Cursed

Cadance's swollen belly wobbled as she settled into a comfortable position. These hospital beds are ungodly. Cadence thought to herself.

The doctor appeared in the doorway. "The foal should be coming soon, Princess."

Cadence chuckled. "Call me Cadence."

"Of course, Princess."

Cadence's body tightened as another contraction approached. "It's coming now!"

"We'll fetch Prince Shining Armor." The doctor streaked away, probably to tell some poor intern to inform Shining Armor.

A nurse whisked into the room. "It'll all be over soon, Princess. Just sit back and uh..."

Shining Armor rushed in the room. "I'm here," Captain Obvious announced.

"This foal better be worth it," Cadence ground her teeth.

"It's a filly!"

"That's great!"

"An alicorn?"

"Let me see her!"

The filly blinked her blue eyes  at Cadence. Cadence cooed and snuggled the filly closer to her body while Shining Armor knelt near them, his eyes gleaming with pride. The unicorn nurse bustled in, walking into the room. She shut the door with green magic. Now the room was soundproof. Schoolfoals had a tendency to wander the halls and in birth rooms, many four-letter words were uttered.

"How is the little filly? Does she have a name yet?" the nurse questioned a very tired Cadence.

"No, not yet. And she's fine."

"Then I'll be able to do it." her horn lit up and bound Cadence to the bed.

"Hey! What are you-" Shining Armor protested.

The nurse was consumed by green flames. And in her place stood none other than the Changeling Queen.

Shining Armor rushed at her, only to be batted aside by a black hoof. His head collided with the wall and his vision went black. He could still hear, though.

"What are you doing here, Chrysalis?" Cadence fought the restraints. She was still too weak to actually break them.

"Oh, just stopping by to see the new alicorn and to put my revenge into action." Chrysalis said casually.

"What?" Cadence said, outraged.

Chrysalis picked up the filly. The Queen's erratic horn erupted a writhing mass of green haze and fire. The filly screamed and Cadence foamed at the mouth. Then the flare faded.

"What did you do?!" Cadence stared in horror at her nemesis.

"I cast a curse on her, Cadence. Heed this warning. On her thirteenth year, this filly will begin her transformation into a Changeling." Chrysalis said ominously. Green flames moved over her body, leaving her looking like the nurse. She smirked. "Have a nice life." She flung the door open and slammed it behind her. The restraints faded away when the door shut the second time.

"Did- did you hear her, Cadence?" Shining Armor's vision returned.

"Yes. I think she was telling the truth."

"Why would you ever believe her?"

"Our daughter's eyes turned green."

Jinx flew alone. Her cream coat gleamed in the cold winter sunlight. Her saddlebags were empty; Hearth's Warming Break had begun. Jinx had decent grades. After all, what else would come of having Equestria's official egghead an an aunt?

She sighed. Why doesn't anypony like me? she asked nopony in particular.

Jinx adjusted her flight towards the castle. The pegasi guards let her through to the castle.

Jinx landed near Luna's part of the castle. Secretly, she liked Aunt Luna better than Aunt Celestia. Not that she'd ever say outright. She cantered through the onyx arches to see Aunt Luna. The cat-eyed guards gazed coldly at the filly. Jinx's smile faltered when she caught sight of them.

"No admittance," one said, crossing one of his wings with the other guard.

Jinx stared at him. Her horn lit and she spread her wings as if to show the guards that she WAS a princess and she WILL get in.

The guard that spoke glanced at the other. The silent guard slightly nodded. The wings dropped and Jinx trotted smugly inside.

"I'm just saying we should tell her!" Jinx heard Luna say angrily.

"No, she would go out of her way to stop it!" Celestia responded.

Jinx froze.

"But we should tell her! Her life will be ruined!" Luna argued. "What are you gonna do when she realizes she's a Changeling? Send her to the moon?!"

"There was no other way! You were going to destroy Equestria! This conversation isn't about you!" Celestia said as if she was shocked.

"Yes, I know! But this concerns Jinx and she has to know about the curse!"

"I still say we ride it out."

"Think of how you would feel if one morning you woke up a Changeling!"

Celestia was silent for a moment. "You dare even think of..." she whispered fiercely.

"I do, sister! I've been thinking about what would happen if Chrysalis cursed you every day since Jinx was born!" Luna shouted.

"I'm done with you right now, Luna." Celestia spat and stormed out of the Night Princess's throne room. She stopped in shock, seeing the very filly they were talking about stood very wide eyed in front of her.

"Jinx!" Celestia called out after the young filly galloped in the opposite direction.

Jinx shed her saddlebag in the entrance. Her parents wouldn't care, anyway. They never did. She spread her black-tipped wings and flew. She flew to Ponyville, where Auntie Twilight lived. She wasn't taking any more lies and deception.