Author's Notes:

I understand that this chapter is one of the shortest ones i have written on this story as to date, and i hate how this chapter came out on this. with how many times my computer crashed, or my losing the files, i had to rewriten this so many times.!

However, this will be the only chapter (i hope) that will be this short.

Ether way i all hope you enjoy it ether way.

The next day came rather too quickly for my taste. After Silver Arrow’s little walk in, Chrysalis and myself, pretty much just went to bed…well after we had a small talk. Why didn’t he seemed effected, or care that much that she was a Changeling? I mean, he must’ve known who she was. I’ll admit myself; I had seen a few posters about Canterlot, about the fear of Changelings, and how to be careful about them. I was told even before that if anyone were to find Chrysalis, or lead to her arrest, (because getting blasted by a love blast was not enough so it seems) there would be a reward. Could he have not remembered her at all, or to the fact that he just didn’t care. Or to what she said last night; he was just so tired he didn’t notice. He did call her Nova Star last night.

Ether ways after waking up, finding the bed rather empty, save for me; of course. The smell of food clung to the air as well as the sound of dishes being used. I brought my hand up to my cheek, rubbing the stubbles now growing back. Few mores days and I would shave it off again, or I may just trim it down; I don’t know. Sitting up in bed, and releasing a loud yawn as I stretched out, the sounds of my bones snapping and popping echoing throughout the room as I released another low groan; smacking my lips a bit as I rubbed my eyes. I went over toward the dresser to found some clothing for the day.

Remembering of my appointment with Doctor Cloudquill today, and looking at the clock to see that it was still a little bit past ten, I still had loads of time left ether way to get myself ready; the splashing of cold water on my face, causing me both to shiver and shake my head from the cold. Looking up into the mirror of the bathroom, my hands pressing along the sink, clenching more like it, all I could say…was that I looked like a wrack. Bags hung under my eyes, as well as a killer headache that seemed to throb with each thought that passed through my mind…could I have been once more under some sort of sickness again…ugh, I bloody hate being sick. Or, could it be that I didn’t get any sleep at all last night, the worry of Silver Arrow knowing, and perhaps he would go and tell the Princesses about what he saw when he entered my room last night; with Chrysalis, the Changeling Queen laying over me.

No…no, I’m sure that if he did already , he would’ve ran out the moment he knew what she was, and perhaps, no doubt, tell the Princesses, his great-aunts, on what he saw. And seeing how I didn’t wake to the sound of doors being banged as well as rough voices ordering us to come out; we were in the clear; I hoped this, as I made my way down toward the staircase.

The smell of food flew through the air, allowing the smell to slightly wake me up more, with promise of something in my empty belly before the start of the day. A soft humming of ‘Nova Star’ echoing around the room as she cooked the meal for the morning. Leaning against the door frame as I watched her as her magical force lifted different items off the counter around her, salt, pepper, and eggs. Looking as she flipped the pan, I could see that she was making, what seemed to be a turnover, egg turn over perhaps? Ether way, I could see the package of also that fake meat I spoke of before, with a very weird title of ‘I can’t believe it’s not meat; bacon’. Well…truth of selling, that’s for sure.

Silver Arrow looked over and saw me, his mouth opening as if to greet me, as I held a finger to my lips and pointed to Chrysalis, wanting to let her work more without her knowing I was there. The smell grew more and more as the food soon became done, and as she got the plates out as well as glasses for the drinks she turned around and slightly jumped when seeing me. “O…Oh morning Brandon!” she spoke with a small blush as I only chuckled. “How long were you there?”

“Bit ago,” I answered coming over to sit down. “Didn’t know you cooked.”

“A little skill I picked up here and there…with my long life and such, you tend to learn things after a while.”

“You don’t look that old Nova Star,” Silver chimed in as me and Chrysalis shared a laugh.

“Never judge a book by its cover, little one,” Chrysalis spoke placing a plate before him as well as before me as she sat down beside me. “There are things inside that can explain so much more then what the front cover looks to be.”

“What does that mean?” he asked as I only shook my head as I soon watched as forks and knives floated over, myself taking one of each and passing them around.

We ate the food ever so quietly, each working our thanks to Chrysalis for the wonderful meal, as she was left blushing at our praises, as she only waved a hoof at us, trying to hide behind her mane ever so slightly. It was cute, to say the least, to see the Changeling Queen, blushing at a few good words toward her, I mean hell, she can cook, like really…well, when you are over two hundred years old, (she never gave me the pin point date of her age, and I was just going off from when she said she tried to form peace with Celestia all those years ago) as she said; you tend to pick up a few tricks here and there.

“So why are you going to a doctor, Brandon?” Silver Arrow asked me as I got myself ready to leave. I was wearing a sweater; a simply grey one to say the least, the air was growing colder, showing that fall was indeed coming. “You don’t look sick,” I gave him a small chuckle, as I started to slip on my shoes before answering his question. Chrysalis was working on the dishes.

