The Rule of King Cocoon of the Changelings
The Rule of King Cocoon of the Changelings
Changelings... kind of a sucky thing to be. Your sustenance revolves around people liking you, but everyone hates your guts just because you're a changeling. As a result, you take on the guise of somebody else whose guts they hopefully don't hate. You can only survive if you lie and use everyone around you. It's like highschool, but if you screw up you die... for real.
"Tell me... 'Duncan', if that is you real name, what brings you to Manehattan?" Lou had put me in the hot seat, almost literally. She forced me into a hospital chair and had Aqua turn all the lights off. Aqua found a flashlight and was now pointing it right in my face. As if things couldn't get worse, Wrenchell showed up right before my interrogation began. He and Aqua instantly got all lovey-dovey, so I had to pretend the oodles of affection oozing out of them wasn't giving me a wicked appetite. I guess I should be thankful that I was plenty full after devouring their love in the first place. Now Lou was starting to question me, and I could tell already I wasn't going to enjoy this.
"I'm just a tourist," and might I add from another world? I'm just so silly, I accidentally bought a one way ticket. I guess I'll be here until I can scrape together the cash to get home! Until that time, I'm in your care madam!
"Why come here by way of the forest?" Lou inched closer to me.
"I like the outdoors," and I really didn't have a choice. I got dropped off in the forest without any food or money. Perhaps it was a slight oversight on my part, but the travel agency should have explained my means of transport a little better. Am I right?
"That doesn't answer the question, Duncan," Lou got just a bit closer to me, "Why didn't you take the train or fly in on an airship?"
"Okay, okay. I'm broke, you happy?" I also feed on love, so please don't hate me.
"Being a broke tourist doesn't add up, Duncan. I'm starting you think you're here to visit your changeling friends!" Lou crossed the border from "invading personal space" to "uncomfortably close".
"I don't have any 'changeling friends'," actually all my friends are changelings. All the ponies I've met hate me, but they seem to like who I'm pretending to be. Well, everypony but you Lou. I don't know whether it's the fact that I looked at your butt for a moment too long or the fact that you obviously just hate strangers.
"Sure, sure... so why did you let the Changeling King escape?"
"Escape?" trust me lady, I only wish I had escaped.
"You said you stopped the Changeling King, but you didn't finish the job. You let him get away on purpose, didn't you?" Lou put her nose right up to mine. She smells kind of funny.
"Yes, I got in one good shot and let him get away. I wasn't about to push my luck. He was... uh... scary!" I'm just as scared of me as I am of myself though.
"And why didn't you help Aqua, Wrenchell, or me when he ran off either? On top of that, when I saw you outside the forest, you acted like you didn't know about the Changeling King!" even if I didn't like how Lou was horn to horn with me right now, she was pretty sharp. Either that or my alibi and story were just terrible. It didn't help that her suspicions were completely on base.
"I didn't see you guys. I was pretty freaked out by what I saw and just booked it out of the forest," Lou might be good, but I'm better. Aqua and Wrenchell were stashed in a bush and Lou wasn't exactly laying about in the open. Any reasonable human being, or pony I suppose, would run like the dickens if they managed to scare off a monster in the woods. What kind of idiot would stick around to see if he could find any mangled bodies? Those kind of brain dead idiots only show up in horror movies!
"That still doesn't explain why you feigned ignorance about the Changeling King," Lou took a step away from me for once. Was I actually doing it? Was my bluff working?
"I didn't know the changeling I fought was the king! Sure, he looked kinda funny, for a changeling, but it's not like he was wearing a sign that said 'I'm the king' or something. How is it that you even knew he was King of the Changelings?" Ah-ha, take that Lou! I know how you know, but it would sound freakin' ridiculous if this were a real court of law!
"He just came out and told me," Lou admitted quite easily. No one seemed very shaken by the confession, which bugged me. I wanted to see her squirm a little.
"Lou," Wrenchell stepped into the light, "you really think this dude is a changeling?" Lou heaved a large sigh.
"I thought he was... but maybe he isn't," Lou grunted. She trotted over to the door and turned the lights back on. Aqua stopped shining the flashlight in my eyes and sidled up next to Wrenchell.
