I won’t get a chance like this again, Imago told himself.

With the close call that was the lavender mare, Twilight, he knew that he had to leave, and he had to do it now. Besides, he was already going against the Swarm’s rules. For him to abandon his post for so long… He gave his head a single shake, refocusing his mind. He opened the door to Shy’s house, the green magic engulfing the door and pushing it open. He was quite thankful that her door didn’t creak, as he knew his escape would be foiled by the softest noise. It didn’t take him long to flee the home, silently closing the door behind him, and make his way into the Everfree Forest.

Angel Bunny blinked the sleep out of his eyes, his large ears still ringing with the nearly inaudible click he had heard just seconds before. The foul tempered rabbit grumbled, his mind wondering what that senseless, giant bug could be doing that involved the door of all things. The bunny hopped out of his basket, looking around the dark room for the Changeling. Not being able to find him caused the bunny no fret. Undoubtedly, thought Angel, it was just because he was black, and blending into the dark room. However, as the minutes passed, and the bunny found his eyes adjusting to the dark, still, he found no changeling. Curiosity rising in his head, he hopped up onto the ledge of an open window, and turned his ears towards the Everfree Forest. Hearing the soft buzz on the air, uncommon to any insect he’d heard before, Angel smirked, hopping back down to his bed. Finally! That oversized pest was gone, and he could resume his role as the king of the cottage... And yet...

Angel couldn’t seem to get comfortable, no matter how he turned, trying to find that spot in his bed that’d let him get to sleep. Something just…bothered him. The room was nice and pleasant again, only the sounds of the animals sleeping that he was used to. There was no threat of that insect trying to take over his spot as king of the roost. So why couldn’t he get to sleep. Images of the next morning flashed into the bunny’s head. Fluttershy worried, looking for the bug, desperately trying to figure out where he went and if he was okay. She’d ask Angel, and the bunny would shrug, play dumb, pretend he had slept through the night, and Fluttershy would panic, and go to Everfree to look for him…She’d be fine...right? He grunted, mumbling to himself. For a few moments, he simply laid in his bed, staring at the wall. Finally, the rabbit made a frustrated sound to himself, kicking his bed over in aggravation, before heading up the stairs to tell his keeper what had happened as best he could.

Imago stopped just outside of the cottage he had been staying in, letting his eyes take in his surroundings. The night was black, clouds masking the moon’s rays, preparing for tomorrow morning’s rain. It was as though the pegusi had chosen for tomorrow’s rain solely to aid his escape. Imago looked down, examining the wound on his leg. He knew the crack in his foreleg had been large, but surely it would be healed enough by now that he didn't need this bright white signal attached to his leg. Tugging on the bandages with his magic, he unraveled a little of the bandage, wincing as soon as the pressure was removed from his leg. No, he thought. I still need this… He shook his head, using his magic to rip the bandage, tucking the free piece he had just made into the bandage in an admittedly shoddy attempt to hold the wrapping. Dropping the piece he had just torn free, he took to the air once more, making his way towards the badlands again.

Out in the Everfree Forest, Imago slowed his flight as he came across a clearing, landing unsteadily on his three legs. He needed a break. Even though the love from Sapphire had been enough for him to live on, it was far too meager to keep him in peak physical health. The changeling bit his lip gently, looking over his shoulder to where he had come from. He had told himself he wouldn’t look back, but it nagged at him, and the he just couldn't help himself. The pony had shown him such kindness, saved his life (twice!), and attempted to befriend him in her own way. It felt wrong to just up and leave… Unbidden, his mind played back moments from his time with the butter-yellow mare. Even now, the commander was impressed by her bravery, to rescue a changeling who appeared and attacked just earlier that day, and let him recover in her home. To offer a kitten to the Changeling, who she had still, at the time, thought was a ravenous love-hungry beast? He gave his head a single shake to try to clear away these thoughts. Looking forwards, the spires of the badlands just breaking the horizon, reminded him of how far away home was. He gave his wings a testing beat before rising into the air. Just as soon as he got off the ground, a twig snap alerted to him to another being in the area. Turning to see what predator stalked him, he blinked, his wings ceasing their beats in sheer surprise, causing him to land.
“How…How are you here?”

Angel hopped up to Fluttershy’s bed and stared at the post for a moment. He was wondering, if only for a moment, if he should let the mare sleep and let her little bug pal wander off and get lost in the Everfree. The thoughts of Shy crying and scared leapt back into his head, unbidden, almost as if his conscience was reminding him what was right. With an annoyed sigh, he lifted his big, bunny foot and kicked the bed post several times, demanding the sleeping mare’s attention. Shy yawned, sleepily raising her head to search for the source of the disturbance. Seeing Angel, she smiled softly, dreamily.
“Oh, hello Angel Bunny…” Seeing that he had her attention, Angel did his best to portray what had happened with his body. He motioned a door being opened, then someone escaping out it and running, jabbing his fore-paw towards Everfree, before running downstairs. Fluttershy blinked, sleep causing her mind to work as sluggish as it ever had, before yawning and allowing sleep to reclaim her. This restful sleep lasted all of a minute before she was interrupted by a perturbed bunny foot shoving her out of her bed and sending her tumbling to the floor. Looking up at Angel’s upset and very impatient face, she gave a soft, sheepish grin.

