The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return.
—Eden Ahbez
The searing pain that hit Pincer when he tried to stand alerted him that his back legs were broken. They looked fine at first glance, his black chitin merely as scratched and dirty as the rest of him, but somewhere beneath his carapace, the bones had snapped. His fall into the ravine had been every bit as bad as he'd feared, and now he was sprawled helplessly in the dirt. He could hear the water trickle quietly over the rocks in the nearby brook, but his view of the bed was obscured by the smooth, white stones of its bank, barely out of his reach. Soft grass brushed against his carapace and slipped into the holes in his legs. The sun directly overhead bathed the area in a comfortably warm light and splashed the small but healthy saplings scattered about. For most, it would have been pleasant and peaceful, but he was trapped by his injuries and the steep, rocky hills that towered over him on either side, cutting him off from the world outside.
He thought bitterly that if anyone would end up in this situation, it would be him. His poor flight scores had finally caught up with him, resulting in the vicious tailspin that had led to his painful fall. It wasn't as though he could've expected the invasion to end the way it did, though. In the eleventh hour, just when it seemed everything had gone as planned and they would never have to worry about running out of love for the rest of their lives, the magic of Shining Armor and Princess Cadence had quite literally blown them all away.
He didn't know if the others had fared any better. As far as he could tell, all of them had been as unprepared as he was and thrown into the air, sent flying far over the horizon, but he hadn't seen any of them spin and fall like he did. Presumably the others had managed to recover and land, if not cleanly, then at least well enough to avoid serious injury. He was sure his podmates were fine, at least.
A quiet fear that had been lurking in the back of his mind burst into his thoughts: he could very well die here. There were no signs of pony or other sentient activity in sight. He didn't know how often, if ever, anyone came to this ravine. Even if any pegasi happened to fly over, it was a million to one that they would happen to look down and see him. He was sure that the Princess' guards would be out searching for changelings, but a lifetime of education had very firmly etched into his mind the knowledge that to remain here until he died of thirst would be preferable.
Terror seized him as he realized the implication. He was going to die, whether here or in the dungeons of Canterlot. Whatever happened, he'd never see The Hive again. He would never again return to his pod after a day of training, feeling tired but accomplished, and settle into his bed for a good night's sleep. He had to swallow a lump in his throat, close his eyes, and take a breath when he thought of Scarab and his beloved Queen Chrysalis. After all, changeling drones weren't supposed to cry.
Antenna. He would never see Antenna again, either. He'd known her since they were larvae, and they'd been friendly rivals ever since their first drills. It was his determination to prove himself to her that had led him to be one of the more formidable fighters in his pod, for all the good it had done him at Canterlot.
The thought gave Pincer an idea. It was borne of desperation and highly unlikely to work, but it was also the only thing that might give him a chance of seeing his podmates again. He closed his eyes, clenched his fangs, and channeled magical power into his curved, needle-sharp horn. There was a flash and a feeling not unlike a mild electric current surging through his body. Pain shot through his back legs again, which his transformation could not mend, and he sharply gasped through clenched teeth — teeth that were now flat and blunt, like a pony's.
His black, insect-like body had transformed into that of a stormy gray-coated pegasus stallion with a short, cropped, cloud-white mane and tail. His build was lean, similar to that of his true form, but his wings were now thick and downy. The cutie mark he'd chosen for himself was a rather unremarkable triplet of blue raindrops. Flogging his brain for all of his knowledge of Equestria, he carefully began piecing together a background he could use long enough to get treatment and get back to the Hive. He'd been the best in his pod, possibly even the best in his cluster, at taking the role of a pony. If a pegasus spotted him, he was sure he could trick them into helping him escape.
If.
Time passed tortuously slowly. As thirst began to gnaw at Pincer's throat, the trickle of the brook started sounding less like relaxing white noise and more like a painful mockery. There was little else to occupy his mind aside from the occasional peeping of a nearby bird. While he could not say for certain how long he'd been there, he knew hours must have passed. The sun had recently disappeared behind one of the rocky hills, and as the last of its rays faded away, darkening the valley like the door of a tomb shutting.
