//------------------------------// // A Post-Haste Changeling // Story: The EK // by Magi Tail Welkin //------------------------------// Twilight read the letter through again. The Council of Friendship looked unsure. As did Mayor Mare present as well, along with Written Script, the Town Clerk. Finally, Twilight spoke “Well we can’t really refuse him.” Flash frowned his eyebrows “But a Changeling? Living here?” Spike glared at him “You didn’t meet Thorax, did you?”, Flash looked away “I was training in Canterlot.” He then looked to Twilight “I’m not trying to be prejudice here. I’m also thinking about the townsfolk’s response, I mean so soon after the secret invasion.”, Mayor Mare nodded “I will try and calm as many ponies down as I can, but I’m afraid there’s only so much I can do. I'm sure there won't be much trouble no-pony paniced at the Changeling at Starlight's graduation.” Flash spoke again “But I’m not sure, I don’t know the full story with the Changelings so I’ll abstain.”, Twilight nodded. Rainbow spoke “After what we’ve been through with the Changelings I’m not going to trust this one right of the bat.”, Rarity nodded, the fashionista spoke “It took me days to completely wash off the cocoon slime.” She shuddered “Not to mention those ones at the Award and Graduation Party, they still seem so naïve it’s almost tragic.” Applejack then spoke “But most of the Changelings are now reformed. We should at least give this one a chance.” Fluttershy nodded meekly “I know they did terrible stuff when under Chrysalis. Discord told me about what they did to capture him over tea the other day, and he still seemed shaken by it.” She sighed “But Thorax is a better pony, or, whatever you call them.” “Pony,” Twilight said, everyone, apart from Flash looked at her, she sighed, she wouldn’t reveal her adherence to the Silver Enlightenment, not yet anyway “I did some research, it turns out we Equestrian Ponies, the Crystal Ponies and the Changelings all share a common ancestry, thousands and thousands of years before Equestria was founded.” Rainbow spoke up “Sometimes Twilight you research the oddest things.”, the Princess rolled her eyes “Getting back to the matter in hoof, part of the alliance agreement between Equestria and the reformed Changeling Kingdom is that if one of Thorax’s subjects so choose they can apply for citizenship in Equestria, the respective Princess of which territory can approve or refuse. Personally, I don’t see any reason not to let him move to Ponyville. Besides it’ll give me something to study.”, the girls rolled their eyes. Twilight cleared her throat “Shall we vote? Myself and Flash are abstaining.”, the Council nodded. Mayor Mare looked to Written Script “Take notes of this.”, the Unicorn nodded and levitated a piece of parchment and a quill pen. Twilight spoke “Who else is abstaining?” Pinkie held up her hoof “Bet you didn’t know I knew what abstaining meant.” Script stifled a laugh as he wrote down those not wishing to vote. Mayor Mare gave him a glare. Twilight continued “All those against?”, Rarity and Rainbow put their hoofs up. They both blinked and looked around the others while Script marked them off. Twilight nodded “And so all in favour?”, Applejack, Fluttershy, Spike and Starlight held their hoofs up. Twilight turned to Mayor Mare “So out of every-pony to vote that’s a two-thirds majority.”, the Mayor nodded and turned to Script finishing “Come along Town Clerk, we have to make arrange.” “Yes ma’am.” And the two walked out. Twilight got down from her throne and smiled at those who voted yes “Thank you,” she looked to Spike “again Spike you spoke in true favour first and set the example of friendship.” She then addressed the gathered “Now it’s all are turns to set the example for the Everfree Kingdom and extend our friendship to our incoming resident, Changeling Cipher.” The Major read his favourite daily magazine, the Liverypool Street Herald, a joke newspaper filled with jokes, and small bits of news not thought serious or just too minimal to include. Written by a large team of ponies on Canterlot’s Liverypool Street, and founded by a Canterlot town crier named Herald, hence the name. He of course read the serious papers, the Equestria Daily and the Ponyville Express, but this kept him in good spirits for the morning. “Porter, come and listen to this, Coronal Helmet Stream, Equestria’s greatest elephant tracker and research was buried today. In future, he’s decided not to follow so close behind the elephants.”, Porter nose scrunched up as the Major laughed and read out a few more “Advertisement here: Old mare with little dog seeks post.” Porter laughed “Very droll that one sir.” “The Equestrian National Railway company has asked the stallion who took the five o’clock train home, to give it back.” Porter turned the page to one of the later pages “Industrial news here sir, a shock announcement yesterday that Equestria’s leading manufacturer of dog biscuits has had to call in the official retriever.” The Major burst out laughing at that “Very good. Club news, members of Sit-up Club are getting thin on the ground. It’s hard to find anyone in the Hide and Seek Society. And the Parachute Club has disbanded, they all fell out.” He laughed “But the Chairman, Geronimo, has said he will continue this hobby even though he doesn’t know what he’ll say when jumping out of the balloon. But these problems don’t worry him for they are not the hardest part of skydiving, the ground is.” The Major shook his head “Whoever wrote this one didn’t know when to stop.” Porter said narrowing his eyes “I do believe there is, or was a Parachute Club. It’s lucky then never came over Ponyville, otherwise we may have attacked them.” “Oh, don’t be absurd Porter.” He glanced at the clock on the mantelpiece “Sweet Celestia, is that time?” Porter levitated his watch and nodded “It appears so sir.” “We’re supposed to meet that Changeling chap and escort him in. Why didn’t you say?” “I didn’t want to spoil your fun sir.”, the Major fumed before grabbing his cap “Come on.” And the two ran. Up on the hill overlooking the village two figures stop. One a small bipedal creature, the other an equine about the size of Big Mac with an insect appearance. The main body colours blue and yellow. A sharp horn in between his ears. And three gems on his chest denoting his gender just like King Thorax. The Changeling sighed and looked to the creature “Well Riolu, shall we?” The bipedal creature, a small blue canine with black torso and legs, a long blue tail, and a yellow collar. Rounded white bumps on the backs of its forepaws. A black mask like a racoon around its red eyes, from the edges of the mask protruded two lobes like appendages, but not ears, for two blue triangular stuck from the. Two finish off the oddity it stood constantly on tiptoes instead of its entire foot. It turned to the Changeling and nodded with an excited bark. The Changeling smiled and rubbed the top of his head, he took a deep breath. “Excuse me! Wait!” a voice shouted. The creature known as Riolu yipping in surprise and ducked behind the Changeling as two ponies came running up. The old gentle-colts panted before standing straight and offered his hoof “Major Green Fields, late of Princess Celestia’s Fifth Regiment of Hoof. Commanding Officer of the Everfree Guard Reserves.”, the Changeling blinked looked at the hoof, then smiled and took it “Cipher, I’m a,” he paused and cleared his throat, he took the hoof away and rubbed the back of his head “well, it’s now a Prince Changeling and was…” “A Prince!” He nodded “Well I was a Drone Changeling,” he blushed and looked away “that was what Her Tragedy called her harem.” The Major and Porter blushed, Porter utter “Dear Celestia.” “Yes, I know. And before you think we Drones had an easy life. We didn’t. We were chosen out of the strongest and most intelligent of a hatching to impregnate Her Tragedy with a mixture of genes to create the next stronger generation. She raised us to hate each, but love her so she could horde most of the love for her own survival, most Changelings die early of starvation. In fact, from what His Majesty King Thorax told me she in fact absorbs the love from her harem after mating to persevere herself and keep possible usurpers from rising. If Starlight and Thorax hadn’t dethroned her I would be dead right about now.” Riolu hugged Cipher’s leg. He hugged him back “Our culture was undeveloped, basically anything Her Tragedy told us went. Love as a magical energy we feed upon, we know now, is an infinite resource, but it’s finite to create individually, just as with a relation, Her Tragedy thought it best to steal love as the quicker solution.” The Major blinked “How do feed off love?” “It’s a form of flitter feeding, even as I’m breathing I’m absorbing the emotion energy. Before our reformation, the snarl was the best way of getting lot of food quickly.” Porter cleared his throat “You said you became a Prince Changeling, how did you achieve that and exactly what does that mean?” “His Majesty needed to appoint heirs as a contingency, his elder brother Pharnyx, leader of the recently former Changeling Praetorian