Seraph carefully raised the spoon to her mouth and took a sip of the stew, before lowering it to the bowl for another without a word. Opposite her sat the bat-pony mare, an occasional gaze from the silent pony encouraging Seraph to just keep her head low and play safe.
The two nymphs, two young-adults, and the bat-pony filly had no such cares. The separate small table down the end was filled with happy talking and equally excited chirps and chatters, a stark contrast to the dour adult table.
Although there was the shared fear of Equestrian conversions, they themselves weren’t particularly welcomed. The stallion, Charcoal, had tried to be friendly and welcoming, but his wife was less so. Seraph could understand, after all changelings did have the whole ‘drain emotion’ thing, but there also seemed to be some fear at Dietrich. Looking at the unusually silent priest out of the corner of her eye, she couldn’t really see how he was intimidating without his helmet on.
“This… this is really good,” Swift spoke up from his spot between Haze and Double.
Charcoal glanced to the still-silent Mellow, before nodding at Swift. “Thank you, although I am grateful that you had some tinned carrots on you.” The stallion glanced to his wife, before clearing his throat. “So, if you don’t mind me asking… why do changelings need to feed off other creatures if you can eat solid food?”
Seraph decided to answer, swallowing her mouthful. “Well, for some reason we can’t make our own magical energy, so we need to take it from others if we want to use it. Also, if we don’t get some energy regularly, we get really tired, weak, and open to disease.”
“There’s also the fact that living off energy lowers the amount of water you need to drink,” Double added carefully, eyes watching to see how Mellow would react. “Pretty useful when you tend to live in desolate places.”
“Ah,” Charcoal replied, before the table became silent again.
Not wanting it to return to the awkwardness of before, Seraph once again intervened. “So, you bat-ponies, where do you normally live?” Mellow paused in her eating and gave Charcoal a look, the stallion shaking his head.
“We like to be underground or in caves,” he explained, pausing to take another spoonful of stew. “Cool places, which unfortunately this town isn’t. As you can tell, we prefer being awake at night rather than the day.” Another spoonful. “Also, what I’d give for some fresh fruit instead of the stuff from a can.”
“Oh, but the peaches were nice!” Wisp spoke up from the small table. “And we’ve got apple pie now as well!”
“That’s right,” Dietrich confirmed with a smile, returning his spoon to his empty bowl. He was the last to finish. “We have more than enough pie for all of us; made with fresh apples as well, thanks to that nice mare in Appaloosa.” He turned to Mellow, the mare staring at him. “Would you like me to clear the table and fetch it?”
“Hang on,” Charcoal’s wings actually gave a small flap. “Are you telling me that you have an apple pie, made from apples in Appleoosa? As in, ‘best apples in the world’ Appleoosa?” At Dietrich’s nod, Charcoal brightened even more and left his seat. Bowls were quickly collected, Mellow joining him reluctantly. “You know, back home you’d have to pay a day’s wages for a small bag of apples from Appleoosa. Here, we can’t even have them as it costs a month’s wages for just six.”
“Charcoal,” Mellow murmured. “Calm down.”
“Are you kidding? Mellow, you love those apples. Come on, surely you can try to be a little nicer if they’re sharing pie with us?”
“Charcoal,” was all that Mellow said, turning and trotting into the kitchen with a pile of bowls on her back. Sighing, Charcoal went to follow.
“Sorry. Once again, the move has been pretty hard on her. It’s not all because of what you are.”
“We understand,” Dietrich answered, Seraph and the others nodding their agreements. “Good luck.”
Charcoal snorted with a shake of his head. “Thanks, I think I’ll need it.” Leaving them, the kitchen door was shut behind him, leaving them alone with themselves.
And Wisp.
“I don’t know why Mom is still mad,” the filly muttered while resting her forelegs on the table. “She’s normally a really nice pony.”
Seraph turned to look at the young one, catching her attention. “Don’t worry, she’s not mad. She’s more scared.”
“Scared?” Wisp tilted her head. “Of you and Mister Dietrich?”
“From what I can gather, our respective species do not seem to have a good reputation.” Dietrich shifted on his spot on the ground, having not wanted to break a chair. “Your mother is only worried about your safety, Miss Wisp. She fears that we are harbouring false and dangerous intentions, and I suspect that she detests living out here.”
Wisp stared at her forehooves while they rested on the table. “Yeah, it’s not too much fun in this place. I miss all of my friends back home.” The filly sighed, blowing a stand of stray mane. “And you all are leaving soon as well.”
“We’ve still got some time after dinner,” Madeline reminded with a smile. “And we’ll visit again when we can, right?” At the question, she looked towards Dietrich. Seraph’s mood dropped when she watched Dietrich share a look with Double. She hoped that-
“Oh, that’s right,” Sheen murmured, Madeline catching on as well. “We might not be back at all.”
Wisp glanced around at all of them, Seraph looking to clear up the confusion. “What he means is that we’re going somewhere very dangerous, so there’s not a good chance that we’ll ever… come back here.” Noticing the young bat-pony sniffle, Seraph tried hard to reassure her with a smile. “But, if we do, then we all promise to visit you again.”
Everyone nodded, Wisp brightening. “You’ll stay for longer?”
“We sure will,” she nodded. “And we’ll bring lots of fruit for you as well.”
Wisp’s wings fluttered and her tail swished, fangs showing in a smile.
It was then that the kitchen door opened, a smiling Charcoal trotting out with the steaming pie held before him. Seraph tried not to laugh at the sight, the tip of his wings covered with small checkered tea-towels. Still, she was impressed at the strength the wings possessed, and the stallion managed to carry the large pie all the way over to the table without dropping it. Mellow followed behind, a stack of small plates on her back and a large knife held in a wing.
Seraph took a deep sniff, her mouth moistening at the combined smell of apple and cinnamon. Everyone else leaned in, even Dietrich broke his usual calm demeanour with a hopeful look in his eye.
“This has made my year,” Charcoal shared, quickly sitting down and waiting for Mellow to cut a slice. It was almost like torture, having to wait for the entire pie to be divided up between them, but soon everyone had a plate heaped with warm apple pie.
Immediately the doomed slices were set upon, pastry and fruit alike disappearing quickly. Seraph, while enjoying her own piece, noticed that even Mellow seemed to be happier already. The mare was savouring a bite with a wide grin, and given that the pie tasted as good as it looked Seraph couldn’t fault her.
The next few minutes went by without conversation, pie occupying the attention of everyone. It was not to last, but the satisfied looks from everyone as they pushed their crumb-free plates away signalled that it had been a welcome distraction.
“That was rather good,” Dietrich nodded to himself.
“It sure was,” Charcoal agreed, sitting back in his chair and glancing towards the plain clock on the wall. “It’s also getting late. We’ll get the spare room ready for you all.”
“Don’t rush on our part.”
“It’s fine, it’s fine,” Charcoal brushed off with a chuckle. “It’s not like we get many visitors anyway.”
“Sorry for the tight squeeze, but there are a lot of you and it’s only a small room. Are you sure you don’t want a pillow or something?”
Dietrich waved a hand from his spot against the wall, sitting up against the wood with the changelings occupying the two mattresses beside him. “It is fine, Miss Mellow. I am well used to worse conditions than this.” The mare looked at him with doubt in her eyes, but she nodded regardless.
“Suit yourself,” she sighed, backing out of the room. “Good night.”
“Blessed be you,” replied Dietrich, Mellow pausing before shutting the door. Someone shifted by his side, Dietrich looking down at Seraph.
“She’s improved… slightly.”
He smiled at her observation, honestly surprised that the bat-ponies had been so easily swayed with such a simple item. Their host Charcoal must not have been exaggerating his wife’s love of apples.
“At least we have something soft to sleep on tonight,” Haze sighed, lying next to Swift at the far end. Dietrich noticed that the changeling’s injured leg was resting on a separate pillow, prompting him to inquire about it.
“How is your leg, Swift?”
“Sore. It’s better than before but it still stings when I move it too much.”
Gesturing down to the medical case by his leg, Dietrich followed up. “Would you like me to give you another shot of painkillers to help you sleep?”
Wincing, Swift shifted. “No thanks, if I’m sleeping all night then I’ll only slow you down. I can still walk with Haze’s help, I’ll be fine.”
“Very well, let me know if you need anything.” Settling back down, he drummed his fingers on his armoured leg softly. There was no space for him to open his book and read like he usually did, so instead he went over the passages in his mind.
