The Sungbohn and the Ghaimaim. Changeling clans of fascinating cultures. One nomadic, wandering the wastes, constantly moving from kingdom to kingdom without a true home. The other lost to time until providence brought them back from the brink, losing themselves in the imitation of others in the name of acceptance and love.

The Ghainaim had so desperately wanted that. Wanted the other races to admire and respect them and think highly of them. Their entire culture had been about getting others to love them through the use of their talents of change. From the altering of their voices to perform exquisite songs or radio plays, to on-the-stage acting where one person swiftly shifted to the guise of another, the Ghainaim had been good at what they’d done. Damn good.

But now they were in the minority. With the Changeling kingdom re-established through a peace treaty between Queen Chrysalis and Princesses Celestia and Luna, the once-lowly Sugnbohn , who had least resembled the ponies in their “natural” state, now considerably outnumbered the former “elite”…and elite that, in many ways, didn’t even resemble what their original species had once been. The Sugnbohn were always calling Ghainaim “Fauxnies” and “Ashbodies”, for their natural state more resembled pony than insect, with dark grey fur instead of scaly chitin, and hair where fins and crests should have been.

So of course it wasn’t any surprise that Chul Sang was beating the living daylights out of his whining son Jin Sang. Because Jin had been seeing a Ghainahm girl. That…was a big no-no.

“What are you crying about!?” His father roared, his two sisters and his brother hiding behind the dark blue couch, huddling together, looking terrified as their father raised his hoof again, smacking Jin across the muzzle once more. “A GIRL?! You’re seeing that girl?! A bucking ashbody NOTHING! I’m fed up with this garbage! I’m fed up with you!”

“F-Father, p-please…” Jin whimpered out. “I’m sorry, I-”

“SORRY? I was sorry the day you were born and I’ve been sorry ever since. You make me sick, cryin’ over some bubbleheaded ashbody piece of trash you don’t even really know!” Chul Sang snarled, spittle flying from his fanged maw, dark indigo eyes glaring down at the pale pinkish/purple eyes of his rather effeminate son. “What kinda WIMP did I raise, anyway? What kind of crybaby are you!? Take your punishment as a COLT and-” He began to hiss, shaking his son back and forth, eyes narrowing until…

He noticed something very…very off. Something had sparked and now was glowing brightly. And that something was-

“What’s wrong with your EYES?”

That, unfortunately, was the very last thing that he ever said, because a minute later, their two-floor, wooden, slightly yellow home had every window and door blown clean off, furniture flying through the air as if propelled by a massive cannon. A crack like thunder shot through the darkening skies as pieces of house propelled up, up and away before crashing down on the dirt road on the outskirts of the Changeling Kingdom to the East, various colts and mares who were living in the neighborhood immediately gasping in surprise, their holey hooves flying to their mouths, others immediately flying away, not wanting to be around in the event MORE things began to explode…a not entirely-unreasonable possibility.

And as for who could deal with this strange new turn of events, well…somebody was actually in the Changeling Kingdom, speaking with Queen Chrysalis as she sat across from him at an enormous mahogany table, tall banners displaying a miniature history of the Changeling clans on either side of her. The Ghainaim were on the left, Sugnbohn on the right, all the windows open so as to let in the soft summer air Chrysalis’s deep green hair slightly fluttering in the wind as she rested her hooves on the table. The Queen of the Changelings was dressed in a rather ornate “gi”, an almost dress-like outfit with faint cherry orchids scattered about in a slightly erratic design, and she tilted her head ever-so-slightly to the side, looking the oddly-colored stallion before her.

Shinedown Tulamoon Mare had very dark blue hair, a sort of Mohawk jutting up from his head with an odd-looking necklace hanging over his well-built chest, his intense blue eyes gazing deep into Chrysalis, as if staring right into her soul. His fur was unusual, to say the least…the color the sky as the sun began to set and night began to make its way across the horizon. “Your castle is rather…understaffed. I can understand, however. What with new refugees coming in every day, I take it you’ve ordered as many as you can to assist out in the streets?”

