//------------------------------// // Dreadful Little Ponies - Reunions // Story: Strange Reflections // by No one is home //------------------------------// -=-Ponyville, Present Day, Present Time-=- “Heya, big guy!”  A dirt colored earth pony sidled up to the eldest Apple sibling, praising him with dull eyes, the color of dead salmon.  “What’s your name?” “Big MacIntosh,”  the huge blonde stallion responded with disinterest. “No, no, no…” The scrawny earth pony laughed and shook his head.  “I meant your human name.” “E-ee’nope!”  Mac’s eyes went wide with alarm and he quickly backed away from the smaller pony. “It’s okay, big guy.”  The new pony flashed an oily smile.  “There’s more of us than you think.  I know what it’s like… that bitch Fetlock took everything from me too.  Didja have a family back home?” “Ah got a family right here in Ponyville, mister!”  The crimson giant hissed, fighting to keep his voice down. “Yeah, you got a ‘family’... they bought you fair and square, didn’t they?”  The pony’s caustic mirth was cut short by the crack of a hoof across his chin. “You leave them outta this, ya hear!”  McIntosh scowled, receiving only a bemused grin from the subject of his ire. “Hey, no problem, big guy.”  The pony massaged his aching jaw, smiling broadly.  “If you wanna play pony-big-brother… well it’s not like she can send you back…” “You should leave now, mister,” Big Mac spit on the ground, “Before I lose mah temper proper.” -=-Manehattan, Present Day, Present Time-=- “How was it?”  Vinyl nearly glowed, basking in the excitement.  Her first real public performance as a DJ Pon3 cover artist.  She pranced in place waiting breathlessly for her colt-friend’s response. “Babe!  That was amazing!”  Robert Aqua, a light blue pegasus with a tri-colored mane and tail smiled brightly.  “You were amazing.” The Vinyl look-alike kissed her stallion affectionately on the snout.  “I can’t believe I finally got my big shot!” “One chance.  One shot.”  The bitter voice sent chills down Roberts spine, as they both turned to face new pony, also wearing the face of DJ Pon3. “That’s all any of us ever got.” “How did you get in here!?!”  Vinyl demanded of the new comer.  “This is our home!  What are you doing here?” “Just stay back,”  Robert whispered in abject terror, “Y-you’re still alive?” “Poor little pony… don’t try to sound like you cared.”  The manic mare grinned with malice.  “After all, I was obviously easy enough to replace.” “Robert… who is she?”  Vinyl’s voice was laced with a mixture of fear and hurt. “Ahhh, he didn’t tell you, did he?”  The new mare laughed coldly.  “I mean, obviously you weren’t his first choice of mares.  But I guess you always knew that, didn’t you?” “Robert summoned me here because he wanted a special pony he could learn to love!”  Vinyl snapped, agrilly, “I CHOSE to look like Vinyl Scratch!  ME!  This is my fantasy as much as it is his!” “But, hey, second place isn’t bad, right?”  The mare shook her head and smiled.  “Except, you weren’t his second choice.  No, no, no… you were just the replacement Felock brought in after she disposed of a defective product.” “Robert, what is she talking about?”  Vinyl’s mind raced to put the pieces together, but the picture she kept seeing was just so... ugly. “It wasn’t my fault!”  Robert stammered. “I didn’t know what Fetlock was going to do to you!” “But you didn’t stop her did you?”  The wicked mare hissed.  “Oh, no, so long as she could deliver a Vinyl Scratch that you were happy with, you just kept your mouth shut and you let it go.”  The mare turned to Vinyl, and laughed.  “He really didn’t tell you at all, did he?  Secrets and pretty little lies.  Well, don’t you worry your dull little blue head, ‘Aqua’, you’re not even on my list.  But maybe your marefriend should know she’s not the only copy… but wait… you’re not even a copy, are you…” “Leave him alone!”  Vinyl angrily stepped forward shoving her muzzle into the face of her colt-friend’s accuser. “Poor little Robert.” The mare rolled her eyes.  “Just a would-be identity thief.  You went from taking advantage of a grieving mare, to pony trafficking to get yourself a copy of her best friend.  Too bad when you make a copy of a copy… well it’s just ever as sharp as the original.” “Get out!”  Vinyl screamed, as Robert fell to the floor limply sobbing in self-recrimination.  “Get out of our house!” “Oh don’t worry,” the mare replied with a smile, “I was just leaving.  Ol’ Bobby’s not even worth my vengeance.  And honestly, if you can be happy with a pony like him, you’re not worth my time either.” “Who are you?”  Vinyl asked as the mare made her way to the door. “Oh, I am no one,”  the mare replied casually as she made her way to the door.  “I am no pony at all.  But if you need a name, you can call me Legion, for we are many…” -=-The Changeling Hive, A Long Time Ago-=- “They’re our children.”  an emaciated brood queen smiled gently on thirteen changeling adolescents. “Our children.”  A raggedy changeling stallion, with a bright cyan mane returned his mate’s smile, his pointed teeth flashing. “And ultimately, our vengeance.”  The queen chuckled darkly.  “On Chrysalis, on the ponies, and on all of Equestria.” “It is time, your grace.”  The couple’s musings were interrupted by the entrance of a no-nonsense leader caste changeling. “The invasion is about to begin.  Queen Chrysalis herself has left the hive to oversee her plans for the royal wedding personally.  We will not get another chance at this.” “You have done well, Stand In.”  The brood queen smiled warmly. “We are putting our faith in you both,” the changeling replied gravely, “If our race is to survive the mad queen, we must adapt and evolve.” “Yes,”  the stallions said with a contemptuous sneer, “The changelings have to change.  I’ve seen it… it’s in the spoilers.  My brood will mark an end to the changelings starvation.  Why should a race that inspires fear feed only on love, after all?” “Madame Butterfly…” Stand In’s tone was hushed and worried.  “Nopony is as mad as Chrysalis ever was!  Please… be careful.  Don’t ever trust him!” “I am standing right here, you know.”  The male changeling laughed derisively.  “You just make sure you’re drones bring my brood through Canterlot safely.  We will rendevu in Fillydelphia as planned.  You don’t have to trust me.  Just believe me when I say that when the Silver Sky falls, the changelings will never have to worry about starvation again.”