//------------------------------//
// Chapter 10 - Dangerous Consequences 
// Story: My Life, Recreated 
// by Ephraim Blue 
//------------------------------//


Chapter 10 - Dangerous Consequences


There are consequences for a lot of stuff that we do in our lives. We might not consider them all consequences, but they are consequences nonetheless.

Some (Not All) might be thinking what could be classified as a consequence. I, for one, would wonder the same thing. But, since I'm the person writing this story and coming up with this wired stuff to put into words at the beginning of each chapter, I no longer wonder about those things I write about. So let me give you my perspective of 'consequences'.

To me, everything we do has a consequence. You punch a member of your family, and you get in trouble for it. The trouble is the consequence. You do something else that's horrible, and you get another type of punishment.

But... there may be some of you who are thinking: 'Blue, not everything has a consequence'. (Say that in a nerdy stuck-up voice. It's pretty funny) I can relate to that. Picking up a pencil. Where's the consequence with that? Getting up from bed. Where's the consequence with that?

You would say that there is none. I would highly disagree. (Because why else am I writing this?)

Picking up a pencil may not have a direct consequence, but it does have one. Not picking up the pencil, but what you do with it. You write out a paper and tune it in at school for a grade. What if your handwriting is horrible, and your teacher cannot read it? You would get an 'F' (For Fluttershy) because of your horrible handwriting. (No offence)

And getting out of bed doesn't seem like it has any type of consequence either, does it? Well, what if you accidentally stepped on a Lego while coming out of your bed? (It hurts, I know) That can be considered a consequence.

Speaking of  'considered a consequence' lets get back to our original topic of 'classified as a consequence', shall we? ('Oh, just shut up and get to the story we all came for!' That's what your thinking, isn't it?) Some might not consider all things a consequence. When your parents say: 'You must suffer the consequences for your actions', you wonder what kind of consequence. Well, that could depend on your actions.

If your actions were good, you could get rewarded. If your actions were bad, you would get punished. Those who say that only bad stuff is a consequence, they are wrong. As I said earlier, everything has a consequence. Even getting rewarded it a consequence.

I just looked on Google the definition of consequence. You know what I found? It said that a consequence is the result of an action. Therefore, as I said, getting rewarded is a consequence.

There are ways to avoid a consequence too. Good or bad, they are avoidable. I say everything has a consequence, but theta doesn't mean it has to follow through.

You can avoid getting a bad grade by practicing your handwriting and getting better at it. You can avoid stepping on any Legos when getting out of bed by cleaning them up beforehand. And you can avoid getting into trouble from you parents by not doing anything you'll regret when you get the consequence.

What kinds of consequence do you think there are? Are there any that you believe you could have avoided? Have you ever regretted anything after receiving the consequence?

Canterlot Castle Gardens February 28th 985

"Did what?" I asked back. It was a common response of mine. I most likely knew exactly what I did, but I said it anyway.

No reply came from the stuck-up prince. Instead, it was Princess Celestia who stepped forward. She kept her stern gaze on me, but occasionally switched between me and the changeling. Once she was about 5 feet from the two of us, she stopped.

"Blue," she said in a calm, quiet voice. Even if it was that kind of voice, I could hear the slight bitterness in it. I've heard that voice many times. Mainly from my parents. "Did you mock my nephew?"

"Yes," I replied, earning several shocked looks. I had gotten in trouble many times at school. Sometimes provoked, sometimes for a bit of revenge. Most of those times I was called up to the office. And every single one of those times, I had to write out my side of the story on a piece of paper. And every single time, I told the truth. Whether he provoked me and I hit him, or he hit me and I hit back. Some time later, I got in trouble. For telling the truth, I got in trouble. I don't know what the other person wrote, but they got out scot-free. This time was no different than those other times. "Yes I did."

Celestia kept her stern look, but I could tell she was surprised that I told the truth. "Do you have anything else to say?"

I thought a second before replying. "Did your nephew tell you what he did to me?" I asked.

