Filthby ViChaptersBirthObservationThe BreederThe High DistrictBirth“Next?” “Female. Born one hour, twenty minutes ago.” “No. The horn is shaped wrong, and bent right here, see? And the body is too small.” “We will dispose of it immediately.” “Excellent. Next?” “Female. Born one hour, sixteen minutes ago.” “Well, let’s see here. Hmm, no physical deformities to be seen. Good. Next?” "Male. Born..." My childhood wasn’t really too bad. Sure, Mother and I were a part of the lowest echelons of society, but at least life was relatively simple. Every adult woke up and did what they were supposed to do until the end of the day. Then they’d just do it again the next day, and all the days after. Me? I would wake up and go out to play with the other children. I ran through the streets with them, taunting and playing pranks on the Guards. We’d wrestle and rough-house with each other. Sometimes we’d rummage through the odd piles of things on the Outskirts, seeking the hidden treasures within them, arguing and fighting amongst each other for the best spoils. We’d talk about our future purposes with a fervor only the young could possess. What would it be like to be a Cleaner, a Worker, or a Charge? Many of the males dreamed of being a part of the Guard. Not just the regular, cynical ones patrolling the markets and walkways, singularly trained to rain down blows and hurl obscenities at us with equal measure. There was a higher calling for them: Warriors. Not that we actually knew what they were. Only a few of the males were taken away, past the gates leading into the fabled High District. We all wanted to know what and who was up there. We all had our speculations, and reveled in the gossip of the magical city that lay beyond most of our reaches, behind the line of guards hovering just before the gates. But this place, the Lower District, was the only place I needed. I had everything I could ever dream of wanting. Here in the dark city I was a Queen and the refuse was my kingdom. I started to help Mother watch the store once I grew older. It was a small shop with a lone counter and a couple shelves, packed into a tiny nameless neighborhood sequestered in the Lower District. The familiar faces of our little community would pass through, coming each day to pick up what they needed before they headed off to work. Sometimes they’d come just to say hello to my Mother. Just like everyone, we didn’t have much to give, but we gave everyone what they needed. Mother was always proud of what she provided. It was difficult, searching for treasures through the endlessly expansive Outskirt piles. Even more difficult were the Guards constantly hovering above, keeping any fliers from the openings above the Outskirts where the things fell out. And if you found something good, they were sure to take it from you, no argument permitted. Despite that, Mother was as good as any Scavenger could possibly be. Somehow, she always knew just when the good things would fall down into the Outskirts. Her whole body would freeze and her ears would swivel back and forth, a near-maniacal smile spreading across her face. This would happen many times a week. Sometimes she’d have the feeling come strong enough to warrant my coming with her, so there’d be an extra pair of hooves to carry treasures to the store. I knew better than to struggle when she would excitedly whisk me up and out of the Lower District. Not that I minded. Flying speedily over the district on her back, dodging the Guard and snatching up treasures to sell in our shop was nothing but pure exhilaration to me. It was a few weeks before my twelfth birthday when the latest rumor raced its way through the city. Rumors always spread quickly. They were daylong fantasies for the working class, a welcome distraction from the constant routine. A young female Nobleblood had been spotted outside of the High District. One of the Guards had sworn on his pride to have seen her wandering through the Lower Market Square. The Guards mobilized, and the Lower District was abuzz. I had just been in the square myself, picking up the daily ration gels from the distribution center. I didn’t see any Nobleblood, but then, I was concentrating more on the meager amount of gel we had gotten for today. The ration size seemed to be getting smaller and smaller with every passing week. ‘How much smaller will it get?’ I had wondered at the time. Making my way back to my neighborhood, my ears picked up pieces of the rumor from various passers-by. Of course I had taken quickly to the gossip with all my young curiosity. What did a Nobleblood from the High District look like anyways? Would she be nice? I hoped she was. Maybe she’d be able to tell me about what the High District was like. Maybe we could be friends? I found my way back home while the questions danced away in my head. “I’m back Mother!” Walking into the store, I slid the bag of rations from my back and started sorting them into one of the shelves. Suddenly, the wild sound of galloping resounded from the back of our home and grew closer to the front of our store. I didn’t even have a chance to turn around as Mother rushed past me. “Got the feeling right now something’s good coming down in the Outskirts finish shelving the rations and open up the store I’ll only be a few minutes!” The hasty string of words trailed off as Mother bounded out of the store and into the air, speeding off to her next big find. I could feel her enthusiasm trickle up my hooves, and couldn’t help smiling as I went back to shelving the rations. Maybe she’d find some much needed food gel. Maybe a book with pictures, or a few flicker crystals? Those always sold well, and we needed a few more to light this place up. It was getting darker inside again. I was nearly finished when the first customer walked in. I turned around to find myself looking at a Guard standing at the entrance, looking all over the inside of the store. Not one of the ordinary Lower Guards, in the grey armor, holding a club for beating the most troublesome of us children. This one was cloaked in a deep purple armor. His posture rang with purpose, and a well-polished poleaxe was strapped across his back. “Citizen! I am here to ask if-” The Guard seemed to lock up in surprise as he met my eyes. “Oh! Here you are! My apologies, Miss.” He knelt down to bow. “We had received word of you here in this filthy district. Please, tell me the name of your House, and I shall get started on arranging an escort to take you home.” I could only stand in place, utterly flabbergasted by the sincerity of this Guard. “Uhhhh…what?” The Guard stood up and tilted his head to the side. “Miss, are you feeling well? Do you have a fever, or any sort of injury to the head? Any confusion?” They never asked how you were doing. What was this? I held a hoof to my head, trying to process the words. “Er, yes, I feel very confused. Um, why…what’s-” He came close, looking me over. “Huh, your eyes are glazed over. I don’t know what this means, but it might not be good. Please Miss, come with me and I’ll take you to the Physicians immediately.” I was quickly and gently guided out of my home, as though I was some fragile treasure. Outside, I recognized the familiar faces of the community poking their heads out of windows and standing stock still in the street, staring at the strange scene happening right before them. I would have been shocked too. A Guard holding the hoof of a commoner. Who would have thought it possible? What a surreal sight. “The High Command has assembled in the market square. I can carry you back to where the Captain is waiting, and we will order a chariot to take you back to your House from there. They must be so worried for you.” Finally, I was able to string a few coherent words together. Be polite, be polite. “N-no! No, thank you mister, this is my house right here. I don’t know what’s going on, but my mother will-” He scooped me up right then and there and began hovering off the ground. “Apologies little Miss, but I think you’re still little confused. We’ll get this whole mess sorted back in the High District.” “What? No! I’m not- Stop! Put me down!” I squirmed in his unyielding grip. “You! Get your hooves off of my daughter!” I looked up to see my mother flying over a now growing crowd of onlookers. Dropping her bag from her mouth, she swooped down, wings folding against her as she streaked through the sky and collided into us mid-air. She wrenched me out of the startled Guard’s grip, and the three of us tumbled to the ground below. I lifted my head, groaning. My mother lay dazed on the ground next to me, while the Guard recovered quickly and