>It’s only been a year, but it’s been pretty hard.
>With so many sapient species in Equestria being human was nothing special.
>Some minor interest every once in a while, but never really sustained.
>So another day another 30 miles on foot through the hayseed swamps chasing rumors of work.
>Finally the swamp gives way to the town, unfortunately for you the sun set about hour ago.
>It would be better to look for work in the morning.
>You heft your rucksack off your back and check you little sack of gold coins.
>It’s enough for a cheap larger, would help you get to sleep and ease your aches a little.
>Finding the local watering hole was easy enough, you duck down to fit through the small pony entrance.
>Quietly purchase your pint, and find a quiet corner to sit down in, a few glances wondering what you are.
>No one asks though.
>Sitting back you look over the crowd and nurse your only drink for the night.
>This gray mare has been having the worst luck, every single stallion she goes to talk to shoots her down almost immediately.
>It’s sad really; she looks hungry, and more than a little desperate.
>Well, that was the last stallion in the bar! Didn’t even acknowledge her.
>Dejected and scared she looks around, foolishly your eyes linger on her and she catches you watching.
>She perks up a little, not happy, but relieved.
>Oh, god dammit, she’s headed over.
>”So big boy, looking for some company to-“
>Her attempt at a seductive voice is broken by what seems to be a sudden migraine,
>causing her to lean into the table with her forehoofs.
“You okay?”
>”I’m *cough* fine. Don’t worry it’s not contagious… So, what do you say we-“
>The grey mare leans on the table, with one hoof on her temple.
 
“Should I go get a doctor or something?”
>”No! I’m fine!”
>She looks back up, but this time her eyes have slit irises nestled in a sea of emerald.
>You double take unable to conceal your reaction.
>The grey mare quickly closes her eyes again, and takes off for the door.
“Wait! Miss- eh- Ma’am?!”
>Every pony in the bar, and the one Minotaur, all look over at you for a brief moment.
>You shrug, unsure what else to do.
>They return to their drinks.
>You remain by your drink for a few moments, debating whether you should follow or not.
>Pulling the lantern out of your pack you check the kerosene, it’s pretty low.
>Slowly your mind shifts into gear and you put on your gaiters, you’re going after her.
>A town this size doesn’t have any streetlights, so it’s just you and lantern buddy.
>A town this size also doesn’t see a lot of foot traffic, so her hoof steps are easy to follow.
>Reaching the edge of town you can see that they go right into the swamp.
>Well, you can still turn back and find a nice box to snuggle up in.
>No, fuck that, you’re committed to helping this nameless pony.
>Fortunately your boots are waterproof and the gaiters are keeping the mud off.
>The hoof steps become more scattered and less regular, showing signs of advanced fatigue.
>After a good half hour of walking you finally see a form slumped over on a little rise from the swamp.
>You pick up the pace, and approach the body.
 
>It’s the grey mare, at least it kinda looks like her.
>As you get closer a green glow begins to emanate from her body
>With a rather pathertic flash her body changes, grey fur giving way to black chitin.
>From her back a pair of insectile wings appear, as well as a crooked horn from her head.
“Miss?”
>You slowly approach closer and kneel down next to her.
“Hello?”
>Her eyes open, it’s the same slit irises, the same green mirrors.
>She seems resigned; lazily looking up at you, waiting for your next action.
>You stare back.
>”Well?... Go ahead… Finish it.”
“Finish what?”
>her eyes widen; the irises seem to flash open, an alien expression of disbelief.
>”Do- do you not know who I am?”
“No… You left before I could get your name.”
>”You aren’t afraid of me?”
“… A little, never met a shape shifter before… It’s more than a little unnerving.”
>There’s a brief moment where you and the insectile quadruped size each other up.
>You stick out your hand.
“Anon”
>The rather large shape shifter springs upright, and uses a fore hoof (leg?) to motion to herself.
>”I am Queen Chrysalis.”
>You turn in place and look around at the dimly lit swamp.
“Queen… of the swamp?”
 
