Chapter 1: The Coincidence
So... How should I start? Maybe with my name? Yeah, that sounds like a good idea…
My name is Lady Viryl. I am a changling that lived amongst Queen Chrysalis’ hive. Why ‘Lady,’ you ask? Well, that's because I once married a knight. We met one day by complete coincidence! However, it was also a coincidence that caused him to leave me.
It was a hard time of my life when I realized what actually happened. But perhaps I’m getting ahead of myself. I should start at the beginning of the story rather than the end.
I was walking through the streets on my way to the marketplace. I needed some basic food supplies, which was the main reason for my trip, but I also ran out of my stockpiles of affection and love, so I needed them as well.
Oh, I hope they have those sweet little bunnies. Those were my favorite when it comes to affection! They would shower you with love just for feeding them, scratching them or petting them. I hope I can get a few, but because they give off so much love, the shop often runs out of them quickly. I need them. I love them!
I also need to gather some herbs. If you didn't know it yet, one of my talents is herbal mixtures and I'm kind of well-known for them. Well... actually only my quarter, where I live, knows about it, and my family and friends... yeah. Like I said! I'm kind of well-known!
Why am I babbling on in my head like this? I should rather pay attention to where I'm goi-
oof!
I fell backwards after bumping into something, landing on my rump. Serves me right for not paying attention to where I was going! Just perfect; all my money is scattered all over the place now. I should pick it up before someone else steals it. Hey! That stallion just grabbed a hoofful of my bits!
“I’m sorry about that. Are you alright?”
Oh, he's just helping me up and he’s giving my money back. What a nice guy. He's wearing armor, so I assume he must be a knight. Without his helmet, his red mane is kind of spiked; I like that. When he ducked after my money, I saw his wings, also red. Isn’t that something! After he gave me my money back and I put it back into the bag, he looked straight into my eyes. Are they learning that stuff or what? I felt uncomfortable when he did so, so I looked away and tried to say something.
“Err, sorry 'bout that! I wasn't paying attention where I was going, so I bumped into you. I'm really, really sorr-”
“It's quite alright Miss.” He interrupted me! And did you hear him? Miss, he says. What makes him think that I'm not a Missus? “I was also not paying attention where I was going, so it's my fault, too. But I hope you're alright.”
That look again, with his concerned lime-green eyes. I just nodded and added, “Yeah, I'm alright, thanks for asking. But I do hope I didn't ruin your armor; it suits you, I must say.” Don't blame me! He looks good! And I really did hope his armor was alright. The silver shined in the sunlight, as did the teal ornaments embedded in the metal.
He just brushed the dirt off of his shoulders and shook his head. “Thank you, and, trust me, it has seen worse. May I ask where you were going?”
Where I was going? Oh yeah, almost forgot! “Oh! I just needed some supplies and I ran out of affection and love, so I need them, too.”
“I see. May I ask if I can accompany you? I'm still feeling guilty about the bumping into each other and want to make it up.” I didn't expect this! But now I'm feeling uncomfortable again, ugh!
“Uh, y-yeah, of course. You can.” He smiled and cleared the path for me.
So I walked past him and he followed me. At least I have someone to talk to now and maybe even a new friend! But I shouldn't think that far, he just wanted to make it up.
Hmmm. He.
...He.
I don't know his name! How could I forget that and, instead of talking to him, I'm talking to myself, ugh! Nice first impression, Viryl. Great. Congratulations. Wonderful. Brillia-! He coughed, I must have looked stupid while I was beating myself up. “Sorry, Miss, but I never caught you name.”
“Oh yes! Of course. My name is Viryl.” Silence. Ask what his name is! “And who are you?”
“I'm Radial.” Radial. Radial... I like the sound of that.
“It's a nice name you have there,” I spoke earnestly, trying to compliment him.
“Thank you, Miss Viryl. It was once the name of my grandfather. He was a great warrior of its day. That's also why I'm a warrior now. I want to make him proud.”