“Cloudquill is a different type of doctor,” I told him after making sure that my laces were on nice and tight. “It’s just…something I have to do alright?” he only nodded, seeing that I felt like that was all he needed to know; I then decided to ask him, about last night. “Silver before I go, I like to ask you something.”

“Oh?” he asked as he was moving toward the TV, toward the game no doubt. “What is it?”

“Do you remember anything from last night, like say…saying good night to me and Nova?” this caused Chrysalis to peek her head out; looking at the colt, his back to her.

“Huh…?” he asked tapping his chin. “No, I don’t remember that, mom use to always say that…” he seemed to lower his ear at the thought of his mother, as I too frowned slightly. “Mom use to say, when I was really tired, I would come to her room and say good night, but I could never remember it why did that happen last night?”

“So it would seem,” I nodded my head in agreement. “Alright, well I just wanted to let you know, I just thought you may have wanted something more then simply saying, ‘good night’. He nodded his head once more as he went back toward the TV as Chrysalis came over, seeming to be a bit at ease.

“So…he was just sleep walking?” she asked as I heard the sound of the PS3 turning on.

“Yeah, looks like it,” I whispered to her as I sighed. “Talk about a close call…”

“I’ll say…Brandon; I want to ask you something,”

“Hrm?” I hummed looking to her as she made me lean down so we could hear each other better.

“What if Silver Arrow stays here longer ten a few days…?” she asked. “I don’t think it would be good if all these close calls were to happen.”

“Yeah, but there isn’t anything we can do about it!” I whispered back and sighed.

“There may be a way…” she offered as I looked to her. “When you come back…I can show him my true form.”

I gave her a rather confused look, as I stood up fully, looking down at her with a raised eyebrow at her, wondering why she wanted to do this, I mean sure there was that reason of him possible walking in, when he wasn’t all that tired…but still… “As I said, Brandon,” she whispered as the sound of a video game being played was heard as I pressed myself along the door, arms and legs a bit crossed as I listened to what she had to say. “We really don’t know how long he will be here, and I rather not have to tip toe around a place where it should be the one place; other then my Hive, to where I can be worry free. Besides, he holds a great trust over you from what I could see. Why else would he want to stay here with you?”

“That is…true,” I pointed out as I brought a hand under my chin, thinking on this rather deeply. ‘Are you sure that this is a good idea? I mean, what if he goes to the princesses?”

“Then we run, simple as that,” she said with a small smile. “I do have a Hive as I said a place where we can at last just be ourselves.”

“Still…the risk is rather high,”

“It is…but I have a feeling that Silver will understand. He is rather mature for his age.”

“That he is…that he is…are you really sure?” she looked back up toward me, her eyes showing that she was for real on this, that she would not want to hide about this any longer.

“Yes,” she agreed with a small nod. “I am fully sure, when you come back; I want to show him my true form.”

I was just about to head myself on out once more; my hand on the door handle, when I heard a soft gasp, as Silver came rushing over toward me. “Oh, wait…what you two are doing for Nightmare Night in two weeks!”

“Nightmare Night?” I asked, the name seemed to click somewhere, but I couldn’t remember for the life of me, what it meant. “You’re going to have to tell me what that day is, I can’t seem to remember it.”

“You don’t know Nightmare Night?” he asked, a clear shock in his voice. “It’s a day, or night really, when everyone dresses up, and the colts and fillies go door to door, collecting candy!”

“Oh…Nightmare Night is your version of Halloween.”

“What?” he asked as I shrugged.

“Same thing, different name, the point is…I didn’t even know when that was…really it would be two weeks away?”

“Ether way,” Chrysalis spoke up as she looked between me and Silver. “I’m sure we can find a few costumes and such; but I think Brandon really has to go right now.”

I could only nod, leaning down and giving her a soft kiss along her lips, Silver making a gag like noise causing us to chuckle, before I headed off outside.

Maybe she was right; maybe showing Silver Arrow who she was truly, wouldn’t be so bad. This is what I thought as I made my way toward where the doctor office would be. This would be a new little thing for me, I mean sitting down and talking to someone who im guessing would try and get in my head and try and see what was ‘wrong’ with me. I mean the only reason I was going to this Cloudquill in the first place, was to just play around with Fancy Pants. To pretty much say to him that I did go, just to screw around with him…in a sense. The air felt chill because of the fall just starting.

