The ground was damp from the recent rainfall. It would have been bothersome to me most days. Today however, it was a relieving sensation against my sore hooves. I had finished another timberwolf trap near my shelter, gaining a few splinters in the process. After I had pulled them loose my hooves ached from the pain. So now I was standing on a growth of moss, letting the soaked surface ease my suffering.

My mind wandered as the pain subsided. How long had it been now? Six months? No. It had to be closer to a year now. A year in this forsaken forest. A sigh escaped my body at the thought. The next thing I tried to remember was the last time I had eaten. There wasn’t exactly a surplus of love at my disposal. I had to make do with what was available, which was next to nothing. I’d even attempted to get energy from roots and berries. It wasn’t enough, but it kept me going somehow.

I stepped off of the moss and entered my shelter. It wasn’t much to look at, but it gave me some cover during the night. I had learned quickly that there were beasts in the forest that you didn’t want meeting you. I’d come too close to being a timberwolf’s dinner before. Now I had several traps rigged around my shelter. It gave me some peace of mind... Some.

I sat down and picked up one of the berries I had picked earlier. It tasted bland. I grimaced as it slid down my throat. How did other creatures do this? I picked up another as the light began to fade. The sun always set quickly around here. That was mostly due to the tree-line. The forest was so tall and thick here that I only got a few hours of solid sunlight. I began to listen more intently as the forest grew darker. Nothing sounded out of the ordinary. That brought me zero comfort.

My mind drifted again as my thoughts turned to the hive. Now that was a fortress! No enemy could ever make it inside, let alone navigate to anywhere important. Intertwining caves that could shift at any moment! I missed it. I missed everything about the hive. Well...almost everything. Honestly my feelings had soured a little towards Chrysalis. I had every right to be mad at her. She abandoned me!

The memory of the attack on Canterlot replayed in my mind. Everything had been going so smoothly until those ponies had interfered. And when the shockwave hit, every last changeling was launched into the unknown. Somehow my angle had been off from the others. Instead of rocketing towards the barrens we called home, I fell into this accursed forest at top speed. That was the day I broke a bone for the first time. I still had a limp from that fall.

‘SNAP!’

I nearly jumped out of my skin at the noise! My ears perked up, listening for signs of life. That wasn’t a snapping twig. Too loud. What else could... My traps! Had an animal set one off? Was it a timberwolf? I wanted to peek outside from my shelter, but didn’t dare expose myself. Maybe if I pulled back the vines just an inch or two...

The view was limited, but it was enough to see the timberwolf sniffing the bed of moss several feet away. I looked at the moss. The moonlight was starting to peek through the canopy and lit up sections of the bed. And that’s when I saw it. There was a dark, red spot in the moss. I lifted my front hooves and examined them. The right one had a dried spot of blood. Damn my carelessness! One of the splinters must have pierced deeper than I thought. I looked back outside and saw two more timberwolves joining the first. I felt my body beginning to tremble. My traps hadn’t worked. My skin felt like it was crawling, making me panic even more.

The first timberwolf sniffed the moss again, this time slowly turning toward my hidden shelter. I felt myself freeze. My eyes slowly followed the path I had walked earlier.

There was a blood trail..

My gaze returned to the timberwolf. I felt a scream catch in my throat. Its eyes were locked with mine. The other two fell in beside their leader and the pack began to move forward. I wanted to run. I wanted to hide. I wanted to scream for mercy. But I found myself frozen in place as the timberwolves approached. The leader began to lower into position. I felt a single tear roll down my cheek as he sprung forward.

———————————-

The only thing I remember is the pain. I don’t know what happened after the leader pounced on me. I don’t remember if the other timberwolves joined in. I don’t remember screaming. I never knew until later that someone heard me. All that existed in my mind was the pain. Darkness and pain. That was my world now. And I would never know another.

———————————

When consciousness began to pull me back, I felt a fire in every part of my body. The pain was nearly intense enough to throw me back into the void. But I found my eyes slowly prying themselves open, wishing to see how I’d survived the entire ordeal. As my brain began to work again, I realized that simple fact; I had survived.
My eyes opened fully, allowing them to focus on my environment. As my vision cleared, I found I was in a tree. A large tree at that. There were bottles, vials, and masks covering the interior. Where in Equestria was I? I looked around the odd room and found a window. I could see the forest outside. I was still trapped. Yet at the same time... This had to belong to someone. Which means someone saved me! But who would save a dying changeling?

