"All this stuff about finding out what you are and getting help is all well and good, but we have an excellent opportunity here.
There's a pony named Rarity. She's a friend of Applejack and Twilight and she owns a boutique. It's gonna be yuuuge someday soon. Invest in it once you get some money.
Meanwhile, tell Celestia to improve the security guarding Tirek. Maybe send Fluttershy to play with Cerberus regularly so he doesn't want to leave his post.
Twilight's library will survive this time damnit."
-Demiequus
"Don't get too ahead of yourself, Tom. Just because you landed at a certain point in time and space doesn't mean you can travel freely through the former. Still, all's well at the moment, so now's a good time to get settled in. Especially since, as has been noted, you may be a carapaced, shapeshifting, emotional vampire. Fortunately, you're in the friendship capital of the world. Make nice and they probably won't care during the inevitable dramatic reveal."
-FanOfMostEverything
Okay, got it WAIT WHAT
VAMPIRE?!
Tom, sitting in his little hotel room, paled considerably.
FanOfMostEverything hasn't led me astray yet... @#$@!
"Okay, Tom, a few pointers - Despite what the other voices say, you can trust Celestia. She may be your best bet. Since you're apparently in the past from our perspective, you may want to be careful about what you say. The future turns out pretty okay, so you might not want to screw it up. Also, best not to mention Discord in that case. He shows up later.
I also think I know what you are, but it may be a delicate matter. You may be a changeling. They're a type of pony that can change shape, but, but, they were the ones responsible for that invasion you just heard about. If that is true, and it comes to be revealed, I suggest being honest; Celestia rules this land and she is a kind, understanding sort. Try and get into her custody if it comes to it. Avoid Prince Shinning Armor though, he's... probably a little tender about the issue."
-Nyronus
@#$@# @#$@ #$@#$@! They just got invaded by changelings! They'll want to lynch me!
"Right! We have a point of reference! Good.
Now, you should probably try to figure out how magic works. Test on the farm, but be prepared to explain away the scorch marks to annoyed ponies. When Twi and Co. show up, I'd suggest explaining the situation to them.
Now you get to solve two riddles! In addition to the one from last time; I was created as soon as the first instant passed. Everything uses me as a foundation."
-Eevee
I don't have time for riddles right now! I'm gonna die!
"Ok tom I'd recommend trying to figure out why your wings disappeared like that, try to imagine flying and maybe your wings will come back."
-Zapper Frost
Tom concentrated on wanting to fly, and then felt wings stretch out behind him.
And then promptly had a panic attack.
OH GOD OH NO OH GOD OH NO I ACTUALLY AM A SHAPESHIFTER AND I HAVE NO IDEA HOW IT WORKS AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
Things continued much in that vein for an hour or so.
"Kept you waiting huh? Alright, now listen closely because you don't have much time. Tom, you need to find a cardboard box. The cardboard box is ideal for fooling your enemies. It's a very important tool for infiltration missions. I can't begin to count the number of agents whose lives were saved by a cardboard box. Look, I'm not exaggerating when I say the success of your mission hinges on how you use that cardboard box. But in the end, a cardboard box is only made of paper. Handle it with care or it won't be of much use to you. Don't think of it as just another box. Treat it with love... Don't be rough. Okay?
With the cardboard box you should be able to infiltrate Canterlot Castle with ease. Find Princess Celestia and turn yourself over to her. She'll know what to do. Just make sure to avoid Shining Armor at all costs. As long as you remember to stay still when you need to and the basics of CQC, you should be fine. Make sure your box isn't out of place for the areas you infiltrate. Good luck and godspeed."
-Fantastic Metal Man
Tom knew what he had to do.
Several hours later...
Infiltrating Canterlot as a cardboard box had proven fairly challenging. First, he had to acquire a box, which was difficult in a town that favored barrels and crates. Then, he had to get himself smuggled onto (and off of) a train, which required some creative package-switching (some poor couple had left behind some of their toiletries as a result of his interference). Once in Canterlot, he had to sneak through the entire city, despite the frequent guard patrols (even at night).
Thankfully, a pony in a box can basically just stand up in it and walk normally, so it really wasn't that uncomfortable or anything.
Unfortunately, there was also no way that Tom could figure to get his box-self into the palace itself.
Well... I was told honesty is the best policy.
Alright. Let's give that a try!
Tom discreetly freed himself from the box in a hidden spot – if his attempt at negotiation failed, he might need to return to it and give it another try – and approached the royal guards. His wings and horn were gone, and he had painted a rough image of a pony's ears on his flanks.
"Halt! Who goes there!"
"Tom. I need to see Celestia; can I speak with her immediately?"
