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// On This Day... 
// Story: A Changeling's Heart 
// by TheAnimerican 
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The next day, I spent some quality time with my fiancée before I left for work. Well, by "quality time," I meant we were organizing the guest list. We decided to keep the list small so that we had more room in the budget for catering and such. Also, Circe was uncomfortable with the idea of meeting so many of my family members she hasn't met yet. Regardless of what we did together, I enjoyed every moment I had with her. 

Everyday, before I go to work, she helps me put on my armor. Before Circe, it was a pain in the flank putting it on. As a pegasus, you had to maneuver carefully with the wings or else you would get stuck. I had to start getting ready an hour before I left the house. Those unicorns have it good.

As we were almost done putting on my armor, I looked out the window to see that the sun was higher than I thought. "Oh pony feathers I'm going to be late!" Without thinking, I quickly made my way to the door. 

Before I could leave, I was stopped, "Titanium wait! You forgot this!" In the rush, I didn't notice I left my helmet behind. I gave a half smile and scratched the back of my head in embarrassment, "Thanks Circe. By the way, there are reports that I need to catch up on tonight. I don't know what time I will be home tonight. Did you still want me to pick up dinner?"

"Oh you don't need to pick up dinner tonight," said Circe.

"Oh? You're picking up dinner?"

"Nope. I'll be cooking for you tonight," she said with a smile.

"Oh okay... Wait what?" I asked in a surprised tone a voice.

Circe lowered her head lightly behind my helmet, with ears drooped and face lightly blushed, "I'm sorry. Is that bad?"

"Huh? No of course not. I'm just surprised that's all. I didn't know you could cook."

She raised her head and our eyes met, "Well actually, I only just started taking lessons. I was out in the market one day and I met this really nice mare that handles one of the fruit stands. She and I were talking and she showed me a couple of her recipes. She said that she attends a cooking class every week and invited me to join her. The first lesson was free, so I thought, 'Why not?'"

"Uh... how long have you been going to these classes?" I asked in a worried tone.

"I only just started. I have been going for the past couple weeks."

"A couple weeks? I thought only the first lesson was free. How have you been paying for the other classes?"

"The mare I talked to offered me a job at her stand. I didn't want to ask you for bits so... I..." The excited tone in her voice lowered as she noticed my worried expression. "Titanium? Is something wrong?"

"No no, it's just..."

She walked up to me, placed her hoof on mine and followed up with a kiss on my cheek, "You are still worried about me aren't you?"

I took a deep breath before answering, "I know you are able to take care of yourself, but I can't imagine what would happen if... The day ever came when you needed me and I wasn't there."

"Aww," she teased, "How sweet of you to think of me while at work."

"Circe, I'm serious," I said with a more firm tone, "The night we met, I was afraid I was going to lose you. That is something that is embedded in my memory. That was a painful thing to experience and I don't ever want to feel that again." 

Realizing that my words were genuine, Circe's ears drooped again and she embraced me, "Titanium, that night I will never forget either, but for a different reason. It was the night that I knew you would protect me even in the worst of situations. I felt safe knowing that I had you and that gave me the courage to go outside and explore." She let me go and looked in my eyes with a smile, "I will be fine. Besides, if anypony tries anything, I can always morph into a dragon."

"A dragon!?!" I asked in shock.

"Well, I'm still working on that. A bear at most," she said jokingly. "Enough with worrying about me. If you are late, the captain will be the one turning into a dragon." Circe changed to her blue pegasus form before opening the door. "Have a good day and please be safe," she said.

"I will. I'm looking forward to dinner tonight. What are you making?" I asked. 

"I want it to be a surprise. This is my first time cooking for you and I want to make it special," Circe said with redness in her cheeks. 

I gave a slight chuckle, "Okay then. I will see you later honey." I gave her a kiss and felt the warmth of her lips on mine. She smiled as she placed the helmet on my head. I returned the smile as I flew off to the castle.

I said to myself, "She's not that helpless changeling I met in the forest anymore."


***


"Okay then. I will see you later honey." 

He leaned in and his lips pressed against mine. Although we have been together for a while now, the magic of his kiss never went away. I gave him a smile as I put on his helmet. I waved him a goodbye as he flew away. Once he was out of sight, I shut the door behind me and giggled to myself, "He called me 'honey.'"


