Ace in The Hoof

Today had indeed turned out to be a struggle for survival after several ordeals. After dealing with a vengeful group of vandals, evading detection from the royal guards, and now topping it off with a time consuming chore of peeling apples for a family of ponies that had decided his fate for him instead, Dirge was surely going to need his rest after an exhausting day’s conclusion. Thankfully, the farmers were kind enough to extend his stay for another night and allowed him to remain indoors to avoid the guards still patrolling in town.

He had to admit, the outcome of today’s trials could have been much worse. At this moment, he could likely be locked up inside a cage, tied up again after being apprehended from either party. Awaiting whatever cruel punishment his captors had in store for him. Fortunately, he was spared from all that and instead, here he was, peeling away a great many number of apples as a way of repayment to the Apple Family for his transgressions. Not that he felt it would actually ease his burden of crimes from his past.

From one bucket full to the next, another hour passed and yet, many more would repeat. The work went by at a decent pace, but had become increasingly dull as time moved on. Combined with the effort of gathering those apples and preparing them all was no easy task. Such extensive labor garnered respect for the earth pony race, let alone this small family.

Just as Dirge was beginning to believe he would be left to himself to manage all this workload, the young stallion, Crimson Delight, entered through the front door. Nervously making his way to the kitchen table where the working changeling was currently seated. Grabbing his own peeling tool from the nearest drawer beside him, he sat down next to him along with grabbing an apple from one of the various bushels and began skinning it.

“I, uh…” Crimson began, seemingly a bit shy at the moment. “I thought I’d come by and see how you were doin’. Figure ya could use some extra help.” He said, shortly afterwards finishing his first apple, though he was impressed by the amount of them already peeled when he had seen buckets of them already done. “Hey, mighty fine job with those ones there. Guess you don’t need the help after all! Eh heh… uh… ?”

That moment became awkward when Dirge did not look the pony's way nor respond to him. Apparently still peeling away as if nothing had been said. In actuality, he was still pondering the day’s events and what he would do next after departing from this place when the guards eventually leave the area. That, and he was still not used to being praised or knowing how to respond to it appropriately.

Crimson cleared his throat a little loudly to break off some of the silence. Wanting to get some sort of conversation going, but learning that this changeling wasn’t the talkative type, it was going to take some effort on his part. “Crazy day it’s been, eh? Nice to just kick back and relax with somethin’ easy goin’ after all that. Makes ya wanna go for a drink after.” Speaking of, his face lit up in a bit of excitement with the idea of going for a good refreshment to ease the stress. “Hey! Whaddaya say we end the day with some nice cider? Got some good brew saved up! My treat!” But as enthusiastic as he made it sound, his smile soon faded into a frown when his quiet friend had yet to show any sort of response. The saddened stallion simply went back to work.

Although his attempts at elevating the mood seemed to have gone completely unnoticed, Dirge appreciated it nonetheless. But one thought still bothered him. Finally deciding break from the ongoing silence, Dirge spoke his mind.

“You didn’t have to go through such lengths to safeguard me from apprehension.” He began with a calm tone, pausing his work for the moment. “But even after learning what I am, your hospitality didn't cease. Yet, I have to ask…” Glancing towards Crimson with a curious look, he then asked, “Why?”

Said pony mirrored the same expression. “Why? Cause, well…” Stopping his own work as well to look up at the changeling innocently, he continued, “It just wouldn’t feel right givin’ ya up to them strangers! Lettin’ them do who-knows-what to ya? Not after how ya helped us out back there. Especially not after… what Zabe said about ya…”

Dirge eyed him suspiciously when he spoke that last line. Almost worried the pony may have inquired something he shouldn’t have. Regardless, he allowed him to continue in silence and reveal everything he knew before passing judgement.

“He said a number of things about ya. About how ya used to be some soldier in yer homeland, how ya got kicked outta there and almost died… and how ya saved his little sibling from danger the other day. Heh, even if Zabe did get a little upset at her about that last bit, I was impressed by what ya did for ‘em! But…” Crimson paused in that moment before continuing. “Ugh! I feel like such a big jerk! If I had known you’d be some kinda hero, I wouldn’t of treated ya like I did yesterday!”

“Hmph.” Dirge shortly replied. “Hero? That's quite the needless stretch.”

“Well… I certainly think ya been doin’ the right thing.” Crimson said with a soft smile. “I know some ponies would look at ya as the bad guy, but I think it’d only be fair if we let everypony else know about yer good deeds! That way, no one else would look at yer kind as the same and maybe give ya’ll a second chance like I did with ya! I mean, the whole town would-”

“You’ll do no such thing.” Dirge interrupted. Disturbed by the idea.

“Uh?” Crimson uttered, confused by his answer. “B-but... why not?”

