I remember hearing some old pony saying that went “Home is where the heart is.” I never really understood it, but then again there are a lot of things about Ponies I don't understand. I mean really, its your heart, if its not inside you then you're dead. How would you be able to call a place a home if you weren't alive to call it such?
Oh well, not like pony philosophy really mattered to me. The only place I ever called home was the small apartment i spent a short amount of my childhood in. I never called the castle barracks home, that's for sure. Pterygopolis was a hometown, but i feel that’s different than an actual home.
This small town I've ended up in...I wasn't so sure I could call it home. Not yet at least. I knew a total of two ponies here, the girl who saved me and gave me a place to stay, and the mare who served me a drink (A very foamy one at that…). But if i was going to stay here and work as a freelance...well, freelance pony, then i had a feeling i was going to meet a lot more of the town ponies. I've already met the bar owner, Prairie Fire, who did musical numbers every now and again at the bar. I also noticed that Amber liked to watch her walk away back to her customers while she stared at her...well, lets say tail.
And shortly after we made a toast to me, a pony walked up to the table we were at and decided to investigate who the new pony in town was.
“Amber! Good to see you in town for once. Who's the unicorn?” A large Earth pony with a gruff voice said behind me as he approached. The first thing that stood out on him was the polished silver star shaped object on his shoulder that had the word ‘Sheriff’ on it. The jacket he was wearing looking like cowhide, the black stetson had some wear and tear, and around his back and waist was a length of rope, but tucked under the rope so it was just barely visible was what appeared to be a noose. Likely a intimidation trick. His cutie mark was a Golden Star like the one on his chest, but it had a pony skull on it. Classy.
The look on this guys face said ‘Make a move, I dare you. Give me the excuse.’ This guy rubbed me the wrong way, just like chrysalis did those years ago. I have a feeling me and him are not going to like each other.
“Oh hi sheriff. This is my cousin Frozen Fields! He came all the way from Canterlot to stay with me and get a job here in town.” Amber didn't seem intimidated by him, but the air in the bar went quiet after he walked in.
“Cousin? Really?” I didn't like that tone the ‘really’ had…
“Well, Frozen whatever, which one of Amber's many Aunts and uncles are you related to?” I’m pretty sure any idiot could tell this was a trick question, especially since he seems to know Amber pretty well, and the fact that Dealer and Prairie Fire had pretty much mentioned that it was well known she didn't have any cousins…
“Oh, hes uh...Auntie Lichen’s child!” Amber said, and i'm really hoping he believes that.
“I thought your aunt Lichen died young?” He asked with quite a lot of doubt.
“She did, rest her soul, but before she died she had Frozen Fields here. He grew up in an orphanage. Hell, I didn't even know about him until i traced my ancestry a few years ago!”
“Right, and why didn't he answer the question?” Oh, this guy is trouble.
“Because I find it rude to interrupt people while they’re talking.” Perhaps being snide with the local law enforcement was stupid, but hes asking for it.
He stared at me for a long moment before he smiled and sat down. “Well! Good to see some ponies have manners! Oh, i forgot my bag of bits by the phone...Amber? Would you kindly go get them for me? I'd hate to leave just after I sat down.”
“Sure thing!” Amber got up and left me alone with this Earth Pony. Now that he sat down, i got a better look at him. His coat was dirt brown, but i’m not sure if that's because he was dirty, or if it was his natural coat color. His mane looked to be a very bright blue, if it also wasn't so dirty looking.
After she was out of earshot he turned to me and grinned a crooked and toothy grin.
“Listen here, smart ass. I know for a fact that she doesn't really have any cousins, so you magically appearing in my town out of thin air is suspicious. And i don't like suspicious people. So why don't you go ahead, and tell me who you really are, tough guy?”
“I really don’t know what you're trying to say sheriff. I’m Frozen Fields. I only found out she was my cousin a few years ago.” I tried to say it with as little smugness as I could, but even then he still seemed to not care.
After a moment of silence, Amber returned with his bits in her magic. “Here ya go sheriff! C’mon Frozen, I still have to show you around town!”
With that the little “talk” with the sheriff ended and we got up to leave the bar. Amber said goodbye to Prairie Fire and we walked out the doors, only to bump into someone on the way out and knock him down.
“Uh, sorry about that.” I helped him up. First thing I noticed about the skinny pony was the same silver star the sheriff had, only it said ‘deputy’ instead. The next thing I noticed was that he was a Pegasus, which would explain why he was so skinny and lightweight. The Silvery pegasus was dusting himself off after being knocked into the dirt. At least he had a much cleaner coat then the sheriff. After patting the dirt off of his dull yellow hair, he looked up and noticed me. I must stand out quite a bit in this town, was it the horn?
“Oh hey! You the new guy in town. I wanted to find ya before my brother the sheriff did.” He seemed pretty happy about meeting a new face, unlike his jerk of a brother.
