MLR Miniseries 1.1: Changing the Changelings

MLR Miniseries 1.1: Changing the Changelings

>you are Anon
>you’ve been in this magical land for over a year now
>quite a lot had happened in that year
>like fuck
>your first variable possibility exploration
>was all fun and games until interdimensional war
>one and a half species going pretty much extinct
>you were doing well, for a human
>/sarcasm
>you shake your head, getting out of bed
>knocking at the door
>it’s early, you’re lazily putting on your shirt
>you open the door
>royal guard staring at you flatly
>oh shit, officer, I ain’t done nothin’!
>he’s asking you if you’re free today
>you happen to have nothing to do, and your friends have prior engagements
>you joke that if he’s looking for a date, there’s a pretty unicorn a floor down
>he excuses the short notice and states that Princess Celestia and Princess Luna want to see you
>you’re a little nervous
>it feels like they have a warrant for your arrest or something
>he didn’t even laugh at your joke
>he looked very tense
>not really the guard’s fault, you understand why having them look professional is important
>however this is the feeling you get when cops are at your door and you start imagining really bad scenarios to explain why they’re there when they simply say “oh sorry, wrong door” or something
>you think how nothing could possibly be going that wrong, but then maybe it’s about some p0ny you know
>you shut your imagination up and follow the poor guard
>guards probably have it rougher than most
>training, shit hours, really boring 99% of the time, then being horribly dismembered and killed or turned to stone when shit actually does go down
>you snap out of your daydreaming when you walk through various castle halls
>the guard leads you to a door
>how quaint
>Celestia and Luna are having tea
“Good day Anon, I’m so sorry about summoning you like this” says Celestia in a warm tone
>Luna does that light greeting bow
“Well met, Anon” she says
>you return the little bow
“It’s really no problem, I’m glad to see you both again”
“Please join us, we have a few things to talk about.  Tea?” suggests the sun Princess
>you sit at the table
“Please, thank you.  What’s up?  I’m sure your highnesses are probably busy running Equestria, why would you take time to see me?”
>Princess Luna stares right in your eyes
“We wanted to thank you personally for all you’ve…  Been through… For all of us.  I’m happy to see you’re doing better than before, I was saddened when my dear sister explained to me the situation you were in after the final battle” she says
>Luna is getting much better with modern speech
“However, we still require some help from you, even if we feel that we have no place to ask for it” she finishes
>you can’t say you agree with that last line
>they had both really bailed you out at the party night for everyp0ny
>more than that, they were of such understanding and forgiveness and had given you opportunity after opportunity in Equestria that you would help them with no thought of recompense
“Princess Luna, Princess Celestia, please understand that I’m happy to assist with anything at all.  You’ve all done so much for me…”
>they both seem to smile, but it is bittersweet
>they show you a sad smile, you can’t help but sense guilt from them
“Please, it’s my pleasure” you say, feeling your own remorse
>Celestia regains her composure
“We have heard that there are still Changelings around, and my little p0nies are getting worried…  We wanted to know if you’d help us deal with them” she states
>Changelings?
>weren’t they all dead?
“Your highness…  Are you sure?  I thought that I'd killed them all…”
>you are conflicted
>the Changelings were pretty evil, but extinction wasn’t really justifiable, just like how eradicating even the most unpleasant pest from the world would be bad
>not only are they a sentient species, but they do have some place in this world
>you’re happy they aren’t all dead, but you don’t really know what to feel
“Well, we’re sure that some Changelings are still alive, but they are a doomed race.  The Queen died, and she had no heir.  The Changelings will all die eventually, there’s nothing much we can do about it…”
>welp you still held your title of first and only human in Equestria that’s exterminated a sentient species, even if it’s not complete yet
>blood drains from your face
>surely, they don’t want you to…  Finish the job
>they can’t possibly be thinking this
“That’s why we need you to find them and
>your heart stops, you can’t imagine how and why they would ask you to do this
see if we can help them in some way, make their lives good, somehow” says Celestia
>a tsunami-sized wave of relief washes over, bringing in a tide of “you are a dumbass”
>you should know better, they’d never ask you to kill stuff for no really good reason
“Anon?  Is something wrong?”
>you realize that you had a few good sighs
“Oh, no actually, everything is fine now…” you reply, smiling
“We understand if you can’t go with the expedition…” says Celestia
>you didn’t have a problem with going on this expedition...
