> A Changing Perspective: or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Shell
>  by David Silver
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> 1 - They're not Good for Anything!
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sweetie Belle rushed up to me as I approached the school. "Hey! Diamond Tiara! Did you hear?"

We may have become friends, but that didn't make her chipperness the first thing I wanted to hear. It was probably something silly anyway. "What is it?" I asked in a tone I hoped properly impressed how unlikely I thought it was really important.

No such luck. "We're getting a visitor! Not just any visitor! It's a Queen. You remember when all the changelings kinda came and crashed the wedding in Canterlot and made a big mess?"

How could I not hear about it? Everypony heard about that. "Yeah, sure. Wait... You mean that queen is coming? Why?!"

Sweetie bounced in place. "She made peace with Celestia I heard. She's gonna drop off a little changeling foal to go to school with us. Isn't that exciting?!"

I grimaced and stuck out my tongue. "Gag me! Why are you happy about this? They're vampires, and gross ones too! Why would you want to go to class sitting next to something that wants to eat you. And don't even get me started about those big bug eyes they have." I shook my head violently. "Or is it going to be in disguise the whole time? I bet they smell funny anyway."

Silver Spoon wandered up into the conversation. "I, like, never met a changeling before. Do you think they know how to behave properly, Diamond?"

I snorted at the very idea. "As if! Where would they learn how to be anything like a proper pony? They'll probably be stupider than Snips and Snails."

"Hey!" 

I ignored their complaint, as I usually did.

"Anyway, it's going to make a big stinking mess and maybe get somepony hurt. Why would they allow anything like that to begin with? I'm going to--"

I turned to see a pony staring at me with wide eyes. The colt's tail was tucked between his legs and he was sniffling. What was his problem? "Yeah? You need something?"

He burst into tears and ran off without a word. "Geeze, what's his problem? Who was that anyway?" Nopony knew in a chorus of shrugs and generally unsure noises. Anyway, it was time to get to class. We rushed into the schoolhouse as the bell rang overhead and settled in for another day of boring lessons.

Cheerilee stood at the front of the class and looked left and right slowly. "That's odd... Has anyone seen the new student? He should have already been here..." She continued on after a moment, and waved a hoof. "Today we're going to go over a very special lesson, about a very misunderstood kind of pony." She pulled down a slide, where a changeling stood, gazing placidly in its drawing. "Changelings!"

Ugh! "Miss Cheerilee! Changelings are not ponies! Everypony knows that."

Cheerilee shook her head. "On the contrary, recent research by none other than our local Princess Twilight Sparkle has revealed a common link between them and us. We are all ponies, despite how we appear on the outside, or our habits. Why--"

I couldn't take it. What a bunch of nonsense. "Miss Cheerilee, they don't even eat like we do. They're monsters!" I thrust a hoof at the drawing. "Just look at them!"

Cheerilee clopped a hoof on the ground. "That's enough interruptions, Diamond Tiara. Changelings can eat normal food, just like us, they just don't der--" A pony walked in, interrupting her as she quickly approached the teacher and whispered in an ear. Cheerilee nodded and turned to me. "Diamond Tiara, you're needed. Please go home for the day."

That was odd. Mom or Dad didn't usually call me from school like that... But it did mean I could skip the rest of that lame presentation. "Alright, Miss Cheerilee." I hopped down and walked out of the room with my head held up high. How many others were important enough to be called away on business?

I walked around the town, aiming to walk directly for our nice big house on the edge of things, away from the Everfree Forest. As I approached, I saw mother waving at me. "Over here, daughter." She sounded like she was in a good mood. Maybe it was good news?

I trotted towards her at a moderate pace. It wouldn't do to look too excited. "What did you need me for, mother?"

She waved me closer. Once I was right in front of her, she put a hoof on my head and gently mussed my mane. Ugh, I thought she quit that habit a long time ago. "I wanted to show you something. Something very special, and just for you. This way."

Just for me? Something special? I followed after her with a smile, wondering what it could be. It had to be something amazing if it called for pulling me out of class! Maybe she got me a cart with my own team of ponies? May-- Everything went dark.

I woke up with a start. I wasn't laying on anything. I was... floating? I was in some kind of green gunk. I could see an opening in the side of whatever thing I was in. Outside was empty and mostly dark. I tried to scream but that just made a few bubbles in the stuff that surrounded me. How was I even breathing?!

Panic began to build in me as I slammed at the edge of the pod a few times, just for a face to suddenly appear in the opening. A bug face! I screamed silently and backed up into the other side of the pod.

"Hello there, my little foal. Diamond Tiara, isn't it?" Queen Chrysalis smiled at me wickedly. I could hear her, even if I couldn't talk back. "You've been very naughty, hurting my precious child. I'm afraid that calls for a very particular punishment for you."

Oh no! She was going to suck all the love out of me and leave me a withered husk, or maybe she'd just gobble me up! I tried to demand my freedom, but I just couldn't talk. She only seemed amused when I slammed my hoof against the opening. She didn't care what I did. She was the queen of the monsters, and she had me. I was doomed...

"Aw, poor little thing... I'm not a cruel ruler." She flashed her teeth. "Usually... You've been very bad, and I'm afraid you deserve everything you have coming. Some would say I'm being quite nice. Little earth pony, I'll let you rise above your limitations. You'll be able to fly, and do magic. Imagine it, you'll be like a princess. Princess Diamond Tiara. It has a lovely ring to it, does it not?"

Wait, she wasn't going to eat me? Princess? I stopped thrashing as I tried to understand what she meant by that.

"Got your interest, did I? Good. Relax..." As she said that, I felt my eyelids getting heavy, and I faded away.

I woke up feeling like I was sprawled over something soft. I opened my eyes and everything looked a little off. Chrysalis was there, and she was still a bug, but she was different. She... smelled funny. Good... Definitely good.

She gently tapped the ground beside her. "Are you awake, my little foal? Time to rise and shine. Come here and let me have a look at you."

I wasn't her foal! I had a mother. She wasn't perfect, but she wasn't some hid... Ug... I couldn't finish the thought. I just stood there looking at her stupidly. Why was I getting stuck?

Chrysalis chuckled softly. "Are you thinking bad thoughts? You are not a free drone. You're mine... Your will is bound to mine. Perhaps, in time, you'll earn your freedom."

Oh Celestia! I was her slave! That was... I tried to think about how bad that was, but each thought short circuited before I could finish it. Being her servant wasn't that awful... She was a nice pony. No! She's contro... "What do you want?"

Chrysalis sat up and snorted softly as she smiled, looking so cocky. "As much as it would amuse me to slowly break you, watching you lose your resistance and become my docile drone, I have other plans for you, and I do mean to eventually return you to your parents." She leaned in towards me. "But how much of you is returned is your choice. Play along, and maybe you'll even gain something in the end, or you can struggle bitterly until there's nothing left but a blank-eyed drone." She reached for my mane and brushed along the hair. It was still the same color, but had a few holes in it. "I do like how you've turned out. You'll be well treated, I promise, if you lose."

I began to breathe faster and faster. Okay Diamond Tiara, think! She's given the rules, and she sounds serious. You're stuck in her web, but she hasn't gone for the kill yet. Maybe I should... play along, like she said. As soon as I got far enough away, I could run home and get help! That would be the smart thing to do. Bide your time, Diamond Tiara. Remember who you are.

Chrysalis lifted up a mirror in her green magic and turned it towards me, letting me look at myself, but that wasn't me. That... I turned away but she kept the mirror in front of me easily. My eyes, my hair... Even my tiara was right, but everything else... I was a bug, not even a whole bug. Heh... that was a bad joke. I was a holed bug. "Your first lesson is how to change shapes. Does the form you see bother you? Good, dismiss it. It's within your power to become something else."

"How?" She had my attention. Anything to make the vision in the mirror go away! "Tell me how!"

She placed a hoof on my snout. "Eager? Hold the vision of what you want to be solidly in your mind, imagine it coming from inside of you and replacing what you are and let it consume you, eat you up like fire."

I tried imagining my old self, pretty and perfect and strutting her stuff. I held onto that image as hard as I could, and I felt something twitch inside of me, but nothing happened. "You have to let it consume you."

Consume me, right... Consume... I drew the image out, trying to imagine it overlapping me, and things began to get hot, almost painfully. I thought about her words. Let it consume me. I let the fire come, and I burned. It was a bright flash of green flames, and the insect was gone. I was me! I patted myself down quickly as I laughed almost hysterically with relief. "I did it! I'm normal again!"

She flashed a wicked smile. "Very good, and almost on your first try. You'll make a good changeling yet." Her words felt... really good. Each compliment was like a hundred praises and a room full of applause. I felt so wonderful a moment before I remembered she was controlling me and I frowned at her. "Oh, don't look that way. Just remember, the changeling you saw is still you. If you get distracted, you'll become her again. It takes quite a bit of practice to learn to stay in the form you want when you are surprised, or sleeping, or hurt. Even I, a Queen, can be distracted if things are pressing enough."

I would figure it out! I didn't want to be a nasty bug. "Alright... What do you want from me now?" Play her game, get away, get help!

She ruffled my mane. "Nothing. Go home, practice. If you mess up in front of your parents, they'll probably panic. Good luck explaining it to them."

I paled a bit. "W-what?"

She laughed a cruel laugh. "Oh, you can go ahead and tell them if you like. I'm sure they'll believe you. Oh no, you'd best keep it a secret, or you'll be sleeping on the streets, or arrested for impersonating a pony. You know that's illegal, don't you?"

I sank to the ground, trembling. A wave of heat washed over me as I became a bug again. I was always a bug... I was just hiding it. "I don't want to be a changeling. Please... Please change me back!"

Chrysalis gave a soft tsk noise. "First, survive. Learn how we have to live. The fear, the hatred, and the suspicion. Survive one week, then we can talk."

A whole week?! But there was hope. She said... We could talk. "Then you'll turn me back?"

She leaned in and kissed me on the forehead right beside my new horn. "Then we'll talk. Who knows, maybe you'll change your mind. Let's not lock ourselves in."

Ha! Yeah, right... I could handle this, and then she'd make me a normal pony again. "Fine! I'll show you I can do it. Diamond Tiara is no ordinary filly." I concentrated and burst into flames, becoming my usually dazzling self. "Just you see."
> 2 - I Have This Under Control
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She pointed to a tunnel. "Go on now."

I didn't need to be told twice! But I wasn't going to go running off like she... scared me or anything. I turned up my nose and sauntered away from her, trying to ignore her eyes that I could feel staring into my back.

I could see brighter light coming from up ahead and she wasn't in sight anymore, so I hurried towards it, emerging closer to Twilight Sparkle's castle than the town. Was she in on this?! Was everypony in on this?! I stomped a hoof with frustration. A week! I just had to last a week. Where should I go... School didn't expect me to come back, but that didn't stop me from going there anyway, but would they be of any help?

I ran a hoof through my soft mane. Ah, at least my mane was fantastic enough that even being turned into a bug couldn't keep it down. I checked and had my bits still on me. At least the Bug Queen wasn't a thief as well as a foalnapper. I decided a little snack to settle things down was in order and trotted towards Sugarcube Corner.