After hearing me say that, she turned back to her nephew. "What did you do?"

"Nothing!" he said, obviously lying. "I was just asking for his name when he started insulting me!"

"Oh, and that's soooo believable," I sarcastically commented. "You were the one who came up to me demanding to know my name. I may not be the smartest one here, but I can guarantee theta I do not want to give out information about myself to somepony asking like that."

"I was never demanding to know your name! I just asked, and you mocked me!" Blueblood argued.

This was getting nowhere fast, so I turned to Celestia. "Princess, this is your decision."

She turned to me, slightly confused. "What do you mean?"

"What I mean, is that me and Blueblood here are just going to continue arguing, and it isn't going to get anywhere. Then, you would come in and break up our fighting, and then punish us both for doing so. So, before this continues, you have to make a decision. Either punish me for telling the truth, or punish your nephew for otherwise."

Blueblood smiled, obviously thinking that the odds were in his favor. There was no evidence that I was telling the truth, or that he was lying, other than our words.

"Blueblood," Celestia said, making the young prince flinch. "Please wait for me inside, I'll talk with you in a bit. Right now, I have to talk to these two ponies for a bit."

The young prince looked back and fourth between me and Celestia. Eventually, he gave an angry glare and turned to head back inside the castle. Celestia turned back to me and the changeling, who had been silent this entire time.

"That was very brave of you, admitting to doing what you did."

"Not brave at all," I replied. "I did that sort of thing all the time."

"However, that does not explain why a changeling is here in the castle." She glanced over to the changeling.

I sighed and began to tell her the story about why they were here. "Well, Your Highness, after Blueblood had left earlier, I heard a rustling in the bushes over there," I said, pointing to where I had found the changeling. "I walked over and helped out this young changeling, who had gotten stuck in the bushes. After getting them out, we talked for a bit, and then you came along with your nephew."

She studied the way I told the story, I could tell. Once I had finished, I waited for her response. "Why are they still here?"

"Well, while they were stuck on the bushes, one of their wings became damaged. They can no longer fly, and need to rest before being able to head back to their home."

Celestial nodded slightly, and then turned to the changeling. 'Is this true?"

I turned to find them hiding behind me slightly, obviously a bit scared about the fact that Celestia was now talking to them. "Y- Yes, Y- Your Highness," they replied, a bit shaken.

"Princess, please allow them to stay," I asked, causing her to turn to me. "They haven't done anything wrong, and need a place to stay while waiting for their wing to heal. Please!"

She was obviously a bit surprised to hear me ask that. She then closed her eyes and thought about it. Eventually, she smiled.

"Of course they can stay." I heard the young changeling gasp in happiness behind me. "However," Celestia continued, "they must obey all rules of the castle, as well as be accompanied by a guard at all times."

"Oh, I don't think that second one will be necessary, as well as possible, Princess," I said, making both of them turn their heads toward me. "You see, they can easily transform into anypony they want, so appointing them a guard would be pointless. Second, I would like to keep watch over them."

I could tell that they were both shocked by what I said. "And why would you like to do that?" the princess asked.

"I have come to believe that we actually might become great friends," I said, smiling.

Celestia smiled back. "Very well then, Blue. If you so wish to be this changeling's guardian, then so be it. In the meantime, I need to have a chat with my nephew."

She turned and went back inside. "Why'd you do that?" the changeling behind me asked. "Why'd you want to be the one to look after me?"

I shrugged. "Probably because I'm mostly bored throughout my days here. Before you came alone, my favorite thing to do here was lie under a tree and imagine stuff. Enjoy the peace and quiet. But sometimes, peace and quiet gets boring. I mean, its nice to have it when you come from a family who don't normally know how to keep quiet, but there's nothing to do in addition to the quiet, which makes it all boring."

I turned to the changeling behind me. "Besides. I just made enemies with Blueblood, the guard I've made friends with has a job to do, the princess is too busy with her own stuff to do anything, and her student has to catch up with studies."