“Just…  Why do you need me?  It’ll be my pleasure to come along but I’m just not sure if I’d be useful or anything”
“Anon, this is a little strange, but it seems that some of our troops see you as a…  Well…  They seem to look up to you”
>what in all that is fuck
“We think they would be motivated by your presence” she finishes
>you felt kinda sick
>some kinda hero?
>what the hell
>you exhale slowly, eyes closed
“Okay, I’ll do it.  What’s the plan?”
>they tell you that you’re to lead a search party and if possible, round up the Changelings
>if possible, find out what they want and see if something can be arranged to make them comfortable
>some kinda royal veteran care program
>okay, you kinda digged that
>you had also dragged the Changelings into the crossfire pretty much out of nowhere
>sure, they had been trying to feed off or invade when you’d all been weakened by your new enemy enough, but it’s not like they were directly involved
>plus, you kinda decimated 99% of their numbers and removed their only reproductive member from the equation
>but to quote the comedian
>it was fucking war, man
>now was the time to pick up the pieces
>they scheduled departure for tomorrow
>you don’t know why, but you got your stuff ready and spent the rest of the day drinking alone
>seemed like a habit at this point, even if you had not boozed up in a while
>you grabbed your old and worn in 6920
>it just felt right
>you hoped you wouldn’t have to use it
>you woke up early
>washing the acrid post-drunk taste from your mouth with more alcohol, you donned you suit and loaded up the old AR
>it numbed the light hangover
>the F/A BCG slammed a round home with a solid clack
>you were chewing on the head of a muffin when there was a knock at the door
>time to go
>you spend the train ride in a quiet daze
>serious-looking troops surround you
>you catch them looking at you like you’re special
>sure, you’re the only human around
>but you don’t think they realize how you kinda killed a lot of p0nies
>the train stops, you shake that thought process out of your head
>now was not the time to whine
>the pegasi and unicorns spread out in a wide search pattern as they exit the train
>this wasn’t an assault
>hopefully not, anyway
>you needed to find the Changelings and round them all up
>still maintaining visual contact in the dense brush, you all make your way through the ravaged, yet slowly recovering land
>you grimace at the spot where you set off the biological weapons
>like salted bombs, nothing really grows back on these patches of land
>following the scarred, dry dirt, you trace your steps back to the Changeling’s hidden nest
>memories flood back in
>advancing Root forces, plants just withering away under your tainted step
>this sick shiver goes down your spine, like when you see something that really turns you on but probably shouldn’t
>you shake it off
>seems like the Changeling’s outpost was left mostly undamaged
>it’s quite deserted, you don’t see any movement
>the site is just as it was left
>perhaps a little more grown over with plant life, being claimed by nature
>you signal the troops to sweep the area
>you lean against a tree, calming down
>you don’t really know anyp0ny here, but they all seem to know you
>whenever you look at them, they turn away and double their efforts
>when you’re around, they seem to do everything with more zest
>you hear muffled yelling from the left
“…  get he…  Fi…0ny… ackup”
>you make out a few syllables and run over
>rushing into one of the Changeling alcoves
>you’re met with an eerie sight
>a unicorn guard’s horn is lighting up the interior of the alcove
>in front of him is a dozen Changelings, huddled together
>five Changelings in front of the one unicorn, standing their ground
>the unicorn guard is frozen in place
>it’s a standoff
>like woodland animals, right on the edge, frozen between fight or flight
>you burst in
>this fucks up the delicate balance in the standoff
>all hell breaks loose
>god fucking damn it
>it’s like a blender of black swiss cheese and unicorn magic
>hooves and wings
>you’re rattled inside your suit, various appendages are hitting you
“WHOA, FUCK”
>your yelling doesn’t do much
>you’re about to let a round off into the ceiling when you get tackled by the unicorn guard
>you grab the panicking creature whose horn was glowing dangerously
>he stops moving, horn frozen in mid-spell
“BACKUUUUUUUUUUUUUP” you yell
>instantly, you hear more hooffalls than you can count
>all hell breaks loose, to the next level
>it doesn’t last long
>the small room is suddenly full of armored guards
>movement pretty much stops within a few seconds
>not because the guards are restraining the Changelings
>but because the room is so full that nothing CAN move
>any problem can be solved by throwing more guards at it
>you have a hard time breathing
>there are so many guards in here they’re going to drown you in their own bodies
“Too…  muuuuch… backup” you cough
>after you sorted things out
>and that was confusing
>you had a hard time finding who was a real guards
>you unfucked the Changelings quickly, it’s not like they knew the guard’s names or anything
>soon, you had them all tied up in front of you
>this didn’t feel very good
>they were all scared, huddled together
“Keep searching for them!  Bring them all here” you order
>damn
>you feel like a villain
>like holy shit, soon you’d be all like “NO, STARSCREAM YOU HAVE FAILED ME”
>”FIND THEM, CATCH THEM! AAARGH CURSES!  FOILED AGAIN”
>this played out well
>”Oh yeah Celestia, we went there as emissaries of peace and friendship!  They’re all chained up in the dungeons!”
