After a few minutes of relatively uneventful walking. They broke the treeline. “Well, we’re out. Ponyville isn’t too far away.”
"Sweet, Asriel I need you to scan for any resources we can use, food and water too," Dracona stated. "We don't know what kind of currency they use so we might have to scavenge what we can if negotiations go south."
"Working on it," the Ghost replied cheerfully. "I want you to be careful though, I'm picking up highly concentrated energy readings across the planet, wherever we ended up might cause some interference with any kind of device we try to build."
"So attune it to the energy of the planet then? Gotcha," Dracona replied. "Should be easy enough since we'll be using local materials anyway."
"If you say so," Asriel replied. "You have to build the thing after all."
“U-umm would you like me to walk you to town?” Fluttershy asked and scuffed the dirt with a hoof.
"Sure, I'm sure it would make a good first impression." Dracona replied cheerfully.
“How wonderful. Shall we go?” Fluttershy gestured a wing towards the path leading to Ponyville.
"Ok then." Dracona said.
The two make their way down the path until a loud whistling noise was heard overhead.
“O-oh no...” Fluttershy shivers nervously. “Not her.”
Both Ghost and Guardian let out a confused "Huh?".
A blue pegasus with a rainbow mane soared out of the clouds and landed in front of the two. “Hey Shy! What are you still doing out here? Twilight wanted all of- Wait, what’s that?”
“H-hey.. R-Rainbow...” Fluttershy stiffened as she spoke, clearly frightened.
“You doin okay there shy?” Rainbow’s eyes narrow a bit.
"Hi! I'm Dracona, this is Asriel." The exo stated as her Ghost bobbed up and down in greeting.
“Yeah. Sure. Rainbow Dash.” Rainbow waved a wing at the exo, and stared intently at Fluttershy.
"Is something wrong?" Asriel asked.
“Umm. excuse me. What’s going on?” Fluttershy’s voice spoke up from behind Fluttershy and Dracona.
Rainbow’s eyes snapped to look behind the two then snapped back to Fluttershy. “Changeling.” She hissed, snorting.
“O-oh crap.” Fluttershy shivers.
Dracona stepped in between the changeling and the blue mare staring her down.
"What's going on here?" she asked.
“O-oh my goodness!” Fluttershy’s voice yelps from behind the exo.
There was a whoosh and a flash of green light, and a strange feminine voice cried out from behind Dracona. “Please don’t hurt me!”
“Out of my way! That’s a changeling!” Rainbow roared, yet doesn’t attempt to pass the exo.
Dracona was wary, tired and frusytrated all at once.
"...I should care why?" she asked flatly.
“They’re Changelings! They’re evil! They suck out your love!” Rainbow replied as she spluttered for words.
“N-no w-we d-don’t” ‘Fluttershy’ sounded terrified. “T-that hurts people.”
“A-are you okay?” The real Fluttershy asked from behind the exo.
“Ah! D-don’t hurt me! I haven’t fed on anyone! I’m not part of Chrysalis’s hive!” ‘Fluttershy babbled.
“It’s okay... I’m not going to hurt you....” Fluttershy said in a calm, soothing voice.
“Fluttershy don’t go near it!”
"Hi, I'm a Guardian, a hunter. I knife stuff in the face for a living. Now please do me a favour and chill," Dracona said calmly. "If the changeling was a threat, I would've knifed it already."
"What do you mean by 'suck out your love'? That doesn't seem scientifically possible?" Asriel asked curiously.
“I don’t know! It’s egghead stuff!” Rainbow spluttered, her wings fluffed out and flapped in irritation.
“Oh you poor thing you look terrible.” Fluttershy gasped.
“I haven’t had any love n... awhile.” Fauxshy said sounding defeated.
“Awwwww!”
“Shy don’t hug it!”
Dracona shrugged and turned around to get a look at the changeling.
"Asriel, warn me if Rainbow does anything hostile." she ordered.
