I watched as Princess Celestia stood up to the podium. The other princesses were there as well, each must have had some contribution to it. It had been over 3 months since Luna had started helping me with my campaign. Most of the graffiti was cleaned up, leaving bare spots all over town. There was one piece kept though. One I am especially proud of, one that truly conveyed how I felt about society.
The picture was of a changeling, it had a hood on, and was spray painting on the castle wall. It portrayed a a light blue sky with lush green grass running everywhere. The focus was not on the landscape, it was on a changeling and a regular pony. Both looked at each other with love in their eyes, the pony was giving her heart to the changeling, in a physical manifestation. The changeling was doing the same, a physical representation of a heart flowing from it's body to his partners.
When it was first seen most ponies didn't know how to react. In fact, they just stood there and stared at it, like it was an object not of this world.
Guess it's technically true, it is not of this world. It's been unheard of for so long. Changelings and ponies living together. Even to me that sounds crazy, almost like a fantasy that will never be true.
Everyone settles down as Celestia comes to the mic. She has a serious look on her face, her mane shines brightly in the sunlight. She looks more powerful than she really is, almost as if she's a goddess herself, which is what everyone associates her with.
"My little ponies," She begins.
"As you all know, there has been a recent vandalizing of our town's buildings. Up until a few days ago, I too thought that it was vandalism. The picture you see before you is not one of violence, hatred, anger, or disgrace. But one of happiness, tolerance, and love. The changeling attack during my niece's wedding spurred fear from many of us, the fear of being devoured and having our lives ripped right from our hooves. How long has it been since that incident? 8 months? We see changelings as a threat to our society, ones that we should be rid of. To those of you who believe this, I have only one question. What have they done other than that stunt? They have not terrorized us, hurt us, nor attempt to overthrow our government. Time and time again, we close out ponies and living things that ask for our help in a unique way, some more radical than others, but it still remains. Changelings rely on their ability to change, to deceive us, but has it occurred to anyone that that deceit is the result of fear? Fear of being outcast, rejected, hated, by our society? I have never thought of changelings as good, only evil, but that was off of one incident with them. My sister, Luna, was trying to convince me of their good, their joy that they can spread. I didn't believe her until my eyes saw this, masterpiece, you see before you. This not only represents the harmony that can occur between old enemies, but the friendship and love that can occur between ponies of different looks, between ponies whose hate can be changed into love. I am still reluctant to allow this, but I will only know if I try."
I looked around and saw some ponies wiping their eyes. I was confused though, what did she mean by allowing this? What was she talking about?
"Changelings are now allowed to live in Equestria, not as lesser versions of us, but as equals. As the ponies they truly are."
A thunderous applause rose out from the crowd. So many ponies were clapping and smiling. They had truly been turned to allow changelings into their lives. They respected our lives, us as a people. I could not have been happier.
I lowered my hood and walked up towards the stage, towards Luna, towards my new life. I was free, I no longer had to hide who I was, I didn't need to wear this hoodie anymore. Freedom. The word rang inside my head a thousand times, over and over again. I felt completely renewed, because today, I was no longer a changeling, I was a pony, I was equal!
I had achieved my goal, after 3 months of fighting, of hiding, of waiting, I had finally done it.
A few ponies noticed me and gasped, but nothing more. The few that did caused a chain reaction, soon the whole crowd had parted and formed a circle around me. I wasn't nervous, why would I be? I was happier than anything, happier than I hoped I could be. I had a smile on my face as I walked up to Luna. She smiled back at me, and in return I bowed. Celestia turned to face me and gasped herself, as did the other princesses. They all looked at me with curiosity, then Luna decided to break the news.
"Tia, you remember when you asked me if I knew who was doing the graffiti?"
"You don't mean..." She looked at me.
"Yes, Tia, this little pony right here is responsible for the pictures."
Celestia hesitated a bit, seeming to be caught between admiration or shock. I waited patiently, I had waited for this moment for so long, and I finally got it, I could wait for an opinion. Just as she was about to say something, I felt a sharp pain in my back. I looked down to see a red hue trickling down my side.
I turned around to see a white unicorn staring at me with ultimate disgust. His horn had smoke coming from it. He struck me in the back, not only that, he had ripped my wings right off me. I felt myself grow weak, then collapse on the ground, and that's when all hell broke loose. The screams of ponies running in all directions was drowned out by the ringing in my ears. I was awake long enough to see Luna strike the stallion down with so much force that it sent him off the edge of the railing.
There was a large thud sound, confirming the stallion had fallen and hit the ground, hard.
The ringing filled my ears up to the point of no hearing.
Luna grabbed my shoulders and shook me violently. Next thing I knew she had teleported me to what seemed to be a hospital. Doctors rushed to my side and began sticking me with needles and fluids in an attempt to keep me alive.
I was fading, fast, my life flashing before my eyes, then blocked by the brightest light I had ever seen.
One thought kept running in my head, one thought that kept me alive. That was going to keep me going throughout the rest of my life.
The civil war I started with my spray can was not yet over. Even as I closed my eyes I knew this. I knew one thing that mattered.
I still had work to do.