Dear,

Princess Celestia

I have some excellent news, and some bad news. As you have probably heard from Princess Luna, Prince Nogla is still alive, and seems to be doing reasonably well given his living conditions. It also seems as though Nogla is… happy for the most part with his living conditions for reasons that are not the most pleasant. Nogla has, for the last three years, grown to hate pony society as a whole, and seems to want nothing to do with myself or my friends.

Or anypony for that matter.

On that topic, Nogla seems adamant about not returning to Canterlot, or seeing you or Princess Luna again for that matter. It probably wouldn’t help if we told Nogla of how long it’s been since he has gone missing, as he’ll probably remember the deadline he had to go back to Earth, and hate everypony involved with his… prosecution. Well, Nogla will hate everypony even more as it turns out.

As somepony who has seen how spiteful your adoptive son has grown in his self-imposed banishment, I would not recommend visiting him, but as Princess Luna Requested, attached to this letter or the exact coordinates of where Nogla is currently living.

Your former student and friend,

Princess Twilight Sparkle.

Dear,

Twilight Sparkle.

First and foremost, I would like to thank you for the news, and I will be coming down to Ponyville today, along with Luna, so that we can speak with Nogla. As… I believe you and your friends going out to find the ‘mysterious changeling that made Princess Luna cry’ on your own accord, may, or may not have sent the wrong message to Prince Nogla.

And yes, I know how Nogla may react to seeing me, but I just want to apologize to Nogla myself, for all the pain he has had to endure for the last three years, and perhaps see if we can start something new.

Your former mentor and friend,

Princess Celestia.

Nogla

I trotted back into Ponyville, now under a brand new disguise. As much as I don’t want to be in town, I need to find a book on timberwolves, so that I can care for my new pet properly. Because just winging it with an animal that has no Earth equivalent is a pretty solid way of killing said animal. As far as I knew, Sapling didn’t need food, but probably needed water since he was still a plant. Other than that, I have no clue as to how I’m gonna take care of that thing, but I want to. Sapling was still fast asleep when I left him, so I hope he’s still in the cave when I get back home.

Maybe I can work an odd job and buy a few toys for Sapling as well. I want to play fetch with my little pony eater.

Jesus, where the heck is the library? Like Twilight lives in a big, fancy castle now, so what the fuck happened to the library? The castle that Twilight now just has, was on the edge of town, looking over all of Ponyville. Meanwhile, the library was pretty much in the center of town, not being too far away from the Town Hall. You know, there are bulletin boards at the Town Hall, if my possibly two year or longer visit is still accurate. So I started trotting off in that direction, and made sure to hide whenever I saw one of the Elements, especially Pinkie Pie.

Something about that pony just seemed off.

I kept my pace kinda slow, trotting wasn’t too eye-catching, but somebody will look at me passing by, but not because I’m running. If I’m running, somebody will try to catch me and ask why I was running. Given how distinctive my accent is, I couldn’t, for the life of me, risk speaking. If somebody has spoken to me in recent history, they’ll know who I am just based on the accent alone, and my cover will be blown.

I don’t want to risk Rainbow Dash tackling me and dragging me directly to Celestia. I wasn’t joking when I said I would kill myself in front of that old hag the moment I am in her throne room.

I would sooner die than live in that palace with that sack of shit ever again.

“Behold, the Great and Powerful Trixie!”

What? At the town hall, most of the Elements, and a sizable chunk of ponies for that matter, all at town hall watching a familiar mare in a familiar stage wagon. I really want to go sit and watch the show because I’m pretty sure if the pony who says that they’re great and powerful is who I think they are, then that’s the only pony in existence I would like to talk to again. A small little smile etched at the edge of my lips; Trixie had found success and happiness while I couldn’t. That’s good, I at least made a difference in somebody’s life.

For now though, I need a map for the rest of Ponyville, and this bulletin board in front of me had that map…

Okay cool, Golden Oaks Library just got wiped off the face of the earth. What happened to it? Did some guy get tired of ponies and blow the fucker up in order to try and kill a princess? Probably, ponies suck. Now that I think about it, I think a year into my self banishment, there was some massive fight going on with a giant, centaur, looking thing. Maybe it tried to burn Ponyville down, that would be pretty funny.

