Just as I promised Saki, we stayed here in Higher Wing for a while, while my father slowly healed from his wound. When I returned back to the castle, I found him sleeping, so decided better not wake him to show him the letters. Saki was the first beside me to see them, many times she would turn to look at me, and when she read over the last one; I could see even she held back tears. When I did at last show my father the next morning…he…he was at a lost for words, he didn’t know what to say for a while, but when he did, he sounded much better. “She knew…she knew for the longest time, and didn’t care…”

“It seems you two were truly meant for each other huh?” I spoke as he looked to me. “You didn’t tell her of your true self because you didn’t want to lose her, she did the same thing, because she didn’t want to lose you; life woks in cruel ways, doesn’t it?”

“That it does…” he answered softly. “At…at least now I can rest, knowing she truly loved me, and not by some spell that I had casted over her; thank you son.”

As the days slowly passed the kingdom was slowly starting to heal. Those who sided with the Black Light, slowly returned to what they use to call home, many placed would need to be repaired, many more would need homes; such as the young foals who lost their families. Nearly all of the Black Light blamed Vloor for what happened, saying he was weak minded to allow himself to be controlled, and would not bow to him. Some though, were not like this, and saw that he was deeply sorry for what happened, and he would do all he could to do what had to be done. Doctor Love acted as the voice of the Black Light that did not wish to be ruled under the King. They wanted their own section of the city of which they had taken over during the civil war. Vloor was surprising understandable of this, and granted this. His only requests were that they would still at least follow the laws of the world as before, and not be crazy; this they agreed. His other was that, they would allow accesses when they needed things brought in, seeing how the port was large to hold many ships and such; again, they agreed, as long as they were told of the shipment of items or ponies ahead of time. Seeing how most of the Black Light members that wanted this, grew up knowing only how to defend themselves and other such deeds. So how, Higher Wing had now lost nearly 30 percent of what it was, this was near the port.

Soon a week had past, and father was slowly able to stand on his own hooves and walk, I was there to help him, making sure he would not harm himself even more. Making sure he could walk on his own; we both made our way to our old home, him in his unicorn form. Going to the back, we both laid on the ground, just looking at my mother’s makeshift grave for the longest time before he spoke. “So, you shall be leaving tomorrow?”

“Yes,” I answered. “I promised Saki I would take her to meet the mare who cared for me after I left here. Before knowing you were alive, they were the closest thing to a family I had.” He nodded as he turned back to the grave before I asked. “And what of you? What will you do?”

“I’m going to ask King Vloor if he can help me rebuild this place,” he answered. “I…I still want to live here you know, even after all that’s happened; I…I want to stay here. For one reason mostly…she’s here,” again he looked to me, I could see the sadness in his eyes as at last he knew that she truly loved him, and knew what he was.

“You don’t have to explain to me why,” I told him. “And beside…it will be good, to see this place rebuilt you know?” I turned back to look over my mother’s grave for a little while longer before I then spoke. “I do have a question though,” I said turning back as me and my father locked eyes. “How…how is this place still even standing?!” my father gave a small smile and a chuckle before answering.

“When ever I had the time, I would come here and fix the frame work of this place, making sure it would still stand when it would really start to get fixed. I couldn’t do a lot, the only think I could do was making sure the walls and floor would fall apart.”

“What would explain it then,” I answered as my father nodded. “Do you think I did the right thing by keeping Cocoon alive, to make her pay for her crimes?”

“In the end she will face the death claim Bright Star,” the Changeling told me as he waved his hoof before himself. “Yes, she will have to be guarded all the time, but, I believe she will not escape.”

“You didn’t answer my question.”

“Truthfully…I would’ve killed her myself,” he spoke closing his eyes. “She is going to die anyway, quicken the timeline from now to then.” I only nodded at this, but in a way, maybe Saki was right, maybe it would be better for her to pay for her crimes and such. But still, there was still that feeling in the back of my mind; that this was a bad, bad idea.

