Henry and Pearl stayed in one of the guestrooms in the castle, since Henry was about to finish writing the third book of the Daring Do series.
And after he was done, he spent a day or two to re-read everything, trying to spot some errors. And after it was done, he and Pearl went to Canterlot Book Express to submit it.
The next train to Ponyville will be arriving in Canterlot's Train Station for a few more hours, so the two ponies decided to check on Midnight and Melody.
And to their relief, everything was going fine. Ever since that night where Midnight accompanied Melody's violin with the piano, the couple have received quite a number of invitations.
After submitting his resignation letter, Midnight has been practicing his skills with the piano in the music shop just beside their apartment. Even the store owner gave him a few pointers.
After saying their goodbyes, Henry and Pearl rode the train to Ponyville, but not after checking the castle, seeing if Princess Celestia has returned.
Arriving in the peaceful town, the couple went directly to the library to resume Henry's job as the librarian, and to give Aurora a break she deservely needed.
But the pegasus filly had nothing else to do: she doesn't go to school, her mother's busy in town hall ever since spring came, and her dad is teaching the young pegasi fillies outside the town.
Now that she thought about it, she might as well go with her dad. She's not a good flyer herself, so she may learn a few tips if she's there.
Ever since spring came, Ponyville became peaceful and quiet yet again, for those who only came during the winter season for a vacation has already left to other places in Equestria.
An hour or so later, the couple heard a hoof knocking on the wooden door of the library. Pearl opened the door, and on the other side was a gray pegasus mare, wearing a mailpony uniform.
Henry introduced the two mares to each other. Ditzy to Pearl, and Pearl to Ditzy. After receiving a question about her foal, and replying that Derpy's a-okay and already learning how to fly for such a young age, she took a package from her delivery bag and gave it to the green alicorn. After signing the papers, she said her goodbye and flew to her next destination.
The said package was wrapped in brown paper. The shape and size is that of a dictionary, and a white paper was stamped on the top of the flat surface of the package, where it states that the receiver of the package is Henry Hoof, and to whom it was from was not stated.
Placing it on the table, Henry used his magic to open the package, and before the two ponies revealed a brownish-yellow wooden box. Lifting the lid, inside was a white folded paper, and on top of it was a very familiar blue tear-shaped gemstone, which is radiating a very faint blue light.
Henry stared at the gem for quite some time, and he was no longer aware that he stopped breathing. Pearl slowly brought her hoof and took the gem. She felt weird after grabbing it and pulled it away from the box so she could have a better look at it.
The gem felt like it was wet, but it's not really soaked in water. It just simply feels wet, to Pearl's annoyance, as she is fighting the urge to wipe her hoof.
Henry simply chuckled slightly, his surprise and worry were set aside momentarily after seeing the irritated expression on his mare. He then lifted the letter and began reading the contents.
---
To His Highness...
First and foremost, your majesty, please excuse me for sending you this message. I originally intended of meeting you, but under unfortunate circumstances, that option became scarce.
Secondly, I would like to apologize for leaving you and Miss Daisy. I have thought that it would be best if the two of you will go back, and not to have me around, to save the trouble of the two of you seeking help. Again, I would like to apologize for my actions. I have learned quite well that changelings are despised. Seeing two would probably give the both of you the trouble of seeking aid.
Third, I have successfully retrieved the Ocean's Tear. I am sure Miss Daisy would be very happy to have that back. But, if I may, I ask to keep the stone safely hidden from anyone. Thank you, your highness.
Fourth, after I have left you and Miss Daisy, I promised myself to avenge King and Queen Metamorph's deaths, and as well as my brother's death. I have been travelling all this time, tracking down that witch Chrysalis. It was one of the fortunate times that I have found her and her minions flying away from the Frozen Nurth, that I managed to steal the Ocean's Tear, and as well as the other two.
