//------------------------------// // Chapter Ten - Meet the Swarm // Story: Shifting Melodies // by Thadius0 //------------------------------// Midnight trotted behind Level Ledger, humming the most infuriatingly catchy tune. Several ponies that had walked past had started humming it as they walked away, soon cursing the song now stuck in their head. “Are we there yet?” she sang in time with her song. “No closer than the last time you asked,” Level responded while still looking for any of the signs.  “Finding these ponies isn’t easy, and all the asking in the world won’t make it happen any sooner.” “Geh! Why do Changelings have to be secretive and stuff?” Midnight pouted. “Maybe I should grab a random pony, liiiike so!” she reached out with a hoof, snaring a mare passing by, looping her hoof around her neck. “And asking,” she looked at her captive. “Excuse me Miss, are you a Changeling?” “No, she isn’t,” Level spoke up from in front of them, without even turning to look.  “Seriously, you can’t just go around accusing ponies, Midnight.”  With a sigh and an apologetic look, Level turned to the mare.  “Apologies for my marefriend, miss.”  The Unicorn gave the Thestral a quick peck on the cheek to embarrass her into behaving for a moment. “Yeah, sorry,” Midnight sighed as the mare shook her head and trotted off. “Well, isn’t there like a secret club or something?” Midnight shrugged. “Technically yes,” Level responded.  “Every night, they meet up somewhere on the strip.  Those that need to, anyway, or simply want to come.  The problem is, it’s never the same place two days in a row, and…”  here he trailed off before smirking.  “And finding it is nearly impossible for those not invited,” he eventually finished. “I take it you just saw something that I’m missing?” Midnight looked around. She hated that she was so blind to this sort of thing. These Changelings were something else entirely. “Saw, no, smelled/felt, yes,” Ledger said softly as he began leading them to a club on the other side of the strip.  “Changeling pheromones and out-of-place emotions.  Clear signs that ponies can’t quite perceive.  Signposts to the club they’ve chosen for tonight, once you know how to read them.” “Well I can’t sense stuff like that,” Midnight pouted again. Celestia above just how inadequate was she? “So where do we go?” “This one,” Ledger said, pointing at what looked like any other club on the strip with a line in front of it.  He walked right up to the bouncer, who nodded at him and stood to one side to let him in.   “Uh, Ledge,” the bouncer said aloud, looking at Midnight as she attempted to follow him.  “You have a tail.” Ledger turned and looked at his marefriend, before looking at the bouncer.  “Yeah, she’s with me.” “But a thes-” the bouncer got out, before Ledger stood right in front of him. “She’s.  With.  Me,” he repeated, and the bouncer gulped. “As...as you were, Ledger, ma’am,” he said before standing to one side for both of them. Midnight looked at the bouncer as she entered. “Um, is me being here going to be a problem for you?” She would have said more, but the cute mare dancing around a pole caught her attention. “Meh,” Ledger said, shrugging as he began leading them towards the VIP section.  “Just a silly rumor they told me once, nothing more.  I’m sure it’ll work out if I vouch for you.” “Mhmm,” Midnight hummed, not really listening. Damn that mare was flexible... She wondered if Level wanted to share, before the changeling grabbed her hoof and dragged her away… “C’mon, they’re just in here,” Level said, knocking on the door three times.  Which apparently earned him a riddle. “What never changes no matter how often you do, and only vanishes when all light does?” the voice on the other side asked. “My shadow,” Ledger replied instantly.  There was a soft click, and the door opened slightly. “Enter and be welcome,” the voice said. “Wow... I can’t believe you need a riddle to enter... it’s like a foals club or a spy novel.” Midnight thought it was pretty funny anyway. “And...” She looked around, at hundreds of colorful, pupil-less eyes suddenly looking in her direction. “Aaaaaand everybuggy is staring at me.”  The reason why became evident momentarily. “Thestral!” one said. “Hunter, slayer of our kind!” another panicked. “Level has been bewitched and betrays us!” one wailed. “Flee!” yet another bug advised. “How?  She’s standing in front of the exit!” Midnight just blinked, as several Changelings close to her scrambled away in terror. She looked at Level and then back to the swarm, who gasped every time she looked at them. “Uh... seriously?” “Yeah,” Ledger said, rubbing one foreleg against another sheepishly.  “Probably shoulda mentioned it was an old rumor about how Luna made Thestrals just to hunt us down.” Midnight remained silent, before snorting... then giggling... then falling on the floor, her legs kicking in the air as she laughed madly. “You thought... and that Luna did...and that we were... oh sweet Celestiiaaaaahahahahahaaaa!” A silver eyed changeling came forward and looked at both Ledger, then the laughing batpony on the floor.  “Well,” he said after a moment, “I can see that you’re both in good health and that you have not in fact done anything to bend him to your will.  Meaning that our good duke here brought you here of his own free will, correct?” Ledger nodded.  “Everybuggy, this is Midnight Song, my marefriend.” The silence was all-encompassing, before several violet-eyed ‘lings from the front row slowly drew closer to the couple, casting glances between Midnight and Level...or where a part of Level was, anyways. “You have slept or intend to sleep with the only noble drone in Las Pegasus?” one asked. “Eheheheeeaaahhhh, oh my sides~” Midnight still giggled. She remained that way for a moment more until she finally stopped, wheezing and panting. “Ohhhh, okay, I think I’m done. And yeah, been there, done that... or, done him more like~” There was a buzzing sound, and Midnight found herself surrounded by several violet-eyed forms, all of them grinning widely.  “Oh dear, you simply must tell us,” one purred. “We’ve been trying to help him for months now,” another sighed. “Mostly so we could be where you are,” a third clarified. “After all, there’s a reason noble bloodlines didn’t end with the drones back in the Lands,” one grinned sharkishly. Midnight suddenly grabbed her Changeling and hugged him close. Her eyes narrowed dangerously as she looked at them. A low growl emanated in her throat. “Mine!” “Dear, nobuggy’s contesting that,” one of the braver nymphs said after they all recovered from the sudden fierce show.  “But to deny the Ladies of Lust a sordid tale like that one?  It would be like working for months on a fruit orchard, only to find some other Thestral had come in, taken all your food, and was eating it in front of you.” Midnight eyes suddenly watered at the imaginary travesty. “B-But... my mangoes...” “I think she took it a little too literally,” Ledger said, slowly peeling Midnight from his body.  “Why don’t you go entertain the Ladies?” he asked, nudging her gently towards the violet-eyed nymphs.  “They never have much interest in the proceedings anyways.” “It’s true!” one chirped.  “Why bother talking about ponies when you could be out doing ponies?” “Amen!” the rest of the Ladies of Lust pitched in, before giggling. “Well, I guess I could tell a story or two,” Midnight giggled. Time to teach these cute little mares a thing or two. She stepped forward, her gaze turning to one of seduction. She approached the lead Lady, the one that had been so brave before. It was time for a little reward for such bravery. She raised a hoof and cupped the Changeling’s cheek, gazing softly into her eyes as her lips passed by hers by a few scant millimeters. “Why tell?” she said huskily. “When it’s so much fun to show~” “Ledger, I like this one,” she said after a moment passed in which she shuddered from the excess lust directed at her.  Once the nymph opened her eyes again, she was smiling at the Thestral in front of her.  In a small inferno of violet, all the Ladies were wearing a form similar to the pole-dancer Midnight had seen coming into the club, and the one in front of her made a nearly too-soft-to-hear offer. “Why don’t we take this to another room?...” “Level, I like these ones!” Midnight called out, waving a hoof. “Can I keep them?” “Pretty sure they’re asking the same thing about you,” Ledger said, cutting off a nymph from asking in the process.  Said nymph huffed and crossed her forelegs, but all of them chuckled regardless.  Slowly, they began to herd Midnight to another private room.  “Take care, and don’t let them do anything you’re uncomfortable with!” “Remember what I did to our new friend?” she reminded him. “I think I can handle myself... hmm, maybe there’s some truth to those rumors?” “Oooh, there’s an idea,” the lead Lady mentioned, before she turned into a copy of Midnight and gazed into the original’s eyes.  “Let’s see you handle yourself…” Midnight turned very serious as she looked the Changeling over. “Hmm, as dead sexy as I am, the original is still the best. Now come ladies, I’m sure I have a story or two I can tell.” “And there’s more than a few we can make in the process,” one said, running a hoof down Midnight’s spine.  “Fortunately, we always reserve two rooms when we go somewhere.” “One for the meeting, and one for fun,” the not-Midnight said, before giving the real one a quick peck on the lips.  “Shall we, then?” Midnight blinked, being kissed by herself was.... weird. “Unfortunately, it seems that by falling in love with dear Level there, it’s also made a bit of a monogamist out of me.” She waved a hoof and sighed again. “So stories only.” “Fair enough,” another nymph said, gently guiding Midnight towards the exit.  “Let’s leave the drones to their boring talk and take our fun talk elsewhere, though.  They’d complain if we didn’t.” “Alright,” Midnight still spared a glance back, highly curious about what they’d be talking about. She smiled and dashed back, giving Level a kiss that certainly wasn’t lacking in love and passion though.  Every ‘ling there felt it, and out of respect, held back, letting only Level soak in the emotions. “Love you,” he muttered, before giving her a small peck on the lips.  “Go keep them entertained, I’ll pick you up after I’m done here.” “Mhmm, and have fun~” she smiled, knowing exactly what she was leaving in her wake. Level Ledger was hers and these Changelings were going to know it. She gave her tail a light flick and ran after the Ladies. “Anyways,” Level said after a minute to compose himself.  “Yeah, that was going to be one of my points.  I’m in a loving relationship with a Thestral mare now.” “Really?” one of the ‘lings snarked.  “And here I thought you were kissing a stallion for a moment.” After a small ripple of laughter snaked its way around the room, the one that had just spoken up did so again.  “But, in all seriousness, good on the pair of you.  Let’s just hope that all those rumors are just that: rumors.” “Was there another thing you wanted to bring up?” the silver-eyed ‘ling that wasn’t Level asked, causing the unicorn to nod. “Yeah, Toll Taker’s been taken in, and thanks to the spell you all put together, she’s finding it impossible to reveal me.” “Well, I do try,” the silver ‘ling said, preening a bit. “We all tried,” another spoke up.  “Knowing her, though, she’ll find a way to break it or circumvent it sooner or later.  I give you six months, tops.” “Meh, doesn’t matter,” Ledger shrugged.  “Item three on my list, Councilstallion Grissom ought to be here sooner or later to register me on the pony side of things, so I will no longer be your dirty little secret once I am.” Several exclamations in a variety of tongues could be heard then.  “I mean, no offense,” one of the ‘lings spoke up.  “But it’ll be nice to not have that hanging over our heads anymore.” “Indeed,” the silver-eyed one said.  “Now we must discuss the ramifications of Toll Taker being taken in, and what it will do for the emotional health of this city.” This promised to be a while, and since he was the one to bring it up, he couldn’t leave… “And that’s how I taught Ledger the joys I can bring to little Ledger~” Midnight giggled, licking her lips. She had spared nopony, telling these ‘lings every illicit little detail.  Quite a few of the nymphs were sighing and rubbing their stomachs from all the lust that practically radiated off of the mare. “Mm, I am surprised he trusted you with something like that, that readily,” the not-her across from Midnight said, licking her duplicated lips with her copied tongue.  “His was one of the more...difficult cases, seeing as he had a fear of females, nymphs especially.” “Well, it was just a case of showing what somepony that actually cares looks like,” Midnight replied. “And do you mind, that form is becoming a little uncomfortable for me.” “Oh, my apologies,” the nymph said before transforming...to look just like the dancer, like every other nymph in the room.  “But yes, that seemed to be a way to get him to trust us, make him realize we cared about his well-being.” “The problem was,” another said, sliding up next to Midnight, “Was that he knew we were nymphs because we all naturally produce pheromones.” “So he was never going to really trust us like he does you,” a third said as she slid up on Midnight’s other side.  “A shame, really.  A noble drone doesn’t always get away, and when they do, they rarely come here.” “A question,” Midnight asked. “Do you know what it means to be true to oneself?” “Why yes, we do,” the one in front of her said with a grin.  “We simply are very good at hiding our true selves away from those not involved in our...personal lives.” “Which, considering who we are and what we do, the line is a little blurry,” the nymph on her right said. “But we know where to draw it, and when to show off our real selves.”  The one on her left joined in. “We just like messing with you, dear,” the one in front finished. “Figured as much,” Midnight replied with a soft sigh. “It’s... it’s not about, simply dropping the mask you wear, its that you wear a mask to begin with.” She motioned to their identical faces and smiled. “And I don’t mean those cute little things. You can wear any face you want, but what lies under that? At the end of the day, what is it you see in the mirror? Do you see something that no-one else does? Or no matter what, no matter what face you wear, no matter who you pretend to be... are you still you?” Most of the nymphs around her had fallen silent, but the lead nymph smiled softly.  “You know, I had been worried about trusting Level to your care...but now I can see that no matter how far he runs from the truth, you will pursue him and force him to admit it, to both himself and you.” The changeling in front of her shimmered and dropped her disguise, even as she put one of her hooves on one of Midnight’s.  “Just...take care of him, please.  The things done to drones in the Lands are heinous.  We may act like a bunch of fun loving nymphs, but we are one of the forces trying to help them get better.” “Though the sexual healing lessons are always fun,” the nymph on her right spoke up, causing all of them to giggle. “They usually are,” Midnight agreed. “And I’ll take care of him. I certainly wasn’t expecting this position, but I’m not complaining.” “Oooh, I bet you said that to him when you realized just what him being a noble drone meant for him and you,” the nymph on her left purred. “Cute, but he tends to be all stammery and awkwardly adorable in bed,” she smiled back. Her smile faltered for an eyeblink of a moment and her usual control over her emotions slipped. “Titles aren’t worth much anyhow...” “True, unless his entire family were to be wiped out, the little duke isn’t duke of much in Equestria,” the non-disguised nymph agreed.  “But at least his blood gave him a benefit, eh?”  With that, the nymph held up her forehooves a modest distant apart, quirking a non-existent eyebrow at Midnight. “Well, there is that,” she blushed lightly. She leaned forward and spread the mare’s hooves further apart, until she was closer to what she was referring to. “Wait til I really show him how to use that gift...” She shuddered as she pondered on that thought. She still had a lot of tricks left to teach after all~ The other nymphs shuddered or dropped their jaws at the size Midnight had indicated.  “Shut, up,” one said from across the room.  “There is no way a noble is that big.” Midnight grinned like a cat that had gotten the cream... Which she had~ A few times~ “You can read emotions and facial tells...” she replied. “You know I’m not lying.” “Well then,” the head nymph said after she pulled herself back together.  “Is there...anything else you want to ask or tell us while we have you?” “Well, are you lot satisfied?” she asked with a knowing smile. “That’s why we’re here yes? Because you’re testing me? Seeing if I can treat Lev right and continue to do so?” “Perhaps,” the nymph on her right replied. “But we did enjoy the food as well,” the one on the left tacked on. “Plus, you may have some questions regarding changelings for us,” the head nymph said with a knowing smile.  “Some that young Level didn’t answer.” Midnight wondered before a very important one came to mind. Her emotions showed absolutely no shame whatsoever. “Can he get me pregnant?” “Ah yes, that question,” the head nymph said, before gesturing to the form the others were sharing.  “Well, it’s certainly possible the other way.  One understanding stallion, one happy nymph, a foal conceived in secret while the mare remained shifted in one form for nine months, and you have our little friend out front.” “She doesn’t mind us borrowing her form,” one of them spoke up.  “She knows we’ll take it off later.” “Plus, she has her mother’s heritage, to a degree,” another interjected.  “She can’t shift as easily or as quickly, and she can’t use illusions, but she can still shift.” “But your question as to whether he can get you pregnant?”  The head nymph hummed, before shrugging.  “There are a lot of factors on either side.  If he were to shift into a pony stallion during the act, maybe.  Or maybe his blood helps in more than one aspect.  Plus, if you were to be in estrus, that would help your odds greatly.  It’s really a toss-up.” “Dammit all,” Midnight swore. “That wasn’t the answer I was looking for...” She really didn’t want to experiment with this either. “Maybe the Princess might know, or Cadence, this seems right up her alley.” “The truth is rarely what we want it to be,” the nymph in front of her observed.  “My advice is to simply take no chances...and some sort of contraceptive, until you feel like bringing more little copies of Ledger and yourself into the world.” “Now that would be something truly dangerous. His smarts and my looks... they’d be ruling the world in a week, tops.” “We mentioned that to him once,” the nymphs on either side of her said at the same time, before giggling. “He said, ‘ruling the world?  Too much hassle.  Then I’m responsible for everything’,” a nymph elsewhere in the room said. “Now we have a new joke to tease him with, thanks to him,” another spoke up. “It goes like this,” the one in front of her said with a smile.  “‘One day, Ledger will rent the world.’” “I don’t know what’s worse,” Midnight groaned, burying her head in her hooves. “That joke, or that fact that it’s probably true...” Then she smiled as she decided to share a secret. “Oh, if he gets too snarky and you wanna shut him up? Here’s a tip. Just mention ‘Truth or Dare’~” “Oooh, you got a ‘ling to play Truth or Dare with you,” a nymph in the room purred.  “That sounds...interesting.  Do tell, what were the dares?” “Hmm, a few things, up to and including a little... show and tell~ Then I got drunk and can’t remember the rest.” The nymphs still enjoyed the little lust that she’d conjured up with those memories, and sighed at the taste.  “You’re going to have to keep coming back if you don’t intend to share him,” one said. “Not to mention you could probably keep us all fed for weeks,” another commented.  “I don’t know how you aren’t jumping him every other hour, if he’s as gifted as you say and with lust like yours.” “But he doesn’t have lust like mine... nopony does~” she smiled, though was a little disappointed. “To be honest, until now I enjoyed a certain... lifestyle, as it were. But once I admitted to myself that I loved, and I mean loved Level...” She fluttered her wings and looked towards the other room fondly. “I guess love changes a mare more than I thought... the old me? I’d have you all writhing in pleasure by now~” “You think you could outlast us,” the head nymph cooed.  “That’s precious, it really is.  And yes,” her expression softened.  “When you can’t imagine yourself going another day without that somepony you like...when you find yourself changing your ways so as not to hurt them...when you find yourself willing to do anything as long as it means you’d get to hold them again?...then you know it’s love.” A profound silence reigned for all of a minute before another nymph broke the silence.  “Of course, before we get there, there’s plenty of sex to have yet!” “And now I’m stuck with Ledger,” Midnight pouted. “Oh, and I kissed Celestia the other day. There’s that too~” “Dear, perhaps you don’t quite get what it means to be a partner to a ‘ling just yet,” the head nymph gave Midnight a wink. “Oh, I have some ideas,” Midnight replied. She was going to hold Ledger to that Luna crack. His reaction was going to be priceless. Her thoughts wandered to her new... houseguest. “I wonder how my new friend is doing?” “Oh?  Something else?” one of the nymphs asked. “The nymph I crushed when I was fighting Toll.” Midnight replied looked around for something to drink. “After turning her carapace into confetti, she swore some oath and now I’m stuck with her.” She eventually found a liquor cabinet and her tail swished happily. She poured enough drinks for everyone and decided to try a little experiment, stroking each glass while thinking of every dirty little thought she could muster. “So Level gets it in his little buggy brain to teach her not to be so much of a nymph... uh, no offense?” “None taken,” the whole room said at once. “We know how those in the Lands can be, dear,” the head nymph said as they all slowly walked over to take a drink.  “You have...quite the task on your hooves.  If you ever need help, just send Level out to find one of us.” “Too bad I can’t sense emotions like him,” she replied. “I mean, there’s this Thestral thing I could do that would allow me to do it... but yeah.” She took a sip of her drink and sighed. Oh, this was quality stuff.  The nymphs, on the other hoof, took sips of their drinks...and moaned. “Oh, somepony knows how to manipulate emotions,” the non-disguised nymph said with a smirk.  “It is quite the shame you’ve bound yourself to Level...we would simply love to have a pony like you here, Thestral or not.  Somepony that knows what they’re doing is oh so rare...” “A result of my training I suppose,” Midnight sighed. “I have perfect control of my emotions when I choose to... s’prolly why I beat that nymph so easily. She couldn’t sense me.” “Perfect control?” One of the nymphs asked as they all raised their eyebrows.  “Then you won’t mind if we ask how you feel about Level.” A wave of love washed off of Midnight and she frowned. “That’s cheating and you succubi know it,” she groaned. “But my perfect control requires me to be in a particular state of mind... one you really don’t want to see.” This was also the problem with her new position... she didn’t need permission anymore.  The head nymph drew close and jarred her out of her thoughts as she felt a chitinous hoof turn her head this way and that.  “Hmm,” the nymph said.  “I don’t see a horn on that head of yours, to go with your feathery wings or pink coat, so love isn’t something you can control, dear.  And really, having such control over yourself is admirable...as long as you don’t overuse it.  Ponies are emotive creatures for a reason beyond feeding Changelings.” “Thestral, not a pony,” Midnight chuckled. “Imma scary Changeling hunter remember~” “Luna had to use something as a base,” the head nymph chuckled.  “So you’re pony where it counts.” “And all the parts that aren’t just make you all the more interesting,” a different nymph spoke up, causing the rest to let out little hums and nods of agreement. “I like to think I’m interesting,” Midnight giggled. Oh, this drink was niii~iice. Her long tongue lolled out and licked her lips. “Ooookay, Imma stop before I do... sumthin’ I think?” “Probably a good idea, since your beloved Level isn’t here,” the head nymph agreed. Midnight shook her head as her eyes glazed over before she closed them. “First Beat...” she whispered as her eyes opened, her cat-like slits were so wide that they were almost spheres. Her mind opened and cleared as she just stood there, devoid of emotion as she focused.  