//------------------------------//
// Well... Its time for a new strategy. 
// Story: From Human to...Rabbit? 
// by ThegoCarter110 
//------------------------------//

I felt kinda tired when I was being carried through the Everfree Forest. The guards when at first, where chatting up a storm, started to become more and more silent. Although I faked passing out, I felt that I might as we'll take a nap at his point. It's not like I was gonna learn anything valuable with them all being silent.

As I laid there attempting to sleep. I couldn't help but feel kinda nervous. How would Celestia treat me? 
Would she make some excuse that I was just an animal and send me to somewhere far away?
Would she be the type of ruler to do some sort of exacution?
Or maybe put me in a dungeon cell just to rot?

In the show. Celestia always seemed to be caring to her subjects. But that never really told you whether she would act the same way to a wanted criminals or not.

And no, HUGE threats to Equestria don't count.

I needed another plan. A more longterm one that could give me a distinguishable goal. 




'So what is Carter the Rabbits long term plan?' 

That is a phrase that rang through my mind as I tried to think up an answer.
I had no real way to get back home easily.
No friends or ally's to turn to other then Trixie and Zocora, but both of which aren't really good long term options.
Nothing to help fix my broken body curtsey of a manticore.
And no obvious means to escape the guards (right now.)

Just perfect.


Even though the few guards were carrying me in a somewhat awkward position, I was still able to get myself comfortable to the point where I could take a nap... I saw no point in trying to struggle free given my current condition, so I just let myself go to sleep








My eyes shoot open and I awake from my slumber instantly when I land face first on a wood floor. 
Getting up slowly, I turnaround and face the guards just to see them close a gate and walking away. 
Taking a look around the area. I notices that im still in Ponyville for some reason. Of coarse, my question to 'Why I was in Ponyville' was answered when I saw that I was close to the library... In a cage with wheels.

The cage itself seemed kinda tough. With the exception of the wood floor of course, but breaking that would still require some effort that I'm sure my body would still be able to handle. Sadly though, the idea of breaking out of this thing with brute force in the middle of town didn't sound like a good idea. I was gonna have to wait for the right time before I tried anything.
With nothing left to do, I took a closer look at the environment to see if I could notice anything that could be worth my time.


Annoyingly enough though, I had to have a few "conversations" with the locals. 
Although most of the ponies did walk by after only taking a quick glance. There were still some that chose to be more vocal about what they thought about me and what I had done.
Thankfully I tuned most of the rants out trying to ignore them. But I couldn't help but wonder. Why would the guards put me in a cage outside for the whole town to see? Where they trying to humiliate me? Or were they not expecting to leave me In Ponyville?

*grumble*

My thoughts where interrupted when my stomach started protesting. I haven't ate sense Trixies magic show... I couldn't help but feel somewhat confused at this thought. Its easly been a full day sense I last ate... And yet, Im just now feeling hungry.


"It seems we caught you again." I hear a well known princess say... For though who couldn't guess, here's a hint.
It's not Celestia or Luna.

Looking in the direction the voice came from, I saw Twilight and all of her other friends walk up to the cage, and by judging the looks on most of there faces, its safe to say that they did not like that fact that I'm still around... Much like last time.

Immediately grabbing my attention though, was that Fluttershy was with the group this time. However I chose to keep my mouth closed so I couldn't instantly screw up somehow... 
That and I couldn't really think of anything to say at the time, so I waited for one of them to speak up and start the conversation.


"It seems like its all over for you." Twilight said calmly while keeping a straight face. However I remained silent.
"Took long enough." Rainbow says to herself.
In responce to this, I look over to her to see that she still had the bandage on her nose. Although it feels like alot happend sense last time. Its only been a few hours sense I punched her in the face.
"Sorry for hitting you by the way." I say directing the apology to Rainbow.

Her reaction to my apology was a annoyed huff before quietly saying. "I've been through worse."
I honestly wasn't surprised from this so I turned my attention back to Twilight, who seemed ready to ask a few more questions.

