Flitter
Chapter Two
The Good and the Bad Times
The black insectoid creature buzzed quietly through the forest, when a strong scent reached his senses. It wasn't a real scent, in fact, but a feeling. A strong outburst of emotions typical for the nearing end of a sapient life.
Despair. Shame. Regret. So much regret, it could only come from one source... love.
He sped up towards the origin of the emotions, out of the forest, into the ravine below. It didn't take him long to locate the colourful pony; it was a bright yellow unicorn with a green mane. The only reason he wasn't dead already was that he got stuck on a tree growing out of the side of the ravine. From the wound on his side, though, it was clear he had already collided with the ravine wall. Looking higher up, the changeling could see a thin red smear indicating where it happened.
The changeling hesitated. The unicorn was despairing, yes, and definitely in mortal danger, but with proper care, he could probably be saved. The Old Ways had many methods of getting positive emotions from sapient beings. Love was powerful, but even gratitude from a sapient being was better than the primitive emotions of the nearby wildlife he'd been soaking up ever since he left the Hive.
Green flames swept over the black creature. He reappeared from the flames looking exactly like the wounded unicorn, his translucent insect wings still buzzing on his back.
"Move not," he said, having picked up a rudimentary understanding of the pony's speech from its mind. "I help."
The unicorn's eyes widened as he noticed the flying copy of himself, but he could only nod. The traveller knew that the forests held all kinds of strange magical creatures, from petrifying cockatrices to translucent star beasts. A being that mimicked his shape wasn't such a big step from there.
The changeling grabbed the pony with his forehooves, flew them both out of the ravine, and gently laid him down on the solid rock floor. He looked at the prone form, a mix of curiosity and concern in his eyes.
"I am Flitter," he said. "I do not know well pony-form. Are you hurt bad?"
The unicorn looked at the long cut on his flank. It looked bad, but he knew it was not the real problem. He could taste the blood in his mouth, and felt the pain in his lungs. He had internal injuries far worse than the cut.
"I need to get... to a doctor," he wheezed. "Can you help me, Flitter?"
Flitter nodded. "Pony-home you need. Pony that know pony-form, to nurse pony. Yes. I bring you to pony-home."
The flood of gratitude was like a breath of fresh air to the changeling. Sapient creatures had such peculiar reactions. He wanted more. He needed more. He would help this creature.
* * *
Hours had passed, and the sun had gone down. The two advanced slowly, the unicorn leaning against his mirror image. Flitter's wings had faded into the flawless pony-illusion.
Swift Star collapsed, for the fifth time. Flitter looked at him, worried.
"You hurt more. I can see. Pony-home is still far?"
Swift Star nodded. He tried to get back onto his hooves, but failed. Finally, he let out a frustrated sigh, that promptly turned into another bloody coughing fit.
"Do you think I'll make it?" he asked his companion.
"You weaken. I think no," Flitter said. "You need rest, but maybe not see day." He looked frustrated at his failure. "I do best I can."
The unicorn smiled at him, flooding Flitter with another nourishing wave of gratitude. "You've done your best," Swift Star said. "Don't blame yourself. You tried, at least. There was nopony else out there to help me."
Flitter looked at the dying unicorn. "I can feel. Your regret. Much regret. You leave other behind. Other you love."
Swift Star nodded weakly. "I should never have left her." He stared up to the starry night sky. "Too late for regrets now, I guess."
"I help," the changeling said. "I have pony-shape. She needs not suffer."
The unicorn frowned. "You're... a trickster." He sighed. "I see now. All this time, all this help. You just want to take my place."
Flitter shook his head. "I do best I can. Try save you. Fail. Not trick. But, she stay happy. What she do when you gone? Think of your fate with no end, despair when find out. Is what you wish?"
The unicorn shook his head. "No! But you would trick her!"
"You love. She loves. I need love. Food, for me. Love can not be stolen. Your love is my love, as long as she wants it. Care for her."