The other changelings in the room drew back slightly from the Thestral. “...Dear, are you alright?” the head nymph asked. “Fine,” she replied in her monotone voice. “Just... don’t make any sudden moves...This’ll only take a moment.” Every ‘ling there was as still as death itself.  You could probably drop a few pins and hear them as they hit the floor, they were so quiet and unmoving.  At the moment, they were only thinking about how the rumors were at least partially true, and that no changeling would ever hear or feel their death coming when a Thestral was onto them... After a second... or a minute, maybe longer. Song closed her eyes again and when she opened them, they had returned to normal, and her emotions also came flooding back. Her mind was now clear again and she smiled apologetically. “Eheh, I feel better now?” “...Please don’t do that around a ‘ling again without warning,” the head nymph said softly.  “We could see you, but we couldn’t feel you.  To us, that’s not only eerie, it’s scary.  It’s something from the rumors that we’d hoped never to see.” “Ah, sorry...” she replied. She hadn’t thought about that, and she’d used the first Beat. “I guess that would be a little unsettling... sorry again.” “It’s fine dear,” the nymph smoothed over the incident.  “It was just a little jarring to us, that’s all.  Like it would be to you to see two of the same pony walking down the street.” “They’re called twins and I’ve had them in my bed~” she giggled. “Mm, I miss those two~” “Even twins can have different marks,” one nymph pointed out, before being shushed. “Anyways, was there anything else you wanted to ask us about?” “Maybe... gimme a sec to get my thoughts sorted again.” She paced around the room for a moment. “And you lot are really distracting by the way, I think I need to discuss a few things with Ledger.” “Perhaps you do,” the head nymph said with a smirk.  “And perhaps you should think about visiting a pharmacy if you intend to keep seducing him without finding out the odds for a changeling getting a pony pregnant?” “Yeah... I’ll do that sooner than later,” Midnight replied. She glanced back towards the oddly quiet room. “I wonder if Levvy’s alright? It’s awfully quiet in there...” “Par for the course,” one spoke up.  “They usually put up a soundproof barrier around the edges of the room once the meeting’s properly started to make sure nopony hears anything changeling-specific.  It’s been long enough, though.  They should be done soon.” “Yup,” another agreed.  “If you go wait outside their door, he should come out in a few minutes.” “Or you could wait here,” the head nymph all but purred.  “And make him come for you.” “You... you are still flirting with me, you naughty mare.” Midnight smiled. “Still, that’s not a bad idea, and I am enjoying spending time with my new friends...” Friends? Well, that was something she never thought she’d say about a Changeling, well, Ledger being the only exception. “We do try to be enjoyable, and there’s more to us than just being succubi for the ponies,” the head nymph said with a smile. “Though that is the way we get a good bit of our ‘food’,” the nymph on the left of her said. “Still, sometimes all they really need is somepony to talk to, rather than just a roll in the hay,” the nymph on the right added. “And once Ledger directed us to proper psychiatry books, some of us took to that real well,” another voice pitched in. “So we offer a wide range of services, and it’s always nice to make new pony friends with them...though a Thestral friend is certainly new,” the head nymph finished. Midnight nodded and beamed brightly. They were a little unusual, but she had some friends in this city at last. She suddenly felt a great desire to do something she didn’t do often and a wide smile formed on her face. “Tell me,” she asked, feeling a little giddy, maybe due to the liquid courage in her veins. “Has that stage out there got a microphone?” The meeting of the drones had finally come to a conclusion. Much to Ledger’s relief that the constant teasing had finally come to an end. As the lead drone dropped the soundproof barrier, the sound of rambunctious applause and cheers could be heard from the central room. “Oohkay? What in the Hive is going on out there?” one asked. “I don’t know and I have a bad feeling about this,” Level answered.  “Well, disguises up everyling, I’ll go check on it first.” Being the only changeling in the room that had worn his disguise through the meeting, Level stepped out from their room and snuck back towards the sound of applause.  What he saw gave him pause. Midnight Song was standing on center stage, with four disguised nymphs behind her. She was panting slightly as every patron in the club roared and cheered, stomping their hooves in applause. She took a small bow and noticed Ledger out of the corner of her eye. Her smiled widened as she waved at him. “This next little one is for my dear Levvy!” she shouted into the mic, as the four nymphs began to play their instruments. Midnight took a deep breath, opened her mouth... and began to sing. Ledger was lost in the tune for a moment, before realizing that the words she was singing were referring to him and their new bond.  He blushed a little, not used to the attention she or the patrons were giving him.  By the time the song was over, more than one drone had put on their disguises and were standing behind him. “And that’s why I’m so grateful that she’s in love with me,” Ledger said as the song ended.  “Because she keeps finding ways to surprise me.” Midnight gave a little bow as the song finished, smiling brightly. It had been forever since she sang in public like this and to be honest, it felt pretty good. And the fact that Level was there with a dopey grin on his face made it all worth it. “Well that was fun ladies,” she smiled. “Never thought I’d be singing in a stripclub though~” “Not a lot think that way when they arrive in Las Pegasus either,” one said. “But it’s not so bad, and a lot fewer stallions...or mares, request a ‘private show’ than you might think,” another pitched in. “So if it weren’t for dear Level over there, we might ask you to come again,” the head nymph said.  “By the way, our advice?  Try to get him to want things.  Both in and out of your times together.  