It is strange just how cruel a life is wont to be, to take the things we hold most dear and dare to set them free to fall down unto the cracked earth and break like waves unto the sun’s last dying wake. I have had such a life, such past, such sorrow; I have journeyed far knowing only that there would be more journey come tomorrow. I have journeyed far; through darkness and through shadow, through fire and through light, through desert and through catacombs and dark and fearsome night. The journey now is over, but memories still fade too slowly to forget the only thing that made me see that life is so much more than dreams laying broken on the ocean’s empty shore.

~

An almost experimental project of mine; I hope everypony likes my new (and hopefully improved) style. I will be taking this much more slowly than my previous projects, and I hope it shows. All feedback is immensely appreciated.

Mantodea is a changeling who cannot shapeshift; or at least, not yet. He avoids attending Nightmare Night in fear of what his fellow changelings might think, but his friend Tamite takes him along regardless.

Based in the universe set by my other fanfiction, The Shaded View.

This is more or less my first attempt at a one-shot, but hit or miss you'll never get better at firing a gun unless you practice (heh, pun...). I hope it's worth reading, as I did put a good amount of time into writing this. So please, do enjoy!

And if you enjoyed this, check out my other story linked above, cuz that one's even better! It has an editor, pre-readers and everything!

Equestria is a peaceful place, full of love and kindness. It's a
place for the happy and the benevolent to call home. But it wasn't
always like that, and even now it has it's far from perfect.

As an orphan and a blank flank, Featherdrop has experienced the
cruelties of a modern day Equestria. She is alone in her world; devoid
of the friends which she couldn't care less to have.

As a changeling, Mantodea has learned to great extent the cruelties of an equestria long gone. Everyone else around him knows how to shape shift; something Mantodea struggles to do.

Both are but children, searching for happiness in a land said to be made of it. When Mantodea captures Featherdrop to hone the skill he needs to survive and be accepted, he must search desperately for a trace of love in the life of a pony who does not believe in it.

~ ~ ~

This story has been a long time coming, but after all the planning and all the discussion it's finally in full production! but I'm not the only one to thank for it, so here's to the team!

To my partner, editor and advisor DeepShift, thank you!

To my pre-reader and grammatical technician Silver, thank you!

To my Pre-reader and grammatical technician CHeighlund, thank you!

To my Pre-reader and general positivity general, er... Goddamnanimalplanet, thank you!

To my artist LoveBronyOtakuChan87, for making the awesome cover art, thank you!

And of course, thank you to anyone who took the time and effort to read my first ever real story on fimfiction!

That's the whole team so far, but how would YOU like to have your name up there? My current editor is the best editor ever so you're not going to get a position there (sorry folks), and I already have 2 Grammatical Technicians (my pet name for people who specialize in grammar). However, I'm still searching for people to fill the role(s) of:

Expositorial Currier:
Basically someone who can help get my story out there--be it by tagging groups, posting reviews or just telling all your friends. This job is not likely a permanent one. Once I have enough exposure it will likely snowball on its own [or not, if the story sucks], but getting those first few followers is what I need you for. I will not tolerate any cheap or unethical tactics in this department, such as tagging to unrelated groups or advertising in someone else's story, blog, etc.!

This should be the last job I need fulfilled, though it may disappear on its own in due time... but I'll update if anything else opens up!