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// But I took you in Flight... 
// Story: Changeling Father 
// by rainbowtiger00 
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After removing the toad from the waiter, apologizing over and over, helping Princess Luna back into a state of calmness, and finally eating some of their dinner, they were ready for Inkwell to continue her story. “I had fainted due to the pain. When I began to awoke, I heard scratching noises. Someone was lightly shaking my shoulder. I opened my eye and saw several mares and colts standing over me. 

They looked rather odd. They were all a dark black with droopy blackish blue manes and tails. The manes and tails were in elaborate braids. The hooves had tiny holes at the bottom, with green luminescent paint marked all over their bodies. Large insect like wings that buzzed were on their backs, thin rope like tails swished at their hindquarters.

Twisted, curved horns were at the base of their heads. White fangs that gleamed protruded from the pony's mouth. They all had different colored eyes, and different designs on their body. There was a little one, only a filly that was asleep nearby. She had a necklace that was made out of tiny vines, and had a golden colored piece of wood in the middle with an odd design.” 

All four ponies stared at the necklace that hung from Inkwell's neck. Inkwell touched the necklace with a hoof, her eyes glistening. The toad made a very sad sounding croak. Inkwell placed her hooves together and leaned forward. "The group of ponies that looked odd wore hats made out of jungle leaves and staffs made out of bamboo. 

Several other ponies were at the back. Some were deformed in some way, like a wing was missing from their back, or they were missing a leg. The ponies dragged me out from the rocks and bandaged my wounds. There was one pony there that was particularity nice. It was a male, that had golden eyes. 

They were filled to the brim with happiness. He was the father of the filly you see. His name was Kirjec.” The harsh Mafrica word guttered out of Inkwell's throat with ease. “The ponies had me rest there for the night, while a group of them went to find the student. 

I had given them a description of what the student looked like. Kirjec had me lay down, and made me a meal, tomato basil soup and a cup of honey citrus tea. He explained the things that I didn't understand to me. They were a different kind of ponies that lived there in Mafrica. They were called changelings. 

They had a hive mother who looked after them all. She was the one who blessed each new changeling larave as it was born. She was herself, pregnant, just about to give birth. It was a momentous occasion for them. They needed to feed on love to survive, but if it was absolutely necessary they would eat pony food. 

It did, however give them indigestion. The nearby Mafrica natives, being zebras believed the ponies to be some sort of spirit, and would allow them to feed upon their love. In return, the changelings protected them from the creatures in the forest. Kirjec's filly was named, Sunlight Sparkle. She was a very trusting filly. 

Loved to give hugs. I found that out once she woke up, and saw me. Kirjec had to tell her to soften her grip. Her father cared for her very much. Her mother had died from an illness long ago, and left the filly to him to take care of.” 

Here Inkwell paused in order to eat a few spoonfuls of her soup. “The hive mother went into labor that night. All the females had gone away to look for the student. The males insisted that they could not help her. So I volunteered to help, despite my injuries. 

Luckily for us, the females had left herbs near the hive mother's chambers in case she did go into labor. I mixed the broth myself with Kirjec giving me advice through the door. I delivered a tiny hive mother larave into the world near morning. She was very small, but also cute in a way. The hive mother was immensely grateful to me. 

They could of lost the little one had there been no female to help. The males were not trained in childbirth. They named the little one, Dream Catcher. She had orange eyes. Orange as the sunset. 

After the night had passed, Kirjec's sister in law brought the student. She had been under a tree during the night. They gave us directions to the camp, and made sure we got there safely. Little Sunlight Sparkle gave me this necklace.” Inkwell touched again with her hoof. 

"Long story short, those changelings helped a one eyed mare, and a student who was lost. My point is that changelings are not as much of a threat as you think." Fleur de Lis snorted. "Really? I was attacked by a changeling and it was awful." 

Inkwell swiveled her one eye to Fleur de Lis. "How awful was it? What was your worst injury?" Fleur de Lis cocked her head on thought. "...A headache." 

She said finally. Inkwell nodded. "The changelings could of very well taken you off to their hive and kept you like one would a pig." Fancy Pants winched. "But really what difference is it than us taking a real pig and keeping it in an in enclosure? 

For pigs have just as much intelligence as us, yet they don't speak in the same language. Unless of course." She smirked. "It's a mechanical pig. Then they can understand you just fine." 

Princess Luna's head was turned to the ceiling in thought. "So, some changelings think that we are nothing more than a food source, and should be treated as such?" Inkwell bowed her head. "Yes, some do, some don't. It is the same with animals. 

Some ponies care about them. And some don't. In the ancient times, the tribes would give the ponies that were to them, not quite right in mind or body to those changeling gives that treated ponies as such. In return, the changelings spied for them. Changelings, for all their abilities to hide were rather weak normally.” 

Inkwell sighed, and a tear leaked out of her eye. “...I saw Kirjec today.” The four ponies stared at her with rapt attention. “It was during the blast of love that I saw him. He was flying through the air with a little filly clutched tightly to his chest. 

He had the same golden colored eyes. But this time…They were filled to the brim with sadness…” The silence that filled the table felt like it should not be shattered. But one cannot stop a waiter, upon seeing Inkwell to wince, not see where he was going and crash into another, sending a pitcher of wine straight onto Princess Celestia.