In the city of Canterlot, there were plenty of ponies wandering around. One of the residents, however, wasn’t a pony at all, instead, she was a changeling named Loci. Loci was a Snow White changeling whose wings and neck fin were light pink while her back was fuscia. The changeling happily flew down the street before stopping outside one of the houses.

She walked inside and soon found a unicorn sitting at a typewriter. The unicorn had a green coat, an orange mane, tail, some facial hair, as well as a pair of glasses on his face, along with having a typewriter for his cutie and also his name. The stallion, named Typewriter, turned back and saw that Loci had returned.

“Hi, Typey,” Loci called happily. The stallion smiled before he walked over and gave the changeling a warm hug.

“How was the shopping trip?” Typewriter asked.

“Pretty good. I managed to get a few items on sale.” Loci showed the bags she had brought home and showed she brought back a small red velvet cake. “I even managed to get your favorite.”

“Red velvet! Loci, you shouldn’t have.”

“Well, I feel that it was a special occasion.” Typewriter was perplexed by this until he double-checked the calendar. “Oh, it’s our anniversary.”

“Yep. The day I moved in with you.” Lucy nuzzled against the stallion, both of them blushing. “Do you want to dig into this now?”

“Hmm, maybe after dinner.” Loci nodded and placed the cake into the fridge as she could already taste the love she felt from Typewriter. “Already had a treat?”

“You could say that.” The changeling nuzzled against the stallion, both of them loving it dearly. “How’s your newest story coming along?”

“Slowly but surely. Writer’s block is such a pain.”

“Don’t worry about it, I’m sure that you’ll be able to figure it out.”

“Yeah, thanks Loci. I’m so happy to have you. Besides, the writer is running low on ink, I’m going to see if we have any ink reels in the basement. You do your own thing and I’ll try and keep writing.” The changeling nodded before she went upstairs to the bedroom.

Loci was feeling a little tired after flying around Canterlot and running errands. The changeling yawn as she curled up on the bed and she drifted off to sleep.

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When she awoke, she saw she was flying outside of Canterlot, but she didn’t look like herself. Instead, she was in her old form, black and green with holes in her legs. Then she saw there were hundreds of these kinds of changelings flying towards Canterlot.

Loci thought this was familiar, and that because it was the attack on Princess Cadence’s wedding. After their Queen had weakened the shield for the changelings to break through and attack the city.

Unlike most of the changelings, Loci didn’t want to attack the ponies. She had tried to befriend but…. She shouldn’t look like this in the first place. Loci tried to fly away, but she was dragged down by the rest of the swarm.

Despite her best efforts, Loci was forced to crash onto the ground in Canterlot. Things would be a bit different as soon as Loci saw blunt objects being thrown her way. Unlike last time, the ponies of Canterlot were fighting back, and they looked menacing. And that wasn’t just because of their anger, they looked like they were getting bigger the closer they got.

As Loci tried running away, she was quickly blocked by one of the ponies who now towered over her. “You’re kind doesn’t belong here,” the pony stated. Loci tried flying in a different direction, only to be blocked by another.

“You’re not welcome here,” this one said, sounding more ominous to the changeling. Every time Loci tried to escape, a giant pony would stop her in her tracks.

Each time this happened, the ponies would get bigger and scarier. It didn’t take long before the changeling was surrounded with the ponies looking down at her yelling hurtful words.

“You’re a mistake!”

“I don’t know why you stay around!”

“Don’t you dare talk back to me!”

“I’ll give you a reason to cry!”

“Shut up,” Loci begged. She was starting cry as the voices got louder.

“WE’RE ALL BETTER WITHOUT YOU!”

“GET OUT OF MY SIGHT!”

“IT’S ALL YOUR FAULT!”

“Shut up! Please!”

“DO SOMETHING AND DISAPPEAR!”

“NOBODY CARES ABOUT YOU!”

“YOU’LL BE NOTHING BUT A WASTE!”

“SHUT UP!” Loci was surrounded by darkness as she broke into tears. Her sobbing kept going until she felt something touch her shoulder. Looking up through teary eyes, Loci could see Typewriter.

The stallion gave her a warm hug, which the changeling embraced. She swiftly regained the colors of her reformed self as she managed to smile. When they stopped hugging, Typewriter spoke up.

“You’re nothing like they say,” he said softly. “You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me.” Those words already cheered Loci up as she and Typerwriter embraced each other and quickly kissed.

