Moonglade walked into the first floor dining hall one morning to discover Chrysalis staring out the window into the forest. Her small black and green crown was perched atop her head like a mushroom, catching the early morning sunlight and glittering.

“Good morning,” Chrysalis said without turning around.

“Good morning, mother,” Moonglade replied, nervously looking at her mother and breathing the air to get a fix on her emotions.

There was a strange smell, not unpleasant, but like freshly washed linens mixed with newly mown grass. Moonglade didn’t know this one.

“You’re thinking rather deeply today,” Psithyra’s voice came from inside a suit of armor to the left of the table. “I don’t think I’ve seen you this pensive before.”

“What are you doing in that suit of armor, Thyra?” Chrysalis sighed.

“I’m not,” Psithyra replied. “I’m in the chandelier. That’s a micro-speaker and microphone. I made it myself.”

At that, Psithyra dropped down onto the ground from the elaborate crystal chandelier, doing a perfect three-point landing.

Chrysalis turned around, an expression of puzzled annoyance on her face. “And why, pray tell are you hiding in my chandelier and putting speakers in suits of armor? Didn’t I tell you to put one in the lounge room only?”

“Just trying some things out, but mainly for fun.” She spun the voice device in her hand and looked at Moonglade. “How are you today, sweetie?”

“I’m just peachy,” Chrysalis replied, turning back around to look at the forest.

“I was talking to your daughter,” Psithyra said slowly.

“Of course you were,” Chrysalis snorted. “No one ever wants to know how I am. I’m only the cornerstone of our entire society, don’t mind me.”

Psithyra rolled her eyes. “Fine. What are you thinking about, O high and mighty Queen of the Changelings?”

“I was thinking about how it’s about time I involved myself in my daughter’s love life.”

Moonglade jumped. Now this she had not been expecting. “You what? I-I mean, really, you are, mother?”

“Yes. I think it’s high time I met this House Run character. So bring him here and I will evaluate him.”

“You’re just doing that on purpose now, aren’t you?” Psithyra said, rolling her eyes. “It’s Home Run. You know it’s Home Run.”

“Whatever. Bring him here, say, on Saturday. And we will talk. And maybe I’ll eat.” Chrysalis turned to Moonglade and gave her a nod. “So call him and tell him that Ebony Wings cordially invites him to dinner at the estate.” She suddenly swooped in close, touching noses with her daughter, close enough for her to smell the citrus on her mother’s breath. “And it is not an invitation he can decline. You understand me?”

Moonglade gulped and nodded hesitantly. “Y-Y-Yes, m-mother…”

“Good!” Chrysalis said cheerily, pulling away. “Have your breakfast. I’ve got to pick out an outfit for Saturday.”

After a nerve-wracking breakfast of bacon, eggs, and toast, Moonglade went back to her room and picked up the phone she used for texting Home Run.

“Relax, Moonglade. You’re just calling him for dinner. What could possibly go wrong?”

“It’s a very important dinner,” Mishter Schniffs remarked from her bed.

“One where… he shouldn’t mess up,” Stargaze Sunshine added beside him. “Or else.”

“Not helping, guys…” Moonglade fell on her bed and groaned.

“Just call him, Moonglade.” Schniffs pushed at her shoulder. “Your mother demands it anyway. You have to do it.”

“I know, I know…” Moonglade unlocked her phone and stared at her screen. “I just… I don’t know what to do around him. It’s so awkward now…”

“It’s simple, really,” Mishter Schniffs said. “You have to act like you like him, without actually liking him. Easy as eggs is eggs.”

“It’s not easy.” Stargaze smacked him on the head. “She loves him. Don’t you, Moonglade? Love isn’t something easily lost.”

“Oi! Careful what you say,” Schniffs sniffed. “You never know who might be listening.”

“Y-Yeah…” Moonglade looked around her room anxiously, hoping she wasn’t being listened in to. “I… I cannot love him, Stargaze, no matter how much I would like to. He is the prey. I am the hunter. I just need to figure out how to be around him without being too stiff or being too lovey dovey.”

She opened her contacts list on her phone and scrolled down with a sigh.

Hesitantly, Moonglade thumbed Home Run’s name and waited as the device dialed him. Her heartbeat seemed to grow tenfold as she waited for him to pick up on the other end. She actually almost didn’t want him to pick up, because she still didn’t quite know how to act around him. She loved him. She really did, but not being able to do that… It was weird, to say the least, seeing as she still needed to see him for food.

“Hello, hey, Moonglade. What’s up?”

The girl blinked a few times. He picked up. Her heart fluttered in her chest and she beat at it, hoping to calm it down before her mother could smell her emotions from downstairs.

“H-Hey, Home Run. Ev-everything okay?” she smiled, one hand twirling at a lock of her curly blonde hair.

“Yeah, I’m doing okay today. Nothing much. Just meeting up with the baseball gang. You okay?”

No, I’m absolutely not okay. I love you, but I am not allowed to be with you. Moonglade swallowed and blinked her tears away. “Yeah, I’m doing okay too. Umm, Home Run, l-listen… um… A-Are you available this Saturday f-for dinner? A-At my place…?”

“At your place?” Home Run sounded surprised. “Well… I guess I don’t have anything planned, so sure. What time?”

“Er…” Her mother hadn’t specified a time, but they usually ate dinner at around six to seven, so…

“Six PM?” Moonglade suggested.

“Oh, okay,” Home Run said. “What should I wear?”

