Chapter 15: When blue blood runs red

Luna and I were bound for home now, our honeymoon cut short by... a series of unfortunate events. We were going to get to the bottom of who poisoned me. I don't think it was Shining Gem; she wouldn't have anything to gain from it. But, then who had access to the rings? It couldn't have been very many ponies.

Our chariot landed just outside the castle doors and, needless to say, we were not expected back so soon. Luna and I made our way to the throne room, but were informed by the guards that there was a meeting going on between Celestia and Madame Pompadore. Well, if the Gryphon's were behind it, then I knew she'd definitely have the intelligence on it. I knew a Gryphon like her had to have connections.

So, with the meeting going on, the guards were ordered not to let anyone pass, which irritated Luna and I to no end. The two of us started up a conversation, and were keenly aware of the odd looks we were getting from the guards and staff.

"You are noticing it too, yes?" Luna asked. I nodded and cast a glare at the guards guarding the throne room, who instantly snapped to attention once they noticed I caught them snickering.

"Yes. What do you thinks going on?" I asked curiously, taking my glare off the guards, who instantly went back to whispering quietly to one another. I couldn't tell what they were saying, but I knew it was gossip about something. I made it known I could here them. "Just because my ears are smaller than yours, doesn't mean I can't hear at all!" I shouted. That got the two of them to hush up for good.

Luna chuckled softly and got back to my previous question. "I dost not know, but it is getting on my nerves!" She glared over her shoulder at the giggling staff, who quickly pursed their lips and retreated down the halls.

One of the guards I shouted at came over, trying to hide his smile. He was doing a poor, poor job of it though. "The... Princess will see you now." He snickered. Luna and I just glared at him as we were led into the throne room.

Celestia didn't look all to pleased to see us. Her brows were lowered in a bit of anger, but mostly disappointment. Cadence stood by her side, blushing as she stared at Luna and I, and Pompadore was trying her best not to laugh. Something... wasn't right.

The Gryphon female bowed to Celestia. "Well, that's my cue to hightail it out of here. Princesses." She said to all of us- wait... All of us? She cast her glance over to me and winked, retreating out the back of the throne room.

Once Pompadore had left, all attention was on Luna and I. Celestia cleared her throat and glared at Luna. "Little sister? Do you care to explain yourself?" Celestia asked. Luna arched a brow and the two of us cast unsure glances at each other.

"What art thou talking about? We only just returned home. What could we have done wrong in that span of time?" She asked curiously, leaning away.

Celestia scoffed. "Oh, it's not what you did here, I assure you, but what you did elsewhere." She levitated a newspaper over to us and, right on the front page was Luna and I, or more appropriately, Artemis and Natasha, in the heat of passion. My head was thrown back as I rode Artemis, a wide, moaning smile on my face as he was shaft deep in my feminine body.

"Who the hell took this?!" I asked loudly, casting a glance at Luna who was looking away in embarrassment and shame. "Well, at least they caught my good side." I muttered to myself as Celestia took the paper back. She held it in her magic like it was a towel a cat pissed on.

Celestia tossed the paper aside and her attention was now drawn to me. "Now, I know you were probably never told this, but gender changing spells are illegal. Too many ponies got stuck as the opposite sex because of them. I take it Luna didn't tell you about that?" She shot Luna another glare. Each time Celestia looked to Luna, I could see her scrunch up more under her elder sisters heavy glare.

I looked to my wife, who refused to meet my gaze. All I could do was internally grin at that little revelation. Luna really broke the law to satisfy a dirty pleasure? Oh, I knew there was a reason I loved this mare!

"She didn't, but I probably still would have gone through with it if she did." I said, making Celestia raise a brow.

"Bold. Well, it's out that you and Luna have broken the law. Many ponies are claiming it is an unjust act and, because you two are royalty, you will get away with it. Now, how fair does that sound?" She asked.

"Um..." I began, shuffling awkwardly. "Not fair at all? Shit... we're in trouble, aren't we?" I asked, trying to hide my face. Celestia sighed and looked to Luna.

"Lulu! What were you thinking?" She scolded. Luna looked to the ground and shuffled her hooves. "Poor Nathan could have gotten stuck like that!"

