The Blade of Aldun

by Radiant Dawn

Rating: teen
Tags: Original Character, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Romance, Twilight Sparkle, Gore, Princess Celestia, Dark, Anthro, Princess Luna, Changelings
Length: 12635

One between worlds: belonging to neither, judged by both. Forced to forge her own path, a lone changeling finds herself more alone than ever. Her entire world changes, however, when a summons comes forth from an unlikely source.

Acceptance is something she feels is forever beyond her reach. She belongs nowhere, and is friend to no one. Living by her cunning and skill alone, a changeling finds her calling in ending the lives of (often innocent) people. Her world is turned upside down when she finds herself summoned by her race's sworn enemy, and is not given the choice to decline. How will her life change? Is this the end, or just the beginning?

Rated T for intense violence, language, murder, and minor gore.

Published 2013-10-25 02:10:07 UTC
Last updated 2013-10-31 18:28:08 UTC

Prologue

Prologue

“N-no! No you can’t! C-c’mon, I have a family!” he pleaded, tears in his eyes.

*sigh* Why do they always beg?

I unsheathed the blade from my hip and shook my head at him in pity. “For fuck’s sake. Have some fucking dignity and die like a man.”

Without another word, I yanked him forward from his kneeling position and plunged the blade into his spine at the back of his neck, giving him a clean kill. Not even the Creator can say I’m not merciful, at least. I wiped the bloody blade before letting the now-limp body flop to the ground in front of me. I then pulled my facemask away before constricting my venom glands, forcing the caustic fluid to fire from my fangs and onto the body. Within moments, I could smell the stench of burning flesh as the venom did its work, dissolving the flesh, bone, and other organics so that there would be no evidence found at the scene.

I sheathed my blade and hid my face again before vanishing into the darkness of night.

A knock on the door to my room snapped me out of my doze, and I stood with my hand upon my blade as I made my way to the door.

I took a place at the door handle and placed my free hand upon it. “Who comes?”

“It’s me, Silver. Open the door.” answered a familiar gruff voice.

I sheathed my blade and stepped aside, pulling open the door as I did so and allowing the tall, fur-wearing cryos inside. I shut the door behind him and sat down lazily on the worn bed. “It is finished.”

He nodded, his bright blue eyes focusing on me. “Indeed. That merchant will trouble me no more, and for that, I thank you.”

I chuckled and motioned my fingers smugly, my claws extending threateningly. “I don’t do this for thanks Kris, I do it for money. Cough it up.”

He rolled his eyes before reaching into his satchel and tossing a tied pouch to me. “It’s all there, but I know you’ll count it anyway just to be sure.” As I began doing just what he predicted, he sighed. “I would have thought that after all our time working together, you would have come to trust me by now.”

I continued counting, but replied, “If life has taught me anything, it’s that an ally is simply a useful asset that hasn’t tried to betray me yet. No offense meant to you at all, I just don’t trust anyone. You can thank your kind for that.”

Suddenly, Kris looked a bit ashamed. “Silver, I’m sorry. I forgot-”

I waved a hand dismissively at him as I tied up the pouch of gold pieces and set it aside. “Relax, Kris. Though it’s affected who I am, I don’t hold it personally against you. I just can’t afford to make friends in my profession, because the next day, I might be ordered to eliminate them.” I then looked up to the hunter and grinned. “For your own good, don’t make a habit of angering people. One of them might seek out the services of a silencer, and with your luck, it’ll end up being me. For both our sakes, stay as neutral as you can in your dealings. You’re far more useful to me alive than dead.” I chuckled darkly. “My kind are the Cursed, or so we are called. I will be the first to tell you that simply because we are different does not mean we are less than any of you.” I unsheathed my trusty blade and smiled at it wickedly. “Those that ever feel the need to bring up my heritage in a negative way will taste my blade. We’ll see who’s on the short end of the stick then.”

Kris eyed me warily as he stood stock-still beside the door. “You’re frightening, you know that?”

I shrugged, sheathing my blade again. “Eh, I’m alright with that. It makes people leave me alone in public. The cloak and mask help as well.”

For a long few moments, the room was silent. Finally, Kris managed to ask, “Don’t you get lonely?”

I smirked and pointed to him. “Ally, not friend. And that’s how it needs to stay.”

He smiled sheepishly and nodded. “Right. Sorry. Anyway, great work. I’ll seek you out again should I need your services.”

I nodded with my own smile. “You know where to find me.”

He eyed me curiously for a moment before leaving my room, once again leaving me alone. I sighed before reaching into myself, feeling the wellspring of magic within. I let the power flow up through my core and over my skin, and opened my eyes to watch as the scaled skin seemed to boil away to leave behind a tough, black carapace. The masculine features melted away as well, leaving feminine curves and opaque silver eyes ‒ my namesake that I kept in any form. People didn’t notice multiple people having the same-colored eyes after all, since there were simply too many people around for there not to be crossovers.

I never kept my true form for long, as it would instantly identify me for what I was. I wished I was one of the “Cursed” sometimes...things would be easier then. Instead, I was something that society would never accept, simply because of what one species of my kind did.

Changeling...monster.

People were so ignorant when it came to my kind. Ever since that blasted Queen Chrysalis attacked the royal family, our kind were all labeled as the enemy. This in turn caused a global breakdown of relations between the changeling tribes, which caused half-bloods like me to be swept under the rug.

Yes indeed. Though my kind weren’t known as “the Cursed”, I was in my own way, cursed: half-changeling, half-pony. I suppose it wasn’t necessarily a bad thing if you looked at it objectively. I could fly, use magic, and change my form. Also, I wasn’t forced to live as a parasite: I could process normal food ‒ whether that be meat or veg. The problem came when the warring changeling tribes tried to decide how to deal with any like me. Their solution was to excommunicate us completely, severing our mental connection with the hive and banishing us.

We were seen as a blemish upon both societies, and neither would ever accept us. In a world forever at war with itself, I was forced to find my own way, or die. Needless to say, assassinations came easy to me. I could never be connected with a murder, as I could even change my own magical signature so that I couldn’t be tracked. That, and being labeled as a sociopath helps. It makes things that much easier when you just don’t care when you watch someone die in front of your eyes. For a person like me, you have to learn to fake emotions very quickly in life, or else stick out like a sore thumb no matter where you go. After all, normal people can’t watch an entire schoolhouse full of children burn to the ground without showing fear or panic.

What? I didn’t do it…

Long story short, I found my place in the world doing what most people would consider “dirty work”. I never understood that phrase, as in a lot of ways being an assassin was much cleaner than being anything else. Everything tended to be cut-and-dry, and there were little to no gray areas as far as contracts were concerned. There were no friends to muddle issues, and no definitive enemies or allies. Anyone and everyone was a potential target, just waiting to have a contract put out on them.