As if in answer to my silent question, a door creaked open on the other side of the tree. The opening revealed what appeared to be a pony. But she was unlike any pony I’d ever seen before. She was covered head to hoof in stripes. Her eyes seem to find me immediately and a smile formed across her lips. Didn’t she know what I was? Maybe not if she lived in this forest. There were plenty of other dangers to worry about over a lone changeling.

“You’re awake and that is good. I’ve brought along some tasty food.”

I tried to sit up, discovering that my limbs refused to cooperate. My knees buckled halfway to standing. The short fall was enough to illicit a grunt of pain.

“Standing will be a challenge indeed. How long has it been since your last feed?”

I stared at her, weighing my options. If I could stand I would have attempted an escape. The weakness in my limbs made that impossible. So that left flying. Hopefully my wings weren’t as damaged. I flexed my back, readying for takeoff. I was about to smile when I noticed something...off.

I couldn’t feel my wings.

I slowly turned my head, praying to whatever deities there were that my fears weren’t true. My eyes locked on my back, revealing nothing but bandages. Every inch of my back and shoulders was covered. Blood was seeping through the fabric at an alarming rate.

The striped pony walked closer as I watched my bandages turning red. She circled around to meet my gaze.

“I’ll remove this and start to mend. You may not want to look my friend.”

I didn’t look away. I watched her hurriedly unravel the soaked cloth and pull it from my bleeding body. As soon as I saw the reality of the situation I turned away, feeling the tears well up.

My wings were gone.

The timberwolf had torn my entire back open, taking my wings in the process. I didn’t know how I could still be alive from such a wound. I felt the first tear roll down my cheek as the striped one began pouring something over my back. I groaned, but allowed her to continue. She was obviously trying to help. It’s not as if she could do me any more harm. I stood as she treated my wound as best she could. As she moved away to grab a new bandage, I peeked at my back. There was all manner of colored powders and salves covering the wound. I looked like a rainbow. The striped one returned and began wrapping the new bandage around me.

“Zecora is the name I bear. What is the one you choose to wear?”

Zecora. An odd name for sure. What was the second part though? The one you choose to wear? I shook my head in confusion as I sat down. She chuckled to herself and raised a hoof to her chest.

“Zecora.”

The hoof turned out until it was pointing at me. Oh! She wanted my name. That was a problem. I had never been given one. I wasn’t like the younger changelings that had started to identify themselves. I shook my head.

“I-“

My first word in over a year and it came out with a wheezing cough. I hadn’t had to speak to anyone in ages. I cleared my throat and tried again, producing the same result. Zecora held up a cup of liquid. I took it without hesitation. I didn’t even care if it was poison as long as it got rid of this dry feeling. I drank the liquid as fast as I could. Plain water never tasted better! The cup fell to the floor as I sighed.

“I...don’t have...a name.”

Zecora tilted her head to one side.

“No name of your own? Not even at home?”

I shook my head again.

“Never...needed one.”

I tried to stand, my limbs still shaky.

“How long?”

Zecora helped me steady myself.

“Two weeks under my caring touch. The timberwolves did not leave much.”

“Did you scare them off?”

“Howls of panic I did hear. I ran to see what caused such fear. When I arrived, the wolves had fled. Your body left, but not quite dead.”

I took a step forward and nearly fell. Zecora caught me, pushing me upright once more.

“Why would you save me? A changeling that is.”

“There are no enemies beneath these trees. I saw in you much pain to ease.”

I took a second step, feeling my legs take more weight than before. I felt a small smile forming. I took a third step. My confidence shattered as I fell again.

“Damn.”

Zecora chuckled and walked to one of the nearby shelves.

“In time you will regain your strength. This occurs when you sleep at great length. Potions will mend your muscle and bone. Soon you will walk on your own.”

I sat back down on the makeshift bed Zecora had set up. She approached with a vial of blue liquid and held it out to me. I stared at the vial for a few moments before taking it. The cork made a popping noise as I pulled it loose. The smell nearly knocked me out.