>in any case, you paced around the group for a while until your troops informed you that these were the only ones left
>they’d found a couple score more, hidden around the camp
>they had checked amongst each other to ensure that no Changeling was hiding amongst their ranks
>in front of you were pretty much the survivors of the Changeling race
>not even a hundred of them
>you picked the first one in front of you
>it looks at you with empty eyes
>the small black creature is shaking
>you put a hand on its shoulder and undo its bonds
>it tries to mimic you, turning into a perfect replica of your image
>damn, you looked like shit
>you rummage through your dump pouch
>1911 mag
>twinkie
>twinkie
>cupcake
>primary mag
>snickers bar
>you shove the snickers bar into your mouth
>well not your mouth
>your Changeling’s “imitation of Anon” mouth
>it panics for a short second then ravages the candy bar
>it looks at you, confused
“What’s your name?” you ask
>it doesn’t reply
>it just sits down and looks at the ground
“Listen, we got off on the wrong foot here.  Or hoof.  Sorry about coming here uninvited and rounding you up all like this.  We all want to help you guys, actually.  We want to offer you an opportunity for a new life, but it was kinda hard to get that point across with you guys all buzzing around and stuff”
>you are just the master of interspecies relations
>next time you have a delicate situation to resolve between the broken survivors of a dying race, you’ll just cut to the chase and shoot them all in the face on sight
>you sigh
>sitting down in front of yourself, you start talking
“Look, we’ll start taking off all your bonds, and you’ll all be free to go where you please, but first we want to be sure that you all get the same opportunity to choose whether or not you want anything we have to offer”
>the Changeling “you” gives you a look that just screams “bitch please”
>can these things even talk?
>looking at the crowd of insectoid p0nies before you, it's easy to see that they have really, really cool eyes
>just what exactly did you have to offer them?
“So do you have a name?”
>it shakes its head
“Can you speak?”
“Can you speak?” it mirrors
>it shakes its head again
>kinda looks like they can only imitate
>well this is getting interesting
>the Changeling reverts back to its usual black, perforated self
>it’ll be yes-or-no for the time being, apparently
>you explain the situation to the other Changelings
>then you call the guards and have them untie them
>a few immediately take off
>most don’t know what to do
>they kinda look at each other, you see some shrugging
“So what do you all want, anyway?” you ask
>the one who imitated you steps up, and puts the tip of his horn on your chest
>you’re wrapped in a warm, green aura
>the changeling backs off after a few seconds
>you feel strange
>weak
>you feel like you can trust this creature, like you're a little hazy
>that wasn’t so bad
>he just looks at you
>his face is pure “Dude…  Dude what in all that is fuck did I just…  What the fuck”
>you’re not sure what that was all about
>but apparently these things feed off love, from what you remember
>your idea of love is a little weird, maybe you’re just not palatable to the little guy
>it’s clear enough that they need to feed off love or something
“Well…  Ummm…  I can’t see what would be a downside to your guys living with or near p0nies or something…”
>they all seem to perk up
“But I don’t think the general populace would enjoy being drained by insectoid succubae…”
>they all seem to lose their happy countenance
“I’m sure we can figure something out…  I mean you there…  You fed off a little, it wasn’t that bad.
