Cherry Blossom hummed a simple tune as she brushed a hoof up the smooth bark of the sapling on the third floor. She bit down on her squirt bottle’s bulb, wetting the leaves she held in her hoof. A sensation ran down her leg, much more than the sudden dampness of her hoof.
You’re getting talkative, aren’t you?
She smiled and set the bottle down. “Well, who am I to refuse?”
The little tree just sat in its corner quietly, the tingle of a life’s magic reaching out gone again.
Cherry sighed and slipped her hoof away from the leaves. “Not that talkative, I see.” She stroked its slender trunk. “That’s okay. We’ve got all the time in the world. It’s been pretty exciting though, hasn’t it? First you meet a new friend, and then I keep visiting you with a guard looking over my shoulder. We haven’t had much time alone, have we?”
She looked over her shoulder at the empty hall behind her. The guards were waiting down the pass leading to the throne room of course, but today was the first morning none of them waited outside her temporary room on the first floor, nor had she yet to see one within ten feet of her. Despite that, she hadn’t risked anything more than going about her daily routine.
“I gotta say, I miss my flowers on the window sill back home. The weather teams finally got clearance for some rain yesterday, so I guess they’re okay. Three days just feels a lot longer than it is when you can’t go where you want, but I guess you and our mutual friend would know more about that than me.” She cocked her head. “I wonder if he’d mind if I named you Dawn?”
Bells chimed the hour, and Cherry left the throne room behind as she headed for the windows overlooking the courtyard below. A group of young stallions, only the colors of their manes and tails standing out from the gray jumpsuits they all wore, stretched on the ground while a guard pony barking orders at them paced back and forth. At the sharp echo of his last command, the stallions stood and began trotting around the perimeter.
Right on schedule, two armored guards pushed open a pair of doors, and Dawn—
Cherry pursed her lips. She had spoken with him in a supervised meetings over the last few days, and he still insisted she stop calling him that name.
He, she always resorted to, walked into the courtyard for his daily allotted exercise. He rolled his shoulders and stretched out for a few moments himself while the group passed by, each trainee eyeing him as they did so. They broke out into a gallop a moment later, and he chased after in kind.
Cherry smiled and listened to the thunder of falling hooves echo around her, watching as he passed them all one by one—weaving through the slower ones and gaining on the fastest with every heartbeat. They ran an entire lap at full speed before he eclipsed the leader of the pack, and all the stallions stopped or fell to the ground, panting for breath while he continued to run. He looked back at them all, and while Cherry couldn’t see them, she knew his fangs were bared. It was no snarl, as she had seen that look many times over their meetings.
He was laughing.
“Disgusting,” somepony said next to her. “Why do they even let that thing see the light of day?”
Cherry sighed and looked at the mares from the corner of her eye. The same duo that delighted in teasing her the most stood by the window, and a third unicorn—a filly younger than herself—stood behind them.
“I know,” the second said. “Prisoner of war my hoof! He’s a spy! What’s Celestia playing at?”
“Mercy,” Cherry said, dropping her hooves back to the floor and facing them.
The first one’s face lit up. “That’s right!” The brief spark dropped to a sneer. “I heard the bug down there was posing as that stallion we found you with the other day.”
The other laughed. “Cherry Blossom and the monster! How long did the two of you shack up before you got caught?” She sneered as well. “Better yet, who did you make him turn into each night? Or did you like seeing a beast loom over you?”
Cherry set her jaw and glanced at the third, who had spent the exchange looking down at her hooves. “I see you’ve met some of our esteemed staff.”
“Thanks for reminding me!” The first maid shoved the timid filly towards Cherry. “The school sent her over for the day. Since you enjoy taking care of useless things, watch over this one for us, will you?”
Cherry stopped the filly from tumbling over, and her eyes snapped back to the maids. “I bet she’ll get more done today than you two, dragging your egos around with you like that.”
