//------------------------------// // A Bad Time to be Sneezed // Story: The Sneezing Changeling // by Lirg //------------------------------// A Bad Time to be Sneezed There are two kinds of changelings in Equestria. The first kind was the most obvious to the pony population. They were the ones who lived under the reign of Queen Chrysalis in the Hive. The ones who invaded Canterlot six months ago. The ones who were feared by the ponies. And then there were the outlaws: Doppel Ganger, Camouflage and Mimic. They never swore loyalty to the Queen. As far as Doppel was concerned, he found that the Queen's methods weren't good enough for his race. He argued that, despite invading various town and using force, they could live better without violence. This idea caused the other changelings to dislike him. His only ally was Camouflage. She didn't approve it, but she found, in a certain manner, he was right. However, one day  the Queen heard of his complaints and summoned him to explain himself. Doppel didn't change his version for her. Chrysalis made him remember that he had to swear loyalty to his queen. “I'll never swear loyalty to a Queen who only seeks violence and steals to feed her changelings,” Doppel blurted out. It wasn't his brightest idea. Chrysalis banished him, ordering him to never come back and above all, to never again cross the road of the Queen. Strangely, Camouflage was banished soon after him. She never wanted to explain to him how it happened though. Finally, Mimic was banished a few weeks before the invasion of Canterlot, several months after Doppel’s banishment. He had mentioned something along the lines of the wanted to be free and not have to follow the rules of the Queen. Being outlawed wasn't the worst thing that could happen to a changeling. However, once the three of them moved to the Everfree Forest, their lives got better. The three of them would go into Ponyville from time to time and feed on the love from various ponies. The fact that there were only three of them didn't arouse any suspicion. Living on love was vital for them. Changelings couldn't survive more than a week without it, so they disguised themselves and refilled their love meters. Doppel always found it ironic that his kind couldn't feed off of the love of its own species, but instead was forced to feed upon the other ones. Here was the goal of their disguise: it was used to steal from a pony who didn't suspect anything and who was attached to the form in which they had taken. The form Doppel used the most was a green mint unicorn who had a relation with a beige pony. Mimic and Camouflage did have their preferences too. The disadvantage with this system were that the changelings had to know their double’s life perfectly, they had to avoid meeting their double, and they had to avoid feeding upon the same pony too much. The beginning of their outlaw life was a difficult one, but after about a year, nothing seemed to be troubling their peaceful lives in the Everfree Forest. Until now... “Achoo!” “Don't sneeze like that! You look like the wall eyed pegasus that Mimic uses,” Camouflage complained. For a changeling, catching a cold was the worst curse they could be burdened with. At each sneeze, they either changed back to their original form, or changed into another disguise. It restricted a lot of abilities of the ill changeling, even if the disease only lasted for a little more than one week like a usual cold. But for the duration of the cold, the changeling couldn't be near ponies without risking having his cover to be blown by a sneeze at any moment. “I told him to not stand near the water...” Mimic said. “I didn't know that I was going to meet a manticore when I was drinking!” Doppel responded. “I was surprised, and I fell into the pond. It could have happened to anypony!” “Not to a changeling who lived in the Everfree Forest for a year,” he argued. But how could three little changelings defend themselves against all the atrocities of the Everfree Forest? It was thanks to their shape shifting abilities once again. Each living being in Equestria was afraid of at least one thing. They simply transformed into this one thing and generally, they didn't have any problems. This task was made even easier by the fact they could feel the feelings of their opponent, whether it was pony, changeling or simply monstrous. “Achoo!” “Oh, look at you Doppel. You look like the unicorn you usually disguise yourself as now,” Mimic teased. “Maybe it's time to go to town and feed upon some love.” “Isn't it a bit dangerous?” Camouflage asked with concern. “Less dangerous than if he stays here and infects us with his germs. Which in this case, we'd all in trouble.” “Alright... I'll go. I need to eat anyway. I'm not going to hold out until my cold ends,” the sick one concluded. He went to Ponyville, sneezing several times during his trip, thinking that he shouldn't worry to know in which form he was in before he arrived at the gates of the town. --|-|-- Fluttershy was taking care of her small animals like any other day. But today, her heart wasn't focused on her work. She was more distracted than usual. She gave fishes to the birds and seeds to Angel. He showed his disagreement on the served food by knocking the bowl over on the head of the timid pony. “The last critters I have to feed now are the squirrels,” she said aloud, as loud as her voice could. She dropped a pile of nuts at the base of a tree before seeing the critters come to take it. Fluttershy had at last finished her daily routine. The next question was what was she going to do for the rest of the day. This wasn't the spa day, and Pinkie Pie didn't seem to have found something she could use as an excuse to have a party today. She couldn't find any valid reason to disturb her friends if it's was just to visit them. So she decided to go get her journal and write outside. The day was so nice. --|-|-- Doppel arrived at the edge of the woods. He had taken care to clear his nose out as much as he could to delay a possible accident. His disguise focused now on a grayish brown unicorn stallion with a purplish-blue mane. He still hesitated to change his form, because he knew that Bon-Bon would be with Lyra today and that he would have trouble getting rid of the unicorn so he could take advantage of her companion. Finally, he decided to keep his disguise and choose the first pony he met and feed upon their love. Under his condition, he should be quick nonetheless. I