Around him, with their bellies full and a soft place to sleep, the changelings all slowly started to drift off into slumber. He was aware of an occasional twitch of a wing or leg, even the previously energetic younger four all sleeping deeply in their huddle. The creaking of the door broke his concentration, Dietrich looking up to see who it was.
“Miss Wisp,” he greeted, the filly trotting in softly. “What are you doing here at this hour?”
“I wanted to ask you something,” she answered softly, sitting down in front of him with a yawn. He noticed the stuffed toy she had with her, the plush bat-pony looking brand new. “When you said you were going away, what did you mean?”
“We’re travelling to a city near here, named ‘Canterlot’,” he said. “We have… someone to meet.”
Wisp tilted her head. “But Canterlot is so close, it only takes us a whole day to trot there.”
Dietrich tried to figure out the best way to word his reply, without giving away too much to the young being. “You see, it’s not the length of the journey, but what we are going to face when we finish it. We all may never leave the city afterwards, and if we do then it’s likely we would have changed greatly.”
Wisp glanced over towards the sleeping nymphs and the young adults, before looking back hopefully. “You don’t have to go there, you can stay here in the town and see me every day. Then I can have friends and then you can help look for silver and then you can all build houses and stay here forever, or at least until we go back home.” The filly’s tail swished, Dietrich letting out a soft chuckle before patting her on the head.
“While that sounds great, I’m afraid that it isn’t that easy. I have something I need to complete, and my friends wish to follow me and help.”
“But they can stay here,” Wisp protested. “Why do you need their help?”
“I don’t,” he admitted. “In fact, I’d prefer them to remain out of harm’s way.”
“Then why are they going if you don’t need help and it’s dangerous?”
He had to pause and think at the filly’s question. Why did the changelings wish to follow him to certain peril? He recalled his time spent with them and the ponies, the reactions of each to the other, and the explanations they had given him.
“The changelings,” he began, thinking while he spoke. “Believe that they don’t fit in anywhere. With recent events, they have been alone with just themselves. When I first encountered them, I must admit that I did not fully comprehend their situation. Instead, I saw them as a test, a trial I had been given. Now, I still believe that I have been sent here for a reason, and I now know what it is.”
He sighed, Wisp shifting closer towards him.
“They needed hope, and someone to guide them, but unfortunately even I could do naught with that. The only thing I can now offer is to accompany them to find closure, and they are taking a chance to make their own decision about their fate.” He smiled sadly under his helmet, intertwining his fingers. “A few have chosen to embrace the faith, and it gives me great joy that I shall see them again after the end. What I offer however doesn’t come close to what they, and many others, have lost. I only wish that I could do better for them, but at least I can take some solace in the thought that they trust me enough to lead them on.”
Dietrich halted to gather his thoughts. “In short, I believe that they feel the need to accompany me just not because they see me as a friend and wish for my safety, but because they also desire to force fate’s hand.” His helmet’s faceplate lowered, Dietrich making sure that Wisp could see his smile. “I must thank you, Miss Wisp, as you and your parents have afforded them a pleasant experience that they never imagined happening. I also have enjoyed our stay in your company, and I pray that eventually your own circumstances will improve.”
Wisp nodded, her nose wavering. Fearing that he had upset her, he leaned down. “Do not cry, we are ready for whatever awaits us at the end of our journey.”
“I know,” Wisp answered, almost inaudible. “But… I still don’t understand why. Why can’t you all stay?”
He patted her head again. “That, Miss Wisp, is something you will likely understand when you are older. For now, I do not wish to worry you with the details.” His words had little effect, the filly sniffling. “Would you like to stay in here for the day?”
“Yes please,” she mumbled, looking over towards the nymphs.
“Go on,” he allowed. “There is plenty of space for you.”
Nodding, Wisp clambered up onto the mattress and settled down next to the nymphs. The plush was used as a pillow, Dietrich closing his helmet and frowning to himself as he watched her drift off.
While he wished that the changelings could stay in the relative safety of the small town and in turn satisfy Miss Wisp, he doubted that they would see it as an option.
“And the faithful shall not fear,” he muttered, worry gnawing at him. “For they have their guide along the path of life, and the Lord shall not lead them astray…”
“Thank you for your hospitality.”
Dietrich handed over the last bits they had, the weighty coin purse solemnly received by Charcoal while Mellow watched on.
It was still dusk, the sun about to go down completely. Already the desert had begun to cool, the changelings loaded up with supplies while they stood upon the sand. Dietrich glanced towards the house in which they had stayed. “Where is young Miss Wisp?”
“She said she had to get something,” Mellow answered evenly. “I’m sure she’ll be out to say goodbye to her… friends.”
Dietrich notice Charcoal glance towards Mellow, then to the nymphs and back. Mellow shook her head and uttered a barely audible sentence. “No, we can barely support ourselves.” Charcoal stood on the spot, thinking for a moment before his face hardened.
“They would not let them stay, anyway,” Dietrich whispered so the changeling couldn’t hear. “Although I thank you for the concern.”
Charcoal shook his head. “I just keep on thinking of Wisp, and knowing what you’re going into…”
“I understand. Still, our minds have been made. You have already done more than we have asked for and it would only put you at risk.”
“I-“ Charcoal began to protest, before a shout interrupted him.
“Wait! Don’t go yet!”
Out of the house galloped Wisp, a toy held under one wing while she approached. Shooting past them, she made a beeline for the nymphs standing near Sheen and Madeline. “I still need to say goodbye.” Holding out the toy doll towards the youngest pair, Wisp beamed at them. “Here, take this to remind you of me. It’s my old one, and she’s missing an eye, but she’s still great.” Chirping, one of the nymphs took the offered toy with its mouth, Wisp smiling wider. Moving forwards, she gave all four of her new friends a quick nuzzle. “Please come back, there’s so many more games we need to play.”
“We’ll try,” Madeline replied with a smile. “It was really fun.”
“We better be going,” Double pointed out with a gesture to the east. “We’ve got a lot of ground to cover.”
“You sure do,” agreed Charcoal, the stallion nodding. “Follow my directions and you’ll shave a few hours off. Good luck.”
“The same to you,” Dietrich returned, before nodding at Mellow and Wisp. “Ladies, thank you for the stay, I’m sorry for the inconvenience.”
“It… was nothing,” Mellow sighed, trying to smile. “Good bye and good luck.”
“Bye,” Wisp joined in with a wave of her hoof. Smiling and returning the gesture, Dietrich turned to follow the changelings, all eleven of their group beginning the final part of their journey.
The sun finally completed its exit from the horizon, bathing them in the cool night as they left the small mining town behind.
Seraph swallowed her last bit of bread before licking a drop of jam off of her hoof, humming with a content smile. Looking up towards the rising sun, she sighed and shifted back on the flat rock that was serving as a seat.
Somehow, she’d thought that her likely last day as a free-thinking changeling would be… more sombre. Instead, waking up surrounded by her friends in the waning cool of the grassy fields, she felt relieved.
‘At least everyone seems to think the same,’ she smiled, watching Dietrich rub both of the nymphs on the top of their heads before returning the armour to his hands and putting on his helmet. Even Swift-swap was in a good mood, although he still had to receive aid from Haze in moving.
“Ready to go?”
Glancing to her left, she smiled when Chatter darted in and gave her a surprise nuzzling. Returning it, she pulled back and nodded. “Sure I am, given what we’re about to do.”
Chatter frowned at her words, and sighed sadly. “Don’t remind me, we’re pretty much doomed.”
“We’re doomed if we go, and doomed if we don’t. At least this way we have some choice in the matter.” Smiling, she held back a small giggle. “Besides, if we somehow manage to meet Celestia and Luna, we can tell them exactly what we think of them.”
He chuckled at that, Seraph grinning at his improved mood. Chatter wasn’t really suited to looking sad in her mind, and she only regretted that they weren’t going to have any more time together. Keeping her thoughts quiet, she slid off the rock she was on and hid them with another smile. Looking at the rest of their group, Double and Cion were already leading the way with Dietrich and the others following behind.
“Come on, we better catch up.” Grabbing her pack and slinging it up onto her back, Seraph watched Chatter do the same.
“Ladies first,” he replied, giving her a peck on the cheek. Feeling the blood rush to her face, she hurried up into a trot with him in tow. They quickly caught up to the main group, the two nymphs even breaking off and bumping against their legs. Straining her ears, Seraph overheard the conversation going on between Cion, Double, and Dietrich.
