Variation
Ugh. I still could not fully grasp what happened. It seemed like a dream. I was in denial or shock or something like that. I was low on energy and injured. I had been wandering for hours. This did give me some time to plan a disguise for when, if ever, I found a pony town. That is assuming I was still in Equestria, I hoped I was still in Equestria. I’m not even sure morphing griffons or dragons is even possible, especially on such low energy reserves. I would need a pony disguise that was not that different from my natural form because the fewer things I change, the less energy I use. I also had to like it, because I may not be able to morph again until I recover. I slowly changed my appearance piece by piece to get it perfect. I lightened my coat to a more pony-like grey. I also lengthened it to pony fur length. Then I sealed my leg cavities and absorbed my gossamer wings. I straitened my horn from its normal curvy shape. As for my mane, I only fixed its holes and tears, then changed its colour to a light blue-green, approximately that of my now absent wings.
Now a full grown blank-flank, I adopted a simple star to complete my disguise. By now I was overcome with fatigue, having exhausted the entirety of my already low energy reserves. That rock looks like a good place to rest…
~
Metamorpha
Dangerous is a relative term. At first I assumed they were ponies. I morphed quickly to the form I had been planning to assume after the changeling’s victory. Grey coat, blue-green hair and Pegasus form. I tried to change as little as possible. I despise pony form.
Turns out morphing wasn’t a good idea. This flat land doesn’t allow for sneaky approaches so I just walked up to the cluster. They were deep in conversation, their backs turned away from me. I stepped on a twig. They all spun around, dammit! Changelings! They pounced on me right as I morphed back.
“Stop! I’m no pony!” one of them was biting my neck. “Ow! Dimmit stop biting me!”
He must have recognized my distinct gravely changeling accent, even though I spoke in Equestrian, because he immediately released my neck and removed himself from the pile. The others followed in suit.
Once they were all off of me I straightened my crimped wing.
“My name is Metamorpha, legionnaire”, I said to the group with a quick, informal bow.
“Great of all the changelings we could have found, or found us”, recognizing the voice, I looked to its owner.
I gasped “Commander Transfigure!” I gave a much more formal bow now.
“hrumph” was her reply.
The other three in the group introduced themselves. Sub-commander Exchange (female), legionnaire Tamper (male), and legionnaire Merge (female). Much to Transfigure’s dismay, they decided to allow me to travel with them. None of them knew where we were either, unfortunately. Our plan was to find a town to tell where we were, then travel back to the hive.
While we trotted along Exchange and I talked about things of no consequence. She was really smart and even though she was higher technical rank than me (Legionnaires through Under-Queens are only different in official military power, not physiology) she listened intently to my stories.
Transfigure led the group. When I asked her why we don’t just fly, she didn’t reply. With a sigh I returned to the group. We talked. Apparently, Tamper had found an injured and disorientated Merge, and then they were later found by Transfigure. Exchange spotted the group from the air, and had received a similar welcome as me, as she was in pony form. Tamper still profusely apologized for biting me; even though I had told him countless times that it was fine. These changelings were quite endearing, that is, except for Transfigure.
~
Variation
After my quick nap I continued walking, and walking, and walking. Maybe the unicorn disguise wasn’t the best choice after all. Well, I sighed, there is nothing I can do about that now. I was headed toward what I hoped was a town. I was starving. My energy reserves where low hours ago, now they were empty.
It was a town, “Ponyville” wow, how original. I rolled my blue-green pony eyes. I talked to the first pony I saw; a grey pegasus mare with a blonde mane, bubbles for a cutie mark, and eyes looking in two different directions.
“Hello dear mare, what is your name?” I inquired politely.
“OH! Hello! I’m Ditzy Doo! But ponies call me Derpy! You can call me Derpy I guess, everypony else does.” The strange mare said quizzically
“Hello Derpy, do you know where I could get something to eat?” with this I had to bite back a snicker, I knew exactly where my next meal was coming from, and It was right in front of me. She was radiating giddiness which I sucked up hungrily.
“You don’t need to go anywhere to eat; I have plenty of nourishment for you with me!” she said with a big smile
“What do you mean?” I replied nervously.
“MUFFINS!” with this she unclipped one of her saddle bags and dumped its contents on my head. It was full of muffins. Great, just great. The first pony I meet here is crazy. I took one of the muffins that had not landed in the soil. Timidly I took a small bite. It took quite some effort to keep from gaging. Normal pony food tastes bad, this was downright harmful.
“Er, yum?” I faked a smile
“Oh I am SOOOOOO glad you like them! What is your name?”
“uh,” I thought of the first thing that came to my mind. We had been instructed in school on how to compose names. Fancy word for coat colour plus cutie mark shape, “I’m uh, Shadow Star!”
“Well, hello Shadow! Welcome to Ponyville, se ya around?”
“Yeah, maybe.” I said with another smile, this one genuine. This strange pony had filled my energy reserves completely. Now satisfied, I trotted off into “Ponyville”, heading toward nowhere in particular.
~
Metamorpha
As we walked we entertained ourselves by morphing into pony royalty. This was all fun and good until Merge tried Princess Mi Amore Cadenza.
I gasped and scuffled back. Seeing images of my fateful day in Canterlot.
“Metamorpha, what is it?” Merge asked, concerned, while shifting back to her natural form.
I stood up and composed myself.
“I am sorry for that outburst. It’s just… Princess Mi Amore Cadenza was the form Chrysalis assumed during the invasion. And seeing you made me realize something. This is all her fault! She somehow managed to be free of her restraints, and she cast the spell that repelled us! She ruined everything! She unraveled our victory! *sigh* I’m sorry. When I saw her -you- it was like I was back there watching HER destroy us.” I collapsed to the ground and lost my pony form.
“Oh Metamorpha, you have seen so much. Transfigure? May we rest for a bit?” Merge smoothed my stiff, hole-ridden mane.
Transfigure rolled her eyes before replying with a sigh, “I’ll take first guard.”
I settled down in the dust with Merge still stroking my mane. I knew something now I didn’t before, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza must pay.