Changeling

Sorry about the MASSIVE delay in uploading chapters guys, I had logistical, technical and personal problems to deal with. They're all hopefully fixed now and shouldn't delay the story any longer.

Please review, CONSTRUCTIVE criticism welcome.

Edited by BlackRoseRaven, story is my original creation.


Cinnamon leant on the frame of the door leading to the en suite, waiting for Cloud Crash to get out of the shower. "You know, Crash, you're usually naked anyway, what diff-"

He heard an exasperated sigh seep through the door. "It makes all the difference, Dusty-" He didn't mind when Crash or Rummy called him Dusty, it was his nickname after all, "-It's incredibly impolite and quite frankly rude to walk in on a pony having a shower or getting changed. Just wait your turn."

It was his turn to sigh, and he talked to himself in a heightened voice, so Crash would hear it in the shower. "Yeah, I have to wait to use my own shower, figures."

"Well, you are supposed to be polite to the guest!" Shouted back the blue Pegasus through the door.

He rolled his eyes and sat on the bed, waiting for her to get out.


Crash walked out of the shower, one towel covering her flank and another wrapped around her mane to dry. "Nice daydream, Cinnie?"

Cinnamon jumped from his position on the bed and (with some help from his wings) landed on the other side of the room, next to Cloud Crash, who had trotted over to the body length mirror identical to the one in Rummy's room. "Sorry, must've zoned out while I was waiting. I was waitin-"

"Yes yes, a long time, I know. Sorry." Said the blue Pegasus, before lowering her voice. "I need to clean this body and my original, remember, twice as much pony."

He sat down next to her, confused. "If you only use one most the time, then why..?"

She sat down next to him, after taking off her flank towel. "It's difficult to explain, there's this, itch or sweat, you get from wearing a pony too long. It's not really there; it's mainly psychological but also a little magical. A shower helps."

Cinnamon nodded. "Speaking of magic, how's feeding at the tavern been?"

She nodded slowly as she spoke with eyes closed while she dried her mane, seeming like she was in pleasure. "It's been easier than I thought; alcohol is very good at making ponies let out their emotions, although a lot of them taste bad. Like depression."

The brown stallion nodded in agreement. "It's what you get for opening a tavern so close to Ponyville and Canterlot: a lot of rejects pass through here onto their way to Phillydelphia and Manehattan to live in the central city or find jobs."

The mare finished drying her mane and chucked the next damp towel into the basket of dirty clothes in the corner of the room, mainly full of her clothes. "Shame pony society has so many rejects, whose cutie marks and whose destinies are to be failures."

The real pony shook his head. "That's not true, the 'failures' in pony society are those who fight their true calling, wanting to do something that isn't themselves or being forced to do it by their parents. That's the real shame. When ponies don't recognise the pony they truly are."

The blue mare made eye contact with him. "Do you think of me as a pony?"

He nodded. "Of course, I wouldn't let you in my bed otherwise."

She took a moment to stare into space, and decided that it was probably best to subtlety change the subject, and pulled the first question from her mind: "what about a gryphon?"

"Ah… eh?" He queried, or so it appeared.

"If there was a gryphon, like-" She posed, "-really good looking, would you let her 'in your bed'?"

He was dumbfounded. "Are you asking me if I'd sleep with a gryphon..?"

She laughed and rolled from her plot onto her back. "Oh, I don't know…" She walked over to him and hugged him. "Thank you." She muttered quietly, before walking towards the door.

He turned around, confused by her actions but unable to resist asking. "Do you want me to accompany you? Downstairs, that is." Well, I screwed that question up.

She thought about it. Ginger might be downstairs… "No, I'll be fine Dusty. Besides, you wanted to use the bathroom, didn't you? Or did you just want to see me in the shower wet?" She winked and slipped out of the door, closing it before he could reply.

"Bu-What-Wait-I never… buck sake," blurted Cinnamon. "Celestia damn my stupid mouth…"


After Cinnamon freshened up in the en suite, he moved over to his not-work desk next to his mirror and sat down, tapping a hoof on the table.

I haven't really given a valid excuse for Cloud Crash being here, and when Uncle comes back from his visit to Canterlot, he's gonna flip! I'm surprised Raisin took it this well.

