Colts and fillies played around in the park, running after each other on the green grass and on the dirt paths, past the benches, past the older mares and stallions who gave a quick glance and a smile as they rushed past them in their childhood fun. Their eyes glistened in the moonlight shine, their faint shadows were on the ground. The changeling stood a little distance from them as he watched the young ponies run around and play and laugh and live.
He sighed. "I wanted to have something like that. I want to. And, I will continue to want that. To desire that." He sighed again, frowning. "But, at least I have the present time—the time I have now."
He walked away from the park.
"Don't ask me!" Pinkie said happily. "You should ask somepony else who's, uh, more knowledgeable about it like, uh, Fluttershy!"
"What?" Princess Cadance asked from across the counter. "I wasn't talking about animals. I was talking about—"
"Yeah, you were talking about love—and, if you love somepony, you are kind to that somepony, right? Am I right, am I right, or am I correct?"
"I appreciate your upbeatness now, but you're just confusing me now, Pinkie," Cadance said. "I was just asking if you could prepare some surprise treats for Shining, but...I don't even know how we got to talking about love and Fluttershy."
Pinkie looked around suspiciously, her eyes narrowed as if she was scouting out for a certain pony.
"Uh, what are you doing now?"
"I'm checking if we're all safe!" Pinkie said. She quickly turned around to look at Cadance. She leaned towards the Princess's ear. "Do you know what they told me?"
"Who's they?" she whispered back.
"It doesn't matter," Pinkie said. "What matters is that they told me that you were visiting."
"I announced it via letter to you," Cadance said in a slightly stern tone, her face becoming a little more serious, "but, in hindsight, I guess I should've just dropped in unannounced."
"That makes it more surprising!" Pinkie said.
"What's the purpose of this, anywy?" Cadance asked. "Who have you been talking to?"
"Myself!" Pinkie grinned. Then, she threw a cake at a customer's table and it landed perfectly and the customer smiled the customer took a hoofful of the cake and stuffed it into his mouth and ate very loudly and he smiled.
Cadance looked at the customer and then back at Pinkie. "Really, Pinkie."
"Oh, just some old and new friends!" Pinkie said. "You already know that I try to befriend everypony that I come across. I've learned a long way since that donkey...what's his name? I don't even need to say that! Cranky Doodle Donkey!"
"Ah, yes, him," Cadance said.
"You remember him, right? From the wedding?"
"Yes, Pinkie," Cadance replied while she nodded. Then, she leaned on the counter and tapped a hoof on it.
"You look tired, Cadance," Pinkie said, sounding concerned. "Why? Is being a Princess and all getting to your head again? Do you need to go relax with your family? Maybe you should—no, you definitely should invite Twilight to your rest and relaxation time! Then, you can catch up with her, maybe talk about Star Swirl the Bearded and all that other history and geography and astronomy and other stuff like that! I promise I'll bring the sweets!" She grinned.
Cadance laughed a little, glancing towards the side and subtly avoiding the Earth pony's gaze. "No, it's not that, Pinkie. It's just me reminiscing—those memories I've had with Shiny and Flurry." She giggled a little as she looked up to the ceiling.
Pinkie looked up as well. "Yeah. I know what you mean."
Cadance giggled again. "Yeah. Remember when we visited Ponyville and left Flurry Heart under Twilight's care?"
"And how it went so badly and it was almost disastrous but then Twilight somehow saved the day?" Pinkie asked.
Cadance bit her lip. "Uh, yes."
A pony entered the bakery.
"Don't be shy!" Pinkie said, lookin at the pony that just arrived. "Take any of the available seats and I'll get to you in a moment or two! Or, was it three?" She looked at her hooves. "How many moments?"
"Pinkie?"
"Ooh! Yeah, sorry! Where was I?"
Cadance looked around nervously. "You were talking about the time when Twilight took care of our Flurry?"
Pinkie perked up. "Ooh! I know that one!"
Cadance smiled a little. "Pinkie." Then, straightened up, standing slightly more firmly than before. "I also remember the other ponies we've had—there was Spearhead, there was Thorax, there was Maud who was quite excited to visit the Crystal Empire—although, I've had to remember that your sister is—"
"Very different from me?" Pinkie finished. "That makes us even better! I could tell that she was super-happy to be there!"
"She was!" Cadance said, forcing a smile while glancing here and there nervously. Then, her smile faded away. "Speaking of Thorax...have you been hearing what's happening lately in the Changeling Kingdom?"
"What is it?" Pinkie asked.
