The White Changeling

The last few days for Luna were stressful. Amiss the piles of paperwork, snobbish royalty, and increasing tension between empires, she wanted to get away from all the work. She wanted time for herself, just to get her mind away from everything. Skillfully slipping around the guards, she quietly left the castle. As she neared the Everfree , she decided to take a path used long ago. The walk calmed her nerves, but she never let her guard down.

As she was walking, something felt out of place. Looking around her she noticed a strange, faint new path to her right. Glancing around, she shrugged and cautiously followed it.

The path lead her to a large field where there was a few creatures playing and a grown one watching over them. As Luna got a closer look, the creatures appeared to be white changelings. Luna became more and more curious.

'why are they not black like other changelings?' She muttered under her breath.

As she was watching, the young changelings saw her and slowly walked closer. Luna smiled warmly at the approaching changelings, keeping her guard up in case it turned hostile.

"Twig, stay away from her!" The older changeling ordered. Twig and his friend ignored him as he drew closer. "Twig, that could be an enemy!"

As the pair drew closer, Luna inquired “Why are you here?”

“I’d ask you the same thing.” Twig’s friend shot back.

“Dont test my patience, changeling.”

“I bet you're one of Chrysalis’ assassins,” The changeling known as Twig piped up.

“Me, an assassin?”

“You are either an assassin or Luna, princess of the night. I am going with assassin since Luna would never go into the forest.” Twig’s friend countered.

“I am not a changeling!”

“Then explain why you are here.”

“That is none of your concern,” Luna responded.

“If you don’t tell me I will have to call my guards.” Twig said, taking a step forward.

“Guards? Don’t make me laugh. You are just a changeling, I can easily squash a bug like you.”

The hatchling suddenly backed away as white changelings in silver armor surrounded it. From behind, Luna heard a clear voice yell, “Attack!” Before she could react,she was pushed down, as group of black changelings ran past her. The black changelings charged at the white changelings and a fight began. Before Luna could do anything, there was a pain in her right wing. As quickly as she felt it, her vision began to blur,and the world darkened. Few seconds after, unconsciousness overtook her and the world faded.

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She woke up inside a tent. A quick look showed that the same white changeling from the field tending to his  wounds. She tried moving, but a great pain in her stomach protested her from getting up.

"Where am I?” Luna said, “What happened?"

"You are at my camp.” said the Changeling, “We were attacked by Chrysalis’s assassins” The changeling finished wrapping up the minor wounds, and began to work on his wings.

"Why would she kill her own kind?"

"Her own kind?” said the Changeling as he turn, “She’s a monster! The black ones follow her out of blindness!"

Luna paused for a moment. "I see... Wait... why are you white?” she inquired.

“Because I am a pure-white changeling. No matter what, I will always be white.” The changeling paused. "Would you like something to eat?"

"Some food would be nice. I’m not very picky.” replied Luna, “Do you have a name?"

"My name is Ghost." said the Changeling as he left for food.

Luna, looking around again, noticed an odd looking book on the ground. On its cover were the words: Spectre's Journal. Using her magic, she pulled it close and opened to the first page.

Spectre's Journal: Entry 1

She betrayed me. She left me to die! I must have revenge. Pain is all I have left. Pain will support me better than love ever has! I have regained my strength, and so has my fellow exiles. We have found an alternative food source: PAIN. My fellow exiles will not stop until we bring Chrysalis to her knees.

As Ghost returned with a bowl of salad, Luna quickly slid the journal under the pillow. Luna began to eat the salad, as Ghost walked over to grabbed some medicine from a small box.

"This should numb the pain." He gave her what looked like a small blue pill. As if he was reading her mind he gave her a glass of water. She took the pill, it felt bitter in her mouth. After a few minutes she could stand without any pain.

Ghost finished with his wing. “Your wing should heal within a few days.” Ghost said, nodding to Luna’s left wing. Luna looked down to see her left wing was wrapped tightly in a bandage.

Ghost led Luna outside of the tent and started to show her around the camp. "Well, you should probably know that there is a war going on."

"A war?" Luna said stealing a glance at Ghost.

"Yes. The Scarred Soul clan and the 'misguided changelings. Thats why I need your help."

"The Scarred Soul clan?"

"My family. Father was the leader, but then..."

Luna could tell he didn't feel comfortable talking about his father. "You don't have to tell me."

"I will kill her for what she did to father and Snow." His voice filling with rage. "I'll rip her eyes out!"

"Ghost, please calm down." Luna said, attempting to sooth the changeling.

"I'm sorry.” Ghost instantly became calm, “It’s just everytime I think about it..."

After Ghost showed her the camp, they returned to the tent where Luna awoke. Luna was surprisingly tired, and barely could stay awake as she started to lie down. After several minutes she drifted off to sleep. It was the first time in a long while that she had allowed herself to sleep.

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Luna returned back to the castle... but things was... off. It was storming outside, most of the windows had been broken in, the floors was coated brown and soiled with mud, and everything everywhere she looked was darkness. She could hear her sister’s voice, in the distance, calling out to her, telling her to run. Luna didn't listen, instead she walked down the halls, looking for her sister. Silence accompanied her as nothing moved, as if the castle was long abandoned.

Opening the throne room’s door, she spied her sister inside a green cocoon. Sitting on the throne was Chrysalis. The walls and ceiling was lined with Changelings and cocoons. All the Changeling’s turn towards Luna in a synchronized motion. They stared at her for a moment and then, all of them dropped and flew at her, weapons bared.