Aftermath

by Nerdz

Rating: teen
Tags: Sad, Other, Original Character, Crossover, Slice of Life, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Alternate Universe
Length: 26896

Aftermath: something that results or follows from an event, especially one of a disastrous or unfortunate nature.

Aftermath: something that results or follows from an event, especially one of a disastrous or unfortunate nature.

It's been a month since the events of My Little Descendants. The Island foals are slowly adjusting to life in Equestria, but a lifetime of villainy takes it's toll, and scars take time to heal. But that's nothing they can't handle.

Right?

As loose ends tie themselves, they learn, what comes after is sometimes harder than what came before.

Edited by Stellar Blaze.

Stories Within the Story

Daughter Of The Moon: Nyx has discovered that Nightmare Moon isn't her real mother, merely the mare who raised her. But how is that possible when the mare who claims to be your mother has been "dead", or at least missing, for a millennium?

A Sister’s Love: A sister’s heart knows no bounds, but how far must she go when life calls for the unimaginable?

Published 2017-02-14 21:50:01 UTC
Last updated 2017-10-09 17:25:38 UTC

Daughter of The Moon

“Mrs. Sparkle?” The dark Alicorn poked her head in the slightly open doorway, “You wanted to see me?” Her turquoise eyes landed on a lavender mare sitting at a desk on the far side of the bright and homey office. The older Alicorn smiled warmly as she rose from her seat.

“Princess Nyx! Come in,” she beckoned, “And please, I’m only ‘Miss Sparkle’ in the classroom.”

The filly winced as she stepped fully into the room, closing the door behind her. “Please don’t call me that.” she chuckled nervously as she crossed the room to her teacher. “I’ve only just gotten it through my head that I’m not Nightmare’s daughter; I haven’t even begun to process who my…” her voice trailed away and she shuffled her hooves uncomfortably. “My uh,” she cleared her throat, “relations...to Princess Luna, I haven’t processed that yet.” she whispered.

The lavender mare nodded sympathetically. “I understand.” Her gentle smile faded slightly. “That’s actually what I wanted to speak to you about.” She turned towards the seat she’d previously taken and lowered herself onto the chair. “Please, sit.” she waved a hoof at the seat on the opposite side of the desk, motioning for the filly to follow her lead.

Nyx lowered into the chair, shifting slightly to get comfortable. A familiar feeling of dread rose in her chest. Her heart fluttered rapidly. The normally friendly walls now towered over her like a cage.

Twilight cleared her throat sharply, breaking the filly from her thoughts. “Nyx,” she began slowly, “do you...believe that Luna is to you what she claims to be?”

The dark filly blinked. “Well, I, uh, I don’t really know.” she began, her eyes slowly drifting down to stare at her hooves. “I mean, it’s impossible right? Yeah, maybe she wasn’t dead for the past millennium, sure, I could believe that, but she sure wasn’t here. And she wasn’t on the Island. Not to mention the fact that I look exactly like Nightmare Moon! So how could she be my...you know.” she sighed heavily, raising her gaze bet refused to meet her teacher’s eyes. “But then again, well, you were there. You saw her reaction to me. It could just be one of Nightmare’s tricks, but I know Nightmare. She wasn’t that good of an actor.” Nyx took a deep breath. She raised her head, finally meeting Twilight’s eyes. “I don’t know what to think. What to believe.”

The older Alicorn nodded. She took a deep breath, taking a moment to gather her thoughts. “I can understand that. It’s...a lot to take in, and you seem to be doing just that fairly well on your own. However, don’t be afraid to talk to somepony if it’s too much. You have a number of great friends, and my door is always open.”

Nyx smiled. “I know. I’m okay, really.” she shifted again, tensing her muscles to rise. “Is that all you wanted?”

Twilight shook her head. “No, there’s...one more thing.”

The filly relaxed back into her seat. “What is it?”

“As you know, Princess Luna returned to the Castle of The Two Sisters with Princess Celestia following Will’s Coronation.”

“That’s the castle in the Everfree Forest, right? The one they grew up in?”

Twilight smiled. “I see you pay attention in History. Anyway, Celestia had the palace repaired and moved there after the initial Guardianship Ceremony, and she felt that Luna would be able to readjust better in her fillyhood home rather than somewhere here in Canterlot.”

‘More like she didn’t want her sister near a pony who looks like her ‘old friend’.’ Nyx thought.

“And, as she couldn’t really recall anything that had happened to her for the past thousand years, Celestia insisted that she see a doctor for a full physical and mental evaluation.” Twilight paused. She flared her horn and used her magic to open a drawer in the desk. She pulled out a file and set it on the surface of the desk and laid a hoof on it. “She agreed, and they found something...interesting,” She nervously drew circles on the file with the tip of her hoof, “which is the main thing I wanted to talk to you about.”

The feeling of dread deepened. “What happened? I-is she okay?” the teen’s voice shook.

Twilight bit her lip, carefully choosing her words. "She's alright, in a sense. What was found is rather strange, to say the least," she gave a shrug and opened the file, sliding the papers within toward's the fily as she summed up what was written on each page, "Honestly, there isn't even a full explaination. See this here?" she tapped a paper that showed an image of a brain, "This brain scan shows evidence of severe psycological trauma."

"Wha-"

Twilight held up a hoof, cutting off the girl's question. "They wouldn't tell me, but the Princesses did seem to have some idea of what it was."

Nyx nodded, then motioned for the older mare to continue.

"Whatever happened, it happened when Luna was very young. To cope with her trauma, she came up with what began as an imaginary friend. Nightmare Moon.

"But Nightmare isn't imaginary," Nyx protested, then muttered darkly "I know better than anyone just how real she is."

"That's the part we're having trouble explaining. The current theory is that as Luna continued to struggle with whatever it was that left such a psycological scar, she began seeing this imaginary friend more and more, and as she grew and her magic became more developed, she somehow brough Nightmare Moon to life."

The teen sat back, dumbfounded. "That's not possible, no magic is that powerful."

Twilight shrugged. "To be completely honest, we can't even begin to comprehend the boundaries of Alicorn magic. Anyway, here's the really interesting part," she tapped another paper, "When someone is banish to the Island, we get a DNA sample for identification purposes. We took a sample from Luna to compare, and as you can see, they are completely different. Two different entities, existing in the same body."

She looked up at Nyx and gave her a sheepish look. "We don't have samples of anyone born on the Island, so we haven't been able to confirm anything in regards to your parentage yet. But if you'd like, we can find out for sure."

***

“Hello? Equestria to Nyx?” said filly blinked rapidly, eyes focusing on the yellow hoof waving in front of her face. She was no longer in the headmistress’s office, but in an office all the same. This one was decorated more suited for royal workings, rather than school functionality. She leaned away from the flailing hoof and turned her attention on the concerned reddish-orange eyes staring into hers.

“I’m sorry, what were you saying?” she gently pushed the hoof away.

The colt laid a hoof on the girl’s shoulder. “Are you okay?”

Nyx sighed, rubbing her face with her hoof. “Yeah. Yeah, I just,” she paused, “I can’t stop thinking about last week.” She felt two strong hooves wrap around her torso, pulling her into a hug, which she gratefully returned.

“I can’t even to begin to imagine what you’re going through right now. It’s something straight out of a fantasy novel.”

The filly hummed quietly in response, nuzzling her muzzle into the colt’s short ebony mane and taking in the slightly minty smell of his shampoo. She pulled back with a gentle smile and a quiet sigh. The colt returned the smile, but his eyes begged her to speak what was troubling her. Smile fading slightly, she complied.

“I did the test, you know that already. I got the results back today."

Will raised his eyebrows, encouraging the filly to continue.

"My DNA mostly matches Luna's, with a few trace's of Nightmare's. The doctors explained that that was likely due to their shared magic. But this means that Luna is my real mother."

The filly’s knees shook as the weight of the discovery finally sunk in. Even when the mare herself claimed to her face that she was her mother, the logical side of her mind screamed at her not to believe the words.

“Hey, I have some time before Hoofball practice. Want to go get something to eat?” Will’s words brought Nyx out of her shaken state. “I’ve been so busy lately, I hardly get to see you anymore.” She leaned her head on his shoulder, and he wrapped his wyvern-like wing around her in a show of comfort.

“I wish I could, believe me. I’ve missed hanging out with you.” her smile faded. “But I can’t today. I’m meeting Princess Luna at some cafe in town for brunch. She wanted to get to know me.” The filly shuddered and snuggled closer into the embrace.

Will nodded understandingly. “I see. I could probably skip practice, if you want some moral support.” he offered.

“No, no, you’ve missed it enough lately. Price of being King.” she joked with a half smile, “I’ll be okay.

“You sure? I don’t mind. I swear Coach Armor is trying to kill us, scheduling practice on a teacher's in-service day!”

“I’m sure. I appreciate the offer, though. But this is something I really need to do on my own.”

“I understand.” Will smiled softly, drawing small circles on Nyx’s shoulder with the tip of his hoof.

“ Besides, we have this weekend, and then fall break is next week. A full nine days for us to hang out.”

“Have you thought about what you’re going to say?”

“Kinda…” she took a deep breath, “I want to ask what she remembers of the Island, see if she remembers any of my foalhood. Mo-Nightmare never really told me anything. I want ask her side of the story, of her disappearance. I know Nightmare’s side, and I know the story told in history books, but I want to know what happened to her. Also…” she paused, gathering her thoughts, “I-I want to ask her if she knows who my dad is…”

Will furrowed his brow as he hugged the filly. “Do you have any idea who he might be?”

Nyx snorted sarcastically. “Just that Nightmare used to say that I got my weakness from him.”

“You’re not weak.”

“I know that.” the girl pulled away to look at the colt. “It’s just something she used to say.”

The two sat in silence for awhile, enjoying eachother’s company.

“What time is it?” Nyx asked a few moments later.

The colt glanced at the clock on his desk. “Eleven o’clock.”

The filly groaned. “I have to go. I’m supposed to meet her at eleven-thirty.”

“Okay.” the colt raised his wing so the filly could move to gather her things. After she’d done that, he walked her to the door, placing a gentle kiss on her forehead.

“I love you.” she smiled, leaning into the gesture.

“I love you too.” Will responded, “Tell me how it goes, okay?”

“Of course. Is after dinner okay with you?”

“I have a few papers to fill out, but yeah, that sounds good.”

“Okay.” Nyx smiled as she turned to leave. “See you then!”

***

Nyx fought the urge to duck her head as she walked. Everywhere she looked, somepony was staring. The logical part of her mind assured her that it was because of the battle at Will’s coronation a month prior, or even because she was the marefriend of the king of the Center Region; that alone would cause a turning head or two. The skeptical, more fearful part of her mind, however, wanted to cover her dragon-like eyes, all too aware of how similar she looked to a certain mare. Sure, by this point, everypony knew what had happened with Princess Luna’s return, whether it be from witnessing the event or reading about it in the papers the next day, but there surely were a few ponies who remained skeptical. She sure was.

She shook off the thoughts, focusing instead on figuring out where this stupid cafe even is. She was already late as it is.

The filly flared her magic and pulled out her cellphone, quickly unlocking it and scrolling through her notes app. She tapped at the screen with the tip of her hoof, clicking on the tab that held the address of the cafe she was supposed to meet Luna at. Reminded of the location, she opened her settings app and turned on her location, then went to her map app and put in the address. Moments later, she was following the digital directions to the cafe. Ah, technology certainly was a wonderful thing.

Around ten minutes of walking later, she stopped in front of a charming little building and slipped her phone back into the pocket of her leather jacket. The Paso Fino Cafe. This was it. Steeling herself with a deep breath, she opened the door and stepped inside.

Nyx was surprised to see how empty the place was at first, just a few tables taken here and there, before she remembered that while she was off school, it was still before noon on a Friday.

“Table for one?” her eyes landed on the short mare standing by the door. She wore a tight smile and her eyes reflected boredom.

“No, ma’am.” she replied politely, eyes scanning the surprisingly spacious room, “I’m meeting somepony. They should be here already…” her gaze landed on a table in the far corner. “Ah, there they are!” she tried to fake enthusiasm.

The mare followed her gaze. “Right. Go on, then. Somepony will be by to take your drink order momentarily.”

Nyx nodded her thanks before making her way over to the table.

The lone patron at the table looked up at the sound of approaching hoofsteps. She smiled hopefully and stood up. She reached out to hug the filly, her smile falling when Nyx instinctively flinched away from the contact. She forced the smile back and gestured for the young Alicorn to sit.

Nyx ran her hoof absently over the surface of the table, eyes roaming the room. Luna cleared her throat, as if to speak, but instead remained quiet. They sat in tense silence, neither knowing what to say. A waitress came by eventually, delivering Luna’s tea, a menu for Nyx, and to take the filly’s drink order.

Nyx sighed as the waitress moved away and ran a hoof through her mane. “I’m sorry. This is...really awkward.”

Luna chuckled lightly. “I expected as much. I have much to tell you, and yet I cannot seem to find words to say.”

The dark filly gave a small smile. “You look...different. Since the Coronation, I mean.”

She wasn’t wrong. The mare’s coat had darkened, she seemed taller, and her mane had lengthened, darkened, and had transformed into a flowing aura of star-filled magic. A month ago, she’d looked barely nineteen years old. Now, she held the appearance of a mare in her late twenties, maybe early thirties.

The older Alicorn ran a hoof through her mystic mane. “Yes, it seems that I have.” she replied, “My sister tells me it is the doing of the Elements. When I returned, my magic was drained to that of a mare barely entering adulthood, and my appearance reflected such. My powers have built back up in the time since we have last seen each other, and my appearance is as such better suiting an Alicorn of my age.”

Nyx nodded in response. She shuffled uncomfortably in her seat.

“Do you...are you aware of my…”

“Yeah,” the filly nodded, “Yeah, yeah Princess Twilight explained it to me. A-are you okay?”

“Of course.” Luna gave a small smile, “As well as I can be, that is. My memory, however, is vague. I can remember up until a certain point in my time as a young mare. That, I suppose, is when Moon took the reins, so to speak.”

Nyx hummed in response. The conversation halted momentarily as the waitress returned with the filly’s soda and left with the mares’ food orders. The filly placed her lips around the straw and took a long sip.

“So, you are the new Element of Magic. That is exciting.” Luna mused. A reminiscent look crossed her face. “I wielded Honesty, Loyalty, and Laughter in my younger days. The rest fell to Tia. You certainly take after your aunt in that regard.”

The younger Alicorn’s eyes widened and she pulled away from her drink with a slight cough.

“Sorry,” she said in response to the mare’s questioning gaze, “I grew up hearing stories about how terrible Celestia was; it’s going to take some time to get used to the idea of her being my aunt.”

Luna’s face gained a solemn look. “Yes, I suppose that would be my doing-”

“Not yours. Nightmare’s.”

“Nightmare...I still cannot believe she took such a name. My memories show a kind filly who saw the best in the world, the best in everypony.”

“Ponies change.” Nyx said quietly, “I was raised to hate all that’s good, and look at me now. I chose good. Moon chose to become Nightmare.”

Luna sighed, shaking her head. “Listen to us; talking as if she is real.”

“She is, kinda. I mean, she has DNA, wants, memories.” the filly paused, “...She talked about you a lot.”

“Did she?” the mare asked, surprised.

“Yeah.” a small smile graced the filly’s lips, “When I was little, she’d tell me about how you guys played together all the time, the adventures you’d have in the castle gardens.” her face fell then, her voice getting quieter. “She really missed you. I know that probably means nothing now, because you know about...well, you know, but she really cared about you.You were her best friend, and all she wanted was for ponies to remember you, not as the ‘assasined princess’, but as the Princess of the Night.

“I grew up hearing stories of how you’d painstakingly place every star in the sky, taking care to make it bright and beautiful, leaving certain stars in certain places so ponies could find their way at night. About how you’d create beautiful pictures and how she’d stare up at the sky for hours picking out each of them. About who much it hurt you for ponies to go inside at night and miss the sky you put so much work into, and all she wanted was for everypony to see that, for them to understand. She really missed you.”

Luna cleared her throat quietly. She raised a hoof to wipe at her eyes. She cleared her throat again, steadying her voice. “We have talked about me the whole time. I want to get to know you. Tell me about yourself. What sort of hobbies do you pursue?”

“Well, I’ve started baking recently.” Nyx replied, deciding to leave out how she started, “That’s pretty fun I guess. Oh, and I picked up painting back on the Island. I’m pretty good, I think, and Will got me signed up for the school’s art club, so I’m hoping I can learn something from that.”

“Will, he would be the colt you’re courting?” Luna asked, a slightly teasing look dancing in her eyes

The filly’s cheeks grew warm, and she squirmed under the older mare’s gaze. “Yeah, yeah, he’s my coltfriend.”