“Oh, umm…” Moonglade hadn’t checked with her mother what kind of dinner this would be. “Could you… h-hold on a sec, Home Run?”

The young changeling scurried downstairs, her blonde hair flowing behind her as she skipped three steps a time, almost missing the last one. Then she raced to the dining room, where she remembered her mother had gone upstairs to pick out an outfit.

She slapped herself on her forehead, then ran back upstairs, embarrassed at herself.

“Sorry, just wait a little longer, Home Run…”

She reached the door to her mother’s room and took a second to compose herself and straighten her outfit before knocking.

“Who is it?” A muffled voice came from inside.

“Umm, it’s me, mother…” Moonglade answered. “I-I, uh… Home Run needs to know what to wear to the dinner.”

The door swung open slowly, revealing her mother in the dark room, holding a single unlit candle. Chrysalis peered down at Moonglade, apparently thinking.

“Hmm,” Chrysalis said, holding the candle up to her face. “Let’s go for formal wear. He will be meeting royalty, after all, and one does not skimp on their wardrobe when meeting a queen.”

“O-Oh, okay… Um…” Moonglade eyed the candle. “What are you doing inside, mother?”

Chrysalis blew on the candle wick, a small tongue of green fire wafting out and lighting it. The tiny emerald flame danced atop the wax; it almost seemed to have a tiny, grinning face.

“Umm, okay, I should… go, mother.” Moonglade smiled awkwardly, then darted back down the stairs to her room. “Okay, she says formal, Home Run.”

“Alright, I think that I still have the suit I wore to the Valentine’s Day dance. I’ll be there this Saturday, six o’clock.”

“Great! I can’t wait to see you!” Moonglade stifled herself and looked around. She relaxed when she felt she hadn’t been heard.

After hanging up, the changeling threw herself back on her bed and grabbed for her plushies. It was so hard to pretend to be in love without being in love.

The week passed by relatively quickly. Moonglade did a few cooking lessons with her aunt, and she even went for a swim on Wednesday, though she made sure to do it when Adagio wasn’t around this time. She had also played a bit of Finest Fantasy on her Neighstation and she found she was actually about halfway through the game already.

Then there was the budding relationship between the Pale Sorceress and the Dark Sorcerer, which Moonglade found a little amusing. She tried to imagine her mother really feeling that way, but she just couldn’t. After all, she herself wasn’t allowed to feel that way.

She had her violin lessons with Mrs. Crescendo Melody and then her swordfighting lesson with Ms. Lionstrike before finally having a shower to get ready for dinner. It was a formal dinner, so she couldn’t simply wear her summer attire for this. Walking into her closet, Moonglade tossed her towel aside and sifted through her rack of formal wear.

While she was pondering what dress to choose, there was a knock on the door.

“Young mistress? Are you decent?” It was one of the maids.

Moonglade picked up her towel and wrapped it around her body, then left the walk-in closet.

“Come in,” she said.

The maid opened the bedroom door and came in. “Your mother says you are to wear this to dinner.” She presented Moonglade with a small black velvet box and left the changeling’s room.

Moonglade took the box and pried it open. Inside was a small, crown-like tiara, made of black metal and studded with green gems. It sparkled darkly in its nestling.

“It’s beautiful,” Moonglade breathed. She took the crown from its box and held it up to the light. It resembled the crown that her mother wore sometimes; as she examined it, she was intrigued to find that it was in fact rather heavy for its size. Just what was it made of, she wondered.

Putting it on her head, she trudged back to her closet and dropped the towel by the entrance again, back to picking out something to wear for the dinner. She pulled out her yukata again, but she figured it was a bit much, even for a formal dinner, so she put it back. She did want to wear it sometime though.

Moonglade picked up a black dress with long sleeves and a slit up the side. This was clearly meant to be worn with a pantyhose or leggings. She held it up in front of herself in the mirror.

“Not bad,” Moonglade admitted. Half the clothes in here she had no memory of buying anyway. Probably because her mother bought them for her.

Slipping it on, the girl twirled a few times in front of the mirror before doing up her hair’s usual braid.

“You look fantastic, Moonglade.” She smiled, satisfied with her look and left her room, skipping down the first two steps. She stopped because there was no way to skip in this outfit without the risk of tripping and rolling the rest of the way down.

She made her way into the dining room, where places had been set for seven people. Ebony Wings was standing at the window again, watching the slowly darkening forest. She wore a black and green ensemble, with metallic emerald panels that gave off the look as though she had chitin around her abdomen. The same small crown sat atop her head.

Sitting on a cushioned chair in the corner of the room was Ivory Wings, also wearing dark colors, though she had adorned her white hair with green glitter. A tiara similar to Moonglade’s sat on her head.

The sirens were nowhere to be seen.

A record player had been set up and was playing a gentle folksy tune, a song that had old English lyrics that Moonglade couldn’t understand.

For a while, all they did was listen to the record. Then Ebony Wings spoke up.

“Do you know how he’s getting here?”

“Probably by bike,” Moonglade guessed. “He gets everywhere by bike. So… How do I look?”

“Good enough, I suppose. Though I really still don’t see what he is attracted to. The sirens should still be getting dressed. Ivory, get to the entrance hall. You’ll need to open the gates for our guest.”

“As you wish,” Ivory got up and swept herself out of the dining room.

Moonglade twiddled with her thumbs as she sat there, anxiously waiting for her boyfriend to arrive. She played some scenarios in her head, trying to find a good way to behave around him that would still show that she loved him, but at the same time, not really being in love with him. Talking-wise seemed okay, but when it came to things like perhaps giving him hugs or kisses, Moonglade didn’t quite feel that she would be able to fake it.