And… no other libraries in Ponyville. In fact, there’s a little ‘fun fact’ that says Twilight’s new castle had several libraries, one of which was open to the public. So pretty much, I go sneak in, and steal a book for a few hours and risk talking to somebody that’ll recognize me, or I inadvertently kill my dog by not being able to care for him properly. I tapped on my chin, and sighed.

The things I will be doing for Sapling, damn you, mutt, for being so cute and affectionate.

Well, it looks like Trixie’s show just concluded, so maybe I’ll get a chance to talk to her.

I snuck around to the back of Trixie’s wagon, and the mare in question was wiping her brow while smiling from ear to ear. I took another step and made a rock skid slightly, which was enough to get the showmare’s attention.

“Who goes there? The Great and Powerful Trixie does not take kindly to ponies trying to assault her!” Trixie’s horn lit up, and I quickly hopped out into full view of her. “A stallion looking to win Trixie’s heart? She would like to let you know that Trixie is not willing to partake in a relationship with a stallion any time soon.”

“Trixie, it’s just me,” I raised my hooves defensively. Trixie raised an eyebrow and I sighed. I was engulfed in green fire, fully revealing what I was. “It’s me, Nogla… If you remember me at all.” Trixie’s horn unignited.

“Nogla, is that really you?” The mare ran up to me and swallowed me up in a hug. “Trixie tried to stop at Canterlot a year ago to visit you! Then Trixie was told that you had… passed away. Where have you been all this time? And why didn’t you tell Trixie you were alive the whole time?” Trixie asked all while nuzzling her cheek into mine, in a cheerful mood that I couldn’t hope to match.

God I missed this mare. The one pony who has treated me well, and hasn’t done me wrong.

“Oh y’know, just living out on the road. Being a Prince fucking sucks. Sure, I get everything I want, but it’s not what I… want. Plus I had a bit of a falling out with the Princesses. One that we won’t speak of because… it’s a touchy subject for me. On the bright side, the quiet life seems to suit me, I just farm potatoes, live happily, and got a pet!”

“Trixie sees… If you are willing to tell her, you have Trixie’s full attention.” Trixie wrapped an arm around my neck. “Come! Let Trixie introduce you to her new friends, and maybe you can find a new place here in Ponyville! Trixie has been fortunate enough to be given a second chance, and has found her place in Ponyville as well!”

Well… making friends does sound scary, but Trixie says they’re her friends. Nobody that’s friends with my friend can be that bad, right?

Nevermind. This is worse, far, far worse than I could’ve imagined. Staring directly at me, was none other than the Elements of Harmony plus that extra unicorn from yesterday. Trixie was standing next to me with a big, goofy smile that was honestly really cute, with a foreleg around my neck, having just proudly introduced me to the Elements again.

“Hey… Trixie,” I whispered to the showmare.

“Yes, Nogla?”

“Why did I agree to this?”

“Well, Trixie believes you would fit in with the rest of her friends!”

I gulped, and my head was engulfed in green fire. The inside of a paper bag now blocked my view from the Elements.

Narrator.

A little while ago…

The Elements of Harmony and Starlight Glimmer were all chatting with each other, having just watched one of Trixie's shows, with Starlight Glimmer herself having played a role in the show, as the ‘Great and Powerful assistant of Trixie’.

“Say… it’s taking a while for Trixie to meet up with us. You think something happened?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Perhaps she had stage fright. I know I would,” Fluttershy said quietly.

Starlight Glimmer chuckled. “This is Trixie we’re talking about, Fluttershy. If nothing else, Trixie might just be basking in another show going well, with a nice, large audience to boot!” The door to Trixie’s wagon had opened up again to reveal the showmare herself, along with a changeling drone, who had only poked its head out at first, before its eyes widened in shock and tried to retreat back into the wagon…

Only for Trixie to pick up the changeling and drag it out with her. The drone looked exactly like the one from yesterday, in fact, Rarity had pointed out the cracks in the chestplate and faceplate of the carapace, along with the golden watch hanging from a chain on the drone’s neck. The main difference now was that Nogla looked shy and timid rather than hateful and spiteful to see the mares again.

Trixie came to a stop, having discarded her cape and wizard’s hat, and wrapped a foreleg around the drone, who was now shivering.

