//------------------------------//
// Flight 
// Story: Exile's Dream 
// by Gentlehoof 
//------------------------------//

	

Flight


Her education on the outside world was rather limited, she never made it to the advanced schooling courses that was required in order to become a Changeling Hunter. For several days she wandered aimlessly, she realized that she had no idea where to go.  She ate very little, she had tried some berries, but they were too bitter, and made her stomach hurt, so she made do with some sour leaves.

Waking up on the third day, she yawned and stretched her hooves out. She was about to crawl out of the bush she was in, when a noise caught her ear. I sounded like hoof steps, a great deal of hoof steps. Carefully she peered out, and saw changelings, marching past. Fear shot though her, and she huddled as far into the bush as she could. No, no, no.  She had only just got her freedom, it was too soon to lose it now! Two of them passed close to where she was hiding. She stayed as still as she could, and held her breath. They passed so close she was able to hear them talking.

"We have been tramping around these woods for day's, why does the Inquisitor want that silvered eyed whelp anyways? " One of the voices asked.

"Don't know. But I heard that it was the other one that really wants her." The other answered back.

"The other one? You don't mean, That one, do you?" She could hear the disgust and fear, as she spoke.

"That is what the rumor is. Doctor Piece Meal is most eager to get his hooves on her again, he was most disappointed at loosing her."

She was unable to make out any more, as their voices faded away. Doctor Piece Meal wanted her? Who was he? Suddenly she thought of that twisted Changeling in the lab, and realized that it was him that they were talking about.

Her heart leaped into her throat, and even though he stomach was empty, she dry heaved anyways. It was a long time before she calmed down enough, to crawl out of the bush and flee. There was no way she was going to go back to him. That night she sheltered in a tree hollow. Sleep was slow in coming, thoughts of Doctor Piece Meal searching for her, kept her awake. 

She knew that at some point she was going to meet ponies, so she decided she would need a name. Besides she didn't want to be known by a number anymore, that was from a old life she wanted desperately to forget. She started to rack her brain trying to think of one. From what she knew of pony names, they were supposed to describe something about them, be it their looks, personality, or even their job. She tried out some names, but none seemed right. 

Then it came to her, she already had a name, she had it all along. The Changelings called her it all the time. The Silver Eyed Freak. Smiling to herself she played with variations until she found one she liked.
"From now on I am Silver Sight." She christened herself out loud. Happy with her choice, she laid her head down to sleep.

She was surrounded by darkness, its weight pressing down on her, and in the darkness there was voices calling out to her, taunting her, and promising to hurt her when they found her. They were all around her, and getting closer, she huddled in on herself, terror locking her in place. Then the hoof step started, a steady rhythm. Clump clump, clump clump, clump clump. The closer they came the louder it was. She didn't know how she knew, but she knew it was Doctor Piece Meal coming to take her to his lab and  cut her up into peaces.

Then she saw them, the eyes glowing in the darkness, staring at her unblinking, she could feel them freezing the marrow in her bones. Clump clump, clump clump, they drew nearer with the steps. She ran, but it was a struggle, the air was like water dragging her steps down. Then a bone chilling scream from some monstrous creature rocked her from behind, she broke though the resistence and she fled.

She was no longer in the darkness, she now ran though the woods, a full moon rising in the sky ahead of her, she ran to it, to the safety of its soft light. The thrumming sound of Changeling wings sounded around her in the trees, they were here, so close. Then they were there, reaching for her, grabbing at her. She dodged and ran on, feeling their clawed hooves tearing at her. Breaking free she ran into a clearing when suddenly the ground dropped away and she found herself falling. Below her was darkness, and in that darkness was that horrible crackling laugh, that she knew came from that horrible creature from the lab.

She woke up, her heart pounding in her chest, and her coat was plastered with a cold sweat. Her breathing was raged.  What was that? She thought to herself, was that what ponies called a dream? How strange, Changelings don't dream, well whatever it was, she knew she didn't like it.

Crawling out of the hollow, she stretched the kinks out of her legs. Her hunger was great, but she dare not eat any more of those leaves, as they gave her bad stomach cramps. Finishing her stretches, she breakfasted on some moss she found growing on a nearby log. Finishing her meal she set off to find something to wash it down.

Not long after, she found a stream, and sated her thirst. Peering over it, she wondered how she would cross, for she didn't know how to swim. She despaired of what to do, then it hit her, she could change back into a Changeling and just fly across. Quickly she cast the change spell on herself, and once the change was done, she collapsed to the ground in writhing agony, every cell in her body was on fire.

