Chapters Not all of us are monsters. Changeling of two lands.
Chapter 4 : The wrong thing to say
We sat at a small table, with some tea next to both of us. The steam flowed through the air and steamed up the cold glass panes. I took a drink of my tea, and Celestia did the same.
“Now…” Celestia said after she gulped down that small mouthful of tea, “What seems to be the problem?”
I took in a deep breath, then spoke, “Celestia… We must dawn our armor. The changeling war is heading for us…”
Celestia’s eyes grew wide and then narrowed into slits.
“I’m sorry I’m telling you this late, but Chrysalis has resurrected King Sombra, and he is working with her using his black crystal army!” I spoke in a hurried tone.
“How do you know this!?” Celestia demanded angrily.
“I… I…” I stammered, “It, came to me a while a-ago, but I didn’t think it was important at the time…”
Celestia’s brow lowered thunderously, and a frown was drawn across her lips.
“You should have told me sooner!” she hissed angrily, “How long do we have?!”
“I-I don’t know!” I stammered, uselessly.
Celestia towered over me, and I crouched low to the ground with my hooves on my muzzle. I closed my eyes tight, and something like a lightning strike hit my back and I screamed in agony. Something must have happened, as the pain stopped and I looked up to find Luna in the spot I was in, and she was laying in agony. Celestia tried desperately to stop the spell, but it was a good minute before it stopped.
“Sister!” Celestia cried, “My sister, are you ok?!”
Luna pushed her away, “I told you not to make your rage get the better of you!”
Luna stepped up to me and helped me up onto my hooves. I panted for a moment then hugged Luna tightly. Luna put her arms around me and told me it would be ok, but I knew it wasn’t true. Celestia hates me now… I thought sadly, How can I make things better again… I felt Celestia’s stare bore into my skull, but I tried to ignore that fact she was watching me.
“Come, now, thou will get a better place to stay.” Luna said gently.
“W-where?” I murmured in between sobs, “I-I’m a changeling, e-everypony h-hates changelings!”
Luna’s eyes were glazed with thought, then they widened as an idea came to her.
“Ponyville!” she spoke, “I will inform Twilight that you are going to stay there.”
Luna levitated a parchment and a quill and wrote a letter. I didn’t have time to read it, before Luna sent it away to Twilight. Luna told me to follow her, and soon we were at the train station, but even before we left Canterlot Castle, I was told to be that light yellow pegasus again. The train that was heading to Ponyville screeched to a stop nearby.
“Be safe, young one!” Luna called after me as the train began to move again.
The train was nice, I chatted to a black unicorn, with a pickaxe and a piece of coal as a Cutiemark. But after we finished talking, the black pony had to go into a different cart, and I sat alone. No-pony else was in the cart with me to talk to, even look at. I felt so lonely by myself.
The sun was beginning to set, and I laid on my seat and drifted off into an uneasy sleep…
Not all of us are monsters. Changeling of two lands.
Chapter 5 : Ponyville, ahoy!
My dreams swirled with nightmares of Celestia sending me into the deepest, darkest dungeon, and severing my horn and wings…
Suddenly dawns rays hit my face and I awoke. The whistle of the train blew and I stood up on tired legs, my mind still fixed on Celestia and her punishing me. Those thoughts were cast aside when the train door squeaked open, and I walked into the cool morning air.
“Is this Ponyville?” I murmured half to myself, “it looks a lot better than I expected!”
The six ponies I met at Canterlot were there giving me gracious smiles.
“Well, hello changel…” Rarity said, but stopped as ponies turned and watched her with frightened faces, then corrected herself, “I… mean… did you change your hair style?”
“Thanks for noticing Rarity!” I said just as eagerly as her, “I cut my tail and mane a bit shorter.”
“I hope you find yourself at home here.” Twilight said kindly.
“Thanks Twilight.” I smiled.
We began to trot into town, but Rainbowdash whispered something to Twilight, I couldn’t hear it but I knew it was something along the lines of, ‘Are you sure she should be here, ’cos remember, it- I mean she- is a changeling!”
“Um… I hope you can find some good friends…” Fluttershy began, but was interrupted by Applejack.
“Were your friends, remember that sugar cube.” She said kindly.
“Oh dear! I’m late for my animals, sorry, I have to go girls!” Fluttershy said then flew off.
“Hope you have an awesome time here.” Rainbowdash added, and then she whispered into my ear, “So much as try to take our emotions and I’ll kick to you back to the hole you crawled out of!”
“Oh, err… Cloudsdale has me on weather patrol, gota’ go!” and with that, Rainbow flew off into the light blue sky.
We soon approached the library, and we entered the large doors. My eyes grew wide as I looked at all the books. I took out one book named ‘Changelings, what you should know’. I tried to put it back, but Twilights magic took it out my hooves.
“Aha!” she said, “Here it is!”
“Are ya sure ya’ll be able to keep her under control, Twilight?” Applejack asked curiously.
“It’s ok, I’ll keep her under control for sure, plus, if she dose try anything, I can just call you guys and tell you to bring the elements with you.” spoke Twilight with a determined tone.
“Ok, Twili, you know where I’ll be, burrowing though cakes, as usual!” grinned Pinkie pie.
After they left, Twilight asked if I wanted anything.
“Thank you Twilight, but not really.” I said kindly.
“Ok.” Twilight replied, “Spike, can you fetch me my changeling notes please!”
Moments later the baby dragon appeared with bundles of notes in his claws. Twilight’s magic aura surrounded the notes and they lifted into the air and she laid them neatly on the table.
“Well, well, well, this is our ‘guest’.” Spike spoke hesitantly with his claws on his hips.
“Spike, be nice, she has been though a lot!” Twilight spoke loudly.
I yawned as I fought sleep as nightfall came.
“Come with me, I’ll show you your bed.” Twilight said kindly.
“Thank you, Twilight!” I replied gratefully.
Twilight smiles and we approached a small bed.
“If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask!” Twilight told me.
I yawned again and curled up on the bed, and I revised the day. It was just as long as other days, but this day felt the longest yet.
I closed my eyes and drifted off into a deep, comfortable sleep…
Not all of us are monsters. Changeling of two lands.
Chapter 6 : Sugar Cube Corner
I woke in the morning after possibly the best sleep I’ve had in months.
“Good morning, Twilight!” I said cheerfully.
Twilight was already downstairs reading through her notes. Her ‘good morning’ was more of an ‘mf’. I decided to do some reading of the Ponyville’s history book, although I was not too interested in it.
Instead I stared out of the window, and as if my eyes deceived me, I saw a snow flake fall. Then I realized, it was mid-Winter, but I was afraid of snow, because before I went to Canterlot, the snow nearly froze me to death. I was surprised to see fillies playing in it. I looked curious as more flakes fell silently down from the sky. After a few minutes, bigger and bigger clumps of snow and they rested on the ground, only to be trampled by fillies hooves.
I was taken out of my thoughts by knocking on the door. I turned to see Twilight open the door, and Pinkie Pie entering.
