//------------------------------// // The attack // Story: Melody of a Changeling // by DJ_Scr4tch //------------------------------// There we were. The entire Changeling army. Surrounding the big sphere barrier Shining Armor put up. We all waited. Waiting for the signal. I was based on the south side. My job was to round up earth ponies and take them as prisoners. Suddenly the barrier began pulsing. At that moment we all started slamming into the purple shield defending the town. After a few minutes our leader, Queen Chrysalis, drained enough magic from the powerful unicorn. We broke through the barrier and it shattered as it disappeared. We flooded the city. Thousands of us swarmed the city. I landed and changed. Leaving my eyes as their original snake like slits. I began chasing ponies. I hate it. Doing all this, changing my form, scarring innocent ponies, all for what? Love? Seriously what’s the point? If we lived off of love, which we don’t. Shouldn’t our love lives with the other changelings be enough? Yes! But no we survived off of fish, deer, vegetables, and fruits. We were basically ponies that ate meat! I was sick of it! All the invasions and attacks. Kidnapping, hunting, wasting time to take over a place that had no land for farms. That’s when I spotted her. Her long dark gray mane and tail flowed through the air as she ran. Her light gray coat was covered by a strap holding a large black case over her back. I gave up my chase on a squad of fillies and turned to her. Matching her perfectly. Her large purple treble clef mark fit with her style. The white collar with a pink bow is all I was missing. I changed my eyes even to match hers. The grayish purple took over my eyes as i caught up. I overtook and jumped in front of her. She quickly turned and I picked up my chase. She kept running through the city. Every tight turn I gained a bit of ground. Then she went down an alley way. And that’s when I saw her. A spear through her chest. It was awful… The wooden handle was broken in half. Must’ve been a guard fighting a changeling. I walked closer and checked her vitals. Her eyes rolled back in her skull and her heartbeat was absent. At least it was quick. I removed the spear from her and began walking. No changeling bothered me. I took her out of town and began to walk down the mountain. Quickly becoming bored I changed to my true form and gently floated to the base of the mountain. Using my forehooves I dug out a large grave for her. I gently set her in, crossing her forehooves over a few flowers I picked. The purple tulips worked perfectly. Closing her eyes I prayed for her soul to find peace. I bowed and gave her a gentle kiss on her forehead. The cold was starting to set in. I climbed out and quickly buried her in dirt. Taking a chunk of bark from a nearby oak tree I used my sharp fangs to carve into it. “Here lies a beautiful mare. One that was needlessly harmed for one’s selfish gain.” Jamming the piece of wood in the soft dirt I gave her a salute and flew back to the town. As I walked through the entrance I took her form again. Everything exact. I continued down the streets sprinting. They were deserted. No pony or changeling was out. Within a minute of my return a large purple blast came out of the castle. I braced for what was certain to hurt. My face turned and eyes closed as the purple wave washed over me. I sat there for a couple minutes. “What just happened…” My thoughts were focused on the barrier quickly expanding. I opened my eyes. It wasn’t there. No… I saw it… Turning around I watched as the queen I vowed to follow loyally and without fail. She was screaming and was being pushed away by the barrier. Along with the rest of the army. That made no sense… Why was I still where I sat? I looked down. My hooves were still gray like that mares. That was it! I was a pony! The barrier didn’t kick me out because it thought I was a pony. I let out a squeal of joy as I stood up and trotted down the street. I passed the alley way. The large black case was still there. I decided to discover what it contained. I walked up to the oddly shaped case and unlatched it. One on both ends and three spread throughout the front. I lifted the lid open and inside was a beautiful cello… I couldn’t resist. I’ve studied ponies for years. Hidden as one. They never suspected me to be a changeling. I love it. I saw these amazing works of wood and strings. They made an amazing sound and when this was played my insides melted and I couldn’t resist relaxing. I ran a hoof along the neck of it. The long black wood neck fit perfectly in my hoof. She was a musician. And she played my favorite instrument. That bass caught my attention right away. The deep sound was powerful and strong, yet it was still able to be light and soft. I lifted it up and stood it on the small metal rounded peg on the bottom. It was missing the rubber piece to cover it. I stood up on my back hooves. It fit perfect. Whoever this mare was she was an amazing musician to have a perfectly crafted instrument. Finding my balance I plucked a string. Instantly the noise echoed inside and came out the two swirl slots in its face. The sound filled the alleyway and my ears. I knew how to play but never got to actually play. I hooved the notes. I looked inside the carpet padded case. There was her bow. The resin for it. And