Changeling Vagrancy

This one started in a thread with a picture of a changeling looking up at you, wearing a sad expression, and saying

"Um, e-excuse me sir? Do you mind if I could stay in your house tonight? I-I've been exiled by my hive and no other pony will let me stay. I just need to stay out of the rain, just one night? Please?"

So I wrote a bit and posted it in the thread, haphazardly.  Edited it a little bit for pastebinning.

>you look down at the swiss cheese horse
>you've been in the land of hooves for a bit
>the whole changeling thing has been over for a while, you'd heard stories but never seen a real one
"Aren't you a changeling?"
>it fidgets, looking down, away from you
"Yes, sir, I'm afraid I a-am,"
>you raise an eyebrow
"Don't you like, feed off love and turn your prey into a lifeless husk or something?"
>the changeling looks even more dejected, slumping sadly and sighing
"We... I... I just want some shelter, I swear I won't..."
>it sighs again, shivering
>you bend down
>the changeling looks up as your face is but mere inches away
>he or she, you're not sure but probably she, recoils in surprise
"Try it,"
>you're bent over, calm and still
>"she" gives you a confused look
"Try it. I want to see what it feels like. However, if I tell you to stop and you don't, I'll slap you six ways to Sunday,"
>you get a nod for a reply
>you look into "her" eyes as you see a strange green glow fill your vision
>nothing really happens
>the changeling seems to be concentrating
>still nothing
>"she" suddenly starts retching
>is this supposed to happen?
>after some coughing and spitting, those big blue eyes turn to you in abject fear
"Wh-what are you?"
"Shouldn't I be asking that? Not even sure if you're a male or female of your species,"
"I... You... I'm a filly, but how does... Who could even..."
"I guess your love thing doesn't really work out on someone who's already a dead, lifeless husk,"
>she is frozen and silent
"Come in, I'll get some blankets. My couch folds out so there's plenty of room. Don't eat all my fudge,"
>she follows you with a thousand yard stare
Today was a cool beans day.