jumped to his hooves. “Filth! How dare you interfere with the duty a Royal Warrior! And worse, assault a foal of the High Noble Houses!” He grit his teeth, and I heard the crowd of onlookers gasp as he grabbed the poleaxe with both hooves, rising to his hind legs as the deadly weapon swung around his back and rested right above my mother’s dazed form. “Know your place!” He pulled the axe back. I shivered as the poleaxe began to swing down. “No!” I leapt directly into the path of the oncoming weapon. I saw the Guards eyes widen in panic as mine closed in fear. I felt a tap on my left shoulder. Slowly, I opened my eyes. The strange purple Guard’s jaw was hanging open in shock and horror. My friends and neighbors looked out from the crowd, faces filled with worry and fear. I slowly turned my head to the left, at the well-polished poleaxe resting in my shoulder. I was not surprised at the thin trickle of green trailing out of my body. No, I was surprised to see my face, staring out from the blood-speckled reflection of the metal. I remember thinking how strange it was to look into my eyes, and see two black circles emerging out of two pools of light blue. ObservationNo one knew what to do with me. On the first day, there had been many arguments between the strangers as to where I should have been sent off to. 'Should you leave a possible Nobleblood in the slums, or should you bring a commoner to the High District?' they would bicker. It was eventually decided that I would remain home. Not that it felt like home anymore. Our store was shut down and filled with the strangers, rather than the warm, familiar smiles of our customers. They watched Mother and me for days. We couldn’t leave. We couldn’t see our friends or neighbors. ‘Observers’, was what they called themselves. Wanted to ‘document my transformation,’ they said. Apparently, there was a lot to document. For one, those little black circles that showed up in my eyes grew into 'pupils'. The 'irises' started showing up a few days later. I have to say, I wasn’t really comfortable watching my eyes shift out of the natural blue I- well, the natural blue everyone else had. My mane even started to grow out in unnatural places on my head. By unnatural places, I mean everywhere on my head. To make it worse, it started growing and growing unbelievably fast, along with my tail. Out was my once nice and manageable mane and tail of gray. In was a long and stringy mane and tail, itching my face and dragging all over the floor. When the Observers decided they would take samples of each, I wasted no time in grabbing a Guard’s axe and slicing them both off to the base. They didn’t seem very pleased by the action, but I certainly was. They started keeping me on the table more after that one. They kept Mother on a table too. When she wasn’t having her blood drawn, or her fangs scraped, or her birth canals examined, she was hammered by the Observers and their questions. “Were there any unusual circumstances in the birth?” “No, she was born just like any other changeling.” “Where is the sire?” “My husband passed on many years ago.” “How did the sire die?” “…Starvation.” “Are you certain?” “Yes. Yes, I am certain.” “For how long did you know the sire?” “Since we were both larvae.” “Are you certain?” “Yes, I am certain.” “Have you ever been to the High District?” “No.” “Were you ever bred by a Nobleblood?” “No…only my husband.” “Are you certain?” “Yes, I am certain.” I could get used to the needles, and the cold hooves poking and roaming in uncomfortable places on my body. I could get used to the stiff tables, the collection of my bodily fluids and excretions, and the knowledge that a dozen strangers watched my every movement in every second of every day. But out of everything happening over that seemingly infinte span of days, it was Mother's change which was the most disturbing. Gone was the sparky enthusiasm and over-the-top energy put into every task and conversation she eagerly took part in. In her place was a resigned and neutral-toned female changeling. She lay on the table, eyes pointed straight towards the ceiling of our home, tiredly listing off the answers to every invasive question into her life, wincing at the occasional needle being shoved deep through her carapace. They came endlessly and unforgivingly, the questions and needles, puncturing the deepest parts of her over and over again. I could see each time she faltered. She would pull her eyes from the ceiling, and through the several Observers standing between us, she’d glance towards me, lying on a table farther away. And I could see, just barely, a corner of her lips pull up in a pained smile. Her eyes would close, and she’d inhale deeply. When her eyes finally opened, they would be once again firmly locked onto the ceiling above her. I couldn’t help but feel guilty. All of this was because of me. But what had I done? What was I becoming? I wanted to apologize to Mother. She didn’t deserve to be here. I was the strange one. Why were they doing this? What was going to happen? The questions stormed ceaselessly through my mind. I tried to be strong in the way Mother was. I thought about how much I loved her. But I was so afraid. What would happen if they took me away from her? The BreederThe Royal Breeder came on the day I turned twelve. I was deathly nervous. Today would be the most life-changing of days. The way the Observers had studied me over these many days had made me believe I was turning into an abomination. But now, watching alongside the Observers and Guards in our home, their eyes reverently following the Royal Breeder as she strolled seamlessly through the front door, I could only sigh in relief. ‘At least one changeling looks like me.’ I had no real understanding of beauty before that moment of time. Her long, light green mane hung low, almost trailing to the ground. She held her head evenly, a graceful smile adorning her face, perfect fangs gleaming in the low light of the flicker crystals. Her gaze met mine, and I saw her ‘pupils’ widen and brows lift before she settled back down into her smile. The tall changeling seemingly floated through our store, which was comically puny compared to her height. The Observers and Guards surrounding Mother and I parted as she passed through them, until she was standing just over us. “Well,” she leaned down, cupping my cheek in her hoof and raising my head to inspect me, “aren’t you an interesting little changeling?” “Um…thank you?” “You’re welcome,” she replied smoothly. “Do you understand what shall transpire this day?” I looked up to her in confusion. “Transpire?” She stood straight again, rubbing a hoof beneath her chin. “Well, at least she’s attractive,” she muttered. Next to me, I could feel Mother lock her legs to the ground, suppressing a violent quiver. The Royal Breeder turned to the side, her eyes roaming across every corner of the store. “Today you will be brought to the Changeling High Courts in the Royal Palace,” she droned, “where the remainder of your life will be decided by Our King and the Heads of the High Noble Houses.” Her gaze met mine again. “Do you understand?” No, I didn’t. “Yes.” “Good.” She sniffed. “The stench of this place is mortifying. Say your goodbyes, quickly.” With that, she turned and quickly walked out of our store, along with the Observers. Only Mother and I, and a few of the surrounding Guards remained. Mother immediately tackle-hugged me, holding herself close against me. I had grown taller than her now, and leaned down awkwardly to return the hug as best as I could. “Let’s go already.” It only took a few seconds for the Guards to become impatient. Mother pulled her head back, solid blue eyes shimmering as she craned her head to look up at me. “Just…just do what they tell you to do.” Her voice took on a playful scolding tone. “And don’t forget to be polite.” I rolled my eyes at her. “Yes Mother.” She giggled, and stood up on her hind legs to reach my height, hooves caressing both sides of my face and pressing our foreheads together. “I love you so much.” “I love you too, Mother.” We broke apart, and I quickly turned away. I wouldn’t let her see just how scared I was to leave. The Guards followed me as I walked through the door and into the streets. I could see the Observers idle around the carriage that would be taking me away from my home. Four of the purple armored Warriors were hooked to the front of it. The Royal Breeder was already sitting inside. The Guards circled wide around the vehicle, blocking off the two ends of the street. I could see the faces of my friends and neighbors among the many Lower Class changelings hoping