~Fortieth Sunrise~
~Hayseed Swaps~
“Stupid eyes! This was supposed to be a forest. Not. A. Swamp!” I exclaim as I pull my hoof out of disgusting, murky water. My instincts have kept me out of water so far. Well except for the pony-eating spiders in the trees and the different forms of crocodiles and alligators in the water. I haven't tried the caves yet, but let's just say I've been sleeping on clouds of fog. It's too dangerous to try and get to the sky past the treetops. The sun barely even makes it past the dense leaves. The rain, however, does.
I shake the mud of my hoof and adjust my direction slightly to avoid the dangerous water. I've been walking for days, and luckily the grounds been getting drier and the tree's fewer. Slightly, ever so slightly. This place is wretched.
My stomach growls insistently and I think back to my last meal. Right, the last bit of rations the Changelings left with me. Oh how I wish they hadn't just left me to my own with a bag of food, which I didn't notice until I back tracked in search of such a thing, and vague mental direction. I figure they cast some sort of spell for the second of their gifts. I know I'll have to search for food soon, but I don't trust anything that looks edible, and won't risk anything that doesn't.
I manage to ignore my stomach for a few hours, and even manage to entertain myself by taking mental notes on a few plants I pass. Actually not I few, I pay attention to every kind of plant I pass, and intend on asking both Thorn and the Gardner's about them when I get home. Home. I never thought I'd consider it that. I smile at the thought of all my flowers and walks through the garden. I think about the cooks who know my favorite flavors and somehow always find something new that I love. My mind wanders to the different guards and their kindness towards me as well as the way they tease and scold each other.
I can't imagine a better place to be, and this swamp definitely isn't one. Maybe the changelings feel the same way about their hive. They seemed well mannered and kind, their society can't be too different than that of ponies.
The ground soon becomes firmer and the trees thin. I realize with great joy that I am no longer in a swamp but a normal forest. Something more than birdsong and woodland creatures reaches my ears and I realize it's the sound of some pony humming. I run towards the sound with a newfound energy.
I twist and turn through the trees. Finally I skid to a stop as I come across the source of the humming. A light pink earth pony is sitting in a clearing humming as cherries float through the air and dance around her. Her eyes are closed and there are baskets filled with cherries in a semicircle before her. The cherries sort themselves into different baskets based on color. Throughout the area are small piles of bad cherries with various critters munching on them.
I want to wait for her to finish so as to not disturb her, but my stomach betrays me with a large growl. She stops humming in surprise and all the cherries fall. A good amount splatter, but not all. Her eyes shoot open and she spots me immediately. She meets my eyes with her own dark blue one.
“Hello there.” She says as she stands with a stretch. I watch as her eyes look over me. I probably look horrible with mud-caked hooves, five day old bedhead with its own bit of mud and twigs. Not to mention the scrapes and bruises.
I take a deep breath to prepare for a quite lengthy explanation. My stomach growls again just as I open my mouth to explain. I blush and look at the cherries hungrily.
“Come. Let's get you some food and a bath, then explanations.” She says. She begins to him again and the baskets lift up, much like unicorn magic, and we walk out of the forest. Now that I look around I realize that I'm not actually in a forest but rather an orchard. We walk for about ten minutes before a farmhouse comes into view.
The door flies open and a light yellow earth pony with voluminous red and pink hair and a cherry cutie mark rushes out.
“Oh my! Would ya look at this poor filly! Quick, let's get ya all fixed up and ya can tell us your story.” She says. She takes two baskets of cherries from the other made and ushers me inside.
The yellow earth pony leads me to the kitchen, talking all the while. She introduces herself as Cherry Jubilee and says that her helping hand is Cherry Blossom. Cherry Jubilee then pulls a cherry pie out of the windowsill, where it was cooling, and sets a slice in front of me. I try not to devour it too quickly, but had trouble controlling myself. The pie is so good and my stomach was so empty. The mares giggled a bit as they watch me, and tell me of the farm and such as I eat.
