Chip was comfortably wrapped up in a sea of fluff – curled up in a ball, the changeling could feel every inch of his body clothed in the most delicate and warm fabric he had ever experienced. It was a whole new level, even compared to the bed at Canterlot castle. All around, rainbow lights lazily swam, piercing even the colt’s closed eyelids. He felt…
Happy
Yes, pure joy of being here, in this harmonious of places, overpowered Chip. He felt like cheering, laughing, prancing around – but there was no need to. It was bliss as it was – curled up in a ball of happy thoughts, underneath a sea of rainbow fluff. He felt…
Comfortable
Not a single place was getting too much or too little pressure. Perfection in even the slightest details. He would snuggle up to this fabric, inhale deeply the scent it probably had, rub his whole body against it…but there was no need! Why bother perfection? In this tight embrace, he felt…
Secure
Like in the hooves of a mother, a loving, caring mother. The silky fabric lulled him gently, taking away all his cares and grime that was probably just his imagination. He could just open his eyes and smile at the motherly face above him, touch it, pet its mane…but not just yet, just a little bit longer. He felt so…
Loved
It was the same kind of emotion, the connection that he shared with his friends. He loved ponies, especially those that appeared in front of him now! Night Star, the first pony he even met. Silver Heart, the filly he treasured so much. The regal sisters, Luna and Celestia, who took him as if he were their own. Cadance, Gustav, Dawn, Twilight…all these faces, he loved them so much! He wanted to hug them, feel their embrace! They were quite some distance away, so he would need to fly over to them…this is where he started feeling…
Pride
He was a great flier. Each time he flew, he felt proud to have such great wings. Strong, agile, capable of carrying him all over the world – his wings were the most awesome thing on the planet! The refreshingly chilly wind that cuddled him for so long now felt great; the light that flickered under his eyelids, as if he was looking at sunlight from the bottom of a lake, reminded him of something. Yes, those were his…
Hopes
He had great aspirations. He wanted to be one with ponies. He dreamt about it, studied for it. It was his purpose. He knew he would eventually realize his dream – it felt like it was just a hoof away, somewhere in the darkness around.
Yes, the pitch black around was fascinating. Not a sound was heard, not an image was seen. He huddled his body into a tighter ball, feeling the pleasurable cold of what was probably an autumn night. This bliss was interrupted by some heat that was somehow present in his chest – it stung, felt out of place. It disturbed the emptiness that was always in his mind, in his heart, in his whole body. He let it go. It was never there to begin with.
Silence. Emptiness. It lulled Chip into nothingness. His mind shut down, descending into the void, closing in on itself. He didn’t feel a body, not that it was supposed to be there anyway. He was a pure thought. An abstract construct that didn’t have its place in time and space. Null. Nothing. It did not exist…
* * *
Twilight Sparkle woke up on the floor, curled up in a ball. She yawned, stretching her body, unleashing delightful chills that scattered around it. The mare never felt so refreshed, so alive. It was like being born anew, with a fresh mind, new pair of eyes, straight-out-of-the-box muscles and skin. Each color was vibrant and bright – the sounds she heard, she could listen to them forever…
“Mmmmm…aahhh…this feels wonderful,” gasped the librarian, preparing to leave the room. Unfortunately, something lay under her feet and she tripped.
“Ouch…oh, what is that…thing…doing….here?”
Twilight saw the most odd of things at her hooves – it was a ball of fur, roughly her size. It had a purple color, the dark variety, with a mane and tail. And a horn…
The hit of memories from last night sent the mare into a spin. Chip. They mind melded. The corridors. The gates. An eye. The switch of bodies. The horrible, painful hunger. Loneliness, sadness, terror…then hope. A faint smile. And a green light.
The librarian looked at the shape which was Chip, in the body of Twilight Sparkle. Unmoving. Cold to the touch.
“Chip,” gasped the mare through a tightened throat. Memories kept coming back, gnawing at her, spoon-feeding her the images of her…of her doing it to Chip. She was eating him. She didn’t know how, or why, but it felt good. She craved it so much and she got it. The pleasure she then had was the polar opposite of the dread she felt now.
“Chip?” repeated Twilight, gently pushing the body, as if trying to prod it to life.
“Chip.” She shoved harder.
“Chip…” She shook the body. Nothing.
“Chip…!” gasped Twilight in a hoarse voice, hugging the lifeless shell. She looked into his eyes – they were blank. Nothing behind the purple irises.
“What have I done…” she sobbed, still trying to shake Chip awake. Mane got into his open eyes, and he didn’t even blink. She swiftly took it away, checking his forehead. It was cold. Stone cold.
