//------------------------------//
// Chapter 4: The Changeling 
// Story: The Story of Zeta 
// by Z-A-C 
//------------------------------//

We stayed here until Velvet recovered and left soon after. There wasn't much to do in the village, so we just got much needed rest. Velvet tried to speak a few times with little success. She did manage to say "hi" but that was all. We left the village quite awhile ago, and were fifteen miles closer to Equestria. We were taking a small break, for Velvet's sake, and I was looking at the map. "Hmm it seems that we are...one thousand eight hundred seventy three miles a way."

"How did we gain the extra hundred miles?" Asked Ganger.

"The trip to the village." I stated. "Since it was to the south-east from where we were."

"Oh."

"According to the map, there's a chasm about fifty miles away."

"How are we going to deal with that?" Velvet wrote.

"Well I hope there is a bridge. If not then I don't know."

"I could fly you two over." Ganger offered.

"Right I forgot you had wings. Hopefully you wont need to." I stood up and stretched. "If we're ready to go I think we should."

"Right!" Ganger said and Velvet nodded in agreement.

"Let's get going then." I said, packing up the map.





They don't call it a journey for no reason. After we walked twenty five miles, we found an oasis. I was wary at first, I thought it was a mirage. Fortunately it wasn't and we were able to drink the water, and eat the fruit from the tree, saving us some food and water from my bag. After we were done drinking from the pool we used it to cool off. If we weren't on the verge of heat exhaustion, I would have advised that we kept moving but this was a much better choice.

We wasted an hour at the oasis and were now on our way to the chasm. It was getting dark and we were about fifteen miles away from our destination for tonight. We were not so lucky to find some kind of shelter this time however, and are completely exposed to the elements. We will have to take shifts watching out for any predators. I will go first while the others sleep.

"Goodnight then." Ganger said.

"Goodnight." Velvet squeaked. She has been working on her voice ever since the village. Poor girl, doesn't quite have it back yet.

"Ganger, I will wake you when it is your shift."

"Yeah yeah, I kinda figured."

"Sleep well." I said. She nodded and laid down.

Ganger huddled together but I remained standing and kept watch. It was too dark to really see anything, but it was a full moon so there was some light. A few minutes passed and still nothing, but I was thankful for that. I heard something move behind me and looked behind me. It was Ganger.

"Is it my turn yet?" She asked.

"Not yet. Why did you wake up?"

"I never went to sleep."

"I see." Some time passed and Ganger was now sitting beside me. I felt now was as good a time as any to ask something that I have been wondering about. "May I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"What were you and the other Changelings doing out here?"

She looked down and sighed. "Promise you wont abandon me out here?"

"Why would I do that?"

She took a deep breath. "Two months ago the Hive staged an invasion on Equestria. We had a good reason though!"

"And what would that be?"

"We were starving. The whole Hive was. The purpose of invading Equestria was to have a source of food."

"And what do Changelings eat?"

"We eat the same things as you and the ponies. But the one thing that kept us going for awhile is love."

"Love?" I said cocking my head.

"The emotion itself, yes. I don't know how it works, being a simple drone and all and-"

"And what better place than Equestria, right?" I said looking at the sky. "Being filled to the brim with it, it's understandable. But why not ask the leaders for help?"

"As a drone, I don't concern myself with politics."

"I see. I'm assuming that not all went as planned?" Oh look a shooting star.

She sighed. "No... I'm not sure what the ponies had but it expelled me and the rest of the Changelings from Canterlot. Mimic and Double are...were the only remaining from my group. The rest died on impact."

"Hmm how many were in your group?" I looked at her.

"Seven." She said looking down. "And now...it's just...me."

"Without us you are alone." She nodded. "Well I guess we will hope the ponies forgive you. You were just following orders after all"

"Your still letting me come with you!?" She said with surprise.

"You didn't kill any ponies did you?"

"N-no. Only scared them. When it came down to it, I couldn't hurt any." She shook her head. "I had a friend in the invasion."

"What happened to this friend?"

"I-I don't know. We were split into different groups. She could be dead for all I know."

I put my hoof on her shoulder. "I have a feeling that she is still alive."

"I hope your right." I yawned, and she looked at me. "Hey, why don't you sleep? I'll take my turn now."

"Thank you." I turned around to see Velvet sleeping peacefully.

"Thanks, by the way." Ganger said.

"For what?"

"Letting me stay in the group."

"Think nothing of it. All things deserve a second chance. You are no exception. I'll tell you something you may not know."

"What's that?"

I laid down next to Velvet. "I'm actually really shy." She laughed. "The only reason I haven't been acted it, is because I wouldn't survive if I was. The guard wouldn't have trusted two pony travelers unless I spoke for all of us." I yawned again. "Wake me if anything happens, okay?"

"G-got it."





"Are you sure you can do it?" I asked.

"Yeah! It'll be no problem, as long as I take you across one at a time."

"Okay... Take Velvet first. Oh and the supplies."

"Why?"

"Just in case you drop me. You better not though."

"Don't worry I wont." I gave her the food and water. "I'll be back as soon as I get her settled on the other side."

"Okay, just be careful."

She rolled her eyes and changed into a pegasus. "There, better?"

I nodded. "If your wings are stronger, then yes."

She smiled and went over to Velvet, who climbed onto Ganger's back. When Velvet got adjusted properly Ganger took off. It didn't look like Ganger had much trouble getting Velvet across. I looked down into the chasm and saw eyes looking up. Some at me, some at the other two. Now I really didn't want to be dropped. I looked up and Ganger was on her way back.

She landed next to me. "You ready?"

"Not so sure."

"Why not?"

I pointed down. "Look," She followed my instruction and her eye widened. "That's why."

"I-I'll just be extra careful."

"I would hope you will." I climbed onto her back and we took off. I held on as tight as I could while still looking down at the eyes. The wind blew my mane to the side and revealed my right eye. Just then the eyes vanished and I found it curious. When we landed, I re-covered my right eye with my mane and looked back over the edge to see the eyes returned. I backed away slowly and joined the others.

"So..." Ganger began. "What's up with your eye?" I froze and looked at her. "You...okay?"

I sighed. "You saw?"

"Yeah..." She replied and Velvet came over with a raised eyebrow.

I looked down and brushed my mane away and looked at them again. "It's a curse...or something. I just woke up with it."

"Hmm okay...?"

"It's the reason I had to leave my village."

"'Had to'? You mean you didn't start this whole thing on your own?"

I shook my head. "I was exiled. Because of some stupid prophesy!"

"What pr-prophesy?" Velvet managed to say.

"Apparently I'm 'the end of the great countries.' The prophesy told that my 'Grand and horrible rule" would start in the Zebra Dominion, the country we're in now. So I guess they figured they would send me somewhere else and that would fix the problem."

"How would you take over all three great countries?"

"The curse. It's how I chased off that monster a few days ago. As far as I can tell the only cost off using it is energy, but I don't know."

"Alright. Just don't go turning evil on us okay?" She chuckled.

I smiled. "I don't think that will be a problem." They both smiled and we began walking.