Luna looked up, a look of defense on her face as her lower lip pouted out. I had to admit, it looked more adorable than it should have under the circumstances. "There was no harm! We made sure of it! And there was something else we needed to discus! Somepony poisoned his wedding band!" She yelled, hoping to change the subject to a more pressing matter.

Celestia and Cadence looked to one another, then back to us. "P-Poisoned?" Celestia stuttered.

"Yeah, poisoned." I sighed. "Someone laced my ring with Poison Joke, which reacted badly with the gender changing spell. It had to be someone in the castle, because I know Shining Gem couldn't have done it."

"How do you know that?" Cadence asked curiously.

I looked to the Princess of Love, who still hadn't lost her blush as she stared at me. Huh, didn't think this would get her so flustered. "Because. I'm a good judge of character. She doesn't seem like that kind of mare, so it had to be someone in the castle." I affirmed confidently.

Celestia smiled at me, which was way more welcome than the glares from before. "Well, you seem to be very sure of yourself, and you hold no doubts.You have a good intuition, but it'll require more than that if you want to figure out who poisoned you."

"Wait, you aren't going to help us solve this?" I asked. Celestia giggled and shook her head.

"Nope. You and Luna should solve this together. It will be a good way to entertain yourselves while Cadence and I solve the mess you two put yourselves in." She stared at both of us harshly again at the last part, making Luna and I shuffle uncomfortably. "And, maybe you should bring Lilly with you, since you are her teacher. I didn't tell her any of this; poor dear would be scarred for life to see her new teacher like... that."

I smiled at the mention of her name. I was wondering how she'd been since I left the other day. "Where is Lilly? I feel bad for leaving that little filly so soon after making her my student." I chuckled a little bit after saying student. It was an odd feeling, but a good one none the less knowing I was taking her under my metaphorical wing.

Celestia smiled and shrugged. "Honestly, she's just like Twilight. She wanted to impress you with how much she knows. She's been in the archives day and night, studying her little horn off."

I let an aw escape my lips. Lilly really wanted to impress me with how much she knows? She'll probably know way more than me, so this'll be a bit interesting. "I'll go see if she wants to come along." I turned to Luna. "So, are you ready to go solve a mystery?" I asked.

Luna nodded eagerly, just wanting to get the hell out of here and away from Celestia's death glare. "That dost sound like fun! We look forward to-"

Before Luna could finish her sentence, the throne room doors flew open and Prince Blueblood trotted in, laughing. "Oh, Auntie Celestia! Did you read the papers? It's positively hysterical!" He was walking forward with his eyes shut in laughter, so he didn't notice Luna and I till it was too late. "Oh... you're back." He growled.

"Blueblood. I thought you'd be out taking candy from a baby." I said with a roll of my eyes. Luna giggled lightly into my arm as she rubbed up against me, trying to make Blueblood as uncomfortable as possible.

"And I thought a creature of your status would be out eating foals!" He growled back.

"That's only on weekends. So what is the troll doing out of his cave?" I shot back.

"Look in the mirror and ask that!" He yelled, getting in my face. I got right back into his.

"Oh yeah? Keep talking! My left hand wants to meet your face today!"

"You touch my royal body again, and I'll-"

"BOTH OF YOU, SHUT UP!" Cadence yelled. We both turned to her, noticing the angry and annoyed look on her face. Blueblood just growled, while I backed away and bowed.

"Deepest apologies." I said humbly. "I let my emotions get the better of me." I looked over to see Blueblood chuckling into his hoof.

"Yes. Grovel before the princess like the worm you are." He said in a pompous tone.

I growled and looked to Celestia. "Can I please hit him? Pretty please?" I begged.

Celestia rolled her eyes and glared at each of us. "Blueblood? Stop causing trouble, and Nathan? Please don't let his words get to you. You are better than that. Now, I believe you have a mystery to solve." She said, waving Luna and I out.

Luna glared at Blueblood as she wrapped her forelegs around my neck, bringing me in for a slow kiss. While I kissed her, I flipped off Blueblood, who just glared at me.

"Laugh all you want! You two still made foals of yourselves in the paper!" He said, holding it up. I snatched it out of his hooves quickly and grinned.