“So, I bet you’re praying now.”
“Why Cion, I’m almost always praying. Our upcoming meeting doesn’t change much.”
Double snorted, Seraph able to see him shake his head. “You know Dietrich, your obliviousness to the situation sometimes makes me want to laugh. What I’d give to be able to think like that.”
The human chuckled, tapping the book at his side. “Ah, you know what they say, ignorance is bliss after all. Besides, I owe it to you all to try my best in helping you, and if facing the architects of your race’s downfall is that then so be it.” He chuckled again, despite the topic. “Who knows, maybe I’ll be able to convert them myself?”
“Keep dreaming,” Cion huffed, although there was a hint of humour there. “You’ll probably just irritate them more.”
That earned laughter from Double, even Seraph snickering to herself. Dietrich tried to act like he was offended, but they all knew it was just for show. “Oh Lord, how my flock repay me so!”
“Stop being so dramatic,” she spoke up from behind, Chatter tutting beside her.
Dietrich threw his arms into the air, walking backwards while he looked at her. “Even my favoured follower as well!”
“Jeez,” Chatter groaned. “Canterlot is going to be a blessing compared to this.”
“Princess, there is news of the human.”
Celestia raised an eye, ushering away the noble she had been talking to with a hoof. She watched the guard approach, the unicorn stallion saluting before her.
“Go on,” she smiled, leaning back in her throne. “Tell me. Lieutenant Iron was unable to find him in Appleoosa, so any news is welcome.”
Nodding, the stallion continued. “The human and changelings were spotted by a farmer an hour ago, heading towards the city.”
Celestia raised an eye. “So they are heading towards here, how strange.”
“Indeed, Your Highness. Do you wish for us to send out some guards to capture them? We still have more than enough potion leftover to deal with them and-“
“No, let them through, Sergeant.” Celestia watched as the guard’s befuddled eyes looked up towards her. “For some unknown reason, the changelings and this strange human I’ve been hearing about seem intent on coming here. By all means, monitor them and ensure that they don’t threaten anypony, but do not impede their way.”
“And when they reach the city?”
Celestia thought for a few moments, humming while resting her head on her foreleg. “We see what they want, I suppose.”
“But-“
“There is no use arguing about it now, deal with it when they arrive.” She left her throne, glancing towards Luna’s empty one. “How long until they reach us?”
Hesitating, the guard stammered. “A-about two hours, Princess.”
“Not much time,” Celestia muttered, before looking back to smile at the Sergeant. “Very well, please return to the gate and prepare to meet them. Send word when they arrive.”
A final salute from the guard was all, before he galloped off to fulfil the orders. Watching while the smattering of servants and nobles left whispering, she turned for the stairs at the back of the room.
Celestia thought to herself intensely while she climbed the stairs, trying to puzzle out the situation. A part of her was telling her to just order the capture and immediate conversion of the incoming creatures, but the other was wanting to figure out the mystery behind their motivations. After leaving Shining and Cadence behind in the Crystal Empire and coming to this world, it had been… boring. The mass conversion had helped the sick humans and claimed more land for Ponykind to grow and prosper, but it had also brought complete peace and order.
She almost regretted deciding to keep Discord imprisoned, she’d grown that tired with the daily grind.
Reaching her sister’s door, she didn’t bother to knock before opening it. Trotting into the darkened room, she moved over to the side of the bed and nudged Luna with a hoof. “Sister, wake up.”
Luna opened her eyes and looked up at her, yawning before sitting up. “Celly, why are you-“
“I’m sorry for waking you so early,” she apologised softly. “But there is a matter that needs our combined attention.”
“What is it? I have to fly to the ‘South Amareica’ tomorrow.”
“I know that, but the matter is very important.” Celestia sighed, hoping that the news wouldn’t upset Luna too much. Her sister… ‘didn’t like’ humans was the nice way of putting it. “A group of ten changelings are approaching the city-“
“Evil creatures,” Luna muttered. Celestia pausing before continuing.
“And one human with them.”
At that, Luna froze. Celestia kept a close eye on her, her sister grinding her teeth with narrowed eyes. “I thought we had cured all of those beasts.”
“Evidently we have missed one. Although, from the reports of the guards he seems different to ones we have encountered before.
Apparently he was in the town of Appleoosa, attempting to… preach to the ponies there.” Luna gave her a flat stare, Celestia tilting her head. “From what the guards have told me, the majority actually enjoyed his presence and even accepted the changelings among them.”
“They what?”
Celestia nodded, able to understand Luna’s confusion. “I do not see how it happened, but it did. While I was planning to visit Appleoosa to talk to them myself, the impending arrival of those responsible will give us an opportunity to discuss the matter with them.” Seeing that Luna was about to protest, she raised a hoof. “And then we’ll use the potion to convert them after we learn what we need.”
Luna crossed her forelegs, huffing. “I don’t see why we need to learn how they lied to your ponies, we already know that they are creatures of darkness.”
“I want to learn, and I would have contacted Twilight as well if she wasn’t busy with the resettlement.” Smiling, she gestured towards the pile of novels by Luna’s bedside. “It’ll be like one of those mystery books you like to read so much, finding out the secrets of our enemies and thwarting their schemes.”
“Such a dirty trick, sister.” Despite her words, Luna sighed in defeat. “Fine, we shall allow this plan of yours and assist, although what do you need of me?”
“I need you to act confrontational, judging, so that I may be seen as the voice of reason and kindness.”
“Not much then,” Luna grumbled, Celestia shaking her head with a smile while she headed for the doorway.
“See? A good start already. Just not too cranky, we don’t want to scare them speechless.”
“Very funny.”
Celestia stepped out of Luna’s room and closed the door behind her, smiling all the while.
‘Now, I wonder what I’ll name them once they’re reformed…’
“There it is, Canterlot.”
Dietrich peeked out of the bushes at Double’s hushed words, seeing the walled city in all of its glory. It looked exactly like an ancient fantasy castle, elegant towers ascending into the air while the sunlight glittered off the gold trimming. While not nearly as large as any city he’d even been to, compared to the sporadic settlements he had seen it was certainly a standout.
“Where are all of the guards?” Seraph questioned. “I mean, surely they won’t just leave their gate wide open with no one to watch it?”
“Why not?” replied Chatter. “It’s not like they have any enemies now. At least we should be able to get in without being immediately stopped and potioned.”
The group stopped talking, Dietrich frowning under his helmet.
“You are all welcome to turn back,” he suggested. “I’ll deal with these Princesses-“
“It’s fine, don’t worry Dietrich.” Turning, Dietrich found all eyes on Chatter. “We’ve come this far and have nowhere else to go, so we might as well take the chance while we can.”
“He’s right.” Double trotted up, turning around to face them. “We’ve all come this far. I’d just like to say that despite our initial differences and circumstance, these past few days have been some of my most enjoyed. Back in the Hive I would have never even known you, but now we’re like a close family. We’re all marching into peril for different reasons, but at least we’ll do it together. Stand up, hold your heads high, and don’t let the ponies think they’ve beaten us down. We’re not just going to die, we’re going to demand some answers from those Princesses who think they decided who’s good and who’s evil.”
Dietrich smiled sadly while the others applauded Double, wishing that he had forced them to stay behind at the bat-pony mining town. Now he was to lead them into the clutches of their despised tormentors, all while smiling the entire time.
“Come on,” Double encouraged. He trotted forwards, moving towards the gates confidently. “Let’s show these Princesses how wrong they are.”
“Right behind you,” Cion nodded, following right behind with the others in tow. Dietrich stood up tall and gave his items a final check, prepared for any outcome. Bringing up the rear of the group, he noticed that even the two nymphs were in good spirits as they trotted alongside Sheen and Madeline.
“And Lord, may our path lead to success,” he hurriedly uttered, Double disappearing through the gateway. Continuing to move, Dietrich followed as they entered the city. “For we are righteous, and persist in your name.”
Upon uttering the final word, Dietrich had to halt himself as he nearly barrelled right into Haze’s rump. Looking around to see what the commotion was about, he quickly uttered a quick prayer of protection.
“We’ve been expecting you,” the unicorn guard in golden armour casually mentioned, his forty comrades all lowering their spears to form an impassable semi-circle. Dietrich glanced behind him as the gate began to lower, ten pegasi landing behind them with spears likewise forming a barrier. Looking back, he could feel the changelings grouping together around him.
