//------------------------------// // 16. Discussion in a Sea of Nymphs // Story: The Halfling // by Scarheart //------------------------------// Princess Cadence sat in living room of Wilda’s home shortly after sunrise, having arrived just before Celestia had sent the sun on its course for the day. The two mares sat next to each other quietly, Wilda tending to her hatchling while the alicorn loafed on some cushions set on the floor. In between them lay a pile of sleeping nymphs. A low table was before them laden with tea and buttered breakfast biscuits. A cup of hot tea lifted to her lips, a calm visage upon her face as her son and Maggie slept under her right wing. Yamir had left to deal with the neighbors. There was a lot of unhappy changelings out there, thanks almost entirely to the spectacular entrance of one pink alicorn princess. And the laundry. There were soiled sheets currently in the wash. Earlier, she had been frazzled: mane and tail unkempt, coat unbrushed and her crown and torque nowhere to be seen. The moment word had reached her of Reign Cloud’s odd behavior, she teleported after blurting something to her half asleep husband, leaving him very much confused and in the lurch. The sudden appearance of a princess with a horrible case of bed mane and a maniacal and frantic gleam in her eye for any of those unfortunate enough to gaze upon her was truly a sight to behold. Using the Voice, all residents within a three city block radius heard, “WHERE IS MY FOAL??” Guards had gone out to assess the damage. There were already reports of broken windows streaming in. The changeling ward was in chaos. There was the report of a second, less volatile screaming shortly after Reign’s episode, but the guard found nothing out of the ordinary. A sparrow landed on the shattered window pane and looked into the home. It pecked at a bit of glass at its feet before looking inquisitively into the room where the two mares sat in awkward silence. The changeling kept looking at what was left of her windows. She sighed, sipped her tea and fiddled with her dozing hatchling. Cadence hid her embarrassment from her outburst by concentrating on her tea. Wilda sipped at her own cup, going over the conversation which had followed the princess’ sudden appearance and awe inspiring outburst. Wilda was very much impressed with the set of lungs of her ruler. “Well,” Wilda said slowly after a long and uneasy silence. “I said I was sorry.” “I’ve never heard the Voice before. It’s impressive.” “Thank you. Princess Celestia taught me.” Wilda sipped her tea. “Do you think I could learn it?” Cadence gave the brood mother a quizzical look. “I suppose. Why would you want to?” Reign snuggled closer to her, stretching out a hoof before curling it back to his body. Maggie adjusted to his movement, grunting. A hind leg kicked feebly. Both were entwined with each other, inseparable. Cadence had lifted a wing the moment she felt her son shift. Both mothers smiled softly at the adorable display. There was a sudden want for a camera. It would have made wonderful evidence in later years, should either Maggie or Reign give their mothers sass. “It seems like a useful tool,” said Wilda with a shrug. She selected a biscuit and nibbled on it daintily. “Can only you use it? Alicorns, I mean?” Cadence settled her wing over the sleeping foals. They had a long night and had only fallen asleep moments ago. She swirled her tea thoughtfully. “It can be taught. It requires magic and learning how to control your vocal chords with that magic. It’s not hard to learn, but it is difficult to master.” Silence fell over the room. Cadence decided she had enough of looking at the broken glass. “Do you mind?” she asked politely. “Mind what?” Wilda blinked while reaching for the teapot for a refill. “I’d like to mend the glass.” “Oh! Well, that would be nice, considering it was your fault,” allowed the mare cheekily. The princess allowed a quiet chuckle as her horn flared. Effortlessly, what had been shattered lifted from the pile swept up earlier by Wilda while Cadence had apologized profusely for the mess. There were whole city blocks suffering from the same problem at the moment. It would take a couple of days and a dip into the city coffers, but everything could be made right, one window at a time. Wilda watched as the alicorn princess effortlessly unleashed a mending spell. Shards of glass swirled in an aura of magic, seeking out where they had broken apart and clicking together. It was like watching glass breaking in reverse. Fascinated, the hatchling watched with huge and wondering eyes as magic happened. Sunlight gleamed and reflected, putting on a mild prismatic display as the glass mended and settled upright into the window frame. One by one, the other windows in the room mended. “If only changeling magic could be manipulated as easily as that,” commented Wilda. “Ours is suited for illusions and disguises. And hunting.” She sipped her tea. They had been avoiding getting into the details of Reign’s nightmare. A quick explanation was given, but Cadence felt something was off. Wilda was aware of it. The alicorn needed time to process what happened to her son. It did not sound like a night terror. She considered consulting Luna. Cadence lifted her wing and looked at Maggie and Reign. She smiled. “They’re so precious,” she said. Her muzzled nodded towards the sleeping brood. “They’re all precious.” Wilda refilled her friend’s teacup. “I consider our friendship precious. I remember how terribly frightened you were upon seeing us those years ago. I remember how you had once thought to quarantine all of us because of what happened in Canterlot. You told me this because you were afraid, but