My Life as a Changling

by rainbowPOOTIS


'would you kindly'

*The next morning, still with the guards*

“You're kidding me… they just up and vanished, and took the trailer with them!

Me, and any available guards, had been searching the area, but not a single trace had come up, other then a giant ‘fuck you’ burned into the grass. We’d been played!

“So when do you think our… ‘backup’ is going to get here?”

“I already am.” Everypony stopped and turned to see the new arrival who had seemingly appeared in our midst. I felt my jaw drop to the floor at what I was seeing. A Celestia-damned kirin! I thought they were just a rumor! It was big, easily larger than even the tallest guard here. its emerald, scaly hide furthering its intimidating appearance, not even beginning to take into account the fanged sneer on its face. Its eyes seemed to glow like brimstone, and then it hit me. Our ‘backup’, was a flipping,

“Mercenary!”

“You wanted help and it came, what does it matter if I am?” Judging by the voice, I assumed it was male.

I sighed. “I guess desperate times call for desperate measures… you do know what we’re after, and what it did, right? Because it was just gruesome.”

“Define ‘gruesome’.”

“...One of them was tortured before being killed, cut, burned, beaten, impaled, and poisoned twice. And thats just one of them, I’d rather not say what it looked like.” It shocked me that he wasn’t fazed in the slightest by that revelation. “...Who are you, anyway?”

“Emerald Blade. You want me to track down the killers?”

“Yes, but our primary suspect just up and vanished.”

“Who are the suspects?”

“We have one in particular, this pony that went by the name Mirage, light purple coat, slightly darker purple mane. At least, we think she's a pony, and two potential accomplices, ablit we have no clue just how deeply they are involved, or even if they're involved at all.”

“You think she's a pony? please elaborate.”

“Our survivor said she burst into blue flames and in her place stood a black chitinous creature, I’ll give the folder to you so you can read through it later. They came into town from the southern roads, likely from Dodge city if they’re show ponies.”

“Anything I should watch out for, for when I confront her and her lackys?”

“Three things. One, we know it can use magic and possibly has the ability to fly. Two, we believe it’s tail has a fast acting paralytic toxin in its stinger. Three, from what the doctor said about the body, it had one set of bite marks with swollen, discolored veins. Its bite held enough lethal toxin that its only comparable to a basilisk. Again, you can read the reports if need to.”

“I think I’d like to read those.”


Sugars POV

That small multicolored changeling, Pigment I believe he was called, had taken up residence in my lap and all but demanded that I pet him, as I every time I coaxed him off, he just hopped right back up. At least it was therapeutic, running my hoof through his deep green mane. It also kept the little mischief maker from starting anything, so theres that.

“Mine!” I was surprised when Peeko climbed up and pushed Pigment off me, before settling herself in his place. They were fighting over me? I could feel the heat rise to my cheeks as I witnessed their squabble, unsure of what to feel. Pigment climbed right back up, and tried to push her off me, causing her to retaliate and shove him right back off, before to my shock, she hissed at him. “Mine!”

He looked up at Peeko and whimpered, tears forming, before- “BWAAAHAHAAA!” he started crying.

“Off, off you go. Now look at what you did, you made him cry!” I shooed Peeko off my lap, causing her to give me displeased look, which I simply ignored, as I scooped the crying changeling into my forelegs. “Its okay… I won’t let her treat you like that.” His wailing  soon quieted to a whimper, as he nuzzled my foreleg.

”YOU WHAT!?”

I flinched at the volume of the shout. That was Trixie’s voice…

“I didn’t have a choice! I knew what was going to happen if I didn’t do something!” Shinkiro’s response sounded distressed, leading me to assume the worst.

“That didn’t mean you had to… to kill them! Why couldn't you have just knocked them out and… did whatever you did to Sugar to them too?” I felt my blood run cold at those words. Shinkiro had killed somepony?!

“I’m not going to keep a group of potential rapists that close to my kids, let alone Sugar! Her stay here is hard enough as it is.” Oh my Celestia…

“Couldn’t you have turned them in?” A third voice, probably Gilda.

“Too many questions would be asked about how a mare who should have little to no combat experience managed to take out four thugs, let alone remained conscious after a lead pipe to the back of the head.”

“How did that happen? Sugar took you down with just a baseball bat.” I felt a little bit pride in that.

“Thestrals aren’t as strong as earth ponies. Yes, the hit knocked me for a loop, so I faked being knocked out… at least, until they found nothing of value, and decided that I still had something they wanted.”

Somepony sighed. “Trixie is not comfortable with this. And now it is likely the guard will be after us.”

“I wouldn't blame you if you wanted me out of your mane. Its just that, I’m the only thing keep my children fed...” The implications were left unsaid. If they had actually committed such a vile act, she would have been too traumatized to provide for her offspring…

“...You can stay.”

“Trixie is still unsure about this.”

“You’ve been making twice as many bits with her helping with your show.” Gilda said in a monotone voice.

“Trixie shall do all she can to help!” She said very enthusiastically. “As long as you don’t kill anypony again.”

“I won’t.” I heard hoofsteps making their way towards the room I was in. When the door opened, revealing Shinkiro, who seemed to stare at me hesitantly. “Can… can I please hold you?...” Her voice sounded… forced, like she was trying to not freak out. Had it really gotten to her that badly? nothing seemed to faze her, but now… Beneath that ruthless exterior, she was still just a mare.

“Uhhhh… okay?” I found myself nodding without even realizing it, as she approached me, causing Pigment to scurry out of my lap, before Shinkiro pulled me into a rather tight hug, my head getting pressed against her chest. it was smooth, and rather warm… It reminded me of when I was still a filly, pressing my face against the glass part of the oven, watching cookies bake. “I uh, overheard your argument…” She visibly flinched as I said that, gripping me tighter, and growled. “Do you wan-”

No.

“Ok.” With the way she said it, I was very quick to reply. She looked ready to smash something… At least, until she exhaled deeply.

“I don’t want to think about it. Every time I think of it, I wind up thinking of what could have happened, had they hit me any harder…”

“If its affecting you this badly yo-”

“Satō, just be quiet and let me hold you.” My mouth shut so fast I heard my teeth click, and everything below my neck went limp in her grasp. I looked up worryingly, hoping for an explanation for what she just did. “I’m sorry, I’m on the verge of breaking down, and I’m worried I might take it out on you. I was hoping I wouldn't have to use that trigger...”

“...” Nothing. Not even a wheeze. I couldn't even begin to hyperventilate, despite my rising panic. Nothing felt different, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't make a peep, or even move anything below my neck. I could still feel everything, but nothing was responding.

What did she do to me!?

She gave me much calmer look, and must have noticed the sheer terror on my face. “Now, you’re probably wondering what I called you. It’s Japanese for sugar.” She chuckled slightly. “I was originally thinking of going with ‘would you kindly’, but then I realized that actually had a chance of coming up in a normal conversation, and I would rather not unintentionally trigger it. On top of feeling compelled to never leave the trailer and help with me with my nymphs, if I call you by that name you’ll be forced to do as I order you. Even kill somepony, but I’m not that cruel. Speaking of which. Satō, You’re never to tell anyone about that word, or it’s effects, directly or indirectly, and you can not say it yourself. You are taking this secret to your grave.”

I felt my last remaining vestiges of hope die upon hearing those words. All it would take is a single word, and I was under her complete command, and there was no way to warn anypony. At least… At least she’s never physically harmed me… she’s kept me fed… and she’s providing me with a roof over my head...

But... that book I had caught her reading... what was she planning?