"Huh," they said. "Seems like a quiet life. But do you really think you can actually look after me?" they asked with a small grin. "I mean, you're just as old as I am." I chuckled at that. "What's so funny?"

"Nothing," I lied. "The princess wouldn't have allowed it if that were true." I looked at them, who only gave a confused look in response. "Come on, lets head inside."

Canterlot Castle Bedroom February 28th 985

"And this is where I stay!" I exclaimed to them, showing the room that I stayed in for the past week.

"Well," they began, "Its big... That's for sure."

I nodded in response. "Yeah. I think this room was meant for somepony else; not me." I really did know who's room this was supposed to be. Luna's. This room, as Celestia once told me, was made this big under her orders. After being forced to flee her old castle, she had this new one built. She had hope many years ago that her sister would return. She lost that hope when all seemed to stay the same; her sister still on the moon.

Then I came along.

I relit her hope that her sister would return. I knew it was going to happen, and I told her of that day. A day that everything would change for the better.

But I wasn't going to tell this to my changeling friend. They had no need to know about this world's future. "I guess you'll be staying here since I stay here, and I'm now your official guardian."

"I guess," they replied.

"What can I call you?" I asked them, who only gave a confused look in response. "You said that changelings didn't have a name. Well, I don't want to call out 'hey, changeling' every time I want your attention. So, what can I call you?"

Their blue eyes closed a bit. "I'm not sure..." they said. "I never really thought about having a name of any sort."

I nodded. "Its alright, you don't have to come up with one right now. I would just feel better if I didn't have to ca-"

"Shadow," they said, interrupting me.

"Huh?"

"Shadow," they repeated. "That's what I feel like you calling me by."

"Shadow..." I said, feeling the words roll off my tongue. "I like it! What made you think of it?"

Shadow shrugged. "I guess it was just that changelings are a lot like shadows. They are never the same, depending on the pony."

I thought about that. It seemed true. Changelings changed, and shadows are never the same. All are different, depending on the pony. "Well then, Shadow," I began, "what should we do now?"

"Hide-n-Seek?" they suggested, smiling a bit.

I glanced at them. "Don't you have an unfair advantage?" I said, making my voice sound a bit suspicious.

Shadow chuckled. "True. How about, since most of the guards might be frightened of a changeling, I turn into you for the game?"

"Hmm," I said. That could work, I thought. The guards wouldn't freak out, and we would be able to play the game as if it were fair. "Alright, but you have to stay disguised as me for the entire game."

"Great! So who's hiding first?"

I feel like I'm reliving my childhood. "You can hide first," I said. "I haven't played this game in some time, and I want to see if my seeking skills are as good as I remember."

Shadow nodded and closed his eyes. Green flames erupted around him, and what stood in his place was an exact replica of myself. His eyes opened and stared back into mine.

"Well?" he asked. "Are there any other rules you wish to state before counting?"

I thought for a second. "Yes. Outside the castle is off-limits."

"Is that all?"

I smiled and turned around. "You have until I count to sixty. One... Two... Three..."

I heard a bit of stumbling, as well as a door closing behind me. I grinned and continued counting in my head. I walked a bit around the room. I paced in front of the door after some time, my counting nearly done.

Fifty-Eight... Fifty-Nine... "Sixty!" I shouted when I was finished. "Ready or not, here I come!"

Later...

I should say that the game of Hide-n-Seek went very well. Which, to some, was true. To me, Shadow didn't hide as well as I had hoped. Sure, he didn't get caught by any guards, but I found him way too easy. Sometimes, the orange tail he had copied from me would stick out, and I found him that way. He had some more good moments in the game, where I would actually have to look for him, but not too many.

As for my hiding... Well, I remember a time when I played Hide-n-Seek with some fellow scout members in my troop as an activity. We played a total of two games. The first one, I hid right beside a tree, and no one found me. They called out my name for me to reveal myself when they had given up. The second game was a little different. This time, I hid in a tree, which had no leaves; only branches, and could easily be seen from.

