//------------------------------// // A Different Kind of Changeling // Story: Doctor Whooves Episode 16: A Country at War // by Doctor Perseus //------------------------------// Chapter 3: A Different Kind of Changeling Changeling Camp, South of the Silent Forest, Equestria, Gaia, Summer, 56 C.E. Derpy and Donna were led down a dark tunnel that took them away from the main camp and deep into the heart of the mountain. The only source of light was a collection of torches that hung from the walls. Water dripped from the ceiling and small rodents and insects made their way along the ground. A terrible smell lingered in the air and it made the two prisoners want to throw up. Eventually, after about ten minutes of walking, Derpy and Donna were finally brought to their destination: a large chamber filled with rows of rusty, iron cages. Some of the cages were occupied by battered and silent ponies, some were empty, and others were filled with nothing more than the remains of past prisoners. "Come on," ordered the changeling. The ropes binding Derpy and Donna were cut just before they were thrown into a random, empty cage. The changelings then locked the cage and left without another word. Donna leaned back against the bars of the cage and let out a sigh. "From aggressive indians to invading insect ponies. Not much of an upgrade," Donna said. Derpy smiled and gave a quick chuckle. "Are you really not afraid of her, the queen?" "I dunno. For the most part, I guess I'm not," Derpy replied. "I've seen the changelings get defeated before and I've seen far more strange things in my travels with the Doctor: burning aliens, statues that move when you blink, universe-destroying paradoxes, living dolls, a crystal phantom version of Twilight, and the list goes on." "You've certainly seen your share of stuff." "Yeah. What about you, Donna? You and the Doctor haven't talked much about any of your adventures together aside from your last one." "I guess I haven't found the need to. The Doctor's always been keen to keep his past hidden." "Not to Twilight or me. He's told us a bunch of stuff about his past companions and adventures. He's talked about you; Rose, who we actually got to meet (it's complicated); Martha; and a few others." "I guess he's a bit more open in this incarnation." "Did he talk about his past when you traveled with him originally?" "Not much. He mentioned Rose and Martha...that was about it. Like I said, he used to be not too keen on revealing his past. Even now I think he still has a few secrets to hide." "Like his name. I've always wondered why he chose that name: Doctor. Was he a doctor back on his home planet?" "The hell if I know. Maybe he just took the name because it sounded good; and, to be fair, it sure is an easy name to go by." "True." Derpy turned towards the tunnel that they had come from. "As long as the Doctor's out there, I'm sure neither of us has anything to fear from this Queen of the Changelings." "You should," stated a voice from the cage next to theirs. Derpy and Donna looked to see a changeling sitting in the middle of the next cage. They were a bit surprised to see a changeling, off all creatures, in the cage but they quickly took note that this changeling looked a bit different from the others. Like Queen Esmeralda, this changeling had no holes in his body and his horn wasn't jagged. The most noticeable trait of this changeling was his eyes, which held bright red irises. "She may look like any other egomaniac but she's much worse than that." "How so?" Donna asked. "Take a look around. It's not hard to see how cruel she can be." "Isn't it a natural trait in changelings to be cruel?" Derpy asked. The changeling glared at Derpy. Derpy suddenly had the slight urge to take back what she said. "Changelings aren't cruel." "No offense, or maybe with some offense, but what do you call this invasion?" "You didn't let me finish, pegasus. Changelings aren't cruel, most of them are just too dumb to know any better." "Esmeralda doesn't come off as dumb to me," said Donna. "There are the few exceptions, such as Esmeralda and myself. We actually have solid logic and know how to plan and think properly. I'm not saying that to give myself or her any credit. You see, in changeling culture, the ones in power are usually the ones with the highest intellect. The others just follow along like how ducklings follow their mother; because, the average changeling isn't exactly the brightest of creatures. None of the changelings here would have even thought of invading Equestria if it weren't for Esmeralda." "Who are you?" "I could ask the same thing of you two." The changeling then turned to Donna. "But especially of you. Forgive me, but I'm quite curious as to what you are." "I'm a human." "Never heard of you." "That's because humans aren't from here." "Then where are they from?" "Why do you want to know?" "Unlike the others, I have an interesting in learning about what I don't fully understand. You interest me, Ms-" "Donna. Donna Noble." "I'm Derpy Hooves," Derpy added. "Flarewing," stated the changeling. "That's quite a fiery name. Doesn't seem to fit you," Donna said with a smirk. "Trust me. My parents named me Flarewing for a reason." "For what reason?" "Why do you want to know?" "It seems you want to be a wise guy." "Forgive me. It's been a long time since I've had a conversation with something that has any close intelligence in relation to my own." "Should I take that as a compliment?" "You should." "So, since it looks like we have enough time on our hooves, how did you end up here, Flarewing?" Derpy asked. Flarewing sighed before taking a few steps closer to the bars of his cage. "The events that led to me being here start a few years back: when the Changeling Empire was beginning to form," Flarewing replied. "Before the founding of the Changeling Empire in the abandoned land south of Equestria, changelings lived in simple tribes. My father Ayon was the leader of my tribe. Both he and I were the most intelligent in the tribe so I was set up as the next leader. We soon began hearing