They grinned wickedly. “She spits fire at last! You think you—”
“I don’t need fire!” Cherry snapped, stepping forward. “I know the truth. I know what worthless is! It’s thinking that knocking someone down lifts you up. It’s wasting time lying about someone else when there’s nothing good to be said about you. What’s worthless is you two!” She spun and stormed back down the hall.
The filly scampered alongside her, looking up at her with shining eyes. “That was awesome.”
“Was it?” Cherry stopped by the young tree and fixed a hard look down at her. “Students aren’t sent here unless they’re getting punished. What did you do?”
She sucked her lips in, and the admiration in her eyes changed to apprehension. Her gaze dropped to the floor.
Cherry glanced back at the retreating mares. “You hurt someone, didn’t you? Like they did. Am I right?”
The filly hesitated, but nodded.
“Do you know how to never be like them?” Cherry rested a hoof on the filly’s shoulders until she looked up, and she pointed to the tree. “This poor thing was going to get tossed out with the rubble back from the invasion. I saved it, and look at it now. Green and growing.”
The filly furrowed her brow. “So I have to take care of plants?”
“Oh, you’ll be doing that soon enough. Don’t worry.” Cherry smiled and brushed one of the leaves. “Respect. That’s what you have to do. Everything has a place. A life of its own. A friend of mine told me awhile ago that I had no idea what he saw or thought or felt, and he was right. Respect everyone, because you don’t know what it’s like to be them.” Or who they might be.
She saw a guard step into the hall from the throne room’s way and led the filly that way. “Right now, your place in life is down in the gardens. First, head down to the shack near the gates. Fill up some cans and start watering the rose vines in the Party Grounds. You can’t miss ‘em.” She flicked her eyes to the guard and back. “I can’t say when I’ll be back down, but trust me—I’ll know if you actually did it or not.”
The filly nodded. “Yes, ma’am.” She trotted down the stairs.
Cherry sighed and ran a hoof through her mane. “Does the hair really make me look that old?”
The guard grunted and turned back to the throne room. “They’re ready for you now.”
She followed him to the towering doors, past the two rows of guards standing at rigid attention, never looking at them and sure none of them would have met her gaze even if she had. Besides grunts, nods, and the occasional noncommittal shrug, none of them had even spoken to her whether they were on or off duty. Just as well.
Cherry took the opportunity to take deep, calming breaths before she reached the doors. Only twice before had she been in the throne room—when she was accepted onto the castle staff with the other incoming trainees, and when she heard her father speak on behalf of his cheated family—and neither time had she been the very center of attention.
She remembered how her father looked: tall and proud instead of bowed in front of all the nobles in attendance, his voice ringing clear instead of mumbled at the floor. I slowed down, he had said afterwards. Had to make sure all of them stuffed shirts heard every word, because I was right. Not one pony can say I wasn’t.
Her father’s time had only been a fraction of Celestia’s daily court, however. He had spent most of the last three days in this room, only let out for a night in his cell or exercise or a few brief moments with Cherry, and now it was her turn to answer for what she did.
She was right. She had tried to save lives, not see them taken. Talk slow.
The guard pushed the doors open and ushered her through, closing the door behind him with a heavy thud that echoed through the empty room. Cherry froze under the sound. Only two ponies waited for her, Princess Celestia on her elevated throne and Shining Armor in his regalia. The guard nudged her forward.
Two ponies. She had expected three at least. Even without a gallery or a single witness to speak on her behalf, she thought there would have been some advisor to interpret the law for her. Perhaps another one of the Princesses to sit in judgement. Her steps carried her forward, each one bringing another repetition of her plan. Talk slow. She kept her eyes forward and bowed at the foot of the small flight of stairs leading up to Celestia’s throne.
“Rise, Cherry Blossom.” Celestia regarded her with no smile, but no malice either. She gestured to Shining Armor, and the Captain stepped forward.
“Cherry Blossom, you stand accused of aiding an enemy in acts of espionage, infiltration of Canterlot Castle, and assaulting not only the Equestrian military, but also the Royal Family. How do you answer these charges?”