What she saw looked to be some sort of horse insect hybrid. It appeared thin and frail, and It’s legs were filled with strange holes and gaps. Ragged and papery insect wings protrude from a red shell. Large eyes of solid red peer up at Dracona as the Changeling shivered in the grip of the true Fluttershy. The hunter couldn't help but notice that the Changeling was a bit smaller than Fluttershy, as the insectoid was held firmly against the pony’s chest.
“H-hi. I’m Cidae.” The small changeling says nervously.
"Scan her." the hunter commanded and Asriel hovered over the changeling as beams of hardlight cascaded over her form.
"Fascinating, she's definitely an insect but her diet is brains? No that's not right. Ah I see," the Ghost stated. "She uses a form of energy manipulation to transfer the chemical reactions generated by positive emotions into a kind of liquid she can digest as long she assumes the form of something her target would associate with those emotions prior to feeding."
Dracona hummed in thought as her Ghost finished scanning and looked over at Rainbow, then over to the real Fluttershy.
"They copy the locals for a quick, easy meal as long as they don't get caught," Dracona summarized and scoffed. "By the Ancestors, that's dumb."
"You see if I needed to stay hidden for my survival, I'd turn into something that wouldn't raise suspicion, a random domesticated animal, a child. You know, someone that didn't already exist." the exo said.
"A broken exo?" Asriel suggested cheekily.
"Exactly." Dracona replied with a grin.
“What? What is that thing doing? What are you doing? I have so many questions.” Rainbow grumbled, slowly walking around the exo.
“We do what now?” Cidae blinked up at the exo in confusion as she unconsciously sinks into Fluttershy’s chest fluff. Which in turn caused Fluttershy to giggle.
Dracona plucked her Ghost out of the air and idly began to toss him from one hand to the other. Asriel didn't seem to mind, even as his Guardian began to pace around in a circle.
"How about this?" Dracona suggested as she walked. "You take me to I dunno, your leader or something and I answer everyone's questions in one big go so I don't have to repeat myself?"
"Sound good?" she asked and stopped next to Fluttershy and Cidae. "I'll keep an eye on these two."
"Ah- Gu- Fine!” I’ll take you to Twilight!” Rainbow snapped and threw her hooves in the air.
“Feeling better?” Fluttershy asked the small Changeling.
“A little. It’s not love, but it’ll do.” Cidae pulled herself out of Fluttershy’s grip with a light pop.
“It’s a bit of a walk, do you want me to carry you?” Fluttershy asked, getting to her hooves which showed that she was a head taller than the changeling.
Cidae gave her what appeared to be a flat look. “I’m Twenty Eight, I can walk on my own.”
“O-oh! I’m sorry... I just assumed...” Fluttershy stuttered a bit.
“I know, I’m small. I was the runt of the cluster.” Cidae huffed with a small red blush on her cheeks.
"Lead the way," Asriel said as he floated out of Dracona's hold.
The Ghost turned to face his Guardian, who as usual, didn't have a care in the world.
"This planet has a lot of plant life, I'm detecting plenty of animals too," Asriel stated. "Just think of the quality of life we could give to people back in the city..."
"We'd have to prevent anyone from bringing any tech over, as much as sharing it with the locals would help, I have no desire to draw unwanted attention to this world." Dracona replied calmly as she slipped once more into a more refined, regal posture.
"You know, I really wonder which is the real you these days." Asriel commented.
"We've both been through a lot," the exo said. "Should we ever make it back to the Tower I'll explain everything in full view of The Vanguard, this I swear O angel mine."
“I am not getting any of this....” Cidea said as she moved up so she could be by both Dracona and Fluttershy.
“She said she’d explain.” Fluttershy spared her a glance.
“Why aren’t you freaking out like most ponies do?” Cidae turn her head slightly to look at the mare.
“Well you surprised me, but I saw that you were just scared and hurt, and I can’t just leave you like that.” Fluttershy blurted out with a hint of a blush.
“Fsssss!” Cidae’s tongue flicked out briefly and she almost tripped when she brought a hoof up to try and shove it back inside her mouth.
