//------------------------------//
// Chapter 3: A Welcoming Morning 
// Story: The Darkened Past: Alex’s Past History in Ponyville 
// by captinalex1 
//------------------------------//

The night passes by and I wake up, not under a tree though, but in a warm bed. I slowly open my eyes to look around and the first thing I see is a Changeling Mare buzzing above me to make sure I'm ok. "Morning." She smiles warmly.


Confused at first I roll with it, knowing I'll find answers later. "Good morning?"


"Sleep well?" She asks.


"Yes, thanks to you." I tell her. "Um, question where might I be?"


"You are in the Changeling Hive Village." She answers.


"Um, ok. Uh Crystalis was ok with it?" I ask shocked.


"Well of course, you did stop Veger from taking her throne." She tells me.


My ears drop, "I guess, but now he took Celestia's and had me get kicked out."


"Aww, don't feel bad, you did what you could. Don't worry, we'll help you. Also I have the feeling he kicked you out because of your dark power, right?” She asks.


I nod my head to answer her question. “Say how do you know?” I look up at her.


“Hm maybe telling ours names might help out with this. So my name is Echo, what's yours?” Echo asks.


“Mine is Alex. Wait a minute Echo!” I think for a second. “Your ok?”


“Why wouldn't I be? Wait, you said Alex so that was you that was driving the speeder wasn't it?” Echo sees the past.


“That's correct. So you know I’m full of dark magic because you saw what Sombra did. Correct?” I ask.


“That and the one that put flares near your position after seeing the Wonderbolts searching for you.” She tells me. “Don't worry Alex I'll help you get control of your powers and drop that dark magic bar down to 0. You'll still be able to use your powers, but you'll be free of the dark that will try and take you over making you evil.” She adds.


Surprised and shocked I grab and hug the Changeling making her stop flying and fall into my hug. “After what I've been through, that's the kindest thing a Changeling could say to me. Knowing that its hard for Changeling and Pegasi to be friends.” I tell Echo.


I then smell something good being cooked. “Hey what's that smell, its smells good.”


“Oh, just a little something for you to eat. Knowing your not a Changeling you need to physically eat something. Us Changelings feed off of feelings.” Echo tells me as she gets out of my hug and buzzes to the kitchen.


So I get up and follow her into the kitchen. She has some water and a sandwich waiting on a plate for me. I smile brightly as I see the food, cause man am I starving. “Wow! T-thank you.” I tell Echo as I sit down and prepare to eat.


I then take a bite and I have to say, it was a good bite. I had nothing to eat, in for like a long time. The war food is ok but this, this was incredible.


“So, what do you think? Is it good?” Echo asks.


“Yes!” I smile happily taking another bite. “First best thing I've ever tasted in a long time.” I add.


Echo smiles cheerfully, “I’m glad you like it. I can make you another if you want.”


“No, one is enough.” I answer.


“Alright, and after you're done, want to start your training?” She Echo asks.


“Sure.” I answer.



So I finish up the sandwich and drink, then Echo leads me to a Changeling Training Facility. Or as the sign I look at states the CTF. The doors open and I enter only to be amazed at the work and different tools and weapons you can use. Some of the Changelings pause their training to look at me. I wouldn't blame them, its not everyday that you see a Wonderbolt trot through those doors and ready to train with Changelings.


“So where do we train?” I ask Echo.


Echo opens another room. “Right in here. This is where Changelings go to 1 Vs. 1 against each other.”


“Wait, I don't want to fight you.” I tell her.


She smiles, “You're not gonna fight anypony. We just need this room to test your powers is all, and learn how to summon and d-summon it.”


“Oh, I see.” I show that i understand.


“So lets first summon it.” Echo orders.


So I try but nothing happens. “Um its not working.” I tell Echo. “Well of course not. Here trying becoming angry.” So I gather all my anger and focus it then all of a sudden, my body turns dark and my wings get sharp. I begin to grow and dark fire burns from the side of my eyes as they glow. The other changes that are small is my tail gets a spiked ball at the end of it and my mane becomes electrified.


“Whoa! This is different.” I immediately notice.


“Of course, we concentrated all of your anger into one point giving off the new aesthetics, like burning eyes and electric mane.” Echo explains.


“Ah, I see.” -I look around- “So um, how do I go back to normal?” I ask.


“Just take a deep breath and let it all out. That will calm your strength and the dark should dissipate .” Echo explains.


So I do as I’m told and she was right. My mane stops to spark and I slowly begin to shrink back to normal size. After a few seconds, I’m back to normal. “That was trippy.” I tell Echo the experience.


“Nah, your fine. Just not used to it yet, but we’ll work on it.” She tells me.


