//------------------------------// // 4: The Sun's Judgement // Story: Under the Sun's Wings // by Foxy Kimchi //------------------------------// The sound of hoofbeats echoed through the cavernous tunnel. Torches adorning the sides flickered as two ponies walked down it. “Now, brother, are you sure you need to do such a thing?” Luna asked. “I’ve already said, sister,” Solaris replied, his eyes focused ahead of him. “It must be done.” “But do we really need to do this?” Luna questioned as she kept pace with her brother. “What is one meaningless changeling really worth? Their race cannot even move without us noticing them.” Luna’s eyes moved forward, staring in front of her. “In a sense, you have them trapped,” she added in a soft tone. “Good,” Solaris answered as he continued to walk, his expression unchanging. “Then, why not let her go?” Luna asked, her eyes looking back up at Solaris. “She holds no strategic importance to us.” “She holds a debt to Equestria and must pay it. Child or not, she willingly participated in an activity that threatened our subjects’ safety.” “And their leader?” “Her time will come.” “Very well, brother,” Luna conceded as they both stopped at a metal door. “But remember, Solaris, that she is just a child.” Solaris nodded. He looked at the door and called, “Dr. Flask, are you in there?” “Yes, my lord!” Crimson Flask quickly replied from the other side. There was a scuffle of hoofbeats as the door opened. “Don’t be too harsh, brother,” Luna said softly. Solaris glanced down at his sister for a second before he walked into the room. Honeycomb sat there, trembling as she looked up at the terrifying pony in front of her. Holy… he is MASSIVE! I didn’t realize he looked this big up close. I only saw him from afar. His mane… is it on fire? Dr. Flask said he was nice, but he looks terrifying from here. “You are Honeycomb, I presume?” Solaris said, his face bearing no expression as he looked down on the small changeling. “Y-yes…” Honeycomb stuttered, her body shivering. She looked slightly to the side where Crimson was sitting in the back of the room. Next to him, she saw a pony that was almost as big as the one in front of her, although, she did not look quite as intimidating. Crimson, however, was waving his hoof at her while shaking his head towards Solaris. Honeycomb looked up and quickly added, “Lord Solaris.” “And is it true that you willingly took part in the invasion of the capital of Equestria, Canterlot?” Solaris asked, his face still the same. “Y-yes, I did,” Honeycomb said as she averted her eyes while clutching her right foreleg. Quickly, she snapped her head back up. “But you have to believe me, I was only a messenger, Lord Solaris! I never attacked anyone or any—” Honeycomb instantly shut her mouth and froze when Solaris raised his hoof. “I already know what you did. One last question: Why did the changelings attack Equestria?” Honeycomb bit her lip, knowing her interrogator would easily see through any lie she told. Solaris' unwavering gaze bore right into her, making her tremble. “B-because…” “Because what?” Honeycomb sniffed, tears starting to well up in her eyes. I am sorry, Queen Chrysalis. I am trying not to tell. “Because what?” Solaris repeated as his ear twitched. Honeycomb bit her lip harder. Maybe if I stay quiet, he will not ask me again. A minute passed as foreboding silence hung in the air. Solaris’ eye twitched ever so slightly as he looked down at the trembling changeling. “I need an answer,” he stated with a hint of anger. Honeycomb just shook her head slightly in response. “Answer me!” Solaris suddenly shouted as his wings flared while slamming his hoof on the ground. “Because we were hungry!” Honeycomb cried out as she curled up into a ball, her body shaking as she wailed. “I am sorry, okay? Please don’t kill me! We were hungry and kept getting worse over the years. We were desperate! We can barely grow any of our own food, so we had to rely more and more on taking energy from emotions. Okay, I am sorry. Just please don’t hurt me!” Solaris' stern face suddenly softened as he looked away from the pitiful bawling changeling before him to his sister. The two rulers gazed into each others eyes as though they were having a silent conversation. Solaris sighed as he looked back down at the changeling. “Honeycomb,” he said, his voice taking a comforting tone. “Please stop crying.” Honeycomb continued to cry, her body twitching from an occasional hiccup. “Crimson.” Solaris sighed as he rubbed his forehead with a hoof. “Please make her stop.” “Yes, my lord,” Crimson Flask replied as he made his way over to sit down next to