“Have you learned nothing from today’s events?” Dirge said as he resumed peeling another apple. “Spreading word amongst an already mistrustful populace would only serve to be counterproductive. Your words would be twisted by others to become nothing more than misinformation and eventually reach the ears of those with their own agenda like the ones you’ve met today. So, unless you want the wrong kind of attention at your doorstep again,” Giving Crimson a stern look before finishing with, “then I suggest you keep such knowledge to yourself.”

“Oh… right.” Crimson said disappointingly. “Guess I hadn’t really thought of it that way. I was… just tryin’ to help an’ all.”

While he did mean well by his intentions, Dirge hoped he wouldn’t act out on them in the future for fear of more unwanted repercussions.

Another minute had passed by with no further activity between the two. However, Crimson Delight seemed to be bothered by an unpleasant thought. Expressing his concern towards the changeling, he said, “Ya know, I can’t stop thinkin’ about last night. About what I almost did to ya and what woulda happened if I…” Wincing at the thought of the sudden imagery, “... offed ya. I mean, I didn’t think I really had it in me to do that and I can’t stop wonderin’ what my ma and pa woulda done if they had found out.”

“Hrrmmm…” Dirge sighed roughly. Crimson’s own regret reminded him of an unpleasant memory from his past. “Fortunately for your sake, you’ve managed to avoid a much worse outcome. Something far worse.”

“Whaddya mean exactly?”

Dirge paused his work again to give his attention to Crimson. “Let me share a piece of my history with you. Hopefully, you’ll learn something from my own mistakes.”

“Back when I was around your age…”

A matter of days had passed since that time. The memory of that one day still remained painfully etched in his mind.

When news spread throughout the Hive about an incident involving the brutal beatings of three young changelings, many grew curious as to who or what was responsible for the tragedy. But when the truth began to surface that a younger changeling was the one at fault, a mix of feelings strewed among the inhabitants who happened to have heard or witnessed the events. Some grew shocked and surprised that a changeling younger than the group of victims managed to overwhelm them. Oddly enough, there were the small few who were even impressed with the deed.

While the rest grew outraged and appalled. They were the ones who were the most vocal about demanding retribution for such vile actions. Especially against promising recruits for the Hive that had not yet reached their prime. Now, that potential will never be shown after that unfortunate incident.

One such changeling approached Queen Chrysalis with these concerns. She had already reassured every drone who had taken notice of the incident that she had kept the situation well under control and continue to monitor her ‘special subject’ under stricter conditions. However, this certain changeling did not have her concerns easily dispelled when the assailant of the crime was merely given a slap on the hoof.

Angry at the lack of appropriate justice, she, along with several others who felt the same about the verdict, decided to take matters into their own hooves.

Farther down into the reaches of the Hive located within the barracks, someplace more secluded from the more common areas, the sounds of a cracking whip and yelping could both be heard simultaneously. The noises seemingly echoed faintly throughout the empty corridors.

A young Dirge laid beaten on the ground. His forehooves tied behind his back with thick, green adhesive to restrict his struggling. Various cracks on his chitin signified other forms of torture had already been inflicted on him besides his current punishment. He was struck with another hard slap on the face, yelping from the hit and still sobbing from the ongoing cruel treatment he had been facing for a while now. His tears mixing with his blood on the rocky ground beneath him.

A changeling guard, in the usual uniform of blue armor, mercilessly struck the young changeling yet again with a horsewhip he possessed. A tool used for extensive disciplinary measures for cases such as these, though it was not rare for when it was used beyond its purpose and become a tool for abuse instead. The few other changelings witnessing the event certainly had no objections, judging by their dissatisfied expressions.

After one last strike from the whip, the guard stopped for the time being. Panting slightly for breath from the repetitive swings and looked behind him to one changeling. “Think he’s had enough?”

“It’s never enough!” Yelled the female changeling. “This… this… monster committed an atrocity against our brood and our queen does what!? Let him off with a warning!?” She said. Marching towards the young one and hissing right in his face. “He deserves every deal of punishment we can give him!”

The two other changelings behind them nodded their heads in agreement.

“Hmph! What does the queen see in this one anyhow?” One of them asked.

“He’s certainly not adding up to any expectations the way he is now.” The other spoke.

Dirge, mustering up as much strength in his state, bent his back and looked up at the female changeling with pleading eyes. “I-I… I’m s-sorry…”

“You’re sorry? You’re sorry!? Well, that fixes everything, doesn’t it!?” She replied. Getting angrier by the second and lifted Dirge by the horn. Forcing him to face her directly and their eyes only inches away from each other. “That was my son you killed, you wretched little freak! He was worth a thousand of you!” She ended by slamming his head down back to the ground. Followed by another cry.

“I-I’m... truly sorry f-for what I did. Just… p-please stop… !” Dirge cried out. But his plea went ignored.

“You want to know just how much damage you’ve done!?” She said as she got behind Dirge and stomped a forehoof on his back. His wings flapped wildly in response to the sudden pain. The female changeling applied more pressure under her hoof to keep him from wiggling away. “You want to know what it feels like to have something precious torn away from you!?”