“Please, just stop it. Wake up. I didn’t mean to…why did you let me…why?!”
No response.
“I can’t…what have I done. Why, Chip, why?! Answer me, you hear me?! Please, I beg of you…”
Not even a sigh.
“Chip…”
All she could do was embrace him. Close to her. His cold body against her warm skin. She wanted to give it all back. Give back the things she took away. She wanted it so very badly. She didn’t mean to. It wasn’t hers!
Twilight rocked Chip back and forth, wetting his mane with tear-filled eyes. No words would come out of her throat now. She felt sick. Her head hurt, she was dizzy. This couldn't be undone. He was gone. Not coming back. And it was her fault. She did this.
Her eyes were too wet to see the rhythmically moving nostrils on Chip’s muzzle.
* * *
At some point, Twilight must have passed out, exhausted, still wrapped around Chip. Her body warmed his. He couldn’t feel that though. He was nowhere. In limbo. Non-existent…
If he was nothing, then why was there something? It was sound. He remembered what sound was. It was pestering him, filling up the space that wasn’t there. How was that even possible? Nothingness is the opposite of Somethingness. These two could not exist at the same place, even if calling it a place meant nothing. And yet…
The sound was a word. A single, short word. It managed to expand the nothingness, causing it to stretch and bend with the volume that it brought. Volume was an alien concept in this world of nothing. It didn’t feel right, and it was ignored for as long as it could.
Like that wasn’t enough, a second thing – something more physical – joined the fray. It was temperature. Warmth. Great, now the world that was empty contained a warm word. No, wait. These things weren’t together. Then where did the other come from? Asking that question turned out to be a bad idea – another volume, this one colossal compared to the word, jumped into the world of nothing.
A body. The warmth was connected with the body. Also, the word did something too – it moved. It moved to the top of the body, sinking inside it.
Chip was scared. All this felt so wrong, so alien. Nothingness was secure, it was good, it was predictable. This body, this warmth, this sound, it all came out of nowhere – uninvited and without a reason.
But this would not be the end of it. More things followed, literally bombarding the peaceful dimension of nothing with otherworldly somethings – sensations of touch, smell, thoughts that did not belong. It all zipped around, almost hitting Chip. He dodged as best as he could, avoiding images and noises like wildfire. Some of them hit him though. It felt like drowning in honey for an eternity – colors or sounds that were blurry reached out for him. He didn’t want them. Nothingness was where he belonged.
In this whole confusion, the colt didn’t notice he was coming closer and closer to the top of the body. He was so focused on escaping that he finally tripped into the head of the body. That’s where he saw the word. He heard it.
Chip.
* * *
Feebly, a purple leg budged. An eyelid tried to close, only managing to move a little in the end. A grape-colored tail moved an inch or so.
Twilight felt the motions and in her sleep adjusted herself, tightening the embrace she had on Chip.
“Chip…” she murmured, causing a purple ear to twitch.
Hmm. This is the 42 chapter.
And there is a lot of things related with the meaning of life here, or its essence.
You following? 'Pun' totally not intended
997973
Exploring the boundaries of psyche, keeping it on the verge of breaking into insanity... That is kind of fascinating to me. Just how much can one take before irreversably being broken, a puppet cast to the wind, subject to the most basic of instincts?
1000205 WHATS GOING OOOOONNNN MY MINDD HUURRRRTTTTSSS ANARCHY REIGNS AHHHH
Well. That was certainly interesting. Heh. It wouldn't surprise me if Chip - once he's back to fully functioning - finds the whole experience fascinating.
Hmmm. A fascinating look into the nature of Changeling feeding.
Does anyone else have the fear that Chip may be turning into a little bit of a Gary Stu? I mean, JUST a little bit, but with that distinct flavor.
1000273
I'd appreciate if you would elaborate on that!
I always try and keep my characters as far from overpowered as possible
1000220
I know exactly what you mean. It's what makes chapters like this one so great. I adored the imagery here, and I really liked the way you conveyed Chip's thought process as he comes back to the world of the living. Like I said, I'm a sucker for really exploring thought processes and looking at how characters think.
From the sounds of it, it seems that "feeding" isn't too bad of an ordeal at all I suppose.
2 updates in one day? It's been a real treat and both tidbits were nice. I guess we will next see how Twilight handles accidentally connecting to the swarm.
1000284
It really depends on how you view it. The victim is basically sedated as all of their life essence is being drawn out of their body, leaving a living husk behind. To me, not feeling the demise, not being aware that you are being extinguished or in any kind of threat -- that is is pretty damn scary.
