After Chrysalis failed to conquer Equestria, she was shamefully stripped of her title of "Queen of the Changelings".

Their people now leaderless, the Changeling race now finds itself in a unique situation. In the struggle for power, one Changeling seizes the attention of his people. Can he overcome his nature, and the nature of his people, to lead them into a better future?

Smolder has been sneaking through the School of Friendship, getting wondering looks from her friends and her teachers. Then one night, when Smolder thought that everyone was asleep, Smolder's friends, Starlight, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Fluttershy, Applejack and Pinkie Pie followed Smolder to the catacombs, where they find Smolder with another dragon. And to surprise them all, the dragon she's with was once a human boy named Aaron Blazer.

The group wanted to know how Aaron got to Equestria in the first place. And they even wanted to know why Smolder was keeping Aaron hidden from her friends and the teachers. And, eventually, they're gonna have to find a way to get Aaron back to his home before his family starts to worry. They contacted new High Princess, Twilight Sparkle, to see if they can find a way to get Aaron back to his world.

But it would take time for Twilight to find the right spell to send Aaron home, so Smolder spent as much time with Aaron, trying to teach him how to fly like a dragon, and avoid causing fire damage with the fire breath he now has. And maybe, the two hang out.

You remember Canterlot. You remember the taste of victory. Across a thousand years and a hundred lives, it was the greatest joy you had ever felt.

And then, in a flash of heat and unbearable light, it ended.

Now you are alone. The rest of your kind are dead or scattered, and you cannot hear their thoughts.

There is a void inside you. A gnawing, endless hunger you cannot escape. It is killing you.

You need love to survive, but there is none of that here. Not for you. You can only steal it from them, these ponies for whom we are hungry.

[My entry in and winner of the "Most Dangerous Game" contest."]

As an Earth Pony ruin explorer, keen for riches and looking after yourself, you come across an old, ruined castle in the Everfree Forest. But instead of treasure, you find something much more dangerous, and much more wonderful. (Set mere hours after Nightmare Moon's defeat)

Princess Luna, having been recently reformed and freed from Nightmare Moon, brings a stallion she just met with her to Canterlot.

Princess Celestia says nothing and goes along with it.

Princess Mi Amore Cadenza is thrilled to have a live test subject.

And Baked Bean has no idea that Alicorns like to compete over everything.

Edited by Georg, Double R Forrest, and Tek

Cover art commissioned by an anonymous fan and drawn by Apricalico