Family Affairs

The orphanage was like all other areas of Cloudsdale, majestic. However, the uniform white colour made it look bland to Shade, and she yawned at its appearance.

"Doesn't your new home look marvellous?" the mare said happily, pushing Shade into the building, "Don't worry, there are many fillies and colts here that will love and appreciate you."

"Perfect. More annoyances." Shade thought darkly, wishing she could just turn back and use her changeling fangs to kill them all, spilling their blood on the floor, giving a warning that changelings are the superior race.

"Oh, hello." an old, frail pegasus greeted happily. Beside her was another mare with rather large glasses on.

"Hello. This is Cloudsdale Orphanage, right? I found this little filly during weather duty. She has no parents anymore and I can't take care of her, so can you please take her in?" the pegasus that found Shade asked, "I hope she finds a nice home where everypony loves her."

"Well, we'll certainly take her in. Zephyra, take her into one of the free rooms." the old orphanage matron commanded.

"Right away, Aerin." Zephyra, the pegasus with the glasses, replied, then turned to Shade, "Come with me, little one."

The mare sighed with relief that Shade was taken in, then went back to her weather duties. Aerin waved her off happily.

"And this... can be your room." Zephyra led Shade to a rather dark room, with all the furniture constructed from clouds.

The bed was sitting at the far side of the room, and beside it, was a closet. Inside the closet was just a few sets of clothes that have managed to make their way into the orphanage, and were for when anypony wanted to dress up.

"Now, make yourself at home. The other children will want to see you tomorrow, I know that." Zephyra talked briefly, then walked out.

Shade was relieved that she was finally able to have peace and tranquility after the events that unfolded, and sighed happily as she lay down on the soft bed. She took this opportunity to be able to turn back to normal and contact the hive, hopefully having her sisters pick up. She reverted back to her normal self, and her horn glowed a sickly green as she contacted the hive.

"Hello? Anyone there?" Shade telepathically asked,

"Shade? Is that you? It's good to hear you haven't died or worse. the wispy voice of Siren entered her mind.

She smiled as she listened to her sister's words.

"How are you Shade? Have you made it in?" Siren asked, hoping for the best.

Shade smiled as she replied, "Very well. I'm in an orphanage in Cloudsdale. Nopony expects a thing about me, they just look at me as a sweet, innocent filly! Dumb ponies!"

A telepathic laugh sounded in her mind as she cheered, "I knew it'd be easy for you to get into Equestria! Keep up the great work! But now I have to cut off. Mother is calling me over."

"Okay Siren. I'll call soon. I hope things are good on your end." Shade said as she cut off the telepathic call.

She heard hoofsteps coming up through the hallway. She changed back into the pegasus filly and fell asleep, fooling Aerin who was looking in each room at each filly, in case of something suspicious going on.

~~//~~

"Wake up, Shade." A voice cut into Shade's sleep, waking her up abruptly.

She moaned angrily, opening a rose eye to see Aerin's face staring at her.

"Why do I need to wake up now?" Shade asked angrily.

"It's midday. You need to wake up eventually." Aerin answered, "Besides, the other children are playing outside. Wouldn't you like to meet them, Shade?"

"Not really." Shade looked down and glared at the orphanage's owner.

"Horse apples Shade, you must go and meet the other orphans." Aerin pushed Shade out of bed and gave her an enraged gaze.

Shade grunted and walked outside the orphanage.

The other orphans were playing in the playground made from the fluffy white cloud mass. Zephyra watched over them happily. All different kinds of creatures were there, which caused Shade to blink twice. She was forced to approach the group of fillies and colts congregated by the swing by the supervising Zephyra, and they just stared at her with judging eyes, as if she was another piece of meat.

"Hi... I'm Shade..." Shade said, feeling as if she did not belong, as if her cover had been blown, "What.... are your names?"

A few whispers went around the crowd, then they made a pathway for a creature which was half eagle, half lion. Shade believed that it was their leader.

"My name is Aula, and I suggest if you want to fit in here, you follow my rules, new girl." Aula glared at Shade.

"Very nice to meet you, Aula." Shade said happily.

Aula continued to judge Shade deeply, looking her in the eye as if she was staring into her soul. Shade decided to back away silently, and the group mentality made its final look before going back to conversing with each other, making Shade feel abandoned, alone.

"Don't worry." Zephyra said supportively to Shade, "They're like that to every new kid. You'll fit in soon, I promise."

Shade looked down, doubting that remark.

