Author's Notes:

First Chapter of the year! Hope you enjoy! And sorry about this one being a day late. Had some... things to deal with.

“Can’t argue with that kind of logic.” I remark. “But what does that mean for me? Can at least leave when I’m well and better?”

“Of course ya can!” Aj did a complete one-eighty. Going from seething with rage to sunshine and rainbows in a heartbeat. “That is if’en you wanna leave by the time yer all better!”

“That’s not what I meant.” I explain. “I mean, will I ever get to leave this… Hospital right?” I turn to Rarity for confirmation and she nods. “Thanks. But judging from your reactions I think it would just be better if I just left as soon as I’m well.” Just then a thought comes to mind. “Say, how did… whoever take care of me, go about doing it? I mean, how did they react?”

“They didn’t even bat an eye at you darling!” Rarity happily answered. “Although, he was a little put off, since I don’t think he’s never seen a changeling before. But other that, nopony seemed to care.”

“Huh… that’s new.” I absentmindedly mutter.

“How so?”

“Last time somepony saw me she left and came back with a mob holding pitchforks and torches.”

“Oh...”

“Moving on. Remember when I said I was starving a little?” The four mares nod. “Well..?” I left the question hanging. They knew what I meant.

And they were all too happy to give what I asked for.

Especially Pinkie, who jumped on top of me giving me a hug that threatened to crush my lungs. At least the chitin did it’s job protecting me. And that she didn’t get close to my side where it would’ve hurt, a lot. It just makes me wonder how scarily accepting these ponies are. I am willing to be my wings that I can take over this place in a matter of months just by hiding as a pony and maintaining a good natured attitude. Then dethrone the princesses with some kind of revolution or something.

Anyway, with that in mind I used my newly learned… I guess I can called them ‘techniques’ since I just used magic to draw all the positive emotions towards me? Eh, I’ll come up with a better name later. Right now I was actually getting pretty hungry, skipping out on breakfast and lunch does that to a person. And holy shit this love stuff is delicious, it may not be a physical things but god damnit it’s tasty, reminds me of… cotton candy with a mix of mint chocolate. Pinkie’s hug caught me by surprise, but I returned it. There was this… warmth that spread out through my entire being as I ‘fed’. And pretty soon I was feeling a bit full so I stopped and released my hold on Pinkie. She hopped back with her huge, trademarked grin. But she replaces it with a gasp when she looks at me. In fact, the others are looking at me with astonished looks.

“What? Something on my face?” I reach up with a hoof and feel for any foreign objects, crossing to eyes to look for anything on my muzzle. * swear to god Pinkie if you somehow got spit on my face-*

“Omigosh! You’re blue!”

“Huh?” I take my hoof off my face and look at it. And true to Pinkie’s words. It was a nice shade of navy blue. And that carapace thing I didn’t until now is a lighter shade of blue. *Oh yeah, I wonder what that’s for?* I saw the same thing on Mirage of that other king changeling. But I never asked what the purpose of it was. “Been a while I’ve seen myself like this.”

“Does that mean you’re all better?” Pinkie asked. As soon as I nodded she let out a loud ‘yay’ and started cheering that I was better. Heh, it just reminded me of the scene in that old Spongebob movie when him and Patrick were chanting “We’re gonna be men, we’re gonna be men.” Funny movie, funny movie…

“Does that mean that that gash on yer side is gone?” Aj asked, pointing a hoof to my side.

“I dunno, let’s find out. And it’s a crack in my chitin.” I said with a smile as I used my magic to remove the bandages. It was a bit painful as the adhesive was particularly strong. But then again, it could’ve been fur or feathers I was removing them from. Yeah… kinda glad I decided to go with a changeling.

Once I removed the bandages I saw that the aforementioned crack was nowhere to be seen.

“It’s… gone.” She muttered. “Huh, well I guess that means ya can go.” She said with a slightly noticeable snide smirk.

“Well, I don’t I want to go juuuust yet. You four have been the nicest ponies I’ve ran into in years, after all.”

“Does that mean you’ll stay?” Rainbow asked with enthusiasm.

“I guess so.” I answer.

“Aw yeah!” She threw a hoof in the air. “I get to be friends with a changeling!” I that why she was so excited? “And I get to show you all my cool stunts!” Oh, of course.

“Why am I already starting to regret this?” I ask no one in particular.

“You’ll get used to her antics.” Rarity giggled. “Eventually.” She added.