He heard the Royal Guard chariot before he saw it. His prone position made it awkward to look up, and he was hurting badly enough without a stiff neck. There was no mistaking the source of the rhythmic flapping of wings and clatter of metal above, though. The beam of a searchlight mounted on the chariot began sweeping the ravine, turning its harsh white light on the rocks and trees. Pincer saw his chance.
"Hey! Down here! I'm down here! Help me, please!"
He found himself squinting as the blinding beam shone on him like a spotlight. His eyes stung and spots swam in his vision, but he was overjoyed. This was it! All he had to do was act convincingly, and he would be rescued! That much would be easier because, after spending the last several hours growing more convinced he would die here, he was genuinely glad to see them. All he had to do was swallow his fear, and Commander Formic had given him more than enough practice.
Pincer heard the chariot descend, the outline of the beam trained on him growing longer and narrower against the ground and twisting about him as the chariot circled above. Finally, directly ahead of him, he saw a pair of snowy white pegasus guards with a small, roofless, cadet-blue chariot behind them, seating a pair of black unicorn guards. After a light touchdown by the pegasi, the unicorns hopped out and trotted towards him, looking down at him in concern.
"Who are you? Do you need assistance?" asked the guard to his left.
"Oh, yes, thank goodness you came!" Pincer said. "My name's April Shower. I spun out while I was flying to Trottingham and crashed here. I can't move my back legs. I... I think they're broken."
The guard to his left nodded. "It's a good thing we found you, then." He turned to his partner. "Savior, get splints." His partner gave a brisk "yes sir" and trotted back towards the chariot, lifting a hefty canvas bag out of it. As he picked through the contents, the first guard turned his attention to Pincer again.
"You don't need to worry," he said in a warm baritone. "My name is Mystic Saber, and my associate there is Daring Savior. Once he finishes treating your legs here, we will take you to a hospital in Trottingham to recover. How long have you been here? Is there anything else you need? Do you need us to contact anypony for you?"
"It's been hours, I think. I know the sun was overhead when I fell. I'm sure my sister's worried. I was going there to visit her. I can write her once we're at the hospital. In the meantime, please, if you could get me some water?" As he said the last sentence, he put on his best wide-eyed, pleading look.
"Certainly," said the guard quietly. With a glance over his shoulder, he ordered his companion to retrieve a canteen. Once he'd gotten another "yes sir," he looked at Pincer again.
"Now, before we get started, I'll have to cast a spell on you. Don't worry, it will not take long. It's only to ensure you're not a changeling. After what happened in Canterlot, we're not taking any risks on that."
Pincer's blood ran cold and a lead weight fell in his stomach. Chrysalis flay me, he thought to himself, I never had a chance! The guard's horn began glowing green, and panic took over..
"Wait! Look, you don't need to do that." To Pincer's immense relief, the guard's horn dimmed. "I don't want — please. Please, I need help. I'm really thirsty. I need water, now." The other unicorn was walking back towards them now, levitating a pair of white, padded splints and a disc-shaped, shining silver canteen in front of him.
Pincer knew he had been clutching at straws, but he could still barely contain the terror when the unicorn who had been casting the spell shook his head. "Our orders are to scan everypony we find. This will only take a few seconds. Relax, you'll get your water."
Pincer's breathing quickened and deepened, suddenly sounding deafening to him. If he'd had the guard fooled at any point, the unicorn's suspicious expression made him highly doubt that was still so. As the guard's horn once again glowed, he started sucking air as if he'd been suffocating and he felt his heart hammer against his chest. His podmates! He'd never even gotten to say goodbye! He—
"I thought so."
Pincer didn't have to look; he felt the difference in his body. Smooth chitin. Swiss cheese legs. Protruding fangs. Gossamer wings. He was in the form ponies had surely come to hate, alone, injured and exposed to Celestia's best. The unicorns were both in front of him now, frowning at him sternly, Savior's splints and canteen floating behind him.
