//------------------------------// // A History Lesson // Story: The Tale of Saving Grace // by Cold Spike //------------------------------// That morning Grace had decided to take up Twilight on her offered history lesson, for several reasons. One, it sounded like fun. Two, perhaps Twilight could be the right pony to help Night Shade or at least have some ideas. And three, as dangerous as it was to ask Twilight Sparkle a hypothetical question about Changelings, if she was interested in meeting one then she could probably get anyone to meet Night Shade. She hoped. Normally she was not nervous but today was not any old day where she would make a new invention or walk through town with her head held high, no today was a day to help out a dear friend. She hoped, again. She arrived at the library with no distractions, shrugging she entered. Sitting off in a side room was Twilight herself, levitating a spoon of cereal into her mouth, but the mare dropped it abruptly when she noticed the filly. Grace giggled and smiled, hoping that she was not intruding. "Good morning Miss Twilight, I hope I'm not interrupting your breakfast?" The mare struggled to compose herself, her mane was a mess after all. "Saving Grace? Uh, no! Off course not! Are you here for that history lesson?" She nodded and smiled. "Yes, it sounded like fun." She decided to ask about changelings later on, or at least hint to it. In reality Grace had no clue if she could trust Twilight and her friends, but she wasn't going to act mean, simply cautious. "Oh it's going to be! Just, uh let me finish up here and you can wait in the common area." Grace nodded and found a seat, looking around she noticed quite a few books that they owned in the campsite but quite a bit more that eluded her. The mare walked over and used some of her magic to lift a book down from one of the shelves. Grace recognized it as the book that talked about the history of the royal pony sisters. "Oh, is that the tale of the princess's? I always wondered about the accuracy of the story, I mean it was so long ago and I don't think Celestia or Luna helped write it." Twilight blinked, was this filly for real? Obviously Grace had read it before, but to go that far for somepony so young? "Actually, I have spoken with Celestia about it and she did say that most of the events were accurate enough. For some reasons those were her words, but she did say that she would never lie to her subjects and I trust her. But obviously you know some of your history, how about this one?" She levitated over another book, which she again had read before. "That's the one about Discord, right? I thought it was interesting, I always wondered how someone so powerful could go so crazy?" Twilight chuckled at this. "I wouldn't call him crazy, maybe deluded is a better word...But Night Shade obviously taught you well, hmm?" Grace blushed but not for the reasons that Twilight believed, it was her that taught him and not the other way around. Still she let it slide. Twilight was about to levitate another book but Grace stopped her. Okay, this is for Night Shade just don't be obvious. Grace lowered her smile but not entirely. "Actually, I was wondering if you knew any history on the changelings?" Alarm bells started going off in Twilight's head, but not too many. It was true that the occasional colt or filly had asked her about them, children were often curious like that. Twilight sighed, heavily. "I'm sorry Saving Grace-" "You can just call me Grace, also sorry for interrupting." "Oh, heh, it's okay Grace. And to answer your question, I can't. I get that question a lot but the thing is, changelings are a rather unique race that keep to themselves. The princess barely knows that much about them, I'm sorry." Grace had to ponder this. She then decided to take a risk. "What if a changeling shows up in town? Would you treat them the same way you treat anypony?" Grace knew she had Twilight in some type of bind, children were often asking innocent questions. Grace may not seem that innocent to Twilight, but she was still young enough and that counted for something. That something was getting away with the question Scott free, regardless of the odd nature to the mare sitting in front of her. "Well, I suppose it would depend on what he or she did. The princess's however have ordered all guards to arrest any changeling on sight." "But what if he or she was being nice? Would they still arrest them?" "I don't know Grace. That seems like kind of a stretch though. And even if they were being nice, it could be some ploy to help their queen or they could have past crimes they are trying to hide. Why do you ask anyway?" "Oh, no reason it's just... Well I read a lot about history, I was hoping that you knew something about them. I mean throughout history ponies have made allies with all the other races so why not them? Why do they have to steal love and not be given it? And why does their queen have to be, well like that?" "She was certainly hostile towards us, huh? And it is true that ponies and other races have gotten along, but it did not happen in a day. The zebra tribes were the first to become our true allies, but I think you knew this?" Grace nodded. "Dragons were the last but they are at least passive, the griffons were the toughest nut to crack. Took us three wars before they opened up to us!" "So your saying for changelings to like ponies, there needs to be a war?" "Uh, I don't think so. And after that invasion, well I don't think anypony is interested in becoming their allies. I'm sorry, I know you want all races to be tolerant and friendly, but the changelings are simply too hostile." Grace nodded, but