“Wow.” Yes, wow. I said wow. Wow! I should add more, I'm lacking a conversation. “That's a nice story you got there. It sounds like he would be very proud of you. I mean, I just met you, but I do believe, even if it's crazy, that you're a really good warrior!” Good girl, you complimented him again!
“Thank you, Miss Viryl, I do appreciate it. But may I ask what your task is?”
“My task?” My task? What does he- oooh. “Oh! I do various mixtures out of herbs. I'm kind of well-known because of it.” I bragged. Why did I do this? Why?
“Oh? Is that so? Hmm, strange that I’ve never heard of you.” He put a hoof to his chin. Oh snap, my cover is blown. “I should ask for your help if I ever need mixtures. Where can I find you?” Ooooh, didn't I say? Now he thinks I'm just someone who- what? H-he asked me where I live? He want to try out my mixtures? He...
“Wh-what...?” I stammered, didn't even realizing that I was going slower and was actually speaking.
“Oh, sorry! I didn't wanted to burst into your privacy; we barely met and I'm asking where you live.”
“No, no, no! I was just surprised, that's all! It's really not a big deal. And yeah, I'll give you my address, just gimme...” I glanced around, looking for something to write on, but instead my eye caught the store I was looking for. I got another idea, maybe this will work, too.
“Look!” I pointed at the store. “That's the store I was looking for. I can't find something to write, so I thought maybe we can get in buy my stuff and then head back to my shop?” I grinned at him. Stupid! This is hopeless, he will never agree to that. But still, he's thinking. Kind of looking into the sky, when he does that. Then he smiled at me. Maybe that's a yes!
“Why not? I'm not on duty anymore for today, so it should be alright.” That's totally a yes! My smile got bigger and I walked towards the store.
“Then we should keep going,” I said while walking away. He stood there for a moment and followed me again. When I was searching for the sweet little bunnies, I saw a lot of other changelings. Great. Just great! The store will probably be sold out long before I can get any bunnies for myself!
“Ugh!” I groaned awkwardly. I wonder why he still accompanied me. I'm not the normal one, if you haven't noticed so far. He looked at me, but I didn't look at him; I didn't want to meet his gaze. Instead, I watched those changelings around the bunnies. The day was going so well until now. I wish I could at least get one of the bunnies. Then I noticed how he went towards the group of changelings; I wonder what he’s up to.
Maybe he finally noticed how strange I am! Oh no! What did I do wrong this time? That's so depressing. I need to sit down now! At least I now have the time to check if I bought all the supplies I needed... yeah, looks like I have everything. Even that one herb they had. Hmm, do I even have enough money to pay for those...? Huh? Something touched my shoulder. Why can't they be more careful where they're going?
“You wanted some, didn't you?” I turned around and met the gaze of Radial. I'm starting to like it, when he's looking at me like that, especially with those eyes. I didn't even know what he was talking about, until I saw what he was carrying. A cage with three sweet little bunnies! “How did you...” I was so astonished, that I couldn't even end my sentence. But how did he get those?
“It's easy, when you're a warrior, like me.” He helped me to get on my hooves again. I wonder what he means by that...
When we was over the counter, I reached back to get some money when a hoof stopped me in my tracks. I looked up, perplexed, as Radial stopped me from grabbing my money pouch with his usual, charming gaze. I can really get used to this! Instead of paying for my stuff like usual, he actually paid for the bunnies for me. It's the first time that a stallion paid for me!
Am I touched by this action? I don't know... I didn't even realize that we were already outside again. How am I supposed to know what I'm feeling?
“Are you alright, Miss Viryl?”
“Hm?” I looked right in his eyes. Those damnably good-looking eyes, which I actually adore, stared back at me once more. We stayed so for like a few seconds, when I finally spoke, “If you have everything, we can go to my house now.”
“Lead the way.”
“It's not so far away from here,” I said to him, trying to start a conversation. I really have problems with that; I should go out more and actually talk to other changelings! “It's nothing special, though. When I was still a foal my dad built it with some other friends of his. Can't remember much of it, though. Eventually, he passed away and I was left alone, but I was old enough to live on my own.”
“What about your mother?”