The males in our lives getting a backbone again is usually the hard part.” “Oh, I’m already working on that,” Midnight nodded and smiled salaciously. “Let’s say he’s already learning a thing or two.” The crowds were already dying off, most disappointed that the show was over. “Um,” Midnight looked a little sheepish. “Let’s say, hypothetically, that a certain somepony had a ton of fun doing that. And maybe that somepony wanted to do it again. Would-would that somepony be allowed to come back?” “Of course,” the head nymph purred.  “We don’t turn anypony away...but you’d probably want to ask Ledger first,” she finished with a wink, slightly nudging the Thestral mare towards the stallion that was on the receiving end of more than a few jealous looks from the other stallions. Midnight stepped down off of the stage and then flew over to Ledger, wrapping the stallion up in a tight hug. She smiled and gave him a light kiss. “Hello handsome~” she giggled. “Hello beautiful,” he returned, still blushing.  “So I see you made some new friends?” “I did,” Midnight nodded, waving at the nymphs. “But I think the lead one wants to be more than friends,” she whispered to him. “Still, I guess you score a major victory here. I never thought I could be so comfortable in a room with so many of your ‘friends’.” “We’re not so bad once you get to know us,” Ledger said, throwing a look over at the drones behind him.  “Which could be said of them and you the other way ‘round, now that I think about it,” he observed. “Naw, I’m a special case,” Midnight giggled. “There isn’t a pony like me in Equestria. Which may be a good thing. Equus couldn’t handle this much sexy~” “Amen!” one drone spoke up, causing the rest to chuckle. “Still,” another said, “thank you for introducing us, Level, and do take care of yourself...and her.  She’s a rarity, she is.” “Tell me something I don’t know,” Ledger replied with a smile, catching Midnight’s lips in another soft kiss.  “She’s once in a lifetime, and I’m glad she came into mine.” “Let’s go home,” Midnight smiled. She shot a glance to the nymphs and grinned. She leaned in close to Ledger and her next words were just loud enough for the Ladies to hear. “And you get to come into mine~ Again and again...” The only way Ledger could be more red was if he’d shifted into a red-coated pony, he was blushing so hard.  The nymphs, on the other hand, merely smiled wider. “So did you finish your talks?” she asked him, deciding to leave him be for now. “Any emergencies to attend to?” “Nothing for now,” one of the drones spoke up.  “Though Toll Taker being taken down is going to have a remarkably positive effect on the city...we hope.  Assuming nopony steps up to replace her position in the world of crime, that is.  Which is what we talked about.” “Gotta keep an eye on the emotional health of the city,” Ledger muttered, rubbing one of his cheeks.  “‘s important for us.” “I’d imagine so,” Midnight chuckled. “Oh! Did you mention our latest ‘project’?” “I will once it’s finished being ‘in the works’ and is actually a thing that is happening,” Ledger responded.  “So...I think unless you wanted to spend a little more time with your friends there, we should be good to go…” “Yeah, I wanna make some new stories to tell them,” Midnight winked at them. “Plus I gotta swing by a pharmacy before we go home.” Ledger looked confused, while the nymphs just grinned even more.  “Oh...kay?” he asked, before shrugging and turning towards the exit.  “Well, there should be one on the way, so you can pop over on the way home.” “Good,” Midnight nodded, swishing her tail to and fro. She waved to her new friends once more as the couple left the bar. And hopefully that Nymph hadn’t burned down the apartment yet… Fortunately, when the pair arrived back in the apartment, the nymph hadn’t done much beyond move to the next book in the pile.  She did raise an imaginary eyebrow at the pair’s return, but quickly wrote it off as nothing interesting going on and returned to her reading. “Well, so far so good,” Midnight replied, shifting the small, wrapped package under her wing. “I gotta use the little fillies room, be back soon Lev.” She trotted off to their bathroom, quickly shutting the door behind her. “And I’m sure one day she’ll let me know why I couldn’t come with her into the pharmacy to begin with,” Level sighed before shutting the door, testing the locks, and dropping his disguise. “All in good time,” she called out from the bathroom. “Also, can you check on... uh... whatever her name is?” Ledger turned towards the nymph’s bedroom and sighed, before walking up to the space just outside the door.  “So.  You good?” he briskly asked. She looked up and nodded once, keeping Rule One in mind. She spared a glance in Midnight’s general direction and shrugged before tilting her head in question. “Like I know what she’s up to,” he said with a sigh.  “Apparently whatever it is is enough of a distraction that she sends me here to play nice.  Honestly, while accepting your vow was my idea, I’d just as soon have left you to heal up and wander the streets cold and alone for the rest of your miserable life.  Be thankful for her...she’s tempered my hatred and dislike of nymphs.” “I will do as she commands,” the nymph finally replied. “Not you, nor anyone else.” “That appears to be the only thing we have in common,” the drone observed.  “And really, that’s the only thing that matters.  So let me make one thing perfectly clear.” He paused for a moment before continuing to speak his piece.  “If you ever betray me or her.  If you ever backstab us.  You will wish she killed you.  I have the knowledge of our anatomy and more than a little skill with TK.  You will be surprised what I can make you live through.” The nymph blinked, before a short laugh wracked her body. “You? You spent that day curled up in a quivering, stammering little ball. Your mare fought for you, while you hid behind her teats like a little foal!” Her eyes narrowed and her smile showed her gleaming fangs. “You’ll be a good little drone, yes?” She suddenly felt her left foreleg stop moving, and when she looked, she found it encased in a silver glow.  One that matched the one around the drone’s horn.  “TK is a very interesting spell for something so basic,” he observed aloud.  “Putting magical pressure on an object and lifting it, moving it about.  