There was one thing he could do.
“Take us to your leaders, if you may,” he ask, staring down the Captain and clapping his armoured hands together.
Seraph sheltered the two nymphs while their entire group was herded towards the castle by the guards, the points of the spears never too far away. The guards were mainly focused on Dietrich, their wariness of him highlighted by the fact that the majority were pointing their spears at him. It likely had something to do with his refusal to relinquish his weapons, none of the guards game enough to force him to.
She doubted they had seen a human like him before, and she wondered how they’d react if they found out where he was apparently from.
The street they were guided down was deserted save for them, no normal citizens in sight. ‘They knew we were coming,’ she thought to herself, sneaking a glance at a house with its windows and shutters closed. It made sense, given the apparent willingness of the guards to just take them to the castle straight away.
Dietrich was behind her, humming to himself softly. He had given up on asking their captors their names after receiving nothing in response, the armoured stallions and mares apparently keen to just do their jobs and be done with it. She wondered what he had planned, and whether it could possibly lead to their continued survival.
It was ten minutes of trotting and walking until they reached the main castle doors, nothing compared to their previous treks. It had felt like hours however, the ponies on edge with their wide eyes darting around for any sign of attack. Seraph spotted a lone servant in a maid’s outfit dart into a side door, before her vison was filled with gold and white.
“Listen up,” the guard leader told them. “I don’t know why it’s happening, but the Princesses wish to speak with you.”
‘They know? And they want to speak to us?’
“You will go in,” the guard continued. “You will not move unless ordered, you will let them speak, and you will only speak when asked. Fail to comply and we’ll cure you immediately.”
“Some cure,” Seraph mumbled under her breath, but the guard still heard her.
“You’re sick,” he replied harshly. “Diseased, spreading disharmony among others. The potion cures you, it takes away all of the bad things and replaces them with good.” Seraph made to protest, but it was Double who stepped up.
“Take a long, hard look at your ‘Newfoals’ next time you see one,” he growled, moving past the guard and forcing the entire group to move up with him. “Then try and tell me who’s ‘sick’.”
Seraph was ushered past the speechless guard, all of them moving through the doorway with Double at the lead. The castle entrance hall was far less deserted than the streets, however considering it was all armed guards it provided little comfort.
“They sure aren’t taking any chances,” Chatter whispered from her right. Seraph nodded after glancing around at the squads of assorted guards eying them with fear and distrust.
Four guards opened the solid oak doors ahead of them, revealing the throne room in all of its splendour. Seraph’s attention wasn’t held by the massive glass windows, white marble floors and walls, or the golden decorations. No, her main focus was immediately on the two alicorns sitting on the thrones in the centre of the room.
‘Celestia and Luna, the ones responsible for everything.’
She tried hard not to glare at the pair, tried but failed. She couldn’t help it, everything they’d been through had been because of their need to ‘help’ all non-ponies. Seraph actually felt sick, knowing that she was in the presence of the architects of her race’s extinction.
Celestia’s calculating stare passed over her, the guards backing away to the edges of the room once every changeling and human was in the centre. They still remained poised to strike, Seraph feeling a shiver run down her spine at the sight of the glass vials filled with glowing purple liquid held within wings.
‘Conversion potion.’
The others noticed them as well, their prior bravado nearly extinguished at the reminder of their fate. There was no doubt that the ponies planned to finish them off regardless of the meeting, Seraph swallowing a lump in her throat as Celestia greeted them.
“Welcome,” the sun princess smiled, outwardly warm but there was no way any good lurked within. “I must say, I never expected to receive a peaceful visit from changelings nor humans, let alone both. It’s rather nice, isn’t it Luna?” Celestia turned to the throne next to her, Princess Luna looking like she was about to pounce on them at any moment.
“Nice is not how I would put it,” came the response, Celestia shaking her head smiling back at them. Subconsciously, Seraph shifted over to the left away from the seething Luna.
“Interesting, then. Now, I must admit that I have been looking forwards to meeting you. I’ve heard some stories that intrigue me.” Celestia focused on Dietrich, giving him a careful examination with her smile fading at the weapons at his sides. “You must be this ‘High Confessor’ I’ve been told about, I’m… disappointed that it appears the apparently ‘peaceful’ human is as bad as the rest.”
Seraph watched while Dietrich glanced down towards his weapons, before fixing Celestia with a helmeted stare.
“I have but one mace and a Holy Torch, you have hundreds of spears. If it’s weapons that we are judging each other off, then what does that make you?”
“Insolence,” Luna hissed, Celestia raising a calming hoof before reassessing Dietrich.
“Quite the way with words,” she praised, leaning back in her throne. “I’m guessing that you are more dangerous than first assumed. In answer to your question, I and my sister are the ones who have brought peace to this once-blighted world, while curing the inhabitants of their afflictions.”
Dietrich remained silent, so Celestia continued.
“You humans were sick, forced to live with disharmony built into your minds. There was war, murder, slavery,” Celestia shuddered. “...Rape, all caused by your primitive nature forcing you to live in unhappiness. When I first saw my visions of this planet, I was horrified and shocked at how you were all forced to live like savages. Luckily, we had already helped the disharmonious members back on our homeworld.” Her attention was put onto them, Seraph able to feel the nymphs press against the insides of her forelegs when the gaze passed over them. “Which brings us to the changelings.”
“Creatures of darkness,” Luna chimed in, still frowning. “Taking the forms of others and infesting happy pony families like a swamp-leech. Good riddance.”
“Ah, Luna, remember what we talked about?”
“I remember perfectly well.”
Luna and Celestia shared a knowing look, before Celestia cleared her throat. “Well, my sister is correct in her observations, although I would prefer to put it more nicely. Changelings are, like humans, afflicted-“
“Stop it!” Haze shouted, still supporting Swift. “Stop acting like you are healing, and that we’re all ‘afflicted’ and ‘sick’!” Seraph’s head darted from side to side, the awaiting guards moving forwards with glares and spears up.
“Guards.” At the command, Celestia waved a hoof and the solar guards hesitantly stood down, returning to their positions. Leaving her throne, Celestia stood right in front of Haze, causing their entire group to step back. “Little changeling, you are in need of healing.” Her soft words were met with a cold stare from Haze. “You are all, through no fault of your own, broken.”
This time, it was Dietrich who intervened.
“No they are not,” he defended, stepping forwards to put himself between Haze, Swift, and Celestia. “They are all as near to perfection as possible. They are kind, gentle, understanding, and curious. It is not your place to judge them and punish them, based on your own fears.”
Celestia had to look up to meet his helmet optics, the guards all fidgety as their ruler stared off with the armoured giant.
“I’m afraid that it is not that easy,” she sighed, not breaking eyesight. “Despite how well they have treated you, and even taking into account the reports I have received from Appleoosa that lead me to not doubt their capacity for kindness, it is beyond their control.”
Breaking the stare, Celestia nodded towards Madeline. “Look at the younger one, for example. It-“
“She,” Dietrich corrected, Celestia pausing.
“She requires affection, love, and other positive emotions to survive. It is tragic, but the way the changelings sought to achieve this was by terrorising my ponies and draining it by force. I can still remember that day in great detail. Now, while she might not have been a part of the attack itself, what options does she have?” Madeline shrank back, Dietrich glancing at her. “My ponies cannot trust creatures that are built to deceive, without trust there is no friendship, and without friendship there is no love.”
“What myself and Luna came up with was a way to solve the underlying causes of their misfortune, along with the misfortune of everyone else.” Celestia returned to her throne, sitting back down. “Aiding the changelings to achieve pony form solved the need to hide and steal, instead now they live and play happily just like a normal pony. I’ll show you.” Celestia turned to guard. “Private, please fetch Ms Greenleaf.”
The pony guard trotted off through a side door, before returning a few moments later with a tall mare in a maid’s uniform. The lime-green coated earth pony trotted out with a smile and a tea set on her back, but it was the teal mane and tail that caused a cold feeling to run through Seraph’s body.
“Princess,” the mare greeted happily, moving to the side of the throne. “I brought tea!” She was almost as tall as Celestia and Luna, only adding more proof to Seraph’s fears.
Celestia beamed down, graciously levitating a cup up from the tray. “Why, thank you my little pony. Luna would you like some?”
“I do desire refreshment,” Luna grunted, Celestia nodding to Greenleaf before taking a sip.
However, the mare was frozen, having noticed the changelings and human.