Swift Star coughed again, blood splattering on the ground as he did. Suddenly, he put his hoof around the changeling's neck and pulled his head up to Flitter's ear. "She's pregnant! I can't have you trick her and then leave her when she needs you most! Promise me, trickster," he all but growled in the changeling's ear. "Promise me you'll take care of them. Both of them. They need me. You will be there for them as long as they need you, even if she doesn't want you to!"
The wounded unicorn released his grip, and fell back on the ground with a hard thud. He breathed heavily, and glared at the changeling. Flitter winced. He hadn't expected this passion. This self-destructive behaviour. He understood, now, why the Old Ways said that Love could be dangerous. It was addictive. He had tasted this passion, and it intrigued him. He needed it.
"I will," he said, fully realizing he was ignoring the warnings of the Old Ways. "I promise. I take care of them. Not as long as she wants me. As long as they need me."
The dying stallion relaxed. "Then tell me... Flitter. What do I do now?"
The changeling's horn glowed green. "Open mind to me. Show me, way to her. Show me, love for her. Show me past, how you speak, memory, all of you. I care for her. For both. I promise."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Morning Rain stared into the camp fire. "I see," she said.
"I was so young, then," Flitter said, finishing his tale. "So inexperienced with pony emotions. I stayed with him to the end. Buried him, even."
"But.. he did love me, then?" she asked. "He was planning on returning?"
The changeling shrugged. "He loved you, sure... but, who knows? Maybe he just tricked the trickster. Even with the information I got from his mind, I have no idea where he even came from. He only gave me exactly what he wanted me to know. And back then, I didn't even realize."
She frowned, and looked at him. "Wait, that means... all those months after your return... you acting so odd and cold..."
Flitter nodded. "I can only emulate what I pick up. As far as I know, Swift Star had no way to deal with your anger. I was improvising, and I really wasn't good at it."
Morning Rain smiled. "But you stayed. It's honestly more than I expected him to do, after that ravine trip." She leaned against him. "For what it's worth... looking back at all of it, I'm sorry for taking it all out on you."
"Well, I survived," Flitter said, smiling back at her. "Barely. Blueprint pretty much saved my life. Babies are amazing. The smallest amount of affection gives a flood of love in return."
She smiled. "Yes, seeing you with him... that was special. I didn't really think Swift Star would have it in him, to be a father. You spent every free minute you had with little Blue."
"I didn't have much choice. You weren't giving me affection, and I had no idea how to get you to give me any, either."
"Well, acting as a responsible father solved that nicely," Morning Rain said, nuzzling him softly. "That got you right back in my favour."
She sat upright on her haunches and looked at him. "It seems odd though," she remarked. "For a species that survives on emotions, you knew so little about them."
Flitter grinned. "We're a race of emotional feeders, not psychologists. Eating hay doesn't make you a botanist, does it?"
Morning Rain blinked. "Fair point."
She looked at the night sky, and the fireworks of the wedding coming from Canterlot. She could've sworn she saw a sonic rainboom.
"So, all cheesiness aside..." she said. "Where do we go from here?"
Flitter laughed. It was an odd, hissing sound. He shook his head. "Not a fricking clue."
"Well, I guess we can forget about going to the wedding party," Morning Rain said, still looking at the city in the distance.
"The shield's gone," Flitter said. "We could try."
Morning Rain turned to Flitter, and smiled. "And shake up the royal wedding again?" She shook her head. "Let's not. Those two deserve some happiness, at least. Besides, they won't let you in looking like that."
Flitter sighed. "Maybe if I wear a tuxedo."
Morning Rain laughed. "Changelings, masters of disguise!"
She looked back to the city, and sighed. "We're really not going back there, are we?" she said. "That feels so weird."
Flitter nodded. Somehow, he had the feeling there was something very important about what she'd said, but he couldn't quite figure it out. He had to agree though.
It felt really weird.
Huh didn't know this hadn't finished. Remember reading it ages ago and enjoying it. Look forward to where this goes
This is strikingly familiar to my OC's backstory.
