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Five Changelings In Equestria: Ling

by Bucking Nonsense

Chapter 1: Free Hugs

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"Seriously?"

Royal Guard Commander Silver Lance quite honestly could not believe what he was seeing. The grey unicorn (he wasn't that old, but his color scheme of dark gray with a light grey mane and tail made him look significantly older than his forty years) knew trouble when he saw it, and what he was looking at had headache written all over it in big red letters. Just last week, Canterlot had been invaded by changelings. Thankfully, the creatures had been repelled, but not without difficulty. Since then, he'd been given orders to be on the lookout for any changelings that might still be in the city. His troops had been briefed by the princesses regarding possible tells, signs that might give a changeling away.

But if you missed this changeling, you'd have to be blind, stupid, or both...

Directly across the street from Royal Guard Headquarters, located in Canterlot, just a few blocks from the palace proper, was a changeling. A surprisingly young one: if she was anything like a pony, she'd probably be in her early teens, maybe even younger if she was just tall for her age, and surprisingly thin. She (and it was very definitely a she, unless boys had started wearing big blue hair ribbons all of a sudden) was sitting just across the street, holding up a cardboard sign. The sign said, "Free Hugs". The writing was neon pink, and surrounded by little hearts. Admittedly, if she'd not been a changeling, the scene would have been impossibly cute. Instead, while a little cute, he supposed, it was... strangely disturbing. A creature that looks like that should not be trying to be adorable...

Silver stared at the changeling with a scowl on his face. The changeling returned the stare, smiling, and even waved cheerfully at the commander. If she felt any sort of fear regarding the fact that she was in the middle of potentially hostile territory, she hid it well. In fact, Silver got the distinct impression that she was having a laugh at his expense.

The young lieutenant at his side, Sky Writer, asked, "Well, what should we do, commander?" The blue coated, white maned pegasus shifted his wings nervously, obviously ill at ease with the situation.

Silver stroked his chin with one hoof, and said, "Our orders, if I recall correctly, were to keep an eye out for changeling infiltrators. Does that look like an infiltrator to you?"

The lieutenant, to his credit, didn't answer right away, but instead thought about the question. After a moment, he said, "If she is, she's not very good at it."

At that moment, an earth pony walked by, looking dejected. The commander recognized him: Midnight Star, a construction worker. A depressed sort, he wasn't very talkative. He seemed so lost in his thoughts that he almost walked into the changeling. The little bug, thinking that he wanted a hug, gave him a quick squeeze. The pony stopped for a moment, then hugged the changeling back. After a moment, they detached, and the pony walked on, a bit of a spring in his step and a definite smile on his face.

Silver nodded, then said, "Right. So, I'm going to work under the assumption that this is not an infiltrator, but instead that it's exactly what it looks like. Which means that we'll need to get orders from higher up. Run the following message up to the princesses: 'Changeling found outside headquarters. Appears to be begging for food. In need of orders. Please come here personally to observe situation before making a final decision.' Can you remember that, or will I need to write it down for you?"

Sky nodded, and said, "I can remember that. Ah, would you like me to run a message to your wife?"

Ah, smart lad. He's definitely got a bright future ahead of him. Smiling, the commander said, "Yes. Tell her to come down here with her camera. She won't want to miss this." The lieutenant nodded, grinning, and took off.

The commander then sat down and waited. It wouldn't be long before the princesses came here, and...

Uh oh. Here came trouble. A teacher, with a gaggle of young students, out for a field trip, were coming down the street. The commander braced himself for the screams...

...That didn't come. Instead, as the youngsters saw the creature, they suddenly ran ahead of the teacher to look at the changeling in awe and wonder. They might have seen a changeling during the invasion, but those were big, scary adults. This one... this one was a little one, not much older than they were. This one wasn't scary at all! It was like the difference between an adult tiger and a baby one: one was a ferocious predator, while the other was a cute and playful critter that you can't help but want to cuddle. After the teacher finally caught up with her students, the colts and fillies looked up at their teacher expectantly. After a moment, the mare nodded, and the children promptly dog-piled onto the changeling, hugging her enthusiastically. The changeling looked both surprised and delighted by the sudden affection.

And it was to this scene that princesses arrived. Luna and Celestia, as impressive as ever, flew in, escorted by Sky Writer. The commander raised an eyebrow in question. Upon touchdown, the lieutenant said, "Your wife said she'll be here shortly." The commander nodded, then turned to face the princesses, who were watching the non-stop hug-fest with a look of bemusement upon both of their regal faces.

"I thought you might want to see this," the commander said, his expression deadpan. "While we were given orders regarding multiple scenarios involving changelings, this scenario is one that I don't think anypony seriously considered. What should we do?"