“Hi Twilight, how’s little miss changey over there?” Pinkie asked cheerfully.
“Oh, she’s been no trouble what so ever!” smiled Twilight, “She is so timid, she hasn’t asked for anything yet.”
I gave a tiny smile and Pinkie hopped up to me,
“What will be will you?” Pinkie asked curiously.
“Call me um… Blackfire…” I whispered timidly, “B-Blackfire is my name…”
“Ok Blackfire!” Pinkie smiled graciously, and she hopped back to Twilight.
I turned back to the window, but I turned to Pinkie when she called my name,
“Blackfire, want to come to Sugar Cube Corner with us?” Pinkie asked.
I smiled and nodded, then made sure my disguise was up and running. Soon we left the library and were on our way to Sugar Cube Corner.
It only took a few moments before we were there. The sweet scent of sweets and cake mesmerize me. Once all three of us entered, the noise and smells hit me like a train smashing into me. My jaw dropped.
“Well here we are, Sugar Cube Corner!” Pinkie spoke loudly, “take what every you’d like Blackfire!”
Ponies watched me walk up to the counter, with smiles on their faces.
“Take whatever you want for free, since your new in Ponyville!” Pinkie said generously.
I smiled back happily, and took a slice of cake. I sat down at a table with Pinkie and Twilight. We both began to eat our share of cake. When the first bit touched my tongue, I tucked into it.
“Mm, Pinkie this is so good!” I declares, not very loudly, but others around heard and smiled.
After that cake, Pinkie invited us into the back of Sugar Cube Corner, were the best cakes – and the cake making- is kept. Pinkie hopped forward and opened the fridge door, to revile a huge masterpiece of a cake.
“This is the `Marzipan Mascarpone Meringue Madness” Pinkie murmured in awe of the cake, “or the M.M.M.M for short.”
“It looks…” I murmured, lost for words.
“I know, right!” Twilight put in, just as lost as I was.
Pinkie closed the door and escorted us out. We sat at our table again, but Pinkie had to go and work the counter.
“Thank cake looked wonderful…” I murmured, my breath taken away, “How can someone bake that?”
“You know as much as me!” Twilight replied.
Once I and Twilights bellies were royally stuffed, we went back to the library. Twilight went back to revising her notes on changelings, I asked if she needed anything, but she said ‘Nothing, but thanks’. I went upstairs to see spike, and he was curled up in his basket. I smiled a tiny smile, and then went back down stairs again.
“Twilight, is it ok if I make myself some tea?” I asked reluctantly.
“Sure.” Twilight replied, deep in thought.
“Would you like some?” I asked once more.
“Yes, please!” Twilight replied again, deep in thought.
I went and boiled the kettle and got out a couple of cups. Once I made the nice warm tea, I levitated it with my red magic.
“Here you are, Twilight.” I spoke calmly and I put the cup next to her.
“Thanks Blackfire.” Twilight spoke with gratitude, “I really could use a break from all this studying.”
I sat on my bed and carefully balanced the cup of tea on my hoof. I drank it slowly, letting the warm drink give me some streanth.
It’s maybe about mid-night or something, but I don’t know. I yawned and lay back on my bed and read for a little while. One I was bored of that, I closed my eyes and slept.
Not all of us are monsters. Changeling of two lands.
Chapter 7 : Unfortunate...
Twilight said that there was going to be a meteor shower tonight. I grabbed all my stuff and put a couple of books in my saddlebag.
“Ok Spike, punch, cookies, fruit, parchment, quills, ink pots, and binoculars. Have you got them all Spike?” Twilight asked the small purple dragon, “Oh- almost forgot! Get that astronomy book ok.”
Soon a small, deep box was filled with the things. I made sure my disguise was up and running and I told Twilight to see if there were any flaws in it.
“Yup, it’s perfect.” Twilight said quickly, “You’re almost as anxious as me when it comes to getting ready!”
I put on a deep yellow cape and yellow-gold hoof-protectors. We then left the library and trotted down the dirt paths, lit up by lanterns. Soon, Applejack was with us.
“Howdy, Twilight!” Applejack called, cheerily, “How’s it goin’ Blackfire!”
I felt safer now that Applejack was beside me on my left and Twilight on my right. We walked silently along the roads until Fluttershy joined us.
“Hello, girls, how is it going, Twilight?” asked Fluttershy in her kind tone.
“Oh, it’s been awesome.” Twilight replied.
“Not as awesome… as me!” a voice bust in, then a rainbow shot past and landed next to us.
“Hi, Rainbow!” I said trying not to annoy her, “can’t wait till’ the meteor shower!”
“Me neither!” Rainbowdash replied excitedly.
We walked silently again, but the soft flapping of Rainbow’s and Fluttershy’s wings were the only thing that we could hear. Suddenly a hopping cut in, and made us all jump.
“Hey girls!” spoke Pinkie cheerfully.
Now the sound of quiet hopping was added to the sound of trotting and flapping. We walked down the dimly-lit roads and soon approached the hill, when a voice called behind us and we stopped momentarily.
“Hello ladies, and might I say, what a gorgeous evening it is for a meteor shower!” Rarity admired.
We soon heard some talking as we went further up the hill, and it increased in volume the further up we went. Soon we emerged at the top and it was heavily lit by candles. Here was a small podium, where Mayor Mare stood.
“Citizens of Ponyville!” she shouted over the excited chatting, “I would like to welcome you to the annual meteor shower of the beginning of summer!”
Excited shouts and calls leapt into the air, but were instantly silenced by a boom, then all the candled went out suddenly.
Sparkles rained down from the tops of the sky, and soon a comet came across the sky, lighting it up like fireworks, only silenced. More and more comets followed shortly behind, of all shapes, sizes and colours. Suddenly a dazzling light green one shot down the sky, but didn’t stop were the others stopped and faded. I told Twilight to give me a far-seeing spell to see it. I narrowed my eyes to make it cleared, and I nearly fell over with what I saw. A Changeling! I saw its icy-blue eyes stare down at a target and then closed its eyes and shot down even faster.
“What’s wrong, sugar cube?” asked Applejack in a shallow whisper.
I watched in horror as the green blur shot down the sky and disappeared onto the ground. Soon a whole fleet of the green rockets shot down the sky and hit the ground and a distant rumble was heard. Soon the golden flurries disappeared and only the green blurs were left. The ponies still ‘oooh’ed and ‘aaah’ed in awe as the green rockets finally stopped.
When we went back to the library, I couldn’t sleep; I was anxious and kept shooting around the library. I went to reading my book, to hiding under my cover, then to circling the ceiling. When I was cowering under my cover, Twilight drew back the cover from over my head and soothed me.
“It’s ok; nothing bad is going to happen…” Twilight soothed, “what’s got you in a fix, anyway.”
I sat there, silent for a few more moments, then there was heavy banging on the door. When Twilight went to see who it was, I drew the cover over my head again. Twilight soon returned, with a newspaper surrounded in her aura placed in front of me. I sent my disguise away a I took it. I lifted it up with my red magic and read it.
‘Equestria Daily.