about a land being formed where changelings of all kinds could go and find peace, away from the prejudices presented to us by ponies, griffins, dragons, and such. A place we could permanently call home. Changelings used to have to constantly move around because creatures that feed off love and happiness and drain it out of others tend to not be very popular. Anyway, my father and I sought out this land and our tribe soon became a part of the new Changeling Empire. Tribes turned into towns. Our capital city of Gustus Amoris was founded and a castle was built. Everything was perfect and we had a great leader: Petyr. The changelings were at peace with only some giving in to their desire for the energies of love by draining it from animals. Everything was fantastic...that is until Petyr's daughter took over." "Three guesses who that was," Donna chuckled. Flarewing nodded. "Esmeralda told everypony that Petyr had simply died of old age. The average changelings bought it, but the intellectual ones didn't. We were the ones that knew the truth: Esmeralda was, and still is, a greedy sociopath who couldn't wait any longer for her father to die so she simply poisoned him. My father stood against her and tried to make everypony see the truth. But, by then, it was too late. The changelings were buying into her lies. She had them all wrapped around her hooves. My father was stoned to death not one hour after he spoke out against Esmeralda." "I'm sorry," said Derpy. Flarewing sighed deeply before continuing. "The only changelings with any common sense, including myself, decided to go into hiding. In the meantime, Esmeralda began filling the changelings with thoughts of supremacy and that it was their universal right to claim all lands as their own. That's when Esmeralda turned her sights on Equestria: the most powerful country in all of history. She figured that if she took down Equestria then nothing would stop her." "She's right." "Yes. But, thankfully, your princess and her soldiers have proved to be more than worthy opponents for Esmeralda's soldiers," Flarewing stated. "If you're so against Esmeralda, then how did you end up here?" Donna asked. "A draft begun in the Changeling Empire when Esmeralda announced her plans to invade and conquer Equestria. Changelings dropped everything and set off for war. I was caught one day while searching for some food for my good friend, Kell, and was brought up north with the others. I refused to fight. I protested and even tried to escape. Esmeralda recognized me as an intellectual changeling and had me locked up." "Wait a minute. Why didn't she just kill you like she killed your father? Why would she just lock you up?" "Because...she sees potential in what I can do." "And...what can you do?" Flarewing let out another deep sigh before turning his attention to a nearby torch. His eyes began to glow with scarlet light and a red aura began to form around his horn. Donna watched as the fire from the torch formed into a ball of flames and began moving through the air towards Flarewing. Flarewing stretched out one of his hooves. The ball of fire touched his hoof and, within seconds, Flarewing's hoof was completely on fire. Before Derpy or Donna could say anything, Flarewing simply blew the flames out. He turned back to them and presented his hoof. Derpy and Donna were amazed to see that there were neither any burns on his hoof nor any sign of injury. "I told you," said Flarewing. "My parents didn't name me Flarewing without a reason." Equestrian Camp, South of Canterlot, Equestria, Gaia, Summer, 56 C.E. Night began to approach quicker than expected. The Doctor and Twilight sat outside Celestia's tent and stared out upon what they could make out of the orange horizon above the tents of the camp. "It's hard to think what it must be like to have to worry about a war and having to control the movement of the Sun and the Moon," said the Doctor. "I wonder what it must be like, having that kind of responsibility." "I've often asked my Celestia about that," Twilight stated. "She's told me that she doesn't constantly control the movements of the Sun and the Moon but simply gives them a slight push every now and then. Of course, in my time, Princess Celestia only has to worry about the Sun. Princess Luna's got the Moon." The Doctor sat down and Twilight followed suit. "Do you think they're all right, Doctor? To be honest, I'm a bit nervous. I've dealt with changelings before and they can be vicious." "I remember changelings well, Twilight. Remember, we both had to deal with Chrysalis in 987." "That was only one. My friends and I had to fight through a horde of them." "Yet you all still managed to make it out. I can't say what state our friends will be in but I don't think we should worry much." "Why?" "I think it's fair to say that Donna and Derpy can handle themselves. They may not be in the safest of places but I highly doubt that they're going to go down easily. If anything, the Queen of Changelings has quite an ordeal ahead of her; especially now that she's kidnapped two of our friends." "Are you hoping to end this war, Doctor?" "Yes. I hope to. This war has gone on long enough. Equestria needs to regain its peace and the changelings need to return to their empire. Otherwise, the bloodshed will only continue." Twilight turned away from the Doctor and looked out amongst the soldiers walking through the camp. "The future of Equestria lies on the strength and wills of these stallions as well as ours." "Then let's stay prepared, Ms. Sparkle. We have no idea what the next move of the changelings is going to be; and, not to seem rude, but I'm also not a bit sure of Celestia." "Doctor, is it...wrong to say that this Celestia...frightens me a bit?" "No. War does terrible things to creatures of all sorts. Nothing walks away from a war without some form of injury whether it be physical or mental. Take it from somepony who's had his fair share of wars." Twilight reached over and took the Doctor's hoof. The Doctor sighed as he and Twilight continued to stare out upon the darkening sky.