Not all of us are monsters. Changeling of two lands.

Chrysalis and Sombra stood, doing their part to make ruins. Chrysalis commanded the changelings to destroy all, and Sombra covered it in his shadow crystals.

“Guys, I want you to all stay under that trapdoor for now, ok.” I spoke quietly to the small group of starved ponies, “Just to be safe…”

Once I made sure all of them were safe, I began to explore the ruins a bit further. The reek of smoke and death was heavy in the air. I saw Sombra teleport away and Chrysalis fly after him. I waited a few moments, just to make sure they were gone until I set a hoof outside of the ruins of the once beautiful town hall.

I looked around, but no-pony was nearby from what I could see. Where did they go? Are they hiding, are they dead? Just as I thought that and turned for about the fiftieth time, my eye caught a (very) light green pony, rushing towards me, her horn lowered dangerously. I stood, stunned for a moment, glad to have found another pony- or rather, it found me. I recognised the pony after a few moments as it got closer. Lyra Heartstrings! I was so glad to see that pony’s soft green coat and lyre cutiemark.

“Lyra!” I cried and ran forward to embrace the unicorn, but I only got the wind pulled out of me, and shoved to the ground.

“No pony… No changeling…” Lyra panted, “Hurts… Bonbon… and gets… away… with it!...”

“Wh- Lyra, it’s me!” I stuttered fearful of her powers, “I’m Blackfire! Remember you taught me how to play a lyre?”

Lyra’s grip loosened slightly, as she thought.

“Please Lyra, remember me…” I spoke quietly, “We were best friends outside of the chapters…” (4th wall just got broken)

“So, you called on the changelings, didn’t you!” she snarled, “You were the one who called the changelings to attack Ponyville!”

Her weight in tensed again, as her anger grew. Her horn lowered down pointed threateningly at my thought.

“NO- this was Queen Chrysalis’s work!” I put in quickly, “I tried to warn you, but you never listened!”

“Nice lie, changeling!” snapped Lyra angrily.

“Lyra, please, would Bonbon want to see you hurt me?” I spoke quickly, trying not to offend the unicorn.

“Bonbon…” Lyra echoed after me, and let me go entirely, “Come back Bonbon… Please!”

Lyra broke down into tears and I hugged her tightly and tried to comfort her. I spoke reassuringly to her, but I didn’t know what happened to Bonbon. I don’t know if she was carried off by the changelings, or killed. Whichever it was, it hurt Lyra. Lyra, through her deep sobs, unravelled her forelegs and hugged me back. We both sat in a tight embrace for a few tense minutes. Lyra soon let go, and so did I. We sat in silence, looking around the ruins around us, and checking for other changelings. I suddenly leapt onto Lyra and pinned her down, just as a changeling approached.

“We will have the pleasure of eating you, pony!” I snarled into Lyra’s face, and then I turned my head up to the new arrival, “MY kill! Get lost! Find your own pony!”

“Chrysalis is recalling all troops to Hoofington to discuss further plans.” Replied the changeling rather coolly, “I suggest you do the same!”

“Oh, buzz off feather-brain!” I snarled at the changeling, and then it flew off.

I apologised after I let go of Lyra and she gruffly got to her hoofs.

“I’m so, so, so very sorry Lyra!” I spoke hurriedly, “I didn’t mean any of those things I just-“

“I understand.” Lyra spoke, cutting my sentence off, “You did what you had to do to help me…”

We both sat in silence for a few moments, before I got to my hooves. I walked over to the trapdoor, and Lyra’s curious gaze watched me as I did so. I lifted the hatch, and let the starving ponies out. Lyra gasped as she saw the ponies, starved to the bone.

“My word!” she cried, and rushed over, “What has happened to you, you poor souls!”

“We were trapped in the rainbow factory…” an old pony creaked from the small crowd.

“Lyra, is there any place we can find food?” I asked hurriedly.

“We can ask Pinkie Pie if we can eat at Sugar Cube Corner.” replied Lyra.

Soon we set off across the smouldering land of ruins, and soon we found Sugar Cube Corner. Lyra knocked on the door a few times, then the edge creaked open, and a curious light-blue eye peaked out.

“Pinkie Pie…” Lyra spoke very softly, “We have some starving ponies here, is it ok if they come in and have some food?”

Pinkie Pie nodded slowly, and she opened the door. Pinkie, herself was quite thin, but not as thin as the other ponies. Even Pinkie’s mouth dropped open when she saw that all the bones were showing on the ponies. She rushed into kitchen and brought through a small plate of muffins.

“Sorry, I’m running low on ingredients…” Pinkie spoke weakly.

She gave a loud yawn, and went through to get some more cupcakes. When she returned, she seemed more tired than before. It seems she has spent at least three days and nights awake.

“Pinkie, you really should get some sleep…” I spoke quietly, forgetting that I, too, am a changeling.

Pinkies eyes lifted up as I spoke, but she was too tired to attack me. Lyra escorted her upstairs and into her bed, while I distributed the cupcakes around the starving ponies, so they all were fed. Once that was done, I sat in the corner and watched them all talk amongst themselves about the long day they’ve had. After a moment or two, tiredness caught up with them, and they settled down for sleep. I struggled to stay awake too, but I had to stay awake just for a few more moments, just to make sure it’s safe. I used my faltering magic, to close and lock the door; otherwise bandits would come in and steal all valuable things, and kill all of the ponies. I made sure the windows were blocked off, and the battered roof and walls would sustain the long night.

Soon the cool winter air seeped through the walls, and chilled everypony down to the bone. But if anything, it made me even sleepier. I didn’t know the time but I estimated it was about midnight. My eyes struggled to stay wider than half-full so I gave up for the first time in my life, and sleep overtook me, and I drifted away into a light, uneasy sleep…