“It’s gonna take a lot of getting used to if she’s going to be like that all the time. Is she?”

“Rainbow has her moments.”

“Greeaat.” I mutter. “Oh, that reminds me. I never got your names.” She smiles brightly at this.

“I am Rarity. Proud owner of the Carousel Boutique! Where every dress is chic! Perfic! And magnific!”

“Name’s Applejack partener.” She tips her hat towards me.

“My name’s Rainbow Dash! Fastest flier in all of Equestria!” She flaps her wings a few times to prove her point.

“My name’s Pinkie Pie!” The pink mare excitedly stated. “What’s your name?”

“Changelings know me by King Metamorphosis. But you can call me Metamorphosis.” Pinkie puts a hoof to her chin.

“Hmm… I like Meto!”

“What?”

“Don’t much about it. Pinkie gives everypony she meets a nickname.” Rarity whispers to me.

“Oh...”

“You might as well get used to it dear.” She then let out a snicker. “Meto does sound better than saying your full name.” I give her a very unamused stare. She laughed at my expense.

“You know I can mock you on a level that noo-pony else can right?” She instantly clammed up. “Thought so.” I smirk playfully. “Though, now that’s really tempting.”

“No! Please don’t! You don’t even know me! Besides, how could possibly mock me?” She adopted a smirk of her own.

“You just happen to be in the line of fashion and tend to exaggerate on certain situations and outright hate any kind of dilemma that involves clothing, always nitpicking at what you consider ‘poor fashion sense’ that other ponies posses. Am I right? Or is it makup?” Her jaw hit the floor with the weight of about fifty pounds. “Well?”

“You… you’re completely right...” The other girls heard what I said and gawked at me. “But… how?”

“I’m a changeling, remember? I have to know this kind of stuff if I want a good disguise.”

“Ah, well. That makes sense.”

“Yeah, anyway. Who were the voices I heard earlier?”

“That was Twilight and Fluttershy.” Aj answered. “They were… uh… well, more like Twilight yellin’ at Fluttershy ‘bout bringing you to the hospital.”

“Oh, which one of them has a yellow coat and a light pink mane?”

“That’d be Fluttershy. Why do ya ask?”

“Oh. I need to go find her.”

“Why?” The mares adopted confused looks.

“So I can thank her for helping me out? Something like that.” I reply sarcastically.

“Oh, well. First we need ta go check on ‘em.” Aj turned to leave. “Rainbow, how ‘bout ya keep Meto here company?”

“You got it Aj!” Rainbow sits on her haunches as Rarity and Aj leave. As soon as the door closes behind them Rainbow states,

“I’m bored.”

“I can fix that!” I grinn.

“Uh, how?” The grin grows wider as I change my appearance and hop of the bed.

“Oh my Rainbow,” I say with Rarity’s voice. “your mane is so unkempt! You should really come by so I can fix it for you!” I mocked the white mare and made Dash laugh her ass off. I kept this up imitating the girls, minus Fluttershy and Twilight for obvious reasons, until the rest of the girls came back.

“Meto, what are ya doin’?” I turn to Aj, she and the girls managed to come in the room without me hearing them. Me and Rainbow’s laughter probably must’ve drowned the door squeaking open out. And they caught me imitating Rarity. Said mare was ready to beat the living shit outa me she looked so mad. I quickly ditch my impersonation and turned to them. Rainbow joining them with a snicker or two.

“Passing the time. And these are the two mares I heard earlier?”

“Yeah, this is Twilight.” Aj pointed to the purple mare. “And this is Fluttershy.” She then pointed to the cowering mare hiding behind her mane.

“So you’re the mare that brought me here?” I asked in a clam, curious tone. She let out a small ‘eep’ before nodding and trying more to hide. “Well, thanks for that.” I had to lower my head so I could be at eye-level with her. I didn;t close or anything, I just tried to not look scary to her.

“Oh, um, y-you’re welcome.” She really didn’t look like she was ok with my saying thank you. Or something like that. I really can’t tell with her face mostly covered by her hair.

“No, really.” I say in a light tone. “You could’ve just left me there. But instead you brought me here, even though it was against some better judgment,” I cast a sour glare towards Twilight, she only glared back at me. “seriously, you’ve been the nicest mare I’ve met in years, Fluttershy, thank you.” I pick my head back up and turn the rest, and just now I notice how tall I am compared to the mares. Even as a changeling I was still taller. By about a full head and a half, I might as well be as tall as Big Mac, maybe even taller. “And you’re Twlight?” I point to said pony.