It’s something nearly every ‘ling and unicorn learns.  What becomes interesting is when you apply it to ponies...or just parts of ponies...or change the parameters.  Like how tightly you grip the object.  Or how hard you pull.  Hey, do you know how much pressure your chitin is rated for?” The nymphs voice hitched in her throat. What the what? When did this pitiful drone get a pair like that? She couldn’t do anything, her body could barely move and her magic was all but gone. Then her eyes widened as she stared past Level Ledger, at something that made jumping out that two story window look really enticing. She just opened and closed her mouth a few times, her free hoof pointing feebly. “Oh don’t go looking for a miracle when it’s just you and me,” Ledger said, his voice no more emotional.  His magic tightened on her foreleg for a moment more before he let her go, still glaring at her.  “Personally, the records I found indicate that your chitin is just like an overly-segmented, slightly-harder bone.  And I’ve broken bones before with TK.  You give me cause to, I will repeat my performance.  Play nice, listen to Midnight, and I’ll help kick you out when you can put on a decent enough show.” Then a voice sounded. From right behind him. “Are you two playing nice?” it was a quiet voice, sounding rather monotone and the nymph just continued to shake. The face the Thestral wore was one she’d seen before, the face of the one that tore her chitin to shreds, the face of the silent death. “Of course we are,” Ledger replied, before grinning at the nymph.  “We were just making sure we understood where the other stood on the matter of the other’s gender and how that was going to affect us getting along.  Isn’t that right?” The changeling female was about to respond when Midnight moved into the room, her fluid motion made it look like she was gliding. She gave a look to both shapeshifters before frowning lightly. “New rule, no threatening one another? Okay?” “...Aren’t you threatening us?” the nymph asked, before squeaking when Midnight looked at her. “Uh, right. Understood Mistress.” “Technically, threats are just empty bluster, whereas I tend to make promises…”  Ledger trailed off as he looked at Midnight’s face, before correcting what he’d been about to say.  “But if it matters that much to you, I can keep my mouth shut around her.” Midnight returned to normal and smiled brightly. “Glad to hear it. We’ll all be friends and life will be wonderful.” She petted the nymph on the head and smiled. “Now, would you like something to eat?” The nymphs stomach growled in response, while she looked away. “Hehe, I’ll make you some soup then!” Midnight smiled. The nymph frowned as her chitin crawled. Why did that sound so... dangerous. She just watched the Thestral mare skip from the room as she looked at Level. “I am... confused.” “You and me both,” Level sighed as he made to follow Midnight.  “Love, at least let me help, I don’t need to spend another two hours cleaning off my stove!” “Oh, that’s why I feel fear,” the nymph stated aloud. And why was she smelling smoke? “You’ve been in here for all of twenty seconds, and the range is already on fire!” Ledger protested.  “The entire range!” “It’s not my fault the kitchen is so flammable!” Midnight protested. “Oh Sweet Hive... I am going to die here,” the nymph groaned, burying her head under her pillow. This was going to be a looooong, life-debt.  Assuming she lived through it. It had started off as such a good dream, Level would reflect later.  He was in his bed, Midnight was in his bed, and the two of them were doing nothing more than hugging and cuddling and kissing.  “You have no idea how happy you make me,” the drone sighed, holding the thestral mare close and letting his eyes drift shut for a moment. And in that moment, the mare changed.  From a soft and fluffy pony to a small, hard, chitinous form.  Ledger snapped his eyes open and saw a familiar form.  A form he’d been trying to forget for some years now. The familiar, yellow-eyed form of his rapist, who could not be happier to see him.  The drone locked up in fear, which gave the nymph all the time she needed to roll Ledger onto his back and slowly start straddling him. “Oooh, you’ve grown since I last saw you,” the nymph purred as she sat on his chest.  “But, naughty drone, you’ve gone and given yourself to another...when I was the one to claim you for myself first.” “You don’t...own me,” Ledger weakly protested.  The nymph laughed and batted at one of his stock-still forelegs with a hoof, which swayed back and forth before returning to its original position. “Oh really?  I seem to have made quite the mark on you, and your body knows it,” she chuckled, before gaining a serious look to her eyes.  “Now, here’s how this is going to work, drone.  I’m going to take what I want from you, and you are going to be a good little male and give it to me.” “No,” Ledger protested again.  “I don’t care what you say, I’m not yours, I’m not giving you anything.” “Pity,” she said, trailing a hoof up to his neck.  “Then I suppose I’ll simply have to...dispose of you.” Once she said the word dispose, her colors started shifting and changing.  From yellow, to a familiar blue.  From some flirty nymph...to the one that had tried to kill him most recently.  Her voice shifted as well, and suddenly the total bitch that had come to live with him was the one on his chest. “Or, better yet,” she hummed.  “I use you, then drag you back to the Hives, where some other nymph can use you...and we make sure you and your precious little batpony never see each other again.  If you’re lucky, you might even survive the breaking process. It’s where we turn you into such a good little drone, you’ll never think to threaten another nymph again.” This time, Ledger’s throat locked up in pure terror at the thought, and the wicked nymph atop him grinned all the more.  “Oh, yes, I think that’s what I’ll end up doing.  It finally got you to shut up, after all.” One hoof slammed Ledger’s head into the headboard of his bed, dazing him for a moment, before he heard the nymph speak up again.  “Now this should only take a moment…” A familiar scent started to waft its way into his nostrils, and he started crying as he recognized it for what it was.  