"Does this mean I'm not a suspect anymore?"
"I guess so..." Lou sounded incredibly bummed out, but I couldn't be happier!
"I guess this means you'll be coming back with me, Duncan," Aqua beamed.
"What?!" Wrenchell instantly sprung into protective boyf-er... coltfriend mode. He puffed up to full size and stood between me and Aqua.
"No, Wrenchell," despite the death Wrenchell was obviously wishing up on me at the moment, Aqua began giggling at the display, saying, "My father just invited him to stay with us during his time in Manehattan," and that was all it took to cool his temper.
"Alright sweet thing," he pecked her on the cheek, eliciting another giggle. Normally, this kind of display of public affection is supposed to make me gag, but it was actually making me a bit hungry. What a strange twist of fate.
"Careful you two, the Mayor is still here," Lou addressed the lovebirds flatly, "We'll meet up at your place tomorrow morning at six, Aqua. We've got to get a jump start on these changelings."
"Sounds like a plan," I was finding Aqua's chipper attitude not fitting of a pony who is supposed to be going out on an investigation to possibly save the city. It really didn't matter to me though. The worse the investigators, the easier to throw off their investigation.
Not much else happened at the hospital. Mayor Marine and Aqua whisked me away in a fancy carriage to an appropriately large estate nestled in the city. The city itself is kind of like the actual Manhattan, but a little scaled down. There aren't quite as many skyscrapers and the city as a whole feels set back over a century. It probably had a lot to do with the fact that there were ponies walking around in top hats and the architecture was reminiscent of someplace more rustic. Horseshoes and shutters on the windows are generally design choices reserved for barnyards and farmhouses.
I had hoped to arrive at the mansion, eat, and hit the hay after my full day of crazy antics, but fate had other plans for me.
Dinner consisted of cooked asparagus over collard greens. Now don't get me wrong, I love asparagus and all variety of green vegetables. I was only reluctant to eat the food placed before me because I'm a huge carnivore. If I had to choose one thing to eat for the rest of my life, I would choose ribs. Oh sweet or sour Nonspecific Deity I would choose ribs... but, Equestria being Equestria, I knew I would have to go herbivore to maintain my ruse. I gratefully tucked into the emerald meal.
For a split second, I thought they'd poisoned me. The taste was so terrible I abandoned all courtesy and spat out what I'd put into my mouth. I played it off on choking a little, but I still wanted to blow chunks. I've never eaten bellybutton lint, but I would have exchanged the meal before me for a plateful of the stuff in a heartbeat. I thought there might be something wrong with the asparagus, so I went for the greens. My taste buds wailed in agony, but I managed to chew it and force it down my throat. I grabbed my glass of water and attempted to wash the taste out of my mouth.
I don't think I've ever spat so far. Even the water tasted like fermented dish soap! I played the "down the wrong pipe" card and got off scot-free, but I was seriously confused. Was there something wrong with the food in Equestria? Was it really terrible beyond all belief? Are the residents the only creatures able to stomach it?
Of course, there was the possibility that it had something to do with me being a changeling. Changelings eat love, not salad. It stood to reason I might not even be equipped to digest normal food. There was no time like the present to experiment, so I said a quick prayer and began choking down the rest of my meal. I've never had to try so hard to keep from hurling.
After dinner, I was shown to the room I was going to be staying in while I was here in Manehattan. My first course of action was to turn off the lights and go to bed. I stretched out and let the stress of the day melt away. The mattress was nice and soft. The blankets were fluffy and warm. My pillows were cool and comfy. I listened to the quiet nighttime bustled of the city below in my dark, peaceful room.
But I can't fall asleep! I've been watching the clock for two hours now, but I'm more bored than tired. I'm not tired at all! I'm beginning to wonder if changelings even need sleep. I get up out of bed. If I can't sleep, I should do something productive.
Convinced I'm alone and bound not to be disturbed, I change back into my normal body. I feel stiff all over, like I'd just been sitting in a cramped car for hours on end. It felt good to unload the burden of maintaining an alien body, especially one you had to cram yourself into.
