Decisions
Queen Chrysalis paced around on the hot desert sand. They had been banished for years now. She and some of her elite drones, the only females, had come up with a plan. They would send the most trained changeling to Ponyville, a town with lots of love (from the readings her drones got), and she would try to feed off of love the good way. Love directed towards her. It would be healthy for both. Chrysalis had learned that trying to force love would end them up like this. Most of her changelings would die, and they were only surviving because the mass amounts of love Chrysalis had stored in case of this. In case of defeat.
Three months later
Drone A-1 was ready. She was on the outskirts of Ponyville. She brought her saddlebag out and checked her inventory. Three pretty big bags of bits (who knows how Chrysalis got those), a vial of liquid love in case of emergency, and a list. A-1 arranged the stuff a little bit so it didn't bulge, and then took out her list.
1. Your name is Shimmer Dapple
2. You decide what you look like
3. Remember your mission
4. Come back when you are successful
5. Don't let the hive down
She looked wistfully at the piece of paper. Chrysalis's elegant writing would be the last thing to remind her of home. Shimmer Dapple pushed the thought away. She began drawing in the dirt with her hoof. it was a pony. She first drew an elegantly curved mane, along with diamond shaped eyes that looked like the ones the beautiful white pony had. She decided her eyes would be a deep shade of green. A-1, no, Shimmer Dapple, was reminded of her Queen's eyes when she drew these. Another link to the Changeling kingdom. She also drew a slender body with tall, limber legs. Her tail was long, swishy, and curled here and there. She decided that these would be golden and red striped. Her cutie mark.... Since her name was Shimmer Dapple, she drew herself with a sparkling feather on her flank. Oh! As long as her cutie mark was a feather, she added on long graceful wings to the sketch. Now she could fly. But no horn... She thought sadly. She decided against it. Only rulers had horns, and she wasn't one. So Shimmer Dapple stood back to admire her work. She thought for a moment. Coat color. She racked her mind. She picked a shade of sunset gold. Putting it together on her brain, she got exactly what she wanted. Her horn flared up with a poisonous green magic, and she was engulfed in flames.
As the fire died down, a full fledged Shimmer Dapple took a few steps on her new legs and stretched her wings. She was satisfied, so Shimmer (as she would now call herself for short) folded her wings once, twice, thrice, and then flared out her wings and took off. Shimmer was glad for the sleek wings, which powered her better than her changeling wings. Her old wings were full of holes. She found what looked like the center of town and landed gracefully. No one seemed to be outside, so she walked around for a bit until she came to a huge tree with a double door in it. It looked occupied, so she would come here to learn about pony social status and whatsoever. Knock. Knock. The door opened to show a beautiful purple alicorn. "Hello? Welcome to Ponyville's library. How can I help you?" Shimmer hesitated.
"Um... I'm.. new to town. Can you help.. me... I mean, do you know if there is a place that I can stay around here?"
The alicorn said after a moment,"Sure! I love to help. I'm Twilight Sparkle, but please, call me Twilight!" A small smile graced Shimmer's muzzle, as she felt kindness, which was almost as good as love, radiate off of her. She drank in a little of the excess, feeling new magic come to her. Shimmer closed her eyes for a few seconds before replying,
"Thanks. I'm Shimmer Dapple, but I guess you can call me Shimmer."
Twilight Sparkle then said,"I'll show you around town, and we can pick up something to eat and drink, if you're hungry?" The last part was a question, to which Shimmer answered,
"Yeah, I guess I'm pretty hungry. And also thirsty."
Which was a complete lie. She fed off of love, not food. But changelings had stomachs, and even though when filled with food did nothing, she did want to try some. Even though she was full, with love and kindness. Twilight interrupted her train of thought by saying,"Here's a good place to eat. How about I'll order for you?" Shimmer nodded and sat down on a bed of hay.
When the food arrived five minutes later, Shimmer hesitantly tasted the daffodil sandwich. Seeing that it was delicious, she finished it off quickly. Twilight Sparkle finished about the same time as Shimmer did. She decided to order wheat smoothies for the both of them, and Shimmer once again found that it was fantastic. This time, she wanted to savor it, but found it too hard, and gulped down the wonderful drink. She made sure to wipe her muzzle after that. Twilight had told her that she got smoothie and sandwich on various parts of her mouth. After Shimmer made sure her muzzle was clean, she said,"So can you show me somewhere to stay?" As Twilight finished the smoothie, she though for a little. Then she perked up and said,
"The Pony's Palace Apartment Place is just around the corner. You could stay there."
Shimmer thanked Twilight. She then said,
"And, is there a place that I could earn some bits?" Twilight thought for a minute.
"My friend, Rarity. I think she could use a hoof. I'll show you as soon as you get an apartment and such."
Shimmer and Twilight walked side by side until they reached the apartment buildings. Twilight said,"Well, this is the place. I don't know why there would be apartments in this small town, but, here they are." Shimmer walked in and located the front desk.
"I'm looking for an opening. Do you have any?" The chocolate brown mare at the desk replied,
"Actually, yes, we do. It's 200 bits a month."
Shimmer was happy. There was more than that in half of her bags. She was given the key to her apartment, and as soon as it was out of the other mare's hand, she was already halfway to the stairs. Upon reaching her room, she dumped her stuff on the couch, not pausing to examine her room. She went back outside and locked the door. She looked around to make sure nopony was there, and quick as a flash, she turned into a changeling and ripped a hole in the doormat with her sharp teeth. She once again looked around to make sure there were no witnesses, and quickly changed back into Shimmer Dapple. She calmly walked down the stairs and out of the front door. Shimmer was surprised to find her friend waiting for her. Twilight looked at her and said,
"Now let's go and find Rarity." Shimmer was confused.
"Um.. Why?"
To get you a job, of course!"