Truthfully though, the term “sociopath” wasn’t the best fit for me. I could feel sad, lonely, angry, happy, and even horny (though the latter was something I felt very rarely). The truth of the matter was that as a changeling, one is taught very early to be able to separate oneself from a target, seeing them as not even a person. They’re just an objective to be executed, nothing more. While I never knew my father (who was the pony-side of my bloodline), my mother taught me all I would need to know to survive, including how to live as a changeling. As a way of coping, a changeling learns early on to become what form they change into, basically separating our core selves off into a corner of our minds. My persona of “Silver”, for example, was a sociopath, which was why I often used him for my contracts when needed, unless the heat on him was so high that I had to become another in order to let things simmer down to a safe level. Honestly, I don’t know how I could actually become another person like that ‒ not just mimicking, but actual full-transformation. I just know that it works, and it keeps me sane. At the end of the day, when I change back into Riverstar (my “true” form), I can leave behind whatever I had done and just be me again.

Still, when the day became calm and I had nothing to occupy me, I found myself sometimes having trouble not thinking of Riverstar in the third-person. I sometimes had to verbally remind myself that Riverstar was who I truly was, not the others. Riverstar...I felt lonely at the end of the day. My mother had died in the panicked months that followed the attack on Canterlot, and now I had no one. Sometimes I wish I could be friends with one of my clients, just so I would have someone to be there for me. But no...that would be too dangerous for both of us. Executing an order in a contract was one thing, but I wasn’t going to let my carelessness be the cause of death for an innocent soul.

It was nights like this that I found myself staring up at the moon, wondering if this kind of loneliness was how Princess Luna felt during her time there.

My extended lifespan didn’t help things either.

I had outlived my mother, everyone I’d ever grown up with, and even the Elements of Harmony. When they all passed on...I just kept living.

As the moon reached its apex in the sky, my thoughts were interrupted by a forceful knock at the door. Reflexively, I changed my form into that of an average cryos woman ‒ magical people of the north, made of stone and ice.

I stood from my bed and walked to the door, taking care to do so carefully. “Yes?”

“Equestrian Royal Guard, ma’am. Open up.” was my stern answer.

Equestrian Royal Guards? What the hell were they doing here?

I cleared my throat and pulled the door open, and was greeted by the sight of six armed guards in full armor, their uniform white fur and cyan eyes every bit intimidating as they were beautiful. “Y-yes? How may I help you gentlecolts today?”

“We’re looking for Riverstar.” the leader spoke again.

My breath caught in my throat at the mention of my true name. How could they know that name? I never used my real name with anyone! This...this wasn’t possible. Still, I was unsure what they could want, so I decided to play it safe.

I cautiously raised my eyebrow and said, “Riverstar? I’m sorry sir, but my name is Chandra of the Cragmaker clan.”

The guard’s stoic glare dissolved into a smirk as he said, “Ah, it is so good to finally meet you, Riverstar. The princess told us you were crafty.”

I felt my right hand begin trembling as I fought to keep myself from cowering in fear. Somehow, these guards knew who and what I was, but I would be damned if I was going down without a fight.

Before I could rush to grab my blade though, I was forcibly restrained and thrown to the bed by two of the guards as they grabbed my gear and threw it to the corner of the room. As I tried to draw my hidden blade from my boot, I was stopped by the leader guard (for sanity’s sake and until further notice, he is now guard number one) grabbing my wrist, again throwing me to the bed. He then leaned over me, pinning my arms and legs flat as he turned to the other guards.

“Leave us, colts. I want to speak to her alone.” he commanded.

Without a word of argument, the other guards left us alone in the room, shutting the door behind them.

Guard number one then sighed as he looked down at me. “Now, can I trust you to not cut or stab me if I let you go? Or do I have to tie you up?”

I gulped as I tried to keep from panting, and nodded gently. “So long as you can promise me the same.”

He nodded as well before releasing me and standing. “It was never my intention to do so in the first place. You were the one that suspected the worst.”

I sighed and pushed myself up to a sitting position, leaning against the wall the cot was pushed up against. “Well can you blame me? A bunch of armored guards show up and say they are looking for me. What the hell do you think I’m going to assume?”

He shrugged, a sly grin coming to his face. “I tried to tell the princess that calling a full squad to find you would be a bad idea, but she said I should bring them just in case. Can’t underestimate the Dragon Wastes’ best assassin, now can we?”

I nodded slowly before asking, “So if you’re not here to hurt or kill me, what are you here to do? And how does your princess know who I really am?”

“I can’t really answer for the latter,” he stated, looking a bit apologetic, “but as far as what we’re doing here, we’ve been sent to retrieve you and bring you to the palace. I wasn’t told the specifics, only that you were to be treated as an honored guest of the crown and that any who mistreat or assault you would be severely punished.”

For a few moments, I couldn’t do anything but sit there with my mouth hanging open. When I finally regained my composure (relative term, I might add), I asked, “Can you repeat that? Because it sounded like you just said you were ordered by a princess of Equestria to treat a stars-damned changeling like it was an honored guest.”

“Of the crown.” he corrected. He then unstrapped something from his thigh and threw it to me, which when I caught I noticed was a flask. I looked at him quizzically and he chuckled. “It’s not poison, it’s just whiskey. I figured a bit of fire in your gut will calm you down so you don’t freak out.”

I turned my eyes to the flask and warily unscrewed the cap before taking a whiff. Just like he’d said, it was whiskey. With that being the case, I downed it as if it were...well, whiskey. No witty comparison here. Nope.

The warmth flowed down my throat and into my stomach, instantly putting me at ease and making it easier to think without my nerves getting to me. I will be the first to admit that being a professional killer doesn’t make one immune to fear, no matter how much people think otherwise.

With a settled mind, I looked to the guard and asked, “So do you have any idea why the princesses wish to see me? Am I being brought to trial or something?”

He chuckled and shook his head. “Not at all. As I said, I wasn’t told specifics, but what I was informed of was that it is not to bring you to justice in any way. Princess Luna herself asked me to tell you directly that it is a neutral visit for you, and after the three of you speak, you are free to leave if you wish.”

I raised my eyebrow skeptically before shrugging and tossing the flask back to him. “I suppose if I was meant to be killed, you’d have done so by now. So what are we waiting for? Let’s get this over with.”

“Straight to the point.” he mused aloud. “I like that.” He then knocked on the door and announced, “Alright colts, we’re set. Ready the carriage and prepare for departure, heavy one target.” The guard turned back to me and extended his hand with a smile. “Your carriage awaits, ma’am.”

By the stars, what have I gotten myself into?

Chapter 1: A New Day, a New Beginning?

Chapter 1: A New Day, A New Beginning?

The journey was quiet, which was a problem for me because I had a fully-armed royal guard captain staring at me the whole time. Not that I wasn’t used to be stared at, but it was an entirely different proposition when the person doing the staring knew exactly who and what I was. Truthfully, I would have felt less exposed had they all caught me naked.

“So, uh…” I mumbled, trying to start up some sort of conversation to break the silence. “Nice air we’re having, yeah?” My response was a blank stare, and I slumped a little in the cushy seat. “Wow, tough crowd.” I busied myself with staring right back at the guard and said, “I’m going to get you to crack at least a smile before we land. Even if I have to tickle you.”

