I stand at the edge of the long winding tunnel which leads up to the over-world. This is it, this is where I depart the Hive on my mission. To think I was a young changeling hatching from the cocoon a few cycles ago.
I'm still a young changeling. What if this goes wrong?
I turn around to say goodbye to my fellow Hive members but instead, I find myself only looking at the Queen and her Guards, awaiting my departure.
I hadn't really made any friends in my short time here. No changeling had. We didn't really believe in friends anyway; we thought of ourselves as allies and not much more. Still, it would be nice to know that some changeling would miss me. Perhaps the Queen? No, she doesn't care for me; she cares for what I shall achieve.
What I shall achieve. What I must achieve.
I am determined to complete this mission, so that one day maybe I'll become a Guard of the Queen. The Hive will one day honour and respect me, I just know it.
With renewed hope and vigour, I turn back around, and move slowly towards the tunnel entrance. Just as I am about to disappear from sight, I feel the Queen enter my mind one more time, providing a message: Remember, friends are only accomplices who haven't let you down yet. Don't get too close to any creature.
***
The tunnel I must traverse is very long and winding, filled with numerous pits and dangerous terrain. It was designed with the intention that any traveller who entered from the surface would never return. It starts off simple enough, but gets dark very quickly, and the victim soon finds themself lost. They have two options from then on:
1) Stay perfectly still and perhaps call for help as they are unable to see through the dark and are too scared to move. This would usually result in a changeling answering their call, and they would be promptly taken back to the Hive, and harvested.
2) Find a way out. Whether it was carefully inching across the tunnel wall, or running wildly, it would be futile yet again. The passages are designed to amplify and echo sound which proves extremely unnerving for most. Buzzing is often heard in the dark and is used to scare the victim by shifting position frequently to give the illusion you are evading the threat; when in fact you are running straight to the Hive.
I move quickly, using my advanced sense of smell to follow the scent of fresh air. It doesn't take long, the journey becoming almost rhythmic as I find myself not even having to pause at each fork of the tunnel. It is more exhausting on my mind than it is on my physical form.
The sound of buzzing in my brain becomes fainter and fainter as I distance myself from the Hive. The noise of every little mind knocking on the inside of my head has almost disappeared; only the faintest sound of the Queen can now be heard. It is a weird sensation, but it is bearable; I can only hope I will get used to it in the over-world.
Light from the outside begins to reflect around the twists and turns of the tunnel as I approach the mouth of the cave.
I slow down as I get ever nearer, the magnitude of the light unnatural and painfully bright. Squinting, I stagger forth and let the full force of the light engulf me.
It's blinding now, and I have to keep my eyelids tightly closed to prevent retina damage. I try to use my sense of smell to navigate through the light; it feels almost useless now as the open air dilutes the scent of things.
My hoof kicks something hard, and I topple forwards into a cold, refreshing liquid. The light seems to dim slightly as I roll on to my back, the rubble prickling my skin through the water.
As the light intensity softens, I open my eyes and look around.
I am at the bottom of a huge gorge with muddy banks and a river flowing through the middle. Clumps of trees litter the sides, illuminated by the sun beaming down at its new arrival.
I turn around and see the cave that I just came from. From the outside, the cave looks like any other. A humble disguise.
I take about a minute to take it all in. Credit where credit's due. This place might not have the magnificence of the Hive, but it is a perfectly respectable effort.
After seeing enough I briefly assess myself: The emptiness in me is actually tolerable at the moment. Instead of the thoughts of a thousand others, I can now only feel mine, albeit with a distant connection still with the Queen. Perhaps not enough to communicate with me, but enough to know when something is wrong. The new light has also become quickly bearable and almost comfortable compared to the dismal glow of the Hive. I guess my eyes adjust themselves quickly to these things.
Right, now back to business. Let's put the intellect the Queen spoke of to the test.
I need a plan. I need a creature to change into.
I quickly move over to the base of the cliff to hide myself from plain sight in case something comes along.
I can't be seen as a changeling. Ever. That is the main priority.
The ponies would ruin everything: they would start asking questions, no one would be trusted. For me to get anywhere in this land I need to be able to walk freely: I need a disguise.
I can't simply stroll into a town and take someone's place. I have to do it stealthily, without any detection whatsoever.
My eyes turn to the waterfall and the accompanying trees at the top. A plan forming, I creep along the base of the cliff, hidden in the shadows.