>you spot the cheeky bastard turning to the other Changelings and pointing into his open mouth, sticking his tongue out as a sign of utter disgust
I’m sure if we learn to live with each other, we’d have enough love to go around” you finish
>you get a lot of “I’m interested” looks from the Changelings
>it was surprising how expressive they were and how clearly they “talked” without saying anything
>it was almost like their eyes spoke into your mind
>you could almost hear their expressions and thoughts
>they really had the coolest eyes
>the rest of the day was pretty fruitful
>you explained that they’d be left alone if they wished, as long as they didn’t attack p0nies
>some Changelings ended up leaving
>some even came back, or arrived from nowhere, probably having escaped the guards’ searches, but probably heard of the situation from the Changelings that left
>you tried to explain as clearly as you could that they would be treated as honored guests, as long as they didn’t hurt anyp0ny and stuff
>the usual
>y’all should just get along
>they seem to tell you that they could be useful in some way to the p0nies, in return for some wuv
>you decide it can all be sorted out back in town
>you wrap things up, getting every being that wants to try this out a ride in that faggy ass train
>this goddamn train would probably be the last thing anyone would use to pick up bitches
>it’s not like there are really any bitches to pick up in Equestria so you just press that “IDGAF” button and enter the wheeled pink pastrymobile
>also
>implying you’d touch 3DPD
>the changelings buzz around nervously
>you ensure not to set off public panic when you get them back to Canterlot
>good guard detail, more for the p0nies’ comfort than anything
>you try not to make the Changelings feel like they’re escorted as prisoners
>the situation is soon explained by a PSA from Celestia and Luna
>you swear that PSA was preceded by that eight-note tone you used to have as a school class bell
>it takes a few days before the “on edge” feeling passes
>the Changelings also have it a little rough
>some of them seem to wonder if they're making the right choice
>most seem to like the idea of a comfortable life with new p0nies to meet and love to go around
>both p0nies and Changelings agree that a symbiosis is better than a parasitic relationship
>that ten Changelings feeding off one p0ny is bad for both the p0ny and creates hostilities that are bad for the safety of the Changeling’s continuing energy source
>things are tense at first
>glares and doubt are clear between the old enemies
>they seem to try, though
>a good week goes by without any real incident
>Changelings integrate into the society after a few culture shocks
>nothing major
>no deaths, at least
>you feel pretty good about the whole thing
>it’s too bad that these are the last of the Changelings, but you feel like they can really leave a good mark in Equestrian history
>Tan contacts you, saying he wants to propose something when it is convenient
>he just used the link between his translation gear and your implants, pretty clever
>you tell him you’ll come to the lab tomorrow morning
>Rarity had asked you to help her move some stuff
>she had a lot of stuff, jesus Christ
>after you were done helping her, you just hit the sack
>you wake up in the middle of the night
>you feel really fucked up
>your head is pounding
>your limbs feel like lead
>try as you might, you’re barely able to move
>a light flicks on
>eyelids are heavy and feel like they're stuck together
>five Changelings surround you
>something is very wrong
>their fangs are bared
>more than usual anyway
>they look pissed
>like foaming at the mouth rage
>ohhh shit
>bricks are metaphorically pouring from your anus at an impossible rate
>you try to sit up but you can barely move
>all you can do is start to almost hyperventilate
>"almost" being the operative word as you're too drained to even breathe hard
>the largest one lands on your chest
>he looks at you dead in the eyes
>over your pounding heart, you can feel his breath on your face
>it’s like he’s holding himself back from hoofing you to a pulp
>it scratches the closest wall with its jagged horn
>each screeching scratch sends a shiver down your spine
>their horns grind eerily like nails on a chalkboard
”We are the oldest five, the only survivors of the Changeling Genocide.  We are the only ones alive who have seen our Queen’s face.  The others were too young, and hatched after the extermination” you read in translated Equestrian
>the other Changelings scratch their words onto the walls
“You killed the Queen, you killed all my brothers” writes one
>it seems that these Changelings had not liked what you had done to their species
“The others do not care, they are traitors in our eyes” you read
>they all keep scratching words around you
>they really, really hate you
>you were so fucked
>you feel trapped in your body
>this only intensifies your panic
>they seem to have fed on you before waking you up
>if only you could move
>you strain your whole body, trying to move your arm
>it limply shifts
>even your face is numb, it feels like you have no mouth but you want to scream
>you manage a groan, eyes shifting between the creatures around you
>they probably wouldn’t even need to write it on the walls
“Our other brothers are dead to us, even the ones that still live”
>the others try to leave what happened in war in the past
>the older one takes off, wings buzzing and scratches some more on the ceiling
“You lead them all to their deaths, you killed our species”
>their younger brothers never knew the others or the queen
>you feel strong enough to speak
>the effects of their feeding doesn't seem permanent, thankfully
“Listen, please…  It was the only way to protect Equestria…  If I hadn’t done what I did, your species would have been eradicated anyways, along with the p0nies and every other living thing on the planet.  We did the only thing we could, and even then…  We lost a lot of good creatures…”
>the largest Changeling stops writing the words “you will pay” over and over again into the wall
>his face changes to a comforting smile
>he lands on your chest again and looks to his brother
"Oh, well if it was the only way, we can't blame you..." writes the other Changeling
"Really?!" you wheeze
>you seem to instantly drown in a sea of relief
>they all start to smile and their murderous demeanor changes
>the bigger one takes off to scratch something on a spare wall
"Well yeah, our species would do the same…  We understand"  he writes
>you stop shitting your pants in fear and look at them, full of hope
"Does that mean I can go now?"