“Yes. Why do you ask?” She gave me a scrutinizing stare.

“I’m not one to butt into the lives of friends. But, what I heard was kinda screwed up.”

“Yeah Twilight!” Rainbow said. “Why were you even like that towards Fluttershy?”

“Because it’s a bucking changeling! He steals love from ponies like a monster!” She shouted jabbing a hoof my direction. The girls all took on shocked look while I just kept a straight face and stared at her. No one responded to her so she turned around to see me mere inches away from her face. She didn’t jump back, but flinched a bit.

“I am not a thing.” I calmly state. “I am a changeling.” She tried to walk backwards to get away from me, but I followed, keeping close. “And I already don't like you. Calling me a monster without knowing anything about me or what I do. I can already tell you have some personal vendetta against us changelings.” The girls moved away from as she kept going backwards with me following, never backing away, never blinking, never changing tones, still keeping my cool straight face. I kept my cold, cold stare at the same level as her eyes.

And I was having the time of my life.

“I can already call you and all ponies monsters. You know why?” I didn’t wait for an answer. “Because, you ponies have tried your hardest to keep us away from your cities, villages, and towns. Effectively driving us to the point of extinction. I’ve seen countless hives empty or filled with lifeless bodies of my own kind. And those who still manage to live all weak and withering away. The little fiasco with Chrysalis was nothing more than a mother trying to feed her children. And because of you,” I bring up a hoof to jab at her chest. “and your friends. Drove them away, literally launching them to the badlands to die of starvation.” I backed her up to a wall, she curled up a bit but I maintained complete eye contact. “Tell me, Twilight, do you feel good about yourself for doing that? Do you sleep soundly at night knowing you aided a mother and her children of a species rotting away starve to death?” She didn’t respond, she just gained this thousand-yard stare while her mouth open and closed. Feeling that my work on her was done I straighten back and turn back to the rest. “Shall we go? I would like to see this town in its entirety. Unless the ponies here are like her?” It took a while for any of them to respond,

“Uh, you ain’t gotta worry ‘bout that. As long as ya stick by us nopony’ll bat n’ eye at ‘cha!”

“Good to know. So you mind showing me around this place? Might as well get used to it since I got nothing else better to do at the moment.”

“Sure thing! But I gotta git back ta applebuckin’. Ah’ll let the girls take ya ‘round town.” Then walked out without another word.

“I’m terribly sorry, but I have a few dress orders I need to complete.” With the flick of her hair, she walks out the room.

“Anypony else gonna leave?” I ask after a few seconds of no one leaving. I get shaking heads and one traumatized look. “Alright, let’s get going with this tour then.” The girls nod in agreement, but Rainbow looks back at Twilight.

“Uh, maybe we should take Twi home first.” We all look to the broken down mare. She never moved, not even her eyes. And her mouth is still opening and closing.

“Fine. But I am not going near her.” Rainbow shrugs and motions for Pinkie to help her. I was about to ask what they were doing but then the two hefted Twi up and onto their backs. Twi didn't seem to even notice her sudden change of posture.

“I didn't think I broke her that badly.” Rainbow just shrugged and motioned for us to go. We left the room just as the doctor keeping an eye on was on his way check up on me.

It was Doc Stable.

After his initial shock of apparently seeing me a different color, and after I explained to him a bit of changeling biology I recently discovered. I eventually signed the release forms. Then, after Rainbow and Pinkie dropped Twi at her castle-home, they showed my around the town. Sure I’ve already been through this, but it was weirdly refreshing. And I even saw a few things I didn't notice last time. Like the residential part of town, turns out this place is divided to a market section and residential section. Kinda like most towns and cities back home.

“And that’s pretty much the whole town!” Rainbow concluded. “Whaddya think?”

“Hmm. Not as populated is most of the towns and cities I’ve been to. But I like that whole, ‘everypony knows everypony’ thing you got going on here. I don’t think I’ve been to many towns like that.”

“So you like it?” Pinkie asked in that bubbly tone of hers.

“Yeah, I kinda like it.” I answer and she jumps into the air.

“Yay! I can finally show you this!”