Guard is a Prince Changeling too. I was the one of smartest of the harem, and in my spare time I trained to increase my magic skills, but given how young individual Changelings are…” “Wait,” the Major asked “what do you mean by young?” Cipher sighed “I was hatched after the Wedding Invasion.”, their eyes widened, the Major stammered “But, but, but it’s only just been a year and a half since then!” “Exactly. I did say most Changelings died young, aging depends on Love too, Her Tragedy took care of us and pretended to love us as a mother and those we felt loved so we grew quickly, but when she saw us as means to an end and when we failed he she stopped “loving” us and took the love back.” He sighed. Riolu whimpered and rubbed his head against his body. “As I was saying give how young individual Changelings are don’t be surprised if I get things wrong or am naïve on somethings.” They nodded, the Major stood to attention “Very well, I believe we’ve wasted enough time up here.” Cipher held up a hoof “Wait, just before we go into town I want to talk to one pony.” At the cottage door and looked to the Major “So I follow that road to get to town?”, both soldiers nodded “Good luck.” “Thank you.” Porter leaned “Can I just ask, are you referring to Chrysalis as Her Tragedy?” “I would have thought that was obvious.”, Porter chuckled “That’s a very good play on words.”, the Major nodded and the two walked along the road and over the bridge. Cipher turned back and gulped, he looked down to Riolu and the canine creature smiled. Cipher took a deep breath and knocked. “I’m coming.” The soft voice said from inside “You’re a little early for our tea session,” the door opened and the yellow Pegasus stopped, blinked. Cipher gave a sheepish smile and with a blush said “Hi?”, she yelped and inched back “Who are…” she blinked “Are you Cipher?” He nodded “I wanted to speak with you.” “Oh, well,” she looked back into her house “I think I can spare a minute or two, but you see, I’ve got a friend coming over for tea.” “Oh, if you’re serving tea then I’ll join you, I quite like the stuff.” “Really? I didn’t know Changelings could drink tea?” “Neither did I until His Majesty offered me a cup.” “Well then, come in please.” Cipher nodded and walked in, Riolu stepped in and Fluttershy gasped “Oh my goodness!”, Cipher took off buzzing and nearly hit the celling to avoid the almost pounce like action she did to close the gap between herself and the little blue creature. Riolu barked and jump back shaking. Fluttershy back up herself “Oh I’m sorry I didn’t mean to scare you.” Cipher landed beside the little animal and scratched behind his ear, Riolu calmed down and his eyes fluttered, he chuckled and turned to her “It’s alright, Riolu gets scared by new ponies.”, Riolu smiled and took a step forward, he held his arms up and close his eyes, the appendages on his face rose, after a second or two the appendages and arms dropped. Riolu opened his eyes and gave Fluttershy a big smile. Fluttershy bit her lip and rubbed her hoof on his head “You’re so cute!”, something which sounded like a very squeaky cough, every eye turned to the white rabbit standing at Fluttershy’s hoof, Fluttershy turned to him with a smile. Riolu looked at the bunny before repeating what he did before. After his arms went down he gave an unsure smile and offered his paw with a friendly bark. Angel Bunny raised an eyebrow before bouncing up and slapping it. Riolu yelp and waved his paw a little hurt. Fluttershy gasped. Turned to Angel. And gave him the Stare. Angel collapsed into himself. Cipher cleared his throat and Fluttershy looked at him. The Changeling took he deep breath and spoke “On behalf of my kind I want to…” A flash appeared in the room and a tall jumble of a creature stood. He arched his snake like body down to Fluttershy and grinned “Am I fashionably late for tea again?”, the Pegasus smiled “Yes Discord, but I still need to put the kettle on, I’ve got a guest.”, the Spirit of Chaos looked up at Cipher. The Changeling gulped and back up to the wall. Discord gritted his teeth and his eyes flared, he stomped up to Cipher and grabbed him with his lion paw. “What are you doing here?” he said threating voice. A snarling bark sounded, Riolu jumped up high and placed his palm on Discord’s arm. From the paw came a burst of yellow light. Discord hand opened and Cipher dropped. A wearier Riolu, hardly able to stand, put himself between the cringing Discord and the Prince Changeling and growled. Discord rubbed his lions arm with the white tuff of his reptilian tale and looked down, his