The expression that Doomie now wore would have been priceless, in almost any other situation. The look of stunned shock and disbelief would have been considered hilarious by anyone not currently trapped in a cave in the middle of nowhere with a potentially dangerous changeling. Sadly, Creepy Crawly was, in fact, in that cave, so she was more than a little terrified about what might happen next. She knew practically nothing about changelings, asides from the fact that a large number of them had attacked Canterlot recently...

Whinny, surprising both the filly and the changeling asked, "So, what is it like, being a vampire?"

Doomie began snickering, then after a moment, began laughing aloud, rolling on the floor and holding her sides. After a few moments, the changeling regained control of herself and said, "You know, that's the first time I've ever been asked that question. I'm guessing you don't know anything about changelings, then?"

Whinny, a slight look of confusion on her face, asked, "Whatlings?"

Creepy couldn't help it: She gave a little giggle-snort, then said, "Well, they're creatures that are a tiny bit like vampires. They just drink love instead of blood."

Whinny, now thoroughly confused, asked, "How is that even possible?"

Shrugging, the filly admitted, "I have no idea."

Giving the two ponies in front of her an appraising look, Doomie seemed to come to a decision. Her body briefly glowed bright green, and then she... changed. Where before there was a pony, now there stood a tall, bug-like quadraped with big, bright blue eyes, and gossamer blue wings. Her coat was replaced with a shiny black carapace, and her previously equine teeth were replaced with a set much sharper. In the space between one breath and the next, she had transformed from a pony into a changeling.

Her eyes wide, Creepy Crawly applauded and exclaimed, "Do that again!"

Whinny, an eyebrow raised with more expression than she'd ever shown before, added, "I admit, that is impressive."

Giggling, Doomie looked at the two ponies, both of whom seemed totally unphased by her sudden transformation. After a moment, she said, "You two obviously aren't normal... although I'm hardly one to talk. Well, since neither of you are freaking out right now, I take it you don't have a problem sharing a cave with a changeling?"

"Since I do not have any love for you to drink," Whinny stated, deadpan, "I doubt that you are any threat to me."

Creepy added, "I don't have a problem, as long as you behave yourself."

Letting out a breath that Creepy only now realized that the changeling had been holding, Doomie raised a hoof and said, "I will not harm a hair on either of your heads, I swear it." Smiling, she said, "So, since we'll be bunking together for now, why not tell me what you're doing way out here."
-------------------------------

"So, you've set off on your own, to find a new family?"

The small party was still sitting around the warming stone, while Doomie kept her promise about making some hot tea. Whatever she may have looked like, the changeling knew how to brew, and as the water had prepared to boil, Creepy had given the changeling an brief rundown on recent events.

Holding Theodora in her lap, Creepy nodded and said, "Yeah. I mean, everypony in the Crystal Empire is nice and all, but orphanages never really caught on before Sombra came around, so there's not really anyplace for me to stay, or anypony to look after me. So, I said to myself, 'Creepy, you have all those supplies that your parents gave you so that you could cross the frozen wastes, and daddy drilled the route into your head so many times that you could do it in your sleep, so why not take the initiative and go out and find a new family?'"

The teakettle began whistling, so Doomie, using a stick to lift it up by its handle. After a moment, she began pouring the brew into a set of cups. Her expression serious, the changeling said, "While that's very brave, it's a big, scary world out there, filled with monsters that eat little fillies like you." Doomie passed a cup Whinny, then another to Creepy. The young filly took a sip. As the changeling had said, it was not very flavorful, but it was certainly warm.

Holding up her bear, Creepy said, "I have Theodora to protect me."

WIth a small giggle, the changeling stated, "While I'd never dream of insulting such a mighty bear, I don't think she'd be up to the task of dealing with a real monster all by herself."

With a giggle of her own, the filly said, "She did a number on that windigo you saw earlier."

Rubbing her jaw, Whinny said, "Yes. Yes she did."

Chuckling, Doomie admitted, "Impressive." Her expression turning serious, she continued, "Still, it might be a good idea to turn around and head back to the Crystal Empire. I think you might have made a miscalculation when you scheduled your trip. When you and the Crystal Empire were sent forward in time, it was... what, high summer?" Creepy nodded in response, then the changeling continued. "You didn't come back at the same part of the year that you left on. By now, Autumn is already over, and the winter snows are probably already on their way. If you try to head south on hoof, you'll end up snowbound until spring... if you're lucky. If not, you'll end up a fillycicle. Either way, you'll never reach your destination."

Gasping in shock, Creepy realized that the changeling was right. There'd been a big announcement about it, shortly after the defeat of Sombra. The young filly had not really been paying attention, still too upset by the loss of her parents, so she'd not made note of it, but thinking back, she did remember that the guards were telling everypony in the city that they would need to adjust to the 'lost' season.

Clapping her hooves together, Doomie said, "But I have an idea: Since you've got your heart set on going out and finding new parents, I'll help you. There's a train station near the Crystal Empire, right?"

Creepy Crawly nodded and said, "Yes. I've never ridden, and I'd not really planned on using the train anytime soon, but there's a station." Celestia, forward thinking monarch that she was, had taken steps to install the station decades before the city's return, as a precaution: When the city came back, she'd need to get aid there in a hurry, and trains were amongst the fastest methods of travel in Equestria. "Even if I was inclined to ride, I didn't have the money to buy a ticket, and I've heard that kids need to have an adult with them if they want to ride."