a pack of strings in case one snaps. Lifting the small long piece of wood I rested the sinew across the strings. I drew the bow across and the sound filled the alley way. The long note sounded incredible. Being this close was much different than watching through an elementary school window. Those fillies and colts play their hearts out but not quite as elegant as the instrument is meant to be. I settled down and put the instrument back. Closing it I latched it shut and check out the strap. There was a big pad. On the outside was a clear cover. Inside that was a piece of paper. It had the large purple treble clefs on it and in the middle was Octavia Melody… Whoa… Octavia! She visited the school one day and played for them. I loved her! I can’t believe I didn’t recognize her! Wait… My musical idol died because of me! Tears quickly began to roll down my cheeks and landed on the case. I can’t believe it! She was gone because of me… Wait! I can do this! I can be Octavia Melody! She inspired me to learn this instrument in the first place. I’m sure with some practice I can master it as she did. I lifted the large case, positioning the pad over my chest. Holy crap this thing is heavy. I walked slowly, legs wobbling. I finally got out of the alleyway. Face stained by my tears and I began to head to the castle. As I approached the bottom of the stairs I looked up to a wave of excited happy ponies. They came flowing out of the castle doors. It was like a tidal wave! I sat and covered my head. The stampede of hooves split in front and they went around me. I turned and looked and they were all celebrating. Shining Armor and Princess Mi Amore Cadenza walked outside. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna walked behind them on both sides. Twilight and her friends in the background. “Greetings, Ladies and Gentlecolts.” Shining spoke loudly so everypony could hear his powerful voice. “Today we withstood a major attack on our capital. With the combined efforts of everypony we fought back the changeling armies and saved our darling Princess Cadence. The wedding will continue as planned. This Friday we wish to have it.” “As the princess of love.” Cadence took over the stage stepping forward. “I wish to send my sincere apologies to everypony that lost their special somepony. I wish to personally thank you for their sacrifice and honor them at our wedding.” Everypony was finally settled down. Seeing the full extent of the carnage that just took place. “And, I also wish to extend an invite to everypony in the city!” The crowd lit up with the stomping of hooves, and whistles. They all jumped around and quickly dispersed as the royal family retreated inside. “Hey Tavi!” I heard come from behind me. Some random pony called for who they thought was the real Octavia. I had to play along. Couldn’t let anypony find out that I have taken over her life. “Yes?” My voice was exactly like hers. Smart, a little stuck up, minor accent that showed higher education. And was as sweet as ever, it was candy to my ears. I turned to see a few earth ponies were standing there. Two stallions, their manes combed and poofy. One was brown with an egg white mane. The other was a dark grape purple with light blue mane. They both sported a white collar with red bow ties. The brown coated stallion had yellow green eyes. They seemed lifeless and angry. On his rump was two eighth notes. One white the other black. The purple stallion had eyes much like the other but more gentle and happy. The third pony was a mare. She stood between the other musicians. Her aqua colored coat covered her whole body. Her mane styled with a little flip at the end of the front. The brown mane matched her tail. Her eyes were a soft pink. Her neck covered in her collar. The pink bow tie sat gently as mine did. Her flank sported a sousaphone cutie mark. “You coming to practice tomorrow? We only have 2 days before the wedding.” Her voice was kinda harsh. Probably from blowing into a sousaphone for so many years. I recognized her though. Her name was Brass Wind. She visited with Octavia when she went to the elementary school. The stallions were new to me though. “Yeah… I’ll meet you there before we start… Ummm where is it again?” “Seriously Octavia.” The brown coat stallion sounded angry and annoyed. “It’s right down the street from the school. It’s been there every second of our lives.” “Yeah, I knew that. I just didn’t know if it was destroyed or not.” “See Treble.” The purple pony spoke, his voice much calmer than the other stallions and more gently than the mares. “She just wasn’t sure if it changed.” “Sorry Bass. Sorry Miss. Melody. Just a bit annoyed by the sudden attack.” “Don’t worry Treble. It’s fine.” The three band members turned and left. I let out a long sigh. This is my life… I walked back around town. It was getting late and I had no clue about Octavia’s personal life. I found a spot in a dark alley and set the large case down. Wow did I feel light when I removed that strap from across my chest. Finding a spot in the corner of the brick walls I laid down. Lucky for me it was summer. I wouldn’t freeze to death. Even better with the feast from the day before the attack I wouldn’t starve for a few weeks. I rested my head on my crossed hooves and closed my eyes. As the moonlit night surrounded Equestria I fell asleep.