> Howling Shadows
>  by 10 Florins
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Chapter 1: New Life
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Howling Shadows.” Those were the first words I ever knew.
Before it, there was nothingness, just an empty, dark, abyss. It was almost as if the words summoned me into existence. “Howling Shadows will be your name”, said a lone grey stallion, “It tells of the battle which will rage inside of you. But you need to be strong, for there is a purpose. Only time will tell you what it is.”
And with that last remark, he was gone. Never again in my life would I see the pony who gave me my name. When I finally had control of my body, I stood up, not fully aware of my surroundings. I looked around to find that I was in the middle of a forest, lush with all kinds of fruit-bearing trees. 
“No animals…” I whispered, “Strange for such a location with so much food.” I shrugged off the thought as I began wandering the trees, scared that they would come alive and grab me. I must have walked for hours, but I still couldn’t see the end of the forest. As the day dragged on, and light started to fade, my thoughts turned to shelter. “Where can I sleep? Should I have stayed with the fruit trees and waited for help? What if I can’t find anyone?”
To my surprise, I discovered a small outcropping of rock, high enough to sleep under. It wasn’t the most favorable of conditions, but it certainly wasn’t the worst. I spent the night on the cold, but dry ground, pondering what was to come. “What did he mean, ‘there is a purpose’?”
In the morning, I continued to walk in some elusive direction that might hold the answers I sought, all the while not hearing the chattering of ponies ahead of me. When I finally approached where the voices were coming from, I clambered out of some bushes into a clear area, completely unaware they were there.
The same could not be said about their knowledge of me.
“CHANGELING! EVERYBODY RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!!!!”
“But…,” I stuttered, “What’s a Changeling?”
At that point, it really didn’t matter, for almost instantly, I was being assaulted by angry ponies from all directions. Some of them wielded sharp objects. Others’ horns were charged for spell casting. I couldn’t really care who used what, I cared that they were hurting me. Frantically, I dashed for the thick forest from which I came, hoping to lose them in its mangled branches and shadowy groves.
They pursued me for what felt like hours, giving me barely any time to breathe. Eventually, I wound up hiding inside of an old, hollowed out tree. Another ten, maybe fifteen minutes passed
“He’s not here. We must’ve scared him off. Hope we never see the little devil again.”
When the air became silent once more, I poked my head out, ever cautious that they might return. After assessing that they truly were gone, I walked a few feet and found a small river. Then I knew why they had chased me so relentlessly.
I was hideous. My coat was like the midnight of no moon, my eyes the most putrid green conceivable. I wasn’t like them. Those ponies all looked normal; they had fluffy hair and tails, where mine were gangrenous and dead. It infuriated me that they hated me because of my appearance. 
Taking another look at my own reflection, I jumped. “WHAT IN THE HELL…”
I shut my mouth, fearful that some wary pony would hear me and initiate chase. But what I saw was terrifying. I was certain that I was looking at a reflection of myself, but there, in the river, was a pony. A normal pony, with a blue coat and brown mane was staring back at me. “What happened-?”
I was cut off by the sound of a pony, armed with a blade. 
“A-HA! FOUND- Oh wait, you’re not the Changeling. Were you scared off by him?”
In my startled state, I barely managed to vocalize, “No-o. What was that, anyway?”
The pony firmly responded, “A Changeling. Damned creatures led by Chrysalis, destroying everything we hold dear. Don’t rightly know what one is doing here; they always attack in groups. Say, I don’t think I’ve seen you around here before. You new in town?”
“Yeah,” I started, “I got here when it attacked.”
“Well, that’s the darndest luck. If you don’t have a place to stay, you’re always welcome in my home. Folks who’ve never run into Changelings need a friend when they do.”
That’s how I started living in that small town. I came to know most of the residents there, but I never grew any emotional attachments. It was for the best, after all.
During my time there, I set out to learn more about myself, and what Changelings were. The kindly pony who took me in pointed me in the direction of the library, and my search began there. I found it to be a dusty old tome labeled The Equestrian Guide to Hostile Creatures, stored in the very back of the last shelf. “C…,” I mumbled, “Here it is! Changelings: Characteristics and behavior.”
I learned several things from the book, most of them useful. “While Changelings have both a horn and wings, they are not considered Alicorns by reason of attainment.”….”Changelings can shift forms into anybody, except in cases where a large change in mass would be required.”….”In order to survive, Changelings must feed on the love that ponies have for one another, making them a despicable race indeed. The draining of love will often leave the host weak, and in some cases, dead.”
“I’m a monster by nature? How is that even fair?” I mulled this question for hours as I lay in bed, tortured by the fact that I was growing weaker. I knew it was inevitable, but I couldn’t help but fight it. After all, how was it fair that my existence depended on the suffering of others?
My condition only worsened with the passing days. The landlord took me to the doctor, only to find nothing was wrong with me. He guessed at magical illnesses, but I knew better than that. I had to feed. Soon.

> Chapter 2: What Had to be Done
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	My last few days before it happened were memorable. I did, in fact, have to keep the townsfolk from inquiring about my worsening vitality. Any time that a concerned pony would recommend a "knowledgeable" doctor they could send me to, I simply waved them off. "I'm fine, really. I just happened to catch the bug going around the next town over." Such excuses became commonplace for me, to the point where I took a morbid enjoyment in weaving new lies to every pony who asked.
"Oh, no- I can't visit a doctor, for you see... I've got a terrible magical illness! One that no professional has ever heard of! How I tried to find the cure, but alas! None were to be found!" Each story I told became slightly different than the last, giving me some amusement to distract myself from the pain.
But my time was indeed running short. On more than several occasions I found myself lacking the energy to stand. The pain felt like it does when you starve, but my belly was full. At least, the one that needed physical food. There was no more for me in that small little town.