Fifth, I sent you back the Ocean's Tear, for it rightfully belongs to you and Miss Daisy. But, again, I ask for you to keep it safe and secure. It was difficult to fight all of her minions just to get these stones from her.
Sixth, I hid the other two, so if she were able to capture me, she won't be able to get them. Unfortunately, I am having the feeling that she's saving me for last, and instead, gave chase to our white-eyed cousins who fled the frozen land of the north.
Seventh, I am going to give chase and put a stop on Chrysalis, even if it costs me my life. I am sorry, your highness, but if I were to calculate, I am no longer in Equestria as you read this.
It would have been a great honor to see you and Miss Daisy once again, but alas, I need to put a stop on Chrysalis. I know that it will increase my chances of getting caught, but I will not concern myself with that for the time being, for right now, someone needs to stop her. I need to stop her, because I do not want to see anyone to lose someone they love because of her.
If faith is so forgiving, I would hope to see and serve you again, my prince.
Faithfully Yours,
---
"...Cloth..."
Henry whispered while Pearl was still halfway reading the letter, her head rested on Henry's shoulder.
"So..."
Pearl whispered, still reading the letter.
"...who is this Cloth? And why does he sound like you're of royalty?"
After she finished reading the letter, the two of them sat on the couch. Henry took a long intake of air, and let out a slow yet heavy sigh with his eyes closed. He never actually shared his past with Pearl, and it's probably the right time for her to know. He just hopes that she'll still love him just who he is, and not what he is...or was.
----------
Chapter 18 - Henry's Tear
After the war of heaven and earth, peace resumed in the land of Equestria. The teamwork of different races in defeating the pegasi have created a spark of trust to the earth ponies, unicorns, and griffins. That very spark was the foundation of other races to trust others. And as the time went on, Equestria was filled with different intelligent races.
Despite their fall, there were still small groups of pegasi vigilantes causing trouble in the land, which made the princesses and their six loyal ponies busy. However, even that did not leave a rust on the solid chain of trust of the races living in peace in different parts of the land.
---
If I remember correctly...I think it all happened...maybe a century ago?
---
"...Mom...!"
Whined a small brown-eyed changeling as he struggled to get out of the small lake a few feet from the base of a tall mountain.
"...I don't wanna take a bath!"
"Oh, but you're filthy, my dear."
Said a larger changeling, much larger than the rest who were walking around, and talking to each other.
"But I'll get dirty again when I start to play with big sis!"
The small changeling cried.
His mother turned her eyes on the sky above the sea of trees surrounding the base of the mountain as she brought one of her front foot on her chin and hummed as if she was thinking about what her child just said.
Her face was serious until she turned her attention back to her child with an evil grin.
"Nope."
And she then grabbed the small changeling with both her front feet and rapidly began cleaning her child on the edge of the pond.
She continued as she disregarded her child's whine and splashing about, and disregarded the odd looks they received from the other changelings.
She could care less though, for she was the queen of the heard.
The brown-eyed changelings were peacefully making home of the tall mountain surrounded by large trees. Their location is far from other races, which suited them fine. The brown-eyed changelings are more adapt on a cool atmosphere, and they prefer to walk that fly, and the place is perfect for them. The surrounding trees providing the cool air they loved, even during summer, and the land is flat, perfect for walking.
"There,"
The changeling's mother cheerfully said as she let him go.
"clean and shiny."
The young changeling let out an annoyed grunt as he walked out of the water. An idea popped into his young mind. With a vengeful smile, he stopped beside his smiling mother, turned his head up to meet her eyes as his sly smile grew wider, contrasting his mother's face of horror after realizing what the young changeling has in mind.
"Don't you da---!"
The young changeling shook his body rapidly, raining the water all around him. His mother could only lift her two front feet to try and shield herself, but alas, she was soaked.
"Why you little---!"
She snarled playfully as she got to her four feet and gave chase to the fleeing and laughing young changeling.
The changelings in the area could only roll their eyes in amusement.