"Hi there!" Pinkie was manning the counter and smiling at me with that huge 'I am so gosh darn happy with everything!' smile she always had. "What can I get fer ya?" She suddenly looked pensive and tapped her chin. "Shouldn't you be at school?"

I waved a hoof at her dismissively. "No, and that's none of your business. I'll take a cupcake, honey glazed, extra sprinkles. Chop chop." I clopped my hooves to emphasize it, and Pinkie rushed to work. She had a good work ethic at least.

I exchanged a few bits for the treat and wolfed it down a little faster than I planned. It didn't fill me up like it usually did, and it tasted a little stale. What kind of third rate ingredients were they using?! "Pinkie, that cupcake tasted terrible!"

Pinkie looked shocked and dismayed. "Really? What was wrong with it? I'm so sorry! I'll make up another one."

I smiled at her easy surrender. "Thank you. The flour tasted like it was going off, and that threw everything else off."

Pinkie tilted her head one way and the other. "Huh..." She went and fetched a new bag of flour and got to work. "This'll take a while but I'll get you that cupcake, promise!"

That gave me time to wonder, but I was thirsty too. "I'll take a glass of milk while I wait." She slid the glass over quickly and I snatched it up before heading over to a table by the window to look outside and think about things. So long as I looked like my usual self, everypony would treat me like normal. If I got dis... I noticed my right hoof had a great big hole in it and started in surprise, which made more of me start turning bug-like, black shell and all. I dove under the table and concentrated really hard. With a fwoosh of fire, I was back to pretty. Peeking out from under the table, Pinkie was still busy making that cupcake. She hadn't noticed, phew.

Alright, remember to concentrate, got it... How did they keep it up all day long?! I snapped out of my thoughts as I heard somepony sink across from me. It was that crying brat from earlier. "Need something?"

He looked away a moment. "I... I'm sorry... I didn't ask her to do this to you."

He knew? How... Oh. "You're the changeling!" I hissed in a whisper. "Your 'Queen' turned me into a bug!"

He nodded softly. "She did... I didn't mean for this to happen, I promise! I told her how you were being mean and she said she'd take care of it and then this... I just want to go to school, with other foals. I... I'm sorry."

His apologies weren't turning me back to normal. I felt annoyed. If he hadn't gone and blabbed about me, Miss High and Mighty wouldn't have grabbed me. "This is your fault."

"You're slipping." He pointed at where a hole was forming in one of my forelegs that sent me scrambling out of sight to fix myself. "Look, I'm... My name's Blunt Hooves."

I sat back up in my chair, taking a slow breath. "Blunt Hooves? That's a pony name."

He smiled timidly. "I'm a pony."

Yuck. "You are not. You're a bug."

He pointed at me. "So are you. Do you want a new name?"

I cringed at the idea. "No way! I'll go back to being normal. You'll see. So, what, you're even pretending to yourself to be a pony?"

He squirmed in place. "I'm not pretending. I am a pony. I'm learning how to be a good pony, at school." He sniffed softly. "I'm not even a drone... like you."

I flipped my ears back as Pinkie announced. "Ready!" She bounced over and set the cupcake in front of me with a few sparklers stuck in it. She was going all out to make it appealing. She even added a few oat cakes around it. "Here you go! Fresh from the oven." She bounced away, looking so happy with herself.

I picked up the cupcake and chewed it softly. It still had that... off taste.

"You're a changeling, remember?" He looked a little sad. "Regular food's not so filling. You need love."

Love? I was a vampire! A real vampire! "I don't want to drain some pony into a husk. I'd rather eat stale muffins."

He shook his head quickly. "It's hard to explain, but you'll know it when you feel it. When someone loves you, it'll feel like something's already going in your mouth. If you just let it happen, you'll fill up, and they won't be hurt. Just don't slurp it down. The more they love you, the faster it works. Look, I have to go..."

No! He had answers. I needed them. "What did you mean by 'drone'?"

He shook his head again. "No, really. I'll see you tomorrow, at school." He smiled a little. "We'll keep our little secret, alright?" He hopped down and trotted away, bursting into a gallop once he was outside the store.

There was so much to being an icky bug I didn't know. I was pretty sure I saw wings, and a horn? Could I do magic? Could I fly? I chewed listlessly at an oat cake as I thought about it, only to notice I was slipping again. This was getting out of hoof! "All full, thanks!" I dashed out of the bakery and around the corner to retake my disguise. Why did this have to be so hard?!

I spotted one pony I definitely wanted to see. There was daddy! He was talking to some other ponies about something and walking briskly down the road. I bet he was talking about some business deal or something. He was always doing something amazing with money. I quickly scurried to catch up with him.

"Diamond! Aren't you supposed to be at school?" He had a warm smile despite his accusation. He loved me, I could... taste it? Something sweet and thick was tickling at my tongue and ran right down my throat. It was better than a dozen cupcakes, and my hunger was fading away. I gave a little sip and a bit of a sour edge laced it that tasted great. I felt great!

Daddy wobbled a little. "Oh, I've been walking too much today. Diamond, I'm about to head home, why don't you come with me?"

I fell into step with him as he resumed his conversation with the other pony. I didn't care about that other stallion. Did I just hurt daddy? I hoped it wasn't serious. No more sipping, even if it... tasted so good. 

The hunger I had felt was gone entirely, replaced with an energetic vitality. I felt like I could take on the world, or at least keep my disguise going without barely thinking about it. Maybe that was why I was having so much trouble? I just needed a snack, a real snack. A... bug snack.

I was happy to be walking alongside with daddy. He really did care for me, and I knew I'd be safe around him, so long as I didn't blow it all and scare him with a bug face. I kept a firm hold on my disguise as we walked and arrived at our house. He easily opened the gate and led us inside. "Diamond, would you fetch us a drink?"

I'd normally bristle at such a domestic task, but I was so happy at the moment, I went off to do that. I filled a pitcher with water and set it on a tray with some cups before I realized the butler should be doing this. Where was he? Too late to ask him to do it... I returned with the tray balanced on my back and let it slide off onto a table beside daddy and his business friend. "Here you are."

"Oh, thank you Diamond. I really needed a drink." He poured himself a cup and swigged it down. "Ah, much better, now, as I was saying, we could double production!" He was in full management mode. He was so impressive when he was in full swing of things and I watched him a moment before trotting off towards my room. I had to figure out how I was going to spend the rest of the week. Could I even sleep without waking up as a bug? Probably not... What should I do?

I dug through my small library, but none of the books even mentioned changelings, let alone had anything useful about them. Ah ha! Princess Twilight Sparkle loved books. She had to have a few about changelings up at her castle, and she didn't mind us foals going up and borrowing one or two, as long as we were careful with them. Even if she was in on this nefarious scheme, she wouldn't mind me knowing what the hay I was, would she? I'd find out.

I trotted out past Daddy and he held up a hoof. "Hold up a moment, Diamond. I just remembered, why aren't you at school?"

Oh, uh, quick excuse. "I was sent home because I already knew today's lesson." I turned towards him. "It was about changelings, and I know more than everypony else in the class." That much was likely to be true. I...ugh... was one...

He smiled proudly. "That's my girl! Keep it up and make your daddy proud." He lifted his glass of water at me and I felt happy. He was always so supportive.

I nodded to him and his friend. "I'll be back in time for dinner!" And off I went, trotting out towards the great crystal spire that was Princess Twilight Sparkle's castle. She had to have some answers. She just had to!
> 3 - Twilight to the Rescue
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I trotted along the winding road towards that castle. Why'd it have to be so far out the way? Well, I guess I knew why. My own house was placed nicely out of the way of the rush of lesser ponies. Still, it didn't have to be this far.

Her door had no guards in front of it, like you'd expect from a real princess. Twilight Sparkle had a lot to learn about being a princess if she didn't expect to be laughed right out of her castle. I walked up and gave a good push, and it opened right up. Not even locked, figures. I walked across and felt a sudden wash of coldness come over me for an intense, but brief, moment. What was that?

I looked myself over and recoiled! I was a bug! I didn't see anypony in sight, so I tried to quickly bring my disguise back, just for the cold wind to rush through me and blow out the fire before it could build up enough for me to change. Princess Twilight Sparkle did have some security after all! She was warded against changelings... I could march forward, show off my hideousness, and hope she didn't throw me in jail immediately, or...

A startled noise shook me from my thoughts. It was Spike, and he was staring at me with wide eyes. He was looking with... disgust, maybe fear. Of course he would be. I was hideous. No, I couldn't be seen by a Princess this way! I turned and ran away. I felt the warmth return as soon as I was clear of the castle and dove into a ditch to quickly fwoosh to my proper form before I kicked a rock away. I was so close to some answers!

There had to be a way... I wanted to talk to Silver Spoon, but she'd be at school too. Maybe even the CMC? We were friends now, so I guess I could talk to them, but would any of them understand... this? Silver Spoon had to! We were best friends. We'd been together for years, practically forever! If I could get to her and make her understand, she'd help me.

Maybe... She'd even feed me. I felt a new kind of warmth as I thought about it. Did she like me enough to give that kind of... What would it mean if she did? It was too embarrassing to think about! Did best friends qualify as love? What kind of love did it have to be? I wasn't some tiny foal. I knew what 'love' meant. I meant, traditionally. All the stories have ponies making kissy faces and then foals and marriage and stuff... Daddy loved me, but that was family love. A dad's allowed to love his daughter, and vice versa. That's the way it should be!

Maybe best friend love was like family love? That'd mean she qualified! Silver Spoon could feed me, and we can find an answer to this, or at least wait out the week. Maybe I could sleep over at her place?

I walked through town as I thought, just to hear a snatch of conversation that caught my attention.

"Did you hear? The Princess figured out a way to keep changelings from hiding around town."

"Oh, that's good. The way I heard it, anypony could be one in disguise."

"Like you?"

They laughed it off and walked out of hearing range. Was it true? Was Twilight Sparkle going to blanket the town in the same spell she had on her castle? I felt my heart thumping in fear as I scurried behind a building, but then I thought about it. That wouldn't make sense. She'd want the exchange student to feel at home, and forcing him to walk around as a bug when he didn't want to wouldn't be very welcoming. No, she wouldn't do that. She wasn't that mean. I took a calming breath and checked for any slips before trotting back out onto the road.

Wait! There was one pony I could consult. She lived far away and barely had ties with anypony, but everypony said she was pretty smart and usually nice. She probably wouldn't even recognize me, which was fine. I didn't want recognition right then, I wanted answers, and maybe a little help if she had any to give.

I turned towards the Everfree and began trotting. At least, if any crazy monsters tried to attack me there, I'd have... changeling powers? Stick to the path! That's what they told all the foals at school. If you had to go into the forest, stick to the paths. Preferably, don't go in at all, but if you do... the paths.

I took an unsure step across the threshold of the forest. I wasn't gobbled up instantly. Things were looking up! As I walked, I considered if I should have a more intimidating form, just for the moment, but shook my head at the idea. I was Diamond Tiara, and that was not only good enough, but the way it should be!

