//------------------------------// // Sending A Letter // Story: Pleading His Case // by origami //------------------------------// Three Months Later... Thorax the changeling sat in a room inside the Crystal Palace of the Crystal Empire. It was, in fact, his room. He had been given it so that he could stay as a resident of the empire, as well as for the guards watching him to better keep watch of him. That fact was a moot point now. In the three months since being allowed to stay, Thorax had proven that he was more than trustworthy. On his first full day, he had told the royal couple about his life since the failed invasion on their wedding day. He covered everything he could think of, from his attempts to make friends in the hive, failing and deciding to leave, and his efforts all throughout Equestria until he found his way to the empire. Cadance and Shining were both impressed. They hadn't expected such a tale, and especially the stallion, who had fact checked the story against reports from guards all across the country and found it to be true. Even if he was unsure of every bit being fact, the scattering of miscellaneous changeling sightings and the times at which they occurred corroborated the majority of the story. Thorax was currently sitting at a writing desk and preparing to do something he had never done before: write a letter. Normally, this was a fairly mundane endeavor, but the letter he was writing was not only special for being his first real letter ever, but was even more special because of its recipient: Princess Celestia. The pen in the changeling's magic shook as he made an attempt to compose the words. Being that it was addressed to the princess of the whole country, the words had to be well crafted, as well as having his absolute best penmanship. Thorax took a breath to calm himself before he decided to put pen to paper, composing a letter to the solar diarch. Dear Princess Celestia, I'm sure that Princess Cadance and Captain Shining Armor have told you about me, but I wish to introduce myself properly to you anyways. My name is Thorax, and I am a changeling, and I am one of those that was present at the failed invasion of your city. I'd like to begin by apologizing for my role in that horrible event. I knew it wasn't right from the start, but I wasn't given a choice about going. When the queen says jump, you just jump; Don't ask how high to jump. During the invasion, I witnessed several things, but the one thing I saw that had the greatest impact on me was a group of mares fighting together against my swarming hive mates. Their teamwork and trust in one another opened my eyes to the possibility of a better way for my kind. When we were repelled and I returned to the hive, I tried to convince the rest of the hive of what I saw and thought, but none of them would listen. That was when I decided that in order to convince them, I had to show them. I decided to leave my hive and come here to Equestria in order to try and make friends. I waited for a while after the wedding, hoping the paranoia regarding changelings had died down some. When I first got here, I was quickly and rather aggressively persuaded to leave the town I came to. I tried at the next town, with the same outcome, and more after that to no avail. Then I reached the last place I could go. I tried to hold off as long as I could, but it became the last realistic option; I could've tried Canterlot, but I was too afraid of the potential consequences from what happened at the wedding. I took a chance and approached, telling the guards I wanted an audience with Princess Cadance and Captain Shining Armor. After pleading my case, they conferred and offered to let me stay! I had never been so happy! It took some adjusting, both by myself and everypony around me, but things have been going better than I ever could have hoped for! I've met so many ponies, and some have even called me a friend! I even met the element bearers face to face for the first time recently. Some of them were still skeptical of me, specifically Rainbow Dash, but eventually they all gave me a chance and got to know me too. It was actually Princess Twilight who suggested that I write this letter to you. She said that if I was to learn about friendship, it would be a good idea to write and tell you what I've learned and perhaps even get your feedback on the subject. Well, I guess the one thing I learned about friendship is that, sometimes you have to just take a leap and throw yourself out there. There are some who will judge and be prejudiced against you, but there are others that can look past those prejudices and see who you really are underneath. I know Princess Cadance and Captain Shining Armor did, and for that, I am eternally grateful to them. Signed, Thorax The changeling took a moment to review the letter he'd composed and found it satisfactory. With that, he folded the parchment and placed it into an envelope and sent it off to Canterlot. Now, he just had to wait for a reply. A few days later... Thorax was sitting in a room with Sunburst. Since Thorax had been allowed to stay in the Crystal Empire, the stallion elected to get to know the changeling better, so the two would spend time talking about various things. For Thorax, it was the hive and the various behaviors of changelings. For Sunburst, he talked about growing up in Sire's Hollow, going to Princess Celestia's school, and his childhood friend Starlight Glimmer. Captain Shining Armor came into the room holding an envelope in his magic while having a confused look on his face. "Why would Princess Celestia be sending you a letter?" he asked Thorax. "Oh?!", Thorax said rather enthusiastically,"I was afraid she wasn't going to answer me back. Can I see it?" "Answer my question first, Thorax", Shining said more sternly,"Why is the princess sending you a letter?" "Well, your sister suggested I send a letter to Princess Celestia", Thorax answered,"She said that she and her friends send letters to the princess talking about lessons they learn regarding friendship. She thought it would be a good idea if I did too." Shining laughed a little and smiled. "That definitely sounds like my sister" Shining told Thorax as he handed him the envelope. Thorax eagerly took it and read the letter inside. Dearest Thorax, I must say that I was quite surprised to hear that a changeling has come to my kingdom, or more specifically my niece's kingdom, to live peacefully amongst ponies. Given our history, one would've thought it impossible, but the ways of harmony have nevertheless prevailed. I have been told of you by both Princess Cadance and Captain Shining Armor in their own letters to myself. Most have been out of concern and worry, but the most recent ones have shown less trepidation and more comfort with your becoming a member of the Crystal Empire. I've also received word of you from my personal student, Princess Twilight Sparkle. She speaks quite highly of you, and her fellow element bearers also seem to be impressed with how differently you act when compared to your other changelings. There seems to be a hope that you can learn of the ways of friendship and share them with your hive one day. I hope very much for this to be so, but if the brief interaction we had during the wedding is any kind of an indication, your former queen may not be so willing as to allow her subjects to embrace such ideas. In regards to the letter you've sent me recently, I wholeheartedly agree with your sentiment. Friendship is a risk, and there are those who will choose not to accept you as a friend. Never let that deter you in your efforts. One must dig through a great deal of dirt before they find the diamond that they so desperately seek. I am glad that you have found some diamonds in your digging. I ask that you continue to send us letters about your experiences in learning about friendship. Besides bringing a smile to my face, they bolster the hope that one day, our two species can place aside differences and live in harmony with one another. Please keep learning, Thorax, and be the guiding light that moves us all towards peace. With the greatest love, Princess Celestia Thorax held the letter close to his chest as he smiled deeply. To get such a show of confidence from arguably the most powerful pony in the whole world left him feeling ten changelings tall. Placing the letter back into the envelope, Thorax looked at Sunburst and smiled. "Why don't we take a walk around the empire and see what new friends we can make?" Thorax suggested. Sunburst gave a smile. "Sounds like a plan" he replied, then stood up and followed the changeling outside and into the daylight.