>the biggest one flies up and lands on your chest again
"Just joking” he scratches in a spare corner of the wall by your head
>they all grin, bearing their curved teeth
>fucking fuck
>you feel their loathing
>their faces twist back into pure, murderous rage
>green magic wraps around you as they start sucking you dry of your energy
>they hate what you are more than how you taste
>you're rapidly weakening
>limply sinking back into the bed, every breath is now laborious
>you tried inching your hand to your pistol under the pillow, but you’re so weak you can’t even slip it under the cushion
>if only you could call for help
>TAN!
>you contact Tan over your translation link, sending him one picture of what you’re seeing
>you don’t know if Tan got the message
>you hope he reads what’s in the picture and figures out that the Changelings in your vision aren’t just playing a prank on you
>your eyes roll up as you struggle to stay conscious
>you can't even breathe in anymore
>yep, this is it
>the front door busts right off the hinges, flying across the room
>you jolt barely awake as the Changelings lose their concentration
>Tan skitters through the door, 7 large-jointed legs and claws grasping into the wood of the floor, walls and ceiling as if it was foam
"STOP AT ONCE" he says, tinny speakers strapped behind his head blaring out as loud as they can
>it was almost comical to hear his calm, relaxed artificial voice like this
>the Changelings hiss in unison, eyes burning with fury
>if they had been there to see their Queen die, then they have all seen what Roots did with their own eyes
>it wasn't a cold, calculated revenge now
>Tan's presence had flipped a switch
>now it was red-vision berserker madness
>they jump towards the Root
>he had stopped moving to speak, perhaps to give them a chance to explain themselves
>the Changeling closest to him was using both wings and hooves to speed up his charge, horn out like a spear
>Tan's top two arms were open, like someone ready for a hug
>those arms had three small stocky fingers and one oversized joint that stretched out with a two foot long claw
>somewhat scythe-like
>you have a hard time seeing this as your head isn't tilted towards them
>with all your might, you manage to roll your head to the side
>his two lower arms were closer to his chest, they were more like a regular limb, ending in thick-fingered hands
>he catches the first Changeling with his lower left arm, his right delivering a lightning-fast hook to the attacker
wsss-C-CRACKKK
>the hissing sound had been a fraction of a second long
>that was the time it took for that fist to get from a standstill to a blurring punch
>the crack had been bones snapping
>many of them
>the Changeling's body flopped out to the side, completely loose on a broken neck
>his little body was deformed, caved in
>Tan drops it, a wet slap echoing through your apartment over the Changeling wings buzzing
>three Changelings buzz around him, in a triangle formation, taunting him
>one would feint a dive but buzz away before getting too close
>they look at each other and one winks
>the two others dive towards Tan
>the third zips towards the ceiling
>Tan takes a swing at the approaching Changelings, but they are too far away
>third one zooms in above his head and gives it a buck with both hooves, full speed in a meteor fall
>Tan's whole torso hunches down from the blow as he puts a hand down to stabilize himself
>bugger's got three fucking legs and that much trouble holding himself up?
