//------------------------------// // First Impressions // Story: Starlight Glimmer: Subject Stealing, Undeserving, Soon To Be Destroyed, Queen of MY Changelings // by Dr Atlas //------------------------------// “Are we there yet?” With his head high, Phil pointed ahead. “Horsy ville should be just half a mile away.” “Ponyville.” Starlight corrected. The bug tilted his head. “Isn’t that what I said?” Starlight rolled her eyes and continued walking along the path in the forest. “Listen, Phil, I’m glad you’re letting me do this, but you guys really need to know more about ponies if you wanna make peace with them, specifically the names of where they live.” Phil crossed his front legs and flew in the air. “Well, if they didn’t have such weird towns and names, maybe we’d know more about them, even your names are hard to remember.” Starlight wasn’t sure how that was even possible, to her, the changeling’s names were way stranger than her’s. “What makes you say that?” Phil shrugged. “Well, yours kinda sounds like that other pony who was on the list, sun...sun sea...shim...shimmery?” Phil started spacing out. “How the heck did we pronounce it?” Even Starlight didn’t know. “I’m pretty sure a name like Starlight Glimmer-” “Sunset Shining!” Phil yelled before looking back down. “No..wait...maybe it was Starset Shimmer...or...Twilight spinner?...Sunlight Glimming Shimlight?” He started going crossed eyed. “Wait...isn’t that that purple ponies name…?” Starlight shook her head, having no idea who he was talking about. “Now you’re just mixing names.” Phil stopped thinking and shrugged. “Eh..all we know is that she got lost somewhere in a portal...at least, we think she’s still lost…” Starlight groaned and thought about changing the subject, not even wanting to know who he was talking about. “Maybe there’s something else you can talk about...like, maybe you can explain why you knocked me out last night.” Phil landed on the ground and looked away. “Uh...yeah, about that...w-we thought that you’d probably scream and run away if you saw what we looked like...so, Stan, Twig, and Carson decided to play it safe and apply a light aesthetic to you.” He smiled, hoping Starlight would do the same. In the end, Starlight sighed and continued walking. “Listen, next time you meet a pony, don’t ponynap them, okay?” “But pony napping is what we do best! Right next to espionage, shape shifting, and singing.” “Singing?” Phil nodded. “Yeah, our song would’ve been pretty nice...if only he had the lyrics down…” Starlight was rather surprised. “You guy’s can sing?” Phil felt a big offended by the question. “Of course we can sing. What, it’s not like you ponies don’t do the same thing. You wouldn’t believe how hard it is to pull off a song for us...but nooooo, ponies only need seconds for them to sing an entire chorus.” Starlight started keeping her distance the more he talked. “Uh...well, ponies are usually like that, it’s just another thing you guys need to know about-” “I know...I know...we need to be….friends with ponies…” “Why do you say it like that?” Starlight asked. “What’s wrong with having friends?” Phil sighed. “It’s not about being friends, it’s about being friends with ponies, no offence, Queen, but ponies aren’t really the type of animal that most other creatures get along with.” “What are you talking about? What other creatures?” Phil scratched the back of his neck. “Well...uh, the rough majority...ya know, diamond dogs, hydras, dragons, woodwolves...the only thing they like about you is your taste.” Starlight blinked. “T-Taste?” Phil nodded. “Yup, that’s pretty much the only thing they like about you ponies, and that’s saying a lot since their own kind doesn’t get along that well.” “Does that go the same for changelings?” Phil held his head high in pride. “Yup,  we hate each other, but we hate as siblings, so it’s normal, correct?” “Wha...That’s...It’s not, uh, it can’t...it’s…” Starlight was sure that no matter what she said, he wouldn’t understand. “Let’s just...keep going, okay?” “But there’s so much more we can talk about! Like...uh...” Phil started smiling, knowing the perfect question to ask. “When did ya start?” “Huh?” Phil nudged her. “You know, when did you start being evil, cruel, nasty, horrible, monstrous...” Starlight pushed him away. “I DON’T...wanna talk about it…” “Aw, come on!” Phil flew above her. “Don’t leave me hanging!” Starlight sighed and looked away. “I was young, I had a friend, he had a cutie mark before I did, I got mad-” “You turned evil over that!?” Phil laughed before clapping. “Bravo! And I thought the queen seeing her mother die by the hooves of ponies when she was a hatchling was good.” “It wasn’t just that! It was-” Starlight then realized what he said afterward. “W-Wait...w-why did your queen-” “HERE WE ARE!” Starlight almost hit the sign to Ponyville as Phil pointed forward. “Wow...that was fast.” She said. “It’s always fast when you make conversation.” He started walking again and disguised as a random pony, knowing he would have to blend in for a bit. “Why do you think I wanted to keep talking?” Starlight shook her, but laughed. “Right...Come on, her home’s-” “I know where it is.” Phil stated, Starlight raising an eye seconds later. “What? You act like it’s a bad thing.” Starlight couldn’t believe this. “Okay, where is it?” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ “Here’s the place!” Phil smiled and held his head high as the two of them stood in front of Twilight’s castle. Starlight was both amazed and concerned by how fast he found her home. “Uh...how long have you known about this?” He turned to her. “For one thing, it stands out like a huge hole in a hoof, and second, we’ve scouted this place out way too many times for us to count. From our reports, there’s about one hundred and fifty two ways to attack this thing, the first twenty involving the front door.” “If you know how to attack it, then why didn’t you...attack?” “Um...w-whehehell...uh…” He scuffed the floor. “All the ways usually involved things that we don’t have...such as powerful magic or a leader who knows how to...well...lead.” He turned forward. “All thanks to that mare and her-” Starlight stepped in front of him. “Look, just...just stay calm, okay. When I saw her a second time, I was pretty furious too, so just stay back and let me talk for a bit, alright?” Phil grumbled to himself, but nodded, knowing he, and his brothers, had to let go of this grudge in order for this to work. “Fine.” Starlight smiled and turned forward, lighting up her horn and opening the door. “Uh...h-how about you...k-keep your disguise for a little bit longer, okay?” Phil knew what she was talking about. “Yeah, don’t want the pretty little princess from screaming at a monster like me…” He looked away, only for Starlight to make him face her again with her hoof. “Hey, cheer up...Soon, you won’t even have to disguise anymore. Things will change, I promise.” Phil chuckled. “As we bug's say…’the time's are a changeling’ And I guess it’s time it does.” Starlight nodded and walked inside, the Changeling following close behind. “Now then, where would she-” “Starlight! I was wondering where you were!” Both bug and mare jumped once they saw Twilight running up to them, a pile of books in get magical grip. “I haven’t seen you all day. Where were you?” Starlight tried her best to smile, but she could feel the uneasy presence of the disguised bug behind her. “Uh...y-yeah. I was, um...doing things here and there.” “What ‘things’?” Twilight tilted her head, seeing a pony behind her. “And, uh, who’s that?” “Someone I’m sure you remember!” Phil yelled. Twilight stepped back, a bit shocked by the ponies harsh tone. “What?” Starlight laughed nervously. “Twilight, uh...y-you remember your brother’s wedding, right?” Twilight tilted her head, wonder why she would ask this question. “Uh...yeah, I remember it...Why?” Starlight gulped, hearing Phil gritting his teeth. “Uh...a-and you remember what happened during it, right?” Twilight crossed her hooves. “Oh, yes, I remember an entire swarm of changelings coming in and almost ruining it, not to mention a queen that tricked my friends into thinking I was a jerk, but at least Pinkie got a lingfriend out of it...why do you ask?” Starlight’s bit her lip. “W-Well, uh...s-someone wants to talk to you about-” “YOU QUEEN KILLER!” Phil shoved Starlight out of the way and charged toward Twilight, only for Starlight to hold him back with her magic. Twilight let go of the stacks of books and raised a hoof to her chest defensively while Starlight struggled to keep him out of hooves reach to Twilight “You really need to work on first impressions.” Starlight said, managing to place him behind her again. “What’s with your new friend?” Twilight asked, trying her best to stack the works of literature around her. “He’s not a- Uh...he’s actually..uh, h-he’s…” Starlight sighed and flared up her horn, forcing Phil out of his disguise. She stepped back and presented and slightly disoriented bug to Twilight, her jaw to the floor. “He’s this…” Twilight gasped, never thinking she’d see this day come. “A-A changeling!?” Phil’s eyes continued to roll until he shook his head. “No...it’s another creatures who feeds on love, shapeshifts into ponies, and is hated by almost every-” “Phil!” Starlight pushed him out of the way. “W-Why don’t you just sit here while me and Twilight talk, can you do that?” Phil would’ve objected, but he knew if he went continued, it would only make it worse, so, he sat down and crossed his front legs, looking away from the mares. “Take all the time you need, queen...” “Queen?” Twilight said in an even more confusing tone. Starlight sighed and placed her foreleg on Twilight, walking both of them farther away from the bug until they were out of earshot. “Listen to me, Twilight. I know this is kinda confusing right now, but the first thing you need to know is that they’re...not really much of a threat right now.” “Is this where you’ve been;” Twilight pointed at Phil, who was looking around the castle in both disgust and amazement. “talking to those...things?” “Come on, Twilight, you still don't have a grudge against them, do you?” Twilight shook her head. “It’s not about having a grudge, Starlight, it’s about what they’ve done and what they are doing and what they intend to do!” She went eye to eye with Starlight. “Changelings are one of the most cunning and notorious creatures out there. Their shapeshifting abilities allow them to infiltrate anything, anywhere, anytime! There could be a bug hiding somewhere this very second!” “Twilight, if you can forgive me, then you can forgive them, right?” “Starlight, look at him!” They both turned to the changeling, who was currently scratching his ear with his back leg like a dog. “Do you know how hard it’ll be to bring them into our society after the things they’ve done?” “I-It can’t be that hard, we’ve accepted tons of creatures into our society.” “Yes, but they are all across Equestria and they’re usually nowhere near us.” “But we’re friends with them, right?” Twilight looked back and forth. “Uh...y-yeah, of course we are...but we’re talking about changelings!” “Twilight, if