He pondered there, thinking of different possibilities he could cover with Crash. He almost didn't hear the large blue Pegasus enter the room. "'Sup, Cinnamon?"

Cinnamon leapt up in surprise for the second time that morning. "Celestia's mane, Storm! You scared me!"

He chuckled deeply. "Ah, shucks. Anyway, that nice lookin' mare's downstairs, damn she looks nice all ruffled u-"

"Shut up, Storm. She's a friend of mine. Besides, she looks like she could be your sister, being a blue Pegasus and all."

"Yeah, I guess that'd look a little freaky. And Celestia, Cinnamon, why you grumpy all of a sudden?"

"It's nothing massive, Storm." He paused. "I promised Crash - the 'nice lookin'' Pegasus downstairs - I'd find her a job and her own place. It's been a week and I haven't even started!" He lied. He had made no such promise, but he did expect all of those things to happen.

"Hmm, well, we recently lost Calm Skies on the Ponyville-Coltsdale joint weather team - she's moving up in the world, good for her - and we need another pony to work part time. I could drop a good word to Rainbow Dash about her."

Cinnamon stared intensely at him. "You… know an Element of Harmony?"

"Of course, bro, I work the weather team. Anyway, want me to help?" The near-gargantuan blue Pegasus extended a hoof and gazed at Cinnamon with his light blue eyes.

The Pegasus brohoofed his friend and straightened his posture. "Yeah bro, cheers. I owe you one."

"Gimmie a date with that Pegasus?"

"Eat hay, Storm."

"Cinnamon, young one, we all eat hay."


Ginger had walked in the front door of the tavern to see Cloud Crash sitting at the usual table, tapping her hooves on the floor and drinking her signature milky coffee. "I see you haven't styled your mane today-"

"Oh shut it, you persistent little bitc-"

At that moment, both Cinnamon Dust and Storm Chaser descended the stairs. Oh thank you Cinnie, any longer and I'd have ripped her throat out with my bare hooves.

Storm, oblivious to the situation, nodded politely at the girls individually as he trotted out. "Ginger, Crash."

Cinnamon sat next to Crash, who felt like a gryphon in the need for a hunt. "I have good news for you, Crash: I got you a job on the weather team - if you want it, that is."

Crash, forgetting all spite and anger, turned to Cinnamon, who was sitting much closer than usual. "Really?" That's great! Thank you so much!" She hugged him tightly. "What would I be doing?"

He shrugged. "Mainly part time stuff, filling in for ponies who aren't there, busting clouds, moving stuff. You're er, certified for that, right?"

I guess that's his way of asking me if Changelings can do that. "Yeah, of course!"

They both realised simultaneously that they were still tightly embraced. Cinnamon and Crash gingerly separated themselves from each other whilst Ginger watched intently.


"So, when would I move out?" Asked Cloud, slight disappointment in her voice.

Cinnamon shrugged. They were back in his, or rather; their, room. "I don't know. You could stay here for as long as you need, really."

"Oh, I wouldn't want to overstay my welcome. Besides, my own house would give me space to be… well… myself."

"Ah, I understand." Cinnamon paused. "You'd stay in Coltsdale right? I mean, you could go to Ponyvil-"

"Of course I'd stay in Coltsdale! After all, you're here." With that, Cloud smiled, and it spread infectiously to Cinnamon. "I'm gonna style my mane and preen my wings now, if you don't mind."

He nodded. "Go ahead, I'll have some coffee."


He trotted down the stairs with drive. Coffee, coffee, coffee… With every step he tapped out a musical beat. When he finally reached the coffee pot, he was waving his tail gently to the imaginary beat playing in his head.

"Why are you in a good mood, Cinnamon?" Queried the orange mare.

"I dunno, today is a good day..? Live life, Ginge."

She rolled her eyes cynically. "Really? Is today a good day because of Cloud..?"

He just shrugged and huffed a 'meh'ish sound.

"Do you like her?"

"She's a good friend. Nothing more and nothing less." He said as he finished making his coffee.

"I hope so, Cinnamon. For your sake."


Thank you for reading! Please review! Favourite and follow if you still enjoy! Again, sorry about the delay :')