I decided that I could no longer stay. I never even bothered to learn the town's name, let alone where it was on the map. All I really knew about it was the cold reception that had awaited me upon my first encounter with it. Now, though, they didn't know who I was. I could have, perhaps, taken their essence in secret, so that nopony would suspect me of anything. But in my gut, it just wouldn't feel right. I thought that it would make me a coward, and that nothing would be solved. I would become a leech, sucking away at their spirit until it was a hollow shell of the place it used to be. I didn't want to be that monster.
So, in preparation for my departure, I began with "borrowing" the book on Changelings from the library. After all, I could never again simply walk in and resume reading it. Next, I would need a map. I planned to head for Ponyville, for I had heard of a librarian there who may be able to help me research answers to my questions. The knowledge of that one book wouldn't be enough on its own.
Come twilight, I carefully tiptoed out of bed, for the landlord was a light sleeper, but a heavy gavel about curfew. I looked at my pony form in the mirror, and transformed back into my original self. "No need to lie anymore, I suppose." 
Making my way to the window, I checked my bag of supplies: Food. Canteen. Bedroll. All that was left was that book: The Equestrian Guide to Hostile Creatures. Standing at the window, I reflected about my choice. "Should I really go through with this?"... I winced, for a sharp pang ran through my stomach and out my mouth. This time, though, blood came with it. There was no turning back; this had to happen or I would die.
I firmly pushed on the glass, causing the latch to give way. The window creaked open, just loud enough to make me freeze. "Too fast!," I thought, "Definitely opened it too fast." Much to my avail, however, nothing stirred thereafter. The only sound to be heard was the faint whisper of the wind, singing the land to sleep.
Making sure not to fly too high, I glided over to the library. The door was bolted shut, as expected, but the chimney atop the roof was its downfall. Shuffling through the stalk of the chimney, the soot did nothing to my already black coat. If anything, it was me who was dirtying the inside of it.
At last, I was on the ground floor of that dusty library that I had become so familiar with. The atmosphere of the room was tense now, as if the very books would fly off their shelves in an attempt to scare me. My first stop was the front desk, where the late fines basket was located. If I was going to steal a book, the least I could do was give them the few bits I had earned. After dropping off about 12 bits in the basket, feeling good, I made my way to the shelf where my book was kept.
I scanned the shelf for the copy, only to find that it was missing. MISSING? "It was there before I left, right before the library closed."
"So that's how it is."
Horrified, I turned around, only to see that it was my landlord, the pony who first brought me to town, and even opened his home to me. He was just standing there, with The Equestrian Guide to Hostile Creatures in hoof. I managed to stutter, "How d-did you..."
"..Know what you were looking for? I did my research. I always had a nagging feeling about you, and that's why I investigated into your whereabouts. But to think, you were that God forsaken Changeling this whole time? I should have-HNHG!"
His words infuriated me. The whole time, he always thought of me as evil. I had never done him or the village any harm, but here he was, trying to single me out as the monster I never wanted to be.
I didn't want it to happen that way, not for my first time. But there I was, draining his Essence, what I had come to call it, in violence. I had wanted to do it in secret, so that nopony would think twice about why some traveler just up and left. I wanted to kill him so badly, but I knew I couldn't bring myself to do it. I pulled away, leaving him in a hobbled pile on the floor.
"I'll be taking this book now. The money for it is in the usual spot. If you tell tales of me, remember this: it was your kin who first attacked. I've been biding my time here, starving, because I refused to hurt any of you in the process of keeping myself healthy. You want a Changeling story? Tell that one, the one that's different."
I made my way to the door, now open, courtesy of that devilish one. As I crossed the wide archway, I heard him from behind, "You'll....p-pay.." as he tried to shuffle towards me, "For.... this..."  And with a thud, he was out cold.  
With the book now securely placed in my bag, I set for Parchment Palace, the local office where documents were created, including the map I needed. The shop's entrance juxtaposed the name; it wasn't grand or majestic in any way. It was just a small building with a single first story window and a lime green door.
This door was locked, as many were, but the unoriginal shop owner hid his spare key under the welcome mat, making this brake-in far easier than the last. The inside of the shop was not much different from the outside; it was a quaint, beige room with a desk and several shelves, lined with papers of all kinds. Maps were not difficult to find, as the owner was a tidy, organized type. Sitting on the section labeled "Equestria" I found a regional map of the town. "Better get a smaller scale map, too. It looks like Ponyville isn't in the same region as here."
After exiting the shop, I re locked the door and safely stored the key. Unfortunately, the book was more expensive than the maps, and I used all of my remaining bits on it. I felt badly; that store didn't get much business, only enough to keep it from going under. 
With the last item on my checklist obtained, I was ready to leave that nameless town and head for answers. Answers I would hope to find in Ponyville.
	
> Chapter 3: Unfriendly Detours
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	My tedious trek towards Ponyville began that night. Map in hoof, I took flight high in the sky. The crisp night air was chilly on my back, but at the same time it  was refreshing. The moon shone its gloomy light, and once my eyes were adjusted to it, I began to study to map.
It seemed that Ponyville was located to the far northeast, and the town I came from was squarely on the opposite side of the continent. Perfect. That would mean at least ten days of travel by air, and closer to thirty by hoof. Not to mention the fact that an entire mountain range blocked a straight path.
Flying over it would prove impossible; that mountain reaches heights far beyond safe breathing level. No, I would have to go around it.
On the one side, there was the Barrens, plagued by conflict. Its ruler had longs since abandoned it, freeing the populace do to whatever they please. That includes everything from mugging travelers to massacring entire villages. Not an optimal choice to take.