“He did. Its ok though, I'm guessing its only me he tries not to make good impressions on.”
“Ah, yea he's a bit rough with new people. Anyway, what's your name, stranger?” He asked and held out his hoof.
Taking his hoof and shaking it like i saw other ponies do, i said “Frozen Fields. I'm Amber's ‘non-existent’ cousin.” I said with a deadpan attitude.
“Well, nice to meet you Frozen Fields, I’m Silver Star, and welcome to town! Id show you around, but I have to make sure my older brother Lone Star doesn't arrest someone for looking at him.” The stallion hurried off into the bar. He seemed like a nice guy. I wonder if there was anyone in town he was seeing, it seemed like all the mares would like him at least. Although he seemed a bit...girly.
“If you're interested in him go ask him out, he's into stallions.” Well, so much for getting mares. She must have noticed i was staring at his cutie mark. It was a silver Sheriff's star, but it had wings behind it. I had no intention of asking him out, in fact, there was really only one thing i could ever need from him, but it would probably be bad to feed off of a law official.
“While he is attractive, I don't think feeding off him would be wise, y’know.” I might as well tell her my intentions since the ‘I was looking at the cutie mark, I swear!’ excuse probably wasn't believable.
“No, I meant asking- oh never mind. We should probably find someone to make sure your ok after the crash, even if you need to stay disguised. C’mon, i'll take you to the town doctor!”
----
After being taken a few buildings down the street Amber took me to a normal looking two-story building, only hanging out front was a sign with a red cross, the international sign for a doctor. After being led inside by Amber, I entered a wide, clean and room with a few chairs for ponies to wait in, but nobody in them. Considering this was a small town I guess they really did only have one doctor. Sitting in the chair at a desk reading a magazine was a Zebra, surprising to see in these parts of Equestria. He had the normal stripes, a short mane cut and short tail. The glyph, or whatever zebras called it, was a outline of a scientific beaker with smoke coming out of it.
“Xenos, why are you just sitting there?” Amber said. The Zebra turned to look at her and noticed me standing nearby through his glasses.
“No patients today, yet. Who’s this nice looking stallion? New in town?” And now the Zebra is flirting with me. What's that, two ponies now? Amazing. I noticed on his desk was a small statuette, made of Jade and amber resin, the base of which was made with changeling slime! That's a piece of changeling art, I've only ever seen art like it in the palace! Did that mean he knew about changelings? Maybe I should try showing him who I was, probably be easier to fix my wing if he could see it.
“This is my cousin, and before you ask yes i really do have a cousin, Frozen fields. He-”
“Its nice of you to keep covering for me, but I have a feeling I can trust him.” I interrupted amber, and proceeded to shut the blinds of the waiting room. I then revealed my normal changeling form to the zebra, who was surprised at first.
“Ah! A changeling! It has been a very long time since I've been to their lands. Amber is wise to keep you hidden. Most ponies are not very friendly to...different ponies, like you and me.”
“Tell me about it. Even disguised, the sheriff is a jerk. Anyway, Amber brought me here to have my injuries looked at, and I heard you're a doctor?”
“Of course, come to the exam room, its better lit. I’m guessing by the look of you that you were once part of Chrysalis’ swarm?” It worried me that he knew so much already, but that probably means he can actually fix me up.
“Was. I hated it since the moment I was forced into it. After Canterlot though...I don't feel chained to her anymore. Free, if you will.”
“Yes, I remember the magical ritual that bound changelings to the queen's will. But I thought you had to volunteer for it?”
“Not anymore.” I answered. As we walked I remembered the horrid ritual. After it was complete, it felt like being trapped in your own body with very little you can do to influence your actions. They bound you to her will, into a mindless drone of a slave to work or clean or fight. when they picked me to be a warrior, I was only glad because it meant an early death from my fate.
“I’m sorry to hear about that. Changeling laws must have changed since i was last there. Lie down on the exam table.”
After I did what he asked he took a good look around my body. I felt like he was taking too good of a look...
“I see you fixed the crack in your foreleg. I have something that will mend it quicker though...Your left wing seems to be healing well, but the right wing isn't.”
That comment made my mind jump to a conclusion involving chopping a wing off. “Is there anything you can do to fix it?”
“Its going to take an extra potent remedy, but yes. Although after drinking it I advise you from flying or even hovering for a few days. How long has you wing been like this? I need to know for the dosage.”
“About a week now.” Amber answered for me. I saw the doctor cringe at that.
“Your wings have been like THAT for a week and you didn't have anypony look at it?!”
“I've been unconscious for the whole time. Blame her.” I really didn't feel like getting chewed out for something I would have done.
“H-hey! I didn’t know what to do! I knew if i brought you into town the sheriff would have probably attacked you on sight.” She had a very good point...
