//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 // Story: Of Love and Crystals // by Pnakotic //------------------------------// Olive Branch arrived via pegasus drawn chariot, while he could have flown by himself Celestia had insisted he travel as such. Olive Branch was hesitant to leave Canterlot, he hadn’t had a chance to read through the massive library in its entirety nor did he feel completely safe without one of the princesses’ presence, there was still a heavy suspicion about changelings after all. Nevertheless, if Celestia thought this would be beneficial for him and his education, as she put it, he would try his best. First order of business would be to find the mare named Twilight Sparkle, Celestia’s own personal student. Olive Branch was a bit hesitant to meet new ponies, but Celestia had assured him that Twilight was one of the kindest mares there was. He had been informed that Twilight lived in the local library, which was located in a tree not far from the building Olive Branch was staying in. It would be nice, he supposed, to have a somepony to have a more academic discussion with. Olive Branch considered stopping there first but then he thought he might as well check out the building he was staying in. While changelings didn’t need much space to live in it would still be nice to know what accommodations he had been afforded. Olive Branch entered the cozy building and searched for the light switch… “SURPRISE!” Came a chorus of voices as soon as he turned on the lights, Olive Branch was left with his mouth agape at the scene. Five mares had decided to throw him a party to welcome him to Ponyville… wait make that six mares, there was a purple one off to the side who he hadn’t initially noticed, and oddly she had a look of unhappiness on her face. From left to right there was a blue pegasus with a rainbow colored mane, with a yellow pegasus hiding slightly behind her. In the center was an ecstatic looking pink pony who was bouncing up and down, an orange earth pony who was giving him a glare of suspicion but she looked friendly for the most part. Finally, there was a white unicorn with a rather obnoxious looking hair style, seriously that must have taken hours to prepare. Composing himself as best he could Olive Branch asked, “Well I know I didn’t make the most subtle entry into town, but I didn’t expect a full on welcome brigade when I came to town, who might I ask are you girls?” In response the pink pony bounced forward and said, “Hi! I’m Pinkie Pie and this is Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Applejack, Rarity and Twilight and we threw this party just for you.” At the mention of her name Twilight let out a huff to signify her lack of amusement, “Oh don’t mind Twilight, she’s in an itsy bitsy bad mood. But anyway when I heard you were coming to town I was at first all like *gasp* but then I realized that if you’re a changeling than you must be pretty far from home, and if you’re pretty far from home that might mean that you don’t have many friends around here. So I planned this party and invited some of my bestest friends so that maybe you could become friends with them too!” Pinkie finally finished, a huge grin was on her face as she waited for Olive Branch to reply. “Wow thanks, my name is Olive Branch by the way, I was sent here by Princess Celestia to learn more about pony culture, so that I could help my queen and country in diplomatic relations.” Olive Branch said introducing himself, “It sure is nice to…” “Pony culture huh? Why so you can infiltrate it better, or is it so you can earn our trust only to stab us in the back?” Twilight snapped, raining on Pinkie’s parade. “What? No! That’s not it at all!” Olive Branch said his previous smile quickly replaced with a frown. “Hmph, look you may have everyone else fooled, even Princess Celestia, but you can’t fool me. I’ll be keeping an eye on you and your schemes waiting for you to slip up.” Twilight said as she exited the building, slamming the door behind her. “Wow that mare and subtlety don’t mix do they?” Commented Rainbow Dash, to which Applejack shook her head. Rarity stepped forward, “Listen, darling, I know that wasn’t the best first impression but do realize that dear Twilight has not had the most kind interactions with changelings in the past.” Rarity continued on to explain how Queen Chrysalis had imprisoned Twilight in the massive cave system below Canterlot and that Princess Cadance had been Twilight’s brother’s bride to be. Add that to the fact that Queen Chrysalis had nearly ruined Twilight’s relationship with her brother, mentor and friends and Olive Branch began to see why the changelings where held with such contempt by her. “Maybe I should go apologize to her; it’s the least I can do after all the hardship she’s had to endure at my kin’s hooves.” Olive Branch thought aloud. “It wouldn’t do you any good sugar cube, when Twilight gets in one of these moods she needs a bit of time to cool off. Besides, we still have a party here to celebrate.” Applejack said. “*Sigh* fine, but first thing tomorrow I’ll go talk to her, hopefully I can start to build some sort of a bridge.” Olive Branch said finally. This day might be one for the history slab on poor interactions with ponies, though at least the other five mares seemed welcoming enough. The party proceeded with a much more somber atmosphere than was initially intended. Eventually though, as the five remaining mares broke the ice a little bit the atmosphere did indeed brighten; however, Olive Branch couldn’t get Twilight off of his mind; she couldn’t see him as anything more than the cruel image that far too many ponies held of changelings. Olive Branch couldn’t blame her though; if ponies had done the same to him he couldn’t rightly say he would trust them either. After the party died down and the mares had said their respective goodbyes, Olive Branch kindled a fire in his fireplace – the season was getting cooler after all. Olive Branch sat and watched the flames slowly eat away at the wood as he contemplated what to say to Twilight, and possibly more importantly how to say it in manner that didn’t get him thrown out of Ponyville. Perhaps he could simply explain the necessity of their previous actions, no that wouldn’t work. While Celestia had accepted that answer she was, for the most part, a third party in the event. Twilight had been not only a direct victim but she was also emotionally attached to both Cadance and Shining Armor. Perhaps a simple apology without attempting to justify the swarm’s actions would work, there was always the chance that she wouldn’t accept the apology but it would at least lay the foundations of building some manner of a relationship between them. As he watched the last of the embers die down Olive Branch sighed, maybe this was the destiny of the changelings: to be distrusted wherever they go. Sure, Pinkie Pie and her friends had accepted him for the most part, but wasn’t that just because the princess had been the one to send him here. If he’d come here without such strong backing would they still greet him in so friendly a manner or would they expel him immediately? Did they even now see him as an acquaintance or as a deceiver and a parasite? Shaking his head to clear his mind of such dark thoughts, it wouldn’t do him any good to stew his way into a depression, besides if that was the fate of his species than he would strive to change it. Noting that the hour was growing late Olive Branch extinguished the remainder of the embers and headed to bed for the night.