Nightmare Night came once more to Ponyville, bringing with it a sense of festiveness. Luna made another appearance, plenty of costumes were shown off, and Fluttershy actually tried to get in on the action with Angel Bunny's help.
But for one pony, this night would be the start of something life-changing.
This pony was Rarity, who had gone off to a costume party after the events of Scare Master. She'd had fun, although she did have to keep an eye on her costume's tail, and now she was headed back home, costume floating alongside her in her magic.
But as she walked down the street, she had the strangest feeling that she was being watched. And it wasn't the usual feeling she got for twenty-two minutes a week, either; this felt different.
She was about to pick up her pace, when a clatter arose from a nearby alleyway. She lit her horn and peered out into the darkness.
Down the alleyway, staring straight back at her, were two solid-blue eyes.
Rarity gasped. "A Changeling?"
The eyes seemed to realize that they had been seen, and the creature attached to them started to panic. Rarity could hear hooves dancing around frantically as the creature looked around, desperately looking for an escape. The alley it was in was a dead end, and flying away would expose it too much.
The fashionista stepped forward. "What are you –"
But Rarity's question snagged in her throat as the Changeling, out of other options, lunged forward. She tried to dodge, but it was too quick; it grabbed her by the foreleg and dragged her into the alleyway. Rarity yelped as the Changeling's fangs inadvertently pierced her flesh, but her mouth was quickly covered by a holey hoof. The other limbs grabbed Rarity, making sure she couldn't wriggle away.
The Changeling pulled its head away and hushed her, giving her pause. From what she'd seen of the Changelings (which, to be fair, was limited to her experience at the Wedding), she'd been given the impression that they were animalistic in nature. But this one seemed sapient, and even... Desperate?
It peeked out of the alleyway to make sure nopony had noticed, then turned to face Rarity again. "Please don't freak out," it said in a rather timid voice, surprising Rarity. So not only were they sentient, but they could talk Ponish as well?
The Changeling slowly lifted his hoof from her mouth, while still keeping his hold firm. Rarity took this opportunity to ask, "Why did you do that!?"
"Because, you saw me!" The bug defended. "You could've turned me in!"
Rarity rolled her eyes. "Well, that's no excuse for biting me!"
The Changeling, genuinely surprised at this, dropped Rarity. He looked at the fashionista's leg; indeed, it was now bleeding where he'd punctured the skin. "Oh no!" He cried out. "I-I didn't mean to– I just – I panicked, and –"
Rarity stared in disbelief at the apologetic Changeling. So, not only were Changelings self-aware, and not only could they speak, but this one... Seemed genuinely scared and sorry?
"Woah, WOAH! Calm down," Rarity reached out her good hoof to touch the Changeling's shoulder.
"But this is awful!" The bug chided himself, "I thought I was different, but now I've gone and done this! Oh, I should've known this couldn't work!"
Now Rarity was utterly confused. "I-I don't understand..."
The bug, panic finally burning out, collapsed to the ground and covered his eyes with his hooves. "Just take me in already," he whimpered, quaking with fear.
The fashionista gaped at the display before her for a moment, before she shook her head. "I shan't make any decisions until I know what's going on!"
The bug peeked through a hole in his hoof. "W-wha?"
Rarity donned a warm smile. "Come on, dear; tell me what's going on."
The Changeling seemed to ease up slightly, but still remained incredibly nervous. "W-well, I left the Hive about eight months ago, and–"
Rarity gasped. "You left your home?"
He nodded meekly.
She thought, "But eight months ago was Princess Cadence and Shining Armor's Wedding..."
"That's right," he affirmed. "I saw you and your friends fighting the Swarm, working together as a unit. I'd never seen such pure friendship before; I didn't want to steal it, I wanted to share in it! I knew I didn't belong with my kind anymore, so I... I left the Hive and came here to Equestria."
Rarity regarded him curiously. A Changeling who actually wanted to share friendship? It seemed almost impossible, and yet, here he was!
He continued, "But given our reputation ever since the invasion, I couldn't just come out and show myself! And I've been too hungry to form a permanent disguise, so I've been, uh, hiding..."
He sighed, collapsing to the ground. "And now, I've gone and done this. Maybe I'm not so different from my kin after all...."
Rarity gasped, reaching over sympathetically. "No, no, of course you're different, and that's a good thing! From what I'm hearing, it sounds like all you need is a friend."
The bug stared confusedly at her. "Why are you acting so nice to me? I just screwed over your life!"
Rarity pshawed. "Nonsense, it's just a bite; I'll be okay."
The Changeling shook his head, "Y-you don't understand; that bite is just the start!"
Rarity looked scared. "W-what do you mean?"
He responded by pointing a hoof at the injury. She looked and gasped.
Her blood was beginning to turn green.
"You're turning into a Changeling."