Saber said in a voice that had gained a hard edge, "as per Her Majesty's orders, you are now under arrest as a prisoner of war. We'll be taking you—"
Pincer didn't want to hear any more. He lashed out, leaping and snapping at the guards. Their eyes widened as they stepped back from the reach of his knifelike fangs. He tried to charge them, but had barely started pushing himself forward when his back legs exploded in pain again. His head and front legs fell to the ground, and he groaned helplessly. The guards' expressions had already turned stern again.
"Listen to me!" barked Saber. "You're in no condition to try to fight! All you'll do is hurt yourself! If you come quietly, you have my word as a royal guard that you will not be harmed! We just need to take you in for a few questions so we can protect ourselves from further attack by your queen. If you cooperate with us, you will probably be on your way home once you can walk."
Pincer glared with all the hatred he could muster, but didn't make another move. Saber's expression relaxed. "Before we do anything else, though, you will receive full medical care. Once Savior applies first aid here, you will be taken to a secure hospital in Canterlot." He turned to Savior. "Treat his wounds."
"Yes, sir." Daring Savior looked down at Pincer, letting the canteen float toward him. The cap unscrewed itself, and the lip of the container hovered directly under his nose.
"Here. Drink as much as you need to."
Savior's words, softer than Saber's, would have sounded reassuring had he not been a royal guard who knew Pincer's identity. Suspicious, he leaned down to smell the contents, then looked askance at Savior. Savior looked back at him expectantly. Finally, Pincer's thirst helped him decide that there really hadn't been enough time since his unmasking for the guards to tamper with its contents. He put his mouth over the rim, and Savior tilted it so he could gulp down the water. Even though it had come from an enemy, he savored the cool water as it went down his throat, and he had nearly emptied the container when he finally pulled his mouth away.
He felt as if he should thank Savior, who was screwing the cap back on and returning the canteen to its bag, but realized that would be naive. After all, he'd only been given the water so he'd lower his guard and be more willing to tell them what they wanted to know later. Savior did not prod him to express gratitude, though. He simply guided the pair of splints in front of himself and approached Pincer's side.
"I'll need you to lie still for this. You can relax. I'm trying to help you, that's all. If you struggle, you could very well make the fractures worse. If necessary, I can and will use a sleep spell on you. Do you understand?"
Pincer nodded grudgingly.
"Okay. Hold still — this won't take long."
Pincer felt his left back leg being carefully lifted by a telekinetic force, followed by the first of the splints being eased into place. His leg was lowered with the same care it had been elevated, and the second one soon followed. He found himself surprised by how quickly and relatively painlessly the guard had done it. It hurt, yes, but it was nothing compared to the nearly unbearable pain he'd gone through when he'd tried and failed to attack them. Of course, that was part of the trick, too. He was more likely to give out information if he thought they cared at all about his wellbeing, so they acted the part. In fact, his legs hurt less now than before Savior had applied the splints.
"Wait. What else did you do?" he snapped. "Why'd my legs stop hurting so much? Splints don't do that!"
Savior raised an eyebrow. "I anesthetized them with my magic. That's standard procedure. It will wear off in a few hours. Are you honestly going to complain about your legs feeling better?"
Pincer said nothing.
"You can think whatever you like of us once your legs heal. For now, we'll be taking you to the hospital." He turned to the pegasus guards.
"We're ready to transfer him."
The two pegasi drew the chariot over to Pincer. Savior, grunting and straining from the effort, slowly lifted him off of the ground. Pincer panicked and flailed for a moment the pain in his legs subdued him again. Seeing that this accomplished nothing aside from (as well as he could hear) making Savior swear under his breath, he resigned himself to staying still. Once he was motionless again, Savior carefully laid him on the rear bench of the chariot. Finally, a pair of straps snaked out of the medical bag and draped themselves across Pincer, stretching taut and knotting to secure him. He'd barely had time to test the straps, which proved stiff and unyielding, before the unicorn guards clambered back into their bench in front of him. The backrest of their bench now blocked them from his view.