The next day came rather quickly, me waking up in the room that Vloor led me and Saki; the small Changeling snuggled close to my chest. She was curled up, her tail near her face; at times her wings would flutter, causing me to smile slightly. I knew it was still rather early in the morning, seeing how the sun was not even over the ocean yet, giving the room a deep orange glow as it slowly rose. So we didn’t need to be up just yet, but at the same time, I couldn’t fall back asleep anyway. Slowly getting out the bed, her muttering something about pancakes and such, I kissed her brow softly, and my way out of the room slowly. Out in the back of the castle, what I thought was the training area, well, it was; had turned into a mini port for the Captain’s airship, or newer one I should say. As a payment from Vloor, he allowed the Air Captain to take on is his small, but still much larger then his old ship, war ship. It seems his crews were busy work on slapping along the paint and also their logo, which was so weird to me; I couldn’t even tell you what it was. “Well if it isn’t the Changeling lover!” the Captain found me, he had a cheeky smile. I had met him a few days back after the fight with Cocoon, it seem he didn’t care ether that me and Saki were lovers. I mean, he told me himself that he had a few times with his crew, and not with the only mare ether. I believe he said that if anypony tried to get her, they would lose their manhood faster then you could say ‘no, not my ball!’ “Had any kinky sex last night?” I rolled my eyes and shook my head slightly as I stood beside him, watching his crew work. “I’m just playing colt, anyway, we should be done by lunch.”

“Alright,” I answered him. “What happened to your other ship?”

“Oh we’re keeping that,” he answered. “I made that mare, you know the one, Captain of that one, but she is still my second in command when I’m around. We could use more recruits, and well…some of your Black Light friends even joined us!”

“Leave a battle, and go to another…”

“Hey now, we don’t always fight,” he answered looking to me. “Sure, we are known for getting rid of high on the list ponies and such. But we mostly get recon missions of the sort. And besides, this will go much faster, me and the rest of the crew not training them in fighting or following orders. All we have to teach them; is how to fly around on these things!” I nodded at this, it seemed not only was he getting paid for getting me and Saki here, but he also got a little extra from Doc, the King, and a bit of some new workers. “So, later we head off for Canterlot?”

“No,” I answered him. “I wrote a letter to the princesses, asking for a few days with my other family. Remember when I told you before we crossed the sea, that there was a little village, much like Ponyville, far off to the west coast?”

“Ah, so you and Cloud- I mean, Saki?” I nodded my head when he got the name right. “Will be going there?”

“Eeyup,”

“Do I still get paid when I get to Canterlot with my crew?”

“Eeyup,”

“Can you stop talking like that now?”

“Nope,” I answered him with a large grin as he grunted and trotted away.

It was almost time to leave, having taken a quick lunch with my father, Saki, Doctor Love, and I; the four of us made our way through the castle toward the Air Ship. Saki and I had our packs ready, along my back was a wrapped clothed, the hilt and what was left of the now useless blade in side it. I knew I could never use it, but where we were going, I decided to at least return it to its old owner; my sword master. Halfway there, Saki nudged me, making me look down at her. “I’ve been meaning to ask,” she whispered pointing to the ‘Doctor of Love’ with a hoof. “Is…Doctor Love his real name?” I then held back laughter as I shook my head.

“No, he changed his name at one point,” I answered her whispering. “I knew him as Doctor Love, but I found out his real name one day…he hates with when ponies say his real name; get’s him on edge.”

“What is it?” she asked as I smiled. “Tell me!”

“Okay…but watch him okay?” she nodded as I smiled her eyes to him as well as my own as I lean in close to whisper. “Lovey, Dovey,”

Doctor Love stopped dead in his tracks, his neck cracked as he turned it in a one eighty spin, his brown eyes frowning at me before he turned fully, up to my muzzle before saying lowly, almost in a evil way. “You dare say that name at all; I will rip out your gut, wrap it around your throat and hang you from the roof’s pillars!” his eyes were dilated, his head shaking with rage. Not sure why he gets like this, I mean, even his tail and mane seemed to be messy, like out of place and such.

“What ever you say buddy,” I smiled petting his head as he glared. “But remember this, you say that name I don’t like, or tease me in anyway; I’mma call you that.”

“You wouldn’t?”

“For ALL to hear,”

“You WOULDN’T!”

“Try me Stripes.” His eyes twitched for a second before huffing and turning to walk away again. I knew he was mad, but by the time we would get on the ship to leave, he would’ve forgotten all about this, trust me, he has a very short thought line for this sort of thing. All the while, Saki was snickering beside me as I turned and gave her a wink before she whispered.

“Why didn’t you do that the first time?” she asked as I rolled my eyes.