"What did you do to get Trixie to help?" She begins.

This was a question I really didn't know myself other then that "she wanted to help a friend." Or something like that.

"Honestly... I couldn't tell ya. She probably was helping out of pity. But it could be because of something else."
Twilight didn't really seem to happy about this answer, but I honestly couldn't give her a different reason without lying or speculating.

"Umm, did you get hurt?" I hear Fluttershy ask. Although I did see her walk up to the cage with her friends, I still didn't expect her to talk so suddenly.
"Well, uh, can you be more specific?" I ask carefully in an attempt to not tick any of the others off.
"Uh, did you get hurt when you were in the forest?" 
Looking at the super noticeable cut and bloodstained parts of my clothes, I couldn't help but understand why she would ask this question.

"Nothing I won't recover from." I try to reasure Fluttershy.
She isn't swayed by the answer, but she knows that she wouldn't be able to do anything right now to help anyway.

Twilight then speaks up saying. "Don't worry Fluttershy, He doesn't seem to be in any pain right now. If his condition gets any worse, I'll call a doctor to help." She says trying to help Fluttershy not worry.

Both Fluttershy and I smile at this statement.

Even though this world has been mostly treating me like shit, Its nice to be reminded that all ponys aren't assholes. 

However my stomach rumbles again, interupting my train of thought. The girls obviously noticed this and started 'whispering' to eachother. Sadly there whispering was as loud as there normal talking, and was easy to hear.

"So should we be the one's ta' feed it?"
"Um, he's technically a boy so he would be a he. Um but it's ok with me."
"But surely we can't leave it... Him to starve, can we?"
"No way! Just because he chose to escape before we fed him before. Doesn't mean we should bust our flanks just for the same thing to happen!"
"But Dashie! That would be mean! Besides, if we feed him we could then offer him to be friends!"

"Pinkie he's a criminal! So we really shouldn't be friends with him... But we should still give him something to eat before Princess Celestia sees him, he is still a living thing after all." I hear Twilight say while coming to a conclusion.

Upon hearing this, I say. "Wait, when are you guys gonna send me to Celestia?" I couldn't help but feel slightly panicked.
I mean, don't get me wrong, I like these ponys and WOULD love to be friends with them, but. This most likely won't be some friendly chat for how ever long they keep me...
Atleast I don't THINK it will be... Honestly, at this point. I don't know if I would be surprised or not.

"Don't worry. The Princess would love to see you." Twilight started.
"So much in fact, that she let us know ahead of time that she will be coming to Ponyville personally!" She says ending with a smile.

My eye's widen in response to this. Part of me was starting to become panicked. I didn't want to meet the princess like this! There was a good chance that she could be biased and throw me into the slammer!
... Or, maybe not... But to be fair Celestia is a hard pony to understand. But I would still like to meet her in better conditions then from a cage.


~RUMBLE~ When my stomach rumbled, I was able to use it as an excuse to change topics.




"...So... When do I eat?" I couldn't help but notice that I made Applejack facehoof at that question.

Fluttershy then speaks up saying. "Uhm, I know a salad that Angel loves to have on weekends." She says starting to get excited about feeding me. "I'll even get the cherry on top and everything!"

"Ooh,ooh!" Pinkie says while bouncing to get everyones attention.
"I could make him a fresh cupcake for dessert!" She starts. But her eye widen quickly before she speaks up saying.
"Or better yet, I could get him some of the new chocolate sheet cake that we're trying out in Sugercube Corner!"

Rainbow then cut into Pinkie's conversation with herself saying. "You DO know that you just need to get him lunch, not dessert. Right?"  
"But you don't understand! If we don't give him amazing super-tasty snacks, then he'll find a way to escape and we'll have to follow him all over Ponyville again!" Pinkie says completely predicting whats gonna eventually happen.