"The prisoner is secure. Let's go."
The chariot rolled and shook and the wheels squeaked as the pegasi broke into a steady gait. Pincer felt himself pressed against the back of the bench as the chariot began to rise. The squeaking of the wheels stopped, replaced by the quick, steady flapping of the pegasi's wings. The ground fell away, the walls opened up, and the trees disappeared beneath the chariot's side. As the ravine gave way to the pale blue, sun-blazed evening sky, Pincer did his best to brace for the charge into the dreaded unknown.
Changelings are my favorite race in this series and enjoyed your take on them.
An interesting start, looking forward to where this goes
Let me be truthful I am normally turned off by Changeling fic for a couple reasons, reason which I don't think apply to this story, two of the reasons are being overly apologetic for the Changeling invasion (and enslavement of the ponies) and the ponies (and Celestia) being monsters and committing genocide.
But now with your story... proper treatment of POWs, the Guard not being monsters, Celestia giving the order to treat the POWs as well as her own ponies. You my friend have my attention, I look forward to seeing were you take this. There is one small issue, at one point you called Pincer, Scarab. Other than that I am very impressed.
Signed in the Name of Her Serene Majesty Celestia Everfree,
Celestia's Paladin: Ex Solis et Lunae, Provedntia et Prospartia
global3.memecdn.com/very-interesing_o_149988.jpg
Changlings! Woot woot. For the swarm!
fc01.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2012/161/c/2/changeling_wallpaper_1024x768_by_grumbeerkopp-d52xxuu.jpg
Well. . . this looks like it'll be a fun little ride.
You have my attention.
~With regards, the Current Student of the Second True Magic.
1894907 Thank you! Changeling fans unite!
1894922 I'll be sure not to disappoint, then.
1894938 D'oh! Thanks, it's been fixed. Glad you liked how the changeling POW was treated though. One thing I really wanted to show in this story was how while what the changelings did was bad, that doesn't mean every last one of them is evil and deserving only of hatred.
1894945 I legit don't know if you're being sarcastic
1895083 Love the flag! It sums up Pincer's line of thinking here pretty well.
1895120 Eeeeeeexcellent.
1895125
That is all I can ask, slavery is bad and so is genocide.
And in regards to the people rooting for the Changelings, sorry I just can't. FOR AN UNITED EQESTRIA, FOR THE CONCORDIAT!
Sigh,
Another changeling fic to add to the track list.
Eeeee, that is an awesome, awesome start, and I can't wait for more. I need maor! Like, nao! J/k, but yes, I can't wait till the next chapter. Tracked!
You must make the next chapter.
That and, Changlings or Ponies? It is impossible to chose. I love changlings as well as the ponies, no matter how green there hair is, according to Rarity, and HURRY UP ON THE NEXT CHAPTER!!!!
1896142
1895229 I hope this one proves worth it.
1895399 Glad you liked it
1896142 Workin' on it damnit!
1899317
It's quite good, but heh, after reading Not Alone, I had no doubt about it.
1895181 This is a good sentiment and it makes me sad that anyone saw fit to downvote it.
1894938
Agreed wholeheartedly, on both accounts.
Great opening, and I'm always looking for a good "Wedding Afternath" fic, so I'm faving this!
Though there's something I'm a bit put off by: Saber implies that Pincer will eventually "go home"... why would they release him, if he's explicitly a POW? Why not put Pincer in a prison camp?
Also, props for having Pincer keep his dignity when discovered. I've run into too many fics where an otherwise calm and rational Changeling protaginist suddenly starts begging for their lives when they're exposed...
1900133 Thanks, glad you're enjoying it so far.
The reasoning behind letting Pincer go is that Equestria and The Hive are, effectively, no longer at war. Celestia wants more information on the Hive, the changelings and Chrysalis so she can better prepare a defense if there's an attack in the future, but she's not really interested in taking the fight to them.