“I never met my mom. I don't know what happened to her. Dad didn't like to talk about her, he didn't even want to tell me if she is still alive.”
“That's kind of sad. I'm sorry that this all happened to you.” He stopped for a moment, placing a hoof on my shoulder. “Nobody should have to grow up without a parent.”
“It's actually fine; the time passed and I'm living in the here and now.” Then silence fell over us again, but it was definitely a more comfortable silence this time. I think he was looking at me sometimes, but I tried to ignore that and rather paid attention to where I was going. I sighed, we were almost there.
We walked over a bridge — a small bridge, but with wonderful ornaments. I think it was inspired by the Art Nouveau, a very playful genre, but not at all like the Bauhaus. Both had their own pros and cons, but I'm happy they chose Art Nouveau for the bridge. Kind of romantic, too.
When we were on safe ground again, I looked carefully to make sure that there wasn't a cart in the way. I would rather not bump into one. It wouldn’t end well. But, as luck would have it, there was a cart barrelling my way! The driver completely lost control over it and was rushing toward the end of the bridge. I was too shocked to do anything; I stood there, shaking and with wide open eyes.
I closed my eyes, hoping that it would reduce the pain, and that the less I see, the less will happen. If I don't see it, it doesn't exists! I was waiting for the final crash, but I heard nothing, neither did I felt something. Maybe I'm in heaven? I am feeling kind of light. Oh no, I'm really in Heaven?
Slowly I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was the sky. Great! I groaned, annoyed, and rolled my eyes.
“Aren't you happy that I saved you?” I heard a concerned voice from above. Maybe I’m hearing voices in my head, too? I looked up and was face to face with Radial. He looked concerned, as if I was annoyed because of him. I quickly shook my head and he let me go, a few inches before the ground. I was still shaking; I merely avoided death!
I looked back, where the cart should have been, but I saw nothing. Just a trail. No cart. And just now I realized, that I had stopped breathing. I sighed again. What a relief. I felt a hoof on my shoulder, turned around to face Radial, and now I was looking straight into his eyes.
“I hope you're alright and the mad driver didn't hurt you,” he spoke softly.
“N-no... I'm alright, thanks to you! I'm really grateful that you saved me; I truly am.” I smiled at him and had the urge to hug him; I was really happy about it, that he saved me, but I held myself back. What if he wouldn't appreciate it? What if he disliked it? Thoughts like those were holding me back, so I just smiled at him. He smiled back and it looked like he was happy about that, too.
“So... should we get going?” I suggested after a while, he nodded and signaled that I should lead the way.
We were silent for a while, both lost in thoughts. I still couldn't believe what had just happened. First, he was able to catch some bunnies, which I still couldn't believe, since there were so many changelings around them! Second, he paid for my stuff: the first stallion who ever did that for me. A true gentlecolt, he is. And third would be that he saved me. He saved my life! What could have happened if he hadn't acted so quickly? The cart might have crashed into me, and then I would have had more holes than before.
“Are you alright, Miss? You look kind of unhappy. Am I bugging you? If that's so, then please tell me. I don't want to make any trouble to you.”
“Hm?” I didn't realize it at first, because I was still lost in my thoughts, but when it snapped I acted fast. “Oh no! I'm so sorry, I was just lost in thought, that's all. You're really not bugging me at all, I'm even somehow happy to have you here right now.” I smiled at him and then frowned. Did I just said it out loud? Ooooh, what did I just do again?! I just ruin everything. After it was going so well, no, I need to say something like that to someone I just met.
“I'm happy I was around to help! What would have happened if I hadn't been here? I couldn't forgive myself if I had learned that somepony was involved in an accident when I could have been there to help them.”
I just smiled, relieved at his statement, and nodded. “So, we're here now. That's my little house where I keep my business. I hope you'll like it, but it's not one of the fanciest.” With that said, I opened for him the door and let him in.
Author's Note
That's my first ever written fiction in another language, 'cause english isn't my native one.
And big thanks to Terrasora for proof-reading it!
And another big thanks to Zaphod for editing it!