She  knew she needed to change back, but she didn't know if she could focus enough. Fighting though the fog of pain she managed to recast the change spell and she released her breath in relief as the pain subsided, looking down at herself she saw she was back to being a filly.

Catching her breath took some time, but eventually she stood back up. She wondered what had happened. Why changing into her Changeling body would cause her pain. Could it  have had something to do with what the Inquisitor had done to her?
Well if she couldn't fly across, might as well find another way over. Looking both up and down stream, she wondered which way was best.


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Luna was out on her balcony enjoying the cool evening air, she had just raised the moon for the night, and she was still blinking the sleep out of her eyes, when a knock came to Luna's door. Good she thought, my meal is here. "Come in please."

Normally a servant would bring her meals up from the kitchen, but this time when the door opened, the Head Chef wheeled a food laden cart in.

Luna lifted one of her eyebrows. "Branching out to new jobs are you, Pure Delight?

Pure Delight harrumphed  "If I did, it wouldn't be this. I would open a restaurant and make millions of bits."

Stopping the cart he lifted the food tray and set it down on her little table she kept next to her balcony. He lifted the lid off the trey. Like always, his meal was an art, in smell and taste. "Voilà.  A spinach lasagna, with a lettuce and carrot salad, light on the vinaigrette, and for desert." He lifted a lid off another plate still on the cart. "A double chocolate moose cake."

Luna couldn't wait to get started, and she eyed the cake most approvingly. "Like always, you always outdo yourself. Give my thanks to the Chef when you see him." She added with a small grin.

He gave a stiff short bow. "I will pass it on to him." 

As she settled down to her meal, Pure Delight cleared his throat. "I actually came up with the hope of having a private word with you."

Glancing at him. "Oh? You know your always welcome. Is this about your daughters wedding?" Then she gasp and looked at him. "She's not calling it off is she? I just got her wedding gift." She gestured to a large, and well wrapped gift sitting on the corner table.

Pure Delight looked a little embarrassed. "No, its not about the wedding. I just wanted to talk to you about a private concern, and I just wanted to keep it between the two of us."

Luna knew this was most unusual. "Yes?"

"You see, I've become a little concerned about your sister, Princess Celestia. I have been sending the Princess her meals, but they have been coming back uneaten. It has been several days now."

Luna was most concerned at this news. "Sister's not eating?" She immediately left to find her sister.

Pure Delight called out. "Princess. Your meal!" But she was already gone.

Luna walked up to a set of elaborate jeweled doors, and without knocking, barged in. Celestia was at her desk pouring over notes and reports. Never before had Luna seen Celestia this disordered.

Celestia barely glanced up at Luna's entrance. "Sister! What brings you to my chambers at this early." Celestia paused and looked out her window. "Ah, late...or well something, hour?"

Luna examined the mess. "It hath come to our attention, that thy royal persons hath refused to except thy meals."

Celestia seemed like she didn't hear what she said for a moment, then her head snapped up. "What? What did you just say?"

Luna jabbed her hoof at a sitting meal cart. "Food, eat."

Celestia saw what she was getting at. "Oh, yes. No need to  worry Sister."

Luna sighed. "What has you in such a fret, Sister?"

Celestia started pacing. "He was there, Luna. Right there, and he slipped though our hooves."

Luna stepped in front of Celestia and forced her to stop pacing. "Who was there?"

Celestia let out her breath "The Monster in our midst, as it were."

Luna was confused. "Sister?"

Celestia walked out onto her balcony and sat her haunch down onto the cold stone, and her wings sagged down. "It was years ago, long before your return to me. There was a gifted med student at the Canterlot Medical Collage. He graduated top of his class. I spoke at the graduation ceremony, even handed him his diploma."

Luna sat next to her, and wrapped her wing over her. "Did something happen to him?"

Celestia shook her head sadly. "Not long after, ponies started to vanish. It was slow at first, then it got to a point where ponies where vanishing once or twice a week. The investigation was going nowhere, but then there came a tip. There was a foul smell coming from a house, and many ponies were complaining. The city Constables exercised a search warrant"

Celestia took a calming breath. "What they found in that house was beyond them, nothing before and nothing sense would compare to what they witnessed. I myself viewed the horrors of that house, and to this day I regret ever stepping foot into that house."

Luna couldn't believe what she was hearing, what kind of monster was this?