The mare gave a motherly smile. “Tell me about him. Is he good to you?”

The dark Alicorn smiled fondly. “He’s great, honestly. Probably the sweetest pony I’ve ever met. He’s the one who brought me and my friends over here from the Isle. He saved us. He saved me.”

“He sounds wonderful.” the mare replied with a grin.

Nyx licked her lips. “Look, I know you wanted to talk about me, but I need to know your story; I need to know what happened.”

“I’m sorry...I don’t quite understand what you mean.”

“Nightmare told stories of a filly who was robbed of her happiness, my history textbook says you were killed by a rogue assassin, and Sunrise says that Princess Celestia said you were murdered by a mare she always thought was an imaginary friend you never grew out of. I know every account except yours. I need to know. I deserve to know.”

The mare slumped in her seat. “Yes...yes, I suppose you do.” she took in a deep breath to steady herself. She tapped her hoof against the table thoughtfully, trying to figure out where to start her story.

***

A gloom fell over the garden. A cold wind brushed through the bare trees, the claw-like limbs seeming to scratch and tear at the grey sky. Smaller plants were scattered around in a groomed manner, dead and brittle as the trees, their blooms snuffed out by the chill. A fountain sat at the center, it’s water supply cut off, a feature saved for a warmer season. Statues stood stoically; great creatures, war heros, and past leaders forever watching over the garden. Snow drifted silently to the thick white fluff that blanketed the ground.

A pastel blue filly sat alone halfway down stone staircase. Her mane, an even paler blue, shielded her face, her tail was tucked tightly to her hip. She shivered harshly. The thin white nightgown she wore did little to protect her from the cold. She sniffled.

“Why are you crying?”

The voice made the filly jump. She jerked her head up, her eyes landing on a foal standing at the bottom step. She studied the newcomer. Coat as dark as night, long purple hair the shade of a nebula that flowed around their shoulders. The foal wore a simple dark blue dress, confirming that it was indeed a filly, as if the feminine voice wasn’t enough. She stepped closer.

“Why are you crying?” she repeated.

The blue filly sniffled again. She rubbed at her eyes with her hoof, wiping away her tears.

“Who are you?” she asked.

The new filly smiled warmly as she continued to climb the steps. “My name is Moon. But you still haven’t answered my question.” she stopped at the steps just below the pale filly. She sat down to look the filly in the eyes. “Why are you sad?”

“It’s my mommy and daddy.” the filly began quietly, “Some ponies in the village were getting sick, and they went to help a few weeks ago. Then they got sick, and they haven’t come out of their room for days. Nopony would let me go see them. I snuck out of bed and into their room a while ago. It was strange...I called out to them but they didn’t answer me, and they were staring at the ceiling. I kept talking to them, but they still didn’t answer, and they wouldn’t blink.

“Then ‘Tia, she’s my big sister, she came looking for me. She was scolding me for being out past my bedtime, and for going into mommy and daddy’s room when I wasn’t supposed to, and then she looked at them and stopped talking. She was quiet for a bit and then she ran to the door and started shouting. A bunch of ponies ran in and crowded around the bed. They were all shouting and crying and I ran out here. Then I sat down and I started crying and then you came.”

The filly sniffled again. “‘Tia told me a bunch of the sick ponies in the village fell asleep and wouldn’t wake up. I think that’s what happened to mommy and daddy. I don’t think they’re going to wake up.”

Moon placed her hoof against the pale filly’s. “I’m sorry.” she said quietly. She flared her horn and used her magic to clear away the filly’s tears.

The pale girl’s eyes widened in shock, and a small smile crept onto her face. “I can do magic too!” she flared her own horn and sent a small bolt of magic to swirl around the falling snow.

The darker filly grinned, happy that the girl was smiling. Something fluttered at her sides.

“And you have wings like me too!” the pale filly spread her own tiny wings. “I’ve never met anypony with wings and magic before! Well, other than ‘Tia and mommy and daddy…” the girl’s smile faded.

Moon cocked her head, racking her brain for a way to cheer the filly up. “What’s your name?” she asked.

“Luna.”

“I like that name.” Moon smiled, “It’s pretty.”

“Thank you.” Luna paused, “I like your eyes.”

Moon ducked her head. “Really? I think they’re scary.”

The eyes in question had bright turquoise irises, with a pale green sclera and, most noticeably, slitted, dragon-like pupils.

“They’re different. I like different.”

Moon smiled brightly, her eyes shining with happiness. “I have to go now. But I’ll come back soon, and we can play!” she promised. She stood up and started down the steps.

“Bye, Luna!” she called over her shoulder, “I’ll see you soon!”

“Bye, Moon!” Luna waved as the filly disappeared into the garden.

“Yer Highness, what are ye doing out here?” the filly turned to see a maid hurrying towards her. The mare wrapped a wing around the filly, leading her towards the door. “For heaven’s sakes, child, come inside! Ye’ll catch yer death of cold!”

Luna followed obediently, pausing only once to look back at where her new friend had vanished before entering the castle.

***

The large mahogany doors burst open from a blast of magic almost comically powerful coming from a pony so small. The filly bypassed the stone stairs in one flying leap, her wings steadying her descent as she glided to the dirt path at the base. She sent a second pulse of magic out to shut the doors. She took off at a dead sprint the moment her hooves touched ground, not giving a second thought about how the dust she kicked up would coat her shiny black shoes and stain the crisply pleated skirt of her grey-blue dress. She didn’t have time to pay attention to such unimportant matters; she was already late as it was.

She rounded a corner and skidded to a stop at a wrought iron gate. Her magic flared again as she wrenched it open. She rushed through and pushed it closed manually, leaning back on it to catch her breath.

“There you are!” a gleeful voice came from the shade beneath a single apple tree at the center of the charming little glade. “I was beginning to think you weren’t coming.”

“I’m s-sorry!” the filly by the fence spoke shakily, still slightly out of breath. She trotted towards the tree and blew at a strand of pale blue mane that had fallen from her twin braids. “I got held up, and-”

“I’m only kidding, Luna.” the filly kicked her hooves idly, swaying slightly on the wooden seat of the swing that hung from the tree. “I understand how busy you can get. Besides, judging by how you’re dressed, I’d say you had something important going on.” she smiled teasingly, gesturing at the abnormally formal way the her friend was dressed.

Luna scowled at the darker filly, tugging at the frilly lace collar tied entirely too tight around her throat. “Oh, shove off, Moon.” she muttered, using her hoof to loosen the lace.

Moon climbed out of the swing, moving aside. The skirt of her muted brown feedsack dress swished around her bare heels as she walked behind the swing.

“You first! I went first last time.” Once the paler filly had secured herself on the wooden board, she stood on her hind legs and gave her friend a gentle push. She carried on, patiently waiting on her obviously disgruntled friend to state her mind.

“I was sitting in on the Day Court.” Luna spoke up, relaxed by the gentle rocking motion of the swing. “‘Tia’s idea.” she said in answer to the question Moon had yet to open her mouth to voice.

The dark filly smiled at how well her friend knew her. “That sounds fun.”

“Hardly!” the blue Alicorn gripped the ropes tighter and began pumping her back hooves.

Moon backed off and walked around in front of the swing. She settled in the grass a comfortable distance away. She waited for the other girl to continue.

“Now, don’t get me wrong, I love this kingdom, but those ponies were daft! Complaining about the tiniest problems as if they’d cause the end of days! Like this one stallion, a farmer, bought a bull a last week, and his neighbor is claiming that the bull is his, stolen from him in the night nearly a moon ago, but only started making these claims after finding out what a prestigious lineage the bull descends from, and they felt that this matter would be better taken up in the Day Court, rather than taking it to their town’s judge! Honestly!”

Moon raised an eyebrow. “You’re kidding.”

“No!” Luna cried, laughing slightly, “And that’s tame compared to others!” She kicked the swing higher and higher, leaping from the wooden seat as it reached its peak. She skidding across the grass, scuffing her shoes.

“Luna, be careful.” Moon scolded, “If you ruin your clothes, you’ll get in trouble.”

“So?”

“‘So’, you shouldn’t be so careless, especially with those expensive dresses.”

“You’re one to talk.” Luna waved a hoof at her friend’s dress, which was now covered in grass stains.

Moon stood up and made her way towards the swing. She shook out her wild mop of unruly purple mane as she took her seat.

“A feedsack dress is not the same as a princess’s Court dress.” the dark Alicorn stated simply, eyeing the Lunar Princess as she walked around to the back of the swing. Moments later, she felt two hooves on her back, gently propelling her forward.

“That’s why I sat in on the day court. ‘Tia think’s it’s time I, quote-unquote, ‘begin training for my crown’.”

Moon smirked inwardly, proud of having worked what was bothering her friend out of her.

“It’s not fair!” Luna muttered, “She was twelve before she began her royal studies. I’m barely eight!”

“It’s different now, though.” the dragon-eyed filly took over the swinging motions to allow her friend to take her previous spot on the grass, “Back then, she was learning under your parents’ rule.”

Luna was quiet, idly fiddling with a blade of grass.

Moon pressed on. “She’s only sixteen, and she’s ruling an entire kingdom on her own. I’m sure she wouldn’t rush you if she didn’t truly need your help.”

“...You’re right, I suppose.” the filly flopped back onto the grass, peering up at the clouds.

“I usually am.” the darker filly teased, slowing the swing to a stop and joining at Luna’s side.

The girls laid on their backs, side by side in a comfortable silence broken only by pointing out different shapes in the puffy clouds. Moon glanced at her friend. She twiddled her hooves nervously.

“Hey, Luna?”

“Hmm?”

She licked her lips. “When...when can I meet your sister? Properly, I mean, not just you telling her that a friend says ‘hi’.”

The blue filly frowned. She rubbed at her foreleg. “Listen, Moon, I’ve been thinking, and I really don’t think you meeting ‘Tia is such a good idea.”

“...Oh.” came the quiet reply.

Luna rolled onto her stomach and peered at her friend. “It’s just, ponies really aren’t supposed to be able to get into the castle grounds, and you could get in serious trouble for it. I really don’t want to see you thrown in the dungeon just because I’d introduced you to my sister.”

Moon nodded slowly, her eyes widening a moment later. “Wait!” she cried, rolling onto her stomach, “You’ve told ponies about me already!”

The princess smiled sadly. “Yeah, but I don’t think they know you’re real.”

The dark filly raised a questioning eyebrow.

“Like I said, ponies aren’t supposed to be able to get onto the castle grounds. Not grown-ups, and especially not little dragon-eyed Alicorn fillies.” Luna smirked. “Face it, Moon, you sound like a fairy-tale character. They think you’re imaginary.”

The filly blinked, completely dumbstruck. A small smile broke onto her face. She snorted. “You’re kidding.”

“Nope.” the pale filly giggled, popping the ‘p’.

Both girls rolled onto their backs, gripping their bellies, laughter bubbling away.

Moon sighed, finally calming down minutes later. “I’m really glad you’re my friend, Luna.” she said, smiling.

Luna yawned, the day finally catching up to her, “And I’m glad you’re mine.” her eyes drifted closed, the darker filly following suit after a few moments, head rested on the paler filly’s shoulder.

It was hours later when the blue filly was awoken by a guard, who promptly scolded her for disappearing without letting anypony know where she’d gotten off to. As he moved on to reprimand the state of her dress, she snuck a look at her surroundings, looking for her friend, but Moon had already gone.

***

It was serene, the pale filly decided, watching the moon rising above the trees, seeing the colors fade away to the inky black of night broken only by the trillions of glistening stars. A breeze brushed the fallen bits of her updo from her eyes. She shivered lightly under the cloak her nurse insisted she wear to ‘protect her from the bitter weather’. Even still, she made no move to rise from her seat, eyes glued instead to lunar body making its steady climb in the sky. For even as incredible as it was to watch the night form in wake of the day, nothing could compare to being the one to bring the moon to the sky.

An honor and duty belonging to her and her alone.

A grin spread across her face as the moon reached the point where it could continue its path alone. She rushed to the railing of the balcony, eyes trained on what she could see of the village in the distance, near the edge of the forest. Expecting to see a few ponies watching the moonrise as they did occasionally for her sister’s sunrise in the mornings, her expression fell when he gaze saw nothing but dark, empty streets.

She raised her head indignantly, shaking off the feeling. It was only the first night of many to come, surely somepony would watch her raise the moon at some point.

Movement in the garden below caught the filly’s eye. She leaned over the railing, wings keeping her from falling as she scanned the castle grounds. The smile returned to her face as she picked out a pair of bright dragon-like eyes peering at her from the darkness.

“Moon!” she whisper-yelled to the darker filly, rapidly waving to gain her attention.

With a smile, the other Alicorn took flight, the wings sticking out of the holes crudely cut in her feedsack-dress carrying her swiftly to her friend. The girls embraced. Moon was first to pull away.

“C’mon, let’s see it then!” she said excitedly.

Luna smirked teasingly. “See what, might I ask?”

“Imp!” the darker filly laughed, nudging her friend.

Luna chuckled warmly. She lifted the skirt of her fancy purple gown to reveal the crescent moon on her flank. Her friend nodded approvingly.

“Incredible.” Moon smiled as the blue girl let her skirt fall back into place, “I’m so proud of you.”

The lighter filly beamed at the compliment, the words briefly banishing her previous grievances. She flared her horn, her magic reaching through the open door behind her and pulling two overly large pillows from the massive bed up against the back wall. She set the pillows down side by side, climbing onto one while her friend did the same, sitting facing her. Her magic reached back once again, this time lifting a large fluffy blanket from a puffy sofa in the corner and laying it around their shoulders.

“I would’ve come sooner,” Moon spoke again, “but there were too many ponies around, and I swear there were double the guards today.”

“There were.” Luna replied, “Celestia thought it best to have extra ponies on hoof today.”

“I’d really hoped to have at least a day for us to celebrate together. These ponies sure work fast; you only got your mark last night, didn’t you?”

“Oh please, they’ve been planning this cute-ceañera since my parents died.”

The dark filly leaned forward. “How was the party?” she asked.

Luna rolled her eyes. “Boring. I wish you could have come.”

“You know as well as I do that a twelve-year-old filly showing up unaccompanied by parents would sit well with the guards, let alone a dragon-eyed Alicorn.”

“Still, you would have been better than the dignitaries and envoys. Everything was so formal. I couldn’t have an actual conversation with anypony.”

Moon laughed teasingly. “Glad to know I was wanted.”

Luna snorted at a memory. “Oh, Moon, you should’ve seen this one stallion! He was a prince from Trottingham-”

“Wait,” the dark Alicorn interrupted, “wasn’t he the one who kept sending your sister those really expensive chocolates?”

“Yes, that’s him! Oh, Moon he showed up today and gifted a mute swan to Celestia. You should have seen his face when she rejected him again! He was so red, it was hilarious!”

The girls laughed, Luna at the memory of the angry prince, Moon at how hard Luna was laughing. Luna calmed herself moments later, wiping tears of mirth from her eyes.

“Celestia’s going to have to get creative with unwanted suitors now. Before, her line was ‘I’m far too busy running a kingdom alone to worry about marriage!’. But I’ve gotten my mark and can take my throne now.”

“And take your own suitors.” Moon added, still laughing.

The lunar princess groaned, stuffing her face into her pillow.

“No!” the dark filly was able to decipher the muffled speaking. “Those stallions are insufferable!”

“No matter.” Moon patted her friend’s shoulder, “You’ll have more important things to worry about. Ruling over the night! Are you nervous?”

Luna lifted her head slowly, a frown creasing her features. “I am, actually.” she said slowly, “I’ll be responsible for an entire kingdom, for the lives of everypony in it. I raise and lower the moon, I paint the sky with stars, I bring them their night. I care for them at night, I’ll be able to walk through dreams and ease their fears. I’ll make laws and pass judgements. I’ll be expected to jail criminals and bring justice to the innocent.

“I’m only twelve years old; how can I be ready for this?”

Moon shuffled closer to her friend. She took the lighter girl’s hoof comfortingly. “Celestia was twelve when she took the kingdom, and she’s ruled it alone for eight years. Equestria’s no worse for wear. Besides, you won’t be taking a solo rule, you have Celestia to help you. And you have me. I’ll always be here to build you up and keep you humble.”

The blue filly smiled. “Thank you.” she said quietly.

“Now, tell me more about that prince.”

Luna brightened as she told of other ways the prince had made a fool of himself in his attempts to woo her sister. Laughter filled the air as the girls talked into the late hours of the night.

***

“Luna?” said filly turned her eyes from the book open on her bed to look at the head poking through her doorway, “Are you alright?”

