//------------------------------// // A New Beginning On An Old Story // Story: A Changeling's Travels // by DeadEcho //------------------------------// It was a warm, sunny day at the hive. The soldiers were preparing to get us some more land and more food, those brave souls. I looked around the daycare I was in and saw a few other changelings, mostly male. While they all looked forward to becoming a doctor or worker, I looked forward to the life of a soldier, even though there have been only a couple of cases where there was female soldiers. Why should I have to only be a nurse? I want to join them as well, contribute to the good of the changeling hive! Go outside! Be a war hero! I eventually stopped daydreaming as I yawned, looking around, It was 10:45 a.m. and I was still trying to wake up. Maybe if I drank what they called coffee I could be up and running, though last time I saw another do that he said it was very bitter... I can't even fly since I'm 3 months old, much much younger then the rest of them, so even trying to get coffee is another story. At 11:00 I saw our caregiver come inside the room with us and close the door, opening the crib with a bright, shining smile. "Hello there little nymphs, I'm Miss Sunshine! I can see our little nymphs are aspiring to be doctors, builders or even soldiers! It is all great that every single one of you is willing to contribute for our hive and help us against those nasty, evil ponies." I looked at her and asked as good as I could speak "E-Evil ponies? They're not nice?" I looked at her with a bit of curiosity and fear. She looked shocked slightly, staring me in the eye with both concern and shock. "No, they come into unguarded nymph beds at night and steal our young, they take innocent changelings and blast them into stone, making them into lawn ornaments!" she said as she made sure everyone was listening. Everyone gulped and I looked around nervously as another nymph spoke. said, "H-how could ponies do such horrible things?" He was visibly shaking, and I could practically hear his bones rattling. "There's a very simple answer," Miss Sunshine replied, "they want us to starve... We can't let these monsters cause starvation can we? If these ponies are really innocent like everyone says they are, then explain why they won't give us food like we need!" She had a slight look of disgust on her face as she scanned around the room once more I gulped and nodded while looking at her. Then I questioned, "S-So what do we do about the ponies?" I unconsciously paced back and forth across the crib. "It's simple, we force them to give us food. It isn't evil if it's necessary to survive. Love is an easy thing to come by, especially for pony folk. Yet there they are, hogging it for themselves, keeping it between them and their loved ones, never once thinking about us. Even when we ask nicely for it, they kill us, turn us into stone, banish us to an endless void of space, or even try to eat us!" I trembled violently and sputtered, "A-Aren't ponies plant eaters? A-And how could one turn us into stone?" I tried to think of ponies using some kind of magic to slowly turn a changeling into a living statue. "That's what they want you to think," Miss Sunshine continued. "Never, EVER be friends with a pony, because if they even know you are a changeling they will hogtie you up and and eat you, and that's if you're lucky." She sheds a tear and continues on "I've heard about a restaurant in Canterlot which serves fried changeling every week around 5:00. The ones we eat we don't kill, we take what is needed and let them go, even if they are evil." *a large bell rings as she opens the door* "Alright nymphs, we will continue our discussion tomorrow, for now go find you parents so they can help protect you from the evil ponies" I trembled violently, slowly inching out the door as I pictured a large, monstrous equine with razor sharp teeth. This only made me want to fight them more so they won't hurt any more changelings! I look around and see my brother. I walk up to him as I stutter slightly and tremble a bit. "U-Umm hey Alex, what are you up to?" "Hi lil sis, I'm training as a scavenger for the changeling army. Umm, why are you so scared? Is something on your mind?" "N-Nothing much, it just umm... I heard about those nasty ponies. T-they seem terrifying and so evil, and I can't imagine why they would do such things." "Me either sis... me either... I'm done training for today and we're going out on our first mission tomorrow. Wish me luck sis!" He does a salute to a wandering soldier as I come closer. He hugs me as I hug him back, tearing slightly. "I don't want to see you go brother, p-please don't go alone and die to those monsters!" He smiles a bit and gently hugs me. "Well don't worry sis, we'll be carrying special crystals to help collect food. They absorb love like light, and there will be 5 of us carrying bags of them. The queen made sure we won't face too big of a target, kinda like a training mission. Don't worry though, I'll try to save some of the best love for you." He gave my head a small rub as he headed towards home. I followed him and had an idea! I would keep following him just to help him stay safe, I couldn't stand losing my brother to those monster ponies. We eventually arrived home, and I jumped on the couch excitedly. "So where will you be getting food, bro?" I look up at him, my tears slowly stopping. "I'm not sure yet, the queen will tell us tomorrow. I'm sure it will be perfect for us, after all. The most training we've had was with the captain, and that doesn't compare to on the field, but I promise I will return so don't you worry your cute little head." I smiled once more and hugged him, a tear rolling off my eye "T-Thanks bro, I wish you good luck." I tried to do a salute but ended up falling over. He laughed and I smiled as he picked me up and gently carried me upstairs to bed. "Come on sis, A growing nymph needs a good nights sleep to be strong and healthy," he said quietly. He makes a slight roar and flexes as I giggle. "N-Night brother." "Sweet dreams little sis." He soon turned off the light as I went to sleep, or at least I tried to. Maybe tomorrow I would join him.