Old Mare Celestia

A few days had passed since the appearance of the phoenix, who appeared every morning since then, and although at first the changelings were not very comfortable, they eventually got used to it and accepted that the bird was not going to attack them (although the three remained alert just in case). That day, they had walked for hours, with only a break for lunch, and at last, they climbed a small hill, from which they could see Dodge City, a small city that had large stands of trees, maintained by various conservation spells, and which were the main source of income for its inhabitants. But what was most striking was the small changeling structure to the east of the city.

"We've arrived," Tweezers announced as he surveyed the city, focusing on the small hive. "We can rest and sleep in the inn or take the train directly, I leave you that option."

"I don't feel comfortable sleeping with those parasites around," Sting growled. "I vote to take the train now, we'll rest there."

"Shell?"

The mare was silent for a few moments before looking at Tweezers.

"If the main hive has detected that you infiltrated in his cell, they will have informed the secondary hives. It is best to leave now."

Tweezers nodded before wrapping his body in greenish fire, and as it disappeared, in his place was a pony. It was a unicorn with fur the same color as its chitin, and its mane taking on the color its shell had once had, and with a cutie mark that represented a compass. His gaze flicked slightly to Light Flare, who was more focused on the hive, before he spoke.

"Alright, it's settled, let's take the train."

His two companions nodded before changing as well. Shell became a unicorn mare, her fur and mane taking on the colors of her chitin and carapace, and with a cutie mark that represented an open book from which some sparks of magic came out. Sting imitated his two friends, only he became an earth pony and with a cutie mark that showed a cauldron full of vegetables. Once disguised, the four descended the hill and approached the town, arriving in a short time at one of its main streets, lit by several torches. There were few ponies outside, as they were home at that time, although there were still a few open shops.

Light Flare swept her gaze around the various venues with minimal curiosity, memories returning to her mind. This had been her home before Sproutville, she wondered if there was still somepony who remembered her, most likely they were old by now, but it was still a possibility. That was why under normal circumstances she would have passed Dodge City, but since she was traveling with three changelings who did not have enough provisions for that, and even if they did she seriously doubted they would want to pass the town, she had no choice but to take that risk.

Her gaze lingered on one store in particular, one that had been there when she lived in Dodge City, but kept drawing her attention. It was a relatively small store that sold almost exclusively products made from the town's star resource, cherries. On the sign you could read its name, Cherries, Flim & Flam company. Despite the small spark of anger at seeing those names, she quickly looked away from it and followed the three disguised changelings. After a few minutes, they arrived at the train station, with a few tracks for incoming and outgoing trains, one ready to leave for the West, a covered space with several benches so that passengers could sit, with a few already waiting for the next train, and a small glassed-in booth where you could buy tickets.

"Wait here."

Tweezers walked over to the window, through which an earth pony stallion could be seen staring boredly at the ceiling, at least until a unicorn appeared at the edge of his vision, concentrating entirely on him.

"Hello" said Tweezers with a friendly smile. "I'd like to purchase four tickets to Appleloosa, please."

The pony shifted his gaze from the unicorn to the three ponies behind him, his eyes lingering longer on the mare in that body-covering robe, before turning his attention back to the customer at the window.

"Appleloosa... Are you aware that this town is in Emperor Tirek's territory?"

"That's right, we won't be staying more than a day, we're just passing through. Soon we'll be back in Her Majesty's kingdom" Tweezers replied with a bigger smile, making the pony look at him with a raised eyebrow before shrugging.

"Very well, but I must still give you some warnings, company policy. You must have your Changeling Nationality Documents with you at all times, otherwise the Centaur Army soldiers could arrest you for illegally possessing magic on his territory."

"We are aware, we have our documents in order."

"In that case, it will be 20 bits, please."

Tweezers nodded as he rummaged through his large travel bags, managing to pull out a small bag of bits and, counting out the correct amount, set it on the counter. The pony scooped them up through the small gap available and, after a few minutes, handed back four tickets.

"You came on time, the train will leave in about fifteen minutes."

Tweezers nodded and grabbed the tickets in his magic, giving him one last friendly smile before walking away to his companions.

"The train will take a while to arrive, so I suggest not drawing too much attention to yourself."

