Ocellus had set out right after her classes for the day had finished, as she was in need of new quills. A few of her friends had wanted to get some rest for the hike in the morning so had not tagged along. Silverstream and Sandbar had said they would meet her in the market after they got a few things for tomorrow, leaving her to head to Quills and Sofas alone.

The streets of Ponyville were always bustling with ponies going about their daily lives. At times Ocellus felt like she was back at the hive, with all the faces and chatter. Other times she felt out of place, like when the town was preparing for a holiday. The lights, colors, and sense of merriment and unity made her feel a calming peace in those times of the year.

Most of the buildings of the town were simple, made of wood cut from the Everfree and stone. A few had been passed down from the original settlers, while others had no doubt been sold to ponies who had moved to the small town. A few wealthier ponies had torn down or replaced the humble stone and wood houses for more elegant ones. The buildings in the town square were close together and reminded Ocellus of the forums of her hive.

Most of the ponies of the town paid her little mind as she strolled the streets, though there were a few that still looked upon her with mistrust and hate. It could not be helped as the wounds that her hive had inflicted on Equestria would take countless years to heal. All she could hope for was for the ponies of Equestria to one day see past all the wrong her race had done and to no longer fear them.

Ahead was her reason for coming into town today, Quills and Sofas. Her supply of quills was nearly depleted. With the shop was an assortment of sofas, some with elegant curving and silk cushions. Part of her wondered how soft they were. The other side of the shop had quills made of phoenix, eagle, and countless other feathers. Some had colors so vibrant they seemed to glow. Ocellus made her way down the rolls of quills picking out the ones that caught her eye.

There were a few others in the shop besides her. One stallion seemed to watch Ocellus closely, while the other didn’t seem to take note of her. The stallion had a short-cut mane and tail, and he wore a small silver pin of owl. The changeling could feel the weight of his gaze and sense the hate. Not wanting to stay longer than she had to, Ocellus headed for the counter, paid for the quills, and left. Ocellus did her best not to think of the stallion in the shop as she walked.

The market was filled with ponies buying and trading goods. Her friends were near a stall that sold odds and ends from all around the world. Some of the items were from exotic places like Saddle Arabia or the Moonlit Isles. A few bits of pottery and an old helmet she recognized as being made by changelings. Near the back of stall was a tapestry that was woven of fine silks of bright vibrant colors and showed a tall, proud tree. If Ocellus recalled the tree was one of the steel woods from Aquinas.

“Hey guys,” Ocellus said once she was next to her friends.

Silverstream and Sandbar both greeted her.

“So, you get the things you needed?” Silverstream asked.

Ocellus nodded. “So what are you looking at?”

“Nothing in particular, we were just looking around till you got here,” Sandbar said, tilting his head and looking at a painting. It was of a castle upon a high mountain, with a few ponies working a field as armored ponies with wings on their armor marched by. Each one of the knights were painstakingly painted by a pony who clearly revered them.

Ocellus started at it for a few moments until she recalled her study session with Caecus. Oh, it’s a painting of Dawn’s Reach Tor, and that must be what the famed knights of the region look like, the changeling thought.

“Well, I could go for some hayburgers before we head back to the school,” Silverstream said.

As they made their way toward the restaurant Ocellus had a feeling of being watched, however each time she glanced around she spotted nothing. A few times Sandbar had asked what was wrong, to which she would simply say, “It’s nothing, just seeing if I can spot anypony from the school.”

After they had reached and ordered they found a place to talk. Ocellus had been the one to ask, “So how are your projects coming along?”

“Oh, Griffons are so interesting. Well not the part of being greedy, but in the ways they are like us hippogriffs,” Silverstream said as they waited for their food.

“Mine is coming along fine as well, how about yours?” Sandbar asked Ocellus.

Ocellus thought of the mountain of notes and things she had learned so far. “I think I’ll be done sometime next week. Really, it’s not that hard when your study partner is from there.” The changeling smiled.

“Hm, so you’re studying with Prince Caecus?” Silverstream asked with an interested, nearly playful look on her face.

“Yes. Oh, and I hope you don’t mind, but I asked him if he wanted to join us on our hike tomorrow.” Ocellus took note of how Silverstream seemed to grin as she spoke.

“So, you like Caecus?” Silverstream asked.

“Um, yes, he’s really nice once you get to know him,” Ocellus said, tilting her head a bit, finding the question odd, as if she didn’t, why would she invite him on the hike?

Silverstream shook her head a bit. “I mean, do you really like him?”

Ocellus stared blankly at her friend until it dawned on her, turning her face a shade of red.

“Oh… I… Well…” She wasn’t sure if she didn’t like Caecus in that way. After all, he did have a lot of traits a changeling looked for in a mate: he was no doubt trained as a warrior and carried himself as one. He was strong and if the tales of his family magic was true was also not weak when it came to the arcane, though she had yet to see any cunning from him. However, as she thought the realization come to her: those are traits she would have looked for under Queen Chrysalis. “I don’t know…”

Before Silverstream could reply their meals arrived. The hippogriff and Sandbar seemed to simply enjoy their meals, while Ocellus just stared at the hayburger. Do I like Caecus, and if I do how do I show I’m interested. Even if he was a changeling I wouldn’t know what to do… the changeling thought taking a bite of her meal. Ocellus glanced at Silverstream. Surely her friend could aid her? “Um, if I did like Caecus what… what do I do…. I mean, how do I show an interest?”

Sandbar simply listened while he ate.

Silverstream tapped a talon on the table as she thought. “Well, that is a tough question. I could tell you hippogriff courtship… but I doubt there would be much overlap with Aquinas’. Even Equestria’s is different, so this may be a better question for Professor Rarity.” The hippogriff smiled.

Ocellus glanced at her hooves before looking toward her friends. “Okay, I’ll ask her for advice next week. For now, do you mind if we talk about something else?” the changeling asked, wanting to change the subject away from her.

“Well, Nightmare Night is in a few weeks. Any idea what you're going as?” Silverstream asked.

A happy new year to one and all.