***


As Circe predicted, I encountered a dragon.

"Just because you are a sergeant and you are getting married, doesn't mean you can show up late for duty! Do I make myself clear!?!" Captain Bronze Plate shouted.

"Yes captain!" I replied. Unfortunately, I didn't make it in time. As soon as I entered the courtyard, I was ordered to report to the captain's quarters. There,  I had to sit through hours of lectures in just a few minutes. I kept reminding myself that he was just doing his duty.

"Since you want to act like a cadet, you are going to train like one. You need a little reeducation on discipline. Get into your barracks and make that place spotless! Afterwards, I expect those late reports to be turned into me before sundown!"

"With all due respect sir, I don't know if I can-."

"Well maybe you could have if you had arrived on time. Am I not correct?"

"Y-Yes captain," I replied as I bit my tongue.

"AM I NOT CORRECT!?!"

"Yes captain! You are correct!"

"Good! Now get moving!"

I responded with a quick salute, left the captain's quarters, and ran straight to the barracks.


***


In general, any part of the castle is clean. Especially the barracks since the guards are ordered to clean it almost everyday. The thing is, no matter how many times you clean it, no matter how deep you get in between the stone cracks, your superiors will always find something wrong. 

"Aww pony feathers!" I thought to myself, "How am I supposed to clean this barracks and be able to finish the reports before sundown? I have heard some ridiculous orders, but this one takes the cake." As I thought loudly to myself, I heard hoofsteps at the entrance. I turned to see a few of the guards under my command; One of them being a corporal named Stonewall.

"Sergeant Titanium!" the corporal shouted with a salute. The guards that accompanied him reacted in a similar fashion.

I returned their salute, "At ease."

"Sergeant, are we seeing things or is that a broom in your hooves?"

I gave an annoyed sigh, "Yes corporal."

"Oh sweet Celestia! It finally happened! He got demoted! Sergeant Titanium, I told you you were being too soft on us and the men. I am sure if we plead to the princess, she will-."

"I didn't get demoted corporal!" Stonewall backed off from my sudden outburst. I took a deep breath before continuing, "Sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you like that. I'm pretty stressed from the captain right now. I wasn't demoted, I was late reporting in and now I'm being punished. First, I have to clean this already clean barracks. Second, I have reports to catch up on."

"How long have you been cleaning sergeant?" 

"I would say about half an hour."

"Half an hour? But sir, to clean this barracks usually takes about an hour WITH the guards. By yourself could take hours. You wouldn't be able to finish those reports in time."

"No? Really?" was what I wanted to say, but I knew he was just concerned and I can't take my frustrations out on him. Plus, he was still young and he still had a long way to go before getting to my point. He was right about one thing, I am too soft on them. "That is true," I said, "but I must endure. Don't worry about me. I can handle the captain just fine. Your duties are else where. Go on before you get in trouble." I turned away and continued sweeping.

"Umm... right. Well, good luck to you sergeant."

I waved a hoof without looking back, "Thanks. I'll need it."

Not long after they left, I was sure I heard a bit of shouting from the courtyard. I assumed it was just the guards going through drills. I tried to not pay any mind as I didn't want to get distracted. But later, I heard hoofsteps and other unfamiliar sounds followed. 

If they were practicing marching drills, I should have heard the sound of metal hooves practically kicking the ground. Instead, each step was light and, for some odd reason, I was sure there were soft splashes of water. As I tried to fathom what the men were doing, I found that the noise drew closer to the barracks. 

I looked to the entrance and guards began entering the barracks. I was confused as to why they were in the barracks. Let alone the fact that each one carried some sort of cleaning material; one possessed a broom, the other a mop, another a feather duster, and so on. The last guard to enter was Corporal Stonewall. "Sergeant," the corporal addressed, "We have taken an oath to serve in the Royal Guard to protect the princesses and serve the public. However, we are also taught to respect and obey our superiors. You have trained and treated these guards with more respect than we deserve. We request permission to assist you in cleaning the barracks."

I would be lying if I said I didn't choke up at the sight. I have only been a sergeant for less than a year and these guys treated me like I was their general. Despite them saying I'm too soft, I wouldn't treat them any other way. While holding back tears, I controlled my breathing and replied, "Permission granted."