you did not want to do it. Your husband wanted to. He wanted to protect ponies. He wanted to protect you. I was afraid I would lose my shop.” “That was before I met you. That was before Reign and Maggie.” “Strange how events create such odd bedfellows.” “I consider you a dear friend, now.” Wilda sipped her tea. “I know. Your husband showed great courage against his fears by bringing Reign here himself. Were you truly unable to come yourself?” “Griffons can be as impossible as they are imposing.” “Such is the way of foreign politics, I suppose.” She paused, glancing at Cadence. “I was once sure you would take up my offer those years ago, to take everything from me. I had been chosen to speak for the community. I did not want to, but the others were far too afraid after they heard what had happened.” Cadence closed her eyes and shook her head. “I would never do such a thing. I was afraid of what you implied when you made the offer. We knew so little of changelings.” “What we knew of ponies was different than what the forgotten generations who had been trapped here for so long. You alicorns terrify us. You truly do. We had our own legends of what the princesses were capable of. The recollections of those who witnessed their might....” “I read the reports.” Cadence shook her head. “I’ve never known my aunts to be of a violent nature. Luna, I can see. Celestia, she thinks of herself as everyone’s mother and guide. She loves all living things.” “I should think if I was not with you if either of them showed up, I should faint.” The alicorn laughed, causing the nymphs to stir. “I rather doubt that, Wilda!” “It is the truth!” insisted Wilda, not at all being serious. “And I would embarass myself before my children and live the rest of my life in shame, sitting behind the counter of my shop and wondering why I have no customers.” Cadence snorted. “Rolled on my back, legs sticking up in the air,” supplied the broodmother. “Stop, you’ll wake them!” stifled the mare, her sides heaving. “Tongue hanging out. Me drooling on the floor.” The image she conjured up was too much to bear. Cadence giggled insanely. Wilda followed suit. Though she was not royalty, the pressures of what other changelings expected of her as their speaker might as well have stuck a crown upon her head. A decade of bonding had turned to mares who, under other circumstances suspicious at best, into a pair of mothers who only wanted what was best for their children. Both wanted changelings and ponies to coexist with each other as peaceably as possible. Both had a strong dislike of Zeala, whom both were sure was up to something. The priestess had kept her profile to a footnote as of late, doing her duties and always accessible. With her temple complete, there were a lot of blessing rituals she insisted on being done that were as ancient as the Sisters. The Princess of Love had felt what had gone on in the changeling temple. As did any changeling with senses acute enough for long range emotional detection. A lot of primal lust. Thankfully, the love emitted by the Crystal Heart muted a lot of what was flowing from the temple. Still, a lot of changeling mares steered their easily impressionable nymphs from the grounds. The temple grounds were popular with the single crowd. Cadence always found herself blushing furiously when she tried to touch the raw emotions coming from the building. She had wondered about asking Father Sun Cloud and Preceptor Starcaller if they had felt anything, but the very idea asking ponies of the cloth if they were feeling aroused felt wrong on several levels. To this point, there were no complaints and no reports of acolytes of either the Sun of the Moon acting weird. Her own temple was silent...then again, Cadence had yet to ordain anypony to speak on her behalf. She refused to ordain anyone, so it remained empty of clergy while remaining open to the public from sunrise to sunset, with a guard posted at its door to allow the rare nightly visitor upon request. She had asked Zeala how long the rituals were going to take not too long ago. The reply had been a year. The rituals had begun three weeks ago. As if sharing her thoughts, Wilda cleared her throat. “I expect there will be a lot of eggs to be coming. There will be a population boom.” “Pardon?” “The Temple. Your emotions suggest you are thinking of it.” “Ah, yes. It’s distracting.” “It is a joyous occasion,” reminded Wilda with twinkling eyes. “There will be many happy first time mothers and worried first time fathers. I remember when Shadow was but an egg.” “Your first son?” “Indeed. I was only half the size I am now. Young myself. Sixteen. Married to an aspiring officer in my queen’s army. When I laid that egg, I was so happy, as though no burden in the world could bring me down.” She laughed lightly, selected a random nymph and nuzzled. “I poured so much love into that egg, I thought I was going to pass out from dizziness.” Cadence once balked at such a young age. But, Wilda had told this story before. She was rather fond of reminiscing about her brood. She found boundless joy in talking about laying eggs, feeding them her love and the day of their hatching. “I have never asked you about your upbringing,” the changeling noted. “You were born a pegasus, but ascended in a manner similar to young Princess Twilight Sparkle. The story is quite well-known, but little is known about the filly before the ascension.” “Well,” Cadence sighed, a little smile forming on her lips, “I suppose I really don’t tell much of my life before I became an alicorn.” She inhaled the scent of sleeping changelings, noting again and with neverending surprise how clean and wholesome— not unlike pony foals. “I was an orphan. I