to get a glimpse of the scene, crowding around the edges of the circle. They were all looking towards me, sympathy and worry in their eyes as they waved and tried to smile reassuringly. I had to turn my head away from them too. One of the Guards closed the door to the carriage after I stepped in and sat down across from the Royal Breeder. “Good to go!” The carriage shifted, and then began to rise from the ground, along with the Observers and several Guards. I looked out the window and saw my Mother standing in the street in front of our home. She struggled to keep her wings in check, and they spasmed fitfully against her back. She made no effort to stem the river of tears falling from her eyes, staring straight up at the carriage as we ascended farther and farther away. My chest began to heave rapidly as I fought to keep my emotions under control. I rubbed frantically at my eyes, daring any of my tears to fall. A hoof pulled me away from the window. “Sit up,” the Royal Breeder said from across the carriage, “breathe deep. In, and out. In, and out.” With her guidance, I began to calm down. Eventually, I had advanced from a completely petrified state to one of intense anxiety. “Thank you ma’am.” The beautiful changeling leaned back lazily in her seat. “Call me Den Mother.” “Thank you, Den Mother.” “You’re welcome,” she moved to my side of the carriage, “your Mother taught you very good manners, I see.” “Yes, she did.” Den Mother slowly moved a hoof over my body, “And you really are quite good looking. I can imagine how beautiful you may be in your later years.” She ruffled my short crop of mane. “Why is this so short?” “I cut it.” I remained looking out the window, watching the Lower District fall farther away. She tsked, hoof retreating. “I’m not one to impose my opinions on a changeling’s appearance, but I’d definitely recommend you give this just a little more length.” She chuckled to herself. “You almost look like a male.” I sighed. “Yeah, okay.” “…Look at me.” I turned my head to find Den Mother giving me a hard stare, and a deep frown etched across her face. “Your life is over and done with. The best thing you can do now is to stop thinking about it.” She pushed a hoof into my chest. “Not your friends, not your home, and not your mother.” She leaned so close. “I am all you have left in this world now, child, and you need to listen to everything that I’m going to say.” I stared at her, feeling my anxieties flaring again. I nodded slowly, and she sighed, moving back to the other side of the carriage. “During this trial, you will be put on display for the Royal and Noble houses. Physically, you have all the attributes of a Nobleblood. But every single one of those changelings there knows exactly where you came from: the filth.” I shuddered. Den Mother pointed an accusatory hoof right at me. “I both saw and felt that. That is a mistake. Do not ever reveal your negative emotions. Are you at least capable of hiding them?” I settled down a little in my seat before I nodded once more. "Better than what I just saw a few moments ago?" "Yes. I can." “Good. Believe me, you’re going to be hearing a lot worse from the Court. Now, what else is there…” she looked up in thought. “Do not speak unless you are directly asked a question. Directly asked. You will probably be examined by a few of the Physicians in the Court. Allow them their access, and do not fight them, no matter how invasive they may be. I believe that’s all you need to know for now: no emotions, no speaking, and no struggling. Do you understand?” I took a deep breath and slowly let it out. “I understand, Den Mother.” “Good.” A silence fell, and I simply stared out the window. Soon enough, my worries and fears began to invade my thoughts again. I felt like I was going to be sick. The entire world I was knew was disappearing right in front of me. I didn’t want this. Why couldn’t I have just stayed home? I wouldn’t have minded ducking through a few doorways if it meant living back in the Lower District with Mother. I would have happily stayed to serve my purpose, just like Mother. I loved the idea of becoming a Scavenger, and I was real good at it too. And when you were really good…wait! “Will I get a name!?” Den Mother turned to me. “What?” “Oh, uh…if I do pass the trial with the Court,” I fidgeted in the seat, “will I get my name?” Den Mother stared at me for a few seconds, before she shook her head, smirking. “Of all the things to be worried about,” she muttered to herself before looking back towards me. “Well, it’s only the first step, but yes, you will get a name. After you find your purpose, of course. Whatever that may end up being.” I smiled. At least something good would come out of this. And at least I’d be able to see the High District too. We began to slow, and I moved to the other side of the carriage, twisting my neck to look out the window in front of us. “Are we at the High District?” “Almost. We’ll be through the gates in a short while. They take some time to open.” This was the closest I had ever come to seeing the gates. My jaw slid open at the size of the massive entrance settled in the upper half of the rocky walls. Before the gates hovered dozens upon dozens of gray armored changeling guards. Several of them flittered over and around the carriage, peering through the windows. With a loud groan and a shudder, the enormous gates of the High District began to swing outward. “Why are there so many Guards?” I asked. Den Mother’s answer came without hesitation. “To keep out the filth, of course.” The High DistrictI hung my head out the carriage’s window, fairly excited to catch my first glimpse of the High District. Once the great doors cracked open however, I found myself sprawling back into the cabin as a bright force of flicker crystal light streamed directly into my face. “Aaahh!” I screamed, rolling onto the floor and holding my forelegs over my now blinded eyes. “What, what, owww!” “‘What was that?’ you were going to ask? It’s called the sun.” I sat up, trying to blink away the burning dark spots in my vision. “What in the Queen’s ovaries is a sun!?” “Language,” Den Mother rebuked, “watch your language, child. A Nobleblood does not debase her image with unseemly profanities.” “What does that even mean!?” Den Mother glared sharply. “It means to stop asking your stupid, uneducated questions and be silent. You are already trying my patience.” The bite in her words silenced me. I instead decided to moan softly, rubbing my hooves over my assaulted eyes. What could have possibly been so bright? “Get up,” her hoof hooked underneath my foreleg and she pulled me up from the floor and onto the cushions next to her with one strong pull," a Nobleblood does not sit herself on the disgusting floor. We sit on the clean seats like proper changelings.” I looked down at the floor. It didn’t really look that dirty at all. It looked even cleaner than the table Mother and I ate our food gel rations on. In fact, it might have been the cleanest surface I had ever seen in my life. “Den Mother?” “What?” “I have a question.” Den Mother gave me a deadpan stare. “Did I not just say—” “Just one question!” I clasped my hooves together and held them before her. The stare continued. “One. Question.” “Am I really a Nobleblood?” I watched Den Mother expectantly, and she continued her stare. She turned away from me, looking out the window instead. “That is what the Court is going to find out.” “Do you think I’m a Nobleblood?” Her head swiveled around to peer at me over her shoulder. “That’s two questions.” “Oh, right.” She gestured towards the carriage window. “Wouldn’t you like to take your first glance of the High District?” I froze, feeling the lifelong curiosity take over me. “Yeah!” I bounded to the door, pushing my head out of the window again. Though my eyes had adjusted, I needed to lift a hoof up to cover my eyes. It was still so bright outside the carriage, but I gasped at the wonders I could see. There was a flicker crystal up in the air, I guessed it had to be the one that Den Mother called the “Sun”. I had never seen one so big before! And not only that, it shone with a constant stream of incredibly warm light, floating in a field so blue it reminded me of the eyes of my Mother. I wondered how many changelings were using their magic to hold it up there. ‘That must be a lot of work,’ I thought. And the wind! It tasted and smelled so peculiar. I didn’t need to narrow my eyes to block out the dust either. In fact, I didn’t feel any dust in the wind at all. And there were no rocks in the air above me! The Higher District must not have to worry about any falling on