She took a steady breath through her nose and stubbornly held her lip away from her teeth. Treason. Shining Armor didn’t say the word, but it was implied. Not one pony could hear that list and not think her a traitor. Which made it all the more curious they were alone. “Is this my trial, Your Highness?”
“No.” Celestia took a quick look at Shining Armor. “We are undecided on how to move forward with this matter. I believe hearing your side of things will eliminate some of the paths open to us. You know where you stand, Cherry. Will you answer?”
Her lip quivered. Not a trial, but still over her head. But she was right. There was nothing she could say later that she couldn’t say now. Cherry took another calming breath and nodded. “I... I didn’t know he was a changeling.”
Celestia tilted her head. “You spent time with him every day for at least a week.”
“I did.” She swallowed. How much did he…? “He came to me a few times. He said he was a servant for a noble lady from out of town. We met each day and... we were friends. He is my friend.”
“You brought him onto castle grounds twice,” Shining Armor said, “and I once found you delaying your duties to speak with him. Why?”
“He’s my friend. We were talking.”
“I found you on the third floor that night. Were you talking to him then as well?”
Cherry nodded. “I was trying to—”
“After you learned he was a changeling?”
She nodded again. “That was when I found out. That night. He—”
His eyes narrowed. “Then you hid him from me! You helped him even after you knew what he was!”
“No, I didn’t! I chased after him to stop him!” She looked at Celestia. “You wanted to know my side of things? That’s it. Yes, I brought him inside the castle walls. He was a friend. He was lonely. I wanted to help him. When I found out why he was really here, I wanted to help him again. I wanted him to leave. I argued with him, and I sent him the wrong way so I could corner him in a dead-end because I didn’t want anyone to get hurt. Anyone.”
Celestia studied her for a long moment. “And you were never coerced? He didn’t threaten you or control you in any way?”
“Of course not.” Another breath as she turned away from the escape Celestia offered. “I knew what I was doing the whole time. All of it. Every day. In the end, he tried to make me leave to keep me out of what was coming, but I followed him anyway. I wanted to save him, from himself if I had to.”
The corners of Celestia’s lips turned up in a smile. “I see. Captain Armor? What do you think?”
“I...” Shining Armor sighed, baring his teeth as he looked away. He shook his head. “I don’t know what to make of all this, but I see no reason to try her.”
Cherry blinked. “What?”
“We have no evidence against you,” Celestia said, “and now that you’ve confirmed what our new guest told us about you, I believe we can trust the rest of his confession.” She gave Cherry a sly smile. “There is still the matter of bringing an unauthorized visitor onto castle grounds, but I consider three days of house arrest and lost wages to be sufficient penalty. The charges against you are hereby dismissed, and you are free to leave the grounds whenever you wish.”
Shining Armor said something, and Celestia responded, but Cherry was too stunned to pick it up. That’s it? He... confessed?
Confessed what?
Cherry bit her lip. The two of them had both been under suspicion, but now that his head was the only one on the line... “What’s going to happen to him?”
Celestia’s face became somber. “It’s too soon to say with any certainty. While our guest was insistent on your innocence, he had quite the story to tell. I think his past is more colorful than you know. For the time being, he will remain in the dungeons.”
Shining Armor cut Cherry off. “What do you want us to do with him? Word has already gotten out. Everypony in Canterlot knows he’s here.” He snorted. “We’ve even gotten requests from cities all over Equestria for the Royal Guard to come investigate just about every kind of incident for changeling activity. Ponies are panicking all over again. He’s safer here than out there.”
“And you actually say that with a straight face?” Cherry stomped. “You tried to kill him!”
Shining didn’t rise to her bait. “He will face the punishment for his crimes.”
“He’s no different than you! He was a—”
Celestia rapped a hoof on her dais and stood up. “From what I understand, he has done little within our borders he isn’t already paying for.” She walked down and stepped between them, glancing at Shining Armor. “He isn’t ours to judge.” She swung her gaze around to Cherry. “But we must be good neighbors. The existence of the changelings will raise questions from all over the world, and we cannot stand in the way of answering them. If he is guilty of crimes elsewhere... we have no right to deny justice to those who seek it.”
