Changeling fic - part 3 -

>As you walk, you hum
>Eventually, it evolves into full-on singing
"I've been in the desert, I'm a horse with no name, it felt good to be out of the caves. In the desert. The heat is hot, and the ground is dry. In the desert, you can't remember your name, 'cause there ain't noone for to give you no name."
>Hey, this is pretty catchy
>Using your unique talents, you whistle along to your own singing
>See, being a hideous, shapeshifting bug-monster has its upsides
>You eventually come across a big, scary-ass forest, full of black vines and scary, dark eyes
>No, fuck this shit, you're so not doing this
>A quick flash of green flame, and you're a pegasus instead
>You fly over the whole forest, emboldened by the cover of darkness, and land on the other side
>You see a cottage with some candlelight in the windows
>Immediately, you transform back into your unicorn form again, hoping nopony's paying attention
>You stop and perk your ears, stopping your breathing completely for a few seconds
>Shit, you hear a voice!
>Although, it doesn't sound alarmed per se
>You resume breathing, although more silently
>"U-um..h-hello?"
>It's a closer, or at least a bit louder now, although still very soft
>"Is..is somepony there?"
>Oh dear, what do you do?
>She (you assume it's a she) seems to know you're there, and a pony coming out of that nasty-looking forest around nightfall must raise all sorts of questions
>Wait!
>Silly you!
>You don't need to be a pony!
>A quick green flash, and you're a dog
>Lolling tongue and wagging tail at the ready
>Due to a life spent in the caves, you're pretty decent at making out things under low-light conditions
>You see a pony coming around the corner of the cottage
>A mare - you can tell she's got a pretty bright coat and a mane to match, though the exact colors elude you
>"H-hello?"
>She sounds incredibly timid
>You decide to approach her
>You run at her and meow
>Dogs meow, right?
>She momentarily looks startled and like she's about to jump back, but then settles down
>"Oh, it's just a kit-"
>She stops, mouth agape, as she sees you running toward her, tongue flapping around your chops
>As you stop in front of her, you can tell she's confused
>Oh fuck, she's seen right through you!
>Of course, idiot, CATS meow, dogs BARK
>M-maybe she'll just let it slide
>"Um...are you feeling alright?"
>Home safe, it looks like
>Okay, don't fuck this up
>You look up at her cheerfully, forcing yourself to not nod
>You're pretty sure dogs don't nod
>She smiles, and it makes you feel so very at ease
>"But what are you doing out here this late at night? Oh, you must be lost, poor thing!"
>She very care fully scoops you up in her front hooves and flies inside with you
>Help, you're being dognapped!
>Or is that bugnapped?
>Whatever, you've got more important things to focus on
>Inside the cottage, there's all manner of animals
>Including one very angry-looking bunny
>Within seconds, you've been put down and presented with a bowl of food
>She beams expectantly at you
>You look at her, then at the bowl, at her, at the bowl again and you do your best shrug and start eating
>It's...rather bland, but hey, it could be worse, right?
>Besides, you're basically being forcefed with her love, which is admittedly, very nice
>It energizes and sates you much more than regular food ever could
>"After you're done eating, maybe you'd like to sleep? You look exhausted. And it is getting very late."
>You look at her and BARK affirmatively
>You can't afford to make her suspicious
>You finish your meal, then follow the yellow pony to her bedroom, where there happens to be a dog-sized animal bed vacant amongst the sea of animal beds
>You lay down and close your eyes
ZZZzzzzzz
>You wake up to the sun's rays poking in through the window, something you'd rather it didn't
>You close your eyes and relax again
>Okay, you have to make a plan to get out of here unnoticed and resume your plan
>You feel that strong emanation of love again, accompanied by hooves on wooden stairs
>She's already awake, and might've been for a while
>Okay, dog mindset
>"Oh, you're awake! How wonderful!"
>You jump out of bed, tail wagging
"Ribbit!"
>ASDLHASLHDIO
>NO
>NO NO NO
>NOOOOOOOOOO
>You dumb, dumb dumb bugbrained idiot!
>She does not look amused
>"First 'meow', now 'ribbit. Excuse me, mister, but somehow I think you're not actually a dog."
>Her gaze seems to pierce your very soul
>You droop your head
>"I'm not mad, just very disappointed"
>That hurt way more than it should've, considering you've only known her for a night
>"But...uhm...if it's okay, could you please tell me what's going on?"
>You sigh, then brace yourself and cower
>Then you drop the disguise
>You must look rather pathetic right now
>Actually, a strange mix of sinister and pathetic would be more correct, you guess
>Aside from a gasp, you can't tell what her reaction is
>You're too busy staring down at the floor
>It's wood, of course
>"C-can you talk?"
>You nod meekly
>"You don't seem like a bad...um...pony?"
>You shake your head
"I.."
>You cough and clear your throat reflexively, caught off-guard by your old, high-pitched, buzzing hiss you would only call a voice in mockery
"I..like to think I'm not a bad...uhm...well, I'm not a pony. I'm...your kind calls me a changeling. As far as I know, we...we're hunted here."
>She looks horrified
>"But why? Do you hurt ponies?"
>Oh chrysalis, you need strength
"We..."
>You wince
>"We feed on your love, and if we drain too much at once, you might get headaches, or worse."
>You're about in tears at this point
>Basically nothing has gone your way this far, and now you're probably going to be lynched
"I..."
>You choke on a sob
"I don't want to hurt ponies, I swear. But...it's the only thing that nourishes us at all."
>You look up at her, but her expression is unreadable and remote, as if she's deciding whether to believe you or not - and what to do if she does
>Then she looks at you with a kind expression
>"Hush, you're not a bad changeling. None of you are; you just need to eat, right?"
>You nod
>"Although...I guess this means there are more changelings here?"
>You nod again
"I'm relatively sure, but most go back to the hive with the love they've gathered now and then, which leaves ponies with time to recover..."
>"Oh, that isn't so bad, then. Or, at least not as bad as it could be."
>She seems vaguely optimistic
>"Are you here to collect love too?"
>You absentmindedly stir the dust on the floor with a hole-riddled hoof
"W-well...sort of. But I'd actually just...um..."
>You stutter and stammer a bit
>She waits patiently
"I just want to live among yo ponies, as one of you. I'm not out to drain anyone's love more than necessary;I just...don't feel like I'm meant to live underground with the hive."
>You transform into Mirror May again
"This...this feels more natural than...than what you just saw. The black, fanged creature underneath...it doesn't feel like me."
>She nods and gives you a small smile
>"I haven't been in that situation myself, but I think I might sort of understand how you feel."
>She stretches out a wing meaningfully
>Oh yeah, it was rather odd that a pegasus lived somewhere else than the clouds, wasn't it
>You trade an understanding look with her
"W-will you...will you turn me over? Let them kill me? O-or..."
>Your voice is starting to break
>She shakes her head
>"If you promise to be good and not hurt or impersonate anyone, I don't see any reason why I should."
>She holds up a hoof
>"However, I will not lie to my friends. Although, I will not let them hurt an innocent critter either."