“Forgotten about it completely until just now.”

Soon, we were there, the air ship was getting prepped. I noticed that this was the newer one that King Vloor gave to the ponies that helped us get here. I saw the older and smaller one a bit off to the left. The mare of which was the only mare of the whole crew was getting herself ready along with her new crew herself to have ordered around. Most of them were from Black Light, which I knew from past missions when I lived here. I didn’t know their names, back then, names didn’t mean anything when we were going to die (or so we thought) anyway. The mare waved her hoof sharply at me, as I nodded and did the same as she rounded her new underlings into the air ship. “Well…seems this is it,” my father turned back to look at me, I sighed and softly nodded my head.

“Yeah, guess this is huh?”

“You’re going to write, right?”

“When I can father,” I answered as he smiled and nodded, walking over to me and wrapping his neck around me in a hug as I closed my eyes and brought an arm over his neck.

“I always wish this life was not thrown onto you like this son,” he whispered softly in my ears. “I…I always wondered what life would’ve been like if Cocoon never came here. What type of stallion you would be now, you know?”

“I know,” I smiled and nodded. “I wonder about that myself, but…well, we can’t change our past father, only look forward to the time we have right now. I know this may sound cold…but we can’t live in the past anymore.” I pushed my hoof through my mane to make it back sweep as I watched him nod slightly.

“Yes…Nora would hate to see her stallions upset like this.”

“She’d sooner hoof the back of our heads huh?” we both shared a soft chuckle before I notice that my father had something beside him. A bag, who didn’t I see that before? He noticed me watching it as he undid the top, using his magic to pull what was inside. Inside was the same photo that was partly burnt, but it seemed brand new in a way, and by a way I mean looked brand new! The framing was a simple black, leaving the background to easily pop out.

“I thought you might want this at least,” he answered as I took the frame with a hoof.

“I do…thank you,” he smiled and nodded as he stepped out of the way to let Doctor Love walk up.

“Well…this was fun!” he answered with his trademark smile, told you he would’ve forgotten it by now. “And even though I don’t have a gift, I like to say, well, at least it was good to know you still care for us enough to come back to help us huh?”

“This is my home Doc,” I answered as he nodded all the same.

“Yeah, yeah, but you know…” he gave a large grin and leaned close to me and Saki. “We could still do a quickie threesome…”

“NO!” he both yelled as we pushed him back with our front hooves.

“Oh come onnnnnnn!” he whiled and walked off, pretending to sulk as he did.

“You were going to say it?” Saki asked me as I sighed.

“You know…seeing how we’re leaving I’ll let it slide; I rather not have a horny unicorn try and butt rape me.” She chuckled, and as the captain…and now that I think of it, I never did found out his name did I? Oh well, I’ll just call him Captain. The Captain walked on past, nodding his head as I did as well, and just before we could walk on, me and Saki; a voice stopped us.

“Just a moment,”

We both stopped to turn to see Vloor walk out with guards in tow, the guards outside saluted as he came out. Me and Saki turned to each other and climbed back down the ramp and stood before him. He turned to a guard who was holding a box on his back, which then came up, placing the box down and retreating. “I know the two of you must be off, but, I wish to do something that would be cause for such things that now I think of it, would be a waste of time.” He opened the box, and inside were two emblems of sorts. They were red, much like that of the armor color that the guards wore, and the same symbol of which was on their plate as well. Vloor then pulled out a sword, and then I noticed, there were in fact four of them there. “Shade the Changeling, Doctor Love, Saki the Changeling, and Lighting Knight, please, may you line up before me?” we all did as he asked, I was on the far left with Saki beside me, father on the far right with Doc beside him. Vloor brought one of the red emblems up, and placed it on the chest of my father, it was one of those magical ones that would stay on anything, and would not come off unless a hoof touched it, weird, but cool. “Please kneel,” he did as he was asked as Vloor then brought up the sword. And slowly brought it on the shoulders of my father; he…was knighting him, knighting us?! “From this day froth,” the king spoke loudly. “Let it be known, that in this land, you shall be known as Sir Shade; for your bravery of fighting off the Changeling Queen, and rescuing myself from her hold.” Vloor did this to Doctor Love, Saki, and then to me, knighting each of us and giving us the emblem. And after the last of our goodbyes were said; me and Saki went onto the ship, and watched as we flew off back over the ocean.