Top story; Hoofington attacked by Changelings!
Reporter Sugar told us “The destruction was huge, but there is no sign of blood or ponies”.’
I couldn’t bring myself to read the rest. I put my arms around my pillow and it tightly and didn’t let go for a while. I only let go when sleep covered me like a big thick blanket.
* * *
I woke early in the morning, but I couldn’t be bothered to get up. I kept the covers over my head and I was concealed under them. My eyes shot open, as a familiar voice, and a non-familiar voice entered.
“Ok, Lightning Dust, I’m going to show you something but you seriously can’t tell anypony, ok!” I heard Rainbowdash’s voice.
“Ok, ok, you told me like 50 times already!” spoke the new voice.
I heard the hoof-steps come this way, so I put up my disguise, and acted like I was asleep. I did it just in the nick of time. Rainbowdash drew back my cover, reviling me.
“Um, Rainbow, it’s a sleeping Pegasus…” spoke the pony named ‘Lightning Dust’.
“What the!” Rainbow said angrily.
“You told me this was a changeling, doesn’t look very green and evil to me!” hissed the turquois pony.
“This is the changeling!” hissed Rainbow back, but it was too late for her, Lightning Dust slammed the door behind her as she left.
“You stupid little-”Rainbow began, but was interrupted.
“What do you think you’re doing Rainbowdash!?” Twilight hissed so violently, it made Rainbowdash jump.
“Oh- I was... um…” Rainbow stammered.
“Trying to spread the word about Blackfire?!” Twilight finished the sentence for her, “Rainbowdash, out, now!”
Rainbowdash flew out with her head low.
“Sorry, Rainbow has been acting rather oddly.” Twilight reassured me as I sat up, and lowered my disguise.
“No sweat.” I replied calmly, as I rose onto the floor, only to get the air kicked out of me by Lightning Dust.
“Changeling!” she spat.
“No! Wait!” cried Twilight, “She is a good changeling!”
“No such th-” she was in the middle of saying, then caught sight of my red shell, “what the!”
“I’m… Blackfire…” I spoke through rasping breaths.
Lightning Dust stood stuned….
Not all of us are monsters. Changeling of two lands.
Chapter 8: Trapped in the sweet home
Lightning Dust stood still and silent for a good five minutes before stammering,
“How… How is this…?”
Then Lightning Dust went back to staring at me. I looked desperately at Twilight for answers, but she shook her head. I lie down on my bed and put the covers over me, but I left my muzzle out. My long fangs tore 2 little neat holes in the material.
“Go ahead… Tell everypony about me…” I choked through my tears, “If you think it’s wise…”
Lightning Dust looked at me for a moment, and then a huge grin adorned her face.
“Maybe I will!” she jeered.
And with that, Lightning Dust turned around, kicked imaginative dust at me, and then flew out of the library.
“What…” I uttered quietly, “What if she really dose tell everypony?”
Twilight looked at me with sorrow-filled eyes.
“Not even Celestia herself can change this…” she spoke sadly.
I turned on my camouflage, but even with it on I felt so… naked… I felt like everypony could see me changeling body. Twilight had decided the best thing for me is to go to Fluttershy’s forest to calm down. As we walked, I felt that everything had changed. To me, it felt like the old buildings were creaking forward to look down on me, and the dirt paths were all mangled and inhabitable.
“Here we are!” said Twilight cheerily, taking me out of my bleak thoughts.
I looked up to see Fluttershy’s cottage. It was more like a large hollow tree with some windows and a door in it. The small stream held small fish which jumped out the water every so often. I saw the birds chirping loudly to one-another happily and the vibrant butterflies flew close to my muzzle, and one even landed on it. A large smile danced across my lips as it twirled through the air. When Twilight called my, name I instantly rushed towards her, leaving the beautiful scene behind me. Once I entered Fluttershy’s cottage, it felt like entering a new world. Birds flew around, mice and squirrels ran across the roof-beams and floor, and the occasional bunny or two hopped along the floor too.
“Oh, hello Twilight!” Fluttershy said kindly, with a bowl of salad in her hooves, then when she saw Twilight looking at it, she spoke, “I’m just trying to make angel eat. He is such a fussy eater…”
At that very moment when the words came out her mouth, Angel-bunny, leapt forward and started hitting her leg.
“I’m coming Angel…” murmured Fluttershy, “Sorry, excuse me…”
Fluttershy went through the crowd of animals, and went to tend Angel’s fussy attitude. A moment later, the bowl was hurled at us and hit Twilight in the face. I couldn’t help but chuckle slightly.
“Oh, dear!” Fluttershy shouted and rushed over to Twilight, “I hope you’re not hurt, are you?”
“I’m fine, thanks Fluttershy.” replied Twilight, probably a bit harsher than intended.
I saw Angel sitting on a table with anger crossing his face.
“He’s more like a devil to me!” I replied harshly.
“Oh, he’s not that bad once you get used to him…” replied Fluttershy.
“Wow, you got some guts being abused by that daemon, but being ok with it, is past me!” I said, not trying to hide the envy in my voice.
Fluttershy smiled radiantly, and then flew off to feed her other animals. I turned back to Twilight, only to be sent into fits of giggles as bits of lettuce and daisy petals covered her face and a bit of her mane.
“Ha-ha, very funny!” she hissed, sarcasm clear in her voice.
I went outside again to see the little butterflies, but only met a small gang of three or four members.
“Hey, our pal Lightning Dust told us you were vermin.” Spoke a black pony with a scar across his left eye, “tell us the truth, we won’t hurt ya’”
I took a few steps back but they simply took a step forward. I turned round and ran back into Fluttershy’s cottage, and slammed the door behind me.
“What's going on!?” cried Twilight, looking out the window.
“You’ll have to come out some time!” hissed the black pony again, “We won’t leave until you do!”
I went in the centre of the room and curdled up and cried softly to myself.
“Sssh… its ok…” I looked up to see Fluttershy’s kind face and she drew her hoof down my mane to calm me, “It’ll be ok…”
I knew she was lying to make me feel better. The gang would never leave until I came out. I closed my eyes and sobbed quietly. Soon I drifted into a soft, uneasy sleep...
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I woke when the sun was drifting down the horizon, but I couldn’t tell how long I was out for. I looked around to find myself on the second floor to Fluttershy’s cottage, in a soft bed. I laid my head back on the pillow, finally getting a moments rest, but it didn’t last very long. I heard shouting - chanting to be exact - coming from outside. I thought I was still dreaming, but the volume in tensed, but I tried my best to ignore it. I opened my mouth wide and got out of bed. I walked to the window, but I wished I didn’t. A huge crowd was gathered, with angry faces and shouting angrily. I heard their chanting ant it went along like this;
“Get the Changeling! Chain it up! Lock it in a cage and let it rot!”
I shrank back and hid in the corner once I heard banging on the door. I wished I were invisible, but I knew that would never be possible, no matter how hard I tried. The chanting became a ravenous roar; it felt like they weren’t ponies anymore.