“I’m eager to establish my kingdom as efficient, helpful and responsive to my people.” The queen remarked calmly. “If this means I have to do more things MYSELF around here, so be it. I don’t mind getting a little exercise. However, even if there WERE more staff present, I would wish to speak to you alone. You’re one of the few ponies that has actually bothered to fully learn the Sugnbohn language, your physical form is strong and powerful, and you’re quickly developing a reputation among my people as someone in Ponyville that Changelings can rely on for settling disputes. I feel you could do great work in my kingdom, giving an opportunity for those here to share in your unique point of view. There’s many open minds willing to learn here.”

“Don’t take this the wrong way, but me being one quarter Changeling is, in my eyes, just an accident of birth. I’m not helping Changelings in Ponyville because they’re “my kind”, but because they’re the ponies that need the most help.”

Chrysalis was quiet for a moment…and then she smiled slightly. “You’re the only colt I’ve ever heard call my kind “ponies”.” She admitted. “But I wasn’t referring to your CHANGELING point of view, Shinedown.”

Shinedown blinked, slightly confused. “…wait. You mean-”

“I learned you’re not just one of the few ponies who actually learned my people’s language and culture, you’re one of the few ponies openly comfortable with your bisexuality. Sexual “preference” is such a misnomer. More like “determination”. There are many like you here in my kingdom who could use support. Guidance.”

“Intriguing.” Shinedown mused, rubbing his chin thoughtfully, his eyes like sapphires freshly shined. “Very well. I’ll give your request serious thought, Queen Chrysalis. Let me write back to Princess Celestia and inform her-”

At that moment, a burning flash of deep purple light shot up from the window outside, Chrysalis and Shinedown turning their heads, the colt bounding out of his chair and instantly racing to the window, putting his hooves on it as he saw a house off in the distance EXPLODE in burning indigo blaze, chunks of it flying away as his eyes bulged out in sheer horror, going wider than dinner plates.

“I’ve got to get over there.” He immediately said, racing out the door, bolting for the door, Chrysalis watching him leave, then turning back to the window, slowly blinking her eyes.

“…what…in Heaven’s name was that?”

…

…

…

…what indeed.

Shinedown had quickly changed, slinking through back alleys, unfurling his hidden identity as he clothed himself in the dark, the skies getting more and more forboding as heavy clouds began to roll in overhead like a quilt threatening to suffocate its prey below. Clasping the cape around his necklace and placing the hat atop his head, his body now took on a darker shade itself, the magical paint he used to alter his appearance changing to a deeper hue that now resembled the first inklings of night. He tiptoed towards the destroyed house, glancing around the wreckage, sniffing at the air.

Brimstone…a horrid stench that stabbed into his nostrils, furniture cracked and broken into pieces that lay around the living room, lightbulbs lying shattered and in tiny little pieces beneath his hooves as he adjusted the belt around his waist, making his way over to a fallen beam. Had he found someone?

…no. PARTS of someone. He frowned darkly before a loud, screaming “WAAAH” tore through the air, Shinedown’s eyes bugging out as he immediately took off in its direction. He hopped over a half-broken doorway, the screams continuing before Shinedown focused, his voice becoming low, enchanting…persuasive.

“Caaaalm yourself…help is here…”

It was simple mesmerism…being able to bend mare’s minds using the “Sanguine Condition”, a technique of pure Willpower to exert your will over another’s. The stallion used it to cloud ponies minds so they couldn’t see him, turning him into “The Shadow”, or to calm down frightened ponies with his voice. Be it the Equestrian or Changeling language, he could reach anyone, and hopefully this would work on-

Yes, just as he feared. A changeling pup was curled up in the corner, covering his head, eyes bulged out, a faint purple light rising off his body. “I didn’t mean to do it!” He yelled out in the Sugnbohn language. “I…honest, it…it just happened…” The dibbun whimpered. “Are…are you here to take me away? I know I did a bad thing.”

