1: Celestia and Chrysalis
Celestia was born two years before me. She was naturally stronger and wiser. She was born with a rosey pink mane and eyes. She was born to the royal queen and king, Sun and Moon. As she was born, the land celebrated the birth of a new princess who would bring peace and harmony throughout the ages. They celebrated with pink cakes, pink balloons with drawings of the new princess upon them. They celebrated by the sun's beautiful rays that kissed everyone and everything with cheer. For Celestia, she was still processing this new world. For the king and queen, they were rejoicing their new daughter. For everyone else, they were rejoicing the promise of peace.
I was born ten years later. I came at the darkest hour, midnight. I came quietly, caring a small wail to reassure my parents I was alive. When I came, no one celebrated. No one celebrated a new princess, the new one with a light blue mane and turquoise eyes. No one rejoiced for the fact that she too would bring peace. No one celebrated with blue layered cakes, or black balloons that had my face drawn so carefully on each one. They only slept, as my mom's peaceful night carried on. But some did rejoice. The moon sent its blessing through extra bright rays. The stars danced around in the sky, twinkling with joy. And my mother rejoiced most of all. She rejoiced for another daughter who would bring forth beautiful night after beautiful night. She kissed me on my head and laid me in bed so I would sleep. But with the moon shining and the stars dancing, I was not close to sleeping. All night long, I stayed awake, watching the celebration in the sky. And when the sun rose, I fell asleep.
As Celestia, or as I call her, Tia, grew, I was not far behind. Our horns and wings were strong and healthy for our age. When Celestia turned eight, we were introduced to the other royal family, the Changelings.
The Changelings were an unusual group of ponies. Their body structure was the same. Same four legs, same mane and tail. Same horn or wings. Except more... holey. Their wings were silky, thin, and fly-like. Their manes were a lovely green blue, with holes. The Changelings' eyes had slits for pupils. The most different, and perhaps scary, of all were their pointy vampire teeth. These creatures were not what you would think as friends. But they were. They were kind through and through.
Queen Cherry and King Chapman came to visit on my sixth birthday. They were bold, understanding, and patient. You have to be if you rule millions of brainless changelings. I'm not kidding about the brainless part. They came with a knock on the door, a ratty-tat-tat. I was sitting in the living room, just to the right of the grand entrance. I had been reading a book about a frog and a pony. As they knocked, I looked up. No one really came to the palace without being questioned by the guards. The guards are the escorts. They didn't knock. They just came in, bringing the pony or ponies to Moon and Sun. No, there was a knock. And a knock clicks curiosity. I closed my book, practicing my magic. A scooted over to the door and peeked put. Moon was at the door. Her horn glowed the same light blue as mine. I waited in anticipation of seeing who or what was behind the door. The left door groaned as it was pulled upon, tired from always being pushed and pulled. That's when my eyes saw the king and queen. I had seen a picture of changelings before. I never thought I would see one. Moon greeted them, not as awestruck as I was, but cheerful to see an old friend.
"Cherry! Chapman! It so nice to see you again! It has been too long, my friends. How is the kingdom?" Moon embraced them with a hug, which they politely returned.
"Troubling times in the caverns. We came to congratulate you on your new daughters, now that we've finally got some free time." King Chapman spoke for his wife, a traditional thing to do. The adults walked in, Moon closing the door behind them. They didn't chat along the way. The new guards were posted in the front. They would discuss their problems some where private, perhaps the study. They walked past the door I hid behind. The Changelings were tall and intimidating. I watched them pass, my eyes never leaving their stride. That's when I spotted her.
She a small version of her mother. She had a tiara on her head. She stopped when they passed the living room. She had her mane covering most of her eyes. To me, she looked shy. She stood there, watching her parents leave. Then she turned to me. Her slit pupils met my wide eyes. I zipped back behind the sofa, startled. Quietly, the little changeling crept in. She made hardly a sound, and kept looking over were I was hiding. I was watching her from beneath the sofa. I did not know if I had done the right thing. Did I offend her with how I went to hide? I was debating what to do when she jumped in front of me.
"BOO!" she yelled, grinning. Startled, I jumped, my wings catching air.