“Greenleaf?” Celestia asked, raising an eyebrow. “Are you okay?”
“They’re scary,” the pony quivered, wide green eyes darting from changeling to human. “Bad.”
“It’s okay, they won’t be able to hurt you. I protect all ponies, remember?”
Greenleaf shuddered, but nodded and moved towards Luna. Her eyes never left them while another teacup was taken, Luna waving her away with a hoof. Greenleaf practically bolted from the throne room, the Newfoal taking the time to shut the side door behind her.
Seraph didn’t even want to think about the cruel irony of the love-heart surrounded tea-leaf that served as the pony’s cutie-mark.
“Was that…?” Chatter murmured, unable to finish.
“It was,” Celestia answered with another sip of tea. “She’s very happy you know, she’s even started her own little tea garden in the courtyard. No more malice, ego, selfishness, or cruelty.”
“Just a happy desire to serve,” Double snorted with a step forwards. He approached Celestia, looking up at her in disgust. “That’s funny, isn’t it? That all of these creatures you ‘save from themselves’ are also brainwashed into serving you without question.”
“They don’t serve me, they serve the whole of pony kind.”
“Pathetic,” Double spat back. “I was part of the invasion force, you know. I even stole some energy from a blue unicorn in the street. Still, what I did pales in comparison to the evil that you are. Look at your pet… thing in there,” a hoof was pointed towards the side-door. “Sure, I’ll admit that she was cruel and spiteful at times, but even she doesn’t deserve that.”
“She’s content, as you will soon be. There is no need to be afraid, the conversion is painless and afterwards there is only happiness.”
Everyone waited for Double to respond, the changeling shaking his head sadly.
“Do you even realise what you’ve done?” He questioned, looking up towards Celestia. “Or are you just so afraid of admitting it, that you lie to yourself as well?”
A warm, yet firm, stare met his own. “You are unable to judge me, changeling. I do what is best for all living things, and sometimes my actions appear hostile to some. As inherently wicked as your race is, there is still a chance to be saved.”
A soft thud broke Celestia’s speech and Double’s retort, everyone glancing down at the stuffed bat-pony doll that had fallen out before Seraph. Quickly one of the nymphs darted out from under her to retrieve it, but it wasn’t quite fast enough.
“What is that?”
The nymphs reaching hooves found nothing, Princess Luna sweeping up the toy with her magic to examine it.
“It’s just a toy-“ Seraph tried to explain, but she was cut off with a furious accusation from Luna.
“Where did you steal this from!?”
“It was not stolen,” Dietrich replied with a raised palm. “It-“
“Lair! I’d recognise this anywhere! These are only sold in the Nocturne capitol! You have… you have stolen this toy from one of my subjects!”
The last thing anyone suspected to hear in response was an angry-sounding chattering. Looking down, Seraph paled when she spotted the nymph who had tried to grab it standing at the foot of Luna’s throne.
“You dare?” Luna uttered, narrowing her eyes at the nymph. The young changeling buzzed its wings and bared its fangs, hissing at the raging Princess. Needless to say, Luna was not amused. “Fiend! I’ll deprive you conversion and throw you from the highest tower instead!”
Dietrich reacted quickly as Luna made to leave her chair, armoured arms lashing out to snatch the nymph off the ground. It struggled in Dietrich’s grasp, snapping and chirping angrily at the shaking Luna.
“Dost thou wish to duel?” Luna questioned forcefully. “Come at’th me, if thou is sturdy in intent! I shall bathe the ground with your life-fluid, upstart im-“
“Luna.”
Luna paused, turning towards Celestia. “Yes?” she spat.
Celestia sighed. “You are arguing with a child, one that is also unable to speak. You are also slipping back into old habits in your anger. Drink some tea and return the toy, please.”
Staring at the toy still in her magic, Luna shook her head. “I shan’t! This was stolen from one of my subjects.”
“It was not,” Seraph defended with a stamp of her hoof. “It was a gift from a young bat-pony to them.”
“Lies,” Luna snorted, however Celestia was staring at the doll with a raised eye. “My subjects would never consort with evil creatures.”
“Your subjects did indeed gift it to us.” Stepping closer to Luna, Dietrich kept both arms holding the still-struggling nymph. “A very nice young… filly I believe is the term.”
“Prove it,” Luna challenged, earning a sigh from Celestia. “A name and a location.”
“I would provide such information,” Dietrich slowly stated, Seraph noticing one of his hands easing closer to his mace. “But I believe they would not appreciate me giving it to you.”
A humourless laugh. “Nonsense, my subjects adore me. I am the Princess of the night, and watch over them fondly.”
“Yeah, well these ones are terrified of you,” Swift added, limping up to stand alongside Dietrich. “Because they know what you’ve done to everyone else not Equestrian, and they think they’re next. That’s why we can’t tell you names or where they live.”
Luna’s magic faltered, flickering as she furrowed her brows in confusion. “But… but I would never-“
“Cure them?” Haze added in venomously.
“I…” Luna looked to Celestia, about to ask her something. However, she froze.
For a brief instant, Celestia’s façade had dropped to reveal worry. Luna must have caught it, so Celestia quickly moved to smooth over the situation.
“Luna, it’s okay, they’re safe,” Celestia reassured. “There were of course… concerns that the bat-ponies would scare ponies and cause trouble, but they all live away from the cities or stay in your guard so it was decided it was okay.”
“I was not consulted, I never even knew that there were plans to convert my bat-ponies as well!” Luna began to get angry again, although this time changelings were forgotten. “I swear, Celestia, if you take them from me-“
“I shall not, I swear it.”
“Then what about your student! She planned it, didn’t she?”
“Twilight Sparkle is a very… thorough mare. There were of course plans in case we needed to, but I assure you that your bat-ponies are safe.”
Dietrich cleared his throat. “Excuse me, I regret that we’ve brought this up-“
“Don’t,” Luna growled, leaving her throne and glaring at them all. “It’s obvious that changelings are not the only deceivers here. I can’t even move the moon of this accursed planet, despite your promise. Once again, I’m stuck as a useless Princess.”
“Luna-“ Celestia tried, but to no avail. With a final huff, Luna stormed out past the guards and slammed the door behind her. There was an awkward silence, broken only by Celestia muttering to herself. “That year of work, and she’s still as immature as the day I sent her away.” Attention was once more turned to them, the look far sourer than before. “A perfect example of how you unfortunately sow chaos even without intention.”
“That’s hardly fair.” The nymph in Dietrich’s arms was lowered to the ground, the changeling quickly fetching the toy left on Luna’s throne before returning to Seraph. Standing back up, Dietrich once again stared off with Celestia. “It seems to me that you and your sister have unresolved issues that led to this argument. Our presence merely brought the problem to the surface, and it’s plain to see that the bat-ponies are important to her.”
“She cares far too much for them,” was the retort. “They were some of the few creatures who looked up to her during her time before banishment, so she sees herself as their princess. She spends far more time with them than she does with our actual ponies.”
“I thought you were concerned about all creatures,” Double pressed, Celestia eyeing him with growing distain.
“My ponies are what all should aspire to be. Kind, loving, and good. I do care about other creatures, giving them the gift of being a pony is something that has solved all problems.” Sighing, Celestia tapped a hoof on the side of her throne. “Now, since it has been brought up, let’s discuss your treatment. Since you all arrived by your own free will, I’ll allow you all to be relocated to a settlement as a group-“
“I’m afraid that the option is unacceptable,” interrupted Dietrich, Celestia pausing to stare at him. “Forgive me, Princess, but as generous as your offer is I do not believe that we can accept it.”
“You don’t have a choice,” Celestia reminded. “I can’t have you all running around harming and scaring my subjects.”
“With all due respect, Princess,” Cion replied. “Your subjects need to grow up, and you need to stop treating them like fragile children.”
“Never, not while evil threatens them.”
“Then you’d better step down as Princess.”
Seraph had to give it to Cion, never had she imagined seeing a changeling go hoof-to-hoof with Celestia of all ponies.
Celestia’s eye twitched at the comment, but her smile still remained. “While the worlds still need me, I cannot do that. Who else would guide everypony to happiness and peace?”
“Why, the Lord of course,” Dietrich provided with newfound vigour. Collectively, all of the changelings winced. Even Seraph sighed at the realisation that it was about to begin.
“I’ve heard that you have been attempting to spread your false religion to my subjects.” Celestia raised her eye.
