“Please, help me.” Were the first words the changeling coughed out.
I took a step back, tripped over my tail and landed in the snow, crab-walking away from the shapeshifter. Scrambling to my feet, I inhaled, ready to breathe fire if it moved, but it just laid there, shivering in the snow.
“Help me,” It rasped again. I took a cautious step towards it, still holding my firebreath at the ready. Another step, and I completely forgot about defending myself as I got a better look at it.
Its chitin was cracked and bloodied, and its chestplate was dented, buckling inwards. One holed leg was bent at an odd angle, cradled close to its body.
“Shit.” I breathed.
The creature’s frame shook, and muffled noises reached my ears through the snow its muzzle was buried in. Was it.. crying? I took another step forward, all pretense of trepidation abandoned, then paused when its visible multifaceted eye flicked towards me.
“Please,” it murmured. I ripped off the coat I was wearing and tossed it over its body-its thorax, I recalled from Twilight’s lectures.
“It’ll be okay, bud.” My voice quavered. Even though it was an enemy, I couldn’t help but bite back tears at the state it was in. “Why were you in the Crystal Empire anyways?”
“Nowhere left,” it choked out. “Beaten. Banished. Need love. Big burst here.”
I thought for a moment. “Oh! The Crystalling.” My gaze hardened. “Are there more of you?”
The changeling gave a small shake of its head. “Just me.”
I was tempted to leave the changeling there. After the Canterlot wedding fiasco, did any of them deserve our love? Another look at the changeling softened my heart. Nocreature deserved to die out here, so far from home, surrounded by snow and ice.
“I can get you the love you need.” I promised as I headed towards the ice scramble.
“But why?” The changeling asked from its depression in the snow. “Why help?”
“Nocreature, no matter their origin, deserves to die alone and forgotten.” I spoke without turning. “Not even you.” I looked down at my claws, claws that held this changeling’s life in them. “How Brave and Glorious would I be if I left you here to die?”
From behind me, I heard a whisper so soft that it could have just been the wind.
“Thank you.”