I'm gambling on a river having some life nearby to use the liquid. Also, the cover of the trees will be perfect for me to ambush an unsuspecting life-form. Then I can kill it, take its place, and start exploring without the need to remain hidden.
I ascend the waterfall briskly, using my own wings for perhaps the last time in the over-world, and come to the edge of a forest.
The information of the place quickly runs through my head: Everfree Forest, borders Ponyville; is near the centre of Equestria, near the current Hive. It is an alluring place, home to many creatures both hostile and not.
Well, it's about to gain another hostile creature.
Smiling, I dash forward and let the darkness of the trees swallow me whole as I enter the forest.
***
The Queen informed me numerous times that the Everfree forest is a dark place, that even I should be careful. The fog is mysterious, and I am forced into being cautious with every step, unsure of my surroundings.
Throughout the long walk the whole forest is silent, the only thing audible being the sound of my unusually loud hoofsteps. It feels slightly similar to the tunnel I was just in; this time I am not the predator, I am the prey lost in its endless passages.
An uncommon sound in the silence enters my ears: a strange rustling amongst the thick trees.
I am instantly alert.
My mind starts racing, and I begin to panic slightly as this isn't a position changelings are usually in. Luckily logic starts taking over as I think the matter through. First of all, I must hide.
I abandon the small clearing and quickly conceal myself in a bush, peering through the leaves.
It is only precautionary and I am not sure what could be between the trees. However, I am taking no chances. If it is a pony then the time has come for my journey to properly begin.
But what if I fail? Before now I have only been assuming that I would be the victor in this fight, completely certain it would go off without a hitch. I fast forward to the consequences if I am defeated:
The whole of Equestria will be on their guard, knowing that a changeling is on the loose. This is assuming I get away from the fight because if I don't, I will almost certainly be captured and executed. That is the terror that now grips the ponies of Equestria after their previous encounters with my kind.
The main priority is not being detected, as a changeling.
I feel my body shifting again as I transform into the only non-changeling form I know: the red unicorn we tortured in the Hive. At least if this doesn't work, I wont jeopardise my mission; another changeling can take my place.
Because that is the most important thing: the Hive, not a simple member such as myself.
I put my attention back on the clearing before me, this time with my new brown eyes. This form should only be temporary, I am still confident I can defeat whichever pony I find.
The rustling becomes increasingly louder as something approaches, unaware of its impending doom. If it's lucky, I will kill it instantly and hide the body somewhere; if it's unlucky, I will drag it kicking and screaming back to the Hive where it can be fed on until the changelings are content.
And that will be a very long time indeed.
My thoughts however are brought swiftly to a halt as something roars between the trees, causing the whole place to vibrate.
I shiver, for that is not a sound of a pony.
However, I decide not to flee as it will only attract attention. So I stay perfectly still as a winged lion emerges from the shrubbery. Through the blood pumping in my ears, my mind swiftly recalls the information I know about the creature:
A manticore: has the body of a lion, a scorpion's tail, and a pair of dragon-like wings to top it off. Very fierce, very deadly. Possesses supreme strength and brute force, one not to be trifled with. I am easily outmatched so the solution is not to fight but to keep hiding. There is no point in dying at this stage when it can be avoided. I will gain nothing, the Hive will gain nothing.
But the manticore isn't ready to let his prey slip away that easily. He knows I'm here; he can feel it in the breeze that carries the smell of changeling before him.
He begins patrolling the rim of the clearing, brushing through bushes for any signs of life. I can only hope that my transformation, perhaps a good call on my part, has made me harder to detect.
The manticore suddenly flips round, his eyes piercing me through the leaves. His mouth widens, revealing razor sharp teeth, and he lets rip a deafening a roar.
"Hopefully that was just a precautionary movement, just a coincidence, and it hasn't located my position," I tell myself without believing a word of it.
No luck.
The manticore lunges forward, mouth fully stretched, aiming to eat the bush whole and all that lies in it.
The game is up. I try desperately to untangle myself from the brambles but my efforts fall short as the manticore pounces upon me.
Completely out of my depth, and wrapped in terror, I swat widely at the creature, doing my best to keep its gaping mouth away.
The manticore decides that it would rather not let this confrontation end quickly, and becomes no longer interested in tearing me apart. Two huge paws grip and hurl me back into the open. I try to move my wings, try to flee this monster, only succeeding in hitting the ground hard.