And now with her mother here at dinner with them, things were really going to be awkward.

“There’s so much more to look at when it comes to me…” Ebony appeared beside her, gently brushing a hand down the side of her head. “Don’t you think so, daughter? I am so absolutely stunning today that I might even be able to steal that boy away from you.”

“Ehehe… Good one, mother,” Moonglade grinned crookedly.

“Of course, I’m too old for him,” Ebony continued. “By over a thousand years. But it’s the thought that counts, isn’t it?” She checked her nails nonchalantly. “Or should I say, it’s the feelings that count.”

“Ummm… I guess so, mother.” Moonglade rubbed her arm unconsciously. She knew Home Run wouldn’t fall for her mother just because she was really pretty, but it would certainly be weird if he did. She really hoped he wouldn’t. “M-Mother… can I really, um, can I really not… be with him? You know? Um… Yeah. I-I would be really careful, you know? H-He won’t find out… About what we r-really are.”

“We’re not discussing this,” Ebony said boredly. She strolled over to the window and stared out over the grounds. “Even if by some alignment of the stars I let you stoop that low, you would need to be lucky every time. He only needs to be lucky once to catch you. Not terribly good odds, don’t you agree?”

“I… I guess not, mother…” Moonglade sighed.

“And besides, today is an evaluation.” Ebony tapped a foot on the floor. “If I really don’t like him, well, the fruitcake today has poison in it. I recommend you and the sirens not eat it.”

Moonglade’s eyes went wide. “O-Oh, o-okay, mother…”

The young girl took a deep breath to steady herself. She silently willed for Home Run to make a good impression today. She didn’t want him dying, in their home, much less. And he was her target, whether she loved him or not, him dying would cut off one source of food.

“We’re hereee!” Sonata Dusk burst through the dining room doors, skipping over to Moonglade. She had on a long pink dress with a frilly ribbon at the back, sort of like small butterfly wings. “What do you think, Moony? Aria says I look like I got run over by a cement truck, but I think it’s nice.”

I hope Aunt Ivory manages to fix their gems soon. Aria’s getting more and more irritable.

“You look great, Sonata,” Moonglade agreed.

Aria and Adagio made their appearance. The former was clothed in a deep plum gown, and her hair was slicked back in a long plait, held in place with gel. She was even wearing a mildly interested expression on her face. Adagio had on a slinky red sequined dress, complemented with matching high heels and a ruby studded hairband.

“Like it, Moonglade?” Adagio struck a pose and let the light sparkle off her outfit. “I’m sure Home Run will. You know, since you can’t be with him, maybe I’ll steal him for myself?”

Why does everyone want to steal him away from me? Moonglade groaned inside. “Uh, yeah it’s nice… And… um, could you… not, Adagio?”

“I was just joking, Moony.” The oldest siren went over to her seat and flopped down on it elegantly. “Even if my emotions say otherwise. I just want our powers back. Maybe then I’ll finally lose this affection for that boy. And then those two will stop arguing so much too.”

“For an apex predator you’re not very scary,” Aria remarked, sliding into her own seat. “Unless you’re doing a really good job of hiding it under that flustered, easily embarrassed exterior. Your mom manages to be intimidating and full of poise at the same time.”

“W-Well, this is my first hunt after all…” Moonglade pinched at her chin. “I-I’m still learning.”

“And when I was your age, I was already an expert hunter,” Ebony said from her spot with a slight scoff. “Men would flock to me like bees to a flower.”

“No you weren’t,” Ivory’s voice came from the suit of armor. “None of us were. Not back then.”

Ebony Wings glared at the armor and cleared her throat. “Shouldn’t you be waiting for the boy to get here?”

“I am. In fact, I can already see him. He’s just over by Krusty Kake. He’ll be at the gate in about seven minutes.”

“You were just joking about the fruitcake, right, mother?” Moonglade said cautiously, hopping from one foot to the other.

Ebony let out a bark of laughter. “I never joke. Do not eat the fruitcake. If he makes a good impression we won’t serve it at all.”

“Great. I don’t like fruitcake anyway.” Aria folded her arms.

“Awww, I love fruitcake!” Sonata waltzed over to her seat.

“You’re a fruitcake.”

“Am not!”

“Yes you are.”

“Am not!”

“Here we go again…” Adagio rubbed her forehead and grimaced.

“He’s here,” The armor said. “Opening the gate now.”

“Great.” Ebony remained by the window, her arms now behind her back. “Daughter, please get ready to receive him. Remember to give him a good welcome and… Do not be in love, yes? Act like you are though.”

“R-Right…” Moonglade shuffled herself nervously over towards the front door, waiting beside one of her mother’s broadsword cases.

The young changeling listened out from behind the door, keeping her nose up as well. In only a minute, she could smell Home Run’s familiar scent, getting closer to the door with her aunt.

Moonglade’s heart went crazy when the doors opened and she could see Home Run. He was dressed in a sleek black Neightalian suit, two buttoned jacket and tapered pants included. Moonglade recalled that one of Home Run’s friends was a fashion designer; had she perhaps created this outfit?

“H-Hey, Home Run.” Moonglade tried to give him a proper unawkward hug. She was indeed happy to see him, but she couldn’t show it.

“You look great tonight, Moonglade,” Home Run said. And he meant it too, she could smell it. “But you’re always so pretty anyway.”

