Ver and I looked at each other and nodded. There was an unspoken understanding that both of us thought this was crazy, scary, and crazy-scary.
"Nothing t-to worry about, right?"
"Sure, yeah. I mean, it's just, y'know, a giant castle. Made of crystals."
"With a princess inside I only know second-hand."
"That we're supposed to ask for help because... what was it miss Rainbow said again?"
"That she's 'super smart and helpful, and would totally know what to do' about helping you find a place to stay?"
We both frowned.
"You buy it?"
"Nope. But then... what's there to lose?"
"I dunno... My free—"
"NO ONE IS TAKING AWAY YOUR FREEDOM."
I put on the biggest, sternest frown I could. Ver looked surprised for a second, but then laughed at me.
"Okay, okay, jeez, I believe you! I think you're even antsier than I am!"
I glanced up at the castle and felt a pit drop out of my stomach.
"Yeah, probably so."
I hope Dash is right about this. Ver's trusting me, here.
"Can I help you two with something?"
I turned around to see a tall, purple unicorn smiling at me.
Huh. Why's this mare look so familiar?
"Oh, uh. We were just hoping to meet with Princess Twilight."
"Uh... Soarin..."
The unicorn blinked at me a couple of times, then smirked.
"Oh, well I'll just introduce you to her, then. This way!"
She trotted into the castle, opening it with her magic, and waved us in with her wings before slipping from view. I started to—WINGS?
Wings? Wait, was that Princess Twilight?!
I froze and smacked myself in the forehead with a hoof.
"... Smooth, Soarin. Real smooth."
"How could I not have recognized her? I've seen Twilight before! Though... I think she was a little shorter. Didn't she used to be a little shorter? And her horn was a little smaller?"
"Uh, how should I know?"
"Right! Nevermind! Let's just go!"
Leaving the scene of my embarrassment behind, we followed into the castle. Twilight shut the door with her magic, and then led us to a small sitting room.
There are so many books in this places, it's almost like—
"Jeez, it's like the walls use books for support struts.
Right. That.
Twilight gestured at two seats in front of a small crystal table, and then seated herself across from us. I hopped into my seat, though I noticed Ver was moving hesitantly.
Huh. Three chairs were already set out – was she expecting us?
"Do you like it? We have virtually every book in Equestria here!"
Twilight beamed at us, and I couldn't help but smile back and nod.
This is one of Dash's closest friends. The one that put in the effort to find out how she learns, and all. There's nothing to be scared of, here; we can trust this mare. Does Ver know that?
I glanced at Ver, who looked somewhat frozen, except for her eyes, which were darting around a bit. They locked with mine, and I just gave her a reassuring smile and tousled her hair, prompting an immediate giggle-and-swat-with-hoof reaction.
"Heheh-hey, cut it out!"
I snickered at her, though her last swat at my hoof actually smarted somewhat. I rubbed it and she just stuck her tongue out at me. I glanced at Twilight, who watched the entire exchange with a faint grin.
"Dash told us you could help us... well, figure out what we should do, really. Ver here doesn't have a home, and doesn't want to be part of the foster or orphanage system, so..."
I held up my hooves, helplessly.
I don't know what she could possibly recommend, but... well, I guess it can't hurt to ask?
Twilight nodded, her grin fading to a more neutral expression.
"Dash sent me a letter in advance, actually. Laverna, if you're certain that you don't want to be part of the adoption or foster systems, we can file for emancipation."
Oh, right! I've heard of this!
Ver's eyes locked on Twilight, and one of them squinted slightly, almost in an angry expression.
"Wait, what's that? Emancer—emancipation?"
Twilight smiled and folded her hooves in front of her, leaning back in her chair like a teacher giving a lecture.
"Emancipation means independence under the law. Basically, you will no longer have a legal guardian – you will be responsible for yourself, and free to make your own decisions, just as if you had come of age."
Ver just stared at Twilight, her eyes narrowing further.
"That's a thing you can do? They never told us anything about that!"
Twilight frowned, an eyebrow going crooked.
"You mean at the orphanage...? They should have..."
"Are you bucking kiddin' me?!"
Ver was panting heavily, her face twisted into a grimace. I gently reached a wing over to her, uncertain of how to proceed.
