Picture yourself in boat on a river...
A bug was in Princess Pipp's room. She had chosen to ignore it.
"You want a pedicure brush with rough bristles," Pipp demonstrated to her webcam. "Can everypony see the one I'm holding up? This is your standard, la-dee-dah workhorse brush." She waited a moment for the live feedback to fill with affirmatives.
PwnPone : Yee I see it
Farrier_Fairy : 👀😁👀😁👀
ZweetieB3lle : We can see the hoof brush ay okay, Princess! 💅🖌
Twiggie_Stardust : Um I think there's a fly buzzing around Pipp's room or soemthing
DatBit : Brush brush brush! (Sweep sweep sweep!) 😅
"Gotcha. Lemme just hold it here til we autofocus... ah! There we go. So like, you can score a brush like this from pretty much any cornershop for... oh I dunno, two-and-a-quarter Bits at max. No need to buy something expensive and name brand, but I mean, if you do.... Canterlogic is a big sponsor of the channel. Just so you all know."
The live chat scrolled on and on, mostly emoticon spam and good-humored jabs at Pipp calling her a shill. She giggled coyly, eliciting even more emotes and spam. Attention was fuel for Pipp Petals. Nourishment for her body and soul. She savored the taste.
"Right-o, so like I was saying, we're all flying a lot these days, so you might be thinking 'I don't need to brush down my hooves if I'm not walking on them as much.' Well let me tell you, My Little Ponies, that's a bad habit to get into. Your cuticles still need love! Can I get some love in the chat, Pippsqueaks?"
Twiggie_Stardust : Serioulsy, how has nopony else noticed that gross bug?
PwnPone : Lovey!😍
4 da Pippcess!
Farrier_Fairy : Luvvvvvvvvv
ZweetieB3lle : Lovey lovey
KungPalomino: huh Twigs right that bug is crawling on the back wall now
v_Windigo_Stan_v : 💕
DatBit : Heartmoji
DatBit : Heart moji
DatBit : How do I mote??? ??
v_Windigo_Stan_v : PUt a colon on both sides.
DatBit :
DatBit :
Pipp focused on the pink shapes and did her best to ignore the off-topic comments. Those stray ones upset her stomach.
"Uh... so... ahem!, sorry. See, you want... you want to hold your forehoof like this," Pipp directed her attention to the brush in her grip and the ankle it was angled against. It gave her an excuse to not look at the chat. "You want to take the bristles and brush down not up. Am I coming through, Pippsqueaks? If you leave dirt in your cuticles for more than a day, it'll get yucky and itchy. Or worse. Infected. Trust me, it can get bad if you leave it. I know."
Dig. Thrash. Tear at the loam with weary forelimbs like an animal. She was feral. Roiling. Crazed with hunger but still lucid enough to feel ashamed of her wretched state.
Dirt caked her psuedohooves. Made them heavy. Clumsy. The clingy muck was almost too much for her weak frame to tolerate, but still she dug. She dug and dug in the filthy earth.
No magic. No food. She was too starving to even drool, but still she dug and dug. Survival instincts screamed wordlessly in her head that if she didn't burrow, if didn't hibernate now - right now! - her body would shut down and die.
Gods a'slain, there was no food. No magic. No food no food no food no food...
Pipp's ears were ringing, so she shook her head to clear them.
"I...um..."
She shook her head again and then double checked her eyes in the facecam.
Still green. Still steady. That bout just now had been a bad one.
"You want to brush your hooves free of dirt everyday," Pipp slurred before clearing her throat. "But I said that already. Didn't I say that already, chat?"
Salt Licc : EW IT’S FLYING AGAIN
ZweetieB3lle : For teh love of Faust Pipp don't let that disgusting thing land in your hair
PwnPone : 🐞🐞🐞🐞🐞🐞🐞🤢
KungPalomino: Pipp PLEASE do something sbout that bug!!!
Farrier_Fairy : AAAAAAAAAA
Pipp Petals, second in line for the throne of Zephyr Heights, groaned in marked frustration. How come her viewers had such short attention spans? Couldn't they just let that poor bug be?