I bitterly remember that I don't have wings anymore. Perhaps this transformation wasn't the best of ideas after all.
Cursing the unicorn's pathetic lack of ability to fly, I dust myself down and assume fighting position but with my legs shaking this time.
I am simply not fast enough; my strength is also pathetic in comparison.
A huge paw fills my vision as the manticore hits me hard across the head, jolting my skeletal structure, knocking me back with crunching sound. Next thing I know I am on the ground, lights popping in my eyes as they struggle to establish reality.
Pull yourself together!
I hear the unmistakable sound of the Queen's voice in my head, clearly not amused with my effort thus far. I can't let it end like this, there has to be some way to beat this thing.
Use your head! There has to be a way!
My eyes snap back into focus and I see the manticore a few metres away, not satisfied with the beating.
Use your head...
I glance upwards at the horn protruding through my filthy brown hair. If only I knew how to use the damn thing. Sure, changelings have one, but our magic is exceptionally weak; only the Queen can utilise magic efficiently. Also, I never had the chance, or need, to use it when I was in the Hive.
Still, it might be my only hope out of here. Anything for the Hive, right?
The manticore moves closer slowly, teasing the moment, enjoying my pain. I shut my eyes, calling some unknown force from within to aid me. The Queen had barely touched on this subject when we received our knowledge from the Hive Mind. I'm rather wishing she had now.
The essence of magic begins to flow through my veins, culminating at the apex of my horn; an orange aura wraps itself around the spiral, growing stronger with every passing moment.
I sense the power building within me, begging to be released. I proceed to direct my glowing horn in the manticore's direction, at his smug face, before releasing the energy.
Nothing.
The aura dissipates into the air around me, floating harmlessly upwards into the sky. The manticore watches it fizz out before turning back to me, raising both paws together in a huge club. I look up at the paw from my uncomfortable position on the ground. I wouldn't have been able to move my body to flee even if I tried.
My life doesn't “flash before my eyes” as the saying goes. Instead, I just see the Queen laughing at me as she tears my mind apart, beckoning death. Is it real? Does she really want her fellow changeling to die?
Either way the message is clear: Failure.
To think I thought I was going to be ruling that Hive someday alongside her.
I close my eyes, willing it to end. Perhaps it's for the best, a changeling more suited to the task at hand can carry it out.
Long live the Hive.
“No, stop!”
I don't register the cry from somewhere as I begin to lose grip on life, slipping into nothingness.
Sleep now young one, it's okay. Let me take you safely away.
I assume it's the Hive Mind nurturing me, telling me everything will be alright, as it slowly pulls the plug on my existence.
***
Answer me, changeling.
...
Answer me. Now.
***
“Ah, it looks as if you're alright. For a moment there, you gave me quite a fright.”
Mission. Manticore. Ponies. Queen.
I bolt upright, brought sharply back into life; something ahead reels back in shock at the sudden movement. Panting, I look down at the bed and see my arms are still coated in red fur.
I'm a pony, not a changeling. Mission isn't over yet. But where am I?
Sweat trickles down my face as I look around the room. I'm in some sort of hut, filled with many colourful books and potions. In front of me is another pony-shaped creature, staring at me with genuine concern.
Despite being exhausted my mind once again clicks into gear:
Zebra, an intelligent and mysterious species that does not often roam these parts. Presuming, that is, I'm near where I passed out against the manticore.
I shudder: I do not want to be reminded of that terrifying creature. Just how had I survived? I can't remember much besides the manticore looming over me, ready to finish me. This zebra must have saved me somehow. But how did she tame the manticore?
She is still looking at me with those turquoise eyes, accompanied with pierced ears and neck. I have to say her fashion sense is quite disturbing.
Now let's see if this zebra can fill me in on what happened.
“Where am I? How did I get here?” I ask, slightly dazed.
“You, young one, are now safe in my home. To think I found you, wandering alone. You see this forest is a dark, dark place. When I found you, you were about to lose your face! However, it seems your luck was very fine. For the one you may call beast, is a good friend of mine!”
The zebra smiles at me, glad I am safe, perhaps wanting me to give thanks for what she did. Instead I just slip back into my own thoughts, ignoring her.
So this zebra was friends with the manticore? What an absurd thought, I wasn't told by the Queen that such a thing was possible. What an odd combination...
“Although, I am not sure what quite happened, you see: my friend does not often harm a pony,” the zebra adds, a puzzled expression forming on her face.