“Ugh, you’re all so slow! Common, I wanna get these two to Twilight!” Rainbow complains, flying overhead.
"Alright, we're coming." Dracona replied.
“Okay... Everypony just, be cool.” Rainbow said, trying to hide her nervousness as the group reached the very edge of Ponyville.
“How can we be cool? We’ve got a....” Cidae looked at Dracona. “A robot, and a Changeling. Do you really expect everyone to just ignore that?”
“I’m sure everypony will understand. Once they see you’re with us.” Fluttershy added, trying to sound hopeful.
"I'm sure we'll be fine, right Dracona?" Asriel asked.
"We will be fine and I promise I won't knife anyone if things do go south alright?" she replied cheekily.
“Please, please don’t hurt anyone.” Fluttershy looked up at the exo with puppy dog eyes.
Cidae’s mouth dropped open, and her tongue rolled out a bit. As if realizing what she was doing, the changeling quickly shut her mouth and glanced around to see if anyone noticed.
“Fine. Let’s just get to Twilight’s. The sooner we do that the sooner I can get some answers.” Rainbow’s glare was aimed more at Cidae than Dracona.
"Holy crap that's adorable..." Dracona muttered.
"How about we get moving?" Asriel suggested happily.
"Ok." the exo replied.
“Let’s take some back paths. I’d like to avoid as many ponies as possible.” Rainbow said slowly making her way into town, with the others following behind. Cidae had the benefit of changing form. Dracona however, was another matter entirely.
"Asriel, record everything! We're making history." Dracona said with a grin.
"Well, at least this can't get any worse right?" Asriel commented.
Cidae, disguised as a rather bland gray earth pony mare with a blue mane, shivered. “Why did you have to say that?”
“Everything’s going to be fi-” Fluttershy was cut off by a feminine cry.
”OH SWEET CELESTIA! WHAT IS THAT?”
“Buck! Run! Follow me!” Rainbow took off, which caused the other’s to gallop, and sprint after her.
"Damn it Asriel! You just had to say it." Dracona grumbled as she sprinted, her purple and white cape billowing out behind her.
"Sorry!" the Ghost replied as he flew after her.
“There’s Twilight’s place!” Rainbow thrust a hoof at a large tree.
Picking up speed, the pegasus burst through the door, almost knocking it off it’s hinges in the process. Fluttershy and Cidae piled in after her.
Dracona skidded to a halt and carefully stepped over the tangle of limbs as she walked inside. She looked very much like a kid in a candy store at the sight of the countless books shelved in the hollowed out tree.
"...I know Asriel, we have a job to do," she sighed as her Ghost looked at her expectantly. "I'll read later..."
"Assuming you can even read their written language in the first place and no, you can wait until after we negotiate a peace treaty with the ponies to learn it." Asriel replied sternly.
"I know." the exo begrudgingly agreed.
“What is Celestia is going on here?!” A loud voice rang out.
“Sorry Twi, emergency!” Rainbow up a set of stairs.
“Rainbow what?- Stop pushing!” The voice yelled from the top of the stairs.
“I’m so sorry, are you okay?” Fluttershy said and helped the disguised changeling to her hooves.
“I’m fine.” Cidae shook herself and turned her neck with an audible pop.
"That doesn't sound fine..." Asriel commented.
"You could just scan her for injuries." Dracona pointed out.
"Maybe after our lives aren't hanging in the balance, again." Asriel replied.
"I can't die," Dracona stated. "And you're smart enough to hide when faced with danger, besides we still have plan B."
"Which is?"
"Gather what we need from the wilds and people's rubbish bins, duh." Dracona replied.
"Good thing we're trying diplomacy first then." Asriel said.
“Feel free to scan me if it makes you feel better.” Cidae shrugged as she followed Fluttershy into the library proper.
“Rainbow, what’s so important?!” Twilight complained loudly as there was a shuffling noise from the stairs.
"I'll think I'll wait until this mess is sorted," Asriel said. "I might be able to find an alternative food source for you once I have time to gather more data."
