Rocky Road

[Pacifist]

I hid behind Maud, shivering. My only hope was that Maud could protect me from these ponies.

Time stopped when I heard little footsteps.

I saw a baby dragon, purple and green, stepping forward. He grinned a goofy smirk. "Hi! My name's Spike!"

"Spike!" The Princess exclaimed. "What are you doing?!"

"I don't think he wants to hurt anyone, Twilight. Haven't you learned anything from Thorax?" Spike asked.

"But this is different!" Twilight replied. "He's been in disguise this whole time!"

"Is this really that different?" Spike replied. "Can't you see that he's scared?"

I looked up from behind Maud. "I... I just want to be with her... I love her..."

Another stepped forward, the yellow Pegasus. She walked over to me, then suddenly hugged me. "Oh, you poor thing..."

What...? What is happening?

"...You're right, Spike." Twilight said. "I'm sorry, Obsidian. Is... Is that your real name?"

"Well, it's the name I chose for myself." I replied. "So... You're not going to kill me?"

"Of course not!" Twilight said, shocked. "We wouldn't do that regardless! But... We believe you. We believe that you don't mean any harm."

"Aww man, I was hoping to kick some butt..." Rainbow muttered.

I felt Maud pull me into an embrace, and her deep and passionate kiss. I hugged her back, petting her mane. Our lips parted, and I lightly pressed my forehead against hers. "Maud..."

"Obsidian..." She replied softly.

"Awww..." Pinkie and Rarity cooed.

"Bleh..." Rainbow said. I wasn't sure I liked her. She's just jealous.

What mattered was that we were safe, and I could remain with my love. That was all that mattered.

[Pacifist]

<Pilgrimage Part 1>

On the first few nights that I spent at Maud's cave, the sound of the waterfall was on the noisy side. Now, it was background noise, and it actually helped me sleep. It's funny really, I imagine that if I had met Tempy sooner, I'd have a better time sleeping at the castle, but now when I'm at her room at night the silence makes it harder to sleep.

I reflected briefly upon my time with Maud and Tempest. The dinners, the early morning cuddles, the late-night love, the touch, the smell... My wings fluttered for a brief moment as nostalgia of my various firsts with them crossed my mind. But then the feeling of fine mist against my chitin brought me back to the present and I finished washing up in the river before climbing out and using my towel to dry off.

Once that was done, I got to work packing. I didn't need much, just some bits, pictures, and snacks.

"You're up early."

The voice drew my attention. I smiled as I looked up. "Good morning, Fizzyfizz." I said, buzzing my wings to float over to her for a quick nuzzle. From the state of her mane and tail, the nickname seemed apt. She happily returned my nuzzle, then looked at the saddlebag I was wearing (black with Maud's mark as a clasp, an old gift from Rock Horse when we first went steady). Tempest clicked her tongue as she tilted her head, looking somewhat confused. "Going somewhere?"

Oh, right. For all my anticipation, I had forgotten to tell her.

"He's going on his pilgrimage." From that monotone, I could tell that Maud was up as well. I gave her a brief nuzzle too, which she returned with a tiny smile that washed waves of love over me. I gave her a quick peck on the lips, then turned and gave the same to Edge Horse.

"Right, I can't believe I forgot to tell you about this." I said. "I... Am sometimes forgetful like that. Why don't you lovely mares that I love with all my love get cleaned up and I'll explain it."

A little morning show to go with my dry cereal breakfast never hurt.

---

I tipped the bowl back in my magical grasp as I poured the last few oats and marshmallows into my mouth, along with the fine powder consisting of both that is usually found at the bottom of a bag. I mentally added cereal to my shopping list. Both beautiful mares had finished drying up, and were putting on their usual attire. A frock for Rock Horse, a... Whatever the black thing was that Tempy wore for Edge Horse. I keep forgetting to ask her what it was called, though likely I had already asked at least twice before and forgot again.

"Alright. Um, so, ah... This trip. It'll last about, ah, two or three days I thinks." I said. "I'm, ah, going to the Hive. Back, I guess."

"To the hive where you grew up?" Tempest asked. I nodded.

"Yeah, you see, ah, it's something every, or I think at least most, changeling does that doesn't live at the hive itself, for the anniversary of our enlightenment." I explained.

"Enlightenment?" Tempest asked.

I briefly looked between Maud and Tempest. Sometimes I forget what I had and hadn't already said before. Usually it results in me repeating myself, but this time it seemed it resulted in me forgetting to say things in the first place.