she did not give up. Twilight had seemed set in her ways, but perhaps if she could show her the error of them, just not here or right now. They spent the rest of the morning discussing history in greater detail, Grace had plans for her friends or at least Fluttershy but that could wait until after lunch. By the time that lunch had rolled around, the filly was ready to excuse herself but the mare wanted to ask her something. "Grace, are you sure that nothing funny is going on at that campsite? I understand that your guardian Night Shade enjoys it there and you as well, but I can't help but feel that he is neglecting you..." Twilight trailed off, she wanted to say something about him not even being real as her assumptions had always gotten the better of her in stressful situations, but figured if Grace was lying about something, she was too smart to just let it come out. "Miss Twilight, Night Shade is one of the most gentle and caring friends I have ever met." The entire sentence was true which made her feel better about her own predicament, Twilight did not notice the use of friend instead of guardian or father, but the phrase was certainly creeping into the back of her mind as she continued to listen. "He would never neglect me, just like I would never neglect him. Yes we enjoy ourselves out there, but I make sure to spend my free time in Ponyville helping others, if it wasn't for him I would never being doing any of that." "Well, alright. I'm sorry for questioning you but I was just concerned, have a nice day!" Grace smiled and nodded, she then made a sprint for a certain pegasus's cottage. If there is anyone that would trust Night Shade, it's Fluttershy. If I can get her to trust him, then Twilight can see that she is wrong. Well, wrong about him at least. Night Shade had told her what he knew of his own kind, they were not monsters but they were also not cute and cuddly beings. They took things very seriously, most of all their survival. She was just thankful that her friend was more like a pony. She found the cream colored mare attending to her new bird feeder. "Fluttershy, I need to talk to you." She turned around and smiled. "Oh, Grace! How lovely to see you again, but is something wrong?" Grace shifted her hoofs nervously, this time there was no smile. "Well, kind of. I was hoping to ask you something." "Sure, ask me anything sweetie." "Right. If there was a changeling that walked into town-" "Oh my gosh, where?!" Grace giggled. "Nowhere, this is a hypothetical question." "Oh, sorry, go on heh." "If one walked into town and he was nice and had no motives like helping his queen. Would you treat them with kindness too?" "Hmm...I've always said that everypony deserves kindness and respect. If this changeling was in fact nice and was not trying to steal love or do what they did at the wedding, then I suppose I would. How come?" "You wouldn't try and call the guards on him?" "As long as he wasn't hurting anypony, no." Shaking her head, Grace had to think on this. Fluttershy was the Element of Kindness, so what she was saying did make sense. "But you and the other elements were their enemies during the invasion!" "Yes, but we were only trying to protect the capital. Like you said, if this one was nice and not harming anypony then I would not have a single thing to worry about with being friendly to him." "Do you promise?" Fluttershy was taken aback by this, the conversation suddenly switched from hypothetical to something else. "I, uh, I promise but Grace you said this was hypothetical?" Her tone changing to stern. "I'm sorry but it's not, Night Shade is a changeling a very young one. All he wants to do is make friends and talk with other ponies but he can't make his own pony form and I told him never to take someone else’s. So will you meet him?" "G-Grace, this, I...You’re both so young and you're on your own?!" Now it was Grace's turn to be taken aback, she cared about that? And not what Night Shade was? "Fluttershy, him and I have been on our own for a while. We took care of each other when things were at their darkest, we are fine and have everything we need. Except one thing, well for him anyway. He needs friends and to be told that he's not a monster, he's really nice and just wants to meet ponies like you. So will you meet him, please?" "...Yes, I'll meet him. But this is still not over young filly! You both have been on your own and you also lied to us!" Grace sighed. "I'm sorry Fluttershy, we both don't like lying at all. But what I said about being happy, that has never been truer in my entire life! Both of us are happy where we are and we do take care of ourselves. Once Night Shade starts making friends then we can finally move on and just live our lives, well I have been but not him. Still, you said that you would meet him, how does tonight sound?" "That sounds fine, I'm sorry I snapped at you Grace. But, this is still wrong! I understand why you lied, if this Night Shade really is as nice as you say then it’s a shame that ponies would only trust him based on what he is. If I meet him, I want you to make me a promise." "Anything!" "You will promise to tell me how you ended up alone and same with him, I know that sounds personal and I'm sorry to make you unhappy like that-" "I'll tell you tonight, and it's not really all that unhappy. Well some might think so but after I moved on from my old life, I had never felt happier. You'll understand when I tell you tonight, I'll see ya soon! And thanks again!" Grace smiled and ran out the door to retrieve her friend and get him ready, Fluttershy had never felt more shocked in her entire life. And she had stared down a dragon.