---
Long story short, we enjoyed a few years of peace and harmony, and often times, it was boring, but I am just thankful that my sister was always there to kill the boredom.
But...our peace and quiet was one day...on a brink...when dragons suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
---
The morning sun has finally started to climb up from the horizon, however, its soft golden rays were blocked by the tall trees from reaching the base of the mountain of the brown-eyed changelings.
The said mountain is filled with holes and caves, where the changelings rest and take shelter for the night.
The light did reached those who were occupying the top parts of the mountain, but either the changelings weren't woken by the quiet intruder, or they simply turned their backs on the sun and decided to go back to sleep.
Birds are lively and cheerfully singing in the branches of the trees, their lovely songs echoing to the mountain, and reaching the ears of a young changeling, which slowly woke him to wakefulness.
He quietly pulled himself into a sitting position. He brought both his fore feet to rub both his eyes, and he then lifted and stretched both his fore feet up as he let out a long yawn.
He blinked to clear his vision as he brought his fore feet back on the ground. He turned around, and saw both his parents and his big sister, still sleeping side-by-side near the end-wall of their little cave.
He got up and quietly walked out of the cave, and slowly worked his way towards the small pond just a few feet in front of their cave. He sat on the edge, leaned his head over the water, and took a slow drink to refresh his body with the cool water.
His ears suddenly stood after he heard rustling noises from the trees. Usually, it would only mean that squirrels were playing around, but the rustling noise just now was too loud for even squirrels to make.
He rose to a standing position and scanned his surroundings. He's feeling a little fear, but he was tought to be brave and learn of his stalker before taking action: fight back or flee. After all, he did have wings to fly himself to safety, though he could count the number of times he actually flew above his mother's height.
There was that noise again. He quickly turned left and spotted the bush near a tree just in time before it stopped shaking. His fear had increased, slightly reaching the levels of running back inside his cave, but he somehow fought over it as he managed to take a step towards the bush.
It was quiet. Too quiet.
Now that he noticed it, the surrounding is dead quiet: no bird chirping, or any other sound, just his slow, deep, nervous breath.
He dared taking another step. And another, and another, until he was actually three more steps away from the bush. He flared his wings out, ready to flap so whatever was behind the bush, he could flap his wings to send him back a few meters away than his feet could provide.
But as he was about to take another step, red angry orbs flashed through the bushes. Red, angry, soul-piercing set of eyes, coming from a large, scaly, scary head of a dragon, slowly emerging through the bushes, slowly nearing the stunned changeling.
It's sharp mouth provided a gap of a few inches from touching the trembling form of the black changeling. The red dragon flared its wings up as it's front claws quietly stretched from its body, digging its claws on the earth.
After managing to grab a hold of his trembling body, the changeling managed to take a slow step back. Achieving that however, made the dragon lift its head a few feet higher than the changeling's height, where the dragon's mouth opened slightly with a hungry grin, allowing its sharp teeth to send death messages to its prey.
"Changeling..."
The dragon whispered through it's slightly-opened mouth, its voice dark and grim.
"Changeling..."
"Changeling...?"
"Change...ling...?"
A few more voices followed, echoing from all around.
Behind the trees, smaller dragons appeared, standing either on all four or on their hind feet.
"Look, the guy's eyes are brown..."
Whispered one dragon as it leaned close to the other's ears.
"I can see that, thank you."
Replied the other one, though rather annoyed.
The other smaller dragons snickered. Their voices echoed towards the other caves, where other changelings began to lazily exit their caves to feel the morning air.
"Oh, hey look!"
"There's more of them!"
Hearing those unknown voices made the other changelings look at them. The changelings were surprised to see dragons there, and were not sure of what to do with the current setting.
The red mighty dragon stood on its two hind legs, its tall body towering above the tall trees. It let out a mighty roar, a signal for the small group of dragons to attack.