“False?” Dietrich scoffed. “Hardly. If it was false, then how did the Lord guide me and send me to this land so I may fulfil my holy duties? It was not chance that led me to the changelings and therefore here.”
“Maybe you just wanted to seek conversion?”
“No thank you,” he chuckled. “I’m quite content as I am.” His surprising laughter stopped, the priest going serious again. “No, I’ve come here to save you, Celestia.”
“Save me? I am a goddess compared to you, I am not the one that needs to be saved.”
“You do,” Dietrich nodded. “You are wracked with fear for your subjects, you fear anything that you see as harmful to them, you fear changelings no matter how young, you fear me, and you even fear your own sister. This fear is what drove you to commit the acts that have brought my fellows to you today. You’re scared, and unable to show it least you worry the ones around you.”
Dietrich finished speaking, and then there was only stunned silence. Guards were slack-jawed, changelings stared at Dietrich as if he was mad, and even Celestia was frozen on her throne.
‘What is he thinking?’ Seraph panicked, watching while Celestia frowned. ‘She’s obviously insane, and if we were already in trouble before…’
“Yes,” Celestia murmured, more to herself than to them. “I can see how you managed to win over those subjects of mine. Very observant, and more calculating than your kind exterior shows,” she leaned forwards. “You are very confident in your judgement of me, aren’t you?”
“I am.” Dietrich drummed his fingers on his leg, the metal clacking together. “You’d be surprised at how similar you are to some people that I know. Their actions and reactions also echo your decisions. Needless to say, considering how their experiences ended, I’d prefer to help you from making the same mistakes.”
Staring at him, Celestia didn’t respond at first. Seraph watched while her face ran the gauntlet of multiple emotions, the Princess first seeming insulted, then angry, then… sad? Then, softly, Celestia issued an order to her guards.
“Take the changelings and lock them in a bedroom. I wish to speak with the human alone.”
The guard leader stepped forward before anyone had a chance to complain. “But Princess, why not the dungeon or the potion if-“
“Do as I say,” Celestia nodded, the guard hesitating before waving a hoof forwards.
“Wait, we can’t leave Dietrich,” Seraph complained as the guards tried to herd them away. “How do we knw that you won’t just have us converted in secret?”
Sighing, Celestia put a hoof over her chest. “I promise that you’ll remain as you are, at least until I have had my discussion. My guards will make no attempt to force conversion upon you.” She gave the guard leader a pointed glance, the soldier hurriedly nodding his compliance.
Seraph jolted when something touched her shoulder, but when she turned her head she saw that it was only Dietrich resting his armoured hand upon her chitin.
“Seraph, it’s fine,” he reassured. “Have faith, I will try with all of my effort to ensure your safety alongside the others.” Her eyes widened when he fumbled at his side, unclasping the tome from his waist and placing it on her back. “Here, it will bring you all comfort during my absence.”
She shifted and made sure that the book was firmly on, Celestia watching carefully all the while. The cover of the book was an odd feeling on her back, Seraph repressing a shiver when she recalled what felt so smooth against her chitin. Looking up at Dietrich, she was full of confusion. “But… I thought touching it was against the rules.”
He smiled down, well, at least she guessed that was what he was doing judging from the affection that was flowing. “I’m sure that it’s fine to overlook such rules in the current circumstances.” With a final pat and a nod, he ushered the guards forwards with a hand. “Don’t not fear, my friends. I’ll return to you in time.”
That was all that he said, Seraph moving with the others as they replied with rushed wishes of luck as the guards drove them towards another side door.
‘Don’t do anything dangerous,’ she silently pleaded, glancing back as Dietrich and Celestia started to move off with five guards around them. Somehow, she doubted that leaving Dietrich alone with one of their most dangerous enemies was a good idea.
“Guards, leave us.”
“But Princess, the human…”
“He will be no threat, now go.”
Dietrich watched as the guards saluted and retreated back inside of the castle, all of the soldiers shooting him warning looks. Celestia turned and took a right, Dietrich following as she led him alongside the castle wall.
They both emerged into a beautiful garden, roses and tulips blooming brightly in the sun’s rays. Brightly coloured birds chirped and sang in the trees, all while the soft green grass swayed in the light breeze. “This is my personal garden,” Celestia told him, her horn glowing softly. The air around them shimmered, a brief golden dome flicking around the area before fading again. “Here we can talk in private.”
“It’s very beautiful,” he complimented, Celestia smiling slightly at that.
“Yes, all of it is Equestrian plants and birds. I tried having some of this world’s wildlife brought in, but for some reason they all flew away time and time again.” Guiding him towards a pure-white gazebo, Celestia looked back. “I would arrange us some tea, but I’m afraid that you’ll frighten the servants again.”
“I understand.”
Both moved under the shaded structure, Celestia taking a seat while Dietrich did the same, taking care to not break the bench. Sitting across from her, he placed his hands on his knees while she sat with her forelegs between her hind legs.
Neither of them spoke for ages, Dietrich awaiting her first move while Celestia seemed content to let the bird song relax her. The bushes behind them rustled, a single brown hare hopping out to disappear around the corner.
“Earlier,” Celestia suddenly started with a far-off look in her eyes. “You said that I was afraid. You seemed to know about such feelings, there was more than just trivial meanings behind your words.” There was a pause again, Dietrich deciding to share.
“I was only a boy when my mother died. It’s not uncommon from where I’m from, to lose a parent so early. It… encouraged me to pursue my father’s faith more readily, and so I am what I am today. I was lucky to have such an outlet, considering the terror I felt of her being gone for good.” He carefully decided what to say, knowing that he was the last hope of his friends. “Throughout my time, I’ve seen what fear can do. I’ve seen it cause good men to commit atrocities, I’ve seen it doom entire planets to oblivion, and I’ve seen it used as a potent weapon.”
Celestia stared at him, especially at the last part. Continuing on, Dietrich placed a hand on the table. “I myself have felt fear many times, and on occasion it has come close to changing me into something unwanted. So, believe me when I say that I can understand how it can influence a good person to commit terrible deeds.”
There was more silence. They sat for another few minutes, both reflecting on his words. The breeze continued to rustle the flowers and trees, the birds still oblivious to the discussion happening below in the gazebo.
“And when the fear is gone?” Celestia whispered, staring into space. “Only to be replaced by another fear? Fear that, despite all of your justifications, results, feelings, and hopes, still refuses to leave and instead gnaws at you constantly with no apparent end? Then what do you do?”
Dietrich waited for a few moments. “You tell someone about that fear.”
Celestia was silent again, turning her head to look at a tea plant growing to the left of them beside a garden bed.
“That’s one of Greenleaf’s plants,” she shared with a sigh. “She has quite the talent for it, you know. It used to bring me such joy to sit here and watch her bound around, tending to them like they were her children. She was happy, far from the spiteful Queen that she used to be. But, for a few days now, I’ve been wondering… who is happy? Chrysalis, or what I made her into?”
“I’m afraid that I don’t exactly follow.”
“I must admit, the changeling invasion was quite a surprise,” Celestia continued without seeming to notice his comment. “Even I had forgotten about their species, it had been so long since they had been known to ponykind. They planned to enslave us, to use us as a plentiful food supply while they ruled over us.” Her voice grew bitter in tone. “I remember Chrysalis defeating me, suspending me from the ceiling while she celebrated her victory. I also remember hating her for what she planned to do to my ponies, and I’m thankful that she was defeated by Shining Armour and Cadence without any loss of life.”
She looked back at him, shaking her head. “Seeing those changelings you brought with you, defiant and confrontational. Even the little ones, fighting with my sister while she accused them of wrong… I tried to reason that they were evil by nature, that they were the cause of Luna storming off. But, for some reason, I couldn’t shake the image of Chrysalis from my mind.” Celestia looked down at her forelegs, even lifting one up to examine it. “What have I become, am I still me? Here I sit, a Princess with billions of adoring subjects, but I feel more miserable than I ever had in my millennia of life.”
She nearly flinched when he reached out a hand, but was silent while he grasped his metal finger around her golden shoe. Guiding her leg to the table, Dietrich retained his grip.
“You have made a mistake, possibly many. You, Princess Celestia, are flawed like any other creature. I can’t pretend to know exactly what drove you to do what you did, nor can I understand your sister’s reasons, but I do know one thing.”
“What?”
“You are not beyond redemption.” Despite his initial intentions, religion was at the very back of his mind.