I sauntered over to the window and peeked through the curtains. The coast was clear. I drew back the curtains and opened the window up carefully. The night air was surprisingly warm.
A quickly got up on the sill and jumped out into the night. Working my wings furiously, I managed to fly over to the roof on the opposite side of the road. I got a running start and jumped into the air again, using my wings to gain more altitude. I rose until I was arcing high over the city of Manehattan. Against the dark, moonless sky I was invisible. I surveyed the city below me, as if I were the king of this domain. I could be. All I had to do is drop the changeling swarm down on the city's sleeping, unsuspecting residents.
I gently touched down on another rooftop. I didn't want to cause any trouble. I just wanted to get home. Maybe if I ditched this town and scampered off to Canterlot, I could see Princess Celestia. If I explained myself, it's possible she'd be willing to help me. What's the point of staying here in Manehattan if it didn't get me any closer to going home?
"Your majesty?" I swung around. I was so lost in thought I had failed to notice the buzzing behind me. There were three changelings hovering in the air behind me, one of them decked out in dark, changeling armor.
"Hey there," don't loyal subjects know better than to scare the living daylights out of their king?
"Is there something you require, your majesty?" the changelings landed and bowed low. I need a lot of things, but I doubt a handful of changelings could get them for me. The King of Changelings having a nice chat with Princess Celestia was too far fetched to ever happen. Telling someone you're the King of Changelings is like telling someone you make your living as a con artist.
"... Do you guys have a hideout or something in the city?"
"Of course, your majesty. Would you like us to escort you there?" I nodded in response. The changelings took to their wings and I followed after them the best I could. I decided there was a good reason to stick around. The ponies might never help the King of Changelings, but they will help out a pony in need. I need to test the water here and make some friends who aren't changelings. For all I know, the solution I need could be here in Manehattan.
If nopony here can help me get home, I'll just look for it elsewhere. Maybe I'll go to Ponyville next. I know Ponyville best and I know there is a group of ponies with a knack for solving problems. Besides, if I go anywhere else I'll just end up wishing I was there. It just makes good sense to go.
"We are here, your majesty," I moved back into reality. The armored changeling was standing next to me, pointing a hoof at what looked like a small apartment building. It was incredibly hard to believe what I was looking at could be a changeling hideout. The building was very well maintained and even had an elderly pony sweeping out front. The only reason I did believe it was a changeling hideout was because that elderly pony looked up, saw four changelings standing in the street, bowed, and then went right on with what he was doing.
"Hiding in plain sight... I like it," the changelings lead me in through the front door, "So... do all the changelings in Manehattan live here?"
"Yes, your majesty," we started down a pretty standard, white hallway, "those on duty occupy the apartment rooms while the others live below."
"Below?" on top of that, what constituted an on duty changeling? Before I got an answer, we stopped in front of the apartment of... somepony. There was a nameplate, but Equestrian is still just chicken scratch to me. It's going to be a while before I get used to being unable to read. The armored changeling slammed three deliberate knocks on the door.
"Who is it?" I shouldn't have been so surprised to hear the voice of a mare.
"Family and friends," the changeling answered. After a momentary silence, I heard the tumblers on the door disengage. It opened up to reveal a perfectly normal looking mare.
"Good evening your majesty," she bowed low and greeted me.
"Yeah, good evening," I tipped an imaginary hat at her. I was pretty terrible with all this formal "your majesty" stuff. I needed to come up with better responses than "yeah" or "hey there". I'm a king for crying out loud. I should be a little more regal.
"Would his majesty like to go down to the lower level?" I nodded my assent. Nodding is regal, I think. The mare, a changeling in reality, gestured for me to enter. The armored changeling followed me in, but the two other changelings stood around outside. The mare walked over to her dresser, put her head against it and began to push. Now this is the kind of stuff I expected to see in a changeling hideout.
Behind the dresser was a tunnel, crudely dug and covered in green slime. It was a bit of a tight squeeze for me, but I managed to follow the armored changeling down into the tunnel's depths. It was nearly a straight down drop and I found myself just sliding down the green slime. All good tunnels must come to an end though, as I felt my feet touch down on solid ground. It was too dark to see, but I knew exactly where I was based on the smell. I was impressed that the changelings had made a tunnel that connected down to the sewers, even if it was disgusting.
