Hole Hearted

1000 years of Celestia's peace. Not since Nightmare Moon's rebellion had the capital come under assault let alone fall to an invader. This was dark mark upon the Royal Guard. All should be done so that such shame should never come to pass again. To that end he would have to study his enemy. There was no more insidious enemy than the changeling. The thought of something assume the form of someone you loved sent shivers to the tips of his wings.

He reached the last of the books on the library table. Den sighed and opened the dusty tome with a flip of his wings.

It was the age of magic… there prevailed the Unicorn Kingdom, a power unmatched by any. King Amethyst the wise and learn-ed, he ruled with benevolence and kindness. With his scepter of light his was a torch for the world.

It was then a mysterious mare was found at the doorstep of his kingdom. Flesh of ebony and eyes of emerald, King Amethyst was be-smitten by the foreign mare. She quickly became his Queen. However the new Queen was mired in melancholy.

Her happiness being his, he offered gems and all material riches of his domain to satisfy her heart. She refused all and instead she asked for his scepter of light. It was her wish every night…

She betrayed his love for her ambition was her lust. As his kingdom's light faded, as his lover plunged a dagger into his heart, King Amethyst declared…

You with emptiness within! I curse you with all my hate! May food and drink never sate! May your children inherit your sin!

The next chapter concerned the rocky turmoil that was Griffin and Pegasus relations. Disappointed Den set aside the dusty tome.

“The Hidden History of Equestria, reference books aren't to be taken from the library…however an exception can be made for a Vice Captain.” The turquois coated mare with glasses fluttered her eyes at Den.

“Thanks but I'm done with this book, it has no more use to me. Have you got more books on the subject?”

The librarian sighed. “You've read them all. I watched you. I never knew a Pegasus that so enjoyed reading.”

“I wouldn't say enjoy this sort of reading. I enjoy Daring Do novels. This is research.” Den chuckled.

“Daring Do, did you read the new?...” the librarian looked about to find Den gone and a window open. She sighed and went about re-arrange the many books he left scattered about. She smiled when she saw a note with some bit coins atop of it.

“Quill Heart, buy yourself lunch, on me.” read the note.

Den walked the capital streets whistling, he had a date. He stared at his reflection in a shop window to make sure his armor was shiny. He saluted with his wings to his own reflection. Walking further he arrived at the Grape Café. There was an obvious purple motif to the restaurant.

He ordered two juice drinks from the waitress to start off. Tapping his hooves together he waited.

There she was the mysterious mare. “Hi, Dent.” said Echo.

Den winced but accepted the shortening of his name. He supposed Den was too casually and Dented was too formal. “Hello Echo.” said Den.

“I am most surprised you are a guard.” said Echo.

“Well how else would I be able to get you into the palace?” smiled Den proud of himself for that.

“A spy might be able to slip past…or a changeling.” said Echo.

Their purple grape drinks were delivered with tiny umbrellas and straws.

“Yeah…Changelings.” said Den nervously. “I know the Royal Guard hasn't been held in the same esteem after the invasion…” said Den taking a nervous sip. “But that was because we were unprepared and didn't know our enemy!” said Den determinately stamping a hoof and causing the table to shake.

“And what have you learned?” asked Echo casually sipping her grape juice through a straw.

“That's classified.” smiled Den smugly.

“I see.” said Echo smiling back.

Den threw up his hooves. “Honestly not much. The most promising lead was that they are the result of curse.” said Den.

“Really? The poor creatures.” said Echo.

“I wouldn't say that, it sounded like their queen really deserved it.” said Den.

Echo frowned. Den was losing her attention, he thought.

“Hey, I'm sorry for boring you.” Den rubbed his mane.

“No, I find the subject… deeply fascinating.” said Echo licking her teeth.

“Really? I guess it is.” Den smirked. “Imagine, monsters hiding amongst us, waiting to pounce!” Den dramatically lowered his head.

“I could be one.” Echo delivered a chilling and hauntingly hallow laugh. The café customers looked at her for a moment. Echo stopped when she noticed them staring.

“No, a sweet mare like you couldn't possibly be.” said Den laughing as heartily as Echo did.

The café customers ignored the two as crazy and resumed their own side conversations.

“You don't know me.” said Echo seductively with half closed eyes.

“But I would like to.” said Den leaning forward. He stared into her beautiful green eyes. The world seem to melt away save the beautiful mare before him.

“How about you come over to my place and we get acquainted?” Echo's voice drowned out all others and seemed like a lullaby.

The sound of porcelain plates hitting the table snapped Den back to attention. Echo glowered at the waitress for some reason. Their daffodil sandwiches had arrived.

Den blinked several times. “Hey, let's get to know each other first.” said Den.

“How is that you know about the myth of the Changeling curse?” asked Echo.

“I read of it in a book.” said Den.

“You read?” Echo laughed lightly.

“Hey Miss Unicorn, the stereotype of the muscle bound Pegasus is unfair and untrue…” Den frowned. “Okay I twisted my wings during training… I kinda became a bookworm in the summer it took for them to heal. It was many years ago.” Den recalled fondly his summer of pure reading. He missed that time.

“I love reading, especially horror fantasy.” said Echo.

“You're a dark one aren't ya?” said Den.

Echo's smile turned.