“Oh well, its just...going to take a bit more materials. And it might not taste too good.” He said as he rummaged around the alchemical ingredients he had in a cupboard.
“I'm a changeling. Anything you combine together is going to taste like sh-” I noticed him putting in a flower that i could tell was full of love, Hearts Desire I think the plant was called. It was a flower zebra's used for all kinds of different potions, and changelings like to use bits of it in alcohol and food, but its a luxury item in most places.
“I used to tend to changeling mares and stallions, not to mention royalty. Believe me, its going to taste moderately good with a hint of bleh. Although if you want more love to go with the medicine, you're going to have to ask Amber to leave for a bit. Or she can stay, if shes into that sort of thing. I think its legal with cousins...” He gave me as seductive of a look he could try for. Wow, he’s really going for it. Points for trying.
“I’m not hungry. And I prefer the direct way of taking love.” I turned down his tempting, if forward, offer. I could see Amber blushing at the implications the zebra was making. Knowing i wasn't really her cousin probably helped make it less creepy for her.
“Odd, how are you not hungry? You've been out cold for a week...wait, you were at the Canterlot invasion?”
I nodded “Ah! It must have been the Love Explosion! You must have absorbed a fair amount of it and don’t feel the need to feed. Wonder how long it will be untill it wears off… So anyway, why do you prefer the other way of feeding?”
“Because I have self control. Plus its a stereotype in pony lands from what I've seen. Some changelings get addicted to the sex method and it's all they ever want. After being in an army of mindlessness, i'm not going to let myself be ruled by an addiction.” I've seen many changelings get addicted to that method. some went to work at the Houses of Love in the cities, but some...they would rather take what they want.
The zebra put the bowl of fluid in front of me and I drank it. He was right, it tasted like crap. But at least I could kinda taste a bit of the love in it, so it went down better.
“Keep off those wings for at least three days, otherwise you could risk the muscles tearing or worse. I do hope you visit again soon, It's always a bit slow in the office, and its rare I get to work on changelings, especially attractive ones.” I’ll keep that in mind if i ever get hungry…
“Thanks doctor.” I shapeshifted back into my disguise.
“It’s no trouble. Oh, I never caught your real name.” I hope he wasn't keeping medical record on me now, last thing i need is for someone to see them and find out my secrete.
“I...don’t have one. I forgot what it was ever since I joined the swarm. I can’t remember what my own mother ever looked like either…” I remember flashes of blue hair like mine...but that's it.
He must have sensed it was not a pleasant topic. “Frozen Fields then. If you ever think of a better name please do share with me!”
Amber seemed a bit excited for me to finally be healed enough to go meet the rest of the town. “Thanks again for patching him up. I’m going to keep showing him around town, so he’ll be staying with me.”
“Come again soon! I can never get enough mares or stallions in here, I keep them too healthy!” With that, Amber led me out of the clinic and back out into the town she called her home.
----
After a short walk across the street, Amber led me to another building with a sign out front with a book on it saying ‘Library and book store’.
“A Library? We walked across the street just so you could show me a library?” I wasn’t entertained by this. I almost felt like she was trying to imply something.
“Yea! Library’s have books on all kinds of things like farming, or mythical creatures and monsters, or pony culture!” She seemed a little too excited about showing me.
“I already know that, it’s not like we don’t have libraries where i’m from.”
“I-I didn't mean it like that! I meant there's a lot of stuff ponies can learn from libraries! I bet you could find a picture of a Breezie and turn into one!” Breezies? Did she really think I could turn into one of those things?
“I can’t shapeshift into something that small. At Least not without a lot of magical power. But I don't think that's a discussion to have out in the open, lets go inside. I’ll be surprised if I can find a book on my own culture.”
We walking into the slightly cramped building, there was practically a maze of bookshelves lining the room. Thankfully the ones not attached to a wall weren't so high that we couldn't see over them. The whole place smelled of dust and age, like the smell a really old book gives off when you open it. there was a small book-lined hallway leading into another part of the store, a staircase leading to a balcony with even more books, and a door behind the counter in the corner with a sign that read ‘Adults only’ on it. I'm guessing that's where the more steamy books are kept. I also smelled...wait, was that cat piss?! Man, cats hate me, they always attack me for no reason!
Up the stairs I could hear a rustling noise. Amber shouted up the stairs at whoever was up there, “Hey Page Turner!” I heard a crashing sound. I guess we freaked out the pony who was up there…wait, aren't you supposed to NOT shout in a library? What the hell Amber?"
“What?! Who is it?! Who’s there?!” A Bright white Unicorn with dark green messy hair looked over the balcony at us. He seemed to calm down a little when he saw Amber, but when he saw me I could tell he was on edge again. This guy seemed a bit...jumpy.