“Kill… kill… kill...” the crowd murmured to start, then got progressively louder, “Kill… Kill! KILL! KILL!! KILL!!!”
The room went blurry for a moment, and then it came back into focus, but as a bleak rotten-wooded room. The bird-houses had turned into huge hands with claws on them. The roof turned into a huge gaping wooden mouth, with teeth as sharp as ten cats’ claws. The windows were crimson-gold dragon eyes, which stared right into my soul. Suddenly I felt really light-headed, then suddenly I realised. It was a unicorn spell!! I made my own horn glow, to counter it, and successfully back-fired it onto the pony that cast it on me in the first place. The room returned to its normal state and I could walk freely again. There was a huge ‘CRACK’ from the door downstairs, and I heard Twilight and Fluttershy yelp. Pegasi flew up the stairs and tried to attack me. I used my magic to levitate them away, but as two became four, and four became six, so on and on, it was made harder and harder for my mind to keep all the spells going, and add more. A small filly rushed up the stairs and I tried to levitate it too, but it all became too much and my horn sparked and I fell to the ground. I felt so exposed then, but it took them a bit of time to find their hooves and stand up. The first Pegasus to start flying again was…
…Rainbowdash
She flew forward and she knocked the wind out me when she landed on my side. My mind rushed with questions like; ‘why would she do this?’, ‘what is she doing?’ and ‘why did she turn on me?’. All of these had a simple answer. She despised me.
“Lie down vermin!” she spat at me and I stopped struggling instantly.
She folded her wings with a malicious grin drawn across her smug muzzle. The crowd regained consciousness and ran over to help Rainbowdash. I felt a pony trap my wings against my back. I made my horn spark, but I couldn’t do any spells whatsoever. I used all of the energy I could, but I couldn’t do a simple levitation spell.
“What's it doing?” I heard a pony ask curiously, “What's it trying to cast?”
“I have no idea, but it seems like it isn’t working.” I heard another voice from across the crowd.
“Let’s make sure.” hissed another voice from close by, “By taking the horn off!”
I squirmed as the crowd called in agreement. I heard two ponies approach me then put their hooves on my horn and begin to pull. I screamed in pain, forcing my body to wriggle wildly. I eventually flung Rainbowdash off my back and I flew up with new-found strength. I tried to fly over their heads, but I was knocked to the ground once more.
“It’s too much haste to remove the horn at this time!” called out a voice, which sounded like Twilights, “Let’s just throw it in a cage!”
The crowd gave uncertain murmurs, but then began to agree. I let out a soft breath of relief that I could keep my horn, but a cage isn’t much better. I felt myself being carried by some pegasi, around the front of the group. I heard murmurings of ponies, as they saw my red shell, but they didn’t care. In their eyes, I was vermin. I was flown to the town hall for a while, and then I was forced to walk down long stone steps. The further down I went, the colder it became. There was a heavy stench of death and decay coming from down here. My eyes glowed in the bleak shadows, but I kept them closed for as long as possible, as the sights were horrifying. There were pony bones littering the ground and the occasional fresh corpse lying in a corner or two. We turned corner after corner in this labyrinth of tunnels leading steadily downward. We eventually came to another staircase, but it was covered in dry blood. I had to be poked with the sharp end of a lance, just to put my first hoof on it. I was then forced to go down again. At one point I tripped, but luckily for me, the unicorn guard that was guiding my, levitated me and put me down again, before I fell to my death. We eventually, after about an hours’ worth of walking, we came to a rusty, steel cage, reeking of fear and death. The rusty door creaked open and I was thrown inside. If it wasn’t for my shell, I would have broken my spine against the bars on the back. Once the unicorns horn went out, my eyes were the only light source for god-knows how many miles. I put my hoofs on my muzzle and cried softly once the guards left. My tears soon made a small pool on the ground.
“Don’t cry, young one…” the suddenness of the voice made me jump.
I looked up and around, but I couldn’t see anything but bleak, bleak shadows. My eyes became slits as I tried to peer into the darkness.
What was down here? Was someone with me?
Not all of us are monsters. Changeling of two lands.
Chapter 9: Rainbow Factory
I looked around but the shadows limited my view.
“W-who’s there?” I called into the empty darkness, but no reply.
I shrank back to the floor of my cage and looked round once more, but to no avail. By eyes glowed like red candles and lit up about a meter in front of me. I pressed to the front of my cage, and saw the bars of a cage in front of me, but could not see inside. Fear engulfed me as I looked around. I heard an echoing scream, then the smell of fresh blood.
“What's going on?” I cried to the blackness surrounding my cage.
“You… really don’t want to know…” spoke the creaky voice again, but it was coming from much closer than I first thought.
“Who are you?” I called, but no reply.
I also heard banging and more screams. I suddenly remembered the fiction book about a myth called ‘The Rainbow Factory’ where the rainbows are made, but not as you thought.
“Is… is that the rainbow factory?” I called out, then a short pause, “Please tell me I want to know!”
“Yes…” the voice croaked back.
I shrank back further, but my back did not meet the gold rusty bars of my cage, but a hard, warm shell. When I touched it, I whipped round, and my face collided with the leg of a changing. No, this was no ordinary changeling; this was the long lost King of changelings. He was dangerously thin and his exoskeleton did not shine when my eyes focused on it. Poor thing… I thought sadly as I looked at its dull shell, when I noticed something. Its shell on its back was crimson red, just like mine!
“Um… I thought that the rainbow factory was in cloudsdale?” I spoke, my voice shuddering with fear.
It sighed, and spoke, “You see the doorway the guards brought you through.” It pointed its hoof in the rough direction were the doorway was, I nodded, and then it went back to talking, “That, is in fact, not a doorway at all. It is a portal set up by Starswirl the Bearded himself. That portal teleports seamlessly into this dungeon. It allows you to see into the other side of the portal, hence why you’d think it was a doorway into a deep underground place. But instead, Starswirl made it that only he can go through it and not get teleported, so behind it; he made his own personal library and spell researcher.”
My mind could not take in this much. Why would Starswirl want to teleport to Cloudsdale? How does this changeling know so much about this? And simply, Why…. Just why?
Another blood-chilling scream echoed through the dungeon, and the sound of hammers began again. Only this time, I heard somepony call,
“Bring the next batch of victims!”
Fear engulfed me and I ran around the cage, but the pony I was sharing it with, was too weak to stop me. My pupils turned into small slits, when I heard gears clank above the top of the cage. I looked up to see a huge mechanical claw moving to grip the top of the cage. Kind of like those mechanical claw games where you drop a claw and try to pick up a toy. Only this time, we’re the toys! The claw grasped a convenient bent bar sticking out the top of the cage, and pulled us off the ground with ease. We were lifted over the tops of other cages, and now I could see frightened ponies inside. They gave me the look of pure horror as we were carried off down a long, dark tunnel.
“Where are we going?” I murmured, but the changeling that was in the cage with me, shrugged, “What's your name anyway?”