On the other side lay an ocean, which appealed to me much more than the Barrens ever could. After all, an ocean never killed anyone simply because they looked at it funny.
I now turned my attention to more immediate problems: If it would take ten days to reach Ponyville, how will I survive without Essence that long?
There were no towns between the village and Ponyville. No where I could stop and refuel, only thick forest and lofty mountains. Coming to this realization, I halted mid-air, and perched atop a large branch.
"The next nearest town on the map is... Ferlis." With horror, I found exactly where it lied on the map. 
"Dead center of the Barrens. Great." Ferlis was only two days away from me, and was the only town visible that wasn't further than Ponyville. Furthermore, from Ferlis, I would have a straight shot to Ponyville while avoiding the mountains.
"Looks like Ferlis it is..." Even though my lips said it, my mind didn't agree. "It's too dangerous. Not only are you likely to get into fights, you'll probably fight ponies who are more skilled than you! You could lose your life." My brain continued to make such valid arguments, even as I set a course for Ferlis.
It didn't matter what kind of place it was, it mattered that it was my only hope of survival. Mind begrudgingly made up, I spread my wings and flew towards Ferlis. Once more did I feel the cool breeze on my back before it was time to set up camp for the night.
My bedroll was crumpled, but still good. It was nice to finally lie down and reflect on what had happened earlier. I couldn't help but feel angry at and sorry for Landlord. What I did to him was terrible, but then again, so were his actions towards me. Had I made the right decision in cutting him off? Should I have let him finish his words? Perhaps so. But what's done is done, and it can't be changed now
My thoughts turned to the origin of my name. "Howling Shadows... It represents the battle inside you." I think I finally understood what he meant. My very being was controversial. "A Changeling who refuses to harm others? What a spectacle I must be." 
But then I pondered over that mysterious pony's other words: "There is a purpose, only time will tell you what it is." What purpose could I possibly have? My existence was irrational; I could hardly see myself fitting into anything at all.
For now, it was better to set aside my concerns and simply go to sleep. I rolled onto my side, and brushed off any more laborious thoughts.
Come morning, all was quiet, save for the few birds chirping in the distance. Having a belly full of Essence, my rest was the most refreshing one I had all week, even though I slept on the forest floor. For breakfast, I ate one small loaf of bread and some grapes. The sweetness of those grapes made my enjoyable morning even better.
However, I could not dawdle, for I had an eventful day ahead of me. Folding up the bedroll, I realigned myself with the map, and made sure I was heading the right way. I took a long sip from my canteen, and shouldered my bag. Now, I was ready to travel to Ferlis.
The morning air was humid, but relatively pleasant. It very much reminded me of the forest where I came from. Despite how recently I actually was there, I felt nostalgic about the place. It was technically my home, after all. There was some emotional value in that.
I then took high to the sky, and made my way towards Ferlis. The day lazily dragged on, with the only half-interesting thing to happen was some birds following a grey pegasus north instead of south. Winter wasn't that far away, which drove me to wonder why they were headed the wrong direction.
Other than that, not much occurred. Towards dusk, I could start to see the border of the Barrens. Not such a difficult task, as the contrast between the two lands was rather jarring. On the one side, you had lush, green forests. On the other lay only a dry, cracked earth which had long since lost its color.
The scene made me think of how long the Barrens have been in dire straits, and exactly what kind of effect such things could have on the land. But enough of that.
Now, I was close enough to the border to make out a guard tower. "They still manage to watch the border?" I wondered with amusement. I would soon reach said tower, so I shifted forms. "Better go with a tough version of my other form, so as to not appear helpless." Assuring myself that this was a good course of action, I approached the guards stationed at the tower.
"HALT! WHO GOES THERE?"
"Just a traveler, sir." I responded in a gruff tone. It matched my new persona quite nicely.
He retorted in a menacing fashion, "A traveler, huh? Sane folks don't travel to the Barrens."
"Yet you're stationed here to watch the border." I observed.
Thinking a moment, the guard replied, "We're not here to keep ponies out. We're here to keep them in. Celestia herself sent us to ensure that the Barrens' scourge would not spread further."
"In any case, coming here wasn't my first option. I just need to pass through in order to resupply." I affirmed him.
"Resupply, you say... What's in the bag?" He prodded.
"Have a look yourself. I have a bedroll, food, water, and a book." I said as I handed him the bag. Checking over the contents to make sure it lined up with my description, he gave me a nod, and let me through. 
From behind me, I heard the guard say, "Make sure you leave town free of malice. If the patrol where you exit suspects you of being one of the wretched souls from here, they won't let you out. They may even kill you!"
I thanked him for the friendly advice, and continued down the trail to Ferlis. The town wasn't far now, and I was heading there fully believing that I would pass through without incident.
Oh, how wrong I was.
	
	
> Chapter 4: City of Misfortune
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	It didn't take long to encounter the first of my trouble. When I reached into my bag, I found that half the food was gone, presumably taken by that guard. Maybe he wasn't even a guard at all. For all I knew, that guy could be a resident of the Barrens.
I decided to take it in on my stride, and not bother trying to reclaim it. After all, he could have taken the book or bedroll, but all he was after was something to eat. He at least had the decency to warn me of the dangers, so he probably wasn't totally evil. Not like it mattered now.
I then closed up my bag and continued along the dirt path which lead to town. It was essentially a straight path, allowing me to see Ferlis from miles away. Still, it in no way meant that I was any closer to it. Ferlis was still half a day away, for I didn't want to draw unnecessary attention by flying. The less the predator knows about its prey, the better chance the prey has of escaping. The Barrens certainly gave one the feel of always being hunted.