them, then. Looking below, I saw the structures of the High District rise high into the air. From here, it looked like they were all made of actual crystal. I had never believed so much crystal could exist, let alone enough to be made into a structure! The yellow-white light shone down into the city, through the pillars of crystal, casting the district in an aura of greens and blues. I could just barely make out the forms of other changelings, buzzing between the tall towers or walking beneath them on wide, straight streets lined with odd, solid patches of green sitting atop what looked like wood. The city itself was hugged on all sides by walls of rock. I could see many more of the strange green and wood things standing just above the top of the walls. I wondered, 'If the walls didn’t continue all the way up, did that mean I could fly over them?' Den Mother tapped me on my back, pulling me away from the sights. She pointed close by. “See there? That is where we’ll be stopping: The Royal Palace.” I followed her hoof and saw, standing out from the rock walls, a gargantuan structure just a short distance away. It hung high over even the tallest of the High District’s structures, and it was right in front of us. Instantaneously, I was reminded of the reason why I was in this carriage, flying over the High District. A tremble worked its way up my legs, and I could feel my fear settling in my gut once more. “Still not good enough.” I looked back into the carriage to see Den Mother shaking her head at me. “I can feel it. You’re afraid.” I pulled myself back into the carriage, moving into the seat. The only sound to be heard in the cabin was the clean wind rushing around the outside of the carriage. From time to time, I could see one of the trailing Observers or Guards flutter into view. I was afraid. I was very afraid. My curiosity had taken to the forefront of my mind for the moment, but it had quickly died out in the face of my anxieties. “Den Mother?” My ears just caught the sound of her sigh. “What?” I turned to look at her. “How do I act like a Nobleblood?” “No,” Den Mother shook her head, “you do not act like a Nobleblood. You simply are a Nobleblood. The correct question would be, ‘What should I do?’” “Okay,” I nodded, “what should I do?” “You act like a Nobleblood.” Den Mother stared back at me with a completely straight face as my cheeks puffed out in frustration. “What!?” “You must act like a Nobleblood by being a Nobleblood.” She tapped her hoof firmly on the floor. I felt like exploding. “So how do I do that!?” “By being exactly what you are currently not.” I groaned, running my hooves over my eyes. “Okay then, what am I being?” “Right now, you are an unrestrained, whimpering nuisance who cannot follow the simple order to stop. Asking. Questions!” I slammed my hooves into the floor and shouted, “Because I don’t know what I need to do! Because I don’t know what’s happening! And I don’t want to go to the Court! I didn’t want to leave my Mother and I don’t want to do any of this and no one will tell me why this is even happening!” I gripped the cushion, breathing audibly. Den Mother had watched impassively throughout my little rant, not once flinching at the level of noise my screams had created. She leaned in over the aisle. “Tell me child, do you want to live?” I could feel my breath stop. “W-what?” Den Mother’s face was perfectly expressionless as she leaned closer to me. “Do you. Want. To live?” I met her neutral gaze. “Y-yes, I do Den Mother.” “Do you want all the answers to your questions? Do you want to know your future purpose? Do you want to receive your name?” “Yes!” She stood on all fours, standing above me aggressively. “Do you want to know what the Court would see if they saw just what is before me now?” I shook my head, fearfully staring up at the suddenly menacing changeling. “Filth,” she spat, “a pathetic and oblivious weakling of a Lower Class changeling pretending to be a pure, unsoiled Nobleblood. They will not send you back to the Lower District when they drag you wildly kicking and screaming from the Royal Court. They will instead dispose of you so easily and so thoroughly that your own Mother would doubt that you had ever even existed.” I shrunk down into the seat, trying to make myself as small as possible and not tremble at the very audible confirmation of my worst fears. I held my forelegs over my head, trying to stop the tremors currently rattling my body. I didn’t ask for this. I just wanted my Mother. I just wanted to go home. I just wanted to go home… “Breathe,” Den Mother ordered, interrupting my episode of hysteria, “in, and out. In, and out.” I could feel her sit next to me, rubbing a hoof along my back, trying to quiet me down. My eyes felt hot with tears, but I held them in, though I felt myself trembling with every breath. “I, however, am not the Royal Court. I do not see what those changelings would see if they saw you now. Would you like to know what I see?” Lip quivering, I nodded my head. “I see what you could be. I see a changeling who might be worth something. And I believe you can serve a purpose. Now, are you going to prove me wrong in front of the entire Court and disappoint me?” “N-no.” “Look at me.” I peered up from my little curled up bundle of fear at Den Mother, who was to my great surprise, smiling. “Are you going to disappoint me, child?” In just a glimpse, I could see what was behind that smile. It was nothing like the one she wore as she prowled into my home and took me away from my life only a short while ago. This was a smile not very much unlike the one my Mother wore when I would return home from a long day of playing in the streets. Well, it of course wasn’t as exuberant as Mother’s smile, which would always come right before a flying tackle and a tight embrace. This one was much more reserved, her lips pulled up only slightly. It was almost exaggerating to even call it a smile. But within it was something that looked almost…sincere. “No, I won't disappoint you Den Mother.” I gave her a small smile of my own. “Good.” She stepped back and returned to her seat across the aisle, stretching out across the cushions. And just like that, she had returned to her firm expression. “For now, there are only a few items you need to know to survive the trial: You must be calm. You must not rise to the bait of the insults spoken towards you. Do not react with fear, anger, frustration, excitability, surprise, or timidity, for all of these negative emotions are the attributes of a Lower Class changeling. As I said earlier, do not struggle during the Physician’s examination, and do not speak without permission. Do not look to me when you are asked to speak. Answer any question as clearly and to the point as you are capable. Give your King and the Nobles your full attention and respect by standing straight and proud, absolutely no slouching. And never be the first to break eye contact. Do these very simple tasks and you will have a much greater chance of surviving the trial. Understand?” I really did try my best to look like I had understood all of her good advice. By the look on her face, I could tell I wasn’t fooling her. She slapped a hoof against her forehead. “If it gives you any motivation to pass the trial, I promise,” she looked disgusted just to say it, “if all goes well, I will answer any of the questions you are undoubtedly brimming with once the Court is adjourned.” “Really!?” I jumped up, onto the cushions on all fours, a wide smile plastered across my face. Den Mother glared. “Did I not just mention revealing your ridiculous excitability? Yes, really. Now sit down, we’re here.” I scrunched up my face and shot down into the seat. Den Mother shook her head. I felt the carriage jolt as we made contact with the ground, rolling to a stop. It was a Warrior who opened the door for us. “We’ve arrived, Royal Breeder.” “Thank you sir,” she replied smoothly. Den Mother exited the cabin, stepping down regally. Once she had reached the ground, she turned around to address me, still on the seat, hesitating to leave. “Come along now.” The way she spoke those words seemed…off, from how she had just been speaking only a short time ago. But I recognized it. It was the too sweet tone of the very first words I ever heard her say. ‘Aren’t you an interesting little changeling?’ I swallowed my nervousness, and did my best to step down the carriage as proudly as I could. When I reached the ground, I stood up as straight as I possibly could for good measure. I did not break contact with Den Mother’s eyes as she spoke to me, and that strangely graceful smile adorned her face once more. “Welcome to the Royal Palace.”