“It’s best you don’t know my name. It will be much more of a loss when I die if you know it…” it replied, “But for now… Just call me Shimmer for now…”
I huddled close to Shimmer as we went down the long tunnel. My ears perked up as I began to hear… Singing? Who would sing in this awful place? As we went closer to the source, I recognised the voice, but it was a lot more emotionless than I last heard it.
“Corona?” I shouted into the blackness, and the soft singing immediately stopped.
“Blackfire?” the voice called back.
“Corona, where are you?” I called back, joy beginning to come to my voice.
There was a pause, but he replied eventually, “I work here at the factory…”
There was a silence; the only sound that was heard was the heavy breathing of Shimmer, the distant screams, and the hammers. Other than that, it was pure silence. There was a small dot of light, I assumed it was a small firefly that got lost, but it got bigger and bigger, and then opened up into a HUGE glowing factory. My eyes widened and my jaw dropped open.
“Hope you enjoy the sights!” called a crazily out-of-tune voice, that sounded very, very mad (mad as in crazy), “It will be the last thing you see!”
I looked down to see a deep-blue pony with a bright yellow mane, and was slightly stained with blood. Soon the claw holding the cage came to a sharp stop, making the cage swing wildly from side to side. I bashed my body off all the bars, and if it weren’t for my exoskeleton, I would have died. The claw snapped open and we fell through the air. I screamed wildly, and my horn sparked, despite the pain of it getting nearly pulled out earlier. The whole cage levitated and we came to a soft landing. I opened the door, and cautiously stepped out. I saw filthy ponies around me, wounded and starving. They hardly had the strength to look up at me. It seemed we were contained in this huge, impenetrable box. Above I saw a claw, like the ones that carried the cage, but it seemed a lot sharper. The ponies that surrounded me shrieked and ran as it descended.
(WARNING: this may have content not suitable for the younger age group from here on for a little while, you have been warned)
I saw it grasp a pony, digging its vile claws into its side. Blood dripped as the pony screamed with agony as it was yanked through the air. I dared look up to see the pony go up… up… up… then be held in front of some… knife holder. The knife was pointed straight at the pony’s heart, and swung forward. My blood turned to ice then as a loud scream of agony filled the air. I saw the big knife get pulled out of the pony’s corpse and a small knife went into the wound and took the blood out. I closed my eyes. I have seen enough… A droplet of blood fell and landed on my horn. A tear fell from my eye. I knew I had to stop this… somehow…
Not all of us are monsters. Changeling of two lands.
Chapter 10: Well, that was... Easy?
I was sickened by everything here. The claw, the torture, the heartless ponies that live here. It’s not fair, just not fair! I wanted to fly up and break the claw, but alas, my wings were damaged by being held down earlier. After the screams died down, the pounding of the hammers drowned the screams out. I dared look up again to see the grey corpse be lifted up through the air, then put… somewhere… I couldn’t tell where. I saw the claw descend again after the blood was sent away for manufacturing. I saw it head to a mother and her filly. My eyes narrowed and I pushed her out the way. I felt the claw close on my side, but it barely scratched my exoskeleton. I was whisked through the air and put in front of the beastly blade, still glazed with blood from its last feed. I couldn’t believe what I have just seen. I saw Corona working the blade, he has been the one who has brought this much tragedy and death!
“You vile vermin!” I spat at him, “You kill ponies for what? A pretty rainbow?!? I trusted you! You turn your back on me like this!?”
Corona did his best not to make eye contact and instead looked down at the metal below his hooves. My rage overflowed. My horn sparked majorly and my limbs got much more strength than normal, I guessed it was fuelled on my hatred… hatred… I’ve never hated before… I felt so vile to hate, but this pony deserved it. I wriggled around, but to no avail, but I saw Corona’s eyes trail up to his leader, the crazed pony.
“I’m sorry…” Corona called simply.
He pushed down on a lever, and the blade swung forth. I closed my eyes tight, waiting for the agony to start, but it never came. I opened my eyes to see the blade had crumpled against my exoskeleton. I could hear lots of ‘HUH!’s and ‘WHAT!’s from all around me. The second knife came, and also broke. The dumb machine thought I was dead so released me. It ached so much, but I buzzed my wings. It wouldn’t be long until I dropped to the ground. I would die if I hit the ground… I thought and a shiver went along my body. The closest place to land, were Corona was. All the other factory workers have gathered up on the balconies, so Corona was alone. Finally, some revenge!
I flew over Corona’s wide eyed head and landed in the middle of the platform. My eyes beamed with anger, and I told my powers to turn myself into something just as vile as him, for the irony of it. It decided, a manticore was as vile, although I beg to differ, but it was good enough. I unsheathed my long, sharp claws and drew the flesh back from my teeth and stepped forward. Corona leapt back from me as I spread wide my huge dragon wings. Using my wings to my advantage, I leapt forward beating my wings to give me a speed boost, and then drew my claws along his side. Instead of meeting warm blood, I met cold steel and oil. Confused I turned back, to see Corona’s wound. I was shocked so much I turned back into changeling form. The boy I ‘liked’ when I were in school, my best friend, was a robot?! I confused what feeling I had now, rage, or sadness? My mind swirled with questions, but I did my best to ignore them. I was about to take off into the air, when I remembered the poor ponies down there. My heart ached for them. They didn’t deserve to die. I had to free them somehow… but … how?
“You… you can never free them...” I heard Corona say, like he read my mind, “There trapped here for all eternity!”
Corona then went into fits of crazy laughter. I couldn’t take it anymore! I leapt into the air and sunk my horn right into his side and made it spark. I heard him rive in agony, then fall limp. I short-circuited him. It was for the best. Sparks flew from his body, and soon some gears fell out. I flew down to the PCU (Pony Containment Unit), and corralled all the ponies into the centre. I made my horn stark, and I tried to levitate all of them. It took a lot of power, but thankfully, there were unicorns trapped down here too. Once they figured out what I was doing, their horns lit up too, and helped me. Soon, I had them flying down the tunnel back to the portal. It felt like ages, going down this, but eventually, we appeared in the cage-room again. I counted all the ponies, to make sure we weren’t missing any, but I couldn’t find Shimmer.
“Does anypony know where Shimmer is?” I asked them all.
“He sacrificed himself for us…” I heard a weak voice call, “He fended off the Rainbow workers…”
My heart cracked in half, I couldn’t believe he was gone. But I’ll have to worry about that later; we need to get out of here. I asked all the unicorns to make their horn glow, and I did my best to keep my eyes open. We soon found the portal to the stairs, and I made everypony go through in a single-file line. I could easily remember the way I was taken through to be taken down to that vile place. Soon we found the staircase leading to the town hall. I cast another levitation spell, as some of the stairs were missing this time round, and I didn’t want anypony falling. We went up… and up… and up… It was a good 10 minutes before we came to the trapdoor that locked the place up. I easily cast an unlocking spell, and once I opened it, sunlight poured down the stairs. I smiled, but the others groaned as they had been in the Rainbow factory too long and their eyes are adjust to the bleak atmosphere. I was not greeted by the gorgeous town hall, or the beautiful houses. I was met with ruins covered in black crystals. I saw changelings shooting down like rockets, destroying everything in their path.