Turning my thoughts to the near future, I confronted another problem: Once I was in Ferlis, how was I going to pick a pony to drain? I felt that picking one at random was cruelly justified. It would almost be like an earthquake. It was unbiased in its destruction, but devastating nonetheless. However, it was also evil, to inflict harm upon a pony who had never done me wrong. It was all too heavy for me at the time, so I pushed the thought out of my head. "We'll cross that bridge when we get to it."
Now I stood at the edge of town, staring at the once grand entrance. Centuries past, the Barrens, or perhaps not called that back then, must have been a prosperous country. The gate was crafted of iron and gold, with jewel sockets on each side, now missing their gems. On either side of the gate was a tall granite statue of King Burnhide, the same king who abandoned his throne years past. Where the statues once held crystal orbs, there was now only moss. Since the king was deeply hated, it was strange to see figures displaying his likeness not torn down of badly defaced. Certainly not because anyone still had respect for the stallion.
I attempted to open the gate simply by pushing it, to no avail. It was much heavier than I expected given its age. In a second try, I dug my hooves into the ground and shoved with all my might, which still proved to be lacking. Finally, I decided to wield magic, and gave it a huge haul. Success. 
The gate screeched open, startling me. This was the sort of place where you feel much safer not causing loud noises. After squeezing through the opening I managed to make, I entered the city, not bothering to shut the gate behind me.
Ferlis  was small for a capital city. Or former capital, anyway. Its new reduced size was largely due to the fact that the eastern half of it was now rubble, shelter only for animals and the desperate. On the western side lied two shops: a bar and a weapons dealer. Either one held the only merchandise still profitable in this god forsaken place. Behind the shops were several small houses, each boarded up and featuring their own special "keep out" sign. Nearly all the buildings had faded into the same color: lifeless grey. The next closest thing to paint was dried blood strewn across the stone roads. Lady Luck was one twisted mistress in this instance, for I spotted a ten bit coin next to a corpse.
"Too few bodies about to make all this.." I muttered as I picked up the coin, "Let's just hope that they were cleaned up by a team and buried. That's a slightly cheerier idea than what probably did happen."
With a quick look around, I realized something: even if this was a bad town, there are far too few ponies around. And by few, I mean none. It was devoid of anything resembling life. Hopefully, there was still somepony alive to drain.
I now turned my attention to the bar. Murky Hollow, it was named. Appropriate, as those two adjectives described  Ferlis as a whole. The sign hung only by one chain, and nearly blocked the entrance. Music could be heard, but not the lively kind one would expect. It was more of a mix between band music at funeral proceedings and the sound of gargling nails. Either way, putting you ear up to a live air horn was easier to do than listen to that garbage.
Taking a breath for confidence, I punched down the bar door, with the help of a little magic. Always better to appear dangerous to others in an unknown environment, after all. I now stood atop the door which was once hinged, now re purposed as a door mat. I glared around the room, hoping to make everypony inside shudder in fear. The response, however, was not so optimal.
"Looks like you owe me two bits, Sear. He was a violent one."
"Now, now, Kale, just look at him! He may appear to be tough, but those are definitely the eyes of a softy. You pay up!" The two strange ponies now turned their attention to me.
"You there, lad," started one of them, "Did you knock down the door to be intimidating?" continued the other, "Or do you simply hate entryways?" finished the first one.
Confusing put the situation mildly. First off, that music seemed to vanish upon my entry. There wasn't even a piano in the room. Second, how did these ponies know me?
I decided not to play along and demanded, "Who are you two?! What happened to the citizens here!?"
They stood up simultaneously in theatrical fashion and proclaimed, "Why, boy, didn't you know? We killed them all! None left but you, us, and tiny bone dust!"
The faded orange one moved in front of the other and said, "I'm Sear, the cunning one with a plan in mind!" His partner, the dirty white one now took the stage. "And I'm Kale, the one with a hunger in his heart and a knife in his hand!"
Back in sync, they announced, " And we're the fellas who'll end you too!" With that, I felt a pain run from the back of my head down into my gut. I looked up and saw that only Sear remained on the stage. No longer able to hold on, I blacked out.
.......I awoke to the sound of water dripping in an empty room. I barely opened my eyes when I realized what was going on. I was being held prisoner. Regaining control of my muscles, I tried to stand up, only to find myself in shackles chained to the wall. On one side of the room was an iron door with a barred window. On the other, only a crack in the wall which let an inkling of light inside.
My first thought was to try using magic to remove the shackles. Unfortunately, it seemed that the lock wouldn't budge, no matter how much I willed it to. I spent the next moment pondering my end. This couldn't really be all for me, could it? There was too much I didn't know, too much I had left to do. As I muddled with these thoughts, the door rattled to life.
"Well, hey there lad. Seems you're finally awake. That's good, seeing as we won't have to wake you without your legs. You get to watch it happen." It was Kale, with a crooked smile on his face, like he was actually aroused by the thought of amputating me.  He trotted over to me, looking far too happy, and promptly brought down his hoof on my outstretched left leg. That pain rang throughout my body, resonating from the knee.
"We can't have you running away, now can we?" For somepony who was about to torture me, he had a point, twisted as it was. He then broke the shackles off me by slamming his hoof into them. How long he must have trained to be able to do such a thing, I cannot say. Kale then threw me on his back, and took me to another room where Sear waited. 
"Good of you to join us, Mr...?" Sear welcomed.
"Go to hell." I replied, causing Kale to kick my injured leg. Another surge ran through my leg, though nothing like when he broke it.  At least Sear's question meant that they didn't know my name, meaning they probably weren't targeting me specifically. Then again, if they treat all the ponies they meet like this, they're even worse than I imagined.
Ignoring my suggestion, Sear continued, "Do you know why we have brought you here?"
"You want to kill me, that much is clear."