Birth“Next?” “Female. Born one hour, twenty minutes ago.” “No. The horn is shaped wrong, and bent right here, see? And the body is too small.” “We will dispose of it immediately.” “Excellent. Next?” “Female. Born one hour, sixteen minutes ago.” “Well, let’s see here. Hmm, no physical deformities to be seen. Good. Next?” "Male. Born..." My childhood wasn’t really too bad. Sure, Mother and I were a part of the lowest echelons of society, but at least life was relatively simple. Every adult woke up and did what they were supposed to do until the end of the day. Then they’d just do it again the next day, and all the days after. Me? I would wake up and go out to play with the other children. I ran through the streets with them, taunting and playing pranks on the Guards. We’d wrestle and rough-house with each other. Sometimes we’d rummage through the odd piles of things on the Outskirts, seeking the hidden treasures within them, arguing and fighting amongst each other for the best spoils. We’d talk about our future purposes with a fervor only the young could possess. What would it be like to be a Cleaner, a Worker, or a Charge? Many of the males dreamed of being a part of the Guard. Not just the regular, cynical ones patrolling the markets and walkways, singularly trained to rain down blows and hurl obscenities at us with equal measure. There was a higher calling for them: Warriors. Not that we actually knew what they were. Only a few of the males were taken away, past the gates leading into the fabled High District. We all wanted to know what and who was up there. We all had our speculations, and reveled in the gossip of the magical city that lay beyond most of our reaches, behind the line of guards hovering just before the gates. But this place, the Lower District, was the only place I needed. I had everything I could ever dream of wanting. Here in the dark city I was a Queen and the refuse was my kingdom. I started to help Mother watch the store once I grew older. It was a small shop with a lone counter and a couple shelves, packed into a tiny nameless neighborhood sequestered in the Lower District. The familiar faces of our little community would pass through, coming each day to pick up what they needed before they headed off to work. Sometimes they’d come just to say hello to my Mother. Just like everyone, we didn’t have much to give, but we gave everyone what they needed. Mother was always proud of what she provided. It was difficult, searching for treasures through the endlessly expansive Outskirt piles. Even more difficult were the Guards constantly hovering above, keeping any fliers from the openings above the Outskirts where the things fell out. And if you found something good, they were sure to take it from you, no argument permitted. Despite that, Mother was as good as any Scavenger could possibly be. Somehow, she always knew just when the good things would fall down into the Outskirts. Her whole body would freeze and her ears would swivel back and forth, a near-maniacal smile spreading across her face. This would happen many times a week. Sometimes she’d have the feeling come strong enough to warrant my coming with her, so there’d be an extra pair of hooves to carry treasures to the store. I knew better than to struggle when she would excitedly whisk me up and out of the Lower District. Not that I minded. Flying speedily over the district on her back, dodging the Guard and snatching up treasures to sell in our shop was nothing but pure exhilaration to me. It was a few weeks before my twelfth birthday when the latest rumor raced its way through the city. Rumors always spread quickly. They were daylong fantasies for the working class, a welcome distraction from the constant routine. A young female Nobleblood had been spotted outside of the High District. One of the Guards had sworn on his pride to have seen her wandering through the Lower Market Square. The Guards mobilized, and the Lower District was abuzz. I had just been in the square myself, picking up the daily ration gels from the distribution center. I didn’t see any Nobleblood, but then, I was concentrating more on the meager amount of gel we had gotten for today. The ration size seemed to be getting smaller and smaller with every passing week. ‘How much smaller will it get?’ I had wondered at the time. Making my way back to my neighborhood, my ears picked up pieces of the rumor from various passers-by. Of course I had taken quickly to the gossip with all my young curiosity. What did a Nobleblood from the High District look like anyways? Would she be nice? I hoped she was. Maybe she’d be able to tell me about what the High District was like. Maybe we could be friends? I found my way back home while the questions danced away in my head. “I’m back Mother!” Walking into the store, I slid the bag of rations from my back and started sorting them into one of the shelves. Suddenly, the wild sound of galloping resounded from the back of our home and grew closer to the front of our store. I didn’t even have a chance to turn around as Mother rushed past me. “Got the feeling right now something’s good coming down in the Outskirts finish shelving the rations and open up the store I’ll only be a few minutes!” The hasty string of words trailed off as Mother bounded out of the store and into the air, speeding off to her next big find. I could feel her enthusiasm trickle up my hooves, and couldn’t help smiling as I went back to shelving the rations. Maybe she’d find some much needed food gel. Maybe a book with pictures, or a few flicker crystals? Those always sold well, and we needed a few more to light this place up. It was getting darker inside again. I was nearly finished when the first customer walked in. I turned around to find myself looking at a Guard standing at the entrance, looking all over the inside of the store. Not one of the ordinary Lower Guards, in the grey armor, holding a club for beating the most troublesome of us children. This one was cloaked in a deep purple armor. His posture rang with purpose, and a well-polished poleaxe was strapped across his back. “Citizen! I am here to ask if-” The Guard seemed to lock up in surprise as he met my eyes. “Oh! Here you are! My apologies, Miss.” He knelt down to bow. “We had received word of you here in this filthy district. Please, tell me the name of your House, and I shall get started on arranging an escort to take you home.” I could only stand in place, utterly flabbergasted by the sincerity of this Guard. “Uhhhh…what?” The Guard stood up and tilted his head to the side. “Miss, are you feeling well? Do you have a fever, or any sort of injury to the head? Any confusion?” They never asked how you were doing. What was this? I held a hoof to my head, trying to process the words. “Er, yes, I feel very confused. Um, why…what’s-” He came close, looking me over. “Huh, your eyes are glazed over. I don’t know what this means, but it might not be good. Please Miss, come with me and I’ll take you to the Physicians immediately.” I was quickly and gently guided out of my home, as though I was some fragile treasure. Outside, I recognized the familiar faces of the community poking their heads out of windows and standing stock still in the street, staring at the strange scene happening right before them. I would have been shocked too. A Guard holding the hoof of a commoner. Who would have thought it possible? What a surreal sight. “The High Command has assembled in the market square. I can carry you back to where the Captain is waiting, and we will order a chariot to take you back to your House from there. They must be so worried for you.” Finally, I was able to string a few coherent words together. Be polite, be polite. “N-no! No, thank you mister, this is my house right here. I don’t know what’s going on, but my mother will-” He scooped me up right then and there and began hovering off the ground. “Apologies little Miss, but I think you’re still little confused. We’ll get this whole mess sorted back in the High District.” “What? No! I’m not- Stop! Put me down!” I squirmed in his unyielding grip. “You! Get your hooves off of my daughter!” I looked up to see my mother flying over a now growing crowd of onlookers. Dropping her bag from her mouth, she swooped down, wings folding against her as she streaked through the sky and collided into us mid-air. She wrenched me out of the startled Guard’s grip, and the three of us tumbled to the ground below. I lifted my head, groaning. My mother lay dazed on the ground next to me, while the Guard recovered quickly and jumped to his hooves. “Filth! How dare you interfere with the duty a Royal Warrior! And worse, assault a foal of the High Noble Houses!” He grit his teeth, and I heard the crowd of onlookers gasp as he grabbed the poleaxe with both hooves, rising to his hind legs as the deadly weapon swung around his back and rested right above my mother’s dazed form. “Know your place!” He pulled the axe back. I shivered as the poleaxe began to swing down. “No!” I leapt directly into the path of the oncoming weapon. I saw the Guards eyes widen in panic as mine closed in fear. I felt a tap on my left shoulder. Slowly, I opened my eyes. The strange purple Guard’s jaw was hanging open in shock and horror. My friends and neighbors looked out from the crowd, faces filled with worry and fear. I slowly turned my head to the left, at the well-polished poleaxe resting in my shoulder. I was not surprised at the thin trickle of green trailing out of my body. No, I was surprised to see my face, staring out from the blood-speckled reflection of the metal. I remember thinking how strange it was to look into my eyes, and see two black circles emerging out of two pools of light blue.