Celestia shivered at the intensity of the memory. "The owner of the house was Doctor Piece Meal, who was that same med student from before. The constables searched the house, but could not find him, but what they did find, was one of his survivors. He was in a bad state, Piece Meal had been running some kind of experiment on him, and there was nothing that could be done to save him. Before he succumbed to his injuries, he told us his wife lead him there, telling him that there was a party, once inside his wife changed into a monster and attacked him."

Celestia looked back at Luna. "You see that is why no one ever saw him, and how he got away. He was a Changeling all along. He reappeared Fillydelphia, and latter in Manehattan. He escaped every time, then he upped and vanished. I suspected that he went back to the hive, to restart his experiments there.

We know that Queen Chrysalis has moved to new lands somewhere to the east, and has taken most of the hive with her, but I knew that Piece Meal would want to stay close, it took years but we finally found that branch hive. I was sure he was there, and ordered an attack. 

Celestia pinned her ears. "I was right, they found his Black Lab and searched it, but he was long gone. The coward." She snarled the last bit. then her ears relaxed and a look of sadness came across her face. "But what they did find was a survivor. She was such a little thing, and so scared."

Luna was shocked. "A filly?"

Celestia nodded. "Doctor Piece Meal hadn't started his...work on her yet, so she was unharmed. But I do worry about what she saw while there. Such things are not for fillies to see, let alone any pony else, it has a way of...staying with you." Her eyes stared off, as if seeing the past.

A thought came to Luna. "You don't suppose that Doctor Piece Meal didn't disguise himself as the filly in order to sneak  out, do you?"

She shook her head. "I checked, the moment they brought her to me I cast a Doppel Resonance spell on her, if she was a Changeling, I would have known."

"Where's the filly now?" Luna asked.

"It was unsafe where we were, so I ordered her taken to my chariot and placed under guard. Somehow she snuck away, I ordered a search, but they have not found her yet."

Luna felt for her sister. "Your really worried for the filly, aren't you?"

"Yes, of course I am, she's lost out there, alone."

Luna had an idea. "Then I will seek out her dreams, I will offer my own comfort, and guard her dreams."

Celestia smiled and hugged her sister. "Thank you, that would be most kind."

Luna walked over to the food cart and lifted a lid on a plate. "mmm, cake."

Celestia snatched up the cake with her magic. "Don't you dare, that's mine."

Luna smiled, same old sister. "You want to share?"

Celestia broke off a piece and offered it to Luna. "Of course, sister." She smiled and gave Luna a wink. Luna couldn't help but notice that the peace she offered her was smaller.


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When morning came Silver Sight set off. Crossing the river the previous day took most of the day, she finally found a clump of large rocks and some logs crammed up against them to walk across like a bridge. Today the land around her opened up, and she saw signs of habitation. A small farm appeared before her, she could see fields of what looked like cabbages.

Hunger was driving her to do this, she hadn't eaten in days. Approaching the farmhouse she saw a old earth pony, with a light yellow coat and brown mane, working on some farm tool she didn't recognize.

Hearing her approach, he looked up at her. "What the? Where'd you come from?"

"Please Sir, may I have something to eat?"

"What are you doing out here, little filly? Where are your parents?" He looked around like he expected to see them.

"I've been lost, I don't know where they are, please may I have something to eat? I am so hungry."

"Oh, yes yes, of course. Come this way." And he ushered her to the house.

Opening the door, he let her though first. "Cabbage Patch." He called out as he stepped in behind her. "Look at what came wandering in."

"What is it dear?" An elderly earth pony mare stepped out of what looked like a kitchen. "A filly? Oh! Your so filthy, what ever happened to you?"

"She says she's lost."

"Oh the poor dear, come come, sit down, you look dead on your hooves,.""Whats your name sweetie?"

It was time to test out her new name. "Silver Sight mam, my name is Silver Sight."

"Silver Sight, oh what a beautiful name, and it goes with your eyes too, my name is Cabbage Patch, and this is my husband Country Livin."

I'll fix us something to eat. Country, see that she's washed, will you?  She's filthy." Then she vanished back into the kitchen.

"Well lets see to your cleaning shall we? Unfortunately we don't have running water, but we do have a tub. Its this way, follow me."

He lead her out back where there sat a round wooden tub. Country Livin took the handle of a old water pump and began pumping it, filling the tub. When he was satisfied with the level of water in the tub he stopped.

"Okay, all ready. Hop in." He motioned for her to get in.