"I feel highly uncomfortable with you gawking at my feminine, sexy body. Who knows what dirty thoughts have crossed your mind!" I scolded, making him go scarlet and causing Cadence to giggle quietly. "Now, we'll be off. Cadence? Celestia? Have a great day. Blueblood? Go suck an egg."

Luna and I made our way to the castle archives in search of Lilly. I had never been to this end of the castle, and it seemed to be much older than the rest. The stain glass windows depicted many stories of old, and some much more recent, like Twilight and her friends redemption of Nightmare Moon, and their fight with Discord. It was truly awe inspiring to see.

We rounded the next corner to see the arched doorway of the Canterlot Archives. The guards at the entrance of the door noticed mine and Luna's approach and gestured us inside, signalling Lilly was in. And in she was. Book after book was stacked on top of one another, so high, they nearly touched the ceiling. Lilly was humming to herself with her hooves under her chin, flipping the pages with her light blue magic aura. She noticed me and her humming ceased as her eyes went wide.

"Oh! Prince Nathan!" She gasped, bowing. Apparently she didn't know about how to properly greet royalty when she first met me, which I didn't care for in the slightest. I hated being bowed to and looked upon as some kind of... harsh authority figure who'd punish anypony who even so much as glanced at me wrong. Again, all I could do was laugh like I did when everyone did that. I guess it was my only response to the situation.

"Lilly? You don't ever have to bow to me, or call me Prince. I'm your teacher and more importantly, your friend." I assured her. She rose to her hooves and smiled.

"Okay. So, how was yours and Woona's honeymoon?" She asked happily, then frowned a bit. "I thought you would be gone for longer."

I frowned as well. "Something happened, and we need your help, Lilly." She seemed to perk up a bit at that, probably wanting to test her new knowledge. "Someone poisoned my wedding ring, and we need your help to find out who."

Lilly gasped. "Ohmygosh! Are you okay? Okay, stupid question, of course you're okay... But, yes! I wanna help! I wanna help! Where to first?" She asked excitedly, following Luna and I out of the Archives.

"Firstly, we shall be going to the Jewelry Shop where young Nathaniel got the rings from." Luna said as we rounded the hall to the castle exit. Lilly nodded and ran ahead of us and out the door.

"Well, then last one there is a rusty horseshoe!" Lilly laughed. Luna turned to me and smiled as she nestled against my arm, sheltering my skin in the warmth of her soft fur.

"Tis good to see her so happy. You have done a kind thing for young Lilly in her time of need. How does it feel to have a personal student?" She asked, watching the Filly run full sprint.

I shrugged as we casually walked across the moat ramp. "Ask me again when I actually know." I said as we caught up with Lilly, who was waiting at the gate. "You ready to go, Sunshine?" I asked. Lilly nodded excitedly as the gates were opened and we were released into the hustle and bustle of Canterlot.

Lilly took it all in; the buildings, the ponies, the culture. It was something she probably hadn't seen, since she was raised in the dick end of Manehatten. She ran over to a vender and looked at all the things he was selling. "Oooh!" She said in awe, poking at a necklace dangling from the chain.

"Hey, careful with that!" The vender said, yanking it away. "Go on kid, shoo!" He shooed her away, but my approach halted him. "P-Prince Nathaniel! Princess Luna!" He gasped, bowing. "What can I help you with?"

I smiled and leaned on the counter of the cart. "Not what you can help me with, but Lilly here seems to be interested in some of your necklaces." I said, causing Lilly to beam up at the stallion smugly.

He instantly paled when he realized how rude he was to Lilly, the personal student of Prince Nathaniel. "O-Oh! Of course! What can I get you, Miss Lilly?" He asked, pulling out some beautiful necklaces.

"Hmm... I really like that one." She said, leaning up and poking the necklace made of seashells. "I never been to the ocean before."

The vendor nodded and handed her the necklace. "Well, I hope you make it there someday. That'll... be twenty bits." He coughed awkwardly, looking up at me. Lilly looked at me a second later with a wanting smile.

"Please, can I get it, Nathan? Please?" She begged, pouting her lower lip at me. I pulled out my bit bag, making her smile. "Yay! Thankyouthankyouthankyou!" She shouted, hugging me.