No, of course not. That was just how ponies were.
Pipp pushed back from her computer, grabbing the plastic baggie she used to store her hoofbrush.
The pitiful bug, the one ruining her night without trying, kept bonking its tiny head against Pipp's ceiling light again and again. Pipp was too far away to read the chat, but they were cheering her on. She could taste their warped excitement from here.
First, silence and dark. Then noise and light. Disturbance. Had she not burrowed deep enough? No, she was far underground. That much was certain. In the dirt, in the Earth, beneath the city. So what was that young pegasus doing here? A flying Pony... deep underground... she groaned in marked frustration. Hibernating had caused grogginess. So had being roused when there was still no magic.
Still no magic. But somehow, joyously, there was food. How? How with no magic was the taste of food coming off the pegasus?
"Is somepony here? This is my basement! My new clubhouse! I order you, as Princess of Zephyr Heights, to come out!"
The reawakened Changeling could taste that feisty white pegasus foal stomping closer. Food. But no magic. No magic outside of the very last reserves in her body that kept her alive. She had to shapeshift quickly. Probably permanently.
Food....
No, focus!
Change to something. But what? Another pegasus foal? Yes. Change now. The feisty foal is almost on top of you, so change now. Now!
How fluffy are pegasus wings supposed to be again?
No time! Guess! Very fluffy! Change NOW!
Pipp bagged the bug in a hoofheld plastic prison. She held her prize up to the webcam and allowed a coquette wink.
"Cat's safely in the bag, Pippsqueaks."
The chat's praise was rapturous.
ZweetieB3lle : Pipp Petals, Warrior Pricness!
v_Windigo_Stan_v : dum***k bug get **** on!
PwnPone : You deserve myusername more than me, girl!
Salt Licc : 🕸🐞🕸 😉
Twiggie_Stardust : Hey are Pipp's eyes a different color noiw?
That last comment made Pipp flinch. Her other monitor, the one with the facecam feed, stared back at her like a cornered imposter caught with its mask down.
Farrier_Fairy : whoa yeah. How come now Pipps eyes are browm?
"Aha! Found ya! Now who in Tartarus are you?"
Hungry.
"Whatcha doin' in the royal basement?"
The pegasus foal radiated a cocktail of bluster, curiosity, and excitement. The taste was bitter and cacophanous, but the ex-Changeling wasn't picky. She swallowed as much of it as she could.
"Are you a trespa- a trepspass... a trepasserer? If you're not a member of the royal family like me then you're a trepasser! And you aren't a member of the Royal Family! Are you punk?"
Still. So. Hungry.
"I said ARE you?"
Wasn't paying attention. No clue what was just asked. Guess an answer.
"Um.. yes?"
"Nu uh! You're a liar!"
Feisty foal was barely visible now. Her emotions were a tidal wave of fury at the transparent lie. Her taste was scalding, oily, and churning. The starving ex-Changeling gulped it all down.
"You're not... are... wait... what was I..." The feisty foal blinked with with befuddlement. Wasn't she angry about something just now? She wasn't anymore. It was like all her skepticism had been scooped out with a spoon.
"You're... Royal Family? Like, MY Royal Family?"
The ex-Changeling didn't hear the question. Overeating made her double over in nauseous pain. Still, she nodded. Maybe if she just kept nodding at everything that was said, the white pegasus wouldn't hurt her.
"That makes sens... I mean, it FEELS to me like you're telling the truth... we should... uh... go see mom! Yeah! You said you're family, so c'mon! Lets go upstairs and see mom."
Pipp was panicking. She'd lost focus, let her eyes waver, and someone had noticed. Chat charged relentlessly forward while her terrified mind raced for an excuse.
DatBit : What the buck ?? howd her color change?
v_Windigo_Stan_v : No way the lighht change makes eyes go from green to brown
Twiggie_Stardust : 🍏 => 🍩 ??😱
v_Windigo_Stan_v : PIPP SUS?!?!?! 👽🤣🤣🤣
Twiggie_Stardust : I 👏cant 👏even 👏beleive wut Im seeing
Salt Licc : 🤔Maybe she's using a face filter thing the Snapchuff App is always promoting?