A sunny smile (Well, sunny for a changeling, anyways) on her face, Doomie said, "I happen to qualify as an adult, so that will be no problem." Eyeing Whinny, the changeling added, "Although your friend here would also have that department covered. As for money, well..." Looking a little embarassed, she admitted, "I've had a lot of time to examine this cave, what with having nothing better to do, and I found something interesting."

With a beckoning gesture, she said, "Follow me."
--------------------------

"I'm thinking that, when this Sombra jerk played hopscotch with time and space, it messed things up for a merchant caravan that was on its way here," Doomie said, pushing aside a sizable rock that was set against a wall. "I'm thinking that, when the city vanished, they were forced to leave some cargo behind when they turned around and headed back to Equestria. They probably figured that when the city returned, they could just come right back, reclaim their loot, and pick right back up where they left off. They weren't banking on the city being gone a thousand years."

In a small alcove, perfectly concealed by the previously mentioned rock, was a chest. It was big, bound in iron, and had a very impressive lock on it. The changeling, with a smile and a flourish, opened the lock and revealed the contents of the chest. Creepy's eyes widened in shock, and she let out a gasp of awe...

A grin on her face, Doomie said, "You're not imagining things. Let me tell you exactly what you're looking at: Five sunstones, each the size of the legendary foal's hoof. Five moonstones, the same size. Both sets are flawless, as best I can tell, and have all the markings of a set made to be able to contain a master level enchantment. On top of that, there's an ingot of rhinegold, one of the best metals out there for making magical charms. The other, an ingot of mythril silver, which is famous for its ability to enhance defensive wards. That bolt of fabric? Whispersilk, one of the finest textiles ever produced, and famous for being the absolute best material for a cloak of invisibility. To top it off, a sack of assorted gemstones that you could easily exchange for bits anyplace in Equestria, although how much they're worth is anypony's guess. Whoever those merchants were, they were hauling some seriously impressive goods if they considered this to be 'dead weight'. A thousand years ago, this stuff was rare. Now? The last whisper spider was lost three centuries ago, meaning the species is officially extinct, so there's no more whispersilk being produced anywhere in the world. The last known veins for each of these metals and stones in Equestria were exhausted five hundred years ago, and anyplace else that still has them coming out of the ground is unwilling to export them. These babies are literally priceless now."

Whinny, an eyebrow raised, asked, "If these materials are so rare, how can you recognize them so readily?"

The changeling's cheeks flushed a bright blue as she admitted, "I'm only so-so in the looks department, as changelings go, and I've never had any physical skills worth boasting about. I'm even pitiful when it comes to disguises, as you've already seen. However, I'm no slouch when it comes to brains: Once I learn something, I remember it forever. I spent a few weeks hiding in a library once with nothing else to do but read. I picked up a lot of random knowledge during that time, including how to tell rhinegold and mythril silver from their mundane counterparts."

Creepy Crawly studied the contents of the chest, then noticed something that the changeling had not mentioned. "What's in the box?"

Looking at the small, black metal cube with neither hinge, lock, nor lid, Doomie admitted, "I have no clue. It's obviously magical, but there's no way of opening it that I can see. I considered banging it with a rock, but there's a good chance that the box is warded, and trying to break open a warded box by force is a quick way to lose a hoof. Still, the rest of it is good." With a snort, she added, "Of course, you'd have to take it all to Canterlot Palace to get it redeemed: I doubt that, asides from Celestia and Luna, there are that many jewelers or dressmakers out there who would recognize these beauties for what they are, or would be able to give you money equal to their value if they did."

The filly, curious, asked, "And you're offering me this stuff? Why?"

Doomie shrugged, then said, "Changelings don't have much use for money, sweetie. For you, this would be enough money to set you up for life in a palace, if you wanted. For me, it's just a bunch of pretty rocks and shiny metal, plus some soft cloth. I shouldn't need to tell you that love isn't something that money can buy." Chuckling, the changeling continued, "The only things I want are to be out of this stupid cave; to be someplace comfortable, warm, and safe; and to have a nice, strong, lasting supply of love to keep me going for the rest of my life. Sadly, you can only provide me with one of those three things, but after being stuck here for as long as I have, I'm more than willing to part with this chest if it gets me back to what you ponies call civilization." Smiling, the changeling added, "You take me with you back to the Crystal Empire, and we can ride the railways together to any city you like. From there, you can search the length and breadth of Equestria for new parents to look after you, and I can start working out where the rest of my kind ended up. We can ride together until we both find exactly what it is we're looking for.."

Creepy rubbed at her chin, then said, after a moment's thought, said, "Okay. You've got a deal. But you have to promise that you'll behave yourself the entire time: I've heard about what happened in Canterlot, and if anypony finds out that I brought a changeling into the Crystal Empire, I'll be in so much trouble that they might decide to banish me to the moon."

Giggling, the changeling said, "I doubt that you could ever get in that much trouble, sweetheart, but I get your point." Raising a hoof up in the air, and placing the other over her heart, Doomie stated, formally, "I do hereby swear that, if you should take me with you to the Crystal Empire, not only shall I be on my very best behavior for the duration of our time together, but I shall also surrender all claims of ownership regarding this chest unto you." Extending a hoof, she asked, "Shake on it?"

Creepy Crawly took the hoof and shook it, stating, "Happy to have you aboard, Doomie."