I stopped mid-step. There was a big field of blue flowers overtaking the path. Should I go around them? Gah, why? They were just flowers. I trotted through the patch and made my way forward without exploding or anything. I could hear the far-off calls of things I didn't want to see in person, but none of them sounded like they were coming any closer. Everything was going to be fine, or so I kept telling myself.

"Who is this that dares enter here? A little foal? They should know to stay clear." A zebra emerged from around a tree and looked at me curiously. There she was!

"Miss Zecora, I assume?" I assumed my most formal stance and tone even as I internally sang praises that my journey was over.

She nodded softly. "That is my name, there is no doubt. Did you come for me? What about?"

Did she rhyme everything? "It's a little complicated to explain, but I was hoping you had a few answers."

She looked me over slowly. "You may need more than what you seek, What you need is a change, so to speak."

Did she already know?! I took a half-step back and she raised a hoof. "Hold, child, there is nothing to fear. Please, come with me, and I'll try to make things clear." She smiled a gentle smile and turned from me, walking towards a tree house just around the bend.

I could follow her, or leave... Well, I came this far, and she wasn't chasing me off. She knew something... I had to know what that was! I trotted after her quietly a moment before asking, "So, you live out here, in the Everfree?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

She paused and turned to regard me a moment. "We are not yet friends, perhaps would be best not to pry yet towards this end." She raised a hoof. "That may change, give it time, but first you must accept my rhyme."

Accept her rhymes? I hadn't complained about them! She nudged open the door to her house and slipped inside. I took a moment to look it over. There were big masks and other strange decorations adorning it. Just how far away did she come from? She was a zebra. Zebras aren't ponies, not technically. She had to be from very very far away. In some ways, she was like the changelings, but less... you know, buggy and vampire-like.

I slipped inside and saw she had shelf after shelf of flowers, roots, and other things. She also had a huge cauldron right in the center of everything, bubbling with something, I couldn't tell what. Maybe it was her lunch? Or maybe it was a potion to do something amazing, or wicked, or both? Focus! "What a lovely abode you have here," I partially lied with a smile. I mean, it was... alright... I guess... It only had one room! What kind of house only had one room?

She sat down beside the cauldron and stared at me like she could see right through me. "It was very brave to come to me, Especially for such a young filly. Shall we speak frankly, or must we dance? To tell me the whole truth, this is your last chance."

The whole... Did she mean what I thought she did? Did she... Ugh... I didn't want to show anypony that. "I've been, I guess, cursed..." That was the truth! She didn't have to stare at it.

Zecora gave a little nod. "Of this there is no doubt, No simple cure can I write out. A terrible curse lies in your body. I have no cure, simple or gaudy."

I bristled a little bit. "Look, um, no offense or anything, but do you have to rhyme everything?"

She smiled with a knowing smile. "I said you would have to accept the rhyme, if you wanted to be a friend of mine. I will forgive you, your mind is most stressed. Let's see what we can do to put it to rest." She rose and walked to her shelves, shifting through various herbs and curious trinkets a moment. "No... No... Where did I put... No..." She didn't rhyme while working, at least. She fetched a little charm that had a rope through it. It looked like a laughing donkey.

"Take this and keep it near. Wear it under clothing if you fear a sneer." She held it out towards me and I took it, looking it over. It was made of wood, and the rope was thick hemp. It was almost charmingly hideous.

"What will it do?"

She reached out and gently brushed one of my forelegs. I jumped back in surprise at the contact, then saw there was a big hole jutting through it and gasped in alarm, but she still watched me placidly. She really did know. "Poor foal of the insect tribe, born of misery, looking for love to imbibe. Your people are cursed, this much is true, but you can rise above it, just hold back your love's accrue. The charm will hinder you, but in a way that is good. You will be less dangerous to ponies who to feed from you would."

Like Daddy? I peered at it, but slowly put it on. I didn't feel anything. "Is it working?"

She nodded firmly. "Yes." What? No rhyme? She stood up. "If you seek shelter, this is not the place for it,  Just remember my advice and do not forget."

"Wait!" I took a step forward. "That wasn't the curse I came for." She thought I was always a changeling! She raised a brow and looked at me curiously. How was I going to explain it...

"Have you ever heard of a pony becoming a changeling?" I smiled at her hopefully. If she was so smart and stuff, sure--

"No."  Or not... I sank with defeat. "I have never heard of this curse. If it is true, you are right, it is worse. Were you truly a pony child, before the insect's way became what you reviled?"

"I reviled them plenty before I became one of them." I looked up at her. "Please, do you have any way to undo this? ---" I tried to speak Chrysalis' name and nothing came out. The harder I tried to say her name, the more blocked up I felt, leaving me there just sort of floundering in front of Zecora. I couldn't even mention the Queen, or Miss Big Bug, or anything that'd refer to her. Rrrg! It was so frustrating!

Zecora shook her head slowly and said nothing. She reached out and gently patted me on the head. She pitied me, but she couldn't help me... 

I didn't need pity! I needed help, real help! With a sudden growl of frustration,  I fled from her, and her stupid little house. Maybe school would be out by the time I got back to town.
> 4 - Touching Bases with Your Peers
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

I ran at a full gallop back through the forest. Thankfully nothing saw me as a tempting snack, and I got out without any real encounters worse than a loose vine here or there.

It was late afternoon, and that made me happy. The other school foals should be let out any moment, and that meant I could get to them without awkward new questions. Silver Spoon, or maybe even the Cutie Mark Crusaders, but the CMC were all related, or at least close, to the ponies that fought off the changelings, now that I thought about it... Maybe they wouldn't be the best ones to ask first. They might dis...

I felt my disguise wearing thin before it happened! I was getting better! I stared at the spot that was turning rogue and it seemed to 'reset' without the whole wall of flame effect. This was good, very good! But I was also feeling hungry. How often did changelings need to eat?

Then it hit me. I wasn't living like a 'normal' changeling. I was keeping up a disguise all the time. It was like a unicorn using a spell all day or a pegasus never coming for a landing ever. Of course I'd get hungry and tired. 

Great, more things to worry about, but there wasn't anything I could do about that. I wasn't going to parade around as a bug! Even the real bug didn't do that. I wondered how much practice he had before they signed him up for school.

Where had he gone anyway? He said we could talk the next day, at school. I just had to make it to then, then maybe get some answers. I could already see my classmates drifting out through town, headed home, or to get a snack, or just milling around, some with friends. No Silver Spoon yet... Oh! What if she went to my house looking for me?

I hurried off despite the building hunger, or maybe it was because of it. Running into Silver Spoon felt like a really really good idea. There she was! Like I thought, she was walking straight to my house, like the best friend she was. I waved at her a little more excitedly than I first planned. "Hey! Silver!" She paused, then turned to look at me with a smile.

"Oh, hey Diamond. I thought you'd be at your house, like, doing important business things." She walked towards me and I could feel the warm edge of her love as it came over me. She was my friend, my true friend, and I knew it more certainly than ever before. 

I could taste it, and it began to pour into me. I was seized by a powerful urge. I was hungry, and there was a source. I wanted more! I gave a little sip without thinking about it, but something happened. It kept moving, but the sip never happened. No sour tang, no heady rush. No satisfaction?

"Are you alright?" She looked at me with concern. "They weren't asking you to do too much, were they? Was it your mom?" She suddenly turned her eyes down a little. "What is that?" She pointed a hoof at the laughing donkey on a string that ran around my neck. "I don't mean to be a bummer, but that really isn't your style... Or anypony's."

Yuck, it was ugly, wood, not even crafted especially well, and did I mention ugly? But... It had worked. It kept me from hurting Silver, and I didn't want to hurt her! "Silver, forget about that a moment. There's something way more important we have to talk about. We're closer to my house, let's go there, alright?"

Silver threw a leg over me. "Sure thing." She wasn't normally so fast to hug. "Are you sure you're OK? You know you can talk to me about anything."

I felt frustrated, and filled with happiness. She cared about me, but... "We'll talk about that, I swear, let's just get inside first. It's private."

She let me go and nodded before adjusting her glasses. "I can wait a little bit. You didn't miss much in school. Changeling this. Changeling that. It was so boring and icky. You were totally right, Diamond Tiara, they are disgusting."

I laughed nervously. "Yeah, disgusting..." And I was one... Was she going to freak out the moment I told her? Would all that friendship flip inside out the moment she knew? "So, uh..." I glanced sideways to her as we walked side-by-side. "If I caught some way gross disease, you'd still be my friend, right?"

Silver Spoon looked confused a moment. "Of course I would be, but if it's catchy I might be your friend from a distance." She smiled like it was a joke. It wasn't! "Why? Do you feel sick? Shouldn't we be headed for the hospital?"

I waved a hoof dismissively. "I'm just saying, you know, theoretically." As the house came into view, I realized I was starting to feel the edges come off my hunger. I was still hungry, but the ravenous level had faded down to 'just' hungry. If I could hang out with Silver Spoon for the rest of the week, I'd make it, even if I didn't figure anything else out.

Silver gave a slow nod as she pushed open my gate. "I hope neither of us catch anything gross like that. Just think what'd it do for our image? Especially if we were the only ones? Yuck." When I walked past her, she started moving right up against my side. "But if I had to be sick with someone, at least it'd be you."

That was kind of sweet, in a weird way. How do you even reply to that? "You're such a goof!" I gave her shoulder a nudge, but let her keep walking up beside me. That was good enough.

Mom wandered past and stopped. "Hello, girls. I heard you showed up everypony today, well done. Though I'm wondering when you picked up an interest in changelings? Not a very refined interest, or one that's likely to earn you much respect." She was looking down at me with the little twist of her face that showed how disapproving she was. "Learning is good, but you can find so many better subjects than disgusting insects."

Silver looked baffled, but had the sense t-- "You have an--" I shoved a leg around her suddenly and clasped a hoof over her mouth to silence the question coming out of her.

"Just read the right book at the right time, mother. Not a 'true' habit, I assure you. Is that a new earring?" I smiled at her brightly.

She looked confused, then surprised. "Oh! I didn't think anypony would notice." It didn't always work, but when I found the right mark, flattery could distract mother like nothing else. "Thank you. I ordered it from this very exclusive outlet in Baltimare. It was just delivered today. It highlights my eyes, don't you think?"

I let Silver Spoon go and she was quick to nod. "Oh it looks lovely on you, Missus Rich!"

Mom smiled at us both. "Dinner's in an hour. Are you staying over?" She looked at Silver Spoon as she asked that.

Silver tilted her head a little. "For dinner, yes please. Thank you."

"You know you're welcome here, Silver Spoon. You're the right kind of pony." She wandered off on whatever had her mind at the moment. She wouldn't be the one cooking, pfft. I doubt she ever cooked in her life. Not that I had either, outside of a school project.

We finally made it to my room and I kicked the door shut. "Silver, I have something extremely important to talk to you about."

Silver sat down and nodded. "What's been bugging you all day?" Did she have to use that phrasing? "I've never seen you so nervous before." Was it that obvious? "You know you can tell me."

I took a slow breath. I did know I could tell her. I was going to tell her.

A soft knocking at the door made me jump. The butler nudged it open and entered with a tray of cookies and two big glasses of milk on his back. He nodded at us both and set the tray down before slipping back out. I shook my head quickly. "Randolph, I demand privacy until dinner!"