The young changeling managed to snap back after the roar, and dropped himself on the ground in time to dodge a dragon's fierce flame. After the flame evaporated into the air, the changeling started running back to his cave as he yelled for help.
---
I reached the cave as soon as both my parents came out, and they quickly told me to hide inside, not that I had any other choice during that time. I did not know how the battle went, since my sister and I were hugging together, crying in fear. The sounds of battle was scary...
At that time, peace was supposed to reign in the lands of Equestria. So, having dragons to suddenly attack us was a complete surprise.
---
"Ohhh...what's this?"
A dragon, two times taller than an average changeling, came inside the cave, where two shaking changelings were curled on the far-end of the cave.
The dragon rubbed its clawed hands together as he let his tongue slide from left to right.
"Time for some breakfast!"
The dragon flapped its wings, and dove straight towards the two shaking changelings. But without warning, the older changeling pushed the smaller one away, and before the dragon's claws could reach her, the female changeling flapped her wings as she pushed her feet up, jumping out of the way in time, making the dragon crash on the cave's wall.
---
I was too terrified to move, and so was my sister back then, but...
I guess you could call it an instinct of older siblings to protect their younger siblings...
---
The older changeling landed in front of the younger one, and growled at the rising dragon who was rubbing its head. She went into a fighting stance, digging both her front feet on the earthy ground.
"So you wanna play rough, huh?"
Said the dragon as its mouth was suddenly filled with flames.
"Then take THIS!"
It shouted as it breathed out a fierce cloud of fire towards the changelings.
Seeing that her little brother was too terrified to move, she instead stood her ground and braced herself, shielding her brother from the flames.
Once the flames were gone, the older changeling collapsed to the ground. The younger changeling was stunned and terrified. His mouth was trembling from fear. He wanted to do something, but found it too difficult to accomplish.
The dragon approached them, and grabbed the unconscious and burned changeling.
"Hah, not so tough now, are you?"
It said as its mouth began to water. With its other hand, he grabbed the hindlegs of the changeling, and brought it in front of his face horizontally.
"Breakfast, is, served."
It opened its mouth and leaned closer to the changeling's stomach.
"NOOOOOOOOO!!!"
Cried the younger changeling as he pushed the ground, lifting himself towards the dragon's stomach, and sending the both of them towards the cave's wall.
The sudden attack made the dragon lose his grip on his breakfast, and quickly found his back pushed against the solid cave's wall, throwing his head up and hitting it as well.
After landing on all four of his feet, the small changeling then drew his jaws and dug his teeth on the scaly skin of the dragon's leg.
The dragon yelped in pain. It then started to kick its painful leg around, trying to throw the changeling away, but to no avail. It then brought its hands and grabbed the changeling, and started to pull the beast off of its grip on its leg.
"Let GO!"
It yelled, but it reached the changeling's deaf ears.
The changeling felt the dragon's claws were starting to dig deeper through his skin, and it was too painful, but he dug his fangs deeper into the dragon's leg.
On the upper corners of the changeling's eyes, he noticed a bright flash of red and orange, and as soon as he realized what it was, he found his whole body wrapped in flames.
---
I don't know what happened after that, unfortunately. The only thing I could remember during that time was, my skin felt so hot and painful at the same time, which was too much for me to handle. Those reds and oranges were dancing through my eyelids until everything went black...
---
The sun has witnessed the gruesome battle of the changelings and dragons. It had enough, and decided to begin its retreat in the horizon.
Consciousness... Black...
Those were the only things the young changeling could register in his brain from his tired body after slightly opening his eyes. He took a tired breath, and exhaled quietly. He found himself facing their cave's ceiling.
He knew it was their cave, for the scent was theirs, mixed with the smell of fire and smoke.
Fire!
Quickly getting up on his feet, he stood, but his sight became darker than the dark cave, and his body felt numb for a little while. After quickly catching his consciousness, he felt a weird cold sensation brushing out of his body as he blinked a few times to find himself lying on the ground on his side.