"Ah, yes, but for a noble cause! You see, we happened to come across you on your way to Ferlis, and you just reek of good opportunity. To toy with, of course. Kale, would you be so kind as to secure him to our fun chair?"
"Sure thing, Sear. So long as I get first bone." Kale replied.
"Of course! After all, one cannot live in this cruel world without manners! As for you, Mr.... Shall we say X? As for you, learning proper etiquette is of the utmost importance. Kale, why don't you show him the correct response to my first query?"
It was then that I began to feel the full weight of what was happening. Kale revealed a large knife with a serrated back, and took one long swing that ended in my right arm. Pain and blood began to flow in equal measure, and Kale licked the knife, only to cram it into to cut and twisted it. The pain was unbearable. Adrenaline kept me conscious for the moment, but that would soon run out.
"Now, Kale." Sear ordered and pointed at me. Kale raised the knife to my arm, and began peeling my skin. It was too much. Something roared from deep inside of me, something primal. With a loud yell, I drained Kale's Essence through the air, a feat I never knew to be possible, In seconds, Sear watched in horror as I transformed Kale into a lifeless husk by stealing away his very life force.
Taking Kale's life gave strength to my own, allowing me to break free of the chair's restraints. As I made my way toward Sear, still suffering shock, I told him, "You've done enough. It's time for you to join Kale."
	  

> Chapter 5: The Ponyville Library
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Sear and Kale's combined life force took strides in healing my wounds. What was once a broken leg was now but a hairline fracture. The deep gouge on my arm reduced to half an inch deep. While it did not completely heal, I was much better off now than I would have been alone with injuries of that magnitude.
I retraced Kale's movements to my containment cell, in which my bag lay. Nothing missing, in fact, it now harbored the same stench of the place, a nose wrinkling cheese inside the stomach of corpse.
The survivor in me theorized that it would be a good idea to search the other rooms for useful tools or food. However, the realist argued that they were likely only filled with the remains of Sear and Kale's past torture victims. In the end, survivor won, and I checked around the cell block. About 13 bits, some cloth, and Kale's knife were the only  worthwhile contents of all the cells combined. 
The cloth was good for a makeshift bandage on my cut, but there was not much to be done for my leg. So, I adapted wings onto my form and used them like crutches, for the ceiling was too low to simply fly. All the cells branched into one corridor, which appeared to go on for miles. Maybe it was just too dark to see the end. Maybe it really did stretch into infinitum.
After trudging for half an hour, I came upon the end; a red and blue checkered door which resembled the Victorian era, a time when ponies donned fru-fru outfits and powdered wigs.
The door gave little way with a loud creak, much like the front gate of Ferlis. Ferlis! I had almost forgotten, I wasn't even sure that this dungeon was still in town! Now more determined to get outside, I used a blast of magic to bust the door open. Bright light flooded my eyes, and as I raised a hoof to shield them, I saw more forest. Not the same forest south of the Barrens, mind you.
No, this forest had an unnatural feeling. Almost like it belonged it Ferlis. But it wasn't. Ferlis was surrounded for miles by nothing but red, cracked earth. Which means I could be that much off course. I took out the map to study it. The nearest forest, aside from the one I traveled from, was... The Everfree Forest. Much in need of good news, I found that it lay right on the outskirts of Ponyville. Now all that was left was to get my bearings.
It felt good to spread my wings after what seemed like ages. Climbing high in the sky was always a good time, and I feel most comfortable in the cold climate. I enjoyed a rest on a fluffy cloud before I started looking for town. The feel of a bed was nothing compared to a cloud; no wonder so many pegasi preferred them over wooden beds. Clouds form to whatever position you lie in, and they are their own pillows. While I loved the break from reality, it was time to continue.
Scanning the ground, I spotted a little cottage on the northeast end of Everfree Forest. I took into account that it was much friendlier than my previous visits, so I retracted all the changes I had made to appear frightening. My original persona felt much more comfortable, too.
As I drew closer to the cottage, other buildings took shape. Mostly simple houses and shops, they occupied a few square miles of the valley. Ponyville at last. I had to get to the library; my wounds were all but the bottom of my priorities now. The prospect of self discovery was too overwhelming to ignore, but more than that, I hoped to find a solution. A solution to my wretched condition which I so loathed.
Ponyville's library was a towering hollowed tree, complete with windows carved straight from the bark. The sign out front, evidently made from the tree it stood before, read: Ponyville Library / Residence of Miss Sparkle. With my good hoof, I gave the door a loud knock.
"OH no no no no No No No nononononoNOOO!" A voice from inside arose in a distressed tone, followed by a rhythmic thuds of objects. "Just marvelous." the voice continued, "Coming."
The door flung open to reveal a purple mare of average stature with a less than average clutter of books she orbited around herself. She was obviously distracted, her composure long since gone.
"You there! You must be the guy they sent! I need you to start filing these notes alphabetically and by date. Those books over there need to be sorted by weight, color, and texture! Any questions?"
..."Who exactly do you think I am?" I inquired.
"You mean... You're not the temporary assistant they sent me?"  You could almost see her vigor wane.
"No, I mean, I wouldn't mind helping, but-"
"GREAT! The things I mentioned need to be completed as well as getting these books to their destinations, time is running out! I should never have sent Spike on vacation!: With that last confusing remark, she dashed back into the tree, stirring up all sorts of noises as she did so.
"Wait!" I called to her, "What's your name?" From the back of the library, she answered, "I'm Twilight Sparkle!"
The following afternoon was spent organizing, cleaning, and re shelving almost everything in the place. It was mundane, tedious task, but the feeling of progress towards such a simple goal was unexpectedly rewarding. \
Around four o'clock, hours after my arrival, we were done. The library was now spic and span, the epitome of organization.