“It’s Amber. I brought my Cousin to show him your library.”
“Cousin? you don’t have any cousins, you said so yourself. “ He squinted at me as if he was trying to find a resemblance. Good luck with that, buddy.
“You not the only person to say that today. Why don’t you come down and show him around? Maybe we’ll find something good to read.”
The skittish pony contemplated it for a second before he started coming down the stairs.
“Page has been jumpy and paranoid ever since a string of murders five years ago, his neighbors were killed, The Butcher, The Baker, and The Candlestick maker. Poor guy hasn't trusted anyone ever since.” Amber whispered this into my ears while we waited for the stallion to come down.
“H-hello. I’m the librarian. is there anything in particular you're looking for?” It was clear he didn't like meeting new people.
“Uhm. Got any books on Mythology, Cultures of the world, or Creatures? Maybe some books on spells?" I’ll admit, it was probably useful to know what some things looked like should i ever need to change into one. I also wanted to see if he had books on my culture since i knew very little of it.
He used his magic to summon some books off of different shelves and laid them on the counter next to a cash register. On the wall I noticed a certificate of graduation from Celestia's school for gifted unicorns. At least now I knew what one looked like.
“Monster-pedia, Myth’s of the World, Spells for the Magically Inclined. Is there a specific Culture you're looking for?” He held up at least six different books of varying sizes in the air.
“I've heard a lot about changelings recently after the wedding…” With that he plopped down a mid sized book labeled ‘The Changeling Empire, a research guide’ with a rough looking sketch of a changeling. a drone by the look of it.
“20 Bits.” He looked expectantly at me. I grabbed the bits from my poker game out of the cloak pocket and handed 20 of them over, and bagged the books in the pockets.
“Thank you for your patronage, now please leave. I have to organize the bookshelf that got knocked over.” Well, he wasn't very nice. He clearly didn't want strangers around his library. If i didn't know any better i'd say he didn't even want the locals near it.
“Alright. Hey Cousin, is there anywhere in town to get something to ‘Eat’? I’m starting to feel a bit peckish.” I hoped Amber understood what I was implying, otherwise id have to say it out loud.
“Yea sure thing!, i’ll show you where.” She sounded a little too excited to show me where the local whore house was…
----
“You do realize I meant something I can actually eat? I wasn't talking about pony food.” Amber led me to another building, but the sign out front said ‘Diner’ and had eating utensils on it. Don’t get me wrong, changelings can in fact eat normal food, but it all tastes terrible. I guess centuries of eating emotions kinda dulls you taste. Changelings used to have their own foods a long time ago, but that was before food tasted like bland dirt.
“I refuse to believe you can't eat normal food! Besides, Buttermilk makes all of her foods with love.”
“That’s just a pony saying. I highly doubt there is any real edible love inside of anything she cooks.”
With that she led the way into the building. It kinda looked like the bar, with a long counter taking up most of the room for people to sit at. Behind the counter cooking up a couple of different foods was a Brown mare in an apron. She had her hair up in a bun or something, and her cutie mark appeared to be...what were they? They looked like brown disks, covered in syrup or something, and had a yellow square on them. I think I heard a pony in Canterlot call them ‘Pan-cakes’ or something.
“Buttermilk! Meet my cousin from Canterlot! And yes, I have a cousin.” The brown mare and her light brown hair bun turned to look at me and Amber.
“Well, he is a decent looking Stallion. I hope his taste buds aren't spoiled by any hoity toity Canterlot food!”
“Lets find out! Make him some of your famous buttermilk pancakes! And make sure to put as much love as you can into it!” She winked at me, and I still doubted her about and love being in it. Still, it would be impolite to turn down her food. I guess ill just have to stomach it…
“Girl, you know I put as much love as I can into my cooking! Hell, its on the house for the newcomer!” Very generous.
“Buttermilk's from the same part of the world as Sapphire Shores, that's what the accent is about.” Really, I could barely notice.
We waited and chatted for a while at the counter. The smell of the food cooking was delightful.
“So...do changelings say stuff with a ‘ling’ suffix? Like ‘Anyling’, or ‘Everyling’?”
“That’s is probably the stupidest thing I've ever heard, and i was in a changeling army.”
“I was just wondering…And if the food isn't good, the 'Hidden Raven' is about a block away from the bar.”
Luckily Buttermilk finished cooking, i didn't know if i could handle another dumb question. The fluffy looking disks on the plate were a golden brown and coated in tree sap. Why would ponies use tree sap in cooking…
“Here ya go, sugar! Lets see if you like them!”
I levitated a fork into the pancakes and lift a small slice of it into my mouth. Imagine my surprise when it actually tasted amazing! I’d never eaten food like this. This was NOT a thing I've ever even heard of! I must find out how ponies actually put love into their foods!
...After I finish devouring these amazing pancakes!