Did he collapse? He must have been.
"...Brother...?"
The young changeling turned to the source of the feminine and familiar voice. On the corner of the cave was his older sister, pushing herself to a sitting position.
Her expression was a mixture of hurt, worry, and relief.
"Thank goodness, you're okay..."
She smiled.
Ignoring the itchy pain he's feeling all over, he stood up and walked towards her. He sat down in front of his sister.
"Big sis? Wha---"
He was cut off as his sister wrapped her front feet around his neck, bringing him into a tight hug, which made the burning pain around his neck and back even more painful.
She felt him struggling, and heard his breathing turned into gasps, so she released him sooner than she wanted to.
"I-I'm sorry..."
He wanted to yell at her as he brought a foot to gently rub his nape, but as he gazed at his sister's worried face, his angry stare softened. After what happened earlier, it was probably natural for his sister to do that.
He threw himself towards his sister, and wrapped his front feet around her chest.
"Big sis! You're okay!"
His sister gritted her teeth, for her brother's hug is worsening the pain she's feeling all over, but she tried her best to ignore it, and remembering that her brother was also in the same pain, she gently patted her little brother's head.
---
Mom and dad weren't there though. I wanted to go out and see how the others were doing, but my sister told me that it was a bad idea. Though I did heard digging sounds from outside. I did not know what that was until I grew older. During that time, the others were digging the earth to...bury our friends... It was five or six years, I think, when I realized that.
Also, the reason my parents weren't there was because they went to Princess Celestia's castle. They must have told her what happened.
She told me that the princess called the presence of the other leaders of each races, for them to discuss the matter.
My mom told me that the reason why the dragons attacked us that day, was because of revenge. The dragons thought that all changelings were the same, and so they attacked us.
Revenge. Their reason was because changelings were draining them and weakening them, but we, the brown-eyed changelings, did not do such a thing.
As it turned out, it was that wi---it was that Chrysalis of the green-eyed changelings. After she became their hive's queen, she ordered her people to leech the dragons, for their..."experiment".
Although she promised never to do that again, my mom said that she did not trust Chrysalis. She then showed me and my sister that stone: the Ocean's Tear.
My mom said that it was the princess' way to show to us that she trusts us, and in return, we, the four changeling races, should hold true to our promise never to harm another intelligent being again.
After that, we enjoyed a few years of peace, until one day, Chrysalis payed us a visit...
---
It was another wonderful day, and the sun was almost at its highest. In the peaceful mountain of the brown-eyed changelings, the young ones were playing around the base of their mountain.
Two of them, a brother and sister, and both children of the changelings' leaders, were busy drinking water from the small pond a few feet in front of their cave.
The taller one finished drinking and threw herself into a sitting position, and smiled as she brought her attention on her brother.
"Oooh. Someone sure is thirsty."
She teased.
Annoyed, the smaller changeling took a lot of water, filling his entire mouth, barely managing to close it as he faced his sister with an evil smirk.
Before his sister could react, he squirted water towards her from his mouth.
"EEW!"
The elder sibling quickly got to her feet and ran for cover towards their cave, and her little brother followed her, still squirting water, barely managing to land a hit.
---
I know it was disgusting, but we were kids back then, okay?
---
After their little water chasing game, the two settled down inside the cave, where the elder simbling was busy telling her younger brother a story about the moon.
"...and then with the five powerful gems, the alicorn princess was able to use her full power to seal her evil sister."
"Whoaaa..."
The younger sibling said as his eyes grew bigger and wider.
It was always the same. Every time his sister tells him a story, he always found himself off his feet though as if he was experiencing the story.
