During my visit, I decided to make some rounds around the city. Not for any particular reason, I just wanted to walk and take a look at Canterlot culture. Admittedly, I wanted to see if the nobles and aristocracy was any better here than back home. Sadly this was not the case as I noticed they were just as stuck up and snobbish as the nobles I know, if not more so. This was especially true with a certain prince that I had the displeasure of meeting. Even now I couldn't accurately tell you how much I just wanted to slug this pompous plot hole across the snout. Heck, I'm not sure I could stop myself if I did.

One mare in particular though I remember fondly. A white unicorn who, like myself, was called to Canterlot on important business. She seemed like the rest at first glance but once I talked to her, I could tell there was something higher. A certain air about her that made her stand out. I can't describe it, but talking to her was a pleasant experience.

"And then I smashed my glass slipper. True story."

"Sounds like that idiot wasn't the prince charming you were expecting. Can't say I'm surprised though. After meeting the guy myself, I would've have smashed my glass slipper too. Over his head. With a baseball bat. Covered in nails. Made of molten iron."

"I get the distinct impression you're not fond of him."

"Well I work personally with our prince and he's much more tolerable. Then again, he actually works." Valour took a deep breath. "This guy. I could already tell I was going to hate him the minute I heard his voice."

"Well, I suppose if you did assault him, he'd have to change his name to Prince Bloodstain."

The Changeling captain chuckled at that. "I'll have to remember that one."

The two continued to walk around Canterlot talking, eventually stopping to sit at a restaurant. Rarity was either unaware of the fact that other ponies were giving her strange looks for talking with a changeling, or she didn't care. Valour himself was starting to relax a bit carrying a casual conversation with a lovely mare. His own men never saw him taking any off time, let alone with a female companion, so it was a surprise to them to see him opening up so easily to somepony he just met. Considering how strict he was, it was an even bigger surprise to see him so friendly. The changeling soldiers could only look at each other in astonishment as they went about their patrols.

"So your the element of generosity?" Valour inquired.

"Oh yes. I met my best friends during the same week. Actually it's because of them I've made it this far. I highly doubt I would even be here without them. I just wish I remembered that during the wedding rehearsal five years ago." the white mare said with some shame in her voice.

"Hm? Did something else happen?"

Rarity bit her lip when she realized what she said. "I- Well I don't want to burden you with it."

"If it was during the wedding then I'm already burdened with the shame of the invasion. And not because it failed. If you want to talk about it, than I insist."

They went to a secluded area where they could talk in private. Once there, the unicorn sighed a long drawn out sigh. "Very well. You see... I disappointed my closest friend. I'm not the only one but I don't know if I'll ever forgive myself for it."

The Changeling captain raised an eyebrow at this. "Go on..."

She went on to explain what happened before the invasion happened. How Twilight Sparkle acted, the deception, the outburst, and the rejection. Vigour listened in attention never interrupting.

"Dammit Chrysalis..." he said when she got finished explaining. "You've done more damage than you're aware of."

"I know Twilight forgave us after that. In fact, that's why I'm sore about it. I just..." Rarity began to falter in her words.

"You feel like you got off too easily." the captain bluntly said.

"Ye-yes. But how did you-"

"I understand your situation better than you think. Trust me, it's a feeling of pain I know ALL too well."

Valour closed his eyes, possibly to hold back a tear. "It's a very helpless feeling. When you've done something you don't feel you should be forgiven for. You're ready to do anything, go to Tartarus and back to earn forgiveness. And they let you off without even so much as a slap to the face."

"Valour..." Rarity was starting to regret bringing up the subject but she was curious now what kind of past her new friend has. She was debating whether or not to ask when it was decided for her.

"I have a wife you know. She's 16 years younger than me, probably around your age right now, maybe older." Rarity was surprised. Not that because he was married but because he was older than he looked. She was currently 27 which would make him about 43. "She was a former slave who had no where to go. I'll admit, I befriended her out of sympathy. I grew up on the streets before I met Vigour so we had similar backgrounds. Poor child. She was so skinny when I took her in."

"That was awfully generous of you." the unicorn said with a smile. This seemed to only make Valour hurt more though as he looked away.

"I've hurt her more times than I care to admit. Even before we married. There was a time where we had a fight. Things got heated and one thing lead to another, and I... I hit her." Now HE was starting to falter.

Rarity was beginning to understand where he was coming from.

"I instantly regretted it. Once I did it I ran out of the house in complete shame. I probably spent a good 3 hours out in the rain that night, thinking I could never face her again. As jaded as I was, I probably bawled more in that one day than I have my entire life. It went beyond the shame of hitting a lady. This was the lady I loved. She brought out the best in everypony who knew her. The idea of never being able to face her again hit me HARD. But when all was cold, I felt her warm embrace. She wasn't mad. She wasn't even remotely frustrated. She just smiled and told me she didn't blame me for what happened. She said I was the reason she was so upbeat and optimistic. I turned around and embraced her back and kissed her on the forehead. And that was basically my proposal."

"My point is: if your friend is willing to forgive you for something you don't believe should be forgiven, It's a sign of a good friend. You realized your mistake, you talked it out, and she forgave you. And in the end, is that really such a bad thing?"

"I guess it isn't." Rarity said warmly. "Its funny, ever since the wedding incident, I thought I would never be at peace with myself for what happened. Now, I'm eased by what started it all in the first place." The two laughed and started walking again.

"Rarity! We've been lookin fer over an hour for ya! Where yall been?"

"Oh, Applejack. I've just been talking to a new friend. You know, maybe an alliance with the Changelings isn't so bad after all."

The earth pony gave her a strange look and was about to say something when Pinkie Pie came bouncing by with Rarity's bags. "Hey! Those are mine! Give those back!"

"She really does remind me of you Kuwagata; Beauty on the outside, beauty on the inside..."