“Uh what-?” She grabbed my right foreleg and dragged me to Sugarcube Corner like a ragdoll. I briefly saw that the others were following me, and that when we got close to the sweets shop there wasn’t a single light on. Fortunately for me, she decided to stop just outside the shop so I got to take a good look. The lights were off, I couldn’t see anything inside with the sun lowering towards the mountains. Unfortunately for me thought, her sudden stop made me collide with her. And since apparently physics don’t apply to her Me slamming into her was like an unstoppable force meeting an immovable object, guess who was which.

“Ugh, my everything.” I slowly got up and rubbed my head. “Pinkie, I already have an idea as to what this might be, but seriously? Dragging me like that?” I open my eyes and look around. “Great. I’m talking to myself.” Shake my head and look at the building in front of me. The front door was wide open, in the darkness I can see outlines of ponies waiting. I could see any eyes so none of them were looking at me. *Great, a party.*

-Just go with it! What’s the worst that could happen?-

*Embris you’re a fucking idiot… Ugh, let’s just go.* I let out a shigh and walked right in. As soon I was completely inside the door slams close behind. The room fully dark despite the windows being left open for light to bleed in. A few seconds go by before the lights turn on and ponies from ever hiding place I could imagine in the room jumped up and yelled ‘Surprise!’. But they stopped halfway when they saw me. All of them stood frozen with unreadable faces. Just as it starting to get awkward Pinkie jumps to my side.

“Hey everypony! This is who I was talking about! Let’s partaaaaay!” The crowd erupted into a full-blown clusterfuck of cheering and laughter. All of this, taking place in little more than a few seconds, left me a little shell-shocked. I mean, here I am, as a changeling, -a living being that had found a place in fears of most of these ponies as far as I know- and they’re treating as if I was a friendly griffon or something.

Things like this make me question how accepting these ponies are, and what kind of mentality they have.

A slight prodding at my side snapped me out of my stupor.

“Huh?” I look at my right and Pinkie was looking at me, a little concern in her eyes even though she was sporting a wide smile.

“Hey, you ok? You haven't moved from there.”

“Oh, sorry. I just, I’ve just never experienced anything like this.” I wave a foreleg over the party. Of course I was lying, but I do have to keep up the act. But in truth, I was just in utter shock at what transpired. “It’s a little jarring.”

“Oh! Ok! Come on then!” She tried pulling with her, but I pulled my hoof from her vice grip.

“What?”

“Come on!” She said in excitement. “It’s about time you found out what fun is!” She then grabbed my hoof again, this time I decided to let her drag me off to whatever she was doing, seeing as I really don’t have a choice.

“Pinkie, how is it that the party lasted all night? Don’t you ponies need sleep or something?” I asked as I sipped at a cup of coffee. Mrs. Cake was kind enough to provide me with it since I managed to not fall asleep last night.

“Because I’m Pinkie Pie!” She shouted from across the table we were sitting at.

“I know Pinkie, nevermind… Thanks Mrs. Cake.” I hold up the cup of sweet bliss to her.

“Anytime dear.” The room fell silent as I kept sipping at my coffee. Pinkie eventually got bored and left to go do… whatever it is that mare does to pass the time. I finished my cup and left after handing it to Mrs. Cake and say bye. The sun was already up and ponies were milling about. I saw a few I recognized at the party. Whenever they saw me they waved at me, and I waved back. I was contemplating what to do. I literally had nothing to do, nor anything I could do.

*Fuck, I should’ve thought this through.*

-Not kidding.-

“Alright, She sent you four?” I ask the four assembled changelings in front of me. All four of them nod back.

“Yes, human.” The one on the far left states.

“Firstly, my name is Ember.” I correct them. “Second, what has yout queen tasked you with?”

“To follow your orders and not take any ponies.” The one next to the far left one answers.

“Good. And your names?”

“Number Fourteen, at your service.”

“Forty Five.”

“Twenty Seven.”

“Number Eight, at your service.” They list themselves off from left to right. Fourteen and Eight bow at me while Forty Five and Twenty Seven have hopeful looks on their faces.

“Alright, you want to feed before we move on?” They nod eagerly. “Go ahead.” A few seconds of them feeding and I have four healthy changelings in front of me. They all have grey chitin with a darker grey carapace. I felt a bit hollow for some reason, but I shrugged it off. “Alright, You’ve seen my friends; Corey, Brittany, Spark, and Chrysanthemum.” Golden wasn’t here so I couldn’t introduce them to him. “And they don’t mind you four around.” They perk up. “But, same can’t be said for the rest of the ponies in town.” They slump a little. “Which is why I plan to introduce you four to more of my pony friends, they should be here in a minute or two. So sit back and relax, and I’ll come get you whenever they get here. That alright?” They nod happily. Each of them taking their own part of the couch as Cops air on the t.v. They were pretty quick to get over the idea of a moving picture, wonder if they got something like that in their hive? What? Oh yeah!