Celestia actually sniffed, the Princess looking away for a brief moment. “I am. I wish to be rid of this… guilt, but there is no way to reverse the potion’s effects. Even if their forms were all returned to normal, their minds are gone.” She shuddered at the realisation. “I’ve… killed. I’ve murdered billions, all because I was afraid that they would corrupt my ponies. I even convinced my sister that it was the only way, and now she hates me like an enemy. How can anyone be redeemed for that? In my goal to ride everyone of corruption, I’ve become exactly what I feared.”
As she continued to speak, her sniffles grew into tears. At the end, the full weight of her realisation hit her full on. Unable to speak any further, Celestia turned to look over her garden as she cried.
Continuing to pat her foreleg, Dietrich sat with her while the sun drifted lazily overhead.
A set of green eyes peered out from behind a tea plant, the owner staring at the two beings looking in the opposite direction.
‘Chrysalis?’
“Something’s gone wrong, I just know it. It’s been hours. There’s no way Celestia as kept her word, Dietrich needs our help and-“
“Seraph, calm down. I’m sure he’s fine.”
Chatter hugged Seraph tighter, patting her on the back while they both sat on the floor. The small servant’s room they had been locked in didn’t give them much choice, the others either on the bed or on the floor. Thankfully the nymphs had fallen asleep on the single pillow, so that was two less to worry about.
“Chatter’s right,” Swift reassured from his spot on the bed, Haze nodding alongside him. “Out of all of us, Dietrich is the one most likely to come back in one piece.”
Double, also on the bed, chuckled while nudging the changeling lying next to him. “I don’t know, Cion here was doing pretty well.”
“Pfft, yeah, if you count Celestia nearly finishing me then and there as ‘pretty well’. I swear some of those guards were looking to spear me instead of bothering with the potion.”
The small chuckles the followed her comment only slightly alleviated the dire situation. Here they were, locked in a room at Canterlot castle, while Dietrich was talking to or possibly being converted by Celestia herself.
Chatter shivered, Luna had been scary, but Celestia… Celestia was something else entirely. Feeling him shake, Seraph nuzzled him.
“I can’t believe he let us borrow this!” Madeline spoke up from her spot in the corner with Sheen, both flipping through the pages of Dietrich’s book with unrestrained glee. “Look at all of the pictures!”
Not knowing whether to be glad that they had found a distraction or terrified that they both found the often death-related pictures interesting, he turned to glance at them. “Be careful with that, it’s very special to him.”
“We know,” Sheen rolled his eyes. “It’s not like we’ve stolen it or anything.”
Chatter winced at the jab, everyone’s laughter not helping. Even Seraph joined in, giggling softly from her spot in his forelegs.
“Yeah, yeah,” he sighed. “I’m never going to be forgiven for that, am I?”
“Well, it was a pretty amusing stuff up,” Haze told him, her tail swishing behind her.
“I-“ he began, but stopped at the sound of approaching hoofsteps outside their door.
“Guards,” the muffled voice of Celestia was easy to recognise. “Open it up, please.”
All of them sat up while the lock was opened, all mirth fleeing the room while they awaited the arrival of their fate.
‘I hope the crazy human did it,’ Chatter prayed, the door swinging open to reveal guards, Celestia…
And, to everyone’s relief, Dietrich standing beside her.
“Dietrich!” Madeline cheered, getting to her hooves and crouching down. Sheen carefully placed the leather-bound book onto her back, Madeline straining to lift it. Cautiously, she ambled over to Dietrich and presented it to him. “Here you go, we made sure to keep it really safe!”
“Why, thank you so much,” Dietrich acknowledged, reaching down with one hand to take the book while patting her on the head with the other. “Not a word to my Archdeacon however, I doubt he’ll be too pleased with me.”
Madeline nodded and made a shushing motion, before she glanced up at Celestia and her smile faded. “Mr Dietrich, what’s going to happen to us, are we going to be converted?”
“I’ve-“
“No.” Celestia cut Dietrich off, the Princess maintaining a stoic face. Looking closer, Chatter swore he could see tear streaks. “There is an old castle in the Everfree forest, near the town of Ponyville. It used to be where my sister and myself resided in the old days. It still harbours a number of dangerous beasts, but the castle is protected by ancient wards that keep them at bay. The High-Confessor has stated that he is more than confident in his abilities to protect you from anything in there.”
Chatter was too shocked to speak, but thankfully Seraph wasn’t.
“Yo… You’re letting us go? Unconverted?”
A nod from Celestia. “You will be taken to the castle immediately, along with some basic supplies. From then on, you are to not leave the forest and interact with ponies in any way. If you survive and grow too big in number, then other habitation options will be explored. However, for now I want you to stay there and not step hoof on Equestrian soil. Am I clear?”
“Perfectly,” Double quickly nodded, the first to react. No-one payed the lime earth-pony in a maid outfit any mind.
“Good,” Celestia replied emotionlessly. “Sergeant Shield here will be in charge of your transport. The chariots are already being loaded.”
Without even waiting for thanks, Celestia turned and walked off. They all stared at Dietrich, the guards next to him equally confused.
“We talked,” was all the priest said with a shrug.
Greenleaf trotted out of the side entrance, entering the guard muster field. There were a number of guards loading up a single chariot with crates and bags, the ponies all focused on their tasks.
She moved towards a pile of supplies, pulling down the top of one of the large sacks. It was half-full with potatoes, Greenleaf looking around before carefully removing one. The guards were all busy at another pile, leaving her time to remove potato after potato. With only a quarter left in the sack, she gave one last look back at the towering castle.
Her mind told her to return to her duties preparing tea for her Princess, but there was a small voice in the back of her mind. It was repeating the name she had heard earlier, the name that had sparked… something inside. Now, instead of fear when she remembered the image of the scary pony-monsters, she felt like she knew them.
Greenleaf wasn’t entirely sure why she decided to climb into the potato sack and remain still, but her mind was focused on much more important matters.
“Chrysalis…” she muttered, the word feeling so familiar to say.
Luna woke up from an uneasy slumber, sitting up in her bed.
“Curses,” she growled, thumping the pillow beside her. All that time spent searching for a bat-pony dreaming about changelings, and not one shred of luck. What was more concerning was her other attempt to find bat-ponies having nightmares about Celestia converting them. Instead of Celesta, she was shocked to find that they had more nightmares involving her.
Slowly leaving the bed, she didn’t even make an attempt to make it as she instead stormed out of her dark room. Her two bat-pony guards nodded but had enough sense to let her be, Luna glancing towards the clock on the wall.
‘Midnight,’ she thought with a scowl. Celestia used to wake her personally for her night-time duties, but considering their prior argument and the ever-hated fact that the planet’s orbital bodies moved themselves with no chance of control, she could see why that hadn’t happened.
Briefly considering returning to her chambers to sulk, her grumbling stomach took centre stage. Descending down the staircase and moving into the spacious castle kitchens, she could find not one cook at their post. Noticing the light on in the dining room, Luna trotted in with the intention of berating a servant and ordering them to make breakfast.
Instead, she was met with the sight of Celestia sitting by herself, fork buried in the remaining half of a decadent chocolate cake.
To say that something had gone wrong was an understatement.
“Sister? Are you okay? Normally, you are already retired for the night.”
Celestia didn’t respond apart from lifting another forkful of cake with her magic, the morsel disappearing into her mouth.
‘By the moon,’ Luna winced. ‘Something has gone astray drastically.’
“I’m sorry for yelling at you,” she apologised, moving to sit next to Celestia. “My nerves have been frayed as of late, and I am-“
“Fearful?” Celestia cut her off, the fork pausing in mid-air. “Guilty?” Luna winced as the silver cutlery was stabbed into the cake, Celestia not raising it again. “Regretful for what we have done?”
Taking a guess, Luna hesitated. “Are you… upset about our captives? Did their conversion cause some sort of problem?”
Celestia’s humourless chuckle scared her, her sister’s wings twitching.
“Captives? I’m starting to think that they were never captives. That High Confessor is more free than I shall ever be again.” A shake of her head. “No Luna, I did not convert them. I let them go.”
Now that was unexpected. “What? You let them go? But, they are dangerous and insidious!”
“They are not the threat,” came her sister’s shaky reply. Celestia looked up, staring into her eyes. “We are, Luna. We are the evil ones this time. Don’t you understand? We, in our fear, have ruined everything we strived for. Now, we are left like horrid mockeries of our former selves.”
