“Is this not a bit excessive, my friend?” Zarathon asked.

Mute grunted as he wrapped yet another chain around the base of the shrine and anchored it to a metal ring on the floor. The chain was the last of five and as the changeling finally attached it to the floor he collapsed and panted for air. Zarathon watched him from the living room table, his flames bent forward as if observing the changeling intensely.

“While it looks very impressive I’m not certain that would stop another dragon from stealing it.”

Mute got up and inspected the shrine. It had taken several days to have the shrine returned to the Grand Palace. It had apparently fallen into some hidden chamber and it had taken the pegasi workers a long time to find it. Though considering the looks they had given him Mute was almost certain it had more to do with their dislike for him and Zarathon than a supposed hidden chamber. And the damage to the shrine made Mute grind his fangs in anger.

The fine oak base of the shrine had some scratches from its adventure with Spike and the bulbous spirit house on top of it had lost some of its green colors. The spire-riddled roof and wicker doors of the spirit house had also suffered a bit of damage. A few of the spires had been torn off and one of the wicker doors had a hole through it. Likey that was where Spike’s claw had pierced it. Mute eyed the damages with a sigh and ran a hoof along the damaged wicker door. For a second he felt a familiar scent and warmth envelop him and a soft smile graced his lips. The changeling made sure the chains were truly secure and then took a step back from the shrine. It had lost much of its glory, but none of its warmth.

Of course, the shrine was not the only thing damaged by Spike’s rampage. A great tarp covered the roof of the Grand Palace to keep out rain and workers toiled upstairs to fix the upper floors. Mute could look up and see most of the upper floor through a hole in the ceiling. He spotted a mare clad in a construction vest who walked up to her colleagues. The workers discussed how to get the roof fixed before the snow came.

From their tone, Mute imagined he and Zarathon would be without a roof for a while…

Zarathon hummed and observed the shrine, ignoring the conversations upstairs. “We can hire one of the carpenters to fix it. The ponies that are repairing the Grand Palace might be able to help once they are done with the roof and upper floors. That would mean it would remain damaged for a while. However, I don’t want you to see that as a failure on your part. You have not insulted Lamp—”

Mute threw the pebble such a spiteful glare that he didn’t finish saying the name. The changeling then turned back to the shrine and opened it. Inside he saw the silver spider necklace (thankfully Spike had not torn it from the shrine) as well as a green gemstone and a few wooden trinkets he had carved himself. Mute picked up the gemstone and pressed it against his brow. It was warm to the touch and pulsed with life. The changeling held it there for a minute and grunted, his best attempt at prayer, and then placed it back in the spirit house. He then went about the room, opened a cupboard, and gathered three red candles, a bowl, and incense sticks. He grabbed Zarathon along the way before he deposited the objects in the spirit house. He placed the three candles behind the silver necklace and held out Zarathon who lit them. Then the changeling went to fetch water from a rain barrel outside and he filled the bowl with it. The bowl was too placed in the spirit house and the incense sticks were placed on top of it. Zarathon lit the sticks as well and a soft rosemary and thyme scent spread over the room.

“It has been three years, Mute.”

The changeling ignored him.

“You must be able to say her name.”

Mute gave the pebble an unamused look.

“You know what I mean. Would she have wanted you to keep her name from the shrine? Will you avoid it until the Cinder grows cold?”

Mute grabbed his notebook with a scowl. He wrote quickly and with force, almost piercing the paper. ‘I am not worthy of saying her name. And her name is already inscribed in the large shrine in the central spire. The changelings won’t forget her name.’

“I am not speaking of the changeling race, I am talking about you! You will forget the light she brought you if you keep her name locked away! No even worse, her memory will become corrupted. How are you to grieve properly if you keep avoiding it?”

Mute shook his head and scoffed. ‘Wasn't it you who told me to reign in fickle emotions for the good of the realm?’

"I did, but you can not control those emotions if you do not even acknowledge them. You must allow yourself to grieve. As a Lord of Cinder, you must be grounded and balanced. You wield a power of the ancient world and you must be focused and stalwart to use it properly. You can not allow this imbalance to continue if you wish to be a Lord of Cinder."

Mute growled and wrote quickly. 'You wish to lecture me about grieving? Have you said your wife's name since you returned? Your daughter's name? Have you ever asked anyone about them? Or do you fear the answer so much you hide from it? So who of us is really imbalanced, Lord Zarathon?'