The first thing she noticed when she entered the water was how cold it was. Country Living gave a sheepish grin. "Sorry about that sweetie, no way to heat the water out here. Don't you worry, you kind of get used to it... eventually."

He grabbed a washcloth and soap and began washing her. It stung when he washed her numerous cuts, but she bore though it without complaint. After all, what was a few cuts compared to everything else she went though.

Finishing with her mane, Country Livin picked up a bucket and dumped it over her. She was doused from head to tail in more freezing water. She stood there soaking wet and shivering when he retrieved a large towel.

"Okay, climb on out. Lets get you dry."

Happily she climbed out, and he began to rub her down.

"Country, are you done washing her yet?" Cabbage called from in the house.

"Just finishing up." He called back.

"Great, the foods ready, come get if while its still hot!"

Silver Sight sat at the table, and Cabbage Patch set a bowl of celery soup and a small loaf of bread before her. She never had celery soup before but she found it smelled great.

She was about to dig in, when Cabbage gave a warning "Careful, its still a wee bit hot, don't want to burn your tongue now do we?"

Silver Sight looked up at Cabbage and Country, and saw that they had soup too, and they were lightly blowing on it, she did the same. After a time she carefully tried the soup.

Changelings were not known for their cooking, when she was in the hive, the only food that was served was a processed moss spiced with a bit of mold. But as she ate the soup, tears came to her eyes, it was delicious . She had never known food could taste this good.

"How long were you lost? Do you know where your parents can be found?" Cabbage Patch asked?

Between mouthfuls, Silver Sight gave a story she had carefully made up earlier. "I was with my parents, they are traveling merchants, we were traveling though the forest when they stopped for a rest, I wondered off to explore, and I got lost. I tried so hard to find them, but nighttime came, and I got scared and hid."

Silver Sight began to cry at this point, to sell her story even better.

"Oh, you pour dear." Cabbage Patch hurried forward and hugged Silver Sight. "There, there. It will all be okay, we'll find your parents, don't you worry."

Silver Sight calmed herself and resumed eating, and in no time she had finished the soup and bread, Cabbage Patch fetched her seconds, and when she finished that, thirds.

Finishing her meal, she was good and full. And growing quite sleepy. Seeing her nodding off at the table, Cabbage Patch stood. "Come child, our son's grown and gone, so we have a spare bed. Lets see you tucked in, before you fall over."  

This was the first time she was ever in a bed, she had always slept on the ground, with no blanket. But now she found her head laying on a pillow, and a nice worm quilt tucked in around her. For the first time in her life, she was warm and conferrable, and in very quick order she fell asleep.

The next morning a large breakfast was ready, when she woke up. Silver Sight was eagerly munching on a stack of pancakes. "Such a healthy appetite. Country Living dear, go fetch the cart, we need to take her to town, her parents must be worried sick, and I'm sure we will find them there"

Country Living soon had a old rickety cart cart out and ready to go, soon after Silversight was done with breakfast, and Cabbage Patch had her soon settled in the back with a nice warm quilt wrapped about her to ward off the morning chill. "There we are dear, we'll have you back with your parents in no time." Silversight couldn't help but admire at how nice these old ponies were, giving so much of themselves to one lost little filly. She felt such warmth coming off of them, so much love. Carefully she fed off that love, taking only what was offed to her freely. She did not want to harm them by taking too much.

They had a long trip ahead of them, Country Living said that they should arrive in Bridlepass just before sunset. They took a brake for lunch, and ate some zucchini sandwiches that Cabbage Patch provided from a basket she brought. Latter she felt herself nodding off, and curled up in the back and fell asleep. Thankfully her dream was peaceful.

Fireflies danced all around her, in the cool night air. They stretched out before her like a trail. With a feeling of wonder she followed the path of glittering lights, soon she found herself at the shore of a clear pool, with the stars reflected in the  mirror smooth surface. And there before her, a magnificent silver moon stood low over the horizon. Movement on the far bank caught her attention, looking closely she saw a beautiful dark mare stepping forwards. Silver Sight was not afraid, and a incredible calm settled over her, the mare stepped out onto the water. Tiny ripples radiated out from each step, as she glided across its surface, and there upon her forehead stood a great dark horn.

The dark mare stopped and looked up, there above her great storm clouds billowed in the sky, Silver Sight saw that soon it would blot out the night sky. The pool which was calm up to this point was growing choppy, and the dark mare looked troubled, and seemed to be calling something out to her, Silver Sight tried to hear, she stepped into the pool to get closer, The mare screamed something and her great wings  opened.

