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// Who Am I? 
// Story: Changing Ways 
// by DerpyStarlet 
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	A bully.

That's what ponies see me as, and I never questioned it. A bully is on top, a bully is a winner, a bully Is right... always. At least, that's what I was taught. But they never called it being a bully outright, we were the ones in charge. If you're calling the shots it's privilege, they glamorize it with a title and all of a sudden it's socially acceptable. Leader was an oft used one. What a joke, I'm no leader.

Maybe that's why I can see it now. Through all the lies and falsities I let myself believe in some foolish attempt to please everypony, I must have known that. I wasn't a leader, no matter what they told me. I must have had some repressed moral compass, not one I ever listened to, but it was there nonetheless. No, I never acknowledged that sort of stuff, there were always more important things than morals. I was taught not to falter, never second guess yourself. That uncertainty is a sign of weakness, and if something you can't hesitate it. You act, and if you're truly as great as you claim, then consequences don't matter. Because when you're great, you're always right. Only ponies who aren't right face consequences.

They were right, to an extent. But so very wrong. I see that, I saw it, but I never questioned it. Because, as I said, never falter. The only reason I saw it is because I was fortunate enough not to be born into thinking that way, I was taught it. They tried to change me, no she tried to change me. She succeeded. I was coaxed into being her willing slave, given false free will.

My friend... former friend? No, I may have called her that, but just like all the other titles given to her, it's fake too. I was just another lackey, with privilege. I was her special project, she was conditioning me to do her dirty work. Giving me the illusion of control, pretending to relinquish control of our little group over to me. How do I know she was doing all this if I was so thoroughly convinced of it all? Perspective. I have perspective now.

The thing is, she's a good liar, a master Wordsmith. She thinks quickly and speaks with a silver tongue. Nopony who knows better ever questions her, because she is THE Silver Spoon. And everypony knows, you don't bite the spoon that feeds you.

I didn't listen.

Or, rather, I finally decided to defy it. I'm not exactly sure when I had the change of heart, or when I made the conscious decision to change. Hay, I'm not even sure I can honestly say that I've changed all that much. But even if I myself haven't changed a lot, one big change stands out.

I've changed my loyalties, for better... or for worse.