As I experimentally flexed my open fingers towards him, the guard finally moved, drawing a small magic-infused blade from its sheath. Arcs of magical energy danced around the blade, and I thought better of messing with the guard. After all, I figured I could only mess with this guard for so long before he conveniently “forgot” about their order to leave me unharmed.

So instead I slumped back against the seat again and closed my eyes, letting my mind wander as we rode the air currents on the strange motorized carriage. I had a feeling it had more of a roll-off-your-tongue name than that, but until further notice, that’s what I was going to call it.

As I sat and tried to relax, I began humming to myself. It was a sort of self-soothing habit I had learned shortly after my mother’s...passing. I always hummed the same tune, which was a lullaby my mother used to sing me to sleep with. After so much time that had passed, I couldn’t remember the words, but I would never forget the sound of mother’s voice. It was the last thing I ever heard from my mother’s lips, and it would forever be the first thing I thought of when I remembered her. Where most parents might leave behind a family heirloom or a will, I had a song and a simple few words.

“Never forget where you came from.”

My heritage...my virtues. They were things I never allowed myself to forget, no matter how many personas I used. Those two things were often what kept me from losing myself within a disguise. It was a very real danger for someone like me, because whereas full-blooded changelings had the ability to forever stay in touch with who they were, I became a disguise when I fully committed. This meant that the life I created could with time become my reality, and I would forget who I really was. My mother’s words were always kept at the forefront of my mind, along with the song. They were the only things that allowed me to keep a firm grasp on reality.

“How are you doing that?” asked the pony across from me, bringing me back to the present.

I opened my eyes and locked my eyes with his. “How am I doing what?”

“That humming thing.” he replied with a nondescript hand gesture. “It sounds like there’s a whole group of people humming with you.”

I chuckled and shrugged, a part of me glad that I finally had something he would talk to me about. “It’s a changeling thing. I mean technically I’m only half, but that’s one of the things that carries over. My mother told me that it’s what allows us to change our voice to whatever we need it to be. I’ve found that it has other uses, however. Like singing the parts of an entire choir by myself.” I then proceeded to demonstrate with seven-part harmony, much to the surprise of the guard.

His eyes were wide with disbelief, but a small smile spread across his face as well. “Well now, I was not expecting that. You have quite the singing voice, ma’am.”

I offered him a grateful smile and nodded. “Thank you, sir. If I’d have known all it would take is a pretty voice to get your attention, I would have sang you a song.”

His tentative smile broke into a full grin as he responded. “My mother was part of the Royal Orchestra. I grew up around music. It’s one of the things I love most about this world.”

I nodded a few times before shifting my weight to lay down on the bench-like seat. “So, what’s your name?”

“Valiant Justice.” he answered with a smile, the pride practically dripping from his words.

“Wow,” I began with a nod, “that’s a strong name.”

He nodded. “Thanks. Riverstar sounds pretty interesting too. Where did you come across a name like that?”

I shrugged. “I’m not really sure, actually. My mother told me that it’s an ancient name of power or something. Full-blooded changelings don’t get a name like mine.”

The guard looked me over for a moment, and a part of me wondered if he was checking me out. True that I wasn’t vain, but a girl likes to hear someone call her pretty every once in awhile; “every once in awhile” being next to never, because this group of guards were the first ones to see my true form in over three centuries.

“You know,” he began, seeming to search for the rest of his sentence, “I figured that a changeling would be a little more…” He trailed off, unable to complete his thought.

“Ugly?” I ventured with a smile. I shrugged at his apologetic expression. “It’s okay. I’ve heard it all, having stuck around as long as I have. To answer your question, yes, changelings tend to look a bit more ‘rough’ than me, with the holes covering their body and hair.” I gestured to my hole-less arms and legs. “I guess it’s part of what I got from my father’s side. I still have fangs though, and as you can see, I have monochrome eyes.” I then flashed a sultry smirk his way as I slowly ran my fingertips down my stomach. “There’s no holes anywhere except where there’s supposed to be.”

He averted his eyes and coughed nervously, and I couldn’t help but silently grin in triumph.

The door that led to the “cockpit” (what a dirty name for a room full of men) opened to reveal Guard Number One. “We’ve arrived. Miss Riverstar, I recommend you disguise yourself as a pony. It’ll make a bit of a ruckus if a changeling shows up in the middle of Canterlot.”

I nodded before letting the magic flow over my carapace. Brown skin grew in over my chitin, followed by brown fur. My hair and tail seemed to fade from their normal turquoise to blonde, followed by my eyes changing to that of a pony’s ‒ save for the color of the iris, which stayed the same. As the change slowed down, masculine muscle definition took over female curvature, and my shoulders broadened as my height increased to that of the average pony stallion.

“Wow.” the two guards commented simultaneously.

I chuckled in a deep male voice and nodded. “I expected that reaction. So, are we ready to disembark?”

Both guards nodded mutely before a slight jolt shook the carriage. After a few moments of silence, the other four guards left the cockpit and joined us, one of them opening the door and gesturing for us all to leave the interior. I cautiously followed the first few stallions as they left, ducking my head as I passed through the doorway.

What greeted me was a long stretch of road that ran parallel to another, bordered by mountains on either side. A palace could be seen ahead of us, and a small building to our left released a few dozen ponies that seemed to be gray-uniformed officials of some sort, but not soldiers.

One of them, wearing a black beret on his head, strode forth to meet the guards as we approached. “Welcome back, colts. We’ll take the plane to the hangar and perform the maintenance she needs. The princesses will be expecting you all in the Grand Hall.” The uniformed pony glanced at me curiously, but quickly looked away and walked over to the carriage.

“What’s a plane?” I asked as we began making our way toward a strange contraption that looked like an enclosed chariot with four wheels.

The guard I had spoken to within the flying carriage pointed to the contraption we had flown in. “That’s a plane. It’s a sort of flying carriage that uses magical fuel and propellers instead of ponies to fly. It’s much more efficient, and is fully protected from the effects of lightning and rain. With it, we can carry much more with us than we used to be able to.” He then pointed to the strange contraption we were approaching. “And that’s an automobile, more commonly known as a ‘car’. They’re a rather new invention that does the same thing on the ground that a plane does in the air. They can run for a lot longer and move a lot faster than a pony could on hoof.”

I nodded, taking this new information in. “Amazing. I’ve never seen anything like them before.”

He chuckled as he pulled open one of the doors to the “car” for me to enter. “That’s because you can only find them within the borders of Equestria. We aren’t allied with the griffons right now, and the dragons have no use for them. So currently, only Equestria has them.” He then chuckled again. “Although if these surprise you, I shudder to think of how you’ll react to some of the other things we have around here.”

I raised an eyebrow at his comment, but offered no reply as I sat within the car and waited for it to move. I was curious as to just how fast it could go, seeing as how it seemed we were only creeping forward at first, but then my eyes widened as we began to accelerate more and more until we were traveling at a speed that made flying by wing look slow.

Just from having judged where we started from on what I learned was called a “runway”, I could tell we had traveled at least ten miles in a little over five minutes. It was truly awe-inspiring how powerful this new pony machinery was.