"Thank you so much, Mr.?...." Twilight began.
"Just call me Shadow."
"Well, Shadow, I really appreciate the help. Spike, my assistant has been gone for two days now. and I guess I need him more than I realized." A light shone in her eyes, expressing that much more gratitude. "You said earlier that you weren't sent by my request. What brings you here?"
Taken aback by her sudden onset curiosity, I turned away and said, "Research."
"Looks like you've come to the right place then," she beamed, "Anypony who's willing to help this much in the name of research is OK in my book! Did you have a specific topic in mind? Are you composing a paper, perhaps?"
"Yes and no. I do have a topic, but it's for personal reasons I'd rather not get into."
Like a nurse tending to a patient, Twilight replied, "I understand. There are some things that nopony wants to share. But if I'm going to help you, I'll at least need a topic to work with."
Maybe it was her carefully coaxing tone, or the sympathy in her eyes, or both. Either way, I bluntly came out with it. "Changelings. I need to know more about them, especially how they function."
Mildly startled, Twilight eventually responded, "A curious subject indeed! Fear not, for much has been documented thus far, even more so with the recent attack on Canterlot. It's a very worthwhile pursuit! Let's see what preliminary books we can find, and we'll forge onward from there."
	
	 
	
	
> Chapter 6: One's Resolve
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	The following days all had a similar pattern which went something like this: Locate a different book on Changelings, learn one or two new facts about them, spend the rest of the day thinking of how it might help me. Rinse and repeat. It was not until a week later that I found something  worth looking into.
The morning had begun like the rest of the week. I lazily awoke in the small guest bed which Twilight had offered, and went outside to fetch the newspaper. I was always an early riser, even if my body told me otherwise. This particular morning I had the unfortunate luck of opening the front door as the paper flew toward it with comet speed. This caused me to settle my unmet need for more sleep, for I now was sprawled in front of the open door, news still stuck to my forehead.
My morning now started anew, with the sight of Twilight standing over me.
"Decided you wanted to catch a cold in the strangest way possible?" She inquired. Her eyes were bright, and she looked as if she was about to burst laughing.
"Very funny,"I muttered as I stood up, "But no. The newspaper sent me back to dreamland to attain the legendary extra hour of sleep."
"Well, you looked so peaceful, I didn't want to wake you. It's actually two in the afternoon. I already found the next book you could try," she continued, "It's called The Nature of Changeling's Survival, by Felhoof Mason."
I took the dusty brown book from her and, with a quick swipe of the hoof, saw a familiar face. One so familiar, in fact, that I nearly jumped out of my skin. "TWILIGHT!" I grabbed hold of her arm and demanded, "Where is this author now!?!"
"That hurts!" She whimpered. Realizing what happened, I let go. She clutched her swollen arm, and gaining her composure, replied, "In the Canterlot cemetery of Fallen Heroes. He died nearly four thousand years ago. Why?"
I was already half way across the room when she asked me that. "I have to go!" I called behind me, slamming the door shut. Twilight stood there in amazement, and wondered why anypony would be so worked up over one grey stallion on the cover of a dusty book..
Time stood still as I flew. I didn't know where I wanted to go, only that I needed to be alone once I got there. There was so much to take in, I didn't want to have to share it with anypony else. I always felt more comfortable by myself. As I searched for a resting point, I saw a large tree on the hill overlooking Ponyville. This oak tree was far more grand than Twilight's Library; it seemed to stretch into the heavens. Its base was split into two, giving the impression that two trees had grown into one. How romantic. 
The space created by the tree's split was just enough to provide me with a cozy place to read. I settled in, propped the book open in front of me, and began to read.
This book is dedicated to the one who might end the suffering, one who will rise above and set right what was wronged so long ago... You know what you must do. I can only show you where to start.
For a mystic pony, he sure got to the point fast enough. I continued to read, ever vigilant for clues hidden in the text.
Long ago, when all the races of Equines lived harmoniously, there was a princess, who watched over the kingdom of Lucence.  Loved by all, she ruled in place of her father, too sickly to govern the kingdom any longer. The princess shared her friendship with all, and even took to mingling with her subjects on a daily basis. She would attend dances, unbeknownst to the hosts, and dance with any stallion who asked. It was in one such dance that she chanced upon another alicorn, a prince with a mint green coat and sparkling blue eyes. He stood at the corner of the floor, gazing around the room with a gloomy look in his eyes. The princess, upset to see one look so down, approached the prince. She asked him to dance, and the prince gave a deadpanned "Sure." The two proceeded to partake in their own cultural dances. Hers, a vibrant array of twists and footwork; his, a firm but elegant pattern. To the onlooker, they looked as if neither pony knew what the other wanted to do. But to them, they spoke eloquently through the use of dance. The prince spoke of his woes, while the princess comforted him, and gave hope of the future. 
After the dance, the two stood out on the patio and gazed at the moon's light, then into each other's eyes. Time seemed to fly after that. They started spending more time together, around the park, in the theater, and eventually, each others homes. It was a classic love tale if there ever was one, but that's not what we're interested in. No, what happened soon after was far too compelling to pass. It was morning, and the prince had arrived earlier than usual. The princess was still asleep in her grand tent bed, but the prince was not here to visit her. Instead, he turned to the door opposite of hers, the king's room. He entered the room, and exited a moment later. The prince then entered the princess's room. "Honey," he started, "I have great news!"
"Mhhhmm?" She lazily opened her eyes at the sweet voice of her lover.
"We can rule the kingdom now! Your father has passed!"
Now alert, she trembled. "Father's dead? His illness claimed him?"
"Don't be silly, that disease of his would have brought him suffering for the rest of his days! I murdered him!"
