What if things don't actually happen as they do? What if Skywing didn't meet her future employer at the gates of Canterlot?
Skywing met his (in this case 'her') future employer at Canterlot gates just as she was looking at guards. British Kettle (or in this case Tea Cup) then promptly escorted her to her work place. But what if that hadn't happened? What if Tea Cup didn't go to by the Castle gates that day? In this double alternate universe Skywing finds herself with a stallion who wants to change the reputation of mutants across Equestria. A stallion who's seen them change into what they are now. A stallion who might be a little over his head despite the power he wields over Equestria.
Skywing watches the road to Canterlot as she trots along it’s path. Skywing is a yellow-green mutant pegasus mare with the appearance of a unicorn stallion. Her mane and tail are a mix of reef green and dolly yellow. Her cutie mark is a deep fir green hazardous material symbol and his eyes are caribbean green. She trots up to the entrance to the city meets to Royal Guards. ‘Okay another city, another chance. I hope nopony knows I’m a mutant.’ Skywing trots up to the city limits and the guards block her path.
“Halt.” “Who goes there.” Both guards speak interchangeably.
“Uh, Skywing. I just want a fresh start.” Skywing becomes nervous under her blank facade. ‘Shit, found out before I get into town.’ The guards fold their wings and Skywing trots into Canterlot, not without hesitating at first. She trots around as he looks for a back alley to call home all the while getting strange looks from local ponies.
Her search doesn’t last more than five minutes before a pony approaches her. “I’m sorry, but you look awfully familiar.”
“Is that a bad thing?” Skywing once again became nervous, this time under the eyes of a local pony. The pony’s eyes shrink as it backs up. ‘no.’
“Killer mutant!” The pony screams as it runs, causing a panic. Skywing bolts for the gate she came from as guards begin to chase after her. She jumps over a guard before she could T-bone her.
“You’re not getting away!” One of the guards yells as she tries to ram him from behind, though Skywing easily sidesteps her. She then jumps back and narrowly dodges a flying guard.
“I don’t care who you are or who sent you, I ain’t going with you” Skywing fails to notice the guard in front of her as she turns her head back around and hits her head on the head of the earth pony guard that jumped head first at her, shattering her horn. Skywing exhales and loses consciousness.
“Good work corporal. You’ve just earned your promotion.” One guard speaks to the guard who jumped headfirst into Skywing.
“Thank you sergeant major.” The corporal responds, rubbing his head.
“You two, take this scum to holding.” The sergeant major points to the guards who ran with him. The sergeant and corporal trot towards the castle, while the two remaining guards pick up Skywing. Ponies stare as the unconscious mutant is carried to the barracks, some speak quietly and others stare in awe occasionally some would smile. The guard trot to a large dull looking building with the symbol of the Royal Guards plastered in the center. As the two guards trot in, they are greeted by multiple guards preparing for their shift. Though none of them speak, many of them look up at Skywing as the two guards taking him to holding.
The guards trot up to one of three holding cells, then throw his seemingly lifeless body in. “So how long you think before a verdict is reached this time?” “Don’t know, nopony’s seen a mutant in years.”
“I’ve been informed of the recent arrest you made.” Solaris trots to the newly promoted sergeant and the sergeant major.
“P-P-Prince!?” The sergeant major looks at him in shock.
“I wish to see the mutant you have apprehended.” He states, not wanting to delay any longer then he needs.
“you know-”
“Now.” Solaris orders, having no time for the widespread rumor about mutants.
“Right this way.” The sergeant major says hastily. She and the sergeant begin to lead the prince through the castle. They trot by white stone walls and marble pillars adorned with gold at the top and bottom.
Mutants are seen as the most aggressive and hateful creatures in Equestria, who are often accused of assault or murder. It is for this this reason they often hide in small undetectable communities, or leave Equestria all together. Mutants who don’t do either of these things tend to be the victims of assault and ridicule, and in extremely rare cases for mares; rape.
Nopony really knows exactly how mutants come to be, though the theories are endless, from genetic abnormalities to magical radiation. Even the mutants themselves have very little idea of their origins. This has become a problem in the last two hundred years due to massive decline in the birth of mutants. What constitutes a mutant has also been thrown into questions in some towns; Where mild birth defects have been seen only as an offset, have in recent years been questioned as full blown mutations.
All in all, it doesn’t seem to matter to the rest of the world, in which an Everypony vs. Mutants attitude is encouraged. While mutants have been documented in other species, the bulk of the attention is predominantly focused on mutant ponies.
As Prince Solaris trots out of the castle gates, the two standing guards salute then give eachother a confused glance once they are sure she can’t see them. The Sergeant major clears her throat which entices Solaris’s attention. “Should the subdued mutant try anything, you will have to be escorted back to the castle for your safety.”
“I don’t think that will be necessary.” Solaris responds as he follows the guards to the barracks. Ponies who even glance at him seem too happy to bow to him until he was barely in their peripheral vision.
The sergeant looks at the Prince out of the corner of his eyes then back at the street in front of her. “So, uh... What do hope to come from this visit?”
“This is more than a simple visit, I hope for your captured mutant to be one in which I can reawaken a lost truth.” Solaris softly smiles, and the two guards leading her suppress the urge to look at him.