"Careful, Mute. You're treading on thin ice..." Zarathon said darkly.

'Then tell me their names. I told you her name after all. So talk about your wife and daughter. Or will you grow quiet and deflect like you always do? Will you pretend it never happened and then scold me about grief whenever I pray?'

Zarathon grew quiet at that.

‘Thought so,’ Mute wrote and threw the book to the living room couch.

The moment was interrupted as Admantine Will walked downstairs. The mare was dressed in a blue military jacket with golden emblems of the sun and her noble House on it. She also had a purple silk band tied around her chest. Quite formal for what Mute assumed was a normal day. The fact that the Duchess even had access to those clothes annoyed him. Adamantine had been lucky unlike him and Zarathon since her (in reality Zarathon’s) room had been left mostly intact after Spike rummaged around the Grand Palace. The changeling threw the mare a cold look before he prayed again.

Adamantine eyed the shrine for a second before her eyes settled on Mute. “I will need the house for the day. I must speak with some visitors from Canterlot and the living room is the only place we got left that isn’t trashed.”

Zarathon huffed. “Get your own Palace. Or better yet do it in the library or barracks! Do it anywhere but here!”

“I’m afraid I’m not asking. I suggest you and your friend here find something else to do while I discuss some things with my guests.”

Mute rolled his eyes at the mare and placed Zarathon behind his head. The changeling packed his notebook into his saddlebag and threw it over his back. He gave the Duchess a sour look and then he headed to the front door.

“You can’t just obey her, Mute! This is our home!” Zarathon exclaimed.

“For now,” Adamantine scoffed as Mute left the building.

The changeling would stretch as he walked out into the sunlit day and he observed the trees around them. Zecora might be home, but Mute would rather not interrupt her potion-making. The last time he (or rather Zarathon) had disturbed the zebra he’d felt a cold chill throughout his body for a week. So he thought of someplace else he could go. Slowly he remembered his conversation with Zarathon after Spike’s rampage had been halted, about how they needed to be more proactive regarding the element bearers. So the changeling walked into the woods.

“Do you have a destination in mind?” Zarathon asked.

Mute nodded and pushed through the branches and leaves of the Everfree.

Fluttershy’s cottage reminded Mute about the hollowed-out boulders and rocks the changelings used to hide from storms in the Prowl. All sorts of animals ran around the area and one, in particular, stood guard at the small bridge that had been erected over the stream next to the cottage. A small white rabbit stood there with a stick held like a spear and a deadly glare. Mute found it amusing at first until the rabbit poked his leg and the changeling backed up with a hiss.

“Move aside, rabbit! I have long conversed with your cousins of the south and I hold much influence in those circles! We wish to speak with Miss Fluttershy! A neighbor can not be ignored!” Zarathon said.

The rabbit continued to glare.

“...Very well. Mute, eat it.”

The changeling opened his mouth to reveal his sharp fangs and cut-off tongue. He gave the rabbit a grim smile and licked his lips. The rabbit shook and then set off running towards the cottage. The little white animal forced its way through a small crack in the front door which promptly shut behind him.

“Ha! Works every time!” Zarathon said.

Mute lost his gleeful and sadistic smile and returned to his neutral stare as he crossed the stream and walked up to the cottage. The changeling knocked on the door and waited. No one came to open the wooden door. Mute tilted his head and knocked on the door again, this time hearing shuffling from inside the cottage.

“Who— Who is it?” asked a timid voice.

“It is I, Zarathon! And my compatriot Mute is of course also here. We have come to strengthen our bonds with Ponyville’s animal keeper!”

Mute shrugged at that. It was one way to put it. Telling the mare ‘we wish to befriend you to avoid being destroyed by your great magical power’ certainly did sound worse.

“I— I think our bond is close enough!” Fluttershy said through the door. “And you just threatened to eat Angel! I won't let you hurt any of my friends!”

Mute cringed at that. Maybe their perfect approach had not been as perfect as they first thought.

Zarathon awkwardly cleared his throat. Well, he did not have a throat, but still. “I apologize for scaring your rabbit! I promise Mute only eats the finest quality love in the land, not meat. None of us do!”

The changeling snorted at that. Siphoning from half-baked niceties did not count as a proper meal. And quirans did eat meat, though Zarathon was hardly quiran and Fluttershy did not need to know that.

