Chapter 9 : The Truth Revealed
Double Star closed her eyes, hoping that whatever the Shadow Pony did would be quick and painless. But time passed and nothing was
happening. What's going on? Why hasn't he done anything yet? Star wondered as even more time passed. The last thing she saw
before closing her eyes was the Shadow Pony's hoof reaching for her. She remembered hearing a shriek but she thought that that was her,
she opened her eyes, expecting to see the Shadow Pony. Instead she saw Luna a few meters away, glaring at Star, she realized that she still
looked like a changeling.
“So... You're supposed to be Star?” asked Luna, unsure of how to deal with the situation that she was now facing.
“I could say 'yes', but you wouldn't believe me.” replied Star.
Luna stared at the changeling, not sure what to do. She turned around, trying to think of a way to be sure whether this was the young earth
pony she had met many moons ago. Luna was thinking when she heard a strange sound coming form behind her. Thinking that the
changeling might be doing something that would place her in danger, Luna turned to face the changeling, ready to defend herself. What she
saw surprised her beyond anything she had seen in all of her time in Equestria. The changeling was lying on the ground... crying. Luna was
truly confused and completely lost, how was she supposed to deal with this? Luna stared at the changeling for a moment, then started
moving towards it.
Star was lying on the cold ground of the forest, crying at all the truths that she had learnt and at all the things that had happened in the past
few hours: getting fillynapped by an Ursa Major, being face to face with the Shadow Pony, learning of her true origins. It was all too much
for her, and so she broke down. Then and there. Star felt something lay down next to her, she turned her head and saw Luna staring at her,
pity showing in her eyes. Luna looked into the changeling's eyes, desperation was the dominating emotion that Luna noticed, Luna felt pity
well up inside her. No changeling could be this emotional, this was no natural changeling, and so Luna realized that this must be Star.
“Are you OK?” asked Luna
“Yes... Do... Do you believe me?” asked Star
“I think I may have to. I've never seen a changeling cry before.” replied Luna
Star looked at Luna, glad that she wasn't going to be left alone in the forest. A Timber Wolf howled at that moment. Luna was surprised to
feel the changeling lean into her, as if she were trying to get away from the howl of the TimberWolves. Luna lifted her wing, hesitating about
whether she should, then draped it over the changeling and pulled it closer to her. She could feel the changeling trembling, and so Luna
waited for the changeling to stop fearing that anything more would happen tonight. When Star had finally calmed down, she realized
something. The cold was no longer affecting her. The answer to that was simply that Luna's wing was protecting her from the cold. Star
was surprised that Luna felt sure enough of who she was to keep her warm and comfort her.
“Luna?” called out Star
“Yes?” she answered
“Do you really believe that I'm me? I mean... you know...” Star trailed off
“Yes, I do.” replied Luna
Star poked her head out from beneath Luna's wing and looked at the alicorn princess. Luna was back lit by the moon, looking very fierce
and powerful. But there was a softness in her eyes, Star smiled, seeing that she was safe. Luna smiled back.
“What do you think happened to me? Am I really a changeling? Did he just make me look like one to have some fun? What am I suppose to
do now! Who...” rambled on Star
“Star, stop!” said Luna “I don't know the answers to those questions. Celestia might, but she's currently waiting for me at the border of the
Crystal Empire. She cannot defeat King Sombra alone. You shall just have to wait for us to return, if you truly wish to receive some answers,
you shall have to be patient.”
“You can't leave! What if the Shadow Pony comes back! What if he takes me again!” exclaimed Star.
“I thing that he's gone for good this time. But just in case, I want to you to stay where other ponies can see you. Keep your friends close.
We'll be back before to much time has passed.” explained Luna.
“OK, but what do we do now? I still look like a changeling. How do I turn back into myself?” asked Star
“I believe focusing on who you wish to turn into may trigger the transformation.” answered Luna.