As soon as I'm finished, Cherry Blossom leads me to the bathroom where she runs a bath for me. She teases the twigs out of my mane and helps me with the various scrapes and cuts I'd acquired along my journey. She then leaves me to bathe on my own, which I am very grateful for.
After quite a long soak, which was very relaxing, I head into the farmhouses main area. Cherry Jubilee and Cherry Blossom are both sitting there talking. They turn to look at me as I enter.
“Come on over deary. We were just waitin for ya.” Cherry Jubilee says as she gestures to an open seat on the couch. Cherry Blossom nods as I take the seat.
“Please begin your tale, I'm sure it is one filled with much interest.” Cherry Blossom says in a lilting sing song voice. It's calming, but reminds me much of the voice of my filly napper. I wince slightly at the thought.
I start not at the beginning but at my filly napping. I tell them I do not know why I was taken, and of the changelings aid in my escape. I realize then that I do not know what became of the Queen or the other changelings. They could be injured, or worse. I hope not, I can't imagine something so horrid. My eyes begin to water and soon I'm crying.
I cry at the thought of changelings dying. I cry at the thought of my many almost deaths during trek through the swamp. I cry for the home I won't return to, and the new home I was ripped from. I cry at the thought of the princesses discovering that I'm gone, and at the thought of everypony’s worry. I cry for ten minutes, or for hours. I do not know.
I know that the two nice mares let me cry, and comfort me. They give me a place to sleep and food in the morning. Cherry Jubilee then buys me a train ticket straight to Canterlot, and sends Cherry Blossom with me.
Cherry Blossom doesn't talk much, merely sings or hums to me when she thinks I need soothing and leaves me to my own devices. During the train ride I decide to write down everything that happened, as well as a thank you to the changeling queen, and a personal letter to Xuncricmux. I ask her to tell all the other changelings that helped that they'll forever have my gratitude. I hope I can become friends with Xuncricmux and the other Changelings. They all seem nice, and I wouldn't be alive if not for them.
The train ride is an overnight one, but I do not sleep for fear of vulnerability. I can sleep when I'm home. Home. I stifle a yawn as Canterlot comes into view, and drift in and out of a light sleep as the train nears the castle. The moment the train stops a group of guards enter and begin to search it.
“Guards!” I yell as I push myself out of the booth I'm sitting at. One guard turns around and spots me immediately.
“Princess Daybreak! Guys, I found her! The princess is safe!” He yells, and the other guards make their way over to me. One of them nearly hugs me but keeps their distance. “Let's get you back to the castle princess.” He says, and turns to go.
“Ahem. This kind made was nice enough to feed and shelter me after I trekked for days through a dangerous swamp. And then she escorted me back here. She is coming to the castle as well and I expect she be rewarded for her generosity and kindness.” I say in my best princess voice.
The guard bows his head. “Of course your highness.” He says. I gesture to Cherry Blossom and we all exit the train. We walk slowly, for I am tired and sore, but eventually make it back to the castle.
Only the staff and a few worried civilians greet us as we enter, neither Celestia or Luna are anywhere in sight. I call out after a few minutes of silence. A pretty voice returns my call and a pink alicorn enters the room from a side door. A white stallion in armour and blue hair follows her a bit too intimately for a simple guard.
“Princess Daybreak?” She asks. I nod and walk over to her. “Where have you been? Everypony’s been worried sick. Both Auntie Luna and Auntie Celestia went out looking for you, not to mention half the-why are you laughing?” She asks. I started laughing when she addressed the princesses as ‘Auntie’. The guard behind her snickers slightly and she turns around and gives him a warning look. He just shrugs in response and returns to the proper stature.
“Sorry, it's just, not even Twilight addresses the sisters in such a manner. It surprised me.” I reply. I give a cough to both clear my throat and return to a more serious demeanor. “I know this isn't a laughing matter. I was abducted.” I tell her. My voice takes on a grave tone, and she gasps at the news. Her hoof goes to her stomach, probably without her prompting.