I'm starting to see a pattern in how adults in Ver's life have acted...
Ver started at the touch from me, and locked eyes with me. I just looked back with a half-frown. After a couple of seconds, she closed her eyes, sighed, and leaned back onto my wing.
Well... that's not quite what I expected, but okay.
Twilight glanced between us, and sighed before speaking again.
"I don't know why the orphanage director didn't tell you, but I'll definitely look into it. The whole point of having that option is to keep kids from feeling like their only choice is to run away."
Wow. The mood in here really took a turn for the worse.
I leaned forward, nudging Ver in the process, and focused on Twilight, who was now staring at the table.
"But, hey, this means that Ver will be free of the system, right? She can do what she wants? That's great news!"
Ver opened her eyes, leaning off of my wing – which I quickly retreated – and nodded.
"Yeah! No more guards trying to jump me and toss me back in, right?"
Twilight furrowed her brows at Ver.
"Is that actually something that happens?"
Both Ver and I said 'Yes', in unison, before glancing at each other. I muttered an apology and gestured for her to continue.
"Yeah. A few times, actually. Soarin was just there for the most recent attempt."
Twilight smacked her face with her hoof.
Looks like I'm not the only one getting plenty of practice with that move lately.
"They're not supposed to... I mean, you don't treat runaways like they're criminals. I just..."
Twilight sighed, looking straight at Ver before continuing.
"I'm so sorry that things have gone so badly for you. This isn't how the system is supposed to work."
Ver's eyes softened, and she gave Twilight a half-frown, rubbing the back of her neck.
"Ah, miss – I mean, princess. It's not your fault, y'know? Stuff happens. Don't worry about it."
The room went quiet as both Twilight and I stared at Ver. She looked around at both of us, confusion plain in her features.
"... What? Aw horseapples, did I say something wrong?"
I shook my head, smiling at her. Twilight's voice came to us, sad and slow.
"Thank you, Ver. I appreciate your magnanimity, but this is at least partially my fault. Things like this shouldn't slip under our noses. But, I'm happy to be able to put this right, now. Before we start to fill out the paperwork, though, there's... one other thing."
Both of us turned to Twilight, focusing on her. There was a very clear tension in the room.
I bet I know what Ver's thinking right now.
"Aw, great. A catch."
Nailed it!
Twilight chewed her lip a bit, looking between us. Finally, she drew in a sharp breath, taking a second to close her eyes, and opened them again, focusing on Ver.
"It's not a problem, Ver, but... we're going to need to have your species, for the record. Your birth species."
"Oh, right! Is that all?"
I smirked. This was something Ver and I had discussed already, and I felt a wave of relief wash over me.
Really dodged a bolt on that one!
Ver closed her eyes, taking a deep breath, and there was a flicker of green flame around her. Her wings disappeared, but she manifested a small horn – as well as a cutie mark image of a mirror. Ver wrapped her hooves around herself, just like she had the first time she'd shown me her special talent.
It's got to be so weird to suddenly lose your wings like that...
Twilight raised an eyebrow, her mouth coming open slightly as she looked Ver over.
"Uhh... that's not what I mean. Laverna... I need to see your original form."
Laverna grimaced, and her horn lit up. After a second, a green flame passed over her, and she... well, was now a he. A colt.
"There... is that good enough? I've kinda gotten used to being a filly, lately, so..."
Twilight just stared for a few seconds, and then sighed. She lit up her horn, and suddenly there was a purple stream of energy flowing from it onto Ver. I stiffened in surprise, but tried to restrain my reaction – until I heard Ver cry out in pain. Twilight cut the stream off with an alarmed expression, and before I knew what had happened I had Ver in my hooves and wings. Her eyes lolled around unfocused for a few seconds before she looked up at me. Then she snapped her eyes shut.
Wait – she's a filly again. When did that happen?
"Rngh, my horn..."
Ver started rubbing the base of her horn. Twilight suddenly appeared next to us in a flash of light, her eyes wide and focused on Ver.
"Sorry! I'm so sorry—I had no idea that would happen! It was just a dispel! Laverna, are you okay?! Can you see properly?!"
Ver slowly opened her eyes, and scowled at Twilight.