Celestia returned to her cake, beginning to eat again. Luna was silent for ages, tilting her head at her sister as if she was an alien.
“Sister, what did that human do to you? What has he done?”
Another humourless laugh. “What did he do?” Luna leaned back, Celestia fixing her with a serious stare, not breaking eye contact. “He forgave me, Luna. You as well. He forgave us for all that we have done, for the terrible things that have happened.” She went back to eating her cake, Luna almost shaking.
“But we have done nothing wrong, we have only done good.”
Celestia didn’t even pause her eating.
“One day, you’ll be brave enough to realise it. I can only hope that the both of us will be able to forgive ourselves.”
Luna left the table without another word, leaving Celestia to resume drowning her sorrows in rich cake.
All of a sudden, she didn’t feel like breakfast anymore.
Seraph dropped another peeled potato into the stew pot, the vegetable joining the carrots, corn, and spices already simmering over the fire. Stirring the brew with the ladle, she took a deep sniff and hum in approval.
In truth, she almost found their situation hilarious. They’d gone from hiding out and cooking stews in a cave out of fear for ponies, to staying in the ruins of a castle cooking stew with the blessing of Princess Celestia. It was still confusing to her, after all they had even been brought to the forest in a chariot with a wealth of supplies.
Glancing towards Dietrich, the priest placing down another load of dry wood that he had gathered, she wondered what he had done to get Celestia to let them go. He had refused to tell her in the chariot, merely stating that he ‘had done his duty’.
Returning her attention to her cooking, she smiled at the thought. No matter what he had done, it seemed to have worked. Granted they were confined to the forest, but they had been promised solitude and safety from conversion. It still pained her that such an offer couldn’t help the rest of her race, but at least they were safe.
“Hey.” The greeting was accompanied by a nuzzle, Seraph sighing as Chatter sat down to join her. “How’s it going?”
“Good,” she smiled in reply, giving him a peck on the nose. “I’m just cooking and thinking.”
“Smells good.”
“Yeah, the ponies even gave us some spices.”
Chatter chuckled, nudging her in the side. “They were a bit light on the potatoes though. Not that I’m complaining, peeling vegetables with hoofs is a pain.” He sat back and held up the mentioned forelegs. “Strange too, considering that sack was so heavy that me and that guard had to lift it.”
“Pfft, you’re just weak,” she teased, Chatter snorting.
It was at that time that the two nymphs ran past just on the other side of the pot. “Hey,” Seraph called out. “No galloping near the fire!”
A brief burst of chirping was the reply, Chatter shaking his head at their antics. So far, the pair along with Sheen and Madeline had spent the day racing around the castle exploring and causing chaos. Seraph instead watched them leave with longing, Chatter noticing.
“Hmm?”
“Nothing,” she sighed, continuing to stir the pot. “I was just wondering about having nymphs, what it’d be like.”
Beside her, Chatter shifted uncomfortably. “Well, Seraph, I mean, if you want nymphs, I…”
She laughed at his awkwardness. “Oh Chatter, I don’t want nymphs right now. We still have to settle in and all,” she leaned in to whisper in his ear. “Thanks for attempting to make the offer though; I’ll keep it in mind.” Giving him another kiss on the cheek, she pulled her head back and pushed his chest away. “Now get your mind off nymph-making and get those bowls ready, stew’s ready in a few minutes.”
He rolled his eyes and left to do as she asked, Seraph waving goodbye before abandoning the ladle and turning to start on the bread.
“Huh,” she muttered, gazing at the two loafs. “I could have sworn that I put out three…”
Greenleaf poked her head up from the rubble she was hiding behind, still munching on the half-loaf she still held in her forehooves. The two monster-ponies were still nuzzling each other, before the suspected mare pushed the male away with a laugh and incomprehensible speech.
Shifting her rump on the cold stone, Greenleaf continued to watch from her hidden outcropping while the others gathered below in what used to be the castle throne room. The smoke from their fire filtered up through the holes in the roof above her, so she had to shift around to see what was going on.
Still observing while the group below all laughed and talked while they ate, including the huge two-legged one, Greenleaf felt both out-of-place and oddly at home. She was surprised that she felt no pang for her bland room in the castle, nor did she desire to serve the Princess she… despised so much.
‘Wait,’ she thought to herself with a shake of her head. ‘Princess Celestia is our ruler, and she cares for us all. I love her and all my other ponies.’
Still, her mouth twitched as she thought that, Greenleaf deciding to focus instead on her dinner and the joyful scene below.
“Captain Takei, what is the reason for our delay?”
Tsugu Takei sighed at the query, one of many. Raising a hand to his blue dress uniform and brushing off a stray black hair from his golden chevrons, he turned his captain’s chair away from the cold expanse of space on the main monitor and faced his questioner. Through practiced manners he resisted showing his frown to the awaiting Archdeacon and the two clerical guards, his fifty bridge crew also paying the intruders no mind. It was a testament to his bridge crew’s discipline and training, considering that the Archdeacon and his two silent and helmeted guards both had numerous religious icons and candles embedded in their black armour.
“Archdeacon,” he greeted with a habitual emphasis on the ‘r’. “Once again I find you on my bridge unannounced.” Idly, he wondered if the Mortisum church showed rank by their hat sizes. The Archdeacon’s tall black cylinder just looked hilarious to him. Considering that about twenty-percent of his two-thousand ship crew followed the faith, including a large contingent of their shipboard marines, he wasn’t going to bring that observation up however.
“Once again I find our journey halted,” the white man’s heavily accented voice replied. Takei still had difficulty placing it, although it sounded French. Granted, he’d only met one ‘Frenchman’, and had been distracted by the Army Colonel’s irritable need to prove his ‘genuine’ French ancestry all the way back to the seventeenth Terran century. “I am required for a function in the Pavonus system, and if I am late-“
“We will not be late,” Takei reassured with audible annoyance. He rested his head on his hand, rolling his brown eyes at the priest. “There is a slight error with our navigation systems, it will be repaired momentarily. I’ll make sure to keep you informed if there’s any news.”
The Archdeacon stared at him with his cold blue eyes, but thankfully snorted and turned to leave. “Very well, Lord bless.”
“Sure,” Takei returned with another eye roll. “May his blessings rain down upon you, and his magnificent radiance light your path.”
The Archdeacon paused.
“Very droll, Captain. You almost remind me of the High Confessor I am being sent to investigate, except he’s a true believer.” With that, the three left, passing to two grey-armoured marines and exiting into the corridor with the armoured door closing behind them.
Takei turned back to his main monitor to mutter under his breath. “I’ll be a believer when my ship does what I tell it.” Raising his voice, he tapped his hand against his arm rest. “Navigator, status report.”
He sort of pitied the officer, watching the lanky man while he made his way from the navigational crew towards the chair. Their trip transporting the Archdeacon had been wrought with disaster, mostly revolving around the navigational systems. For some reason, the computer systems of the UIP naval frigate had been playing up, despite a complete service by both the shipboard technicians and those of a passed maintenance station.
“Captain,” the Navigator nodded. Takei waved for him to continue, their familiarity doing away with the need for military formality. “You requested a status report.” Takei nodded, making a gesture with his eyes towards the door that the Archdeacon had departed through. The Navigator smiled slightly. “While I understand the urgency, I’m afraid I have bad news.”
“Still pointing to that same point?”
“Yes, we’ve tried everything. We keyed in new coordinates, reset the data-stores, we even turned it off and on again. It is still wanting us to warp to system Three-Seven-Nine-G.”
“What is with that system?” Takei questioned, more to himself.
“I can’t tell you, I’m afraid. It hasn’t been explored yet and I doubt it ever will.”
Drumming his fingers on his chair, he went over the facts. He was stuck with a near-inoperable navigational system, an impatient Archdeacon, and most importantly a splitting headache. So far, he could only see one method of action that wouldn’t lead to either a court martial or a pissed-off holy man burning him at a stake.
Or something like that.
“Well,” he grumbled, flicking his hand and focusing on the stars outside. “Let’s go exploring then, and see what all of this trouble is about.”
“Of course,” the Navigator nodded, immediately returning to his area to direct his junior officers.
‘Hopefully this will get rid of this hell I find myself in,’ he hoped, still staring out at the harsh void. ‘Hear that God? You have one chance to prove yourself to me. Either that, or you can just magic me up some alcohol.’ He nodded to himself as the crew prepared to enact their warp. ‘Yes, that would be nice, actually.’