“Nothing like that. I’m here to help, alright?” Shinedown spoke softly. “I am the Shadow. And you are?” He asked, extending a hoof as the little pup cringed, slightly flinching.

“Sh-shadow? I…don’t much…like the dark.”

“Aw, but the dark can be a good thing. Like when you want to go to sleep?” Shinedown said softly in that same persuasive tone, kneeling down by the young Changeling pup. “It hurts your eyes to have the lights on all through the night, doesn’t it? The dark feels good on you when you just wanna sleep and relaaax.”

“Y…yes, that’s…that’s true.” The young Changeling pup admitted nervously.

“Now…what’s your name? I’d like to know your name so we’re not really strangers.” Shinedown inquired as the Changeling wiped the snot from his nostrils, sniffling a bit.

“J-Jin Sang.”

“That’s a very nice name. “Jin” means “gold”, y’know. It shows you’re precious.” Shinedown chuckled, rubbing the top of Jin’s head with his hoof and chuckling a little. “Now, what do you say we get you someplace safer than here? If someone else came in, they might think you hut your family-”

It was then that the boy’s eyes began to glow, Shinedown’s eyes widening as he instinctively dove out the nearby window. THIS time even more of the house went flying into enormous chunks and pieces, soaring over his head as he ducked and covered, people screaming from the front side of the house as he inwardly cringed. Damn it. They were coming after the kid. No doubt they thought he WAS killing his family. No time to stick around, he thought to himself, quickly popping back inside, lifting Jin onto his back and bolting for the woods off in the distance, hearing faint, angry yells rising up from far behind him a few minutes later, people evidently catching sight of him.

“I-I didn’t mean to do it, it…I could feel it welling up inside me, and…and then everything just exploded!” Jin whispered out, his body shuddering and shaking, Shinedown realizing that the child was looking slightly more…emaciated in the legs than he’d been a few minutes earlier.

“Jin, tell me. Have you ever used magic before?” He asked of the Changeling dibbun, Jin shaking his head back and forth as Shinedown inwardly cringed. Oh dear. “Your powers are manifesting for the very first time. I’ve seen this happen with other young dibbuns. You’ve got no real control over them, so I’ll get you to a hospital where you can get the right treatment. There’s a mixture of herbs and potions you need to take, but they’ll be fully stocked if all goes well, and you’ll be just fine. You just stay on my back, cling tight, and we’ll get there within the hour.” The stallion insisted, his cape flowing freely as Jin tightly hung around his neck, nervously chewing on his lip.

“My dad was hitting me. That’s when everything just…all I could see was PURPLE and then everyone was in BITS…” Jin whispered out. “They’ll think I did it. Everyone in my neighborhood alreadyt hates me because I was seeing this…y’know, a…Ghainaim. Nobody wants ashbodies and Sugnbohn mixing.” Jin murmured nervously.

“Trust me. That “conversation” you were having with your father?” Shinedown mused aloud with a wry smile. “I had one just like that with people who USED to be my friends in school. I told them I wasn’t exactly normal when it came to who I should like, if you get my drift.”

“You mean, you’re a…a fruit?” The dibbun said, gaping slightly in surprise, shivering some more. “I…uh…that is…um, so…what’s it like?”

“No, I’m not “a fruit”. I’m bisexual. I’m into mares AND colts. It’s just the way my I was born. Just like you having those powers was just how you were born.” Shinedown insisted with a small chuckle, the cold wind barely bothering him as Jin curled his arms a bit more tightly around Shinedown’s neck. “I’m not into boys, y’know. I prefer colts with big tufts of hair on their chest, and you Sungbohn haven’t got any.”

“Heh. That’s pretty funny.” Jin chuckled a bit, the forest becoming darker and darker with each new cloud being added to the black quilt above their heads, the canopy almost blanketing all in darkness. “Sorry I called you a fruit, sir. I’ve just never met any guy that wasn’t into girls before.”

“I’ve been called worse, I’ll survive. My true name’s Shinedown, actually. The Shadow is the title I go by to strike fear into the superstitious criminal mind.”