Grunting from even more pain being inflicted onto him, Dirge was helpless in his struggle to escape as all he could do was flap his wings in a buzz and began more of his sobbing. Though one of his wings came to a halt when it was caught in the bite of the changeling on top and pulled it tightly to the side. Almost instantly, his wing was torn apart like a fragile leaf.

The young changeling opened his mouth wide in a loud screech from his wing being ripped apart. Yet once again when his other wing was also forcefully removed. Crying in agony from the further torment. Only a short moment later, all that was left of his wings were small shreds of where they stemmed.

“How does it feel, wretch?! Tell me, how does it feel when you’re the one on the verge!?” She went on, yelling at the young one with just a hint of sadness in her tone.

“What is going on in here!?” Another voice sounded off from the distance of the entrance. All four changelings gave their attention to the one sounding off, save for the child still on the ground, trying his best to hold in his cries from the pain.

A royal guard equipped in green armor, accompanied by two other guards in blue behind him, approached the scene to investigate the loud noises echoing throughout the vacant halls. The head of the group grit his teeth and growled furiously when he caught sight of the scene.

“Private! What’s the meaning of this!?” He asked. Upset by the discovery.

The guard who had been part of the group assisting in the torture hurried over to stand directly in front of the royal, saluting in response. “C-Captain Onyx, sir! I-I know this may seem unexpected, but… !”

While Dirge was only slightly relieved for the moment that the ongoing torment had stopped, he wasn’t all too happy to see his father had arrived to see him in his miserable state. Fearing the inevitable shame and scolding he would receive once he finished his questioning of the current situation.

Onyx shifted his attention from the group of changelings, then his son next to them on the ground in a defeated state, then leered towards the guard in front of him. “Mind explaining why my trainee is laying there in such a pitiful display? And why are there non-military drones in a restricted sector!?”

“I-I w-was merely showing some new recruits around the area and- !”

“It sounds to me like you were just about to give me an excuse, soldier.” Onyx interrupted. “And this child,” He said as he swiped the horsewhip away from the guard’s hoof, “is my responsibility. His fate and consequences are ultimately left for me to decide. For you to take that authority without consent is an offense to not only myself, but to the queen herself!”

“Sir Onyx! I must protest!” The female changeling spoke, walking up towards the captain. “What we have done is simply take action where none was taken! This child committed an inexcusable crime against- !”

“Silence!” Onyx chided. “Take it up with council! I’ve no patience for anymore of this insolence!” He said as he directed his next command towards the troops behind him. “Escort these three out of the area! Make sure they don’t wander off into any other sectors they’re not welcome in!”

The female changeling groaned as she and the rest of her company were lead out into halls, tailing behind the two guards. As for the other guard who was involved in the beatings, he was about to take his leave until his attention was forcefully turned to Captain Onyx once again when he was grabbed by the shoulder.

“As for you, Private… consider yourself suspended from duty until further notice. Until then, I wouldn’t bother showing my face near the queen, if I were you.”

“What!? B-but, sir… !”

“Dismissed, soldier!” Onyx finished. The changeling guard taking his leave towards the exit to join the rest who had left, walking away slowly with his head hung low in shame.

But before Onyx departed with them as well, he paused when he heard a quiet sob behind him. His ear perked up from the sound and leered at the fact that his son was still there and needed tending. To him, such a sight was too disgraceful to bear to look at and an inexcusable show of weakness. Nonetheless, he batted an eye to the last changeling left in the area. “Hmph. I thought I heard your pathetic cries nearby.”

“F-father… I…” The young Dirge tried to speak, but he felt his throat hindered from an inexplicable pressure building up inside him. “I’m…”

“Save it. You’re of no use to anyone in your current condition.” Onyx said as he took a quick look at him. Shaking his head in disapproval from examining him. “Tsk. Look at you. All that time invested into training and you still can’t even handle yourself against the meager drones of this hive.”

Dirge felt further pain swelling in him from his father’s words. Gritting his teeth as he tried to shed another tear from his already exhausted eyes.

“You’ve a lot to learn, boy.” Onyx said. Leaving his son to fight his own way out of his restraints and to his own weeping.

And that he sadly did. From the painful and vain flapping of his absent wings, to his cries concealed inside that dark and cavernous room, he laid there. Secluded for what felt like hours.

“Wow.” Crimson said sympathetically. “So, your pa just… left ya there? Grounded?”

“In a sense… yes.” While Dirge had been telling his story, his multitasking of peeling various apples throughout the session helped him focus more on the task instead. It certainly helped keep most of his emotions suppressed away from that memory. The work was proving to be therapeutic, along with having someone listen to his tale. Even if it was some pony who doubtfully could comprehend every detail.

“That’s mighty rough what happened to ya there. Is that why ya got all them big cuts on ya like that?” Crimson asked.

Dirge shook his head at his question. “No. That’s a different story altogether.” Although he described the beatings from his childhood, he had softened the narrative by censoring the violent and graphic parts of his story. Feeling them unnecessary for this pony’s ears.

