What are Changelings?

[IridscentNionios 1,420]

@@FNGRpony, After i go home prepare yourself...

[MrPandaa 204]

i dare you to be more nutty than i was.

 

@@FNGRpony, After i go home prepare yourself...

I think I sense an epic battle brewing...

[IridscentNionios 1,420]

@@MrPandaa, Okay i will start from the most irellevant thing ever. The holes... see i have noticed somewhere in the mlp database that the holes are a symbol of how "Incomplete" the changelings are. Meaning they are missing something. Judging by that i believe the holes in the are not there by design... therefore...

Changelings are not born with holes...

This means that the changelings actually get the holes sometime during their lives. How do you ask? I'll get to that soon enough... but first some explanations are in order about emotions and what they feed upon. I believe the concept of "love" is misunderstood. I believe love is another allegory for... "life"...

Now if we think that the holes of the changelings develop when they starve... it would be like something is eating them from inside out... like a disease or a magical ailment. I believe they suffer from a disease i like to call "Lov-e-lipsis" love+elipsis(which means lack aka lack of love). Now i am thinking... which other creature actually feeds of life? The demons of World of Warcraft came to mind... They too were searching for the life of the world the thing that made it move... magic. Emotions are like magic... emotions flow invisible in the sky forming links that connect us. The positive emotions glow in the sky like suns with bright positive colors offering energy to those around them, while the negative emotions are like black holes with grey dim colors dimming the aura of those around them and taking energy away from the others.

The description of Hasbro about the changelings says they are grotesque ponies... but still PONIES. Certainly it's not mentioned they are evil... therefore confirming my belief that they do not willingly feed upon love... or by choice... though it does give them strength. Now i believe that sometime during their history the changelings came in contact with demonic entities and got poisoned by their essence eventually devolving into demons, but they found a way to keep their free will although not curing themselves... They became parasites of emotions... and developed an isolationist society to avoid destroying the world due to their "curse". Thus the reason we haven't seen them much...

Another reason we haven't seen them a lot or their corpses in Canterlot is because i believe dead changelings continue to be afflicted by their disease... thus if dying in battle they would "rot" much quicker dissolving into pixie dust in the wind... When a changeling is about to die there are two results:Multiple organic failure and death dissolving into pixie dust... or something darker... Sometimes the changeling cannot take it... madness takes over. Then... the Devourer is born...
http://assasinmonkey.deviantart.com/art/The-Changeling-Behemoth-Returns-381243529
The changeling grows bigger, thinner, with much thicker muscular structure with only one word in it's mind... "FEED". It never stops, it doesn't end... not even for it's own people. It has lost it's soul and mind. The more it is connected to other changelings, the worse... that's why it must be killed immediately. A Devourer Queen could mean the end of the changeling race... something you wouldn't like at all... because once this would happen the changelings would run rampant like beasts you cannot imagine.

I believe the changelings posses a natural mental connection with their loved ones and families... the more skilled a changeling is in making such bonds and friendships the higher the rank it can achieve. I believe the crown is imperative to ruling the changelings... i have created a hole story about the crown having being imbued with the magic of an old Queen. They were living underground but ended up having to move due to earthquakes, volcanoes and such. The Queen who had the talent to speak to more changelings than anyone focused her magic and managed to contact all the changelings guiding them... the first Queen to achieve that. She died however not being able to handle the lot of it for such a long time... but her crown got imbued with her magic. Thus the next Queens or Kings had to actually prove by the standards of the crown that they could handle such a bond without losing their minds thus making sure that only the most capable of changelings rose the hierarchy. Making sure that only those who could guarantee the future of the changelings rose up to the challenge... no matter who they were... good or evil. This is mimicked in helmets of the generals and other items.

As for how they are born... i believe that they aren't really born all by the Queen. This would be really impossible for her. I believe that they have parents just like the ponies. I thought about incorporating both the egg element and the "carrying the baby" element. I believe that in the first staging of the baby growth it grows inside the changeling, but due to the lack of free will or consciousness of the individual it can't transform and the changeling mare transforming would mean that the changeling baby can't adjust in size thus killing the mare possibly. So while the female changeling is "pregnant" it can't transform... Some months later it is born in the form of the egg the outer of it being the placenta. I believe that they are placed in underground and rocky like environments like caved and underground areas where the surrounding placenta can take "roots" upon the ground and gather water, micro minerals, e.t.c. nourishment in general in order to grow. Why rocky grounds and stuff? Because their scales are made out of tougher stuff thus they needs to attain this.

