Prologue (Escaped Changeling)

Inner Self
Prologue
Escaped Changeling

This is my tale, the tale of a “normal” changeling. I’m no queen, no more powerful than either other changeling either, almost undistinguishable from any other changeling. I’m not even worth a name, only a number, number 260,514 to be exact. Our queens not the most creative, instead of naming us she just numbers us. No there are not hundreds of thousands of us, but the numbers keep going up even when we are lost, so when #1 dies there just no longer is a #1. Oh, and in case you were wondering my queen is not Chrysalis.

My queen’s name is Ruby. And ever since Chrysalis’s huge blunder, Ruby has been working us to the bone, trying to survive in this now enlightened world.

Used to getting love was easy, no-ling knew about us, now though, ponies are on guard alert to any odd behavior, making love harder to get. So now we work day in and out, doing everything we can to scrounge up what little food we can, and it doesn’t help matters any when your queen takes most of the food for herself. “For the continual growth and good of the colony.” What a bunch of buffalo patties!

We can barely feed the amount of us there already are, why should we increase the mouths to feed; besides the queen’s hasn’t even tried to lay any eggs in years. Ruby is just greedy, wanting to lavish in all the delicious love we work so hard to obtain.

I work hard to earn the love of all those ponies, yet I am forced to starve because of my idiot queen! Well I’m fed up with it! No longer will I follow Ruby, I will be my own changeling.

“Hey number 260,514! Get back out there and find me some more love to eat I’m hungry!” The queen barked in her normal aggravating tone of voice.

Before I could even think I responded, “Go get it yourself, you lay about!”

“What did you say?” The queen was really mad now. “I’ll give you a chance to take that back, and return to work. So be grateful!”

I done gone too far now no turning back, “NO! I’d sooner die than starve myself working for YOU.”

With an evil smirk the queen responded. “Have it your way then, Kill him.”

At that word, an army of my brethren were after me; it was definitely too late now. I have to find some way to escape to freedom, and safety. I took off flying faster than I knew I could. One good thing came from the constant work; I could now fly these twisting passages blindfolded. Of course, the others had this same advantage so I’m still in pretty bad shape, but not hopeless.

After about half an hour’s flight I finally made my way to an exit, it only took so long because my paths kept getting cut off by guards from other directions. Not like I could back track with even more following behind so it took awhile to navigate though to the exit. But, it couldn’t be that easy, why wasn’t anyone waiting here? After a second I found out why the Door was closing in front of me. Man, this’ll take a lot of luck and effort to manage to get though in time.

I made it! But only just, I mean it was so close The gate pinched my tail on the way out! I pulled my tail out from under the gate, I was bleeding but I barely noticed the pain. I was so glad to be out of there my hell was almost over. Almost but not quite, they would still be coming after me. I needed to put as much distance as possible between me and this place, as fast as possible. My brethren will still be after me.

I flew still as fast as I could, but despite my speed, it wasn’t long before they were right behind me. It seems that the halls had actually slowed them down earlier, because it was now far harder to stay ahead of the raging changelings that were hot on my tail.

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Right outside of Ponyville, a few ponies were out having a picnic. Among which were six of the most feared ponies by the changeling standards, that’s right the bearer’s of the Element’s of Harmony. Suddenly over their little picnic was a huge dark cloud. That’s right we ended up passing straight over those ponies. As soon as we started passing over all the ponies except for the element bearer’s ran for cover.

Could my day get any worse? First getting myself sentenced to death my fellow changelings and now if that wasn’t bad enough I also had to deal with the 6 elements of harmony ahead of me. Suddenly it hit me I could use this to my advantage, let both sets of enemies deal with each other while I escape! This would be rather risky, at any moment I could end up killed, but my day was already filled with such risk. All I’d have to do is make sure to dodge everything while bringing as little attention to myself as possible, with any luck, I’d be able to fly away safe without being noticed by either party.