Honeycomb. Carefully, he gently rubbed her back with his hoof. Honeycomb’s body tensed from the sudden contact. “Shhh, easy now, Honeycomb,” Crimson said softly as he continued to rub her back. “No one is going to hurt you right now. There is no need to cry.” Honeycomb sniffed as she lifted her head, looking up at Crimson. Crimson smiled gently as he held out a handkerchief with his other hoof. Honeycomb sat back up, taking Crimson’s handkerchief and rubbing her eyes and nose. She sat there for a minute, catching her breath. “Feeling better?” Crimson asked. Honeycomb nodded after she blew her nose. “That is enough, Crimson. Thank you for your help,” Solaris said. Crimson bowed his head and made it back to his original seat. He gave Honeycomb a reassuring smile. “Now, back to the matters at hoof,” Solaris said. Hearing Solaris' words, Honeycomb tensed up before venturing a look back at Solaris. “Honeycomb, you willingly took part in the invasion of Canterlot and committed a crime against Equestria. By aiding the invading army, your actions caused harm to my subjects. By law, there should be serious punishment,” Solaris proclaimed. “But—!” Honeycomb jerked up. “However,” Solaris interrupted as he raised his hoof, “this situation is different, and leniency should be applied. You are not a soldier, you are young, and I feel you did not understand the ramifications of your actions. Tell me, why did you want to be a part of the invasion?” “I―” Honeycomb weakly began as she looked down at the ground. “I just wanted to be part of something important. Something b-bigger than myself.” “But did you think about how your actions could have caused harm to others?” “N-no, Lord Solaris,” Honeycomb answered, bowing her head in shame. “I had a feeling. Glory and adventure are temptations that many of my own subjects desire. I cannot blame them nor you for wanting that. However, you still committed a crime, and something has to be done. But, as I said, a harsh punishment is not necessary for you,” Solaris said. “Then what?” Honeycomb asked nervously as she looked up at Solaris. “Under normal circumstances, you would be forced to go to trial, but because of the nature of your crimes and the animosity of those who were hurt by the invasion, many of my subjects would demand a serious punishment or worse, take matters into their own hooves. While I would not allow an execution of any sort, they would most likely look for a very long prison sentence,” Solaris explained. Honeycomb began to tremble in fear as numerous images of angry mobs of ponies humiliating and torturing her flooded her mind. “However,” Solaris quickly added, “I feel that is far too harsh a punishment. So now, Honeycomb, I need you to listen very carefully to me.” Honeycomb weakly nodded, still shaking. “First, can you change your appearance like the other changelings that attacked?” “Y-yes.” “Good, that makes things easier. I am going to offer you a much more lenient alternative. It is simple. You will work as my assistant disguised as a pony for one year here in the palace. By working for me, you will be under my protection. No pony will know your true identity, but if somepony were to figure out your real identity, I would be able to intervene. In addition, not only would you be paying back Equestria the debt you owe, it would also allow me to keep an eye on you.” “W-wait, what? What do you mean by assistant?” Honeycomb gasped. “It means that you will assist me in doing simple tasks,” Solaris answered. “You worked as a messenger in the invasion, so it is something similar to that.” Honeycomb was speechless. She did not know what to think or say as she tried to process what she heard. “If you do work as my assistant, that means you will be employed by Equestria, just like every other pony that works here in the palace. You will also be given room and board in the staff housing.” What do I do? If I work for him, no one else will know I am a changeling. What do I do if he mistreats me? A year seems like a long time, but prison seems much worse nor does a mob of angry ponies. I don't want to get hurt... “I-if I accept, then no one will hurt me?” Honeycomb asked meekly, tears in her eyes. “Y-you promise?” “If you do exactly what I say and follow all the rules, then no pony will hurt or mistreat you. I give you my word on that.” What do I do? Can I trust him? “There is one last thing you need to know before you make your decision,” Solaris said as his horn glowed. A black band appeared from behind him and floated in front of Honeycomb. “If you do take my offer, you will have to wear this.” Honeycomb stared at the object. It looked