//------------------------------// // Chapter 9 // Story: Fly on the Wall // by RattPitt //------------------------------// Throwing up made me drop Luna’s form. The feeling of having my stomach contents being ripped out through my mouth still hurts. My throat feels like I just swallowed something on fire. I don’t want to ever throw up again. I find the boat Jabhir was talking about. There isn't anypony on board. I pilot the boat towards the direction of Equestria. I land at the port of Manehattan again. If history repeats itself, then the wrong pony died and I’ll be sent back to Saddle Arabia to kill somepony that doesn’t deserve it. But the pony that jumped off the roof claimed to be Toma Jabhir. There wouldn't be any reason for him to lie. If he wanted to hide somepony, he wouldn't have killed himself. He wouldn't have ran away, even. By the time the boat docked, I took up the form of an earth pony. These ponies would rip the flesh off my bones if they knew what I actually was. Even if my blood family didn't try to invade Canterlot, they'd still rip me to pieces. They think changelings are freaks. By their standards, I am. By my standards, I am too. After what I had to experience in Saddle Arabia... I killed too many ponies. I saw too many ponies die. I want to go back home. My home with the changelings is no longer my home. I'm certain Chrysalis is dead. Good riddance. Sure, she wanted to feed me. Sure, we were running out of love to feed on. We didn't have to kill for food. We did, though. My home is in Canterlot. I am technically homeless right now, but I just hope that'll change once I get home. I step into the room where I first met the two Princesses. They're alone. Guards didn't even join us. "You have returned safe and sound. Good." Princess Celestia says honestly. “You have done a great deed, changeling.” Luna says with a smile on her face. She’s being sincere about this. “My sister and I are safe from the lies spread by Toma Jabhir. We cannot thank you enough.” “Agreed, Luna." Celestia says. "Would you like to go on another mission?" I really don't want to, but part of me feels that I'll have to eventually. "I'll do what I have to do, Princess Celestia. If I have to go to the depths of Tartarus and back, I'll do it." The two Princesses glance at each other. Princess Celestia smiles. "Thank you once again, changeling. I will arrange for you to have your own room within the castle. Your mission must have been difficult, I am certain, so your room will be very luxurious." I give the two Princesses a bow. "Thank you, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna." I look back up to them. "And I apologize for my behavior before going on this mission. I was immature then." "Apology accepted, changeling." Princess Celestia opens her mouth, but the response comes from Princess Luna. "Before you go, we would like to pay you for your deeds on your mission to assist Equestria." I shake my head. "That isn't necessary, Princess Luna." "Unnecessary, maybe. We still wish to pay you. Would you rather have bits or gemstones?" Princess Luna is going to be tenacious. I shouldn't even bother fighting this off. "It doesn't matter, Princess Luna." "Please, just call me Luna." "And call me Celestia." Princess Celestia adds. "My sister and I understand that you met Lieutenant Shooting Star during your travels?" 'Travels?' That makes it sound like I went there for fun. "Yes. I did. He was killed by another pony, unfortunately." I reply. The two Princesses look at each other. They turn back to me. "We will have to inform Rainbow Dash about his death." "Who's Rainbow Dash?" "A pegasus and bearer of the Element of Loyalty, though not necessarily in that order." Celestia replies. "You may meet her in the future, changeling." She looks aside for half a second. "Is there a name you wish to go by?" Maybe I should choose a name. I have a new life, now. Changelings never got to have names, aside from royalty. I have some royalty in my blood, but it's far from enough to earn a spot upon a throne. I don't think I could get used to a name, though. I've never had one my entire life. I've lived over have of my lifetime already. I doubt I could get used to a name, in that case. Besides, what would I even choose? "No. I'm just a changeling. Call me that." I reply. "If you so desire, changeling." Celestia says. She barely hides her look of discomfort and disapproval. Several hours later, Luna guides me to my room. "Thank you, Princess." I tell her. "You deserve this, changeling. Your mission in Saddle Arabia was difficult. I can tell just by looking at you." "...Is it that obvious?" I ask. Luna nods. "Yeah, the mission was... difficult, to say the least." I let out a sigh. I can't tell if it's a sigh of relief or something else. We stop walking at an intricately-carved door. It's made of some white-colored material, likely marble, and lined with gold trim. I wouldn't be surprised if the gold was real. I let out a low whistle. "Damn. Fancy door." Luna's smiling. "Let me guess. This is my room, right?" "Yes it is, changeling." She's smiling ear to ear, almost literally. "If you like the door so much, just wait until you see your bed." I can feel a spell being cast over me. I turn to Luna. Her horn's lit up in her aura. "You look like you're about to wet it. You were bouncing up and down." "I've never had one to myself, that's all." "A room?" "A bed." I admit. Sure, I've slept in cocoons, but never a bed. I've never even been on a mattress before. Princess Luna opens the door with her magic. I step inside the room. The room is easily the biggest I've been in. There aren't many words that can describe how fancy the room is. It's rectangular with massive white pillars at the corners and the middles of the walls, like where the pockets of a billiards table are. The walls have a soft and barely noticeable gold tint on them. To help contrast the bright colors, there's purple trimming on the bottoms and tops of the walls. There's only one window, with space for another. The window that's in looks out over the valley. I can see the small town, Ponyville, easily. I'd like to visit that town someday. I turn back to Luna, but half way, I catch the bed in my sights. It's large enough to hold at least three ponies the size of Luna. There are pillars on the corners of the bed. At the top of the pillars is some sort of sheet, making a canopy above the bed. "Damn." I say. I want to say more, but... damn. Luna smiles. "This is your room, changeling. My sister and I decided that it should be elegant. We know that you have had a difficult mission in Saddle Arabia and we know you will receive discrimination for your species. This room is the least we can do to help." "It's more than enough." I say. "Is there any way I can thank you?" "There are ways, but you don't have to thank me. This is Celestia's and my way of thanking you." She turns around and starts to leave my room. "Before you go, Luna. If you ever need me to do anything like that again, let me know." I tell her. She turns back. After a second, she smiles and nods. "I believe you've done enough for my sister and me, changeling." Luna leaves my room. With a sigh, I turn to look outside and at the town down in the valley. With all the positive emotions Luna let loose, I probably won't be able to get any sleep tonight. That's probably the only bad thing about positive feelings. They increase heart rates, both in changelings and in ponies. I walk over to my bed. Just looking at it would probably keep me from sleeping. It would be like sleeping on a painting. With nothing else to do to pass the time, I crawl onto the bed. It's easily the most comfortable thing I've ever been in. It's soft, like how I'd imagine a cloud to be. I've got years with these ponies ahead of me. I look forward to them. If I ever see Chrysalis again, I'll tell her that I'm done with them. I'll tell her that all's fair in love and war. It's a true statement. It shouldn't be.