//------------------------------// // Chapter 4 // Story: The Last Changeling // by GaPJaxie //------------------------------// Cheval’s room was just like she remembered it. Of course, some things looked a bit more worn than they had fifty-two years ago. Her books were yellowing and in places water-damaged. Her window had scratches. And the thank-you note she’d forgotten to write to Twilight before she left for school was, all things reasonably considered, now severely overdue. It had mostly fallen apart in any case. Her bed sheets though, were fresh and smelled like mountain air. Evidently those had been replaced shortly before she’d awoken. The sharp edges of the holes in her legs tore scratches in them as she lay down. “I wanted you to see that we didn’t touch anything,” Cadence said. “We can replace all this with new stuff tomorrow. But I wanted you to see we never forgot you. It was always your room. And you were always family.” “Why isn’t Flurry here?” “She…” it took Cadence a moment to find her words, “thought it would be better if you got more used to the modern world before the two of you met.” “Because I’d be shocked by how exactly the same she looks?” Again, Cadence struggled for an answer. Her hooves shifted on the ground. Finally, she said. “It’s complicated.” Cheval didn’t reply, and so Cadence stepped up to the side of her bed. “But your Auntie Twilight hasn’t changed a bit since you saw her last. And she’ll be arriving tomorrow morning to keep you company. I’m sure you have some complicated feelings on me right now, so I thought it would help you recover if you had somepony else to talk to.” When the silence went on long enough, Cadence leaned down to kiss her daughter’s cheek. “Good night,” she said. Cheval tried to refuse Cadence’s love. She thought to starve herself in her bed. But her gut twisted, and a powerful hunger overtook her. It was as if a pit had opened inside her, and she devoured all that was offered. Somehow, Cadence noticed. She stayed a few minutes more, her horn softly aglow, thinking sweet thoughts until Cheval felt better. Then she left. Twenty-four hooves clattered on hard crystal. “Cadence!” Twilight called, her enthusiastic words only partially muffled by the door. There was a brief silence, and Cheval imagined them exchanging a hug. “It’s so good to see you again.” “You brought friends,” Cadence said. Her tone, not unwelcoming but with a hint of doubt, made it clear she’d been expecting Twilight to be alone. Then the introductions started. Twilight’s new friends—who were indeed new, having only been the bearers of the Elements of Harmony for two months—took turns sounding off. One was Comet Flash and one was Jade Star. A colt’s voice introduced itself as Astral Heat. A griffon, also male, said that his name was Sky Guard. The last Cheval did not hear, though she did hear Cadence asking them to speak up. So Cheval got out of bed, and pushed out into the main room. Cadence and Twilight were there, along with two mares, a stallion, a griffon, and one very quiet yak. “Hey!” Twilight’s eyes lit up when she saw Cheval. Without the slightest hint of fear, or even sign that she recognized Cheval’s warped state as concerning, she rushed across the gap between them and seized her in a tight hug. “How’s my favorite niece in the whole world doing?” Her love was like caramel and candy-floss. It always had been. And so it seemed that alicorns really didn’t change. “I’ve been better,” she said. “I can tell.” Twilight made a show of looking her over, and kept her tone forcefully light. “Because, wow, you don’t look great. I mean, last time I saw you, you were like this cute little orange beetle. Now with the blue eyes and the dark shell you’ve got this ice queen theme going.” “I am a queen. And there’s a lot of ice in the north. So I suppose that fits.” “Um… right.” Twilight hesitated. “I was making a joke. To lighten the mood. I didn’t want you to—” “I know what you were trying to do. It’s okay. You’re being a good aunt.” Cheval hesitated half a moment. “You sent me a book, before I left for Griffonstone. I meant to thank you for it, but I forgot and never got the chance.” “Oh.” Twilight scoffed. “Come on. That doesn’t matter now.” “You were a good aunt, Twilight. You were always kind to me.” Cheval looked at the floor. “Thank you.” “Oh, come on.” Twilight's smile