Pipp seized on that last one.
"Oh, derp! Looks like I accidentally turned on a Snapchuff filter. Lemme get that, Pippsqueaks." She tapped her webcam with a wing, obscuring the video feed for a moment. When she sat back, her breathing was still ragged, but at least her eyes were green again.
"Ah, technical difficulties. That's how it goes with live streams sometimes. You feelin' me here, chat?"
Chat was not feeling her. She certainly felt them though, bubbling with confusion and curiosity. Some users were typing questions: Where's the interface for the eye-change filter? Where did Pipp download it? Where can the average pony get the filter for their own devices?
Pipp of course didn't have any answers. She needed to regain the reins. Fix the mood.
Scrunching her muzzle, she put on her best pouty face.
"Aw, don't be so nosy, chat. Wasn't this stream supposed to be a make-up tutorial? Let's save computer stuff for another day."
Chat was scrolling slightly slower. Slightly.
"Hey, you guys have heard that new pop song, out right? Bet you can't finish the lyrics if I start them."
Big gamble here. Either she recaptured their attention or this was the beginning of the end.
"Picture yourself in a boat on a riiiiver... with tangerine trees and marmalade skies. Somepony calls you, you answer quite slowly...”
Pipp held her breath.
KungPalomino: The gal with kaleidescope eeeeeeyes!! 😝😝
PwnPone : The 👩 with kaleidescope 👀
Farrier_Fairy : That girl with colliderscope eeys!
ZweetieB3lle : THA GIRL WITH KALEDESCOPE EYES
Twiggie_Stardust : 🎤🙌The girl with kaleidoscope eyes
DatBit : da girl w/ kallidescope eyessssss
v_Windigo_Stan_v : The Girl With Kaleidescope eyes!
Salt Licc : a girl with kaleidescope eyes!
Oh sweet, nourishing relief. Pipp exhaled and flashed a winning smile.
"Top tier backup singing, chat. Don't think we'll top that anytime soon, so how 'bout we call it a night?"
Pipp's screen filled up with snoring faces, ZZZZZZZZZs, and goodbye waves. The feed finally cut once she blew her customary sign-off kiss to the camera.
Then Pipp wrapped her wings around herself, trembling with shame.
"Wires? With harnesses!? Mom, that's dishonest! We can't fly, and that’s scumbuck behavior to just PRETEND to be something we're not! Pipp, back me up here! We owe it to the public to be honest. Lying is the worst thing a Princess can possibly- Pipp? You okay? You look like you're about to cry."
The buzz of tired insect wings pulled Pipp back to the present. She rubbed her nose and noticed the fly she'd bagged earlier was still on her desk.
The bug flittered inside its transparent prison. The one Pipp had put it in. For sure the fly was an ugly little thing, but was being ugly such a crime? Even bugs deserved to live. It wasn't the fly's fault it had wandered in here. Into the line of sight of sight of ponies who couldn't stand to look at it. The bug was just unlucky. It wasn't a villain.
Was it?
Was it really such a sin to survive?
Pipp sniffled and picked up the baggie. Sensing movement of a much bigger creature, the fly buzzed with renewed prey instinct. Pipp bit her lip and headed for the window.
"Easy little guy," she cooed. "Easy. I'll let you go. Please don't be..." she swallowed a lump in her throat. "Please don't be afraid of me."
Pipp leaned over the window sill, shaking the baggie out. When she leaned back in, the fly was gone. Free.
"Good luck out there, little guy."
Pipp shut the blinds and stood alone in her room.
She couldn't keep doing this. Lying to her fans, to her friends. To her alleged 'family.'
All Pipp wanted at the beginning was to not starve. No magic meant no love, but there were other emotions to eat. Shortening her name to "Pipp", introducing herself as a princess, that generated plenty of skepticism and incredulity to feed on. It wasn't healthy, and it didn't have the same nutrients as love. But life as a short, stunted Pony was still life. Pipp gorged like a pig in her first few weeks, insisting she belonged in this castle then guzzling the disagreement of whoever objected. She'd been disgusting. Yet before long, her siphoning of Zipp and Queen Haven actually did persuade them she was one of their own. And truth be told, Pipp had nowhere to go and no ability to shapeshift anymore. Being 'one of their own' was all a former nymph like her had in this scary modern world.
