Chapter 1 "Moving"

Axis's P.O.V.

I'm a mutant. A monster. A freak of nature. This is how I've always thought of myself.
My yellow eyes had terrifying slits. My hooves, wings, and horn had holes in them. My fangs were sharper than anyone
could think possible. I was the only one who looked scary.

Maybe my mother didn't understand. She and Dad looked at least a tiny bit normal. They had my eyes. And similar manes.
But I guess mom must have had some doubts. If she did, I was never told. I used to ask her, hoping I would get a little bit of an answer out of her,

"Momma? Why do I have to be different. I don't have a pretty mane, or a silky coat like others. Why am I scary?"
But somehow I knew it hurt her. And that hurt me even more. But she would only reply,

"Embrace your difference. Someday, ponies will appreciate it." she said the word 'someday' with uncertainty, which concerned me.
And she would walk out of the room, and nuzzle Dad. Like she said, someday they would appreciate me. But someday could be a very long time...

I sat looking at our house as I fluttered slowly. It looked as if the cloud had become darker, and full with rain already, upset because of our departure. I sighed and scratched the back of my head with a hoof full of holes. Today was a day I would never forget. Moving Day. I flew toward the carriage, Dad flapping his wings straining slightly as he tried to keep in the air. This extra weight was practically killing him. I strapped myself to the left side of the carriage and pulled, my wings flapping franticly. But we managed, and I said a final goodbye to the house and flew off, zipping away quickly with the help of Daddy.

We were near Canterlot by now. My face was red with sweat and strain, and my mother gave Dad and I snacks at our last stop! But I was still hungry, as always. I muttered to myself, complaining of the hot weather.

"Its never this hot at night! We could be flying with ease, and not sweating our brains out if we left later." I grumbled

"Stop whining, be a big girl, and look on the bright side! At least nights coming soon. We'll be flying with ease like you said soon. Just have patience." Dad exclaimed, glancing at me then turning to keep his eyes on the road ahead

I snorted and flew bit harder, knowing he was right and thankful that night was approaching. I could almost see the magic around the moon as it slowly rose. Bit by bit I saw the giant town of Canterlot. I gasped. The castle was even bigger! The windows were made of smooth stained glass, and the walls were carved out of marble and quartz. It was a beautiful sight, as moonlight lapped at the buildings lightly. Aunt Celestia and Luna must have worked hard for such an elegant castle.

I galloped down to the grass, still pulling the carriage with my father to the entrance of Canterlot. It's gates shimmered gracefully, and the guards' armor was spectacular. I stared in awe at them, nodding my head in a quaint bow. They returned the motion. One flashed a quick smile. I grinned back at him.

"Welcome to Canterlot 'mam," said the taller one "I believe you are of the 'Catcher' Family?"

I nodded and began, "Yes, and um, my Dad wanted to talk with his sister-in-law, Princess Luna."

The guard who smiled replied formally,

"Of course Mr. Catcher. Much obliged."

The gates slowly swung open and I pulled the heavy carriage, Dad at my side, his every step was struggled and stiff. I felt bad for him. The poor old stallion was tired and ready for retirement in his job. His relation to the Princesses gave him no advantages either, all he did was guard this castle at night. I wanted to follow his hoofsteps, and become a strong and independent mare. Being a Princess was keeping me from that. Or was it?

*~~*~~*

I helped unload the carriage. Mom pulled our clothing and fragile belongings inside with her glowing, green, holey horn. Dad pushed a hoof-chair inside with his head. We worked together trying to get the house into shape. Mother guided Dad and I inside as we heaved our final bit of furniture into the house. My bed. I tried to lift it up the stairs with my yellow magic. Nothing. Mom tried helping too, and I strained my hardest to get it into my room. So instead of going down stairs again to get my covers, I curled up in bed, the day approaching slowly. This was a normal time for a regular Bat-Pony to sleep. But remember, I'm a mutant. A monster. A changeling, and a bat-pony of a freak.

Chapter 2 "Tour"

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I yawned. Night was approaching slowly, as the sun dipped below the shimmering horizon. I grinned. Today was my first day of training to become a Night Guard of the Royal Palace. Luckily, Aunt Luna was providing cover for me. An Alicorn pony was technically forbidden from serving another Alicorn. So My Crippled horn would be hidden with her magic spell.

"Thank you so much Auntie! Thank you, thank you!" I had squealed, hugging her

She simply smiled, and hugged me with her giant wing right back.

"Good luck."