That wasn't a pleasant experience of my life, but it was one of he only Hide-n-Seek moments worth mentioning.

No one found me that game either. What made it worse was the fact that they didn't even bother calling my name to tell me the game was over. They all just left me outside in the cold night while they went inside and had snacks. I eventually came from my hiding place and went inside to wonder what was going on.

And you know what? They congratulated me! Congratulated me for being the one who could stay hidden for the entire game! Congratulated me, even though they were in the wrong!

And that is something that I still think about today. Something that reminds me what terrible friends they were, if they ever were my friends to begin with. They tell you things you want to hear, and then treat you like you're the worst person in the world to be with.

But this is getting off topic. Point is, Shadow couldn't find me that often. Sometimes, he even overlooked my hiding spot and looked elsewhere. So, all in all, my hiding and seeking skills haven't changed at all.

"Wow," he said, "you're really good at Hide-n-Seek!"

I chuckled. "I dabble." We were walking down the hallway back to the room. "You know," I began, turning my head toward him, "I'm glad you came along today."

He looked at me with a confused expression. "Why's that?"

"If you didn't come along, I wouldn't have had this much fun," I told him. "I haven't had that kind of fun in a long time."

He nodded his head in confirmation, and looked ahead again. Almost right after they did that, they turned to me again. "What about your family?" I froze. "Don't you play with them?"

I looked at the floor and continued walking forward. "I'd rather not talk about my family..."

"Why not?"

I shook my head while still looking at the ground. "Please, I'd rather not talk about my family."

He looked ahead once again. "Fine," he said in an 'I give up' tone of voice.

The rest of the time we spent in the hallway was spent in silence. I didn't feel like talking about the subject they brought up earlier, and they didn't think of bringing up another topic.

We reached the room, still in silence. He dropped his illusion that he had up. He wasn't disguised as me, oh no. Turns out, a changeling can create their own disguises if they so desire to. All they have to do is come up with an image of what they wish to look like, and they can become what they are thinking.

However, it comes with a downside. He told me that in order to create his own disguise, he had to use a lot of energy. Since changelings feed on love, that was hard to come by. Thankfully, he came up with a simpler was to create the disguise. He simply based his disguise off me and changed some of the colors around.

He didn't look to bad either. He didn't keep the gray coat and the orange mane, and instead changed the two colors to a green coat and blue mane. The style the mane and tail was in stayed the same, due to the amount of energy it would have taken to change it.

Anyway, he changed back to his original form. I didn't mind that he did that. It was who he was.

Heh, as if I'm one to talk. A human in a pony's body.

"So what now?" I heard him ask.

I looked outside at the dark sky. We played so long, it turned dark out. "I think we should head to bed," I said. a bit of groaning came from behind me, causing me to turn around. "What?"

"Do we have to?" he whined.

I nodded. "We can't stay up all night. We'd be tired in the morning." Well, he might be. I don't get tired from staying up. Just bored.

"Fine," he said dimly. "So where do I sleep?"

I looked around the room after he said that. Nothing on the floor could provide any kind of sleeping surface, and the bed was the only thing that wold have served it's purpose. "I'm not sure..."

"Never mind," he said. "I found a place to sleep."

I turned to where he was walking. A plush couch hid behind the bed. "I never noticed that before..." I commented. In my defense, I never really spent much time paying attention to what I was doing in the room. I might have noticed it in the past week, but never really noticed it, noticed it. "Are you sure?"

He nodded. "This is fine. Do you have any spare blankets?"

I nodded, and picked one of the blankets off the bed with my magic. "Here."

He smiled back. "Thanks." The blanket was taken up in a green aura and placed on the couch.

"Is there anything else you need?" I asked.

"No," he said, shaking his head. "I'm fine now." I nodded and focused my magic on the light switch across the room. The lights flickered out in no time at all. "Goodnight Blue."

I climbed into the bed. "Goodnight Shadow," I replied, covering myself in the blankets. I closed my eyes and waited for sleep to take me.