eyes widened “A Jakhowl?” “Um, Discord?”, the Spirit of Chaos turned to Fluttershy who walked past him and offered her hoof to Cipher “This is Cipher, Twilight’s allowed him to live in Ponyville, and I agreed.” Discord’s eyes widened “But Fluttershy, he’s a Changeling!” Cipher looked up at him and snarled “Oh I see! Just because I’m a Changeling you assume I dangerous? Don’t you recall all of us being ready to fight against Her Tragedy Chrysalis or is your memory as chaotic as your powers?” Discord growled. Fluttershy quickly flew between them “Please no fighting in my cottage. Let’s just all calm down and have a nice cup of tea.”, Cipher blinked and looked down in shame “I’m sorry.”, Fluttershy smiled and looked to Discord, the Spirit of Chaos crossed his arms “Under protest.”, Fluttershy sighed. Soon they sat around a small table. Discord sat on the armchair while Fluttershy and Cipher sat on the sofa. Riolu sat at the leg of the sofa next to Cipher chewing on a bone, however he did start feeling sleepy. Cipher took a sip and blinked looked at the browning liquid “This is an amazing brew,” he looked to Fluttershy “where do you get it?” “Oh, it’s always sold at the market.” She put her cup down “Now, your said something about on behalf of your kind?” Cipher nodded “Yes, as I was saying on behalf on my kind I’d like to apologise for our knapping of you, your friends and the royalty.” “Oh, that’s alright I know you did it because Chrysalis told you too. But Twilight and Spike tell me the hive is doing very well.” “Oh, they are, but for one like me things were getting a little too, what’s the word? Lively.” Discord snorted “And what’s wrong with that?” “Oh nothing, if you like that. The hive is a very claustrophobic place, you cannot do something without some-pony else knowing about it. Me, I prefer a quiet night. And that’s not been easy since His Majesty gave me my position, I had mares lining up at my door.” A blush started form on Fluttershy’s cheeks “Why would they do that?”, Cipher recited what he said to the Major and Porter. Although he left out the part of being a sex slave to Chrysalis. At the end, Discord’s mouth opened and fell to the floor. Fluttershy though thoroughly uncomfortable put her hoof onto his shoulder “You poor thing. I never knew the Changelings had life so hard.” Cipher looked at the hoof then to her calm and concerned eyes before giving her a sad smile “It’s alright, we are improving. As for those mares, I don’t really blame them, we’re all a little naïve about the concept of sharing love so I can understand they look it a little literal.”, Fluttershy blushed further, Cipher frowned “I’m sorry if I’m making you uneasy, I don’t mean to. I don’t want the Changelings to forever be the cause of fear, paranoia and unease.” “No, it’s alright.” Fluttershy said giving him a small smile. Discord raised an eyebrow before clearing his throat, both looked to him “This is meant to be my weakly tea with Fluttershy.” “Discord,” she said with a slight frown. Cipher raised his hoof “No I understand, and I know better than to anger someone with reality changing powers.” He got down and picked up the sleeping Riolu, then a thought struck him “You called Riolu a Jakhowl? Is that what his species his called?” “Yes, but I don’t know much myself.”, Riolu stirred and growled before falling asleep again. Fluttershy turned to Discord and gave him a glare. Discord gulped and spoke “Well maybe I do, I didn’t pay much attention to them at the time.” Cipher frowned “So they’ve been around since your chaotic reign of Equestria?” “They were rare even then, I may have done something to make them disappear I’m not sure.” “Discord?” Fluttershy exclaimed. “I don’t know.”, Fluttershy frowned and turned to Cipher “Why not speak to Twilight?”, he nodded “Thank you.” He turned around and walked out. When the door shut Fluttershy turn to Discord “I can tell you didn’t tell Cipher everything about Jakhowls.” “That because he didn’t ask me, he just wanted to know the creature’s name.”, Fluttershy gave him the Stare. Discord gulped, less about the Stare itself and more about offending his best friend “Don’t tell him, or at least now, once we’ve buried the hatchet and we can trust each other…” “You don’t trust him?” she looked hurt, he sighed “I’m sorry Fluttershy but you know what the Changelings did, as much as I can understand their problems I just can’t get past that just yet.”, she sighed and looked to the door and sighed again. Discord narrowed his eyes, she returned to him and he recovered “You we’re saying about