“Of course, sister. Why wouldn’t I be?”

The mare, pale as snow, stepped further into the room. She brushed her flowing mane of pink, blue, and green hues from her eyes as she glanced about the lavish bedroom. “Is somepony else in here? I could’ve sworn I heard you talking to someone...”

The filly’s frown deepened. “No, ‘tis just I. I might’ve been talking back to a character in this novel, I suppose.”

“Oh.” came the reply. The pale mare leaned against the door jam. “What’s happening?” she asked, nodding at the open book.

The younger girl magically flipped the page. “A rather lazy plot device: miscommunication. The protagonist was sent on his quest simply because he misinterpreted something his wife had said.”

“I see…” the mare’s eyes traveled over the filly’s face. “Sister, are you well? You don’t look yourself.”

The teen’s ears were drooping tiredly, there were dark bags under her eyes, and her wings looked almost painfully ruffled, as if she’d not preened them in weeks.

“Celestia, I assure you that I am fine.” Luna spoke sharply, getting slightly agitated.

“Alright then…” the mare let out a deep breath, “Anyways, supper shall be ready shortly.”

The filly’s ears perked slightly. “Will you be joining me in the dining room this evening?” she asked hopefully.

Celestia cleared her throat uncomfortably. “No...no I’ll be taking my supper in my office again. I’ve quite a bit of work to complete before I have to set the sun. Perhaps tomorrow?”

Luna bristled, flipping the page without looking, so sharply that it almost ripped. “Of course.” she seethed. Forcing herself to relax, she followed with, “In that case, I’ll be taking my supper elsewhere as well. In here perhaps, if you would be so kind as to notify the chef when you make your request?”

“Certainly!” the mare said brightly, smiling, completely oblivious to her sister’s lapse in composure. She backed out of the room, shutting the door behind her.

Luna turned her eyes back to her book, though her attention was focused on the sound of hoofsteps fading down the hallway. She kept her ears trained on the sound beyond her bedroom door. Several beats passed after the sounds had ceased. She flipped the page.

Her magic flared instantly, grabbing a small throw pillow from the head of the bed and pitching it towards the door that blocked off the large square of space that served as her closet from the rest of the room. The pillow smacked sharply against the dark wood and slumped to the floor with a dull thud. Seconds later, the door creaked open and a face poked warily from behind it.

“Clear?”

“Indeed.”

The door opened fully to reveal a tall, dark young mare in a brown feedsack dress. She kicked the door shut and trotted over towards the bed. She jumped up onto the purple duvet and rolled onto her back next to the lighter filly, the bed springs bouncing lightly under the added weight.

“Well, that was a close shave.” the girl huffed, “Quick thinking, with the book.”

“I thank you.” the pale filly smirked as she levitated the book before her, admiring the faded cover, “I have read it countless times, and I am sure I have talked back to that idiot stallion a time or two.” she frown as she peered at the well-worn spine, “I should have it rebound at some point.” She shrugged, using her magic to return it to the shelf in the corner near the fireplace. She simultaneously lifted a leather-bound journal from the desk on the opposite side of the room, along with an inkwell and a quill with a long, twirled tip.

“No, c’mon Luna, don’t write! Let’s go do something!” the dark filly whined, “I’ve improved that invisibility spell! Let’s get a pail of water, it’s been so long since we’ve pranked the guards!”

“We short-sheeted the beds in the barracks two days ago.” Luna said dryly.

The filly scooted closer, tapping at the paper with her horn. “Two days was forever ago!”

“Come now, Moon, shove off!” Luna laughed, lifting the book and lightly smacking her friend in the face with it. She dropped it unceremoniously on the duvet and lifted the quill to the page. “It will only be a moment, I am planning my star chart. I am certain you kind find a way to entertain yourself in the meantime.”

Moon scowled and rolled off the bed. She moved toward the fireplace, poking idly at the flames with her magic as she peered over the faded titles of books on the shelf. She knew her friend brought books from the library to her personal shelf for easy access, but nothing in this rotation tickled her fancy. She glanced around the room, a medium-sized brown package on the desk catching her eye.

“What’s this?” she asked, her magic leaving the fire to bring the package closer for inspection.

Luna raised her eyes from her work. “Present from a suitor. It arrived this morning.” she muttered, focus returning to the page.

The dark filly tutted teasingly, dodging the pillow thrown annoyingly in her direction. She let her eyes roam over the package.

“Saddle Arabia?” she frowned, “Is this the same colt you rejected three times already?”

“Yes, the one who seems to think ‘no’ means ‘try harder’. Open it if you like.”

Moon huffed in annoyance. Nevertheless, she used her magic to carefully tear open the paper. Her eyes brightened at the contents.

“Ooh…” she let the paper fall away. Her aura held the shimmering pink dress in midair to admire it. “May I?” she asked, gesturing over to the princess’ dressing screen.

Luna glanced up as she copied down her final notes. “Go ahead.” she nodded. She checked over the page one final time, committing it to memory as Moon disappeared behind the screen.

Moon busied herself with pulling off her faded feedsack dress and working out the lace fastenings of the silk gown. She stepped from behind the screen.

Luna smiled and closed the journal. “Well then, give us a turn.” The dark mare complied, twirling in place, the skirts swishing around her heels. The dress fit snugly, and the royal fuchsia color paired surprisingly well with Moon’s black coat. The pale girl’s grin broadened.

“It’s lovely!” Moon breathed, running a hoof over the smooth fabric.

“You can have it.”

The dark mare looked up. “Oh, no, Luna I couldn’t-”

“And why not? It fits as if it were made for you. Those feedsack dresses are far too tight and scratchy.”

“Luna, you’re too generous. I could never accept such an expensive gift. What use have I for such a fine gown? I’m a mere peasant; this is a dress fit for a princess.”

The lighter girl sighed, knowing how stubborn her friend was. However, she was stubborn as well.

“Fine. It will remain here, but it is still your dress. You can wear it here, here where you are not a peasant, but as royal crown princess.” she said with a tone of finality.

“How have I come to gain such a kind friend?” Moon wondered aloud.

Luna gave a tired smile. “Moon, in the twelve years I have known you, you have never proven false in honesty, loyalty, kindness, or generosity. You have proven to be the truest friend I could ever have hoped to have. This gift of a dress is nothing compared to the lifetime of happiness you have given me.”

The dark filly shook her head lightly. “Has it really been twelve years?” Surely it hadn’t been so long since they had met on that snowy night? Surely it had only been yesterday that they were children playing in the garden? Surely they weren’t yet sixteen? But as her eyes trailed over Luna’s frame, she saw the effects of the years. Luna’s coat had darkened from the light color it had once been. Her mane, also darkened, gave an unnatural twitch now and again, signifying the soon it would burst into an aura of magic, befitting the girl’s royal status, as shown by the silver tiara nestled just behind her horn.

Even Moon had not remained untouched by time. She had noticed, not to long ago, dark blue strands amongst her wild purple hair. Nothing much now, but she suspected she’d be sporting a new look in a few years, as Alicorns had a growth rate that differed from average ponies.

But no matter the years they’d faced, she knew, they were still the same fillies beneath it all. The same Luna. The same Moon.

‘And,’ she thought to herself, ‘I pray it remains that way.’

***

“I…I don’t understand.” the mare blinked in disbelief.

Her friend sighed, slumping against the couch. She ran a dark blue hoof through her ethereal mane. “I know that it is a lot to take in, but you are the only one I could ask this of.”

“Why me?”

‘Anypony else would say that I’m mad.”

“You are mad.” the dragon-eyed mare snapped. She stood up from her seat and moved in front of the crackling fireplace, refusing to look at the other mare, who sighed once again.

“Moon, you have no idea how I wish I could-”

“What you ask,” Moon cut her off, “is unspeakable. It’s appalling! It’s, it’s…”

“A death wish.” the blue mare finished bluntly.

The dark mare bit her lip, raising her head, eyes burning with emotion. Her head dropped back down. “...Why?”

“I assure you this is no spur of the moment decision. I have thought this through for a long time.”

“How long?”

“Three years, at least.” the girl whispered, eyes down.

There was a sharp intake of breath. “Luna, you’re only nineteen years old, you’re practically immortal, you have so much to live for, so much to do-”

“Like what?!” Moon jumped at the harshness of her friend’s tone, “Tell me, Moon, what exactly do I have to live for?!”

The dark Alicorn turned back to the blue mare. “You raise the moon and stars, for one.”

“Celestia can do that. She did it for eight years before I could, I’m sure she can manage.”

“Oh, for heaven’s sake, Luna, you’re a princess! These ponies need you!”

“I know what I am.” Luna said, her voice softening, “I rule over a kingdom of ponies who rely on the sun and practically worship the mare who brings it to them. I rule a kingdom of ponies who barely know I exist. Face it, Moon. If I could fade from the world, nothing would change. I’d be a painting of a past monarch, a smudge in the history books.” she offered a sad smile, “Nopony here needs me.”

The dark mare closed her eyes, tears spilling underneath. Her breathing wavered with emotion.

“I need you, Luna. You’re my best friend.” she choked out.

“I know,” the other girl whispered, her own voice cracking, “that is why I need you to do this for me.”

She stood up and crossed the room to the crying mare. Moon threw herself at her friend, openly sobbing now. She buried her face in the blue mare’s neck, tears staining the girl’s white nightgown.

“As long as I am here, I shall be nothing more than the Lunar Heir.” Luna pulled away from the hug, one of the other mare’s hooves gripped tightly in her own. The other hoof reached up to wipe away the whimpering girl’s tears. “But if you let me go, I can finally be Luna again.”

Silence enveloped the mares, broken only by the crackling fire and the darker girl’s occasional whimpers as she tried to find her voice. Luna remained still, holding her friend’s hoof, face emotionless, eyes shining with tears. Moon’s eyes were glued to the floor.

“What do I need to do?” the dark made whispered hoarsely.

The blue Alicorn swallowed thickly as she flared her horn to pick up the book lying closed on her desk, flipping to a certain page as she brought it coser. “As you said, I am practically immortal. I have managed to locate a spell that I believe will be strong enough to work, but as an Alicorn, I am immune to my own magic, so I cannot perform it myself. This spell requires immense magical abilities, thus, as an Alicorn yourself, and as the pony I am closest to, you are the only one I could entrust with this task.” she finished in a whisper.

Moon took the opened spell book in her own magic. She stared at the page, studying the spell.

“You can keep the book, if you like.” Luna said quietly “You can have anything of mine that you want; I leave everything I own to you.”

The dark mare nodded, eyes still on the page, trying to prolong the inevitable. She felt a hoof touch her chin, lifting it so her eyes met her friend’s.

“It is okay.” Luna assured her, “It will happen quickly, I promise.”

“Alright. I'll do it.” Moon wiped at her eyes as the other girl stepped backwards.

“I thank you, my friend.”

Moon licked at her dry lips. She looked at the book one final time before setting on the floor. Her magic extended to the other mare, her blue aura turning a sickly green as she began the spell.

Luna closed her eyes as the magic enveloped her. Searing pain shot through her horn, quickly spreading throughout her body. She clenched her tongue between her teeth, fighting the urge to scream, less Moon stop the spell. The pain soon passed, leaving behind a calming sensation. Her vision began to fade. The magic receded, the spell over. She was gone.

***

Luna’s eyes jerked open and a cry escaped her lips as pain ripped through her body. She groaned in agony, her eyes scanning her surroundings. As far as she could tell, she was in a bedroom, though not her own. The room was tiny, barely the size her foalhood closet had been. A chill ran up the mare’s spine, making her aware of the lack of a fireplace.The walls were made of grey stone, freezing cold to the touch. There were no wall sconces, not even a candle. The only light in the room came from the moon shining through a lonely window near the bed on which she laid. Decoration was minimal; the walls were filthy and bare, a wooden chair rested in the corner, a dresser was pressed against the far wall, a rug took up the center of the floor, and the bed sat opposite the rotting wooden door. A door!

The mare gathered her legs and tried to move to the edge of the bed. Another wave of pain hit, earning a strained whinny. The pains seemed to be getting stronger, and the last one lasted longer than the one prior to it.

Luna reached a hoof to the head of the bed and pulled a grimy pillow to her chest. She hesitated only a moment before biting down hard on the corner, deciding that, in that moment, anything she might catch from the filth was outweighed by risk of being heard. Waiting on the next wave of pain, the mare racked her brain, trying to piece together some recollection of what had brought her to this room, yet all she could recall was her request to Moon.

Another pain, this one worse than any of the previous, forcing tears of agony into her eyes. Who could have possibly captured her that had the power to place such a torture charm on her? The burning stitch worsened, drawing out, making the mare scream around the pillow, the sound muffled by the fabric. Then all at once, it ended. Her heart stopped as a shrill cry pierced the silence of the room. Very slowly, her wide-eyed gaze moved to the foot of the bed.

The foal was a tiny thing, coat black as night, hair the purple of a nebula. A horn protruded from her forehead, tiny wings fluttered helplessly at her side. Luna stared at the wriggling child in shock, unsure of what to do. It was filthy.

‘So clean it.’ instinct told her.

She turned her attention to the right side of the bed. On the floor, just within hoof’s reach, was a metal basin half-full of water. Next to it, a frayed rag, a cloth diaper, and a towel, stained yellow with age, were folded in a neat stack. A rather clean-looking pair of scissors and a few pins sat atop the stack. Her hoof touched the water. It was still warm.

She tried to flick her magic to life, and was thoroughly confused to find her magic wasn’t working. She could still feel the small weight of her horn on her forehead, so it hadn’t been removed, at least. Had a charm been placed on her, stunting her magic? Or had it been drained from her? She could worry about that later.

She reached a hoof out to grasp the rag and dipped it into the water. After it was soaked, she lifted it and wrung out the excess water. She took the scissors in hoof. She fumbled with them for a moment before severing the connection between her and the foal. Taking the crying child, a filly, in the crook of her foreleg, she used the opposite hoof to clean the foal, the warm rag soothing it to silence.

Once she was finished with washing and drying the child with the towel, Luna set the rag on the floor and set about diapering the foal. She was inexperienced, but after a few blunders, she managed to get the foal wrapped up. Instinct kicked in once again, and she moved the foal to her breast.

“Greedy little tyke.” she chuckled as the filly nursed hungrily. The mare stared at the child, head tilted thoughtfully. “You will need a name, will you not?”

The foal ignored her. Luna turned her head to a window on the wall to her right. She could smell saltwater. Was she near the ocean? Perhaps on an Island? It was dark outside, too dark to make out any surrounding landmarks. All she could see was the moon glowing brightly above, the stars twinkling in the sky. Such a gorgeous night.

“That is it, then.” she decided after a while, turning her attention back to the foal, “I shall name you for the night you were born under. I shall call you Nyx.”

The filly looked up at that. Her eyes were squinted so that Luna could barely see the turquoise color of her eyes. She stared at her mother for a few moments before cooing quietly and going back to eating.

“Like that, dear?” Luna whispered, gently stroking the tufts of purple mane, “You look so much like somepony I knew once. She’d be your godmother, did you know that?”

Her voice trailed away. She curled protectively around the hungry filly as she again tried to figure out where she was, the memories she’d lost. She raised her hoof and set it against the base of her horn. No ring, she wasn’t married.

“Is that it, then?” she wondered, “It must be. The spell did not work. I became with foal who could not be an heir as I am not married. I’ve run away, taken up a peasant’s life to protect my daughter.”

The foal let out a whine. She reached her tiny hooves towards the mare, whimpering.

A warm smile spread across the older Alicorn’s face. She reached her forehooves out and gently picked up the filly, shushing her as she cradled the filly to her chest. “Tired, are you, pet?”

“You are my Moonbeam, my darling Moonbeam.

You bring me joy when the sky is dark.

You’ll never know, child, how much I love you.

I’ll never let them tear us apart.”

The lullaby swiftly carried the foal to sleep. Luna blinked, her vision beginning to fade. She leaned back, assuming she too was falling asleep.

‘Maybe the spell did work’ she thought, suddenly, ‘It worked, and this is my heaven.’

***

“I can only assume that is when Moon took control once again.” Luna said quietly, staring at her empty plate, “The next time I awakened was the coronation a month ago.”

Nyx looked away as she wiped at her eyes. “I...I don’t know what to say.”

“It is funny,” Luna laughed bitterly, “the connection Moon and I share. We both called you ‘Nyx’.”

“Nightmare always said I was named after her. ‘Nyx Mare Moon’. She wanted me to be just like her.”

“I have read since my return of what Nightmare has done. You are nothing like that mare, but your alikeness to Moon is startling.”

Nyx furrowed her brow. “What do you mean?”