"It's a bit dark, don't you think?" I felt around for the changeling I'd come down here with.
"You heard him! Light!" the entire area lit up a sickly green, allowing me to see that I was indeed in a sewer. There was a cave in of sorts to my right, making it impossible to proceed further in that direction. There were smaller cave ins to the left, but not so much so that one couldn't proceed if they were cautious. Intuition tells me if I do venture further to the left, I'd find the tunnel sectioned off by caution tape and other such warning signs. Other than the two sides of the tunnel, the rest of it looked like I'd envisioned it. Green slime all over the place, discarded chitin laying about, but I didn't see any changelings. I also didn't see where the light was coming from either. It seems to be coming from the ceili-
Nonspecific Deity be praised or not, that is a shrimp ton of changelings!
Above me was another changeling made tunnel just as wide as the sewer. It stretched at least two stories up and was saturated with changelings. Most of them were staring down at me, their horns providing the emerald glow that bathed the tunnels.
"I was told there were only about a hundred changelings here!" I turned to the armored changeling, who was standing idly beside me.
"One hundred scouts, your majesty. Our warrior reserves are just upwards of a thousand," he explained. I looked back up at the mass of changelings. Upon closer inspection, the changelings who weren't providing light were wrapped in the same slime that coated most of the walls.
"They're... sleeping?" I was totally jelly of them if they were.
"They are awaiting the day you decide to bring down the swarm upon town, your majesty," I had been thinking that one hundred changelings was too small of a number to take over a place as big as Manehattan. Over a thousand changelings? That's far more plausible.
"So... what do you other changelings do?"
"We gather food for the sleeping warriors," the changeling began explaining, "Scouts take shifts posing as ponies in the city in order to gather love," it sounds like a pretty solid operation.
"This is the only changeling hideout in Manehattan, right?" I had to be sure. I'm sure if Lou and the others stumbled upon this, they'd instantly assume there was an invasion on the way.
"Yes, your majesty. Other than the changelings in the field, the Manehattan Swarm is stationed in this location only," that's good to hear. That means as long as I keep Lou away from this apartment building and the room with the tunnel, there was no way she'd find any changelings. There was only one avenue I was worried about.
"What's further down that tunnel?" I pointed to the side of the tunnel that wasn't completely blocked off.
"More sewer, your majesty," that much I suspected. I walked over to the open side of the tunnel and began to work my way over the rubble.
"Your majesty? Where are you going?" I turned around to see a very concerned changeling.
"I want to know what's down this way. It's possible that someone or somepony could come this way and discover us," I reached the top of the rubble and scrambled down the other side. I touched down with a splash, landing in knee deep water. Plunged into darkness again, I attempted the illumination spell with my hand. It was simple as commanding my fingers to gather energy to throw beams of green light all around me. With the rubble behind me, the sewer before me was relatively destruction free. A pile of loose bricks here, a hidey-hole for some rats there, and dank sewer smell all around.
"Your majesty! I would not venture down that way!" the armored changeling called to me, just barely peeking over the pile of rubble. Call me suspicious, but I think he's scared of something. Of what, I have no idea.
"Don't worry, I'll be back shortly. Hold down the fort," the changeling saluted and ducked back behind the rubble. If he was worried, that was reason enough to be cautious. In retrospect, I should have asked him why he was worried. If I did though, it would just give him ammo to convince me not to go. I needed to make sure nopony was going to come down this way.
I kept walking down the dark sewer, only illuminated by the light flowing out of my fingertips. There really isn't much to say about Manehattan's sewers. If you want to know what it's like, just imagine a stereotypical sewer. As long as your idea of a sewer doesn't involve hamburger vending machines or can-can dancers, you've probably got the feel down pat. It smells bad, the air is stale, and every so often I hear a single drop fall somewhere in the distance. I almost abandoned walking through the sewage for the walkway, but the rats look hungry. I'm pretty sure rats eat bugs, so I'll stick to walking through the pony refuse.
