“Do we all understand our mission?” Chrysalis asked as she strutted around the old, oak tree with her tattered hooves stepping on tattered leaves. Changelings, big and small, male and female, saluted to their leader, which patted them on the back with a smile from her.
The day was young, nearly three o’clock in the A.M., the changelings had to have time for said mission. Although the sun was not shining just yet, Chrysalis could plainly see the fog-like clouds growing overhead.
‘Rain,’ she thought, ‘why today?’
Chrysalis snapped her head around to look at the old oak. Its limbs stretched out like dead fingers, and the bark was beginning to peel like skin from a new sunburn. Her and her subject’s ‘home’ was forlorn, and a straight out eyesore. Oh, how Chrysalis wanted to do better for her ponies.
‘Once we get to Equestria, however…’
Chrysalis darted her eyes from side to side, scanning her larva-pupils. After a moment, her eyes (which seemed to glow in the dark of the storm) fell upon a young changeling, a female.
“State your name!” Chrysalis called to her. Of course, Chrysalis knew the answer, but she needed to hear it, she yearned for another voice besides her own.
“Lady,” the small, insect like creature said, “Lady Bird.”
“Do you understand your mission, Miss Lady Bird?” Chrysalis asked with a smirk.
The changeling, Lady Bird-13-thought for a moment.
‘What had she told me? Something about the school…?’ She asked herself. Yes, yes she had. Chrysalis had mentioned the school to her. The rest was self explanatory. This was good. Lady Bird had an answer for her queen.
“Yes, Queen. I very well understand.”
“Good.”
The day was dark, and the sky was overflowing with monstrous clouds that bade a storm. All of the Changelings (including their leader) lived miserably under a large oak tree. It never promised leaves, if they did grow, the leaves would just die and fall from their limbs. The Changelings new the reasoning, though. Inside said tree, is where they stored their food: love. Chrysalis has hollowed it out for her subjects to store the emotion in. It was a good help, and a proper diner.
They were running low on food, though, so they were off to take drastic measures. Their first attempt to take over Canterlot and Ponyville was a failure, but that didn't deter Chrysalis; not at all! In fact, she grew more determined to play out her plan ever since Cadance and Shining Armor had blown her away. She has a well thought out plan, and she was ready to try it.
“Today is the day,” Chrysalis yelled, “that we take over Equestria!” She buzzed her wings and swirled up into the air like a queen bee leaving her hive would do. The others mimicked this action, and flew up into the air as well, cheering and doing circles in midair.
Lady Bird was excited, for she had a big part in making this plan a succession, and she couldn't wait to get started.
Five hours later…..
Rain poured from outside of the small schoolhouse window, making it shudder and tremble under the strong winds. Apple Bloom put her head in her hooves and slumped down over her desk.
“When in the hay is Scootaloo gonna get here?” She asked Sweetie Belle, who was seated next to her.
“I don't know,” she squeaked, “but she'd better get here soon! Mrs. Cheerilee is about to start class!”
Almost as if on cue, Scootaloo ran in the schoolhouse door, sopping wet. She shook her head like a wet dog after a bath, and grinned.
“Hey, guys!” Scootaloo said, running up to her friends.
“Whispers on the street say that we are getting a new kid today!”
“Really, Scoot?” Sweetie Belle asked, jumping from her chair.
“That’s what I’ve heard!” Scootaloo laughed, “I know tha-”
“Good morning, class!” Cheerilee greeted with a smile. “I am so very glad to inform you that we have a new student!” Cheerilee got up on her hind legs and clapped her front hooves excitedly.
"Told you," Scootaloo said under her breath.
“Come in, Sweetie, don’t be shy,” Cheerilee said.
Sweetie Belle’s ears perked up a little when Cheerilee had called the new student ‘Sweetie.’ Sweetie Belle herself despised her name, just because that her name was also something lovers called each other, or in other instances (like this one) ponies called other children ponies ‘Sweetie.’ She always grew confused when other ponies said ‘Sweetie’ but didn’t intentionally call her name. She never liked being confused, either.
Right then, a small pegasus pony trotted in the room wearing a small smile. Her mane was a blood red and her coat a light pink. Apple Bloom observed that the tips of her mane and tail were black.
‘Like a black-tip reef shark,’ Apple Bloom thought, ‘I hope she ain’t a predator.’ Apple Bloom laughed at the thought of the small Pegasus being a predator. It was ridiculous, really.
“Look at her cutie mark,” Scootaloo whispered to Apple Bloom. She did, and saw that it was a small ladybug with beautiful colors descending from its antenna.
‘It sure is a cutie, cutie mark. I wouldn’t mind having that one for myself,’ Apple Bloom thought. But she wasn’t jealous. Apple Bloom was proud of her mark, and that was that.
“Why don’t you tell the class your name, Sweetie!” Cheerilee insisted with a grin.
‘There she does it again!’ Sweetie Belle thought, and rolled her eyes.
“My name’s Lady Bug,” The new student said in a voice that none of the other students had heard before.
It was a sound mixed with that of a robot’s with a small hint of a premature Fluttershy’s voice. It was robotic but pony at the same time.
‘Don’t judge her, Scootaloo. You can’t judge some pony by their voice,’ Scootaloo told herself sternly.
“Ah! Wonderful! That’s a wonderful name!” Cheerilee complimented. Lady Bug smiled.
Of course, it didn’t take Lady Bird long to come up with another name. She wanted it to sound….more adorable than..than..Lady Bird. That was the easy part, though. The hard part was fitting in with the other classmates.
“Why don’t you take a seat next to Scootaloo, there,” Cheerilee said, gesturing to an empty seat next to the orange pony.
“Okay,” Lady Bug replied with that peculiar voice of her’s. She sat up in said chair and looked over at Scootaloo. Lady Bug forced a smile and held out a hoof.
“Hello there. You must be Scootaloo,” she said. Scootaloo nodded and shook the new student’s hoof. After that, Cheerilee went on to teach, as if it were a normal school day.
‘So far, so good,’ Lady ‘Bug’ thought, ‘This may be easier than I expected.’