"WHAT!?" She was enraged, to say the very least. Betrayed, mortified, perplexed, furious, and distraught to say the most. "How could you do this!? What have we ever done to you!?"
"Nothing, my dear. This is just my way of thanking the king for bringing into the world such a wondrous mare like yourself. I've ended his suffering, that he may feel pain no more. This was perhaps the best act of love that I could imagine."
"GET OUT! GET OUT AND NEVER COME BACK!" She screamed.
"But... I thought this is what it means to love..."
"NO! You cannot possibly understand love! But you will. I hereby banish you and you ilk to the north, where nothing grows and everything kills. You and yours will learn what love is, through suffering! You henceforth shall never know love, and will die without it! GO!" 
The princess cast a spell over the prince which did just that. He and his kingdom became the first of a long line of despised creatures known as the Changelings. They became the object of terror and hatred alike, having to survive off of what they could never truly understand. That is how the Changelings came to be, how they got their infamous beginning. The first colony of them had to gain love the old fashioned way to survive, but in time, they adapted more efficient means. The way that they can change form is the product of centuries of change, all for the purpose of paying for a long since committed atrocity. To this day, it is said that the bones of the princess still lay over her father's bed, ever mourning his death.
The path was now clear. I returned to the library, and handed the book to Twilight.
"Did you find what you were looking for?" she asked.
"I have. Thanks for the help, Twilight, but I need to get going now. I'm headed for Lucence."
> Chapter 7: Requiem
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	"Lucence?" Twilight puzzled, "That place was abandoned after the 300 year's war. Nopony has been there since. Why in the wide world of Equestria do you want to go there?"
"The book, Twilight, the book! It told me Lucence holds the answer I'm looking for!." I could barley contain my excitement. The Lucence royal palace was the answer, after all, to a question I asked myself an innumerable amount of times. What can I do to change it?  
Twilight gave me a peculiar look, and began, "So you're the one he spoke of." I spun around in confusion and gave her a puzzling glare. "Mason visited me in a dream, using ancient magic. He was Starswirl's apprentice, you know. He told me that I would guide a pony to change the world, that I would send him to the final destination on his journey. He never mentioned that it would be a Changeling."
"Y-you knew?" I gulped.
"Of course I did! They're not hard to pick out in a crowd if you know the right spells. But you never approached me with malicious intent, which got me curious. The rest is history, really." She concluded.
I stood there for a moment, mouth agape, and wondered at all the opportunities she could have taken to end me. But she didn't. Maybe there's hope, after all. Collecting my thoughts, I  responded, "So... You're harboring a fugitive?"
"Not a fugitive," she giggled, "A hero. One that needs to get some sleep. Can't forever change the world if you're drowsy, now can you?"
"Fair enough." I was rather tired, what with the sudden revelations and all. Before I hit the hay, though, there was one last thing to do. "Twilight?"
".....Yeah?"
"...Thanks for being my friend." That night, I had a wondrous dream where I spent my days doing normal activities, with lots of ponies. A simple dream, but special to one who doesn't know what it's like.
The morning came ended my dream too quickly, for I woke up in a running position. The sheets had already been flung off at some point, and the pillows lay at the wrong end of the bed. Quite the dream indeed.
Twilight trotted in, with an enthusiastic "Good morning!" Upon seeing the room, however, her perkiness dropped a decimal. "Had fun last night?" she queried. I shrugged. "Well, you've got a long day ahead of you, so I can fix that! Breakfast is on the table." As I made my way out, she began lifting the bed's guts towards order again.
Nothing fancy, just some orange juice and eggs, sunny side up. Twilight was a book worm after all, I doubt if she even poured the juice without reading a manual on it first. I was just licking the last hint of orange from my mouth when I was tapped on the shoulder.
"Here, Shadow, take this. It will help you to communicate with spirits."
I started, "How did you know-"
"I'm a genius, remember?" She had the look of a school filly holding the school in her hoof. "You'll need it to talk to her."
What Twilight handed me glowed with a color you could feel. It became clouded in light, but shimmered in the dark. A small orb whose presence invaded the mind. It gave me chills.
"Where did you get this?" I asked, slipping the object in my bag.
"Princess Luna herself. After the Nightmare Night incident, she thanked me with it, saying that not only can you speak with spirits, you can also visit ponies in their dreams. It was forged by her own magic, after all." Princess Luna? Should she be giving me this? Catching onto my expression, she reassured, "You need it now more than me. Before this, it was just collecting dust."
"I suppose you're right. Actually, if I'm gone longer than I need to be, I can just tell you in your dreams. That's rather useful." After pointing that out, Twilight gave me a wink and said, "Just no funny business, alright?"
That was perhaps the first time I ever truly laughed. Much to my surprise, it came out as a bellow that shook the walls. My own laughter was something I had never experienced until now. "Alright, alright. But really, thanks for sending me on my way. I've never really had a proper farewell."
"Well maybe you just didn't meet the right friends yet!" The door opened by her magic, and she said, "You'd better get on your way. Second thoughts can be cautious friends, but they can also hold a pony back when action is needed."
It really did feel like a good tie to leave. As I trot off, I turned back and yelled, "Wait for me, Twilight! I think I want to live in Ponyville after this is over!" She didn't reply; she didn't have to. The warm grin on her face was answer enough.
Head down and wings spread, I bolted into the sky with a new-found vigor. Ah, the chill on my back, the clouds bursting in my wake. Nothing could compare. Almost nothing, that is.
The trip to Lucence wasn't long, thankfully. The citizens who once populated it settled into present day Ponyville once the princess had given up hope. Most of the were poor, hungry, or both, so they couldn't travel far. It may seem cold, but their past plight now served my present gain. A gain not unappreciated, mind you, or even I would have called it heartless. The journey would take an hour, maybe one and a half if I took a relaxed pace. I decided to use the time to reflect.