After probably a solid five minutes of walking, I came to what I was looking for. Before me stood another impassible cave in. All the other diverging tunnels I'd found were either barred off, too small for a pony to get through, or caved in. Unless somepony came down through a manhole they wouldn't be able come down here.
"Wait... is it still manhole?" there was still a lot of pony-talk I hadn't gotten straight, "It's either ponyhole or stallionhole... or maybe colthole. I think ponyhole sounds the best. It's gotta be ponyhole."
"You're wrong actually. They're called mareholes."
"Mareholes? That does sound better than ponyhole. I guess it makes sense."
"Of course it does. I can't imagine why you think they'd be called something else."
"It's a long sto-," hold up... who am I talking to?
"I was wondering when you'd notice me," I swung around to the source of the voice. On the walkway to my right sat a creature I'd never before laid eyes upon. Granted, I'd never really laid eyes upon magical ponies or changelings before today, but at least I had an idea of what they looked like.
"Who or what are you?" I backed up a bit, noting that it was bigger than me.
"Silly changeling, I'm a Sphinx," the monster sat up on its furry haunches, swishing its tail and flitting it's wings. The hawk and lion elements were present, but it was missing something.
"If you're a Sphinx, why don't you have the head of a... oh," I realized something. It wouldn't make sense if a Sphinx in Equestria had a human head. The substitute in this case was the head of a black ram. I actually think they're a thing back on Earth. I believe the term is Criosphinx, but here in Equestria the distinction would be pointless.
"You are delightfully stupid," the Sphinx chuckled, looking me up and down with his crimson eyes, "that should make things quick for me."
"Buddy, if you're looking for a bite to eat you'd better take a hike," I took another step towards my escape route. One does not simply fight a Sphinx in a sewer.
"We all need to eat, right changeling?" the Sphinx jumped down with a splash and joined me in the water, "At least I'm honest with my prey and have the decency to put them out of their misery," the Sphinx started stalking towards me.
"I don't feel like discussing our respective dietary habits. Aren't you suppose to give me a riddle or something?" I made sure to maintain the distance between the two of us.
"Oh yes, the riddle," the Sphinx stopped and sat on its haunches in the water, "Answer me this changeling: What is owned by you, but used more by others?"
...
Dangit, I have no freakin' idea. I take another step back. Something tells me I'll be running like the dickens soon enough.
"You don't know? It's a shame you can't appreciate the irony of that, changeling!" the Sphinx lunged, bleating like a sheep from hell and bearing its fangs. The sight of claws and curved horns against a pair of massive wings was such a surreal sight I nearly forgot to get out of the way. For once in my life I was glad close only counts in horseshoes as the Sphinx crashed into the water just as I managed to jump out of the way. I touched down a couple yards away and took aim with my finger. I let a green bolt fly and bulls-eyed the Sphinx right on the head.
But it wasn't very effective...
"That was cute," the Sphinx smirked and brushed some misplaced wool out of its eyes. I should have guessed this wasn't going to be so easy. The Sphinx leapt into the air. I turned and ran as it spread its wings and dove at me. I narrowly avoided getting snatched up in it's paws by jumping face-first into the murky water. Even in the dark water, I could hear the massive beast splash into the water in front of me. I got to my feet as quickly as I could, but by the time I was up the Sphinx was already charging me with its massive horns. It lowered it's head in preparation to gore me when it got close enough. I saw only one way to avoid that fate.
I ran at the Sphinx myself until he was almost within the distance he needed to turn me into a ceiling pancake. With everything I had, I jumped and tucked myself into a ball. I passed unharmed over the charging Sphinx, exiting my aerial roll by spreading my limbs and water-heavy wings. I didn't turn to see what had become of my aggressor. This time, I just booked it down the sewer. There was no way I was out muscling the Sphinx, but I'd be willing to bet I could outrun it.
I listened as the Sphinx bleated behind me, but the splashing of its paws was fading behind me rapidly. I whooped in victory as I sprinted through the water, the way only illuminated by my swiftly swinging hand. It was odd though, the glow coming from my hand seemed like it was tinted red. I looked down at it for a moment, but it was glowing green like it had always been. The sewer passage way was getting progressively redder and redder. I had no idea what could be going on, until I noticed my own shadow lengthening before me.