_____________________________________

After that, Loci woke up and saw she had shed some tears. She groaned as she wiped them away. “Ugh, I hate those dreams,” she sighed. Loci stepped out of bed and walked towards the bathroom to see if she needed to clean herself up. During this short distance, she remembered something.

A memory of herself taking a train to Canterlot play through her head. The moment the train stopped, she sprinted out of the station as she was pretty scared. In her haste, she ended up bumping into a stallion. Loci remembered this was how she met Typewritter. She was so sorry about bumping into him, but the stallion forgave her as he was a little concerned.

Loci then felt confused. “I didn’t go to Canterlot by train,” she said to herself, “I flew away from the hive as King Thorax did.” She rubbed her head as if something didn’t feel right. Looking in the bathroom mirror, she looked at herself and felt something odd.

Looking at her horn, she saw it looked a little off. When she tried touching it, something draped over Loci’s face. Pushing it aside, she found some sort of veil had appeared where her horn used to be… “Wait, where’s my horn!?” Loci cried. She tried to remove the veil but simply looking in the mirror showed her horn was no longer where it should be. Loci was confused about what was going on until another memory played in her head.

She remembered the day she moved in with Typewriter. Loci had been struggling to find a job and pay rent so Typewriter offered her to stay with him. “So, this is where I live,” the stallion said, “It’s not much but it’s home. Sorry if it’s a little dirty, I only moved out of my parent’s home recently so I haven’t gotten too much time to keep things clean.”

“...A home is a home,” Loci commented. “Th… Thank you for letting me stay here.”

“You’re welcome. Let me show you where you can sleep. I managed to get a good couch to can extend into a bed.” The pony and changeling walked away to the next room to make Loci comfortable.

The changeling rubbed her head from remembering this. Then she noticed something on her hoof, it looked like some kind of nubs and they were growing longer and bending. “Wha… What…? What’s happening to me?” Loci questioned.

She looked at these new growths and found out she was able to control and bend them. The new growths were… Fingers. They were petite and looked like she had kept good care of them, including her nails. They looked like they had been well-trimmed and given a pedicure. “Wait… How do I know this much about these?”

Loci looked at her other hoof and saw the same thing was happening to it. She tried to think about using her magic to change herself back, but she couldn’t. In fact, the harder she tried to change back, the faster her body grew more of this new Caucasian skin in place of her chitin. She even got a glance at her back, where her wings had mysteriously vanished.

Loci stepped back from the mirror before she saw she was now walking bipedally with no issue at all. Normally she had to be a dragon or other bipedal creature to stand like this but she felt like this was always how she walked. Loci was feeling scared as she remembered another memory that popped into her head.

It was one night when she was asleep on the couch, tossing and turning in her sleep. “Please…. I didn’t do anything wrong,” she muttered. “Just…. Please stop.”

Typewriter had heard the noise and came in to inspect. “Loci?” he asked, concerned. He walked closer when the movements and muttering got worse.

“Stop! What did I do?”

“Loci?!” Not sure what to do, Typerwriter tried shaking the changeling awake. Screaming in shock, Loci looked at the stallion with teary eyes. “Are you okay?”

“I…. I think…. Why are you up?”

“I was trying to do some late-night writing. Want to grab a midnight snake?” The upset changeling just nodded and followed him to the kitchen.

They both got some bowls and ice cream out along with some chocolate syrup. Typewriter wrote a little bit with his story as Loci helped herself to the ice cream. “So…. What are you writing?”

“Well…. That’s a little tricky. I’m trying to write a story about a knight and his quest. So far anything I’ve managed to come up with is just generic or has already been done before.”

“Does the knight have anyone else with him? Like a friend.”

“That could work. A companion would give him something to interact with. Maybe even a love interest.”

“Like a princess?”

“Yes, or even a fairy. Any kind of fantasy creature would make it interesting for him.” Loci’s expression lightened up as she scooted closer to the stallion to get a look at his writing. Typewriter didn’t mind as he saw she tried to keep her ice cream away from his papers. Besides, she had a bad nightmare, so it was something to help calm her down and Typewriter liked her company.

Holding her head, Loci felt dazed but happy when she thought about it. Typewriter helped bring a smile to her face. Her face… Loci looked back into the mirror and saw her eyes were looking different. They had some white growing in them like the eyes of non-changeling creatures yet still like a changeling.