turned strained, but she tugged Cheval along with her magic anyway, pulling her towards her friends. “Don’t be so serious. Sure, life has dealt you a bit of a rough hand right now. But, the future is great! Trust me, you’re going to love it. And we brought the new new new new new new new new new new new new Element of Laughter up to cheer you up. That’s the griffon.” Reassurance delivered, she turned back to the group for one more introduction. “Everycreature, this is Cheval, my niece.” Twilight’s new friends stared back at her. A few of them grimaced. The yak hid behind the griffon. “Well?” Twilight glowered. “Say hello.” “Oh, uh… hi.” One of the mare stepped forward—a little black pegasus whose cutie mark was two chopsticks sticking out of a bowl of rice. “I’m Jade Star. I met Twilight two months ago. But we’re best friends now, which I guess makes me your friend. So um. Hi.” She stuck out her hoof. Cheval didn’t reciprocate the gesture. Behind Jade Star, one of the other mares asked: “Why is she wearing a muzzle?” Cheval snorted. Then she reached up with a hoof, tapping her plastic braces. “Because I tore a pony’s throat out with my teeth.” Jade Star backed away so quickly it was like she’d teleported. One moment she was extending her hoof to Cheval, the next she was in the rear of the formation, hiding behind the yak who was hiding behind the griffon. “She did not!” Cadence burst out, her reaction half a second delayed. The sharpness in her tone made Twilight’s friends jump. “She did not. She…” What else could she say? “She’s never bitten anypony.” “Very reassuring,” somepony said. One of the mares. “Okay, you know what?” Twilight cut in, her tone quick and matter-of-fact. “We’re changing the topic. Cheval, we’re here to introduce you to the future. Take you around town, show you the sights, meet some ponies. Help you get accustomed. There’s all sorts of cool new technology, and new kinds of ponies and other fun things to see. One of Rarity’s grandchildren is a tailor here, and he offered to make you some clothes. Something fashionable, that’ll help crystal ponies relate to you.” “Okay,” Cheval glanced over the group. “There’s something I’d like to see first.” “Sure, anything.” Twilight smiled. “Is it the monorail? I know you can see that from your window. Monorails are a lot like trains used to be, but, smaller. Also vaguely cooler.” “I’d like to see a war museum.” “Oh…” Cadence cut in. “I don’t think that’s such a good idea. There’s a lot that might come as a shock, and you’re still so stressed from what happened.” “I want to see it.” “Cheval, dear,” Cadence’s tone turned firm. “It’s not a good idea.” “I was told,” Cheval looked at Twilight, “that I wasn’t a prisoner. That I was free to travel as I pleased.” For a moment, her voice betrayed emotion, strain audible under her words. “I thought fifty-two years was long enough.” “You’re not a prisoner. You’re not.” Twilight reached out to rest a hoof over Cheval’s. “We’ll go to a war museum. And all of us will be there to talk you through it.” “Twilight…” Cadence frowned. “There’s a lot of things she doesn’t know. This will hurt her.” “So did putting a muzzle on her,” Twilight’s tone turned snappish. “Didn’t stop you from doing that.” Cadence froze. Her eyes went wide, and when she spoke, her tone was hurt. “That wasn’t my decision.” “Well, I’m sorry, but this isn’t either.” With a lash of her tail, Twilight turned away from Cadence. “Come on,” she said to Cheval and her friends. “Let’s go.” As the seven of them passed out of the royal suite and into the palace hall, Cheval watched the door behind them. Once it was shut, and she was sure they were out of earshot, she turned back to Twilight and asked: “Why did you let them leave me there?” “I didn’t.” Twilight drew in a breath and let it out through her nose. “I wanted you released. Flurry said no. So I shot her with lasers. Pew.” She licked her lips before adding. “Flurry kicked my butt.” “Yeah?” “Yeah, she threw me through a wall. A solid wall. Broke three ribs, all four legs and one wing. I got better, because, you know. Immortal alicorn, but.” Twilight shrugged. “Your sister doesn't mess around.” “I remember her when she acted like a fluffy ditz. I guess she grew up.” Cheval looked at the ground. “Did Mom fight her too?” Eventually, one of Twilight’s friends whistled. “Aaaawwkward.”