In truth, little is known about changelings. Since her Royal Highness outlawed the practice of local changeling hunts due to possible innocents getting unjustly hanged, changeling sightings have become rarer over the centuries. The lack of paleontological evidence has lead most scholars to believe that changelings never truly lived in Equestria, and sightings were just the result of feverish paranoia due to the rumors of their threat across the eastern sea…
…All that is known about changelings comes from ancient records found in what recently became the Griffon Confederacy and from the horses of Arabia. Even then, changelings were extremely elusive and few concrete answers can be found. It’s hard to tell fact from folktale, as changelings feature prominently as monsters and villains in many fables across the world.
Common themes across all variations of those stories is the changeling’s modus operandi of taking the place of a loved one and somehow feeding off them like a parasite. What becomes of the creature they replaced is different depending on the version, from murder to being spirited away to the changeling’s hive. The loved one being replaced also varies depending on cultural fears. Sometimes it is a spouse, sometimes a sibling, and in many versions a child…
…Another common character in these tales is the changeling queen, though her name and role is never the same from version to version. In some versions, particularly from southern Arabia, she’s a seductress who hides among a ruler’s lovers and eventually draws him under her spell, bringing his country to ruin. Another from the northwestern Griffon Confederacy portrays her as a bloodthirsty conqueror and usurper, though it should be noted ancient griffon politics meant that the fact the Queen was a female ruler is what made her a villain, not her tactics. A full index of the various versions can be found in…
…The most infamous disasters attributed to changelings are the periodic mass disappearances. Every case is essentially the same: changeling sightings or rumors of loved ones acting strangely would climb in an area, be it a village, a city, or an entire country. Communications would suddenly cease, and when outsiders would eventually come to investigate, they would only find empty streets and a few violent, death-seeking survivors left…
…Though some changeling fossils and other remains have been recovered, a live specimen has not been captured since antiquity. Aside from sketches of a dissected changeling by the griffon natural philosopher Sir Leopold VI, changeling anatomy is virtually unknown to modern science.
Zecora slammed the book shut and sighed. “An ancient book penned that’s yet another dead end.” She slipped it back on the shelf and started skimming the titles once more.
“Sorry, Zecora, that’s the last book I have that would have what you’re looking for,” Twilight said behind her. “I’ve looked over these books myself since the wedding; information on changelings is scarce at best.”
“Do not fret and apologize, Twilight; better yet, do neither. If I recall, pony scholars have not studied dragons much either,” Zecora assured, turning around and putting a hoof on Twilight’s shoulders.
Twilight smiled a bit and sighed herself. “I admit, the past greats of science and discovery weren’t exactly the bravest. The fact we have so little information on the greatest threats to our kind and country is more than a bit alarming.”
Zecora chuckled and nuzzled Twilight encouragingly. “I have traveled many places, and in all I have found this true: many are ruled by fear, so real discovery is up to mares like you.”
Twilight’s cheeks turned red, her smile growing. “Thanks, Zecora. And good luck on that potion! With the changeling threat back in the public eye, a potion that would turn a changeling back into their true form would do wonders to keep everypony safe and help them feel safe.”
Zecora cringed inwardly at her own lie as she got up to leave. “I will let you know what I come up with, my dear friend, though I make no guarantees there’s anything to be found in the end.”
Twilight chuckled as she escorted her friend to the door. “If anypony in Equestria can do it, Zecora, it’s you. You just need to have faith in yourself.” She pulled the door open for Zecora and waved as she walked through. “Hope to see you again soon!”
Zecora mutely waved back as she cantered back into the dirt streets of Ponyville. The summer sun beat down on her head with a flaming cudgel, so she pulled the hood of her cloak back over her head.
As she cantered along the morning streets, the locals gave her a few warm greetings and earned a warm smile back, while visitors gave her ogling stares and got a warm smile and a nod anyway. A few ponies stopped her to chat, mostly about special orders for potions. Derpy needed more Fleet Flight Philter to help with her steering; Yankee Doodle asked how the Sweet Soul Potion for his temper was coming along; Cheerilee asked for something to help her stay up to grade papers, so the zebra promised to brew up some Midnight Oil Draft; and Cloud Kicker asked for the same thing for a very different kind of… endurance.
