Prologue
Do you think that every changeling is bad, deep in it’s heart? Yes? Do you know that some changelings, especially the mares, are nothing better than slaves? You’ve never even heard of changeling mares besides the Queen? Never heard of a changeling that doesn’t follow orders of their own free will? Well that’s no wonder, since they keep them all hidden deep within the swarm. But I’m different. My name is Aurora Blue, I’m a half breed. This is my story.
***
The whole plan sounded safe. I remember the Queen’s words, how she claimed that it would be easy for even an idiot, and that nothing could stop the mighty swarm. Those words seemed so empty after everything that happened, just words to cheer up the swarm. The Queen took the position of an Alicorn, draining the love from the original’s husband, but soon was discovered by a small Unicorn. Who would’ve thought that a small Unicorn and her friends could beat the Queen?
Everything failed, the shield spell from the Alicorn and her husband banned every changeling, throwing them far away from Canterlot. Most of the swarm had died from the blast, the Queen disappeared. But I was alive. I guess I wasn’t dead because I was a half breed, and their shield didn’t seem to hurt me very much. Maybe, after everything the Queen did to me and my family, I would get a new chance to finally live my own life.
***
There was nothing but darkness around me. Every part of my body registered pain, absolutely everything hurt. Pain… I was used to it. But this kind of pain was something else entirely, starting at my heart and racing through my whole body like snakes through my veins. Opening my eyes was impossible, my eyes simply refused to open, as if a great force was pulling them shut. I had no idea where I was, only the whispering of wind tickling at my ears and little else. After some time spent laying there in agony, I felt a new type of pain. A deep, strong pain in my stomach that drained the entirety of my energy, leaving one word on my mind.
Hunger
Finally, I was able to open my eyes. Even with this newfound sight, the deep pain of hunger still weakened me. I had to feed, and I had to do it soon. By “feeding” I didn’t meant vegetables, hay, or something of that sort. I had a very particular appetite. Looking around, I found myself in some sort of badlands with nothing around in any direction. Thinking about what I could do, a small breeze ruffled through my wings.
Wings? Wings! I can fly up and look if there is anything nearby, at least if I have enough energy left.
After unfolding them and flapping a few times, I got a good look at them. Shining green and translucent. I didn’t have enough energy left for my body to keep a pony form, so I was stuck in the body of a changeling for the moment. If I had been happy and fed, my body would normally be that of a white pegasus with light blue hair. But as it was, hunger was forcing me from any disguise that could hold up around a pony. I didn’t look any different from any other changeling at the moment, save for the feminine figure I possessed.
I had to feed soon, mostly to get my usual form back. I hated the other me, my pegasus form was much more natural. Finally I got away from the ground, a few weak flaps getting me high enough to see in every direction. My final strain of energy drained quickly and I quickly started to lose height as I spotted a small carriage in the distance. Taking it as my goal, I slowly hovered to the ground before walking in that direction. Maybe I would find somepony. Hopefully somepony that would listen first before attacking me…
***
I eventually came in range of the carriage. Considering the rotten wood, it had probably been there for some time. Nopony was around, except some birds that were nesting in a nearby tree. I turned towards them, slowly trotting closer. They cared for their nest and offspring, spreading small amounts of love around. I could feel it, but it seemed so weak.
Could it satisfy me?
The birds recognized me and attacked, trying to get me away from their nest. They defended it with all the love they had for their offspring, and I opened my barrier, letting the small feelings run through my body. It wasn’t really much, but it still helped. I felt my magic return, and then slowly but steady my natural form returned as well, concealing the changeling body I hated so much. While my energy reserves were slowly sated, the birds began to slow their attack, coming closer and closer to the ground. With their love drained, they came to a rest on the ground, collapsing at my hooves as if they were now as tired as I had been moments before. Gazing down at the drained birds, my heart stuttered.
The Queen was right. I am a monster!
Maybe it would be better just to lay at the carriage and wait until my power drained again. I could just die out here, not causing problems to anypony anymore. Nopony would miss me in the end anyways.
Mother wouldn’t be pleased at me if she would knew about my thoughts.
It was getting dark and I decided to lay down and relax, thinking about my whole situation again. I was still a bit weak, only strong enough to hold my form, which I convinced myself of by unfolding a wing and expecting it. White, soft feathers on a long pegasus wing. Satisfied for now I rested my head on my forehooves to think a bit, but my weakened state took it’s cost. I slowly and steadily drifted off to sleep, just barely protected by the old carriage for the night.