Yay! More chapters. Very good scene with Swift Star and Flitter. You are quite good at character development and world-building (from what we've seen so far).
1551230
Yeeah, I decided to continue it. Got the full story outline finished, so it's mostly a matter of polishing now. I don't have too much time these days though, so I'll probably release a new chapter each week or so.
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ANOTHER!
You... wrote more? Nice! I have to read it now.
YES!!! i love this story!! there are not enough changeling stories out there as good as this one.
Wow! I really didn't expect this story to continue. Very nice!
And a fine job on the new chapter. Swift Star seems to have been a bit of a jerk.
and then..... SILKY another changeling! (from Remnant)
Woot! The sequelization has begun!
I wonder what their friends and neighbors will do when they realize they're both gone.
DELICIOUS! Awesomesauce, I can't wait to see more behind the story of these awesome characters.
Flitter is getting more chapters?
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1551416 I agree!
Wow... pretty overwhelmed by this response, guys! Glad you're all liking it
Holy crap I got the feature box?!! No seriously, what the hell?
What? I thought this one was marked complete.
...
But I'll gladly keep reading what you can dish out.
1551472
Yup. I re-opened it. Like a bawss i.imgbox.com/unL6MZHY.png
This is different
Color me surprised when I saw this in the feature box. Never thought it would be more than a one-shot. I can't wait to see where you are taking this.
Wife: "You've been feeding on my love?"
Changling: "Yes...IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE!"
[smack]
"sorry"
This... you had better not abandon this.
There are so few good changeling stories, and even fewer OC changeling stories, but this one is amazing so far.
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Trust me, that made two of us, both on the feature box AND the sequel. As for where I'm taking it... well, it's gonna be quite a ride.
I had to force myself not to post anything until I had it all fully figured out though, which was pretty frustrating at times, but it definitely beats having to put it on hiatus halfway for getting stuck storyline-wise. I've been spending every free moment on this for the past few weeks, and I have to thank my good friend Ember/Tango for offering me the ideas that led to the big climax to end the story with.
At this moment, the last chapters still need some minor revisions, but, I'll get there
1551557
Honestly? I can't. It's pretty much already done
Chapters for the Fanfiction God!!!!
1551448 Feature box? Well, it is pretty good.
I guess the most important thing Rain had to say was "We". Wherever they go, they go together.
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1551662
That site does not appear to allow hotlinking. I suggest reuploading it on a site like
imgurimgboxNonetheless, message received after checking the html source
Huzzah! This updated. I feel so happy
1551294 Like I just did? Yeah, it's not bad!
Alright, I'm interested in where you're going to go from here, so I'm definitely tracking and giving you a thumbs up for now. :3
There's a very good reason I pay attention to the last 3 spots in the feature box: It helps me find stories like this one. Lots of people write stories about ponies finding Changelings and such after the events of the wedding, but this is one of the few I've seen where the changeling has been there the whole time and nopony knew it. I especially like the backstory you put in between Flitter and Swift Star. I'm very much looking forward to the rest of the chapters for this .
Glad to see that you chose to continue this after all.
I read this before and loved it hoping you would continue.And now you are.I can't wait until the next chapter.:)
It was short, and yet quite nice chapter, how sad that updates go so slowly.
I realy wonder how will thinks progress for changeling now that everypony literaly is at war wtih changelings.
The Hulk-speak isn't doing much for me, but the subject matter is definitely interesting. I'll be following this story.
I’m glad you decided to continue this; good changeling stories always carry interesting themes and ideas. Not to mention this was actually one of the first stories I read on this sight (maybe even the first now that I think about it) and I must say I was not disappointed in the slightest!
Good luck!
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It's not easy to make coherent sentences when writing a being that's straining its mind-reading ability to get an entire system of speech out of a dying pony, and not devolve to hulk-speak
Wow, I'm liking this. Please, do continue!
1551448 You've deserved it! Thanks for the new chapter.
Well I liked it. Looking forward to moar!
Please keep up the good work!
See, this is why you don't unwatch old stories that are 'finished'. Sometimes, they might continue.
