I open my eyes, and then immediately close them. I think the sunlight just burned my retinas to a smoldering crisp. I want to just snuggle back down and get back to sleep, but I unfortunately have stuff to do today. Shame, too. Nothing back at the hive was ever this comfortable. I reluctantly push the covers off of me, surrendering myself to the cold. I shiver and step out of bed, feeling the cold, hard crystal floors clink under my hooves. Heh. Sounds almost musical.
I check my disguise. Okay, I'm good. Still Black Light, so no changes there. I blink a few times, my eyes still adjusting to the sunlight streaming in through the window. I head across to the door connecting my room to the hall, but stop before I reach it. I think of what lay beyond it. That princess. I think of her, trying to be at least the teeniest bit disgusted by her, to feel the smallest sliver of hatred, loathing or contempt. I sigh in defeat. I can't do it. I, a changeling, may I remind you, has somehow become friends with his natural enemy. Somehow.
I stamp my hoof and growl, mostly at myself. Why didn't I hate this repulsive creature? Why couldn't I feel at least the smallest speck of ridicule for this creature whose species has murdered countless of my brethren? Do I actually care for this purple pony princess?
No. Of course not, don't be silly, Peek. You're a cold, emotionless changeling infiltrator. You serve only your hive and your queen. Nothing more, nothing less. You were bred for this. This is your one and only purpose. Disguise, infiltrate, destabilise. Remember who you are, Peek. Okay, okay. Think I'm good.
I open the door slowly and step out into the main hall. "Twilight?" I call out. No answer. I wonder for a while, no real destination in mind. Eventually I happen apon the kitchen. There, I find something that someling that hadn't done any research would probably find a little surprising. A teeny tiny little purple and green dragon, standing on a stool, wearing a heart apron, and making pancakes. A freak of nature, really. And to think that this ferocious beast has been demoted to a pony princess' maid. I'm honestly surprised he hasn't eaten her already.
I fake surprise. "You… You're a…" I make sure to widen my eyes and back up a few paces in 'astonishment'. He takes notice of me. "You're a dragon?"
"Yep! That's me! Spike the dragon!" he says puffing out his chest. "Number 1 assistant to the princess might I add!" He's obviously quite proud of that title. "You must be Black Light." he says, turning back to his pancakes, flipping one onto a stack on a nearby plate. "Twilight told me all about you last night." Okay, going to pretend that that's not at all creepy for a second.
"And where is she?" I ask, just trying to get to the point. "I… may have an important appointment to get to later, and I have no idea of how to get around this place." Not an entire lie. I did study a few maps, but you try remembering every single building in a town. It's pretty much impossible.
"She had to rush out to do some princess stuff for Celestia. I'm sure she'll be back soon though." he says, flipping another pancake onto the plate. "Until then, feel free." He motions to the plate next to him, stacked high with pancakes. Yeah, no way I'm letting those get anywhere near my snout.
"No thanks." I politely decline this abomination's poison. He looks at me, his expression… mixed, I guess.
"We have syrup." he says dumbly, as if it might change my mind. Plot twist, it doesn’t. In another life maybe. I shake my head, subtly trying to end the conversation. "Come on, they're good!" he says. Yeah, buddy, nothing is going to make me eat your bucking pancakes, okay?
"Really, I'm fine." I say. "But really though, I do have an important appointment to make." Spike looks a little deflated, but I'm sure the lizard will be fine. "Any idea how to get to the spa?" I ask.
He smiles. "Yeah! Sure! I'll take you after breakfast!" He flips a final pancake onto the plate and takes off his apron. He climbs clumsily off of the stool and grabs the plate, setting it on the table. "Sure you don't want any?" he asks once again. Dude. Come on. Get it through your little dragon skull. I don't want any of your bucking pancakes. I don't say this out loud of course, kinda trying to make friends with the little drake. But if I could, hoo boy I would, if only to see the look on his little purple face. He's up on a chair, smothering the plate in copious amounts of disgusting syrup. Okay, even for a changeling, I know that that's a little much.