Twilight smiles sincerely to Pinkie before saying. "Oh Pinkie, There is no way that could happen. And you know it!" 

Well, Twilight did get that last part right, I'll give her that much.

"Anyways, Fluttershy. Would it be ok if you try to make that salad please?" Twilight says while asking nicely. "You can go ahead and use my kitchen if you want." 
"Oh that would make things easier."


"Welp, if you girls are good with this whole feeding thing, then I guess I'll just head back to the farm to get some work done."
"Uhh, same. I think I have to do the weather anyway. Not that it would take long." Applejack and Rainbow dash say before taking off.

However there was hesitation on Raritys face before she said. "If you girls don't need my help then I guess I'll just head back to the boutique and finish up on some designs I've been making."
"It's ok Rarity, we should be fine... Unless you want you help Pinikie that is." When Rarity looks over to see Pinkie however, she was already gone.
"Well knowing her, she should be fine making few things on her own so I suppose that I should just head back. So see you later darling!" Rarity ends while giving a quick wave goodbye. Twilight quickly waves back before heading into the library with Fluttershy.

But after this whole exchange is done, a blue unicorn pony that is chained up, as well as a familiar statue of a filly that was being pulled in a cart. Were being brought up next to me.

After tossing who I would presume to be Trixie, in a cage. They park the cart off to the side closer to the library. Before standing guard by us.


Although I had a feeling they would get Trixie, I didn't think that they would bring the kid.

Looking over to Trixie, I see her have a surprised look that I looked back at her.


"I amazed they caught you so quickly."

After a brief pause she says. "Well, I can't help it sometimes, The stupid guards have gotten smarter over the years." 
I can't help but raise an eyebrow at this statement. 

"What exactly do you mean?"

"Back then, I used to be able to sneak past restricted areas with little to no problem! But it seems that they caught on with my act."

At this point I couldn't help but feel extremely suspicious about Trixie. Her telling me this almost completely contradicts some of her 'Amazing' story's she told me yesterday. Not to mention she was talking in First Person the whole time. 

I was about to ask Trixie another question but a certain pink pony returned with a cart of goodies that made me remember how hungry I was.
"I hope you don't mind, but I kiiinda had to reuse the cart from earlier today. Not that it matters since I remade all of the food from last time!" 
"Pinkie, I couldn't care less about how you serve me the food. I just wanna eat what I would I would think is good food."

"Umm do I get some?" Trixie asks feeling left out.

"Sure! I just need to figure out how to get this into the cage and we can all eat!"

I was instantly disappointed as Pinkie tried to push the food in without removing them from the plates.
I even looked over at Trixie as she facehoofed at this ridicules sight of a pink pony trying to stuff the plated food into a cage like it was some sort of mind numbing puzzle. She then grabs a cookie from the cart and just gives it to me before saying. "Here just have this for now."

I hate to be THAT guy but, the cookie wasn't all that amazing. I probably had way to high expectations but it really didn't matter anyway.




Eventually the Library door opens revealing Twilight and Fluttershy with a relatively big bowl of salad.

Before they say anything to us, one of the guards walk up to her saying.
"We have the other trouble maker in the cage; as well as a kid that most likely has been petrified by Chockatrice." 

"Is this so... Well since we couldn't find the Chockatrice that did this, I could just have to use a spell to purify her.
Hey Fluttershy? Would it be ok if you told Spike to get some Purification and Restoration spell books?"
"Oh of course Twilight!" Fluttershy squeaks before heading back into the Library.



"But, until we get the book, I'll just have to pass some time asking some more questions." Twilight starts. 
But before she goes to talk to Trixie she teleports the salad bowl into my hands. 
"So... You wouldn't happen to have a fork would you?"
Pinkie who was stuffing cookies as well as other pastrys in my cage asked. "What's a fork?"
Twilight, who completely ignores me says. "So Trixie, why are you helping him? I mean. He IS an outlaw for Pete sake!"