>you've had the changeling overnight and you are still alive
>rumors of bug pone danger have been exaggerated
>you get out of bed, still half dressed as usual
>you straighten up your shorts and t-shirt, putting on a sock that attempted to flee during your slumber
>lookin' good, even Rarity wouldn't throw up
>probably
>you walk towards the living room and notice the changeling has tidied up the fold-out bed
>she is currently organizing your videogames
"Industrious, are we?"
>she jumps about a half-foot in the air, translucent wings buzzing for a split second before she lands back on her hooves
>this also knocks over all the neatly sorted piles of game cartridges
"Anon! I was just... You had some... I wasn't gonna... Oh my gosh your stuff, I'm sorry!"
>for a species that instills fear in the usual Equestrian, she isn't exactly hostile terror incarnate
>you decide to say something, despite the light pleasure you find in her nervous and awkward stuttering
"Thanks, actually. I don't get much company so my stuff gets a little chaotic,"
>she tilts her head to the side a little, pausing for a moment before speaking
"D-do the ponies... Are they... Nevermind, I shouldn't ask something like that,"
"Ask your question. I'm not really that easy to upset, if you're worried about it,"
>she fidgets, steeling herself with a few breaths
"Well you're not exactly a pony... Do the ponies in Equestria not visit you because you're different?"
>you sit down in front of the TV, a few feet away from her
"Not really. Well at first they didn't know what I was, there was some fear and suspicion, but we quickly moved past that. They were curious of me as I was of them, and soon I was more or less a normal sight in town,"
>she sits on her haunches, attentive, her big blue eyes staring at you
>unblinking
>it's an alien yet calming sight of stillness and serenity
"After the regular exchange of information was mostly over, they started to notice that I wasn't really "there". Sure, lots of ponies came and visited, we talked and shared experiences, culture, history, but beyond that they would get uneasy. I saw it in their eyes. They weren't afraid of me, they just noticed something about me that they couldn't really understand, or deal with. The first time I knew of this issue for sure was when I met Pinke Pie,"
>she is statuesque, and the cracks between window blinds let slices of sunlight in, catching specks of dust around her
>you don't remember noticing something pretty like that in a long time
"Pinkie Pie is a special pony, she fought in Canterlot against the Queen of Changelings-
"I know, I was there," she interjects, looking suddenly defeated, and tired
"Right. Sorry, it must be a sensitive subject,"
"It's fine.  It's more that I'm sorry about the trouble we caused.  Please continue,"
>you get back into your little tale
"So Pinkie, she was greeting me as she usually greeted newcomers, but between her high-speed ranting of parties and how we were gonna be the best of friends, she took a look into my eyes. It started as a glance, but she got stuck, and peered deep. It took a moment, and after it she just calmed down. I remember she went a little pale, and said she'd see me around,"
>you sigh
"I think the ponies can tell, even if they don't realize it. They just know of my emptiness, and they avoid it. Nopony mentions it, they can't seem to muster the courage,"
>she seems to look at you, like you're something to be pitied, or feel sad for
"Doesn't that bother you? Aren't you depressed or lonely?"
>you sit back, getting comfortable
"No, not really; there's just nothing. Somepony tells a joke, I laugh. Something bad happens, I frown,"
>the changeling is a little surprised at this seemingly contradictory answer
"What I mean is that I have reactions, like anypony else. The difference is there's no real emotions underneath. There is no loneliness, no anger, or much of anything. I live because experiences are useful to me, because I choose to have them over death,"
>she doesn't seem to pity you anymore, but you can't seem to make out her expression
"I guess that's me then. Haven't really talked like this before, I hope I didn't upset you or something,"
>she smiles, her face gentle and caring
"Actually, thank you for that. I think I needed to understand you a little, I had a hard time falling asleep after trying to feed from you, nothing like that has ever happened to a changeling before,"
>she gets up and stretches, squeaking quietly
"How about I finish picking up my little mess and then I could make you breakfast? To thank you for helping me out last night,"
>you nod slowly
"As you like. I was just gonna play some Xenohooves and have something to drink,"
>her wings flutter with contented glee and she starts rummaging through games as you go get your sauce
>you come back with some Applejack Daniels on the rocks and grab the controller
>the changeling busies herself getting stuff organized, in alphabetical order
>you're finishing a cutscene at the bottom of your glass as she starts breakfast
>you're not sure what she's making, as you don't remember what you really have that's edible, but it smells good
>she pops back in and starts picking up clothing, and dusting
>you imagine her in a maid outfit, and get a bit of a semi
>you get another glass and your buzzed mind gets an idea
>you slowly creep behind her, armed with a remote for the TV, and gently place it in her leg hole as you walk by
>she doesn't notice
>you go back to playing
"Hey, have you seen the remote?"
>she cocks her head sideways
"Not sure... Don't move, I'll look for it," she chimes
>it_begins.jar
>five minutes pass as she rummages, and searches high and low
>you're beginning to have a hard time stifling your mirth
>she's getting nervous now
>ten minutes go by, you've been running around one room in Xenohooves because you've stopped paying attention to the game
>all your mental faculties are concentrated on not laughing as she becomes more and more strung out, worried, and exasperated
>she finally stomps in frustration, and the remote clatters on the floor between her legs
>her confusion is palpable
>slowly, you see her blink and she processes the event
>she looks at you and you lose your shit
>the changeling's little cheeks puff out and she stomps some more, this time out of embarrassment
"You! Why of all the things! Anon, that's just mean!"
>she turns her nose, huffing
>you're too busy with your laughter
>breakfast burned to a crisp, but it was worth it
>she forgives you, probably feeling sorry that she ruined breakfast
>it's cool, at least it was solid food
>you sit back to watch a movie, half a bottle making you a little sluggish
>you grab The Mare Who Leapt Through Time and pop it in
>she turns the lights off and sits next to you on the couch before saying
"Wait a bit, actually. I'll go make popcorn. I haven't seen this one,"
>you pour yourself another glass and nurse it until she's back
>you've seen this one a few times
>your wandering mind sparks yet another idea
>her legholes beckon you
>the popcorn bowl is between the both of you, but your long arms reach out of her sight
>she is absorbed in the movie as her legs are slowly filled with popcorn
>you sit back, enjoying how oblivious she is
>the movie finishes, you get the lights and turn back to her
>acting surprised, you sit back down and say
"Heh, you dropped a bit of popcorn there,"
>you get the first kernel as she smiles, a little embarrassed
>then another
>and another
>after almost a dozen, her smile has faded and she slowly looks to see all her leg holes filled with popcorn
>you happily keep picking away at her foreleg popcorn
>her expression is by far the flattest and purest representation of being unamused the world has ever seen
>she smacks you, and popcorn goes flying everywhere
>you haven't laughed this hard in a long, long time
Today was a good day.


