CHAPTER ONE
A young Changeling Hatchling raced around the corner and rammed into someone.
“Huh?” she gasped, looking up into the face of another Changeling.
The other Changeling glowered down at her. “What is the meaning of this?” he growled.
The Hatchling shrank away. “I’m sorry General Flare, I wasn’t watching where I was—”
She was cut off as someone squealed, “Draftie!”
The Hatchling turned and saw another young Changeling running towards her. “Drat!” she cried, “I wasn’t ready, Emerald!” she groaned, obviously irritated.
Emerald, who was oblivious to the fact that the other was annoyed with her, simply said, “I found you, so I get to be the love next, Draft!”
Draft rolled her eyes. “Personally, I don’t get why you want to be the love, being a Changeling is better; The Changelings eat the love, Emerald!”
Another Hatchling came up. He sighed. “You’re always taking things too literally. Seriously, Draft, Snake is right, you really do need to lighten up.”
Draft glared at him. “Ya know what, Coal? I’m just gonna pretend I didn’t just hear that and by the way,” her voice was continually rising as she spoke to him. “Someday, you will most likely be a drone. Meaning you will absorb the love from ponies, then return to the hive to give that love to Queen Chrysalis for her to share with the rest of the swarm.” Draft nodded her head for emphasis as she said this.
Emerald and Coal both tried not to laugh at the serious face the other Changeling was trying to pull off.
“You do realize that is months away, right?” Coal asked Draft.
“Well, of course I... JUST SHUT UP!” Draft was fuming as she stalked away. Coal and Emerald started cracking up.
“Well, when I’m older, I’m not gonna be a dumb drone," Emerald said proudly. "I’ll be a spy and live among ponies and get to know their weaknesses and I…” she broke off as she realized Coal was laughing at her.
“What?!” Emerald demanded, irritably quivering her tiny wings in indignation.
“You can’t leave the hive unless you’re a scout or a drone,” Coal laughed, “There are no spies, the scouts are the ones that go in search of sources of love for us to feed off of," Coal explained.
Emerald just glared at him. “I’m going to be a spy, just you wait and see!”
She raced off, furious that the Hatchling she had always thought of as her best friend had scorned her for wanting to be important someday. Maybe he’s right, maybe I’ll never be a spy… No, I know I never will. Emerald sighed, she knew Coal was right. Well, since I can’t be a spy for the swarm, I’m not going to be part of the swarm at all!
***
Twilight used her magic to get yet another book down from the shelves in her library. She glanced at the cover, rolled her eyes, and threw it onto the huge pile of books behind her.
“Ugh! I can’t find anything in any of my books!” Twilight glanced around. “Spike!” she called.
“I’m right he— Ow!” Spike came in just as Twilight hurled another book at the pile, but she had missed and hit him instead.
“Sorry, Spike.” Twilight said, turning to go through even more of the books.
Spike glanced from the book in his claws to the pile of books behind Twilight. “What’s with all these books?” Spike asked, rubbing his head.
“I’m trying to find even the slightest information on the Changelings,” Twilight said, without looking at him. “I need to know if there is a chance that they would attack Equestria again. We need to be prepared for anything.”
Spike rolled his eyes. “I really don’t think there will be any books about the Changelings here,” Spike told her, setting down the book. “I mean, I don’t think anypony even knew about the Changelings before the attack on Canterlot, and personally I think tha—"
Twilight cut him off. “I know that it is highly unlikely to find any books about Changelings here, but we have to try!”
***
Emerald fought her way through the pouring rain. Perhaps this wasn’t my best idea ever…
She slipped in a puddle of mud and tumbled down a steep hill, coming to a stop in an even bigger puddle of mud. By now, she no longer looked like a Changeling, but like a filly covered in mud.
“Oh, yuck!” She cried. “Why does everything have to go wrong?!”
“Hello?” An elegant voice called out.
Emerald froze.
“Is there somepony out here? Oh, if there is, please come here, I’d rather not get my hooves all muddy…”
“Oh, Rarity!” another voice chirped, “I’ll go out there if you won’t! I’m not afraid of a bit of mud!”
"No Sweetie Belle, it's past your bedtime, I suppose I'll have to get dirty..." Rarity sighed.
"Grrr....Fine, I'll go to bed."
Emerald heard hoof-steps fade and relaxed. But her relief didn't last long.
"Oh, yuck...Okay, whoever is out here, I am not very pleased that I'm having to do— Oh!"
Emerald stared up at a white unicorn mare with a violet mane and sapphire eyes.
"Tsk, tsk," the mare tutted, shaking her head. "Now look at you! you are so muddy, I can't even tell what color you are!" She exclaimed.
The mare's horn glowed pale blue as she lifted Emerald up with her magic.
"Now we most certainly must get you all cleaned up, Sweetie Belle has gotten in bed, and Opal has claimed the guest bedroom, so I suppose you would have to sleep in my room if you stay the night." The mare continued to ramble on as she got a bath ready for Emerald.