“Oh...“Crimson said. “I get the feelin’ I shouldn’t be askin’ ya about ‘em then… but what happened after that? Ya didn’t just stay there all day, did ya?”

“I eventually gathered enough strength to move on my own. Fortunately, my mother found me a while later and aided in my recovery. If it wasn’t for her, I don’t know how I’d have turned out afterwards.”

“Huh. Well, ain’t that nice.” Crimson smiled at that. “Wish I could say the same about my ma. She just yells and scolds me all the time whenever I mess somethin’ up! S’like she enjoys givin’ me a bad day!”

Finishing another apple and placing it on top of the bucket beside him, Dirge replied, “I don’t think you’re giving her enough reasonable credit.”

“Ha! You try livin’ with her! It ain’t easy dealin’ with somepony beratin’ ya everyday!” Crimson asserted while he rushed through the peeling of his current apple. More so in frustration.

“I believe you’ve missed the point of my story.”

“Huh? Missed what?”

“If you had managed to accomplish your deed last night, you’d certainly face consequences. That much is certain. However, I doubt your caretakers would have inflicted penalties as heavy as I have beared in the past. She would never put you through the same. Care to guess why?”

“I… I dunno. Because… ?”

“You may not see it, but it’s there.” Dirge said as he calmly looked on to Crimson. “As your mother, she shows her affection to you in her own manners. As do many maternal figures.”

“Wha… ? But… she wouldn’t forgive me if I… “ Crimson uttered sadly.

“You’d learn. You’d regret. And in time… she’d forgive. Something I believe some of you ponies have the capacity for.”

Crimson sighed. Realizing the possibility of what the changeling had just said to him. “I… I think yer right. I guess she’s right sometimes. Don’t mean I don’t respect her for what she does for our family.”

With yet another apple added to the bucket, Dirge laid back in his chair and relaxed in his position. “Count your blessings. You won’t know the value of something until you’ve completely lost them.” He said. Reminiscing about his scarce but enjoyable days he had with his own mother until she had left his life. Melancholy became him in that short moment.

“Yeah. Yer right about that.” Crimson nodded in agreement. “Ya know… ya ain’t such a bad guy after all… uh?” He paused when he noticed the changeling’s smile had formed into a frown. “What’s, uh… what’s wrong?”

When Dirge had stayed silent throughout his brief recollections of his past, he woke back to reality when a knock came through the front door. Both his and Crimson’s attention were fixed on the farm pony who just entered.

“Heya, fellas. Just comin’ in to check on ya’ll.” Said Bushel, already setting eyes on the buckets of the fair number of apples already peeled. “Quite the work you’ve done so far. Keep this up and we’ll be ready sooner that later! Appreciate the help, stranger.” He finished by giving a kind nod to both of his helpers.

Not that Dirge had much choice between this or risking his way through a gathering of guards patrolling the town nearby. Nonetheless, he didn’t complain about his choice nor did he regret it. It had helped ease his mind somewhat from the stress that had built up from the past hour.

“Don’t worry about them ponies in shiny clad. Told ‘em there ain’t anything to see here so long as they don’t see us walkin’ around with ya by our side again. So far, they’re convinced, but I’d keep an eye out just in case.” Bushel claimed as he walked back out the door again. “Ya’ll can finish up with a couple more of those buckets and call it a day afterwards. Betty ‘n’ the girls are gonna be doin’ a lotta kitchen work soon and they’re gonna need all the space they can get. Feel free to rest up in yer room in the meantime, stranger.” Soon after closing the door as he had finished.

Crimson chuckled lightly at what his father stated. “Boy howdy, he ain’t kiddin’ about that! Once we start makin’ goods for a bake sale, this whole place is gonna be stacked with a buncha sweet goods! Mmmmm!” He said, smiling at the thought. “Ya should try some out once we get ‘em fresh ‘n’ ready! How ‘bout it?”

Although not much of a fan of anything that didn’t contain a healthy portion of meat in it, Dirge hesitated to give an answer. However, there really was no good reason to turn down free food. After those several seconds of thinking, he reluctantly replied to Crimson’s offer.

“I don’t see why not.”

“Great!” Crimson said happily. “Now that’s somethin’ to look forward to! Now then, let’s go on ahead and get these apples done! All this peelin’ starts to get borin’ after a while, ya know?”

From that moment on, the two took their time doing just that. Progressing through their work in a nonchalant manner as the day went by.

What had been a slow afternoon was now finally coming to its end when the evening hours had at last arrived. After dedicating enough time to nothing more than just buckets of apples and preparing them for later, Dirge retreated back to his guest room while Crimson joined the rest of his family at the dinner table. Sans Apple Betty who was keeping herself busy monitoring the pies inside the oven whilst cooling off the ones that had already been freshly done.