"Do you have any family Cidae? It's kinda strange you're out in the middle of nowhere by yourself." Dracona asked as she followed them into the library.
“I was kicked out of my hive.” Cidae looked down sadly. “I screw up infiltrations.”
A purple unicorn stumbled out of the stairwell and looked around. Then she locked her eyes on Dracona, and her jaw dropped.
"So you're homeless?" Dracona replied and looked over at her Ghost. "Can we keep her?"
"Only if she follows you home," Asriel replied seriously. "You might want to focus on the purple unicorn though."
"Huh, oh right, diplomacy." Dracona said.
“I wouldn’t complain if you did.” Cidae shrugged.
“Uh.... Twi?” Rainbow poked the frozen unicorn. “Twilight?”
“Twilight, are you okay?” Fluttershy asked, clearly worried.
"Should we do something?" Dracona asked.
"I don't know." Asriel replied.
“Wh-what is that?” Twilight slowly raised a hoof and pointed at Dracona.
“That’s racist.” Cidae snorted, clearly irritated.
“It’s a robot Twi.” Rainbow pointed a hoof at Cidae. “And that’s a Changeling.”
“What?!” Twilight’s eyes snapped towards Cidae. The changeling in turn took a step back.
"I'm a she, thank you very much. My name is Dracona, I'm an artificial lifeform called an Exo. The small floating robot is my best friend Asriel." Dracona stated flatly.
"Hello." the Ghost said.
Wordlessly, Dracona sat down and began to fiddle with Asriel as she plucked him out of the air.
"I'll be more than happy to answer questions." she stated idly.
Twilight’s eyes snapped back towards Dracona, and an eerie smile split her face. “Let me just get my quills and paper.”
“Uh oh... You probably shouldn’t have said that.” Fluttershy glanced up at the exo.
"I'm sure I can handle it." Dracona replied calmly.
“Your funeral.” Rainbow chuckled as Twilight disappeared in a purple flash.
Two hours later, Twilight had a pile of notes that documented Dracona's rise as a Guardian, her exploits and crowning achievements.
"We just told our life's story...In two hours, why?" Asriel asked.
"We started from when you found me three years ago to now, that's your life story for the most part. Let's see there was the manifestation of the darkness, Crota, Skolas, Oryx, Ghaul and the dumb things I did when I got really bored. Yeah that's pretty much everything" Dracona replied and her Ghost remained silent on the fact she forgot a few important details.
"So...Any chance we can get some supplies to make a transmitter?" Asriel asked hopefully.
“Yes! Yes! Take whatever you need from the lab downstairs.” Twilight giggled madly while staring at her notes. “Spike! Spike! I need to send a letter to the Princess!”
“What...” A sleepy voice called from upstairs.
“Twilight, what about the changeling?” Rainbow asked, however Twilight was too busty giggling at her notes.
"I'll take Cidae with me, If she doesn't mind of course," Dracona stated and let her Ghost float freely. "Asriel, go on ahead and gather what we need, I'll stay up here in case I'm needed for anything."
"And she's gone all noblewoman on me again..." her Ghost muttered. "Alright, I'll let you know if we're missing anything."
The small robot zoomed off towards the basement.
“Thanks!” Cidae nodded at the exo.
“Twi! Changeling!” Rainbow thrust a hoof at Cidae.
“Uh huh.” Twilight wasn’t listening.
“Yes! I’m a changeling.” Cidae glared at Rainbow. In a whoosh of green flames Cidae returned to her changeling form. “We get it you’re racist!”
Rainbow froze when she saw the changeling’s true form. Then a grin crackled her face. She snorted, then... “BWAHAHAHAHAHA!” She fell to the floor laughing. “You’re so tiny!”
“Hey!” Cidae snapped, her wings buzzing in irritation.
“Rainbow, that was awful!” Fluttershy gasped. “Why are you being so mean? Cidae hasn’t done anything threatening. She was kicked out of her hive, how do you think that makes her feel?”