I didn’t have much time to admire the power of the automobiles, as before long we had all arrived at a tunnel within the base of the mountain that housed the palace. Within less than a minute, we stopped within it, and I had to blink a few times to get my eyes to adjust to the dim light within the tunnel.

“Alright, here we are.” the leader guard (who I’d overheard was known as Cutter) announced. The two guards in the front seats exited the vehicle before opening the door for me, and I stepped out into a round stone room with a stairwell leading up. I followed the procession of guards silently up the steps before a door was opened by the pony in front, flooding the area with bright light.

Again, I was forced to blink my eyes a few times to adjust to the new light situation, and after I did, I recognized where I was.

Simply from the stories I’d heard as a child, I knew this was the fabled Palace of the Celestials ‒ the seat of royalty for Canterlot, and the head of government for all of Equestria. The stories I’d heard told of tall, spear-like towers of gold and ivory, but mere stories did not do it justice.

What I beheld was nothing like I could have imagined. The tall spires and sheer cliffs of stone that made up the castle were such a radiant white, it was as if it were built from pearl. And the caps of gold were bathed within the sun, so that it seemed as if drops of sunlight itself chose to be housed within the walls of the palace. Strange grooves ran upon every wall and structure within the castle walls, and these grooves pulsed with light softly in such a way that it reminded me of a beating heart.

“It’s really something, isn’t it?” the captain, Cutter, mused.

I nodded, my jaw refusing to close from the sheer amount of awe I was feeling. “It’s beautiful. Never in all my years did I believe I would ever see something like this.”

We stopped in front of an ornate set of doors before the guards opened them, leading us to a long room with white marble floors and a long, red rug that led to a series of stairs. The stairs themselves led to three thrones, and I at once gasped in surprise at where we were.

All along the walkway were posted sets of guards, each holding strange black tubes in their hands that they gripped as one would a crossbow. They wore armor of some sort, but it looked nothing like the armor the guards that retrieved me wore. It looked more suited for combat than the heavy armor the retrieval unit wore.

I was too much in awe of my surroundings to notice the guards having stopped, and I bumped into the two in front of me, offering a sheepish smile when they turned to glare silently at me.

I was unsure what we were waiting for, but then a moment later came three ponies that I could recognize simply because they couldn’t be anyone else.

The first to the left had to be Princess Twilight Sparkle. She was the youngest looking of the three, and her lavender coat was recognizable even by me. Stories of her were heard far and wide, and though she was known to be rather bookish for a pony, she was heralded as the great hero of the “Age of the Elements”. Her sharp amethyst eyes were studying me intensely as she approached her throne, and her armor-like clothing (akin to the guards that watched the throne room) made her rather intimidating.

In the center could be none other than Princess Celestia. Her pristine white coat and flowing hair of many colors was unmistakable, as was her ever-loving gaze and gentle smile. She was the physical expression of the sun itself: warm and inviting, while also being powerful beyond measure. Her behavior and formal dress robes spoke not only of confidence in her own abilities, but in those of the guards that watched over her and the other royals.

Lastly was easily the most recognizable of the three, and also the most intimidating. Princess Luna was known far and wide for her efforts on the battlefield as much as she was for the love she held for her subjects. Stories...nay, legends of her had arisen far and wide across the world. Like how she arrived as relief for a besieged division she led during the Battle of Tartarus’ Maw, ordering them to flee while she charged the approaching horde of changelings alone with naught but two swords and an axe. The story told of how she slaughtered over three-thousand changeling soldiers on her own, killing the last few hundred with her bare hands.

Of course that was only a legend...right?

As the three princesses took their seats, all was silent for a few tense moments. Then, Princess Celestia waved a hand, causing the six guards that had accompanied me to disperse, quickly leaving the throne room, and leaving me alone with three princesses and a room full of armed-to-the-teeth guards.

“Welcome to Canterlot.” Princess Celestia spoke with a smile, the warmth of the greeting confusing me. She then gestured to me and said, “There is no need for a disguise before us, Riverstar. You may be yourself in our presence.”

I felt rather uncomfortable with the request, but realized that it might not be smart to deny an alicorn such a request. So, with a sigh of resignation, I allowed my disguise to fall away to reveal my true form to the princesses.

“Hmm.” Princess Twilight Sparkle hummed to herself, then pointed to me. “You don’t look like a normal changeling. I take it you are a half-blood, yes?”

I nodded, not trusting my voice to answer for the moment.

Princess Luna eyed me curiously for a few moments before smiling with a subtle gleam in her eyes. “Oh yes, she’ll do nicely.”

Finally finding my voice, I asked, “Umm, not to sound ungrateful, but why exactly am I here? I think we can all agree that it’s rather strange for the three princesses of Equestria to send a group of guards to find a changeling if they aren’t going to kill or imprison it.”

The air of gentle hospitality left the room as if it had been stolen away by the wind, and a very serious atmosphere replaced it. Princess Celestia leaned forward, placing her elbows on her knees. “I do not know what you have heard or been told, but Equestria does not attack those that do us no harm. Those that have done us wrong have been brought to justice, and we will not condemn an entire race for something a small group of them has done. To do so is unfair and cruel, and I will not allow it.” She then shook her head. “No, you have been brought here because we think we can help each other. You see, we have tracked you for years now, and have learned everything about you that we could, which was how we advised the guards on how to find you. Unfortunately, you can be rather predictable sometimes.”

I blushed in embarrassment at the statement, but kept silent as Princess Luna continued. “You see, we find that many times, greater conflicts can be avoided by a surgical strike by special individuals that act alone. These individuals are trained in the art of subtlety, assassination, and sabotage to disable or destroy their targets. The right target executed can prevent ten years of open war, and this in turn would promote a greater lasting peace than anything I or the general military could do alone, much as I am loathe to admit it. Fear of the rulers does not promote true peace, after all.”

“So instead you would have them fear the shadows.” I answered, getting a nod as my answer. “Elegant.”

Princess Twilight Sparkle nodded. “So you see why we asked for you now.”

I nodded. “I think I get the gist of it. You want to use my skills for this ‘subtlety’ tact you want enact.”

Princess Celestia smiled at me. “Indeed. I am pleased you understand. It makes everything that much easier.”

I squinted my eyes for a moment before asking, “Okay, but what’s in it for me? Am I being blackmailed or something?”

Princess Luna barked a laugh while the other two giggled quietly, but the lunar princess was the only one to answer after composure was restored. “Not at all. We in Equestria rule with love, not pain or hate. No dear Riverstar, we offer you a unique offer.” She then leaned back in her chair and smiled gently. “A home of your own.”

I raised my brow in confusion. “Why would I want that? For someone to know where to find a changeling whenever they’re feeling like venting their hate on one? Sorry, but that doesn’t sound like much of a deal to me.”

Princess Celestia shook her head with that same glowing smile. “No my dear, we mean within the palace. You would be treated as a trusted royal officer, free to go where you please throughout the palace. No pony would bother you, and no guards would harass you. Of this I can promise you. You will have a home where you need not be another; a home for Riverstar.”

The implications of what I was being offered suddenly seemed extremely attractive, and I had to fight to keep from blurting out an affirmative. However, if my life had taught me anything, it was to weigh all options carefully before making a decision, if time permits.

