//------------------------------// // Ask. 5 // Story: Ask a changeling // by ParadoxPony //------------------------------// "Narris, you cannot hide in there forever. Besides, spending your life in a tree would not be so clever." "Yah, come in sis! I'm sure whatever happened wasn't that embarrassing!" My grip on the tree branch strengthened. "You're right...It was worse!'' To add to the embarrassment, I started crying. "Narris, yah can't hide up there forever!" My friends had come over after I didn't come to school on Monday. This day couldn't get anymore embarrassing!...No wait, it could. I made the mistake of opening my eyes and saw the bus pulling up. I should have chosen a tree to spend the rest of my life in in the back yard... "Come on Narris! I can't just fly up and get you! School' starting and we gotta go!" I watched helplessly as my three friends made their way to the wagon..bus...thingy... when a green aurora surrounded me in its grasp. Scenta. I struggled in her magic, flailing around in the air while being dragged into the wagon and being placed in a seat next to hers and then being released from her horn. "So...Who is he?" My cheeks instantly flush red. "W-w-what ar-are you talking about?" "Just tell me already! I promise, I won't tell anypony." I looked from my sister to a few seats away where the colt sat and then back to Scenta. If told her, there would be no living with it. If I didn't, there would be no living with it. "Scenta? Remember that time you formed a grown mare because you wanted to get into that "night club"?" "N-no!" An unforgiving smiled twisted its way onto my face. "I kept the pictures." "FINE! didn't care about your stupid crush anyway!" Pinkie kept her eyes on the wagon as it rolled to a stop in front o Rarity's house to pick p Sweetie Belle. The Cakes had insisted on giving Pinkie the day off after the other day's 'incident'. With a flash of light, a changeling with purple eyes and matching armor appeared directly in front of Pinkie Pie. It nodded to her and then spoke, in doing so, teleported the two of them in to what was seemingly a control room. It's voice was crackled at first, like a bad radio signal, but then cleared sounding almost as loud as Luna. So the gingerbread is working on his spy treats, also pinkie the three new anomalies known as the cutie mark crusaders are trying to abuse the power for revenge. Activate distraction 5279 Pinkie grabbed the shoulders of the changeling and shook it furiously. "Are you crazy! This pony-er, changeling isn't ready...yet..."Pinkie Pie pulled a clueless Derpy Hooves from seemingly nowhere and pet her mane mischievously. Another being appeared with a flash in the center of the control room to which received surprised looks from both ponies...one pony and one changeling. the creature stood no taller than three hooves tall and looked to be half pony, half two-headed kitten. The cat, pony, thing cleared its throat and looked right at the changeling. "HEY! Who let you into the command center?!" "Where did you come from mr. kitty-cat-meow-face?" Pinkie then moved on to stroke the small thing's soft fur with no reaction. "Oh dear flark it's worse then I thought, PINKIE! His intel is correct but you do NOT have permission for 5279 as of yet! We all know the risks... I won't have another Unicornia incident. Derpy, if you're active trail that filly that just left. Don't be spotted. Just... use your judgement. This is above my pay grade, I need to get the captain "Yeth sir mister kitty!" Derpy said, saluting the two-head-cat-pony. A bead of green sweat dropped from the changeling's forehead. It darted to the nearest exit yelling, being a changeling helps The three left standing in the control room shared an odd glance in the changeling's wake before it shot left toward a wall and disappeared through it. The cat-pony grabbed an intercom. Oh no you don't! Ugh. Somebody call security, we have a shapeshifting native either pranking or gone rogue- Pinkiepie snatched the device. "HELLO EVERYPONY!" The cat-pony grabbed it back and, after tabbing it a few times, cleared his throat and spoke. -cressh, is this still on? The cat-pony then began to fade from view like a ghost and with it, the control room. Pinkie once again found herself at the treeline and watching the wagon pick up Sweetie Belle...it seemed like longer than that... "Nnnnarrrriiiisss?" I wonder how old he is. Is he still mad at me? Oh, I hope not! "Earth to Narris." He's got to be mad! I would be! I'm such an idiot! It was that mare...not me... "Narris!" "Wha? huh?" The room focused