"I see a dumb purple alicorn, so you tell me!"
Twilight blinked in confusion for a few seconds, and then relaxed slightly, rubbing her temple with a hoof. Ver just stuck her tongue out at her.
"Thank goodness. I was so worried! That really shouldn't have—"
"Twilight. Why did you do that?"
That sounded harsher than I meant for it to. Then again... good.
"Uh, I, well... Just, Dash said that you saw her with, y'know, fangs? Blue eyes? And you saw her magic! It's green fire, and all!"
Ver and I rolled our eyes in unison.
"I'm not a changeling! I just explained that to Soarin, like, yesterday!"
"Two days ago, but yeah. Ver's a unicorn – her special talent is shapechanging."
Twilight blinked a couple of times, and then her eyes lit up.
"Wow. Seriously?! You can change gender and race at your age?! That's incredible!"
Ver slowly stood up, still rubbing at her forehead.
"Yeah? It doesn't seem so hard to me."
"You must somehow have a natural talent for changeling magic! I've never heard of something like that happening before!"
I snickered, tousling Ver's hair. She smirked at me and swatted my hoof aside.
"You hear that, Ver? You're going to be the first-ever Wonderbolt wizard!"
Ver's eyes lit up, but she quickly concealed her excitement and stuck her tongue out at me.
"Wizards are too stuffy for me. I'd prefer to be an athlete!"
Twilight drew herself back, frowning.
"Hey! Wizards don't have to be stuffy! You can be an athletic wizard!"
We both just rolled our eyes at Twilight. She cleared her throat and strode back over to her seat, though her blush was obvious. Just as she was moving to sit down, though, her eyes darted back to Ver.
"Wait. Laverna... can you hold still, for a second?"
Ver went rigid. Both of us glared at Twilight, who held up a hoof in a placating gesture.
"I just need to scan you for active magic! That's all!"
"Oh, and I'm guessing this time it really won't hurt or cause problems for real, right?"
Twilight looked around uncomfortably, her expression frozen.
"... Yyyyeeeesss?"
Ver sighed, rolling her eyes.
Jeez. Twilight is really convinced something's going on here, huh? Then again... I've been wondering, myself.
"Twilight, I'm not a changeling. I told you already! Back me up, Soarin."
I grimaced, looking between the two.
"Ver... maybe a scan's not a bad idea."
Ver opened her mouth to object, but I held up a hoof.
"I mean, you yourself can't explain what happened with the constable, right? Wouldn't it be better to know?"
She frowned, closing her mouth. She opened it again, thought better of it, and closed it again.
"... what if am a changeling?"
I craned my neck closer to listen.
"Sorry, what?"
"What if I am a changeling?"
She looked up at me, and searched my face. I smirked at her.
"So what? It won't make any difference."
"What?! Of course it'll make a difference! I'll be—"
"No, it really won't. Like, literally. Think about it; if you're a changeling, then you've always been a changeling. It's not like you're just going to become one now... er, right Twilight? That isn't how it works, right?"
Twilight froze for a second, and then nodded hurriedly.
"Oh. Yes! Yes, that's right; changelings are born, not made. Discovering you're a changeling would just tell us about you, Laverna. It won't change you – and it won't change how we see you, either."
Ver looked between us. She opened her mouth to speak, but I beat her to it.
"I promise, Ver. Nothing will change between us, at least."
Twilight nodded.
"The same goes here. I don't know if you realize this, but I'm friends with several changelings already; it's not like you'd be the first."
Huh. I had heard that some kind of treaty was signed. Now I wish I'd paid more attention...
Ver nodded to Twilight, taking in a deep breath.
"Okay. Then... scan me, I guess."
Twilight's horn lit up, and Ver was covered in a purple aura. Then, not even a second later, it winked out. Ver blinked a couple of times.
"Wait... that's it?"
"Yep! That's it. Oh... and, uh, it does look like you have magic active right now."
I grimaced.
I was hoping she was wrong. I can only imagine how much more difficult this will be for Ver to adjust to, now...
"Is it changeling magic?"