Jakhowls.” “Yes, Jakhowls had, have, this ability which affects me. You saw what happened. As being as powerful as me being physical hurt, and by a pup, and there used to be an entire race of them.” “Riolu’s only a puppy?” “Yes, but there gone now, or at least I think so, but since seeing that one I can’t be sure.” “What is this ability?” “You beginning to sound like Twilight.”, Fluttershy relented. Outside the castle doors Twilight blinked unbelieving at the smiling bipedal canine “A living Jakhowl pup?” she exclaimed “I thought they were extinct! Where did you find him?” “During my journey, here to Ponyville.” He sighed “See, I knew Changelings would be distrusted south by many outside of Ponyville so I didn’t use the train, I found him lost in the Buffalo Reservation just outside Appleloosa, the Chief wanted me to send his regards.”, Twilight smiled. Cipher looked out at the town, a pony walked between two houses but took a chance to wave, the Changeling hesitantly waved back, and received a friendly smile in return. Cipher smiled as well “I can’t believe how friendly the town is. I just walked in and no-pony gave me disgusted or fearful looks. Curious yes, I can understand that, but…” Twilight giggled “Ponyville has always been an accepting place, it’s got several of each race, we’ve got a couple donkeys and mule or two about town. Starlight and Spike help me in explaining about your race and you change of heart.” Cipher looked back her the Princess “I’d like to thank them both, their heroes to the Changelings, His Majesty’s first friend and Miss Glimmer who help His Majesty ascend, I wasn’t able to attend that party a few months ago.” “They’re out of town right now, Starlight’s visiting Sunburst in the Crystal Empire and Spike helping Rarity look for gems, apparently a harder job after Maud pointed out the gems in the local area aren't rare, they could always ask her for help.”, Cipher nodded “I’ll do it later then.” “Cipher, just one thing?” He eyes gleamed “Can I, study Riolu?”, Riolu stepped back a little and Cipher frowned “Depends on the type of study.” “Oh, nothing that’ll hurt him, just observation, I may send Spike to take notes if I’m not available.”, Cipher put his hoof to his chin before looking down to Riolu, the Jakhowl shrugged, Cipher looked back “I can’t see any reason why not.” Twilight nodded “Thank you. Why’s he called Riolu?” Cipher shrugged “I have no idea. The Buffalo called him that, doesn’t sound Buffalo though, they said it means, roughly translated ‘Organiser to maintain the village.’, not quite sure to make of that.” Twilight narrowed her eyes and tapped her hoof on her chin, then she shook her head and started trotting “Come on I’ll show you to your new house.”, Cipher blinked and his mouth opened “I have a house?” “Of course, we wouldn’t leave you on the street.”, Cipher and Riolu quickly closed the gap. They passed the Post Office and Cipher noticed the sign in the window saying, ‘Help Wanted.’ He raised an eyebrow with a small smile, he heard a bark and turned to Riolu some ways forward waving him over, Cipher trotted towards the Jakhowl and the Princess. Soon they reached a typical timber-framed house close by to a colourful shop made to look like gingerbread and other confessionary stylings. Cipher blinked “That’s Sugarcube Corner, right?”, Twilight nodded, Cipher smirked “That’s going to be very bright in the morning, I may not need an alarm clock.”, he glanced at Riolu, the pup licked his lips, Cipher chuckled “Later Riolu.” The door to a neighbouring house opened, squeezing out of the front door came a massive, muscular stallion, Cipher’s eyes widened, then narrowed with confusion at the tiny pair of wings. Twilight waited for a moment “Cipher this is Bulk Biceps. Bulk this is Cipher.”, Bulk smiled “Nice to meet you!” He shouted, “Need anything heavy to lift?”, Cipher blinked and spoke slowly “Well, I may need some help with moving furniture, I’ll let you know.” “Cool. I’ll be next-door if you need me. I’ve got some foals to teach.” He fluttered his wings and slowly flew off. Cipher turned to Twilight “So I’ve got the hyperactive Pinkie Pie and the boisterous Bulk for neighbours.” He glanced down as a shaking Riolu who held his ear, Cipher gently nudged him. Another door opened and out walked a cerise mare with a trio of smiling flowers for a cutie mark. Twilight called her over “Cheerilee your new neighbour’s here.”, the mare called Cheerilee smiled and walked over. She offered her hoof “It’s very nice to meet you, I didn’t know regular Changelings could get so big, I’m Miss Cheerilee