“Feels…weird,” Saki spoke after taking off the emblem to look at it.

“What does?”

“Being knighted, I mean…” she then looked to me as she tilted her head. “A Knighted Changeling, from an Alicorn?”

“Just proves that not all changelings are evil or bad like Cocoon.”

“Or my mother.”

“Hey, remember,” I pointed out. “She didn’t kill anypony.”

“True.” She answered me as she placed the emblem in the bag she had along her side, I placed my in my bag as well, seeing how there was no need to truly wear it now. Pretty soon, the Captain made his way over with a grin.

“So shall I call you both Sir Lighting and Sir Saki?” I only rolled my eyes as Saki frowned slightly. The earth pony made a small chuckle before saying. “Well, it will take a good few hours, but we’ll be at the docks for you and her to dismount.”

“Alright, thank you,” I answered with a nod as he nodded back and went off to do whatever. I heard Saki let out a loud yawn, looking down at her, she rubbed her eyes slightly, it was no surprised, and lately she hadn’t been able to sleep a lot. “You should really lie down to sleep Saki,” I told her. “As he said, it will be a few hours to land.” She looked up at me with half closed eyes and a smile.

“As long as you sleep with me.”

“Sure,” I answered as I followed her down below, there were many rooms, sure, many of the crew would have to bunk together, but we were giving our own room for the trip. We both climbed into the small bed that was only for one pony, her lying on top of me, eyes closed as she soon fell asleep. Rubbing her mane softly, I slowly too closed my eyes, and started to sleep.

“Well, this is it!” Captain called out as me and Saki, now dressed as Cloud stepped off the rump onto the dock which were mostly for water ships, but could still hold the air ship easily. “Nice little place huh?” I looked around, the small town where I spent after leaving Higher Wing was surrounded by a forest, and there was a train station that would take us to Ponyville in a day or so if I remembered right. From what I was told, Ponyville was a bit smaller then this. Along the right side of the town were pretty much all shops, further down the path, the school yard. The main part of the town was a big circle, the town hall being in the middle, with small little stalls and such. “Well Lighting and Sa…Cloud,” he corrected himself as a long Pegasus walked by us. “It seems this is where we parts ways yes?”

“Seems that way,” I answered him as he chuckled.

“Remember,” he offered pointing at us. “You two decide to give up your old life, I would be glad to have you aboard!”

“We’ll keep that in mind, so where are you off to now?”

“We’re going to stay here for a while,” he answered. “Buy some supplies, and then off to Canterlot for our payment,” he then turned to go back up the ramp. “Oh one other thing!” he turned back to us. “Look, be careful out there yes? I may not care who she is,” he then pointed to Saki as she blinked once. “But other ponies…well, not so understanding. Sure some of them so far yes; but well…”

“We know,” Saki answered stepping up. “And thank you, for not being, freaked out by who we are.”

“World’s changing,” he answered waving his hoof as he turned to leave. “Why fight it?”

After saying our farewells to the sky sailor, I and Saki made our way down the yellow dirt road toward the main part of the town. I noticed a lot of the ponies looking our way, many waved, seeing how I knew them from my stay here. Making our way toward the south part of the town, I looked over to my right to see what looked to be a school of sorts, but it was very old fashion, stone work and such. It also had on the side a smithy area made for building swords and other such items. That was where I first learned how to really wield a sword. I would have to return there later, but not until after going to one place first.

The house before us was a little bit off from the rest of town, just a few minuets really for us. The house had two floors; the top floors held five rooms, and the bathroom. The ground floor held the living room, the eating area, and what we called the game room. Pretty much anything related to a game was held in this room only, to keep the other parts of the house intact. The house was a blue color, in the front was a small flower garden, and also a white fence going all around it, and in the front, their backs to us; were my sisters and brother. We were far enough away that they couldn’t notice us, seeing how their backs were to us. But I could see that they were no doubt deciding on what to do today. Before I left, I knew that none of them had gained their cutie marks as of yet, and they did promise me to send a letter if they did. Ether they have already, and I just didn’t get it, seeing how me and Saki were gone for nearly two weeks, or they never gotten them as of yet. The youngest of the three was standing in the middle, would be my brother. His coat was as black as the night in a way, his mane just as black and still spiked backwards much likes my own. But I noticed that his mane and tail had yellow streaks in them. I noticed that before I left, he had some of these streaks in his mane already. I guess he had a second shade of color that we did not know about. On ether side of him, were the twins. They were the perfect twins, save for the way their manes were kept. Both as yellow as the sun, their manes orange, their eyes also the same lush green as the other. On the left of my brother, her mane and tail were straight, the sister on the right, curled loosely. “But I don’t wanna play House!” my little brother spoke, or should I say whine as he turned to look at each of his adopted siblings. “You always make me the foal!”