"Princess Celestia has retired for the evening."
Tom chewed his lip a bit in thought.
"It's urgent."
The guards looked at each other quizzically, and then looked back at Tom.
"Is this about the changelings?"
Tom nodded. "But you didn't hear that from me, got it?"
"Does it absolutely need to be Celestia, and right now? Can't it wait until morning?"
Tom thought about that, and gave his most honest answer.
"I have no idea if it can safely wait or not."
The guards gave each other another worried look. "That sounds pretty serious. Okay, we'll prepare an audience. Come with us."
As they walked, one of the guards glanced at Tom's cutie mark, squinting a bit. "Say, what's your special talent, anyway?"
Tom chuckled. "Hearing things nopony else does."
The guard just quirked an eyebrow at that and shrugged as they continued.
Yes! Score one for my hastily-made-up backstory!
And just like that, Tom found himself in an antechamber, awaiting the likely-to-be-irritated freshly-woken-in-the-early-night princess.
I really, really hope you guys know what you're doing.
One of the antechamber doors opened, and a tired-looking, white-coated, brown-maned mare with glasses and a clipboard glared at him. "The princess will see you now."
Tom sighed with relief and proceeded through to a cozy-seeming meeting room.
And then saw the biggest @#$@ing pony ever.
Holy cow! THAT'S Princess Celestia?! She looks like she could eat me!
Celestia, for her part, didn't seem at all disgruntled at the sudden interruption of her rest. She had a calm, yet intense gaze trained on Tom.
Which really did @#$@ all to calm him down in this situation.
She beckoned at a seat across from her, which Tom rapidly took, noting the two royal guards in the far corner of the room.
Here's hoping they don't skewer me on the spot. Nyronus, Metal Man, I sure hope you two are right that I can trust this... giant!
Celestia quirked an eyebrow. "I'm told you have information for me?"
"Uhhh..."
Tom realized he had just been staring at her in some mixture of awe and terror.
Smoooooth.
Tom cleared his throat awkwardly. "Yes! I do. Uh. Changeling."
Celestia's eyebrow rose just a few millimeters higher. "Changeling?"
"Yep."
There was a tense silence before Celestia spoke again.
"... What about them?"
"Uhh, I am one? Apparently?"
Celestia sighed, and leaned back slightly to address her guards. "Please fetch us some tea."
The guards saluted, and quickly moved from the room. Tom worked his jaw a bit before he could speak intelligibly again.
"Please don't kill me! I have no idea what's going on!"
"Why would you think I would be—"
"You just sent all of the witnesses out of the room after I confessed I was, like, your enemy or something!"
Wow I just realized I have almost no idea what a changeling is or why they invaded. Great.
Celestia squinted at Tom, frowning.
That frown made his insides squirm.
"I asked them to get some tea because you seem to be deeply nervous. I figured you could use some, and perhaps having some privacy would calm your nerves."
"Oh. Uhh... well, thanks?"
Celestia nodded. "Now, you said you have no idea what's going on. Am I to assume you were not part of the invasion of Canterlot?"
"That's just it!" Tom threw his hooves up helplessly, feeling his insides lurch from the conflicting emotions, "I have no idea! I can't remember anything farther back than yesterday! A-and I have these voices from the future in my head telling me all sorts of stuff, and I know I'm not crazy because they know stuff that I have no way of knowing, and one of them is really obsessed with riddles, and I JUST DON'T WANT TO DIE WITHOUT EVEN KNOWING WHAT THE @#$@ I DID IN MY LIFE!"
Waterworks had started at some point during Tom's little existential breakdown, and he just sat there crying while Celestia watched him quietly.
This is insane! I don't even know what role a princess has in this government, or what this government even is, or where I am exactly or where I'm from or anything!
It took Tom a little while to stop sobbing enough to look up at Celestia again. She just kept watching him with that same neutral, passive gaze. Tom scoffed and wiped his eyes.
"I don't even really know what a changeling is. The voices just think I must be one because I seem to be transforming a bit, but I can't even control that. I've been so focused on not dying, I didn't even realize how totally screwed-up this all is."
"I can confirm whether you're a changeling, if you'd like."
Tom shrugged helplessly. "Why haven't you already? Wouldn't it make me dangerous, or something?"
Celestia shook her head. "The entire changeling army, headed by their queen, tried to attack us yesterday, and they still failed. A single confused, amnesiac changeling who turned himself in doesn't strike me as a major threat."
The guards returned with her tea, which Celestia accepted gratefully, passing a cup over to Tom telekinetically. She dismissed the guards for the evening, which surprised Tom.
She's right, I guess. I'm more scared of her than she is of me.