“May I have some time to consider the offer?” I asked respectfully.

Princess Celestia nodded with a smile. “Of course.” She then motioned to Princess Twilight Sparkle. “Twilight will escort you to a guest room. Dinner is served in the banquet hall at six, and you are welcome to join us. Or, if you are more comfortable dining alone, we can arrange to have a meal brought to your quarters.”

I thought on the subject for a few moments before smiling gratefully. “I mean no offense, but for the time being, I would prefer to eat in privacy.”

“I understand.” Princess Twilight Sparkle answered with a soft smile as she stood. “Come, I’ll take you to your quarters.”

I offered a polite nod to the other two princesses as we left, and followed the younger alicorn out of the throne room.

I felt a bit nervous as I followed the princess through the long hallways of the castle. I had attempted to change my form as we left the throne room, but Princess Twilight Sparkle had assured me there was no need. I hadn’t believed her, but every guard and servant we passed didn’t even look twice at me, as if changelings were a common occurrence in Equestria. The environment and behavior was so surreal to me, it just made me all the more uneasy. I half-expected to wake up in a dungeon at any moment, strapped to a torture table with various spells being cast on me.

“Are you alright over there?” the princess’ voice asked with concern.

I snapped my head to look at her and coughed nervously. “Uh, y-yeah. I’m great.” I motioned to the great vaulted halls and flowing tapestries that covered the walls. “It’s just that I never expected to be here without chains binding me, you know? It’s...it’s unreal.”

The princess giggled softly before sighing almost dreamily. “One never knows where life will lead us. Sometimes we have to break away from the path we were originally set on, and forge our own path.”

“Forge my own path.” I thought to myself, amused at just how often I had thought that to myself.

“Well,” Princess Twilight Sparkle announced with a smile, “here we are. It’s fully-furnished and there are towels in the washroom, as well as a magical washer that will clean your clothing. You seem like a smart girl, I’m sure you’ll figure it out.”

I raised my brow at her referring to me as a “girl”, but let the thought drift away unheeded. Truthfully, a good bath and a chance to wash my clothing would be nice, so I nodded in thanks to her. “Thank you, princess. I truly appreciate it.”

She nodded and smiled. “I will have a servant drop by your room with dinner options shortly after five. Should you need to speak with any of us, simply ask a guard to escort you.”

I offered a polite nod and smile before pushing open the door and entering the room, closing the door behind me as the princess walked away. I took in the sights of the guest room, marvelling at the complexity of it. So much of the devices within it I couldn’t fathom the uses of, but in the corner I noticed a strange red box-like contraption with a lid on top. Upon opening it, I saw a strange shining steel well within it, with tiny holes perforating its surface. Just underneath the lid was a set of instructions, and upon reading them, I found this to be the “magical washer” the princess had told me about.

Deciding to test the device out, I fished a rather soiled shirt out of my pack and placed it within the machine, following the instructions before closing the lid and pressing a strange knob upon the top. At my touch, the device hummed to life, and I watched as a bright light grew from within the washer.

Mere seconds later, the washer made a bell-like sound and stopped humming, leaving my shirt to fall to the bottom of the washer. I opened the lid and fished it out, only to find that it was as clean as the day it was made. With my fears assuaged, I removed the few valuables within before upending my pack into the washer, and then thought for a moment before tossing the pack in as well. I then quickly stripped myself of all clothing and crammed it in as well before pressing the button on the washer. Confident that the washer would do its job, I turned toward a white-tiled room that could only be a washroom, sighing in delight at the chance to bathe in comfort and safety after nearly a year.

Perhaps I should seriously consider the princesses’ offer.

Chapter 2: No Promises

Chapter 2: No Promises

I have come to find that the average first-world person takes quite a few things for granted that most of the rest of the world doesn’t even have. Things like having readily-available food and shelter are just two of the things that ponies, for example, took for granted. Sure, there were other things, but at the moment the only thing I could think was:

‘By the stars above, hot running water could end wars!’

Besides being one of the rare times that I had soaps available to me (there’s actually a specific soap just for hair!), I had never had access to hot running water before. Usually, water would have to be boiled in a large kettle if anyone wanted a hot bath, which meant that more often than not, bathing was done with cold or lukewarm water. Cleaning solvents were usually little more than diluted lye with some sweet-smelling herbs thrown in to make it smell somewhat nice. It should be mentioned that even those items were hard to come by. So, to be freely offered a place to wash with hot water and soap was like a wonderful gift given to me by the most amazing person I had ever known. And no, I am not exaggerating. One doesn’t know how wonderful such things are until one can’t have them.

And the scents, by the stars, the scents. One of the soaps (which became my favorite, though I had to restrain myself from attempting to eat it) smelled of honey, while my chosen head-soap (“shampoo”, the bottle read) smelled like “mango”, whatever that is. All I know is that the scents themselves were intoxicating, and allowed me to relax in a way I never had before.

I pried my eyes open with a slight chill overcoming me, and I realized that in the wonderful hot bath I had run for myself, I had become too relaxed and fell asleep. I stretched my arms and legs, feeling my hooves connect with the end of the oversized bath, and then pushed myself up out of the cooled water. I reached a hand into the cloudy water and felt around for the chain that connected to the plug, and pulled it when I found it to let the water drain. After doing so, I stepped out of the basin and stood in front of the long counter that was bordered by a mirror on the wall above it.

I took in my clean form, pleased at how my chitin shone like polished obsidian. It had been longer than I cared to remember since I had seen myself so clean, and for the first time in nearly a decade my hair looked clean enough to rub against my face. In fact, I did just that.

After spending a moment rubbing my face against my own hair (and getting a sort of silly pleasure in watching my reflection do it), I quickly dried myself before making my way back to the bedroom and flopping down onto the bed with a happy sigh. I turned my head at the washing device in the corner, silently contemplating whether it would be worth fetching my clothes.

I snarled at the device. “Ugh, too far. Forget clothes for now.”

True that I could just use magic to get them out and over to me, but I honestly didn’t mind the fact that I could just lay around and not have to wear anything. Maybe it was just a changeling thing or maybe it was just me, but clothes always seemed like a really uncomfortable disguise to me. If it weren’t for the fact that it was illegal to be in the nude (not to mention that I often needed to conceal my identity), I wouldn’t even wear clothes. Dragons had it good in that department, and didn’t realize just how uncomfortable clothing could be. Odd that I envied dragons for their ability to be naked and it not cause a riot. Hmm…

My mental debate on the pros and cons of nakedness was interrupted by a firm knock at the door, which was followed by it opening and a white muzzle peeking in. “Miss Riverstar? I was sent by her royal highness Princess Twilight Sparkle to retrieve your dinner request.”

I grunted and rolled to my stomach, pulling part of the blanket with me to cover myself. “Come in.”