It would be hard to see it after Loci’s vision went blurry, making her rub her eyes. When she looked back at the mirror her vision cleared up and saw her eyes look like that of a bug, they were more… Human?

That word was something Loci would question if she didn’t feel her balance shift unexpectedly. She stumbled as her feet had suddenly gotten a pair of white high-heeled shoes. Loci managed to grab onto the counter before she fell but now she was confused about her new footwear, just not in the way she thought she would.

“How does Rarity make walking in heels look so easy,” she groaned. She would sit down on the toilet cover as she didn’t recall Rarity selling shoes. She did feel like she could use some clothes as she felt exposed given her lack of clothing. Loci covered up her chest as she already felt some bumps growing on them.

Suddenly, she felt her remaining chitin start to form a silk material. It hugged and supported her new asset nicely with a spaghetti-strapped top. This top also looked to have a flowery design to it as Loci quickly remembered somebody.

Loci and Typerwriter walked up to a house where the stallion rang the doorbell. After a few seconds, an old mare answered the door. “Oh, Type, you made it,” she said.

“Hi mom,” Typewriter said, “So happy to see you again.” The two shared a hug before they focused on Loci. “Mom, this is Loci. She’s the changeling I’ve been telling you about.” Loci stepped back a little as she had a feeling this mare knew how changelings used to be.

“Oh, how nice to meet you,” the older mare said. She shook Loci’s hoof, despite how nervous the changeling looked. “I’m Sketch Mark. My little Typey has told me so much about you.”

“He has?” Loci asked.

“Come inside, we can chat in the living room.” Loci followed the ponies into the house as she felt a bit of mixed feelings.

After a little bit of chatter, Loci would be sitting on the couch with Typewriter as his parents walked back into the room with a photo album. “Oh no,” Typerwriter groaned.

“Type, don’t be like that,” Sketch stated. “Loci said she was wanting to know more about us and this is the best way to show her.”

The stallion swallowed his pride as his mother opened up his foal pictures. Typewriter looked away as he felt so embarrassed. Loci was actually intrigued by the old pictures, especially the ones with Typewriter and his parents. “Oh, I remember this picture,” Sketch said. “Type was camera shy back then.

Loci looked at the photo and giggled as she saw Type was trying to hide behind his mother while looking at the camera. “Why is he hiding?”

“Type was very camera-shy back then. I think he thought the camera was some kind of monster.”

“Mom, please stop with that theory,” Type begged in embarrassment.

“I think it’s cute,” Loci commented. “You look like you have so many good memories here. I’m actually kind of jealous.”

“Oh, don’t you have any photo albums?” Sketch asked. Lucy went quiet as looked like someone had punched her in the gut.

Type saw this and quickly tried comforting her. “Listen, Loci, you aren’t with them anymore,” he said. Sketch wasn’t sure what she had said until her son whispered to her. “Loci doesn’t like to talk about her home life.” Sketch just remained silent as Type did his best to comfort Loci, who was struggling to hold back some tears.

Back in the present, Loci wiped her eyes as memories of people yelling and hurting her started to flood in. It was too much for her, making the transforming changeling break down in tears. Her chitin kept splitting from her body as it started covering up her legs like a curtain. Loci now possessed a lovely gown to help complete her new dress.

Loci took a moment to stop crying as she looked at the gown she was now wearing. She started thinking about… Tyler. Not only him but also some of his friends, including the Fumis.

_____________________________________

Loci remembered when she and Tyler had lunch with Ryan and Kimiko Fumi, one month after their wedding. “So, how are you two doing?” Tyler asked.

“We’re doing great,” Ryan said. “Our honeymoon was so great.”

“It sure was,” Kimiko agreed. She held her new husband’s hand.

“I heard you two got some good publicity for Globrail,” Tyler said. “How is that going?”

“We’re doing pretty good,” Ryan explained, “Our relationship has spread more awareness to the service and we’re even overloaded with passengers.”

“No way, you’re making that up.”

“I wish. We’re already having to ask to borrow some old coaches from Amtrak for the cross-country trips in America so the other engines could be used for the longer trips.”

“Man, but the overload of passengers means they’ll get more right?”

“Of course. We’re expecting some new units in a few months.”

“That’ll be good.”

“Tell me about it,” Kimiko commented. “Can’t believe how bad you had trains here in America.”