ObservationNo one knew what to do with me. On the first day, there had been many arguments between the strangers as to where I should have been sent off to. 'Should you leave a possible Nobleblood in the slums, or should you bring a commoner to the High District?' they would bicker. It was eventually decided that I would remain home. Not that it felt like home anymore. Our store was shut down and filled with the strangers, rather than the warm, familiar smiles of our customers. They watched Mother and me for days. We couldn’t leave. We couldn’t see our friends or neighbors. ‘Observers’, was what they called themselves. Wanted to ‘document my transformation,’ they said. Apparently, there was a lot to document. For one, those little black circles that showed up in my eyes grew into 'pupils'. The 'irises' started showing up a few days later. I have to say, I wasn’t really comfortable watching my eyes shift out of the natural blue I- well, the natural blue everyone else had. My mane even started to grow out in unnatural places on my head. By unnatural places, I mean everywhere on my head. To make it worse, it started growing and growing unbelievably fast, along with my tail. Out was my once nice and manageable mane and tail of gray. In was a long and stringy mane and tail, itching my face and dragging all over the floor. When the Observers decided they would take samples of each, I wasted no time in grabbing a Guard’s axe and slicing them both off to the base. They didn’t seem very pleased by the action, but I certainly was. They started keeping me on the table more after that one. They kept Mother on a table too. When she wasn’t having her blood drawn, or her fangs scraped, or her birth canals examined, she was hammered by the Observers and their questions. “Were there any unusual circumstances in the birth?” “No, she was born just like any other changeling.” “Where is the sire?” “My husband passed on many years ago.” “How did the sire die?” “…Starvation.” “Are you certain?” “Yes. Yes, I am certain.” “For how long did you know the sire?” “Since we were both larvae.” “Are you certain?” “Yes, I am certain.” “Have you ever been to the High District?” “No.” “Were you ever bred by a Nobleblood?” “No…only my husband.” “Are you certain?” “Yes, I am certain.” I could get used to the needles, and the cold hooves poking and roaming in uncomfortable places on my body. I could get used to the stiff tables, the collection of my bodily fluids and excretions, and the knowledge that a dozen strangers watched my every movement in every second of every day. But out of everything happening over that seemingly infinte span of days, it was Mother's change which was the most disturbing. Gone was the sparky enthusiasm and over-the-top energy put into every task and conversation she eagerly took part in. In her place was a resigned and neutral-toned female changeling. She lay on the table, eyes pointed straight towards the ceiling of our home, tiredly listing off the answers to every invasive question into her life, wincing at the occasional needle being shoved deep through her carapace. They came endlessly and unforgivingly, the questions and needles, puncturing the deepest parts of her over and over again. I could see each time she faltered. She would pull her eyes from the ceiling, and through the several Observers standing between us, she’d glance towards me, lying on a table farther away. And I could see, just barely, a corner of her lips pull up in a pained smile. Her eyes would close, and she’d inhale deeply. When her eyes finally opened, they would be once again firmly locked onto the ceiling above her. I couldn’t help but feel guilty. All of this was because of me. But what had I done? What was I becoming? I wanted to apologize to Mother. She didn’t deserve to be here. I was the strange one. Why were they doing this? What was going to happen? The questions stormed ceaselessly through my mind. I tried to be strong in the way Mother was. I thought about how much I loved her. But I was so afraid. What would happen if they took me away from her?
The BreederThe Royal Breeder came on the day I turned twelve. I was deathly nervous. Today would be the most life-changing of days. The way the Observers had studied me over these many days had made me believe I was turning into an abomination. But now, watching alongside the Observers and Guards in our home, their eyes reverently following the Royal Breeder as she strolled seamlessly through the front door, I could only sigh in relief. ‘At least one changeling looks like me.’ I had no real understanding of beauty before that moment of time. Her long, light green mane hung low, almost trailing to the ground. She held her head evenly, a graceful smile adorning her face, perfect fangs gleaming in the low light of the flicker crystals. Her gaze met mine, and I saw her ‘pupils’ widen and brows lift before she settled back down into her smile. The tall changeling seemingly floated through our store, which was comically puny compared to her height. The Observers and Guards surrounding Mother and I parted as she passed through them, until she was standing just over us. “Well,” she leaned down, cupping my cheek in her hoof and raising my head to inspect me, “aren’t you an interesting little changeling?” “Um…thank you?” “You’re welcome,” she replied smoothly. “Do you understand what shall transpire this day?” I looked up to her in confusion. “Transpire?” She stood straight again, rubbing a hoof beneath her chin. “Well, at least she’s attractive,” she muttered. Next to me, I could feel Mother lock her legs to the ground, suppressing a violent quiver. The Royal Breeder turned to the side, her eyes roaming across every corner of the store. “Today you will be brought to the Changeling High Courts in the Royal Palace,” she droned, “where the remainder of your life will be decided by Our King and the Heads of the High Noble Houses.” Her gaze met mine again. “Do you understand?” No, I didn’t. “Yes.” “Good.” She sniffed. “The stench of this place is mortifying. Say your goodbyes, quickly.” With that, she turned and quickly walked out of our store, along with the Observers. Only Mother and I, and a few of the surrounding Guards remained. Mother immediately tackle-hugged me, holding herself close against me. I had grown taller than her now, and leaned down awkwardly to return the hug as best as I could. “Let’s go already.” It only took a few seconds for the Guards to become impatient. Mother pulled her head back, solid blue eyes shimmering as she craned her head to look up at me. “Just…just do what they tell you to do.” Her voice took on a playful scolding tone. “And don’t forget to be polite.” I rolled my eyes at her. “Yes Mother.” She giggled, and stood up on her hind legs to reach my height, hooves caressing both sides of my face and pressing our foreheads together. “I love you so much.” “I love you too, Mother.” We broke apart, and I quickly turned away. I wouldn’t let her see just how scared I was to leave. The Guards followed me as I walked through the door and into the streets. I could see the Observers idle around the carriage that would be taking me away from my home. Four of the purple armored Warriors were hooked to the front of it. The Royal Breeder was already sitting inside. The Guards circled wide around the vehicle, blocking off the two ends of the street. I could see the faces of my friends and neighbors among the many Lower Class changelings hoping to get a glimpse of the