I also believe that they have tried to adapt to pony society and have failed. I attribute this to a real life phenomenon called "Immersion" that occurs when you get too much into an experience that it becomes almost "real" for you. Combine that with the "Animorphs" (it's a cartoon/book where kids transform to animals for max 2 hours before staying in that form forever) logic that you can't transform to another creature for an infinite time and there you have it. There's also the phrase "Fake it till you make it." that really fits this.

I believe that the changelings can suffer from this condition depending on how long they are transformed and their mental prowess. In the end they actually believe they are who they depict losing themselves in their illusion...

I believe this is what happened after the Canterlot spell http://huussii.deviantart.com/art/MLP-Banished-324738218
http://huussii.deviantart.com/art/MLP-The-Unsung-End-362486615
They don't have as the comic suggests "Team Rocket" invulnerability.

As far as genetics go... i will quote a part of my fanfic linked in the description.

"Alianna follows them as they keep talking about it. She knows that all changelings' lives are greatly effected by their unique "evolutions" . Being the caretaker of the newborn she is one of many changelings that were studying their species' genetics. There is one gene in particular that was rather "tricky", and still baffled many of generations who studied it. It was called "The Protean Gene" and it had three possible forms it could take. During a changeling's life it would adapt, change, depending on the situation a changeling was put in. Each position it took on the genetic code allowed the changeling to excel at different sectors: Strength, Dexterity, Magic. Added to that an unique characteristic was given to the changeling by it. Jonaleth's muscular structure was one, the reinforced scales of Mortain were another, her affinity with healing and there were countless others possibilities she could not even fathom. They had more in common with the ponies than they thought. They might not have been looking for "Cutie Marks" their whole lives, but they too had a part of their lives when they looked for their own path, their place in society, their special ability."

So yea.... 6k post... i warned you... you just did not listen. I may fill this up with more stuff later.

Edited March 23, 2014 by nioniosbbbb

[MrPandaa 204]

@  Wow, that was quite the detailed theorycrafting you got there!  And, hey, I don't mind reading a few "k's," as long as they're informative, as this was!

 

 

The demons of World of Warcraft came to mind

Woah, you play WoW, too?

[rainbowrengar 5]

Changlings are DAEMONS

[MrPandaa 204]

Changlings are DAEMONS

Hahah, true is dat, friend!  

[FNGRpony 658]

I think I sense an epic battle brewing...

EPIC PONY BAttles in history!

 

"Okay i will start from the most irellevant thing ever. The holes... see i have noticed somewhere in the mlp database that the holes are a symbol of how "Incomplete" the changelings are. Meaning they are missing something. Judging by that i believe the holes in the are not there by design... therefore..."

 

I like this theory.

Edited November 22, 2013 by FNGRpony

[IridscentNionios 1,420]

@@FNGRpony, @@MrPandaa, Much of what i believe is going to be implemented in my fanfic found in the signature. Anyways... i also have a possible idea that involves them as guardians of Tartarus. Just saying...

[MrPandaa 204]

@@FNGRpony, @@MrPandaa, Much of what i believe is going to be implemented in my fanfic found in the signature. Anyways... i also have a possible idea that involves them as guardians of Tartarus. Just saying...

Neat!  Sounds like you've got the Changelings pretty well figured out by now.

[IridscentNionios 1,420]

Neat! Sounds like you've got the Changelings pretty well figured out by now.

Yea... There even was an idea about an rp with the story about the origins of Equestria and Tartarus. The ancestors of the changelings were its guardians. Maybe i will tell you the story later.

[MrPandaa 204]

Yea... There even was an idea about an rp with the story about the origins of Equestria and Tartarus. The ancestors of the changelings were its guardians. Maybe i will tell you the story later.

Sounds very interesting!

[Vinyl Scratch (Filly)™ 936]

I know others have explained it, but I'll say it in my own words.

 

Changelings are insect like ponies, made of black chitin, their legs are riddled with holes and their horns are curved or crooked. They have fragile insect like wings too, this allows them to fly, and even hover in the spot. They have the power to turn into any pony they have seen, though as it seems they lack the ability to talk. 

 

Changelings would take on the disguise of a pony and feed on their loved ones love, but they can't act 100% identical to the pony they are imitating, this would be a big flaw for them. A head canon that a lot of people use is that all Changelings are connected to a hive mind, allowing them to know who each other is, even in disguise and to be able to communicate to each other.

 

Yeah, this is how I personally would describe a Changeling, but if you don't like what I have said, others have clearly stated what they too know.

[MrPandaa 204]

I know others have explained it, but I'll say it in my own words.

 

Changelings are insect like ponies, made of black chitin, their legs are riddled with holes and their horns are curved or crooked. They have fragile insect like wings too, this allows them to fly, and even hover in the spot. They have the power to turn into any pony they have seen, though as it seems they lack the ability to talk. 