I clambered out of bed and screeched happily. Then I galloped downstairs and glanced at Mom, who was looking through a magazine of Changelings Weekly

"Good Night honey. Did you sleep well?" she asked, not looking away from her magazine

I nodded, grabbing a cereal bowl with my teeth (slightly puncturing the box), and pouring it into a stray bowl on the counter. I hummed a tune absent mindedly, as I devoured the Wheat-Flakes. I ran back upstairs for my armor. Its black opal, and topaz gems glittered in the moonlight shining from my window. I smiled, and pulled it over my head, trying to fit vainly.

I let out a sigh of relief when it finally was on, I had to use a bit of magic to help though. I trotted downstairs again and glanced at Mom. She was beaming at me, her magazine left on the table. I nuzzled her,

"Mom," I began, she looked at me hopefully "W-wish me luck ok?"
I sort of stepped away and she tried to smile. She hugged me and replied,

"Sure thing sweetheart."

I nodded, and opened the door. The moon was near the castle by now. I flew outside, heading straight for Aunt Luna's Chambers near the top of the castle. No pony was there, I made a fly for it.

Wait a minute. I saw a shadowy figure on the quartz walls of the west side of the castle. Near the Chambers! I flew as fast as I could. Uh oh. Too fast! I rocketed toward the open window, my hooves flailing wildly. I screamed, my horn glowing a bit. I shut my eyes, their slits thinning. For a moment, I didn't feel the ground. I opened my eyes. Safe!

"What an interesting entrance, Axis." a soft voice remarked,

I stood to attention, putting my hoof to my forehead in a salute to Princess Luna.

"Hi Auntie." I replied, relaxing
Aunt Luna rested her wing on my shoulder. She grinned and asked with interest,

"First day on the Night Squad I suppose?"

I nodded, replying,

"Yup, I cause to see if you liked my armor. And uh, the horn thing..." I added

She nodded back in understanding. Her dark horn glowed blue and I put my hoof to my head.
No horn. I gasped and exclaimed,

"Auntie your a genius!"

She chuckled and said,

"You'd better get to work, Axis. Or General Nightly will be furious."

There was a knock on the door. I whipped around, put on my helmet, and stood up straight.
A bat-pony stallion came trotting in, his head held high, and his armor was covered in a jubilee of
metals. I gasped.

"Is this mare bothering you, your highness?" he asked, with a voice that crawled under your skin

Aunt Luna shook her head coolly and replied,

"No General, I was simply having a chat with my niece."

The stallion's eyes widened, glancing at me with worry, and maybe even hatred?
I shuffled and said quietly,

"I'm the new guard on the Night Squad..."

General Nightly snorted at me, and looked at Luna with a fake and butt-kissing smile,

"I shall get her to work as quick as possible."

I flattened my ears and followed him out of the room. A few other bat ponies stepped into line with us.
A bat-pony mare was walking next to me. I glanced at her purple mane and her blue eyes. They were so pretty. I was green with envy...

"Hi... I'm Shrieks Spear." she whispered, glancing warily at General Nightly

"I'm Axis." I replied quietly

A low hum of whispering and hissing was enveloping the class, no pony dared spoke too loud.
I doubted I wanted to find out why.

"What is his problem?" Shriek asked, scowling at General Nightly

I shrugged, and stared ahead. I felt my eye slits close slightly once we entered a bright room.
Others hissed or narrowed their eyes. None of my class mates were used to the bright light.
All the more reason I still shouldn't get comfortable. Perfect teeth, hooves weren't misshaped.

"Listen up Dung Beetles! This place ain't runnin' on smiles and high-hooves!" screeched Nightly

I frowned and looked at the other bat-ponies, who were sitting down. Almost as if ready for a
grand speech. Sitting next to Shriek Spear, I groaned, looking at the stuck-up stallion.

This will be a long night...

Chapter 3 "Taught"

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Every-pony groaned. Nightly droned on about the history of his battle with the Timber-wolf Army of Old. I scowled at him. He hadn't taught us anything! I clamped my hooves over my ears, and sighed in annoyance. Shriek Spear was trying to look away from the stallion's boring speech, and distract herself.

A young bat-pony mumbled under her breath. Something like,

` "Plant's...never talkative..."

I smirked, and asked,

"Why do you think he hates us?"

She glanced at me, her short curtain of mint green hair shielding her from my sight. I smiled awkwardly at her,

"Er... Hello?"

She shrugged unsurely, her hooves fidgeting.

"Maybe he's just really proud of his accomplishments, and us to be like him..."

I nodded unsurely. Not quite hearing her, but if she didn't want to talk I'm alright with that. Nightly has covered it.