"But, since her sister is also an alicorn, her magic was also powerful, so the alicorn princess, even with the five magical gems, could not destroy her evil sister. If she wants to bring peace back in her land, she would need to rid of her sister. And so, she decided to imprison her in the moon, using her magic and the five gems. The bright light was blinding them both as the alicorn princess began the spell. She was hurt, seeing and hearing her little sister crying from pain, but she knows she has to do it, if she wants to save her people. And after the bright white light vanished, her sister was gone. She looked up at the moon, and there, on the face of the full moon was the face of her sister, imprisoned in the moon."
The elder sister finished her story, with a stick on her fore foot, scribbling a moon with a drawing of a pony head on it.
Her younger brother looked at her drawing in awe.
"And now, time for a game!"
The elder sibling cheerfully said, throwing her fore feet on the air, waving the stick around.
"Yeah!"
The younger changeling agreed, and then brought a foot on his chin to think.
"Sword fencing?" With sticks instead of swords.
"Nah," his big sister dismissed his idea as she brought her feet back down, "we did that already."
"Tidal wave?" More like splashing around the pond.
"We did that too..."
"Monster hunting?" More like hide and seek.
His sister smiled at the idea.
"Yeah, why not?"
She stood on all four.
"Besides, we haven't done that in a while."
The younger sibling smiled, and then frowned.
"Wait... Does this mean you get to be the prey again?"
Her smile grew even wider.
"But you were the prey last time!"
He whined.
The elder sibling dropped her smile and pouted her lower lips, with wide eyes. The younger sibling brought his foot to cover his eyes.
"Ah! No fair! You're using the pouty-powers!"
She leaned forward. He dared take a peak, which was a big mistake.
He sighed in defeat.
"Fine, fine..."
His sister chuckled as she ran outside the cave to hide. He turned around and covered his eyes with both feet and started counting, and he mentally took note to get her as fast as possible.
After reaching ten, or rather, after he was convinced that he correctly counted to ten (since he doesn't know how to properly count yet), he brought his feet down and saw his father lying down on the ground in front of him with a warm smile.
"Be sure to get that pouty-mouthed sister of yours, son."
The young changeling smiled confidently. He then turned around and decided to start looking behind the large rocks inside their cave. He noticed how quiet the outside world was, but he ignored it and continued his search. But after he took a look at every large rocks inside the cave, he gave up and decided to try outside.
After getting outside, he was immediately greeted by the cool breeze and the heat of the sun. After turning his head around to try and spot his sister, his gaze fell on her mother, standing in front of another changeling with the same height as her. Behind the two staring changelings were smaller changelings.
His mother was talking to the other tall changeling with green eyes. Her wings were thinner, almost transparent, unlike his mother, which was thicker, wider, and opaque. The green-eyed changeling also had more holes around her feet than his mother, and her horn was closely like that of a lightning bolt, than his mother and the rest of the brown-eyed changelings, which were straight, like that of a unicorn.
The two tall changelings were talking to each other at a slightly loud tone, but the young changeling did not mind them. He turned towards the cave and was about to go back inside again when he heard his mother's and the other changeling's shouts.
The young changeling turned around to see what was going on as his father walked beside him from the cave.
The two seemed to be arguing, and their voices were at maximum.
His father tilted his head to reach his ears.
"Son," he whispered, "it may be best if you go back inside."
He hesitated, but he sensed the seriousness from his father's tone. He nodded instead and was about to turn around when the green-eyed changeling brought a foot to his mother's face.
"Kill them!"
The green eyed changelings hovered in the air and started spitting green slime, aiming towards the evading brown-eyed changelings.
The young changeling's father quickly rushed towards his mother as his sister leaped out from the bush near the pond. She pushed her feet to get to safety, and trying her best to ignore the buzzing sound from behind her.
He was terrified; seeing her sister running towards him as she was being chased by a green-eyed changeling.
Seeing the fear on his sister's face stunned him, however, a spark was ignited within him, and before he even realized what was happening, he ran towards his sister, jumped just before they collide with each other, and tackled the green-eyed changeling, throwing it a few feet from the young changeling that just landed on the ground.