“You’re not that scary.”

“That’s because I’ve turned on the charm for you.” Shinedown laughed, shaking his head back and forth. “Has it worked?”

“Definitely.”

“So why was your father yelling at you? That’s really inconsiderate.” Shinedown admitted as Jin nervously cringed, his body shaking even further.

“I, uh…its just…I was crying. It was stupid, I…I like this girl at school. Hyung-Seo. She’s really cute, but she’s in love with someone else. She didn’t TELL me she couldn’t be with me, she just fell in love. She doesn’t even know I like her, but I found out she was in love with someone else. It’s…” Jin bit into his lip once more as Shinedown stopped for a minute, resting against a nearby tree, panting slightly as Jin took in a few deep breaths. “…it’s a stupid thing to cry about. Doesn’t really matter, right?”

“Of course it matters. The things the heart values matter deeply. No matter how silly or stupid they might seem. There’s nothing wrong with you. At all.” Shinedown insisted softly as he reached out and put a hoof on Jin’s shoulder, Jin biting into his lip.

“I wish my father had said the things you did. Maybe I shoulda been born gay-” He stiffened, his eyes beginning to turn a deep shade of purple as he gasped. “Oh no, no-no-no, it’s happening again!” He cried out, Shinedown ducking down, dark indigo light stabbing through the air about him, scraping against his side, cutting into the cape he wore, almost knocking his hat off as he cringed, the shockwave sending him reeling back. He panted and heaved, his lungs feeling as though they had been set on fire, rising up…

Seeing a small group of Changelings approaching from the plains just outside of the forest. They were so close…the hospital, the city, it was almost within sight, just on the horizon, and this little MOB was in the way.

“Get…out of my way.” Shinedown whispered darkly, his eyes becoming cold and steely as a dagger as Jin slowly rose up, quivering madly as one of the changelings hissed.

“SSSSS…stupid filthblood. Little race-traitor…hand that murdering little traitor over and we’ll ONLY beat you to a MILD pulp.”

“That dibbun deserves to die after what he did to his family. Something so dangerous can’t be allowed to live.”

“You’ll go no further.” Shinedown growled, his eyes becoming furious, baleful as he dug his hooves into the ground, gritting his teeth as the Changelings barreled towards him and he felt the power, HIS own unique might, welling up. Then he rose up, front hooves held high, eyes almost aglow themselves as he bellowed loudly. “HOLD!”

The changelings froze on the spot, stiffening as they looked into Shinedown’s eyes, his tone persuasive, deep…deadly.

“Yes…yes, you hear everything I say. Listen intently…listen well. Do as I command.” Shinedown spoke. “The Shadow speaks. You listen.”

“The Shadow speaks. We listen.” They repeated as one, Shinedown calmly trotting around them, speaking in that same persuasive, soft monotone.

“You’ll tell nobody of what you saw. You will leave. You will not remember my face. Nor the child’s.”

“…tell…nobody…remember…nothing…”

“Go.” Shinedown finished, waving a hoof in the air, the Changelings ambling stupidly off into the forest, Shinedown breathing a sigh of relief before turning back to Jin…gasping. Oh no. OH NO. Skin was peeling off his body, smoke of a faint purplish light rising from the corners of his mouth as Shinedown knelt by him, eyes wide with absolute horror, struggling to find the words to say.

“How in…what…” He murmured. “…oh no. Oh no.” he whispered, looking over Jin’s form. “…the explosions aren’t a result of anxiety as I thought or you would have blown when those Changelings appeared, they’re happening AUTOMATICALLY. Your body must be rejecting the magical powers within you and as a result it’s tearing you and everything nearby apart.”

“It…huuurts…” Jin whispered, dark blue blood beginning to pool out from his eyelids, slowly dripping down from his face, Shinedown clutching the child’s cheek, shaking his head back and forth.

“Look, Jin. Wrap your arms around my neck. I’m going to run as quick as I can and I need you to hold-”

“Mister Shinedown, I…can feel them coming again. The explosions.”