He nodded at me placidly. "Very good, madame." He closed the door behind himself, and was gone. I noticed I didn't feel any love coming from him. We've been together forever! Hay, longer than I'd even known Silver Spoon. Didn't he care about me? Why that... that... Oh... I sank to my haunches as I realized I had treated him pretty awfully.

Of course he didn't love me. He did what he was paid to do, but that didn't mean he had to like it, or me.

"DT?" Silver waved a hoof in front of me. "Like, you were saying? Are you alright?"

I shook my head to clear it and suddenly Silver recoiled and fell over herself. She looked utterly terrified. Oh shoot, did I just slip? Right when I was going to tell her?! "Please don't panic! And no yelling!"

She shrank back away from me, and the flow of love cut off. "What'd you do to Diamond?!"

I put a hoof on my chest. "I am Diamond Tiara." I gave her a smile, but it seemed to unnerve her. Oh yeah, big ugly bug teeth. "Who else would so easily sidestep my mother?"

She glanced towards the door, then back at me. "We've been snatched once before... Maybe you learned it from us. How can I be sure? I don't want to be foalnapped!"

I set my hoof down and saw it was black and holed. My disguise was gone. I'd have to convince her as I was. Changing back would probably freak her out more. "Silver Spoon, we have been friends for a very long time. I've been cursed, and I... I need your help. You know I don't like... saying that, but it's true. Please."

She slowly sat up. "If... And I'm not saying you are just yet, but if you are Diamond Tiara, how did we first meet?"

I smiled at the memory. I knew that story well, and shared it with her. "...and we never separated, except that one time I got kinda carried away with the whole election thing. Sorry about that." I stood up and felt my new wings spread out on their own. For just a moment I wondered what it'd be like to actually use them.

She put a hoof over her mouth as she gasped with amazement. "How? What happened?! Is it... how?!" I felt the love begin to flow again, lessened but there. "Are you alright?"

I patted over my shelled body softly. "I'm not hurt, not like that. But I am a super icky bug! Look at me..." I didn't really want to be stared at, but she had to know how important this was.

She reached for me and gently brushed a hoof through my mane. "At least some of you didn't change." She had a little smile.

I couldn't help but giggle a bit as the flow became more powerful. She believed. She believed and she cared! "I was told--" I tried to talk about Chrysalis, and that wasn't allowed. I didn't know how or why, but I couldn't say anything referring to her. "I was told I had a week. Then I could change back."

"By who?"

"Look, that doesn't matter, but if we can't figure out how to turn me back early, then we just have to wait a week, and then I'm free." I set a hoof on her shoulder. "Will you help me?"

Silver suddenly jumped at me and gave me a big hug, even if I was a yucky bug. She didn't seem to care too much. "I'll help! We'll get you back to normal, one way or the other." She let go and backed up. "Shouldn't you... change back? How does that even work? What's it feel like?"

I summoned the image of my true self and with a rush of heat and flames, I was back to normal, at least on the outside. I began describing that intense wave of heat to Silver Spoon and she looked at me with fascination, but the most important thing was she was still my friend, and she still cared.

I could do this.

> 5 - Family Dinner
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The more Silver Spoon became convinced it was both me, and I was still the same pony as before, the more questions she had. Sucks for her I still didn't know much myself about icky insects, even if I was one at the moment. That didn't stop her from asking, or poking a bit. Whatever crazy changeling magic let me look normal was pretty thorough. She couldn't feel through it even while searching specifically.

Not that I let her try for that long! Sheesh. We may be friends, but that doesn't mean I have to let her ponyhandle me without restraint.

She softly tapped at the ugly pendant I was wearing. "What's this supposed to be?"

I had almost forgotten about it. "I got it from Zecora, that Zebra that lives in the Everfree."

She frowned with a gasp. "How'd you get it from her? Did you go in there?" I nodded with a smile. "That's so dangerous!" She looked scared, but impressed. It wasn't like I got mauled or anything, so I obviously made it through alright. "Does she really... What's she like?"

I waved a hoof dismissively, "She wasn't that big of a deal once you went through the trouble of hiking out to her. She barely knew anything about what happened to me, but she gave me this hideous thing." I lifted the amulet. "It's not even for me, exactly. It protects other ponies."

She looked baffled a moment, tapping her chin softly as she frowned. "Why? Are you dangerous?" She flinched back a little. "Are changelings that dangerous even to their friends?"

Oops. "Nothing like that!" I quickly set a hoof on her side. "I mean, you know what they eat, right?" She nodded a little, watching me intently. "If they just let it happen, nopony loses anything. It's like we're sponges for love or something like that. But if we suck directly at it, that can be bad." How to explain this... I could see she was still a bit lost on the specifics. "I'm not going to hurt you, Silver. You trust me, right?"

Silver's hesitation began to melt as I directly asked her. She stood up straight and nodded. "We'll get you back to normal. Nopony should have to be a changeling."

"Not even changelings." I frowned. Stupid, poor, changelings.

A soft rapping came from the door. "Dinner is ready. Your parents await your presence, madame."

I heard Randolph move off almost immediately after the message was delivered. Maybe... "Silver, let's say, just in theory mind you, I thought maybe I was a little rough on the hired help. What would you think?"

Silver tilted her head one way, then slowly towards the other. "Well, I guess... I'd say to get him a nice treat! What kind of things does he like?"

I had no idea! "How would I know?!" I stood up and moved for the door. "We should get to dinner. Mom'll get grumpy if we keep her waiting after we talked about it face-to-face, you know."

Silver Spoon followed after me and we moved through the finely-appointed halls of my house to the dining hall. Mom was at one end of the table, and Dad was at the other. It wasn't the most romantic seating, but they weren't the most romantic ponies ever. They both looked towards me when I arrived.

Dad smiled brightly and gestured to a spot closer to his side. "Good to see you, my little Diamond. I was hoping you could tell us about those lessons you skipped today."

Skipped? I walked stiffly to the seat he pointed to and Silver hopped up beside me. My mind whirred with thoughts. Maybe he just meant 'skipped' because I already knew it? I did say that! "What about them, Dad?"

"Oh, just a few questions about changelings you could answer, since you knew them so well." He had a shrewd look on his face. He knew... Did he run into Cheerilee?

Mom suddenly clopped the table. "Can we not discuss such revolting topics at the table? I'd like to keep my appetite, and that involves not bringing up hideous monsters." She pushed against the table and snorted with obvious disdain. "What is that new upstart thinking? A peace treaty with them? As if they can be trusted with anything. Like sleeping with a tiger and hoping everything works out, if the tiger had mange and was missing an eye. Have you seen how ugly they are? And they all look alike! When they're not looking just like somepony you know. Ugh." She shuddered with revulsion and turned her gaze on me, then lower. "What is that?"

I looked down to see she was referring to the pendant I wore. Daddy noticed it too and raised a brow. "That's a curious-looking thing. I don't think it's your usual style, dear."

Ugh, why'd it have to be a laughing donkey? And made of wood! "Oh, just a little good luck charm."

Mom rose up, leaning on her hooves on the table instead of her rump. "My daughter does not need good luck charms, especially one so hideous. Diamond Tiara, remove that this instant, and give it to Randolph to burn. It's ugly anyway."

Silver Spoon gave a soft gasp. "Missus Rich... I'm sorry my taste in gifts..." She looked away like she was hurt. Oh, that was so good! I had to give her a big hoofbump after we were in the clear.

Mom looked surprised. "O-oh! Just... remove it at the table." She cleared her throat as she sank back down to her rump. "Really, dear, wherever did you find such a... unique thing?"

Silver Spoon adjusted her glasses. "Oh, I ordered it, all the way from Zebrica." Mom looked suddenly more interested. "It was very expensive." She was sold. "It's supposed to be a ward against bad fortunes. I thought it'd be a little more handsome, but this is what they delivered. Still, it's quite exotic."

"Yes, exotic." She tilted her head faintly. "Diamond, save it for... special occasions." She clearly still thought it was a bit ugly, but 'exotic' ugly was different than normal ugly. "We wouldn't want to get it dirty at the dinner table." Pfft, as if I believed she cared about that for an instant. I took it off anyway and tucked it underneath me for the moment, out of sight.

Dad cleared his throat softly as the meal was set before us. "Diamond, about that lesson." I had hoped he forgot in the conversation. "So, tell me about the changelings."

Mom scowled. "Must we at the table? Really, dear husband, this isn't polite conversation at all." She served herself some food and gestured at Randolph, who hurried forward to fill her glass with some wine. "You can wait until after dinner."

I rubbed behind my head a little. "About that..." I could feel the love coming from Daddy and Silver and Mom. Each was different. Each had a taste! I didn't know what it meant, if it meant anything at all. Maybe it was just different based on the pony. But if they all loved me, maybe... maybe I could just get it out there, and not hide the rest of the week. "Just being a changeling isn't so bad, is it, if they were somepony you actually knew well, right?"

Mom spat out some of the wine she'd just started to drink. "Perish the thought! Imagine that, somepony I thought I knew turned out to be a changeling?! Why, I'd be, we'd all be laughing stocks. That is not how we advance as privileged ponies." She leaned forward towards me. "Just imagine the diseases they could give you without you even knowing, to say nothing of foalnapping the lot of us and leaving us withered husks. I'm afraid the only reasonable response would be to firmly disavow any relationship to such a... thing..."

Dad reacted better, but went way off track. "Are you worried they're imitating us, pumpkin? I assure you, your father's still his old self." He reached over and nudged me on the shoulder. "Besides, a shrewd filly like you? You'd spot a changeling in an instant."

I gave a nervous laugh at that. I didn't spot them instantly last time, and I was one that time. I was an ugly bug, hiding right in front of them... "Yeah... I wouldn't be easy to fool, but, you know, just saying... in theory." I was glad being well-fed seemed to keep my disguise firm. With all three of them, I had no problem holding my shape, even with the distractions.

Mom pointed a fork she had clipped to her hoof at me. "That's quite enough of that. I made it perfectly clear I don't want that discussed around dinner. You're doing it on purpose now. Let's eat and talk like civilized ponies, not gossip about one of the most revolting creatures I've had the displeasure of being around." She crossed her forelegs. "We would disavow them and bar them from our presence, before we reported them immediately to the guards, the end. Now..." She fixed her eyes on Dad. "About that event coming up this weekend?"

Dad sat up. "Ah! Yes, everything's ready for it, darling. I've double checked the invitations--" He and she began rambling about some party Mom was clearly invested in. I wasn't going to get any help from them, especially Mom... The way she spoke, she'd kick me right out of the house if I told her the truth, then call the guards to haul me away without a second thought. I couldn't tell them...

Silver Spoon suddenly raised a hoof. "Excuse me. Apologies for interrupting, but may I borrow Diamond Tiara this evening? I was hoping to study with her. I didn't pick up everything about today's lesson and she already knows so much about it."

Dad looked surprised. "Oh, does she now?" His doubt lifted into a smile. "Of course. Diamond, help your friend." I'd normally bristle at being told what to do, but it was perfect! Perfectly perfect!

"Of course, Daddy," I said in an almost sing-song agreement and we shared a smile.