I’m the teacher at the school.” “Oh, really?”, she nodded, Cipher bit his lip “Is it alright if I get some lessons from you?”, Cheerilee frowned “What do you mean?”, Cipher sighed and for the third time recounted his actual age and the reason for it. Both mares stared. Cipher nodded “I’m getting used to that face. I’ve seen on Major Fields and Mr Porter and on Miss Fluttershy, and that Discord.” Twilight blinked “You we’re at Fluttershy’s when Discord was there?”, Cipher nodded and told what happened. Twilight eyes widened and looked to Riolu, the Jakhowl got petted by Cheerilee. Twilight’s frowned and narrowed her eyes, but then she recovered and turned to Cipher “We still need to get you inside.” She pushed the door open. Cipher stared the darkroom and when he received a nodded from Twilight he hesitantly stepped in. Inside he looked around seeing nothing “Can’t some-pony find the main switch? Is there a candle or something?” Suddenly the light came on with a shout of “SURPRISE!”, Cipher flinched. Grabbed Riolu, put him under him and dropped to the floor. With his eyes shut. A soft voice spoke “Oh dear, are you scared Cipher?”, the Changeling opened his eyes and met Fluttershy’s, his mind swam in the swimming pool cyan of her irises, speechless. “Are you okay?” another voice said and Cipher blinked turned to the orange Earth Pony Mare with the Stetson “Your reaction wasn’t quite what we hoped for.” Cipher slowly got up, Riolu clung to his leg but started to raise an arm and shut his eyes. Cipher looked to the cowgirl mare “I’m fine Miss Applejack, it’s just I was shocked.”, he looked around the room, dozens of ponies stood with concerned faces, balloons, confetti and streamer covered the walls and floor “I’m use to loud noise meaning an attack or something nasty, not a…” A loud gasp sounded and Pinkie Pie suddenly appeared before him “You mean you’ve never had a party before?” she exclaimed “Well I’m going to fix that.” She dashed off and returned quickly with a slice of cake “This’ll cheer you up.” Cipher’s eyes widened at the cake and he frantically spoke “I don’t think you should…” he didn’t get to say anymore as Pinkie practically shoved the slice into this mouth and causing Cipher to swallow. Next thing he jerked and coughed up. Then he ran up the stairs. Fluttershy, Twilight and Pinkie quickly followed just seeing the bathroom door shut. From inside they heard Cipher throw up. Fluttershy hid inside her mane, Twilight frowned deep, wide eyed and small pupiled, slowly she turned to Pinkie Pie who just blinked at the door “Maybe he’s allergic to something in the cake.” The door opened and Cipher, looking tired and a little unwell waked past the three and headed for the stair. A hoof touched his shoulder and he turned to look at Fluttershy “Are you alright? What happened?” “I’m okay, could be better, as to what happened I’d better explain it to every-pony present.”, the four went back down the stairs, concerned eyes focused on him. Cipher himself focused on two mares looking at Riolu, the pup presently laid on a sofa. One mint green Unicorn with a heart shaped harp cutie mark seemed a little too interested in the Jakhowl’s paws. Whereas the other a yellow Earth Pony with a blue and pink mane and sweets for her cutie mark looked at the pup with suspicion. Cipher walked over and cleared his throat the two looked to him “Sorry but Riolu might not be happy with the attention when he wakes up, he’s not very good at meeting new ponies. Anyway, he needs his sleep, he’s only a pup so the Princess say.”, the yellow mare looked back down at Riolu with slight guilt before she nudged the other and they both walked away. Cipher then sat down on the spare part of the sofa and address the crowd “What happened after I ate the cake is an unfortunate part of Changeling biology, we can’t eat solid food.” He glanced at Fluttershy “Liquids we can have, and the nectar of flowers. But the only thing that can properly nourish us is emotional energy. Magic is tied to the physical body, I heard when that Lord Tirek character stole every-ponies’ magic it cause tiredness and heaviness in the body?” Every-pony nodded, some shuddered too and the memories. Cipher continued “I’m not all that sure how, but we develop are emotion fuelled magic to get around the blocking powers of Her Tragedy’s throne.” A couple of laughs burst through the room, every-pony turned to Rainbow Dash and Pinkie laughing the corner “Her Tragedy,” Rainbow said between laughs “that’s good one.”, Cipher smirked “I’m proud of that play on words. Anyway, we became so depended