“Ember, if you don’t mind me asking, what were you doing with that woman?” Spark asked as soon as I sat my ass on the couch.

“That was Amy. And I just took her back to Earth, apparently she’s been for a year after ending up here through some weird magic crap.”

“Oh, I see. She wanted to return to Earth?”

“Yeah, she had family to get back too.”

“Ah, alright then.” We fall silent and continue watching t.v.

Y’know. This is just like when I was a teen; sitting in front of a t.v. all day. Except replace the thing with a computer. And watching t.v. with playing games like Robocraft and Team Fortress Two. Of course I would get out ever once in awhile so people, and ponies, know I’m not dead or anything.

What? I like variety. Except for those with top-down perspectives. Just… no.

Anyway. I managed to spend a whole fucking week of doing nothing. I had all that time I wanted to get back into my old life, before I had to make one; doing nothing but spend hours on my desktop. And holy crap I missed a lot on the games I used to play. Like, for Robocraft, the developers decided to replace the economy system with loot crates…

I swear to god, if they go down the Advanced Warfare route… I’m done. But, there was an update. It said it fixed the loot crate system, so I do get better stuff with higher tier crates.

Anyway, I think it’s safe to say I really got back into playing the hell out of that game. I don’t know why. It’s been years since I played that game. And yet here I am, like the fifteen year old loser I used to be; in my room, on my desktop, sniping the enemy team.

I’ve been playing for so long I saw that I somehow put fifty hours into the game. Bringing the total to a whopping five hundred twenty three.

Jesus fucking christ, I used to play the hell out of this game when I was younger.

Eh… Well, I got all the time in the world to play now. And boy, ever since I got back the groove of things, I became one of the top players. After that, I got an absolute shit ton of platoon invites. Heh, I might as well start a channel like Gromek or something.

“The battle for Ophiuchus Valley has begun.” The announcer stated. I just loaded in and I can already tell we’re in for a bad time.

Gromek999teleported in

“Fuck me.” I mutter. “Alright, stay close, Gromek’s here.” I tell my team mates over the teamspeak. Gromek’s a youtuber if that hasn’t made itself privy yet.

“Are you kidding me?” One of my teammates, Sparky, asked. “I wonder which of his robots he’s using.”

“It’s the Tesla!” Another said right I saw his robot explode.

Gromek999 destroyed Lease958

“Fuck.” I sigh. “Sparky, on him now.”

“On it.” She replied. She went off to the left of the map. More open ground there. While I kept to the shadows, as much as I could while piloting an old Carbon Wraith.

I remember when carbon smg’s where the shit. Ah… memories.

Anyway. I use the ghost module a few times since this thing is easily a rail’s trophy target. God I should of went with my rail sniper.

Gromek999 destroyed SparkyFTW

“Oh god damit!” She yelled. “Welp, you’re on your own.”

“I know, fuck me.” There was only one other player on my team, they weren’t on the Curse Teamspeak, and the enemy team only lost two. Just great. Maybe I can make this work…

Stick with me, snipe others if you can. I type in the team chat. I saw my teammate nod their weapons and climb the mountain with the tower. They will go on the support, while I go offensive. Hopefully no one spots them.

I rush the enemy home base and start claiming it. I get to the first bar before one of the enemy team goes for me.

“Fuck me...” It was Gromek. Of all people. “Whatever.” I shrug it off and fire my smg’s at him. Unfortunately, with his robot being the one that can go stupidly fast, I only manage to hit him zero times. But, luckily enough for me. My Wraith is overclocked at ten, meaning I can hover high enough to be safely away from those damn teslas.

Duey_gamez Destroyed Gromek999 I saw his little robot explode. I look to where the rail shot came from.

“All the way from the mountain! Lucky shot!” Spark voiced my thoughts.

“Yeah, now we got the rest of the enemy team to worry about.” I sigh. I my robot just started regenerating itself. I go invisible and book it from the base. About four of the enemy team were there. With Duey sniping them and my robot fully regenerated. We were able to take
‘em out.

“Four left you got this!” Lease said.

“Don’t jinx it!” Sparky shouted back.

“Sorry!” I ignore their argument and head to home base. They have three bars out of four, it keeps going down with Duey shooting them from afar.