"Y-you see, ah, changelings used to look a bit different." I said. In a flash of green flame, I briefly conjured up my old form. Black un-shiny chitin, no jewel thingies on my chest, holes in my legs and rough wings, fangs. "When we fed on love."

"Alright, I remember that." Tempest said.

"Then, our leader Thorax found another way to live, and transformed into a beautiful and elegant form that radiated love instead of siphoning it." I explained. "The other changelings, seeing the light, followed his example." I shifted back to my normal shiny self.

Maud was snuggled up to me by this point, having heard this story several times before. Tempest, meanwhile, had a playful smirk.

"Oh, Obsidian, if I didn't know any better, I'd say you were crushing on him." Tempest teased.

I shrugged. "Some of us revere him, though I've heard that doesn't make him all that comfy, prefering to be seen as an equal. I don't know if I would go that far, but I do greatly admire him. His kindness, especially compared to the <<changeling explitive>> bitch of a 'queen' we were stuck with before, is half the reason why." I hummed for a moment. "Where was I...? Ah, yes. Anyways, Thorax showed everyling how to transform by sharing our love instead of hoarding it, they worked together to overthrow Chrysalis, and became our new leader before starting to introduce proper culture to the Hive, working to make us self-sufficient and allowing us to start creating true art for the first time." I teared up slightly, my wings fluttering and a wide smile upon my face. "It fills me with so much *pride*." I blinked a few times, then got to work to make coffee for my loved ones. "Which, um, brings me to why I'm packing. It's the anniversary of that day, which is a huge holiday among us changelings. Enlightenment Day. We all make a pilgrimage to our hive, we listen to a speech, hold a festival, cap things off with a play all about our Enlightenment, and spend the night at the hive before those who live outside the hive return to our normal lives."

"I see." Tempest said. "All that sounds really important." She seemed to turn a thought over in her head a few times. "...When you talk about Thorax, you refer to him as a 'leader', but when Twilight talks about him, she calls him a 'King'."

"Ah." I said. I passed the two cups of coffee to my lovelies and sat at the table, my special someponies taking seats across from me. Tempest sipped her coffee and decided it was a bit too hot.

"He doesn't call himself a king, but a leader, as he does lead the hive. Him and Pharynx, at least. When he's called a 'king' that's more referring to the type of changeling he is. You know how he is bigger than other changelings? Well, that's the reason. He became one when he transformed. Now, he leads the hive, lays the eggs-"

Tempest gave a blank stare as her brain seemed to short-circuit. "What."

"Huh? Ah, right." I took a brief moment. "Pony gender and Changeling gender don't work exactly the same. While we each sort of have a preferred pronoun to go by, we're all sort of non-gendered, or... Both gendered? Pony terms are strange. Anyways, while changelings end up going by certain pronouns due to our voice and some slight differences of our bodies, we, ah, are both male and female, if that makes sense...? I don't really know how to explain it. I spent a lot of my life disguised as a male pony, so I see myself as male, but technically I... You get the point. Anyways, same applies to Thorax. After all, someling has to lay the eggs for the next generation."

Tempest blinked, face unchanged.

"It makes sense, trust me. Anyways, pilgrimage. That's why I'm packing. Sorry for not telling you earlier." I said. "Once you two finish breakfast, I'll be off to the train station. If you're able to get a few days off on short notice, you can come with me."

Tempest smiled, her brain finished rebooting, and blushed slightly. "They... They'd let you do that? Let me come with you?"

"Yeah, both of you." I said. "Maud's coming too, of course. She came with me on my first pilgrimage, though it wasn't Enlightenment Day at the time since I ended up changing form after most pther Changelings already had. I can share the story on the train ride."

--To Be Continued--

(Trying something a little different. Not only making a special thing for my character to spend with my horsie waifus, but a way to spout some of my headcanon about changelings.)

[Pacifist]

Late Night Rendezvous

That I was out this late was not entirely unusual. I had a tendency to be up late at night, so of course that would raise the chances that I would step outside every now and then. Then again, this is Ponyville. Small towns tended not to operate the late hours that cities do.

I quietly made my way towards the School of Friendship. I had somebuggy I wanted to see.

The school looked... Peaceful. Quiet. Though I suppose it makes sense, the students would be getting their rest for the next day. However, there was one window with a gentle light peeking out of the window.

Just like her to be up so late. Studying, no doubt.

I tested my hoof on the wall before I began climbing upwards, taking care to not drop my package. Carefully, I made my way to the lit window, then gave it a gentle rap.

A few seconds wait, then the door opened, and my love was smiling down at me.

“Obsi! Why are you here so late at night?”