I saw two ponies stand out in this destruction.
King Sombra & Queen Chrysalis….
Not all of us are monsters. Changeling of two lands.
Chapter 11: Lyre of the ruins
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…
Not all of us are monsters. Changeling of two lands.
Chapter 12: Not all of us are Monsters
I woke to the smell of carrot stew being made. I looked around, but the starving ponies were still sleeping. They must have been exhausted from lack of sleep at the rainbow factory. I sighed with relief that they were finally getting some much needed rest, and trotted into the kitchen, to see the mint pony stirring a huge cauldron. Her head tipped up as she heard me approach.
“Good morning…” Lyra spoke gently, trying not to make a lot of noise.
She must have been up all night as she had bags under her eyes. I noticed there was a lot more cakes and food than last night; she must have baked them all.
“I see you’ve seen I’ve-” Lyra was interrupted by a huge yawn, “Sorry… I’ve been up all night trying to bake enough for a little while, but I can’t possibly bake any more as there are no baking materials left…”
She yawned again and nearly toppled over with tiredness. Poor thing… I caught her just in time before she hit the ground.
“You didn’t have to do this for us…” I spoke gently.
“I couldn’t let you starve…” Lyra spoke simply.
Her eyes closed and she drifted off into sleep. I carried her to a small bed, and laid her in it. I tucked her in, and kissed her gently on the forehead. I turned round and went back to the huge cauldron. I stirred it gently, looking into the soft orange liquid. Hunger gripped my stomach, but I ignored it and continued to stir. Soon it was boiling, showing it was ready. I went into Pinkie’s desk and got out the little order bell. I put it gently on the desk, and pressed the little ringer on the top. It ringed loudly and eyeryponies eyes shot open.
“We have plenty of food here! Courtesy of Lyra!” I spoke loudly, and everypony got to their hooves.
I got out all the plastic and metal bowls and began to pour the lovely liquid into them. I heard the soft snores from Lyra as I began to portion it out. I asked Night stars (a black unicorn with a star as a cutiemark) to take some stew to Pinkie Pie and Lyra.
“Enjoy everypony!” I called to them all as they ate.
I ate quickly, and when it touched my tongue, the gorgeous liquid swirl round my mouth, and down my throat, and warming my weary soul. After I finished, I heard an explosion from outside. I ordered everypony to stay inside, as I went to check what it was.
I stepped outside, to see Queen Chrysalis, but… She was a lot thinner than I last saw her. Her shell was not shiny like mine. She must have been starved almost to death. I felt pity come within me for the starving queen. But she hurt my friends, and captured or killed them.
“Why are you here Blackfire?” Chrysalis spoke weakly, “I left you to die years ago!”
“You left me too close to Canterlot to die.” I spoke calmly, “Why are you here?”
Chrysalis did not reply, but simply looked down on me, hunger in her eyes. I looked back up at her with angry eyes.
“Where are the other ponies?” I shouted, breaking the eerie silence.
Chrysalis did not reply. I roared with rage, and tackled her to the ground, suddenly realising how tall I am, as I am almost as tall as Chrysalis herself. I swiped my horn viciously, but she nimbly dodged, then swiped herself. I flew a few meters in the air, then dive-bombed her, and hit her right in her side, taking the air out of her. I put my horn on her side, in a threatening manner.
“Go on… Kill me…” Chrysalis spoke weakly, her green life-blood pouring from her wounds, “I’m going to die anyway… so just finish the job!”
I made my horn glow, but I did not have the courage to kill her… She was my mother after all. My heart said don’t do it, my head said do it… On one hoof, she abandoned me, and possibly killed my friends, but on the other hoof, she cared enough to send me away…
My head was a mess of questions, but one stuck out.
“Why did you abandon me?” I asked finally.
Chrysalis looked up at me with surprise, “I… I abandoned you… Because… Because… I couldn’t let you see what horrors we did… I was afraid you’d be ashamed of us…”
Tears rose in my eyes as she spoke. I heard sniffling from behind, and I glanced back to see the ponies crying too.
“Oh mother…” I sobbed, “How can I be ashamed of my own mother…”
I laid my head down on her side, and my tears trickled down and hit her side. I felt Chrysalis’s hoof stroke my mane, then after a few moments, stopped. I felt Chrysalis’s breathing slowly stop, and her heartbeat stop.
“M-mother…” I spoke, my blood running cold, “Mother? No! Mother!”
I slipped my forelegs under Chrysalis’s corpse and cried out.
“MOTHER!!”
The thing that really cracked me was… She died because of me. If I didn’t attack her, she would still be standing right now.
“Mother… wake up…” I said hopelessly, nudging her leg, “Wake up mother… please…”
Tears ran down my face and landed on my mother’s corpse. I slipped my hoofs out from underneath the cold corpse. I turned around and walked back to Sugar Cube Corner. The tearful faces of the ponies turned and faced me as I trotted past.
“I’m sorry…” Lyra spoke quietly.
“It’s my entire fault…” I sobbed, “It’s my fault she died… I’m so pathetic… I wish I died in the rainbow factory if it meant I didn’t have to face this!”
Lyra put her left foreleg over my shoulders and more tears fell from my crimson eyes. I shrugged off Lyra’s foreleg ad lay in my bed. I murmured softly to myself, and soon my bed was soaking wet from tears.
“Come on Blackfire…” Lyra spoke quietly, giving me a hug, “It’s not so bad…”
“Your right…” Ii spoke quietly, getting Lyra’s hopes up, “It’s worse…”
I buried my face into my pillow, and it took me a few hours just to roll over. I must have fallen asleep, as I met Chrysalis in my dream.
“Do not give up hope my child…” Chrysalis spoke quietly, “Take my crown… Prove to Equestria that some changelings really aren’t monsters…”
A small deep crimson crown floated between Chrysalis, and I. Chrysalis walked up to me, and took the crown.
“Today…” Chrysalis spoke nobly, placing the crown on my head, “We have a new Queen of changelings. A much more selfless and caring changeling, not like I. My daughter, Blackfire, shall now be crowned. All hail Queen Blackfire!”
Chrysalis bowed low, and some other changelings appeared, and bowed low as well.
A flash of light happened, and so much happened. I changed. I become every bit as tall as Celestia, and my horn was just as long. My wings became much longer, and were shaped like Celestia’s as well, but transparent. My fangs were now much longer and sharper, not that I’d be using them for their actual use, but they were there for if I need them. My magic was also majorly increased, and I can cast spells that I couldn’t before. But best of all, my heart was more open. I was more able to forgive and forget, and make friends more easily.
“Thank you…” I spoke, quietly, “Thank you for everything…”
Suddenly, everything faded, and I awoke. I still had my changes, and my crown. I stumbled out of my bed, trying to get used to my much longer legs. Once I got the hang of them, I went downstairs. Everypony gasped at my new changes. Lyra herself was ever staring in awe.
“Um…” I spoke shyly, as there awe-filled stares did not decrease.