“I know, you know some people said that we couldn’t have trains here because “America is too big.”

Kimiko just stared before she responded. “That’s what trains are for. Long distance travel.”

“I know, I think they forgot their brains when they said this.”

Kimiko looked over to Lucy, who had been looking down. “Um, excuse me, Lucy was it?”

“...Yes,” Lucy replied meekly.

“You haven’t said much until now. Is something wrong?”

“She’s got an issue with conflict,” Tyler whispered.

“I can understand that,” Ryan admitted. “We tend to have a lot of passengers who can’t stay out of trouble. I honestly wonder what goes on inside of their heads.”

“Yeah, one passenger complained that one meal in the dining car,” Kimiko noted. “People just want to complain, but the best thing is to just not give them the attention. I swear that’s what they want.”

“If you need to let us know of any issues, you can just let us know.” Lucy looked up at them and smiled.

_____________________________________

Lucy wiped a tear from her eye as she started remembering her time with Kimiko. She was a great friend. In fact, she was given the role of the maid of honor. Lucy was happy to have her style her bleach-blonde hair, making it shine as it cascaded down her back.

She brought her hands to her face as it started to shrink in size. The soon-to-be ex-changeling would gain a cute little nose as she bit her lip as she was feeling anxious all of a sudden. Thinking about Tyler made her feel happy before but now she felt some anxious feelings. Then she recalled a certain day.

_____________________________________

Tyler and Lucy were sitting at the table in Tyler’s house. Lucy was enjoying her meal, which she enjoyed so much. “Tyler, thanks for cooking tonight,” she said. “I was perfectly fine with preparing a meal.”

“Lucy, you’ve been living here for two years,” Tyler said, “I’m happy to help cook once in a while. You’ve been doing so much better since you’ve moved in.”

“I know. Just… Thank you for letting me stay here, I feel like such a better person now.”

“Good for you. Say, I have a sort of test story that I want you to read.” He pulled out a piece of paper and handed it to the young woman.

Lucy took a look at the script and began reading it. “The adventurer looked at the lovely maiden, who had managed to move on from her horrid past. He got down on one knee while holding the maiden’s hand and asked, “Lucy, will you… Marry me?” She looked up to see Tyler holding an engagement ring.

“So, what would she say?” Lucy just dropped the page in shock as she brought her hands to her mouth. Tears started to build up in her eyes as she was overwhelmed with joy.

“Tyler you… I didn’t think… You…” She couldn’t hold it back anymore and just hugged her new fiance. “YES!” She sniffed as she couldn’t contain her joyful tears. When she released Tyler from the hug, he helped wipe her tears away before placing the ring around her finger. The two looked into each other's eyes before they shared a passionate kiss.

_____________________________________

Lucy found herself crying again as she remembered the day she knew she was in a good life. Tyler had been a loyal boyfriend who had supported her ever since she had moved in with him and now… He was going to be her husband.

She heard a door open up and saw her future mother-in-law Shirley walk in. “Are you ready?” she asked.

“I… I think so,” Lucy replied. She kept looking at her dress as Shirley held her hand.

“Lucy, this will be one of the best days of your life. I know you and Tyler will have the best lives together. You’ve come so far from when we first met.” The bride smiled as she wiped her tears away before following her future mother in law out of the room for her big event.

Lucy entered the large building with Shirley by her side. The bride held a boutique of flowers as “Here Comes the Bride,” began to play. Crowds consisting of friends and family watched Lucy as she walked down the isle closer where Tyler was standing.

Once she was standing in front of the groom, Tyler lifted the veil from Lucy’s face. The bride felt like she had butterflies in her stomach again. She looked around at the people around her, ones like Shirley and Kimiko giving her looks of encouragement.

The bride and groom held each other’s hand as they were both asked a question. “Do you Tyler, take Lucy to be your lawfully wedded wife?”

“I do,” Tyler answered.

“And do you, Lucy, take Tyler to be your lawfully wedded husband?”

“I do,” Lucy said, wiping away another tear.

Both of them slipped a ring around each other’s fingers as the words everyone was waiting to hear. “I now pronounce you, Mr. and Mrs. Wilson. You may now kiss the bride.” With that being said, Tyler and Lucy embraced each other and kissed.

Loads of cheering was heard as it was the start of the Wilsons’ new life and Lucy couldn’t be happier.