“I like it! Especially Frankenstallion by the mare Shelly, gave me goosebumps for a week after reading.” smiled Den.

“Made me feel sorry for the monster. All he wanted was a mate. He wandered the world for love, only to be rejected.” said Echo. staring into her sandwich which she had two olives on toothpicks that seemed like eyes.

“The monster destroyed ponies didn’t he?” said Den.

“Don’t you, Mr. Royal Guard?” asked Echo.

Den sipped his drink thinking. “We mostly fight monsters. It was a sad and tragic tale… but some monsters have to be destroyed.” said Den.

Echo pouted. “You did not tell me you were a Vice Captain when we first met. I think an apology is in order, take me shopping.”

“As you wish mi-lady.” said Den smoothly.

Den followed Echo throughout the Canterlot marketplace. He noticed that her stumbling and leading him about was taking them to the most expensive luxury district. Many dresses caught her eyes, each more expensive than the other.

“Wow you're determined to make me pay for that.” said Den whistling at the price tags on the dresses.

“Don't be cheap, I know your pockets are deep, Vice Captain.”

Den shrugged he honestly had nowhere else to put his money. Her habit it seemed expensive but he could afford it… Echo admired a gold lined dress with many flourishes... Den shivered... Echo then turned to diamond encrusted dress shimmering behind a storefront… maybe several times. Den cringed.

Echo after looking at all the dresses she grabbed a simplest outfit there was. It was plain white gown with gold sequins on the frills.

“Huh?” said Den surprised by her choice.

“I like simple; it's easier sometimes to think that way. Purity and clarity of purpose, this dress is functional but with enough flourish as not to be ugly.” said Echo.

“You're anything but simple.” said Den smiling.

“Simple's not bad. My situation is too complex for my tastes.” said Echo.

Echo whimsically plopped her chosen dress onto the counter. “That'll fiv-” The clerk's eyes lit up when he saw Den in his guard's armor walking behind Echo. The clerk coughed. “Fifty hundred bits please. Fifty hundred bits.” said clerk with a smirk.

Den grumbled but gave in under Echo’s and the Clerk’s expectant stare. He reached for his checkbook under his armored chest.

“Don't worry. It's a fine thing you're doing treating your marefriend like this. She'll look stunning in it. I'm sure you'll get something out of it, hehehehe.” said the clerk in a crooked smile.

Echo protested. “Me his marefriend? This is my brother not my lover!”

“I didn’t mean to insult.” said the clerk.

“I'm perfectly single. It's rather lonely, wouldn't you agree?” Echo stared deeply into the clerk's eyes.

The clerk stammered. “Well a pretty miss such as yourself I assumed would already be hitched.” said Clerk.

“And…. Doesn't this tag, say fifty bits?” said Echo. Echo showed the clerk the price tag on the dress.

Behind her, Den noticed a small end piece of the tag spinning in the wind unto the ground. There was a zero on the tag.

“Oh my miss, that must be mislabeled.” said the clerk looking at the tag.

“I think not. Fifty bits, I'd consider a personal favor. Pretty pleasseee.” Echo stared deeper.

“Very well.” said Clerk smiling dumbly.

Den put the bits on the table. He was slack jawed impressed as Echo walked out of the shop with him.

Den threw the dress on his back. “You're a shrewd negotiator; I don't know the price of anything. You sure made a foal out of that shopkeep.” chuckled Den.

“Who was the greater foal? You were willing to pay 5,000 bits for this here table cloth to impress me. They don't pay Vice Captains that much. Do they?” Echo chimed.

“No.” said Den embarrassed.

“It was touching; you think I'm worth a 5,000 bit dress.” Echo arching her neck towards Den.

“I've seen crazy prices in the capital. Canterlot isn't a poor pony's place. I don't like it here too much. Never been to these shops till now.” said Den modestly.

“It is the custom to take any would be suitor to this street and make him buy her the most expensive dress. The ladies here will bleed you dry. I'm content with just a small bite. Never had a Canterlot marefriend?” asked Echo surprised.

Den tripped slightly. “Nope. Not nowheres.”

“You're sweet.” said Echo pecking Den's cheek with a light kiss.

“Um wow.” said Den blushing.

They walked a bit further under the now lantern lit streets.

They were surrounded before Den noticed they'd walked into a dead end street. A group half dozen of rogue types were closing in. One Unicorn and another Pegasus were counted among their ranks.

“We'll be having your valuables now.” cackled a hooded pony.

“Leave and I won't arrest you punks. I'm Royal Guard.” said Den proudly. His bravado faded slightly when the thugs paid no mind to his boast.

“Yeah we saw how well you guards fared against bugs.” scoffed a thuggish stallion.

“Bugs?” said Echo angrily.

“Hand over your purse, we'll be taking that lovely dress too.” said lean thug with a dagger held in his mouth.

“And your date too!” cackled another pony with a dagger.

Den struck rearing up and smacked a thug to the ground. He kicked back another to create an opening. “Run Echo! I'll hold them off!” Den noticed a dagger was magically flung towards Echo, he stepped in front of it. Den bit his lip as the magically wielded dagger plunged into his neck.

There was a flash of green followed by screams. As he lay bleeding, his thoughts drifted of home, a grassy field, a cottage upon a hill, and a smiling family.