“Yeah, and you look, umm…” Moonglade blushed at his comments. “Uh, really… tactical?”

Home Run seemed to cringe slightly before smiling back at her. “Well, I might be dressed like Bames Jond, but I’m not here to spy on you guys, hahaha…”

Moonglade giggled. “Yeah, of course not. Why would you even need to spy on us?” Being around him was always so nice.

Ivory Wings came in as well, shutting the door behind them with a click. “Such a pleasure to have you here, young man,” she purred.

“Thanks for having me. The house is so… incredible.” Home Run eyed the various weapons hanging from their mantles and cases.

“It’s the lady of the house’s ancestral home, passed from herself to herself over the generations,” Ivory said with a mysterious smile. “A woman’s home is her castle, you know the saying?”

“No, I actually don’t, but… Yeah, I guess it makes sense.”

Moonglade caught a look from her aunt and then nodded before hesitantly wrapping her arms around one of Home Run’s. “C-Come on, this way to the dining room. Hungry?”

“Starving.” The boy gave her a pat on a hand.

The three of them walked back to the dining room, where Sonata waved over her hello. Aria barely acknowledged their return and Adagio just gave her usual smirk. Moonglade’s mother, however, had dimmed the lights over by the window, now shrouding herself partially in darkness, with only the green parts of her dress reflecting light. She still had her back to them, looking out the window at… whatever she was looking at.

Ivory Wings coughed discreetly. Ebony seemed to take the hint, turning around slowly, deliberately. Her eyes flashed in the shadows and she strode up to Home Run, extending her right hand and holding it palm down, just like Moonglade had seen queens do in the movies for a kiss.

“Young Mr. Run,” she said in a low, husky voice. “So good of you to come to our little soiree.”

“Yeah, thank you for inviting me.” The boy didn’t seem to get the message and shook her hand. “And it’s a privilege to meet you, Mrs. Wings. I’ve seen some of your movies. To actually meet you in person… It’s really an honor.”

Ebony Wings blinked once, as if puzzled, and withdrew her hand. “Quite,” she stated. “My sister will guide you to your seat. The place of honor, right next to me, and across from my daughter.”

“Yeah, thanks.” Home Run walked over to the seat he was directed to.

Moonglade smiled and followed, walking opposite him and sitting herself down. At least she got to be near him. But she had to be careful. With her mother here, any slip up on her role in only pretending to be in love, would result in some serious consequences that might involve more violence.

Home Run pulled his seat closer to the table and looking around the room and at all of them as well. And then for a second, his eyebrows creased before turning back to Moonglade.

“Is… Is your sister not joining us today?” he asked.

Ivory Wings choked on her glass of water she was drinking.

Moonglade’s eyes widened in shock. They had completely forgotten to account for Silver Rose not being around. Even Aunt Ivory seemed to have overlooked it.

“She’s not in town,” Ebony Wings said quickly. “Silver Rose had something to do in Manehattan. Regrettable, but unavoidable, I’m afraid.”

Moonglade and her aunt relaxed. That seemed good enough.

“Oh, wow.” Home Run nodded. “That’s a way away. She’s there alone?”

“Sh-she’s with a friend,” the young changeling squeaked. “Umm… visiting the… uh…”

“Museums!” Sonata supplied.

“Theaters,” Aria said at the same time.

There was a moment of silence.

“Theater museums,” Adagio said sternly, glaring at her sisters. “They’re considering putting up an Ebony Wings exhibit.”

“Yes, they wanted someone to go over and look. Unfortunately, Ebony was busy this week, so she sent Silver Rose instead.” Ivory wiped her mouth with her napkin. “She’s an independent young girl, so she’s doing just fine.”

“And she’s got a friend with her!” Moonglade grinned and added. “So there’s really nothing to worry about.”

“Oh. Well, okay then. That’s neat. I hope that the exhibit goes well, Mrs. Wings.”

Moonglade leaned back and relaxed. That hadn’t been too bad, but it was a dumb mistake. Now looking back, it was something they should’ve accounted for. There was no way for both Moonglade and Silver Rose to appear at the same time.

“Yes, so, shall we begin?” Ebony clapped her hands. “I think we’ve been waiting long enough.”

On that cue, Silver Platter and six maids swept into the room, holding cloche-covered plates, setting them down in front of the diners and lifting the lids.

“Appetizers first,” Ebony Wings announced. Silver Platter came back with a tray of bottles. “Will you have wine, Home Run?”

“Oh, uh…” The boy looked at Moonglade. “I’m still underage.”

“Sparkling grape juice will be fine, Silver Platter,” Ivory Wings said, looking reproachfully at Ebony Wings. The butler nodded and poured out the juice.

Home Run picked up a canape and took a bite. “These are really good. My, uh, compliments to the chef.”

Moonglade watched Home Run with satisfaction. He smelt like he was having a good time already.

“Yes, I’ve been told we have some of the best food in town.” Ebony smiled smugly, taking a bite out of a pig in a blanket. “So, Home Run, I hear you’re quite the baseball star.”

He looked at Moonglade, who nodded happily. She had told her mother a great deal about the baseball championships and how well Home Run did, but she didn’t think her mother had actually paid any attention to all that.

“Hmm? Oh, yeah. I’m on the school baseball team. The Canterlot Wondercolts won the championship a couple of weeks ago. Our first ever win against Crystal Prep Academy.”

“Yes, impressive. I didn’t think your school would even make it to the finals. I suppose I was wrong.”