Celestia seemed at a loss for words at this scene. Luna, however, seemed to know exactly what to do. She walked across the street to where the changeling was, with significant difficulty (although she really wasn't trying that hard), to disentangle herself from the mass of affection that as being pressed upon her. The princess reached the changeling, and stood, towering over the creature.

For a tense moment, the world held it's breath...

And then the changeling hugged the princess. And perhaps a little more surprisingly, Luna, perhaps the most serious and straight-laced princess in Equestria... hugged the changeling back, smiling. Celestia, smiling herself, very quickly joined in. The school children joined in as well (seriously, how often do you get to hug a princess, let alone two at once? You don't pass that kind of thing up), and everypony was smiling, giggling, and laughing.

At that moment, Platinum Print arrived, camera in tow. She immediately set up her camera, and snapped a few photos. The black coated, white maned (with a few streaks of grey) pegasus then rushed across the street, and joined in on the hugapalooza.

Several minutes later, after everypony detached themselves from the changeling, and the school kids had been sent off with autographs from the two princesses, Celestia and Luna spoke for a few minutes with the changeling and the photographer. After a short time, the princesses walked over to speak with Silver, while Platinum and the changeling remained behind, still talking. Well, Platinum was talking; the changeling didn't seem to be talking much...

"It is in our opinion," Luna said, smiling, "That this young creature is not a threat to anypony. As such, there is no need for her to be detained in any fashion. Moreover, we... well, I, think that she should be allowed to stay in the city for as long as she likes."

Celestia nodded in agreement, then said, "However, it would not be right for her to be forced to fend for herself, given her age. At this time, nopony knows where the changeling swarm has gone, or when it will return... if it ever does, at least in her lifetime. As such, it would be best if somepony were to watch over her."

The commander nodded in agreement. If left on her own, somepony might, sooner or later, take out a grudge against changelings in general on the poor dear. That was probably why she had camped out in front of headquarters: there were few places safer than this one in the entire city, if not the whole of Equestria...

With a bit of a grin, Silver Lance said, "I don't think we'll have any problems with finding somepony to look after her." The princesses both chuckled, as if sharing a private joke.

Celestia, smiling, said, "We'll leave that task in your capable hooves, commander." Nodding, the commander saluted. A moment later, the princesses were airborne and on their way back to the palace.

Platinum Print and the changeling walked over to the commander. The changeling looked a little worried, still carrying her sign, while Plat looked determined. Silver knew that look. He'd seen it dozens of times before.

After giving her husband a hug, Plat said, "This poor young lady and I were talking. She doesn't have anyplace to stay, and she has no idea where the rest of her kind have gone. So, I was just thinking on how we have a nice big guest bedroom that we aren't using, and I thought that maybe we'd let her stay for a few days, until she finds her hooves, if you know what I mean?"

Silver gave his wife a flat stare, then said, "I believe we've had a conversation like this one before. Many times, in fact, if I remember correctly. You come up to me with a pitiful looking kitten, or a puppy, or a rabbit, or even, if I recall, a bear cub, and you tell me some sob story about how the poor little dear needs a place to stay. And you always tell me how it's going to be just a few days when we both know that you intend to give them a permanent home. And what do I always say?"

The changeling looked dejected. Platinum, on the other hand, smiled, and asked, "You say yes?"

Smiling back, Silver nodded, and said, "I say yes." The changeling, her expression one of pure delight, hugged the commander's leg enthusiastically. It wasn't a bad hug, he reflected. A little... solid, since she had a carapace that could be considered battle armor in most cultures, but not bad, really...

Looking down at the changeling, he grinned, and asked, "And what is your name, kid?"

The changeling picked up her sign, then flipped it over. Written in hoofwriting so neat and fanciful it could have been considered calligraphy, was the name "Ling". There were fanciful drawings of flowers, vines, and little hearts all around it. Apparently, she was an artistic sort, and had decided to go a little crazy with her paintbrush.

Plat volunteered, "I don't think she can talk. The poor dear may have been born mute." The changeling nodded glumly. A pity, but it happens sometimes.

"Well, Ling," he said, "My name's Silver Lance. You've met my wife, Platinum Print. You'll be staying with us from now on. Welcome to the family."

Over the course of twenty years of marriage, Silver's wife had taken in twelve stray dogs, fifteen stray cats, five rabbits, and even a bear cub. While the two of them had been blessed with many things, children of their own had not been one of them, but she'd always had plenty of love to give to any creature that came into their home. Odds were, this changeling would be almost as high maintenance as that bear cub was, but whatever happened, he figured that it would be worth it.
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Meanwhile, from a nearby alley, a pair of eyes watched the trio. Finally, after weeks and weeks of watching, there was finally a crack in the Royal Guard Commander's armor. A devious grin crossed the watcher's face. Soon...

Author's Notes:

"Ling does not infiltrate."
"Ling does not intentionally infiltrate."

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