, you come in here demanding me to do thingsssss and anssswer quesssstionssss, without even an apology? All I wisssshed for was the right to exissssst after Disssscord sssso thoughtfully transssssported me here after I wassss murdered and my home ssssset on fire, then brought back assss a head in a jar and experimented upon! Yesss, you wouldn't even allow me that, exccccept to put me on a table like sssssome common animal to be sssstudied and dissssected!”

By this time, Twilight has collapsed so far in upon herself that she looks like a cornered animal herself. I decide to drive the final nail in the metaphorical coffin. “Not only that, but you and your friendssss took it upon yoursssselvessss to blasssst me painfully out of the body I had only jusssst reccccieved, and what wassss left is the chitin I wear now! All I have left issss thissss body, thissss chain, and the air I breathe! Now, I assssk you, little purple pony, wassss it worth it?!”

She blinks and stands a little straighter. She squeaks out a question. “Was what worth it?”

“Your sssstudy of me. I am in a completely different form now, albeit a much more pleassssant one than my old onesss, and that issss the only thing closssse to a 'thank you' for your attempt at my desssstruction that you sssshall get. Wasss your sssstudy worth it? That creature will never exissssst again.” She looks down in shame. “I thought not. I have to learn what limitssss thissss body hasss now. You ssssaw the large area of downed and sssscorched treessss at the edge of the Everfree, correct?” She nods numbly. “That wasss me. If I hadn't learned there what my old body wassss capable of, then you might have been a colorful ssssplotch on your wall.” As her pupils shrink in realization of how restrained I had been, I turn to the princess. “Well, princccesssss, I have a few quesssstionssss for you, if a monsssster like me isssss worthy of ansssswerssss.” As her gaze flicks to me from attempting to calm her frightened student, she gives an almost imperceptible nod. “Thank you. Firsssst, I'm asssssuming you want me to fill in that hole in Mane Sssstreet that I made on my way up?” She nods again. “Very well then it sssshall be done. Ssssecond, may I dig a tunnel from under a busssssh near Mane Sssstreet down into the cryssssstal cavernssss within the mountain? I find the atmossssphere there very pleassssant and wissssh to move there. I will furnisssh my own home, sssso pleassse do not worry about that. Additionally, I can provide sssecurity that nothing sssshall use the cavernssss to bypassss your sssshield.”

Finding her voice, the princess finally responds verbally. “That is acceptable. Do you wish anything else?”

I nod and hold up two claws. “Jusssst two thingssss. I wissssh free passssage into the cassstle to sssspeak with my 'father' of ssssortsss, Disssscord, and the friend I may have made amongsssst the guard. Do you remember the pegassssussss that I carried in my jawssss before I bypassssed the gatessss?” Seeing the guards flinch yet again at this, I chuckle. “Ssssshe is very ticklissssh assss it turnsssss out. Will sssshe be able to ressssume guard dutiesss? Sssshe sssseemed to take her job very ssssserioussssly, sssshe even tried to resssolve thingssss peaccccefully within the cavernsssss, but her carelessss unicorn friendsssss nearly ssssstruck her with magic boltsssss. I kept her ssssafe from their wild aim and depossssited her at sssstreet level, out of range of the guardssss on the gate. Sssshe was rather pleassssant to work with, desssspite her being a guardsssspony and me being the monsssster I am.”

Princess Celestia smiles knowingly. “It is good to see that even you know the magic of friendship, Teravolt. Your first request is acceptable, but you stated that you had two. What is your second request?”