"Really Spike, I'm fine." I say. Really wish I could go with the other one right now, but what can you do. "Just enjoy your pancakes."
"Heh?" he hehs. Half the pancakes are already gone. Figures. I swear, this little guy inhales pancakes faster than I inhale love.
"Never mind." I say, walking out of the kitchen. "Just call me if you need me."
Weirdo.
"Bye Spike!" I call, waving behind me. I honestly couldn't be more relieved to finally be at the spa. For one, Spike wouldn't shut up. He kept pointing out every single building, giving me an anecdote for each, and he stopped to introduce me to no less than seven ponies. Ugh. Also, the faster I get into this prissy little place, the faster I can get my horn fixed. I'm already going without wings, and that's inconvenient enough, but my horn? No. That's inequine.
Heh. Now that I look at it, this building kinda looks like a lumpy circus tent. Though I guess these weirdos do kinda have a 'happy fantasy town' aesthetic going on, so it doesn't look too out of place, I guess. I step forward without a second thought, hearing a little bell signal my entrance. I'm hit immediately with the smell. It's… Actually, I'm not entirely sure how to describe it. It's sort of subtly sweet, but almost sickening at the same time… I feel like I should be repulsed, but to be honest, it's kind of relaxing really. Like… really strong roses.
I don't make it too far before I'm mobbed by a pink pony with a blue mane held back with a hair band. "Oh velcome to zee Ponyville spa!" Huh. I recognise the accent, I just can't put a hoof on where it's from though. "I am Aloe! Are jou new here? I haven't seen jou around." Oh Chrysalis this pony is annoying. I just want to get my horn fixed, then I'm out.
I nod. "Yeah, I'm just in the process of moving here." I give a half-hearted chuckle. "I'm Black Light, by the way. I have an appointment?"
Aloe's eyes widen and she smiles. "Oh, jes! Vould jou happen to be zee princess' new friend?" Huh. Small town. I nod, and she waves me over to a lounge chair near the wall. "Come, come! Zee princess Twilight has paid in full!" Huh. Y'know, I'm really finding it hard to hate that mare. Ugh. Why do these idiots need to be so NICE!? Okay Peek, stay cool. You're a changeling infiltrator. You've dealt with worse. Snobby nobles, angry delegates… Actually, come to think of it, those guys were all jerks. Huh.
I let myself be led onto one of the chairs by the wall, casually thinking how absurd it is to be taking orders from a stupid pony. I set myself down on my stomach, folding my hooves beneath me. "I vill be back in a second." Aloe says, walking off into the back of the spa.
"Oh dearie me!" I hear from beside me. "That chip looks absolutely terrible!" I turn my head, shifting my weight a little, seeing a white unicorn, deep purple mane and tail in curlers, and a face mask. "Oh, that is just dreadful!" she lifts up a hoof to rub her own horn. "May I ask how exactly it happened?"
I chuckle and give a little smile. But OH MY CHRISILIS. LEAVE ME ALONE! Of course I can't say this to her face, but at the moment, I really just want to get in and out as fast as possible. Ugh. I'm worse off than an earth pony. Okay Peek, keep calm, there's still a stupid pony right next to you. Play it cool.
"I was… in a cart accident." I say, really just wanting to drop it as soon as possible.
The unicorn frowns lightly. "It must have been quite severe to take off that much." I wince as I glance up at the stub at the edge of my vison. The unicorn holds out a hoof, which I begrudgingly shake. "My name is Rarity." she smiles sympathetically. I nod. "Black Light." I say, returning the smile.
Right. So it's that Rarity. I'm pretty sure she's one of Twilight's friends. Okay. Try to make friendly with her too. Noted. Two down, four to go. I think.