I get there and let loose a torrent of smg fire on them. With them nearly destroyed due to Duey, it was a little difficult to finish them off. But, it was done.

“Victory.” The announcer… announced.

“Yeah! More loot!” Sparky cheers.

“Yeah...” I mutter.

“Oh, come on Lazy.” Lease “You know this new forge system is just as good as the old economy.”

“Chya. I beg to differ.” I scoff. “The only thing I like about this new system are the robots in the factory; how everything is pretty much free if you a little bit of every item.”

“True.”

“I still don’t like the loot system.”

“Aw come on!” I chuckle.

“Anyway. I gotta go. See ya guys later.”

“See ya.” Sparky and Lease say before I shut the game and Curse down while taking off the headset I ‘aquired’ a while back. I get up from my chair. Stretch a bit, and head upstairs. I find Chrysi and Spark in the living room. Chrysi holding a plate of freshly cooked eggs and breakfast.

“Hey Girls.” I said.

“Hey Ember.” The respond in unison.

“Anything new?”

“Not really.” Chrysi answered.

“Cool.” Just then my belly reminded me of its need for sustenance. “I’m gonna go out for a bit.”

“Alright.” Chrysi said.

“Bye Ember.” Spark said. We waved to each other halfheartedly, as if we were family, -I think, that’s how it felt like- and left. I was about to start walking towards Sugarcube Corner when three changelings in black armor came up to me as soon as I closed the front door to my house.

“The Queen requests your presence.” The middle one said.

“Alright.” I nod nonchalantly. They nod back and lead me through the forest to their hive. They took me to the throne room where Mirage was sitting up in her chair. And calm and… friendly smile on her features.

“Ember. So good to see you again.”

“Likewise.” I kindly reply. “So, why did you call me?” I asked.

“Oh, I just wanted to get to know you a little more.” Woah what? Since when… Wh… What?

“Hello? Ember? Are you ok?” I must’ve been lost in the recesses of my mind for a bit. I didn’t see or notice Mirage walk up to me. She was waving a holed hoof in from of my face.

“Uh, yeah.” I shake my head.

“Are you sure? You looked… quite lost.” Ch… no kidding. But still, why?

“Well, I guess you could say that.”

“What do you mean?” Mirage asked while raising brow at me.

“It’s just… To be honest, it’s been years since anyone ever wanted something like that from me.” Fuck me, there has to be a better way to word that.

“Oh, well then.” Mirage made an about face. Though, I still a smile curving those lips of hers. “Shall we begin?” She sat back on her throne. Then she nodded to a few other changelings in the room. They left and quickly came back with large, by their standards, chair. They set it down behind me and nod. I nod back appreciatively and sit in.

“Let’s shall.” *Fucking Discord.*

“Really? You can do that?” I ask in disbelief.

“Yes, hard to believe isn't it?”

“And it only pertains to Queens?”

“No. Kings have the ability to.”

“Oh, huh… That’s.. Actually really useful.” I remark. “I really didn't changelings bud an exact copy of themselves.” Mirage nodded in understanding. A little mirthful smile playing on her face.

“Yes, but don’t go making many versions of yourself. It requires a lot, and I cannot stress this enough, a, lot of energy, concentration, and magic.” She stressed. “Even if I were to create one fully nourished, It would be... taxing, to say the least.”

“I understand.” I nodded.

“Good.” She smiled. “Now my question, and please feel free to not answer, it may be a little… sensitive for you,” I nodded, allowing her to continue. And preparing for whatever she might ask. “I want to know. Why are so willing to help us? You could have easily told the ponies of our location and be done with us.” Oh… whale then…

“... That’s… very simple, actually.” I slowly gave an answer. “I just know what it feels like be in your situation, in a sense; everyone hating you for just being yourself. Doing everything they can to wipe you from existance. Crap like that. In fact. I think a lot of people from my world can sympathize with you.”

“Really?” I nodded.

“Yeah. But maybe not to my extent. Not many, at least.”

“How so?”

“There was this group of people who really… disliked, us anthros. And wanted us to basically fall of the face of the Earth, if you know what I mean.”

“I do.” She said.