Luna’s face hardened. “Despite that they are the same mare, your Nightmare is not the same as my Moon. The filly I knew in my youth was the kindest, most generous pony I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. Moon was a filly the world knew not of, a filly consumed by grief over a mare lost to despair. Nightmare was the monster that remained.”

The filly looked down. “I wish I could’ve known Moon. She sounds awesome.”

“There is so much I wish had happened differently.” Luna sighed, ears back, “I wish you had been born in my time, I wish I had been married to your father, whoever he is, I wish I could’ve raised you, given you the family and life you deserve, instead of leaving you with that despicable creature!”

“None of that was your fault.” Nyx said defiantly. “You weren’t in control of your mind. You were hurt and needed time to heal.”

“I know.” The mare smiled sadly, “But in any case, I have a lot to make up for, if you’ll let me.”

The filly nodded. “Of course.”

“Perhaps, you would like to spend your break with me?”

“I’d love to,” Nyx said slowly, “but I was actually planning on staying at school with Will.” the filly blushed lightly, “Actually, he’s already made arrangements to stay behind with me instead of going home.”

Luna smiled. “I see. Well, in any case, we can meet again sometime, here or somewhere else.”

“I’d like that.”

***

“Wow.” Will breathed after his marefriend finished her story.

“I know, right?” the filly finished off the last bit of her daisy sandwich.

“I mean, I’ve heard stories about Nightmare Moon my whole life; I can’t imagine her being anything other than a villain!”

“Same here, and I was raised by the mare.”

Will chuckled as he gazed at the filly. His smile faded. “I’m sorry you couldn’t find out anything about your dad.”

“It’s fine.” Nyx sighed, “I don’t really know what I was expecting. It doesn’t matter, really. Knowing won’t change anything.”

‘It does matter.’ Will wanted to say, ‘It’s always important to know where you come from.’

“Anyway, how was hoofball practice?”

“Tiring.” the colt groaned, “Coach had us doing drills all day, and we spent the last few hours of practice in the weightroom. I don’t even understand why, it’s not like we have a game this week!”

The Alicorn chuckled. “I suppose that’s why you went through four sandwiches?” she said teasingly.

“Hey, athletes eat a lot!” Will huffed in mock irritation.

Nyx laughed, about to retort when the clock on her coltfriend’s desk caught her eye. “Oh, is it really already eight-forty?”

The colt sighed. “I guess that means you have to go, huh?”

“Yeah.”

Will stood up, helping the girl gather her things and walking her into the hall. The filly turned around. She leaned forward and pressed a kiss to the corner of his mouth.

“See you tomorrow?” she asked.

Will nodded. He watched her walk down the corridor and disappear through the door to the campus grounds.

“King Will?” The colt turned his attention to the mare behind him. He recognised her as one of the security guards in charge of the hall his office was located in.

“Yes?”

“My shift’s about to end. Just wanted to see if you needed anything before I go.”

“The Island files, remind which ones I have access to.” he said before he could stop himself. The mare looked mildly surprised.

“You won’t have access to everything on the project ‘till you complete your education, but you do have access to the profiles of each of the convicts.”

Will nodded. “I need somepony to bring me files on every stallion banished there between the Island’s establishment and April fifteenth sixteen years ago, and I need those ASAP.” The colt looked back at the door his marefriend had disappeared through moments before. “There’s somepony I need to find.”

***

Nyx slipped into her dorm, eyes closed tiredly as she shut the door and leaned back against it. “You have no idea what kind of day I’ve ha-”

A sniffling sound cut her off. Her eyes jerked open. Across the room, she saw her roommate sitting against the head of her bed. She was curled up, knees against her chest, hair hanging in a limp curtain around her, tears spilling down her face. The blue filly looked up.

“I did it.” she whispered.

“Lady…” Nyx breathed. She dropped her bag, crossing the room in a few shaky steps. She climbed on the bed and wrapped her forelegs and wings around the disguised Changeling in a tight hug. The girl buried her face in her roommate’s chest, sobbing uncontrollably. Nyx pressed her face into her friend’s hair, her own tears emerging.

“It’ll be okay.” she whispered.

Author's Note

And so the first chapter has been done. Welcome, to those of you just now finding this storyline, and welcome back to those from the first story. This has been a long time coming, and I'm glad to finally have it out.

Big thank you to Stellar Blaze For agreeing to come back as my editor!

~~Sorry for the weird formatting, there's a few bugs with the new googledoc plugin.~~ Edit: Fixed!

Don't ask me when the second one will be, I don't know.

The only thing I own is Will, Lady, and the storyline.

I love comments! They cure writers block!

Edit-4/4/2019:
It has come to my attention that in this story I have written something insensitive. Initially, I had written that the connection between Nightmare Moon and Luna was the result of something similar to Disassociative Identity Disorder. This was wrong of me to do.

Since the original publication of this chapter, I've learned and grown as a person as well as a writer, and in doing so, I've learned just how harmful it is to write a villain created by Disassociative Identity Disorder, as it demonizes a very real, and largely non-violent, non-dangerous mental disorder.

I've debated for a while on how to remedy my mistake. Removing all mention of it would be as bad as pretending that I never had such prejudices in the first place, but I want to make the story more reader-firendly, along with changing it for continuity reasons as I correct myself later on.

My solution is this: I've re-written the scene in which the idea of Disassociative Identity Disorder is introduced, but will be leaving the offending paragraphs below to show what prejudice and misinformation can create.

I apologize to anyone I may have hurt, and I promise to do better in the future.

***

The feeling of dread deepened. “What happened? I-is she okay?” the teen’s voice shook.

Twilight bit her lip, carefully choosing her words. She didn’t answer the question, at least not directly. “Have you ever heard of Dissociative Identity Disorder?”

Nyx cocked her head, confusion written across her features. “No, no, what is that?”

The older mare opened the file with the hoof that had been previously tracing over it. Her magic flared and flipped through the papers, passing them to Nyx to look at as she spoke in summary of what was on each page. “Dissociative Identity Disorder, more commonly known as multiple or split personality disorder, is a condition usually the result of a traumatic experience, which acts as a way to help a pony avoid bad memories. A new pony is developed, or in some cases ponies, with a unique and distinct personality, name, history, characteristics, both internal and physical, and can even be another gender. Typically this new pony is mentally stronger than the “original”, meant to take over when things become too much for them. In some cases, the personalities aren’t even aware the other or others exist.” she paused, passing a final paper to the teen. “It’s...what Princess Luna has been diagnosed with.”

The young Alicorn sat shell-shocked, trying to absorb the information lain before her.

“It’s treatable.” the mare said gently, rising in her seat and leaning across the desk to lay a comforting hoof on the girl’s shoulder. “However, that’s it. There’s no way it can be cured.”

A Sister's Love

Eyes of pale pink were glued to the clock ticking away on the wall. Only a minute left. The filly sat with her back against the head of her bed, laptop on her knees. A video chat program was open on her screen. At exactly four-o’clock, she would be able to connect a call to her childhood home. It had taken a lot to get this set up; several days of planning, special permission from the current and previous kings of the Center Region, and three guards to sneak a computer and the needed equipment to run it, all without her mother’s knowledge. So many ponies went to a lot of trouble to set up this call, but it would all be worth it once she saw their faces, heard their voices.

Just a few seconds to go. Five...four...three...two…

The screen lit up with an “Incoming Call” message, and a jaunty tune played through the speaker. She quickly accepted the call. And they were there. Entirely too thin, but there. Her sisters.

Pupa, the sickly-green-grey little Changeling, with her big green eyes and blueish-green hair. And Larva, pink and pure, eyes as blue as ever, hair still fluffy and black.

They were so beautiful.

“Lady!” Larva called out while Pupa gurgled excitedly.

“Hi! Oh, I’ve missed you both so, so much.” Lady smiled. They looked okay, a bit thinner than she’d have liked, but no worse for wear, except…

“Larva, honey, you don’t have to wear your disguise, it’s just me.”

The Changeling pulled her baby sister on her lap, trying to keep her from touching the screen with her slobbery hoof. “Oh, it’s fine. It’s actually pretty comfortable!”

The older Changeling’s brow furrowed. “Really? I seem to remember my disguise being insanely uncomfortable for the first year or so that I wore it.”

“Maybe it affects everypony differently?” The filly said with a smile that was far too wide to be real.

“Don’t lie to me, Larva.” Lady said gently, “It’s me. You don’t have to lie to me.”

The filly looked down, quiet. A few moments later, she erupted in green flame, her equine appearance melting away. A large, sickly green, hoof-shaped mark was clearly visible on the swollen, puffy skin around her eye.

Lady’s jaw tightened. “Baby, what happened?”

Larva looked up, slightly panicked, “It was my fault!” she cried, desperately, “I was supposed to be watching Pupa yesterday, and she got away from me. She went in mom’s room and knocked some stuff over. I was trying to clean it up and mom came home and saw me touching her things, and, well…” the filly’s voice trailed away, softly. She blocked her baby sister’s attempt to touch the shiny wound.

Lady’s hoof reached over her keyboard and tapped a key labeled “prt sc”.

“Larva, I-”

There was a faint squeaking sound from her sisters’ end of the call. Larva’s eyes widened as she jerked her head towards the noise. Pupa visibly tensed and whimpered.

“She’s home.” she breathed before launching herself at the monitor.

“Baby, wait!” Lady yelled, too late. The words “call ended” flashed across the screen. She put a hoof to her mouth, shaking with worry. There was no doubt who “She” was. The teen leaned over the side of her bed to rummage through the drawer of her nightstand. She used her magic to pull out a flash drive and plug it into the computer, then pasted in the screenshot she’d taken of her sisters. She ejected the flashdrive and dropped it into her saddlebags before securing them to her back and leaving her dorm.

***

Will glanced at his clock with a small yawn and smiled. 4:30, and just an hour left until he could meet Nyx for dinner. His red-orange eyes turned to the small stack of papers on his desk. Now he just needed to finish this last bit of work. A knock sounded on his door a few moments later.

“Come in!” he called idly, moving a paper from the stack of work still needed to be done into a tray labeled ‘out’, “Oh, hello Lady.” he smiled warmly at the Changeling girl. “If you’re looking for Nyx, she’s not here, she’s in the library. She said she needed to finish some homework before dinner.”

“Actually,” Lady said, stepping fully into the room, “I was looking for you.” she glanced at the papers on the desk, “Is this a bad time?”

“No, no, not at all.” Will smiled warmly and set down his pen, “How did the call with your sisters go?”

The Changeling edged over to a chair in front of the desk and sat down, resting her saddlebags on the floor next to her. “That’s...actually what I came to talk about.”

“Did something go wrong with the call?” Will asked, casting another glance at the clock, “I didn’t expect it to be done yet.”

“Our mother came home early,” the filly responded, “but that’s not what I came here for. Well, it kind of is, but, I mean…” she sighed, steadying her voice, “During the call, Larva was wearing her disguise, her natural one, of course, and she was acting really weird about it. I finally got her to drop the act, and, well…” Her magic flared and pulled a piece of paper from her bag. It exchanged auras, and the colt’s eyes widened at the image printed on the paper of two Changeling fillies, a sickly-green bruise around the right eye of the older one.

Lady’s voice was quiet. “I took a screenshot and printed it out before I came here. Mother came home right after I took this and Larva hung up.” She took a deep breath. “You’ve done so much for me and my friends, and I can’t even imagine how many hoops you had to jump through to get that call set up, and I know I’m in no position to ask for anything from you-”

“Lady, whatever it is you need, just ask.”

The girl swallowed the lump in her throat. “I was hoping you could bring my sisters over from the Isle.” she practically whispered.

Will nodded slowly. “I’ll look into it.” he offered a small smile.

Lady let out a relieved sigh. “Thank you.” she said shakily. Both teens stood and embraced.

“I’ll call you as soon as I find out anything.” Will promised as he led her to the door.

“Thank you so much, for everything.” the filly ran a hoof through her hair, feeling relieved, “I’m gonna head down to the cafeteria. Want me to bring you anything?”

“No, I’m meeting Nyx in about an hour. We’ve both been so so busy with school, and I have so much king stuff to do, the only time we ever get together is a meal now and then.”

Lady smirked. “Well, you know curfew time.” she said teasingly, “Have her home before then or I know of three villain foals who will be coming after you.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

***

“So, you heard the door open, an’ then she just hung up the call?”

“Yeah. You know, I’d almost forgotten how much she scared them.” Lady sighed, “But Will knows, and he’s promised to do everything he can to get them out. I’m not supposed to think about it until I get the call, so, Sci, it’s your job to distract me. Where exactly are we going?”

It was a bright Saturday afternoon, and Scifresh Doubloon had decided to take the Changeling off campus for lunch, as she had never been away from the school since she was brought there, and then for a tour of Canterlot City. Both were dressed casually, Lady in a pale pink sundress and Sci in a light green plaid button-up and his Stetson hat.

“Ah ain’t sayin’ nothin’.” the colt grinned. “It’d ruin the surprise.”

The filly huffed in response but kept walking, looking around at the city. ‘It’s so much brighter than the Isle was.’, she thought. Everything in Equestria was so colorful and happy, the exact opposite of the sombre haze of her fillyhood home. There was a new bounce in her step and she leaned lightly on the colt’s shoulder. This was definitely her kind of town.

“It would appear that we’ve arrived, m’Lady.” Sci smiled cheekily, earning a snort from his companion.

“Gee, wonder where that nickname came from?” came the sarcastic reply. The filly nudged him with her shoulder and looked over the building.

It was quaint, a Mom-and-Pop style diner. Large glass windows took up most of the red brick walls. There were planters, windowboxes, and hanging pots overflowing with colorful flowers and ferns. A cool shade hung over the sidewalk, provided by a dark green and white awning. A carved wooden sign over the door read ‘Cake Family Diner’.

Sci stepped away and pushed the door open with his hip. He clutched his Stetson in a hoof and held it to his chest. “After you.”

The filly stepped inside the little diner and was instantly hit with a warm, homey smell that she couldn’t quite place. The overflowing planters weren’t exclusive to the outside, it seemed, as there were several more plants scattered around the interior, ranging from the tiny cactus beside the cash register to towering vines that had grown into the rafters and spread around the roof like a leafy canopy sheltering the few patrons. There was a multi-colored flag displayed under the register.

“Hey, Doub!” Lady’s eyes wandered over to a counter lined with barstools. A cream-colored Pegasus stallion stood waving at them from between the counter and the small, open kitchen area. Sci smiled and walked toward the counter.

“Pound Cake! How are ya?”

“Doing pretty good. Business is great, but I’m glad it’s slow today. Sage wasn’t feeling well this morning, so Sous is back at home with her. She’s starting preschool soon.” he turned and smiled at a little picture next to the cash register of himself and a light brown stallion cuddling a tiny green filly. “She’s growing up so fast.”

Sci smiled at the picture. “Y’all thinking about adopting again?”

“Dunno. We definitely want another foal, but the adoption process was so long and tedious last time. It was all worth it when we first got to hold her, mind you,” he nodded pointedly at the photo, “but, gosh, I don’t know if we can go through all that again! I mean, it took two years to finally get Sage, and in the end, we almost didn’t.” he let out a sigh, then turned back to the teens. “Anyway, you didn’t come here to listen to me complain about the system. Doub, where’s your manners? Aren’t you going to introduce me to this lovely lady?”

The blue colt blushed lightly. “Right, sorry. Lady, this is Pound Cake. Pound, this is Lady Bug.”

The stallion laughed. “Well, at least I was a step ahead on the name! It’s good to meet you Lady.”

“You too.” the filly smiled sweetly.

“You guys know what you want to drink?”

“Water, please.” Lady answered.

“Same fer me, thanks.” Sci added before nudging the girl towards a booth, “C’mon, it’s seat yourself.”

The teens made their way over to a booth next to a window and sat down opposite each other, Lady setting her purse next to her. There was a stand up against the the glass holding a few menus, which Lady distributed.

“Ah used to hang out with Pound and his sister, Pumpkin, a lot when Ah was little. Their parents own a bakery in Mama’s hometown. She knew them.” Sci smiled idly, “Ah should take you there sometime.”

Lady grinned, blushing slightly. “I’d like that.”

They sat in a comfortable silence as they peered over the menus. As the name would suggest, it was mostly homestyle cooking. A few minutes later, Pound Cake came by and took their order.

“It’s so cozy and quiet in here.” Lady said.

“Yeah, that’s why Ah like this place. Most ponies in Canterlot like them hoity-toity places uptown, especially the high-class, so there’s usually a ton of paparazzi up that way.”

