This story is a sequel to Adaptation - A Changeling's Story

*Cover art is made from two separate pieces, neither of which did I create. I linked to one, the other is an old piece I had requested from Ficisism on Deviantart, but the account is deactivated.

(( NOTE 4/20/2019 -- Integration is on an indefinite hiatus. My apologies. ))

It's been almost three years since Echo officially came out of hiding, adopted her daughter, and began the arduous task of becoming part of what was, to her, an alien culture. She's managed to secure financial stability, but now she struggles with things that are altogether foreign to her.

What does it mean to have friends? She knows it's a good thing, she knows it keeps her alive, but it seems like there's a measure of responsibility to it. More importantly, how can she be a good mother to her daughter if she doesn't understand something so fundamental to ponies as friendship?

Moving back to Ponyville presents its own challenges though, as she finds an unexpected surprise waiting for her.

Seeking respite, she turns to help in Canterlot, only to find that there is an even greater menace there, waiting to ruin her peaceful existence.

She really can't seem to get a break.

(2/27/17: Due to alternate changeling continuity, AU tag has been added)
(4/12/17: I have received more than a few messages requesting the dark tag. It has now been added.)

In a moment of weakness, Chrysalis had more than a taste of Shining Armour's love. 11 months later, Twilight Sparkle finds herself a brand new niece by way of 'A small foal in a basket on my door step'.

Special thanks for the picture by Awilldrawforfood1
Now edited with DoomManta.

Rainbow Dash, best pony, fastest flier in Equestria, all around awesome mare, was called upon to help with the wedding of her friend's big brother. And hey, she never leaves her friends hanging! Of course, when it turned out some kind of bug thing had replaced the bride, Rainbow was more then ready to fight. Heck, even after it seemed all hope was lost, the pegasus refused to give up.

So when she saw Shining Armor charge up a final spell, she smirked.

But when that spell reached her and flung her against the wall, her smirk devolved into shock...

Cover art is a combination of Deception is Magic vector by Helios and Sonic Rainboom Version One by SkyRings.

Beyond Earth and beyond the Universe within which Earth exists there is a place full of love; the richest mine of love that can be found, as it is seen by those capable of utilizing it...

Within that place, specifically a part of it called the Everfree Forest, awakes one such creature: a Changeling; specifically, a Changeling who had been a human on Earth the day before. How will he survive in a body that literally needs love for nourishment, while in a world that is now wise to the Changelings' tricks and has branded them evil? Better question: Will he be able to change more than his physical appearance?

These questions are not the only thing that will plague him, for the hows and whys of his arrival and transformation are in a hurry to reveal themselves, and Equestria's heart will stop as it waits for its fate to be decided.

Now with a side story (with more to come) from other characters' POV!
POV: MANE SIX

(I kinda setup my own rules on changelings logic. So if there are any other changeling stories that have different logic, I won't follow it.)
[2nd POV] A changeling is a mindless slave, and was only born to serve Queen Chrysalis. It does not have feelings, so it does not feel remorse. A changeling cannot think or choose for itself, as it is not sentient. It only moves without question, and only constantly feed off of the love of ponies. Since it is not sentient, it cannot be befriended, cannot learn to communicate, and cannot feel love. Its sole-purpose is to feed off love out of every pony alive.
But... that doesn't seem to apply to you.
The day you met that one unicorn, was the day you began asking, questioning your own existence.
Ever since the fall of Queen Chrysalis, she was nowhere to be found. Your siblings can't seem to do anything without her guidance, and slowly, each one of your siblings begin to die out. As an endangered changeling in hiding, you use your newly discovered free-will and wits to try to find out the answer to your question. Trying to solve it before you die. "Who am I now?"
(I guess now that i think about it, I just made changelings the equivalent to zombies. And you are a.... Sentient zombie?)
On hiatus for the moment. Until I get my shit together, this story is going to just linger there for some moments.

With the population of the changeling race crippled by their expulsion from Canterlot, and their queen powerless to salvage it on her own, Chrysalis requires outside help from Equestria to get them back on their feet. But reaching out to Princess Celestia proves troublesome, as she cannot risk returning to Canterlot, and the one pony outside the city with a direct line to her is also the least willing to trust her. The salvation of her kingdom may rely on her making amends... and perhaps making friends as well.

Now has a sequel!

Cover art by Nocturnal Melodies (No_M), drawn at my request for this story.

For most of Applejack's life, she didn't know what she was. True, she understood who she was well enough.
But ponies don't change shapes, nor do they get strength from love.
Applejack never thought too hard on it... until the events of a certain wedding brought about some harsh realizations.
Now, with Equestria still reeling from the surprise attack, will Applejack manage to come to terms with what she is? Will she even be able to keep her secret safe?
For if the royal guards don't get her first, the conspirators in the shadows just might...

Image provided by Heilos -

A single changeling is blamed for making Chrysalis' plan to take over Equestria fail. He's banished and thrown out of the hive, ending up somewhere far away.

Luckily, he ends up not too far from a certain well-known village, where he can feed to his heart's content.

Needless to say, not everything goes according to plan.

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Now with a French version, courtesy of Wansdich, here.
Fanart! Check it out here. And even more here!
Now in ereader-friendly PDF version, by Starflower Hooves! You can view and download it here.
Featured on Equestria Daily!

All her life, Fluttershy felt different from the other pegasi. She preferred the ground to the clouds, and the simple love of her animal friends always seemed to refresh her... And she never really had to eat... She didn't remember her parents, either...

One day, though, her life changes forever, when she and her best friends find out what she truly is.

When Princess Celestia faces a harsh choice to execute an innocent and virtually harmless changeling, will she be able to go through with the notion of taking the filly's life, or will sympathy overtake her moral alignment?

*In this story, the changelings are based off of Season 2, so it's as if they've never given love freely. Sept 4th, 2017