“Well, we’ve been practicing hard, and it wasn’t just me,” Home Run added. “It was a team effort.”

“Y-Yeah, they all played really hard, mother.” Moonglade scooped up one of the canape’s to her plate. “Uh, Silver told me all about it. They worked so hard to beat Crystal Prep. They deserve that win.”

“Yes, I suppose working together pays off, hmm?” Ebony cut her blanketed pig in two. “I hear you are also quite the whiz in calculus, helping my daughter with her homework and all.”

Ivory Wings’ lip curled up in a smirk. Calculus was one of the rare things that Chrysalis, in any of her incarnations, was clueless about. Then again, it couldn’t be said that she was any better. Ivory picked up a canape and placed it on her long tongue, then retracted it back into her mouth. Crunch.

Sonata noticed this and giggled. Ebony Wings shot her a look and the giggles subsided.

“Yeah,” Home Run nodded his head. “And she helps me with chemistry. It’s nice to have someone to count on like that. Mrs. Wings, do you, uh, have people like that? I mean, besides everyone here, of course. I’m sure you can count on everyone here.”

Ebony Wings’ eyes seemed to flash for a fraction of a second, like a cat’s eyes in a flashlight. “There are individuals who are not present that I have… professional relationships with. They assist me with affairs that I have either not the time, nor the experience to do. There aren’t many, though.”

Home Run’s fingers brushed against the top button on his jacket, then swallowed his mouthful of food and nodded. “I’m sure an actress as well connected as you have a lot of friends.”

“Why of course.” Ebony gave her black hair a flick. “Someone as acclaimed as me has many. A lot of people want to be my friend, you see. They find me so talented and nice.”

Moonglade almost choked her her meal when she heard that. “R-Really, mother? It’s because of that?”

“Yes. Yes it is,” Ebony said firmly.

Home Run nodded slowly, looking from Ebony to Moonglade then back again. Then he put a finger to his jacket button, playing around with it a little. Moonglade watched him do this, as did Ivory Wings. The girl’s aunt narrowed her eyes a fraction and took a small sip of wine, not taking her eyes off Home Run.

Soon the appetizers were eaten, and the maids came to clear the plates away.

“Well, that was nice,” Sonata said cheerfully. “Does this mean the main course is next?”

Moonglade surreptitiously gauged her mother’s expression and mood. It seemed placid enough now, and she smelled good enough too. No spikes of anger or annoyance. Yet.

Home Run seemed to squirm a touch in his seat. Then he looked across the table at Sonata Dusk and gave her a smile that was a little too wide.

“So, uh, Sonata. How have things been going for you lately?”

Sonata put her glass of juice down. “Oh, things have been great! Haven’t they, Aria?”

“Why are you asking me for?” Aria wiped a hand down her face. “And Home Run, shouldn’t you be asking your girlfriend instead?”

“Well, you girls are like her family,” Home Run said, holding his hands up. “I figured it would be polite to ask you too.”

“Well, we’re fine. Just fine,” Adagio stated. “Even without our singing voices, I can’t complain. Much. And I suppose we can’t blame you too. You weren’t there.”

“That’s about to change though, isn’t it?” Sonata said blithely.

“Oh, are you getting those gems fixed?” Home Run leaned closer to the table. “You found a way to get your voices back?”

“Uh, no, no, that’s not it,” Sonata said a little too quickly. “Not at all.”

Moonglade saw her aunt make a chopping motion at her throat. She wondered if Home Run had seen it too.

“Then what did you mean by ‘that’s about to change’?” Home Run asked, touching the button on his jacket again.

“You’ll have to excuse Sonata’s outbursts,” Adagio said casually. “Sometimes she just says things that make no sense.”

“Sometimes?” Aria groaned. “More like all the time.”

“Hey, no I don’t!” Sonata shot her a frown.

Moonglade slapped a hand to her face. At first, seeing them argue was sort of amusing, but now, this was really getting out of hand.

In the end, she decided to interrupt the argument, hoping to stop it. “So, Home Run, how’ve you been? Y-You know… I really, um, think a-about you all the time.”

She side glanced at her mother to see if that had been okay. So far, still no disapproval or anger from her, so the young changeling guessed she was still in the clear. Though, that was also no lie. She did think about him all the time.

“Oh, yeah, things have been good, I guess.” Home Run smiled at her. Moonglade loved it when he did that, trying to control her heartbeat now. “We do have some homework, for the break, but that isn’t too hard. We’re reading Tequila’s Rockingbird. I suppose it could’ve been worse.”

The maids came from the kitchens again, carrying with them new platters. Once set before each of them, the cloches were lifted to reveal steaming plates of seafood spaghetti. Moonglade’s stomach agreed with her brain that it looked delicious, and soon, with her taste buds too as she chewed on some of it.

Mmm… Home food is always so good.

“Tequila’s Rockingbird, you say.” Ivory Wings spun her spaghetti around a fork. “I have some experience in that. Such times people used to live in, isn’t it?”

“Hmm, I… haven’t really gotten much into it…” Home Run laughed sheepishly. “I know the main characters’ names are Scoot and Mineral.”

“I was rather drawn to the character of Cellarcus. Although I haven’t read it in years, I thought the book was rather ahead of its time,” Ivory Wings said lazily, eating some of her spaghetti.

“You girls ever read it?” Home Run glanced at the sirens. “I mean, we all have it for the vacation assignment, so maybe you and my friends could, I dunno, maybe get together for a study group sometime? Twilight’s probably read the book twice by now… Haha.”