The young mare entered my room, and instantly began blushing when she saw the state of me. “O-oh dear. I could have waited outside until you were decent. I’ll just-”

I shook my head with a chuckle. “You ponies are a shy lot. How you people even manage to have sex with each other is a mystery to me.” I then propped my chin on my folded hands and grinned toothily at the servant. “I promise, it’s fine. Changelings don’t have mammary glands like ponies, so you’re not going to see anything anyway.” The blush on the pony’s cheeks didn’t abate, but she nodded and closed the door behind her before approaching. I smiled gently at her and commented, “You’re cute. What’s your name?”

The blush on her face increased a bit and she refused to meet my eyes as she meekly answered, “Um, Shining Justice.”

I raised my brow a bit. “Like Valiant Justice?”

She smiled gently and nodded. “Yes. He’s my older brother.”

I grinned as well as I replied, “He was one of the guards that brought me here. Nice guy. Didn’t speak a word to me until I started humming to myself though. It seems he’s a sucker for a pretty singing voice.”

The young Shining Justice giggled softly as she nodded. “I swear that when he marries, it’ll be to a famous singer. Sing him a pretty tune, and he’d be putty in any mare’s hooves.”

I shrugged with a sigh and a smile. “Well it’s good I’m not interested. I shudder to think what a pony’s parents would think of him or her bringing home a changeling.” I chuckled with her before pointing to the folded paper she held in her right hand. “So, is that a menu?”

Seemingly remembering why she had come in the first place, Shining Justice gasped and nodded with a sheepish smile as she handed it to me. “Oh yes, sorry.”

I waved her apology off with a grin before looking over the options given to me. The fare was a few tiers beyond anything I’d ever been offered before (let alone for free), so I took my time to look over the menu before handing it back to the servant. “I’ll have the seared faeriecap sandwich please, and a glass of water.”

Shining Justice eyed me curiously for a moment as she took the menu. “That’s all? Aren’t you hungry?”

I frowned as I asked, “What do you mean?”

She walked over to me and gestured to the first four items on the menu, which I had thought were separate items. “That’s a full meal there. You get all of it.”

My jaw dropped open as I looked over the options: a seared mushroom sandwich, a baked potato with full trimmings, steamed carrots in butter sauce, and a slice of apple pie for dessert. Along with all that was included my choice of a beverage, whether that be simple water or even wine.

I nearly fainted from the lavishness of it all.

“Is that good enough for you, or did you want something different?” Shining Justice asked nervously.

“NO!” I blurted, or nearly shouted. I then composed myself, realizing I’d likely scared the poor pony. “Um, no thank you. That’s all perfect. I’ll just have some mead, if you have any.”

She nodded with a gentle smile before backing away toward the door. “I’ll give the palace chefs your order and have it delivered when it is finished being prepared. Is there anything else you need?”

I cleared my throat and shook my head. “N-no thanks. I think that’s all I can handle right now. Thanks so much.”

The pony looked at me strangely, but said nothing as she left, once again leaving me alone in the lavish room that was provided. I flung the cover off of myself again to allow some adequate airflow to cool myself as I flopped onto my back and crossed my legs with a sigh. I once again stretched out on the silky-soft blanket and released a relaxed sigh.

“Alright,” I said aloud to myself, “no more messing about. So, the princesses want me to work for them…”

I began to seriously think about the princesses’ proposition. Immediately, I thought of a few downsides.

First off, I would answer directly to them. I had never been much of a fan of the nobility, as throughout my life my experiences with the higher castes tended to be rather tenuous at best. Curiously enough, nobles were the ones who most often sought my services, but they also had a tendency to screw me over on payment as well. That alone made me a little reluctant to be in the employ of the three Equestrian princesses.

Second, I wouldn’t be able to just disappear. Though I’d never been under direct employment from a guild or singular person, I knew what it was like. It meant that if I wanted to just leave at some point to have some time for myself, I might not have that option. The princesses would basically own me, and I might be little more than a dog that was occasionally let off of its leash.

The last great negative that I could think of was the fact that I didn’t have any dirt on the three princesses. Usually, I wouldn’t do a job for someone that I didn’t have leverage with. It assured that they wouldn’t rat me out, as I could hurt them just as bad as they could hurt me. There was no such leverage with the princesses, which meant that if I did something they didn’t like, they could basically arrest me and imprison me for my crimes, and there wasn’t likely to be anything I could do in response.

There were, however, positives to such an arrangement as well.

Steady income and jobs, for one. Sometimes in my career, I had been forced to sleep outside, or even go for a week or more without eating. The clothing I had within my pack was literally all I had. With employment direct from the princesses of Equestria, not only could I afford a more stable lifestyle, but stars-willing, I would never go hungry again.

Also, even with all of my misgivings about royalty, I just couldn’t see the princesses being the same way as normal nobility. If anything, they seemed to be the pinnacle of what nobility should be. They were where they were not because they had stepped on or cheated people to get there, but because they deserved it. An entire nation of people doesn’t love someone for no reason, after all. The possibility existed that I was wrong and they were completely different behind closed doors, but I had to follow my instincts on this one. My instincts told me that it just wasn’t possible for them to be so mind-breakingly different in private that I wouldn’t be able to work for them with peace of mind.

Most importantly of all though, being employed directly by the royalty of Equestria meant that I would be protected. Protection for an assassin was always a fickle thing, and more often than not, we were on our own. Taking on a more permanent employer meant that we had more stable protection, and generally speaking, the more powerful the employer, the more protection offered to us. So, being in the direct employ of royalty would be as safe a place as I could imagine.

Well...maybe there was another thing I could think of as well, unlikely as it was. With a more stable place to live and more regular people in my life, I had the chance to form something I’d never had before: friends and a family. The latter was something even more unlikely as the first, but if I took the princesses’ offer, there would be the possibility for both. My other personas could care less, but as Riverstar ‒ as myself ‒ I longed for those things. I was unsure how full-blood changelings felt on the matter, but I wished for the ability to make a home instead of just a place to sleep. I wished to create a place where I could know the people there cared about me and worried for my well-being as more than part of a contract. I wanted to be missed when I was gone.

I wanted…

No. Perhaps some things are asking too much even of possibilities. Life’s struggles had taught me to enjoy things I had, when I had them. After all, one never knows when the comforts one had would be taken away, nor by whom. Every day and every person held infinite possibilities, and I would never allow myself to forget that...not again.

Still, even as I mentally analyzed the offer presented to me by the princesses, I found even the possibilities leaning more and more toward the positive. And, honestly, it would be nice to live in a place that allowed me to take regular baths with soap. Yet again, most people who have the ability to bathe regularly underestimate the power of cleanliness.

As I mentally went over my observations again, it appeared my choice was made. I would give myself a day or so to see if I’d overlooked anything, but I was confident that I knew what I wanted ‒ I would gratefully take the offer presented to me. Still though, since the opportunity presented itself, I would allow myself time to double-check my thoughts and decision. Rushing headlong into something was an act a fool committed, and I was no fool. As mother used to joke when I would do something bad, “Mama didn’t raise no fool.”

A few knocks at the door brought me out of my thoughts, and I again covered myself before answering with a, “Come in.”

Shining Justice entered the room again, and only blushed slightly as she giggled at me. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you want me to see you unclothed.”