“Anything else i need to know?” I ask.


“There are dark moves like shooting a dark blast and a shout blast. But that’s about it.” Echo says.


“A dark shout?” I ask.

“Well if you're mad enough at somepony and you need to raise your voice, you can shout a few select words like ‘force’ for example and you'll cause the sound barrier to break making a shock-wave. You don't even need to be in your dark form.” She explains.


“Oh cool. But I’m not ready to test that yet.” I let Echo know.


“Also, too early.” She tells me.


“Say, is their a tool that measures how much darkness i have in percent?” I ask.


“Right over their.” She points to a tool rack.


So I trot over and pick up the pistol looking device with a digital percent scale on it. I aim and hit the trigger as the tool is aimed at me then look back and it begins to calculate. It then gives me my percentage and it reads, “20%”


“Hm, not bad. We should be able to knock that down to 0% in a jiffy.” I talk in excitement.


“Yeah, looks easy, but in reality its harder than it looks.” Echo bursts my happy bubble.


“Aww, why is that?” I ask with a frown.


“Because the dark that’s trying to take you over slowly by time builds up, meaning you'll be up to 30% pretty quickly. Not to worry, training everyday should keep it low by about 1 or 2 percent. Also keep this in mind, if we train with complicated things right off the bat, you'll drop the darkness down fast, but when its time to train again and you know the difficult moves. The easy moves will barely do anything to the number, thus having it continuously rise.” Echo takes the time to explain.


“So in other words, we start as easy as possible and progress over time.” I tell her.


“Exactly, also I’m sorry to say, but if two years hits you will instantly turn evil…” She looks down.


“What why?” I question.


“B-because 2 years means that even if you have only 0.00000001% of darkness, it was in your body long enough that it slowly take control of you.” She says looking up at me with ears down.

“But if I hit 0% and exactly 0 without a percent, I’ll be fine.” I tell her.


“Yes but it has to be before 2 years pass.” Echo says back.


“No problem, we should be fine.” I try to brighten the mood.


“Oh and Alex, here's a tip. Always stay kind and in a good mood. Depression, anger and meanness will raise the number drastically. Staying in a good mood slows it down.” Echo tells me.


“Um, I’ll try.” I say unsure of myself.

“Not saying all the time. Yes your mood will change but, have it change under control. Know what I’m saying now?” Echo tells me a little more clearly.


“Yes that makes a lot more sense.” I tell her. “Hey can i go meet Queen Chrysalis?” I ask.


“Well, um, I mean, if you want to, I guess, but?” Echo is unsure.


“Quit your worrying, I’ll be fine.” I tell her. Then I trot over and the door opens and I gallop out of the training room. The moment the door closes behind me, I sigh in relief. Then I slowly trot through the hall looking for Chrysalis’s quarters. “Finally I’m out. Also this is not happening, I’m not in the Changeling Hive Village.” I talk to myself. I then stop and rub my eyes with my hooves and look again. 

“Nope, its really happening.”


“Well, I have no choice though. Anyway back to what i was trying to do.” I look around. “Hm, I know Chrysalis’s Headquarters are here somewhere, but where?” I ask myself.


“Hey how was your run today?” A Changeling asks his buddy as they trot down the hallway.


I hear them getting closer, “Shoot.” -Whispers to myself- “I don't know if the rest of the Hive knows I’m here.” I then look around. “Gotta hide, gotta hide.” I then find a shadowed passage way and hide using the darkness. The two Changelings pass by, unaware of my presence.


“Few, that was a close one.” I whisper to myself. I then peek and see that they've passed. “Time to continue trotting.” I then get out a continue looking. “Ah, here we are.” I press the door button and it slides open. I then trot in and cautiously trot. “FREEZE!” Two Changelings tell me as they put their staffs in front of my face.


“Whoa!” I jump surprised and frightened.


“Identify, you Pegasus.” One tells me.


“Sorry, sorry...” I look down in fear. “N-names Alex of the 2nd Squadron from the Wonderbolts.” I tell them.


“And what are you doing here then.” The other tries to talk in a more calm voice.


“I-I was b-banished sir.” I tell them as my ears drop.


“Hm, and why might this reason be?” They talk kindly now.


“Veger is the reason. He saw the dark power Sombra forced into me and that gave him the reason too. Veger also controls Celestia’s Castle.” I tell them.


I look at them and their eyes both widen as they look at each other then back at me. “He was the reason we almost lost our Hive. We didn't notice at first but his plan was to team up with Sombra and gain power. Then when parts of the Hive joined, he was close at capturing and taking control over us. You foiled his plan after killing Sombra and and letting us keep the Hive which we thank you kindly.” They explain.

