//------------------------------// // Chapter 4 // Story: Change(ling) of Heart // by DubleTruble96 //------------------------------// Three weeks have passed since then, and White and Wild have been getting along great. Wild did eventually end up going home to Ponyville once or twice, but made sure to always return to Canterlot to pay his friend a visit. White didn’t get a lot of off-time, but when he did, it was nice spending it with him. And it was also nice spending time with Princess, even if he didn’t always remember it. In fact, Wild ended up going there so often that he’s had to start making weekly trips to Powder’s Emporium just to keep up with his visits to the bar. Strictly for drinking purposes. Not because he likes diapers. That’d just be silly. Princess’ Playhouse has great cocktails. Why else would he go there? At any rate, Wild had returned to Canterlot for one of his visits (and making sure that he had a hotel to stay at this time), spoke with Case Load and continued to gather evidence about White’s double life. Wild shook his head at the thought as he quietly trotted towards Powder’s Emporium, letting out a soft, yet audible, sigh. “I wish he would get his head on straight… I’ve lead double lives… Triple lives even! They’re awful and cause nothing but trouble and heartache for everybody involved. Once he learns that, he’ll drop this whole… Princess act. Or maybe he’ll quit being a royal guard. I’m not really sure who I’m talking about anymore… Princess or White? Who’s the real pony in that equation?” He paused outside the store, shaking his head again. “Well whoever’s the ‘real pony’, I’m sure they’ll figure out that I’m right sooner or later. I just… gotta figure out how to tell them without revealing my nature to them.” He stepped inside, too lost in thought to remember to put on his usual disguise. Thankfully though, the clerk, Powder, knew who he was already and waved him through the black curtain without a second glance. Wild continued to mutter to himself about ‘double lives’ and the like as he scanned the shelves, looking at the thick packages of diapers, unaware that there was a second shopper there that day. White walked past the aisle that Wild was in at first, then stopped and quickly backpedalled, looking at the pegasus standing in the aisle. He seemed surprised at first, then smiled and stood there, watching Wild shop for a moment. Eventually, Wild stopped muttering and kind of froze up, feeling the sensation that he was being watched. He turned his head down the aisle and saw White standing there, giving him a huge, knowing smile. Wild’s entire face became bright red and he chuckled nervously, then looked around pretending he was lost. “Oh goodness, how did I end up back here? This isn’t the furniture store!” Wild glanced at White to see if he was buying it, only to see him leaning against the shelf, the smile never leaving his face. Wild took that as his cue to leave, starting by slowly backing up to the other end of the aisle, then darting around the corner. White followed, however, and slowly began to advance on his friend. Wild did everything in his power to throw White off his trail, and eventually, it seemed like he had lost him. He slowly peeked around the corner, looking for the snowy pegasus. “Wild?” a voice said from right behind him, making him jump a good 5 feet in the air and spin around to face White, who was still smiling, in a cute, half-teasing way. Wild backed up, feeling the shelf behind him block his only other escape route as White stood in front of him. “You shopping here too?” he chirped, smiling warmly. “N-No! I uh.. Was looking for the bathroom!” Wild said, wide-eyed. White chuckled, sitting down. “Wild, it’s okay, I’m into diapers too. There’s no need to be embarrassed.” “I-I don’t- You’re not-” Wild stammered, then shook his head and looked rather distressed. “Y-You’re not supposed to be here! N-Not right now! Not… Not…!” “Not while you’re here?” White said with another chuckle. “Why not? There’s nothing to be ashamed of, Wild~” There was a bit of a pause as the trembling false pony eventually stopped doing his greatest impression of an earthquake, but he was still awfully nervous. “I… suppose this came as a bit of a surprise to you too, huh?” White said, looking to the side with a goofy smile. “You think you know somepony, right?” He began to laugh, only to be completely thrown off by Wild Card laughing much more loudly, and in a much more forced, and rather strained manner. The orange stallion trailed off, his mouth becoming a wobbly smile as the snowy pegasus gave him a concerned look. “Wild, really, it’s okay! I’m a diaper lover too, I don’t judge!” Something behind Wild’s eyes snapped when he realized that White was still talking about the diapers, and that whole “think you know somepony” remark was about that and not at all how Wild was boldfaced lying to somepony who had become a great friend to him. Letting out a nervous sigh, he pretended to take calming breaths, then gave White a bashful smile. “Sorry… I just didn’t really take you for the diaper… uh… type, you know? But it’s…” Wild rolled his eyes as he tried to find a nice word to say about