Winter the Snow-White Changeling

First Love

A filly sat alone on a park bench in Canterlot one snowy winter eve. Ponies would pass by her but would pay no mind. She was different. Not the “okay” different, the “stay away from her” different. It's because of one fact about her: she was a Changeling. But not the normal one that feed off of love when ever it can. She was an exceedingly rare albino Changeling that only care for love when ever a pony would compliment her, which was like her: exceedingly rare. Tears streamed down her face as she stared at her hooves. No pony liked her, all except her mother, that is. “Why are you crying?” a pony asked suddenly. The filly snapped her head up but let the tears continue.

“W-What do you want?” she questioned rather hostile.

“I want you to answer my question.” the pony answered. “Why are you crying?” The filly's watery eyes cleared and she saw who the pony was: it was a colt, pegasus and a little older than her. His coat was a sky blue and complimented his sunflower-yellow mane and tail. His emerald eye stared at her disguised ocean blue ones.

“No pony likes me...” she explained.

“Why would no pony like somepony as cute as you?” he questioned. The disguised Changeling hiccuped slightly from the sudden affection. He couldn't see past her disguise, which was a pink colored unicorn with a long lavender hair.

“It's because I'm......different.” she pouted as she looked away.

“Different? How?” he questioned again. Now she couldn't duck out of it, his curiosity was too much for her to deny an answer. With a huff, her horn glowed an ice-blue instead of the normal “Changeling green” and the disguise wavered. With a pass of her magic down her body, her true form was revealed to the colt. Her horn morphed into its regular, well, irregular, shape, her mane and tail turned into a transparent emerald, and her coat switched to a brilliant snow-white. She opened her eyes that now were slitted, but kept the ocean-blue coloration, and looked at the surprisingly not scared colt.

His cheeks were pushed back as his mouth curved upwards into a smile. The filly, now very confused, tilted her head. “You're not scared?” she wondered.

“Nope!” he replied. “I actually think Changelings are pretty cute!” The filly hiccuped again. Now her spirits were brightening as he continued to compliment. “But why are you white? I thought Changelings were black.” he noted.

“I'm an albino.” she answered.

“Oh. That's cool!” he complimented, earning another hiccup. Then, the colt got an idea. “Hey, how about you come to my place for the night?” he proposed.

“R-Really?” she asked with a beaming smile.

“Yeah!” The filly smiled and leaped onto the colt in a big hug. The colt stumbled back and fell onto his back. The filly giggled uncontrollably as she hugged the colt. As she pulled away from the hug, their muzzles touched. Her face warmed up and turned a bright crimson. She got up quickly and helped the pegasus up. “I-I'm sorry....” she apologized as she brushed off the last of the snow off of her coat.

“It's okay.” he accepted. “I just hope momma will let you stay.”

“Who's your mom?” she wondered.

“Princess Celestia herself!” he answered with a smile.

“Princess Celestia!? That means you're.....” the filly blushed again with more intensity. “C-C-Crowne R-R-Royale!”

“Yes I am!” he smiled.

Now she knew that this colt was the sole child of Princess Celestia and Kite Shield. Also the cutest colt at his mom's school. She giggled nervously and looked away. Crowne chuckled lightly. “You're cuter when you blush.” he noted. This was the third time the filly hiccuped. No pony except her mother has given her this much affection. She looked at him as he approached her. Crowne stood beside her and draped one of his small wings across her back. She didn't realized how cold she was when they were talking until his body pressed on hers. She could feel his heart radiate love with each thump. Crowne bit down on his scarf and unraveled it. The filly was about to protest why he did that but her answer came when he wrapped his scarf around her neck.

The sunset orange scarf was warm, probably from him wearing it. She nuzzled into it to soak up the warmth as Crowne smiled at her. “Better?” he wondered, earning a small nod. They started walking along when something in Crowne's mind caused him to realize something. “I forgot to ask what your name was.” he pointed out.

“My name's Winter.” she smiled.