back into view and with it, my three friends. The schoomare smile on each of their faces indicating they had easily seen my crazed eyes and deep blush. The trio burst out into fits of giggles and snorts, rolling on the ground and holding their stomachs. "H-hey! T-that's not funny!" "You're riaght...It was hilarious! I ain't never seen anypony turn so red in all mah life!" "S-so!" Sweetie Belle put a hoof around my neck and gave a sly wink I was sure only I could see, then brought her lips closer to my ear while my other two friends continued to laugh at me. "Relax! If it'll help, I'll come over today and we can talk about...it..." Another rush of blood flared my cheeks. "T-there's nothing to talk about!" "Pppllleeeaasse?! rarity is having some big, fancy party and I have to stay in my room! Please Narris! It's soooo boring1" "..." "Please?" Sweetie's eyes grew larger than I thought possible and her bottom lip stuck out. "...Fine..." I deadpaned. The bell rang and my friends took their seats, Sweetie Belle being in the desk next to me. Narris, you really should go talk to that colt. He must feel really embarrassed about all this. Just go talk to him! ...Horse feathers... Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, and Scootaloo's heads turned in unison. Pinkie Pie could only watch from the window helplessly while the changeling inside sheepishly wobbled her way to a creamy-brown colt. "If not plan 5279, then what?" A voice drifting on an evening breeze answered her thoughts. i think what he meant was distraction 2579 not 5279 both very similar and easy to confuse one is less risky than the other though so yea activate distraction 2579 pinkie "2579 eh? Hmm... It may be just number-y enough to work! Go get Lightning! We shall need him in my plan...." The mare stroked Derpy's mane once more, an evil smile growing on her muzzle. "Truth! I choose truth!" "Okay! Okay! Um... Have you ever worn you sister's..." the creases on my lips widened into a sly smile"...Delicates?" It was fun to watch Sweetie try to block her ever growing blush. "Y-yes." "HA! " "h-hey! I w-was just a young filly! Besides! I thought it was a hat!" "Okay, okay!" "Your turn! truth or dare!?" "Hmm...Truth!" "Aw! That's no fun! Okay... Why were you all moon-eyed at school today during science?" "I-I...Ugh! Fine. You know that...That, erm..." The temptation of lying was almost tangible! But Sweetie's friend...Twistlight? Twilit?...Twi-something had taught her an anti-lying spell box. Each time you lied, the buzzer would go off. "I, I like...Rumble!" BUZZ "Narris!" "Okay! I like a stallion!" ... "Aw! no fair Narris! " "The buzzer didn't go off, did it?" "I hate loopholes." "Okay, your turn. Truth or dare Sweetie Belle?" My gaze lifted to Sweetie Belle to which I immediately regretted. Standing almost directly behind Sweetie was a tall, gray alicorn with a striped yellow and white mane that flowed roughly down his strong legs and neck. If he was a little taller he could probably be mistaken for Celestia's twin brother. He had a certain disapproval about him. I lifted a hoof in the direction of the stallion. Sweetie followed my hoof to the stranger, a moon glazed look crossing over her eyes at the being before the two of us. I managed a few words before falling silent once more. "W-who are you?" "Just another lost soul who has breached the barrier at some level. Some more than others, see'' This voice I recognized...Lightning, one of the first voices to enter my head. But this time, he wasn't a voice. He was standing in front of me. As cautiously as i could, my hooves set into motion in the direction of Lightning. Slam! The stallion had kicked a hoof under mine, sending me for the floor of the hut. "Ow! What'd you do that for?!" "Damn… I just lost a fiver." The pony disappeared and I was once again alone in my room with Sweetie Belle, who was staring wistfully at the spot which once stood the alicorn. "Who was that?" "I have no idea...But I think these voices are more powerful than just...well...voices..." Not two minutes ago I knew the facts. facts that weren't supposed to change. And they just did...drastically! "He was so...so.." "I know! A total wierdo!" I spat. "Gorgeous..." "What?" Sweetie Belle's only answer was the soft sigh that past through her lips. 30 seconds earlier... "Plan set into motion..." Pinkamena Diane Pie had a perfect view of the changeling's room from underneath a potted plant. Wait for it... Waaaiit... A stallion appeared and spoke a few words she couldn't hear. Sweetie Belle's blush shone brightly against her white