>”No you insolent fool! Queen of the Changelings!”
“That wasn’t very nice… I whole heartedly regret coming to help. You obviously don’t need it.”
>You turn around and begin to wade back to the town.
>”Halt biped!”
>This turned into a sour experience, see if you ever help anyone again.
>”… Wait… please.”
>You internally sigh and turn around and start walking back, if you stand in the mud too long you will sink down.
“Yes?”
>”It would be…”
>Chrysalis takes a moment to compose herself, when she does speak again, her tone is much more personal.
>”If you leave I might starve to death by the end of tonight.”
“Well shit! I got some pickled eggs in my pack… you can eat eggs right?”
>She slowly brings herself to a sitting position, the one where the two forelegs remain straight.
>”Yes. Yes I can, but I’m a changeling.”
>She stares at you for a moment, you throw up your free hand and motion for her to continue.
>”You really are something of a rube aren’t you?”
“You gonna tell me or not?”
>”Changelings feed off of love, or more aptly put, care.”
“So since I followed you out here… that feeds you.”
>She nods, her entire demeanor having changed.
>Most likely because she was at your mercy.
>The lantern flickers and dies as the last of the kerosene is used up.
“I guess I am staying here tonight.”
>You hear Chrysalis sigh.
“I got a spare blanket if you want it.”
>A hum of happiness, the sort of noise someone would make when eating good food.
----
>”Wake up yokel!”
>Something slaps you across the face.
>You spring upright, the rising sun harsh on your eyes.
“I’m awake! I’m awake!... Why are you up so early?”
>”We must depart immediately; I fear the town may alert the guard after last night.”
>It seems any personal connections made last night have gone the way of the dodo.
>You take a moment to pack up the two blankets, strapping them to the straps on the sides.
“Actually, only you need to leave.”
>Chrysalis, who was previously pacing back and forth, freezes up.
>”As Queen of the Changelings, I order you accompany me.”
>Her voice had a barely audible falter to it.
>You pull up your ruck and cinch it tight to yourself.
“Sorry, but that town back yonder has work… Well! Good luck!”
>”Biped-“
“I have a name”
>”Anon, it is mutually beneficial if we travel together. After all you are now an accessory to one of
>Equestria’s most wanted.”
>… Fuck…
“How do I know that’s not a lie?”
>Suddenly the clanking of armor echoed through the mangrove trees, you could hear some pony shouting orders .
>Chrysalis slowly backs up off the rise, turns, and tries to take to the sky.
>However she is still malnourished, and lacks the energy to take off, flopping back on the ground.
>You can hear the thin membranous limbs snapping when she impacts the ground.
>Guards and prison, or, weird delusional queen of the swamp…
>Swamp queen is preferable.
>You run up to her, help her to her feet and take off deeper into the swamp with Chrysalis in tow.
 
>Fortunately the thick mangroves and swamp give excellent cover against any pegasi in the air.
>But that doesn’t change the fact that Chrysalis is really beginning to lag behind, and there’s no way you can outrun a pony.
>In any situation, seriously, being plantigrade and biped is shit for speed.
>Chrysalis finally catches up to you, the guard knows you went this way, you can hear them getting closer.
>She opens her mouth to say something, but you immediately grab her dive under the roots of a mangrove.
>”You simpleton, this w-“
>You shove her into the mud, and begin throwing more mud on top of her.
“Can you breath?”
>”Barely, you classless boor.”
“Sure, yeah, whatever… Don’t move, quiet breaths.”
>With a fair amount of contorting that you didn’t think was possible, you climb free of the root tangle.
>Once up you smash your forehead into the tree as hard as you can, splitting the skin and blurring the vision in one eye.
>The guard are very close now, only a couple seconds until they can see you.
>Putting on your best dazed stumble, which wasn’t that hard considering the recent self-inflicted head injury,
>you stumble towards the approaching guard.
>Quickly a group of the royal guard run past you.
>”This way! C’mon rookie keep up!”
>The second group comes up close behind, A rather short unicorn raises a hoof and points at you.
>The rest of his squad comes up around, spears at the ready.
>Deep breath, you got this Anon.
“Aw, foockin ell’, le me fockin’ tell ya. Some mare says she wants a good time, ya better be fockin’ sure she ain’t ah changlin’.”
 
>Shorty approaches you as another squad runs past.
>”Sir, what species are you?”
“Wot? I’m a minotaur ya stupid git!”
>The royal gaurds exchange an uneasy glance.
“Aw, fock you ya racist poni bastards. See one focking albino an’ it’s off ta tha slammer.”
>”Did you see what direction it was traveling in?”
“Wot? I’m not too good at hearin’ mate.”
>Shorty stands on his hind legs and puts his hoofs to his mouth.
>”Where did the changeling go?!”
“Now how tha fock shoul I know, it bashed me ead’ and fled when it eard’ you lot.”
>Shorty rolls his eyes.
>”Get this… minotaur… a medic and see him on his way.”
“Aw cheers mate.”
>The medic pony slowly trotted up to you, and started treating your head wound.
>Fortunately the Pegasus, didn’t ask any more questions you didn’t know how much longer you could keep up the accent.
>Damn, maybe you over did it, you’re eye is swelling really bad now.
>Eventually the medic finishes up and takes off into the sky trying to catch up with the rest of the guards.
>Just to be safe you sit around for another half hour or so just resting your eyes.
>Hopping off your tree branch you reach under the roots and feel around for Chrysalis.
“I think they’re gone… Swamp queen? Hello?”
>”I hate you so much.”
 