on the magic and possible as a side-effect to living so close to the dark stone of the throne we evolved to literally only live on emotional energy, the more passionate the most nourishing, and since Equestria has more love than anger. But to narrow down the problem with the cake, I literally don’t have the stomach for it.” Fluttershy walked up and gave him a small hug. Cipher stiffed but then leaned into it. Pinkie bounced up causing the two to break and she said “Sorry.” Cipher smiled slightly “It wasn’t your fault, I assume most ponies didn’t know about the innerworkings of us Changeling.” Mayor Mare walked up “Now that we’ve had that sorted out I want to ask if you’ve considered any possible jobs?” Cipher frowned “I haven’t really, I only just got here. But I did notice the Post Office needed help.” “Oh!” came a voice, Cipher looked to this left and a greyish-blue Pegasus mare flew up to him with landed, with slight stumped “I’m Muffins I’m Post Mistress, we need a new Post-pony.” Cipher blinked “Well, traveling up here made me realise I like to stretch my legs. Not to mention getting to travel around town could allow me to make new friendship all over.” His eyes widened and he grinned “When do I start?” Muffins smiled “First delivery comes from the station at nine o’clock.” She then looked him over “Your bodies already blue so I don’t think you’ll need a uniform.” Riolu stirred and looked up, Cipher looked down “What do you think Riolu, delivering the post? Why don’t you say hello to Muffins?”, the Jakhowl turned to the cross-eyed mare and gave a bark and a smile. Muffins squealed and hugged him “The kid are going to love you.” “You’ve got children?” Cipher asked, Muffins nodded and explained about Dipsy, Crackle and Dinky and her husband Dauntless Doo. Cipher frowned “How are they going to feel having a Changeling coming and going?” Muffins frowned “I’m sure I can keep them busy, if not I’m sure Dauntless or the Doc and take care of them.” She turned around “Hey Doc?” Time Turner tapped his hoof on the barometer hanging on the wall, when he heard Muffins he turned around “Yes?”, Muffins asked and the doctor shrugged seems perfectly fine to me, I don’t mind, the children are very good lab assistants.” He then offered his hoof the Cipher “Doctor Time Turner, timekeeper, handy-pony, scientist and inventor.” “You must have one large calling card.”, chuckled filtered through the room. Time Turner pulled out his watch and his eye widened “Great whickering stallion! Is that the time? I need to get home fast.” He ran to the door and opened it, the town clock struck as well and every-pony with watches realised the time as well. Soon ponies began filing out the door. Cipher gave a sigh of relief. Fluttershy walked up and gave him a small smile and tapped him on the shoulder “Good luck tomorrow Cipher.” He smiled “Thank you.”, she nodded and turned to leave, Cipher walked up “Will I be able to see you tomorrow?”, Fluttershy blinked and considered “Well if I get any letters then yes, but you can come to my cottage, or the sanctuary at any time, I could always do with help with my animals.” Riolu barked and Fluttershy smiled “Yes you can come too Riolu.” She turned back to Cipher, now she glanced away and tried to hide herself in her mane “Well I guess, I’ll, see you tomorrow.” Cipher smiled “I hope so yes. See you tomorrow.”, Fluttershy gave a small smile before trotting out the door and closing it behind her. Once alone in his house Cipher gave out a sigh of relief. Riolu barked and he turned “I think you’ll have to sleep on the sofa until I can get a basket for you.” Then a thought struck him. Ran out the door and looked down the streets. He saw a figure of butter yellow and pink walking slowly away. Cipher buzzed him wings “Wait Fluttershy.”, she yelped and curled up. Cipher landed and gazed at her shuddering form, he gulped and slowly put his hoof on her “Fluttershy?”, she slowed down and looked up, Cipher gave her a grin “Sorry about that, I just won’t to ask, you wouldn’t happen to know where I can a basket for Riolu to sleep in?” “Oh,” she got up “I know Filthy Rich sells them in Barnyard Bargains.”, she pointed towards the town centre “Go through the market and turn left at the Day Spa.” Cipher smiled “Thanks.” He turned to the door “Come on Riolu.”, the Jakhowl barked and tried to jump to reach the door nod. Cipher smiled picked him up and the bipedal canine shut it. Cipher levitated the key and locked the door. The two walked away from the house. Fluttershy watched them go, sighed with a sad smile and flew home.