This statement was met with varying looks of suspicion and polite puzzlement from the three sisters.

“I’m not reading that thing,” Aria finally declared. She swallowed a mouthful of food and continued. “What’s the point?”

“Aren’t you worried about your grades?” Home Run asked. “I mean, if you turn up without having done the assignment, won’t you be in trouble?”

“Hopefully by then we’ll have our pend-aaah… I mean, hopefully by then they’ll have the Splashnotes version up on the internet so that I won’t have to open the book to know what’s going on. Yeah.”

There was an awkward silence for a moment, which Moonglade found the need to remove. “So uhh, Home Run! H-How have you been? Everything okay?”

“Yeah, I guess so. It’s the break after all,” Home Run said after swallowing a bundle of spaghetti. “Plus, I get to see you today. And meet your family. Might I add, Mrs. Wings, your daughter is absolutely beautiful today. And she’s always so kind and caring.”

Moonglade blushed and pushed a lock of hair behind an ear. It was always nice to receive such comments from him. And it smelt good too.

Ebony Wings inhaled and slowly spun her fork around some of her noodles. “Well, what kind of mother would I be if I didn’t teach my daughter the proper way to interact with people? Even one as beautiful and busy as me has standards to live up to.”

“Umm… I guess so.” Home Run looked around at the others. Moonglade gave him a discreet shrug. Then he stuffed a forkful of spaghetti in his mouth.

“Oh, uh… so, mother…” Moonglade put her hands together and smiled widely. “Wh-what do you thi-think? Of Home Run?”

“Stop that stuttering,” Ebony said boredly. “As for young Mr. Run, you’ve not told me much about him, and it would be remiss to judge based on a short dinner such as this.”

“But that’s why you hosted this whole dinner,” Ivory muttered, too quiet for anyone without changeling ears to hear. Ebony’s eye twitched and she had a sip of wine to calm herself.

“How are you finding the food, Home Run?” Ebony said with a smile that, in Moonglade’s opinion, showed far too many teeth.

“Oh.” Home Run quickly swallowed his food. “This is great. It’s really delicious. You’ve got some really good cooks here, Mrs. Wings.”

Ebony Wings smiled thinly. “The chefs here are selected from the finest restaurants around the city. They’re the best at what they do.”

“Wow. That’s incredible. That must be nice, huh? Having this kind of food everyday.”

“It does pay to be the best actress in the world.” Ebony placed a hand on her chest and stuck her chin up. “Did you know that I’ve already been nominated for three awards this year alone?”

“Oh wow. Three already? And it’s not even the end of the year yet.” Home Run smelt of admiration and surprise.

Moonglade giggled quietly. It seemed her mother’s self-praise wasn’t having its usual effect on him than it did on other people. That was good, especially if their relationship were to go in the long run.

The young changeling found herself daydreaming about the future. What would it be like? To get married, to have children, to raise a family, to start work? She imagined herself coming home in the evening to a welcoming Home Run, and perhaps even a little boy or girl to give her a hug. Or even both.

That would certainly be something she would enjoy. That was what she wanted. A normal life. Unfortunately, being a changeling, and the princess of a queen, this lifestyle would be impossible.

“...glade.”

Moonglade didn’t hear those words, still lost in her imaginary world. She was now seated with Home Run on a couch, watching a movie which starred her mother and father.

“Moonglade.” Ebony Wings said firmly. She wore a smile on her face, but her eyes were dark and cold. Moonglade gulped. She knew her mother couldn’t read minds, but she wasn’t sure what emotional flavors she had let slip during her daydream.

“Y-Yes, mother?”

“Home Run was asking you a question.”

“You were?” Moonglade internally slapped herself for her lapse in attention. “Sorry, I was thinking of something else. What were you asking me?”

“I wanted to know if you wanted to come watch the Rainbooms perform. They’re having a concert at Canterlot Park on Friday.”

“O-Oh, next Friday?” Moonglade dabbed at her mouth with a napkin. “Tha-that would be nice…” She looked to her mother to see whether she approved of this or not.

“Do you have anything planned for this Friday?” Ivory Wings asked.

“Not that I know of…” Moonglade shifted her feet anxiously beneath the table. It would be nice to see Home Run more, but she also didn’t want to risk another beating. She needed to be more careful with her emotions. “But can the sirens come too? I’m, ah, not used to going out all on my own.”

Ivory flashed her niece with a confused look.

Ebony Wings, on the other hand, seemed to puff up and a smell of happiness and pride wafted out from her. “Yes, why not. It would be nice for them to… learn from each other.”

“Yay! I don’t mind! I like going out!” Sonata clapped from her seat happily.

“Not like we have anything else to do.” Aria leaned back as she chewed on her meal.

“Yeah, you girls should come.” Home Run nodded in agreement. “It would be good for you to bond with the Rainbooms. We can start anew. Be friends.”

“Well, let’s not get ahead of ourselves…” Adagio said slowly. “I’m sure Moonglade just wants us along because someone needs to supervise her when she goes outside.”

“I’m okay on my own.” Moonglade pushed her glasses up her nose. “I just thought… It would be nice to have you girls there, you know, since it won’t just be Home Run and I.”

“How nice of you, sweetie.” Ivory Wings shot her a quick thumbs up. “To include the sirens in your plans.”

After that, Moonglade’s mother quizzed Home Run a little bit about his family, to at least know his background. The spaghetti was also soon finished and they were ready for dessert.