Pipp eventually discovered social media. It was amazing, this portal to a realm where hundreds of ponies could love her. Encourage her. Tell her she wore a pretty face. Even if she couldn't taste love in a world without magic, she could read the words and believe she belonged.
Then came magic's return. And with it, powers Pipp no longer wanted.
It had started small, with the eyes. But Pipp's body was unraveling more and more each day. Changelings weren't built to hold disguises forever, and Pipp had lived longer as a Pony than she'd shambled as a insect. She was also tasting love again. Some from followers during her livestreams, but more - so much more- from Zipp and Haven.
If guilt could shatter exoskeletons, Pipp would be a smudge on the castle carpet.
"I'm not a villain," Pipp insisted to no one. She flopped on her bed and regarded the uncaring ceiling. "I'm a liar, but I'm not a villain. I... I helped save the world didn't I?"
Not really, no. Sunny, Izzy, that cute colt whom Sunny drove crazy, they had been then real heroes. For crying out loud, even Zipp had contributed more to saving magic than Pipp had. Pipp Petals, starlet of Zephyr Heights had just been a tagalong. A hanger-on.
A fly on the wall.
Pipp burrowed under her expensive, satin blankets. It was sort of like burrowing under the dirt, except she wouldn't sleep for thousands of years this time. She'd only sleep for one night. Morning would come, and with it, maybe the courage to make a long overdue confession.
Pipp was not a villain. Just a coward and a liar. But that could change. Pipp could change into anything she wanted now.
A bug was in Princess Pipp's room. She'd chosen to stop ignoring it.
“There is a face beneath this mask, but it isn't me.
I'm no more that face than I am the muscles beneath it,
or the bones beneath that.”
Eventually, I'll end up giving a vignette to each Gen 5 pony. So far, Pipp and Izzy are the first out of the gate.
Casketbase77 · 1.1k words · 386 5 · 4.4k views
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Aw, poor Pip...I like this theory though!
will you ever do a fic of pipp admitting to her family that she's a changeling
11204318
Probably. This is an entry in season two of the "Snippet Series," and the Season One Finale was a big crossover payoff for previous entries.
This fic will get followed up in the Season Two closer.
Solid story this. Very nicely done!
Of course, none of this is actual fact and just fandom nonsense. Good story at least.
11204380
Good old “Alt. Universe” tag is a free pass for fandom nonsense.
The girl with colitis goes by!
This could also be about someone with a psychological need for validation gathering the courage to admit to their friends and family how they feel, and finding a steadier source of support in their loved ones rather than relying on social media.
Holy shit, you carried through in less than a day. I seem to remember Cozy's Glowpinions taking you two years.
I'd ask about the specifics of absorbing love through Twitch Chat, but I'll assume the Kingdom Hearts method- she can do whatever she wants with it because it has the word 'Twitch' in it. Now there's only the question of why anyone would stan a wendigo.
-Pipp of Theseus, 2022
-My Immortal, 2006
Cinematic parallels.
It's a good day when ponies are acknowledged as in-universe stupid. It's a better day when another species has to deal with it.
So I guess animation errors are canon now. I love it.
11204607
Ayy, new profile pic. Snazzy.
Ah the wonders of modern technology. Truth be told, this story has more holes in it than a Changeling leg. Was Pipp the only Changeling to hibernate at the end of Gen 4? Or just the only one to survive? Much like Pipp fielding questions from her nosy followers, I got no answers. Such is the folly of a forty-eight hour fic.
Also, ponies aren’t necessarily stupid. Just innocent. Though those qualities tend to manifest in the same behaviors don’t they? It’s easy to stan a windigo when you’ve never actually met one.
I would so like a sequel for this one. Such a great story hook. The revelation will not be easy.
Interesting interpretation of Pipp's eye color changing, though the boring answer is that she wears differently colored contacts. She seems like the kind of pony to do that.
11204610
Always have been.
