Prologue
The Changeling flew quick away from the dark castle on the twisted mountain side, its windows shrouded in darkness. She had never made it this far on one of her escape attempts. Usually, she never made it past the front guards. But this time, her feminine charms had done the trick. Looking like a miniature Chrysalis seriously helped. Now if her mother found out, those three guards would have been killed instantly. (Making love with the Princess of the Changelings would not be the best way to get a promotion). She grinned to herself at the thought that below her, the rest of The Hive sleeping soundly, maybe watching the moon's path across the starry sky. She, however, would be making her final escape from her own personal hell. No more traditions, no more abusive guards, no more feeding off of the lowly love of the ponies enchained in their dungeon. Tonight, she was going to finally leave this nightmare behind by soaring through the dark-filled night.
She remembered only a few days earlier, when her mother, Queen Chrysalis, had brought a book about the Changeling history into her room. "It'll do you good to do a bit of reading." her mother had smiled at her. Her mother didn't smile to anyone for real. Save her. The thought crossed her mind and her heart gave a small flinch. But she ignored the fact that her mother would go out of her mind with worry trying to find her. She ignored the fact that she would tear lands apart looking for her. She knew she would eventually get over it. Hopefully. That book had provided her with a map of secret passages that lead out of their little valley into the Equestrian Empire. She was going to flee there, and live the life she desired at last.
The night was absolutely still. All The Changelings could hear was the buzzing of her wings. She swooped low over the dark forest tree tops. She was free at last. Free from the guards, free from her mother, free from... what was that loud buzzing sound? Twisting her head around, the Changeling saw three more of her kind bearing down on her. Terror had seized her.
Their going to take me back! she thought, almost paralyzed with fear. And this time, I won't get another chance! Mom will lock me up forever! Heart pounding, the changeling picked up her speed. She tried to remember the route she had read about in the book her mother had told her about. Lets see, the book said.... that it was by the tallest tree in the forest. And it would take me under the mountain, straight to the Everfree Forest. Obviously, the tallest tree wasn't all too hard to find if you were fifty feet above sea level. The Changeling zoomed towards a large, twisted tree, that stood high above the others. As the drone of her pursuers drew closer, she lowered herself lower to the forest canopy, wings skimming the leaves, sending a green tornado in her wake. Slightly blinded, the Changelings behind her swooped up, to avoid the flurry of leaves; but kept tight on her tail. Casting her eyes about, she searched desperately for the dark cave mouth that had been described to her in the book. Banking to the right, she caught a glimpse of a large knot in the large tree. Her heart pounded through her chest as she heard the flapping of changeling wings grow closer. Having nothing to lose, she banked again, and dove straight through the large tree knot.
She plunged down the dark hole, narrowly avoiding clipping her wings on the sides. At first, it was a quiet smooth ride, until an impossibly loud buzzing pierced her ears as the other Changelings dove after her. Startled, the fleeing Changeling’s wing smashed against the wall of the huge trunk. She spiraled down, the ground rushing up to meet her her face. At the last second, she extended her wings. Air filled them with a soft “Whump!” causing her to receive a sharp zip upwards. Using the momentum to hover a bit, she glanced about her surroundings, taking in the layout of the cave. The stalagmites and stalactites were protruding from the floor and the ceiling like the teeth of some large monster. The sound of water dripping in the distance gave her an urge to not dwindle too far in. Bravely, she flew onwards through the dimly lit cavern.
It didn't take long for the Changeling to hear the,now utterly annoying, drone of her pursuers. Moonlight pierced her eyes as she approached the cave entrance. Her wing beats were growing slow, and labored, but she strained on, knowing that she could never forgive herself if she failed. She burst from the cave mouth, Changelings right behind her. She could see Ponyville coming up, the Everfree forest a blur beneath her. Humming wings stressed, she thought quickly of a way to evade her pursuers. Dodging skillfully through brambles and branches, she dove into the trees, wings buzzing like crazy. Above her, her pursuers picked up speed, by following her from behind.
As the trees began to thin, she could make out a silhouette in the background. It was a pony. Her white coat, and violet mane was illuminated in the moonlit night. A plan ready in her mind, she dove towards the pony. The ivory colored unicorn looked up in surprise, but it was too late. The Changeling tackled her to the ground. Upon contact with the pony, her body began to glow and change till she was an exact replica of the little Unicorn. They rolled a few times, and the Changeling glimpsed the Changelings that were hovering above her, trying to determine which one was her. She desperately tried to rustle around, forcefully trying to kick the pony off of her. “Get away from me you-you Changeling!” she cried. The unicorn looked up in confusion.
“Wha-” she wasn't even able to complete her word before the three changelings were upon her, grabbing her hooves and raising her into the sky. “Unhand me!” the pony yelled. “Let go of me you brutes! Help! Help me Sp-” she was cut off as a Changeling kicked her in the back of the head, knocking her out. They flew off, headed back for the rest of the Swarm.
The Changeling watched gleefully. “Finally, I’m free!” she said aloud. She rolled in the grass happily. “Free, free. FREE!!” she jumped out, and admired her body. It was a rather beautiful white mare, with a purple mane. Looking at her flank, she saw a triple blue diamond cutie mark. The wind ruffled over the unicorn’s coat, causing her to glance to her right. There, a small necklace was lying on the ground. Curious, the Changeling clopped over to it and kicked it over. It was a beautiful red Fire Ruby necklace, in the shape of a heart. Admiring it, she encased it with her dark green magic, and turned it over. There was an inscription on the back.
This is the property of Rarity, from my little Spikey-Wikey.