~~//~~

Shade sat by the wall of the orphanage every time she was commanded to go outside after that event. She would normally watch everything around her, or talk to Zephyra, though conversations with the mare were extremely brief. She avoided eye contact with the group of fillies and colts, as they would normally look at her in response and then whisper things to each other. This was the first time she felt as if she wished she was not born a changeling. She found comfort in calling Siren every night, updating and hearing all of her stories on the events occurring in the hives. Not much of interest normally went on, usually conferences and assemblies. Shade told her sister particularly about the other orphans, who judged her to no end. She usually gave calming words which made her feel better about herself, and Shade felt as if she just kept trying and she would succeed in her mission. Making friends did not matter to her, the mission did.

Then came Saturday.

Saturday operated differently than every other day, and Shade wondered why. Every orphan inside was eagerly waiting outside, as if something was to happen. Even Aerin looked happier than normal. Shade was puzzled at the fact everypony in the building had been waiting outside in a big crowd, and went out to see what was the commotion. The other orphans would not allow her near, so she sat by a wall, waiting for whatever was happening, believing they were all lunatics.

Nothing happened at first, but then it struck 12. Shade finally realised that there was a mare approaching the orphanage, happily trotting and humming a tune. She was a cream colour, with hair the colour of a hot flame. Her cutie mark was of a bolt of fire. She looked at the orphans with smoky blue eyes, as if she missed them.

"Hi everypony! I came as promised." the mare spoke happily.

Shade looked at the crowd of orphans' face light up almost instantly, surrounding the young mare and cheering, "Auntie Flamestriker! Auntie Flamestriker!"

"It's nice to see you again. The orphans have been eagerly awaiting your visit." Aerin told Flamestriker happily.

"Of course we do! It's auntie Flamestriker! Can you tell us a story today?" a young colt asked the mare.

"Of course Stratos. What would you like to hear?" Flamestriker lay by the orphans, looking up to them. Then, she noticed Shade out of the corner of her eye. Shade didn't look, in fear of being judged by the other orphans, yet she was tempted to do so.

"Why are you sitting all the way over here? You can't hide in the darkness forever." Flamestriker crouched down to talk to Shade, who was now staring at the odd mare.

"I'd go, but they don't want me anywhere near them." Shade snapped, pointing a feathered wing at the other orphans.

Flamestriker gave them a scolding gaze, making them all look down and apologise.

"I haven't seen you around here before. Do you mind if I ask what's your name?" the mare gave a warm comforting smile at Shade, reminding her of how her sister Siren would smile at her when she was upset and in tears.

"My name is Shade, ma'am." Shade looked back at the mare and asked, "What's your name?"

"Name's Flamestriker, Shade. It's very nice to meet you!" Flamestriker held out her hoof to shake Shade's, which made her feel a lot more comfortable towards her, "Now come and join the group. I'll tell you all a tale, and then you can all have some cake."

Everyone cheered, including Shade. Flamestriker told a story of a little filly who grew up and became a princess because of the friendship she held in her heart, and how she spread it all over the world. Then she took a cake out of her saddlebag and divided up, with everypony, including Aerin, getting a piece. However, Shade, unfamiliar to the concept of food, refused to eat. Normally, when dinner and breakfast came, she would just sit there, and lied, saying 'she just ate'.

"It's just cake. It won't hurt you." Zephyra said to Shade, "Eat it."

Shade continued to refuse.

"She doesn't have to eat it if she doesn't want to, Zephyra. You should know that." Flamestriker, once again, supported Shade, and Flamestriker asked, "Would you like to eat it? I could give it to somepony else, if you want."

"Give it to somepony else. I don't eat that stuff." Shade said happily.

Flamestriker nodded, as Aula stole the last piece of cake. Flamestriker shrugged, then noticed the time.

"Oh, I better get going kids. Nopony would like it if I were to be late for work again, right?" she said, picking up her saddlebag.

The orphans looked down. Shade in particular found it sad that she had to leave.

"But you will come back, right?" Shade asked involuntarily, which sounded odd to her.

"Of course Shade, I come here every week to see all my favourite friends. I'll make sure to see you every week. I pinkie promise." the mare said happily, "Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye!"

As she flew off humming a melodic tune, Shade smiled, feeling that everything would be okay. That night she would definitely have an interesting chat with Siren.

However, things turned out differently to what she believed. Once she came into contact with the hive, it was not Siren talking to her, but her mother, Queen Chrysalis.

"How is the mission going, Shade?" the queen's voice buzzed, catching her off guard.

"Great, my liege. I am earning the ponies of this orphanage's trust. They're all fools. Nice, but fools." Shade smirked as she telepathically communicated that comment.

"Remember that they are the enemy." Chrysalis lectured, "Do not fall for their kindness as them being innocent. We are the superior race, Shade. Don't forget that."

"Don't worry. I know." Shade replied, then cut off communications, transforming back into her filly pegasus form. She lay on the bed, continuing to remind herself that the mission is more important than anything else.