1900028
Seeing that both my comments have been voted down I'm going to take a wild guess that it is because I am unwilling it support the Changeling's invasion and I support not just Celestia but also a unified Equestria. Oh well what can I do? My sentiments about the issue can be summed up by my DA signature
1900090
Thank you for agreeing
Signed in the Name of Their Equestrian Majesties,
Ex Solis et Lunae, Providentia et Prospera
From the Sun and Moon, Providence and Prosperity
No Empire, No Republic, we are the Equestrian Concordiat
1900176 Okay, that makes sense. A lot of sense, actually: Canterlot is just recovering from an attack from a previously-unknown foe, so an offensive campaign wouldn't make tactical sense--the Guard would essentially be going in blind.
Damn, this looks very interesting. I like Pincer! some very... rational fears he's got, there.
1901886 Given that this is Princess Celestia we're dealing with, I don't know if that comment about his fears was supposed to be sarcasm
Glad you liked the character, though!
1901948 He doesn't know that, though...
This premise has captured my interest. The last changeling-prisoner story that caught my attention pretty quickly gave up trying to be written; I hope this one actually keeps going.
1901948 Are you sure it is Celestia?
Chance of meeting Celestia: 33.3%
Chance of meeting Trollestia: 33.3%
Chance of meeting Molestia: 33.3%
Chance of meeting Luna: 0.1%
So, in other words there is a 66.6% chance that his time in prison will become a living hell.
1900894
There's that and I just don't see canon Equestria ever deciding to go invading anyone anyways.
1900228
I might not been the invasion, but your comment might've been seen as anti-Changeling.
1903664 That was my line of thinking, yeah.
1903259
This being Starman Ghost, I don't think he'd have to worry about running into any of those versions of Celestia.
1904161 Hmmmm... Maybe not.
I love changeling stories. There's so many possibilities! I hope to see more very soon.
Also, 102 votes/Thumbs....only one of them is a thumbs down!
You're off to a good start here. I really like the guards' response since it implies the existence of a policy resembling the Law of Armed Conflict, specifically the part that says, "Collect and care for the wounded, whether friend or foe." I look forward to seeing how you contrast this with his time back at the hive.
Alright, this is looking just as good as Not Alone! I look forward to seeing Celestia's reaction as not a lot of fics present the situation like this.
So far so good.
1895083
Well hello there new desktop.
1905865 Thanks for the vote of confidence. There's a very good reason the treatment of Pincer reminds you of the Law of Armed Conflict, and that's because throughout this entire fic I will be making sure he's being treated according to standards set by the Geneva Conventions. Equestria may not have them, but I figure they're a good guideline for how a morally upright bunch would treat prisoners.
1906492 With any luck, it'll be better than Not Alone, as that would mean I learned from writing it
1906763 Hey there Warwolf! Glad you're enjoying it so far.
This is good. More please.
Certainly liking this so far. Looking forward to seeing how this pans out.
Ooh, this looks good. I like your style so far, and the concept has a lot of potential. Hopefully this widdle Changeling will learn the magic of friendship that ponies have :3
1923676 It won't from this point on. I just thought a prologue was needed.
Update in reverse, like a boss.
1923871 What?! Uh, that's a new one
1923708 Yeah, I figured. I just thought it was kinda silly.
1923945 1924133 Scarab's meant to be an interesting case. He realizes that the way The Hive is being run is unnecessarily cruel, so he acts as a sort of an "pocket of sanity" and is actually fatherly to his charges, even though he'd get his rank stripped if he was discovered. At the same time, though, he can't see the way they use the ponies as livestock is wrong, because he has to put all his time and all his energy into making his own drones' lives bearable.
Not enough information to judge but please go on.
1925141
In all seriousness this isn't Memento. I'll update normally from here on out.
And just like that your story earned a spot on my read list
The story starts nicely, but from story decryption I can already tell that this story will have sad or bad ending ( no happy ending ), are you sure you want protagonist of this story to get himself into hell ( from kindness to tortures ) and just make ponies believe that changeling's are evil and need to be destroyed ?
Interesting and awesome, I shall wait for more my good fellow!