Seemingly ordinary afternoon, the present. Order of events: a report by a frightened filly of a changeling sighting, then two police officers heading out to investigate --- but finding no further details besides the presence of a small group of ponies in a roadside diner.
You've heard of trying to find a needle in a haystack? Well, stay with us now, and you'll witness an investigation in which the mission is not to find that proverbial needle. No, these ponies' task is even harder. They've got to find a changeling in a diner . . .
Inspired by the classic Twilight Zone episode "Will the Real Martian Please Stand Up?"
CAUTION. The comments below contain unfiltered spoilers. Reader discretion is advised.
Chapters (1)
Oh WOW, that plot twist! This sounds like it could lead to an interesting little fight. I don't know how it would go down between Sombra and Chrysalis. I mean, the Windigos got wrecked by love - and so did Sombra - but it's tough to say how much is needed.
Really loved the story, have an upvote!
Damn, what a delicious ending. Of course you killed everypony else off of course, but then it beggars the question why Chrysalis set the whole thing up. Diverting investigation resources to the bridge long enough for Changelings to sneak in undetected? Or was it just an accident that she decided to take advantage of?
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Knowing Chrysalis, if not for the bus wagon being parked at the diner, she probably would have kept going into the middle of nowhere until she got tired, at which point she would have offed Rainbow Dash and never told anyone else about the report.
Unless, of course, she did set the whole thing up and knew in advance about the bridge. We may never know for certain . . .
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Thanks!
Awesome story. One of my favorite episode from the series.
Changeling
"But it's an AU fic, the characters . . . "
Shut up, I said Changeling.
Story ends
What did I tell ya'?
Very cool tribute to the original episode. I like how you brought in a new solution to the initial mystery, to keep things surprising.
I'm a sucker for most things TZ-related ... but I see a flaw in your premise: the Changeling has to be one of the eight on the bus: either the driver or one of the seven passengers. Otherwise, the driver's comments near the beginning make no sense.
Having seen the original, I was ready for Trixie to be the Changeling; I could have accepted either Pinkie or Cadence (while ruling out the others who came in pairs).
That said, I do like this story. And at least you didn't make some stray mouse the Changeling. (The original script for the TZ episode called for some stray dog to be the Martian.)
M A Larson: Allow me to introduce myself
By That logic Sweetie belle is a changeling...
... Facehoof..