Queen of Shadows

by TheLegendaryBillCipher

Bestiary Encyclopedia - Entry: Changelings

Bestiary Encyclopedia

Entry: Changelings

Changelings once thrived on pony’s emotions before the Incident. Their queen, Queen Chrysalis, was forced to flee from the razing of Equestria, and sought an alternative food source for her hive. Coming across griffons on the outer reaches of Equestria, Chrysalis soon made a hive deep within a forest near several griffon settlements.

Changelings have since adapted from their pony-affection-feasting days. The coloration of their magic has changed from green to blue to signify the change in emotion, as griffons express love in different ways than ponies. The changelings have swapped out their gelatinous slime for webbing that sticks well to flying prey and stretchy enough to withstand griffon strength.

Changelings also have a newer lifestyle. Chrysalis, terrified of the events of the Incident, freely gives love to her hive, resulting in an unusual evolution on her part. Changelings are less subversive and stealthier – they generally feast at night so they go unnoticed, and rarely stick around if disguised as a griffon.

The changeling hive has also changed: instead of being a great, towering and imposing structure, situated where few would dare venture, Chrysalis has buried the majority of the hive underground, and has developed a vast series of underground tunnels between the hive and griffon settlements. Even if discovered, the tunnels are twisting and confusing and easily blocked off.

Chrysalis’s magic has increased due to the intake of love from the griffons. She is now capable of hypnosis, and the manipulation of minds even as headstrong as the griffons’. This allows her to subdue any who stumble too close to the hive and send them back unharmed, which is a testament to her new value of life.

No one is sure how many changelings there are nor how expansive their hive, as those who have managed to see the hive don’t leave it with their memory.

Author's Note:

Just a few thoughts on how changelings have adapted under new, more trying times. I hope you enjoyed the read!

-your truly,
The Legendary Bill Cipher, Equestria Enthusiast

Comments

[Doctor_Den]

interesting construction of the world. Now I wanted to read the original source.

[FanOfMostEverything]

Fascinating extrapolation. A parasite must adapt quickly to deal with the sudden loss of its host, and something that shakes the world as much as the Incident did would force even Chrysalis to reevaluate matters. Thank you for a very neat glimpse at the wider world of this setting.