Silver Sight woke up, blinking the sleep from her eyes she wondered. The dark mare in her dreams, was that Princess Luna? Shaking her head she climbed back up and sat next to Cabbage Patch.

Looking down at her with a smile. "Have a nice nap, dearie?"

She was still disturbed by the dream, but she managed to smile back and nodded.

Looking around she saw that things had changed, they now traveled along a broad road, and following along the side was a low stone wall, rounding the curve, a small farmhouse came into view. As they passed, she could see two fillies doing something in the front yard. One of the fillies was whirling a rope that was tied to a tree, and the other was jumping inside, both were singing some strange song.

Sunshine, rain falls, everything's awake

tap your hooves, and dance in place.

Mommies, and Daddies rock their foals

Nap time, Dreamland, Cinnamon roll.


It was then that she missed her jump and the rope collided with her legs, both fillies stopped singing and squealed in laughter. Seeing them pass, the two fillies waved at her.

Not knowing what to do, Silver Sight panicked and hid behind Cabbage Patch.

Looking down at her. "Don't be shy sweetie, go ahead and wave back."

Gingerly she peeked out, and gave a little wave. The fillies fell into a fit of giggles, then went back to the rope, switching places, they started again, their strange song starting back up.

Silver sight stared back. "What were they doing?" she asked.

Cabbage Patch glanced back. "What? You mean the jumping rope?" Looking back at Silver Sight. "Haven't you ever jumped rope with friends?"

Silver Sight could only shake her head. Jumping rope, how strange, she thought to herself. It looked fun.

Silver Sight sat quietly for the next mile, until they came to a bridge.

"What is this?" Country Livin said.

Ahead of them was a small group of four Solar Guards, standing before the bridge.

Silver Sight wanted to hide in the back of the wagon, but it was already too late, they had seen her. As they approached one guard came forward and  lifted a hoof in a signal to stop.

"Names please?" The guard asked as they came to a stop.

"Well my name is Country Livin, this is my wife Cabbage Patch. The little filly is Silver Sight. She was lost, so we are taking her to Bridlepass to find her parents.

Silver Sight was feeling scared, the guard was looking at her with a strange look on his face. Another guard came forward, this one looked like he was in charge, he spoke quietly with the guard that was questioning them.

Finishing, he looked at them and smiled. " I am lieutenant Damper Song. So, this is the filly we were ordered to to keep an eye out for. Thank you for finding her, the Princess has been most worried about her, she will be relieved to hear that she is well."

"The Princess was looking for her?" Country Livin sounded surprised by this.

"Oh, yes indeed she has. You will be rewarded quite handsomely for kindly efforts, I assure you."

Country seemed a little embarrassed by the praise. "Well shucks, no need for a reward, it was our pleasure to help out such a fine little filly."

Lieutenant Damper Song gave a little smirk. "Yes well, we'll take custody of Silver Sight, and you can be on your way, I am sure your eager to return back to your home."

Country seemed a little taken aback at the abrupt dismissal. "Cabbage, we'll be leaving Silver Sight with these fine Guards. Go ahead and say your farewells."

Cabbage Patch lifted her down from the wagon, and gave her a big hug. Again Silver Sight felt a warmth in her. "You stay good now, you hear? No more getting lost, and come by anytime, our home will always welcome you."

Country ruffled her forelock. "That's right, stop by anytime."

Silver Sight watched as Country and Cabbage, journeyed back the way they came. She wished she could stay with them, now what was she going to do? These guards were going to take her back to the princess, she was sure to want to know why she had run away. She was going to haft to come up with a good story to tell her.

Lieutenant Damper Song nudged her, she turned and followed him back to the others that were waiting. "You know your lucky, you know that?" He asked her.

Silver Sight wasn't feeling very enthused. "Why is that?" 

"Because, your going to meet the Princess. But there is somepony else, who is really wanting to see you, you know who that is?"

Silver Sight was confused, who would want to see her? "Fire Step?" She said the only name that made sense.

Damper Song grinned and shook his head. "Oh no, not him. The one who is most eager for your return is Doctor Piece Meal."

Silver Sight stopped dead, her heart suddenly fluttering in her chest. That name! Alarmed she looked around at the guards. All of them were looking at her and all of them were smiling at her, and it wasn't a nice kind of smile. A single thought shouted in her head. 

Changelings!