One changeling invasion of Ponyville
Oh to have a big bite out of that love. I can feel it like an aura wafting through the streets, weaving in between tall buildings and providing such a rich and beautiful aroma. Our Queen was as good as her word. This was truly a banquet of delight. But first we need to stop any resistance. I see a group of soldiers surround Glimmer. I let out a crackling sound, our native tongue, and three others appear by my side and hiss.
The soldiers turn and we pounce. Green light glows and they change to reflect others we have captured. I feel the power stirring inside me and I bring it forth and weave my magic around my skin to show the same soldier staring up in horror. I bring him down and manifest the love again in my mouth to create a thick green glop which I cough over his feet, sealing him to the floor. I see two other soldiers fighting off my comrades and step up next to them. One turns to me.
“Thank goodness, I thought you got taken…” He stutters and stares in disbelief as my face takes on a menacing grin and slowly changes into his shocked expression
“What…you’re not…ME?” At this I let out a surge of energy which changes into a long rope which binds him to the floor. As I turn around I see the other soldier fall under the onslaught of my friends might, I release the magic and there is a flash of green light. I feel the magic cloak disintegrate under the green fire and it burns away to reveal my normal changeling form.
We turn to each other and clack our fangs before racing of in different directions to sap as much love energy as we can hold. I run past an ally and stop, such fragrance! I scan the walls with deep blue eyes. Working down in the mines my whole life has given me excellent night vision. I see a mare holding a little filly close to her, how sweet. The love for the filly is filling the alley and giving me with such strength.
They will make an excellent first meal. I make a few clicking noise to warn of others, this is mine. I advance slowly, savoring the fear and care she holds for the little filly. Oh yes. I loom over her with fangs outstretched ready to drain her when an almighty burst of love pours out of the castle. I look up in wonder and amazement. Such care and devotion, such almighty love. But something else is happening; someone is using that love for power, but it’s not the Queen.
Purple light glows out of the windows before the Queen is sent shooting out, carried along by a great bubble like the one we pounded on relentlessly earlier. Others are also being blown away by this power. This can only mean…
I turn and run as fast as I can wings beating giving me extra lift but it is for naught. I see the bubble come rushing up behind me, expanding and growing in power before it slams into me. I crash through a building and feel something break; such is the power of this spell. Eventually we reach the edge of Canterlot where a burst of magic sends us flying, scattering us all across Equestria.
Souring through the air I feel the wind pulling at my face bringing my lips past my teeth into a strange grinning position. I look over to see Ruby and Teardrop fly off into a gorge and crash against the cliff, hard. Our exoskeletons may be strong but not that strong. I manage to turn around to see myself approaching a barn of some sorts.
This is going to hurt.
I wake up some hours later in a pile of hay. I puff some out of my mouth, disgusting. I get up slowly but I can feel my right wing has torn along the thin membrane. My right leg screams at me when I try to stand and I collapse back into the hay. What is this place? It’s like none of the barns or storage facilities we have at home. Where are all the metals and gems? Where are all the workers? It’s just filled with apples. I fall backwards, exhausted with the effort of keeping my head up, when I hear the door slam open. Someone calls out
“Who’s in here, I warn you. I ain’t frightened” I peek through the hay to see a small yellow filly with red hair and a large bow in it walking into the barn. I check my reservoirs of love magic and silently cheer, I’m full to the brim. I cover myself in energy and meld it into her shape, right down the lack of a cutie-mark before popping out of the hay. I use my magic to begin the healing process of my leg. Interesting fact, unlike unicorn magic, ours is completely natural and in fact speed the recovery of our bones. It does not do anything unnatural like move the flesh inside of our bodies or stitch it together with rough magic threads like some unicorns I could mention. She lets out a gasp when she sees me
“Who in tarnation are you?” I cock my head sideways
“Isn’t it obvious, I’m you!” I let a smile cover my face. She looks at me in surprise before beaming back
“Alright, there are two of me!” With that she went close to me and shook my hoof. “My names Applebloom. Ma’ sisters Applejack and ma’ brothers Big Mac and Granny Smith is also here, we live here on Sweet Apple Acres. But I suppose you already know all this.” I nod wisely. How great was this! If I can take her place I can feed off the love her sister must show her. But best of all she was telling me all the things I need to know.
“Of course, why don’t you tell me about your life here? Is everything really the same?” Remember students, the first priority is gathering Intel, this leads to the perfect disguise. This one was a classic when meeting with someone who didn’t know about changelings.
She looked a bit confused but nodded and described many of her farm activities and people. The question is useful for both gathering information and getting their opinion so you can act better. When she finished I put on a surprised face while I crowed inside
“Wow, it’s exactly the same for me. Except I’m not sure where I came from before now...” Suddenly there was a loud bang and a voice called out.
“Applebloom! I’m home.” At this she turned to look at me and grinned.
“C’mon you can meet my big sis, although I suppose she’s yours as well.” This was the moment to shine. I had to convince her now that I was the real Applebloom and this was an impostor. Even better it was the Element of Honesty I would be getting the love from. Friendship is magic, or so they say. I ran ahead of her and sat down in front of Applejack.