However, the young changeling's attack was not powerful. The green-eyed changeling quickly got itself back on the air. Angry that it was interrupted, the green-eyed changeling prepared itself to spit slime on the young brown-eyed changeling.
Seeing the danger, the young changeling quickly turned and ran towards the cave, where he saw his sister shouting at him.
---
I really do not know what happened. All I remember was everything became black again. When I came to, I saw my mother, being treated. I found myself being treated as well. Even from the darkness of the night, I could still see the sad expression from my mother's face, as she quietly let the tears run down from her face, as she stared at the...lifeless forms...of both my sister and father...
My mom told me that my sister risked her life to save me...
And...the reason why Chrysalis attacked us was because my mom refused to work with her. It was something about conquering Equestria... She told me that Chrysalis planned on using the four stones Princess Celestia gave to each of the four changeling races.
I am not sure if Chrysalis is stupid for thinking that obtaining the four stones could help her achieve her plans, or she's just really really crazy. But she was serious about it, which is a scary thought.
Anyway, a few months after the incident, well, everyone were starting to get depressed. Changelings feed on emotion, and the brown-eyed changelings feed on hatred and loneliness, and it worsened our condition. We started to hate each other, no longer talking with one another. It was a nightmare.
Until one day, a lone green-eyed changeling came. Of course, seeing him sparked an angry fury in everyone's hearts, and wanted nothing more but to rip him apart. He said that he came here for a purpose, and my mother welcomed him, and reasoned to us that she knows him, and will help us.
He was Cloth, and he thought us how to sense and feed on love instead of hate. Days passed and we started to recover ourselves.
---
"When I grow up, I want to be just as strong and loyal as you are, Cloth!"
A young brown-eyed changeling cheered before running towards the trees of the forest surrounding the mountain.
Cloth, the green-eyed changeling, could not help but smile. Though small it may seem, it was genuine, and he tried his best to hide it for the months that he stayed with his cousins.
Cloth just dismissed the young changelings to try and hunt down any living creature, and feed on their emotions. His smile was gone when a brown-eyed changeling approached him.
"Cloth?"
Cloth turned to face the newcomer, and bowed.
"Yes, your highness?"
The son of the brown-eyed changeling queen felt a bit irritated being addressed with such title, but he got used to it, slightly at least. He shook the thought away.
"I remember you said that you feed on love."
He received a nod from Cloth. It was a perfect opportunity for him to ask. He'd been wanting to ask him a question, but could not find an opportunity, until now.
"And I remember that we are suppose to feed on loneliness..."
"That is correct, your highness."
"Well, what if," he scratched his nape, "we're not really feeding on emotions?"
Cloth could not help himself but to give him a confused look. After a few seconds of hesitation, he decided to ask.
"What do you mean, my prince?"
The brown-eyed changeling turned his head left, staring at the trees.
"Well... Uh... What if...we're really feeding on a creature's life? And..."
He trailed off.
Cloth was expecting him to finish, but after a few seconds of nothing, he convinced himself that he needed to say something.
"And...? Please continue, my prince..."
He turned to face the green-eyed changeling. His green eyes were still slightly intimidating.
"And um... What if this whole emotion thing is just a lie?"
Cloth took a breath. It was his first time to be asked about his opinion on something. He would only respond on questions that require specific answers, and all are based on facts, not on his own opinion. He took a moment to think of ways of responding, but after realizing that he was taking too much time, he responded.
"Uh...Then it...would probably mean that we truly are feeding on their lives..."
He stood as is, but inside, he felt scared for sharing his opinion.
The brown-eyed changeling was not satisfied with Cloth's answer. It sounded as though the green-eyed changeling simply repeated the question, but turned into a statement. Realizing that his question would not be answered by him, he sighed.
"Well, thanks Cloth."
He flashed a small and forced smile.