Mom snorted softly. "Really, of all the talents. Knowing about those isn't going to help you much in life, mark my words."

Silver Spoon wobbled a hoof. "Oh, I know, but I can't fail another test. It would just, like, be dreadful to get any more of Miss Cheerilee's attention."

That seemed to mollify Mom, and we finished up dinner in relative peace. I wouldn't get help from my parents, but I had permission to visit Silver for the night. Wait, one night? "You know, Silver, the test's next week. I'll stay with you and make sure you not only pass, but get an A. That'll show Miss Cheerilee who the true quality ponies are." My parents looked proud of my 'generous' offer to Silver, and it was settled. They wouldn't be surprised if I wasn't around much for a while, and maybe I could survive the week without ending up in jail or worse.


> 6 - Escape from Home
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

After dinner, we slipped out towards my room. I slipped the amulet back on as we went and let out a little sigh of relief. It was like specifically measuring your breath as you went, then not having to. I wasn't a vampire! I didn't want to hurt them...

"I took the liberty of packing your things." It was Randolph, holding a saddlebag in his mouth, my saddlebag.

Thinking about what I learned before, I wondered if he wasn't happy that I was going to be away for a while. I felt anger well up a moment before it crashed down. Maybe he wasn't wrong about that...

I took the bag from him and slipped it around my midsection. "Thank you." He seemed surprised that I'd even say that. "What? Just... thanks." I turned away from him towards the front of the house. "I'll be back afterwards..." I grit my teeth a moment. "Sorry."

He raised a brow and looked all the more confused. "Whatever for, madame?"

Silver Spoon was looking almost as confused, glancing back and forth between us but keeping out of it.

I waved a hoof at him. "Just sorry. You... I appreciate what you've done for me."

He dipped his head low. "I'm just doing my job, madame."

I wheeled on him and put a hoof on his shoulder. "You've been like a..." Well, not like a father. Daddy was the only daddy, but... "You're family. I didn't mean to walk over you like that."

Randolph backed away a step. Was he confused I'd say sorry? "W-what brings this on, madame?"

I moved over beside Silver Spoon. "I'll miss you while we're gone. When I get back, we should, I don't know, do something."

We left together, leaving a probably confused Randolph behind. Silver moved up beside me. "What was all that about? I mean, like, it wasn't bad, but..."

She was confused too. Was it that confusing I could change my mind about something? "I made friends with the Cutie Mark Crusaders, my own butler shouldn't be so controversial."

Silver nodded a little. "Actually, imagine your mom's reaction."

I thought about it and made a face. "I could imagine her right now. Properly wealthy ponies can't be seen fraternizing with the help." I tried to imitate her snooty look and voice as I continued, "You won't properly impress anypony with friends like those!"

Silver giggled softly. "Exactly. Don't let her hear you making friends with him all of a sudden or she'll give you grief."

I turned towards her and held a hoof up high. She looked confused a moment before she reached up and we bopped our hooves together. "That's for the saves at dinner. You were right on the ball, thank you."

She smiled radiantly, and I could feel her emotions increasing. I wondered about them a moment even as I waved towards her house and we traveled into town as the sun set. It was getting dark, but we were together, and we were close to Ponyville. There wasn't much to be worried about.

As we got through the center of town, I noticed there weren't many ponies out. Had they gone to bed already? It wasn't that late... "Hey, Silver. Where's everypony?"

Silver looked around as we walked forward. "Huh, that's weird..."

We heard a howl, and it had friends. It was scary enough to hear Timberwolves far off towards the Everfree, but this pack sounded like it was practically on top of us. What were they doing in Ponyville?! We clung together in terror a moment before I pointed ahead without talking. Silver nodded at me and we began to hustle ahead silently, hoping we could reach Silver Spoon's house before any wolves found us.

Her house was closer than mine at that point, and my house involved walking back out of Ponyville, with rabid timber wolves so close to us. Nope! It was Silver's house or nowhere at all.

As we turned the corner, we practically ran face-to-tail into a timber wolf. The only reason it hadn't seen us right away is that it had a panicked pony in its jaws already! Every time the pony even tried to make a noise, it would clench harder around its throat, holding the poor stallion there in its deadly grip.

Silver thumped against me and pointed at the stallion, as if I didn't see him! We'd all become...

I didn't get to finish that thought as Silver Spoon kicked a rock at the wolf and it bounced off its head. The wolf dropped the blue stallion to the ground with a snarl of annoyance and spun to face us.

Dang it... Silver went all frozen. It was up to me, either get us out of this, or we'd become its next meal. Ok, think. I didn't have a lot of practice at fighting things. We weren't fast enough to run away. But I was a gross bug. It was use what we had, or be dinner.

I imagined the big bear that Fluttershy liked to hang around with and flames rushed out from me as I became larger and stronger. The wolf shied back, from my size or maybe the fire. I roared with all the volume I could muster and waved my huge claws at it. Go away and leave us alone! I couldn't say that, but I could think it.

The wolf recovered from its surprise and let loose its own howl, but it didn't seem as terrifying when I was a lot closer to its size. It jumped at me and dug its wooden stake teeth into my side, but my tough bear hide wasn't so easily harmed. I grabbed it with my big claws and threw it aside. It smashed into a building and scattered into pieces everywhere.

Silver Spoon pointed at her house. "Let's go!" She hurried to grab the limp stallion and drag him off on her back, but that was way too slow. I snatched up the stallion and Silver spoon under my new legs, cradling them in my paws. I wasn't thinking how to do it, I just did it, and I ran as fast as I could. We were at Silver's house in an instant. She had a nice house in the town, and I was never happier to see it.

I set them both down and looked around. No wolves in sight.

Silver waved at me frantically. "Go back to normal!"

Oh. I quickly became my gorgeous self and smiled at her. She jumped at me and hugged me. "You were great! We would all be munched if it wasn't for you."

We heard a groan and looked over to see the stallion slowly pushing up to his hooves. "What happened?"

Silver thrust a hoof at me. "You were going to be made into dinner until Diamond Tiara came along and beat that timber wolf up."

He looked startled. "Oh... thank you." He looked me over with amazement. "You're very talented for such a small filly. Please, we should all get home while we can." He bowed his head and moved to slip off, probably to run off to his own house.

That was a good idea, and we headed into her house. We closed the door and slid the bolt on the deadlock. Safe... I let out a soft sigh, "You alright?"

Silver bobbed her head, "Thanks to you." She smiled a little. "You're like a superhero."

I was famished. Becoming bigger was harder than just being me. Thankfully, I was near Silver, and she was practically gushing warmth at me. I was also thankful I had the amulet on, because I was sure I'd try to suck a little with how hungry I felt. "We shouldn't... rely on that. It was harder than it looked, but I'm glad you're alright." 

We did our special dance. "Bump, bump, sugar lump, rump." Giggling, we moved to go to her room. Her parents didn't stop us, but they were more laid back than mine, and probably just assumed we were playing, which wasn't too far from the truth in the end.

I set my saddlebag down beside her door and got out some of my grooming supplies. We started getting ready for bed as I began to feel better. As long as I could stay around Silver and I wasn't doing anything too bad, I could recover from that terrible hunger while still being... me.

"Is it that bad?" Silver was on her bed, laying on her belly and looking at me with those big, curious, eyes. "Does it hurt?"

I shook my head as I worked the brush through my mane. "It doesn't hurt, but it isn't me. I want to not be a bug again. Wouldn't you?"

She didn't answer immediately, and I frowned. "Wouldn't you?"

She started at my repeated question. "Oh! Yeah, of course... Are you alright?"

I sighed a little. "I feel like I need to eat a big hay burger, but I can't just eat a snack. I have to wait to recharge. Around you... You're feeding me."

She recoiled a little. "You're eating me?"

I moved over and hopped up on the bed. "Nothing like that. You put it out... It's like, uh... It's like how you make things warmer, because you're warm. Being in that warmth makes me feel good and makes the hunger go away, without making you cold." I raised the hoof to bat at the amulet. "If I wasn't wearing this, it'd be different."

She rolled over onto her side and looked at the laughing donkey. "What does it do, exactly?"

I looked down at it, then sank to my belly on the bed. "It keeps me from making you cold. Without it, instead of just being warm from your warmth, I can pull that warmth out of you, your love."

She blushed. "I don't love you, Diamond Tiara!"

I smiled at her misunderstanding. "Silly, not like that. Like friends. Like family. That kind of love. I can't pull it out of you, so you don't get hurt. I just have to wait and be hungry a while."

Silver was still colored. "Oh, yeah. We're good friends... Diamond? Are we... BFFs?"

I giggled a little. "Dummy, of course we are. BFFs... forever."

Silver snorted softly as she nudged forward a tiny bit. "BFF is already forever, Diamond."

I rolled my eyes. "Oh sure, ruin the moment." But she kept coming, and I quieted.

She slid towards me and pulled up the covers. She snuggled in close. "You can get warmer closer." She held me in the dark, and it felt nice. She trusted me, and she cared for me, and she was right... It did feel better that close to her. I fell asleep, ending my first day as an insect.	
> 7 - Heading to School
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

I woke up to a new pain and flopped out of bed before I knew what was going on. Silver leaned over the side of her bed. "Are you alright?" 

Her concern made the pain fade a little and I smiled up at her, though it turned into a grimace as I noticed two things. I was a bug, and it still hurt. I tried to call up my usual self only for the general pain to turn into a massive headache. I put a hoof to my head and wobbled dizzily.

Silver hopped down beside me and threw her blanket around me. "What's wrong?"

"I don't know!" The headache faded as she fussed over me, but it was kinda embarrassing. I wasn't a little foal! "Silver, it's alright. I'm okay." I leaned back against her bed and let out a slow breath. "Can you bring some breakfast? Maybe that'll settle things down."

She quickly nodded as she grabbed her glasses and put them on her snout. "Be right back. You stay right there." My urge to snap at her was a little blunted with the powerful waves she was putting off. She was really worried, or at least she really cared? Could changelings feel 'worry'? She hurried from the room and left me alone.

It should have been a relief. I was alone, with peace and quiet. I hated it. I never hated it so much before. I wanted more of what she was making, and I wanted it right then! Part of me wanted to take off that amulet and drink deeply enough to make the hurting stop and put everything to right.

What did I do to make this happen? Was it the bite? Was it... of course. I flopped over and quietly promised myself not to try becoming something big and fierce again. I didn't want to feel that ever again, or even have the temptation of becoming a real vampire just to sate some kind of stupid power trip.

Silver Spoon opened the door after a little knock and slipped inside with a tray balanced on her back. She closed the door quickly behind herself and scooted over to me. "You must be really sick." She set the tray near me and put a glass of orange juice in my reach. "Are you still hungry?"

I waved a hoof vaguely as I tried to push up with the other forehoof, getting myself propped up. "No, not sick. I'm fine. I'll be fine. What time is it? I want to get to school today." She looked surprised, but helped me get at the food and kept fussing over me. I wasn't sure if I wanted her to stop or not, but the headache was gone, and I could enjoy what she brought.