>you assume anger-strength in the black imitation p0ny had something to do with it
>what the Changeling didn't notice was that Tan didn't have eyes on the top of his helmet-like skull, but he had a bunch of eyes under his domecase
>and one was now looking at the buzzing creature that had delivered the blow
>a wicked, high pitched whining-whipping sound freezes the dark, cold air as a top arm skewers the Changeling in mid-air as the the two others charge, assuming Tan had been stunned
>Tan grabs the impaled Changeling by the hind legs with both lower arms and pulls it off his saber-like claw and swings the body like a baseball bat
>with both arms, the movement is too quick to follow
WHSSSS-POW
>the impact had been explosive
>one of the charging ventilated bug-equines had all but vanished and only stumps remained in Tan's hands
>for a second, it sounded like it was hailing in your apartment as the ripped body parts hit the walls or fell back down to the floor
>the swing had strained the dead Changeling's blood through any and all orifices that centripetal force could use
>all you could see was that in a 360 degree circle around Tan was now a streak of green blood over the walls and Changeling body parts
>both remaining Changelings freeze
>the one closest to Tan is covered in green blood
>it looks at its drenched hooves, then back up
>Tan's twin top sword-like claws cut down one after the other
>the first slash lops the p0ny creature's head off, the second cuts the head in half and gouges through the body
>Tan turns towards the final Changeling
"N... No..." you cough
>the Root's three legged gait drives it past the black, frozen, sieve-like form
>Tan holds you on your feet with one hand, like a little doll
>he's shaking you a little, calling your name, trying to get you to stand up
>you can’t move, you can’t even feel your body
>the last Changeling is almost sitting down, staring blankly at his brothers that are are splattered across the walls
>it moves slowly, lethargically
>it turns towards Tan, weeping silently
>and charges
>Tan doesn't turn his head
>mostly because he doesn't really have a neck
>you open your mouth to say something, to stop him
>he deftly catches the charging creature and crushes the last changeling's head like a ripe tomato
>he rights his torso, moving his antennas closer to your eyes, completely relaxed and unfazed as always
"Are you okay, Anon?"
>you hang your head
>you black out
>when you wake up, you're in the fluffy bed of the hospital
>the rooms are familiar to you now
>nurse walks in shortly
>awkward
>it’s that same nurse
>this is just getting silly
>she glares at you with fury that scares you more than a hugging contest with an angry Root
>after she brings you breakfast (or more throws you breakfast)
>luckily, there were no hot items on the tray
>it’s kinda hard to eat, you feel like everything is heavy
>knocking at the door
”Come in?” you croak
>Twilight walks in
“Anon?  We heard you were awake” she says
>following her are the rest of the gang
“Heya, how are you feeling, buddy?” asks Rainbow
>she sticks her hoof out and you bump it with your fist
“I do hope you don’t mind us dropping in on you like this…” says Rarity
“Of course not, I think I needed some company” you reply
“That’s nice…  I was afraid we’d bother you” says Fluttershy
>Pinkie puts her front hooves on the bed so she can be more level with your head
“Hi Anon!  I hope you’re feeling better, I was so worried when I heard about what happened…  I’m not even sure what happened, to be honest, Tan said something about Changelings attacking you, then the nurse being mad at you both when he walked in with you in his arms, I mean she thought it was another prank or something!  Can you believe that?  It was a little late for a prank but why would anyone prank a nurse?  It’s not lik-
>you give her a hug
>the interruption allows Applejack to cut in
“So whut happened, anyway?  It was maighty scary seein’ your apartment the way it wus…  All those mean thaings written up on them walls…” she says
>you explain what you remember
>how the younger Changelings had never gotten the chance to even see the rest of their brothers or the Queen, and just wanted to start anew
>how the only remaining Changelings that were old enough to have seen their Queen and the rest of their race in person wanted you dead, even if they’d admitted to knowing that the trap used to set the Changelings against the Roots was necessary
>you are very brief with what happened after that, simply stating that Tan saved your life and brought you here
>a slow, heavy silence seeps into the moment
>you realize that you and the p0nies around you are seemingly looking as low as possible, as if the floor was both the most interesting and depressing thing all at once
"I'm really good at absolutely removing good moods...  Sorry guys..." you say, if only to break the gut wrenching silence
>Twilight raises her head, saying
"Anon...  It's not your faul-
>she stops mid-word
>you didn't even realize it yourself, but you turned to her with a face as conflicted with guilt and shame as it was contorted with pain and a flash of "how can you say that"
>you look away
>she was trying to make you feel better, what the hell was wrong with you?
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to snap like that..."
>she looks down
>you strain and swing your legs around, getting off the mattress to give the bookpone a hug
>that usually made the little horses smile
>you make a pasty slap as you awkwardly hit the floor
>it just so happened that your legs didn't show up for work today
>you hear Rarity gasp, Fluttershy "Eeep" in her usual squeak
>Pinkie and Rainbow seem to be holding back a chortle of mirth
"Anon!  Anon are you okay?" says Twilight
>you roll to your side and help yourself to a sitting position against the bed
>you seem to be wearing a hospital robe that's been sized to fit you
>it is made of a soft, silk-like fabric and has your initials embroidered over the breast pocket
>you cast a suspicious glance at Rarity
>Twilight grabs your hand with  her hooves and magicks three of your fingers up
"Anon, how many of your fingers am I holding up?"