“You can’t really expect me-“

I didn’t have a chance. As I spoke she had shoved her hoof under the vial and tipped it into my mouth. The foul liquid slid down my throat without a second thought. As soon as my airway was clear I began coughing.

“Are you trying to kill me?! I’m pretty sure being mostly dead once was enough!”

Zecora chuckled and walked away without another rhyming word.

———————————

Four days passed without any excitement. It seemed that Zecora’s home wasn’t a place that the bigger beasts wandered near. I drank potions constantly and was beginning to walk around the room. Unfortunately Zecora couldn’t do anything for my old limp. So I hobbled around the room, regaining my strength.

My back was starting to knit together with scar tissue. Zecora had kept the bleeding to a minimum even with me moving around more. I glanced back every so often at where my wings used to be. It tore my heart in two every time. How was I supposed to get anywhere? Surely ponies didn’t walk everywhere, right? I walked over to a nearby table and sat down, taking the weight off my legs. My eyes found a book that Zecora had left open on the table. I began to peruse the page. It was a book on potions. Interesting...

I pulled the book closer, turning back to the first page. I began reading about the various uses for potions. Then it was onto the individual recipes. I even read Zecora’s personal notes added in on certain elixirs. I turned the page over and found that I had reached the back cover. I blinked a few times as I registered what had happened. I’d forgotten just how fast I could consume information. It was a unique talent of mine. That was why Chrysalis had used me for many of her reconnaissance missions. Including-

‘Creeeeak’

“What is it you wanted to show me Zecora?”

I froze in my chair as a lavender pony came into view. Zecora had brought someone here?! Zecora was the first through the door. The pony followed and instantly froze in the doorway. Her eyes grew big as she registered my presence.

“Zecora! There’s a changeling in your house!”

Her horn lit up. I flinched, waiting for her attack. Zecora wouldn't have it though, and stepped between us.

“I will not have a battle here. Put out your horn now, Twilight dear.”

Twilight. I knew I recognized her. She’d been at Canterlot during the attack. In fact...she was the one that discovered Chrysalis! She was the one I-

“Why do you have a changeling in your home? Don’t you realize how dangerous they are?!”

I cleared my throat, bringing Twilight’s attention back to me. I braced the table as I began to stand.

“She saved my life. I would have died without her help.”

Twilight seemed to finally take in the whole scene in front of her. Half of my body was bandaged after all. I took a wobbly step forward and stood as tall as I could.

“Why are you here, if I might ask?”

She opened her mouth to answer, but stopped herself. She looked at Zecora, confusion growing in her eyes.

“Why did you bring me Zecora?”

Zecora smiled.

“His health is on the mend. But he is alone, and needs a friend. The changeling Queen he cannot follow. A place in his heart has long been hollow. Friendship can fill this empty space. But in Ponyville, not this place.”

Twilight seemed shocked.

“You want me to...be his friend?”

Zecora wanted me to be her friend? That didn’t seem like a good idea. Especially with past events taken into account. Zecora was unfazed by the reaction. She didn’t even try to justify her plan. Instead she motioned Twilight to approach me. The lavender pony was cautious, but began inching towards me. I stood my ground, hoping it looked like I was in command of the situation. The truth was that I didn’t think I’d be able to take a step without crashing into Twilight. So I let her walk to me. She slowly held up her hoof.

“I’m Princess Twilight Sparkle.”

Princess? That was new. I looked at her hoof for a moment before raising my own to meet it.

“I’m-“

Damn. This name thing again? What was the point? But I didn’t want it to look like I was hiding something. The longer I stood there, the more uneasy Twilight became.

“Do you...have a name?”

What sort of name fit a changeling? I tried to recall the names of the younger generations. Nothing was coming to mind! I looked around, hoping something would provide an answer to my dilemma. My eyes found the window that looked out into the forest. And something in my head clicked.

“Shade. My name is Shade.”

I looked at Twilight and smiled. I had been trapped in this forest for far too long, but I couldn’t deny that it had changed me. I had survived on my own in the shade of the forest canopy. No Chrysalis. No hive. Just me. And so despite my hatred of this cursed place, I would keep this name as a reminder of where I was reborn. I was Shade. And I was going to survive.

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