The young changeling watched the doors anxiously as her mother called for dessert to be served. She was really hoping she wouldn’t see any fruitcake come out the door. She hoped Home Run had made a good enough impression on her to at least survive today.

“I think we will retire to the adjacent lounge room for dessert,” Ebony Wings said as Silver Platter bent down to whisper in the actress’s ear.

Moonglade heard him ask which dessert her mother would like served and gulped. Please don’t be fruitcake. Please don’t be fruitcake. Please don’t be fruitcake.

The sirens were the first to get up, leaving the dining room quickly, especially Sonata, who was very excited to have dessert. Moonglade got up and walked over to the entryway, waiting for Home Run to join her. She figured she still needed to act like she was his girlfriend, so she reached a hand out and waited for him to take it. She blushed when his fingers closed around hers, but together, they headed over to the lounge room, where the sirens had already situated themselves at the long couch.

“You know, you’re really very pretty today, Moonglade.” Home Run gave her hand a squeeze. “That tiara really brings out the color in your eyes.”

“O-Oh, it d-does, huh?” Moonglade’s cheeks lit up more.

Ebony and Ivory followed behind, with the actress carrying over her glass of wine, along with a bottle.

“Do make yourself at home, Home Run.” Ivory gave him a pat on the shoulder, then moved to sit at a single couch beside the sirens. “Dessert will arrive shortly.”

Home Run and Moonglade sat down on a squashy cream couch, which was pushed up against the wall. Home Run’s eyes wandered around the room, looking at the pair of crossed swords behind the sirens’ couch, then to the trio of matchlock pistols that adorned the west wall, then to the battleaxe above the fireplace. Moonglade watched him with a smile on her face, knowing exactly how amazed he was with all their decorations in the house.

“There’re a lot of weapons in here,” Home Run commented.

“There are over a hundred and fifty on display in the manor,” Ivory Wings said airily. “With even more in storage.”

“And I collected them all myself.” Ebony swiped a finger down one sword on display over a fireplace. “You could say that I’ve got an eye for such things.”

“Are they all real?” Home Run asked.

“Of course they’re all real,” Ebony Wings replied. She nodded to Silver Platter, who came in with a covered trolley. “Would I pay top dollar for a mere replica?” When there was no answer, Ebony answered it herself. “No, no I wouldn’t.”

“You got most of them for free anyway,” Ivory commented.

“She did.” Moonglade nodded to her boyfriend. “They’ve been in the family for generations.”

“Yes, yes they have,” Ebony said smugly. “Oh, look! Parfaits.”

And indeed, Silver Platter had uncovered the trolley, where a collection of various parfaits rested. Moonglade let out a sigh of relief when she noticed it wasn’t the fruitcake. She gladly accepted one before handing another to Home Run.

“Man, you really have the best food in the city, Mrs. Wings,” Home Run said through a mouthful of parfait.

Ebony Wings nodded graciously and gave Ivory Wings a look. “Tell you what. Ivory and I will let you enjoy dessert in peace. Just you kids.” Aria scowled at Ebony at being called a ‘kid’, but covered it up with a spoonful of her dessert. “We’ll be back in a bit. Have fun.”

And with that, Ivory and Ebony rose from their seats, taking their parfaits with them and departed toward the dining room. Moonglade watched them leave. That was odd. Her mother would never do something like that, unless they had something to attend to. She pictured her aunt and mother doing questionable things in the bedroom and shivered slightly. She hoped it wasn’t that.

The doors swung shut with a click.

“Sooo… Home Run…” Moonglade took one of his hands, trying to take her mind off anything her mother and aunt would be doing. “What do you think? Of my mother, I mean.”

The boy put his spoon back into his parfait. “She seems nice. You think she likes me?”

“She certainly doesn’t hate you,” Adagio supplied. “At least, not enough to do anything about it.”

“Uh… that’s good. Right?”

“I guess so,” Aria drawled, licking her spoon. “Not many people can say they’ve had dinner with Ebony Wings and survived to talk about it.”

There was a pause as Home Run processed this.

“That’s a joke,” Aria finished.

Home Run blinked a few times. Moonglade was the first to laugh, hoping to remove the tension in the room, though she did it quite awkwardly. Thankfully, Home Run joined in as well.

“Right, right.” He nodded. “So, girls, I hear like, there are people helping you. I mean, with your gems and stuff?”

“Where did you hear that?” Adagio raised an eyebrow at the boy.

“Oh, from Sunset,” Home Run answered. “She says there are people trying to get your gems to fix them.”

Home Run looked expectantly at the three siren sisters. All three of them were stony-faced, even Sonata’s usual exuberance seemed to have been withdrawn.

Moonglade blinked a few times, then coughed and shifted her right leg over her left. “You’re… not going to try to stop them. Right?”

“Well…” Home Run scratched the back of his head. “Everyone deserves another chance. I mean, I heard what happened. About the Battle of the Bands? You three tried to take over the world and stuff?”

“Well, we’re past that, dear.” Adagio waved a hand at him. “No more world-domination plans for us. We just want our singing back.”

“Yeah, have you heard them sing?” Moonglade leaned in and whispered to him.

“A little, yes.”

“Yeah, I’d like them to be able to sing again.” She smiled nicely at him. “Don’t you?”

“Yeah, I guess. Moonglade, if you don’t mind me asking, uh… why’d your family take them in? Um, no offense, girls.”