Soon coming to the building, standing about three floors high, with a few windows from what I could see. The sigh of the building held the same colors as it was from the card, given to me by Fancy Pants, read; ‘Specialized Rehabilitation Center’. A strange name to say the least for a doctor I was just to go in and talk, that’s for sure. Looking off a bit to the side of it, I noticed some workers, seeming starting to be building a new part of Canterlot. The city was slowly increasing in size now, as news of more of the city being made along the rather large mountain. They had to be careful, I mean, you are building a city along side of a mountain side! But from what I heard, more of the older buildings of Canterlot were being taken down, for favor of newer ones. Well all but the history buildings of course. Noticing of toward the side and a bit off more, I noticed the workers using many tools to ether move stone that they had from one area to the other, or even other things that they needed. Feeling a rumble along the ground from all the movements, caused me to tense up somehow, but I relaxed the moment it too stopped. Not thinking much on it, I simply turned my head up to look at the building once more.

I gave the name of the building a rather strange look, seeing how it said ‘rehabilitation’ in the title, but I brushed it off, thinking it could just be because there had to be more people that needed more then just a talking to; I guess. Ether way, I pushed myself inside, greeting to a rather calm and still like air.

It was warm, making the sweater I wore seem a bit too much as I took it off and placed it along my shoulder. Behind the counter sat a pony, earth pony, a mud like brown with a blown back blond mane. He seemed bored, a single hoof under hin chin as he flipped through a book as I made my way up toward him. He looking up, seeing me coming up as he stopped to close his book. “Ah, welcome, welcome,” he spoke as he gave a smile. “And how can I be of use for you today?”

“I, have a appointment with a, Cloudquill?” I asked, hoping that I got the right name, or the right building I should say. It would look rather silly if I was in the wrong building, when I had the bloody address in my hand. He seemed think about it before opening his book again and flipped a few pages before nodding, placing a hoof along the page and said. “Ah yes, yes, here she is, rather new in this sort of field.” He seemed to nod and said. “Lucky for you, she’s on the first floor,” he then pointed down a hallway and said. “Down that hall, door number ten.” I nodded my thanks to him, as I started to walk down the hallway.

Sighing softly as I stood before the doorway, I brought a hand up and knocked a few times, before hearing a clear female voice that I knew from the phone call. “Come in.”

Walking into the room, I felt a sense of calm in a sense, the room held that of a light red like colors. Soft sitting chairs or sofas were seen as well along the side, a single chair seen, as well as a desk off to the side, im guessing for whoever this Cloudquill was. I soon got my answer, after a soft click was heard, as my head turned over to see where it came from. A gryphon, standing about a bit larger then me on all fours, was sanding before another table, which seemed to hold glasses and drinks as well. Whatever the drinks were eluded me, for I couldn’t tell what they were. Her feathers were that of a deep black, almost like the night, her mane and loin like body, a pure snow white. Gold eyes, looking onto my own, as her head feathers, were pushed backwards, sticking as such; like human hair; or pony mane. She held the class in her talon, looking at me before smiling slightly, how that was possible with a beak; I would never know. “Ah hello there, you must be, Brandon, am I right?” her voice held that of a clear female voice; that much was heard. And seeing how I never really met with a gryphon face to face, well…I know if I didn’t know her; I would’ve thought at first she would be a male. Seeing how well her body was rather…bulky; to say the least.

‘I am,” I answered with a nod as she pointed toward one of the many sits in the room. I took the sofa, I was not laying down in one of those over used bed like sofas these doctors uses, and you know the one I’m talking about. She went over toward the only single chair, leather from what I could see, as she rolled it over toward me a bit, far enough away that she wasn’t in my personal space; but close enough that we could hear each others as we spoke.

“Truthfully…I’m surprised you even agreed to come, or that you came ether way.”

“Can I be truthful?” I asked as she raised a eye ridge but nodded. “I’m simply doing this to get Fancy Pants off my back. I understand he cares for me and such, but it’s getting rather annoying that he keeps on trying to get me help, when I know for a fact hat I don’t need it at all.” she held the raised eyebrow look to me as she seemed to only nod at this as I went on. “The prices I’ll admit are rather…low, not sure if it’s just something you choose, or because it’s the prices around here. But ether way, the payment you gave me…it’s so low I can, play his little game of this; no offense to you.”

“None taken; I can understand how you are feeling, or try to.” she answered as I just looked to her wanting to hear what she had to say. “You feel that you don’t need the help of others, even more to the fact to someone that barely knows you, other then what was said from one person by another.” I only blinked from this, wondering how she knew as such. “Even more so, I can also guess you rather don’t like asking for help, you like to get things done on yourself; am I right?”

“More or less, yes.” She seemed to nod all the same, a sage like nod as she closed her eyes, her chin seemly tucked into the tuff of her fur.

“I can see that much and I can understand on how you feel as such. However, Fancy Pants contacted me just last night, after a little…run in with the Prince, Blue Blood, am I right?” At the name my hand seemed to tense, I didn’t think she would’ve noticed that, but I saw her eye twitch over to my hand as she nodded. “Do not worry, Brandon. I may get my information from outside, seeing how quite latterly, beside the hospital record from what happened after the kidnapping,” she pointed to the rather small paper work on her desk. “I know nothing of you. And anything said within these walls, shall stay within these walls.”