I inhale before releasing the breath in a whoosh. “I will need bitssss at ssssome point to purchasssse foodsssstuffssss and varioussss necccesssitiessss," -I back away from the bars and hold one hand up, palm facing the ponies- "but I am not assssking for handoutssss. I wissssh for trading rightssss, within Equessstria at the very leassst. The crysssstal and sssstone within the mountain are of high quality, and I may even find preciousss metalssss and gemssstonesss if I ssssearch carefully. I can craft thingssss with my bare clawssss no pony has sssseeen before, even if it issss only trinketssss, or maybe even furniture for your more.... prodigoussss.... guessstsss during diplomatic visitsssss.” I chuckle. “Taking Sssspike into mind, you probably have draconic ambassssadorssss occassssionally. If there are pegassssi, unicornsssss, and dragonssss here, may I also assssume there are griffonssss, minotaursssss, and the like here?” I get a chorus of nods and yeses. “Now then, back to my original quesssstion. Princesssss, may I have trading rightssss within Equestrian borderssss? I will bring a ssssample of my waressss when I have them, for your perussssal.”

The princess nods. “That is acceptable as well. Your request is granted, and word shall be spread to the ponies to avoid discrimination towards you.”

I smile as best I can. “Thank you. Now, I have one final quesssstion. What issss a changeling?”

The guards all look to one another, but it's Twilight who speaks up, as if reciting a passage from a book. “Changelings are pony-like creatures with insectoid characteristics and holes in their legs and hooves. Little is known about them other than they feed upon positive emotions such as love, their appearance, their shapeshifting ability, and that they are led by a larger, stronger, smarter changeling as their king or queen.”

I sit for a moment, digesting the information I have just been given about this world I have so thoughtfully been dumped in to do whatever. I sit up and sigh, cracking my neck before speaking. “Thank you bookworm, your ansssswer is appreccciated. It cccccertainly explainssssss why you all sssssmell delicccioussss,” -all the guards recoil- “but I can resssstrain mysssself.” I ignore Twilight's wounded ego -wounded pride, wounded ego, they both taste the same, like a sour grape- as well as the guards relaxing somewhat, and turn to the princess again. “When may I be releassssed?”

“Right now, actually.” One of the unicorns jingles a keyring with his magic.

“Twilight, would you come with me? We need to have a talk...” Twilight's ears droop at the princess' words, but she follows the alicorn out of the dungeon.

I call after them, “Ssssay hi to Sssspike for me!”

Celestia pokes her head back in and smiles at the guards. “Please spread the word that Teravolt is friendly to the other guards, and escort him to the worksite. After you are finished, please feel free to take the rest of the day off.” All the guards salute as Celestia ducks back out again. The unicorn that jingled the keys earlier unlocks the cell and motions me out.

“Come along, Teravolt. There's work to be done.” Two of the remainder begin walking down the hall to the door and I follow them. The keybearer and the last guard fall in behind me.

“Sssooooo...” I begin.

“What?” Keybearer.

“I never did get an ansssswer about that pegassssussss...”

“She'll be fine, but we'll have to tell her what you look like now.”

“Why issss that?”

“She might try and sic you on yourself.” We've gone around the corner to the wooden door.

“Sssshe'ssss threatening annoying poniessss ussssing me? I like her.”

“I doubt she'd date you, Teravolt.” Door is opened and we pass through, keybearer shuts it, grinning ear to ear. His joy is like a fresh orange, tangy and sweet.

“Would you bet on that?” The pony that lost the bet earlier cuts in, looking over his shoulder at us.

“I wouldn't. With my luck, you'd losssse.”

“I'll take your word for it.”

“I'd make the bet anyway, just to spite fate. To Tartarus with the consequences, it would be funny, and Diarchs know how much we need more humor around here.” The only pony to stay silent so far has finally spoken. “Discord can only do so much!”

We all start laughing as we reach the top of the stairs.

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Back at the hole in Mane Street, fifteen minutes later

“I could have ssssworn the hole was more impresssssive than that," I say to myself, looking down the dark tunnel leading straight down into the crystal caverns. The guards left to enjoy their time off after putting up signs warning of the road work going on. Didn't stop the stares, disgust, and fear (disgust smells like old socks and fear smells like ammonia, thanks for asking) flowing over me like sewage from the ponies that passed by. I had already collected up the cobblestones that I had sent flying with my dynamic entry and they were sitting in a pile near the hole. I scratch my neck and think on how I'm going to repair this. /There's plenty of dirt and stone down in the tunnel, but I need a solid plug for this, otherwise it will collapse during the first good rain or snow. I'll need to go down and carve out a large chunk of stone to seal it, so water will run down the street rather than into my new home. While I'm at it, I'll dig a new tunnel like I asked for./