A small crack opened in the door. “You promise?...”

“Yes! We only wish to get to know our neighbor a bit better! Additionally, I can offer counsel to you. The shade attack must have been harrowing, but I can give you some assurances of peace in the future. Could we please come in, Miss Fluttershy?”

The door slowly opened and the yellow pegasus mare came in full view. She hid her eyes behind her pink mane but she backed into her home to allow them entry. Mute walked straight to the mare’s living room and deposited Zarathon on the table. He then waited for the mare to join them, but she kept herself in the hallway. For a second she looked at him and then looked away again.

“Mute will not hurt you, child,” Zarathon said reassuringly.

“But he is so… So…”

The pebble flames took on a deep red color, when he spoke there was thinly veiled anger in his voice. “He is not frightening. He is not repulsive or disgusting.”

Fluttershy looked shocked and she vigorously shook her head. “I wasn't going to say such horrible things! He is just so injured… I feel so bad for him! He should be in the hospital, Zarathon!”

For a moment Mute felt confused. The pony wasn’t afraid of him because of his fangs or build, but she felt… sympathy? She felt so bad for him that she barely dared to look. She wanted him in a hospital even! Mute wondered if his scars were truly that horrid to gaze upon. Perhaps they did look bad. Mute backed away until he almost stood in the kitchen. Only then did Fluttershy slowly approach Zarathon. Though the pegasus' kind eyes often strayed to the changeling.

The pebble was quiet until she stood before him. “I thank you for your kind heart, Fluttershy. I am sorry for assuming your intentions. He is indeed injured, and so far no amount of time or magic heal those wounds.”

The mare looked horrified. “Oh, I am sorry… I have some remedies that might—”

“We have tried Zecora’s potions. We have visited pony doctors. We even met with other changelings and asked them, and they had no answers for us.”

The mare nodded sadly. “I’m sorry.”

Mute closed his eyes and sighed.

“Don’t be, I am not one to lose hope. If all else fails there is a way...”

Mute’s eyes shot up at that and he stared in shock at the pebble.

Fluttershy looked relieved and she straightened her back a bit. “Oh that’s wonderful!—”

“But it is not something that can be done lightly. Nor at this time… I feel awful for knowing it, but it can not be implemented. Not yet at least. It must be done at the right time, and I will know when that time has come.”

Mute shook his head in disappointment and looked away. Zarathon’s flames flickered in his direction before they turned back to Fluttershy.

“Let us discuss the matter at hand, Miss Fluttershy. I have the ability, with Mute’s help, to set up wards that keep away lesser shades. I have set up many near the Everfree’s edge, but there is a chance of failure in every ward. Not to speak of elder shades that can cross them without any discomfort.”

Fluttershy shuddered at the mention of the elder shades. “It spoke with me when it took me... It said such—”

“Don’t. If you have thought about it in recent days then you will stop today. They poison your mind with lies and turn your own thoughts against you. You and Rainbow Dash showed great initiative during young Spike’s hoarding. Look at that as a beacon of light, as an anchor point for who you really are. The elder shade is dead and it holds no control over you anymore. And to prevent any such thing from happening again I will place wards around your home and land so that no shades may attack you. I will also help with your nightmares,” Zarathon said.

"How did you know I have had—"

Zarathon's flames streamed out around the pony's head for a second. Mute had not noticed at first but a gloomy darkness that lay over the room seemed to vanish. At first, Fluttershy was startled and jumped back only to look around with wide eyes. When the pony spoke she was near tears. "It is so quiet now..."

"You would have been freed from the fog eventually, but I deemed it cruel to make you wait longer than you already had. Mute and I have been very busy, but we have time to help others now. You are likely not the only one that suffers from nightmares, even if your case was probably the worst. I will offer anyone that wants it a way to clear away the fog quicker than it would naturally disappear on its own."

Fluttershy gave him a slight nod and then she smiled at both pebble and the changeling. “Thank you for being so kind. If you can help the others as well... Oh, poor Rainbow has complained about her nightmares. But I should let you make your wards first. I will make some tea for you while you work.”

“That would be appreciated,” Zarathon said.

Mute was certain if Zarathon could have he would have given the mare a kind smile.