He then walked towards the pond, and sat on the edge. Realizing that the prince was not satisfied with his answer, Cloth turned his back on him, and sighed. Now that he's going to stay with his cousins, he needed to work on his opinion-based answers.
---
The green-eyed changelings feed on love. If they truly are, then why aren't they...loving one another? They, instead, are attacking other races... Cloth seemed to be the only one to realize the stupidity of Chrysalis' rule, so he decided to leave them and join us.
That was actually his second time leaving the green-eyed colony though. It was why my mother recognized him. My mom said that the first time he came to us was when I was still a few years old.
The reason I asked him that question was because of Chrysalis' actions of causing harm, even though they feed on love. At first, I thought that feeding on emotions do not drive a changeling to the emotions he had. But if that were the case, then why did we of the brown-eyed changelings struggled to get back to our senses every time we feed on hatred and loneliness?
It didn't make sense during the time, and even now.
---
"Um..."
Pearl was not certain if it's all right to ask her stallion, or changeling, a question too personal, but she really wanted to know.
Henry was simply staring at the table in front of him. They both moved on the second floor of the library, seated around the table near the window.
"So uh..."
Pearl quietly said, bringing the green alicorn's sad eyes to her own.
"How...how old are you, exactly?"
Henry blinked. Of all the questions he was practicing to answer in his head, he did not expect that one. His expression changed into annoyed and hurtful.
"I'm not THAT old for a changeling, thank you very much!"
Pearl flashed a shocked and hurt face, but then she chuckled until she let out a laugh. Henry's expression softened at his strange mare and joined the laughter.
"But..."
Pearl said after their laughs were done.
"...does that mean..."
Henry took a breath. Her question may be serious this time.
Pearl brought a hoof on her chin.
"...I'll be a princess or a queen if I marry you?"
Henry used his magic to save his glasses as he let his face fall on the table from his mare's nonsense, giving the library a loud echoing thud sound.
Pearl could only laugh at him.
"Anyway..."
Pearl said after recovering herself from her laughing fit.
" I am not sure of what to say, actually, but..."
She brought a hoof and put it on her love's head.
"I still love you for who you are."
Henry smiled as he sighed in relief. He then lifted his head back up, and stared at his mare's loving black eyes.
"Love you too, Pearl."
Pearl blushed a bit. And after a minute of silence, only staring into each other's eyes, Pearl spoke.
"So, uh... Who's this 'Miss Daisy'?"
Henry replied her curious look with a warm smile.
"Well, she's my sister... Uh, my pony-sister, I mean."
Pearl arched an eyebrow in confusion, so Henry told her the story of his first day of arriving in Ponyville, about Daisy Hoof, about their boring life as librarians, and other things that happened.
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Above the vast blue ocean, and under the clear spring skies, a black figure is flying through the air with speed matching that of a pegasi.
In the vast ocean, there was nothing but the occasional dolphins, leaping out from the water, and flying fishes, which was the figure's source of food for two days of flying non-stop.
He simply did not thought of how big the ocean was outside of Equestria, and he was already starting to regret his action of flying, giving chase to the one who stole the changelings which were dear to his life.
His heart is now nothing but anger and vengeance, and he swore to tear down that witch when he can finally get the chance.
But now, even rage, the only emotion he thought would be enough to fuel him, his body was already growing tired, and accompanied by his vision which was slowly blurring from fatigue. He tried sipping the emotions of two dolphins the day before, but that accomplished nothing to ease his tired vessel.
Now, if faith were to give him something to rest upon, he would take it in a heartbeat, but alas, nothing solid was to be found in the vast blue sea, nor in the far horizon in every direction.
Finally, his body was beginning to collapse. He stared up one more time, and locked his gave on a nearby cloud. Oh, how he wished he was a pegasus. He could simply rest on top of that cloud, but unfortunately for him, he is a changeling. And as his body began to fall, his vision was consumed by the darkness of unconsciousness.