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Roughly an hour later, about sunset

-WHACK- -WHACK- -WHACK- -WHACK- -WHACK-

/That's the plug put in, now I just need to pack some dirt in so that the cobbles will have a cushion, don't want them breaking under the first fat pony to come by, after all.../ I feel/smell/hear somepony coming up behind me, their emotions a mix between the chemical smell of fear and the floral scent of curiosity.

“Yesss? If you're jussssst here to inssssult me, I assssure you I do not take assssaultssss, verbal or otherwisssse, very calmly.”

“Um, I just wanted to say hi, Mister.....” I turn my head to see a scared unicorn filly wearing an adorable sun hat. Her coat is white, turning to a light green near her hooves, as if she's been stomping around in plant matter all day. She has no cutie mark.

“Teravolt. My name issss Teravolt. Greetingsss to you too.” I turn my head back to laying the cobblestones tight against one another, but the filly either didn't get the hint or is just that curious. Her fear has somewhat ebbed, making my horn itch with the sensation of her burning curiosity chafing the sensitive organ.

“My name is Floral Grace, but you can call me Flora.” I turn my head to the little filly. She cocks her ears.

“Very well then, Flora, where are your parentsssss?” Her ears droop. “They're looking for you, aren't they?” She nods. “Child, lisssten to me and lisssten well. When I am finisssshed here, I will help you find them.” She looks up. “But, you mussst promisssse not to do thissss again. I may not be the friendliesssst monster, but I will not eat you. I cannot ssssay the ssssame for any otherssss you may encounter.”

Flora sniffs and says, “I promise.” I nod in approval and lay the last few bricks uninterrupted. I get up from my squatting position and pop my knees and ankles.

“Sssshall we go find your parentssss, little one?” She stands up and brushes some dust off of her front legs, before nodding. Suddenly, I smell/feel a strong essence of fear, followed by the cool mint of relief, followed by an even stronger burst of fear.

“Flora! Come away from that monster!” An earth pony stallion with a rubber stamp as a cutie mark has shown up.

“Daddy, he's not a monster! He's my friend! His name is Teravolt!” She canters over and hugs my leg. I let my ears sag and look at Flora's father. He calms down somewhat and the disgust starts rolling off of him. Blech.

“I don't know about friend, but ssssir, I would advisssse you keep a closssser eye on your child in the future. I am not alwayssss so accommodating but it sssseemssss that I have a ssssoft ssspot for children.” I start attempting to pry the filly from my leg. “Go to your father, Flora. Sssshould I ssssee you again after dark, I will march you to a guard and tell him to esssscort you home.” She detaches from my leg with a pop and trots over to her father, who sighs.

“Thank you for keeping an eye on her. She has left Canterlot before, so I'm glad somepony stopped her before she did.”

“Don't thank me, thank her curiossssity. I ssssensssed it before sssshe even came into ssssight. If sssshe can rein it in and channel it into ssssomething consssstructive, sssshe may even rival Twilight Ssssparkle one day. Jusssst make ssssure sssshe doessssn't sssspend all day inssside reading booksss like that purple menacccce doessss.”

His disgust slowly vanishes as I speak, and he nods amiably. “I'll keep that in mind. Good night, Teravolt.”

“Ssssame to you.” He trots off, daughter in tow.

“Ssssuch a nice child. Not that I would want any of my own, but sssstill....” I break off from my musing and see that the moon has risen pretty high in the sky. I judge it to be roughly ten o'clock, give or take fifteen minutes. I turn to the bush that houses my new front door, gaze up at the moon and say goodnight to it like I used to on Earth, then finally I crawl down into the darkness that terminates into the soft rainbow glow of the crystal caverns. On the way down, I realize something.

/DAMNIT I STILL HAVE TO MAKE A BED!/