“And how can I be sure, you would keep that word?”

“Unlike some people out there in the world,” she spoke, her eyes narrowing slightly. “I keep my word.” We stared each other down, nether blinking, before I leaned back and nodded.

“Very well…but just know this, today I’m not saying anything I don’t wanna talk about, you want to try and pick my brain to sate Fancy Pants worry…your going to have to work and earn my trust.”

“Not going to let my first time doctoring someone a easy one are you?”

“Hell, no.”

“That’s good, I rather like the test.” She answered with that same grin as before.

I made my way back home, after we made a small list of days I would come, we changed it to it being twice a week, today counting as a free day, and three days from now, would be the second. I thought long and hard, on the way she took things, I didn’t know what her way of thinking was, but im sure I will find out, sooner or later.

Ether way, I made my way back home as quickly as possible, I know Chrysalis is no doubt worrying more and more about how she will show herself to be the Changeling Queen, toward Silver Arrow. I will be with her all the way, no matter what will happen but still…I too was worried.

My home, soon coming up to view, as I watched the living room window shades, open and close, the face of ‘Nova Star’ showing and quickly hiding back behind it, the light shadow of her pacing back and forth. I only sighed, pushing the door open when I may my way toward it, and entered inside.

The sound of the TV was heard, the sound of a game being played on it leaving me to know that Silver was busy playing a game. Which one I didn’t know. Chrysalis met me at the main doorway hallway. “Hey there,” she spoke looking up at me, a soft smile along her muzzle. “How was the meeting?”

“Eh,” I answered with a soft shrug of my shoulders. “It was fine, I’ll be going to see her some more within the end of the week, but other then that; it was just like a, meet and greet.”

“I see,” she returned her answer as she looked back toward the living room and then back to me. “I’m not so sure that this is a good idea now…”

“Why, what happened while I was gone?”

“Nothing, nothing,” she shook her head. “It’s just…what If he does run off to the others and tell, I don’t want you to get in trouble, or…or…”

“Hey, hey,” I knelt down and held her cheeks, making her look to me. Her eyes gazing up to look at me. “We won’t know until we try, and beside, I think it would be good for at least one other, non-Changeling, to know who you are.” She only looked away at me as I sighed and pulled her into a hug.

“But this is your choice on the matter, it is your secret to tell, not mine.”
She looked back at me, and then to where Silver was currently being busy with the game, her bottom lip, being bitten as she seemed to be weighing her options. “Okay,” she nodded after a few moments of awkward stillness. “Bring him up to the room, I’ll make sure the windows and such are covered; just in case.” I only gave her a raised eye look, but only nodded all the same; I knew she was worried; that much was easily seen along her face.

It took a bit, or I should say I waited for abit, to allow her time to get her ready, before pulling Silver away from the game. He seemed confused, and really I don’t blame him, I mean, he had no idea what she wanted him for; and still…how would he react to something such as this? Ether way though, taking him up the stairs, seeing the door of mine, and her room open, we stepped inside.
The blinds were closed, allowing the room to be surrounded in a blanket of darkness, not too much that we couldn’t see, but enough that anyone outside, such as any flyers couldn’t see. She was pacing back and forth, her eyes to the ground. She didn’t seem to notice us at first, but when the click of the door was heard, her head jerking up as the sound was heard; she only gulped loud enough that we could hear, silver, the small colt, still a bit of worry along his face. “What’s…going on?” he asked as he looked between both I, and Chrysalis. “Am, I in some sort of trouble or something?”

“No, no,” Chrysalis spoke, something I was about to do, but I just leaned back and allowed her to take this. This was her thing anyway. “It’s just…Silver, do you believe that, hiding something, is a good thing,”

“What do you mean?” he asked, tilting his head off o the side as Chrysalis only sighed and then went on.

“I mean…lets say you had a secret, something you were worried that others would think of you differently if they found out of it.” the young colt nodded his head, seemly grasping what she meant.

“And this secret, would only be shared by someone you trust.” She then looked to me, as did Silver.

“Brandon here, he knows what I am about to share to you, and that he trusts me, and I, trust him. We…I thought it would be a good idea, that I share with you…what I am, so I don’t have to hide as much with you around.”

“What…do you mean?” he asked, a clear voice of confusion, even more plastered along his face, and that was when, she changed right before his very eyes.

My hand went at once to the door handle, I don’t really know why, but my hand still held it ether way. Perhaps there was a part of me that was worried he would run out screaming, another part; well as I said, I'm not really sure! But what happened next, after Chrysalis stood in all her glory, caused both me, and her to blink. “Coooooool!”