Her teeth returned to her lip, but Cherry forced them back. “Can... can I still see him?”
“Of course. He is a prisoner, not an abomination, and now that your matter is settled, you can take all the time you want.” Celestia motioned for the guard by the door, and she smiled at Cherry. “I hope he opens up to you. There’s still so much more we can learn from him.”
Cherry bowed and turned away. The guard led her back through the doors and all the way down to the first floor in silence. He opened a door for her, and she walked in.
He sat on the other side of a table with a plate before him, smiling with chunks of bread stuck on the ends of his fangs. “I thought you ponies dragged out all these formalities.” His tongue snaked out and pulled the pieces off. “That must have been the shortest trial ever.”
“There was no trial.” She walked around the table and wrapped her forelegs around him, taking care to avoid bumping the fresh bandage around his horn. His skin felt odd to her now without the adrenaline and excitement distracting her. More firm on the surface than the coat Dawn had worn, but still soft and smooth enough to yield under her embrace until she felt the toughness of his muscles. “I know what you did.”
His leg wrapped around her body. “I just told the truth. You tried to stop me. You shouldn’t be punished for that.”
“Thank you,” she whispered in his ear.
His body shook against her, and his voice barked out in laughter.
“What?” She slipped away. “What is it?”
He grinned. “You finally said it!”
Cherry cocked her head and sat beside him. “Said what? All I said was—ah!” She laughed, slumping down and covering her head on the table. “I said it! Oh goodness... what was the count?”
“Eh, who cares? You’re welcome.” He held up a loaf of bread. “You want a bite? They keep giving me more than I need.”
“No, I’m not hungry.” She brushed her mane back and sat up straight. “I get to go home today, anyway. Need to eat some food there before it goes bad.” She sighed, shaking her head. “Princess Celestia said they’re still going to keep you in the dungeon for now. I still can’t believe we had one. I never knew.”
“It’s a castle. Of course it has a dungeon.” He patted her hoof. “Don’t worry too much about it. I’ve missed the feeling of sleeping on stone so long, I probably won’t even use the mattress Celestia ordered for me.”
“Right, caves.” She pressed a hoof to her temple. The Hive, as he always called it, was still a mystery to her. Caves, she figured, but where it was, or even if the caves were all he referred to instead of all the changelings inside—her head jerked up. “Wait, just now? Just today? They haven’t even given you a mattress for three days?”
He chuckled. “I know. I’m moving up in the world! Maybe after a year or two of good behavior they’ll give me a guest room!”
She shook her head. “How are you so chipper? Celestia couldn’t even tell me what’s going to happen to you. Or when.”
“I did what I needed to do. And what I wanted to do.” He took another bite of bread and chewed with a thoughtful look on his face. “I almost missed eating this. I was ready to die, Cherry. After that... well, everything looks good.” He smiled. “So thank you, too.”
Cherry took his hoof as he reached for a piece of fruit. She studied it, running one of her own up his leg, marveling how strange it looked. When she saw him—all of him—he looked normal. Complete. Yet with only his leg in her sight, it looked... alien. Her hoof passed over one of the holes, and she gently kneaded into it. “Do they hurt?”
“No.”
How much blood do they have on their hooves? Shining Armor’s voice screamed again, as it had every day, repeating the question she had no answer to. By his own words, she knew he had killed, and she had saved him. It was hard not to imagine blood seeping over her hoof and out of the hole before her.
She almost called him a soldier to Shining Armor. Weapon. Keep the secret. Protect. All words he had used to reveal himself a killer. His past was more colorful than she knew, as Celestia said. It was hard, looking at the scarred normalcy in her grasp, not to imagine what might have set him down his path, by his choice or not. What he must have seen and done as he walked it.
She looked back to his face, watching her with a patient expectation. The pure blue of them invited her in, no sign of deception or hiding in them. Dawn had looked at her that way—content with the silence until she was ready to speak—and she had trusted him, trusted him enough to let him share her worst moments.
Did he ever trust me?
“Tell me. Tell me everything.”