The wards applied around Fluttershy’s cottage were… intense. There was no other way Mute could describe them. As he drew the runes and leylines into the dirt they glowed red and he was careful where he placed his hooves. The wards reminded him of the one he had made to purge the elder shade, though they were not as powerful and unlike that ward, they would not drain Zarathon of all energy for a day. But they were certainly more convoluted than a simplistic ward to keep away lesser shades.

“She is brave that one…” Zarathon mused from behind Mute’s horn.

Mute grunted in confusion at the pebble and finished yet another ward.

“You can’t see it because your connection to the Ember is weak, but I can. Her head was still clouded by the shade’s fog. It wasn't severe like in some cases—I should tell you about my mother’s experience with it at some point—but seeing as Miss Fluttershy’s disposition is quiet and withdrawn I can only imagine the nightmares… She is lucky she holds an element of Harmony. Well, I suppose lucky is not the right word. To say her resilience is down to only luck would be a disservice to her character. It would be fairer to say that her strong heart aids her in many ways,” Zarathon said.

Mute looked up in surprise at the pebble’s words and he couldn’t help but shake his head and smile. The shy pegasus that had fainted at first sight of them when they first came to town supposedly had a strong heart. Mute thought that perhaps Zarathon was softer than what his pebble exterior hinted at.

“What? I never claimed ponies couldn’t impress me! I am not that egocentric, my friend! But she is an odd outlier among her kind! I would never be impressed by the likes of Duchess Will!”

Mute scoffed at the mention of the unicorn mare and began to draw the last ward, completing a circle of them around the cottage.

“Are you mad at me, Mute? I did not tell you I can heal you. I have good reasons for keeping it from you, but I kept it from you all the same…”

Mute stopped his labor and dropped the branch he’d been using to draw the wards. He eventually shrugged at the pebble’s words.

“You’re allowed to be mad at me, Mute.”

The changeling pulled out his notebook and flipped to an empty page. ‘It is not my place to judge you, Zarathon.’

“You are one of the few that absolutely should. You are a lord of Cinder and that means you need to look at the lord that came before you and see all his virtue and all of his faults. You should judge me because you need to,” the pebble said.

‘You are not dead yet.’

“Ha! That is true enough. You are lucky to have me to guide you, but most lords of Cinder have not had the same luxury, I among them. Our role is a dangerous one and too many lords have lost their lives to the darkness. That is why you must be able to analyze and judge my actions."

Mute hesitated for a second before he wrote in the book again. ‘Why did you not tell me earlier?”

“Because it is not simple. Because you’re were not ready. Because you’re still not ready. If I can find no other way to heal you then I will use it, but only when I am certain you’re ready.”

‘I am ready,’ Mute wrote down and muttered.

“I wish you were, but not yet. I will know when you are, do not worry. You will be able to cast magic again. I promised I would heal you and I will keep that promise. You are close enough now that I do not worry about hiding the existence of a solution from you. But you need just a bit more time, and if there is another way we should take it.”

Mute felt an ill sense of foreboding at Zarathon’s words. ‘You make it seem like the final option we got if all else fails.’

“Because it is. Once we do it… I just hope it won’t become necessary. It would not be pleasant for you.”

Mute nodded and put away his book.

Just at that moment Flutteryshy looked out from the cottage door and eyed the smoldering symbols. “Oh my… I hope it won’t hurt any of my friends.”

“Do not worry! They will fade into the ground in a few minutes and lay dormant until needed! No animal or pony shall suffer injury because of them,” Zarathon responded.

“Oh thank goodness! Well would you like to have your tea now?” she asked with a small smile.

Mute found it reassuring she already seemed more at ease with them and he gave her a courteous nod. Tea was one pony invention he liked. Coffee tasted bitter like sorrow or guilt but tea tasted like happiness or gratitude. However, coffee was more efficient at waking him in the morning.

“Gladly! Mute would you kindly take me inside?” Zarathon asked.

The changeling walked into the cottage and found a tea set had been placed on the living room table. He sat down and placed Zarathon next to one of the cups. Fluttershy joined them and sipped on her tea. Mute smelled his tea before drinking it. Sweet and wild. Berries from the woods perhaps? Well, it did not matter to Mute what had been used in the tea, it tasted fine.

“So, Miss Fluttershy, would you mind telling us a bit about yourself? We know very little of our newfound allies and it seems rude to me we have not taken an interest in you before. For that, we apologize.”

Mute just nodded at the pebble’s words and sipped his tea. He would rather not handle this conversation. He could tell the ponies grew annoyed with his writing from time to time.