don’t know who my real birth parents were, but I was adopted by a very nice earth pony couple. Earth ponies tend to have large families, like the Apple Family. Nowhere near as impressive as yours, Wilda, of course.” Wilda beamed. “Of course!” Cadence refilled Wilda’s tea and went on. “I was the third foal of what eventually became five. Mother and father both worked were farmers. Corn, soybeans. Typical farmer things. I loved spending my days with my friends and my adopted brothers and sisters. We played so many games! We chased each other, ran from each other. Our town was small, maybe half the size of Ponyville. You know of Ponyville?” she asked Wilda. “I know of Ponyville,” said Wilda, raising her teacup. “It is a silly name. There is a tree castle there. A kingdom within a kingdom. It makes no sense.” Cadence detected humor in her friend’s voice. “A lot of what we ponies do don’t make sense,” she admitted, feeling Reign snuggle against her side. The moment he moved, Maggie moved. Wilda chuckled and Cadence caught her eyes watching a leg poking out from beneath her wing, twitching a little spasm. “As I was saying, I grew up in a large family. A large family in a small community stands out. Everypony knows who you are and everypony looks out for each other. It was a simple life. We had a one room school. I suppose you could say it was backwards, now that I think about it.” “Where in Equestria was this?” “Ah, just north of Las Pegasus in a little mountain valley. Sort of a backwards place, really. Nice and quiet. We received few visitors from beyond the valley. The one road was closed off half the year because of snow and avalanches. I was the only pegasus in the whole town. They were all earth ponies. Warm and welcoming to everypony who came to visit.” She noticed nymphs slowly rousing from sleep and turning curiously to the sound of her voice. “So...you were an orphan?” A hint of sadness was in Wilda’s voice. “It was very noble and good you were adopted. Do you hear from your adoptive parents?” Cadence’s face fell and she felt a pang of loss. “The day I ascended, it frightened them. It frightened them greatly. Celestia felt my ascension and came that very day. There were many guards with her. She frightened the townsfolk far less than her presence simply overawed them. They not only knew who she was, but to them, she was also The Sun Goddess. I remember so many ponies throwing themselves at her hooves and begging forgiveness for daring to keep me down to their level of existence. They honestly thought they had offended Celestia and believed she was there to take revenge for having me among them. Celestia was very hurt by this assumption. None of her reassuring words could ease the fear from those ponies. I have tried to write my parents, to tell them I am well and that I miss them. I have never received a reply, save from one of my brothers.” She sniffled as if the memory was as fresh as if it had happened yesterday. “They believed I had gone far beyond them, that they are beneath my notice. I was asked to never contact them again with hopes my new life is prosperous and good.” “What a sad tale,” murmured Wilda. “I hope I did not offend by asking of your past.” “Oh, I try not to let the past rule me. Life is full of unexpected turns. I still think of my parents and brothers and sisters and remember the kindness they showed before I grew this horn. Those were happy years. I hurt for long time after, but I had a patient and loving guide. Celestia adopted me as her niece and began to prepare me for my current role.” “Still,” she murmured, tilting towards her son, “I think it prepared me in a way for him. Though he is not technically an orphan, he was abandoned.” “In a fashion, yes.” Wilda nodded curtly, refilling her friend’s teacup. The changeling nibbled another biscuit while she ruminated on Cadence’s story. The nymphs were slowly coming to wakefulness and she began to give them some love as a jump start. The effect was almost immediate. “Morning, Momma,” said Rose through a yawn. “Thank you. Where’s Poppa?” “He is currently doing the laundry.” The nymph’s ears splayed out and she made a sour face. “Oh.” “Run a bath.” “But we bathed—” “It’s not for them. If we’re going to the park today, the rest of you need to be squeaky clean. I’ll make breakfast for when you are done.” Wilda smiled at Cadence. “Care to join us on our family outing today? Or is your schedule full today?” Cadence gave a moment of thought. “I do believe my day has suddenly become boring-free. I’ll notify my seneschal to clear everything. I’m feeling my son will need me today. Might I help you with breakfast?” “I could use an extra pair of hooves.” “Good. While the little ones get ready, I’d like to talk to you about Reign’s incident. It needs to be discussed in detail and in private. The whole thing stinks of High Heaven.” “I agree. Perhaps consulting the Princess of the Night would help clear some of the confusion away. I do not think it was a night terror.” “Nor do I.” The nymphs were awake and they were hungry. There were groans from those who had to take a bath, but Rose followed her mother’s character and brokered no backtalk, herding the groggy group towards the bath. Reign and Maggie were the last to be roused (having perhaps the most comfortable alicorn in the world to sleep against) and dragged hooves after them (Maggie not so much dragging as bouncing). Those that remained instinctively went under Wilda’s hooves as she rose with the majesty of a queen and daintily made tracks towards the kitchen, her hatchling moved with her magic into her pouch. Cadence followed suit and the pair went forth, girded to make breakfast for an army of young changelings.