//------------------------------// // Chapter 3: A Pact in Spirit // Story: Honour Bound // by Astral Star and Company //------------------------------// By the time I could breathe, I was haphazardly tossed into the river of waste, just at the outskirts of the city where I foraged every day. My body ached so much that I almost preferred death. Being dumped in a river with water so dense that every piece of garbage formed a hard covering over it, hurt. A lot. What made it worse was that arrow wound. The pain in my leg lessened to a dull throb now. I couldn’t decide whether my leg’s getting better, or it’s dying on me. In either case, I dragged myself out of the river of sludge and back into my little hide away. Thankfully, it was just one minute away, even with a lame leg. I couldn’t stay wounded forever though. A wounded changeling was a dead changeling on the streets of the hive. My little cubby hole greeted me with the same fuzzy feeling I got every time I entered. It’s what home feels like, and it felt good, especially after today’s ordeal. Looking back at it, a lot of things went wrong back then. For example, the higher powers decided to station archers at the well. Arrows did little to the adult Changeling thanks to our thick exoskeleton, so they were usually saved for the coming war front. I guess they had enough of me stealing their water. Whatever the case, I needed to clean myself up, fast. My wound is bad enough, but being tossed around in the sour made it life threatening. I had no medicine or clean water to speak of though, and I’m now nowhere fast enough to steal again, let alone outrun an archer. Looks like I’ll have to go without it. I’ve gone without water to drink before, but that ugly black arrow could spell the death of me. Huddling under my tattered cloak blanket, I tucked myself in for the day. I might try again at night time, but until then, I was off to sleep. (\^/) Night comes quickly when you’ve been asleep for the day. The silver grey moonlight filtered through my tarp lined cave, waking me along with the brisk night air. The moon illuminated the street in an eerie, blue-grey glow. Not a single light was on in any of the houses. It was dead silent, naught but the howling winds could be heard outside. My leg was all numb now, like a pins-and-needles sensation that won’t go away. I must have turned in my sleep, because the arrow shaft lay broken in my bed. It was alright though, I was going to remove that pesky thing anyway. What worried me most was the hole in my leg that wasn’t there before. An ugly, pus filled breach that worked its way through like the remnants of a disease, topped with plenty of dried blood. The arrow head was still embedded in there, I was afraid to touch it. Just because I couldn’t feel pain there anymore, doesn’t mean it wouldn’t hurt me. Peeking outside, it was completely deserted there. I knew that few changelings went outside after dark, but this was an all-new level of silence. It bothered me, a niggling suspicion at the back of my mind. Knowing my luck, it would come back to bite me later, but for now, I needed to clean this wound. The eerie silence comforted me enough to take the direct route along the street. I walked in jagged strides, struggling to compensate for my injured leg. It was infected, I was sure of that. What I hoped for was that it wasn’t poisoned. Being a race of infiltrators, spies, deceivers and warriors, the concept of poison was not unheard of. The Royal Archers were notorious for poisoning their arrows. I couldn’t tell if my assailant from before was your regular garden variety, or the kind that killed you slowly. The well greeted me minutes later, a round medieval stone circle, and oddity in the flat, plain square. The water was cool and still, reflecting the light and shape of the full moon. I looked at myself in it. It had been a while since I had. Glass was the first thing to get broken once it arrived on the streets. As far as I knew, only ponies could make glass. I had to admit, I was in good shape for a street pest, if a little on the thin side. My shell was darker than a normal changeling’s and my eyes an emerald green. Other than that, there was not much else to distinguish me from other changelings. However, you won’t find many deviating from the natural blue-eyed changelings. Then there was my wound. I was no doctor, but I could tell I was in trouble. If I hadn’t lived next to a sewer for my whole life, I might have gagged or thrown up. I was sick, that was for sure. I dispelled the idea of just dipping my leg in the well. As amusing as it sounded, I didn’t want to poison it for the other changelings. On the other hoof, I didn’t have a bucket. I must’ve lost it when I jumped in the sewer. I internally cursed myself, there was no getting it back now. No doubt the guards took it for their own reasons. Hello…? What? A voice? Not likely. The street was completely deserted in all directions. I must be hearing things. You are not hearing things… It sounded more irritated this time. Okay, maybe the infection’s gone to my brain. Listen to me… Having no parents, there was no one to tell me how to read, write or even speak. My thoughts weren’t words, but basic feelings and instincts. Yet, I could understand this voice as clearly as the well beside me. This was not my imagination speaking, but it did speak through my thoughts. The voice was soft, serene even. It was female for sure, but didn’t carry that buzz that all changelings had when they talked. I was curious though, so I casually pricked my ear to listen some more. Good, look into the well, young one… The well? I looked inside the stone circle to be met with not only the reflection of the moon, but a paranormal image in place of his own image. I had never seen a pony before, but this one just had to be. All I could see was her chest upward, but that was enough for me to tell that she was tall, very tall. Her coat shared the colour of the sky above, as did her hair and horn. Her hair rippled like ripples in a pond, but the well was still glass clear. Her entire form flickered in and out of the water’s surface. Her eyes were round and welcoming, with white irises complimenting a warm smile. There you are… Um, yeah, so? She grinned wider I have been looking for you, little Mira… Mira? What’s Mira? Why you of course. I’ve been looking for you… I pondered this for a moment. A pony looking for me? Any smart pony would avoid contact with one completely, let alone talk with one inside the hive. Even if this is just some magical illusion, this pony must be crazy. I’m not crazy… She can hear my thoughts too? Great… The mare in the mirror giggled. A light, sweet sound that made my heart flutter involuntarily. There’s more to you than what you are right now, little Mira. There is great hope for you, at a cost… I didn’t like the sound of that. I had very little right now, and couldn’t afford to lose much, especially after my bucket. This won’t be a material transaction… So, will I have to sell you my soul or something? To a degree… I was liking her less and less. I can lead you to good fortune, little Mira. All I ask for is your trust… My trust? Is that it? Do not take this lightly. I ask you to put all your trust in me. I guarantee you, there are hardships ahead. Things so dark and painful that Hades himself will cringe at its cruelty. I will guide you on the safe path, but you must trust me… Her voice resounded with forced anger, but also some desperation. I felt something from her, some kind of energy. The only emotion I received in my whole life was hatred, disgust and anger. I received it so often that my mind just blocked it out. This feeling was foreign, but it made me warm inside. It felt cold, but warmed me up a bit. That’s it! Pity! She was pitying me, but why? I have seen the future, little Mira. It’s a dark road ahead for you and I. If both of us are to survive this, a pact must be made… She’s got my attention now. I had little to lose, and the prospect of good fortune was overhwhelmingly tempting. What kind of pact? Your trust, for my guidance. Simple… Then I accept Don’t be hasty. This deal is made in mind and spirit. No mortal force can break this pact. Your trust must be absolute, without question. Any wavering and both our souls will suffer. In a way, I’m trusting you too… This deal sounded good, really good. How could I not? Good fortune for placing trust in a pony. A race so honest and kind that they made perfect prey for changelings. I accept to your terms The mare smiled It is done. From henceforth, I live, in you… Wait what? All of a sudden, the water rose from the well like a supernatural tsunami. It gushed over me, the torrent sending my tumbling end over end inside it. I felt like I was drowning, I was so disoriented and blind. The ball of water rose above the well, me trapped within it. With a mighty splash, I was dropped inside the well. So dizzy was I that I couldn’t figure out which way was up, let alone swim towards it. It was all over in minutes. My vision clouded from the outside, slowly eating away at what little light I could see. The moon shined above like death’s own face beckoning me to the next world. I didn’t want to die.