//------------------------------// // Please understand... // Story: A Plea for Help // by thecookiewookie //------------------------------// I awoke feeling cramped and stiff. My head was pounding, and even trying to open my eyes hurt. Dammit, I thought, what'd I do this time? I didn't even have that much to drink... I went to roll over, only to find I was crammed into a tight, cluttered space. I thrashed around for a moment trying to find which way was down and put my hooves on it. Instead, my hind hoof struck the handle and the closet door swung open. The sudden, brilliant sunlight hurt like a motherbucker, and I groaned and covered my eyes. There's no WAY I drank that much last night... why does my head hurt so much? As I pried my eyes open and got used to the morning light, I noticed something weird. A few sheets of paper were stuck to my horn, taped there like a giant post-it. What the...? I pulled the pages off and looked at them, blinking a bit to clear the blurriness. The first page looked hastily scrawled, with fairly messy hornwriting. As I read the words, I could hear them in my head, like I was remembering them... Hey. Look, first of all, I'm sorry. I didn't want to do this, but I had no other choice. I was starving to death, and you were the only one I could find. I could tell you were buzzed, so you wouldn't notice the mind read. I'm really sorry, I just saw how much you and your husband loved each other, and I was so hungry, I just couldn't resist. Oh, right. Um, I'm a changeling. Just... you know, so that makes some sense. Anyway, you're gonna have a headache, that's normal. I had to bite you, to knock you out so I could take your place for a little while. It's just dehydration and a few aftereffects, drink some water and eat a few dandelions and you'll be fine. I was stunned. I had been abducted and replaced by a changeling! Who does this damn bug think he is!? Just leaving an apology note doesn't make up for kidnapping! I fumed a moment, before looking around and recognizing my own hallway. Oh. So he just stuck me in the hall closet. Is that still kidnapping? I shook myself out of the thought. The stupid bug had robbed me of a night with my husband, that was bad enough. Well, okay, even though it was a pretty crappy night. He was right, though. Now that I knew how to stop my headache from Tartarus, I headed for the kitchen. Passing the window, I noticed the sun. Apparently I had woken up with Celestia, as the sun was only just up. I drank a few glasses of water and ate a few dandelions from the fridge. The changeling wasn't lying about that one, they helped a lot. Feeling more comfortable, I looked at the second sheet of paper. It was from the notepad I keep on my bedside, so seeing it made my blood run hot. Oh, if that damn insect laid a hoof on my stallion... I know what you'll be worrying, relax. I didn't sleep with your husband. You ponies always think that's how we get love, but all that gets is lust, which is junk food. I just came home, apologized for your fight (you're welcome, by the way), and snuggled with him until he fell asleep. His nethers are just as pristine as you left them. I really am sorry I had to do this, you know. Oh, and don't worry about the love I harvested. It won't hurt him or stop him loving you, I just took the wasted extra bits, the spare energy that wasn't going anywhere. Hmm. Well, that was a mixed message. On one hoof, the changeling had mostly left my husband alone, so that was good. On the other, I missed out on some nice cuddles because of him. Well, good and bad news, I guess. I kept reading. Okay, there's another thing. I know you probably weren't there, but I want to formally apologize for the actions of the Changeling Hive at the wedding of Princess Cadance and Captain Shining Armor. We didn't want that. Changelings and ponies were never meant to fight. Chrysalis' plan would have starved us all in a matter of months. We're meant to be friends, allies. You ponies may like love and friendship, but changelings actually NEED it. Love is our source of food, and our hive-link is a kind of deep friendship. Anyway, here's the important bit: Chrysalis is planning to attack again. She's gone all the way off the deep end. We lost last time, badly. This time, it might be even worse. So, I need your help. I've got a good section of the hive on my side, a little over half of us don't want to follow Chrysalis anymore. But she's the queen, and we can't directly disobey her orders. We've been messing around and stalling her assault, but that won't last forever. Sooner or later, she's going to attack again, and this is why I need your help. If we attack like she says, and Canterlot is unaware that we're coming, we'll still get routed. Half the hive is suffering from starvation, and we'd get killed off inside of ten minutes. Instead, I need you to go warn Celestia. I know she'll be merciful if she sees this letter, and that's all I ask, mercy. Even imprisonment would be better than slowly wasting away under Chrysalis' mad rule. Celestia needs to make Canterlot look vulnerable, but simultaneously fortify it. She needs to prepare nonlethal traps and ambushes, so that when our Queen makes us attack, we just get caught, not killed. One last thing. Don't kill Chrysalis, if you can avoid it. Her hold on us can be broken by suppressing her magic with a horn ring. She wasn't always like this. She used to be kind and benevolent once, but... well, irony happened. She fell in love, several years ago, and her coltfriend broke her heart, and I think her mind went with it. She doesn't deserve to die. She just needs help and care, but she can't get that unless you capture her first. So please, whoever you are, try to get this message to Princess Celestia. She needs to see it, otherwise the entire Hive is doomed and many citizens of Canterlot may be injured. I know I have no right to expect kindness or decency. I don't deserve it, but I'm begging you, if you have any compassion, please help me. Good luck. Signed, Phylum Glow I put the paper down and stared at it. Conflicting emotions surged through my mind, tugging my thoughts this way and that, before duty finally won out. I went into my bedroom and began removing my Royal Guard's armor from my ponnequin and putting it on. The noise of clanking metal woke my husband. "Wha? Raindance, what's going on? Aren't you off duty this month?" I looked over at him. "Look, hun, I promise I'll explain later. But right now, I have to go save Equestria." I leaned over and kissed him. "And don't you worry. You married one of the toughest mares around. I'll be back soon." I left soon after, the letters from the changeling in my saddlebags. It didn't matter what I thought, Celestia had to see those papers, right now. it was a matter of national security. Of course, it helped that I felt for the poor changeling. "Phylum Glow..." I muttered to myself. "If we both make it through this okay... you owe me a drink."