I handed over the bits to the stallion and helped Lilly into the necklace. Luna leaned into me as we walked on to Gem's shop. Lilly continued on ahead as Luna whispered to me.

"You treat her like your own daughter." She commented, a little unsure about my quickly forged bond towards Lilly. I don't know why this was off putting to her.

"Yeah. After the way she grew up, I feel she deserves a parental figure she can depend on in her life." I said matter of fact like, wrapping my arm around Luna's neck. "I won't abandon Lilly."

Luna sighed. "We know this. Thou art to stubborn when it comes to matters of the heart. Tis why your relentless seeking of my heart finally made me agree to your request for courting."

I raised my brow and pulled my wife closer. "Really? Because I remember that it was you who asked me to be your royal suitor." I chuckled. Luna shot me a smile with a mock glare.

"Maybe I was just feeling lonely and jumped on the first stallion to ever show physical attraction towards me in over a thousand years." She looked up in thought. "Perhaps I may have 'jumped the gun', as the saying goes, courting you so quickly."

I gasped in mock shock. "Well, I see how it is!" I released her neck and crossed my arms. "Fine! Leave me! Cast me aside like yesterdays yard clippings!"

Luna snorted in laughter as she pushed into me. "Oh, stop it, you!" She grinned, kissing my cheek. "Thou knows we would never leave thee. No matter what. I love thee, Nathaniel."

"And you know I love you." I looked up to see the final turn we had to make to get to the Jewelry shop. "We're almost there. Come on, let's get moving."

We rounded the next corner to see Lilly standing at the entrance to Shining Gem's store. The three of us entered, setting off the bell above the door. Shining Gem was scrubbing down the counter, not paying attention. "Yes? How may I help you?" She asked, not noticing who just entered.

"I dunno. I just thought I'd drop by." I chuckled. Gem looked up and smiled, then bowed when she saw Luna.

"Sir Nathaniel! Princess Luna! What can I do for you?" She asked. I leaned on the counter, giving her a hard stare.

"So, I wanted to ask you about the rings you had for us." I said, being as nonchalant as possible. If she was responsible, then I had a very terrible judge of character.

"Sure!" She beamed, looking at each of our bands. "Did they not fit right? Are they not your style?" She asked.

I shook my head and twiddled with my ring. "No, no. They're absolutely perfect. I... just wanted to know, how did you know to bring them to the wedding?" I asked. Luna didn't give Gem time to answer when she got the message.

"Thou forgot the wedding rings, didn't you." She sighed, face hoofing. Lilly giggled as she shook her head. She even knew what I did was absolutely stupid.

I chuckled awkwardly and rubbed the back of my neck. "Maybe? Anyway let's get back to it. Shining Gem? How'd you know to bring them to the wedding?"

Shining Gem looked at me funny. "Is... this some kind of test or something? You came to my store the morning of the wedding and asked me to bring them." She said, raising a brow.

"What?" I gawked. Luna and Lilly looked at one another, then back to me. "I was busy getting ready for the wedding that morning! I didn't come in!" I said defiantly. Shining Gem giggled.

"Well, you're the only human in Equestria! Who else could it be?" She asked with a smile. "Why is this coming up all of a sudden? What happened?"

I sighed and rubbed my eyes. I was getting a really bad headache from this. "Someone put Poison Joke on my ring. Enough to kill me."

Shining Gem gasped. "W-Who could do such a thing?!"

I shrugged lazily, since I was beginning to think we'd never find out. "I don't know. Did the imposter say anything? Did he do anything with the rings?" I asked.

Shining Gem tapped her chin. "Well, he did ask me to get some more rings to check out... I brought a few more rings out, but he said the ones he was looking at were fine... He could have done something to it then." She pointed out.

I looked to Luna who seemed to be lost in thought. "Well? What do you two think?" I asked my two companions.

Lilly tapped her chin. "I think it was Prince Blueblood. He's a big dummy." She said, sticking out her tongue. I laughed and really, really had to agree with her.

"Well, he did say he'd get back at me after I decked him at breakfast... You're a smart cookie." I commented, tussling Lilly's mane. She smiled and pushed into it, taking in all the praise of her teacher. "So, what do you think, Luna?"