“Sounds annoying, having a camera in your face while you’re trying to eat, and I bet a picture of the son of a Guardian and former Element Bearer would be worth something.”

The colt gave a huff, then grinned. “Besides, the food is much better here.”

Someone cleared their throat next to the table, startling both teens. He was a kind of short, pot-bellied Unicorn stallion, red, with a balding head and a five-o’clock shadow. He was glaring at Lady.

“Can we help you?” Sci asked, tensing up slightly.

The stallion ignored the colt. “You don’t happen to be one of those foals King Will brought over from the Island, are you? The Changeling?”

“Ye-” Lady was cut off almost immediately. The stallion leaned down, right in her face.

“Because we don’t like bugs in Equestria.”

Sci stood up quickly and placed his forehooves on the table. “You best cool it, mister.” he growled.

“What’d you do to this poor kid, huh? D’you spell him?”

Lady shifted back into her seat, her back pressed against the wall, but the stallion edged closer. “No, I-”

“Poisoned his mind?”

“No!”

Sci leaned farther over the table. “Ah said back off.”

“Is there a problem here?” Pound Cake walked up to the table, a concerned look on his face. The stallion glanced at the owner.

“You’ve really let this place go, Cake.” he glared back at the filly, “It’s gotten infested with bugs.”

“Sir, I’m going to have to ask you to leave.” Pound gestured to a sign near the door the read ‘Bigots Beware: This Is A HATE FREE ZONE!’ The stallion protested, but eventually left.

Pound sighed. “Sorry about that, guys. Your food’s almost ready. Don’t worry about the bill, it’s on the house. Again, so sorry.”

Sci turned to Lady as the restaurant owner walked away. “You alright?”

“Yeah, I think so.” Lady shivered, “That’s never happened to me before.”

The colt raised an eyebrow. “Really?”

“Yeah. Ponies were pretty tolerant of differences on the Isle. Of course, I didn’t leave the house much when I was little. Mom was always training me.”

***

“A princess must always look her best. Therefore, she must know what to do to achieve this. This is a quiz. You tell me the steps. Get it right, and I teach you to apply them. Get it wrong, and well…” the mare flexed her foreleg, causing the filly to flinch. “Go on then, Lady Bug.”

Lady struggled her way into the chair in front of her mommy’s vanity. Her eyes scanned the items laid out across the surface. She took a deep breath.

“Conthealer.” she said in her quiet lisp, “Then foundathon.”

“Concealer.” her mommy corrected, “You must rid yourself of that lisp; a princess must always be heard and understood. Now, while that is correct, you can also use foundation first, then concealer. It’s all down to personal preference. You’re lucky you’re so young. You don’t need concealer yet.”

The mare brought a small container closer to herself and picked up a large, fluffy brush with her teeth. She opened the little box and tapped the brush against the black powder inside. She turned back to her daughter and set about applying the foundation.

“What’s next?” she asked, setting the brush down.

“Um...blush?”

“For you, yes. You already have the ideal face-shape, luckily, so you can skip contour. Besides, there wasn’t any on the boat this month, nor anything I could make some with. However, trends change rapidly, and a princess must always be on top of these trends. With blush, always use upward strokes.” the mare picked up the fluffy brush again and tapped it against the edge of the vanity to get rid of the remaining foundation before loading it with blush.

“Eyeth necth.” the filly said once her mommy had finished applying the blush, “Eyethadow, then eyeliner, then mathcara.”

“Control that lisp!” the mare snapped, but applied each cosmetic in turn.

“Lipth-lipstick.” the filly struggled to get the word right.

“Correct. Do this.” the mare opened her mouth slightly and the filly copied, “Hold that face.” she selected a tube of lipstick and swiped it over the filly’s mouth. She picked up a cloth with her hoof and passed it over to her daughter. “Bite down on this with your lips. It gets off the excess lipstick.”

The filly obeyed, then looked into the mirror. She smiled slightly at her reflection. “I look pretty.” she said quietly.

“Next you’ll have to learn to do this yourself. And you’ll have to do it well. No prince wants to marry an ugly girl.”

***

The sun was beginning to set as the teens made their way back up to the school. Despite the incident at the diner, they had spent a rather happy day touring a small portion of the city. Lady had a contented smile on her face as she leaned her head against Sci’s shoulder.

“Today has been so great, Sci. Thanks for showing me around.”

“It’s no trouble. Ah’m glad ya had fun. We should do it again sometime. Ah mean, we only saw a fraction of the city.”

Lady’s smile broadened. “I’d like that.”

Sci looked returned the smile as the school came into view. “Wanna head to the cafeteria? They oughta be serving dinner by now.”

The filly nodded in response. They entered through the front gates and made their way across the grounds to the main building. They navigated their way around the throngs of students making their way to the cafeteria. Lady held out a hoof to stop Sci just outside the doors. She had heard a ringtone sounding from her cellphone, indicating that she had received a text.

The Changeling tentatively pulled her phone from her purse and looked at the notification on the screen. “It’s from Will. He wants me to come by his office.”

“What are we waitin’ fer then, let’s go!” Sci turned back the way they came.

Lady put a hoof to his chest to stop him. “Slow down. This probably won’t take long. Why don’t you go ahead and get dinner, and I’ll meet you in the garden in a few minutes? It’s still so pretty out, I figure we could have a picnic.”

“Alright. Tell me everything afterwards!”

“I will!” the filly chuckled before trotting off to the exit of the building and towards the young king’s office. Once outside, she broke into a gallop, excitement coursing through her. Soon, within the next few days, maybe even by fall break, her sisters would be safe with her.

At the speed she ran, it took only a few minutes to get to Will’s office. She took a few deep breaths to compose herself before knocking on the door.

“Come in!”

Lady opened the door, her grin fading at the look on the young king’s face.

“You might wanna take a seat.”

The filly moved into the room, closing the door behind her. She sat down on a chair opposite the colt. “What happened? Are my sisters okay?”

Will let out a heavy sigh. “As far as I know, they’re alright. However, I have hit some...complications.”

“Oh. What do you mean exactly?”

“It was harder than you’d think to bring you and the others over from the Isle. My original plan was actually to bring over two highschool-age and two middleschool-age foals, but there weren’t any boarding schools willing to take in villain foals.”

“Except for Canterlot High?” Lady questioned.

“Actually, no, not at first.” Will replied, “Aunt Twilight wasn’t too keen on the idea, but she eventually relented, as a ‘favor to her nephew.’ Because of this, I had to alter my plan and bring over four high-schoolers.” the colt opened a file that was laying on his desk, “According to their files, Larva is eleven and Pupa is three. Is this correct?”

“Yes.”

“Then I’m afraid they’re too young to attend CHS.”

Lady nodded slowly. “Well, what else can be done.”

Will sighed again. “That’s the hard part. As far as I, and even my parents and Twilight, can see, you have two options.”

The Changeling straightened herself, her ears perked forward. “Go on.”

“Option one: You can become their legal guardian, meaning you would become their parental figure and be fully responsible for their care.”

‘That kinda sounds like I was doing already.’ Lady thought.

“However, that can’t happen until you become a legal adult, which in Equestria is at age eighteen, and, as they are both too young to live on campus, you’ll also have to wait until you complete highschool.” “That’s definitely not an option.” Lady said, her jaw tight, “I don’t want them left alone with her for that long.”

“I thought you’d say that, but you might not like this next option either. The only way I can bring them over now is if they’re put into foster care.”

The Changeling cocked her head, confused. “What’s that?”

“In the event that a parent or parents die or are deemed unfit to raise a foal, and the foal has nopony to take them in, they are placed into the foster system. In the system, they will be placed with ponies, known as foster parents or foster families, to take care of them. Eventually,” the colt paused, “ideally, they will be adopted.”

Lady bristled. “Ideally?”

“I won’t lie to you, foals don’t always get adopted.” the colt offered a sympathetic smile, “You don’t have to decide right now. Take as much time as you need.”

The Changeling nodded, leaving the room in a daze. ‘What can I do?’ she asked herself as she blindly made her way to the gardens, as if on autopilot, ‘Both options are impossible. If I leave them until I finish highschool, gosh, would they even last that long? But if I bring them over now, would I ever see them again?’ She stopped at the edge of a picnic table where Scifresh sat.

“How’d it go?” Sci looked up at the filly, his face falling quickly once he caught her gaze. He stood up quickly. “What happened?” he asked, slightly panicked.

The tears building in her eyes as she walked finally spilled over. “I-I don’t kn-know what-t to do…” she sobbed.

***

“Lady Bug!” the filly’s eyes slowly opened at the voice calling from down the hall, “Get in here! I need to speak with you before I leave!”

Lady sat up in bed, confused. ‘That’s odd,’ she thought, ‘It’s not like mommy to tell me she’s leaving before she goes.’ the little Changeling, slightly concerned over her mommy, kicked her musty covers away and crawled out of bed, shivering when her little black hooves touched the cold floor, her thin nightgown doing little to protect her from the chill. She toddled out of her room, down the hallway, into the rundown kitchen.

A large Changeling sat at the lopsided table, muttering to herself as she peered over papers spread across the wooden surface. The filly made her way to the chipped counter and climbed up. She opened a cabinet and removed a bowl from the shelf. From another cabinet, she got a box of stale cereal. She climbed back down to the floor and, after pouring the cereal, brought the bowl to the table.

“Do we have any milk?” she asked the older Changeling.

“No.” the mare replied.

The filly climbed up onto a chair and began to eat her breakfast, waiting for her mommy to speak. Several minutes passed, the mare still muttering over her papers. Eventually, she lifted a pencil with her teeth and circled something on the paper with a huff of finality. She stood up, clutching the paper she circled, plus a few others, and made her way to a pair of saddlebags sitting near a door that led outside.

“The egg hatched last night.” Lady’s ears perked up and she turned in her seat to watch her mommy.

“Really? What is it?” she asked.

“It’s a filly. I’ve decided to call it Larva.” the mare stuffed the papers in one of the bags, “I’m headed out to find a nanny. Until then, you’ll be taking care of it.”

“Why me?” the filly asked, realizing her mistake too late, as her mommy’s head snapped around to look at her, fire in her eyes.

“You dare question me, Lady Bug?” she said with a deadly calm voice.

“N-no, ma’am.” Lady whispered.

The mare huffed, lifting the saddlebags to her back. “Don’t ask me what time I’ll be back. I don’t know.” she paused, her hoof on the door handle, “Lady, how old are you?”

The filly shuffled her hooves. “I’ll be six next month.” she said quietly.

The mare nodded. “Your training must intensify by then.” she left the room, the door slamming behind her.

The little Changeling turned back to her dry cereal, wondering how exactly one would care for a baby. Every few seconds, she glanced down the hallway. It was quiet, as it usually was when her mommy left, but weren’t babies supposed to be noisy?

It was sleeping, she decided. And you never woke a sleeping baby. That’s what her mommy had told her whenever she tried to touch the egg. “The egg stage is similar to sleeping, Lady, and when a baby sleeps, never wake it up.”

So she would wait until there were noises. She must be patient. A princess was always patient.

Lady had just finished cleaning up her breakfast when the first wail was heard from down the hall. The cry, which was already loud in the kitchen, through the thin walls, only raised in volume as she moved towards the nursery, a room that was previously off limits. She stood on her hind legs, stretching her tiny hoof to reach the doorknob.

After a few minutes of struggle, the little Changeling got the door open and was hit with the full volume of the sobs emanating from the rickety old crib against the right wall of the tiny room, opposite a chipped old dresser. A crib that was much taller than she was. The filly huffed in annoyance, not trusting her frail wings to hold her up long enough to peer inside. She looked around the room, searching for something she could use to boost herself. Her eyes landed on a trashcan next to the door. A quick glance inside told her it was empty, so she turned it over and pushed it up against the crib. The filly was nestled amongst a few stray eggshells.

The baby’s eyes were typical of a Changeling; blue sclera lacking irises and pupils. However, as a royal Changeling, that would change in about a year. Slitted pupils would appear, the sclera would turn light green, and irises would form, either green like their mommy’s, or perhaps she would have her fathers eyes. Apart from the eyes, it was obvious the filly was not of Changeling peasantry. A civilian's child would hatch in grub-like state, but a Changeling of royal descent emerges from their egg with four legs, mane and tail, a misshapen horn, frail, transparent wings, and a hard, chitin shell around their middle. A peasant’s daughter would better fit the name Larva. But, she was kind of cute, Lady decided.

She’d be a lot more cute if she wasn’t screaming her little head off.

‘Alright,’ Lady thought, ‘what could she want?’ She went through a mental checklist of what her mommy would do for her before she could take care of herself.

Could she be sleepy? She remembered crying when she got sleepy, and mommy would make her take a nap. But no, Larva had just woken up.

Could she have messed her diaper? Lady cringed, hoping that wasn’t the case. She leaned a little farther over the crib and took a tentative sniff. Just the normal musty smell of the house.

Hungry perhaps? That would makes sense. Lady was usually hungry when she woke up. But what do babies eat? Nothing that required chewing; she couldn’t see any teeth in the crying filly’s mouth. She closed her eyes for a moment, calling on her memories to help her. She could vaguely remember being cradled, and drinking from...a bottle?

A bottle! Milk! She started to lower herself from the trashcan, then paused, huffing in annoyance, remembering there was no milk. Lady screwed her face in concentration. Everything anypony on the Island owned was either salvaged or made of the things salvaged from the garbage barge that came from the mainland once a month. Milk that was safe to drink was a rare treat, so that couldn’t have been what she was fed.

She pulled the memory back, this time focusing on the bottle itself, specifically, what was inside it. Slowly, the liquid came it to view, a green sludge. Some sort of vegetable slush?

‘Ew!’ Lady grimaced. Wait, no, the sludge was...glowing? ‘That’s it!’ Lady realized, ‘It’s Changeling Slime!’

The Slime, crystal-like and strong when cooled and hardened, was typically used for building or containment, but when warmed, became a sweet, edible substance; not enough for a grown Changeling to survive off of for more than a week, but it might be enough for an infant. However, Lady was too young to produce the Slime.

The filly looked around the room. Her mommy had instructed her to care for the filly; she wouldn’t have left her with no supplies, right? Her eyes landed on the dresser. Poking out from behind the edge was the side of a crate. Lady hopped down from the trashcan and made her way towards the crate. Inside the crate stood three glass bottles topped with rubber nipples, each filled with glowing Changeling Slime. She touched a hoof to the bottle; if the glow wasn’t enough to tell, the bottle was warm, the perfect eating temperature.

Lady grabbed a bottle in her mouth and hurried back to the weeping filly. She set the bottle down on the floor and climbed back up on the trashcan. It didn’t take long to figure out the mechanism to slide down the side of the crib. She awkwardly lifted the squirming foal and lowered herself cross-legged onto the floor. She set the baby in her lap and picked up the bottle. The second the rubber nipple touched the filly’s lip, she began to gulp down the Slime greedily, clinging to the bottle. Within minutes, she’d drained it.

Lady smiled at the filly as she set the bottle down. The baby reached up and batted at the older girl’s face, cooing softly. Lady giggled. She really was cute.

The filly began to squirm, whimpering softly. Lady frowned. Now what could she want? She looked back into her memories, and recalled her mommy holding her against her shoulder and patting her back after feeding her.

Shrugging, Lady lifted the baby so she was sitting on her knee and leaning over her shoulder and began to gently pat her back. The filly snuggled against her shoulder and laid her head in the crook of Lady’s neck. Lady smiled at the small display of affection and tightened her grip on the baby. A few moments later, the filly let out a quiet burp and relaxed against the older girl. She lifted her tiny forelegs and wrapped them as far as she could around Lady’s neck.

The girl froze. It’d been so long since her mommy hugged her. She missed it. She wrapped her own forelegs around the baby.

“This is called a hug.” she said, “Mommy doesn’t do it often, but I’ll hug you whenever you want me to.”

The baby whimpered again and struggled against the older Changeling’s shoulder. Lady chewed on her lip. What to do next? ‘Maybe she’s bored?’ The filly wondered. But what could she use to entertain her? Her mommy had thrown away her books last time she got mad, not that she could read yet anyway. And her mommy had taken away her toys when she dropped and broke her compact last week. There was really only one thing she could try.

“Lavender’s green,

Dilly, dilly,

Lavender’s blue.

“If you love me,

Dilly, dilly,

I will love you.”

It wasn’t the beginning of the song, she knew that much. She’d found an old stereo, the tape that had the song on it jammed inside, but that was a long time ago, and this was as early into the song that she could remember.

“Let the birds sing,

Dilly, dilly,

Let the lambs play.

“We shall be safe,

Dilly dilly,

Out of harm’s way.”