Candy Apples and Bushel were currently having a laugh at Apple Bumpkin’s confession about a certain guard she laid eyes on earlier in the day.

“What? I thought he was quite a stud! At least he was calmer than the rest of his friends trottin’ around the farm.”

“Haha! Bumpkin, almost all of them guards look alike! How’d you fall for this one out of all the dozen?” Asked Candy.

Betty couldn’t help but grin at that. “Oh, sweetie. When ya get around to my age, you’ll know how to pick out the right one with that special charm. Call it a ‘mare’s intuition’ if nothin’ else. Besides, how do you think I met your father?”

Bushel responded with a chuckle from her comment with a blush forming on his cheeks. “Eh heh heh. Now that’s another story, dear.”

“Oh? Was Uncle Bushel as awkward as he is now when you two first bumped into each other?” Bumpkin asked her aunt Betty sarcastically.

Every pony in the room burst out in another fit of laughter at the thought of the scenario. All except Crimson who was eating his sandwich and had grown rather bored and uninterested in the conversation taking place. With one hoof resting on his cheek and the other holding his meal, he took another bite and exhaled a sigh through his nostrils. Instead, wanting to return to the company of his changeling friend back upstairs.

After another gulp of food and a roll of his eyes later, Crimson decided to break from the doldrums and knew just how to do so. Getting up from his seat, he walked over to the fridge to find a few bottles of cider inside. Thinking this could top off his night on a positive note, as well as a certain someone else’s. Smiling, he grabbed two of them and held them with one hoof. Shortly then making his way to the stairs.

“Now don’t be goin’ overboard with those, son.” Bushel said. Making Crimson pause in his steps for a moment. “I don’t want ya wakin' up late with a hangover again. ‘Specially not for tomorrow.”

“I know, pa. Just gonna share a drink is all.” Crimson replied. Resuming his walk upstairs.

Meanwhile, within the guest room, Dirge had been keeping watch over the guard’s activity outside ever since his work had been done for the day. Peeking outside the window and keeping himself concealed behind the drapes, he could still see small glimpses of them patrolling the town. With most of the residents already retreating back inside their homes for the night, the guards however, were planning to stay for a lengthened amount of time. From the distance, an array of small lights could be seen moving from one place to another. As the evening darkened, the royals emitted magical lighting from their horns to aid in their continuing search.

Combined with the pegasi also surveying the land from above and an unknown number of them remaining close to the barn, Dirge thought it too risky for now to attempt an escape. Instead, considered waiting another night to see if they would clear out the next day until he could make a move.

For now, he took his sight away from the window and thought about taking another shot at using of his magic again. It had been some time since he last attempted it. Previously, his horn was still too sensitive after being badly damaged and hadn’t had enough time to properly recover. He felt confident enough to try again this time and see if making use of a simple shapeshifting spell would yield any result.

Dirge tapped the sides of his horn with his hoof. Fortunately, he felt no sign of pain from the touch and decided the bandages were no longer necessary. Removing them immediately but carefully as the long strip of gauze spiralled off onto the floor. With it gone, his horn felt just a bit lighter with more room for concentration.

Taking a deep breath and exhaling calmly afterwards, Dirge closed his eyes and focused with all his mental energy at casting the usual shapeshifting magic. His horn started to glow a faint green, but the spell was starting to feel like as if it required more than the needed magic. Concentrating even further, Dirge put more effort into the spell. At this point, the glow became brighter. However, as it did, there were still no noticeable effects taking place. Gritting his teeth, he put more of his strength into it until sparks started to fly out of the broken half of his horn. Then suddenly…

BZZT!

“Ergh!” Dirge grunted and fell onto his haunches from the sharp pain he felt after the show of sparks that erupted from his horn. With a headache resulting from the failure of the spell, he tried to apply pressure to his head. But when he inspected his hoof again, he noticed a small splotch of blood. A tiny stream of the dark fluid had leaked off the tip of his horn.

Sighing, Dirge thought it too futile to attempt another casting of the spell. Rising to his hooves, a knock on the door came and caught his attention. Quickly wiping away the leftover blood.

“Enter.”

From the other side, Crimson opened the door. With a gentle smile and two bottles of cider held, he welcomed himself in.

“Heya! Hope I ain’t interruptin’ anythin’. Just came by and thought I’d share a drink with ya.” He said as he set the bottles down next to the bed. Though his smile waned when he noticed his friend looked a tad frustrated. “Ya alright?”

But Dirge tried to hide his expression and turned his face away from him, looking back to the view outside the window. “Nevermind.”

Regardless of his response, Crimson pushed on with his optimism and sat next to the changeling. Thinking of good way to start off a conversation to help lighten the mood. Beginning with, “I was thinkin’ ya might’ve gotten kinda lonely in here by yerself, seein’ as how my family downstairs already have their own chatter goin’ on. Thought ya could use some company.” He said. Momentarily noticing Dirge’s gaze towards the town ahead. Looking the same way, Crimson also noticed the guards still wandering about. “They still at it, huh? Well, I wouldn’t worry about ‘em too much. Looks like they’re keepin’ their distance now.”