"We all have our reasons... And I'm not gonna tell you mine!" 
Both me and Twilight were actually surprised by this response.

I then speak up saying. "Trixie... Weren't you and Twilight friends at one point? Why would you say that?" 

"What do you mean? Friends don't put other friends in cages! That is nothing but cruelty!" 
"I'm sorry, but it's for your own good. I-"

"NO, don't say that 'it's for our own good' nonsense! That's what all guards say before you get locked in a dark dungeon for your whole life with no hope whatsoever left!" Trixie then sat down with a grunt of annoyance.

I was stunned, Trixie never told me she got locked up into a dungeon for her... Whole life? Wait, that's not right. I mean. Yes Trixie DID get put into a jail at some point in one of her story's, but... Not in a dungeon.



The whole area was silent. Fluttershy even came back from inside the Library with a book in hand... Hoof... Without making a noise.

After what I think was a minutes worth of no one talking and my quiet bites of salad and other sweets. Pinkie Pie breaks the tension by saying "Awkwaaard."



Twilight then started to charge up a spell with an angry expression on her face. "Wait Twilight stop! What are you doing!" Fluttershy says speaking up. "You don't have to do this!"
But before Fluttershy can stop Twilight, she shoots her lazer at Trixie completely engulfing her in purple magic. 

As soon as the beam ends, Trixie is no longer in the cage, instead a Changling sits in her place.

"I had a feeling you weren't really her. It was almost way to obvious." She exclaims. Fluttershy and Pinkie however were shocked to see this.

I however wasn't really to surprised by this fact, there were a lot of contradictions in what she was saying earlier. But I still kinda felt bad for the guy.

Twilight then looks to me in the eyes before saying. "Are you involved with the changlings?"

"No." I said to keep it short and simple. "Or at least I don't think I was..."
I could see everyone carefully study my face while watching me with their eyes... Their huge eyes just staring at me... Why did I never notice how big their eye were before? It's so creepy.

After a short period of silence Twilight eventually says "Ok, I guess we'll have to trust you for now." 

It was then another guard ran up to the group saying. "Princess! There is a blue magician pony that's damanding to see you!"

"Trixie!?" Twilight says in surprise. 

I didn't quite get it, why would she come into Ponyville when it's still full of guards and completely dangerous?

"Fluttershy! Pinkie Pie! let's go!"
Everypony in the group nodded and began to follow the single guard back to where he came from while the others stayed back to watch us.

After the group left the sight the Changling start to snicker at them.

"What's so funny?" I ask not getting the joke

"That guard was a Changling that led them away so we could get out."

The guards who were protecting us however paid us no mind.

"How would you know?"

He then started to give me a look over before saying. "I could get us out if you promise us something."

The asshole completly ignored my question! My irritation showed, so he responded by saying. 
"Ugh, I'll show you how you can figure out the difference between ponies and changlings if you make my promise."

I calm down at this offer and finally ask "What's your promise?"

He the gets closer to me from his cage before saying. "It's simple." Suddenly the guards turn around and start smiling at us. "It may not seem like it, but I'm one of the higher ups in our hive. And I can get us out of the situation."

"All I have to ask Mr. Carter, will you join us and help enclave the pony kind?"
My eyes widened at these words. This was crazy! I couldn't do this to them! Despite the fact that almost all the ponys have done nothing but hurt me. I need to remember that everything that got me here was still my fault.
"I did want to give you this offer earlier but, some of my soldiers I guess got rough with you. We changlings can hold grudges for quite a long time and they will be given the proper punishment so please forgive us for that at least."

"I-I don't know." I said with some stutter in my words.

"I'm sorry but you need to make a yes or no answer right now! They could come back anytime!" 

I was honestly torn, if I refused I would probably be stuck in this cage unless I tried to escape again... But I don't really know where I would go from there...
But if I accepted, then I could be apart of the changlings and be accepted in their society.

...

"So? Yes or no?"

Well... I guess it's obvious what I have to pick.