I guess I just don't like being fed false stimuli. Bugs crawling over my body, flies buzzing around, I sometimes freak out
1000362
Ah, when you put it that way, I suppose it is pretty horrifying. Nevertheless, it's only if you look at the larger picture. At least the victim isn't fully aware of the horror that is going on at the moment.
1000383
It would be a pity to taint the pure emotions that the changeling wants to extract with fear, dread or any other negative stuff, eh?
3 new updates today? you make me a very happy brony. (kinda makes up for making me sad without updates yesterday)
1000399
Yeah, you are right in that regard.
1000421
I update each day, regularly after midnight my local time So more or less there is a new chapter each 24 hours.
1000205
There's a Punderstorm a'brewin!
1000435 That cant be right, yesterday at 2 am, there where no new update, but today at 1am there where 3? 2? 1? idk but it was 3 ''unread'' at 1 am today.
1000205
I life what you did there.
Though, even if they had the princess over forty-two night, they wouldn't find the answer to their problem there.
1000399 *Charline de Lyon, the ever-evil one, barges in and kicks Alondro out for a moment* Well, at least those changeling things feed on love and stuff. *evil grin* I feed on terror and anguish. Imagine what my prey experience before they die!
1001541 bro, im worse than you, i feed on awkwardness and embarrassment!!! MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
The very start of this chapter was amaaaazing! I really really really liked the one word section starting out this chapter as each of those things were drained from Chip. Sooo !
Holy hay, really, this was an awesome chapter, getting to see the changeling feeding process from the view of the victim. I imagine it might be more terrifying for a normal pony rather than Chip since he's a bit...different, in so many ways. He seemed to analyze everything that was happening to him while it was going on instead of freaking out.
1000283
Perhaps that's a bit much. But there's something to his great power and the ease of meeting important ponies. But perhaps i'm overthinking it.
1000220
i, too, enjoy delving into concepts related to the mind, to psychology. the myriad ideas related to awareness and consciousness can be quite fascinating. according to Wikipedia, i think this stuff is called Epistemology.
1000530
it's a worldwide punomenon!
hey this is really random, but earlier today i almost got the 1,000,000'th post GET. i was off by 30 posts, just a few minutes >:(
1001971 You know what I feed on? 200 year-old Snack Cakes and irradiated meat! Wasteland food > Emotions.
-Echo
fc00.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2011/236/5/8/pinkie_pie_by_deathpwny-d47orxy.gif
1002516
Then next thing to try is 750 year old jaffa cakes
Look at bottom of events list
Well Zeth, you did it, I created my most beautiful monstrosity yet... And im already trying to decide where to go with it.
By the way, How are your ideas and writings coming along? You so far seem to have no problem taking a story where you want it to go.
This is probalbly the best psychological battle i have ever read!
1002393
You probably aren't -- it is true that the chain of events that Chip is tangled in makes him meet the top of the top. Chrysalis, Celestia, Luna, Twilight...
I'd like to think him meeting the Princess was a coincidence. She noticed him and was unsure what to do, so she took it upon herself to deal with him. He would prove a valuable ally and source of information, so any reasonable ruler would keep such a person close. Especially one as dangerous.
As to the whole idea of Changelings, I am in awe how powerful they are -- I mean, even according to the show, Chrysalis was stronger than Celestia, able to deceive everypony with her disguise, control an army that defeated the guards of Equestria just like that... In stealth, they are indestructible.
1002751
Ooops! You are of course right! Thanks!
1002836
Not exactly The story goes where it dn pleases. I just sit down, turn the music on and write. The characters do their thing, What little plans I sometimes have either get to happen or not, depending on how Chip and gang feel about it.
1003250
Yay, thanks!
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1003775
Was it that horrible?
A great chapter which just serves to add to the ever-growing changeling mentality and add much to the story. My favorite things about this story have to be the great provision of changeling lore, and the update rate. Keep it up, this is beautiful.
1003831
Horrible?
How dare you
How DARE YOU think even for a MOMENT that it's anything even remotely related to "horrible"
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Wow, I thought for sure he was dead. Being cold all over usually means that XD
awww that is so cute how twilight snuggles with the almost dead changeling in her own body
on second thought maybe its more sad than cute...
still pretty cute though
1000273 That is a horrible thing to accuse chip of being! He isn't all powerful, loved by everyone, or perfect with zero flaws!
5381163 yeah I can't see it either.
The spark is a strong one!