• Published 27th Mar 2013
  • 3,034 Views, 110 Comments

Changeling Times - Shadymissionary



Everything changes...especially when you live alongside the Changelings.

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Nursery

On the other end of Ponyville, on the border of Everfree forest, a Changeling-drawn carriage was being brought to a small cottage built in a hill. A bandaged hoof pushed away the curtains on the carriage window so Fluttershy could look outside. Fluttershy’s house had barely changed over the last few years, remaining the cozy little hamlet of animal dens and birdhouses it had been since the Elements of Harmony had been used to stop Nightmare Moon. The shy pegasus wanted nothing more than to have the place remain a lovely safe haven for critters of all kind, a peaceful sanctuary where the Element of Kindness could care for all she laid eyes upon.

Unfortunately, Fluttershy’s haven was not immune to the changes that came with the Changeling Hive. There was a big black nest nearby, a mound of papyrus and stone that remained something of an eyesore despite Fluttershy and Rarity’s earnest attempts to pretty it up. Fluttershy had long since grown accustomed to the nest’s presence, but she wasn’t sure how she felt about the contingent of Changeling guards surrounding both the house and the nest.

It wasn’t that she was afraid of the guards, oh no. It was why they were here. Their presence kept reminding Fluttershy of the most awful night of her life. But she couldn’t tell them that. They were only there to protect her. The carriage stopped and Fluttershy subconsciously brushed her mane out of her good eye so it covered her other eye.

Two Changeling guards, larger than regular drones, were waiting by her door. The second she stepped out of the carriage, they took up positions right beside her. The gesture was so sudden she had to will herself not to gasp and dive back inside.

The two guards could smell her fright. “Are you alright, Fluttershy? Do you think the Insurgents will try another attack, now that you’re out of the hospital?”

Fluttershy shook her head. “N-no, I’m fine. I’ll be alright, I need to do this. I’m sorry to make you worry.”

“Do not apologize. We were sent by the Ruler to ensure your safety. If you feel threatened at any moment, tell us immediately. We will resolve the situation immediately."

“Erm…thank you very much. We should get going…yeah.” she stammered.

The two guards nodded as Fluttershy began walking towards the nest. They matched her pace perfectly, keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings. After the Insurgents last attack, they couldn’t be too careful. Though they did wonder how much the Pegasus actually needed their protection…

There were even more guards around the nest. Despite the repairs, Fluttershy could still see the holes…

She opened her eyes, and there was screaming. Two kinds of screaming. She rushed to the window. She could see the Insurgents in the darkness, hitting the nest with everything they had, screaming obscenities about monsters and liars…she could hear the little ones screaming in terror…

She forced the memory out of her head. She didn’t need to think about it. She COULDN’T think about it.

She entered the nest. Fluttershy looked around, trying not to look at the damage that had been done. She didn’t want to see any more reminders of…that night…so she looked at the places that were still intact. She could see the egg clusters on the walls, glowing with new life. She could see the larger cocoons that the hatchlings slept in. She saw one of them ripped open…

The little ones were crying for help…screaming…one of the caretakers was dead…torn apart by a magic spell...

Fluttershy clamped her eyes shut and shook her head like she could somehow toss that image out of her head.

“Miss Fluttershy!”

A dozen little voices came up to her. Fluttershy opened her eyes to see several of the hatchlings jump up on her, nearly making her topple over. She found herself smiling as they clambered over her with excitement, despite the fact that they were aggravating her bruises and bandages.

“You’re okay!”

“I knew you’d be strong!”

“Thank you!”

“We missed you so much!”

“Why are you crying?”

Fluttershy swallowed back her tears. “I’m…I’m just happy to see you again.”

The hatchlings tightened their grip on Miss Fluttershy, not wanting to let her go. Fluttershy took the closest ones and hugged them back. It’d been too long since she’d seen them…the last time…

“Demons! Monsters! You shouldn’t exist! You don’t belong here!”

“I love you all so much.” She sighed.

“We love you too, Miss Fluttershy.”

“What are you doing?! What…this is a nursery!”

“There! There’s the traitor!”

“This is no nursery! This is a den of monsters and liars! Burn it down!”

“HEEEEEEEEEEEEEELP!”

“Miss Fluttershy…” one of the younger ones asked.

“Yuh-yes?”

“Why were they so angry? What did we do to them?”

“They are not monsters!”

“Yes they are! They’ve brainwashed you!”

“This is all their plan to take over Equestria! Wake up, Fluttershy!”

“You didn’t do anything. A long time ago…A Changeling tried to hurt them. She did something horrible..."

“Miss Fluttershy? Did that Changelings hurt you?”

“Whuh-what makes you say that?” Fluttershy gulped.

“I am not brainwashed!”

“Yes you are! Don’t you remember the wedding! You were there! Tartarus, you saw what she did to Celestia! Don’t tell me you’re not brainwashed!”