For the next several moments, both of them had watched not only the townsponies from afar go about their ways, but the sun slowly starting to set, with the last of the day’s light fading with it. In its stead, the sky darkened into its natural navy blue as the moon took its time ascending to its place among the stars, also coming into view. Crickets began their chirping, owls hooting from the treetops, and the cumulative howls of other creatures in the distant forest all sounded off with the arrival of the night.

“Kinda nice, ain’t it?” Crimson said, complimenting the scenery. “Princess Luna sure does know how to make the night all lively.”

Dirge did indeed admire the view. Instances like these were almost rare for him when he had spent most of his life inside the Hive. The ambience helped some in taking away from the stress the day had left over. Though he snapped out of his distracted state when he heard the sounds of hisses and pops behind him. When he looked back, he was presented with a bottle of cider.

“Here!” Crimson smiled as he held an opened bottle in his hoof. “Best drink it while it’s chilled! Tastes a whole lot better that way.”

Taking the cold glass container in his hoof, Dirge took a moment to smell the contents of the inside. The sweet scent was enticing by itself, but there was another strong smell along with it. The latter giving him a second thought about drinking any of it.

“What? Ain’t any of you changeling folk ever had cider before?” Crimson said. Laughing at the idea. “Unless yer not a fan of the alcohol, that is.”

That was the keyword. Dirge, along with the rest of Hive’s fleet, had been warned many times about this ‘alcohol’. Placing a strict taboo on the consumption of this strange liquid. It had been said that this very substance could somehow expose changelings from their disguises since it had the ability to encourage carelessness. Ponies had been evident of this already.

This explained the unknown odor coming from the beverage. However, his curiosity got the better of him when Dirge decided to find out just how potent this alcohol was. Taking the top of the bottle to his mouth, he took just a sip of the drink and gulped it down. But he expressed displeasure when he found the strong and seemingly foul taste to be nothing to brag about.

“So? How’d ya like it?” Crimson asked.

Shaking his head, Dirge set the bottle down next to him. “Not my taste.”

“Huh. Really?” Crimson said almost disappointingly, but lit up when he had another bottle to himself. “Well… more for me!” Taking a drink of his cider before turning his eyes back outside along with his friend’s. “So, what’re ya thinkin’ about?”

Taking a moment to respond, Dirge could not think of a way to simplify his thoughts into a single answer. “Nothing you’d comprehend.”

“Umm… whaddya mean?”

Sighing, Dirge clarified his question. “It means you're better off not understanding.”

“O… kay then?” Crimson raised an eye at that. Gulping down another helping of cider. “Why not talk about somethin’ ya like instead? Could be anything.”

Half a minute later of pondering and Dirge eventually thought of something he found appropriate to reveal. “I’ve been meaning to say… you remind me of a certain friend of mine. In some aspects, really.”

“Huh? I do? How?”

“Heh.” Dirge chuckled as he couldn’t help thinking about it. “You both share quite some similar reactions when it comes to danger. Wasn’t the brightest among his peers either. Always trying to find an easy way out of a situation. Of course, in the end, some dumb luck would come to the rescue. Not to mention you both had a distinct fear of me when we first met.”

“Eh heh. Is that what ya really think of me?” Crimson said with a nervous smile.. “So, where is this friend of yers now?”

With a hopeful look, Dirge gazed back up towards the night sky. “Can’t say. Haven’t seen him for some time. He could be anywhere. But knowing him, through some weird twist of fortune… he’s managed on his own.”

“You two must be really good friends then. I kinda thought you weren’t really the type to have any. Uh… no offense.”

What he said made Dirge think over that comment for a moment. “I thought the same.”

“Ah. Kinda reminds me of an ol’ filly friend of mine from a long time ago.” Crimson said. Blushing from recalling his nostalgia. “We was just kids back then, but she used to be one of my only friends when all the other colts thought I was too weird ‘n’ such to hang out with ‘em. Whenever I got picked on by some jerk, she used to get me out of it. Course, sometimes we’d get in trouble in the end, but she’d still stick by me. Heck, she’d even believe me when I said the teacher was possessed by some evil magic when we got too much homework!” Laughing from the last part of his reminiscing. “Aww, shucks. Didn’t mean to ramble on like that. Heh heh.”

Dirge, however, didn’t seem to mind the stallion’s take on the recollection of his own past. The emotions he radiated during that little story made the atmosphere all the more exquisite.

“Hey, I was wonderin’ somethin’ about ya. How come they call ya ‘changelings’? Is it cause ya can change into other ponies like I saw yer buddies do last time?” Crimson asked, then immediately raised an excited grin. “Hey! Think ya can show me right now ‘n’ see how it’s done?”

But Dirge was not enthusiastic about his request. “You’re asking the wrong changeling.”

