//------------------------------// // Chapter 3 // Story: Princess Autumn // by stillinbeta //------------------------------// I came to in a white room. I was pretty sure I’d come to, at least, but I wasn’t ruling out still being asleep and dreaming... or worse. I lay still for a time, blinking, and eventually realised I had a ridiculous headache. I raised my hoof to my forehead... and in the process of doing so, noticed my snout was a lot shorter and softer than it used to be. I squeaked in surprise and excitement, looking around for a mirror. Spotting one laying on a table nearby, I tried to levitate it over, and was rewarded by an even worse headache. “I wouldn’t try that just yet,” came a tired voice from the other side of the room. “Can I grab you something?” “Yeah, can you grab me that mirror?” A magenta haze held it up in front of me. “Want to get a good look at your new wings, huh?” “Wings?” Sure enough, a pair of amber wings were furled on my flanks. That was pretty cool, I guess, but it was nothing compared to my new shortened snout and glossy coat. It took me several seconds to realise this was the first time I’ve sought out a mirror in many years. “I... I’m...” “An alicorn, yes. Welcome to the club, Princes... Prince Sword.” My heart swelled, then sunk again when the voice corrected herself. Did I still not look like a mare? Was this whole thing a waste of time? How could I be so stupid? What was I thinking? Why did... Wait. “The club?” With great effort, I rolled to my other side, and came face to face with a cute lavender alicorn with bags under her eyes. “P.. Princess Twilight! I am so sorry!” I spluttered. I tried to bow, but it proved difficult to do from a hospital bed. She noticed, and waved a hoof dismissively. “You don’t need to bow to me, Argent. And in fact, you can just call me Twilight. You’re an alicorn now, and by ancient Equestrian law, that makes you royalty too. You’re a pri... prince now! And there’s a lot to do! A coronation to arrange, a tour of Equestria to introduce you to the populace, a title to grant...” She stopped herself, gave her head a shake. “Once you’re out of hospital, of course.” I looked at her, mouth agape. Me, Royalty? I hadn’t even considered that. And... she kept calling me “prince.” I may have succeeded in ascending, but I had still failed. I looked down at my hooves, poking dejectedly at my blankets. I could tell Prin.. Twilight was looking at me, but I found it hard to care. Finally, I looked back up at her. “How did I get here, anyway?” “Your mother brought you to the hospital as soon as...” Memories came flooding back. I remember my panicked mother looking into my room as my spell went out of control. “My mom! Is she okay?!” “Your mother is fine. She was suffering from magical exhaustion when you got here, but she’s been treated and is doing well. She’ll be anxious to hear you’re awake. Your father’s with her in the waiting room.” “I... don’t think I’m ready to see them yet.” Twilight gave me a concerned look, but eventually nodded. “You should get some sleep, Argent. Your magic reserves were completely depleted. You’re lucky to be alive.” I could feel my eyelids getting heavy even as she said it. I fell quickly into a familiar dream. --- I came to again, in what I now recognised in a hospital room in central Canterlot. I could see the parapets of the castle out the small window. “Ah, good, Princess, you’re awake,” a regal voice called from the far side of the room. “Luna, I told you, he was... is a stallion. His parents brought him here and told me his name was Argent.” “No, I do not think so. I know my subjects well, especially their dreams. Isn’t that right, Princess?” I blushed, and turned to look at Her Lunar Majesty, Princess Luna. “I... uh...” I stammered. My heart was hammering in my chest. I’d been hoping for this moment since I read her book, all those years ago. It should be so easy! Just a few little words, and finally I could stop cringing every time someone addressed me. But faced with it finally, I couldn’t make my mouth work. Luna smiled warmly. “It is okay, Princess. I have seen your dreams, and I know what is in your heart. And it’s okay.” She turned to address twilight. “She’s just as much a mare as either of us are.” I finally managed to get my mouth working again. Kinda. “That’s... the first time anyone’s called me ‘she’,” I mumbled. “Thank you.” Twilight looked at Luna, and back at me. Then, to my horror, she bowed to me, looking utterly crestfallen. “I’m so sorry, Princess! It’s just, your mom brought you here, and she kept calling you Argent, and I just assumed that it was a side effect, I never meant to hurt you! Here I am, Princess of Friendship, and I’ve already screwed up making my newest friend!” My eyes were pretty wide at this point, and Twilight appeared to be on the urge of tears. “It’s uh... I don’t hate you, Twilight. I know this is really weird, you all probably think I’m a freak...” I sighed, a familiar gloominess descending. “Would you believe that you are not the first mare to feel as you do?” Luna added gently. I looked up at her, trying to keep my mouth from hanging open. “I... I’m not?” “You are not even the first one to attempt to... transition, as it were. I do not recall anyone else attempting to ascend, however. That was quite creative.” “And also impossible!” interjected Twilight, having seemingly recovered from her earlier apology. “Ascension took me over a decade to accomplish, and that was with personal tutelage from Celestia herself! How in Equestria did you manage it?” I looked sheepishly away. “It was with your help, actually.” “Oh?” Twilight raised an eyebrow. “I found the book you wrote on it in the archives. I may have, uh, borrowed it.” Luna looked amused. Twilight looked excited. I had the good sense to be embarrassed. “You mean you actually read it? Everyone told me it was just gonna get locked up in the restricted section and collect dust, but you actually read it! Tell me, what did you think?” She looked at me expectantly. “I, uhh... well it worked, I guess?” I mumbled “Perhaps now is not the time, Twilight.” Luna jumped to my rescue, yet again. “I’m sure she’s very tired. Though I will need to talk to the archivists about the security of the restricted wing...” I grimaced at that, suddenly very interested in my blanket. “I shall let you get more rest, Princess. But before I go, I have one last question for you.” Luna smiled gently at me. “ ‘Argent Sword’ is not exactly a common mare’s name. Have you picked a new one?” I took a deep breath. Truth was, I hadn’t given it much thought, but now that I was a name seemed to come easily, as if it had been hiding within me the whole time. “Autumn. My name is Autumn.”