Lady didn’t know exactly how long she’d sat there, holding the baby and singing, but by the time she heard the kitchen door open, the sun was well into the sky, and the filly had gone through the other two bottles. She heard her mommy’s voice.

“It’s down the hall. Open door on the left.”

Hoofsteps followed and a face she didn’t recognize peered around the doorframe. The new Changeling grinned, buzzed over, and plucked the baby from her forelegs before she could even react.

“Hiya baby!” cooed the male voice, “Oh, how cute are you? Oooh, Scarab’s gonna have fun taking care of you!” he tickled the filly’s tummy as he hovered just off the ground, simultaneously using his back hoof to tip the trashcan right side up and his tail to brush the egg shells into it.

“Lady Bug!” the filly flinched and turned to the doorframe her mommy filled, “Come, it’s time for your lessons.”

“But mommy, I-”

“A princess does not talk back!” the mare snapped, glaring. She began to head back down the hall, but turned to look back at her daughter. “And you’re too old to call me ‘mommy’.”

Lady’s ears drooped. “Yes ma’am.” She bit her lip and sniffled as her mother moved down the hall. A princess does not cry.

“Lady Bug? Is that your name?” the filly turned to the kind voice. She smiled at the stallion cradling the baby.

“Uh-huh. And that’s Larva. She’s my sister!”

***

Sunday morning found Lady Bug curled up with her laptop under her covers, still in pajamas, unaware the sun had risen. She’d awoken after a particularly lucid dream, or rather, a memory, of the morning Larva was born. It’d been nearly two in the morning then, and, unable to fall back asleep, she’d taken to researching the ‘foster care’ thing Will had told her about. The Changeling had gotten so into the articles and websites that she didn’t notice her growling stomach telling her that she’d skipped breakfast, or the clock in the corner of her screen telling her that it was nearly ten o’clock.

It was the sound of someone rummaging through a drawer that made her poke her head out of the blanket cave.

“Flare?”

The yellow colt froze, slowly removing his hoof from her roommate’s nightstand. “Hey...sorry, I was hoping I wouldn’t disturb you.”

“What are you doing here?”

“Will got some berries from his mom that he claimed were Berry’s favorite, and he gave them to Nyx to give to me, and she forgot them in here. Berry’s been going through a rough time, thought her favorite food might cheer her up.”

“Oh.” Lady sighed pushing the covers back and setting her computer atop the sheets.

“I brought you some breakfast.” Flare pointed to a plate on the Changeling’s desk, “You didn’t come down to the cafeteria. Nyx was gonna bring you some, but she got called to Ms. Sparkle’s office.”

Lady raised an eyebrow and she used her magic to bring the bag of food over to her bed.

“Dunno what it was about. I guess we’ll find out later.” the Earth colt made his way over to the bed and gingerly sat down, “Doub told us about your sisters. You okay?”

The disguised Changeling paused mid-chew. Was she okay. She swallowed before speaking. “Honestly, I don’t know. I’ve been researching that foster care thing, and I just…” she pointed at the article she’d been reading when she’d noticed the colt in the room.

“Like this here says that on any given day, there’s almost four-hundred-twenty-eight-thousand foals in foster care. This one thing I read said that on average, a foal will stay with a foster family for two years, but that doesn’t mean the families keep them, sometimes they get moved. Like, they finally get used to a place and, ‘Nope, sorry! You’re going here now!’ A lot of foals never even get adopted, they just stay moving their entire foalhood, and their chance of getting adopted worsens as they get older.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, having kids is generally a good thing here I guess.” Lady paused, biting her lip at the thought, “Ponies want to get the full experience in raising them.”

Flare nodded slowly. “What are you gonna do?”

The filly stared at her screen. “I don’t know. I mean, I can’t exactly leave them on the Island, can I? But this…” she turned to the colt, “Yesterday, Sci introduced me to a guy named Pound Cake, and he told us that when he and his husband were adopting, it took them over two years to get their daughter, and he said there were some complications towards the end and they almost didn’t get her! And look here, “ she pulled up another article, “this says that siblings don’t always get adopted together. What if they get seperated?” Lady gasped, “And yesterday, there was this really rude stallion who kept saying something about ‘not liking bugs in Equestria’, what if no one wants them because they’re Changelings?” she paused again, tears shining in her eyes, “What if I never see them again?”

The colt ran a hoof through his shaggy mane. “I really don’t know what to say. I mean, you have to do what’s best for them, and that’s definitely not Chrysalis.” the filly nodded in agreement, “But, then again, you raised them. Maybe you’re what’s best for them.”

“But what if I’m not?”

“Then you need to figure out what is.”

The filly snorted. “Easier said than done.”

“You need to not think about what you want, and focus on what they need.” Flare froze, startled at his own words. He stood up suddenly, rushing back to the drawer and digging out a small bag of red berries. “I gotta go.” he said quickly, “Good luck!”

Lady barely had time to say ‘goodbye’ before he was out the door. The filly turned back to her breakfast, deep in thought. ‘What if I never see them again? How can I protect them if I never see them again? How can I let them go?’

She paused. But this wasn’t about her, was it? Like Flare said, it was about her sisters. Larva and Pupa, her little girls. The ones she’d left alone with that monster. It was so clear now. She knew what to do.

***

“What is this?!” Lady flinched at her mother’s sharp voice.

The filly tucked the bundle closer to her chest. “The egg hatched. It’s a filly.”

“I figured.” the mare seethed, “What’s wrong with it?”

The young Changeling hesitantly looked down at the filly she cradled. Her eyes were too large for her head, and her nose was crooked. What little hair she had was thin and frail. Her coat was a sickly green-grey, her horn was short and stunted, her wings abnormally tiny, and one foreleg seemed smaller than the others. The baby appeared oblivious to her deformities, and merely swatted a misshapen hoof at a loose black lock of the teen’s mane.

The elder Changeling suddenly lost her temper. A hoof shot out and grabbed a fist-full of the guised teen’s black mane. The mare yanked her daughter forward by her hair. The filly yelped in a mix of pain and fear as she was pulled nearly nose-to-nose with her mother, almost dropping the baby.

“What is this monstrosity?!” the mare shrieked, releasing the teen’s hair and snatching the child away by her swaddling, dangling her in the air in front of her eldest daughter’s face.

Lady’s terrified eyes were glued to her now sobbing sister. A protective rage began to build within her. She wanted nothing more than to lash out, to take her sister and escape. But, knowing how dangerous her mother was, she remained silent.

Her mother scowled. “Fine. I’ll dispose of it myself.” Lady’s eyes widened as the mare turned to leave, the filly still dangling dangerously an arms length away from her.

“No!” she shouted, lunging forward. The mare froze, turning around slowly, fire in her eyes.

“Excuse me?” she growled venomously, “I don’t believe I heard you correctly. It almost sounded like you said ‘no’.”

Lady straightened up, taking a deep breath. “I did.” she replied, sounding more confident than she felt.

Her mother leaned forward threateningly, “Who do you think you are?!” she spat.

“Let me take her.”

The mare’s glare didn’t waver. “Why should I? This deformed thing is of no use to me.”

“She can be a lesson to me. Whatever prince I marry will demand an heir, and I’ll need to know how to care for a newborn.” her mother still looked unconvinced. “I don’t really remember much about when Larva was a baby, I was too young.” That was a lie. She remembered every detail.

The Changelings stared eachother down, neither wavering. The elder radiated anger, and while the younger held her ground, she panicked internally.

“Fine.” the mare spoke after several tense minutes. She dropped the filly unceremoniously in her eldest daughter’s awaiting arms. “It’s your responsibility. Don’t disappoint me.”

Lady clutched the crying foal to her chest, trying to quiet her and calm her own racing heart. Her mother paused in the doorway.

“I seem to remember that egg being rather large. You’re certain this was the only spawn?”

The tension in the room was suffocating. Lady bit her lip. “Yes, yes she was the only one.” she lied. The mare huffed and disappeared.

The teen strained her ears until her mother’s hoofsteps echoed away. She turned to a bed against the far wall. “Larva, baby, you can come out now.”

A small head poked from the dark space beneath the bed. “Is she gone?”

Lady smiled at the filly. “Yeah baby, she’s gone.”

Larva sighed with relief as she crawled out from under the bed. “Good. I don’t like when she yells.” The filly climbed into her older sister’s lap, leaning against her and making silly faces at the baby. “Was she gonna take Pupa away?”

“Pupa?”

“Can we call her that? Like the filly who Xenica chose to be the link between the gods and the Changelings?”

Lady smiled warmly. “I love it.”

“Hi Pupa!” the filly cooed at the baby.

Lady tugged both fillies close to her chest, whispering a song to calm them.

“Lavender’s green,

Dilly, dilly,

Lavender’s blue.

“If you love me,

Dilly, dilly,

I will love you.

“Let the birds sing,

Dilly, dilly,

Let the lambs play.

“We shall be safe,

Dilly, dilly,

Out of harm’s way.”

Larva pulled away, looking up at the teen. “Was mom gonna take her away?”

Lady hesitated. “Yes...yes, she wanted to.” she leaned down and kissed Larva’s cheeks, earning a giggle and wiping away the filly’s concerned look. “But I won’t let her.” she pulled her sisters close to her chest, rocking them back and forth soothingly. “As long as I’m here, nopony will ever take either of you away from me.”

***

The Changeling blinked away the memory, a few tears disappearing with it. She’d been fourteen then, still a child herself, and already familiar with the weight of raising her sisters. There was nothing ever more important than those little girls. Nothing that she loved more. And she would go to any length to protect them.

“You okay?” The filly’s eyes turned from the window of the cab to look her companion.

“I just want to get this over with.” she sighed.

The colt offered a supportive smile. “Ah’m honoured ya asked me to come with you. Ah’d’ve figured you’d bring Nyx.”

“I was going to, actually.” Lady replied.

“So, Ah’m second place then?” he teased.

“Oh, c’mon, Sci, you know I’m glad you’re here.” she laid a hoof on his shoulder, “But Nyx is my best friend.”

Sci reached a hoof up to grasp hers. “How come you didn’t ask her?”

“Princess Luna invited her to lunch today.” The colt raised his eyebrows in surprise. “She was actually looking for a way out of it, but she really needs to talk to her. Princess Luna’s return shocked everypony, especially Nyx, and she has so many questions. She deserves to have them answered, and I wasn’t gonna be the one to make her cancel.” The cab suddenly pulled to a stop and Lady closed her eyes.

She heard Sci turn his head. “We’re here.”

“I know.” She opened her eyes and stared at the building. It was tall and formidable, gray in color, with windows covered by blinds, and a cold, almost sterile feel.

“Are you ready?”

“No.” but she got out of the cab anyway. They paid the fare and turned toward the building. Lady took a deep breath, steeling herself, before making her way inside, Sci at her heels.

Inside was a kind of organized chaos. Ponies bustled about, speaking rapidly or reading files with concerned expressions. Others sat staring intently at computer screens, typing away quickly. Phones were ringing in every direction, trilling for a few seconds before being answered with a brisk, ‘Equestrian Foal Protection. How may I help you?’

“Miss Lady Bug?” The Changeling, slightly startled, looked to the left and found a young Pegasus mare standing next to her. The mare looked to be in her mid-twenties, had a magenta coat and a dark brown mane and tail, the mane pulled into a messy bun. She wore a black suit, with a nametag pinned to the lapel bearing the name ‘Cherish’.

“Um, yes ma’am, that’s me.” the teen answered.

“Good to meet you!” the mare said brightly, shaking Lady’s hoof, “The extraction went smoothly. Unless Chrysalis is home by now, I doubt she knows anypony was there yet.”

The plan had been simple. Chrysalis was never home on Thursday nights, so that was the night it happened. A team of plainclothes guards entered the Island as inconspicuously as possible and made their way to the far side, where Lady’s family lived.

“We were a bit worried that the girls would be scared and cause a scene,” Cherish continued, “and they did hide when the guards first entered the home, but they trusted the guards once they were found and the team was able to get them out quietly.”

Lady nodded. “How are they?” she asked, worry evident in her voice.

“Malnourished; you can tell that just by looking at them. Probably dehydrated, judging by how quickly they emptied the water bottles we gave them.” the mare frowned, “Larva has a large bruise around her right eye. I believe you mentioned something about that at the briefing?” The teen nodded in response. “Right then. Other than that, they appear fine. They’ll receive full medical examinations to be sure. Now, if you’ll follow me, you can see them.”

Lady glanced at Sci. The colt smiled supportively. “Ah’ll be right out here.”

The filly nodded. Cherish led the way down a short corridor. They stopped in front of a wooden door. Through a small window in the door, she could see two tiny pairs of translucent wings poking out the back of a chair. At the nod of the older mare, the guised Changeling slowly opened the door.

She stood, speechless, for a moment, just watching them. They sat at a table, sharing a chair, playing curiously with the paper and crayons laid out in front of them. Larva wasn’t disguised, her beautiful natural green mane framing her face. Pupa sat on her lap, scribbling experimentally with the blue crayon. The tiny toddler turned her head towards the door. A wide grin spread across her face.

“Buggy!” the baby cried out, reaching her front hooves tothe older Changeling.

Larva whirled around, eyes widening as they landed on her older sister. “Lady!”

The young Changeling grabbed the toddler around her middle, her little wings buzzing with the effort it took to try and cross the room. The teen met them halfway, catching the foals and sitting back on her haunches, wrapping them in bone-crushing hugs.

“I’ve missed you both so much…” she whispered, her voice trailing away.

Larva pulled away slightly. “The guards came for us last night after Mom left. I got Pupa and hid like you always told me to, but they said they were gonna bring us to Equestria, so we came back out.”

“That was smart.” Lady nodded. She’d taught her sisters to hide if they ever heard the door open while their mother wasn’t around, especially if Lady herself had to leave the house. She brushed her sister’s mane from her eyes. “Baby, I’m so proud of you.”

Larva’s eyes brightened at the praise. “Are we gonna go to school with you?”

The Changeling teen bit her lip. She glanced up at Cherish and a second suited pony, a Unicorn stallion, that she didn’t notice sitting at the table coloring with her sisters. The Pegasus smiled gently.

“We’ll give you some time.” she signaled to the other pony, who was dressed as an intern, to follow her and they exited the room.

Larva drew her sister’s attention back to her. “Do we get to share a room again?”

Lady took a deep breath. “No, honey, you’re too young to go to my school.”

The filly’s smile faded a bit. “But...we’ll live with you there...right?”

The teen looked at her sisters. Pupa, who was still grinning and clinging tightly to her neck, and Larva, who stared at her with such hopeful eyes. Both of them filled with the innocence she never had, and had worked so hard to preserve in them. She pulled both of them closer to her, and the foals instinctively curled up against her, nuzzling their head under her chin.

“There’s...something I need to tell you.” she said quietly, subconsciously rocking them back and forth. She struggled for the right words to say. “On the Island, I was practically a grown-up, right?”

“Like mom!” Larva smiled, closing her eyes and snuggling closer, “Better than mom.”

Lady smiled sadly. She tightened her grip, blinking rapidly. “I was so, so lucky to be able to take care of you. I love you both more than anything in the world.”

“We love you too.” Larva replied. Pupa gurgled and placed a kiss on the teen’s cheek.

Lady pressed her nose into the toddler’s hair, collecting her thoughts. “But things are different here.”

The foal gave a confused look. “What do you mean?”

“Here in Equestria,” Lady paused, taking in a shaky breath, “I’m still just a kid. I...I can’t take care of you two like I did there. I-”

“Sure you can!” Larva interrupted, “You-you’re our sister, and that’s what sister’s do, right? T-they take care of each other.”

Lady nodded, playing with the foal’s mane. “Yeah, baby, they do. But it’s not that simple here.”

“Why are you crying?” Larva asked, beginning to fight tears of her own.

The teen brushed her hoof against her cheeks, wiping away the moisture. “There’s rules here. Laws to protect foals from bad parents, and there’s rules that allow me to be at my school. And...and one of those rules is that...that I can’t take care of you there, and I’m not old enough, or able to live somewhere where I can.” she smiled through her tears, hugging her sisters tightly, “But I couldn’t risk leaving you two there with her until I was.”

Larva sniffled. “W-what’s gonna happen to us?”

“Well, the rules say that if a parent is unfit to take care of their foals, the foals can be taken away and given to somepony who can. And th-these nice ponies, they’re gonna take you somewhere you’ll be s-safe.” the teen put a hoof under Larva’s chin, “I need you to be brave now, okay?”

The filly bit her lip and nodded. “But...but they’ll keep me and Pupa together, won’t they? And y-you’ll come and visit us, right? All the time, yeah?”