After a while, though, Zecora started to notice the sound of rustling leaves behind her as she walked. After a few moments of intense listening, she stopped dead in her tracks and snapped her head over her shoulder.
The street was empty save for a few bushes and the other ponies milling about as they started their day.
Zecora swept the area with her eyes before turning her head forward again and continuing her trek home. A small smirk came to her lips and her eyes rolled when she heard the rustling start up again along with her hoofsteps.
Soon she was at the edge of town, the rustling following her all the way. She crossed the bridge across the small creek that lead to the Everfree Forest. With a sly smile, she stopped again and about-faced to see a bush sitting in the middle of the bridge.
“Sweetie, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo; come out, I know that it’s you,” she snickered.
A trio of disappointed groans came from the bush before the three fillies climbed out, their Cutie Mark Crusader capes on and covered in leaves.
“Told you it wouldn’t work,” Scootaloo scoffed.
“Hey, you were the one too scared to ask,” Apple Bloom giggled.
“I was not!” Scootaloo huffed. “Besides, the bush thing was Sweetie’s dumb idea.”
“It works all the time on TV,” Sweetie grumbled, tracing shapes in the bridge with the edge of her hoof.
“Sneaking up on me is no easy task,” Zecora chuckled. “Now, please, what did you want to ask?”
“We wanted to see if we could help with your potion making!” Apple Bloom answered with a big grin. “We’ve tried basically everything in town, but the girls here have never been to your place.”
Zecora’s smile turned into a skeptical frown, an eyebrow rising. “Apple Bloom, surely you remember the crisis so dire when you decided to steal and eat the flower Heart’s Desire? If in three of you I place my trust, I’m afraid you’ll make my house combust.”
Apple Bloom chuckled nervously. “Well, yeah, but I learned my lesson there. No more stealin’, especially things I don’t really understand.”
“What does combust mean?” Scootaloo asked.
“Explode,” Sweetie said.
“Oh… cool!” Scootaloo grinned wide, but it was quickly dashed when she saw the other two Crusaders glaring at her. “I mean, um… we would never do that! On purpose.”
Zecora’s other brow raised, her eyes sweeping across each of the trio and her hesitance clear.
“C’mon, please Zecora?” Apple Bloom asked. “You know how good I behave at your place! Well, yeah, except that one time, but still, I’ll keep the other girls in line!”
“Yeah, we’ll be good,” Scootaloo insisted, shifting excitedly on her hooves.
“Please?” Sweetie Belle added, complete with bottom lip wibble.
Zecora looked between each of the Crusaders again before letting out a sigh. “Very well, you’ve talked me into submission, but you can only follow me home on one condition.”
“Anything!” the three squeed in unison.
Zecora chuckled again in spite of herself. “The problem is that I have a patient under my care, one who was caught and injured in the forest’s snare.”
“Why haven’t you taken her to the hospital?” Sweetie gasped.
“Yeah, the Heart family would fix her right up!” Scootaloo added.
Zecora’s brain scrambled for a second to think of an excuse, but only a second. “The hospital would stick her with a bill, while I will heal her just in good will.”
“I guess that makes sense,” Sweetie admitted.
“All I ask is that you don’t follow me inside until I make sure my patient’s eyes are open wide,” Zecora said as she turned around, leading the three fillies deeper into the forest.
“Huh?” Scootaloo blurted behind her.
“Awake, Scoots; she means awake,” Apple Bloom translated.
“How do you know that?” Scootaloo asked back.
“You get used to Zecora speak after a while, I guess,” Apple Bloom chuckled.
Zecora’s ears quickly tuned out the childish chatter behind her while her brain mapped out dozens of plans, back up plans and contingencies to prevent her patient being discovered, and not for Chrysalis' sake. The more she thought, the more her lips curved upward into a silent, sly smile.