“Oh no. No, Jin, please, you need to hold on. I need you to be strong, we just need a little more time, half an hour…” Shinedown insisted tearfully, Jin’s body beginning to quiver more and more madly, shaking like a leaf in a whirlwind.

“I can’t make it.” Jin whispered out, sitting down on his behind, wrapping his arms around his legs, sinking his head into them. “And even if I did make it there, I’d probably end up hurting people the minute we got inside.”

“I can’t-it…it doesn’t matter, I…you…” Shinedown began to stammer. “Jin, I’m…”

“Please. Run away. I…don’t want to hurt you.”

The tears were coming freely to Shinedown’s eyes, and he tried to blink them out, shaking his head slightly. “No. No, I won’t leave you.”

“…I’m glad.” Jin whispered, looking up, his voice bubbling and gurgly, blood beginning to flow out of his nostrils and out of the side of his mouth. “I really didn’t want you to. Because I’m gonna die this time, aren’t I?”

Shinedown’s voice was barely a whisper. “Yes.”

“You think Hyung-Seo will think about me?” Jin asked, his eyes beginning to glow, his body beginning to emit the same horrific miasma as Shinedown covered his face with his hooves, kneeling down on the grass below. “Y’know…wonder where I went?”

A hard, harsh bolt to the chest that knocked him back…

And then…nothing more.

…

…

…

…light…soft light waking him up from his slumber as Shinedown Tulamoon Mare realized he was now lying in a hospital bed, Princess Celestia to his side, her face mournful and solemn as Queen Chrysalis sat nearby.

“I had been on my way to speak to Chrissy myself when I heard about an incident in the nearby neighborhood. I kept seeing the flashes of light and followed them…you’re lucky I found you.” Princess Celestia admitted with a small nod. “And lucky the biggest blast fired up. You were barely hit by any of the power that the dibbun had within him.”

“I suppose he had SOME degree of control in the end.” Queen Chrysalis intoned. “I had spoken to you before about how those in my kingdom needed guidance. I’m afraid that…someone like that young dibbun Jin Sang is not as uncommon as I had thought. In the time you were out I had reports filed.”

“…how many?” Shinedown asked, a patch over his eye, his chest wrapped in bandages, his breathing shallow and ragged.

“86 in this year. All young pups, male and female.” She added quietly. “…I didn’t know there’d be so many. I was surprised nobody alerted me before, I suppose because they were all Ghainaim, most of my staff simply didn’t care enough.”

Princess Celestia’s face was lined with pity as she looked over at Chrysalis, who looked utterly and absolutely ashamed. Clearly Chrissy felt the death of each and every one of them. She truly did value her people after all…an encouraging sign. But her greatest pity was for Shinedown, who looked positively devastated as he laid in the faint blue hospital bed, blankets held up to his chest as he wrapped his arms around his legs, face stony and silent. “I’m so sorry I wasn’t here sooner.”

“Was…was there any way I could have saved him?” Shinedown quietly asked.

Celestia was quiet for what seemed to be a long…long time before she looked slightly to the side…then back to him.

“No. I was too far away. Chrysalis knows no healing magic. The hospital was too far off from where you were and there was nobody in the neighborhood who knew any healing magic, nor had the potions we needed to treat his condition. Nor were they…particularly keen on helping either, as they informed me when I visited them this morning before coming to see if you’d recovered.”

“How long was I out?”

“Two days.” Queen Chrysalis admitted. “You did everything you could for one of my own. A dibbun you owed nothing to. I…thank you.” She said, giving him a soft bow.

“That doesn’t mean I won’t be replaying what happened endlessly in my head for the rest of my life, wondering what I might have missed…” Shinedown murmured quietly. “…Queen Chrysalis? I’ve given serious thought to your request.”

“And?”

“…I’d like to stay here and help.” He quietly intoned.”

“So there won’t ever be any more Jin Sangs.”

Author's Notes:

Remember, if you liked it, lemme know. If you have something you think I should work on, also lemme know in the comments.