>Having successfully escaped the guard you let Chrysalis take the lead since you had no clue where to go.
>If she could fly you’re pretty sure she would have left you for dead.
>The two of you finally found a road and had been walking for a couple hours already.
>Neither of you has said a word.
>However, there have been a couple questions weighing down your mind.
>No time like the present.
“So! Riddle me this, if you’re a queen, where’s your people?”
>”In the north.”
“So why are you alone?... and hungry?... and all the way down south?”
>”I don’t have to answer to the likes of you! Do not believe even for a moment that helping me earns you special privilege!”
“Twice…. It’s twice now that I’ve saved your holey legs from the cutting board.”
>”These are speed holes to cut down on weight! My physiology is far superior… superior...”
>With that Chrysalis promptly collapsed over, and passed out.
>If you had to guess, you would say low blood sugar… or whatever her equivalent is.
“C’mon, lets get you up.”
>You pull her into a sort of fireman’s carry on top of your ruck, and continue down the road.
>She’s pretty light for her size, must be the speed holes.
 
>Well it only took you 10 goddamn hours but you finally made it.
>A little 20 family town by the name of ‘Hoof-n-Sodbury’
“Eh-hey, Look swampy, a town.”
>She’s still conked out.
>You put on your best impression and bounce he a little on your shoulders.
“Oh, thank you anon, I’m totally grateful that you carried me over here. I’m not going to insult you for a whole 24 hours.”
>You break off the road to find a good spot to hide Chrysalis while you try to rustle up some kerosene and food.
“Golly gee, a whole day. You sure are kind, and never bothersome, secretive, and a little scary.”
>This should do nicely, the swamp had thinned out, but it wasn’t entirely gone.
>Setting Chrysalis down you pause for a second and place two fingers where her carotid should be.
>Nothing, but she is cold, so you set your ruck down and give her both blankets before heading off into town.
----
>The town had a bar and a general store slammed into one building, and run by the same pony.
>Not many people were willing to hire a giant biped with a massive black eye and head bandage.
>fortunately one family on the outskirts was kind enough to pay you for hauling lumber.
>It took all the money but you were able to purchase the kerosene and a couple more days’ worth of food.
>After the whole long day everything aches, your feet have long been pounded into numbness, your eyes are locked on the kettle hanging over the fire.
>Not a single though crosses your mind.
>Hell, you’re so tired you can’t even sleep; just want to curl up into nothingness.
>Absently you check the kettle, yup, stews done.
>It’s been done for the last ten minutes and you didn’t notice.
>The mound of blankets suddenly stirs, Chrysalis rolls over in the blankets eyes open.
>Those slit irises, cautiously regarding you.
>”Where are we?”
“ho…Hoof-n-Sodbury”
>With a shaky hand you pour out two cups of potato stew.
>”… Impossible, that was over 25 miles from where I was…”
>You shrug and place the stew cup in front of her.
“Eat up I don’t want to have to carry you again… Right, you don’t eat food.”
>”I said we can.”
“Well eat up; I still got a few pickled eggs left if you want.”
>She nodded and pulled herself upright.
>Silence as both of you eat and watch the fire.
>”Why didn’t you turn me in?”
“Didn’t seem right. You talk a big game, and I’m sure at full power you can rip me in half, but you were desperate when we met.”
>She nods.
“Besides, I have no loyalties to these ponies.”
>More silence.
>Chrysalis breaks out into a light chuckle.
>”It’s comical, the one thing a changeling should be able to do... I have failed at multiple times.”
“hm?”
>“At the bar… among other places… Changelings are, if anything, a race of actors. I could never quite get
>the personality of my target just right. Wasn’t air headed enough at the bar, was too serious to be Cadence”
>You have no clue who Cadence is but she said it with a little bit of venom.
>Slowly you slump forward and let sleep over take you.
>You wanted to hear what she had to say, but the day was just too damn long.