So much had happened over what now feels like so little time. I learned to integrate with ponies, fend for myself, I even killed. I can still see their faces, too; Sear and Kale's. They may have been murderers themselves, but I wasn't. I know in my heart that it was necessary, but I can't shake the feeling that there was some other way I could have escaped. And Twilight. How I find myself thinking about her. She's kind, motherly, and she's the only true friend I've ever had. And best of all, she knows what I am, and can still see past it. I'm glad she doesn't hate me based on what nature deemed me. She really is a good friend.
My thoughts dispersed as I approached the great walls of Lucence. High and mighty, they once protected some of the most important ponies back then. It was similar to Canterlot, in fact. The dark brown drawbridge lay cracked in the water, leaving the front gate open to visitors. Grand. The word popped into my mind as I pass under the stone walls. The vast road it led to branched into countless roads and alleys. All the houses still stood, for none were made of any less than brick. Plant life infested the streets, though. No amount of good architecture could change that. Bushes and trees paved the road, while vines coiled around every lamppost. It was almost indistinguishable from a jungle, even the presence of wildlife tingled at the back of my neck. 
The tower rose above all, making it an easy find. It stretched up from the roots of the castle, nearly matching surrounding mountains' height. It too was covered in vegetation, with trees at its base giving it support. As I flew closer, I spied a window at the very top, whose wood had long since rotted. I dashed to the window, ever inching closer to the end. I shifted to my true form, ready to face what came next. The sill provided a perch for me as I peered inside. Affirming my theory, I stepped in.
"Haven't had a visitor in a few thousand years, right Princess?" No answer but the whisper of a passing wind. But there they lay, the bones of a long forgotten noble girl, watching over another. The story was true.
I pulled the orb out of my bag, and held it up to the remains. An image of a young, beautiful mare appeared, perfectly fitting with the skeleton that lay in front of me. I spoke again, and this time the mare stirred.
"Are you the princess of Lucence?"
Sniffling, she replied, "I am. What do you want?" But as she looked at me, a sharp realization came to her. "You're one of HIS kin! LEAVE NOW!"
"Settle down, I came to share something with you."
"I DON'T NEED ANYTHING FROM YOU! GO AWAY!"
"Listen, I know of your story, of how you were betrayed. I've come to make amends." Crying, the mare stood up. "You cannot possibly fix what evil has transpired here. ALL OF YOU SHALL SUFFER!"
"I need to tell you, I know what love is. I've found it for myself, and I wanted a chance to free my race of their plight." Now face to face with me, she laughed in doubt. "So that's it? You just want to rid yourself of your problems by using me? I long since abandoned any thought of retracting my spell!"
I took a step back, and spoke. "Not for me. For others who suffer like me, born into an unforgiving existence." I pulled out the object that I had suffered under before, Kale's knife. Its harmful nature would actually serve a purpose of good, for once. I raised it high, and bore it down through my own left arm. The knife was of high quality, and thus was more than a match for bone. In one fell swoop, my arm lay on the floor in a pool of blood.
The agony was great, but the cause greater. I couldn't stop there. "I will suffer for what he made you suffer through all those years ago..." I wearily argued. She turned to me with a sad look in her eyes, ever the nurturer. "No! I can't bear to see more pain. Please, stop!" 
"I can pay- HNGH!" The full weight of the pain hit me like a train. It was as if needles had been shot through my arm, even in the half that was no longer attached. "That's enough! Why would you do this?!?" She pleaded.
"For... m-my love..." I let go of what little consciousness I had.

I floated along in a cosmos unfamiliar, yet welcoming. The sensation of a hard wood floor suddenly came to my attention. I was back at the library. I looked around, and all seemed normal enough. But then I turned to my left, and saw an unusual sight. My arm was still there.
"Well hello, Shadow!"
"Twilight? Is that you?" Her image was right before my eyes, yet I could barley make out any details.
"Of course it is! How is your trip going?"
Now I understand. I'm in a dream, and the orb linked me to her. "I need to tell you some things that are important. I may not be coming back from this. I need you to be strong if I don't." Tears began to well up in her eyes, and she held my hoof.
"Don't say that! You will come back! You have to!" she cried.
"I know. But I can't make a promise I can't be sure to keep. And I won't do that to you, Twilight. So if this is goodbye, I had a wonderful time. Before I go, I have to tell you-

Fate was a cruel mistress. I awoke in the bed of the tower, severing my tie to her. Groggy and disoriented, I let my gaze wander around. At last it stopped on the princess, kneeling at the side of the bed.
"Princess?" I started, jolting her ghostly nerves into action.
"You're awake! I was afraid you'd never get better."
"How long have I been out?" I asked, propping myself up. With both my hooves. "What the..." She saw me startle, and placed her hooves on my arm.
"I healed you. You're nothing like he was, you understand love. It's a shame you didn't live in my era."
"So does this mean?"
"Yes. You of pure heart and brave soul don't need to suffer this way. I give you my blessing, as well as the magic that lifts the curse. You and yours are once again whole."
Never had so much relief and joy spring forth from me before. All I could manage was a simple "Thank you." It seemed to suffice for her, as she faded into a world unknown, leaving this one behind. She left only a small ring, engraved: Night Shine. A christening for a new life, free of draining others. Fitting.
My return to Ponyville was well received. Twilight cried upon the sight of me, and ran into my arms.
"I thought you were gone for good!" She smiled. I ruffled her mane a bit, and said, "I did, too, Twi. I did too. But I came back, and I have something very important to tell you." She looked longingly into my eyes as I returned the gaze.
"I love you, Twilight."