“Well you can’t be the older brother!” the sister with the curly mane spoke. “We’re older then you Night Flight!”

“So?!” he huffed. “Why can’t you be the foal Alice?”

‘Because,” she answered. “I and Alex are older then you, so we get to pick who you are!”

“So,” I spoke up when we were closer as all their ears perked up and turned to look at me. “Does that mean I can make the rules then?”

“Lighting!” they all cried out as they ran and jumped on me causing me to fall on my back as they hugged and nuzzle me. I laughed and nuzzled each of them as they jumped off to give me some room.

“What are you doing back?” Night asked me as I smiled.

“Well I was in the neighborhood you know,” I teased shrugging. “Thought I come see how you all were doing.”

“Then who’s that?” Alex asked pointing to Saki. “You mare-friend?” she started to giggle, Night gagged as Alice chuckled as well as Saki, winked at me before answering.

“Yes I am,” she answered pushing my face to her’s and kissing me as I smiled, kissing her back.

“Ewwwww!” they all moaned. They still thought kissing was gross. After me and Saki broke the kiss, I then asked.

“So where’s mom?”

“Oh, she’s inside, busy writing her book!”

“Still or new one?”

“New one!” they all chimed as I rolled my eyes. She could never stay on one story to get it done, always stopping it to make a new one when an idea came to mind. “So big brother?” Night Flight asked me as I looked down. “How long are you going to stay here for?”

“Few days maybe,” I answered. “But then I and Cloud here have to leave to return to Canterlot.”

“Should we get mom?” Alex asked me as I shook my head.

“No, I’ll go and see her, Cloud, you coming with?” Saki nodded her head as she followed me inside, the three foals following after us.

“Mom, mom!” Night called out flying ahead.

“What is it?” my mother called out, a worry tone in her voice, she rounded the corner and stopped once she saw me. “Lighting?”

“Hey mom,” she came over and hugged me with her arms as I smiled. When she pulled away she gasped.

“What happened to your eye?!”

“What?” my three younger family members asked, I guess they didn’t see it when they glomped me.

“Long story,” I answered them as my mother smiled.

“Which you can tell over dinner, it should be ready soon, and oh,” she turned to Saki. “And who is this?”

“Greetings,” Saki spoke with a smile. “I’m Cloud Dasher, Light’s mare-friend.”

“Oh! Well it’s nice to meet you sweetie! Come, come, I’m sure I have more then enough room for all of us!”

“And that’s pretty much what happened.” After telling them the story of why I had returned to Higher Wing, leaving out the part of Saki and my father being Changelings and such, they all were silence, not saying a word. For the safety of the foals, I left out some other things as well, like the whole fight thing, but I could tell my brown coated mother knew of what truly happened.

“So…your eye got cut by that Changeling Queen?” Alice asked as I nodded. “Those rotten Changelings! Are they all so mean?!” I saw Saki ears drop a bit as I sighed.

“Not all Alice,” I answered taking a bite of my food. “I left out one other part, two Changelings helped us.”

“What?” my mother asked as I nodded, Saki turning to me. “But…why?”

“They didn’t believe in the way Cocoon was doing things, they weren’t like the others…they made me realize that.”

“So…there are good Changelings?” Night asked me as I nodded.

“Yes, just like there are good and bad ponies, Changelings can be the same way too.”

“Yes…you may be right,” my mother answered as she took a bite out of her meal as well. The rest of the dinner was pretty much small talk, Saki, colt, could she ever lie. She said that she also came from Higher Wing, and left when she had the chance when she was a foal with her family. Lived the rest of her life in Canterlot, until meeting me. The way she said, almost made I even believe she wasn’t lying. After dinner was done, and I helped mother returned the dishes to the sink, I excused myself; saying that I had something to do; for which I truly did.