>it's your turn to hold back the cracking of your sides
>you just roll your eyes and hug the purple horse
>hey, it worked with Pinkie
"Don't you all just stand there, it isn't a group hug with one person and a p0ny" you say in mock exasperation
>and then it was ponies
>everywhere
>the party horse jumped in last
>no, seriously, she just jumped into the pile as if it was a swimming pool
>well executed double back flip with a 1080
>what surprised you the most was how gently she landed
>the nurse walked in to see you buried under an avalanche of p0nies
"Y...  Y...  You p-planned this!?" she hisses before galloping out of the room
>you get a chill
>one of these days, she might get back at you somehow
>you really needed to find some way to tell her you're sorry
>the afternoon's mood is revived and you catch up some more
>they leave you to rest when you start nodding off
>in your sleepy stupor, you wonder where Tan is
>you have to give it to the weird bug-shaped plant, he had proven to be pretty damn trustworthy
>you still can't shake how he'd just splattered them all
>he didn't really have a choice, you had come close to death
>you feel rage at him, he just killed them like one would brush away flies
>you almost slap yourself
>you'd have pretty much done the same thing if you hadn't been so weak
>you'd have shot them
>you don't know if you're angry at Tan or if you respect him, if you hate how he's a Root or how he reacted
>then again, you don't know if you're angry at him 'cause he's like you in quite a few ways
>leaving yourself a note for tomorrow, you fall asleep
>in the morning, you call him over and thank him for his help
>he's gained some more trust, in any case
>you ask him if he wants to do anything, telling him it's probably okay if he leaves the lab during the day, from now on
>he thanks you
>he says he'd like to accompany you next time you go to P0nyville
>you wonder why, to be honest
>whatever floats his boat
>also, you didn't mind keeping an eye on him regardless
>just in case
>you’re released the next day
>still a little sleepy, but it’s not like your limbs are made of bismuth anymore
>when you get home, you notice the Changeling splatter was cleaned up
>you check the guns, they seem to be untouched and free of bodily fluids
>a green fire comes out of nowhere
>you jump a good foot back and smash into the corner of the desk with your tender little ribs
>the Princesses send you a letter, wishing that you were in good health after the attack and thanking you again for a job well done
>fucking magical letters, you still weren’t used to this shit
>you also get an invite to some royal banquet, but it’s like a month from now
>hunh
>well at least it’s not short notice-oh-shit-you-need-a-new-suit-yesterday type deal
>you talk a walk the next day and notice that the Changelings are doing well
>they have very fun lives, it seems
>the p0nies are glad to share a bit of love for the Changelings' talents
>they're great with kids
>Pinkie is even starting a business for them at parties
>you notice Tan is following you around sometimes
>you ask him what he's doing
>he replies that he’s curious
>you hang out with Dash, he asks if he can come along
>he becomes a strange shadow
>mostly just quietly watching you and your friends hang out
>like some huge bug-like decoration with too many arms
>when your mother used to tell you to "get a plant, it'll liven the place up!" you do not think this is what she meant
>you're kinda neutral about the whole thing
“Anon.  I have come to a realization” says Tan
>out of the blue
>you were just about to bluff, your king high was probably not good enough but you thought you could make Dash fold if you put another twenty bits on the table
“Tan?” you answer
>you’re kinda confused, he’s been quiet all evening and suddenly he blurts that out
“I have been observing various interactions between the sentient beings here and I have come to a realization” he says
>Rainbow is trying to check out your cards, but you catch the attempt and put them flat down on the table
“What are you talking about?  What kind of realization?” you ask
>Dash cocks her head to the side, starting to get a little interested
“I have noticed how very different species can learn to live together peacefully, and this has started an experiment in my mind where I devised hypotheses we should investigate” he replies
>you’re even more confused
“What hypotheses?”
“I think it could be possible to save the Changeling species from extinction.  I never considered allocating resources to help them as they were our enemies, but after seeing how past differences can be put aside for the benefit of the whole, I think this would be a worthwhile endeavor”
“Uhhh Tan?  I don’t know if you’ve been told, but the Queen is dead and they have no other means of reproduction…” you say
“I am aware of that fact, but my species is well suited for genetic research.  I am confident that with the proper resources, I can devise an method that will allow the Changelings to become hermaphrodites”
>mind = blown
>what can’t he do?