“Come let us discuss this in a more sensitive area, Celestia’s study perhaps, and we can send letters to the rest of the princesses.” The guard says, and leads the way. The pink alicorn nods and places her wing behind me and she ushers me into following. I gesture for Cherry Blossom to come as well with my head.
“Princess Daybreak, let us take a moment from this dire situation to introduce ourselves. I am Princess Cadance, adopted niece of Princess Celestia, ruler of the Crystal Empire, and step-sister to Princess Twilight Sparkle. This is my husband, Prince Shining Armor. He's Twilight's older brother.” Princess Cadence says as she closes the study door and sits in front of Celestia’s desk.
“I take it you already know what you need to about me? What about the situation I’m in?” I ask in my most serious voice. As dire as the situation is, though, I can't help but feel like I'm playing a detective or something.
“The princesses did give us some information, though just enough to recognize you and help you should you return. All details are left up to you.” Shining Armor replies.
“How do you know I'm not a changeling?” I ask them. It seems to surprise them both.
“I have a spell at the door to this study that sheds any enchantment and forces any creature back to their true form should they walk through it.” Shining Armor answers proudly. Cadence pulls some stationary and a quill from the desk and places them in front of her. I pull my own writings out of my saddlebag, which Cherry Blossom lent me, and hand them over to her. Her mood dampens as she reads my writings, though I kept the letters to the changelings to myself. She casts a spell on the paper and I watch a the words float up from the page and split into multiple copies, each of which go to their own stack of paper. She then rolls them up and casts another spell. They poof into nothing, and then suddenly poof back and fell onto the ground.
Cadence frowns deeply and tries a few more times. She growls as each one fails and I take a few steps back as her face gets more and more res.
“Uh love? Shouldn't you do-” Shining Armor starts, and takes a few steps towards her.
“NO! It should be working!!” She yells, and her voice physically pushes Shining Armor backwards. Her hair starts to float upward as her breathing grows ragged. I take another step backwards in fear.
Almost as soon as her anger flares up it dissipates, and her eyes fill with tears. She falls to the ground and places her hooves on her muzzle. I tilt my head in curiosity, and as Shining judges whether or not she'll explode again if someone goes near her I walk towards her. I lay down in front of her and nuzzle her hoof. She uncovers her face and sniffs a little.
“We'll figure it out. Do you know where each one is looking?” I ask. She nods and I smile. “Then let's just go find them and gather them ourselves.” I suggest. Princess Cadence wipes her face and stands. She flares out her wings and narrows her eyes in confidence. She opens the door.
“Guards, we'll need air transport to Vanhoover, and fast. It's urgent.” She says. The guards look around frantically.
“But your highness, we don't have any fliers fast enough or strong enough for that. Our troops are spread too thin from the search for Princess Daybreak.” One of them replies. Cadence takes a deep breath.
“Maybe we could fly there ourselves?” I suggest. She shakes her head.
“No, you're too young and I'm too pregnant.” She replies. The pregnancy certainly explains earlier.
“Maybe we could help?” A yellow pegasus with spiky red and orange hair says as she approaches. She holds herself with an air of confidence and arrogance, and reminds me slightly of Rainbow Dash. Two more pegasi are walking behind her. One of them is a light blue stallion with a dark blue mane and tail and the other is a pale aqua made with an almost white windblown mane.
Cadence’s eyes go wide. “Would you? I know it's not really your thing, but we have to get to the other princesses.” She asks frantically. I narrow one of my eyes at her. I clear my throat nervously.
“Perhaps we should invite them into the study to make sure they understand what their accepting?” I ask Cadance, hoping that I don't have to wink or something for her to understand. Luckily she catches my drift and we explain everything to them in Celestia’s study. Oh I hope that Cadence was just messing up her spell and that nothing happened to the Princesses.