the whole thing without sounding like he was overcompensating, “comforting,to know that somepony close to me also likes it~” White nodded, gently placing his hoof onto Wild’s shoulder. “I think it’s nice that you’re letting yourself indulge in this stuff! It’s important to be true to yourself, you know?” “HAHAHAHA!! ABSOLUTELY!!” Great cover, idiot. “You sure you’re feeling okay?” White said, beginning to look concerned again. “YES I-...” Wild took another breath and cleared his throat, then smiled calmly. “Sorry… I’m fine, really. Just still… getting over the shock, you know?” “If I’m making you uncomfortable, I can just pretend that we didn’t see each other here-” “No!” Wild paused, then gave his friend a patient smile. “I-I mean, no, it’s fine, really! I just… You caught me at a rather… vulnerable moment. But it’s nice that you like it too, so it’s okay! We got dirt on each other! Eheh… S-So to speak.” White gave him a curious stare and nodded, then shrugged a bit. “As long as you’re sure.” The two of them purchased their packages of pampers and began to head out, before White continued, looking at his friend. “So, I heard that somepony was impersonating Princess Twilight Sparkle a few weeks back.” Wild just about stopped dead in his tracks but thankfully caught himself before he blew his cover. “Oh? You mean like… a purple unicorn or something using some magic and make-up? Freaky! What did you think they wanted?” “I dunno. And I don’t think it was just some make-up, or cosmetics. She was incredibly life-like. Sounded exactly like her! Princess Celestia believes it may have been a rogue changeling or something.” “Oh, wow! R-Rogue changeling, huh? So why are you telling me this? Isn’t this like… super secret royal guard stuff or… something?” “Not really, they don’t think this changeling is a threat. He’s mostly been pulling pranks. He was actually the one who got me those 2 weeks off a while ago! Could you believe it? A rogue changeling busts into the Royal Archives and all they do is just give some random guard a paid vacation!” A feeling of relief washed over Wild, and he chuckled, doing his best not to sound nervous out of his wits. “Weird! Like… SUPER weird! Maybe this changeling just wants to play games and live a normal life or something! Might explain why they’re not just… ya know, charging into the Royal Archives and emptying the joint, right?” “I feel like the fact that 8 armed royal guards are watching every corner of the place is more of the reason.” White said, giving his tail a flick with a smirk. “We don’t get paid to stand around musty old books just to look pretty you know.” “W-Well, I dunno anything about that. I’m just… me! Not some fancy-schmancy royal guard like yourself!” “Oh please, there’s nothing fancy about standing around and looking tough.” White rolled his eyes as they walked, and Wild shook his head. “No no, really! I mean, they trust you and a whole platoon of other ponies to guard the most powerful ponies in the entire nation! That’s nothing to sneeze at!” “Yeah, but I’m not a guard of THAT caliber yet. I’m mostly on quick jobs, and long shifts of standing in a hallway or patrolling a library…” Wild Card let out a huff, scrunching up his muzzle. His best friend was not only being served a king’s ransom, but also probably raked in hundreds of bits a night prancing around as that boisterous show pony in that bar he’s not allowed to talk about. Wild would’ve KILLED for a job like that back at his hive, but instead he was an infiltrator, someone doing the dirty work while the “brains” got the credit for making the plan. Hundreds of hours spent masquerading as another pony just to get some silly codes or a blueprint, and White gets to masquerade as one of the loudest, biggest things this side of Equestria and he gets paid for it! He couldn’t lie to himself, as much as he was trying to will himself to. He was jealous. White had such a cushy double life that he takes it for granted, while HE had to struggle to get food let alone bits for his double life work. In fact, 9 times out of 10, the pony he was disguised as was some snooty lawyer or a nobel or a servant! He didn’t get to dress up in frilly costumes and snuggle people to his heart’s content! A job like that would be a changeling’s DREAM! “Wild?” White said, looking over his shoulder. Wild didn’t even realize he had stopped in the middle of the street, he was too busy fuming to himself. “You okay?” Wild took in a deep, shaky breath, then nodded. “Er… yeah. I just… sorry White, I just… I gotta take a breather. Still getting over the shock, you know? Uh… do you wanna go out for drinks later or something?” White shook his head, giving him a smile that Wild saw right through. “Can’t. Busy day tomorrow, gotta get lots of bedrest, you know? I’ll see you tomorrow, though! I have a day off!” “Yeah, take care!” Wild said, waving his hoof as White took to the skies, then he made his way to his hotel, grumbling the entire way. “Double lives are nothing but trouble. Just because he’s got it good now, doesn’t mean that it’ll last! He’s gotta understand one day or another that you can’t balance two lives like this without one side eventually