“Greetings friends! Trixie has recently made contact with an old friend, Nogla! Please welcome him with open arms, as Prince-“

“I’m not a Prince anymore,” Nogla whispered.

“Has helped Trixie greatly a few years back!”

Everypony who had spoken with Nogla the day before were shocked at his sudden change in disposition. Nogla has made it quite clear that he hates ponies, and is letting Trixie, Trixie of all ponies, hug and hold him like an old friend… Because they were. And now Nogla was trying to squirm out of the mare’s grasp either to hide behind Trixie, or simply to get away from the Elements.

Trixie yelped when her friend’s head was enveloped in flames, only for the drone’s head to be covered with a paper bag.

“Lemme know when I’m allowed to leave, Trixie. I’m shutting my brain off until I am permitted to leave.”

Nogla.

I hate this. I hate this. I hate this. I want to disappear. I hate being in crowded areas full of ponies who can hurt me. I hate standing in front of six mares I had spent swearing and yelling at them the day before, and I hate this town. I just wanted to come, get a book on timber wolves, and go home. Why must I be here?

“So does that mean we get to throw a party?” I heard Pinkie almost squeak out.

“Why… a party?” I asked

“To celebrate ‘Prince Nogla Has Returned, Reunited With Trixie, and is Moving to Ponyville Party, duh!” Pinkie said happily.

“I am not moving to Ponyville, as soon as I get what I came here for, I’m going back to my cave.”

“But why wouldn’t you want to move here? Trixie lives in Ponyville and she’s your friend, and Trixie is my friend, so that means we’re all your friends, and that would mean all your friends would be living in Ponyville, so wouldn’t it be easier to live in Ponyville just so you can be closer to your friends? Because I would like to-“

“Oh yeah… I wanna be friends with the same ponies that tied me up three years ago,” I said quietly, before allowing a green fire to engulf my head again, and the paper bag was gone. “Look… I just came here to find a library so I can read up on timberwolves, and happened to see Trixie performing. Can I please just get the book I’m looking for, because I’ll go home, and you can forget about throwing me that party.”

“But-“

“I don’t want to be in a room full of ponies, Pinkie Pie.”

Pinkie stopped, rubbed her chin for a moment while very clearly thinking about something, before dropping the offer to throw me a party.

Like a party will solve my problems.

“I… believe one of the libraries in my castle has a book about timberwolves,” Twilight Sparkle offered.

I sighed in defeat and followed the group from a safe distance to the crystal tree looking fort.

“Alright bud,” Rainbow Dash shouldered me. “Quit the ‘I’m quiet and scared’ act. Yesterday you were using far worse language and much more aggressive than today. I won't buy it for a moment.”

“Rainbow Dash, forgive me for being a disappointment today. I’m only in a town full of ponies, a race that definitely hates changelings, while undisguised. On top of that, I get to see my favorite ponies in the world, in a town I’m unfamiliar with, where I can’t easily get away. I’m like a wolf in a town full of people.”

“Aren’t wolves supposed to be awesome, strong, and dangerous? Why would they be scared of anything?”

I sighed, not wanting to continue the conversation. So instead I looked in the stores as we walked by, knowing I would never, ever walk into one of these stores for the foreseeable future and stopped dead in my tracks while Rainbow Dash was still trying to talk to me. The exact words being said were tuned out of my head as I stared into a candy store.

Man, it’s been a proper, long time since I’ve had chocolate. It’s been even longer since I’ve had any gummies. Oh… I so badly want some candy.

“Hey!” Rainbow gave me a shove while I was entranced by the sweets inside. “I’m talking to you, ya know?” I fell on my side and hissed as my shoulder came crashing down into the rocky road below. God that smarts! I quickly sat up and glared at Rainbow Dash for a moment, before sighing. There really wasn’t a whole lot I could do about this, as I certainly wasn’t going to be able to out muscle this pegasus.

Remember Nogla, you really need that book.

“What were you saying, Rainbow Dash?” I asked while rubbing my shoulder.

“I was asking why the heck you were staring into this store for so long!”

I shook my head and sighed. “Can you fuck off, Rainbow? I don’t want to speak with you, I don’t want to fucking listen to you speak. Please, just shut the hell up and go talk to your friends; people that are more valuable than I am.”

