My Little Changeling -- "I" is Magic

by Wing Dancer

I, Changeling

The sun’s heat made the air quiver. Underneath its unyielding gaze lay a wide canyon, riddled with holes and jagged rocks. A silent shuffling noise constantly echoed back and forth, betraying signs of life in this forsaken place. Pitch black chitin bodies moved in the darkness, accompanied by snickering and sickly, buggish cackling. As wide and long the canyon, it was home to one of the most terrifying creatures in the lands – the Changelings.

As large as a regular pony, these creatures were covered head to hoof in a thick chitin plate; with a twisted horn and insectoid wings to complete the picture, they were a horror to behold. Their pale blue eyes always darted about, looking for food and victims to take advantage of. All of a single mind, controlled by the ominous presence of their Queen, the changelings inhabited the northern lands where nopony dared to venture. It was a hot climate, the sparse amounts of water available indifferent to the monsters. They didn’t feel or want, think or need. They served their Queen without question, as they knew nothing else. In their natural state, they were nothing more than mere animals, acting on instinct. Well, at least most of them.

* * *

In one of the many caves in the canyon side there lived a changeling like no other. Its hooves tucked beneath it, it stared down into an item resembling…a book. In fact, it was a book. Changelings didn’t understand words or concepts, but this particular creature tried anyway. The pretty symbols it saw meant nothing to it, but it somehow felt compelled to stare down the book, gently flipping pages with its magic from time to time. That compelling feeling was one of the many strange changes the changeling underwent just a few days ago.

When a changeling was born, it had to mature really fast. The hostile environment and ever-present will of the Queen quickly turned the new-born into an adult, a deadly servant to her powerful mind. The changeling occupied with reading the book was no different. The thing that set it apart from his brothers and sisters was…hard to describe. The young one didn’t know many words yet (having learned what a word is not that long ago, and having understood what learning is, and having grasped what understanding is…you get the idea), so it could only feel it as a sort of spark. Or a cold pebble, lodged somewhere in the back of its head. That tiny thing existed outside the changeling hive mind – it felt as if a single body housed two different worlds. One, in which only the will of the queen was known and the senses of his siblings were around and within him, and another, which was…empty. The concept of solitude or individualism was unimaginable to any changeling, should they have the capacity to imagine. But to this one, it was real, and somehow it felt good. The whole idea of feeling anything that wasn’t felt by each and every of its brothers and sisters was fascinating. So many words and concepts!

The book was a phenomenon in itself for the changeling. Under normal circumstances, it would have already been torn to pieces. But that spark, that cold pebble that seemed to have a mind of its own, compelled the beast to put it down, open, and stare. Against all odds, the meaning of words and illustrations seeped through to the mind of the changeling. It understood it was reading, but it didn’t know what was in the text. Fortunately, the creature wasn't yet able to grasp this unworldly paradox that would have put many ponies into a dazzle. It was reading. It was learning. And it “felt” good.

Many a time the changeling tried to share this experience with the hive. It soon discovered that there was no way to do so – the rest of the hive did not operate on images or sounds or anything else. There was a single mind, which he knew and was part of, and that mind was in no way similar to his unique spark. A kind of fear prevented the changeling from being too intrusive into his siblings' thoughts – the looming presence of the queen wasn’t threatening, but it wasn’t kind either. Once the changeling understood what an “idea” was, it found it a good one not to be overly visible or out and about its special, um, situation.

* * *

The book closed with a snap and the changeling stood up. Physically it didn’t differ from the millions of its brothers and sisters (gender being hardly distinguishable anyway), but there was something about the way the changeling looked at things that hinted at there being something more to him. Maybe, somehow, that spark reflected in the beast’s eyes?

The hive mind was buzzing as always, and the changeling found it desirable to step out – as he did so, he saw others do the same. A subtle suggestion from their queen pushed the species into stretching their wings and exercising outside. Some of the creatures started rolling down, fighting each other for practice; others darted around, chasing some invisible foe. The spark bearer felt conflicted. It was always like that when the Queen “spoke” – on one side, he obeyed, while on the other, his mind wanted to do something else. It was a miracle the conflict didn’t hurt the changeling – in the end, the stronger suggestion prevailed, and in this case the Queen didn’t exert her power forcefully enough. So the changeling went on a stroll. To think.

Thinking was a magnificent thing to experience. It felt like reading, but there were no silly symbols – at least not in plain sight. The words and images were inside. The changeling felt that if it closed its eyes, it could see them as plain as day. That never really worked, and many times made it bump into other angry changelings. During one such thinking session, the changeling decided to give itself a title – each book he mowed down had one, etched in all sorts of colors on the spine. He gave himself the title of Chip, thus probably being the very first changeling minion to be creative. And have a title.

Chip walked slowly, trying to find a sweet spot of focus between the hive mind and his “personality”, if that was the proper word for it. He was aware just enough not to bump into anything, but far enough gone in his “thoughts” to feel pleasure. It wasn’t the kind of pleasure the changelings liked to consume – it didn’t have a taste or smell. It just was, inside him. Many times he wondered if that is how emotions were felt within their victims. If so, taking them away left… nothing. Chip knew he would have his hive mind to retreat to, should his spark ever fade…but the thought of losing it felt non-pleasurable. He grew accustomed to his gift, having abandoned trying to bang it out of his head against a wall long ago.

* * *

The contemplation of his existence – the second, independent one – was brought to a closure by a wall applied to his face. Chip got too consumed by his spark (one would say, as always) and didn’t see where he was going. As he focused back to the senses of his body and the bodies of others, a terrible realization came upon him – he somehow managed to venture to the far north corner of the canyon. This part was shaded from the sun, green goo thickly covering the walls. It was the one place where changelings did not venture unless summoned. For in the dark depths lay the lair of their Queen – Chrysalis.