Despite being an emotion-feeding leech, orange juice still tasted nice and made me less thirsty. The eggs were bland, but acceptable. I felt better, better enough to try again. I took my time, pulling the image of my pony self closer slowly and letting that heat build up without hurrying it. When I felt all nice and warm all over, I let the fire come, and I was me again. "Much better."

Silver squeaked and stomped out a lick of fire that'd caught on her blanket. "You shouldn't do that while under a blanket," she admonished with a nervous smile. "Glad you're feeling better though. Let's get washed up and ready for school, if you're sure?" I nodded quickly. "Alright."

We got ourselves bathed, brushed, and ready for the day. I wondered a moment how effective bathing and brushing in a disguise was a moment, but put the thought aside. My fur reacted like it was washed and brushed, so roll with it, or so I decided.

We emerged into the morning light and I smiled. We were going to school. I felt... normal. Sure, school could get boring at times, but it was where I normally went, and where I'd go if I wasn't a creepy insect.

"Hey Diamond, Silver." It was Apple Bloom. "Did ya take care of whatever called ya away yesterday?"

I licked over my lips in sudden indecision. How much do I tell her? We were friends now, right? I couldn't be sure of what I felt from her. I think we were? "Apple Bloom, I'm glad you showed up, actually."

Apple Bloom tilted her head at me. "Oh, what fer?" She noticed my pendant and pointed at it. "What's that thing? It looks like somethin' Zecora would have."

I was irritated and amazed at how perceptive she was about that. Were they good friends? "Oh, this old thing? Just a lucky charm."

Silver looked like she wanted to say something, but kept it to herself for the moment.

"I need to ask you something." I reached out and put a hoof around Apple Bloom's head, drawing her closer. "Can you keep a secret? Like a super mega ultra secret?"

Apple Bloom bobbed her head quickly. "So long as it ain't somethin' like Ponyville's gonna explode or anythin'."

I shook my head. "Nothing that drastic." I led her around the side of a building, out of sight of the street and other ponies. Silver Spoon followed after us and started looking for others coming up for us on her own.

Apple Bloom peeked around the alleyway before turning back to me. "What'd ya want to show me here? I don't see much."

I took a slow breath and nodded. "First, promise you won't scream, and you won't run away."

Apple Bloom raised a brow at me. "Is this a trick ta get me scared? Ah ain't scared, Diamond. Now cut it out, we're gonna be late for school and this ain't funny."

It was do or don't do. I wasn't going to let this country filly's stubborn streak stand in the way. Her attitude felt like a challenge, and I took it. With a rush of fire, I became the bug. "Still not scared?"

Apple Bloom squeaked and took a step back. "A changeling?! What'd you do with Diamond Tiara!" She advanced on me with a frown. "Give 'er back!"

Silver Spoon threw up a hoof towards her. "Wait! This is Diamond Tiara, I swear!"

I nodded at Silver before looking at Apple Bloom. "It is me. This is the secret. I was cursed into being a changeling for a little while."

Apple Bloom tilted her head to the left, then the right. She took a slow breath, then reached out to poke me right on the nose. "Wow... I didn't know ya could even do that.  Uh, ya better turn back."

I did so, but Apple Bloom snickered, and Silver Spoon didn't look much better. Did I do something wrong? "What is it?"

Apple Bloom reached over and pulled my mane into view. It was actually diamond. It sparkled in the light! "Did ya do that on purpose?"

I turned around and saw my tail was also diamond colored and shaded. If I had done it on purpose, I would say it was a very pretty look, but I didn't! I tried to turn back, but it wouldn't go away. I even tried turning back into a bug, but it followed me there. I was like one of those crystal ponies, at least in my mane and tail.

Silver shook her head. "It's not so bad. You actually look kind of pretty with it." Apple Bloom nodded in agreement with her.

With a sigh, I turned back to my pony self. "Nothing for it now, we should get to class. Apple Bloom, please, this is a secret. Can I count on you?"

She snapped a sharp salute. "Of course! Should I mention it to the other girls? You know, the CMC? We're kind of a team."

They were... Part of me wanted to stop spreading my shame, but they were clever. Maybe they could figure out how to turn me back without hoping on the mercy of Miss Queen Bug. "Alright, go ahead, discreetly." She looked confused. "Subtly." Still confused. "Do it so other ponies won't see it."

"Oh!" She smiled. "Shoulda just said so."

I put a hoof over my face a moment. "Right. Let's meet after school? We'll come up with some plans. If nothing else, I should be able to turn back after a week, but I... I don't trust it. I'd rather find our own way."

Apple Bloom tilted her head a bit. "Ah don't fully understand it, but don't worry! We're on your side." She hugged me suddenly, and I felt it. She did care. It wasn't as obvious as Silver Spoon, but she was my BFF, so I guessed nopony was going to compete with her. "Let's get goin'!"

We emerged onto the street and hurried to school. That's when I saw him. Blunt... Hooves, that was it, Blunt Hooves. He was sitting right in the front and smiling like he belonged there. I knew his secret. Of course, he knew mine. He might have answers... But I couldn't go asking him in the middle of class, so I took my usual spot, and Silver Spoon settled beside me.

Miss Cheerilee stood in front of the class with that bright, slightly fake, smile. "Good morning, students." She raised a hoof to gesture at the other changeling. "We have a new student today! He's an immigrant and it's an honor to have him with us. Please welcome Blunt Hooves."

The class clopped their hooves politely as a few ponies around him asked excited questions like 'What country are you from?' and 'What's it like there?!' and 'Welcome to Ponyville!'

Cheerilee gently clopped the floor. "That's enough for now, you'll have plenty of time to get to know him better during recess. Diamond Tiara?" She was looking right at me, startling me out of my thoughts. "Please abstain from such distracting mane and tail dyes in the future."

"Um, yes teacher." I brushed a hoof through my glittering mane. "My mom got it for me and I had to try it."

She smiled lightly, accepting the reasoning and moving on to lessons. Why had I gone all sparkly? I mean, it was kind of bedazzling, but I didn't ask for it. It really went off well against my tiara, come to think of it.

Cheerilee suddenly called on me and asked a question. I hadn't been paying attention but managed to fudge my way through it without looking too awkward, and she moved on with a firm nod. I tried to pay more attention, just to avoid any further embarrassments. I'd get some answers, soon.

A soft whispered hiss caught my attention and I glanced to see Silver Spoon passing me a note. I took it and flipped it open behind cover of my notebook.



Hiya Diamond!

I already told the girls and they're with you, 100%! We'll get together at recess and try to think of something. For now, let's not get in trouble in school. Don't worry, the CMC are on the case!

Your friend,
Apple Bloom



I felt a little relived and worried at once. Hopefully they wouldn't do anything too rash.
> 8 - Taking a Break
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cheerilee released us out into the yard for recess, where we could eat a snack, play, and generally do whatever we wanted, so long as we stayed near the school. I trotted out beside Silver Spoon just for Scootaloo to hiss at us and wave at us from behind the school.

The CMC were clearly ready to begin, and I wasn't sure if that was a good thing, or a terrible thing. I'd come this far... I could at least let them try to be useful. With a reinforcing breath, I turned towards Scootaloo and began approaching, mildly comforted that Silver Spoon was at my side.

She was there with her friends, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, and all three of them were smiling at me in a bit of an unnerving and shared way.

Sweetie rushed up to me the moment I was out of sight of most of the yard. "Is it true?! Don't worry, we'll fix everything!" She reached out and prodded at me, perhaps feeling for the icky bug hiding just under the flesh. I couldn't feel her caring, but I couldn't feel Apple Bloom's unless we were in hugging distance. What did that mean? Were they helping out of some kind of self-appointed 'duty' to everypony?

Scootaloo jumped into the air, her wings buzzing as she came down. "Can you fly?" The others looked at her oddly, and I joined them. "What? I'm curious. Changelings have wings... Did you try yet?"

Silver Spoon frowned a little. "We're here to fix Diamond, not practice being a cursed bug."

A sudden thought came to me and a smile crept across my snout as I held an image firmly in my mind. With a rush of flames, they could see how perfect I was. I spread my large feathery wings and held up my horn at them, right in the middle of my tiara. I was a princess! Princess Tiara. Princess Diamond Tiara. Yes, that had a nice ring to it.

They looked amazed and awe struck, as they should have been. Scootaloo broke the stun effect first by pointing at my new wings. "So, can you fly?"

My wings were much larger than hers, poor thing. I felt a little trickle coming from Scootaloo, was it jealousy or amazement? Did either count? I could feel something from her. I gave a few powerful flaps and lifted a few inches from the ground. It felt... amazing! I was flying! It wasn't effortless, by far, but I was flying!

Scootaloo began clopping her hooves and stomping in... joy? What about this was making her so happy?

Apple Bloom tilted her head. "Ah bet ya could use that horn of yers if ya practiced, but we didn't come back here to make you a better changeling."

Her words were like a pail of water. I touched the ground carefully and folded up my wings. "Right. Did you three have any ideas on how to turn me back?"

"D-don't!" We turned to see Blunt Hooves rushing towards us. "Diamond Tiara, please, turn back! Taking powerful forms is very dangerous, and painful, for us."

Was my Diamond Tiara-sized alicorn the same as that bear? It seemed ridiculous. "I'm not even bigger than I was before. Why would it be hard?"

Blunt Hooves glanced at the others and became nervous. I rolled a hoof at him. "They can be trusted."

He nodded slowly. "Alright... Yes. Unless you're in your natural form, showing off your wings and horns at once is hard, especially with such large wings, and a big horn. If you wanted to be a pegasus, or a unicorn, fine, but not both at once." He took a soft breath. "At least you didn't try growing with it. Please, turn back, for your own sake."

I decided he didn't have much reason to fib about that, so I returned to my usual earth pony filly self and looked myself over. I was normal, except the diamond mane and tail. "Since you're here, can you explain the diamond patches?"

Sweetie pointed at him. "That's the new foal, what's he have to do..." It struck her, right across her snout. "You're a changeling?!"

Blunt shrank away. "I just want to go to a pony school, like a pony."

Apple Bloom threw a leg over his neck and pulled him closer. "It's alright! Miss Cheerilee just told us about them yesterday. If yer here to be a student like the rest of us, then welcome to Ponyville!"

Blunt shook his head. "But... mother almost hurt you all very badly. Aren't you upset about that?"

Scootaloo shrugged. "She isn't you, and if she was pony enough to apologize and make amends, we can give her... wait, are you her foal?"

I had a lot I wanted to say about that rot... It died off in my head. I couldn't think nasty thoughts, or say any thoughts about her. Grr! I ended up just listening as they talked about her, unable to do very much.

Apple Bloom clopped her hooves twice. "That's amazing! What's it like to have a queen for a mom?"

Blunt looked embarrassed. "It's nothing special... She's a good mom, maybe a little overprotective..." He looked at me as he said that. "Sorry, again. I didn't mean for her to go to such extremes just to teach you a lesson. You don't deserve to be scared this way."

Sweetie tilted her head. "So she did zap Diamond Tiara?"

"That's what I said!" I never actually said that, but I was... trying to think it really hard.

Silver Spoon raised a hoof to her snout. "How did you get involved in Queen Chrysalis?"

Blunt seemed to realize he had been the one to rat out his own mom and started turning red. "I've said too much."

