Changeling fic - part 1 -

>Your name is...well, you don't have one
>You're a changeling, after all
>And today, you're leaving the hive
>You step out of the subterranean network of caves and into the harsh sunlight and harsher desert heat
>You shield your eyes with a hole-ridden hoof
>Oops
>Right
>With nary a thought, a green flame flickers over you, and the holes are gone
>In their place, you have a brown coat - quite an unremarkable shade, at that
>You look at yourself and nod
>Brown coat, brown eyes, grey mane and tail - you look like an entirely inconspicuous stallion, or at least that's what your teachers said when praising you
>You start walking towards the nearest pony settlement
>Appleloosa or something
>"Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake, clap your hooves and do a little shake"
>The voice coming out of your mouth isn't the usual high-pitched hiss, but rather a low-pitched rumble
>Good
>You've got this
>You're not gonna fail this mission
>Admittedly, the mission isn't that complicated
>Hard, but not complicated
>You're to act as a sort of vanguard or scout, and insinuate yourself deep into pony society
>It's to be done slowly, carefully so that the sudden influx of new 'ponies' doesn't seem suspicious
>Though, once their defenses have been scoped out properly, you'll most likely start replacing ponies, though you're not sure
>The queen's plans are just that; the queen's
>For now, all you have to do is create an identity for yourself and start living like a regular pony
>And therein lies the reason you volunteered for this
>You...kind of don't want to suck the love from ponies
>Well, noone wants to, of course, but some are more enthusiastic about it than others
>Of course, you know the pains of starvation all too well
>But mostly?
>You just wanted to get out of those caves
>It's not that you didn't like your fellow changelings or chrysalis
>You just kind of longed for...more
>Of course, all but the most broken changelings seem to eventually get their chance to go out into the world
>But see, it's like...like...oh forget it
>You continue walking with the desert sun beating down on you
>Curiously, it's gotten more tolerable
>You're not about to complain
>You walk for an hour or so
>The pony settlement appears on the horizon
>Oh dear
>You just realized
>You don't have a name
>You'll need to come up with one - an un-named pony would be very suspicious
>Well, it doesn't need to be a permanent name, right?
>Okay, so throwaway name....
>Hm....
>This is harder than you'd thought
>Okay, you decide to go with Clyde Dale
>That sounds pony-ish enough
>Right?
>Sure it does
>You finally arrive at Appleloosa
>It matches the description the elder changelings gave
>Rural, lots of wood, apple trees everywhere
>Fucking earth ponies, man
>The legend seemed to be true
>Earth ponies could, in fact, grow anything anywhere
>Except a brain in their head
>As you understood it, they were simple creature-
>"Howdy pardner! Welcome to AAAAAAAPPLELOOOSA!"
>A yellow colt? or...was it stallion?
>Whatever
>He's apparently set his sights on you, as the newcomer, and is giving you a tour you didn't ask for
>He seems blissfully ignorant about that, and prattles on about stuff like 'mild west dances'
>You can't help but grin
>He's so full of energy
>And...and he's kind of cute
>That's the word, right?
>You're 99.9% sure it is
>So...huh
>Guess that means you're ..gay?
>Pony sexuality was always a minefield of who's-it's, what's-it's and unnecessary labels
>Sure, changelings have sexes, but when the entire race can shapeshift, it really is quite fluid
>Ah! But! Even thinking that must mean you're getting into character, right?
>You tune back into reality as the stallion waves his hat to create a cool breeze for you
"Huh?"
>He smiles warmly
>"Heat's gettin' to ya, huh?"
>You nod, not having a verbal reply lined up
>"Well we gotta fix that, don't we?"
>He nudges his head in the direction of a building with shade, and what look to be cool, refreshing drinks inside
>You nod again and follow him inside
>You take a seat
>He, on the other hand, zips up to the counter, puts some bits on it, and brings two mugs back to the table
>"Drink up now, ya hear?"
>By chrysalis, why is his voice so fantastic?
>You nod again and take a sip of the cool beverage
>You can vaguely taste the apple in it, but mostly you just appreciate the hydration
>"Now, ah don't like repeatin' mahself, but ya might've missed it first time 'round. Mah name's Braeburn!"
>You nod again
>"Griffon got yer tongue?"
>You grin sheepishly, then clear your throat
"Mah apologies, throat got a bit parched out there, is all."
>You try to mimic his way of speaking, but not too closely
>"As it tends to do! What brings y'all out all this way anyhoo?"
>Shit!
>Gotta think on your hooves
>What's a job that would bring someone out here?!
"Why, Ah'm the apple inspector, of course!"
>He blinks in surprise
>"Come again?"
>Shit shit shit
>Okay, just roll with it
"Ya heard me, I'm here to inspect yer apples"
>His eyes narrow
>"Th' apple inspector was here less than a month ago"
>His voice has gained a note of threat and distrust in it
>Panic!
>Except not, because that would be bad bad bad so very bad
>You put on a smile that's far more confident than what you actually feel
"Ah damn well know that. H'ever, ah had ta make sure y'all weren't slacking off the moment ya thought us gone"
>You make a mocking 'tsk tsk' sound
>He blinks again, looking confused for a moment
>Then his face brightens and he bursts into treats laughter
>"Are y'all sayin' ya doubt our work ethic?"
>Somehow he manages to stammer forth between giggles you suspect are very unstallion-like
>Poor guy lost control of himself
"Only the guilty have somethin' ta fear, ain't that right, though?"
>He eventually manages to calm down
>"Now that is a very valid point. That bein' said 'n all....if ye're the apple inspector, where's yer cutie mark?"
>....fuck
>fuckfuckfuckfuck
"Uh...well, ya see, son, ponies tend to react poorly to an unexpected inspector. So ah applied some paint. Hindsight bein', as always, 20/20, that don't be the best idea."
>You shrug
>He nods thoughtfully
>You look into those vivid eyes of his, and get lost
>He breaks the gaze first, and coughs
>"Well! If'n y'all are the inspector, shouldn't you be doin' some inspectionin'?"
>Damnit, you keep walking into these things
>You look at him and wink
"Oh, but ah already did. A plus."
>You turn around and head out of town, making sure it's *not* the way you came in
>You'd love to stay here, but you kind of blew yer own cover there
>Besides...
>You're not sure being an earth pony is for you
>Or male, for that matter
>You certainly feel heavier and less agile than your usual form, and...
>Oh sweet hive!
>You just noticed
>You're sporting an erection