Ocellus was the cutest and most adorable and one of the three most beautiful beings I had ever lied my eyes upon. Climbing in through the window, I couldn't help bug give the lil' buggy a kiss. “He wanted to see his mommy.” I said after, and my package chittered.

Ostia, our son, our nymph. Black in color with his mother's eyes. His coloration was very similar to a pre-enlightenment Changeling, but without the holes or hostility. He was a cute bug.

The cute bug hugged his mommy's face, and she giggled. Oh, such a beautiful, adorable laugh. I smiled.

“Hi, little guy! Mommy's here.” Ocellus said softly, gently petting our son as he fed on love. I nuzzled my favorite bookbug. “You're up late, too. Studying.”

She blushed. Oh, I could just pick her up and snuggle her and kiss her!

“There's a test tomorrow, I want to make sure I'm prepared.”

“You always ace the tests.” I replied.

“Because I study.”

“Because you're a smartie.”

Ostia yawned, and Ocellus followed suit.

“I think you should turn in for the night.” I said to Ocellus. “...Unless you want to go to one of the classes and...” I left it unsaid, but my wink made it obvious. Oh, I just love making her blush!

“I- I don't want to get in trouble.”

“We won't get caught. Besides, the risk is part of the fun.”

“I-”

“I'm kidding.” I said, giving her mane-fin a ruffle. “Mostly. But for now, we can cuddle. You won't do well on the test if you sleep through it.”

“Yeah, you-” She yawned, “You're right.”

We climbed onto the bed. It was a tight fit for the three of us, but we were comfortable.

“What about Maud and Tempest?” Ocellus asked.

“They know I'm here. They're fine.” I nuzzled her. “Tonight belongs to you.”

Ostia curled up and nuzzled into our embrace.

“To us.” She said with a smile.

[Pacifist]

THE STORM

Rain pounded the island as I shivered in my carapice. The other changelings chittered nervously amongst themselves as I looked out at the beach, alone under the insufficient cover of the palm tree. This was *not* how it was supposed to go. It was supposed to be a little project that I was going to help the Hive with, to help myself get in touch with my changeling roots. They wanted to expand, see if changelings could survive in groups without a King to guide them.

In hindsight, they could have chosen a better location, because we were currently stranded while a tropical storm of some sort was battering the island. Until it went away, we wouldn’t be getting any help. No pony ship could sail in this kind of weather, and we wouldn’t be able to make a proper shelter in this condition. I did not want to freeze to death out here.

I was alone with strangers, far away from my family and my loves. Hope faded, giving way to dread and anger. Dread at my condition, and anger at those who let this happen. I had half a mind to yell at the other changelings, but I knew this wasn’t their fault.

I began to feel numb, the sound of the rain giving way to the ringing in my ears as my balance began to falter. I was going to die here…

Then, a sound, a cry of a creature whose size boggles the mind. It cut through the haze, through the numbness, through the ringing in my ears… A strange cry, one that I had never heard before, loud and powerful, yet not of malice.

I looked up to the skies, and saw… Her. Wings a hundred feet wide shone with a brilliant light. Long legs with sharp ends that looked like it could cleave stone with ease, bright blue compound eyes, brown fur for warmth, two feathery antennae… She was a giant moth, of a size I had never seen before.

In the back of my mind, a soft song played as the titanic creature flew town towards us. I felt dwarfed by her size, but comforted by her presence. I looked up at her, and she looked down at me.

The other changelings were saying something, but I had them almost completely out of my mind. I could feel… A presence. A message without words, but with great meaning. The sound got louder, and while I did not know the language, I knew the words. I spoke softly, because I knew she would be able to hear me.

Mothra, oh Mothra, if I were to call for help
Over time, over sea, like a wave, you’d come
My guardian angel

She let out another beautiful cry, and it was like a weight was gently pressed on my mind, not crushing it, but holding it close.

“Mothra…” I said, tears coming to my eyes as I walked up close to her. She bent her head down low as she shielded us from the storm with her great wings.I gently pressed my head against her, taking in the soft fur as I felt her warmth. I spoke once more.

Mothra, oh Mothra, of forgotten kindness and ruined spirits
I pray for everyone’s spirits as I sing
This song of love

I gave her a gentle kiss on her mandible, and I could feel love course through me. I smiled, and blushed a little.

Salvation has come to us… And a new love has found me.

I motioned for the others to come over, and we climbed onto her legs. Mothra let out another beautiful cry, and she took off, holding us close and protecting us as she began to fly us home.

I realized that this would probably take a bit of time to explain to my other lovers, but I knew they’d understand.

Mosura, ya… Mosura...