Scootaloo pointed at Blunt. "Not so fast! Turning a pony into a changeling like that? That's a big deal! Your mom's going to get into serious trouble." All three of them nodded firmly, looking ready to march off and tattle right to Princess Twilight or something.

Blunt held up his forehooves. "No! Please! It's not nearly as bad as it looks. I swear! She's trying to teach a lesson, not hurt Diamond. Why would anypony hurt Diamond Tiara?" He glanced at me, then away, and I felt the faintest wisp of something.

Oh... Oh Celestia... Was a bug falling for me? I looked closer at the way he stood and it all seemed so obvious. He wasn't just being nervous about his mom getting in trouble. He was trying... failing... He wanted to get closer to me. Why would he want to be anywhere near me, considering what I'd said?

Silver looked between me and Blunt. "But turning a pony into a changeling?!"

Blunt grit his teeth a moment. "I swear, it isn't as bad as it looks. Please... I can't explain it now, but she'll be alright..." He gestured a hoof at my diamond bits. "I'm not sure what did that though. I've never turned diamond, or any other rock before. Only some changelings can imitate crystal ponies at all." He gave a slightly goofy smile. "You're really talented."

The love of a changeling felt... different. I could feel it gently waving off of him, but it didn't fuel me like Silver Spoon's at all. I guessed bugs couldn't feed each other, at least not passively. I wondered a moment if I could draw on purpose if I didn't have my amulet on. That would be a grisly way for changelings to survive if things got really bad.

Apple Bloom put a hoof to her head. "Fine, then are we allowed to turn her back early?"

I nodded quickly. "Yes, that isn't against some 'rule', is it? S..." Darn it, I still couldn't talk about her. Maybe if I made up a keyword to stand in for her?

Blunt shuffled his hooves against the grass. "It won't work."

Scootaloo crossed her forelegs. "We're on the case! We'll figure it out."

Blunt gave a little nod. "If it makes you feel better, go ahead, but it won't. Mom'll fix you, especially if you are sorry."

I was being held hostage, for some lousy apology! "Changelings are still icky insects." He shrank and looked hurt. The wisp cut off. "Don't look like that! We are! We have big nasty shells and huge holes and..."

He closed with me and reached out a hoof. It was my turn to shy back. "We're not that good of friends!" But he touched anyway. Somehow he could press right through the disguise and he gently traced along one of my larger shell portions.

"Being shelled isn't all bad... It's different, but not bad. We don't have to hurt anyone around us, and a lot of us don't want to. I don't want to. Am I really that... That awful? Think of all the fun and helpful things we could do, with other ponies, if we were allowed to."

Silver Spoon moved between us, protecting me faithfully. "That's enough... What was your name?"

Blunt backed up a few steps. "Blunt Hooves. It was nice meeting you all. Please don't get my mom into trouble." He turned and fled away back to the front of the school house.

Apple Bloom tilted her head. "Well... That changes things a mite. Do we try to find a way to turn Diamond back on our own, or go to Twilight and ask her?"

Scootaloo tapped her chin. "As much as I think your alchemy is super cool, this feels way important. We learned our lesson about not asking for help, remember?"

Sweetie smiled. "My sister would stand right up to that changeling and tell her to change Diamond Tiara right back."

I realized that my condition was about to be blown wide open to everypony, especially the princess. I cleared my throat. "As much as I appreciate the sentiment, I'd rather my 'condition' were kept more discreet." I was going to say some things about Chrysalis, but just couldn't.

Silver Spoon jumped to my aid. "Her parents would get creeped out and I bet her mother would yell for months. Isn't there some way we can handle this without bringing more ponies into it?" She gestured at the CMC as a whole. "She's trusting you, all of you, to help her, quietly."

Sweetie frowned with thought. "Oh, yeah, you have a point there. We didn't mean to imply we were going to hurt your reputation, Diamond." She offered up a hoof. "Still friends?"

I tapped her hoof with my own. "Of course. You didn't actually go through with it." We all shared a hoof bump and it was agreed, no tattling just yet. Before much else could be said, the bell of the school began to gently toll, calling us back to class. 

It wasn't as productive as I'd wanted it in some ways, and wildly more so in others.
> 9 - Learning Lessons
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

I settled beside Silver and looked around. The CMC gave a collective raising of the hooves to let me know they were still on the case, whatever that was good for in the end. I returned to looking at our teacher as she began giving a lesson on weather management.

Yawn. Only a pegasus would get anything out of this, and I wasn't one of those. Though I guessed I could become one if I wanted, but not here, not now. As if I'd blow my secret in front of the entire class like that. I tried to pay attention to the lesson, but I was a little distracted with far more immediate issues. I found myself wondering if she had covered anything useful about changelings the day before.

I could ask the girls, and I decided I should, just in case it was more than just 'you should be alright with them.'

I think my time as an alicorn caught up with me as I felt dizzy and tired, but I was at least already in Silver's warm aura. I just had to... relax. I smiled a little at the memory. Still worth it. A shame I didn't get to try magic! Maybe later.

What was I saying? This wasn't the time to explore being a bug, even if it had a few perks. I did wonder a little, if they had the power to fly and do magic, why even hide? Was it something they learned, or was there some kind of practical reason for it? Then again, I heard when they attacked Canterlot, they mostly did it without disguises, and were a force to be reckoned with.

Imagine that, taking over Canterlot, and now the Princess has pardoned them all. Things change so quickly. Hay, they took over Ponyville once before and threatened the CMC and Princess Twilight and her friends, and that's all water under the bridge. Why would they just forgive them after causing so much trouble for everypony?

A piece of paper bounced off my head and I snorted before unfolding it to find a note.



Hello,

I'm still on your side, even if you were mean to me before.

We're Not All Bad,
Blunt Hooves



Short and to the point. I crumpled the paper back up and glanced over at him, but he was looking ahead at the board. It suddenly struck me, did changelings have real mares and stallions when they could, in theory, be either if they wanted to be? How did that work? I guessed they gravitated towards whatever one they were born as. Blunt Hooves was a colt, and acted like one, and even seemed to fall for mares like one too.

We're not all bad. He was still a bug... But he hasn't been a bad pony so far, just kinda... gross. Just like me. I wondered how he managed to stay in disguise all day long without a love source.

"Diamond Tiara." I snapped my head up towards Cheerilee, who was smiling that 'I caught you' smile. "What would your answer be?"

I hadn't been listening at all!

Silver raised a hoof. "Miss, Diamond isn't feeling very well."

Cheerilee looked surprised at that. "Is that why you've been looking so out of it? Why didn't you tell me?" She trotted over and reached a hoof towards me. Thinking fast, I thought of my alicorn self and let the heat build without letting it flare. She felt my warm forehead and frowned. "You should rest when you're sick. I appreciate trying to soldier through, but you're not going to learn much in this state."

I smiled at her. "I don't want to miss anymore lessons. I'll try harder."

Her surprise deepened to shock. "You must not be feeling well..." Was it that hard to believe I'd try to do good in school? "If you're sure you can handle it, but if you feel dizzy or tired, go home. You won't be punished for that." She smiled gently and I felt a little blip of true caring from her. "Now as I was saying..."

She was still talking about weather patterns and how pegasi reacted to and controlled them as needed. A glance around showed that the pegasi in the room were interested. Scootaloo was practically staring. Poor thing, maybe someday she'd get off the ground besides jumps with her scooter. I wonder how she felt when I just sprouted wings and flew on the spot when she'd been trying for so long?

Why did she look so happy about it then, instead of angry, or jealous, or even sad? Was she really just so happy for me, and she didn't even think about what it meant for herself? Was she just in love with the idea of flying that seeing one of her friends take flight was just that much fun, even if it wasn't her?

I kinda wanted to ask her, but how would I phrase that? I didn't want to hurt her, and 'hey, flightless wonder, check out these huge wings!' was not likely to fly over well, pun intended. A new idea came up and I smiled. I've seen her being carried around by Rainbow Dash, and she always had a great time, maybe... Maybe I could give her a ride, and ask her subtly while we're up there.

It was then that I realized I was thinking about learning about Scootaloo more than how to not be a bug! What was wrong with me?

... But I did want to know, and feel what it was like to fly, for real. Maybe... Maybe I was still an icky bug, but I could at least enjoy some of it, right? 

Mercifully, class drew to a close. I let the other foals rush out before I hopped down. Silver Spoon walked alongside me and I found my thoughts turning to her. She was a true friend. Except that one time, she'd never turned against me... and maybe I deserved that time. Even when she was super angry with me, she wanted to be my friend. I wanted to be friends with her. We fit together, and we understood each other.

I moved in closer and bumped our flanks together and she smiled. BFF. Not everypony had one of those, but I did... "Silver, I want to try something with Scootaloo and flying."

Silver tilted her head curiously. "Oh? Remember not to do the alicorn thing again. You looked really sick for a while there."

I shook my head quickly. "Promise, no Princess Tiara, no matter how nice that sounds."

She looked relieved. "Want me to come with you?"

I considered that. "Assuming everything works, I'll be flying around." I couldn't help but feel a thrill of excitement at the idea. I never thought I'd get a chance to soar like a pegasus. "I don't want you to be stuck waiting for me."

She lifted her shoulders. "No big deal. I can work on some, like, reading while you're busy. Just come back down when you get tired, then we'll head home. You still look a little down."

That was all the permission I needed! I hopped into some bushes nearby and focused on the form of myself with wings, but more changed than that. I became a pegasus. I was leaner and lighter, built for flying. I wasn't an earth pony, and that felt odd. I gave my new wings a few experimental flaps. I felt ready!

I emerged from the bushes  and Silver squeaked. "Diamond! You look... different. I thought you'd just sprout wings."

I looked back at myself before nodding at her. "Me too. I went all pegasus. I guess that makes sense, to make flying easier." I spread my new wings wide as I turned for Silver Spoon. "How do I look?"

She giggled a little. "Like you were always a pegasus. Oh, here they come."

The Crusaders rushed over, though they looked curious. Sweetie spoke first, pointing at my new wings. "What happened?"

I grinned at her, then pointed at Scootaloo. "I wanted to go flying with my friend."

Scootaloo looked shocked, then turned a little red. "Y-you don't have to!"

I moved over to her and gently bumped side-by-side. "You know you want to go flying. Let's do it!"

She nodded timidly before she regained her bravery and flashed a smile. "You're not as big as Rainbow Dash. How are you going to hold me?"

I flapped my wings and gained about a foot, enough to throw all my legs over Scootaloo and pull her up tight. I was hugging her from above and she was secure. "Like this!"

Scootaloo giggled with growing excitement. "How do you even know how to fly?!" I could feel her happiness, and love? Whatever it was, she was gushing all over. "This is so cool! Let's go!"

Apple Bloom tilted her head. "Oh, uh, have fun! We'll wait here, I guess."

Silver Spoon smiled. "Let's go over our homework." They settled down and pulled out their books, but I wasn't paying much attention to them as I slowly gained altitude with my passenger and started making slow circles and banks. I didn't know how I knew how to fly either, but it just... came naturally. Changelings had wings normally, maybe that was it?

Scootaloo pointed to the top of the school house. "Let's tag the bell!"