I decided to have a little fun with her as I turned on my side, exposing my chest as I ran my fingertips down my body sensually. “And what if I do? What then?”

Immediately Shining Justice nearly nearly dropped the platter she was holding as she turned her face away, blushing brightly. “W-w-well, umm…”

I giggled at the cute mare, shaking my head. “It’s okay. Look at me and I’ll show you.” She seemed very reluctant to do so, but eventually shyly looked over at me as I motioned to my bare chest. “See? No nipples or anything. So if it makes you feel better, just imagine I’m wearing a thick, form-fitting shirt.”

“That actually does make me feel better.” she began, eyeing me as if she just realized something. “Why do you still have...umm…”

I shrugged, knowing she was referring to the two lumps on my chest that normal changelings didn’t have. “From my father’s side, I guess. I have attributes from both changelings and ponies. Truthfully, normal changelings are pretty flat everywhere. You wouldn’t be able to tell males from females unless they were a queen.” I looked down at myself and smirked. “I admit, it isn’t often I get to use such attributes to my advantage, but they definitely have their uses. With how easy men are to manipulate, I’m amazed they can even walk on their own sometimes.”

Shining Justice seemed to relax a bit, and she giggled with a nod. “I can agree with that.” She then gestured to the tray as she pulled the lid off, a wonderful scent caressing my nose. “Your meal, Miss Riverstar.”

I looked over the meal provided to me, and had to fight to keep from actively drooling. “It smells wonderful.”

She then reached at her side and pulled a small bag from her hip, which she then proceeded to open and produce a gold-stemmed wine glass, along with a bottle of gold-colored liquid. “Your drink as well.”

As she popped the cork open and poured some of the liquid into the glass, a familiar scent caressed my nostrils. Yet again, I tried to keep from drooling. I did not succeed.

Shining Justice giggled at me as she handed over the filled glass. “I take it you approve?”

I nodded dumbly, still entranced by the smells alone. “Uh huh.”

Offering no other comment on the matter, she set the tray of food on the bed beside me, and set the glass and bottle of mead on the nightstand near the head of the bed itself. She then turned to me with a gentle smile and asked, “Will that be all, Miss Riverstar?”

I smiled at the pony and nodded gratefully. “Yes. And thank you for your services. Pass on my thanks to the chef as well. I don’t even have to taste this to know it’s going to be good.”

“Then I shall take my leave. Good night.” Shining Justice spoke in farewell, just before leaving the room and closing the door behind her.

After being left on my own, I looked around the room, searching for a better way to do this. After all, while the bed might not have been mine to clean, I didn’t want to cause undue work for the one who kept the rooms tidy. That would just be unbecoming of a good guest, and I was anything if not gracious.

I once again uncovered myself before standing. I walked over to the large doors at the entryway of the room and flipped the latch to lock it, then flashed my silver aura of magic to levitate the tray, glass, and bottle with me as I inspected the room.

“Windows, closed door...definitely not eating in the washroom.” I mused aloud to myself, just before turning to a trio of open archways with billowing lavender curtains in front of them. “Hello, what’s this?”

I pushed away the curtains and stepped out onto a stone balcony, enclosed in glass, with the windows opened to allow airflow into the room. From this one spot, I could see all of Canterlot in the late afternoon sun, and it was quite the sight to see. Hundreds of ponies could be seen working, spending time with their families, or simply enjoying the clean air of spring.

With my decision made, I sat upon a large, padded bench-like protrusion that ran along the entirety of the full-length windows. I sighed happily as the cool air kissed my bare chitin, allowing me to open the heat vents in my carapace and allow more body heat to escape to cool me. It was the most comfortable I’d been in quite some time, and the wonderful food that was provided to me just added to the experience.

I picked up the steaming sandwich of faeriecap, tomato, and lettuce before biting into it, savoring the juicy texture of the morsel as I chewed and “mmm’ed” to myself. I followed this up with a sip of the mead, and smiled happily as smooth, sweet alcohol flowed down my throat. True that there wasn’t any meat in this meal, but it was far better than anything I’d had in a long time. Nothing compares to a fresh kill of course, but this meal was damn close.

As I enjoyed my meal and the cool air, I let my mind wander a bit. Memories of better times with mother came unbidden, such as my first flight, my first heartbreak (and subsequent swearing-off of love altogether), and even my first job (legal job, mind you). Lastly came a memory I did not fancy, but it appeared anyway: the memory of mother explaining to me what I was, and how life would probably go for me.

Mother always believed in the old adage, “Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.” With that in mind, it goes without saying that her portrayal of my possible future was rather simplistic. She made it sound as if changelings were the bane of all existence in the eyes of the public, and so I could expect my life to be very difficult. It wasn’t the sort of thing a young girl would want to hear, but mother also never lied to me about anything. She believed truth was more important than temporary comfort, and so she was honest about everything. The one value that I kept with me from her teachings was this: “Care about yourself, because one day, you might be the only one that does.”

It was a sad truth of my life, but one that had kept me alive.

Even with the dirty side of the world being revealed to me from a young age, I didn’t begrudge my mother for her teachings. As I aged, I came to better understand just why she taught me the things she did, when she did. She was preparing for the very real possibility that she wouldn’t get to see me grow up, and so was driving me to become self-sufficient. I am glad that her life persisted through my young adulthood, but I still found her lessons useful.

I felt a tear fall from my eye as I thought of mother, and for probably the millionth time, wished she was still with me. Throughout my life, she had been the only one thus far that I had found I could put my full trust in, and as more and more time passed, I came to realize she might be the only one for someone like me.

I sniffled a bit as tears continued to fall, my meal laying half-eaten and forgotten, and the bottle of mead in my hand. “Why did you have to die?”

I had coped with mother’s death as well as I could have for being so lonely, but there were still times when a certain memory would crop up and remind me of how much I missed her. I suppose a normal person would have moved on, but only having one person in the entire world that I knew I could count on tended to make things harder for me.

“Is something troubling you, child?” spoke a warm, loving voice within my mind.

My head shot up as I looked around the balcony and room. “P-Princess Celestia?”

“I’m outside your door, dear.” she answered gently. “I thought it prudent to ask permission before entering, seeing as how you appear to be a clothing-optional type of woman. I don’t mind, but I wished not to simply burst into your room unannounced.”

I cleared my throat before standing and walking to the washing device, opening it and magically pulling out a pair of clean trousers and a shirt, which I hurriedly donned before stating, “Come on in.”

The door shook for a moment as the latch held fast, but then a golden aura undid it and the door swung open to reveal the princess of the day. She closed the door behind her and strode into the room, her generous assets only covered by a thin toga-like outfit that just barely preserved modesty. I didn’t even try not to stare.

“I take it you approve of my evening wear?” she stated with a smirk.

I coughed nervously and nodded. “Uh, yeah. It’s really...nice.”

She giggled softly from behind her hand before stepping forward, her brilliant white coat shining in the orange light of late afternoon. “I believe my subjects have a saying for this situation. I believe it goes, ‘This is my house, and I’ll do what I damn well please!’”

I burst into laughter at her statement, and just barely kept from falling to the ground by bracing myself against the wall.