With the large building well within sight, the Sergeant major feels a cold chill go down her spine as the standing guards salute. The barracks are mostly empty at this time apart from the one guard at the door to the holding cells. The sergeant major shows her royal guard ID, then buzzes the three in.
Upon entering, the guards look at the mutant who is slouched over herself facing the wall with her back to the guards. “Best turn around and pay your respects, you have a special visitor.”
Prince Solaris trots up to her cell as the Sergeant major speaks. Skywing does nothing which causes her to growl under his breath. “Did you come to look at your prize before selling me off?”
Solaris shifts his head to the Sergeant who is focused on the mutant. “Sergeant, release this mutant under my supervision.”
Everypony within earshot looked at Solaris with full undivided attention. Then the Sergeant major snaps. “With all due respect; What the hell, Solaris!?”
Solaris looks at him with sternness. “Sergeant Major?”
“Mutants are the greatest threat known to pony kind. You know this better than anypony else. Have you forgotten that they have tried to overthrow you, I mean what’s to stop this one from trying the same thing?” The sergeant major glares intensely at the prince.
Solaris looks at her for a brief moment before responding. “Your concerns are understood, but not found. Remember that even mutants are individuals too when you make a claim like that, First Sergeant.”
She looks at her in shock and mutters something incoherent, before falling to her flank and sitting beside herself, both because of being demoted by the prince and having her concerns rejected. “Sergeant, if you will.”
The sergeant nods then takes the keys from the guard at the door. Before long a loud click goes off and Skywing’s cell door opens. “Okay you’re free to leave this cell.” Skywing cautiously trots up to the prince and glares at the sergeant. “I advise you to stay close to the prince for a while.”
Solaris turns to the guard at the door without changing his facial expression. “Have Captain Gleaming Shield demote her then put on a weeks paid leave.” The guard salutes and with nopony actually in the cells, leaves the post after buzzing everypony out.
“What do you plan to do with me?” Skywing questioned as she left the barracks with Prince Solaris.
“I plan to have ponies know the real you.” Solaris warmy stated as they began to make their way to the castle.
“I don’t... Who are you anyways?” Skywing looks directly at Solaris’s face for the first time.
He softly chuckles before responding. “With the way you’ve probably been treated, I shouldn’t be surprised. I’m prince Solaris, I rule over Equestria with my brother, Prince Artemis.”
“Hmm,” Skywing looks back at the ground in front of her. “why did I think that was the other way around.”
“I don’t believe I know your name either. May I ask what it is?” Solaris smiles as he looks at Skywing.
He looks back at Solaris before answering. “Uh, Skywing.”
“That’s an odd name for a unicorn.” Solaris smiles as he makes a mental note of what’s left of her horn just barely sticking out of her mane.
“Because I’m the Cloudsdale Mutant.” ‘or at the very least I think I am.’ Skywing begins to look past the prince, at the castle.
“Well Skywing, your hardship will be something you’ll never have to worry about anymore.” The prince looks at the mutant who continues to look at the castle, then smiles as he glances at crowds of ponies who gaze at the two with puzzled expressions. As Solaris turns to enter the castle, Skywing continues to trot past it. Skywing makes it a full three hooves past the gates before realizing that the prince is not with her. She takes a moment to look around before finding the prince waiting for her at the castle gates.
“Oh.” Prince Solaris softly giggles to himself as the mutant trots back to him. “Now what were you saying?”
The two begin to trot into the castle. “I said that ponies might start to see mutants a differently.”
“That’ll be the day.” Skywing quietly replies under her breath as she and the prince pass the guards.
“Try to not let the past get to you.” The prince smiles as Skywing nods before looking the castle interior.
“You actually live here?” Skywing begins to take notice of the pillars and ornate windows.
“Yes, I do.” Solaris smiles as the mutant returns her attention to him, then inadvertently cuts her off. “You’ll have a room near mine and my brother’s.”
Skywing waits a few moments before speaking to be sure he’s done speaking. “Actually I was going to say that there’s still so much about pony culture I don’t know about.”
“No, Prince Solaris was the one to request that her room be cleaned three times a week instead of daily. I know, I... Lord Solaris!” A sunset orange mare in a classical maid outfit with a deep blue stallion in a butler suit stops two hooves in front of the Prince. “I uh...”
Solaris smiles. “I’m glad you two are here, prepare the closest room to the royal chambers for long term residence.”
“Yes, your highness.” The two instantly rush back the way they came.
Skywing quizzically stares down the hallway. “Uh...”
“Ponies that come into contact with me often seek my utmost approval.” Solaris watches them leave his sight before continuing down the hall with Skywing.
“Um...” Skywing looks at the hallway momentarily before looking back at Solaris. “I’ll take your word for it.”
“It might be awhile before your room is ready, I think it might be best that you join me in the royal court.” Solaris stretches his wings out briefly, causing a cracking sound to come from the joints.
Skywing quickly goes over her choices before responding. “Yeah, I’ll do that. I’d rather not get thrown out of another city.”
“I really shouldn’t be as surprised as I am.” Solaris glances at Skywing.
“...I’ll explain later.” The mutant replies after letting out a half hearted yawn.