 

Changelings would take on the disguise of a pony and feed on their loved ones love, but they can't act 100% identical to the pony they are imitating, this would be a big flaw for them. A head canon that a lot of people use is that all Changelings are connected to a hive mind, allowing them to know who each other is, even in disguise and to be able to communicate to each other.

 

Yeah, this is how I personally would describe a Changeling, but if you don't like what I have said, others have clearly stated what they too know.

Okay, thanks for your take on it!  It seems that every time someone new responds to my question, I learn something new that the others forgot/didn't know!

[rainbowrengar 5]

 

 

@FNGRpony, @MrPandaa, Much of what i believe is going to be implemented in my fanfic found in the signature. Anyways... i also have a possible idea that involves them as guardians of Tartarus. Just saying...

Dude, that fanfic sounds wicked. Can't wait to see it

[IridscentNionios 1,420]

@@rainbowrengar,Check out the link in my signature... it's there. Due to no spoilers for next chapter i won't say anything more... just know that everything about a person you like will be overturned... reversed that is. 

[rainbowrengar 5]

 

 

@rainbowrengar,Check out the link in my signature... it's there. Due to no spoilers for next chapter i won't say anything more... just know that everything about a person you like will be overturned... reversed that is.

I am very intruiged about this, I'll probably read it later tonight

[IridscentNionios 1,420]

Had a whole paragraph or two hidden cause of the stupid link system Check my big post.

[crazitaco 596]

I have this theory in my head that changelings are corrupt flutter ponies, or that they are the discarded remants of them, like their molted shells. This would make sense as to why changelings have holes in their bodies, they are hollow on the inside. Since they are literally hollow shells of their former selves, they feel perpetually empty...and try to fill that emptyness with love. But since changelings don't really love, they have to take it by force.
I don't have much explanation for their shape shifting abilities though, other than that they are magically able to do it because it helps them feed.

Edited November 23, 2013 by crazitaco

[MrPandaa 204]

I have this theory in my head that changelings are corrupt flutter ponies, or that they are the discarded remants of them. This would make sense as to why changelings have holes in their bodies, they are hollow on the inside. Since they are literally hollow shells of their former selves, they feel perpetually empty...and try to fill that emptyness with love. But since changelings don't really love, they have to take it by force.

I don't have much explanation for their shape shifting abilities though, other than they are magically able to do it because it helps them feed.

Oh, that makes sense!  Their bodies are almost like a physical representation of what's going on inside!

[JonPear 209]

One interesting thing about changelings: They do not adversely affect fluffy ponies, because fluffy ponies have infinite amounts of love that can be drained from them, and changelings are even willing to mutually give fluffy ponies love in return

 

 

A changeling and a fluffy pony can even be romantic lovers

[MrPandaa 204]

One interesting thing about changelings: They do not adversely affect fluffy ponies, because fluffy ponies have infinite amounts of love that can be drained from them, and changelings are even willing to mutually give fluffy ponies love in return

 

 

A changeling and a fluffy pony can even be romantic lovers

Very interesting...that's something that no one had pointed out before!  Thanks, @JonPear!

[Zygen 6,066]

Essentially changelings are black almost insect like creatures that share a body shape to ponies. And have insect like wings with a horn.

 

Atleast in their regular form.

 

However changelings may also alter their appearance to other ponies and creatures. Essentially becoming a copy of that pony.

 

They use this power to trick generally other ponies into loving them and they feed off that love as a way to grow stronger, and to sustain themselves.

 

And thats essentially what they are i guess.

 

Good luck!

[MrPandaa 204]

Essentially changelings are black almost insect like creatures that share a body shape to ponies. And have insect like wings with a horn.

 

Atleast in their regular form.

 

However changelings may also alter their appearance to other ponies and creatures. Essentially becoming a copy of that pony.

 

They use this power to trick generally other ponies into loving them and they feed off that love as a way to grow stronger, and to sustain themselves.

 

And thats essentially what they are i guess.

 

Good luck!

Thanks for the short summary, bro!

[Zygen 6,066]

Thanks for the short summary, bro!

No problem, i'm quite surprised i made something considered "Short" considering how i have a bit of a history of rambling alot ;p.

[MrPandaa 204]

No problem, i'm quite surprised i made something considered "Short" considering how i have a bit of a history of rambling alot ;p.

Hahah, I think part of it is that I feel weird when I don't use an adjective to describe a bare noun.  And there is nothing wrong with rambling, dude.  It gets the point across much better and much fuller than harboring your opinions does.