Fluttershy seemed to ease into her chair. “Well… I care for the animals in Ponyville. I count how many there are, make sure they are fed, and treat them if they’re hurt. I’m not a veterinarian though! I just know a bit…”

“Well, that is respectable! Though I will never understand the pony way of subjugating nature. The Everfree is the only part left of the old kingdom that seems normal to me. Or at least as normal as it can be with the amount of magic and curses it holds,” Zarathon mused.

“Well… I am not sure I would call the Everfree normal… But what do you mean by old kingdom, sir?” the pegasus mare asked.

“Call me Zarathon. I speak of my ancestors' kingdom, the land that belonged to the Quirani race. From their birthplace in the southwestern mountains to the Everfree my ancestors ruled it all. Of course, that is no longer the case now. As far as I am aware there is no part of the old kingdom still ruled by quirans, except our mountains. Though I have not seen them yet…”

Fluttershy leaned forward, interested in the pebble’s words. “Are your people talking rocks?”

Mute snorted tea out his nose and looked away to laugh.

Zarathon just sounded amused. “No, we are not rocks. We stand on two legs, have two arms with clawed hands, and hold heads with great horns. Though our skin did appear akin to stone and some nicknamed our race ‘copper horns’ in later years when we spread out from our mountain prison. Though the fact they focused on our horns and not our golden eyes always did offend me.”

The pony nodded. “But then why are you a stone?”

“I am all that remains of my true form. I lack the strength to retake my true and glorious shape, but Mute has promised me to find a solution. And in return, I promised to heal him.”

Mute nodded at those words. They would both find a way to heal. Neither of them would have to rely on the other to survive and both would be able to fully harness the Ember’s true power.

“That is a very nice thing to promise, Zarathon,” Fluttershy smiled.

“Of course! I am a generous lord of Cinder! I am not one to break my word nor am I one to fail. Though Mute and I would first need to meet with my people. It's just that the journey would take time and be very treacherous. The land is untamed with no railway leading there. Some say bandits even lurk in the area!”

“Oh, how horrible!”

“It is isn’t it? My people’s descendants must be quite lazy if they only stick to the mountains. We used to have dreams of spreading the Ember’s light to every corner of the world. Without the Ember, they must have decided cave fishing and mushrooms were far more interesting.”

Mute snorted in amusement at that and Fluttershy couldn’t help but giggle.

“But I want to hear more about you, dear Fluttershy! Where are you from? How did you come to live in Ponyville? Do you have any family here? I wish to know my neighbor!”

“Well I am not from Ponyville. I am from Cloudsdale and so is my family, though they stayed in Cloudsdale, even if not all of them should…” Fluttershy muttered.

Mute was surprised at the sour tone from the pony and Zarathon’s flames flickered forward in interest. “Family troubles?”

“You could say that. But it is not something I wish to talk about,” Fluttershy said.

“Ah, well we are willing to help if that trouble comes here. The quirans value community and kin, so I offer our friendship to you. Should you ever need it we have resources: coins and strength. Though the coin is certainly lighter after Spike’s rampage…”

The mare gave Zarathon a small smile. “I’d like that. Though Rainbow told me to stay away from you two... But you’re nothing like what she told me! And you’re much more polite now than during the party.”

Zarathon’s flames grew smaller and Mute felt embarrassment roll off the pebble. The changeling eyed his friend in surprise. Had the great Zarathon regretted his conduct at the party? The world must be coming to an end.

“I was quite determined to regain my lost land. I still am. But I realize now that I must have scared you. It was not my intention to be rude, but I fear for all of your safety. I fear for the safety of the woods. That was why I was so forceful. I can not regain what I lost, so I will have to attempt something new instead in the framework given to me,” Zarathon said.

Mute made an inaudible ‘ah’ at Zarathon. That was yet another reason why the pebble had chosen Mute over himself to be ennobled. That would be worth it in the end. If Mute was ennobled that was.

“Well don’t threaten my friends again, is that understood mister? And you better release that poor rat from the magic collar you made!” the mare said.

Mute rolled his eyes.

“What? We have already discussed this! Henry the third is perfectly happy as he is! He gets exercise from driving me around and he is given fine cheese every day! Not only that he is allowed to sleep inside on a soft little bed! He has it much better than all other rats in the Everfree.”