Lookin' good so far, be interested in where you take this now.
Flitter? Update? MORE CHAPTERS?
/fanmare squee/
Happy to see this is getting continued. I look forward to where this is going to go.
It's back! I can't wait for Blue's learning that his father was not his biological father.
See, this is why I love the fan base. They can come up with the most interesting of stories and even after a hundred fan-fics, they can still surprise you.
1551557
I think you're unfairly judging, course it depends on what you mean by so few because I've read a number of changeling stories that I thought were pretty good. Oh, and your definition of a good changeling story... I see your point on the OC though, there are a lot of ones featuring Chrysalis and ponies turned into changelings. Frankly there isn't much to go on for a changeling OC, since changelings are sort of a hive-mind by default and thus lack the individuality that defines a character.
1551662
That's pretty funny.
So they're just going to leave her son like that? I hope she at least goes back to either bring him with her or make sure... Clearly your rules for changeling magic are a little different from the norm. I take it that this pony-shape business sticks unless very powerful magic impacts it or magic directed specifically against changelings/changeling magic? Also, I guess changelings don't just suck the life out of people here?
P.S. I'm glad she wasn't willing to abandon him on sight just because he turned out to be one of them.
Short, but good. I was extremely surprised to see this in the featured box, but even so I'm glad you updated. I have a bit of an idea of where you're likely to take this, and I have an inkling of where I fear it will go. Which is to say, I'm hoping for a story that will be about two people trying to make it in the world, not anything "epic."
More to Flitter?
I'm glad to see that your Muse has gifted us with an extension to the story. Flitter is one of the best OC Changelings I've encountered, and you've got a spin on Changeling culture that really did cry out for some additional exploration. You've certainly given yourself a range of sub-plots to work with, and I'll be looking forward to seeing just how this unconventional pairing is going to weather Flitter's loss of his long-term decoy guise and how they are going to deal with their friends and family and the rest of Ponydom in the aftermath of Chrysalis' less than brilliant attempt to commandeer all the love in Equestria.
1553266
As mentioned in Chapter 1, he's 20 years old, has apparently moved out some years before this event, and doesn't live in Canterlot
Also, Flitter and Morning Rain both very much consider him their son.
I don't believe that in general. After all, Shining Armor came out quite all right for having been Chrysalis' food source for long enough to allow her to defeat Celestia. And on top of that, he'd been keeping that shield up all the time, AND was under a mind control spell that seemed to have pretty adverse effects on him.
1553380
This is one of the shorter chapters. Most of the next ones will be around 3k-4k words.
As for 'epic', well, higher powers will definitely get involved before this blows over, but I can promise you I'm not going for 'epicness'.
There will definitely be a taste of 'dragged into events bigger than themselves' though.
1553748
Hee, thanks. Mind you, my definition of "sub-plot" is usually "forgotten plot hole on important detail that I suddenly discover when re-reading, and that changes the whole direction I was planning to let the story go in". And then such a small-but-important detail suddenly become a 'Chekhov's gun'
Ah, you finally got around to more?
Good, goooooood. Now, release your anger! Er, I mean, chapters. Release more chapters.
1554630
Patience, my good friend! A surprising amount of errors seemed to have slipped into these chapters, despite me rereading them regularly in the months I've had them lying around, so I'm going to have to take my time carefully reading over all the next ones too.
As I said, current plan is one every week, most likely on Fridays.
btw, feel free to point out any errors you still find, people. I'm terribly OCD about them.
1554546 So, essentially a conflict between EQD and FiMFiction rules? Figures.
Please, please do include it in some form at some point.
1555004
Yeah. I'll unpublish it for now, but, as I said, I'm putting it back after finishing the story.
Note that you can still read the two original drafts on Pony Fiction Archive.
For those who are interested, unless the cleaning up of the last chapters somehow results in separation into more (it happened already on the current version), there should be around 6 chapters in total, with two small mini-chapters as epilogues.
I'm glad I saw this in the featured box, it's great and I can't wait to see more.