I twisted my body around just in time to watch the ruby streak collide into me and cause green fissures to explode all along the right side of my torso.
The impact lifted me right of my feet and tossed me like a ragdoll against the sewer wall, sending a dull pain across my whole body with the impact. I hit the ground with another painful thud. I managed to push myself off the floor and into a sitting position with my back against the wall. Whatever had hit me hadn't intended to clip me, and I watched it spin and crash into the ceiling a ways off. The immediate effect was a tremor that shook the entire passageway. The ceiling cracked and dislodged, sending an avalanche of concrete and rock tumbling down. The shower of debris was dangerously close to me, so I tried to get out of the way.
I tried to get myself standing by leaning on my right arm, but the action immediately caused knife like pains to shoot through my body. I felt like several doctors were trying to open me up from different points with rusty scalpels. In the chaos, I looked down at my wound. My exoskeleton along the right side of my body was cracked and falling to pieces all the way from my shoulder to my hip. Green liquid was flowing freely from each crack and opening. I realized that it hurt, a lot. If that red blur had hit me full on, it would have easily snapped me in half. I guess I was right about changelings being unable to take a hit.
I placed my left hand over my wounded area. The attack hadn't killed me, but this wound might if I don't treat it. I had no medicine, no bandages, and nobody to help me. All I had was magic. A changeling's body is designed to twist and change. The magic is the same, so healing has to be possible. At least, I pray it's possible.
The command is the most complex one I've issued yet. The magic flows out and then back into me. I'm changing my body again, but the changes I'm making are to be permanent. The changes I'm making require the creation of new structures. I envision what my whole torso looks like, but that isn't enough. I picture my whole body, where and how everything is in relation to everything else. I expected the magic to take hold gradually, but with a burst of green light and a moment of mind-numbing pain the wound becomes whole again.
A boulder crashed into the pathway right next to me. I get up, my body feeling good as new, and book it away from the cave-in. It's dark without the illumination from my hand, but I don't have far to go. When the cave-in is only a distant rumble, I stop and catch my breath.
I'd survived. It was a miracle, but I'd survived the attack. I'd bet my mustache the culprit behind the red blur was the Sphinx. I'd also wager my beard that he's got something to do with all the other cave-ins. If he hadn't crashed like that, I'm sure he would have finished me off easily. I'm only alive because I managed to heal myself, but healing magic took quite the toll on my energy. It was quick and convenient, but I won't be able to pull it off again unless I do some serious feeding. My energy is precious, so I can't afford to waste any more of it tonight.
Going back towards the changeling hideout wasn't an option. If the cave-in wasn't dangerous enough, the Sphinx might have managed to dig itself out. If I continued forward, I'd just run into a dead-end. There was only one way out: a marehole.
I continued down the sewer, feeling my way along with one hand on the wall. It only took a minute or so to feel out a ladder. I grabbed on and started to climb up it, hoping that there was a way out at the top. As I got further up, I noticed pinpricks of light and listened as a carriage rumbled overhead. When I reached my goal I tested the weight of the cover with one free hand. It pleased me to feel the metal plate lift easily, allowing me to scope out my surroundings before exiting cover.
Once I was sure I was alone and nopony was coming, I pulled myself out as quickly as I could. I managed to replace the marehole cover and duck into an alleyway just before another carriage turned onto the street. I tested my wings to see if they were dry enough to assist with jumping. After a few experimental buzzes, I hopped back up on the rooftops. The Eastern horizon was just starting to light up, so I hurried back towards where I believed the Mayor's estate was.
I mentally high-fived myself when I realized I'd pretty much survived a whole day in Equestria. I'd been eyelash close to death more than once already, but I'd managed to stay alive through a strange blend of determination and luck. Equestria was undeniably magical and extraordinary to someone who'd only ever been a third party observer. The entire range of emotions and experiences I've had so far will probably stick with me forever. As I hopped from steeple to balcony towards my lodging, I couldn't help but smile as I said to myself:
"I need to get out of here."