“What I wanted to do was make a fair rule for Changelings to be able to pass the shield and enter Ponyville, but now, now I’m stuck.” I explain.


“So i see we are on the same side.” One raises his hoof.


I raise mine and we shake on it. “Yes we are same side. Question, are their Changelings still with the Shadow Army or on Veger’s side?” I ask.


“Um, as far as we know, all Changelings are the same team and part of the Hive. The good side to be exact. Me and my buddy here have scouted and looked around but found no rogue Changelings. Meaning we are in the clear.” He informs me.


“That’s good. Permission to pass now?” I ask.


The Changelings raise their staffs, “Permission granted. But question, why exactly do you want to see our Queen?”


“To inform her why I’m here and the rule i tried passing.” I answer.


“Ah, I see. So Chrysalis informs the Hive so no Changeling assumes you're a spy or sketchie type, right?”


“Precisely.” I answer.


I then trot passed the guards and head towards the throne. The room gets bigger and scarier looking, since I've never actually visited Changelings before, I’m kinda scared at how the place looks and don't know what to expect. I get closer and the throne gets into view. I take the time and hide behind a corner to look and listen.


"Changelings, did you pack your things?" The Queen asks her subjects.


"Yup, food, a map and more are all prepared for the trot to the northern mountains." The one she asked responds.


"Hm, sounds like the Changelings might be going on a trip." I whisper to myself.


"Hey, are my fruits ready yet?" She asks another.


"Will be right out." Another responds.


"Hm, should wait for the perfect timing to show." I plan. So I sit and listen, almost like eavesdropping, but I swear I wasn't. Then the moment boredom shoots in, I jump out of the cover saying hello in a nervous voice.


-Gulps- "H-hello." I hardly speak.


All the Changelings, including the Queen, look at me in a weird way. "Um, what's a Pegasus doing in the Changeling Hive?" She asks.

I trot up closer so I can be heard. "I was banished by Veger your highness."


Chrysalis then takes an educated guess knowing Veger, "Let me guess, he banished you because when Sombra forced dark magic, you turned dark and he had that reason to banish you. Am I right?"


"Pretty much. He also owns Celestia's Castle and is the ruler." I add.


"Hm, I'm sorry for that. Though I thank you for killing Sombra. Some of my own scouts saw they were gonna betray us anyway so thank you again." Chrysalis tells me.


I just kinda bop my head down and my ears fall. "Yeah, n-no p-problem..."


Chrysalis looks at me as like I'm one of her subjects, and looks at me sadly. "What's wrong?"


"Nothing, just nothing... May I ask a favor so at least the Hive knows I'm here, so I don't get looked down upon?" I sadly ask.


"Yes, what is it?" She asks.


"Can you send some kind of message to most Changelings so that they know I'm here?" I ask nicely.


"Why of course." She acknowledges.


"Thank you. I'll be on my way now..." I turn around and begin to leave.


"Sigh... Thought that would be better than it was. It was nice at the beginning though but not towards the end..." I sadly talk to myself, thinking the talk over.


As I trot, I get closer to the guards that are by the door. "So how did it go?" One of them ask.


"It was ok, I guess." I answer. Then before the Changeling give their thought, we here a electronic beep.


I, puzzled, ask, "Hey, what was that beeping noise that happened a few seconds ago?"


"That's, oh, um, it's our communicator. When the Queen sends us info or something like that, every Changeling with a communicator will receive it." The other explains.


"May I see what it says, please?" I ask nicely.


"Why not, take a look." The first one tells me as he puts his hoof up so I can see the communicator.


I read most of what it says to myself because what it actually says is what I asked Chrysalis to do, which is tell the Hive I'm staying. My eyes light up after seeing that Chrysalis actually did this for me. It was kind of her.


"Satisfied with what you read?" The Changeling guard says as he moves his hoof away.


"Yes!" I tell him happily. "Well I'll be on my way." I add.


"Take care buddy and nice meeting you." They tell me.


"Hey, it was a pleasure meeting you guys as well, take care." I tell them, then trot out and trot into the hallway headed back to Echo.


"Hm, wonder what Echo has planned for me to do today." I talk to myself. I then find the room and trot in. "Hello, Echo I'm back." But no response. "Echo, you their?" Still nothing. "Hm, maybe she stayed in the training room or went somewhere else." I think.


Then when I least expect it, my eyes get covered by some ponies hooves. Echo giggles a little, "Guess who?"


"Hm, i gonna guess, it's Echo?" I guess.


She giggles a bit more, "Yes!"


“Heheh, you really got me their Echo.” I tell her.


“Sure did. Sorry, just wanted to do that for fun. I saw what Chrysalis sent and was happy, so yeah.” Echo says.