>Dash is lost as fuck
“Hermaphrowhatnow?” she asks
>you stare blankly at Tan
>is he serious
>you'd never taken the overly-limbed zergspawn moving tree for much of a joker
"You mean their species could be saved?  Don't you need Queen DNA or something?" you ask
>Dash is scratching her head, giving you both an incredulous look
"Technically, no.  If properly persuaded, the Changeling genome should be able to sustain a hermaphroditic cycle, but I need some things to grow the proper equipment so we can begin this research"
>this could be good
>maybe you aren't "Anon, the destroyer of species" anymore
"So what do you need?" you ask
>Rainbow slams her cards down loudly, and you both look at her
"What are you two on about, anyhow?" asks Dash, impatient
>you freeze
"Come on Anon, we have a card game going!  Why isn't Tan playing?”
>well, Tan would surely count cards and rape you all
"Sorry Dash, it's that Tan thinks we can save the Changelings from extinction" you answer
>her eyes go wide
"Really?  We could do that?  I mean they're kinda weird lookin' but they've been nice to us for a while, if they can stay that way I'm sure we could all be friends...  You said something about needing stuff to be able to do your research?" she asks
>Tan turns to her
"Yes.  We would need to seek out specific elements and compounds, the chemistry needed to perform the genetic research is extensive" he replies
>Dash seems to perk up
"What kind of "seeking" are we talking about here?  "Seeking" as in "labcoats and bubbling chemistry sets" or "seeking" as in "going exploring into the jungle"?" she asks
>you wonder what has the cyan p0ni so interested all of a sudden
"The latter, Rainbow Dash" replies the Root
>you see her grin get really wide
"I am so in!  I even got a hat just like Daring Do! Do you think we'll get to look through ruins and ancient caverns?  What about deserted temples?  With booby-traps?"
>Tan looks at you
>you can’t really read his face
>your face when he has no face
>if you had to guess, you’d say he’s puzzled right now
"I guess it wouldn't hurt to have a pegasus with us..." you reply
"Woohoo!  It's going to be so awesome..." replies Dash, bursting with excitement
"Anon, Rainbow Dash, I do not know if it will be that simple.  In the first place, some of the compounds I need can't be found here"
>there we go, there's the catch
>you had a feeling it wouldn't be easy
>this was genetics way even over your Earth's advanced medicine
"Where are they then?" asks Dash
"We should be able to find most of them in parallel realities, due to the varying physics of the superimposition of worlds" he replies
"What, like go to where Anon is from and stuff?  From what I heard, that's not so bad, apart from the really weird muscular half naked “anon-people” that chase you around yelling “no” and stuff…" she says
>for a p0ny that hates being called an egghead, she's keeping up pretty well
"Yes, and some of the worlds we may need to visit could be dangerous or have a hostile environment" he says
>hmmm, this does complicate things
"You should both know by now that Danger is my middle name!  We can handle it, right bro?" she says, elbow bumping you
>right in your bruised, tender ribs
>arghh
>in any case, it looks like you all some work cut out for yourselves
>you'll have to bring a unicorn for Tan's version of the variable possibility transportation device
>this was going to be some SG-1 shit right here
>Dash was correct, this was going to be awesome
>shoot Goa’ulds, rescue bitches, do science
>Twilight is interested, exploration really piques her curiosity
“I’m so excited!  I’ve got my saddlebags ready for all eventualities, like running out of ink or parchment.  I even got spare quills!  Rainbow said we’d be searching strange new worlds for stuff Tan needs to cure the Changeling sterility…  It’ll be an adventure” she says, spazzing out
>Tan said he’d be ready in a few days, and he’s sent the bio-kit ahead to test for dangerous micro-organisms, so that should be covered
>in a few days, he’ll phase the kit back and you’ll all get to find out if you can all walk around without catching the common cold
>well, the common cold that could be like airborne AIDS-ebola for you all, anyhow
>Twilight and Rainbow can’t wait, you don’t know what to expect
>Tan also informs you that some worlds may have strange effects on your perceptions but this one should be close to normal
>you wonder what that's about
>it can’t be that serious as he knows you’d end him if he got any p0nies hurt
>you have a fair bit to think about, but saving a species is something you can really get behind
>you go back to your apartment to ponder
>today was a constructive day