don't like being forced to use this method, but I don't have a choice. Before going to Ponyville from out of the Everfree Forest, Doppel had to pass a little cottage where a pony he never saw up close before lived. This yellow pegasus seemed rather timid at first sight and, as a matter of fact, quite unapproachable for the changeling. It was easier to steal the love of a pony who was more extroverted than introverted. He decided that he should at least enter Ponyville. The town was more bustling than usual. How could I have forgotten that it's market day today? Doppel made his way closer to a couple of ponies, but his nose chose otherwise and forced him to run in a dark alley to sneeze out of sight. It won't be easy if I can't stop myself from sneezing. He noticed that he had changed into a zebra. I need to change back to the form I had or else ponies are going to get suspicious. He transformed back into the grayish unicorn he looked like a few seconds before and went out of the alley like nothing had happened. Attempt number two. He approached a young mare who was visibly fascinated by a poster on the wall. She's isolated. It'll be easier to find a way out if I have any trouble. He passed behind her, lifted his hoof to touch her, but then put it back down. How can I get her attention? He sighed. I don't need to get her attention if I use this method. Suddenly, the mare turned around and looked at the changeling, still disguised as a unicorn. “Can I help you?” Startled by the reaction, Doppel only muttered, “What do you think this contest is about?” He asked even though he had just read the poster. “Something like a fashion contest,” the mare answered. “But I don't think that you're the target demographic for this.” Perfect, she's talking to me. Maybe I could use my method after all. As he tried to continue the discussion, a harsh itch came to his nose. He looked around for anything that could hide him and chose three barrels placed near one another other. A loud sneezing was heard with an outburst of green flames. “Are you okay, sir?” the concerned pony asked, approaching the barrels. Doppel watched himself. Oh no, I didn't look like that before. He was now disguised as a blue light pegasus mare, with a particularly frizzy mane. What was the disguise, what was the disguise? As soon as the young mare arrived, he took back his former appearance. “Yes, yes, I'm okay!” Without adding anything else he ran to escape the danger of being there with his illness. Once out of the town, he stopped running and walked into the Everfree Forest with his head low. It's impossible to feed on love when you have a cold. I need more than thirty seconds to feed. He passed in front of Fluttershy’s cottage. Well, if it isn’t Fluttershy. It's uncommon to see her in front of her home. The timid pegasus seemed to be more relaxed now than all the other times he had met her. She was writing something in her journal and talking to herself. I said that I'd take the first pony I met, but that didn't work. So I guess this one will have to count too! And then again, I’m dying to know what could interest her so much that she's this relaxed. It's said that curiosity killed the cat, but it was in the nature of a changeling to be curious. Knowing everything, and then some, all the gossip, was helpful for acting correctly when he had to transform. It's decided! I'm going to talk to her! Doppel suddenly changed directions and headed to the cottage. Fluttershy was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't hear him arrive. As soon as Doppel had reached her, he heard the pegasus talking. “Is this really love that I feel? Maybe, I should talk about it to Rarity?” she wondered. “No, I can't do that. I need to talk to Rain...” She was deprived of finishing her sentence when the changeling interrupted her by asking, “So, you have a very special somepony in sight?” Fluttershy stared at the Changeling, turned over, and then started walking back towards her cottage. “Oh sorry, I didn't mean to startle you!” Doppel apologized. “My name is Cobalt Crescent.” His mane color was the basis of this name, directly from his invention.  A changeling should be able to improvise at any given moment. “I just arrived in Ponyville and saw you here alone. I thought that you might be able to recommend me to some nice places to visit?” The changeling only received a moan from the pegasus as answer. Not very effective his technique. He should have announced his arrival instead of suddenly appearing behind her. “I forgot to ask your name. You are?” he continued. Another moan from Fluttershy. Doppel hoped to have at least a tad of confidence from her. She was completely terrified. This feeling hit the changeling strongly. I only need some compassion, or friendship, or something along those lines. But not fear!  “You're Fluttershy?” he asked with a joyful tone. “Yes...” she weakly answered. At least, an audible answer this time.  “How do you know my name?” “You are famous! This cutie mark and this characteristic demeanor of yours, you're one of the Element of Harmony!” he explained. “It isn't every day when you meet a pony who saved Equestria several times!” “It isn't always really us who... Well, you see...” she whispered. She began to open up a little. Doppel could felt less and less of the fear of the pegasus and felt that his praising led somewhere, even if he also felt a kind of embarrassment come up. He should stop his praising now. He had to be interesting to her. He decided to approach her a little bit more, but in his strides, he stepped on her journal. “Oops, sorry!” he apologized, with a light tone, “I didn't mean to step on your journal.” The changeling used magic to pick up the journal and hold it out to the pegasus. “Don't worry. I haven't read anything in it,” he reassured her. Fluttershy caught it, slightly bewildered by the demeanor of his visitor. But, for Doppel, something wasn't right. Something was missing. And suddenly, without any warning, he shouted a big achoo. This sneeze made him lose his pony form and shift back into his changeling form. At this sight, Fluttershy ran to her cottage and locked it immediately. Doppel remained frozen for a few seconds before figuring out what had just happened. He then ran to the Everfree Forest. He had just been found out in the most abrupt way possible, and he had to find a solution to his problem soon if he didn't want to be pursued by a group of ponies who wanted him dead.