Once more I was before the log like cabin, it looked rather simple as I said, but it was large enough not to be considered only a home, but a school of fighting, a smith, and also to, a home for the owner. With the sword that was broken, and belonged to the owner of this place; on my back, I pushed my way through the doors.

Once inside, the place looked much like a fighting dojo. Hitting dummies lined up on one side, logs with kinks and slash marks on the other. At the far end, stood a bright red earth pony. His mane, gone, but his tail straight and dragging along the ground. His eyes were closed, but when I started to move closer, his bright gold eyes opened up, a soft content smile on his muzzle. “Ah, Lighting Knight,” he spoke softly, bowing his head in a way of greeting me. “I thought I heard that you were indeed back, the life of a guard did not suit you?”

“No, that’s not it Master,” I answered him. “I was sent on a mission to Higher Wing, and…well,” I moved up and undid the strap that held the broken sword, unwrapping it and lying what was left, followed by the pieces that could be found. He looked over the sword slowly. “I am deeply sorry Master, I didn’t mean for it to happen.” I felt very bad, seeing how he told me this sword belonged to his family for many, many years, as to why he gave it to me; he never told me.

“It was bound to break one of these days,” he answered looking up at me. “This sword was crafted before even Celestia and Luna time, in fact, if the story is true, it was crafted by their mother and father.”

“Really?” I asked in utter shock, the sword was even older then the princesses themselves?

‘Yes, the story goes that the first owner of the sword was nothing but a street beggar, he learned the way of the sword from watching the guards train when he was but a small colt. Many times he tried to become a part of the elite guards, but was turned away, for he was a homeless pony. For they thought he only wanted a place to stay, to freeload. One day, an assassination was brought on to the king and queen. He head over this and tried to warn the guards; but they didn’t listen to him one bit. So sneaking into the castle, he found the assassin and tackled him to the ground! This causing the king and queen to awake, but by then, the pony pulled a sword from the assassin’s sheath, and stabbed him in the heart.

“The king, dubbed him a hero, and would grant him anything he wished. All he wished, was to become a guard, their own bodyguard if you will, to make sure that something like that would never happen again. So as their thanks, they agreed, giving him the guard armor that many of the guards of today there wear, and…” he looked down to the sword. “This sword.” This sword…had so much history, and yet…he gave it to me, in his family for thousands of years no doubt, and he still just…

“Why did you give it to me?” I asked. “We could’ve built me my own sword,”

“Wasn’t time,” he answered. “And beside, I knew your dream was to join their ranks, and well…you reminded me of my family member long passed. It seemed fitting that you were to wield this sword!”

“And…now it’s destroyed…”

“How was it destroyed, may I ask?”

So for the next little while, I started to explain what had happen, what my mission was, and all the other details, some I did not say. He nodded at times before stopping me. “This blade helped you stop a powerful being, and did not give up on you until the very end. Hrm…” he tapped his chin as he looked over at the smiting area. “You said you would be here for a few days, yes?”

“That’s right.”

“Come then in those few days,” he answered. “We shall build you a blade made only for you!”

“Master,” I smiled slightly, sighing as I did. “You don’t have to.”

“No, but we shall.” He answered looking at me. “Lighting, listen, in my family, when one has been deemed worthy of wielding the tool of their choosing; we build them said tool. It is an old passing that we do, and there is truly only one part that you will have to do, well three.”

“And what is that?” I asked.

“One, when the metal for your blade is nearly ready, I will need some of your blood,” I flinched at that. “Do not worry, only a drop will be needed, in old passing, we all did this. It made our weapon’s ‘one’ with us in a sense. The second part, you will have to hammer the metal, you already know how to and shape it from the years you were training under me; so there should be no problem with that.”

“And the third?” I asked as he nodded.

“You but all need to name your blade, I shall give a hilt to it, depending on the shape and length of the blade, and also the sheath.” He then smiled at me as he then spoke. “You are living your dream Lighting, and now, your home have been saved from the clutches of evil; count yourself lucky that you were able to pull through.”

“Your training did help,”

“Maybe,” he answered. “But your willpower made those training possible.”