“Wha… ? But I thought you were--” Crimson said, but stopped when he noticed the broken horn. “Oh. Umm… s-sorry I asked. Guessin’ with yer horn the way it is, yer magic ain’t gonna work neither. How’d ya hurt yerself anyway?” Asking as he took another gulp of his cider.

As much as it pained him to think back to that unfortunate moment, Dirge looked up towards the moon. It’s gentle glow helped calm his nerves. “Just another mishap, I suppose.”

“Musta been a real bad one. I get the feelin’ ya don’t wanna talk about it, so I ain’t gonna push the subject.” Crimson said in a sympathetic tone. “But… just one more question, if ya don’t mind?”

From the moon’s light, Dirge shifted his attention back to Crimson’s shy expression.

Scratching the back of his neck nervously, Crimson asked, “So, uh… what planet are ya really from?”

Concluding that the young stallion’s nonsensical question was nothing more than just another attempt at humor, Dirge couldn’t help but snicker. Then, a rather loud chuckling followed.

“Hey! What’s so funny!? I’m bein’ serious!”

For the first time for as long as he could remember, Dirge laughed out loud. Indulging in that enjoyable moment, he had shortly forgotten about the day’s woes. Even if Crimson looked as if he was being made light of. Regardless, he had provided a good amount of emotional relief.

From that point on, the night went on without anymore unpleasant interruptions. With the natural ambience of the creatures of the night drowning out the muffled laughter from within the barn.

Later through the night, only prior to less than half an hour before sunrise, a rooster began sounding off with its normally loud crowing.

Dirge had awakened, one wink at a time, to the repetitive noises from outside. Crimson’s snoring also proved in making him more restless by the second. The pony laid on the guest bed in a lazy position, with the cider bottles littered next to his hoof, hanging off the side of the bed.

Throughout most of the night, he had sat and dozed, on and off, near the window to keep further watch for anymore movement from the guards. Peering through the drapes, the town ahead seemed to be void of any activity. Appearing to be rather quiet, though that wasn’t surprising at this hour.

Convinced that this was the best chance to finally make his departure, Dirge rose to his hooves and started to gather his belongings. Donning his fur cloth and pendant, he made his way to his straw hat hanging on the rack next to the door, but paused in his tracks when he sensed a strong but familiar emotion lingering in the air.

It was love. Not the kind one would commonly give to friends or family, but unmistakably, the sort that any would strongly express for a lover.

Dirge took in hints of its presence and looked to where the source was emanating from.

Crimson Delight, still sound asleep, had the silliest grin on his face. Mouth slightly agape from the drool he was seeping onto the pillow.

Approaching the young stallion quietly, Dirge observed his sleep for a moment and pondered just what sort of dream he was currently having to make him radiate that amount of affection. Before he bothered to come to a conclusion, he decided to take the opportunity to feed off some of it and stave off a bit of his hunger. Opening his mouth, he began extracting the emotional energy through a stream of green mist. Slowly and carefully as to not force them out of the pony and wake him up.

But Dirge stopped his feeding when Crimson snorted loudly, twitching in response to a slight discomfort. Through those emotions, the changeling had a better idea of why he was giving off so much love. It was the sort of fondness one would give off for someone they longed for. Then he recalled last night’s brief story of the pony’s childhood.

Smiling softly from the satisfaction of not only from last night’s stress relief, but the amusement Crimson Delight had provided throughout his stay. Regardless of his ill intent at first.

Leaving the young stallion to more of his dreaming, Dirge resumed his silent exit and placed the straw cap on his head as he walked out of the room.

Making his way downstairs and to the front door, he opened it halfway to inspect the surroundings outside. There were no signs of the royal guard anywhere nor any pegasi hovering above the morning sky. But Dirge took his time looking around the area until he heard the sound of hoofsteps creaking on the wooden floor behind him.

“Leavin’ so soon?”

Apple Betty asked as she stood there curious, looking as if she had just gotten up fresh out of bed.

“I felt it was time.” Dirge replied. “No point in staying here any longer.”

“Just yer time, huh? I understand. We all got places to be ‘n’ all. ” Betty said smiling. “Was nice gettin’ to know ya while you were still here.” Approaching him and giving the changeling a couple pats on the back. “Ya weren’t as bad as some ponies made ya out to be, ya know?”

While he accepted the compliment somberly, Dirge retained his focus back towards the view outside the door. Still on edge for any remaining guard that may possibly be lurking nearby.

“Lookin’ for them guards? They all shoulda left by now. Probably gone back to Canterlot. Ain’t got much reason to look for one changeling in the same place all day, really.” Betty said. Though she arched an eye when she asked, “But… where are ya headed for anyway?”

But Dirge, himself, didn’t have an answer to that either. “Who knows?”

Stepping outside into full view, he looked around to see that the mare was most likely correct in her assumption. There were no signs of them anywhere. Though whatever the case, he saw a good opening into the forest beyond the orchards. A better path to evade anymore attention. He made his first steps there, but halted when Betty called out to him.