"Hey, you know me, I'm stealth itself" Sting joked before going to sit on one of the benches.

Tweezers couldn't help but smile before focusing on Shell, who was staring at him with a look he knew.

"What happens now?"

"I remind you that our new partner does not have any CND. What do you plan to do if she is arrested?"

"I'll take care of that, I know how to take care of myself."

Shell and Tweezers turned to see Light Flare, who had walked a little way to the edge of the station and was looking out at the empty streets of the town. The mare looked at her leader before focusing on the unicorn.

"Are you sure?"

Light Flare turned her head and stared at Shell, nodding soon after and looking back at the stars.

"If I couldn't take care of myself, I wouldn't have stayed hidden for so long."

Tweezers took a long look at Light Flare before nodding, looking at Shell.

"Be prepared, the train won't take much longer to leave."

Saying that, the costumed unicorn walked away from the two mares and sat down next to Sting, waiting patiently. Shell watched them for a few moments before focusing on Light Flare, and with a sigh, she moved closer. She sat next to her and watched the quiet streets of Dodge City, the crackle of fire in the torches the only thing breaking that silence. Inevitably, her gaze drifted to the changeling hive in the city, towering over the rest of the buildings but not nearly as imposing as the main Hive.

"No matter where I go in changeling territory, there's always one of those things."

Light Flare glanced sideways at Shell before focusing on the hive, nodding slowly.

"I know, it's in every pony settlement in this part of Equestria. Even the most insignificant."

Shell fell silent, her eyes drifting to Light Flare, a question stuck on the tip of her tongue.

"Were you... were you here when those hives didn't exist?"

Light Flare was silent for a long time before speaking.

"Yes... there was even a time when changelings were just a legend, a myth" a small amused smile appeared on her face. "I still remember the scholars discussing who came first, the changelings or the vampires."

"So I guess we were always monsters to the ponies," Shell muttered, looking down at the ground.

Light Flare looked at the mare next to her, her shoulders slightly slumped, her ears flat on her head, and a frown on her face. A long-forgotten memory of a similar conversation came back to her.

I will always be a monster to ponies.

Light Flare closed her eyes tightly, feeling a knot in her heart as she recalled that conversation. Taking a deep breath to calm herself, she focused her gaze on Shell, unable to help her heart feel a little sympathy for her.

"Maybe" she said, causing Shell to look at her with a raised eyebrow, but Light Flare already had her gaze fixed on the stars. "Ponies are fearful by nature, now more than ever. But I've lived long enough to see them accept just about any creature with open hooves, even if their kind weren't the... kindest."

"At least none of those creatures have enslaved them and treated them like cattle" Shell replied with a frown.

"No, but the question is..." Light Flare fixed her gaze on the mare beside her. "Will you let that be the only image the ponies see of you? A cruel and selfish being who views ponies as cattle? Or will you try to show them that you are so much more than your kind?"

Shell looked at Light Flare carefully before sighing and looking away.

"I wish it was that easy, but it isn't, I know. There are ponies who will never accept us."

"Would you rather give up and let them hate you?"

Shell frowned and stared at Light Flare at that.

"I'm not giving up, I'm just accepting reality."

"Accepting reality is another way of saying you give up" commented Light Flare as she turned her gaze to the starry sky. "You'll hurt yourself if you keep doing that."

Shell felt rage explode inside her. She wasn't a coward to give up at the first opportunity, and to make matters worse, that stupid mare was calling her a coward and lecturing her…with the things she was making of her. And that was beyond her tolerance limit.

"I don't think you're the best pony to say that... princess."

Despite the dangerous gleam in the mare's eyes, which sent a chill through her body, Shell held her ground, getting up and walking away to join her friends. After a few moments watching her over her shoulder, Light Flare managed to calm down, turning her gaze to the moon as she thought about what had happened. Did she really have the right to tell her that?

You've always been good at giving advice, but you've never stood out for following it.

Light Flare squeezed her eyes shut as the memory came back to her. Another different conversation, the same mare. Opening her eyes again, she gazed up at the moon as the last words she said to Shell were repeated over and over again.

Accepting reality is another way of saying you give up.