familiar, but she could not pinpoint why. “What is that?” she asked quietly. “This is a band that I took from our research department. You may have seen Dr. Flask wear something similar, but I modified this one to completely block all changeling magic. If you wear this, you cannot feed off of any emotions nor can you change forms which means if you are disguised as a pony, you cannot change back as long as this is on. In addition, it will allow me to track your movements. “Once this is on, you will not be able to take it off. I am aware that this a lot to demand, but I need to ensure the safety of my own subjects. I am taking a risk by offering you this alternative,” Solaris explained. That is why it looks familiar, Honeycomb thought. It was just a simple black band with a small metal buckle. “It is not going to hurt, is it?” she asked, shivering while she rubbed her eyes. “No, it will not,” Solaris answered. I have to do it… I don’t want to suffer. She reached up to grab the band. “O-okay, I’ll do it.” “Then you need to pick a disguise, I will let you decide if you want to be an earth pony, pegasus, or unicorn as well as a cutie mark for yourself,” Solaris said as he floated the band over. “A cutie mark?” Honeycomb asked, grabbing the band in her hooves. “It is a mark that us ponies have,” Solaris explained. “In short, it is a mark that symbolizes something about the pony. Can you think of anything?” Honeycomb looked back down at the ground, thinking. Finally, she looked up and asked, “Would my name work?” “If by that you mean an actual honeycomb, then yes, that should suffice,” Solaris answered. “Now, you need to think of a form that will not draw any attention to you.” I don’t know what to pick. I haven’t really thought about this when I was in contact with any ponies. The only ones I have got a good look at are the three that are here right now. I can’t look like their rulers. Not only that, but what form? I mean, I don’t want to lose the ability to fly or do some magic. Then again, I am really bad with magic, Honeycomb thought. Her eyes moved away from the ground towards the corner of the room. She saw Solaris’ sister, and sitting next to her was Dr. Flask. Maybe… All of a sudden, a green, flame-like aura surrounded the changeling. Solaris blinked at the sudden light. Instead of a changeling, there was a small pegasus. She had a light-brown coat and a black mane and tail. Unlike the solid blue eyes from before, now they were regular blue eyes. Adorning her flank was a picture of a honeycomb. “That will suffice,” Solaris remarked. Honeycomb shifted slightly, feeling her new disguise. She rarely ever changed forms since there was never a need to back home. It felt… different to her. Instead of a smooth carapace, she was covered in fur. Instead of insect-like wings, her wings were now adorned with feathers. She reached up and rubbed her head, feeling her mane and noticing the lack of a jagged horn. She reached back down and picked up the band in front of her, examining it one more time. Just as before, it was just a simple black band with a metal buckle on one end. It looked so simple yet held powerful magic within it. “I know it is much, but it has to be done in order for this to work. I will remind you again, once you put that on, you will not be able to take it off. Do you understand?” Solaris asked, his voice firm. I have to do this. It is the only thing I can do. I have to do it. Slowly, Honeycomb lifted the band, her hooves trembling. Tears again started to form in her eyes as she wrapped the band around her neck. She slowly slipped one end into the buckle when all of a sudden, there was a slight flash from the band. Honeycomb gasped out loud as she felt the wind knocked out of her. She bent over and panted, taken by surprise at what had just happened. I… I can’t feel any of my magic. It is as if it just disappeared, Honeycomb thought. She closed her eyes and tried to concentrate on changing forms, but nothing happened. “You start work tomorrow. Be outside my chambers at 8:00 AM tomorrow,” Solaris stated as he turned around. He made his way to the door when he looked over to Crimson Flask. “Dr. Flask, once she is ready, bring her to the staff housing. I have arranged for her to meet with Feather Duster, the head maid. She will give Honeycomb a room and show her around the castle. Is that understood?” Crimson Flask bowed his head and complied, “Yes, my lord.” “Good,” Solaris replied as he walked out of the room, his sister following him. Honeycomb sat there as the metal door slowly closed. She clutched her foreleg as she started to cry, finally grasping her situation.