Luna shrugged. "I dost not know. You are the one leading this investigation." She smiled at me and bumped my side with her flank. "Dost thou think they got enough information?"

I tapped the counter and sighed. "Well, it would have to have been a Unicorn. What kind of spell would change species like that?" I asked.

Luna only had to think for a second. "No... No spell can do that. It wasn't a Unicorn!" She had fear in her eye's now.

"Then what..." Then it dawned on me. To be able to change a shape into anyone or anypony? It was one creature and one creature only. "Changelings!"

I scooped up Lilly as Luna and I ran out of the store and back to the castle as fast as we could. We all were getting strange looks from passing ponies, but we didn't slow. We probably were going to cause mass panic with our haste.

We bolted through the castle gates, into the castle, skid down the halls, and ran into the throne room. "Princess! We know what-"

I was about to reveal the truth, but two spears shoved in my face made me halt my sentence quickly. Two changelings with stolen guard armor, grinned deviously at the three of us. I held Lilly tighter and looked over to the throne to see Celestia, Cadence and Shining Armor trapped in cocoons. Sitting on the golden chair was none other than the hole riddled harlot.

"Well, well, well!" Chrysalis chuckled, running her hoof across Celestia's cocoon. "It appears you arrived sooner than I thought. It's so lovely to meet the new Prince." Luna charged her horn, ready to strike, but Chrysalis's own horn glowed and surrounded the three pods next to her. "Ah, ah, ah! If even one ounce of magic leaves that pretty little horn of yours, I'll kill you dear sister, your niece and her husband in an instant."

Luna sighed in defeat and let the glow around her horn cease. Two changelings flanked her, shoving their weapons towards her. I scowled as she was dragged to the side of the room with the others and Lilly was yanked from my arms. Two Changelings flanked me and forced me to march down the carpet, right towards Chrysalis. I was stopped at the foot of the throne and shoved to my knees at her hooves. She looked down on me, a devilish grin adorning her lips.

"What the hell are you doing here?" I asked bitterly. "And why did one of your Changelings impersonate me at the Jewel shop?" I yelled.

Chrysalis giggled. "When one is hired to do a job, one must do it well." She mused. "Your friend, Shining Gem, is actually my friend, Changeling #674."

I scowled and balled my hand into a fist. I trusted that fucking mare! How could I be so goddamn stupid?! Chrysalis could sense my emotions and raised my face to hers.

"Oh, don't beat yourself up, dear. How were you to know that she wasn't to be trusted?" She was teasing me now, and I just wanted to deck her right in her bug face! "Now, I think the architect of this betrayal should come forth now, don't you think?" She asked.

I turned as the throne room doors were thrown open. "Sonofabitch, Lilly was right!"

"Hah! I knew it!" Lilly cheered triumphantly, only to silence herself as a Changeling glared at her. Blueblood strutted in, flanked by two Changelings. "You pompous ass motherfucker!" I shouted, getting to my feet, only to be decked in the gut by one of the Changelings at my side, then punched in the jaw by the other. I fell to the floor, wheezing and coughing as I tried to get air back into my lungs.

"Oh, my my! Such foul language from a Prince! And in front of a child!" Chrysalis gasped. She turned to Blueblood and smiled. "I'm afraid he can't hear you. His mind is... busy at the moment."

I struggled to look at Blueblood, fighting off the dizzying pain I felt. I could see his eyes were blazing green and as soulless as soulless could be. I had to admit, it was awesome to see that asshole like this.

"Why in the hell would you want to love him?" I asked, spitting up blood and mucus at Chrysalis's hooves. The Changelings at my sides hissed in anger at my disrespect for their Queen, but she played it off like nothing.

Chrysalis wrinkled her snout at my previous question. "Ugh! Why would I ever want any of his love? He's a pompous buffoon! He actually came to us to help sort out the pesky human problem. We saw it as a chance to retry my plans. When I gained his trust, he offered us a way past the protection barrier that keeps Changelings out of Canterlot. With that knowledge in hoof, we seized our chance to rule!" She giggled happily to herself.

I sighed and looked to Luna and Lilly, who were being wrapped up tight in cocoons. "Wait! D-Don't put them in those things!" I pleaded. Chrysalis smiled.