Doesn't harm a pony? The manticore must therefore know my true identity. I can only hope he has no means of communicating with this zebra in their “friendship.”
All in all, I am going to count myself very lucky. The Hive Mind must have definitely been pulling the strings of fate here: it knows I am destined for greater things.
Knowing that it wants me to continue my mission then I better do just that. Okay, now what does this zebra have to offer me?
“What is your profession?” I inquire, gesturing at the books. I hope I don't sound to keen, but I must know if these books can be of use to me.
“I make herbs for ponyfolk like you. Now I must ask, what do you do?” she asks, actually expecting an honest answer.
Herbs? Herbs for common ponies? That won't benefit me in the slightest. As for what I do, I have no intentions of telling her. I'm already finished here.
“Nothing,” I say abruptly.
It seems however that the zebra is not finished with me. She leans closer and studies my face intensely, looking for something.
Surely she can't tell I'm a changeling?
She moves down to my "cutie mark": a unique symbol representing a pony's special talent. Mine is currently three bright, shining stars in a triangle formation. Whatever that means, I do not know.
“My name is Zecora, but yours I am not sure. However, it feels like I have seen that face before,” Zecora says eerily.
I rudely brush her aside and roll off the bed onto my four hooves. I don't have time for this zebra and her creepy ways. I also don't care what she thinks as I doubt I will see her again. Hopefully, she lives near some sort of civilisation, but I have no intention of asking. I just want to be rid of this place and its strong herbal fumes.
I've already wasted a lot of time.
I trot over to the door, leaving a bewildered zebra behind. She is seemingly shocked by my lack of respect for her kind actions. Just as I am about to take my leave, she calls out:
“Stop! I now know who you really are: someone who bears a heavy scar.”
I turn nervously around, expecting the worst. I don't want to start another fight, and not only because this “Zecora” has a manticore as her best friend.
“Twinkletime, a unicorn I know. For the young colt was lost in the Forest, long ago.”
I look up at her face and see them brimming with tears. What is she talking about?
I then remember that I am not a changeling, I am somepony else. So this red unicorn, this “Twinkletime,” is supposedly the pony whose identity I have adopted. One who was apparently taken by the Hive at a young age and preserved all this time so changelings could feed on him.
I guess that makes sense now as to why he looked so traumatised back in the Hive.
It doesn't alarm me knowing that this pony was abducted at a tender age. Nor does it that I tasted that same pony a few cycles ago.
However, this could make things a lot simpler for me. It will be easy to integrate into pony society now as Twinkletime is not accustomed to such things, having been away for so long. That will make up a good excuse for my inexperience with ponykind. My “family” might even have significant connections in the hierarchy that I can exploit.
Well then, Twinkletime I am. For now.
I nod slowly, accepting her words. I must be careful with this, his history is largely unknown to me. I then look shyly down at the ground, forcing tears down my cheeks.
“Now young one, don't be sad. You see, everypony else is glad! For so long you have been alone. Come now, let me take you home. Your mother is still safe and sound, however it seems she is not around. You come from Manehatten, too far away. Let us go to Ponyville, where you might stay.”
I hear her words, then do what I do best: analysing and expanding on information.
Through her partially confusing rhymes I discover that my parents are indeed, still alive. The name Manehatten I recall the Queen referencing once, but not in detail. However, she mentioned Ponyville numerous times. A merry little town that is quite close to Canterlot, the capital. The Queen did say something that raised my interest at the time: some of the citizens were strongly involved in repelling the changeling invasion. She did not give any specific names but regardless, this means two things:
1) They have knowledge of our kind; knowledge which they used to defeat us. Perhaps they have more which I can assimilate once I get there.
2) They will pay for what they did to the Queen.
All of sudden this whole episode seems to be lighting up. I have an identity which is, although flawed, very useful for obtaining what I need. I have a plan: Gain information from the natives of how they managed to subdue us as well as also exploring the great Canterlot Library, home of infinite knowledge. Hopefully I can do all that and perhaps have some little revenge before it is time for me to reunite with my “family.” Then I can continue the process in Manehatten.
The Queen will be pleased.
I should also ask her for all she knows on Twinkletime so I can keep this lie up for longer. Perhaps spin a decent back-story as to why “I” have been missing for so long in the Everfree Forest.
But for now, let's just see what we've got to work with it as it stands.
I allow Zecora to lead me out of the hut, her eyes still shimmering with tears, and lead me into my new life.