General Nightly was almost finished with his gargantuan speech before I had actually got to look him over, and
size him up, just in case... He was fairly muscular. Even if he was a bat-pony, which were usually quite light, and silent. I
tried to stifle and laugh when a bat-pony stallion make a face at Nightly while his over-grown rear end was turned away.

"Now my fresh piles of manure, we shall get to work. You will be put into groups of ten, working together as a team
to look over the castle. You know, get used to it. My lead officers will be supervising you as we speak. Including for the rest of the time you are in this castle! Officers are free to give out whatever punishment they may want. As long as it doesn't involve too much bloodshed...

"All of you maggots will be put into your bunks, and you will spend your hours of daylight there, no parties, no staying up past 10:00 am Sharp. Now here's your instructions. I need to assign officers to the groups, but for now, let me announce the little groups. Or posses as many of you might be familiar with."

I scowled. Not everypony grew up on the streets, Nightly. And punishments?! Since when were those aloud?

"First group, June Bug Blitz, Pigsty, Garden Growl, Lyon, Amoeba,"

I ignored him, only slightly listening for my name. With an ear cocked to one side, I listened to conversations going on
around the room. 'Officers' murmured about punishments for us trainees and regular guards, and whether or not 'punishment' was needed. I shuddered, and moved my ear toward a more girlish voice.

"I just couldn't believe him! I was like, omg... Did you just like say that to me?"

I groaned. Girly gossip is for fillies! I turned my ear to the back of my row.

"I know. She's horrible!"

My eye's widened, I concentrated on the mare's voice,

"Who wears their mane like that? And her hooves, ugh! What a try-hard."

Whispering and giggles echoed from behind me. I slumped over, and frowned, hurt.
I know I said gossip was for fillies, but what if this gossip was about me?
Would it matter? It probably isn't you. Plus whoever said it is probably some mare with no idea what to do with her life.

I shook my head, part of me still listened to the conversation though.

"I heard she was related to one of the princesses!" squealed an annoying voice

It could be my cousin Hoofclamp!

"I heard she was related to a changeling!"

Psshh! That's not me, I have a bunch of friends that are changelings!

"I heard she is a mutant. Ugh! An ugly stupid changeling mutant. Probably grooms herself with her tongue."

My patience snapped. I'm no mutant!

"Stop talking about me behind my back!" I hissed at her, startling Shriek Spear

"Oh so the mutant can talk! What words do you know? Defend the queen! Make food for the hive!"

I growled low and whispered furiously,

"My family is out of contact with Queen Chrysalis the Second and we are loyal to the Princesses you sleezebag!"

She laughed with her group of idiots dumbly, and murmured in mock fear,

"So you are a changeling! I guess that explains your dirty mane and tail. Ugh, I can practically taste the mud and gunk from
your smelly coat!"

I snickered and said simply,

"Sorry to disappoint your but that mud and gunk, your really tasting it from your last meal. 'Will that be a medium sludge ball madam, or shall you try our slime-pie?' "

She narrowed her eyes at me, the fake eyelashes on her lids were drooping off. Shriek Spear let out a victorious exclamation of.

"Ohhhh! Burn!"

The mint maned mare sitting near me squealed supportingly.

The grey mare behind me hissed, and stepped off with her friends as her name was called. Shriek Spear exclaimed,

"That was awesome Axis! Total burn skill overload!"

I smiled, and looked up at Nightly. He was still not done with role call, but he would be soon.

"Axis Heart-Catcher, Ivy Whip, Moony, Shriek Spear, Night Owl, Kiska Lacewing, Sandstone, Rubble, Illusion, and Mysty Fye." boomed Nightly,
gesturing with a hoof toward a spot near the doorway

I smiled at Shriek Spear, and walked with her to our area, and sat down on the ground like a filly. Several other bat-ponies followed us. The shy mare came and crouched next to Shriek, who must have been Ivy Whip. Two grey stallions came barreling toward us and wrestling on top of each other. Surely they were brothers, Sandstone and Rubble?

A black mare, with some sort of contraption connected to her armor that aloud her to read and talk at the same time. I smiled at her invention, and glanced at another mare, but in much more silvery armor. Her mane was also fairly well done, like a toy doll you could hold.

Two more mares yet again came to the group, twins I thought, with two toned eyes. Mysty Fye, and Illusion. But the last stallion was... odd. Golden eyes, a light grey coat, and the cutest tail and ears I'd ever seen! Fuzzy, and delicate. I giggled a bit, but shut my mouth when he looked nervous. Like he'd never been around so many ponies before...