After agreeing on the times for me to come, mostly in the early mornings and a bit at night, giving me many hours to spend with my family and Saki, I left while bidding him farewell. Night had drifted over the sky, stars and a full moon, easily seen. Making my way home, the lights were still on, so pushing inside; I closed and locked the door. No doubt everypony was asleep, or in there rooms. Walking upstairs, the first room was that of my mother’s who had a book on her chest, sleeping soundly, I smiled and closed her door for her. The next was of my two sisters, even though they claimed they were not afraid of the dark, they would at times share a bed, or climb in with ether me or mother; tonight was no different. Alice and Alex were both in the same bed, snuggled closed and under the blankets. The next room was Night, who too was asleep, the window cracked just enough to let the crisp cool air in. seeing the last door, which was in fact my old room, I went inside, to see Saki, in her true form. “So…this was what the great Sir Lighting’s room is hrm?” she teased waving her arms around. I blushed; there was a poster of the Wonder Bolts on one wall, the other wall, in fact of Shining Armor. This poster I had to get custom made, so there was only one of a kind! There were some old papers lying around, one in fact were different letters for enrolment of the guard training course in Canterlot. Some other things that made this a young stallion’s room and such. A wooden sword hung up on the wall as well.

“Yeah well,” I answered going toward the bed and climbing in, laying beside her as she snuggled to my chest. “What can I say right?”

“Wish you were here early,” she answered. “We could’ve have some fun sexy Changeling on Halfling sex!” I turned to look at her as she then yawned. “But alas, I am tried and can not go on!”

“I’ll make it up to you when we get home, I promise,” I answered her back, kissing her forehead as she made a weird purring sound, not like a cat, but still purring.

“I’ll hold you to that,” she answered as she nuzzled me softly as I did as well. “You know…your mother, when you were gone, said that when you came here, you were, and I quote; ‘rather naughty,’.” I turned to look at her as the Changeling tilted her head. “Care to explain before bed?”

“Well…it’s was like this,” I spoke closing my eyes. “After leaving Higher Wing with the foals, I knew nothing of the outside world; I grew up half of my foal life and most of my colt years in a warzone. I had to train myself; I had to be tough and such. When I came here…I had all this anger bottled up inside because nopony truly knew how I felt. One day, this colt got in my muzzle, saying stuff…that I truly can’t remember. I broke his nose in three places.” I chuckled as Saki looked like she was shock. “What? I was a very angry kid!”

“I can tell,” she answered as I shook my head.

“Well, it was ether I go and to services for the town, you know odd jobs for a year or two; or go and learn under Master.”

“What is his name anyway?” Saki asked me as I shrugged.

“Now sure, I only knew him as Master, that’s all. Anyway, at first I hated the idea, but it seemed like an easy thing, boy was I wrong. Master, he pushed me to my limit, at first he wanted me to speak of my past, I refused of course, so he threw me a wooden sword, that one,” I answered pointing to the wooden sword like shape stick, it had many pieces of it chipped off from the years of using. “Then he started to train me, he wanted me to see me fight, I laughed at him, thinking I could break the old stallion! But…well…”

“He kicked your sorry plot from here to the moon?” I gave her a frown. “What, what I do!”

“Say’s the one who I easily beat the first time we met.” She hit my arm with her hoof as I chuckled pulling her into a hug. “And beside…you think it’s a good idea to be in Changeling form here? I mean, mother does have the habit of walking in the morning to wake us up. So if your like…well you.” she rolled her eyes and shook her head.

“Don’t worry about that,” he answered before the green flame like magic came and she became Cloud Dasher once more. “I was only going to be myself for the bit, it’s kinda a thing I have to do, and I have to become my true self for a little while.”

“Why?’ I asked as she sighed.

“I knew some Changelings that did not do this; they stayed as their fake selves for so long, they thought that they were them, not themselves.”

“That…sounds like a horrible thought.”

“It is,” she answered. “Because once they forget, they don’t take on as much love as they use to. Many think that its second nature to us, in a sense it is; but we have to focus at times to fully get the love of the one around us. And if you forget on whom you are…”

“You forget to do that and slowly die,”

“Yes,” she confirmed nodding as she snuggled closer to me.

“I’ll make sure that doesn’t happen to you Saki,” I answered, nuzzling the top of her head.

“Yo u better,” she answer. “Cause if I die, I’ll come back to haunt you!”

“Thought you already do?”

“Shaddup,” she muttered as I smiled, draping the blankets over us both before we fell into the spell of sleeping.

Author's Notes:

the next chapter, man, i think i'm back in the roll of writing once more! enjoy!