"Er... I can't really tell. Changeling and pony magic isn't really that different; the very first time I encountered a changeling disguise, I was able to dispel it without really studying them at all. Thing is... it does seem like a disguise spell, and judging by the fact that I couldn't dispel it a moment ago, it must be locked in place pretty hard."
"Wait... so you're saying there's a spell making me look like a pony? I've been a changeling this whole time, and I didn't even know it?"
Ver's brows were knit anxiously, and her face was turning red. Twilight just nodded, frowning.
"It's hard to say why, but somepony – or someling, more likely, I guess – enchanted you to look like a pony. It seems like the enchantment isn't foolproof – you weren't stuck looking like a foal forever, and you've even learned to transform under it, but... yeah, that's how it seems."
Oh, Ver... I can only imagine what's going through her mind right now. To go through your entire life, thinking you're one thing... making friends, discovering your special talent—
"Wait. Wait a second... Twilight, do changelings have cutie marks?"
"Huh? Oh... no, they don't. But that one must be a fake."
"HEY! My mark isn't a fake! All I can do is cover it up!"
Twilight furrowed her brow, clearly perplexed. She trotted over, and leaned down to look at Ver's mark, prompting a bright crimson blush from Ver and a swish of her navy-blue tail to cover it up.
"H-hey! Back off!"
"Cutie marks can't be faked, Laverna. I can verify yours pretty quickly, if you want."
"But... but it can't be fake. I got my cutie mark the day... no! There's no way it's a fake!"
I gently reached a hoof out to brush Ver on the head. She glanced up at me, eyes watering.
"Ver... you're worried, right? You're not going to stop feeling worried about it unless you let her—"
"It's not just that! I can't... it can't be fake. It can't be fake! It's..."
Something tells me that Ver's cutie-mark story isn't a sunny one.
I gently brushed Ver on the head, watching her. I racked my brain until I made a connection – though I didn't like the results.
"Your cutie-mark... Ver, did you get it on the day that Chaser...?"
Ver buried her muzzle in my barrel, and I felt her nod against me. I froze, unsure of what to do, and slowly put my other hoof on her back. Twilight's brows were knitted in confusion, but then suddenly straightened out as her eyes widened.
"Chaser... was that her brother...?"
I nodded, and felt Ver shudder against me as the sobbing started.
That's right... she never had anyone to talk to this about, did she? How long has Ver been keeping this inside?
The thought turned my stomach. I just kept pitifully patting her on the head, not sure what else I could do.
Why should any kid have to go through something like that alone?
Twilight gently walked up beside us, and I saw her horn glow faintly. I almost told her to stop, but her gaze was certain, and I slowly closed my mouth.
She's probably right. We should get all of this into the open now.
Ver's cutie mark glowed faintly, as though Twilight were trying to move it with her telekinesis, and stretched slightly away from her before snapping back. Twilight's horn winked out, and she bit her lower lip. Ver slowly turned her face out of my barrel to look at her.
"So? It's fake?"
Twilight locked eyes with me, and I saw deep uncertainty there.
"That's the thing. It's real."
"But... changelings can't get cutie marks, can they?"
"I... I don't know. I don't know what's going on! I'm positive she's a changeling, but at the same time... how is that possible?"
As I sat there, acting as a giant, warm handkerchief for a crying kid, I started to assess my priorities.
"You know, Twilight? Maybe not the most important thing right now anyway."
Twilight nodded hurriedly, and began retreating towards the door.
"Right. I'll just... give you two some alone-time. I'm, uh... I'm sorry."
Ver spoke into my barrel, making a muffled noise that vibrated through me.
"Sorry, what was that?"
"She said, 'it's okay'."
"Oh! Okay. Uh, right. Going. Call me if you need anything! Right. Bye!"
The door shut while I rolled my eyes as hard as I could. I looked down at Ver, who was still breathing raggedly, but had mostly stopped sobbing.
Dang, I'm glad the team can't see this. I bet I look like a complete idiot.
... Then again, maybe not.
"Do you... y'know, wanna talk about it?"
Ver sniffled a bit, and then hugged me around the barrel.
"Can I do it later?"
I was about to respond, but the significance of what she said dawned on me.
She just asked me for permission to do something. That's...
I shook my head to clear it, and tousled her hair, earning me a snotty snort and giggle.
"Of course, Ver."