"Only cover their mouths. We don't want to spoil the fun." She ordered. The Drones obeyed and stopped right past their mouths. Luna and Lilly's eyes were wide with fear as they tried to escape their gooey prisons to no avail. Chrysalis turned to me, her devilish smile never leaving her lips. "You love her, with all your heart. I can feel it. I can... taste it. You would do anything for Luna, wouldn't you?"

"Yes."

"Even if it meant betraying her to save her?" She asked, lowering her head under mine to see my reaction.

I just looked into the soulless green eyes, then back to the mare I loved. "W-What do you mean?!" I hollered. One of the Drones pointed a spear at Luna's cheek, drawing a bit of blood. I tried to rush him, but was stopped by another swift hoof to the gut. I wheezed and yelled in pain and defiance as more blood escaped my busted lip, and probably from internal trauma.

Chrysalis raised her brow at my attempts, then smiled, knowing she was right. "The love in you is so strong... Both emotional and physical. You would do anything for Luna. Even sacrifice your own life to save her."

"Stop stating what I already know!" I hollered. "What the hell do you want!?"

"We want to feed." She stated matter of fact like. "Is that not obvious? But, right now, I want something that will keep me full for the rest of my days." She lowered her head so she and I were an inch apart. Her whisper was seductive, almost lecherous in nature.

"You."

My eyes went wide and the color drained from my face. I turned to Luna, who had tears pooling her eyes, then to Lilly who was squirming like mad in the jelly like ooze inside the cocoon, then back to Chrysalis.

"If you don't, then Luna-" As Chrysalis said her name, she cast a glance over to Luna, making the Changeling press the blade deeper into Luna's cheek, making her let out a muffled scream in the cocoon. Lilly tried to shout in defiance as well, but ultimately couldn't do a thing. "-Will die."

I felt the fear and hopelessness building up inside me quickly. The only ponies who could probably do anything to stop this were hours away in Ponyville or trapped in those horrible cocoons. And what was I to do?! I was nothing but a hopeless human with no special powers! Chrysalis could turn me into a pile of red paste in an instant if I even twitched funny! And now she wanted me to betray Luna? I couldn't! I loved her too much! But, I couldn't just let her die! Why the fuck does shit like this keep happening?!

I furrowed my brows at the bug queen. "Aren't you supposed to kill me?" I asked, fighting back the tears. "Isn't that what you were hired to do?!"

Chrysalis giggled, running her holed hoof down my chest, lidding her eyes as she did so. "Oh, do you really think I was going to kill my best food source ever? Besides, the Poison Joke was only meant to... spice things up a bit, and it did. The Changelings I had watching you got quite the pictures, and brought back a gracious amount of food. You are a very dirty mare."

I blushed and looked away, only to have my face brought back to meet her gaze by her hoof. "Now. Do we have an agreement? I have you, or Luna dies. Make your choice. You have ten seconds."

I looked over to Luna, putting as much hopelessness into my eyes as I could. She stared back, sharing similar emotions, then a look of determination as she glanced at Lilly's pod, giving a flick of her head.

I looked to Lilly as well and then to the window, right out at Ponyville. Luna nodded, understanding. Then closed her eyes and nodded again. For this plan to work I had to... bed with Chrysalis.

"Time is up. Well?"

I took a deep breath and nodded. "I-I'll do it... I'll do it for her sake." I looked to Luna, who glared at Chrysalis. The Queen's look could rival that of a little kid on Christmas. She walking over to Luna, patting her on the head and giggled.

"Don't worry, Luna. I take great care of my food. He'll be... more or less unscathed." She laughed maniacally as she turned away. Once the Queens gaze was off her, Luna let loose a teleportation spell on Lilly's pod. It disappeared in a flash, off to Ponyville. I internally sighed in relief.

Chrysalis turned and sent a glob of green goo from her horn, hitting Luna square in her own horn. It instantly hardened into a crust that effectively halted her magic. She scowled and turned to the Drones. "The foal couldn't have been sent far! Find the pod and bring it back! And send some drones on round up; I want every citizen in Canterlot in a cocoon by nightfall!"

Chrysalis's features softened as she turned back to me. "Now, come. We have... much to do." She cackled, lifting me into the air. I cast one final glance at Luna, who nodded to me, but kept the sadness in her eyes all the same. Even though we had no choice, the decision didn't hurt any less.