Lady bit her lip. “Baby, I-I can’t lie t-to you.” she said shakily, “I…” she stared into her sister’s hopeful, imploring eyes. Pupa, still smiling, reached up and clumsily wiped away the teen’s tears, babbling comfortingly. Lady caught the toddler’s hoof and kissed it.

She took a deep breath, trying again to speak. “They will do everything they can to keep you together. But, there’s...there’s a good chance that we won’t see each other a-again for...for a long time…”

“No…” Larva whispered, then wrenched herself out of the teen’s grip, shouting. “No! No, I won’t go! You can’t make me!”

Lady’s tears were streaming freely. “I need you to promise me that you’ll watch out for Pupa, okay?”

“I don’t wanna go!” Larva was sobbing now, “I wanna go with you! We need you!”

“Hey,” the teen whispered softly, “I wouldn’t d-do this if it wasn’t what was best for you. I need you to promise that you’ll watch out for Pupa.” The toddler crawled out of her sister’s lap and over to Larva, who refused to speak. “Larva, I need you to-”

She was cut off by the sound of the door opening. Cherish stepped back into the room followed by the intern. The mare gave Lady a sympathetic look.

“We need to get these two to the infirmary and get them checked over so we can see about getting them into a home.”

Lady nodded, standing up and giving her sisters one final smile. “I love you both so much.” she whispered, “Never forget that.” The teen turned towards the door.

Larva’s eyes widened. She launched herself, wings buzzing, at her sister, only to be caught by the intern’s magic. She thrashed around in the air, trying to break free. “NO!” she shrieked, “NO, LADY, WAIT! I DON’T WANNA GO! LADY, PLEASE, DON’T LEAVE US HERE!”

Pupa, who didn’t seem to understand what was going on, started sobbing. She hoisted herself up and tried to toddle after the teen, stumbling over her own hooves. Cherish moved to scoop her up, whispering comfortingly, but the toddler bristled and hissed at the outstretched hoof while scooting away.

Against every instinct she had, Lady forced herself out the door, shutting it behind her. Hooves feeling like lead, she made her way down the hall into the lobby, trying to tune out the screams that could be heard even from there. Sci stepped up to her as she made a break for the main entrance.

“Get me out of here before I do something stupid.” she hissed through clenched teeth.

The colt nodded. “Ah called a cab, it’ll be here any minute.”

“Miss!” a voice called after them, “Miss, wait!”

The teens turned around as the intern skidded to a stop behind them. “Miss Lady,” he panted, holding up a clipboard and pen in his green aura, “I need you to sign this.”

“What is it?” Lady asked, using a shaky hoof to brush the moisture from her face.

The stallion shuffled his hooves awkwardly. “It’s, um, you have to sign away your custodial rights. So they can be placed somewhere.”

The teen stared at the stallion incredulously. A venomous look formed in her eyes. “You...you’re going to make me sign for you to take my babies away from me?” she hissed.

“It’s protocol…”

Lady glared daggers at the stallion for a moment before snatching the pen in her own magic and scribbling down her name. “There!” she spat, slamming the pen down sideways with a loud crack, causing the intern, and several others, to jump. With that, she pushed the door open and marched outside, where she promptly crumpled in a heap on the sidewalk, sobbing hysterically.

***

The silence during the ride home was broken only by the sound her crying. Sci walked her back to her dorm and stayed with her for hours. He’d sat next to her on her bed, holding her and whispering comforting words into her mane. He had put a movie on at some point, but neither of them were able to focus on the plot. He left for a few minutes and returned with food. When she asked to be left alone, he refused to leave until she ate.

Once he was gone, the Changeling attempted to keep herself occupied. Her Chemistry teacher had been the only one to assign homework during fall break, and it would take quite some time to knock it out.

‘Might as well start it.’ she thought as she magically pulled the rather hefty packet and textbook from her bag. It only took five minutes for her to give up, her emotions flaring, causing her to throw the papers against the wall and kick the book off her bed with a loud thunk. She put her forehooves to her temples, grinding her teeth in anger.

A few minutes later, she could feel the tears welling once again. She choked back a sob and leaned back against her headboard. She curled up, knees against her chest, hair hanging in a limp curtain around her, tears spilling down her face. She stayed like that, silently crying for almost half an hour when she heard the door open and thud close.

“You have no idea what kind of day I’ve ha-”

Lady glanced up at the sound of her roommate’s voice, cutting her off with a quiet sniffle. The Alicorn filly jerked her head towards the Changeling from her spot against the door. She gave her a concerned look. The blue filly sniffed again.

“I did it.” she whispered. The Alicorn gave a startled look that quickly morphed into sympathy.

“Lady…” she breathed. She dropped her bag, crossing the room in a few shaky steps. She climbed on the bed and wrapped her forelegs and wings around the disguised Changeling in a tight hug. The girl buried her face in her roommate’s chest, sobbing uncontrollably. The Alicorn pressed her face into her friend’s hair, her own tears emerging.

“It’ll be okay.” she whispered.

***

The girls had fallen asleep clinging to each other hours later. Lady had gotten Nyx to leave her the next morning with a promise to eat that she had no intention of keeping. She laid on her side, staring at the wall with raw, red eyes. When the noon sun began to poke through the dark, heavy curtains (Nyx’s touch), she merely drew the covers over her head with a simple flick of magic. She remained under the blankets, not noticing when the door opened until the newcomer sat down on her bed and laid a hoof on her shoulder. She poked her nose out from under the covers, peeking through the opening to find a blue Earth colt. She quickly drew her head back.

“Go ‘way.” she muttered, “I don’t have any makeup on, I look disgusting.”

“Yeah, that ain’t happenin’.” the covers were suddenly pulled down to reveal her torso, earning a squeak from the filly.

“Sci!” the filly groaned, covering her face.

The colt chuckled and set something down on her lap. He reached up and gently pried her hooves from her face.The filly closed her eyes, scrunching up her face. The colt chuckled again before leaning in and pressing a kiss square between the filly’s eyes. Lady blushed furiously and opened her eyes to find a tray of pancakes and fruit on her lap.

“Eat!” the colt demanded, sitting back with his own tray.

The filly glared playfully at the colt before levitating a forkful of pancake to her mouth. The two chatted while they ate, talking about everything from the ridiculous amounts of homework in their Chemistry class to, eventually, plans for fall break.

“Ah’m going to the family farm.” Sci said, “Canterlot High and mah sister’s school usually have their breaks around the same time, so we go there instead of home.”

Lady nodded. “I didn’t really plan anything. Will’s staying here with Nyx, and I have no idea what the boys are doing.”

Sci shuffled his hooves. “Well…” he started, then trailed off.

The filly raised an eyebrow. “Yes?” she prompted.

“You could come stay with me.”

Lady’s eyes widened, taken aback. “R-really?”

The colt smiled. “Sure. You’ve met mah mama, at family day, remember?”

The filly let out a dry laugh. “Yes, she was just about my only good memory of that day.”

Sci shifted uncomfortably. “Yeah, well, she said she’d like to get to know you better.”

“Would she let me come? I mean, going to the farm sounds like a family thing…”

“She’s always let me and mah sister bring friends before.” he assured her, “So, what’d’ya say?”

Lady bit her lip, then gave a small smile and nodded. “Yeah. Yeah, it’d be great to get my mind off things.” she hopped out of bed, a spring back in her step, and made her way over to the closet. “What should I bring?”

Sci moved his hat to scratch his head in thought. “Uh, well, it’s a farm, so nothin’ that’ll get ruined by mud.”

The filly pursed her lips. “Leather it is, then. Maybe a few nicer things? Just in case?”

The colt nodded his approval, smiling at the immediate change in the filly’s demeanor. “Mind if Ah borrow your laptop? Ah need to book our seats on the train.”

Lady paused her rummaging and turned back to her bed. “Sure.” she said, heading to her nightstand and magically lifting her purse from beside it and tossing it on the bed next to the colt. “My wallet’s in there, just take my share out.”

“Absolutely not.” Sci replied, reaching over the purse to the nightstand to grab the laptop from it. “You’re mah guest, which means Ah buy your ticket.”

“Are you sure?”

“Positive.”

***

Monday morning, bright and early, Sci and Lady left campus and made their way to the train station at the edge of the city, laden with a week’s worth of luggage bulging in their saddlebags. The colt led the way across the platform and into a car in the middle of the train. Their seats were near the back. The two entered the cabin and Lady used her magic to lift their bags into the luggage compartment above their heads.

They chatted idly while the train filled. A plump old mare came by at some point, pushing a trolley of sweets, and Sci purchased two blueberry muffins and juice boxes, as they hadn’t had time to get breakfast before heading to the station.

“So,” the colt started as they finished up the food, “Ah was thinking, you probably wanna hear more about mah family before you meet ‘em, and I’d like to hear more about you, and the Island, so I was thinking we could play a little game.”

“What kind of game?” the filly tilted her head in curiosity.

“Well, more of a deal than a game, Ah guess. Ah ask you a question, and you ask me one. We keep goin’ until we get to Ponyville.”

Lady nodded. “Fair enough, but why the interest in the Island?”

The colt shrugged. “Ah don’t know much about it, other than what Ah learned in History classes. Besides, maybe Ah’ll write a book about it, and you guys, someday.”

“Oh, please,” the Changeling snorted, “Who’d want to read a book about the second generation of villains?” She earned a laugh. “Alright, but me first. You mentioned a sister. What’s she like?”

“She’s awesome,” the colt smiled, “Her name’s Ambrosia Rose; Ambrosia for mah grandmother on mah mother’s side, and Rose after mah dad’s aunt. She’s twelve. Green coat, brown mane. She called the other day to say she got her cutie mark, but she wouldn’t tell me what it was over the phone.” the colt paused, “Alright, mah turn. How long have you and the others been friends?”

“I honestly didn’t really know them until maybe a week before we moved here.”Lady laughed mildly and took a sip of her juice. “Funny story, actually. Me and Nyx actually hated each other for the majority of our lives.”

The colt leaned back in surprise, thinking on how the girls were practically inseparable for as long as he’d known them. “You’re kiddin’!”

“Nope!” she replied, popping the ‘p’, “See, when the original group of villains were banished, everypony was so afraid of Nightmare that she kinda became the unspoken leader. My mother, the actual queen with leading experience, didn’t like that, of course, and that sparked a feud between our families. I, however, thought Nyx would be a powerful ally because of who her mom was, so I invited her to my sixth birthday party. She didn’t show up.” Lady shrugged, “But her mom did, later, shouting something about why they weren’t invited, and my family got banished to the far side of the Island. I didn’t realize it then, but I figured out later that my mother intercepted Nyx’s invitation and tore it up.”

The filly paused, looking out the window and smiling nostalgically, “It was just me, mom, Larva, and Scarab back then. He was Larva’s nanny.” she answered the colt’s confused look. “Anyway, we’ve lived out there since then. Pupa hatched when I was fourteen. Eventually, about a month before moving here, my mother figured things had cooled off and sent me back to school. Not for an education though; it’s not really required. No, she wanted me to start dating.” the girl rolled her eyes, “I met Flare first; we had a few classes together. Nyx and Shade didn’t come to school much, and they've been allies for as long as any pony can remember, but Flare and I had our reasons for wanting out of the house. Some things went down, and we all ended up allies, but I wouldn’t have really called us friends until we came here.”

Sci leaned back, processing the story. “Wow.” was all he could manage.

“Right?” the girl tapped at her chin, thinking of a question, “Okay, I’ve got one. Will’s sixteen and he’s taken over his family’s region. You’re seventeen, but you haven’t begun your rule yet. How come?”

Sci grinned. “Excellent question!” the colt complimented, “It all comes down to what our parents decided.” he leaned forward, “Guardianship is a pretty unique thing. Never been done in Equestria before. It was the first time the country was split into regions, and our parents had to figure out how they would rule, which included hierarchy. Aunt Fluttershy and Uncle Discord decided that Will would lead when he turned sixteen, so he’d be young enough to question things he believed were wrong. Or Aunt Rainbow values loyalty, so her kids have to serve a set amount of time in the Royal Guard.” he touched a hoof to his chest. “Family’s always been real important to my mama, so Ah take the throne when Ah get married.” he peered at the filly, who blushed.

He coughed awkwardly, also blushing, and quickly changed the subject. “So, if there’s a leader, does that mean there’s laws or something? Ah dunno, Ah guess Ah always just assumed the Isle was total anarchy.”

“It’s fine,” the filly assured, “I’d probably think that too, if I didn’t grow up there. There’s not really laws, per se, more like things that are generally frowned upon. For example, just about everypony there feels like they’ve been wronged by Equestria in some way, so they hold a certain respect for each other. So adults don’t really attack anyone who doesn’t have a chance to defend themselves, but kids can attack whoever, in order to learn to survive. Also, when you first get banished, you have a week to get your affairs in order and make a survival plan. During that week, nopony can touch you. There’s this rundown warehouse that’s used as a kind of homeless shelter, we all call it ‘Housing’. Line starts at sundown, first come first serve on cots, but during the first week, you get a cot no matter what.”

“Huh,” Sci mused, “That’s...surprisingly fair, all things considering.”

The Changeling nodded in agreement. “However, there is one thing that I’d call illegal. How you raise your own foals is your business, but, unless it’s in defense of yourself or your property, you do not hurt someone’s else’s kid.” her expression turned dark, “Do you remember, I guess it was four years ago, that stallion that got banished to the Island? Remember what he did to that filly?”

The colt clenched his jaw, fire burning in his eyes. “Ah remember. The whole kingdom remembers that sick little…” he trailed off, huffing in anger, “Nopony went outside ‘till ‘bout a week after he was caught.”

“Yeah. Well, what he did doesn’t fly on the Isle. We don’t really get Equestrian news until a week or so after the fact, but the idiot actually bragged about it to anyone who would listen when they dropped him off. Word travels fast.” she smiled bitterly, “The creep didn’t even make it to housing.” she took a calming breath. “Alright, happy subject. How’d your parents meet?”

“They were young. Older than us,” he clarified, “but young. There were these salesponies, real con artists, and they wanted my mama’s farm. Flim-Flam brothers, I think?”

“Oh, I’ve heard of them!” Lady grinned, “They’re somewhat of a legend on the Isle. Doing some pretty illegal stuff, but have somehow managed to not get banished.”

“Yeah, well, this particular time, they were tryin’ to pass apple juice off as some sort of cure-all. My pa was workin’ for them at the time. He’d dress up like he was injured or sick, they’d call him on stage, have him drink the stuff, and he’d pretend to be cured.” the colt smiled, “Mama called the bluff. She convinced him to make an honest living. He set out on some kinda soul-searchin’ trip, and it eventually led him back to mama.”

The girl smiled. “That’s really sweet.”

Sci smiled. “So, that Scarab guy you mentioned? Did he go with you guys when you were banished?”

“Yeah, he didn’t have much of a choice on that. See, traditionally, the monarch Changeling focuses the majority of her attention on training her heir, and any other foals are primarily raised by nannies. He was probably the nicest pony I’d ever met before coming here. He went behind my mother’s back to teach me to be good. He actually wanted to stay in Equestria during the reformation, but he was still a minor at that time, and his parents were loyal to my mother. Anyway, he had to come with us when we were banished, and because we were banished, mother wasn’t able to get Pupa her own nanny.” a sad look formed on her face, “Of course, he was sick when Pupa hatched, and...he didn’t make it.”

The colt’s face fell, and he reached over and took the girl’s hoof in his own.

Lady shook her head, clearing her thoughts. “So, I gotta ask, did you date anyone before me?” she asked with a smirk.

“Oh, a few dates here ‘n there, but nothing was ever serious. Mostly daughters of dignitaries and diplomats; political set ups. Nothing ever really clicked with them.” the colt licked his lips, suddenly nervous. “Tell me about your sisters?” he asked, hoping she would actually open up; knowing that she needed to.

The filly paused, frowning. She bit her lip, as if debating something. “I have three sisters.” she finally whispered, minutes later.

The colt’s eyes widened in shock. “Huh?! She’s not still over there, is she? Why didn’t you bring her too?”

Her eyes glistened. “Because you don’t disturb a grave.”

Sci’s jaw dropped. He struggled and failed to speak.

The filly leaned her head back. “Pupa was a twin. When she hatched, there was another grub in the egg, but it wasn’t alive. There were some complications when the egg was laid, which is why Pupa is the way she is, and why the other didn’t make it. Until now, nopony knew about her.”

“How come?”