After my laughter died off, the princess approached me once again, this time standing just a foot in front of me. “Now,” she began, her smile melting away into concern, “what troubles you? I could feel your sorrow from my own quarters, which is quite a ways away from this room.”

I raised my eyebrow curiously. “You felt my sorrow? What does that even mean?”

She narrowed her eyes a bit as she said, “I’m not sure what else I could mean besides that. It helps to bring happiness to people if one knows how they truly feel.”

“Wait,” I started, realization coming over me, “so you actually can feel what I’m feeling? I mean, I’d heard ponies in the past say that their pain was your pain, but I didn’t think they meant literally.”

The princess shrugged, backing up and seating herself on the bed. “We as living things have evolved to care for ourselves before anyone else. It is that selfishness that allows us to survive in a hostile world. Some of us, however, are born with the ability to care for others just as much as ourselves, if not more. It makes it easier to care for the multitudes that come through my doors if I can truly feel the anger, sorrow, or joy that they feel. It keeps me connected to them, and allows me to rule more successfully.” She sighed wistfully then, her bright magenta eyes focusing on mine. “I believe you know what it is like when the cold hand of mortality has no hold on you.” I cast my gaze away as I realized that she was likely one of the few in the world that could sympathize with some of the hardships of my life. “Come, sit with me a moment.”

I obliged without a second though, seating myself on the soft bed beside the Equestrian princess, feeling a slight tickle on my arm as her large wings shifted into a comfortable position.

“So,” she began, her warmth radiating off of her skin and into me, causing me to shiver, “what brought you such sorrow?”

I again met her eyes with my own, searching for the reason she might be asking me about such a thing. Over the years, I had become rather proficient at reading other individuals, so I trained that skill upon the princess. I was a little surprised when I found none of the things I normally found. There was no malicious intent, and nor was there a hidden agenda. That meant…”

“You actually care…” I mumbled. I then jumped a bit in surprise despite myself, and chuckled nervously. “I-I mean, umm…”

Princess Celestia smiled gently as she shook her head, placing her fingers on my lips to silence me. “Calm yourself, Riverstar. I know no offense was meant.” As she removed her hand from my mouth, she gazed at me with genuine concern. “Yes, I do care. I care about everyone I meet, which is why I need Luna to balance my caring nature with cautiousness and logic. And to answer your unspoken question, it doesn’t matter to me that you are a changeling; or half-changeling, as the case is.”

I was honestly a little surprised, as I was just about to mention the reality of my true nature. Is she psychic?

“No, I am not.” she said with a grin. Just as I began to sputter apologies, she giggled and shook her head. “Truly, I am not. I just have lived long enough that I can tell what questions you were asking yourself.”

I calmed myself for a moment before looking up at the princess, watching her eyes reflect only care and concern. “Well, it was about my mother...the reason why I was sad, I mean.” I turned my eyes to my lap as I wrung my hands nervously. “I just...I miss her a lot.”

“Did you lose her from a young age?” she asked curiously.

I shook my head. “No, not really. I was already an adult when she passed. It’s just...I didn’t even get to say goodbye. One day she was leaving for a nearby town for supplies and groceries, and then Queen Chrysalis attacked Canterlot. Mother never came back.” The tears began to fall again before I knew it, and I punched the bed as sorrow changed to anger. “Do you have any idea what it’s like to hate your own kind? To know that they’re to blame for how your life turned out? I suppose you don’t. You’re lucky then, because I do, and it’s not a good feeling.” I then gasped and turned my eyes to the princess. “I am so sorry.”

She rolled her eyes with a sigh. “I don’t know why it is people think they must always be joyful in front of me. I know better than most that anger and sadness is as much a part of us as joy, and we feel all of them.” She then locked her eyes on me and said, “It’s alright, dear. Let it out. I promise, you’ll feel better.” I honestly couldn’t think of anything to say, but after a moment, the princess saved me the embarrassment. “For what it’s worth, I know what betrayal feels like. I may not mistrust an entire race, but I have been privy to my own share of people abusing my trust. Equestria was not always at peace after all, and we royals were not always loved. It was very difficult to get Equestria to where it is today, and it is just as difficult to maintain it.” She then sighed gently, her eyes becoming somewhat darker. “It’s because I know what betrayal feels like that I forged a land where people can trust one another. True that every land ‒ no matter how peaceful ‒ has its patches of evil, but generally my ponies know they can take one another at face-value.” She then looked at me again and said, “I am sorry that you have not grown up with that same comfort. Truly, I am. Regardless of what people think, my sister and I do not hate changelings, nor do we blame the entire race for the wrongs committed by a few misguided individuals. I know that everyone is unique, so to place equal blame on an entire race of people is wrong, and I will not do it. Unfortunately, I also cannot force people to do what I wish. Prejudices take time to die, and some may live forever.” The princess’ hand then reached for mine and she held it gently. I didn't pull away. “But I hope that you will allow me to show you that there are some in this world that are worthy of your trust, and there is someplace you can feel safe.”

Her hand felt warm upon mine, and it radiated a feeling of safety. My mind told me to always watch hands, lest they grasp the handle of a dagger. My heart, however, was telling me that that beautiful white hand would never hurt me. No matter what my head was telling me, my heart was insistent that I had nothing to fear from the princess.

Before confusion could overtake me, the princess released me and stood, bowing shallowly as she stepped away. “It is late, and I must retire. However, I invite you to breakfast if you are feeling up to it. If you are, meet me in the dining hall at seven. A guard will escort you there.” She then offered me that same gentle smile before turning on her hooves and striding out of the room, leaving me alone again.

I frowned as I sat alone on the bed, and looked to see my right hand still clutching the bottle of mead. I shrugged and upended it into my mouth, gulping down the sweet alcohol before coughing as I finished, setting the empty bottle down on the nightstand.

Just as I was about to think about what to do with the dishes and such, a knock sounded from the door once again, and I announced, “Come in.”

A large orange-furred stallion stepped into the room, dressed in a tuxedo with white gloves and a bow-tie. “Evening, madam. I will collect the dishware from your evening meal.” I said nothing as I watched him walk by, but pointed a shaky hand to the outside balcony-thing. I watched as the giant of a pony trotted by, subtly wondering how such a huge guy was a butler instead of a guard. Not that I was complaining of course, but I just found it strange. The pony returned to the interior a moment later and grabbed the empty bottle before giving a curt bow. “Have a good night, madam.” Without another word, he left the room.

“Hmm...efficient.” I mumbled to myself.

I lit up my horn and latched the door again before removing my clothes, trying my best to fold them before setting them on top of the washing machine-device-thing. I then readjusted my tail before laying down on my back, staring up at the ceiling. I laid one hand on my stomach as the other absentmindedly played with my tail hair. As I did so, I thanked the stars that my father’s genes had given me a normal mane and tail, unlike other changelings.

I felt a little uncomfortable not being able to have my blades at hand as I began to feel exhaustion overtake me, but I also realized that had the princesses wanted me harmed, I would have already been dead or imprisoned. With that in mind, I closed my eyes and let myself slip away.