>living with the little female changeling has removed quite a lot of boredom from your life
>she's getting wiser to your antics
>you had a giggle at how she herself started to use her leg holes to carry stuff around
>can't beat 'em, join 'em
>you wonder what else you can use to tease her
>the alcohol you imbibe is making it hard to think
>you're getting nowhere in Xenohooves so you put the controller down
>more drinks could do the trick
>you walk towards her with the bottle and use her rear leg hole to pop the cap off
"Hey! I'm not an appliance you know,"
>the indignity is cute
"So really, what's the deal with the holes?"
>her face scrunches up a little
"What do you mean?"
>you clarify
"I mean how do they work? Why do you have them?"
>she blinks, replying
"Oh, ummm... I guess they just happen. Like how ponies have patches sometimes, or something,"
>you start poking at her foreleg hole
"You're getting a little obsessed about this," she sighs
"Yeah, probably,"
>she huffs
"Why don't I just change into a pony or something? Then we could probably go outside; I haven't actually seen you leave the house since I got here you know,"
>you look to the floor, off to the left nonchalantly
"Nah, you should be who you are,"
>her eyes and mouth opens a little, surprised
"Outside is overrated anyway," you finish
>her mouth moves a little, but she doesn't say anything for a moment
>she looks quickly left and right, her head lowering
>is she blushing?
>can bug horse even blush
>she finally stutters out
"B-but I'm all black and insect-like, isn't it better if I was fluffy and stuff like the rest of the ponies?"
>you pat her on her warm, chitinous head
"If you did that, I'd have nowhere to put my snacks,"
>she looks right down at the floor, giggling
>she sighs, and follows you back to the living room, slowly, muttering
"Yeah, changing is also pretty tiring,"
>she sits next to you and pulls the remote from her rear leg hole
"I wonder what's on tonight,"
Today was a comfy day.

>you've been living with this changeling for a few weeks
>you're rummaging in the pantry for something edible when it strikes you
>you still don't know her name
>there's a crumpled box of old crackers
>half finished
>victory, you have found food
>her hoofbeats give her away, you don't even turn around as you bid her good morning
>she yawns as reply
"So what's your name, anyway?"
>there's a few moments of silence as you start munching on the saltines
>they can't be called crackers because they're too stale and have no crunch left
"I donno,"
>you're not sure what to say to that
>you're called Anon, so it's not like you can really come up with a jape at the expense of an unnamed creature
"We don't really get names, we just know who we are and who others are. It's like... We recognize each other by sense, by look, and by our feelings,"
>that makes some sense on a certain level
"That's deep,"
>you hear her slowly canter away
>she slumps back in her blanket pile on the unfurled bed and goes back to sleep
>she's been doing that a lot lately, more every day
>she doesn't wake up until the morning after
>you catch her before she falls asleep again
"You okay? You've been sleeping a lot,"
>she replies in a groggy, dazed voice
"Haven't fed in so long... Can't stay awake. So sleepy..."
>for a few minutes, you sit there in stupefaction, not really knowing what to do
>you should be doing something, but there's a problem
>you are feeling something
>deep in your chest, and it hurts
>you sit before her, dread washing over you like a cold wind
>it feels like your heart is beating for the first time
>it's sore, straining, and it pounds away in your chest
>you try to wake her up
>half-lidded, she stirs once more and speaks quietly
>there!
>yet something else, an explosion of emotions
>you feel like you can breathe again
>relief?  Hope?
>her voice is faint
"I had so much fun Anon.  It meant a lot... That you looked at me like just another pony... Thank you,"
>your arms move seemingly by themselves
>you hug this nameless one
"Try, try it again, feed off me!  I th-think it'll work this time,"
>you hope she can hear you
>moments pass, and there is no glow
>she whispers in your ear
>her eyes are closed, she hangs limply in your grasp
"Even if I wanted to, a changeling can't feed on those they care about,"
>she stops moving, and slowly grows cold in your arms
>she never woke up
Today was an "in what universe could this story end well" day.