Man, this is an interesting read about a detail I never thought too much about! Grand way of putting it to words and it is very friggin' enjoyable! Super well done! Hope ya didn't mind, but I just had to make a reading of this sweet lil' fic of yours!
Audio Linkyloo!: https://youtu.be/bmN2EhkBTCs
The existence of that emoji raises some interesting historical questions.
Fascinating how Gen 5 breathes new life into old tropes. “X is a changeling” gets some fun new options now that we have new potential definitions for X. Thanks for demonstrating the point with a great bit if anxious drama.
11204972
The "Sassy White Unicorn" emote is based off some obscure vintage action figure that Princess Sunny owns. Popular with fillies. Not so much colts.
derpicdn.net/img/view/2021/10/7/2718736.gif
I think every Fimfiction author writes an "X is a Changeling" story at some point. This one is mine. Honestly kind of surprised it took me this long.
I’ve been waiting sooo long for someone giving Pipp some character, some backstory other than being an Addison Rae - made pony. This is perfect. Loved every second of it
This is an incredible fic! Animation errors are the best things to use as fic material
I say that like I've personally written an animation error fic. Which I have not. But either way, still true
11205134
I like to explain how little use I have for OCs by pointing out that I finagled the Alicorn of Death out of a background pony (Erroria, who is referred to as "Moonlight Pearl" in-fic for No More Heroes reasons and is pointedly not a princess for Terry Pratchett reasons).
11205197
Nice! Also yes, Erroria! Love her :D
I never noticed her inconsistent eye color in her official artwork, but you pulled everything together so well here. I really want to see this Pipp's story continue.
My OC Cassandra has eyes that change color.
11204380
Thanks for your much-needed input on this fanfiction.
Alternatively, her eyes change color because the creator children aren't following this instructional video:
This is an incredibly interesting explanation for her eyes changing color. Like I seriously think this might be a plausible headcanon now.
11205522
Good to know that they still can't be bothered to show the bare minimum of due diligence to continuity.
11204380
It's ALL fiction, and NONE of this is fact.
But fiction is what people come here for.
11204380
If you want stories with facts and no fandom nonsense then I suggest leaving Fimfiction.
Great pocket story, and looking forward to the next one in the series. Queueing up "This is how a Unicorn Thinks" right now :)
11206046
Especially the facts that prevent magical talking ponies from existing.
**********WARNING LOTS OF SPOILERS BELOW! **********
********** DON’T READ THIS COMMENT BEFORE YOU’VE FINISHED THE STORY **********
“X is actually a Changeling” is basically a classic. I’m surprise it took this long for someone to write a G5 story with this theme. I know of one where Argyle is a Changeling but in that story t’s just a Changeling pretending to be Sunny’s deceased father and not Argyle having been one all along.
Pipp is really bat at the advertising part of being a streamer. Then again, she’s Royalty, so why would she even need sponsors in the first place?
Considering Canterlogic’s other products, I would be worried that using this brush would make your fur fall off.
That went really dark really quick.
Was Zipp planning to invite others to her club or was this supposed to be a one pony thing?
Okay I guess Changeling can just do that now.
Thank god, her fanbase has the attention span of goldf…
The giiiiiiiiiirl with the kaleidescooooooope eeeeeeeeyes!
What we’re we talking about again? Oh, I think it was about that icky bug, right?
“Run and hide little guy. Ain’t your fault you’re a rat.”
That is an incredible powerful ability. Just imagine someone like Chryaslis being able to do that. Easiest invasion ever. Guess starving and almost dying makes you more powerful.
Also, wouldn’t she have to feast on basically everypony in Zephyr Heights for this to work? Because a young Princess suddenly popping up with no explanation whatsoever would be all over the news.
Yeah, you were just there because they needed a fifth mane character for their show.
Defiantly not a villain. She was just starving a wanted to survive. She didn’t even plan to become part of the Pegasi Royals.
I could see a potential follow-up where Pipp comes clean showing us the reactions from her family and fan base.
----------
Overall, I liked the story. Good characterization of Pipp. Although I’m not a fan of how she suddenly could do the things she did without any explanation. Feels like it only happened because otherwise the plot wouldn’t work.