“Good.” I nod. “Anyway. Because of these people. I basically lost everything I had at one point. I became homeless. I had to scrounge dumpsters for food. And I had to do some… things to get by.” So I had to fuck a few people to get by, so what? I wanted to fucking survive.

“Oh my.” Mirage put a hoof to her mouth.

“Yeah. Oh, and there’s your answer.” I grin.

“It seems so.” Mirage smiled back. “And I also apologize.” She looked down shamefully.

“Uuuh… What for?”

“I may have been a little… trepidatious with what questions to ask. I didn’t to bring up any… unsavory memories.” She winced for a half-a-second. “I do hope you understand. I didn't want any… trouble between us.” … She didn’t say the real reason behind her hesitation, I just know it. Why would she-

Oh, that’s right, she’s literally the mother of all the changelings in this hive. Of course she would want to be care-

Wait. Is she calling me short tempered or something!?

No… If she thinks that I am some angry psychopath with a short fuse. I need to keep my cool.

“I understand.” I said after I took a calming breath. “I know I don’t have the best...” I struggled to find an appropriate word.

“Patience?” Mirage offered with a nice winning, sort of strained, smile.

“Sure let’s go with that.” I chuckle. “But I do understand. You have your children to protect.”

“Thank you.” Mirage looked relieved.

“Anytime.” I get up from the chair I was provided and stretched. “But I think I should get going. I don’t know how long I’ve been here talking with you.”

“About five hours.” Mirage said casually.

“Really? Huh… felt longer than that.” I shrug it off; time flies by when you don’t keep track of it. “Anyhow, I should get going. I’ll see you around, Mirage.”

“I hope so Ember.” She replied with a wave. I waved back and made my way out the hive and out the Everfree.

“My Queen.” Glare said once the human left the hive.

“Yes, Glare?” Queen Mirage turned to her child.

“May I speak freely once again?”

“Or course Glare. You know you don’t have to ask.” The Queen nodded.

“I know,” Glare smirked. “I just like to bother you every once in awhile.” The two changelings share a laugh. “And about that human,” Glare’s smirk turned smug. “I told you so.”

Well today started off on an interesting note. Got to learn a lot about changelings. Pretty cool.

But I seriously never thought the king or queen can make a literal fucking copy of themselves by budding. That’s might be useful or me if anything goes to shit in the foreseeable future.

Anyway, since I still have a whole day to waste, might as well go those groceries I was initially planning to get.

…

Of course nothing goes my way. I didn’t even invoke Murphy’s law. Does some deity really hate me that much, if any exist? Well, it may be due to ponies still wanting me dead.

Who, you might ask, would be these ponies? Well, they’re none other than those two idiots that tried to kill me a year ago. And why would they wait a year to try and kill me?

Because they actually planned this shit out. But they ultimately fucked up.

Let me explain, they made their first mistake trying to use Button Mash and his mom as bait…

The little ‘pager’ that I always keep on me vibrated. Button Mash and Nursery are in trouble again.

Sigh

*Who’s fucking with them this time?*

I teleport my stuff home and then teleport to Nurse’s house.

…

*Are you fucking kidding me?* It’s those same pricks that tried to kill me with that crappy assassination attempt. And they’re not even being quiet about it, I can hear Button and Nurse’s muffled screaming from out here. Stupid…

Anyway, I barge in the home and find the two ponies in the middle of being tied up by the same ponies I met a while ago.

So, without further adue, I promptly beat the both of them into a heap of bruised, battered pony flesh before they could even say quidditch. With them no longer a threat, I untied Button and Nurse.

“Thank you, Ember.” Nurse said once I got the gag off her. Button was a little too shaken up to even speak. It took him being held by Nursery to not break down. Upon seeing this, I was furious. To think, someone would even go to these lengths-

No. Of course there has to be people like that in this world. But wouldn't they haven't gotten to Corey if they wanted to really get to m-

Oh god. Oh, god. Corey and Brit.

“Be right back.” I said before I teleported to Corey’s place.

…

“If you want to see your friends again. Come to us willingly.” A note on the front door said.

“No...” I clench my fists.

“No…” I fall to my knees.

“No!” They are going to pay.

They are going to regret the day they decided to fuck with Ember Lockhart.

Author's Notes:

Du-du-duuuuu! Epic namedrop. Am I right?