"Cidae is my friend Rainbow, show some respect." Dracona growled.
“You are?” Cidae looked up at Dracona in confusion.
“Oh yeah? What are ya gonna do if I don’t” Rainbow smirked.
“Rainbow.” Fluttershy said warningly, her brow furrowing.
"I. Knife things. In the face. For a living." Dracona stated clearly. "Cidae is the first alien I've met today that hasn't tried to shoot me and in my line of work that's saying something."
“I have a scary awesome friend.” Cidae smirked back the the rainbow maned mare.
Rainbow’s face, in turn, fell to a look of unease. “Gotcha.”
A small purple and green scaled bipedal lizard trudged down the stairs, rubbing his eyes and yawning. On blinking away the sleep his locked his eyes onto the changeling and the exo. ”Twilight, is there really a robot and a changeling in the library?”
“Uh huh.” The purple mare looked up at the small lizard. “Oh Spike! Good. can you send this to the Princess?” Twilight levitated a scroll towards Spike.
“Sure...” Spike takes the scroll and exhales green flames, instantly disintegrating the letter. The ashes fly up and out an open window. Spike then turns towards the two non-ponies. “Hi...” He says awkwardly.
“Hi...” Cidae responds in much the same way.
"Hey." Dracona greeted casually.
“So... Somepony wanna tell me what’s going on?” Spike looked between the ponies, exo, and changeling. However before anyone could answer the front door opened, and a pink earth pony trotted into the library. On her back was a basket containing letters. Quietly humming, the pink mare trotted over to Cidae, hoofed her a letter, trotted over to Dracona, hoofed her a letter, then proceeded to trot downstairs.
"I ran into Cidae, the changeling, while looking for help to gather the resources I need to contact my boss to send someone out here to pick me up," Dracona explained as she opened the letter. "Now what on earth is this?"
"Dracona? A pink pony just gave me a letter," Asriel said over the comms. "I found everything we need to get in contact with the city too."
"Good, head back up and I'll start building in a minute." the exo replied.
“That’s the Pink One.” Cidae shivered.
“Oh, that’s Pinkie Pie. She just does things like this.” Fluttershy shrugged.
"Ok..." Dracona and Asriel said warily.
The Ghost floated over to his Guardian.
"What does your letter say?" he asked. "I can't open mine."
The exo blinked and stared down at her letter.
Princess Dracona Snowstar, You are incited to you'rte Welcome to Ponyville Party at Sugarcube Corner the letter read and Dracona decided to not mention is was written in ancient Ahamkram.
"I think we're invited to a party," she replied. "Cidae, what's in yours?"
“Ciadaemorphos You are invited to you’re Welcome To Ponyville Party at Sugarcube Corner.....” Cidae blinked. “How......”
“Ummmmm... It’s Pinkie Pie?” Fluttershy said weakly, trying to be helpful.
"Free food? I'm game," Dracona said. "I'd better get that transmitter built though..."
"Party first, transmitter later," Asriel stated. "You're still recovering from your fight with Ghaul and the stress of writing that letter, so I think some time off will you do some good."
"Yeah, good point," Dracona replied. "I never turn down free food."
“Fight with who now?” Rainbow looked over at Dracona, looking curious.
“I can just sit there. I’ll be fed enough by the positive emotion in the air. That is, unless I spoil the party.” Cidae looked down, frowning a bit.
“You’ll be fine. You’re the first nice changeling we’ve come across.” Fluttershy said, walked over to her and put a wing over her back in a hug.
“Thanks.” Cidae replied and brightened a little.
"You know, I bet I could make the transmitter at the party," Asriel suggested. "Then you could tell everyone at the party and the Vanguard how you defeated Ghaul."
Dracona's face plates shifted as she frowned, carefully weighing the pros and cons.
"I suppose, you were there Asriel and you still chose to stand by my side after it all," the exo mused. "Well this was bound to happen sooner or later."
She smiled gestured to the front door.
"Come O companions mine! A celebration awaits." she declared.
"This is going to be interesting." Asriel commented.