Rarity looks at me, puzzled for a second. "I haven't seen you around in Ponyville recently." she says, adjusting her mane. "Would you be passing through?" Okay, why is everyling here so. Bucking. NOSEY?! Ugh. This is what I have to deal with. Okay, right about now, I'd like to go back to those nobles. At least they didn't give a buck about you and you could hate them in peace. But with these candy coloured abominations, you can't be mean to them! Seriously! They go all mopey and sad! Just… UUUUUUUUGH!!!
"Actually, I'm right in the middle of moving here." I say with a little smile. Rarity seems to like that. I mean, I know she does. Seriously, I can feel the happiness flowing right through her. Weirdo. "Glad to hear it!" she says. "It'll be nice to have another new face in town!" She gives an annoying little giggle.
I half-heartedly chuckle back, if only to be polite. "Would you happen to have accommodations all sorted yet?" she asks. "Or are you staying with somepony special?"
"Well actually, I'm staying with Princess Twilight for the time being." I say, waiting to see her reaction. Three… Two… And…
"You're staying with Twilight?!" she gasps. I nod.
"Yeah. You know her?" I say. Of course she does, I did the research. But still, they can't know that. Infiltrator, remember?
She looks shocked. "Darling, she happens to be one of my best friends!" she breaks into a massive smile. "However did you and Twilight meet?" Her tone says curious, but her emotions say SPILL THE DETAILS.
I wince. "Well, you know that cart crash I was in? The one that smashed my horn?" She nods. I stare at the ground. "Well, Twilight had to pull me out of that." She's shocked.
"Well, I'm relieved that you're alright now, darling" she says sympathetically. I nod. It's appreciated. I mean, it was mostly my fault. And even though it's coming from a pony of all places, I can still feel that she really cares about me, even though she really as no reason to. Makes it feel more substantial I guess. I still despise them of course, that hasn't changed, but still.
"Meester Light? Eef jou could face zis vay?" Oh great, spa pony's back, and overplaying the accent like whoa. I turn my head and Aloe gently takes my head and starts filing my horn down. Okay. Getting somewhere. It stings lightly, sending magical pangs down my spine. I think my disguise almost disengages a couple of times, but I hold it together as best I can.
"So, Black Light, may I ask what exactly it is that you do?" Rarity asks, shifting her position to face towards me a little more. Well Rarity, what I'm doing right now is wishing that I could just get this over with, but that's not exactly a thing that I can say to your face. "I'm a linguist." I say, shivering from the residual magic escaping from my system. "I study cryptography. Codes. Writing on the wall." Rarity nods. Lies, of course, but I've always liked this sort of thing. Plus, I can probably get an 'out of the limelight' sort of job. Two birds, one ling.
Rarity gives a bit of a flourish. "I myself run a boutique just off of main." She chuckles. "You should come by some time, dear! I think that I just might have the perfect item for you!"
"I think I just might!" I say with a smile and a nod. And to be honest, it's not entirely fake. I mean, I am a changeling. Appearances are important for us.
I feel something clasp onto my horn. Looking up, I see that a magical limiter has been clipped onto the base of my horn. I reach up and tap it a couple times with a hoof. Aloe giggles. "All done!" she says. Hopping down from the chair, I can feel my magic passively working to repair my horn. Feels tingly. Looking into my reflection in a window, I see that my horn has been filed down to a pointy little stump. Aloe places a hoof on my withers. "Now, eet should take about a month to grow back. Try not to do too much magic for a while." I nod, just happy to have this whole ideal out of the way.
I head for the door, glancing back. Rarity gives a little wave, smiling. I wave back and give a smile of my own. I walk out of the spa, the bell ringing behind me. Honestly, I haven't felt this good in ages. The feeling of having someling truly care for you. To be more than just a drone, a number, one little insignificant piece of the puzzle that is the changeling hive. It just makes me feel sort of giddy inside.
Walking back to the castle, I have a little more of a spring in my step. I just can't help myself really. You know, I honestly thought that this might be a bit of a slog. But now, I think that this might just be a walk in the park!