“O-Ok…I’m up.”

Fluttershy yawned again as she followed Angel downstairs, curious of whatever could have her little animal friend in such a mood. Surely, if it were anything too scary, it would’ve woken Imago. Upon that thought entering her head, she slowly noticed what the problem was. While Imago could be hard to see at night (a fact that was reinforced by Imago having scared the poor mare more than once with those glowing blue eyes of his), she could usually make out what little light there was reflecting off of his carapace, or hear his soft snoring, often accompanied by the occasional buzz of his wings. But, when she looked now, she saw nothing. No one was in the room.

Forcing the panic rising in her chest back, Fluttershy rushed to the door as quietly as she could, so as not to disturb her animal friends. Thrusting it open, her eyes scanned the region she had come to know better than her own hoof, and quickly found the small discarded piece of cloth. It was the same kind that she used to bandage her animal friends. The same kind that she had used to bandage Imago.

“Oh my. H-He couldn’t have…” She stopped, letting the statement hang for a moment. She knew. He had left. He was probably returning home. Fluttershy tried to tell herself this was for the best, and that she had intended on him doing that very same thing. She tried to remind herself that she was only tending to his wounds, as she would any of her friends, and the feeling she felt was merely worry. Her head sank softly, her bangs falling before her eyes. “H-…He could’ve at least….said goodbye…” She whispered to herself, before a scream, and a loud crash startled the mare, eliciting a squeak from the pegasus. Her eyes drawn to the source of the sound, she saw a green glow fading in the horizon. It was in coming from Ponyville.

Back in the forest, Imago narrowed his eyes, looking into the eyes of the female who had surprised him so much. He didn’t trust this. He didn't trust this forest, and he didn't trust the image of the being in front of him. The Changeling commander couldn't begin to believe that there would be a Changeling nymph this far from the Badlands. And yet, before his eyes stood a young Changeling, her perforated mane barely reaching her shoulders; her fangs tiny, hardly poking out from under her lip; And her wings positively minuscule, folded to her back.

“What’re you doing here?” She asked, her voice sounding excited, happy, and curious all at once. Imago’s sixth sense backed up his hearing. “I thought I was the only Changeling around Ponyville!” She stopped, her mind working why this older male, obviously Swarm military, would be here. Slowly, she frowned. “Y-..You’re not here to bring me back…are you?”

“N-No…” Imago said slowly, cocking his head. “How’d you get here, who are you?”

“I’m Diapause, but my friends called me Skitters.” The Nymph said, deliberately ignoring the first question. “How ‘bout you?”

“Imago.” He said. “I kind of wound up here after the attack.” At the mention of the failed attack, the little nymph winced, as though remembering. “How have you been surviving here so long?” He asked, watching the little female. Diapause, Skitters, grinned; seeming very pleased that he had asked this question.

“I taught myself how to transform!” She said, pride in her voice. “I’d show ya, but I don’t want to blow my cover. What’re you doing in Everfree? Shouldn't you be getting love? Or heading back to the Hive?” Imago sighed. He couldn’t see the harm in explaining the events to this little Nymph. Besides, he had wanted to rest anyways. Settling into a laying position, ever mindful of his injury, the elder Changeling told his tale to the eager youngster, stopping only at times to indulge the reactions from the nymph.

“…and so I decided to leave…” Imago said as his story drew to a close. “I can’t live here with her. I have to go back to the Swarm, and I have to forget about her.” As he said this, he couldn’t help but notice the sigh that escaped his lips. The air was silent for a moment, save for the animals and insects of the forest, before the nymph spoke up.

“Why?”

Imago blinked, somewhat shocked at the response. “W-What?”

“Why?” She repeated. “Why can’t you stay here? Why not live with Fluttershy. Sounds like you two get along well. So, why not stay? I mean, look at me! I have two really close friends, I got an idol! I get to see things and places I never would hanging around the Hive. And I get tons of love all the time! ‘Course, no one knows I’m a Changeling. So least you’d have someone to talk to about Changeling stuff!” Skitters kicked her fore hoof, kicking up a small patch of dust and looked down. “And…It’d be kinda nice to have a Changeling to talk to.” Imago was silent at this, taking in the young female’s wisdom. Other than his responsibilities to the throne, why couldn't he stay? With love from Sapphire and (if he blended into the Ponyvillians) friends he could possibly make, he could survive… even flourish. Before he had time to consider this further, there was the unmistakable sound of a magic blast rocking the nearby town. Diapause blinked and looked up, her eyes wide.

“W-What was that!?” She got no answer from him, but Imago knew all too well that it was the sound of a Changeling destruction spell.

He knew that he had to go back now. The Changelings were attacking the town… looking for him…