scene, crowding around the edges of the circle. They were all looking towards me, sympathy and worry in their eyes as they waved and tried to smile reassuringly. I had to turn my head away from them too. One of the Guards closed the door to the carriage after I stepped in and sat down across from the Royal Breeder. “Good to go!” The carriage shifted, and then began to rise from the ground, along with the Observers and several Guards. I looked out the window and saw my Mother standing in the street in front of our home. She struggled to keep her wings in check, and they spasmed fitfully against her back. She made no effort to stem the river of tears falling from her eyes, staring straight up at the carriage as we ascended farther and farther away. My chest began to heave rapidly as I fought to keep my emotions under control. I rubbed frantically at my eyes, daring any of my tears to fall. A hoof pulled me away from the window. “Sit up,” the Royal Breeder said from across the carriage, “breathe deep. In, and out. In, and out.” With her guidance, I began to calm down. Eventually, I had advanced from a completely petrified state to one of intense anxiety. “Thank you ma’am.” The beautiful changeling leaned back lazily in her seat. “Call me Den Mother.” “Thank you, Den Mother.” “You’re welcome,” she moved to my side of the carriage, “your Mother taught you very good manners, I see.” “Yes, she did.” Den Mother slowly moved a hoof over my body, “And you really are quite good looking. I can imagine how beautiful you may be in your later years.” She ruffled my short crop of mane. “Why is this so short?” “I cut it.” I remained looking out the window, watching the Lower District fall farther away. She tsked, hoof retreating. “I’m not one to impose my opinions on a changeling’s appearance, but I’d definitely recommend you give this just a little more length.” She chuckled to herself. “You almost look like a male.” I sighed. “Yeah, okay.” “…Look at me.” I turned my head to find Den Mother giving me a hard stare, and a deep frown etched across her face. “Your life is over and done with. The best thing you can do now is to stop thinking about it.” She pushed a hoof into my chest. “Not your friends, not your home, and not your mother.” She leaned so close. “I am all you have left in this world now, child, and you need to listen to everything that I’m going to say.” I stared at her, feeling my anxieties flaring again. I nodded slowly, and she sighed, moving back to the other side of the carriage. “During this trial, you will be put on display for the Royal and Noble houses. Physically, you have all the attributes of a Nobleblood. But every single one of those changelings there knows exactly where you came from: the filth.” I shuddered. Den Mother pointed an accusatory hoof right at me. “I both saw and felt that. That is a mistake. Do not ever reveal your negative emotions. Are you at least capable of hiding them?” I settled down a little in my seat before I nodded once more. "Better than what I just saw a few moments ago?" "Yes. I can." “Good. Believe me, you’re going to be hearing a lot worse from the Court. Now, what else is there…” she looked up in thought. “Do not speak unless you are directly asked a question. Directly asked. You will probably be examined by a few of the Physicians in the Court. Allow them their access, and do not fight them, no matter how invasive they may be. I believe that’s all you need to know for now: no emotions, no speaking, and no struggling. Do you understand?” I took a deep breath and slowly let it out. “I understand, Den Mother.” “Good.” A silence fell, and I simply stared out the window. Soon enough, my worries and fears began to invade my thoughts again. I felt like I was going to be sick. The entire world I was knew was disappearing right in front of me. I didn’t want this. Why couldn’t I have just stayed home? I wouldn’t have minded ducking through a few doorways if it meant living back in the Lower District with Mother. I would have happily stayed to serve my purpose, just like Mother. I loved the idea of becoming a Scavenger, and I was real good at it too. And when you were really good…wait! “Will I get a name!?” Den Mother turned to me. “What?” “Oh, uh…if I do pass the trial with the Court,” I fidgeted in the seat, “will I get my name?” Den Mother stared at me for a few seconds, before she shook her head, smirking. “Of all the things to be worried about,” she muttered to herself before looking back towards me. “Well, it’s only the first step, but yes, you will get a name. After you find your purpose, of course. Whatever that may end up being.” I smiled. At least something good would come out of this. And at least I’d be able to see the High District too. We began to slow, and I moved to the other side of the carriage, twisting my neck to look out the window in front of us. “Are we at the High District?” “Almost. We’ll be through the gates in a short while. They take some time to open.” This was the closest I had ever come to seeing the gates. My jaw slid open at the size of the massive entrance settled in the upper half of the rocky walls. Before the gates hovered dozens upon dozens of gray armored changeling guards. Several of them flittered over and around the carriage, peering through the windows. With a loud groan and a shudder, the enormous gates of the High District began to swing outward. “Why are there so many Guards?” I asked. Den Mother’s answer came without hesitation. “To keep out the filth, of course.”
The High DistrictI hung my head out the carriage’s window, fairly excited to catch my first glimpse of the High District. Once the great doors cracked open however, I found myself sprawling back into the cabin as a bright force of flicker crystal light streamed directly into my face. “Aaahh!” I screamed, rolling onto the floor and holding my forelegs over my now blinded eyes. “What, what, owww!” “‘What was that?’ you were going to ask? It’s called the sun.” I sat up, trying to blink away the burning dark spots in my vision. “What in the Queen’s ovaries is a sun!?” “Language,” Den Mother rebuked, “watch your language, child. A Nobleblood does not debase her image with unseemly profanities.” “What does that even mean!?” Den Mother glared sharply. “It means to stop asking your stupid, uneducated questions and be silent. You are already trying my patience.” The bite in her words silenced me. I instead decided to moan softly, rubbing my hooves over my assaulted eyes. What could have possibly been so bright? “Get up,” her hoof hooked underneath my foreleg and she pulled me up from the floor and onto the cushions next to her with one strong pull," a Nobleblood does not sit herself on the disgusting floor. We sit on the clean seats like proper changelings.” I looked down at the floor. It didn’t really look that dirty at all. It looked even cleaner than the table Mother and I ate our food gel rations on. In fact, it might have been the cleanest surface I had ever seen in my life. “Den Mother?” “What?” “I have a question.” Den Mother gave me a deadpan stare. “Did I not just say—” “Just one question!” I clasped my hooves together and held them before her. The stare continued. “One. Question.” “Am I really a Nobleblood?” I watched Den Mother expectantly, and she continued her stare. She turned away from me, looking out the window instead. “That is what the Court is going to find out.” “Do you think I’m a Nobleblood?” Her head swiveled around to peer at me over her shoulder. “That’s two questions.” “Oh, right.” She gestured towards the carriage window. “Wouldn’t you like to take your first glance of the High District?” I froze, feeling the lifelong curiosity take over me. “Yeah!” I bounded to the door, pushing my head out of the window again. Though my eyes had adjusted, I needed to lift a hoof up to cover my eyes. It was still so bright outside the carriage, but I gasped at the wonders I could see. There was a flicker crystal up in the air, I guessed it had to be the one that Den Mother called the “Sun”. I had never seen one so big before! And not only that, it shone with a constant stream of incredibly warm light, floating in a field so blue it reminded me of the eyes of my Mother. I wondered how many changelings were using their magic to hold it up there. ‘That must be a lot of work,’ I thought. And the wind! It tasted and smelled so peculiar. I didn’t need to narrow my eyes to block out the dust either. In fact, I didn’t feel any dust in the wind at all. And there were no rocks in the air above me! The Higher District must not have to worry about any falling on them, then. Looking below, I saw