Tom sighed and drank his tea, but immediately retched slightly, setting it down. That got a look of concern from Celestia.
"What's wrong? Do you take umbrage with oolong?"
"What? I don't know. No, I guess? Everything I've tried eating since I woke up in the forest has tasted like crap."
Celestia sighed. Her horn lit up, and Tom nearly had a panic attack when a sudden golden light shined out from it, washing over him. His features faded away, revealing a black carapace, with holes in it on his hooves. Tom was dazed by the spell for a moment, lifting a hoof to his head to steady himself.
Then he saw his hoof. With holes in it.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!"
Tom quickly found himself thrashing uncontrollably in midair, as Celestia had wisely lifted him with her telekinesis and held him in place until his freakout ended. She just calmly sipped her tea while he screamed and flailed.
Once Tom had calmed down a little, Celestia set him back in his chair, and released the spell holding him with an audible 'pop'.
"Sorry! Screaming here was probably really bad, but, good lord! This is what I look like?! Why do I have holes?!"
Celestia gave a quiet chuckle and shake of her head.
"I have no idea why changelings have holes in their appendages. As for the scream, my spell also muted you to the outside world. Nopony heard."
"But... but I liked the way I looked!"
"Changelings can shapeshift. You can retake your old form."
Tom stood up, leaning forward on the table with a desperate look.
"But I have no idea how! I'm stuck in this... whatever the hell this is!"
"Well, you will just have to practice."
The two stared at each other for a few moments before Tom flopped back into his chair, flopping his head onto the table and covering it with his less-substantial-than-a-few-minutes-ago hooves.
"Why is this happening to me...?"
Celestia took another sip of her tea. "You said those voices were from the future, correct?"
Tom sighed. "Yeah, apparently. They were surprised when it turned out that the invasion had just happened. I get the impression it was a long time ago for them."
Celestia nodded, a wily look taking hold. Tom sat back.
Hoo boy. Here it comes.
"What's your name?"
"I've been calling myself Tom."
"Tom, what else did the voices tell you?"
Tom took a deep breath. "Well, they said I could trust you, and that I should turn myself in. Said that was the best way to avoid causing a disturbance or getting hurt."
Celestia smiled gently at that. "I'm glad they regard me so highly. What else?"
"Well... one of them suggested I invest in Rarity's business. Said it will be booming in the future. Uhh... they also said something about someone called 'Tirek' needing better security. Brought up 'Cerberus' and 'Fluttershy'. There was also a lot of talk about Discord."
Celestia hummed and leaned back, a definite look of concern. "What did they say about Discord?"
"Well, at first they said he was trustworthy, and I should go to him if I could find Twilight or Starlight to help me with my magic issues. After they found out when this was, though, they backpedaled on that pretty hard, saying I shouldn't bring him up."
Celestia's face went from concern to a faint look of mischievous amusement. "Oh... they said he could be trusted, did they? And implied he was... available?"
Tom nodded hurriedly, not catching the significance. "Yeah, they implied he was living in Ponyville."
Celestia rubbed her chin with a hoof contemplatively. "Now that's interesting. Is there anything else?"
"Well, Nyronus seemed to think the future turned out pretty alright, and that I should avoid making any big changes with my foreknowledge. Apparently things go really well, despite some pretty big stuff happening. Another was a bit concerned about Twilight's library, though. I guess it gets destroyed by Tirek, or something?"
Celestia's smile deepened to be more genuine. "I see. Well, if what they've said is accurate... it certainly gives one much to consider. And you've certainly done as you said you would; brought important information to us. You don't need to worry, Tom; I'll see to it that you're taken care of."
From that day forward, Tom became something of a hidden agent around Canterlot for Celestia. Despite the grandeur of the name, his primary duties involved taking the form of various convenient assistants when Celestia needed awkward situations dealt with.
Armed with her foreknowledge, Celestia primarily chose to let events take their course as per normal. Still, there was a convenient library shakeup immediately prior to Tirek's return, causing all tomes of significance to be removed from the Golden Oaks, and Tom was also sent to retrieve several personal mementos of Twilight's, which were then conveniently placed around the destroyed library's site, to have 'miraculously' survived. Several castle personnel also noted her unusual serenity and confidence about Discord's reform, and about the general future of Equestria despite one disaster after another.
Rumors circulated that she could see the future, but nopony paid them much mind. For his part, Tom underwent a changeling reformation a mere year after joining Celestia's service, due to a growing relationship with her primary assistant Raven. His new appearance garnered no end of amused laughter from the princess.
Tom never did rejoin the hive, even after its reformation, instead choosing to remain on at Canterlot. All told, things were pretty cushy for the once-infiltrator.
~FIN