Fluttershy puffed up her chest. “That doesn’t mean it is okay for you to steal his mind, mister! Twilight told me all about the collars that you used in the past! You did some really bad things with them!”

“Steal?... I… How about this, miss Fluttershy? I will give Henry two more hours without the collar and even better food. I will also ensure that the collar does not function as the past ones. Suggestions and rewards, not commands. His mind would be his own. How does that sound?”

The mare eyed Zarathon for a minute and then nodded. “Alright… But you better keep your promise. Rainbow Dash said you put those collars on some birds in the Everfree, I want them removed as well.”

Mute’s eyes widened. They knew about the surveillance pigeons! Damn it all!

“And remove your collars from those poor moles! I spoke to a few of them the other day and they find them very uncomfortable!”

Fluttershy had even found out about operation Underminer? Mute wondered if a curse had been placed upon him and Zarathon. Or maybe the land that the Grand Palace stood on was haunted?

But the pegasus wasn’t done. “And I want you to remove them from those poor timberwolves! They’re very aggressive but they don’t deserve that.”

Mute just stared straight forward at the pony but his eyes were glassy, like his mind’s eye was elsewhere. It had likely been dragged to a realm of immense pain considering how many hours it had taken to catch and collar the timberwolves.

Zarathon smoldered for a few seconds. The pebble muttered and cursed under his breath before he sighed heavily in acceptance. “Fine. But when a shade sneaks up on our home I will blame you! Not that they get past the wards… Fine, fine. I will leave all the animals in the forest alone. Do you now accept our bond of friendship?”

The pegasus happily nodded. “I do. Though you should probably talk with Twilight as well, mister Zarathon. She has been anxious about speaking with you and Mute. She found a lot of old books and has a lot of questions. Though she was told by the princesses to not speak too much with you. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna don’t like you.”

Mute chuckled. Twilight likely wanted to know all their secrets, and probably even more so if the princesses had told her to be cautious around them. Well, he and Zarathon could share a few secrets if it meant she too accepted their bond of friendship. And it would not hurt to ask her to stop telling every pony in town about Zarathon’s past. Even after Ponyville had seen an elder shade they still would not understand the true darkness that Zarathon had tried to keep at bay. Mute hoped they would not have to come to that realization.

“We will speak with her on a later date then. We must hunt shades tonight and need to rest before we do so. Furthermore, I must speak with the carpenters repairing our home about a few things, so it is about time we leave.”

"Oh already? I wished to ask Mute some questions too," Fluttershy said in disappointment.

Mute tilted his head at her. She wanted to ask him more questions when Zarathon was still in the room? He gave her a polite smile and shook his head. There was nothing he wanted to tell her. Or rather there was nothing he could tell her.

"I'm afraid my compatriot is not fond of speak—" the pebble caught himself at the last second for once, "He is not fond of writing about his past. He can tell you a few things surely but he is sworn not to mention too many details."

Fluttershy looked at them in confusion. "Sworn to the princesses?"

"HA! No. He is sworn to another that is neither me nor your princesses. But that is all I will say. Now we really must get going. Mute!"

Mute picked up Zarathon and bowed his head at the pegasus in respect. She bashfully looked away at his formal farewell and followed them to the door.

“Just be safe!” she said and waved them goodbye.

As the changeling walked down the dirt road and over the small bridge Zarathon scoffed in amusement. Mute looked up towards his horn and tilted his head.

“She knew about the collars. Well, she and her blue friend. We were able to hide it from the Duchess and Lieutenant but not an animal caretaker and weathermare. I am just amused that these ponies keep impressing me when their ancestors so often did the opposite.”

Mute pondered on that for a moment before he pulled out his notebook. ‘We are not our forefathers.’

“Wise words I shall take to heart, my friend. Now onwards, we must rest before tonight. I feel a nest close to the forest border I’d like to burn before it becomes a problem. Hopefully, the Duchess is done with her meeting by the time we're back. Also, I have an idea for collars that could be placed on a few worms...”

The changeling snorted in amusement at Zarathon. Always the master of puppets... Mute headed into the forest and walked back towards their home.

Thank you for reading this chapter of A changeling named Mute! I would like to ask you all if Fluttershy felt out of character or if anything felt off. I'm afraid my beta readers were busy this week so only I have looked over the chapter. I could wait a while longer but I would feel bad if I didn't release any chapter this week. I hope you have a good night and that your Monday morning is good ^^