fur. "Ppperfect.." *Derpy horse pet* So you can feel us what about weapons do i have your permission to give you a small cut on your hoof. It well barely hurt and it wont be deep "Shh!!! Sweetie is sleeping!" I turned my head as little as possible to take a peak at my sleeping friend. "...Wait! What did you say?!" Fedoras make everything better. Have a fedora, Narris. Something blinded my eyes and I caught a brief sight of....Sweetie throwing me a hat? My hoof reached the air just in time to stop the fedora from reaching Sweetie Belle. I placed it on my head...It did make me feel better! I could be the teacher or the janitor or that pony you just met or....that red stallion A soft groan came from my right as she turned in her sleep. "You don't think I would be able to tell?" Those mares your friends were talking about killed many changelings, don't trust them. "Well isn't somepony paranoid!..." *Snicker* "Somepony!" How does your queen feel about belly rubs? I rubbed my chin with my hooves. "Hmm...I don't know..I..I wish I could have a belly rub..." I yawned quietly and removed the fedora from my head and placed it on the floor to my left. Why was one of your first thoughts to kill big mac? "Wha? Who's Big Mac?" My head dropped to the pillow as sleep took over... A moon.... Hooves. No, changeling hooves....No, my changeling hooves... my eyes won't open, but I can see what is happening... I see somepony...I see...him... What does he want? he is..Waving? No...those are his legs...he is coming my way... "Narris?" The brown stallion laid a hoof on mine. "Y-yes?" "I think I like it here." "Here?" I asked dumbly. "Yes, I do." I shook my head. "No, where is here?" "Why, that's where we are of course!" He smiled mater-of-factly. I inched a small bit closer to him. "Your not making sense-...pony.." He inched a few hairs too. "Yes I am.' Though he looked to be almost full grown, his speech seemed almost younger than mine, giving him a fun person about him. Inch. "Noo yourr no-ot." I sing-songed. Inch. "Look at you! You don't make sense!" What do changelings taste like? the stallion casually licked my face as if it was normal and smacked his lips together. "Hmm...Kinda like chicken!" "Hey!" I tried to sound as serious as possible while blushing. Can changelings love? "Um...Well, I thi-" A pair of lips were pressed against mine in an array of sparks flying around in my head...I slowly opened my eyes, my lips still forming a *kiss* and looked deep into the eyes of SweetIe Belle, lifting up for ano-.... "Sweetie Belle!?" Sweetie burst into laughter, holding her side and rolling onto the floor in a fit of snorts and giggles. "You should have seen your face!" "Th-that's n-not funny S-sweetie Belle!" "Oh lighten up Narris! I- I,uh..." Sweetie Belle rubbed the back of her neck. "I had some...dreams of my own." "Oh?" She had caught my interest now. "Uh, hehe...Y-yah. That.. 'voice'...w-what was his name?" "Lightning or something like that." My friend sighed at the name. "Lighting..." "RRRiiight..." Fluttershy and a very bored Rainbow Dash sat on either sides of a tea party table, sipping their invisible tea happily- or at least one of them were-. "Look, Fluttershy, it's not like I'm not enjoying drinking from empty cups with a bunch of animals or anything-" The blue pegasus push a duck off the table. "- but I really need to stretch my wings." "Oh...but the animals love you soo much!" Half of Fluttershy's cute, green eyes were hidden behind her long, pink mane, a single strand falling out of where it had been tucked behind her folded ears. "And they would be soo sad if you left." her voice was barely audible to Dash. A small baby kitten came to rest on top of Fluttershy's head, purring contently. "But if you really want to leave,-" The smallest of small tears formed on the bottom of her large eyes. "Than I won't keep you any longer Rainbow Dash." Rainbow shook her head in attempts to clear the cutesy spell she was under. "UGH! Fine!...Pass the tea..." to Fluttershy: If two changeling fillies lived with Zecora and you found out, what would you do? Rainbow's face turned stone cold. "WHO SAID THAT! WHO SAID...Ugh...Changelings?!" to Dashie: Would you kill two innocent changeling fillies who have done nothing to you? Rainbow Dash's expression softened. "No..Pass the tea Flutters..." Fluttershy gratefully passed her an empty tea pot to which Rainbow reached for, knocking her tea cup off the table. With a groan, rainbow Dash ducked under the tablecloth in search of her lost cup. "Umm...Fluttershy? What's a katana doing under the table?"