“That was all mother’s decision,” Moonglade shrugged. “I meant to ask her some time, but it keeps slipping my mind.”

“Well, Ebony Wings is a really nice person.” Aria puffed out as she slid her back down the couch. “We were jobless and kind of in need of money, so she helped us out.”

“Yes, that’s true.” Adagio combed a hand through her hair and nodded. “We live to sing. Without our powers, what good are we?”

“Yeah, we can’t get people to do what we want anymore,” Sonata commented. “It’s so nice of Ebony Wings to help us out. I mean, we have known each other for a long time though.”

Adagio and Aria stiffened at this statement, and both of them glared at the blue siren.

“I-It’s been months since they came to live with us.” Moonglade quickly took Home Run’s arm and leaned her head against it. “Th-that’s what she means.”

“Yeah, okay. That’s what I thought she was saying.” Home Run gave her head a gentle pat.

Moonglade relaxed internally. That was a close one. They really needed to fix those gems. Fast. At least Home Run didn’t seem opposed to the idea.

The boy finished his parfait and put the glass down on the table, licking at his lips. “Man, this was really good. I’m really glad you invited me over, Moonglade.”

“It was my mother’s idea, really,” Moonglade said. “Between you and me, I think she wanted to, like, measure your worth or something.”

“I hope I made a good first impression?” He grinned.

“I’ll have to ask her later,” Moonglade said. “But she didn’t serve the fruitcake, so I guess you’re doing okay?”

“Wait, fruitcake?” Home Run was confused. “What’s that got to do with me?”

“Oh, uhh… it’s uh, not important.” Moonglade shook her head vigorously. “D-Don’t worry about it.”

There was more talk amongst them as they finished up their parfaits, with the sirens soon leaving the lounge room to leave Moonglade some time alone with Home Run. Adagio flashed the young changeling a mischievous grin and a wink before leaving, which didn’t help at all.

Now alone with the boy she loved, Moonglade’s cheeks reddened again and her mind raced to find something to do, besides reminding her that she couldn’t show she was in love with him. It was really difficult to do. All she wanted to do was to throw herself on him right now and express her feelings, but as a changeling and servant of the queen, that was the worst thing she could do right now.

“So, Moonglade. Would you say that I’ve made a good impression?”

Moonglade shuffled closer to him. “Well, you’ve been respectful to mother, and she doesn’t seem to be unhappy about you, so there’s that…” She fixed her gaze on a painting of a Renaissance alchemist, hanging next to the battleaxe on the wall. She was wearing heavily perforated leather robes and had a plague doctor’s mask in her left hand while her right cradled a flask of red liquid. Three other paintings of this same alchemist hung on the remaining three walls, each one showing the same dark-haired woman.

Home Run noticed her gaze and stared at the painting as well.

“You know, I always thought that it was just a myth that rich people had loads of paintings and weapons hanging up around the house,” Home Run remarked. “Guess I was wrong.”

“They’re, uh, passed down through the family,” Moonglade mumbled. “Collected over the ages.”

“They’re nice though.” Home Run wrapped one arm around the changeling. Moonglade stiffened for a second, but allowed herself to lean in against him. “You’ve really got quite the home here, Moonglade. Big.”

“Oh. Thanks. Sometimes it’s a little too big for my tastes. A lot of the rooms I don’t even use.”

“Yeah. Well, I had a good time today, Moonglade. It was nice to finally have a proper meeting with your family.” Home Run hugged her close. “So maybe our next date can be a meeting with my parents?”

“Y-Yeah, that would be nice…” Moonglade grinned and leaned her head on his shoulder. “Thanks, you kn-know, Home Run. I mean… for coming today…”

Moonglade felt a swell of love coming out of her and she fought to keep it down. No! You can’t show yourself! It’s pretend, remember? Stop.

“C-Come on. It’s late. You-you shouldn’t go home so late.” Moonglade tilted her head up and looked at him. “I wish we could… Y-Yeah. But a day is only so long, huh?”

The longer she sat alone with him, the more her emotions were driving her to show her love for him. It was making her crazy. She needed to get him out before she would do something that would warrant another beating from her mother.

I’m sorry, Home Run. I can’t love you. Not like this anyway…

Moonglade held on to the hope, that perhaps, one day her mother would be able to change her mind. It was basically a zero percent that would happen, but it was a nice thought to have her relent.

Before long, she was walking him to the front door, hand in hand, still wishing things could be different. But she knew the painful truth. Home Run was prey and she was a hunter. All he had to be to her, all he was supposed to be to her, was food.

“Thanks again, for having me tonight.” The boy turned to her at the front door.

Moonglade inhaled a full scent of love coming from him and sighed, both with content and with disappointment. “Yeah. So I’ll see you around, hmm? During this break.”

“Yes you will.” Home Run leaned in and planted a soft kiss on her lips. Moonglade decided to return it, remembering just how nice kisses were. “I love you, Moonglade.”

This part of the goodbye froze her. She wanted to say she loved him, but she knew she couldn’t. Sure, she could always just lie and say she loved him, but it was hard. She did love him, not as Moonglade, but as Princess Chrysidea, and that was the worrisome part. If she replied that she loved him too, who would be the one saying it?

With all her might, Moonglade snapped her eyes shut and wrapped her arms around Home Run. “I-I… love you… t-too… Home Run.”

With one final kiss, Home Run left, getting on his bike and proceeding away from the house. Away from her.

She watched him cycle down the hill to the gates, unable to see clearly with the tears welling in her eyes.