toppling!” He went into his hotel room, setting his bags on the ground. “And now he knows I wear diapers as White too! Er… Wait he… already knew that.” Letting out a frustrated groan, he threw himself onto the bed and buried his face in the pillow, sighing heavily and letting his disguise fall. He was in private, and even if somepony saw him, he was too frustrated and tired to care. Besides, changelings are apparently good now, or something. That new king, Thorax, keeps visiting town and there’s even one changeling going to that new Friendship School in Ponyville. As if he needed one of THEM around him constantly too. “This is confusing… I never know who I’m speaking to when I’m with him.” He turned his head so his cheek rested against the pillow, gazing over at the full length mirror affixed to the closest wall. Quietly standing up, he approached the mirror and glared at himself. “Look at you, Wild… Carapace as black as onyx, piercing blue soulless eyes, limbs with more holes than a piece of swiss cheese…” He scowls more. “No pony would even want to associate with you let alone cuddle and be friends. Ick.” Sitting down, he looks over his crater-ridden foreleg, frowning.  “The only thing these stupid things are good for is opening bottles or something.” He paused and looked back at his reflection remorsefully, then, with a heavy sigh, began to rub at his temple with a hoof. “I need a nap.” Wild stood up, double-checked the door was locked and the Do Not Disturb sign was hung on the outside, then crawled under the covers and laid his head against the fluffy pillow. He mused about how warm the bed was, smiling and yawning before closing his eyes and falling into a deep sleep, his mind wandering to fleeting images of big white pegasi and pink hazes. Awakening later that evening, adopting his pegasus form and taking flight to the bar once more. Quietly heading in, he approached the bar to a very sympathetic looking Case Load. “Another rough one?” she said with a half-smile. “...Could I talk to you in private?” Realizing that Wild wasn’t totally himself at the moment, and that the bar was rather quiet that night, she took him into the employee break room and sat him down. “What’s up, Wild?” “I’m worried about my cover, Case. The guards know that a changeling broke into the Archives, and that a changeling got White those weeks off! They don’t know it’s me specifically, but with that rumor floating around, they’re going to start outfitting their guards with those things!” Wild half-shouted in a mild panic, pointing at Case’s amulet. “Whoa whoa, calm down Wild!” “Calm down?!” Wild put his hooves to his head and shivered, “I-I was impersonating a PRINCESS, Casey! A PRINCESS! That’s gotta be some sort of felony or… or…” “Wild, relax, you said they haven’t figured out it’s you, right?” “R-Right…” “And do you really think that the Canterlot Guard has the kind of bits to shell out to equip every guardpony with one of these amulets?” “...No.” “So relax. As long as you don’t make any weird moves or act too suspiciously, you shouldn’t be in hot water yet. And to be honest, it sounds like you could take a night off from the bar-hopping tonight. Take tonight off. White will be around tomorrow~” Wild nodded, huffing. “Maybe you’re right, Casey. Maybe I’m just getting worked up over nothing. I’ll see you tomorrow.” He smiled, gave Case Load a hug and a nuzzle, then turned and left the bar. It was a short flight back to the hotel and while he was rather well-rested as is, there was no reason he had to be out every night. Besides, like she said, White would be around tomorrow! The night actually went by pretty quietly, something that Wild was silently thankful for. A night to relax, enjoy himself and not have to worry about the who’s and the what’s. The following morning, however, proved to be a bit more hectic. As Wild walked through the streets, ponies spoke in excited, hushed whispers and busied themselves with tidying and getting out their best stock. He went to the market, to find it busier than ever. Curious, he went to one of the less active stalls and asked the shopkeeper what was causing such a commotion. “Haven’t you heard? We’re getting visiting royalty!!” “Visiting royalty…? From where? The Dragonlands? Griffonstone?” “Better! King Thorax himself is coming to Canterlot!” Wild felt all the blood drain from his face and his vision became blurry. “Whoa, mister, are you okay? You look kind of pale!” The shopkeeper frowned. “Yeah, I’m fine, really. Uh… When did you say he was due?” “Why, he’s coming in today! It must be important! Rumor says that he’s bringing a whole crowd of his subjects with him to the castle!” “A...A whole crowd?” Wild said, the stress levels building quickly once more. “Okay, uh… T-Thanks for the heads up! I just remembered I have to clean up!” Wild turned tail and hurried away, looking at the clocktower ahead of him. “If I can just get to the train station, I can get out of town before-” Loud trumpets sounded from the town square behind him, and shouts of glee soon followed. Wild spun around to see Princess Celestia and Princess Luna come down to the square, greeting the new Changeling King… King Thorax.