I veered towards it and flew past it as Scoots reached out and slapped the bell, making it ring softly as she cheered in delight.

Scootaloo looked over her shoulder at me. "Maybe changelings aren't so bad."

I felt a sudden conflict of emotions. She was calling me not so bad, but I wasn't a changeling! I... I squeezed her close. "I know you like flying. How's it feel?"

Scootaloo sighed gently. "I wish I could do it on my own... But this is good too! Thanks." She pointed up at the clouds. "See if you can sit on one!"

We raised high into the sky to reach the cloud. I set Scootaloo down. Her pegasus magic worked well enough to hold her on the cloud as I landed beside her, but felt something weird. It was like I was doing something fancy. It took effort. I... Ah ha! Changelings don't normally rest on clouds. It took extra effort to do it.

It was soft... Like an extra luxury pillow under me. Scootaloo sprawled out on it, giggling. "I don't get to sit on these too often. Look how small everything looks!"

I put a leg around Scootaloo, pulling her close as I peeked over the side. Oh wow! We were up high. I felt dizzy looking at it, and suddenly the cloud gave way under me. I was hanging on by Scootaloo as my disguise faded away, leaving me as a bug, dangling.

Scootaloo struggled to hold me up. "Diamond... use your wings!"

Wings? I... oh yeah... I spread out my insect wings and they began to buzz softly. I lifted up beside Scootaloo safely and let out a loud breath of relief. "Thanks, forgot all about that for a moment."

Scootaloo smiled. "Changelings fly funny, but it's kind of cool too. Like a bumble bee. Want to go back down?"

Going back down sounded like a good idea. I grabbed her up and took off for the safety of the ground far below us. I kept my eyes on her, or the sky. I didn't want to get dizzy again. Flying was fun, but kind of scary.
> 10 - Spotted
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

As I came down towards the other Crusaders and Silver Spoon, Silver hopped to her hooves and gasped with alarm.

What she was gasping about became clear shortly. I set Scootaloo down and a bunch of foals rushed up around us, staring at me with wide eyes. Oh... I began going mentally through the few curses I knew, but none seemed quite harsh enough for the situation.

Snips pointed at me. "Are you here to suck out our brains?"

Silver snickered softly. "She'd starve if she tried that on you."

Snips looked a little lost as the other Crusaders formed a loose barrier around me. "Nothing ta see here!" proclaimed Apple Bloom.

Featherweight tilted his head. "When did you get a changeling friend?"

Pipsqueak spoke in his thick accent, "That changeling has the same sparkly hair that Diamond Tiara had. I didn't even know changelings had manes!"

Twist tapped at her chin thoughtfully, a gesture many of the other foals were emulating as the crowd tried to figure me out.

I flicked out my wings and the crowd jumped back, surprised and a little alarmed. "What?"

Snails pointed at me. "She sounds like Diamond Tiara too!"

Scootaloo gave a nervous little laugh. "Well, that's silly. You're silly. Diamond Tiara's a lot of things, but a changeling?"

Archer leaned forward. "But it looks kinda like her, and sounds like her..."

I put a hoof to my chest. "I'm practicing my disguises. Behold!" I changed shapes, becoming a copy of Twist. It was a perfect emulation, except...

"Your Mane and tail's still all sparkly." Featherweight tilted his head the other way. "Can't you change that?"

Berry Pinch shook her head. "Nuh uh. This is a test, from Miss Cheerilee." She pointed at me. "She told us it's bad for changelings to imitate real ponies, and they should be punished!"

Snips straightened up. "Hey, that's right! You broke the rules!"

Twist poked at me. "Thop looking like me, thath weird!"

This was going downhill, fast. "Oh, um, I didn't know that. Thorry." Ugh, I'd gained Twist's speech impediment.

Apple Bloom turned towards me. "You can look like me, if you want."

With a rush of flames, there were two Apple Blooms, though one had a sparkly mane and tail. I was losing the appreciation I had for the diamond look I had before. "Thanks."

Featherweight shook his head. "If you're not her, where is Diamond Tiara?"

Snail bobbed his head quickly. "That was definitely you in class. If you were there, Diamond Tiara wasn't."

Blunt Hooves suddenly charged into the crowd, becoming a changeling as he went. "Wait!" Everypony turned to look at him. "She's part of the exchange program. She's at the hive."

They looked equally satisfied and amazed. Berry Pinch pointed at herself. "How did she get picked for that? What if I want to visit?"

Pipsqueak made a face. "Yuck! Why would you want to do that?"

A loud argument began to brew about the idea if visiting a changeling hive was the grossest idea ever, or kind of cool.

Sweetie Belle cleared her throat. "We shouldn't be talking about their home while they're right here. That isn't polite."

That made several of the foals look embarrassed. Snips ambled up to me. "So how are you liking pretending to be a pony?"

I waved a hoof, noticing how different it looked when I had Apple Bloom's body. "Oh, tain't hardly nothin'. I'm gettin' mighty used ta things." Oh wow, was I talking that way? It just felt like the way I should. I wasn't sure if I was amazed or horrified.

Other foals pressed in close to Blunt Hooves, asking him awkward questions about being an insect, and nervously inquiring of us if they were going to be nibbled on.

Blunt Hooves shook his head. "I would... have rather just been your pony friend. I want to be a foal, just like all of you. Does it really matter if I'm a changeling or not?"

Archer nodded. "How can it not? I mean, you're a changeling... No offense, but that's kind of a big deal."

Blunt's ears sagged. "Does it have to be?"

I put myself in front of him. "No!" Everypony turned to look at me. "Ah mean, it doesn't have to be any kinda big deal. Blunt's a good pony."

The other Apple Bloom smiled a little. "You're right, he is." She trotted up to Blunt Hooves and gave him a little hug. "Welcome to Ponyville."

Twist slipped in and gave her own hug. "Welcome to Ponyville."

Soon all the foals came up and exchanged hoofbumps, hugs, or even a nuzzle in welcome, and Blunt Hooves was looking very overwhelmed and flushed. "Thank you... I look forward to being your schoolmate."

Suddenly, I saw nothing, then I was floating.

I opened my eyes and saw I was inside the pod that had held me captive once before. How did I get back there?! I thumped on the side of the pod and Chrysalis' face came into view. 

"Good morning. So, tell me, what do you think of changelings?"

I frowned at her. "I still think you're a big mean bug, but Blunt Hooves is alright... He's a good pony."

She rolled a hoof, looking bored. "And other changelings?"

I gave the window a thump. I wanted out of there. "I'll give them a chance before I decide. I haven't met many others."

She flashed her fangs. "And that's all I wanted."

I snorted, blowing bubbles in the green goo. "Was that all a dream?"

Chrysalis raised a brow. "Of course not. Blunt was quite accurate and truthful when he said what was going on. You were an exchange student, learning our ways. How does it feel? Was it not a wonderful thing, to have our power?"

What happened? "I was..." I was kinda gross, but did I enjoy having wings when I wanted, being whatever I wanted? Did I enjoy having to feed on love? "It was a learning experience." I decided on tactful. "I understand changelings better. Does this mean I'm back to normal?"

She smiled. "You never stopped. You were in control of a drone. Ah, here she is now." Chrysalis moved out of the way to let the diamond-maned changeling poke in and gaze at me blankly. "A true drone, very little self-will, also not very useful for most things. They happen to be perfect for these little things." She ran a hoof slowly through the drone's mane. "What have you been up to? Getting my poor drone cursed."

Cursed? "I didn't do anything!"

She waved a hoof. "No matter. We'll get it cleaned up." She tapped the pod, and suddenly I fell free in a wet splat. "I trust you won't be picking on any changelings anymore?"

I shook myself free of the green gunk. "So I wasn't ever a changeling?"

"Felt like it, didn't it?" She leaned in with her burning eyes and her long fangs. "Do you want that back?"

"No! I mean, no, thank you." I sat on my haunches, mostly dried. "I'm happy with what I have." I noticed the drone still had the amulet and reached for it. "I should return this."

Chrysalis made a dismissive motion. "Go. You're not a prisoner. However... if you decide you wish to divest yourself of your weakness, you know who to call on." She flashed those fangs. "I can be a very protective mother."

I wasn't sure which mother I wanted to avoid more, the one I already had, or the one offering to adopt me. "I'm just fine being an earth pony, thank you." I rose to my hooves and moved to walk out of the cave. "If you see Blunt Hooves before me, tell him I'm going to slug him for knowing what was going on without telling me."

She raised a brow. "Are you now?"

I nodded. "We can be friends after that, but I owe him one good punch."

She laughed, a terrible sound as she suddenly grabbed me and held me close. "Are you sure you don't want to? You'd make a darling daughter."

I wriggled and batted her away. "If I change my mind, you'll be the second to know." I flashed a bright smile, then trotted out with all the dignity I could muster. Had she been spying on me while I floated in that goop? It was the only way I could figure she'd know when to wake me up. All to teach a stupid lesson!

A changeling landed in front of me. It was... me, the drone me at least.

She dipped her head. "Thank you."

I didn't know what she meant. "For what?"

She gave a little smile. "You let me see so many new things... I fought a timberwolf... I made friends. I soared through the sky. Thank you. Thank you for letting me experience so much."

I gave a slow nod. "Do you have a name?"

She smiled. "May I keep yours? I like it a lot."

I reached for her mane. "If you keep the mane and tail, yes. You can be Diamond Tiara, the changeling."

The drone took a slow breath, then nodded and settled on her haunches. "I feel... complete. I want to experience so much more. I will make you proud, Diamond Tiara."

Chrysalis came upon them with a raised brow. "You've broken her."

I turned sharply at her. "Broken her?"

Chrysalis gestured at Diamond, the changeling. "She's shaken her conditioning. She's not a drone anymore. Trying to force her back into it would be more trouble than it's worth."

Diamond Changeling tilted her head at Chrysalis. "I'm free?"

Chrysalis smiled and pointed at the true Diamond Tiara. "You can blame her."

"I blame you." She moved in on Diamond Tiara and hugged her tightly. "Thank you... Thank you so much."

I... She really was thankful. I gently offered my own forehooves and hugged her back.

Chrysalis snorted softly. "Now, I do hope you're taking responsibility for your actions?"

"Come again?" I raised a brow at the Bug Queen.

She gestured at Diamond Changeling. "She is like a foal. She will need to be trained, taught things, how to be a full and proper pony."

I shrugged. "She can go to school with the rest of us. How does that sound, Diamond Changeling Tiara?"

Diamond Changeling smiled broadly, exposing her fangs. "I hope we can be good friends. I... I heard your thoughts, even the unkind ones... You care about your friends. You are a good pony."

She heard everything!? "Hey! Those are my thoughts!"

Chrysalis shrugged. "Blame me, if you prefer. There was no avoiding that, if she was to act as your body."

Diamond Changeling nodded a little. "I was you... It was amazing. I hope the 'me' that I become is half as wonderful as you."

She had the right attitude at least. "We'll work on that. Come on, let's get out of here."

I led her from the cave. I'd gained a new perspective, and a new set of friends.

Maybe not all changelings were hideous vampire creatures.

Chrysalis is still a jerk!