What a twist on this phrase!
Sorry for the double-post.
11204482
Well, by analogy, but she has a PHYSIOLOGICAL, rather than just PSYCHOLOGICAL need for the affections of others. This might have increased since magic has returned.
Also, the story title isn't quite as direct a reference as I thought.
11206652
At least I know what to name the sequel.
This only occurred to me a full day after uploading, but "Imposter Syndrome" would have been a far better fic title.
11206550
Yeah, I said in an earlier comment that this story has more holes in it than a Changeling leg. Perhaps if you really stretched your suspension of disbelief, you can imagine Queen Haven revealing her new daughter and the rest of Zephyr Heights just shrugging and accepting she'd kept the kid private until Pipp was of proper age. These are the same citizens who are distracted by Pipp singing pop lyrics, and Epiproct was barely older than a toddler when she assumed her pony disguise.
Regarding other plot contrivances, I have no basis for Changelings being able to eat emotions other than love. Its just a trait my fics give them so they each have individuality.
I loved this and.. I want more. Genuinely. Where does our little bug princess go from here?
The chapter title is a Beatles reference.
Lucy in the Sky, with Diamonds!
11206875
Seconded.
11206875
Spoiling my sequel plans a bit, but here’s where our little bug princess goes: to Sunny.
Sunny Starscout has access to her father’s notes, which detail an extinct parasite race called Changelings. She’d feel overjoyed to interview the last living member of the species. At least until her sensibilities kick in and she remembers this isn’t just any Changeling: it’s Pipp. Her friend.
Need to build around that premise, but I think it’s a good enough start.
11206900
Imma read the floof outta it!!!
Once its ya know...posted... and stuff...
You're a good writer!!
*flies away*
11206652
I think the overall message is the same anyway. Also, physiological and psychological needs are not so clearly separated. For example, human babies will waste away and possibly die without physical affection, even if all other needs are met
It's a very nice story.
A very interesting take. Glad to know that the brony way of spinning gold out of animation errors is alive and well in G5.
This is just heartbreaking to read! Yet, it is just so amazingly well written. I hope there is a sequel story to this.
Ooof, I was going to do a reading of this today, but, it looks like this is going to need to be a video. With needing to find a way to communicate the emojis. I think I will delay this until later.
Even now after half a year or more we still really have no clue if this whole no magic thing affected the other races of the planet. I mean changeling is as good as any other excuse for why they were inconsistent with the eyecolor shrug
An oddball ghost happened across your fic and read it. Have a review!
an admittedly strange take on a character, but a very creative one based on animation errors/inconsistency. this pseudo-origin story is so interesting and engaging, and i made me wish for more changeling!pipp content. i love it!
11204732
Got it in one!
Two words: color contacts.
I love to play around with different eye colors in my photo shoots. I have to wear prescription contacts anyway so why not spice it up with some colors amirite?
I'm not a changeling, LOL, but love to see my fans use their creativity to come up with these theories!
Keep the fics coming, you are an amazingly skilled author!
I'm not a changeling. I swear.
I swear. Honest. For reals.
Ş̶͇̓͛̍o̶̘͑ ̷͕̪̒͂͝d̶̤̋o̷͉̫͊n̵̲̻͚̈́̊'̴͉͔͖̐̾ť̶͚͛͜ ̴̪̞̀͌͠ḅ̵̡͐̂ṷ̴̲̈g̵̢̠͗͗ ̷̙͌̕m̸̗̈ĕ̷͇́͘ ̸̗̙̪̂ȃ̶̞̜̍n̷̹͋y̵̡̟̥͑̔̔m̵͇̘͛ȏ̷͍̺̗̄͝ṟ̴̨̑e̷͕̮̰͗̏ 🐞
Hello! Have a review. Smoothly written and a clever explanation of Pipp's name, but it was a bit too jump-around-y for me in the end. I suspect you were slightly unfortunate in this being the story of yours I read after Stop Number Twelve, since few fics would live up to that. I do appreciate the old-fandom idea of world-building around an animation error, though!