Well, turned out that week I spent as a changeling wouldn't be boring at all. After I left Pinkie’s place I walked around town for a bit. Most of the ponies didn’t seem to mind me there. Although I did get some looks, they were more out of curiosity than anything -I really love the whole ‘quiet acceptance’ shtick they got going here-. And some of the foals were ‘brave’ enough to walk up to me with a parent or two. I think they were just daring themselves to see who was the bravest. But I did ease the minds of some of the ponies by admitting that I like their little town, and that I had no plans of taking over the town or anything to that effect. That tidbit of info spread like wildfire.

And what I really enjoyed was messing with the ponies. Just for fun of course.

I distinctly remember Vinyl coming up and asking me to change to Octavia and jam my heart out during one of her gigs, it was a birthday party for some girl. And I later found out at the party that said girl was Lyra. And Octavia was invited. So imagine the surprise to everybody that, besides they thought Octavia was already being weird for a girl like her, when the actual Octavia showed up. As soon as she walked almost all the ponies immediately saw the picture. Vinyl even stopped the music. It was dead quiet, at least, it was before laughter filled the room. It was kinda awkward that me and Vinyl were the only ones laughing. That is, until I changed back to a changeling. Not long after that the ponies caught on to what was going on the whole crowed erupted in pure, unadulterated, howling laughter. Then Octavia decided to chase me and Vinyl for minutes on end until she joined in on the merriment.

And that was the highlight of my little ‘vacation’, so to speak. The rest of the week was spent helping out Aj since she offered me a place to sleep, and I couldn’t just take up some space without helping around the farm according to her. And it was also spent walking around town, getting caught up into little hijinks with ponies that involved me changing into other ponies. I developed quite the rep before I left on Friday. And they were even a little sad I had to leave! It was awesome! I got a few good farewells and goodbyes before I walked back into the Everfree.

Now with that out of the way, I can address the six ponies waiting for me outside.

“Thank you girls for coming by.” I said as I walked outside and closed the door behind me.

“Anytime partner!” Aj responded. “Why you seem more chipper than usual. What’s got ya in the good mood?”

“I just had a little fun while I was away.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. Anyway, I called you all here to firstly say sorry.” She flinches out of surprise. “Yeah, I want to say sorry for acting the way I did. I’m sorry.” Without waiting for a responce I turn to Rainbow. “And I’m sorry Rainbow.”

“For what?” She asked

“For being a bit of an asshole. And I’m still waiting for your apology.” Next thing that happens is her sighing and walking close to me. She stole another breath.

“I’m sorry. Alright? It was a pretty good prank.”

“Thank you Rainbow. Apology accepted.” She walks back to stand by the rest.

“Now, on to the real reason why I called you all here.” I pause to gather my thoughts. “You see, I ran into a few newly-made friends within the past week.” The girls quirk up a brow. “Let me finish. They showed me their… home, and told me that they running short on food.”

“Wha-”

“NOOOW. I brought these friends over to my place in hopes that we can help them, despite their nature.”

“Huh?” Rainbow asked.

“Well course we can help them!” Rarity answered.

“Ah guess we can do that.” Aj said solemnly. I get murmurs of agreement for the girls beside Twilight. She’s a little suspicious I think.

“Alright. Let me go get my friends so I can introduce you to them before we start.” I say before I go back inside. “Guys?” The four changelings turn to me. I nod to them and they get up and follow me outside. As I expected, the girls are a little less than happy to see them.

“Ember? Why-”

“These are those friends I told you about. I met them and their Queen a while back. They showed some hospitality that compares to how you guys treated me a year ago. ‘Cept you Rainbow.”

“Hey!”

“Anyway, the Queen later decided to tell me their little problem, their little food problem, after I asked about it. One thing lead to another, I decided to see if I can help them out, and here I am.”

“An’ how do ya know we're gonna help them critters out?” Aj questioned.

“Two reasons. One, these are not the same changelings from the Canterlot invasion. And their Queen has promised me herself that she has no intention of taking over Ponyville.”

“And you believe this… Queen?” Rarity asks and I nod. “I’m sorry, but how can you trust a changeling Queen?”

“I held my own against Tirek, your argument is invalid.”