------Meanwhile in Canterlot Castle------
Tired... oh so tired...
Even with plenty of sleep, the whole changeling incident yesterday can really take a lot out of a scientist. Especially if the 'said' scientist pretty much had 4 mini heart-attacks in less than 20 minutes.
There sat Dr. Aeroe Conner. A researcher of bugs, that had studied many types of insects over the last 10 years. While living in Canterlot, he had setup a pest control business, as he knows the many facts and weakness for bugs. After the incident of the attacking changelings, Princess Celestia immediately called for his assistance in the study of changelings, in case another attack ensued.
Dr. Conner was a pale yellow pegasus, with a ruffled rich-dark mane. He wore a doctors vest, which concealed his entire body below his neck. But his cutie-mark was an image of a magnifying glass over a beetle.
Dr. Conner adjusted his glasses, as he continues to write down information in his journal.
...magic abilities of illusion, to make them look like anypony from memory. While disguised, they appear like ponies, they also feign their voices of the pony they are disguised as. It also appears that they can't seem to focus on what they are doing. This leads to the fact that they can't do anything without the guidance of their mother. They have been born to listen to commands of only their leader, and also attack ponies as instinct of their nature. More tests and studies are needed however-
A knocking noise interrupted the scientists writing. He drops his quill and quickly walked to his door. As he opens, the pony who was on the other side was none-other than the princess herself.
"Your highness!" Startled, the scientist quickly bows in front of his ruler.
"You may rise doctor. I'm here to remind you of the upcoming conference." the princess said.
"Of course princess, I was able to know more about these changelings, and I have many information to share. Come, let us begin the conference."
A short walk later, the doors to the royal conference room opened. The ponies present and in their seats are Princess Luna, and other royal advisers and ponies, and a changeling in a glass cage. Which appears to be hissing and snarling, while banging on the glass, but no-one could hear as it was soundproof.
Dr. Conner trots over to the front of the room, next to the trapped changeling, and clears his throat.
"After researching this specimen, I had found ways and signs of how to be able to tell apart differences between ponies and the disguised. Changelings, while in disguised, you have to pay attention to their speech patterns. They can fake their voices and speak in words, but only the words that they remember hearing from the pony they are disguised as. For example, if I said 'Daffodil Sandwich' and a changeling is disguised as me, then the only thing it will say will be 'Daffodil Sandwich', unless I say anything more for it to hear. Another thing, is that changelings can not have any feelings whatsoever. That means they can't feel hate, regret, or affections. Even though some of you may be pacifist, it is useless to convince a changeling to be friends. Changelings also have a trait that insects have, they are not sentient. Some of you may already know that though, so I need not explain further. I can safely say that we can consider changelings as dangerous creatures, and if we ever see one, we must kill immediately. They were born to feed off ponies energy, and will only continue doing so. Any questions?"
A hoof was raised in the room, and all eyes went to the guard next to the door. "Yes sir?" Dr. Conner calls him.
"Is it possible for a changeling to understand and communicate with ponies?"
Dr. Conner chuckled, "If you would have listened, then you should know the answer is 'No.'"
"But I have 2 guards come in from their duties, claiming that one changeling has actually spoken to them and understood them."
Dr. Conner's smile disappeared. "W-what?! That's impossible! Are you sure about this?!"
"Well I don't know, you have to speak with 2 guards that came in."
"Where are they? I need to get more info on this!" Dr. Conner was face to face with the guard, looking at him with desperate eyes.
The guard, uncomfortable with lack of space, stammered, "T-they're in the infirmary sir."
"Conference is postpone till further notice!" The scientist yelled, before dashing out of the room.
'Communication? With a creature that is confirmed as an insect? I must know for myself!'
---------Changeling-----------
Questions, questions, questions. They were all filling your mind. Hungry curiosity, with no answers to feed.
Am I the only one different?
What caused me to be different?
Who was that unicorn?
I'm hungry.
But most importantly, "Who am I now?"
These questions won't leave you alone, and they were making your head hurt. The only way to get rid of them is to find the answers to them all. Who or what can answer you though? What caused you to be like this? WHAT?!
And then it hits you. No literally, when you weren't paying attention, you hit a tree.
"OW! Well THAT JUST MAKES ME FEEL EVEN WORSE!" You yelled.
And then it hits you. No, not the tree, an idea this time. The last thing that happened before you became so different, was when you saw that unicorn. The moment you saw her, that was when you started to feel different.
"Then I know where to find my answers. I must go and seek, THE BEAUTIFUL PURPLE UNICORN!" You exclaimed proudly.
And then it hits you. Not another idea, after you yelled, you hit your head in the tree again.
"AGH! MOTHER OF FU-"
--------Canterlot--------------
It can't be... but's it seems to be true...
Dr. Conner slowly walks into the conference room. After interrogating the guards that claimed to have actually spoken with a changeling, then it means dreadful news.
"Doctor, what's wrong? Why is a changeling knowing how to speak Equestrian so important?" Princess Luna asked.
"Don't you see your highness? If a changeling can speak normally like a pony, not only does it make it harder to tell the difference between real and fake now, but it also means that they are evolving. They must probably be smarter. To speak, you must know how to think, and to think, you must be aware of yourself. If a changeling can do that, then they will be harder to track down, and easier to be deceived by their lies! If every changeling were to be like that, then they will be more dangerous if they attack again!" Dr. Conner took deep breathes.
Princess Celestia thought for a moment, "But will they still have feelings like a normal pony?"
The scientist paused for a moment. Until an idea struck his brain. "BRILLIANT!"
"...I...I'm sorry?" Princess Celestia was surprised by the sudden shift of his nature.
Dr. Conner took out a marker and wrote formulas onto the white-board. "If I can somehow use magic to be able to detect feelings of someone..." Jotting down some more variables, he flung the marker behind him. "EUREKA! Instant Changeling Detector!"
Both of the princesses blinked in surprise. "Well, how does it work?" Princess Luna asks.
"Seeing as how changelings might be evolving, they still cannot seem to have any feelings whatsoever! So by using magic, you can sense a pony's feelings easily! If they have no feelings, then we know it's a changeling!"
"That's brilliant work Dr. Conner!" Celestia was impressed of how easy he solved the problem already.
"Oh please, call me Aeroe."
And thus, Celestia learned and taught the spell to each and every unicorn. She sends off her guards to each and every city in Equestria. Maybe now, they can feel safe.
-----------Changeling--------------
ZZZzzz... huh?
You awoke from your slumber, and look around the dark forest you are sleeping in.
"...Why do I get the feeling that my entire race is going to be screwed?"
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