“Stop yammering! The swarm’s gonna be on it’s way, let’s just crush this whiny little filly, blast this place and get outta here!”

“Why don’t you hate us, then?”

Fluttershy sniffled. “Because I know…because I know you’re not like her. I was there when you hatched, I watched you grow, I helped teach you to fly.” She sat up and stroked their heads. “And everyling deserves kindness.”

One of the hatchlings blinked. “But…you didn’t show them kindness…”

Fluttershy blinked, and then groaned. “No…”

“Um…boss? Her eyes…”

“Uh-oh.”

“Come on, we can take her…long as we don't...”

“I guess I didn’t.”

“STOP LOOKING AT ME LIKE THAT!”

“GETHEROFFMEGETHEROFFME!”

"GAH! BUCKING MARE HIT ME!"

“I THOUGHT YOU SAID SHE WAS WEAK!”

Fluttershy paused for a moment. “I guess…sometimes, when a pony is so consumed with anger and hate, no amount of kindness is gonna fix them. They only want to hurt…and you have to fight them.”

“SOMEPONY HELP!”

“She’s a demon!”

"No...she's not this strong...it can't be..."

“Let’s get out of here!”

“Truth is…they weren’t any better than the bad changelings they were talking about.”

Fluttershy looked at all of the Hatchlings. “Promise me something.” She stated. “Promise me that you will never be like that. Promise me that you will never let yourselves get consumed by hate and anger. Against anypony or anyling.”

The hatchlings smiled. “We promise, Miss Fluttershy!” They all said at once.

Fluttershy smiled. “Pinkie Promise?”

They started the chant in perfect unison. “Cross our hearts and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in our...um..." They abruptly stopped.

Fluttershy blinked. "What's wrong...oh." she suddenly realized why they were uncomfortable. Her hoof went up to the eye that was covered by her mane. "It's okay. It really is."

"Then...can we see it?"

"YOU! WON'T! HURT! MY! LITTLE! ONES!"

"Boss, do something!"

"I can hear the buzzing! They're on their way!

Fluttershy looked up to see a sharp purple flash go straight towards her...and then there was pain.

After a second, Fluttershy nodded. Her hoof pushed away her covering mane, revealing a scar and eyepatch that looked completely alien on her. Before the insurgents fled, the leader's final spell took out her eye. "If I can take this to keep you safe, I can take your promise."

The Changeling hatchlings nodded. "Cross our hearts and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in our eyes!" they chanted in unison.

Fluttershy chuckled…and then began swaying unsteadily.

The Changeling guards were next to her in a second. Realizing what was going on, they grabbed a bottle of pink liquid out of their satchels and made Fluttershy drink it. The hatchlings could tell what it was. Liquid Love, straight from Pinkie’s emotion bakery.

“What’s wrong?” one of them asked.

The guards sighed. “This is why you couldn’t see Miss Fluttershy in the hospital. The doctors were worried that you might accidentally drain her energy.”

The hatchlings collectively gasped. “Oh no! We’re so sorry!”

Fluttershy gulped the liquid down and immediately felt stronger. “It’s okay, little ones…I know you didn’t mean it.”

The hatchlings looked at the ground, ashamed. “We’re still sorry…You got so hurt helping us you were in the hospital for weeks and we couldn’t visit…and then we reminded her of what happened, and now we hurt her again…”

Fluttershy smiled brightly. “I told you, it’s okay. Miss Fluttershy just needs to rest a little more. Then we can play again. Say, how has Cheerilee been treating you?”

The Hatchlings brightened up. “She’s great! She’s not as fun as you, though.”

Fluttershy chuckled softly. “Oh really?”

She and the hatchlings began chatting, with the Changelings eagerly discussing Cheerilee’s lessons while Fluttershy described Rarity and Pinkie’s visits to the hospital. The two changeling guards hung in the back, respectfully keeping their distance while still guarding the Pegasus.

They suddenly got a message through the Hivemind. How is she? A voice asked that Fluttershy and the hatchlings couldn’t hear.

Better than she has right to be. The guards answered. After what happened here, she should be in pieces, your Majesty.

She’s stronger than she looks. She will be rewarded for her bravery.

We know, your Majesty. We have heard the alarm, what are your orders?

Stay in position. The matter’s being handled.

Should we inform her that one of the Insurgents has been captured?

No. Not yet. Let her rest. She will find out soon enough.

Author's Note:

OK, I had 1 idea before I started this, but then it mutated before my eyes and turned into this. I might have to edit the previous chapter to accomodate this one.

*Edited slightly. I imagine there will be more edits as this story continues to mutate*

*More edits! Let me know if anything doesn't match up.*

A lot of you are understandably confused and have a lot of questions. So I answer with...more mysteries! Teehee! Seriously, I can assure you that things will be explained by the end of the story. If there's still things unclear, let me know. In the meantime, keep reading and commenting