"Hi?" I said standing up

"Uhhh." He looked at me weirdly, and flattened his ears.

"H-hi?" I repeated, stepping away slightly

He waved a hoof at me, and went to the back of the group. I saw a little bit of red in his cheeks,
so I assumed he was just embarrassed. Besides, It was time we toured the castle.

Nightly beckoned for us to leave in our groups, so we took off, flapping our wings as hard as we could to
navigate our way around the castle. I flew around Aunt Luna's tower, waved a hoof at her, and smiled, zipping off toward
another part of the castle with Shriek Spear. I could see the officers circling the castle, watching us creepily. The sun was just beginning to rise. I blinked, and landed down on a roof-top. Shriek Spear was asleep within minutes, but it took me a few seconds to catch some zzzs...

Good night Hatred, Goodnight Evil, Goodnight all My fears,
Though you know I'm here, I'm sure it is clear, My Angel Of Night

Protects Me.

Chapter 4 "Breakfast"

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We were in bunks. My eyes fluttered, letting the moonlight shine on my eye slits and I woke up to two blue eyes boring into me!

"Gah!" I yelled in surprise, falling out of bed

Thank Celestia I was on the bottom bunk. I growled, and demanded,

"What was that for?!"

Shriek Spear looked hurt, starting to walk out of the room.

"Sorry, I was trying to wake you up..."

I shook my head, and felt my head, feeling around for bruises. Nope! Just my mane, and my horn.
Wait... My horn! I screamed, and shoved my head in a pillow, diving back in bed. Shriek Spear ran back inside and asked worriedly,

"What's wrong!?"

I pulled the covers over my head and left a hole for me to look at her.

"N-Nothing! Just a little... hyper?" I laughed weakly

Shriek Spear tried to come closer, asking,

"Are you sure? I can get Officer CharmMane if you're feeling sick, or something."

"No! No, no," I insisted, nudging her away with a hoof "I'm alright, really!"

She shrugged, and said,

"Its almost time for breakfast, you should come 'n meet the others."

I nodded franticly, and she stepped out of the room. I let out a sigh, thinking tiredly,

Ugh, How did Luna's spell go again?
I tried to light up my own horn, concentrating on myself as a regular bat-pony. I closed my eyes tightly,
and felt as if I was free from something. Like a weight taken off my back, so I could breathe. I was never good at
magic in the first place, so when I felt my hoof to my head, horn taking away-ing was probably a very simple spell.

I galloped out the door, running down a set of cobblestone stairs, and stumbling onto my face, my legs splayed out awkwardly
in front of eight other mares and stallions. My face reddened, and I got up to my hooves, trying to keep my dignity. A tall tan stallion with
green eyes, lent me a hoof. I smiled, taking it, embarrassed that I needed help from anypony to get to my feet.

"'Morning Crazy-Hooves." He chuckled,

"Hi..." I replied nervously,

Shriek Spear made an 'oooooh!' sound, clamping her hooves over her fanged mouth.
The other bat-ponies turned back to their breakfast, almost in annoyance. I shushed her with a look, and the stallion pulled my hoof close, pressing it to his sticky lips.

"A pleasure to meet you, m'lady."

I pulled it away, faking a vague smile.

"Dito... Hehe... You are?" I asked

"Sir Charm-Mane, this troop's Officer and you?"

"Axis Heart-Catcher." I replied, trying to be a bit more friendly

He paused for a moment,

"Axis...Heart-Catcher you say," He paused yet again, tasting the words on his tongue, "Heart-Catcher indeed."

I blushed, and folded my ears down, still embarrassed by his 'Charming' words.
I heard a disappointed whimper in the back ground, but I ignored it, even if Shriek was getting impatient by the second,

"Axis! Over here!"

I looked back into CharmMane's deep...hypnotic...forest green eyes. Shut up! He was an officer.

"I've gotta go. It was great to meet you though." I sighed, beginning to trot off, "Bye..."

"Good day Fair Axis." he said in return, walking off

I sighed, and sat down next to Shriek.

"Haha! Looks like somepony got bit by the Love-Bug." she giggled

I nudged her playfully.

"Charmmane? No way. He's an officer remember? Plus, ughh He's way too..."

"Charming?" she suggested

"Yeah..." I sighed dreamily, but I sat up, slapped myself (much to Shriek Spear's surprise) and thought,

No. I'm here to learn to achieve my job. Not a Colt-friend!

Blue Eyes, Black feathers

by cmg12344

Chapter 1 "Moving"

Chapter 2 "Tour"

Chapter 3 "Taught"

Chapter 4 "Breakfast"