Comments

[DarkPinkie]

Wait a moment... He is free from the forceful hivemind because he is baindamaged?

IMOKWITHTHIS.JPG

[Cyberfire22]

Hmmm... this looks interesting. I think I'll give this a read

[StatusQo]

'a cold pebble, lodged somewhere in the back of its head' a brain tumor?

[Hazel]

Ohhh, a must read

[Auryx Saturnius]

"BUT YOU ARE BORG"
startrek.com/legacy_media/images/200509/ds9-401-locutus-at-wolf359-02/320x240.jpg

[jaked122]

981617
Nah, brain damage.

[Majk]

That's a very cool concept so far, something a bit different from all the Ham&cheese poor broken after the wedding changeling stories

[Mazamba]

Love the Asimov reference

[MidnightBlaze]

this is good do far, looking forward to see where it goes

[Magical Trevor]

Resistance is NOT futile?! BLASPHEMY! I... You... But...

...

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[Undead_Non-Brony]

994603 assimilate.

[DreamWings]

Finally. I got round to reading this... And conclusion- I'm glad I read it. I really like this. It's just... Wow.

Will definitely have to read and see what happens to Chip.

[MissytheAngle]

Perhaps it's time I start with my thoughts, and what better with the very beginning?

The concept itself is very interesting, and this start to it is just great, in my mind. I love how he basically has two minds, battling it out as to which one to have. To have a dependent changeling mind is also a nice touch, proves just how much power Chrysalis has over her citizens. She is in full control of them... except for, some moments, the Changeling who found the name Chip. And you ACTUALLY give us a reason as to WHY he's different. Brilliant! Also, I wonder how that name came up, but really, it's like giving a name to a puppy; it just comes to you.

Overall, I was glad I came across this story, but if only I came across this earlier so I can say I was finished by this time. When school's over next week, I really should plan a whole day of reading fanfiction here that I have yet to read. Anyway, back to my review, although at this point, I don't feel there is much to say. I really enjoy this story as a whole, really; and unless I reread a part and see something wrong, I don't have anything necessarily strongly negative enough to point out. I guess my only problem is that a lot of this is “show, don't tell,” but after thinking it over, you can't really do anything here. The Changelings' minds are so simple and lacking in much intelligence of their own, that you can't do much with them to add interaction to the story while making it interesting. At least, that's how I see it.

There is this, however, some things I'd like to point out:

Fortunately, the creature didn’t yet have the capacity to grasp this unworldly paradox that would put many ponies into a dazzle.

I could either be dumb as rocks (because I've considered that aplenty), or this sentence stands out in a bad way, meaning that I find the wording really awkward. What does this mean?

The young one didn’t know many words yet (having learned what a word is not that long ago, and having understood what learning is, and having grasped what understanding is… You get the idea),

I feel this part is very messily brought out, especially the words in parenthesis, as I pointed out in bold. I wish I could explain well enough, but it is just very strangely worded in a way that I can't really put in words. Also, having and twice in there is not necessary. Perhaps you mean:

The young one didn’t know many words yet, having learned what a word is not that long ago; as well as having understood what learning is, having grasped what understanding is… You get the idea.

Looking back at it, perhaps it wasn't that bad, but I feel that this change makes it a bit better. I think maybe just the parenthesis was what got me. They could just easily be taken out, because it is something important to keep in mind about the character, rather than a random piece of information.

... having grown out of trying and banging it out of his head against a wall.

A better way to phrase this would be:

... having grown out of trying to bang it out of his head against a wall.

And just a few small things I could not help but point out—as I said, nothing too significant, but still, something I wanted to mention

quickly turns the new-born into an adult,

Newborn is only one word; no hyphen is needed.

A kind of fear prevented the changeling from being too intrusive into his sibling’s thoughts –

Since he has more than one sibling, it should be siblings'.

That's all I really have to say here. I probably won't do this for every chapter (60 chapters? Dear Celestia, it sounds like a nice challenge, and I'd love to try that, but I also have school and work, etc, to work on as well.), but this is pretty much what I go through. I'm not too picky in terms of anything minus any glaring errors except for simple things like grammar, but I hope this helped nonetheless.

[Morphile]

Either that,965810, or he is evolved/mutated. There is no difference in most contexts, including this one.

[Kenny]

That Star Trek reference in the first chapter.

I'll read it only for that.

[Wing Dancer]

4765401
Huh? It might've been accidental, as 2 years ago I haven't seen any episode I believe

[Pickleless]

So I caught up all the stories I've been reading and needed something new. Thought to myself "Hey, Sight and Wing write stories!" Saw this and the amount of chapters and instantly thought "Jackpot!" Can't wait to get all caught up and suffer from archive binging.

Since I always get pleasant little tingles from someone telling me how they felt about a part in the comments, I've decided to make a comment on each chapter over something grabbed me. Sorta as a way of saying "Thanks for editing my shitty written chapters with a good attitude!" You and Piercing have been a treasure.

Personality is a good choice for the development of sapience. Since PSYC 101 I've a always liked the word psyche to describe that unique thing that makes us what we are. Personality is good choice though because it's a lot more used by modern day people, easier to understand and use.

Onwards to chapter 2! Looking forward to journey this will take me on.

[ViktornovaMk2]

Hopefully, whenever he goes out for a stroll, he never runs into a rather tall, pasty, humanoid, wearing a lot of red and black!

[fractalman]

He grew accustomed to his gift, having abandoned trying to bang it out of his head against a wall long ago.

[verypeeved]

*sees the number of chapters*
it's an era, all right

[Camolot the Creator]

6851152
I KNOW!

[llacson]

Parece abandonado pero casi no hay historias largar de este tipo

[tsaukpaetra]

Aberration detected.