They walked along until they reached the gates to the castle where the guards let them through. With each turn of her head, Winter's joy grew since this was the first time she has been past the gates. Crowne looked at her and smiled. He opened the door to let Winter in and she strolled in. A gust of warm air blew in and a smile and relieving sigh came from Winter. "C'mon, momma's probably in her room." Crowne told as Winter politely handed his scarf back folded. As they walked through the massive halls, Winter saw paintings and pictures of Celestia and her sister, Luna, either by themselves or together. Then she began seeing pictures of Luna and another batpony and Celestia with one of her guards. She stopped in front of one where is was Luna and Celestia with the batpony and guard. "Who are those?" she wondered.

"The guard is my dad, Kite Shield. He's the greatest guard and the best poppa." he explained. "The batpony is my uncle, Night Shade. He, too, was a guard but more of the stealth than the brute force like my dad."

"Oh." she responded. They continued to walk down the hall and Winter started to see portraits of Crowne and family photos with him. Crowne stopped as they approached two large lavender doors. When Winter rejoined him, he nudged the doors open. Winter's jaw dropped when she saw the Throne Room with her very own eyes. Even though she has seen pictures of it, she found out it's a lot better in person. Crowne walked at the same leisurely pace as Winter as she examined each and every window. But one of them caught her eye. It was of a slate grey unicorn with a lavender alicorn, which she identified as Princess Twilight Sparkle. "Who's that with the princess?" she wonder as she stood in front of it.

"That would be me, my dear." a pony answered. She and Crowne turned to see the stallion in question. He was wearing a red and jet black suit of armor and his red eyes were heavy with tiredness. After a long look at him, Winter found out that it was the reformed King, who changed his title to Prince upon his marriage, Sombra, and he looked anything but happy. "Your mother is worried sick, Winter. Come this way." he commanded.

Sombra led Crowne and Winter, who had her head hung low, down the direction they were initially going. After a flight of stairs, they reached the door to Celestia's chambers, which had her cutie mark on it and two guards posted. Sombra didn't bother a knock and opened the door. Inside, Celestia was reclined on her bed as Kite tried to keep a worried Chrysalis calm. Chrysalis approached and hugged Winter in one quick movement. "Where were you?" she questioned. "You had me worried sick!"

"I was at the park..." she answered.

"Why were you there?" Chrysalis continued.

"Ponies were being mean...I hate them..." she explained with a sniffle.

"And where were you mister?" Kite questioned Crowne as Crowne jumped onto the bed.

"I saw Winter going in a direction away from her house and I was going to get her." Crowne explained.

"That was very kind of you, Crowne." Celestia congratulated. "But you should have sent a letter to a guard telling us why you're late.

"Yes, momma." he nodded.

"Did you just say that you were being bullied?" Chrysalis asked. Winter couldn't hold it back any more. She threw herself onto Chrysalis in a fit of tears and wails. She cried how they picked on her for being a Changeling and how her color was too bright and how she would never fit in. All Chrysalis could do during this transaction was to rub her broken child's back and rock her back and forth.

After a few minutes, Winter calmed down but would occasionally sniffle or wipe a tear. Chrysalis pulled her daughter off and smiled warmly. "You don't have listen to those mean ponies, my daughter." she noted. "Just let them say what they want. Do you know why?"

"Why's that?" she wondered.

"Because I know that you will achieve great things when you're older, Winter." Chrysalis answered with a big smiled and a small nuzzle of her daughter's chin. "Don't you EVER listen to them again."

"I will, mommy." Winter nodded.

"Hey, mom?" Crowne began.

"Yes?"

"Would it be okay if Winter spent the night here?" he wondered. Celestia looked over at Chrysalis who looked like she didn't mind. Celestia returned her gaze to Crowne and nodded. The stallion smiled and jumped into the air. "C'mon, Winter! My room's this way!" Crowne explained. The filly and colt's giggles resonated through the halls as they ran along. Chrysalis smiled as she watch them run along. "She reminds me of me when I was younger." Chrysalis commented.

"How so?" Celestia wondered.

"She's carefree and has much potential in her life." she explained. "I hope she doesn't go down the path I went."