Star looked at Luna, doubt filling her mind, but it was worth trying if she could be herself again.Star focused as hard as she could on how
she used to look, on how she wanted to look. She felt a strange energy traveling from her hooves to her head. A green light flashed in front
of her eyes, and when she looked down, her fur was no longer black but it's usual shade of brown. Star smiled, glad that she no longer
looked like a changeling.
“What do we do know?” asked Star
“We go home.” answered Luna with a smile.
Luna lifted Star onto her back and then flew in the direction of the castle. It took a long time to reach the clearing, but it seemed to take
mere minutes for the castle to be in sight. From Luna's back, Star could see a lone figure standing in the courtyard, looking up at them. Luna
landed gently in the courtyard, Star saw the figure run towards them.
“Star! Are you alright? Is she alright? What happened?” asked Golden, question after question pouring out of his mouth.
“She is fine, she just needs to rest. She has had a very trying time.” answered Luna “I shall have to leave her with you, for I must return to
the Crystal Empire. I am needed, but I would appreciate it if you would leave Star alone until she is ready to tell you what happened.”
“Of course, Princess Luna.” answered Golden.
And so, her instructions given, Luna disappeared in a flash of light. Golden looked at Star worriedly, he wanted to ask so many question, but
he kept Luna's advice in mind. He kept silent and simply escorted Star back to her dormitory. Golden led Star to her bed and watched as
she fell asleep. He left a few minutes later, hoping in his mind that she would be alright. Star heard the door shut and new that she was
alone. The other fillies of the orphanage were out helping clear up the mess the Ursa had left in it's wake. Star fell slowly to sleep, her
dreams were undisturbed and peaceful, courtesy of Luna, who, even though she was currently fighting her way through Sombra's army, still
worried about the young filly.
When Star awoke the next morning, she felt slightly better and ready to explain the events of the previous night to Golden. She got and
went to brush her teeth, after having done that, she looked at herself in the mirror, knowing and worrying about what was hidden beneath
her brown coat. She left the bathroom and went to get ready to go outside and face the day.Golden was waiting in the street for Star to
show up, he had been so worried about the look on her face when she had returned with Princess Luna that he had hardly slept that night.
He heard the door open behind him and turned around, Star was coming down the steps slowly. She looked a little better then she had
yesterday, but still a little worn out. She saw him and smiled, Golden smiled back.
“Hi. Do...Do you feel better?” he asked
“Sort of... But listen, there's something I need to tell you.” she replied
“OK, what is it?” he inquired
“Um... is there somewhere private we can go?” Star asked
“I know a place, come on...” declared Golden
Golden trotted off, Star following him closely, in the direction of the castle. Golden lead them down several narrow, windy streets. Finally
they reached a completely empty alleyway with nopony around.
“What is this place?” asked Star
“Just a place I come to when I want to think about stuff. So... what did you want to tell me?” asked the young colt.
Star took a deep breath and started telling Golden the events of the previous night. The more of the story she told, the more serious and
silent Golden became. When she told him about her true origins, a shock appeared on his face. Star looked away, not wanting to see his
face, to know how he was reacting to such a revelation. Golden looked at Star not wanting, not able to believe it.
“Are you sure?” he asked
Golden watched as Star turned into a changeling before his very eyes, her head still turned away.Golden stood there for a few moments,
then he reached out his hoof towards Star.
Star still wasn't looking at Golden, wondering what he was going to say, what he would do, whether he was even still there. Star felt a hoof
on her cheek, she started, and felt the hoof turn her head back towards the young colt.
“Hi.” said Golden with a smile.
Star looked at him, her eyes brimming with tears. A small chuckle escape through her lips. Golden approached Star and then pulled her into
a hug, one of his legs passing behind her and pulling her in. Star wrapped her front legs around Golden's neck, who was now supporting her
weight, and started crying. Golden just stood there, not letting go of his friend who desperately needed somepony to support her, physically
as well as emotionally. And so they both stood there, the colt and the changeling, as the day slipped away.