Pheromones.  Pheromones similar to the ones his rapist had made that had made him react so strongly that day.  It seemed like he was going to betray Midnight after all...that he was just a useless, weak drone, who couldn’t do anything for himself- The nymph chuckled, right before a blinding light exploded her into a million smouldering pieces. The pheromones vanished without a trace, as a regal blue Alicorn stood in the doorway, a mixture of shock and pity on her face. “Such an abomination,” she muttered as she walked in, small wisps of smoke wafting from her horn. “Tis this what thou fears, little Changeling? For if there is truth to this nightmare, thou hast my pity...” “Princess...Luna?” Ledger slowly rolled back over so he was on his stomach, on his bed.  “A...dream, then?”  Things were slowly starting to make more sense.  Such as how half of those things had happened, or why he’d been so overwhelmingly afraid. “Not a joyous one however,” Luna replied. “Tis the first time I have entered a Changeling’s dream... I see I have missed much opportunity to do good.” Her horn flashed once more as Midnight materialized next to Ledger, her sleeping form instantly pulling him into an embrace. “Tis not much, but your dreams are merged. She’ll not wake here however.” “I...see,” Ledger said, not really understanding at all as he stroked Midnight’s mane with one hoof.  The action was soothing to him, and as he got his head on straight, the ‘ling finally knew how he wanted to phrase the next thing he wanted to say.  “If I am...permitted, I would like to ask you a question, your highness.” “Tis why I am here,” she replied. “While I would enjoy a visit personally, I have little time to make such a trip. Speak your mind, Level Ledger.” Level took a deep breath...and directed such a glare at Luna that if looks could kill, she would at the very least be mortally wounded.  “What took you?” he all but spat.  At her shocked look, he elaborated.  “I’ve been in Equestria for a year now.  Changelings have been common knowledge for nearly that.  I sometimes woke up screaming, so I know exactly what I dreamt of.  What.  Took.  You?” Princess Luna’s own glare matched his own. This little whelp dared take such a tone with her? The Princess of the Night? Still... Her fierce look dissipated, and the moon princess looked...apologetic. “I admit,” she said quietly. “That I have made an error in not intervening before now,” she replied. “I have no excuses, at least, none that would satisfy your justified anger. I offer my deepest apologies for this grave oversight.” “Does it have anything to do with your favored ponies and some of the rumors regarding why you made them?” Ledger asked, stroking Midnight’s mane for emphasis.  “Because at least that would make sense, if you simply couldn’t bring yourself to trust something that changes its skin so often, or feeds on ponies.” Princess Luna blinked, before a low chuckle escaped her throat. “Do you Changeling’s still believe that I made the Thestrals? And that they were to hunt you?” The Princess giggled a little more, but soon stopped when she noticed Ledger’s unamused stare. “I did not create them, they are a branched evolution of Pegasi, nothing more.” She pondered for a moment and decided she might as well tell him. “And while the Changeling’s were a far more barbaric species eight hundred years ago, I trained the Thestrals to fight something far worse than your species could ever be.” “Huh,” Ledger said, processing this new information.  “Well...that helps a bit.  But with that training apparently comes the ability to not feel, and to us…” the drone let the sentence hang there for the lunar princess to process. “You are not the only emotivorous species on Equus,” Luna said grimly. “Just the most placid...” “...Well that explains why we suddenly started to ‘find’ more areas for our Hives, according to what I’ve read of our history,” Ledger said with a smile.  “Now all we need is a public image of you standing next to a ‘ling and not trying to kill him or her, and I think most of the fear regarding Thestrals and you in the ‘ling community will dissipate.” “We shall see,” Luna chuckled. She stepped closer to the changeling as her horn shone once again. A tendril of wispy light connected them, as an azure hue filled the room. Level Ledger felt... warm, and his body was light. After a moment of this, the Alicorn smiled as she stepped back. “A small enchantment, to help drive back the nightmares should they return,” she explained. “While I cannot stop them from coming back entirely, this will help you fight them.” “...Thank you, again,” Ledger said, before a thought struck him.  “If I might offer a bit of advice?” “Advice from you?” she blinked. This was one of the most unusual dreams she had walked into this evening... well, aside from Twilight conducting a book orchestra. “Go ahead.” “In this city, there is a...call it council, of changelings.  One particular sect of it are all nymphs with violet eyes, and they’ve been trying their hardest to help not only me, but any drone that comes here,” Ledger said.  “They might be able to help you if you intend to make visiting changeling dreams a regular thing.”  He blushed a bit and coughed before looking away and continuing.  “But, ah, do be careful.  Color corresponds to what we feed on...And they…” The form of the Princess flickered, like an out-of-tune television. “Ah, it appears that my stay is overdone. I did not catch.. last part...” She smiled again. “We shall talk soon, take care... you and her...” And with a flash of light, the princess was gone, leaving Ledger alone in the lucid dream. ...Well, not entirely alone.  He bent down and gave the top of Midnight’s head a kiss, before cuddling the mare close and sighing.  “Not that I would ever wish for Toll to be free...but at least I had a routine before last week that was fairly standard…”  He smirked a bit and squeezed her form again.  “Still, at least it brought me you.  I’d endure her all over again for you.” Midnight shifted, her smile widening. “Mmmm, mango Levvy~” “...Hmm,” Ledger said with a smirk as an idea began to form, just hoping he would remember it when he woke up, before deciding to see how hard it was to fall asleep in a dream. It turned out to not be hard at all.