I was going to be cheating on Luna. And I had to do it to save her life.

Twilight hummed to herself as she read through her many books. She wasn't studying for anything, or trying to learn something new. She had one of those rare moments when nothing needed to be done. And how did she celebrate her free time from studying book after book for the Princess?

Why, reading through them for fun!

Twilight hummed to herself as she flipped to the next page of the latest Daring Do novel, enthralled with the part where Daring had to get the idle before it fell into the lave. Right as she was about to find out what happened, a magical pop echoed through the living room; a loud crash accompanied it.

Spike was upstairs when he heard the crash and the subsequent scream Twilight let out. He ran downstairs as fast as his stubby little legs could carry him, fear gripping at him for what could possibly be the matter. "Twilight?! Are you okay?! I heard the scream and-" His eyes caught sight of the pod that had crushed the table. "Whoa."

Twilight was stunned. Why... Why did a changeling pod fall from nowhere onto her table?! She slowly got up and peered inside, gasping when she saw the little filly from the wedding, squirming and muffling. She quickly zapped the pod away, letting Lilly fall to the floor with an oomph.

"Hey, I know you..." Twilight began. "You were one of the flower mares at Luna and Nathan's wedding." Lilly smiled and nodded.

"Yeah, and now I'm his personal student!" She boasted proudly. Twilight gawked and tried to sputter out a reply, when Lilly stopped her. "There's no time for this! There's... big buggy ponies at Canterlot! They have everypony trapped in cocoons and stuff!"

Twilight tilted her head. "Buggy ponies? You mean Changelings?!" She yelled, looking out the window towards her home city.

"Yeah! So, we need to go there and save them! I guess that's why Luna teleported me here. Who are you anyways?" She asked curiously.

Twilight smiled. "I'm Twilight Sparkle; Princess Celestia's personal student... Seems we both are under Royal Tutelage." She giggled. Lilly smiled as well.

"Hey, yeah! That's so cool! So, what's it like being taught by the Princess?" She asked. Twilight smiled and sat next to Lilly.

Twilight sighed, getting lost in her own thoughts and memories. "Oh, it's just amazing! I'm sure Nathan is going to teach you so many wonderful-"

"Ahem?" Spike coughed. "I know you two have a nice thing in common, but... Changelings in Canterlot? Hello?" He said, chuckling as he rolled his eyes. "Honestly, Twilight, you need to learn how to focus on one thing at a time."

Twilight gasped. "Oh! Right! Lilly? Wait here with Spike! I'm going to get my friends and we'll get going!" She ran out of the library, slamming the door quickly.

Lilly turned to Spike and smiled. "So... Why do you work for Twilight?" She asked curiously.

Spike chuckled. "Twilight hatched me from an egg the day she became Princess Celestia's personal student." He said, walking over to the table and digging into a bowl of gems.

"Oh. Hey! Do I get a Dragon too since I'm a personal student to the Prince?!" She asked excitedly.

"Hey, you don't get a Dragon. You raise a Dragon. Big difference." He shot back. "You got a lot to learn kid. A lot to learn..."

Lilly let Spike be as she walked to the window, gazing up at Canterlot with fear. The castle had been her home for the better part of a week, but it already felt like more of a home than her actual one did. She knew her mother was no good after her father died. Her mother got into bad things and always yelled at her for no reason. Lilly was alone in the world, scared and uncertain about what it held for her. Were all ponies like her mother? Was she destined to be hurt and scared the rest of her life?

No. She had found that answer when she met Nathan. The Prince went out of his way to make sure she was safe, happy and, more importantly, felt loved. The feeling of being loved was so alien to the young filly. She never wanted anything to happen to Nathan. Never. She hoped he was going to be alright. Nopony that nice deserves to be hurt.

She sighed to herself and relented to the fear that gripped her heart. "Please... Don't get hurt? I don't want to lose you, too..."

Author's Note

So... CHANGELINGS THO!
Yeah, Blueblood is a bitch, and there isn't much to say about this chapter. So, I hope you sluts enjoy waiting for the next chapter because I LOVE YOU ALL! <3