“Wow…” Lyra was the first to talk, “How did this… happen?”
I asked them all to sit down and I told them about everything. The dream, the crowning, and the crown itself. Once I said everything I had to say, Lyra smiled radiantly.
“Well, what are we waiting for?” called Lyra, “Let’s go find the ponies!”
As we went outside, my heart split in half. Chrysalis’s corpse was still lying there, motionless.
“We should bury her…” I spoke sadly.
Once Lyra and the others agreed, we began to fix a grave for her. While they were doing that, I went to find a stone I could carve into a gravestone for her. Once I found a sufficiently big boulder, I lifted it up, and levitated it away. I spotted something in the hole I pulled the boulder out of, and I looked down. I expected to see like, a stray paraspright or two, but no. I saw a small group of ponies. Ii gasped, and called the others over. Once they arrived, I got them to help fix a small ladder to help them up. Once we got them up, we got them safely to Sugar Cube Corner to rest with Pinkie. I realised, that the small hole, was instead a secret passage way. All of the ponies must have hidden there.
I looked over all the ponies about 100 times, but I found no sign of Bon-Bon.
“Lyra, I can’t find Bon-Bon!” I called to my mint friend.
Lyra remained silent.
“What's wrong?” I called finally and rushed over to her.
“Bon-Bon…” choked Lyra, “Is a changeling…”
Lyra shifted, to show the body of half Bon-Bon half changeling.
My mouth dropped open, and I looked at Lyra’s face. She was locked with despair. My heart broke for her.
“Look on the bright side, Lyra!” I spoke as cheerily as I could, “Bon-Bon’s still alive.”
I knew I was helping nothing, so I went over to my mother’s grave, with the newly carved gravestone. My horn sparked with new magic, and I wrote text on it.
‘R.I.P
Here lies Queen Chrysalis, ruler of changelings.
She may have attacked Canterlot, but her heart was in the right place.
Celestia help her soul.
1930 – 2013’
I closed my eyes and turned away. Suddenly, I was faced with a crowd of ponies. They cheered my name very loudly that faint echoes could be heard in Canterlot.
“Blackfire! Blackfire! Blackfire!”
I finally proved it.
After all these days.
I proved.
Not all of us are Monsters.
Not all of us are monsters. Changeling of two lands.
My life has gone from horrible to perfect since the attack. And so has everypony else’s!
Lyra has got Bon-Bon back, but Bon-Bon is a changeling now. But at least those two are happy.
The ponies trapped at the rainbow factory have returned and have gotten used to normal lives again, but the scars the factory has left, cannot be healed unfortunately.
Ponyville have begun to rebuild and heal the wounds inflicted by the changelings. Soon pony and changelings were friends with me, of course helping. Changelings and ponies put aside their differences, and are now allies instead of enemies. Also changelings are now aloud to freely walk along the dirt roads with no needed camouflage.
And now, the changelings need only ask for emotions, instead of taking it forcibly.
Life is perfect now. Nothing can ruin this… Nothing…
Not all of us are monsters. Changeling of two lands.
Chapter 1 : The unfortunate meeting
I stepped cautiously along the long roads of Canterlot, as a light yellow pegasus with a deeper yellow hair that flowed gently in the morning breeze. The suns warm flowed down and heated my back and I enjoyed it, although it was short-lived as a feeling inside me made me feel as though I was watched. I looked to my left and right, to make sure no pony was following me then I crept off into a spookier and darker bit of Canterlot and sat there for a few minutes. I sat until I heard sirens to call a meeting within Celestia in Canterlot castle. I trotted in with crowd of other ponies, but suspicious glances at me confirmed I was not liked. Celestia stood on a high ledge above the heads of ponies and I craned my head back in order to see her. Celestia waited for a short time for silence, in order to speak.
"Ponies of Canterlot, It has come to my attention that some ponies here have been concerned about the changeling threat." Celestia paused for dramatic effect, and nervous whispers came up from all around her, "I am here to inform you, there are no known changelings in Canterlot -or attempting to- after Princes Cadence and Shining Armor used their powers against them. The changelings fear us now, as we know their weakness. However, this might not stay for very long, as I have heard rumors spread that changeling’s stand among all of you at this very moment" More nervous whispering came and some ponies shuffled and had fright etched into their face.
"But how can you be so sure Celestia?" cried a young grey mare with a little filly next to her, 'Couldn't the changelings just take us over? Are their spies among us?! HOW CAN I PROTECT MY YOUNG!?" she then went into hysterics, and was forced to get medical treatment.
Questions rose up more rapidly and so many questions were shouted it made my head spin and I fluttered my wings softly. Celestia put her hoof up to silence the constant questions, and to my relief, started to speak again,
"I have one, very special pony with me at the moment to fill you in on changelings. The one and only, Element of Magic!"
Celestia stood to the side of her platform, and the lavender coloured unicorn stepped out. My eyes opened wide with wonder at the pony.
"Ok, um... Hello everypony. As you already know, my name is Twilightsp-" she spoke, but was interrupted with a loud 'GET ON WITH IT!' from a deep red unicorn in the crowd, "Ok, um... let’s see.. Aha! Changelings come in packs of at least 5 if going on a search or spy mission. As most, or all of you know, changelings feed off emotions. The more emotions, the more power it gets." There were constant frightened murmurs of 'FIVE are among us?...' then Twilight continued,
"To spot a changeling is near impossible, but there are some key differences in the target pony. Their desire for strength relies on emotion, so they turn into the pony target, and then hide them away in some unknown place. But in order to spot one, you have to keep an eye on their emotions. If it changes drastically over, say, an hour, it is slightly out of the ordinary and you should tell the guards. But don't think that one day your friend with somepony, then the next day you’re not, doesn’t mean there a changeling."
I didn't bother listening to the rest of her speech as the talk of evil changelings was making me feel sick. I decided to go and get some fresh air. I walked towards the door but two guards blocked the way. I could plainly see that they wanted no pony to leave. There angry eyes looked down on me and I ducked my head and shrank back into the crowd, but still gave no attention to the lavender pony's speech. When she finished speaking, and Celestia dismissed everyone I began to walk to the door. I only got one gasp of fresh air before I was dragged inside again by a guard. I hit the ground with a thud, so sickening, I felt like I was going to faint.
"You ain't goin' anywhere, missy." hissed the guard angrily and he stamped his hoof.
I was dragged inside again and I tried to shout for help and my wings sprawled out on the ground, but did nothing as I fluttered them. The guard covered my mouth, and I couldn't fight the guard as I was being dragged across the ground by my tail. I was soon released in front of Celestia, and she towered over me. My ears dropped. She stood in front of me with a frown drawn across her face and her brow was thunderous. I put my hooves over my muzzle and closed my eyes as tight as I could and tears formed at the edges of them.
"Stand up, now!" she hissed and I got up slowly, on shaking legs.
"My guard told me you were trying to escape in the middle of the meeting-" she spoke, but I cut in.
"I was feeling sick! I needed some fresh air! Please don't hurt me..." I murmured at her.
