Changeling

MIGHT: 1/5-4/5 depending on variant

RARITY: 3/5

By Quick Fix

With the nightmarish appearance of a half rotting, half insectoid pony, and with a wide ranging number of abilities, the cunning Changeling is one of the most advanced and highly evolved predators living in Equestria today.

The standard Changeling soldier is protected by a thick jet black exoskeleton, which is capable of withstanding sustained physical attacks without suffering any lasting damage, but is also incredibly light – affording the Changeling impressive mobility and agility.  The Changeling also boasts a pair of insect like wings and a magical horn reminiscent of the unicorn, lending the creature a significant advantage over most ponies, which can either fly or use magic, but not both. Much like an army of ants, it is exceptionally rare that one will come across a single changeling, which is why reporting Changelings is a serious matter. If there is one in a town, then there are usually several others near-by, already infiltrated into the society, or waiting just outside for a signal to begin their mass feeding.

Many of the spells that are used are basic level; levitation, alteration, and even a short-distance teleportation spell are the most commonly used. However, more destructive spells such as disintegration, power blasts, and elemental control have been reported to the more well-fed changelings.

The most remarkable ability of the Changeling however, is its ability to shape shift into a perfect replica of any nearby species, allowing it to infiltrate with ease. The Changeling can even transform into none organic forms, such as rocks or furniture, but cannot maintain these ridged forms for very long. Transforming does require a high amount of energy, but a fully fed changeling is capable of transforming several times within quick succession without becoming exhausted. The exact length a Changeling can maintain a different form is unknown, but it is thought to be at least several weeks – while the queen can boast a far, far longer transformation window. If a changeling has been unfed, then its connection with magic is the first thing that is lost, and they are unable to transform. If the Changeling is too far from its nest, it will go into a period of hibernation, in the hopes that an unlucky foal crosses their path and offers their sympathy to it.

Unlike ponies, Changelings can only obtain true sustenance through absorbing the love of near-by creatures, and the vast majority of a Changeling’s time is focussed on maintaining a viable food source. The exact “quality” of the "love" they feed off seems to differ, as Changelings prefer to feed off the love of a couple, rather than the love of between family members.

In most cases, the Changeling will create a parasitic relationship with its food source – disguising itself as a pony’s lover, or son and feeding off the love for several months before moving onto a new food source. One of the more disturbing facets of this relationship is that as the creature feeds, the love of the subject is actively drained away. Many unsuspecting couples and families have broken apart due to the intervention of a hungry Changeling. In extreme cases, feeding can cause mental distress as the parasite takes over their minds, eventually sucking out all emotion and reason from its host, leaving it permanently brain dead.  It is mostly a game of chance as to whether the changeling will keep its transformation target captive in order to gain more information about their life if they so require it, but most Changelings kill their victims rather than risk discovery. In extreme cases, there are entire caverns filled with the corpses of victims that the Changelings hide from the towns in faraway locations or underground. Sometimes they even use the guise of already dead ponies to lure victims into a trap, and many towns have warning posters and classes detailing the many giveaways of a Changeling imposter.

Below are the three different classes of Changeling.

Drone – the drone is the bottom rung of the Changeling hive, and the most common. Responsible for any and all physical labour, the drone is usually a foot shorter than the soldier class, and is notoriously dim-witted, requiring constant supervision to ensure they do not veer off their appointed task. The drone does not have wings, and relies on a small magical reserve to perform its monotonous tasks. Drones never leave a Changeling nest for their entire life span – which is three to four years – and are fed by the love the Queen has for her subjects. A standard sized Changeling nest usually contains between eight to ten thousand drones.

Soldier – The soldier is the most well-known of the Changelings, and the most publicised. Jet black, with modest magical abilities, flight and advanced mimicry, the solider is a dangerous force to face on the battlefield. Some soldiers spend their lives gathering food for the hive from nearby settlements and bringing it back to the hive to share, while others are trained specifically for attack and defence. A Changeling army is led by a single Alpha Infiltrator – always the most cunning and strongest – who relays the orders of the queen to the subjects.

The standard Changeling soldier

Infiltrator – physically identical to the soldier, the infiltrator is a Changeling that has been personally promoted by the hive queen to an elite standing. The infiltrator can spend years out of the hive, slowly weakening a potential target settlement, before heralding a mass attack of Changeling soldiers. The infiltrator always wears a distinct set of armour, to differentiate it from its peers.

The infiltrator

The infiltrator commanding the troops

Queen – The highest member Changeling in a hive, the queen is the most powerful, intelligent and largest of the Changelings. And is a magnificently rare creature, as she rarely takes a physically active role outside her nest – except in times of desperation. The queen is responsible for locating new food sources for her hive, and will actively lead her subjects across the land in search of substance. A fully fed and powered queen is thought to be an even match for a alicorn princess. Unlike ants, the Queen is not the only female within the nest capable of reproducing, and fertile females are usually treated with much respect within a hive due to their rarity, while the unfertile take their place as soldiers and drones, as the situation warrants.

Changeling Queen (artist's rendition)

NEXT: Chimera