“Wait! Ya forgot somethin’!”

Dirge inspected himself over to see that he was sure he didn’t leave anything behind. Positive that he hadn’t, he looked back to the mare doubtfully. “I’m certain I didn’t.”

“Come over here for a sec!” She said as she waved to him and promptly went back inside.

While Dirge waited outside the front door, she returned almost a minute later with one of her homemade apple pies. “Here! Don’t want ya gettin’ too hungry on yer way, so I thought ya might want one of these. First one’s on the house!” She said. Placing the pie into his saddlebag. “Even shrink wrapped it for ya.”

Though he appreciated the mare’s kind offering, he wasn’t all too excited over the pie. Perhaps saving it as a last resort should his personal preference for food become too scarce. Nonetheless, Dirge responded with a quick nod to her. “My regards.”

“Think nothin’ of it! Next time ya decide to stop by in town, be sure to look us up! Don’t be a stranger then!”

As much as he doubted his return to this place, Dirge was grateful he made some new allies out of unlikely odds.

And with that, the changeling proceeded with his trek out of the farm’s territory and into his next destination ahead. Apple Betty waving goodbye as the sun began to shine from its rising in the distance.

Later that morning, Betty made her way to her favorite cafe for her usual breakfast. Entering inside, she found that the place was expectedly empty only shortly after opening its doors, being the first customer of the day. She took her seat next to the window and looked outside towards the view. Wishing the traveling changeling a safe journey with a smile.

“Oh! Betty!” Apple Fritter called out when she spotted her.

“Mornin’, Frit!” Betty replied with a wave of her hoof over to her.

Trotting over to her friend, Fritter showed concern when she began asking, “So, what happened? Were there really any changelings? Did that stranger turn out to be one after all?”

“Oh, don’t go worryin’ about that! He wasn’t such a bad guy after all!”

“S-so… he wasn’t a changeling?”

“Oh no, he was one alright!”

Fritter gasped at that. “What!? Oh my gosh! It didn’t hurt ya or anythin’, did it!? We gotta call the guards back!”

“Relax, Fritter.” Betty stated calmly. “The changelin’ I know isn’t what yer expectin’ him to be, really!”

“But… how are ya so sure?”

“Ya might think me crazy, but that stranger reminded me of somethin’ very important…” Betty said as she gazed out into the fields beyond the town of Appleton.

As Dirge wandered through the thicket of the forest, he saw an opening towards a clearing and headed straight for it. Already making his way out, he came across the dirt road leading back to the town ahead, which appeared to be nothing more than a faraway blur at this point. He stood there for a moment, reminiscing his time from the days past and what he was leaving behind for the pursuit of his own goals.

“Ya know, Frit? There’s an ol’ saying my ma used to teach me back when I was a young filly. That we can’t let a few bad apples spoil a whole bunch. Ya gotta learn how to pick out the good ones from the bad! I mean, it wouldn’t make sense just lettin’ ‘em all go to waste when ya don’t put in the effort to get to know the rest better!”

“So… you’re saying we should start trusting changelings? Ya ain’t making much sense, Betty...”

Snapping back to reality, Dirge resumed his voyage back to the road in front of him. Where it lead to was unknown, for the vast green fields of Equestria were seemingly endless, but filled with possibilities and perils.

“It actually ain’t all that complicated! What I’m sayin’ is: Ya can’t judge everypony by their cover! Sure, a lot of us are guilty of that, but I knew better when I first met him. And I don’t regret givin’ him a chance neither! In fact, once we got around to chattin’ with him, he seemed like a pretty troubled guy.”

Out of the corner of his eye, Dirge spotted a large brown feather stuck between blades of grass. It appeared too big to belong to any pegasi in specific. Examining it closer, its scent was reminiscent of a certain creature. Almost as if he had smelled it before. But when he further looked around the area, a few more of them were scattered around. A particular one stuck out of a hoof print on the ground. Though there were more claw marks and rough patches here and there among the road. Evidence of a struggle that may have taken place earlier.

“But then my son was talkin’ about all kinds of things about him last night. Like where he came from ‘n’ other things like... oh! The fella even had a name after all!”

“Really? What was its name?”

As he watched the last of the feathers fly into the sky from a sudden gust of wind, his hat was also simultaneously blown away from his head. Landing a short distance away from his reach, he frustratingly went to pick it back up. But before doing so, a loud rustling in the tree to the right of him was heard. Dirge immediately sprang into a defensive stance as a dark figure was seen jumping down into the bushes below. Too quick for his eyes to catch sight of who or what it was.

“I believe it was… Doug? Didge? Dirb? Aww, shoot. What was it again?”

The mysterious form revealed itself as it leaped out of the bush. That’s when Dirge softened his aggression when he was surprised to see a common, yet unfamiliar face. One he didn’t expect to see so soon.

“Oh, now I remember! It was… !”

“Dirge!?”