For the past hour, my fellow guards and I were making great progress cleaning out the barracks. Pegasus guards dusted the ceiling, earth pony guards swept and mopped the floors, and the unicorn guards made the beds. 

While we were still cleaning, Corporal Stonewall got a bit curious, "So sergeant? What did your marefriend say? Did she say yes?"

Immediately, the room got very hot and I began to sweat. If it was just Stonewall and I, I didn't mind discussing that with him. However, this was a barracks full of stallions that had little to no entertainment everyday. Hearing about a fellow guard proposing to their marefriend is like watching a five star live show to them.

"What's that? I didn't know he had a marefriend." said one of the guards.

"What do you mean, 'Did she say yes?'" asked another guard.

Quickly, the once quiet cleaning crew turned into a pack of interrogating journalists. At once, they dropped their cleaning equipment and began to swarm me with questions about Circe and I. Everyday, these guards are bored with patrols and reports. To listen to my story would be more entertaining than going to a Coloratura concert.

I raised my hoof, "Okay men quiet down! That is an order!" Although they were anxious for answers, they knew to obey when an order was given. Slowly they backed away, but still in a circle and only inches away from me. "If you all have to know," I started, "she said yes."

The men cheered with a loud roar that shook the barracks. I was actually afraid that the building was about to collapse on us. As much as I wanted them to shut up, I was unable to as they said their "congratulations" and gave me pats on the back. The whole time, as much as I appreciated them, the thought that ran through my mind the most was "I'm never going to get those reports done."


***


Finally, I was on my way home. By some miracle, the men and I got the barracks cleaned and provided me the time needed to catch up with the reports. I took a quick glance to the mountains and half the sun was already hidden behind it. "Good," I thought, "Not only will I be home on time, but I have a surprise dinner waiting for me. Maybe this meal will be my new favorite."

With the house in view, I dove and landed in front of the house. Before entering, I noticed that I could see clear through the windows and the lights were off. The first thing I found odd was the fact that the curtains were open. Although Circe is able to maintain her pony form, she liked the luxury of walking around the house as herself. Second, the lights were not on yet. Our house is built right beside the mountain side, so it would get dark quicker in our neighborhood. 

I tried not to be, but I was already worried. I looked through the window, but I couldn't see her anywhere. What brought me comfort was that there was no sign of forced entry; at least not yet. I ran to the door and began to pound on the door, "Circe? Are you home?" I called, but she didn't answer. If she had left, she would have left a note on the door or something. Again, I pounded on the door, "Circe? Are you okay?" Still there was no answer. From that point, I had to figure out what was going on. 

I turned around and got in position to buck the door down. With all my strength, I kicked the door as hard as I could. It was a failed attempt, but I did manage to crack the surface. Again and again I kicked in the door; making the door's cracks larger. 

As I kicked the door, at the corner of my eyes, there were a few ponies staring at me. There was one filly that was excited to see a guard "breaching" a house. I didn't care what they thought. My main focus was to see if Circe was alright.

Finally, I was able to break down the door. Hind legs splintered, I ignored the pain as I entered the house. "Circe? Circe?" I called and still no answer. 

I skipped the living room and ran straight to the kitchen. The kitchen floor was a mess as it was covered with vegetables and a kitchen knife. On the counter top, there were already some chopped veggies. Did that mean she was cooking while fending off attackers? Maybe robbers?

Without hesitation, I ran straight to our bedroom. While I ran through the hall, I took a brief glimpse at the bathroom and spare room; Circe was in neither room. Our bedroom door closed, I didn't bother checking and rammed down the door with full force. 

"Circe!" I cried out her name, but there was no need. She was in the room, but my heart dropped at the sight. She lied on our bed, in her changeling form and curled in a ball. I was barely able to see, but it looked as if a green light emanated from her chest. I rushed to her side, "Circe! Circe! What's wrong?" She only replied with a groan. Whatever was going on with her, it was causing her some pain.

"T-...Titanium..." Circe forced herself to speak.

"I'm here Circe. What's wrong? Who did this to you?"

"Titanium," Circe cried, "I'm scared..."