“Big Sis, there’s a pony here who looks exactly like me!” He, or in this case she, who strikes first, wins in an argument. It automatically puts them on your side before they even hear anything else anypony else has to say. Applebloom came up behind me.
“Hey what are you talking about, you’re the one who’s new here” She was confused, she couldn’t understand that I was betraying her. Aw bless.
“What, there’s two of you! One of you must be one of them changelings. I thought we got rid of you all at Canterlot dagnabbit!” She was rubbing her hoof against her head in confusion, but glared at both of us
Remembering that Applebloom doesn’t know what a changeling is I saw another chance to pour on the innocence, puppy eyes style “What’s a changeling” Applejack looked down at me and smiled and moved slightly over to my side.
“Don’t worry; I’m sure she will explain.” She glared at the real Applebloom who looked crestfallen. Another pony barged in this time it was a purple unicorn who looked around worriedly. Ugh, it was the Element of Magic, that trouble maker…
“What’s going on, I heard shouting!” I looked at her.
“Apparently Miss Twilight this here’s a…um…changeling was it sister?” I turned my eyes towards Applejack who nodded.
“Well we’re still not sure which ones which.” Applebloom had completely lost what was going on. And kept looking between me and her sister. “Why don’t you both tell us something only the real one would know?” Continued Applejack.
Now this was tricky, she didn’t keep many secrets and was extremely open, except for one thing Applebloom told me. This was too easy, I had already gained the advantage over her in the argument and now this was the final nail in the coffin. Applebloom opened her mouth to speak but I beat her to it “Applejack, you still sleep with Mr Cuddles” At this she grew a bright crimson with Twilight standing right behind her who put a hoof to her mouth to stop herself from snickering.
“It’s err…just…um…shut up you still have Smarty Pants” She turned on Twilight who was giggling. “ANY WAY, I guess this proves who the real Applebloom is…”
Applebloom looked up “But sis…”
Applejack interrupted “No, no. I think it’s painfully obvious which one.” I grinned in delight, on the inside of course. I had won. I would spend the rest of my life feeding of Applejack's and Big Mac's love for her sister and slowly bring in other changelings until we ruled this village. We will be victorious, we will…
Applejack turned around and bucked me through the wall of the house. “You.” She grinned smugly “I’m the Element of Honesty. Of course I know you’re lying you no good scoundrel!” Ouch that hurt.
My magic wavers as I slip between conscious and I feel the pain from my leg, wing and now face. I clacked and fell asleep
Bump. Bump. Bump. I come awake on the back of cart. I feel rope holding my legs together and I can’t move. I look up with only my head to see a large red earth pony pulling me along with Applejack and Twilight walking either side of him. I click to try and get their attention. Applejack rolls her eyes but Twilight comes closer.
“Well, look who’s awake. We’re just getting rid of you.” I look up in surprise to see I’m surrounded on all sides by trees. Where were they taking me? I wince as I feel the rope cutting into my broken leg. I try to reinforce it with magic but I’m all spent, and there certainly isn’t any love for me here. I lean back and sigh, which comes out as a few clicking noises.
Twilight looks at me suspiciously “What’s wrong with you? The others back at Canterlot never gave up this easily, as long as they were conscious they were fighting.” I look at her coldly before lifting up my right hoof under the ropes. She peered at it before her horn glowed purple. Oh no, she was going to use her horrible unicorn magic on me. I looked away in disgust as I felt the muscles moving unnaturally under the skin before settling into place.
This was so wrong.
Finally she was done and Applejack stared at her in surprise.
“What you do something like that for, I say he deserved that.” Applejack spat and Twilight looked at her.
“You can’t seriously expect us to abandon him in the Everfree Forest with a broken leg! He’ll get eaten for sure.” I gulp nervously. They aren’t really taking me to that forsaken place. Are they?
“Yeah I suppose you’re right” She glowers at me “It would be cruel to do that to something like this.” At this I clack, rudely. She turns around and walks away leaving me confused, back home an insult like that could lead to a war. In fact it did once if I remember my history correctly. Before Twilight leaves I may as well get my wing healed as well, no matter how disgusting it is. I flutter my left wing weakly and she examines the thin membrane before spotting the tear. She winces and stitches it together with magic. I’m never going to get over being messed with that kind of magic. It’s not right.
After a few more minutes we arrive at a glade in the forest. It is a nice little meadow with trees towering over on all sides. We stop and Twilight leans over me.
“Alright we’re here. Hopefully we've gone far enough you won’t find your way back into the village and you should be able to make it back to wherever you come from. Now I’m going to release you so no sudden movements."
I nod and feel the ropes begin to get loose. As I feel the last one fall of I strike. Jumping up with fangs bared I aim for Twilight before another pair of hind hoofs coming from the side and once again send me flying. I crash into a tree and feel some green blood come out of my nose. That hurt.
I lay there groaning for some time, not sure how long before I looked up. They were gone. I called out with a series of clacks in the style of help. No one replied. I clicked weakly to myself.
I heard something growl menacingly behind me.
I ran.
Thanks for reading. I did actually write this shortly after the wedding episode but, whatever. This may or may not be a one-shot, depending on how I feel. Please tell me what you think. Constructive criticism does help me improve, in both grammar and story telling. Then you know, do your stuff. Thanks