one changeling can be a friend, then so can they.” “But that’s about Pinkie. What about everyone else?” “The changelings don’t really have a choice, Twilight. Their queen’s not really...with them anymore…” Twilight noticed the look she was giving her, having a rough idea as to what she meant. “Y-You’re saying that Chrysalis is...i-is-” “I don’t know.” Starlight answered. “All I know is that they’ve been by themselves ever since the attack and the only reason why they haven’t done anything is because they didn’t have a leader.” Twilight sighed. “Well, it’s good that they have been away, it would’ve been horrible for them to return, especially after Flurry Heart being born.” “Who?” Phil asked Both mares turned to Phil, Twilight lifting a book from the pile to his face in seconds. “No one...J-Just read this for a sec.” She said before turning back to Starlight. “This is a big deal, Starlight, you can’t just let them in and expect peace with ponies in seconds.” “But you’ve done it before. What about Discord?” Starlight shifted her eyes before whispering. “Title drop…” “He usually stays away from ponies...well, we try to make him stay away.” “And it’s good that you do.” Both mares jumped once Phil flew in between them, the book on his head. “That guy’s insane…” He landed and looked at Starlight. “To tell you the truth, if he was gonna be our ruler, it wouldn’t go so well…” Twilight raised an eye. “What makes you say that?” “Do you know what he does?” Phil started shaking. “He can warp reality with a flick of his tail, he can shoot laser beams out his eyes, he can throw things and make them explode on impact, and he talks weird! H-He’s like that force of teens that were hungry...in the water.” “The what?” “Phil…” Starlight pushed him away again. “Can you please let me...actually…” She pushed him in front of Twilight. “Maybe it’s time you talk about this, Phil. She’ll understand it better coming from you.” Starlight gave him a slight shove and stepped back, waiting for him to talk, but all he did is look down in anger, not even wanting to look at Twilight. “Go ahead, Phil.” Twilight was a bit hesitant as well, but after everything Starlight told her so far, these creatures didn’t seem that hostile, so, she sat down and smiled. “Uh...y-yeah, changeling, tell me about what’s going on.” Phil sighed. “So...a-anyway, like our queen was saying, we’ve been by ourselves for a while, and we tried finding other rulers over the past year...but it would seem that you dealt with every single one we found.” He glared at her. “From that unoriginal king to that towering centar, you took them away from us before we even had a chance to talk to them.” Twilight craned her neck to Starlight. “And She was your last pick?” Phil turned to his queen and smiled. “Not only that, but she did it better than the other foes you faced...I-I mean, messing with timelines! How can you outdo that?” Starlight stepped in between the two of them. “Um...P-Phil, I think she-” “And that evil smirk she had on her face the whole time.” Phil closed his eyes and held up his hooves. “It was just perfect.” “Phil…” “And when she went all the way back to stop you elements from becoming friends instead of fighting you head on! WOW! We never would’ve thought of-” “PHIL!” Starlight grabbed him with her magic and brought his face inches away from her’s. “That’s enough…” Phil smiled. “SEE! She even has the best angry face too!” He turned to Twilight. “Either you ponies are very forgiving or just plain stupid if you think she could ever be refo-” Starlight literally zipped his lips with her magic, glaring at him. “As your queen, I command you to be QUIET!” She yelled, a vein appearing on her neck. The room froze for a bit until Starlight regained her composure, sighing and looking back at Twilight. “So, Twilight, what do you say?” Twilight looked at her and the changeling, who was struggling to get the zipper off him. “Well...I guess we should give them a chance...but I’m just worried about the other ponies. Everyone in Equestria knows about these guys and what they do, it’s not gonna be easy for all of them to just shake hoofs and be nice to one another.” “Hmm mhmh mhphmhmh hm?” “What?” Twilight said, unzipping his mouth with her magic. Phil breathed and said. “I said that it shouldn't be that hard, I’m sure it’s been done tons of times in other places, and I’m sure if we all tell them the situation the ponies will understand. That’s how it usually works with us…” He looked around the room and noticed a lamp standing in the corner. “Hey, cool, the lampshades already set up.” Starlight was still worried. “Look, Phil, I’m glad you’re wanting to do this with me, but it’s gonna take a lot more than that to have everyone forgive you.” Phil tilted his head. “Why do you say that? Are you still doing stuff so Twilight and her friends can forgive you of all the nasty, cruel, terrible-” His lips were zipped up again, this time by Twilight. Starlight raised an eye at this while Twilight cleared her throat. “He’s right, Starlight, this will take some time, but lucky for you, it shouldn't be too hard for me to figure this out!” With a determined face, Twilight levitated some books around her. “First we need to set up the treaty, then schedule the times to meet between me and the queen, which is you, then the laws of peace, how we go about getting food for you guys, and how we-” Starlight slapped a book out of her view and said, “For the last time, I’m not going to be their queen!” Twilight set the books down. “If you’re not gonna, then who is?” *SLAM* “WHERE IS SHE!?”