She flicked her wing and dismissed the guard that brought me here, and told me to follow her and not to talk. We soon entered the labyrinth of corridors that was Canterlot Castle. We soon emerged at the throne room and Celesta sat on the throne. Tears ran down my face as she called me forward, and spoke,
"It's ok, I won’t hurt you." she spoke softly, and stroked my mane, "Now, I need you to tell me who you truly are..."
Not all of us are monsters. Changeling of two lands.
At first I acted like I didn't hear the question right by blinking a few times, but Celestia's serious face made tears rise in my eyes. I used my green magic to slowly change myself into my normal changeling form. Celestia's eyes widened as my hard exoskeleton shone in the broad daylight. But she wasn't interested in the fact that I was a changeling, she was interested in the fact I was... female!
"How odd, those eyes aren't light blue like normal changelings. and that shell on your back.. red, not green..." she murmured in a fascinated way.
I heard the thudding of hooves as guards charged through the corridors. They hauled at the doors to the throne room and growled at me. Tears rolled down my face but Celestia did nothing to protect me. The guards roared with rage and ran at me, weapons out. I shrieked with fear and used my little insect wings to carry me just out of reach of their weapons. My red eyes scanned them, but the only emotions I could see and smell were anger and fear. Celestia stood up and telekinetically lifted the guards.
"I was trying to talk to this changeling-" she spoke but was interrupted,
"It's a changeling! It is not intelligent at all!" hissed the lead guard.
"I said..." she hissed in an irritated way, "I was talking to the changeling!"
She dropped them and they fell to the ground winded, then Celestia dismissed them. I made my wings beat a bit slower and I landed on the ground.
The fangs I had made me pronounce every 's' as a 'z' as I was not used to talking with these long fangs, as I was used to a pony’s soft mouth, “My name iz BlackFire princezz of changelingz..." I murmured, "Chrysaliz didn't want me as a daughter anymore zo I ezcaped before zhe hurt me and killed me..."
Celestia strangely understood everything I said, and nodded as I said everything. She unfolded her wings and put them around me. She looked to the doors where one single guard stood. Celestia nodded and the guard walked out. The warmth of Celestia's wings slowly put me into a light sleep.
* * *
I woke to the sound of the guard returning. It must have been an hour or two as the sun was setting. I raised my head up to Celestia who looked down on me with a warm smile. She drew back her wings and I looked to the door, were six ponies walked in. When I looked at their faces, I squealed in fear, and backed up into Celestia.
"It's ok... They won’t hurt you..." she reassured me.
I took a few shaky steps forward but the lavender pony from earlier was there. All six of them bowed before Celestia. All six of them watched me with anger and fright in their eyes.
"Um... Celestia?" Twilight spoke with a stern voice, "Shouldn't we, you know, expel this changeling before it does any harm?"
"She is quiet safe" Celestia told her.
"She?" all six of them spoke with an astonished expression.
"She wished to cause no harm to ponies." Celestia continued.
"That iz right" I put in quietly, "I wizh to cauze no harm to poniez. Fear me if you want... But... Not all of my speazes are ...monzterz..." I choked out the last word as if it were offensive to say.
I fluttered my insect wings a few times and lowered my head. I saw the six ponies have sorrow in their faces as a small tear trickled down my face.
"Celeztia? May I talk to you in private?" I asked, trying to offend the six ponies.
"Of course." Celestia turned to the six ponies, "There are rooms in the top of the castle were you'll be staying for the next few nights."
Once the ponies had left, I turned to Celestia, who was seated on the throne again. I walked up to her and she folded her wings around me again.
"Celeztia... Will the other poniez hurt me if I go out?" I asked with a tone shaking with fear.
Celestia said nothing for a few minutes and I assumed she didn't hear me properly.
"You should stay here until its deemed safe to leave." said Celestia slowly.
Celestia said I should sleep somewhere no one would look for her. She suggested in their quarters for a while, as she had a spare bed room. Once in the bed, I curled up, the moon shining against my exoskeleton. My eyes glowed dimmer as sleep began to set in, and somewhat reluctantly, I fell into rest.
* * *
I woke early in the morning and stretched awake yawning and my fangs shone in the daylight. It seemed Celestia was already awake and was sitting close to me.
"Good morning, Blackfire." she spoke kindly, and I smiled at being called by my true name, "Come, I wish you to meet my sister, Princess Luna."
We walked down into the throne room again and Luna seemed to be waiting in there for Celestia. As soon as Luna got sight of me, she shot forward, wings spread out, and pinned me to the ground. I struggled under her weight, but her hooves wouldn't budge. She branded me across the face and tears fell down my face and I landed on the ground with a thud.
"Luna!" cried Celestia angrily, "What did I tell you about this changeling!"
Luna got off me and looked guilty. "S-Sorry...It's a changeling... and remember what the changelings did at the wedding..."
A small trickle of blood fell down my face and dropped onto the ground.
"Not all of us are monsters..." I murmured quietly...
Not all of us are monsters. Changeling of two lands.
Chapter 3 : My turn to ask!
Celestia pat a small plaster on the wound on my cheek, but small bits of light-green blood still oozed out from the edges. When I got up the courage, I asked,
“Um… Celestia…” I said, finally getting used to my fangs, “Why are you so nice to me, since you did a whole speech against changelings…”
“I have watched you your entire life.” Spoke Celestia, “I could see through your disguise and I watched everything in your life.”
My jaw was hanging open, but when I could talk I said,
“But… How did you know why I was here, and not call the guards on me?”
“I saw Chrysalis scar you and send you away. I couldn’t watch you die… alone.” Replied Celestia, lost in her own thoughts.
Click… click... There was a soft knocking on the big doors that was the entrance to the throne room. Click… click…
“Come in.” called Celestia, and the one of the doors opened slightly, and a yellow pony trotted in.
“Fluttershy!” Celestia called happily, “What seems to be the problem?”
Fluttershy bowed to Celestia, and said, “Um… Princess Celestia, for some reason, all the animals are gone and hidden for some reason. I’ve tried to coax them out, but they wouldn’t come out.”
I and Celestia gasped, and a small, distant memory came to me, but I kept it in my head.
“Go back to Ponyville; I’ll inform you further with letters if I find anything.” Celestia ordered, and Fluttershy bowed and raced out.
She got out a parchment and a quill, and wrote for a few moments, then paused. I managed to look over her shoulder and read what it said,
‘Dear Twilight Sparkle, my most faithful student,
It has come to my attention that all the animals have fled Equestria for some unknown reason. I wish you to try and find out more about this. I will play my part, and try to find out some useful information for you, but alas, I am too busy at the moment. Please try to find out more, and report to me your findings.
Yours Truly,
Princess Celestia’
I turned to Celestia, but she took no real interest in me. She levitated the parchment put a little ribbon on it to keep closed then sent it off to Twilight.
After she sent the message the thought came back to my head from earlier. I trotted by her side trying to gain enough courage to say the thought
“Celestia, can I talk with you?” I finally said.