the structures of the High District rise high into the air. From here, it looked like they were all made of actual crystal. I had never believed so much crystal could exist, let alone enough to be made into a structure! The yellow-white light shone down into the city, through the pillars of crystal, casting the district in an aura of greens and blues. I could just barely make out the forms of other changelings, buzzing between the tall towers or walking beneath them on wide, straight streets lined with odd, solid patches of green sitting atop what looked like wood. The city itself was hugged on all sides by walls of rock. I could see many more of the strange green and wood things standing just above the top of the walls. I wondered, 'If the walls didn’t continue all the way up, did that mean I could fly over them?' Den Mother tapped me on my back, pulling me away from the sights. She pointed close by. “See there? That is where we’ll be stopping: The Royal Palace.” I followed her hoof and saw, standing out from the rock walls, a gargantuan structure just a short distance away. It hung high over even the tallest of the High District’s structures, and it was right in front of us. Instantaneously, I was reminded of the reason why I was in this carriage, flying over the High District. A tremble worked its way up my legs, and I could feel my fear settling in my gut once more. “Still not good enough.” I looked back into the carriage to see Den Mother shaking her head at me. “I can feel it. You’re afraid.” I pulled myself back into the carriage, moving into the seat. The only sound to be heard in the cabin was the clean wind rushing around the outside of the carriage. From time to time, I could see one of the trailing Observers or Guards flutter into view. I was afraid. I was very afraid. My curiosity had taken to the forefront of my mind for the moment, but it had quickly died out in the face of my anxieties. “Den Mother?” My ears just caught the sound of her sigh. “What?” I turned to look at her. “How do I act like a Nobleblood?” “No,” Den Mother shook her head, “you do not act like a Nobleblood. You simply are a Nobleblood. The correct question would be, ‘What should I do?’” “Okay,” I nodded, “what should I do?” “You act like a Nobleblood.” Den Mother stared back at me with a completely straight face as my cheeks puffed out in frustration. “What!?” “You must act like a Nobleblood by being a Nobleblood.” She tapped her hoof firmly on the floor. I felt like exploding. “So how do I do that!?” “By being exactly what you are currently not.” I groaned, running my hooves over my eyes. “Okay then, what am I being?” “Right now, you are an unrestrained, whimpering nuisance who cannot follow the simple order to stop. Asking. Questions!” I slammed my hooves into the floor and shouted, “Because I don’t know what I need to do! Because I don’t know what’s happening! And I don’t want to go to the Court! I didn’t want to leave my Mother and I don’t want to do any of this and no one will tell me why this is even happening!” I gripped the cushion, breathing audibly. Den Mother had watched impassively throughout my little rant, not once flinching at the level of noise my screams had created. She leaned in over the aisle. “Tell me child, do you want to live?” I could feel my breath stop. “W-what?” Den Mother’s face was perfectly expressionless as she leaned closer to me. “Do you. Want. To live?” I met her neutral gaze. “Y-yes, I do Den Mother.” “Do you want all the answers to your questions? Do you want to know your future purpose? Do you want to receive your name?” “Yes!” She stood on all fours, standing above me aggressively. “Do you want to know what the Court would see if they saw just what is before me now?” I shook my head, fearfully staring up at the suddenly menacing changeling. “Filth,” she spat, “a pathetic and oblivious weakling of a Lower Class changeling pretending to be a pure, unsoiled Nobleblood. They will not send you back to the Lower District when they drag you wildly kicking and screaming from the Royal Court. They will instead dispose of you so easily and so thoroughly that your own Mother would doubt that you had ever even existed.” I shrunk down into the seat, trying to make myself as small as possible and not tremble at the very audible confirmation of my worst fears. I held my forelegs over my head, trying to stop the tremors currently rattling my body. I didn’t ask for this. I just wanted my Mother. I just wanted to go home. I just wanted to go home… “Breathe,” Den Mother ordered, interrupting my episode of hysteria, “in, and out. In, and out.” I could feel her sit next to me, rubbing a hoof along my back, trying to quiet me down. My eyes felt hot with tears, but I held them in, though I felt myself trembling with every breath. “I, however, am not the Royal Court. I do not see what those changelings would see if they saw you now. Would you like to know what I see?” Lip quivering, I nodded my head. “I see what you could be. I see a changeling who might be worth something. And I believe you can serve a purpose. Now, are you going to prove me wrong in front of the entire Court and disappoint me?” “N-no.” “Look at me.” I peered up from my little curled up bundle of fear at Den Mother, who was to my great surprise, smiling. “Are you going to disappoint me, child?” In just a glimpse, I could see what was behind that smile. It was nothing like the one she wore as she prowled into my home and took me away from my life only a short while ago. This was a smile not very much unlike the one my Mother wore when I would return home from a long day of playing in the streets. Well, it of course wasn’t as exuberant as Mother’s smile, which would always come right before a flying tackle and a tight embrace. This one was much more reserved, her lips pulled up only slightly. It was almost exaggerating to even call it a smile. But within it was something that looked almost…sincere. “No, I won't disappoint you Den Mother.” I gave her a small smile of my own. “Good.” She stepped back and returned to her seat across the aisle, stretching out across the cushions. And just like that, she had returned to her firm expression. “For now, there are only a few items you need to know to survive the trial: You must be calm. You must not rise to the bait of the insults spoken towards you. Do not react with fear, anger, frustration, excitability, surprise, or timidity, for all of these negative emotions are the attributes of a Lower Class changeling. As I said earlier, do not struggle during the Physician’s examination, and do not speak without permission. Do not look to me when you are asked to speak. Answer any question as clearly and to the point as you are capable. Give your King and the Nobles your full attention and respect by standing straight and proud, absolutely no slouching. And never be the first to break eye contact. Do these very simple tasks and you will have a much greater chance of surviving the trial. Understand?” I really did try my best to look like I had understood all of her good advice. By the look on her face, I could tell I wasn’t fooling her. She slapped a hoof against her forehead. “If it gives you any motivation to pass the trial, I promise,” she looked disgusted just to say it, “if all goes well, I will answer any of the questions you are undoubtedly brimming with once the Court is adjourned.” “Really!?” I jumped up, onto the cushions on all fours, a wide smile plastered across my face. Den Mother glared. “Did I not just mention revealing your ridiculous excitability? Yes, really. Now sit down, we’re here.” I scrunched up my face and shot down into the seat. Den Mother shook her head. I felt the carriage jolt as we made contact with the ground, rolling to a stop. It was a Warrior who opened the door for us. “We’ve arrived, Royal Breeder.” “Thank you sir,” she replied smoothly. Den Mother exited the cabin, stepping down regally. Once she had reached the ground, she turned around to address me, still on the seat, hesitating to leave. “Come along now.” The way she spoke those words seemed…off, from how she had just been speaking only a short time ago. But I recognized it. It was the too sweet tone of the very first words I ever heard her say. ‘Aren’t you an interesting little changeling?’ I swallowed my nervousness, and did my best to step down the carriage as proudly as I could. When I reached the ground, I stood up as straight as I possibly could for good measure. I did not break contact with Den Mother’s eyes as she spoke to me, and that strangely graceful smile adorned her face once more. “Welcome to the Royal Palace.”