"There, all set, now it's about time you get cleaned up!" The mare set Emerald down in the tub and turned around to pick up the shampoo. When she turned around, however, she just let the bottle fall to the floor and the shampoo seeped out.
Emerald shrank back from the widened eyes of the unicorn. "P-please, I'll leave..."
The mare apparently hadn't heard her. "You're...You're a Changeling!"
This is going to take awhile…
But as of now it's ok, let's see where it goes.
There isn't much to go on at the moment, but this could get interesting as it develops.
This brings to mind a question (inspired by The Legend of Drizzt, in relation to Drow):
Are all changelings inherently evil, or is it that they are born innocent and corrupted by changeling society?
I shall read this when time permits.
4630929 I think it may be a case in canon (not this fic as Changeling's here seem capable of a greater degree of individual though) that Changeling's have something of a hive mind comparable to the Borg or the like. With only one having true independent thought. In regards to good and evil its more a matter of (WARNING TV TROPES LINK DON'T CLICK IF YOU WANT TO BE PRODUCTIVE TODAY! blue and orange morality. Changeling's need love as food and have to in fact consume it in order to survive, Ponies of course see love as a set of emotions and a driving force in life. A wolf devours rabbits to survive but that doesn't make it evil, but from the rabbits perspective the wolf is a needless terror and would not mind to see its extinction, and that is not inherently evil either, both are driven for survival and their respective needs for survival clash.
Here though we're running on the authors view of Changelings which with what little we have from the show and comics is still a relatively valid idea.
4631047 That's one big-ass "may" about the hive mind. It's undoubtedly a popular fanon to ascribe a kind of all-encompassing psychic bond, as a way for fanon changelings to communicate nonvocally and for their leaders to ASSUME DIRECT CONTROL.
I see you acknowledge the comics. To me, the comics imply that they do not, in fact, have a hive mind, at least in that they are pretty clearly individuals.
4631135 True enough... but even there only one of them seemed to have a real conversation, and in the end most of them didn't seem to show any exceptional intelligence so it may be something of individual plus hive mind with Changeling's capable of independent thought but getting a boost in knowledge when linked to the hive as a whole.
Sadly it is all speculation and hypothesizing...
4631173 Hold on, thinking of a good way to phrase the hopefully all-resolving question in 140 characters or slightly less.
Edit: This is of course a complete joke because we all know fanon trumps Word of God any time.
Edit: That too was a joke.
Final edit: Just the facts.
About the hive-mind; I like to imagine that it eventually develops and that they start off with individual thoughts. I have a few theories
4631318 where are you on the update
4631494 Huh? What do you mean by that? Like, how soon until I update? or What chapter am I updating? I'm confused. I just updated both chapters so it's more fluent in a few places, if that's what you mean.
(lol, my interactive RD thingy keeps saying "'I love you daddy' who would write that crap?" It's funny, 'cause I would XD)
4631541 The "'I love you, daddy' Who would write such crap?" is a reference to the wildly popular story, My Little Dashie.
This looks good. When can we expect the next chapter?
Interesting.
4631664 I know, I really like My Little Dashie, but it's so sad at the end! I just thought it was funny that I used that in one of my stories and she says that a lot XD
4632447 The picture is actually of Emerald, not Glimmer
or is it?
4632928 I found it happy. Memory spells are wonderful, kids, and very useful for eliminating witnesses without murder or threats.
This is good!!! I wants more!!!
If you guys want, you can message me ideas, even tidbits or chapters and help out in writing my stories. In the author's note I will acknowledge your help and give you credit. I am the kind of person who is willing to listen to others' opinions before giving mine. Even though my opinions and ideas are often ignored, I don't mind. It's just my personality.
I'll read this just for the cover art, it is so cute!
Now I must go kill a wolf to regain my manlyness
4633800
Nah would take to long to find one, I will just kill some more undead on mythodea next month, till then i will loan me some manlyness from next month.
great story, hope to see an updated soon.
I rate he chances taht rarity will faint next chapter at 60%
Thank you all for the 57 likes! I was worried that people would hate on this one like they were doing for "A Bit Buggy", but I am so happy I was wrong!
Typo.
4640549 thanks, I'll fix it right away
Not much to say yet, still too early to know a lot, but we'll bite.
How does a nymph just sneak out like that? Never ceases to amaze that people never look up or down....
Oh Rarity, just had to foalnap some random filly lost in the mud. Well, at least she's clean now!
Keep going! ;)
4640543 I'm not planning on writing the filly into the main story
4716323 come on! ya gotta post more!
4864799 Im having Writers block, not to mention School, lol
4874751 Eh, still, it's really good. I can relate though to both writers block and school. Which both stink
4875108 tell me about it, I was going to write more today, but now it's time for dinner, and I have been away all day.... The concept of time is against us in this world
4896102 Lol.
4864799 I got the next chapter done, gtg now (stupid storms)