"It's this...thing," Cadance said. She took in a deep breath. "Thorax told me that there was a group of changelings who refuse to, well, change. They still adhere to the traditions of old, to being deceptive and stealing love from others without them knowing. What makes it even worse is that Thorax's brother is a part of that group—if I remember correctly, his name is...Pharynx?"
"Sounds like a brother to me!" Pinkie exclaimed.
"Anyway, that's what makes it even harder for Throax to handle the situation well. Not only does he have to think about the changelings who are loyal to him, he also has to think of the changelings who aren't loyal to him, not to mention that his brother is one of them. He can't satisfy them all—if he goes one way, there will at least be one who won't be OK with the decision."
"But, if he goes the other way, then all the ponies will be scared and then we have to be on alert all the time!" Pinkie said in a fearful tone, balking from Cadance a little.
The Princess sighed. "What complicates things is that Thorax is a kind leader—probably too kind. I've heard from him that he's learned to be more assertive from Dragon Lord Ember recently, but...he's still working on it."
"What about we go there?" Pinkie suggested, raising a hoof. "I and my friends! We'll also bring Starlight, too, since she's a close friend to him!"
"I don't know about that," Cadance said. "Since Pharynx and the rest of the group are still out there, it might not be a good idea. Even then, I don't think Thorax would like us just interrupting his efforts—he's friendly and all and very nice, but just going into the kingdom without him knowing would just make things worse."
"Yeah..." Pinkie looked down and frowned slightly. "Can't force them, but you can't let them continue that way. That's hard."
"Just want to let that out to you," Cadance said. "Maybe tell your friends. Or, perhaps Thorax would come by first." She was silent for a little while. Then, she looked at Pinkie. "Would you promise me that you'll keep that a secret? Thorax is fine with me telling it to other ponies since he trusts me as well as Spike and the rest of his friends, but he doesn't want it to be spread too much."
"I'll not just promise you, I'll Pinkie Promise!" Pinkie said. "Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye!"
Cadance smiled. "Thanks, Pinkie."
Then, she left the bakery.
"Bye, Cadance!" Pinkie yelled.
The changeling walked past the buildings of Ponyville. He walked slowly, almost somberly. He looked in front of him and saw a pony that was a little bigger than the rest. A few ponies were talking to her.
"Princess Cadance," the changeling muttered. "I didn't know she was here. The Princess that Thorax first met and talked to. It would be bad to miss the opportunity."
He hurried to the Princess.
As the ponies said their good-byes and left the Princess, Cadance looked around. She looked at the approaching changeling. "Oh, hi!" She smiled. "You must be visiting Ponyville, right?"
"Yes, Princess," the changeling said, "I am. It's such an honor to be right in front of you, to have you just less than a meter or so in front of me, and—"
"You don't have to be so wordy," Cadance said. She giggled a little and looked up. "Just calm down. It's a quiet night. Some ponies are already sleeping."
The changeling looked at some of the buildings then back at the Princess.
"So, how's Ponyville?" Cadance asked.
"It's fine," the changeling said. "Wasn't disappointed." He paused a little. "So, what are you doing here, Princess?"
"Just some personal matters," Cadance said. "Visiting friends. Just talked to Pinkie a few minutes ago. Still as happy and as joyful as she ever was."
"That's good to hear," the changeling said. "Well, I'm still surprised and I'm still honored to meet you, Princess. That's because Thorax met you way back before he ever became king and he told us that you and Shining were good to him while he was staying in the Crystal Empire. It's very, very good to see and to meet you and to talk to you, Princess—I can't express in such simple words—"
"Like I already said," Cadance interrupted, "no need to be so wordy about it. I don't want to have ponies and changelings adoring me like that all the time. That would get on my nerves after a while. I just want to talk and that's all—I don't want to hear a long monologue on how you're going to be this or that because you met me. Sorry if I was too harsh, but it gets to you sometimes."
The changling looked down, slightly sad. "Oh. Is that how you feel about me?"
"Not really," Cadance said. "Just steering you to the right direction."
"OK. Still, it's nice to meet you."
"And, it's nice to meet you," Cadance said. "It would be good if I stayed to chat, but it's getting late for me and I have to return to the Crystal Empire. Shiny and Flurry are waiting for me there."
Then, she took off.
"Goodbye!" the changeling yelled at her.
"Bye!" Cadance shouted, flying towards the train station.
The changeling looked on then he continued walking. He sighed as he walked.
He went back to the park.
He sat on one of the benches. He looked at the ponies who were there.
"Just a little more time to relax here."