Rainbow Dash glared at me, snorted, and trotted ahead to go chat with Apple Jack or whatever. I took one last glance in the candy store and chuckled. Man, the child that I once was just wouldn’t stay dead would he? Even now I’m excited to see a candy store… that chocolate looked good.

Great. Today gets even better now that Twilight’s castle is in view. It’s really lovely because Princess fucking Celestia and her equally Princess-y sister were just getting out of their chariot… I was set up. I think these asshats had just set me up into speaking with two ponies I wished to never see again. Well, magic, despite being real, I seem to have some nice luck in getting it to work.

I couldn’t use magic thanks to the ring, and wishing stars just liked to tell me to go fuck myself.

Everybody in the little group we were in bowed, well, I would’ve, but now I’m just planning my escape plan. Of course, after Princess Celestia greets everyone, her eyes fall on me, and it looks like she’s overjoyed and sad at the same time. Cool, now you feel bad about me, two years too late, but you managed to feel bad. Luna remained silent the whole time, probably remembering how our one sided conversation went.

“Greetings, my little ponies, and Princess Twilight,” Twilight Sparkle looked up to her peer. “Thank you for allowing myself and Princess Luna to stay in Ponyville on such short notice.” Twilight nodded almost immediately.

“Of course, Princess Celestia, anything for a friend!” Twilight said cheerfully. Celestia then walked up to me and tried to put her hoof on my shoulder. I backed out at the last moment, and said nothing. It was best that I just didn’t speak, because if I do, then we’d be here for hours, and I would be yelling my head off at this pony for even considering touching me.

Celestia cleared her throat. “Prince Nogla, it is good to meet you once again.”

So much for keeping my mouth shut.

“I was never a Prince. This country wouldn't have accepted it, I was never your child, and I refuse the title. In fact,” I took my pocket watch off and stared at it for a few moments. On one hand, this was bought with the Crown’s money, but on the other, Sharpened Dagger was the one who bought it for me and I cherished it. On the other hand…

“This was bought using the Crown’s money, and as such, belongs to the Crown. Seeing as I was never a part of any royal family.” I held the watch out to Celestia, who was now staring at the watch as well. It was then lifted up in a yellow, almost golden glow as Celestia took the pocket watch and had handed it to one of the guards who had pulled the chariot.

I turned to Twilight. “May I get that book already? If not, then I’ll simply leave. I will leave and I will not return; there’s too many ponies on this side of the woods.”

“But wouldn’t you like to talk with Princess Celestia? I certainly know that she’d love to chat with you.”

“I…” I looked at Celestia and sighed. “I’ll humor the thought. But if the conversation leads into ‘my return’ or whatever, I am leaving.”

The eleven of us were sitting at a weird, round little table. The Elements got thrones of their own, a tea set was out, and I want to jump out the window. It was completely silent, where it wasn’t a pleasant silence you might share when you’re just spending time with somebody you love, no. Instead it’s the type of silence that makes you want to die.

The type of silence where nobody knows what to talk about.

“Hey Trixie,” I was the first to break the silence. The showmare looked up from her tea to look at me. “Wanna grab Starlight and go hangout somewhere?” Trixie quickly nodded with a small little smile on her face.

“You want me to come with you?” Starlight Glimmer asked.

“Oh yeah. It’s a good opportunity for the three of us. I can get out of this room filled with my favorite alicorns, and you get to keep watching Trixie’s flanks and hips as she walks,” both mares started blushing, ears perked up and everything and that got a good laugh out of me. The first laugh I’ve had in years. “Well… c’mon, let’s get going before my mood gets soured by whatever Mother Dearest, the Sun wants to talk to me about.”

Both mares hopped out of their seats and started trotting off after me.

“Nogla?” Princess Celestia spoke up. I turned for a moment. “It’s… good to see you again, even if I know you don’t wish to see me ever again.”

I smirked. “Good thing you don’t respect my wishes then, huh Princess?” I spun on my heels and let Starlight Glimmer lead the way. Because Starlight seems like the type to know where the three of us can hangout and catch up.

Author's Note

well, Nogla can’t seem to get that book he needs. that’s a shame.