As I dodged my way to safety, there was an epic battle taking way. I could see it all, Pinkie pulling a cannon out of nowhere to blast several changelings out the sky. Apple Jack Bucked every changeling that was brave enough to get close to the ground. Rarity sent several baskets flying towards the changeling army. Fluttershy just stared at the army, but somehow that somehow seemed to knock several of my fellow changelings out the sky (1). Rainbow Dash flew into the sky at such great speeds that it produced a sonic rainboom that knocked most of the remaining changelings to who knows where. Finally, now at a safe distance I looked at Twilight, A large mass of magical energy had clustered at her horn and was now being sent at the few remaining unfortunate changelings.

The battle ended almost as fast as it started, and I somehow managed to dodge my way out of sight. All I needed to do now was find a safe place to lie down and plan my next move. I saw the perfect location, just a little ways off I could see a forest, this would do for now.(2)

Chapter 1 (Zen)

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Inner Self
Chapter 1
Zen

The forest was dark, perfect for a changeling like me to hide. There was a strange feeling in the air though like at any moment something might jump out and attack me, but I couldn’t think about that now. I must figure out how I’m going to survive now. Where will I live? Well I guess that’s obvious Ponyville, though I’m none too eager to live alongside the bearer’s of the Elements of Harmony. Unfortunately, there are no other real options available right now; I’ll find some way to make do.

Now what about a disguise, something that’d fit in well with pony society that noling would believe was a changeling, White! (1) One problem, the tail, it was all bloody from the gate falling on it; I failed to notice how bad it was earlier cause of my naturally red mane and tail. I needed to get love, but getting love through that pity just didn’t seem right, besides it could bring up several unwanted questions. Of course!, I’d just keep the main and tail the same, even with that still the same no one would recognize me as a white pony, besides most changelings are maneless. What about a mark? Nah, that would be too much effort to come up with and holding it would be hard in my condition.

Just one step left a name, this could be hard. Hmmm… what could my name be? As I pondered this, I suddenly heard something, something was coming, and it was growing ever closer.

Then from the bushes it jumped, I was now standing face to three faces. In front of me stood a cerberus! Oh, No! I was in trouble now exhaustion had done hit me, I could hardly move now from that long flight. (2) I couldn’t run or fly to get away, and I sure wasn’t gonna stay and be eaten. I’d have to stall, but how? All three heads were staring down at me, drooling ready to strike.

Oh no I’m gonna be eaten by one of these dog heads!

The cerberus stopped suddenly, staring amongst its heads in confusion. The answer is clear just as before, with the ponies and my brethren I would let my enemies beat their selves!

“Hey liver breaths!”

All three heads returned back towards me. For a moment I wondered if I was doing the right thing.

“Which one of you meat loving hounds is the Alpha head? You know the toughest, clearly that’s the one that’ll eat me!”

There was a pause for a second, and then all three heads were at each other trying to prove which one was the alpha. Perfect just as I hoped, no need to worry now, the problem was dealing with itself. Wow, was I smart.

Well before I get to full of myself I might want to move away a bit, rather not be here when this beasty composes its self. As I slowly walked (3), I decided I better go ahead and get into disguise, and then I remembered one thing I forgot to consider earlier. I knew the basis of what my disguise would be, but which of the pony races should I be? Let’s see, Alicorn is out of the question, that’d bring to much attention. Rather not be Earth pony either, that’d be without either gift. So pegusus or unicorn? Magic or flight? Well after all that flying earlier today I’d happily live the rest of my life without flight, ok then I’ll be a unicorn.

In a flash I changed into my new desired form. Suddenly I heard a voice! Was I seen? I turned around to see a huge sea serpent. A rather flamboyant looking one at that!

“Well hello there little one” he said cheerfully, “What is your name?”

Wow not what I expected at all! I though this monster was gonna eat me. But, this was a problem I still haven’t named myself, gotta think fast. Well I seem to have found myself rather good at understanding the mind, better be something psychological I guess.

“Oh how rude of me”, the serpent interrupted my train of thought “my name is Steve Magnet and you are?”

Think, think think.

“I’m waiting”, “Zen!”,I suddenly blurted out “my name is Zen.” Hmm… that name has a nice ring to it and a nice hidden humor to it as well. (4)

There was a moment of silence then Steve spoke up, “So what’s a changeling doing out here in the Everfree?”

Looks like the jig is up! Was I that obvious? What’ll I do now?