“I was the only one awake and watching the egg the night it hatched. I didn’t tell mom about the other grub. See, twins are a special part of Changeling culture. They’re said to be two halves of the same soul, and disastrous things would happen if they were separated. And if the next heir to the throne is a twin, both of them would rule equally, together. It’s not uncommon, should one twin die before the other, to send the other back to the Spirit Realm.” the girl’s eyes hardened, “And my mother is very religious.” she sighed. “So I quieted Pupa, cleaned her up and got her to sleep. Then I took my other sister, wrapped her in a blanket and buried her, out in the woods, under the only tree that still blooms. I named her Xenica, after the Changeling goddess of family. Twins are said to be a gift from Xenica.” she finished quietly.

“Ah’m so sorry,” Sci whispered hoarsely, fighting his own tears, “You shouldn’t have had to do that.”

The girl huffed bitterly. “I shouldn’t have had to do a lot of things. I had to practically fight my mother to keep her from doing away with Pupa, just because she was disabled. I helped with raising Larva, and after Scarab died, I was completely on my own.” she smiled sadly, fondly, “They were my world. It was my job to protect them.” she paused again, he face falling, a tired look resting in her eyes. “And honestly? I’ve always felt more like a mom than a sister.”

***

The rest of the train ride had been fairly quiet. The rest of the game had been rather generic; asking about favorite colors and foods and the like. Eventually, uneventfully, the train pulled to a stop in the Ponyville station. It took only a few moments for the teens to gather their things and exit the car.

They ambled along through town, not in any particular hurry. The colt pointed out shops and buildings, describing the ponies who owned them and the things they sold.

“Over there, that’s that bakery Ah told you about! Sugarcube Corner!” The filly followed the colt’s outstretched hoof to a building modeled after a gingerbread house. A wonderful smell she couldn’t quite place drifted past.

“Ah’ll take you sometime this week. Fair warning, Rosie’ll prolly wanna tag along.

Lady giggled. “I don’t mind.”

“Ah’d take ya now, but Mama’d kill me if she didn’t get to cook dinner for ya at least your first night here.” the colt smiled sheepishly, then glanced up at the sky, “Speaking of which, we better get a move on. Pretty long walk to the farm.”

The colt wasn’t kidding. Even with picking up their pace, it took the teens nearly an hour of walking to come upon the fence that Sci identified as the final half-mile mark.

“I hope your mom is a good cook. I’m starving!”

Sci stopped dead in his tracks, staring seriously at the filly. “The best cook.”

Lady snorted with laughter. The colt joined in a moment later, and they began walking again.

“But really,” he said, “Mama’s a great cook. Ah gotta say though, I’m surprised you can eat pony foods.”

“Because of the emotion-feeding thing?” the filly questioned. The earth pony nodded in response. “Yeah, that’s a common misconception. We don’t just feed off emotions, it’s just a part of our diet. Like, ponies need electrolytes, right? But you couldn’t survive on just electrolytes, and you couldn’t survive without them. Changelings need to feed on emotions and we need regular foods.”

Sci nods understandingly. “That makes sense. So, any emotion then?”

Lady tilted her head side-to-side, thinking of the best phrasing. “Technically, yes. However, Changelings typically like to keep to their own kind and hide away from other species, and that makes it a bit harder to hunt. Love is the most potent emotion, meaning that one feeding of love can hold us for quite a while, meaning that we don’t have to hunt as often.”

“Ah get it. So, how’s it been living in Equestria, eating wise?”

“Food or emotions, either way, I’ve never eaten better.”

“Well, Ah hope you’re prepared. Mama only knows how to cook for a small army.”

“Mmm,” Lady hummed in response, “Leftovers all week then?”

“Nah. Ah mean, there’ll probably be a little left if you want more for breakfast, but there’ll be cookin’ to do just about every day.”

The filly raised a confused eyebrow. “There’s only four of you right? Five counting me? You really think we can eat that much?”

Sci grinned. “It ain’t exactly five of us.” He came to a stop and gestured ahead.

The Changeling looked ahead. The white fence they’d been following met an archway. Her eyes traveled up to a sign across the top. ‘Sweet Apple Acres: Home For Wayward Souls’ was written in curlique lettering.

“When mah parents became Guardians,” the colt began as they passed the archway and made their way up the dirt path, “Mama started openin’ shelters and soup kitchens. It helped ponies out a lot, but it wasn’t enough. She noticed how many young ponies were alone out there, and a lot of ‘em were just kids. Runaways, or even kicked out of their homes for one reason or another. Fallin’ into the wrong crowd and getting arrested doing things to survive.

“She wanted to do something to help,” he continued, “and she thought about this place. She and Pa moved south to their region when they were crowned, mah Aunt Applebloom and her friends formed a sorta career-counseling company and moved around expanding, and by this point, Great-Granny Smith had passed. She raised mah Mama and her siblings.” he clarified, “So Uncle Mac was left to work the farm alone. Then, Mama had this idea. She expanded the house to accommodate more ponies, and started taking ponies in. They live here and get access to shelter, food, medicine, counseling, rehabilitation, and a family of ponies who’ll love them. In exchange, they all pitch in and work the farm.”

Lady’s jaw had dropped long ago. “That’s...that’s so amazing!” she breathed, “I mean, gosh, I,” she shook her head in disbelief, “I don’t even know what to say!”

Sci grinned, “Yeah, it’s pretty cool. Working the fields and running the farm teaches them useful life skills for when they leave, and a little love goes a long way. And a lot of ‘em never earned cutie marks because of how they’ve lived, and the majority of those who do have them don’t know what they mean, so at least one or two of Aunt Applebloom’s employees are on hoof to give career advice and help out.” he looked around, smiling fondly, “This place saved a lot of kids.”

“DOUB!”

A tiny green blur came barreling out of the trees and caught the Earth colt around the neck. He choked from the blow, but returned the hug.

“Hey Rosie.” he said in a strangled voice.

The filly looked about ten years old. Pastel-green coat and a face covered in freckles. Her eyes were a bright sparkling blue, and her chocolate mane was pulled into pigtails. She let go and dropped to the ground, practically vibrating with excitement.

“Remember how I said I got my mark?” the filly grinned before whirling around to reveal a cake, decorated with what appeared to be apple slices, shaped to look like rosebuds.

Sci gave a wide grin, wrapping his sister in a hug. “Ah’m so proud of you, kiddo.”

The filly suddenly took notice of the other teen and pulled away from the hug. “Hi!” she said, “You’re Lady Bug, aren’t cha? Doub talks about you a lot.”

The Changeling smirked and gave the colt a sly glance. “Does he, now?”

“Yep!”

“Ookay,” the Earth colt coughed, “why don’t you go on ahead and tell Mama we’re here.” he gave her a pointed look.

Ambrosia gave a sly grin, then turned and bolted back up the path, shouting, “GUYS! DOUB BROUGHT A GIRL HOME!”

Sci sighed and smiled gently at Lady, who was laughing rather hard. “Sorry ‘bout that.”

“Don’t be.” Lady finally caught her breath, “She seems fun.”

They walked in a comfortable silence for a while, and they soon were met by an orange mare in a light green plaid apron. She raised her pace to a trot once she caught sight of them, and wrapped both teens up in a bone-crushing hug.

“It’s so good to see you kids again!” she said, pulling away, “Ah hope you’re hungry; Ah’ve got supper on.”

Sci winked at his companion. “We’re starvin’.” he assured his mother.

“Good.” she turned to the Changeling, “It’ll be a while before it’s time to eat. How about a tour?”

“That sounds nice.” Lady replied.

They continued up the path. According to the middle-age mare, they’d cut through the East Field, the oldest part of the farm. As they made their way forward, Applejack pointed out everything they passed, and gave facts about it. The South Field had the original clubhouse of the Cutie Mark Crusaders. The North Field was a Fruit Bat reserve, and the West Field contained the swimming hole.

“We regularly have twenty or so ponies here at a time.” Applejack stated, “Ah suppose Doub here explained how this place operates?”

“He told me the basics.”

“Me, mah brother, and mah sister used to run this place by ourselves, and lemme tell ya, it was quite the job. But with everypony else here, well, we help each other.” the large red barn appeared ahead, “The barn and the house are the main hub of our operation here. You’ll meet everypony at dinner, but there might be a few to meet on the way.” Applejack looked ahead, “Speakin’ of…Saga! Come here!”

A slate gray, colt made his way forward. He had a short, but shaggy black mane and black shirt. There was text on the shirt, bold letters reading ‘Ask Me About My Pronouns!’ in a gradient of light blue, light pink, white, and then pink and blue again.

“I was just looking for you!” he spoke with a surprisingly high-pitched voice, “I finished the grocery run. Merriam and Webster are putting them away.”

“Good, good,” she gestured to the teens, “Doub’s home for the week, and this is Lady Bug.”

The colt, Saga, grinned and shook Lady’s hoof. “Nice to meetcha!”

“You too,” she smiled politely, then gestured at his shirt, “So, pronouns?”

He glanced down and grinned. “Oh, yeah, forgot I was wearing this.” he straightened up and poked his chest out proudly, “Trans stallion, he/him pronouns.” he gave a cough and rubbed his throat. “Pre-op, and pre-T.”

Lady nodded. “I’ll remember that.”

“Oh! That reminds me,” Applejack broke in, “Ah got authorization to sign for your hormones.”

The colt grinned excitedly. “Really?!”

“Yep, we can go pick them up next Wednesday.”

“I can’t wait to tell Webster!”

The mare grinned slyly. “Speaking of Webster, did you get the you-know-what?”

Saga blushed. “Yeah, they finished resizing it this morning. I, uh, I’m gonna ask him tonight, after dinner.”

Sci clapped the colt on the back. “‘Bout time!”

“Well,” Applejack began. “Let’s get you two up to the house. Ah bet you wanna drop off your bags, and Ah need to finish dinner.”

“That sounds great.” Lady breathed, smiling gratefully.

They headed towards the farmhouse while Saga turned to the barn. The house was large, almost larger than the barn, with a long, wraparound porch, and swirled carvings in the wooden beams. Applejack led them around the back, to the kitchen door. She opened it and motioned the teens through. Sci passed the doorframe and sidestepped, dropping his bag against the wall. Lady followed suit, and stopped dead in her tracks.

A toddler sat playing with a doll at the small table in the center of the room. An older filly stood on a stool in front of the stove, a smaller version of the apron Applejack wore tied around her waist, stirring something in a large metal pot. Two foals. Two Changelings.

Her sisters.

Sci cleared his throat behind her, gaining the fillies’ attention. Larva squealed and leapt off the stool to run and embrace the Changeling teen. Pupa slid down from her chair and stumbled her way over.

Lady dropped to the floor, forelegs open to embrace them. The fillies giggled out the older girl’s name as they buried their faces into her chest. She pulled them as close as physically possible, rocking back and forth as tears spilled into their manes. Pupa leaned up and kissed Lady’s cheek while Larva wiped away her tears.

“H-how?!” the teen whispered, “How did you get here?!”

“Mrs. Applejack brought us!”

Lady turned to the mare, who had tears in her own eyes. “Well, it was Doub’s idea.”

“Why didn’t you say something?” she asked the colt, clutching her sisters even tighter.

The colt had moved to the stove, and had taken up stirring whatever was in the pot. He scratched at his neck with the other hoof. “Ah didn’t wanna get your hopes up. Ya know, in case it didn’t happen.”

“Doub called me while you were saying goodbye that day.” Applejack continued the story, “He told me about how you’d practically raised them yourself,” a tired look formed in her eyes, “and, honestly, Ah knew how ya felt. Ah was nine years old when mah parents died. Mah brother was thirteen, and mah sister was barely one. Course, we had Granny, but me ‘n Mac had to grow up pretty fast. We both quit school at sixteen so we could keep the farm from failing, but mainly so that Applebloom wouldn’t have to. The farm was my destiny,” she gestured to her cutie mark, “and it was all Big Mac knew. But Ah wanted more for Bloom. Ah didn’t want her to spend her foalhood with sore hooves, or an achy back, or the exhaustion that came with plowin’ fields all day. At times,” the mare chuckled, “Ah felt more like a mom than a sister.”

“That’s why Ah started this place,” she continued, waving a hoof, “and when Ah heard about your situation...Ah couldn’t just not do something.”

Lady closed her eyes, still rocking. “Thank you,” she whispered, “thank you so much.:

***

Evening found Lady Bug and her sisters in the living room. The teen sat on the couch, Larva in her lap, and Pupa next to her, a book laid out across her knees. She rubbed the toddler’s back with a hoof, reading to her, while using her magic to run a brush through the other girl’s mane.

Sci entered the room, having finished the dishes. He crossed the room and lowered himself into a rocking chair in the corner closest to the sofa. He sighed as he leaned back, using a hoof to gently propel the chair.

Pupa tilted her head, curiously. She gathered herself up on shaking legs and hopped off the couch before slowly toddling to the chair. She sat down, staring intently, head rocking back in forth, perfectly in time with the motion.

“Don’t tell me you’ve never seen a rockin’ chair before.” Sci smiled at the filly. He reached his hooves out invitingly. Pupa looked at Lady.

“Go on.” the teen encouraged.

This was all the filly needed. She reached up to the colt, who scooped her up and set her on his lap. He nodded towards the forgotten book, and Lady split her magic and passed it over to him. He started reading where she’d left off, giving the characters silly voices that made the fillies laugh.

“Alright girls, bedtime.” Applejack said, entering the room about half an hour later.

“Can Lady stay in our room?” Larva asked as she buzzed over to pick up the toddler.

“That’s fine with me,” the mare smiled warmly, “But I wanna talk to her first.”

The Changeling teen stood up and followed the mare into the hall after telling the colt goodnight.

“Ah just wanted to explain the situation,” she began, “so you know what’s goin’ on. The girls will be staying here full time, unless both me and mah husband are needed back in the Southern Region. In that case, they’ll come with us. Ah’m gonna have Larva start school here in Ponyville. Now, both mah kids started preschool when they were four, but Ah wanna have Pupa see a doctor before Ah enroll her anywhere. Just to see where she’s at; Ah’m concerned she might have some learning disabilities.” she clarified, “Can you tell me anything that might help?”

“There were some...complications when she was an egg.” Lady admitted, “We almost lost her and Mother that night.”

“Ah’ll see if I can find a Changeling doctor to see her. Now,” she continued, “Me ‘n Shill are their foster parents, and we’ll make sure we keep our licence up to date, so there’s no chance of them getting taken to another house. But, after you graduate,” she said pointedly, “if you’d like to get your custodial right back, we’ll work it out, okay?” she earned a nod, “Alright, sugarcube, one more thing. You’re welcome to come see them at any time.”

Lady smiled, then surprised herself by hugging the mare. “Thank you,” she whispered, “for everything.”

After climbing the stairs into the dark upper hallway, it didn’t take long to find her sisters’ room. When she opened the door, she found them sitting on the bed, Larva helping Pupa fasten the clasp on the back of her nightgown. Lady found her saddlebags against the wall opposite the bed; somepony must’ve brought them up after dinner. She dug through them and put on her own pajamas.

The Changelings got into bed, Lady on one side, Larva on the other, and Pupa protected and warm in the middle. Lady wrapped her forelegs around her sisters, holding them close. She glanced over at her reflection in a mirror hanging over the dresser next to the door. After a moment, she let her disguise drop, deciding to sleep in her natural form, like she did back on the Isle, when they were all younger.

Larva gave a tiny yawn. “Will you sing to us?” she asked, sleepily.

Lady leaned over and gave each of her sisters a kiss, before falling into the familiar tune of their favorite lullaby.

“Lavender’s green,

Dilly, dilly,

Lavender’s blue.

“If you love me,

Dilly, dilly,

I will love you.

“Let the birds sing,

Dilly, dilly,

Let the lambs play.

“We shall be safe,

Dilly, dilly,

Out of harm’s way.”

That was all it took for her sisters to fall asleep. She lay there for a while, watching them breathing. They were safe. All she’d ever wanted, for as long as she could remember, was for her sisters to be safe. A wide grin broke onto her face.

“Lavender’s green,

Dilly, dilly,

Lavender’s blue.

“If you love me,

Dilly, dilly,

I will love you.”

Author's Note

Whoo, 15,268 words. I do believe that is the longest thing I've ever written. Sorry for the long wait, but at least it's here now!

About Applejack's parents, I had planned Ambrosia Rose's character long before the clips from A Perfect Pear appeared anywhere. I based her off of my headcannon characters from my story "No Matter What You Get".

A little update on the story. It's going on a hiatus for now. For those of you who've followed this series since the beginning, you know that MLD was a parody of Disney's Descendants. Well, there's now a movie sequel, and I'll be parodizing that before I move on with this story. I don't know how long that will take, but don't worry, I will come back to this.

The only thing I own is my OCs and the storyline. The song is "Lavender's Blue", as seen in Disney's live-action rendition of Cinderella.

I love comments! They cure writer's block!